Formal memo(globalization) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Formal memo(globalization) - Essay Example The concept also relies of consensus and cooperation among nations (Boudreaux 2007) The world globalization was already used in the 1960s, but its true meaning was not sought until the 1990s, and especially after 9/11. Its meaning is not altogether clear to everyone. Perhaps the best definition was found by the Carnegie Endowment website: ‘Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment, and aided by information technology’ (Boudreaux 2007). Most of the world’s cooperation is unintentional and unstructured, and comes in the form of trade, and perhaps the cooperation of providing aid to poor countries, or that following some catastrophic disaster. Many think of globalization as something that causes competition among the world’s countries and their commerce, trade and exchanges. What many hope that globalization will bring is a beneficial coordination of the plans and actions of millions of people around the wo rld, as a system of global cooperation. Healthy competition combined with a model of cooperation when it comes to resources, the environment, pooling of services, and provision of goods, seems like a great combination. A vast web (Boudreaux 2007) of cooperation seems plausible when we consider the speed of modern transportation and communication. It is necessary, to minimize ecological impact. The readings I plan to make have a potential of several deductions and conclusions, which will be of great interest to companies, trade groups, environmental movements, industry leaders, social forums, commercial syndicates and lobby groups. My proposal can reach a number of these, of which I shall make a list. To have the greatest reach, a website with relevant information would be a good goal. 3. Globalization, a book by Donald Boudreaux, which provides some relevant information about its

Colletes The Murderer and The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Essay Example for Free

Colletes The Murderer and The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe Essay Explore the similarities and differences between Colletes The Murderer and The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe. In this essay I will write about the Tell-Tale Heart which was written in the nineteenth century, and The Murderer which was written in the twentieth century. I will compare them in a number of ways; language, settings, suspense, characters In The Tell-Tale Heart the mood is typical of Edgar Allen Poe in that he wrote about murders in dark gothic houses this creates a mood of tension that something is about to happen suddenly and drives us to read faster and faster until suddenly the climax is upon the victims or sometimes, on a anti-climax. The narrator uses short sentences that are filled with active verbs to describe the story. Whereas the mood in The Murderer is quite calm and non-threatening. There is no haste to the words. This is very different to The Tell-Tale Heart. In The Tell Tale Heart the narrator does not tell us exactly where he is but he does tell us that there are creaky floor boards and heavy doors there are also mice. This leads us to believe that he is in a gothic house that is quite old. The narrator does not tell us about the weather directly but mention the wind in the chimney which suggest mid-winter. In the murderer there are a lot of different places, the murder scene, out side the newsagents, the flat where he slept and worked, each of them described in detail. The murder scene was a stationary notions shop as with the tell tale heart during the whole story there is only a few references to the weather such as a brief shower and that darkness cam suddenly apron them. The themes of the stories are both murders. The strangest one of the two stories is the murderer because the main character, Louis, kills his victim, for no reason that we know of, but there is a clear motive in the tell tale heart. The eye. The old mans evil eye this is the thing that drives the murderer to kills the old mans vulture eye the eye with a pale blue film over it. The main character in The Tell Tale Heart is a person who talks about him self a lot in the story ands says a few things like never before that night had I felt the extent of my powers. I think this person is insane (he spent an hour to look through a door) He is mostly in self-denial but he does say the disease has sharpened my senses -not destroyed them this becomes exenterated when he says he heard all the things in heaven because of the acute sense of hearing he has acquired from being mad. The main character of the tell tale heart is a mystery because they does not reveal their sex or their age, or any of their physical looks. Where in the murderer we know that Louis is good looking and has a swarthy face that girls like to smile at. I think that, whilst these authors have crated stories that are similar in theme they have there own way of introducing the characters and victims of the story. Also the setting is very different. I like them both for they are very griping and leave a great deal of the story to the readers imagination but my favourite is The Tell-Tale Heart because of the way the nature of the murderer is very well presented and has left me thinking about it. The very way that he calmly killed him with out no little voice in his head telling him what he is doing is wrong chills me to the bone. This is a little detail that Poe was very clear about for although he was insane (As I have pointed out before the evidence for this case is not in short supply) he was still a human being and as one of them I fell disturbed that one human can do that to a fellow human. Humans are the most dangerous species because of our actions. Our kind is the only ones that ill because they feel like it. Not because they are hungry or in danger but because of pure spite. This is one of the many dangers of free will and Poe and collate point this out in the most disturbing ways imaginable.

Essays --

â€Å"We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a mirror planet of a very average star. But we can understand the universe. That makes us something very special†-Stephen Hawking. At the age of 21, Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) which is a type of motor neuron disease that left him paralyzed. Hawking was given only a few years to live yet he powered through his disease. Hawking overcame this life threatening disability to become one of the most influential scientists of our modern day physics. Stephen Hawking has influenced physics by his incredible work and data explaining his revolutionary ideas evolving around black holes and their role in the universe. One of his influences to physics includes his work researching a certain type of radiation named after Hawking himself. Hawking radiation is the emission of particles of a black hole (Uehling). Hawking discovered that there are subatomic particles coming from the black hole which then releases a form of radiation. Because of Hawking’s discovery, we have learned more about how black holes can disappear. ...

Quality Physical Education

Physical education schools play a critical role in increasing physical activity by offering quality, daily physical education and other opportunities to recreate. Physical education is the only program that provides students with opportunities to learn motor skills, develop fitness, and gain understanding about the importance of physical activity. Physical education teaches children the skills they need to be active through out their lifetime. Physical education can also enhance academic learning. Regular aerobic exercise produces an increased number of capillaries servicing the brain, which allows for a greater exchange of nutrients and waste products. Additionally, physical education incorporates concepts of math, reading/English language arts, and science into the physical education realm. Technology has integrated into the curriculum with heart rate monitors, pedometers, and computer-based fitness stations. Another way physical education helps academic learning by children receiving additional physical education show an acceleration of their psychomotor development, and this could provide a mechanism for accelerated learning of academic skills. â€Å"Other potential mechanisms include increased cerebral blood flow, greater arousal, changes in hormone levels, enhanced nutrient intake, changes in body build, and increased self esteem,† as mention in the Pediatric Exercise Science (Shepard, 1997, p. 113). In other words, exercise boost oxygen and glucose delivery to the brain, which can help, improve brain function. Physical Education plays a critical role in educating the whole student. Like other academic courses of study, physical education is upon rigorous national standards that define what students should know and be able to do because of participation. Physical education improves children’s relationships with children in their classroom. Children learn how to play as a team player. Physical education includes all children, which helps the children think of others not just themselves. In a quality physical education program, students can achieve physical and individual benefits. Teamwork is very important in everyday life. Most professions are team-oriented style of work. Managers value teamwork because it results in a more cost-effective and useful organization. Physical education is for every child regardless of physical ability, ethnicity, gender, language, race, or religion, the opportunities not only to succeed in physical education, but also to develop a lifelong commitment the health benefits of physical activity. Teachers are able to manage the student’s time more effectively. Physical education prepares students to live physically active, healthy lives through learning experiences at school. International Society of Sport Psychology state, â€Å"Exercise can have beneficial emotional effects across all ages and for both sexes† (p. 183). The major reason for having physical education in secondary schools is to lead the students toward better lifestyles and to be physically fit. There was an article published in 1992 by, The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), stating what â€Å"The Physically Fit Person† should consist of. This article states five factors of a physical fit person. One factor is that a physically fit person â€Å"has learned skills necessary to perform a variety of physical activities. † The second factor â€Å"is the person physically fit. † The third factor is â€Å"does this person participates regularly in physical activity. † The fourth is a physically fit person â€Å"knows the implications of and the benefits from involvement in physical activity. † The last factor is that a physically fit person â€Å"values physical activity and its contributions to a healthful lifestyle. The plan as physical educators is to have each child be a physically fit person, by their exit of high school. Quality Physical Education means a planned program of instruction and activity for all students through the entire school year. Quality Physical Education programs are essential in helping students gain competence and confidence in a variety of movement forms such as: aquatics, dance, gymnastics, recreational and activities. It should provide a sound framework for the design and assessment that develop the students' motivation, fitness, cognitive, affective, and active lifestyle needs, and should focus on lifetime involvement. American Heart Association quote, â€Å"Today, about one of three American kids and teens are overweight or obese, nearly triple the rate in 1963 (American Heart Association Learn and Live – Healthier Kids) (2010). National Academics state, (2005), â€Å"If healthier students are, in fact, more attentive and academically successful students, then parents, principals, and policy makers alike may be supportive of obesity prevention efforts† (p. 6). â€Å"National Health Education Standards offer a coherent vision of what it means to be health literate. These Standards describe the knowledge and skills essential to the development of health literacy. That â€Å"knowledge† includes the most important and enduring ideas, issues, and concepts related to achieving good health. Those â€Å"skills† include the ways of communicating, reasoning, and investigating which characterize a health-literate person. National Standards are not a federal mandate nor do they define a national curriculum. The Standards are intended to serve as a framework for organizing health knowledge and skills into curricula at the state and local levels. † Here are the National Standards: Demonstrates competency in many movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms. Applies movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills. Exhibits a physically active lifestyle. Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. Demonstrates responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings. Demonstrates understanding and respect for differences among people in physical Activity settings. Understands that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self- expression and social interaction. Student involve in physical education will develop: †¢ Teamwork- the ability and willingness to work within a group for the good of the group. (leadership, trustworthiness. ) †¢ Cooperation- the ability and willingness to follow group or team strategies. (followership) †¢ Communication skills- knowing when to speak and when to listen in order to help the group achieve its goals. †¢ An awareness and appreciation of personal and group safety. †¢ Honesty- playing within the rules for the good of the group and game. †¢ Courage- the willingness to try new things to expand one's horizons. Goal setting ability- the willingness to set appropriately challenging goals for oneself and the group. †¢ Perseverance- the ability and willingness to continue pressing towards the goal in the face of normal adversity. †¢ Creativity- the ability to come up with solutions to problems and physical challenges. †¢ An increased level of agility, coordination, and physical fitness. Physical education is the only program that provides students with opportunities to learn motor skills, develop fitness, and gain understanding about the importance of physical activity. It is the aspect of education that contributes to the total growth and development of the child mostly through selected movement and physical activities. It also enhances academic learning, helps meet the overall elementary school mission, treats students with dignity and respect, and applies instructional and Physical education helps develop the whole child, including the child's cognitive development, physical Development, social development and helps develop psychomotor skills. The ultimate goal of physical education will always be participation in health-enhancing physical activity for a lifetime. References http://wilderdom.com/games/PhysicalActivities.html https://www.nap.edu/read/11461/chapter/2#1 http://www.educationworld.com/standards/national/nph/pe/k_12.shtml

Research Methadology

Research Topic Linking enhanced employee performance to the achievement of the company’s goals and objectives so as to generate increased productivity: The case of â€Å"SUBWAY†, Rathbone Place. Submitted by LOKEMAN HOSAIN MOLLAH ID – 0385VLVL0209 MBA-A Submitted to DR. BERNADETTE WARNER Submission date 26 august 2009 Acknowledgement First of all, I would like to take an opportunity to say thanks to Dr. Bernadette Warner who has vast knowledge about business strategy and international business, which is helpful to complete this proposal. Also I would like to say thanks to Mr Hmant Dixit, the operational director of â€Å"SONISH LTD† who helped me a lot to get information about subway and the employees of Subway in Rathbon Place, London. And I would like to give special thanks to Mr. Mamunur Roshed, area Manager,Sonish Ltd and Mr. Arifur Rahaman, Store Manager, Rathbonr Place for their cordial support. Table of contents Introduction Topic area Problem statement Background and purpose of the research Literature review Aims and Objectives of the research Research Questions Research Design and Methodology Sources and acquisition of data Data analysis Timetable About Subway Conclusion 1. Introduction In today’s business become more globalize, and competitive, for this reason it is very essential to find out a ways to make our organizational resources more creative and productive. In many organizations, the most important and exclusive resource is employee and as a result, a lot of time is spent on creating processes and conditions that drive and motivate our employees. And if we can motivate and encourage our employee then their performance will be good which is very important for an organization. Increasing employee performance can achieve maximum business performance, for this reason every individual employee has to work at their optimal level and be focused on the correct tasks. Effective Employee Performance Management (EPM) adoption empowers employees to take responsibility for their own productivity, and allows a business to fully align goals, activities and tasks to support the direction of the company. Employee Performance Management helps organizations improve both the processes and the productivity of managing a workforce. In most service organizations, attrition is critical to consistent performance and success. Employee Performance Management strategies can help your organization make dramatic business performance improvements and yield tremendous benefits beyond cost reductions. 2. Topic area The topic area is to cover the employee performance at Subway to achieve the company’s objectives and productivity This research will conduct correlate the gaps in individual performance and organizational productivity, with the environment that exists in Subway. 3. Problem statement To stay in a global market, organization need to have very high performing, productive, and motivated workforce ( Madhok & Phene , 2001 ) . However , the problem is that organization have not been able to effectively tap into and leverage the full potential of individuals, to enable them to operate at their peak / optimized level of performance. Consequently, most employees are under performing in organizations. The inability of an organization to use the full potential of an employee’s capacity has had a negative impact on the overall productivity and competitiveness organizations in a global market. (Check land, 1999). 4. Background and purpose of the research The purpose of this research is to determine how organization could become more productive, and thus competitive, by enabling their employees to raise their overall level of performance and productivity, and assist employees to operate at high level of capacity by adopting the best practices of top performing employees in the organization. Building on the work on Pratt and Foreman (2000), the author was interest in determining, in a systematic and holistic manner, the impact of any interrelated organizational factors or entities that had a positive or negative impact on individual performance. The present research initiated to address a key organizational issue and leveraged a number of fundamental questions – First, how can organization become capable of sustained high performance? Second, can organizations leverage the full potential of their employees? Third why do most employees in organizations work at 60% of the full capacity? Finally, why most employees about 90% of the total workforce, considered to be typical employees? (Boyett & Conn, 1995). We need a comprehensive approach to a style of management that enables every employee to aspire to excellence. Now only a few employees are excellent. Most employees are performing below their capacity and our piecemeal efforts to improve performance aren’t working. (Boyett & Conn, 1995) 5. Literature review In the literature review will provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature on individual performance, organizational productivity, and connection that may exist between these two. This overview will include a review and analysis of the seminal books and articles as well as many of the most current books and articles on the subject. In a general and broad sense, this review revealed that individual performance and organizational productivity can be affected by five key factors: leadership /management, the nature of the job itself, the environment of the job, personal drivers or factors and the individual’s emotional intelligence. When observed in isolation, each of these factors can have a positive or negative impact on individual performance. However, when combined and observed holistically it quickly becomes apparent to this that the leadership/ management factor can have a positive or negative impact on how the other four factors are shaped . The section that immediately follows will briefly introduce each of these five factors followed by a section that is devoted to exploring these five factors in greater detail. 5. 1Management / Leadership Elements and impact Numerous studies have shown that management and leadership style, practices and approach can have an influence on individual performance and motivation. (Khaliq, 2001) Leader ship has been defined as, the ability to influence or inspire others to do something that needs to be done. It is instilling in each employee a sense of belonging and commitment towards the achievement of the goals and objectives of the organization and leaders are the catalysts that stimulate employees to develop their potential to the full. This section will provide Comprehensive review of the role, the significance, and the effect of management and / or leadership practices on individual performance, motivation and their overall development in organizations. A comprehensive review of the current literature includes recent books and articles that deal with this subject . Finally this review will include the various leadership and management styles approaches and characteristics that have a profound impact on individual motivation and performance. (Khaliq, 2001, p. 5) Khaliq (2001), compared the motivational and performance factors of the workforce in the United States to that of the Malay, Chinese and Indian workers employed by the Malaysian companies. He concluded many of the leadership approaches that dealt with the concepts of openness, direct confrontation nd / or challenging the process were in direct opposition to many of eastern cultures values and behaviours. In sense khaliq points out that many ethnic and cultural parameters may also have a significant effect on how individuals are motivated, committed and become productive in organizations. Motivation is closely related to leading nurturing a willingness to achieve the above mentioned vision and mission of the organization. Leaders can motivate their employees by creating an environment wh ere work is seen as enriching and fulfilling, thus encouraging employees to contribute ideas and effort in order to enhance productivity. Khaliq, 2000, p. 2. ) 5. 2 Job specific elements and impact The leadership / management factors and the kind of positive or negative effect it had on performance and organizational productivity. The section that follows will review the significance and impact of the job itself and the type of day to day tasks performed by the individuals on their performance, motivation and energy level and overall organizational productivity. The nature of the job, the daily tasks performed by an employee and the manner in which tasks assigned to the individual can also influence performance. , motivational level and organizational productivity Some jobs have lot of beginnings and endings during the day with the opportunity for employees to win or lose. ( positive or negative consequences ). But unfortunately the prevailing situation is that most jobs are just doing this hour what you did the last hour without any immediate consequence for performance . And few workers are running around complimenting other workers for the good they are doing. That leaves the managers as the only source of positive consequence (positive reinforcement) to employees for performing well any day. ( Fournies , 2000, p. 78) . The degree of motivational potential of any specific job, then, dramatically influenced by how a person views the job he or she is given, including how assignments are organized, structured and managed. Even a high pressure situation, IT professionals report that work is exciting when they are having fun doing it. In some sense, then, highly motivating work assignments should be similar the kind of activities people might chose to do for fun on their own. (Kartz, 1998, p. 1) 5. 3 Environmental elements and impact The stability or volatility of the work environment ( e. g the degree of office conflicts , power place ) can have a negative influence on the individuals anxiety level, performance and their overall motivation to perform well at work. We used to think we could separate the soft stuff from the hard stuff – the soft staffs was our commitment to the work force. The hard stuff – what really mattered. Now we know you can’t get the staff out the door unless your employees are 100 percent committed and free of home life distraction. And the way get them there is simple. You do every thing you can to help them those life issues, so work and family can coexist successfully. ( Mechelen , 1998 , p. 6) . 5. 4 Personal / internal Elements and impact Personal factors or elements are internal and often silent motivational variables that can drive human behavior to act in certain way. For example a cultural or religious motivator (e. . Work being equal) may cause an employee to give it their all, deliver more quality work relative to their peers, and become creative. As second example an employee who is seeking promotion is more likely to work an and communicate better, establish better relationship and work harder compared to another co worker who was just recently promoted. Weiss (1936) points out that individual are driven on the basis of five categories of human needs that he refers to as Murray’s categories. These categories were named after Henry A. Murray). Murray (1938 )named five specific categories of needs self fulfillment (achievement and endurance) , social needs ( affiliation and love) , ego needs ( exhibitionism and independence), safety needs ( avoidance of harm) , and power needs ( control). These needs indicate that many individuals are often motivated by strong desires and factors. Thus we trying to enhance or raise individual performance, manager’s needs to be sensitive to these human needs and understand that individuals are typically goal oriented and strive to concurrently satisfy many internal needs. There fore managers needs to search for internal drivers and try to ensure that they provide appropriate motivators and inceptives that will address these needs. (Murray , 1938) 5. 5 Emotional intelligence elements and impact An individual emotional intelligence can contribute to how he or she performs at work, how the individuals relate to others and the overall productivity of the organization. ( Johnson & Indvik, 1999; mason , 1999;)A person with high emotional intelligence has the ability to understood and relate to people. In fact this skill is now considered to have greater impact on individual and group performance. That traditional measures of intelligence such as IQ. when emotional intelligence is present , there is a increased employee cooperation , increased motivation , increased productivity and increased profits . (Johnson & Indvik ,1999 , p. 1) . People wit well developed emotional skills are also more likely to be content and effective on their lives, mastering the habits of mind that foster their own productivity. People who cannot marshal some control over their emotional life fight inner battles that sabotage their ability for focused work and clear thought. (Goldman, 1994, p36) 6. Aims and Objectives of the research It is expected that this research will have a direct impact on the management community by defining methods of developing top performing employees . This work will address the significant issues of individual performance , organizational productivity , and the link between two. As a long term objective, this research will provides a number solid answer to age old problems of productivity and employee motivation, and establish a set of principles that will be applicable to most work groups in organizations. In the interim, this study intends to provide a report in the form of a process for improvement that can be applied in the field by management. Especially this study has some major benefits. First it will identify and document any common factors that have a positive impact on individual performance. Second, by identifying and documenting the common variables or factors that may exist among low performers in an organizations , it is expected that management can be assisted in identifying areas of deficiency and consequently develop employees to improve low performance, raise morale, and reduce the potential for burnout in their organizations. And also it is expected that the result of this research will be translated into a corporate training program that will enable a typical or average employee to raise his or her performance by adopting the best practices used by the top or star performers in the organization. Finally researcher expectation that the aforementioned concepts and findings will be applicable to the Subway. It is further expected that the findings of this research will be the subject of the future study. 7. Research Questions This study is to address a fundamental question: What are the common factors or best practices used by the top performing employees in organizations? Examples of these common factors were perceived employee- manager working relationships, Leadership or management, top individual motivators or de-motivators, environmental elements and any best known practices. For further clarification this fundamental question can be further broken down into a number of sub questions: Were the identified common factors between high performers the same factors that the low performers were deficient and lacking? From the perspective of individual motivational factors, what would be the management perspective compared to that of the employee perception? Finally are there any discrepancies or gaps between the manager and top performer perceptions or beliefs? 9. Research Design and Methodology Concepts of this research individual performance, organizational productivity and the connection between two. A major objective of this study to explore and discover the common factors that distinguish the top performers in an organization. These factors are: any key perceived employee manager working relationships, top three motivators or de- motivators, and any best practices. The identification of these factors is intended to generate one or more grounded theories to explain why only a small percentage of the employees in an organizations ( e. g. 5 % ) are considered to be more effective or productive performers. Relative to the peers in the same or similar work environment. The study is going to be on a qualitative research approach . It will use an iterative data gathering process, the use of inductive data analysis techniques, and a constant comparative and classification process of data to develop one or more grounded theories that could explain this phenomenon. The design of this research study is interpretive and systematic. It will attempt to uncover fundamental patterns and commonalities (e. g. employee manager working relationship) that exist in the research data. It will attempt to discover the common factors that characterize the top performers, both managers and employees, in organizations. As a systematic study it will compare and contrast the data. To achieve this data will be collected from the high, medium, low, performers. Using techniques: 1. through the use of an elaborate organizational survey. 2. A series of one to one interviews. 3. Personal observation. Each phase the data collection and analysis process will be built upon the learning obtained from the previous stages in an iterative process. To construct the organizational survey literature review and analysis process will undertaken. 4. Finally to generate the grounded theories, the results of the organizational survey, and analysis of the one to one and group interviews. At each stage data will be collected, compared, contrasted, classified and any commonalities that existed will documented. (Glaser & Strauss, 1999) 10. Sources and acquisition of data To begin with, organization Subway, Researcher has been working there since four years as a senior sales assistant. And have a good cooperation with the management and the employee who are willing to anticipate with the interviews. Primary data will be gathered by conducting one to one interviews with key managers or individuals. Before executing such research activities it is ensured that research will be carried out with the permission of the senior management to interview the respective senior members of such organization. More concerns will be shown to select the appropriate senior members for such interviews. Finally, secondary data the possible available reviews, books, articles, suggestions, journals, electronic based information such as internet will be taken in to account for obtaining relevant information for the research, however strong weight will be given to acquire data from reliable source to make sure research content solid track of information. 1. Data analysis The theory construction will be based upon the literature review process, the survey results and feedback received from one to one make to the organization survey. as pointed earlier the desired out come of this study will to develop one or more grounded theories that could explain the top performing ( or low performing ) employee in o rganizations. To achieve this- First, theories will be developed based on the data collected, analyzed and the common pattern identified. The data will take from the literature review process, a comprehensive organizational survey, one to one interviews and observation. And each phase findings will be classified into specific categories: management / leadership, job, environment of the job, individual motivators and emotional intelligence. Second all identifiable performance factors will categorized according to the five major factors identified during the literature review. A matrix consisting of number of variable performance factors and the frequency of each result will construct. Further a set of definitions for each term or variable used in the study will formulate. 12. Timetable ACTIVITIESWEEKS1234567891011121Initializing Appointments 2Literature review 3Follow Up Meetings & Obtaining Information 4Obtaining Historical information 5Critical analysis 6Deriving a Conclusion 7Developing a Draft 8Editing & preparing final Draft 9Final Report Ready 13. About Subway Fred DeLuca founded the SUBWAY ® chain in Connecticut, USA, in 1965. The company has since grown into a multi-billion pound business, with more than 25,000 outlets in over 80 countries. In a world full of â€Å"Super Size It† messages that prompt people to eat too much and eat high fat items, SUBWAY ® bucks the trend with a healthy message – 7 subs with under 6 grams of fat – as a major part of their advertising strategy. 14. Conclusion Optimizing individual performance, raising the bar of organizational productivity, and being able to accomplish organizational objectives. A growing body research indicates that a productive, efficient and healthy learning organization is a necessary and key ingredient for global competition . The present study will be explored, analyzed and documented how an organization could become more productive and competitive by enabling its employees to raise their overall level of work performance. The results of this effort will indented to assist employees to operate at a higher level of their capacity by enabling them to leverage many of the common factors or best practices used by the top performing employees in their organizations. These factors include: perceive good employee manager working relationship, top individual motivating, and any other best practices. This study attempted the best way managers and employees can partner to nature a work environment where they can grow, develop, and maximize their full potential. This study has benefits. It identifies and documents the most common factors that have positive or negative impact on employee performance and productivity. It attempts to capture the attributes and practices of high performing employees in an organization and perform this analysis on low and medium performers as well. In conclusion, this study provided evidence that organizational productivity, effectiveness and creativity flow from flow naturally from individual productivity, effectiveness and creativity. (Loehr , 2001) Reference Loehr , J . (2001 , January ) , The making of a corporate athlete , Harvard Business Review , 79 , Issue 1 , 120 , 9p , 1 . Glaser , B . & Strauss , A . (1999) , The discovery of grounded theory : Strategies for Qualitative research , Chicago ; Aldline . Madhok , A . & Phene , A . 2001) , The Co evolution Advantage : Strategic management theory and the electic paradigm , International Journal of the Economics of Business , 8 , No, 2, 243 – 256. Boyett , J . H . & Conn , H . P . (1995) , Maximum performance management : how to manage and compensate people to meet world competition, Glenbridge Publishing : Lakewood , Colorado. Checkland , P . (1999) , Systems thinking , systems practice . john Wiley & Sons , Ltd : New York , NY. Pratt , M . G & Foreman , P . O . (20 00) , Classifying managerial response to multiple organizational identities . The Academy of management Review . MississippiState. Khaliq , A . (2001) , Corporate leadership and workplace motivation in Malaysia. International Journal of Commerce & Management . 11 . 1, 82 (Fournies , 2000) . Fournies , F . F . (2000) , Coaching for improvement work performance , McGraw-Hill: New York , NY . Katz , R . ( 1998) , Motivation leads to innovation – IT professionals who are excited about their jobs will be more creative and productive , Information Week , September , 14 , 1998 , n. 700, 294 (1). Mechelen , R. V. 1998, spring) , Work/life programs as management programs , The public manager : The new bureaucrat , 27 , n 1 , 31 (4) . Murray , H . A , (1938) , Exploration in personality : A clinical an expremental study of fifty men of college age , oxford University Press : New York . Johnson , P . R . & Invik , J . (1999) , Organizational benefits of having emotionally intelligent managers and employee , Journal of Workplace Learning , 1999 , 11 , issue 3 , 84 , 5p Goldman , D . (1994) , Emotional Intelligence : Why it can matter more than IQ , Bantam Books : New York , NY . www. subway. com

5 Effective Cover Letter Techniques thatll Get You the Job

5 Effective Cover Letter Techniques thatll Get You the Job Like so much conventional wisdom on how to find a job, apply for it, and get an offer, the cover letter is getting a fresh layer of scrutiny these days. Sure, we write them because that’s just how it’s done†¦but how helpful are they these days, really? And are there better ways to make them more than just the skimmed-over wrapper on the real meat of your resume? The answers to those questions, respectively, are â€Å"not very† and â€Å"you betcha.† Cover letters are holdovers from the time when we actually wrote out an introduction to ourselves, typed or printed it out onto expensive (but tasteful) paper, and popped it into the mail, hoping it would land on the right desk. Eventually, it became the email holding the attached PDF or doc containing the resume itself.Now, the cover letter is either sucked into an online job application engine and parsed for keywords, or likely browsed quickly while someone clicks through to the attachment. These changes in â€Å"how they read† mean there also need to be changes in â€Å"how we write.†Here are some cover letter techniques and strategies for disrupting the traditional cover letter, and making yours a relevant piece of the application package again- even in a short-attention-span world.1. Consider your audience.Are you writing this for a robot (automated application system) or a human (actual email address)? If it’s the former, shoot for lots of keywords related to the job description. If it’s the latter, try to engage the person on the other end.2. Open with a memorable line.If you’re a recruiter or hiring manager, your attention glazes over after today’s 50th â€Å"I have an extensive background in software development for cats, and I know I’ll be a good fit for your company.† Instead, try for a bit of trivia. (â€Å"Did you know that the first cat video game was originally developed as a dog video game?†) Or make a gen tle joke (â€Å"My cat would never forgive me if I didn’t bring my background and skills to work for his favorite tech company.†) This is a chance to insert a little of your personality, given that your resume is a more brass-tacks assessment of your history and accomplishments.But if you go this route, always, always, always make sure that the tone is light and mild. Never make an off-color joke or reference, and don’t take the reader’s sense of humor for granted. When it doubt, take it out.3. Tell a story.Again, this is your chance to inject some of yourself into this rather clinical process. You may plan on saving up all the anecdotes for your interview, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll even get to that stage. Here’s your chance to offer a bit of personal trivia or insight that makes you well-suited to the job. If your blue-ribbon-winning science project in high school started you on your path to this career and company, say so . Keep it brief, though- just one or two sentences. You want the reader to get a quick sense of who you are, on top of the resume data points.4. Assume the reader only has a minute or two to review.Keep it brief- just a few paragraphs with the high-level points: an introduction, your main qualifications for the job, and a closing/call to action. Make sure you zero in on what you bring to the job up front, and what you could provide on a long-term basis.5. Format it for a small screen.Ideally, the reader would be savoring your cover letter at his or her desk, a cup of tea in hand. In reality, he or she is likely reading on the way to somewhere else, or multitasking on a phone or tablet over lunch. Lay out your cover letter with this in mind:short paragraphs, with bullet points whenever possibleplenty of white space for ease of readingno fancy fonts or bells and whistlesTaking extra care with your cover letter can help make sure it’s not just skimmed and dismissed. It may be an evolving piece of the application process, but it’s one that can mean the difference between landing in the â€Å"meh† pile and the â€Å"tell me more† pile.

Hydrogen Fuel How Hydrogen Can Be Used to Propel a Vehicle

Hydrogen Fuel How Hydrogen Can Be Used to Propel a Vehicle Abstract Hydrogen is the simplest element with only a single proton in each atom. Hydrogen also makes the most abundant gas in the universe and this makes its new use for propelling vehicles viable. It can be produced through steam reforming or electrolysis.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Hydrogen Fuel: How Hydrogen Can Be Used to Propel a Vehicle specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Steam reforming is cheap but releases green house gases, while electrolysis is expensive with no emissions. Hydrogen fuels can be used to make fuel cells, which convert chemical reactions into electrical energy. This energy can be stored and used to power electric motors and thus propel vehicles. Introduction Most vehicles that use our roads utilize fossil fuels, and with the likely changes due to climatic change and the gradual global warming, studies have shown that use of alternative fuel could propel our vehicles. Among the fuel tested in alternative energy is electricity and hydrogen, among others. The latter being an energy carrier as the former, which is secondary energy source. Hydrogen is useful as a source of compact energy in batteries and fuel cells. Several companies are making their way into hydrogen fuel and are continually trying out ways of efficiently exploiting its potentials. This paper will try to explore how hydrogen can be used to propel a vehicle (Fueleconomy, 2011, p. 1). Process Hydrogen refers to the simplest element with only a single proton for each atom. Hydrogen also makes the most abundant gas in the universe and this makes its new use viable. The sun is considered as a giant ball consisting of helium and hydrogen gases. A process called fusion is believed to occur at the sun’s core to give off radiant energy. Hydrogen, being an energy carrier is separated from gas molecules, biomass, or water by steam reforming as well as electrolysis. An example of hydrogen production process is as shown below (Alternative Energy, 2011, p. 1-3). Advertising Looking for report on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Source: Alternative Energy Steam reforming is the most cost effective method of producing hydrogen and is estimated to account for about 95% of hydrogen produced, in the U.S. It separates hydrogen from methane, although this results in green house gases, which is faulted for global warming. On the other hand, electrolysis does not create emissions, but is very expensive. New technologies such as nanotechnologies are currently being tested for efficiency and cost reduction (Alternative Energy, 2011, p. 1-3). Machine Most hydrogen produced in the United States is usually used for refining metals, treating metals as well as in food processing. However, its use has shifted to energy fuel, beginning with NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). It has severally been utilize d in space programs to lift space shuttles. In addition, its fuel cells have been used to power electrical systems of the shuttles (Alternative Energy, 2011, p. 1-3). Hydrogen fuel cells can be used to produce electricity, and these can power electric cars. Currently, there are over 300 hydrogen-powered vehicles in States, the majority of which are automobiles and buses powered through electric motors. They store and convert hydrogen liquid or gas into electricity for use as a fuel cell. In the process, no pollution is released to the atmosphere (Alternative Energy, 2011, p. 1-3). Object To explore how hydrogen fuel can be used to power a vehicle and to determine its viability. Theory Hydrogen is the simplest atom with one proton, and forms the majority gas in space, it is very light and this accounts for its existence in compound. The sun is believed to consist of hydrogen and helium gases. Until recently, hydrogen has been tested as a fuel cell for Aviation in the United States, a nd produced for use as a refining, treating and processing agent.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Hydrogen Fuel: How Hydrogen Can Be Used to Propel a Vehicle specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hydrogen is produced by either steam reforming method or electrolysis. The latter is very expensive but creates no pollution to the environment while, the former is cheap but pollutant. Over 95% of hydrogen produced in the United States is done through steam reforming, which separates hydrogen from hydrocarbons of methane. This results in the release of green house gases, which is faulted for global warming (Alternative Energy, 2011, p. 1-3). The United States produces around nine million metric tons of hydrogen every year. Such amounts of hydrogen are capable of serving between twenty and thirty million vehicles. The States of California, Texas and Louisiana leads the pack in hydrogen production. Fuel cells made from hydrogen mix with oxygen, and the resulting product is electricity and water as well as heat. Electric cars can therefore be powered by these hydrogen fuel cells. The fuel cells are usually compared to batteries as they have the capability of converting chemical reaction energy into electricity. As long as hydrogen is supplied, fuel cells will keep producing electricity. These fuel cells are usable in propelling vehicles as they power electric motors (Alternative Energy, 2011, p. 1-3). Concept Hydrogen is mostly found in compound forms, and is readily abundant in the atmosphere. It is formed through the process of either steam reforming or in some cases, electrolysis. Once produced, it can be used to create electricity through fuel cells, which convert chemical reaction to electricity. The fuel cells can then power electric motors, thereby propelling electric vehicles (EnergyKids, 2011, p. 1). Technical explanation To propel an electric vehicle, the motors need to be powered. Moreover, to po wer the motors, we need mechanical energy, which can be created by electric energy. Electric energy is generated and stored in batteries, and since hydrogen fuel cells serves this purpose, Hydrogen fuel cells can be used to power electric motors, which in turn propel vehicles. In essence, hydrogen powered fuel cells provides the energy required to propel the vehicles. Since hydrogen can be produced without emissions, and the process of propelling a vehicle produces no emissions, hydrogen fuel is environment friendly (EnergyKids, 2011, p. 1).Advertising Looking for report on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Summary Hydrogen is the most abundant of gases in space. The sun is believed to compose mainly of hydrogen and helium gas. It is lighter than air and is found in compounds. Its formation can be done through the process of steam reforming or in some cases, electrolysis. The latter is expensive but produces no emissions while the former is cheap but releases green house gases. Hydrogen can be used to make fuel cells that store electric energy and are usable for powering electric motors, which propel vehicles. It is eco-friendly (Macrae Cooper, 2011, p. 1). Conclusion Hydrogen fuel can be used to propel vehicles; this is possible through hydrogen fuel cells, which are capable of powering electric motors that in turn propel the vehicles. Hydrogen fuel is a clean energy (Macrae Cooper, 2011, p. 1). Reference List Alternative Energy. 2011. Hydrogen Fuel: Energy from reacting hydrogen (H2) with oxygen. Alternative Energy News. Web. EnergyKids. 2011. EIA Energy Kids: Hydrogen. U.S. Energy information Administration. Web. Fueleconomy. 2011. Hydrogen Fuel. Fueleonomy.gov. Web. Macrae, F. Cooper, R., 2011. Relief at the pumps: Revolutionary hydrogen fuel could cost just 90p per GALLON (and it will run in existing cars). Mail Online. Web.

Huitzilopochtli, the Founding Deity of the Aztecs

Huitzilopochtli, the Founding Deity of the Aztecs Huitzilopochtli (pronounced Weetz-ee-loh-POSHT-lee and meaning Hummingbird on the Left) was one of the most important of the Aztec gods, the god of the sun, warfare, military conquest and sacrifice, who according to tradition, led the Mexica people from Aztlan, their mythical homeland, into Central Mexico. According to some scholars, Huitzilopochtli could have been a historical figure, probably a priest, who was transformed into a god after his death. Huitzilopochtli is known as the portentous one, the god who indicated to the Aztecs/Mexica where they should build their great capital city, Tenochtitlan. He appeared in dreams to the priests and told them to settle on an island, in the middle of Lake Texcoco, where they would see an eagle perching on a cactus. This was the divine sign. Birth of Huitzilopochtli According to a Mexica legend, Huitzilopochtli was born on Coatepec  or Snake Hill. His mother was the goddess Coatlicue, whose name means â€Å"She of the Serpent Skirt,† and she was the goddess of Venus, the morning star. Coatlicue was attending the temple on Coatepec and sweeping its floors when a ball of feathers fell on the floor and impregnated her. According to the origin myth, when Coatlicues daughter Coyolxauhqui (goddess of the moon) and Coyolxauhquis four hundred brothers (Centzon Huitznahua, the gods of the stars) discovered she was pregnant, they plotted to kill their mother. As the 400 stars reached Coatlicue, decapitating her, Huitzilopochtli (god of the sun) suddenly emerged fully armed from his mother’s womb and, attended by a fire serpent (xiuhcoatl), killed Coyolxauhqui by dismembering her. Then, he threw her body down the hill and proceeded to kill his 400 siblings. Thus, the history of the Mexica is replayed every dawn, when the sun rises victoriously over the horizon after conquering the moon and stars. Huitzilopochtli’s Temple While Huitzilopochtlis first appearance in Mexica legend was as a minor hunting god, he became elevated to a major deity after the Mexica settled in Tenochtitln and formed the Triple Alliance. The Great Temple of Tenochtitlan (or Templo Mayor) is the most important shrine dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, and its shape symbolized a replica of Coatepec. At the foot of the temple, on the Huitzilopochtli side, lay a massive sculpture portraying the dismembered body of Coyolxauhqui, found during excavations for electric utility works in 1978. The Great Temple was actually a twin shrine dedicated to Huitzilopochtli and the rain god Tlaloc, and it was among the first structures to be built after the founding of the capital. Dedicated to both gods, the temple symbolized the economic basis of the empire: both war/tribute and agriculture. It was also the center of the crossing of the four main causeways that connected the Tenochtitln to the mainland. Images of Huitzilopochtli Huitzilopochtli is typically portrayed with a dark face, fully armed, and holding a snake-shaped scepter and a smoking mirror, a disc from which emerges one or more wisps of smoke. His face and body are painted in yellow and blue stripes, with a black, star-bordered eye mask and a turquoise nose rod. Hummingbird feathers covered the body of his statue at the great temple, along with cloth and jewels. In painted images, Huitzilopochtli wears the head of a hummingbird attached to the back of his head or as a helmet; and he carries a shield of turquoise mosaic or clusters of white eagle feathers. As a representative symbol of Huitzilopochtli (and others of the Aztec pantheon), feathers were an important symbol in Mexica culture. Wearing them was the prerogative of the nobility who adorned themselves with brilliant plumes, and went into battle wearing feathered cloaks. Feathered cloaks and feathers were wagered in games of chance and skill and were traded among allied nobles. Aztec rulers kept aviaries and tribute stores for feather-workers, specifically employed to produce ornate objects. Huitzilopochtlis Festivities December was the month dedicated to Huitzilopochtli celebrations. During these festivities, called Panquetzalitzli, the Aztec people decorated their homes held ceremonies with dances, processions, and sacrifices. A huge statue of the god was made out of amaranth and a priest impersonated the god for the duration of the ceremonies. Three other ceremonies during the year were dedicated at least in part to Huitzilopochtli. Between July 23 and August 11, for example, was Tlaxochimaco, the Offering of Flowers, a festival dedicated to war and sacrifice, celestial creativity and divine paternalism, when singing, dancing and human sacrifices honored the dead and Huitzilopochtli. Updated by K. Kris Hirst Sources Berdan FF. 2014. Aztec Archaeology and Ethnohistory. New York: Cambridge University Press.Boone EH. 1989. Incarnations of the Aztec Supernatural: The Image of Huitzilopochtli in Mexico and Europe. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society 79(2):1-107.Taube KA. 1993. Aztec and Maya Myths. Fourth Edition. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.Van Tuerenhout DR. 2005. The Aztecs: New Perspectives, ABC-CLIO Inc. Sanata Barbara, CA; Denver, CO and Oxford, England.

Sweden in Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sweden in Review - Essay Example Sweden is located in Northern Europe within the Scandinavian region. It is between Finland and Norway in the north, and borders the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat and Skagerrak in the other sides. The country experiences temperate climate in the south, with notable cold, cloudy winters as well as, cool and partly cloudy summers in the northern region. The family unit is extremely significant in Sweden as it defines issues such as children rights and care. For instance, the father or mother is entitled to a leave until the newly born child reaches age of 18 months. Sweden presents a very family friendly environment in most establishments where structures such as play areas for children are observed. The parents have right of up to 60 days off to care for their children when sick, indicating the significance of the parental role. The society is observably modernized, with each family unit living independently, within the urban regions. In the interior settings, the family ob serves nuclear setting of living. The society of Sweden also observes the role of courtship and marriage which take notable grace time for the partners in the relationship. However, the concern of the female and male roles remains as males are evidently paid better and have more leverages in the social setting. The female roles of being the nurtures does not prevent them from undertaking social responsibilities. The Education Act in Sweden regulates the school system to ensure that there is secure and friendly learning environment for the students.

Externalities Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Externalities - Assignment Example Externalities Before considering the five questions we must first recognize that the example of gas emission by a local power plant is that of a negative externality. This is because emissions of such gases cause pollution which is harmful for humans, animals and plants. Although the society is not involved in the emission of these gases but it has to bear the costs (Perloff 2003). Hence the given example is a perfect case of a negative externality. 1. Although there are a number of ways to combat the negative externality, a policy maker must carefully decide on a policy before implementing it. There are a few costs and benefits of each policy and the policy maker should first carry out a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) of all the alternative policies before their final decision. Blinder (1987) has the following to say about solving the negative externality problem: â€Å"Especially when faced with environmental externalities, economists have almost universally objected to government re gulations that mandate specific technologies (especially â€Å"best-available technology†) or business practices. These approaches make environmental cleanup much more expensive than it has to be because the cost of reducing pollution varies widely from firm to firm and from industry to industry. A more efficient solution is to issue tradable â€Å"pollution permits† that add up to the target level of emissions. Sources able to cheaply curtail their negative externalities would drastically cut back, selling their permits to less flexible polluters.† Another solution proposed by Coase (1960 in his Coase Theorem is: â€Å"Under perfect competition, once government has assigned clearly defined property rights in contested resources and as long as transactions costs are negligible, private parties that generate or are affected by externalities will negotiate voluntary agreements that lead to the socially optimal resource allocation and output mix regardless of how t he property rights are assigned† Hence the two possible policies that a policy maker can adopt are using tradable pollution permits or government defined property rights. 2. In the first policy the government will give licenses to firms to pollute. Each license will specify the level of pollution allowed to the firm. Depending on its level of pollution a firm can buy a certain license. Firms that pollute less than the permissible level can trade their license with those firms who cannot keep their pollution levels low. In this way firms are given an incentive to pollute less (Bamford, Brunskill, Cain, Grant, Munday, Walton 2002). The second policy assumes that there are negligible transactions costs. According to Sloman (2007) making someone the owner of the air around the power plant eliminates the effect of a negative externality. Here the two parties involved are the power plant producing the negative externality and the society living in the vicinity of the power plant tha t is affected by the emissions. If the power plant owns property rights to the air then the society pays the power plant to reduce pollution by lowering its production to the optimal level. However if the society is the owner then the power plant will have to pay compensating money to the society for the pollution they cause by increasing production from the optimal level. 3. If the policy maker implements the tradable permits for gases emission it will have benefits for the power plant and government apart from reduced

Inghir-Jerusalem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Inghir-Jerusalem - Essay Example The synagogue is no more but the Kamal’s grandfather seems to vividly remember that it once stood at the position. As Kamal speaks with some people, the mixing of Arab, French, and Berber languages is evidence enough of their ties to Tinghir. The documentary explores the 2000 years old Jew shelters in the author’s village of Tinghir, situated in Morocco. Throughout the film, Kamal moves back and forth between Tinghir and Israel in search for answers. As the film advances, Kamal meets some Jews who still hold tight to their Moroccan identity. This is great step towards finding out the real events that triggered the Jew migration from Tinghir. The film is based on a true story that shows the collaboration between Jews and Muslims that fell apart after the Jews moved to Israel. Although the Jews did not have it all, the coexistence was still a great one. As Kamal speaks to both sides, Jews and Muslims, they seem to cherish and desire a reunion to the great coexistence that they once had. Kamal tries to discover what happened with an aim that the two once friendly communities will one day reunite. The film has an interesting and captivating story line that gives the viewers a desire to watch more as the events unfold. The film has an important lesson and can be used to stop the raging conflicts that are recurrent in today’s world. From time to time, the Israelites are in conflict with the Arab nations and as a result, a great hostility has escalated. How could the once peaceful coexistence turn into raging conflicts and everyday war? What went wrong? What can be done? These are among the many questions on peoples’ minds as they try to bring to an end the seemingly unending conflict. This film can be used as a starting point to remind the two conflicting sides of the enviable cooperation that once was. In addition, the Muslims were not the reason for the Jew

EU ECONOMY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

EU ECONOMY - Essay Example nnovative technologies, improving the access to enterprise development capital and focusing on economic reforms that will ensure high economic growth, employment creation and innovation. The member states must commit to reduction of their budget debts, invest in new technologies, diversify their economies, invest in innovative research and stimulate the growth of new enterprises in order for the economic region to remain competitive. In the past five years, member states of the EU monetary block has witnessed harsh economic environment characterised by imminent outright sovereign debt defaults, financial contagion, increase in unemployment, decline in overall economic growth and mistrust among the member states. The EU economy policies must ensure high economic growth, high innovation and improved resilience of markets to external economic shocks in order to attain global competitiveness and ensure high direct investments in the region (Finke 2012). On the other hand, emerging global competitors such as China have export-growth initiatives that improve the competitiveness of their products in the global markets (Finke 2012). China enjoys absolute advantage in manufacture of many products due to availability of highly qualified cheap labor, nearness to the source of raw materials and superior manufacturing technologies. China’s trade and services account for more than 65 percent of the GDP and has maintained a consistent annual increase of GDP over the last ten years. The policy paper is addressed to the European Commissioner and aims at highlighting how EU competitiveness in the global markets is declining due to emergence of global competitors like China and offers several alternative policy measures that should be implemented in order to counter the growing threat. The EU economy is undergoing a turbulent period since its formation since many member states are struggling to recover from the adverse impacts of recent global economic recession and financial

Choose a contemporary issue and offer an equally outrageous solution Essay

Choose a contemporary issue and offer an equally outrageous solution to highlight its importance - Essay Example Induced abortions according to World Health Organization (19) include those that are performed in relation to legal sanctions and those done against the law. The term therapeutic abortion, strictly defined, according to World Health Organization (19) refers to medically indicated abortion for women whose life or health is in danger in the case of continuation of pregnancy or if the health of the unborn child is threatened by congenital or genetic factors. We are faced by this issue of abortion, and it affects ladies mostly. There are various reasons why ladies opt for an abortion. Kim argues that (7) each year throughout the world forty-six million women chose abortion; that means every two seconds three women choose abortion. Even in the U.S., where there are more than 1 million abortions a year. Many ladies say the following reasons as to why they have an abortion. (Kim, 8-10). they have abortions to save their lives, they might have an abortion because rape or incest caused her pr egnancy, she might have health problems, she might be concerned with the health of the fetus, she might be too young to mother a child Abortion has only an advantage when either of the fetus is in danger, or the mother is in danger. The danger may vary from the mother to fetus, but if the mother's condition is in danger, then abortion is advised. There are many benefits to remaining un-pregnant â€Å"advantages of abortion† (Hill) and he continues to write that, there is solid research proving that having an abortion improves a young woman’s educational outcome. Hill provides a report by Battle Creek which says, â€Å"young women frequent state the issue of unplanned pregnancy and its impact on their financial future and educational as some of the key reasons for seeking abortion. Study findings, legitimates concern, for young women who conceive before the age of 21 and opt for an abortion has better educational outcomes compared to those who conceive before age of 21 and do not go for abortion. â€Å"Abortions Among Young Women and Subsequent Life Outcomes,† by David M. Fergusson et al., published in the March 2007 issue of Perceptiveness on Sexual and Reproductive Health, uses longitudinal data from Christ church Health and Development Study in New Zealand to analyze the extent for the decision abort has advantages to a woman† In an article of â€Å"Pros and Cons about Abortion†, it is argued that, many a times’ abortion helps safeguard woman’s health. There are women who suffer from various hazardous medical conditions such as heart disease, kidney, severe hypertension, and sick-cell anemia. These diseases can be life threatening and an abortion can be used to help prevent these conditions from affecting the mother. It continues to give another reason that, in male chauvinist societies, women are considered nothing more than child bearing machines. Therefore, an abortion provides an individual identity to the woman where she can make a decision on the fate of her child. From my own personal view, trying to look at the stated advantages of abortion, I can say that, there is none. Why, because, one is denying another person a life, same to murder, a fetus, even if still in the womb, its living, its life maturing, it is growing, hence abortion cuts short its life. Arguing from the point of; taking away life of a living thing is so wrong according to

EU ECONOMY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

EU ECONOMY - Essay Example nnovative technologies, improving the access to enterprise development capital and focusing on economic reforms that will ensure high economic growth, employment creation and innovation. The member states must commit to reduction of their budget debts, invest in new technologies, diversify their economies, invest in innovative research and stimulate the growth of new enterprises in order for the economic region to remain competitive. In the past five years, member states of the EU monetary block has witnessed harsh economic environment characterised by imminent outright sovereign debt defaults, financial contagion, increase in unemployment, decline in overall economic growth and mistrust among the member states. The EU economy policies must ensure high economic growth, high innovation and improved resilience of markets to external economic shocks in order to attain global competitiveness and ensure high direct investments in the region (Finke 2012). On the other hand, emerging global competitors such as China have export-growth initiatives that improve the competitiveness of their products in the global markets (Finke 2012). China enjoys absolute advantage in manufacture of many products due to availability of highly qualified cheap labor, nearness to the source of raw materials and superior manufacturing technologies. China’s trade and services account for more than 65 percent of the GDP and has maintained a consistent annual increase of GDP over the last ten years. The policy paper is addressed to the European Commissioner and aims at highlighting how EU competitiveness in the global markets is declining due to emergence of global competitors like China and offers several alternative policy measures that should be implemented in order to counter the growing threat. The EU economy is undergoing a turbulent period since its formation since many member states are struggling to recover from the adverse impacts of recent global economic recession and financial

Critical analysis of the associated persons provisions of Part III of Essay

Critical analysis of the associated persons provisions of Part III of the Family Law Act 1996 (in particular section s.62(3)) - Essay Example n is it extends the court’s power to grant non-molestation orders by including a wider group of persons capable of becoming respondents by the inclusion of the term ‘associated person.’ The list of persons caught by Section 62(3) is exhaustive and includes a former or current spouse, a cohabitant or former cohabitant, persons who have merely shared a common household (except by reason of employment benefits or duties, or by reason of a tenancy or some sort), a relation, a fiancà © or former fiancà ©, a person with whom the complainant has had common responsibility for any child or have had a child with or the complainant and the associated person ‘are parties to the same family proceedings (other than proceedings under this part)’.3 Prior to the enactment of the Family Law Act 1996, the definition of a respondent had been more narrowly defined. A claimant had to first discover against whom she could obtain a non-molestation order against and then decide under what statutory provision she could properly utilize for the necessary non-molestation order. Depending on whether the complainant was a cohabitant or spouse the victim of domestic violence could obtain injunctive relief by virtue of three statutory provisions. They were, the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976, the Domestic Proceedings and Magistrates Courts Act 1978 and the Matrimonial Homes Act 1983.4 The Family Law Act 1996 repeals and replaces those Acts and provides a cohesive remedy for protection against violence within the more liberal definition of the home. Craig Lind observes that the 1996 Act ‘for the first time provides a uniform code of domestic violence remedies available, in the main, in all courts with jurisdiction in family proceedings. It is much more victim and child-centred, concentrating on the harm being suffered within the household, and the remedies available to victims.’5 The 1996 Act followed recommendations made by the Law Commission that the

The Boeing Company Essay Example for Free

The Boeing Company Essay Soon to celebrate a 100-year anniversary, The Boeing Company was founded in 1916 and had 28 people on its payroll. Today, The Boeing Company has more than 170,000 employees, in 50 states and 70 countries and is the largest manufacturer of commercial airplanes and military aircraft (â€Å"The Boeing Company,† 2012). Boeing is structured around a business model that sets it apart from other companies. This model consists of six parts. They are chart the course, set high expectations, inspire others, find a way, live Boeing values, and deliver results. These six parts fall into the four categories of trust, conflict resolution, commitment, and accountability. Every Boeing facility adheres to this model, whether it is the Commercial Division or the Defense/Space Division. This is called the â€Å"One Boeing† approach with everyone working together for the common goal. Following this business model has allowed Boeing to become an industry leader. Employees are encouraged to work together and to trust and respect one another. Communications are expected to be honest, candid, and open. Above all, integrity and ethics are insisted upon. Every employee makes an ethics commitment each year. Boeing fosters an atmosphere were issues are focused on, not titles or positions. New ideas and ways to do things are welcomed and implemented if possible. Goals and objectives are clear and teams work together to define steps to get there. Quality is also focused upon an expected. If a quality defect is found, Boeing and its employees step up immediately even when it is uncomfortable to do so because it is the right thing to do, always. Diversity is celebrated and each person’s skills and strengths are added to the knowledge base. Even though there is an official hierarchy, Boeing continues its cultural theme into communication by keeping an open-door policy. Employees know that they can take their questions and concerns to anyone, even the president and CEO of Boeing, without fear of retribution. Internally, employees receive news updates every day via e-mail. These updates may include information on new customer contracts or aircraft deliveries, or they may include articles on individual or team accomplishments. There are weekly and monthly video broadcasts within each division, Commercial and Defense, that give a status of the company and on-going projects. Externally, Boeing maintains an extensive public website, advertises in magazines and on television (with actual employees doing the acting), and even publishes its own Frontiers magazine that is available to the public online and printed for customers, suppliers, and employees (â€Å"Frontiers Online Magazine,† 2012). Boeing sites also support their local communities. Employees volunteer their time with many charities and events, such as Earth Day clean-up projects, Habitat for Humanity, food banks, and education programs with local school children. When recent, weather related, incidents tore through the Midwest and damaged some of the homes of its employees, Boeing sites around the country immediately pooled together to send household goods and monies to help their fellow coworkers. Sites near to the affected areas sent people to help. It is not unusual for the Boeing family to pull together to help each other. The company’s core values are not just a flowery statement to satisfy customers and shareholders. Boeing’s values are the core of its business and its employees. There was recently a defective electrical panel found on a military aircraft as it was about to take its first flight. Boeing employees were mobilized within minutes of notification and had a replacement unit en route within an hour. An investigation was conducted and safeguards put in place to ensure the error never occurred again. In April 2011, a Southwest Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Arizona when a hole developed in the fuselage. Within minutes of the incident, thousands of Boeing personnel were already working on the problem. That particular airplane had been in service for 15 years, yet every Boeing employee stepped up to stand behind the product. These examples illustrate that Boeing and its employees live the Boeing values every day. With an established organizational culture that emphasizes working together as one cohesive unit and with open honest communications, it is no wonder that Boeing and its employees have set themselves apart as an industry leader. As stated on the Boeing website, â€Å"†¦our culture mirrors the heritage of aviation itself, built on a foundation of innovation, aspiration and imagination.

Re-branding and Repositioning of the Republic Bank Group

Re-branding and Repositioning of the Republic Bank Group Practicum:â€Å"The Re-branding and Repositioning of the Republic Bank Group: The Case of Republic Bank DR S.A.† Executive Summary A brand is the sum of the customers experiences with the products or company how the customer thinks and feels about what the business does. The brand is transmitted in every interaction with the customer over the lifetime of the relationship and is therefore built from the customers entire experience with the company, not just through the companys communicated identity. It therefore plays a critical role in building trust and loyalty. According to the 4-D Branding model devised by Thomas Gad (refer Appendix 1) the brand operates at four different levels in the mind of the customer. These four levels include the functional (the perception of benefit of the product or service associated with the brand), the social (the ability to create identification with a group), the spiritual (the perception of global or local responsibility) and the mental (the ability to support the individual mentally). These four dimensions are derived from the customers experiences at the brand touch-points and combine to form the customers overall perception of the brand. The challenges facing brands today however are numerous, and in financial services the challenges are even more acute because of the intangibility of the facilities being provided. In the case of banks that operate in diverse territories, the major challenge lies in the ability to balance global or regional brand integrity with local cultural authenticity. These brands must be viable on a global or regional scale, but remain relevant at the local level. The Republic Bank Group faced this dilemma as it expanded its operations to embrace several Caribbean territories with different cultures, preferences, languages and modes of behaviour. The branding challenge in such an environment can become quite complex, with the level of complexity multiplying across subsidiaries and divisions of the bank, product lines, markets and even advertising agencies. Controlling brand identity in such an environment can be exigent. The case of Banco Mercantil, Republic Banks subsidiary in the Dominican Republic, however posed a different challenge. The viability of that brand was undermined by a combination of internal (mismanagement) and environmental (economic decline and near crash of the financial system) factors that led to the complete erosion of its brand equity in a relatively short space of time. The brand ceased to engender trust and confidence among its customers and while it still existed at the functional level from the point of view of providing banking services, it was devoid of credibility at the social, spiritual and mental levels. Following qualitative research involving a population of 1200 households spanning the banks three major market segments (mass, private and corporate/commercial), the bank faced the decision of rebuilding the existing brand; re-branding with a completely new identity or adopting the identity and brand of the new shareholder. Subsequent to SWOT and force field analyses being conducted, the decision was taken to re-brand Banco Mercantil by adopting the parent or heritage brand i.e. Republic Bank Limited through the introduction of the name Republic Bank DR S.A. and reposition the operations to focus primarily on the private banking and corporate and commercial market niches in the Dominican Republic. The re-branding exercise spanned two geographic locations and several stakeholder groups, from employees to customers and regulators in the Dominican Republic, as well as the shareholder in Trinidad and Tobago. May 5, 2005 was a historic day in Republic Banks history as it signalled the start of a re-branding process that should embrace the entire banking group. Such an exercise is critical at this time, as the Bank continues to broaden its footprint within the Caribbean, prepare itself for increased competition in the markets in which it currently operates, and positions itself to win the minds and hearts of regional customers. Several considerations were apparent in the change of name of the Dominican subsidiary to Republic Bank DR, foremost among them being the cultural implications of adopting the new name and the values that were imbedded in the brand. While the values themselves were not alien to the Dominican society, there were some differences in their interpretation stemming from cultural and social indoctrination. The rigorous systems and procedures for example, which are inherent in the British banking system that Republic Bank inherited from its predecessor Barclays Bank, were not as stringently applied in the Dominican Bank. The non-application was less a display of deviant behaviour and more a response to cultural norms and values consistent with the Latin culture. A thorough understanding and appreciation of the divergence in the cultures of the Caribbean were critical to the formulation and execution of an effective communications programme during the change process from Banco Mercantil to R epublic Bank DR, in order to ensure understanding and acceptance of the change. The primary drivers for change in the case of Banco Mercantil were the absence of equity associated with the proprietary brand, arising from the loss of trust and confidence in the bank, the disillusionment of the banks employees which impacted performance and hence business viability in the short, medium and long term, and the strong desire to turn the banks fortunes around. These driving forces strongly outweighed any restraining forces that might have existed, including the loss of corporate identity and national pride. The force field analysis performed in the course of the study clearly revealed the need for change. The change of name from Banco Mercantil to Republic Bank DR S.A. is historic in the Republic Bank context, as it is the first of Republic Banks acquired subsidiaries to undergo a retirement of its proprietary brand and the adoption of the overarching heritage brand. The Banks customary approach of maintaining the proprietary brands of acquisitions has resulted in the Republic Bank Group carrying a diverse portfolio of corporate brands in the Caribbean, culminating in a somewhat complicated brand landscape, and under-leverage of its heritage brand outside of its principal market, Trinidad and Tobago. The re-branding of Banco Mercantil therefore provides the catalyst for, and the foundation upon which the re-branding of the Republic Bank Group may be undertaken. The major hindrance to the achievement of this objective however is the strength of emotion and national pride that still surround the brands of the acquired subsidiaries in Grenada, Guyana and Barbados in particular. From a Republic Bank Group perspective there are also several important drivers advocating re-branding of the entire banking group. These include the increasing globalisation of business, the imminent introduction of the CSME and eventually the FTAA or other similar trade agreement; the Banks need to broaden its regional footprint to be in a position to take advantage of opportunities that would arise from increased globalisation, and the equity that would be derived from a significantly stronger and more cohesive brand. Whether approached as a big bang or on a phased basis spanning weeks, months or years, a re-branding of the entire banking group would derive significant benefits in the long term from financial, identity, cost and control perspectives. In the final analysis, the eventual success would not only be measured by the presence of physical artifacts such as Republic Bank signage on branches and offices in all of the islands. It would also be measured by the Banks ability to leverage financially from its corporate brand in several areas of business, and to provide a consistently high quality of service in all markets. The long-term objective however would be the achievement of the vision of being the bank of choice for customers, staff and shareholders and in so doing capturing the minds and hearts of the Caribbean people. Declaration Form for the reproduction of the document Given the highly competitive nature of the banking industry in the Caribbean and hence the confidential nature of the information contained in this study, reproduction or sharing of any information contained herein is strictly prohibited without expressed and written consent from the author and Republic Bank Limited. 1. Introduction Origins and Purpose The Republic Bank Group is one of the largest and most profitable financial services groups in the Caribbean. Originating from Barclays Bank and its predecessor Colonial Bank, Republic Bank has served the people of the Caribbean, specifically Trinidad and Tobago for 168 years. This study seeks to reposition and re-brand the Republic Bank Group, as the Bank moves closer to its vision of being the â€Å"Bank of Choice in the Caribbean†. Re-branding of the Group is particularly critical at this time, as the Bank continues to prepare itself for increased competition in the markets in which it currently operates, as well as for further expansion within and outside of the Caribbean. 1.2 The Case of Banco Mercantil In establishing a framework for the re-branding exercise, the study looks specifically at the case of Banco Mercantil S.A., Republic Banks subsidiary in the Dominican Republic, which was recently re-branded and repositioned in that market (May 5, 2005). The new bank, Republic Bank DR S.A. will focus primarily on the private banking and corporate and commercial market niches in the Dominican Republic, as it charts a path to profitability. In conducting the study, attention was paid to the process that was required in the execution of the re-branding and the benefits to be derived by the brand arising from the change of name and identity. In discussing the re-branding of Banco Mercantil, the study analyses the corporate identities of Republic Bank and Banco Mercantil to ascertain their status and the existence of any disconnects that might exist. It also identifies the reasons for the Banks earlier hesitation at re-branding its Caribbean acquisitions, the cultural shifts that are required at both the parent and subsidiary levels, the move to commence the process in the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic and the foundation that is laid for an escalation of the re-branding process throughout the Caribbean. The framework established for the re-branding of Banco Mercantil, and detailed in this study, may be used with appropriate adjustments to cater to cultural, social and political differences, to the re-branding and repositioning of Republic Banks other Caribbean acquisitions, namely the National Commercial Bank of Grenada Limited (NCB), The National Bank of Industry and Commerce Limited (NBIC) in Guyana and the Barbados National Bank (BNB). 1.3 Historic Step The change of name of Banco Mercantil to Republic Bank DR S.A. is historic in the Republic Bank context, as it is the first of Republic Banks acquired subsidiaries to undergo an identity change, and would as suggested above, provide the catalyst for, and the foundation upon which the re-branding of Republic Banks Caribbean empire might be undertaken. 1.4 Approach The study adopts an analytical approach to the re-branding exercise and draws upon the results of two surveys conducted in the Dominican Republic and Grenadian markets to test the corporate image of Republic Banks subsidiaries in those countries. It also employs several change management and corporate identity management models in its analysis of the current situations in the Dominican Republic and the Southern and Eastern Caribbean, and in devising recommendations for the Groups re-branding. The historic background of the Republic Bank Group is described, the environmental landscape in the Dominican Republic examined and the mood for change in that country discussed, to put into context the decision to re-brand Banco Mercantil. The study also employs Kurt Lewins model for change specifically in the execution of the re-branding of Banco Mercantil, and in so doing provides a framework for executing similar changes in other subsidiaries in the future. Fundamental marketing concepts articulated by Kotler and Jeannet and Hennessey were combined with more recent models related to branding by communications and branding experts such as John M.T. Balmer and Stephen Greyser as well as the use of the robust strategic models from experts such as Lewin, Mintzberg and Kammerer. The mood for change in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean and the macro environmental drivers that have impacted the Banks hesitation at re-branding its subsidiaries thus far were also diagnosed and analysed, using Force Field Analyses. These examined the driving forces pushing for change of the brand, as well as those restraining forces working against a change and advocating maintenance of the status quo. Comparative SWOT Analyses were also conducted to determine the most significant areas of weakness and opportunity, and to devise strategies aimed at maximising the strengths of both the Dominican subsidiary and the Group. An integral part of the change process involved in the re-branding of Banco Mercantil, was the analysis of that banks corporate identity, the corporate identity of Republic Bank Limited and a comparison of the results of both tests. This analysis was undertaken using the AC ²ID Test model devised by Harvard Business School professor John Balmer. The test threw up some interesting, albeit not surprising facts, which influenced the decision to change the banks name, as well as the choice of name itself. 1.5Benefits Republic Banks post-acquisition strategy previously advocated retention of the proprietary brand of the acquired subsidiary, rather than retirement of the weaker brand following analysis, or even retirement of the acquired brand in favour of the acquirer brand. This has resulted in the Bank carrying a diverse portfolio of corporate brands in the Caribbean, culminating in a somewhat confusing brand landscape, and little or no physical presence of its heritage or overarching brand outside of Trinidad and Tobago. While Republic Bank enjoys a strong corporate identity, high top of mind recall, strong citizenship recognition and a positive corporate image in its primary market, Trinidad and Tobago, its diverse portfolio of brands causes its corporate brand to be lowly leveraged in the other Caribbean territories in which it operates. Its vision of being the bank of choice in the Caribbean could therefore be stymied by its brands low leverage and physical absence in the non-Trinidad and Tobago territories in which it operates. In those countries the heritage brand (Republic Bank) provides an endorsing role at best, and is essentially represented by the brands of its acquired subsidiaries. The brand proposition of each of the subsidiary banks also varies. The re-branding of the Group to achieve a strong, unified and consistent brand identity is of particular importance to Republic Bank at this time, as the Group seeks to buy a place in the minds and hearts of regional and global customers. This study therefore produces the framework required for such a mammoth re-branding and repositioning exercise and in so doing provides a model that may be customised and employed in future corporate marketing exercises. 2.Background 2.1The Republic Bank Group Republic Bank Limited is one of the oldest and most successful indigenous financial services groups in the English-speaking Caribbean. Republic Bank evolved from the British bank, Barclays Bank Dominion Colonial and Overseas (DCO) and its predecessor Colonial Bank that was established in 1868 to provide banking services to the British expatriates involved in the islands sugar cane industry, and later to the freed slaves and indentured labourers. Today Republic Banks ownership is widely dispersed embracing over 10,000 individual and institutional shareholders. Republic Bank currently operates in eight Caribbean territories through 14 subsidiaries and offices in Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, St. Lucia, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago, and employs over 4,700 persons in the Caribbean. With an asset base of US$5 billion (TT$28.6 billion) Republic Bank recorded after tax profits of US$105.4 million (TT$664 million) in its last financial year (2003/2004). The Banks earnings per share in that year was TT$4.17 with return on average assets of 2.44% and return on shareholders equity of 18.93%. The Republic Bank Vision Republic Bank has identified the following vision: â€Å"Republic Bank, The Bank of Choice in the Caribbean for Customers, Staff and Shareholders. We set the Standard of Excellence in Customer Satisfaction, Employee Satisfaction and Shareholder Value† 2.3Expansion through Organic Growth and Acquisition Republic Bank has employed a strategy combining organic growth and strategic acquisition to facilitate its regional expansion goals over the past 13 years, as it sought to grow its asset base, increase market share and increase profitability. Its first such venture was the establishment of a joint venture merchant bank, Acedo Mendoza Fincor, with the Mendoza family of Venezuela. This operation soon extended to include an office in Panama but the Banks shareholding was eventually sold to the Mendoza family at the start of Venezuelas economic decline in the mid 1990s. That first move at overseas expansion was closely followed by the acquisition of the majority shareholding in the National Commercial Bank of Grenada Limited in 1992. This was followed shortly thereafter by the establishment of an offshore banking operation in the Cayman Islands, the acquisitions of the Bank of Commerce in Trinidad and Tobago and the National Bank of Industry and Commerce Limited in Guyana, the establishment of an office in Havana, Cuba, and the acquisitions of Barbados National Bank in Barbados and Banco Mercantil in the Dominican Republic. Republic Banks largest and most profitable operation at this time is in the country of its home base, Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago bank alone operates 44 banking branches in the twin island republic and employs 2,790 persons, over half of the total number of persons employed by the Group. The strongest economies in which Republic Bank currently operates continue to be Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. The weakest economy at this time is the Dominican Republic in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, though it is showing signs of recovery, followed by Guyana in South America. 2.4The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts Republic Banks organically grown subsidiaries all bear the same corporate identity, which is Republic Bank. The acquired subsidiaries of NCB (Grenada), NBIC (Guyana), BNB (Barbados) and Banco Mercantil (Dominican Republic) all bear their separate names and corporate identities, having retained their original brand names following acquisition. The first three banks, namely NCB in Grenada, NBIC in Guyana and BNB in Barbados, were all â€Å"national† banks in their respective countries, with Republic Bank purchasing all or part of the governments shareholdings. As the â€Å"national† banks, they catered largely to the grassroots and middle-income population and in some cases emerged from the era of nationalism and political struggle in the Caribbean during the 1970s. In the case of each acquisition there was some negative reaction from those nationals who viewed the transaction as a sale of the countrys national heritage to an â€Å"outsider†. This sentiment was strongly expressed during the initial stages of the BNB purchase, where the sale of the Barbados governments shareholding in BNB threatened to become a political issue, in spite of the significant premium that was paid for the shares. That furore has since quelled, as the Barbadian public has been able to witness and experience the positive value that Republic Bank has brought to both BNB and to the financial sector in that country in the last year and a half. Given the history therefore, it is understandable that there would be strong feelings of national pride and patriotism attached to the identities i.e. proprietary brands of NCB, NBIC and BNB, particularly among the grassroots and the middle-income earners in the respective markets. It was for this principal reason strength of national pride and patriotism, and the resultant possibility of customer migration and loss of business that Republic Bank demonstrated its initial reluctance to initiate name changes in the territories, post acquisition. Its post acquisition strategy had been to retain the existing management and employees, once competent, and to preserve the name and corporate identity of the bank, as a means of maintaining the goodwill and equity that were attached to the brand, and so prevent business loss. The Bank focused instead on aligning the systems and procedures of the acquired bank to those of Republic Bank, and providing the infrastructural, technological and intellectual support that would enable the growth and development of the acquired subsidiary, and, by extension the economy of the respective country. Little attention was placed on alignment of the corporate identities or of the introduction or promotion of the corporate identity of the parent company, Republic Bank Limited. This approach of working alongside the subsidiary, rather than implementing drastic changes, triggered little outward disruption to the external environment, particularly customer relationships, and allowed the employees to focus gradually on the cultural shifts that were required to facilitate partial integration into the Republic Bank Group, while at the same time allowing them to retain their original identities. The impact of Republic Bank on those overseas subsidiaries has however been felt over time by customers, the general public and competitors in those markets, as the subsidiaries adopted a more aggressive and energetic stance in their operations, marketing and customer service, growing market share by as much as 10% in one year in the case of BNB. Customers were aware that these changes were the result of the new ownership of the bank and the deepening of the relationship with the parent company, Republic Bank, even though this link was seldom emphasised in external communication. The majority of customers appreciated the changes, since they impacted positively on the levels of efficiency evident in the banks, manifest in the quality of the service that they received, and the broadening array of product offers to which they were exposed. The subsidiaries themselves clearly recognised the value that their association with Republic Bank brought to bear on their banks success and customer interactions, particularly in the area of business facilitation. There is also a growing gratification in the association with a large, successful and powerful Caribbean bank, particularly at this time, when the business emphasis appears to be shifting increasingly toward integration and the benefits of larger size to cope with increased globalisation. 2.5The Mood for Change-The Dominican Republic There is a positive mood for change in the Dominican Republic in relation to the re-branding of Banco Mercantil S.A., fuelled primarily by the countrys desperate economic situation and the virtual collapse of the financial system. The government and many Dominicans viewed as a welcome move, Republic Banks entry into the Dominican financial sector through its acquisition of Banco Mercantil in 2003. It must be remembered that in the midst of Republic Banks entry, was the failure of several other commercial banks, principally due to rampant fraud and mismanagement facilitated by closed ownership the majority of businesses in the Dominican Republic, including the major banks are owned by a few wealthy families and a culture that appears to embrace less stringent ethical standards than those embraced by many countries in the English-speaking Caribbean. The Latin culture in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, is not as supportive of intense structures and systems as is the English culture. Hence the presence of strong systems to support business and demand strong ethical practice was almost absent in the Dominican Republic. Corruption was therefore rife. Additionally, the Latin cultures focus on external appearances as an indicator of success and well-being, also belies the true financial status of organisations and little attempt is made to delve sufficiently deep t o ascertain the reality. A thorough understanding of the divergence in the cultures of the Caribbean was therefore critical to the formulation and execution of an effective communications programme during the change process i.e. movement from Banco Mercantil to Republic Bank DR. Given the negative experiences of the immediate past, the employees and customers of Banco Mercantil were anxious for the presence of a professional organization with wide and diffused ownership, that would introduce systems and procedures to ensure efficiency, effectiveness, high levels of professionalism and business continuity. The regulators and employees alike were also determined to prevent a run on the bank and the consequential loss of jobs, while retaining and growing their existing customer base. Republic Banks good reputation as a sound and professional financial services provider in Trinidad and Tobago preceded it, and the Bank was well respected by the regulators, the small cadre of business and financial officials in the DR who knew of it, as well as by the employees who did their personal research on the Bank and its history and reputation. 2.6The Mood for Change -The Southern Eastern Caribbean The mood for change in the Southern and Eastern Caribbean is less enthusiastic than it is in the Dominican Republic. A survey conducted by NCB Grenada early in 2005 to test the banks corporate image revealed positive sentiments toward Republic Banks influence on the efficiency and general good performance of NCB, and mixed reactions to the possibility of a re-branding of the subsidiary. The underlying reason for this reluctance was the strong feeling of national pride and patriotism that continues to exist in the islands, for the reasons indicated earlier in this section. The reasons are more emotional than logical, and therefore more challenging to overcome, as branding is built to a greater extent on emotion and feelings, than it is on logic and reason. In spite of the strength of these sentiments however, there appears to be a listening to the possibility of change, as the Grenada survey indicated. A listening that Republic Bank should encourage as it contemplates a regional re-br anding of the group. 2.7The Environmental Landscape in the Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a Spanish speaking country in the Northern Caribbean bordered by the Caribbean Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean and Haiti. With a population of 8.8 million people, the Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past decade. The country enjoyed growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of more than 7% pre annum between 1998-2000. Growth subsequently plummeted as part of the global economic slowdown. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economys largest employer due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The Dominican Republic suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income. Growth turned negative in 2003 with reduced tourism, a major bank fraud and limited growth in the US economy, the source of 87% of export revenues. The inflation rate based on 2003 national statistics is 27.5%, with unemployment being 16.5% and 25% of the population living below the poverty line. Predominantly Roman Catholic, the ethnic composition of the Dominican Republic differs from that of Trinidad and Tobago, with persons of mixed ethnicity comprising 73% of the population, whites 16% and blacks 11%. This ethnic composition was considered when formulating communication material related to advertising on the re-branding of Banco Mercantil. It will also be considered in the future in the production of standard external communication material such as mass media advertising for the Group. 3.Statement of Opportunity Given Republic Banks stated vision of being the â€Å"Bank of Choice in the Caribbean†, the onset of globalisation which has opened up hitherto inaccessible markets, the imminent commencement of the CSME and FTAA which would open up the Caribbean to large, powerful and influential business competitors, coupled with the aggressive stance of competitive forces within the Caribbean itself, there is an opportunity at this time for Republic Bank to reposition and re-brand its regional subsidiaries, beginning with Banco Mercantil, its subsidiary in the Dominican Republic. 4.Theoretical Perspectives This study embraces several theoretic concepts in bringing about the re-branding and repositioning of the Republic Bank Group and more specifically the re-branding of its Dominican Republic subsidiary, Banco Mercantil. The study utilises a number of theories in change management, strategic business planning and corporate identity analysis in orchestrating the required change. 4.1AC ²ID Test In analysing the corporate identities of Republic Bank Limited and Banco Mercantil the AC ²ID Test devised by Harvard Business School Professor, John Balmer was used extensively. The AC ²ID Test is a model used to assist companies in evaluating and understanding their corporate identities, to identify deficiencies and misalignments often arising from, but not limited to mergers and acquisitions, and to form the basis for realignment or correction of the misaligned corporate identities. †¢The Acid test is a model used to assist companies in evaluating and understanding identify deficiencies The test acknowledges that every organisation has more than one identity, and categorises these into five specific areas that help to shape the overall identity and eventually the image of the organisation. These identities are: ACTUAL IDENTITY this comprises the current, distinct attributes of the company i.e. what it does. COMMUNICATED IDENTITY what does the company communicate via Advertising, Public Relations, and Sponsorships? CONCEIVED IDENTITY Stakeholder Perceptions corporate image reputation how does the company appear to stakeholders? IDEAL IDENTITY Optimum Positioning based on current knowledge of the companys capabilities. DESIRED IDENTITY -Corporate vision from the perspective of the CEO and the Board of Directors. The AC ²ID Test was employed to evaluate and analyse the corporate identities of Republic Bank and Banco Mercantil in consolidating and guiding the process of changing the Banco Mercantil name and the adoption of the overarching brand, Republic Bank. 4.2Structures Influence on Corporate Identity In identifying a link or relationship between organisational structure/hierarchy and corporate identity, the work of Olins, Ind and Kammerer were explored and applied. Olins identified three basic types of visual architecture used by organisations namely, the monol