Risk assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hazard evaluation - Essay Example One of the significant man-made catastrophes in the Northern shore in Staten Island is the boat to dispatch oil move exercises at St. George ship terminal. For example, on March 23, 2009, in excess of 3000 gallons of oil spilled into the sea in the activity (Checker, 2009). Spillage of oil jeopardized the environment in the zone as well as lives of individuals as waters and fish become sullied, notwithstanding destroying the delightful sea shores. The activity is a medium level hazard that doesn't happen consistently, however may have genuine repercussions. Another man-made peril in the region is the numerous production lines that work close to local locations leaving hints of hurtful and radioactive components. For example, On April 2 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA reported the revelation of lead levels multiple times more than as far as possible on a site where the old Sedutto’s Ice Cream industrial facility was found (Checker, 2009). This area is a couple of meters from private houses. In addition, the earnestness around the same time reported to have found high and disturbing degrees of lead and arsenic close to the Veterans Park. Such materials do present incredible peril to the lives of individuals and might be a genuine inclining component of fatal infections, for example, malignant growth and other respiratory maladies. The Fresh Kill, perhaps the biggest landfill comprehensively presents medium to elevated level hazard to the inhabitants of North Shore Staten Island. The site contains all types of dangerous materials covered to make the landfill. In the event that the water from the landfill streams to the close to neighborhoods the poisonous materials may be a high hazard. Considering the low-pay class of individuals living close to the landfills, sanitation in these local locations may not fulfill the necessary wellbeing guidelines, which is a high wellbeing hazard. Besides, a blend of plants and private condos in the Northern shore have a high hazard. Outflows from the production line may

8 most attractive universities for students and great destinations for tourists

8 most alluring colleges for understudies and extraordinary goals for visitors 8 Most Beautiful Places to Go to Graduate School Where to go to graduate school? On the off chance that you are posing this inquiry and inspecting openings where to go as a graduate understudy, this article will give you a lot of thoughts. We chose to find most wonderful colleges that don't just offer a fascinating and helpful investigation process however look astonishing. The colleges we are going to inform you regarding have a great look and give understudies a magnificent encompassing region to appreciate extra time from examining. Top most awesome colleges to graduate school 8. College of Colorado, Boulder The college is based at the Rocky Mountains and was worked in 1876. The spot has a dry and warm atmosphere, which you will have the option to appreciate by biking and climbing. You can call this spot green as a result of magnificent nature and verifiable structures that encompass the college. Stone additionally has a neighborhood farmer’s advertise that runs from April to October and offers local people and understudies the freshest food. 7. Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA This beautiful spot with radiant days and amazing sea shores is one of the most loved spots for understudies and visitor who come here. Many individuals everywhere throughout the world would live to set here and appreciate days by the blue water. Understudies who have an incredible chance to spend their school a long time here can swim, sunbathe, and surf lasting through the year. 6. College of Washington, Seattle A delightful spot, be that as it may, with a maritime atmosphere and wet winters despite everything merits a spot in the rundown of most appealing colleges on the planet. Here understudies have a ton of chances to grow socially. The city is wealthy in music, expressions, theaters, and historical centers. Additionally, the city is likewise popular for a tasty espresso. You will have a great deal of room to stroll around and appreciate life-changing perspectives. It is even difficult to accept that some youngsters concentrate here and walk those roads consistently. 5. The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT Five national parks, world-popular Salt Lake, warm summers and cool winters draw in not just youngsters to enter The University of Utah, yet vacationer to spend an excursion here. From each purpose of the city, you can appreciate a brilliant perspective on Oquirrh mountain ranges. 4. College of Texas, San Antonio In the event that you need to consolidate concentrating with energizing recreation, this spot is number one. The city has a subtropical atmosphere and gives a breathtaking nightlife. Be that as it may, the city has verifiable roots, it offers a great deal of contemporary amusements. There are a great deal of spots to visit around the college, for example, Japanese Tea Gardens and National Park. 3. College of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI On the off chance that you are pulled in by rainforests and islands, at that point you should come here. This spot is number one with regards to outside exercises, for example, biking, surfing, and rowing. It is just 3 miles from the college to a celebrated Waikiki Beach where you can completely appreciate sunbathing, tasting tasty food, and having a fabulous time around evening time. 2. Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA The college and the grounds are situated along the coastline that gives an amazing perspective on the Pacific Ocean. The atmosphere here suits pretty everybody. It is warm and dry, so understudies and guests of the city can appreciate different exercises. In 2007, The Pepperdine University grounds was evaluated number one in the rundown of most wonderful grounds everywhere throughout the globe. 1. Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH The grounds of this college is called one of the most amazing not due to nature here yet various open doors for understudies. When you come here, you will have the option to enjoy climbing, biking, and snowmobiling. The college is situated along the Connecticut River and the White Mountain National Forest which are the spots you should see. A striking design from nineteenth century adds appeal to this pleasant city. Perhaps this data will help with composing a paper for your school or school, so don't be bashful to utilize it and get a high evaluation!

Indian Woman Poisoned Her Family And Eloped With So-Called Facebook Lover

Indian Woman Poisoned Her Family And Eloped With So-Called Facebook Lover Make Money Online Queries? Struggling To Get Traffic To Your Blog? Sign Up On (HBB) Forum Now!Indian Woman Poisoned Her Family And Eloped With So-Called Facebook LoverUpdated On 23/04/2017Author : Pradeep KumarTopic : FacebookShort URL : http://bit.ly/2nV3VQj CONNECT WITH HBB ON SOCIAL MEDIA Follow @HellBoundBlogRakhee, wife of West Delhi jeweller Sameer Swahney created an account on the social networking site Facebook before one and a half years.Through Facebook she came in contact with a stranger Rahul Kumar. But he claimed to be an US-based NRI.According to the Police, Rahul had sent her a friend request and she had accepted it. This further developed into friendship and later into dating. Finally they decided to marry. All this happened because Rahul claimed that he owned few hotels in America and had other wealthy businesses.Since Rakhee was married, Rahul prepared a plan to help her get rid of her family. Initially she refused, but later she agreed to the plan. So one night s he offered her family dinner that was laced with poisonous substanceLuckily, Sameer did not eat at home that night and went to bed. Her two children who ate the dinner fell unconscious. Rakhee then made off with Rs. 5 lakh cash and some gold and diamond jewellery, the official added.After robbing her family, Rakhee went to Rahuls place. He then took her to Bahadurgarh where they stayed in a hotel. At the hotel, Rahul played the same trick on her and offered her dinner laced with sedatives. She fell unconscious and he fled with all the cash and jewellery, said the police official.READBloggers Who Use Twitter, Take Note! New Study Shows Why People UnfollowMeanwhile, Sameer had lodged an FIR against her at the local police station. Police traced Rakhees mobile records and arrested her from the hotel.DCP (West) V Ranganathan said that Rahul is involved in several cases of cheating earlier too. All cases against him have been lodged with South Delhi Police stations.[Information gathered via NDTV]This is not the first time we are encountering such problems, earlier a mother killed her baby after Farmville Interruption. Online activities are not essential sometimes. Many people are obsessed with Facebook these days.You cant understand a guy/girl through online, it is quite difficult. Remove/avoid unwanted strangers from your friends list, even if it is me.

Designing An Architecture For Agent Oriented Supply Chain...

Abstract: The supply chain involves suppliers, factories, warehouses, distribution centers, and retailers directly or indirectly through which raw materials are acquired, transformed, and delivered to customers. A new system generation has been evolved in order to improve the products, improve financially and satisfy the customer demand. For this target, supply chain is composed of a set of intelligent agents, responsible for one or more activities in the supply chain and each interacting with other agents in the planning and execution of their responsibilities. This project is to develop an architecture for agent oriented supply chain management in order to increase overall profitability. In this project, we went through different kinds of agents who contribute to Supply chain management. The approach relies on the use of an agent building shell, providing components and services for communication, coordination, role-based organization modeling, and others. Introduction Supply Chain coordination has become a critical success factor for Supply Chain management (SCM) and effectively improving the performance of organizations in various industries. Companies are increasingly located at the intersection of one or more corporate networks which are designated by â€Å"Supply Chain†. Managing this chain is mainly based on an information sharing and redeployment activities between the various links that comprise it. Several attempts have been made by industrialists andShow MoreRelatedMelnyk et al.2014 Essay6112 Words   |  25 Pagesauthors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tprs20 Supply chain design: issues, challenges, frameworks and solutions a a Steven A. Melnyk , Ram Narasimhan Hugo A. DeCampos b a Department of Supply Chain Management, Michigan State University, The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management,, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. b Department of Marketing Supply Chain Management, Wayne State University, School of Business Administration,, Detroit, MI, 48202Read MoreInformation Technology Management8338 Words   |  34 Pagesinformation systems transforming business and what is their relationship to globalization? E-mail, online conferencing, and cell phones have become essential tools for conducting business. Information systems are the foundation of fast-paced supply chains. The Internet allows many businesses to buy, sell, advertise, and solicit customer feedback online. Organizations are trying to become more competitive and efficient by digitally enabling their core business processes and evolving into digitalRead MoreA Report On Design And Implementation Of Data Models9374 Words   |  38 PagesA Report on ‘Design and Implementation of Data Models’ At American Express India Pvt. Ltd. Submitted by Alok Deshpande PRN: 14030241140 MBA (IT Business Management) (2014-2016) Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology (A constituent member of Symbiosis International University (SIU), estd., under Section 3 of UGC Act, 1956 by Notification No. F.9-12/2001-U-3 of Govt. of India) Year of submission 2015 Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology A constituent member of SymbiosisRead MoreAmerican Express : A Global Service Company7002 Words   |  29 Pagesbusiness success. A leader in global payments, American Express is the largest card issuer by purchase volume and operates a worldwide network that processes millions of merchant transactions daily. It offers the broadest array of payment, expense management and travel solutions for consumers, small businesses, midsize companies and large corporations. American Express provides customers with incomparable access to products, experiences and insights that enrich lives and build business success. AmericanRead MoreThe Summer Training Project At American Express India Pvt. Ltd.9408 Words   |  38 Pagesenrich lives and build business success. As a result it is evident that there are numerous business processes adopted by Amex carried out by various applications under multiple portfolios. Enterprise architecture defines the way business works. The architecture can be of various types of which Data Architecture plays a vital role. Amex has divided its business into multiple portfolios based on similar business functionality and closely related functional areas. The wide scope of business across differentRead MoreProcurement 5000 Essay4453 Words   |  18 Pagesevolution of Purchasing Supply Mgt. From a transaction based (i.e. clerical/mechanical) function to one that is strategic based (i.e. proactive/world class) in the private sector, how has the emergence of a strategic focus affected the propagation implementation of the 5 Major Developments (as stated in the textbook) in the area of Purchasing and Supply Management? In addition, how has this strategic focus influenced the interaction collaboration of Purchasing Supply Mgt, with other departmentsRead MoreSummary of Text Book: Essentials of Management Information Systems8717 Words   |  35 PagesManufacturing (DM) systems DELMIA Dassault Systemes’ Digital Enterprise Lean Manufacturing Interactive Application (DELMIA) POS Point of Sale (POS) systems (E.g. Store registers) Example: MICRO 3700 from MICRO Systems (Pg. 52) Inventory Management System Inventory management system (pg. 52) Mapping Technology Mapping technology: MapInfo software (E.g. MapInfo Smart Site Solutions) (pg. 52) Electronic Business / E-Business (Pg. 56) Refers to the use of digital technology and the Internet to executeRead MoreWills Lifestyle7563 Words   |  31 Pagescompany,the infrastructural set up and its mode of functioning. In the remaining six weeks we begin the project of designing and executing a collection as per the specific design brief given by the company. Contents ITC profile History Evolution ITC Sub-brands Organizational chart Achievements LRBD profile LRBD organizational structure Brand Architecture Supply chain management Product Development -sourcing -sampling -fabric store -grading -cutting -washing -finishing -costing Read MoreBusiness Information Systems31162 Words   |  125 Pagesand materials, of: a. all business procedures. b. information accumulation. c. modern information systems. d. all industrialized countries. Answer: c Difficulty: Medium Reference: p. 11 16. (Analysis) An example of raw data from a national chain of automobile stores would be: a. 13 Toyotas sold daily in Kentucky b. 13 Toyota RAV 4s sold during March 2006 in Louisville, Kentucky c. 1 Toyota RAV4s sold March 3, 2005 in Louisville, Kentucky d. All of the above Answer: d Difficulty: HardRead MoreEssay on Digital Customer Engagement and Social Media2751 Words   |  12 Pagesend user (Wei and Ozok, 2005). Without e-commerce application, e-commerce will not function and here are some applications for e-commerce: †¢ A supply chain is a form of relationships acquired between a number of companies who have a symbiotic relationship with each other in that one company supplies goods or services to other companies which, in turn, supply goods or services to other companies and offer services or product online through e-commerce application. †¢ E-tailing is the use of retailing

The Economic Crisis Is the Greater Challenge than...

Globalization (a process) centers on improving the efficiency and speed that economies interact and transform interconnectivity between sovereign nations’ political, social and economic cultures. For centuries, globalized improvements in infrastructure (communication, economies, trade, and ideas) have allowed sovereigns to improve interdependence with others. This essay will present why the economic crisis, a global issue, is the greater challenge than pandemics to U.S. national interest. Regarding pandemic challenges, the U.S. has among the world’s best health care. The ability of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to respond to pandemics is better than any other nation. Over the last 100 years, influenza pandemics have been among the leading cause of infectious deaths. Technological advances have expanded understanding of complex pandemics and have improved our ability to contain outbreaks or â€Å"manipulate micro genomes.† Caution should be considered as the same scientific knowledge can be deliberately misused. The U.S. works with countries, addressing infectious diseases that slow socioeconomic and democratic development, as well as the humanitarian emergencies and civil conflicts that pandemics contribute to. Infectious disease-related embargoes and restrictions on travel and immigration can cause economic frictions among sovereign states. Deployed U.S. military personnel will be at low-to-moderate risk from pandemics yet, at the highest risk while deployed inShow MoreRelatedNuclear Weapons Of Mass Destruction1057 Words   |  5 PagesKarla Ximena Leyte Though Paper #3 Weapons of mass destruction and their ability to challenge security and create large-scale obliteration have become the most significant threat in international politics, causing vast concern of the consequences that may arise if they were to emerge in the hands of dangerous non-state actors. Chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons not only possess the ability to end the life of many but also pose negative effects on the environment and global economy. WhileRead MoreUnited States National Interests: An Analysis2529 Words   |  10 Pages1. What three United States national interests do you think will be at great risk over the next five years? Describe those interests and identify which instruments of national power can be leveraged to protect or advance those national interests and how those instruments can be used. As President Obama stated in his addresses to Congress in February 2009, the most important problem that the country faced was the economy, which was in the worst recession since the 1930s. This affected both domesticRead MoreNanotech 1AC Essay13565 Words   |  55 Pagesnanotechnology-related research became an area of strategic importance, with some funding directed to support its development. The Programa Especial de Ciencia y Tecnologà ­a 2001-2006 (Special Program for Science and Technology 2001-2006), which is embedded inside the National Development Plan 2001-2006, views nanotechnology as a strategic area within the science of advanced materials. In the same document, the core areas to be developed are depicted in detail and include nanostructures, semiconductors, metallurgy, biomaterialsRead MorePornography and Women Empowerment Essay2178 Words   |  9 Pagesnomination for president, Rick Santorum has stated that America is suffering a pandemic of harm from pornography (F riedersdorf).† A self-described crusader for family values, he has also detailed in his writing that In far too many families with young children, both parents are working†¦ Here, we can thank the influence of radical feminism (Santorum). Santorum in his platform targets a split in the female political interest, where pornography and feminism currently brush heads. It is time for the anti-pornographyRead MoreEssay about Community Health and Population Focused Nursing revision2558 Words   |  11 PagesFocused Nursing VWT Task 1 Cassidi Roberts Western Governors University Community Health and Population Focused Nursing McKinney, Texas is â€Å"unique by nature†. As one of the fastest growing cities in the US, McKinney has a current population of more than 149,000, located 30 miles north of Dallas and is the seat of Collin County. McKinney offers rolling hills, lush trees, a historic downtown square and unique neighborhoods and developments. The city ranks number 2 in the CNN’s Money Magazine BestRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pagesunabated. The global financial crisis and economic recession have challenged some assumptions about globalization and economic integration, but they have also underscored the interconnected nature of global economies. Most countries and regions around the world are inextricably linked, yet profound differences in institutional and cultural environments persist. The challenges for international management reflect this dynamism and the increasing unpredictability of global economic and political events. ContinuedRead MorePre-Colu mbian Period9302 Words   |  38 PagesWorldAfter a period of exploration by people from various European countries, Spanish, Dutch, English, French, Swedish, and Portuguese settlements were established.[11] Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot on what would one day become U.S. territory when he came to Puerto Rico on November 19, 1493, during his second voyage. In the 15th century, Europeans brought horses, cattle, and hogs to the Americas and, in turn, took back to Europe corn, potatoes, tobacco, beans, and squash.[11] Read MoreAbstract: Strategic Contingency Planning23625 Words   |  95 Pages70 Implementation and Metrics 72 Summary 73 5. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 74 Recommendations 74 Conclusion 75 Summary 76 APPENDICES 77 A. SAMPLE FUTURE SCENARIOS 78 B. SAMPLE STRATEGIC EMERGENCY AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLAN 86 C. SAMPLE BASELINE ASSESSMENT PAGE 91 D. SAMPLE RELATIONSHIP DIAGRAM 93 E. SAMPLE CONTINGENCY PLANNING SITUATION ASSESSMENT 95 BIBLIOGRAPHY 97 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Emergency managementRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagescentury. 3. Social history—20th century. 4. World politics—20th century. I. Adas, Michael, 1943– II. American Historical Association. D421.E77 2010 909.82—dc22 2009052961 The paper used in this publication meets the requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992 Printed in the United States of America 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 C ONTENTS Introduction Michael Adas 1 1 World Migration in the LongRead MoreStrategic Analysis of Sabmiller16462 Words   |  66 Pagesbest-selling beer in Africa), SABMiller import brands Pilsner Urquell and Miller Genuine Draft, and one foreign brand brewed under license - Amstel. The company also maintains a major presence in the South African soft drink market through a 74 percent interest in Amalgamated Beverage Industries Ltd., the countrys largest bottler and distributor of the Coca-Cola line of products, and full ownership of Appletiser South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., a producer of nonalcoholic sparkling fruit juices. In addition, SABMiller

Hitler s Death Of World War II - 1748 Words

On April 20, 1889, Adolfus Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria. Hitler was the fourth child out of six born to his father Alois Hitler, and mother Klara Polzl. During his youth, Hitler often collided with his father’s viewpoints on things. For example, Hitler’s father despised Hitler’s deep interest in the fine arts. In 1900, after the death of his brother, Hitler became distant and lonely. Some believe that it was during this time that Hitler formed a taste for German nationalism. It was this taste that would soon be the driving force behind Hitlers motivation for war, world domination, and the attempted extermination of an entire population. Adolfus Hitler was the cause of World War II, and is single-handedly responsible for the†¦show more content†¦Hitler began representing the party and exploiting his views of hatred towards the Treaty of Versailles, politicians, Marxism and Jewish people. Hitler eventually became chairman of the party in 1921 . Hitler began making large steps forward in trying to progress the evolution of the Nazi Party and the revolution of Germany. On November 8, 1923, Hitler and his followers stormed a public meeting that included Bavarian prime minister Gustav Kahr at a beer hall in Munich, Germany. Hitler proclaimed that the national revolution was beginning and announced the creation of a new government. After a curt battle leading to several deaths, the attack recalled as the Beer Hall Putsch failed. After this failed attempt, Hitler was arrested and put in prison for high treason. During his nine months in prison Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, which translates to â€Å"My Struggle.† This novel basically outlines Hitlers plans of making Germany the greatest country in the world, and making a super race while doing so. Once out of prison Hitler ran for the presidency of Germany and was defeated after two voting rounds by the 84-year old Hindenburg. Later, Hindenburg agreed to appoint Hitler as Chanc ellor of Germany. However, Hitler began abusing his powers, using them to create a dictatorship. Hitler basically overthrew the German Government using his popularity and legal powerShow MoreRelatedHitler s Suicide Or Escape Cover Up?1487 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 7 Ms. Jones 16 May 2017 Hitler: Suicide or Escape cover-up? World War II was the deadliest and most far reaching war to date. There were 30 countries involved and more than 50 million deaths, military and civilian. The war began after a man named Adolf Hitler invaded Poland in 1939. The war lasted 6 long years (World War II). Adolf Hitler was the head of the Nazi Party and Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, ruling as a dictator (World War II). During his rise to power andRead MoreWHY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SHOULD HAVE ATTACKED HITLER EARLIER1522 Words   |  7 Pagestheir decision to go to war against Hitler’s Nazi Germany then the war may have concluded earlier and potentially saved millions of lives. Hitler and the Nazi’s were in power for eight years before the United States decided to join the allies and fight against Hitler’s regime. Approximately six million Jews were slaughtered in addition to millions of others during World War II. The United States delay in attacking Hitler caused a negative effect throughout the entire world. The facts present the question:Read MoreThe Battle Of Moscow During World War II1018 Words   |  5 PagesMrs.Juza World History 1 May 2015 The Battle of Moscow World War II was full of conflicts between countries all over the world. Although most people only know things about the holocaust or Hitler s affect on the World War II, there are other important events that have affected many countries. The Battle of Moscow was a major battle between the Soviet Union and Germany. Ironically, the Soviet Union and Germany previously had a secret agreement (the nonaggression pact) not to go to war on eachRead MoreHitler s Impact On The World War II1636 Words   |  7 Pagessquare, saluting and chanting Hitler s name. World War II has begun and many Germans hope for improvements in the economy. Their leader is Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler, dictator of Germany in World War II, was a powerful speaker who caused over 5 million deaths in concentration camps. Though Hitler s impact can be felt in modern times, the roots of his atrocious behavior began at childhood—more specifically—high school. Years before Adolf Hitler was born, Hitler s great grandfather, Johann GeorgRead MoreThe Worst Dictator Of The World1057 Words   |  5 PagesThe worst dictator in the whole world Adolf Hitler is the world s worst dictators. Hitler was a German politician, he is the leader of the Nazi party. He is also the German Chancellor. Since the Nazi dictator, who started World War II in Europe with the invasion of Poland in September 1939, is the central figure in the Holocaust. He was born in a German-speaking Austrian and improve family Linz nearby. He was transferred to Germany in 1913. He added he in World War I, he was decorated service inRead MoreLord Of The Flies By William Golding1271 Words   |  6 Pagesfollowing in his father s footsteps and teaching English and philosophy to unruly boys at Bishop Wordsworth’s School, Golding abandoned his profession to join the Royal Navy and fight in World War II. Golding has said of the war, â€Å"I began to see what people were capable of doing. Anyone who moved through those years without understanding that man produces evil as a bee produces honey, must have been blind or wrong in the head† (â€Å"Willia m Golding†). Written in the early 1950’s in Salisbury, England,Read MoreCauses And Effects Of World War II1370 Words   |  6 PagesCauses and Effects of World War II World War II has been considered one of the worst things to ever occur in history. Violence, death and aggression took place in the 1930s and 1940s in certain European nations. German leader, Hitler played an important, yet a very big role during this time. With the rise and domination of fascism in Germany and Italy, the goal was to maintain peace, established by the Treaty of Versailles ended up in major disaster. World War II began with the poor economic conditionsRead MoreAnalysis Of David Irving s Hitler s War Essay1508 Words   |  7 Pageswere incredibly detailed looks into World War II. Of his works, he is well known for Hitler’s War, The Destruction of Dresden, Churchill’s War, and Goebbels: Mastermind of the Third Reich. Throughout all of these books, Irving used his position as a historian to uncover lost documents and gain credibility for outlandish Holocaust revisionist theories. One book that might have helped Irving gain credibility the most among revisionist circles is his book, Hitler’s War. In this nearly 800 page work, IrvingRead MoreAdolf Hitler As A Post Christ1349 Words   |  6 Pages People sometimes refer to Adolf Hitler as a post-Christ Nero because of Hitler s ruthless attitudes and actions towards innocent citizens, similar to Nero when he persecuted Christians during his rule about two thousand years prior(Kershaw). Hitler dealt with a depressing childhood, which included the deaths of his parents and the inability to pursue his dreams as an artist(Knapp). Thereafter, Hitler became interested in politics, as he eventually joined the Small German Workers party(Nazis)Read MoreThe World Of World War II1371 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War II has been considered one of the worst things to ever occur in history. Violence, death and aggression took place in the 1930s and 1940s in certain European nations. German leader, Hitler playe d an important, yet a very big role during this time. With the rise and domination of fascism in Germany and Italy, the goal was to maintain peace, established by the Treaty of Versailles ended up in major disaster. World War II began with the poor economic conditions in Europe after World War I

Managerial Economics in Global Environment

Question: Discuss about the Managerial Economics in Global Environment. Answer: Concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) is an animal feeding operation, in the terms of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Most of the meat and milk that are consumed by the individuals in America comes from animals that are grown by CAFO. These large concentrations of animals lead to enormous manure in a single location that leads to air pollution that harms public health. CAFO contributes to the reduction of air quality in areas that surrounds the industrial farms. This is mostly due several types of air emissions that are caused during animal feeding operation. The major cause of air pollution is the decay of animal manure that particulates substances caused by movements of animals (Parker et al. 2013). The most typical air pollutions that surround CAFO are ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, methane and particulate matter that leads to several human health risks. CAFO also releases greenhouse gases that lead to climatic change. This has also affected the communities by increasing respiratory problems. According to reports, it has also led to depression, fatigue as well as disturbances in mood. Several remedies and techniques are effectual to reduce the effects of air pollution from CAFO. This includes advanced storage of manure as well as raised attention to the nutritional requirements of precise types of livestock. The cows should be allowed to graze on healthy meadow rather than feeding them on grains. This in turn has the probability to diminish the emissions of greenhouse gases. Raising animals on meadow also decreases the necessity for farming and transportation of feed, as well as storage and dispersal of manure. Figure: Negative Externality (Source: Created by Author) Air pollution is considered as a negative externality under which the economists demonstrate social cost of production with a demand and supply curve. The social costs include the private costs of production that are incurred by CAFO whereas; the external costs of pollution are passed on to the society (Carrel, Young and Tate 2016). References Carrel, M., Young, S.G. and Tate, E., 2016. Pigs in Space: Determining the Environmental Justice Landscape of Swine Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in Iowa. International journal of environmental research and public health, 13(9), p.849. Parker, D., Ham, J., Woodbury, B., Cai, L., Spiehs, M., Rhoades, M., Trabue, S., Casey, K., Todd, R. and Cole, A., 2013. Standardization of flux chamber and wind tunnel flux measurements for quantifying volatile organic compound and ammonia emissions from area sources at animal feeding operations. Atmospheric Environment, 66, pp.72-83.

Strategic Human Resource Planning. Walmart

Walmart is the world’s largest retailer. It is second to china’s military in terms of employment opportunities. The organization faces a high staff turnover rate. With the rate standing at around 50%, it shows gaps in the employee retaining strategy (Berg Roberts, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Human Resource Planning. Walmart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Otherwise, it points out to a weak human resource department that fails to articulate needs of its employees. It could also point out to lack of job satisfaction among the employees. Similarly, it could mean that Walmart is unable to stay at par with other organizations in terms of remuneration causing mass exit of employees. Other organizations could also be offering incentives to their workforce thus encouraging employees to stay. With its market presence, the rate of staff turnover can easily ruin the image of the organiza tion. This is especially so gauging on the profit margin that Walmart realizes. It is important, therefore, for Walmart to invest more in the development of its workforce so as to avoid losses as a result of employee exit. It is agreeable that exit of employees has far reaching consequences to any retailer and this does not exclude Walmart. When employees leave, they go with hard earned knowledge to add value to other organizations. Their destiny organizations benefit from the value created by the previous employer. If the business is of the same nature, then it cuts the new employer the cost of training and avoids the low productivity period of induction. This is a direct loss of investment in terms of the training expenditure and time used in developing the employees. There is also a danger of the employees transferring trade secrets that form asymmetries for any organization. The leadership, therefore, has a role to play in mitigating strategies that ensure employees stay in the organization so as to reap the benefits of training vested (Ploetner, 2011). Recommendations The first recommendation involves restructuring of the employee recruitment process. The key to maintaining a stable workforce lies in the ability to formulate attainable objectives prior to recruitment. The department concerned should outline what their expectations are, the key competences desired, and the characteristics of choice. This limits the scope of exploration since the employer already has a checklist to vet the hopefuls. With such a strategy in place, the employer will obtain employees who are best suited for the positions on offer. On the other hand, the employees feel comfortable with their placement and are happy to execute their primary role. It would also be wise not to place the employees in to permanent contracts immediately. This gives room for the employer to continuously vet the recruits for suitability.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's s ee if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Recruits who maintain a high standard of integrity and consistency would form good employees. The level of productivity can also be tested during this stage at minimum risk. The period can also be used to assess how well the recruits blend in with the rest of the employees as well as how they adapt to the organization’s culture. Age should also be taken into consideration during the recruitment process. Older people are more likely to hold on to job positions since they are less ambitious compared to college leaving applicants. After recruitment, new employees should be well inducted to their positions to make sure they understand their job descriptions well. Poor perception of expectations is a main cause of dissatisfaction to employees in an organization usually resulting to attrition (Gatewood et al, 2011). Indirectly, Walmart can discourage attrition through involvement in corporate social respon sibility (CSR) activities. Supporting students in college and high schools through bursaries and sponsorship is one way of instilling a sense of confidence in the organization. When students are supported through school, they tend to develop a liking for such an organization and are more likely to work with dedication. It helps instill loyalty of employees as an obligation or gesture of good faith towards support through school. CSR offers an organization a chance to establish its brand confidence. It helps create a positive attitude for the organization. Though the implications are not direct, giving back to the society encourages workers associated with the brand and increases their loyalty. Issues of environmental protection, sporting activities and cleanliness campaigns would form good points of interaction with the society. The current breed of employees likes having fun while at work. When the activities are incorporated in the monthly schedule, they provide room for interacti on between employees. To some extent, the activities provide additional room for bonding outside of the work environment. This reduces the level of boredom among employees. Bonding creates positive energy and friendship which employees would miss out on if they left. Participating in sporting activities allows employees to loosen up from the tensions of work. Actively participating in charitable events would exhibit the organizations ability to take care of their own. This brings about positive anticipation while encouraging employee residence in the organization. Changing the attitude attributed to an organization can mean a difference in how employees view their employer and, therefore, instill confidence (Gatewood et al, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Human Resource Planning. Walmart specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Remuneration forms the other area that requires to be addressed. Other than correct placement and good working environment, employees require their financial needs to be adequately met. The recruiting department should set good compensation packages for their employees if loyalty is to be achieved. This can be done through thorough research on how other players in the sector compensate their employees. When employees leave, the target field is usually similar to the former. If the compensation differs within negligible margins, it would be hard for employees to exit if their main reason for departure is compensation. Other benefit packages such as bonuses and flexible working hours encourage employee loyalty. Recognizing and rewarding outstanding employees act as a motivator to others. It also encourages the person rewarded to keep up good work. A clearly outlined reward system such as employee of the month would increase positive competition in the workforce. The anticipation of getting rewarded in the subsequent chance can act as a source of motivation an d lead to production of exemplary results. Extra benefits with financial value encourage more saving. Allowing employees to save in a union would go a step further in enhancing the level of interaction between employees with a common goal. Remuneration packages should be reviewed overtime in a stipulated schedule. When employees are informed on when to expect raises in their wages, they are more likely to stay. Poor wages in an organization such as Walmart would encourage employees to train then depart to other competitors offering better payment packages. This is detrimental since the cost of training new staff exceeds the salary denied to exiting employee (Cascio et al, 2011). Expected Challenges Any firm making major decisions involving restructuring must face unprecedented challenges. However, these challenges only last a while. In order to come up with a working strategy, Walmart may have to reshuffle or redeploy some of the top management, especially those involved directly in recruitment of new employees. If the same people are involved in coming up with new strategies, they resist change and derail the process. Some may not come to terms with being deployed to unfamiliar positions. At the same time, formulating a new team to conduct the recruitment process overhaul requires time for development. The new team has to be trained intensively to change their mindset and become objective oriented. Training has financial implications to any organization. Some officials resist retraining and dismiss it as boring. This leads to the inability to cope with change. As some may argue, the time and financial resources used in effecting the change could find application in formulation of new strategies that advance business. Restructuring also means laying aside people previously thought to add value to the organization when they become an impediment to forward movement. Issues of dealing with retrenchment develop as a by-product of the new strategies.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Coping with change, therefore, becomes a main hurdle when restructuring. At the same time, targeting the older population for employment positions may not sit well with everyone. The young population, though ambitious, is dynamic and flexible and is bound to deliver more units per time. College leavers would take lower wages since they know they are just starting their careers. The older population, on the other hand, seeks to settle and demands job permanency (Gatewood et al, 2011). There is a downside to freedom of forming associations among employees. So far, Walmart has been able to avoid the headaches and legal suits that emerge when employees get into unions. In fighting for rights, employees abuse the privilege and use the associations as leverage to pressurize their employers into meeting unnecessary demands. Walmart would face such challenges if it allows employees to form unions within the organization. Since they have backings in legally registered unions, employees would boycott wok without fear of any repercussions. Employees would take advantage of the conditions to skip work for days and still earn. Productivity levels would reduce leading to shrinkage of profits for the organization. This would in turn slow down growth. Harmonizing the rates given to employees with those of competitors would mean that Walmart spends more in wages and salaries. The main objective of the organization is to reduce the production and other overhead costs in order to maximize profit. This determines the choice of a low wage labor strategy. Paying higher would reduce the overall profitability. Walmart employees provide the organization with a customer base for its products. With the wages they earn, employees can barely afford costs of goods from other stores. Paying higher would cause the employees to seek the products elsewhere. This would mean loss of customers to the outlets. Incentives such as performance rewards can trigger unfair competition between employees. Some employees would do anything to emerge at the top so as to carry the reward. This may create a hostile environment within the organization with employees holding feelings of bitterness. The process may also be a source of bias due to a wide range of parameters that have to be engaged in deciding who deserves the reward. Those found favorable to their supervisors and managers would, definitely, take home the prize (Cascio et al, 2011). Overcoming challenges There are different approaches that Walmart can employ to cope with the challenges. The research and development department should diversify in fields of technology. The aim is introduction of new and easy to use systems that facilitate flow of work without much labor input. This way, employees go about their business with ease and earn wages which correspond to the nature of work they perform. The department would also be mandated in ensuring that the current rates relate to those of competitors. At the same time, the depart ment can come up with interesting ways of functioning which reduce boredom at work and encourage participation. Similarly, Walmart can avert challenges in restructuring by indulging the services of change management consultants. The independent bodies provide an unbiased opinion concerning lay-offs and hiring. The consultants also possess wide scope of knowledge in dealing with problems that emerge during change. Such consultants would take away the headache involved in weighing options that may cause decision making process to procrastinate. The consultants also possess tools that introduce change gradually thus averting anxiety and change shock. Such consultants can make a complex situation appear simple and easy to handle. At the same time, the organization can outsource the function of recruiting to specialized firms. Recruitment process is usually time consuming and tiresome. Countless number of interviews may be held and still guarantee poor results. There are organizations th at specialize in vetting of employees for various positions. Since that is their only function, the recruiting agencies are better placed to develop the recruitment objectives and establish the knowledge skills and abilities that the organization requires in employees. Some even go to the extent of training the employees on their key performance indicators as well as orient them on their job descriptions. In addition, the recruiting agencies run the cycle repeatedly to retain a constant flow of probable employees who can take up positions upon demand. They also retain resumes in a database for ease of retrieval. Using such a strategy takes care of time wasted when interviewing employees at the organization level (Berg Roberts, 2011). There is a wide range of solutions that Walmart can use in rectifying the issue of employee attrition. However, more usually than not, the solutions act contrary to the profit objective of the organization in the short run. Modern solutions cannot take root without restructuring the already existing structures. Improvement strategies always oppose the inherent culture of any organization. Acceptance of change requires investment in education and training in order to avert anxiety and resistance. Change requires renewal of leadership’s mentality or an entirely new leadership that is open minded. Walmart must also invest financially with a focus on the long-term benefits of retaining a stable workforce. The cost of training new employees is high and affects work flow. Currently, the organization is actively seeking expansion in the international market. Developing a stable workforce can facilitate the process of growth since it would only require redeployment of employees to other areas. If Walmart is to remain profitable, the organization must strike the balance between excessive profits and development of its human resource. This is the only way to cope with challenges posed by competitors who are trying to catch up with t he cost benefit approach that the organization uses. Luckily, there are firms specialized in dealing with such challenges no matter the complexity. References Cascio, F.W., Boudreau, J.W., Davis, A., Shannon, J., Russo, D. (2011). HR Strategies for Employee Engagement. New Jersey: FT Press. Gatewood, R.D., Feild, H. S., Barrick, M. R. (2011).  Human resource selection. Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Ploetner, O. (2011). Counter Strategies in Global Markets. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Roberts, B.R., Berg, N. (2012).  Walmart: Key insights and practical lessons from the world’s largest retailer. London: Kogan Page. This essay on Strategic Human Resource Planning. Walmart was written and submitted by user Audrianna Johnston to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Issue Essay Example

The Issue Essay Example The Issue Essay The Issue Essay Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Journal 1 The Issue Poverty is a major cause for mental and psychological imbalance. Many poor people in the world are more likely to be affected by mental and psychological diseases. Psychological and mental conditions can also be aggravated by the conditions in which poor people live in. Majority of the poor people suffering from mental diseases are exposed to harsh living and social conditions. Many of them can barely cater for their treatment expenses. Most poor people cannot access health care centers and in most cases are abandoned by their next of kin. Poverty allows mental health to thrive; it presents a perfect case for people to suffer from mental illnesses. Poor people are faced with many problems. They are always anxious of what tomorrow holds for them. They are always faced with the challenge of providing for their families even when there is nothing to offer. They live in constant fear of not succeeding in their quest for a desirable livelihood. Poverty is characterized with a daily strug gle to survive, and the mental implications that come with failure are adverse. All these factors create very favorable conditions for mental and psychological complications. Poverty and mental health therefore represent a vicious cycle that ravages through society’s poor leaving an indelible mark in the lives of its victims. Children from poor families are more unlikely to get a decent education and usually perform poorly compared to their counterparts from well off families. Poor people who are mentally ill also suffer from a variety of human rights violations. Most of them undergo both sexual and physical abuse and face many forms of discrimination. Creating a favorable and comfortable environment for poor people suffering from mental illnesses will improve their welfare. Interventions in this case will go a long way in eradicating poverty as well as ensuring that mental illness is kept at check. Governments therefore need to intervene in this area of public health to deal with poverty as a whole, and ensure mentally ill people gain access to treatment. Mental heath professionals must ensure that they treat cases of mental illnesses among the po or with the deserved importance. Research Question How can the government and mental health professionals intervene to ensure that cases of mental illness among the poor reduce? The issues affecting mental health patients require policy intervention. The government and stakeholders in public health must act to ensure that people who are poor and mentally ill receive assistance. It is the sole duty of the government to provide accessible and affordable healthcare to its citizens. The government also has a duty to ensure that citizens live in good conditions. Mental health professionals too are obliged by the nature of their profession to participate in any initiative that might improve the welfare of mental health patients. An improvement in the conditions of living of mentally ill patients will benefit not only the patients but also the mental health profession as a whole. The interaction between mental health and poverty represent a vicious cycle that in turn affects a country’s economy and its development as a whole. It als o means that these people are at an increased risk of becoming poorer. The government needs to intervene in order to stop this vicious cycle. The government must put in place policies that will address the issue of mental illness in poor households. Government policy must therefore address the twin issues of poverty and mental health. Access to mental health care should be made easy and poor people should be assisted in seeking specialized health care for their mental health problems. This is a critical issue in health, wellness and psychology. Poverty affects the wellness of a person while mental health touches on both health and psychology. This research links well with my concentrations and will help focus attention on the plight of poor mentally ill people. It shall easily assist in finding solutions to the problems they face. Annotation Lipman, Ellen L, and Michael H. Boyle. Linking Poverty and Mental Health: A Lifespan View. Ottawa, Ont: Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO, 2011. Internet resource. In their book, these authors examine the issues presented by my research question. Their book studies the relationship between poverty and the psycho-mental health of youth. In this book Lipman et al, suggest that the mental effects that poverty has on the youth can sometimes extend even to adulthood. They argue that there is a strong relationship between poverty and mental problems among the youth and that compared to youth from well off families, they are most likely to develop mental problems. They say that mental health is not only affected by household poverty but also communal poverty. They add that mental health is affected by several factors that include familial conflicts, the mental health of the parents and social distress. Davis, Ann, and Phil Hill. Poverty, Social Exclusion and Mental Health in the Uk 1978-2000: A Resource Pack. London: Mental Health Foundation, 2001. Print. In their book, Ann and Hill clearly illustrate the existing relationship between poverty and mental health. They argue that, for policies that address these needs to be formulated, there is a need for the policy makers to understand the underlying effects of poverty on mental health. They propose a system that will grant the poor and mentally ill benefits that will enable them seek appropriate treatment. They also propose that governments must also address the needs of the poor and establish agendas for communities ravaged by poverty. They call for the establishment of poverty awareness education in the instruction of mental health professionals so that they may respond to such issues with the urgency and importance required. Davis, Ann, and Phil Hill. Poverty, Social Exclusion and Mental Health in the Uk 1978-2000: A Resource Pack. London: Mental Health Foundation, 2001. Print. Lipman, Ellen L, and Michael H. Boyle. Linking Poverty and Mental Health: A Lifespan View. Ottawa, Ont: Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at CHEO, 2011. Web. 28 January 2013.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Shareholder Value Maximization Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility and Shareholder Value Maximization - Essay Example Effective management of a company entails making realistic financial decisions, which are in line with the firm, or company’s goals. The choice to maximize company shareholders stocks remain an important role of firm managers and acts as an indicator of the level of advancement. The wealth possessed by the shareholders can be determined by analyzing the market price or value of the company’s common stock. Maximizing of shareholders wealth should be a long-term goal of the firm, which can be achieved by maximizing short-term earnings and reducing the expenditures. However, the management should be careful not to cut down too much on the expenditure since research and development are crucial in enabling firms develop novel products which contribute to increased wealth. This paper focuses on why the primary objective of management should be to increase the wealth of shareholders and owners. Increment of shareholders wealth portrays improved or good management in different areas, which include risk management, income management, developments, tax rates as well as in research. The move to increase shareholders wealth helps create a favorable working environment since it helps motivate the shareholders. However, firms that may choose to focus solely on increasing the shareholders wealth and disregard corporate social responsibility risk been scrutinized negatively especially by neighboring communities. Shareholders Value Shareholders are the persons who own or have bought shares in a corporation or firm. Shareholders have certain right in a firm since they are considered the owners of the firm. Being the owners of the firm, shareholders are concerned with the performance of the firm. Additionally they are involved in the firm’s decision-making process through voting process especially when important decisions are being made. Since the shareholders have invested financially in a firm, they require the employees to work towards increasing the wealt h of the firm (Bejou, 2011, 1-6; Van Beurden & Gossling, 2008, 407-414). One of the major roles of financial managers in a firm is to acquire funds for the firm and make use of the money to fund projects that will increase or maximize the value of the shareholders as well as firm owner’s wealth. Shareholders value can be defined as the value or wealth due to the management’s capability to maximize on earnings, share prices, as well as the dividends. It is calculated by considering the number of outstanding shares and their market price. The shareholders’ value can be decreased by factors such as issuing shares (Fontaine, Haarman and Schmid, 2006, Web). On the other hands, dividend payments tend to augment the shareholders’ value. All the decision made by the management has the potential of affecting the firm’s ability to increase the wealth or the firm’s cash flow is regarded as shareholder value. Increasing shareholders value entails making responsible decision on the investments to make and the appropriate time to invest. One of the main factors that threaten the shareholders’

Marine Finance and Insurance - Coursework 2 Essay

Marine Finance and Insurance - Coursework 2 - Essay Example Similarly, they also have come to cater to companies from other countries in the course of their business. Through it all, marine industry players have become subject to foreign exchange risks. They have engaged in deals that would involve gains or losses resulting from the fluctuations in the exchange rates of foreign currencies used. Thus, foreign exchange risk should be acknowledged in the marine industry as a reality that all companies should be prepared for. If managed well, foreign exchange fluctuations can even present opportunities for companies to earn more. Huge capital investments for boats or similar fixed assets purchased from a foreign supplier can turn out to be big mistakes for marine companies that transacted them in a currency whose equivalent conversion to the native currency takes a nosedive right the next day or even weeks after the purchase date. The same is true with having collected revenues in currencies whose values abruptly plummets. Indeed, such cases are not to be underestimated or overlooked. They can lead to material, negative impact on the profitability and financial soundness of any marine company. As a matter of fact, the dread of ending up as casualties of abrupt foreign exchange fluctuation has led businessmen and investors across all industries to adopt different mechanisms to mitigate such risk. Fear and risk-aversion naturally come with things that are unpredictable, uncontrollable or unfamiliar. Risk, then, is a subject that ought to be explored and studied. If risks will be capably viewed in the right perspective by decision-makers, then strategic opportunities for growth and development will not go wasted or deliberately missed out due to attempts to avoid them. Winning companies do not avoid having to face risks; they embrace risk-taking and then learn from it. It is important to create in the company a culture that welcomes risk-taking as part and parcel of excelling in the

Business Development Plan and CRM: Thomas Cook Group

Business Development Plan and CRM: Thomas Cook Group 1.0 ABSTRACT Customer relationship management(CRM) consists of the processes a company uses to track and organize its contacts with its current and prospective customers. CRM in its broadest sense simply means managing all customer interactions. In practice, this requires using information about ones customers and prospects to more effectively interact with its customers in all stages of its relationship with them. We refer to these stages as the customer life cycle. The customer life cycle has three stages: Acquiring customers Increasing the value of customer retaining good customer BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT The specialist area o fbusiness development comprises a number of techniques and responsibilities which aim at gaining new customers and at penetrating existing markets. Techniques used include: assessment of marketing opportunities and target markets intelligence gathering on customers and competitors generating leadsfor possible sales advising on, drafting and enforcing sales policies and processes follow-up sales activity. Project work: Learning of the major products and services of Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. Major Clients Major Competitors Acquiring a larger market share Learning about Customer Relationship Management Objectives Acquiring new customers. Retaining existing customers To have larger market share Limitations: Sometimes it is very hard to get an appointment with a corporate client as they have tough schedules. Meeting the right person in the organization is not an easy task who has the decision making power. Lack of transparency by companies in providing their data. Time period constraint was there for carrying out analysis. 2. INTRODUCTION 2.1 Company Profile Thomas Cook Group plc is a leading international leisure travel group, created by the merger of MyTravel Group plc and Thomas Cook AG in June 2007. Thomas Cook Group plc is a fully listed company on the London Stock Exchange. Thomas Cook (India) Limited is a part of Thomas Cook Group. It remains as a subsidiary of TCIM Limited, an unlisted private company, incorporated under the laws of England and Wales having its Registered Office at Peterborough, England, U.K. and holding 55.87% of the post Rights Issue paid-up equity share capital of the Company. Thomas Cook UK Limited (TCUK) apart from holding 21.45% of the post Rights Issue paid-up equity share capital of the Company, also holds 100% holding in TCIM Limited. Thus, TCUK indirectly holds 77.31% of the present paid-up equity share capital of the Company. 2.2 Thomas Cook (India) Limited During the year 2008, the Company successfully consolidated various businesses across Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its subsidiaries. The Company derived the synergy benefits in 2008 arising out of various initiatives like network harmonization, closure of non-core and loss making units, manpower realignment, and contributions from tourism boards for marketing spends, re-negotiation with vendors due to increased bargaining power. The one-time cost of integration amounted to Rs. 69.8 million. Thomas Cook organized a 19 city Summer Holiday Sale, a pan-India Holiday road-show offering the best Holiday deals. The roadshows were very successful giving a boost to the Domestic Business. The year 2008 was focused on Domestic Tourism with its launch through the brand name: My India, My Way. During the year, packages catering to the needs of different segments of customers were created. the Company was the first Travel Company to offer Indian Rail Bookings online in partnership with IRCTC on its portal. Further, the Company also integrated with Hotels4u real time on www.thomascook.in giving its online customers first hand access to over 30,000 hotels in the Hotels4u inventory. The Company also tied-up with Axis Bank for pre-paid forex card which offers exchange upto 7 currencies. Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. is the largest integrated Travel and Travel related Financial Services Company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services that include Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, Leisure Travel, and Insurance. The Company launched its Indian operations in 1881 and is celebrating its 127 years of world-class service in India. Thomas Cook (India) operates in the following areas of business, namely:Leisure Travel, Corporate Travel Management, MICE, Foreign Exchange, SWIFT Network, Travel Insurance, Credit Cards, Pre-Paid Cards, Life Insurance and E-Business. Post March 31st 2008, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL) is a part of Thomas Cook Group plc UK (TCG). On March 7th 2008, TCG announced its decision to acquire TCIL from Dubai Investment Group. Thomas Cook Group plc is one of the largest travel groups in the world with a market capitalization of approximately US$6 Billion. In June 2006, Thomas Cook (India) acquired LKP Forex Limited and Travel Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd. (TCI).TCIL presently operates in over 61 cities across almost 166 locations in the country. The company has overseas operations in Sri Lanka which is a branch of TCIL and Mauritius which is a subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India). The Company employs over 2,500 resources and is listed on both the Bombay Stock Exchange as well as the National Stock Exchange. Thomas Cook (India), over the years has received several prestigious awards such as the Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Golden Award for Best Travel. Recently, the Company won the Best Tour Operator at the CNBC Awaaz Travel Awards 2008 and was also accredited the P1 rating which is the highest financial rating given by Crisil. 2.3 Financial Facts of the Company Revenues as on December 31, 2010 as declared in the annual report was Rs 2588 million crore. A dividend of 37.5% on the equity share capital had also been the proposed dividend on the equity capital and preference Capital absorbs Rs. 93 million for dividend and Rs. 16 million for Dividend Tax. 2.4 Listing of Shares THOMAS COOK INDIA LIMITED is listed on two Stock Exchanges in India viz. Bombay Stock Exchange Limited, Mumbai and National Stock Exchange of India Limited, Mumbai. 2.5 Principal Bankers: State Bank of India ICICI Bank Limited HDFC Bank Limited IDBI Bank Limited Deutsche Bank Standard Chartered Bank The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Apart from this Thomas Cook has won the following awards: Best Travel Agency Award2004 given by TTG Asia Part of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) for the 5th year in succession. The Golden Peacock Award for Corporate Governance, for the second time in a row. The Criteria for this award are transparency, excellence in conducting business, various levels of management, social and environmental responsibility, ethical business practice and Consistent creation of value for all the stakeholders. The National Tourism Awardfor 2001-2002 2002-2003, winning the second rank in category 1 for the company that achieved the highest foreign exchange earnings from Ministry of Tourism. National Tourism Award Best MICE Operator2006-07 National Tourism Award 3rd prize Inbound Operator2006-07 The Association of Business Communications of India(ABCI) where the company won the first prize for its website www.thomascook.co.in Awarded The Best Outbound Inbound Tour Operator of the Year award at the Hospitality India Awards 2006 hosted by Hospitality India. Recipient of the prestigious Government of India Ministry of Tourism award for Excellence in Conference Tourism Best Travel Agency India for the year 2008by TTG Asia Part of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Best Tour Operator by CNBC Awaaz in 2008 Best Outbound Tour Operatorin the 4th Hospitality India Explore the world Annual International Awards 2008 2.7 SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths Image Overall presence Customized services Efficient sales staff High focus on customer satisfaction Handling last minute transactions Weakness Inability to fully cover each market Not aggressive in advertising Opportunities Unexplored Market Hotels in Manesar Threats Other players in foreign exchange market. 3.0 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 3.1 About Foreign Exchange Market In todays world no economy is self sufficient, so there is need for exchange of goods and services amongst the different countries. So, unlike in the primitive age the exchange of goods and services is no longer carried out on barter basis. Every country in the world has a currency that is legal tender in its territory and this currency does not act as money outside its boundaries. So whenever a country buys or sells goods and services from or to another country, the residents of the two countries have to exchange currencies. Foreign exchange market is described as an OTC (over the counter) market as there is no physical place where the participants meet to execute the deals. The largest foreign exchange market is in London, followed by the New York, Tokyo, Zurich and Frankfurt. The market are situated throughout the different time zone of the globe in such a way that one market is closing the other is beginning its operations. Therefore, it is stated that foreign exchange market is functioning throughout 24 hours a day. 3.2 Need for Foreign Exchange If an Indian company exports cotton fabrics to USA and invoices the goods in the US dollar. The American importer will pay the amount in US dollar, as the same is his home currency. However the Indian exporter requires rupees i.e. his home currency for procuring raw materials and for payment to the labour charges, etc. Thus, he would need to exchange US dollar for rupee. If the Indian exporter invoices their goods in rupee, then the importer in USA will get his dollar converted in rupee and pay the exporter. From this we can infer that in case goods are bought or sold outside the country, exchange of currency is necessary. 3.3 Following are the major bifurcations: Full fledge moneychangers these are the firms and individuals who have been authorized to take both, purchade and sale transaction with the public. Restricted moneychanger these are shops, hotels, etc that have been authorizes only to purchase foreign currency towards cost of goods supplied or services rendered by them or for conversion into rupees. Authorized dealers these are the ones who can undertake all types of foreign exchange transaction. Banks are the only authorized dealers. The only exceptions are Thomas Cook, Western Union. 3.4 Participants in foreign exchange market The main players in foreign exchange market are as follows: Customers: The customers who are engaged in foreign trade participate in foreign exchange market by availing the services of banks. Commercial Banks: They are the most active players in the foreign exchange market. Commercial banks dealing with international transaction offer services for conversion of one currency into another. They have a wide network of branches. Central Bank: In all countries Central Bank have been charged with the responsibility of maintaining the external value of the domestic currency.. Generally this is achieved by the intervention of the bank. Exchange Brokers: Forex brokers play a very important role in the foreign exchange market. However the extent to which the services of foreign brokers are utilized depends on the tradition and practice prevailing at a particular Forex market centre. Overseas Forex market Speculators 3.5 Major Competitors The major players in the foreign exchange market VKC FRR WEIZMANN FCM TT FOREX CENTRUM RR SEN MERCURY 4.0 SERVICES 4.1 Holidays Inbound Inbound Tourist refers to tourists/ travelers coming to India. Inbound tour operators promote India as a tourist destination. TCIL organizes tours for foreign tourist visiting India. TCIL organizes Individual tours, group tours and Conferences. Various services offered in inbound business are accommodation, ticketing, roundtrip, excursion, land arrangements, airport transfer etc. These services are procured from providers of these services like hotels, airlines, transporters, guides etc. within India. Customers are typically individuals and are sourced by overseas principals, tour operators or travel agents. TCI, one of the subsidiaries is among the leaders in inbound tourism and works closely with tour operators worldwide. TCI has a widely distributed network of travel agents and tour operators worldwide. It has around 20 offices in India and a total of 11 offices in USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Spain, China, Korea, Japan and Australia. TCIL also acts as a ground handling agent domestically for Charter flights coming from international destinations. TCIL also offers customized individual holidays, group escorted holidays, MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) arrangements and emergency medical assistance. Inbound travelers handled by our Company are primarily from Europe and USA.TCIL enters into business arrangements with the foreign tour operators for servicing their customers when they arrive in India. 4.2 International Holidays Outbound tourist refers to Indian Nationals traveling out of India. TCIL offers outbound tour packages across approximately 50 Countries. Outbound packages include various services like air tickets, visa, travel insurance, airport transfer, hotel accommodation, sight seeing, etc. International Holidays is further classified into following categories: Group Escorted Holidays: These are ready made packages where a group of travelers is escorted by a Tour Manger. Customised Individual Holidays: Tailor made packages based on individual requirements MICE: Dealers/Employees are sent on tour by Corporates. Sales agency amongst others for Star Cruise, Rail Europe, Globus, Cosmos Tours, Greyhound, Amtrak, Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Japan Rail and Costa Cruises 4.3 Domestic Holidays Domestic Travel refers to Indian Nationals (Tourists, Business Travelers, Students, Leisure travelers) traveling within India. Various services offered are accommodation, ticketing, roundtrip, excursions, land arrangements, airport transfer, etc. These services are procured from service providers like hotels, airlines, transporters, guides, etc. TCI, one of our subsidiaries specializes in special interest and incentive tours, conferences and air charter / cruise ship ground operations. It operates its own Taj Mahal Tour and Delhi City Tour and is a General Sales Agent (GSA) for the Palace on Wheels and the Deccan Odyssey. TCIL is an active member of various industry and professional organizations. 4.4 Air Tickets Book your Air Tickets for your travel with TCIL either offline or online through the sitewww.thomascook.in.   Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   TCIL offers a complete range for flights, right from Low Cost to Full service Airlines, to choose from. 4.5 Rail Tickets Book your Rail Tickets for your travel with Thomas Cook either offline or online through the sitewww.thomascook.in. You can choose either Indian Rail Tickets that are available via IRCTC or International Rail Tickets via Rail Europe. TCIL offers a complete range for Rail Bookings, International or Domestic. 4.6 Corporate Travel Corporate Travel forms a dominant share of overall travel business of our Company. TCIL manages the travel budgets of several large national and multinational companies. The large scale of operations enables it to effectively manage travel budgets of several Multi National Companies, Blue-Chip companies and Multinational banks to their advantage. The Company provides Integrated Travel Management / Advisory Services to more than 300 Corporates. TCIL provides customers a complete basket of products for all their travel needs: Air Reservations Hotel Reservations Land arrangements which includes sight seeing, car rental, transfers etc. Passport / Visa Service Conference / Incentive tour arrangements Foreign Exchange Insurance The branches specialize in offering tailor-made Travel Policies for each corporate, thereby bringing savings on spend. Based on requirements and volumes of business, corporate are serviced either by having a dedicated relationship team visits clients office regularly or having a dedicated expert travel consultant with Centralised Reservation System located at the clients site as an implant. 4.7 Meetings, Incentives, Exhibitions Conferences Experience:This refers to the experience of the travelers right from the time they board the airline to the foreign destination till the time they come back. The travel here is a REWARD for the dealers/employees of the company who have done well over a period of time. The company (as well as the employees) expects the trip to be an enjoyable, hassle free and fun filled experience. Thomas Cook understands their concern and provide them this experience through our:- Experienced, dependable and extensively traveled Tour Managers, who are available with the group 24 X 7, provide their personalized services to the group and at times, act as crisis managers. In contrast, the other tour companies often send their ticketing person as the tour manager. The requests for special Dietary requirements are taken care of completely. The Indians are very particular about the food they eat (e.g.) Jain food. It is made sure that the clients get the same, irrespective of the location they are traveling to. The sightseeings that are offered are often exotic and different from the rest of the tour operators. Customer Focus/Customer Centric/Exceptional Service:This primarily refers to the experience of the corporate with the sales representatives. There is a huge extent of customization in case of a MICE trip in terms of destinations, hotel requirements, conference needs, sightseeings to be covered, gala dinner venue, team building activities etc. The prime focus is always to cater to our customers specific needs and the intent is to delight the customer by always delivering more than promised by us/expected by them. Dependable:This comes out of the reputation of the company (TCIL) and the vast experience of handling a large number of MICE movements in the past. The fact that TCIL has trusted business partners (suppliers) for every destination and that there is always an experienced tour manager with the group ensures that the clients feel secure when they travel with us. Moreover, the reputation of the company ensures that there will be no let up in the service quality and there wont be any trivial financial issues. Reservoir of Knowledge:The experienced employees of the MICE business make sure that they function as a travel consultant to the client rather than being a travel agent to them. It is believed that with the expertise, TCIL is in a position to provide multiple options to our customers. This is especially true in case of clients who have a budget constraint. Once the client is provided with multiple options along with the pros and cons for the same, they are in a much better position to take a decision regarding the destination as well as the services that they expect us to provide them. Value for Money/Cost Effective: TCIL is committed to provide quality service to its clients and they do not believe in any compromise on the same (0% Compromise). It is made sure that the experience that our clients get is of a greater value than the cost that they pay for it. If TCILs cost is more than the competition, then there is ALWAYS a very strong reason for the same (which could be better quality of hotels, better airlines, EXTRA inclusions etc.). Product Innovation:Over the last decade or so, the MICE industry has been booming. Since then, some of the companies have been traveling each year (with multiple incentives/conference tours). They are always looking out for new destinations for the incentive trips. TCILs endeavour is to be ahead of the competition at all times and product innovation is one way of doing that. TCIL has promoted new destinations at different points of times which have traditionally never been thought of for a MICE trip. E.g. Jordan, Japan, Macau, Canada. Moreover, within the same destinations, TCIL has managed to change the product mix by changing the venues for Gala Dinner (at cruise, Desert Safari etc.) or including some exotic sight seeings or providing some out of the box team building activities or in any other way. Wide Reach:TCIL is confident of providing our customers with the best of the services at any destination that they wish to visit. This is due to the vast resources of the company and due to the number of trusted business partners that we have all over the world. One Stop Shop for MICE needs/Integrated travel services:Its the firm belief that once the customer enters one of our offices, all his travel needs will be catered to. TCIL provides the customer with the forex services, insurance cover and a travel card. Moreover, TCIL can service their visa requirements better than any other tour operator because of our goodwill and the relationships that we have with the various embassies/consulates. We have the ability to provide the customer with a 360 degree experience on a consistent basis. Work with Play:This is particularly true in case of the corporates who have an offsite for a conference/meeting. TCIL ensures that after a hard days work, they have a relaxed and fun filled evening. This can be done by sending them on a night cruise or by treating them to a Gala Dinner with free flow of liquor and a Live DJ. In one of the cases, we had sent a couple of VJs and RJs (RJ Taraana) from India who made sure that everyone from the group was involved in the fun activities. 4.8 Thomas Cook Credit Card Salient Features: Thomas Cook Titanium MasterCard features in brief: The card has been specially designed for frequent travelers. Attractive 6 reward points for each spend of Rs.100 on the card on Thomas Cook products Free Delivery of Foreign Exchange within city limits Rs. 5,000 discount on any Thomas Cook GIT product 1 Free Air ticket to a domestic destination on the issuance of new card Complimentary travel inconvenience insurance policy Access to MasterCard travel lounges at Airports across the world Redemption of reward points for Thomas Cook holiday packages, hotel stays, air tickets, airline upgrades, etc Conversion of Thomas Cook reward points to frequent flyer miles convert the reward points earned on card to frequent flyer miles on select domestic airlines. Positioned as a comprehensive travel card Assured gifts for the joining fees free air ticket / discount voucher Higher reward points for card swipes at Our Companys outlets Redemption of reward points against Thomas Cook products encouraged 4. 9 Travel Insurance Insurance business of being carried out through our 100% subsidiary Thomas Cook Insurance Services (I) Ltd. (TCISL). TCISL is a corporate agent of Tata AIG General Insurance Company Limited. TCISL entered insurance distribution in 2001 and offers the following products and services: TravelCare (Overseas Travel Insurance)- Travel Care offers security for travelers which covers travel insurance, hospitalization, loss of documents, Repatriation of Remains, emergency Cash Advance or any other crises which requires assistance. FamilyCare- An Overseas travel Insurance cover for entire family of 4-5 persons with single overall sum insured. ScholarCare (Overseas Student Insurance)- A customized product for all students studying abroad which ensures timely assistance in case of unexpected surprises in a foreign land. CorporateCare (Overseas Corporate Travel Insurance)- For Companies where employees travel abroad frequently on work, we have customized group policies. All foreign trips undertaken by employees in a year are covered under a single policy. TCISL provides all insurance products at all our outlets, leveraging on ability to cross sell insurance products to our Travel and Forex customers. 4.10 Foreign Exchange Thomas Cook India is the largest non banking authorized Dealer in India providing an array of foreign exchange products and services to various customer segments in India, Srilanka and Mauritius It has the largest network of branches with 144 locations across 53 cities in India including 28 airport counters in major cities working 24 x7x 365 days. It also has a vast presence in Mauritius with 12 locations including international airport and also in Sri Lanka at 3 major locations. It has been awarded the best foreign exchange company by CNBC Awaaz for the year 2008 and 2009. 4.11 Service Strategy of Thomas Cook To deliver exceptional service to all internal and external customers By Being  Ã‚  Ã‚   By Providing  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   By Ensuring Proactive   Professional Service  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Personal Care Speedy Flexible Transparent Reliable Creative 5.0 FOREIGN EXCHANGE Thomas Cook has been granted an authorized dealers license (category II) by RBI to deal in foreign exchange through its designated branches. Under this license, we have been, inter-alia, granted permission to undertake the following activities: 1. Retail purchases of foreign currencies and travelers cheques. 2. Bulk purchases/sales of foreign currencies from/to authorized dealers, money changers and franchisees. 3. Release / remittance of foreign exchange for the following activities: a. Private Visits b. Remittance by tour operators/travel agents to overseas agents/principals/hotels c. Business Travel (including for Central and State Government officials) d. Fee for participation in global conferences and specialized training e. Payment of crew wages f. Film Shooting g. Medical Treatment abroad h. Overseas Education i. Remittance under educational tie up arrangements with universities abroad j. Maintenance of close relatives abroad k. Stall rentals and participation fees in connection with participation in overseas exhibitions / fairs 4. Import and export of foreign currency and export of encashed Travelers Cheques 5. Maintenance of foreign currency accounts with banks abroad and undertaking forex cover operations in India and abroad. The activities permitted by RBI are carried out only at the specific locations permitted by RBI. As an Authorized Dealer, we are a member of the Foreign Exchange Dealers Association of India. Our Company provides the foreign exchange and payment solutions for: Individual travelers Foreign exchange for leisure outbound travelers Foreign Exchange for migration, employment, medical treatment Remittances for students studying abroad, gift remittances etc Encashment services inward remittances for inbound tourists visiting India, Non Resident / Resident Indians. Corporates Travel money and remittances for business travelers. On site support for inbound tour conferences. Film production houses traveling for shoots abroad. Remittances of tour proceeds for tour operators. Institutions Bulk purchases and sales of foreign currencies from Banks, Non Bank Retailers and Money Changers. Our business model revolves around leveraging its position as an Authorized Dealer with systems, ability and experience of handling large volumes of forex transactions for both wholesale and retail customers in a highly cost-efficient manner. 5.1. Network The strong network enables TCIL to attract large wholesale clients such as public and private sector banks, FFMCs and RMCs to use our services. TCIL has a strong network of approximately 160 offices in 55 cities and 100 RMCs Hotel Franchisee. The Company has foreign exchange counters at the international airports of Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin and Trivandrum which are open 24 hours and 365 days a year to cater to the needs of the international travelers. It also has a round-the clock Foreign Exchange counter at the New Delhi Railway Statio

nixon Essay -- essays research papers

Richard Milhous Nixon, (1913-1994), nik's[sch ]n, 37th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Nixon is remembered for his achievements in foreign policy and for the WATERGATE affair and related scandals, in which he became so involved that he was forced to resign his office. Nixon was a skilled negotiator with a broad understanding of world affairs. He and his adviser Henry Kissinger ended direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. They improved relations with China and the Soviet Union. They helped end a war between Israel and its Arab neighbors and worked toward a lasting peace in the Middle East. But the restrictive oil policies of Middle Eastern countries further weakened an American economy that slipped into a recession during Nixon's last year in office. The president's career was shattered when evidence established that he had joined members of his staff in trying to cover up the Watergate break-in. Nixon's decline and fall spanned two years as the truth slowly unfolded before an incredulous nation. Dozens of government officials, campaign aides, and financial contributors were implicated in the scandal. In his later years Nixon sought to rehabilitate his image, lecturing frequently, traveling abroad, advising presidents, and publishing several books on U.S. foreign policy. Before becoming president, Nixon served in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate and as vice president. An articulate spokesman for the REPUBLICAN PARTY, he was named to the GOP national ticket a recor...

Mission and Vision Statements Essay

It often reflects the values and beliefs of top managers in an organization. A mission statement is the broad definition of the organizational mission. It is sometimes referred to as a creed, purpose, or statement of corporate philosophy and values. A good mission statement inspires employees and provides a focus and direction for setting lower level objectives. It should guide employees in making decisions and establish what the organization does. Mission statements are crucial for organizations to prosper and grow. While studies suggest that they have a positive impact on profitability and can increase shareholder equity, they also support that almost 40 percent of employees do not know or understand their company’s mission. Not only large corporations benefit from creating mission statements but small businesses as Photo by: sellingpix http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management/Mar-No/Mission-and-Vision-Statements. html Page 1 of 12 Mission and Vision Statements – strategy, organization, examples, advantages, definition, company, disadvantages, business 5/19/13 2:42 PM well. Entrepreneurial businesses are driven by vision and high aspirations. Developing a mission statement will help the small business realize their vision. Its primary purpose is to guide the entrepreneur and assist in refining the planning process. By developing a strategic plan that incorporates the mission statement, entrepreneurs are more likely to be successful and stay focused on what is important. The mission statement encourages managers and small business owners alike to consider the nature and scope of the business. Business Week attributes 30 percent higher return on several key financial measure for companies with well-crafted mission statements. COMMON ELEMENTS While mission statements vary from organization to organization and represent the distinctness of each one, they all share similar components. Most statements include descriptions of the organization’s target market, the geographic domain, their concern for survival, growth and profitability, the company philosophy, and the organization’s desired public image. For example: Our mission is to become the favorite family dining restaurant in every neighborhood in which we operate. This will be accomplished by serving a variety of delicious tasting and generously portioned foods at moderate prices. Our restaurants will be clean, fun, and casual. Our guests will be served by friendly, knowledgeable people that are dedicated to providing excellent customer service. This mission statement describes the target market, which are families and the geographic domain of neighborhoods. It clearly states how it expects to be profitable by offering excellent customer service by friendly, knowledgeable people. When defining the mission statement it is important to take into account external influences such as the competition, labor conditions, economic conditions, and possible government regulation. It is important to remember however, that mission statements that try to be everything to everybody end up being nothing to anybody. http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management/Mar-No/Mission-and-Vision-Statements. html Page 2 of 12 Mission and Vision Statements – strategy, organization, examples, advantages, definition, company, disadvantages, business 5/19/13 2:42 PM Companies should have mission statements that clearly define expected shareholder returns and they should regularly measure performance in terms of those expected returns. If the major reason for a business’s existence is to make a profit then it stands to reason that expectations of profit should be included in the organization’s mission. This means that management should reach a consensus about which aspects of the company’s profit performance should be measured. These might include margin growth, product quality, market share changes, competitive cost position, and capital structure efficiency. A mission statement sets the boundaries for how resources should be allocated and what strategic and operational goals should be set. The mission statement should acknowledge the company’s strengths and then inform employees where to direct their efforts in order to take advantage of those strengths. Before writing a mission statement organizations should take a look at how they are different from the competition, whether it is in technology, image and name brand, or employees. It can often be thought of as a recipe for success because it not only defines the organization’s accomplishments but it also provides employees with directions to help them develop plans and look for opportunities for improvement. The organization defines what is acceptable behavior through the mission statement. Values and beliefs are the core of a strong mission statement. For example: Quality and values will secure our success. We will live by our values, have fun, and take pride in what we do. Our values are to maintain a work environment where people enjoy coming to work, to serve our guests and exceed their expectations, and to be profitable and result oriented. This mission statement is simple and straightforward. It does not, however, specify the products or target market. The mission statement also provides meaning to the organization by stating not only what goals the company wants to achieve but also why it wants to achieve these goals. It is not effective unless it is challenging and forces workers to establish goals and means to measure the achievement of those goals. A mission statement should inspire employees and get them involved in the organization. It has been called the glue that holds the organization together through shared values and standards of behavior. A mission statement should be relevant to the history, culture, and values of the company. Many statements refer to the social responsibility of the organization. For example, a company can show their concern for the community in the following: http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management/Mar-No/Mission-and-Vision-Statements. html Page 3 of 12 Mission and Vision Statements – strategy, organization, examples, advantages, definition, company, disadvantages, business 5/19/13 2:42 PM To be involved as good corporate citizens wherever we are around the world. We will treat customers and distributors with honesty, courtesy, and respect. We will respect and preserve the environment. Through all of this we will prove to be the worldwide leader in industry trade. One important issue in organizations today is the concern with diversity. While it is not a traditional point included in mission statements, more and more companies are including it because of the globalization of the economy and the increased diversity of the workforce. Before writing a mission statement, leaders in the organization must have an idea of what is in store for the future. This vision is the foundation for the mission statement. The vision provides a strategic direction, which is the springboard for the mission and its related goals. A vision statement differs from a mission statement. Vision statements are a view of what an organization is striving to become. For example: To bring back to neighborhoods all over America the importance of family unity. We will view ourselves as a family so these attributes will be carried over into our service. They guide an organization into the future while mission statements are a reflection of the present. Because vision statements are a glimpse into the future, they are often not realized for several years. Organizations go through many changes and can face times of confusion and uncertainty. Changes are not always expected or easy, so a well thought out vision statement will help everyone stay focused and meet the organization’s goals. Some examples of well-known companies’ mission statements: Wal-Mart: â€Å"To give ordinary folk the chance to buy the same thing as rich people. † 3M: â€Å"To solve unsolved problems innovatively. † Walt Disney: â€Å"To make people happy. † Historically, these may have seemed arrogant. But consider the outcome of the following mission statements from each company’s early days: Ford Motor Company: â€Å"Ford will democratize the automobile. † Sony: â€Å"Become the company most know for changing the world-wide poor-quality image of Japanese products. † Wal-Mart: â€Å"Become a $125 billion company by the year 2000. † http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management/Mar-No/Mission-and-Vision-Statements. html Page 4 of 12 Mission and Vision Statements – strategy, organization, examples, advantages, definition, company, disadvantages, business 5/19/13 2:42 PM WRITING A MISSION STATEMENT When creating a mission statement there are a few simple guidelines that can be followed. It is important to remember the basics so the mission statement stays simple and straight to the point. Some researchers agree that it should be kept to between 30 and 60 words, while others believe it does not necessarily have to be that brief. Some organizations have mission statements that are only one sentence, while others are a paragraph. An example of a mission statement that is limited to one sentence is â€Å"Our business is selling houses and our mission is total customer satisfaction. At a minimum, each mission statement should answer the following three questions: (1) What are the opportunities or needs the organization addresses? (2) What does the organization do to address those needs? and (3) What principles and values guide the organization? In other words, defining the organization’s purpose, business and values. Avoiding jargon and buzzwords will keep the mission statement clear and easy to understand. It should be universal and simple to comprehend for all employees in the organization. It should be unique and identify the organization. A mission statement is often what sets one company apart from the competition. It should outline the organization’s competitive advantages and differentiate it from everyone else. Specific products/services offered as well as markets or customers should be included. Also a general business definition, behavioral standards, and desired competitive position can be added to a strong mission statement. EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT It is often helpful to allow company-wide input when creating a mission statement. This â€Å"bottom up† approach results in greater commitment to the organization and a better understanding of the organization. Employees from throughout the organization can help identify the core values of the company. In order to encourage employee participation, many companies have created competitions inviting employees to submit suggestions. Cash prizes are sometimes provided as an incentive for creative and inspirational statements. Some companies find it useful to invite customers to assist in writing a mission statement because they can provide an honest perspective. Another option is to review mission statements from other companies. This can help provide ideas as the writing process begins. It is important to keep in mind that there will be a draft process involved in creating the mission statement. Employees can often provide invaluable insight on how to improve on each draft. In the end, the mission statement should reflect the personality of the organization. Thus, each company should be creative and unique in developing its own statement. Creating a mission http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management/Mar-No/Mission-and-Vision-Statements. html Page 5 of 12 Mission and Vision Statements – strategy, organization, examples, advantages, definition, company, disadvantages, business 5/19/13 2:42 PM  committee that consists of members of management, frontline employees, and customers is another way to begin writing a mission statement. The major benefit of this strategy is the inclusion of all areas of the organization to ensure that everyone is represented. Another benefit is that employees will be more willing to work toward accomplishing the mission if they know they had a vo ice in its creation. A â€Å"top down† approach can be effective in smaller organizations or even sole proprietorships. There is less time involved in creating a mission statement when it comes from the top. Also, many times frontline employees and lower level managers lack the insight necessary to see the big picture. They may not be able to conceptualize the entire organization and therefore miss important aspects of the business. Participation may not always be a good option for small businesses. In small businesses that are started by entrepreneurs the mission statement is generally a vision of an individual and therefore may not be negotiable. When the mission statement comes from upper management, employees are more assured of the organization’s commitment to the statement. A word of caution should be noted when deciding whether to adopt a â€Å"top down† approach or a â€Å"bottom up† approach. If the mission statement is to be created with a wide variety of input from both employees and customers then it will take longer than a â€Å"top down† approach. There must be a sharing of views and ideas with compromises made. A consensus should be developed without the problems associated with groupthink. There is always the possibility that too much compromise will distort the mission statement and the end result is something different from the original intent. The â€Å"top down† approach is not always effective because it rarely consults employees when making important decisions. Therefore, although it is the fastest route to take it isn’t always the most effective. While the mission statement should be able to change with the times it is also understood to have a certain degree of permanence. As new businesses begin to grow and hire more employees the mission statement should provide a strong sense of stability and a clear definition of the culture. A mission statement is worthless unless it has the support of the employees in the organization. It will only be successful if each employee commits to its success and internalizes it. Once the statement is completed it is extremely important that the organization not put it on the shelf to collect dust. It should be shared with the entire company. The introduction of the mission statement should come directly from top management in order to set the example. Organizations should be creative in making employees aware of the mission statement. Placing it strategically in locations where employees gather will increase awareness and remind them of the goals of the http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management/Mar-No/Mission-and-Vision-Statements. html Page 6 of 12 Mission and Vision Statements – strategy, organization, examples, advantages, definition, company, disadvantages, business 5/19/13 2:42 PM organization. Videos outlining the details of the new mission statement are often useful; however, it is critical that employees have the opportunity to discuss the statement with members of management. Setting up meetings with members of management and frontline employees can often help uncover areas where the company does not meet the standards set by the mission statement. Communicating the mission statement to customers will make them feel valued and important. It can be sent to customers in a mass mailing or posted on signs in areas those customers frequent. It sets forth the goals of the organization so customers know what to expect when doing business with the company. SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool that helps an organization match its internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats. SWOT analysis is important and useful in creating and executing the organization’s mission statement. Often the best strategies for accomplishing the organization’s mission are revealed through the SWOT analysis. The best strategies are those that take advantage of strengths and opportunities, offset threats, and improve weaknesses. Organizations should first begin by reviewing internal strengths and weaknesses. When analyzing an organization’s strengths it is important to identify distinctive competencies or strengths possessed by only a few competing firms. These distinctive competencies often become the competitive advantages that are included in the mission statement. Distinctive competencies can be found in financial resources, quality products and services, proprietary technology, or cost advantages. Organizational weaknesses are skills and capabilities that prevent an organization from implementing strategies that achieve its mission. They can be problems with facilities, lack of a clear strategic direction, internal operating problems, too narrow a product line, weak market image, or the inability to finance changes. The next step is to identify external opportunities and threats. Organizational opportunities are circumstances in an organization’s environment that if capitalized on will result in above normal increases in economic performance. Examples of opportunities are related to the possibility of adding a new product line, increasing market growth, or diversifying into related products. Threats are viewed as circumstances that give rise to normal or below normal economic performance. They can be found in the ease of entry of competitors, increased sales of substituted products, demographic changes, slowed market growth, or increased competition. EVALUATION http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management/Mar-No/Mission-and-Vision-State ments. html Page 7 of 12 Mission and Vision Statements – strategy, organization, examples, advantages, definition, company, disadvantages, business 5/19/13 2:42 PM Evaluation of the mission statement is necessary to ensure the organization is meeting its goals. If needed, new goals may have to be created in order to accommodate changes in the organization. It may be time to reevaluate what the organization is doing or where it is headed. This is a good time to think about entering into new areas or to begin doing things differently by rewriting part or all of the mission and vision statements. In evaluating an organization’s performance, management must look at several different aspects of the organization. First, managers need to determine if the organization’s plans are clearly linked to its mission statement and related goals. Plans should be developed for both the short run and long run. Secondly, assigning jobs that are directly related to the achievement of organizational goals will help ensure they are attained. The goals should be communicated clearly so employees understand what tasks need to be carried out and what the rewards will be. Finally, when evaluating individual performance, the information gathered should be recent and compared to established standards. Mission statements are often difficult to evaluate because they are written in a somewhat abstract form. They are, many times, not directly measurable and vaguely worded. Figure 1 presents an example of how mission statements can be measured from the top of the organization to the bottom. Strategic goals are directly tied to the organization’s mission statement and apply to the organization as a whole. Tactical goals are departmental goals that support the strategic goals. Finally, operational goals are written at the individual level. Each one of these makes it possible to measure the organization’s mission statements. An organization’s likelihood of accomplishing its mission is increased as it creates strong and measurable goals at each level. It is not necessary that the mission statement be measured in quantifiable terms. It may also be measured qualitatively. For example, â€Å"We will answer all of our customers’ questions and if we don’t know the answer, we will find out. † While this is not a quantitative statement it can be measured by monitoring customer service calls and setting operational goals for employees that revolve around follow up and thoroughness. Mission and vision statements give organizations a focus and a strategy for the future. According to Bart and Tabone, they have become the cornerstones of organizations. They contribute to organizations’ success and can lead to increases in productivity and performance. They do not have to be reserved for the entire organization—each department or division can benefit from developing a mission statement, as long as they are not in contradiction to the company’s overall mission. Preferably, an individual department’s mission links it to the fulfillment of the overall http://www. referenceforbusiness. com/management/Mar-No/Mission-and-Vision-Statements. html Page 8 of 12 Mission and Vision Statements – strategy, organization, examples, advantages, definition, company, disadvantages, business 5/19/13 2:42 PM company mission. Mission statements for functional Figure 1 departments provide the same benefits as they do for the entire organization. In conclusion, mission statements provide a sense of direction and purpose. In times of change and growth they can be an anchor and a guide in decision making. The benefits far outweigh the disadvantages and challenges when looking at the potential for increases in profitability and returns. Defining an organization by what it produces and who it satisfies are major steps towards creating a sound and stable mission statement. Setting a company apart from the competition is probably one of the biggest advantages. SEE ALSO: Strategic Planning Failure ; Strategic Planning Tools ; Strategy Formulation ; Strategy Implementation ; SWOT Analysis Amy McMillan Revised by Deborah Hausler FURTHER READING: Bart, C. K. , and J. C. Tabone.