Nikolai Bukharin Was A Man Deeply Devoted To The Soviet

Nikolai Bukharin was a man deeply devoted to the Soviet cause and the spread and success of Communism. He entered the political scene at the age young of 16, still a student himself, and was once described by Lenin as being the â€Å"golden boy of the revolution (Gregory 2010). Unfortunately, Bukharin could not know that his political goals and desires would be his downfall and the cause of his execution on March 14th 1938, betrayed by a man he once considered a friend, Joseph Stalin. Reduced to just one of the 328,618 victims during 1938 as part of Stalin’s Great Terror (Kuromiya 2007,713). In final months of his imprisonment, and life, he wrote many letters to Stalin. Notably , in his December 10th 1937 letter, he pleaded for mercy, for†¦show more content†¦Ultimately though this would contribute to Stalin’s persecution of him. As in 1928 Stalin flipped on his opinion of the NEP, instead pushing his own Five Year Plan. Which forcefully created the kolkhoz collective farms, in hopes of rapid industrialization that would bring Russia to the same levels as other developed, Capitalist nations, regardless of the cost of human lives. This plan was highly successful in eliminating the wealthy peasants known as the kulaks, thus further cementing Stalin’s control over the Soviet state (Gregory 2010). After Lenin’s death in 1924, Bukharin allied himself with Stalin with his Socialism in One Country, which moved away from the idea of Global Communism that Bukharin and the rest of the communist party had previously supported and endorsed, as they believed communism needed to be done in a more developed nation. Instead it proposed that socialism could be created even in an undeveloped country, and that Russia could and ultimately should focus on building socialism within itself. This idea would become a key of Stalin’s political beliefs and actions. By helping to support and promote this idea Bukharin aided Stalin in removing other key Bolsheviks from power, such as Trotsky, once again increasing Stalin’s power. Bukharin, while regarded as a strong theorist for Marxism, and generally a likable man, also had a reputation for being soft. Moreover and increasingly dangerous a man who known to speak withoutShow MoreRelatedEssay on Stalin2761 Words   |  12 PagesStalin Stalin, whose original name was Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, was born on Dec. 21, 1879, in the Caucasian town of Gori, Georgia. He was the only one of four children to survive infancy. His father, Vissarion Dzhugashvili, an unsuccessful cobbler, entered a factory in Tiflis, took to drink, and died in 1890 from wounds received in a brawl. However, his mother, Yekaterina, kept the family together by taking in washing and sewing, hiring out for housework, and nursing young Joseph

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome ( Hps ) - 1018 Words

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) The Hantavirus is a worldwide epidemic that is caused by rodents. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated, the virus is transmitted through the air that has been contaminated with the blood, saliva, urine and feces of rats. In most cases the virus is spread when humans come in contact either by home infestation, occupation, or recreation. There is not a specific age, race, gender, or nationality that this virus show in, everyone and anyone can catch this virus. According to the CDC, the Hantavirus primarily causes two main disease Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (seen in most case in the United States of America) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS). Both the Hantavirus Pulmonary Virus and HFRS are very fetal diseases. For the purpose of this paper and the sake of time, I will focus on the Unites Stated. The first known outbreak in the U.S. of the Hantavirus occurred in 1993 in the four corners for the country: Utah, A rizona, New Mexico, and Colorado (Knust and Rollins 1934). Another outbreak of the Hantavirus occur at the Yosemite National Park through the months of June-August 2012. There was a total of ten confirmed cases and three resulted in deaths (CDC). According to McNeil, Ksiazek, and Rollins, there has been a total of thirty states with cases of Hantavirus, most of the cases occured in the west (1195, 1198). Knust and Rollins explains the Old World Hantaviruses that are pathogens to humansShow MoreRelatedCauses And Symptoms Of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome1007 Words   |  5 PagesHantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome I. Background CW, an 18-year-old Caucasian male, presented at a rural hospital located in northwest New Mexico. CW complained of flu-like symptoms including a headache, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and myalgia for the previous two to four days (Staff, 2014). 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A cluster of cases were found that was linked to rodents near the homes of those infected â€Å"The unexpected finding that sera from patients reacted with Hanta viral antigens was quickly followed by the genetic identification of novel Hantavirus in patients’ tissues and in rodents trapped near patients’ homes† (CDC, 1997). This outbreak was associated to increase rodent population due to human activities â€Å"Many Hantavirus infections have occurredRead MoreSin Nombre Virus Risk Assessment in Yosemite National Park Essay2933 Words   |  12 Pagesthe discovery of both old and new world hantaviruses (Johnson et al 2010). Old world hantavirus were first discovered during the Korean War (1950-1953) when over 3,000 U.N and Korean soldiers became stricken with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Ne w world hantaviruses were first discovered in the four corners region of the Southwest United States during an outbreak of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in 1993. 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This can lead to transmission of hantavirus in humans, leading to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Diseases become more intense during the seasons when the vectors and pathogens are at its most comfortable temperatures. For example, the spreading of dengue will be most likely to happen during rainy and humid seasonsRead MoreApa Style Lite for College Papers15275 Words   |  62 Pageseliminate a lengthy discussion. There are additional instructions for biological data and scans.  APA Style Final Manuscripts 7 Figure 7. Cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) confirmed in the Four Corners states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah) from 1993 through 2002 by quarter of onset of symptoms. From Hantavirus in Indian Country: The First Decade in Review, by R. Pottinger, 2005, American Indian Culture and Research Journal, 29(2), p. 42. Used with permission of the

The Endocrine SystemHypothalamus - Pituitary Gland & Hormone Regulatio

Question: Describe the different types of communication between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to control hormone regulation? Answer: The human bodys internal environment maintained by homeostasis. Homeostasis attained by the regulatory mechanisms which is performed by many organs of the body. There are mainly two systems which help in regulation of body organ, and they are nervous system and endocrine system. The circulatory system together with the nervous system and endocrine system helps in homeostatic maintenance of the body. The circulatory system gives the path to hormones to reach their target tissues whereas nervous system synthesized the hormones such as oxytocin and released them to regulate the function of many endocrine glands (Biocourse, 2016). Hypothalamus is the interface between the central nervous system and endocrine system. The hypothalamus controls the functions of the pituitary gland and other endocrine glands such as thyroid and adrenal glands (Mitrovic, 2016). Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus contains neurosecretory neurons which synthesize peptides and catecholamine hormones and released in systemic circulation to the targeted tissues. Some of these hormones act on the anterior pituitary to inhibit and stimulate the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones (Mitrovic, 2016). The actions of hypothalamus hormones is given below in the table no. 1. Table no. Showing hypothalamus hormones and their actions. Available at biochemistry2.ucsf.edu/programs/ptf/.../HPA%20Axis%20Physio.pdf. The pituitary gland: The pituitary gland is found at the base of the hypothalamus of the brain. It is pea shaped and attached to the hypothalamus with help of nerve fibers called as stalk. It is divided into the anterior pituitary and posterior pituitary (Endocrinesurgeon, 2016). Both section of the pituitary gland have the unlike origin, thus secrete different hormones and thus regulated by the different controls system (Biocourse, 2016). Figure no.1. Showing structure of pituitary gland and hypothalamus. Available at https://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/raven6b/graphics/raven06b/other/raven06_56.pdf. Anterior pituitary gland: The anterior lobe of pituitary gland is glandular. The anterior pituitary or adenohypophysis develop from ectodermal pouch called as rathkes pouch. The origin of the anterior pituitary is from the epithelial roof of the oral cavity (Mitrovic, 2016). The anterior pituitary lost its link with the oral cavity during pituitary development. The hormones secrets from it stimulate the growth and development of other endocrine glands (Barron, 2010). The hormones released from the anterior pituitary is called as trophic hormones or tropins (Biocourse, 2016). Posterior pituitary gland: The posterior lobe of pituitary gland is fibrous because it is composed of axon that originates from the nervous tissues of the hypothalamus and develops as an extension of the hypothalamus along the stalk as the tract of fibers (Boundless, 2015). The origin of the neurohypophysis or posterior pituitary is the neural ectoderm at the base of the third ventricle. The hypothalamus is developed from the base of the third ventricle and some part of these nervous tissues extended downwards to forms the posterior pituitary (Boundless, 2016). Figure no. 2 Magnetic resonance image of the hypothalamus, neurohypophyseal stalk, and pituitary gland. Available at biochemistry2.ucsf.edu/programs/ptf/.../HPA%20Axis%20Physio.pdf. Communication between hypothalamus and pituitary gland: There are two types of communication which occurred between hypothalamus and pituitary gland, and these are neural control which occurs between the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary gland and second is negative feedback which occurs between hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland (Mitrovic, 2016). Neural control: The signals transferred from the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary occurs through the neurosecretory cell. The hormones produced inside the cell bodies of the neurosecretory cells and these cells packed in the form of vesicles. The hormones then transferred through the axon, which stored in the axon terminals that lie in the posterior pituitary. The stimulation of the neurosecretory cells generate the action potential which activates the secretion of hormones from the axon terminals and travels through the capillaries in the posterior pituitary (Cliffs Notes, 2016). This process described below with the help of an example. The neural stimuli activates the secretion of pituitary hormones which originates from the central nervous system. The posterior pituitary secretes oxytocin. Oxytocin stimulates milk ejection reflex. As baby sucks the nipple, the sensory receptors in the nipples and send impulse by the afferent pathway to the hypothalamus which activates the oxytocin and thus milk ejects. Oxytocin is necessary to stimulate uterine contraction in the women at the time of child birth (Biocourse, 2016). The hypothalamus produces oxytocin and ADH hormones, which transported along the stalk (a connection link between the hypothalamus to the posterior pituitary) and gets stored in the posterior pituitary gland. When the stimulus occurs like decreased blood pressure or volume and suckling by baby occurs, ADH and oxytocin hormones released from the posterior pituitary gland into the blood and reaches their target organ (Mitrovic, 2016). The secretion of ADH and oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland is a reflex action. Therefore, it is controlled by the nervous system and endocrine system. Thus, the release of posterior pituitary hormones is neuroendocrine reflex (Biocourse, 2016). Negative feedback control: The hypothalamus communicates with the anterior pituitary through hormones. The hypothalamus secretes the releasing hormone and the inhibiting hormone. The specialized cells of the hypothalamus produce the releasing and inhibiting hormones (Cliffs Notes, 2016). These hormones are then transferred through the primary plexus or capillary network and then transported through the hypothalamohypophyseal portal system. From the portal system, it travels through the second plexus and diffuse into the anterior pituitary gland cells and stimulate the release of a specific anterior pituitary hormone (Mitrovic, 2016). The anterior pituitary gland does not originates from the brain. It also not activated by the axon tract of the hypothalamus therefore, the hypothalamus cannot controls the function of the anterior pituitary hormones. The hormones secreted by the neurons of the hypothalamus transferred through blood into the blood capillaries at the bottom of the hypothalamus. The blood capillaries divided into small veins inside the stalk of pituitary and then further divides into the second capillaries in the anterior pituitary. This system is called hypothalamohypophyseal portal system (Biocourse, 2016). The hormones of hypothalamus transferred from the hypothalamohypophyseal portal system controls the function of other specific anterior pituitary hormones, like thyrotropin releasing hormone stimulates thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), gonadotropin releasing hormone stimulate follicle stimulating hormone or luteinizing hormone, and corticotropin releasing hormone stimulates adrenocorticotropic stimulating hormone (Body Guide, 2001). The inhibiting hormones secreted by the hypothalamus inhibit the release of anterior pituitary hormones such as somatostatin inhibits release of growth hormone or melanotropin inhibiting hormone inhibits melanin stimulating hormone (Sargis, 2010). The hypothalamus secretes hormones for the whole body because it controls the function of the anterior pituitary and anterior pituitary controls the other endocrine glands secretion. The homeostatic condition maintained in the body, when the negative feedback comes from the target gland which inhibit the secretion of the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland. This is called negative feedback inhibition (Ivyroses, 2016). A flowchart shown in the figure which describes how hypothalamus controls the secretion of anterior pituitary and how the anterior pituitary stimulates the release of hormones in the target gland. It also shows how negative feedback from target gland inhibit the release of hormones from the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary when hormone level exceeds in the target gland (CK12, 2016). Figure No. 3 Feedback control of hormone secretion (Boulpaep, 2003). Figure no. 4 Negative feedback inhibition. Available at https://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/raven6b/graphics/raven06b/other/raven06_56.pdf. The thyrotropin releasing hormone secreted by the hypothalamus released into the hypothalamohypophyseal portal system which activates the anterior pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating hormone which further stimulates the thyroid gland to release thyroxin hormone to produce iodine which needed for the growth of body (Biocourse, 2016). This is explained with the help of flowchart which is given below. Figure No. 5 Feedback mechanism of thyroxine. Available at https://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/raven6b/graphics/raven06b/other/raven06_56.pdf. The communication between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland discussed above which shows that communication occurs through neural control and hormonal control. The hypothalamus communicates anterior pituitary through hormones and with posterior pituitary through neurons. References Barron, J., 2010. The Endocrine System: Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Pineal Glands. [Online] Available at: https://jonbarron.org/article/endocrine-system-hypothalamus-pituitary-pineal-glands [Accessed 2016]. Biocourse, 2016. the endocrine system. [Online] Available at: https://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/raven6b/graphics/raven06b/other/raven06_56.pdf. Body Guide, 2001. Endocrine system. [Online] Available at: https://www.pennmedicine.org/health_info/body_guide/reftext/html/endo_sys_fin.html Boulpaep, B. ., 2003. Medical Physiology. 1st ed. s.l.:s.n. Boundless, 2015. Control of the Pituitary Gland by the Hypothalamus. [Online] Available at: https://www.boundless.com/physiology/textbooks/boundless-anatomy-and-physiology-textbook/the-endocrine-system-16/the-pituitary-gland-155/control-of-the-pituitary-gland-by-the-hypothalamus-785-4531/ Boundless, 2016. Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis. [Online] Available at: https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/the-endocrine-system-37/endocrine-glands-214/hypothalamic-pituitary-axis-804-12042/ CK12, 2016. Hormone Regulation. [Online] Available at: https://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Biology-Concepts/section/13.25/ Cliffs Notes, 2016. The Hypothalamus and Pituitary Glands. [Online] Available at: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/anatomy-and-physiology/the-endocrine-system/the-hypothalamus-and-pituitary- Courses washington, 2016. Negative Feedback Regulation of Hormone Release in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis. [Online] Available at: https://courses.washington.edu/conj/bess/feedback/newfeedback.html Endocrinesurgeon, 2016. The Connection between the Pituitary and Hypothalamus. [Online] Available at: https://www.endocrinesurgeon.co.uk/index.php/the-connection-between-the-pituitary-and-hypothalamus Ivyroses, 2016. Hormone Regulation Feedback Mechanisms. [Online] Available at: https://www.ivyroses.com/HumanBody/Endocrine/hormone-regulation-feedback-mechanisms.php Mitrovic, I., 2016. Introduction to the hypothalamo pituitary adrenal axis. [Online] Available at: ucsf.edu/programs/ptf/.../HPA%20Axis%20Physio.pdf Sargis, R., 2010. An Overview of the Pituitary Gland. [Online] Available at: https://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-pituitary-gland

Strategic Business Value/Supply Chain Analysis Nestle Essay Example

Strategic Business Value/Supply Chain Analysis: Nestle Paper Strategic Business Value/Supply Chain Analysis of Nestle Table of Contents Section 1 – Executive Summary Section 2 – Introduction Section 3 – Nestle Background We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Business Value/Supply Chain Analysis: Nestle specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Business Value/Supply Chain Analysis: Nestle specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Business Value/Supply Chain Analysis: Nestle specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer 3.1 Brief History Section 4 – Literature Review – The Value Chain 4.1 The Value Chain 4.2 Nestle and Porter’s Value Chain Section 5 – Nestle Strategies 5.1 Creating Shared Value 5.2 Sustainability 5.3 International Competitive Advantage Section 6 – Nestle Collaborations 6.1 Buy/Sell Agreements 6.1.1 Coco Plan Collaboration 6.1.2 Sub-Collaborations Section 7 – Nestle Value Chain 7.1 Nestle as an Enterprise 7.1.2 Resource and Corporate Stakeholders 7.1.3 Relationships with Customer, Suppliers and Other Stakeholders 7.1.4 Networks, Interconnections and Subsystems 7.2 Dynamic Capability Building 7 2.1 Means of Innovation and Productivity 7.2.2 Competitive Advantage in a Global Context 7.3 Global Business Operations – Lifecycle Framework 7.3.1 Inter-organisations Across Supply Chain and Value Networks 7.3.2 Intra-organisations Across Supply Chain and Value Networks 7.4 Identified Problems for Nestle 7.4.1 Overall Recommendations Section 8 – Conclusion Section 9 – Appendices Section 10 – Reference List Section 1 – Executive Summary Nestle, a Swiss based company, operates on an international scale, providing primarily food and beverage products to consumers across the globe. This report outlines a background and brief history of Nestle as a global organisation, Nestle’s key strategies and collaborations upheld over decades, Nestle’s value chain at an organisational level, providing reference to a model developed by Michael Porter, and an analysis of Nestle as an enterprise. In the first section of this report, a background of Nestle is provided and a brief history outlined. In the next section of this report, the concept of ‘value chain’ is defined. Porter’s value chain model analysis is briefly analysed as an accommodating depiction of Nestle’s organisational source of competitive advantage. Further, Nestle’s strategies are discussed in relation to creating shared value through competitive advantage, maintaining a sustainable work environment through core operational pillars and Nestle’s international competitive strategy based on growth drivers. This is followed by a concise overview of Nestle’s global collaborations, specifically ‘The Coco Plan’. A further analysis is provided which examines Nestle’s value chain, highlighting the enterprise value of Nestle, dynamic capability building and global business operations including the lifecycle framework. This aids Nestle to better understand the enterprise on a national and global level, the corporate stakeholders with a vested interest in the firm, the company’s relationships with external bodies and the networks developed to sustain a strong competitive advantage. Further discussion considers Nestle’s means of innovation and productivity to reinforce the company’s competitive advantage. Throughout this report, the reoccurring themes of sustainability, competitive advantage and global systems are conversed. This allows proposal for overall recommendation for changes to be suggested to reinforce Nestle’s core values and culture, through acknowledging visible and less visible problems Nestle has experienced. Section 2 – Introduction Many theories and ideas have been communicated by recognisable academics in relation to the value chain. These theories demonstrate ways in which businesses operate on a domestic and an international scale, with differing perspectives for simplistic and complicated value chain management. Nestle, an internationally recognised multi-national corporation (MNCs), was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestle in Vevey, Switzerland. Nestle’s headquarters are still located today. Today, Nestle is the worlds leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company. The company’s mission of Good Food, Good Life aims to provide consumers with the finest tasting, most nutritious choices of products in an extensive range of food and beverage classifications and eating occasions, from sunrise to sunset. International competition around the world has now looked to Nestle as a principal threat, counteracting new means of innovation and productivity established and utilised by Nestle. This report will discuss Nestle’s global background as a leading brand in the food and beverage industry. The company’s vision of an effective and efficient value chain will be analysed and discuss, parallel with the strategies implemented to sustain global competitive advantage, Nestle’s enterprise value and recommendations for change to reinforce Nestle’s core values and business cultures. Section 3 – Nestle Background 3.1 Brief History Nestle, an international corporation, is the worlds leading Nutrition, Health and Wellness Company. The 1905 merger, termed the Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, marked the beginning of the global company Nestle’s stance. Today, Nestle is one of the world’s largest suppliers of food and nutrition products, operating in 86 countries with factories in nearly every country worldwide, and employing approximately 280,000 people. Originally focusing on condensed milk and infant formula as an economical, healthy alternative to breastfeeding, the company has extended its product offerings to include 6000 brands of varying products from coffee to health care nutrition and pet food. Figure 1 History of Nestle Section 4 – Literature Review – The Value Chain 4.1 Value Chain The value chain analysis defines the value-adding activities an organisation performs and the relationship to the organisations competitive position and strength (Recklies, D. 2001, p.1). Each activity is arranged into systems and evaluated in terms of contribution to the organisations products or service. Nestle’s value chain is based on value proposition, creating shared value and the supply chain, which create enterprise value for the organisation (figure 2). Nestle attributes its value creation to self-assessment, measuring and monitoring all aspects that optimise and enhance the value delivered the final consumer (appendix 1). The company evaluates these activities that add ‘value’, eliminating other less beneficial activities and thereby allowing resources to be utilised and optimised for other value-adding activities. Figure 2 Nestle’s Value Chain Management 4.2 Nestle and Porters Value Chain Analysis An analysis of Porters value chain can be adapted to Nestle as a business. This allows the support and primary activities to be identified that create value for the company (refer to appendix 2). Figure 3 Porter’s Value Chain Analysis Model Source: Dagmar Recklies, The Value Chain 2001 Section 5 – Strategies at Nestle Nestle’s basis for strategy reflects the company’s competitive advantage in creating shared value, operational pillars in maintaining a sustainable business and growth drivers through implementing an international competitive strategy (figure 4 and refer to appendix 3). Figure 4 Nestle Strategies Source: Nestle 2011, Strategy Nestle Roadmap to Good Food, Good Life 5.1 Creating Shared Value Creating Shared Value is a fundamental part of Nestles success as a corporation. A focus is placed on the core business activities – namely water, nutrition, and rural development – where value can be optimised for both society and shareholders. To ensure long-term value for shareholders, Nestle seeks to create value for society as well as for the company (figure 5). To successfully achieve this strategy, compliance with national laws, relevant conventions and internal business regulations are necessary procedures. Figure 5 A Framework for Creating Shared Value Source: The Nestle concept of creating shared value 2006, p. 6 For example, Nestle supports the Universal Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR), which stands at the basis of the UN Global Compact’s Human Rights Principles (Nestle 2011). Compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is illustrated through internal regulations against child labour outlined in the Nestle Corporate Business Principles and related policy documents. Nestle also creates shared value through emphasising a link between nutrition and rural development (Susan Steinhagen, 2011). Nestle provides nutritious food that contributes to rural development through the 4860 locally adapted products provided at affordable prices. This approach improves nutrition for consumers and further creates value for other stakeholders by providing local employment opportunities. Through creating shared value Nestle is able to establish a competitive advantage through unmatched product and brand portfolio, unmatched R capability, unmatched geographic presence and the global culture present in the Nestle workplace. Each of these attributes each ensures shareholders favour Nestle products to other leading competitors. 5.2 Sustainability Nestle aims to ensure the company’s â€Å"actions today do not compromise the needs of tomorrow† (Nestle Management Report 2008, p. 14). This is achieved by operating parallel to the goals of sustainable development. Furthermore, this simultaneously generates value for society whilst creating value for Nestle’s shareholders. Sustainability has become a key business strategy at Nestle, focusing on preserving the environment for future generations. Sustainable development to Nestle emphasises the â€Å"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs† (Brundtland Commission). By striving to continuously improve operation efficiency and environmental performance, Nestle is able to assess the impacts of operations along the value chain from the base up. In the year 2010, Nestle invested CHF 175 million in environmental sustainability programs. This aided Nestle to identify and reduce water usage, non-renewable energy and natural resources such as emissions of greenhouse gases. This resulted in an overall elimination of waste, improving the global corporations environmental performance. Through acting in a sustainable manner, Nestle is able to excel at each of the four inter-related core competencies – innovation and renovation, ‘whenever, wherever, however’, consumer communication and operational efficiency. Each of these competencies, key to Nestle’s operational strategy, contributes to improving sustainability whilst encouraging employees to work towards a more sustainable global business environment. 5.3 International Competitive Advantage Nestle ensures international expansionary strategies are adopted within the company as a key driver for industry growth. These growth drivers include ‘nutrition, health and wellness’, emerging markets and PPP, out-of-home leadership and premiumisation. Nestle has approached the international market through foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly within the dairy industry. Through FDI, Nestle has been able to expand operations to less developed economies, and thus utilise the advancing technologies to control manufacturing to harmonise with local conditions (Castelarhost, 2005). Through exploiting cheaper labour in these less developed economies, Nestle achieves economies of scale, reducing overall costs and thus gaining a competitive advantage. Another successful strategy utilised by Nestle has been its ability to take complete advantage of strategic partnerships with other large corporations. For example, in 1990 Nestle entered into a strategic alliance with Coca-Cola, gaining advantage of Coco-Cola’s dominance in the beverage and effectively contributing to Nestle’s growth on a global scale. Section 6 – Nestle Collaborations 6.1 Buy/Sell Agreements As the world’s leading nutrition, health and wellness firm, Nestle collaborates with countless companies in different industries. This enables the company to build a global supply chain, as well as generate buy and sell agreements through collaborations with the local communities in the countries where the company operates. . 1. 1 Coco Plan Collaboration Nestle’s Cocoa production has grown to become one of the most significant production lines the company has established. Cocoa is used in many of the products produced by Nestle and has thus become a key focus for the company. Last year Nestle purchased 380 000 tonnes of cocoa – 10% of the worlds supply, of which 70% has come from West Africa (figure 6). Figure 6 World Production of Cocoa at Nestle Source: Nestle 2011 Nestle, a major buyer of cocoa, contributes significantly to the future of cocoa supply. In 2009 The Cocoa Plan was developed to provide long-term focus to secure, supply and build farm productivity. The Plan involves incentives to encourage cocoa farmers, their family and communities to build a better future measured by increasing profitability and accordingly improving their quality of life (The Cocoa Plan, 2011). To implement this plan, Nestle has invested CHF 60 million to improve the organisations sustainability, particularly cocoa farming in COte d’lvoire, West Africa (figure 6). Furthermore, an additional investment of CHF 110 million is forecasted to be injected into the cocoa farming industry within the next ten years to further implement and improve Nestle’s strategy (The Cocoa Plan, 2011). Several non-government organisations, government organisations and private companies, such as World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and Sustainable Tree Crops Programme (STCP), participated in this plan to build a better future for the cocoa farming industry. Nestle has implemented its own strategy to achieve the company’s vision to aid cocoa farmers to manage profitable farms, respect the environment and improve education systems. Nestle has focused on a key area of farmer training. This aims to encourage adoption of better farming practices, investing in plant research by buying from cooperatives and creating better social conditions by combating child labour and improving education opportunities. Through applying this strategy, Nestle are able to sustain a more intimate relationship with farmers and reduce the complexity of the supply chain by eliminating unnecessary intermediaries (table 7 overleaf). Table 7 Cocoa Plan impacts – Cote d’Ivoire and Ecuador Source: Nestle, 2011 6. 1. 2 Sub-Collaborations Over the last decade, Nestle s global supply chain has undergone major changes, such as the move towards outsourcing of production and entering into collaborations. Nestle has since been able to direct management focus towards marketing the product to the end consumer. Nestle has participated in countless collaborations, between the top companies in other fields, to enable improvement of the company’s production line and subsequently the overall product delivered to the final consumer. In May 2003, Nestle Mexico signed an agreement with Petra Foods Limited in which Nestle decided to sell its factory and equipment used for production of cocoa butter, liquor and powder. Additionally, in May 2008, Nestle and General Electric Company announced collaboration in body composition, metabolic status and life styles. This presented Nestle with the opportunity to use â€Å"cutting-edge diagnostic tools to increase our understanding of how nutrition and lifestyle choices impact body composition and metabolic health† (Professor Peter Van Bladeren 2008). Section 7 – Nestle Value Chain 7.1 Nestle as an Enterprise 7.1.1 Enterprise Value Nestle is a global leader in the food and beverage industry, offering over 6000 brands. When considering the concept of value creation, Nestle aims to present a broader context by looking beyond maximising growth and profits. The firm understands the importance of sustainable business practices, continuous operational improvements and ensuring long-term success that can be observed through recognising such considerations. The firm has implemented ten global business principles, taking into account local religious, cultural and legal concerns. The Nestle Corporate Business Principals are as follows: 1. Nutrition, Health and Wellness 2. Quality Assurance and product safety 3. Consumer Communication 4. Human rights in our business activities 5. Leadership and personal responsibility 6. Safety and health at work 7. Supplier and customer relations 8. Agriculture and rural development 9. Environmental sustainability 10. Sustainable use of water Nestle proposes that these principles will lead to â€Å"Creating Shared Value†. Overtime the principles will continue to evolve and adapt to a changing world, reflecting the basic ideas of fairness, honesty, and a general concern for society (Nestle Corporate Business Principles 2010). 7.1.2 Resource and Corporate Stakeholders Nestle as a global company has a vast range of corporate stakeholders (figure 8). Figure 8 Nestle’s Corporate Stakeholders Each of these stakeholders have varying interests in Nestle and subsequently are affected by the actions and plans in which the firm undertakes. Nestle’s stakeholders are interconnected, even though interests can, and do vary from country to country. This is a key reason why the company invests in the notion of â€Å"Creating Shared Value. 7.1.3 Relationships with Customers, Suppliers and Other Stakeholders Nestle’s belief in â€Å"Creating Shared Value† is prevalent throughout the firm’s culture. According to Nestle’s Chairman and CEO, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, â€Å"it is our firm belief that, for a company to be successful over time and create value for its shareholders, it must also create value for society†. The main concepts and levels of value integration are integral to Nestle’s creation of shared value (figure 9). Figure 9 Creating Shared Value for Nestle Source: Creating Shared Value for Nestle, 2011 Compliance, at the base of the pyramid, encompasses taking into account relevant local laws, conventions and regulations. Exceeding compliance is sustainability, which demonstrates Nestle’s adoption and maintenance of business processes that are environmentally responsible, allowing for development that does not negatively impact on future generations. At the apex of the pyramid is the notion of â€Å"Creating Shared Value†. This consists of three main elements – nutrition, water and rural development. Nestle believes that a company should identify areas of focus where shareholders’ and society’s interests conflict, and where value creation is optimised for both stakeholders (Brabeck-Letmathe 2011). Each of these areas determines the greatest potential for joint value optimisation. In addition to this, Nestle realises that the business world is dynamic and continues to invest in research and development. This allows the company to continually update their operations and processes offering the finest results for stakeholders. 7.1.4 Networks, Interconnections and Subsystems In order for Nestle to achieve their goals with respect to â€Å"Creating Shared Value†, many linkages and systems have been developed and implemented. This can be demonstrated with respect to the three main areas previously identified (table 10). Table 10 Networks for Nutrition, Water and Rural Development In order to make sure the firm is synchronised with current trends and global variances, Nestle remains open to new ideas from outside stakeholders. The Nestle Creating Shared Value Advisory Board, comprised of global experts in nutrition, water and rural development, has provided Nestle invaluable outside perspectives and challenged the company to do better where possible (Brabeck-Letmathe 2011). 7.2 Dynamic Capability Building 7.2.1 Means of Innovation and Productivity Nestle currently utilises a combination of SAP and Powersim to create a simulation of operations to assist managers and staff in learning how to organise and improve on supply chain management. In 2005 Nestle moved towards a unified system based on MySAP. om, making Nestle the first company to utilise a shared business system in the over a hundred countries it operates in (Steinert-Threlkeld, 2006). Nestle, are also focused on innovative research in areas such as Nutrition, Water and Rural Development. These activities not only improve the efficiency of Nestles manufacturing processes, they also help support the suppliers on whom Nestle relies for raw materials and produce. 7.2.2 Competitive Advantage in a Global Context Nestle currently achieves a global competitive advantage through a combination of core competencies and cost leadership in a diversified market. Market share is expanded through product differentiation and by tailoring products to the differing tastes and cultural expectations of each region. This not only regards packaging and advertising, but also the taste and composition of food items. Despite having slight variations in product offerings between regions, Nestle has made attempts to offer a standardised product worldwide as a result of improved communication between Nestles separate regional offices. This has been permissible because of the global MySAP. com system. Research and development (R) is another key competitive advantage for Nestle. R has enabled Nestle to become the food industry leader in nutrition, health and wellness through the organisation’s capability to form Innovation Partnerships at each stage of the product development process. Nestle s ability to bring together all of its global R resources enables the organisation to provide high quality, efficient innovative products whilst ensuring complete regulatory compliance. Nestle’s driving efficiencies include cost and productivity, safety, the environment and the supply chain (figure 11). Each of these core factors enables Nestle to develop and transcend a more effective value chain. Figure 11 Driving Efficiencies and Effectiveness Source: Nestle 2010, Full Year Results European Roadshow, p. 63 7.3 Global Business Operations – Lifecycle Framework 7.3.1 Inter-organisations Across Supply Chain and Value Networks Nestle outsources to numerous organisations as part of its global supply chain and value network to achieve lower costs. Each step in the supply chain creates value for Nestle’s stakeholders through outsourcing specialised tasks. Nestle choice to source produce local to the area in which they operate processing plant and factories. This results in lowered transportation costs, essentially leading to carried-on lower prices and larger profit margins, thus increasing value for consumers and shareholders. Through employing a company that specialises in shipping, Nestle is able to leverage a specialised company’s core competencies to reduce stock transfer times, improve the reliability of deliveries and further lower costs. Supermarkets are used as a front-end to meet consumer demand, as they reduce the necessary overheads Nestle would face if they opened their own retail utlets, such as store rental, hiring and training additional staff and advertising the stores. This reduces the cost of products to end consumers, thus providing greater value and increased demand, resulting in positive increases in value for stakeholders. 7.3.2 Intra-organisations Across Supply Chain and Value Networks Nestle performs a wide variety of its own business functions in order to create value within the global supply chain. Nestle achieves this by retaining many of their own factories in each of the regions they supply to, resulting in cheaper, fresher produce due to the removal of shipping constraints. This also allows Nestle to create additional value during the manufacturing process through including charts on product packaging to convey nutritional information to the consumer. As Nestle manages many of its own factories, flexibility in the creation of product offerings can create region-specific offerings, able to quickly adapt to health and nutrition legislation in any region they operate. 7.4 Identified Problems for Nestle Throughout our research, we are able to highlight problem areas affecting Nestle’s organisation, value chain and networks (table 12). . Table 12 Problems, Strategic Implications and Recommendations For Nestle . 4.1 Overall Recommendations It is inevitable that Nestle will continue to confront problems in the future as the company is extensive and the business world is dynamic. Nestle can help to minimise these problems through effective research and development, monitoring and controlling practices, and reacting quickly and efficiently to respond and adapt to upcoming issues. Section 8 – Conclusion Nestle, a global company, operates a successful supply chain that utilises its strong competitive advantage of value adding opportunities. As highlighted previously, problems within the value chain can be depicted. However, a number of minor changes can be applied to further the success of the company. Nestle has employed a number of strategies that all contribute to the value adding process of the firm. Yet, it can be concluded that, at Nestle, the most important strategy is ‘creating shared value. ’ Nestle has implemented a number of techniques ultimately aiming to establish value for stakeholder needs and for society on a global scale. Section 9 – Appendices Appendix 1 Figure 13 Nestle Value Stream Source: Nestle 2010, Full Year Results European Roadshow, p. 61 Appendix 2 Table 14 Porter’s Value Chain Analysis – Nestle Support Activities| Infrastructure| The organisational structure and control systems of the firm itself. Nestle has adopted a decentralised business structure signifying the distribution of power across districts within the business. This includes the dispersion of power from global headquarters formulating strategic decisions, local management teams determining the day-to-day operations and local governments. This allows Nestle’s subordinates to have a high level of autonomy. | | Human Resource Management | Is primarily concerned with employment, recruitment and training within the firm. Nestle focuses on a global training system, The International Marketing and Sales Trainee Program. This two-year program aims to prepare motivated graduates to take up leadership positions throughout the company. | | Technology Development | An important element of the value chain, supporting the value creating activities. Nestle has recently implemented a combination of SAP and Powersim to create a simulation of operations. This assists managers and employees to develop learning and organisational strategies, to optimise supply and value chain management. More recently, Nestle has directed the company’s global business system to become an integrated system based on MySAP. com. | | Procurement | The process of purchasing inputs such as materials, supplies and equipment. Raw materials at Nestle are purchased through trade and directly from farmers where possible; however Nestle does not own any commercial farming activities. An important procurement issue faced by multi-national companies (MNCs), such as Nestle, is the increasing concerns of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Nestle encourages sustainable agriculture through sourcing its key raw materials, which include milk, coffee and cocoa, from local suppliers and farmers?. It is important to provide guidelines and generate contracts for significant suppliers to achieve greater control and insure sustainable practices. | Primary Activities| Inbound logistics | The warehousing of raw materials and then distribution to manufacturers. Nestle does not have one specific method of distribution of raw materials. By focusing on adapting a number of methods to suit the local environment Nestle is able to satisfy the interests of the local communities where raw materials are farmed, therefore creating shared value for all necessary stakeholders. | | Operations| The process of transferring the inputs into finished products that can be sold to the consumer. Nestle’s cocoa plan illustrates a specific supply chain from the primary source of cocoa beans to the final delivery to the consumer. This chain creates value not only for the consumer, but also local farmers and society. This is further explained in section five. | Outbound logistics | The process of warehousing and distributing final goods. Nestle, as a global company, owns subsidiaries across the world, allowing imports and exports to be sourced and distributed to the required warehousing destination. From the warehousing of products to the retail outlets, quick and efficient transport methods are utilised, specifically by road. | | Marketing and Sales| Is focused on identifying customer needs and essentially generating better sales. Nestle aims to respond to constantly changing consumer preferences through continually monitoring customer attitudes and requirements. This is achieved through market research in the form of qualitative and quantitative research. Nestle’s Research and Development Team work with product developers, food scientists and technologists to design products that meet customer needs | | Service | Is provided through supporting customers after the product has been sold to them. As Nestle is concerned with the food and beverage industry, after sale service is not a vast concern due to the absence of support needed once the consumer has consumed the product. | Appendix 3 Figure 15 Nestle Strategies Source: Nestle 2011, Strategy Nestle Roadmap to Good Food, Good Life Section 10 – Reference List Babics J. (2009), Nestle’s Creating Shared Value Approach as Competitive Advantage, viewed 8th May, accessed at: http://www. scribd. com/doc/51263004/Nestle ’s-Creating-Shared-Value-Approach-as-Competitive-Advantage Brabeck-Letmathe, P. (2010), Rural Development Report, Nestle Group Kotler. P, Brassington. F (2010), Value Chain Analysis, viewed 12th May, accessed at: http://www. learnmarketing. net/valuechain. htm Lynch, R. (2003), Corporate Strategy, 3rd ed. Prentice Hall Financial Times Nestle Group (2010), Nestle Corporate Business Principles, viewed 5th May, accessed at: http://www. nestle. com/Investors/CorporateGovernance/BusinessPrinciples/Pages/BusinessPrinciplesHome. aspx Nestle Group (2010), Nestle good food good life, viewed 8th May, accessed at: http://www. Nestle . com/ Nestle Group (2010), The Cocoa Plan, viewed 12th May, accessed at: http://www. thecoc oaplan. com/ Nestle Group (2011), Creating Shared Value for Nestle, viewed 5th May, accessed at: http://www. nestle. om/CSV/CreatingSharedValueAtNestle/Pages/CreatingSharedValue. aspx Recklies (2010), The Value Chain, viewed 12th May, accessed at: http://www. fao. org/fileadmin/user_upload/fisheries/docs/ValueChain. pdf Steinert-Threlkeld, T. (2006) Nestle Pieces Together Its Global Supply Chain, viewed 12th May, accessed at: http://www. baselinemag. com/c/a/Projects-Processes/Nestle acute-Pieces-Together-Its-Global-Supply-Chain/ The Times 100 (2010), Teaching Business Case Studies, viewed 12th May, accessed at: http://www. thetimes100. co. uk/downloads/Nestle/Nestle_10_full. pdf

Internet Job Research

Internet Job Research Employers in the current job market are very precise with regard to qualification of potential employees. It is important for an individual pursuing a certain career path to acquire knowledge on the qualities, which most employers want. Not only should the job seeker know the job requirements but also the benefits that characterize the job.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Internet Job Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A single profession may offer different salaries based on the employees educational prerequisites, expertise and environmental location. The tables below show variation of salary with respect to various degree courses, geographical location and varying years of experience (Pay scale, 2011). Accounting manager (Pay scale, 2011) Detail Amount Salary $39,558-$87710 Bonus $728-$11,151 Profit sharing $947-$7,003 Total pay $37,580-$91,381 Salary and bonus based on experience (Pay scale, 2011) Years of experience National Salary Data Bonus Less than 1 year $32,672-$47,932 $2000 1-4 years $39,896-$58,565 $2462 5-9 years $50,091-$75,499 $4,798 10-19 years $50,877-$77,731 $4,907 Over 20 years $50,422-$74,158 $2,979 Salary based on degree Degree Salary Bachelor of science( Accounting) $54,430-$80,179 Masters of Business Administration $61,403-$102,730 Associate’s Degree, Accounting $34,636-$50,000 Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting) $57,561-$79,992 Bachelor of Arts (Accounting) $49,721-$75,076 Bachelor of Science(BS) $55,067-$70,256 Bachelor of Science Business administration $45,913-$84,500 Salary based on city (Geography) Houston $52,338 $82,750 New York $64,085 $96,341 Los Angeles $53,611 $82,025 Atlanta $53,175 $74,721 Chicago $58,246 $85,700 Dallas $51,977 $76,380 Denver $54,605 $72,943 Assistant Comptroller Detail Amount Salary $43,017-$95,241 Bonus $988-$17,676 Profit Sharin g $977-$10,113 Total pay $41,598-$102,739 Salary and bonus based on experience Years of experience Salary Bonus Less than 1 year $30,513-54,045 $2000 1-4 years $43,933-$63,972 $3,072 5-9 years $50,749-$76,460 $5,131 10-19 years $57,670-$86,243 $7,571 Over 20 years $53,025-$82,208 $4,050 Salary based on degree Degree Salary Bachelor of science (accounting) $51,730-$63,500 Bachelor of Business Administration $42,950-$65,850 Salary based on city (Geography) New York, $65,505 $96,562 Houston $46,794 $79,800 Chicago $51,222 $92,882 Los Angeles $68,153 $87,371 Dallas $50,209 $81,448 Atlanta $44,803 $65,035 Boston $52,359 $91,475 Accounting Manager The basic obligation of accounting managers is to prepare and analyze financial documents. In addition, the accounting manager prepares budgets; appraise procedures and act as an administrator of assets (Bureau of labor statistics 2011). The above table reveal that this job not only pays a basic salary but also gives other benefits that include profit share and Bonus. Tables further disclose that salary increases with the number of years of experience. Once a worker attains in excess of twenty years experience, no additional increment awarded. Bonus follows a rather peculiar trend as it increases as experienced is gained but once a worker attains twenty years of experience the amount of bonus decreases. Salary is awarded differently depending on degree course with holder of Masters in Business Administration being the best remunerated. Wages also fluctuate with regard to the geographical location. In this career, workers in the most urban and populous cities are best rewarded. Assistant Comptroller The individual holding this office must have adequate knowledge in the accounting field as an assistant comptroller has the basic duty of ensuring that records kept adhere to accounting policies (Bureau of labor statistics, 2011). This career seems to pay more but the remun eration show similar trend to that of an accounting manager. â€Å"Benefits offered include a basic salary, bonus and profit share† (Bureau of labor statistics, 2011). Salary and bonus increase with experience except bonus reduces on attainment of twenty years of practice. The statistic collected reveal that holders of Bachelor of Science (Accounting) receive better wages. Assistant comptrollers in the large populated cities generally receive better salaries in small towns. It important that proper educational experience is gained as it plays an important role in determining once career path. It is essential that students further their education to enable them land into their dream careers. Overall, these two jobs are similar but an assistant comptroller job that relates to auditing is rather interesting and is in my career path.Advertising Looking for essay on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In conclusion, the two careers are related, as they require knowledge from the accounting field. The wages awarded to accounting managers and assistant comptrollers is relatively equal but the later are better paid. An accounting manager will be involved m in the preparation of records while an assistant comptroller will focus on enforcement standards. References Bureau of labor statistics (2011). Accountants and Auditors. Retrieved from  https://www.bls.gov/ Pay scale. (2011). Salary Snapshot for Accounting Manager Jobs. Retrieved from  https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Accounting_Manager/Salary#by_City Pay scale (2011). Salary Snapshot for Assistant Controller (Financial) Jobs.  Retrieved from  https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Assistant_Controller_(Financial)/Salary#by_City Appendix- Tip sheet on Internet sites Run by a recognized body or organization, for example the government Constantly revised Accurate Appropriately authored Appropriately dated C ontacts available Easily accessible information Referrals available for more details Affordability Sensitive to user’s needs Interactive interface User-friendliness Accurate sources Authorized modifications Disclaimers are available for people to seek professional help.

Power Definitions and Examples in Sociology

Power Definitions and Examples in Sociology Definition: Power is a key sociological concept with several different meanings and considerable disagreement surrounding them. The most common definition comes from Max Weber, who defined it as the ability to control others, events, or resources; to make happen what one wants to happen in spite of obstacles, resistance, or opposition. Power is a thing that is held, coveted, seized, taken away, lost, or stolen, and it is used in what are essentially adversarial relationships involving conflict between those with power and those without. In contrast, Karl Marx used the concept of power in relation to social classes and social systems rather than individuals. He argued that power rests in a social class’s position in the relations of production. Power does not lie in the relationship between individuals, but in domination and subordination of social classes based on the relations of production. A third definition comes from Talcott Parsons who argued that power is not a matter of social coercion and domination, but instead flows from a social system’s potential to coordinate human activity and resources in order to accomplish goals.

Political and economic conditions in Russia Essay

Political and economic conditions in Russia - Essay Example The paper is going to discuss the political and economic conditions in the Russian federation and factors that managers would consider when seeking to invest in Russia. I am also going to assess the political and economic risks in Russia at the present moment and how a companyThe present political conditions in Russia are critical to ensure successful running of businesses because of the tensions and attacks that happened on 29th of December 2013, where two suicide bombings occurred inThese bombings resulted to injuries and deaths of many people in the area and no group has claimed responsibility for the bombings. It was also speculated by the media that the attacks were meant to disrupt Russia’s planned Sochi Olympic Games this month. Volgograd being a transportation hub between Moscow and Southern Russia makes it insecure for businesses to carry out their operations since it is not known when the terrorists may strike again. It is impossible for Russia’s government to support other business ventures when they should be focusing on ensuring security around the places where the Sochi Olympic Games will be taking place to avoid more attacks. The political leaders have many responsibilities to ensure that their people are living in safe environments and their needs are met.The economy of Russia is growing because of its large production of oil and gas. Deresky and Christopher (2011) stated that Putin the president of Russia struggled to ensure that the country’s economy remained of high level.

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 Research Paper

The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 - Research Paper Example A whistleblower is a person who makes a disclosure that evidence improper or illegal activities in an employment setting (Whitaker, P1). On the other hand, King defines the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 as a United States of America’s federal law that protects federal whistleblowers or government employees who report any misconduct by a federal agency. An example of a famous whistleblower was Jeffrey Wigand, Brown & Williamson’s former research and development vice president in 1966, who disclosed that cigarette companies’ executives were aware of the fact that cigarettes were addictive and increased the amount of nicotine deliberately to make them even more addictive (King, para5). The Whistleblower Protection Act/WPA was enacted in 1989, following apparent weaknesses in the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, which was an earlier attempt to protect whistleblowers. This law led to the creation of the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates complaints from government employees that they received punishment after reporting about abuse, fraud or waste in their agencies to Congress. This office has jurisdiction over whistleblower reprisal allegations that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission employees make. The Congress passed the Act with the intention of strengthening and improving Federal employees’ rights protection, to end retaliation and to aid in the eradication of unlawful activity within the government. It mandates that workers should not go through adverse consequences because of personnel practices that are prohibited  and establishes that the Office of Special Counsel’s primary role is protecting workers, particularly whistleblowers, from forbidden personnel practices.

Social Cognitive Theories Essay Example for Free

Social Cognitive Theories Essay SOCIAL COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORIES Social Cognitive views have been influenced by the humanist idea of uniqueness of human beings, that human beings are decision makers, planners and evaluators of behavior. Key Concepts: Social cognitive learning theorists emphasize the importance of both the influences of other people’s behavior and of a person’s own expectancies on learning, and also that observational learning, modeling can lead to the formation of patterns of personality. Thought and behavior are closely interlined with the situation the person is in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory: Introduction: Albert Bandura a modern theorist helped reshape the theoretical landscape of behaviorism. Bandura believes that three factors influence one another in determint of behavior: the environment, the behavior itself and personal or cognitive factors that the person brings into situation from earlier experience. Key Terms: 1. Cognitive Processes and Reciprocal Determinism 2. Observational Learning 3. Self Regulation 4. Self Efficacy Cognitive Processes and Reciprocal Determinism: Bandura and like-minded theorists call their modified brand of behaviorism social learning theory or social cognitive theory. Bandura (1982-1986) agrees with the fundamental thrust of behaviorism in that he believes that personality is largely shaped through learning. However, he contends that conditioning is not a mechanical process in which people are passive participants. Instead, he maintains that â€Å"people are self-organizing, proactive, self-reflecting and self-regulating, not just reactive organisms shaped and shepherded by external events†. Bandura advocates a position called reciprocal determinism. According to this notion, the environment does determine behavior (as skinner would argue). However, behavior also determines the environment (in other words, people can act to alter their environment). Moreover, personal factors (cognitive structures such as beliefs and expectancies) determine and are determined by both behavior and the environment. Thus, reciprocal determinism is the idea that internal mental events, external environmental events, and over behavior all influence one another. According to Bandura, humans are neither masters of their own destiny nor hapless victims buffered about by the environment. Instead, the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes. ENVIRONMENT BEHAVIOR PERSONAL / COGNITIVE FACTORS (EXPECTATIONS, BELIEFS, SELF-EFFICACY BANDURA’S RECEIPROCAL DETERMINISM Observational Learning: Bandura’s foremost theoretical contribution has been his description of observational learning. Observational learning occurs when an organism’s responding is influenced by the observation of others, who are called models. According to Bandura, both classical and operant conditioning can occur vicariously when one person observes another’s conditioning. For example, watching your sister get burned by a bounced check upon selling her old stereo could strengthen your tendency to be suspicious of others. Although your sister would be the one actually experiencing the negative consequences, they might also influence you – through observational learning. Bandura maintains that people’s characteristic patterns of behavior are shaped by the models that they are exposed to. He isn’t referring to the fashion models who dominate the mass media – although they do qualify. In observational learning, a model is a person whose behavior is observed by another. At one time or another, everyone serve as a model for others. As social learning theory has been refined, it has become apparent that some models are more influential than others. Both children and adults tend to imitate people they like or respect more than people they don’t. People are also especially prone to imitate the behavior of people whom they consider attractive or powerful. Self-regulation: Bandura notes, human beings often demonstrate an impressive capacity for the self-regulation of their own behavior. While people may often respond to external factors such as positive reinforcement and punishment, they sometimes choose to ignore these and to operate in terms of internal standards and values. We set our own goals, and we often provide our own rewards when we reach them – a process Bandura describes as self-reinforcement. Self-Efficacy: Bandura discusses how a variety of personal factors (aspects of personality) govern behavior. In recent years, the factor he has emphasized most is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy refers to one’s belief about one’s ability to perform behaviors that should lead to expected outcomes. When self-efficacy is high, individuals feel confident that they can execute the responses necessary to earn reinforcers. When self-efficacy is low, individuals worry that the necessary responses may be beyond their abilities. Perceptions of self-efficacy are subjective and specific to certain kinds of tasks. For instance, you might feel extremely confident about your ability to handle difficult social situations but doubtful about your ability to handle academic challenges. Perceptions of self-efficacy can influence which challenges people tackle and how well they perform. Studies have found that feelings of greater self-efficacy are associated with greater success in giving up smoking; greater adherence to an exercise regimen; more success in coping with pain; greater persistence and effort in academic pursuits; higher levels of academic performance; enhanced performance in athletic competition; greater receptiveness to technological training and higher work-related performance, among many other things. What are the developmental antecedent of high self-efficacy? Schneewind asserts that parents can foster self-efficacy by providing a stimulating environment and by being responsive to their children’s behavior. An emphasis on warm support for children, early independence training, and non-punitive disciplinary techniques is also helpful. In contrast, parents who are authoritarian, intrusive, overprotective, or neglectful are likely to undermine self-efficacy in their offspring. Julian Rotter’s Social Learning Theory: Introduction: Rotter suggested that the likelihood of a given behavior occurring in a specific situation depends on the individuals expectancies concerning the outcomes the behavior will produce and the reinforcement value they attach to such outcomes – the degree to which the prefer one reinforcement to another. Key Terms: 1. Expectancies 2. Locus of Control Rotter developed his Social Learning Theory to incorporate cognitive factors. Rotter recognized that most the reinforcers we strive to obtain one social (e.g. Hugs, attention and that most learning occurs in social situation) Expectancies: The concept of expectancy is one of the most important elements of Rotter’s theory. When you take an exam apply for a job or ask for a date, you have some notion of the likelihood of success or failure. What you expect to happen has a powerful influence on your behavior, thought, feelings and in turn personality. Locus of Control: Locus of control involves the extent to which individuals believe that they or that external factors control their lives. Rotter focused on whether people place their locus of control inside themselves (internal) or in their environments (external). Locus of control influences how people view the world and how they identify the causes of success or failure in their lives. In an important way, people’s locus of control reflects their personality – their view of, and reactions to, the world. People with an external locus of control believe that they have little control over their lives. A college student may attribute his or her poor grade to a lousy teacher, feeling there was nothing he or she could have done to get an A. In contrast, individuals who develop an internal locus of control feel that they can master any course they take because they believe that through hard work they can do well in any subject. People develop expectations based on their beliefs about the sources of reinforcement in their environments. These expectations lead to specific behaviors described as personality. Reinforcement of these behaviors in turn strengthens expectancy and leads to increased belief in internal or external control.

Retailing in the Digital Age :: M&M’s World at Leicester Square

Introduction To expand the customers’ shopping experience and satisfaction, the atmosphere while they are shopping was necessary. The atmospherics were first founded by Kotler (1973) as an essential instrument to hold the shopping environment to produce the emotional effect on the customer buying decision. There are further studied to classify these. However, most of them were about the physical environment but after the 21st century, concepts of an online store were applied. Multiple channels are a concept of this era, to be the survivor retailers have to adapt themselves as well. This report contains the findings and analyses, which include the atmospheric variables, online retail environment, online retail atmosphere and opportunities and challenge of e-retailing. Findings and Analyses Atmospherics in term of Kotler (1973) definition are an important marketing tool that effect directly to the customer behaviour. Putting it simply, this is about the sensory effect atmosphere including sight, sound, scent and touch. This is also a part of the product that could effect to the consumer behaviour. To attempt and hold the specific segment of the target could increase the atmosphere in the store an increase buyers’ rate consumption thereby causing the increase of purchase probability. According to Turley and Milliman (2000), the behaviour of consumer could influence by the environment. From the study, there could come up with five categories that effect to the consumers’ evaluation and lead the behaviour response consist of external variables, general interior variables, layout and design variables, point-of-purchase and decoration variables and human variables as can be seen in figure 1. Figure 1: Turley and Milliman’s retail atmospherics framework Nowadays, the retail industry transitioned from brick-and-mortar to click-and-mortar retailing. As a result of developing on the Internet that has increased the flexibility for retailers to operate an online store in addition from their physical store. Moreover, the online channel also offers the benefit in selling products to the online shopper that value another customer segment (Ofek et al, 2010). Otherwise, the consumers’ behaviour in the era was not relying on one channel. They use relevant of technologies to search for an information in different ways, such as, read reviews from other customers, visit the physical store before purchasing online, finding the best price of purchase (Aubrey and Judge, 2012). This could illustrate that the customers use multi-channel for their purchase decision. In the 21st century, customers tend to be the multi-channel shopper that effect in the retailing industry.

Leche

Sale University and University of Santos Thomas. Linkman eventually returned to the motherland to study Philippine Literature and colonial history at UP Dilemma Some of his novels are Rolling the Or's. Kayak Press (1995) Prime Time Apparitions. Hanging Loose Press (2005) The Evolution of a Sigh. Hanging Loose Press (2008) Lech. Coffee House Press (2011). II. A Summary of the Novel The story is about a Filipino-American named Vince who left the Philippines to live in Hawaii at the age often years old with his siblings Jinn, aged eleven and Alvin who had Just turned nine.The story started when Vine's friend Edgar told him to Join Mr.. Pogo in Hawaii so that he could win a trip back home in motherland Philippines. After winning second place in the said pageant he was able to go back home. In Manila, He meets Bins Boca, Sister Marie and Kuris Aquinas, the daughter of the late President, Carbon Aquinas, who is also known as the â€Å"Massacre Queen†. Having gifted with good looks h e easily gain entrance in the Manila High Society and having the chance to be interviewed Kuris herself but there he realized he doesn't belong there, he doesn't along in the Philippines.Being home sick and all he tried reaching out to his sibling by sending post cards back to Hawaii and there he reconcile with his past – his childhood back in San Vaccine with his Loll, the one person whom he really had emotional connection to. In the end, he eventually goes back to San Vaccine to his hometown after his maid Burnett quite some time been telling him to go back. He eventually came home when he gave in to barbiturate's advice. He was mad at Loll AY for sending him to Honolulu, Hawaii but to his surprise he found out that all those ears he spent in Hawaii Loll AY was sick.All those years he thought Loll AY was healthy and strong. All his questions were answered upon returning home and he asked forgiveness to Loll AY. Ill. Analysis Literature is an art form in a way that it invoke s within each of us a different perceptions that is unique to an individual. Every individual has his own point of view, a window in which we view the world. Therefore, the way we see literature is the same as viewing the same star, however, from different parts of the world. Same star, but a different angle.Art for me is a mouth of a hundred people speaking loudly and differently in sync, because we see art as it is physically but the way we think of it is never the same. We give them all different meaning in our different points of view. I could say that this story is easy to read so I could gladly recommend this to peers. The story is peace and the actions are always interesting. Even I didn't take more than five or six sittings to read it entirety. The book is narrative and is a prose which made it easier to understand than poetry which has deep words and having implied meanings which made it harder to find its real meaning.As we could see on the cover of the book, is a Jeep. It 's not real, it is a wooden engraved Jeep which is usually found in a Philippine gift shops since a Jeep has a big role played in every Filipinos lives. They use this as a mode of transportation but they still have to deal with the traffic. Just this semester I have experienced a sensation of extreme laughter with facts stated in the story, problems of the 3rd world countries. He was able to put witty Jokes within serious situations within our country today.Example: he rotating brown outs and him (Vince) having to resort to alternative ways to get more water for rinsing of; the melted ice and the left over mineral water in the pitcher he found in the refrigerator. Though people in the Philippines have to pump waters in a big bin to prepare themselves for the brownout and water rotation. Or having to ride the Jeep for commuters. We all know that many Filipinos are now migrating to 1st world countries seeking a better future, but! There would always be this feeling of home sickness. M issing those thing grew up with, being far away from your comfort zone.It's not a great feeling. I remember in the story where it's stated that â€Å"you're not a Filipino if you haven't ridden a Jeep before†. This part of the story is another trivia given in the novel. Another fact is that no Jeep is the same as the other. They may be alike in terms of brand, having the same entrance but its decoration differs. This shows the creativity of the pinots. A Jeep was left by the Americans after the world war II and the Filipinos bought them from the Americans, looking dull, the Filipinos thought of decoration it.Up until now this is still practiced Hough in my opinion the Jeep is the least effective mode of transportation, stopping in every possible passengers, having a far rotation and is mainly the cause of traffic because of stopping Just anywhere anytime. Even the thought of Papas City Mall, Harrison plaza, Quip church where Vince and Kuris the massacre queen met gives a lot of memories back. In the things I have shared in my last paragraph I have shown a little about the book. The book describes the contemporary Philippine life which brings up memories and associations of the life lived by our parents not so Eng ago.This book for me is highly relatable because the way I see it majority of professionals, even non-professionals, leave the country seeking a better life. Upon reading this book it could bring back a lot of long forgotten memories of the foreigners once called Filipinos. It is an unfortunate event in the country that almost at least one member in the family leaves for abroad leaving them home sick and depressed. Those who seek being found in a world which you feel you do not belong to this book is the best to, those so called Offs are best audience for this novel.The book Lech is a good book since the author actually wrote it through firsthand experience. Since he left the Philippines he felt homesick and wrote a book about what he could rem ember about motherland. It shows that you should appreciate what you have now until it's all gone. When he was able to step on motherland steps he wasn't getting any of what he is expecting yet he still is feeling happy having to reconnect to his past and remembering the moments he had with his 1010, even those he has with his siblings back when they were still a child.The main point of this story s that even if you've been far from home for a long long period of time there would always be a little of yourself left in that place that you'd long to meet again and someday you'd dream of seeing that place you once knew and loved. Just like everyone says â€Å"there's no place like home† and even though he's attained a lot in his recent location going home is still worth more than anything in the world, knowing that in San Vaccine is once his and his grandfather's domain he would always wonder back to the feelings he had way back with his LOLL.Everyone knew he had this facial con nection with his grandfather a love so strong that they bond by reading books. Even in silence they feel their special connections that they have because his grandfather is all his got after being left by his parents when they went to Hawaii. Another fun fact about it is the tourist tips. It really is a good books for balalaika's who is like Vince who is unable to come back home in a very long time. These tips actually are really useful if you're a foreigner or a balalaikas to give you a heads up if you're clueless of what you might deal with upon returning to the Philippines.It's really interesting how he really expressed those fun facts about the Philippines as well as the people in the place. Many parts of the book shows Vince having flashbacks. Since he was unable to come home in thirteen years he had a lot of recollecting to do. Simply manila gave him a lot of reminiscing but of course it was always in his home town where all his memories are stored. The book is still applicabl e in modern times. Those past experiences shared in the book is still relevant in the lives of many people traversing our 7, 107 islands today.Socialites, lovelier, separation from implies, poverty, government, immigration of professionals still at large. Reading a book where you can relate to is one thing about a book. Reading something and in the middle you'll be saying â€Å"ay lam OK yang! † â€Å"antipodean OK yang! ‘ â€Å"ay tama nag! Gangway nag Yuan! † is a great feeling because you get to know the inner you. You as a citizen of this fair country. One of the main problem is sexuality, the acceptance of the 3rd gender. Another thing is he showed how gays are, for me they are still of the same gender, male/female, who are misunderstood.Is it because they act as the opposite of what the masses think a gender should act they should see it as a wrong doing? This book makes us realize to be more open-minded about serious things happening around us. An epic en d to this epic essay, Lech in Spanish is milk yet in this story it symbolizes many things like the bar where Vince wanted Dante to take him after being drunk or as an expression used when shocked or mad. Though this book means different things, in my opinion like the expression we usually use LECH being a part of our culture, like Vince whatever happens the Philippines will always be a big in his life.

Rei Sustainability Case

To: Council of Executive Vice Presidents Date: 1th of November, 2012 From: Anders F? dder Subject: Evaluation of REI’s sustainability goals I am writing in response to your inquiry regarding the plausibility of maintaining the continuous growth of the company as well as satisfying its sustainability goals. The following sections will address the three issues, mentioned by top management, by first describing them, then interpreting them and lastly they will be evaluated.Conclusion and recommendations will be based on this. REI focus greatly on the impact that their business has on the environment. They continuously work on finding new and innovative solution that will help reduce these negative effects. Their corporate mission emphasises this commitment: â€Å"At REI, we inspire, educate and outfit for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship† REI’s stewardship priorities: * Encourage the active conservation of nature Inspire the responsible use and enjoyme nt of the outdoors * Enhance the natural world and our communities through responsible business practices * Foster opportunities to increase participation in human-powered outdoor recreation * Maintain REI as an employer of choice, where employees are highly engaged in the vision of the company and are representative of our communities The CEO, Kevin Hagen, also stated that these financial and environmental goals and aspiration must be met without sacrificing either. Hagen advocated shifting to a framework of â€Å"no tradeoffs† thus making a paradigm shift; Innovation over compromise.Issue 1 First issue is whether the company’s stated sustainability goals and aspirations are consistent with its corporate mission and its stated stewardship objectives that are listed above. REI sustainability goals focus on three areas; energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission (carbon footprint) and reduction of waster to landfills. The company plans to add water, toxics, land use an d social impact to this list in near future. Each of these areas has an aspiration for 2020, a goal for 2015 and a budget for the current year. Energy consumptionREI has taken different initiatives to increase their energy efficiency by switching to new renewable power sources wherever possible. They mission is to keep their energy consumption at a fixed level despite opening new stores. One the ways they do this is by investing in self-generation options such as solar technology. Their ways of managing their energy use and increasing efficiency include: * Solar technology in many of our stores * Lighting: * Elimination of all incandescent bulbs from our retail stores * Installation of highly energy-efficient bulbs and fixtures * Greater reliance on skylights and natural lighting Heating & cooling (HVAC): * Aggressive retrofitting and replacement of outdated HVAC equipment with sophisticated new models * Centralized monitoring * Energy-saving techniques such as on-demand ventilation and airflow * Measurement of our stores' energy efficiency against similar buildings nationwide with the ENERGY STAR benchmarking tool Greenhouse gas emission (GHG) The aspiration for 2020 concerning GHG was to be climate neutral. Their goal for 2015 was to cut GHG by 50 percent compared to 2010 emissions. The budget for each year was a specific target in tons of CO2 that was defined by the 2015 goal.REI looked at many aspects of their business in order to reach this goal. These were not limited by their own specific action within REI. They look beyond themselves and try to change the way their employees and suppliers act to. The list include: employee commuting and travel, travel by customers participating in REI Adventures programs from their homes to the site of program, transportation of products from vendors to the company and shipments to customers. However, they have not included customer transportation to and from the stores.REI provides meaningful incentives for their empl oyees to reduce the environmental impacts of commuting and corporate travel. These include: * A 50 percent transit subsidy * Showers and secure bike storage at every REI facility * Telecommuting options at our headquarters location * Web conferencing and other technology tools In 2011, REI partnered with The Nature Conservancy to implement an afforestation project on the Bayou Bartholomew property in Louisiana, which will restore forest continuity with the adjacent Chemin-a-Haut State Park.Funding provided voluntarily by REI Adventures will finance the future retirement of carbon offsets from this project. Through this effort, REI supported The Nature Conservancy's restoration of this forest ecosystem, as well as the design of a carbon project. This carbon project has been validated and registered through a credible third-party certification system (the Verified Carbon Standard). The effort will contribute to long-term systemic change, benefitting the atmosphere and the forest ecosy stem, and has been designed to produce verifiable carbon offsets in the future.Though REI would seek new and innovative solutions to all aspects within the company, there is at least one were they could only offset rather than reduce. REI’s largest source of GHG emissions was REI Adventures which generated 31 percent of its total, namely flying members to adventure destinations. This exception was dealt with by purchasing carbon offsets as a part of the travel package, paid by REI. Reduction of waste to landfills REI aspiration for 2020 was to have no waste to landfills and cut waste to landfills by half between 2010 and 2015.In order to achieve this, they strive to make their packaging shipping operations as efficient as possible. They work with vendors, shipping companies and industry colleagues to pioneer new approaches to this complex situation. One example of this is how they reinvented the way bicycles were packaged and shipped. The bikes, shipped in cardboard boxes fro m china, was packaged in parts and assembled at one location in the US from where they were sent to the stores. The extensive packing, taped and stapled together, held the parts and assembled bikes securely but was difficult to assemble and disassemble.REI revised this process in way that allowed them to reuse the carton over and over again. Essentially, the same cartons that was used from the manufacturer in China, was used throughout the supply chain and returned to China, to once again be use. Thereby recycling all the materials rather than sending it to landfills. This decreased the cardboard consumption by more than 60 percent. Additionally they saved more than $1 million in annual labour hours due to reduced time required to pack and unpack bikes. Recap REI saw a rise in its net carbon impact during 2010.But the increase was smaller than overall company growth during the year, as measured by sales. Overall, the company used 2. 4% less energy in its facilities, despite adding f our new stores and relocating two retail locations to larger spaces. Other sustainability efforts include purchasing 58. 4% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper fiber, and recycling 74% of total operational waste, including more than 95% at REI’s two distribution centers. Community efforts included 109,785 volunteer hours committed through 541 REI-hosted conservation projects to plant trees, restore trails, and clean parks and streams.The company also funded $3. 7 million in grants provided to 330 nonprofit partners with a focus on conservation and outdoor recreation. However, REI is transferring renewable energy certificates generated by their solar panels. Since they do not claim credit for reducing carbon when doing so, this is creating a problem in terms of reaching carbon zero. A challenge they must overcome if they intend to reach their aspirations. REI could further reduce their GHG by reevaluating the use of New Zealand as a destination. Many locations on North American (e. g.Alaska, Canada, and the Rocky Mountains) continent have similar location to offer, and seeing that New Zealand is half away around the world, this could be an effective substitution. Exhibit three displays the progress of reaching the 2015 goals. Is shows the actual status of all three areas in e. g. the first quarter of 2011, the plan for 2011, the trajectory for 2015 and the goal for 2015. Though the trajectories for 2015 for all three are above the goal, one can see from the actual status for 2011, that they are all fairly close if not under the plan for the same year.So despite the gloom trajectory for 2015 REI is indeed on the right path. Issue 2 The second issue was identifying the potential risks with REI adopting the â€Å"No Trade-offs† approach articulated by the corporate social responsibility group, seen from a managerial performance measurement perspective. The â€Å"No trade-offs† approach presents several risks. It can prove be expen sive, not only in the solutions required to fulfil but also the hours it take to reach them. As the CEO aspires innovation over comprise, the employees will always have to look for new ways of performing tasks.This takes time and time is money. This is also a very black and white approach leaving none or very little wiggle room. The employees need to stay within the parameters and in some cases they might be looking for solutions that are simply not there. Again, this is time consuming and will undoubtedly make REI miss out on additional earnings lost by looking in other fixed directions. REI has set the bar high and this might also have a negative effect on the people working to find the solutions. If the goals seem too impossible, it might demotivate rather than inspire thus lowering the morale among the workforce.However, by setting a more reasonable goal for 2015 this is somewhat counteracted. Recap So there are several risks by the â€Å"No trade-off† approach, but REI s eems to get around them. The company is still growing and still finding ways to lower their influence on the environment. The Workplace section also notes that REI has been included on Fortune magazine’s â€Å"100 Best Companies to Work for† list for 14 consecutive years. The company has a 79% employee retention rate. Issue 3 The third issue was to evaluate the validity of the company’s approach to measuring its carbon emission.The goals for environmental sustainability were set by the office of CEO. They were included in the company’s non-financial KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). The CSR group is tasked to carry them out, however they also make the recommendation to the office of the CEO on which the goals are based. This could create internal problematic situation as it is the same people who make the recommendations for the goals as well as carrying them, though some tasks are overseen by other departments than CSR.However, REI take a comprehensive view of their environmental impact using a framework that reflects the work of the Outdoor Industry Association’s Eco Working Group. They have established key performance metrics for e. g. the three before mentioned areas, and in 2011, they implemented measurement and reporting tools that enables them to forecast, budget and review their progress in these areas. These metrics tie directly into strategic and financial planning for key REI divisions, and results are assessed quarterly by company leadership.REI also became a member of bluesign technologies in 2008. The program requires tight manufacturing controls in mills and factories in order to be certified. This approach will provide greater supply chain transparency in support of REI's goal of reducing the environmental impact of its products. The transparency will also allow them to make a more precise assessment of their impact, as they will have greater access to their suppliers’ information regarding manufacturi ng. Recap Based on this I deem the validity of the company’s approach to measuring its carbon emission as high.

Technology Assisted collaborative communications The WritePass Journal

Technology Assisted collaborative communications Introduction Technology Assisted collaborative communications IntroductionReference:Related Introduction Netiquette is a social convention adopted by internet users on the web that help interact over networks ranging from mailing to blogs and forums and live chat. Since the internet has changed rapidly, its netiquette does too, the need for a sense of netiquette arises mostly when sending or distributing e-mail, chatting or posting comments. To some point, the practice of netiquette relies on accepting how e-mail, chatting or other aspects of the internet work or is practiced. For example, on an email discussion list – not everyone may have seen past message- it’s considered polite to quote from a message you’re replying to, so your response has context. It is considered that to keep quotes short and relevant. Web based forum, on the other hand where the original messages are visible to all, quoting is unnecessary. Netiquette is a term referring to a good behaviour while connected to the internet below is some good and bad examples of netiquette while using the internet facilities. Good Examples: Requesting permission for images and extra intellectual rights from the author and owners. Using proper grammar and spelling Not Using someone else’s identity such as name and pretending to be someone else Not posting something illegal Not using abusive and threatening language. Not post racist comments Not trying to capture personal information about someone Bad Examples: Trying to be someone else and using their personal information and their identity Using foul language in a message or in a live chat Posting comments on racism To gather private information about someone Netiquette is communicating clearly online; this helps students with their learning as it gives the students a guide on   how to speak or type in a message or to people using online communication tools such as Facebook, Skype or Windows live Messenger.   This helped me to attempt my assignment one as it was a group assignment we had to use online communication tools in order to communicate. We clearly used appropriate language to communicate and sent brief short message emails to each of the group members. As a group we used appropriate behaviour to communicate with each other and it helped us into attempting assignment one it helped us to keep quotes short and relevant and easy to read. Throughout this module we had to attempt Assignment one; and in order to do that we had to communicate we each other as it was a group assignment. As we didn’t have time to communicate all the time due to other modules and other coursework and not everyone in our group was doing the same modules, we had to communicate by online communication using Skype, Facebook and Windows live messenger. We used mainly Skype as we were able to communicate as a group and not individual. Using online communication was an advantage for us as a group this is because we communicated anywhere, we didn’t have to discuss everything face to face or coming to the university and discussing the work, we discussed it over Skype and other online communication in order to help each other out for the group assignment and how to attempt each part. Blackboard was also used; it was used in order get in touch with the lecturer we posted comments in the discussion forum as a group or individual to get he lp with the assignments and other work relating to the lecturer. Online communications are used to be reserved for emails sent to co-workers and bosses. Today, however, emails and online conferences and other different methods kinds of online communications have not only become widely accepted, but often preferred to other methods. Online communications can offer several advantages and disadvantages. There is convenience; users don’t need to wait in for the other person to be available in order to get the message to them, they can just send an email.   Today for better communications, we can avail the facilities of e-mail, we can chat for hours. There are plenty messenger tools in present, these services it has become easy to start a friendship where users can share their thoughts. Advantages of Instant messaging is; users are able to send message in real time, free to use, having to have a proper face to face conversation without making a large bill and users are able to chat to more than one person at the same time. However there are disadvantages in using online communications. Some people decide to send viruses via email and in the processing infecting the user computers. Virus email can be difficult in order to be detected especially to someone with a very little knowledge of computer viruses and how they work. It’s not only emails that are the downside of online communications there are more such Instant messaging, the downside of instant messaging is that viruses can be sent via files, needs internet connection and computer and last of you don’t who you are really talking too. As technology progresses and the world has become more reliant up on internet functions online learning has gained popularity and functionality.   I personally can say it has benefited me, as it enables me to access it 24 hours a day 7 days a week. I am able to have the ability to read and re read lectures, discussion, explanations and comments. Each student has their personal way of learning some can learn visually and others do better when they â€Å"learn by doing†.   As online learning has benefited me I can study the lectures and materials of the modules on my own time or whenever I have the access to a computer or to the internet, it allows me to work at my own pace when learning modules. As I can choose when I want to work on my studies, I am more likely to devote my full attention to the task and not be distracted to comprehend to the lesson.   One of greatest things about online learning is that I can learn anywhere this is a benefit to me as I can learn even in the comfort of my own home; this can save me countless hours of transits. Instead of enduring a boring and often a stressful- rush to get to class at a horrible hour of the morning, I can use these hours for actual learning. Normally I often have more one on one interaction with my lecturers as correspondence through email is essential as my lecturers will know more about me and they way I learn and needs than a student they see two or three times a week in their lecturers. Online learning has not benefited me in this course; this is because in all of my modules it is required that we attend lectures and tutorials so for that we don’t miss out in anything important. Throughout the course, I’ve tried learning some things online, but it was a fail. It was only clear if the lecturer explained it, there was no point learning it online or any other way as it wasn’t clear enough. Online learning is a benefit in some of the modules but for this modules is not, when the work is set is required we practice it there and there so therefore there is no need to learn something online. Online learning does benefit some students in the course as for them they think it’s better to learn in this method, but for some it’s the other way around they think it’s better to attend lectures and tutorials to learn the module. Reference: Netiquette: Erin Hoffman. (2005). what is netiquette. Available: wisegeek.com/contest/what-is-netiquette.htm. Last accessed 28th March 2011. Wendy Grossman. (2010). what is netiquette. Available: bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-netiquette. Last accessed 4th April 2011. Advantages and disadvantages: Jayashree Pakhare. (2006). Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet. Available: buzzle.com/articles/advantages-disadvantages-internet.html. Last accessed 4 April 2011.