Retail Management Exam Notes

World of Retailing Retailing: the set of business activities that adds value to the products and services sold to consumers for their personal use or family use * Retailer: a business that sells products and/or services to consumers for their personal or family use * Supply Chain: set of firms that make and deliver goods and services to consumers * Wholesalers: engage in buying, taking title to, often storing, and physically handling goods in large quantities and then reselling the goods to retailers and other businesses * Vertical Integration: that a form performs more than one set of activities in the channel, as occurs when a retailer engages in wholesaling activities by operating its own distribution centers to supply its stores *Backward Integration: when a retailer performs some wholesaling and manufacturing activities, such as operating warehouses or designing private-label merchandise Why are retailers needed? 1. Provide an assortment of products and services 2. Breaking bulk 3. Holding inventory 4. Providing services Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): an organization voluntarily taking responsibility for the impact of its activities on its employees, customers, community and the environment * Intratype Competition: competition between same type of retailers * Intertype Competition: competition between retailers that sell similar merchandise using different types of stores, such as discount and department stores *Scrambled Merchandising: When retailers offer merchandise not typically associated with their type of store * Retail Strategy: how the retailer plans to focus its resources to accomplish its objectives 1. Target market, or markets, toward which the retailer will direct its efforts 2. The nature of the merchandise and services the retailer will offer to satisfy the needs of the target market 3. How will the retailer will build a long-term advantage over its competitors * Ethics: principles governing individuals and companies that establish a ppropriate behavior and indicate what is right or wrong Ch. 2 Types of Retailers Variety: number of merchandise bur differ in the variety and assortment of merchandised offered- Breadth of Merchandise * Assortment: number of different items offered in a merchandise category- Depth of Merchandise* Stock-Keeping Unit(SKU): each different item of merchandise * Conventional Supermarket: large self-service retail food store offering groceries, meat, and produce, as wells as nonfood items, such as health and beauty aids and general merchandise- stock about 30000 SKU’s * Limited Assortment Supermarkets or Extreme-Value Food Retailers: stock about 200 SKU’s * Power Perimeter: fresh-merchandise along the outer walls of a supermarket, that include dairy, meat, floral, produce, deli and coffee bar * Fresh Supermarkets: smaller and more convenient than a traditional supermarket and have less space devoted to packaged goods * Fair Trade: practice of purchasing from factories that p ay workers a living wage, and offer other benefits like onsite medical treatment * Locavore Movement: focuses on reducing carbon footprint caused by transportation of food throughout the world * Supercenters: large 185000 sq ft that combine a supermarket with a full-line discount store Ex.Wal-Mart * Hypermarkets: 100000 to 300000 sq ft combine food (60 to 70%) and general merchandise (30 to 40%) * Warehouse Clubs: retailers that offer limited and irregular assortment of food and general merchandise with little service at low prices for ultimate consumers and small businesses * Convenience Stores: provide a limited variety and assortment of merchandise at a convenient location in 3000 to 5000 sq ft stores with speedy checkout * Department Stores: retailers that carry a broad variety and deep assortment, offer customer services, and organize their stores into distinct departments for displaying merchandise * Full-Line Discount Stores: retailers that offer a broad variety of merchandis e, limited service and low prices Ex.Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart * Specialty Stores: concentrate on a limited number of complimentary merchandise categories and provide a high level of service Ex. Victoria Secret * Drugstores: concentrate on health and personal grooming merchandise * Category Specialists: big-box stores that offer a barrow but deep assortment of merchandise Ex. Bass Pro Shops * Category Killers: offering complete assortment, using their category dominance and buying power * Extreme- Value Retailers: small discount stores that offer a limited merchandise assortment at low prices Ex. Dollar Tree * Off-Price Retailers or Closeout Retailers: offer an inconsistent assortment of brand name merchandise at a significant discount off the manufacturers’ suggested retail price(MSRP) Ex. T. J.Maxx * Closeouts: end-of-season merchandise that will not come back the following season * Irregulars: merchandise that has minor mistakes in construction * Outlet Stores: off-price ret ailers owned by manufacturers or retailers * Factory Outlets: own by manufacturers Ex. Coach * Retail Chain: company that operates multiple retail units under common ownership and usually has centralized decision making for defining and implementing its strategy * Franchising: contractual agreement between a franchisor and a franchisee that allow the franchisee to operate a retail outlet using a name and format developed and supported by the franchisor Ch. 3 Multichannel Retailing Multichannel Retailers: retailers that sell merchandise or services through more than one channel * Retail Channel: the way a retailer sells and delivers merchandise and services to its customers* Internet Retailing, Online Retailing, Electronic Retailing or E-Tailing: a retail channel in which the offering of products and services for sale is communicated to customers over the internet * Catalog Channel: a nonstore retail channel in which the retail offering is communicated to customers through a catalog mailed to customers * Direct Selling: a retail channel in which salespeople interact with customers face-to-face in a convenient location, either at the customer’s home or at work * Multilevel System: independent businesspeople serve as master distributors, recruiting other people to become distributors in their network * Pyramid Scheme: develops when the firm and its program are designed to sell merchandise and services to other distributors rather than to end users * Television Home Shopping: a retail channel in which customers watch a television program demonstrates merchandise and then place orders for that merchandise, usually by telephone, via the internet, or via the TV remote* Infomercials: 30 to 60 minutes that mix entertainment with product demonstrations and then solicits orders placed by telephone * Direct-Response Advertising: 1 to 2 minute advertisements on TV and radio that describe products and provide an opportunity for consumers to order them * Automated Ret ailing: a retail channel in which merchandise or services are stores in a machine and dispensed to customers when they deposit cash or use a credit card * Vending Machines: automated retailing machines, placed at convenient, high-traffic locations * Benefits of Store Channel: 1. Touching and Feeling Products 2. Personal Service 3. Risk reduction 4. Immediate Gratification 5. Entertainment and social interaction 6. Browsing 7. Cash Payment * Benefits of Cataloging: 1. Safety 2. Convenience 3.Ease of use * Benefits of Internet Shopping: 1. Safety 2. Convenience 3. Broad and deep assortments 4. Extensive and timely information 5. Personalization * Risks in Electronic Shopping: 1. Security of credit card transactions on the internet 2. Privacy violations * Disintermediation: when a manufacturer sells directly to consumers and bypassing retailers * Channel Migration: consumers collecting information about products on their channel and then buying the product from a competitor Ch. 4 Custo mer Buying Behavior * Buying Process: steps consumers go through when buying a product or services, begins when customers recognize an unsatisfied need *Utilitarian Needs: shopping to accomplish a specific task * Hedonic Needs: shopping for pleasure; entertainment, emotional and recreational experiences * Cross-Shopping: buying both premium and low-priced merchandise or patronizing both expensive, status-oriented retailers and price-oriented retailers * Internal Sources: information in customer’s memory; names, images, past experiences * External Sources: info provided by ads and other people * Every day-low-pricing policy: assure customers that that won’t find an item at a lower price at a different store the next time they shop for it * Multiattribute Attitude Model: based on the notion that customers see a retailer, a product, or a channel as a collection of attributes or characteristics

Authentic Leadership

Article Summary: Authentic leadership for 21st century project delivery from the International Journal of Project Management APA citation: Lloyd-Walker, Beverley1 beverley. [email  protected] edu. au Walker, Derek(2). International Journal of Project Management; May2011, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p383-395. Retrieved from EBSCOhost, summarized by Rachell Bishop. Summary: The project managers of the 21st century will need to adopt new leadership models to sustain continuous improvement. There are three primary points that the article & study present.CMM (Capability maturity model), Authentic leadership and Alliance project management are at the forefront of the study. The importance of soft skills such as emotional intelligence, relationship building, trust and commitment are emphasized rather than the hard core technical skills held by project managers in general. The necessity to transition from transactional and transformational leadership styles to authentic leadership style is presented in detail. The authors noted the differences in leadership approaches and skill sets that will be necessary for project managers to be successful and remain relevant in the future. . Leadership styles: Transactional, Transformational and Authentic 2. CMM (Capability maturity model): Integration of transactional and transformational leadership styles resulting in authentic leadership paradigm 3. Alliancing: Demonstrated team building and cooperation among project management professionals to achieve optimal project delivery for all not just key stakeholders 4. Authentic leadership soft skills – overall emotional intelligence as demonstrated through ethical and moral actions, integrity and clarity in words and behavior, honesty, fairness and relational development 5.Generational shift: Baby Boomer, Gen X and Gen Y valuation of leadership skill sets must be addressed 6. Project managers and leaders: project-based versus project-oriented 7. Implementation: Communication and engage ment of all stakeholders is key The pilot study and preliminary research results concluded that there are major changes necessary for project management to evolve and remain relevant in the 21st century workplace. Authentic leadership, a CMM plan and soft skills are particularly relevant for the continuous improvement of the project management field.

Personal Response to Obama’s Inauguration Speech

Throughout the speech, Obama maintains the theme of small things being able to grow into anything. In the section entitled â€Å"Victory for the People†, this is very much present, as he describes how his campaign â€Å"didn't start with much money†, and didn't begin in grand government buildings in the country's capital, but â€Å"in the backyards of Des Moines†¦and the front porches of Charleston†. He talks about how working people scraped together â€Å"what little savings they had† to contribute small amounts of money to the cause. Obama describes how the campaign became stronger because of the millions of Americans, young and old, who volunteered and created support for his cause. All of this creates an image of unity and limitless possibility for anyone who wants to have success in life. This, of course, is reflected in Obama's own improbable story, having been a mixed-race Kenyan-American raised by his grandparents and having relatively little political experience, yet managing to be elected president of the most influential and powerful country in the world. Obama adds to his message of unity by describing his victory as â€Å"your victory† – meaning that it is the American people who have brought about this change and who have managed to get their voices heard; although he is the one standing on the podium making an acceptance speech, it was them who succeeded in putting him there. Obama invokes images of unity throughout his speech. Multiple times, he refers to his country as the â€Å"United States of America† – using the full name though the abbreviation â€Å"USA† or just â€Å"America† would have been sufficient. He talks about their â€Å"common purpose† and uses â€Å"we† instead of â€Å"I† to instil a sense of togetherness in his audience. He tries to include all types of people in his message – â€Å"young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American†¦disabled and not disabled†. He even includes â€Å"gay [or] straight† people in his list, showing an unusual amount of tolerance for a to-be American president. All of this introduces an extremely likeable, human element to his character. This approachable, human manner is maintained throughout the speech. Although Obama has been elected to be the single most powerful human being in the world, he does not attempt to put on a cold, macho faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade. He refers to his wife as â€Å"the love of my life†, and, clearly getting emotional, he tells his girls, â€Å"I love you both more than you can imagine† and promises them a new puppy when they move into the White House. He also refers to his grandmother, who had died the night before, which invokes sympathy and appeals to the emotions of those listening and watching him. Towards the end of his speech, Obama repeats his most famous line, which the crowd has been shouting at him all night, and which sums up his story and message in three words: â€Å"Yes we can.† In my opinion, these words, and the whole of Obama's speech, hold a promise of change which America now has a chance of keeping. His words make me hopeful for what lies ahead in the years of Barack Obama's presidency to come.

CRM Model Assessment & Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

CRM Model Assessment & Design - Essay Example This was seen as a key driver to increase their business coverage. They also managed to be in partnership with Econocaribe Consolidators, Inc. and AmeriJet International, Inc. which is one of the largest freight forwarding carriers and they are based in the US in the United States while the latter is a leading cargo shipment company. Caribbean Cargo DC, LLC goals include providing services that are reliable, efficient and an exceptional customer service. With these services they hope to be recognized by the customer as the better option when it comes to freight forwarding. The marketing strategy in place is not specific as they do not have an ample program that can act as the dependable CRM strategy. According to Peppers and Rogers (2004) the IDIC methodology consists of 2 broad categories; analysis and action. Analysis includes the company’s initiative to identify and differentiate their customers while action involves interaction and customization. IDIC is a methodology that involves several aspects that ensure company prospers efficiently. These include: identification, differentiate, interact and customization. ... Later on the fill out forms and make deposit payments. This type of customer relationship leaves out the biggest aspect of maintaining a customer because they cannot distinguish whether the customer will be just a first time customers or return customers. In addition to that, it lacks proper channels to create personal relationships and interaction and finally customization of products so as to perfectly fit an individual customer needs. Most businesses that have not yet implemented the IDIC model still reap few benefits from the traditional CRM model. These include the ability to communicate with their customers, either first time customers or return customers and they can be able to negotiate on the charges involved as well as offer their customers discounts. With that, return customers may be offered discounts since the company may consider them as loyal customers. This may also act as a perfect channel where the loyal customers may promote the business to other clients who may al so be interested in the services offered, thus this may just be another method that is not reliable for a business to depend on. Some of the impacts of the company’s goals and marketing strategies include the fact that they have maintained the shipping business in the Caribbean with respect to their goals of providing services that are reliable, efficient and an exceptional customer service. The diagram (SWOT) below shows the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities that face Caribbean Cargo DC, LLC. Redesign the Customer Service Policies and Strategies With reference to the IDIC methodology, identification is a key step in IDIC. The current situation that they are

The Successful College Lecturer Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Successful College Lecturer - Assignment Example Humanism is usually effective in cases where the learners need to use their common senses to judge problems being asked by the teacher or instructor. Among the rest of the theories that explain ethical philosophies, humanism is regarded as the best of them all when it comes to learning. Learners in their childhood stages are able to appreciate human nature, thereby giving them an opportunity to learn faster when they are in class. Humanism advocates for people to seek what they need to know by themselves as opposed to seeking them either from revelation or mysticism1. The effectiveness of this philosophy in terms of contributing to learning situations is good and need to be emphasized. It is believed that humanism allow people to think for themselves and are able to challenge any form of 'thinking' as they wish without fear It is also referred to the 'learning perspective'. The proposition of thinking, feeling and acting are normally regarded as the 'behaviours' of that person. The behaviours one develops either by imitation or taught affect the persons learning ability. In psychology, it is said that the behaviour of a human being are related to the environment they live in and this will contribute significantly on the learning ability of the persons. Behaviourism as in the way people act, is considered the easiest way to teach people what they should do and how to do it. Whether the results of the action will be right or wrong depends on the humanistic philosophy stated above2. The effectiveness of behaviourism is rated the second after humanism. This is because, the behaviours one achieves may as well be acquired from the same classroom or teaching space that is in question. Constructivism Any assumptions made on the natural being of people's learning that guides their learning methods and theories are called constructivism. Constructivism takes puts more emphasis on appropriate teacher -supported learning developments in an educational environments. It also gives an opportunity to each of the learners to develop their own unique background-achieved abilities towards their learning processes. In this case, the learner is seen as complex being with multidimensional cognition and acknowledges it as part of the integral process of learning. It therefore encourages, rewards and maintains it as a tool for use in learning. Constructivism also dictates how the learner socially interacts with other people within the society with a view to gain a learning experience through them. The vulnerable members of the learning community including the young children develop their abilities to think through the interaction with other children and the physical environment at large. It also motivates the learner to seek more and more knowledge from various sources making it very effective when it comes to teaching practices. Learners are ready to learn through all ways and that their motivation directly comes from their confidence and competencies. This helps teachers to link up their teaching contents with the level of developing the leaner is undergoing at the moment. Learning styles Majority of the people favour some particular forms of interactions3. These forms of interaction are learning styles that represent how best an individual can be able to adopt a specific method of learning suitable to him or her. There are four basic learning styles; Learning by seeing Learning by hearing Learning by processing text Learning by doing

Response to an Article What is for Sale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Response to an Article What is for Sale - Essay Example †). THESIS STATEMENT This essay intends to respond to the thesis and one of the main ideas, emphasising the socio-political implications of such a transition in the human society, as presented in Sandel’s article i.e. â€Å"What Isn’t For Sale.† DISCUSSION Sandel’s article of â€Å"What Isn’t For Sale† fundamentally demonstrates that everything is made up for sale in the present day context. Sandel also illustrates certain instances that clearly depicts that everything made on this earth today is made for the selling purpose. For instance, as argued in the article by Sandel, the immigration rights particularly to the US is sold at $500,000; again, the shooting right to a jeopardised black rhino is sold at $250,000, and astonishingly, the upgradation of a prison-cell is sold at $90 per night. According to Sandel, not everyone can pay towards buying or availing the above mentioned services. However, the renowned college professor strongly realised that there are numerous ways for making huge money that further has ignited the trend of buying anything and selling almost everything in return of a nominal monetary value. ... From a futuristic perspective and with a hint of scepticism, Sandel also argues that the shift of today’s modern society towards which everything is made up for sale might generate worries in the economy that can further be associated with inequality in proper distribution of wealth along with income (Sandel, â€Å"What Isn’t for Sale?†). The above discussed perceptions presented in Sandel’s article drawing a critical judgement of the idea that everything for sale in this modern day context can be supported by a certain degree. This can be justified with reference to the fact that the market economy has radically transformed into a market society in recent times as compared to the preceding years. In this similar context, Sandel differentiated between the two important market concepts i.e. market society and market economy. According to Sandel, a market economy is often regarded as an effective and a valuable tool, which organises productive activity. On t he other hand, a market society is typically recognised as a place, wherein almost everything has been made up for sale or selling purpose quantifying the values of such objects in monetary terms (MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, â€Å"What Money Can’t Buy’ and What It Shouldn’t Buy†). It has often been argued that certain areas of human life have fundamentally become less market-driven, which eventually contributed in generating market society rather than market economy. One of the areas in this similar concern can be associated with reference to the fact that people had effectually paid for their respective spouses with dowries in the traditional period. In the article,

Eading and Writing about Arguments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eading and Writing about Arguments - Essay Example One should always pray to request for assistance from God. Prayers should always be everyone's first resort since we should always invite God first under various life situations. Just like the way, a child comes to their father to talk to them; every person has the responsibility of coming to speak to him (Bounds, 2007, p. 12). For Christians to live a straight life, they should be guided by prayers just like Jesus. A Christian faces the problem of securing a private place where they can have their prayers. Jesus always found a way out through which he could have his prayers. Prayers are tremendously influential in the life of a Christian since they strengthen a person’s faith. For us to emulate the life of Jesus Christ, we have to pray on a regular basis. It is difficult to be consistent in one's prayers, but one has to make it a habit to pray on a regular basis. There is no difference between praying in a church service and praying at home. Prayer is a means through which Ch ristians communicate to God to express their needs and their love for Him. There is no difference between praying at home or in the church since God will answer the prayers. I feel that provided one prays appropriately the place of worship is not vital. The crucial thing is to express one's prayers and feelings to God. God will answer everyone's prayers. Some people think that praying at a church service is more effective than praying at home. This is because; at the church there is a congregation of people who ensure that the prayers are collaborative. When people pray in a group, they encourage one another and praise in a group. This acts as a more effective way of praying and God is immensely happy when people cooperate in prayers. At a church service, Christians have other ways of worshiping which are also tremendously effective. People believe that praising is twice as effective as prayers and hence people desire praising to praying as the process of worship. In the church, Chr istians share testimonies about Gods manifestation in their life and this strengthens the faith of other people in the church (Bounds, 2007, p. 32). When one faces a challenge, one meets other people who might be experiencing challenges that are a bit difficult. This will ensure that people will have a different approach to the problems they experience. It is true that praying together as a group is better than alone. People should always join hands when it comes to prayers. They should have the spirit of togetherness that will ensure that they enjoy the prayer session. Jesus led by example by illustrating the need of praying together. He showed his disciples the Lord’s Prayer and encouraged to stay together. Before the high priest gave the soldiers permission to persecute him, he encouraged the twelve disciples to pray until the last minute. Praying is particularly vital for all people and Christians have a responsibility to make a routine act. Priests should ensure that the y remind people to pray regularly so as to maintain a cordial relationship with God. For a person to acquire the kingdom of God, one has to be persistent in prayers and avoid being sinful. It does not necessarily matter the place where Christians communicate to God through prayers. God will answer the prayers that one communicates to him (Bounds, 2007, p. 36). People may recite their prayers in church or at home depending on the circumstances that they face in their day to day life. For instance, there are people with various body disabilities and hence cannot make

'Effective Finance Management in Small Business Restaurant in Ireland' Dissertation

'Effective Finance Management in Small Business Restaurant in Ireland' - Dissertation Example The literature review section reveals a comprehensive discussion on financial management and its role in small restaurant business. The role of The Restaurant Association of Ireland has been also included in order to several its contribution in context of financial management. The research methodology section has evaluated the ways of data collection for this study. For this research, questionnaire survey and focus group discussion has been used for collecting primary data from the financial managers in the chosen restaurants of Ireland and restaurant owners. It was found that these restaurants do maintain systematic accounting statements and the restaurant owners closely monitor the financial statements, transaction records, and inventory that remains in the restaurant. Due to fewer funds, the owners forecast sales per unit and cost and accordingly allocate their funds. Though it was found that the small restaurant owners in Ireland do follow financial management approaches to make the business a success, but it was recommended that yearly audit is done through external auditor to maintain transparent financial records and also involve the employees while taking financial management decisions, which affects all the other departments in the restaurant. ... The problem statement of this research study is related to the financial management framework of small restaurant during this financial crunch. 13 1.4 Rationale of the Study 13 Restaurant segment like the other sectors is a lucrative area of revenue generation for Ireland, where around â‚ ¬6 billion is spends by people annually in eating out (Kumar, and Subramaniam, 1997). However, during the financial crisis the profits have diminished considerably because of increasing level of unemployment in the country. It has been noticed that the small restaurants in Ireland were successful in reaping steady profits compared to the multinational food chains. This was an issue to be curious about, and research could be conducted on this aspect (Munro, 1997; Crick, 1997). It has been seen that in case of small businesses such as small restaurants, financial management framework is not so strong like that of big businesses such as big hotels or restaurant chains. 13 However, financial manageme nt binds every other segment in small businesses, unlike bigger ventures. In bigger ventures financial management is equally important like several other aspects, so the financial management approaches of small restaurant businesses of Ireland should be explore (Kumar, and Subramaniam, 1997). Efficiency of financial management in small business can be identified through comprehensive analysis of their financial management framework and strategies. This is the reason why focus has been made towards financial management of small restaurants as it forms the core of the business strategies in small strategies. 13 1.5 Research Question 14 1.6 Research Objective 14 1.7 Outline of the Study 14 CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW 15 2.1 Introduction 15

Causes and Consequences of the Great Depression Essay

Causes and Consequences of the Great Depression - Essay Example This write-up will discuss events which contributed to this economic crisis and its consequences. The events that resulted in this calamity include poor economic policies, malpractices and increased tariffs (Ross 1998, p. 183). In the late 1920s, there were no adequate regulations which governed trading in America’s stock exchanges. Consequently, traders exploited these shortcomings to their benefit. Overall, the investors’ funds were vulnerable to unscrupulous traders. Unscrupulous trading in the stock market was one of the triggers of stock market failure. Subsequently, the values of shares began to plunge. The decrease in the value set off events in other industries, which culminated in this economic calamity. However, historians and economists argue that the decrease in the value of stocks in the market was not the cause, but a symptom of an impending economic calamity. Decreased market confidence resulted from the general failure in entities, poor policies such as increased taxation and dismal performance of other industries. According to economists, the collapse of markets denotes the final symptom of an eminent economic calamity. Although the collapse of the stock market may be a symptom rather than a cause, the resultant panic caused rapid deterioration of the economy in both America and the globe (Robbins 1971, p. 90). It is vital to realize that the great depression was a culmination of the coupling of various factors. Such factors included unfavourable tariffs. There was a general rise in the tariffs to finance the governmental operations. However, the higher taxes resulted in the government having more funds. During this period, governments undertook rearmament programmes. Subsequently, vital industries did not receive appropriate funding to stimulate the economy. Despite the imperialist policies adopted by nations, there were positive attributes from nations spending massively on defence programmes. Government globally were able to em ploy additional workforce. The massive defence expenditure did not improve the economy. Therefore, it denied the economy vital resources that would have improved nations further. The military ambitions were realized at the expense of the global economy (Lied 2002, p. 234). During this era, the international trade was not properly developed. Additionally, the emergence of global alliances hindered trade further. Globalization was inexistent; hence, economic panic due to failure of stock markets in America resulted in an economic calamity. If international trade had been properly developed, it would have mitigated the impact of the Great Depression. It would have provided optimism in the economic sectors globally. However, the existing global alliances, which pitted Germany and the United Kingdom (UK) against each other, only made the situation dire (Smiley 2002, p.153). Countries only traded in their alliances; thus, there was minimal business among nations such as the UK and Germany , which represented the global economic forces. Such enmity hindered trade among nations that would have mitigated the depression. Global politics had massive implications on the depression. Proper politics would have enacted measures that would have encouraged economic improvements. However, the political stands during this era resulted in further degradation of the economy (Klein 1947, p.157). The Great Depression was global; hence, there were numerous factors which triggered its occurrence. While the collapse of the

Should Social Media, Including Facebook, Assist in Law Enforcement Essay Example for Free

Should Social Media, Including Facebook, Assist in Law Enforcement Essay We all know what happened to Jill Meagher. What some of you may not know is that social media played an integral role in solving her murder. Without the use of social media, Jill Meagher’s case may have remained unsolved. Unfortunately, we usually associate social media with negative connotations; however what we haven’t thought of is the positive contributions it could make to our society. One change that we should make that would benefit us incredibly is to use social media, including Facebook, to assist in law enforcement. I don’t have to define to you what social media is, we all use it on a daily basis. If I was speaking to an older audience I may have to explain, but to be honest most of you are going to go home and log onto Facebook. It has always been a part of our world and it probably always will be. Sadly, one part of social media that we are very aware of is that it is often used to harm, to hurt – this is clearly evident in the numerous accounts of cyber bullying. I do not intend to pretend that there aren’t negative aspects of social media; I am simply trying to emphasise the enormous power and influence that it holds. If we could harness this power and rather use it to protect and assist in law enforcement the advantages would be tremendous. So, how can social media help us? One enormously beneficial aspect of social media is in the locating of missing persons. In Australia, one person goes missing every 15 minutes. The police simply do not have the resources to locate all of these people. However, hundreds of media sites have already been set up with the sole intent of finding missing persons. Crimestoppers have a mobile application to help connect the community to the police in reporting crime. Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie of the New South Wales Police said It is a great way for people to send us a message and support it with a picture, anywhere, anytime,† The new tools offer the community an opportunity to assist in a way that is beneficial to us all. It makes sense to harness social media’s power for good – to solve real life problems such as finding missing persons. More importantly however, social media cuts down those crucial minutes when finding a missing person the minutes that determine whether a person has hope of being found. A powerful real life example of the effectiveness of this method occurred in November 2011 when 13 year old Allie Loftis ran away from her home near Boston. Thanks to social media, her father Tony found her 12 days later, with a 42-year-old sexual predator. After coverage of his Facebook, YouTube and Twitter campaign, local papers and TV stations followed the story and eventually found her. Mr Loftis said that â€Å"†¦the more people there are looking; the more likely you are to find them, that is really just basic common sense. Without the aid of social media, who knows what could have happened to his daughter. Secondly, social media not only provides a way of locating people, but also assists in gathering evidence on suspects. At its core, social media is an online database of personal information, and once it is online, can never be taken down. This method was used in Canada after the 2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup riot. The police admitted to being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of evidence provided by social media, enabling them to convict a number of rioters. The frequency of cases being solved through evidence found on social media is large and growing as it is becoming gradually more prevalent and helpful to law enforcement. A survey conducted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2012 found that 86% of agencies use social media to review profiles and the activities of suspects. This statistic shows how increasingly reliant law enforcement is becoming on social media. Of course, this is not the only way that the police can gather evidence on suspects. Many people today have online identities. This makes it that much easier for investigators to create fake online profiles to track or befriend suspects in order to gain new information and insight into their crimes. They will also be able to gain an understanding of the suspect’s mentality through monitoring their posts, giving them the ability to secure an accurate conviction. The knowledge that the law enforcement agencies are policing the social media pages for potential criminals should provide those who use them for innocent pleasure and chat, a sense of reassurance. Lastly, social media is one of the most effective means of communication when it comes to sending out messages on a large scale. This is why it is such a great platform to inform the public. I guarantee you that every single person in this room will have access to social media right now. Virtually all phones come with internet access; we can get onto Facebook at the touch of a button. How much easier could it get? While users are checking their messages and accepting friend requests, they surely have enough time to look at that missing person picture their friends shared. Within seconds of the Police posting that picture, a user can share it with their entire network of friends, family and co-workers who then can share it within their own networks. A further advantage of using social media to inform the public is the relationship it will create between the police and community. Through the more personal style of communication, social media is likely to help create a climate of trust and foster better interaction with the general public. The police officers seem more â€Å"human† and therefore the public would have more trust in them. People want to be able to talk to the police in whatever way they can, wherever they can. This can be done through social media. Through this it can be seen quite clearly that social media is highly capable of informing the public for the interests of law enforcement. I can understand that some people may have reservations due to the current unregulated nature of social media. However, the answer is not to say that we shouldn’t use it but rather to implement appropriate safeguards in order to refine and regulate these sites. Like all new and revolutionary developments, it may take a while for it to be perfected, but soon using social media to solve crime will be no more unusual than the old fashioned pen and paper. Change is hard to accept, however resisting the use of social media to assist in law enforcement is as useless as it would have been to resist the demise of the horse and cart when cars were invented. Society naturally evolves; we need to focus on the positive and strengthening change this will have on our nation. Our generation have embraced this technology, unlike our parents. It is natural that we should see it as part of the future of law enforcement. As many people say, the youth is the hope for our future. Younger generations do not respond, like our parents, to the traditional media such as newspapers or radio, we respond to a unique function of communication social media. Our most important priority should be our safety, Social media is not the answer to all our problems, but it will bring us one step closer.

Individual Reflective Account Of Leadership Development

Individual Reflective Account Of Leadership Development Title: A personal reflective narrative on how engaging with the leadership literature has affected my own conceptualisations of leadership. Introduction The theories of transformational leadership (Bass, 1985; Bass and Avolio, 1994) and charismatic leadership (Conger and Kanungo, 1987) represent popular approaches to the conceptualisation of leadership and have arguably evolved to be central to the field. However, a number of scholars have raised several issues with these approaches (Pawar, 2003; Yukl, 1999). and it is the intention here to highlight a number of concerns that relate to the challenge of teaching leadership. This addresses an area of neglect in the literature as there has been limited consideration of the teaching of leadership (Doh, 2003). The Meaning of Leadership Researchers interested in leadership have approached the development of an understanding of leadership from a variety of perspectives. Much of the leadership research conducted during the first half of twentieth century was focused on the identification of personal traits (attributes) that characterised those individuals who emerged as leaders. A review of the leadership literature reveals that there are multiple definitions that have been given to the leadership construct. Bass (1990) focuses on the concept of leadership. He suggests that there are several different approaches to the definition. While each of these perspectives and uses of the term is a legitimate use of the construct of leadership, each reflects a different conceptualization than that which traditionally has been employed. Bass points out that definitions can be used to serve a variety of purposes. Bass (1960) noted that the definition used in a particular study of leadership depends on the purposes of the study. Consistent with this, Yukl (1994:5) concluded that leadership research should be designed to provide information relevant to the entire range of definitions, so that over time it will be possible to compare the utility of different conceptualizations and arrive at some consensus on the matter. Bass (1990:19) further notes that researchers have developed definitions to serve the following different purposes: (1) to identify the object to be observed, (2) to identify a form of practice, (3) to satisfy a particular value orientation, (4) to avoid a particular orientation or implication for a practice, and (5) to provide a basis for the development of theory. The definitions indicate a progression of thought, although historically, many trends overlapped. The earlier definitions identified leadership as a focus of group process and movement, personality in action. The next type considered it as the art of inducing compliance. The more recent definitions conceive of leadership in terms of influence relationships, power differentials, persuasion, influence on goal achievement, role differentiation, reinforcement, initiation of structure, and perceived attributions of behaviour that are consistent with what the what the perceivers believe leadership to be. The truth is that leade rship may in fact involve all these things. Rethinking leadership Barker (1997) argues that the ambiguity surrounding what we understand as leadership is central to the struggle of teaching leadership. Rost (1991) indeed notes that the leadership literature although vast, is often contradictory, confusing and lacks cohesion. BrymanHYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb11HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb11s (1996) documentation of four chronological phases of leadership theory, is illustrative of changing conceptions of leadership: Trait theories (concerned with an identification of leaders traits). Behavioural theories (concerned with identification of behavioural styles of leaders). Contingency theories (concerned with a focus on fitting behavioural styles to situational factors). New theories of leadership (concerned with a focus on the articulation of a vision). Arguably, such new theories of leadership have over recent years evolved as central to our understanding of leadership with an emphasis on transformational leadership where a leader stimulates followers to change their motives, beliefs and values and capabilities so that the followers own interests and personal goals become congruent with the organisation (Bass, 1985). An important facet of this leadership is charisma, and indeed Conger and Kanungo (1987) have developed a leadership theory that specifically focuses on this dimension. Conger HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb17et al.HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb17 (2000, p. 748) suggest that charismatic leaders differ from other leaders by their ability to formulate and articulate an inspirational vision and by behaviours that they and their mission are extraordinary. In both models there is a common suggestion of a leader inspiring followers to a shared vision. This conceptualisation has arguably become widely accepted in the literature. However, some have questioned such mainstream thinking and invite a greater openness to the consideration of leadership than is presently found (Alvesson and Sveningsson, 2003). It is suggested here that a notion of a leader inspiring followers to a shared vision represents only one way to think about leadership and may not be of much assistance to those concerned with the teaching of leadership. It is in this respect that I intend to argue that this dominant conceptualisation represents a particular way of thinking about organisations and managerial work (of which leadership is one aspect), namely what may be described as systems-control thinking. Systems-control orthodoxy tends to promote a rather mechanistic view of organisations and managerial work seeing managing as an activity mainly concerned with designing and controlling work organisations as if they were big machine-like systems rationally devised to meet unambiguous organisational goals (Watson, 2005, p. 2). Such thinking derives from modernist and universalistic aspirations to maximise control over human circumstances with the manager being viewed as an expert who controls and motivates subordinates to behave in particular ways consistent with the organisations goals. Indeed, Barker (2001, p. 479) challenges the notion of new leadership theory, arguing that the work of Bass (1985, 1990) for example, clings to the idea that leadership is about leaders supervising subordinates, about subordinates working hard toward institutional objectives as the primary goal for leadership and about the leaders ability to persuade/inspire/motivate subordinates to release their own n eeds to work toward the interests of the leader or the institution that the leader represents. The extent then to which new theories provide an alternative perspective of leadership is thus questionable since along with previous conceptualisations, they continue to be framed by systems-control thinking. It is suggested that an alternative way to think about leadership is to adopt process-relational thinking. To adopt such thinking would be to recognise that: Managers like everyone else in organisational settings, are continually striving to make sense of numerous crosscutting and conflicting goals and purposes. Managers and non-managers alike constantly have to make and remake bargains, exert power, resist power, cope with conflicts of interest and negotiate understandings with others to make sure that the goods are produced or services provided to a level and quality that enables the organisation to remain in existence (Watson, 2005, pp. 2-3). The origins of such thinking may be seen to be associated with a dissatisfaction with mainstream systems-control thinking and in particular, the critique of Silverman (1970) which drew upon ideas from social action theory (Berger and Luckman, 1967), highlighting an understanding of organisations as social constructs produced and reproduced through their members activities and later being built upon to emphasise the notion of negotiated order (Day and Day, 1977). To view the organisation in process-relational terms thus involves a shift from seeing the organisation as a goal pursuing entity as suggested by a systems-control perspective to thinking about the organisation as ongoing patterns of meaning making and activity brought about as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ people in relationships to others and to their cultures (Watson, 2005, p. 6). Viewing the organisation through a process-relational lens thus accepts that only partial managerial control can ever be achieved given the ongoing and emerge nt nature of organisational activity and the centrality of people in relationships to others with their inevitable complexities and differing interests. However, it is important to note that the adoption of a process-relational perspective (or indeed a systems-control one) goes beyond a way of seeing the organising and managing of work, it also represents a way of talking and acting towards organising and managing. Thus a manager who adopts a process-relational framework is more likely to take into account broader and more-subtle aspects of work behaviour. Arguably, the central notion of leaders inspiring followers to a shared vision seen in new leadership theories becomes more problematic when thinking in process-relational terms. It is thus suggested here that thinking about leadership in process-relational terms may be more helpful to management educators as it does greater justice to the complex, messy realities of organisational life and as such provides greater assistance in helping managers to make sense of their management practice, and in particular, the part of their practice that is leadership. Systems-control vs process-relational framing of leadership It is suggested that theories of transformational and charismatic leadership are tied to a systems-control perspective of organisations. Below we raise a number of issues that emerge from the adoption of such a perspective. The issues raised here are by no means exhaustive but rather serve to illustrate some of the difficulties in framing leadership in a systems-control way and in particular ensuing tensions for the teaching of leadership draws on the work of Watson (2005) and summarises the issues discussed below, highlighting the central features of a systems-control leadership perspective contrasted with a process-relational one. We problematise a number of features of systems-control thinking in relation to leadership, namely the assumption of a unitary organisation; the emphasis placed upon the individual leader often portrayed in terms of superhero status and the subsequent neglect of others involved in leadership processes, and relatedly the separation and elevation of leaders hip from other organisational activities. We suggest that adopting a process-relational leadership perspective offers a more grounded and realistic conceptualisation which accepts the plurality of organisational life, focuses on leadership as an emergent process which includes the contributions of others and sees leadership as integral to the organising and managing of work. The unitary and fixed organisation Central to systems-control thinking is a notion of the pursuit of clear organisational goals, designed by the manager or leader who then motivates others to act in ways which will achieve these goals. It is suggested that this is problematic for a number of reasons. Such a way of thinking about leadership is based upon a unitary view of organisations that proposes all organisational members share the goals of the organisation and are thus motivated to act in ways that will ensure the realisation of such goals. Both transformational and charismatic leadership theories can be seen to uphold unitarist assumptions. Central to Basss theory is a notion of subordinates transcending their self interests for the goals of the organisation, with Bass and Avolio (1994, p. 3) for example suggesting that the (transformational) leader creates clearly communicated expectations that followers want to meet, and similarly Conger and Kanungo (1987) hypothesise that charismatic leadership will result in high internal cohesion, low internal conflict, high value congruence and high consensus. It is suggested that such assumptions are problematic since they downplay the multitude of conflicting goals, purposes and beliefs that organisational members hold in reality that seriously questions ideals of consensus and cohesion. Although Bass and Avolio (1994) acknowledge that followers hold a diverse set of views, needs and aspirations, they suggest that through the use of inspirational motivation the leader is able to align diverse followers around a vision. Thus there remains a belief that high consensus can be achieved and thus conflict, negotiation and politics that are inevitable in organisations tend to be marginalised. Notably, Barker (1997) reminds us of BurnsHYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb12HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739 volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb12s (1978) definition of leadership which emphasises leadership as a process which occurs within a context of competition and conflict. Interestingly, Basss theory of transformational leadership has built upon Burnss work and yet downplays this important dimension. It may be argued that assumptions of a unitary organisation may oversimplify the reality that is found in organisations. Similarly, systems-control thinking implies that the goals of the organisation are somehow fixed and once achieved the work of the leader is done. Again, this is seen to oversimplify the case. Conger and Kanungo, 1987, p. 46) exemplify a focus on achievement of fixed goals suggesting that one cannot lead when there is no future goal to pursue. This is seen to ignore the essentially emergent nature of organisational life in that organising and managing is in a constant state of becoming (Watson, 2002). The fluid and dynamic nature of organisations makes it difficult to envisage when there would be no future goal to pursue. Generally, given that models of transformational and charismatic leadership are framed by systems-control thinking means that they may be seen as less helpful in assisting managers to understand leadership as they do not do justice to the complex reality found in organisations. Recent leadership research and findings from our own work further suggest a number of issues with such theories that relate to this tendency to present an oversimplified and sometimes romanticised view of organisational life. The promotion of the superhero Consistent with systems-control thinking, theories of transformational and charismatic leadership present an individualistic conception of leadership, since there is a focus on the leader as a special person. Indeed, there is a focus on a gifted individual seemingly in possession of almost superhuman, magical powers that may be seen to spellbind followers to act in ways desired by the leader. Words such as extraordinary, unconventional and heroic typify a description of leader behaviours. Bass (1985, pp. 47-48) for example, highlights the extraordinariness of the transformational, charismatic leader suggesting that the unusual vision of charismatic leaders that makes it possible for them to see around corners stems from their greater freedom from internal conflict whereas the ordinary manager is a continuing victim of their self doubts and personal traumas. However, it is unclear from the literature what exactly it means to be extraordinary or unconventional and therefore limited hel p is offered to our practical attempts to teach leadership. Moreover, Alimo-Metcalfe HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb1et al.HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb1 (2002) argue that new theories of leadership create dangerous myths because they create a notion of leadership that is inaccessible to most ordinary mortals. Further, the idea that a leader must in some way be gifted shows a regression to notions of leadership as an innate ability and as such suggests little can be done by way of teaching leadership. Indeed, in my own auditing work, I found several managers who perceived leadership as an inspirational gift and therefore attempts to teach leadership were seen as limited: I dont think good leaders are people that you can, I think the term is a good leader is born, you cant turn somebody from being a poor leader into a good leader by putting them on some courses à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ that sort of inspirational skill is something that that individual has and I dont think you can always train that into somebody (project manager). Whilst the notion of heroic leadership may hold weight for some there is a growing body of evidence that debunks this leadership myth. Numerous studies are now found which may be said to contribute to an emerging anti-heroic leadership perspective which suggests leaders are not larger than life individuals with special powers rather they are far more ordinary and reserved. The work of Alimo-Metcalfe and Alban-Metcalfe (2001) offers a very different conception of transformational leadership to that described earlier. Their work highlights the salience of what the leader does for the individual such as empowering, valuing, supporting and encouraging. This is contrasted with dominant ideas of the leader acting as a role model and inspiring the follower. Indeed, Alimo-Metcalfe and Alban-Metcalfe suggest that followership, so central to transformational and charismatic leadership theory is absent in their work. Comments made by managers during my own audit work were consistent with this view with managers talking of supporting and encouraging others rather than inspiring followers: Well those things leadership can be a reassurance, a firm decision, a supportive decision, giving people encouragement, being actually prepared to stick your head above the parapet where other people arent sometimes. Being decisive rather than indecisive. Not always leading from the front but just letting people know that you are supportive of what they are doing that they can rely on you if things go wrong (operations director). Taking away the notion of followership diminishes the importance of the heroic leader since there is a decreased need for an inspirational figure to model the way for followers. Instead Alimo-Metcalfe and Alban-Metcalfe (2001) argue that their work suggests a greater sense of proximity, openness, humility and vulnerability. Collins (2001) provides evidence that suggests that successful organisations do not have leaders who are charismatic, heroic figures but rather individuals who display personal humility and professional will. He found that successful leaders which he terms level five leaders, were shy unpretentious, awkward and modest but at the same time had an enormous amount of ambition not for themselves but the organisation. Similarly, Badaracco (2001) suggests the importance of quiet leadership. This is seen not to inspire or thrill, but to focus on small things, careful moves and measured efforts. He further suggests that quiet leaders have an understanding of the reality of their situations noting the limits of their powers and understanding that they are only one piece on the chessboard. This emerging work would seem to conceptualise leadership in perhaps more realistic ways focusing attention away from ideas of inspirational powers and instead a suggestion of an ordinary person working alon gside others. This is consistent with a process-relational framing of leadership since it is recognised that leaders are like everybody else and do not possess special powers thus moving attention away from ideas of special personality attributes. Thus there is hope for the majority of being able to contribute to leadership and a suggestion that there may be some role for the management teacher. The isolated leader and the neglect of group processes The focus on the heroic leader is problematic since it diverts attention from others involved in the leadership process and thus downplays the relational aspects of leadership. Whilst the contribution of followers is noted, there is a tendency to over emphasise the ability of the individual leader, this is perhaps exemplified when poor performance is automatically blamed on the actions of the leader (Khurana, 2002). Yukl (1999) proposes that instead of focusing on a single person who influences followers, many people can be viewed as contributors to the overall process of leadership in organisations. He suggests that this conception of leadership does not require an individual who is exceptional or who can perform all of the essential leadership functions, only a set of people who collectively perform them. Research undertaken by Heifetz and Laurie (2001) supports the notion of a more collaborative conception of leadership. They suggest that the leader is not somebody who has all the solutions at their disposal; rather they are somebody who asks questions. They suggest that one can lead with no more than a question in hand. Research carried out with directors of public health in the UK supports the notion of focusing on others in the leadership process (McAreavey HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb28et al.HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb28, 2001). The directors of public health interviewed in McAreavey HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb28et al.HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb28HYPERLINK http://0-www.emeraldinsight.com.emu.londonmet.ac.uk/journals.htm?issn=0143-7739volume=27issue=2articleid=1545747show=html#idb28s (2001) study suggested that effective leadership placed an emphasis on working with others a nd not guiding others. These shifts in focus are consistent with work by Barker (1997) and Rost (1991) who suggested that we should be focusing on group processes and think of collaborators and not followers and thus is in accordance with Alimo-Metcalfe and Alban-Metcalfes rejection of followership. Yukl (1999) has criticised transformational and charismatic leadership theories for a neglect of group processes and thus salient aspects of leadership are overlooked such as networking, building support for ideas and negotiation. Such arguments echo Hosking (1988) who proposed that it would be more helpful to focus on leadership as a process rather than leaders as persons which is clearly to frame leadership in process-relational terms. It is suggested here that viewing leadership as a collaborative process of interaction provides for a more grounded notion of leadership and thus potentially provides more helpful suggestions for teaching leadership. For example, a focus on helping leaders in their attempts to negotiate seems more achievable than helping leaders to inspire others. The separation of leadership and management Inherent to theories of transformational and charismatic leadership is a notion that leadership is a specialised and separate activity undertaken by heroic, isolated figures described above. This division of leadership is typical of orthodox management thinking which separates issues of managerial work tending to view these as identifiable and distinct (Watson, 2002). As Schruijer and Vansina (2002) argue such splitting obscures the complexity of life. Further, there is a tendency not only to see leadership as separate from management but also superior. In Basss theory for example, management is associated with transactional leadership which is seen to be a useful but inferior leadership approach, which is relatively simple and straightforward to achieve. Bass (1985, p. 26) argues that to be transactional is the easy way out; to be transformational is the more difficult path to pursue. Such a separation is upheld by numerous scholars such as Zaleznik (1992) who suggests that managers are concerned with humdrum activities and maintaining order whereas leaders are concerned with novel and exciting activities and stimulate change. Mangham and Pye (1991, p. 13) have criticised this separation arguing that: It results in nothing more than a vague feeling that managing is something rather mundane, looking after the nuts and bolts of the enterprise and leading is something special and precious undertaken by the really important people in the enterprise. They argue that leading is not a specialised and separate activity, but simply an aspect albeit a highly salient aspect, of managing. Others have similarly suggested that leadership and management may be more usefully seen as related roles rather than as separate activities undertaken by separate people (Nadler and Tushman, 1990; Yukl, 1999).

Effects of Globalization on Business

Effects of Globalization on Business Introduction Globalization indicates to the entire exertion towards making the world worldwide group as a one town. Products that were just found in western nations can now be found over the globe. Presently immature ranges can appreciate the advantages of experimental advances and mechanical advancement accessible in created nations for the change and development of their regions. Because of globalization the economies of the world are as a rule progressively coordinated, illustration cellular telephones and web have brought individuals closer. The world is turning into a littler spot. Work can be outsourced to any piece of the world that has a web association due to changes in activity base one has the capacity achieve one's destination in a brief while. Globalization can likewise be characterized as a progressing process by which local economies, social orders and societies have ended up coordinated through a globe spreading over system of correspondence and exchange. The procedure of globalization incorporates various variables, which are fast innovation advancements that make worldwide interchanges conceivable, political improvements, for example, the fall of socialism, and transportation advancements that make voyaging speedier and more continuous. For sure, globalization has positive and negative effects on business, education and society. Below are discussed briefly about the effects of globalization on business. Globalization increases the competition among the international companies No wonder that globalization is very effective in the right time and the exact place when activated according to the proper mechanism. It plays an effective role in the competition between many companies. Now, it is easier if you are in China and selling your products in the US market. Here is the sense of competition. A standout amongst the most noticeable beneficial outcomes of globalization is the enhanced nature of items because of globe competition. Client administration and the 'client is the ruler' ways to deal with generation have prompted enhanced nature of items and administrations. As the local organizations need to battle out outside competition, they are constrained to raise their guidelines and consumer loyalty levels to make due in the business. In addition, when a worldwide brand enters another nation, it comes in riding on some goodwill, which it needs to satisfy. This makes competition in the business sector and a survival of the fittest circumstance. The beneficial outcomes of globalization on society are numerous! Not every great practice were conceived in one human advancement. The world that we live in today is a consequence of a few societies meeting up. Individuals of one society, if responsive, have a tendency to see the defects in their way of life and get the way of life, which is more right or tuned in to the times. Social orders have ended up bigger as they have invited individuals of different human advancements and foundations and made an entire new culture they could call their own. Cooking styles, dialects and traditions have spread all because of globalization. The same can be said in regards to motion pictures, musical styles and other fine arts. They too have moved starting with one nation then onto the next, leaving an impact on a society which has embraced them. Globalization can lead to high investment in the world One of the major attribute is the high and intensive market investment domestically and globally. Globalization plays a massive role in encouraging investors to give in their capitals in order to gain higher and expandable revenues. A standout amongst the most noticeable constructive outcomes of globalization in India is the stream of remote capital. A considerable measure of organizations have straightforwardly put resources into India, by beginning generation units in India, yet what we likewise need to see is the measure of Foreign Investment Inflow that streams into the creating nations. Indian organizations, which have been performing admirably, both in India and off the shores, will pull in a considerable measure of remote investment, and subsequently pushes up the store of outside trade accessible in India. This is likewise one of the beneficial outcomes of globalization in America and other created nations as creating nations issue them a decent investment suggestion. Administrators' targets may not be the same with those of stockholders in a few circumstances. The more perplexing the partnership the more troublesome it is for shareholders to screen administration's activities whereby it gives the administrators more flexibility to act in their own self enthusiasm to the detriment of shareholders. Multinational firms are more unpredictable than national firms are. Supervisors may support global enhancement because it diminishes firm particular hazard or adds to their glory. These objectives may be of minimal enthusiasm to shareholders. This dissimilarity of hobbies in the middle of shareholders and chiefs may lessen the estimation of multinationals with respect to residential firms. Globalization can help company open new branches in new branches in the world For sure, globalization has been the key factor recently in the last few decades. It all started in the late years of the past millennium where big developed countries called for globalization. The markets are now open and extremely expanding. The sole company can be operating in many markets around the world. As a small business owner, you can start domestically and later open branches in the very close future in different countries. This way you are making extra profits and a global admired brand. With the existence of internet and satellite, people are no closely monitoring the best products in terms of quality and affordability. Now also you can do your shopping online from the Far East countries and receive it at your doorstep. Best developing markets in created nations are an aftereffect of privatization of state claimed commercial enterprises. All together for these commercial ventures to expand customer interest a significant number of them are endeavoring to grow and extend their worth bind to a universal level. The effect of globalization on business administration is seen by the sudden increment of number of exchanges over the outskirts. In ensuring yields and looking after intensity, businesses are keeping on developing an extensive variety of their foot shaped impression as it brings down expense and appreciates economies of scale. Multinational partnerships is a consequence of globalization. They possess a focal part inside the procedure of globalization as confirm through worldwide remote direct investment inflows. Their fixations inside Europe in western economies has prompted size limitations, thusly there is a requirement for new topographical ranges to work whereby they will confront a considerable measure of competition in the business sector. Through this they will augment their business sector and appreciate economies of scale as globalization encourages time space pressure, economies contend at all levels including that of pulling in financial specialists. Conclusion To sum it up, globalization has the marvelous positive effects on business in terms of flexibility and free trade between countries and markets. Considering every one of these components, it can be inferred that globalization has positive effect on business advancement for a few reasons. These elements incorporate expanding competition that brings down costs and expand nature of items. The following is expanded investment opportunities, which prompt quicker advancement of business. In conclusion, it offers access to the new advancements that can support to businesses to get higher benefit. It is accepted that globalization is an advancement, which is not going to be ended, and this procedure presumably will keep on widening.

Tech Prep :: Education School Careers Essays

Tech Prep Tech prep has become more widely accepted by educators and the business community as real changes have been made in curriculum, courses, and programs. However, the jury is still outabout whether the anticipated student, school, and community outcomes are being realized. This essay examines the extent to which tech prep is succeeding as a unique effort, living up to the claims that have been made for it. Over the years, educators have been challenged by a number of federal, state, and local initiativesthat profess to result in better educational outcomes for students. Highly marketed at their inception, many of the initiatives ultimately fade into obscurity, some absorbed as part of otherprograms. Examinations of tech prep and its relationship to school-to-work initiatives point to thedistinctions that make each of the two programs unique and highlight the characteristics that makethem similar. Program focus is the most distinguishing feature that differentiates tech prep from school to work.Tech preps focus is primarily on school-based learning, whereas school-to-work programs alsoinclude work-based learning and linkages between the two. The distinction is less clear when thecore elements required for tech prep vary among tech prep consortia, as they are reported to do(Owens 1996). For example, when tech prep adds elements that include work-based and careerguidance components, it becomes similar to school-to-work, which may explain why someeducators are seeing little or no difference between the two. Of the 100 persons surveyed at the1996 American Vocational Association Convention, however, only 15 percent saw tech prep andschool-to-work as being exactly the same (Bragg 1996). Most of the surveyed tech prep consortia did not see the two efforts as synonymous, but perceived tech prep as a component of school to work: 35% of the respondents considered techprep to be the foundation for school to work; 50% considered tech prep to be under the school-to-work umbrella (ibid). However, for funding as well as program issues, most local techprep coordinators believe that tech prep should retain its unique identity to ensure that thebenefits of its processes and procedures are not lost or duplicated by school-to-work (Bragg et al.1997). Survey responses from 42 of 50 state directors of vocational-technical education showedagreement with the view that tech prep is one option within school to work and that its identityneeds to remin strong (Dykman 1995). Imprecision in defining the two reforms can create confusion and frustration among allstakeholders. At one of the five field sites studied during the 1996-1997 academic year, forexample, tech prep was "viewed as a premier approach to STW for more academically talentedstudents, incorporating both school-based and work-based components.

Soil Formation Under Desert Pavements Essay -- Geology Topography Pape

Soil Formation Under Desert Pavements Desert pavements are common landforms in arid regions. They consist of flat or sloping surfaces where stones are closely packed angular or rounded, and generally exhibit low relief (Mabbutt, 1977). Pavements tend to form on both alluvial fan toposequences and on weathering volcanic flow fields in arid regions. Soils are often found under desert pavements and they play an important role in the evolution of pavements (McFadden et. al., 1987). In the past there have been several theories as to the formation pavements and soil development beneath them. Deflation, or the erosion of finer grained particles from a surface, stone concentration by wash erosion and upward displacement of stone due to shrink and swell clay characteristics were at one time believed to be the main factors in the formation of desert pavements (Mabbutt, 1977). However, more recent research has shown that desert pavements are born and maintained at the surface, and that the soil below them is mainly eolian in origin . Slow accretion of eolian dust below the pavement is a process that eventually develops cumulate horizons. Eolian dust in environments where pavements often develop is rich in carbonate salts and clays due to the fact it often originates from nearby playa lake evaporate basins (McFadden et. al., 1987). Soils that form below the pavements over time develop calcic horizons and clay rich structure due to the influx of these eolian fines through the pavement surface. In turn the development of mature or plugged calcic horizons effects the form of the pavement surface because it alters the water drainage infiltration rate and causes pavements to decline. Desert Pavements Desert pavements form in several di... ...cFadden, Leslie D., 1988, Climatic Influences on rates and processes of soil development in Quaternary deposits of Southern California: Geological Society of America Special Paper 216, p. 153-175 Mc Fadden, L. D., Wells, S. G., and Jercinovich, M. J., 1987, Influence of eolian and pedogenic processes on the origin and evolution of desert pavements: Geology, v.15, p. 504-508. Ritter, Process Geomorphology Wells, Stephen G., Dohrenwend, John C., McFadden, Leslie D., Turrin, Brent D., and Mahrer, Kenneth D., 1985, Late Cenezoic evolution on Lava Flow surfaces of the Cima volcanic field, Mojave Desert, California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 96, p. 1518-1529. Wells, Stephen. G., and Mc Fadden, Leslie D., 1995, Cosmogenic 3He surface-exposure dating of stone pavements: Implications for landscape evolution in deserts: Geology, v. 23, p. 613-16.

Kant Hypothetical and Categorical Imperatives Essay

In the Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, by Immanuel Kant, Kant proposes a very significant discussion of imperatives as expressed by what one â€Å"ought† to do. He implies this notion by providing the audience with two kinds of imperatives: categorical and hypothetical. The discussion Kant proposes is designed to formulate the expression of one’s action. By distinguishing the difference between categorical and hypothetical imperatives, Kant’s argues that categorical imperatives apply moral conduct in relation to performing one’s duty within the contents of good will. According to Kant, the representation of an objective principle insofar as it necessitates the will is called a command which formulates the notion of an imperative . Imperatives are simply a formula of a reason. It determines the will of the action. Imperatives can be expressed in terms of what ought to do. For example, take the command â€Å"Sit Down! † Kant expresses this command as an imperative by stating, â€Å"You ought to sit down! † All imperatives are formulated by doing an action according to the standard of a will that it will provide a good ending in some way. If the end action is good, as a mean to something else than it is considered a hypothetical imperative. On the other hand, if the action is good according to itself than it is considered a categorical imperative. Thus, Kant implies a distinction between these two kinds of imperatives. The first imperative that Kant proposes is hypothetical. A hypothetical imperative states only that an action is good for some purpose, either possible or actual . In a hypothetical imperative the action is done out of necessary for some purpose. Hypothetical imperatives take on the general form of; â€Å"If †¦then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"If† is considered the antecedent and â€Å"then† is considered conditional. Hypothetical imperatives tell us what we should do provided the fact that we have certain desires. For example, â€Å"If you want to get an A, then you ought to study. † Wanting to get an A is required of one insofar as one is committed to studying. In other terms, if one desire is to get an A then the action one must take is to study in order to fulfill that desire. Hypothetical imperatives can further more be explained by breaking them down into what Kant calls â€Å"rules of skills,† and â€Å"counsels of prudence†. Rules of skills simply imply the notion that there is something that you have to do; how one must accomplish something. An example of this is, â€Å"If you want to get well than you ought to take your medications. † The action in accordance to the rule of skills implies the importance of taking your medications. Kant noted that there is no question at all whether the end is reasonable and good, but there is only a question as to what must be done to attain it. Moreover, the counsel of prudence examines just that. The antecedent â€Å"If† refers to the varying degrees of happiness within an individual. â€Å"If you want to be happy then you ought to invest in a retirement plan. † One’s motive to be happy (happiness as it implies to individualism) is fulfilled through the action. The action is done through the perception of prudence as it commands not absolutely but only as a means to further the purpose. In this respect, hypothetical imperatives apply actions of good in a conditional way. It is formulated that you need to know what the condition is before you act. Conditions are based upon a posteriori referring to experiences of knowledge due to ones own result. Therefore hypothetical imperatives do not allow us to act in a moral way because they are based upon desires and experiences rather than good will or moral conduct. In contrast with hypothetical imperatives, which is dependent on an indivdual having a particular desires or purpose (such as wanting to get an A), categorical imperatives describe what we are required to do independently of what we may desire or prefer. A categorical imperative is the only imperative which immediately commands a certain conduct without having as its condition any other purpose to be attained by it. Categorical imperatives are moral obligations that do not have a â€Å"If†¦ and then†¦Ã¢â‚¬  form. In this respect they provide behavior categorically. They are not if you want x then you ought to do y. Rather they take the form of, you should do y. Kant states that categorical imperatives are limited by no condition, and can quite properly be called a command since it is absolutely, through practically necessary. Categorical imperative are concerned with the form of action and the princple from which the that action follows. The moral action is good within itself such the notion of practical reasoning. Unlike a hypothetical imperative, categorical imperatives rely on independent experience; a prior. This is due to the fact that one’s moral principle is not based upon previous experience, but instead it is rooted in good will and one’s ability to perform their moral duty. Kant refers to this principle as the principle of morality. For it is from this in which all our moral duties are derived. The basic principle of morality is important because it commands certain courses of action. It is a categorical imperative because it commands unconditional actions. It is also independent of the particular ends and desires of the moral actions. One can never really no the end motivate to why such an action is preformed, but one can concure that the action was done according to the moral duty of good will. Having good will or practical reasoning, lays a foundation that implies categorical imperatives to do what is pure and simple. A good will is good not because one wants to attain happiness or a purpose but it is good in itself. Kant explains that there is no possibility of thinking of anything at all in the world, or even out of it, which can be regarded as good without qualification, except a good will. Therefore in accordance to good will, one must act as if the maxim of their action was to become a universal law. Kant first mentioned the notion of categorical imperative when he proposed the moral or universal law. You should never act except in such as way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law. Since maxims are basicly principles of action, the categorical imperative commands that one should act only on universal principles, that could be adopted by all rational agents such as human beings. Actions that are done from duty are out of respect for the moral law. Duty is the necessity to act out of reverence for the law set by the categorical imperative. Because the consequences of an act are not the source of its moral worth, the source must be the maxim under which the act is performed, excluding all aspects of desires. Thus, a categorical imperative must have moral content if, and only if, it is carried out solely with regard to a sense of moral duty in coordination with good will. Clearly one can see that Kant believes in the expression of actions through imperatives. By proposing imperatives, he formulated a command of reason. As hypothetical imperatives address actions done for a desire or a purpose, categorical imperatives, on the other hand address actions that result from moral conduct and good will. In distinghing the difference between these two imperatives, Kant’s main objection is to provide his readers with a clear understanding that actions based upon imperatives can be projected from two different views but the end result always provides good, in some way.

Malthus and Boserup Population Theory

MALTHUS AND BOSERUP The world population is the total number of living humans on the planet Earth. Recently the world has just hit over 7 billion people. It is expected that if the worlds population continues to increase at the rate it is doing now, then we will become overpopulated. Overpopulation is where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. There are various views on this population crisis and throughout this essay I will describe theses views. Thomas Malthus was a pessimist , his theory is that the growth of human populations always tends to outstrip the productive capabilities of land resources.The result is that resources place a restriction on population growth and size and ‘positive’ checks (famine and disease) or preventative checks (limitation of family size) work to reduce population growth. Writing before the agricultural revolution, Malthus presumed that the productivity of resources were permanent because agricultural technolog y was largely fixed. From a Malthusian perspective, technology and environment (considered in terms of land resources) are therefore seen as independent variables that work together to determine the dependant variable of population, which he sees mainly in terms of population growth and size.According to him, human society could never be perfected. He believed that man is a lazy animal, who would lead a satisfied life and procreate as long as his family was well fed. However, as soon as human population would feel constraints in food supply due to increase in population, he would again work hard to provide enough for his family. This might lead to an increase in agricultural production to provide for all, but at the same time man would be back to his complacent stage, where all his needs would be fulfilled. This would start the cycle of overpopulation and food shortage, all over again.Having been a clergy, Malthus validated his theory on moral grounds that suffering was a way of mak ing human beings realize the virtues of hard work and moral behavior. Such kind of suffering due to overpopulation and food supply was inevitable. Malthus' theory had great influence on both Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace, who are the co-founders of the modern evolutionary theory. By the end of the 19th Century, when living standards improved and birth rates dropped in the Western countries, concerns of overpopulation became irrelevant.However, in underdeveloped countries which have agrarian economies, Malthus' theory often finds credibility. On the other hand, Ester Boserup was an optimist. Her theory focuses on the relationships between three factors; population, environment and technology. Her concept of ‘population’ in contrast to Malthus, encompasses population density as well as population size and growth. Ester Boserup stated that an increase in population would stimulate technologists to increase food production.As Boserup said any rise in population would in crease demand for food and this would act as an incentive to change agrarian technology and produce more food. Therefore population growth will inspire innovators who will solve the problem s the increasing population has caused therefore making it sustainable for a growing population. Even though they are two opposing theories they do have some similarities. They are both based on ‘closed’ communities which at a global scale is not true. They are similar by the way they both agree that an rise in population will increase demand for food.However they completely differ on what the consequences will be. As Malthus says increased demand for food will eventually cause food production to decrease due to the law of diminishing returns. As Boserup has a completely opposing view that increased population would increase food production. We have to remember that Malthus wrote his essay in 1798 before the agriculture revolution therefore he excluded technology from his theory ther efore making it slightly inaccurate. As Boserup wrote her theory in 1968 and has seen the effect technology can have crop yield therefore the two theories contrast.Also Mathus and Boserup disagree on the outcomes of increased population as Malthus stated that population cant increase above the food supplies otherwise positive checks would occur. Malthus talks about controlling a population by preventative checks and how the population must be kept below the crisis point otherwise these positive checks will occur. In contrast Boserup does the opposite and stated that famine and war will be prevented by human solutions. Therefore the two theories have different answers as to how to make a sustainable population which will survive in food resources.I personally agree with Malthus and believe that the power of population is much greater than the power of the earth to provide subsistence for man although Boserup states that an increase in population would stimulate technologists to incre ase food production etc. There is only a limit of resources available that can be used and the use of new technology and manufacturing is a massive contributor to the green house effect. Also we cannot rely on an increases in population to stimulate people to find new ways so that we can live sustainably.Some people may argue that ‘positive checks’ are meant to happen. I don’t believe in parts of this theory however if we can reduce the population to a sustainable level then these positive checks will not have to take place. We can reduce positive checks by encouraging people to have fewer children however this has been taken a bit too far in some areas, for example – Chinas One Child Policy. Although this was a massive success in reducing the population, there are also problems that China is now faced with including gender imbalance (for every 6 males there are 5 females) and an ageing population.

Nestlé Refrigerated Pizza Case

In 1990 Nestle Refrigerated Food Company, NRFC, subsidiary of Nestle S. A, had to decide about the launch of a refrigerated pizza, under the name of Contadina pizza, continuing the build of the refrigerated food category it started few years ago with the launch of the Contadina pasta and sauces, and where the satisfying results exceeded expectations, NRFC would be then the first mover in this new category product, pre empting its serious and major competitor: Kraft general food who was on his way to make a similar launch(their launch is expected within six months). The market studies consisting of the forecast of the estimated demand show that the pizza launch is recommended, and it should better be with the pizza and topping product instead of the pizza only, and that the basic business requirement $45 million(factory dollar sales) could be met with a minimum of 7% of market penetration. The opportunity is great since the Italian ethnic food market is developing very fast, but NRFC should be very careful since bad results could seriously hurt the Contadina brand name built with the success of the pasta and sauces. The price of the offering should be adjusted to lower levels and a heavy advertising support should be carried. Situation Analysis: NRFC first entered the refrigerated food market by launching the Contadina pasta and sauces . it was an undeveloped market in 1987 where fresh pasta was considered to be a premium product sold only in specialty stores. At that time refrigerated foods were responsible of 7% of Nestle global sales with very little contribution from us market. The refrigerated food was perceived as fresh, very convenient and with high quality, but in the us market it raises a serious problem of distribution because of its nature as refrigerated, for what NRFC devised a highly distribution system from the factory in Danville, Virginia, and took the option to utilize food brokers, who earned a 3%-5% commission, who acted as sales agents. The results were very satisfying, and Nestle became the established market leader: $150 million retail sales by 1990. Refrigerated pizza was the natural extension of this introduction. The threatening competition came from Kraft’s DiGiorno pasta and sauce, a 90day shelf life against the 40 days for NRFC products. Kraft was a subsidiary of Philip Morris Companies, Inc, the food division of which was one of the largest manufacturer and marketer of frozen food in the USA. Kraft’s had operating revenue of $25 billion, in the time the total Nestle sales were at 54,500 millions of Swiss francs. And beside their test for the pasta and sauce products, Kraft test-marketed a refrigerated pizza of which the rumor said the launch would take place within six months, increasing pressure over NRFC management who were looking for the first mover advantage, as they had with Contadina pasta and sauces. The pizza market in the USA, evaluated at $18,4 billion, was targeting 95. 5 million households, and was dominated by restaurants, with 88% of total sales, even if 60% of pizza were eaten at home; with a large national franchisors – such as Pizza Hut and Domino’s pizza- as well as numerous local competitors. The consumers were perceiving the pizza in general as very convenient, easy to prepare and to serve, adequate for the whole family; and the frozen pizza was seen as less valuable than the take out pizza or the Contadina kit / the assembled pizza set for evaluation ( exhibit 13 and exhibit 14). Concept tests: The main products tested by NRFC for the pizza launch were the pizza kit with the option of available toppings (pizza and topping) and the pizza kit with no additional toppings (pizza only), and they used the BASES model to forecast the estimated demand. Numerous assumptions were used in the purpose to make the tests very close to reality, such as the parent brand penetration and the total brand awareness. (-the parent penetration was estimated at 24% by the marketing staff, but MRD – the market research department-recommended to check volume projections with penetration ranging from 5 to 25%. -$18 million would be dedicated to promotion and advertising, based on what 37% of overall awareness was used in the forecast. ) The results (see exhibits A,B,C,D ) show that: at 24% user penetration the option A (pizza kit plus toppings) would allow a margin of $12,570 millions while the option B (pizza only) let a total factory sales amount of $35,137 well below the $45,000 millions basic business requirements. -the exhibit 21 shows for the â€Å"top two box† a noticeable difference between the Contadina users and non users, it gets obvious then that the amount of the percentage of brand users will heavily affect the results. Fo r that reason we set different scenarios assuming various user penetrations: 5% 10% 15% and 20%, the option A results start insuring the NRFC threshold at a minimum user penetration of 7%. So these numbers recommend the introduction of the refrigerated pizza with the toppings option. Let’s have a look on the concept test for the pizza comparing to that for the Contadina pasta and sauces: * For the pasta we can see (exhibit 6) that 26% of total surveyed persons perceive it as a fresh product, only 8% think its price is too high, and 61% found nothing dislikable in it. * About the pizza (exhibit 19) 26% found it too expensive comparing to the take out or delivery one, even among those who were favorable to the product, only 4% perceived it as natural with no preservatives, and 12% disliked the general taste. Comparing the refrigerated pizza to the other ones available on the market we can see on the exhibit 20 that the it is perceived as better tasting than the frozen pizza (9 on a ten point scale) but is rated 7. 3 on the same scale for the â€Å"tasting as good as take out or home delivered pizza†, which means that it should have excellent quality to be l ess threatened by these ones and that it will be more valuable and gets better perception than the frozen pizza. The pizza opportunity is the logical continuity of the pasta one, but in fact the context is pretty different: for both we can talk about ethnic food development, but as the time there are not too many substitute products to the pasta, the number of Italian restaurants ,pizza franchisors retail outlets, was so numerous, with the maximum freshness that makes the operation surrounded by some risks to penetrate this market, meanwhile for the pasta demand against the actual market offering made the refrigerated category grow even with the DiGiorno entry. During the development process for the pizza, from the idea generation to the commercialization, the BASES II involved a concept test combined with product test, the choice of the respondents who were given the product to test can lead to results not reflecting their real opinion about it, since they will feel treated in a special way and then can be much more favorable to the product, altering their judgment. Instead, a blind test might give better feedback. The BASES seems to be a tool to assess the market potential, and evaluate the wareness level, but a better return about the new product could be achieved by a larger testing operation, which would be expensive, and might be used by competitors in their advantage. Among the Michael porter’s five forces concerning the pizza market NFRC is aiming to penetrate, the two threats who concern them the most are: the substitutes – the large number of restaurants and outlets selling fresh pizza- , and their main competitor Di Giorno, and it is clear that this situation could make NRFC expedite the launch operation in such a way that it could make judgment mistakes. Recommendations: The market studies are favorable for the new pizza launch, but the opportunity is less interesting that the one for the pasta, the case for the pizza is surrounded by great risks that the management should seriously consider: -the opportunity is sensitive to parent brand, for that reason NRFC should take more time to fine tune the pasta product, and not hurry for the pizza in a manner that could considerably hurt the initial pasta and sauces success. proceed for a larger product testing, even if there is a risk that competitors might take profits of it, and try to target the Contadina non users in larger amounts for the test -improve the pizza taste according to feedback from the test, and cut off prices in such way that they match the customer’s expectations since they will compare it to the existing products from other suppliers. The new product should be then positioned in an intermediate range between the frozen pizza and the existing fresh pizza (restaura nts, pizza outlets, and so on) -delaying the launch could make DiGiorno launch its own pizza and then be the first mover in the refrigerated pizza market: take this as an opportunity and try to learn from his mistakes: the market risks are real and for sure that competitor will meet difficulties, learn from that and try to improve the product introduction.