Operations and Project Management

Table of Contents Introduction Operations Performance Operations Strategy New Product Development Quality Management Inventory Management References Introduction Organisational growth and development is enhanced by various factors among them being cost effectiveness and development of operational strategies that respond to the emerging market needs. Such strategies should also be effective in helping an organisation to gain competitive advantage so that it can withstand competitive forces both in the short and in the end.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Operations and Project Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The aim of this paper is to discuss various ways in which the Toyota Company treats the different topics taught in its daily activities of development and growth. In the effort to achieve this aim, five main topics are considered in the paper. These are operations performance, operations strate gy, new products development, quality management, and inventory management. Operations Performance Analysis of operations performance for an organisation is important in the effort to ensure that it remains competitive in the market. According to Chase, Jacob, and Aquilano (2007), operational performance refers to the â€Å"performance measured against the standards or prescribed indicators of effectiveness, efficiency, and environmental responsibility such as the cycle time, productivity, waste reduction, and regulatory performance† (p.45). To satisfy these concerns of operational performance, the Toyota Car Company deploys various operations management philosophies to enhance effectiveness, waste control, and reduction. These philosophies include the just-in-time (JIT) production and kaisen approaches.  Toyota Company adopted the just-in-time strategy as a manufacturing philosophy in the 1970s. The focus of philosophy is waste elimination together with reduction of invent ory levels. The central mechanism for operation of the just-in-time approach is based on Kanban, which is a Japanese term that means a card. The key aspect of JIT embraces quality control, waste minimisation, reduction of production complexities and increase in transparency, and ensuring that production is done in small lots or batches. Increasing the competitive advantage of the Toyota Company through JIT approach is rested in the need to satisfy customers. According to Toyota (2012), this role is accomplished through â€Å"fulfilling customer demands efficiently and promptly by linking all production activities to real marketplace demand† (Para.2).This strategy underline the significance of considering customers in enchaining the performance of an organisation in terms of delivering the desired outputs, which satisfy the utilities of consumers. This case means that the operations of the Toyota Company are organised around building strong customer relationships. Ideally, the JIT approach is dependent on the processes, which are finely tuned so that an assembly sequence only makes use of materials, which are only required by the organisation. Such materials must be of the right quality and quantity.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More At the Toyota Company, there is a need to face the challenges of meeting an appropriate mix for production of various models of automobiles. The Toyota Company must select an appropriate product mix that will satisfy the demand besides ensuring production of the demanded automobiles in a cost effective manner. In this extent, Toyota (2012) reckons, â€Å"Just-in-time offers a smooth, continuous, and optimised workflow, with carefully planned and measured work-cycle times whereas the on-demand movement of goods reduces the cost of wasted time, materials, and capacity† (Para.2). Through an effectively planned prod uction process, workers are given an opportunity to concentrate on tasks that add value to an organisation. Concentrating on tasks having the capability to add value to the organisation has the effect of reducing the prices of products since costs, which do not go into adding the costs that are directly related to production of every unit made by the company, are eliminated. Hence, the performance of the company is directly correlated to adoption of successful production philosophies such as the just-in-time organisation strategy. Kaisen is yet another important performance concept for operations performance improvement for the automobile manufacturing company. Kaisen focuses principally on continuous improvement of various operations of the company. The performance improvement approach also dwells on reduction of production wastes in the effort to ensure that the final produced products have optimal value addition. Kaisen ensures that the Toyota Company is able to add value and ens ure continuous improvement of every operation. According to Kennedy (2005), â€Å"†¦this idea of continual improvement is carried out on a day-to-day basis serving the purpose of humanising the workplace by eliminating unnecessary hard work† (p.18). This way, it is possible to ensure that all employees are encouraged to engage in practices that foster collective organisational improvement. In the effort to save the cost associated with implementation of new designs at the Toyota Company, kaisen is deployed as a measure of performance improvement since it focuses on a smaller scale testing of designs before they are implemented on a large scale. This strategy has the effect of saving the company millions of dollars due to the failure of large scale or full size new model and operations route failures. From the context of operations and performance of employees, Kaisen is focused on increasing the morale of the employees, encouraging collaboration, and teamwork. It also pa ys incredible attention to the organisational improvement at all levels.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Operations and Project Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Operations Strategy The Toyota Company is the second largest company in the world. This immense success has attracted scholarly interest to unveil the business strategy deployed by the company. Many operations management scholars believe that such a strategy can form a significant benchmark. To enhance the success of an organisation, an investment in a credible corporate strategy is crucial (Johnson, Scholes Whittington 2005: Barney 2009). The Toyota Company’s business strategy revolves around five main operational facets. These are development of a production system that is unique to Toyota, investments in re-engineering, high emphasis on quality and superior technology, production of hybrid vehicles, and high concerns on employeesâ⠂¬â„¢ welfare related costs. The strategy also revolves around building a motivated workforce through the adoption of various employee satisfaction strategies. Although each of these facets is incredible in business strategies for success, the Toyota Company recognises that a production system can affect the overall direct costs of production in such a way that the final products would be offered to the market at exorbitant prices. This case would in turn influence the sales volume and hence the profitability of the company. It is for this purpose that the Toyota Company has invested on technologically aware production systems with the aim of cutting the cost of production. These systems include lean manufacturing, just-in-time approach, Kaisen, Jokoda, Andan, Kanban, and the pull system. New Product Development Developments of new products are accomplished through different approaches. In western and Japan car manufacturing firms, software applications together with other appliance s are deployed in the assessment of new design options. In the western manufacturing firms, the approach of development of new products essentially entails defining various new product specifications, development of performance requirements, and the building of prototypes. The prototype is then tested against the anticipated performance requirements. In case of failure of the prototype to meet the desired performance requirements, the new product development teams repeat the whole design process by considering the design alterations that are identified in the first design phase. This agile approach to new product development is both time and financial resource consuming. Upon identification of this drawback, based on JIT and Kaisen production philosophies adopted by Toyota, the company adopts a different new product development approach.  The main objective of new product development engineers at the Toyota Company is to ensure a continuous flow of various models of cars.Advertisi ng Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Opposed to the agile design approaches to the development of new products discussed above, â€Å"instead of assigning a team to focus on developing one product in particular, work is concentrated on the subsystems level† (Kennedy, 2005, p.17). The main reasoning behind this approach is that it is possible to inter-mix various subsystems within the organisation to establish different matches, which increase the possibilities of creating new products in the shortest time possible.   Hence, the company is able to maintain creative and innovative approaches to the development of new products. The subsystem design approach in the development of new products gives rise to several advantages. For instance, whenever any new product under development arrives at the stage of testing, in case the system encounters a challenge to progress, engineers have immediate alternative subsystems to try rather than restarting the whole design process. This approach to the development of new prod ucts at the Toyota Company is consistent with the Muda approach to operations at the company. Quality Management In operation management, one of the essential topics that are taught at an organisation is the maintenance of preset quality control levels. Quality is important in enhancing customer satisfaction. The Toyota Company pays incredible attention to the consistency of quality for all its automobile models. This role is accomplished through the total quality approach to operations of the company. In fact, in Japan, the Toyota Company was the first manufacturing company to implement quality control strategies in the 1940s. Over the years, the Toyota Company has made immense strategies in ensuring that quality control at all production levels is deployed as a tool for reduction of wastes through lean manufacturing. Through the approaches of continuous improvement, all employees are held accountable for quality of all products in their workstations. Instead of focusing on accessi ng the quality of products at the assemblage stage, or when the products have been fully assembled, the Toyota Company carries quality assessment at the on the job site. This strategy means that all products that are assembled will have passed through quality screening. The Toyota Company’s way of operation ensures that quality standards are met in a concise manner. This methodology endeavours to â€Å"eliminate waste and overproduction, as well as to create a bureaucratic system where any employee can suggest a change where he or she sees it can fit† (Kennedy 2005, p.18). This postulation means that quality control measures of the Toyota Company rely heavily on human involvement. Through employees, the Toyota Company encourages them to take responsibility for the consistency of the quality of all its products. This aim is accomplished by focusing on two main quality goals and strategies. These are ‘respect for people’ and more importantly, the urge to mee t the needs of customers through an operation model that keeps the needs of the ‘customer first.’ Inventory Management In large manufacturing organisations such as the Toyota Company, cute management of inventories is important. The company appreciates that keeping large inventories amounts to poor utilisation of space. From the paradigm of the just-in-time production philosophy, at the Toyota Company, this case is treated as waste accumulations. Hence, the JIT scheme is an important philosophy that guides the process of determination of appropriate levels of inventories that should be held by the company. With regard to Chase, Jacobs, and Aquilano (2007), inventory control is important in the efforts to â€Å"reduce costs, improve quality, and meet the ever changing customer needs† (p.81). However, certain levels of inventories are appropriate because of the need to mitigate the costs associated with low inventories levels in any production organisations. These include the costs of urgent replenishment of raw materials and late deliveries of ordered products. Since the Toyota Company does not store finished stocks or raw materials that are not in use, a reliable means of determining the market demand and anticipated sales volumes in all markets of the company is necessary through statistical forecasting. Through the just-in-time approach, the Toyota Company makes it possible to procure and/or receive inventories in appropriate times. Hence, it also becomes possible to produce various models of cars that are ordered by customers to be delivered at the exact time when they are required.  Since the production system is continuous and balanced such that no accumulation of materials in the production process is evident, work-in-progress materials do not accumulate. Hence, apart from elimination of the finished product inventories or raw material inventories, work-in-progress inventories are also eliminated. Inventory control is an important t opic at the company since all employees are mandated to report on any inventory accumulations at their workstations so that appropriate steps can be taken to correct the problem. References Chase, B, Jacobs, F Aquilano, J 2007, Operations Management for Competitive Advantage, McGraw-Hill, New York. Johnson, G, Scholes, K Whittington, R 2005, Exploring Corporate Strategy, Prentice Hall, Harlow. Kennedy, M 2005, ‘Implementing Toyota’s Products Development Systems’, Appliance Magazine, vol. 1 no. 1, pp. 17-18. Toyota 2012, Toyota material handling. Web. This essay on Operations and Project Management was written and submitted by user K1nsey to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Operations and Project Management

PERFECT ADMISSION ESSAY

PERFECT ADMISSION ESSAY Admission essays are written for several main purposes. First main reason is to get to know the personal reasons why a student chose to enter particular college, course or university. Second, the perfect admission essay must state what are the major benefits a student is about to receive at this particular school. Third important aspect is what a student is ready to contribute to it. Admission essay is written in a form of an answer that will show a student’s personal case in   larger perspective. For example, regular section of college application cannot provide full insight on student’s personality. An admission essay can do a much better job. It will also show how this particular student differs from the other students with his experience, background and talents. To be true, the admission essay gives college or university admission committee a chance to whether particular applicant will be selected or not. perfect-admission-essay The initial goal of perfect admission essay writing is to show a unique type of character and to convince the admission committee that he deserves be accepted. This is done through a proper writing skills and personal ability to coherent thoughts organization. The number of admission essay topics is growing with each day. Here is a great tip. Choose most interesting admission essay topics, and create a top-ten admission essay topics list. They can be selected from different categories such as famous plays or movies, massive sport events, different eras of history, famous books and favorite actors or people, etc. Proceed with topics list review and pick a topic that has much positive influence on one’s life. Essay writing starts with a section that describes a person (yourself). Major admission essay writing tip is to find a particular focus and concentrate on positive sides of the chosen experience. Important emphasis is the accentuation of individual learnt experience from coping with the life situation one is writing about.

GARMIN Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GARMIN - Essay Example Sales volume and high levels of customer demand point toward Garmin’s strengths in the GPS marketplace. In 2007, Garmin company announced that 75 cents per share dividends would be included for investors as a reward for the company’s sales performance (Hough, 2008). Garmin has only recently paid dividends after being in business for 20 years, which indicates sizeable growth in sales which can likely be attributed to consumer satisfaction regarding the product. One of the main strengths of a company is its ability to lure investors and use stock equities to boost capital. Garmin’s ability to pay handsome dividends and the company’s commitment to investor relations represent the firm’s largest strengths. Additionally, Garmin has recently signed a six-year agreement with NAVTEQ, the digital map supplier responsible for the majority of Garmin’s electronic GPS routes (Annual Report). NAVTEQ will continue to provide map assistance and upgrades, allowing the company to maintain focus on its brand and remain a leader in effective and accurate GPS technologies. The company’s main weakness is an external issue involving the current economic climate across the United States. Consumer wealth is diminishing and it is relatively common knowledge that customers are scaling back on purchases in order to sustain a quality lifestyle. This change is most noticeable with Garmin’s stock price shift from nearly $100 to $19 in 2008 (Hough). The majority of Garmin’s products are designed for the consumer rather than on a B2B model (business-to-business) which creates a situation in which the company must understand its consumer and create products which will be in high demand in difficult economic climates. Garmin’s main opportunity lies in marketing and its ability to create effective sales and marketing promotions to build brand loyalty. With such a high volume of competition in the GPS market, Garmin

Scholarly paper Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Scholarly paper - Scholarship Essay Example Whether or not a law prohibiting smoking in cars containing minors could be passed in the US would ultimately depend on the law’s constitutionality under the Commerce Clause of the US constitution. The Commerce Clause allows congress â€Å"to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several states† and has long been an issue of political and social debate. The Supreme Court’s current standard for determining whether Congress has exceeded its commerce power can be subjective, making it difficult to predict constitutionality of proposed public health laws. However, the court has shown surprising willingness in recent cases to broaden the power of congress to regulate commerce in order to protect public health. Especially to innocent children confined to auto mobiles and who cannot protect themselves, as such a federal law prohibiting smoking in cars containing minors could be found constitutional. Furthermore, if congress were to refuse to take such a law into consideration, it could be possible for states, themselves, to regulate smoking in cars under the dormant commerce clause. This problem cannot be easily prevented by taking simple actions like opening of the car windows. This is because this action can change the direction of the air flow and as a result the smoke gets blown right back into the face of the child. What requires to be done is a law to be passed that prohibits smoking in motor vehicles. This can place stiff penalties to the offenders with the possibility that the parents can lose custody of their children if found engaging in the act. The level of exposure to secondary smoke by children is about 11% in the United States. This study was carried out among children aged below 6 years. It was also revealed that it was the parents who were the main source of exposure to their children, exposure by parents accounted for 90%. There was a new revelation in the research

Are equity markets efficient Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Are equity markets efficient - Assignment Example Therefore, the allocatively efficiency is determined by utilising a very complicated economic model2. Financial literatures have also eluded that, apart from other factors in global and local market, operational and informational efficiency have a very essential role in shaping market allocative efficiency. For instance, if some investors have realised that some dominant investors in the market have essential information on the market trend, then the possibility of demanding a higher rate of returns on asset is relatively high. The liquidity in assert prices have a considerable role in shaping allocative efficiency. Based on the available information, it is factual to state that the existing microstructures finance does not provide specific question on the nature and profitability in the market. Consequently, equity markets are in most cases inefficient. Moreover, the level of market efficiency depends on the degree of operational and information efficiency. The allocation of funds i n any project depends on the available information regarding the productivity and worth of the project or investment. Very few investors develop interest to invest on projects that have limited rewards on their investments. Moreover, dominant investors in modern market control and manage operation and productivity of specific market. The dominance of market by prominent investors, therefore, increases the rate of inequity in modern market. Moreover, in an inequitable market, most decision make formulated and implemented by individuals who have personal interest in the market3. Operational efficiency Operational efficiency is the evaluation of cost incurred in the transfer of funds from savers to investors. Therefore, operational efficiency is used to define the entire transaction cost in financial sector. In an ideal market, the transaction cost in the market should reflect the marginal cost of offering services to market participants4. Moreover, the management and execution of oper ational efficiency is in most cases based on the liquidity of a specific market. However, modern market has proved to be inefficient due inefficient mechanisms that can necessitate investors to transact their business in a reasonable size without paying huge transaction cost. Searchers and financial theorists have as well claimed that sophisticated investors and entrepreneurs invest in markets with many liquidity-based investors in order to hide their trades. This, therefore, means that the level of informational efficiency is associated with the level of operational efficiency. The amount of information available regarding to the prices in the market determines the level of liquidity in the market. The association of the amount of resources in the market with liquidity level in the market explain the level of inequity in modern market efficient5. Informational efficiency The assert market is presumed to be informational efficient if the prices of asset have totally incorporated the required information on fundamental values. The efficient of the markets is, therefore, defined by the price information that is available to market participants. However, the market informational efficient is to some extent weakened by inclusion of past prices in current prices. The incorporation of past prices in new prices rules out the employment of technical trading rules and regulations in making excess return6. A market is in â€Å"semi-strong form of efficient†

Time To Rethink The Portfolio

Time To Rethink The Portfolio Church Dwight Co. Inc. is a 160 years old company that has been working to build a market share on a brand name that is rarely associated with its name, Arm Hammer (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-1). The companys growth strategy was finding new ways to incorporate sodium bicarbonate in the lives of the consumer. The company shifted management thinking, as more emphasis has been placed on bottom-line profitability growth. Because of the acquisition of 80 different consumer brands since 2004, Church Dwight dealt with explosive growth that is producing challenges such as the companys small size and the ability to compete for market share with its giant competitors both domestic and international market (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-1 35-2). 2. Summary statement of the recommended solution: Church Dwight, a relatively small company, recognized the challenges of growing sales through acquisitions that it made to promote growth and competitiveness within those markets. They needed to grow the expansion of product lines into a variety of personal care, deodorizing and cleaning, and laundry products as well as specialty chemicals, animal nutrition, and specialty cleaners (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-6). Church Dwight expanded into international markets and gained footholds in product markets through acquisition of manufacturing assets. Penetrating international markets and removing barriers such as transportation cost will gain a competitive edge against the giant players in the market (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-11). B. THE SITUATION After 160 years, Church Dwight is a giant in the household domestic product market with a brand name recognition more commonly associated with Arm Hammer products. ARM HAMMER baking soda became a fundamental item on the pantry shelf because of its several uses other than baking, it can be used as a dentifrice, chemical agent to absorb or neutralize odors and acidity, a kidney dialysis element, a blast media, an environmentally friendly cleaning agent, a swimming pool pH stabilizer, and a pollution control agent (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). The companys brand portfolio included over 80 popular brands and competes for market share with other giants including Colgate-Palmolive, Clorox, and Proctor Gamble, which have combined sales of over $100 billion (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-1). The company expanded over the past decade into other household product lines through acquisitions of consumer brands such as Mentadent, Pepsodent, Aim, Close-up, Trojan, Spinbrush, Oragel and Ox iclean. It achieved 85% of the sodium bicarbonate market share (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-6). Expansion in the domestic markets proved successful because of the management recognized the value of a major asset, the companys pristine balance sheet and made the decision to grow (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-5). Growth in the foreign markets proved more challenging than domestic markets as net sales in 2009 were only $393 million compared to domestic net sales of $1.8 billion (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-5). Finally, the company has achieved some success in foreign markets as 19% of revenue has been received through international market sales; primarily in consumer products (Case Author: Cook, R. A., p.35-1 35-12, 2012). A challenge against leveraged buy-outs and hostile takeovers is eminent. It is also experiencing head on collision with giant competitors such as Procter Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive. In spite of challenges Church Dwight transformed into much larger competito r not only across a broader range of products but also in geographic territory (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-6). Because of this, the company in order to maintain its continuous growth in both domestic and international arena needs to have the best strategy at their side. (Cook, pp, 35-1 35-12). II. ANALYSIS A. ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION Management The management of Church Dwight Co. Inc. was lead by Dwight C. Milton, a direct descendant of Austin Church, as CEO from 1969 to 1995. He remained on the board as Chairman Emeritus as he turned over the responsibility to the first non-family member to Robert A. Davies III. Again In 2004 the responsibility was transferred to another non-family member, James R. Craige, who remained focused on building a portfolio of strong brands with sustainable competitive advantage (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). The steadiness of the companys leadership can be primarily attributed to the fact that 25 percent of outstanding common stock is owned by descendants of the companys original cofounders, a tradition that continues today (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). This focused leadership style has enabled Church Dwight to overcome potential leveraged buy-outs and hostile takeovers with a series of calculated actions and savvy business decisions. These actions allowed the board of dir ectors and management to amend the companys charter and allowing shareholders four (4) votes per share after they hold their stock for four years. In addition to staggering the directors tenure, the company initiated employee severance agreements with key officials, providing a severance package agreement to provide a safety net should any of the board member positions be terminated by a hostile takeover or leveraged buy-out by an unwanted suitor. By providing these lucrative packages for senior managers, many were able to stay with Church Dwight and allowed for continuity of leadership styles, vision and mission focus. It is because of this steadfast devotion to principles that have promoted steady growth over the years that we find Church Dwight identified previously as a Star but more recently labeled a Cash Cow using the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Growth Share Matrix (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 221-222). However, as the company focuses more on international markets and ente rs other potential avenues of growing product lines, it will surely find itself back in the Stars range of the BCG Growth-Share Matrix. Operations 10 years ago, the Church Dwight Co. Inc. was a largely household domestic product company with an average annual sale of less than a billion dollars but because of major acquisitions, today it is has transformed into a company that has a capability of earning over 2.5 billion in annual sales. Church Dwight have come to the realization that they have major challenges to overcome if they are to compete with other giants in the industry and continue to thrive. Church Dwight also recognize they must remain vigilant to quickly and adequately deal with Porters Five Forces: Bargaining power of suppliers; Threat of new entrants; Threat of substitute products or services; bargaining power of buyers (customers); and Rivalry among existing firms (competitors) (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 110-113). When considering the force, Bargaining Power of Suppliers, the force rating could be considered MEDIUM as management must be constantly aware of any potential market shocks or trends. If an affiliate retailer is affected by unforeseen supply chain issues, like increased fuel prices, then those costs throughout the company may be affected to remain competitive. In addition, Church Dwight are well aware of the economic situations that may affect their trade customers who may reduce distribution of products in which sales may decline, or adversely affect the financial performance of the company (Craigie, 2010, p. 11). There was never historically a Threat of New Entrants into the sodium bicarbonate market prior to 1970. However, as the company developed new product offerings and other established consumer brands, they now face the same competition threats of mature and domestic and international markets for consumer products (Wheelen Hunger, p 35-7, 2012). In addition, this threat of new entrants has emerged over the past decades and may now be rated High on the Porters Force Rating Scale. In fact, the looming economic crisis may cause many trade customers to more c ritically analyze the threat of new entrants as HIGH as competition drives less efficient operators out of the market as new competitors are always trying to enter the market by under-selling products directly competing with Church Dwight. Of course, the Threat of substitute products or services is always considered HIGH as well because brand recognition is very important in todays mass-media marketing. The value of trademarks, copyrights, or brand recognition can be severely impacted if inferior or substitute products/services from an affiliate or emerging competitor are advertised or sold to consumers looking for products with reputations of value and durability. Of course, a substitute item may also find its way into the market where consumers might choose it as a suitable replacement, but at a much cheaper cost to them. This would definitely be a problem for any company. (Wheelen Hunger, p. 221-222, 2012). Bargaining power of buyers (customers) is generally a MEDIUM concern as consumer satisfaction is evaluated in a variety of ways. Otherwise, dissatisfaction can drive prices up or down based on demand (or the lack of). Quality is also a hallmark of Church Dwight and the perception by consumers of any potential lowering of standards to decrease prices will typically drive loyal customers away. And finally, Rivalry among existing firms (competitors) is HIGH as competitors try to achieve greater market shares to grow potential profit shares. To reduce industry competition, Church Dwight also have a very solid core of specialty products (Wheelen Hunger, p 35-9, 2012). Fortunately, Church Dwight has in an enviable position to profit from its dominant niche in the sodium bicarbonate products market since it controlled the primary raw material used in its production (Wheelen Hunger, p 35-9, 2012). Marketing The Church Dwight Co. Inc. sales are concentrated in United States and Canada where funnel it through mass merchandisers such as Wal-Mart, supermarkets, wholesale clubs and drugstores (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-7). Marketing strategy has been fairly simplistic in that its focus has primarily been on the sodium bicarbonate product lines for over a century, but since acquiring over 80 additional brands and the expansion into other product markets the brand recognition has become even more important than ever. As a result, marketing expenses for 2009 were $353.6 million, an increase of $59.5 million or 20% as compared to 2008 (Craigie, 2010, p. 29). Church Dwight catered to all demographics which allowed them to develop more and more organic products and services with large scale agreements to serve them. Unfortunately, attempts to enter international markets have met with limited success, probably for two reasons: (1) lack of name recognition and (2) transportation cos ts (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-11). Church Dwight decided to take their marketing tasks in house by having designed a campaign on one of their product that would shake people up particularly those who think that using condoms is not for them by airing commercials on prime-time television. This shock strategy increased its marketing strength and enabled the partnership with Quidel Corporation, a provider of point-of-care diagnostic test, to meet womens health and wellness needs (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-9). Product marketing is essential to reinforce brand name recognition so consumers never forget the value and quality of a companys name and its product lines. Finance Being the worlds largest producer and marketer of sodium bicarbonate-based products, Church Dwight Co. Inc was able to maintain a steady growth in both sales and earnings. For the past 30 years, the average company sales have increased by 10-15% annually (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). The companys domestic markets have proven successful because of the companys pristine balance sheet (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-5). in 2009, Church Dwights performance worldwide has achieved an increase in sales of 4 percent; organic sales increased 5 percent, gross profit margin increased 44 percent while global marketing expenses only increased 20 percent; and the Net Cash Flow grew to a record level of $401 million even more significant to investors is the report of earnings per share grew 23% and dividends on investments increased by 35 percent (Craigie, 2010, p. 1). ). In contrast to the growing profits and expenses, the company also jettisoned noncore assets for the first time, i ncluding five domestic and international consumer product brands acquired during the 2008 Del Laboratories transaction (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-5). The long-term business model is based on annual organic growth of 3-4%, gross marginal expansion, tight management of overhead cost and operating margin improvement of 60-70 basis points resulting in sustained earning growth of 10-12% excluding acquisition. They have added a $1 billion in sales for the past 5 years while reducing the total head count by 5% (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). the CEO remains focused on building a portfolio of strong brands with sustainable competitive advantages and the long-term objective is to maintain the companys track record of delivering outstanding TSR (Total Shareholder Return) relative to that of the SP 500 (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). Administration (Human Resources) The Companys leadership at the top has remained a stable hallmark of the company. The Boards of directors are structures into three classes with four directors in each class serving staggered period of three year term (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). the former CEO, Mr. James R. Cragie, stated à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦[W]e have added $1 billion in sales in the past five years, a 72% increase, while reducing out total headcount by 5%, resulting in higher revenue per employee than all of our major competitors (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). Because of its continuous exposure to would-be suitors the company has entered into an employee severance agreement with key officials. It provides pay up to two times the individuals highest salary and bonus plus benefits for two years. As the company widens its coverage into the consumer products in early 2000s, the changes in its key personnel was noticeable by injected a pool of executives with wide range of experien ce in marketing and international background from known organizations such as Spalding Sports Worldwide, Johnsons Johnsons, FMC and Carter-Wallace (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-3). Technological advancements allow for increased productivity in various aspects of manufacturing and labor allowing for greater productivity without the added expense of additional manpower. The following is the companys published Ethical Standards: The reputation and integrity of Church Dwight Co., Inc. are valuable corporate assets, vital to the Companys success. Each Company employee, including each of the Companys officers and general managers and each Company director, is responsible for conducting the Companys business in a manner that demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of integrity. Specifically, we encourage among Company personnel a culture of honesty, accountability and mutual respect. Additionally, we provide guidance to help Company personnel recognize and deal with ethical i ssues. Finally, we have provided mechanisms for Company personnel to report unethical conduct. Dishonest or unethical conduct or conduct that is illegal will constitute a violation of these Standards and are grounds for disciplinary action (Church Dwight Co. Inc, 2010). SWOT STRENGTHS The Church Dwight Corporation has several strengths, the company controlled the primary raw materials used in its production of Sodium Bicarbonate through its companys mines in southwest Wyoming, production was completed in company owned plants located in Green River, Wyoming and Old Fort, Ohio and they manufactured almost two-thirds of the sodium bicarbonate sold in United States (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-9). The sodium bicarbonate product line has proven itself for over 160 years with uses in baking, cleaning, and deodorizing, and as an added ingredient for things like drain openers and neutralizing agents. WEAKNESSES A potential weakness within the company is the overextension of branding into many other product lines. Until 1970, it produced and sold only two consumer products: ARM HAMMER Baking Soda and a laundry product marketed under the name Super Washing Soda. The company enjoyed success domestically, but in the international arena where growth was more products driven and less marking sensitive, the company was less experienced (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-6 35-7). Other weaknesses are the lack of name recognition from consumers, the capability in entering the international market due to being hindered by the cost of transporting the product, and the cost is four times of its domestic transportation cost. Opportunities There is a wide range of opportunities for Church Dwight Co. Inc. when it come to their sodium bicarbonate products as it continues to explore new use. Church Dwight gained recognition when it was utilized successfully for the delicate task stripping the paint and tar from the interior of Statue of Liberty without damaging the fragile copper skin (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-10). Future expansion in acquisitions and assets may prove more advantageous as potential consumer products become even more attractive to increase the profitability as the manufacturing base is expanded around the globe. THREATS The primary threat to Church Dwight is competition. Competitors have an even greater market share and larger marketing campaigns to remain leaders in their respective niche. There are also threats of buy-outs or hostile takeovers of Church Dwight but because of the company entering into an employee severance agreement with key officials (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-3)it has kept this issue away from them. 7.) Products or services Church Dwight consists of several acquisitions that cater to almost 95% of all US Households. These products are based on differences in the nature of their uses and organized into three reportable segments: Consumer Domestic, Consumer International and Specialty Products (SPD) (Craigie, 2010, p. 2). The company currently produces 80 different product lines, in which (8) major brands make up a total of 80 percent of its business (Craigie, 2010, p. 1), including: ARM HAMMER, Trojan, Oxiclean, Spinbrush, First Response, Nair, Orajel, and Xtra Leading Deep Value Laundry Detergent (Craigie, 2010, p. 1). Church Dwight has a discreet marketing team focused solely on new product development which leads cross-functional efforts. In partnership withà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦RD colleagues, uses both internal and external resources to identify, design and market new productsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦accounted for over $400 million, or over 15 percent in total sales, in 2009 (Church Dwi ght Co. Inc, 2010). The products ranges from dentifrice, chemical agent to absorb or neutralize odors and acidity, a kidney dialysis element, a blast media, an environmentally friendly cleaning agent, a swimming pool pH stabilizer, and pollution control agent (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-2). The company is also focused on goals to develop differentiated products with new and distinctive features, increased convenience and value, and engaging outside contractors for research and development activities (Church Dwight Co. Inc, 2010). B. PROBLEM DEFINITION The problem presented in this case study was that Church Dwight needed to rationalize its expanded consumer products, while presenting a consistent operating profit and increasing market shares of the household product industry. Potential marketing problems arose when companys own products were placed along with its well-known brand name and confused consumers. The companys corporate objectives were: (1) to maintain a steady growth by staying focus on long term goals; (2) to provide best result to shareholders; (3) to continue seeking new uses of its core products (4) to maintain and keep cost under control; (5) to enter the international market and continually seeking for opportunity for growth. In order for Church Dwight to retain its position, it must continue to provide outstanding customer service, excellence in product quality, invest in cutting edge technology, and develop new uses for its primary product line. every market has its saturation point where products matures after reaching its peak because of this point the company must be ready to adapt to a continuous cycle of change. Church Dwight enjoy a considerably large loyal customer base, competing with Proctor Gamble and other industry giants and to get customers to switch competitors is no easy task. The company should explore ways of improving the life of the consumers while maintaining and protecting the environment, new products and competitors will always emerge and there are limitless opportunities for growth in international market. III. SYNTHESIS ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS Brand recognition for ARM HAMMER brand products has already been established within the domestic markets of the United States, but international markets continue to be a challenge due to cultural differences in market populations, marketing strategies, and language barriers that require new brand names to be more suitable for local languages/cultures. Church Dwight have been very effective in using its acquisitions to generate greater revenue but with the high cost of transporting its finished goods internationally, intense competition, and higher commodities costs it might be financially sound to entering into an agreement with an established international company. Another alternative could be to develop joint-business ventures with suppliers, manufacturers, distributers, and retailers. The benefit to this option would be to streamline production and sales and allow the ease of marketing products and services to its affiliates and partners. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION The best solution for this company is to be able to retain the best products while satisfying competitive pressures. The following recommendation and solution of reducing expenditures and continuing the company policy of continued growth through new product development and market expansion with hopes of reducing costs. The continuous seeking of new use sodium bicarbonate will still be very effective for this company in years to come that is why the focus on this should never be lost for Expanding into new markets with major competitors jockeying for shelf space and retailers seeking to rationalize their breadth of product offerings, more changes may be considered (Wheelen Hunger, 2012, pp. 35-12). Church Dwight should develop new product lines both in domestic markets and globally as those markets are offering a much bigger area to be explored. In conclusion the ultimate goal of achieving huge revenue while maintaining cost of operation as low as pos sible has been always part of Church and Dwight Co. Inc. For them to reach where they are now in spite of unpopular name is truly a testimony of greatness that a company can achieve. This company, backed with 160 years of marketing and production experience will have a much clear brighter path of success as long as they continue to focus on their long term goals.

Acid Rain :: Acid Rain Environmental Nature Essays

Acid Rain Acid rain has become an environmental concern of global importance within the last decade. With the increasing environmental awareness of the "unhealthy" condition of our planet earth the concern about acid rain has not lessened. In brief, acid rain is rain with pH values of less than 5.6. When dealing with acid rain one must study and understand the process of making Sulfuric acid. In this project we will take an in depth look into the production of sulfuric acid, some of its uses and the effects of it as a pollutant in our environment. Sulfuric Acid Industry in Ontario Among the many plants in Ontario where sulfuric acid is produced, there are three major plant locations that should be noted on account of their greater size. These are: Inco. - Sudbury Noranda Mines Ltd. - Welland Sulfide - Ontario There are a number of factors which govern the location of each manufacturing plant. Some of these factors that have to be considered when deciding the location of a Sulfuric Acid plant are: a. Whether there is ready access to raw materials; b. Whether the location is close to major transportation routes; c. Whether there is a suitable work force in the area for plant construction and operation; d. Whether there is sufficient energy resources readily available; e. Whether or not the chemical plant can carry out its operation without any unacceptable damage to the environment. Listed above are the basic deciding factors that govern the location of a plant. The following will explain in greater detail why these factors should be considered. 1) Raw Materials The plant needs to be close to the raw materials that are involved in the production of sulfuric acid such as sulfur, lead, copper, zinc sulfides, etc.. 2) Transportation A manufacturer must consider proximity to transpor-tation routes and the location of both the source of raw materials and the market for the product. The raw materials have to be transported to the plant, and the final product must be transported to the customer or distributor. Economic pros and cons must also be thought about. For example, must sulfuric plants are located near the market because it costs more to transport sulfuric acid than the main raw materials, sulfur. Elaborate commission proof container are required for the transportation of sulfuric acid while sulfur can be much more easily transported by truck or railway car. 3) Human Resources For a sulfuric acid plant to operate, a large work force will obviously be required.

Assimilation and Accommodation Essay

Assimilation and Accommodation Jean Piaget viewed intellectual growth as a process of adaptation (adjustment) to the world. This happens through: * Assimilation, which is using an existing schema to deal with a new object or situation. * Accommodation – this happens when the existing schema (knowledge) does not work, and needs to be changed to deal with a new object or situation. * Equilibration – occurs when a child’s schemas can deal with most new information through assimilation. However, a state of disequilibrium occurs when new information cannot be fitted into existing schemas (assimilation) . Equilibration is the force which drives the learning process as we do not like to be frustrated and will seek to restore balance by mastering the new challenge. (accommodation). Once the new information is acquired the process of assimilation with the new schema will continue until the next time we need to make an adjustment to it. Example A 2 year old child sees a man who is bald on top of his head and has long frizzy hair on the sides. The child will assimilate the man as a clown. This is assimilation. And when the father explain to his son that the man was not a clown and that even though his hair was like a clown’s, he wasn’t wearing funny costume and wasn’t doing thing to make people laugh. This is accommodation. And with this new knowledge, the boy is able to change his schema of â€Å"clown† and make this idea fit better to a standard concept of â€Å"clown.† According to Piaget, teaching can support these development processes by stages of Development. A child’s cognitive development is about a child developing or constructing a mental model of the world. Jean Piaget was interested both in how children learnt and in how they thought. Piaget studied children from infancy to adolescence, and carried out many of his own investigations using his three children. He used the following research methods: Naturalistic observation: Piaget made detailed observations of children, and from these he wrote diary descriptions charting their development. He also made Clinical interviews and observations of older children who were able to understand questions and hold conversations. Piaget believed that children think differently than adults and stated they go through 4 universal stages of cognitive development. * Sensorio-motora: desde el nacimiento hasta los 2 aà ±os aproximadamente. En esta etapa se caracteriza al nià ±o como extremadamente egocà ©ntrico, donde no comprende el mundo de otra forma que no sea su propio punto de vista. El desarrollo principal en esta etapa es el entendimiento de que los objetos existen independientemente de su relacià ³n con el objeto (permanencia del objeto), es decir que el nià ±o es capaz de mantener una imagen mental de una persona u objeto a pesar de no estar presente o visible. En esta etapa los bebà ©s aprenden principalmente a travà ©s del ensayo y error. El objetivo de Piaget era investigar a quà © edad los nià ±os adquirà ­an esta â€Å"permanencia del objeto†. El mà ©todo que uso fue esconder un juguete debajo de una sà ¡bana y ver si el nià ±o buscaba el objeto escondido. Esta bà ºsqueda del objeto era una prueba de la permanencia del objeto. Piaget supuso que el nià ±o solo podà ­a buscar el objeto escondido si tiene una r epresentacià ³n mental de à ©l. * Etapa Pre-operacional: desde los 2 a 7 aà ±os aproximadamente. En esta etapa los nià ±os desarrollan gradualmente el uso del lenguaje y la capacidad para pensar en forma simbà ³lica. Sus pensamientos en esta etapa suelen ser egocà ©ntricos. Egocentrismo hace referencia la incapacidad del nià ±o de ver una situacià ³n desde otro punto de vista que no sea el de à ©l mismo. Segà ºn Piaget, un nià ±o egocà ©ntrico supone que las personas ven, escuchan o sienten lo mismo que à ©l. Piaget quiso descubrir a quà © edad los nià ±os dejan de tener esta actitud. * Operaciones Concretas: desde los 7 a 11 aà ±os aproximadamente. En esta etapa el nià ±o es lo suficientemente maduro para pensar là ³gicamente en operaciones unidireccionales. Pero pueden aplicar la là ³gica sà ³lo con objetos fà ­sicos. Los nià ±os se vuelven menos egocà ©ntricos y entienden las leyes de conservacià ³n, esto significa que comprenden que aunque la apariencia de un objeto cambie, no significa que cambie el objeto en sà ­. * Operaciones Formales: desde los 11 aà ±os hasta la adultez. Cuando los adolescentes entran en esta etapa adquieren la capacidad de pensar de manera abstracta, de combinar clasificar los elementos de una manera mà ¡s sofisticada, y la capacidad de razonamiento de orden superior. Ademà ¡s desarrollan una identidad y se muestran mà ¡s interesados en temas sociales.

Assimilation and Accommodation Essay

Assimilation and Accommodation Jean Piaget viewed intellectual growth as a process of adaptation (adjustment) to the world. This happens through: * Assimilation, which is using an existing schema to deal with a new object or situation. * Accommodation – this happens when the existing schema (knowledge) does not work, and needs to be changed to deal with a new object or situation. * Equilibration – occurs when a child’s schemas can deal with most new information through assimilation. However, a state of disequilibrium occurs when new information cannot be fitted into existing schemas (assimilation) . Equilibration is the force which drives the learning process as we do not like to be frustrated and will seek to restore balance by mastering the new challenge. (accommodation). Once the new information is acquired the process of assimilation with the new schema will continue until the next time we need to make an adjustment to it. Example A 2 year old child sees a man who is bald on top of his head and has long frizzy hair on the sides. The child will assimilate the man as a clown. This is assimilation. And when the father explain to his son that the man was not a clown and that even though his hair was like a clown’s, he wasn’t wearing funny costume and wasn’t doing thing to make people laugh. This is accommodation. And with this new knowledge, the boy is able to change his schema of â€Å"clown† and make this idea fit better to a standard concept of â€Å"clown.† According to Piaget, teaching can support these development processes by stages of Development. A child’s cognitive development is about a child developing or constructing a mental model of the world. Jean Piaget was interested both in how children learnt and in how they thought. Piaget studied children from infancy to adolescence, and carried out many of his own investigations using his three children. He used the following research methods: Naturalistic observation: Piaget made detailed observations of children, and from these he wrote diary descriptions charting their development. He also made Clinical interviews and observations of older children who were able to understand questions and hold conversations. Piaget believed that children think differently than adults and stated they go through 4 universal stages of cognitive development. * Sensorio-motora: desde el nacimiento hasta los 2 aà ±os aproximadamente. En esta etapa se caracteriza al nià ±o como extremadamente egocà ©ntrico, donde no comprende el mundo de otra forma que no sea su propio punto de vista. El desarrollo principal en esta etapa es el entendimiento de que los objetos existen independientemente de su relacià ³n con el objeto (permanencia del objeto), es decir que el nià ±o es capaz de mantener una imagen mental de una persona u objeto a pesar de no estar presente o visible. En esta etapa los bebà ©s aprenden principalmente a travà ©s del ensayo y error. El objetivo de Piaget era investigar a quà © edad los nià ±os adquirà ­an esta â€Å"permanencia del objeto†. El mà ©todo que uso fue esconder un juguete debajo de una sà ¡bana y ver si el nià ±o buscaba el objeto escondido. Esta bà ºsqueda del objeto era una prueba de la permanencia del objeto. Piaget supuso que el nià ±o solo podà ­a buscar el objeto escondido si tiene una r epresentacià ³n mental de à ©l. * Etapa Pre-operacional: desde los 2 a 7 aà ±os aproximadamente. En esta etapa los nià ±os desarrollan gradualmente el uso del lenguaje y la capacidad para pensar en forma simbà ³lica. Sus pensamientos en esta etapa suelen ser egocà ©ntricos. Egocentrismo hace referencia la incapacidad del nià ±o de ver una situacià ³n desde otro punto de vista que no sea el de à ©l mismo. Segà ºn Piaget, un nià ±o egocà ©ntrico supone que las personas ven, escuchan o sienten lo mismo que à ©l. Piaget quiso descubrir a quà © edad los nià ±os dejan de tener esta actitud. * Operaciones Concretas: desde los 7 a 11 aà ±os aproximadamente. En esta etapa el nià ±o es lo suficientemente maduro para pensar là ³gicamente en operaciones unidireccionales. Pero pueden aplicar la là ³gica sà ³lo con objetos fà ­sicos. Los nià ±os se vuelven menos egocà ©ntricos y entienden las leyes de conservacià ³n, esto significa que comprenden que aunque la apariencia de un objeto cambie, no significa que cambie el objeto en sà ­. * Operaciones Formales: desde los 11 aà ±os hasta la adultez. Cuando los adolescentes entran en esta etapa adquieren la capacidad de pensar de manera abstracta, de combinar clasificar los elementos de una manera mà ¡s sofisticada, y la capacidad de razonamiento de orden superior. Ademà ¡s desarrollan una identidad y se muestran mà ¡s interesados en temas sociales.

buy custom Decameron essay

buy custom Decameron essay Boccacio, through the Decameron tales, adopts a satirical strategy which ultimately brings out the flawed nature from individual, to institutional and all through to societal failings. The manner in which he juxtaposes vices and virtues and plainly provides no personal angle leaves the huge task to the readership to interpret the tales. Boccacio is not only aware of the critique and even ridicule his work of art will arouse amongst the critics, but also seems aware that the kind of literature he produced would equally serve to critique and ridicule the mannerisms that characterized the 14-th century Italian society. Through exquisite narration enshrined in ten narrators and set at a time when the plague had ravaged the society, the confines to the narrative views of the ten narrators act perfectly to justify literature as a mirror for the society to gauge itself. Boccacio uses the themes of patriarchy, the pursuit of desires and lust, wealth and class in the society and, dominance an d abuse to the society to invoke the flawed nature that characterizes the society. To begin with, most of the tales satirically place the woman in a pole position, probably ridiculing the patriarchal setting of the society. The women in most of the tales bring wealth and prosperity to their men or restore it to the men. In so doing, Decameron vindicates the societal actions that have seen the men dominate over their women, beat them up and even dictate the persn to which they should be married. Through the use of humor, Boccacio ensures that the women cheat on their men and even have as much a choice as far as choosing the person to carry their baby is concerned. Indeed, Boccacio concedes that he made the ladies say or listen to things not considered proper for the virtuous lady (pg 143). Though this could be considered a deviation from the ideal patriarchy that shouldered the 14-th century society, Boccacio was probably exploring the possibility of, what if, albeit in a humorous manner. For instance, in a society where the men take the pole position and can cheat, Alatiel (2nd day, story 7) amuses eight different men and is still considered a noble worth marriage to marry a king. It brings to the fore the societal orientation of see nor hear no evil. For a society which values are set by the church, the manner in which the clergy conduct themselves is questioned albeit not vindictively. Boccacio seems to extrapolate the fact that the church is no creation of the clergy rather than an institution hinged on supernatural power. Thus, though the malpractices of the Catholic Church enshrined in the wayward acts of the priest and nuns which range from immorality through to corruption abound, Boccacio affirms his societal belief in divinity, but as well satirizes the revered institution of religion (Koff Schildgen, p. 57). Thus, through the corruptible caanonization, to the spread of Christianity which is not founded on the ideal values, the flaws in the church are brought to the fore. This is a disguised attack not just on Rome but also on the society who still believe in the same church for spiritual nourishment. Finally, the society is projected as having placed sexual desires, wealth and power to the fore. Boccacio never alludes to this directly but by highlighting the weaknesses that the institutions and society perceive as normal, the question of ideal society, sexual relations and means of wealth acquisition and thus prosperity come into mind. The pursuit of all these human desires seems to have blinded the society and thus a corrupt image characterizes the interaction of all the characters in the tales. Ultimately, conventional morality and Christian values poked fun by Boccacio through envisaged demoralization of the church highlight the satirical bias in this 14-th century masterpiece. The profound dissection though does not harbor the opinions of the author thus enabling the reader to expeditiously opine on the society based on the information given in the tales. Through sarcastic endorsement of immorality among the clergy, the use of trickery and imperfect avenues to wealth amassment and, a representation of a flawed man to women relationship in the pursuit of wealth and sexual satisfaction as well as class, The Decameron satirically capture the 14-th century society. Buy custom Decameron essay

Literature Review Gorgeous Guide on Literature Review Writing

Literature Review Gorgeous Guide on Literature Review Writing A literature review might form an important part of a thesis or a dissertation, or might also just be a self-standing review of the literature on a subject. 7  Tips to Write a Literature Review Before going to the tips  lets  make a literature review definition clear. A Literature review is defined as a kind of academic writing that is aimed to demonstrate one’s familiarity with previous work in one’s field of study and the place of own work within the context of this field. A literature review has a number of objectives: Survey of the literature in the specific area Synthesis and summary of the information extracted from that literature Critical analysis of the gathered information by identification of gaps in the knowledge Presentation of the literature in an organized way Where Is a Literature Review Used? The first stage of any given research project is reviewing the field. A literature review might form an important part of a thesis or a dissertation, or might also just be a self-standing review of the literature on a subject. It is often the first stage of a wider research project, done to allow the supervisor to evaluate whether the student is on the right path. It is a compendium and synopsis of a specific field of study and research, permitting anyone reading the paper to determine why you are after this specific research program. Need to write a literature review? The article below will help you: How to Write a Literature Review Literature Review  Outline The structure of a literature review is similar to that of any essay. It should, therefore, have an introduction, main body/supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. Here are some steps you have to follow in each of these parts. Introduction Give a clear definition of your topic and supply a suitable context for exploring and analyzing the literature. Establish your point of view and list the reasons for reviewing the literature State the spread of your research Explain the sequencing State what is and what isn’t included in your literature review. Body paragraphs Structure the literature in a manner corresponding to common themes Provide correlative insights between the topic of your choice and the wider area of the subject in hand Zoom-in from the wider theme of the reviewed literature to your specific area of interest and research Conclusion Provide a summary of the important points Give evaluation to the present state of that literature Make an identification of major flaws and gaps in the knowledge in hand Give an outline for further study Provide a link between your research and existing knowledge 7  Literature Review Writing Tips TIP 1.  Organize your writing so it is focused around and relating primarily to the thesis of the conducted research. It can help to draw a diagram showing you the related fields and how you can arrange them in correlation to one another, as a preparation for the writing. TIP 2.  Invest in a  well-conducted literature review research. Broaden your horizons, take advice from the librarian and consult your mentor if possible. All these might expand your sources to unexpected and more engaging level. TIP 3.  Combine results into a summary of known and unknown elements. Always remember, it is about showing the ability for critical thinking and identification of issues through literature, rather than a simplistic overview of what’s out there. TIP 4.  Look out for controversial areas in the literature you read. These are the most interesting and need to be pointed out. It is about awakening a relevant discussion and finding the truth through arguing. TIP 5.  Be polite when arguing a point. If you are reading something you disagree with finding the proper words to conduct your point of view without offending the other writer. TIP 6.  Link the elements in a way that makes sense. If you are using various sources to discuss a problem, use linking words to create relations between the sources. TIP 7.  Quote sources properly. If you choose to use a direct quote from someone, make sure you give them the proper credit, otherwise, it might appear as if you are trying to present it as your own. Our writers may help you to write a literature review that uses only current references and utilizes materials from the most esteemed authors in the field. We have the experience and knowledge that will help you through your assignment. All you need to do is to let us know about the details of your task or place an order.

Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 21

Research - Essay Example In effect, the care that the nurses offer should be based on current knowledge and research that support the delivery of the highest standards of care. It is through research that the nurses develop a strong knowledge base to deliver quality care, The basis of nursing research is scientific facts. The scientific method is a valuable method that supports the gathering of credible information in the research process (Nieswiadomy, 2012). Hence, it is significant to gather evidence in order to conduct and present evidence-based research. The nurses ought to obtain the facts or data in a way devoid of bias in order to minimize the flaws in the research process. In essence, gathering data enables the researchers to evaluate the significance of the information to the issue under investigation. The basis of evidence-based research is the researcher’s ability to review critically and interpret the results in order to contribute knowledge (Stevens, 2013). Such contributions are impossible if one does not gather evidence in the

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Reflection - Essay Example In such a way, this author will define forgiveness within the organizational context as not only understanding that what was done had unexpected/unintended outcomes but also realizing that people are only human and that such situations occur within life. Additionally, this brief essay will also try to show the ways in which forgiveness within the organization is able to benefit overall efficiency, trust, and further realization of human nature. Finally, the essay will point to two distinct ways in which the ethical leader can try to instill the ideas of love, forgiveness, or trust within the organization, business, family or community. The first benefit that trust and forgiveness can have with regards to an organization is with respect to the greater level of stakeholder appreciation and buy in that it can affect. In such a way, an individual who is a member of an organization that puts a high level of emphasis upon trust and forgiveness will begin to understand that the culture of t his organization and/or business prizes these aspects above personal ego or profitability. All too often in the business world, profitability takes the lead role and other aspects or ethics fall by the wayside. However, if an organization shows that they comprise these aspects, the individual stakeholders will also come to appreciate them as well as. An obvious secondary benefit is with regards to the way in which forgiveness and trust emphasizes and appreciation within the organization that no one is perfect and all can make mistakes. This may seem as something quite obvious, however, by engaging in trust and forgiveness within the culture and human resource practices of an organization, community, or family, a culture of human understanding develops that does not place any ego above error. All too often, individuals within the higher structure of an organization or community set themselves up to have something of an infallible approach. The final level of benefit is with regards t o efficiency. Due to the fact that fewer feelings are hurt and fewer frustrations and anger is exhibited, it is possible for a far greater level of work to be accomplished without personal differences or frustrations aggravating the way in which work takes place. Although it cannot be said that the incorporation of a culture of trust and forgiveness means that full efficiency will be realized, it is an extremely helpful than that by which an organization, community, or family can help to encourage further efficiency without sacrificing any form of ethics or personal rights. With regards to two ways that an ethical leader can hope to encourage a greater level of trust and forgiveness within an organization, community, or family, it must be understood that these are primarily leading by example and by attempting to promote a culture of forgiveness and trust from the top down. Leaders from all organizations have understood throughout management experience that regardless of the level o f controls or guidelines that they engage their employees/stakeholders with, these are all but useless unless leadership by example is engaged. In short, even if a firm has a very solid human resources Department and a good product or service that they are offering, the level to which truth and forgiveness can be encouraged within this entity will be all but nonexistent if this same process is not engaged and shown to be appreciated from