Christian Stewardship and Sustainability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Christian Stewardship and Sustainability - Essay Example When God created man in the Garden of Eden, He gave him authority over all the earth. This authority involves taking care of the environment, and all its constituents. Consequently, Christian stewardship refers to a moral obligation conferred on human beings by God over the natural resources. It includes using the natural resources in ways that benefit humanity, and the perpetuation of such resources. Promoting the continuity of the resources maintains order in the universe as the resources allow man to meet his various needs and aspirations successfully. In addition, future generations get to enjoy quality resources in abundance, thus boosting their earthly experiences. God holds Christians accountable for their actions on earth. The accountability falls in many categories, including the environment. God ordained man to take care of the earth, and the responsibility goes with accountability. Consequently, Christians endeavor to safeguard the biodiversity in a compassionate and respectful manner. These attitudes also characterize the concept of sustainability as it bears the future generations in mind. More to this, sustainability aims at countering the environmental crisis, and ensuring that humanity enjoys the goodness of nature in future. Christian stewardship recognizes that natural resources serve as resources (Robinson, 20). Resources help in fulfilling the daily needs of humanity, hence the need for their conservation. Absence of such resources would lead to inadequate provision of the required needs, which would contravene God’s will for our lives. Likewise, sustainability realizes the need for resource protection. It encourages the proper utilization of such resources with an intention of providing the current and future society with a good life. More to this, Robinson (21) asserts that â€Å"stewardship is a value to be passed from generation to generation†. This means that Christian stewardship, just like

Effect of THNPs on Heroin OD Mortality | Methodology

Effect of THNPs on Heroin OD Mortality | Methodology Chapter 2. Methods 2.1 Introduction This chapter contains a precise description of the process used to search and appraise the evidence for this systematic literature review. The search was carried out during August and September 2014. An in-depth description of how evidence and research available related to the PICO question were generated, will be discussed. As mentioned in the previous chapter, the aim of this dissertation is to determine the effect of THNPs to heroin users, on heroin OD mortality. The analysing process of the PICO question, whether THNPs reduces the incidence of fatal heroin OD deaths, will be amplified through a description of the actual search strategy, and the methods used to appraise the retrieved studies. Through specific criteria, a systematic approach was applied in obtaining and selecting the relevant literature. Identified keywords used for the search syntaxes will be presented, together with the databases used for the retrieval of evidence, and the number of hits produced from each database. Search syntax is the relationship of a sequence of words used in a search strategy. A discussion of the inclusion and exclusion criteria set for this systematic review (SR) will follow, together with the methods of appraisal chosen to evaluate the studies. 2.2 Keywords and databases used PICO Element Description Keywords Population Heroin injection users in the community heroin users, injection drug users, drug users, opioid users Intervention Take-home naloxone program take-home naloxone program, naloxone distribution program, Comparison No comparison Outcome Reduced incidence of fatal heroin OD deaths OD reversal, OD prevention, opioid OD prevention, heroin OD prevention, harm reduction According to Timmins and McCabe (2005) the cornerstone of an effective search strategy is the use of proper keywords. A number of keywords were formulated from the PICO question elements, and from the preliminary search of the literature. These were mainly identified from titles and keywords used in articles found from the preliminary search. Table 2.1 below, shows the keywords used in relation to each PICO element. Table 2.1 Keywords developed to describe the PICO framework The main electronic systematic search with the search syntaxes explained further on in this chapter was carried out using different databases accessed from the Hybrid Discovery (HyDi) available from the online library at the University of Malta. Relevant databases were found on HyDi by choosing the category ‘Health Sciences’ and sub-category ‘Nursing’ since the other sub-category is ‘Midwifery’ which is unrelated. Six databases were used to conduct a search for the literature. These were Academic Search Complete, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Database of SRs; via EBSCO host search engine together with Medline via ProQuest search engine, and Science Direct. In addition to these databases Google Scholar was also utilised, but the search syntaxes combinations could not be used since the search engine does not have an advanced search strategy, a nd the search resulted in large thousands of articles. Therefore simple keywords alone were used to search for any other relevant studies, or to obtain full text versions which are not available in other databases. Strengths and limitations of each database are described below in table 2.2. Database Strength Limitation Academic Search Complete Daily updates Provides full text journals Available only from EBSCO host CINAHL Plus with Full Text Weekly updates Over 950 journals Covers references and abstracts from 1982 onwards Available only from EBSCO host English and American language bias Cochrane Library Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials Cochrane Database of SRs Research analyzed using trustworthy methods Large source of literature Up-to-date Complete text reviews Limited by restrictions Medline Records indexed with Medical Subject Heading (MeSHÂ ®) Provides a large source of life sciences evidence needed by health professionals Limited by restrictions Science Direct Provides full text from Elsevier Science journals Provides full text articles Limited by restrictions Google Scholar Free access web based search engine Large amount of results due to lack of an advanced search strategy Table 2.2 Databases strengths Limitations 2.3 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria For readers to assess reliability and validity of a SR they have to be provided with a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria (Cronin, Ryan, Coughlan, 2007). Furthermore, Torgerson (2003) suggests that a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria are important so that throughout the search, only the articles that will answer the PICO question are extracted while others are eliminated. During the preliminary search it was noted that literature about the subject lacks randomized controlled trials (RCTs’), meta-analysis, and SRs. As shown in figure 2.1, these study designs are found at the top of the hierarchy of evidence as described by Aslam et.al (2012). Hence, all types of study designs were part of the inclusion criteria. Sibbald Roland (1998) said that clinical trials are known to be a gold standard to perform good evidence based practice and although they were in the inclusion criteria, the results were negative since up-to date no RCTs have taken place. Although this is a major limitation for this literature review, one must keep in mind that currently, the first and largest RCT is being carried out as described in chapter 1. Source type selected in all databases was ‘Academic Journals’ since books, newspaper articles, and magazines are not of strong evidence for evidence based healthcare because sometimes they do not have any type of study design, and may be narrative. Each search was limited to English language literature only. Studies that administered intranasal (IN) naloxone were excluded since this method is an off-label method (Doe-Simkins, Walley, Epstein, Moyer, 2009), and in an RCT by Kelly et al. (2005) it was found that IM naloxone was clinically more effective than IN naloxone (6 minutes vs 8 minutes). Table 2.3 and table 2.4 below describe further in detail the inclusion and exclusion criteria respectively. Figure 2.1 The Hierarchy of Evidence Pyramid (adapted from Aslam et al. 2012, p.3) Table 2.3 Inclusion Criteria Inclusion Criteria Rationale Literature had to be in English language Not possible to translate to English Studies published from 1980’s till September 2014 Studies about THN commenced in the 90’s, and so all studies are obtained (Darke Hall, 1997) Involving heroin injection drug users above 18 years of age Since the population are adults injecting heroin, and in all studies found, drug users were of 18 years and above Involving THNP Since this review concerns the outcome of THNP Experimental studies including RCTs’, reviews, observational studies including cohort studies and longitudinal studies To include all study designs and to not eliminate valuable literature Study needed to have an outcome of survival rates or OD reversals associated to THNP If outcomes were different, studies would not answer the PICO question Exclusion Criteria Rationale Studies researching attitudes, views and opinions of health care practitioners providing THN and other stakeholders such as police Outcome of studies unrelated to PICO question Studies about experiences of fatal OD victims where naloxone was not provided to heroin users as a preventive measure of fatal OD Studies had to have THNP studied as a preventive measure rather than other measures Development of instrument tools for THNP evaluation These instruments do not answer the PICO question Users of prescription opiates including methadone Since population is specifically heroin injection drug users Studies including HIV, AIDS, buprenorphine, methadone, and supervising injecting facilities as a main topic For the fact that THNP is the main subject and intervention of this SR Studies were intra nasal naloxone was used Naloxone nasal spray is not yet approved or licensed anywhere in the world Studies where naloxone was not administered by any of the participants The outcome was not attributed directly to naloxone administration Studies not published in English Not possible to translate to English Table 2.4 Exclusion Criteria 2.4 Search Strategy The keywords mentioned in table 2.1 were developed so that each PICO element has its own search syntax as identified by Bettany-Saltikov, (2012). The use of search syntaxes has assisted in narrowing the search to the most relevant studies to the PICO question. Table 2.5 below, shows the search syntax used for each PICO item. PICO element Search syntax number Search syntax Population Search syntax 1 heroin users OR injection drug users OR drug users OR opioid users Intervention Search syntax 2 take-home naloxone program OR naloxone distribution program Outcome Search syntax 3 overdose reversal OR overdose prevention OR opioid overdose prevention OR heroin overdose prevention OR harm reduction OR overdose mortality Table 2.5 Search syntaxes Search syntaxes were combined as described here: Population (syntax 1) AND Intervention (syntax 2) Population (syntax 1) AND Outcome (syntax 3) Intervention (syntax 2) AND Outcome (syntax 3) Boolean logic operator ‘OR’ was used to combine each keyword of each PICO element syntax, while the operator ‘AND’ was used to combine the PICO elements together as described above. In all search fields of the databases used except Google Scholar, ‘In All Text’ was selected for all searches. In Google Scholar the keywords searched independently were ‘take-home naloxone’ and ‘naloxone distribution’. These keywords were searched in titles only, since when searched for anywhere in the article the results were over 50,000 with most of them irrelevant to the dissertation. As shown in table 2.6 below, the defined search resulted in 2,260 articles. After the titles were evaluated whether they fit with the inclusion and exclusion criteria mentioned previously, and removing duplicate articles the search results were reduced to 160 articles by reading through the titles. The abstracts of these 160 articles were read and consequently 25 articles were noted to be directly related to the PICO question addressed in this dissertation, as they all met the inclusion criteria. One of the 25 articles which is a study by Lenton Hargreaves (2000) was not available online for free. The author, Professor Lenton was contacted via e-mail. Fortunately there was an immediate response, and the article was provided for free. However, after reading these 25 articles, 15 were eliminated because they had one or more of the exclusion criteria fit. The remaining 10 articles were identified and had fit all of the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were chosen for the critical a ppraisal of this systematic literature review. Furthermore the search was enhanced by looking up at all the reference lists of the final articles chosen for critical appraisal, but no new studies were found. Identified studies for critical appraisal are the following: Strang et al. (2008), Piper et al. (2008), Tobin, Sherman, Beilenson, Welsh, Latkin (2009), Enteen et al. (2010), Wagner et al. (2010), Bennett, Bell, Tomedi, Hulsey, Kral (2011), Bennett Holloway (2012), Lankenau et al. (2013), Banjo (2014), and Clark, Wilder, Winstanley (2014). In addition to the electronic search, a hand search was done within the University of Malta library which did not produce any results. Table 2.6 below presents the number of hits obtained from each of the databases above and the different search syntaxes combination. Database Keywords Number of hits Academic Search Complete search syntax 1 AND search syntax 2 274 search syntax 1 AND search syntax 3 272 search syntax 2 AND search syntax 3 55 CINAHL Plus with Full Text search syntax 1 AND search syntax 2 7 search syntax 1 AND search syntax 3 114 search syntax 2 AND search syntax 3 10 Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials search syntax 1 AND search syntax 2 0 search syntax 1 AND search syntax 3 0 search syntax 2 AND search syntax 3 0 Cochrane Database of SRs search syntax 1 AND search syntax 2 0 search syntax 1 AND search syntax 3 1 search syntax 2 AND search syntax 3 0 Medline search syntax 1 AND search syntax 2 31 search syntax 1 AND search syntax 3 228 search syntax 2 AND search syntax 3 28 Science Direct search syntax 1 AND search syntax 2 532 search syntax 1 AND search syntax 3 485 search syntax 2 AND search syntax 3 145 Google Scholar take-home naloxone, naloxone distribution 78 Total number of literature found = 2,260 Table 2.6 Number of articles found from each search 2.5 Refining of the research question After finding the relevant literature to the original PICO question, and considering properly the population being studied, the research question was duly refined since this systematic literature review will be based on the impact of THNP effect on heroin OD deaths amongst heroin injection drug users. Initial PICO question was: ‘Do naloxone take-home programs provided to drug users in the community reduce the incidence of fatal opioid OD?’ The question was refined to: Do naloxone take-home programs reduce the incidence of fatal heroin OD amongst heroin injection users? The refining of the PICO question was essential since some of the literature concerned prescription opioid users or general drug users, but the reviewer’s main interest is heroin injection users. 2.6 Methods of Appraisal After identifying the relevant studies and refining the PICO question, the next step for this dissertation was to critically appraise the literature. This will be covered in chapter 3. Critical appraisal is the evaluation of strength and quality of research studies in order to deliver evidence-based clinical decisions and after determining the worthiness of different studies through the use of different critical appraisal tools, multiple research findings can be synthesized together to develop evidence-based-practice (LoBiondo-Woods Haber, 2013). Furthermore, Burls (2009) argues that studies being biased can result in false outcomes and conclusions, because they are not composed of an acceptable quality. A bias is an orderly deviation of the results occurring from the way that a study is led, investigated or reported. In light of this, critical appraisal tools were developed to help researchers in identifying valid and reliable studies. Specific critical appraisal tools in the form of checklists are used to analyse different study designs. Commonly used appraisal tools are: Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Centre for Evidence Based Mental Health (CEBMH) Critically Appraise Topic (CAT) After studying and considering all of the above methods of appraisal, together with other appraisal tools, it was decided that the CASP appraisal tools are to be used for critically appraising the identified studies relevant to the PICO question. The reason for choosing the CASP appraisal tools is because it is clear, concise, and easy to understand. CASP offers different checklists appropriate for different research designs where one can critically evaluate research through a set of questions and helps in determining the quality of the literature being appraised. At this phase, the studies were also rated and arranged according to the hierarchy of evidence adopted from Aslam (2012) as shown in figure 2.1. 2.7 Conclusion In conclusion, the study’s main objective is to determine whether THNPs reduces the mortality rate of heroin OD. Several keywords were identified from the PICO question elements, and from preliminary search results. These keywords were systematically searched in different databases using different search syntaxes combinations. A set of inclusion and exclusion criteria were then set up in order to get to the studies relevant to the PICO question. PICO question was then refined and then it was decided to use the CASP appraisal tools for evaluating the relevant studies which will be discussed in the next chapter. Words 1763

An Organizational Study of The United States Air Force :: Business Organization Research

The United States Air Force faced a leadership vacuum with the resignation of Air Force secretary James Roche and his Undersecretary Peter Teets. The Pentagon decided to take over of the buying decisions for the Air Force since they believed that there was no one who was in the position to take on the responsibility. The Department of Defense is now taking in charge to support and to assist the Air Force Command by overseeing and providing advice on important Air Force programs during a time of transition. It was clarified however that within the next six months, a new Air Force Secretary will be appointed. At present though, the Air Force is under the temporary command of Lt. Col. Michael Rodriguez (http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/28/news/fortune500/pentagon/). All organizations whether it be in the business industry, socio-civic, private or government-regulated face the challenge of running the whole system according to the principles as well as the goals and objectives of the system. The organization normally is confronted with how it will operate accordingly to meet the expectations and put up with the responsibilities and duties of the members as well as the departments that make up the whole system. The changes in the surroundings of the workplace in the internal as well as in the external environment and affairs make influence the overall operations of the structure. The military is not an exemption in this regard even for the fact that the defense team of a country undergo regulations that are very systemic and defined. There are internal as well as external affairs, issues and problems that should be attended to in order for the whole organization to function fully and provide the necessary outputs being demanded. That i s why it is interesting to look at a certain military arm experience a challenge of change in the system to be able to fit in the constantly changing global and wide social context on which it operates. Air Force Organizational Structure Just like other organizations, the United States Air Force is composed of complicated and systematic divisions. The people in this particular service are classified not just according to ranks. Since the recruits in this defense arm came from different state with varying cultural orientation, it is but expected that the people in this service are also diverse.

Client Relationship Management (CRM) Essay

Introduction The abbreviation CRM is Client Relationship Management and defined as it is a process to create a solid relationship with the customer and to know all the more about the client needs. Stronger associations with the clients will help in the improvement of the business. This process also helps to customer by getting the information about customer needs and what they desires from reputed company. CRM makes the utilization of innovation and human assets for the advancement of the business. By actualizing CRM Better client administration might be given (Avinashramana). Figure 1: CRM relationship and Management (James D. Mckeen) Minitrex Company History: Minitrex is an organization with two real divisions including finance and insurance. George Degas is the chief of offers at Minitrex, thinks about the correspondence issue happened in deals group, in light of the fact that there is no bring together client correspondence framework. , Jon Bettman designated as VP of promoting, eighteen months prior, to bring together the client correspondence focus which will be useful to expand the offers of the organization in cross and up bearings. Anyhow the thought is not executed, in view of absence of coordination between Harold Blumfen, VP of insurance, and the VP of financing, Mariella Hopkins. Insurance is a high benefit segment, which is utilizing credit organization framework to track the client charging. Blumen accepts that machines respect store data yet can’t swap persons for client learning and backing. Hpokins is an IT aficionado, who needs to overhaul IT framework, to bring about a significant improvement. Figure 2: CRM representation (James D. Mckeen) Harold Blumfen, VP of insurance, is a real benefit creator for Minitrex. His division utilizes a credit organization framework, which is created more than twenty years prior to track client billings and installments and a general administration framework to stay informed regarding which items a client has brought and what administrations the client is qualified for. Both are in a general sense backend frameworks. For front end they are  utilizing their own particular documentation. Mariella Hopkins, VP of financing, has effective involvement in managing an account division, subsidized the improvement of administration business focus application, to join together enormous keeping money administrations with little organization adaptability. This application demonstrations as an online client self administration framework, by which clients can get explanations and financing online and can get credit sanction immediately. Organization can utilize this application for client following. By co-ordinating the usefulness and client data of credit organization framework general administration frameworks and administration business focuses organization can expand its cross deals by creating the unified client contact framework Due to these reasons Denny Khan, chief of IT said, without collaboration of insurance and money Beltman can’t attain incorporated client contact data framework. CRM at Minitrex: 1. Explain how it is possible for someone at Minitrex to call a customer and not know (a) that this is a customer and (b) that this is the third time this week that they had been called? Minitrex deals group didn’t have entry to client data of protection and account divisions which are significant lines of organization. Absence of data causes this issue. Deals group is not by any means upgrading their information base. In light of these two reasons, somebody at Minitrex called n existing client and third time in same week. 2. Outline the steps that Bettman must take in order to implement CRM at Minitrex. In your plan, be sure to include people, processes, and technology As per Khan Analysis, none of the VPs assign committed business staff and plan to new framework. The execution of a client relationship administration (CRM) result is best treated as a six-stage methodology, moving from gathering data about your clients and preparing it to utilizing that data to enhance your showcasing and the client experience. Stage 1 – Collecting data The necessity ought to be to catch the data we have to recognize the obliged client contact data, with restricted offering over the groups according to security approach. Data ought to incorporate clients and order their conduct. Those organizations with a site and online client administration  have favorable element as clients can enter and keep up their own particular subtle elements when they purchase. Stage 2 – Storing data The best approach to store and deal with your client data is in a social database – an unified client database that will permit you to run all your frameworks from the same source, guaranteeing that everybody uses avant-garde data. Stage 3 – Accessing data With data gathered and put away midway, the following stage is to make this data accessible to staff in the most helpful arrangement. Stage 4 – Analyzing client conduct Utilizing information mining instruments within spreadsheet programs, which examine information to recognize examples or connections, you can start to profile clients and create deals methods. Stage 5 – Marketing all the more successfully Numerous organizations find that a little rate of their clients produce a high rate of their benefits. Utilizing CRM to addition a finer understanding of your clients’ necessities, goals and distinguish toward yourself, you can remunerate and focus on your most significant clients. Stage 6 – Enhancing the client experience Generally as a little gathering of clients are the most beneficial, a little number of griping clients regularly takes up an unbalanced measure of staff time. In the event that their issues could be recognized and determined rapidly, your staff will have more of an opportunity for different clients. References Avinashramana (2014, 09). CRM at minitrex. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 09, 2014, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Crm-At-Minitrex-50337471.html, Customer Relationship Management, retrieved September 20th, 2014, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Customer-Relationsihp-Management-84388.html James D. Mckeen and Smith, H.A., Making IT Happen, Wiley UK, Chichester, UK, 2003, p. 124)

Business Plan Essay

The executive summary will end with a summary statement, a â€Å"last kick at the can† sentence or two designed to persuade the readers of your business plan that your business is a winner. While the business plan’s executive summary is the first thing the readers of your business plan see, it should be the last part of the business plan you write. The purpose of the executive summary of the business plan is to provide your readers with an overview of the business plan. Think of it as an introduction to your business. Therefore, your business plan’s executive summary will include summaries of: †¢ a description of your company, including your products and/or services †¢ your mission statement †¢ your business’s management †¢ the market and your customer †¢ marketing and sales †¢ your competition †¢ your business’s operations †¢ financial projections and plans The executive summary will end with a summary statement, a â€Å"last kick at the can† sentence or two designed to persuade the readers of your business plan that your business is a winner. How to write an Executive Summary To write the executive summary of the business plan, start by following the list above and writing one to three sentences about each topic. (No more!) If you have trouble crafting these summary sentences from scratch, review your business plan to get you going. In fact, one approach to writing the executive summary of the business plan is to take a summary sentence or two from each of the business plan sections you’ve already written. (If you compare the list above to the sections outlined in the Business Plan Outline, you’ll see that this could work very well.) Then finish your business plan’s executive summary with a clinching closing sentence or two that answers the reader’s question â€Å"Why is this a winning business?† For example, a business plan’s executive summary for a pet-sitting business might conclude: â€Å"The loving on-site professional care that Pet Grandma will provide is sure to appeal to both cat and dog owners throughout the West Vancouver area.† (You may find it useful to read the entire Pet Grandma executive summary example before you write your own.) Tips for Writing the Business Plan’s Executive Summary †¢ Focus on providing a summary. The business plan itself will provide the details and whether bank managers or investors, the readers of your business plan don’t want to have their time wasted. †¢ Keep your language strong and positive. Don’t weaken the executive summary of your business plan with weak language. Instead of writing, â€Å"Dogstar Industries might be in an excellent position to win government contracts†, write â€Å"Dogstar Industries will be in an excellent position†¦Ã¢â‚¬  †¢ The executive summary should be no more than two pages long. Resist the tempation to pad your business plan’s executive summary with details (or pleas). The job of the executive summary is to present the facts and entice your reader to read the rest of the business plan, not tell him everything. †¢ Polish your executive summary. Read it aloud. Does it flow or does it sound choppy? Is it clear and succinct? Once it sounds good to you, have someone else who knows nothing about your business read it and make suggestions for improvement. †¢ Tailor the executive summary of your business plan to your audience. If the purpose of your business plan is to entice investors, for instance, your executive summary should focus on the opportunity your business provides investors and why the opportunity is special. †¢ Put yourself in your readers’ place†¦ and read your executive summary again. Does this executive summary generate interest or excitement in the reader? If not, why? Remember, the executive summary of the business plan will be the first thing the readers of the business plan read. If your business plan’s executive summary is poorly written, it will also be the last, as they set the rest of your business plan aside unread! †¢ a description of your company, including your products and/or services Bordeaux Wine Trading is a Wine trading company based in Bordeaux, France with a wide network of Bordeaux Wine distribution and export all over the world. Bordeaux Wine is a premium brand with unique pleasing taste. †¢ your mission statement The purpose of our company is to create awareness and increase demand, establishing a successful business for the export and distribution of Bordeaux French wine. †¢ your business’s management Bordeaux Wine Trading is planning to export and distribute Bordeaux Wine in Brazil. Brazil is one of the emerging economies of the world with great opportunities of business development. †¢ the market and your customer In Brazil, Bordeaux Wine Trading’s main focus is upper and aspiring middle class of Sao Paulo and Rio De Jinero. †¢ marketing and sales Bordeaux Wine Trading is looking to have some local licensed distributor for the distribution purpose. †¢ your competition †¢ your business’s operations †¢ financial projections and plans Mission Statement; The purpose of our organization is to create awareness and increase demand, establishing a successful business for the export and distribution of Bordeaux French wine into Brazil. Corporate position; A well established French organisation that successfully distributes and trades Bordeaux wine globally. Objective in Brazil; We expect to invest over a three year period, building sales of over 2 million USD per year by our third year of operation, maintaining an average of 20-25% Gross margin. This is a one page synopsis of your plan, including a description of product, target market and positioning of product within the target market. Note the specific competitive advantage(s) of your product and the value it provides to the customer. Include your marketing objectives for the first year and the overall size of the marketing budget you are requesting. ⠝â€" EXECUTIVE SUMMARY We are interested in export and distribution of Bordeaux Wine in Brazil. Brazil is one of the emerging economies of the world with great opportunities of business development. We have found attractive market of Wine users in Brazil. Our target market will be upper and aspiring middle class of Sao Paulo and Rio De Jeniro. Brazil is currently 34m case market, with a per head consumption of 2 liters. Brazilian-produced wine – most of it red – tends to have sweeter profile than in other producing nations. In competition with it, we have finest wine from Bordeaux. In Brazil, there is also wine from other wine producing countries like Italy, Chile, Argentina and Portugal. But our competitive advantage is that the Brazilian people have awareness about Bordeaux Wine but not available in market in a frequent manner. In Rio 47% and in Sao Paulo 26% of awareness which is quite appealing for market entry. Brazil’s 80% wine market is captured by Red wine and also White wine market got the growth of 9% between 2003 to 2007 which is still growing. Initially, we will make some wine tasting events with the help of local distributor during festivals especially in Rio Carnival. We will participate in world largest Food and Beverages exhibition, SIAL in 2012, Sao Paulo. We will publish the advertisement in major newspapers and magazines.

life expectancy essays

life expectancy essays The environmentalist view of the energy intensity is based on the legacy of the I = PÃâ€"AÃâ€"T equation in which environmental Impact equals Population, multiplied by Affluence, and further multiplied by Technology (Earth Report 2000: Revisiting the True State of the Planet. 1999). The further desegregation of this formula implies that energy intensity can be looked upon as an integrative variable describing the impact of both technology and affluence. Bruce et al. (1996) argue that intensity is inversely related to efficiency. Improving efficiency reduces the amount of energy required to provide a given output, i.e. an output of the same quality and quantity. In real life, though, the precise nature of the output is unknown, hence intensity is a proxy for efficiency. The Kaya Identity is an expression that is introduced by Bruce et al. (1996) to describe the relationship among the factors that influence trends in energy-related carbon emissions: C = (C E) Ãâ€" (E GDP) Ãâ€" (GDP POP) Ãâ€" POP. The formula links total energy-related carbon emissions (C) to energy (E), the level of economic activity as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and population size (POP). The first two components on the right-hand side represent the carbon intensity of energy supply (C/E) and the energy intensity of economic activity (E/GDP). Economic growth is viewed from the perspective of changes in output per capita (GDP/POP). At any point in time, the level of energy-related carbon emissions can be seen as the product of the four Kaya Identity components - energy intensity, carbon intensity, output per capita, and population size. In fact, growth in energy intensity in industrialized countries has historically lagged behind economic growth, whereas the two are more closely correlated in developing countries. As a country's energy intensity changes, so does the influence of a given level of economic activity on carbon emissions. Increased energy use and ...

Beowulf vs. the Knight in Canterburry Tales essays

Beowulf vs. the Knight in Canterburry Tales essays Heroes have amazing qualities that make them extraordinary people. Many types of heroes live in the world: men, women, children, or even next-door neighbors. Both Beowulf and the Knight act heroically, each in their own way. Heroes usually have an abundance of strength, and act as great warriors. They risk their lives for a cause. For example, a general of an army is a strong warrior and a hero, because he does anything for his men. The firefighters on September 11th acted like heroes. They climbed the stairs of the tower though they knew they probably wouldnt come down, because they understood that their job required them to help people. Heroes, like the ones just mentioned, do not always benefit from what they do. Heroes usually have ethics and honesty, with a high moral conviction. They tend to obey a higher law. For example, William Wallace, the man who died helping the Scottish fight the British, had a strong faith in G-d and admirable ethics. Believing in G-d helps a hero, because he realizes his weaknesses, so he might as well help society. The hero says to himself G-d put me on this planet to live His way, and I am nothing compared to Him, so I should help other people. Heroes often do not quite fit into normal society. This helps them perceive wrong. They do not live normal lives. They usually always work for a cause. They live alone, and sacrifice a social life for what they believe in. Often when a great peril threatens society, the hero takes a vital role. It may involve a trial from which the hero must emerge on a higher level. For example, Harry Potter often faces a problem, which, while trying to solve, makes him into a better person. Heroes should also have confidence. A hero should possess bravery and courage, but it may damage him to have too much confidece. Arrogance could hurt a warrior, because he may think he could win a battle when he should really back off. This shows why he...

What Sections Are on the ACT All 4 Test Sections, Explained

What Sections Are on the ACT All 4 Test Sections, Explained SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re not sure what sections are on the ACT, we can help! In this guide to ACT sections, we’ll give you a quick summary of all the sections of the test. Then, we’ll take a closer look at each section. Finally, we’ll discuss which ACT test sections- and scores- are most important for you. ACT Sections: Quick Overview There are four sections on the ACT, and they are always offered in the same order: English, Math, Reading, and Science. If you take the ACT with Writing, the Writing section will be last. Every section is scored out of 36 points, except for Writing, which is scored out of 12 points. The longest section in terms of number of questions is English, with 75 questions. The longest section time-wise is Math, at 60 minutes. Reading and Science both give you 40 questions to answer in 35 minutes. Here’s a chart with a quick breakdown of the questions and time for each of the sections of the ACT: Section # of Questions Time Time/Question English 75 45 mins 36 seconds Math 60 60 mins 1 min Reading 40 35 mins 52.5 seconds Science 40 35 mins 52.5 seconds Writing (optional) 1 essay 40 mins 40 mins Total (without Writing) 215 2 hr 55 min (not counting breaks) - Total (with Writing) 216 3 hr 35 min (not counting breaks) - In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at each of the sections of the ACT, in the order they appear on the test. We’ll discuss what’s tested, what question types you’ll encounter, and the most important tips for that section. Are you ready for your close up (look at ACT sections)? ACT Section 1: English The ACT English section has five passages with accompanying four-choice multiple-choice questions. In the ACT English section, you’re the editor: you’ll be looking at a passage and making sure that the grammar and punctuation are correct and that the passage is well-organized and rhetorically sound. The ACT English section tests two broad skill areas. First, it tests your knowledge of usage and mechanics- grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and so on. Basically, do you know the rules of the English language and can you implement them correctly? The second broad skill area is rhetorical skills- your big-picture ability to make sure that a passage of writing flows, makes sense, and effectively communicates a point. You’ll receive a subscore for both usage and mechanics and rhetorical skills when you get your ACT scores back. Question Types Between the two broad skill areas of usage/mechanics and rhetorical skills, there are six question types on the ACT English section: Usage and Mechanics Punctuation (10-15% of test, 7-12 questions): These questions test your knowledge of the rules of proper use of periods, commas, apostrophes, dashes, colons, and semicolons. Grammar and usage (15-20% of test, 12-15 questions): These questions test your knowledge of grammar rules associated with subject-verb agreement, pronoun use, modifiers, verb forms, comparatives, superlatives, and some idioms. (Refer to our complete ACT grammar guide for more specifics). Sentence structure (20-25% of test, 15-19 questions): On these questions, you’ll be tested on your understanding of the correct relationship between clauses. You’ll have to correctly link clauses to make clear, correct sentences (not fragments or run-ons)! Rhetorical Skills Strategy (15-20% of test, 12-15 questions): Strategy questions target your ability to build the clearest possible argument. You’ll be asked if the author should add or delete particular material and then need to choose the answer that justifies your decision. Consider if the material in question strengthens the passage or if it’s confusing or irrelevant. Organization (10-15% of test, 7-12 questions): Organization questions test your ability to build appropriate introduction and closing sentences for paragraphs and to choose the best transitions. Basically, are you able to create a passage with clear structural signposts throughout? Style (15-20% of test, 12-15 questions): On these questions, you’ll be tasked with choosing the best words, phrases, and images to go with the passage’s tone. You’ll also need to correct sentences for excessive wordiness and redundancy. Style: it's not just for your closet. Most Important English Section Tips To get a solid score on the English section of the ACT, follow these tips! Develop a Passage Strategy Because the questions on the English test are integrated with the passage, it’s critical that you develop a solid, consistent passage strategy. We recommend the graf-by-graf approach. In this approach, you’ll skim an entire paragraph, then go back and answer all of the questions associated with that paragraph. This gives you enough context to answer the questions while still being efficient. But figure out what works best for you! Learn Essential Grammar Rules While there is an array of grammar rules that will be tested on the ACT English section, there are a few rules that the test likes to ask you about over and over again. These include rules about forming correct sentences and using proper punctuation, especially commas. Learning the most important rules inside out will take you successfully through a sizable chunk of the test! Don’t Be Afraid to Pick â€Å"No Change† Students are often afraid to pick â€Å"no change† because it seems like it’s a trick or too easy. But don’t avoid â€Å"No Change†! Sometimes the sentence really is fine how it is. In fact, if you aren’t sure of the answer, â€Å"No Change† may be your best bet for guessing! Change? I haven't got any. ACT Section2 : Math There are six main content areas tested on ACT math: Pre-Algebra, Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Plane Geometry, and Trigonometry. Here’s a breakdown of the topics you can expect to see in each content area: Pre-Algebra: (20-25% of test, 12-15 questions) Basic operations (think PEMDAS) Place value Calculating square roots and exponents Scientific notation Factors Ratios, proportions, and percents Linear equations with one variable Absolute value and number order Basic counting techniques and simply probability Data collection, representation, and interpretation; simple descriptive statistics Elementary Algebra: (15-20% of test, 9-12 questions) Properties of square roots and exponents Solving algebraic expressions through substitution Using variables to express relationships Understanding basic algebraic operations Solving quadratic equations by factoring Intermediate Algebra: (15-20% of test, 9-12 questions) The quadratic formula Rational and radical expressions Absolute value equations and inequalities Sequences and patterns Systems of equations Quadratic inequalities Modeling functions Matrices Roots of polynomials Complex numbers Coordinate Geometry: (15-20% of test, 9-12 questions) Graphing equations, including lines, polynomials, circles, and other curves Graphing inequalities Properties of lines, including slope and parallel and perpendicular lines Distance and midpoints Conics (parabolas, circles, ellipses, and hyperbolas) Plane Geometry: (20-25% of test, 12-15 questions) Properties and relations of plane figures, including angles and relations among perpendicular and parallel lines Properties of circles, triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, and trapezoids Transformations Proofs and proof techniques Simple applications of plane geometry to three dimensions, including volume Trigonometry: (5-10% of test, 3-6 questions) Right triangles Trigonometric functions: their values and properties, graphing, modeling Trigonometric identities Solving trigonometric equations Is this the right triangle or the wrong one? Question Types The questions on the ACT math section are all five-choice multiple choice questions. We covered the topics you can expect to see in the questions above. Some of these questions will be presented as word problems, and others as pretty straightforward math problems. Some will have figures, graphs, or charts. You can check out practice ACT math questions here to get a feel for the question styles. You should also be aware that the questions are loosely ordered by difficulty and content. Roughly the first 1-20 questions will be â€Å"easy,† questions 21-40 will be â€Å"medium† difficulty, and questions 41-60 will be â€Å"hard.† Of course, whether you experience a particular question as easy or difficult depends partly on your own comfort level with different concepts. But in general, more complex questions that take more time to solve come later in the test. Questions are also loosely arranged by subject matter. The first half of the test (questions 1-30) will have more algebra and pre-algebra questions, and the second half of the test will have more geometry and trigonometry. Most Important ACT Math Section Tips Here are 3 ACT Math section tips! Learn Critical Formulas The ACT doesn’t give you any formulas for the math section, so you’ll need to memorize any you’ll need to use. We have a guide to the most important ACT formulas here, as well as advice on the best way to practice and use formulas for ACT success. Bring an Allowed Calculator While you technically don’t have to have a calculator to solve any of the questions on the math ACT section, having one will make your problem solving much more efficient! But only some calculators are allowed on test day, so be sure to use one that’s permitted! It’s best if you’re familiar with that calculator, too, so try to practice with the calculator you are going to use on test day. Work on Time Management With 60 questions to solve in 60 minutes, one of the most challenging things on the ACT math section is time management. There are a number of strategies you can use to help improve your time management skills on this section, but here are some general principles: All questions are worth the same amount of points, so focus on faster and simpler questions first to maximize points. Don’t sink too much time into any one question. If you aren’t going for a super-high score, it may be better to focus more energy on fewer questions. You’ll feel less of a time crunch that way. Crunch is a good thing for your chips and a bad thing for your time. ACT Section 3: Reading ACT Reading presents you with passages and then asks you multiple choice questions that test your reading comprehension skills. Can you correctly understand and interpret passages on a variety of subjects? Can you interpret the meaning both of small details and major theme in a passage? Can you analyze author’s purpose and tone? These are kinds of skills that ACT Reading assesses. The actual test will present you with four subsections. Three subsections will have longer passages, while one subsection will have two paired passages. The subsections will come from four different subject areas and they always appear in the same order: Prose fiction/literary narrative: The kind of fiction passages you’re probably encountering all the time in English class. Also includes passages from literary memoirs. Social science: Nonfiction passages on soft sciences areas, like psychology, sociology, and education. Humanities: This is a broad topic area that includes both personal nonfiction pieces like essays and memoirs and also nonfiction pieces on the arts, literature, and philosophy. Natural science: Nonfiction passages about hard sciences topics like biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine. Any of the four topic areas could contain the paired passages, although it seems like literary fiction and humanities are the most frequent areas where you’ll see the paired passages. Quite a pair. Question Types There are five main types of multiple-choice questions that you’ll see on ACT reading. Big Picture Questions (about 10% of test; approximately 4 questions) Big picture questions ask you a question about the passage overall: the passage’s main theme or the author or narrator’s overall perspective. In general, you’ll be asked one big-picture question about each passage/passage set. Detail Questions (about38% of test; approximately 15 questions) Detail questions (also sometimes called â€Å"little picture† questions) ask you for straightforward information about a small detail in the passage. These questions are typically the easiest on this ACT test section, because they are literal questions and you can find the answer directly in the passage! Detail questions typically make up the largest proportion of the ACT Reading section. Vocab in Context (about10% of test, approximately 4 questions) These questions ask about the meaning of a word in the context of a passage. Typically, you’ll need to pick a synonym for a given word that still makes sense within the context of the sentence. Development and Function (about 22% of test, approximately 9 questions) Development and function questions test your rhetorical analysis skills. They’ll ask about the function of a particular phrase or paragraph within the passage, how the argument in the passage is developed and advanced, or how the passage is structured. Inference (about20% of test, approximately 8 questions) Inference questions ask you to make a logical conclusion about something based on the information available in the passage. Don’t be fooled into thinking these questions are subjective- the correct answer will always be supported by evidence directly in the passage! Investigate the passage. Find the evidence. Solve the potato murder! Most Important Reading Section Tips These tips will help you sail to success on the Reading section of the ACT. Passage Evidence Students often get tripped up on this section by questions that seem subjective at first glance. But remember this: all questions have one right answer, and that answer will always be supported by evidence from the passage. Don’t be tripped up by answers that seem like they could be right because they aren’t directly contradicted by the passage- only pick an answer if you are confident that the actual content of the passage supports it. Develop Passage Strategy Developing an effective approach to the passages on ACT reading helps you manage time and more easily find the correct answers to questions. Some people like to skim the passage first and others prefer to glance over the questions first. Both of these strategies can work fine. However, we don’t recommend closely and thoroughly reading the passage on your first pass. You won’t need every detail of the passage to answer the questions, so reading too closely is a waste of precious time. Hone your strategy. Rule ACT Reading. ACT Section 4: Science What’s tested: In spite of what you may think, the Science ACT test section tests your scientific interpretation skills more than your pre-existing scientific factual knowledge. It involves more reading- of passages, charts, and graphs- than anything else! Using the information in the passages, you’ll need to apply the scientific method, evaluate theories or hypotheses, and interpret data. There are seven â€Å"passages† on this ACT section. I put â€Å"passages† in quotes because not all of them will just be straightforward written material. You can expect to see three passages summarizing research and experiments (which may or may not include graphs and figures), three passages primarily made up of graphs and figures, and one paired passage set describing conflicting viewpoints on an issue. You can expect about 5-7 questions about each passage. Question Types There are eight question types split among the three passage types on the ACT science section. They are all four-choice multiple choice questions. Research Summary Passages There are three question types you can expect to see on research summary passages, related to designing and interpreting experiments. Experimental Design and Description: These questions ask you about how and why the researcher designed the experiment the way that they did. (For example: â€Å"In experiment 2, which solution was the titrant and which solution was the sample solution?). Many of these questions are simple reading comprehension questions that just require you to find the relevant information in the passage. Some of these questions ask you to choose the figure that best describes the experimental results. Hypothetical Experiment: These questions ask you to predict what would happen if one of the described experiments was changed somehow. Interpreting Experiments: These questions ask you if a certain scientific claim is supported by the results of the described experiments, and why. There will be two â€Å"no† answers and two â€Å"yes† answers, with different justifications. So you need to choose both if the conclusion is supported or not supported and why correctly. Data Representation Passages There are another three question types you’ll encounter on data representation passages, related to reading, interpreting, and working with data. Factual Questions: These data representation questions just ask you to identify factual information presented in the graph/chart/table/etc. They essentially test your ability to read different types of data representations. Identifying Trends: On these questions, you’ll need to read the graph or chart more holistically to identify if there’s a trend or relationship between two factors. Does the graph or chart show one thing increasing while another decreases? Do they both increase or decrease together? Extrapolations: These questions ask you to make a prediction based on what is shown in the graph or chart. Conflicting Viewpoints Passages Finally, there are two question types you’ll see on conflicting viewpoints passages. These are essentially reading comprehension questions based on descriptions of different perspectives on scientific issues. Understanding Viewpoints: These questions check your comprehension of one of the author’s points of view. No synthesis of the two viewpoints is required. Comparing Viewpoints: These Science section questions will ask you to identify similarities and differences between the two viewpoints. I wish all this science could be this delicious. Most ImportantTips Here are two tips to help you make the most out of the Science section! Hone in on the Information You Need Science passages often give you way more information than you’ll actually need to answer the questions. So instead of trying to absorb every factoid from the passage, it’s better to hone in on the information you actually need to answer each question. You can develop your own strategy for doing this, but you might try quickly skimming the passage for the main ideas first and then looking back more closely for the information you need to answer each question. Save the Paired Passage for Last Answering the questions for the paired passages will almost always take the longest, because you’ll likely need to read the passages more closely to be able to accurately compare them. Because all questions are worth the same amount of points, it make sense to leave the section that will take the longest for last. So skip the paired section when you come to it and circle back around at the end of the section so you don’t waste time you could spend on faster questions. If only the paired passages were as beautiful and soothing as this pair of swans. Optional ACT Section: Writing ACT Writing tests your ability to write a clear, well-argued essay that analyzes an issue in relation to different viewpoints- all in a limited 40-minute time period! You’ll then be evaluated along four domains and given a score from 1-6 by two graders, leading to a score out of 12. If all that sounds like a tall order, well, it is a lot to take in. We’ll break down what you need to do in this overview. The Topic and Prompt On the ACT Writing section, you’ll first be presented with the topic. This will consist of two parts. First, you’ll get a paragraph introducing an issue of some global or universal importance. It will most likely be something that’s primarily philosophical in nature and it will be something that can be argued from multiple angles. For example, the sample topic below is about the implications of â€Å"intelligent machines† for human society. After the initial introductory paragraph, you’ll be presented with three positions on the topic. The positions will be a little bit more nuanced that just â€Å"this thing is good† or â€Å"this thing is bad,† but they are only a couple of sentences each. Then comes the actual prompt, which is always the same and describes the task you need to complete with the topic information. So what’s the actual task? You will need to write an essay that clearly states your perspective on the issue, analyzes the relationship between your perspective and at least one other perspective, and supports your own position with well-developed, logical support. You can choose to completely agree with one perspective, partially agree, or make your own different perspective. Here is a sample topic (Intelligent Machines) and prompt from the ACT’s website. Intelligent Machines Many of the goods and services we depend on daily are now supplied by intelligent, automated machines rather than human beings. Robots build cars and other goods on assembly lines, where once there were human workers. Many of our phone conversations are now conducted not with people but with sophisticated technologies. We can now buy goods at a variety of stores without the help of a human cashier. Automation is generally seen as a sign of progress, but what is lost when we replace humans with machines? Given the accelerating variety and prevalence of intelligent machines, it is worth examining the implications and meaning of their presence in our lives. Perspective One Perspective Two Perspective Three What we lose with the replacement of people by machines is some part of our own humanity. Even our mundane daily encounters no longer require from us basic courtesy, respect, and tolerance for other people. Machines are good at low-skill, repetitive jobs, and at high-speed, extremely precise jobs. In both cases they work better than humans. This efficiency leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone. Intelligent machines challenge our long-standing ideas about what humans are or can be. This is good because it pushes both humans and machines toward new, unimagined possibilities. Write a unified, coherent essay about the increasing presence of intelligent machines. In your essay, be sure to clearly state your own perspective on the issue and analyze the relationship between your perspective and at least one other perspective develop and support your ideas with reasoning and examples organize your ideas clearly and logically communicate your ideas effectively in standard written English Your perspective may be in full agreement with any of the others, in partial agreement, or wholly different. HowWill Your Essay Be Assessed? There are four domains in which ACT graders will be assessing your essay: Ideas and analysis: This domain refers to how well you discussed perspectives on the essay topic, including your own. A clear thesis is critical for this domain. Development and support: How well did you develop your thesis? How well-argued was your position? This domain assesses how you presented evidence in support of your perspective. Organization: This domain scores the organizational structure of your paper. Do your paragraphs come in a logical order? Do each of your paragraphs make a clear, well supported point with a topic and concluding sentence? Language use: Scores for this domain reflect your deployment of standard written English. Two different graders will give you a score from 1-6 in each domain, for a score out of 12 in each domain. These 4 domain scores will then be averaged for your total essay score out of 12. For a complete breakdown of scoring on this ACT test section, check out our guide to the ACT essay rubric. Not how your scores are assessed. Most Important Tips for ACT Writing Here are two tips for ACT Writing success. Become Familiar with the Rubric If you want to do well on the ACT Writing section, it stands to reason that you should have a good idea of what the graders will be looking for. So you should become familiar with the rubric for the Writing section. Seeing what makes for a solid score of 5-6 in each domain will help you deliver it! Choose One of the Three Perspectives While you can create your own perspective to argue in your thesis, it’s more efficient to simply choose one of the perspectives offered with the prompt to argue in support of. (You could also blend two perspectives). This will save you time in coming up with a new, unique argument, and make it simpler to analyze the relationship between your perspective and the other perspectives. When choosing between the three perspectives, pick the one you think you can support the best. Tip #3: Sharpen those pencils! Which ACT Sections Are Most Important? You may be wondering if your scores on some ACT test sections are more important than others. While this depends somewhat on you, in general, what’s generally going to be most important is your composite score. This is what colleges are typically most interested in. However, some research suggests that the English and Math ACT sections have the most predictive power for your performance in college. So some colleges may place comparatively more weight on English and Math than on Reading and Science. You’ll note that your Writing section score is not included in your composite score. You will probably not be surprised to learn, then, that the writing section score is the least important part of your ACT score. This doesn’t mean you should totally bomb it; if schools are requesting it you should still put in your best effort. But you probably don’t need to retake the entire test to raise up your 8/12 if you’re happy with your composite score. With that said, even though composite score is the most critical thing, having a higher score in your area of interest is definitely not a bad thing. So if your composite score is a 31 but you got a 34 on math and you’re applying to engineering, that 34 will matter to admissions officers. Similarly, it may set off red flags if your score in your area of interest is considerably lower than your other scores. (It’s one thing if it’s a 27 and all your other scores are 28s, it’s another if it’s a 27 and all your other scores are 33s). Sadly, ACT, Inc. won't send you a certificate of "Epic Win" if you get a good score. Key Takeaways: ACT Sections There are four required ACT test sections and one optional one. The sections of the ACT appear in the same order, as laid out below: ACT English tests your command of written English grammar and rhetoric. You’ll have 45 minutes to answer 75 4-choice multiple choice questions. ACT Math tests your math skills in pre-algebra, elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, coordinate geometry, plane geometry, and trigonometry. You’ll have 60 minutes to answer 60 5-choice multiple choice questions. ACT Reading tests your reading comprehension skills. You’ll have 35 minutes to answer 40 4-choice multiple choice questions. ACT Science tests your ability to read and interpret scientific information and your knowledge of the scientific method. You’ll have 35 minutes to answer 40 4-choice multiple choice questions. ACT Writingtests your ability to analyze an issue and argue in support of a position. You’ll have 40 minutes to complete an essay. This section is optional. What's Next? Looking for more information on the ACT? We can help you prepare for the test, figure out what ACT score you need, andwhat to expect on test day! If you want test practice, see our massive compilation of online practice testsand a compendium of all of our ACT guides and explainers. Trying to decide if you need to take the SAT and the ACT? We can help. We can also help you decide if you need to take the ACT with Writing. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Relationship between Organizational Culture, Leadership Behaviour and Essay

Relationship between Organizational Culture, Leadership Behaviour and Job Satisfaction - Essay Example Approaches to Research In my career as a student, I have had a little scope to perform researches and therefore had limited knowledge in the field. From this particular module, emphasising on the various approaches used in a research purpose, especially those regarding cultural issues, I was able to come across multiple facts which will surely help me in my future endeavours in the field of academic researches. Research is defined as the expansion of knowledge and/or the use of existing information as a resourceful way in generating new concepts. From my learning, I understood that the collected data are implemented or used in the research process through certain approaches which are often regarded to be the strategies or steps through which the collected data are used systematically. In my study to this particular module, I learnt that the approaches to research, especially those concerning cultural differences, are categorised into four different phases such as separation, encultur ation, assimilation and integration or pluralism while elaborating on the issue. With regards to my module learning, I was able to define the separation approach as a process to identify the individualistic behaviour of restraining own cultures and desires from being influenced by others. Through enculturation approach, I have been able to notice those groups’ practices in which the members keep hold of their primary rules and behaviours, without incorporating other sets of value system from differing ethnic rudiments (Kim & et. al., 2009). Similarly, with the help of assimilation approach, I gained knowledge regarding certain measures to cooperate with the superior culture in order to gain confidence from them for future career developments. From the discussion with regards to integration or pluralism approach, I learnt that it reveals the strategies of managing the cultural diversification and therefore I would categorise the approach as a more practical and objective-orien ted one (Berry, 2011). After gaining an in-depth knowledge regarding the approaches, I can state that the integration, often regarded as pluralism approach, is the most realistic research method which motivated me to work in a group with different cultured members. I also learnt that research focusing on the identification and evaluation of cultural differences are often based on theoretical pursuits, such as those inscribed by Trompenaar and Hall. The theoretical explanation presented by Hall upon the cultural differences helped me to understand the levels or dimensions present within the culture. The theory focuses on the cultural differences in terms of social level, personal freedom and time management as well. From the lecture class, I was also able to gather adequate information that along with the levels of culture, the personal attitude related to liberty and time management also leads to diversification of culture within the environment (Nardon & Steers, 2004). I further le arnt that from a similar perspective, Trompenaar presented the theoretical concept stating the differences of culture with the help of seven dimensions. From the Trompenaar’s theory, I learnt that five of the factors deal with the people’s relationship amid the society and the remaining two factors helped me to indicate the time management

Automotive need for gas vs. Hybrid vs. corn Assignment

Automotive need for gas vs. Hybrid vs. corn - Assignment Example D. Anderson & J. Anderson, 2010). Moreover, the use of fossil fuels has increased environmental dangers, thereby fueling global warming. Burning gallons of fossil fuels are increasing the amount of the greenhouse gases, thereby accelerating the global warming. Additionally, the greenhouse gases have subjected humanity to ill health and diverse environmental conditions that have affected the world’s economy. Numerous challenges have been brought about by fossil fuel; therefore, scientists have been searching for an alternative environmental friendly source of energy. Some scientists have suggested the use of hydrogen gas an alternative source of fuel. However, the doubt in the safety of hydrogen gas has slowed down its exploitation and subsequent use as an alternative source of fuel. Additionally, others have suggested the exploitation and use of the natural sources of energy including sunlight and wind. The exploitation of these natural sources of energy may not be quite relia ble due to the inconveniences and unreliable biodiversity and ecosystem. Nonetheless, the scientists in the renewable energy industries across the United States have settled in the use of hybrid biofuel (ethanol) and technology as the alternative to deal with the fossil fuels. Therefore, the scientists have arrived at the use of bountiful corn as a source of fuel for the hybrid transportation technologies. In United States, corn is used to produce ethanol, which is an alcohol. There are numerous ways of making the fuel grade ethanol. The most common process follows the dry mill method where the corn is grinded into powder and mixed with water in the presence of enzyme (Dalton, Hoyle, & Watts, 2011). The mixture is heated at high temperatures after which it is liquefied. The enzyme helps in breaking down grain compounds. The mixture is then taken under a subsequent liquefaction process. The liquid mash is poised, and other enzyme that converts starch in the mixture into sugar is adde d. The additional enzyme helps in fermenting the compound into alcohol. At this stage, yeast is often added to start up the fermentation process where sugars are broken down into ethanol and carbon dioxide. Ethanol is then extracted from the products mixture. The obtained ethanol gas is often mixed with a small quantity of gasoline to make the biofuel, ethanol undrinkable. Module 2: The History of Early Solutions The effects of the fossil fuels have led to numerous problems including global warming and affecting numerous vehicle parts. These problems marked the first intents of scientists to search for alternative fuels that would reduce the production of the greenhouse gases into the Earth’s atmosphere (C. D. Anderson & J. Anderson, 2010). The first countries to initiate the use of ethanol fuel were Brazil and United States. From these countries, the production and use of both biofuel and hybrid technologies did spread to other nations and continents. In the United States, t he United States Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) are the organizations that are partly funding the production of ethanol from corn and other hybrid technologies. Since the introduction of the ethanol gas or fuel, numerous economic sectors and the environment factors have registered some positive impacts. Notably, the use of the gas dramatically reduced the dependency of America on imported fuel. Moreover, the ethanol fuel consumers have undoubtedly benefited from reduced prices of fuel

Actions of the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld Essay

Actions of the Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld - Essay Example Donald Rumsfeld’s decision to modify Pentagon’s covert action and intelligence was right. The Pentagon that he joined was a monolith determined to win mega wars against two opponents simultaneously. He was uncertain of America’s victory in such wars because the enemies had equal capability and strength. He anticipated for varied threats that required diverse defense capabilities rather than automatic and programmed responses. He, therefore, sought to transform the pentagon by supporting a culture that values creativity and intelligence risk-taking. It is evident that Rumsfeld did not bend both titles. The government’s war against terror calls for a remaking of Pentagon’s and CIA’s activities and incorporate strategies that were not in place by September 11. Currently, there are calls to transfer the use of drones or move the targeted killing program to the Pentagon from CIA. Propaganda is usually distorted information meant to persuade the po pulace. The internet and social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter can help people to propagate ideas, whether it is by demonizing the opponent or mobilizing support. It is also inappropriate to use social media for data-mining operation. Data-mining poses a threat to privacy. A social media can provide personal and sensitive data only for it to be used for different purposes other than the intended one. What the Pentagon did with U-Turn was beneficial though unethical. Under Title 50, the actions helped Pentagon’s intelligence gathering operations.

Political and Geography Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Political and Geography - Research Paper Example The United Nations actively promotes global peace and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (Basu 10). The Body has negotiated peaceful settlements that have ended numerous regional conflicts. This is evidenced by the border demarcations especially in Serbia, Yugoslavia and numerous Asian countries (Basu 68). The body has safeguarded human rights through several declarations and covenants that aim at ensuring protection of universal human rights. In this regard, the Human rights Commission advocates for the rights of women, children, minorities, immigrants and refugees (Basu 99). United Nation bodies, institutions, and agencies such as Economic and Social Council, World Health Organization, and United National Development Program have facilitated economic and social development of the member countries. Financial entities under the UN have facilitated international trade, foreign direct investments and transfer of technology among various countries in the world. United Nations has faci litated several peace keeping missions in African countries such as Burundi, Eritrea and Congo with the aim of ensuring peace (Basu 123). On the other hand, United Nations has suffered several criticisms and challenges. The body has encountered the problem of poor funding and control by the developed nations (Basu 221). The body is accused of being undemocratic since its has not taken actions against Israel which has continued taking unilateral actions against the neighboring countries. Accordingly, the body has lost credibility among African nations (Basu 228). The dependence on industrialized countries for financial support has hindered impartial decision-making of the United Nations Security Council. The Body failed in resolving the Cuban missiles, Iraq nuclear issue and terrorism issues. The Body is accused of failing to implement consensus in policies of dealing with climate change since industrialized countries are the highest carbon emitting nations (Basu

Interracial Relations and Sex and Marriage Essay

Interracial Relations and Sex and Marriage - Essay Example These Western societies include the apartheid South Africa, the Nazi Germany, a number of states in the United States before the 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriages. Interracial relations have also been controversial in the Islamic/Arab world in which some Muslim laws and customs ban or restrict sexual and marriage relationships with non-Muslims/Arabs or non-natives of a woman’s ancestral home. In these societies, more so in patriarchal cultures, interracial relations are discouraged to ensure that future generations are brought up as Arabs and Muslims. In worse scenarios, women found to be breaching such laws and customs are subjected to cruel punishments, which could even be death in places where strict Islamic law is followed. In fact, in Arab states of Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan and the Palestinian Authority, there have been reports of violence against women who have married from other races, ethnic groups, or foreign countries. These harsh laws are applied under the pretext that such an individual has committed adultery and the judicial systems of these countries condone such cruelty towards women and men who embrace interracial relations. This paper explores the issue of interracial relations with reference to the movies â€Å"guess who is coming for dinner† and the novel â€Å"hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet† by Jamie Ford. Interracial Relations-Sex, and Marriages Fortunately for the multiracial United States of America, interracial relations such as cohabitation, sexual, or marriage have been fully legalized since the Supreme Court decision of 1967, which declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional. Nonetheless, most states of the U.S had legalized interracial relations earlier than 1967. This Supreme Court decision was particularly important for the U.S citizenry due to the fact that the country has rather many ethnic and racial groups, which make inter racial sexual and marriage relations rather common among its citizens. In spite of them being legalized, interracial relations continue to face several challenges, which result in quite a number of complications or barriers that same-race/culture marriages do not face (Smith & Hattery 68). These factors, mostly external, often create conflicts and disagreement in such relationships. For example, the fact that different races have diverse ethical values, customs, and beliefs implies that if people of different races marry, these values and customs may cause conflicts by influencing their perceptions of issues such as lifestyle and family values. Thus, there are bound to be problems and disagreements in such interracial relations (Poitier 124). On a rather positive note, not all interracial marriages have intercultural complications and challenges since there are situations in which people of different races may have the same or almost similar cultures so that little or not custom or value conflicts are encountered in such marriages. For example, in the United States, a couple could be of different races but have intermingled extensively for long periods so that they have similar cultural perspectives on life. The acceptance of the community, family, and the lifestyle of the other partner is among the

Communication Skill Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communication Skill Assessment - Assignment Example y especially when goals are not relayed properly; low morale that comes from misunderstanding of tasks leading to confusion that may have effects on self esteem; and mistakes that come from misunderstanding. Communication skills are the ability to pass information in away that is effective and efficient to others. People with good verbal and written communication skills are instrumental to organizations as they help relay information for the company’s benefits (Business Dictionary.com, 2014). Upon taking a communications skill assessment test on mindtools.com, I got a score of 55 points. According to the assessment, I am not an excellent communicator and neither am I a bad one. The score meant that I am a good communicator but still have problems in a few areas (Mind Tool, 2014). The test had a total of fifteen multi-choice questions/statements that had to be responded to by marking inside a circle. The possible answers would range from not at all, rarely, sometimes, often to very often (Mind Tool, 2014). The first statement dealt with how confusion is handled in terms of ability to predict their causes and solutions even as the second covered the amount of information given when working with written information including memos and emails. The third and the forth statements dealt with reactions when something is not understood. The fifth and sixth dealt with perspective and perception. The issue of written information is covered in the seventh and the eighth statements; here the focus is mainly whether consideration is made to use emails to effectively communicate. It also deals with whether revision is considered when dealing with written medium such as memos and reports. Gestures and illustrations are dealt with under the ninth and tenth statements. Here it is a matter of paying attention to people’s body language and use of diagrams and charts to express thoughts. The next three statements dealt with meditation before communication, what the person being

Interracial Relations and Sex and Marriage Essay

Interracial Relations and Sex and Marriage - Essay Example These Western societies include the apartheid South Africa, the Nazi Germany, a number of states in the United States before the 1967 Supreme Court decision that legalized interracial marriages. Interracial relations have also been controversial in the Islamic/Arab world in which some Muslim laws and customs ban or restrict sexual and marriage relationships with non-Muslims/Arabs or non-natives of a woman’s ancestral home. In these societies, more so in patriarchal cultures, interracial relations are discouraged to ensure that future generations are brought up as Arabs and Muslims. In worse scenarios, women found to be breaching such laws and customs are subjected to cruel punishments, which could even be death in places where strict Islamic law is followed. In fact, in Arab states of Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan and the Palestinian Authority, there have been reports of violence against women who have married from other races, ethnic groups, or foreign countries. These harsh laws are applied under the pretext that such an individual has committed adultery and the judicial systems of these countries condone such cruelty towards women and men who embrace interracial relations. This paper explores the issue of interracial relations with reference to the movies â€Å"guess who is coming for dinner† and the novel â€Å"hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet† by Jamie Ford. Interracial Relations-Sex, and Marriages Fortunately for the multiracial United States of America, interracial relations such as cohabitation, sexual, or marriage have been fully legalized since the Supreme Court decision of 1967, which declared anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional. Nonetheless, most states of the U.S had legalized interracial relations earlier than 1967. This Supreme Court decision was particularly important for the U.S citizenry due to the fact that the country has rather many ethnic and racial groups, which make inter racial sexual and marriage relations rather common among its citizens. In spite of them being legalized, interracial relations continue to face several challenges, which result in quite a number of complications or barriers that same-race/culture marriages do not face (Smith & Hattery 68). These factors, mostly external, often create conflicts and disagreement in such relationships. For example, the fact that different races have diverse ethical values, customs, and beliefs implies that if people of different races marry, these values and customs may cause conflicts by influencing their perceptions of issues such as lifestyle and family values. Thus, there are bound to be problems and disagreements in such interracial relations (Poitier 124). On a rather positive note, not all interracial marriages have intercultural complications and challenges since there are situations in which people of different races may have the same or almost similar cultures so that little or not custom or value conflicts are encountered in such marriages. For example, in the United States, a couple could be of different races but have intermingled extensively for long periods so that they have similar cultural perspectives on life. The acceptance of the community, family, and the lifestyle of the other partner is among the

Conclusion and Decisions Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Conclusion and Decisions - Term Paper Example The earnings per share of the company were $1.99 and it had a declared dividend of $0.99. The return on capital of the firm was 19%. Based on the basic financial analysis performed it seems as if Sysco is a sound financial investment. I would invest $1 million in SYY common stocks. The two other decisions regarding Sysco is whether or not invest in Sysco corporate bonds and to decide if Sysco is worthy of a bank credit line for its short term needs. The best way to determine how good the corporate bonds of the company are is by testing if the firm has the ability to pay off its long term debt. A ratio that can help determine if the firm can pay its long term debt is the debt ratio. The debt ratio is calculated dividing assets by liabilities. The debt ratio of Sysco is 1.59. A good debt ratio is one above 1.0. Based on these results I would recommend a $500,000 investment in Sysco bonds. The final decision is regarding whether the company deserves a line of credit for its short term n eeds. A liquidity ratio that helps determine the ability of the company to pay off its short term debts is the current ratio. The current ratio is calculated dividing current assets by current liability. A current ratio is good is it is above 1.0. The current ratio of Sysco is 1.69. Based on the ratio analysis result I would recommend the bank approve a $1 million credit line. Work Cited Page Sysco.com. 2011.

Analysis And Evaluation Of Change In Avon

Analysis And Evaluation Of Change In Avon The main aim of this report is to investigate an organisation that is undergoing major strategic change. Firstly the report will describe the change that has been adopted. It will then evaluate the effectiveness of the change strategy in terms of the organisations structure, culture and politics. Finally the report will recommend and evaluate an integrated change strategy based on the three aspects. 2.0 A background of the organisation The organisation that has been selected is Avon Cosmetics Limited. Avon is a global manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related products. The company markets to women in more than 100 countries through more than 5 million independent Avon sales representatives. Product categories include: Beauty, which consists of cosmetics, fragrances, skincare and toiletries; Beauty Plus, which consists of fashion jewellery, watches, etc and Beyond Beauty, which consists of home products, gift and decorative products, candles and toys. (Avon, 2008 and Keynote, 2007) Avons company profile has been explored further in appendix 1 2.1 The meanings and theories of strategic change According to Lynch (2000, p921), Strategic change is the pro-active management of change in organisations to achieve clearly identified strategic objectives. It may be undertaken using either prescriptive or emergent strategic approaches. On the other hand Mintzberg et al. (2003) give five definitions of strategy and they are: a plan, a ploy, a pattern, a position and a perspective. It somehow agrees with Hayes (2002, p58) who states that a change strategy is essentially a plan to make things happen. It needs to address all the things that have to be done to bring about the change. However De Wit and Meyer (2004, cited in Hughes, 2006) emphasise that not all change is strategic and that much is operational. Operational changes are necessary to maintain the business and organizational systems, whereas strategic changes are directed at renewing them. 2.2 Avons strategic change Avons vision statement is to: To be the company that best understands and satisfies the product service and self-fulfilment needs of women globally According to Mintel (2006), the make-up market is growing fast in terms of fashion trends and has attracted many new brands over the past ten years. The cosmetic industry is very lucrative, innovative and fast paced industry. Therefore Avon has to watch the economy and rely on their brands. Being a global manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related products, Avon has been through several changes since it was founded in 1886. For over 120 years, Avon has been devoted to empowering women by helping them to look good and feel beautiful. The major strategic change is to: à ¢- ª Commit on brand competitiveness by investing millions in research and development on product innovation and increase advertising; à ¢- ª Re-design the organizational structure to eliminate layers of management in order to take full advantage of the global scale and size; and à ¢- ª Build a better tomorrow for women across the world both through representative earnings and helping millions of women to become entrepreneurs and run their own business. (Avon, 2008) (MultiChannel Marketing, 2007) It is suggested by Johnson and Scholes (2002) that we need to understand the magnitude of the challenge faced in trying to effect strategic change. In order to diagnose the strategic change within Avon, it is useful to consider the type of change that is required. In order to identify the type of change that has been adopted within Avon, we will use the model from Balogun and Hailey (1999, cited in Johnson and Scholes, 2002, p536, exhibit 11.2). Looking at Avons strategic change, it is quite clear that the nature of change will be incremental as it will build on the skills, routines and beliefs of those in the organization and the scope of change will be realignment as it will occur within the organizational beliefs and assumptions. The type of strategic change here will be adaptation as it will be accommodated within the current paradigm. Johnson et al. (2005) go to say that we need to consider the wider context in which change is to occur by understanding the organizational structure, culture, politics and the specific forces that will block and facilitate the change process. However there are other contextual characteristics that also need to be considered before embarking on a programme of change. They are: preservation, diversity, capability, capacity, readiness and power. 2.3 Organisational structure The effectiveness of change efforts is largely determined on how an organization is structured. In a world that is perpetually changing, an organisations design must support the idea that the implementation and re-implementation of a strategy is a continuous process. However, a number of traditional organizational design features tend to discourage change. (Lawler and Worley, 2006) According to Carnall (1999), an ideal organization structure will provide the right balance of information, power and resources to support the various activities within the organization in achieving its objectives. Appendix 2 shows the organisational structure of Avon and describes how it influences the identity and corporate image of the organization. It is clearly evident that Avon has been building bonds with women around the world by offering them a dynamic earnings opportunity to achieve economic independence, accomplish their financial goals and transform their lives. As a top global brand and world leader in beauty and related products, Avon continues to revolutionize the beauty industry by launching innovative, first-to-market products using Avon-patented technology. It also allows Avon a more direct response from consumers and allows them to sell their products without the expensive and lengthy process of getting it into traditional channels. Direct selling/marketing presents many benefits to consumers including avoiding hassles of traffic congestion, parking, lack of time, shortage of retail help and waiting at checkouts. (Wilkinson et al. 2007) Consumers can browse through Avon broch ures in the comfort of their home. 2.4 Organisational culture Just as the structure of Avon should fit the particular strategy it wishes to follow, so should its culture. An organisations culture is its deeply rooted traditions, values and beliefs. (Stacey, 2003) Bradt (2008) states that a winning company culture is simple and emphasizes three areas: serving the customer, growing the business, and developing employees. Whereas a losing culture is confusing and complex, places customer needs behind those of the company, and emphasizes personal gain over team achievement. Sopow (2007) goes on to say that there are high levels of mistrusts, poor communication and strong resistance if an organisations culture is unhealthy. Appendix 3 illustrates Avons organizational culture by using the cultural web model from Johnson and Scholes (2002, p232, fig 5.8). It is suggested by Cameron and Green (2004) that organizations should only involve themselves in culture change if the current culture does not adequately support the achievement of strategic objectives. Avons organizational culture in appendix 3 clearly indicates that the strategic change will be accommodated within the current paradigm and will occur within Avons beliefs and assumptions. 2.5 Organisational Politics In order to investigate the strategic change, it might be useful to regard corporations as political organizations and see strategy and change as part of internal politics within Avon. (Diedenbach, 2007) Johnson et al. (2005) states that there are two views of politics, one being healthy and the other one being unhealthy. While politics ensures that change is questioned and assessed, it also gets out of hand by showing a lack of commitment to a common vision and objectives. Morgan (1986, cited in Cameron and Green, 2004, p89) comments that Many people hold the belief that business and politics should be kept apart. However he contradicts this belief and this has been explored further in appendix 4. The most fundamental question from appendix 4 is whom should Avon be there for to serve? (Johnson et al. 2005) According to Joyce (1999), a stakeholder analysis requires you to identify the stakeholders, how they influence the organization, what the organization needs from each stakeholder and the stakeholders needs and expectations. Through the concept of organisational stakeholders, this question has been addressed in appendix 5. The analysis confirms the statement made by Andrea Jung, Avons Chairman and CEO Avons impeccable reputation is built upon a proud heritage of doing well by doing right. For more than a century, we have been setting the very highest example of integrity and ethics in all of our relationships with our shareholders, associates and Representatives; our suppliers and competitors; governments and the public. Our values and principles are the bedrock not only of Avons past but of its future. Avon was the first company to advertise, not tested on animals back in 1989 3.0 Evaluation of the proposed strategy The report has so far evaluated the effectiveness of the change strategy in terms of Avons organizational structure, culture and politics. It was found that the major strategic change does relate to the objectives of the organization and matches the organisationss capability, including its structure, culture and politics. However, being a global manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related products and a direct selling organisation, Avon is faced with several challenges. According to Wilkinson et al. (2007), direct selling activities vary fairly significantly from country to country. From appendix 1 and 2, we have established that Avons businesses are based on geographical operations in six regions and serving consumers in well over 100 countries. There are many factors to be considered and this involves understanding the market segment, competition, consumer behaviour, government rules and regulations, technological and social background. All of this is actually the external environment, which will either propel or halt the growth of business and so significant consideration needs to be given to them. Some of the competitive pressures that have been identified by Hill (2002) are cost reductions and local responsiveness. In terms of local responsiveness, pressures arise from a number of sources including: differences in consumer tastes and preferences, differences in infrastructure and traditional practices, differences in distribution channels and host government demands. Goll et al. (2007) go on to say that organizations must anticipate and respond to environmental changes to ensure competitiveness and, ultimately, survival. The basic assumptions underlying much of the strategic management is that successful firms change their strategies to attain a better fit with the environment. 3.1 The key environmental influences PEST analysis is a useful strategic tool for formulating business strategies, marketing planning, business and product development. It ensures that the organizations performance is aligned positively with the external forces of change that could impact business environment. (Report Buyer, 2008) According to Strickland and Thompson (1996), firms cannot directly control these external factors. It is stated by Johnson and Scholes (2002) that environmental forces which will be especially important for one organization may not be important for another. For example a retailer may only be concerned with local customer tastes and behaviour, whereas a global company such as Avon will be primarily concerned with government relations and understanding future policies of individual country governments with different political systems. Other factors will be the ability to compete with multinational rivals The PEST framework categorises environmental influences into four main types: political, economic, social, technological. The PEST analysis for Avon is discussed further in appendix 6. From the discussion, it is now possible to identify a number forces for change and forces against change. Carnall (1999) suggests that when major changes are in preparation, or are being implemented, it makes sense to prepare for, and manage change in the more professional ways. Lewin (1951, cited in Hayes, 2002) developed one of the ways called Force Field Analysis. According to Johnson et al. (2005), a force field analysis provides a view of change problems that need to be tackled, by identifying forces for and against change. Carnall (1999) suggests that Force Field analysis proceeds in four stages. Avons major strategy change has been used to conduct a Force field analysis in four stages. See appendix 7 for stages 1 and 2. The key points will now be used to proceed to stages 3 and 4. 3.2 Managing strategy change Lewin (1951) argued that change can only be effectively implemented when the forces driving change exceed the forces restraining change. Stage 3 underlines the forces that are the most important, builds on the change drivers and list actions to reduce the strengths of the restraining forces. In order to decide how Avons strategic change can be implemented, the strengths of the forces will be analysed by reducing the strengths of the forces opposing the change and increasing the forces pushing the change. A SWOT analysis will also be helpful as Avon will be able to use the top rated opportunities, exploit the top-rated strengths, counter the top-rated threats and rectify the top-rated weaknesses. Wickham (2000) states that, a SWOT analysis is an audit of the impact of environmental trends on the business and its external capabilities in terms of responding to them. Nutt and Backoff (1992, cited in Joyce, 1999) recommends combining SWOT analysis with a strategic issue agenda to identif y possible strategic actions. A SWOT analysis for Avon has been explored further in appendix 8. It is stated by Mullins (2002) that an organization can only perform effectively through interactions with the broader external environment. The force field analysis from appendix 7 resulted in a driving change force of 17 and a restraining change force of 21. These figures indicate that despite there being many incentives for a major strategy change within Avon, there are slightly more factors restraining the strategy change. Those individual forces that scored highest (with a score of 5) will now be discussed in greater detail below in order to better assess their impacts. The SWOT analysis in appendix 8 will help to increase the forces pushing the change and reduce the strengths the forces opposing the change. 3.3 Key driving forces for change The level of government intervention worldwide Having a presence in well over 100 countries, Avon is subject to foreign laws, rules, regulations or policies such as restrictions on trade, import and export license requirements, tariffs and taxes.(Avon, 2008) For example in China, the governments decision to ban door-to-door selling, as part of an effort to crack down on pyramid schemes, presented a threat. (Euromonitor, 2006) However in March 2006, the Chinese government granted a direct selling-selling licence. Since then Avon has recruited 300,000 door-to-door representatives in China, thus improving the economy of the country in terms of unemployment. Avon must continue to expand in other developing countries to prove how influential the Avon direct sales method can be and how it can transform the lives of women and achieve economic independence. Lucrative, innovative and fast paced industry In the cosmetic industry, consumers demands and needs change overtime. In order to satisfy the consumers, cosmetics firms are forced to innovate a new product, replace a product, or upgrade its products to meet the demands of consumers at all levels. (Akers and Porter, 1995 cited in Kumar et al. 2006) Through their research and development team in New York, Avon are developing new products and focusing on new technology and product innovation to deliver first-to-market products. (Avon, 2008) Although Avons chief marketing tool is its brochure, it should now expand its global advertising presence and communicate a more unified brand image throughout its international markets 3.4 Key restraining forces for change Cultural differences worldwide Although women all over the world have similar aspirations when it comes to beauty products and share the same desire to look their best, the challenge is to bring out differently formulated products to suit different skins colours and textures. Another factor, climate, should be considered when comparing regional preferences for cosmetics products. For example talc is used in hot countries to relieve perspiration, while in colder regions such as Russia and Eastern Europe it barely gets a look in. (Matthews, 2006). Product choices by country are also determined by consumers ¹ ability to pay. Avon should still continue to exploit the tremendous growth opportunities in other developing countries. Matthews (2006) states that big multinational companies are using consumer educational campaigns as a key means of promoting growth in countries characterized by low disposable income. For Avon with operations in over 100 countries a question of considerable importance is how does a societys culture affect workplace values? The most famous study of how culture relates to values in the workplace was undertaken by Geert Hofstede. He used four dimensions and one of them was masculinity versus femininity. (Hill, 2002). This dimension looks at the relationship between gender and work roles. In the case of Avon, feminine cultures sex roles are sharply differentiated and traditional feminine values, such as achievement and the exercise of power determined cultural ideals. Avon must consider the cultures of countries that are male dominant. Counterfeiting activity are Eastern Europe and China A counterfeit item is as good as cash. Counterfeiters are not just a few guys in a shed mixing cream and pouring them into a tin. They are linked to organised crime, money laundering and in some cases, even terror groups. And they always find the weakest route to the market. (www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com) According to keynote (2007), the main hubs of counterfeiting activity are Eastern Europe and China. As Avon operates in these two regions, these restraining forces can be reduced by launching anti-counterfeit drives in both regions. It has also been suggested by Eyre (2007) that heat-shrink labels with integrated holograms could help the cosmetics industry in the fight against counterfeiting and forgery. 4 Conclusions This report offers an attempt to understand the major strategic change undergone by Avon Cosmetics Limited. A number of conclusions are evident. Firstly the report evaluated the effectiveness of the change in relation to Avons structure, culture and politics. It was found that the major strategic change does relate to the objectives of the organization and matches the organisationss capability, including its structure, culture and politics. However, being a global manufacturer and marketer of beauty and related products and a direct selling organisation, Avon was faced with several challenges in the external environment. The factors were: fierce competitions from multinational companies, consumer behaviour worldwide, government rules and regulations, technological and social background. Finally, in order to manage the strategic change effectively, the report attempted to increase the two main forces pushing the change and reduce the strengths of the two main forces opposing the change. Bibliography Ansoff I., and M c Donnell, E. (1990) Implanting Strategic Management. 2nd Edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited Brooker, K. (2001) It took a lady to save Avon. Fortune. New York: 144 (7) 202-208 Bradt, G. (2008) 5 Simple steps to build a winning corporate culture. Supervision. Burlington: 69 (3) 13-15 Cameron, E., and Green, M. (2004) Making Sense of Change Management. UK: Kogan Page Limited Carnall, C A. (1999) Managing Change in Organisations. 3rd Edition. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall Deresky, H. (2000) International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures. 3rd Edition. UK: Prentice Hall International Diedenbach, T. (2007) The managerialistic ideology of organisational change management. Journal of Organizational Change Management. Bradford: 20 (1) 126-144 Euromonitor (2006) China green light for direct sales heats up cosmetics and toiletries race. (Online) Available from http://www.euromonitor.com/Chinas_green_light_for_direct_sales_heats_up_cosmetics_and_toiletries_race. Accessed on 08/03/08 Eyre, C (2007) Anti-counterfeit technology for cosmetics. (Online). Available from http://www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com/news/ng.asp?id=79126. Accessed on 08/03/08 Goll, I., Johnson, N B., and Rasheed, A A. (2007) Knowledge capability, strategic change, and firm performance; The moderating role of the environment. Management Decision. London: 45 (2) 161 Hayes, J. (2002) The Theory and Practice of Change Management. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan Hill, C W L., (2002) Global Business Today. 2nd Edition. New York: McGraw Hill Hughes, M. (2006) Change Management. A critical perspective. London: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Johnson, G., and Scholes, K. (2002) Exploring Corporate Strategy. 6th Edition. Harlow (UK): Prentice Hall Johnson, G., Scholes, K., and Whittington, R. (2005) Exploring Corporate Strategy. 7th Edition. Harlow (UK): Prentice Hall Joyce, P. (1999) Strategic Management for the Public Services, Buckingham Open University Press Keynote, (2007) Cosmetics and Fragrances. Market Report Plus. (Online). Available from http://www.keynote.co.uk. Accessed 18/02/08 Kumar, S., Massie, C., Dumonceaux, MD. (2006) Comparative innovative business strategies of major players in cosmetic industry. Industrial Management and Data Systems. 106 (3) 285-322 Lawler, E E., and Worley, C G. (2006) Designing organisations that are built to change. MIT Sloan Management Revie. Cambridge: 48 (1)19 Lynch, R. (2000) Corporate Strategy (2nd edition), Harlow (UK), FT Prentice Hall Matthews, I (2006) Targeting Cultural and Ethnic Differences in Beauty. (Online). Available from http://www.in-cosmetics.com/page.cfm/T=m/Action=Press/PressID=344 Accessed on 08/03/08 Mead, R. (1994) International Management: Cross Cultural Dimensions. Oxford: Balckwell Publishers Mintel (2006) Make-up -UK Mintzberg, H., Lampel, J., Quinn, J B., and Ghoshal, S. (2003) The Strategy Process. 4th Edition. New Jersey: Pearson Education Limited Mullins, L J. (2002) Management and Organisational Behaviour. 6th Edition. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall MultiChannel Marketing (2007) Avon Cosmetics. (Online). Available from http://www.multichannel.co.uk. Accessed on 27/02/08 Pellet, J. (2000) Ding-dong Avon stalling? Chief Executive. New York: (156) 26-31 Report Buyer (2008) Indian Cosmetics Sector: PEST Analysis. (Online). Available from http://www.reportbuyer.com/consumer_goods_retail/cosmetics_grooming/indian_cosmetics_sector_pest_analysis.html. Accessed on 03/03/08 Rose, S. (2000) Remaking the Avon lady. Money. New York: 29 (2) 46-49 Schneider, S C., and Barsoux, J L. (1997) Managing Across Cultures. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited Sopow, E. (2007) The impact of culture and climate on change. Strategic HR Review. Chicago: 6 (2) 20 Stacey, R D. (2003) Strategic Management and Organisational Dynamics. 4th Edition. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall Strickland, A. J., and Thompson, A. A. (1996) Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. 9th Edition. London: Irwin Trim, P., and Lee Y (2007) Placing organisational learning in the context of strategic management. Business Strategy Series: 8 (5) 335-342 Wickham, P D. (2000) Financial Times Corporate Strategy Casebook. Harlow (UK): FT Prentice Hall Wilkinson, T J., McAlister, A., and Widmier, S. (2007) Reaching the international consumer: An assessment of the international direct marketing environment. Direct Marketing. 1 (1) 17-37 www.avon.uk.com www.cosmeticsdesign-europe.com Appendix 1- Avons History Avon began life as the California Perfume Company in America in 1886, giving women an opportunity to earn by selling fragrance and cosmetics door to door. Mrs P.F.E Albee was the very first agent taken on by the companys founder David H McConnell, who started life as a door to door book salesman giving away small bottles of perfume which proved to be more popular than the books themselves. In 1939, the company name was changed to Avon and twenty years later, began trading in the UK. Avon Cosmetics Ltd is one of the top 3 beauty brands in the country with growing market share in the UK beauty market. Since then Avon has established itself as a global leader in the beauty industry, serving to customers in over 100 countries around the world. Avon is now largest direct selling cosmetics organisation in the world and their product lines include the well-known brands Anew, Skin So Soft, Avon Colour, Advance Techniques and Today. The product categories include: cosmetics, fragrance, skincare .toiletries, fashion jewellery, watches, home products, gifts, candles, toys, lingerie, health, fitness and wellbeing products. Being a direct selling organisation, Avons shop window is its brochure. The brochure offers a wide selection of beauty and related products at affordable prices. Customers have access to these brochures either at home, work, social or leisure activities. Avon is committed to excellence- every beauty product that carries the Avon name carries with it the highest standards of product safety and integrity. Avon products are enjoyed by millions of women around the globe in over 100 countries through over 5 million independent sales Representatives often known as the Avon lady. Avons vision statement is to: To be the company that best understands and satisfies the product service and self-fulfilment needs of women globally (Avon, 2008) (Keynote, 2007) Appendix 2 Avons organisational structure Avons business is conducted worldwide primarily in one channel, direct selling. They are based on geographical operations in six regions. See below: Avon has sales operations in 63 countries, including America and Avon products are distributed in 51 more countries through distributorships. Sales of products are made through a combination of direct selling and marketing by 5.3 million Avon representatives worldwide. Representatives generally purchase products at a discount from a published brochure price directly from Avon and sell them to their customers. In many countries, representatives can use the internet to manage their own business online, including order submission, order tracking, payment, and a two way communication with Avon. In the US, representatives can build their own Avon business through personalised web pages. The research and development facility is located in New York. A team of researchers and technicians apply the disciplines of science to the practical aspects of bringing products to market around the world. Relationships with dermatologists and other specialists enhance the ability to deliver new formulas and ingredients to market. Satellite research facilities are also located in Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico and Poland (Avon, 2008). Appendix 3 Avons cultural web using model from Johnson and Scholes (2002, p232, fig 5.8) Stories Building bonds with women worldwide since 1886 to achieve economic independence and transform their lives Symbols Ding-Dong Avon calling. Worlds leading direct selling company of beauty and related products Power Chairman and CEO Vice Chairman Executive Vice Presidents Senior Vice Presidents for each of the six regions Routines Avon rep delivering brochures to own neighbourhood, customer chooses products, orders collected by rep products delivered back to customers (worldwide) Paradigm To be the beauty company most women turn to worldwide and creating lifelong customer relationships Controls High standards of product safety and integrity, rigorous quality controls on every product batch and no animal testing Organisation A flatter structure, equal opportunity employer where talent dedication are rewarded a whole range of training opportunities is available (Brooker, 2001) (Pellet, 2000) (Rose, 2000) (Avon, 2008) Appendix 4 The key beliefs of organisations as political systems are: à ¢- ª You cannot stay out of organisational politics as you are already in it; à ¢- ª Building support for your approach is essential if you want to make anything happen; à ¢- ª You need to know who is powerful, and who they are close to; à ¢- ª There is an important political map which overrides the organisational structure; à ¢- ª Coalitions between individuals are more important than work teams; à ¢- ª The most important decisions in an organisation is the allocation of resources, that is , who gets what, and these are reached through bargaining and negotiating. The above key beliefs lead to the following assumptions about organisational change: à ¢- ª The change will not work unless it is supported by a powerful person; à ¢- ª The wider the support for this change the better; à ¢- ª It is important to understand the political map, and to understand who will be winners and losers as a result of this change; and à ¢- ª Positive strategies include creating new coalitions and renegotiating issues Morgan (1986, cited in Cameron and Green, 2004) Appendix 5- Avons stakeholder analysis Bohret (1993, cited in Joyce 1999) suggests that drawing up tables of values to explore the goals and expectations of different social groups. See below for the stakeholder analysis for Avon. Stakeholder Power Interest Attitude Needs/expectations Government Worldwide H H Mixed Avon to meet or exceed all environmental laws of the countries and communities they operate Executive team H H Positive To give full recognition to employees and representatives worldwide, on whose contributions Avon depends and to share with others the rewards of growth and success All other employees L H Positive To achieve economic independence and an opportunity to earn in support of their well-being and happiness Customers L L Positive Active interest in cosmetics and fragrances and keen to look after their ap