UK Data Natiional Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 12000 words

UK Data Natiional Security - Essay Example Identity cards allow cardholders to establish their identity. This is essential for procuring several goods and services. Presently the IT is used in almost all public bodies to provide their services to the people. They require information regarding the recipients of their services. This information is retained by governmental bodies1. Nevertheless, this information can also be retrieved by criminals to steal identities for fraudulent purposes. Therefore, identity fraud enables an individual to impersonate another individual. By this impersonation the fraudulent individual can obtain the same benefits that are available genuine individuals, to which they are not entitled. Some of these provisions include social security payments, permanent residence in the UK or access to some property. In order to contain and eliminate this identity fraud, ID cards are essential2. During the Second World War, the UK government made it mandatory for every citizen to possess an ID card. These ID cards were distributed to the citizens along with ration books. Citizens aged above sixteen years were required to carry their ID cards with them. Those who failed to carry their ID cards were subjected to prosecution, as it was a criminal offence in those days. Parents and guardians had to carry their children’s identity cards. The government had stated that the enforcement of identity cards would be discontinued after the end of the war. However, the identity cards existed until the year 1952. The people revolted against the compulsory identity card scheme and contended that this scheme was alien to the traditions of the UK3. The proposed ID card scheme is not in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act. In an Institute of Public Policy Research conference, held in London, the Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas made this announcement. He added that a huge database of personal information would be established as part of the proposed ID

Branding of a City in the 21st Century Coursework - 1

Branding of a City in the 21st Century - Coursework Example While the consumer's awareness of a brand, and the reasons for choosing an associated product may depend on various factors including peer reference, peer approval, or other social factors beyond the direct control of the brand's investor, the brand's marketing mix is definitely within the investor's control, and something that demands big budget investment. Therefore, investor's and researchers are always concerned about the actual effects and results of marketing components including advertisement, sales promotions, and company emblems - upon the consumer's perception and their consequence upon brand equity. In the last decade, a lot of research has been dedicated to conceptualizing and measuring customer-based brand equity. However, apart from putting forth various influencing factors, no integrative framework has so far been developed to account for the complex psychological processes underlying the formation of customer-based brand equity. This has strong implications as far as message processing and persuasion in tourism and city image is concerned. The modern day consumers' decision making as far a choice of a brand remains widely unquestioned as far as practical observations and research go. This is especially true of city branding whether it is for tourists or for possible settlers. There are a variety of models to conceptualize and measure "brand equity" in order to explain how brand equity is generated in the consumer's mind in terms of images of cities. These models consist of a thorough analysis of each factor that influences the decision making process as well as several synoptic approaches examining the influence of different variables on brand equity are available (Kotler, 1997 , p. 443). This promotes a deeper understanding of the elements of brand identity for cities as this is a fairly new phenomenon that has sprung from the advent of globalization. The elements of the brand equity in this regard have been studied from the perspective of case studies so as to understand the perception management elements that go in to creating an image for a city. (Kaplanidou et al, 2003) Brand Identity is that element of perception management and awareness in a city's image, which has its focus in the results of a

Assess The Contribution Of Summitry To Diplomacy Politics Essay

Assess The Contribution Of Summitry To Diplomacy Politics Essay Summit diplomacy is an irreversible phenomenon that is not alien to contemporary diplomacy. It has been an ongoing practice as far back as diplomatic activity has been in practice. Summit diplomacy has its roots in the new diplomacy i.e. diplomacy in the democratic age between open governments (Dunn, 2004, p. 140a). It has evolved and developed over the centuries and as such, much attention is given to it. Recently there has been an upsurge on it which is due to the fact that it is no longer done on low level but now common place and referred to as high level diplomacy. Amongst other advantages, Leguey-Feilluex states that the primary advantage of summits is that it involves the leaders that are directly responsible for making policies (2009, p. 294). In as much as it has been celebrated for its benefits, there is a lot of controversy surrounding this practice; diplomacy at the summit level has been highly disdained by diplomats because of the claim that it relegates their roles. It has also been said that it could be a waste of time, effort, and resources. Even though summitry can be detrimental to diplomacy if not properly organised, I believe that if judiciously prepared, summits will come to be appreciated and accepted as a method of conducting diplomacy. This essay is an attempt to explore or delve into the depths of the concept of summitry diplomacy, and in this process unearth some information about it, also to examine the contribution of summitry to diplomatic practice. What is Summitry In contemporary times, a method of conducting foreign relations is evolving, as times go by, this method is waxing stronger and is known summit diplomacy and this has brought in its wake, a wave of arguments for and against this new global development in international relations. However it is a misunderstanding in history to regard it as a new phenomenon (Plischke, 1974, p. 43) since it has been in practice far longer than it has been popular. The earliest record of the usage of the term summitry came into play when Sir Winston Churchill popularised it in the 1950s by introducing it into international parlance. Summitry as a term was therefore coined by Winston Churchill, Even as a term that was coined then, it is however a point to note that the practice has been in for a longer time. In fact, it dates back to the fifteenth century. This fact begs the question; if it is a practice that is not new, why is it being popular in these times? The best answer to that would be because of the way summitry is being conducted. These days- it is more frequent and at a higher level (Dunn, 1996, p. 4b). Summitry is a process wherein political leaders take diplomacy into their own hands instead of leaving it to the professional diplomats; leaders, heads of state, prime ministers, presidents, monarchs, all come together to discuss issues of foreign relations. According to Plischke, summit diplomacy may be: interpreted as the determination and publicizing of foreign policy and the management of international affairs at the chief of state or head of state level (1967, p. 43). I would like to point out that in order to effectively conceptualise summitry, it will be appropriate to take into consideration different features of summits; the first is the fact that summits are organised between countries of a higher class, i.e. between groups of the same class, secondly, summitry is for reaching agreements. In addition, a summit can be differentiated from other forms of direct personal diplomacy among political leaders such as correspondence, telephone conversations or direct talks e. g. video conferencing (Melissen, 2004, p. 188). Over the years, summitry has evolved greatly and it is due to so many factors of which I will be pointing out some of them. Dunn, states that summitry grew out of crisis, especially political crisis, when governments and states were facing tough times; the need to meet, dialogue and reach agreements on very salient issues with other heads of government arose, governments needed to deal with crisis and decided to take matters into their own hands. Summitry then, had to do with a bit of urgency (1996, p. 5b) Another important factor for the development of summit diplomacy was growing interdependence of the world economy; the world has economically grown closer as financial markets, corporations, and banks have all become multinational, and because resources are unevenly scattered and no country possess all the resources they need to survive, therefore countries must come together to trade in order to sustain their economy. For example, petroleum is shipped from Africa to major energy-importing regions such as the United States, thus the growth of global economic interdependence, and consequently the spread of summit diplomacy (Dunn, 1996, p. 12b). Dunn also states that summitry has also developed as a result of technological inventions, breakthroughs and advancement. Technology has progressed at an accelerated rate and has been profound during the twentieth century which has greatly improved the pace and method of conducting foreign relations. The revolution in technology transformed the very nature of diplomacy itself which meant heads of state, foreign ministers and other important officials could now make intercontinental trips in such a short time as opposed to long trips which sometimes took days or weeks. Also, in the aspect of communication, mobile phones, video conferencing and other electronic means has increased the rate with which diplomatic negotiations take place (1996, p. 6b). Furthermore, summitry developed due to the importance of the media and public opinion in international affairs. This development has sought the need for political leaders to become much more transparent in their dealings. The summit is thus not only the expression of the direct political ties between the leader and his people; the political leader is also perceived as the diplomat-in-chief (Melissen, 2004, p. 194). It may not be easy to measure the success of summitry; however we can assess the contribution of summitry by analysing the functions of types of summitry to diplomacy. These summits can be classified into three; the serial summit, the ad hoc summit and the exchange of views summit. These different types of summitry serve different purposes. The function which the summits may promote include; promoting friendly relations, clarifying intentions, information gathering, consular work, and negotiation (Berridge, 1995, p. 84a). I intend to enumerate the contributions of summitry to diplomacy through the different types of summits. Serial Summit and its Contribution The serial summit is part of a regular series of meetings. There are numerous examples of serial summits, some of which include the Franco-German summits, G7/G8 summits (which are a contributory factor in international discourse,) ASEAN summits, US-AU summits. Another good example of a serial summit is the Western economic summits which have been held annually since 1977 at Rambouillet (Barston, 1988, p. 105) The serial summit is particularly useful for promoting friendly relations and negotiation; whether serial summits are frequent or separated by a year or more, and whether they last for hours or days, they may contribute to a successful negotiation between parties concerned (Berridge, 1995, p.85a). Firstly, they educate heads of governments without international experience; no head of government wants to make a fool out of themselves among other leaders, therefore they are motivated to work hard and develop themselves concerning matters of importance to avoid failure at the summit level; and they cannot afford to be ignorant. Secondly, they make package deals easier (Berridge, 1995, p.85a). Since it involves the interaction of political leaders who have maximum authority as policy makers, deals are therefore easier to seal appropriately and in a forthright manner. Another function of the serial summit is that it speeds up and sustains diplomatic momentum in the sense that it sets deadlines for the completion of an existing negotiation between the parties and it breaks any deadlocks in negotiation due to the fact that all the important policy makers are together. An example of a deadline was in a negotiation was December 1990 at the Brussels ministerial meeting in GATTs Uruguay Round (Berridge, 1995, p.153a). Serial summits are also useful for gathering information about other countries and their leaders, clarifying intentions, creating awareness, generating understanding and enhancing cooperation amongst members of the summits. The best example of the serial summit is the Franco-German summit which started in 1963 and since then, meets at least twice a year (Berridge, 1995, p.86a) Ad hoc Summitry and its Contribution Another type of summit is the ad hoc summit which is usually a one-off meeting convened to address a particular issue e.g. to address a crisis, although it might end up being the first of a series of other meetings and they usually generate more publicity than the serial summits. Special cases of ad hoc summits are working funeral which is a funeral of a major political figure that is attended by high-level delegates from all over the world (Berridge, 2002, p. 180b). Examples of ad hoc summits are the Cocaine summit, the Sino American summit, and the Camp David summit. Ad hoc meetings are very useful for imposing deadlines on a negotiation process. A case in point is the Camp David Summit of 1978, which was between Israeli, Egyptian and American leaders and lasted for the whole of thirteen days. Dunn states: It was deliberately described by President Carter as a last chance effort to breathe new life into the failing Middle East peace process which had started so dramatically with the initial meeting between Sadat and Begin. The singularity of this opportunity undoubtedly contributed to its final success (2004, p.153a). Ad hoc meetings are more suitable for symbolic purposes and they also provide a forum for the promotion friendly relations and fostering and leaders become familiarized with other heads of governments and states. An example of such a meeting is the encounter of President Clinton of the United States and President Hafez al-Assad of Syria in Geneva in January 1994. The two-day Ibero-American summit held in Mexico in July 1991 is also an ad hoc meeting that was aimed at promoting the growth of economic and cultural ties between its participants (Berridge, 2002, p.179b). Furthermore, funeral summits have contributed immensely to diplomatic affairs by carrying out the function of diplomatic signalling. According to Berridge: at the funeral of the Emperor Hirohito of Japan in Feb 1989, it was recorded that representatives from 160 countries including 14 representatives of royal families, 55 heads of states, 11 prime ministers were in attendance (2004, p. 172c). Firstly, it is a discreet opportunity for leaders to come together to meet on pressing issues at stake and also a disguise for low key exchange of views between contenders on how to manage conflict. Funeral summits are of diplomatic significance particularly if it is the funeral of a current president or head of state this is because it serves as an important opportunity for political lobbying. Berridge states that: the funeral is almost certain to be the first occasion for both foreign friends of the deceased to confirm that the new leadership remains wedded to their relationship and for foreign rivals to explore the possibility of a change of heart (2002, p. 180b). .High Level Exchange of Views and its Contributions Finally, there is the exchange of views meeting. This is a situation whereby heads of government visit series of countries on a foreign tour. It is usually relevant when a newly elected leader has come into power to educate and familiarize them on the international scene. (Berridge, 2002, p.181b) This summit also promotes more friendly relations between their countries and others. For example, in September 1994, the British prime minister went on a week-long trip to Abu Dhabi, South Africa and Gulf and other places where he visited the King of Saudi Arabia, and had friendly encounter with him (Berridge, 2002, p.181b) Finally, the exchange of views meeting can be very useful for promotion of trade and in taking up serious cases of maltreatment of nationals (Berridge, 2002, p.181b). Advantages of Summits Summits have symbolic importance for example the Moscow summit of 1972 was a representation of the new relationship of superpower dà ©tente. The Vienna summit of 1979 was also a way of symbolizing that there was a better relationship. For example, the Cold War summits held in Paris, November 1990, was used to advertise the end of disputes between the parties involved and to symbolize peaceful relations (Dunn, 1996, p.248c). In relation, summitry is a useful tool for promoting foreign and domestic propaganda; attracting the attention of domestic, foreign and global audience to some issues. It gives the idea that the government is busy doing something about an issue domestic or global, especially in democracies. An example of summit propaganda is the United Nations Summit on Climate Change in New York on 22 September 2009 and in Copenhagen Denmark, December 2009 to create momentum on greenhouse gas emissions (Dunn, 1996, p.249c). Summits also provide the opportunity for governments to come together and gather information about their counterparts, this helps to break down barriers of mistrust and suspicion, and thus they can build up friendly and trustworthy relationships with them. As a consequence of such high level meetings by top leaders that are responsible for government action, issues deliberated on produce efficient results in comparison (Dunn, 1996, p.248c). Furthermore, summitry serves an agenda setting function; this is an opportunity for global issues of overarching political or strategic importance to be brought up to the forefront and addressed effectively. Dunn states that it is useful for: elevating issues to the top of the international agenda and for dealing with problems of with speed and authority (1996, p. 251c). A case in point is the G20 summit in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada, June 25-27 of 2010 which will set global economic agenda. Disadvantages of Summits In as much as summitry has lots of advantages, and has contributed positively to the practice of diplomacy it has also faced oppositions from different angles. Over the years, the usefulness of summitry has been in question; it is surrounded by so many controversies and most of the major opposition arise from diplomats who claim that it meddles in their affairs and which has a demoralizing effect on them and other elements of the diplomatic service (Plischke, 1967, p.48). Another argument is that politicians are not professionally trained for diplomatic jobs; therefore they lack the know-how, the skills, and the patience to carry out that function effectively which consequently produces unfruitful results. Some of them might be misinformed, or may not know enough about a particular subject and this may actually limit the capacity of which they can discuss specific issues in detail (Dunn, 1996, p.254c). Furthermore, there is the challenge of lack of knowledge of the other partys point of view or miscommunication; this is especially common when leaders from different cultural backgrounds are involved in a summit and interpreters have to be used. As Leguey-Fellifeux states: Clashes of personality may complicate summit interaction, but cultural misconceptions are a more likely occurrence, as chief executives have less experience in cross cultural communication (2009, p. 302). Negotiations in circumstances like this might prove very difficult. In addition there is also the risk that agreements that were reached during such meetings are difficult to disapprove because they were sealed by the heads of governments themselves (Dunn, 1996, p.257c). Furthermore, summitry has been seen as a waste of time, effort and resources. It takes a lot of time to prepare, and attend a summit and it also takes a lot of resources to make sure that a summit is successful. Resources that could be used for other important things will be used to pay for security, meals, and luxury accommodation for these politicians. An associated disadvantage is the risk of travel, accidents could occur, and lives could be lost, also, illness could develop due to causes such as the weather and all sorts (Dunn, 1996, p.261c). CONCLUSION Over the years summitry as a method of conducting foreign relations has come to stay a part of the diplomatic process for better or worse. Even though it is risky, it has indeed contributed immensely to so many foreign issues at stake. Due to its multifaceted agenda, it has provided opportunities for package deals across different policy areas that it is now almost impossible to imagine conducting diplomacy without holding summits (Melissen, 2004, p.195). In as much as it has contributed positively to diplomacy, it can also be fatal if wrongly carried out as I have enumerated earlier. According to Dunn: it may create misunderstanding, cause unintended offence and sow the seeds of mistrust (1996, p.264c). Hence, it should be carefully strategized instead of eliminating it totally as a method of conducting foreign relations. Summit talks have to deal with specific issues rather than general atmospherics. According to Berridge et al: for talks to be meaningful they have to be well prepared; decisions to be taken at the summit have to be formulated in detail already in previous negotiations at subordinate levels (2001, p.201c). If prepared and conducted properly and with caution, summitry promises high satisfaction. Despite all criticisms, summitry has become the preferred means of international dialogue.

Free Internet Essays: We Must Not Permit Internet Censorship :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

We Must Not Permit Internet Censorship    The internet is the largest and most diverse source of information our planet has ever known. The internet is integrating our daily life transactions. This is possible because newspapers, television programs, movies, phone calls, computer data, commercial services such as banking and shopping, and a host of other sources of information and communication are all being reduced to the same digital format, and are all be sent along fiber optic cable (Harvard Law Review, 1994).    The libraries of the world, once on line will combine to form a larger base of information than anyone ever imagined. This vast library of information will be accessible in an instant, with the click of a mouse, where internet technology is available. We can compare the internet to another technological advance, which also changed the world. The knowledge potential created by the diverse information accessible on the web is similar to the energy potential realized when we discovered nuclear energy. Like nuclear energy, knowledge is very powerful, and can be used to for both good and evil deeds. Knowledge can indeed have the same converse negative side to it like nuclear energy does. Nuclear energy can be used to power entire cities, or it can be used to erase them. There is an important distinction to be made here. Knowledge is what we use to search for the truth in life, and this fact makes knowledge indispensable. Once we know the truth we can be free from manipulation. Because the internet is so unique in the way it allows access to information, we must protect the internet as a very precious resource. Censoring the internet, a cause, leads to a chain of related effects. The first of which is the upset of the natural balance of information on the internet. This happens when information is removed, thus narrowing the spectrum of available information. From this spectrum of information we derive bits of knowledge. So the second effect of censoring the internet is reduced knowledge. If we allow censorship to weaken the material our searching tool, knowledge, is made of, then we might even lose the truth. The loss of the truth is the third effect of censoring the internet. The final effect of censoring the internet is manipulation made easy. Before we follow this causal chain through its effects, I think it is important to explain what I mean by the truth.

Illegal Immigration, good or bad?

Illegal immigration has been going on for hundreds of years already. But, over the years it has been increasing dramatically. Illegal immigrants have been poured across the border to grab agricultural jobs during the worker shortages precipitated by World War II. The ranchers and farmers along the border prospered from the influx of cheap labor and they did everything in their power to keep illegal aliens from being deported Today, however, we find that immigration is not seen as a positive for our country, but rather it is unquestionably considered a problem today in America.Some may believe that the threat of illegal immigrants is based on unsound fears. But in my opinion most illegal immigrants come here to live a better life than they lived in the country they lived in before. Most suffer where they used to live, therefore, they decide to move somewhere where they think the economy is better and they will have a better opportunity to get a job, and live a better life.Many believe that its unfair that low-income immigrants receive public benefits such as Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) at lower rate than low-income born citizens. Many people say that immigrants use more public benefits than the native born. This has created a lot of serious and unfair burden for citizens. All illegal immigrants enter a country they’re not from thinking that if they don’t they won’t be able to give their kids a better life and better education opportunities. There are currently almost 12 million illegal immigrants in America.

Customer services at Tesco Essay

Methods used by Tesco to monitor if good customer service is taking place. If Tesco’s know how good or bad their customer service is then they can make improvements where appropriate. Since they are in such a competitive market they must monitor regularly and act fast on anything which needs improving. Tesco’s is such a big company it will be hard to monitor the customer service in all the stores, but an easy and efficient way of doing this is to use mystery shoppers. This is basically when a researcher is paid to act as a normal customer and just shop around the store, looking for any improvements and commenting on what is good. The employers working at the store do not know who the mystery shopper is so results are accurate. This type of monitoring is done in every store of Tesco’s, and is a good way to get feedback on how well or bad their customer service is. If Tesco’s know where the cracks are in their customer service then they can mend it, so knowing what can be improved is vital. A mystery shopper can notify Tesco’s about the following: How they are greeted by staff How promptly they are dealt with The knowledge of the staff The staffs selling skills The appearance of the branch The quality of facilities Hygiene standards Since Tesco’s deal with a wide range of customers they can choose different types of mystery shoppers, which can improve accuracy of results and a perspective from different types of customers making the results less bias. For example they hire a mystery shopper acting as a mother with children, the mother then can check the baby changing facilities and other service provided by Tesco’s for people carrying babies. They would also use a disabled mystery shopper, who will test the disabled facilities such as the toilet, and they can know if areas are not as accessible to the disabled. The mystery shopper can also point out which member of staff shows good attentiveness and those who don’t care less. Tesco’s can then act on the members of staff who do well by perhaps, praising them, and try to make the members who are not so interested in the job care more, or make a decision to let them go. Another way Tesco’s monitor their customer service is to ask random customers to fill in a quick questionnaire, which can give customers to voice their  opinion on the store. Tesco’s as a large organization uses the suggestion boxes both for staffs and customers in their stores, forms or cards are often provided for staffs at the stores canteen or restaurant while suggestion boxes are usually placed on the shop floor for the customers to fill out, with this tesco’s can allow staffs and customers make suggestions on how to improve their services. Tesco randomly call customers who in one occasion or the other has had problems with Tesco’s either through refund processes or returns on damaged goods. Tesco will call up these customers to know how effectively they where dealt with and how they are getting on with their product. With this Tesco will know what criteria to improve on. The easiest and quickest way tesco’s use is by confronting the customers while shopping, they ask questions like â€Å"how well do you think we are doing in dealing with customers†? This is usually done in few selected Tesco stores dependant on management and cultural style of the store. Focus groups is a system which tesco’s rarely use, this is usually done where feedback is obtained from a small group of people usually consisting of 10-15 people, discussing about products and being asked for information about Tesco’s customer services. E5 report Customer services report tesco’s supermarket plc To: Graham Murray (Store Manager) From: Tayo Oyelaran Date: 25/02/2006 Suggestions on how Tesco’s Roneo corner might improve its customer services Having investigated your company I am suggesting ideas that needs improving on customer service and I am going to doing an evaluation too. With the research I have done Tesco’s customer service is not that bad. But still I suggest they can make some improvements in a number of issues such as: * availability of goods and service * speed of delivery * exchange and refund * Access to building. * Check out and trolleys Exchange and refunds Tesco’s does Exchanges and refunds on goods that are faulty after purchase. Tesco has a clear policy on returned items, so that customer services do not frequently have to ask their boss for assistance or clarification. Tesco’s will accept any goods back within a limited period, providing the customer has kept the receipt, and will refund the money. Tesco’s does not clearly explains the refund policy to a customer at the time of a purchase is made, and the importance of keeping the receipt should be stressed, this is quit a bad way for Tesco’s to show that they care about the customer by telling them what they should keep after shopping at Tesco’s. Tesco’s can improve this by making sure to tell customers to keep their receipt incase any problem occurs with it and that it can only be returned within 28days of purchase. Speed of delivery Tesco’s delivering service is quit good because you could buy your shopping over the internet and have your purchase be delivered within a day or two  but the bad thing about Tesco’s delivery is that they do not keep to delivery time usually delayed up to a day this shouldn’t be so when you have companies like e.g. Iceland and Safeway’s competing against you. As well as Tesco’s knows that no customer wants to purchases a large, heavy item and then find’s out that Tesco’s don’t do no delivery the customer may decide the whole transaction is too much trouble and go elsewhere. Delivery time could be improved bt having the right and appropriate I.T system which ensures accurate timing and delivery of goods and services to your customers. Availability of goods and services The availability of goods is always excellent at Tesco’s because the company. You virtually find what your looking for when you enter your store, but I weakness in this is that most of the time you usually run low stock which isn’t very good for example a customer might need more than what’s placed on the shelve. This will hinder he/she from purchasing your product, this could have little effect on your profit, so my suggestion to this is to improve or train your stock controllers more often to know the exact amount to be stocked and when the shelves should be filled up again if you have low stock. Access to the building and services Tesco’s has a few types of access to their stores e.g. * car park, this will attract more customers to shop at Tesco because they would not have to worry about where to park when they arrive there but not all the time there are spaces to park your car this is because some people park their car so they could shop around the local area for Tesco to overcome this problem they should issue a ticket when you go in their to park your car and the ticket should be only for two hours or less. * Lifts, are very important to because most car parks are two floor so customers could take their shopping easier up to the second floor. Disable people could use it too it they can’t walk up stairs * CafÉ coffee shop, after shopping some of the customers are going to a bit tired so they might go in to the cafÉ to have a cup of coffee. I noticed on entering your store you had only a few customers at the cafÉ so I’ll suggest you could do an offer (if you spend over  £20 you could get a free cup of coffee) * Children pen, for busy mothers shopping they could leave their children in a little area with a few trusted adults looking after them while you as a customer could shop more easier and quicker. * Toilets, is could be a good way for customer to stay longer at Tesco because they could spend more money. Checkouts and trolleys. A way in which they can improve customer service is to improve checkout times, which is the customers’ main problem with your store. They should ensure they have more tills opened for their customers so customers will be happy to shop at Roneo corner. More trolleys is needed too because people that come to shop on the weekend are probably going to buy one weeks shopping so I don’t think a basket would be enough, that could explain why there are a lot of spare baskets around to use during theses times. So I’ll suggest you have more trolleys especially during the weekends For good customer service a company must provide the customer with its utmost attention, which is what you do. The staffs at your store are very attentive towards the customers, and ask for assistance if a person looks lost or looks like they need help. Also to improve customer service in your store members of staff can help customers by helping elderly people carry their bags. Your store can also hire staff at checkouts to help customers pack their items in the bags. The Mystery Shopping Programme is a key tool for stores to use to improve the service they offer to customers. Using a range of research tools to find out about customer satisfaction is important to your store, I’ll suggest you use this method very often as it will help you to know your weakness in dealing with customers. For example, different Mystery Shoppers will visit stores over a period of time and the results will be compared. In addition the results of customer surveys can be compared and contrasted with the results provided by Mystery Shopper Reports. Using these results your store could analyze what went wrong with their customer service and correct them either by training their staffs more or providing more facilities to improve their customer service. Effect of my recommendation to your company Having done all this your store will have a very massive number of customers coming back to shop at your store because of having friendly and good customer service, this will also increase the companies productivity and Popularity. Complaint made about your store will also be reduced. Tesco’s profit, market share will also increase and good customer services will be recognized at tesco’s. What happens if these recommendations are ignored? First of all you will lose more customers if you fail to pick up some of my recommendation, of which without customers means no business. Business builds to attract customers and make profits so they can survive and last long open. Customers are very important to every business especially to Tesco’s because Tesco’s believes that without their customers Tesco’s will not be here at the moment and will loss all their capital. All these will have negative effect on your store’s profit, market share and ability to survive with nearby competitors. E2 Importance of good customer services and how it helps tesco’s achieve its  aims and objective Customer service is the whole activity of identifying customer needs in all their complexity, satisfying them fully, and keeping them satisfied. Customers are people who buy products and services from other people. Tesco is committed to customer service. Customer service lies at the heart of our modern economy because we increasingly make choices on the basis of how we are served. Excellence in customer service can only be fully achieved by having an organisational culture and value system which places the customer at the heart of everything that an organisation and its people do. Tesco has embedded this culture of customer service by giving high priority to a customer service emphasis from top management right down to the operational team level. Good customer services will help tesco’s achive theirs aims and objective by providing good quality services and good providing the necessary fertilities for the customers all these will increase tesco’s market share, its profit and its popularity in summary customers satisfaction equals a companies success. Skills and attributes need by tesco’s staff in order to deal with customers * Teamwork. This is an essential element of the effective functioning of any workforce. It relates to all functions of an organisation not just customer services. * Organisational skills. * Negotiation skills. * Communication skill. Staffs should be able to speak clearly to customers and using polite phrases. * Dealing with complaints and learning how to calm a customer down. * Dealing with difficult customers who cannot be calmed down. * Innovation skills. * They should have good product knowledge. Usually staffs ignorance and uncertainty put the customer off. If a staff at Tesco does not know the answer to a question, he/she should be able to find someone who does. * Presentation skills. * Selling skills. * Good mood and expression. Tesco’s staff should smile at customers this could make a difference. * Being flexible and good time management. Consumer protection law and how Tesco abide with them Tesco’s has a few legal constraints affecting the customer service because with out any legal protection customer might not feel protected when buying good from Tesco. Tesco has to think abut the customers so on top of the legal protection that the law provides they are being kind by giving refunds when they don’t have to. Here are a few legal obligations to its customers; customers need to be protected when buying goods, if, for instance: * Goods are damaged, broken or unusable – Tesco has to give a refund if the product if faulty if they don’t to customer could press charges on Tesco * Goods are not fit for the purpose for which they were bought for e.g. if a customer brought a DVD form Tesco and didn’t work the customer has the right to bring it back and get an exchange or refund back. * The seller has described the goods inaccurately. e.g. If Tesco has described a C.D player’s battery life to last 24 hours and don’t the customer could get a refund back or exchange. Tesco would need to understand that customers can complain against these problems and the following laws protect them: * * Sales of Goods act 1979 – One of the most important Acts today is the Sale of Goods Acts 1979. Since it was passed this has been amended three times – by the Sale of Goods Acts (Amendment) Act 1994, the Sale and Supply of Goods (Amendment) Act 1995. This covers the fundamental requirements of purchasers, i.e. that goods that Tesco’s PLC sell must be: – as described, this means that goods must conform to their description e.g. waterproof must mean the item dose not leak – of satisfactory quality – in relation to the price paid, the description, the age of the item – fit for the purpose for which they are intended – goods must carry out the purpose they are made for. Tesco usually issue refunds if they have failed to meet the criteria, which also contributes to their success dealing with customers. * Food safety Act, 1990-This is a wide-ranging law which strengthens and updates consumer protection in the food sector. This brought food sources, and implication farmers and growers, specifically under food safety legislation for the first time. It made it an offence to sell food which is not of the ‘nature or substance or quality’ demanded by the purchaser. Tesco follows this law very strictly for example Tesco’s Prohibits the sale of unfit or adulterated food and also Tesco’s Controls the description of its , advertising and labeling of foods. * Consumer credit Act, 1974- this aims to protect the rights of consumers when they purchase goods on credit, such as hire purchase or credit sale agreements. For example, if a consumer purchases any product from Tesco’s PLC on credit the customer should be given a copy of any credit agreements into which they enter. It also ensures that only licensed credit brokers can provide credit. * Consumer protection Act, 1987- this law was introduced to bring the British in line with other European Community nations. it ensures that firms are liable for any damage which their defective goods might cause to consumers. For example if Tesco’s where supplying defective electrical equipment they would be liable for any injuries caused to consumers using that equipment. It also seeks to outlaw misleading pricing, such as exaggerated claims relating to price reduction to sales items. * Supply of goods and services Act, 1982-this seeks to protect users of services, ensuring services are of good quality and at reasonable rate. For example if Tesco’s advertise that their products are going to be of high quality and it turns out to be of low quality, i.e. if a consumer buys a belt and after two days of wearing it the product should start cracking or should tear. Tesco also abide with the law to ensure good customer services * Trade description Act 1968 and 1972- this prohibits false or misleading descriptions of a product’s contents, effects or price. This affects packaging, advertising and promotional material. This is one of the key pieces of consumer protection legislation. Tesco’s follow this law by making sure that goods supplied to customers are not falsely described. Examples of good customer services that actual took place at tesco’s An elderly lady who is unsteady on her feet at times and uses a walking stick and avoids using stairs and escalator came back to tesco’s store because she left her walking stick behind. On a very busy weekend day below is the conversation that went between her and a sales assistant. Elderly woman; hello I left my walking stick behind in your store somewhere I cannot remember Sales assistant; ooh ok it was your walking stick; it has been taking upstairs to the customer service help-point. Sales assistant; do you mind if I help you go and get it upstairs. Elderly woman; thanks I’ll would be very grateful if you can help. Sales assistant; Ok then just give me 1 minute I’ll get you your walking stick. The sales assistant came back under 1minute with the elderly woman walking stick. The elderly woman thanked her for been helpful. In this scenario we can see the sales assistant was very helpful to the woman, she offered to get the walking stick without the elderly woman offering her to help. This is a very good example of customer services within tesco’s store. Example 2 A furious customer comes into the store here is the conversation that went between the furious customer and a customer assistant at tesco’s store. Customer assistant; may I help you sir. Furious customer; Yes, of course you can â€Å"I bought this stereo 3 days ago from your store and on the 2nd day it packed up, I discovered it wasn’t working no more. Customer assistant; ok sir that’s alright I see what I can do about it. What really seems to be the problem that does it power on or it doesn’t. Furious customer; I said the stereo isn’t working no more how do you expect something that is working to come on. Please I’m in a rush what do you want to do about it. Customers assistant; that ok sir, I’m very sorry about the stereo, can you kindly give me the faulty stereo and your receipt. Furious customer; that’s great here is my receipt. Customer assistant; sir at tesco’s we usually offer a 7 days return policy so you have nothing to worry about. Would you like me to issue a refund, a replace or an alternate stereo sir? Furious customer; an alternate stereo would be great, because having a replacement of the same stereo might have me coming back here with the same problem. Customer assistant; that’s no problem sir, come with me to see what alternate stereo you would like. In this scenario the customer assistant reacted in a very calm manner which also cooled down the furious customers making him feel he was been listened to. And also the customer assistant also apologized to the furious customer which shows the customer assistant understood the feelings behind the complaints. Example 3 A worried customer is wondering round the store here is the conversation that went between the worried customer and a non-food assistant at tesco’s. Non-food assistant; hello you look worried is do you need any assistant at all. Worried customer; thanks, yes I need your help do you have any idea where you put tour disposable plates, I have walked round the whole store but didn’t get to find any. Can you help? Non-food assistant; sure, come with me I’ll take you there. Worried customer; thanks a lot. Non-food assistant; there you go here are the disposable, we have various options available, do you help with any other thing in the store. Worried customer; no thanks I really appreciate it. Looking at this scenario we can see the non-food assistant generously took the customer to where the product was, he didn’t described where it could be found, this shows good customer service he also asked if the customer need any other help which is also a way of demonstrating good customer service. C3 Quality systems at Tesco Tesco products are continually monitored and tested for their quality and customer acceptability; this is their product evaluation. Tesco staff and management procedures are also monitored to ensure that they maintain the highest standards; this is quality assurance. Below are the quality systems which Tesco use in their production process to add value. Total Quality Management (TQM) – this is the most complete and complicated form of operations management. It is concerned with encouraging everyone in the workplace to think about quality in the business and use different management techniques within each department. Tesco does not prescribe any particular system of standards such as BS5750 or ISO9000. This is because they set their own standards through product specifications, detailed analytical specifications and codes of practice like preventing diseases from entering the food chain. Within the product process, they also expect their suppliers to have identified the critical points in the production process controls and premises by one of their technologists. However, if a supplier chooses to use BS5750 or ISO9000 as part of its discipline, they have no objection whatsoever. So therefore Tesco uses its very own quality standards to produce and sell its products. In terms of services, Tesco staffs are well trained to deal with customers even in the most difficult moments when they are angry. They are always expected to be polite, smile when serving customers and also say bye after serving them. To enforce this, they are regularly monitored by managers and supervisors and anybody not obeying the regulations faces disciplinary action. Tesco not only has well trained staff but also a whole lot of other things including free car parks with easy access for shoppers who have cars, free wide trolleys with special seats for babies and young children, special tills for the disabled people which also decreases long queues, the supermarkets are well organized that a shopper can easily find what they are looking for and also the chances of getting lost around the places are very minimal, they have got staff always standing by to help, tight security with guards and CCTV cameras to maintain customer safety, some stores have free busses that customers can use, children’s play areas so that they don’t get so bored, it has got online orders where customers make their orders and get free delivery to their door steps, shops are always open to make it more reliable for customers to shop, some stores are open twenty four hours a day and many are adopting this idea, chairs around the place which customers can sit on wh en tired, free loyalty cards for customers who wish to sign up therefore saving on their shopping, Tesco not only provides western food but also ethnic foods to cater for the ethnic minorities, free scanners that shorten queues, special offers like buy one get one free, there is a variety of product s in the stores, more facilities including: * Cafà ©s. * Photo processing. dg: * Phone services. * Electric, books, music & video stores. * Petrol stations. C1 Questionnaire 1. Who are your main customers? 2. How do you train your staff? 3. When do your staff get customer service training? 4. Do you have health and safety regulations? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5. Do you have a safety book? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 6. What have you done to reduce health and safety accidents? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 7. Do you have a customer complaints book? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 8. Who deals with the complaints? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 9. How many complaints have you had? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 10. Do you have a customer service desk? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 11. How do you check if your Customer services methods are working†¦ 12. How do you monitor customer services? 13. How much experience is needed to be a customer services consultant? Thank you for your time Below are the results for the questionnaire. It was a team leader working at tesco’s store I gave the questionnaire to feel in for me. 1. Who are your customers? His answer was all of the above. He explained that at Tesco everyone is identified and recognized as a customer even he himself. That this is know has internal and external customers where internal customers are tesco’s employees that staffs/colleagues who work at tesco’s while external customers are customers who often shop at Tesco like parents, adults, disabled and children. 2. How do you train your staff? He answered this saying. Our staffs are  usually trained on the job training but for managerial and organization role the off the job and computer based learning training are some times used. 3. When do your staff get customer service training? Our staffs are trained at the start of their usually lasting up to 1 week, occasionally staffs require to be trained frequently especially on the till as this could be easily forgotten or if there is a change or improvement in our computer technology, so in this case they would all have to be trained. Our staffs also usually have training request which they are also paid for while doing their normal job, this can also be referred to as on the job training. 4. Do you have health and safety regulation? Yes we do, this is usually done to ensure are customers both internal and external customer are shopping in a clean and tidy store to prevent accidents form occurring. 5. Do you have a safety book? Yes we do this is usually looked at the reception or at the staffs corridor to ensure we staffs know where all fire exit evacuation procedures e.t.c. 6. What have you done to reduce health and safety accidents? We ensure our store both the shop floor and warehouses are kept clean and tidy and also make sure fire exits are kept clear all the time. 7. Do you have a customer complaints book? Yes we do it is a form actually not a book it is usually given to customers who have complaints, although our complaints forms have been reduced because they are usually too many people with complaints so it is usually restricted depending on the type of complaints the customer is making. 8. Who deals with the complaints? Complaints are usually dealt with at the customer services desk but if it’s a serious complain against the company then the duty store manger Graham deals with the complain made against our store. 9. How many complaints have you had? As I said earlier on we usually have a  lot but it has reduced recently, this is due to us providing our customers with good customer services. Complaints are usually with the check out times at the weekend, so we have reduced this by having some of our staff’s multi skilled so they can work both on the shop floor and on the till. 10. Do you have a customer service desk? Yes we do it is located at the entrance of the store. 11. How do you check if your Customer services methods are working? Aaarh I’m not really sure though, I think by how much profit we make at the end of the week. 12. How do you monitor customer services? We use different methods like mystery shoppers, suggestion boxes, focus groups and questionnaires. But I think we use the suggestion boxes and mystery shoppers most. 13. How much experience is needed to be a customer services consultant? No experience is usually needed as our new recruits are usually trained to receive the best customer service training, although we usually prefer staffs with previous experience but usually no experience is needed. Thank you for time. After analyzing this questionnaire tesco’s treat their customers in a very good manner especially with the complaints depending on the situation it might as well be dealt with by the store manager which is very good for the customer and the store as the customer will be happy to explain what really happened and also the store manger will know what they did wrong there by ensuring it doesn’t happen again. Also their staffs are also well trained to be a customer service consultant. They also have a safety book which tells their staffs what they need to know if any thing occurs. They also ensure their store and warehouse are kept clean and tidy to prevent accidents from occurring to both staffs and customers.

People of The Setting Sun essays

People of The Setting Sun essays Close inspection of The Setting Sun by Dazai Osamu allows one to see a particular family battle changing times that are affecting a whole nation of people. Paralleled in many ways by the author's own reality, we see how this deep message is more than just a fiction story. As a nation, Japan had just surrendered to the U.S. ending their participation in WWII. With the end of this battle, a new one on the home front began. In a sense, the tradition of Japan died with the war; there is a definite passing of a generation/era of people. The country is now caught in a state of shock as they try to piece together new lives. This is by no means a simple task when tradition is pulling from one side and an influx of modern ways and ideas are pulling from the other. Through the analyzation of Mother, Kazuko, and Naoji, the notion of a nation struggling to grasp a new modern identity while coping with the decline of a social order that has stood strong for so many years is unfolded from b eginning to end creating mixed feelings of hope and depression for the people of the setting sun. Due to WWII, Kazuko and her mother must leave Tokyo and establish residents in nearby village. Kazuko's brother, Naoji, has been fighting in the war and upon its conclusion, comes home to his sister and mother with a terrible drug addiction. Naoji has an artist friend who acts as a mentor/drinking buddy. The death of the mother shows the passing of a generation, and the suicide of Naoji exemplifies the feelings of depression and hopelessness that float over Japan. Kazuko becomes the heroin of the story when she creates a positive experience in the middle of this chaotic time. She bears a child which acts as a symbol for a fresh start and new hope during a time when that is just what is needed. The beginning scene of the novel is a great description for the type of women that Mother was. By explaining how she eats her soup or "wee wee's" in the garde...

Dells capital structure Essay Example

Dells capital structure Essay Example Dells capital structure Essay Dells capital structure Essay During the past five years DELL Inc.s debt ratio had been increasing. Even as early as 2002, the company already had a very high debt ratio. It had a debt ratio of sixty-five percent which is way above usual benchmark amount of fifty percent. It shows that the company is heavily reliant to debt financing to support its operation. In 2004, the companys debt ratio made a shallow dip before increasing again in 2005 and 2006. The companys debt ratio increased by   five percent from 2004 to 2005. Meanwhile, there was almost a ten percent increase in the companys debt ratio from 2005 to 2006. All in all, in the past five years, the companys debt ratio has increased by almost eighteen percent. Looking at the companys debt ratio alone will lead the investor to think that the company is very high risk. The debt ratio shows that DELL Inc. more debts than assets. This means that if a liquidation should occur, there might not be sufficient assets to pay all debts of the company, much less enou gh left over for distribution to the companys stockholders.On the other hand, the companys interest coverage ratio is very good and has been steadily improving for the past four years, except for 2006. The interest coverage ratio measures the numbers of times a company earned its interest before interest and taxes. The higher the interest coverage ratio, the company can better justify its borrowings to investors and creditors. It also meant a lower debt burden for the company.   DELL managed a respectable sixty-one percent interest coverage ratio in 2002. The interest coverage ratio of the company made a radical leap in 2003 when it increased to one hundred seventy-nine percent, more than a one hundred percent increase from prior year. Another radical leap was made in 2005 when the companys interest coverage ratio increased by more than eighty percent. The companys interest coverage ratio increased more than ten percent in 2005 before making a sharp decline in 2006. For 2006, the companys interest coverage was merely one hundred sixty-four percent. The figure can be respectable for other company, but since DELL Inc. has been doing a very good job of making its debt earn profits for the company, the figure can be a warning to investors and creditors alike. The decrease in interest coverage ratio can be attributed to the ten percent increase in its debt ratio from 2005 to 2006 which led to an increase in interest expense without a corresponding increase in net income. The company manage to acquire an additional   debt increasing its interest expense by seventy-five percent in 2006 while its net income before income tax barely increased by three percent. As mentioned above, the companys interest coverage ratio for 2006 is still very good. Investors usually considers investing in a company with at   least a one and half percent interest coverage ratio and stay away from companies with less than one percent. The figure for DELL Inc. in 2006 is way beyond thes e benchmark figures.Bond ratings are based on the companys ability to pay interest periodically and the principal amount of the debt when it matures. The January 2005 edition of Business Week reported the increase of DELL Inc.s credit rating from A- to A. Standard and Poors Ratings Services gave the companys rating a boost due to several factors. These factors include DELL Incs improving market position, consistent profitability and continuous product expansion (S;P Boosts Dells Rating para. 2). The analysts also said that DELLs efficient working capital management and consistent EBITDA margin of nine percent generate strong cash flow for the company (S;P Boosts Dells Rating para. 5). A sufficient and consistent cash flow is necessary for the company to make timely interest payments. A strong cash flow means that DELL Inc. is able to pay interest payments on time as well as the principal amount of debt as they come due.   The article also praised the companys outstanding liquidity which gives it flexibility in its cash requirements despite lack of a committed credit facility (S;P Boosts Dells Rating para. 6).;Cited Work;â€Å"S;P Boost DELLs Credit Ratings.† S;P Ratings News. January 21, 2005. Business Week Online. December 13, 2006. ;businessweek.com/investor/content/jan2005/pi20050121_3300_pi036.htm;

10 Facts That Private Schools Want Parents to Know

10 Facts That Private Schools Want Parents to Know If you are considering sending your child to private school, here are 10 facts about private schools which all prospective parents should know. The data and information provided here should answer most if not all of your biggest questions. 1. Private Schools Educate About 5.5 Million Students According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were approximately 33,600  private schools in the U.S. in 2013-2014. Together, they served approximately 5.5 million students in grades pre-kindergarten through 12 and the postgraduate year. Thats about 10% of students in the country.  Private schools cover just about every need and requirement you can imagine. In addition to college prep schools, there are special needs schools, sports-focused schools, art schools,  military schools, religious schools, Montessori schools, and Waldorf schools. Thousands of schools focus on high school and offer college preparatory courses. About 350 schools are residential or boarding schools. 2. Private Schools Offer Great Learning Environments Its cool to be smart in a private school. The focus in most college preparatory schools is on getting ready for college studies. Advanced Placement courses are offered in most schools. You will also find IB programs in about 40 schools. AP and IB courses require well-qualified, experienced teachers. These curricula are demanding college-level studies which allow students with high scores in the final exams to skip freshman courses in many subjects. 3. Private Schools Feature Extracurricular Activities and Sports as an Integral Part of Their Programs Most private schools offer dozens of extracurricular activities. The visual and performing arts, clubs of all kinds, interest groups and community service are just some of the extracurricular activities you will find in private schools. Extracurricular activities complement the academic teaching which is why schools emphasize them - they are not something extra. Sports programs combine with academic work and extracurricular activities to develop the whole child. Most private schools require their students to participate in some sport. Teachers are also required to be involved in coaching a sport. Because sports and extracurricular activities are such an integral part of a private school program, you rarely see cuts in these areas as we have seen in public schools when budgets get tight. 4. Private Schools Provide Constant Supervision and Have Zero-Tolerance Policies One of the appealing aspects of sending your child to private school is that she cannot fall through the cracks. She will never be a number at a private school. She wont be able to hide in the back of the class. In fact, many schools use the Harkness style discussion format for classroom teaching. 15 students sitting around a table have to be involved in the discussions. Dormitories in boarding schools typically are operated family-style with a faculty member being the surrogate parent. Somebody is always around keeping a watchful eye on things. Another feature of private schools is that most have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to serious infractions of their rules and codes of conduct. Substance abuse, hazing, cheating, and bullying are examples of activities which are unacceptable. The result of zero tolerance is that you can be assured that you are placing your children in a safe environment. Yes, she will still experiment but she will understand that there are serious consequences for unacceptable behavior. 5. Private Schools Offer Generous Financial Aid Financial aid is a major expense for most schools. Even in tough economic times, schools have made assisting families who want to send their children to private school a top priority in their budgets. Several schools offer a free education if you meet certain income guidelines. Always ask the school about financial aid. 6. Private Schools Are Diverse Private schools got a bad rap in the early part of the 20th century as being bastions of privilege and elitism. Diversity initiatives began to take hold in the 1980s and 1990s. Schools now proactively search for qualified candidates regardless of socioeconomic circumstances. Diversity rules in private schools. 7. Private School Life Mirrors Family Life Most schools organize their students into groupings or houses. These houses compete with each other for all kinds of things besides the usual sports activities. Communal meals are a feature of many schools. Teachers sit with students developing close bonds which are such a valuable feature of private school education. 8. Private School Teachers Are Well-Qualified Private schools value teachers who have degrees in their chosen subject. Typically 60 to 80% of private school teachers will have an advanced degree as well. Most schools require their teachers to be licensed to teach. Most private schools have 2 semesters or terms in their academic year. Many prep schools also offer a PG or post-graduate year. Some schools also offer study programs in foreign countries like France, Italy, and Spain. 9. The Small Size of Most Private Schools Allows Plenty of Personal Attention Most college prep schools have about 300 to 400 students. This relatively small size allows students plenty of individual attention. Class and school size matters in education, as it is important that your child not fall through the cracks and just be a number. Small class sizes with student-to-teacher ratios of 12:1 are fairly common. The larger schools usually include prekindergarten through 12th grade. You will find that they actually consist of 3 smaller schools. For example, they will have a lower school, a middle school, and an upper school. Each of these divisions will often have 300 to 400 students across four or five grades. Personal attention is an important part of what you are paying for. 10. Private Schools Are Sustainable More and more private schools are making their campuses and programs sustainable. It has not been easy for some schools because they had older buildings which were not energy efficient. Students in some private schools even compost waste food and grow some of their own vegetables. Carbon offsets are part of sustainability efforts too. Sustainability teaches responsibility within the larger global community.   Edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

Kate's Ethical Dilemma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Kate's Ethical Dilemma - Essay Example This study outlines that Kate would consider the good for herself regardless of the possible happiness for the three children that they could have had if she had used the money to buy gifts, or without considering the harm for the company in the wide extent, because the extra fifty dollars is going to be recorded as a loss. If Kate is following the utilitarianism theory, she would look at the greatest happiness. She would decide to buy gifts for the three sick children since the total good is the greatest in comparison to the other options: return the fifty dollars to the store, for if she does not, it is going to be recorded as a loss for a company that earns millions of profits, so harm is minimized. As she kept it for herself, she became disappointed to hear that the foundation will not be able to provide gifts for the medical centre this year because of the global financial crises, so keeping the money did not result in the greatest good. Clearly, using the money to buy the children’s gifts would satisfy the theory’s approach. AS the discussion highlights by applying Kantian’s theory to the situation, Kate would only be concerned about the current circumstance, which is that the cashier gave her extra change by mistake and she would be aware that the fifty dollars is not her money, which belongs to the store. Therefore, she would act based on her duty towards the fact that the fifty dollars was given to her by mistake. She would not consider the future consequences of using the money whether to buy gifts for sick children to make them happy, or to keep the money for herself to cover up the reduction in her salary and her mother’s gift. She would return the money to the store ignoring the possible out-comes. If I were in this situation, I would choose the utilitarianism theory. I would consider the consequences on both parties.

Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 3

Research Proposal - Essay Example Along with the business enterprises, the term has also gained its applicability in social service oriented institutions such as schools, nursing-homes and hospitals. Hence, it is largely differentiated from the other business and social service oriented activities (Dagoon, 2005). With the gradual change in the business scenario, it is quite certain that the global outlook has also changed in terms of Entrepreneurship. Presently, the entrepreneurs have innumerable opportunities rewarded by the economy such as technology, flexible policies for global trade, and increasing demand. But there are also few major challenges that entrepreneurs need to face while creating a new business idea and serve it to the ultimate customers. Few of them are high level of competition, constantly increasing demand for innovations, rigidity of government norms like taxation and others. Moreover, as it depends highly on the issue of personal perceptions and the environmental influences of the entrepreneurs, the applicability of entrepreneurship also differs from one economy to other and from one business to another (Viramgami, 2007). Hence, this paper shall concentrate on the aim to understand the modern day phenomenon of entrepreneurship in two different countries, India and the United Kingdom. As these economies are largely different in terms of both social and economic attributes it shall be beneficial to critically analyse the entrepreneurial process. Moreover, the proposed paper shall centre on the business sector comprising of entrepreneurial process related to the petrol station-cum- convenience store. The paper shall try to conclude on the aspect of development of entrepreneurship in both these economies with the help of wide ranging researches. With a growing emphasis on the term ‘Entrepreneurship’, several theorists and analysts have stated their viewpoint in various literatures and research papers. These are beneficial to critically evaluate the meaning of the term. In

Steve Jobs Personality & Attitudes Drove His Success Case Study

Steve Jobs Personality & Attitudes Drove His Success - Case Study Example From this discussion it is clear that he filtered every distraction from his life, be it even his family so that he remains emotionally stable and is able to produce perfect and elegant products. The last dimension conscientiousness can be pinpointed in him by looking at the several industries he helped upgrading, for instance, music, phones or tablet and personal computing. This wasn’t only about developing product, but making it acceptable for both industries and consumer. An example of this is iTunes where the music industry is being saved from pirated songs being obtained by the consumer and the consumer could upload a collection of their personal music on iPods.   Ã‚  As the paper stresses Steve Job’s stance regarding business was what most of the firm desired. In terms of the five traits of an organizational behavior, Jobs was a perfect symbol. For instance, his self-efficacy was appreciable in form of Apple and Pixar, a name that is common in every household; h e accomplished wonders with both the companies. Regarding his self-monitoring, it can be easily seen that he exploited his own belief that people should be motivated intensely in order to help them break down their resistance and give platform to their imagination and creativity. His self-monitor was deep enough to know that he can accomplish the impossible with rigorous working hours and thinking of something new.  Job’s personality and attitude had a positive effect on the people working with him.

Cross Cultural Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Cross Cultural Communication - Essay Example Conceptually, the aspect of ‘cross-cultural communication’ can be apparently viewed as a mix of various other fields that include ‘cultural studies’, ‘psychological studies’, ‘anthropological studies ’and ‘communication’. Specially mentioning, cross-cultural communication acts as a push factor assisting the management of diverse organisations to follow appropriate communication based strategies (Tonnen, 2004). This type of communication has intense implications in the development of critical understanding about social relationships. Arguably, it is in this context that analysing social relationships along with the working styles of different cultures often acts as the foundation of successful global business associations (Jayakumaran, n.d.). This essay aims at critically evaluating the major facets of Hall’s high along with low context cultural models and analysing two nations falling into each category, i.e. Japan and India for high context culture and Australia and Germany for low context culture model. Moreover, the essay would also analyse four instances of business communication with illustration to particular corporations operating in the selected four countries in correspondence to each context cultural model based on Hall’s theory. Hall’s contextual model of culture describes how different cultures prefer the use of higher contextual messaging for making regular communication rather than using lower contextual messaging techniques. The model also helps in understanding the effects of culture on the communication process (Lange & Paige, 2003).The major facets of Hall’s high along with low context cultural model have been described in the following. Cultures belonging to higher context cultural model generally follow the notion of collectivism as they focus towards prioritizing the welfare of society rather than being concerned over individual benefits. It can be viewed that high context cultural model is

Self Marketing homework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Self Marketing homework - Assignment Example In this paper, I will analyze my characteristics and the situation that I am facing in my current position. I present myself as a company that is willing to attract its targeted customers, i.e. the employers. Overview Self analysis is an important factor to promote oneself in this competitive era. With the changes in the global environment, organizations are now-a-days providing increasing significance to the human resources, i.e. the employees who can contribute to the achievement of the organizational goal and create value. Therefore, the prospective employees are required to prove better than others and it is essential to gain competency and thus persuade the employers to benefit them. This paper mainly focuses to promote myself in the oil industry. With this concern, the paper shall present a company analysis indicating me as the company. Furthermore, customer analysis will be performed considering my employer as the targeted customer. Competitive analysis, value chain analysis, country climate analysis and SWOT analysis will also be performed as self-assessing tools. Company Analysis My aim is to become a Mechanical Engineer in oil and gas industry in a managerial position. The task of the mechanical engineer is to perform research, assess the mechanical equipments and taking special care of the machines. The Mechanical Engineer of oil industry requires dealing with various managerial operations such as: Processing of the industrial system Manufacturing system i.e. plant and products Dealing with the transport equipments Infrastructure structure on the oil platform Computer mechanism and measures I have completed Mechanical Engineering course as my educational qualification that has provided me with an in-depth knowledge of the industry operations. Thus, it would be beneficial for the oil industry to employ me. Because I can deal with the factors related with the post of Mechanical Engineer in the oil industry. I have a capability to motivate my subordinat es through my communication skills, commitment, and trust. I am also hard working and can face any organizational challenge. These factors can be highly beneficial for the oil industry to gain customer competency and the value chain management with the assistance of productive manpower. This in turn can maintain long term profitability in the marketing field on the whole. On the similar context, being an employee of the industry I can gain prestige in the locality. It can be stated that being employed in the reputed firm can also reward me higher incentives as well as satisfactory career growth. And thus help me lead a healthy and successful life. It shall be a mutual understanding between the industry and me with a common objective of growth. As I wish to grow with my organizational competency, I can be highly productive for my employers. Customer Analysis US oil industry is one of the leading industries of the world. The industry had increased property acquirement and had caused t otal capital expenditures. It was analyzed through research studies performed by experts that the oil industry had doubled its total capital expenditures in 2010. The industry’s expenditures was $72.8 billion in 2009 but had increased as $177.9 billion in 2010. The industry also exports its products with an increased gas reserve by 12% in 2010. Therefore, from the data given above it can be stated th

Urban Planning Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Urban Planning - Research Paper Example The construction of condominium will make public accessibility to the beach remote because of the protected entry gates, by guards; only condominium residents will have access to it. Moreover the construction on public area of the beach will create ambiguities in general public minds. The construction of condominium will create problems for the City Council and Condominium builders as immense public pressure will rise. The current proposal of the condominium suggests that problems for general public, tax collectors, city council and builders will be seen in the coming days therefore strategic planning in this regard is imperative and essential. PEST analysis is one of the best ways to analyze the prevalent scenario. The political environment of the area is in favor of the construction of North Avenue Beach House Condos. The Mayor of the city is in favor of the construction however political rivals will sooner know about inaccessible public access to the beach and chaos in the city will emerge. The political rivalry of the city needs issue to appear to mobilize masses and this will be the best issue to do politics. The strategic planning of North Avenue Beach House Condos construction can be done in such a way that passage for public accessibility to the beach must be ensured. Changes in the proposed plan are indispensible as there are many quotations which will create problems for condominium to build and operate. The front area of the lake will be shortened due to the construction and people love to visit the spot. Facilitating general public in such a way that they would be cherished by this construction is important. The design of the condominium must be curtailed in this regard. Tenants’ facilitation must be done resourcefully as while the construction takes place; they should be given some other working option. The North Avenue Beach House Condos will be bringing

Self Marketing homework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Self Marketing homework - Assignment Example In this paper, I will analyze my characteristics and the situation that I am facing in my current position. I present myself as a company that is willing to attract its targeted customers, i.e. the employers. Overview Self analysis is an important factor to promote oneself in this competitive era. With the changes in the global environment, organizations are now-a-days providing increasing significance to the human resources, i.e. the employees who can contribute to the achievement of the organizational goal and create value. Therefore, the prospective employees are required to prove better than others and it is essential to gain competency and thus persuade the employers to benefit them. This paper mainly focuses to promote myself in the oil industry. With this concern, the paper shall present a company analysis indicating me as the company. Furthermore, customer analysis will be performed considering my employer as the targeted customer. Competitive analysis, value chain analysis, country climate analysis and SWOT analysis will also be performed as self-assessing tools. Company Analysis My aim is to become a Mechanical Engineer in oil and gas industry in a managerial position. The task of the mechanical engineer is to perform research, assess the mechanical equipments and taking special care of the machines. The Mechanical Engineer of oil industry requires dealing with various managerial operations such as: Processing of the industrial system Manufacturing system i.e. plant and products Dealing with the transport equipments Infrastructure structure on the oil platform Computer mechanism and measures I have completed Mechanical Engineering course as my educational qualification that has provided me with an in-depth knowledge of the industry operations. Thus, it would be beneficial for the oil industry to employ me. Because I can deal with the factors related with the post of Mechanical Engineer in the oil industry. I have a capability to motivate my subordinat es through my communication skills, commitment, and trust. I am also hard working and can face any organizational challenge. These factors can be highly beneficial for the oil industry to gain customer competency and the value chain management with the assistance of productive manpower. This in turn can maintain long term profitability in the marketing field on the whole. On the similar context, being an employee of the industry I can gain prestige in the locality. It can be stated that being employed in the reputed firm can also reward me higher incentives as well as satisfactory career growth. And thus help me lead a healthy and successful life. It shall be a mutual understanding between the industry and me with a common objective of growth. As I wish to grow with my organizational competency, I can be highly productive for my employers. Customer Analysis US oil industry is one of the leading industries of the world. The industry had increased property acquirement and had caused t otal capital expenditures. It was analyzed through research studies performed by experts that the oil industry had doubled its total capital expenditures in 2010. The industry’s expenditures was $72.8 billion in 2009 but had increased as $177.9 billion in 2010. The industry also exports its products with an increased gas reserve by 12% in 2010. Therefore, from the data given above it can be stated th

Dorothy and the Tree Essay Example for Free

Dorothy and the Tree Essay Dorothy and the Tree: A Lesson in Epistemology Stanley Fish discusses how we in society base our lives off of assumptions. Using the example of Dorothy and the tree, Fish is able to show how with our assumptions, we as people categorize others and things into what we believe to be correct. Whether or not we have actually taken the time to figure out if we are right is irrelevant. He notes that we should just â€Å"keep trying to expand our sense of ‘us’ as far as we can†, so we can avoid judgments and isolating ourselves from the rest of society. Even though Dorothy realizes her mistake, she doesn’t realize that it is not a failure, but her consciousness assuming the classification of things in the world. Fish later on defines thought as the â€Å"structure that at once enables perception†, meaning that within categories things emerge, limiting perception and nothing can allow one to see everything because that is God’s job. Fish uses many Bible allusions to create justification for his assertions. He uses Genesis 1:26, and Paul’s road to Damascus to show that people can be persuaded to change their placement of things in society. Despite all of his valid points, Fish states that it is nearly impossible for one to change just on realizations. He believes it takes practice to accept the fact that there are things that we cannot comprehend because there is no limit on the conceptual trappings of society.

Coca Cola Entering Chinas Market Marketing Essay

Coca Cola Entering Chinas Market Marketing Essay One way to analyze Chinas culture is to look at their Hofstede score. Hofstede is the name of a system that rates countries on a scale across five different work related values: power distance, individualism vs. collectivism, masculinity vs. femininity, uncertainty avoidance, and long vs. short term orientation. Knowing these scored before operating in a country is very important. The power distance index describes the distance between those who are less powerful in the company, like middle and lower-management, and those who are very powerful, like the bosses and officers. The higher scores mean that it is very disrespectful to go to your boss and offer up your opinion about something, and you are suppose to just take what your boss gives you. A low power distance index means that everyone is close to a similar level, and you are allowed to and actually encouraged to offer up your opinion to your bosses. China has a high power distance index, with a rating of 80, being that the worl d average is 55. The individualistic vs. collectivistic index rates how integrated members of a company are. Individualistic countries value getting the job done yourself, and celebrates individual accomplishments. Collectivistic countries value team effort, and do not seek for individual results, and sometimes it can be very embarrassing to be singled out. In china, they have an individualistic vs. collectivistic index rating of 20, compared to the world average of 43. Masculinity, opposed to femininity, defines roles that each gender takes in an organization. Masculine countries show high levels of competitiveness and assertiveness, while feminine counties show low levels of those just described and high levels of modesty and care. A high score in the masculinity index means that the country is masculine, while lose scores mean the country is feminine. China has a masculinity rating of 50, while the world average is 50, which means China is indifferent between being masculine or feminine. Uncertainty avoidance index defines how much risk the population in general takes. Countries with a high index will take lots of risks, while a country with a low index will take little to no risks. High index countries are very comfortable with venturing to the unknown, while low score countries prefer to stay put where they are. China has a score of 60 in uncertainty avoidance, while the world average is 64. The last index is the long-term orientation. This defines how far into the future the country looks at decisions it has to make now. Countries with a high long-term orientation look to maintain steady flow in the long-run, while short-term countries looks for results now without thinking about the future. China has a score of 118, while the world average is 45. The official language of China is Chinese, though many business people speak English as well. The government is Communist run, and most people are atheist, with many different types of atheist-religions being practiced. As of May 2010, the population of China was estimated to be around 1.3 billion, which is about 20% of the worlds population. A couple notes about the behavior that are important to know when dealing with a Chinese business person is to never have personal contact, never point while speaking, point with a open palm, not with the index finger, do not put your hand in your mouth, always be on time, and do not discuss business at meals. Decision making is slow in China, and rushing them is considered very disrespectful. The culture of China is drastically different from the culture of the U.S., the home country of Coca-Cola. The Hofstede ratings for the U.S. are 91 for individualism, 62 for masculinity, 29 for long-term orientation, 40 for power-distance, and 46 for uncertainty avoidance. This means that China is more long-term oriented, has a higher power distance, and avoids uncertainty more, while the United States is more individualistic and masculine. Now that we understand Chinese culture, we can analyze Coca-Cola and their international business structure there. Marketing Plan/Strategy: Target Market: Coke can be enjoyed by anyone. Coca-Cola does not explicitly target a specific market overall, but they do have advertising campaigns that do talk to a specific group. Coca-Cola has to know the differences between the types of markets in China in order to send the right message to its intended group. One segment Coca-Cola looks at is urban and rural communities. Even though there are more potential customers in rural areas, there are more potential customers in urban areas. The economic diversity of the two groups makes it possible to separate them. The disposable income per capita in urban areas is three times more than in rural areas. There is also a difference in the province you live in. The different geographical regions of China have a difference in sales for Coke. Of the four largest cities in China, there are only 4 percent of Chinas population there, but accounted for 15 percent of sales, while all the other smaller cities and provinces had 80 percent of the population and h ad 50 percent of the sales. Age is also a segment that Coca-Cola builds on. Coca-Cola was introduced in the 1970s, and people who were born after its introduction grew up drinking Coke in their meals. Coca-Cola realized this and made all those born from their introduction on, which means everyone about 40 years are younger are a target market for Coca-Cola to advertise Coke to. 4 Ps (Product, Price, Promotion, Place) The product is called Coca-Cola, but Coke is used for short instead of saying the whole thing. It is a carbonated beverage. It was originally a patent medicine sold in a pharmacy, but along the lines it made its way to sell in a variety of places to become the number one sold drink in the world. The ingredients of Coke are carbonated water, sugar, caffeine, phosphoric acid v. caramel, and natural flavorings. The pricing of Coke is relative to other competitors in the market. The biggest competitor for Coca-Cola is Pepsi, and Coca-Cola takes account of what Pepsi prices their soft drink. Coca-Cola has an advantage though because they have a product that everyone sees as being a consistent and dependable one, so Coke is allowed to be priced 15 to 20 cents more without losing any sales to Pepsi. Promotion of Coke is very specific to the area being targeted. Coke implements pattern advertising, which keeps the video the same for countries targeted, but changes the audio, color scheme, and character selection to be similar to the area being broadcasted. Coke also does not make advertisements claiming to be better than Pepsi. In supermarkets, Cokes place is right next to all the other drinks, with no one product getting more exposure than others. Coca-Cola has at least one sales centre in cities with more than one million people. The sales centre also warehouse Cokes, and plenty of delivery trucks are there to disperse the products. Business Environment Coca-Cola expands in countries through a variety of licensing agreements and joint ventures. Coca-Cola licenses the selling of Coke out to bottlers. Coca-Cola makes the soda syrup and sends it to bottlers who mix it with carbonated water and bottle it, sending it to retailers. Bottlers are allowed to sweeten it differently depending on local tastes. Coca-Cola goes into joint ventures with other companies to come out with different types of products. Coca-Cola has joint ventures with companies like Proctor Gamble, Danone, and Nestle. Human Resources: Coca-Cola Company is not one in the same as the Coca-Cola bottlers, which are the majority of the whole business model. Coca-Cola does not have many offices world-wide for manufacturing, but do have executive offices. Coca-Cola sends expatriates out to deal with international sales. Glenn G. Jordan S. is the president of the Pacific Group for Coca-Cola, while Douglas Jackson is the President of the China Business Unit. Coca-Cola does not hire internationally for their executives and officers. For the Pacific Group, there are 2,900 executives working with 30,000 bottler employees. Coca-Cola states that people development is the stable for long-term success. One way they develop people is by sending them to Coca-Cola University, which is a virtual global university that teaches its employees everything they need to know. Coca-Cola pays its Chinese employees based on a couple of factors. First they make sure that what they are paying their employees is competitive with other consumer goods companies. Coca-Cola also offers benefits such as housing and transportation allowances, supplementary life and accidental insurance, free annual physical check-ups, free lunches and beverages, and festival allowances. They offer medical programs for the whole family. Twice a year, rewards are handed to employees who contribute significantly to the Company and the communities in which they operate. There are two ways in which Coca-Cola recruits new employees. First, they cooperate with local universities and business schools to directly go and recruit graduating students. Second, they post openings on their website to screen through hundreds of thousands of applications, which is later followed by a interview process if the resume was chosen. Finance: Since Coca-Cola licenses out the bottling and selling of Coke, they do not have to invest intensively in foreign investments. Coca-Cola has such a strong brand name that it allows them to have the freedom to invest anywhere with just about absolute assurance Coke will sell and make a profit. Coca-Cola has the leeway to introduce new products, seeing as they make such an income from Coke that it covers any potential losses. Coca-Cola has made a net income of about $6 billion for the past 3 years, so money is not an issue when investing in new products. Conclusion: Overall, Coca-Cola has been and for a long time will be a very successful company in China and the rest of the world. One of the biggest reasons for this is Coca-Colas consistency. They have a brand name with Coke that is recognized globally, and that will not go away from a long time unless they somehow hurt themselves publicly. Coca-Cola has realized that China is still a fast growing country, and has recently announced that they will open three new bottling plants in China. The new investments are set to cost $2 billion, which tops the total amount invested in now which is $1.6 billion. Coca-Cola tried to buyout Hong Kong-listed China Huiyuan Juice Group LTD, but was blocked by the Chinese government, which claimed that Coca-Cola was trying to set up a monopoly. Regardless what Coca-Colas intentions may be, they are still a very smart company and have certainly staked their claim as being the best in the nonalcoholic beverage industry. As long as Coca-Cola stays consist with their flagship product Coke, the sky is the limit for the Company.