Business Model of Nike Essay

Introduction Nike Inc. was founded in 1962 by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight as a partnership under the name, Blue Ribbon Sports. Nike’s main products are sports shoes, sportswear, sports goods. In this paper, we will talk about ‘The Challenge of Entrepreneurship’ ‘Competitive Business Model’ ‘Solid Strategic Plan’ ‘Feasibility Analysis’ and ‘Business Plan’. All of these topics are very important when we study the ‘EOE and SBM’, and in each topic have more than one point. We got ‘The Benefits of Entrepreneurship’ ‘Competition’ of ‘The Challenge of Entrepreneurship ’; ‘Core Competencies’ ‘Innovations’ ‘Sustainable Competitive Advantage’ ‘Key Success Factor’ of ‘CBM’; ‘Vision and Mission’ ‘Objectives and Goals’ ‘SWOT’ ‘Competitor’ ‘Business strategy’ of ‘Solid Strategic Plan’; ‘Industry and Market Feasibility’ ‘Product or Service Feasibility’ ‘Financial Feasibility’ and ‘5Forces Model’ of ‘Feasibility Analysis’. Now, we are going to show you the detail. The Challenge of Entrepreneurship The Benefits of Entrepreneurship Surveys show that owners of small businesses believe they work harder, earn more money, and are more satisfied than if they worked for someone else. (Via Dr. Josà © A. Torres Essentials of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Powerpoint) Opportunity to Create Your Own Destiny. Nike, originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS), was founded by University of Oregon track athlete Philip Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman in January 1964. The company initially operated as a distributor for Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger(now ASICS), making most sales at track meets out of Knight’s automobile. According to Otis Davis, a student athlete whom Bower man coached at the University of Oregon, who later went on to win two gold medals at the 1960 Summer Olympics, Bower man made the first pair of Nike shoes for him, contradicting a claim that they were made for Phil Knight. Says Davis, â€Å"I told Tom Brokaw that I was the first. I don’t care what all the billionaires say. Bill Bower man made the first pair of shoes for me. People don’t believe me. In fact, I didn’t like the way they felt on my feet. There was no support and they were too tight. But I saw Bower man make  them from the waffle iron, and they were mine.† (Via HTTP://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc.) Opportunity to Make a Difference. In 1979, Nike Air cushion technology â€Å"Air†, by the inventor of the m. Frank Rudy patented, first applied on the Tailwind running shoes, the gas film in running shoes soles for the protection of the cushion. And Nike has created many print and television advertisements with Wieden+ Kennedy, Wieden+ Kennedy remains Nike’s primary ad agency. It was agency co-founder Dan Wieden who coined the now-famous slogan â€Å"Just Do It† for a 1988 Nike ad campaign, which was chosen by Advertising Age as one of the top five ad slogans of the 20th century and enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution. Walt Stack was featured in Nike’s first â€Å"Just Do It† advertisement, which debuted on July 1, 1988. Wieden credits the inspiration for the slogan to â€Å"Let’s do it†, the last words spoken by Gary Gilmore before he was executed. Throughout the 1980s, Nike expanded its product line to encompass many sports and regions throughout the world.[16] In 1990, Nike moved into its eight-building World Headquarters campus in Beaverton, Oregon. (Via HTTP://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc.) Opportunity to Real Improve profits. In 2005, Nike â€Å"Air Jordan 20 generations†. Nike Free series, also in protecting the foot, like barefoot training is provided for the wearer. Nike as of May 31, total annual profits had 13.7 billion dollars, a 12% growth in the past fiscal year. On December 19, 2013, Nike Inc’s quarterly profit rose as a result of global orders for merchandise for delivery by April increased 13 percent. Future orders of shoes or clothes for delivery between December and April, rose to $10.4 billion. Nike shares (NKE) rose 0.6 percent to $78.75 in extended trading. (Via HTTP://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc.) Opportunity to Contribute to Society and Be Recognized for Your Efforts. NIKE Charity Organization, is a Non-Governmental Organization Headquartered in PORT HARCOURT RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA. It is autonomous and submissive to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They are determined to achieve our dreams and purpose of giving hope to the less privilege and to discharge our duties as members of non-profit organization in accordance to our core  values at National, State and Local Government levels. We are prepared to harness, strengthen and efficiently direct our efforts as much as we are out to join hands with other organizations, and individuals in the fight against the Girl Child Abuse. (Via HTTP://saccharinity.com/about_us.php) Competition NIKE is a consumer products company and the relative popularity of various sports and fitness activities and changing design trends affect the demand for our products. The athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment industry is highly competitive in the United States and on a worldwide basis. We compete internationally with a significant number of athletic and leisure footwear companies, athletic and leisure apparel companies, sports equipment companies, and large companies having diversified lines of athletic and leisure footwear, apparel, and equipment. We also compete with other companies for the production capacity of independent manufacturers that produce our products and for import quota capacity. Our competitors’ product offerings, technologies, marketing expenditures (including expenditures for advertising and endorsements), pricing, costs of production, and customer service are areas of intense competition. This, in addition to rapid changes in technology and consumer preferences in the markets for athletic and leisure footwear and apparel, and athletic equipment, constitute significant risk factors in our operations. If we do not adequately and timely anticipate and respond to our competitors, our costs may increase or the consumer demand for our products may decline significantly. (Via Nike-2013-form-10K) Designing a Competitive Business Model Core Competencies Nike’s quality , technology and brand is famous . Nike’s Air cushion technology is almost using in every basketball shoes ,it’s good for athlete’s foot . the Nike having its own core competence due to organization’s own skills and core competence it has taken a competitive advantage and now is taking a large market share. The core competence of Nike is to specialize in athlete’s foot wear and other sports items. As we know every organization has its R & D department .The R &D department of Nike is playing a vital role because of its innovations in foot wear how the  consumers can feel comfort by wearing their shoes and the quality that’s the most important factor to be given in shoes and they have different categories of shoes which is running shoes nick shocks, Jordan, and other types that is targeting different type of consumers having different perceptions. But most important thing of Nike is they don’t make shoes they design and then give their design to the production companies in Korea and china or Vietnam. Due to which they are more specialized in their innovation and in this way they have made their core competence in making innovative design of athlete shoes. Innovations Nike believe his research and development efforts are a key factor in nis success .NIKE strives to produce products that help to reduce injury , enhance athletic performance and maximize comfort success . (Via Nike 2013 Annual Report) Nike also find many expert in chemistry, exercise physiology, engineering, industrial design, sustainability and related fields ask they advices to fixed Nike’s shoes and clothing . Nike’s air cushion shock absorption technology is famous in the basketball shoes area .Nike’s Brand shoes like LBJ , Kobe and KD has many color and types . Sustainable Competitive Advantage External Analysis : Nike’s brand awareness is famous all over the world ,everyone buying shoes first chose is Nike . Nike sponsored the top athletes and gained valuable coverage. , like Jordan , LeBron James , .From the Nike’s 2013 annual report will find that Nike growing up every years . Nike has many competitors , like Adidas , Puma , Reebok and so on , but Nike’s market share is more than any other . Internal Analysis :As we know ,Nike’s product is quality , Nike’s has own R&D center to creative new technology ,like air cushion shock absorber technology ,environmental technology and so on .It’s basic technology to Nike’s product .Nike always find many creative thing to put in Nike’s product ,like knitting technology in his shoes .That’s awesome . Nike has employed creative marketing and advertisement platforms in building brand awareness and equity of its diversified products. For instance, the company uses Tiger Wood s a skilled golfer to build its line of golf products. It further employs professionals in various departments that include distribution, marketing, finance,  product management, research and design, information technology, and product development so as to sensitize the market of its diversified products Nike also operates an internship program every summer lasting for three months giving students an insight on the diverse brands. Other avenues Nike accomplishes diversification strategy is through mergers, joint ventures, takeovers, and acquisitions. The company also has an R&D unit called the innovation kitchen located in the main parent company in Oregon, to enable it to continue producing unique products such as the cushioning system in shoes. Key Success Factor Jordan Brand : Jordan brand is a big part of the Nike. Jordan’s shoes is popular in all over the world .Jordan shoes occupy the USA 10.8% market share in 2009 .Jordan shoes sales almost two times of Adidas . (Via :http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2009-09-12/16084584096.shtml)So Jordan brand is a key success factors of Nike .) Jordan brand is popular in young people , every young people want a Jordan’s shoes it’s beautiful and comfortable .Especially Jordan’s air cushion technology , using in every basketball shoes . Technology :In addition to Nike’s own staff of specialists in the areas of biomechanics ,chemistry , exercise physiology, engineering , industrial design, sustainability ,and related fields , we also utilize research committees and advisory boards made up of athletes , coaches, trainers , equipment managers , orthopedists , Podiatrists , and other experts who consult with us and review designs , Materials , concepts for product and manufactur ing process improvements and compliance with product safety regulations around the world . (Nike Annual Report ) Advertisement : Advertisements play a significant role in the athletic apparel industry, as consumers rely on catalogues and online advertisements . Nike has many endorsers ,like Jordan ,James ,Durant and so on. These guys bring many customers .Nike has online store ,you can buy many things in this store ,before new product star sales ,you’ll get an e-mail about this product .Nike’s advertisement not only online but also in everywhere .It’s very amazing! Adidas :Adidas is a very famous company ,it’s very popular in world too .But in these years, Adidas’s market in decrease very fast .Because Adidas’s endorsers did not famous than Nike’s endorses .Adidas’s endorses including Yao Ming ,A.I ,D.Rose and so on .But they hurt or retied .Adidas’s  quality and technology is also well known .But Adidas lost because the endorses . New Balance :New Balance (I will call New Balance as NB for short ) is known as a most comfortable shoes .They has many new technology ,such as BIOSHIELD ,ABZORB EX ,REVAX ,ENCAP ,and so on .And NB is popular in young people ,you will find many youn g people wear NB in the street .IT’s a huge market to NB. Building a Solid Strategic Plan It’s a significant part of a successful business. It keeps the company to where they oriented, to meet their mission, goals and objectives, and lead it on the right way. A Strategy plan is to build a competitive advantage. It involved Vision and Mission Statement, also Objectives and Goals, SWOT Analysis, Competition Analysis and Formulate Strategies. We are going to find out what does Nike different from others, why it is unique, and what it has that others don’t. I am about to use Five Forces Model to analyze the competitive advantages for Nike. Vision, Mission, Goal and Objective Nike’s vision is â€Å"To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.† The legendary University of Oregon track and field coach, and Nike co-founder, Bill Bowerman said, â€Å"If you have a body, you are an athlete.†. It’s their mission. (Via http://help-en-us.nike.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/113/p/3897) Their goal is to become and keep the number one sportswear brand all over the world. Their objective is keep down the manufacturing cost and keep their price down then they can occupied the market in some less developed countries who can become the economically dependent in the industry. (Via http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_objectives_of_Nike_company) SWOT Analysis. Strengths As one of the ‘Fortune 500’ company, Nike has numerous strengths. It is positioned at being the number one sportswear brand globally, it Offers their products worldwide, it has a very strong marketing campaign that increases brand familiarity, and it has no factories, it uses OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to get the work done. It has contracts with above 700 shops globally in about 45 different countries. it also has offices in these different countries. It has chains of retail stores like  Niketown so that it can sell there. Its famous ‘Swoosh’ is instantly recognizable, and Phil Knight even has it tattooed on his ankle. Weaknesses The organization does have a diversified range of sports products. However, the income of the business is still heavily dependent upon its share of the footwear market. This may leave it vulnerable if for any reason its market share erodes. The retail sector is very price sensitive. Nike does have its own reta iler in Nike Town. However, most of its income is derived from selling into retailers. Retailers tend to offer a very similar experience to the consumer. Can you tell one sports retailer from another? So margins tend to get squeezed as retailers try to pass some of the low price competition pressure onto Nike. Opportunities Product development offers Nike many opportunities. The brand is fiercely defended by its owners whom truly believe that Nike is not a fashion brand. However, like it or not, consumers that wear Nike product do not always buy it to participate in sport. Some would argue that in youth culture especially, Nike is a fashion brand. This creates its own opportunities, since product could become unfashionable before it wears out i.e. consumers need to replace shoes. There is also the opportunity to develop products such as sport wear, sunglasses and jewelry. Such high value items do tend to have associated with them, high profits. The business could also be developed internationally, building upon its strong global brand recognition. There are many markets that have the disposable income to spend on high value sports goods. For example, emerging markets such as China and India have a new richer generation of consumers. There are also global marketing events that can be utilized to support the brand such as the World Cup (soccer) and The Olympics. Threats Nike is exposed to the international nature of trade. It buys and sells in different currencies and so costs and margins are not stable over long periods of time. Such an exposure could mean that Nike may be manufacturing and/or selling at a loss. This is an issue that faces all global brands. The market for sports shoes and garments is very competitive. The model developed by Phil Knight in his Stamford Business School days (high value branded product manufactured at a low cost) is now commonly used and to an extent is no longer a basis for sustainable competitive advantage. Competitors are developing alternative brands to take away Nike’s market share. As discussed above in weaknesses, the retail sector is becoming price competitive. This  ultimately means that consumers are shopping around for a better deal. So if one store charges a price for a pair of sports shoes, the consumer could go to the store along the street to compare prices for the exactly the same item, and buy the cheaper of the two. Such consumer price sensitivity is a potential external threat to Nike. (Via Nike 2013 Annual Report, http://www.quality-assurance-solutions.com/swot-analysis-nike.html, http://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/account-management-provides-special-treatment-in-marketing-administration-marketing-essay.php http://www.marketingteacher.com/swot/nike-swot.html) Analyze the Competition. Nike has some competitive Direct competitors- Adidas, New Balance and Li Ning. They offer the product that Nike does, and all of these companies have different key success factors. Adidas, is the most competitor od Nike with do doubt, they compete with Nike for No.1 sportswear branding for over 40 years But in these years, Adidas’s market in decrease very fast .Because Adidas’s endorsers did not famous than Nike’s endorses .Adidas’s endorses including Yao Ming ,A.I ,Derrick Rose and so on .But they hurt or retied .Adidas’s quality and technology is also well known .But Adidas lost because the endorses; New Balance is known as a most comfortable shoes .They has many new technology ,such as BIOSHIELD ,ABZORB EX ,REVAX ,ENCAP ,and so on .And New Balance is popular in young people ,you will find many young people wear New Balance in the street . IT’s a huge market to New Balance; Some Significant competitors like Under Armour and Skechers, they offer similar products like apparel or footwear, they compete with Nike in some fields. Some Indirect competitors like The North Face or Columbia, both of them are the most of the famous outdoor brand, they offer windbreaker or accessories that Nike does. They have impacts to Nike in some mutual markets. Conclusion: Nike does perfectly in quality and endorsement, they almost signed all significant players and teams all over the world. Adidas has no most strength but all factors are averaged. New Balance does best in technology, it can makes sneakers more comfortable. (New Balance has never signed any endorsers since it founded, so its score is little bit lower) Cost leadership. Nike uses Business Simulation Strategy. It has no factories, it uses OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to get the work done, and it doesn’t has stores mostly. It offers products to Franchised retailers, and let them sell the products. It saved money from factories and rent, so its overhead is low. No shop, no labors,. quantity of materials, low too. If a supplier increases costs, Nike can easily change a new one with lower cost, Nike can do this because of its ability. Nike definitely has low cost access to factors of production. The enormity of Nike in respect to their suppliers gives them a huge advantage in production negotiations. Due to their high volumes for products, the cut-throat low cost nature of selecting a manufacturer, and coupled with the fact that Nike’s suppliers depend so heavily on them for their own success that they have little to no bargaining room toward raising prices, allows Nike to continuously enjoy low costs of production. Nike’s hardware and software technology implementations of using the not only using the best materials but creating them in a vertical fashion and housing an innovation culture from the top down, allow Nike a first move advantage into cost savings. However most of these advances only bring definite savings for a short time due to competitive parity within the industry, their creative nature definitely does benefit over the long run. Nike reduced costs by cutting some of its endorsements. Company research suggested the endorsement by the Italian soccer team, was not achieving the desired result. Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and a few other endorsers were retained while some other like Italian soccer team, were eliminated, to saving over $100 million. Nike does incredible in cost control. (Nike 2013 Annual Report) Differentiation. Differentiation strategy by Nike is used to gain market share advantage in the broad foot ware market. Aside from foot wear, the company boasts of products such as clothing, equipment, and even accessories. The strategy is achieved by producing consumer goods and services that customers perceive to be of high quality or have added unique features. This has been achieved by the company innovating state of the art athletic shoes that are publicized through dramatic â€Å"guerrilla† marketing. Marketing of the different products is designed to coerce customers that Nike’s shoes are not only superior but also a high fashion statement which is a necessary part of a lifestyle based  on athletic or sporting interests. The company has also differentiated itself by using highflyers that are best used in distinguishing sporting disciplines hence enabling the company reach its target market, for instance, the Brazilian national soccer team or even Michael Jordan. Also, Nike is different from others in their Ads. They show not only their technology but also leading endorsers like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Cristiano Ronaldo in their Ads of new products. At the same time, their Ads are also very creative and with imagination, make people who watched them unforgettable. (Via Nike 2013 Annual Report) Focus.

Theseus and Perseus

In the books of Theseus and Perseus details summary of Theseus volunteer to go to Crete to be sacrificed to the Minotaur. He promised his dad that he would be on white sails not black sails. But he rides on the black sails so his father Perseus was the son of Danae and Zeus. Perseus went to see Medusa. to cut her head off. He came back with Medusa's head, he used Medusa's head to turned Phineus into stones. Theseus and Perseus are courageous and proud, yet it is there impulsive actions lead them into bad decisions that cause suffering Theseus showed courage when he offered to be one of the victims. He fought the Minotaur with his bare hands.He also showed courage in everything he excelled in; he would offer to fight against a villain if he had to. Perseus is courageous because he is not afraid to fight Medusa. Truly it is a scary and dangerous thing to fght a monster. Perseus displays his bravery when he was willing to fght the Gorgon. But little does Perseus know, Medusa Is harder t o kill than he thought. When Theseus slays the Minotaur, he feels proud, because no one else has been able to kill it, which also made him feel powerful. Theseus wants to show off that he can be proud to kill the Minotaur. And prove It to everyone that he can do it without being frightened.Perseus feels proud when he cuts off the head of the Gorgon, Medusa. When he went to the palace he showed the evil king, Polydectes, the head of Medusa, so he turns to stone. Perseus was able to take his mom back. Theseus Is Impulsive because he salsl â€Å"I'll kill Minotaur†. When he killed the Minotaur they arrived on the Island of Naxos. In the morning he abandoned Ariadne the Island of Naxos. Theseus forgot he Is riding on black sails. Theseus dad commits suicide because Theseus forgot to ride on the white sails. HIS dad thinks Theseus Is dead. Perseus Is Impulsive because he wants to prove It to Polydectes to bring the Medusa's head.He came back with Medusa's head and shows It to Poly dectes. Polydectes turned Into stone. So It's clear that Theseus and Perseus Impulsive actions did lead them Into bad decisions that caused suffering. But they both are courage and proud of them what they did. heroes- Theseus and Perseus By fetheringtonl 9 he would offer to fght against a villain if he had to. Perseus is courageous because he is not afraid to fght Medusa. Truly it is a scary and dangerous thing to fight a little does Perseus know, Medusa is harder to kill than he thought. be proud to kill the Minotaur. And prove it to everyone that he can do it withoutTheseus is impulsive because he saisl â€Å"I'll kill Minotaur†. When he killed the Minotaur they arrived on the island of Naxos. In the morning he abandoned Ariadne the island of Naxos. Theseus forgot he is riding on black sails. Theseus dad commits suicide because Theseus forgot to ride on the white sails. His dad thinks Theseus is dead. Perseus is impulsive because he wants to prove it to Polydectes to bring the Medusa's head. He came back with Medusa's head and shows it to Polydectes. Polydectes turned into stone. So it's clear that Theseus and Perseus impulsive actions did lead them into bad

Critically analyse the assertion that the benefits of globalization Essay

Critically analyse the assertion that the benefits of globalization have been unequal and have led to widening global inequality - Essay Example These are just a few of the advantages that human societies and business activities enjoy from globalisation and its related activities. Globalisation is a term used to describe various macro-economic regulations and policies that influence various cross-border transactions and other systems that lead to increased interdependence in the citizens of many countries globally (McGregor 2008, 13). It is believed that globalisation activities in the world started in the 1990s. However, it is important to understand that trends in globalisation had began a few years before the 1990s (Ghauri & Powell, 2008, 54). Globalisation is said to have led to increased quality, efficiency and effectiveness in the quality of goods and services that were being produced by countries. Many companies began to improve in the supply management and distribution of goods and services, something that led to their growth and development, with expansions to other regions and countries. Globalization played a big role in economic integration, something that led to the economic growth and development in these countries. Currently, many countries are involved in various integration something that some people say has led to increased economic inequalities in different economies. This paper examines the effects of globalization and perceived inequalities that have results from it in various countries. The process of economic integration describes the rising economic integration as well as the interdependence witnesses in the national, regional and the local economies in many parts of the world. This process is often experienced in the intensification of the cross-border movements and transfers of products and services, capital and other important technologies used in economic activities. In as much as globalisation is described as a set of various processes that happen in the economic networks, cultural interchange as well as the in political circles, the rapidly

Ethical Steps in Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical Steps in Decision Making - Essay Example As a psychiatric nurse, I work in the therapy section and yesterday while on duty, I was faced with a dilemma. I received young male patient, who had on several occasions attempted suicide. On checking his report, there was a record of symptoms pointing to severe depression. I thus consulted with the mental health nurse, who affirmed that indeed the patient had shown signs of depression during examination, moreover that the psychotherapist in charge was aware of the mild symptoms, but had advised against any further follow-up on the patient, who, he considered was experiencing a post-traumatic stress disorder. Confronted with a dilemma, I utilized the five steps involved in the ethical decision making process, so as to come up with a solution. The first step I took, as set forth by Aiken (104) was to analyze the data I had, in order to come up with relevant information concerning the situation. Thus, after an interpretation of the data I had, I noticed that the patient had displayed several suicidal attempts in the past single month. I therefore concluded that, the physician had let the symptom pass. I thus went on to take the second step, which involves spelling out the dilemma at hand, as suggested by Aiken (104). I was torn between administering therapeutic treatment meant for depressed patients in order to prevent possible harm after discharge, or discharge the patient after slight recovery, as ordered by the doctor, since the mild symptoms had been treated. I was thus left with the option of moving on to the third step. This involved the identification of all the causes of action that can be taken, without emphasizing on the possible results (Aiken 104). I thus followed my judgment, in line with the best interest of the patient. Considering that the psychotherapist had chosen not to order a therapy meant for depressive patients, I went to the chief physician and made known my findings. Thereafter, I examined the merits and demerits that

Compare various types of information systems Assignment

Compare various types of information systems - Assignment Example A connected term is call centre, a place that patrons call to place orders, amid many other things. The World Wide Web provides the likelihood of a new, fairly cheap, and effectively average user interface to assist desks and also to call centers and seems to be influencing further computerization in help desk service (Bruton, 2002). According Bruton (2002) an average help desk provides a single point of contact for users to get help. Usually, the help desk deals with requests by utilizing help desk software, or issues tracking system, which facilitates the help desk operators to keep track of the user requests utilizing identifier, easily find solutions to frequent questions, prioritize cases, and so forth. Bigger help desks make use of distinct levels to manage distinct types of requests. The first-level is normally established for answering likely the most frequent questions, or for providing answers that traditionally belong in a knowledgebase or FAQ. There are various desktop mo dels to select from, but it quite difficult to be in a position where External IT cannot offer you with the level of support you require. Full Business FlexSupport This the Support plan which a couple of years ago increased the service bar in the IT outsourcing industry. Full Business FlexSupport offers any business the alternative of positing a Held Desk ticket online. On those rare situations when the problem needs a intense level of professionalism the ticket can escalated to LevelTwo (Bruton, 2002). Escalation FlexSupport This is the plan for organizations that have an in-built Help Desk or an IT Director who can be on instant call. If the enterprise selects this option the IT technician will be offered a flexibility of handling off the baton and having External IT support of the organization at the time when the internal Help Desk is closed. Support in the cloud is not the same as typical IT support. It is extremely skilled and hugely dedicated area. For this rationale, the Sup port people at External IT are well all experienced. On the other hand, Automatic Ticket Routing is as well an alternative if the company has an in-built Help Desk (External IT, n.d.). Dedicated FlexSupport This hailed as one of the highest level of service. The organization will have a full-time Support-Engineer, or Engineers committed to the company’s detailed requirements. This service includes a direct dial alternative to an engineer. Limited FlexSupport This is the customer support for email and web applications only. The company will usually have the help with its portal Desktop, local Outlook configuring, Office Web Apps, amid other applications. Vendor-Identifying Vendor Options The DHCP plan for IPv4, RFC 2131, explains options that permit the end user to show its vendor variety, and the DHCP customer plus server to replace vendor-detailed data. Even though there lacks ban against sharing manifold replicas of these options in one packet, doing so would usher in vague ness of interpretation, especially if passing vendor detailed data for manifold functions. The vendor established by option 60 describes the version of option 43 that itself conveys no vendor identifier. In addition, the concatenation of manifold cases of the same option, needs by RFC 2131 and detailed by RFC [4], suggests that manifold duplicates of options 60 or 43 would not stay independent (Nydick & Liberatore, 2009). In some situations,

Local Politician Event in Ireland Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Local Politician Event in Ireland - Assignment Example In here, the work starts in planning, staffing, delegating, handling of resources and finances, monitoring the flow of the plan, execution of plan, implementation and post production endeavors. In other words, in handling a certain event one has to understand the 3 P's of it- The Pre Production, Production and the post production. There are several varieties of even and production with different purposes. In dealing with such things, one has to understand the nature of the event and intended outcome. This paper will deal on handling even wherein there is a fundraising event for a local politician running for election. This paper will delve on things and key aspects with regards in realizing the success of an event in this kind of nature and how areas of concern are addressed in order to fulfill the objective of the event. In order to determine the necessary steps in handling events, the aid of relevant literature is crucial in determining the needed tasks and process in order to fulfill the requisites needed by a certain event. Special events magazine have described and defined common problems encircling issues with regards to event handling. "OFTEN, EVENT planners have a fairly consistent set of questions on their mind: I have a limited budget, yet I need AV - how do I set priorities in my budget If I want lighting, sound, video, staging and decor, should I just give each part of the production a smaller piece to make sure I get some of everything (Poulos 2005)" Dealing with events and production requires knowledge, expertise and views of critics explaining the tasks and essence of handling events and productions. Also, locolobo events (2007) further stated that "Event planning can come from anywhere; parties you've attended, magazines and library resources or more conveniently, the internet. Before you initiate the research process, create a task list. Do this by visualizing your definition of a flawless event, then note all the intricate details you need to create that winning outcome. Your list should contain all the elements needed for seamless event production. Venue selection, catering, tent or flatware rentals, entertainment, invitations and favors are just a snippet of the planning and preparation that goes into event production. The responsibility can be overwhelming for many people, especially for those trying to juggle event production with their every day responsibilities. With the right event planning tips, throwing a soiree do esn't have to be taxing." Local politician event in Ireland (Chinese National Day Ball Dublin) 3 Proposal to the client Before entering a discussion to the client regarding budget and related concerns with regards to event that is to be handled, one has to find and research possible information regarding the client and the event that he wanted to realize. Upon knowing this information, the client would know that you are interested in doing business with him and this thing would further strengthen the chance in obtaining the deal with him. In relation to this, the event organizer must also know if the client is new in encountering the event or has previous experiences which would be a basis in giving your proposal to him. The proposal must contain the

Researched Literary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Researched Literary Analysis - Essay Example The traditional prim pram conventions like pristine landscapes, innocent boys, loving parents, perfect mentors, and the security provided by an impeccable moral order had degenerated to the plight of some cheap and outdated joke. In contrast, the Bank’s narrative is set in a comparatively macabre ambience where the teenagers play with guns and marijuana, little girls are exposed to sexual abuse and pornography, death and violence always lurk in the background and everything ultimately seems to come down to sex and money. ‘Rule of the Bone’ appears to be a bloody spoof on the traditional notion of American Dream where the world order is defined by a burgeoning middle class whose popular idea of success hovers around cars, dish washers and the Sunday mass. Chappie, the protagonist in ‘Rule of the Bone’, if one could call him a protagonist in the true sense of the word fits nowhere in this cozy world order. Infact the only way he manages to infiltrate this sophisticated world is by breaking into a rich family’s summer house, along with his friend Russ. However, the accompanying filth and grime that seems to be his fate soon come to settle around him even in such polished quarters. Banks nowhere in his novel makes a conscious or deliberate attempt to make his characters likeable or tries to coax out the unguarded sympathy of his readers for his characters (Kakutani 2). The escapades of a teenager, who has problems with drugs, who puts in with violent bikers who love to b ludgeon homosexuals, who breaks trigger happy during fits of rage and frustration will certainly not make a good bed time story. Yet, the irony is that Banks never intends his book to be just another bed time story. On the contrary, ‘Rule of the Bone’ is a work of art that jolts the consciousness of its readers out of their cherished notions of what is acceptable

Managing Human Resources-Phase 2 DB2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Managing Human Resources-Phase 2 DB2 - Essay Example ncluding NL&C, offer matching contributions up to a certain percentage of an employee’s pay, capped at a certain amount of contribution per employee per month. (AllFinancialMatters, 2006) 2. The 401k contribution is a â€Å"defined contribution plan,† which means that the amount put in is set by the employee, and the amount received upon retirement depends upon the performance of his/her investments during the intervening period. 3. The 401k is exempt from current income taxes, state and federal. This means that the amount contributed can be deducted from the employees’ current net income when calculating for tax purposes (Block, 2007). The primary reasons why companies want to implement 401k plans are twofold: (1) to encourage employees to provide for their retirement, particularly given the likelihood that social security payments will not cover their overall costs when they retire, and (2) to help make the employee more loyal, and more likely to stay and perform for, the company which grants and administers the 401k. Unfortunately, most companies do a poor job of explaining the 401k, and as a result have low participation rates. My plan is to appeal particularly to the younger employees (which are most of those joining NL&C), who can benefit most from a long-term savings plan. Since young people think less about their retirement, I want to point out the other advantages: c. By deducting their 401k plans from their weekly wages, they are less likely to spend the money, because it never enters their bank account. This â€Å"forced† savings effect is less painful than trying to put aside money. b. I will also make an assumption that they borrow against their 401k to buy a house, and assume a 5% increase in house value per year, leveraged at 80%, which will double their equity in less than 10 years. c. Finally, I will demonstrate that everyone in the room can be a millionaire on a ‘middle class’ salary, and give them the opportunity to dream about

The structure (the form) of a family changed over time and The purpose Essay

The structure (the form) of a family changed over time and The purpose (the function) of a family changed over time - Essay Example Improved health standards that have reduced mortality rates have changed the families’ perspective of having many children. Over time, the family has become more complex because of the increased rates of cohabitation, reconstituted families, divorce and births to unmarried mothers. The main reason for the breakdowns and complex networks is the increased need for romanticism surrounding marriage (Drucker 12). The purpose of a family has also changed over time. Research shows that only sixty percent of American families can fulfil their purposes. These failures have been due to the rise in cases of divorce, need for self-reliance in women, immoral behaviors in children among others. Today, some parents even disown their children due to conflicts arising between them. Technological advancements such as test-tube babies have destroyed the role of procreation in a family (Magnusson 3). The need for independence in women has made them concentrate in their careers. The reduced parental guidance from parents has led to the deterioration of moral values in

Holden Australia Essay Example for Free

Holden Australia Essay 1. Management Decision Problem 1.1 Background Holden is an Australian company which is manufacturing and supply of cars, engines and auto parts. With the vehicle market in good times, the sales of Holden continued to drop even though it received a massive financial supplement of approximately $150 million a year from the Australian government (Coorey, 2013). Moreover, Martin (2013) states that the VF model as a new product cannot alleviate the crisis in the market and influence Holden’s decline 12.5% in 2012 (Appendix 1). In 2013, Holden manufacturing plants suddenly announced that it will cease its production line in Australia in 2017. The main reason is that Holden doesnt have a definite understanding of the consumer preferences and purchase intentions. These problems resulted in the company facing difficulty with their business operation. 1.2 Decision Makers Key Goal Holden should improve their innovation of products to increase their sales volume. 1.3 Management Decision Problem Should Holden is new product be changed? 1.4 Rationale Research Problem The new product of Holden has problems that are different from the real demand of the customer. Successful industrial innovation has three critical factors which are technology push, demand pull, and integrated model (Rothwell, 1992, p. 221).Holdens innovation developments not only dominate product line but also influence on product sale result. When Holden develops new products, it is not based on the customer feedback instead according to the companys product categories and competitors developed product. It leads to setting a vague plan to develop products. As a consequence, some customers may not purchase the innovation vehicle because the products are not needed. 2. Marketing Research Problem 2.1 Marketing Research Problem statement To determine consumer preferences and purchase intentions for the proposed. 2.2 Rationale Research Problem According to Holden Australia, the outlook of vehicles market is positive, but its market share is in decline, some scholars think that Holden is  inability to build quality in innovation may be the main problem that will influence its market share and change consumer purchase behavior. Therefore, Holden should maintain its competitive advantage through decreasing product life cycles, building quality in innovation and investigating perceptions held by Australia customers. Additionally, Holden can identify different variables which may change consumer decision making based on the MRP in order to increase market share and develop new product. 3. Research Objective Problem 3.1 Research objective one To rank how Holden Australia introduces new attractive offers for the customers to increase the sales of the product. (RO1) 3.2 Research objective two To assess Holden Australias new product to satisfy the different customers’ needs. (RO2) 3.3 Research objective three To identify Holden Australia needs to supply target group planning to vehicle market. (RO3) 4. Repertory Test The repertory test is one of the research objectives. It is through the structured qualitative interview (normally one-on-one) that is used to identify the interviewees opinion to the test topic and it is trustworthy. Repertory test also known as Kelly’s Triads or Triad sorts (Wilson, A. M., 2006). In todays society, repertory test analysis is one of the popular techniques for estimating research targets and it is a common method to generate constructs through some targets and participants (Pike, 2005). Furthermore, the repertory test has other benefits which are help researchers to understand the opinion of the respondents more conveniently and effectively and distinguished the detail could be more identify etc.. However, the repertory test also has a couple of disadvantages including taking more time for analysis and lack of standard of test. In this case, Repertory test can be used in research to identify how Holden attracts customers to purchase. There are two key points t o help Holden attract clients. First of all, the repertory test will be used on the Ro1. The company can use this test to understand the clients psychological state. According to appendix 2, car customers ranking shows Holdens score is -3%. In contrast, Japanese cars with a positive score come out top. Holden really  need to understand the Australian consumer buying behavior or psychological motivations, and which marketing method is the most attractive to Australian consumer. Secondly, it can also use this test on the Ro2. The aim of RO2 is to satisfy the customer different needs, so the test can be used to identify what the customers’ real demand about the existing car or new product is. For example, quality and safety are important factors for Australia consumers buying a new car (Appendix 3). Therefore, Holden can analyze the competitive strengths and weaknesses, and then improve their products. This will improve their sale status. 5. Focus Group The focus group is the mostly widely used in qualitative tools. A focus group discussion is to collect data through a group (8 to 10 participants) interaction and a moderator. The main objective of a focus group is to get in depth answers of consumers, and understand consumer attitudes and behavior on its products (Warren, C. A. B., Karner, T. X., 2010). The group participants are selected carefully and discussions based on their experiences and views. In addition, researchers or clients can use one –way mirrors to observe participants’ opinions and behaviors. Moreover, focus groups can be an early stage to reduce problem as a filter. The advantages of focus groups are freedom, comfortable, high involvement, and commonality experience. For example, if participants have similar experiences and attitudes as others, they will have higher willingness to discuss the topic with other group members. Therefore, researchers not only can involve participants efficiently, but als o can stimulate discussion of the topic. However, there still are some disadvantages of focus groups, including misuse, misjudge, moderation, messy and misrepresentation. For example, when participants have difficulties in presenting their opinions it will cause the discussion to fail. In this case, the focus groups can be used for research objective three. Researchers of Holden Australia should make up a target group in order to investigate consumer attitudes and behaviors. The main goal is to increase Holden’s market share through consumer trends. There are three main topics to increase market share and maintain competitive advantages. Firstly, Holden should build quality in its new product in order to satisfy consumer demands. For example, safety is very  important for majority consumer (Appendix 3). The second topic is to focus on price, when consumers who focus on cost will change their purchase behavior (Ahmed, M., Zaman, F. Irfan ,M. S., 2013). For example, Holden can provide promotional program to attract consumers. The last one is that Holden’ sales services are a very important stage to increasing costumer’s willingnes s to purchase again. Reference Colquhoun, S. Blackbur, B. (2010, August 3). Ford, Holden fail satisfaction survey. Drive. Retrieved from http://www.drive.com.au/motor-news/ford-holden-fail-satisfaction-survey-20100803-114hk.html Coorey, P. (2013, December 11). Government’s treatment of Holden was bizarre. Financial Review. Retrieved from http://www.afr.com/p/national/government_treatment_of_holden_was_QwElLu2O3lse6cNIradzzI Martin, T. (2013, November 8). Market Insight: Holden hopes rise with VF sales. Market Insight company news. Retrieved from http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/34C9E821132DC201CA257C1D0005E329#!prettyPhoto Masoom Ahmed, Fazluz Zaman, Munshi Shamsuzzaman Irfan. (2013). Consumers brand choice behavior for car. Kuwait Chapter of the Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 2(5), 198 Pike, S. (2005). The use of repertory grid analysis and importance-performance analysis to identify determinant attributes of universities. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 14( 2), 1-18. Rothwell, R. (1992). Successful industrial innovation: Critical factors for the 1990s. RD Management, 22(3), 221-240. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9310.1992.tb00812.x Warren, C. A. B., Karner, T. X. (2010). Discovering qualitative methods: Field research, interviews, and analysis. New York: Oxford University Press. Wilson, A. M. (2006). Marketing research: An integrated approach. New York: Prentice Hall/Financial Times.

Isolation And Identification Of Enterococcus Faecium Biology Essay

Isolation And Identification Of Enterococcus Faecium Biology Essay Enterococci are widely distributed in the environment; within the human body, they are normal commensals of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and vagina. Enterococcus faecium is a gram-positive bacterium group D, alpha hemolitic or nonhemolitic in the genus Enterococcus (Chingwaru W., 2003). It can be a commensal (non-harmful coexisting organism), in the human intestine, but it may also be a pathogen causing diseases like neonatal meningitis. Ordinary lactobacillus medium including: MRS medium, Luria-Bertani (LB) medium, high-sterilized stored at 4 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ refrigerator spare. In the sterile console, the yogurt containing lactic acid bacteria was diluted with sterile saline to a serial dilution (10-3,10-4,10-5) of 50ÃŽÂ ¼l suspension and coated them on the plate containing MRS choice medium and marked. The plate was placed at 37à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ warm box without oxygen for 36 ~ 48 hours. Single colony was picked and repeatedly crossed to obtain the pure strains. Bacterial identification methods include the common (tradition) classified identification, numerical value identification and automation identificationà £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡The common (tradition) classified identification needed to detect many items. It is so tedious. But numerical value identification is according to the identification target. It uses the test card. The result is expressed by the way of figure and compared with the data of database to get an identification result. Automation identification can reach whole procedure automation in the step of inoculation, cultivation, reading and report. It can supply a powerful instrument in rapid clinical microorganism diagnosis. No matter what kind of identification methods, it all needs to identify bacteria according to the morphology, physiological characteristics and biochemical characteristics. Enterococcus faecium is a kind of oval cell. Its diameter is 0.5 ~ 1.0 ÃŽÂ ¼m. It can show a short-chain arrangement frequently in pairs or in liquid medium. It has slight movement. In the blood plate it can form a milky white plate or white, marginal integrity, central protuberance, large and smooth colony. Its diameter is 1-2mm, and has rare colors, mostly around the colonies without hemolysis. After the Gram stain, bacteria shows purple. It is Gram-positive coccobacteria. The chemistry character of Enterococcus faecium is contact-negative, and it can grow in 6.5% broth, bile Esculin agar plate and 0.1 ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ¦methylene bue. It also can grow in 10à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ or 45à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™, pH 9.6 broth medium, and can tolerate 65à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ 30min condition. It can ferment lactose, sorbitol and mannitol and can use arginine, but cant use ferment arabinose. 2.3.2 Biochemical identification Identification by lactic acid bacteria and biochemical identification tests, respectively taking the exercise-induced, contiguity enzyme, anaerobic growth, l0à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ and 45à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™, 60à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ 30 min, 6.5 ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ¦NaCl salt-tolerant growth, pH 9.6 alkaline environment growth, methyl red, benzopyrrole, sugar alcohol acid fermentation (glucose, galactose, maltose, lactose, raffinose, manicol and so on). Comparing the experiment result with Bergers Manual of Determinative Bacteriology (the ninth edition) to determine comprehensively. 2.3.3 The growth curve of Enterococcus faecium The growth of bacteria includes increasing volume, quantity and the improvement of metabolic function. Different bacteria have their own different growth pattern. Under the unchanged culture conditions, calculate the number of bacteria oriented to time, time as abscissa, the number of bacteria as vertical axis we can get a curveà £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡The growth curve includes the stagnation period, logarithmic phase, stationary phase and decline phase. The length of each period is different according to the medium composition and culture conditions due to bacterias own characteristics. In a comparative study of different bacteria, growth curve can help to choose bacterium with the same growth stat and this can make a reliable experiment result. Detect the bacteria-growth curve mainly use two methods, such as turbidity method and viable organism dilution count. Turbidity method is to place the different stage and different concentration bacterial culture to the spectrophotometer, and count the bacteria by turbidity method. We can use the turbidity to represent the yield of bacterium and measure total dacterial count (including the dead bacterium). It is simple, facility comparing with the turbidity method. But it only can indicate the bacterial relative growth information. Viable organism dilution method of counting is to dilute the bacterial liquid to different dilution of 10-1à £Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ 10-2 and so on. Every dilution can be cultured in the plate and colony is counted with colony events-per-unit-time meter. The total quantity of viable organism by using this method can represent the true growth information of bacterium. 3 Application of Enterococcus faecium 3.1 Supplementation of dood with enterococcus faecium (SF68) stimulates immune functions The intestinal microflora play a crucial role in host defense as demonstrated by their ability to modulate both innate and acquired immunity at the local as well as systemic levels. Due to these immunological properties, specific strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB),3 defined as probiotics, have raised considerable interest in recent years. When ingested as a feed supplement in sufficient numbers, probiotics are live microorganisms that beneficially affect the gastrointestinal balance, going far beyond the conventional nutritional effect. The mechanisms underlying the immune modulating properties of probiotics are not fully understood. However, they may be due indirectly to the ability of probiotics to balance the intestinal microflora and/or be a consequence of a direct adjuvant effect on the production of immune factors, such as cytokines. In fact, several strains of LAB were shown to enhance nonspecific immunity in vitro as well as in vivo, including the release of tumor necrosis factor-ÃŽÂ ± and interleukin 6 (4), increased phagocytosis in mice and humans (Perdigon, G. et al, 1988) (Schiffrin, E. J. et al, 1995) and stimulated natural killer cell activity (Matsuzaki, T., 1998, aller, D. et al, 2000). Their ability to specifically modulate the hosts immune responses to pathogens was also demonstrated (Meydani, S. N. Ha, W. K. , 2000). An increase in rotavirus-specific antibodies was detected in children with acute rotavirus diarrhea who received Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Kaila, M. et al, 1992). Moreover, it was shown that administration of L. johnsonii to human volunteers boosted the specific immunoglobulin IgA response to the Salmonella typhi vaccine Ty21a (Link-Amster, H. et al, 1994). 3.2 Application in treatment Enterococcus fececium can ferment a variety of sugar, and product acid. It has high chemical patience, and is widely distributed in nature, but also human and animal gut microbial. It has highly detected in animal feces (Archimbaud, C. et al., 2003). Ultilizing non-toxic, facultative anaerobic Enterococcus, in conjunction with other animal probiotics (Animal Microecologicai Agent, AMEA) can prevent and treat many digestive tract diseases of animals by replaceing antibiotics. Intestinal flora can be regarded as a normal human body organs, these normal floras directly involved in the activities of the host metabolism is normal physiological activities of the host indispensable component (Baldassarri, L. et al., 2001). Endogenous Enterococcus as one of the normal floras of the human body, mainly the Ministry of colonization in the ileum and colon, and some strains may be directly involved in the metabolism of the host material. Enterococcus lactic acid feces as intestinal flora, with a bio-barrier function, from healthy people or animals that have separate physiological functions of bacteria to re-giving taking it right people are harmless and safe, but such micro-organisms in the body and settled and reproduction Ecology is a very complex issue. Made viable by the agent is likely to play a biological activity within a certain range, or part of participation in host metabolic activity, resulting in a certain physiological role and therefore have the disease , adjusting the significance of the ecological balance (Chow, J. W. et al., 1993). Intestinal flora can be regarded as normal human body organs. These normal floras directly involved in the activities of the host metabolism, and are normal physiological activities of the host indispensable component. Endogenous Enterococcus as one of the normal floras in human body, mainly permanent plant in the ileum and colon, and some strains may be directly involved in the metabolism of the host material. Enterococcus faecium as intestinal flora, has a bio-barrier function. Enterococcus faecium separated from healthy people or animals also have physiological functions Re-giving to people is harmless and safe, but plant and reproduction in the body is a very complex ecology issue. Viable organism praeparatum is likely to play a biological activity within a certain range, or part of participation in host metabolic activity. It products a certain physiological role and therefore can be used in the disease provention, treatment and the ecological balance adjustment. Currently, the application of enterococci is mainly in Enterococcus faecium. The earliest example of the use of Enterococcus faecium is out of Japan. It was first developed for the treatment of various intestinal diseases. Yogurt products on the market are containing Enterococcus faecium in Japan or pharmaceutical drugs, such as Lascpan, Lacton, Ruosu, Lebenin, Biosmin. Mummy Love that product in South Korea contains 108 / g feces enterococci and it can treat gastro-intestinal diseases in infants probiotic preparations (Coque, T. M. et al., 1995). 3.3 Safety of Enterococcus faecium Endogenous intestinal bacteria, especially the colonization of lactic acid bacteria in the gut healthy people, the people are safe, because a large number of endogenous enterococci colonization in the human intestinal tract under the bit, which may affect the host intestinal digestion and absorption, and other function. It has been reported (Dicuonzo, G. et al., 2001) that yogurt containing Enterococcus faecium can prevent diarrhea. By double-blind test, the incidence of antibiotic group was 27.2%, while taking the probiotic group was only 3.7%. So it is not only proved to be effective, but did not find any side effects. In 1989 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Association of Feed Public (AAFCO) has also introduced the safety 42 probiotic bacteria, including Enterococcus faecium. 3.4 Oral application of Enterococcus faecium strain EE3 Probiotic administration is being used increasingly in human and veterinary medicine. A variety of microorganisms, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB), such as lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and enterococci nonpathogenic LAB are associated with a wide variety of sources, such as plant material and various foods. Based on the definition of probiotics, adequate numbers of viable organisms must reach the intestinal tract to have a beneficial effect. For this to happen, probiotic organisms must be able to survive transit through the acidic environment of the stomach and persist in the presence of bile. They have to multiply at the site of destination in the intestine. In addition, they must be able to produce the antagonistic metabolites against dominating saprophytic microflora resulting in competitive growth. Antimicrobial activity of LAB is due to the production of organic acids (lactic and acetic acids in particular), carbon dioxide, ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, biacetyl and bacterio cins. These abilities are ofen found among lactobacilli and enterococci, which are most frequently used as animal feed supplements or directly as probiotic preparations. Among enterococci, only the species of Enterococcus faecium of hunman origin was used as a commercial probiotic. E.faecium used as probiotics efficiently protect animals from diseases caused by E.coli, salmonellae or clostridia; it is also reported (Eaton, T. J. Gasson, M. J., 2001) that the best preventive effectivity of E.faecim from commercial probiotic preparation Vitacanis against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the gastrointestinal tract of gnotobiotic mice. E.faecium EE3 train was able to survive transit through the canine intestinal tract, leading to enrichment of the colonic microflora and local and systematic effects. This strain also persisted in the digestive tract for almost 3 months after cessation of its administration. The new canine probiotic strain of Lactobacillus fermentum AD1 persisted in the feces of dogs even for 5 months after cessation, however, it reached a lower final concentration (103~105 CFU/g) than the EE3 strain (105~108 CFU/g). On the other hand, the well-known probiotic strain Lactobacillus fermentum GG survived in the healthy dogs only 8d after cessation of its administration. From the clinical point of view, persistence during administration should be less important than colonization. However, the potential probiotic microorganism should be able to colonize the digestive tract at least temporarily. Decrease of total enterococci can be explained probably by competitive interactions of the EE3 strain with othe r enterococci. Although enterococci normally producted lactic acid, its higher amounts (as the other enterococci) could be achieved by the concentration of inoculated EE3 strain; in addition, differences in lactic acid production were found among enterococci isolated from different sources. Local effects of the EE3 strain application included an increase of LAB and a significant decrease of Pseudominas-like bacteria and staphylococci with prolonged effect up to the end of the experiment It is reported that a significant increase in fecal LAB during administration of food supplemented with probiotic strain L.acidophilus DSM 13241. However, the action of the probiotic, in terms of its effect towards the number of lactobacilli, was lost after cessation of food supplemented with the same probiotic strain (L.acidophilus DSM 13241.). E.faecium EE3 strain survived the transit through the digestive tract of dogs. Our results suggested that bacteria and staphylococci. Moreover, the levels of total lipids, proteins and cholesterol in blood of healthy dogs were also influenced to reach physiological limits. 3.5 Application of Enterococcus faecium strain M-74 The value of managing atherosclerosis risk factors has been confirmed in the past few decades. Hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and smoking are still considered to be the classical risk factors. Intervention trials have generally shown that lowering risk factors reduces the subsequent rate of cornonary heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. The Framingham Study was the major study, which verified that cholesterol increases the risk of developing heart disease. Data output was clear: the risk of clinically apparent coronary heart disease is a continuous nonlinear function of blood cholesterol levels. Each increase in the serum cholesterol concentration by 1% results in 2~3% increase in the risk of CHD. The discovery that hypercholesterolemia plays a major role in the formation and development of atherosclerosis has led to a number of pharmacological and non-pharmacological (including dietary) approaches resulted in its elimination. Fact that the serum cholesterol concentration is influenced by food has been known for a long time ago. Later, the first evidence of affecting cholesterol level by influencing intestinal microflora was found. One way to do this is by using probiotics. Up to now, the question of supposed hypocholesterolemic effect of probiotics has not been definitely established. While some studies documented it well, others bring contradictary findings or even doubt it. Another unresolved issue is an existing previously mentioned effect from the long term point of view. In available sources, we have not found any report where probiotics were administrated for one year. Some experimental and clinical studies have documented the hypocholesterolemic effect of rpobiotic cultures. Not all of the probiotics seem to have the same properties and same effect on serum cholesterol levels. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of long-term orally administered probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium M-74 enriched with selenium on l ipid profile (total cholesterol, LDH, HDL and triglycerides) in humans. Originally, the term probiotics was used for a phenomenon, when each of both together cultivated organisms had produced substances stimulating the growth of the another one. The meaning of the term probiotic has been evolving since. Many definitions have been suggested. The most commonly used, scientifically valid and therefore acceptable one is that postulated by Fuller. According to him, probiotics are living microorganisms that favourably influence the heath of the host by improving composition of its intestinal microflora. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation for the United Nations) and WHO (World Health Organisation) refer to probiotics as living microorganisms which when ingested in sufficient amount, beneficially influence the health of the host. Before a certain bacterial strain can be classified probioticm it must meet some criteria. The most important one is its beneficial health effect. The knowledge of probiotic intervention in lipid metabolism is not new. In the 19 70s, researchers observed hypocholesterolemic effect of yoghurt eaten daily in large amount in humans. Similar observations have been seen in animal studies. Many trials aimed to proving the hypocholesterolemic effect of milk and fermented milk products come from early observation. It is found that a low incidence of clinical coronary heart disease in some African tribes with low cholesterol levels in spite of their diet rich in saturated fats, meat and cholesterol but abundant in milk and fermented milk products along. In some studies it is observed that a gradual decrease of serum cholesterol concentration in subjects receiving capsules with Enterococcus faecium M-74 from baseline up to week 23 when the decrease exceeded significant level (P

Presidential Campaign of 2004 :: essays research papers

Each presidential election overview has always been similar to a three-ring circus, but in the 2000 Election with Al Gore and George W. Bush, was by far one of the biggest circuses ever. Democrats had reason to worry about the election. Republicans held the White House for three consecutive terms from 1980 to 1992, voters often grow tired of one party after two terms. They were hoping to win control, yet there was a lot at stake with the election at the time. And even though it came to be a quite chaotic election, it was by far the closest election ever in history. The main problem was that the results were so close in Florida that it became indefinite who the winner was. It took over a month to finally attain the results. Ultimately it was not the citizens whose votes counted, but the vote of the Supreme Court for the election case. Al Gore had a good start to begin with, having high marks on his ability to handle key issues, including Democratic stands on such as health care, education and Social Security. But Gore changed all that on the last day of the Democrats' Los Angeles national convention. Whether it was the highly publicized kiss he gave his wife or not, Gore changed the public's view of him. No longer was he a just a stiff politician. Instead, he was a passionate, loving father and husband who lacked many of Clinton's weaknesses. And Gore jumped a few points ahead of Bush. The Monica Lewinsky scandal Clinton had did not necessarily give him a bad reputation. On the contrary, people continued to cast their support for the president since the public thought he had done so much for our nation. Yet in the 2000 Election Gore seemed to go in the completely opposite direction of Clinton, or at least try to avoid his name in his speeches at first. Yet Gore's luck did not change when he left California. Bush seemed to have difficulties when asked about his tax cut plan and about his statement that the U.S. military was not fully ready. While Gore looked relaxed and energetic, Bush made mistakes in front of the camera. Polls suggested that Gore was far ahead of Bush by at least a few points. Republicans became much less optimistic about Bush, while things were looking very promising for the Democrats. Gore’s campaign was focused on issues that were mostly concerned by women, such as health care and education. "We're for the people. Big tobacco, big oil, the

Trapping Today Should be Legal, but Limited Essay -- Argumentative Per

Trapping Today Should be Legal, but Limited Trapping is a very important issue, which is connected to many other larger issues. For instance, trapping lies at the heart of the First Nation's distinct society issue. Before I talk about the present, however, I would like to discuss whether trapping should have been illegal when Canada was first being settled in the 17th and 18th centuries. When the first explorers came to the new world, it was regarded as a huge slab of worthless rock standing between Europe and the riches of the Orient. The only reason these explorers even explored this continent was the hope of finding the North-West passage, a route to the Orient. Fortunately, while searching for this North-West passage, some of these explorers stumbled onto a virtual magnet for settlement: The Fur Trade. When people heard how pelts of all kinds could be obtained so easily and sold for so much, the idea of not settling in the new world was ridiculous. Suddenly settlers came to this "slab of worthless rock" and tried to set up permanent living there. Even after a few failed attempts the draw of the fur trade was responsible for the settlement we call New France. After the first steps toward a permanent colony in the new world were made, the next steps came in leaps and bounds. The French government was sending everyone they could to settle in New France. Courieurs de Bois, began coming to the colony to trap furs and sell them back in France. France granted land to poor people that were willing to risk the great voyage. The colony flourished, and grew. It was the fur trade that was mostly responsible for this colony. However, some think that by this point the colony was large en... ...ance law. What would all the lawyers do if suddenly practising law was illegal? The First Nations, I believe, should be allowed to continue trapping as long as it is under limits. However, I believe that, after all, their ancestors had such a successful relationship with the land that trapping within limits should not be a problem. Another problem that would arise if trapping is illegalized is that it is said that too many predators (wolves, etc.) would roam the forests and be dangerous to farms with livestock on them. It is said that trapping keeps the populations of these predators low, so they will not pose as much of a threat to farms. In conclusion, I feel that trapping today should be legal within strict limits that allow for the way of life of the native peoples and for the balance of nature, but do not permit gratuitous killing of animals.

The Health Risk Associated with a Missing Ingredient in Bottled Water E

The Health Risk Associated with a Missing Ingredient in Bottled Water Nothing in education is so astonishing as the amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts. * Henry Adams "We can’t change the bottled water industry, but we can change our own ignorance." –Paul W. Mason You may think that drinking bottled water is healthier than drinking tap water. However, according to a recent Dateline NBC top story on the quality of bottled water, this healthy move is not so healthy after all. Recently, a bottled water company in California was found to be bottling its brand of Yosemite water from a well in Fullerton, right below the LA freeway system (Verhovek 2). While this is happening the American public remains unaware of the dangers of their "healthy" bottled water. This shouldn’t be happening, but due to lax Food and Drug Administration standards and our own ignorance, bottled water sales are up to an amazing sales of 4 billion dollars a year and our health risks are growing at an even faster rate! To further investigate this situation, we must understand the problems we face so that we can analyze the causes, in an attempt to solve for less than healthy water. In order to see the harm that bottled water has on the public, we need to define the problems with bottled water and investigate it’s impending health risks. To do this, we must clarify what defines bottled water. According to the International Bottled Water Association, "Water is classified as ‘bottled water’ or ‘drinking water’ if it meets all applicable federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and is sold for human consumption" (FAQ’s 1). Bottled water also cannot contain sweeteners or chemical additives and it... ...er." Current Research in Magnesium. John Libbey & Company Ltd.: London, 1996. Mason, Paul. "Calculations of deaths caused by magnesium-deficient bottled water in California." 17 June 1994. <http://www.execpc.com/~magnesium/bottled.html.> (29 September 1998) ---. "Citizens Petition For Mg Fortification." The Magnesium Website. 30 September 1995. <http://www.execpc.com/~magnesium.> (6 September 1998) ---. "Evaluate Your Bottled Water." 8 July 1997. <http://www.execpc.com/~cc/ccwaters.html> (8 September 1998) "Newsletter of the Healthy Bottled Water Association." <Healthy Water Association> (1 June 1997): 1-5 United States. District Court. Case No. C-97-20686 JF. 15 September 1998. Verhovek, Sam Howe. "It’s Wet. It’s Bottled. It Sort of Tastes Like Water." The New York Times Online. 1998. <http://search.nytimes.com> (8 September 1998)

Study On The Industrial Abandoned Lands Architecture Essay

Industrial abandoned lands, ruins, eyesores, nothingnesss, derelict, urban comeuppances, dead zones, soundless infinites, landscapes of disdain, and knee bends are merely a few of the words that have been used to calculate out the fragments of transmutation within our urban infinites. They are footings that refer to infinites such as post-industrial landscapes, abandoned environments, and empty infinites in the peripheral parts of a metropolis. Linked to the procedures of decay, the footings besides refer to the â€Å" cultural information and societal † of our metropolis infinites, their â€Å" loss and ruin. † By virtuousness of their disregard, catastrophic province, and fringy topographic point in the urban landscape, recent architectural and urban planning discourse has defined these infinites as â€Å" contingent, † â€Å" interstitial, † and â€Å" infinites of indefiniteness. † Throughout the 2nd half of the 20th century, many metropoliss ha ve witnessed the fresh of important industrial landscapes and their eventual forsaking. Urban societies, cultural and architectural history, these landscapes of indefiniteness remain a portion of the urban palimpsest. Using the metaphor of â€Å" metropolis as palimpsest † and widening the impression of undetermined infinites. It is explored the nature of modern-day metropolis phenomena in relation to the transmutation of abandoned urban infinites. Since the autumn of the Nazi ‘s colonisation, Oswiecim has struggled with utilizing former mills. Under Communist force, the metropolis ‘s chief employer, who a chemical worker, failed to develop continue with modern engineering, and since 1989 over 10,000 work topographic points have been lost at the works. With apparently no other pick to cultivating a silvertip tourer trade, Oswiecim is happening its past progressively hard to get away. In other words, Oswiecim is urban decay metropolis – falls into unrecoverable and aged, with falling population or altering population, economic restructuring, abandoned edifices, high local unemployment, detached households, and inhospitable metropolis landscape – where whole metropolis country as fragments which is contained metropolis memories and infinite qualities. †¦ injury and discontinuity are cardinal for memory and history, ruins have come to be necessary for associating creativeness to the experience of loss at the person and corporate degree. Ruins operate as powerful metaphors for absence or rejection, and therefore, as inducements for contemplation or Restoration. [ 3 ]DecayIndustrial ruins are an intersection of the seeable and the unseeable, for the people who managed them, worked in them, and inhabited them are non at that place. And yet their absence manifests itself as a presence through the scintillas and soundless things that remain, in the objects we half acknowledge or environ with imaginings. In ruins we can place that which appeared to be non at that place, a host of marks and hints which let us cognize that a haunting is taking topographic point. The shades of ruins do non crawl out of fly-by-night topographic points unheralded, as they do in extremely regulated urban infinites, but are abundant in the marks which haun t the present in such a manner as to all of a sudden inspire the yesteryear. Rather than being exorcised through renovation, these shades are able to stalk us because they are portion of an unfinished disposal of infinites and affair, identified as rubbish but non yet cleared. Such things all of a sudden become alive, when the over and done with comes alive the things you partially recognize or have heard about provoke familiar feelings, an inventive and empathic recouping of the characters, signifiers of communicating, and activities of mill infinite. In these haunted fringes, shades seldom provoke memories of the epochal and the iconic but recollect the everyday transition of mundane factory life. The yesteryear is n't dead. It is n't even past. [ 4 ] The decay resides at the conceptual intersection of the single parts of the analogy that zone created by the superimposition and superposition of basically semitransparent entities. The active visible radiation of reading radiances through these beds, as it were, lighting important forms and figures. Meaning actively happens here ; it is constructed as images overlap each other, alining themselves momently, and so switching somewhat, promoting reevaluation and reinterpretation. As a superimposed figure of deepness in architecture, complexness occurs in both program and subdivision. As a site, the zone of significance in the analogical system is frequently equivocal. Yet, besides as a site, this country has boundaries or, instead, a set – mostly unquantifiable – of all available significances, which is different than a unbounded field of all-inclusiveness or unregulated readings.Trace and Time Layers with Derrida ‘s TheoryThe resonance of a knock on a door uncovers its denseness. The tactile of a wall describes its materiality. The texture of a floor may ask for us to sit or put down. The smoothness of a bannister comforts our acclivity. Human tegument is a powerful stuff that enables us to comprehend and understand our milieus. Skin is extremely expressive ; based on its colour, texture, wear and malleability we can read it, garnering information refering civilization, cultural background, age, maltreatment, wellness and the undertakings it performs on specific organic structure parts. Skin itself reads as it is clear. Our tegument can garner informations through haptic perceptual experience and read our spacial milieus. Architecture is an expressive act and the lone subject that stimulates all of our senses. An designer designs infinites that foresee and observe the bodily interaction of the dweller. Harmonizing to Derrida, phenomenology is metaphysics of presence because it inadvertently relies upon the impression of an indivisible self-presence, or in the instance of Husserl, the possibility of an exact internal adequateness with oneself. In assorted texts, Derrida contests this valorisation of an undivided subjectiveness, every bit good as the primacy that such a place agreements to the ‘now ‘ , or to some other sort of temporal immediateness. For case, in Speech and Phenomena, Derrida argues that if a ‘now ‘ minute is conceived of as wash uping itself in that experience, it could non really be experienced, for there would be nil to juxtapose itself against in order to light that really ‘now ‘ . Alternatively, Derrida wants to uncover that every alleged ‘present ‘ , or ‘now ‘ point, is ever already compromised by a hint, or a residue of a old experience, that precludes us of all time being in a self-contained ‘n ow ‘ minute.MemoryWhenever I distrust my memory, writes Freud in a note of 1925. I can fall back to write and paper. Pater so becomes an external portion of my memory and retains something which I would otherwise transport about with me invisibly. When I write on a sheet of paper, I am certain that I have an digesting ‘remembrance ‘ , safe from the ‘possible deformations to which it might hold been subjected in my existent memory. The disadvantage is that I can non undo my note when it is no longer needed and that the page becomes full. The composing surface is used up. Memory-autobiographical and corporate, each built-in to the other-exists as the foundation upon which significance is built. Memory affords our connexion to the universe. Every facet of experience becomes enveloped in the procedure of memory. It forms our individuality as persons and it coheres persons together to organize the individuality of societal groups. Memory is besides the yarn which links the lived-in now with the yesteryear and the hereafter: what I remember of my past contributes to who I am now ( at this really minute ) and in many ways affects what I will make in the hereafter. Without memory, intending edifice can non go on. [ 5 ] Memory of architecture, hence, seems to depend more on our ability to comprehend the corporal state of affairs. Furthermore those state of affairss are capable to peculiar catalytic minutes in time-those cases in which the energies of both the container and the contained become virtually identical. The timing of those minutes is uneven, poetic, and anisotropic. It would be impossible for the constitutional elements of a topographic point memory to prolong a changeless equilibrium or frequence of resonance in clip. It needs to be emphasised that retrieving is a thoroughly societal and political procedure, a kingdom of controversy and contention. The yesteryear is â€Å" invariably selected, filtered and restructured in footings set by the inquiries and necessities of the present † . Memories are selected and interpreted on the footing of culturally located cognition and this is farther â€Å" constituted and stabilised within a web of societal relationships † , consolida ted in the `common sense ‘ of the mundane. Although patterns of scratching memory on infinite are tremendously varied, there are undoubtedly inclinations to repair important significances about the yesteryear through an ensemble of patterns and engineerings which centre upon the production of specific infinites, here identified as monumental `memory-scapes ‘ , heritage territories, and museums. It is within the contingent infinites of the metropolis where passing gestures resonate, pulling our attending to the residue of the yesteryear, luring us to rediscover their temporal value. And for me at least, ruins, like palimpsests, are hints by which we discover our urban history, and the psyche of a infinite. As all historical narrations are subjectively woven Tapestries of pieced historical facts and events, new Histories frequently reveal striking disagreements in the additive conventions of antecedently inscribed histories. The purpose here is to patch together incompatible theoretical impressions, to bring forth an archeological probe, which is consistent with the theoretical and ideological attack of Aldo Rossi. The most redolent plants of Aldo Rossi are model of the procedure of constructing significance as we engage memory in our mundane experiences, believing analogically and understanding the universe tacitly by making and doing. Whether stated explicitly or non, Rossi must hold sensed the necessity to anneal his early polemics about a theory of design with a committedness to architecture of intense poesy, of non-quantifiable prowess, and an architecture conscious of its autobiographical significance. Underliing the positivist inclinations of Rossi ‘s theoretical ork is a profoundly felt fear for the power of memory, both his ain every bit good as the corporate memory of a peculiar civilization or society that is embodied in cardinal architectural types. And the force of memory permeates his full work to such an extent that it is about pathological, or cultish, or verging on nostalgia, to state the least. For Rossi, the procedure of memory analogically suggests the development and morphology of the physical signifier of the metropolis ; and a formal linguistic communication based on a typology of architecture ; and, as a affair of necessity, the repetitive, obsessional, and dynamic nature of his ain originative pattern. However, Rossi ‘s poetic was non every bit self-involved as it may seem-or, at least, it was non finally meant to turn in on itself in the creative activity of a restrictive, self-indulgent revery. He expected his compulsion with memory to interpret into his edifices in such a manner that it would inspire architecture with a new autonomy, a freedom of experience and significance similar to so many of those edifices he had discovered and cited in his early treatise, The Architecture of the City: the Palazzo della Ragione in Padua, the Roman amphitheater-turned-market square in Lucca, the bantam fishing huts along the Po River valley-buildings that, while exposing features of specific types, transcended the plan of those types by suiting a ltering activities and utilizations. By analogically associating the heterotaxy of architectural types with the procedure of memory, Rossi was favoring intending edifice with his architecture as an built-in portion of the reinforced environment, particularly as it governed the development of metropoliss. It is how Rossi engaged the profound memories of his yesteryear. It is how he anticipated people would populate with and within his edifices, seeing in those signifiers their ain memories of an architectural yesteryear, promoting them to reactivate those connexions, those relationships in his edifices. â€Å" The outgrowth of dealingss among things, more than the things themselves, ever gives rise to new significances, † wrote Rossi. Possibly, like this: Confront the reinforced form-it reminds you of other edifices and other experiences you have had before-this new edifice feels familiar and established in your apprehension of â€Å" the given † -yet, you experience this edifice as something different, it ‘s significance has changed from what you thought it should be because of the alteration in how you use the architecture- † the given † is expanded, enriched with new significance†¦ significance edifice. It is how Rossi â€Å" practiced † architecture-by working analogically from drawings to edifices to Hagiographas, detecting relationships, researching the infinite where significance happens, in between those things which can be explicitly articulated, obviously expressed.Sampling‘to make music, people need sounds and when people ca n't do them yourself you find them someplace else: in visual aspect there is nil more simple ‘ . ‘The sampling station is an electronic memory that is virtually infinite, which enables sounds to be stored, from a individual note to a symphonic music. This fund constitutes a kind of personal library, where plants are reduced to an anthology of chosen pieces drawn flora the huge reservoir of musical civilization. The work ceases to work as a ‘closed musical composition ‘ or a tune and becomes a amount of harmoniousnesss and pre bing sounds. The sampling station is therefore the Centre of sound memory, a Centre where all metabolisms are possible. It is an abstr act topographic point where all the sounds of the universe are classified and subjected to alterations. This tool simplifies the work of the DJ, who so needs merely to physically pull strings the vinyl records in order to modify sounds, decelerating them down, falsifying them or go throughing them into a cringle. These uses are necessary to the building of a lasting beat by the commixture of short interruptions. The re-appropriation of cognition has ever been pre sent in human activity, in different signifiers, but the coming of the sampling station has upset the pre bing metaphysical relationship between creative activity and memory. Indeed, by dependably recovering recorded pieces ready to be recombined, the memory no longer works as a accelerator. The combined consequence of the hibernating memory/recall binomial implements internal re-composition, a metamorphosis that plays on memory by default. But the sampling station, on the contrary, pushes the procedure of fiction to the su rface, turning it into a witting act, like montage, therefore associating it to an aesthetic of superposition, potpourri and merger.MentionsLeatherbarrow. D, Mostafavi. M, Surface ArchitectureSkin+Bones ; Parallel Practieces in Fashion and Architecture, Thames & A ; Hudson, London, 2007McLuhan. M, Understanding Media ; The Extensions of Man, 2002Bru E, New Territories New Landscapes, ACTAR, 1997Herausgeber, Atlas of Shrinking Cities, HATJE CANTZ, 2004Juhani. P, The eyes of the tegument ; architecture and the senses, London: Academy Editions,1996Morphosis, Architecture and Urbanism, A+U, 1994This quotation mark was taken from Walter Benjamin ‘s â€Å" Paris: Capital of the Nineteenth Century, † cited in Sexuality and Space, erectile dysfunction. Beatrize Colomina ( New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1992 ) 74.Matthew Goulash, 39 Micro Lectures in Proximity of Performance ( London and New York: Routledge, 2000 ) 190.Salvator Settis, frontward, Irresistable Decay: Ru ins Reclaimed, by Michael S. Roth ( Los Angeles, CA: The Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities, 1997 ) seven.William Faulknerdoing intending out of the memory of architecture

Team Work & Job Design: Teams Automatically Perform at High Levels.

Team work & Job design: Teams automatically perform at high levels. Introduction Job design is the process of deciding which tasks and responsibilities will be undertaken by a particular employee. It also covers the methods, systems and procedures for the work. In today’s business environment, proper job design can help a company to become more successful and competitive in the market. â€Å"The theory of job design, as we know it today, rests largely on the premise that effective performance and genuine satisfaction in work follow mainly from the intrinsic content of the job†(Cooper, 1974,p. 2) The team approach has the ability to fulfill these criteria. â€Å"Teamwork is described as a co-operative process that allows ordinary people to achieve extraordinary results† (Scarnati, 2001, p. 5). â€Å"By sharing a common goal or vision, the team can accomplish what individuals cannot do alone† (Scarnati, 2001, p. 6). As teams attempt to accomplish a number of tasks and functions, some of the tasks may not fall into any of the individual’s present job scopes. In an ideal situation, teamwork can combine the intelligence, experience, knowledge, skills and commitments of the team members into a more powerful drive. Depending on the task, technology involved, the organization’s structure and how the team is formed in regard to authority, communication, attitudes, behaviors and expectations of people involved, a team can be ineffective for both the individual employees and the organization. This essay will investigate the causes and effects of teams that do not perform at high level automatically, and discuss the possibility of developing a more effective team. Factor: To be a high performance team Although teams are not suitable for every business situation, this essay will outline the key factors required to form a team that performs at high level automatically, which will strengthen an organization in its competitive business environment. Enhance productivity One reason why teams may perform automatically at a high level is that if members are well-matched. Their strengths enhance their motivation, accuracy and productivity. â€Å"The structure of work group or team provides many of the factors that are central to the motivation of individuals† (Sinclair,1992, p. 620). When each member is allowed to contribute his or her own blend of conviction, beliefs, experience and strengths, the total outcomes are positive and beneficial to all involved. Just imagine if one person in the team is very creative. This would lead the process of coming up with ideas; another one is detailed-oriented who can do the initial research. The third person, who is good at graphic software, can pull all those skills together to end up with a much better result than an individual’s performance. As people work in a team, they allow the combining their skills and talents with others to create new approaches to solving problems. As a result, the work performance through teams will lead to higher productivity level than an individual’s hard work. One example of this is how Kodak uses team work to make work more productive. In 1990’s, a cross-functional team became a part of Chrysler’s new auto design team. This team consisted of marketing, design, engineering and manufacturing personnel. With the creation of this new team, Chrysler was able to cut more than a year from design-to-manufacture time, yet produced what outside experts rate as the highest quality vehicle Chrysler has produced (Sashkin, 1994, p. 0). The example shows that a diverse team is more efficient if team members can contribute their strengthens and work well together. Upgrade Job Skill In addition to making a team more productive, improved individual knowledge and skill may generate high team performance levels automatically. â€Å"Utilising a team approach can enlarge and enrich the information, knowledge and power an individual possesses. Many groups are brought together with the assumption that each individual has some information that the others and the group will need. (Zaleznik & Moment, 1964) For a common objective or task, individual team members can learn from other’s experience to extend their knowledge and make up their shortcomings. Based on the broader knowledge, their performance in the team could be developed which may give them more opportunities to expand their job scope horizontally or vertically. The job scope may expand horizontally by teaching some skills to someone. Job scope could be expanded vertically by becoming a leader in a team. To help a team reach a target successfully, a supervisor or leader is required in a team. A team leader may be appointed to guide the team activities, or the team members may have the opportunity to appoint a leader from the team. The appointed leader will have the chance to develop and utilize leadership skills, though, the appointed leader must try to see that â€Å"the group process is effective and that the work is, in fact getting done† (Lawler, 1986, p. 105). Therefore, high performance levels may be automatically achieved in a team if individuals advance their skills and knowledge. Without the team, individuals might be limited by the scope of their skill, knowledge and experience. High quality decision-making Better quality decision-making could be considered as a way to lead a team to perform at higher levels. â€Å"As more ideas are produced and alternatives are considered, the team gets closer to making decisions that are stronger† (De Janasz, et al. , p. 311). There are many people to contribute to the discussion, meaning more ideas. Consequently a decision could be made more accurate, and such a decision would generally be of better quality. The more decisions a team can make for the method/procedure while completing the task, the more the team will feel responsible for achieving success in something they â€Å"own†. Because it is then the property of team, the quality of the output may increase, as it is a direct reflection of the team and its members â€Å"(Lawler, 1992). This situation is very often to seen, once the team’s decision is accepted by supervisors, the team members will automatically show their better performance and try to achieve higher levels o f success. In short, outcomes will have better quality (generated through teamwork), if each member is willing to participate in the decision-making. Workforce diversity Another factor that might help teams to perform at high level is workforce diversity. There is evidence that a diverse workforce has better-quality solutions on brainstorming tasks, display more cooperative behaviour, relative to homogenous groups, and can raise organizational efficiency, effectiveness and profitability† (McLeod, Lobel and Cox, 1996; Wilson and Iles 1999). When you have a diversity of team members, a different dynamic occurs. There is a greater chance of creativity, perspective, talents and innovation coming out. The author assumes that the potential advantage of forming a group of individuals with varied backgrounds has a diverse bent is likely to be highly successful than individuals work alone. If you keep on doing what you always did then you will keep on getting what you always got. No organization wants to be caught up in this trap. More importantly, innovation is the key for an organisation to stand in the market. In this case, the author assumes that the potential advantage of forming a diverse team is that it is more likely to be highly successful than individuals working alone. Reason: teamwork does not happen automatically In most cases, teamwork is beneficial to business operation and problem solving. However, it cannot be said that teamwork happens perfectly and automatically. There are several factors that can cause a team to have lower performance levels. Loss of self-motivation Lack of self-motivation could be a major factor that prevents a team from performing at high levels automatically. The author believes that individual self-motivation is an essential requirement for high productivity, efficiency and quality organizational output. On the contrary, when a team member’s suggestion is rejected, he or she might think â€Å"they do not need my contribution, so I will not come up with new ideas any more. † Consequently, the individual’s motivation will be reduced and conflicts may arise. Since individual self-motivation and responsibility are reduced, he or she will not be able to share more information or even put more effort into the common task. For example, I used to work in a company that just started running a new system, as a team leader I had lots of experience in this system. I discovered the potential problems in running the new system, but when I put forward my suggestions to the manager, the ideas were rejected. After that, I did not give them any suggestions any more. As my self-motivation was destroyed, I left that job after 6 months. In this case, it is easier to discover that when individual needs and responsibilities are reduced, people will not be able to put in the same effort for the common task; the team can be affected by showing worse and worse performance. Lack of time control Another reason that a team can not perform automatically at high level is that people have different levels of time management skill. This means individual time management skill will not match automatically when they come together as a team. There is an old saying in business world, time is money. When there is a fire, it takes a longer time to find the cause of the fire when a whole team of firemen are assigned this task. It will be faster and more efficient to use one expert fire investigator. For instance, there is an urgent task which has to be done in a specific time. The team leader has to explain to the team members first, then announces the goal and deadline, and next, asks for solutions, followed by discussion of the solutions. In the end, an agreement is reached and action is taken. If any procedure takes a longer time, then the total task will not be completed on time. Or, people may waste a lot of time on disputes and lose sight of the deadline. If the task is only required to be fulfilled by an individual, then the time for announcement, discussion will be skipped. Plus, individuals can make decisions quicker than teams, especially if output from someone is not necessary to reach the objective. Therefore, lack of time management skill could be considered one of the major causes of a team cannot perform effectively automatically. Inappropriate use of the team approach Some jobs are not designed for teamwork. This is especially true for some individuals that have the expert knowledge necessary to be used in certain tasks. These jobs require independent work, without the existence of team dynamics. â€Å"One may be pressurized to adhere to lower production norms than they would like to avoid being ostracized† (Hick & Gullett, 1985). They may not have the desire to put effort and time into achieving team goals, or they might have different perceptions of the work-pace and how the goal should be accomplished. Sometimes people may feel pressured to agree with team processes and decisions, that they do not agree with. In addition, not all individuals in the work force value intrinsic rewards and a sense of achievement. Neither do some value the prospect a team provides of learning and broadening skills† (Lawler, 1992). This normally happens in unskilled workers that do not expect self-fulfillment and growth. â€Å"Contrary to the view that routinzed and repetitive jobs lead to bo redom and job dissatisfaction, some workers find them suitable or even desirable† (Chung & Ross, 1977,p. 119) To force these unskilled workers to participate in a team can put pressure on individual work together with other team members in planning or problem solving. It will easily create stress for them and cause conflicts within the team. Conflicts lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings which will have a negative effect on performance. Therefore, teams will not be performing at high level if the job does not need teamwork. Social Loafing Lack of responsibility could be one of the biggest destroyers for a high performance team. The definition of social loafing from BusinessDictionary. com shows: Tendency of certain members of a group to get by with less effort than what they would have put when working alone. Since the focus of productivity shifts from the individual to the group, it is difficult to detect individual’s output for the group project or task. Some employees sometimes feel dragged down by poor or lazy team members and may find themselves doing a tremendous amount of work to compensate for weaker colleagues. In this â€Å"no winner no loser† situation, if no one takes responsibility for their own job or even doesn’t know what should be done, then the project will be delayed and teamwork performance will be affected by those â€Å"social loafer†. For instance, there was a product which our company needed to be delivered by the next working day in another city for a trade show, but the goods were not allocated to a specific person. As a result, everyone thought someone else would do it, but actually nobody delivered the item. The result is obvious that we complained about the delivery service and stopped using their delivery service after that. The example shows the common problems in teamwork and hence lack of responsibility is an issue in team work, which will affect team performance, and customer satisfaction. Discussion In most cases, high levels of team performance will not be achieved automatically. It depends largely on the motives and intentions of the individuals within the team. The author has identified that the major factors that lead to team ineffectiveness are: communication breakdowns leading to loss of confidence and decreased productivity, wasted resources and effort, ill-will/bad feelings/decreased in morale, failing to fix problems and improve processes, loss of focus on customers and profits, increased workplace conflict, increased job-related stress/workplace tension and setting s a poor example for the work force. However, â€Å"it's important to realize that the development of effective working relationships among staff is a gradual process which requires considerable time and skill, this is not meant to discourage team members, but to help them realize that teams aren't created overnight† (Francis, 1979 p. 261). A certain amount of frustration and conflict is normal. From study and researching, the author thinks orgiansations can improve team performance from these aspects. First of all, set a clear goal for the team assignment, which will be accepted and understood by all members. Clear goal will keep team focused, thus avoiding the divisive potential of political issues and individual agendas†(Larson & etc. 1989). When individuals fully understand their responsibility in achieving the same end, a tremendous synergy will be created. Secondly, take advantage of effective communication that also will contribute to a high-performance team. â€Å"Many times, decisions take a long time to be reached due to communication bottlenecks, but in a team where communication is rapid and prompt, any delay that may arise is minimized† (Rees, 2001, p. 15). When team members communicate with one another by using words or actions, team members come closer together and resolve any misunderstanding in the group. Next, rewarding or punishing team members based on team performance can be a strategy to motivate teams to perform at a high level. â€Å"Rewards and punishments send a powerful message to organisational members. † (Robbins & Barnwell, 2006, p. 417) In this way, the individual will pay more attention to their performance and value in the team. Last but not least, team size also affects team performance, on Daglow's law of team Dynamics â€Å"Small teams are informed. Big teams infer† smaller teams demonstrated to have better team-work (Ziller, 1957 p. 165-173; Steiner, 1966 p. 273-283). Team size is an important determinant of the social loafing phenomenon, whereby individuals decrease their effort as the number of people in the group increases. Team size must be determined with respect to both staffing requirements, derived from the size of the project task and teamwork requirements, derived from task complexity and uncertainty (Hoegl et al. , 2003 p. 281-302). In conclusion, better team performance is reachable. The way we put people and jobs together and define their roles and relationships is an important determinant in whether an organization is successful. † (Robbins & Barnwell, 2006, p. 73) â€Å"The acceptance and success of a team approach is high dependent on abilities, attitudes, motivations, and social and physical environments required or designed by the individual’s concerned†(Dawson, 1996). Future studies should focus on the ways teams change over time. Job design will become more and more important in the workplace for enhancing the motivation of the employees, which gives rise to high productivity and efficiency. Perhaps, different measures of effectiveness could be studied. Also various group design characteristics are more applicable in teams that have been functioning longer than in younger teams or groups that have been recently established. More also needs to be known about how to design jobs to promote higher performance levels when teams are being set up or are newly established. Reference Social loafing. (2009, Aug 22) In BusinessDictionary ,The BusinessDictonary Retrieve on Aug 22, 2009 from: http://www. businessdictionary. om/definition/social-loafing. html Chung, K. H. , & Ross, M. F. (1977). Differences in Motivational Properties between Job Enlargement and Job Enrichment. Academy of Management Review, 2, 1, 113-122. Cooper, R. (1974). Job Motivation & Job Design. London:Institute of Personnel Management. Dawson, S. (1996). Analysing Organisatons (3rd ed. ). London: Macmillan Press Ltd. De Janasz, S. C. , Dowd K. O. , & Schneider B. Z. (2002). Interpersonal Skills in Organizations . New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 309-329. FRANCIS, D. & Young, D. 1979. Improving Work Groups: A Practical Manual for Team Building, La Jolla, California: University Associates. pp. 261. Hicks, H. G. , & Gullett, C. R. (1985). Management (4th ed. ) Singapore: McGraw-Hill, Inc. HOEGL, M. PARBOTEEAH, K. P. , & GEMUENDEN, H. G. When teamwork really matters: Task innovativeness as a moderator of the teamwork–performance relationship in software development projects. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 2003, pp. 281-302. Larson, C. , LaFasto, F. (1989), Teamwork, Sage Publications, Newbury Park, CA,. Lawler, E. E. (1986). High-involvement Management. San Francisco:Jossey-Bass Publishers, Inc. Lawler, E. E. (1992). The Ultimate Advantage: creating the high-involvement organization. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, Inc. McLeod, P. L. ; Lobel, S. A. and Cox, T. H. , Ethnic diversity and creativity in small group, Small Group Research, Vol. 27(2), 1996, 248-64. Rees, F. (2001). How to lead work teams: Facilitation skills. 2nd Edition. San Diego: Pfeiffer & Company. Robbins, S. P. , & Barnwell, N. S. (2006). Organisation theory: Concepts and cases (5th ed. ). French Frost, NSW. Pearson Education Australia Pty Ltd. Sashkin, M. , (1994). , The New Teamwork, Amercian Management Association, New York, NY. , Scarnati James T. On becoming a team player. Team Performance Management. Vol. 7 (1/2), 2001, p5-10 Sinclair, A. The tyranny of a team ideology. Organisation Studies, 13, 4, 1992, p611-626. Zaleznik, A. & Moment, D. (1964). The Dynamics of Interpersonal Behavior. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Ziller, Robert. C. 1957. Group size: A determinant of the quality and stability of group decisions. Amercian Sociological Association, p. 165-173.