One Day on the River Essay Example for Free

One Day on the River Essay Elijah has grander and more dangerous dreams. Having been largely acculturated by a residential school upbringing before escaping into the forest to live with Xavier and Niska, he has acquired the dubious skills of public relations and boastfulness as much as the crafts of the hunter. His English, learned from the nuns, is impeccable, and he makes his mark among the men in the trenches as much by the flash of his storytelling as by his murderous midnight prowls in no man’s land. Gradually Elijah becomes imprisoned by two great obsessions: a need for morphine, whose use is rampant up and down the lines, and an insatiable hunger for killing. Some French soldiers suggest that if he really wants to gain respect for all his kills, he should scalp his victims as evidence. He decides to do so, much to Xavier’s disgust. In counterpoint to the exploits of Xavier and Elijah, Boyden interweaves the story of Niska, told as she paddles her wounded nephew back home after the war is over. Niska is part of the sad but admirable remnant of traditional natives who refused to enter the reserves in the 19th century, choosing instead to live by their wits and traditional teachings in the woods. Subject to what modern medicine would call epileptic seizures, Niska is deemed by her tribe to have inherited her father’s skills as a shaman and a windigo-killer. Since windigos manifest themselves in humans who have practiced cannibalism, getting rid of them involves what white society would call murder, and indeed Niska’s father was executed as a murderer by the white courts. The constant crossing of the moral lines between the worldviews of native and white society is one of the many strengths of this fascinating novel. At one point, hunkered down in his sniper’s nest, Xavier indulges himself (and the reader) in a contemplation on the number three, which he sees as an obsession of his white commanders. There’s the front line, the support line, and the reserve line, for starters. There’s the infantry, the cavalry, and the artillery. Off the battlefield, there’s food, then rest, then women. In church, there’s the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Not to mention the superstition about lighting three cigarettes with one match, a prime metaphor for courting danger in the Great War. But then Xavier suddenly remembers Niska’s traditional teaching, that those who are dying must walk the three-day road to death, and he wonders â€Å"if we share something, some magic. Maybe it will help me get through all this.† The real war hero, Peggy, makes a brief cameo appearance in the novel, which may not have been a wise choice on the author’s part. The characters of Xavier and Niska and, to a slightly lesser extent, Elijah are full to the brim with life – they’re quite satisfying and believable as they are, and need no further stamp of authentication.

The Safety Measure In Malaysia Construction Construction Essay

The Safety Measure In Malaysia Construction Construction Essay In order to reduce the accident rate in construction industry, many government statutory bodies and local authorities play their role on enforce the legislation on the issue of safety and health in construction industry. But the result show that the accident rates in construction industry involve death and injury is still high. On the other word mean, the rate still in anxiety level. So research on safety issue in Malaysia construction need to be conduct to identify why the accident rates still in anxiety level. Aim To study on the safety measure in Malaysia Construction during period of construction be carry out. Objective To study on the safety management in construction. To study hazard and risk in construction site. To study the safety act, regulation and guideline in construction site. Background Construction industry has been classified as a high risk industry due to there is a high risk of accident always happen during the activity is conduct. The reasons is safety and health issues is always been looking as a second factors compare to time, cost and quality that always be considered as the main factors in the construction industry. The other reason is that many employers just concentrate on maximizing the profit instead of established on prevention accident policy. Due to the actual cost cannot be estimate until the accident is happen, so the employer do not emphasize to this safety. Accident rate still consider is high in Malaysia construction industry based on the statistics of the accidents in the construction industry reported by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO). This high rate of accident is give bad impression that the construction industry is the most critical industry and it need a huge and fast evolution from the current safety practices method in construc tion activity. In order to prevent or reduce the accident from happen, one must identify first on the causes of that accident is happen only can take the action to overcome it. Therefore, a few acts and regulations is introduce to control the accident matter and also as a guidance not only for the employer; it also for the contractors. The few acts is Occupational Safety and Health 1994 (OSHA) and Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (FMA). These two acts are under the Ministry of Human Resource and is enforcing by the Department of Health and Safety Malaysia. This is few functions by the Department of Health and Safety Malaysia: To help increase the awareness to workers, employers, contractors and the general public about the occupational safety and health. To formulate and review on safety and health policy of occupational safety and health. To carry out research at the workplace on issue related to occupational safety and health. To ensure workers and visitors of their safety and health and also the welfare at construction workplace. To become the secretary regarding occupational safety and health (Department of Health and Safety Malaysia, 2009) Basically the workers or visitors get injure is normally at construction workplace or construction site. So in order to make sure workers or visitors is safe, it is the employers obligation to provide safe workplace. Provide safe workplace also help to reduce or prevent the accident from happen and resulting people get injured. Occupational safety and health also list that the employers responsible to provide a safe workplace under the section 15 General duties of employers and self-employed persons to their employees. Under the section 15, the employers and self-employed should: It should be the responsibility of every employers and every self-employed person to ensure, the safety, health and welfare at workplace of all his employees so far as it is practicable. (Department of Health and Safety Malaysia, 2009) Methodology Literature Review Can be defined as any resources such as documents, journals that available to be select in order to fulfil the objectives which contain data and evidence that written by other students in their previous research. The data from the literature reviews is known as the secondary data due to the data is obtained from other sources. Documentary study (statistic) The data is collect from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) in form of statistic about the accident happen. In the statistic also is also show that the construction industry is the most high risk compares to other industry. Case study Three construction sites is be identify to allow for conduct the case study about the accident happen to help complete this project. It is important to help construction site in effort to reduce or prevent the accident from happen in construction site. It also let people know whether that construction site is follow or comply to the guide that is be introduce by Occupational Safety and Health 1994 (OSHA) and Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (FMA). Organization of The Dissertation Chapter 1 Introduction In this chapter is introducing the background of the construction industry, and some of the objectives that need to be fulfilling in order to complete the project. Besides that, this chapter also mention on how the research method that be use to collect data or information and how to finish this project. Chapter 2 Literature Review In this chapter, it focuses on how to fulfil the objective that already mention inside the chapter1. To complete the objective, data is be collect true the articles, journals, books that related with the project topic. Chapter 3 Methodology In this chapter, is state the method on how to gather the data or information such as gets it from statistic which obtained from Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Chapter 4 Data Analysis and Result In this chapter, it focuses on the research methodology by analysis the data or information is collect inside the chapter 2. Chapter 5 Discussion and Conclusion In this chapter, the overall of the project is been summarise. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Introduction Construction industry is the most risky and hazardous compare with other industry. Due to its risky and hazardous, construction is seeing as accident-prone industry. Therefore, accident will just happen from time to time during construction project. Accidents will just happen at construction site and at every where especially in high rise construction project. Reasons is time, cost and quality always become the main factors to be considered ahead of safety. A safety issue is always being considered as secondary in the construction. Many employers do not established comprehensive to the accident prevention policies but instead their more focus on maximizing the profit. They do not emphasize on safety because they cannot estimate the actual cost of an accident until it occurs. The statistics of accidents occurred in the construction industry indicate that the accident rate in Malaysian construction industry is still high and it give a picture that construction industry is one of the cr itical sectors that need a huge and fast overhaul from the current site safety practices. Once the construction accidents happen, it will produce many problems; such as workers become demotivation, delay of project activity, and also will affect the cost of the project, productivity and the construction industry reputation also been affected (Mohamed, 1999). The first reason for this research is to understand appropriate management for safety improvements to minimize the accident rate in construction industry. Concerning the safety aspects within construction industry, it is apparent that the implementation of safety best practices is still far from good. An accident is an unexpected, unplanned event in a sequence of events, which occurs through a combination of causes; it results in physical harm (injury or disease) to an individual, damage to property or environment, a loss or any combination of these effects. Thus, if no safety and health management for the project, that project may totally failure and the cost for that project will become over budget. Second, this research is to discuss about the hazards that may occur on construction site. Accident dont just happen, they are caused. According to Ridley 99 per cent of the accident are caused by either unsafe acts or unsafe conditions or both (Ridley, 1986). Hazards will also much contributed to the accidents. Hazard should be properly understood by safety players as well as construction players and workers. Many people were not much pay attention on hazard at construction site. Again, the stigma of the people was thought that the construction industry cannot be run away from the three 3-D syndromes namely dirty, dangerous and difficult. This mindset should be turning over to more realistic and harmonisation in construction towards sustainable construction and make the construction is rather creating wealth. Lastly, this research is to discuss about the enforcement of Act and Regulation in Malaysian to the construction industry. There are few act and regulation related to this health and safety in Malaysia and this act and regulation are enforcing by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Although, extensive efforts have been taken in order to reduce the accident rate by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), yet the statistic data shows it still not seen any improvement in the number of accident on construction activity. Mostly in Malaysia, the construction industry is just follow the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1994 and Factories and Machinery Act (FMA 1967). 2.2 Construction safety management Construction industry is the most risky and it contribute high accident rate that had cause fatality. Therefore, it very important for the industry to follow / apply safety and health management to reduce the accident rate issue. Accidents can be happen at any time, at anywhere, on any construction activity to any people in the construction site or else to outside people. Safety management involving few functions that include of planning, identifying the problem areas, coordinating, controlling and directing the safety activities on workplace, all aimed at the prevention of accidents (figure 1). Figure 1: Safety organization and management must cover all aspects of the employers or the contractors operations According to Tim Howarth and Paul Watson a successful health and safety management system consist of the following element which is policy, organisation, planning, measurement, and auditing and reviewing. According to Tim Howarth and Paul Watson (2009), they were mentioned that how to ensure the safety and health management become successful. successful health and safety management systems require the following components: The organisation of all employees for management of safety and health The establishment of a clear policy for safety and health The safety and health performance be measure The planning for safety and health by setting objectives and targets, identifying hazards, assessing risk and establishing standards against which the organisation can measure performance The auditing and reviewing of safety performance and practice, in order to inform improvement. (Howarth and Watson, 2009) According to Tey (1999), among the importance of safety is to minimise the probability of accident and disease from happen to the workers. Thus, the workers can perform their works more conductively and be able to complete the project as scheduled. It is also to ensure the progress of work is flow smoothly on site. If any accidents happen on site, thus the work progress will be stop temporary due to make way for the investigation to be carried out by the responsible authorities to find out the accident reason. Consequently this will affected the completion of the whole project progress. In order to prevent accident happened, they must identify the causes of accident first then only solve that problem. There is a many of causes that will contribute accident to happen within construction industry. For example, struck by objects, fallings from height, electrical hazard and death cause by plant is the most accidents happen in the construction industry (MOM, 2009; US Bureau of Labour, 2009a). Also, various reviews of safety management in construction industry have revealed that insufficient safety measures and poor safety awareness is the major reasons for the high incidence of occupational accidents in this industry (Sawacha et al., 1999; Tam et al., 2004; Angela and Ines, 2005; Aksorn and Hadikusumo, 2008). 2.2.1 Health and Safety Policy Safety and Health Rules, Regulations, Policies According to CSAO (1993), a health and safety policy is a written statement of principles and goals embodying the companys commitment to workplace health and safety (CSAO, 1993). It demonstrates top managements commitment to ensure safe working methods and environment at the construction sites. Provide a safe workplace become a responsibility of the employer. In Malaysia, a legal requirement is set by Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and other government agencies to ensure the safety and health of all workers at the workplace. On the construction, there is different level of people work there; various type of activities to carry out and different types of plant and machineries to be operate. Therefore, health and safety policy is very important for the projects. Health and safety policy can be the guidance or manual of the construction site to make sure the people, activities and plant follow on construction site durin g the period of construction. According to Tim Howarth and Paul Watson (2009), they stated that there is nine (9) commitments that should be archive while carry out the health and safety policy statement by organisation. The nine (9) commitments of the organisation are: Recognise that health and safety is an integral part of business performance Achieve high level of health and safety performance, with a minimum standard being legal compliance and cost-effective health and safety performance improvement Provide adequate and appropriate resources to implement the policy Set and publish health and safety objective, even if only by internal notification Place the management of health and safety as a prime responsibility of line management, from the most senior executive to first line supervisory level Ensure that the policy statement is understood, implemented and maintained at all level in the organisation Ensure employee involvement and consultation to gain commitment to the policy and its implementation Periodically review the policy, the management system and audit of compliance to policy Ensure that employees of all level receive a proper training and is competent to carry out their duties and responsibilities (Howarth and Watson, Construction Safety Management, 2009) 2.2.2 Planning and Implementation Planning, to identify the possible hazards and risks to all workers and other people that also may be affect by the construction activity, setting out the standards performance as a target should be achieve by management and ensure all documentation is perform follow the standards (Holt, 2001). Based on Tim Howarth and Paul Watson (2009), they mentioned that few important elements for planning and control the health and safety at construction site. They have summaries the important key elements for the construction site planning and control item of safety as following: The organisations health and safety manual The pre-construction information provided by the client and designer The project health and safety plan Site rules Site induction Communication of health and safety information and guidance to site personnel Sub-contractor co-ordination, communication and co-operation, and competency management (Howarth and Watson, Construction Safety Management, 2009) 2.3 Hazards and Risks According to OHSAS 18001, hazard can be defined as anything that could cause harm to people and damage to property, the environment and the combination of these. Source or situation with potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill health, damage to property, damage to workplace environment or combination of these. According to OHSAS 18001, risk can be defined as the chance, greater or small that someone will be harm by hazard. Combination of the likelihood and consequence of a hazardous event occurring. According to Tim Howarth and Paul Watson (2009), they mentioned that a hazard is the things that presented harm. In addition, by referring to Frederick Gould and Nancy Joyce (2009), they stated that a hazard is something presented can cause of injuries. Besides that, according to Tim Howarth and Paul Watson (2009), they mentioned that risk is the chance or likelihood that somebody will harm or injury by hazard. Commonly, a hazard is a specific situation connected with a production process or a work process and is characterised by such a configuration or state of factors of this process, which may result in an accident at work or an occupational disease (Carter and Smith 2006; HoÅ‚a 2008). In the simplest cases hazards can be identified by observation, comparing the circumstances with the relevant information. A combination of the following methods may be the most effective way to identify hazards. Methods of identifying workplace hazard are including: Previewing legislation and supporting codes of practice and guidance NIOSH/ DOSH published information Reviewing relevant Malaysian and international standards Reviewing industry or trade association guidance Reviewing other published information Hazard checklist be developed Conduct walk-through surveys (audits) and inspections Reviewing information from designers or manufacturers Assessing the adequacy of training or knowledge required to work safely Analysing unsafe incident, accident and injury data Analysing work processes Job safety analysis Consulting with employees Observation Seeking advice from specialists Materials safety been testing and produce the product labels 2.3.1 Hazard cause by Materials According (Howarth and Watson, 2009), accident may be occur by the materials when construction activity is carry out on site such as materials deliver or remove from the site. There is some potentials hazard cause by the materials on the construction site: Use of hazardous materials Storage of hazardous materials Handling of materials Removal of existing materials Dust from materials Spillages of materials Fire Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) which is incorporated into the Occupational Safety and Health Act and serve as a comprehensive and legislated programme that ensures workers to understand about the hazardous materials around workplaces. Moreover, according to the WHMIS system groups the hazard material into six categories based on the material type and hazard which is shown in Table 2.2. Each category has its own hazard symbol and it is important that the worker be able to recognize those symbols (WHMIS, 2011). Table 2.2: The Six Classes of Hazardous Materials and Symbols CLASS A Compressed Gas A compressed gas is a material which at normal temperature and pressure, packaged under pressure in a cylinder or other container. The hazard from these materials is generally arises from their chemical nature and sudden loss of integrity of the container. A compressed gas cylinder is usually quite heavy and when ruptured can become a projectile with the potential to cause significant damage. For example: Acetylene and oxygen CLASS B Flammable and Combustible Materials Classifying material that will ignite and continue to burn in air if exposed to a source of ignition. This class classified as a flammable gases, flammable aerosols, combustible liquids and flammable solids. Many laboratory solvents and cleaning materials used on this class. For example: Methane, acetone, aniline, and lithium hydride. CLASS C Oxidizing Material An oxidizing material may or may not burn itself, but will release oxygen or another oxidizing substance, and thereby causes or contributes to the combustion of another material. This type of substance gives of a large amount of heat when in contact with other substances. Also, able to support a fire and considered high reactive of these chemicals. For example: Ozone, chlorine, and nitrogen dioxide. CLASS D Poisonous and Infectious Material These symbols represent the class of materials that pose the greatest potential hazard to our life and health. Division 1: Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects These materials can severely damage our health in a single overexposure. Fortunately, few of our work areas contain this type of material. For examples: Cyanide compounds, styrene are very toxic substances. Division 2: Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects This unique symbol identifies material that poses a threat to our health through long term exposure. Further, this material may be a suspected carcinogen or have other health damaging properties. Our labs, work areas and shops contain materials marked with symbol. For examples: Asbestos cause cancer, ammonia is an irritant. Division 3: Bio hazardous Infectious Material This classification includes any organisms and the toxins produced by these organisms that have been shown to cause disease or are believed to cause disease in either humans or animals. For example: a blood sample containing the Hepatitis B virus is a bio hazardous infectious material. It may cause hepatitis in persons exposed to it. CLASS E Corrosive Material Corrosive materials can attack (corrode) metals or cause permanent damage to human tissues such as the skin and eyes on contact. Burning, scarring, and blindness may result from skin or eye contact. Corrosive materials may also cause metal containers or structural materials to become weak and eventually to leak or collapse. For example: Ammonia, fluorine, and hydrochloric acid. CLASS F Dangerously Reactive Material This symbol identifies dangerously reactive materials. These materials may react violently under certain conditions of shock or an increase in pressure or temperature or react violently with water. They may also react vigorously with water to release a toxic gas. For example: Ozone, hydrazine, and benzoyl peroxide. (Sources: WHMIS, 2011) 2.3.2 Hazard cause by Movements Plant and Machinery Most of the hazards in construction is more or less has related with movements plant and machinery, it is identified to be more significant at site involve in infrastructure works and industry building. In construction site, there is a lot type of plant and machinery be used during conduct the construction activities. The number of plant and machinery using in site is depending on how big the scale of that project. Therefore, the management team also need to consider of movement plant and machinery as one of the potential hazards while planning the safety and health. According to Tim Howarth and Paul Watson (2009), there is some potentials hazard cause by the movement plant and machinery on the construction site: Lack maintenance for plant and machinery No proper separation for plant and machinery and pedestrian route on site Failure to secure materials during hauling / lifting Operating plant and machinery without authority Operating plant and machinery by non-qualify person Mechanical failure of plant and machinery Lack of warning system Lack of signboard / signage Plant and machinery reversing, provide adequate stop blocks 2.4 Construction Acts and Regulation in Malaysia Under the department of Ministry of Human Resources, there still has another department known as Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). Normally, there is still has two Acts that need to be implement to the construction industry which is Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA) and the Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (FMA). This Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 are under Law of Malaysia Act 514 and Factories and Machinery Act 1967 is under Law of Malaysia Act 139. 2.4.1 Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 Generally, OSHA 1994 policy is to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all its employees and protect others who may be affected by its activities. The management and staff will work together to achieve the aims and objectives of this policy through discussion / negotiation (conference) and cooperation. Specifically, the department policy comprises the following objectives: To prepare a safe and healthy workplace; To secure the safety and health of persons at work; To protect persons at workplace other than employees To ensure that all staff is provided with the relevant information, training and supervision regarding the methods to carry out their duties in a safe manner and without causing any risk to health; To investigate all accidents, diseases, poisonous and/or dangerous occurrences, and to have action to ensure that these occurrences will not be repeated; To comply with all requirements of legislations related to safety and health as stated in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, as well as regulations and codes of practice which have been approved; To provide basic welfare facilities to all workers; and To revise and improve on this policy whenever necessary. The formation of OSHA came was upon three principles. The first is the need for employers to develop a good management system that starts with a safety and health  policy. Secondly, employers, employees and the  authorities must negotiate to settle issues and problems relating to occupational safety and health at the workplace. The first principle is self-regulation. To handle issues relating to  occupational safety and health, employers must develop a good and orderly management system. Starting with formation of a safety and health policy and consequently employers have to make the proper arrangements to be carried out. The third and last principle is co-operation, where the success of the occupational safety and health programs will succeed with the co-operation between employers and employees. With the resulting co-operation, there will  be an increase of quality of occupational safety and health at the workplace (Laws of  Malaysia 2000). The department is without any doubt certain that safety and health must be an integral part of our daily activities, and that the proper practice of safe and healthy working procedures would be the main factor in achieving the success of our mission. Basically, the Act assembles by fifteen parts and consists of 67 sections. PART I PRELIMINARY PART II APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS PART III NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PART IV GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS AND SELF-EMPLOYED PERSONS PART V GENERAL DUTIES OF DESIGNERS, MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS PART VI GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES PART VII SAFETY AND HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS PART VIII NOTIFICATION OF ACCIDENTS, DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE, OCCUPATIONAL POISONING AND OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES, AND INQUIRY PART IX PROHIBITION AGAINST USE OF PLANT OR SUBSTANCE PART X INDUSTRY CODES OF PRACTICE PART XI ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTIGATION PART XII LIABILITY FOR OFFENCES PART XIII APPEALS PART XIV REGULATIONS PART XV MISCELLANEOUS 2.4.2 Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (FMA 1967) Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (FMA 1967) is to control the matters that related to the safety, health and welfare of the workers, the registration and conduct inspection to the plant and machinery and for any matters connected therewith (Law of Malaysia, 2005). Under this Act, it consists of 6 Part and subdivides to 59 sections: PART I PRELIMINARY PART II SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE PART III PERSON IN CHARGE AND CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY PART IV NOTIFICATION OF ACCIDENT, DANGEROUS OCCURENCE AND DANGEROUS DISEASES PART V NOTICE OF OCCUPATIONAL OF FACTORY, AND REGISTRATION AND USE OF MACHINERY PART VI GENERAL

An Analysis Of The Global Automotive Industry

An Analysis Of The Global Automotive Industry The car industry is one of the largest and most profitable industries in the world and is epitomized by the innovative ideas of Henry Ford. Since then the industry has evolved in almost every aspect. The industry has experienced its lows and highs, the 2009 economic downturn being the pivotal point in its history. The industry is essentially an oligopolistic market, which means competitive advantage is the vital objective for all firms. Recent trends have witnessed large firms shifting to regions where costs are low and vertical integration is possible. Most of the lead firms are almost completely vertically integrated and this absorbs most of their profit margins. Firms must also consider the key drivers of change such as revised environmental and technological requirements. Due to the region-centric dispersion of production there is always a risk of poor operations management in certain regions. Organizations are now encouraging their major suppliers to set shop in these emerging m arkets. This leads to a high level of dependence on suppliers who are benefiting from the sharp increase in outsourcing. Customers needs and wants have also changed, with safety and technology on top of their list. The rising costs in fuel and the impending threats of global warming have created a new segment for alternative energy vehicles. Analysis of these macro economic factors leads to a conclusion that the car industry is far from its saturation point and there is still potential for growth in many regions. Table of Contents Introduction The automotive industry is an ever-evolving industry that has experienced both, spurts of rapid growth and unforeseen decline in sales (Molnar, 2009). This is largely due to the fact that the automobile industry shares certain similarities with other large industries, such as the electrical and apparel industries where foreign direct investment (FDI), global production and international trade are significant influences (T.J. Sturgeon et al., 2009). This industry is principally an oligopolistic market; therefore competitive advantage is a key strategic objective for all major players in the industry (Williamson et al., 2004). Based on statistical data the current major players in the industry are Toyota (Japan), General Motors (USA), Volkswagen group (Germany) and Ford (USA) (Datamonitor, 2011)(See Figure 1). Apart from the current big four there are several other lead firms from Japan, USA and Germany, whose domination was heightened due to several mergers and acquisitions and equity based alliances. (T.J. Sturgeon et al., 2009). Since the automobile industry is largely homogenous, there are common trends in the market that directly or indirectly affect most organizations (Williamson et al., 2004). Great potential for growth has been identified in markets like India, Brazil and China due to the availability of low cost skilled labor. This encourages an increased flow of FDI into such countries and facilitates trade liberalization through World Trade Organization (WTO) (T.J. Sturgeon et al., 2009). Along with Global integration organizations are also integrating themselves regionally due to dispersion of final assembly plants in various countries (Molnar, 2009). Another changing attribute in the industry is the alteration of the supply chain due to higher technical dependence on the suppliers. In contrast to the tier based supply chain, now suppliers are vertically integrating to handle complex subsystems (Molnar, 2009). This report focuses on the various macro-environmental factors that affect the car industry currently. Factors such as supplier bargaining power, economical integrations, and political and technological aspects are the key drivers, which are affecting the car industry. The report analyses the trends in the industry from the past, and future expectations, focusing mainly on companies such as Ford, GM, Volkswagen, and Toyota, and justifies how the industry can expect growth in the future. Market Trends The automotive industry has experienced structural changes, from mass production techniques in the 1920s to lean production methods in the 1980s (Wayman, 2007). A groundbreaking concept introduced by Toyota called the just in time Strategy (Beasley, 1950) changed the face of car manufacturing. Similarly Ford introduced the standardization method (Fordism) that revolutionized the method of manufacturing in all industries. Over time the industry experienced a transition from standardization to modern concepts such as just in time and lean production. Emphasis then shifted to branding and sales, as competition got fierce, leading to focus on company operations and marketing (Data monitor, 2011). The slowdown at the end of the first decade of the 21st century affected the banking sector and the stock market thus indirectly affecting the automobile industry. In this recession, costs in the industry increased due to an increase in the cost of the raw materials. As shown in the following graph, the sector most affected was premium cars (Luxury cars). As stated by Pwc. on autofacts.com (2011), Much of the recession was rooted in the white-collar financial service professions, which account for a large percentage of the sectors consumers. This caused an unforeseen dip in the production level of premium cars and had a ripple effect on the on the economies of Europe and Asia Pacific. (Autofacts 2011) As illustrated above the fall in production during the recession can further be explained by analyzing the level of contribution by these strategic groups towards the world production of cars (by value). The United States (US) has been a dominant force in contributing towards the worlds production of passenger cars, with 37.80% of the worlds automotive production in the year 2007. However, negative economic conditions meant production decreased drastically from 30.70% in 2008 to 15.70% in 2009. This free-fall in production shows how susceptible demand for new cars and the auto industry are to economic conditions. http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/07/26/business/26euauto-graphic/26euauto-graphic-articleInline.jpg The recession in the US not only affected the domestic market but also affected other major economies. Europe, closely interlinked with the American economy, was one of the first to experience the effects. The recessions magnitude was evident with the fall in production in Europe in 2010, decreasing to 29.70% from 35% in 2009. Although Europe has experienced fluctuations in production, on average it has been reasonably stable compared to the US and the rest of the world. In 2012 estimates by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association predict that sales of passenger cars will decrease by 3 million to 12.4 million. Actual sales of passenger cars have been decreasing since 2008. Sergio Marchionne chief executive of both Chrysler and Fiat commented saying, Ive never seen it this bad, (New York Times 2012). Asia pacifics production has grown at a stable rate averaging 27.92%. Although the region was affected by the global recession it limited the fall in production to 6.4%. After 2009 it experienced a boost in growth for the following two years taking levels close to the 2008 high. Through these years of volatility the automotive industry has had to trim the fat by cutting payrolls and closing underperforming facilities. As well as dealing with these difficult economic trends manufacturers have to be conscious about legal factors and social factors like global warming. Most companies have introduced products consider the environment, which has a positive effect on sales and brand image. These costly additions linked with bad economic conditions have in some ways encouraged greenfield ventures and outsourcing the production of parts and labor in low cost areas like Thailand and other parts of Asia. Macro-economic Analysis PESTLE Analysis The macro environment of the car industry is extensive. Companies need to identify the key drivers of change in order to build scenarios to help them achieve their strategic objectives (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, 2008). Changing macro-economic conditions force companies to alter their strategies in order to sustain and increase their market share. The economic crisis that the industry suffered in 2009 played a major role in shaping the industry into its current state (T.J. Sturgeon and Biesebroeck, 2010). As stated by Sturgeon, Biesebroeck and Gereffi (2008), the automotive industry is neither fully global, consisting of a set of linked, specialized clusters, nor tied to the narrow geography of nation states or specific localities. However, in recent times the industry has become more region-centric, as companies have set up production and assembly closer to point of sale in order to take advantage of economies of scale and lower labor costs that are available in these emerging markets (Humphrey and Memedovic, 2003). Emerging markets in the car industry are attracting lead firms due to rapid sales growth in these regions (Datamonitor, 2011). In China, lead firms are adopting cautious localization and aggressive localization strategies to reduce their variable costs so that they can compete efficiently in the region (T.J. Sturgeon and Biesebroeck, 2010). The rapid growth of the Chinese car market can largely be attributed to its liberal policies towards joint ventures, as highlighted by the joint venture that formed the Shanghai Volkswagen Automobile Co. which dominated the market for 10 years (Molnar, 2009). Another rapidly growing market is Brazil, which is projected to be the worlds sixth largest car manufacturer in 2013. High import taxes ensure that companies are forced to manufacture locally. Another unique aspect of the Brazilian industry is its dependence on the ethanol industry that fuels almost all cars in this region. The government supports this industry as it employs over a million pe ople and also protects the car industry from the flux of oil prices (Matthew Symonds, 2008). One of toughest challenges for the automobile industry in current times is adhering to the latest technological and environmental norms. The emphasis on incorporating cutting edge technology in cars is evident in KPMGs (2012) survey that shows us the recent demand for mobile connectivity and built in technology (See Figure 3). In order to meet the consumer demands for technological improvements companies are turning to new technology suppliers. This is a strategic risk for companies, as the lack of transparency in the supply chain could lead to environmental disasters, such as the catastrophes in Japan and Thailand in 2011 (KPMG, 2012). Improved fuel efficiency and lighter cars are two factors that are desired by consumers and legislators alike, however the required resources like aluminum cannot be used due to stringent environmental laws (KPMG, 2012). China has set a good example by investing US$15 billion in a market determined to utilize technology to reduce the environmental dam age inflicted by fuel emissions (KPMG, 2012). The automobile industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world. Manufacturers need to follow the safety and environmental regulations of the respective regions they are based in. This becomes difficult due to the current trend of outsourcing most of the cars parts. Every company has to adhere to the environmental norms and therefore strive to reduce emissions from their products. There is no room for error as any breach of legal regulations jeopardizes the companys business strategy Porters 5 Forces Suppliers Suppliers bargaining power is increased when there are a few producers dominating supply (Mintzberg, H. 2002). Despite the automotive industry manufacturers concentrated firm structure, since the early 1990s bargaining power has shifted from the industries automotive manufacturers to their suppliers. This is because of the creation of global suppliers which have taken on more extensive roles in the areas of design, production and FDI (Sturgeon et al, 2009). These globally dominant suppliers are favored by manufacturers who expect and encourage them to be present near their plants and in emerging areas of growth (Molnar, 2009). New projects are no longer seen as an opportunity to expand globally instead, a supplier must have a global base in place to even make a bid, (Sturgeon et al, 2009). Suppliers such as Bosch and ZF are becoming involved in manufacturing and assembly, assembling important sections of vehicles before passing them on to manufacturers (Molnar, 2009). Increased outsourcing and the bundling of more value chain activities make these firms larger and more powerful (Sturgeon et al, 2009). The larger firms achieve economies of scale and scope, making it cheaper to design and produce many components creating high entry barriers (Molnar, 2009). This is concentrating the industry, which in turn is also increasing suppliers bargaining power. Buyers Buyer power can be high if buyers are concentrated, there are low switching costs, or there is buyer competition threat (Johnson, 2011). From the consumer perspective there are definitely low switching costs as switching from VW to Ford costs nothing but the price of the car. End customers generally have no bargaining power because they are individuals who purchase directly from the manufacturer through franchised distribution systems. Only large car rental or leasing companies can gain discount (Molnar, 2009). Substitute Cars do not have a direct substitute threatening sales in the industry. Substitutes like public transport are available but they do not share the same benefits, mainly price and door-to-door transport, that cars do (Molnar, 2009). Bicycles and motorbikes do however offer this benefit and are often considered substitutes. They are not however perfect substitutes, as they do not meet the same comfort, carriage and experience needs, that are a unique selling point for different varieties of automobile. A growing concern that consumers would switch to these substitutes during the global recession was the price of fuel. Despite spikes in the price of oil which provides 97% of transportation fuel, there has been a large increase in demand for passenger cars (Molnar, 2009). This can be attributed to improvement in mileage per gallon and the convenience of having a personal vehicle. It also distinguishes price from performance and that in the case of a car, a lot of people, seek value more than price. Competitor analysis Rivalry between competitors occurs when competitors are numerous or are roughly equal in size or value (Mintzberg, H. 2002). The battle for market share is usually very costly and industries exhibiting these traits usually have low profit margins. The auto industry however is considered to be an oligopoly, which minimizes the effects of price based competition (Molnar, 2009). Firms try to position themselves as luxury brands (Ferrari) or low cost fuel efficient brands (Toyota) to corner a market segment. However some firms like Mercedes, by introducing the Smart car, target a wider demographic. This however, goes against the product life cycle pattern in which differentiation is supposed to decline as the business becomes more mature (Mintzberg, H. 2002). There is some differentiation between vehicles price, quality and status, a vehicle is perishable and there are no (to very low in the case of finance) switching costs. The aforementioned factors, according to Mintzberg (2002), create a strong temptation to cut prices which intensifies rivalry. A strategy firms use to avoid price based competition is to offer rebates, 0% financing, long term warranties and no money down. These finance options help lure in customers but also pressurize profit margins and break even projections (Molnar, 2009). Marketing innovations can raise brand identification or help differentiate the product (Mintzberg, H. 2002). Threat of new entrants: Heavy investment is required by companies looking to enter the automobile industry. Economies of scale are sort after by the new entrants; however the current players have reached large-scale production levels (Gerry Johnson et al., 2011). Most brands have a rich history, helping them build their branding, as brand equity is a big seller (Molnar, 2009). Ford was established in 1903 and GM began in 1908 and they are world renowned (MarketLine, 2012). Firms need to invest heavily in research and development in order to match their competitors technical and design prowess in area such as energy conservation (Molnar, 2009). New entrants may struggle to build their network with suppliers as the automotive industry has an extremely concentrated firm structure (Sturgeon et al., 2009). The global recession made it easier for the larger firms to acquire and integrate horizontally as well as vertically, opening more retail and franchise distribution locations. The recent global meltdown has led to customers switching brands in order to look for low-priced or high performance cars. For example, the Tata Nano was an instant hit in India upon launch; since it was a low price car. The A6 from Audi also got high appreciation for its performance and quality. The existing players in the market would adapt these features and come up with their own designs, hence increasing competition. Daewoo founded in 1967, could not survive and was dismantled in 1999 by the Korean government. Indian Tata motors entered the passenger vehicle market, in 1998 through aggressive acquisitions of foreign brands but could not penetrate the US or EU markets (Molnar, 2009). One of the most crucial barriers to new entrants is legislation and government policies. Restraints such as patent protection regulate the market and have an impact on new companies, if they do not have any unique ideas (Gerry Johnson et al., 2011). Policies regarding FDI and FII affect companies going global and entering new markets. Regional integration such as NAFTA, EU, makes trade and foreign investments simpler and convenient for such companies. Conclusion The current economic crisis has accelerated deep structural change in the automotive industry, setting the stage for sustainable growth (Deloitte, 2009). There are huge potential gains and room for growth in emerging markets, particularly in Asia, mainly in China and India. Countries with high importing costs will experience a decline in domestic capacity as the lead firms continue to set up their manufacturing centers in these emerging markets. The regional trading blocs (e.g., NAFTA, European Union, ASEAN, and Mercosur) are expected to grow and drive regional production as firms look to shift to lower cost regions. Another lucrative opportunity for the organizations is the increase in demand for new cutting edge technologies in cars. This convergence leads to the creation of new business models that include alliances with companies from other industries that provide new technology (Deloitte, 2009). The rising prices of crude oil indicated a continuous and gradual increase in fuel prices over the next 4 years (Moming Zhou, 2008). This is an opportunity for the lead firms to grow by investing more resources in alternative energy products (Hybrid cars), at a time where consumers are looking to switch to more environment friendly cars (See Figure. 2). This is a perfect time to capture this market when treaties like the Kyoto Protocol (Molnar, 2009) call for a collective effort to battle global warming. In conclusion, it can be determined that the global car industry continues to attract consumers to differentiated products. However, firms must make the right strategic decisions, to reduce the absorption of their profits by their vertically integration strategies. Existing companies must adopt a strategy of sustainable growth to ensure their survival in this industry. Bibliography Book JOHNSON, G., SCHOLES, K., WHITTINGTON, R. (2008). Exploring corporate strategy. Harlow, Financial Times Prentice Hall. JOHNSON, G., SCHOLES, K., JOHNSON, G., WHITTINGTON, R. (2011). Exploring strategy. Harlow, Financial Times Prentice Hall. MINTZBERG, H., QUINN, J. B. (1991). The strategy process: concepts, contexts, cases. Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice Hall. Report Pwc (2011) 2011 Automotive Review. [report] Autofacts ProQuest (2012) Thailand Emerges as Global Hub for Fuel Efficient and Environment Friendly Car Manufacturing. [report] ProQuest. KPMG (2012) Global automotive executive survey. [report] KPMG. p. 4-57 DATAMONITOR (2005) Global Automative Retail. [report] DATAMONITOR (2006) Global Automative Retail. [report] DATAMONITOR (2007) Global Automative Retail. [report] DATAMONITOR (2008) Global Automative Retail. [report] DATAMONITOR (2009) Global Automative Retail. [report] DATAMONITOR (2010) Global Automative Retail. [report] DATAMONITOR (2012) Global Automative Retail. [report] DATAMONITOR (2011) Global Automative Retail. [report] MarketLine (2005) Global Automative Retail. Website People.brunel.ac.uk (1950) Just-in-time. [online] Available at: http://people.brunel.ac.uk/~mastjjb/jeb/or/jit.html [Accessed: 10 Nov 2012]. EWING, J. (2012) Europes Auto Industry Has Reached Day of Reckoning NYTimes.com. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/business/global/europes-auto-industry-has-reached-day-of-reckoning.html?pagewanted=all_r=0 [Accessed: 10 Nov 2012]. deloitte (2009) [online] Available at: http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-Global/Local%20Assets/Documents/A%20New%20Era_Online_final.pdf [Accessed: 11 Nov 2012]. Articles Dannenberg, J. and Kleinhans, C. (2007) The Coming Age of Collaboration in the Automotive Industry. p.88-94. Datamonitor (2011) Global Automobiles. [report] Datamonitor p.1-37. Molnar, E. (2009) Strategic Management in the ailing automobile industry. Sturgeon, T. et al. (2009) Globalisation of the automobile industry: main features and trends. International journal of technoligocial learning, innovation and development, 2. Sturgeon, T. and Biesebroeck, J. (2010) Effects of the crisis on automotive industry in developing countries: A global value chain perspective. Sturgeon, T. et al. (2008) Value chains, networks, and clusters: Reframing the global automotive industry.Journal of economic geography, 8 (3). p.297-321 Humphrey, J. and Memedovic, O. (2003) The global automotive industry value chain: what prospects for upgrading by developing countries. Magazine Symonds, M. (2008) A global love affair: A special report on cars in Emrging markets. The Economist, Iss. 8606. Online Newspaper Zhou, M. (2008) Gasoline could hit $7 a gallon in four years: CIBC. The Wall Street Journal, [online] 24th April. Available at: http://articles.marketwatch.com/2008-04-24/news/30787082_1_crude-supplies-natural-gas-oil-supply [Accessed: 11 Nov 2012].

Andy Warhol Essay -- essays research papers fc

It is rare for an artist to become a celebrity, but Andy Warhol experienced much more than his â€Å"fifteen minutes of fame†, and became an icon of his generation. Andrew Warhola was born August Sixth, 1928, in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He was the youngest son of Julie and Andrej Warhola, both immigrants from Czechoslovakia. In Fifth grade Andrew started attending the free Saturday classes that the Carnegie Institute taught. It is noted that even then young Andrew excelled at his art. Due to the bullying by his classmates he stayed inside a great deal, working on his art. Due to his aptitude in school, Andrew skipped two grades and was admitted into the Carnegie Institute of Technology at the young age of 16. Once in the school Andrew was admitted to the Department of Painting and Design. He studied various aspects of commercial graphic design. Warhol graduated from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1949, with a degree in pictorial design. He then went to New York City to work as a commercial illustrator. Warhol was involved in many artistic fields such as painting, filmmaking and photography. . He got his first break in August 1949, when Glamour Magazine wanted him to illustrate a feature entitled "Success is a Job in New York". But by accident the credit read "Drawings by Andy Warhol" and that's how Andy dropped the "a" in his last name. He continued doing ads and illustrations and by 1955 he was the most successful and imitated commercial ar...

Pip as a Sympathetic Character in Great Expectations :: Great Expectations Essays

Pip as a Sympathetic Character in Great Expectations Can you imagine being totally in love with someone who is completely turned off by you? This is what happens to Pip. Throughout the book Estella disregards his feelings. In Great Expectations my sympathy for Pip fluctuates. Pip starts out as a sympathetic character because he is poor, his parents are dead, and he must live under Mrs. Joe's strict rules. As the story moves on, my sympathy for Pip decreases in every way except one: his relationship with Estella. Ever since their first acquaintance, Pip has thought Estella to be the most beautiful girl alive. He changes when he gets around her. When Mrs. Havisham asks Pip about Estella, he answers with words like "proud," "pretty," and "insulting." Miss Havisham wants Pip to like Estella, and she tells Estella she can break his heart. As the visits to Miss Havisham's increase, Pip realizes his feelings for Estella. He practically cannot live without her, but she treats him as a common boy. Pip wants more than anything to become uncommon so Estella might come to like him. He wants her to think of him as a person and not as an uneducated blacksmith apprentice. Estella begins to realize that Pip has feelings and taunts him by asking if he thinks she is pretty. A significant scene is when Estella questions Pip about herself and she slaps him. Then she teases him more and says why doesn't he cry again. Pip replies, "Because I'll never cry for you again," but he knows this is not true and says this "was, I suppose, a false declaration as ever was made, for I was inwardly crying for her then, and I know what I know of the pain she caused me afterwards" (94). As the two characters grow up and mature and as Pip becomes a gentleman, Estella learns of the extent of Pip's feelings. She tells Pip she is to be married and says his pain should pass in no time, about a week. Pip then reveals every thought and feeling he has ever had for Estella over the years. The most important parts of his confession are in the beginning of the speech. Pip confesses, ". . . you are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then.

Environmental Analysis and Long-term objectives Essay

The organization selected for this paper to discuss the environmental analysis and long-term objectives is Dunkin Donuts. The main focus will be on the forces and trends operating in the environment which have a considerable effect on the running of the organization. The paper will first discuss these forces and trends in detail and then provide an insight to how these forces effect the organization and align themselves with the vision and values of the organization. The trends selected are: 1. Social responsibility 2. Environment 3. Fuel Social Responsibility One of the environmental trends is social responsibility which adds to the credibility of an organization. Social responsibility basically refers to the responsibility or the duties of an organization, government or even an individual towards the society in which it functions. Every organization has a responsibility to keep their actions and practices in the best interests of the people living in the society so that it does not endanger them in any way. Instead organizations should work to provide comfort and help to the society as a whole. This is a part of their corporate social responsibility. The company can also be involved in eradication of unethical practices and behavior taking place in the society so that the lives of the people could be made easier. For example, some companies take initiative in planting trees or constructing gardens in an area which serve a place for community people to come together and meet each other (Kotler and Lee, 2004). Social responsibility at Dunkin Donuts has actually helped the organization in a considerable manner. The restaurant holds a respectable position in the society due to its charity and community involvement programs. The company as well as their employees contributes for the community service organization in order to make the lives of the people better. Moreover, they are extremely committed to the environmental responsibility. The restaurant follows the environment regulations and promotes cleanliness. The restaurant itself is very clean and tidy with a proper system to discard the garbage. The company supports charitable programs and takes initiatives for supporting and participating in the welfare of the community people. They even sponsor educational programs in local community schools and provide funds for different events like Special Olympics, AYSO soccer teams etc. Recently Dunkin’ Donuts has entered into a relationship with a non-profit organization ‘Coffee Kids’ for supporting families in the coffee-producing regions of Mexico and Central America. On 22 May, 2008, the company went ‘green’ by initiating its first LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) restaurant which is a part of their corporate social responsibility commitment. This way the company hopes to improve the quality of life of the community people by making the area clean and green (Kotler and Lee, 2004). The trend operating in the environment must be aligned with the mission, vision and values of the organization for it to work in the best possible way. At Dunkin’ Donuts, there are seven core values and one of them is responsibility towards the environment and the community in which they are functioning. They are committed for improving the people’s quality of live. The first LEED being built up by the company is an effort towards promoting a healthy life for the people and improving their quality of life. The social responsibility practices of the company reinforce their mission, vision and values which are focused on making the ‘world a better place live and work’ (David, 2006). Environment The second force the paper talks about is the physical environment in which the organization is functioning. The trends in the environment have a much larger impact on the organization; here we are discussing the physical environment. Changes happen in the physical environment without any notice which might result in shock or disaster or even opportunities. Organizations need to have a contingency plan to deal with such contingencies resulting from the physical environment (Shaffer, 2000). In the physical environment outside the Dunkin’ Donuts Company and restaurant, variable changes can take place which can sometimes help the organization or hinder its processes at some other instances. The environment can provide opportunities as well as threats to the company. Since Dunkin’ Donuts has now essentially become a beverages company so it can specialize in different kinds of beverages and become a market leader. Moreover, the increasing number of suppliers in the industry can also result in new opportunities. Threat comes mainly from the substitutes and the new entrants. The company faces tough competition from Starbucks and their success becomes a threat for the company plus the industry doesn’t offers high barriers for the new entrants so more beverages company can be set up thus giving rise to the competition. Apart from this, the physical environment also includes the threat from natural disasters which can cause huge losses to the company so the company needs to have contingency plans for dealing with them. Thus, the physical environment can both help and hinder Dunkin’ Donuts depending on the situation (Reeve, 2002). The organization strives to accommodate any changes emerging in the physical environment in its strategy. The company was essentially based on donuts first but now it has developed into a beverages company. This was because it saw greater opportunities for itself in serving the beverages market. It saw the changing taste of people towards coffee and decided to establish a strategy based on a coffee company. Today Dunkin’ Donuts is known as the no. 1 retailer in hot and ice regular coffee. Thus, this shows the organization’s strategic adaptability towards the changing forces resulting in the environment (David, 2006). Rising Fuel Costs The burning issue facing the organizations today in their environment is the rising fuel prices. Companies have to face rising costs due to this shooting up in fuel prices which have almost doubled this year. As the costs are increasing so the companies have to raise the prices of their products and services which decreases their sales. This way many companies are facing problems due rising fuel costs which in turn decreases their average sales. Therefore, the third issue is of fuel which this paper will examine (Reeve, 2002). The rising cost of fuel is a trend in the environment which hinders the company by raising the costs of doing business and thus, decreasing the sales and profits. Since electricity is produced through fuel so increase in fuel costs also increases the electricity cost. At Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants, the food including the donuts and beverages is prepared to sophisticated machines which run on electricity. They have to pay higher for electricity which increases the cost of inputs and simultaneously, the cost of doing business. The company has raised the prices of its products worldwide recently but that has caused the sales to decrease and thus, it earns lower profits. This way fuel is actually a hindrance towards high profits for the company and simultaneously, its long-term objectives. Since rising fuel costs are hindering the company’s sales and profits, Dunkin’ Donuts is trying to find out ways of producing the products efficiently so that they involve low costs and the profits of the company could be increased. The company tries to specialize in certain beverages which can be produced with hands so that machine use could be limited thus, saving up the electricity. The company tried to adjust for these rising costs so that it can acquire an increasing number of customers to boost up its sales as well as profits (Shaffer, 2000). Conclusion The paper has discussed in detail the environmental analysis pertaining to social responsibility, environment and fuel. It first discussed what these forces actually mean and then identified their relevance with the organization and how organization adapts to these forces operating in the environment. Social responsibility at Dunkin’ Donuts is aimed at winning the hearts of the masses through charity and community involvement activities. The mission of the company is to improve the quality of life and this is effectively done through their social involvement programs. The company also takes immediate action to the changing environment which may involve rising incomes or changing tastes of the people and tries to accommodate the change in its strategy as it did from shifting to beverages industry from donuts industry. Finally, the company is also trying to cope up with the rising costs of fuel through cost efficient methods and increasing the prices since the income of a common man has also increased. All these forces or trends help or hinder the organization and its strategy in their own way. Thus, it can be said the Dunkin’ Donuts is a very capable organization who has effectively dealt with difficult times and has become the no. 1 retailer in coffee throughout United States (David, 2006). References David, F. R. (2006). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. Prentice Hall. Kotler, P. , & Lee, N. (2004). Corporate Social Responsibility: Doing the Most Good for Your Company and Your Cause . Wiley. Reeve, R. N. (2002). Introduction to Environmental Analysis. Wiley. Shaffer, J. (2000). The Leadership Solution. New York: McGraw-Hill

Control Process in Management

†¢ Home †¢ About Site †¢ Preserve Your Article †¢ Content Quality Guidelines †¢ Disclaimer †¢ TOS †¢ Contact Us †¢ Skip to content 4 main steps in control process in management 4 main steps in control process in management are: Control as a management function involves the following steps: 1. Establishing standards: Standards are criteria against which results are measured. They are norms to achieve the goals. Standards are usually measured in terms of output. They can also be measured in non-monetary terms like loyalty, customer attraction, goodwill etc.Some of the standards are as. a. Time standards: The goal will be set on the basis of time lapse in performing a task. b. Cost standards: These indicate the financial expenditures involved per unit, e. g. material cost per unit, cost per person, etc. c. Income standards: These relate to financial rewards received due to a particular activity like sales volume per month, year etc. d. Market shar e: This relates to the share of the company's product in the market. e. Productivity: Productivity can be measured on the basis of units produced per man hour etc. f. Profitability:These goals will be set with the consideration of cost per unit, market share, etc. 2. Measuring performance Measurement involves comparison between what is accomplished and what was intended to be accomplished. The measurement of actual performance must be in the units similar to those of predetermined criterion. The unit or the yardstick thus chosen be clear, well-defined and easily identified, and should be uniform and homogenous throughout the measurement process. The performance can be measured by the following steps: (a) Strategic control points: It is not possible to check everything that is being done. Feature article about  Production ManagementSo it is necessary to pick strategic control points for measurement. Some of these points are: (i) Income: It is a significant control point and must be as much per unit of time as was expected. If the income is significantly off form the expectation then the reasons should be investigated and a corrective action taken. (ii) Expenses: Total and operational cost per unit must be computed and must be adhered to. Key expense data must be reviewed periodically. (iii) Inventory: Some minimum inventory of both the finished product as well as raw materials must be kept in stock as a buffer.Any change in inventory level would determine whether the production is to be increased or decreased. (iv) Quality of the product: Standards of established quality must be maintained especially in food processing, drug manufacturing, automobiles, etc. The process should be continuously observed for any deviations. (v) Absenteeism: Excessive absenteeism of pers onnel is a serious reflection on the environment and working conditions. Absenteeism in excess of chance expectations must be seriously investigated. (b) Meclzanised measuring devices:This involves a wide variant of technical instruments used for measurement of machine operations, product â€Å"quality for size and ingredients and production processes. These instruments may be mechanical, electronic or chemical in nature. (c) Ratio analysis: Ratio analysis is one of the most important management tools. It describes the relationship of one business variable to another. The following are some of the important ratios: i) Net sales to working capital: The working capital must be utilised adequately. If the inventory turnover is rapid then the same working capital can be used again and again.Hence for perishable goods, this ratio is high. Any change in ratio will signal a deviation from the norm. ii) Net sales to inventory: The greater the turnover of inventory, generally, the higher th e profit on investment. iii) Current ratio: This is the ratio of current asset (cash, receivables etc. ) to current liabilities, and is used to determine a firm's ability to pay the short term debts. iv) Net profits to net sale: This ratio measures the short-run profitability of a business. v) Net profits to tangible net worth: Net worth is the difference between tangible assets (not good will, etc) and total liabilities.This ratio of net worth is used to measure profitability over a long period. vi) Net profits to net working capital: The net-working capital is the operating capital at hand. This would determine the ability of the business to finance day-to-day operations. vii) Collection period on credit sales: The collection period should be as short as possible. Any deviation from established collection period should be promptly investigated. viii) Inventory to net working capital: This ratio is to determine the extent of working capital tied up in inventory.Generally, this rati o should be less than 80 per cent, ix) Total debt to tangible net worth: This ratio would determine the financial soundness of the business. This ratio should remain as low as possible. (d) Comparative statistical analysis: The operations of one company can be usefully compared with similar operations of another company or with industry averages. It is a very useful performance measuring device. (e) Personal observation: Personal observation both formal and informal can be used in certain situation as a measuring device for performances, specially, the performance of the personnel.The informal observation is generally a day-to-day routine type. A manager may walk through a store to have a general idea about how people are working. 3. Comparing the actual performance with expected performance This is the active principle of the process. The previous two, setting the goals and the measurement format are the preparatory parts of the process. It is the responsibility of the management t o compare the actual performance against the standards established. This comparison is less complicate if the measurement units for the standards et and the performance measured are the same and quantified. The comparison becomes more difficult when these require subjective evaluations Ralph C. Davis identifies four phases in the comparison. 1. Receiving the raw data. 2. Accumulation, classification and recording of this information. 3. Periodic evaluation of completed action to date. 4. Reporting the status of accomplishment to higher line authority. At the third phase, deviations if any are noted between standards and performance. If clear cut deviations are there, then management must study the:- (i) Causes for deviation ii) Effect of deviation (iii) Size of deviation (iv) Positive or negative deviation. 4. Correcting Deviations: The final element in the process is the taking corrective action. Measuring and comparing performance, detecting shortcomings, failures or deviations, f rom plans will be of no avail if it does point to the needed corrective action. Thus controlling to be effective, should involve not only the detection of lapses but also probe into the failure spots, fixation of responsibility for the failures at the right quarters, recommendation of the best possible teps to correct them. These corrective actions must be applied when the work is in progress. The primary objective should be avoidance of such failures in future. The required corrective action can be determined from the qualified data as per the standards laid out and the performance evaluation already done. This step should be taken promptly, otherwise losses may be cumulative and remedial action will be all the more difficult to take. Corrective action must be well balanced, avoiding over controlling and at the same time letting not things to drift.You May Also Like: †¢ 3 Elements of an Organisation suggested by Allen †¢ 14 principles of management suggested by Fayol Adve rtisement Free Subscription Top of Form [pic][pic] Do you want some more information on this topic? Enter your email id: [pic][pic] Bottom of Form Do you like this site? If you enjoy reading PreserveArticles. com, please share this site with your friends.? Guidelines †¢ About Site †¢ Content Quality Guidelines †¢ Terms of Service †¢ Privacy Policy †¢ Disclaimer †¢ Copyright †¢ Recent Articles spellingerrors Report Spelling and Grammatical Errors Suggestions †¢ Suggest Us Testimonials †¢ Users Testimonials Preserve Articles is home of thousands of articles published and preserved by users like you. Here you can publish your research papers, essays, letters, stories, poetries, biographies, notes, reviews, advises and allied information with a single vision to liberate knowledge. Before preserving your articles on this site, please read the following pages: 1. Content Guidelines 2. TOS 3. Privacy Policy 4. Disclaimer 5. Copyright Search Arti cles Top of Form