Supply and Demand Case Study Cabbage Patch Kids Essay Example

Supply and Demand Case Study: Cabbage Patch Kids Paper Turning the Supply Chain into a Revenue Chain Turning the Supply Chain into a Revenue Chain by  Gerard P. Cachon  and  Martin A. Lariviere †¢ Print †¢ Email †¢ Purchase Article FEATURED PRODUCTS [pic] Guide to Getting a Job by Gill Corkindale, Daisy Dowling, David Silverman, et al. $19. 95 Buy it now  » [pic] Management Tips: From Harvard Business Review by Harvard Business Review $18. 00 Buy it now  » [pic] Lords of Strategy: The Secret Intellectual History of the New Corporate World by Walter Kiechel $26. 95 Buy it now  » †¢ Email †¢ Share †¢ Print In the summer of 1997, movie fans ? cked to their local Blockbuster video stores eager to rent The English Patient and Jerry Maguire, only to find that all ten or so copies of each had already been checked out. Blockbuster shared their frustration. It knew it was annoying customers and losing sales. It wasn’t that the company didn’t know how many copies it could have rented; demand could easily be predicted by looking at theater receipts. And it wasn’t that the company was inefficient at getting tapes into stores and returning rented tapes to shelves; its buying and replenishment processes were fine-tuned. The problem was that at $60 a copy, Blockbuster couldn’t afford to stock the number of tapes it needed to serve every customer, only to replace the mall a few weeks later with copies of the next hot movies. Its suppliers, the movie studios, had to charge a high initial price to earn enough revenue themselves. But at $3 per rental, Blockbuster had to rent a tape more than 20 times to earn a profit. Given that peak demand for a title lasts only a few weeks, the company couldn’t justify buying enough tapes to even come close to satisfying initial demand. We will write a custom essay sample on Supply and Demand Case Study: Cabbage Patch Kids specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Supply and Demand Case Study: Cabbage Patch Kids specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Supply and Demand Case Study: Cabbage Patch Kids specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The studios’ high wholesale price limited availability, and no one—not the supplier, not the retailer, not the customer—was happy. But in 1998, Blockbuster solved the problem by radically changing the way it paid its suppliers. It agreed to give the studios a share of the rental fees in return for a much lower up-front price on tapes. Here’s how it works. Suppose the supplier charges only $9 per tape instead of $60 but receives 50% of the rental revenue. Even though Blockbuster keeps only half of the revenue, or $1. 0 per rental, it breaks even after each tape has been rented a mere six times. It can now justify purchasing many more tapes. Having more tapes means more potential rentals. Combined with the drastically lower cost, this translates into a significantly higher profit for Blockbuster. For the movie studio, increased tape sales and the added revenue stream also result in more profit. Everyone goes home happy. (For a look at a plausible profit scen ario, see the exhibit â€Å"The Economics of Revenue Sharing. †) [pic] The new arrangement paid off immediately for Blockbuster. In the year after starting the program, the company increased its market share by about 5%, which roughly equaled the share of the number-two retailer, Hollywood Entertainment. Now, revenue sharing is common throughout the industry. Our research indicates that revenue sharing will work for many products but only when two conditions are met. First, the cost to produce the additional units must be less than the incremental revenue they generate. If it is, a greater availability will increase supply chain profits, so both parties will be better off. In the video rental industry, making a movie is xpensive, but copying a tape is cheap. Consequently, the supply chain can double or quadruple inventory, and the resulting revenue rise will easily cover the additional production cost. This condition is not satisfied in all markets. Chrysler could increase revenue by expanding supplies of its PT Cruiser, but the costs involved would be prohibitive, and the greater availability might end up und ermining the car’s cachet. The second criterion is that the administrative burden associated with revenue sharing must be small enough that the cost of running the program doesn’t eat up all the gains. For the video rental industry, this is a minor concern. Suppliers need only link into the point-of-sale systems that even the smallest video retailers already use. We suspect there are other industries whose products and services satisfy these requirements and for which revenue sharing would also work well. Consider, for example, distributing music in digital formats. The expense to copy a file is essentially zero—far less than the value it creates for customers (remember, we’re focusing on the incremental cost of expanding supply, not the sunk cost of creating content). The market is also likely to grow substantially with improved availability. Many customers find a list price of $18. 97 for a CD daunting when all they want is one song. Digitally distributing individual songs provides an opportunity to expand total industry revenues. Finally, monitoring usage is simple and easy if records are centrally maintained. In this light, Bertelsmann’s deal with Napster makes tremendous sense: Napster’s centralized structure allows for revenues to be tracked, and its 38 million users allow for rapid expansion of the market. [pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic]

How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Essays

How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Essays How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Paper How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Paper Essay Topic: Romeo and Juliet Friar Lawrence is the local Roman Catholic priest who is also an apothecary. He is the confident of both Romeo and Juliet and plays an important role in the fate of both. He is more than aware of the familys feuding and seems to be well thought of by everybody. Romeo respects Friar Lawrence very much and sees him as a father figure. When Romeo feels suicidal when he has just been banished from Verona, the Friar tells him to straighten up. `This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not. ` When Romeo confesses that he wants to marry Juliet, Friar Lawrence teases Romeo about how fickle in love he is. `Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? ` But in spite of this he still agrees to marry the young couple as he hopes it will end the familys feuding. `For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households rancour to pure love. ` He only agreed to it because he had their best interests at heart. I dont think he is to blame for marrying them as he did what he thought was right. And even if Friar Lawrence hadnt married them, whos to say that another Friar wouldnt have married them? Romeo and Juliet both feel as if they can turn to him when they are in trouble. We see this when Romeo has been banished, because he stabbed Tybalt and Juliet has been told that she must marry Paris. Romeo doesnt seem as if he is very close to either of his parents but Juliet usually has her nurse to turn to, but even the nurse, in the end the nurse rejects her too. `I think it best u married with the county. ` So in desperation each one goes to Friar Lawrence for help. Romeo is helped by being giving him a hide out in Mantua until Juliet can meet him. Juliet, being ordered to marry Paris, has gone to Friar Lawrence in desperation and has asked for help. First of all the Friar has to help Romeo escape. He allows Romeo to spend one night with Juliet, but before dawn he must leave. It is at this time that Juliet has been told to marry Paris. So she goes to the Friar. Friar Lawrence then devises a plan that will ensure Juliet and Romeos happiness. In some ways this shows us the Friars cunning, we are also shown that he is quite a smart man. We know that the friar is also an apothecary, so he gives Juliet a potion, which will make Juliet look as if she is dead. When she is taken to the family tomb, the friar will wait until she awakens, and by which time Romeo will hopefully already be there and take Juliet away. While devising this plan he still has the families interests at heart. He is only doing this in the hope that the two families, Montague and Capulet will reconcile. Although it could be argued, that he only helped them because he wanted to save himself. I personally dont think so. I think he would have known that he would have had to `cover his tracks` before he married the couple. He seems like a prudent man, one that will think things through; he would never have married them and helped them elope for selfish reasons. But the Friar did deceive both the Capulet and Montague parents. And although this was wrong, it was also, in my opinion justified. I think this because he didnt really have much choice. If he had wanted to succeed with his plan then they would have had to be kept in the dark, there was no other way round it. If they had been told, neither parent would have agreed to let their child associate with the child of the enemy. Priests do have the best interests of their parishes at heart and they do not lie and deceive people needlessly, but I think in this case it was allowed. Even though everything didnt turn out the way it should have, it achieved the one thing the Friar wanted: peace between the families. And although the price paid was very high, almost too high, the motivation was honourable he genuinely didnt act selfishly. I think everyone, in the play recognised this including the prince.

Maria Goeppert-Mayer, Mathematician and Physicist

Maria Goeppert-Mayer, Mathematician and Physicist Maria Goeppert-Mayer Facts:   Known for:  A mathematician and physicist, Maria Goeppert Mayer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 for her work on the nuclear shell structure.Occupation:  mathematician, physicistDates:  June 18, 1906 - February 20, 1972Also known as:  Maria Goeppert Mayer, Maria Gà ¶ppert Mayer, Maria Gà ¶ppert Maria Goeppert-Mayer Biography: Maria Gà ¶ppert was born in 1906 in Kattowitz, then in Germany (now Katowice, Poland). Her father became a professor of pediatrics at the University at Gà ¶ttingen, and her mother was a former music teacher known for her entertaining parties for faculty members. Education With her parents support, Maria Gà ¶ppert studied mathematics and science, preparing for a university education. But there were no public schools for girls to prepare for this venture, so she enrolled in a private school. The disruption of World War I and the post-war years made study difficult and closed the private school. A year short of finishing, Gà ¶ppert nevertheless passed her entrance exams and entered in 1924. The only woman teaching at the university did so without a salary a situation with which Gà ¶ppert would become familiar in her own career. She began by studying mathematics, but the lively atmosphere as a new center of quantum mathematics, and exposure to the ideas of such greats as Niels Bohrs and Max Born, led Gà ¶ppert to switch to physics as her course in study. She continued her study, even on the death of her father, and received her doctorate in 1930. Marriage and Emigration Her mother had taken in student boarders so that the family could remain in their home, and Maria became close to Joseph E. Mayer, an American student. They married in 1930, she adopted the last name Goeppert-Mayer, and emigrated to the United States. There, Joe took up an appointment on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Because of nepotism rules, Maria Goeppert-Mayer was unable to hold a paid position at the University, and instead became a volunteer associate. In this position, she could do research, received a small amount of pay, and was given a small office. She met and befriended Edward Teller, with whom shed work later. During summers, she returned to Gà ¶ttingen where she collaborated with Max Born, her former mentor. Born left Germany as that nation prepared for war, and Maria Goeppert-Mayer became a U.S. citizen in 1932. Maria and Joe had two children, Marianne and Peter. Later, Marianne became an astronomer and Peter became an assistant professor of economics. Joe Mayer next received an appointment at Columbia University. Goeppert-Mayer and her husband wrote a book together there,  Statistical Mechanics.  As at Johns Hopkins, she could not hold a paying job at Columbia, but worked informally and gave some lectures. She met Enrico Fermi, and became part of his research team still without pay. Teaching and Research When the United States went to war in 1941, Maria Goeppert-Mayer received a paid teaching appointment only part-time, at Sarah Lawrence College. She also began working part-time at Columbia Universitys Substitute Alloy Metals project a highly secret project working on separating uranium-235 to fuel nuclear fission weapons. She went several times to the top-secret Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, where she worked with Edward Teller, Niels Bohr and Enrico Fermi. After the war, Joseph Mayer was offered a professorship at the University of Chicago, where other major nuclear physicists were also working. Once again, with nepotism rules, Maria Goeppert-Mayer could work as a voluntary (unpaid) assistant professor which she did, with Enrico Fermi, Edward Teller, and Harold Urey, also by that time on the faculty at the U. of C. Argonne and Discoveries In a few months, Goeppert-Mayer was offered a position at Argonne National Laboratory, which was managed by the University of Chicago. The position was part-time but it was paid and a real appointment: as senior researcher. At Argonne, Goeppert-Mayer worked with Edward Teller to develop a little bang theory of cosmic origin. From that work, she began working on the question of why elements that had 2, 8, 20, 28, 50, 82 and 126 protons or neutrons were notably stable. The model of the atom already posited that electrons moved around in shells orbiting the nucleus. Maria Goeppert-Mayer established mathematically that if the nuclear particles were spinning on their axes and orbiting within the nucleus in predictable paths that can be described as shells, these numbers would be when the shells were full and more stable than half-empty shells. Another researcher, J. H. D. Jensen of Germany, discovered the same structure at nearly the same time. He visited Goeppert-Mayer in Chicago, and over four years the two produced a book on their conclusion,  Elementary Theory of Nuclear Shell Structure,  published in 1955. San Diego In 1959, the University of California at San Diego offered full-time positions to both Joseph Mayer and Maria Goeppert-Mayer. They accepted and moved to California. Soon after, Maria Goeppert-Mayer suffered a stroke which left her unable to fully use one arm. Other health problems, especially heart problems, plagued her during her remaining years. Recognition In 1956, Maria Goeppert-Mayer was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. In 1963, Goeppert-Mayer and Jensen were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics for their shell model of the structure of the nucleus. Eugene Paul Wigner also won for work in quantum mechanics. Maria Goeppert-Mayer was thus the second woman to win the Nobel Prize for Physics (the first was Marie Curie), and the first to win it for theoretical physics. Maria Goeppert-Mayer died in 1972, after suffering a heart attack in late 1971 that left her in a coma. Print Bibliography Robert G. Sachs.  Maria Goeppert-Mayer, 1906-1972: A Biographical Memoir.  1979.Maria Goeppert-Mayer.  Statistical Mechanics. 1940.Maria Goeppert-Mayer.  Elementary Theory of Nuclear Shell Structure. 1955.Goeppert-Mayers papers are at the University of California, San Diego. Selected Maria Goeppert Mayer Quotations For a long time I have considered even the craziest ideas about atom nucleus... and suddenly I discovered the truth. Mathematics began to seem too much like puzzle solving. Physics is puzzle solving, too, but of puzzles created by nature, not by the mind of man.   On winning the Nobel Prize in Physics, 1963:  Winning the prize wasnt half as exciting as doing the work itself.

How does photo Journalism impact the public awareness of humanity Essay

How does photo Journalism impact the public awareness of humanity - Essay Example They are the pictures that reflect what is going on in society and Americans see on the front page of their newspapers that compelled Americans to construct opinions and take action accordingly. If viewed and analyzed through the window of history, it transpires that photography has asserted itself to be a valuable medium for improving America both ethically and communally, thus revealing that photography is a form of communication that is evenly as well-built as any other type of communication. The Research Question The research question for this paper is â€Å"How does photo Journalism impact the public awareness of humanity?† The question needs be elaborated through multi-dimensional perspectives. At one side, it address the significance of photography in journalism, while on the other hand, it also corresponds various ways and means which are direct or indirect consequences of public awareness owing to photojournalism. Yet another importance is that of humanity which has u niversal implications. In media and communication, every image is full of meaning and message. Background of the Study Today, there are a vast number of people who are still skeptical of the invention and question whether it has resulted positively. The photograph has been an extremely valued invention, by allowing social advancement for minorities, allowing for a more valued news press, and giving artists the chance to steer away from portrait-painting and develop such movements as Impressionism. In general, life as we know it today would not be remotely close to what it is had photography not been invented, and we are able to see this since photography was first generated.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By the invention of photography, minorities, primarily women, were given an equal opportunity to excel in a hobby. Through out the eighteen hundreds, women were beginning to be more and more aware of the need for equality. Co-ed universities and schooling outside of the home were becoming more prevalent through out the United States, and women's activist groups were popping up with an intense velocity. The desire for equality had an equal or greater swiftness in itself, and women all across America were ready and willing to fight for it. Photography was a hobby that was easily done in the home, and although many women's pieces were not given proper recognition until years later the knowledge that women had the ability to do something just as well as men could, gave them inspiration to succeed in photography, as well as life. Objective of the Study This paper will respond and evaluate the question whether photojournalism has a considerable impact on public awareness of humanity. There are so many versatile ways in journalism to convey and spread news and information in society. Although photojournalism is an old method and apparently seems diminishing and dim aspect of media as compared to modern digital technology based ways of news presentation, yet nobody can deny its impact and significance and it is still influential where no other technology can meddle. For example, if we peep through history, we will come to know that in WWI and WWII, it was only photojournalism that narrated the atrocities and tactics used by the confronting parties of the war. Again, it was photojournalism that showed the dismal image of humanity during war and general people was convince to think

Human Resource Management PT 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human Resource Management PT 1 - Essay Example as emphasized by Mueller & Baum (2011), â€Å"labor, like all organizational resources, is highly dependent on supply and demand of human talent in different occupations, professions and industries† (p. 140). The current discourse hereby aims to identify and discuss HRM concerns, such as organizational restructuring, staffing and selection, and other relevant HR issues in the healthcare setting. Restructuring in organizations are undertaken for varied purposes. Some organizations restructure to accommodate increased or specialized functions, departments, or divisions. Others deem that restructuring is needed to address inefficiencies and to minimize costs. In the study on restructuring, the authors revealed that it has the potential effects of leading to repercussive resignations, low morale from remaining staff, perceptions of insecurity, mistrust to management, low performance and productivty (Duffield and OBrien-Pallas 2002; Duffield, Kearin, Johnson, & Leonard, 2007). measured in terms of apparent effects on cost versus performance or productivity of the remaining workers, in the long-run (Bowes, 2009). According to Cascio (2009), downsizing has the following effects: â€Å"lost business as a result of fewer salespeople; lack of new products since there are fewer R&D staff members; (and) reduced productivity when high performers leave as morale decreases† (p. 1). As such, decreasing the number of employees does not always save an organization money because the organization would be incurring additional costs associated with hiring, training new personnel, and maintaining the current pool of human resources in a motivated and highly productive manner through the use of motivational techniques. Selecting a qualified person for a position necessitates application of acquisition strategies. The organization should have a well-designed job organization system that defines job positions according to qualifications of potential candidates versus the tasks and

Heart disease Essay Example for Free

Heart disease Essay Before you start the rehabilitation programme you will have an initial assessment to find out how much exercise you can safely do. A physiotherapist or an exercise physiologist can then carefully work out a programme of exercises for you, tailoring the programme to your individual needs. At the beginning of each session you will do warm-up exercises which involve stretching your muscles. All the exercises will be carefully explained to you. The exercises will be aerobic (exercises that help to improve your heart and circulation). You will be encouraged to increase your exercise gradually over the weeks of the rehabilitation programme. It is very important that you work within your limits and follow the advice given to you. At the end of each exercise session you will do cool-down exercises to stretch out your muscles and prevent them from aching the next day. It is normal to feel anxious about exercise after a heart attack. However, attending rehabilitation classes can help give you the confidence to become active again. Relaxation You will be able to practice different relaxation techniques and find one that suits you. You will also find out how important relaxation is for people who have had a heart problem. If possible, encourage your partner or a family member or friend to go along with you. This will help lessen their fears as well and give them the chance to ask any questions. This may involve structured but informal sessions within your group. You may cover one or more topics in each session and will have the opportunity to ask any questions. Going back to work. People who have had an uncomplicated heart attack will usually be able to return to work. You can talk to a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team about the type of work you do. They will help to assess how easily you might take up your job again and when you should return to work. Attending cardiac rehabilitation classes gives you the opportunity to ask questions and talk about any worries you may still have.

Not Just A Rising Sun: Essay -- essays research papers

America is a Country based on diversity and immigration of many cultures creating a melting pot people from all over the world living together in freedom. The Asian American ethnic group is also based on diversity and different immigration patterns of different cultures all representing each other under one name Asian American. Asian Americans have a very diverse history and have different subgroups that have different social status. This essay will discuss and analyze the history of and how Asian Americans and subgroups are affected differently by discrimination and prejudices, and have different identities that can lead to different assimilation into American Culture and economy. This essay will discuss this through examining Chinese Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Filipino and other Southeast Asian Islanders. Waves of Migration The Asian American community achieved their status in America in many different ways throughout history; with different reasons for immigrating to America and suffering different challenges and prejudices along the way. There were 2 distinct waves of immigration to the United States from Asian Americans. There was the old Asian wave of immigration that consists of Asians that immigrated from the middle of the Nineteenth Century to the early years of the Twentieth Century. The second wave is Asians that have immigrated to the United States since 1965. Chinese History The Chinese were the AA first to immigrate to the United States. A series of wars, rebellions, civil disorders, floods, famines and droughts made earning a livelihood in China difficult. Also, China faced a disheartening defeat in the Opium War of 1840 against the British. When news of a gold rush on the west coast of America reached China there was a huge influx of young male peasants immigrating to the United States trying to better themselves economically and then return home to there families. These immigrants started off working construction and on railroads. This was recognized by the white workers as a threat. The Chinese were not only forced out of the there jobs, but there was also legal measures taken to keep the Chinese out of the American workforce; with the Chinese Exclusion Act, passed in 1882 by the U. S. Congress. This was the first time in American History that a specific ethnic group was completely barred from immigrating to America.... ..., Filipino and other Southeast Asian Islanders. Yet they are a threat to the dominant group economically as they overcome fierce discrimination. One of the most common themes in constructing this essay is that Asian Americans are growing as a social and economical force in America and are starting to be recognized for that. They are at the top and bottom of our economy, and come from many different countries with different identities. This diversity is what makes Asian Americans such an interesting and complex minority. Work Cited Marger, Martin M. 2003. Race and Ethnic Relations: American and Global Perspectives. Michigan. Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. Gudykunst, William B. 2001, Asian American Ethnicity and Communication. Thousand Oaks. Sage Publications Inc. Mary Yu Danico and Franklin Ng, 2004. Asian American Issues. London. Greenwood Press Le, C.N. 2005. "Anti-Asian Racism & Violence" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml Le, C.N. 2005. "Socioeconomic Statistics & Demographics" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America. http://www.asian-nation.org/demographics.shtml

Introduction nokia Essay

The company that we choose from the list is Nokia. Over the past 150 years, Nokia has evolved from a riverside paper mill in southwestern Finland to a global telecommunications leader connecting over 1. 3 billion people. During that time, they’ve made rubber boots and car tires. They’ve generated electricity. They’ve even manufactured TVs. Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications and information technology corporation that is headquartered in Espoo, Finland. Its principal products are mobile telephones and portable IT devices. It also offers Internet services including applications, games, music, media and messaging, and free-of-charge digital map information and navigation services through its wholly owned subsidiary Navteq. Nokia owns a company named Nokia Solutions and Networks, which provides telecommunications network equipment and services. As of 2012, Nokia employs 101,982 people across 120 countries, conducts sales in more than 150 countries, and reports annual revenues of around â‚ ¬30 billion. By the fourth quarter of 2012, it was the world’s second-largest mobile phone maker in terms of unit sales (after Samsung), with a global market share of 18. 0%. Now, Nokia only has a 3% market share in smartphones. They lost 40% of their revenue in mobile phones in Q2 2013. Nokia is a public limited-liability company listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange. It is the world’s 274th-largest company measured by 2013 revenues according to the Fortune Global 500. Nokia was the world’s largest vendor of mobile phones from 1998 to 2012. However, over the past five years its market share declined as a result of the growing use of touchscreen smartphones from other vendors—principally the iPhone, by Apple, and devices running on Android, an operating system created by Google. The corporation’s share price fell from a high of US$40 in late 2007 to under US$2 in mid-2012. In a bid to recover, Nokia announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft in February 2011, leading to the replacement of Symbian with Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system in all Nokia smartphones. Following the replacement of the Symbian system, Nokia’s smartphone sales figures, which had previously increased, collapsed dramatically. From the beginning of 2011 until 2013, Nokia fell from its position as the world’s largest smartphone vendor to assume the status of tenth largest. On 2 September 2013, Microsoft announced its intent to purchase Nokia’s mobile phone business unit as part of an overall deal totaling â‚ ¬5. 44 billion (US$7. 17 billion). Stephen Elop, Nokia’s former CEO, and several other executives will join Microsoft as part of the deal.

Evaluating the Socio Economic Impact of the Structural Adjustment Program Essay

These have left most SSA countries with acute balance of payments (BOP) disequilibria and an inability to service their debts to foreign bodies. In an effort to tackle the economic crises and to stimulate economic recovery, most African countries had to adjust and re-structure their economies. According to Dasgupta (1998), structural adjustment was seen as a fact of life. Thus in the 1980s, most African countries initiated economic policies which were sponsored by the World Bank and supplemented by the International Monetary Fund(IMF) in the form of stabilisation and structural adjustment programmes (SAP). Between June 1986 and July 1987 alone twenty one SSA countries went through World Bank/IMF SAP. Generally, SAPs entail policies designed by the world Bank/IMF aimed at improving the socioeconomic conditions of implementing nations by restoring economic stability and achieving long term growth through addressing structural weakness, and disequilibria in among others government budgets and external sector. More precisely, they involve the adoption and implementation of policies such as currency devaluation, trade liberalization, privatization, and removal of subsidies etc. hich are perceived as means of reversing the pervasive social and economic problems of developing nations. There has been a considerable amount of literature on the effects of SAP measures on less developed countries (LDCs) with no apparent consensus. On the one hand, international financial institutions (IFIs) maintain that SAPs are vital tools for economic recovery and sustainable economic growth. On the other hand , many economists and social scientists argue that SAP measures have led to recessions and poor standards of living in developing countries (Jauch 1999). Thus, the impacts of SAPs remain highly controversial. Even though there are disparities as to the exact effects of SAPs, it is generally accepted that they have far reaching implications for not only the macroeconomic environment of the countries concerned but society at large (Mosley and Weeks, 1993, Riddle, 1992, Stein, 1992, El-Tom, 1994, World Bank, 1994). It is against this background that this dissertation attempts to study and analyse the effects of SAP on the Nigerian economy. The choice of Nigeria as a case study is due to the fact that it has implemented one of the most radical structural adjustment programmes in Africa. Thus the question which posed is, what impact if any has SAP had on the Nigerian economy. Before we proceed, it should be emphasised that this dissertation subsumes IMF stabilisation programmes under World Bank structural adjustment programmes. The reason for this is that the two programmes are intertwined and this is done also for simplicity. . 2 Aims and Objectives This paper aims to explore the role SAP has played in the Nigerian economy. The major objective of the project is to offer a better understanding as to why, what and how structural adjustment program in Nigeria evolved. The primary focal point is to inspect the basis for and causes of the reforms, formulation and implementation processes, and the reform outcomes. The precise objectives of the dissertation are as follows: First, to provide a better understanding of the backgr ound to the economic crises in Nigeria that led to SAP * Second, to outline the objectives of SAP and the reforms implemented by the Nigerian government * Third, to analyse the macroeconomic and social consequences of implementing SAP in Nigeria 1. 3 Methodology and data To evaluate the effects of SAP on the Nigerian economy, the dissertation applies so-called ‘before-after approach’ which in its essence compares the values of selected variables in the period before a program is implemented to those of post-implementation. This approach has been one of the most widely used when evaluating SAP. One of the main advantages of the approach is that it can give an insight into whether structural adjustment improved key economic indicators. The major shortcoming of the methodology employed in this paper is that it assumes that all outcomes are the result of the programme itself and thus does not take into account the impacts of others factors. Another limitation is that it does not reveal the causes of variable changes. However, in spite of the fact that the before-after approach may have some degree of bias as an estimation procedure, it nevertheless, has inherent objectivity and is relatively easy to employ. The dissertation relies on secondary data – mainly World Development Indicators. In addition, various government publications are utilised. In the case of Nigeria, the lack of data and the quality of data available had a major constraint on the study. The data were often found to be unavailable and there were discrepancies in the different data sources.

Group Communication

Group Communication Socializing Agents Video 1: Group Communication Video Cases The group comprised of three different professionals; a school nurse, a psychiatrist, and a social worker. This diversity in group makeup affected their opinion on resolving the issue. The treatment approach favored by the three professionals varied with a particular approach being seen as more important and useful by each respective professional.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Group Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The diversity of the group affected the group members’ communication style since they exhibited varying levels of assertiveness with the psychiatrist being the most assertive of the group. In this case, diversity was a hindrance to communication since group members were keen to defend their position. The psychiatrist supported medication while the social worker advocated for a more holistic approach. Evidently, the communic ation was not effective since each member was only interested in advancing their preferred approach without giving due consideration to the suggestions made by the others. Written communication method would have been more effective in this case. This is because each member would have been forced to go through the ideas proposed by the other members to completion before reacting to him or her (Adair, 2009). Use of presentations would also have helped since each member would have been allocated time to give their opinions without interruption from other members. Video 2: Planning a Playground In the planning a playground video, verbal and nonverbal interactions occur among the members. The nonverbal cues were communicating a lack of conviction in some of the proposals being advanced by the members. However, the speaker did not respond to these nonverbal communications. The verbal communications are very well put and all members were able to properly articulate their issues and offer s olutions. The non-verbal communications also demonstrated attention to what was being said by the speaker. Constant nodding and eye contact facilitated the communication process among the members. Use of hand signals such as raising one’s hand when one had a point helped in the organization of the group. Non-verbal communications were also used to show disagreement with what the speaker was saying. While this communication was not helpful, it was backed up by verbal communication which helped to achieve effective communication. Presentation aids would have helped to better quantify the issue being discussed and help the members to understand the rationale behind the proposals on the playground money made. Keeping of written records of the meeting would also have been helpful for future reference (Hargie, 2006).Advertising Looking for report on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Video 3: Virtual Miscommunication Listening involves receiving the sound waves and understanding what is being communicated by the speaker. Good listening skills are necessary for effective communication to take place. It also prevents misunderstandings and frustrations when the speaker perceives that they are not being listened to. Listening techniques were not properly utilized in the virtual miscommunication scenario. The listeners did not make use of any verbal affirmations to confirm that they were fully engaged with the communication process. In addition to this, the listeners were not paying proper attention to what the speaker was saying due to distractions. Another poor listening habit demonstrated in this video was interrupting a speaker while he is making a point. Techniques which could have facilitated the group process include active listening which is characterized by giving verbal affirmations to demonstrate that you understand what is being said would have helped confirm that the listeners were attentive and encourage the speaker to move on. The group members would also have made use of paraphrasing which involves repeating what the speaker has said in your own words (Cleary, 2004). Such a technique would ensure that there were no misunderstandings and in case they occurred, the speaker would have a chance to correct them. Personal Reflection Individual Strengths and Problem-Solving Techniques Paper Individual Strengths and the Group Process I was recently a part of a group whose task was to prepare for a wedding party for my friend. The group consisted of eight members including myself. The members of the group were of varying age groups, came from different backgrounds and possessed varying professional skills. Most of the group members did now know each other or have a relationship with each other outside of the group. A strength that I brought to the group setting was my enthusiasm for the project. Because of this enthusiasm, I was committed to the group and attended all meetings without fail. I also ensured that the group efficiency was increased by proposing that we appoint a chairperson and each member be given a role. I also took it upon myself to ensure that the group did not deviate into topics that were not relevant to the task at hand. I fostered effective communication among the members by making sure that the appropriate channels were used at all times.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Group Communication specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Because of these, instances of miscommunication were not there and no the group productivity was increased. I also ensured that each task was delegated to the most skilled person in that area. This meant that the tasks at hand were effectively completed due to the skills of the person in charge. There were some drawbacks which came about because of my strengths and skills. My insistence on sticking to the agenda had a negative impact on group cohesion. As I have noted, the group members were not familiar with each other. When someone tried to hold general conversations that were aimed at building a relationship among the members, I focused the group back to the issue at hand. Huszczo (2004) asserts that a good relationship among group members yields good performance by the team. My focus on the agenda therefore prevented members from building a relationship that would have raised commitment to the group tasks and brought about great results. My focus on the most skilled persons in the group also led to some members failing to participate in the group due to lack of confidence. Webne-Behrman (2008) observes that when this happens, the group suffers since it is denied a chance to benefit from the viewpoint of the members who refused to speak out. One skill that I could work on in order to foster a more effective group environment is to involve all the members of the group. By making all members f eel like important members of the team, the group will benefit from the insights of all the members. I can foster this skill by avoiding the temptation to focus only on the vocal members of the group and seeking ways to involve the members who appear to lack confidence. The group process was also affected by the strengths and skills of other members. On a positive side, the commitment exuded by the members. This commitment led to a deep determination to accomplish the goals and objectives that the group had set out to achieve. On the negative side, some members dominated the meetings and ended up making their issues the center of the discussion. Dominance derails the group from dealing with all the issues that need to be addressed (Kolin, 2009). Problem Solving Techniques and Group Decision Making Problem solving is one of the key activities carried out of the group and this solutions sometimes aid in the decision making process. Having good problem solving skills is therefore imper ative for the success of the group. There are a number of problem solving techniques that I frequently make use of. One technique that I make use of in problem solving is brainstorming in order to come up with a large number of ideas and then choose the best ones.Advertising Looking for report on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Adair (2010) asserts that brainstorming is a very effective technique since it frees the participant from functional fixedness and gives a chance for new ideas to emerge. I also make use of abstraction to solve problem. This technique involves solving the problem at an abstractly in order to see how the solution will turn out. After that, I then apply the tested solution to the real problem. An advantage of abstraction is that it anticipates any adverse impacts of the solution proposed before they are implemented and changes can therefore be made. The last technique that I utilize is the trial and error means which involves applying each potential solution in sequence. This method is useful when a set of potential solutions have been decided but it is not yet clear which one works best. My techniques influence group decisions in a number of profound ways. Through brainstorming, the group is able to encompass numerous solutions and the best one is chosen for the given occasion. Throu gh brainstorming, the members of the group can be involved and this will lead to greater acceptability of the proposed solution. Abstraction also helps the group to simulate the impacts of the solution and therefore avoid the solutions that might lead to greater problems. Trial and error is very useful when the group members are fighting over which is the right approach to the problem. Straus (2002) elaborates that it is more productive to select one solution and see if it works. If it does not work, then another solution can be tried out until the right one is reached. There are other problem solving techniques that I could employ when making group decisions. I could also make of extensive research to solve problems. This method will look at similar problems and their solutions and then adapt this to the particular problem that our group is facing. By doing this, we will be able to build on what is already known to work and therefore get the best outcomes. I could also make use of the divide and conquer technique which involves breaking down a large problem into small solvable parts. This technique will help in solving problems which seem too complex to deal with. Splitting the problems into manageable chunks will ensure that the group is not overwhelmed as we try to solve the problem. Developing and improving my problem solving techniques will make me an even greater asset for my group. Straus (2002) stresses that problem solving skills can be learned through practice and exposure. I can increase my problem solving proficiency by reading case studies on problems and how to solve them. By doing this, I will be exposed to new and effective manners of solving problems and learn from experts. I will also be able to use the case study findings in my own problems. Playing puzzles and other mentally challenging games will also increase my analytical skills and therefore make me more proficient and solving problems. Keeping an open mind and being willing to try out other problem solving techniques proposed by other people will also help me to develop and further improve my skills. Group Motivation Inventory Paper Lessons learnt from the exercise Completing the Group Motivation Inventory exercise made me learn a number of things about myself. To begin with, I learnt that while I work very hard in my group, this dedication is mostly driven by the effort shown by the other group members. I also discovered that I do not spend too much time on group projects and mostly do only what we had agreed on with the other members. The exercise also revealed to me that I prefer working on my way since I would rather divide the tasks with the group members and then focus on my part individually. Even so, I observed that I appreciate the efforts made by other members of the group and easily commended them for their contributions to the group effort. Another lesson I learnt was that I prefer to avoid contentions and seek to preserve a cordial mood in the group setting. I therefore avoid issues that might result in strive with other members of the group. I also learnt that I am greatly concerned about the perception that other people have about my contributions. For example the appreciation I got from my group members inspired me to work even harder. It is likely that I would not have been as inspired had they not shown any appreciation for my efforts. Furthermore, I also noticed that I like taking initiative to ensure that the group objectives are met within the set deadlines. How the Knowledge affects my interaction with groups This knowledge affects the manner in which I interact in groups in significant ways. Groups are an invaluable tool for achieving significant results in many settings. The knowledge I gained made me realize that greater outcomes can be obtained from working together as a group. This is because each member of the group brings with him/her skills and expertise that can contribute to the generation of great ideas (Bro wn, 2000). I also need to develop intrinsic motivation and avoid letting my desire to work for the group be determined by the efforts shown by other members. The exercise also brought it to my attention that in many cases, I fall prey to groupthink and go along with the options forwarded by other members of the group even if I disagree. Groups achieve their purpose if they are able to come up with the best solution to handle a common problem. Guffey, Rogin Rhodes (2009) observe that groupthink damages the effectiveness of a group since it discourages open discussions and results in conformity which inhibits the best alternatives from being discovered and implemented. I will also be aware of any prejudice or bias I might have while interacting with group members. This awareness will keep me from derailing the communication process as a result of stereotypical views I might harbor (Greene Burleson, 2003). Different Approaches in Group Interaction From the results of the exercise, si gnificant weaknesses in my interaction in groups were highlighted. I therefore intend to act differently in some aspects. I will make use of good listening habits in order to facilitate communication efforts with others. Downs (2008) reveals that good listening skills can be acquired through lessons on effective listening. I therefore intend to overcome any poor listening habits I might have through training. For example, by acquiring active listening, I will be able to become an effective listener and also gain greater insights into the points being made by the speaker (Gottlieb, 2003). I will also work on looking interested in what the speaker has to say and adopting the proper non-verbal cues. This will encourage the members of my group to communicate more extensively and the group will gain invaluable information from each speaker. Actions to Increase my Motivation To be more motivated in the group efforts, I will engage in research on the subject matter before each meeting. By doing this, I will always have something to contribute during each meeting and I will not get bored as the other members get into detailed discussions about the matter at hand. I will make use of assertive communication to ensure that my opinions are heard by the members. Assertion will help me to maximize my satisfaction without violating the needs of the other group members and therefore promote positive interpersonal relationships in the group (Greene Burleson, 2003). By doing this, I will have a greater sense of ownership in the direction that the group is taking. This involvement will lead to greater motivation on my part. I will also set personal goals that I will seek to achieve for the group. Pynes (2008) asserts that the clear expectations which are characteristic of goal-setting theory result in high performance from individuals. Personal Incentives A number of personal incentives will help me to increase my commitment to the group. Having a sense of purpose will also ser ve as a great incentive in the group process. By having a clear objective and goal to achieve, I will be motivated to work hard in order to achieve the goals (Greene Burleson, 2003). My need to see any endeavor I take part in succeed will ensure that I have the proper motivation to work with the group. Greater participation in the group will invariably increase my influence in the group. The greater influence I will have on the decisions made by the group will also be a major incentive for me. Incentivizing Group Members The actions of each individual member will contribute positively or negatively to the success of the group. It is therefore important to foster a positive climate that encourages each member to make the necessary contribution to positively influence the outcomes of the group (Schneider, 2008).The motivations for group members’ may be deferent and this would call for different incentives to be employed. Encouraging intrinsic motivation in the group members wi ll be most beneficial. Sharbrough (2006) observes that internally motivated people yield the best results since they do not require any external factors such as promises of reward or threat of punishment to achieve the set goals. To drive the members, I will promote a culture where achievement is recognized and applauded. Jakobson (2007) reveals that by using simple methods such as acknowledging great performance from an individual member of the team during meetings, the member will be motivated to perform even better in future. Presentation Aids Presentation aids are tools that are used to enhance the group process by enhancing perception of the speaker and also helping the audience stay interested and remember what is being discussed. Computer generated slides such as Microsofts PowerPoint is the most favored presentation aids in group presentations. The speaker makes use of a computer program to create slides that may contain text, images, audio, and even video elements (Kolin, 2 009). In addition to this, the speaker may include notes to help him/her through the presentation. The slides are then presented through a projector to aid in the group presentation. Computer generated slides have a number of significant advantages. The end results look very professional, which increases the interest from the audience. It is also easy to make changes to the data and reproduce the slides if need be. The speaker can also maintain eye contact with the group members even as he/she presents. However, this presentation aid also has some demerits the most significant of which is that it can be distracting if funny images or too much color is used. Too much information on the slide will also reduce the efficiency of the presentation aid. In most cases, the room has to be darkened for the slides to be visible. This might cause some group members to lose concentration in the presentation. Another presentation aid used is handouts which are printed paper which contain the poin ts that the speaker is making. The handouts are offered to the group members and the can therefore help the audience to follow along with what is being discussed. A notable advantage of handouts is that they are very simple to make and use. Since they only require printing, they are cheap to implement. They also act as a lasting reference since members can go home with them (Schneider, 2008). The biggest disadvantage with handouts is that the audience may fail to concentrate on the speaker as they read ahead. These tools will therefore fail to enhance presentation by pulling attention away from the speaker. When the group is relatively large, handouts may be expensive since each member needs to have their own copy. Another presentation aid used in group presentations is the flip chart. This tool makes use of blank sheets of paper mounted on a board (Cleary, 2004). The speaker composes the desired visual aid by using markers or any other graphic material on the paper. The most obviou s advantage of the flip chart is that it is inexpensive and very easy to use as no special skills are required of the presenter. The aid is also easily portable to any location where the meeting is taking place. The speaker can add material to the charts in real time which makes it very good for interacting with the audience. There are some disadvantages associated with flip charts. To begin with, it is only useful for a small audience due to visibility. If the speaker uses illegible handwriting, the tool will not assist in the presentation efforts. Overhead Projectors are also popular presentation aids especially when a large group is being addressed. The overhead transparency projector machine is the only piece of equipment needed to utilize this aids (Guffey et al., 2009). The presenter can then project works, images, and illustrations to a screen. A significant advantage of overhead projectors is that they can be used in large auditorium without visibility being deteriorated. Th ey are also easy to use and do not require a lot of technical knowhow. On the downside, they are big and bulky and therefore not easy to transport. The presentations are also not very professional and may therefore not get the attention of the audience. References Adair, J. (2009). Effective Communication: The Most Important Management Skill of All. New York: Pan Macmillan. Adair, J. (2010). Decision Making and Problem Solving Strategies. NY: Kogan Page Publishers. Brown, R. (2000). Group processes: dynamics within and between groups. New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell. Cleary, S. (2004). The Communication Handbook: A Student Guide to Effective Communication. New Delhi: Juta and Company Ltd. Downs, L. J. (2008). Listening Skills Training. NJ: American Society for Training and Development. Gottlieb, M. (2003). Managing group process. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group. Greene, J. Burleson, B. (2003). Handbook of Communication and Social Interaction Skills. New York: Routledge. Guffey, E. , Rogin, P. Rhodes, K. (2009). Business Communication: Process and Product. NJ: Cengage Learning. Hargie, O. (2006). The Handbook of Communication Skills. NJ: Taylor Francis. Huszczo, G. (2004). Tools for Team Leadership: Delivering the X-factor in Team Excellence. Texas: Davies-Black Publishing. Jakobson, L. (2007) Harrahs Teams Up. Incentive 181(2), 10-20. Kolin, P. (2009). Successful Writing at Work. NY: Cengage Learning. Pynes, J. (2008). Human Resources Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations: A Strategic Approach. NY: John Wiley and Sons. Schneider, M. (2008). Groups: process and practice. NY: Cengage Learning. Sharbrough, W. (2006). Motivating Language in Industry. Journal of Business Communication, 43(4), 322-343. Straus, D. (2002). How to Make Collaboration Work: Powerful Ways to Build Consensus, Solve Problems, and Make Decisions. Detroit: Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Webne-Behrman, H. (2008).The Practice of Facilitation: Managing Group Process and Solving Probl ems. Boston: IAP.

An In Depth Interview Psychology Essay

An In Depth Interview Psychology Essay What is research. When asked, most people would answer questionnaires or surveys. These kinds of research people more familiar with are quantitative research. However, in this article, the main focus is on qualitative research, which is widely used in academic and professional areas (Holliday, 2002). So, what is quantitative research? Mason (2002:1) believes that: â€Å"Through qualitative research we can explore a wide array of dimensions of the social world, including the texture and weave of everyday life, the understanding, experiences and imagining of our research participants, the ways that social processes, institutions, discourses or relationship work, and the significance of the meaning that they generate.† Therefore, from this perspective, it could be derived that for qualitative research, pure statistic and numerical data are not sufficient. It needs more description evidence to discover the subjective qualities that govern human behaviours (Holliday, 2002). The so called ‘thick description’, which could be collected through interview, observation or other methods, is the basis for qualitative researchers to understand and explore the social world(Draper, 2004). Due to the complexity of modern society, there are many problems emerged when conducting qualitative researches, for instance, the ethical dilemmas. In order to get a more critical view of qualitative research, the distinction between qualitative research and quantitative research will be highlighted first. Then two typical qualitative research methods, in-depth interview and participate observation, will be critically examined. Followed by that, three examples will be used to further illustrate the challenges of qualitative research. In the end, a conclusion regarding the merits and demerits of qualitative research will be drawn. Two paradigms Primarily, the philosophical basis for qualitative research and quantitative research are different. Both Holliday (2002) and Dra per (2004) state that quantitative research believes that by using right quantitative measurements people could reveal objective facts, while qualitative research rooted in interpretive tradition, which focus on exploring the underlying meanings of social phenomena. As a result, qualitative and quantitative research differ in their analytical process, research design, methods of collecting data and the approach to analyse and interpret data(Draper, 2004). Rather than by using a deductive process, qualitative research prefers inductive procedure (Gephart, 2004). Therefore, qualitative research provides extra opportunities for researchers to discover insight views and get new understandings of social phenomena (Willig, 2008). Also, Gephart (2004) states that the ‘thick description’ provided by qualitative research enriches the basis for understanding the social world. However, qualitative research also has its own limitations. As Willig (2008) points out that qualitative research do not ensure certainty, the objectivity of researcher is not realistic and the results are not predictive, since qualitative studies always carry out with small sample size but in depth. Moreover, similar qualitative studies due to the different use of methods are impossible to compare or integrate (Willig, 2008). As a consequence, Draper (2004) suggests, although qualitative and quantitative researches are different from their ontological foundation, they could complement each other. In addition, recent studies (Bryman, 2006; Kinn and Curzio, 2005; Sherman and Strang, 2004) show that there is a growth trend of combining these two methods together, in spite of the continuation of debate about integrating qualitative and quantitative methods. After examining the merits and demerits of qualitative research, it is the time to discuss the two dominant methods used in qualitative research, in-depth interview and participant observation.

Argument Paper#2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Argument Paper#2 - Essay Example GM food products should be labeled because it is the right of the citizens to decide what they eat, because this will enable informed decision making and because this will increase the profitability of the smaller business owners. GM food should be labeled as food processed and produced through the method of genetic alteration because this would provide consumers to decide what they want to eat and what they want to avoid. If GM foods are not labeled, the consumers will feel that they are being forced to purchase goods and services that they do not want to consume. If GM foods continue to be sold in the markets without being labeled then it would clearly give an impression to the consumers that they are being coerced in to purchasing food items that they perceive to have a negative impact on their health. According to Runyon, the majority of the citizens are in favor of labeling GM foods as the author cites a panel review in which 11 votes were casted in the favor of labeling (Runyon, 2014). GM foods should be labeled because this would allow consumers to make informed choices. Consumers have become very concerned about what they consume due to increase in awareness of health issues. Many consumers are of the perception that GM foods can affect their health and wellbeing in a negative manner. Even several researches have proved that GM foods can impact the health of human beings in a negative manner. According to a research cited by Bronner in his article, herbicides that are highly toxic in nature are being sprayed in the fields where GM food crops are being produced and these toxic herbicides can have a major impact on the health of consumers (Bronner, 2014). GM foods should be labeled because labeling will allow promotion of production of food products in a healthier and organic manner and will even increase the profitability of small businesses. Those who oppose labeling believe that the cost of labeling would