Concept of Merit Principle in Management

Merit principle refers to the act of hiring, promoting, retaining, or firing employees based on their abilities, performance, and capabilities. Most governmental and non-governmental organisations adhere to the merit principle in their employment-related decisions to ensure that they do not exhibit any form of discrimination. According to this principle, an individual’s competence and ability are the main determinants.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Concept of Merit Principle in Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Depending on the type of work, merit is determined by the level of education, experience, knowledge, and skills of an applicant. The merit ideology has been the main tool used by human resource personnel in the public sector to ensure the public enjoys excellent services from a workforce that is disciplined and neutral. The merit principle operates under the structures of merit syst em. In a merit system, the personnel management designs procedures and processes that make sure that the selection, retention, and promotion of in-service employees are based on merit and fitness. This is done to promote and improve the efficiency and economy of the workforce for the public good. In addition, an organisation needs to be served by not only productive, but also honest employees. The merit system is a form of equality law that prohibits any form of favouritism and political influence. Furthermore, the rewarding and retention should be on the individual ability without regard to sex, race, age, race, colour, religion, or nationality. The operation of merit system In any organisation, recruitment should be done openly to achieve a workforce that incorporates all segments of the society in a manner that is fair, transparent, and credible. This is an assurance that all receive equal opportunity. The personnel management needs to ensure that the privacy and constitutional r ights of the employees and applicants are not violated. The selection of workers for the advancement of their skills and knowledge should be determined solely by their relative abilities not by their affiliations. This not only encourages teamwork, but also acts as a motivational strategy. The merit system recognises the provision of an equal pay for substantial pieces of work of equal value. However, this should be in line with the efficiency and effectiveness of each particular employee. The merit system principles require that the workforce is consistently monitored and other programmes improved so that their performances meet the required standards and plans.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 Organisations that are adhered to the merit principle are continually assessed and improved. Therefore, the workforce should be utilised efficiently and effectively to enhance th e growth and success of an organisation. Human resource development is key to organisational development. Effective provision of education and training to workers enhances individual performance. Also, it has the spillover effects to the organisational performance. Under the merit system, provision of education/training is a critical aspect of ensuring business success. To enhance public service delivery, employees need various training experiences especially when the techniques of work have been enhanced to meet the prevailing conditions. One core value of a merit system is fairness. This implies that there should be better reward and recognition. The merit system requires that performance should be the benchmark of recognition rather than other non-merit issues. In addition, the fact that a merit system safeguards the opportunity does not imply that the accountability is compromised. Employees are made to understand what is expected of them, and then given the opportunity to perfo rm. Thereafter, there are periodic appraisals evaluating their performances. The merit system has several contexts in which it applies. Some of them are in formulation of official bilingual policies, employment equity, and in the practices of new public administration. Official bilingualism This refers to the adoption of two languages as official ones to be used in all formal addresses and dealings in a state. For example, Canada has adopted both English and French as official languages to be used in all official undertakings. In most federal institutions, it is usually a requirement that they comply with the official languages act which stipulates that every institution should create an enabling environment for work to allow bilingualism to thrive. Thus, the organisations need to provide the freedom to use either of the languages in observance of public interest.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Concept of Merit Principle in Management specifically for yo u for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The merit system principles emphasise this fact by stating that all employees and applicants need to be treated equally in all aspects of personnel administration with proper disregard to non-merit factors such as language. Therefore, the merit system is an important method of ensuring the employees and applicants involved in the bilingual work environments are hired, appraised, and promoted on their abilities rather than language and in an open manner. Employment equity Employment equity refers to a set of activities or a programme that an organisation designs to ensure it exhibits equality in all the aspects of human resource management such as recruitment, pay, hiring, selection, promotion, training, and retention. An employment equity programme seeks to obtain a workforce that not only reflects all segments of the society, but also ensures that the employment systems provide a fair and equitable opportunity to develo p their potentials, realize their expectations and make maximum contributions to their respective workplaces. There has been a misconception that employment equity is a direct contradiction of the merit principle. However, this is not always the case. The employment equity normally attempts to observe that every applicant’s qualifications are recognised, and that non-merit factors such as race, religion, or gender are not. Thus, the fact is that employment equity does support and enforce the merit principle. Therefore, it should be recognised by all employers in public and private institutions. New public administration The concept of new public administration emphasises the fact that the administration should be responsive enough to the needs of the society and confine itself to the problems that afflict the society. New public administration advocates for the elimination of the defects in public personnel practices such as the inadequate emphasis to merit in promotion, lack of contractual employment, and the absence of incentives to boost productivity. Thus, it supports the principles of the merit system.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 However, using the merit system in the new public administration has raised many controversies as various critics argue that the newest of the new public administration only works for a limited period of time. When time elapses, it no longer remains new. This implies that the merit system has to change with time. From the foregoing discussion, it can be deduced that merit principle is an efficient and effective tool for ensuring that there is no discrimination in workplaces as far as hiring and promotion opportunities are concerned. Therefore, the authorities should ensure that all services in the public and private sectors adhere to the set merit system principles to enable the prevalence equality and equity. This case study on Concept of Merit Principle in Management was written and submitted by user Hayley T. 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.

article critiques Essays

article critiques Essays article critiques Essay article critiques Essay Name: Lecturer: Course: Date: Article Critiques PFM Devices Opinion PFM Devices is a company dealing in the production of synthetic cartilage and the article is about the projects it initiated to improve its business operations. The major projects aimed at improving the management and overall direction of information technology in the various divisions of the company. Recently acquired outlets in other countries, it was necessary to come up with a system to integrate information within all the divisions. The measures to be taken would help the company in keeping abreast with trends emerging in the business field. Additionally, they would enhance consolidation of information and improvement in communication. Disagree However, the steps undertaken by the new information officer to enhance information technology failed to adhere to customer specifications and instead concentrated on the technicalities of the business which would increase sales in a short period. All the methodology put in place including an increased budget failed to earn the company the profits it had anticipated. This implies that the systems put in place were more operations based than customer tailored, a factor I disagree with. With new IT systems in place the diagnosis of problems in all divisions of the company was ultimately made easier but failure to link them with their customers proved fatal for the company, which eventually made losses. Recommendation The proposed solutions were both impressive but I agree with that of customer relationship management. This is because in this kind of industry that is mainly service oriented, satisfaction of consumers is what matters the most. Getting closer to the consumer provides an opportunity to better understand their needs and derive the best ways to meet these needs. In the end, the provision of quality service is what attracts more customers to any product thus the need to enforce good customer relationship before taking other measures to increase company sales. Du Pont Opinion Du Pont is a manufacturing company, which was among the first in its time to implement Artificial Intelligence in its operations. This article focuses on how the Du Pont Company implemented a new information systems strategy that was largely criticized for its target of smaller systems which people considered a waste of resources. Artificial intelligence was an emerging management system at the time and its implementation was definitely a brilliant move given its numerous benefits. The main challenge, which was also a cause of disagreement among the proprietors of the project, was whether to begin with the small systems or the larger systems. Agree With regard to information technology, dealing with smaller systems is often a better option as it provides a better way to gather information as opposed to the larger systems. Despite it being expensive, the results are always impressive. In the case of Du Pont, it served its intended purpose of managing the employees, putting in place better systems, processing and scheduling applications and sourcing for new technology. Had they concentrated on larger systems, I doubt that the same efficiency would be guaranteed or that the momentum of the project would be progressive although it was a cheaper option. Disagree On the other hand, I think that the company should not have implemented the strategy in such an extensive manner. New systems, which have not been tried and proven efficient, are risky to put in practice because of the possibilities of failure that it presents. Such large tasks should not just be based on the implementer’s impressive record of accomplishment hence there should have been room for trials and errors before actually launching the full project. Although it was successful, future considerations have to be made regarding its sustainability. Recommendation Alternatively, the project should have been implemented in small doses to allow evaluations to be made on its success and suggestions made to improve it. This will prevent challenges such as maintenance from emerging because they would have been dealt with during the first stages of implementation.

Nutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Nutrition - Essay Example We must keep in mind that different types of fibers have different characteristics and these characteristics benefit us in different ways. Now the question remains, how exactly do fiber rich foods benefit us? The answer is simple. Fibers escape from the small intestine without getting digested. These then help in various bodily processes such as growth of healthy bacteria and nutrients absorption. The reason it is difficult to understand the benefits of fibers is because there are many types of fibers that have different characteristics. Barley, beans and oats decrease the level of cholesterol. Soluble fiber rich foods when mixed with water swell in volume and when passing through the small intestines, they trap bile acids from the gall bladder. These acids are made from cholesterol and when we eat fat, these are pushed into the small intestines. The fiber plus water material absorbs the acid out of the small intestines and eventually out of the body and hence reduces cholesterol. Fibers also help in slowing the entrance of sugar into the blood in the same cholesterol was trapped from the small intestines. Fibers also help in sustaining the normal healthy bacteria that maintain the intestines, prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, improves immune system and increases absorption of calcium. The article was very informative. It covered each point related to fiber and its benefits in detail and at the same time it was short enough to maintain the reader’s interest in the article. Concise and informative is the prefect combination that is needed in a good piece of writing. The language that was used through out the article was also very simple and easy to understand. No such jargons were used which makes the article comprehendible for anyone who is interested. Examples and facts were given which make the argument of the writer more concrete and strong. However,

Achievement of Modern Bureaucracies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Achievement of Modern Bureaucracies - Essay Example In an extreme form bureaucratic organizations fail to do what they are supposed to because rules and regulations are applied so rigidly that employees lose sight of what their job is. Bureaucracy, as a sociological concept, was originally developed by Max Weber, one of the first sociologists to consider the role of individuals in relation to the structural determinants of social action. Much of his work was concerned with the notion of â€Å"rationality†, which he used to explain the development of Western society which was increasingly based on science and calculation. Bureaucracy, combined with the growth of large organizations throughout the nineteenth century, led Weber to conclude that the decisive reason for the advance of bureaucratic organization was its purely technical superiority over any other form of organization. In short, it was a description of an ideal type of organization. Not ideal in the sense that it was perfect or one that should be aimed for, rather that its structure contained specific elements that characterized it as a bureaucracy and which were necessary to manage the organizations of the day. This occurs in part because public bureaucracies sometimes perceive themselves as guardians of the national interest: there is the idea that they embody ideals that transcend the policies of particular government: they can develop a character of their own and become set in their ways and difficult to change. In these circumstances professionals can be more concerned with their own survival than with the broader aims of providing for needs of the consumers of their service. This can be observed in the barriers that can exist between the different wards and departments and the lack of co-operation that ensues. The study of spatial separation is called proxemics; it involves the exploration of different practices and feelings about interpersonal space within and across cultures. In the United States, general practice allows intimate communications between close friends to occur at very short range. Conversations with acquaintances are often held at a 3-4 feet personal distance. Work-related discussions between colleagues may occur at a social distance of 4 to 12 feet with more impersonal and formal conversations in public occurring at even greater distances. Not only it is important to know and observe common practice with regard to the nature of the underlying relationships (intimate, friendly, work-related or casual) between two parties; it is also imperative that these practices be adapted for cultural differences. In some societies, sharply different practices prevail. For example, Latin America and Asian cultures generally favor closer distances for personal conversations; and workers in Arab countries often maintain extremely close contact. Therefore, sender should be aware of cultural norms and the receiver's preferences, and make an effort to understand and adapt to them. Bureaucratic Power Political conflict does not end after a law has been passed by Congress and signed by the president. The arena of conflict merely shifts from Capitol Hill and the White House to the bureaucracy - to the myriad departments, agencies, and bureaus of the federal executive branch that implement the law. Despite the popular impression that policy is decided by the president and Congress and merely implemented by the federal bureaucracy, in fact policy is also made by the bureaucracy. Indeed, it is often remarked that "implementation is the continuation of policy making by other means." The Washington bureaucracy is a major base of power in the American system of government - independent of Congress, the president, the courts, and the people. Indeed, controlling the bureaucracy has become a major challenge of democratic

ERP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

ERP - Essay Example No doubt, Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems ongoing as a means for inventory control and grow to put back islands of in order by integrating customary organization functions, such as financials, payroll, and person resources, with other functions counting developed and sharing. Currently, the complexity of commerce is creating new consumer needs; the enlargement of computers is raising new potential; the mission for new markets by vendors has known users a new influence; and ERP is evolving one time once more. SAP is the world's most important supplier of industry software solutions, and is the third-largest self-governing software vendor in the earth with additional than 64,500 installations in 120 countries. No doubt, extra than 20,000 companies are with SAP solutions. In 2002 SAP had approximately $7.8 billion in sales. It was founded in 1972 by five previous IBM workers; Dietmar Hopp, Hans-Werner Hector, Hasso Plattner, Klaus Tschira, and Claus Wellenreuther. Moreover, their dream was to develop normal application software for real-time industry dispensation. Therefore, the business is headquartered in Weinheim, Germany with its major place of work in nearby Mannheim. The corporation is still a confidential business. Henning Kagermann is the CEO of SAP. SAP continues to guide the marketplace by staying in front of rivalry and listening to their clientele wants. According to the expert analysis in 2000, with the internet captivating off, SAP turned its center to the user and urbanized mySAP Workplace and cemented the way for the thought of an enterprise doorway and role-specific access to in order. In 2003 SAP introduced NetWeaver which provided their clientele with solutions for end-to-end business processes. On December 15th, SAP announce that they are preliminary a computer security repair for its business clientele. In the repair, SAP searches customers' industry systems distantly for vulnerabilities in their safety settings. In addition to inquisitive its possess software, SAP checks Internet gateways, user authorizations and interfaces to other systems throughout the assessment, which lasts one or two days. As part of the psychoanalysis, SAP delivers a report detailing safety gaps and recommending action. This is now another instance of how SAP listens to their users and adapts to the wants of their clientele. Oracle provides a great deal of the similar options as SAP for commerce solutions. The largest dissimilarity being that SAP approach as one commerce suite and Oracle can be bought this method or as person pieces needed for one's exacting commerce. One big pharmaceutical corporation that has purchased and implemented Oracle software is a small corporation you may have heard of previous to, Pfizer. Rob Goodwin of Pfizer had this to say concerning Oracle, "Oracle has provided high-class, enterprise level software, so that somewhat than center on IT; we can center on the science. Furthermore, we bring in order from surface to surface web portals into Oracle databases; then there that in order to scientists, in order technologists, to whoever needs the in order" Citibank and Visa are also great corporations

Corporate Strategy of Fedex Corporation

Corporate Strategy of Fedex Corporation Executive Summary This analysis of the corporate strategy of FedEx Corporation relates to three specific issues in the corporate strategy case. The first issue is a critical analysis of the global express transportation and logistics industry. The second issue discusses about the mergers and acquisitions in transportation and logistics industry. The final issue is a critical review of the performance of FedEx in the events leading to the January 2000 reorganisation. In the first section, the global express transportation and logistics industry is an attractive sector based on the fundamentals of the sector given in the five forces analysis using Porters framework. There are large barriers to entry, there are minimal substitutes that exist, industry is relatively disciplined, and the power of buyers and suppliers are mixed. FedEx is well placed in the sector given its core competencies and dynamic capabilities relating to its management and the functional areas of marketing, human resources and information technology and systems. In the second section, gives a brief knowledge about the benefits and limitations of merger and acquisition strategies in this industry. This also describes how effective was the 1998 Caliber System acquisition and where did it led the company do in its further years. In the final section, it is noted that FedEx performed poorly within its sector and given its capabilities, the firm was expected to have been more proactive in moving past its poor performance. Nevertheless, the firm had to wait until after several quarters of poor performance and only after the competitors have taken advantage of the development in the Internet market did FedEx make changes to its business. Post the changes, FedEx did well in utilising its core competencies that were identified in the first section, and leveraging these competencies to its advantage. CHAPTER-1: Analysis Of Global Express Transportation And Logistics Industry Introduction To Transportation And Logistics Industry. Global Transportation Logistics Industry comprises a wide range of service providers, covering all modes of transport air, road, rail, sea as well as related services such as warehousing, handling, stevedoring, and finally value added services like packaging, labelling, assembling etc. In addition to these physical services, TL involves all sorts of planning, organising and managing services in the area of transportation and logistics. Over the past years, we have seen a trend to diversification (growth strategies mergers acquisitions), which results in larger integrated groups operating in more than one of the TL sub-sectors. As a result, it becomes very unclear to understand the limits between the different TL sub-sectors. (http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/transportation-logistics/index.jhtml) About FedEx FedEx corporation offers transportation, e-commerce and business services through its network of subsidiaries, divided into four business segments. The FedEx express segment includes Federal Express Corp., a leading global express transportation company offering time-certain delivery within one or three business days; and FedEx Trade Networks Inc., a provider of customer brokerage, global cargo distribution and Global Trade Data and Global Trade Tools software products. The FedEx ground segment includes FedEx Ground Package System Inc., which provides small package ground delivery to nearly 100% ofU.S.residences. The FedEx Freight segment includes FedEx Freight Corp., a US provider of next day, second day and interregional less than truckload (LTL) freight services; FedEx Custom Critical Inc., the worlds largest provider of expedited time critical shipments; and Caribbean Transportation Services Inc., a provider of airfreight forwarding services between the US and Puerto Rico. The last segment is FedEx Kinkos, consisting of FedEx Kinkos Office and printing services Inc., which provides copying and printing services, signs and graphics, videoconferencing, high speed wireless and wired Internet access and computer usage, as well as retail access to all FedEx ground and global express shipping services. (Jack W. Plunkett 2007) Porters Value Chain Analysis This section assesses the global express transportation and logistics industry through the value chain analysis of Porter. The review is done across the primary and support activities for the value chain with the details presented in the following table: Primary Activities Comments Inbound logistics Increased presence in various markets to expand footprint and capture market share by players (Lai et al, 2008) Operations Increased cost in operations due to rising fuel prices; margins of industry players hit (Wadewitz, Johnson Weinz, 2008) Outbound logistics Important activity as link to customers Distribution centres being set up by the largest players in the sector in new markets such as China (Lai et al, 2008) Marketing and sales Increased importance in current market with pressure on margins though players have generally kept pricing discipline Service Service to customer could potentially change with new pressures and competitive dynamics; current focus on service but business models on customer service delivery could change (Greene Longson, 2008). Support Activities Comments Firm infrastructure Entrepreneurial culture typically Management of firms could be forced into action with potential consolidation in the sector driven by pressures in decreased business and margins; could lead to synergies and value (Fitchie, 2008) HR management Human resources continues to play an important role as talent influences the activities across the value chain Technology development Technological capabilities continue to be critical factoring the sector and a requirement to be a player (Greene Doshi, 2007) Procurement Important lever for sector given large capital outlay required for building or replacing fleet Some are pursuing this activity despite sector pressure as business has decreased; FedEx recently reported to have bought some aircraft from Rolls-Royce (Armitage, Fornaro Crispin, 2008) www.umbrellacloud.com/business-model/value-chain We note from the analysis above and the supporting arguments in articles, the key factors impacting the value chain are the following: Integration of the firms activities across primary and support activities Though each of the activities above have their influence on the sector and its development, the important underlying factor is the integration of the primary and support activities in order to drive the efficiency of the firms in the sector, and ensure the delivery of the customer service required by clients. Use of technology to drive integration and also efficiencies across the value chain Aside from the integration of the activities, a key driving force as well is the use of technology to both drives the integration and also pushes the efficiencies across the value chain as this impacts the pricing of services and delivery of customer requirements. Strong management to drive actions and initiatives across the chain Finally, strong management is needed in order to identify the opportunities and be able to push for the implementation of these initiatives, particularly in technology and in integration. The current industry pressures from higher fuel prices are changing the dynamics of the sector. Supply Chain Management Supply Chain analysis involves working across multiple enterprises or companies (Inter-enterprise) to shorten the supply chain time in the delivery of goods and services to the consumer or customer. Demand uncertainty in supply chains can be addresses by faster response times. A basic product supply chain can afford longer lead times and batch manufacturing of large lot sizes to meet the demand. A supply chain that produces fashion or mass customization products must respond quickly and be more agile. Most supply chains are moving in the direction to support a more rapid changing of demand by the consumer or customer. Good transportation and logistics companies also natures in reducing total costs through supply chain management excellence. Supply chain management means managing the business process from the initial supplier to the ultimate customer focusing on speed and flexibility, resulting in the lowest total cost and highest customer satisfaction-from suppliers supplier to customers customer-with supply decisions based on total life cycle costs. In this Context, FedEx identifies five principal attributes of supply chain management: Strategy Creating an effective supply chain management organization and supporting fact-based strategies and plans. Resources Developing and deploying human resources and information systems necessary to maximize performance. Nothing happens without top-notch, highly-skilled professionals using effective technical tools. Processes Creating strategic plans based upon total cost management and in sourcing/outsourcing analysis and applying a systematic approach to better utilizing the supply base. Optimization Aligning the supply base with our supply chain goals and continually seeking to improve the supply chain methods and composition. Globalization Viewing supply opportunities on a global basis. (www.fedex.com) FedEx Core Competencies And Dynamic Capabilities The analysis above of the global express transportation and logistics industry provides an indication of the requirements needed in order to be successful in the sector. This sub-section presents the core competencies and dynamic capabilities of FedEx and will present the link with the sectors requirements for success. The core competencies and dynamic capabilities of FedEx are the following: 2. Human resources: empowering employees One of the core competencies of FedEx is the empowerment of employees which has led to entrepreneurial behaviour among the employees (Schindehutte, Morris Kocak, 2008). This empowerment is the reason that FedEx is able to adapt quickly to market changes and keep abreast of the development in the global express transportation and logistics sector and ahead of competition. 3. Marketing: delivering customer value FedEx is known for their innovativeness in delivering value to their customers. It is partly the point above on employee empowerment which drives this. However, it is also largely the strength of their marketing organisation in being able to identify the value that customers require and their ability to deliver this through convenience and minimised relational costs (Smith Colgate, 2007). 4. Information systems and technology: providing accurate 24/7 information FedEx has invested significantly in its information and technology systems in order to provide customers with information to track the services being provided by FedEx. The firm realised early on in their business history, and well ahead of the other firms in their sector, the importance of information (e.g. package tracking, drop-off location finder) and the power this brings to meeting customers needs (Bhattacharya, 2006). 5. Management: continuing learning and application to operation This core competence of FedEx is driven by their CEO and Founder Fred Smith who stated that the success of FedEx is based on â€Å"continual learning and education and the discipline to apply those lessons to your operation† (Sarros, Cooper Santora, 2007). FedExs actions have been based on a continual understanding of their market situation and the implementation of initiatives to meet the requirements of the evolving sector such as technological demands and customer service level requirements. Strategic Vision And Infrastructure Within FedEx Corporation (a) FedEx Strategic Vision And Visionary Leadership. Frederick W Smith, the Chairman, President, and CEO of FedEx Corporation was presented the â€Å"Peter F. Drucker Strategic Leadership Award† for the year 1997. The award, established in 1995, was in recognition of an individuals innovative and result-oriented leadership. With the help of his team he executed a vision with consistency and focus. Analysts credit Smiths leadership as the reason for the transformation of FedEx, from a once loss making company, to a global logistics industry leader with revenues of â€Å"$22.5 billion.† Under his leadership, FedEx management has developed rigorous processes with extremely low defect rates; employees are empowered through information, technology and thorough training. Information technology has transformed the company into a cyberspace leader as well as a logistics trailblazer. Smith was one of the few business leaders who first anticipated the application of Internet in business operations, resulting into the launch of the website www.fedex.com in 1994, enabling customers to do business online. FedEx had been established as a technologically driven company. Smith stipulated three goals, which he believed would form the critical success factors of FedExs business in future speed, reliability and customer service. In order to achieve these goals, Smith invested heavily on IT. Smith strongly believed that for an express industry, it was necessary to use IT to provide customers with real-time information about the movement of their documents/packages. Visionary Leadership FedEx Supply Chain Services will be an acknowledged world leader in global integrated logistics management, supply chain solutions and time-definite delivery. Our motivated associates will forge mutually profitable partnerships with our customers using world-class technology and business practices. Smith also believed that in a service oriented organization like FedEx, it was very important to have highly committed employees, failing which; it was not possible to deliver the kind of service that the customers expected. FedExs employees were made to believe that they were not merely performing their duties but were solving the transportation problems of the customers. It is clear from these analyses that FedEx Corporation had been very competent in technology and human resources which resulted in its great success. FedExs corporate strategic vision is based on three principles; operating independently: by focusing on independent networks to meet distinct customer needs; compete collectively: by standing as one brand worldwide and speaking with one voice Manage collaboratively: by working together to sustain loyal relationships with their workforce, investors, and customers. http://www.icmrindia.org/casestudies/catalogue/Leadership%20and%20Entrepreneurship/LDEN023.htm (b) FedEx Transportation And Logistics Infrastructure FedEx Corporation (â€Å"FedEx†) provides a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services through companies competing collectively, operating independently and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. These operating companies are primarily represented by Federal Express Corporation (â€Å"FedEx Express†), the worlds largest express transportation company; FedEx Ground Package System, Inc. (â€Å"FedEx Ground†), a leading provider of small-package ground delivery services and FedEx Freight Corporation, a leading U.S. provider of less-than-truckload (â€Å"LTL†) freight services (FedEx Annual report 2007). Overall, FedEx hasover 280,000 employees worldwide,operates approximately 50,000 drop off locations and managed over 10 million square feet of warehouse space worldwide. They have 670 aircrafts, and 75,000 vehicles and trailers, handling around 6.5million daily shipments to more than 220 countries and territories. (Jack W. Plunkett 2007). FedEx Corporation introduced express delivery to the world in 1973, and remains the worlds largest express transportation company and it is the worlds largest overnight package carrier with about 30 percent market share. Taking into considerations the key elements from the above analysis and FedExs core competencies it can be figured out that FedEx primary activities are Marketing and Sales, checking orders, financial analysis and receiving payment, packaging, shipping products, logistics, handling and storing of products to be shipped, handling orders, delivery of the products, and finally Service to ensure customer satisfaction. But, the key elements which support these activities are: Procurement (purchasing, trucks, planes, gas and other assets). Research and Development (RD) activity which include technology development, investments in systems innovation, and information technology (IT) development. Human Resource Management that includes hiring, training, developing and compensating employees from the truck drivers to the top management. Firm infrastructure which includes general management, planning, accounting, legal support, government regulations, and other general requirement to support the value chain. (c) FedEx Virtual Information Infrastructure Information Technology is the backbone of the FedEx Corporation which is immensely responsible for its success and its competitive advantage over its rivals. FedExs consistent effort in the development of information technology and system innovations has always been its prime concern which created the direct interconnection between its customers and services. FedExs Virtual Information System emerged as a revolution in this context which closed the gaps between the consumer and seller. In 1979, a centralised computer system Customer, Operation, Master Online System kept track of all packages handled by the company. This computer system relayed data on package movement, pickup, invoicing and delivery to a central database. In 1984, FedEx started to launch a series of technological systems. The Power-Ship program, aimed at improving efficiency and control, which provided the most active customers (around 850,000) with the proprietary online services. But, the most significant development in this field came between the years 1994-99 which started giving the shape to the virtual information infrastructure. They were first to offer online package status tracking through FedEx website so that customers can actually conduct business via internet. In 1995, a Windows-based shipping and tracking software allowed around 650,000 users to process and manage their shipment from their desktops. FedEx Virtual-Order Software in 1996 linked internet ordering with the delivery and o nline tracking. In 1997, FedEx introduced e- Business tools for easier connection with shipping tracking applications. FedEx decided to overhaul its internal I.T. infrastructure under the Project GRID (Global Resources for Information Distribution). The project involved replacing 60,000 terminals and some PCs with over 75,000 network systems. Also, in 1999 FedEx signed an agreement with Netscape to adopt Netscape software as the primary technology for accessing its corporate intranet sites. FedExs intranet included more than 60 Websites, created for its end users and some cases by its end users. At this point of time FedEx was the largest online client server network in the world that operated in real time. The benefits of these services were not limited to FedExs customers. Its online services, which in 1999 handled 60 million transactions per day, saved FedEx cost of 200,000 customer service employees. In turn, the Company reported spending 10 percent of its 17 billion U.S. dollar s annual revenue on I.T. in 1999. Information had allowed FedEx to lower its costs such that the cost to customers of using FedEx in 1999 was lower than it was 25 years ago. FedEx Virtual Order Process http://www.ite.poly.edu/people/brao/fedex_case.htm CHAPTER-2: Mergers Acquisitions In Transportation And Logistics Industry. Benefits And Limitations Of Merger And Acquisition Strategy. Merger and Acquisition is basically a mechanism by which an organization grows. It is a kind of external growth strategy which involves using the businesss money to invest in other businesses, whereas the internal growth occurs by investing profits in the same business. A merger occurs when two separate companies agree, usually by mutual consent, to come together. On the other hand, acquisition is a takeover which involves purchasing a shareholding of over 50%, and then this company can control and impose its will upon this. Merger and acquisition are growth strategies are beneficial for transportation and logistics industry, as in all the other industries if two companies decide to join hands after a detailed research and surveys. (book†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦book†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.book) Benefits Of Merger And Acquisition: Mergers and acquisitions usually succeed in building cost efficiency through the implementation of economies of scale. Basically, a new economically stable firm emerges, through the union of two parent firms with an increased scale of operations. As a result, there are chances that the cost per unit will come down with rise in output production. In context of TL industry the company will get a bigger infrastructure and they may get easy access to the areas which were to difficult to reach. This in turn will increase their logistics offerings and their efficiency with reduced cost, which was not possible if they would have thought of increasing the branches on their own. This process also often leads to an increased value generation for the company. It is expected that the shareholder value of the newly established firm would be greater than the sum of the shareholder values of the parent companies which is applicable in TL industry as well. One of the benefits of mergers and acquisitions is increase in market share. When a financially stable company acquires a contrastingly distressed one, the newly found organization experiences a substantial increase in market share. The new firm is usually more cost-efficient and competitive when compared to its financially weak parent organization. Limitations Of Merger And Acquisition: I. If due to mergers and acquisitions, a company has considerably a big market share then there could be less competition complacency amongst firmscan lead to lower quality of services and less investment in new products and services. II. Due to merger or acquisition, if a company expands too much then it could also lead to diseconomy of scale. In this condition, it will lead the firm to produce products and services at increased per unit costs. III. Mergers and acquisitions can lead to loss of jobs. IV. Mergers could be a factor of de-motivation for staff, for example, managers would prefer to work for big company where they get higher salaries and more prestige. V. There could be failure to secure good will of a wide range of stakeholder groups in both companies. VI. Potential conflict between individual and corporate objectives is not given sufficient recognition and isnt managed. VII. Reputation can also be damaged during the merger process. Acquisition Of Caliber Systems In 1998 By FedEx Corporation In the year 1998, FedEx took a big leap in context to its diversification by acquiring Caliber System Inc. As a result of this, five subsidiary companies were formed: Federal Express, RPS, Roberts Express, Viking Freight and FDX Logistics. Apart from Federal Express, all the other four were the part of Caliber System and all were managed independently. The logistics operations of both FedEx and Caliber were different as differed in customer bases and service offerings. Caliber was expertise in providing an elaborate logistics operation focusing mainly on high priced goods industries such as moving raw materials, managing work-in-progress, manufacturing of cars and fork-lift trucks etc. Federal Logistics and Electronic Commerce (FLEC) before the acquisition was not able to provide complete supply chain solution because they just focused on finished goods and reverse logistics. But, the acquisition led FLEC to put there hands into areas like warehousing and transportation apart from th e basic logistics functions. Later, Caliber became apart of FDX Logistics and FLEC continued as a division under Federal Express. The burden which this acquisition brought along with it to the company was that, the company has to loose its image of just being an express delivery company. The challenge was that all the critics including the customer related the FedEx brand just with transportation. One solution to this challenge was the renaming of the company. In this context, the acquisition gave the name to the holding company as ‘FDX Corporation but they did very less to promote the name. Therefore, the transportation subsidiary FedEx Express still lived on as a brand image and the corporate name was still under cover. Unlike other companies such as UPS which ran only under one name for all its services, FedEx was trying to promote all its subsidiary companies with completely unrelated names under FDX logo. The key agenda here was that, the two separate logistics businesses within the group with separate sales and customer service staff created confusion within customers and resources were duplicated. The big thing was despite having such confusion the branches continued to operate and offer solutions at all level of supply chain. In this scenario, the autonomy of all subsidiary companies where maintained but the challenge was to bring the companies closer to create the synergy. These companies were operating with separate accounting systems and customer service staff, so they made a vision to â€Å"progress individually but compete collectively.† Therefore, we can figure out that this acquisition was not a complete success as all the subsidiary companies sustained but the ultimate goal for the corporation was to provide customers with a single point of access to the whole Group. In later years, this became the main reason for the companys structural transformation through advancement in information technology within the company. CHAPTER-3: Events Leading Up To January 2000 Reorganization This section provides an analysis of the events leading to the January 200 reorganisation of FedEx. The first sub-section reviews the performance of FedEx and the developments in the Internet market while the second sub-section touches on the impact of the major strategic initiatives undertaken. The final sub-section provides a quick summary of the analysis. FedEx Performance And Internet Market Developments The January 2000 reorganisation was largely driven by the poor performance of FedEx in the preceding periods. While performance remained strong and positive up to 1999 with record earnings, this proved to be the start of a downtrend in performance. The next several quarters saw FedExs performance experience considerable in income and profit. This was partly influenced by the rising fuel prices but the failure of the company to react and still be reasonably profitable in a backdrop of rising fuel prices led management to believe that change was needed. The performance of FedEx was sub-par and deserved poor reviews. The lower financial performance aside, FedExs performance was inadequate for the following reasons: Un-reactive and inflexible It took several quarters of poor performance for FedEx management to take action. FedEx could have been more aggressive in its actions and realised immediately after the first quarter of poor profit performance that the industry was changing and that FedEx needed to make a move. At the very least, FedEx could have made moves that would have impacted other players as well and severely harm the poorer capitalised firms (e.g. start a price war) Did not utilise advantages in sector Partly related to the first point, FedEx did not push to make any impact on the sector. FedEx could have utilised its network, for example, and worked with its suppliers and even buyers to ensure that the firm still maintained good profitability in the period of high fuel prices. In addition to the poor performance of FedEx in the preceding several quarters, the development of the Internet market and the actions of competitors forced FedEx to review its business strategy and determine the steps necessary in order to bring the firm back to profitability and successful operations. In this respect, the actions of FedEx were unacceptable as well for a couple of reasons: Failure to realise technological changes For a firm that was known to be reliant on technology as well as at the forefront of technological advancements, the actions of FedEx were unacceptable as they showed poor pro-activity and understanding of the changes happening in the sector. Reactionary moves to technological innovation Not only did FedEx not realise technological changes that would impact the sector, FedEx had to wait for other firms to take the first move in tapping the new technology. This thus made the situation worse as it placed FedEx in a position that was far behind other competitors in terms of the use and development of technology. Motivation for Strategic Initiatives FedEx had three strategic initiatives following the reorganisation in January 2000. For these actions, FedEx could be lauded as these addressed the concerns that FedEx faced following the several period of poor performance and the developments in the Internet market. The strategic initiatives and the rationale for pursuing each are as follow: A new branding strategy that involved changing the Companys name to FedEx Corporation, and extending the ‘FedEx brand to four of its five subsidiary companies This is an excellent move for a couple of reasons: (1) integrates the firm and leverages the successes of the various divisions, (2) taps the brand that clients are familiar with. This would allow FedEx to leverage its advantages in the sector as seen in the five forces analysis. Although relatively belatedly, FedEx did realise the importance of integrating their businesses and maximising their position in the sector. The need for one point of access to sales, customer services, and billing and automation systems This again touches on the integration point although at a different aspect. With an integrated business across its key activities, FedEx could provide clients with easy access and reliable services, factors that are important for the FedEx clients. Also, this action gives FedEx the technological push that it needed in order to bring its technology up to par with competitors, and position the firm for possible advancements at a later time. FedEx Home Delivery, a new, economical residential delivery service- This last action by FedEx touched on several important factors related to the success of firms in the global express transportation and logistics industry: (1) innovation in products and services, (2) leverage of strengths of related businesses, and (3) exp

Ecobus Marketing Coursework - Nokia - The Wireless Giant Essays

Ecobus Marketing Coursework - Nokia - The Wireless Giant Ecobus Marketing Coursework "Nokia - The Wireless Giant" Introduction & Purpose For this coursework, I have decided to study the wireless giant, Nokia. Nokia is, unarguably, the leader in the world of mobile communications. The brand boasts a significant number of users from around the world, ranging from Europe to the Americas, and from Africa to the Asia Pacific. Nokia's success has been aided by its experience, innovation and its user-friendliness and thus, has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and other related products around the globe. The aim of this project is to identify how Nokia has approached its market and what has enabled the company to become a world leader in the world of wireless communications. This will include a study of the customer behaviour towards the brand and how Nokia has managed to secure a large share of the market, leaving its competitors far behind. Methodology In order to fill my purpose, I will collect both primary as well as secondary data from the appropriate sources. To collect the primary data, I will hand out questionnaires to a sample group of people varying in age and nationality. This is necessary to get a wider perspective of the possible customers of Nokia. Two samples of the questionnaire will be presented in the appendix. I will also carry out an interview with one of the staff of a Nokia Retail Outlet to further inquire about their aims and objectives in Hong Kong. The appropriate information from the questionnaires will be converted into graphs and then summarised. However, my study of Nokia will be based in Hong Kong and may contain a Hong Kong Perspective of the brand In addition to these data, I will create a S.W.O.T (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the company and also analyse Nokia's marketing mix. This will give a good overview of the company's marketing strategy. To add to the analysis, I will include a Boston Matrix of the brand, which will help determine the position of the company in the market. Following this, I will gather all the information to form a conclusion, which will include my own recommendations. A Brief Introduction to Nokia Nokia started in the communications service in 1865 establishing itself in the newspaper business, the original medi... ... a successful wireless giant aided by its strong marketing strategy. Its innovative products, appropriate placement, top notch promotion and suitable pricing has allowed it to hold the better share of the mobile communications market. In a world that is fast becoming reliant on technology, Nokia, with the help of its state of the arc technology, will create a new revolution in the industry. Locally, the telecommunication market is a thriving one and offers endless opportunities to the company. However, continuous market research and development needs to be done to keep Nokia where it is today. To eliminate any possible threats, Nokia can continue to develop new products and acquire a patent which will eliminate any chances of 'me-too' products from other companies. Acquisitions are also an option as a merge will make Nokia stronger as well as help remove competition. Organic growth can also help them guide towards more turnovers over a period of time. Nokia is, clearly, the hot choice of the mobile customers at present. By the looks of it, it is only a matter of time before its competitors are hunted down to extinction, at least in the field of mobile phones.

Research paper about computer addiction Essay

Chapter 1 in Research About Computer Games Addiction EFFECTS OF INVOLVEMENT IN COMPUTER GAMES TO THE STUDY HABITS OF THE MARIAN FRESHMEN STUDENTS DURING THE FIRST SEMESTER OF SCHOOL YEAR 2012-2013 A Research Presented to Mr. Paul C. Morales Saint Mary’s University Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya In Partial Fulfilment Of the Requirements in _________________________ Submitted By: Kimberly Anne Martinez Lloyd Rico Antonio Manuel Douglas Inaldo Leigrich Salvador Herman Anthony Aseron February 2013 Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Rationale Modernization of living has a great impact to one of us, specifically in the field of technologythat introduces us to this, computer age because of its many benefits that makes our lives better and helps us do work a lot better. One evidence is the excessive of use of computers of some Marian students, it gives us a faster access to the world and is very beneficial to our studies like doing paper works and at the same time, entertainment. But as computers became more popular, some students overused it and become a bad leisure for them causing them to skip their classes, they could not concentrate, and they become irresponsible, they didn’t do their school stuffs and obliviously overspending their allowance in paying a gaming computer unit and a bet. Lessen, determine and prevent computer addiction, are in the mind of the researchers in conducting this study. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The primary aim of this study is to obtain relevant information in the involvement of the college freshmen students towards computer games. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of the following factors: 1.1 Amenability of hanging with computer 1.2 Interest in computer gaming 1.3 Awareness in the possible effects of too much exposure in computer games 1.4 Self-control 2. What are the most common factors which make involve them in computer games? 2.1 Leisure time 2.2 Hobby 2.3 Friends 3. What are the most pressing problems in their study habits as they go and play computer games in terms of the following: 3.1 Time for studying 3.2 Concentration 3.3 Motivation of learning 4. What are their ways to balance their gaming habit and study habit if there is, in terms of the following: 4.1 Time management 4.2 Self-control SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The expected result if this research endeavour will benefit the following: Students of Saint Mary’s University and its students As vital information, results of the study will help make the students become aware of their involvement in computer games, and become develop their study habits and to concentrate more on their studies. Future researchers The results of this study can serve as a baseline data for developing topics as well as creating ideas about their topics. SCOPE OF DELIMITATIONS This study was conducted during the first semester of the school year 2012-2013 to identify the factors that affect the involvement to computer game addiction of the Marian Freshmen students and to determine how it would  affect their study habits. Respondents of the study are limited to the college freshmen students of the eight departments of the University namely: School of Accountancy, School Arts and sciences, School of Business, School of Education, School of Engineering and Architecture, School of Computing Science and Information Technology, School of Public Administration and Governance, and School of Health Sciences. There are ten randomly selected respondents of each of the eight departments. DEFINITION OF TERMS The following terms are defined to facilitate the comprehension of the study: Computers. Computer game. DEFINITION OF TERMS The following terms are defined to facilitate the comprehension of the study: Computers. Computer game.

How Alcohol Affects People essays

How Alcohol Affects People essays According to the survey about 70% of college students consume alcohol every month. How often do you drink? I have some opportunities to drink alcohol, and I have noticed that people react differently to alcohol. The reason is that the rate of alcohol metabolism varies among individuals, and it is largely determined by genetic factor and drinking behavior. Today, I would like to explain how alcohol affects people. First of all, when we take alcohol, about 20% is absorbed from stomach into the bloodstream. About 75% is absorbed through the upper part of intestine. The rate of absorption is affected by various factors. For example, food in the stomach slows the rate of absorption. On the other hand, carbonated beverage like champagne increases the rate of absorption. Secondly, alcohol is transported through the body by the blood. A large amount of alcohol is metabolized in the liver. The rest is metabolized in the stomach. From 2 to 10 % of ingested alcohol is not metabolized, but is excreted by the lungs, kidneys, and sweat glands. Next, I would like to talk about the effects of alcohol consumption. At low doses, alcohol makes people relaxed and causes a release of inhibition and alertness. Even people become more sociable. However, at higher doses, alcohol has negative effects. People more tend to get angry or cry easily and become emotionally instable. People become sleepy, and most sensory function is reduced. Finally, at very high doses, alcohol causes a dangerous circumstance. Most people are completely unable to function physically and psychologically. Usually, coma can happen. Also, alcohol poisoning occurs when people drink a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time. You should avoid rapid and binge drinking and notice how dangerous alcohol poisoning is because it results in not only unconsciousness but also death. In conclusion, we have the different rate of alcohol metabol ...

Rhododendron Essays - Beekeeping, Diterpenes, Grayanotoxin

Rhododendron Essays - Beekeeping, Diterpenes, Grayanotoxin Rhododendron Rhododendron The plant rhododendron belongs to the family Ericaceae which also includes the Heath, and there are about eight-hundred fifty species which grow worldwide (Turner and Szczawinski, 171-2). The Heath family is a large one with so many species, all of the poisonous species fall into two of its subfamilies, one of which is the rhododendron. These cultivated plants occur naturally in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and in the mountains of Southeast Asia. They are located in the Himalayas with seven-hundred species, southwest China, Burma, and in New Guinea with over three-hundred species (Turner and szczawinski, 172). It has been popular as ornaments in gardens and has led to a major horticultural industry with its widely uses in landscaping. There are twenty-seven species native to North America, (Turner,172) and is the state plant of Washington. This specific plant is called R. macrophyllum or the Pacific rhododendron (Pojar and Mackinnon, 61). It forms a shrub layer in forests ranging from shoreline pine groves to stands of Douglas-fir and western Hemlock up in the mountains. Usually they are located everywhere from homes to freeway sides and also in the forests. The rhododendron shows a great variety in size, habit, and flower color, colors from white to pink, dark-purple, yellow, red, and orange (McKenzi,1). They range from small shrubs to small trees with evergreen leaves that are leathery. The leaves are short stalked, simple, and alternate, and the flowers are large, bell-shaped, and born in dense clusters. They are best grown on acidous soil with a ph of 4.5 and 6.5, included with lots of moisture and organic material (McKenzie, 3). The leaves, flowers, pollen, and nectar of many rhododendron species contain several toxins (Kingsbury, 50). These toxins are called grayanotoxins or andromedotoxin, a resinoid carbohydrate (Kingsbury, 51). It is prevalent in the flower nectar, and has caused poisoning of bees and the honey produced. The symptoms are similar to both humans and all animals. The human cases are that in which children chew the leaves and get the poison in their system, or when people drink tea made from the honey and plant (Abrahams, 2). It has been reported that animals clip the leaves for boredom or when they get hungry, as food is short (U.S food and drug admin., 3). The rhododendron is a beautiful plant which lies outside homes for decorations. People should become more aware of its toxicity and should take precautions when handling them. Grayanotoxin The plant rhododendron contains several toxins called grayanotoxins. Other well known but former names are rhodotoxin, andromedotoxin, and acetylandrome (U.S. food and drug admin., 1). They are included in almost all of the species rhododendron. The name of the disease is honey intoxication, which is caused by the consumption of honey produced (Abrahams 1). The grayanotoxins cause this intoxication, and the specific toxins vary with the plant species. Other names associated with this disease is rhododendron poisoning, mad hone intoxication or grayanotoxin poisoning. (U.S food and drug admin., 1) The poisoning results from the ingestion of grayanotoxin contaminated honey. The other ways that it can get into your system is if you consume plant parts. Every part of the plant is poisonous, the flowers, nectar, honey, and especially the leaves, which contain more. In humans, symptoms of poisoning occur six hours after a dose. These symptoms include salivation, vomiting, very low blood pressure, loss of coordination, muscular weakness, slow and irregular heartbeat, and comas, followed by death in extreme cases. (U.S. FDA,2) All organisms such as animals and humans are affected in the same way. The treatments are to induce vomiting, or perform gastric lavage, replace fluids and maintain electrolyte balance, monitor heart beat, blood pressure and breathing. Even though the cases reported have been rare, people still should become aware of this toxin. House pets eat the plants, children do also, so they should be taught to stay away from these plants.

Adults with learning disabilities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Adults with learning disabilities - Essay Example A learning disability is defined as a neurological disorder. It is the result of a difference in wiring in some adults and children.Those who experience a LD may be as intelligent,or even smarter,than their cohorts,although they have difficulty with an activity/s such as; reading, writing, spelling, recall and reasoning Interventions to aid adult learners with LD have changed dramatically over the past century (D'Amato, Crepeau-Hobson, Huang, & Geil, 2005). This paper will critically review the development of the present day approaches to intervention to demonstrate the benefits of the social-model. Firstly, a historical perspective will be given to illustrate the growth of LD service delivery from a medical-model approach, labeling theory to a social-model approach. Secondly, person-centred planning shall be critically discussed. Next issues of anti-oppressive practices with regard to gender will be outlined. Finally, a conclusion shall synthesise the main points of this paper to id entify the advantages that social-model based interventions can have. It is anticipated that this paper will inform research to aid adults with LD to be encouraged in their strengths, aware of their weaknesses, and to better understand health and social care systems approaches to providing care. In the early 19th century the leading model of care for adults with a LD was grounded in the broad system of health care (Young, 2006). Following the industrial revolution and the mass migration of the rural population to the cities those with a LD tended to be among those living in poverty and performing enforced labour. In the mid-19th century many concerned citizens debated the humanity of the conditions of those living in poverty, and who were experiencing ways of being such as a LD. The medical-model approach at the time considered the people housed within asylums as 'having a problem' that was not able to be worked with. The patients were often treated as children and robbed of their d ignity and seen as not able to make the correct choices for them to ensure good health. According to the medical-model those with a LD were a threat to the 'contamination' of the UK gene pool. Hence, this later medical-modal approach continued with the view of a biological condition alone, that could not be altered in any way by 'nurturing'. And by taking a rigid 'nature' view of LD saw the person experiencing the condition as beyond hope of social interventions, and that wider society (i.e., environment) had no responsibility as to how those with LD experienced life and well being. Dramatic changes came following the Wars, when the atrocities of Nazi experiments highlighted the need for more thought into what it means to be human, issues of dignity, welfare, protection and human rights. The dawn of ethical research and treatment had come. Whilst the medical-model remained focused on diagnosis, treatment and monitoring for effect, the idea that living experiences for those with LD could be improved took hold. The new version of the medical-model emphasised the possibility of treatment by identifying and strengthening cognitive abilities of those with LD (arrowsmithschool.org, 2007). "When the weak areas of the brain are strengthened.the learning disability is reduced or removed." (Steinberg, 2007, p. 1). In 1946 there was the introduction of the National Health Service in the UK and with it came the creation of the term 'mentally handicapped' and the institutions developed into hospitals with a focus on caring for patients. Society had shifted from seeing those who were LD as dangerous and a potential infectious threat, to people in need of interventions and treatment. Labeling theory (Tannenbaum, 1938), grew in popularity as those with LD who adopted deviant behaviors, such as drug use and or crime, were considered to be the 'victims' of social

Summarize the argument of Lilian Furst, Romananticism,pp.1-6. What is PowerPoint Presentation

Summarize the argument of Lilian Furst, Romananticism,pp.1-6. What is meant by the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic uses of the term romantic - PowerPoint Presentation Example as many-faceted, and, incidentally, as long-lived as Romanticism had to manifest itself in any number of directions, and it is fundamentally this that confounds the task of definition.†(p.6) Jacques Barzun: â€Å"Unfortunately, definitions of romanticism already exist by the dozen and have remained without effect. One reason is that definition is not enough. We must also have a clear conception of the many proper uses to which a comprehensive term of this sort can be put.†(p.3) Intrinsic romanticism is as old as humanity. It will never disappear, for it is a human constant. Human beings live in the era of materialistic civilization. Man is bent upon conquering nature and believes that he has to wage a permanent war with it. Camaraderie has given place to mutual suspicion and cutthroat competition. This is the reality. Realism is critical, but romanticism can as well be the new vision, the future hope for ushering a benevolent era. â€Å"Modern man does not experience himself as a part of nature but as an outside force destined to dominate and conquer it.†(Schumacher, p.11) He feels elated to announce and conduct a battle with the nature in an effort to improve the standard of living of human beings without applying proper thought. He is cutting the branch of the tree on which he is sitting. We live in a society that has drastically narrowed our sensitivity to moral and spiritual issues; the problem we face is how to deal with a belief structure that has blocked both psychological and spiritual development. If there is a new agenda, a new vision now emerging within our society, how might one help put it into practice? It left deep impact in every area, politics of the time, aspirations of the people and in some countries it became the voice of the revolution. It impacted and transformed fiction, drama, poetry, sculpture, paining and all forms of concert music and ballet. Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers in the field of romanticism. His writing mean