MOS Burger Franchise Expansion Strategy

MOS Burger Franchise Expansion Strategy 1.0 INTRODUCTION MOS Burger is a well known inexpensive food administration in Japan that established in 1971 by Mr. Satoshi Sakurada. The name of MOS originates from the words Mountain, Ocean, and Sun and every one of this word have its own significance. Mountain represents honorable and respectable, Ocean represents wide and immense while Sun speaks to dynamic and nurturing (MOS Food Singapore, 2012). It is currently the second biggest inexpensive food administration in Japan after McDonald and MOS outlets had effectively ventured into abroad markets, for example, Taiwan, Singapore, China, etc. The organization separate itself from contenders by apply cook to arrange idea (MOS Burger Website, 2012). The nourishments will be cooked simply after the clients request to guarantee the newness of the nourishments. Greenery burgers utilized rice bun and numerous other Japanese sauces like teriyaki sauce that conceal on the burgers to shows its uniqueness which accentuated on giving a solid, heavenly and clean food. Besides, the organization likewise served assortment of remarkable and unique MOS Burger just as utilizing transnational procedures while going worldwide on the grounds that they keep normalized the formula and the business framework while limited a portion of the item to fit with neighborhood taste and inclination. The corporate maxim To fulfill individuals through food was a significant driver for the organization to deliver new, scrumptious, and quality burgers to their clients (MOS Burger Website, 2012). The enthusiastic duty of the organization make it fruitful conceivable and to guarantee a ceaseless endurance in this serious market. MOS Burger has effectively extended its business all around and at present there are 28 outlets in Singapore, 223outlets in Taiwan, 16 in Hong Kong, 7 in Thailand, 2 in Indonesia, 18 in China, 2 in Korea and 5 in Australia (MOS Burger Website, 2012). The 1412 outlets in Japan have nearly arrived at the cutoff for the organization to extend, in this way the organization want to quicken its extension with a dream from MOS of Japan to MOS of Asia lastly MOS of the World. The organization intended to grow their business and decide to enter those business sectors that they have not enter yet, for example, Malaysia, Canada, Western nations, etc later on (MOS Food Singapore, 2012). The section mode utilized by MOS Burger to enter the oversea market typically lies on joint endeavor and establishment framework. The organization structure joint endeavor with the nearby organization as development methodology into abroad market (MOS Burger Website, 2012). MOS Burger headquarter will appointed a work force to talk about the turn of events and joint exertion with the neighborhood organization to guarantee that they can go into the new market effectively which is absolutely contrasts as far as the methods of working together, culture issues and different issues. MOS Burger additionally use establishment as one of the passage mode procedures however it is difficult to get an establishment permit from MOS Burger since it needs to satisfy the prerequisites set by the organization. The potential franchisee need to think well about the companys reasoning that made by Mr. Sakurada in light of the fact that he wish to band together with the individuals who minds on nature; and furthermore a gathering of individuals who can add to the production of bliss both for individuals and society (MOS Burger Website, 2012). In any case, the organization will just look for the nations or territorial franchisees. As end, the organization is wanted to utilize an ace establishment framework to enter the new markets rather than an ordinary establishment framework. 2.0 CURRENT EXPANSION STRATEGY MOS Burger begins to grow their business since year 2001 and the primary abroad outlet is built up at Taiwan. MOS burger has work mindfully to grow their business and effectively opened 265 stores across seven areas in year 2011. (MOS report, 2011). 2.1 Joint Venture Joint endeavor is a passage mode by building up a firm that is mutually possessed by at least two in any case free firms (Charles and William, 2011). MOS Burger chose to utilize joint endeavor as one of the section modes to enter different districts since it ready to command over the business and simultaneously it likewise can profoundly comprehend that specific areas culture and way of life. In venture into every area, MOS Burger just will build up a joint endeavor concurrence with those organizations that worrying on great human relationship even it can seek after benefit (MOS Burger Website, 2012). MOS Burger will cautiously in assess and select their joint endeavor organizations so as to guarantee their business execution to accomplish fulfillment result. Those organizations that certified to seek after a joint endeavor concurrence with MOS Burger must experiencing not many procedures start from accommodation of proposition, introduction, meeting and they should ready to coordinate in the advancement of MOS Burger in that specific locale (MOS Burger Website, 2012). This procedure have been utilized effectively in Taiwan by built up a joint endeavor with TECO Group in year 1990. Following 22 years, there are 223 stores was opened in Taiwan (MOS Burger Website, 2012). The effective extension of MOS burger in Taiwan is on the grounds that they master in preparing their workers who ready to comprehend the essential way of thinking of MOS burger which is sheltered and secure. (Kouhei, Hideaki, Tsukasa, Shigeharu, 2010) In Indonesia, MOS Burger set up a joint endeavor, Pt Mog Indonesia in year 2008 and they start the principal outlet in Plaza Sendayan situated at South Jakarta (Plaza Indonesia Shopping Center, 2009). In addition, MOS FOOD SERVICES Inc. has joint endeavor with Media Will Holding Co. Ltd, a Korean organization that engaged with wide range of exercises including printing, appropriation and eatery the board to open another South-Korea outlet in March 2012 (MOS Report, 2011). Joint endeavor is significant for MOS Burger and effectively utilizing by MOS to extend their business to abroad districts including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and others. MOS burger chose utilizing joint endeavor since they found that the characteristic boundary in building up the business openings abroad. Those characteristic obstructions chiefly allude to every locale language and culture contrasts from one another (MOS report, 2011). The fruitful of this technique can be found in Taiwan which comprise the most noteworthy number of outlets among the outside business sectors. It was so achievement in light of the fact that the joint endeavor organization TECO bunch completely comprehend their own locale and prevail with regards to preparing the representatives who can speak Chinese well and simultaneously they ready to comprehend the fundamental way of thinking that created by MOS burger. (Kouhei, Hideaki, Tsukasa, Shigeharu, 2010) However, joint endeavor despite everything has its own constraints which are MOS burger unfit completely authority over their own business and strife may emerge when there is diverse purpose of perspectives. (Charles and William, 2011) 2.2 Franchising Other than joint endeavor, diversifying is another passage procedure that utilized by MOS Burger as it falls under cheap food industry. As per Charles and William (2011), diversifying considered as a specific type of authorizing wherein franchiser offer the immaterial property to the franchisee and demands rules to do the business. MOS burger extends their business and increment the quantity of outlet out of their nation of origin by looking for huge franchisees as opposed to looking for the little scope or individual limit (MOS Burger Website, 2012). Inside each and every district, those individual franchisees will be overseen by the joint endeavor organization along with MOS Burger to ensure all franchisees perform as per the built up business rehearse and guarantee the quality control in term of food just as their client assistance. Like joint endeavor, the establishment understanding will be marked after experienced a few procedures which are propose, present, talk with, condition examination and afterward just accompany the understanding. MOS burger will just take part in association with those franchisees that compassion to their thought included accomplish work that will be valued by clients, getting individual fulfillment when client fulfill with them and must have the full heart inspiration to work the establishment business. (MOS Burger Website, 2012) Today, MOS burger has become the second biggest establishment in Japan after McDonald. (Phillip, 2012). This establishment framework has been applied in various Asia district including Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and others. MOS Burger utilize establishment framework ready to produce fixed pay by gathering imperial expenses from the franchisees. In any case, expanding number of establishment conceded by MOS Burger will bring about a more grounded rivalry among all the MOS Burgers establishment business inside a specific district. In Taiwan, MOS Burger comprise of 223 outlets and every outlet is contend together so as to accomplish the most noteworthy benefit for one another. Solid rivalry between the franchisees will diminish the general benefit that can produce by MOS Burger and this turns into the impediment of this technique. There are numerous achievement establishments from MOS Burger in various locales; anyway there is a disappointment case that found in Hawaii, United State. In the late of 1980s, MOS Burger was enter to Hawaii however the business is bomb because of the high leases, stock issue and conflicting food quality (Andrew and Kulwant, 2005). 2.3 Wholly Owned Outlet In intending to grow their business out from that point Asia, there is a completely claimed outlet which opens in Australia in April 2011. Michelle (2012) revealed that Shinji Yamaguchi who is the head of global activity of MOS burger said they enter Australia since it closes to Asia and there are a great deal of Asian individuals which have comparable culture (Michelle, 2012). Plus, Australia outlet likewise is a trial of their business practice for MOS burger before their arrangement of entering Western nations. Yamaguchi said MOS burger presently is as yet hazy to utilize diversifying methodology or completely own business by them in the next year to grow the business. 3.0 FUTURE E

Proposal Essay Professor Ramos Blog

Proposition Essay Task: Proposal

How to Read Faster and Retain More from Everything You Read

How to Read Faster and Retain More from Everything You Read There is a chance reading is not your favorite thing in the world. And if that is the case, you’re most probably not very good at it. That needs to change.Reading is not only a great pass time, it is a great way of processing information â€" as opposed to watching TV, for example. Statistics tell us people who read more are richer, they are in relatively better health, they have more success in their careers.If you happened to be able to read faster and get more information from it, will you will be willing to read more often?This article will give you helpful advice how to teach your brain great techniques in order to go through written text faster and comprehend more from it.WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO READ FASTER?We read for multiple reasons. Some of us read mainly for pleasure, while others read mostly at work.While you want to take your time when reading your favorite new novel, you certainly want to be more efficient when reading work documents, or anything that is taking your prec ious time at the office.When you say the word ‘reading’ you probably imagine yourself standing in front of a book or a sheet of paper, fully concentrated, with all the time in the world. But that is not always the case.Especially at the workplace.For example, imagine you at one of those boring presentations, and the presenter of the information is in a hurry. You will only have a little bit of time to read those information heavy slides they are screening in front of you, and at the end you will be expected to be an efficient member of your brainstorming session or discussion. The more you manage to get out of the presentation, the more creative and full potential your ideas will be.Learning to read more efficiently will give you a competitive edge over your team members â€" you will become better at analysis, you’ll will be faster in comprehending new information.Reading fast improves your memoryReading is a great brain exercise. Not only do you have two digest the informatio n, you have to retain it and analyze it, and, preferably, remember it.It is not just a speed exercise.Research proves exercising your brain regularly is very beneficial â€" you are not wearing it out â€" on the contrary. Research tells us that heavy mental exercises can actually preserve your brain from damage caused by disease â€" for example Alzheimer’s. Activities such as solving crossword puzzles have been proven to be a healthy way to train your brain muscle. Learning to read fast and constantly challenging yourself is a way to progress in your training. Improves your focusWhen we’re not putting enough strain on our mind we get distracted very often and easily.We tend to allow ourselves to do that â€" we watch TV while we read the news, or we listen to music while we work.We seem to constantly prefer a false sense of comfort over focus. And focus is what guarantees us our efficiency.Trying to read faster and faster requires that focus. What is more, research shows that focu s is the subject of progress. The more often you put yourself in the situation of no distractions, the easier you will achieve a focused mind.Saves you timeThis is one of the more obvious reasons why you want to read faster. And while it is obvious it is a factor, it is underestimated how big of a factor this is. As reported by Globalnews.ca ‘people now spend one-third of their time at the office â€" and half of the time they work at home â€" reading and answering emails. And 30 per cent of that time, the emails are neither urgent nor important. That’s 11.7 hours spent at work and 5.3 hours at home â€" every week.’ Imagine how much of your time you could save if you could double or even triple your reading speed.HOW FAST SHOULD YOU BE ABLE TO READ?Can you really double or triple your reading speed? Well, to answer that question, you first need to know how fast you are reading already. According to Forbes, this is how fast you are supposed to be reading, counted in words per mi nute (wpm)Third-grade students = 150 words per minute (wpm)Eight grade students = 250Average college student = 450Average “high level exec” = 575Average college professor = 675Speed readers = 1,500World speed reading champion = 4,700Average adult: 300 wpmThere are free reading speed tests available online. Before you take any steps towards improving the speed of your reading, you need to know the current speed you’re working with.HOW TO START READING FASTERThe Tim Ferris experimentTim Ferris reports to have always been fascinated by the idea of the amount of time he could save himself if he could read at one third or even one fifth of the time. He believes that increasing the reading speed mainly involves controlling the fine motor movement in particular. The projectHe claims to have discovered a way to improve the reading speed of all participants, in what he calls the PX Project, by more than 30% in less than five minutes. And the further you are involved in the project the more you can increase your reading speed. The PX project is something Tim Ferris has taught to undergraduates at the Princeton University.The claimsAccording to him, the project is nothing more than a three-hour cognitive experiment with some great results. He claims to have never seen the experiment fail â€" it has been tested on foreign language speakers and even dyslexics. The experiment is supposed to teach anyone to read even technical material at more than 3000 words per minute which means 10 pages of text in one minute. To compare, the average reader has the speed of 300 words per minute, or half a page in one minute.You will need:A reading material of more than 200 pages. The material should be able to stay open at all times â€" do not go for a small-page book that keeps closing all of the time.Three hours for the experiment, in increments of 20 minutes of exercise in one session.A pen.A timer.You need to know:When you’re reading your eyes do not follow the lettering smoot hly. Rather, they move in what is called saccadic movements. You are fixating your eyes on a particular part of the sentence you are reading and you are taking a temporary snapshot of the page you’re seeing. If you find that hard to believe you can conduct your own experiment. Close one of your eyes and put your index finger on it. With your other eye open, read several sentences. You will fill the little jerky movements with the finger on your closed eye. The average reader constantly rereads text on their material because of a wrong fixation on text that has already been read. In order to improve your reading speed you must eliminate those regressions. Your current focus of reading fixation is most probably circular instead of elliptical. You are fixating on words that are above and below the text you’re reading. If you, instead, try and concentrate your sight horizontally and not vertically you will have a better understanding of the particular line your reading instead of f ocusing on unnecessary information above and below it. That alone is going to increase your reading speed by 50%.How the experiment worksThe experiment has several stages. You will learn to apply one principle, you exercise for it, you will time the increase of your reading speed, and you will challenge yourself with the new principle.Start the experimentEven though you might already know your reading speed, it is a good idea to doublecheck their reading speed with the particular materials you will be using for your experiment. Count the words from the first five line of your text. Now count the number of lines on the first five pages. If you divided by five now you will have the average number of lines per page. Multiply the amount by the number of words per line and you have yourself a number of words on the first five pages. This will give you a good idea of the number of words. Now read from the text for one minute exactly. Multiplying the lines you have covered by your average words-per-line number and you are ready with your current reading speed. You have to use a tracker and a pacer. You probably already used a pen to count the words per line and lines per page. Using a tracker means you have an object that points to you what is your current position in the text you’re reading. That will minimize the amount of times you are going back to text you have already read involuntarily. If you use your pen as a tracker you will probably move it in a smooth pace with your hand under the lines that you’re reading â€" which means that that can also be your pacer. You will use it to force yourself to be reading at a particular speed.Start reading at the minimum speed for one line per second, using your pen as a tracker and a pacer, and at this point do not concern yourself with actually comprehending the text. Just make sure you read it at the minimum speed. Repeat until you have reached your goal for one line per second. Continue on the same exercise until yo u reach the goal of two lines in one second. Read it so for 3 minutes. Focus on the exercise â€" remember, at this point you are just teaching your brain to adapt to the higher speed. You will work for comprehension later. Take a little break from reading to work on your focus. Stare for a minute at the center of the page trying two expand your peripheral vision. Focus on one word in the middle of the line and try to figure out what the rest of the sentence says. When you’re ready check if you’re a correct and switch your focus to another line or another page.Now do another session of reading following this technique. Remember to never read slower than one line per second, once again do not concern yourself with comprehension. You’re just teaching your brain to adapt. You are going to comprehend the fast read text later. Using your pen for a tracker, track your text while you are reading it like you did before, but this time while pointing with your pen skip one word at the be ginning of the line and then skip one word at the end of the line. Do so for one minute. Then for another minute skip two words at the beginning and two words at the end. Next, for three minutes straight try reading at the same pace skipping three words in the beginning of the line and three words at the end. Don’t worry if you do not understand the text completely. You’re just creating a reflex.Now calculate your words per minute reading speed. Try to read for a month fast with comprehension of the text. What were your findings? Did the experiment work for you? If you found there is a significant change in your reading speed, feel free to conduct the experiment again and track your changes. Mindful readingWhile the PX project gives you an exercise to train your brain and to teach it to read differently â€" creating a reflex how you should approach comprehending written information, mindful reading relies on you understanding how reading happens in your brain, so that you’ll c an manipulate that process and do it faster.Stop subvocalizingWhen you are reading written text you are probably hearing your own voice in your head going through the words on the page. You’re pronouncing them at the same speed if you read out loud. Well, you are not reading out loud. That is actually a very bad habit for people that want to learn to read faster. It is called subvocalizing. If you keep subvocalizing you will never reach the full potential of your reading mindfully. It is unnecessarily slowing you down. It is distracting you. If you focus on the meaning of the text you will not need to focus on little things like the pronunciation of the words for example. Work towards awareness of your subvocalizing. There is a trick that can help you achieve this. Try focusing on a word on the page without reading it aloud in your mind. Instead, focus on its meaning. Try a sentence then. Whenever you feel more confidence continue reading that text without hearing it in your head at all. Preview what you are about to readProbably it is way more difficult to comprehend a text if you have no idea what it’s about, who is it from and where is it going. Preview the first lines of the entire chapter of that text you’re about to start reading. Focus on the longer words from them. The longer words are usually the more specific words (as opposed to the more generic ones) â€" they will give you a better information about the jargon in the text â€" they will have a specific topic. When you know where the text is going it will be more difficult for you to get caught up in misunderstandings in the text caused by the higher speed of reading. Has it ever happened to you that you missed a little word and then in the entire paragraph stopped making sense for awhile? For example, the difference between ‘we most certainly do not participate in such events’ and ‘we most certainly do participate in such events’. The preview of the text will eliminate it most of those cases because you know what is coming next. Be mindful of the purpose of the textWhen you are previewing be more conscious of specific words into text, depending on its purpose. If you are reading a technical text, watch out for the jargon. If you are reading a novel, be more mindful of the words signifying feelings. If you are reading an email, watch out for action words and modal verbs â€" ‘we must go’, ‘please find’, ‘you should not delay’, ‘we would love it but…’Once again, this is the rule that you should be more conscious of the words that bring you the greatest meaning in that particular text you are reading. Track your speed and difficulty levelDo not get discouraged if your reading speed goes lower when you increase the difficulty level of the text. Remember there is a huge difference between reading your favorite novel and the reading a physics book.Do not expect for your progress to go smoothly. You will always experience bumps on the road. You will not always be able to tell the text you’re reading right now is more difficult than the one you did before. Obviously you will have other factors â€" you could be tired, sick or your attention could be preoccupied by something else. Track your reading progress Be constantly mindful of your reading speed. To begin with, make sure you have determined your baseline reading speed when you begin working on improving your pace.Whenever you read, take a second to think about the speed with which you want to read â€" if you are reading a large amount of information for your work you might prefer to read for a quality of comprehension and speed. If you’re reading for pleasure you might want to slow down and to cherish the authors work. In both of those cases being aware of the reading speed will help you improve your technique in the future. Make sure you take a test as your reading pace at least once every two weeks.Skip the small words when you readBe careful. When we talk about skipping the small words we do not mean skimming your text. By popular definition, skimming your text means to go over that text so quickly you are really not expected to have any comprehension of what is written, but could just get the general idea. If you skim you might know what the text is about, what is the writing style, what happens at the end. But you will miss a large amount of the information.While it could be useful in certain circumstances, it is not a form of reading we associate with understanding. What we mean by saying you should skip the small words is, that you should focus on the words that bring specific meaning and not the words that are too generic and are used to often. Words such as ‘and’, ‘if’, ‘is’, ‘to’, and ‘the’ can be found in any context. They will not be essential for your understanding of the particular text that you need to read.Read a lotThe moment you have an agenda with your reading, you will start feeling it’s a chore rather than a pleasurable activity. Do not put your reading materials aside, however.As with anything your training to do, it takes practice. Make sure you give it at least 15 to 20 minutes a day. Change your attitude towards readingReading, you used to think, was just another human ability. Now that you know a lot more about it, act accordingly. Your are now somewhat of an expert. You know how everything works in the brain. Experience the pleasure of your accomplishment. Cherish the power you’ll have now gained. You are a superhero with a very cool ability. Teach others.Watch this fascinating video about learning faster to gain a new superhero skill:CONCLUSIONThere you have it. Now you know that reading is nothing more than a process that you can teach yourself and your brain. You are not done learning to read in the first grade. You can continue developing helpful techniques to read with more skill and more mindfulness.You will read more quickly, more efficiently, and the entire process will be more pleasurable and will give your more information. You will have a competitive edge against all your co-workers and even your friends. Make it a goal till the end of the year to double your reading speed.You can do it!

Analysis Of John Orwell s Paradise Lost - 882 Words

Jenna Elliott Dr. Lingle-Martin British Literature February 14, 2017 How Epic Conventions Communicate Messages How does a story display a message? Often while reading, people do not realize just exactly how a text displays a message or lesson. Most of the time people realize what the message or lesson is only after they are finished reading. But, in fact many aspects of a text communicate a message. Conventions of epics play a big role in sharing the message. One may not realize it while reading, but if one were to look at the list of these conventions, one would recognize multiple examples of conventions in different texts. While each text may not have the same message, they all utilize epic conventions to help communicate a specific†¦show more content†¦However in Paradise Lost we witness a fall into the underworld, but not from what one would call a hero because he is more of a villain, this villain is Satan. At the beginning of the first book which begins after Satan s f all we get the background on why he had descended. God, Satan, and both of their armies were fighting and after God won, he punishes Satan s followers and Satan by casting them down to hell. At first Satan thinks being cast out of heaven and into hell is bad, but then he has a change of heart and emphasizes that he believes that his mind can not be changed by place or time. He expresses this belief by stating, A mind not to be chang d by Place or Time. The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heav n of Hell, a Hell of Heav n(1. 253-255). As these lines reveal, not only is the mind independent, but it also has the power to transform circumstances into good or bad. With this Satan chooses to transform Hell into good. He explains that he does this because he is still motivated by an ambition to rule like God. He justifies this by saying, Here at least we shall be free; th Almighty hath not built here for his envy, will not drive us hence: here we may reign secure, and in my choyce to reign is worth ambition through in Hell: better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav n(1. 258-263). This portrays Milton s goal of justifying God with his choice of casting Satan out of heaven into hell. The third andShow MoreRelatedGeorge Orwell23689 Words   |  95 PagesGeorge Orwell England Your England As I write, highly civilized human beings are flying overhead, trying to kill me. They do not feel any enmity against me as an individual, nor I against them. They are ‘only doing their duty’, as the saying goes. Most of them, I have no doubt, are kind-hearted lawabiding men who would never dream of committing murder in private life. On the other hand, if one of them succeeds in blowing me to pieces with a well-placed bomb, he will never sleep any the worse for

The Industrial Revolution Was An Innovative Period For...

The Industrial Revolution was an innovative period for entrepreneurs and inventors, in which many monumental technologies were introduced. However, many of those of the factory workers suffered from the social and economic conditions that resulted from the revolution in the 19th and 20th centuries. Some social conditions were that working women increasingly took up the workforce in textile factories as a way to earn money, but they also faced abuse from men and the harsh working conditions. Furthermore, manufacturers wanted to increase their profits by ensuring that the maximum amount of work could be done in a day, thus they increased the working shifts. The want to increase profits was an economic condition that factory workers had to†¦show more content†¦Although most females workers were older than 20, a social condition was strongly indicated that child labor was very much existent during the 19th and early 20th centuries as a way to provide for themselves and their fam ilies. E. Patricia Tsurumi also provided the genders and ages in the silk factories, but in Nagano Japan. In Nagano, female workers from ages 15 to 20 took up the majority of the workforce. Despite the varied numbers of female workers, both Coleman and Tsurumi presented information that females were mainly employed in textile factories. On the other hand, Harriet Hanson Robinson provided a closer perspective in a former female factory worker’s experience. Robinson, the female factory worker, wrote about how females in the cotton factory had to endure abusive working conditions and the reduced wages in Lowell. Robinson held a specific opinion upon the working conditions as the greatest hardship in the lives of children and that the reduced wages were unfair social conditions, because she was once a factory girl. A factory girl was considered to be the lowest among the employments of women; as a result, Robison may have endured much of the hardships and cruel treatment in the f actories at a very young age. It was a common social condition among many factory workers that they had to withstand the long hours, such as described in documents 3, 4, and 5. In Okaya, Japan, an average workday was 13 to 14 hours long with

Cat Evolution Free Essays

The felids are a rapidly evolving family of mammals that share a common ancestor only 10–15 million years ago,[26] and include, in addition to the domestic cat, lions, tigers, cougars, and many others. Within this family, domestic cats (Felis catus) are part of the genus Felis, which is a group of small cats containing approximately seven species (depending upon classification scheme). [1][27] Members of the genus are found worldwide and include the jungle cat (Felis chaus) of southeast Asia, European wildcat (F. We will write a custom essay sample on Cat Evolution or any similar topic only for you Order Now silvestris silvestris), African wildcat (F. s. lybica), the Chinese mountain cat (F. bieti), and the Arabian sand cat (F. argarita), among others. [28] All the cats in this genus share a common ancestor that probably lived around 6–7 million years ago in Asia. [29] The exact relationships within the Felidae are close but still uncertain,[30][31] e. g. the Chinese mountain cat is sometimes classified (under the name Felis silvestris bieti) as a subspecies of the wildcat, like an African variety F. S. lybica. [4][30] As domestic cats are little altered from wildcats, they can readily interbreed. This hybridization poses a danger to the genetic distinctiveness of wildcat populations, particularly in Scotland and Hungary, and possibly also the Iberian Peninsula. 32] The domestic cat was first classified as Felis catus by Carolus Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae in 1758. [1][3] However, because of modern phylogenetics, domestic cats are now usually regarded as another subspecies of the wildcat, Felis silvestris. [1][4][33] This has resulted in mixed usage of the terms, as the domestic cat can be called by its subspecies name, Felis silvestris catus. [1][4][33] Wildcats have also been referred to as various subspecies of F. catus,[33] but in 2003 the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature fixed the name for wildcats as F. ilvestris. [34] The most common name in use for the domestic cat remains F. catus, following a convention for domesticated animals of using the earliest (the senior) synonym proposed. [34] Sometimes the domestic cat has been called Felis domesticus[35] or Felis domestica,[1] as proposed by German naturalist J. C. P. Erxleben in 1777, but these are not valid taxonomic names and have only rarely been used in scientific literature,[36] because Linnaeus’s binomial takes precedence. [37] Cats have either a mutualistic or commensal relationship with humans. However, in comparison to dogs, cats have not undergone major changes during the domestication process, as the form and behavior of the domestic cat are not radically different from those of wildcats, and domestic cats are perfectly capable of surviving in the wild. [38][39] This limited evolution during domestication means that domestic cats tend to interbreed freely with wild relatives,[32] which distinguishes them from other domesticated animals. [citation needed] Fully domesticated house cats also often interbreed with feral F. atus populations. [25] However, several natural behaviors and characteristics of wildcats may have pre-adapted them for domestication as pets. [39] These traits include their small size, social nature, obvious body language, love of play, and relatively high intelligence;[40]:12–17 they may also have an inborn tendency towards tameness. [39] There are two main theories about how cats were domesticated. In one, people deliberately tamed cats in a pro cess of artificial selection, as they were useful predators of vermin. 41] However, this has been criticized as implausible, because there may have been little reward for such an effort: Cats generally do not carry out commands and, although they do eat rodents, other species such as ferrets or terriers may be better at controlling these pests. [4] The alternative idea is that cats were simply tolerated by people and gradually diverged from their wild relatives through natural selection, as they adapted to hunting the vermin found around humans in towns and villages. [4] How to cite Cat Evolution, Essay examples

Prostetic Limbs Essays - Neuroprosthetics, Biological Engineering

Prostetic Limbs In 1985 the movie going community was enthralled with its newest hit movie titled Short Circuit. The movie portrayed a robot that due to accidental electrocution believed that it was alive. In the final scenes the robot know as Johnny five was seen removing one of its damaged robotic arms and replacing it with a new and identical arm. This idea of replacing one limb with another of equal function was unfortunately only movie fiction. This fiction however is quickly becoming a reality for countless thousands of people living with prosthetic limbs. In the October 1998 issue of Scientific American the story of Melissa Del Pozzo a thirteen year old girl living with a prosthetic limb gives an example of the hope many are living with. Her only dream is that she could one day tickle the ivories of her piano again. Her hope could soon be rewarded. With continued research, prosthesiss are making advancements that were once only dreams. These advancements are seeing the most change in the area s of dexterous movement, feeling, and comfort. The first area that we see monumental change is in the ability for dexterous movement. The greatest development in this area is found in the Free-hand system developed by the Neuro-Control Corp. The January 1998 issue of FDA consumer outlines the workings of this system. First, the external Shoulder Position Sensor translates shoulder movements into electronic signals. The signals then travel to the External Controller for processing, and then to the external Transmitting Coil for relay to the Implanted Stimulator, which sends electrical stimulation along implanted Electrode Leads to implanted Electrodes in prosthetic hand, making them contract. With the use of this system amputees are again able to perform tasks were once impossible. The only problem with this system as pointed out in the September 13th issue of people magazine is that each unit costs about $50,000 an amount which most insurance companies are unwilling to fork out. The hand is also becoming more advanced with a system discussed in the January 1998 issue of Tech Directions. This system, know as Sabolich's Sense of Feel System, uses a cuff attached to the remaining portion of the limb. Over time a user is able to recognize exactly how much pressure they are using. This system differs form earlier ones in which judgement was based simply on sight, which is not very accurate. By using this system, amputees are able to hold their childs hand or pick up an egg without the fear of crushing them. Both the Free-Hand system and Sabloichs sense of feel system are helping amputees feel their way towards a better quality of life. Using these systems, they are moving away from the dreaded metal hook and into the technological world they live in. Although some feeling is addressed in the first point, we must next examine the advancement in sensory receptors which aide to the feelings experienced by amputees. The prosthetic limb has seen great advancement in feel and function but one of the greatest advancements is a system developed by John Sabolich, NovaCare's national prosthetic director. The myo-electric prosthesis with hot and cold sensory receptors described in the April 3, 1998 issue of Philadelphia Business Journal provides one of the unique advancements of the last decade. The system involves temperature sensors, placed in a prosthetic foot or hand that send signals to a computerized advanced circuitry system. Those signals are sent to electrodes on the skin in a person's residual limb. The natural skin receptors send information to the brain, where the sensation is registered. One patient said that he could again feel the warmth of his grandsons hand and could feel the warmth of his wifes face. In a recent article titled, How computers help artificial limbs get smarter found in the August 14th edition of the Wall Street Journal eastern edition, Sabolichs use of pressure sensors in artificial feet is explored. To create an awareness of pressure, Sabolich places pressure transducers in the toes and heels of artificial feet. The greater the surface pressure against them, the larger the signal sent on to electrodes that touch the existing portion of a person's leg. Signals from the front and back of the

Determiners What They Are and How to Use Them

Determiners What They Are and How to Use Them Determiners: What They Are and How to Use Them We use determiners in front of nouns to show what they refer to. The difference between â€Å"a hat† and â€Å"my hat,† for instance, is that â€Å"my† shows that the hat belongs to me. This makes determiners very important for clear communication, so make sure you know which terms to use in different situations. Articles (The / A / An) Articles are the most basic determiners to specify what you’re discussing. They  come in two kinds: the definite article (â€Å"the†) and the indefinite article (â€Å"a† or â€Å"an†). The definite article – â€Å"the† – is used when we refer to something specific. If I say â€Å"I am going to the library,† for example, I have a particular library in mind (not just any library). The indefinite article is used when not referring to a specific entity. If I go looking for â€Å"a library,† I’m not searching for a specific library (any library will do). Possessives (My / Your / His / Her / Its / Our / Their) A possessive determiner indicates ownership, like with â€Å"my hat† above. Other singular determiners include â€Å"your,† â€Å"his,† â€Å"her† and â€Å"its.† Plural determiners (i.e., determiners used to indicate something belongs to a group) include â€Å"our† (â€Å"welcome to our party!†), â€Å"their† (â€Å"I don’t want to go to their party†) and â€Å"your† (â€Å"I’m glad I went to your party†). Note that â€Å"your† can be either  singular or plural. Demonstratives (This / That / These / Those) Demonstrative determiners usually tell us about the position of something relative to the speaker. â€Å"This† (singular) and â€Å"these† (plural) indicate something is close. â€Å"That† (singular) and â€Å"those† (plural) usually apply when something is far away. Determiners (This, That, These, Those) As with â€Å"the,† demonstratives  are used when we refer  to something in particular (e.g., â€Å"this cake† and â€Å"that cake† both refer to a specific cake, unlike â€Å"a cake†). We also use â€Å"this† to refer to something we have just mentioned. This makes it possible to follow on from a preceding sentence without having to re-identify the thing being discussed. Quantifiers (All / Any / Some / Every) This category of determiners includes a wide variety of terms relating to quantity, including â€Å"all,† â€Å"any,† â€Å"both,† â€Å"either,† â€Å"enough,† â€Å"a few,† â€Å"some,† â€Å"every† and many others. Like â€Å"a† or â€Å"an,† these words do not specify singular things, but nevertheless tell us something about the noun being described, usually to do with the number or quantity being discussed. In the sentence â€Å"I will cuddle every puppy,† for example, â€Å"every† shows I’m referring to every single puppy in the room, in the world, or every puppy available. In â€Å"I will cuddle any puppy,† meanwhile, the determiner â€Å"any† shows that, while I’m happy to cuddle a puppy, I will not necessarily commit to cuddling all of them. No matter how adorable they are. Sorry, little dude. Youll have to cuddle yourself. [Photo: Jonathon Kriz]

Scholarship Application Essay

Scholarship Application Essay Scholarship Application Essay There are so many scholarships worth billions of dollars that are available year after year-but to get your share of the pie you need to write a scholarship application essaythat can outdo the efforts of your competitors. Before writing a scholarship application essay, it is important for you to think through what you are going to write about and why. After deciding on a topic that you are passionate and knowledgeable about, you should give an in depth insight of it After completion of your scholarship application essay, you need to check it thoroughly for spelling and grammar mistakes A scholarship application essayshould start with an introductory paragraph that introduces the topic and spells out your thesis statement; leading in to a follow up paragraph that starts with a transition word or phrase that relates to the last sentence of the essay. Three or more body paragraphs that elaborate a point each; written in order of importance should end with a strong conclusion in the final paragraph. This should reinforce all the findings that validate your thesis statement. The scholarship application essaybody paragraphs should consist of a sentence indicating the topic, evidence that supports your thesis statement and a concluding sentence that summarizes the paragraph. The first step to write a scholarship application essayis to chalk out an outline. You can do this by jotting the main topic along with as many supporting details as you can. Use this outline to write your essay efficiently and easily. Add a personalized touch Play up your strengths by adding as many examples as you can to substantiate your claims. It is also a good idea to refer to some winning Scholarship essays before actually starting your own. Once you go through some successful scholarship essays analyze why you think they have accomplished what they have set out to do. Notice the dramatic and captivating introduction as well as the personal details that make it different to any other run of the mill essay. Go on line to get some goodscholarship application essayexamples or ask your college councilor to give you access to some winning scholarship application essays-then put on your thinking cap to see how you can use these examples as models to enhance your own scholarship application essay:http://.com/blog/scholarship-application-essay-writing Best of luck! Read also: Communism Paper Philosophy Term Biology Term Paper Sport Research Paper Research Paper Topics Free Research Papers

Economics for Business and Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 2

Economics for Business and Management - Essay Example A situation in which marginal cost is higher than marginal costs implies that further improvements can be for society and, thus, it is inefficient for society to prolong its situation at that level. On the other hand, when marginal costs are higher than marginal revenue, it means that there are wastages and society would do better if lowers output such that marginal costs are reduced to be just equal to marginal revenues. This is the market equilibrium and market equilibrium is interpreted as â€Å"efficient† because marginal costs are just equal to marginal returns. Usually, the people who hold on to the view are economists, businesspersons, and pragmatic policy makers. However, economists who take this position qualify that for market to fulfil its role as efficient allocator of resources, certain conditions apply. For example, some of the conditions necessary conditions are believed to be as follow: 1. The good or service which the market will allocate are private goods or service. Private goods are goods in which consumption is rival and excludable in consumption. Rival means consuming the good or service will deprive others of the same good. Excludable means it will not be feasible, costly, nor impractical from depriving others of the good. 2. There are no externalities involved in consuming or using the good or service. Externalities are third party effects on the good. For example, goods that pollute are assumed to have negative externalities. In contrast, health services are believe to have positive externalities because improvements in health benefits not only those who have purchased the good that enhances health but also third parties. In a typical demand-supply curve, the demand curve represents society’s valuation for the good in terms of marginal utilities while the supply curve represents that part of the marginal cost-curve above the

Strategic Corporate Finance case study 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Strategic Corporate Finance case study 1 - Essay Example have a useful life of around 20 years and after that they are expected to be removed with a decommissioning cost of around  £2,000 and  £5,000 for onshore and offshore projects, respectively. As far as the adjustments are concerned, sales revenue has been the same for both projects and there is no change in either of profit and loss account and working of cash flows. Government grant has been adjusted such that the government grant would be received by the company in first year of the project which is  £2,000 and  £5,000 for both these projects respectively. However, in profit and loss account, government grant is spread to all 20 years in equal proportion which, however, is adjusted for the estimation of cash flows. Local taxes are included in the profit and loss statement however they have not been included in the estimation of cash flows as guided in the additional information. Being a non-cash expense, depreciation is not considered in the cash flow estimation which is however included in the profit and loss statement (Scott and  Megginson, 2008). Cash reserve is in fact working capital which is not included in the profit and loss statement. However, an outflow of cash reserve is shown before the start of first year project and has been realized in the last year of the project with the same amount. Capital budgeting process has been conducted for both these projects in order to evaluate the financial viability of these projects. The financial viability can be envisaged using four types of investment appraisal techniques such as 1) Net Present Value (NPV) 2) Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 3) Accounting Rate of Return, and 4) Payback Period (PP). The following discussion incorporates each of these four techniques with respect to both â€Å"onshore† and â€Å"offshore† projects. Net Present Value of any projects determines the present value of all the future cash flows discounted with an appropriate cost of capital of the firm after deducting the initial

Increasing Airline Security Essay -- Papers

Increasing Airline Security Over the past five months, airline and airport security has been in the news almost daily. The events on and since September 11 have completely changed the viewpoints of many Americans, as well as the world, concerning airline security. Between the 18 suicide hijackers to Richard â€Å"the shoe bomber† Reid and the many other terrorists that lurk in the world, flying is definitely not as safe as it once was. I strongly believe that security in airports should be much more strict than it is now, even if it infringes on the people’s right to privacy. The last part of that statement is the point of clash for many people because they strongly believe in privacy rights. Before I get to why there should be stricter airport security, I will define a few the main terms in this debate. First of all, stricter security calls for a more systematic, more careful searching of passengers, bags and airplanes for contraband items, like guns, knifes, explosives and anything that could be used as a weapon. I will go into more detail later about different practices to give airports stricter security. Another crucial part of this debate that perplexes many people is the phrase, â€Å"right to privacy.† Rights to privacy can be defined as the right to be left alone without unwarranted intrusion by the government, the media or other institutions or individuals. Article IV of the Bill of Rights states that â€Å"the right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Airline security has always been a very important issue, but the significance has multiplied exponentially since the September 11th terrorist attacks. On that horrific day, ... ...ace for those airports that do not follow the correct procedure. Depending on the size of the airport, fines should be high enough to make a difference to the owners. For example, an airport in New York City should have a very hefty fine of at least $25,000 per infraction. Smaller airports cannot afford such amounts, so the fines should be tailored to their income. The funding for these new procedures and equipment has been allowed for in the President’s new budget for the fiscal year. Also, raising ticket prices only a few dollars each would help fund the new equipment. The fines from faulty airports could go into a fund to help pay for more equipment. Ultimately, I believe that these stricter changes would not only prevent events like those on September 11, but also they would deter would-be terrorists from even trying to breech the security at airports.

Organisational Design

Nine tests of organisation design The weight of research and insight into organisational design is heavy and growing. Michael Goold and Andrew Campbell cut through the complexity and emerge with a new approach to organisation design which includes a rigorous framework for design choices based on nine key tests of organisational effectiveness. Michael Goold is a director of the Ashridge Strategic Management Centre. His research interests are concerned with corporate strategy and the management of multi-business companies, and he runs the Centre’s programme on Group Level Strategy. Product-market strategies What are the factors that should guide the choice of organisation design? There are many managerial rules of thumb about things such as spans of control and reporting relationships. In addition, academics and consultants have produced a huge amount of work on organisation design. But our research told us that managers still lack a practical and systematic framework to guide their organisation choices. An important purpose of our work has been to condense previous ideas on organisation design into a few core principles, on which to base a usable framework. Less an intellectual triumph than a practical checklist for addressing the most important issues, FIGURE 1: FRAMEWORK FOR ORGANISATION DESIGN GOOD DESIGN PRINCIPLES Specialisation principle Email: michael. goold Corporate strategy Co-ordination principle @ashridge. org. uk ORGANISATION DESIGN People Control and commitment principle Knowledge and competence principle Constraints Innovation and adaptation principle 4 DIRECTIONS FIT DRIVERS www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk FIGURE 2: NINE TESTS FOR ORGANISATIONAL DESIGN Product-market strategies GOOD DESIGN TESTS Specialist cultures test Specialisation principle Andrew Campbell is a director of the Ashridge Strategic Management Centre and visiting professor at City University. Previously Redundant hierarchy test Knowledge and competence principle Market advantage test Corporate strategy Difficult links test Co-ordination principle Parenting advantage test ORGANISATION DESIGN People he was a Fellow in the Centre for Business Strategy People test Accountability test Constraints Control and commitment principle t the London Business School, and a consultant at Feasibility test Flexibility test FIT TESTS Innovation and adaptation principle McKinsey & Co. Email: andrew. campbell our framework is grounded on some basic principles. The first and most important, the fit principle, embraces four drivers of fit – productmarket strategies, corporate strategies, people and constraints. The other good design principles are the specialisation principle, the co-ordination principle, the knowledge and competence principle, the control and commitment principle, and the innovation and adaptation principle (Figure 1). The principles are broad in nature and not always easy to convert into prescriptive guidance. They are more valuable in orienting managers than in resolving particular organisational dilemmas. However, as we worked with the principles, we found ways to convert them into some practical tests. Perhaps the most important contribution of this lies in the insights and understandings that the tests produce. The tests match the fit drivers and the good design principles. (See Figure 2). @ashridge. org. uk The fit tests One almost universally agreed proposition is that organisations need to be fit for purpose. Strategy, 5 DIRECTIONS www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk Nine tests of organisation design therefore, should be a key driver of organisation design, and we have found it useful to distinguish between product-market strategies and corporatelevel strategy. But strategy is not the only driver of organisational design. At least as important are people. Many authorities counsel against designing an organisation around people, preferring to build around the strategy and change the people if necessary. However, people cannot always be changed and new ones with the required attitudes may be hard to find. So designs should take account of the people available to lead and work in them. Finally, organisation design is subject to various constraints, ranging from laws laid down by governments to organisational capabilities or resources that are deeply embedded. The people test: â€Å"Does the design adequately reflect the motivations, strengths and weaknesses of the available people? † The feasibility test: â€Å"Does the design take account of the constraints that may make the proposal unworkable? The fit tests bring out the most important inputs that should guide organisation design choices. Provided the design has been selected with these inputs in mind, there should be no problem in passing the fit tests. However, organisation design choices are not always so rational. All too often, organisations evolve in ways that are not sufficiently related to the strategy of the compan y, or else pay scant attention to the limitations of managers who will fill key positions. In one company, we were told that the structure had always been primarily driven by the balance of All too often, organisations evolve in ways that are not sufficiently related to the strategy of the company, or else pay scant attention to the limitations of managers who will fill key positions. power between the four barons who ran the main divisions, resulting in business unit groupings that had little to do with the opportunities in the markets being served. Under these circumstances, the organisation will be a barrier to successful strategy implementation and will damage competitiveness. The fit tests ensure that organisations that are evidently not fit for purpose will be exposed, and that more suitable alternatives will be adopted. The good design tests The fit drivers lead to four fit tests: While the four drivers of the fit principle are The market advantage test: â€Å"Does the design allocate sufficient management attention to the operating priorities and intended sources of advantage in each product-market area? † recognised by most managers, we believe the good design principles and tests represent more of an advance. They synthesise the vast quantity of academic research and managerial experience about what makes an organisation work well into The parenting advantage test: â€Å"Does the design allocate sufficient attention to the intended 6 DIRECTIONS few basic tests that should guide any organisation designer. The specialisation principle and co-ordination principle both concern the boundaries between sources of added-value and strategic initiatives of the corporate parent? † www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk units. The specialisation principle states that boundaries should exist to encourage the development of specialist skills, whereas the co-ordination principle emphasises that activities that need to be co-ordinated should be located within the boundaries of a single unit. Although these basic principles are clear, there are unfortunately often trade-offs between specialisation and co-ordination. A broadly-based product structure may give economies in purchasing and manufacturing, but be detrimental to the development of specialist products for particular markets. A disaggregated geographical structure with many local units may support the special skills needed for different regions, but prevent effective co-ordination in product development or IT infrastructure. The difficult organisational problems arise when there are trade-offs between different ways of grouping responsibilities. In order to help with these trade-offs, we have developed two tests, which give more precision to the basic principles and make them more practically useful. business unit, with little or no contact with the rest of the company. Alternatively, instead of setting up a separate unit, it may be possible for the corporate parent to ensure that the specialist culture receives sufficient protection by flexing corporate policies and procedures or by giving it certain powers. The test focuses attention on the dangers of suppressing or damaging activities that fall outside the mainstream corporate culture, dangers which are easy to overlook. The difficult links test recognises that many co-ordination benefits can be achieved through spontaneous networking between units, but that others will be more difficult. For example, best practice sharing can often be left to networking between units, whereas the establishment of common technical standards is unlikely without a corporate policy which makes them mandatory. Organisation designers should focus only on the few co-ordination benefits that will be difficult: where networking will not deliver the benefits. For these difficult links, it is necessary to develop appropriate co-ordination mechanisms or interventions to overcome the difficulty, or to The specialist cultures test: â€Å"Do any ‘specialist cultures’, units with cultures that need to be different from sister units and the layers above, have sufficient protection from the influence of the dominant culture? † readjust the design so that the co-ordination lies within the responsibilities of a single unit. This test makes managers assess which co-ordination benefits will be difficult to achieve if left to the network, and to think through whether and how the difficulty can be overcome. The difficult links test: â€Å"Does the organisation design call for any ‘difficult links’, co-ordination benefits that will be hard to achieve on a networking basis, and does it include ‘solutions’ that will ease the difficulty? † Together, the specialist cultures test and difficult links test give managers a powerful means of assessing the trade-offs between the benefits that can be gained from co-ordination and from specialisation. In the 1980s, IBM decided to set up its PC division as a very separate unit, free from the influence of the IBM corporate culture and The specialist cultures test questions whether the required specialist skills will thrive only if the managers concerned are insulated from the influence of other parts of the organisation. For example, sometimes the best way to develop and market a new product is to set it up as a separate policies. This promoted a specialist PC culture that was highly successful in bringing the new product to market rapidly. Using a similar logic, many commentators argued that, when faced with performance problems in the early 1990s, IBM should break up the whole company into separate, 7 DIRECTIONS www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk Nine tests of organisation design independent units. Lou Gerstner, however, believed that the opportunity for IBM lay in providing integrated customer solutions. He therefore kept the company together. But he recognised that co-ordination between separate product divisions was not proving a satisfactory means of offering integrated solutions, due to conflicting divisional priorities and incompatible technologies. He therefore gave authority to IBM Sales and Distribution division and to a new unit, the Global Services division, to concentrate, respectively, on customer solutions and services, using both IBM and competitor products. These divisions have the power to offer a unified approach to customers and have dealt well with the previously difficult links between IBM divisions. At the same time, Gerstner has encouraged new business activities, such as Business Innovation Services, IBM’s e-business initiative, not to be bound by IBM’s traditional policies nd ways of doing things. IBM’s structure now takes account of both the difficult links and the specialist cultures tests. The difficult links and specialist cultures tests help managers to address the organisation design issues faced by companies such as IBM, where there are evident advantages both from specialisation and co-ordination. The tests identify the real trade-offs between co-ordination and specialisation and h elp managers to find ways of gaining the benefits of co-ordination without undermining the development of specialist skills. The knowledge and competence principle is mainly concerned with delegation. It states that responsibilities should be allocated to the person or team best placed to assemble the relevant knowledge and competence at reasonable cost. The practical test that follows from the principle is: This test is based on the premise that the default option should be to decentralise to operating units, only retaining responsibilities at higher levels if there is a knowledge and competence rationale. As we have argued in previous work, hierarchy can only be justified if it adds some value to the functioning of the organisation. 1 Questions about whether and how the hierarchy adds value have helped numerous companies to sharpen their thinking about the design of their headquarters, group and division levels. The redundant hierarchy test is a way of formalising these questions. The control and commitment principle concerns two challenges that arise in any decentralised organisation: how to maintain appropriate control and how to ensure high levels of motivation. Units should feel strong pressures to self-correct if they are failing to deliver, and parent-level managers to whom the units report should be able to identify problems easily and promptly. This leads to a further test: The accountability test: â€Å"Does the design facilitate the creation of a control process for each unit that is appropriate to the unit’s responsibilities, economical to implement, and motivating for the managers in the unit? † The accountability test focuses managers on the pressures that exist for a unit to self-correct. These depend on the relationships the unit has with ts internal and external customers, the performance measures for the unit, and the unit’s reporting relationship. Market-facing business units with arms-length customer relationships and bottomline performance measures are relatively easy to control and motivate. Corporate functions with no external customers, tied internal relationships and The redundant hierarchy test: â⠂¬Å"Are all levels in the hierarchy and all responsibilities retained by higher levels based on a knowledge and 8 DIRECTIONS subjective performance measures present more accountability problems. In a complex structure, it is all too easy to create a design that looks good on paper, but leaves unit managers de-motivated and unclear about their performance objectives, and competence advantage? † www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk parent managers unable to control those who report to them. The accountability test helps managers design units and establish performance measures that produce effective, low-cost controls that are highly motivating. The innovation and adaptation principle states that structures should be designed to innovate and adapt as uncertainties become clarified and environments change. An organisation design that is perfect for today is of little use if it cannot adapt to cope with the conditions of tomorrow. The principle yields our last test. under-attending to product or from underattending to geography? † Often there is no clear The flexibility test: â€Å"Will the design help the development of new strategies and be flexible enough to adapt to future changes? answer to these trade-offs, but making sure that the question is asked helps managers to find a reasonable balance between competing interests. By pointing out the trade-offs and weak points in a The test recognises that some structures allow for evolution and adaptation, whereas others build in rigidity and power bases that resist change. It ensures that the designer considers the changes which may be needed and whether the design will b e flexible enough to make them. chosen design, the tests help managers to be more thoughtful about problems that may occur and future changes that may be needed. The tests also help managers weigh the advantages and disadvantages of different designs and provide a rigorous analytical structure for making design choices. An organisation design that is perfect for today is of little use if it cannot adapt to cope with the conditions of tomorrow. Using the tests The purpose of the tests is to raise issues. Some can be addressed by refining the structure, by designing process solutions, or by appointing different managers. A key benefit from using the tests comes from the ideas for design improvements that they suggest. For example, a common problem is the creation of a layer of management, say a geographic region or a product group, without specifying what responsibilities should be retained by this layer and why. The redundant hierarchy test helps point out this design weakness, alerting managers to the need either to eliminate the layer or to define the responsibilities, skills, management processes and leadership style that is needed to make the layer a positive influence on performance. Some issues raised by the tests point to unavoidable trade-offs: â€Å"do we lose more from The nine tests are the core around which we have built our new approach to organisation design. This article is drawn from Michael Goold and Andrew Campbell’s new book, Designing Effective Organizations (John Wiley & Sons, 2002). REFERENCE 1. Goold, Michael; Campbell, Andrew and Alexander, Marcus. (1994). Corporate-level Strategy, John Wiley & Sons and Goold, Michael; Pettifer, David and Young, David, â€Å"Redefining the Corporate Centre† , European Management Journal, February 2001. 9 DIRECTIONS www. ashridge. com/directions The Ashridge Journal Summer 2002 Ashridge Business School http://www. ashridge. org. uk

Why Obama Won the 08 Presidential Election

Barack Obama decisively won the presidential election due to many factors, including weaknesses of his Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain. His own strengths also helped propel him to victory in the 2008 race to become the 44th President of the United States. Empathy and Genuine Help for Middle-Class Americans Barack Obama gets what it means for a family to worry financially, to work hard simply to make it, and to do without essentials. Obama was born to a teenage mother, abandoned by his father at age 2, and raised largely in a small apartment by his middle-class grandparents. At one point, Obama, his mother, and younger sister relied on food stamps to put meals on the family table. Michelle Obama, close counselor and best friend to her husband, and her brother were similarly raised in modest circumstances in a one-bedroom apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Both Barack and Michelle Obama speak frequently about what it means for middle-class Americans to be at a disadvantage financially and otherwise. Because they get it, both Obamas referred with heartfelt eloquence to middle-class fears during the campaign and early years of the Obama presidency, including: The climbing unemployment rateThe staggering home foreclosure rate gripping the nationCrashing 401(k) and pension plans, leaving retirements in limbo48 million Americans without healthcare insuranceHigh percentages of public schools failing our childrenThe continuing struggle of middle-class families to balance work and parenting demands In vivid contrast, John and particularly Cindy McCain exuded an aura of financial insularity and well-heeled elegance. Both were born wealthy and were quite wealthy for their entire lives. When cornered by Pastor Rick Warren during the campaign, John McCain defined rich as I think if youre just talking about income, how about $5 million. Middle-class anger was palpable about economic fairness during those tough financial times and came after what many viewed as then-President George W. Bushs $700 billion bailout of rich Wall Streeters. Obama offered actual, understandable policy solutions to help middle-class Americans, including: A detailed 12-point program to repair the economy for middle-class families, including a $1,000 tax cut, creation of 5 million new jobs, protection of family homes from foreclosure, and reform of unfair bankruptcy laws.A Small Business Emergency Rescue Plan which included emergency lending for small and family-owned businesses, special tax incentives, and tax cuts, and expansion of Small Business Administration support and services.A specific plan to reform Wall Street practices, including new regulation of the financial markets, to blunt the greedy influence of special interests, crackdown on manipulation of financial markets, and more. John McCains tin ear on middle-class financial woes was evident in his prescription for the economy: more tax-cuts for major corporations, and continuation of the Bush tax cuts for U.S. millionaires. And this McCain stance was consistent with his stated desire to slash Medicare and privatize Social Security. The American public was fed-up with failed Bush/McCain economics, which claimed that prosperity would eventually trickle down to everyone else. Obama won the presidential race largely because voters perceived that he, and not John McCain, cared about and would address middle-class economic struggles and inequities. Steady Leadership, Calm Temperament Barack Obama earned at least 407 newspaper endorsements, versus 212 for John McCain. Without exception, every Obama endorsement referred to his presidential-like personal and leadership qualities. And all echo the same basics about Obamas calm, steady, thoughtful nature, versus McCains impetuousness and unpredictability. Explained  The Salt Lake Tribune, which has rarely endorsed a Democrat for president: Under the most intense scrutiny and attacks from both parties, Obama has shown the temperament, judgment, intellect and political acumen that are essential in a president that would lead the United States out of the crises created by President Bush, a complicit Congress and our own apathy. The Los Angeles Times noted: We need a leader who demonstrates thoughtful calm and grace under pressure, one not prone to volatile gesture or capricious pronouncement ... as the presidential race draws to its conclusion, it is Obamas character and temperament that come to the fore. It is his steadiness. His maturity. And from  the Chicago Tribune, founded in 1847, which had never before endorsed a Democrat for the presidency: We have tremendous confidence in his intellectual rigor, his moral compass and his ability to make sound, thoughtful, careful decisions. He is ready... Obama is deeply grounded in the best aspirations of this country, and we need to return to those aspirations. ... He has risen with his honor, grace and civility intact. He has the intelligence to understand the grave economic and national security risks that face us, to listen to good advice and make careful decisions. In contrast, during the past two months of the 08 presidential campaign, John McCain acted (and overreacted) inconsistently, unpredictably, and without forethought. Two examples of McCains unsteady leadership were his erratic behavior during the financial markets meltdown, and in his poorly-vetted pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate. John McCain served as the perfect foil to highlight Obamas solidly grounded leadership skills. Obamas even-keel temperament made him seem well-suited to be president for the troubled, turbulent times. And the mere image of ultra-volatile, careless John McCain in the White House was enough to scare the majority of the electorate into supporting Obama. Health Care Insurance Americans were finally fed-up enough with the unfairness of health care delivery in this country to be ready to make the issue a priority in selecting a president. The United States is the only wealthy, industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system. As a result, in 2008, more than 48 million U.S. men, women, and children had no health care insurance. Despite being ranked No. 1 in health care spending by the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. was ranked  72nd among 191 nations  in 2000 in overall level of health of its citizens. And the state of U.S. health care deteriorated further under the Bush administration. Obama set for a health care plan and policies that would fairly ensure that every American will have access to good quality medical care services. McCains health care plan was a stunningly radical scheme that would: Still exclude millions of the uninsuredRaise income taxes for most American familiesIn the opinion of most experts, cause millions of employers to drop health care policies for their employees And unbelievably, McCain wanted to deregulate the health care insurance industry, much as Republicans disastrously deregulated U.S. financial markets under President George Bush. Obamas Health Care Plan Obamas plan intended to make available a new plan to all Americans, including the self-employed and small businesses, to buy affordable health coverage that is similar to the plan available to members of Congress. The new plan was to include: Guaranteed eligibilityNo one would be turned away from any insurance plan because of illness or pre-existing conditionsComprehensive benefitsAffordable premiums, co-pays, and deductiblesEasy enrollmentPortability and choice Employers that did not offer or make a significant contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees would be required to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of this plan. Most small businesses would be exempt from this mandate. The Obama plan required only that all children have health care coverage. McCains Health Care Plan John McCains health care plan was designed to control health care costs and to deregulate, and thus enrich, the healthcare industry, and was not necessarily designed to offer health care coverage to the uninsured. For consumers, the McCain plan: Required that insurance policies from employers be included in employees taxable income, along with salary and bonuses, thereby causing employees income taxes to increase;Then provided a $5,000 tax credit to partially offset increased income taxesDeleted the employee health care insurance income tax deduction for all employers Innumerable experts predicted that these massive McCain changes would: Cause the taxable income of the average family of four to rise by about $7,000Cause employers to drop health care insurance for employeesCause an increase, not decrease, in Americans without health care coverage McCains plan was intended to push millions of Americans into the market to buy their own individual health care policies, which will be offered by a newly deregulated health care insurance industry. Newsweek reported, The Tax Policy Center estimates that 20 million workers will leave the employer-based system, not always voluntarily. Midsize and smaller companies are likely to drop their plans ... CNN/Money added, McCain sorely lacks a plan for people in their 50s without corporate benefits, and Americans with pre-existing conditions, who would be brutally stripped of coverage if insurance crosses state lines. Observed blogger Jim MacDonald: The result ... won’t be healthy competition that will lower costs for everyone. It’ll be higher costs and fewer options for the poor, the old, and the sick. That is, the people who need health care. Young, healthy, rich people won’t be affected ... Obamas Plan: The Only Viable Choice Obamas plan fairly and inexpensively ensured that all Americans have access to quality health care services, but without the government providing those services. McCains health care plan was intended to free the business community from providing for its employees, to enrich the health care insurance industry, and increase income taxes for all Americans. But not to provide health care services for the uninsured. For anyone who valued their health care insurance, Barack Obama was the only viable choice for president. Withdrawal of Combat Troops from Iraq Barack Obama bested Hillary Clinton by a small margin for the 08 Democratic presidential nomination due mainly to their differing positions on the Iraq War, especially at the wars inception in 2002. Sen. Hillary Clinton  voted yes in 2002  to give the Bush administration authorization to attack and invade Iraq. Sen. Clinton rightfully believes that Congress was misled by Bush, and after a while, she admitted her regret for her vote. But Clintons 2002 support for the unpopular war was brutal fact. In contrast, Barack Obama famously  spoke out in late 2002 against the Iraq War  before Congress voted, declaring: I dont oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt ... to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne. What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income, to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression. Obama on the Iraq War Obamas stance on the Iraq War  was unambiguous: He planned to immediately begin to remove our troops from Iraq. He promised to remove one to two combat brigades each month and to have all of our combat brigades out of Iraq within 16 months. Once in office, however, Obama stuck to the Bush administration timetable of complete withdrawal by December 31, 2011. Under an Obama administration, the U.S. would not build or maintain any permanent bases in Iraq. He planned to temporarily maintain some noncombat troops in Iraq to protect our embassy and diplomats, and to complete the training of Iraq troops and police forces, as necessary. Also, Obama planned to launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of Iraq and the Middle East. This effort would include all of Iraq’s neighbors, including Iran and Syria. McCain on the Iraq War McCain, a third-generation Naval officer, voted in 2002 to give President Bush full authority to attack and invade Iraq. And hes continually served as supporter and cheerleader for the U.S. War in Iraq, albeit with occasional objections to strategies. At the 08 Republican Convention and on the campaign trail, McCain and running mate Palin frequently proclaimed a goal of victory in Iraq and scoff at withdrawal timetables as foolish and premature. McCains website proclaimed, ... it is strategically and morally essential for the U.S. to support the Government of Iraq to become capable of governing itself and safeguarding its people. He strongly disagrees with those who advocate withdrawing American troops before that has occurred. McCain took this stance: Despite the  $12 billion monthly pricetag  to U.S. taxpayersDespite the fact that the Iraqi government had a substantial budgetary surplusDespite mounting deaths and permanent maimings of U.S. soldiersDespite exhaustion of U.S armed forcesDespite the crippling effect the Iraq War has on U.S. armed forces abilities to address other conflicts and emergencies Gen. Colin Powell, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former secretary of state, disagreed with McCain, as did Gen. Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, and as did dozens of other retired generals, admirals and other top brass. The Bush administration also disagreed with John McCain. On November 17, 2008, the Bush administration and the Iraqi government signed a status of forces agreement to begin troop withdrawals. Even Gen. David Petraeus, often referred to with great reverence by McCain,  told the British press  that he would never use the word victory to describe U.S. involvement in Iraq and  commented: This is not the sort of struggle where you take a hill, plant the flag and go home to a victory parade ... its not war with a simple slogan. The hard truth is that John McCain, Vietnam War POW, was obsessed with the Iraq War. And he couldnt seem to shake his angry, unhealthy obsession despite either reality or exorbitant cost. Voters Wanted Out of Iraq Per  CNN/Opinion Research Corp. polling  from October 17 to 19, 2008, 66% of all Americans disapproved of the Iraq war. Obama was on the correct side of this issue, according to the voting public, especially per the centrist, swing voters who decide most election outcomes. Obama won the 2008 presidential election in part because he consistently exhibited wise judgment on the Iraq War, and because he insisted on the correct course of action. Joe Biden as Running Mate Sen. Barack Obama won the presidency in part because of his wise selection of highly experienced, well-liked Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice-presidential running mate. The first job of the vice president is to assume the presidency should the president become incapacitated. No one doubted that Joe Biden was fully prepared to become President of the United States, should that terrible occasion have arisen. The second job of the vice president is to be of constant counsel to the president. In his 36 years in the U.S. Senate, Biden was one of the  most respected American leaders on foreign policy, the U.S. judiciary, crime, civil liberties, and many other vital areas. With his gregarious, warm personality, Biden was suited to offer direct, smart counsel to the 44th president, as he has done for many other U.S. presidents. As an added bonus, the working chemistry and mutual respect between Obama and Biden were excellent. For Americans concerned about Barack Obamas level of experience, Joe Bidens presence on the ticket added a large dose of gravitas. Had he selected one of the able, but far less experienced candidates on his short list (Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, to name two top contenders), Barack Obama may have been less likely to reassure a majority of voters that the Democratic ticket was experienced enough to tackle the days tough issues. Joe Biden vs. Sarah Palin Joe Bidens deep grasp of the issues, appreciation of U.S. history and laws, and steady, experienced leadership were in jarring contrast to that of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice-presidential candidate. Republican nominee, 72-year-old John McCain, has wrestled with three episodes of melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and had an in-depth skin cancer check every few months. McCains serious health challenges greatly increased the risk that he could become incapacitated and/or pass away in office, which would have required his vice president to become president of the United States. It was widely recognized, even by a plethora of conservative pundits, that Sarah Palin was wholly unprepared to assume the presidency. In contrast, Joe Biden was widely regarded as well prepared to assume the presidency.