Globalization And The Toyota Company

Globalization And The Toyota Company The world today has been seeing the strong globalization. The process is reflected not only in trade but also in manufacturing, services, finance, investment as well as socio-culture and environment in various forms and levels. Economic globalization promotes close relationships, interdependence and rapid interactions among national economies. Through the process of liberalization, the globalization creates advantages motivating the development of productive forces and economic interactions between nations. Accordingly, comparative advantages of the participatory nations are strengthened and optimized. Besides, needs for development by enterprises is a growing and indispensable trend in the integrated global economy. Their scales of development are not limited in a geographical country or region, but in the whole world. In such a world of increasingly economic globalization, enterprise managers should be able to manage both internal and external influencing factors. Owing to that the managers will have better prediction, management of resources, and business direction towards set targets. In the course of global organizational environment, there are totally 12 sessions. Out of those, in following part, I will summarize 7 sessions. Particularly, among those selected sessions, I found session 12 an interesting one, even though it is the most challenging topic for me. This session helps the managers draw up both positive and negative perspectives of their businesses. This process strictly requires good understanding of their business situation, so that they can actively cope with and overcome difficulties that they already included in the drawing negative perspective Session 1: Organizational forms and purposes: In this session, we learn about some types of establishment, such as private organizations, state-owned organizations and 3rd regional organizations, etc. Understanding of these types is an important factor for a start-up business. Selection of type has great impact on the existence and development of an enterprise. Basically, distinguish features resulted in by different types of business are: Prestige due to consumption habits, Ability in capital mobilization, Investment risks, Complexity of procedures and business establishment costs, Corporate governance institutions. In addition, we may know how to analyze business by looking at its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT method) or through Mendelow matrix that tabulates values and priorities of involving factors influencing the business. Analysis results will strongly support the managers in identifying and prioritizing factors, and then developing proper strategies accordingly. Furthermore, we also obtain better understanding of role of business types and their influencing factors. Understanding of the relationship between the organization and its environment is fundamental to development strategy. While making strategic decisions on organizational direction and scope of business, all the factors relating to goals and members expectations should be taken into consideration. From the different goals, they put questions that: to whom they offer services and how to offer, or how to deal with the business with consideration of the shareholders profits? Once answering those questions, they will determine business goals and directions as well as type of business they will adopt. References of this topic are various. Internet is such a great source where I can find lots of references. From this session, I would like to obtain an overall understanding of business types, scales, scopes, socio contributions and to whom the business offers services. One of the key points obtained from this session is to employ Medelow matrix to analyze resources and every activity of the enterprise. In such a long time, the concept of corporate governance remains a debating topic, and it is such a challenge to me. After this course, I will be more confident because I absorbed the knowledge and will learn more from my work Session3: Managerial Environment Through this session we can determine the importance and nature of external environment. Classification of environment toward business orientation needs taking into consideration of different aspects and their complexity, variety and stability of markets and competing environment. The managers can identify the importance of environmental conditions and manage them. At that moment, the managers need to know how to analyze the environment by employing PEST framework. PEST framework is a support tool for effective analysis of business environment. (Andrew Harrison, Feb 16, 2011) Political environment has effects on the business operation of an enterprise. Stable political environment will help the enterprise having better business operation and long-term strategic directions. On the contrary, it may hinder the business operation in both short and long run. Business operations are also affected by the national economy. In such a developing economy, the enterprise has more business opportunities due to increasing income of consumers and their willingness to pay. However, the enterprise should have to consider the environmental impacts on the host country from its development. The impacts which can be overuse of energies and natural resources will lead to environmental pollution and resource exhaustion. Other factors affecting the business environment which are social situations i.e. population proportion and averaged age of a country should be considered while running business. Besides, the application of advanced technologies in the business operations helps increasing yield of production and reducing labor forces. The boom of application of technologies has been changing the sales methods by applying electronic technologies, such as online sale. Online sale also changes the buying tradition of the customers that the products are delivered directly to home. Analysis of the environmental factors aims at identifying opportunities and threats through which the enterprise can reduce and actively manage risks, and at the same time optimize their strengths in doing business. In addition, we can determine business strategy to cope with and manage changes of the environment. Owing to that we become more proactive and are well prepared to deal with the crisis. This process may be associated with the strategic vision of enterprise in the future scenarios. Session4: Economy and the role of government In this session we learn about the economy and the role of government. The government governs the country with respect to set economic goals. In reality, those goals are essential part of the macro-economy and listed as follows: a modest rate of inflation, a reasonable rate of economic growth, low rates of unemployment, a balance of payments in equilibrium or surplus. These goals can be achieved through market forces. In fact, in the past the government tried to achieve all these goals simultaneously and by doing so it has encountered other problems. Today, the government focuses on management of macro-economy instead putting its efforts on a certain issue. The most important task is to keep everything under control. Example is to ensure low-enough inflation rate as compared with those of other countries. If the inflation rate is too high, it can even weaken the common currency system. How can the government manage the economy? Government must consider the tools available to achieve the set goals. Two common tools are fiscal policy and monetary policy. Fiscal policy in which use of taxes and spending is announced in the budget is part of the Governments efforts to affect demand in the economy. By using this tool, an economy can be adjusted through changing the amount of tax and expenditure. The fiscal policy is used to increase or decrease demand. The fiscal policy is basically a method to smooth the economic cycle for achievement of the goals. The government mainly uses interest rates to influence demand in the economy for restraining inflation. Increase in interest rates would increase savings and reduce consumption and investment spending. Although it is a short-term solution, it is worth achieving benefits from restraining inflation. Similarly, interest rates affect exchange rates and those involved in the trade are often affected significantly when interest rates change. Interest rates are also used to change the money supply by affecting the ability to create credit by the banking sector. Monetary policy uses the money supply and interest rates to affect demand. The interest rate affects short-term demand and is mainly used to achieve realistic goals of the Government-that is low inflation rate. The use of tax incentives designed specifically to improve labor productivity are referred to as the supply side, which is a long-term strategy designed to reduce unemployment. The government also sets out the framework of laws and regulations to govern the operation of enterprises. Accordingly, the Government acts as an important actor in the economy. Management of the economy to achieve the goals is a complex operation. In short, the government uses interest rates as a tool for short-term demand management and other taxes and spending on long-term supply side to achieve macroeconomic goals. Session 7: Economy has emerged on three continents. In the 7th session, we consider the emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). How do these emerging economies affect the world economy in the future and whether or not the emerging economies will usurp the U.S. position as number-one world economy? The fact is that emerging economies have been contributing largely to the development of world economy. BRIC are among the first countries getting out of the crisis. In the future, those economies can be considered as core pillars of a newly-ordered world gradually appearing and they will dominate the global economy. Even though they have distinguished economic infrastructures, each of them has particular and significant advantages. Brazil has the strength of iron and agricultural raw materials; Russia is a large country with huge reserves of crude oil and gas, India is an exchanging point and can provide information, computing services, while China has a giant consumption market and considered as a world factory with huge cheap labor forces. BRIC economies are booming with continuous high growth rate and gradually proving their important positions in the world trade. During this financial and economical crisis, BRIC is expected to have an important role in stabilizing the world economy and its role as an organization to influence the world political and economic situation following G8 and G20. Most analysts have reckoned that the prospects of the BRIC cooperation are very positive and bring opportunities to the communities of developing countries. BRIC countries have distinguished characteristics of economic development. They will complement with each other in different fields such as finance, energy, services, technology, agriculture, environmental protection and food safety as well as in the multilateral trade negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). BRIC countries are emerging and market-oriented economies and they are playing an increasingly important role in changing the structure of the current global economy. Most economists agree that, if nothing happens than expected, in 50 years the BRIC countries will be the economic entity having great power to the global economy. In 40 years, the economic size of the BRIC countries will surpass the G7 countries in GDP. The Indian economy scale will overtake Japan in 2032, while China will overtake the U.S. in 2041. In 2050, six major economies in the world will be ranked as China, America, India, Japan, Brazil and Russia. Chief economist of Goldman Sachs Investment Bank Gim predicted these four economies will form the dominant force the world economy in 2050. (Goldman Sachs, Feb 16, 2011) That is just the analysis and prediction of scientists on the future BRIC group. However, the open and developing economy together with a stable political environment are overwhelming advantages for the BRIC countries in the coming decades. Session 10: Delivering Customer Value In 10th session, we will study the goals and position of the enterprise in the market of providing products and services to customers. Customer value is the total benefits received by the customer who owns the product or service. It includes the benefits offered from products and services offers, additional services, brand image and also personal relationships. Comparison of customer value and cost of customer will form the concept for value for customers. Although competition remains tough, the quality is no longer a dominant competitive advantage. The product innovation and quality are no longer a basis for competitive advantage. Some companies turned to internal improvements by trying to work through better structure and process changes. Downsizing, restructuring, re-establishment emerged as a common management tool to create enterprise streamlined. However, whether or not the experience of these tools has made their promises is still uncertain. The operational processes are certainly changed, but the expected impacts on performance are yet achieved. The quality and organizational structure improvement keeps on going and there are continuous and strong pressures on improvement coming from outside markets a process of seeking for competitive advantages begins. A question of what the comparative advantage is becomes important to the enterprises. Instead of focusing on the improvement of activities and internal structure, a change and improvement in management is unavoidable for the enterprises that are interested in outside markets and their customer benefits. Delivering customer value is a consistent and proper strategic direction. First of all, the application of customer value delivered orientation requires the enterprises to have careful and concise study of the market and their customers. Decisions on the methods of competing in customer value delivery becomes more effective if the enterprises consider the questions: What do the customer exactly need? Out of all the values appreciated by the customers, which value should the enterprises target to for their advantages? How do the customers think of the ability of the enterprises in delivering the values? How do the appreciated values change in the future? Secondly, the managers should have to translate their customer studies into action in order to offer better services. For example, the internal processes that provide values need to be adjusted to coincide with the values that customers appreciate. If businesses become more competitive in providing better customer values, they will need a set of corresponding tools for delivering customer value. Using these tools, organizations in the future will become more qualified in integration of internal quality management and outward strategies which is consistent with the customer view of the values. Session11: Managing Market Performance In this session, we will learn about the market activities and the businesses, business regulations in a certain market and how to manage market businesses and exist in a market. In a particular market if companies are about to succeed, they must study seriously and understand well that market and their products in that market. In order to do that the enterprises must understand both the current and potential markets and evaluate the attractiveness of the market. They also must define the strengths and weaknesses of existing businesses and the potential. That does not mean to set standards for the best market. The market attractiveness can be understood in different ways depending on on specific situations of that market. A market is considered more attractive if it possesses such factors: (large, growing, high profit, competition and competitive intensity is low, low immigration barriers, the market is less sensitive to occurrences due to loss of control). Similarly, the evaluation of the companys strengths and potentials in providing services, meeting the market needs should be conducted at the same time with the evaluation of the customer needs, advantages and strengths of competitors through following criteria: The company holds a big market share, grows faster in the market, has unique and valuable and high quality products and services, higher profits, effective production and marketing, protected technology properties. In the context of the analysis of two factors including market attractiveness and the company strength, we must consider the relative importance of each factor to achieve a comprehensive assessment that helps us choose a target market. Session12: Making Sense of Uncertainty. Participating in the current rapid globalization environment, the enterprises and managers need to study the nature of the environment to be ready coping with rising problems in their businesses. In a constant and simple environment, while dealing with possible future situations, the managers often refer to the past and use the methods of prediction and assumption of unchanged situation in the future.. But this approach is no longer appropriate and it is even dangerous if it is applied in nowadays rapidly changing environment. The managers are more active in their businesses if they must make a detailed plan predict an operational process to deal with both advantages and disadvantages. Design of the good or bad scenario for business case, management and the leaders will avoid the thing happening unexpectedly they might encounter. At least two scenarios will be conducted: Script that will achieve positive business and other cases, specific activities, if their business is in good point Is a bad scenario worst for business and corporate actions as well as managers to avoid losses to the company. Advantage of both scenarios shows that the specific actions that managers need to do beside the support tools to control the actions for promotion of business activities. However, in the case of a complex and dynamic environment, more sophisticated techniques are needed. In a dynamic environment, understanding the past situation does not always help the manager see what is going to happen. A commonly used technique is the creation of scenarios, allowing users to explore the broader possibilities and thus to terms with uncertainty. Task 2 (60% of module mark) Toyota Haier Airbus British Airways Sony-Erickson Marks and Spencer Ikea HSBC SAB Miller TUI Cadburys Tata Steel You are required to select one of the above companies in class and write a report (3000 words) in which you address the following issues: Type of organisation and its scope The organizations purpose and an analysis of its key stakeholders with an underpinning rationale for the power/interest of each stakeholder group The key external environmental issues (both general and competitive) impacting the organization in 2010 and beyond The organizations market position and its segmentation in 2010 The key opportunities and threats/challenges facing the organization in 2010 with a rationale for their selection The role and purpose of scenarios as a management tool illustrating your answer with an example of a scenario for your organization based upon the key challenges generated in task 2. Answer: I will write a report for the Toyota. In todays modern society, owning a car to transport is no longer a distant issue with consumers worldwide. Therefore business has a lot invested in the manufacturing sector and business vehicles such as GM, Ford, Nissan, Toyota the new launch of car companies that will create a competitive environment is very strong in business car. And expanding business market to other countries in the trend of global integration is becoming a serious urgency to this enterprise. Enterprises need to learn a lot about the conditions, standards and procedures of the different business environment affects how for production work and their business, of course if you want, they will be, they will have to adapt and to see changes to conform and survive in the environment they want to participate. Also businesses can take advantage of available resources such as cheap labour force, and natural resources abundance in the developing countries to produce their product and then sell in local market and export ed to other countries. Toyota is one such company that I also had a long interest in newspapers, articles on the website and on other media. In this article I will analyze and learn about the business environment impacts how for this business. Toyota is an automotive group transnational headquarters in Japan. Toyota was founded by Kiichiro Toyota on 28/08/1937 from a section separate from Toyota Industries. After a long development time, Toyota has now emerged to become the largest car manufacturing group in the world in terms of sales (Kendra Marr, Jan 22nd 2009). According to the annual report fiscal year 2009 (from 01/04/2008 to 31/03/2009), Toyota provides jobs for 320,808 workers, with 529 subsidiaries, with total capital of the company up to 397.05 billion yen. Major activities of the company are to design, assemble and sell cars, race cars, trucks, transportation vehicles and related spare parts. Toyota is known for the famous brands such as the Prius (hybrid vehicles with clean fuel), Lexus and Scion (luxury), Tundra (truck) Toyota owns a large amount of shares in the company Car Daihatsu and Hino, Fuji Heavy Industries, Isuzu Motors, Yamaha Motors, and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. In addition to manufacturing automobiles, Toyota provides financial services (Toyota Financial Services), involved robots, biotechnology Toyotas market share worldwide spread. Of these 26% in Japan, 29% in North U.S., 14% in Europe Toyota to build factories in all parts of the world, manufacturing or assembling vehicles in serving the needs of that market. Major changes in the global business environment, has changed rapidly in the business environment for Toyota. The growth of global markets and expanding into resource-rich countries or emerging markets has led to a decline in the U.S. market. Due to environmental problems and threats of global warming, interest in a low carbon society has led to rising petrol prices and rapid growth in demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. Finally, rising raw material prices caused the increase of raw materials used in the automotive industry, especially steel. Moreover, the challenge is now recession that has led Toyota to develop effective strategies to overcome financial losses. According to Business Week magazine in Toyotas profit fell 10% last year in the United States because the economic downturn. For this recession, Toyota has launched two short-term strategies (for example, for production systems optimized to meet the demand in the U.S.) and long-term strategies (for example, to increase hybri d production). That is the strategic goal of the Toyota business in the state of the global economy today. Mendelow I will use the matrix to analyze the role of environmental factors affecting the operations of Toyota: Figure 1: Through consideration Mendelow matrix we can see the role of the factors that affect decisions relating to Toyotas strategy as follows: With business partners, suppliers and local communities Toyota put them in the table that have less impact to Toyota because most of these factors contributing only a small part and depending on decisions of Toyota and Toyota can replace these elements with new elements even more valuable and more relevant. These factors are not vital element of the business. Actors like competitors and shareholders are located in the Keep inform the Toyota because of all the activities of Toyota and its competitors are analyzed when any new product or any act are reviewed information that is harmful or beneficial, must be treated thoroughly before using for business purposes, especially when competitors launch new products to market. The elements of the customer and the government (including provisions for legal, tax,..) of the host country where Toyota market are placed in the Keep satisfied. Consumers are objects that Toyota wants to target and their assessment is objective and is crucial to the e xistence or destruction of the Toyota. Toyotas products when launched without the support and acceptance from customers will be very difficult for Toyota business in the local market and can even lead to bankruptcy of enterprises. And finally the factors that play an important role for Toyota as owners, managers, employees, and banks. Owners have the important decision to make leadership and development company in the right direction and purpose. Bank could help Toyota help on the financing to complete the project and product development objectives and expand into new markets. And finally the officers and employees of the company they are the factors that make our products and contribute to the value of the product, they will promote and increase the value of brand products as well as Toyota Toyota is still considered the pinnacle of creativity, production quality and the power industry in Japan especially after the company passed General Motors (USA) to become the largest carmaker in the world. But now they are facing catastrophic why? Most problems related to Toyotas business environment is currently facing that are: The recovery (recall), nearly 8.5 million cars Toyota worldwide with technical deficiencies endangering the safety for the users have caused a serious crisis. From November 2009 Toyota has a withdrawal of 3.8 million cars to repair parts of the accelerator, to overcome unwanted vehicle acceleration. During the period Jan to May 2010, Toyota had recalled 2.3 million vehicles on the same reason, and stopped production at five factories in the U.S.. On 2nd September 2010, Toyota additionally recalled 440,000 hybrid vehicles (both cars have gasoline-electric), including the popular Prius model, to fix a problem in parts wins. According to Reuters news agency on 23rd February 2011, Toyota is also considering withdrawal Corolla the second best selling car after the Camry due to problems in parts of the wheel. (TBKTSG, Feb 26, 2011) The competitors with the Toyota U.S took advantage of Toyotas crisis by pushing up a promotion campaign Giving up Toyota to buy their vehicles.. Before Hyundai, two U.S. carmakers General Motors (GM) and Ford have also adopted similar measures to attract customers. GM and Ford pledged to donate $ 1,000 for consumers to switch Toyota car to their products. Customers who wish change from Toyota to GM car could get a loan to buy the car for 5 years without paying any interest(vneconomy.vn, 20 Feb, 2011) Otherwise, Toyota is also facing environmental problems for example earths warming, gas prices, increasing demand for less fuel consumption. and finally the rise of raw material will cause an increase in the price of the product in the future. Toyotas goal is to maintain its position as the worlds No. 1 in sales and continue to upgrade and further improvements in product quality and will regain its image. In 2010 it has been seen that the combined fuel vehicles of Toyota Prius sales break record for a single model in Japan. Prius sales increased program support by the Japanese Government for consumers to buy environmentally friendly vehicles. Toyota predicted that car sales reached 8.61 million vehicles in the global market in 2011 However, according to analysts, because of the recall crisis that Toyota faced in the past year, which is accompanied by a wave of claim and the record fines, there will be chasing this car in the process to regain the confidence of customers. Being number one in term of sales is not important for us, Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco told AFP. Our objective is to become number one with the customer, in terms of service and customer satisfaction. (Tokyo-AFP, Jan 24, 2011) According to AFP, Toyota is still the worlds largest car maker. Its sale increases 8% in 2010, reaching 8.418 million units. Meanwhile, any U.S. rivals General Motors (GM) sold 8.39 million vehicles. Particularly in Japan, Toyotas group sales including both car Daihatsu Motor and Hino Motors downs 10% in the past year. However, the groups sales in foreign markets increased 7%. Toyota sold 7.528 million vehicles last year, increasing 8% from last year. According to data provided by Goodcarbadcar.net in 2010 new car sales at Toyotas U.S. market have fallen behind both GM and Ford Motor to GM: more than 2.2 million vehicles, Ford Motor: more than 1.9 million vehicles, and Toyota: more than 1.76 million units, and the rest belong to other companies such as Hyundai, Kia, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦about 900,000 units. (Good car guy, Jan 5, 2011) Figure 2: Through the above analysis and data can be found despite declining sales in the U.S. and Japan, but Toyotas sales is still increasing in other markets, especially emerging markets like China Asian Nations. Opportunities: Situation in world oil prices is raising, customers tend to use the car consumer oriented products that save fuel or use clean energy sources. Toyota is pursuing projects to build natural gas vehicles and hydrogen by applying and technical achievements of the modern world and the results of R D. While customers are looking for alternative sources of oil, this is a lucrative project for the company. Currently, in many countries where have high demand for vehicles but the supply is still limited. Toyota may expand its market to these countries. Toyota can produce the cars that meet requirements of geographical conditions and target the young generation. These are opportunities Toyota to raise its market share. Threats: As discussed above, there are many other vehicle manufacturers around the world who have joined market. This is a big challenge for Toyota that requires Toyota has to improve the quality and price in order to compete with the existing and potential competitors. Besides, changes in the exchange rate between the dollar and yen also cause a profit decline. The increase in price of raw material is also a threat to the production. After the prolonged economic crisis, the governments are expected to proclaim tight fiscal policy that lead to the decrease in sales and sales of vehicle manufacturers. Government also encouraged their people to use less polluted means like a train, bus, high speed train instead of using polluted transport means like s cars, motorcycles. In addition, changing demographical structure, families now prefer to use the large models, the change in the use of family car as the car uses less than in making children to school, the home delivery services, also reduces the demand for cars fell significant. To analyse environmental factors I would use PEST model includes

America, a Democracy? Essay -- essays research papers

America, a Democracy?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  America. What’s the first thought to come to your mind after hearing this? Democracy? Land of Rights? That would make sense. America, the land of the free. The land of opportunity. But is America really a democracy? A country for the people, by the people? To an extent, but not exactly. The people of this great country do not have unlimited rights and the freedom to do what they please. Many of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution are being limited and slowly being taken away.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Since America is such a powerful country, it follows that the United States President is one of the most powerful figures in the world. Considering the United States is a democracy, it would seem obvious that the people directly elect their leader. Wrong. The popular vote has nothing to do with the election of the president. Instead, the way the president is decided is by whichever candidate wins the most electoral votes. Each state has a certain amount of electoral votes based on the number of people in that state’s House of Representatives. In most cases, the winner of the electoral vote is also the winner of the popular vote. In a few rare cases though the winner of the popular vote lost the election. This shouldn’t be. The U.S. should have the people directly elect the president. A most recent case was the last election of 2000, Bush vs. Gore. Gore had the popular vote won by a margin...

Fighting More Than the Blues: A Look into Depressive Disorders Essay

Fighting More Than the Blues: A Look into Depressive Disorders This paper will focus on depressive disorders, and it will describe what they are, how they manifest themselves, what causes them and/or what makes certain individuals susceptible to the disorder as compared to others. This piece will also describe the most common treatment practices, and the effectiveness of these treatments. It will conclude by offering some testimonials from individuals who suffer from depressive disorders as well as some additional commentary about depressive disorders and their implications/challenges. What is depression? A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. A depressive disorder is exactly that—a disorder; therefore, people with a depressive illness cannot will themselves to get better they can't just pull themselves together. A depressive disorder requires treatment. (1) ("Depression 1) Are there different types of depressive disorders? Depressive disorders take on different forms. There are three common types of depressive disorders. They are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder. Major depression is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with an individual's ability to work, study, sleep, and eat. Symptoms include but are not limited to the following: persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood, feelings of hopelessness, feelings of guilt, helplessness, worthlessness, decreased energy, fatigue, appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain, ... .... 2003. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm 2) Depression: An Overview, Continuing Medical Education. 26 Oct. 2003. http://www.mhsource.com/depression/overview.html 3) Dealing with the Depths of Depression, Nordenberg, Liora. "Dealing with the Depths of Depression." HealingWell.com. 26 Oct. 2003, pp 3-4. http://www.healingwell.com/library/depression/nordenberg1.asp 4) Dealing with the Depths of Depression , Nordenberg, Liora. "Dealing with the Depths of Depression." HealingWell.com. 26 Oct. 2003, pp 4-6. http://www.healingwell.com/library/depression/nordenberg1.asp 5) Depression. National Institute of Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm 6) Melancholy Nation , Schrof, Joannie M, and Stacey Schultz. "Melancholy Nation." U.S. News & World Report Archive. http://www.newjerusalem.com/archive-report.html

Compare and Contrast ‘Crow Lake’ and ‘Warren Pryor’

In the modern day, millions of students of all ages from around the globe attend schools and universities solely for the purpose of receiving an education. The reason as to why education is one of the most important elements in life is because it helps individuals gain wisdom and awareness, and essentially achieve more success in their lives. The importance of education also happens to be one of the central elements in Mary Lawson’s ‘Crow Lake’, as well as in ‘Warren Pryor’, a poem written by Alden Nowlan. To begin with, one most first realize the true value of education.We are introduced to this concept when we see the extents to which Warren’s parents go in order for their son to be able to receive an education, rather than to labour on a farm. In the first stanza of the poem, Alden describes: â€Å"His parents boarded him at school in town, slaving to free him from the stony fields† (Nowlan 2-3). Alden is able to achieve imagery in hi s reader’s mind by his use of diction. The selection of words such as ‘slaving’ creates a powerful evocative effect, as it highlights how much an education is truly worth. On the other hand, Kate is also making similar conclusions.While reflecting on her university education, she explains: â€Å"I had discovered by then that Great-Grandmother Morrison was more right than she knew about the power of education [†¦] she’d had no idea of the other doors it could open† (Lawson 187). This passage reveals Kate’s experiences with success and her realizations about the true potential of formal education. Another common element between the protagonists of the novel and the poem, is the financial struggles they have to face and the sacrifices they have to make. Alden Nowlan describes Warren’s situation with: â€Å"When every pencil meant a sacrifice† (Nowlan 1).This line introduces the reader to a taste of poverty, where something as uncostly as a pencil can mean a sacrifice. Similarly, Kate retells: â€Å"Money was too tight for me to go home for short breaks† (Lawson 188). This shortage of money in the Morrison family translates into separation of the members from each other. Therefore although the two characters are faced with different situations, the lack of money becomes an issue for both the protagonists, as well as their families. However, Kate and Warren begin to contrast each other in their attitude towards receiving an education.While Kate sees her university as the ultimate path to a brighter future, she explains: â€Å"The World was spreading itself out before me; I felt that I could go anywhere, do anything. Be anyone. † It is clear that she realizes her opportunity to change her life for the better, and she is prepared to take advantage of it. While on the other hand, Warren Pryor does not seem to be a man of books and learning. Although he was able to finish university and successfu lly get a job, the last stanza explains: â€Å"And he said nothing. Hard and serious like a young bear inside his teller’s cage† (Nowlan 13).While ironically this life of hard work and success means little to Warren, in order to avoid disappointment from his parents, he chooses to remain silently inside his teller’s cage. Although these two pieces of literature have a few differences and points of contrast, for most of the parts they’re significantly relevant. Mary Lawson and Alden Nowlan both use unique methods of bringing a subject to life, whether by in depth development of a character, or through biblical and religious references. Overall, both pieces deal with the central concept of the importance of education in today’s world, for both the individual and the society.

Financial Policy Definition

Amartuul Turbat Professor Fillenwarth Financial Policy 11 March 2011 The Definitions Question 1-2; (1-1. a. b. ) Proprietorship: is the entity owned by an individual who is only founder and manager of the company. Even though it does not pay tax for located states, proprietorship’s profits or loses reports on its owners’ annual tax reports. Despite the fact that proprietorship is easy to form and has seldom government regulations, its term of operation is directly depending on its founder life time (Ehrhardt and Brigham 5). In addition on proprietorship, a partnership is more flexible type which is a business relationship between several individuals who are similar desires to obtain the profits from the partnership’s operation. Typically, partnership classified general and limited based on its contract regulation. Despite the fact that in general partnership-general members responsible to pay company’s loss by their own assets, in limited partnership members-limited members can lose the amount of money which they invested in the partnership. Furthermore, likewise limited members responsible for limited part of the partnership, they have limited right to participate or control the company’s management. Even though at least one person should be a general member of the partnership, all members can be partner whose potential losses are limited by their amount of investment. This type of company is called Limited Liability Company (Ehrhardt and Brigham 6). Finally, company organized as a corporation when business enlarged and it is difficult to manage it by structure of partnership or proprietorship. Corporation works under the located state law and operates independently from managers. Due to this separation, corporation has â€Å"unlimited life of existence, easy transferability of ownership interest, and limited liability losses† (Ehrhardt and Brigham 24). Question 1-1 (C) Stock holder Wealth Maximization: is the main goal of the corporation since it is the best way of successful operation in long-term business. Derivatives: is the special type of securities because its value and right are depending on prices of another assets or operation. D; E) – Corporations can sell its stock in the private markets or the public markets. Unlike the private market in which trade is made in between two sides, in the public market, numerous people participate in the trades. In order to be an owner of the corporations, investors can buy the company’s stock from the â€Å"primary markets† in which companies sell their IPO (Initial Public offering) or from the â€Å" secondary market† in which IPO owners sell their stocks for other investors. Also, there are some other financial markets exist such as money markets and capital markets. Main difference between those two markets is â€Å"liquidation† of the securities (Ehrhardt and Brigham 23). For example, in spite the fact that short-term highly liquid debts trade in the money market and long-term stocks and debt maturing trade in the capital markets. (F) Investment Bank: is a financial institution which encourages the company to create stocks into the markets, and it is the assistant of the companies when they merging with each other (Ehrhardt and Brigham 23). Financial Service Corporations: are the organizations which involved with money management such as banks, credit card companies, and insurance companies (Ehrhardt and Brigham 24). Financial Intermediaries: are the unions which involved finding the surplus money from one side and then allocating it to deficit sides (Ehrhardt and Brigham 30). (G) Mutual Funds: are the organizations that collect money from numerous investors and then put it to buy financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, short and long-term money instruments. Money Market Fund: is the one type of mutual fund which invests in securities with short-term, low risk, and more safety conditions (Ehrhardt and Brigham 29). (H) Physical Location exchanges: is a physical financial market in which brokers and dealer participate in trade of stock, bonds, notes and mortgages. Computer/ Telephone Network: Invertors can participate in trades by computer/ telephone network without requiring members to be in the same building. (I) Open Outcry Auction: is a trading process of selling and buying stocks by offering bids and then sell it higher prices. In other words it is the mechanism of the trades. Dealer markets: is different from the auction since in which brokers acting a main role of the trading process, and they ask and quote the prices in order to match the seller or buyer with their prices (Ehrhardt and Brigham 30). Electronic communication network: is the automatic system which helps for members to match their bid to another buyer or seller. It provides people in any every counties opportunity to participate in trading by using internet (Ehrhardt and Brigham 30). J) Production opportunities: is the possibility to convert a capital into profits. Because production opportunities affect the returned earnings of the investment, financiers consider it when they determining the cost of money (Ehrhardt and Brigham 21). Time references for consumption: is the tendency of the use of money in present and future. In spite the fact that in China people tend to save their money for future, Mongolian people prefer to use their money p resents (Ehrhardt and Brigham 20). (K) Foreign trade deficit: is the one of the economic condition which affects the cost of money. For example, if American foreign trade getting slows, its reserve of the money become decreasing, so it can be influence cost of the investment. It means American buy more than they sell (Ehrhardt and Brigham 19). Question 1-3 Intrinsic value is the true value of the organizations which based on real position of market share, company’s assets, and perception of the future. This value can be same as market value if factors are same in the estimation process. On the other hand, intrinsic value may be different from market value depending on information used in evaluation. For example, if management hides negative information, market value might be higher than intrinsic values (Ehrhardt and Brigham 9). Question 1-4 Edmund Enterprises recently made a large investment to upgrade its technology. Even though this investment cannot improve the income in short-term, it can reduce the production cost. Therefore, in short-term investment cost will increase in the â€Å"Income Statement† because of the new investment; as a result profits will decrease and company’s earnings per share will decrease. However, in the financial markets, this news affects positively on stock’s market price. Also, this investment can raise the company’s intrinsic value since it can reduce the production costs (Ehrhardt and Brigham 30). Question 1-5 Capital can be transferred by the direct and indirect ways. In direct ways only two sides participate. Savers can make investment direct into business, and business sells their securities to savers without other parties. On the other hand, investment bank or financial intermediaries can participate effectively in transfers of capital. For example, person who has surplus money invest in business by using investment bank or financial intermediaries, and companies can get investment by collaborating with those third parties (Ehrhardt and Brigham 14). Question 1-6 Financial intermediaries such as commercial banks, financial service companies play a crucial role of the economic system. Banks allocate efficiently financial fund, and they offer financial services that can make easy to obtaining information for both savers and borrowers (Levine 690). Question 1-7 An initial public offering (IPO) is a  primary market transaction. Typically, the company sells the IPO to other  institutional investors, so the general public has no access to the IPO initially. After certain institutions get the stocks, they may sell them into the secondary market where all investors can buy them (Ehrhardt and Brigham 28). Question 1-8 Stock market is a securities market where bond, stock and other securities trading in guided by the professional stockbrokers. On the other hand, in dealer markets, transactions makes based on person who acting as dealers for his own accounts rather than brokers acting as dealer for his buying and selling processes (Buiter). Question 1-9 Two leading stock markets are â€Å"New York Stock Exchange† (NYSE) and â€Å"Nasdaq Stock Exchange† (NASDAQ). NYSE is considered largest stock market in the world and companies’ market capitalization which are listed at NYSE are US$13. 39 trillion in end of 2010. Also, NASDAQ is the largest electronic screen trading in the United States, and second largest stock market by market capitalization of listed companies (Buiter para. ). Works Cited Brigham, Eugene F. , and Michael C. Ehrhardt. Financial Management Theory and Practice. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Buiter, Willem H. â€Å"Time Preference and International Lending and Borrowing in an Overlapping-Generations Model. †Ã‚  The Journal of Political Economy  89. 4 (1989): 769+. Google Scholars. Web. 2 Mar. 2011. Levine, Ross. â€Å"Financial Development and Economic Growth. †Ã‚  Journal of Economic Literature(1999): 688-729. Web. 02 Mar. 2011.

How to Motivate Employees Essay

Introduction A â€Å"Dark Horse† company was founded in 1994, which is well known for manufacturing tires in Uzbekistan for local cars. The company produces low prized tires which is more affordable for citizens. However organization is facing high competitiveness in the local market, moreover, the problems concerned with the location of the company which is far from the city center, as a result, it has high turnover rate. â€Å"Dark Horse† company contains 50 employees, 5 of them works in Administration, 7 in Sales, other 38 employees work in Production. 1. Motivation plans The key factor of success in today’s business is employee’s performance  because, their working quality designates business improvement. However, making workers motivated is not easy for organization. Money does not only key, therefore, employees should have many senses that encourages working hard. Consequently, we planned many motivation theories in order to create those senses. 1.1 Achieving high job satisfaction Source: buzz.waspbarcode.com 1. Making high job satisfaction starts with suitable working hours. Setting convenient schedule shows that worker’s personal life is also important for employers. Consequently, it gives opportunity to make relationship between employer and workers better. 2. According to the famous companies, organizing rewards like â€Å"Initiator worker† once in a month is very effective. Because, individual recognition intensive tool to increase workers moral and motivation and their performance. 1.2 Reducing employee turn-around Source: halogensoftware.com 1. Interview with candidate should be carefully. Gather as much as information you can about job applicant. Skill testing is also effective to hire right people from the beginning. 2. Every employee should have exact development plan and should be trained at least annually. As a result, they think about their career and its progress. 3. Any organization cannot hold worker if they want to leave. So that, do exit interview where, you can know reasons and factors why they are going. Eventually, you can reduce employee turnover with basing on these information. 1.3 Improving high productivity Source: halogensoftware.com 1. If any company wants to achieve high productivity, they should start with task partition. Firstly, do not assign two tasks at the same time. Secondly, order every task to specialists. Consequently, you will realize that your business running in the right direction. 2. Statistics show that leading company’s key factor of success is collaboration among staff. Moreover, every workers skills and ability should be considered and headed off effectively. 3. In order to motivate employee that encourages to high productivity work places should be furnished with extra technologies and equipments. At the same time, workers should have knowledge and practice to work with them. Training staff constantly and informing about news increases worker’s performance and it is very important in today’s business. 1.4 Reaching high-quality work Source: halogensoftware.com 1. High-quality performance of company’s bottom line is fundamental of growing. There are some methods of improving this staff. First of all, competition among employees. Furthermore, every manager of organization should have skill to make healthy competition. 2. Second method is avoiding micromanaging. It might be seen unusual but it is really important in working environment. Because, every worker should have sense of confidence and must be given freedom. 3. Challenge your employees with new tasks. New duties might be absolutely different comparing with duty which they used to do. However, it would give them more practice, training and opportunity to develop their ability. 2. Methods of motivating all employees Most employers may find it hard to encourage employees to give of their best obligation at work. It is a fact that in many companies’ employers doesn’t understand the power of motivating employees and its importance. 2.1 Happy environment Based on â€Å"McGregor’s theory Y† assume that employees working under proper environment and like the work they do, will aim to take the responsibility  in order to satisfy their social, esteem, self-actualization needs. The atmosphere of the company should be positive and fun. Some organization’s employees usually celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and celebrate outstanding achievements, and other company’s employees organize different volleyball or football competitions. Encouraging activities that unit and improve teamwork. Moreover companies tend to make comfortable and enjoyable workplace for employees 2.2 Give a praise in public According to â€Å"Maslow’s theory of human motivation†, glorifying the employee’s goals in a public forum in different meetings. This will give a great boost for the certain person’s morale and may serve as a motivation to others. Moreover, recognition also can be a useful factor such as starting â€Å"employee of the month† program or just making compliment and simple things like thanking face-to-face, it will improve self-esteem of employees. 3. Three ways to motivate the minimum wage Motivating employees is essential for any company in order to develop. However, it is a common phenomenon and indisputable fact that many companies find it hard to stimulate minimum wage employees. According to â€Å"Maslow’s Theory† people, who get minimum salary, have trouble with basic and first needs for living such as food, clothes, water and moreover they are trying to protect themselves from physical and economic harm. At its simplest, this type of people belong to low-level need: Physiological and Security Needs. Below we will introduce 3 ways to motivate them. 3.1 Rewards It would certainly be a sobering thought to assert that some luxury items such as ticket to an entertainment events and movies, or perhaps a little money for perfect performance will keep them motivated. If money is restricted, pizza for lunch twice a week or ordering donuts on Fridays will give them something to look forward to. 3.2 Promotion Many minimum-wage workers have a lot of ambitions and plans but have trouble getting up the corporate ladder. Based on â€Å"Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory† helping to realize personal growth of potential employees, they will give the chance for further amelioration by providing extra training courses and proper education. It will stimulate minimum-wage workers to show their best in order to get a promotion. 3.3 Make Them Feel Special Minimum wage workers usually feel themselves undervalued and unimportant. Rod Walsh, co-author of â€Å"Semper Fi: Business Leadership the Marine Corps Way,† likens business to the military. Marine recruits are made to feel that they are part of an elite team from day one. Make your employees feel the similarly, emphasizing special sides of your business and always reminding them that not just anyone can be successful in this certain job. 4. Teamwork and individualism Nowadays, in organizational context teamwork and individual worker play important but different roles. From the McGraw-Hill’s â€Å"Business† book, it can easily be inferred that benefit of teamwork outweigh the individual one. 4.1 Working in a Team People working in a team more likely to have better communication with others Employees cooperate with each other, as a result, it increases the work efficiency Teamwork give a chance for sharing ideas among the group As person’s knowledge and ability are restricted it would be easy to deal problems in a team. Shortly, two heads are better than one Working in a group makes relationship better Group working allows employees to complete complex and large tasks which are  impossible for one individual. Furthermore, teamwork detects all minor problems which might be missed by person. 4.2 Benefits of Individualism One of the main advantage of individual worker is better concentration and focus on project. Working individually makes real to decide what to do and when It allows to make decisions by your own. Individual workers do not rely on others and only responsible people for work Individualism brings creativity and innovation to business. According to researches by Professor Barry Staw in the May 2006, organizations that promote an individualistic behavior are more successful in business. 5. Improving company’s growth and profit 5.1 Increasing productivity of company Connect employees virtually across the organization. Establish employee portals and different sites which can manage to connect teams and groups with each other, for the employees to do their work more effectively and efficiently within the company. Control productivity of the business and employee progress on goals. Online business software solutions enable managers to more easily track progress during every phase of goal completion and offer instant reinforcement or handler to keep productivity and deadlines on track. It will improve business productivity because the company is staffed with workers who are constantly learning new skills and being challenged to do their best. Moreover, employees who are motivated, happy and alerted will work harder. Motivating your staff members by awarding them for their successes, using material and non-material stimuli. 5.2 Increasing profitability of company Preparing Analytical Tools. Management should have an encounter or analyst to prepare analytical tools such as a common-size income statement. This income statement shows every expense as a percentage of sales, allowing management  to isolate costs that could contribute to decreasing profits. The company can perform this analysis for, preferably, three years of historical data. An analyst compares the three years to each other by reading across horizontally. Expenses as a percent of revenue are compared for each year to reveal trends that show expenses raising or lowering as a percent of sales over time. Some costs, such as the cost of goods sold, will naturally rise with sales increases because they represent the raw goods used to make products to sell. Building rent, administrative costs and some utility bills should remain the same, regardless of increases in sales. Conclusion All things considered above, it can be concluded that organizations should survive in today’s competitive environment. Moreover, they should think about how to improve productivity and increase profit of the company. Motivation is the main aspect in achieving this development. If all suggestions, which were illustrated, are implemented, the company has the chance for further amelioration and improvement. References 1. Australian School of Business (September 21, 2010) Productivity: How to Make Companies Work Smarter. Available at: http://knowledge.asb.unsw.edu.au/article.cfm?articleid=1218#top [Accessed 1st March, 2014] 2. Bob Whipple (2012) 10 Keys for Reducing Turnover. Available at: http://www.leadergrow.com/articles/27-10-keys-for-reducing-turnover [Accessed 27th February, 2014] 3. C. H. Tan, D. Torrington. (2014) Human Resource Management in Asia. 3rd ed. Pearson. pp-139-145 4. Chris Lake (September 10, 2013) 25 ways to boost employee satisfaction levels and staff retention. Available at: https://econsultancy.com/blog/63380-25-ways-to-boost-employee-satisfaction-levels-and-staff-retention [Accessed 3rd March, 2014] 5. D. Torrington, L. Hall, S. Taylor, C. Atkinson, (2011) Human Resource Management. 8th ed. Pearson. pp-335-341 6. Dunya Carter (January 18, 2013) 10 Easy Ways to Increase Your Job Satisfaction. Available at:

Week 5 Individual Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Week 5 Individual Assignment - Essay Example is one-tailed (Left tailed) and we want to determine whether there has been a reduction in the weight of individuals who joined Weight Reducers International. Since the z-test statistic is less than -1.645 therefore at the 5% significance level, we have sufficient evidence to conclude that those who will join Weight Reducers International on average will lose less than 10 pounds. Dole Pineapple, Inc., is concerned that the 16-ounce can of sliced pineapple is being overfilled. Assume the standard deviation of the process is .03 ounces. The quality control department took a random sample of 50 cans and found that the arithmetic mean weight was 16.05 ounces. At the 5 percent level of significance, can we conclude that the mean weight is greater than 16 ounces? Determine the p-value. We will reject the null hypothesis if the z-test statistic is greater than 1.645 (z > 1.645) since the test is one-tailed (Right tailed) and we want to determine whether 16-ounce can of sliced pineapple is being overfilled. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal reported that the 30-year mortgage rate is now less than 6 percent. A sample of eight small banks in the Midwest revealed the following 30-year rates (in percent): We will reject the null hypothesis if t-test statistic is less than -2.998 since the test is one-tailed (left tailed) and we want to determine whether the 30-year mortgage rate is now less than 6 percent Since the t-test statistic is greater than -2.998 therefore we will not reject the null hypothesis. At 1% significance level we have sufficient evidence to conclude that the 30-year mortgage rate is not less than 6 percent. The minimum significance level (p-value) at which the null hypothesis can be rejected is between 5% and 10% since the value -1.61 lies in between -1.415 and -1.895 for a t-distribution with degrees of freedom = 7 The null hypothesis is that there is no difference in the population mean number of times men and women buy take-out dinner in