Assessment for Learning Essay

The results of the personal survey of assessment literacy showed that general considerations scored 87/90, prior to test design scored 53/55, writing the test scored 28/30, during test administration scored 15/15, and after testing reflected 25/25. Our school is a small private school with small classroom sizes. As a result, most of our students receive specialized one on one attention and strong supervision for their academic success. Teachers believe every student can and will succeed. It is not an option to do otherwise. â€Å"Teachers must believe that all students can achieve a certain level of academic success, must bring all of their students to believe this of themselves, must accommodate the fact that students learn at different rates by making use of differentiated instruction, and must guide all students toward the attainment of standards† (Stiggins, 2005, pg. 326). How we test students need to take into consideration the impact of the learner (Stiggins, 2008). Stiggins (2008) informed teachers to utilize assessments for students by looking at the classroom level of use, the program level of use, and the institutional accountability and policy level of use. Looking at the school survey of assessment literacy will take into account these three types of assessment uses and their importance in generating an accountability system for our school to develop a system that fosters learning for all students. My greatest area of strength in regard to assessment literacy can be found in during test administration (15/15) and after testing (25/25). These were perfect scores and illustrated that student’s needs were met when considering the testing environment as conducive to maximize student performance and monitoring the students as they take ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 3 the test. Directions are always clear and questions are rarely asked. Tests are accurately scored because they are reviewed twice. Assessment data is gathered for what questions students answered incorrectly and notes are made for improvement of material taught the following year. It is reviewed again after the results of the test are completed to ensure mastery before moving on to the next chapter. The main goal is always on student achievement and mastery of the material. The data adjusts instruction to improve student performance. Any students who do poorly are given the opportunity to retest for 92% of the grade for improvement and mastery. Parents are notified of any student receiving below an 86%. This is our school policy. Retests are given within a week of the original test. Tests are graded the same day and given back the next day. This enables students to observe what they got wrong and assess ways to improve for the retest or master the material. Assessments are not always tests. Projects, reports, computer uses, etc. are vital ways to assess student learning through a plethora of ways. Gardner (1999) believed that students learn through spatial, linguistic, naturalist, interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily kinesthetic, logical/mathematical, musical, and existential. Educators should recognize that diversity needs an on-going presence, availability, and active participation in the classroom teaching process (Spasovski, 2010). â€Å"If society wants all students to meet standards, then all students must believe they can meet those standards; they all must be confident enough to be willing to take the risk of trying† (Stiggins, 2008, p. 8). My greatest limitation in regard to assessment literacy is working with colleagues to design common assessments. Since we are a small private school, teachers are left ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 4 with the task of compiling their own assessments. Our principal will supply the assessments created by the publisher in book form or cd rom or teachers can compile their own. None of us work with colleagues to create assessments. We have team meetings that cross teach certain areas that are being studied to enhance learning across disciplines of teaching. However, assessments are each teacher’s responsibility. The Stanford test scores analyze our teaching productivity. Data is analyzed for the incorrect answer. The results address the weakest area of student learning. Teachers are to find solutions to fix them through data and research of proven strategies that work within successful classrooms. According to Creighton (2001), collecting data without purpose is meaningless. Data driven decision making and instructional leadership support one another. By analyzing the data that exist in our schools, student achievement and quality in teaching and learning can improve to assist students to become avid learners. Part 2: Analyzing the Survey Results The survey results of the criteria for the school survey of assessment literacy scored 84/90. Assessment, curriculum, and instruction are balanced in our school. Assessments are aligned to benchmarks, standards, and scaffolding of material over time to foster students’ learning. To promote student achievement, assessments are varied and reliable. Communication is accomplished with parents about performance through emails, assessments sent home requiring signatures, progress reports, report cards, and Stanford test scores. Since our students score in the 79-99% ranking of Stanford test scores as a class average, teachers seek solutions through data to ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 5 improve class average test scores. If any student did poorly, teachers seek ways that will improve student learning. Principals and teachers can learn to maneuver through the statistical data to help create goals and strategies for change and improvement (Creighton, 2001). The school’s greatest area of strength in regard to assessment literacy was that data-based decisions about student mastery of standards are made collaboratively by administrators and teachers. By looking at our strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats, teachers can gain insightful information into how they may best serve their diverse students’ needs and administrators can find solutions to helping these students achieve an optimal learning experience at school. This creates an opportunity for teachers and administrators to work together to improve student achievement. By understanding our diverse students’ needs, teachers and administrators can see the big picture and find viable solutions to problems that arise at their school. This year we have added a resource room to help struggling students with special needs get help from an ESE teacher. Curriculums are modified to accommodate student’s needs based on any language or learning barriers. The dominant culture of the nation-state should incorporate aspects of their experiences, cultures, and languages, which will enrich the mainstream culture as well as help marginalized groups to experience civic equality and recognition (Gutmann, 2004). Teachers have professional development sessions and team meetings to assess proven methodologies and research to help students learn. â€Å"When teachers support students by treating them with respect and caring about their futures, and encourage students by helping them to succeed, students are more likely ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 6 to respect and get along with one another; when taught how to be more tolerant of others, students exhibit greater tolerance† (Gollnick & Chinn, 2006). Our school climate is multicultural and is reflected in every aspect of the education at our school. This is imperative if we want our students to compete in a global economy and to ensure learning and equity for all students. The school’s greatest limitation in regard to assessment literacy is that not all teachers recognize students’ emotional connection to assessment and its results. Also, the formative assessments are not used regularly to tell members precisely where to focus their improvement efforts and how to do it in a timely manner. My students complain that some teachers take a month to grade papers. Parents complain to me that other teachers do not understand their child’s special needs. For instance, I have a student with dysgraphia, dyslexia, and ADHD. For spelling tests, I have found it beneficial to call him up after tests and have him spell the word to me verbally that he got wrong in writing and he often gets it correct. He has transformed from a failing student to an â€Å"A† student. I grade his paper immediately after he turns it in and I ask him to spell the words he got wrong to me verbally. When students are failing, teachers need to find viable solutions to increase student learning. No single assessment is capable of answering all these questions to aid a student’s learning capabilities. A productive, multi-level assessment system is needed to ensure accuracy of all instructional decisions (Stiggins, 2008). Relying heavily on Stanford test scores impedes a student’s emotional connection to assessment and its results. Instead a wide arrangement of student work should become part of a portfolio to determine the overall ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 7 success rate of a student. â€Å"If all students are to succeed, they must have continuous access to credible evidence of their own academic success at mastering prescribed achievement standards† (Stiggins, 2008, p. 8). Data shows teachers areas that need improvement in teaching, student’s weaknesses, and how to do better next time. This will enable students to build self-efficacy when teachers help students to see what success looks like through assessment analysis to improve test taking the next time (Stiggins, 2008). This is the reason our school offers a retest at 92% of the grade. This is what Stiggins refers to as replacing the intimidation of accountability as the primary motivator through tests with the promise of academic success for all learners. This type of assessment promotes hope for all students to become successful. We are reminded by Tashik (2010), that an effective performance assessment system requires the complete interplay of several components: 1. Teaching and learning must remain the constant focus of the school. 2. Teams of teachers collaborate on all aspects of instruction and assessment. 3. Staff, department, and grade meetings are regular features of the school week. 4. Scheduling includes blocks of time for teachers to mentor and supervise student progress on the performance assessment tasks. 5. Continual development of new courses and units of study to better engage students in their learning and meet their academic needs. When these key components are intertwined, effective assessments can benefit our students through diversity and it can take the shape of molding into our students’ needs. When we look at the classroom level of use, the program level of use, and the ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 8 institutional accountability and policy level of use, assessments can work together to scaffold student learning for optimal success. In a perfect assessment system, the foundation would comprise of an array of assessments that enable students to learn more through scaffolding and take ownership of his or her learning success (Stiggins, 2004). ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 9 References Creighton, T. (2001). Data analysis and the principalship. Principal Leadership, 1(9), 52. Gardner, H. (1999). Intelligence reframed: Multiple intelligences for the 21st century. New York: Basic Books. Gollnick, D. and Chinn, P. (2006) Multicultural education in a pluralistic society. New Jersey: Pearson Education. Gutmann, A. (2004). Unity and diversity in democratic multicultural education: Creative and destructive tensions. In J. A. Banks (Ed. ), Diversity and citizenship education: Global perspectives (pp. 77-96). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Spasovski, Ognen. (2010). Principles of the inclusive education and the role of teachers and in-school professional staff. The Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation,111(1-2), 67-86. Tashik, P. (2010). Changing the national conversation on assessment. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(6), 55-59. Stiggins, R. (2004). Classroom assessment for student learning: Doing it right – Using it well. Portland, OR: Assessment Training Institute. Stiggins, R. (2005, Dec. ). From formative assessment to assessment FOR learning: A path to success in standards-based school. Phi Delta Kappan, 87(4), 324-328. Stiggins, R. (2008). Assessment manifesto: A call for the development of balanced assessment systems. Portland, OR: ETS Training Institute.

Enhancers and inhibitors Essay

If you don’t know the topic that the service user wants to discuss then just for the sake of it you shouldn’t carry on the conversation as your lack of understanding may not be guiding them in the right direction, so you should then find someone who can help sort out their issue and leave them in someone else’s care. Therefore enhancing safety/security because if you are informing the service user how to go about sorting out a medical issue and you are not qualified to diagnose them but you still make them think they have some life threatening disease and they don’t by doing this you are putting their safety at risk. Effective communication can be enhanced if the service user knows that the professional does not know what he/she is talking about they may not want to talk about personal problems if they feel they are not being taken seriously. Timing is a key aspect of communication as if you don’t have enough you shouldn’t rush through a conversation either rearrange the timings so you have enough or sort out another date when you can meet properly and talk through the matter, as this is the more professional way of handling time problems. Healthcare professionals shouldn’t discuss personal matters in unprofessional settings. For example where there is a lot of background disturbance and this could affect the way in which the service user would talk to you and how much of their personal problems they would share down a busy corridor shouting over people. In order to enhance the service users’ care values/rights it is important that the care worker maintains the dignity, privacy, safety/security and effective communication of the service user in this situation. The care worker can maintain the service users’ dignity by not shouting medical complications that the service user might have across people as this may not make the service user feel very comfortable especially if they are with friends or family. By using a private consultation room to discuss any concerns the carer or service user may have is a better way to enhance the service users’ rights. Shouting personal problems across public places can put the service users’ safety/security at risk as this would decrease their trust in the carer. When you consider all these aspects discussed above you can gain the service users trust and respect and this is a good, open relationship to have between a service user and a care worker enabling the service user to be able to talk to the care worker about any problems they may have to share their concerns about. Having good relationships with your clients is very important because the service user won’t have to feel a barrier between them and can open up to the care worker more easily. Password protection is also crucial as no one should know your password other than you and it must be changed regularly as if certain information gets into the wrong hands then it can be used unprofessionally and this is breaking the Data Protection Act. This enhances confidentiality, privacy and safety/security. It enhances confidentiality because by using passwords and changing them regularly it makes it harder for personal information to get into the wrong hands. If certain personal documents/information does get into the wrong hands then this could put the service users’ safety/security at risk. Having different formats is also essential as there are people who have various impairments and they would need to access the same information as people who don’t have these impairments and they can be as leaflets in Braille or other languages. This enhances effective communication and choice as you are providing everyone who may need to use the same facilities as other people who don’t have impairments or communicating problems with the correct format that they would understand. If some hospitals/doctors surgeries don’t cater for the needs of these different needs and requirements it may be seen as an inhibitor to communication.

Sexism in Football

Gender Discrimination (The Sian Massey Story) On the 22nd of January 2011 female linesman Sian Massey was going to officiate as a linesman in a premier league clash between Liverpool and Wolves. Sky Sports were broadcasting the match on live television,Presenters Andy Gray and Richard Keys were preparing to cover the pre game coverage, when the two named above began to talk about the female linesman Sian Massey and what they thought about her in a very discriminating fashionThe commentators, who apparently believed their microphones were switched off, were recorded. Commenting on Ms Massey, Mr Keys said: ‘Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her. ’ Mr Gray, a former Scottish international footballer, replied: ‘Can you believe that? A female linesman. Women don’t know the offside rule. ’ Mr Keys replied: ‘Course they don’t. I can guarantee you there will be a big one today. Kenny (Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish) will go potty. This isn’t the first time, is it?Didn’t we have one before? ’ Later in the exchange, Mr Keys said: ‘The game’s gone mad. Did you hear charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Do me a favour, love. ’ During the game, which Liverpool won 3-0, Ms Massey angered Wolves by refusing to rule Raul Meireles offside before he set up Liverpool’s first goal. The replay showed that she made the correct decision. When The Mail on Sunday put the transcript to Mr Keys, he said: ‘I have no recollection of that.I have no idea what you are talking about. ‘My recollection is that I wished the young lady all the best. ’ When told a recording existed of the conversation, he said: ‘If you have a tape then you don’t need me to talk to you. It almost makes it worse that they're speaking when the microphones are not on as opposed to when they are on, because [they have] never really had the brass neck t o say it publicly, they would only say it privately. I have heard it and I don't believe it is just banter. Former referee Graham Poll added: â€Å"It must be very difficult for female match officials to progress in men’s football and any who do, do so on merit and should be held up as role models, not subjected to outdated, sexist attitudes †¦ (Sian Massey) is already on the FIFA assistant referees’ list in women’s football and at just 25 that is a magnificent achievement. † Michaela Tabb, a snooker referee who has officiated the World Championship final, said: : â€Å"What they have done there is completely unacceptable because they have not given her her place at all as an official.They are basically doubting her ability. She has obviously passed every exam and whatever qualifications she's had to go through. † England captain Rio Ferdinand said on Twitter: â€Å"I'm all for women refereeing in football, discrimination should not happen in our game at all †¦ prehistoric views if u think otherwise. † Hugh Robertson, the sports minister, commented: â€Å"It is very disappointing to hear these comments at a time when we are trying to get more women participating and officiating in sport, particularly football. The FA released a statement saying: â€Å"The FA has made real strides in encouraging both male and female match officials to enter the game at every level, and will continue to offer every encouragement to all officials within the football family to progress to the highest levels possible. We are proud to have some of the world's best match officials, both male and female Overall the number of female referees in England (Levels 1-8) stands at 853 and climbing, and all of our female match officials act as fantastic ambassadors for the game. They have our wholehearted and continuing support. â€Å"

Singer's Practical Ethics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Singer's Practical Ethics - Term Paper Example He is strong in his convictions about the utilitarian ethics. He argues, â€Å"As far as my underlying ethical views are concerned, some of my friends and colleagues will no doubt be distressed to find the countless hours spent discussing these matters with me that have served only to reinforce my conviction, that consequentialist approach to ethics†¦.is fundamentally sound† (x). The society impacted by the materialist civilization, industrial and internet revolutions is, to some extent, responsible for the present day maladies afflicting the society, according to him and the basic values of humankind have gone haywire. Peter Singer’s concept of utilitarianism ensures the individual right and freedom to come to own conclusions, and he advises all not to be follow-the-leader type individuals. He writes, â€Å"We have to reach our own decision. The beliefs and customs we were brought up with may exercise great influence on us, but once we start to reflect upon them we can decide whether to act in accordance with them or to go against them† (6). His intended audience is the political leadership, economists, scientists, sociologists, intellectuals and who's who of the society. Animal Rights: Peter Singer is the strong supporter of animal rights. From the scientific viewpoint, he relies on speculative conclusions and absolute assumptions. He is against animal experimentation and argues for banning it totally. His arguments have something to do with his personal convictions and emotional repugnance of the whole exercise of torturing and killing animals. He equates the utility of human beings with that of animals and as such humans have no right to exercise control on the life of animals. He terms this distinction as â€Å"speceisism† and that is as bad as the practice of racism and sexism. He states that all animals feel pain and inflicting deliberate pain on them is an illegitimate action. Peter Singer clinches the issue by highlight ing the physical responses of the animals when at the receiving end of the pain, including chemical and physiological responses to pain receptors. That animal cannot reason or talk is no issue for Singer. The point is it suffers. Singer’s argument is based on the solid grounds of scientific approach and it has the element of unassailable logic. He argues that some of the animals are more intelligent than the human babies and/or mentally retarded. Ethical considerations demand that such animals need to be excluded from biomedical research. Moreover, the onus of proving that the benefits of research are in tandem with the suffering and pain imposed on the animals, vests with the scientists. Will those conducting such experiments take that responsibility? Whether similar experiments will be conducted on human infants to decide the ethical status of the relative experiments? Singer’s argument is based on the premises that animals and humans have equal rights. But the criti cs of Singer stick to their basic stand that animals are not members of the moral community and it is the duty of all concerned to act in the manner that is supportive to the moral duties for the benefit of humankind. Peter Singer is a compulsive controversy creator. Controversy and finding its solution are like alternative beats of the same heart to him. He is the greatest defender of animal rights and equates their right to exist with that right of human beings. His ideal is nothing short of

Unit #2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Unit #2 - Research Paper Example Additionally, the clause influences the development of constitutions and laws for the successive devolved systems and units of government (Halbrook, 1998). Such units should not therefore enact laws that conflict with the federal constitutions. The provision of the clause and its influence in the operation of the judiciary, justifies the decision of the jury in the Bruesewitz v. Wyeth LLC case. The decision by the jurists sought to uphold the dictates of the clause owing to the fact that the clause serves a pivotal role in sustaining the unity of the states. While the parties had fundamental concerns arising from the conflict between them, the provisions of the clause settles the case thereby dispelling the application of the federal laws whenever the two conflict. The unity of the country is vital for the development of the nation. The clause therefore influenced the decision of the jurist in their judgment. The commerce clause provides the congress with the power to regulate commerce among several states, with foreign nations and with the Indian tribes. The contentious clause continues to operate thereby providing the congress with unparalleled power to regulate and determine the operations of international trade in the country. The clause states that the congress takes control of trade among states. This implies that the congress must oversee and sanction any business that exists between states. The law therefore provides the congress with power over the state governments since it must oversee any business existing between states. As the clause states, the government has the right to control specific commercial activities within the states. The interpretation of the constitution and the clause is definite. The government can only control a commercial activity involving two or more states. A commercial undertaking that exists between two or more involves more citizens. State constitutions

Culture of Cadbury Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Culture of Cadbury - Essay Example In case of organizations with traditional culture valuing the existing process of production and business to increase their profits, the core values of the organization do not change or deviate greatly as argued by Richard Lynch (2003)ii. Form the case study it is clear that the most of the directors of Cadbury are insisting upon the existing production methodology to increase revenue rather than investing upon the new technology conching proposed by Chris English. This also makes it clear that the traditional stance of the organization values is not only due to the fact that the company has the richness of the family business but also because of the fact that the organization is not used to big changes in the then business period when the competition was intensifying with the company as the market leader. Alongside, the case study also reveals the traditional nature of the organization's culture in the arguments of the marketing director who argues that the company's Cadbury Dairy Milk (CDM) flavour is the critical element for the effectiveness in the business. As the new conch machine did not improve the CDM taste with a drastic difference and the fact that the CDM is the major marketing brand for the organization makes it clear that the innovative measure proposed by the engineering director was disapproved under traditional grounds. Beliefs: Beliefs as argued by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes 92003) is the major element that drives the organization in the competitive environment of the business. In case of the traditional organizational culture the aforementioned beliefs are focused upon preserving the existing technology and nurture it to gain market share rather than revolutionising the process. From the case study on Cadbury the resistance of the organization to deploy the innovative conching machine to increase productivity through sacrificing time and investment makes it clear that the organizational culture of the company is traditional in nature. The effectiveness of the company in the market with the traditional organizational culture is mainly through the ability of the organization to retain its core business process with time and its ability to use the same technology to address the growing competition in the market. This is evident in the case of Cadbury justifying that the culture of the organization is traditional in nature. Taken For Granted Assumptions: This is argued by Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes (2003) as the core of an organization's culture. The lesser an organization demonstrates this in its core strategy, the more traditional it is in nature as a traditional organization culture refrains from taking things for granted. This is evident from the case stud on Cadbury where the organization is not indulgent in deciding upon the vote for the investment on the new machinery wither the new technology or otherwise. From the aforementioned it is clear that the culture of the company is traditional in nature with emphasis on the company values and core principles of the organization. From the innovation perspective, the organization's core culture on retaining its values and principles as opposed to voting for innovative method of production, which has many advantages, justifies the aforementioned

Transition of the patient that is discharged after a surgery and Research Paper

Transition of the patient that is discharged after a surgery and challenges they will face at home - Research Paper Example My role as a nurse involves the management of care after discharge in order to enhance the healing process of the patient. Particularly, this will entail the dissemination of the right kind of information necessary to enhance the healing process o the patient. The home environment can be regulated in a manner that fosters the healing process. Without such regulation, it could turn potentially dangerous to the patient. This process of management involves an acknowledgement of the deficiencies of the home environment and the need to manage the discharge process and the intervening period in ways that add value to the healing process. For Ms M’s condition, these conditions revolve empowering her with sufficient knowledge to enable her to manage aspects of her own recovery. It will also involve the process of empowering the family members with the right kind of information that will be necessary in the provision of family support in the course of her healing process. The intervent ion also considered matters related to diet, which forms part of the key requirements of her quick recovery. Experience of transition to home After her discharge, Ms M will undergo healing in an environment of solitude. She is a widow and stays alone as her children mother and sisters live in different places. Her husband died of graft vs host disease after undergoing a transplant. Although she receives occasional support from her visiting children, she requires constant watch and help in order to protect her from strenuous physical activity. Although she lives separately from her mother and the rest of the family, Ms M enjoys close correspondence and contact with all of them. This support would constitute significant positive force to aid in the healing process. Except for her mother, other members of the family demonstrate strength and understanding of her condition. Her son shows up occasionally to assist her with menial tasks around the home. Ms M deliberately shields her mother from the truth of her health condition fearing that she might panic. Nevertheless, she demonstrates remarkable courage and enthusiasm, which are essential in the healing process. One challenge is that the family members available to assist her may not have the necessary information and expertise of handling Ms M in her present condition. While at the hospital, Ms M was under the care of competent medical personnel. Furthermore, her diet received proper regulated and her eating monitored. The hospital environment was generally conducive for her healing process to take place. However, this schedule changed after discharge. She had to fend for herself and live her life away from the guidance and monitoring of trained professionals. It is in line with the realization of the attendant challenges that a follow-up program became necessary. The overarching intention to create conditions and an environment of support and the provision of necessary support for faster healing in recognition o f the unique challenges and difficulties, which Ms M faces. Patient’s episodic health needs The patient Ms M was diagnosed with Right renal artery stenosis, right femoral false aneurysm, severe disease in her superficial femoral arteries. This condition necessitated a surgical procedure on the Right Axillo femoral bypass and repair femoral false aneurysm. In the past the patient suffered from hypertension,

Dell Inc. in 2006 Competitive Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dell Inc. in 2006 Competitive Strategy - Essay Example Michael Dell is one such leader, who always tries new approaches, as he has done in the case of Personal computers. â€Å"Michael Dell demonstrates the power of the leader whose authenticity and openness to learning pervades and motivates an entire company.† (sodexhousa.com). Another trait of Michael Dell, which is considered crucial to the success of Dell, is not resting on laurels, but moving on to do better things as quickly as possible. Michael Dell (2003 qtd in Business week) says: â€Å"Celebrate for a nanosecond. Then move on.† So, these are the few of the many leadership traits of Michael Dell, which is contributing to the growing success of Dell Inc. and makes it one of the top manufacturers of PC’s and Servers. Strength: Dell through Direct Channel Method is able to offer the customers, customized and richly configured systems at competitive prices. It also introduces new technologies quite quickly, than its competitors Opportunities: It has opportunities to develop technologically and geographically. That is, as its suppliers improve their technologies, Dell can also provide technologically improved products. Then with many developing countries becoming computer savvy; Dell can reach their markets So, SWOT analysis of Dell reveals that it has a lot of strengths and opportunities to maintain its market share and provide quality innovative products at competitive prices. But, at the same time, it has weaknesses and threats, which can affect its production and also could damage its brand image. Porter’s Value Chain encapsulates the integration of value to the products from the extraction or usage of raw materials to the sale of the finished product to the ultimate customer, whilst taking into account organizational, technological and human factors. In the case of Dell, the inbound logistics is the various high tech computer related

General Trends in Global Work Context Assignment

General Trends in Global Work Context - Assignment Example As the essay states the global work place presents employment opportunities for qualified people to work in a flexible way whereby apart from moving from one place to the other and beyond political boundaries to work, employees can even be stationed at home and still perform the duties that their co-workers perform at the employer’s premises. This has been enhanced by technological advancements especially the internet technology. It has facilitated communication which is essential in business as well as implementing programs abroad. The interactions that arise as a result of companies employing people from diverse cultural background has generated the need for employees to possess strong interpersonal skills as well as the ability to work with employees from different cultural settings. From the report it is clear the global work place has been under continuous change over the years in terms of labor. With the increasing globalization of industries, the movement of people across borders has risen. Experts in various fields are migrating from the industrialized economies to the developing countries to provide the rapidly growing economies that lack skilled workers. Under such circumstances, many companies are adopting flexible working conditions in order to retain experienced employees. Studies indicate that part time employees constitute more than 20% of the global labor force.

Cochlear Implants and the Culture of Deafness Essay

Cochlear Implants and the Culture of Deafness - Essay Example This paper will examine whether the introduction of the neonatal hearing screening program has changed how the deaf community thinks about cochlear implants and further highlights the role the deaf community and cochlear implants advocates. A social model of deafness is part of disability that is linked to arising from the disabled people themselves, friends, family members, associated political and social networks. One aspect that discourages the understanding of an impaired condition by the promoter of cochlear implants is lack of impression. The Deaf Community insists that arguments concerning the deaf be made from the perspective of the deaf party and not his parents or the society. There are individuals in the society who do not understand the use of cochlear implants on the hearing impaired. In this case, they tend to assume the use without exactly knowing what they are meant for. Such insinuations obvious in the society neglect the deaf person’s opinion. While the techn ology may be useful in trying to boost a person’s self-esteem it is only convenient as aiding device and not as a curative one. Children’s deafness persists on a bionic ear, while their hearing is still impaired. This defeats the relevance of the hearing aid. To assert further on needlessness of the bionic ear, cochlear implants cannot aid in improving a person’s cognitive or their language skills. Users of cochlear implants will, therefore, be still dependent on other persons who do not have hearing impairment issues in their day to day lives. The deaf persons will require translation and adaptive learning process in order to fit in the social structure of the hearing population. Deaf persons and other individuals with hearing ‘problems’ go-ahead to form their own structures of social interaction that enhances their own method of communication. Such groups may include those of persons with cochlear implants.

Realistic Fiction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Realistic Fiction - Essay Example Through the course of his storytelling, author Kevin Henkes charts Billy’s many dilemmas as a son, a brother, a student and a child to document his emotional development and the progression of his relationship with those around him albeit in a humorous and light-hearted manner. Smart, refreshing and appealing, the book represents the protagonist’s perspectives on life and explicates upon the nuances of the most important relationships a child shares with his parents, his teacher and his sibling. Connections: Children’s literature focuses on enhancing the imagination of readers if the scope of the story is directed towards, regardless, of the tone of the plot the scope of this genre also extends to promoting familial values, highlighting peer relationships and focusing on the emotional and developmental aspects of the target audience during their growing years. Melinda Sordino is raped by Andy Evans at a summer party which is organized by the high school seniors. In an attempt to ensure that Andy is prosecuted for the sexual assault Melinda calls the police to report the incident which happened at the party but overcome by a stir of emotions she escapes the scene before having a chance to speak with the police. In the meanwhile, the police report to the scene and order to end the party while, arresting some students who were present at the scene. Melinda’s peers and friends at her new high school are unaware of her motives for calling the police and hence, ostracize her for reporting their activity. She is banished from the school community and deserted by her friends causing her to sink further into depression as those around her misinterpret her continued silence and reclusive behavior. Melinda’s true motive for calling the police finally surfaces when her attacker attempts to assault her again. Upon realizing the truth, the student body reaches out to her as she is encouraged by

Mass media Essay Example for Free

Mass media Essay From my point of view, I agree that the mass media, including TV, radio and newspaper have a great influence in shaping people ideas . Nowdays mass media is a form of progress of information and communication technology. Through the mass media that the more developed allows information spread easily in the community. Information in any form can be disseminated quickly and easily so that it affects the viewpoints, lifestyles, and culture of a nation. The rapid flow of information causes us not to be able to filter the messages. As a result subconsciously it little by little have been affecting pattern of behavior and culture in society. Long-standing culture and become a benchmark in society behave are now almost gone and escapes the attention of the community. As a result, the longer the social changes in the community began to surface a raised. The influence of the mass media on contemporary theory of the influence of media on society has been fostering the rapid reforms in society. The influence of the media with regard to other aspects such as the nature of the communicators, the content, information from the media itself, as well as the response from the community. Rapid development of information and communication technologies such as mass media, led to rapid changes everywhere. The Mass Media have gradually brought the community into a new cultural patterns and begin to determine the mindset and culture of community behavior. The Media tells people how decent standards of living for a human, thus indirectly causing the Community judge whether their neighborhoods have been worth or whether he has met the standard and this heavily influenced picture of what is seen, heard and read from the media. Message or information conveyed by the media could be a support community for the better, making the public feel happy to be themselves, feel quite deflating or otherwise trust him or feeling low than others. Existence of other behaviour pattern changes of lifestyle. Usually someone will imitate everything related to his idols are good in terms of dress, look, or how to speak her piece that reflects themselves his idols. The above are likely to be more influential on a generation. A socio-psychological, information flows that continue to hit our lives will give rise to various influences on the development of the soul, especially for children and teens. Their behavior patterns, little by little is affected by what they receive may be deviated from the stage of development of the soul as well as the norms in force. The positive effects of mass media on society is the society would gain something more news worthy. For example, news bombing of WTC and the war in Iraq, despite being in a different country but with proper information and information through the mass media. This will cause people to be more sensitive to the issues at. In addition, through the use of internet and telephone bimbit allow community out of its cocoon. For the conclusion, am agree that the mass media, including TV, radio and newspaper have a great influence in shaping people ideas.

Environment Industry Marketing

Environment Industry Marketing The report is about the analysis of the environment of automobile industry and the marketing strategy for Ford Motor Company. It initiates with examining of external environment of automobile industry by using PEST analysis and Porters five forces analysis. After the internal analyses that focus on the resource audit on brand, products, markets, technology, people and son on, the value chain analysis of the company will be conduct. Then the generic competitive strategies would be discussed through SWOT analysis, Ansoff Matrix and BCG Matrix in order to identify the general business strategy taken by the Ford Company. After specifying the company strategy by those analysis tools, the strategic evaluations would be drawn together with the strategy control methods. Finally, a suggested recommendation for the company future development will be mentioned at the end of the report. I. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Aim of The Report This report aim to identify the external environmental of the global automobile industry, measure and evaluate viable and sustainable marketing strategies using by the Ford Motor Company. Through appropriate theoretical concepts and models, together with appropriate methodologies, the organization within its contextual setting will be carefully examined, and justify recommendation will be mentioned. Though the report, how a successful corporation is operated and how its business strategy is implemented and controlled will be understood. 1.2 Company Background Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and one of the worlds largest automaker based on worldwide vehicle sales. It has manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents and has about 300,000 employees and 108 plants worldwide[1]. Ford now encompasses many global brands, including Lincoln and Mercury of the US, Jaguar and Land Rover of the UK, and Volvo of Sweden and one-third controlling interest in Mazda as well[1]. Ford introduced methods for large-scale manufacturing of cars under different brands and large-scale management of an industrial workforce and its combination of highly efficient factories and low prices revolutionized manufacturing had made the company successfully become a world leading auto manufacture. 1.3 Rational of Company Selection Automobile industry is a consistant developing industry in the global in the 21st century. Ford Company is a world leading automobile manufacture, which has its business all over the world. To analysis the global automobile industry environment and the development strategy for such a world famous company would be a greate help to understand how business strategies are generated, implementated and controlled and meanwhile to see how would the company do to keep its business perform well when facing a complicated environment and a decline market. 1.4 Company Vision, Mission and Value The companys vision is to become the worlds leading company for automotive products and services. And the companys mission is to become a global, diverse family with a proud heritage, passionately committed to providing outstanding products and services. And together with a company value that do the right thing for our people, our environment and our society, but above all for our customers[2]. Based on its vision, mission and company value, the Ford Company is endeavor to keep its leading position in the global, and make effort to provide excellent products and services that satisfied its customers. Approaches that be taken to fulfill it goals and objectives with considering the harmony of business environment and modern society. II.EXTERNAL ANALYSIS 2.1Environmental Analysis 2.1.1 Industry Background The world automobile industry has well developed for many decades and stable progress was made during recent years. Now the automotive manufacturing sector produce over 60 million vehicles every year[3] and contribute about 2.45 trillion Euro annual revenues[4]. There are numerous world famous carmakers all round the global, and although the competition in automobile industry becomes more and more fierce, it is still one of the biggest markets in global industry. 2.1.2 PEST Analysis Finlay[5] point out that remote environment affect businesses by an indirect way and would cause changes in a companys operation. The automobile industry touches on a wide range of aspects, such as manufacture, supply chain, retailing and so on. As a result, many factors such as government policies, local regulations, and social culture differences would influence this industry. By modeling the remote environment with PEST analysis (see appendix I), factors that would affect the global automobile industry would be examined. 2.1.2.1 Political and Legal .Competition Policy Anti-monopoly policies such as the EU competition policy tack several barriers to competition to make sure firms operate under a certain legal framework[6]. This policy has force a perfect competition in automobile industry and will absolutely affect auto manufactures marketing strategy to some extend through preventing firms from colluding by price-fixing and as well controlling the size of firms. . Environment Legislations Nowadays, much attention has been devoted to the environmental issues. Organization such as European Environmental Liability Directive has formulated many laws and regulations for environment protection[7]. Those legislations force manufactures to think over the environmental damage their operations may bring along, so that manufactures have to take action to protect the environment. . Automobile Industry Legislations and Policies First, regulations in many regions have introduced different emission limits for diesel and gasoline vehicles. Since 2005, all automobiles have to reach the Euro 4 emission standard in European countries[8]. And in America, stricter emission standard is set since 2005[9]. Besides, some governments are encouraging automakers to produce environmental friendly vehicles. For example, UK government had asked automobile manufactures to design new ultra low carbon family car in 2003[10], which says can be the step stone of the new generation fuel efficiency cars. .Taxation With the imposition of a fuel tax, consumers will have to think more carefully about their purchasing decisions. In the global, many countries has very high fuel tax, such as in the UK, it has took tax higher up to 81.5% of the total price of fuel[11]. And in Europe, EU has imposed a minimum taxation of 0.287 Euro per liter on gasoline[12]. As a result of such a high fuel tax, the usage of cars would be reduced to a great extent for many people. 2.1.2.2 Economic .Economic Growth and Inflation For these years, the global economy is growing steady. Predictors say that the average world growth rate of 4.9 percent in the period 2003-2006 will continue at least for the next two years[13]. In terms of inflation, there is a survey shows that an increasing global inflation with the annual rate of consumer price inflation in the U.S. went up to 4.2 percent in May,2007; 2.2 percent in Great Britain and 2.5 percent in the Euro zone[14]. As a result of the increasing inflation, people may prefer to spend their money right now instead of saving money in the bank and it would encourage people to consume products such as automobiles. .Trade Globalisation has removed many barriers to cross-border activities and international trade can create great opportunities for local businesses to expanding their business into new areas overseas to meet a whole new set of potential customers[15]. The ever-closer international business relationship would provide the manufacture more cost-effective resources and meanwhile provide customers the opportunities of wider choices. .Labour Force The unemployment number in the global is increasing every year. It is said that no matter in the developed countries like United States and the United Kingdom or in the developing countries in China, and India, they are generating less employment than it has in the past even though economic growth is strong[16]. So, in many places all around the world, the speed of job creation cannot catch up with the pace of population growth. This large number of unemployment indicates that many people may have not have steady income to afford a car. .Personal Income and Distribution of Wealth Despite a high and growing global average income[17], global distribution of wealth, consumption, and opportunity still remain severely unbalanced. The wealthiest 20 percent of the population consumes 80 percent of the resources[18]. As a result, people who could afford an upper class product only account for a small proportion of the total population and most people only has the average income. 2.1.2.3 Social-cultural .Demographics population Although recent long-term demographic projections suggest a fast deceleration of global population growth, evidence shows that the number of elderly people is growing fast[19]. As a result, manufactures should consider product that oriented to the elderly. household Some experts claim that there was a decline in the average size of household in the 21st century[20]. Due to the increasing number of elder people and the smaller size of household, I think the small car may become the main stream for its practicality. .Private and Public Transportation Though the public transportation may not be the first choice of some people, it is still the best substitute of private transportation such as private cars. This is especially true when increasing automobile usage generates some negative impacts such as congestion, traffic accidents and additional vehicle emissions. So some government is tending to shift people away from private transportation to public transportation with the effort that improving the performance[21]. .Environment Issues Environmental problems that touch us all has now has drawn the attention of public. People become more awareness about environment issues such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emission. For example, Public are informed by many channels about the impacts of transport can bring, such as the climate change, human health affections and loss of biodiversity [22]. As a result, consumers may become more cautious when purchasing cars. Meanwhile it is obviously the usage of environmental friendly products would turn up an increasing trend. .Other Social Concerns car parking Parking can be a big problem for many drivers. It is always hard to find a place for parking and the price charged for parking is sometimes goes very high [23]. As a result, some people would rather to use public transportation instead of using their private cars. road safety Road accident is always a big issue for drivers. Take UK for example, according to the 2005 annual report of UK department of transportation[24], there is a total number of casualties in 2005 were 271,017 with a number of 3,201 people killed and 28,954 injured. The high risk of driving would influence consumers decision on purchasing. public health Recent years some diseases such as SARS had challenged social stability[25]. This had effect peoples customs and their behavior to some extend. For example, there is a sharp decrease of public transportation usage rate during the period of SARS in 2003. These public health issues more or less have influenced the global automobile market. 2.1.2.4 Technology .New Energy Since increasing attention has paid to environmental issues, researchers are searching actively for new exploitable resources that can instead of petrol and diesel. Bio-fuels are one of the most favorite substitutes at current, which says made from renewable resources such as agricultural crops or waste. They are more environmental friendly and can be refined as conventional petrol that used in todays engines[26]. Another substitute is natural gas that is relatively cleaner compare with other alternatives. Besides, it is claimed that natural gas is not only a cheap energy, but also can well suited to motoring uses[27]. In addition, Lewin[28] believe hydrogen fuel cell cars that will hit the market in near future and many automakers are planning to launch this kind of product. Besides, solar power is also a feasible substitute for carmakers. It is claimed that the very first solar power deal for reviving car batteries had made by a Canadian manufacturer of solar panels with the VW[29]. .Computer Aided Design Program Wernle and Bolduc[30] point out that vehicles design in the new century must be distinctive and alluring so that it would win a ideal market share. It is always a hard and time consuming process for car designer to design a car that not only combine with great comfort and safety performance, but also has unique style. Now, with the help of some computer programs such as Alias it would save much time for automakers to get cars to market quicker by reducing the number of clay models and prototypes[30]. . GPS and Car Navigation System It is report that Garmin Ltd., the largest GPS device maker in the world had sold around 5 million units in 2006 for personal navigation equipment[31]. Nowadays, GPS becomes more and more important to car drivers in every day life. With the help of GPS system information associated by odometers, gyroscopes[32], a car navigation systems can get drivers wherever they want to go. Information is transmitted by autonomous navigation systems without the participation of an external server by the use of a two-way communication between navigation center and the onboard vehicle sensors. The system can calculate the optimal route automatically and then give necessary guides and some programmes even can provide users with additional information such as hotels and shopping malls showing on its digital maps. As GPS and car navigation system has widely accepted by many people, it will become an important factor when people making their consideration. 2.2 The Structural Analysis of Industries Competition between firms is crucial to modern economies[33]. In competitive environment, there is a set of external influences which is able to affect organisations action[34]. Organisations have to fully understand that environment in order to make effort to create competitive advantage so that to achieve success. In the following part, Porters five-forces (see appendix II) approach will be used to examining the competitive environment. 2.2.1 The Threat of Entry Johnson[34] suggest that the barriers to entry determine the threat of entry. If the barriers are high then the threat of entry would be relatively low[35]. The entrance barriers in global car industry can be proposed as following: . Economies of Scale Since the ever falling car price[36], in order to reduce cost, many carmakers keep increasing their output volume. For example, Toyota Motor Manufacturing had increased from 220,000 to 285,000 on Toyota Corolla and Avensis models in UK 2004 annual production capacity and Mazdas domestic production capacity has increased by 14 percent in the same year[37]. Thus, new entrants who want to come in this industry have to come in with either at a large scale and risk strong reaction from existing companies or they have to come in at a small scale and accept a cost disadvantage[35]. . Production Differentiation For carmakers, it is always hard to create distinctive products, as the basic techniques of car manufacturing are no longer a secret for few manufactures. Now the focus is gradually turning to safety[38], style, comfort and new technology for example a computer control panel such as providing the driver with telematics, GPS[39] because of the quality gap among the different manufacture become narrower. As a result, it would obviously more time consuming and would spend more money for those carmakers to design a new model that is different from the competitors. .Capital requirement of Entry To entry the automotive industry requires not only advanced technological but also enormous capital[40]. It costs a lot on designing a new model, production, distribution and so on. And the larger the scale the company has the more capital would be spent. So entrants who want to come into this industry should first make sure if they have enough money. . Cost Disadvantages Independent of Scale Porter[35] state that established companies may have cost advantages such as proprietary product technology, favorable locations, favorable access to raw materials. Many famous carmakers have already established their cost advantages. Take the example of Ford, it spend around 450 million on automotive research and development in Britain to keep advanced technology every year. As a result, it is difficult for a competitor who does not have cost advantages to break into the industry. To sum up, the entry barriers in world automobile industry is relative high, so it is not an easy work for new entrants to come in to this field. 2.2.2 Bargaining Power of Suppliers Suppliers may have strong power over the industry if the industry is dominated by few suppliers or the switching costs is high to change one from another [34]. When considering the components segment of automobile industry, it is now facing a globalization trend. Rivals not only exist in the domestic market, but also rise from abroad, which means that the components segment is full of competition and the bargaining power of suppliers would be reduced. Beside, car companies are now seeking component makers and original equipment manufacturers in some developing countries such as India, China and Far East in order to save money[41]. Honda, which used to source major part of its components from UK suppliers, for example, is now reducing its UK vendor base. As a result, this worldwide sourcing trend has become a threat that limited the power of suppliers. In addition, in auto industry there is a trend of allying with other manufacturers to share design and development costs recently. It is said that vehicle manufactures are working together much closer with their partners and try to develop vehicle platforms jointly. Most of large car manufacturers like Ford, GM, and Volkswagen have cut down their number of platforms[42] and some models will use the same platform in order to reduce cost. Manufacturers can not only reduce their manufacturing cost to some extend by this way, but also would become more powerful when bargaining with components suppliers because increasing volumes of components may need. And meanwhile it may help manufacturers reduce raw material costs. In a word, the bargaining power of suppliers in global automobile industry is low. It is an opportunity for many car manufacturers that provide a chance of planning their purchasing strategy better and more profitable. 2.2.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers According to Porters[35] theory, buyers have the power of forcing down prices, bargaining for higher quality and more service, and playing competitors against each other. In the following part, the bargaining power of buyer in global industry will be discussed from several different aspects. .Products Differentiation As in global car market the product differentiation is not very obvious due to the auto manufacture acknowledge is no longer a secret. There are lots of carmakers in this market, and the basic functions of their products are almost the same and the only differences would be the design and some other additional functions. So customers can always find alternative supplier who offers a cheaper price, gives the most satisfied product, and provides the best customer service. . Importance of Purchasing If the product is very important for the buyers, the bargaining power of buyers may relative high[35]. In automobile market, the importance of purchasing seems rather low. Statistic shows that in developed countries, the average ownership of cars is quite high, take Britain as an example, statistic shows that 3 in 4 households have access to a car and over half (52%) of all rural households had two or more cars in 2005[43]. So in those countries to purchasing a new car may not be so necessary for most of the families. . Information Searching If buyers have full information about product, demand, market price, their bargaining power would be greater than those with less information[35]. We are now entering a great new era of information. People can seek product information through various methods, such as friends, sales assistant and different medias. And it is said that individuals especially those who are highly involved with the purchase of a product are thought to be more active on information searching[44]. Todays mass media, no matter the newspapers, magazines, radio, or television, all contain a large amount of information. Besides, the entering of Internet era has simplified the process of information searching process to a great extend. All these factors mentioned above have provided consumers with more information. What it comes down to me is that in automobile industry, the car manufacturers marketing strategy would be effected by the relative high customer bargaining power. 2.2.4 Pressure From Substitute Products Substitutes play a limitation role in industry[35], it provide the same function as the product of the industry to restrains industry making profit. There are several means would be the substitute products of automobile. . Public Transportation Public transportation would come first to most of people when thinking about the substitute of private cars. More and more people are willing to give up cars and use public transportation especially when the service of public transportation is better. Besides, since there are increasing number of SOHO workers, many people choose to work at home by Internet. So they do not need a car to drive to work, thus the significance of owning a car is decreased. . Car renting and Car Sharing Today, the ever-rising petrol price becomes another factor that forces many people reduce the usage rate of their cars. Many people choose to rent a car for travel or share one car between friends instead of driving alone. As a result, demand of purchasing a car would be decreased and there is increasing demand for car rental especially now some rental firms have provided more complete and customerizedservices[45]. To summarize, public transportation, car renting and car sharing could be some of the substitute methods of owning private cars. All of these means have pressed threaten on the world auto industry. 2.2.5 Intensity of Rivalry Among Existing Competitions Porter[35] point out that rivalry occurs for the reason that one or more competitors feels pressure or sees the opportunity to improve position. In global automobile industry, rivalry among the competitors is very strong and the major competitors are closely balanced so that the rivalry is increasing intense. Besides old rivals such as General Motors, Ford, Volkswagen, those Japanese carmaker like Toyota and Honda now are gaining stronger power in this industry. Because there is little differentiation among the products, when deciding purchasing, one rival is always compared to another constantly in price, quality, durability, and many other aspects. As a result, in order to gain market share in the automobile industry, company should provide better product as well as better service so that it could take the market share from their competitors. 2.3 Strategic Group Analysis To identify strategic groups which has similar strategic characteristics, following similar strategies or competing on similar bases can help to understand the most direct competitors and of any given organization and also can help identify potential opportunities and threats[34]. Strategic groups in automobile industry can be identified according to the products class and status such as those upper class manufactures such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, and up medium, medium and lower medium manufactures such as Honda, Ford and other market segment such as racing car and so on. In different regions, each groups power are vary. It is essential to Ford Company to identify different situation in different places all over the world, so that the business strategy can be chosen properly. III. INTERNAL ANALYSIS 3.1 Resource Audit Resource audit is useful in understanding strategic capability according to Johnson[34]. To identify the availability of resource that can be used is important for a business. In the following, the resource of Ford Company would be examined. 3.1.1 Brand The Ford Motor Company controls the many car marques wouldwide, such as Jaguar, , Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, and Volvo[1]. Through acquisition, Ford Company got control of some famous brands such as Land Rover, Jaguar and Volvo. Based on the customer knowledge and trust of those upper class brands, the sales of other segments and brands of Ford car had been promoted[46]. By building the image of Combining solid refined design and the best new technologies available[2], the company becomes a powerful rival in the market, and the brand has widely accepted by many people. 3.1.2 Products and Market Ford has numerous locations where Ford vehicles are developed, manufactured, sold or distributed[47]. These plant and office locations work to provide a basis of the companys leading position in car market for many years, which take responsibility in manufacturing vehicles and power products, technological developing, purchasing and distribution its products all around the world. Although with high cost-effective Ford models such as Transit, Fiesta and Focus that have become the best seller for many years[82], there would be a problem of shrinking of market and declining in profitability recent years. 3.1.3 Finance According to Ford Company 2006 annual report[48], although the company is at loss during the year for the unsatisfied performance in North American market, the situation in Europe market is still profitable with the sales of vehicles that generated the major income and cash of the companys automotive sectors revenue. In addition, the interest on finance receivables generated the primary income of the companys financial services sectors revenue. Based on its vehicles and financial service sales, the company has the ability to support some technology development or have some further investment such as diesel engineering[49]. 3.1.4 Technology Ford invests heavily in new technology. In Britain only, it spends around 450 million on automotive research and development annually. In Dunton Technical Centre, it has the largest automotive design and engineering facility in the UK and one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in Europe[47]. The emphasis on technology enables the company have a solid basis of product development. As a result, competitive advantage through new technique, programmes such as digital in-vehicle system called Sync created with Microsoft[50] that is turning out this summer is a good example. 3.1.5 People In order to equip its employees with stronger capability, Ford offers well equipped learning resource centers and training programmes for all employees. These human resource management actions has not only trained sufficient qualified employees for the company, but also provided a base for producing conversations of companys strategic change[51]. On the other hand, recent bad performance forced Ford Company to shear its employees. It is said that a downsized Ford would shed up to 30,000 jobs and 14 factories by 2012 in order to be more innovative[86]. 3.2 Value Chain Analysis Value chain (see appendix III) analysis has been widely adopted as a way of understanding the relationship between strategic capability and organisations resources. As to Ford Company, in its very early years, the company has controlled the entire value chain[52], now it endeavors to integrate its multi-tiered value chain which include chief elements such as real-time quality feedback from the market to tier, inventory reduction, transaction reduction, collaborative visual design studios, rapid customer feedback, accelerated time to market[53]. Through those actions, the resource utilization is enhanced so there would be less resource is wasted during the production and transaction. Besides, the cost efficiency has increased by building the economies of scale, reducing supply cost and effective communications between suppliers and buyers. In addition, a carefully planned marketing mix and a better service would promote effectiveness, such as the efforts that the Ford Company put on CarsDirect and online selling[54]. IV. GENERIC COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES 4.1 SWOT Analysis 4.1.1 Strengthens Companys Large Scale Ford Company is one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world. It manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents[1]. The large size has brought the company economies of scale as well as name recognition and customer trust. Product Diversity Through acquisition, Ford Company now has owned many world famous brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo[1]. The companys products has penetrated into every segments of auto industry and each brands has its own strengthens in different segment, such as Land Rover is famous of its 4X4 vehicle and Lincoln is a well know luxury car. Profitable Financial Services Division The financial services division, Ford Motor Credit, plays a key role in keeping the company afloat. Even the automotive division are reported at loss[48], there is evidence that the financial services still remain profit. As a result, the revenue made by financial services division would be a great help when its automotive sector is not performing well. Strategic Alliance By cooperating with some strategic alliance, the company can benefit a lot from the advantages of their partners. Ford has announced to start offering Sony-branded audio systems in Ford and Mercury automobiles[55] and Microsoft software will be used for the Ford Sync radios[56]. Besides, Ford Company also support racing teams such as NASCAR[57]

Importance Of Career Anchors

Importance Of Career Anchors Edgar Schein, one of the founders in the field in modern organizational psychology, pointed out that, every one of us has a particular orientation towards work. As a result of which, we all approach our work with a set of priority and certain values. This concept is known as Career Anchors. It represents ones combination of perceived career competence and includes talents, motives, values and attitudes that give stability and direction to a persons career. It is regarded as the motivator or driver of that person. The Career Anchor depicts ones highest priority needs and the factors of work lives one may not be willing to give up. Many people are not really clear about their need and competencies and make an inappropriate career choice, that lead to dissatisfaction and frustration at work. Knowing their Career Anchor properly, people develop sufficient insight to make intelligent and appropriate career choices. Importance of Career Anchors Almost all organisations claim to serve the best interests of employees. In practice, they manage their workers careers with the best interest of the organization, not the employees. Very often, people tend to select a wrong career and find it incompatible at workplaces with their true values, resulting in feelings of unrest and discontent and lost in productivity. This necessitates becoming self-reliant, to choose and manage ones career. Career Anchors help an individual in conceptualising his own perceived career. It encompasses ones core areas of competence, motives, and career values. Very often, this perceived career anchor goes against organisational career plans and employees develop a sense of dissonance or certain incongruity about their career plans. Therefore, many organisations seek to identify perceived career anchors of their employees to develop matching career development programmes. Edgar H.Schein has identified eight such career anchors. These eight career anchor categories were discovered in longitudinal research. Subsequently, it was confirmed and corroborated in a variety of studies of different occupation, in different countries (Schein, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978): 1. Technical/Functional Competence (TF): The persons anchored in technical or functional competence are quite knowledgeable. They are primarily motivated to produce highly effective work in some particular field of specialization. Persons with such competencies prefer to take technically satisfying job such as engineering, systems analysts or it could be different functional areas of management like finance, production and marketing. Primarily, these types of people are motivated by the work content. They tend to identify and establish themselves with their expertise very strongly. The ability to succeed and get recognized in their own areas of specialty determines their self concept. People with this anchor seldom prefer generalist position. They prefer to be challenged and use their skill to meet the challenges by doing the job properly, better than the others. 2. General Managerial Competence (GM): The advancement up in the corporate ladder to take higher levels of responsibility is the key motivation for people anchored in managerial competence. Unlike technical/functional people, fundamental characterstics of these folks are, they prefer to rise to the top, want to be manager. Managerial competence anchored people need to excel in the skills in three basic areas of management i.e analytical, interpersonal, and emotional. Analytical competence is the ability to identify, analyze, and resolve problems under uncertain conditions and with incomplete information. Analytical competence helps them to identify and analyse problems and develop situations to resolve the same. They thrive on taking higher responsibility. Interpersonal competence is characterised by the ability to supervise and influence people, lead and control and motivate them towards achievement of organizational goals. They possess the ability and desire to handle a variety of interpersonal and group situations like problem-solving and tackling unfavourable situations. Emotional competence refers to the capacity to remain energized and proactive and to maintain calm without excessive anxiety or guilt at the time of high stress, emotional and interpersonal crises and at appearances of failure. They become competent and exert leadership powers to gain control over such type of situations, without much of problem. The persons anchored with man agerial competence is characterised with all three attributes. 3. Autonomy/Independence (AU): People who are anchored by this competence have a primary and overriding need to work with their own rules and procedure. They like to work under their own pace, follow their own format, take their own time, and remain independent of others to the greatest extent possible. Usually, they tend to avoid standards and are more comfortable to work alone. The autonomy-anchored person lacks in terms of loyalty and obligation to the employer organization. They would prefer to refuse promotion or transfer, if their independence is given up. They strive to be free, independent, and self-reliant. For which, these type of autonomous people seek to attain high level of education. Fixed working hours, lack of variety of work, defined work rule etc, prevent them from becoming functionally autonomous and independent for which they leave the job t and start their own consultancy and freelancing. Teachers, professors, advertising professionals, management professionals belong to this category. 4. Security/Stability (SE): Persons with a primary need of security and stability seek and prefer to choose secure and stable employment over challenging and riskier employment. Greater stability and continuity is the primary determinant factor for these types of people to lead their lives. They tend to avoid risks and uncertainty and are generally are lifers in their jobs. This career anchored people prefer to work in Government and public sector undertakings. 5. Entrepreneurial Creativity (EC): The individual driven by entrepreneurial anchor has a strong inner urge to create a new business of his own. He has all the motivation and courage to run the risk by overcoming all the obstacles. He is driven by a strong desire to get personal gain and recognition for his own accomplishment. Being anchored for creativity, such type of people prefers to take challenging work assignments. Through innovative product and process design, they create scope for their own identification. Entrepreneurial need people differ from autonomy driven people. The entrepreneurship is firmly rooted and dedicated for ownership. Creating a marketable and profitable product or service regardless of the technology and irrespective of intellectual discipline is the objective of entrepreneurial activity. Basically, it aims at making large amount of money. These types of individuals seldom work for others for long periods of time. They are much eager to be fully active to work for an enterprise of their own. They put heavy weight to ownership and for them success is characterised by wealth. 6. Service/Dedication to a Cause (SV): Service anchored people are principally motivated to dedicate their work and even if sometimes lives in the service of others. They may dedicate their service by working in a position, in which they get opportunities to serve others directly. The counsellors, physicians, therapists, nurses or other helping or supportive occupations and professions belong to this category. Service may also include providing comfort, entertainment, athletic training, extending personal or business support activities, personal or administrative assistant or any other such type of support services that represents a contribution to others. These people have a commitment for the preservation and realization of certain set of values, that they consider much important for their own lives as well as for the larger world. That causes the manifestation of dedication among them. Usually, money is not an important motivator for these types of people. They seek recognition for their work and cause along with along with financial and working support. Dedication to a charitable cause is not the only option for this anchor. A scientist having strong desire and concern for the environment may take up a job and serve the cause. 7. Pure Challenge (CH): People driven by challenge often seek difficult problems as they can tackle it. Challenges matter at the highest possible level for these type of people. They define success in terms of winning the war or getting success over the game, bidding the contract or the sale. Overcoming obstacles, being the best, ranking the first, beating the competition, reaching at the highest, surpassing previous goals and such is the mantra they follow in their life. Experiencing challenge is primary concern for these type of people than that of area of work or specific job. Most often, they seek variety in their careers as well as in their lives. In the absence or lack of challenge make them highly dissatisfied. They tend to change their jobs with getting bored in the current one and add variety in their career. 8. Lifestyle (LS): Work is not the primary vehicle of self-expression for life-style anchored people. They are basically interested in ensuring a life balanced with various interests. They consider family, friends, hobbies, recreational and leisure activities as well as study and learning and other such work related subjects much significant in their career and life. They tend to develop their self-concepts in consideration of their total life style. The way they define and perceive their life style is the major determinant factor in choosing their careers. They prefer to take jobs, careers, occupations and organizations, that allow them to put all the major sectors of their lives together into an integrated whole. Usually, career decisions do not take over their lives. Other anchors The complexity of behaviour has identified several other categories of career concerns, though none have shown up consistently as anchors. Variety, status or identity, and power have been proposed as additional anchors. For example, the prefixes such as Major, Colonel, Brigadier used before the names of military personnel implicate a specific variety of career anchor. Such identification is so visible that they get special uniforms matching their levels in the organisation. Affiliate needs and interpersonal talents to work for a cause yet another anchor predominantly found in some persons. The search for power, influence, control and job variety are examples of other career anchors which people try to achieve in their occupational roles. People are concerned much with each of these issues and most occupations fulfil these set of needs in several of those areas in different degrees in consideration of their relative importance by different people. Employees nurturing specific career anchors are required to make it explicit to the organisation in order to find a matching occupational role without much of behavioural dissonance. Knowledge of these all career anchors are essential for any organisation in order to plan career development. Management Development Programme:- Management development programme is an attempt to improve managerial effectiveness through a planned and deliberate learning process. Unlike general purpose of training management development programme aims at developing conceptual and human skills of managers and executives through organized and systematic procedures. In India, many professional institutes like Administrative staff college of India, Management Development Institute, Indian Institute of Management, Quality Management International, National Institute of Personnel Management, Indian Society of Training and Development etc, conduct different management development programmes to sensitize managers and executives to various emerging problems of the corporate world. Management Development is defined by different authors as follows At the personal level management development is the process by which you and others gain the skills and abilities to manage yourself and others (Margerison, 1991). I define management development as the management of managerial careers in an organisational context (Burgoyne, 1998). Management development has a deceptively simple sound to it. Clearly it means, developing the ability of people to manage in their own organisational environment (Sadler, 1998). Management development is the entire system of corporate activity with the espoused goal of improving the managerial stock in the context of organisational and environmental changes (Lees, 1992). Components of MDP are: 1. Selection: To identify innate potentiality or managerial abilities of executives. 2. Intellectual conditioning: To educate executives and managers on different managerial tools techniques. 3. Supervised training: To guide executives and managers on application and use of knowledge in the course of day to day activities. MDP objectives For top management MDP intends to develop better comprehension decision-making power, while for middle level it is meant to develop their intellectual capability besides awareness of managerial problems. For specialists MDP is to increase functional knowledge in specific fields and proficiency in various management techniques. One of the interesting study of management development (MD) comparing the processes of UK and Japan by Storey et al (1994), suggested a number of objectives of MDP As a device to engineer organisational change -particularly in cultural change As a tool in pursuit of quality, cost reduction and profitability To structure attitudes To contribute to the development of learning a organisation To assist with self development Characteristics of Management Development:- Continuous Process Management development is continuous process and required to look after the entire professional career of managers and executives. In India management development is considered as a sporadic activity, resulting in failure to meet the organisational requirements. In Japan, UK, management development is a systematic and continuous activity of any organisation. Knowledge updating activity The need of management development is imperative and appreciated in filling up gap between actual and potential performance. Management development provides scope for continuous improvement in all functional areas. It bridges the gap by enriching the functional capacity of executives and managers by continuously updating their knowledge and skill. A vehicle for attitudinal activity- Human behaviour is dynamic and complex. Management development programmes attempt to understand the behavioural and attitudinal aspects of human behaviour through simulating sessions, ensure better interpersonal skill as an important prerequisite for managerial success. Stimulant to higher competence- Managers and executives are stimulated to bear the intricacies of managerial stress and strain through different management development programmes in order to exert their potential for the benefit of the organisation. Management development programme must be designed considering issues like employees motivation, habits, age mix, pattern of conflict and chaos. and this can enable elevation of managerial functions of the executives during the post training phase. Deficiency improver- Management development programmes are catered to the individual requirements to improve functional as well as personal deficiencies of the individual managers, thereby enabling the organisation to derive immediate benefit from such programmes. A self -development process- Management development facilitates self development of managers, as they learn many things through action learning methods, sharing the experience of each other in a simulated classroom atmosphere. Steps of Management Development Programme To look at the Organizations objective. To ascertain the development needs To appraise the present performance of managerial staff. To propose manpower Inventory. To plan establish trainings development Programme. To evaluate different programmes Benefits of management development There are different benefits the MDP seek for different stakeholders like individual employee, managers and organisation itself. Benefits for individual employee include- An increased ability to develop individual performance A reduction in stress about un-tackled gaps in personal performance requirements An increased chance of holding on to a desired present job An increased chance of developing potential for other job A clearer process for establishing personal aspirations A clearer process for establishing commitment of my manager and the organisation to my development Benefits for the manager of the individual include- A reduction in performance problems An increased use of additional opportunities for effective work in the unit A reduction in the belief that my manager does not believe in development More individuals capable of dealing with new or difficult tasks or complete jobs Benefits for the organisational unit include- Increased ability to meet current and organisational needs Increased effectiveness for the unit, through improved performance Increased likelihood that development for individual is based on organisational need Improved motivations for individuals leading to greater commitment to the organisations Increased provision of continuous learning rather than one off-training METHODS OF MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT The two categories of development methods are on-the-job development, and off-the-job development. Some of the widely used on-the-job development methods are, coaching, job rotation, under study assignments and multiple management. Off-the-job development methods include simulation exercises, sensitivity training, transactional analysis, conferences and lecturers. To ensure the success of the management development programs, they have to be evaluated from time to time. Dilemmas in Management Development Firstly, most of the times management development programme gives more attention to formally designed structured learning than that of informal and accidental learning. That dilemma needs to be reconciled. Management development programme has to embrace both informal and accidental learning opportunities as well as formally created one. A HR director may desire management development programmes, systems and policy primarily to take care of the organisation requirements than that of individual need like easier job mobility, which needs reconciliation to a great extent by sharing views and finding common ground. Secondly, very often management development seems to be looking back even at yesterdays need rather than todays. Somehow management development agenda needs to take balance view of yesterdays need with that of tomorrows. The short-term / long-term dilemma was one identified by Taylor, in 1994 requiring managers to learn to operate across a range of skills at a same time. At the end management development programme always act on a large number of mangers. With the large group there will be a significant difference of need in respect to different functional groups and job requirements which needs to be taken care of. Again management development programme very often ignores relevance of individual difference. Hence an organisation must balance and reconcile all the management dilemmas and take a contingent approach in order to be effective. ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OD is a strategy or an effort, which is planned and managed from the top, to bring about planned organisational changes in order to enhance the effectiveness of organization as well as bring individual well-being through planned interventions based on social philosophy. The Core Characterstics of OD are Planned intervention for comprehensive long term organisation change: It involves identification of the problem, diagnoses the organisation and a planned intervention in the existing organisation that helps to become more viable. Therefore examines present working norms, values and possible areas of conflict of the organisation and develops alternatives for better health. The interventionist needs to diagnose different sub-system of the organisation and develops alternatives in the area of planning, decision making processes, goal setting, team development, organisation structure, culture, value and upgrading employees skill and abilities as well. OD takes months or years to implement. Humanistic Values: It involves Positive beliefs about the potential of employees (McGregors Theory Y). Therefore, focuses primarily on the human and social side of the organization making the organisation employee friendly and adapts business to employee (B2E) approach of management. Managed from the top. To be effective, OD must have the support of top-management. Top management has to model it, not just espouse it. The OD process also needs the buy-in and ownership of workers throughout the organization. Systems Orientation: All parts of the organization including structure, technology, and people, must work together in order to make the OD effective. It views organizations as complex social systems. Experiential Learning: The learners experiences in the training environment should be the kind of human problems they encounter at work. It should not be all theory and lecture. Problem Solving: The approach of OD is the process of identifying the organisations specific problems, gathering and analysing organisational data and taking corrective action are is taken, progress is assessed, and needed adjustments are made to resolve problems. This process is known as Action Research. Contingency Orientation: OD recognises that each organisation is different from all other and problem solving processes vary across organisation. Therefore, actions are selected and adapted to fit to the need and priorities of the organisation. Change Agent: The services of an outside expert are generally retained to implement the OD process. Active intervention of change agent stimulates, facilitate, and coordinate change. Levels of Interventions: Problems can occur at one or more level in the organization so the strategy will require one or more interventions. Collaborative approach: OD uses a collaborative approach and involves all those affected by the change in the change process unlike the traditional management structure in which orders are issued at upper levels and simply carried out by lower levels. NEED OF ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Human resources People of an organisation certainly make the difference between organizational success and failure. Therefore, how to manage them better is crucial for any organisation. Changing nature of the workplace Modern day workers want feedback on their performance, a sense of accomplishment, feelings of value and worth, and commitment to social responsibility. They need to be more efficient, to improve their time management and of course, to continue doing more work with less people, the processes need to be more efficient. Global markets Our environments are changing, and our organizations must also change to survive and prosper. We need to be more responsible to and develop closer partnerships with our customers. In order to survive and grow, the organisations need to attack the problems, not the symptoms, in a systematic, planned, humane manner. Accelerated rate of change Taking an open-systems approach, the organisations can easily identify the competitions on an international scale for people, capital, physical resources, and information. GOALS OF ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT Organization Development (OD) is the systematic application of behavioural science knowledge at various levels, such as group, inter-group, organization, etc., to bring about planned change. Its objectives are a higher quality of work-life, productivity, adaptability, and effectiveness. It accomplishes this by changing attitudes, behaviours, values, strategies, procedures, and structures so that the organization can adapt to competitive actions, technological advances, and the fast pace of change within the environment (Cunningham, 1990). The important goals of OD are as follows: To develop or enhance the organizations mission statement or vision statement To help in aligning functional structures in an organization for a common purpose To create a strategic plan for the organization is going to meet its future To put in place processes that will help improve the ongoing operations of the organization on a continuous basis To assist in the development of policies and procedures that will improve the ongoing operation of the organization To assess the working environment, to identify strengths on which to build and areas in which change and improvement are needed To emphasise the need for changing from closed system to open system by inculcating various social changes To create more congenial work environment To build mutual trust and confidence and to minimise conflict To make structure and role in consonance with goal accomplishment To promote a sense of ownership and pride in the organisation To decentralise decision making close to the source of activity To emphasise on feedback, self control and self-direction To develop the spirit of co-operation, and interdependency To develop a reward system based upon achievement of goals and development of people STEPS IN ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Organizational development (OD) is a change management strategy, is based on the understanding of behavioural sciences and is concerned with how people and organizations function and how they can be made to function better through effective use of human and social processes. Robert Black and Jane S. Mouton (1963) suggested a six-phase approach to organisational development as under: Investigation by each member of the organisation of his own managerial styles. Examination of boss-subordinate relationship. Analysis of work team action. Exploration of co-ordination issues of interrelated teams. Identifying and defining major organisational problem areas. Planning for executing agreed upon solutions that result in changes in the organisation. However, the OD effort progresses through a series of well designed stages, which can be enumerated as follows: Problem identification and diagnosis-problems that required changes in relation to various units in the organisation should be identified and diagnosed duly examining the feedback from employees. Developing strategy-appropriate strategy is developed by studying people, various sub-systems and organisation as a total system. Implementing the programme-OD programme should be implemented in a phase manner. At the outset it should be tried in a small part of the organisation and on getting positive results only, it should be implemented in total organisation. Reviewing the progress of the programme-review of OD programme should be preferably done by an expert who was not involved in designing and developing the OD programme, for getting an unbiased opinion. However the effectiveness of the OD programme SUMMARY