Telefonica Spain Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Telefonica Spain - Case Study Example The privatization of state-owned enterprises was among the changes within the political environment, which motivated the global expansion of Telefonica Spain. Additionally, the rise of globalization caused the company to seek new markets in foreign countries. In addition, there was government deregulation and hence liberalization of the market which allowed the company to expand to foreign markets. The changes in the economic environment which stirred Telefonica’s global expansion include the competitiveness in the market especially in labor, returns on revenue, market share and shareholder values. It is argued that companies expand into foreign markets as a measure of adapting to the changes in the political, economic and social-cultural environment (Hill, 2011). Telefonica Spain’s initial focus in Latin America as opposed to its expansion into the European market was as a result of the deep social cultural and language ties that Spain had with Latin America. The social-cultural factor is the most significant consideration by a company which seeks to expand internationally. This is because culture defines the preferences and values of the consumers and hence determines their decisions to purchase and use a company’s products (Hill, 2011). Additionally, the rapid growth of the telecommunication industry within Latin America in terms of both mobile communications and internet connections inspired Telefonica Spain to expand into this market to meet the expanding needs of consumers for telecommunication services and products. Question 3: Telefonica has used acquisitions, rather than Greenfield ventures, as its entry strategy. Why do you think this has been the case? What are the potential risks associated with this entry strategy?

System Evaluation Paper Essay Example for Free

System Evaluation Paper Essay No doubt, EDI or electronic data interchange process has increased efficiency in exchanging business documents between companies. This process replaces faxing and mailing of documents. The process utilizing specific record formats that are based on widely accepted standards (CovalentWorks, 2014). EDI is used in a variety of industries; over 160,000 companies have switched to EDI to increase their efficiencies. In addition, a vast majority of the companies require their partners to use EDI as well. Assuredly, there are many benefits and some drawbacks for companies that use EDI. One major benefit of EDI is the computer-to-computer exchange of information is much less expensive than handling paper documents. Moreover, studies have concluded that the processing of a paper-based order can cost of up $70 or more. On the other hand, the processing of an EDI order will cost less than a dollar. Other benefits of EDI are much less labor time required fewer errors because the documents are processed by computers, and a faster flow of business transactions (CovalentWorks, 2014). In addition, fast transactions assist in reducing inventory levels, increase warehouse space, decrease out-of-stock levels, as well as lower freight costs. However, one drawback is companies must ensure they have the resources in order to make EDI successful. The resources are attained by purchasing, hiring, and outsourcing. Nevertheless, some of the costs may be offset by the increased efficiency of EDI. EDI works when a buyer prepares an order in the purchasing system and has is approved. Next, the EDI order is translated into an EDI document format called an 850 purchase order (CovalentWorks, 2014). The purchase order is then transmitted to the supplier either by the internet or through a VAN (Value added network). If the VAN is the chosen delivery route between the buyer and supplier, it is always sent on a secure and reliable network. In addition the supplier’s  VAN ensures the supplier receives the order. The supplier’s computer system processes the order. Hardw are, software, internet access, and e-mail are required for the processing to take place. Passwords, user identification, and encryption are used to maintain data security and control throughout the transmission. Lastly, the buyer’s and suppliers edit and check the EDI documents for accuracy (CovalentWorks, 2014). EDI (electronic data interchange) is utilized at my current employer which is a large retail drug store chain. Our chain uses EDI for supplier’s orders, as well as processing invoices and credit memos. For example, a soda vendor will visit our store, merchandise the shelves, and then write an order. The order connects through EDI into our system. Additionally, the order can be viewed as a pending order on the AS400 computer. On arrival, one barcode (per pallet) is scanned in with a Telxon unit. The invoice number and quantities of the order automatically populate and the on-hand quantities are adjusted once the invoice is posted. However, not all vendors are set up through EDI. Through EDI, once the invoice has been posted, it is just filed in the office because the supplier will be automatically paid. If the supplier is not set up through EDI, then the invoice must be stamped with a receiving number and mailed to the corporate office for payment which is a much longer process. Non-EDI invoices risk the chance of getting lost and require a lot more postage and labor revenue to process. However, more and more of our vendors are transitioning to EDI, especially the ones that supply us with product consistently every week. The business requirement that drove the system’s initial development is the labor intensive high cost supply chain. Moreover, there was a need for improved efficiency with ordering, updating on-hand quantities, and payment of invoices and the receipt of credit memos. The company has over 8,000 stores. Therefore, if each store averages 5 invoices per day, that is 40,000 invoices per day that need to be processed. EDI potentially can save thousands of dollars daily in the reduction of labor hours. Furthermore, it reduces the chance of errors and non-payment of received merchandise. In conclusion, EDI has many more benefits than drawbacks. EDI transmits and processes documents very cost effectively, efficiently, and accurately. I believe the company I work for will continue to make EDI arrangements with non-EDI vendors. I also think larger companies and corporations will follow suit and transition to EDI if  they have not done so already. References Covalentworks (2014). Electronic Data Interchange. Retrieved from: http://www.covalentworks.com/what-is-edi.asp

Marketing Strategy of Mercedes and BMW

Marketing Strategy of Mercedes and BMW What is marketing? Who really knows? In our era, most of the people have in their mind a different meaning of the marketing. For me, marketing is a mean which pulls the strings of our economy. The language of marketing has been borrowed from the military. We talk about defensive marketing, offensive marketing, and guerrilla marketing. Often overlooked, however, is flanking, one of the most powerful military strategies. As for the official meaning of the word, marketing is: Marketing is the process by which companies create customer interest in goods or services. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments Marketing is defined by the American Marketing Association (AMA) as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. The Chartered Institute of Marketing defines marketing as the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably. Maybe there are thousands different meanings of marketing but in the end they are all agreed that it was created to help the market and the consumers to fulfill their needs. BMW VERSUS MERCEDES-BENZ This assignment is to analyze and compare the marketing strategies of BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Both companies are renowned market leaders in supplying automobiles. The pair has a history of providing innovative cars for the past century. Over the years with the improvement of technology BMW and Mercedes-Benz have met customer needs by producing the most inspiring and well developed cars of their times. The BMW Group concentrates on selected premium segments in the automobile market. This means that they specialize in providing a high quality product and in return they can achieve higher revenues per vehicle sold. In contrast Mercedes-Benz which also provide to the premium segment of the market have concreted their name in history as manufacturers of luxury cars, have opened their doors to a range of more dynamic models targeting the slightly younger market. Mercedess most powerful competitor has long been BMW. The two companies marketing strategies seemed to mirror one another in the 1 990s. Thus in 1996, Mercedes signed a deal to promote its vehicles in Universal Pictures The Lost World, but it was several years behind BMW, which in 1995 made an agreement to feature its vehicles in the James Bond film Goldeneye. More important was an overall shift by both companies in response to the rise of Japanese luxury vehicles such as Lexus and the Acura Legend. Farrell reported in Brandweek, With repricing and repositioning-advertising messages emphasize more value instead of luxury-Germanys two luxury leaders, Mercedes and BMW, are on the offensive à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Both have rebounded with a reversal of marketing strategies that include new, lower-priced products and even ads that tout price. Nonetheless, of the two manufacturers, Mercedes has made the more drastic changes. THE HISTORY OF BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), or Bavarian Motor Works, is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1913 with the formation of the Rapp-Motorenwerke company by Karl Rapp. The firm were engaged in the production of aircraft engines from a former bicycle factory located near Munich. It was close to this plant that Gustav Otto established the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke AG aircraft factory and in 1922 these two organisations merged to form BMW. The letters stand for: Bayerische Motoren Werke. In their early years BMW produced mainly aircraft engines, but also some motorcycle engines. In fact the BMW badge is supposed to resemble a spinning aircraft propeller. It wasnt until 1928 when BMW bought a car factory at Eisenach/Thuringia that BMW began producing cars. Along with the factory they bought the license to produce a small car called the Dixi. It was in 1936 that BMW introduced the type 328 roadster which quickly became the most successful sports car of the time. The type 328 roadster accumulated a number of prestigious wins on the racing circuit and was nominated as car of the century in 1999. BMWs involvement in aircraft engine production during WWII led to a 3 year ban on production at the end of the war. It wasnt until 1949 that they were able to return to production which they did with the 250cc R24 motorcycle. It was in 1951 that BMW introduced a spacious, 6-cylinder sedan called the 501. This was followed by the 502 which featured a lightweight alloy V8 engine. Later in the 1950s they began producing the BMW 507, a lightweight, V8 propelled sports car. This was the vehicle they hoped would revive the sporting success theyd achieved with the 328 roadster. But this wasnt to be. They were losing money on every 507 that was produced and so production stopped in 1960. Also during the 1950s BMW bought the design and manufacturing rights to the Isetta which was to become one of the most successful microcars in the post WWII years. It was a time when cheap, short distance transportation was much needed and the 2-seater, with an economical 250cc engine, fit the requirements nicely. Manufacturing rights for the Isetta were sold to various production companies around the world and these included the British Railways works in Brighton, UK. The 1960s saw BMW enjoying a number of notable successes including the BMW 1500 which was a 1499cc, four cylinder touring sedan introduced in 1961. This was the first of the modern BMW sports sedans. They went on to produce a series of popular sedans including the famous BMW 2002. This was a 2-door sedan that had been based upon the 4-door 1600. The 2002 was to be the forerunner of the BMW 3 series and production of this successful model continued until 1976. By the 1970s BMW had cemented their reputation as an innovative automobile manufacturing company. The 70s saw the introduction of the 3-tier sports sedan range consisting of the 3-series, 5-series and the 7-series. Between 1970 and 1993 BMW car production quadrupled and turnover increased by 1700%. The 1990s, after 1994, saw BMW take ownership of the British Rover Group. This was not a successful venture and in 2000 BMW disposed of Rover. Todays beemers have retained their highly prestigious reputation for quality and reliability. The company are taking steps to reduce the impact they and their motor cars have upon the environment so we can expect to see more innovative and exciting developments from the motor car company who have not only survived two world wars and a massive depression, but thrived. TARGET MARKET OF BMW BMW marketing targeted customers between the ages of 25 and 45 who were new to the luxury car market, nevertheless without alienating their current customer base. The customer base of BMW was 46-year-old male, married with no children, and had a median income of about $150,000. More importantly, the Internet was used by 85% of customers before buying a BMW (Hespos, 2002). Combining the ideas of producing a series of short films and using the Internet in an advertising campaign, short films for the Internet was born with BMW Films (Hespos, 2002).The luxury automobile maker that has established a mark for itself in the luxury car segment with its high performance cars. BMW is a powerful brand that is truly experienced by car lovers all over the world as a symbol of performance, power and luxury, all combined into its power packed machines that are treat to watch, drive, and possess. Thats why, it is truly known as the Ultimate driving Machine. BMWs tighter feel and enhanced responsiveness gave drivers the sense they were in complete control, something no other brand of automobile offered. This handling advantage was greatly appreciated by sports car aficionados and car enthusiasts. MARKETING STRATEGY OF BMW BMW has many different strategies of marketing. One of these strategies is the support of its dealer network. This succeeds only through a range of actions. Dedicated Dealer Marketing Service which assists with all marketing requirements for example: Local advertising for product range Support for local promotions National promotions Hire of promotional equipment for dealer events Image library which stocks various images available for dealers to use when creating their own marketing communications such as leaflets, invitations and direct mail. Educational materials Moreover, there is a Continuous Customer Contacts Program (CCCP) with the objective of increased customer loyalty and satisfaction. BMW also focuses on a great range of advertising. One thing that all BMW adverts have in common is that they focus entirely on the cars. On TV there are many branding campaigns and new car launches. Some TV spots depict stereotypical corporate-cog executives who squelch creativity and initiative. Beware of the compromisers. They say things like, Choose your battles, or Is this idea really worth falling on your sword for? Later, the recurring message throughout the campaign comes in, At BMW, ideas are everything. Radio branding campaigns (2002 was the first year that BMW used radio for national advertising) also uses. It does not tend to be used at a national level, although may be used regionally. As for the press, Color press is listed, for example: Tatler, Vogue, lifestyle magazines, motoring publications, broadsheet newspapers and tabloid newspaper weekend color supplements. Black white: national press. In addition to higher profile national advertising, dealers also run their own local campaigns through: Local press Radio Bus advertisements At the cinema, screens usually show short films. Other ways of advertising includes supply of sales literature, brochures, direct marketing, price lists and point of sale materials. Finally, other methods BMW use to promote its brands and products: Product Placement BMW Art Car Collection Sponsorship These and many others are the marketing strategies of BMW in order to enhance its market share. As for Mercedes-Benzà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. THE HISTORY OF MERCEDES-BENZ The roots of Daimler-Benz went back to the 1880s and founders Carl Benz and Gottfried Daimler, whose separate companies became one in 1926. Besides the two Germans, an important early figure was Austrian banker Emile Jellinek, who in 1897 became a Daimler board member. Jellinek offered a variety of useful marketing advice and suggested a car with an engine to the front, because that was where the horse used to be. After outlining a type of racer that he wanted built, he promised to purchase 36 of them, a sizable order at a time when few people had even ridden in an automobile. In return he asked that Daimler name the car after his one-year-old daughter, Mercedes. The car, introduced in 1900, had a top speed of 30 miles per hour, which at that time made it one of the fastest vehicles on the road. But a Mercedes could go much, much faster, and just nine years later its manufacturers built a special Benz capable of reaching 141 miles per hour. In the economic upheaval that followed World War I, Daimlers and Benzs companies joined forces as Daimler-Benz AG, founded in 1926. Its symbol was a three-pointed star, which reportedly symbolized air, land, and sea-arenas in which Daimler engines dominated. During World War II, Daimler-Benz became associated with the Nazi regime. Hitler had several models specially built for his use, and the company turned to producing airplane engines and military vehicles for the Third Reich. But it recovered quickly from the war and in the 1950s established itself as a manufacturer of luxury sedans in Europe and America. TARGET MARKET OF MERCEDES-BENZ In 1993, Rosemarie Totzauer reported in Brandweek, Mercedes is attempting to reinvent itself, to evolve from a company long defined exclusively by its gas-guzzling luxury sedans and sports cars. The reborn Mercedes will offer a broader, more complete line of vehicles for the rapidly changing, more complex, higher risk luxury segment à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Mercedes-Benz, therefore, has to gear itself for a metamorphosis into a company known for value and a diversity of vehicle concepts rather than for the prestige of the three-pointed star. These words, occasioned by the shift in slogans from the old Engineered Like No Other Car in the World. created by McCaffrey and McCall, to the new Sacrifice Nothing, gave a succinct statement of the companys changed marketing policy, The target market had broadened, and so had the Mercedes lines. The latter now included the C class, which replaced the 190 series as a product for the low end of the market; the E class, a mid-size luxury car; the S class, for the high-end luxury vehicles that had previously comprised the sum total of the companys product; and the SL for sports cars. Although, as Fara Warner wrote in Brandweek in 1994, Mercedes is still considered an exclusive luxury car for white males, the company sought to broaden its appeal with value prices and new products. Greg Farrell, writing in the same publication a year later, offered a compelling example of the effect produced by the shift in target market: Maria Pestonit, a 28 year-old Miami computer consultant, didnt like her first three cars à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [and] after three performance cars, luxury struck her fancy. Mercedes may have hooked her for life with its C280, costing about $34,000. My family had a Mercedes. But that was my parents car, she said. I thought I could never reach that.' MARKETING STRATEGY OF MERCEDES-BENZ Mercedes Benz marketing strategy was once centered on the safety, luxury, and precision engineering of its cars, but due to increase competition in the luxury car industry and changing consumer attitudes about the Mercedes Benz brand that strategy has changed. Now their marketing strategy is more life style oriented and is focused more on presenting the more fun loving, approachable, and energetic side of Mercedes Benz. The evolution of Mercedes Benzs marketing strategy can be directly connected to the expansion of its target market, which now includes persons twenty five to forty five years old as well as its initial targets the baby boomers. In order to provide superior customer value to its target market Mercedes Benz has found it necessary to expand its product line up, provide more competitive prices, increase communications with its target market, maintain accessibility to consumers, and continue its excellent customer service. The marketing strategy of Mercedes-Benz is short of the same as BMW. More specifically, Mercedes spends a big amount for advertising campaigns. Mercedes-Benz launches an international advertising campaign on the theme of sustainability. The first printed advertisements using the new brand design will feature the E 300 BLUETEC to be launched in Germany in December 2007. Moreover, four different print ads will be placed in all large-circulation magazines in Germany, running in parallel with a TV commercial and an online campaign. The sustainability campaign will then be extended in mid-2008 to include additional vehicles and developments related to Mercedes-Benz activities which are combined under the heading True Blue Solutions. In our marketing campaign on sustainability we promote innovative technologies for environmentally sound mobility such as the BLUETEC emission treatment system, which Mercedes-Benz offers to its customers as the worlds cleanest diesel, says Dr. Klaus Maier, Executive Vice President of Mercedes. Mercedes new marketing campaign stresses safety over luxury. This isnt surprising since the financial crisis has reversed consumer priorities. Its now frowned upon to brag about buying the most luxurious car. Instead the most popular guy is the one who gets the most worth for as little money as possible spent on a new car. Mercedes-Benz is now allocating 50% of its UK marketing budget to digital media, according to its VP for brand communications, Anders Sundt Jensen.The dynamics of the UK market and the advanced consumer behavior in the UK meant the automotive brand was already allocating half of its budget to digital, well ahead of other European territories where the company was far from allocating even 40%.The key to the companys success online was the creation of specialist expertise within the company.We dont have normal marketers just doing online ads, or just putting our TV ads online, Anders Sundt Jensen said. We have a whole department, for example, at our headquarters in Germany just doing digital marketing. Also, one of the marketing strategies of Mercedes-Benz followed is to start promoting some of its cars on IPhone and Facebook. Another marketing action than gave a step forward to Mercedes-Benz is the promotion of a series of green cars. Mercedes-Benz brings to the market hybrid cars that are environmental friendly. To sum up, the key that makes Mercedes-Benz a powerful competitor in the market is the below: Delightful customer care Retail network ready for the future Efficient, integrated processes and systems Sales and Marketing MBC Product Price Place Promotion People Processes Perfectly positioned brand and effective marketing Fascinating products Motivated, qualified employees Effective market penetration CONCLUSION Undoubtedly, BMW and Mercedes-Benz were, are and always be two whoppers. Their marketing strategies are about the same. Their advertising campaigns, the tv and radio spots, the costumers services etc. The difference between them and the reason why they are both special is their target market and their market position, what they want their customers to remember about them. BMW focuses to young customers aged 25 to 45 and it promotes the slogan  «Ultimate driving machine ». It appeals to those who want to have the sense they were in complete control. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz is still considered an exclusive luxury car for white males, but now decides to broaden its appeal with value prices and new products. It appeals to those who love luxury and safe cars but not too expensive.

Performance Management Essay -- Business and Management Studies

Performance Management The performance management process provides an opportunity for the employees and managers to discuss goals and develop plans for achieving those goals. Therefore, communication involve between managers and employees that they have to identify job roles and functions related to the company objectives. They get together to devise some performance appraisals to enhance the company overall performance. The performance manager responsible for supervising workforce and the group educates and develops employees’ potential in order to improve workforce performance. Moreover, rewards is directly Employees performance. Essential Managing Performance to the Group 1 Explain how managing performance is a critical element in the success of a business. Employees need to understand their roles clearly An effective Performance Management system is based on these concepts: * Employees need to understand their roles clearly * Performance may be managed * There is a direct relationship between performance and rewards * Employee involvement is critical to performance development * Performance expectations must be set in advance and there must be agreement * Performance management requires on-going coaching, feedback and planning * Performance management can be a positive experience * Facilitate a process to establish clear role definitions and accountabilities. * Create a custom Performance Management program or improve your existing program. * Establish the objectives of your Performance Appraisal and Performance Management program. * Determine your performance criteria and integrate these criteria with your compensation systems. * Create your evaluation format. * Develop policies and procedures. * Conduct training sessions for your managers and supervisors. * Assist with the roll-out and communication of the program to your total employee group. How managing performance for a success of a business To begin the process, you and the employee will collaborate on the development of performance standards. You will develop a performance plan that directs the employee's efforts toward achieving specific results, to support organizational growth as well as the employee's professional growth. Discuss goals and objectives throughout the year, providing a framewo... ...n you and the employee * Help the employee attain performance objectives * Increase employee motivation and commitment * Maintain and increase the employee's self-esteem * Provide support Link of appraisal and review Performance Appraisal The campus carries out its mission through the individual and collective contributions of its employees. To do their best, staff members need to know that those contributions will be recognized and acknowledged. Overseeing performance and providing feedback is not an isolated event, but rather an ongoing process that takes place throughout the year. The performance appraisal is part of that process, and provides an excellent opportunity for you to communicate with the employee about past performance, evaluate the employee's job satisfaction, and make plans for the employee's future performance. Remember that the performance appraisal summarizes the employee's contributions over the entire appraisal period (usually one year). It is not a step in the disciplinary process. It may occur as often as you believe is necessary to acknowledge the employee for accomplishments and to plan together for improved performance.

Leadership in Virgin Group Company History

Virgin Group is a diversified grouping of more than 200 privately held companies. The largest of these are Virgin Atlantic Airways, the number two airline in the United Kingdom; Virgin Holidays, a vacation tour operator; Virgin Rail, the second largest U. K. train operator; the Virgin Retail Group, which operates numerous Virgin Megastores, a retail concept featuring videos, music CDs, and computer games; and Virgin Direct, which offers financial services. Other Virgin businesses include beverage maker Virgin Cola, a record label, book and music publishing operations, hotels, an Internet service provider, movie theaters, a radio station, cosmetics and bridal retailing concepts, and a line of clothing. Holding this disparate group of companies together is the combination of Richard Branson and the Virgin brand name. British entrepreneur Branson dropped out of boarding school at the age of 17, in 1967, to start his own magazine. That venture was an immediate success, establishing the foundation for what would become a multibillion-dollar conglomerate during the 1990s. Along the way, Branson would attain cult status in his home country–the result of his business exploits quests for adventure, and unique personal style. The Virgin brand had meantime become, according to the company, one of the top 50 brands in the world by the late 1990s; a poll of British consumers at that time showed that 96 percent had heard of Virgin. Key Questions Q1. Given the freewheeling style of Branson and his managers, do you think that the virgin enterprises can be classified as a TQ organization? Why or why not? Yes I believe that virgin enterprises can be classified as a TQ organization because virgin is very successful group, their products are of high quality they focus on improving the quality all the time as improvement is the continuous process. Virgin has expanded their business a lot. Virgin has a great team of management they are very passionate and devoting to their work. Branson s moves reflected the immense growth and complexity of Virgin Group. Brans on always focus on caring people he do not have hard and fast rules but still he possess a large number of brands under one group Virgin. Q2. How well do you think that Branson and his managers perform the strategic planning process? What are some indicators that they do or not do strategic planning? Branson and his managers are performing strategic planning very well. they are fulfilling their objectives as their objectives were y y y y y y y Expansion internationally To lead the entertainment industry Increase the profit and for the sake of good reputation Quality improvement Competitive edge Utilization of new technology Loyalty among customers Virgin group have used diversification as their business is expanding very quickly and they are entering into new diversified markets. Some indications are y Virgin Atlantic air line is the good indicator as Branson was having a competitive edge because they were offering a luxury package and at low price while the competitors were charging high price with poor quality. Management was focusing on innovative plans so that they can meet customer expectations and satisfaction. y Q. 3How well do you think that Branson and his managers perform managerial and leadership tasks? How might these tasks be better balance? Richard Branson is very famous for his innovative, competitive and risky style of leadership. He adds value to his products in order to diversify his business. His leadership style is charismatic he creates the very friendly environment over work place and avoids strictness. Everybody was the part of organization and any one can participate in order to bring innovativeness rather just to follow orders. Top management encourages and motivates employees to obtain the best of their abilities and the best reward for the company. As the company benefit in other words is individual benefit. Benifits are meant for all members of organization so that everyone is motivated to do their jobs and tasks then be better balanced. The idea behind this is to promote the philosophy that the overall benefit of the company will lead to individual benefits for each person involved. Group contribution will eventually lead to rewards for executives, managers, employees, shareholders, and customers alike. Q4. What leadership theory do you think best fits the senior leadership of the virgin company? What theory best fit the Branson as leader? Why might there be a difference? Richard Branson is the born leader he is charismatic leadership style because he can influence any one very easily. Transformational leadership comes from the top managers and executives within the company. Leading is perhaps the most interesting and important function of management to the Virgin Group. The leadership dynamics start with Chairman Richard Branson. He is a very vocal and flamboyant leader. His mission is to inspire those who work below him to work to the best of their abilities for the good of the company. He often pushes his belief that by contributing to the good of the company it will increase the rewards for everybody involved. He has stated that he tries to bring the best out of people and does this for workers at the lowest levels as well as the top ranking executives. This philosophy is encouraged to all managers within the company. Management is expected to embrace this principle and pass it on to the employees that they are managing. Another aspect of Branson s leadership style is that he tends to give people a high level of freedom in their work . It is his goal to first give them direction in their work, and then let them take control of the situation there after. Freedom in their work allows them to excel without the need for micromanagement. Richard Branson s leadership style and vision for the company has made him the center of attention within many business and management discussions throughout the world.

Genetically Modified Food †Pros & Cons Essay

Never before in history has mankind so masterfully commanded its food chain. Thousands of years ago, much of our species made the leap from a hunter-gatherer level of subsistence to an agricultural society. With agriculture, slowly but surely many modifications were made to plants and animals used and domesticated by us for the purpose of feeding ourselves. New specialized varieties with specific desirable traits slowly emerged; with the advent of knowledge of hybridization, this process was greatly expedited. By today, much has changed in the way we shape the foods we put into our bodies. With modern food science has come the dawn of genetic modification. Food scientists working in tandem with genetic engineers can now isolate the genes for specific desirable traits from an entirely unrelated organism and splice them into an organism that we have traditionally consumed—say hello to â€Å"frankenfood. † As a practice, genetic engineering is the careful modification of a living organism done by essentially rewriting its DNA, thus altering its genetic makeup â€Å"in a way that does not occur naturally† (Domingo 535). The process of genetically modifying a plant entails inserting genes into plant cells by injecting viruses which copy specialized DNA into the cells. The end goal is that specific traits deemed beneficial become newly expressed in the GMO (genetically modified organism). The movie Food Inc. , narrated by well-known authors Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser (authors of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Fast Food Nation, respectively), dedicates a large portion of time to the modern use of genetically modified food—particularly soybeans—in American agriculture. The film hints at the various effects of using GM soybeans in agriculture, yet seems to be mainly focused on the economic impact the Monsanto GM soybean has on Midwestern farmers. It does at times indirectly suggest some possible health effects, though, at the time the movie was produced (2008—only four years ago), not nearly as much was known about such ill bodily effects. The pro-GMO food camp often boasts of the feats of this space age engineering in terms of productivity, efficiency, and health benefits. Skeptics, on the other hand, see how this practice can wreak havoc on the environment, exploit the economically disenfranchised, and also pose many risks to human health. Here, through the scope of the critical, food-safety concerned (people identifying with the questions raised by authors Pollan and Schlosser), we will explore these various claims about human health as they pertain to the most current technologies in â€Å"frankenfood. † One of the main purposes of genetically modifying crops is to improve nutrition. There is simply less food to go around in today’s world. With the growing population and lessened crop yields due to drought (a likely implication of climate change), â€Å"the price of wheat and corn [has] tripled† (Bourne) in recent years. Multitudes of people have been negatively affected by this. The frightening shortage has prevented many of the world’s poorest citizens from getting the basic, nutritious food staple they need to survive. In some of the hardest hit places, food riots have broken out in response to the startling scarcity. One of the clear potentially benefits of genetic modification in plants is its capability to lessen hunger worldwide. Genetically modified crops could help reverse the decline in yield growth by increasing drought tolerance, nitrogen efficiency, pest resistance, and photosynthesis rates (Crosson and Anderson). The â€Å"challenge of putting enough food in nine billion mouths by 2050 is daunting† (Bourne) with the increasing prevalence of food shortages. Genetic engineering of plants on a global scale may prove to be pivotal in averting a Malthusian catastrophe; that is, necessary for the survival—or at least temporary sustenance—of humanity. Companies involved in the genetic modification of crops, such as Monsanto, believe that â€Å"biotech will make it possible to double yields of†¦ core crops of corn, cotton, and soybeans by 2030† (Bourne). Introducing such crops to malnourished regions will potentially help alleviate the rising demand for food the world is currently facing. In Uganda, where cassava, a potato-like tuber, is the primary food staple for the masses, a destructive plant virus struck the nation in the early 1990s. The pathogen devastated the cassava plant’s yield, damages many farmers livelihoods, led to near economic ruin, and, most importantly here, jeopardized health and nutrition of many thousands of native Ugandans. In some of the hardest hit areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, the cassava yields had been halved, all while the population of the continent continued to grow at a very fast pace. In terms of health, this disaster has led to, among other deleterious effects, widespread malnutrition and starvation. In 1999, â€Å"scientists genetically engineered the plant†¦ to resist the [devastating] virus† (Hand). Since then, there has been appreciable improvement in the situation. The recent political situation in Uganda (and many other famine-stricken, war-torn African nations), however, has prevented such ambitious implementations of genetically modified crops from reaching their full potential in helping to solve the global food crisis. In addition to alleviating this hunger crisis, the genetic modification of plants can foreseeably further advances in modern medicine. One very practical use for genetic engineering is to turn bacteria into factories to make proteins and other compounds that are useful to humans. Researchers at Harvard University, for example, have recently â€Å"added a few genes to [E. coli’s] solitary circular chromosome, coaxing the organism to produce lycopene† (â€Å"Bacteria into Biotech Factories†). In bacteria, this process allows for useful and vital products like insulin to be produced much more easily, and at lower costs. Likewise, genetic engineering of plants can be used to increase the concentration of beneficial botanical compounds used in medicine and health supplements. Although certainly not without risk, GMO technology has been around for almost two decades now, and has had much fewer negative implications on human beings than, for instance, newly developed cancer treatments. Yet trial and error for cancer treatment does not get the negative publicity that the genetic modification of plants does, despite the fact that both aim at improving health for people who are otherwise very sick (be it cancer or starvation). In the United States, where opposition to â€Å"frankenfood† has steadily grown over the past decade, many scientists fear public suspicion regarding genetically engineered foods (within the country and abroad) could derail further research and development of them. Skeptical public sentiment may hinder the advancement of such crops that could potentially improve nutrition and overall health in regions—such as famished Sub-Saharan Africa—that could desperately use it. In addition to solving the modern world-wide hunger epidemic, a more indirect yet very significant positive impact on human health owing to the implementation of GMOs in agriculture would be the lessening or cessation of mass deployment of harsh, toxic pesticides over acres upon acres of cropland. Pesticides have long been cited as producing many detrimental effects with regards to human health. One of the largest indirect positive health implication of implementing GMOs in agricultural is the reduced use or end of pesticide application on food crops. First and foremost, pesticides ultimately cause â€Å"target organisms [to] develop resistance† (Lu and Cosca) to their chemical components. In the end, this leads to increasingly larger, more widespread use of pesticides and the need for more serious, more expensive, and more toxic pesticides to be applied to food crops. Studies have specifically demonstrated that agricultural workers exposed to pesticides on a routine basis â€Å"developed higher incidence rates of cancers of the nervous, lymphatic and hematopoietic systems† (Lu and Cosca). Furthermore, it has been documented that among infants whose mothers were exposed to routine pesticide use, there has been a â€Å"significant association between in utero organophosphate [(a very common agricultural pesticide)] exposure and abnormal reflexes† (Lu and Cosca). For this same commonly used pesticide, researchers have discovered a severe and widespread incidence of â€Å"neurotoxicity among the exposed† (Lu and Cosca). Less severe yet nonetheless very disturbing effects of â€Å"muscle pain, weakness†¦ change in taste†¦ eye pain, headache[s], drowsiness†¦ tremors†¦ difficulty in breathing, palpitations, throat irritation, and sweating† (Lu and Cosca) have been linked to pesticide use as well. Many of these symptoms and conditions have been correlated to merely the level of â€Å"pesticide levels found in soils† (Lu and Cosca), and have not only affected agricultural workers, but also individuals living within relatively close proximity to intensely farmed areas. If (and/or possibly when) genetically modified food crops designed to resist pests â€Å"naturally† are introduced on a significant scale, the use of these chemical pesticides and their harmful effects on human health will inevitably be curtailed. Despite the growing yet relatively mild opposition to the genetic engineering of crops in the United States (as opposed to Europe), many scientists in the United States assert—including former Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore—that genetic engineering isn’t fundamentally different from traditional breeding. Amidst objections raised by opponents concerning health risks, scientists such as Moore â€Å"have questioned the honesty of the environmental lobby’s arguments on biotechnology† and denounced such arguments â€Å"as scare tactics† (Lacy 195). To this group’s way of thinking, the benefits of genetically modifying food in terms of health have so far outweighed the risks. As is true in the scientific community, opinions on GMOs vary widely among different groups and individuals. In the interviews I conducted, public opinion ranged from â€Å"I think it’s good† and â€Å"yes,† ‘I think it’s safe from a health perspective’ to â€Å"I don’t like it,† â€Å"It is unethical,† and â€Å"it can’t be too safe. † More people were uneasy with its use than those who were not. One person even stated his belief that â€Å"genetic modification can cause unnatural cell division†¦ [and] spread bacteria. † From a scientific standpoint, this person’s former claim is very plausible yet the latter is a little more unknown. Despite the likely benefits of increased yield and its effect on mitigating the world hunger crisis, as well as indirectly preventing many health problems associated with the use of pesticides on non-genetically modified crops, there are also many valid health concerns surrounding this young biotechnology. Many researchers and experts have conveyed their legitimate apprehension over the potentially negative effects on health due to the consumption of genetically engineered agricultural products. Myriad studies have indeed found many potential health risks associated with consuming GM food products. Most of these ‘con’ findings and opinions are not merely hypothetical and based on sociobiological models either; rather, they are largely based on true scientific studies conducted in labs. In Food Inc. , author Michael Pollan is quick to point out that, contrary to the oft-cited plus of switching to genetically engineered crops that less harmful pesticides will be used, some GM crops are actually merely designed to better withstand pesticides. The film makes an example out of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready ® GM Soybean, which has been engineered to withstand much larger quantities of glyphosate, the highly toxic main ingredient in that particular pesticide (Food Inc. ). This fact directly contradicts the common claim that the implementation of genetically modified crops will lead to less pesticide use, at least in some very significant cases. Given Monsanto’s mammoth market share within American agribusiness—which produces much of the world’s food in our â€Å"bread basket†Ã¢â‚¬â€this finding is all the more disturbing. More pesticide (the dangers of which being previously mentioned), not less, coupled with the finding that â€Å"many GM foods have some common toxic effects† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 172), may compound health issues in the near futures. For good reason, this combination seems at least somewhat likely to prove to be quite a venomous cocktail. In addition to allowing for increased pesticide usage in certain circumstances, one of genetically engineered crops’ demonstrated direct detrimental effects on the body is the increased incidence of allergenicity. Findings show that the â€Å"introduction of novel proteins into foods†¦ may elicit potentially harmful immunological responses, including allergic hypersensitivity† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 168). Due to the inherently complex biochemical nature of cultivated food crops, the â€Å"introduction of a gene-expressing, nonallergenic protein†¦ may not always result in a product without allergenicity† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 168). That is, allergies to foods that were otherwise unknown or non-existent could randomly crop up as a result of this unnatural exchange of proteins used to alter the core nature of a food crop. Generally speaking, many â€Å"adverse microscopic and molecular effects of some GM foods in different organs of tissues have been reported† (Domingo 537). Other than allergies, more serious health effects of GMOs include the potential â€Å"that they may cause hepatic, pancreatic, renal, and reproductive effects and may alter hematological, biochemical, and immunological parameters† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 172). Through GMO consumption, humans are being exposed to an unprecedented amount of dangerous â€Å"anti-nutrients such as phytoestrogens, glucinins, and phytic acid† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 165). These were proven to cause marked infertility in laboratory animals (sheep and cattle). Moreover, inflammation of the GI tract due to GM foods â€Å"may lead after many years to cancer† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 169). Of utmost concern, however, is the disturbing finding that â€Å"maternally ingested foreign DNA could be a potential mutagen for [a] developing fetus† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 170). Given these findings, it is clear not enough regulation is imposed and not enough research is made available and/or taken seriously by companies involved in the genetic modification of food crops. Now that this new leap in biotechnology has been available for over a decade and a half, scientists have had time to study the health implications of genetically engineered foods on the body more in-depth. The results the scientific community is gathering are startling. Pointing to a prior lack of extensive research on the subject, scientists underscore that â€Å"the lack of evidence that GM food is unsafe cannot be interpreted as proof it is safe† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 164). We should also proceed with the production of such genetically modified food as â€Å"every single GM food through the food chain will eventually reach the consumer† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 164). In order to ensure food safety, many concerned researchers reaffirm the assertion that every genetically modified food crop â€Å"containing a new marker gene should be tested for toxicity with long term studies, since GM food will consumed for a life time† (Dona and Arvanitoyannis 167). Although the technology, as mentioned above, has been available to us for over fifteen years, this amount of time has not been sufficient enough to draw any such long-term conclusions. Until that is done, its implementation should be limited to reasonable, unbiased experts’ assessments of what is necessary, or situations in which the likely pros would outweigh the likely cons. It is human nature to fear the unknown. As yet, genetically modified foods are still largely unknown to us. While these fears may legitimately stymie progress with regards to such a new, potential human health panacea, at the same time they also protects us as a species from over-ambitiously and haphazardly ‘playing God,’ thus potentially opening a biological Pandora’s Box of sorts. It can only help to push us further into solving our food dilemmas if we adopt a fundamentally cautious and critical mind-set regarding food safety, a la Food Inc. Because there are so many disconcerting findings regarding negative health effects on the human body with current GMO technology, it is imperative we continue to aggressively and objectively study it. And, given the very plausible positive effects of using GMOs in agriculture en masse—such as a well-nourished world exposed to fewer carcinogenic and neurotoxic substances—the key to harnessing this technology to our species’ benefit as a whole is a slow, careful, unbiased approach to its research, development, and testing. In any event, â€Å"frankenfoods† are charging their way into the modern world of agriculture and will almost certainly be a very significant hallmark of the near-future’s era of food science, technology, and agriculture. Works Cited Bourne, Joel K. â€Å"The Global Food Crisis: The End of Plenty. † National Geographic Magazine. Jun 2009: n. page. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. Crosson, Pierre, and Jock R. Anderson. â€Å"Technologies for Meeting Future Global Demands for Food. † Resources for the Future. 2. (2002): n. page. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. . Domingo, Jose L. â€Å"Human Health Effects of Genetically Modified (GM) Plants: Risk and Perception. † Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal 17. 3 (2011): 535-37. Taylor and Francis Group, LLC, 08 June 2011. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. . Dona, Artemis, and Ioannis S. Arvanitoyannis. â€Å"Health Risks of Genetically Modified Foods. † Critical Review in Food Science and Nutrition 49 (2009): 164-75. Taylor and Francis Group, LLC. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. Food Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Prod. Elise Pearlstein. Perf. Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser. Magnolia Pictures, 2008. DVD. Hand, Eric. â€Å"St. Louis team fights crop killer in Africa. † St. Louis Post-Dispatch 12 Sep 2006, n. pag. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. . Lacy, Peter G. â€Å"Deploying the Full Arsenal: Fighting Hunger with Biotechnology. † SAIS Review 23. 1 (2003): 181-202. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. Lu, Jinky L., and Katherine Cosca. â€Å"Pesticide Application and Health Hazards: Implications for Farmers and the Environment. † Internation Journal of Environmental Studies (2011): 37-41. Routledge, 13 Apr. 2011. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. . â€Å"Researchers Rapidly Turn Bacteria into Biotech Factories. † Wyss Institute at Harvard. Harvard University, 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. .

Polito 1 Chris Polito Paola Brown Eng102 25 March Essays - Family

Polito 1 Chris Polito Paola Brown Eng102 25 March Essays - Family Polito 1 Chris Polito Paola Brown Eng102 25 March 2008 Single Parent Struggle For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent. In today's society many children have grown up to become emotionally stable and successful whether they had one or two parents to show them the rocky path that life bestows upon all human beings. The problem lies in the difference of children raised by single parents versus children raised by both a mother and a father. Does a child need both parents? Does a young boy need a father figure around? Does the government provide help for single parents? What role do step-parents and step-siblings play? With much speculation, this topic has become a very intriguing argument. What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the proce ss or values that are taught to these children as they learn to mature. Children of single parents can be just as progressive with emotional, social and behavioral skills as those with two parents. People claim that the only way for children to gain full emotional and behavioral skills is to be raised by both a mother and a father. When a topic such as this one has a broad amount of variables it is impossible to simply link these problems to only having one parent. In the article, "Single-parent families cause juvenile crime", author Robert L. Maginnis states, "Children from single-parent families are more likely to have behavior Polito 2 problems because they tend to lack economic security and adequate time with parents". The simple statement that raw criminals are products of single-parent adolescence is absurd. What this writer must understand is that it can be extremely difficult for one parent to raise a child by themselves for many reasons. A single-parent must work full time to be able to afford to provide for themselves and their child. They must also be able to still have time to offer an exuberant amount of emotional time for the well being of their child. However, even though this may seem impossible, it can be done. As this subject continues to be looked down on people must realize that single parents are becoming more common in today's world. Since 1995 the American family structure for children ages fourteen to eighteen consists of forty-two percent living in a first marriage family with both parents, twenty-two percent living in a second marriage step-family, twenty-one percent living in a single parent, divorced or separated family, six percent living in a single parent never married family and three percent living in a single parent widowed family. This is an extremely scary statistic considering that fiftyeight percent of children in America are living in a single parent family. This is a chilling percentage because it shows how little faith is put into a relationship before actually deciding to have children. Unfortunately not all single-parents take the time to perform the vital tasks needed to raise their children. Parents who think they would never be able to provide emotional stability for their children by themselves should have taken the time to think this through before deciding to become parents. Accidents may happen once in awhile but in most cases adults know what is at stake when planning to have a child. Plain and simple, if you're not ready, than don't do it. If you do decide to have this child Polito 3 and you love this child, then you can be a good parent. There are many ways to enhance the well being of your child if you simply apply yourselves as parents. Magginnis later states that, "Boys who do not have fathers as male role models suffer especially". While it is extremely important for a male child to have his father around, there are other ways of teaching a young boy the lessons he needs to become a man. I know from personal experience that what the author of this article is trying to convey is wrong.