Measuring Organizational Climate Essay Example

Measuring Organizational Climate Essay CONTENT: from where you get the Appendix Measuring Organizational Climate Name: Course: We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring Organizational Climate specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring Organizational Climate specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Measuring Organizational Climate specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Date: Executive Summary Organizational climate refers to the shared values and perceptions employees have towards the organization. The values and thoughts regarding the firm revolve around a variety of dimensions that have an influence on the performance and attitudes of the employees. Therefore, such assertions can have a positive or negative effect on the productivity of the company. In order to determine the dimensions, researchers have deduced several suppositions that reutilized to define study and measure the climate of an organization. The propositions mainly revolve around different approaches, the levels of an organization’s climate as well as methods utilized to measure organizational climate. The development of the criterion for the definition, study and measurement of organizational climate enables one to understand implicitly about the assertion of organizational climate and effects of the theory on the workforce. Furthermore, possessing adequate knowledge on organizational climate enables the management to determine the attributes and thoughts of employees. By knowing such dimensions, management can create and deduce comprehensive master plans that can increase the financial performance of the firm, increase cohesion among the workers and increase employee productivity in the organization. Literature Review Organizational climate refers to the process utilized to undergo quantitative assessment of the culture of an organization. Organizational climate is the perception of the individuals in the organization regarding the workplace environment (Robbins, 2002). It is comprised of the outline of attitudes and mannerisms that influence people’s organizational experience. For instance, the firm’s climate may include conflict among workers and performance standards. Such experiences influence the capabilities of employees and have an effect on their productivity. In order for management to determine the influences, organizational climate requires to be measured. By measuring organizational climate, the management will be able to administer the various dimensions encompassing the organization. Approaches to Organizational Climate Researchers, surveyors and practitioners, have created methods of measuring organizational climate. Such methods measure abstract factors of the employees in the organization. These psychological dimensions include factors include morale, communication effectiveness, openness, employee motivation and establishment of roles in the organization. However, such factors are not the only factors that can be used to measure the climate of an organization. According to Ashkanasy et al., (2000), it is important to fathom organizational climates in order to comprehend the effects of the organizational structure. Several approaches were created to understand the organizational climate considerably. The first approach, structural approach, enables one to view the organization as an objective configuration comprised of attributes referring to the externality of the organization. Attributes such as the size of the organization, the hierarchy and the guiding policies are among factors that define an organization’s structure. These authentic conditions determine the employees’ attitudes, perceptions and values of the events in the organization. However, critics have argued against this approach asserting that its validity is questionable since it does not provide accurate methods of measuring an organization’s climate. Furthermore, the structural approach only considers the structure of the organization: hence, it does not factor in the person’s thoughts regarding the attributes of the organization (MacCormick Parker, 2010). The second approach, perceptual approach is more oriented towards human resource management. This is because the approach focuses on the individuals in the organization. The theory surmises that individuals are affected by either their perceptions or psychological impression they attach to the traits of the organization. Therefore, the approach is viewed as humanistic since climate is based on a person’s perception (Ashkanasy et al., 2000). Despite the approach delving towards the labor resource of an organization, it is still subject to criticism. Foremost, the principal cause of climate is situated chiefly in individuals, thereby discarding the likelihood of a composition hypothesis. Therefore, the theory cannot be viewed as an attribute. The second criticism asserts that the approach presupposes that individuals attach meaning to events and processes in the organization. Hence, the approach disregards that the events and processes can result from the interface between membe rs of the organization. The third approach, interactive approach, combines the two approaches borrowing the main aspects of the theories to create one strong approach to organizational climate. The approach is based on the objectivism advocated for by the structural approach as well as the subjectivism vouched for by the perceptual approach. The fundamental postulation of the interactive theory borders on the causative factors of the organizational climate (Burton, 2004). It assumes that the relations between persons with response to organizational situations results in the collective agreement of members of the organization. Consequently, the agreement between organizational members creates organizational climate. Hence, the interactive approach relates the perceptual and structural aspects because it recognizes meaning is fashioned when an individual purposely interacts with other people and objects since it provides meaning for either of the two. The concluding approach relates the organizational climate with the culture in the organization. The approach does not focus on the formal constituents of the organizations, the interactive, structural and perceptual approaches. Rather, the approach focuses on the organizational beliefs and practices. Additionally, the cultural approach asserts that the organizational climate results from the shared perceptions individuals share as they learn to deal with the demands of the organization (Alvesson, 2002). The approach emphasizes on the rule of the interactive approach agreeing with it that the interaction of individuals in the organization contributes the organizational climate. However, the approach also factors in the role of organizational culture in the development of an organization’s climate. This is because the beliefs and practices of individuals in the organization influence their values and perceptions regarding various aspects of the organization. Dimensions of Organizational Climate In order to determine the valid dimensions that comprise organizational climate, it is fundamental to recognize the different levels under which organizational climate is based upon. According to James (2008), psychological climate comprises organizational climate because the climate is deemed a personal attribute. Additionally, psychological climate explains the individual perceptions and descriptions regarding the policies and procedures of the organization. Furthermore, the psychological notion is integrated into the framework of organizational climate, which borders on the perceptive references of the individuals within the organization. Thumin and Thumin (2011) provide another level of climate towards the concept of organizational climate. The group climate refers to the attributes perceived by an organization or its parts. Therefore, group climate results from the methods used by the organization to administer its members. Additionally, organizational climate is assumed to have developed to a group attribute from an attribute characterized by an individual in an organization. As aforementioned, the definitions and hypotheses towards organizational climate are various. Furthermore, the approaches also influence the dimensions which are the measures utilized to determine an organization’s climate. Despite the impact of the approaches, researchers use various determinants in the measurement of organizational climate. Furthermore, research has identified different dimensions, but in this research, it is important to consider the most fundamental dimensions in most organizations. Primary Research To measure organizational climate, research requires a hypothesis to support the main objective of the assessment. The hypothesis formulated for the research indicated a strong relationship between dimensions in the organization and the organizational climate. Method In the research, a descriptive survey was used in a small Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Center, in the state of Florida. The data gathered was primary. Questionnaires were concluded electronically. The medium utilized was intranet since the survey was carried out inside the organization. Moreover, the survey would be free from external bias. The main purpose of using the survey was to moderate cost and time of the firm and the employees (Gordon, 2004). The sample comprised 500 employees around the region. The measuring tool was a validated questionnaire designed especially for the organization. The model utilized for the questionnaire was the 12-factor model, which comprised 10 dimensions. The 10 dimensions incorporated in the model comprised job satisfaction, remuneration, workplace environment, individual development, exigent and appealing work, image, employee wellness, leadership, communication and diversity. During the analysis, it was discovered that particular dimensions possessed a direct impact on the employee and a circuitous control on other employees. The dimensions found to have an influence were employee wellness, interpersonal fit, exigent and appealing work and individual development. The dimensions discovered to create a direct influence included leadership, diversity, remuneration, work environment, and image. The results established that direct and indirect influence factors have an impact on the organizational climate. The hypothesis was also supported by the use of questionnaires that measured the organization’s climate. The measurements used referred to descriptive statistics, which incorporate the mean, standard deviation, kurtosis and skewness. The measurements were used in the table presentation in order to assess the various dimensions presented by the questionnaire that had an impact on the organizational climate. Additionally, the presentation offers alpha coefficients for every dimension as well as the total scale. The coefficients are above 0.8 with only the work environment being below 0.6. The mean results in the presentation were utilized to provide a synopsis of the climate of the organization. The recommended cut off point of 3.2 was utilized to validate the difference between potential positive and negative perceptions. The points that were higher than 3.2 indicate positive perception while the points lower than 3.2 indicate negative perception of the dimension under scrutiny . Furthermore, the mean of 3.2 was considered since it is deemed optimal as well as provides a proper guideline to distinguish between optimistic and pessimistic potential perceptions. From the table, it is evident that climate in the organization is positive since it comprises a mean score of 3.56 throughout the dimensions. The results indicate that most employees were contented with the assortment of organizational facets. This resulted from the measurement of the 11 dimensions because all dimensions, except a pair of them, had mean points that were above 3.2 points. The results of individual development (3.11) and remuneration (2.77) dimensions portrayed that employees perceived individual development opportunities in the firm negatively and agreed that remuneration practices were negative. Therefore, the organization can take these negative perceptions of the dimensions into consideration. This will assist the organization in assessing such areas and developing them in the futur e. The results also indicated that most employees were satisfied with their jobs pertaining to the job satisfaction dimension, which measured at 3.36. Thus, the results indicated that the employees found their work exigent and appealing and thus noted that their future in the firm would be optimistic. Organizational climate plays an important role in determining the strategies an organization will create in order to influence employees. The measurement of organizational climate is therefore efficient since it can provide employees’ sentiments regarding the organization. Furthermore, using the measurements of the organization can also assist the management in determining the causes behind the positive or negative financial performance of the firm. Measuring the organizational climate enables interaction between the management and the employees thereby creating solidarity in the organization. References Alvesson, M. (2002). Understanding organizational culture. London: SAGE. http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=zcm1m9YnJ8kCprintsec=frontcover#v=onepageqf=false Ashkanasy, N. M., Wilderom, C., Peterson, M. F. (2000). Handbook of organizational culture climate. Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications. http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=AUt1i9ZEa48Cprintsec=frontcover#v=onepageqf=false Burton, R. M. (2004). The impact of organizational climate and strategic fit on firm performance. Human Resource Management, 43(1), 67-82. Gordon, J. (Ed.) (2004). Pfeiffer classic inventories, questionnaires, and surveys for training and development. San Francisco, California: John Wiley Sons. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0787974692/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link James, L. (March 01, 2008). Organizational and psychological climate: A review of theory and research. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 17, 1, 5-32. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13594320701662550#preview MacCormick, J., Parker, S. (January 01, 2010). A multiple climates approach to understanding business unit effectiveness. Human Relations, 63, 11, 1771-1806. http://hum.sagepub.com/content/63/11/1771.abstract Robbins, S. P. (2002). Organizational behavior: Concepts, controversies and applications. Indianapolis: Prentice Hall. Thumin, F., Thumin, L. (January 01, 2011). The Measurement and Interpretation of Organizational Climate. The Journal of Psychology, 145, 2, 93-109. Appendix The Relationship between Organizational Climate and Employee Satisfaction. http://www.google.com/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=1cad=rjaved=0CCIQFjAAurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sajip.co.za%2Findex.php%2Fsajip%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F800%2F880ei=0c2YUIOcEsSk0AWz0YGwBgusg=AFQjCNHl1moXpz1YS6NuEi1_UFo59FnYXA Method 1 DimensionNMeanSkewnessKurtosisCoefficientsIndividual development5003.11-0.271-0.4520.875Leadership5003.83-0.7961.0010.914Job Satisfaction5003.36-0.370-0.1280.812Employee Wellness5003.72-0.8371.2190.826Communication5003.50-0.5670.3760.880Work Environment5003.59-0.6840.0840.596Image5003.81-0.6500.7610.838Diversity5003.59-0.362-0.2470.868Remuneration5002.77-0.271-0.4970.854Exigent and Appealing Work5003.67-0.5840.1280.892

Booking System Essay Example

Booking System Essay Example Booking System Essay Booking System Essay Speech bubbles are telling you how to do things.The square boxes are hints on how to make it better.Section 1: Setting up the worksheetsIn this section, I am showing how I set up my sheets and named my cells and sheets.Section 2: Setting up the zones floor 2In this section I am showing how I created my seating zones and added a logo. |Section 3 Hiding the gridlinesIn this slide, you click on; Tools, Options and then at the bottom take out the tick next to Gridlines, so that they are hidden.Section 4: Setting up Data ValidationYou also have to create a error message, so if somebody types in a letter that is not valid, a message comes up explaining why it isnt working.Section 6: Setting up Conditional FormattingTo Set Up The Conditional Formatting You Have To.Section 7: Setting up the messageboardSection 8: Naming Cells (Naming Zones)Section 9a: Using Counta;Section 9b: Using Countblank;Section 9c: Using CountIF;Section 10: Using If statements to display messages=IF(AR13;20, Seats Ava ilable, (IF(AR13=0, None Available, Limited Seats)))Section 11: Not Needed.Section 12: Using CountIF statements to count the number of Adults, Teenagers ; Children=COUNTIF(ZoneA,C)+COUNTIF(ZoneB,C)Section 13: Linking cells (e.g. linking floor 1 and floor 2)Section 14: Setting up the accounts pageSection 15: Creating a menuSection 16: Creating macros to link the worksheets togetherSection 17: Decorating the booking systemSection 18: Locking Cells

Topic of the week cultural diversity Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Topic of the week cultural diversity - Coursework Example Today, the same scenario exists, only the immigrants of today come somewhat illegally and bring their drug trade, crime, and uneducated ways of life with them. There is current legislation to help reform this situation. Social Forces Influencing Immigration Policies Prior to World War I, there was a huge wave of immigrants arriving from predominantly European countries. This was good, in a way, because it provided the necessary laborers for the factories and various infrastructure projects America had under construction. They were primarily young people; able bodied, with a burning desire to have a bite of the American dream. They weren’t particularly educated, just eager to take their places and create a new life for themselves and their future families. With the development of steamship travel there was a possibility for greater numbers of immigrants to arrive at one time. This brought immigrants primarily to the eastern seacoasts. Urban areas quickly filled up with immigran ts and put undue pressure on currently existing systems; health care, education, and infrastructure.

Discussion Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Discussion - Assignment Example Several advantages are derived from segmentation including isolating specific market segments that are more interested in what a business offers based on demographic. For example, the toy manufacturing company mainly targets children while cosmetic companies targets women. Salespersons would consider multiple demographic characteristics to segment consumer markets according to age, gender, income, and social class. In this way, an organization can bring suitable products or services to the market. People’s thinking and their favorite activities can be used to segment a niche market. Personal attributes linked to personality, attitudes, interest and lifestyles are characteristics that marketers focus on market segment. This segmentation allows organization to cater for personal consumer interests (Croft, 1994). Another way in which segmentation is important is allowing marketers to identify customers’ preferences and target them with similar offers. A business itself could glean potential opportunities in filling the gaps assumed by businesses dealing in similar products or services. In their direct marketing effort, the marketers could acquire lists of customers and send them mails or call them to introduce their services. The more cost effective a business marketing effort can become relies on more segments identified and brought together to reach more expected customers. Proper understanding of client’s needs is key to offering quality products and services. When customers derive ultimate satisfaction, they are likely to entice non-customers who share similar traits and characteristics, which is a relatively low cost marketing strategy (Weinstein, 2004). Both the firm and the client thus benefit through market segmentation. Integrating marketing mix elements in market segmentation comes in scores of ways. Market segmentation and

The After math of WW1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The After math of WW1 - Essay Example In regards to the effect on minorities of Europe after the First World War according to Spielvogel (2011) there are numerous negative consequences for these various groups. After the war a number of empires were broken up, in which various peoples that had cohabited in relative peace now were blaming each other for the economic woes brought on in the post war period. For example, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire there were a significant number of Czechs, Germans, Italians Hungarians, Poles, Serbs, and Slovenes (Amongst others) with this distribution of people there is no question that there would be a significant number of skirmishes between communities dominated by one group against their minorities. As a result of this a number of bilateral minority treaties which corresponded with the League of Nations Mandates. Some examples were the Polish Minority Treaty, or in the Austrian context, the Treaty of St. Germain-en Laye (Australasian Legal Information Institute, 1999). However, it th e negative effects on minorities in post WWI Europe would have been prominently felt in Germany (Especially once the nation began to be dominated by the National Socialists). Once the party came into power a number of sweeping laws came into effect that had sever consequences for minority groups. Some examples would be the Law for the Prevention of Hereditary Diseased Offspring (Facing History Campus, 2011) which forced compulsory sterilization of people suffering from hereditary diseased and later children of mixed parentage. This only represents a fraction of the overall policies that negatively affected minorities during the post-war period. The next issue to be addressed is the penalties that were to be paid by the Germans according to the Treaty of Versailles. According to The Discovery Channel (2011) there were a number of monetary and political implications from the treaty. For example there was significant loss of German territory. Germany was to cede the Alsace-Lorraine reg ion to France, Northern Schleswig was ceded to Denmark, and West Prussia was given to Poland ultimately amounting to approximately 65 thousand square kilometers lost to foreign nations in Europe. There were also significant overseas territories such as Namibia, Cameroon and a number of island territories in Oceania that had to be given up. In terms of military implications from the treaty of Versailles, Germany was forced to keep the size of its armed forces to fewer than 100,000 combatants, serious restrictions were placed on where the nation could build fortifications, air forces were completely forbidden and the navy was restricted to small ships. Moreover, according to the Discovery Channel (2011) one additional consequence was that the Kaiser Wilhelm II was supposed to be tried as a war criminal, but owing to the fact that he had fled to the Netherlands (Who refused to extradite him) no trial ever took place. The final major consequence was the financial implications from the c onflict meant that Germany was ordered to pay war reparations to the allied forces to help offset the costs that the allied nations had incurred as part of the war effort but Germany was also held responsible for the damages to civilian infrastructure as well. Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Germany had not paid off the entirety of their war reparations. However, according to ‘The Local’ (2010) the total cost was 132 billion Reichmarks which is approximately â‚ ¬

Tesco Retail Business Analysis

Tesco Retail Business Analysis Tesco is one of the largest food retailers in the world, operating around 2,318 stores and employing over 326,000 people. As well as operating in the UK, it has stores in the rest of Europe and Asia. It also provides online services through its subsidiary, Tesco.com. The UK is the companys largest market operating under four banners: Extra, Superstore, Metro and Express. Tesco sells approximately 40,000 food products in its superstores, as well as clothing and other non-food lines. The companys own-label products are at three levels, value, normal and finest. Own brand accounts for approximately 50% of sales. As well as convenience produce, many stores have gas stations. The company has become one of Britains largest petrol independent retailers. Other retailing services offered in the UK include Tesco Personal Finance and Tesco.com. Tesco Personal Finance is a joint venture with the Royal Bank of Scotland. It has over 3.4 million customers, and provides various financial products and services. The company has operations in the rest of Europe, including the Republic of Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Turkey. In Asia, the company operates in Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Tescos Republic of Ireland business operates in the region of 82 stores, and around 60 stores in the Hungarian market. Tescos Polish operations include former HIT operated stores. It operates around 66 hypermarkets and supermarkets in this country. In the Czech Republic and Slovakian markets, Tesco operates 22 and 23 hypermarkets respectively. Tesco also operates stores in Asia, including Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. The company operates 64 stores in Thailand and 28 stores in the South Korean Market, while in the Taiwanese and Malaysian markets it has three stores in each nation. HISTORY: Tesco was originated in the markets of Londons East End, where in 1914, war veteran Jack Cohen began to sell groceries. The brand name of Tesco first appeared on packets of tea in the 1920s. Tesco was an amalgamation of the initials of T.E. Stockwell, a partner in the firm of tea suppliers, and the first two letters of Cohen. The first Tesco store was founded in 1929 in Burnt Oak, Edgware. Following the success of self service stores in the US, Mr. Cohen opened the first Tesco self-service store in St. Albans in 1948. Gradually the business expanded from stores to supermarkets, and by the early 1960s, Tesco had become a familiar household name, selling household goods and clothing. In 1974, the company set up petrol stations at its major sites, selling fuel at competitive prices. In 1979, the companys annual turnover reached  £1 billion for the first time. In the 1990s Tesco continued to tighten its grip on the UK with more store openings and an aggressive marketing campaign in an attempt to overtake Sainsburys as the UKs leading grocer. In 1992, the company launched is slogan every little helps, followed by the Tesco Value range in 1993. This was followed by the launch of the Tesco Club card scheme in 1995, helping Tesco to overtake rival Sainsburys as the UKs largest food retailer. 1996 saw the retailer introduce its first 24-hour store while it also expanded overseas opening shops in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. In 1997 Tesco appointed Sir Terry Leahy as chief executive. Tesco.com was launched in 2000 and the supermarket continued to expand its range of products, which now includes clothes, electrical and personal finance products. In 2004 Tesco entered the broadband market. Two years ago, in 2006, the retailer announced ambitious plans to open stores in the US under the name Fresh and Easy and funded by existing resources. Tesco now operates in 13 countries. Today it reported that group sales were  £51.8bn in the year to February 23 2008. Pre-tax profit rose to  £2.8bn. In 2008 the retail giant took its conquest of the UK one step further by buying up some rival Somerfield stores on remote islands in Scotland, giving Tesco a presence in every single postcode area in the country. As it stands there is only one postcode in the UK in Harrogate in North Yorkshire which does not have a Tesco. MAJOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: Tesco is the largest food retailer in UK, operating around 2,318 stores worldwide. Its Products and services include: ENVIORMENTAL ANALYSIS What Is an Environmental Analysis? Environmental analysis is relatively qualitative and involves the identification of and analysis of environmental variables, which affect the business. Definition: Environmental Analysis Environmental analysis for a business looks at the factors inherent in a businesss environment that may have some impact thereof. This type of analysis is relatively qualitative and involves the identifying, scanning, analyzing and forecasting of the environmental variables. Some frameworks of environmental analysis have received large amounts of attention in the world of business management literature, such as SWOT analysis and PESTEL analysis. Why Environmental Analysis? Environmental analysis will help you understand what is happening both inside and outside your organization and to increase the probability that the organizational strategies you develop will appropriately reflect your organizational environment. Three Levels of Organizational Environment In order to perform an environmental analysis, you must thoroughly understand how organizational environments are structured. For purposes of environmental analysis, you can divide the environment of your organization into three distinct levels: internal environment, operating environment, and general environment. COMPETITORS ANALYSIS What Is a Competitors Analysis? Competitive analysis is the practice of analyzing the competitive environment in which your business operates (or wishes to operate), including strengths and weaknesses of the businesses with which you compete, strengths and weaknesses of your own company, demographics and desires of marketplace customers, strategies that can improve your position in the marketplace, impediments that prevent you from entering new markets, and barriers that you can erect to prevent others from eroding your own place in the market. Definition: Competitors Analysis Competitors Analysis also called competitive analysis, the process of identifying the performance and marketing strategy of competitive brands or products in the marketplace. In order to plan an effective marketing strategy, marketers need to know about the competitive environment and to find out all they can about competitors products, prices, communication channels quality, and service so as to determine areas of competitive advantage and disadvantage. Why Competitors Analysis? Some businesses think it is best to get on with their own plans and ignore the competition. Others become obsessed with tracking the actions of competitors (often using underhand or illegal methods). Many businesses are happy simply to track the competition, copying their moves and reacting to changes. Competitor analysis has several important roles in strategic planning: To help management understand their competitive advantages/disadvantages relative to competitors To generate understanding of competitors past, present (and most importantly) future strategies To provide an informed basis to develop strategies to achieve competitive advantage in the future To help forecast the returns that may be made from future investments (e.g. how will competitors respond to a new product or pricing strategy? Questions to ask What questions should be asked when undertaking competitor analysis? The following is a useful list to bear in mind: Who are our competitors? What threats do they pose? What is the profile of our competitors? What are the objectives of our competitors? What strategies are our competitors pursuing and how successful are these strategies? What are the strengths and weaknesses of our competitors? How are our competitors likely to respond to any changes to the way we do business? ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING OPERATION What Is an Analysis OF THE MARKETING OPERATION? Marketing Operations is the function responsible for marketing performance measurement, strategic planning and budgeting, process development, professional development, and marketing systems and data. Definition: Analysis OF THE MARKETING OPERATION The purpose of the Marketing Operations function is both to increase marketing efficiency and to build a foundation for excellence by reinforcing marketing with processes, technology, metrics, and best practices. Marketing operations enables an organization to run the marketing function as a fully accountable business. Marketing operations is about performance, financial management, strategic planning, marketing resource, and skills assessment and management. Why Analysis OF THE MARKETING OPERATION? The marketing operations plan is designed to identify where we are as a district now and where we are going. It is a usable planning document that reviews the past years production and identifies strong points and problem areas. The operations plan is designed to accomplish the following: Stimulates thinking to make better use of available resources Reduces crisis management Assigns responsibilities and schedules work Improves communications within the command Coordinates and unifies efforts Facilitates control, monitoring, and evaluation of results Provides source marketing information for current and future reference Facilitates progressive advancement toward a goal ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING STRATEGIES What Is an ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING STRATEGIES? Marketing strategy is a method of focusing an organizations energies and resources on a course of action which can lead to increased sales and dominance of a targeted market niche. A marketing strategy combines product development, promotion, distribution, pricing, relationship management and other elements; identifies the firms marketing goals, and explains how they will be achieved, ideally within a stated timeframe. Marketing strategy determines the choice of target market segments, positioning, marketing mix, and allocation of resources. It is most effective when it is an integral component of overall firm strategy, defining how the organization will successfully engage customers, prospects, and competitors in the market arena. Definition: ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING STRATEGIES Marketing strategy is a process that can allow an organization to concentrate its limited resources on the greatest opportunities to increase sales and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. A marketing strategy should be centred on the key concept that customer satisfaction is the main goal. Why ANALYSIS OF THE MARKETING STRATEGIES? A marketing strategy can serve as the foundation of a marketing plan. A marketing plan contains a set of specific actions required to successfully implement a marketing strategy. For example: Use a low cost product to attract consumers. Once our organization, via our low cost product, has established a relationship with consumers, our organization will sell additional, higher-margin products and services that enhance the consumers interaction with the low-cost product or service. A strategy consists of a well thought out series of tactics to make a marketing plan more effective. Marketing strategies serve as the fundamental underpinning of marketing plans designed to fill market needs and reach marketing objectives. Plans and objectives are generally tested for measurable results. A marketing strategy often integrates an organizations marketing goals, policies, and action sequences (tactics) into a cohesive whole. Similarly, the various strands of the strategy , which might include advertising, channel marketing, internet marketing, promotion and public relations can be orchestrated. Many companies cascade a strategy throughout an organization, by creating strategy tactics that then become strategy goals for the next level or group. Each one group is expected to take that strategy goal and develop a set of tactics to achieve that goal. This is why it is important to make each strategy goal measurable. Marketing strategies are dynamic and interactive. They are partially planned and partially unplanned. PESTLE ANALYSIS OF TESCO: POLITICAL Following the European Integration and Free Trade Agreements, the market has opened up for British Companies to invest in Eastern Europe. Tesco already has 60 Hypermarket store in Hungary. Lidl is uncompromisingly fighting to maintain its market share with an aggressive pricing strategy. ECONOMIC the Retail sector is fairly recession prawn and also very sensitive to changes in interest rates. Since the events of September 11th the world economies have suffered heavily, stocks plummeted and prices are at all time lows. The world economy is however, now on the up post September 11th. Consumers are optimistic and the retail industry is once again booming. SOCIAL changes in consumer taste and lifestyle represent both opportunities and threats for the industry. Opportunities in terms of new market and consumers, however, there are added threats in terms of alternative established Swedish national retailers (foreign company bias). TECHNICAL Changes in retailing methods as such clothes sales via the Internet is now a common place in retailing. Paperless operation, the management and administration of the company are undertaken on IT systems, which are accessed through secure servers; provide flexibility in the running of the business. As Sweden is at the forefront of technological advancement with national companies like Ericsson, Tesco would enjoy the comprehensive logistics and distribution channels already in place. LEGAL National legislation for health and safety both in terms of consumer rights and also in terms of production of own natural renewable resources for making clothes. ENVIRONMENTAL The renewable source of resources used in production, namely cotton and wool are environmentally friendly. The threats are in terms of legal consequences for livestocks in terms of health and safety. TESCOS STRATEGIC OPTIONS: GENERIC STRATEGIES: Generic Strategies are characterised by an individual retailers response to the industry structure. For a giant retailer, such as Tesco, to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage they should follow either one of three generic strategies, developed by Porter. The first strategy of cost leadership is one in which Tesco can strive to have the lowest costs in the industry and offer its products and services to a broad market at the lowest prices. This strategy will be based on the Tescos ability to control their operating costs so well that they are able to price their products competitively and be able to generate high profit margins, thus having a significant competitive advantage. If Tesco uses another strategy of differentiation, than it has to try to offer services and products with unique features that customers value. Tesco will be able to create brand loyalty for their offerings, and thus, price inelasticity on the part of buyers. Breadth of product offerings, technology, special features, or customer service are popular approaches to differentiation. The last strategy of focus can be either a cost leadership or differentiation strategy aimed toward a narrow, focused market. In pursuing a cost leadership strategy Tesco focuses on the creation of internal efficiencies that will help them withstand external pressures. Therefore, it appears reasonable to think that Tesco will have frequent interactions with the governmental/regulatory and supplier sectors of the environment MARKET OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTATION Strategy frameworks and structuring tools are key to assessing the business situation. Risk and value trade-offs are made explicit, leading to concrete proposals to add value and reduce risk. Explicit plans for action, including effective planning need to be developed by Tesco as the strategic alternative. From the generic strategies discussed above, Tesco is likely to employ two strategic options that are also likely to be primary market objectives of focus on market development though partnerships and diversification through new product development. Market Development Strategy: Joint Developments and Strategic Alliances By entering new markets like China and Japan it can serve as a key growth driver of the companys revenues and expansion strategy. Tescos interests in Japan are likely to continue growing in due course, as Asian markets are showing an increase in consumer spending and increased trend towards retailing. These new markets are also demographically high opportunity markets. In the case of Tesco, one of the suggested strategic options is in international alliances with the local retailers in Asian markets. It will be considered as a method of development and may be formed to exploit current resources and competence. By entering into joint ventures or partnerships, in order to gain a larger economy of scale and larger market presence, Tesco will draw on the extensive local knowledge and operating expertise of the partner whilst adding its own supply chain, product development and stores operations skills to deliver a better shopping experience to customers. However, given the huge scale, potential and complexities of these markets, Tesco may feel that being the first mover is not necessarily an advantage. The success of the partnership will be related to three main success criteria: sustainability, acceptability and feasibility. Sustainability will be concerned with whether a strategy addresses the circumstances in which the company is operating. It is ab out the rationale of this expansion-market development strategy. The acceptability relates to the expected return from the strategy, the level of risk and the likely reaction of stakeholders. Feasibility will be regarded to whether Tesco has the resources and competence to deliver the strategy. CONCLUSION The success of the Tesco shows how far the branding and effective service delivery can come in moving beyond splashing ones logo on a billboard. It had fostered powerful identities by making their retailing concept into a virus and spending it out into the culture via a variety of channels: cultural sponsorship, political controversy, consumer experience and brand extensions. In a rapidly changing business environment with a high competitors pressure Tesco have to adopt new expansion strategies or diversified the existing in order to sustain its leading market position in an already established retailing market. The company must constantly adapt to the fast changing circumstances. Strategy formulation should therefore be regarded as a process of continuous learning, which includes learning about the goals, the effect of possible actions towards these goals and how to implement and execute these actions. The quality of a formulated strategy and the speed of its implementation will therefore directly depend on the quality of Tescos cognitive and behavioural learning processes. In large organizations as Tesco strategy should be analysed and implemented at various levels within the hierarchy. These different levels of strategy should be related and mutually supporting. Tescos strategy at a corporate level defines the businesses in which Tesco will compete, in a way that focuses resources to convert distinctive competence into competitive advantage.

Jilting Of Granny Weatherall Essay -- essays research papers

The Jilting of Granny Weatherall In Katherine Ann Porter’s "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall," there are two prevalant themes. The first is self-pity. The second theme is the acceptance of her immenent demise. Both deal with the way people perceive their deaths and mortality in general. Granny Weatherall’s behavior is Porter’s tool for making these themes visible to the reader. The theme of self-pity is obvious and throughly explored early on. As a young lady, Granny Weatherall left at the alter on her wedding day . As a result, the pathetic woman feels sorry for herself for the rest of her life. She becomes a bitter old woman who is suspicious of everyone around her. This point is shown early in the story when the doctor is speaking to Cornelia in the hallway outside of Granny’s room. Granny exclaims "First off, go away and don’t whisper!" (p.1487) Granny was apparently under the impression that the two of them were speaking ill of her behind her back. Thoughts like these resulted from the trauma she suffered when the man she loved failed to show up on their wedding day. Granny Weatherall’s self-pity gives the reader a negative initial impression of a woman the author eventually expects us to miss. The ailing octogenarian is so incredibly annoying at the beginning of the story that one almost welcomes the idea of her passing. The second theme is the acceptance of immenint death. At first, Granny Weatherall could not accept the fact that ...

Blizzard

The blizzard of 1999 struck a majority of the Midwest along with parts of Canada. The biggest areas affected were Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ontario, Quebec, Wisconsin, and Ohio. There was as much as 2 feet of snow in many areas. The blizzard began on January 2, 1999 through January 4, 1999. Chicago was one of the biggest cities impacted by the storm measuring up to 22 inches of snow and rated the 2nd worst blizzard in Chicago by the National Weather Channel. Record temperatures hit a low of below 20 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 50 degrees in some places. This all resulted in airports and train stations being shut down for hours to days.Northwest airlines were down for numerous hours with people stuck on many flights. Many people had things to say about blizzard conditions. People said they started seeing signs of the blizzard on New Year’s Eve of 1998. Weather temperatures were decreasing and snow was beginning to fall. One witness described the condition like driving throu gh a fog of white snow without being able to see an inch in front of him. A man described being stuck on the flight by northwest airlines as being covered in blankets and other peoples clothing just to keep warm and developed frost bite on his nose and toes.A lady described the condition as the worst she’d seen in her 83 years of life living in Chicago. A mother remembers trying to get her child to a local hospital and developing frost bite and flu like symptoms from the amount of snow accumulation on the ground. Many ask how a blizzard like this form does. The blizzard begins when snow is falling and wind is at least 35mph and it reduces visibility up to ? a mile or less. The wind speed and snow fall are the biggest factor in determining blizzard like conditions. A blizzard like this generally forms when cold polar air comes down and mixes with warm and moist air from lower altitudes.It feeds on the dropping temperatures to occur. The overall impact of a blizzard can cost th e lives of others and millions of dollars. The blizzard of 1999 resulted in 73 deaths. The cost of the blizzard was estimated between 300-400 million dollars. Chicago area was the biggest of the relief fund and over 45 counties qualified for federal aid relief. Northwest airlines paid out 7 million dollars to passengers on the flight to compensate for their hours on the flight from the storm. Overall many people, buildings, and companies were impacted in the blizzard of 1999.

HRM ISSUES IN ISRAEL

HRM ISSUES IN ISRAEL HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENTPRACTICES AND APPROACHES INISRAELThe transition from a Socialist approach to a free market approach and the rise of a new high-tech sector are two remarkable shifts that have occurred in the last two decades in Israel. In the face of these changes, human resource (HR) practitioners are currently expected to assume new roles, adopt different work values, and apply appropriate strategies. HR managers in the low-tech industry still adhere to traditional values and strategies, including a reliance on trade unions and an emphasis on job security and the employees' years of work experience and seniority as key criteria for promotion. In the emerging high-tech sector, HR managers have adopted new values and developed new strategies, including human resource management programs, employee empowerment, higher salaries and better benefits, while placing an emphasis on employees' talents and qualifications.Source: emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm/journals.htm?issn=014377 20volume=22issue=3articleid=848302show=htmlPHPSESSID=qj5kp1babsuadbfaj 47luam41Recent changes in Israeli society and economy and their relation to Organizational PoliticsOver the past three decades, Israel has undergone significant economic, industrial and cultural transformations.A few issues of SHRM's monthly publication HR Maga...These developments have shifted public values considerably and may indirectly affect OP and HR practices. For example, Sagie and Weisberg (2001) maintain that in recent years, Israeli society has gone from being ascetic, collectivistic, closed, and relatively homogeneous, to being more materialistic, individualistic, open, and pluralistic. The impact of this trend on workplace practice is substantial. Instead of considering one's work as an obligation toward one's family or a contribution to society, it is widely perceived today as a means toward individual self-satisfaction and achievement of personal goals (Elizur Sagie, 1999; Harpaz, 1999). Workers n ow place greater emphasis than they did in the past on values such as employee empowerment, participation in decision-making, job enrichment, and career development. In addition, Israeli work culture is...

The Unsinkable Ship that Sank essays

The Unsinkable Ship that Sank essays The Unsinkable Ship That Sank The Titanic was unsinkable... was a thought that ran through many peoples heads as they heard the news that it had been struck with an iceberg. They believed it couldnt sink because the Titanic was so big and strong that nothing in the world could take it down. Whenever people today think of the Titanic, we think of how it sank and how many people lost their lives, which is an example of dramatic irony in itself. We know the devastating end of the Titanic, yet most of the people in this story did not. The R.M.S. Titanic by Hanson W. Baldwin is a story using irony to immensely interest the reader. Dramatic irony occurred vaguely in this account. However, it all depends on how much knowledge you have of the disaster. Already knowing the ship sinks is a dramatic irony that is shown by just reading the title. If you have any further knowledge, you may come upon more dramatic ironies. For example, it is said in the story that the band was playing ragtime during all the drama on the ship. This is a dramatic irony because we know that the ship is going to sink and they should be taking care of themselves before the White Star liner goes down rather than standing there playing ragtime for the people walking by. Another example of dramatic irony in R.M.S. Titanic is the fact that life preservers are tied on; some men smile at the precaution. Most readers know that the life preservers are not a silly precaution but something that might save them from the horrible risks that they will face later on in the night. One paragraph in the account reads But the passengers- most of them- did not know that the Titanic was sinking. The shock of the collision had been so slight that some were not awakened by it; the Titanic was so huge that she must be unsinkable; the night was too calm, too beautiful, to think of death at sea. This clearly describes the ignoranc...

Law for Accounting assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Law for Accounting assignment - Essay Example Formation of Contract is based on firstly, an ‘offer’, which must be followed by an acceptance. Secondly, there must be consideration, intention to create legal relations and sufficient certainty. The main starting point for the conclusion of a contract can be found in Smith v Hughes1, where both a subjective as well as objective test was laid down in order to determine the existence of a contract. The subjective test determines the actual intention of the contracting parties, whereas the objective test ascertains what had been said by the parties, what they did and not and what their actual intention of saying or doing was. As per Professor Atiyah, the issue of offer and acceptance has been determined by courts in two ways, that is ‘reason forwards’ and ‘reason backwards’, the former is where existence of offer and acceptance are determined first and then the conclusion on the dispute is made; the latter is where the courts can reason from the appropriate solution back to the legal concepts of offer and acceptance. An offer has been defined as an expression of willingness by one party known as the offeror, to contract or be bound on stated terms, provided that such terms are accepted by the party to whom the offer is made that is the offeree. The courts have drawn a distinction between an offer and an invitation to treat, as the latter is merely an expression of willingness by one party to enter into negotiations and is not unconditional and there is a lack of intention to create legal relations. The most important and land mark cases which distinguished between an offer and invitation to treat are of Gibson v Manchester City Council2 and Storer v Manchester City Council3. In Gibson, where treasurer had sent a letter to Mr. Gibson, stating that council may be prepared to sell the house, was held to be an invitation to treat, which was further confirmed by the fact that Mr. Gibson was asked to make a formal application to purchase the house. The courts therefore took into account the correspondence between the parties. However, in Storer the courts found that a contract had come into existence as negotiations had moved beyond what had happened in Gibson but an exchange of contracts had not taken place. These cases clearly point out that fact that judges can interpret and differ in the results and so the decision would be said to be based on its own facts. An offer should be differentiated from a mere statement of price that is an enquiry as to the price. (Harvey v. Facey)4 Invitation to treat has been defined as an expression of willingness of a party to enter into negotiations with another with the hope that a contract would be reached at the end of such negotiations. (Fisher v Bell)5. As for advertisements, it has been strictly said to be an invitation to treat (Partridge v Crittenden)6, however, the courts have interpreted advertisements in a manner which allows for certain exceptions to be create d and the main reasons for that has been cited to be intention to be bound and certainty (Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co.)7. Further, the advertisement of an auction sale is generally only an invitation to treat (Harris v Nickerson)8. The opinions as to when an offer is made have differed. In respect of the advertisement that had been placed by Serena in the Sunday Times Style, the first and foremost question is whether such advertisement was an invitation to

Chemical Mind Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chemical Mind - Movie Review Example The axon, which is protected by a myelin sheath, transmits electrical impulses from the soma to other neurons, muscles, and glands. The nervous system depends on neurotransmitters that trigger signal transmission that leads to emotions and motions. Notably, endorphins and norepinephrine control emotions and alertness respectively. Gamma-aminobutyric acid such as serotonin regulates moods, hunger, and sleep. Acetylcholine and dopamine have both exciting and inhibitory properties. The former triggers muscle action and memory while the latter is important in learning, movement, and pleasurable emotions. Excess dopamine has a link to addictive and impulsive behavior, as well as, schizophrenia. Hormones are chemical transmitters in the endocrine system, and exert action on the brain, as well as, other organs. Notably, hormones regulate moods, arousal, circadian rhythm, metabolism, growth, immune system, and sexual reproduction. Unlike the neurotransmitter, the transmission of messages thr ough hormones is slower. The transmission involves secretion of hormones by glands that enter the bloodstream and eventually reach the brain. It is noteworthy that the hormonal effect is long lasting. The most important gland in the brain is the pituitary that release growth hormone and oxytocin, which play a role in social bonding. In summary, the communication between the brain and peripheral organs involves nervous and endocrine systems.Franz Joseph Gall, a German physician, perceived that a link existed between personality and skull morphology.