Management case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Management case - Essay Example Most of its offerings already had significant margins, and those that werent at this level were close or were expected to in the near future. The challenge that Newell Company faced was trying to remain the market leader for all of its industries at the same time. 2) Newell Company has many distinctive resources due to the strong credibility the brand has built up over the years. Because the company has many different product categories, a strong management style is necessary to ensure that every sector runs smoothly. In addition, Newell Company has good relationships with its supply partners, and these relationships help the company to remain number one in all areas of its business portfolio. Finally, Newell Company has access to Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), which helps the company to organize all of its purchase orders, invoices, and payments to and from its retail partners. Because most of Newell Companys orders are placed through this system, the company is able to keep track of all of its deadlines and needs. 3) Newell Company does seem to have a successful corporate level strategy because the management and administration is interlinked, which helps to build a solid kind of corporate culture. Another area that shows Newell Company is successful in the corporate area is through acquisitions. The company buys other companies that can add value and expand the operation of Newell Company. This is a very difficult process because the new acquisitions need to be the right fit. If a new acquisition is not up to the same speed of Newell Company, then that acquisition has the potential to bring the whole company down. 4) I feel that Newell Company acquiring both Calphalon and Rubbermaid are good business decisions for a variety of reasons. First of all, Calphalon is a good fit for Newell Companys housewares division because the company has access to the high end of the market where Newell Company has not been so successful. Also, Calphalon has strong

The Communication Style In Middle East Cultural Studies Essay

The Communication Style In Middle East Cultural Studies Essay In this chapter, an analysis of the communication style of Middle Eastern countries will be provided, with particular focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Before analysing our focus countries, it is interesting to provide an overview of the communication style in the Middle East compared to that in the West. Only after understanding the main differences between these two regions, can inner differences be explained. Western ventures as well as expat foreign workers that start working in the Middle East face many challenges due to the differences in their communication style. The nature of business communication style is the result of the combination of different factors, such as cultural, political, socio-economical and historical characteristics of a country. Some of the main cultural factors will be therefore analysed in the section. First of all, Middle East countries are very high context, meaning that people from this region take into consideration all the different aspects of a certain event in order to get the true understanding of it. Hidden meanings can be found by analysing the situation as a whole. This term was coined by Edward Hall (1976) and positioned in contrast to low-context countries, such as USA, in which the meaning of words can be taken directly from the message, without the necessity to analyse the whole context. As can be seen later in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia section, the high context characteristic can also be associated to the characteristic of the Arabic language as an associative language. This statement by Hall (1976, p. 98) effectively gives an effective understand of the meaning of high context When talking about something that they have on their minds, a high context individual will expect his interlocutor to know whats bothering him, so that he doesnt have to be specific. The re sult is that he will talk around and around the point, in effect putting all the pieces in place except the crucial one. Placing it properly this keystone is the role of his interlocutor. Secondly, Middle Eastern people tend to invest a huge amount of their time establishing personal relationships and getting to better know their negotiating parties before actually initiating the work (Badawy, 1980). Because of this, doing business in the Middle East usually takes longer than in other countries. Personal contacts are considered more important than procedures and standard processes for businesses. For example, creative sales techniques and media advertising are not as effective in these countries as in Western ones. Instead, business in the Middle East relies more on the cultivation of individual customers and on government officials (Badawy, 1980). Another characteristic that distinguishes Middle Eastern management communication style from that of the West is related to the perception of time and space. Middle Eastern countries have a primarily polychronic work style, they usually engage in multiple activities and goals at the same time. In the Middle East, time is an open-ended concept. It is a mixture of past, present and future. The word bukra (literally tomorrow) that is often used in this region refers to the fact that what cannot be done today will be done tomorrow and the word inshallah (literally God willing) underlines that God is in control of time (Martin and Chaney, 2006). Therefore, time is considered to be a flexible concept, being late at meetings and not respecting strictly deadlines is usually not seen as offensive behaviour. Moreover, being late could also be a tactic used by Middle Eastern managers to demonstrate their superiority and power over their subordinates (Martin and Chaney, 2006). As far as space is concerned, business conversations in Middle Eastern countries usually occur simultaneously among different people and in the same office, similar to a round table discussion (Badawy, 1980). Having described some of the main features that characterise the communication style of the Middle East, this paper will now focus on the two considered countries, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The aim of the two subsections is to provide an analysis of the two countries in respect to some factors that either distinguish the Emirati or Saudi communication style from the general concept of business communication style in the Middle East or that underline differences between the two regions. United Arab Emirates The UAE is a very particular Middle Eastern country as we have seen in the previous sections. As far as the communication style is involved, studies have shown sound insights. On one hand, the high percentage of expatriate workers and western organisations have been influencing the communication behaviour of Emiratis. Many UAE companies have adapted their norms and communication style to match the Western ones (Willemyns et al., 2011). This has been a progressive process, driven by the fact that today more and more expatriates work in the UAE and that Emiratis employed in large companies can usually speak fluent English. On the other hand, specific patterns of communication style can be found within UAE companies. Our main reference will be the study performed by Willemyns et al. (2011) and described in their research paper Communication and Social Identity Dynamics in UAE Organizations. The study was conducted among 192 Emiratis (34 women) who worked in different companies in Dubai and were asked to complete a survey about their interaction with Western expatriate colleagues . However, before proceeding with the analysis of the findings, a short overview of the theoretical underpinnings behind them will be provided. More specifically, the social identity theory has been considered. This theory proposes that ones self-concept is compromised of a personal identity (based on idiosyncratic characteristics such as bodily attributes, abilities and psychological traits) and of social identities, based on groups memberships (Willemyns et al., 2011). A certain person would thus see themselves as part of a group (ingroup) and would compare their ingroup to an outsider group (outgroup), composed of people that are not part of the ingroup (Williams and Giles, 1996). This theory can therefore be used to understand and explain how the Emiratis interact with their foreign colleagues, whether they relate to them as part of the ingroup or the outgroup. The study has shown three main communication patterns. The first category relates to Interpersonal Control, which refers to the interpersonal control adopted in the interaction of Emirati nationals with their foreign colleagues. This study has stressed the importance of the ingroup dimension to many Emirati employees. In fact, a high percentage of them feel that they are perceived by their co-workers as belonging to the same group, on an equitable level. Furthermore, Emiratis try to understand the single individual when they interact with their co-workers rather than classifying them as part of a stereotypical cultural outgroup. Examples of this perception are related to non-work and friendship role relationship, similar values and interpersonal similarities. In a broader sense of the individualization process just described, Condon and Yousef (1975) have highlighted the difference between individualism, which indicates independence from the group, and individuality, which relates to the freedom of an individual to act, individuality ref ers to the persons freedom to act differently within the limits set by the social structure (Condon and Yousef,1975). Thus, in this specific case, the study refers more to individuality than to individualism of Emiratis. This sense of individuality can also be traced in the Quran where an individual (a prophet) would go against his group in order to proclaim his faith and belief in God. Therefore, for Arab people and in this specific case, for Emiratis, individual dignity and honour are extremely important. (Ayish, 2003). Therefore, if on one hand the belonging to ingroup is an essential part for Emiratis, on the other hand, the individual as a unique person is highly respected. This fact shows that it is probably too simplistic considering Emiratis as a collectivistic culture (Zaharna, 2009). The second category analysed is discourse management, which refers to the ability of a person in creating written and oral texts. In the specific case, we consider discourse management in relation to conversations held at work between Emiratis and their Western counterparts. As far as discourse management is concerned, the ingroup and outgroup sides seem to be balanced. More specifically, if on one hand, some Emiratis perceive high cultural difference with their colleagues, for example they feel their ideas are not listened to nor understood, on the other hand, some other Emiratis express an open, transparent and efficient communication process. Significant examples of this aspect are related to the willingness or unwillingness of colleagues to listen and communicate or to participate in small talk and self-disclosure. Small talks are defined by DeVito (2001) as short conversations typically used to break the ice between people. They are also defined pathic communication, term that w as coined by the anthropologist Malinowsky (1923) and refers to short discussions of low information content that are used to build and maintain relationships, to saving face issues. Finally, a balance can also be found in the last category, face issues. Emiratis value face-to-face communication as an important feature. Face-to-face communication could lead to both positive effects, for example a foreign colleague expressing explicit praise, congratulations and encouragement and negative consequences, for instance by embarrassing in public an Emirati, through criticism and negative feedback and by asking inappropriate questions such as questions related to wives and or sisters. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia In this section, an analysis of some interesting factors that shape the business communication style in Saudi Arabia will be provided. First of all, the environment highly influences the communication style of Arab countries. In particular, Ali (1990) underlines how Arab people are subjected to behave in different ways depending on the characteristics of the environment in which they are and have relationship with. More specifically, in an authoritarian environment, an Arab tends to be conservative, dependent on authorities and on higher status people and refrains from debate and discussions (Ali and Hayward, 1993). In Saudi Arabia, the communication style is more indirect and conservative compared to the communication style of other Mideastern such as the Emiratis due to their stricter environment. Moreover, Saudis show a higher avoidance of public conflict and criticism, preferring personal to impersonal procedures to resolve conflict and one-to-one business communication (Ali, 1995). Saudi Arabia is the place of birth both of Islam and Arabic. As Arabic is the language of the Quran, the spread of Islam to non-Arabic countries, such as part of South Asia, Europe and North Africa, has also implied the diffusion of Arabic language in them (Hitti, 1970; Hourani, 1992; Chejne, 1965). However, even though all countries in the Middle East have a common heritage in the Arabic language, not all of them have employed Arabic as official first language. Arabic is therefore one of the most important factors that influence the communication style in Saudi Arabia. According to Kabasakal and Bodur (2002), the Arabic language has a very strong influence on the identity of an Arabic person as well as on their communication style. Arabic manages to develop a feeling of identity among Arab people that also has crucial consequences on the communication style. In particular, the Arabic language is very associative, different examples of association can be found within the Arabic language and in the Quran (Zaharna, 2009). Therefore, in order to get the true understanding of a text written in Arabic, the ability to read Arabic is not sufficient; it is instead necessary to understand the different associations among words within a certain context. Likewise, Saudis use an indirect business communication style, where single words will not probably be of significant meaning. According to Katz (2006), a simple word like yes might mean possibly and i t will be very rare that a Saudi would answer with a direct no. Instead, Saudis value beautiful, elegant rhetoric over concise and accurate communication. Eloquent people are considered to be more worthy of trust and respect and so they will often use extremely descriptive, emotive and even poetic language to communicate their point indirectly. This can often make it difficult for Westerners to decipher the intended message. Furthermore, body language and eye contact is very important in the Middle East, however in Saudi Arabia it is more restricted and controlled. The final aspect that will be analysed in this section refers to the interaction of Saudis with the foreign corporations and colleagues. Unlike UAE, as seen in section 1.2 where Emiratis have shown a more open, transparent and positive behaviour, Saudi Arabia is a much more conservative and closed society that also regulates the way Saudis work with expatriates (Mackey, 1987). Having a local intermediary can therefore be extremely important for a foreigner to initiate a business relationship with local people. The intermediary will help providing the contacts and leveraging on existing relationships. (Katz, 2006). In fact, as described previously, personal relationships are crucial in Middle East and in this particular case, in Saudi Arabia.

The Statue Of Liberty Essay -- essays research papers

There are few objects that can be compared to the significance of the figure known as the Statue of Liberty. It is one of the greatest works of its time and still stands today as a meaningful entity of independence to the world. The statue is a great tribute to the concept of global freedom that had its roots in America. It was created to display the worldwide objective of peace and tranquility. The fact that another model of this icon stands today in a world capital shows the effect that this figure has inscribed upon the world. In addition, it represents the ideas that the United States was built upon and those that the people have lived by to this very day. Its most paramount features in its role through American history are its creation and history, the characteristics the statue possesses, and its symbolic relevance on the world. The creation of the statue was one of the most complex processes that she went through throughout her long life. The honor of the inception of the statue was given to Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor who specialized in the arts. Bartholdi acquired his success early in his life at the tender age of nineteen. He was often the subject of scorn and contempt by fellow artists, but never allowed himself to be put down by their petty insults. His true potential was indeed revealed through the creation of the statue. The statue was not a project without problems. It had a late start, considering that it was supposed to be completed in time for the one-hundredth birthday of the United States. A substantial number of delays also threatened the effectuation by the deadline. One of the more considerable problems was money. The Statue almost never lived to see New York harbor due to lack of fun... ...ction to this day was considered insignificant, as the entire country seemed to have lost their minds in anticipation for such an exciting event. Liberty was greeted with enthusiasm and exhilaration. The President himself had shown up for the joyous occasion. Congress had accepted the proposal to keep Liberty as a lighthouse and opened the treasury to New York. Many important people and dignitaries had turned up for the milestone moment. Furthermore, it was a distinguished historical occurrence, marking the 110th birthday since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. France was regarded as the United States? sister republic in the East. As President Grover Cleveland said to the people of America, ?Reflected thence and joined with answering rays, a steam of light shall pierce the darkness of ignorance and man?s oppression until Liberty enlightens the world.?

Pablo Picasso

Picasso works were influenced by Yawners Turbid De Hernandez Professor Michael Cain English Composition II April 10, 2013 Many of Picasso works are influenced by his father who was a painter, for the death of his close friend Carols Cameras, and also for the World War I (Spanish civil war- Queering). Picasso love for art was somewhat genetic. His father, Jose Uric Balsas, was a painter as well and he loved art. Picasso was quick to express his desire for art.Picasso father began teaching him to draw and paint from early childhood, and by the time he was 13 years old his painting were already better than his father's. He lost all desire to do any schoolwork and instead spent the school days doodling in his notebook. Picasso recalled, â€Å"For being a bad student, they would send me to the cells, I loved it when they sent me there, because I could take a pad of paper and draw nonstop. † (A+E Television Networks, 1996-2013 ). Other influence in his work was when his close friend Carols Cameras died.He felt lonely and deeply depressed over the death of his friend, he painted scenes of poverty, isolation and anguish using exclusively blues and greens. This was Picasso Blue Period – 1901-1904. The subject matter for this period was poor people of the streets, beggars, prostitutes, drunks and poor gaunt people. He also depicted old and sick people and despairing lovers. The paintings showed themes of alienation, poverty and psychological depression. The mood of the paintings were somber and were influenced by his time in Spain, a visit to the Saint Lazars women's prison and also the suicide of his friend Cameras.Picasso most famous work, Queering is certainly the his most powerful political statement, painted as an immediate reaction to the Nazi's devastating casual mobbing practice on the Basque town of Queering during Spanish Civil War. Queering was a unique painting for Picasso to create because he never wanted to be influenced by the outside world. Historians argue that Queering is the exception and Picasso allowed him-self to be influenced and expressed his views. Queering shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians.This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. On completion Queering was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed. This tour helped bring the Spanish Civil War to the world's attention. Queering is a town in the province of Biscayne in Basque Country. During the Spanish Civil War, it was regarded as the northern bastion of the Republican resistance movement and the epicenter of Basque culture, adding to its significance as a target.In 26 April 1937, warplanes of the German Condor Legion, commanded by Colonel Wolfram von Ricocheted, bombed Queering for about two hours. After the bombing, Picasso was made aware of wha t had gone on in his country of origin. At the time, he was working on a mural for the Paris Exhibition to be held in the summer of 1937, commissioned by the Spanish Republican government. He deserted his original idea and on 1 May 1937, began on Queering. (www. Pillowcases. Org. , 2009-Present ) Picasso works were important in the Art. Picasso produced a painting unlike anything he or anyone else had ever painted before. Less Demolishes Davidson† (1907), is considered the precursor and inspiration of Cubism, an artistic Tyler pioneered by Picasso. By 1911 Picasso was recognized as the inventor of Cubism, which is breaking down objects or people in to somewhat geometric forms to form the composition. Then, from 1927 Picasso became caught up in a new philosophical and cultural movement, Surrealism, whose artistic manifestation was an offspring of his own cubism. Pablo Picasso stands alone as the most celebrated and influential painter of the twentieth century. His technical mas tery, creativity and profound empathy distinguish him as a revolutionary artist. Pablo Picasso English Version I am going to be talking about the famous Spanish painter Pablo Uric y Picasso. Pablo Uric y Picasso was a famous Spanish painter during the early sass's. He was also a famous sculptor, ceramicist, printmaker, and stage designer. He was most famous for his paintings. He painted in an abstract manner which changed the effects of the paintings. Picasso paintings are found in many museums. These painting are divided into many periods that correspond to his life. The first period was the blue period. This period had sad paintings in the color of blue and green.The second period was that of the pink period. During this period, his work was more cheery. The most famous painting of this time was the Boy With a Pipe. The third period was the African-Influenced Period. The paintings of this time were influenced by African artifacts. The most famous painting was that of The Decompiles Davidson. The next period was that of Cubism. This period had two parts. These were that of sy nthetic and analytical. Towards the final part of his painting career, Pablo Picasso came into classicism and surrealism.

Critical Thinking and Society Exercise Essay

The issue of early morning traffic jams for soldiers trying to make it to physical training (PT) on time is a situation in which critical and creative thought are used for a better outcome. As a former soldier stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, the largest military post in the world with a population of more than 30,000 soldiers (Cubit Planning, Inc, 2013), the early morning commute to PT always has presented the situation of high volume of traffic congestion on the highway leading to the Fort Hood military installation. Another situation that the early morning traffic jam presents is aggressive driving behavior. Soldiers driving to PT with his or her mindset on what would happen if they were late for the first formation of the day and getting in to trouble from the repercussion. Aggressive driving behavior, such as speeding, cutting off other vehicles, and sudden braking seem to increase daily. In situations like this creative and critical thinking is important, because of the many lives involved in the early morning commute to PT. These types of situations can cause many accidents or the loss of a life. If soldiers think critically and creatively he or she could come up with solutions that could limit the number of traffic jams and accidents. For example, early morning carpooling with other solders from the same community or neighborhood would reduce the amount of vehicles commuting to PT early in the morning. â€Å"Free Will is a philosophical term of art for a particular sort of capacity of rational agents to choose a course of action from among various alternatives (O’Connor, 2013)†. In a short sense free will is the probability of choices. Truth is â€Å"what is so† about something, the reality  of the matter, as distinguished from what people believe to be so, or assert to be so (Ruggiero, 2009). Truth is most often used to means in accordance with fact or reality. Knowledge is ideas that correspond to reality. Three ways of obtaining knowledge is through experience, observation, and reports from others. Opinion is a belief about a matter considered subjective based on emotions or the interpretation of facts. An opinion can support an argument even though people may draw opposing opinions from the same set of facts (Ruggiero, 2009). We form thoughts through the use of free will, truth, knowledge, and opinion by the choices we make and believe is true from the knowledge of experience supported by the facts of opinions. Thoughts form by free will from the many choices and alternative choices developed in the brain for a course of action. Because of facts and reality, we form thoughts believed true in the process of thinking. The experience we gain from observation, reports, and others allow us to form thoughts of knowledge obtained. Opinions form thoughts from our personal thinking or the way we understand facts about subject matter, issue, situation or argument. The critical thinking process includes three hindrances: the use of natural habits, resistance to change, self-deception. Natural habits begin in early childhood and are accustom as we grow older. Resistance to change is the tendency to refuse new idea and new ways of seeing or doing without examining them fairly. In self-deception many people mislead themselves about his or her competency, first pretending to others that they are knowledgeable and them coming to believe the pretense themselves. A method of overcoming natural habits is closely examine the first impressions of problem or issue by doing so a person will often be able to determine that a certain habit, resistance to change or self-deception is interfering with his or her thinking (Ruggiero, 2009). A personal time of experience with hindrance in critical thinking happened while working as an overseas contractor for a new manager who brought along with him many changes to our maintenance program. As the maintenance supervisor the hindrance of resistance to change interfered personal  thinking. The method used to overcome the hindrance was to listen to his reasons for change and examine it through personal thinking. After closely examining and investigating his reasoning, it was easy to avoid the hindrance of resistance to change. A message in advertising shows in the 2013 M&M chocolate commercial when the Red M&M keep repeating that he would do anything for love, but he want do that (You Tube, 2013). First perception of this message was that the Red M&M was in love and believe that he would do anything for love. For example, taking the female shopping and carrying her bags, painting her toe nails after bubble bath, playing along the seashore, or covering his head with a hair piece just for love (You Tube, 2013). The commercial goes on to show that the Red M&M would not just do anything for love. He would not allow the female to lick his chocolate shell while watching a movie; place him inside a candy pià ±ata. Neither would he sit in a bowl of ice cream covered with whip cream, be the center of a birthday cake always, become melted down inside an oven, or let her girlfriends enjoy the taste of his candy shell coding (You Tube, 2013). The reality of the advertisement is that M&M chocolate candy is irresistible. Distinguishing between perception and reality of the message shows that the Red M&M may think like a man with human emotions, he is still a delightful piece of M&M chocolate candy. References Cubit Planning, Inc. (2013). Texas demographics. Retrieved from http://www.texas-demographics.com/fort-hood-demographics O’Connor, Timothy, â€Å"Free Will†, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), Retrieved from http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2013/entries/freewill/ Ruggiero, V. (2009). The art of thinking: A guide to critical and creative thought (9th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Longman. You Tube. (2013). M&M’s chocolate channel. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/user/mmschocolate?v=96tWHXtQoRA

Free Essays on Email Privacy Issues

Email Privacy Issues As a result of recent lawsuits against many organizations, companies have developed a policy on proper email practices on company computers. No longer is your personal email regarded as private when accessed on a company’s computer. Companies, in order to decrease lawsuits and increase productivity, have purchased email monitoring software to track email usage during work hours. Therefore, with the onslaught of email monitoring, is a private email really private? In NetworkWorld’s The Perils of Privacy, Sharon Gaudin discusses the benefits of a company having a well-defined email policy. She provides the pros and cons of whether a company should invest in an email monitoring system. According to Gaudin, companies are held liable for what their employees do when using company equipment. A joke between to college buddies can be deemed sexual harassment by the company and open up a lawsuit if it ends up in the wrong hands. Because of this, companies have begun monitoring not only emails that employees send, but the websites they visit. Is this ethical? Some would say yes. A company has to protect its name and assets. The business arena is just for that†¦business. Employees are not paid to do personal business on company time. Leisure activity on the internet slows productivity and costs money. On the other hand, if a â€Å"clerk uses her lunch break to scan the Web for information on abuse victims, [and] the informatio n she calls up also flashes onto a screen in her boss's office, and now he knows a secret she never told anyone,† isn’t that a violation of her privacy? While this issue seems to be one of ongoing debate, I am one who does not take sides. On one hand I can see the need for corporations to monitor their employees. Information within an email can be deemed unimportant to the mission and goals of the company. On the other, I can see where it can be difficult for an employee t... Free Essays on Email Privacy Issues Free Essays on Email Privacy Issues Email Privacy Issues As a result of recent lawsuits against many organizations, companies have developed a policy on proper email practices on company computers. No longer is your personal email regarded as private when accessed on a company’s computer. Companies, in order to decrease lawsuits and increase productivity, have purchased email monitoring software to track email usage during work hours. Therefore, with the onslaught of email monitoring, is a private email really private? In NetworkWorld’s The Perils of Privacy, Sharon Gaudin discusses the benefits of a company having a well-defined email policy. She provides the pros and cons of whether a company should invest in an email monitoring system. According to Gaudin, companies are held liable for what their employees do when using company equipment. A joke between to college buddies can be deemed sexual harassment by the company and open up a lawsuit if it ends up in the wrong hands. Because of this, companies have begun monitoring not only emails that employees send, but the websites they visit. Is this ethical? Some would say yes. A company has to protect its name and assets. The business arena is just for that†¦business. Employees are not paid to do personal business on company time. Leisure activity on the internet slows productivity and costs money. On the other hand, if a â€Å"clerk uses her lunch break to scan the Web for information on abuse victims, [and] the informatio n she calls up also flashes onto a screen in her boss's office, and now he knows a secret she never told anyone,† isn’t that a violation of her privacy? While this issue seems to be one of ongoing debate, I am one who does not take sides. On one hand I can see the need for corporations to monitor their employees. Information within an email can be deemed unimportant to the mission and goals of the company. On the other, I can see where it can be difficult for an employee t...

Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria Project

Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria Project Free Online Research Papers To survive in this highly competitive business market, companies have to be alert, constantly on watch and come up with new business plans. Development of a project implementation plan is crucial to the success of any business venture and Friar Tucker International (FTI) is no exception. Companies not only have to be selective in the projects they acquire but they have to ensure the projects are in line with the strategic plans of the company. Since no strategy is perfect and without risk, companies need to be aware of risks and constantly on watch. The ability to manage risks allows companies to remain competitive, retain and acquire new customers. Outlining the requirements prior to starting a project can eliminate confusion. Ensuring that time, resources, and issues are all taken into account, planned for, and addressed is a significant part of making sure that the project will meet the measurement of success. Friar Tucker International (FTI) is a growing company in the hospitality business whose core business revolves around fine cuisine and entertainment. Over the years Friar Tucker has entered into agreements to manage several fine food restaurants, sports bars, hotel chains and other family and corporate entertainment establishments. As the business has increased the number of projects that have come to the doors of Friar Tucker has increased significantly. Therefore, the company needed to have a strategy in order to decide which projects the company should accept and which one’s the company should let go. In order to achieve that the Chief Executive Officer of Friar Tucker, Ricardo Bellini formed a Project Selection Committee consisting of several upper management members and a consultant. These members were assigned to research all the potential projects and align them with overall strategy and experiences of Friar Tucker. This paper covers Friar Tucker’s current organizational strategy, the unique implementation plan developed for completing the Galleria project, the implementation planning process at FTI, and conclusion. Friar Tucker’s Strategy FTI is hospitality services chain with1200 employees, who live the vision of being among the top 10 providers in their industry by offering innovative marketing and superior service levels (Anonymous, 2008). FTI also has a secondary vision to attract more visitors and customers through their food and entertainment establishments and to ensure an enjoyable family experience. FTI wants to establish their presence in the entertainment hospitality segment, consolidate their presence in the cuisine business by expanding into specialty cuisine establishments, and to expand into the corporate entertainment segment. The Galleria project fits into these key focus areas while strengthening the corporate primary and secondary visions. Although not ideal, Friar Tucker will have to outsource most of the operations to a construction vendor on its Galleria project since FTI does not currently possess the experience needed to handle such projects. Further, this new project will enhance the brand image of FTI. The Galleria project will enable FTI to drive growth and thus coincide with its vision of becoming a top 10 hospitality services provider. What makes this project even more lucrative and attractive at this time is that it will produce multiple revenue streams because of the diverse scope of the project. No strategy is perfect and without risk. However, with Friar Tucker being in the hospitality industry without any major competitors, the risk of building Galleria with Atoll Solutions is minor. In order to minimize risk, Atoll Solutions has created an implementation plan and presented the plan to Fr iar Tucker. The Galleria project strategically aligns itself with the core values, visions and focus areas that FTI has developed. The Galleria is a proposed entertainment center that houses a multiple screen theater, indoor gaming, restaurant, two bistro cafà ©s and a shopping mall that offers several thousand square feet of retail space. This enterprise is expected to attract a variety of customers considering it is designed to be a complete entertainment center. Since the Galleria is a new project, it is expected to build new core competencies that will allow FTI to achieve their vision of becoming one of the top ten hospitality providers in the industry. The Galleria will also establish a presence into the corporate entertainment segment and strengthen their presence in the entertainment segment (Anonymous, 2008). Friar Tucker also hopes to strengthen their brand image through the projects they implement. The Galleria project has the potential to impact the vision and objectives of Friar Tucker International. Each person associated with the implementation of this project must successfully complete their tasks on time to avoid delays or failure of the project. The project team also needs to identify any shortfalls, risk factors and consequences associated with the Galleria project. Based on the selection process, Friar Tucker International made a decision to invest in the Galleria project to gain entry into the entertainment and hospitality market where it considered it to be the next strategic stronghold for the company. The Galleria project demonstrated a more favorable outcome. Unique Implementation Plan for Completing the Galleria Project The thoughts and ideas for the Galleria Project are humongous, and if accomplished successfully will put Friar Tucker International at the forefront of the hospitality service industry (Anonymous, 2008). There are many deliverables planned for Project Galleria, as well as timelines and those ultimately responsible for the deliverable. The implementation plan for the Galleria project will begin with selection of the specific design and construction process for the facility. Together with Friar Tucker’s Project Selection Committee, Atoll Solutions’ design team will create a concept that suits the diverse needs of a hospitality services provider while attempting to appeal to a broad customer base. The project team, at this point, becomes accountable for the successful completion of the Galleria project. The first order of business for the project team is to develop an estimate for the project time and cost. The project team must understand the importance of the project ti me and cost estimate. â€Å"Cost, time, and budget estimates are the lifeline for control; they serve as the standard for comparison of actual and plan throughout the life of the project† (Gray Larson, 2006). Atoll Solutions has presented an impeccable implementation plan. The plan includes an entertainment hub, indoor gaming facilities, a restaurant, cafes and a shopping mall called the Galleria to be completed within one year of the projects start date. The actual building will be created within one year as well as the amenities. Atoll Solutions will present Friar Tucker with several different designs for Galleria. The Galleria Project is a new opportunity for Friar Tucker International to expand in new area, strengthen their presence in the market and attract new kind of customers. The rationale should extend beyond meeting any requirements; rather, the motivation should come from an intimate awareness of the near- and long-term outcomes derived by the project. The uniqueness of this plan will require an implementation of a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) which will define all the elements of the project in a hierarchical framework and establishes their relationships to the project en d item (Gray Larson, 2006, P. 106). This will also define the communication channels and assist in understanding and coordinating many parts of the project (Gray Larson, 2006, P. 107). On the other hand as a company, Friar Tucker International needs to take into consideration the types of project constrains such as technical, physical and resources constrain that will affect the project (Gray Larson, 2006, P.242). This will simultaneously run side by side with the implementation of the WBS, and paint a perfect picture of how the project will run and be monitored. After the design has been finalized, Alan Tanaka, FTI Business Development Manager, and the Atoll Solutions Project Supervisor will work together to construct a project network and a time-phased budget. The project network and a time-phased budget are needed to control schedule and costs as the project is being implemented (Gray Lawson, 2006). Together they must take into account necessary actions, tasks, financial issues and success factors when developing the implementation plan. The planning horizon and project duration play a major factor estimate due to the uncertainty of future events. â€Å"The people factor can also introduce errors in estimating times and cost. For example, accuracy of estimates depends on the skills of the people making the estimates† (GrayLarson, 2006). Gray and Larson (2005) states that â€Å"Project estimating is a complex process†. The quality of time and cost estimates can be improved when these variables are considered in making the estimates and that managers recognize time, cost, and resource estimates must be accurate if project planning, scheduling, and controlling are to be effective.† FTI’s project team must decide which estimating method will best provide an accurate time and cost forecast for the Galleria project. Breaking down the budget into time-phases and further breaking down the time-phased budget into specific costs, allow FTI’s project manager to effectively control the costs associated with the project. Managing the costs of the project and delivering the project on time are two of the CEO’s highest measurable for project success. The project team must have an accurate project budget developed before moving onto resource scheduling. These â€Å"pre-implementation† processes are a necessity before beginning the actual work on the project. These processes will allow the Galleria project team to map a guide that will lead them into the implementation process and to the eventual conclusion of a successful project. Implementation Planning Process The critical success values include keeping the investment under the allotted budget, breaking even at the earliest, multiple revenue streams, develops new competencies, strengthens the corporate brand image and attracting new customers. These values have been determined to instrumental in the success of a project. Project selection is just part of the process that FTI has developed to strengthen their project management system. Vendor selection has also become a structured process to ensure the right vendor is chosen for the project. Ricardo has changed the seemingly random nature that projects had previously been selected by establishing a Project Selection Committee (PSC), (Anonymous, 2008). Their purpose is to identify the type of projects the company should consider. Additionally, they will play a pivotal role in the implementation plan of the Galleria project. Timely completion is important because the sooner the project is finished, the sooner it can begin generating revenue. Subcontracting will form a significant portion of the cost for the total project so the Project Selection Committee has weighed several factors that have led them to choose Atoll Solutions as its contractor. FTI has not worked with Atoll Solutions on projects in the past but they do have a good reputation, their costs are reasonable, and they are known for quick turnaround times all which should serve to mitigate Friar Tucker’s risk in the project and has led to their selection. The Friar Tucker International-Atoll Solutions partnership should prove to if adheres to the implementation plan that has been established through budget and time controls and risk mitigation. The CEO developed a vendor selection matrix that provides the project selection committee with a valuable resource to select the vendor that will provide the best service to the project. The values include meeting the proposed time line, coming in at or under cost, experience, financial stability, process maturity, quality of resources and their track record with FTI. The higher the score that the vendor receives, the more likely the vendor is to provide services that are in alignment with the scope and values of the project. Implementation planning ensures that the detailed planning, resources, and performance expectations are aligned to support the achievement of the company. The building of Galleria involves more than just drafts and designs. A planning process must exist and all involved in the process must understand their role. Each responsible party must know when and what action to take when necessary, which is why Atoll Solutions picked a unique implementation team. The ch osen team is dedicated only to work with Friar Tucker and ensuring quality and customer satisfaction. If Friar Tucker is not pleased with one activity, the team is responsible for correcting the activity and making sure Friar Tucker is pleased with the results. Atoll Solutions has agreed not to make any major decisions without speaking to Friar Tucker. Even though Friar Tucker has a contingency fund in place, the ideal project would not touch the contingency fund. Atoll Solutions do not want to make any waves. Atoll has issued a sample implementation plan to Friar Tucker when the company asked for bids. The implementation plan identified those responsible for doing the assigned activity, estimated costs, and issues relating to permits. Atoll used a unique strategy by researching companies Friar Tucker have used in the past. The company was looking for any risks or issues Friar Tucker experienced with other contractors. After gathering the list, Atoll decided to present Friar Tucker with a solution. Conclusion FTI is poised to enhance its position in the hospitality services industry with its Galleria project which has a proposed commitment completion date of 12 months at a cost of $1.85 million. With a mission â€Å"to attract more visitors and customers through food and entertainment industries, and provide a great family experience† (Anonymous, 2008) the project also promises to boost Friar Tucker into the top 10 hospitality services providers within just a few short years. Moreover, this project is aligned with the organization’s overall strategy because it maps well with FTI’s focus on the entertainment hospitality segment and makes the logical choice of projects to pursue at this time. The dynamic hospitality services environment creates many unique challenges for many companies just as it does for Friar Tucker. There are a number of factors that can vary widely including managed work environments, employee knowledge and skills, customer expectations, technology, business standards, and competition. The key factors to implementing a successful project plan is to plan early, re-evaluate often, and to keep the lines of communication open among company leadership, project vendors and suppliers, and project workers. A detailed implementation plan will emphasize the need for control, involvement of people, research, constant reporting, occasion auditing, and will be supported throughout by management until it is implemented satisfactorily. Friar Tucker has been successful implementing project in the past. The CEO has decided that in order to continue the growth of FTI, the projects Friar Tucker decides to pursue must completely align with the strategic objectives of the company. This led to the creation of a project selection committee and the development of the project and vendor selection matrices. In conclusion, Friar Tucker International will implement and construct the Galleria Project successfully using the tools available to them. This will make them strategizing for success and planning a series of tactical moves to direct the company to their ultimate goal. The attention given to a project network, implementing the WBS and the components of a risk management process, will increasingly be fundamental and help Friar Tucker International to manage the risk and control the project which will result in a successful implementation and greater outcomes. Friar Trucker needs to concentrate on delivery of their business strategy, â€Å"How do you close the gap between business strategy and results? It’s about delivery, and the assurance that you can deliver† (Project Management Institute, 2004 p. 391). The ability of any organization to survive and evolve rests in its ability to adapt, change and deliver what the customer wants or needs ‘Now’. â€Å"In the modern evolving organization, project managers will be focused on business aspects, and their role will expand from getting the job done to achieving the business results and winning in the market place† (Gray Larson, 2006, p. 22). A key activity is ensuring that the portfolio strategy is always aligned with corporate and business strategy, â€Å"Corporate Strategy is created as means of considering and articulating how an organization’s corporate goals and objectives will be pursued and achieved† (Morris Jamieson, 2004, p. 1). References Anonymous. (2008). Selecting and Initiating Projects Simulation. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from http://ecampus.phoenix.edu.secure/resource/resource.asp. Gray, C., Larson, E. (2006). Project Management: The Managerial Process. The McGraw-Hill Companies. Retrieved February 26, 2008, from University of Phoenix, eBook Collection Morris, P., Jamieson, A. (2004). Translating Corporate Strategy Into Project Strategy. Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: Project Managment Institute, Inc. Project Management Institute (2004). A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (3rd ed.). Newtown Square, Pennsylvania: Project Management Institute, Inc. Table 1 Optimal Solution Implementation Plan Action Item Deliverable Timeline Who is Responsible Develop specific design and construction process 15 days PSC Committee Select major project oversight manager/contractor administrator 15 days Ricardo Bellini, CEO Project network/time-phased budget 30 days Tanaka/AS Project Supervisor Review and approval of project deliverables and costs 40 days PSC Committee Implement project management plan 60 days AS Contractor Team assigned to Galleria Project Monthly progress reports to Project Selection Committee First week of every month AS Project Supervisor Project turnover/acceptance 1 year Ricardo Bellini, Dennis McGee, Alan Tanaka Research Papers on Implementation Plan for Friar Tucker Galleria ProjectThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductOpen Architechture a white paperIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalPETSTEL analysis of IndiaResearch Process Part OneRiordan Manufacturing Production PlanMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

Tips on How to Save College Relationships After Graduation

Tips on How to Save College Relationships After Graduation There was a time when one of the only reasons women attended educational institutions, was to find themselves a husband! Of Course, times have changed, and female students are there to learn and attain the qualifications needed for their chosen career. However, that doesn’t mean college romances are a thing of the past. In fact, according to USA Today 28% of married graduates met their spouse at college! That statistic is even higher for religious institutions where as many as 60% of such romances end in marriage. Looks like those people knew some hacks on how to save college relationships after graduation. Dating in college is not like dating in the real world. It is not always plain sailing. Relationships and indeed day to day life play out within a campus bubble and this can spell trouble after graduation. Many alumni struggle to make it once they are out in the adult world and facing the stress of a career and other responsibilities the cracks begin to show. However, if you are determined to stay with your current partner, the following tips might help you. Tips on How to Save College Relationships After Graduation Talk About the Future Preemptively – One of the best tips on how to save college relationships is to talk about your future plans as early as possible. Don’t wait until the last day of studying to discuss where you see the relationship going. Discuss the situation a few months before graduation rolls around and make sure you both see the same future. It might be a tough conversation but be open and honest with each other. Do you plan to move close to each other? If not, are you prepared to have a long-distance relationship? These are questions which need to be asked. Is Exclusivity Important to You? – One of the biggest reasons why college relationships fail is because one or both partners cheat. This can be an especially big temptation if you go to different towns or states after graduation. What if we took cheating out of the equation? Is exclusivity important to you? A growing number of young people are experimenting with open or polyamorous relationships. It’s not for everyone, but for some it is a great way to stay together after studying ends. Be Prepared to Embrace Change – Another of our favourite tips on how to save college relationships is to be ready to embrace change. College is totally different from the every day grind and sometimes the change can be overwhelming. You and your partner may find yourselves developing different interests and veering off on your own path. That’s okay and it is no cause for alarm. However, you do need to be prepared for this change. Give each other time to grow and find the right path. Be supportive and you can find your way together as a couple. Always Communicate – Graduation is a huge transitional period in our lives, so we must make an effort to communicate our plans and expectations. Its a bad idea to ignore each other only because you are afraid to face your problems. Try to be sincere with each other about your feelings and plans. Never Sacrifice Your Dreams – Sometimes after diplomas are handed out, you and your partner will be headed home to different cities. Long-distance doesn’t work for everyone, so it may seem like one of you has to make the move if your romance is to have any hope of lasting. However, one of the biggest tips on how to save college relationships after graduation is to not make this mean you are sacrificing your dreams. If one partner has to be the one to leave their dreams behind to be with the other, then eventually resentment will bubble up to the surface and that can be the kiss of death for any affair. Compromise is key to a successful relationship, so make sure you both have equal importance and priority when it comes to making your dreams come to life. Sometimes It Is Right to Say Goodbye Although there are plenty of tips on how to save college relationships after graduation, it is important to decide if it is really the right thing to do. Some relationships are not meant to last beyond college and that is perfectly okay. Sometimes the right thing to do is say goodbye after graduation. Here are three common indicators that your college romance may not be long lasting: You Have Different Goals – Have you started to think about life after college. What is the next step? Will you head out of state? Are you planning on getting into your chosen career immediately? Are you considering a year out to travel the world? Whatever your plans involve it is important that your partner shares those goals. If one of you is dedicated to building a career at home while the other is intent on backpacking across Australia, then your relationship is not on track for survival. Something Doesn’t Feel Right – Usually when a relationship is coming to its natural end, something starts to feel a little off. It could be that some of your partner’s quirks that were once cute now get on your nerves, or maybe you just don’t communicate the way you used to. Whatever it is, if you don’t feel right it usually indicates that its game over. Once you realise this, it might be the perfect time to make the break. You Can’t Imagine the Future Together – Once finishing college most of us start to think more seriously about settling down. That often means imaging the kind of life your future holds. Marriage. Kids. A home in the suburbs. Who do you see standing by your side? If it is not your current sweetheart, then alarm bells should be ringing. If you can’t picture yourself married to that person then it is unlikely that your relationship is going to flourish after you graduate. Keeping a college romance alive is not always easy, but hopefully with these tips on how to save college relationships you can enjoy the next stage of your lives together. Good Luck!

Issues in the Field of Engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Issues in the Field of Engineering - Essay Example The National Academy of Engineering has recognized 14 grand challenges to the field of engineering in the 21st century. Managing nitrogen cycle is one of those 14 challenges that require immediate intervention (University of Iowa). Although the academic literature and previous studies have paid less attention to this issue compared to other challenges like global warming or climate change, it is really a sensitive problem that can have terrible impacts on ecosystems and public health. The human-induced disruptions of the global nitrogen cycle result in serious engineering challenges. The nitrogen cycle plays a central role in the production of food, and hence it reflects a crucial aspect of energy needs. The National Academy of Engineering describes in their web article â€Å"Manage the nitrogen cycle† that Nitrogen cycle is considered as a process where the chemistry of Earth and life meets together as plants extract nitrogen from their surrounding environment to make food. Regulating the impacts of agriculture on the global nitrogen cycle turns out to be a growing challenge to the concept of sustainable development. According to the article â€Å"Manage the nitrogen cycle,† amino acids (building blocks of proteins) and nucleotides (building blocks of DNA) contain nitrogen as a major component, and hence all living things need this element. Nitrogen is supplied in inexhaustible amounts in our planet – nitrogen makes up nearly four-fifths of the earth’s atmosphere and is present in the form of nitrogen molecules (National Academy of E ngineering). However, the atmospheric nitrogen is not readily available for living organisms because nitrogen molecules rarely enter into chemical reactions. Dincer and Zamfirescu point out in their book that the large scale energy released from lightning strikes or the chemical abilities of some microbes

Brands that needs to identify the segmentation, targeting, and Essay

Brands that needs to identify the segmentation, targeting, and positioning strategy - Essay Example Kellogg cornflakes are the popular breakfast cereals in Hong Kong which became more familiar with breakfast cereals. In busier lifestyles it makes a good choice for quick and healthy breakfast. In 2013, breakfast cereals were expected to enjoy high growth prospects of 9%. In the year 2012 the growth of industry was down due to economic downturn in the country. The brand Alphen is very popular in Hong Kong for breakfast cereals. The product it deals with was chocolates. It expanded its brands with breakfast cereals like muesli bars and cereals. The brands have created an image on the mind of customers. It also includes improving customer’s perception about the brand and to be informed about the product that are to be launched. The brand also requires a good understanding of competing products and the benefits of targeted market. The products basically target those customers who have busier lifestyles as well as the children. It is a good source of nutrients for both children and adults. The brands have a variety of products for the consumers and they can choose any one of the products. The products are comparatively less costly than Kellogg corn flakes. It has different groups of customers to target (Proctor, 2013 pp. 75-88). This helps to group the customers into segments that have a common need and will response in marketing actions. It offers alternate growth and profit opportunities. The brand focuses on the characteristics such as age group of the customer for making segmentation among the customer group. It has also focused in the customer’s lifestyle and everyday busy schedule which make this brand very popular among them. The brand has different products for different age groups. Kellogg has a very dominating position in breakfast cereals, accounting from 71% to 72% value shares in 2012 and 2013. The company is present in the country with huge variety of products as well as with efficient and distribution network. Consumers can easily find

Measures of Healthy Urbinisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Measures of Healthy Urbinisation - Essay Example United nation has also studied the migration trend of people and has made a forecast about the world population by the year 2030. According to the forecast report the world population is expected to increase by 2 billion by the year 2030 and out of total increase of 2 billion people 1.9 billion people are expected to live in cities (United Nations: World Urbanization Prospectus, 2000). The shift in population from rural to cities and towns will also be responsible for certain health affects and it will be interesting to know the impact of urbanization on health issues. Actually there are various factors that might influence the health outcomes and an old study have indicated the social and economical factors are responsible for poor health outcomes (Faris & Dunham, 1939). In the present study a few positive and negative health outcomes from urbanization have been summarized. The finding of different researchers varies for a specific health outcome and if the impact is positive for a city it is not necessarily be the same for another city. A few key factors have also been identified and debated that in my opinion are essential requirement for healthy urbanization. Health in cities during 19th and 20th century: Some researchers assumed that some of the factors such as population density, pollution, and crime in cities deteriorated health during the early 19th century (Power et al, 2001) and at the same time a lack in mental fitness level especially in rural non-metropolitan areas in Australia is debated (Fraser et al, 2002). Many Asian scholars and researchers considered that the urban population is linked to the poor health especially in early 19th century (Lee, 2001). All these medical and health professionals, researchers and scholars started investigating the urban living conditions and the relationship between the health and the surrounding conditions. With the improvement of living conditions in some of the developing cities especially the sanitary conditions, the researchers found a tremendous improvement in health conditions in many European and North American cities (Hamblin, 1998). The other major conditions responsible for improving health conditions include the improvement in drinking water and immunization of population for infections. Health conditions in cities started improving by the end of nineteenth century or early 20th century and people in cities today have better health conditions than the non-urban areas. Some of the cities in specific regions of the world growing at faster pace and therefore it is really a challenge for the government officials to provide better sanitation, drinking water and housing to the new migrants so that health in general do not deteriorate here. Main Challenges for civic authorities: In my opinion the main challenge for civic authorities is to control the infectious diseases that generally starts within the cities and spread out quickly from one city to another. In the recent past we have seen many infectious diseases spreading at different intervals in different part of the world. Such infectious diseases including bird flue, SARS, HIV and malaria are more common and have posed threats to the large number of people in our society. Although bird flue and SARS were controlled quickly, however the dangers in near future cannot be ruled out. HIV is a killer health problem. A complete

Family Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Family Business - Essay Example History has it that many of the current successful company. Many of these companies were started by a family but later were sold to the public. In a family business the level of outside employees is limited and the family members are involved in the running of the business. Even in place where the external members are involved, the top positions of running the business are allocated to the family members. Some of the most successful family business includes Cargill, Ford Motor Company, Koch Industries, Mills Fleet Farm, Tetra Park, and others. 3It has been shown that a business that is started and run by the family always succeed due to some basic elements that are attached to such business. There have been several researches that have been carried out on family businesses. This research will try to look at some of the findings of these researches in order to understand the dynamics of family businesses and why they are likely to succeed compared to other business. 4Management of a family business present one of the most complex business organization compared to others. This is because the business is driven by linkages in the family members which are often emotion. It presents a problem in managing the emotional family ownership and rational needs of the business. This creates a fertile ground that nurtures conflict at many levels in the running of the business. 5This is mostly presented in times of generational shifts where there are uncertainties on the interest an leadership competence of the inheriting generation family members makes the running and management of the business more vulnerable. Though most of these businesses succeed, they are usually faced with problems like any other business in the course of their operation. It has been shown that a family business may come with some of the worst business crisis especially in issues relating to succession. Planning a succession in a family business has been shown as a unique problem that most of these businesses face in the course of their operation. 6The interests of diverse family members always conflict one another not only on the issues of succession but also on other issues like hiring of another members. For example it has been shown that there is allows a conflicts when family members have to decide the ones who will be hired for running managerial jobs and sometime favours in the family may make the family to hire a member who is less competent than others which leads to underperforming of the business. Sometime conflicts in family business have been shown even to end up in courts. But unlike in other business wh ere the magnitude of the conflict may lead to underperformance of the businesses, the conflict in a family businesses has been shown to be successfully controlled from inside before it bursts to the lime light of the law courts. There are usually means to try and resolve the conflict in a family set up before it is taken to the courts. One of the great problems that are encountered in running of family business conflict has been the difficult that is encountered especially by parents in resolving the conflicts with their sons. The parents are sometimes torn between the love of their children and the interest of the families. One example is given of Stew Leonard's

The role of marketing communication to increase brand loyalty; in Research Proposal

The role of marketing communication to increase brand loyalty; in context of Waitrose - Research Proposal Example Previously, there have been quite a large number of studies that has focused on topics related to this. This study will be particularly interesting as this is a case specific study on Waitrose, the food retail division of Britain’s largest employee-owned retailer, the John Lewis Partnership supermarkets. This research intends to find out the impact of marketing communication on the loyalty of existing customers of the organization. This study can help the organization to bring necessary changes in the marketing communication techniques that are currently used by it and help to improve its brand equity. Several studies have been conducted in the field of marketing communication to understand its impact on the brand equity and brand loyalty of customers. In the study conducted by Ramos and Franco (2005), they had studied the impact of marketing communication and price promotion on brand equity. The results from their study indicate a positive relationship between the marketing communication and brand equity and offer strong support for the measures of perceived quality and brand loyalty. In fact, it was observed that there are several precursors to brand equity, namely brand awareness, brand image and brand awareness (Ramos and Franco, 2005). Customer brand loyalty is a topic that has been widely researched by various scholars. The commonality of all these studies have indicated that all firms can improve their profit margins by creating a base of loyal customers, which also have the additional benefit of creating a word-of-mouth advertisement for firms, thereby indirectly improving the marketing communication. The proponents of this study includes scholars like, Liu(2007), Gustaffson, et al. (2005), Oliver (1999), Wood (2004), to name a few (Keller, 1993). The research conducted by MC Alexander, et al. (2002) had revealed that brand loyalty can be enhanced in relational marketing by brand

Human Resource Management Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8250 words

Human Resource Management - Thesis Example With the aim to study how trust and loyalty enhances performance, three objectives were laid out in the first chapter. After extensive literature review of the theories and principle of the different HR programs that organizations adopt, a qualitative study was conducted to determine the employment relationships post economic recession 2008. The research was based on data from secondary sources as collection of primary data was not possible due to certain constraints. All the objectives have been achieved. The study concludes that open and honest communication enhances loyalty and trust, enhances the employment relationship which ultimately results in better performance. Long-term relationships between employers and employee can be established when open communication exists in the organization. The findings suggest that after the economic downturn employers realize the value of maintaining employee relationship. They also recognize that while financial incentives have limitations, du ring downturn, this should not be cut back as this could go against the interests of the company. This has prompted the companies to reverse their decisions. Overall, intrinsic motivation alone can lead to sustained relationships and this can happen only when the worker enjoys what he does. The study concluded by suggesting further areas of research and the limitation to the study were provided. Internationalization and globalization have caused labor market changes as the socio-economic environment of business has changed. Labor market changes have brought about changes in the employer-employee relationship. The employer-employee relationship cannot be generalized as it would differ across nations, cultures. The interaction and communication between employer and employee would also depends upon the on the industry and the size of the organization. The economic downturn has a direct impact on the employer brand and employee loyalty. Employer brand has become important to attract the

The role of marketing communication to increase brand loyalty; in Research Proposal

The role of marketing communication to increase brand loyalty; in context of Waitrose - Research Proposal Example Previously, there have been quite a large number of studies that has focused on topics related to this. This study will be particularly interesting as this is a case specific study on Waitrose, the food retail division of Britain’s largest employee-owned retailer, the John Lewis Partnership supermarkets. This research intends to find out the impact of marketing communication on the loyalty of existing customers of the organization. This study can help the organization to bring necessary changes in the marketing communication techniques that are currently used by it and help to improve its brand equity. Several studies have been conducted in the field of marketing communication to understand its impact on the brand equity and brand loyalty of customers. In the study conducted by Ramos and Franco (2005), they had studied the impact of marketing communication and price promotion on brand equity. The results from their study indicate a positive relationship between the marketing communication and brand equity and offer strong support for the measures of perceived quality and brand loyalty. In fact, it was observed that there are several precursors to brand equity, namely brand awareness, brand image and brand awareness (Ramos and Franco, 2005). Customer brand loyalty is a topic that has been widely researched by various scholars. The commonality of all these studies have indicated that all firms can improve their profit margins by creating a base of loyal customers, which also have the additional benefit of creating a word-of-mouth advertisement for firms, thereby indirectly improving the marketing communication. The proponents of this study includes scholars like, Liu(2007), Gustaffson, et al. (2005), Oliver (1999), Wood (2004), to name a few (Keller, 1993). The research conducted by MC Alexander, et al. (2002) had revealed that brand loyalty can be enhanced in relational marketing by brand

Construction Industry Book Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Construction Industry Book - Article Example Starting with the verification of existing conditions in chapter 2, the book continues to discuss on the merits and proper use of concrete being the major construction material, followed by discussion on aspects of masonry. The author provides guidelines towards use of metals such as iron, steel, aluminum and non-metals such as wood, plastic material in the construction projects. The book further discusses on thermal and moisture protection techniques along with required ventilation, as well as HVAC and heating parameters. The book provides details on the finishing aspect of construction projects, up to the last minute requirement of furnishings, with emphasis on utilities including the electric work.(Simmons, 2001) This book is a complete academic guide for all students of civil, electrical and air-conditioning engineers, as it explains the minute details in an absorbing manner for any fresh student. The book can be helpful for all those who are concerned with construction projects as it can help them to prepare the project charter from the concept or design level, up to the level of complete project handover. Although this book is a lengthy guide, the individual chapters would be useful for different professionals according to their job requirements. For example, civil engineers will find useful details in chapters on concrete and other building materials. Similarly, electrical engineers would benefit from going through chapter on utilities and electric works, while heating, humidity control and air-conditioning experts can find interesting details from the chapter dedicated to these principles. Simmons. L. H, (2001) Construction: principles, materials and methods .google books Retrieved from:

Mahmoud Darwish The Poet Of The Resistance English Literature Essay

Mahmoud Darwish The Poet Of The Resistance English Literature Essay Mahmoud Darwish was born on March 13, 1941 in  a quaint village in the Galilee of  Al Birweh, Palestine, into a land-owning Sunni Muslim family. At the early age of seven, Darwishs father was killed  and his family were forced to leave their homeland for safety in Lebanon to escape the ongoing massacres by the Israeli Army as it occupied Palestine and, in the process, destroyed the poets village (in addition to over 400 other Palestinian villages).  They returned the following year, secretly re-entering Israel. As they returnedillegally to their country,  Darwish and his family were grounded under military rule and emergency regulations of the State of Israel established over colonized Palestinian land. Where they were given the status of present-absent alien, a status that will mark the poet from that point onwards, preventing him from ever finding his homeland, except in his language and his ever-loving audience.  Mahmoud Darwish went on to live a life that is a emotion al example of how far talent and determination, combined with a unstable life, can carry an individual from a simple background into the international halls of fame.   In Darwishs early twenties he faced numerous house arrest and was constantly imprisoned by the state of Israel for publicly reading his poetry. He also was imprisoned many times for not carrying the proper papers (identification cards). He joined the Rakah which was the official Communist Party of Israel in the 1960s. In 1970, he left Palestine for Russia, where he attended the University of Moscow for one year. After Moscow, he then moved to Cairo, Egypt. He lived in exile from Israel for twenty-six years, between Beirut and Paris, until his return to Israel in 1996, after which he settled in Ramallah of the West Bank. It is perhaps Darwishs very special relationship to the Arabic language that has set him apart from other Arab poets of his time. Today America identifies Palestine through Palestinian art, and through Edward Saed who came out with the most influential book, `what are Arabs in Arabic society, such a dynamic book, and hard to understand, unlike the softer side to Palestinians brought by Darwish, and Nasser Khalifa whom sang  his poems. Putting the political cause aside, a double-edged sword in the case of the poets literary career, Darwish has created a new zone in the Arabic language that he can call his own: he constructs his kingdom homeland in language. Considered by one prominent Arab literary critics as the saviour of the Arabic language, Darwish manages to describe mundane events and uncover his (and his peoples) innermost feelings through words juxtaposed in the most idiosyncratic of contexts, creating fascinating new images. The symbols, metaphors, and style in his poetry are carefully chosen; yet at the same time they reflect an integrity and clairvoyance that are a unique characteristic of this writer. As a number of Darwishs works have even been called prophetic, it still remains that these poems have been an advantage of his artistic intuition and acute political common sense. He manages to see and read what very little of the Palestinian people can. When poems like these follow that artistic intuition, it gains its significance to the readers, because it usually is an expression of what the Palestinians fear most but are unable to utter or ever express.   Darwishs connection to language and poetry remains unmatched by any connection he has with anything or anyone. He has the talent to uncover, exploit, and define music in language through use of poetry. His poetry has been an interesting field in the Arab world as musicians compose the most beautiful and popular of songs from his lyrics. Works Darwish is  often called the poet of the resistance, and sometimes accused of writing in  defense  of Palestinian mainstream politics, Darwish still managed to constantly defy any strict definition of who and what he is or wanted to be. He wrote the Palestinian declaration of independence in1988 and many poems of resistance that are a major fundamental part of every Arabs culture; from superstructure to, social structure to, infrastructure. However,  this does not mean he ignored writing about love and death, in fact his poems struck people. Darwish wrote poems that people can easily understand, and others that held critics so mystified as to where to begin to decipher. In all this, he remains confident in his open and honest relationship to his readers. When I move closer to pure poetry, Palestinians say go back to what you were. But I have learned from experience that I can take my reader with me if he trusts me. I can make my modernity, and I can play my games if I am sinc ere. (New York Times interview) This intricate relationship with his ever-increasing audience is best described in this excerpt: Whenever I search for myself I find the others, And when I search for them I only find my alien self So am I the individual- crowd? (Mural)   Awards As an accomplished and very well known poet in the Eastern hemisphere, Darwish awards and honors include the Ibn Sina Prize, the Lenin Peace Prize, the 1969 Lotus prize from the Union of Afro-Asian Writers, Frances Knight of Arts and Belles Lettres medal in 1997, the 2001 Prize for Cultural Freedom from the Lannan Foundation, the Moroccan Wissam of intellectual merit handed to him by King Mohammad VI of Morocco, and the USSRs Stalin Peace Prize. Significance As another significance Mahmud Darwish brought upon his self was becoming editor for the PLOs (Palestine Liberation Organization) monthly journal and its director of the groups research center. In 1987 he was appointed to the PLO executive committee, and resigned in 1993 in opposition to the Oslo Agreement,  which was signed at a Washington ceremony hosted by US President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1993, during which Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin ended decades as sworn enemies with an uneasy handshake.  Darwish later served in accordance to the Palestinian literary review Al-Karmel (magazine published in Palestine in Arabic) as its editor in chief and founder. Al-Karmel was published out of the Sakakini Centre (The Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre Foundation is a non- governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of arts and culture in Palestine) since 1997. His most recent translations in English, Mahmoud Darwish: Adam of Two Edens (Jusoor and Syracuse University Press, 2000) and The Ravens Ink: A Chapbook (Lannan Foundation, 2001) include a host of Darwishs most acclaimed poems written between 1984 and 1999. Even though he is known the world over as the poet of Palestine, as Margaret Obank says in her review of The Adam of Two Edens, Darwishs poetry has been published only sparingly in English. These two volumes are an excellent introduction, in English, to this poet who is considered to be indisputably among the greatest of our centurys poets. (Carolyne Forche)   Some of the exploited poets recent poetry titles include The Butterflys Burden (Copper Canyon Press, 2006), Unfortunately, It Was Paradise: Selected Poems (2003), Stage of Siege (2002), The Adam of Two Edens (2001), Mural (2000), Bed of the Stranger (1999), Psalms (1995), Why Did You Leave the Horse Alone? (1994), and The Music of Human Flesh (1980). Darwish was harassed by the Israeli military governor whenever his poetry went public. His discovery of poetry is recalled as a threat to the sword; the exploited poet took advantage of this by. His words described the Arab and Palestinian identity that needed to be invasive. These harassments expelled Darwish to leave to Moscow and then Egypt, then alas to settle in Beirut until the invasion war ended, era 1982. After Beirut he became a wondering exile in Arab capitals, settling in Paris for a while, then Amman, and finally Ramallah, moving a step closer to the home which he still cannot reach. The circle is not yet complete There is no age sufficient for me, To pull my end to my beginning. (Mural)   His journey during the exodus enlightened him to create poetry upon magnificent literary creations. This comes to explain how even when Darwish was distant from his country he still tried to dismantle with his poetry and unveil the truth. Later in 1988, his widely circulated militant poem Passers by in Passing Words, was given a very significant applause as it was influential to all the Arabic communities familiarity and passion of the untidiness drawn from the revolution brought up by war. This applause was promoted as the poem called for a great uproar in Israel. However, a book in French entitled Palestine Mon Pays: Laffaire du Poeme, published by Les Editions de Minuit in 1988, documents some of the articles that were written in  defense  of Darwish and his poem. In a similar manner, but this time in March 2000, Yossi Sarid, then the minister of education in Israel, suggested the inclusion of Darwishs poetry in the Israeli high school curriculum. This suggestion resulted in a very close no-confidence vote for the Barak government.   Darwish held a strong stand in politics. In 1993, when Darwish resigned from the PLO executive committee to protest the Oslo Accords, he could see at the time, as very few people within the PLO could, that there was a structural problem with the accord itself that would only pave the way for escalation. I hoped I was wrong. Im very sad that I was right. (New York Times interview)   The poets life revolved around Palestine as an everlasting wail in his poetry with only the passion to request a truth to be unveiled. Later, his choice to reside in RamAllah while it was under siege during the second Intifada was that of only a small sacrifice. His new home pushed him to dwell his last three poems against resistance while under siege and under the iniquity of siege. Mohammad, The Sacrifice and A State of Siege were published in newspapers in Palestine and the Arab world during 2001 2002. The last  one, A State of Siege describes the siege of Ramallah and the Palestinian land in profound images that invoke daily life in a vivid and multi-layered way: A woman asked the cloud: please enfold my loved one My clothes are soaked with his blood If you shall not be rain, my love Be trees Saturated with fertility, be trees And if you shall not be trees, my love Be a stone Saturated with humidity, be a stone And if you shall not be a stone, my love Be a moon In the loved ones dream, be a moon So said a woman to her son In his funeral He goes on to add: During the siege, time becomes a space That has hardened in its eternity During the siege, space becomes a time That is late for its yesterday and tomorrow (A State of Siege) Conclusion His reputation all over the world as a highly esteemed poet and individual is partly due to the fact that Mahmoud Darwish affirms an open conception of what being an Arab is. Arab, to him, is not an identity closed unto itself, but pluralism totally open unto others. In his oeuvres, he dialogues with a group of cultures (Canaanite, Hebrew, Greek, Roman, Persian, Egyptian, Arab, French, English, Ottoman, Native American) as well as with myths of the three monotheistic religions. These dialogues create multiple layers within the poem that may be difficult to appreciate unless the reader can develop a full understanding of the Is and the others of the text.   When Darwish reads publicly, he easily draws thousands of people from all social classes; taxi drivers, bazaar merchants, hospital workers, students and more rush to find a hearing under the influential poets lips. Darwish  did not just break the barrier between Palestinians but also ideology.  Like a role model Darwish became a personal possession and another reminiscence to the Palestinians who suffered through exile and war. Which ever part of Palestine or whomevers relation to Palestine through sympathy or its seize all view Darwish as a national treasure. Now in translation perhaps he will also be embraced elsewhere in the world. No poet has been expropriated as Mahmoud Darwish has been over the past thirty years. No one realizes this more than him: And history makes fun of its victims And its heroes Takes a look at them and passes by This sea is mine This moist air is mine And my name- Even if I spell it wrong on the coffin Is mine As for me, Now that I am filled with all the possible Reasons for departure I am not mine. I am not mine I am not mine. (Mural) Serene Huleileh. List of plagiarised documents 77% http://www.mahmouddarwish.com/english/introduction.htm 76% http://www.funci.org/en/2008/articles/on-mahmoud-darwish/ 76% http://elza.jeeran.com/PARIS.doc 14% http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/1062 12% http://www.ipoet.com/archive/original/Darwish/Mahmoud.html 3% http://www.mahmouddarwish.com/english/articles.htm 2% http://www.palestinefacts.org/pf_1991to_now_oslo_accords.php 92% > 85% >75%

College Admissions Essay: Not Old Enough to Drink, yet Admitted to the Bar! :: College Admissions Essays

Not Old Enough to Drink, yet Admitted to the Bar! I am twenty years old peeking out of my window as the mail truck makes a quick stop at my house. Barefoot and shivering, I sprint out to the mailbox. With trembling hands I open the envelope. I did it! I passed the BAR exam! My goal since beginning high school has been to pursue a career in law. Since then, I have been consistently taking steps toward my goal in every way possible. I have interned at the Baltimore District Attorney's office, which was one of the most unique experiences of my life. I attended a variety of legal processes, from homicide and drug-related trials to assault arraignments. Most people would prefer to be oblivious to knowledge of crimes that occur locally. I am fascinated by it. I will be responsible for prosecuting criminals. I will play my part in making my community a better place to live. The thought of being in court excites me. Unlike most people's attitude toward traffic court, I was thrilled to be attending court after receiving my first speeding ticket a few months earlier. Television shows that deal with law excite me as well. Every Sunday night at ten o'clock my family knows where to find me-glued to the television watching "The Practice" with a smile on my face. I currently work as a legal assistant at Rapaport and Skalny, a local law firm that specializes in litigation. I am learning so much about the law with each project I work on. Although the majority of the work I do there is filing and typing of documents, I remain fascinated with the entire legal system. I love the fact that the work I do contributes to lawsuits going to court and to clients paying for much needed services. As I head toward college, I continue to take steps getting closer to my main goal.

The Three Houses in The Great Gatsby :: Great Gatsby Essays

The Three Houses in The Great Gatsby      Ã‚  Ã‚   The houses of the three main characters in The Great Gatsby represent different characteristics of their dwellers.   Gatsby is a flashy and superficial man with a one track mind.   He lives next to Nick who is simple and observant.   Nick's half cousin is Daisy, who lives across the water from Nick and Gatsby.   She is superficial and cynical.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Daisy's house is a fairly large and elaborate Georgian Colonial mansion, located on East Egg.   She lives there with her husband Tom Buchannan.   The house is spacious, much like the Buchanna's marriage, but it has nice furniture and antiques so that it appears to be comfortable and quaint, and one would assume that a happy family lived it.   Tom and Daisy, like the house, aren't really happy, or in love, but they have all the right properties and conveniences to cover the real situation up.   Daisy didn't really want to marry Tom, and she new that at her wedding.   Now, her marriage is falling apart, especially because Tom is having an affair and Daisy knows it.   Neither of them really care about their child, and Daisy is completely s uperficial.   She always acts bored with life and like everything is a pain, she seems to do everything for show.      Ã‚  Ã‚   Directly across the water from Daisy is locater Gatsby's huge and ostentatious house.   Gatsby purposefully picked this spot because he centers his life around Daisy.   Everything he does is in an effort to impress her, get closer to her, or attract her attention.   He is very much in love with her and has been for a long time.   He'd do anything for her, but he doesn't really care about anyone else.   He just uses Nick as a tool to get to Daisy, and is kind of condescending with him.   He always calls him 'old sportà ¢Ã‹â€ .   From his house Gatsby can watch the green light on Daisy's dock.   He holds extravagant parties at his huge mansion, only hoping that Daisy might drop by.   He buys only the best of everything because he knows that's what Daisy

Poverty in Ghana

In recent years, Ghana has emerged as a leading country in the Western and Central Africa region. It has developed its economy on a scale that could enable it to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) before the 2015 deadline. It also managed a smooth and peaceful political transition in 2008 and 2009, and has created a political and policy environment conducive to economic and social progress and poverty reduction. The Ghanaian economy has grown at an average annual rate of 4. 8 per cent over the past two decades. By 2008 GDP growth had reached 7. per cent. The agriculture sector, which contributed 33. 5 per cent of GDP in 2008, remains the country’s major engine of economic growth. Rapid economic progress has all but halved national poverty rates, which have fallen from approximately 50 per cent in 1991 to 28. 5 per cent in 2006. In the last decade, poverty rates dropped by 8. 6 per cent in urban areas and by 10. 4 per cent in rural ones. Ghana’s growth and poverty reduction rates are probably the best that have been achieved throughout sub-Saharan Africa in the past 15 years. Where are Ghana's rural poor people? Although there has been a substantial overall decline in the incidence of poverty in Ghana, poverty still has a firm grip on rural areas, especially in the north. There is a wide disparity in income between people living in the drought-prone northern plains, and those living in the south, where there are two growing seasons and greater economic opportunities. Who are Ghana's rural poor people? Just over half the country’s population lives in rural areas. The poorest parts of Ghana are the savannah regions of the north (the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions), where chronic food insecurity is widespread and livelihoods are more vulnerable. Poor rural people have limited access to basic social services, safe water, roads that are accessible year round, and electricity and telephone services. Poverty is most severe among food crop farmers, who are mainly traditional small-scale producers. About six in ten small-scale farmers are poor, and many are women. Women bear heavy workloads. In addition to their domestic chores, they are responsible for about 60 per cent of agricultural production. More than half the women who head households in rural areas are among the poorest 20 per cent of the population. Why are Ghana's rural people poor? According to the Government’s poverty reduction strategy paper, low productivity and poorly functioning markets for agricultural outputs are among the main causes of rural poverty. Small-scale farmers lack the technologies and inputs, such as fertilizer and improved seed, that would increase yields. Population pressure leads to shorter fallow periods or even continuous cultivation in the densely inhabited Upper East and Upper West regions, causing soil erosion and loss of fertility. Land degradation poses a long-term threat to farmers’ livelihoods and incomes. Only a small proportion of farmers have access to irrigation. Land ownership and land security are regulated by complex systems that vary widely. Many farmers lack rural infrastructure and equipment for storing, processing and marketing their products. In order to overcome their vulnerability and food insecurity, poor rural populations need help in sustainably increasing their incomes. Good opportunities exist to link farmers to markets and to modernize agriculture. The rural private sector could play an important role in making farming a profitable business through access to financial services, farm inputs and linkages to agroprocessors and traders. www. cfr. org Ghana is rich in natural resources and has one of the strongest emerging economies in Africa. The capital city, Accra, is one of the wealthiest and most modern cities on the continent, and is experiencing a period of rapid growth. Ghana is rapidly urbanizing. Despite this, most of Ghana's poor live in rural areas without basic services such as health care and clean water. Small-scale farmers, who are affected most by rural poverty in Ghana, depend on outdated farming tools and lack access to improved seeds and fertilizers to increase crop yields. Our Work The Hunger Project has been working in Ghana since 1995 and is empowering partners in 49 epicenter communities to end their own hunger and poverty. Through its integrated approach to rural development, the Epicenter Strategy, The Hunger Project is working with partners to successfully access the basic services needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and lead lives of self-reliance. Scaling-Up the Epicenter Strategy Ghana is the first country in which The Hunger Project is scaling up its Epicenter Strategy to provide coverage to a set geographical area and reach significantly more people. In July 2006, The Hunger Project received a US$5 million investment to scale-up Hunger Project work in the Eastern Region of Ghana. By the end of the five-year commitment, The Hunger Project-Ghana aims to have mobilized enough epicenter communities so that each villager in the Eastern Region is within walking distance to an epicenter building. By the end of the second year of its scale-up program, The Hunger Project-Ghana had successfully completed construction of 12 epicenters. Scaling-up has presented a number of challenges to The Hunger Project-Ghana, such as acquisition of land and the mobilization of construction materials. Our staff, however, is equipped with the training and skills to continue to mobilize partners to end their own hunger in the Eastern Region. Empowering Women The Hunger Project-Ghana has pioneered the Women's Empowerment Program (WEP), which empowers women to become strong leaders in their households and communities. The WEP is a series of workshops that focus on legal, civic and reproductive health rights as well as leadership skills for selected women. The trained women, also known as â€Å"animators,† then carry out community-based educational activities using drama, mini-lectures and discussions. These animators are also trained to provide counseling and distribute non-prescriptive contraceptives. Microfinance Through its Microfinance Program in 2009, The Hunger Project disbursed 1,834 loans totaling $146,421. Partners in Ghana deposited $23,589 in savings during the year. Of the epicenters that are operating in Ghana, three have government-recognized Rural Banks and are self-reliant.