WEB SITE RESEARCH PROJECT (US History) Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

WEB SITE PROJECT (US History) - Research Paper Example An influential American artist during that time was Jackson Pollock. It was in the middle of the 1940s when Pollock introduced his drip method which immediately attracted the attention of the American public since it was unconventional. The drip method defied the conventional use of the easel for painting, instead, stick and stiff brushes were used by Pollock. The drip method of painting can be considered as the origin of action painting which is popularly held annually is public museums. Moreover, Pollock painted on the floor, not in the traditional upright position. Again, he was making a statement, trying to defy the traditional method practiced during his time. It can also be inferred from the presentation that Pollack achieved cult status since he was credited for changing the face of art through American methods. The website chosen is an article about Jackson Pollock. This article was chosen over other websites since it portrays and analyzes not only the works of the man but the man himself too.The article titled â€Å" Last Dance† is an art review of the works done by Pollock throughout his career. It was titled â€Å"Last Dance† since the critic sees Pollock as a graceful dancer when executing his paintings. As Haber claims â€Å"He laid it on with care, in dabs of black and skeins of intense color. He let it run off as he circled a canvas, as if it flowed from the motion of his body† ( paragraph 1 ). This article highlights Pollock’s genius in combining murals and drama as expressed by the use of Cubism, similar to that of Mexican muralists. After criticizing Pollock’s self-portrait, the critic then narrates the interesting and exciting journeys of Pollock into his life as an artist. The critic considers Pollock a rebel in expressing Abstract Art through his ( Pollock’s) extensive use of drippings that seem to be random but would converge later and produce a work of Art. In fact Haber’s critic

The Aleph Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Aleph - Essay Example Driven by a rather natural desire to be close to her place and relatives, he lives near her house to have someone to share his trouble with. At that time he gets acquainted with the dead woman’s brother, Carlos Argentino Daneri. The attitude of Borges’ attitude towards him is rather interesting. He is a poet, but a protagonist treats him and his gift with irony considering him to be a plain layman. Daneri is writing a very long epic poem about all the places on the Earth as if he visited them himself. He is dreaming about winning a prize and become famous. This desire irritates Borges. One day Carlos calls Borges’ number asking for help. He appeared in a trouble as his house has to be destroyed by some business. However, Daneri worries not because he loves the place he lives in. He discloses his secret he was hiding for long: there is an Aleph in one of the rooms of his house, and he simply can’t lose him, because he needs him to finish his great poem: â⠂¬Å"Yes, the only place on earth where all places are — seen from every angle, each standing clear, without any confusion or blending. I kept the discovery to myself and went back every chance I got. As a child, I did not foresee that this privilege was granted me so that later I could write the poem. Zunino and Zungri will not strip me of what’s mine — no, and a thousand times no! Legal code in hand, Doctor Zunni will prove that my Aleph is inalienable† (Borges). Borges does not like Daneri and can’t believe him, but he still comes to see the Aleph. Actually, he does not trust the poet thinking that the wants to kill him, thus behaves very carefully. â€Å"The full knowledge of a fact sometimes enables you to see all at once many supporting but previously unsuspected things. It amazed me not to have suspected until that moment that Carlos Argentino was a madman† (Borges). Having come to his

Management as a Regulated Profession Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Management as a Regulated Profession - Essay Example The introduction of strict legislative texts, like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the USA, has been proved to be an initial measure for the limitation of fraud in modern organizations (Heier et al., 2005, p.39). In the internal organizational environment, the ability of a firm to prevent fraud is depended on the level of cooperation/ coordination among employees at different levels of the organizational hierarchy. Under these terms, the human resources systems used within a specific organization are considered to be crucial for the success of the organizational initiatives against fraud. It should be noted that the effects of internal fraud on business performance can be differentiated in accordance with the nature of business operations, the business structure and the aims/ objectives of each organization; different assumptions are made in the literature regarding the effects of internal fraud on organizational performance; different plans of action can be suggested for mitigating fraud in firms that operate in various industrial sectors. Greenlee et al. (2007) focus on the relationship between the internal fraud and the type of organizational structure – the emphasis is given on non-profit organizations where ‘the losses due to fraudulent activities can directly reduce resources available to address tax-exempt purposes’ (Greenlee eta, 2007, 676). On the other hand, Levi (2008) notes that the expansion of global crime has been rapid due to the increased ability of ‘would-be perpetrators to recognize and act on specific opportunities’ (Levi, 2008, p.389). From another point of view, the external organizational environment is likely to affect a firm’s ability to control crime – the specific view is supported by Tilley et al. (2008) who emphasize on the difficulty to control crime in organizations that operate in ‘high crime neighbourhoods’ (Tilley et al., 2008, 443).  

Five Forces Anaysis Of Dell Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Five Forces Anaysis Of Dell Inc - Essay Example This research paper presents five forces analysis of Dell Inc to analyze major factors and competitive elements and to assess how successful and effective is the company. The five force analysis, introduced by Michael Porter, can be used as a tool to measure the competitive rivalry and to assess whether the company has achieved sustainable competitive advantages or not. The five force Model The modern economy and international business environments have recently been largely influenced by various critical factors including globalization, fierce competition and advanced technology etc and therefore, as Michael Porter argued, business strategy equates to how a firm competes with other firms in the industry. According to his findings, strategy is not just a series of models and methods at corporate level, but rather it includes analyzing potential entrants, suppliers, buyers, substitutes and competitors (Stahl and Grigsby, 1997, p. 145). The five forces model has widely been applied as an important functional area of management and business academics. Almost all managers and large companies depend on porter’s five force analysis to find their marketing strengths and competitive advantages. Harvard professor Michael E. Porter has developed Five Force model in 1980s to help companies identify what specific forces determine the profits in an industry. Any particular firm in an industry faces various forces within the industry affecting the profitability significantly. Some of such determining factors are competitive rivalry, potential entrants, threat of substitutes, bargaining power of buyers as well as suppliers. If a business is able to understand and analyze all these factors, then it would also be able to develop a business-level strategy to allow business either to take advantage or protect the business from these forces (Ahlstrom and Bruton, 2009, p. 131). Porter argued that each of the five forces determines how the firm would be able to perform in its marketing landscape. The stronger each of these forces is, the more limited is the ability of well-established companies to increase prices and earn greater amounts of profits. Competition rivalry, substitutes, pot ential entrants, power of suppliers and buyers thus directly impact the profitability as well as effective and smooth functioning of the business (Hill and Jones, 2007, p. 45). The five factors can greatly influence various aspects of the strategies of a company. for instance, if consumers of the company have considerable bargaining power, it will largely impact the business strategy of that company. Similarly, if more number of suppliers are available and there is increased possibility of getting better supplies for comparatively cheaper amounts, the company will be more likely to achieve relatively better competitive advantage as well (Kurtz, MacKenzie and Snow, 2009, p. 57). Competitive rivalry is one of the five forces and is influenced by the other four forces. A company that operates in a market where there are larger numbers of substitutes, more powerful buyers and suppliers and there are chances for new entrants faces relatively more severe competition. A company would be ab le to flourish if it is able to fence off new entrants and substitutes. Dell Inc: Company Profile For several

The division of labour Essay Example for Free

The division of labour Essay But with five men specializing in their respective trades, they are not only able to provide sufficient pins for themselves, but also a surplus is generated from the mass production of the pin. As a result, manufacturers are able to keep up with the demands of a populated society. The division of labour clearly serves as an advantage to the economy. Smith reasons that the division of labour originates from mans tendency to barter (317). Smiths saying, Give me that which I want, and you shall have this which you want (318), accurately expresses mans method of attaining his needs. Man trades in self-interest but depends on others co-operation and assistance (318) to do so. The more man trades, the more wealth he acquires. Since the division on labour allows man to produce large amounts of surplus, he has the advantage to trade his surplus for a wealth of personal items. For example, a farmer who cultivates an excess amount of apples trades part of the surplus to a baker who in turn, provides the farmer with fresh bread. He also trades a large amount of the surplus to a grocer who pays him back with a large sum of money. The farmer becomes wealthy. The quantities produced through the division of labour multiply exponentially. According to Karl Marx, the division of labour occurs between the bourgeois and the proletarian. The bourgeois are a wealthy, dominant class interested in the trade of markets. European colonization during the Middle Ages allowed new markets (like Chinas gunpowder market or East Indias salt market) for the bourgeois to trade with. In Europe, the dominance of the Modern Industry caused the demands of the population ever rising (449). Consequently, the markets kept ever growing (449). The bourgeois, experienced in international trade, were able to handle the growing European economy. Wealthy from their international trades, the bourgeois set up giant factories using proletarians, low class workers, for the manual labour of the production of goods. The large amount of accumulated labour allowed the bourgeois to keep up with the populations growing demand. The influence of the modern industry forces the proletarians to work with machinery, [obliterating] all distinctions of labour, and nearly everywhere reduces the wages to the same low level (454). To the bourgeois, the poor labourers who must sell themselves piece-meal, are a commodity (452). Due to the low wages paid by the bourgeois, the proletarians can only support their existence. Neither luxuries nor freedom are affordable. For example, culture-a luxury-is a proletarians loss which he laments (459). Without it, these labourers without option are forced to act as a machine (459). While the bourgeois have independence because of their wealth, the poor proletarians are dependent and [have] no individuality (458). With their freedom denied by the bourgeois, the proletarians congregate nation-wide into a Trade Union to revolt against the selfish bourgeois-The abolition of bourgeois individuality, bourgeois independence, and bourgeois freedom is undoubtedly aimed at (458). The bourgeois, threatened by the proletarians, have no choice but to grant them better living conditions. From the division of labour between the proletarians and the bourgeois, various characteristics of human nature are illustrated. A main characteristic is the dependence which humans have for one another, no matter their societal status. In Communist Manifesto, we witness the bourgeois depend on the proletarians. The proletarians in turn depend on the bourgeois for a source of income. Another characteristic is the greed shown by the bourgeois. In an attempt to accumulate as much wealth as possible, the bourgeois pay the proletarians a smaller amount of what they deserve. The bourgeois care only for the proletarians existence because they provide the bourgeois with wealth. Humans also need freedom to live. The consequences of denying freedom are dangerous, as witnessed with the proletarians-they destroy imported wares that compete with their labour, the smash to pieces machinery, they set factories ablaze until they restore by force the vanished status of the workman of the Middle Ages (453). Dependence, greed, and freedom are characteristics of human nature. If these characteristics are manipulated or ignored, destructive events could occur, as described by Marx in Communist Manifesto. The men, in search of an effective ideology, present their different views on human nature. Human nature is the basis upon which the men reason the causes of the division of labour. Since their perspectives are not identical, their reasons of the causes of the division of labour also are not identical. Rousseau sees human nature as progressive. From basic instincts come the ability to reason, and from reason comes the division of society. The inequality in the division then leads to the slow corruption of the society. Smith, on the other hand, sees the division of labour as an advantage to the economy because it stems from an innate tendency to trade. Marx sees the presence of the division of labour due to the innate vices that plague society. Out of greed, the bourgeois gain from the poor proletarians whom they depend on. But the proletarians retaliate and regain their essential freedom. While the men fail to seek a suitable ideology that gladly accommodates the vices of human nature, we witness the true power of its vices as it persists to plague man. Work Cited Cohen, Mitchell and Nicole Fermon, ed. Princeton Readings in Political Thought. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1996.

Effects of UK Insurance Industry to the Economy Essay Example for Free

Effects of UK Insurance Industry to the Economy Essay The UK insurance industry is the fourth largest in the world. It comes after USA, Japan and Germany and is definitely a major contributor to the economy. The number of people employed in the insurance industry of UK is increasing day by day. The Insurance industry contributes to the economy by providing businesses and individuals risk management. There are many services this industry provides. It ranges from automobile insurance to life and health insurance. Pension and savings are yet other forms of insurance available. Almost 332,000 people are employed in this industry (Association of British Insurers, 3, 2007). Insurance is another name for risk management. Insurance helps individuals and businesses to avoid financial or other loss. We can say it acts as a hedge against unavoidable or avoidable losses. This risk of loss is then transferred to some other entity, usually the insurance company. In exchange the business or individual seeking risk management gets a premium. The company that provides this risk management or insurance is the Insurer (Mehr et la, 13-45, n. d. ). Almost one third of people working in the entire financial market of UK are employed in the insurance industry. This number is twice the number of people in the car manufacturing companies and almost thrice the number employed in the utility industry. The UK insurance industry is one of the biggest in Europe. This industry gave a record of ? 174bn premium income in the 1990s. Though in the early years of 1990s, due to economic recession the insurance industry was not doing that good, but in the second half this industry started to grow and has been giving large numbers of premium profits since then (IFSL, n. p, 2001). In 17th century trading was in its primitive stages. Industrialization was a new phenomenon. Insurance was one element that fostered the growth of these and hence helped the economy prosper. Due to insurance, businesses were able to take risks and expand themselves. In 1688, GDP of England was approximately ? 6 billion (Lindert Willamson, n. p. 1982). After 1688 to 1759, there was not much growth in the national income. Till 1800 the growth was only 1% per year. At this rate our national income should be about ? 66 billion. However, this is not the case. Today our GDP is more or less ? 1000 billion. The main help in growth of economy came from insurance. Without insurance industry, our nation would have been living in a less prosperous way. Though all of this development is not due to insurance alone but it was the driving force that pushed the economy towards this prosperity. Today, insurance has a very vital role. According to an economist: â€Å"The non-existence of markets for the bearing of some risks in the first instance reduces welfare for those who wish to transfer those risks to others for a certain price, as well as for those who would find it profitable to take on the risk at such prices. But it also reduces the desire to render or consume services which have risk consequences† (Arrow, 945 946, 1963). Insurance is important because it has the ability to transfer risk. This control of risk helps businesses to keep moving forward. Insurance might not be important to people who are indifferent to risks. Such societies might have other forms of risk transfer protocols i. e. family. Hence we can say that in order to find out how much an economy will benefit from insurance, depends upon the culture of that place. In 1990, a study was done by Outreville. He took almost 45 developing countries and found out the relationship between insurance and national income. According to him there is a non-linear relationship between insurance premium and GDP. He also specified that the relation ship might not be that clear but it certainly is a positive one. In the light of his research we can conclude that if the insurance industry generates more premiums then the country might have more income (Outreville, n. p, 1990). Another study was done in 2000 by Ward and Zurbruegg. According to them insurance definitely helps in prosperity of the economy (Ward Zurbruegg, 489-507, 2000). It is also believed that if government tries to take position of the insurance industry it can lead to increase in levels of risks. In 2003, Priest did a research and found out that if the government has a safety net this can also lead to more risks. This safety net is actually savings and loans deposits which are there for the disabled. However, more savings might lead to more claims (Priest, 71-80, 2003). There have been quite some changes in the UK’s insurance industry in the past decade. Many major companies have undergone big changes. Commercial Union and General Accident are now called GCNU. They have merged to form a new bigger company. UK’s London market is also different in its own sense. It contains almost twenty large international insurance and reinsurance companies. It is the centre of world’s insurances. Businesses from all over the world get insured here. Two of its largest insurers, Lloyd’s and the International Underwriting Association of London (IUA), also provide various services (Joe, n. p, 1998).

Ryman Is Famous For Customer Service Marketing Essay

Ryman Is Famous For Customer Service Marketing Essay Introduction Ryman is famous for customer service. Everyone who works at the 237 Ryman stores nationwide aims to deliver the best possible customer experience to everyone who visits the specialist stationery stores.   This is achieved through a number of routes, including the companys investment in training so that people in the stores have an in-depth knowledge of their product range. Employees feel valued by the organization that encourages them to come up with bright ideas that are then shared within the business.   As well as being the nations high street stationery specialist, many Ryman stores offer additional services to customers. For example, many stores have a photocopier machine for customers to use and all stores provide printed stationery.   Other services range from document binding, a fax service, a photo booth, laminating, and a bulk copying service. Some stores usually based in the larger cities have a Copy Shop where all these services are offered. There are four Ryman stores that also have a Post Office. Industrial Plan Industry analysis is a tool that facilitates a companys understanding of its position relative to other companies that produce similar products or services. Understanding the forces at work in the overall industry is an important component of effective strategic planning. Industry analysis enables small business owners to identify the threats and opportunities facing their businesses, and to focus their resources on developing unique capabilities that could lead to a competitive advantage. Many small business owners and executives consider themselves at worst victims, and at best observers of what goes on in their industry. They sometimes fail to perceive that understanding your industry directly impacts your ability to succeed. Understanding your industry and anticipating its future trends and directions gives you the knowledge you need to react and control your portion of that industry, Kenneth J. Cook wrote in his book The AMA Complete Guide to Strategic Planning for Small Business.However, your analysis of this is significant only in a relative sense. Since both you and your competitors are in the same industry, the key is in finding the differing abilities between you and the competition in dealing with the industry forces that impact you. If you can identify abilities you have that are superior to competitors, you can use that ability to establish a competitive advantage. http://www.enotes.com/small-business-encyclopedia/industry-analysis An industry analysis consists of three major elements: the underlying forces at work in the industry; the overall attractiveness of the industry; and the critical factors that determine a companys success within the industry. The premier model for analyzing the structure of industries was developed by Michael E. Porter in his classic 1980 book Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. Porters model shows that rivalry among firms in industry depends upon five forces: the potential for new competitors to enter the market; the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers; the availability of substitute goods; and the competitors and nature of competition. These factors are outlined below. INDUSTRY FORCES The first step in performing an industry analysis is to assess the impact of Porters five forces. The collective strength of these forces determines the ultimate profit potential in the industry, where profit potential is measured in terms of long term return on invested capital, Porter stated. The goal of competitive strategy for a business unit in an industry is to find a position in the industry where the company can best defend itself against these competitive forces or can influence them in its favor. Understanding the underlying forces determining the structure of the industry can highlight the strengths and weaknesses of a small business, show where strategic changes can make the greatest difference, and illuminate areas where industry trends may turn into opportunities or threats. http://www.enotes.com/small-business-encyclopedia/industry-analysis EASE OF ENTRY Ease of entry refers to how easy or difficult it is for a new firm to begin competing in the industry. The ease of entry into an industry is important because it determines the likelihood that a company will face new competitors. In industries that are easy to enter, sources of competitive advantage tend to wane quickly. On the other hand, in industries that are difficult to enter, sources of competitive advantage last longer, and firms also tend to benefit from having a constant set of competitors. The ease of entry into an industry depends upon two factors: the reaction of existing competitors to new entrants; and the barriers to market entry that prevail in the industry. Existing competitors are most likely to react strongly against new entrants when there is a history of such behavior, when the competitors have invested substantial resources in the industry, and when the industry is characterized by slow growth. Some of the major barriers to market entry include economies of scale, high capital requirements, switching costs for the customer, limited access to the channels of distribution, a high degree of product differentiation, and restrictive government policies. POWER OF SUPPLIERS Suppliers can gain bargaining power within an industry through a number of different situations. For example, suppliers gain power when an industry relies on just a few suppliers, when there are no substitutes available for the suppliers product, when there are switching costs associated with changing suppliers, when each purchaser accounts for just a small portion of the suppliers business, and when suppliers have the resources to move forward in the chain of distribution and take on the role of their customers. Supplier power can affect the relationship between a small business and its customers by influencing the quality and price of the final product. All of these factors combined will affect your ability to compete, Cook noted. They will impact your ability to use your supplier relationship to establish competitive advantages with your customers. http://www.enotes.com/small-business-encyclopedia/industry-analysis POWER OF BUYERS The reverse situation occurs when bargaining power rests in the hands of buyers. Powerful buyers can exert pressure on small businesses by demanding lower prices, higher quality, or additional services, or by playing competitors off one another. The power of buyers tends to increase when single customers account for large volumes of the businesss product, when a substitutes are available for the product, when the costs associated with switching suppliers are low, and when buyers possess the resources to move backward in the chain of distribution. AVAILABILITY OF SUBSTITUTES All firms in an industry are competing, in a broad sense, with industries producing substitute products. Substitutes limit the potential returns of an industry by placing a ceiling on the prices firms in the industry can profitably charge, Porter explained. Product substitution occurs when a small businesss customer comes to believe that a similar product can perform the same function at a better price. Substitution can be subtle-for example, insurance agents have gradually moved into the investment field formerly controlled by financial planners-or sudden-for example, compact disc technology has taken the place of vinyl record albums. The main defense available against substitution is product differentiation. By forming a deep understanding of the customer, some companies are able to create demand specifically for their products. http://www.enotes.com/small-business-encyclopedia/industry-analysis COMPETITORS The battle you wage against competitors is one of the strongest industry forces with which you contend, according to Cook. Competitive battles can take the form of price wars, advertising campaigns, new product introductions, or expanded service offerings-all of which can reduce the profitability of firms within an industry. The intensity of competition tends to increase when an industry is characterized by a number of well-balanced competitors, a slow rate of industry growth, high fixed costs, or a lack of differentiation between products. Another factor increasing the intensity of competition is high exit barriers-including specialized assets, emotional ties, government or social restrictions, strategic inter-relationships with other business units, labor agreements, or other fixed costs-which make competitors stay and fight even when they find the industry unprofitable. http://www.enotes.com/small-business-encyclopedia/industry-analysis http://kelas.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/porters-five-forces-model.jpg Production Plan Production planning is the function of establishing an overall level of output, called the production plan. The process also includes any other activities needed to satisfy current planned levels of sales, while meeting the firms general objectives regarding profit, productivity, lead times, and customer satisfaction, as expressed in the overall business plan. The managerial objective of production planning is to develop an integrated game plan where the operations portion is the production plan. This production plan, then, should link the firms strategic goals to operations (the production function) as well as coordinating operations with sales objectives, resource availability, and financial budgets. The production-planning process requires the comparison of sales requirements and production capabilities and the inclusion of budgets, pro forma financial statements, and supporting plans for materials and workforce requirements, as well as the production plan itself. A primary purpose of the production plan is to establish production rates that will achieve managements objective of satisfying customer demand. Demand satisfaction could be accomplished through the maintaining, raising, or lowering of inventories or backlogs, while keeping the workforce relatively stable. If the firm has implemented a just-in-time philosophy, the firm would utilize a chase strategy, which would mean satisfying customer demand while keeping inventories at a minimum level. The term production planning is really too limiting since the intent is not to purely produce a plan for the operations function. Because the plan affects many firm functions, it is normally prepared with information from marketing and coordinated with the functions of manufacturing, engineering, finance, materials, and so on. Another term, sales and operations planning, has recently come into use, more accurately representing the concern with coordinating several critical activities within the firm. The production plan also provides direct communication and consistent dialogue between the operations function and upper management, as well as between operations and the firms other functions. As such, the production plan must necessarily be stated in terms that are meaningful to all within the firm, not just the operations executive. Some firms state the production plan as the dollar value of total input (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Other firms may break the total output down by individual factories or major product lines. Still other firms state the plan in terms of total units for each product line. The key here is that the plan be stated in some homogeneous unit, commonly understood by all, that is also consistent with that used in other plans. PRODUCTION SCHEDULING The production schedule is derived from the production plan; it is a plan that authorized the operations function to produce a certain quantity of an item within a specified time frame. In a large firm, the production schedule is drawn in the production planning department, whereas, within a small firm, a production schedule could originate with a lone production scheduler or even a line supervisor. Production scheduling has three primary goals or objectives. The first involves due dates and avoiding late completion of jobs. The second goal involves throughput times; the firm wants to minimize the time a job spends in the system, from the opening of a shop order until it is closed or completed. The third goal concerns the utilization of work centers. Firms usually want to fully utilize costly equipment and personnel. Often, there is conflict among the three objectives. Excess capacity makes for better due-date performance and reduces throughput time but wreaks havoc on utilization. Releasing extra jobs to the shop can increase the utilization rate and perhaps improve due-date performance but tends to increase throughput time. Quite a few sequencing rules (for determining the sequence in which production orders are to be run in the production schedule) have appeared in research and in practice. Some well-known ones adapted from Vollmann, Berry, Whybark and Jacobs (2005) are presented in Operations Scheduling. THE PRODUCTION PLANNING AND PRODUCTION SCHEDULING INTERFACE There are fundamental differences in production planning and production scheduling. Planning models often utilize aggregate data, cover multiple stages in a medium-range time frame, in an effort to minimize total costs. Scheduling models use detailed information, usually for a single stage or facility over a short term horizon, in an effort to complete jobs in a timely manner. Despite these differences, planning and scheduling often have to be incorporated into a single framework, share information, and interact extensively with one another. They also may interact with other models such as forecasting models or facility location models. It should be noted that a major shift in direction has occurred in recent research on scheduling methods. Much of what was discussed was developed for job shops. As a result of innovations such as computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) and just-in-time (JIT), new processes being established in todays firms are designed to capture the benefits of repetitive manufacturing and continuous flow manufacturing. Therefore, much of the new scheduling research concerns new concepts and techniques for repetitive manufacturing-type operations. In addition, many of todays firms cannot plan and schedule only within the walls of their own factory as most are an entity with an overall supply chain. Supply chain management requires the coordination and integration of operations in all stages of the chain. If successive stages in a supply belong to the same firm, then these successive stages can be incorporated into a single planning and scheduling model. If not, constant interaction and information sharing are required to optimize the overall supply chain. productdevelpment Operational Plan An  operational planning  is a subset of strategic work plan. It describes short-term ways of achieving milestones and explains how, or what portion of, a strategic plan will be put into operation during a given operational period, in the case of commercial application, a fiscal year or another given budgetary term. An operational plan is the basis for, and justification of an annual operating budget request. Therefore, a five-year strategic plan would need five operational plans funded by five operating budgets. Operational plans should establish the activities and budgets for each part of the organization for the next 1 3 years. They link the strategic plan with the activities the organization will deliver and the resources required to deliver them. An operational plan draws directly from agency and program strategic plans to describe agency and program missions and goals, program objectives, and program activities. Like a strategic plan, an operational plan addresses four questions: Where are we now? Where do we want to be? How do we get there? How do we measure our progress? The OP is both the first and the last step in preparing an operating budget request. As the first step, the OP provides a plan for resource allocation; as the last step, the OP may be modified to reflect policy decisions or financial changes made during the budget development process. Operational plans should be prepared by the people who will be involved in implementation. There is often a need for significant cross-departmental dialogue as plans created by one part of the organisation inevitably have implications for other parts. Operational plans should contain: clear objectives activities to be delivered quality standards desired outcomes staffing and resource requirements implementation timetables a process for monitoring progress. Helping Students   Budgeting can be difficult for students, which is why Ryman offers a discount on line of 12.5% for extra NUS customers. All you need to do is enter your card number in the shopping basket page or show your card in store.   If you are student but not a member of NUS Extra, you can receive a 10% discount in store if you show your student ID.   Helping those Looking for Gift Ideas   The great thing about stationery is that it is always useful, so it is an ideal gift for the practically-minded. You can now buy special pre-paid  gift cards  at various prices. Helping sport the Ryman League   Ryman are proud sponsors of the Isthmian Football League, called the Ryman League. The clubs are highly supportive of the companys charity fundraising and played with red footballs in support of the Red Nose Day and Sport Relief, as well as organising bucket collections.   Helping those in Need   The business has a great track record in supporting  good causes  and raised half a million pounds for Red Nose Day in 2009 and over  £225,000 for  Sport Relief  this year.   Employee fundraising is encouraged at all levels.   Ryman people   The companys dynamic Chief Executive Officer, Kypros Kyprianou, says that business should be fun, as well as being about making money. Perhaps this is why the company holds conferences for employees twice a year and encourages high performance through bonus schemes.   The high level of employee satisfaction might explain the low turnover of employees within the business, something that is very unusual within the competitive retail industry.   It is the belief of Chairman  Theo Paphitis, who is the Skillsmart Retail Apprentices Champion, that happy employees provide the best possible customer service.   All store employees have to be thoroughly trained before they can serve a customer, not least because they need to be aware of legislation relating to the sale of various goods. Training is then run on an on-going basis, resulting in employees joining the companys own Five Star Training program.   In addition, the company has just set up a Retail Academy that is currently training groups of store employees who are gaining a new qualification while working and so far the feedback has been very positive all round.   Ryman is a supporter of the  retail trust  charity which offers a confidential counselling service to retail employees.   Product Range and Sourcing   Product quality is important to Ryman and the company makes sure that all suppliers comply with the code of ethical trading (The Ethical Trading Initiative Base Code) and continues to monitor these standards on a regular basis. Like all forward-thinking companies, Ryman aims to minimize its carbon emissions and has put plans in place to achieve this important aim. Marketing plan A  marketing plan  is a business document written for the purpose of describing the current market position of a business and its  marketing strategy  for the period covered by the marketing plan. Marketing plans usually have a life of from one to five years. Purpose of a Marketing Plan The purpose of creating a marketing plan is to clearly show what steps will be undertaken to achieve the business marketing objectives. While some small business owners include their marketing plan as part of their overall business plan, if a business owner follows the recommended SBA format, parts of the marketing plan will be included in the various areas of the business plan. As an alternative, the marketing plan may be attached in its entirety as an appendix to a business plan. Whats in a Marketing Plan? A typical small business marketing plan might include a description of its competitors, the demand for the product or service, and the strengths and weaknesses from a market standpoint of both the business and its competitors. Other elements usually contained in a marketing plan include: Description of the product or service, including special features Marketing budget, including the advertising and promotional plan Description of the business location, including advantages and disadvantages for marketing Pricing strategy Market segmentation (specializing in specific niche markets or, if mass marketing, how marketing strategy might differ between different segments, such as age groups). Behind the corporate objectives, which in themselves offer the main context for the marketing plan, will lie the corporate mission, which in turn provides the context for these corporate objectives. In a sales-oriented organization, the marketing planning function designs incentive pay plans to not only motivate and reward frontline staff fairly but also to align marketing activities with corporate mission. This corporate mission can be thought of as a definition of what the organization is, of what it does: Our business is. This definition should not be too narrow, or it will constrict the development of the organization; a too rigorous concentration on the view that We are in the business of making meat-scales, as IBM was during the early 1900s, might have limited its subsequent development into other areas. On the other hand, it should not be too wide or it will become meaningless; We want to make a profit is not too helpful in developing specific plans. Abell suggested that the definition should cover three dimensions: customer groups to be served, customer needs to be served, and technologies to be utilized. Thus, the definition of IBMs corporate mission in the 1940s might well have been: We are in the business of handling accounting information [customer need] for the larger US organizations [customer group] by means of punched cards  [technology]. Perhaps the most important factor in successful marketing is the corporate vision. Surprisingly, it is largely neglected by marketing textbooks, although not by the popular exponents of corporate strategy indeed, it was perhaps the main theme of the book by Peters and Waterman, in the form of their Super ordinate Goals. In Search of Excellence said: Nothing drives progress like the imagination. The idea precedes the deed.  If the organization in general, and its chief executive in particular, has a strong vision of where its future lies, then there is a good chance that the organization will achieve a strong position in its markets (and attain that future). This will be not least because its strategies will be consistent and will be supported by its staff at all levels. In this context, all of IBMs marketing activities were underpinned by its philosophy of customer service, a vision originally promoted by the charismatic Watson dynasty. The emphasis at this stage is on obtaining a complete and accurate picture. A traditional albeit product-based format for a brand reference book (or, indeed, a marketing facts book) was suggested by Godley more than three decades ago: Financial data-Facts for this section will come from  management accounting, costing and finance sections. Product data-From production, research and development. Sales and distribution data Sales, packaging, distribution sections. Advertising,  sales promotion, merchandising data Information from these departments. Market data and miscellany From  market research, who would in most cases act as a source for this information. His sources of data, however, assume the resources of a very large organization. In most organizations they would be obtained from a much smaller set of people (and not a few of them would be generated by the marketing manager alone). It is apparent that a marketing audit can be a complex process, but the aim is simple:  it is only to identify those existing (external and internal) factors which will have a significant impact on the future plans of the company.  It is clear that the  basic  material to be input to the marketing audit should be comprehensive. Accordingly, the best approach is to accumulate this material continuously, as and when it becomes available; since this avoids the otherwise heavy workload involved in collecting it as part of the regular, typically annual, planning process itself when time is usually at a premium. Even so, the first task of this  annual  process should be to check that the material held in the current  facts book  or  facts files  actually  is  comprehensive and accurate, and can form a sound basis for the marketing audit itself. The structure of the facts book will be designed to match the specific needs of the organization, but one simple format suggested by Malcolm McDonald may be applicable in many cases. This splits the material into three groups: Review of the marketing environment. A study of the organizations markets, customers, competitors and the overall economic, political, cultural and technical environment; covering developing trends, as well as the current situation. Review of the detailed marketing activity.  A study of the companys  marketing mix; in terms of the 7 Ps (see below) Review of the marketing system.  A study of the marketing organization,  marketing research  systems and the current marketing objectives and strategies. The last of these is too frequently ignored. The marketing system itself needs to be regularly questioned, because the validity of the whole marketing plan is reliant upon the accuracy of the input from this system, and `garbage in, garbage out applies with a vengeance. Portfolio planning.  In addition, the coordinated planning of the individual products and services can contribute towards the balanced portfolio. 80:20 rule.  To achieve the maximum impact, the marketing plan must be clear, concise and simple. It needs to concentrate on the 20 percent of products or services, and on the 20 percent of customers, which will account for 80 percent of the volume and 80 percent of the profit. 7 Ps: Product, Place, Price and Promotion, Physical Environment, People, Process. The 7 Ps can sometimes divert attention from the customer, but the framework they offer can be very useful in building the action plans. Financial plan A financial plan consists of sets of  financial statement  that forecast the resource implications of making business decisions. For example, a company that is deciding to expand e.g. by buying and fitting out a new factory will create a financial plan which considers the resources required and the financial performance that will justify their use. You can see from this statement that the financial plan will need to take into account sources of finance, costs of finance, costs of developing the project, as well as the revenues and likely profits to justify the expansion program.   Planning models may consist of thousands of calculations. Typically these plans will be constructed with the aid of forecasting models and spreadsheets that can calculate and recalculate figures such as profit, cash flows and balance sheets simply by changing the assumptions. For example, the business may want to do one set of calculations for low, medium, and high demand figures for its products. Financial plans Financial plans are typically made out for a given time period, e.g. one, three or five years. The length of the time considered depends on the importance of projecting into the future and the reliability of estimates the further we consider the future. Long-term plans are created for major strategic decisions made by a business such as: take over and merger activity expansion of capacity development of new products overseas expansion. In addition financial planning will be carried out for shorter time spans. For example, annual budgets will be created which can be analysed by month and by cost centre. Short term financial plans then provide targets for junior and middle management, and a measure against which actual performance can be monitored and controlled. In addition it is normal practice for a business to prepare a three- or five-year plan in less detail, which is updated annually. A  budget  is a short term financial plan. It is sometimes referred to as a plan expressed in money but it is more accurately described as a plan involving numbers. A cost centre is defined by CIMA as a production or service location, function, activity or item of equipment whose costs may be attributed to cost units. This Financial Plan template will help you to identify the: Types of labour costs to be incurred during the project Items of equipment needed to deliver the project Various materials needed by the project Unit costs for labor, equipment and materials Other costs types such as administration Amount of contingency needed You can then use the Financial Plan template to create a budget by: Calculating the total cost involved in completing the project Identifying the total cost of each project activity Creating a schedule of expenses Creating a project budget is an extremely important part in any project, as it gives you a  goal post  to aim for. This Financial Plan will help you meet that goal post, by giving you a clear process and template for creating a budget for your project. http://www.myrightplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Financial-planning-process.jpg