Risk and Technological Advancements

Introduction Technology may refer to the understanding and tools that can allow men and women to modify available resources into a usable form. Although there are a number of technological changes that have resulted from simply modifying the existing ones, new technological innovations can also be seen all over the world (Kendall 58).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Risk and Technological Advancements specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the last 150 years, the rate at which technological changes take place has increased quite significantly. Major changes are noticeable in the world of computing where new discoveries may occur almost every day (Kendall 58). In a study done by Arnoldi, risk only became a subject of concern to nations when it became apparent that technological changes were beginning to cause a lot of havoc in the lives of people (3). The use of risky chemicals has ended up harming the health of thos e using them to carry out their farming activities. It is such threats to human life that have made men and women realize the importance of addressing the issue of risk (Arnoldi 3). Swift and Callahan, however, note that even though science and technology are blamed for being the genesis of so many risky situations, they are the best tools that we can use to tackle the emerging risks of technology (27). Edwards and Bowen also argue that what might appear as a risk to people may just be a profitable opportunity that can alter people’s fortunes. A point in case is what takes place at the stock market. Although stock market activities are characterized with fluctuations that occur from time to time presenting us with periods of huge loses, a careful analysis will show that the resultant risks are addressed with the correct attitude, these periods may end up being great opportunities that will later benefit people. Courageous traders are known to relax and wait to see prices chan ge to their benefit (11). Technology and Transformation Beyond any doubt, progress in the use of technological has radically transformed the way human beings live and interact with one another. One major effect of technological advancements that is well known to most people is globalization; the process of integrating activities of men and women taking place in different parts of the globe. With nations now operating as though no boundaries existed between them, it is now possible for many to realize their dreams so easily. International trade has been reinforced allowing business people to sell their products to a much wider market than before. The communication industry has also undergone drastic changes enabling people to reach others cheaply and very fast. Researchers can now share and also receive huge chunks of information electronically. People are now able to live much longer, thanks to discoveries in the medical world that have made this possible.Advertising Looking fo r essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Although the advances in various sectors have brought about improved services and in some instance seen a huge reduction in the presence of risks, new forms of risk are now here to haunt man. Lack of proper waste management systems, the increased use of genetically modified foods, and green house emissions are some of the risks that have to be dealt with (Ropeik Gray 1). Besides having positively impacted the society, the world of technology has come with its own share of perils which are now causing fear and anxiety in the society. Planned attacks by gangsters, climate change and moral decay are also part of the challenges that have to be tackled. Over the years, discussions about risk have led to plenty of disagreements both in the political and social arenas (Borodzicz 1). Today, risk is seen to affect all areas of the economy with no exception. Human activities such as industrialization and deforestation have been blamed for the devastating effects of climate change that are posing a major risk to the existence of humanity. The health sector has also not been left behind. Outbreaks ranging from HIV/AIDS to H1N1 are slowing down progress in key sectors of the economy. Despite all these happening, discussions on the topic of risk are still considered to be less developed (Borodzicz 1). Not so long ago, there existed very little connection between security and crime. With recent developments that have resulted in scores of people losing their lives, stakeholders are compelled to go back to the drawing board and come up with better strategies of handling security risk at all levels. This was accelerated by the 9/11 and the London railway terrorist attacks which also led to massive loss of lives (Zedner et al 200-14). Zedner also argues that since our lives are controlled by security to a great extent, managing security should also be a very importa nt undertaking for all (Zedner et al 200-14). Cultural changes have also been encountered as a result of technological transformations throughout the world. It has, however, been observed that various components of culture do not change at the same pace. Whenever a change happens in the material culture of a society for example, the non-material culture must also follow suit and change accordingly (Kendall 58).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Risk and Technological Advancements specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Understanding and Measuring Risk Despite the fact that one will encounter so many contradictions when trying to define what risk really is, a popular belief held by many is that risk is the probability of experiencing loss or injury of some sort. Risk is also defined as the uncertainty which exists about the end result of an event (Figlewski Levich 4). It is the assumption that something, usually bad, cou ld happen. To be complete, the definition of risk must include the presence of a hazard which is seen as the expected negative outcome of the risk (Ropeik Gray 4). Cohrssen and Covello also define risk as being the possibility that one will suffer from a hazard (7). Faced with risk, most of us begin to worry and make plans while thinking about what might probably be the end result of an event (Karen Marilyn 19). Studies have shown that due to globalization, many risks are shared by all throughout the world. While some of the risks are considered new there are others that have been in existence for a very long time (Ale, 1). Disease outbreaks for example have been a part of the society for ages and immensely threaten the existence of mankind. Although the move in technological advances has led to increased risk in different parts of the world, other observations very clearly show that the increase is quite high in the industrialized world (Burger 1). Bouchet, Clark and Groslambert a lso noted that the risks that are faced by different countries never took center stage for a very a long time until recently (ix). Based on experience and viewpoint, people will have different understandings of risk. Adams states that we all develop skills of dealing with risk right from childhood. Through experimentation, children come across so many situations as they begin to learn how to crawl and later walk and talk. Unaware of the risks involved and completely unsure of what to expect, they make decisions and move on (1). Confusion and differences in opinion between governments, industries, communities and campaign groups are considered to be a result of the way different people will attempt to explain what risk is (Adams 1). Our own individual perceptions about risk may also negatively influence us to make decisions that could be totally wrong. In most parts of Africa for example, many people consider the harsh realities of climate change to be a demonstration of God’s anger towards mankind whereas the truth is that changes in climate are mainly due to the destructive activities of man. Personal views will also dictate how different people will react to situations given the same conditions. If felling down trees in the forest for instance is perceived to bring about drought, the reaction by a farmer in the country side will completely differ from that of a person living in the city. While the farmer might see a threat to his or her livelihood, the city resident will probably not even be moved by the pronouncement. Ropeik and Gray also argue that the way we behave in the face of risk is determined by how we recognize and respond to dangerous situations (2).Advertising Looking for essay on other technology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Arnoldi, people are exposed to so many risks that are little known to them. Arnoldi places the onus on scientists who through research have a key role to play in ensuring that lay people are made aware of the different risks that man is faced with (3). Based on the nature of risk under consideration, individuals have been seen to respond differently and researchers in various fields have also come up with a number of parameters seen to influence the way people will perceive risk (Cohrssen Covello 9). Although it is quite difficult to tell what is bound to happen in the future, there is an argument that financial risk as a result of uncertainty can be easily controlled. As opposed to the earlier economies, it is now easier to identify risk in newer economies (Crouhy, Galai Mark 1). Several approaches can be adopted when it comes to measuring risk. Karen and Marilyn argue that risk is measured based on the information passed to us either through the media or experts, on the possibility of risks occurring (19). Scientists on the other hand are found to give measurements that are informed by research they carry out. Das argues that without having an elaborate means of measurement, the management of risk cannot be effective achieved (505). The process of controlling risk in organizations therefore presumes that such a mechanism exists. A study by Ricci indicates that risk can be measured by considering the probability of an outcome of some specified magnitude (18). Among others, he explains that the components of risk management will include; identifying the hazard, assessing the level of exposure to risk, and risk management actions (19). Managing Risk Das defines risk management as the act of identifying and putting an actual figure on risk (505). In the recent past, the subject of risk management has gained a lot of importance and is considered to be very critical to sound financial management (Das 3). To a very large extent, the management of ris k will differ from one organization o another and this is determined by what the organization has chosen decide will be an acceptable level of risk. Risk management is recognized by many as the force driving the business world today (Crouhy, Galai Mark 1). A common trend these days, is to address risk through the help of specialized research work. Statistical approaches are now being supplemented by works of research in the economic sector (Luhmann Barrett). Bernstein argues that the capacity to manage risk and the desire to take risk and make decisions to forge ahead form the main foundation of a growing economy (3). According to Borge’s arguement, the main reason as to why people will embark on managing risk is not to merely find the reason for what happened in the past but to ensure a secure future (6). People are known to react differently in the face of surprises and this also applies to the management of risk in different areas. If one is considered a fatalist, he or she may assume a surrendered attitude and will simply agree to deal with things as they. A fatalist will go with the flow of events and will spend time worrying about what is to come. Fanatics on the other hand have a tendency to face the future with a lot of certainty and with a strong belief that things will turn out for them as they expect. Others, however, like to take a much more practical attitude when dealing with uncertain situations. According to scientists, for example, uncertainties in life are due to ignorance (Borge 7). A very good example is the belief held by most people in Africa about the biting effects of climate change. Most strongly believe that it is an act of God and lay no blame on human beings. An environmentalist on the other hand, well informed by his or her research work, will seek to explain the actual problem by pointing out that man’s activities have played a big role in messing up the environment. According to Cohrssen and Covello, people will m ake use of what is generated through the processes of identifying or assessing risk together with other available information to decide on the approach that should be taken to eliminate or reduce risk (8). Teaf, Yessekin and Khankhasaev argue that for effective evaluation of the environment, risk assessment, risk management and risk communication must all be taken into consideration (1). The ultimate goal of risk management is seen to be the protection of both public health and the environment. A variety of techniques may be used to achieve this (Teaf, Yessekin and Khankhasaev 6). A study by Linkov and Ramadan shows that there are two different outlooks that contribute to the management of risk. First, there is the economic concern that will prompt us to want to measure the expected utility instead of looking at the likely consequence. Later, we get to weigh both the risks and the probable benefits. The other viewpoint is the based on psychological considerations. This takes into ac count the fact that risk is multidimensional and it goes ahead to emphasize that we have to make use of tactics that will direct us to act in a different way than is expected by public (4). Theories about Risk There are several theories that exist regarding risk. Besides theories presented by Mary Douglas, Ulrich Beck, and Governmentality, which are seen as being dominant in the study about risk, other theories have also been fronted by the likes of Niklas Luhnmann and Anthony Giddens (Arnoldi 62). In collaboration with several others, Mary Douglas came up with what is referred to as the cultural theory of risk. Her work was inspired by the structures that exist in all cultures. She uses her background as an anthropologist to explain the concept of risk. According to Douglas, every culture has its own good and bad. Douglas also notes that while what is considered good or bad varies from culture to culture, clear differences of these two can be noticed in all cultures (Arnoldi 38). D ouglas’ theories are very much in line with how men and women will view risk. Many people seem to understand risk from what their culture teaches. The many customs that exist in Africa today can help to explain this concept clearly. Fear of the dead for example has forced quite a number of people to get involved in activities that are meant to â€Å"cleanse them†. Serious cultural fanatics will get affected when they do not do what their culture requires of them. In his theory, Beck first draws a distinction between industrial and society risks. He then goes on to argue that a wide range of risks such as climate change that are considered to be the result of technological advances are very vital when it comes to defining the risk society (Arnoldi 46). Here, Beck also points out the fact the damage may not be seen immediately and it may take a very long time for the effects to be felt. Foucault makes use of the term governmentality so as to reveal the changes in the nat ure of government (Arnoldi 53). Foucault was driven into action by the gradual development seen in the new way of governing. Arnoldi also argues that in line with Douglas’ study, risks are to be potential eternal dangers to the society. Under governmentality, risks provide a means to make the social environment, a field that will create room for governments to intervene (58). Looking at the above discussion on theories, we can conclude that while many people may relate quite well with Douglas’ cultural risk theory, the other two theories by Beck and Foucault may be a bit complex for the common man to understand. As people get to concentrate more on planning for the future, traditions as well as vital relationships that sustained the society in the past get eroded (Swift Callahan 22). Sources of Information about Risk There are a number of credible sources of information about the subject of risk. In the study undertaken by Ropeik and Gray, science is considered to be a major source of information about risk though coupled with a lot of uncertainty (8). In spite of the doubts that exist, history shows that the results of scientific research can be very reliable. Without the intensive work of research done by scientists, it would be a nightmare for people to determine what risks they face. Scientist’s activities help so much in opening people’s eyes to the effects of risk as brought about by technological advances. Though affected by some level of propaganda, the media is another reliable source of information about risk. The success of the media is greatly enhanced by the fact that most of the time, information is presented backed by real life situations and these drive their message home very well. Watching television for example, one is able to receive information about different occurrences as they actually happened. We get to see the so many dangers that face all of us such as road accidents, drought, armed robberies, terrorist attacks, and human trafficking, to name but a few. Through the media, for example, we are made aware of incidences taking placed all over the world including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados and disease outbreaks among others. With this very important information being available, one can make then make decisions that will that help them stay away from any form of trouble unless it cannot be avoidable. Examples of Risky Undertakings and their Dangers to Humanity There are a number of activities that human beings engage in and these expose them to serious risks. As human beings go about their day to day business looking for means to survive, they are often faced with all forms of risk. While some of these risks are as a matter of choice and can therefore be avoided, there are others that have to be done for one to survive (Beck 19). In a case where one has to eat, there is no opting out of an activity because of the risk involved. In the olden days men will go out hunting for game me at oblivious of the fact that they might be attacked by ferocious animals (Ale 3). Again, all because of wanting to make ends meet, most people in the developing nations have engaged in mining of natural resources. By so doing, they have exposed themselves to serious risks and quite a number have lost lives. This situation is worsened by poverty and high levels of unemployment that leave people with no option but to overlook the dangers associate with these activities. We are all familiar with the devastating effects of the HIV/AIDS outburst that has claimed millions of lives already. This is a major concern to many economies and governments are forced to spend millions of dollars to deal with the repercussions. Employers have also lost so many valuable employees to this scourge. Many parents have succumbed to death because of HIV/AIDS and this has seen the number of orphans across the globe swell. Given that many organizations are now offering expensive trainings to equip their emp loyees, the loss of a single employee is deemed to be very expensive. Even though stakeholders are working so hard to mitigate the effects of HIV/AIDS, the fight against the pandemic is far from over. New infections are still being recorded and with the high level of poverty in the developing nations, people will tend to do anything just to survive. Perhaps the worst cases are those involving terrorists’ attacks. Globally, thousands of people have lost their lives through acts of terrorism. This has seen different nations turn to commercial policing so as to ensure that they will be able to get to the root of the problem. Hamilton argues that although watchmen were forced to join this band wagon, private policing turned out to be such a brilliant idea and was embraced by several countries (141). Similarly Britain and other parts of the European world have resorted to commercial forms of policing so as to deal with challenges that face them (Johnston 123 – 134). A study by Arnoldi shows the heavy use of pesticides in farming as one of the side effects of technology and using the pesticides exposes human beings to grave dangers (3). Conclusion Following from this discussion it is very clear that we are certainly living in a world that is more dangerous than before. Though technological advancements have resulted into improved ways of living, this is has been accompanied with major risks to humanity. The issue of climate change is a man made disaster that is slowly eating us up and threatens to disturb life in the long run. Industrial activities especially in the developed nations are creating huge deposits of green house emissions into the sky that are responsible of global warming. Criminals are now also able to plan and successful executed their wicked schemes to harm others making life almost impossible. In the words of Beck, we actually are living in a world where no one is truly in-charge. We are all tossed back and forth with uncertainties th at make it so hard to make decisions. Works Cited Adams, John. Risk. London: UCL Press, 1995. Print. Ale, Ben J. M. Risk: An Introduction: The Concepts of Risk, Danger and Chance. New York: Routledge, 2009. Print. Arnoldi, Jakob. Risk. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2009. Print. Beck, Ulrich. Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. London: Sage Publications, 1992. Print. Bernstein, Peter L. Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, Inc., 1998. Print. Borge, Dan. The Book of Risk. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, Inc., 2001. Print. Borodzicz, Edward. Risk, Crisis Security Management. Hoboken: John Wiley Sons, Inc., 2006. Print. Bouchet, Michel H., Clark, Ephraà ¯m and Groslambert, Bertrand. Country Risk Assessment: A Guide to Global Investment Strategy. West Sussex: John Wiley Sons Ltd, 2003. Print. Burger, Edward J. Risk. Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1993. Print Cohrssen, John J. and Covello, Vincent T. Risk Analysis: A Guide to Principles and Meth ods for Analyzing Health and Environmental Risks. U.S: DIANE Publishing, 1999. Print. Crouhy,  Michel., Galai, Dan and Mark, Robert. The Essentials of Risk Management. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2006. Print. Das, Satyajit. Risk management, Volume 1. Singapore: John Wiley Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd, 2006. Print. Edwards, Peter J. and Bowen, Paul A. Risk Management in Project Organisations. Oxford: Elsevier, 2005. Print. Figlewski, Stephen and Levich, Richard M. Risk Management: The State of the Art. Massachusetts: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2002. Print. Hamilton, Sheilah E. Watching over Hong Kong: Private Policing 1841-1941. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2008. Print. Johnston, Les. Policing Britain: Risk, Security and Governance. U.K: Longman, 2000. Print. Karen, Swift and Marilyn, Callahan. At Risk: Social Justice in Child Welfare and Other Human Services. Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2009. Print. Kendall, Diana. Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials. New York : Cengage Learning, 2010. Print. Linkov, Igor and Ramadan, Abou. B. Comparative Risk Assessment and Environmental Decision Making. Dordrecht: Kluwer academic Publishers, 2005. Print. Luhmann,  Niklas and Barrett, Rhodes. Risk: A Sociological Theory. New York: Walter de Gruyter Co., 1993. Print. Ricci, Paolo F. Environmental and Health Risk Assessment and Management: Principles and Practices. Dordrecht: Springer, 2006. Print. Ropeik, David and Gray, George M. Risk: A Practical Guide for Deciding What’s Really Safe and What’s Dangerous in the World Around You. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2002. Print. Swift, Karen and Callahan, Marilyn. At risk: social justice in child welfare and other human services. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009. Print. Teaf, Christopher M., Yessekin, Bulat. K., Khankhasaev, M. Kh. Risk Assessment as a Tool for Water Resources Decision-Making in Central Asia. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004. Print. Zedner, Lucia., H ope, Tim and Sparks, Richard. Crime, Risk and InSecurity. New York: Routledge, 2000. Print. This essay on Risk and Technological Advancements was written and submitted by user AlvinMaker to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

What US Census Takers Do

What US Census Takers Do Americans who, for whatever reason, do not complete and return a Census Bureau questionnaire can expect a personal visit from a census taker or enumerator.What do the enumerators census takers have to do? According to Census Bureau Director Kenneth W. Prewitts April 5, 2000 testimony to the House Subcommittee on the Census, Each enumerator is given a binder of addresses in that area that includes all those addresses for which we have not received a completed questionnaire. Because houses without numbers and street name addresses can be difficult to find, enumerators in rural areas also receive maps that have the housing unit locations spotted on them. The enumerator must go to each address in the assignment area to complete the appropriate questionnaire (either short form or long form) for the housing unit and its occupants. Census Taker Key Takeaways Census Takers, or â€Å"Enumerators,† are employees of the U.S. Census Bureau who visit the homes of individuals who do not complete and return a census questionnaire. The Census Taker will interview any available adult member of the household in order to complete the census questionnaire.The Census Taker will make at least six attempts to visit the home, contact a resident, and complete the questionnaire.Like all Census Bureau employees, Census Takers are strictly prohibited by law from divulging any information gathered and may be fined and imprisoned for doing so. For each address, the enumerator must: Interview a household member at least 15 years of age and completes the assigned questionnaire. If the unit was occupied by a different household on Census Day, the enumerator completes a questionnaire for the occupants who lived there on Census Day by interviewing a knowledgeable person, such as a neighbor.If the current occupants were not enumerated elsewhere, the enumerator will also complete a census questionnaire for them for their Census Day address.If the housing unit was vacant on Census Day, the enumerator completes appropriate housing questions on the questionnaire by interviewing a knowledgeable person, such as a neighbor or apartment house manager.If the housing unit was demolished or otherwise nonexistent under census definitions, the enumerator completes a questionnaire that provides the reason why the unit should be deleted from the census address list, by interviewing a knowledgeable respondent such as a neighbor or apartment house manager. What if nobody's home? Will the census taker just go away? Yes, but he or she will most certainly be back. The enumerator must make up to six attempts to contact the resident and complete a questionnaire.If no one is home at an occupied housing unit, the enumerator obtains as much information as possible about how to contact the occupants from a neighbor, building manager, or another source.The enumerator also leaves a notice at the address that they have visited and provides a telephone number so the occupant can call back.The enumerator then makes up to two additional personal visits (3 in all) and three telephone attempts at contacting the household before obtaining as much information as possible to complete the questionnaire from a knowledgeable source. Enumerators are instructed to make their callbacks on different days of the week and at different times of day.The enumerator must maintain a record of callbacks that lists each type of callback made (telephone or personal visit) and the exact date and time it occurred. Enumerators are expected to obtain complete interviews but must o btain at least the status (occupied or vacant) and the number of people living in the unit. If the enumerator submits a questionnaire that contains this minimal level of data, the crew leader must check the enumerators record of callbacks for the housing unit to determine that procedures were properly followed. The crew leader also holds these cases for possible further follow-up to obtain more complete data. Crew leaders meet daily with each enumerator to pick up and check completed work.Crew leaders are expected to make sure that the enumerators produce quality work at a rate of 1 to 1.5 completed questionnaires per hour depending on the type of area covered. Crew leaders check each completed questionnaire for completeness and accuracy.In order to prevent falsification of the data by enumerators, a percentage of each enumerators work is verified for accuracy by a re-interview staff. This staff verifies a sample of each enumerators work and may also verify additional questionnaires from enumerators whose work differs significantly from that of other enumerators working for the same crew leader. An enumerator who is discovered falsifying data is dismissed immediately and all the work must be redone by another enumerator. And so it goes until a completed census questionnaire has been completed and turned into the local census office for every housing unit address in America.Like all other employees of the Census Bureau, enumerators are subject by law to severe penalties including imprisonment for divulging information outside of the required scope of their job. And remember, answering all census  questionnaires is required by law.   Census Taker Jobs for the 2020 Census With the 2020 Census fast approaching, the U.S. Census Bureau is now recruiting, hiring, and training thousands of people nationwide for temporary jobs.To be eligible for all 2020 Census job, you must:Be at least 18 years old.Have a valid Social Security number.Be a U.S. citizen.Have a valid email address.Complete an application and answer assessment questions. (Some assessment questions are available in Spanish. However, an English proficiency test may also be required.)Be registered as required by law with the Selective Service System or have a qualifying exemption, if you are a male born after Dec. 31, 1959.Pass a Census-performed criminal background check and a review of criminal records, including fingerprinting.Commit to completing training.Be available to work flexible hours, which can include days, evenings, and/or weekends.For most jobs- especially Census Taker- applicants must:Have a valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle, unless public transportation is read ily available; andHave access to a computer with internet and an email account (to complete training).Persons interested in part or full-time census jobs may apply online at the Census Bureau’s very secure Census Careers Site. The application process takes about 30 minutes. You will need to provide your Social Security number, home address, email address, phone number, and your date and place of birth.

Report on order entry points in the spectrum of supply management Coursework

Report on order entry points in the spectrum of supply management - Coursework Example Review of all the references quoted in my report and eliminated those which obstructed the flow of the report 5. I have also reviewed the relevancy of the case studies and made improvement over them. 6. At the end I would like to say big thanks to Dr. Rob Dekkers who help me and made me to produce such a model report. Table of contents Summary5 Introduction...6 Evolution of the Concept of Order Entry Point ........8 Research Methodology and Scope of the Report ..............................................9 Customer Order Decoupling Points - Concept and the Basics ..10 Customer Order Entry Point as Distinguished From Customer Order Decoupling point 16 Order Entry Point and Its Control Capability for Logistics ......17 O.E.P. and its effects on Supply Chain Management ..........20 Case Study23 Order Entry Point and Engineering Management ..25 Case Study27 Production Management Perspective in Order Entry Point ......28 Case Study29 Logistics Control and Physical Distribution 30 Case Study31 Conclusion ...33 10.0 References ...34 11.0 Glossary ..38 LIST OF FIGURS Figure # Description Page # 1 Order Entry Matrix. 13 2 Manufacturing Process and CODP 15 3 Representation of material Decoupling Point 22 4 Comparison of Material and Information Decoupling points within a Supply Chain 22 5 Changes that can be expected by a firm by implementing the Modular Design 26 SUMMARY: A firm to be successful in the global environment should manage its supply chain in such a way that the problems caused by distance, language, time ones, business practices, tariffs and other impediments to an efficient flow materials are eliminated or minimized to the maximum possible extent. Irrespective of... Report on order entry points in the spectrum of supply management Case studies enlightening the excellence and achievements in various fields of management are also included to make the report more interesting to the reader. Unlike the earlier reports, this one encompasses the relationship of order entry point to different fields of management like supply management, engineering management, production management and logistics and distribution which makes the report unique. A firm to be successful in the global environment should manage its supply chain in such a way that the problems caused by distance, language, time ones, business practices, tariffs and other impediments to an efficient flow materials are eliminated or minimized to the maximum possible extent. Irrespective of the time of placing the order or providing complete details with respect to his expectations, the customer always wants his delivery in the appointed time and date. The delivery date for the final product or service appears to be a strong concrete wall which will never move and every person and process walking towards this wall has to adjust their course of movements such that there is no direct hit against wall. An efficient distribution management has resulted in a higher sales turnover for ‘Timberland’ from $ 293 million in 1992 to $862 million in 1998. Based on the increase in the demand for boots and other products, the company made a reengineering of inventory management and distribution processes. With this reengineering process the company reduced the number of distribution centers to three from the unwieldy state of having thirteen distribution centers spread allover the country.

Foundations of Microeconomics Consumers and Firms Essay

Foundations of Microeconomics Consumers and Firms - Essay Example The output of the plant is 300,000 units per day at a cost of $30 per unit. The total revenue per day is 300,000 * $30 = $9,000,000. According to Parkin (2005), "A firm shuts down if the price falls below the minimum of average variable cost. The shutdown point is the output and price at which the firm just covers its total variable cost" (p.244). As we can see, the total revenue exceeds the variable costs and it would be recommended to continue to produce. If sales continue to stagnate and drop, there will come a point at which shutdown will be advisable. When sales have reduced to the 250,000 unit level, it will be necessary to begin layoffs. The revenue at that point would be 250,000 * $30 = $7,500,000 and equal to the variable cost. To avoid shutdown, labor costs would need to be reduced. The relationship between a change in price and the change in demand is known as elasticity. If a change in price results in no change in demand, this is known as perfectly inelastic demand (Parkin 2005 p. 84). This would be seen in the market for necessities such as electricity or heating fuel. If the ratio of price change is equal to the change in demand, this is known as unit elastic demand (Parkin 2005 p.84). With some items, such as food, an increase in price only results in a small change in demand. Consumers will cut back, but not eliminate, the product. This is known as inelastic demand (Parkin 2005 p.84). ... The demand change is equal to 10 / 30 * 100 = 33.33%. The change in demand has a larger percentage decrease than the percentage of increase in price and is an elastic demand. Part Three As a policy maker concerned with correcting the effects of gases and particulates emitted by and local power plant, I would first look to command and control regulations. This is the simplest approach for the government and would transfer the cost of reducing the emissions to the consumer and the firm. While this may be the simplest, it may not be acceptable to environmentalists or the parties burdened with the cost. It is also difficult to enforce. Vouchers are another method that should be considered. However, since the problem is a local power plant, the tactic might be ineffective. The firm could purchase vouchers and still continue to discharge pollutants. Charging an emissions fee for the amount discharged may be viewed as a penalty or fine for polluting and would be a cost passed on to the consumers. Taxing the pollutants would have the advantage of providing an economic incentive for compliance. These taxes, known as Pigovian taxes, can be useful in getting a firm to act as if they are bearing the total cost of the externalities (Parkin 2005 p.348). The tax method seems to be the most efficient. Under the tax method, the tax rate is set at the cost of the externalities. The pollutants fall to the point that the cost to produce plus the tax reaches market equilibrium. Polluting above that point raises the cost beyond the marketable price. This would efficiently control the discharge and put the money in the hands of the government to be used to cover the external costs or tax reduction. References Parkin, M. (2005). Microeconomics (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson

The Hazards Of Smoking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Hazards Of Smoking - Essay Example   The cigarette has been part of man kind's evolutionary journey for a long while now. In the present day, it holds an entire industry in form of tobacco industry. Established cartels, business enterprises, firms, stake holders, suppliers, and investors are associated with this business.   National, international and multinational operational operations are conducted and across the continent exchange of cigarette products is performed.   Governments issue proper licenses for its promotions, it's selling, its usage for trade and other purposes. A large amount of investment alone in the field of advertisement of tobacco and cigarette is done and every local media in different parts of the world have been enrolled into it. Hence it is a menace that has spread its web firm and strong and has become an integral part of every society and mainly the male members of respective societies.  The path forward:  Having mentioned its vastly spread network, a vigorous policy must be devis ed to ensure that the menace can be eradicated and controlled in a contained manner in order to protect the precious lives from it.   The alarming fact about it is the point that it induces its impact into others through passive smoking and inhaling. It is being said that through the passive smoking, the people in the vicinity are nearly or equally prone to the threat of its dangers. Smoking, in general, is a very dangerous thing and poses threats to health and the human body in many forms.

Cultural Distance Measurement And Its Impact Marketing Essay

Cultural Distance Measurement And Its Impact Marketing Essay In todays globalised world economy, the nations are becoming extremely cross-cultural. A better understanding of global consumer culture and its influences on consumer behaviour will play an integral role for both international marketers and consumer researchers to penetrate new international markets. The role of cultural difference in the present cross-cultural environment is taken into consideration for localizing marketing strategies (Kroeber and Kluckhohn, 1952). The designing of international marketing strategies and understanding the local market cultures is a challenge for new consumer researchers to understand and analyse the needs of foreign consumers. It is essential to understand the aspects of cultural dimensions to assess the impact of culture on consumer decisions, as the culture tends to manipulate the decisions of the consumer based on cultural value system (Akaka and Alden, 2010). This cultural value system acts as a guide for interactions within the members of the s ociety and between the consumer and its products. What is culture? According to Hofstede (2001), the culture is defined as, the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one group or category of people from another. This definition focusses on the etic approach, where the researchers look for universal or culture free concepts and its theories. However, the emic methodology is an alternative approach focussing on the subject being researched and understanding its issues. Culture is defined emically as, the lens through which all phenomena are seen. It determines how these phenomenas are adopted and assimilated Luna and Gupta (2001). In fact, there are several models of culture differences which are utilized to determine the framework of culture in shared groups or in a group acting as an interpretive model of consumer behaviour. This paper evaluates the culture dimension models proposed by Hofstede (2001) and House (2004) and the impact of different cultures in global consumer market. Some people may argue that culture is a shared idea, yet with different value sets, influenced by cross cultural beliefs. Within the reality of intercultural communication, the behavioural pattern followed by one society is integral to the basic concept of culture (McSweeney, 2002). Hofstede categorized culture into five different dimensions such as power distance, individualism/collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/feminity, and long term/short term orientation. The market researchers implemented Hofstedes cultural dimensions to the communications related to digital technology. Javidan et al. (2004), for instance, recognized individualism/collectivism which is one of the cultural dimensions proposed by (Hofstede, 2001), through a text based transcript of courses listserv (University online portal). They noticed that students from individualist culture behaved differently than the students from collectivist culture while communicating in listserv. The white American students, especially males were discovered to be more individualistic in their approach as compared to the Asian students who were more group oriented displaying a strong sense of we approach in their messages. This study showed that organizational communication through internet authenticated the influence of different cultural traits on the students behavioural pattern, belonging to different national cultures. Furthermore, Chiou (1999) conducted market research in the United States and Taiwan which resulted into findings that consumers in individualist cultures used products to demonstrate thei r inner values, while in collectivist cultures the consumers were more influenced to utilize the product to reinforce the social relationships. In an international public relations situation, the presence of power distance factor was also confirmed by other researchers, where power distance played an integral role in terms of product crisis. For example, the Coca Cola tainting crisis in Belgium in 1999. The product was recalled as the consumers complained about the irregular taste and odour in the bottled products. Due to Symptoms of reported illness, the Belgian Health Ministry banned the products of the Coca Cola Enterprise. Approximately, 15 million cans and tinned products were recalled. The CEO of Coca Cola apologized to the Belgian Health Ministry, and posted notes in newspapers and addressed consumers through media. On 22nd June 1999, the Belgian Health Ministry lifted the ban on Coca Cola Enterprise, and the company provided premiums to 72,000 consumers (Johnson Peppas, 2003). This case exhibits high level of power distance between the government and the consumers, which demonstrates a strong response to the crisis as compared to the countries that exhibits low power distance. On the other hand, Steenkamp et al. (2001) studied the effect of national culture on shaping consumer perceptions. He argues that the relationship between the conceptual definition of Hofstedes dimension and its implementation to measure cultural dimensions is weak and unclear. The scores are based on the samples recorded from IBM employees, which do not represent their own country in the research. This model can be implemented in small scale industries and less developed countries. In addition, he also states that Hofstedes research is more focussed on work related values which makes the data time and context specific. Similarly, McSweeney (2002) argues that Hofstedes research displayed narrowness of the survey conducted on population limited to one organisation IBM. Although the survey was conducted in 66 countries where IBM subsidiaries were located, the data used to build national culture comparisons was considerably limited to feedbacks from sales-plus marketing employees of IBM. The survey was matched on an occupational and organisational basis which neglected the fact of the employees, which could display the extent to which they can represent their nationality and their respective cultures. The sense of clarity in Hofstedes research with respect to national culture is unclear. Average tendency depending on questionnaire responses from the employees in a single company, failed to justify Hofstedes claim that national average tendency of consumers matches the average tendency of the people in the cross cultural environment. On the other hand, another research programme came into existence which categorized culture into nine major dimensions such as uncertainty avoidance, power distance, institutional collectivism, in-group collectivism, gender egalitarianism, assertiveness, future orientation, performance orientation, humane orientation and six primary global factors for leadership behaviour (House et al. 2004). Project GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behaviour Effectiveness) mainly focussed on the performance of leadership behaviours in different cultural contexts (House and Javidan, 2004). This project determined culture into two distinct types: cultural values and its practices. According to House et al. (2004), firstly, societal culture might influence an implicit belief which creates a CLT (cultural leadership theory). Secondly, leadership behaviour and attributes is directly influenced by societal culture. Thirdly, leader behaviours and characteristics leads to leader acceptance and effectiveness, however this interconnection is guided by CLT. The GLOBE dimensions of culture are applicable at both the societal or organisational level. For instance, feminine values are more developed in Japanese culture as compared to masculine values. Emotions and sensitivity plays an important role in Japanese marketing. For example, in Japan the wife decides how much money her husband can spend on his daily expenditures (Tanouchi, 1983). This factor can manipulate the buying behaviour of the husband. This society exhibits higher scores on gender egalitarianism practices as women is in the position where she has authority over her male counterpart, and societies where the scores are low (e.g. India, Kuwait, Egypt) the involvement of women in decision making is low. No society can be depicted as true egalitarian society where we can discover equal opportunities for men and women. Furthermore, future orientation is also one of the dimensions of culture discussed by House in his GLOBE project, where it demonstrates a cultural trait of individuals in societies involved in future planning and investment (Ashkanasy et al., 2004). For example, Intel, the worlds leading manufacturer of microprocessors is planning to enter the mobile phone market. Its investment and planning is based on its competence of developing and designing of smartphones which can be used more like a computer. Value added features of voice capability with faster internet access on smartphones like computers using Intels low power atom microprocessors. Based on this new technology, Intel is hoping to become a major player in the field of mobile communications (Jobber, 2010). This case exhibits low scores on the aspect of future orientation culture dimension proposed by House (2004). Intel wanted to invest on the technology to achieve market share and gain profit in the current market situation. The degree to which individual or the organisation has the propensity to save for the future requirements that society scores high on the future orientation dimension of culture According to recent study, Okazaki et al. (in press) scrutinized how soft sell versus hard sell techniques of advertising was interpreted by Japanese versus Unites States consumers. Using performance orientation and assertiveness which are two dimensions of culture in GLOBE study, it assessed the effectiveness of the ads in two societies. The results showed a variable response across the two cultures. The hard sell approaches are more persuasive for American consumers while soft sell advertising approaches are more favourable for Japanese consumers. This study shows that US consumers are more assertive and believe in performance oriented values. On the other hand, Japanese consumers are more likely to achieve irritation by hard selling ads because the ads were perceived as too aggressive, and too achievement oriented. This study exhibits multiple dimensions of GLOBE such as assertiveness and performance orientation. It also provides an idea about the perspective of advertising consid ering different culture practices and values. By the above mentioned interaction models proposed by (Hofstede, 1980b) and (House, 2004), culture can be segmented into cultural values and practices, corresponding to consumer behavioural pattern influenced by their own culture. The cultural difference need to be identified in the global marketing situation, because it gives an idea of understanding local cultures which authenticates a deeper understanding of consumption pattern in a specific situation. The understanding of culture distance also helps to build a relationship between the product or service and the consumers. Failure in understanding culture difference may lead to catastrophic ramifications. For example, Halal meats in fast food outlets. Halal is an Arabic word which means lawful, which denotes that animal, should be slaughtered by a Muslim and invokes the name of Allah as the animal, dies. Belgium has the largest Halal meat processing plants as the number of Muslim population is increasing in the European region. The fast food outlet such as McDonalds, KFC therefore has halal certification where there is low risk of contamination from pork products. Due to which fast food business has established quickly and is a growing trend in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia accounts of 15% of food sales through fast food business which has grown over the last 5 years. (Usunier and Lee, 2005, p. 279). Similarly in countries like Malaysia, for example, fast food outlets such as Pizza Hut and KFC are advised by Syariah council to ensure that all overseas food supply and food production is Halal meat. The fast food companies identified the cultural importance and its difference with respect to Muslim traditions, and to attract the Muslim consumers they started with the Halal system, and posted notes and hoarding in front of the outlets which said that they follow the tradition of Halal meat. As a result, fast food outlets identified the cultural difference and gained market share in the global food sector. Another example which demonstrates cultural difference playing an important role in manipulating consumer behaviour is in the womens beauty sector. This sector consists of segments which provide brands with immense of opportunities to target specific groups. LOreal, for example, with its tag line Because youre worth it targets women who believe that they deserve to be self indulgence and pampering. Such niche targeting has made the brand into one of the leading players in the cosmetic market. However, on the other hand, Unilever entered the beauty market but chose not to compete with LOreal directly. Alternatively, it categorized women into different belief segments who oppose against beauty stereotypes. Dove promoted its product with its Campaign for Real Beauty where images of women do not match the tall, thin and young category. The brand created a different belief system by promoting workshops to help young girls with body related low self esteem. Dove successfully created a democratic view in the mind of the consumers about beauty and identified the market segment by tapping the women culture based on beliefs. Implementation of this strategy led Dove to be a major player in this market segment (Jobber, 2010). Consumer electronics market on the other hand is typically culture free product segment as they are more technologically based product or service and universally used. Here, the culture context acts lower priority and consumer behaviour is similar with respect to cross-national environments (Usunier and Lee, 2005). However, there is an exception in developing countries in which consumer electronic goods are bonded with culture. For example in China, owning a colour TV is a requirement to marriage and they sometimes are willing to wait so that they are able to afford the best colour TV to display the social status before marriage. Sony Corporation took advantage of this culture system and launched 3D LED BRAVIA Colour TV in China. Owning this TV in China is considered to be respectful and wealthy. Sony tapped the Chinese market with Japanese technology which favoured the organisation to create a brand image and now it is one of the major consumer brands in China in terms of television and music industry (Usunier and Lee, 2005) Some organisations tend to enter the niche market by targeting a specific group of culture. For instance, Nike produces wide range of sports equipments and follows the hip hop culture and the youth culture to persuade consumers to buy their fashionable products. For market penetration, Nike signed contracts with famous professional teams and athletes casting them in their advertisements and persuading young generation to buy the same product as their sports ideal is utilizing them. Nike targeted the sporting culture in young generation who care more about the utility and quality of the product rather than price. This strategy provides them a huge platform to position their product in the consumer market. Athletes are the main consumers of Nike products. This sporting company segmented the market according to the consumers sporting culture; this strategy helped Nike to build product intimacy with the consumers and persuaded them to purchase the product by associating the brand with high profile athletes like Michael Jordan. The recognition of distinct sporting culture in the consumer market led Nike to be the leading company in the world to provide sporting goods (www.articlebase.com) To conclude, it has been observed that culture plays an integral role in consumer behaviour. The marketers adapt and standardize their product according to the culture, so that they can segment, target, and position their product in a specific group or in the market as a whole. The organisations who failed to identify the cultural distance in consumers, struggled with the concept of brand positioning in the global market situation. Cultural difference can be reduced by analysing the local environment and practices to create a brand relationship between the product and the consumers. The brand adoption process of a consumer is influenced by personal value and expressions in their purchase. The individuality of the consumers affects the brand value and their perceptions about the brand. The concept of Glocalisation where Globalisation meets Localisation is essential in order to help the marketers to customize their global brands according to the local needs and suit the local cultures. One of the most important culture bound tool of marketing mix is advertising. It is the strongest link between the companies and its consumers in marketing communications. The words and images used in advertising can influence the consumer in terms of his culture, as the advertising campaign does not depends on particular country or region. This strategy can create an impact on global consumer culture at a considerable extent provide the message is interpreted in the way What is said and How it is said by the brand. In this case, as mentioned above, the brands such as Sony, McDonalds, KFC, and Nike identified the global consumer culture and their trends which patronized them to create a brand image in the minds of the consumers. In addition, they also created a brand relationship whic h corresponds to the global consumer culture by global marketing operations.

Automobiles Essay -- Essays Papers Cars Driving Environment

Automobiles The invention of the automobile in the early 20th century has had an adverse affect on our environment. Our society has used technology in order to advance the automobile to make it better and more efficient. The automobile industry knows what sells and they take advantage of that. With this growing technology to advance automobiles also comes flaws. The biggest and most obvious flaw is pollution. Because of pollution, we find ourselves asking the question of whether this technology has helped our society more than it has hurt it. Automobiles are the cause of 60 percent of our air pollution today (Dewees 214). There are four main sources in which pollution comes from an automobile. The first, on a hot day the sun will heat the gas tank of the car, this in turn causes vapors from the gasoline to leak from the fuel tank. Second, when the car is simply running the engine becomes hot and causes the engine and exhaust system to release gasoline vapors. Third, after a car is turned off and parked, gasoline vapors continue to be emitted because the engine is still hot from running. And lastly, when you go to the gas station to refill your gas tank vapors are forced out of the tank into the air. Before we look at some alternative process' to help reduce or eliminate automobile pollution, we should try to understand how this occurs. This form of pollution is a direct result of the combustion process, also known as exhaust, and from fuel being evaporated into the atmosphere. The next step is to get a better understanding of the combustion process. The gasoline that we use to put into our cars are made of a mixture of hydrocarbons, hydrogen and carbon atoms. When we put the gasoline into our car, what is supposed ... ...s, an alternative solution needs to be made. We need to stop looking at cost efficiency in this matter and decide what is more important, a healthy world to live in or a cheap way to drive. WORKS CITED "Alternatively Fueled Vehicles." Environmental Health Center. http://www.nsc.org/EHC/mobile/alternat.htm (10 Oct.2000). "Automobile Emissions: An Overview." http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/05-autos.htm (10 Oct.2000). "Car Exhaust-Health Effects." Enviromned. Research. http://www.nutramed.com/environment/carsepa.htm (12 Oct.2000). "City Life: Fixing the Car." Crawford Systems. http://www.carfree.com/lif_fxcar_qz.html (8 Oct.2000) "Exhaustion: A guide to Transportation Emissions." Environment Canada. http://www.ec.gc.ca/emission/l-le.html (14 Oct.2000). "Motor Vehicles and the 1990 Clean Air Act." htpp://www.epa.gov/omswww/11-vehs.htm (15 Oct.2000)