Monday, December 30, 2019
Drunk Driving Is a Crime Legal Consequences
Driving while under the influence is a crime. Because of the hazard that it causes to public safety, drunk driving is treated as a criminal offense and one that carries increasingly greater penalties in all 50 states. If you plan to drink and drive this weekend, you could end up with a criminal record, and depending on the circumstances, it could be a felony. Forget about the danger that you are putting yourself and others into for a moment, if you get caught driving after drinking alcohol or doing drugs, you will end up with a criminal record that could affect your employment and your future. The Consequences of Drunk Driving Here is what will happen if you get stopped drinking and driving: You will be treated as a criminal. You will be handcuffed and taken to jail. You or someone you know will have to post a bond before you will be released from jail.You will have to go to court and face a judge or jury. If you had a blood-alcohol level of more than 0.08, you will be found guilty of drunk drivingà in all 50 states.You will have to pay a fine and court costs. You will probably be placed on probation and have to pay a monthly probation fee.Your drivers license will be suspended or revoked. To get your driving privileges back, in most states, you will have to go through an assessment of your drinking habits and take educational classes about alcohol.In many states, if it is determined that you do have a drinking problem, you will have to get treatment for your problem before getting your license back.You will also have to get more expensive auto insuranceà before you can drive again.In a growing number of states, you will have to pay for and install an ignition interl ock device on your vehicle that will not let the car start if you have alcohol on your breath. There Could Be Other Consequences The above is a list of the legal problems you can face if you get a DUI. Not being able to drive can cause you problems in other areas of your life - socially or on the job. You could even lose your job, in some cases. Is driving while intoxicated worth all the hassle? Picking up the phone and calling a taxi or a friend to come to get you would be a much better choice giving the circumstances. Try These Tips Instead Here are some tips from USA.gov if you plan to drink during the upcoming holiday period: If you drink, dont drive period, no matter how much you have had.Plan ahead and always designate a sober driver before the event begins.If you have been drinking, call a taxi, a friend or family member to come to pick you up.Just stay where you are until you sleep it off.Dont ride with someone else who is impaired.Take the keys away from someone, if you think they are too impaired to drive. Many areas offer Sober Taxi services free of charge during holiday periods. They will drive you home at no charge if you just call and ask. Almost all law enforcement agencies increase patrols and sobriety checkpoints around the holidays. Dont take the chance. Its simply not worth it.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
The Issue Of Immigration Policy - 2426 Words
On the topic of immigration, Donald Trump has stated, But you have people coming in and I m not just saying Mexicans, I m talking about people that are from all over that are killers and rapists and they re coming into this country. On the same issue, Hillary Clinton has said the following: ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve talked about undocumented immigrants hundreds of times and fought for years for comprehensive immigration reformâ⬠¦ We are a country built by immigrants and our diversity makes us stronger as a nation ââ¬â itââ¬â¢s something to be proud of, celebrate, and defend.â⬠As shown through the radically different perspectives highlighted in the aforementioned passages, the topic of immigration policy has quickly become the most prominent discussion of the upcoming election. How then do we evaluate the immigration policies proposed by the likely Presidential nominees, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, given our countryââ¬â¢s founding principles? The answer to this ques tion lies in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Our nationââ¬â¢s legal documents should be used to evaluate their immigration views because they are the basis of our country and the values America embodies. Given Americaââ¬â¢s founding principles of equality, freedom and equal protection under the law as stated in our countryââ¬â¢s Declaration of Independence and Constitution, extreme protectionist immigration laws contradict our nationââ¬â¢s founding principles. In comparison to Donald Trumpââ¬â¢s overt and impractical anti-immigrantShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Immigration Policy1189 Words à |à 5 Pages Although the issue of immigration policy has been at the center of political debates, largely discussed in the media and newspapers, no one has yet found a solution to this ill-defined problem, that would comply with the Americaââ¬â¢s core values. While I think the immigration policy does need a reform, the solution to this problem certainly is not a deportation of all undocumented residents. Currently, there are nearly 40 million United States residents that were born abroad.About 11Read MoreThe Issue Of Immigration Policy2409 Words à |à 10 PagesOn the topic of immigration, Donald Trump has previously stated, But you have people coming in and I m not just saying Mexicans, I m talking about people that are from all over that are killers and rapists and they re coming into this country. On the same issue, Hillary Clinton has said the following: ââ¬Å"Iââ¬â¢ve talked about undocumented immigrants hundreds of times and fought for years for comprehensive immigration reformâ⬠¦ We are a country built by immigrants and our diversity makes us strongerRead MoreImmigration Policy And Public Issues2070 Words à |à 9 PagesAbstract This paper explores the United States, Immigration Policy from an historical, fair and factual perspective. 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North Immigration Reform Introduction Public Opinion The American public seems to be aware of the issue in general, but is short of the details. There has certainly been a healthy amount of media coverage of immigration reform, but as the coverage itself is unclear as to how best to frame the problems, it mostly informs about the existence of the issue rather than informing about the issue itself. As such, there is conflictingRead MoreImmigration And The United States965 Words à |à 4 Pages Immigration is a highly controversial and big problem in the United States today. ââ¬Å"While some characterize our immigration crisis as solely an issue of the 11 to 12 million unauthorized immigrants living in this country, our problems extend beyond the number of undocumented people to a broader range of issues. The lack of a comprehensive federal solution has created a slew of lopsided, enforcement-only initiatives that have cost the country billions of dollars while failing to end unauthorizedRead MoreLooking for a Fresh New Start Essay1 339 Words à |à 6 PagesIllegal immigration has been an ongoing issue in the political arena for the past decade with immigration laws still being discussed. To immigrate means to come into a country of which one is not a native for permanent residence. The United States is a nation founded by people who emigrated on the principle of freedom. What would our forefathers think if there could see the issues facing their nation today? There are many issues surrounding immigration policy such as national security, border patrol
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Mobile Phone Companies Analysis Free Essays
string(270) " also have to be aware of changes in exchange rates, as they operate on a global scale and drastic changes in rates can have a devastating effect on the financial operations of the company if the business do not take appropriate steps to ensure the effects are minimum\." Nokia is a leading mobile device manufacturer globally and has a high market share. Maximum population in India prefers using Nokia handsets as it is user friendly. It can use its customerââ¬â¢s goodwill and loyalty to diversify in the mobile network market in India. We will write a custom essay sample on Mobile Phone Companies Analysis or any similar topic only for you Order Now The communications sector in India has transformed into a multi-player and multi-product market that has diverse market size and segments. In order to diversify in to new market, Nokia needs to develop a marketing plan which will give them the idea what factors to be considered before entering the mobile network sector. The marketing plan includes all the factors that need to be undertaken. They are market analysis, competitor analysis, and environmental analysis, and customer analysis, internal and external factors. The mobile network market is growing rapidly and has good opportunities for new entrants to enter market and gain market share. Though there is much opportunity in this market, there are some threats such as threat from existing competitor, high customer churn rates, etc. After conducting a Porterââ¬â¢s 5 forces model on Nokia, I felt a PESTLE analysis would analyse the macro environment of Nokia. These are all the external forces that are out of Nokiasââ¬â¢ control but have a significant effect on how the company operates and the strategic decision they make. This model looks at the Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors relating to Nokia and the industry they operate in. To understand the macro environment more this article will study each section in depth. After the completion of planning stage of marketing plan, an organization has to go through next stage which is strategic options. It deals with various key issues that a firm needs to look at. They are marketing objectives, Strategic objectives, Marketing mix, STP (Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning) process, Distribution process and Value chain. Nokia was founded over 140 years ago in Finland, and since then has become a global organisation that operates in over 120 countries worldwide. Nokia has also become a market leader in the mobile telecommunications industry and is most known for their mobile phones and Smartphoneââ¬â¢s. Although recent competition has affected the market share that Nokia has in the telecommunication industry they still hold a strongà 29%(2011) of the market share in a forever changing industry The micro environment is the internal factors that are affected by the customers, staff, shareholders and competitors. The best model for evaluating the micro environment of Nokia is Porterââ¬â¢s 5 forces as this takes into consideration the competitors, customers, suppliers and new entrants. Company Overview: The company was founded in 1865 by Frederick Idestam. The company began a paper mill in Tammerkoski in southern Finland. Frederick Idestam then built another mill by the Nokiavirta River where he gave the name Nokia to the mill in 1871. Originally, the Nokianvirta River was named after a dark furry animal, locally known as the Nokia ââ¬â a type of marten. Following a major industrial force, the company merges with a cable company (founded by Eduard Polon) and a rubber firm (founded by Arvid Wickstrom) which sets Nokia on the new path of electronics. Nokiaââ¬â¢s first electronic device was a pulse analyzer designed for use in nuclear power plants in 1962. Their interest in telecommunication systems began in 1963 when they started developing radio telephones for the army and the emergency services, prior to the manufacturing of televisions, radio phones, data transfer equipment, radio link, analyzers and digital telephone exchange. Nokia will change its production and focus on the telecommunication expertise until it becomes the core of its future work. To move to mobile: In 1979 Mobira Oy was the first phone maker. They begin life as a joint venture between Nokia and leading Finnish television Salora. The Mobile phone revolution started in 1981 with the launch of the first Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) service. The phone industry began to expand rapidly and Nokia introduces its first car phones followed by the portable in 1986. Mobile revolution: In 1992, Nokia decides to focus on its telecommunications business. This happens when Jorma Ollila becomes CEO of Nokia and he chooses to concentrate on telecommunication industry. In the 1990ââ¬â¢s, the rubber, cable, andà consumer electronics divisions, were therefore sold. Nokiaââ¬â¢s only business turned towards the manufacturing of mobile phones and telecommunications systems. The strategy of Jorma Ollila was to create a new era of telecommunication on a long term vision. 1. PESTLE Analysis of Nokia Political: The Political factors relates to the factors which the government also affects such as government instability or rules and regulations which the business must follow. Nokia have recently moved one of its manufacturing facilities to India, and because of this it is important that Nokia follow the rules and regulations that are set in India, so that they can operate as efficiently as possible. The types of things they will have to be aware of is the minimum wage, the maximum hours a week employees can work and especially the Health and Safety regulations; this is to avoid any bad press or revolt from employees that will ultimately damage the reputation of Nokia both short term and long term. As well as foreign government it is vital that Nokia have a good relationship with their government in Finland, as any political instability such as a change in government or coalition may result in new laws being implemented, which will affect Nokia a lot Economical: Nokia are vital to the Economy in Finland as it currently occupies a third of the market on the Helsinki stock exchange. The organisation is so important to the economy of Finland that the government had to step in when the business, earlier this year Nokia planned job cuts in Finland and with fears of what that would do to the economy the Finnish government stated they were prepared to help find jobs for those who are sacked (Reuters, 2011). Nokia will also have to be aware of changes in exchange rates, as they operate on a global scale and drastic changes in rates can have a devastating effect on the financial operations of the company if the business do not take appropriate steps to ensure the effects are minimum. You read "Mobile Phone Companies Analysis" in category "Papers" The threat of recessionà on western economy has also had an effect on the interest rates in banks, which means the cost of borrowing money for business activities has increased and Nokia will need to be aware of the changes in interest rate. Social With Nokia mainly operating in the Western market it is important for them to fully understand the social factors in these markets and the main factor they need to understand is the culture of the society; which is to have the latest and most up to date phone, is considered a key fashion icon. Consumers are always after the most innovative and best looking Smartphone because in todayââ¬â¢s culture people are judge on how fashionable they are by their choice of mobile phone. The increasing trend in Smartphone means when consumers purchase new mobile phones less and less consumers are choosing the standard mobiles phones over Smartphone because of the social trend in todayââ¬â¢s society. Nokia will be aware of this and may now spend the majority of their efforts developing a Smartphone that can compete with their rivalsââ¬â¢ products, in order to keep up with the trends of their consumers. Technological: The technological advances in the industry are vital to the success of any new Smartphone in the market that is continually growing, as the level of competition rises Nokia must ensure that their Smartphones are at the highest level of innovation. With functions such as camera, internet, social networking and email all necessities on Smartphones Nokia will have to think of other functions to help differentiate and stand out from its rivals. As well as function more and more consumers are looking at the software running all the functions as a key indicator of the success and quality of the Smartphone, so Nokiaââ¬â¢s alliance with Microsoft for their latest Smartphones seems a very good move as everyone are aware of the technological capabilities of Microsoft and the value they can add to any technological product. In the past Nokia were the market leaders in innovation in the mobile phone industry, however in recent times they have seemed well off the mark and struggle to compete with their rivals. This is why Nokia must consider their position in the industry and attempt to once again become theà market leader by offering a new innovative capability and get to the market before its rivals. Environmental: In todayââ¬â¢s culture it is very important for organisations to be seen as environmentally friendly and ethical with its manufacturing, because of the global effect it has on global warming so Nokia must ensure that they operate in an appropriate manner. With mobile phone recycling organisations becoming more and more popular, this demonstrates how important people are regarding it. The main issue with mobile recycling is the disposal of the batteries in the phones as these can become dangerous if not disposed of appropriately. Legal: Intellectual property is the key to any technological business and must be cared for and protected to the fullest amount to ensure the business does not lose out to rivals. Nokia operate in an industry where it is very difficult to have a product that is different to its competitors, when they do release a product with an innovative capability it is vital to protect the rights to it through patents, copyright, trademarks or design to ensure they are not ââ¬Å"stolenâ⬠by their competitors. Not only are competitors a threat of intellectual, but Nokia must ensure they do not fall victim to counterfeiters who claim to be a Nokia products but are cheap knock-offs. As Nokia have manufacturing plants in a various countries it is extremely important that they abide by the laws and regulations set by the different countries as the laws will differ depending on the country, these can be employments laws, Health and Safety or even trade restrictions. 2. Marketing strategy of Nokia Nokia is a leading mobile device manufacturer globally and has a high market share. Maximum population in India prefers using Nokia handsets as it is user friendly. It can use its customerââ¬â¢s goodwill and loyalty to diversifyà in the mobile network market in India. The communications sector in India has transformed into a multi-player and multi-product market that has diverse market size and segments. In order to diversify in to new market, Nokia needs to develop a marketing plan which will give them the idea what factors to be considered before entering the mobile network sector. The marketing plan includes all the factors that need to be undertaken. They are market analysis, competitor analysis, and environmental analysis, and customer analysis, internal and external factors. The mobile network market is growing rapidly and has good opportunities for new entrants to enter market and gain market share. Though there is much opportunity in this market, there are some threats such as threat from existing competitor, high customer churn rates, etc. MARKETING OBJECTIVES It is defined as, ââ¬Ëmarketing goals that the business must achieve in order to meet its wider business objectivesââ¬â¢. Some of the main marketing objectives of an organization are to increase its market share, differentiate its products from competitors, develop brand value among its customers, and introducing new products or services in the market. The strategic objectives of an organization can be measured with the help of BCG matrix. BCG matrix helps to measure an organizations business units or product lines. CUSTOMER ANALYSIS At present, almost everyone uses cell phone. Therefore, the target segment for this market cannot be specific. Nokia needs to target population according to their usage by providing customize service plans so that the customer can select the plan which meets their requirements. They can also segment customers regionally as the usage is much more in urban market. MARKETING MIX It is the most famous marketing term and is used by all organization to target its customers. The elements of marketing mix are the basis of a marketing plan. It includes 4 Pââ¬â¢s for products and 7 Pââ¬â¢s for services. They are Product, Price, Place, Promotion and extended Pââ¬â¢s i.e. Physical evidence, People and Process for services. Product A product is a tangible thing that is sold by an organization to its customers in order to gain market share. To gain market share a firm needs to differentiate its products from competitors, be innovative, and eliminate the products which are not doing well in the market. In case of Nokia, it is a market leader in cell phone market. To gain market share and increase its customer base, Nokia is diversifying into SIM cards market. To differentiate its product from the competitors it has to use various strategies such as mass marketing. The product offered by Nokia i.e. SIM cards can be described with the service that they can offer. Price Price refers to the amount a customer is willing to spend. It is determined by a number of factors such as market share, growth rate, competitor pricing, etc. Nokia has to keep its SIM card prices low in order to penetrate into the mobile network market. They need to offer service plans as per the usage of the customers. While pricing, Nokia needs to keep in mind different segments that they are targeting. For instance, different plan for youngsters, corporate, businesses, SBUs. They also need to constantly update its pricing in order to compete with its competitors. Place It refers to geographical area where the product is placed. It also includes outlets, distribution channel. Nokia needs to make available its SIM cards both in rural and urban areas. It can also use its geographical reach to untap the rural markets which is still not properly covered by the existing competitors. Nokia can also use its customer care centres to sell its SIM cards. Apart from this, they can provide its SIM cards to retailers and dealers. Promotion It represents all the marketing activities that are carried to promote a product in the market. There are various mediums to promote products such as advertisements, hoardings, etc. Nokia can use various mediums to promote its SIM cards. It can use celebrities, advertisements, hoardings, sponsoring events, etc. They can also spread awareness about its SIM cards by using canopies outside colleges. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths: Huge market share: Nokia has huge market share in the cell phone sector and therefore can use its image to be successful in the service provider market. World-class technology: Nokia can make use of its world class research and development team to design better network coverage for its sim-cards. Geographical Reach: As Nokia is one of the renowned brands globally, its presence in the market is very high and can use this to provide its sim-cards service to majority of population. Weakness: New in the market: As Nokia is new in the service provider market, it will be difficult to attract customers towards its sim-cards and service plans. High customer churn rate: Due to many competitors in the market and less margin to differentiate the service from competitors, customers switch from one service provider to other if they are not satisfied with its service. Opportunities: Untapped Market: Nokia is new to the service provider market and has an opportunity to explore the market. High market growth rate: As the number of people using mobile phones is increasing rapidly. There is high growth rate in the market. Increase Market Share: Nokia can increase its market share by untapping the service provider market and increasing its customer base. Threats: Competitors threat: Nokia face competitors threat from market leaders such as Airtel, Vodafone and also from new entrant Aircel which has been successful to gain market share within a short period. Global recession: It led to lessà amount of disposable income with the customers. Hence, customers think twice before investing his money. Market Saturation: It poses as another threat if the service provider market saturates due to financial crisis caused by recession. 3. Porterââ¬â¢s Analysis I. Threat of new entrants: ââ" The mobile phone industry is already a well established market and the threat of a new entrant is quite low, as the technology needed to rival the devices already available is quite advance if they want to differentiate from them. ââ" The barriers to entry in the mobile phone industry is high because any new entrants will need high investments in RD, technology and marketing in order to compete with the established organizations. ââ" New entrants want to take market share from the larger organisations but Nokia hold 29% of the market share in the industry, the highest market share in the industry. (BBC News, 2011) The threat of new entrants into the mobile phone industry is very unlikely as the start up cost of entering into the market at a high level needs a lot of investments and time to be considered a respectable competitor of the already established organisations. Nokia currently hold a 29% of the entire mobile phone market worldwide and for a new competitor to obtain some of their market will take either a very long term plan or something that is truly innovative and unseen before. This is because realistically the new entrant will need very high investment for RD and marketing, and would not be able to publish positive result for a long time as they try to build a customer base and a name for itself in an established market. In conclusion the threat of new entrants is very low and not a factor which Nokia will have to worry about in the near future. II. Power of suppliers: ââ" Although Nokia rely on its suppliers to supply equipment for their advanced mobile phones there are actually a number of large equipment makers, which Nokia could switch to. ââ" The software suppliers for their Smartphones areà now Microsoft, who will have a very high bargaining power. ââ" As the leading mobile phone company in the industry they are in a very strong position when bargaining with their suppliers. Nokia are in the position where they can bargain and negotiate with any mobile phone hardware maker because there is a high number of equipment suppliers that are readily available to them should their current suppliers attempt to bargain for more money with them. Nokiaââ¬â¢s main argument would be the fact that they are a global organisation that has the highest market share in the industry, so the suppliers would not want to lose such an illustrious organisation. On the other hand, Nokia have recently created an alliance with Microsoft for their software which would be considered a major coup for Nokia more than Microsoft. As a result, Microsoft will have a lot of power when negotiating a price and share because the deal is more beneficial to Nokia than Microsoft. In conclusion, there is a moderate threat from the powers of suppliers because although the hardware suppliers have a very low power, Microsoftââ¬â¢s power over the software is very high because theyââ¬â¢re very few other organisations who have the expertise and skills to rival Microsoft. III. Powers of buyers: ââ" The power that customers have is rising because of the increasing number of choices in the mobile telecommunication industry. ââ" With a lot of the Nokia competitors all offering similar packages (e.g. unlimited texts and calls) the industry is very price sensitive with customers seeking out the best value for money. ââ" Many of the consumers will also be tied into long term contracts so switching from one handset to another will be difficult and expensive for the consumer, as a result they may not want to change until the contract is finished. The mobile phone industry is a competitive market where the number of choices is very wide, resulting in the consumer having a lot of power because they can choose to go to one of Nokiaââ¬â¢s many rivals if they feel Nokia are not good enough. As Nokia do not have a direct store to sell to their consumers, intermediaries such as Carphone warehouse or network stores such as Orange also have other handsets readily available for the consumers, which makes it difficult for Nokia to have a direct impact on the selling of their handsets. As a result this has created a very price sensitive market because consumers will always be on the lookout for theà best deals. In conclusion, the buyers have a high amount of power because of the other handsets they can purchase instead of Nokia. IV. Threats of substituteââ¬â¢s products: ââ" Mobile phones are an everyday essential in peopleââ¬â¢s lives today and people would find it hard to replace, as customers would not be able to be in constant contact when away from the house. ââ" On the other hand, it could be said that customers would be able to contact people through others types of media such as social networking websites, email and home telephones. Although staying in constant contact would be hard in customersââ¬â¢ day to day life. ââ" However, smart phones are capable of a lot of functions so there are many substitutes if the substitute focuses on one of the functions, e.g. digital camera can take better photos then smart phones, notebooks can surf the web just as effectively and PDAs can plan a day the same way a smart phone can. Mobile phones have become an everyday necessity in peoplesââ¬â¢ lives because of the important functions that they can do and are all available in just one handset. No other product has the ability to make phone calls, send messages, surf the web and many more in one device. The idea of being in constant communication with someone at anytime and anywhere makes the mobile phone a very important device to people. On the other hand, a mobile phone can be dissected into the key function where there are substitutes for the functions, such as the camera function on a mobile phone can be substituted for a digital camera which can do a better job than the camera in a mobile phone. In conclusion, the threat of a substitute product is very low due to the fact a mobile phone is no longer just for making calls but for all the other function as well are expected on all mobile phones. So, the only real substitute is to buy all the functions of a mobile phone in the individual products which would not be plausible to carry all around on a person at the same time. Without mobile phones consumers would find it very difficult to replace, as it can offer so much to the consumers all in one device, no matter what the needs of the consumer are. Consumers rely on mobile phones a lot and would not be able to find a substitute that has all the function of a mobile phone. V. Competitive rivalry: ââ" Nokia rivals have moved to smart phones and androids while Nokia have only just recently released their first smart phones leaving them trailing their rivals such as Apple and HTC. ââ" There is also very little differentiation between the competitors which means any new smart phones in the market, like Nokia Lumia, will find it difficult to tempt existing iphone and HTC customers to switch. ââ" Intense competition from large companies such as; Apple, HTC, Blackberry, Sony Ericcson and LG, ect. Nokia operate in an industry where the competition is extremely fierce with high investment in RB and marketing to compete with some of the biggest organisations in the world. This year Nokiaââ¬â¢s market share has dropped to 29% and it is forecast to continue to fall because of the rising popularity of the Apple Iphone. After Nokiaââ¬â¢s slow move into the Smartphone market it has left them trailing their rivals, and has just released their Lumia range which will find it difficult to compete and win over consumers from their Iphones. In conclusion, competitive rivalry is very high and Nokia must be aware of the threat that competitors have on their business especially with the growing popularity of the Apple iphone and RIM blackberry. The competitive rivalry is the biggest threat to Nokia because in the Smartphone market they are considerably behind and to increase their market share will take a lot of work in a market where some of the biggest names in business operate in such as Apple and Sony. Competitive environments of Nokia For more than a decade, Nokia has been the iconic leader in the industry. However, the iPhone revolution (as well as the growth of a fully vertically integrated and higher next important step in this process of assessing the external environment will be to show the current picture of Nokiaââ¬â¢s competitors. Hardware:à hly diverse group like Samsung) has disturbed the industry. The latest data clearly highlighted several crucial points: Firstly, Nokia reported smartphone sales of about US$ 3.4 billion for Q2 2011, while Appleââ¬â¢s iPhone revenue totaled US$ 13.3 billion; this makes Apple the leaderà of the industry as it shipped 20 million iPhones. It is also important to understand that the average sale price (ASP) of an iPhone is more than US$ 600, while Nokia reports a smartphone ASP of around US$ 200. Secondly, Nokia was previously the market share leader, having more than one-third of the worldwide smartphone market in Q2 2010. However, one year later, this figure has decreased to only 15.7% and Nokia is the only brand that has lost market share, reporting a negative growth of 30%. The chart above shows the operating profits from the sale of mobile phones among the main vendors. During the second quarter of 2011, Nokia, Motorola, Sony-Ericsson and LG saw losses and did not manage to generate a profit by selling phones. During the same period, RIM and Samsung saw their shares slightly decrease but Apple grew substantially and this company now represents two-thirds of the industry with operating profit of 66.3%. From the same graph, we can also confirm that Motorola and LG are frequently making losses; this may explain why Google bought Motorola last month and why LG is considering exiting the industry before the end of 2011. The chart above clearly confirms that Nokiaââ¬â¢s problems are not recent; it shows the change in profit share over a four-year period and we can see that Nokia has slowly lost profits and market shares to Apple. As of September 2011, Apple is currently taking 84% of the profits generated by modern smartphones; this means that Nokiaââ¬â¢s main source of revenue is the low-end classic mobile phone. Software: The OS The previous section highlighted the fact that Nokia saw its market share and profits decrease over the last four years, and during the same period, Apple and the iPhone took 84% of the overall profits. By studying the operating system (OS), as well as the applications that are developed by the industry, we will be able to understand how its new competitor, Apple, surpassed the previously successful Nokia. Symbian Symbian v9 was launched in 2005 and in December 2008, Nokia bought Symbian Ltd., the company behind Symbian OS and made it an open source system. Nokiaââ¬â¢s Symbian platform market share increased to 47% but in 2010 it started to plateau and is now declining sharply, currently representing lessà than 16% of new mobile phone operating systems. Symbian was mostly used by the Nokia Group and other manufacturers like LG, Motorola, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. Symbian remains the most used OS due to its very large installed based (more than 500 million mobile phones). However, Googleââ¬â¢s Android has emerged as a significant challenger to the superiority of Symbian by providing a developer-friendly OS combined with better innovative functionalities, a better user interface and coming from a consumer-friendly brand (Android by Google). Android Googleââ¬â¢s Android was launched as a free and open source operating system in 2008 and within two years, it grew from having 0% to 21% of the market share. As of 2011, Googleââ¬â¢s Android operating system is installed on 130 million devices and it is used extensively by leading smartphone manufactures like Samsung, Motorola and HTC. Windows Phone 7 The Windows Phone 7 was showcased at the beginning of 2010 and represented a significant upgrade to the struggling Windows Mobile 6 OS. Early signs were mixed but the OS was generally well received and Microsoft also created important new features like Zune, Bing, Xbox Live and Windows Marketplace. However, the Windows Phone arrived late on the market in comparison to the Apple iOS or Android and the OS was not free and fully open source. In August 2011, during his keynote speech at the 2011 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer admitted that Microsoft simply hasnââ¬â¢t gained any traction and that Microsoft has failed. Based on the latest figures from Nielsen, Windows Phone 7 sales only represent 9% of the market, compared to 38% for Android and 27% for the iPhone. In order to picture this incredible landscape modification in terms of the OS, both graphs below show how the top smartphone platform has moved from Symbian to Android in fewer than 4 years. Mobile applications: The previous sections described how the Nokia ecosystem Symbian failed to compete with Apple or Google. In this section, we will see how this issue also affected the developer community and therefore the applications available on Nokiaââ¬â¢s mobile phones and smartphones. Firstly, by analysingà the number of applications available in the Nokia application store (called OVI) we can see from the graph below that OVI has only 46,000 applications when Android or Apple have over 300,000 applications. However, we can also see from the same graph that the trend is slowly growing, confirming the idea that some developers remain interested in developing applications on Nokiaââ¬â¢s Symbian platform, even though this platform is less competitive than Android or Windows Phone 7. Conclusion: Nokiaââ¬â¢s strategy to diversify from cell phone manufacture to Nokia mobile network will be a great success. Moreover, it can use its goodwill and loyalty of people towards Nokia cell phone to use its sim-cards. As majority of service providerââ¬â¢s focus on urban areas, Nokia can use its geographical reach to uncap the rural market. In order to diversify its business in to mobile network market, Nokia needs to make use of its leading mobile phones manufacturer image. As Nokia has build loyalty among its mobile phone users, it can use this for attracting customers towards its SIM cards and thereby gain market share. Also with its world class R D department, it can offer many services to its customers which will help them to differentiate in their service offering from its competitors. For instance, video calling, free roaming, outgoing call restriction, etc. By focusing more on rural market which is untap to a certain extent, Nokia can satisfy its customers in rural areas which most of the existing players are not successful. Also by offering customize service plans to its customers such as offering SmS package, unlimited internet package, Free Hello tune, and so on with minimum price. Nokia can also make tie-ups with existing players such as Airtel, Vodafone, Aircel in order to gain larger market share. It can also offer better deals to customers who are buying Nokia handsets on its SIM cards which will increase its sales as well as customer base. This will help them to develop loyalty among its customers. In order to diversify in to SIM cards segment, Nokia needs to use mass marketing by implementing various promotion strategies such as Advertisements, Hoardings, Sponsoring events, canopies outside colleges andà so on. Nokia also needs to plan its distribution strategy in order to reach to maximum people. They can also use their ââ¬ËConnecting Peopleââ¬â¢ tagline in its SIM card, thereby giving additional meaning to it. Thus, to diversify in to SIM card market is a better option for Nokia to increase its market share and revenue. Also this will help them to build larger customer base which will ultimately result in one of the leading brands in the telecommunications industry. .mce-content-body .mce-resizehandle.wildfire-hover { background: rgb(0, 0, 0); }; .mce-content-body [contenteditable="false"] [contenteditable="true"].wildfire-hover { outline: rgb(122, 202, 255) solid 2px; }; .mce-content-body img.wp-media.wildfire-hover { background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237); border-color: rgb(114, 119, 124); };a[data-wplink-url-error], a[data-wplink-url-error].wildfire-hover, a[data-wplink-url-error]:focus { outline: rgb(220, 50, 50) dotted 2px; position: relative; }; How to cite Mobile Phone Companies Analysis, Papers
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Agrarian discontent dbq free essay sample
Between 1880-1900, farmers believed that the railroad companies were swindling away their profits and that the government favored big business. The farmers had every reason to feel some sort of discontent because of their predicament as well as the fact that the government saw a need for reform which created the notion that problems existed. Farmers were correct in arguing that the United Statesââ¬â¢ money supply was not what it should be; over 30 years the population nearly double while the money circulation rose by only 60 %( Doc C). Railroads had a monopoly on shipping which raised costs and affected profit, the value of crops deflated, and big business was a strong opponent to the much needed Free Silver Movement that farmers were relying on. The first major topic regarding farmers discontent with their economic situation involves the shipping monopolies controlled by the railroad companies. The cost of transportation was spiraling out of control, there was never any certainty when it came to exactly what it would cost for a farmer to ship his crop. We will write a custom essay sample on Agrarian discontent dbq or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Profit became a scarcity with the cost of shipping amounting to much more than the worth of the crop (Doc H). The ridiculous demands of railroad companies can also be compared to the crop deflation that made it that much more difficult to provide for oneââ¬â¢s family, the companies claimed that the operating expense of the railroads demanded such intimidating shipping costs (Doc G). Farmerââ¬â¢s were left exasperated and often had no choice but to foreclose on their farms because no profit was to be made, this can also be seen within the fact that the United Statesââ¬â¢ money supply was not what it should have been, over 30 years the population nearly doubled while the money circulation rose by only 60 %( Doc C). ââ¬Å"All his calculations as to a profit on his little investment he had based on freight rate of two cents a pound. Good money never made times hard (Doc B). Secondly, Farmers also struggled economically due to the value of the crop deflating and the surplus of crop that they were creating. This sudden, drastic increase of the supply without any increase of demand correlates directly with the economic downfall of the farming class (Doc E). In accordance with this, Europe had been able to compensate for their populations growth agriculturally, therefore eliminating the United States as a needed source for food and plummeting the Farmers into a deeper economic depression. This information however does not discredit the validity behind their plea. Farmers acted circumstantially and gathered more crop in order to stimulate more revenue, they did not intend for the dilution of the agrictural marketplace both here in the United States, as well as in Europe. Finally, there appeared to be a solution to the Farmers problems. The Free Silver Movement provided a way for those of a lesser income to stimulate their own revenue by converting their silver to gold. This would finally eliminate the Gold Standard and provide somewhat of an opportunity to farmers who were so desperately trying to recover from economic nothingness. It is mere pretense to attribute the hard times to the fact that all our currency is in a gold basis (Doc B) said William McKinley and with the institution of the Free Silver Movement his words would have done truth to Farmers. The supply of currency would no longer be used as a way to control those members who did not posses it (Doc A). In conclusion railroad companies, crop deflation, and big business created insurmountable barriers for farmers throughout the eighteenth century. There was little they could do to prevent the unavoidable fate; annihilation of any sort of economic success. The Farmers were no longer going to be slaves to the owners of monopolies and every effort made a difference in one way or another. (Doc D)
Thursday, November 28, 2019
eBay Strategic Marketing
Introduction eBay is one of the most successful companies in the online retail industry. The company provides a platform that enables individuals and businesses to sell and purchase efficiently.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on eBay Strategic Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The company owes its success to excellent marketing strategies that have enabled it to identify and to satisfy the needs of online buyers and sellers. This paper will provide a detailed analysis of eBayââ¬â¢s case study. It will begin with a SWOT analysis of the company. This will be followed by analysis of the companyââ¬â¢s success and fee structure. Based on these analyses, recommendations will be made to enable the company to expand its operations. SWOT Analysis Strengths First, eBay has different pricing options that suit the needs of each buyer and seller. The buyers can choose between negotiating and paying the price s offered by the sellers. The pricing system improves customer satisfaction by enabling buyers to get the best deal, whereas sellers benefit from high profit margins. Second, eBay has a huge customer base. This will enable it to increase its profits in future. Third, the company has put in place measures to ensure trust between buyers and sellers. The resulting improvement in customersââ¬â¢ confidence enables the company to attract and retain new clients. Finally, the company has invested in related businesses such as PayPal and Skype. These businesses generate more revenue for the company and enable customers to use its services easily. Weaknesses First, the company depends on transaction fees as its main source of revenue. This exposes it to the risk of making losses if competition results into a reduction in transaction fees.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Second , eBay has no control over the products on its site. Thus, it cannot use its marketing initiatives to increase sales on its website in order to improve its revenue. Opportunities Rapid economic growth in emerging markets such as China is an opportunity to the company to expand its operations. In addition, technological advancements such as video conferencing, social media, and increased use of smartphones provide growth opportunities to eBay. The company can use these technologies to reach more customers, thereby increasing its market share. Threats eBay faces the following threats in the industry. To begin with, the company is facing increased competition from large and well funded companies such as Google. eBay is likely to lose its customers to its competitors if it cannot improve its competitiveness. In addition, high competition is likely to reduce revenues, which in turn will reduce the companyââ¬â¢s profits. Declining economic growth is another major threat that the compan y is facing. A recession in major markets such as the US and Europe will have a negative impact on the companyââ¬â¢s earnings. eBayââ¬â¢s Success The factors that explain the success of eBay include the following. First, the company has an effective marketing strategy. eBay collaborates with customers who advise it on the markets to serve and how to improve its services. The collaborative approach to strategy formulation enables eBay to provide services that satisfy customersââ¬â¢ needs. The resulting improvement in customer satisfaction and loyalty enables the company to defend its market share.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on eBay Strategic Marketing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Second, eBay has focused on improving its efficiency in order to reduce transaction costs. For instance, the acquisition of Skype enables buyers and sellers to communicate free of charge. Moreover, PayPal provides ins tant and cheap payment solutions that can be used by buyers and sellers in nearly all parts of the world. The reduction in transaction costs is an incentive to buyers and sellers to continue using eBayââ¬â¢s services. Third, eBay has succeeded due to its expansion strategy. The company has focused on acquiring established and trusted online retailers such as Shopping.com and StubHub. Since consumer trust is one of the main determinants of success in the online retail industry, joining a new market through acquisition is often easier than launching a new company that is not known. Acquisitions enable eBay to penetrate the market easily by getting instant access to a large customer base. Furthermore, it helps the company to avoid high competition in overseas markets. Finally, eBay has succeeded because of its focus on investing in technologies that enhance access to its services. For instance, the company has adopted mobile phone applications that enable buyers and sellers to acces s its services through smartphones such as iPhone. Improved interactions among buyers and sellers through smartphones increase the trade volume on eBayââ¬â¢s website.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More eBayââ¬â¢s Fee Structure eBayââ¬â¢s fee structure is not optimal because the insertion fee is higher than the final value fee. This structure discourages the use of the companyââ¬â¢s services because sellers pay more to list rather than to sell their products. The high insertion fee is a disincentive to sellers with low sales volume because they might not be able to recover the cost of using eBayââ¬â¢s services. Moreover, the fee structure is expensive to customers who sell products whose values are low. For instance, a product worth $30 will cost $2.8 to sell, whereas selling a product worth $60 will cost $3.42. This means that a customer who is selling the item worth $30 will pay 9.33% of the value of his or her product. On the other hand, the customer who is selling the product worth $60 will pay only 5.7% of the value of his product. Thus, the fee structure is likely to create the impression that eBayââ¬â¢s services are expensive, which in turn will reduce sales. The fee structure should be improved through the following strategies. First, the listing fee should be reduced to encourage more people to sell their products through the companyââ¬â¢s website. The company should compensate for the reduction by increasing the final value fee. This will facilitate revenue maximization since the auction price is often higher than the listing price. Second, the fees for selling various products should be different. Products with high turnover should benefit from low fees in order to retain customers. Growth Strategy eBay should consider the following strategies to expand its market share. First, the company should focus on joining emerging markets in Asia, South America, and the Middle East. These markets have a large number of small businesses that are likely to use eBayââ¬â¢s website to sell their products. In addition, high economic growth has led to increased online shopping in emerging markets. Second, eBay should provide online advertising services to sellers. Advertising will increase the number of products that will be sold through the companyââ¬â¢s website, thereby increasing its revenue. Advertising services will also be a source of income to the company. Third, eBay should introduce new product categories on its website. This will enable it to serve buyers and sellers who are currently not using its services. Fourth, the company should focus on improving shopping experience on its website. Customers should be able to search for products easily and to compare prices in order to get the best deal. In addition, eBay should provide excellent customer services to improve customer loyalty. For instance, it should establish a complaints management system to protect buyers from fraud. The system should enable buyers to reclaim their money if their goods are not delivered. Finally, eBay should focus on vertical integration by acquiring or collaborating with shipping companies to facilitate trade between sellers and bu yers. Undoubtedly, many people do not make online purchases because of the difficulties associated with transportation. Introducing shipping services will improve consumer trust and reduce sellersââ¬â¢ transaction costs. As a result, the company will be able to serve more customers. Conclusion eBay has been successful because of its ability to facilitate effective interactions between buyers and sellers. The company provides different pricing options that satisfy the needs of both buyers and sellers. In addition, it has invested in technologies that facilitate payment and communication between buyers and sellers at a low cost. However, the company should reduce its listing fee to encourage more sellers to use its services. Moreover, the company should expand its market share by providing advertising and shipping services, as well as, joining new markets. These strategies will enable the company to overcome threats such as high competition in its industry. Works Cited Kazmi, Singh . Marketing Management, London: Sage, 2007. Print. Pride, William. Marketing, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print. Ranchhod, Ashok, and E. Marandi. Strategic Marketing in Practice, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. Print. This case study on eBay Strategic Marketing was written and submitted by user Bianca O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Poes Place in the World essays
Poes Place in the World essays In human nature there exists a morbid desire to explore the darker realms of life. As sensitive creatures we make every effort to deny our curiosity in the matters that frighten us. Edgar Allan Poe was a master of his craft, gifted with the talent of introducing each reader to his or her own subconscious fears. Poe was the first writer in American literature who introduced horror, death and mystery into poetry. A look into Poes childhood might shed some light on where his fascination with death came from. Edgar Allan Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts to drifting actor parents. His father abandoned his wife and three children, soon after Poe was born, leaving her to support the family as best as she could. The family traveled for a few years, looking for a comfortable place to settle down, until the end of 1811, when Poes mother became ill and passed away. The children were sent off into foster homes and Poe was placed into a residence of a well-off, yet unsupportiv e merchant named John Allan (Johnson 1). John Allan was emotionally detached from Poe, refusing to legally adopt him. All these events that occurred when Poe was very young would trigger feelings that came out in his writing and his lifestyle. Even though Poe was condemned to be a drunk, he delivered America emotional and spiritual literary poetry. Bombed by critics accusing Poe of being an alcoholic, in actuality Poe only drank during times of desperation and emotional need. During his early years as a writer, Poe developed an intolerance for alcohol and apparently never liked it at all. According to Poes classmates at the University of Virginia, Poe would usually be satisfied with one or two drinks. His reputation as a drunk started when he was working on the Messenger in Richmond, Virginia. There, Poe was easily sidetracked as he would meet friends at a local bar and often not come home until the early hou...
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Researching Educational Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Researching Educational Leadership - Assignment Example The Falk article draws data from a dozen vocational education programs and training sites throughout Australia. The facilities are known as vocational education and training sites. (VET) the accumulated data is derived from a series of 44 written surveys including interview responses. Five focus groups were also included from the various facilities around Australia, resulting in a total of 64 respondents to the questionnaires. In essence the data paints a picture of a four stage cyclical process, a process of leadership interventions which is characteristic of greater effectiveness. The cyclical process culminates with a leadership style that is enabling for the teacher leader and of the achievements of professional associates. Every individual, including teaching professionals possess their own unique traits, strengths, and personal aptitudes. Among these personal abilities natural leadership qualities can and will emerge in virtually any professional setting. The Falk study identif ies the necessary role of these individual capabilities, and their contribution to the classroom setting. But it also illustrates a higher-level process of leadership that exists within the organization and which is defined by the cyclical process of the leadership intervention cycle. The key issues involved in this particular study hinge upon a question of whether or not the organization will have better overall direction with many individuals that display leadership qualities, or whether a single over all leader/administrator has more of an influence upon the success of the organization. The collective skills of individual teachers according to the study, are not sufficient to explain the overall culture of enabling leadership. A healthy organization, in which leadership principles are nurtured and developed will accrue a form of social capital, this can be instrumental in easing management burdens as well as facilitating diplomacy within the organization. Within a school district , as with other hierarchies often there can be tensions between the demands for efficient leadership as it pertains to risk management, as well as the necessary drive towards innovation, as it pertains to superior efficiency, and the vigorous fulfillment of the organization's mission statement. Thus, an over arching mediator becomes the crucial link in the chain that connects the resources of leadership as they exist on the individual level, amongst teachers themselves. Within the healthy organization this is required to achieve a synergistic effect that provides leadership, and improves the quality of lower ââ¬â tiered leadership for the institution. This of course, raises questions about the potential of leadership training. Additional professional development to facilitate training of the institution as a whole in some cases can provide more effective leadership for the organization from a top-down perspective, as well as strengthening leadership potential amongst individuals within the organization. The benchmark establishment of professional goals for the school or institution can assist in this process. Q2 Many researchers in this field will cite a community of inquiry model, as core to their theoretical framework (COI). This model comes in many shapes and sizes, with a considerable breadth of information therein.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
News Perspective Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
News Perspective - Essay Example This is the reason why online newscasts can have a better chance of placing the advertisements as and where they are required as compared to a television newscast. The marketing perspective within this online newscast served its purpose because I was able to view the advertisement for a period of 30 seconds before I could reach the exact content of the newscast. It made sense to me that the online newscast placed its advertisement right before the actual content of the newscast. The sources used in the news stories were deemed as both appropriate and credible. The sources deployed have actually brought quite a good amount of credibility and authenticity to the whole process. This is because the newscasts were seen as a form of research which exhibited true value for the advertisers and marketers. They were able to project their stories in a manner which was deemed as most fitting under the changing marketing dynamics. They believed that these newscasts could bring forward credible sources that shall make the audience perceive them as truthful at all times. It is indeed a much positive aspect related with the sources because these are viewed as credible and trustworthy. When one concerns the basis towards the television and the online form of newscasts, the onus always falls upon their source genuineness because it aims to resolve the ambiguities that exist within the relevant fore. Hence it is important to validate the sources present within the online news casts because these keep on changing from time to time. There is good enough evidence that these newscasts might have been tampered so as to attain some hidden agendas, which might be accomplished through these newscasts. The element of biasness was evident within the broadcast since one aspect was being portrayed while the other was found missing. This meant that one perspective was taking the
Monday, November 18, 2019
Politics in the Caribbean and United states Intervention Essay
Politics in the Caribbean and United states Intervention - Essay Example in Caraley, 4). This egocentric approach of the US is what has prompted it time and again to get involved in the domestic matters of other nations. But the immediate reasons have been different for different regions and countries. For example, As far as the Caribbean region is concerned, it is observed that it is the ââ¬Å"dramatic asymmetry in powerâ⬠between the US and the Caribbean nations as well as the ââ¬Å"geographic proximityâ⬠that prompted America to intervene there (Maingot and Lozano, 1). The US has been initially interested in this region so as to control ââ¬Å"the commercial sea lanesâ⬠and also this interest was based on its policy of ââ¬Å"dollar diplomacyâ⬠that is, ââ¬Å"military intervention to promote and secure economic expansionâ⬠(Maingot and Lozano, 2). The importance that the US foreign policy gave to ââ¬Å"stopping communismâ⬠was yet another reason why America often intervened in the Caribbean (Manigot and Lozano, 20). Sp ecific examples show that US annexed Puerto Rico as a full-fledged colony, established a puppet military government in the Dominican Republic, tried to overthrow many times the Cuban communist government and militarily occupied Haiti (Langley, 157). And as Caraley has observed, it can be concluded that the American foreign policy as evolved in the period of George W. Bush ââ¬Å"is the establishment of American hegemony, primacy or empire. In the Bush doctrine, there are no universal norms or rules governing all states. On the contrary, order can be maintained only if the dominant power behaves quite differently from othersââ¬
Friday, November 15, 2019
Human resource policies
Human resource policies Part A: Formal Human Resource Policies Introduction Human Resource (HR) policies can be defined as ââ¬Å"continuing guidelines on the approach the organization intends to adopt in managing its peopleâ⬠(Armstrong, 2007). They are formal rules adopted by a business that define how to employ, train, assess, and reward the personnel, forming the philosophies of the organization, which lead to the principles which managers are supposed to practise when coping with HR matters. Consequently, HR policies help in the decision-making process concerning staff when HR practices are unfold. Part A of the assignment looks at a HR policies concept that promises to help organizations to manage various situations in working environment. The central statement that this part attempted to discuss and debate is: Literature Review According to Salinas O. in his Article ââ¬Å"Other concepts and tools in Human Resourcesâ⬠Policies of recruitment, implementation, maintenance, development and control of Human Resource are vital for the proper performance of work force in the company. ââ¬Å"In our opinion, the policies set by the company will never be unnecessary, just poorly developed or they have not been designedâ⬠. Advantages and Disadvantages of HR Policies The main claim made for HR policies is that when they are well-organized it can eliminate potential misinterpretations between employees and employers defining their rights and obligations within the firm. Ramey Sniffen (1991) claim that ââ¬Å"sound human resource policy is a necessity in the growth of any business or companyâ⬠. Authors believe that recognition of this necessity usually appears after the increase in time and money wasted on resolving human resource issues. These resources could be well spent on production, marketing, and planning for growth. Effective, consistent, and fair human resource decisions are often made more time consuming by a lack of written, standardized policies and procedures. The advantages of written HR policies may sound obvious, but there are also disadvantages. According to Armstrong (2007), formal policies can be inflexible, constrictive, and platitudinous. Moreover, policies are often expressed in abstract terms that may lead managers to get confused over abstractions. It appeared that even though HR experts tend to believe that written policies are a necessity, employees usually against it as written records may become dangerous and can be used against them in a lawsuit and vice versa, the organisation can become a subject to similar attacks. Organisational Analysis We can notice examples that show us the relationship between cause and effect of the poorly developed policies which further lead to organisational problems and low productivity. This can be reflected in following organisational examples analyzed below, however, some of the organisations mentioned have adopted some HR policies which brought a positive impact on the organisation. CAUSE # 1 ââ âDIFFICULTIES IN PERFOMANCE EVALUATION Employees without self- assessment Effects The companys evaluation is not known by the areas Managers dont discuss the companys evaluation with employees CAUSE # 2 ââ âCOMMUNICATION PROBLEMS The company lacks of communication flow Effects Lack training for development of communicative skills Lack of spaces and technology in order to improve the communications transmission CAUSE # 3 ââ âINSUFFICIENT TRAINING Lack of studies according to necessities of training Effects Resistance by employees to have training Few options to training CAUSE # 4 ââ âLOW COMMITMENT TO DO TASKS Low motivation Effects Absolute ignorance of results achieved by the employees Low participation by the employees making decisions CAUSE # 5 ââ âINADEQUATE SYSTEM OF SELECTION Poor pre-contract investigation Effects Deficiencies in the scheme of recruitment Gap in the call phase CAUSE # 6 ââ âPOOR STIMULATION SYSTEM Effects Insufficient Stimulation in items such as : salary, promotion, training and bonus Organisational Examples Wright et al. (2003) argues that companies start treating people as a human capital of competitive advantage which can be taken through the HR policies that best leverage of HR practices and its performance. Hilton Internationals UK hotels perceive this idea as being fundamenktally concerned with deployment of a service culture throughout the organization by paying special attention to line manager involvement in human resource practice (Maxwell Watson, 2006). HR policy also designed to address gender issues with emphasis on equal opportunities and efficiency concerns. Not taking these issues seriously usually lead to sexual discriminations particular among woman workforce sector. A study conducted by Standing (2000) describes the lack of reference to gender issues mostly in developing countries. It is exemplified that in Zimbabwe womens formal sector employment is mainly in the service sector and women stand at the lower end of the hierarchy and salary grades. It is also noted that in Uganda, only 3.7% women are employed in professional, technical, clerical and managerial occupations. LG Electronics India had come up with new and improved HR Policy by introducing the Joyful Working 5 (JW5) programme. To accelerate and strengthen the Culture at LGEIL as the survey was conducted within the company, which mainly focused on the monotony employees are facing at work and the boredom they are undergoing. Such policy created the platform for both the employees and employers in better understanding and pleasant work environment which not only helped the company creating the compelling future, but also build the culture of striving for number one position in the industry. (LG, 2009) NHS Direct were planning to redundant some of their employees in the next few months. With the formal company policies in place, the UNISON union committee had fought back with the statement that NHS Direct has breached policy for reasons which include failing to consult with UNISONs collective committee that there were plans to issue advance notice of redundancies. As a result, NHS Directs director of human resources said, If the proposal is accepted, we would, wherever possible, offer staff alternative employment at nearby NHS Direct sites and redundancies would only take effect as a last resort. (TheComet24, 2009) This is a case about Blue Cross Company; according to Larson (2007) Susan Baldwin working for Blue Cross Company claimed she was subjected to various profanities and sexual innuendo from her boss. Blue Cross immediately interviewed Scott Head, the alleged harasser, and three other employees, but no one substantiated Baldwins claims. Rather than terminating or disciplining the supervisor, Blue Cross gave him a warning and offered to hire an industrial psychologist to counsel both him and Baldwin. She refused. When Baldwin refused Blue Crosss subsequent offer to transfer her to another location, she was terminated. Her lawsuit followed quickly. The court found that Blue Cross was not liable for discrimination for terminating Baldwin because, Firing an employee because she will not cooperate with the employers reasonable efforts to resolve her complaints is not discrimination based on sex, even if the complaints are about sexual harassment. The court also found that Blue Cross was not liable for the alleged acts of its supervisor because it exercised reasonable care to promptly correct harassing behaviour as soon as it was reported, and Baldwin unreasonably failed to take advantage of the remedial actions Blue Cross offered. (Larson, 2007) A case about Sharon Coleman a former legal secretary in July 2008, won a legal battle in the European Court of Justice against her employers Attridge Law (now called EBR Attridge LLP), whom she accused of discriminating against her at the workplace and of having forced her into accepting voluntary redundancy. As Coleman had a 4-year-old son who was disabled, born with a medical condition that led to his having difficulties in breathing and hearing. According to Coleman, she was treated differently at work from other employees, who had normal children. By the law of Flexibility in the Workplace Discrimination by Association, Coleman sued the company and won her legal battle.(ICMR, 2008a) Eli Lilly Company (Lilly) worlds leading Pharmaceuticals Company, which claims to have a very good diversity program running at the company and was also widely regarded as a very good employer, faced a federal lawsuit regarding the companys human rights policies and practices. On April 20, 2006, a class action lawsuit was filed with the US District Court, Southern District of Indiana, by four black employees who had worked at Lilly. The lawsuit charged the company with being hostile and biased against them because of their race. Lilly was accused of discriminating against the black employees on the basis of race and denying them fair wages, promotions, performance evaluations and discipline. In terms of renovation, reinvention, transformation or redesign, General Electric, has done emphasis in having a good working relationship and keep the best atmosphere for their employees. According to Immelt J, people are the most important value in General Electric. Therefore, the ability to recruit the best people in the world is a competitive advantage without comparison. A strategic point into the management of RH is the communication chain, at the same time; the leaders must be able to represent employers and employees. Clear HR policies are essential so employees could understand their company and gain a sense of belonging. Harley Davison which has a human resources system based on formal training and learning management. The result of this is that their employees share a positive attitude that is associated with the development and competitiveness of this Company. Harley Davison institutionalises its commitment to learning and created the University of Harley with the aim if developing leaders, translating values into action with an emotional performance in which the value attached to learning applies and, the evaluation of individual performance shapes a new organization in which the learning is shared and it is the ingredient that binds employees. For the Swede Ingvar Kamprad founder of IKEA company, who started his idea in 1943, thinking in the basic necessities of the common people and nowadays his company has branch on 36 countries of Europe, Asia, North America and Oceania with more than 200 stores, the protection and careful of his employees, is and will be one of the most important policy, doing of them, a company with high social responsibility. Currently IKEA has more than 105.000 employees, for this reason their greatest concern for them is give to their employees a good balance between work and personal life, therefore, they have kept flexibility in their task and activities, suitable schedules, plans of professional development, support in different studies as college or universities and medical coverage; consequently of their policies in RH and programs for employees, IKEA has received several awards. WALMART, company which is into top 5 of the greatest companies in the world. It success is based mainly in ââ¬Å"customers and employeesâ⬠, In fact the policies created around the employees was essential in his goals, Sam Walson founder, offered their employees, benefits and gaining, in order to, they were part of the excellent results. In other words, Sam Walson wanted his employees were members, encouraging from cashiers to managers to think how owners, idea very successful, likewise, for him, was fundamental to have employees with new ideas, clear thoughts and positive mind without bad habits from their previous jobs. Nestlà © was a result of the merger in 1905 of the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk, founded in 1866, with (Farine Lactea) Nestlà © SA., Founded in 1867 by Henri Nestlà ©, who invented a product that continues to save the lives of children and newborn infant formula for babies whose mothers cannot breastfeed. its success is the sum of a long and distinguished history, part of its success is based on the thought that their partners should achieve a good balance between their careers and their privacy. Not only because it reinforces the loyalty, satisfaction and it improves productivity, also it has a positive impact on the reputation of the Company and to attract and motivate employees. According to the list of Best Workplaces 2007, Microsoft has been designated as the company with better working environment, the study include: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie. According to it, the Microsoft executives are fulfilling their promises in creating career and training opportunities and properly assigning functions (promotions to worthy people), the company involves employees in decision-making takes into account their suggestions, recognizes his work and allows flexibility. Employee networks are a key element of American Express success in supporting diversity in the workplace. Currently, American Express has 10 networks open to all employees organized around topics of interest to African-American, Asian, Christian, Gay Lesbian, Hispanic, Jewish, and Native American employees, as well as for People over 40, People with Disabilities and Women. These networks provide support to American Express business objectives, including enhancing marketing efforts in targeted communities, supporting employee recruitment and retention initiatives, and participating in outreach and volunteer programs. These networks have also been instrumental in helping to introduce new policies and benefits to employees. For example, GLOBE, the companys gay and lesbian network, was instrumental in having domestic partner benefits introduced back in 1997. And WIN, the womens network, worked with management to introduce a customized companywide alternative work arrangements policy as well as a free backup childcare centers in several locations throughout the United States. A mishandling on the resources human policies, can lead to failure. Such as is the case of ENRON one of the seven biggest companies in United States, the problem was focused in a poor policy of recruitment and selection, due to, they chosen people with high qualification, but they were not suitable for the position, besides people hired by just friendship, taking wrong decisions in critical situations. Is the case of Cindy Olson who was HR Vice-President of ENRON. She did not have enough knowledge about United States laws regarding to employee benefits, giving wrong advices of investment over stock-options. The previous point represents a serious violation to the financial legislation in the United State of America. Conclusions Looking at the evidence provided, it seems that production and maintenance of formal HR policies record are applied in ways that assures that personnel management policies are in use. Companies typically have to make revisions to established HR policies on a regular basis otherwise there is a danger of those policies to become outdated as the company grows and as the regulatory and business environments in which it operates evolve. On the other side, Policies can be made today and changed tomorrow who can stop the management from doing that? Most research on human resource (HR) policies in the workplace suggests that formal policies can contribute to variation in discrimination by altering employers behaviours. We consider an alternative manner by which HR policies influence formal discrimination complaints. HR policies, especially those targeting employees, can raise employees rights awareness and encourage them to seek remedies for discrimination at work. PART B: BOYCOTTS, LOCKOUTS AND STRIKES Chapter 1. Introduction Industrial actions typically take place when a disagreement between the trade union and the management team of a business is not resolved through negotiation. The main forms of industrial action are: Strikes (workers refuse to work for the employer) and Lockouts (a work stoppage where the employer stops workers from working). These sorts of actions should be avoided because they are expensive for businesses and countries; actions must be taken by HR management and trade unions in order to solve the disputes at work, they have mechanisms such as: Mediation (A mediator, an impartial expert talks to both parties and gets a solution both can accept); Conciliation (Though similar to mediation but used to resolve legal dispute instead of general problems inside the company); Arbitration (An impartial person known as an arbitrator, decides between two claims).The last resource affirms by NI Direct, UK to solve a work problem is going to an Industrial Tribunal or a court Literature Review Not until the 1960s, Leopold, Harris, Watson (2005) claimed, ââ¬Å"There was little in the way of legal intervention in the relationship between employer and employee. A growing concern about the impact of the countrys high level of industrial stoppages on the UKs economic performance led to the setting up of the Donovan Commission to investigate the countrys industrial relations problems. While the Commissions report (Donovan, 1968) supported the continuance of the voluntary system of bargaining it recommended reform based on ââ¬Ëproperly conducted, collective bargaining with a greater formalization of the process at company level which was to include the professionalization of personnel specialists. Certain individuals/organisations operate with a view of management and work organisations which academics often characterize as processual an approach which they contrast with a systems one (Watson, 2002). They see management as a process in which managers are ââ¬Ëall the time negotiating and renegotiating compromises and achieving work agreements, rather than a ââ¬Ëmatter of resigning systems which sort everything out. They operate within a pluralist perspective: This always taking into account the fact that there is a plurality of interests, goals, wants and priorities among the variety of people involved in any given organisation. Other organisations see management and employment relations from Unitary Perspective: This assumes the predominance of common interests and shared priorities across the organisationâ⬠. Pages 412-414 Boycott Burnett (1891) defined boycott as ââ¬Å"a means of moral offence used by individuals against each other, or by sections of a community against other sections or individuals differing from them on some matter of action or opinion. The industrial boycott almost invariably but not always or necessarily, is a phase of strike or lock-out, but it sometimes exists apart from either. It is generally used against an employer who refuses to concede the demands of his workpeople or of trade union, but it sometimes applied by one organisation of workmen against another. It may accompany or supplement and follow, an unsuccessful strike, or it may be wielded against an employer having no dispute with his employee, simply because they do not belong to a trade unionâ⬠. Pages 163-173 Lock-Out According to DEWR, Australian Government, ââ¬Å"Lockout is a weapon of an employer to thwart or enforce such change by preventing employees from working. Another measure is work to rule, when production is virtually brought to a halt by the strict following of union rules. This will depend on whether the lockout is ââ¬Å"protectedâ⬠(ie. lawful) or ââ¬Å"unprotectedâ⬠(ie. unlawful). Lockouts are protected if: They occur during a properly notified bargaining period There is a genuine attempt to reach agreement before the industrial action is taken; Employer gives at least three working days written notice to each party with whom they are negotiating (unless the lockout is a response to protected industrial action by employees). Guests (1995) fourfold classification of options for managing the employment relationship HRM PRIORITY High HRM PRIORITY Low IR PRIORITY High New Realism High emphasis on HRM ER Traditional Collectivism Priority to IR without HRM IR PRIORITY Low Individualised HRM High priority to HRM No IR The Black Hole No HRM No IR Guest identifies that there are a number of policy options that need to be considered when developing an employment relations strategy. He describes four options: The new realism a high emphasis on human resource management and industrial relations. The aim is to integrate human resource management and industrial relations. This is the policy of such organisation as Nissan and Toshiba. New collaborative arrangements in the shape of single-table bargaining are usually the result of employer initiatives, but both employers and unions are often satisfied with them. They have facilitated greater flexibility, more multiskilling, the removal of demarcations and improvements in quality. They can also extend consultation processes and accelerate moves towards single status. Traditional collectivism priority to industrial relations without human resource management. This involves retaining the traditional pluralist industrial relations arrangements within an eventually unchanged industrial relations system. Management may take the view in these circumstances that it is easier to continue to operate within a union, since it provides a useful, well-established channel for communication and for the handling of grievance, discipline and safety issues. Individualised human resource management high priority to human resource management with no industrial relations. According to Guest, this approach is not very common, except in North American owned firms. It is, he believes, essentially piecemeal and opportunist. The black hole no industrial relations. This option is becoming more prevalent in organisations in which human resource management is not a policy priority for management and where they do not see that there is a compelling reason to operate within a traditional industrial relations system. When such organisations are facing a decision on whether or not to recognise a union, they are increasingly deciding not to do so. THEORETICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MANAGING UNION RELATIONS In general terms, various organisations/management employ different ways in resolving or managing conflicts with employees or trade unions. Leopold, Harris and Watson (2005) outlined the TraditionalStrategic Human Resourcing theory in managing Union Relations. Traditional Strategic Human Resourcing Options in Management-Union Relations One of the major ways in which employing organisations can manage conflicts and handle many of the potential differences that can arise between employer and employee has been through institutionalised arrangements of collective bargaining and Consultation with the Trade Unions. A key human resourcing strategic decision for the managers of any organisation is whether or not they are going to recognize, pr continue to recognize trade union(s) as a legitimate vehicle for the expression of employee interests Unions win the vast majority of pre-strike ballots, but in most cases, strikes do not occur because further negotiations to reach a final settlement occur (Labour Research Department, 1993). Thus Blyton and Turnbull (1998:301) conclude that strikes may be viewed as a sign of union weakness, not of strength, because a strong union is able to achieve a negotiated settlement through the threat of strike action backed by membership support in a ballot rather than actually conducting a strike. Union Recognition Although employers may be faced with demands for union recognition, the process of reaching agreement with the union (s) is likely to lead to a classification and codification of a number of key issues. Negotiations over recognition are also likely to confront a key issue. In the 1990s, there was a move towards the establishment of single-table bargaining where all the recognized unions in an organisation negotiated common pay and conditions agreements together rather than a series of separate agreements (Gall, 1994) The final area of decision-making in a recognition agreement is over which issues are to be part of the substantive agreements, that is, which areas of decision-making are to be subject to joint decision-making. These are likely to include basic pay and conditions of employment such as hours of work and pensions. Finally, a recognition agreement would also contain provisions for the resolution of disputes though conciliation or arbitration. Clauses would probably exclude the use of strikes or lockouts until these procedures had been exhausted, thus providing one of the key benefits to management of formal recognition The avoidance of informal or wild cat strikes while disputes are considered through the formal procedures. Substitution Strategic option Beaumont (1987) distinguishes between union substitution and union avoidance as approaches to staying or becoming non-union. In considering union substitution approaches, it might be useful to consider what unions have to offer employees and relate this to the chain of thought that employees might go through in deciding to join or not. The implication is that if management can intervene to influence any of these decisions then the outcome maybe that employees do not perceive any need to join a union as they do not believe that it would be able to improve the terms and conditions of employment or the nature of the employment relationship. Employers could seek to provide alternative channels ââ¬Ëemployee voice through such devices as open-door policies, employee-based works councils and individual-based employee participation mechanisms so that again employees do not feel that union channels of representation would significantly improve their situation at work. Many alternative providers of membership services exist through other membership and commercial organisations so that this is not likely to be the prime route into union membership for non-members (Whitston and Waddington, 1994; Waddington 2003). The essence of Beaumonts argument is therefore that employers can seek to introduce policies and practices that substitute for those which might follow from union membership and recognition. The Human Resource Management Approach to Employment Relations The human resource management approach to employment relations involves coordinating (or bundling) strategies to promote the psychological contract, improve involvement and communication. Armstrong (1999) suggests the following model for employment relations: a drive for commitment winning the hearts and minds of employees to get them to identify with the organisation, to exert themselves more on its behalf and to remain with the organisation, thus ensuring a return on their training and development; an emphasis on mutuality getting the message across that we are all in this together and that the interests of management and employees coincide (i.e. a unitarist approach); the organisation of complementary forms of communication, such as team briefing, alongside traditional collective bargaining i.e. approaching employees directly as individuals or in groups rather than through their representatives; a shift from collective bargaining to individual contracts; the use of employee involvement techniques such as quality circles or improvement groups; continuous pressure on quality total quality management; increased flexibility in working arrangements, including multi-skilling, to provide for the more effective use of human resources, sometimes accompanied by an agreement to provide secure employment for the core workers harmonisation of terms and conditions for all employees; and emphasis on teamwork. Organisational Examples Article written by Cary (2007) explains that Sears Holdings Corporation Canada and U.S October 1,2007 locked out 70 appliance repair technicians in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Sears said ââ¬Ëthe technicians could return to work under imposed terms that do not include any scheduled wage increases for four years. Sears scheduled work weeks without two consecutive days off, eliminated certain overtime premiums, and remove a pre-existing paid holiday. Sears also said ââ¬Ëtechnicians returning to work would not pay union dues, almost four months the lockout continues. The lockout technicians are asking North American workers to boycott sears stores in order to get sears back to bargaining. Joe (2009) reports that, there is a chronic shortage of primary and secondary school places in Lewisham. The council of Lewisham proposes to demolish the school, currently for ages 3-
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Cuba :: essays research papers
The weeks that have elapsed since that fatal event of February 15th have been making history in a manner highly creditable to the American government and to our citizenship. Captain Sigsbee, the commander of the Maine, had promptly telegraphed his desire that judgment should be suspended until investigation had been made. The investigation was started at once, and 75 million Americans have accordingly suspended judgment in the face of a great provocation. For it must be remembered that to suppose the destruction of the Maine an ordinary accident and not due to any external agency or hostile intent was, under all the circumstances, to set completely at defiance the law of probabilities. It is not true that battleships are in the habit of blowing themselves up. When all the environing facts were taken into consideration, it was just about as probable that the Maine had been blown up by some accident where no hostile motive was involved, as that the reported assassination of President Barrios of Guatemala, a few days previously, had really been a suicide. . . . It has been known perfectly well that Spanish hatred might at any time manifest itself by attempts upon the life of the American representative at Havana, Consul General Fitzhugh Lee. This danger was felt especially at the time of the Havana riots in January, and it seems to have had something to do with the sending of the Maine to Havana Harbor. The Spaniards themselves, however, looked upon the sending of the Maine as a further aggravation of the long series of their just grievances against the United States. They regarded the presence of the Maine at Havana as a menace to Spanish sovereignty in the island and as an encouragement to the insurgents. A powerful American fleet lay at Key West and the Dry Tortugas, with steam up ready to follow the Maine to the harbor of Havana at a few hours' notice. All this was intensely hateful to the Spaniards, and particularly to the Army officers at Havana who had sympathized with General Weyler's policy and who justly regarded General Weyler's recall to Spain as due to the demand of President McKinley. The American pretense that the Maine was making a visit of courtesy seemed to these Spaniards a further example of Anglo-Saxon hypocrisy. That this intense bitterness against the presence of the Maine was felt among the military and official class in Havana was perfectly well known to Captain Sigsbee, his staff, and all his crew; and they were not unaware of the rumors and threats that means would be found to destroy the American ship. It was, furthermore, very generally supposed that the Spanish Cuba :: essays research papers The weeks that have elapsed since that fatal event of February 15th have been making history in a manner highly creditable to the American government and to our citizenship. Captain Sigsbee, the commander of the Maine, had promptly telegraphed his desire that judgment should be suspended until investigation had been made. The investigation was started at once, and 75 million Americans have accordingly suspended judgment in the face of a great provocation. For it must be remembered that to suppose the destruction of the Maine an ordinary accident and not due to any external agency or hostile intent was, under all the circumstances, to set completely at defiance the law of probabilities. It is not true that battleships are in the habit of blowing themselves up. When all the environing facts were taken into consideration, it was just about as probable that the Maine had been blown up by some accident where no hostile motive was involved, as that the reported assassination of President Barrios of Guatemala, a few days previously, had really been a suicide. . . . It has been known perfectly well that Spanish hatred might at any time manifest itself by attempts upon the life of the American representative at Havana, Consul General Fitzhugh Lee. This danger was felt especially at the time of the Havana riots in January, and it seems to have had something to do with the sending of the Maine to Havana Harbor. The Spaniards themselves, however, looked upon the sending of the Maine as a further aggravation of the long series of their just grievances against the United States. They regarded the presence of the Maine at Havana as a menace to Spanish sovereignty in the island and as an encouragement to the insurgents. A powerful American fleet lay at Key West and the Dry Tortugas, with steam up ready to follow the Maine to the harbor of Havana at a few hours' notice. All this was intensely hateful to the Spaniards, and particularly to the Army officers at Havana who had sympathized with General Weyler's policy and who justly regarded General Weyler's recall to Spain as due to the demand of President McKinley. The American pretense that the Maine was making a visit of courtesy seemed to these Spaniards a further example of Anglo-Saxon hypocrisy. That this intense bitterness against the presence of the Maine was felt among the military and official class in Havana was perfectly well known to Captain Sigsbee, his staff, and all his crew; and they were not unaware of the rumors and threats that means would be found to destroy the American ship. It was, furthermore, very generally supposed that the Spanish
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