Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Link Between Population Growth And World Health

The Link between Population Growth and World Health Raphael R. Arriola Argosy University, Orange County The Global Environment and Public Health | SOC260 BLW Module 2, Assignment 2 Dr. Douglas Roberts Wednesday, October 14, 2015 The Link between Population Growth and World Health It is estimated that between the year 2014 and 2060, the U.S. population is going to increase from 319 million to 417 million, reaching 400 million in 2051. The population in the U.S. is projected to grow slower in the future decades, than in the recent past; assuming that fertility rates will continue to decline and that there will be a modest decline in the overall rate of net international migration. One in five Americans is projected to be 65 years of†¦show more content†¦The misuse of antibiotics is to blame, especially Beta-lactam antibiotics, vitamin supplementation, is also to blame including folic acid; vitamin D especially. Also to blame are novel vectors for sharing pathogens including blood donation, and lastly the widespread adoption of compulsory mass vaccinations. During the beginning of the twentieth century, infectious diseases were the leading cause of death worldwide. Three dis eases in particular in the United States caused 30% of deaths; tuberculosis, pneumonia, and diarrhoeal diseases. However, by the end of the twentieth century, in most of the developed world, the mortality from infectious diseases had been replaced by mortality from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke. In 2000, approximately 125 million Americans, or 45% of the population, had chronic conditions and 61 million, or 21% of the population, had multiple chronic conditions. According to a report in 2004, almost half of all Americans, or 133 million people, live with a chronic condition. People with chronic conditions account for 83 percent of health care spending and those with five or more chronic conditions have an average of almost fifteen physician visits and fill over 50 prescriptions in a year according to Partnership for Solutions National Program Office, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The lives of many people in the world are being blighted and cut short b y

Monday, May 18, 2020

Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury - 1487 Words

Society can become dangerous when the government is in control of our lives. No one reads books, technology is minimizing relationships, and people don’t appreciate the outdoors as much anymore, the main character in Fahrenheit 451 begins to disregard the rules that the society has made. One person is able to change the way of a society by being willing to change and think for themselves. Bradbury is trying to predict and warn us on the dangers that are ahead if we keep continuing to rely on technology, machines, and forget the old ways of doing things. Those things such as reading books and newspapers, communicating face to face and not over social media or the phone, and figuring things out for ourselves. Bradbury wants to keep us†¦show more content†¦In the society of Fahrenheit 451 they are banned from books and are told what they know. In today’s society you are seeing more and more people reading news on the Internet or their phone, and not going out to buy newspapers. The same thing is happening with books. With all the new advanced technology coming out everybody is starting to buy e-readers and not going to buy books. All the latest gossip and celebrity news are starting to overtake books and real news that is happening in the world today. In Fahrenheit 451 they are told everything they know, reading books is discouraged and frowned upon. Not even taking care of the kids â€Å"you heave them into the parlor and turn the switch† not even paying attention â€Å"it’s like washing clothes, stuff the laundry in and shut the lid† (Bradbury 96). Bradbury predicts a future where Television and technology shapes individuals. The people in the Fahrenheit 451 society can’t read a book and they only depend on the government and television to tell them how they should live their lives. We are starting to not pay attention to what is happening in today’s society, like watching your clothes in a laundry mach ine you don’t pay attention to what is going on while the clothes are being washed. This relates to our society by we don’t pay attention to what is going on, and happening while we are living our lives because we are so caught up in technology rather than staying

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Disaster Of New Zealand - 1548 Words

On February 22nd 2011, a delayed aftershock of a previous earthquake occurred in Christchurch, New Zealand. The M6.1 earthquake caused liquefaction, exacerbating the catastrophic damage to the city resulting in 185 casualties and damages accumulating too more than NZ$30 billion dollars. With regular seismic monitoring, scientist failed to identify a fault in the Canterbury plain causing an understandable impromptu of the community to the disaster. The initial response was effective and well managed in comparison to most disasters however there were fundamental issues identified that occurred post disaster that should be addressed. Details of the Disaster A M7.1 earthquake occurred in Canterbury, New Zealand on the 4th of September†¦show more content†¦The infrastructure damage was significant with over 1000 buildings in the central business district (CBD) and 10,000 residential homes have been demolished, leaving many homeless and closures of businesses (Kaiser et al, 2012). The Canterbury earthquake series instigated severe and continuing impacts on the social, economic, and natural environments of the area. Located on the pacific ring of fire (Figure 2), New Zealand has encountered strong earthquakes throughout its history, typically experiencing 20,000 detectable earthquakes per annum (GNS, 2015). Because of this, New Zealand enforced strict building codes that permit buildings to become more earthquake resistant by ensuring structural stability and durability to withstand earthquake forces. These codes were regularly updated simultaneously with the development of new technologies (Dunlevy-Wilson, 2011). Despite strict regulations, over 900 buildings in the CBD and 10,000 homes were demolished as a result of the Christchurch earthquake. This was partly due to the first M7.1 quake weakening buildings and the mere fact that not all pre-1970s buildings had been upgraded yet. Public awareness was also a vital method to increase safety of the community; hazard educational programs created by MCDEM (Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, 2009) provided comprehensive instructions on emergency evacuation and preparedness (Coomer et al., 2012). Mitigating potential

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Gender Inequality And Gender Discrimination - 858 Words

In the summer of 2014, 40 of the top female soccer players in the world announced that they are taking a stand against FIFA and the CSA (Canadian Soccer Association), stating that they are prepared to file a lawsuit against the companies. The tension throughout this lawsuit has been building for many years now. At the heart of the argument is the fact that next year’s women’s world cup is planned to take place on artificial turf instead of real grass. (McIntyre 2014). Gender inequality/discrimination is to deny equal rights to one group of people based on their gender. (Bonvillain and Miller 2013: 42). Based on this definition, the women have a very solid case. Forcing the female players to play on the turf field, while the men play on real grass that costs more to uphold and take care of, is treating them inadequately and less important* than the male soccer players. Continuing the trend in our society of male dominance. The anger of the female soccer players is not solely based on the fact that their male counterparts play on grass and them on turf, but more so that organizations such as FIFA and the CSA treat them this way on a constant basis. More money is required to replace and maintain a soccer field made of grass, to have it looking up to par after every game. FIFA and the CSA would much rather conserve that money for the male players. This is because they believe more people are going to be coming to watch the males, rather than â€Å"waste† those funds on the femalesShow MoreRelatedThe Gender Discrimination And Inequality Essay1611 Words   |  7 Pagesillustrate the gender discrimination and inequality issues at work and in leadership, consider the reaction to solve these questions. 1.2 Parameters This report discusses some key issues that occur at work and in the leadership of gender discrimination and inequality and current their improved programs in Australia and the United States. It illustrates background context, analysis and future direct, as well, there is 2000 words limit. 1.3 Definitions Gender discrimination is a situationRead MoreDiscrimination, Anti Feminism, And Gender Inequality1455 Words   |  6 Pages Valery Guzman Prof. Klock ENG 321 - 001 Discrimination, Anti-Feminism, and Gender Inequality In Films Women power has increased throughout the 20th and 21st century by means of statutory laws, legislative ascending, and Civil Rights Movements. Gender and race has been the target of numerous discriminatory laws that have persisted throughout time. Two major films have portrayed the endurance of women on issues of gender discrimination and discriminatory laws. The Color Purple, based on theRead More Gender Inequality: Sex Discrimination in Employment Essay1617 Words   |  7 Pages Gender equality is about equal opportunity for men and women to identify their individual potential. One must be able to benefit from their participation in society and contribute to the economic and social development of their country (Australian Government. 2009). Through multiple reviewed literature on gender inequality, the overall concept within many sociological readings was the way gender inequality socially relates to employment and careers. There are three separate themes thatRead MoreWo men played a major role in the fight against inequality and discrimination against female gender1000 Words   |  4 PagesWomen played a major role in the fight against inequality and discrimination against female gender for generations. Throughout the 20th century and up to WWI, most women saw their primary roles as being housewives and mothers, and less than 30 percent of women worked outside the home. That was the context for Demi Hansen’s life but during WWII she became a Rosie the Riveter. Women had no self-representation other than from their husbands and fathers, until WWII when opportunity’s were previouslyRead MoreGender Differences And Gender Inequality1717 Words   |  7 Pages Gender differences and gender inequality are sometimes used interchangeably but do not refer to the same thing. The two concepts are common in gender literature; however, they are not uniform across different cultures based on the degree of conservative attitudes present. Th e significant differences between sexes and used as arguments against equal rights primarily against women’s rights. Hence, the gender issue has continually been created in light of the standard views or conceptions ofRead MoreIntersectionality715 Words   |  3 PagesIntersectionality of Gender Inequality Name: Institution: Intersectionality of Gender Inequality For many decades, women have experienced all forms of oppression and constant violence that threatened their existence in the male-dominated society. Various forms of discrimination and oppression have been directed to women for decades. Violence directed at women such as rape and battery were seen and treated as isolatedRead MoreGender Inequality Of The Financial Sector1498 Words   |  6 PagesGender Inequality in the Financial Sector Inequality based on gender is an ongoing ethical issue that many women still face in the workplace. Gender inequality refers to unfair treatment and perceptions on another person’s gender and tends to happen a lot in many different companies and organizations. These types of inequality can range from women getting paid less then men or women not chosen for high positions in companies such as CEOs. As Hannah Gould points out in her newspaper article, â€Å"WeRead MoreSociology and Social Norms Essay examples1246 Words   |  5 PagesThe first decade of this millennium witnessed a dramatic awakening concerning the role of gender which had its marked impact on gender roles. As Wharton states, â€Å"the study of gender emerged as one of the most important trends in the discipline of sociology in the twentieth century† (1). This emergence prompted many theories regarding gender issues, which in turn, â€Å"propelled the sociological study of gender from the margins to be come one of the central features of the discipline† (Wharton 2). ThoughRead MoreHorrific Treatment Women In The Middle East. Spring 2017.1718 Words   |  7 Pagesthreatened because of the persons’ intellect, or other factors that may make the person look inferior. Unfortunately, discrimination comes in different ways, and different causes. However, they all lead to dehumanization of the individual. These discrimination problems are usually problems that date way back in time. For example, the labeling of women as the weaker sex, or the gender that must make all the emotional decisions in the house is dehumanizing for them. Segregating women is a social problemRead MoreGender Inequality Within The Workplace Essay1209 Words   |  5 PagesGender Inequality in the Workplace The generation now has made it easier to equalize men and women but there is still a substantial amount of places where gender inequality is still happening in the workplace and where females still face discrimination. Women are often discriminated in the workplace and are usually not promoted as quickly as men are and they also receive less pay. History shows that women have not always been defined as property and thought of as second class citizens. But in

Impact of E-Commerce on Operations Management Essay

Operations management has had to deal with a new type of business management in a business world that is vastly changing with new technology. Operations managers have had to adjust and retool how business is done since the inception of e-commerce. The impact that e-commerce has had on how an operations manager address a situation can vary from extreme to barely noticeable. Management has also had to learn how to adopt new technology with the growing e-commerce world. This has brought obstacles and resolutions within a business. E-commerce has also allowed businesses to grow where before the business would be limited to the area that surrounded the business. E-commerce has helped shape the operations management field over the last few†¦show more content†¦For instance, the business will need to make sure that the e-commerce side of the business is working in synergy with all other aspects of the business. The business will also want to decide which type of layout will best su it their needs. E-commerce has changed how operations managers look at store and factory layouts. In a store layout the idea of herding customers through a given area to get them to the checkout is a great tool to make extra sales. For an e-commerce customer this layout may not work and end up irritating a customer in the end. Operations managers need to adjust their layouts to accommodate the new type of business. Inventory has been an area that has impacted e-commerce and the operations management processes the most. In the past operations would plan on having a specific number of items on hand in each store. With e-commerce the thought of inventory has become a little trickier. Today a business can conduct business through e-commerce and have no inventory. The business could choose to have the products drop shipped directly from the manufacturer allowing for the business to save money on storage, inventory, and man hours to keep track of the inventory. E-commerce has also made t he decision of how much of an item to order become not as important as it used to be. There are benefits for a business to keep an inventory which include the following: cope with random or unexpectedShow MoreRelatedE-Commerce Strategies for Grocery Stores845 Words   |  3 Pagese-Commerce Strategies for Grocery Stores Introduction Retailing is one of the highest-velocity business models there are, predicated on a rapid turnover of inventory. Of the many forms of retailing, food and grocery have the most rapid inventory turns of all and the highest risk of inventory loss due to spoilage and rapid obsolescence (Gunasekaran, Marri, McGaughey, Nebhwani, 2002). The many attempts to bring e-commerce into the food and grocery retailing industry have been fraught with failureRead MoreThe Challenges of E-Commerce1403 Words   |  6 PagesThe Challenges of E-Commerce MKT552 The Challenges of E-Commerce Today’s business managers face many challenges when migrating a traditional ‘brick and mortar’ company to that which is now known as the evolutionary ‘click and mortar’ business model – that is, a business that operates in the Internet market space. To stand boldly in the face of challenges presented by the networked economy, firms must develop competencies that enable not only high performance market interactivity and adaptiveRead MoreQuiz on Information Systems and Outsourcing848 Words   |  3 Pagesfound within an IS department are IT Operations, IT Support, Applications and Management Support which includes Quality Management and Project Management. These four areas of IT Operations, IT Support Applications and Management Support can be further broken down into the following departments. Reporting into IT Operations, User Support and System Support is given the task of ensuring the reliability and availability of systems across an enterpr ise. Operations Support includes Security Support, HardwareRead MoreQuestions on Operations Management1661 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Chapter 1: Introduction to Operations Management Overview This chapter provides a definition of operations management. The role and importance of operations in an organization are described, along with operations decisions that are made. The differences between manufacturing and services are described. The history and current trends of operations management are discussed, including the impact of information systems. Finally, the interaction between operations and other business functionsRead MoreIt Role in International Business1455 Words   |  6 Pagesto more efficiently and successfully perform their business operations. Information technology is an important enabler of business success and innovation. International business International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions that take place between two or more nations. A multinational enterprise (MNE) is a company that has a worldwide approach to markets and production or one with operations in more than a country. Information technology’s role in internationalRead MoreDestination Management Companies ( Dmc ) Essay1177 Words   |  5 Pagesbookings (Chakravarthi Gopal, 2012). Destination Management Companies (DMC) is another supplier that offers new products, and provides subject expert (SME) knowledge of multiple destinations efficiently. Destination Management Companies specialize in design and implement tours, activities, events, and transportation (Spasic et al., 2014). They create and organize programs for business and leisure clients. Destination Management Companies has advantages over many suppliers: (Spasic etRead MoreThe Impact Of E Commerce On Retail Industry1697 Words   |  7 PagesThe impact of E-Commerce on the ‘Retail Industry’ August 8 2016 The Findings and Analysis of customer information on an e-commerce platform. The Improved Marketing techniques of e-commerce. Security issues associated with conducting business over the internet and the methods used to combat these security vulnerabilities’ on e-commerce and the use of social media e-commerce the conventional method of conducting business today â€Æ' The Main Elements of E-Commerce and the impact of E-Commerce on ‘RetailRead MoreE Commerce And E Business Essay1437 Words   |  6 Pagesbusiness-to-business (B2B) e-commerce and business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, because many people are purchasing travel products and services on the Internet (Casalo, Flavian, Guinaliu, 2010). Travel agencies should adopt e-commerce technology into business models to increase competitive advantages and to boost marketing activities (Abou-Shouk et al., 2013). Information and communications technology (ICT) and E-Commerce and E-Business applications have a large impact on businesses worldwideRead Morent2580 lab 6 Essay1094 Words   |  5 Pagescontinuity plan. Key elements of a business continuity plan starting with a risk analysis, business impact analysis, and alignment of critical business functions and processes will be discussed. Students will craft a business continuity implementation plan outline as part of this lab’s deliverables. Lab #6 Assessment Questions Answers 1. What is the different between a risk analysis (RA) and a business impact analysis (BIA)? A risk analysis (RA) focuses on all aspects of risk assessment for an organizationRead MoreFeasibility Of Financial, Distribution, And Marketing Partnerships For The Company Within The Chosen Country797 Words   |  4 Pagesfor all operations within the firm in Italy. The company will use sales representatives from Italy, along with management (Chapter 5: Methods and channels, n.d.). b) Currency considerations Keegan and Green (2009) â€Å"wrote that currency exchange rates are extremely unpredictable that several enterprises pursue international sourcing strategies as a way of reducing exchange-related risk† (p.285). Currency rates can have an impact on revenues for a U.S. company expanding operations in foreign

Brisbane Outdoor Power Centre and Three Branches

Question: Discuss about the Brisbane Outdoor Power Centre and Three Branches. Answer: Introduction Brisbane outdoor Power Centre has evolved from run of the mill, one single retail store to the thriving business consisting of three stores. The stores have become huge hit among customers and customers prefer to buy from these stores even they know they are paying little extra for it. It is because Brisbane outdoor power center is known for its knowledgeable staff and deep consultancy it provides to its customers. It has excellent after sales and products of high quality, which makes it very popular among consumers. However, all the stores are operated independently in managing their inventory and purchasing. This results in inefficiencies in the system and there is huge scope of involvement. Founder member, Mr. Saxon has quite non-interference approach as long as the all the stores are running in profits. With the change in Management, i.e. Ms. Green overtaking all the Brisbane power center business, she has a different approach. She was quick to spot the downside of the existing s ystem. Current purchasing and inventory management processes The case study presents that Brisbane Outdoor Power Centre was established as a one center company that expanded in three retail outlets. The first store of the company was making profits and therefore, the company acquired two more stores. However, there are certain loopholes in the purchasing and inventory management system of the company (Turkyilmaz, 2015). The process of purchasing and inventory management is not horrible. However, there is definitely a scope of improvement. The current purchasing management processes are not matured as all the retail outlets have their own processes. It is possible that all the retail outlets are reaching out to common set of suppliers, but in an independent manner and as a result the company is not able to get the best deal from suppliers (Rogers, 2013). The current purchasing management processes of the company could be improved to have a common system. It would reduce the overall negotiation effort of the company and consequently the purchasing system would be systematic in the company. There also exist various gaps in the existing inventory management system of the company. The company has decentralized inventory management system, wherein all the stores take their own decision about the inventory management. The safety stock also differs across different stores and this reduces the overall efficiency of the organization. The decentralized method of inventory management system is a old and traditional method. The three inventory managers of three different stores have their own calculations about the stock in hand and the order to be placed. This is not a good inventory management practiced as it leads to completely different, independent and exclusive inventory management systems of three stores. Comparative advantages and disadvantages of the currently used processes? There are various advantages and disadvantages of the currently used processes of purchasing management system and inventory management system. It is important that Ms. Green should be able to take the benefits of all the advantages and overcome all the disadvantages in the system. The specific advantages and disadvantages in the current system can be discussed as: Advantages of current process Managing one store by the local management will result in quick decision-making and also the time to procure will be less (Konur, 2016). Customer grievances can be handled in more effective way by each store if they are handling independently. Customer returns, replacement will take little time and each customer will get a personnel attention of the measurement which is very good for any business. The independent control can create a sense of ownership among all the employees and this could be difficult to achieve in a centralized system. Disadvantages of current process There are many disadvantages of the current purchasing and inventory management systems. Few of them are as follows: It simply adds to the cost of inventory management and purchasing management as all the stores have to manage this locally at their end. It reduces the chances of any negotiation or bulk discounts. Due to the independent inventory management and purchasing processes of the stores, the stores can never actually cut a deal from the suppliers. Different retail stores can have different goals and focus on different values. It is possible that one store is focusing on having diversified products while other is focusing on providing high quality material to customers. Different values will lead to different experience in different stores (Ellram Weber, 2013). It is possible that every store is lacking the inventory management expert and inventory is maintained based on intuitions without any real basis. Also, if all the retail stores are having the inventory experts, then the Brisbane Outdoor Power is paying salary to same type of skilled guy 3 times. Same inventory expert can manage the inventory for all the 3 stores. Supply-chain and inventory management concepts to be used ? There is a scope of lot of improvement. The company can use the principles of Total Quality Management, Lean Management, Six-Sigma and Just in Time inventory management to have an effective system in place (Sinha Garg, 2016). Some of the inventory management concepts that the company should use can be discussed as: Focus on Optimal safety stock through JIT (Just in Time) The objective of the company should be to have optimal safety stock in all the three centers. It can be done if the company can have a centralized system with the use of Just in Time inventory management concept (Awudu Zhang, 2012). With the JIT concept, the company would be able to minimize the inventory handling cost. Quality Management and Six Sigma There are many techniques that address TQM in organization. One such technique is Six Sigma. Six Sigma is all about process improvement and defect reduction by measurement based techniques and tools (Yazdani, 2016). There are two methodologies in Six Sigma i.e. DMAIC and DMADV. DMAIC stand for define, measure, analyze, improve and control. This focusses on enhancing the current set of processes. The DMADV stands for define measure, analyze, design and verify. It is focused on making quality new processes of Six Sigma level. It identifies and removes all the defects, bringing the count to 3.4defects per million opportunities. Total Quality Management With the focus on Total Quality Management, this plan must consider quality as the basic component of the whole ecosystem. Another principle is continual improvement (Sinha, 2016). This revolves around meeting all the expectations of stakeholders by becoming more competitive and effective through analytics and strategic steps. But before making a judgment call, an organization needs to have data regarding the performance. For this, TQM needs to collect relevant data, analyze it and help the decision makers to make predictions and forecast the future trends. Another principal is to maintain communication across all the hierarchies of organization (Babatunde, 2015). Communication is essential to boost employees morale and motivate them to bring out the best to achieve high quality results. Lean Management Techniques It is important that the reorder points should be defined based on a consolidated data of all the stores. According to this strategy, inventory will be replenished as soon as the level just reaches the safety stock level (Rossin, 2012). Therefore, this approach will allow storing the safety inventory but not allowing the accumulation of excess inventory in the system. Recommendations for Ms. Green to restructure the purchasing and inventory functions There are many things that can be done by Ms Green to restructure the purchasing inventory functions of the company. All the retail stores should be standardized so that they store the products from similar brands operate on same goal aligned with the organization goals. The goal is that customer experience should be uniform across all the stores. Another approach is that company can store the material at one of the location, which is having enough space and then replenished the stores based on the requirement from that central location (Sridharan, 2013). This central location could be any new warehouse also but it will incur the cost and the more analysis is required for cost savings and expenses from sing the warehouse. Even if one of the stores can be made to store the material, it could result in increased costs for logistics.Finally, the most essential principle is focusing on the horizontal process. As all the small processes makes large processes and brings the required output, so each employee should be aware of organizations mission and vision. An organization can also incorporate ISO standards to calibrate the settings. All these principles result in exceeding what the customers and employees have expected. It is also recommended that the company and Ms. Green should focus on the theories and principles of Total Quality Management. The process of enhancement includes all the department and employees along with the backward and forward integration. It uses customer satisfaction to achieve long term success (Stadtler, 2015). The improvement of not just process and products is involved but also the culture of organization is aimed to be improved. Quality management system is considered as the successor of TQM. Conclusion The above report discuses the case of Brisbane Power Center. As a conclusion, it can be said that Ms. Green has taken a right step to identify the current drawbacks and loopholes in the existing systems. The report highlights that the company has three stores but all the three stores have their own inventory management system. It is recommended that the company should move towards a centralized inventory management system. At the same time, Ms. Green has to ensure that the individual rapport with the customers should not be compromised. The long term objective of the company should be to have effective supply chain management in place that could have a balance between efficiency and responsiveness. The principles of TQM would ensure that the quality is not compromised at the expense of cost. References Awudu, I., Zhang, J. (2012). Uncertainties and sustainability concepts in biofuel supply chain management: A review.Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews,16(2), 1359-1368. Babatunde, Y., Sui Pheng, L. (2015). TQM implementation through ISO 9001: findings from Chinese construction firms in Nigeria.The TQM Journal,27(6), 671-682. Ellram, L. M., La Londe, B. J., Weber, M. M. (2013). Retail logistics.International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management. Konur, D., Geunes, J. (2016). Supplier wholesale pricing for a retail chain: Implications of centralized vs. decentralized retailing and procurement under quantity competition.Omega. Leuschner, R., Rogers, D. S., Charvet, F. F. (2013). A Metaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Analysis of Supply Chain Integration and Firm Performance.Journal of Supply Chain Management,49(2), 34-57. Rossin, D. (2012). Push-Pull Boundary Location, Information Quality, and Supply Chain Performance: An Exploratory Analysis.Journal of Global Business Issues,6(1), 7. Sinha, N., Garg, A. K., Dhall, N. (2016). Effect of TQM principles on performance of Indian SMEs: the case of automotive supply chain.The TQM Journal,28(3), 338-359. Stadtler, H. (2015). Supply chain management: An overview. InSupply chain management and advanced planning(pp. 3-28). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Sridharan, R., Simatupang, T. M. (2013). Power and trust in supply chain collaboration.International Journal of Value Chain Management,7(1), 76-96. Turkyilmaz, A., Bulak, M. E., Zaim, S. (2015). Assessment of TQM Practices as a Part of Supply Chain Management in Healthcare Institutions. International Journal of Supply Chain Management,4(4). Yazdani, B., Attafar, A., Shahin, A., Kheradmandnia, M. (2016). The impact of TQM practices on organizational learning case study: Automobile part manufacturing and suppliers of Iran.International Journal of Quality Reliability Management,33(5), 574-596.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

International Management & Global Strategy-Samples for Students

Questions: 1.Provide a Comprehensive yet concise written analysis of how Banyan can make use of OR develop its Dynamic Capabilities given the Industry-based Considerations 2.Explain the advantages and disadvantages of your recommended strategy as a way of Banyans strategic efforts to manage differences in its global or International Markets such as India. Answers: 1.Founded in the year 1994 by travel enthusiast and former journalist Ho Kwon Ping and his wife Claire Chiang, Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd (BTHR) have made its name and place in the luxury hotel industry in Asia as well as all over the world. Over the years, even with minimal advertising this chain of luxury hotels and resorts have been able to make a mark in the industry with the help of their global marketing strategies and public reactions (banyantree.com 2017). To be able to understand and analyse dynamic capabilities it is important to first understand business environments properly (Schilke 2014). The factors which directly or indirectly effect the day-to-day operation of an organization can be roughly put in the business environment sector. The development and the success of a business are dependent upon how the organisation is being able to adapt to the changes in its environment. There are two types of business environment, internal and external (Boons and Ldeke-Freund 2013). The main difference between the two is the control of the organisation over the factors. Internal environments are variables that are under the direct control of the management, while the external factors are the ones which are not under the control of the organisation, but these factors are very relevant in the business and the success of the business. For example: competition, customers, government policies, societal factors, political agendas, legal do and dont s and technological factors etc. Some of these have direct effect on the operations of the business while there are others who have indirect effect (Hamilton and Webster 2015). Internal environmental factors Skilled and trained professional: In the hospitality sector there is always a demand for skilled and trained professional who understand and know the industrys every nuance. These people are the main asset of the industry. As this market is heavily dependent on the one on one interaction with the customers, it is important for the hotel business to employ people who are motivated and are social. In India hospitality industry is booming as people now understand the perks and the value of premium quality food and lodging, people are also willing to spend more so that they receive best of the best form the hospitality sector. There are several foreign tourists who are attracted towards luxury hotels and resorts in India (Paill et al. 2014). Development and growth of assets: The Company has recently launched new brands and subsidiaries including resorts, spas, residences, destination club memberships, retail outlets, and even museum shops as a part of their growth strategy. Along with the brand extension the organisation has also been involved in rapid growth in the global front to capture the market in the America, Caribbean, Europe as well as the Middle East. Expansion in India has begun with the first banyan tree resort in the state of Kerala. It is a first of its kind, premium-luxury boutique resort, which is an all-pool villa retreat. It has a luxurious private island in the backwaters of Kerala which offers a unique sense of calmness and retreat for the villa guests. There are 59 villas in the resorts and each and every villa offer a different yet one of a kind view of the rich heritage of the backwaters and canals (Franks et al. 2014). Brand Image: While other luxury hotel brands develop the image of the hotel in accordance with the location that it is situated in. Banyan Tree hotels and resorts have been very strong in maintaining their Asian background and theme of the hotels even if they were setting up a property in the heart of Europe. For India it is an easy set up as the company do not have to invest a lot in the creating a faux Asia-like environment. The location choice of Kerala is perfect as the state of Kerala offers almost everything the Brand already stands for (Baranenko et al. 2014). Unique selling proposition of the brand: Banyan tree offers private villas along with private pool, Jacuzzi and a spa. All these amenities are within a gap of price which is deluxe but not that one has to be a multi-millionaire to be able to stay at the banyan tree. The image of the Brand is also one of its USPs as the architecture, furnishing along with the services provided by the hotels are all in sync with the rich Asian cultural and heritage. This offerings work perfectly in the Indian setting as people who come to visit India from other countries are also majorly looking for Asian set up with a private space for retreat (Grant 2016). External environmental factors To access the external environmental factors of banyan tree hotels and resorts, it is important to go through the Pestel analysis. Pestel refers to political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal factors which influence the operations of an industry in a particular country. In this case the country is India and the following is the Pestel analysis (Khan and Quaddus 2015): Political factor: The tourism sector is one of the major sources of income of the government and hence any political policy that has been adopted by the government has a direct effect on the hospitality sector. It is important to attract international tourist in order to keep the business running. In India, the state government policies are also important as it its directly responsible for the development of the industry in the State (Fleisher and Bensoussan 2015). Economic factor: As banyan Tree is a foreign investor in the Indian market, the taxation policy, inflation rates, economic growth, interest rates and exchange rates of the market is important factor to grow and develop in a foreign nation state. With the inclusion of the new GST policy by the Indian Government the consumption of luxury hospitality has become more expensive (Wetherly and Otter 2014). Social Factors: As the image of the brand is in sync with the Asian culture and heritage, it will not be a problem for the brand to be able to get accepted by the localities of the place and also by the international tourist who are looking for the Asian charm. As the brand offers luxury villas, instead of rooms it is easily accepted by the societal norms as well. Technological Factors: India has its fair share of luxury hotels form a very long time. The Taj or The Oberoi has created a base for the hospitality sector in the country. The encouragement of international tourism has also led to development of the several relevant technologies and modern advancement in the ICT sector for the hospitality industry. Logistically there are no problems in India for the expansion of a brand like Banyan Tree. Environmental factor: The factors which mostly affect the hospitality industry are availability of the raw material for food and diverse weather conditions. As discussed the theme of the Banyan Tree hotels are in sync with the Asian Cultural hence it is easy to find or import relevant raw materials for the food items served at the resorts. In case of other environmental hazards, storms; earthquakes etc have a direct impact on the sales of the hotel business. Legal factors: There are several international luxury hotels in India. The law regarding setting up a property, and owning of a set up by a foreigner has certain rules and regulations like any other country. But these rules are favorable as India as a country entertains the international business and tourists. Flexible legal amenities are also a favorable factor as to why it is easy for a company like banyan Tree to further expand in the Indian Subcontinent (Eva et al. 2014). 2.As the Indian government entertains and encourages international tourism and one of the governments main sources of income in tourism, hence there is a wide range of competitors for Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts. One of the main advantages of the organization is that the theme of the hotel is in sync with the cultural heritage of India (businessworld.in 2017). Porter's generic strategies are the ways of evaluating means for achieving an upper hand over the competitors, in other words, creating ways and means to develop an edge against the competitors. The position of an organization in the relative industry is mostly determined by the profit of the average of the industry. The basis of any organization to maintain a profit margin above the average in the long run is by gaining sustainable competitive advantage (Wicker et al. 2015). Low cost or differentiation is the two basic types of competitive advantages that a company can have. The focus strategies of activities are of two types, cost focus and differentiation focus. Figure: Porters Generic Strategy Source: Authors Creation Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts should follow the Differentiation strategy in India. The differentiation strategy is what best fits the luxury hotel and hospitality industry in this case the firm seeks to offer unique and premium services in the industry along some values that are widely appreciated by consumers of the market. It selects one or more attributes that many buyers in an industry perceive as important, and uniquely positions it to meet those needs. It is rewarded for its uniqueness with a premium price (Rothaermel, F.T., 2015). The chain of hotels and resorts is an ultra-luxurious retreat for its guests and hence they look forward to the best of the best in terms of quality and quantity. Good quality with less investment is something every investor is looking forward to. In India, the quality and the image that the company has is very easy to find and is in sync with the Asian cultural heritage. There are a lot of skilled professionals who are ready to be trained as professional at a lower price. The spa facilities that the villas of the Banyan tree offers to its customers need to have an array of skilled professionals, who are able to carry out the tasks. Apart from that there are several high standard hospitality management institutes in India that produce managers and professional of high standards who are able to keep up with the luxury and uniqueness of the brand. One of the greatest advantages of such luxury hospitality brands in India is that the Government strategies and tax implementations by the government are in sync and are favorable for foreign investors. As a large amount of income of the government is based out of tourism it is important that the policies are in favor of these companies. The greatest competitor of the Banyan Tree is the Starwood hotels Le Meridien which is located in the same state as the banyan tree. Some of the unique selling point of this hotel is similar to that of the banyan tree. Both these companies have a broad market of international tourists in India. One of the main drawbacks of the Banyan tree is that it has a limited number of Villas as supposed to the Starwood hotel which offers luxury rooms. Hence they can accommodate more number of people at the same time. The factors which give banyan tree an upper hand over its competitors is that it provides an Asian theme. Tourists who come to visit indie, one of their main focuses is to enjoy the Asian cultural and heritage which the hotel provides them. Not only that Kerela is famous for its spa retreats and oil messages each of these villas have a separate and very private spa segment which the guests can enjoy at their will. Above all, Banyan tree offers its customers the luxury of utmost priv acy and recluse. Since Banyan Tree Holdings Ltd (BTHR) is a multinational luxury hotel and resort brand they have the scope of developing a skimming price strategy via membership cards and loyalty programs which not only help in customer retention, but also help in the management of customer loyalty and further assist the company in advocating their goodwill. 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