Motivation and Organizational Culture

3 Motivation and Organizational Culture Tawny Christensen HCA 250 March 14, 2013 Darlene Tomlinson Motivation and Organizational Culture Assignment In any given business or workplace environment the employees that work there should be the most valued assets. Research has shown that personnel who are happy and taken care of are much more productive than those who are not, therefore establishing a more pleasing work atmosphere. That being said, business leaders and managers alike play an extremely important role in workplace psychology.According to our text, leadership is the process of leading a group and influencing its members to achieve common goals. All managers are leaders (Robbins, DeCenzo, and Coulter, 2011). In today’s society more managers are leading through empowerment by allowing team members to be involved in the decision making process. More and more employees â€Å"are developing budgets, scheduling workloads, controlling inventories, solving quality problems, a nd engaging in similar activities that until very recently were viewed exclusively as part of the manager’s job,† (Robbins, DeCenzo, and Coulter, 2011).As mentioned earlier, research has shown that employees who are pleased are far more beneficial than employees who are not. There are many things that managers can do to ensure that their employees feel valued, and remain satisfied. First of all, it is important that managers avoid using intimidation. To intimidate means to make nervous, or instill fear. In some cases an individual can take advantage of their title and turn in to an authoritarian. In a sense this means that the big guys squash the little guys. Employees

Liberal Education as a Livingstone

During a time when unemployment is at its lowest since World War II, one would think that finding a job would be easy. However, at this point in time, applicants for jobs are more qualified than ever. The competition for well-paid jobs is stiff, and in order to get ahead people need not only skill in one certain area, but a general intelligence of many subjects as well. A liberal education provides the general knowledge that gives job applicants an extra edge when applying for a job. With a base of knowledge in the liberal arts and a specialization in a certain area, people prove to be beneficial to employers. Throughout this paper, I will use the term â€Å"liberal education† not only in describing subjects like English, history, philosophy etc. , but as Livingstone describes a liberal education: an education which â€Å"aims at producing as perfect and complete a human being as may be. † In using the term â€Å"liberal education† I expect that all graduates of a liberal arts college have an expertise in rhetoric, as the art of speaking and writing well is a key focus in the curriculum. I will also use the â€Å"specialized education† in reference to Livingstone†s definition: an education â€Å"which aims at earning a living or making money†. Undergraduates pursuing a liberal undergraduate education have an advantage over people with a specialized undergraduate education because liberal education provides a greater versatility in terms of a broader base of knowledge so that finding a job and excelling in different areas is easier. Training in art of rhetoric, which today is defined as the art of speaking and writing effectively, is a valuable asset for job hunters. Specialized undergraduate curriculums focus less on rhetoric than liberal arts curriculums. A person with training in rhetoric would be hired over another applicant due to their expertise in communicating ideas effectively through speech and writing. Companies aim to employ intelligent people who can express themselves wisely and eloquently because in nearly every profession, writing well and persuading others to one†s opinion is essential: scientists have to apply for grants in order to fund their research and experiments; businessmen must present proposals and of course, columnists and authors who have not mastered the skill of rhetoric are less likely to find a job and be successful in terms of status and salary. Ability to express oneself clearly and effectively designates to what level one may raise in the corporate ladder, for people with refined writing skills benefit companies to a large extent, while people with less skill in writing have less influence, and therefore less power. People with a liberal education are skilled in multiple areas and therefore can be of more benefit to employers. Rather than a specialized study in one area, a liberal education provides students with a broad range of knowledge that attracts employers. As Virtruvius says, liberal education teaches the student the connection between different disciplines. Knowing and realizing the relationship between subjects, an employee can perform a greater number of tasks and learn new ones more rapidly thus being more valuable to a company. Should a man lose his job due to it becoming extinct or other reasons, a liberal education would provide a better cushion to fall back on because of the diversity of subjects studied. For example, if a court stenographer loses his job due to a new audio technology that records and word-processes court proceedings, he would not have to, in a sense, start over for lack of knowledge in other areas. Utilizing his knowledge in rhetoric, philosophy, history, and other humanities, he could find another job without going back to school. On the other hand, the opposition would report that a liberal education would not benefit many people because a curriculum based on the humanities repels many students. Rather than take courses that disinterest them, students should specialize in subjects they enjoy. One should not waste money on an education that does not focus on one†s interests; an education that does not stimulate the student is a failed education. In order to make the most out of undergraduate years, the students should study what interests them. In rebuttal, a liberal education does not suit every personality or preference. However, in the job market, having a liberal undergraduate education and a specialized graduate education gives people an advantage, for not only are they trained specially in their specific area, but they also have a general knowledge of the liberal arts. Students interested in areas such as technology and sciences should take classes that interest them. However, in addition to the sciences courses, rhetoric classes would prove beneficial even in a scientific line of study. Every occupation entails writing in some way, and sharpening one†s writing skills only reaps more benefits when searching for a job. Many people interested in the sciences and technologies specialize during their undergraduate years, and therefore miss out on training in rhetoric. Specialists who take classes to improve writing are better-prepared and more likely for find a job. Another argument of the opposition: people who start specializing during undergraduate years are better prepared for graduate school. They master and excel in one specific area of study. Whereas, it would take someone with a general undergraduate education a longer time to master a specific area of study because of the attention spent on a broad education during undergraduate years. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a general education, students could use the four years to specialize in the field that they enjoy. A liberal education may prove beneficial for students who are unsure about their major, but focused students should not waste their time on general education. Students who know what they want to focus on should specialize their education in order to expedite their college time and either start a masters degree or start their careers. It may take longer for a generally trained undergraduate to specialize in a certain area, but then again, if they are trained in understanding the connection between different areas of study, they may be able to pick up different subjects more quickly. There are really two issues here to refute. First, when studying, why is everything such a rush? People are in a hurry to enter the job force rather than to take their time during their schooling. I suppose the answer to the question is money. While people are in school they pay thousands of dollars and receive very little back in comparison. Once they start working they can begin the payback period. Sadly, those who enter the workforce first do win in the sense that they can start paying back their debt, while the people still in school keep accumulating debt. Second, even if people with a liberal arts education enter the workforce at the same time, they are not at a disadvantage in terms of knowledge capability as the previous argument concludes. In fact, liberal arts undergraduates may be at a slight advantage in terms of useful knowledge. For example, two applicants for a job have both had the same graduate education but one (person 1) had been trained in the liberal arts during undergraduate years, and the other (person 2) had specialized earlier. Assuming the two candidates preformed equally in gradate school, which may not be a fair assumption due to person 2†³s past knowledge and previous study, however, for argument†s sake, assume both were successful in graduate school. An employer would choose person 1 because of the liberal arts background on top of the specialized graduate schooling. An employer would know that people with a liberal arts background are not only intelligent in their specific line of study, but also understand the connection between disciplines, and would choose the person with the broad base of education. In discussing liberal arts training, one assumes that every student who graduates has a well-developed knowledge of all the subjects a liberal education offers. However, it is not fair to assume that every student attending a liberal arts undergraduate school explores each subject extensively and excels in every class. Many students take advantage of the time they spend in undergraduate school by partying on weeknights and coming to class so tired that they cannot concentrate on the lesson, or even worse, they skip class all together. This careless behavior towards schooling hurts not only the students† understanding of the material, but their grades as well. It is time that all upperclassmen graduate with honors rather than just slide by. The effect on the community and world would be astounding. Thousands of great minds graduate from college every year and become success stories like Bill Gates. Imagine every college student intellectually on par with the smartest graduate. Our world would be a different place. That is the place to which we should strive, and we have reached out goal when everyone achieves individual excellence.

Jollibee Foods Corporation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Jollibee Foods Corporation - Case Study Example Secondly, the company managed to establish dominance in Philippines fast food market by maintaining the preparation of home-style Philippine recopies. Sticking to making Philippine recipes ensured that the company maintained high demand from the locals; thus its success. Thirdly, the success of Jollibee was also attributed to the fact that the company ensured that its growth was financed internally (Bartlett 3). Internal financing ensured that the company avoided the burden associated with debt financing. Jollibee also managed to build a strong empire in Philippines fast food industry by developing an effective management capacity, peculiar political situation, and by adopting the Five F philosophy namely Flavorful Food, Fun, Flexibility, and Families (Bartlett 1). Other factors, that helped Jollibee establish an empire in Philippines, include treating employees with respect and keeping them highly motivated and treating customers with courtesy. As much as McDonalds was well established and had stable financial footing, Jollibee managed to compete with it favorably by capitalizing on its competitive advantage. Firstly, Jollibee managed to compete effectively with McDonalds by introducing a Philippine hamburger. Secondly, the company also managed to compete effectively with McDonalds by introducing a larger hamburger called the "Champ," which attracted huge demand from the Philippine consumers (Bartlett 2). Thirdly, unlike McDonalds whose operations were badly affected by political and economic crisis, Jollibee was able to turn the political and economic crisis of 1983 to its advantage, thereby enabling it compete favorably with McDonalds. Additionally, Jollibee managed to compete effectively with McDonalds by introducing new items, such as chicken, peach-mango desert and spaghetti in the menu, made to the taste of the Philippine customers.

IMC Proposal London Zoo Marketing Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

IMC Proposal London Zoo Marketing - Dissertation Example As part of the IMC dissertation proposal for ZSL London Zoo, this report will give the readers an overview of the market competitive framework. In line with this, the market structure of London Zoo will first be tackled followed by comparing the profile and marketing activities of ZSL’s major competitors and discussing the importance of continuously promoting the central brand. Based on the product life cycle analysis, the current distribution policy and pricing policy will be tackled in details. Chapter II – Literature Review Overview of the Market Competitive Framework Although there are more than 100 zoos throughout the United Kingdom, the only 3 zoos that are currently operational in London include the Battersea Park Children’s zoo, the Sea Life London Aquarium, and the London Zoo (Zoo Keepers, 2009). Among these four zoos that are currently operational in this area, only the London Zoo is classified as the major zoo throughout the United Kingdom. (See Append ix I – Major Zoo Operators in London on page 7) Given that there are only three zoos being operational in London, its market structure is classified as oligopoly. In line with this, Arnold (2010, p. ... Aside from publicly announcing the arrival of a new animal, the marketing strategies used by the Battersea Park Children’s zoo, the Sea Life London Aquarium, and the London Zoo are similar in the sense that these operators are focused on providing discounts on group tours, accepting parties and school visits (Sea Life London Aquarium, 2011; Battersea Park Children's Zoo, 2011; ZSL, 2011). Specifically Battersea Park Children’s Zoo (2011) offers the public the option to adopt an animal for either 6 months or 1 year programme. Aside from entering into joint business partnership with University of Cambridge, ZSL London Zoo is more focused on promoting its forthcoming science and conservation events and offering children with more options to enjoy their stay at the zoo (ZSL, 2011). Importance of Promoting the Central Brand According to Aaker (1991), brand equity is a multi-dimensional concept which is strongly related to the development of strong brand loyalty, creation of brand awareness, perceived service quality, and brand association. Being more than just choosing a corporate name, King (2010) explained that branding is crucial behind the success of the ZSL London Zoo because a strong brand could develop familiarity and loyalty on the part of its prospective zoo visitors. Because of the importance of continuously promoting the central brand, the managers of ZSL should take it as a challenge in making the general public feel special when being associated with a brand. By considering its product life cycle analysis, ZSL can implement marketing strategies that will strengthen its brand and keep its existing customers loyal to the zoo. Product

Economics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Economics - Research Paper Example China has become the fastest growing region for exports for the United States. China is indirectly contributing positively to the job creation in America. More exports leads to more work that is required by the labor force of America. The majority of the exports are derived from the states of California, Texas and Washington. These states are selling a lot of microchips, computer components and aircrafts. Other products that are being exported to China include grain, chemical, and transportation equipment. Part of the president’s Obama economic plan included doubling US exports by 2014. The export growth in China may allow that campaign promise to become truth. China has become the second largest importer in the world behind the United States. The United States imports $1.9 trillion compared to China’s $1.4 trillion (Barboza). Despite China’s efforts to catch the US in the amount of imports its people consume the disparity in terms of per capita consumption are s till quite large. The exports of crops are growing to China due to the lack of water and arable land. The overpopulation in China is another negative variable that is affecting the distribution of wealth in China. China has four times the population of the United States despite China being the size of Texas. Recyclable materials and paper are items that China is importing a lot. Last year New York sold over a billion dollars worth of waste and scrap to China. The main thesis of the author is that as Chinese is growing so is the nation’s demand for American made products. I agree with the author’s theory because the author showed empirical evidence that showed a clear consumption pattern. During the last decade China has been achieving double figure growth in its import to the US. Last year US exports to China grew by 32% in comparison with the previous year. There are many factors that are causing this phenomenon. The cultural impact of the American culture that is wid ely spread throughout the world with the assistance of the media has created a more consumerism society in China. China has slowly liberated itself from its one dimensional perspective concerning the liberties of its people. The Chinese people idolized the American culture which is one the reasons for the increase in exports to China. Another reason for this occurrence is the fact the income capacity of the Chinese has gone up. There is a growing middle class of Chinese consumers that are eager to spend their hard earning money. The infrastructure of China is another of the reasons why China depends on the US for crops. China cannot create sufficient food to feed its people. The one child law created in 1979 was a move that slowed down the human growth in China, but the population is still the largest in the world. China has a need for construction products such as Iron. Old junk cars are perfect raw material of iron that is in high demand in China. An increase in the amount of impo rted goods from the US gives China bargaining power in its economic negotiations since now the US is depending more on the money businesses are making by exporting to China. China has a lot to gain by becoming a bigger importer of the US. Improving its international relations with the US is beneficial for both parties. It is possible in the future that these two countries might become allies and create a free trade agreement between the two nations. This scenario is not impossible because nobody could have imagined that US

Ecotourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Ecotourism - Essay Example Particularly, the word â€Å"ecotourism† came into being in the late 1980s due to the world’s reaction and acknowledgement of global ecological practices and sustainable practices (Honey, 2008). This paper will seek to describe the emergence of ecotourism, current approaches to ecotourism, products of ecotourism, and provide a brief reflection on ways in which the provided approaches can ensure that the potential of ecotourism can deliver sustainable tourism development. Emergence of Ecotourism The term â€Å"ecotourism† defines responsible travel by visitors to natural areas, which conserves the environment in addition to improving the welfare of the local people. In many countries, the development of ecotourism was not an exemplified phenomenon (Hingham, 2007). The late 1980s show that ecotourism was an unknown entity which was beginning to gain grip in the popular lexicon (Fennell & Dowling, 2003). The ever-heating debate over tourism and environment spurred t he growth of ecotourism since environmental policymakers were enthusiastic about establishing an ecologically sustained development of ecotourism (Raina, 2005). The potential market base for ecotourism appeared small at first, but as time went by, it indicated large-scale growth. Nevertheless, this niche concept revolutionized ecotourism on the onset of 1990s when the term â€Å"ecotourism† became a basic building block of the tourism industry and other sectors such as travelling public and private agencies responsible for promoting tourism products. After striking a chord with these sectors, ecotourism turned into a travelling buzzword (Goeldner & Ritchie, 2009). When ecotourism secured a place in the minds of many academicians and industry leaders, governments with the aid of the directly involved institutions and agents brought about numerous policies that aimed at increasing growth and developing this sector. As such, they formed conferences that led to the establishment of both national and regional ecotourism associations (Rauschelbach & Forum International, 2002). This was due to the explosion of interests in the ecotourism. Simultaneously, this period is crucial in the ecotourism business as it saw not only an immense explosion of interests in ecotourism but also a rapid growth in the number of people taking ecotourism business to the next level, and the emergence of specialized tour operators, both retailers and wholesalers, who marketed ecotourism products. As of today, the ecotourism sector is still emerging even after a long series of introducing new flavors into the business (Fennel, 2007). Ecotourism has gained favor as an ideal form of sustainable development mainly because of its ability to advocate sustainability measures through its agents. Additionally, ecotourism is so favorable within the sustainable development framework since its ideal goal is to attain a sustained development through tourism activities (Patterson, 2007). Current Approaches to Ecotourism Development Generally, sustainability is not achievable in cases where capital expansion continues to increase the ranks of the poor people and impedes their ability to access resources required for mere survival. In that respect, it is understandable that people need profound changes in order for them to facilitate strategies of sustainable de

WEEK 8 Problem Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

WEEK 8 Problem Statement - Essay Example ogy in the world of business has continued to engage the concern of experts who explore the various ways that could be relied upon to provide solutions to the business world. Essentially, the provision of these solutions requires the adoption of information technology tools in specific areas that pose challenges of efficiency and productivity (Gottschalk, 2007). A comprehensive appreciation of the value of information technology in the world of business might begin with some focus on the communication factor in business. Efficient communication saves time and money and helps the organization to meet set goals in an orderly and harmonious manner. Traditional forms of communication involved lengthy periods of time which adversely affected the fiscal targets of business. Generally, the performance of any business is measured within specific time frames. It is therefore important for businesses to develop systems that would ensure efficiency and production within the set time frame. Information technology has supplied tools through the internet technology which lessen the logistical challenges that were usually incurred in the course of running a business (Elliott, 2004). Another factor cited by experts who embrace the adoption of information technology in business is the reduction of stress and burnout at the work place. Naturally, the incorporation of technology in the world of business has the effect of reducing the strain and stress that accompanies manual processes. Related to this is the fact that human error often occurs due to the manual systems that are more susceptible to inaccuracies as compared to systems that utilize information technology. Many studies have shown that the comparative advantage between the two systems favours the adoption of information technology in business processes. The introduction of internet-based computer technology has had the effect of increasing the efficiency of businesses processes. Although the adoption of information

Research paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 16

Research paper - Essay Example Business administrators therefore believe that if advertisement is carried in the right way, at the right place, via the appropriate media as well as within a particular time limit, it can also attract new customers. As a result, advertising assists in capturing the market as well as increasing the advertiser’s sales. Secondly advertising is critical in the promotion of services, ideas, goods as well as events. This implies goods such as cosmetics, stationary, cosmetics .Services that can be promoted include banking, hospitality, consultancy etc. Promotion of ideas leads to encouragement of the general public by the entrepreneur to invest in his/her idea. Events that can be promoted include exhibitions, festivals, rallies as well as ceremonies (Christina & Demand, 2013). Advertising is also responsible for increasing or boosting sales. This is because advertising creates awareness in masses regarding the advertised products or services .This awareness is responsible for creation of demand in the market which leads to increased or higher sales. According to business administrators, the advertisers will thus fulfill his key objective in advertising. For such impressive results to be maintained, a business ought to sustain excellent price-quality ratio alongside constant and continued advertisement campaigns. Advertising is also used by businesses to create consumer awareness-business professionals are of the perception that constant advertising generates awareness basically by informing potential customers and consumers. Awareness is created amongst consumers by bringing to their attention the availability of a particular service or product in the market. Advertising tries to pass to them why a particular service or product is superior to the other available alternatives. Customers are also informed mostly about different benefits, features, prices as well

The Most Significant Moment of Life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Most Significant Moment of Life - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the true essence of our life is exhibited through the little moments of joy or sorrow that are dear to us and are close to our hearts. These moments may be seemingly minor and trivial but become the most treasured and meaningful memories. These noteworthy moments adorn our past for our lifetime and have an evergreen effect on our future. Not just joyous incidents, some heart-wrenching episodes affecting our dear ones or our surroundings can also remain etched in our memories. Such incidents serve as reminders of the realities of life and the ups and downs it encompasses. On the other hand, the beautiful and worthwhile episodes shared with our family, favorite pets, colleagues, and friends prove to us every day the worthiness of life. These precious memories give us the necessary boost we need when we are drowned in the daily chaos and obligations. The researcher’s Granddad possessed a very full of life and admirable personality. The author enjoyed the most when she used to spend her time at her grandparent's house. Every single moment the researcher spent with her granddad was filled with affection and a feeling of warmth. Even now when she thinks of even the most inconsequential episodes she spent with her granddad, the author is reminded of his honesty and kindness that reflected her personality. Childhood is a part of your life where the tiniest of gestures have a deep impact on one’s personality. The researcher’s granddad showed the importance of family, the significance of kindness and gave her the confidence that is needed to become a self-assured young girl that she is today. The author always worshipped his lively personality, the way he laughed and made jokes with his companions. His authoritarian personality with the spirit of kindness and love that, he had in abundance, especially for the researcher. Her granddad always took special care of her and the author used to accompany him most of the time. One particular incident has left a deep impact on the author’s mind and she still finds that she related to it some way or another. During one particular summer vacations, when the author was in 6th standard she went to her granddad's house as a part of her usual annual routine. As usual, the author spent the bright lively summer days in her grandparent’s house cherishing each and every moment. Summer vacations were a time which she used to wait for eagerly. It was an occasion when the researcher got the chance to spend time with one person who made her feel special through his affectionate soul and kind gestures. Granddad brought home a little, frail puppy that looked scared and homeless. Its innocent round eyes stared at the author with fear in them. Granddad had found him on his way home in a deserted street without its mother. The researcher was amazed and quite amused by this little creature. The puppy was just like a little baby; small, fragile and completely dependent on others. Granddad gave the puppy to the author and told her to take special care of the little creature. That day he taught the researcher a lesson that she followed the rest of her life. It was something that was obvious from his way of life and his personality. He taught her love and affection for family. He told her that if today the author takes care of the little, defenseless creature, it will grow up tomorrow and return her the kindness and affection she showed to it.  

Network Management System Essay Example for Free

Network Management System Essay A Network Management System is a combination of software and hardware which is used for monitoring and effective administration of a network. For any network which requires management of number of network tasks to be integrated in a single software solution, there is a need of effective and efficient planning. It is the task of the network management system to locate network support, keep a check on the activities and health of the network devices attached and provides exceptional handling mechanism in order to alert the administrator in cases of conditions which can hinder the performance of the network(Laudon Laudon,2007). NMS systems use many different kinds of protocols in accordance their usage for example one of the commonly used is SNMP protocol which allows the gathering of information to be simplified for the administrator and users over the network from the devices attached in accordance to the network hierarchy. The NMS software are responsible for problem identification along with the exact source of the problem and provide effective solutions in order to prevent the problem from effecting the performance of the network. The NMS are also responsible for collecting the device data and numbers in terms of statistics to keep a log of the performance of the network. This usually includes a library of protocols which help the administrator in the management of the network through the Network Management System software. For to make sure there is a streamlined management of the network, every network is assigned a network manager. The network manager is responsible for monitoring the activities, methods which help the network running which includes the procedures which are usually defined for every specific network and lastly, the use of tools which the network administrator/manager is well equipped with in order to control monitor and use in terms of exceptional handling over the network. The operation of the network manager is to deal with keeping the network up and running smoothly. This includes the task of finding out any problem and rectifying it in time to make sure all systems over the particular network are not affected by the downtime of the network. Maintenance of the network involves proper measures and preventive procedures and measures for the network to be running smoothly such as the task of adjusting device configuration parameters for systems on the network(Laudon Laudon,2007). A management information base (MIB) is defined as a virtual database which is used for management of the network activities over a communication network. They are often related with the SNMP protocol commonly known as Simple Network Management Protocol. it is commonly used to pass on to a meticulous subset, more appropriately referred to as MIB-module. Items in the MIB are distinct by means of a subset of Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN. 1) also known as Structure of Management Information Version 2 (SMIv2) RFC 2578 which performs the parsing for the MIB compiler on the network. The Remote Network Monitoring (RMON) for MIB was developed to sustain supervision and protocol scrutiny of the local area network. The unique versions centers on OSI Layer 1 and Layer 2 in sequence in Ethernet and Token Ring system. It is unmitigated by RMON2 which appends maintenance for the Network Layer and Application Layer monitoring and by SMON which has added support for switched networks. Probing helps the system to examine and evaluate the network consistently and thus, helps the network manager to keep the network agents in check and up and running. â€Å"The following diagram shows a reference architecture that Cisco Systems believes should be the minimal solution for managing a data network. This architecture includes a Cisco CallManager server for those who plan to manage Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): The diagram shows how you would integrate the CallManager server into the NMS topology. † (CISCO, 2010). References: CISCO. (2010). NETWORK MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: BEST PRACTICES WHITE PAPER . Retrieved July 13,2010 from http://www. cisco. com/en/US/tech/tk869/tk769/technologies_white_paper09186a00800aea9c. shtml Laudon Laudon, K C. , (2007), Management Information Systems. Pearson Education India

Roles of a Quantity Surveyor

Roles of a Quantity Surveyor Quantity surveyors, who may also be known as commercial managers or construction cost consultants, are specialists in the financial and contractual aspects of construction projects. They are involved at all stages of the project and are usually appointed by the architect or engineer who has designed the construction. They act as the financial overseer of a particular project, translating the plans into detailed costs. This involves working out the timings of each process and the precise quantity of materials needed. The main tasks include preparing information on the cost of labour, plant and materials, allocating work to subcontractors, preparing tender and contract documents, advising on the choice of materials and construction techniques, dealing with planning issues, building regulations and architects, and managing costs on site and dealing with cost reconciliation. The work is central to the profitability of construction projects. Through negotiation, successful quantity surveyors can save large amounts of money for the companies they work for.   Entry level The main route into quantity surveying is by taking a first degree normally in quantity surveying or a closely related subject accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). Alternatively, postgraduate courses are available for people with degrees in other subjects. Entry to an accredited degree course is generally with two or three A levels/three or four H grades, or equivalent qualifications, plus five GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3). You should check specific requirements with individual institutions. Useful A level/H grade subjects include maths, English, geography, physical science, geology, economics, law, ICT, art, business studies, design and technology and languages. If you dont have the academic entry requirements for a degree course, you may be able to study at HNC/HND or foundation degree level. These qualifications can be supplemented with further study for the RICS or CIOB accredited degrees. In the Greater London area, the Chartered Surveyors Training Trust offers work-based training for young people aged 16 to 24 years. For this, you must have a minimum of four GCSEs (A-C), including English, maths and a science subject, or equivalent qualifications. Trainees work towards an Advanced Apprenticeship and an HND in Construction, before continuing to study on an accredited degree course. Entry to RICS accredited postgraduate conversion courses is with a first degree, which can be in a subject unrelated to surveying. With a degree, it is also possible to take a three-year graduate diploma accredited by the CIOB, whilst working in a construction company. Making the grade On completion of a RICS or CIOB accredited degree or diploma, you must gain further practical experience before becoming fully qualified. For the RICS, this involves a minimum of two years of structured learning in employment, leading to a RICS professional assessment interview known as the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). Successful completion of the APC entitles you to use the letters MRICS. The CIOB has a professional development programme which requires the completion of a personal development record over three years, based upon a skills and competency requirement. This is followed by a professional interview. RICS and CIOB are the main professional institutions, and membership is essential for chartered status. It is also possible for quantity surveyors to join the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors. Some surveyors are members of more than one institution. All quantity surveyors also undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which may include gaining additional qualifications. With experience, you could become a project manager. You could also move into specialist areas such as legal services, risk management or facilities management. Self-employment and freelance work are quite common. Personal qualities As a quantity surveyor, you would need to be a practical person with a logical and methodical approach to problem solving. You would need good IT and numeracy skills, together with the ability to analyse the content of complicated documents. A clear understanding both of construction techniques and technology and of the relevant laws and health and safety requirements would be essential. You should have good communications skills as you could be required to express your opinions both verbally and on paper. You are also likely to be involved in negotiating with a wide variety of people, which means that you would have to listen to the points of view of others as well as giving your own opinion. In addition, you are likely to be working as a member of a team, which may require you to motivate and lead people on site. Looking ahead The main employers of quantity surveyors are building and civil engineering contractors, consultancies that advise clients on construction costs, the property divisions of large organisations, and local government and other public sector bodies. Jobs are available throughout the UK. The demand for quantity surveyors is strong and there is a shortage of people with the appropriate skills. Alternative suggestions Other possibilities might include architect, building surveyor, civil engineer, construction manager, estate agent, general practice surveyor, housing manager or town planner. Take-home pay When you first start working, you could expect to earn between  £16,000 and  £24,000. If you start working for a large contractor, you could earn more as you may get paid for working site hours. Your salary could easily rise with experience to  £30,000 to  £50,000, and you could earn substantially more if you become a principal partner in private practice. Effects Quantity surveyors are generally office based, although your office may be on a construction site. Most quantity surveyors are likely to make some site visits, which require the use of safety equipment such as hard hats and boots. When based at construction site, you may work from, say, 8am to 6pm. Otherwise, you may keep more normal office hours. Occasional weekend work may be required. Roles of a Quantity Surveyor Roles of a Quantity Surveyor A Quantity Surveyor is an individual whom works on projects ranging from office blocks, schools, hospitals, factories to bridges, railways, oil and mining development, ship building and large process engineering works such as oil refineries, and anywhere that major construction work is carried out. Traditionally this role has been performed by a highly trained person with extensive knowledge in the operational procedures involved with construction or project management. This position often acts as an independent contractor and is a trusted and respected source for professional consultation. The roles of the Quantity Surveyor are diverse and vital to the project life cycle (Internet). Every Quantity Surveyor has the standard basic skill which is to draw up a bill of quantities which is a type of tender document that contains information regarding to the construction project. The measurements are taken from the drawings which must be in accordance with the standard measurement method which is agreed or accepted and will be priced by the contractors. The documents will be used throughout the whole construction project and are for valuation and cost control purposes. The Quantity Surveyor estimate and monitor construction costs, from the feasibility stage of a project through to the completion of the construction period as part of an advisors role. After the completion of construction, the Quantity Surveyor may have to be involved with tax depreciation schedules, arbitration and mediation if necessary, and cost estimation for insurance purposes. They are employed on most construction projects as consultants to the owner, in both private and public sectors. They would have to work hand in hand with architects, financiers, engineers, contractors, suppliers, project owners, accountants, insurance underwriters, solicitors and Courts and even with all levels of government authorities. The roles of Quantity Surveyor come in handy when at times of: Cost planning is a advance technique used by the QS team and it is mainly to help all the construction team members to arrive accordingly at practical designs for a project and make sure the projects are within budgets. The Qs will have to make sure that everything has to follow in accord to the estimates which have been agreed, from the beginning of successful contractors tender to the final project cost. In planning construction cost, it is very important that maintenance and running cost cannot be neglected in order to attain a project that is cost effective throughout its life. The QS will have to rapidly deal with the cost implication when the client decided that there is a change of plans and when variations are introduced. Cost planning can improve economy standards and also better value for money. Constant monitoring can avoid the risk of overspending if they are spotted early and proper corrective actions are taken, thus help the client to save money. Value management Value management is an act which aims to eliminate waste from the design or clients brief, thus at the same time the safety and main functions of the projects are retained. The objective of this value management is to deliver the project function to the expected quality so that the best value for the money can be expended. In this case, it does not necessary mean to be at lowest initial cost, but all factors impacting upon the projects which are considered as a whole are proven of the highest value (anonymous, internet).A QS is a well qualified person to direct the value management studies on a project. From this value management, the project team can obtain a clearer understanding of the involved project objectives and functions thus reducing any unnecessary costs are being made able. In this value management, it also labels the whole life implications in terms of both cost and also the clients business objectives of the building design. The Life Cycle Costing The cost of a project cannot be evaluated base on the initial cost alone. It is long been proven that although a constructed facility is cheap but may appears to be in long term, can be a lot more expensive than one with much higher initial cost. The life cycle costing is about a procurement evaluation technique which determines the total cost of acquisition, operation, maintaining and disposal of the items acquired; the lowest ownership cost during the time the item is in use (anonymous, internet). The life cycle costing assessment should not only considering the characteristics of the constructed facility, the sustainability, the maintainability, the reusability and obsolescence, but they must also not neglect the initial capital cost, the maintenance cost, the operational cost, the residual and disposal costs. Both economic and non-economic performance of constructed facility can be checked in this way. The QS will be the one who monitor all the life cycle costing analysis. The impact of all costs are considered rather than only the initial capital cost to ensure that different constructed facilities can be more efficiently evaluated and to help the effective management of a completed facility are the main objectives of life cycle costing. The building clients can obtain the best value for their money this way. Preliminary Cost Advice A QS is the person whom will be giving practical advices on stuffs which has to do with the cost of the project. The QS will also prepare the cost studies and advice on the structural forms, the choice of materials, the alternative design solutions, the construction sequence and the maintenance cost .From that, a detailed cost plan can be prepared for budgetary control. Facilities Management Facilities management is an extremely wide and all embracing activity involving many types of functions such as assets management, office management and housekeeping, building and engineering maintenance. Among the definitions of facilities management, but it could be borne in mind that there exist some common themes, or characteristics, as follows: it will be needing integrated multi-disciplinary professional services; it have reference to built asset the workplace; it will have to help the organization in achieving its objectives. However theres no one individual, nor profession, who would be able to fulfill all the required technical functions included in the concept of facilities management. Still and all, if there is any specifically trained or experienced QS is in charge, he will be able to understand and define theobjectives of the clients organization, thus be able to coordinate and provide the most appropriate facilities management services. Procurement Methods The QS are known for their expertise, knowledge and tools which are useful in the selection of the right suppliers or contractors for any given projects. There are no two projects which are exactly the same. Most of the projects (and many smaller ones) have their own challenges and needs their own solution. Procurement through competitive tendering based on different types of forms of contract and options is the most common method option. The QS are the person who prepares the bills of quantities which are used for the tendering. The bills containing documents of an itemized breakdown of the works to be carried out in a unit price contract, indicating a quantity for each item and the corresponding unit price. The bills of quantities are the crucial element in both effective cost control and also the basis of valuation of variations during construction. On different occasions, different tendering method and contractual arrangement may be used depending on the clients requirement. It m ay include tendering method such as the traditional method, the design and build, the construction management, the guaranteed maximum price, the prime cost contract and cost plus, and many more. The QS role is to provide advice to the client on the best choice of contractual arrangement depending on the circumstances that the clients required. Tendering Competitive tendering of the same kind or differing type remains the usual basis for construction contracts, while the bills of quantities are the fundamental to this process. The designers produced drawings and specifications which are translated by the bill of quantities into documents which would allows a contractor to calculate his tender price accordingly and on the exact same basis as his competitors. In the process of constructions, the QS are also an important element in effective cost control. If there are other tendering procedures which are appropriate, the QS will recommend alternatives. Contractual Advice The QS have to be are able to provide both commercial and contractual advice to all corporations such as the developers, the government bodies, the contractors and subcontractors, for all types of civil engineering, building and structural projects.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚   The type of service for contractual advice covers: Contract administration: site set-up, valuations of work in progress, subcontract procurement, measurements, assessment of rates, cost reporting and variations. Contract documents: warranties, bonds and guarantees, selection of appropriate standard forms of contract, the interpretation, drafting of special conditions and forms of contract. The Valuation of construction work The contractor is paid every month in most of the construction contracts unless otherwise specified. The QS role is to value the works carried out each month by the contractor on the project involved and submit a recommendation for payment. Insurance Advice The QS may help the employers to choose the most appropriate construction insurance. Construction sites are inherently dangerous places. This is why construction insurance is an important policy to have if they are going to run or manage a construction site. It is also known as Builders Risk Insurance, construction insurance provides safeguards for employers against construction workers being injured on site. Construction insurance does not exempt the employer from maintain a safe workplace. Usually, construction insurance policies only pay out if a strict set of health and safety guidelines are followed (anonymous, internet). It also protects the developing structure and the materials purchased for the construction for the loss due to damage or theft. The advantages of obtaining advices from the QS are: Well aware in the manner of cost, all round advice on contractual matters, and with full of efficiency in construction activities; Better communication with the involved parties such as insurers/employers/contractors/loss adjusters, which might be less efficient if it was handled general insurance practitioners. Cost Control Financial Management Cost control might be one of the most important aspects which have to be monitored closely in any capital project. It is important because the client wants a good value for money from the project. The QS have to make sure that the required balance of expenditure between different elements of the project is achieved and also to keep the final expenditure of the project within the clients required budged. In general, cost control consists of three basic steps: Build an overall cost target Taking remedial action where necessary Analyzing any deviations In practice, the process of cost control shows an extent of professional activities such as cost analyses of previous projects, cost studies of different types of constructional options, cost planning/estimating, cost monitoring in time of the construction stage and cost reconciliation in time of the tendering stage. Regularly, the QS produce the cost estimates and financial which creates an important phrase of the financial management of capital projects. With these periodic financial reports, the clients are able to foresee the projects progress and control their future financial commitments.

The History of the Cold War Essay -- American History War Soviet Union

The History of the Cold War The Cold War is the term used to describe the intense rivalry between the United States and its allies and the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics and its allies. The Soviet Union and its allies were refereed to as the Eastern Bloc and the United States and its allies were referred to as the Western Bloc. The Cold War period lasted from the mid-1940’s until the late 1980’s. During this period international politics were shaped by this intense rivalry between this two great blocs of power and the political ideologies they represented. The United States and its allies represented democracy and capitalism while the Soviet Union and its allies represented communism. The Cold War was truly a global conflict more so than either of the century’s two world wars. (1) The cold war was also the first total war between economic and social systems, an industrial test to destruction. Even though the Cold War Began just after World War II, some of its roots reach back as far a s the nineteenth century. Its neighbors have long feared Russia; the giant among the countries in Europe, even when they were allied Russia against a common enemy. This fear Cropped up immediately after Russia, Britain, and other European nations defeated the French Emperor Napoleon in 1812. (2) In 1853 Britain, France and several other European nations went to war with Russia from keeping Russia from expanding into the Middle East. Britain, in fact, took a great deal of its energy during the nineteenth century trying to limit Russian power. (3) By the early twentieth century the United States was also concerned with Russia’s power. Although the United States tried to keep out of European disputes, American leaders were concerned about Russia becoming to powerful. They worried that if any nation became powerful enough to dominate the European continent, it would be a threat to the well being of the United States. (4) In the midst of World War I a new element was added to the European and American fear of Russia. In November of 1917 a radical Marxist called the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia overthrowing a democratic government. The United States strongly opposed the Bolshevik regime. The United States was angry that the Bolsheviks pulled Russia out of the War against Germany (WW I), and that it intended to spread its revolution to other countries. (5) During World Wa... ... came quickly. After signing the charter, president George Busch for a happy, but tired world when he said, without fanfare: â€Å"We have closed a chapter in history, the Cold War is Over.† (33) On level the Cold War had some clear winners. The Struggle was settled on American terms. The Soviet Union disintegrated thirteen months after the Cold War was officially over. In place of the former Communist giant were fifteen independent states, all of which rejected communism. Bibliography Kort, Michael G. The Cold War Brookfield, CN: The Millbrook Press, 1994 Walker, Martin. The cold War: A History New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, 1993 Sharnik, John. Inside the Cold War: An Oral History New York, NY: Arbor House, 1987 Beschloss, Michael R. The Crisis Years: Kennedy and Khrushchev 1960-1963 New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers, 1991 â€Å"Cold War† Microsoft Encarta. Funk & Wagnall’s Corp: n.p., 1993 Boyer, Paul and Stuckey, Sterling. â€Å"The Cold War† The American Nation Harcourt Bruce and Company: Austin, 1995 Lebow, Richard Ned and Gross, Janice Gross Stein. We All Lost the Cold War Kaufman, Burton I. â€Å"Cold War† World Book Encyclopedia Chicago: World Book Inc. 1991

Savagery in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now Essay -- Movie Film c

Savagery in Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now Scientists of the nineteenth century speculated that humans were on an evolutionary scale that ran from savage to civilized. The Europeans were considered to be at the highest point yet achieved by humanity -- the civilized. Peoples and races not yet encountered by the Europeans were placed further down the list, and were referred to as savages. Although the Europeans believed they had reached the height of civilization, remnants remained of their own savagery. Throughout the novel Heart of Darkness there is reference to the idea of civility versus savagery - this is also true of the movie Apocalypse Now. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness shows the disparity between the European ideal of civilization and the reality of it, displayed by the domination, torture, exploitation and dehumanization of the African people. Conrad often emphasizes the idea of what is civilized versus what is primitive or savage. While reading the novel, the reader can picture how savage the Europeans seem. They are cruel and devious towards the very people they are supposed to be helping. Marlow, the main character in Heart of Darkness, often recognizes the Europeans' dehumanization of the Africans. As Marlow approaches the company offices at the Outer Station he sees "a scene of inhabited devastation" (Conrad 24). He catches sight of a chain gang of half starved, animal-like Africans. Trying to rationalize the situation, Marlow tells himself that these Africans are criminals, and somehow deserve their ... ... Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now are put together to create an amazing understanding of the real savagery of man and the true definition of civility for the reader and viewer. Apocalypse Now was set in the jungle amongst the animals and the savages. Yet it is the soldiers who were the true savages. The Accountant is blinded by the dark chaos that surrounds the camp, and similarly, the Colonel is unaware of the death and destruction occurring around him. The savagery deep down in the hearts of these men truly shows itself with the Africans and the Vietnamese. Man's inhumanity towards man is clearly depicted throughout the journey down the Congo River, as well as up the Nung River.

Theme Analysis of Maupassants The Necklace Essay -- European Literatu

Guy De Maupassant's short story "The Necklace" remarkably demonstrates how misfortune can lead to self improvement through the character Mathilde Loisel. Madame Mathilde was one of those beautiful and delightful young ladies with not very many high expectations, achievements, and no way to be accepted into the elaborate society and lifestyle in which she finds herself daydreaming about day and night. In Guy De Mauspassant's `The Necklace," the author examines the theme of how learning a difficult lesson about honesty can impact someone for the rest of their life. The author also examines the theme through the use of his title, the characters who act out the events, and the plot. "The Necklace" plays a larger role than just the heading to a short story; the necklace is used as a symbol throughout the entire story. Young Mathilde has been invited to attend a fancy ball with her husband and realizes that she does not have any jewelry to show off at the big event. Mathilde finds a solution to her problem with the jewelry by borrowing a beautiful necklace from one of her ...

Fenway Park

Some things on this earth are just magical. To some it may be the beach at sunset, to others it may be as simple as the drive to work in the morning. For me that place is Fenway Park in Boston Massachusetts. Going to a game in Fenway is a smorgasbord of delightful feelings. Even the walk up to the ballpark is some thing to behold. Walking with hundreds of passionate fans, all decked out in their red sox T-shirts, jerseys, and of coarse that iconic navy hat with the red B on it. I feel like I belong there with this organized group of strangers.There is such a since of family as I see people from the â€Å"T† car I was on and chatted with. A few hundred yards ahead I could hear a â€Å"Lets Go Red Sox† chant as people around me began to join in it became more enticing to do so myself. After all this was my team, our team, and this was our year! That was the constant attitude of a Sox fan. Just as the team would look like they were primed to make a push for the World Serie s they would lose in heartbreaking fashion and mostly to the hands of the damn Yankees. As me, my uncle, and my dad approach the park down Yawkey Way, the air is filled with a combination of smells.As you pass the sports bars the smell of beer and cigar smoke is thick in the air. As you pass a different vendors the smells of nachos and pretzels tempt you, and finally the smell of †Fenway Franks† (the ball parks signature hot dogs) hit you like a baseball. I’m not just a sports nut but a food fan too, so I enjoy the aromas as they tempt me. The robust scents of sausage and onions fill the air along with smoke from near by grills. As you walk closer and closer to the stadium you are barraged with people shouting â€Å"programs.Get you programs, three dollars out side five inside the park† and scalpers try to sell you â€Å"amazing† or â€Å"best in the park† tickets. As we near the gates I begin to shuffle in my pocket for my ticket. As I get it out I notice the cracks and pops between my Nikes and the asphalt. The sound of boiled peanut shells, plastic spoons, and the occasional lighter or beer can. The slick pavement and lunatic drivers keep me from daydreaming too much but still my mind races as I see the team’s championship banners and I think back to where I was when we won those years. I look down a gated lley that reads â€Å"players and coaches only† and I think If I was just there twenty minutes earlier I would have gotten a glimpse or even a word in with one of my favorite players. As I drift back in to reality I see several long lines at gate A this was unusual but my spirits were to high to be broken. As I slide into what looks like the shortest line my Uncle Geno grabs me and says, â€Å"let’s go† so my dad and I follow him. I was curious where we could be going and I really didn’t want to have to step out of line but I knew geno had something up his sleeve for us.Geno leads us around the perimeter of the park and to gate D. There was almost no line at this gate so we slide in easily. Geno had done it again, always the go to guy on street knowledge and somehow he knew everyone. When we make our way past countless vendor to the tunnel the crowd roars. As I step through the tunnel into the light the glare of the setting July sun hits me. When my eyes finally readjust to the light I look around and almost have trouble with my depth perception because of how big and crowded Fenway is.As we begin our treck to our seats we pass countless passionate fans I look to the scoreboard, the giant Budweiser neon sign, and to the enormous coke bottle and marvel at their size. Then there it is the† Green Monstah† the 39 foot tall left field wall and the luxurious monster seats. The crowd roars again and the home team comes out of the dugout and takes the field. I could feel the excitement as it rose to a fever pitch as my anticipation exploded and I joined i n the Let’s Go Red Sox chant. ~BPM

Policing Policies Today Essay

Sir Robert Peel is well known for his great contribution to modern policing. His original work as noted by Nicola and others in ‘Community policing’ began in 1829 under the Metropolitan Police Act authority. (Sutton N, Draper G and Jones J, 2005). He established the police force and worked hard to sell the professional police to the public. In other words he aimed at creating a good relationship between the police and the public. He aimed at ensuring that the public understood that the police could actually work for their best interest. According to Nicola and others, Peel coined several principles to act as a marketing strategy that would convince the public of the police legitimacy. The police were to be guided by the principles as a code of conduct. According to Clyde in ‘Criminal Justice Administration’ Sir Robert Peel was the creator of the first professional police department in the world precisely, the London’s Scotland Yard. (Cronkhite C, 2008). This paper will focus on Sir Robert and his contribution on policing to the diverse needs of the present day population. To Peel, the police would not only enforce the law through the apprehension of criminals but it would also aim at preventing crime. The cornerstone of his principles was the prevention of crime, acquisition of public support and cooperation without jeopardizing the opinion of the masses or the public as well as the reduced use of force. As argued by Nicola and others, Peels’ principles are much in line with the modern-day policing and its application would be of much influence in meeting the diverse needs of the members of the public. The contemporary policing aims at reducing the reliance of rapid responses but rather calls for effective prevention tactics. Proactive approaches of resolving crime are advocated for as compared to reactive approaches. In the modern policing, it is also important that there is the creation of community partnership that involves the public in maintaining social order and harmony in their communities. (Sutton N, Draper G and Jones J, 2005). Â  It is very important that the police work hand in hand with the public so as to effectively maintain law and order. Clyde in ‘Criminal Justice’ argues that Peel coined the philosophy ‘the police are the people and the people are the police’ to show the need that the two parties work in collaboration. As Clyde points out, Peel identified twelve law enforcement organizational principles. (Cronkhite C, 2008). 1. The police must be stable, efficient and well organized along military lines. 2. The police must be controlled by the government 3. Prove that the police are efficient would not be by the number of arrests made but by the absence of crime. This advocated for the proactive approaches to resolving crime in the society. 4. The distribution of crime news is absolutely essential. 5. Deployment of police strength by time and area was also critical. 6. No quality is more vital to a policeman than the perfect command of temper. 7. Good appearance commands respect. 8. The securing and training of proper persons is a core issue if efficiency is to be realized. 9. Every police was to be given a number due to public security demand. This would ensure that there was increased accountability level on the part of the police. 10. The police headquarters should be centrally located and easily accessible to the people. 11. Policemen should be hired on a probationary basis. 12. Police records were necessary to the correct distribution of police strength. Peel faced much rejection from those who feared that the police force would be very powerful and consequently dangerous. Such rejection made it difficult to implement Peel’s principles but with time they proved to be a success and have been used across the globe. (Cronkhite C, 2008). In order for the police to perform their duties effectively they must depend on the public to approve their existence, their lives, actions, behavior and the ability to secure as well as maintain public respect. (Jim & James Chu, 2001). The police headquarters must be in a centralized location to make it easier for people to report crimes. This would also enhance the flow of relevant or useful information that can be used to curb crimes. The distribution of crime news would also be effective in curbing crime as it would eliminate the problems of distance or proximity when tracking criminals. It is also vital for comparison purposes as well as in analyzing trends which is an important aspect in the process of decision making. A harmonious relationship between the police and the public would be a plus in as far as the effectiveness of proactive approaches to crime is concerned given the fact that the public would be more willing to report suspicious incidences. Less strained relationship between the two would be an effective preventive measure. (Edwards C, 2005). Timeliness is also very important and the police must be deployed at the right place and time if a positive effect is to be felt. It is also very important that police control their tempers or anger as this would ensure that they have a good face in the eyes of the public. People who are to join the police force must be selected properly so that after training they are able to perform and meet the ever-changing needs of the public in an efficient manner. Peel advocated for the involvement of the members of the society in the maintenance of law and order which is also called ‘community policing’. (Levinson D, 2002). Record keeping is also important for analysis purposes. All in all, Sir Robert principles are still applicable in today’s world.

Marketing Warfare in the Zimbabwean Mobile Sector Essay

Introduction The concept that marketing is warfare can be said to be largely true in respect of the Zimbabwean mobile sector where players have drawn lessons from established battlefield concepts of planning, maneuvering and outwitting fellow players in order to stay ahead of the pack. However the marketing is warfare concept does not adequately charectirise the competitive nature of the mobile industry as there are other factors to be taken into consideration such as customer needs. The mobile sector was introduced in Zimbabwe by Strive Masiyiwa through his Econet brand. A protracted battle with authority ensured before he was finally granted the licence to operate a mobile network. In the meantime, Net-one was granted a licence to operate and started offering Mobile phone services in 1996 followed by Net-one which was granted a licence in 1998 with Econet being the last to enter the market after its legal battle in July 1998. The mobile sector has since grown to incorporate other players who offer mobile services such as Africom, Broadacom and most recently Tel one who offer the (086) mobile line range. Going by the concept that marketing is warfare, the increase in players thus equates to an increase in the number of armies in the battlefield. This essay shall analyse how the players in the mobile sector industry have utilized well known battlefield strategies in order to control the giant share in the mobile industry. ‘Marketing is warfare’ defined Al Ries and Jack Trout have drawn a parallel between military warfare and the competitive strategies employed by competitors in the marketplace. Ries and Trout propose that there are four strategies that can be used in fighting a marketing war; defensive, offensive, flanking and guerrilla tactics. In any industry there is a market leader, market challenger, market follower and market niche. The market leader employs the defensive strategy in order to maintain its position as market leader and to expand its market share further. It has to continuously protect its market share from offensive attacks by its competitors. The market challenger is the one which follows behind the market leader and can employ offensive tactics to out rightly attack the market leader and its smaller competitors in order to increase its market share. It can also choose to accept its position as a market challenger and fight to maintain and defend their position as such. The market follower is much smaller and commands a smaller share of the market. It can chose to use the flank attacks which is an indirect approach rather than the offensive which can prove to be a more expensive and less effective method. The market follower recognizes the areas of the market not being covered by the market leader and challenger and focuses its attention on those areas in order to gain competitive advantage. Econet as the Market Leader Econet, commands about 58% of the mobile market in Zimbabwe with about 8million subscribers whilst Telecel has a market share of about 28% with subscribers amounting to 2.5 million.Net-One is last with a market share of around 15% and a subscriber base of 700 000. The above statistics clearly show that Econet is the market leader in the Zimbabwean mobile sector. However this has not always been the position as Net-one, the first to offer mobile services in Zimbabwe was at one time the market leader. This could be attributed to the fact that Net- one was the first to provide mobile services with Telecel and Econet entering the fray two years after net- One had already started providing services to the market. As such it was only normal that Net-One was the market leader at this stage. Due to the economic challenges experienced by the country especially the period before 2008, Net-One failed to maintain its position as market leader resulting in Econet taking over that position Amongst the tactics used by Econet to gain its position as market leader, is the offensive tactic. It quickly came in to increase its market share by increasing its subscriber base. This it did by upgrading their capacity to enable them to sign up as many new customers as possible. Econet took advantage of the fact that initially, mobile services were a scarce commodity and a preserve of the elite, to outwit its competitors by increasing its subscriber base and flooding the market with its mobile lines way before its competitors followed suit. Another factor which might have contributed to the rise of Econet to the position of market leader is the fact that, for it to get its licence to operate, Econet went through a protracted battle with the authorities even though they had come up with the idea to introduce mobile services in Zimbabwe. This protracted battle endeared the public to Econet as it was a general perception that Econet was being victmised. Consequently when it launched its own mobile services it had already won the loyalty of customers way before it started offering the service. Mobile defence. When it gained the position of market leader Econet then adopted the defensive strategy in order to maintain its position as such. It did this by a continued increase in its subscriber base whilst at the same time introducing new products so as to lure more customers. By continuously increasing its capacity in terms of the subscriber base, Econet ensured that it shut out its competitors, who due to a lack of resources were not able to match Econet’s continued rapid growth.by so doing Econet used the mobile defence strategy which entails more than just a leader maintaining a fotress position whilst assuming that its competitors will never catch up. In the mobile defence strategy however, the market leader, ‘concentrates upon market broadening and diversification.’ (Gilligan) Econet also went about the business of expanding its network coverage area. It did this hot in pursuit of Net-One which had gone on a network expansion drive, particularly in the rural areas an area which Econet had not yet penetrated. Econet went on a counter- offensive attack and expanded its network faster and wider than its competitors thus maintaining its position of market leader. This method was used by Cadillac when faced with stiff competition from Mercedes. It went on to produce a newer and better model than that which had been released by Mercedes. This is the method which was applied by Econet, because even though Net-One’s now covered the rural areas which previously had no access to mobile services, Econet’s network coverage was now bigger and even wider than any of its competitors. Since attaining its market leader position, Econet has worked on developing new products and services to maintain its present customers and to lure more customers. For instance, Econet introduced the Ecolife service to provide lie assurance services to its customers. This was a means of Econet diversifying from its main services and also worked to ensure that customers from other networks could migrate to Econet as their networks were not providing a similar service. On the other hand, Econet might have offered this product before doing their homework as regards their capacity to offer the product as they had to withdraw it following disputes with their partner. In order to maintain its market share whilst at the same time making meaningful inroads into hitherto unconquered territory, Econet was also the first one to introduce 3G services which enabled its customers to send and receive multimedia messages. The introduction of this service was long overdue as most of its customers already owned phones which could perform this task. The fact that it did so before any of its competitors did gave Econet a competitive advantage. In further diversifying, Econet ventured into internet services through its division Ecoweb. It further developed this concept by ensuring that it was the first to offer internet services on its mobile platform thus enabling users to access internet services on their mobile phones. Counter-offensive defensive When Net-One and Telecel introduced mobile banking through ‘One wallet’ and ‘Isikhwama’ respectively, Econet launched a counter- offensive defence by launching its own Ecocash. A counter-offensive attack is one in which the market leader responds to an attack by the market challenger. As they say that a bigger army has got an upper hand and is more likely to overpower the smaller armies, Econet could afford to embark on massive advertisement and roll out of their new product so as to outdo its competitors. Econet used all its resources and went into overdrive marketing Ecocash. This had the impact of overshadowing Telecel and Net-One’s own mobile banking services to the point that it is now as good as if they do not exist. Econet used the counter offensive defence in order to ensure that its competitors’ new products had a still birth. Using its enormous resources as the market leader, Econet went on to roll out its programme by recruiting agents all over the country, rural and urban areas alike which also serve as a marketing tool for them. By allowing its competitors to introduce their new products before coming in from behind after realizing that the product was viable, Econet also used a marketing strategy known as ‘constructive following’(Mercer1996). Econet took advantage of the gap in its competitors who, although they had a good idea, did not have as much resources as the market leader to roll out the programme as effectively as Econet did. In this particular instance it can be said that Econet went ahead to counter attack its competitors as it did not spare any resources in ensuring that the product gained attention. Furthermore it has set to flex its muscles by preventing Telecel and its partner Cabs, access to its customers through their ‘Textacash’ product. Position defence The position defence is a strategy used by a market leader to erect barrier around its company and ensure that its brand position is invincible. This can be done through massive advertisements and promotions to ingrain its position as the market leader. Econet has invested a lot of money in entrenching in the mind of the customer that theirs is the best brand to such an extent that even their competitors might also believe that this is a fact. Its vast profit margins ensure that it has the money to dominate the advertising sector and to promote its brand as the leading brand. The ‘Inspired to change your world’ catch phrase is used to imprint in the consumer’s mind that only their company can bring positive change to the consumer’s life and that the purpose of its very existence is to provide the best service to its customers through continued innovation. All throughout the country, Econet has put up billboards asserting its position as the market leader. This has the effect of making their presence felt not only by its competitors but society at large. The net effect of this is that its competitors will end up believing in Econet’s assertion that its position as market leader is unassailable thus preventing/ reducing attacks from competitors. Econet has also endeared itself to its customers through various social corporate responsibility activities such as Capernaum trust, Joshua Nkomo Scholarship fund and the National Health Trust. These activities enhance Econet’s competitive advantage as people begin to perceive it as a caring organization which is not just after their money. Telecel as the Market Challenger From the above statistics, it is can be deduced that Telecel is the market challenger. As a market challenger, Michael Porter suggests that a market challenger has three ways in which to offset the market leader’s advantage: i) By creating a competitive advantage in cost or differentiation. ii) By neutralizing the leader’s strong points. iii) By setting up a defence against counter- attack by the market leader. Telecel has been able to employ one or more of these tactics as the market challenger through various promotions and incentives to give it a competitive edge against the market leader. A market challenger also has to decide whom to challenge between the market leader and the market follower. Frontal attack The frontal attack is a military tactic in which the enemy is attacked head on. As a marketing tool, it involves the market challenger matching the market leader product for product and price for price (C. Gilligan 2010, pg 487). Telecel has kept itself on Econet’s heels by trying to keep abreast of all new products offered by Econet. Even though Econet was the first one to launch 3G services and mobile internet services, Telecel also quickly followed suit offering the same service to its customers and at similar cost. By so doing, it made sure that it did not lose a substantial number of customers to Econet seeking a better service. However a frontal attack is not always the best method as it very expensive and risky considering that the market challenger is dealing with a well resourced competitor. Not to be outdone by Econet, Telecel has also launched its own social corporate responsibility initiative through supporting old people’s homes which also can be seen as a frontal attack on its competitor. Flank attacks Telecel has taken advantage of those areas in which the market leader is weak in order to assert itself as a superior brand. This strategy is called the frontal attack and is less risky and less costly than the frontal attack. Telecel has identified those products that Econet does not provide and its weaknesses to fill the void left by Econet. A good example is the pre activated lines which are being offered by Telecel. Econet does not offer the same service, the result being that it takes longer for a customer’s new line to be activated than for a Telecel customer. This gives Telecel a competitive advantage over Econet. Telecel also provides airtime on credit up to a certain limit, another service which Econet does not provide. Through this product, Telecel customers can use airtime then pay for it later upon topping up their pre-paid lines. Upon purchasing a new mobile line, it is mandatory that one registers their details with their service provider before accessing service. Telecel has provided for this service to be provided via the phone without the need for filling in of forms. On the other hand Econet does not have a similar facility and one actually has to visit their offices to fill the forms with a considerable waiting period. Telecel was also the first one to provide call me back facility. This facility enables a customer without credit to send a message for another subscriber to call them back. Econet then launched a counter- offensive defense by immediately following suit. Nonetheless, Telecel still has the upper hand in terms of customer satisfaction as their subscribers are allowed to send call me backs across all networks. Econet on the other hand, only allows call me backs on its own network. This could give Telecel an advantage resulting in customer migration from Econet to Telecel, for those who require the service to be across the board. Telecel has consistently looked at ways to outwit their market leader by taking advantage of those service gaps left by Econet. Telecel took advantage of the social media platforms by being the first to encourage the market to like them on Facebook before Econet did. Econet has since taken a counter- offensive response by also signing up on the social network platform. Telecel also took the lead on teletunes a service whereby a caller can listen to a tune whilst waiting for their call to be connected. It also initiated a quiz facility where its customers would stand a chance to win prizes if they answered the questions correctly. All this enhanced Telecel’s brand as it would constantly seek to provide a differentiated service from that of its competitors. Telecel offered mobile banking services before Econet did. Econet immediately launched a massive counter-offensive as outlined above. This shows that it is a risky business to attack the market leader, as it has more than enough resources to counter the offensive and even surpasses the market challenger. Guerilla tactics These tactics entails hit and run moves which are designed to keep the competitor off balance. This can be in the form of temporary price reductions as Telecel did with the introduction of ‘mega juice’ airtime where their customers would get massive discounts within the network after topping up their airtime. This also worked to increase product as customers would buy more airtime knowing that they will receive bonuses. Telecel also reduced the price of their sim card starter packs as compared to those of their competitors. It can actually be argued that these two tactics alone helped Telecel to overtake its competitors from behind thus becoming the second largest mobile network in Zimbabwe. Guerilla warfare can also be by way of product comparisons. When Econet changed its platform from ‘091’ to ‘0772’ whilst Telecel was changing its own from ‘023’ to ‘072’, Telecel took advantage of this changeover to put its product in comparison with Econet. Previously Econet was associated with the elite, whilst on the other hand Telecel was associated with the less affluent. However with the changeover of the identifying numbers the difference was no longer notable. Telecel released advertisements encouraging people to ‘†¦.move over to Telecel since they were changing numbers anyway’. On its website in an apparent dig on the market leader Telecel says ‘We might not be the biggest but we are the best’ Telecel also underwent rebranding and increased advertisements and visibility. It also gives a statement that you do not have to be the biggest in order to be the best. Net-one as the market follower. Net-one having is the market follower in terms of the above statistics. It has the option of employing the following tactics: i) Product imitation or the me-too strategy ii) Guerilla tactics through price reduction iii) Use their Research and Development effectively Net- One moved from being the market leader to being the market follower due. This could be attributed to the economic meltdown between 2002 and 2009 and also the introduction of United States Dollar. Net- One lost a lot of revenue as it had established a niche market among the corporate and parastatals that preferred its contract line service. The introduction of the United States Dollar meant that all money owed under the Zimbabwe Dollar era was lost. Net-One has embarked on a number of warfare tactics in order to regain its market leader position. Initially, Net-one sought to regain its position as market leader through an aggressive network expansion drive. Net-One used the flanking attack by ensuring that they expanded to the rural areas whereas all its counterparts were concentrating on the urban areas. Thus Net-One took advantage of the gaps left by its competitors to gain competitive advantage. Econet however countered by expanding its network even wider than Net-One. Nevertheless, Net-One is still perceived to be the network that is easily accessible in the rural areas. Net-one has used the me-too strategy by also introducing airtime promotions and bonuses for topping up airtime. This it has done in imitation of the promotions done by Telecel under the ‘mega-juice’ promotion. It is reported that these promotions have resulted in it growing its subscriber by 500 000 subscribers. Net-One has also engaged in frontal attack in dealing with its competitors. In 2006 when Econet offered to sponsor the national Premier Soccer League (P.S.L), Net-One countered by offering to sponsor a team in the P.S.L. This would result in promotion conflict as Econet wanted players’ uniforms to all bear its brand whereas the Net-One sponsored team would also be required to wear the Net-One logo. In the end Econet pulled out of the sponsorship deal. Shortfalls of warfare marketing strategy. It has been argued that the warfare strategy’s shortfall is that it concentrates mainly on competitors moves whilst forgetting the customer. It has been proposed that there needs to be a strong focus upon the customer and that the organization must be customer-led. The marketing is warfare concept leads to too much aggression and sometimes a company can lose sight of its own objectives and or its own customers’ needs. This can have a negative impact on its performance as the company engages in unnecessary aggression. On the other hand, one cannot be purely customer –oriented as customers very often do not realize what they want and relying on customer opinions can be misguiding. Conclusion Marketing has been likened to a football match where one cannot just concentrate on the game without looking at his opponents’ because they will not win the game. From the above it can be said that indeed if the players in the mobile sector were to totally ignore their competitors they would not gain competitive advantage. However the mobile sector should also concentrate on their customers if they are to give their customers value. Overall it should be pointed out that the competition strategies highlighted above result in value addition for customers as players try to outdo each other. References †¢ http://www.brandingstrategyinsider.com †¢ http://www.econet.co.zw †¢ http://www.netone.co.zw †¢ http://www.telecel.co.zw †¢ http://www.techzim.co.zw †¢ Gilligan C. et al [2009] Strategic Marketing Planning , 2nd Edition Butterworth-Heinmann United Kingdom. †¢ Hooley G. et al [2012] Marketing Strategy & Competitive Positioning 5th Edition Prentice Hall International, United Kingdom. †¢ Kotler P. et al†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¢ Mercer D. [1998] Marketing 2nd Edition Blackwell Publishers United Kingdom.

Why was there a revolution in March 1917?

Russia was a very backward country compared with the other European countries. There were few factories before 1890 and there had been little industrial development in Russia. By 1990, however, many peasants were leaving the countryside to work in the towns and industry made twice as much in 1990 as in 1890. This meant that towns like Moscow and StPetersburg grew up quickly. In these towns grew slums where the working class, that had previously not existed at all, lived. The increased population of the towns meant there was more pressure on Russia's farmers to produce more food, which could not be done with the medieval farming methods still in use. In other words Russia was in the middle of an industrial revolution when the Tsar was forced to abdicate in 1917. All other European countries had been through the same process, but without such a drastic side effect. Whereas in England and France the government had changed to accommodate the needs of the new social order, in Russia these changes had been used as an excuse to get rid of the Tsar. Therefore, it was largely the Tsar's inadequacy as a ruler and the mistakes he made that led to a revolution in 1917. Tsar Nicholas was not a strong ruler and was out of touch with the needs and realities of his country. He himself was extremely wealthy and surrounded by only the good things in life, and associated only with the aristocracy. He ruled as an autocrat, unaided by any parliament. Nicholas succeeded in keeping power by the secret police, the Okhrana, military power and censorship of the press. Nicholas believed he was chosen by God. Influenced by one of his ministers, Pobedonostev, he forced the Russian Orthodox religion on other ethnic groups, especially the Jews, and on the people in schools, the army and work places. This made him even more unpopular than before, with his use of terror to oppress his people. In 1905, there was nearly another revolution. The causes of that demonstrated the bad feeling against the Tsar, as did the number of anti-government publications when censorship was relaxed in 1903, and the strikes and demands when the Tsar tried to set up government-approved unions. In 1904 Tsar Nicholas tried to unite his country by going to war with Japan over parts of the crumbling Chinese Empire. This led to many humiliating defeats and a display of Russian incompetence in organisation. This further increased the bad feeling towards the Tsar. All these, coupled with failed harvests and low wages, resulted in a peaceful protest on 22 January 1905, which was led by Father Gapon. Father Gapon organised a strike and a petition that requested better working conditions, an elected parliament and an end to war. He marched with the workers to present the petition to the Tsar at the winter palace, not knowing that he had left the day before. When they arrived at the palace, the soldiers turned on the crowd and started firing. That day became known as ‘Bloody Sunday'. In the same year, the Tsar's uncle was shot, there was an increase in peasant riots, there was mutiny on the battleship Potemkin, printers went on strike and there was a general strike where practically everything closed down towards the end of the year. Tsar Nicholas survived the events of 1905 because then and afterwards the army supported him, and made sure that by March 1906 all revolution was crushed and its leaders were either dead, exiled or in hiding. Nicholas was lucky in that the great massof peasants blamed the land owners and not himself, and that censorship of the newspapers was still in place. He also protected himself by agreeing to the October Manifesto. This was a list of promises given by the Tsar that was drawn up by Witte. Included in it were promises for a Duma or parliament elected by the people, civil rights, uncensored press and the right to form political parties. This was successful in taking pressure off the Tsar and secured the middle class's support of the government. It did not, however, satisfy the revolutionaries and later on it appeared that they were right in regarding the Manifesto with suspicion. Although there was freedom of expression, newspapers were fined if they printed anything offending the Tsar, and the Duma was so limited that it was virtually ineffective. In it the proletariat and the peasants were highly under-represented. Even so the Tsar failed to accept it as a governing body and it was only by the time of the fourth Duma that he begun to work with it. After 1905, life did begin to change in Russia and a key figure responsible for these changes was Stolypin, the Prime Minister appointed by the Tsar. He used the army to exert the Tsar's power in the countryside by setting up military courts that could sentence and hang a person on the spot. The hangman's noose became known as Stolypin's necktie. The terror this caused was heightened by the still-active Okhrana that had many informers. People were required to carry internal passports and travellers to register with the police of the area they were staying in. In 1911, Stolypin affected changes in the countryside to make agriculture more productive. Peasants could buy land from their neighbours with money borrowed from a peasant's bank set up by Stolypin. The aim in this was to create a wealthy class of peasants loyal to the government, kulaks. 15% took up this offer and Stolypin's theory appeared to have worked with record harvests in 1913. The poorer peasants became labourers or factory workers. Four million were encouraged to cultivate land along the Trans-Siberian railway but found that it was already taken by rich land speculators. They then returned, angry, to European Russia. In the towns there was an industrial boom that meant production increased by 100% between 1906 and 1914. The workers, however, did not benefit from this increase with the average wage being under what it was in 1903. In 1912, an important strike took place in the Lena goldfields in Siberia that led to 170 dead workers and 375 wounded. This had a similar effect to Bloody Sunday and gave way to many workers' protests. These changes affected some, even if very little, improvements in Russia and would have led to more had had they not been interrupted by the First World War. The war meant that the fourth Duma had to be dismissed, just when the Tsar had begun accepting it. However, at first the war seemed good for Russia; initially there were successes and the people supported the Tsar but even at first the similarities to the Russo-Japanese war were obvious, except that the effects would be far worse as it would be a far longer war, giving the Tsar more time to make mistakes. The early enthusiasm for the war dwindled quickly as losses mounted high. The soldiers went to the front without proper warfare or equipment as basic as boots for the cold and wet. They blamed their officers for their ill organisation. Life was hard in the towns also. There was little food and what there was, was sent to the soldiers but often did not get to them. People were starving in the cities and there were huge bread queues. Prices went up as there was a shortage of nearly everything but the workers' wages did not. Coal was unavailable and as the factories closed. People were hungry, cold and unemployed. Morale also dropped as stories from the front told of misery and defeat. In September 1915 Tsar Nicholas made a great mistake by taking over the running of the war. This was such a massive error because the people now blamed him for the suffering brought about by the war. It also meant that he left Russia in the hands of Rasputin and Alexandra. The Tsarina was not popular as she was thought to be a German spy and Rasputin was infamous fir his behaviour. Together they replaced the able ministers of the Duma with favourites or men that would do as they were told. The Tsar lost support continually until March 1917 as he was held responsible for the war and things it had caused. By March 1917 the proletariat did not only want their physical needs satisfied but they also wanted political change. On the seventh forty thousand workers from the Putilov engineering works went on strike in Petrograd. The next day they were joined in their demonstrations by thousands of women. Over the next few days men and women demanded food, fuel and better conditions together. On the twelfth soldiers joined the strikers and marched with them to the Duma. Instead of shooting at the crowds, they shot at their officers. The Tsar had lost the support of the army. The Tsar could not survive revolution this time. He had lost the support of the army that had been very important to him in keeping control by suppressing any opposition. Underneath him the people had always been divided into different political factions but this time only a portion of the aristocracy supported him. On 15 March, the railway workers did not allow the Tsar's train into Petrograd. Certain army officials entered the Tsar's compartment to ask him to abdicate but the Tsar had already decided to do this in favour of his brother as his son's medical condition meant that there would be added difficulty to his ruling. However, Russia had had enough of the Tsars. Some people think that abdication was the biggest mistake of all as it meant certain ruination for the Romanovs. The 1917 revolution was the result of a combination of factors. In the short term, the First World War was an important cause, but there was a growing dissatisfaction with the Tsarist regime and the economic and social hardships it caused, that nearly boiled over in 1905. Everything that ever happened or did not happen in Russia could be shown as a reason for it but what made it so significant was what happened after the overthrowing of the Tsar with the Provisional Government and Lenin.