The Formula One Constructors free essay sample

The Formula One constructors Mark Jenkins 1. Introduction This case enables students to explore sources of competitive advantage using the context of Formula One (F1) motorsport. The case highlights the ways in which three particular F1 teams created four situations of competitive dominance for a sustained period. It allows the students to consider individual teams and the generic issues needed to succeed in this specialised context. The case is organised into five parts. The first is a brief overview designed to give those unfamiliar with F1 some understanding of its history and structure.This is followed by four detailed descriptions of particular periods of dominance by an F1 team. The introduction to the case describes the overall nature of Formula One motorsport and its origins in Europe after World War II. It identifies some of the central aspects of being an F1 constructor, such as the need to generate sponsor revenues through increasingly sophisticated marketing strategies, and also the need to design, develop, manufacture and race open-wheel single-seat racecars. We will write a custom essay sample on The Formula One Constructors or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Note: the term ‘constructor’ differentiates F1 from other racing series in which race teams compete with bought-in racecars.F1 constructors are effectively in the business of designing and constructing prototypes – each car being unique to each constructor but within a set of pre-defined rules that cover weight, dimensions and other basic parameters. The introduction also makes reference to the nature of the motorsport cluster in the UK, a phenomenon similar to that of Silicon Valley in California. In 2004, seven of the ten F1 teams were located within this specialised cluster, located roughly within a 50 mile (80 km) radius of Oxford.This provides an opportunity to connect to issues of location and national/regional competitive advantage. This is followed by four accounts of sustained competitive advantage (here we define sustained as three or four years of dominance) featuring Ferrari in the mid-1970s, McLaren in the late 1980s, Williams in the mid-1990s and Ferrari from 1999–2003. Each account explores the background to the constructor, from the formation of these entrepreneurial businesses through to their development into a world-class rganisation. The focus is on the build-up to their period of competitive advantage, but each case also then relates to the loss of the advantage for the constructor in this period, with the exception of the final case where the discussion may usefully be directed as to what may cause the loss of competitive advantage. 231 Â © Pearso n Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual 2. Position of the case This case can be used to explore the issues raised by the resource-based view of strategy. It provides a basis for students to develop causal linkages between particular resources and their effect on achieving competitive advantage. The context particularly emphasises the relative nature of competitive advantage, i. e. that the resource-based view requires a constant reference to the resources and competence of competitors in order to define competitive advantage. These issues are examined in Exploring Corporate Strategy, chapters 3 and 5. The case was designed to be used on an MBA programme where students consider the application of the resource-based view in order to ‘unpack’ sources of advantage.The case has also been successfully used on final-year undergraduate programmes and also for executive development in helping managers explore the nature and location of sources of advantage. 3. Learning objectives The overall learning objectives can be summarised as follows: To understand that although strategy can be seen as generic at a high level, it will always be idiosyncratic at the organisational level, even where organisations are in the same industry and all have the same goal.Therefore strategic management has to focus on the idiosyncratic characteristics of every organisation in order to develop a strategy that will work in this context. Strategies that are based on highly mobile resources (e. g. individual drivers, designers or engine suppliers) need to focus either on finding ways of locking in these resources, or on building competence to allow them to continually find and acquire new ones. While highly complex and idiosyncratic resources are particularly difficult to imitate (e. g. Ferrari) they are also difficult to manage and vulnerable to changes in the environment or a loss in any of the elements.Sustained advantage is often achieved through the linkages between resources rather than the resources themselves (e. g. the way the drivers link in to the design engineers). A shift in the environment can suddenly change the value of particular resources; an external view is therefore fundamental to sustaining advantage. It can also raise the point that advantage can be created by luck: a fortuitous combination of resources or a lucky event in the environment. This can be used to develop the debate about whether managers influence strategy or just post-rationalise their luck in strategic terms. 32 Â © Pearson Education Limited 2005 1. 2. 3. What do you need in order to succeed in Formula One? Why do you think your team were successful during this period? Why were they unable to sustain this success? What could they have done to sustain their success further? Instructor’s Manual 4. Teaching process There are a number of different ways in which the case can be used. It works particularly well in situations where the participants spend some time in group work before discussing the cases, such as on an MBA programme. The usual way to apply the case would be to allocate separate syndicate groups to consider one of the four accounts of competitive advantage. A series of questions are used to guide the way in which the students approach the case. The recommended approach is to start with each syndicate presenting their responses to the case questions (see below). At the end of each syndicate the instructor would summarise the key points on the board, under four columns, one for each account of sustained competitive advantage. As each group presents, the instructor will finish up with a quite distinctive set of key words under each.This enables the session to move on to the learning points. The way this is handled will depend on learning maturity, but it is best to simply ask the plenary session what similarities and differences they see between the four accounts. Put these up on the board/OHP and then go on to ask what conclusions they would draw from these. This will take the discussion into the notion that while at a high level strategy might be generic, at a management level it is highly idiosyncratic and context specific. 5. Questions for discussion 6. Case analysisThis section offers a number of suggestions for discussing the above questions and exploring related issues. 6. 1 What do you need in order to succeed in Formula One? This question is intended to get the students to identify the generic model needed to succeed in this industry. At a very simplistic level this can be described as having unique resources such as the best driver, the best car (achieved by bringing together the chassis design and engine technology) and the best supporting team, which provides race tactics, pit stops, etc.All of this is supported by finance, which comes from the ability to attract and retain sponsors (this is less important for Ferrari, who are owned by Fiat). This discussion can be developed by discussion as to what ‘best’ means and how 233 Â © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual this is created. It raises issues about separating the causes for success from the effects of success: is Ron Dennis the cause of success for McLaren? Or is this a perception created by the fact that he happens to manage a successful team? 6. Why do you think your team were successful during this period? We now move from the generic level of success to consider the specifics of each team. The issues raised will be attributed to personalities, but will also be about the ways in which different teams approach the task of winning the championship. Ferrari and their renaissance in the mid 1970s Ferrari were successful because everything worked together. While they have always had a huge wealth of technical expertise and resources, the problem has been getting this to work together.In the past this had been exacerbated by the ‘divide and rule’ style of Enzo Ferrari. This working together was exemplified in the relationship between three key individuals: driver Niki Lauda, designer Mauro Forghieri and team manager Luca Montezemolo. The other reason for Ferrari’s success was that because they had their own unique approach (e. g. they built their own engines and gearboxes) it was very difficult for other competitors to imitate them, as they did not have access to the same technology as Ferrari. McLaren and Honda domination in the late 1980sMcLaren were successful because they were able to put together the best of everything. They secured exclusive use of the Honda engine at a time when it was the most powerful and reliable; they were also able to secure the services of the best drivers around (Senna and Prost). This was due to the high level of funds made available by sponsor Philip Morris. Another issue that often comes up is the commercial and leadership skills of Ron Dennis. An interesting area for discussion here is their decision to recruit the two best drivers.Was this a good idea or did it create more problems than benefits? It raises the question of locking in resources not just to maximise your performance, but also to deny your competitors access to them. Williams and the technological revolution: the mid 1990s Williams’ success was due to their engineering focus, which enabled them to take many of the innovations developed by other teams and turn these into a car that was both fast and very reliable. This engineering focus can be attributed to the long-standing partnership of Frank Wil liams and Patrick Head. Williams were notable in their disregard for drivers and their attention to building a wide-ranging relationship with their engine supplier Renault. 234 Â © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual This discussion raises issue around the different choices which firms have in terms of the kinds of resources on which they focus. From one aspect Williams’ strategy makes a great deal of sense in that they are more able to appropriate the benefit of engineering resources, whereas driver resources are highly mobile.Ferrari: the return to glory: 1999–2003 This account is in marked contrast to the Williams approach in that Ferrari based their resource strategy primarily around driver Michael Schumacher. The usual conclusion here is that it is all down to Schumacher, but closer examination reveals this not to be the case. Whilst Schumacher was undoubtedly a key element in the success, he probably would not have achieved it without the rebuilding of the technica l team and their close partnership with Bridgestone tyres.An interesting area for discussion is to compare how Ferrari’s success in this period is different from the previous period. This draws out the importance of being able to implement change as being a key part of competitive success. 6. 3 Why were they unable to sustain this success? What could they have done to sustain their success further? Here the students will focus on the reason why the advantage was removed. This also allows them to consider whether or not anything could have been done to prevent this loss of advantage.Ferrari and their renaissance in the mid 1970s The reason for Ferrari’s loss of advantage can be isolated into two factors: first, the discontinuity created by the promotion of Montezemolo to head up the whole of Fiat’s motorsport operation, and Lauda’s accident, which took him out of racing for around six months. Second, Ferrari’s unique approach constrained them in terms of responding to new innovations, most notably the introduction of ground-effect, which required a slim ‘V’ configuration engine rather than Ferrari’s traditional flat 12.This raises the point about whether an organisation that does all its activity in house can keep pace with the combined efforts of the many ‘generic’ suppliers used by the other teams. McLaren and Honda domination in the late 1980s The reasons for McLaren’s demise were very simple. Honda pulled out of Formula One. This in turn broke the virtuous circle that attracted the best drivers, and Ayrton Senna moved to Williams.This raised the question of what value McLaren themselves generated, as the key to success seemed clearly to reside in Honda engines and the skills of Ayrton Senna, both of which were relatively mobile resources. 235 Â © Pearson Education Limited 2005 Instructor’s Manual In terms of what they could have done, there is certainly evidence to suggest that McLaren chief Ron Dennis should have considered the possibility of a Honda withdrawal more seriously. It illustrates how phenomenal success can blind management to the possibility of change. Williams and the technological revolution: the mid 1990sIn the case of Williams, their advantage was eroded through a series of events: first the loss of exclusive access to the Renault engine when Renault decided to provide engines to the Benetton team; second, the leakage of some of their know-how through their junior designers moving to other teams – mainly because they would be unable to gain a senior position in Williams as long as Patrick Head was there; and third the recruitment of superior drivers (specifically Michael Schumacher to Benetton) leading to the Williams car’s advantage being eroded. However, it could also be argued that Williams were still in a position to dominate. When Michael Schumacher left Benetton to join Ferrari the Benetton team failed to sustain their advantage, and Williams once again became dominant. A discussion could be developed around some of these issues. Ferrari: the return to glory: 1999–2003 At the time of writing Ferrari are still enjoying a period of unparalleled dominance. The question therefore needs to be amended to consider the factors which might create a loss of dominance and also how they would deal with this in a strategic sense.The most obvious factor is the retirement of Michael Schumacher: it is possible that when he leaves many of the key people around him may also take the opportunity to move on whilst their employment value is very high – or alternatively take early retirement to enjoy the fruits of their labours. There are some potential parallels with Ferrari’s loss of success at the end of the 1970s with some of the key people being promoted to other roles. In 2004 Luca di Montezemolo became chairman of Fiat and Jean Todt became CEO for the entire Ferrari operation – including the 3500 people who work on road cars. It is an interesting discussion to explore the problem of succession in high performing organisations and whether it is in fact possible to sustain performance at all in the long run and that firms benefit from a period of regeneration and regrouping. 236 Â © Pearson Education Limited 2005

History Summary of the Country of Ireland essays

History Summary of the Country of Ireland essays Ireland has been inhabited since Stone Age times. For more than five thousand years peoples moving westwards across the European continent have settled in the country and each new group of immigrants, Celts, Vikings, Normans, English, has contributed to its present population. In 1841, shortly before the Great Famine, the area comprising the present Irish State had a population of over 6.5 million. The next census (1851) showed a massive decline to 5.1 million for the same area, due to deaths from starvation and disease and large-scale emigration. The outflow thus begun became a dominant feature of the population pattern over the succeeding years. By 1961 the population of the State stood at 2.8 million, the lowest census figure on record. From 1961 onwards the pattern changed. A combination of natural increase and the commencement of inward net migration resulting from increased prosperity produced an average annual rise in population of 0.6% in the period 1981 to 1986. Between 1986 and 1991, largely as a result of the resumption of emigration, an average annual fall in population of 0.1% was recorded. At the 1991 census, the total population of the State was 3,525,719. In 1994 the population was estimated at 3.571 million. The major centers of population are Dublin (915,000), Cork (174,000), Limerick (75,000), Galway (51,000), Waterford (42,000), and Dundalk (30,000). 59% of the populations live in cities and towns of 1,000 people or more. Overall population density is 51 persons per square kilometer with large variations between the east and south, where densities are highest, and the less populous west of the country. A high proportion of the population is concentrated in the younger age groups. Approximately 43% of the population is under 25, and approximately 27% is under 15. In 1993 for the first time on record, the birth rate fell below the minimum population replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman during child-...

Green Thinking and Green Product Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Green Thinking and Green Product Design - Essay Example In order to make this clear, the discussion will involve the study of America as the representatives of consumerism, while the developed Asian countries as the representatives of technology. The developed Asian countries in question will include China and Japan since their development has mainly relied on the advancement in technology. The discussion will take the economic downturn of West, represented by America, as a result of consumerism while considering the rise of Asian countries on technology. The West consumer culture is a culture which advocates for the satisfaction of the consumers’ desires rather than their actual needs meaning. The chapter will need further investigation on how consumerism has actually affected the West Economy, leading to the economic downturn; and how technological advancement in China has lead to a possibility of the country outcompeting USA in terms of economic development. The western countries, particularly America has heavily relied on consumption rather than technological advancement. The countries have not considered shifting to a service economy with the main fruit of consumerism being materialism and the ultimate individualism. This is a weak point in illustrating the economic downturn of the West countries. Schumacher asserts, â€Å"Wisdom demands a new orientation of science and technology towards the organic, the gentle, the non-violent, the elegant and beautiful.(1973:20). It is true that the early technological development such as paper making, woodblock and movable type printing contributed to the growth of China implying that it rose as a scientific nation oriented with technology. Further, the chapter would also deal with the study of how the green thinking is reflected in the government’s activities. This is helpful to determine whether the government is in a position of accommodating the emerging technology in their everyday operation. Particularly, the government has been on the verge of improving its strategies of development. The discussion will look into the ways in which the government has tried putting up with the advancement in technology.  

Congestion Charging Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Congestion Charging - Essay Example The problem has been aggravated by absence of effective public transport systems in major cities of the world (Banister D, 2003). This has resulted to the need for people to acquire private means of transport, resulting in traffic congestions which are characteristic of almost all major cities. The major principle underlying congestion charging is to ease traffic. It has been found out that the amount of man hours spent on traffic jams impacts very negatively on the economy of any country (Litman T, 2006). In many cities, people waste a third of a regular working day held up in traffic jams. Having too many cars in the city has also brought about the problem of parking. The parking space available is not enough to accommodate the rising number of cars in the cities. This has resulted to having many cars in the streets, not having anywhere to park People result in unlawful practices like double parking which exposes them to penalties. Noise pollution has also been blamed on too many cars in the cities. Workers in the cities mostly find presence of many cars being much of a pollutant (Litman T, 2006). Over use of certain roads at particular times of a day also contributes to running down such roads. It has been established that during the peak hours, that is, morning and evenings during weekdays, the volume of cars is usually very high, thus occasioning the need to restrict movement. How it is supposed to work The workability of such a project relies heavily on the available alternatives. Most city residents who would be affected by this will first be interested to know what options would be available. This calls for building of a good public transport network. This system works within a given radius of the central business area of the city (Banister D, 2003). Motorists wishing to enter such areas are supposed to pay a premium. The London city congestion charging system, for example uses various ways of collecting money for those wishing to enter the restricted parts of the city such as: - Payment through credit or debit cards via a call centre, send cheques through the postal system or pay cash through retail outlets like petrol stations and grocery stores. All these payments are connected to a central database that helps in tracking defaulters (Banister D, 2003). There could also be a system whereby prospective users of the charging area can buy electronic cards which they load with credit. At the entrance of the charging a

MGMT499 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MGMT499 - Essay Example In terms of legal environment, strict environmental legislation results into higher costs for both discount retailers. This factor even encompasses rising awareness amongst customers which increases costs for retailers such as Walmart and Target who follows green movement (Zentes, Morschett & Klein, 2012, pp.102-103). On the other hand social environment comprise of varying income levels of customers which give an opportunity to both the retailers in relation to lowering prices and acquiring large market share. The culture prevailing in Walmart is to work in collaboration and increase efficiency of the overall team. They even focus on reducing overhead expense so that better prices can be offered to customers. The performance rate of Walmart is higher in comparison to other retailers and hence it ranks as topmost retailer across the globe. On the contrary Target has a performance ratio lower than Walmart and occupies second position amongst all discount retailers based in America. Its low performance is due to limited product range being offered in all its retail stores. However the company culture is similar to that of Walmart where team members are considered to be an integral part of the system. The promotion policies of Walmart are such that it gives more emphasis on increasing responsibilities and retaining experienced workers in the system. There were 170,000 promoted by the company in previous year with more benefits and higher pay scale. These policies are based on average performance of employees and impact of their respective performance in growth and success of the company. On the other hand Target has a different set of promotion policies as it focuses on time period which has been spent by an employee with the organization. Promotion in this company is given to those employees who possess more experience in comparison to other individuals. However the promotional benefits are similar to that of Walmart. Walmart is a big retail

Marriage and Family Therapy Essay Example for Free

Marriage and Family Therapy Essay This paper will also evaluate five major themes relevant to Marriage and Family Therapy which include: ethical dilemmas in marriage and family counseling, premarital counseling qualifications of marriage and family therapists including licensure and certification. The biblical insight related to marriage and family therapy will also be explored as well as my personal reflections about this topic. History and Development of Marriage Counseling Marriage counseling was established in the early 1930s. Counselors recognized the advantages and effectiveness of treating married couples in joined sessions. This growing appreciation for patterns of relationships in families led to numerous studies on marital conflict and dynamics and the effects on childrens development. In 1932, there were three marital clinics said to open. They worked with individuals and their difficulties adhering to traditional gender role expectations. Developed and founded in the late 1970’s was the Marriage and Family Therapy’s code of ethics which is called The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). The organizations philosophy was that marriage and family therapy were two separate areas, each with their own histories, concepts and differing practices. (AAMFT, 2012) Introduction of Marriage and Family Counseling Counseling is to help persons understand and clarify their views of their life space, and to learn to reach their self-determined goals through meaningful, well-informed choices and through resolution or problems of an emotional or interpersonal nature. (Burks and Steffire, 1979 . Focusing on a broader field in counseling, What is Marriage and Family Counseling? Marriage and family counselors work with couples and families on a wide range of clinical problems including, but not limited to, depression, marital strife, communication, and anxiety and child-parent problems. Marriage and family counseling is not just for unhappy or struggling couples, couple’s therapy can be used proactively to strengthen bonds and to gain a better understanding of one other. In addition, before a marriage begins pre-marital counseling can help couples achieve a deeper understanding of each other and iron out differences before their wedding day. They also help families learn to solve their problems by managing their relationships effectively. Family therapists often work with individuals, the couple and parents and children to get a better perspective of patterns that affect the entire system to develop strategies for modification. (Corey, Corey ;amp; Callanan p. 450 2011). Family Counseling is important to the counseling field this therapy can help people within the family to resolve their disputes and quarrels through effective communication. Proper communication with the help of a therapist or a counselor can help family members discuss their problems and issues with each other. The importance of the family in our development as whole and healthy individuals is recognized as a basic truth by. In most cases, however, a disturbed and distressed client will have some difficult, challenging relationships within his/her family and these will need to be explored and addressed if the client is to discover and create relief and resolution of their problem. Biblical Insights related to Marriage and Family Therapy In the book, Competent Christian Counseling it states that â€Å"To understand the individual, the one must see the individual in the context of his or her system of relationships† This implies that the quality of a individual is much more than one person, the person is a part of a social system that begins with family. (Clinton ;amp; Ohlsclager p. 518 2002). From a biblical aspect Family is described as a social system that progressed by forming a set of rules, roles, power structure. Forms of communication and way to solve problems. There are four key principles that a Christian counselors point out when approaching any family. The first one is â€Å"The family, in is social dimensions, reflects God†. Meaning that The Father, Son and Holy Spirit all have unique distinctiveness however they are â€Å"one† as God; this is compared to the Family. A family can consist of a mother, father and children or a mother and husband. If thought they are their own persons, they are considered â€Å"one†. The second key principle that is describe is â€Å"Family health, individual health, and maturity are inseparably entwined†. This key principle entails that the powers of family identity and socialization is significant for growth and development among each family member, which can ultimately lead to healthy family living. â€Å"The Family is also like the church is that next basic principle, meaning that a family has functions like the church. Finally, the last key principle describes states that â€Å"Trouble is reproduced, but can also be stopped, in families and in generations of families†. This key principle indicates that there is a psychosocial and spiritual relation among family reproduction pertaining to alcoholism and other issues as describes in Competent Christian Counseling as â€Å"generational curses†. Christians believe that these issues within families from generation to generation can be transformed through Christ. A example is that of Abraham found in Genesis 20. Abrahams family was said to show favoritism to certain children, which continued for three generations. When it comes to marriage counseling, Christian counselors believe marriage counseling helps couples to understand God’s pattern for husband-wife relationships, diagnoses unbiblical patterns and their root causes, and prescribes God’s solutions for soul change that leads to relational growth. Biblical marriage counseling should result in enhanced relationship: closeness with Christ, intimacy with your spouse, and a sense of greater peace. Biblical insights involving to family counseling, the focus is solutions, not simply external solutions. Your counselor will help you to understand God’s design for healthy family living, will assist you to assess unhealthy and unbiblical ways of relating as parents and children, and will equip you to reconcile and grow in your family relationships. Counselor Identity, Functions and Ethics of Marriage and Family Counseling The practice of Marriage and Family counseling rest on the foundation of systems theory, which views psychological problems as arising from within the person’s present environment and intergenerational family system. Corey, Corey, Callanan p. 449 2011). The systems theory is very similar to the views on Christian Counselors as stated earlier; â€Å"Trouble is reproduced, but can also be stopped, in families and in generations of families†. Marriage and Family therapists follow a specific code of ethics know as The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Founded in 1942 as the American Association of Marriage Counselors, the A AMFT has been involved with the problems, needs and changing patterns of couples and family relationships. The association focuses on increasing understanding, research and education in the field of marriage and family therapy, and ensuring the quality training of marriage and family therapists. AAMFT members meet standards for education and training and are held to the ethical standards of the profession. (AAMFT, 2011) AAMFT ethics are broken down in eight core areas. The first area is the responsibility to Clients. Marriage and family therapist have a responsibility to the welfare of both the family and individuals in the family. Therapists are to make reasonable efforts to guarantee their services are used properly and accordingly. Confidentiality is the next core area, which applies to all code of ethics pertaining to the counseling field. Confidentially in Marriage and Family is distinctive because the therapist is dealing with a group of people. However, the AAMFT insist on therapists to respect the confidentiality of each individual client. Although, confidentiality is essential, there are some exceptions. Those exceptions include, mandates by the law pertaining to cases of child and elderly abuse, incest, or abuse to persons with disabilities. A therapist has an exemption from confidentially when it is necessary to protect clients from hurting themselves and others (AAMFT, 2011). When working with a family, all family members must agree concerning the release of any information. Some therapists, in fact, arrange for sessions with individual family members to actively encourage the sharing of secrets to better understand what is occurring in the family. The therapist then may work with the individual client in the hope of enabling that person to disclose the same information in the family session. Marriage and family therapists are to maintain high standards if professional competence and integrity. Therapists must remain current on any developments and advances relevant to their field of practice. They can do this by continuing education, training, workshops and interacting with other professionals in the marriage and family therapy field. (Corey, Corey ;amp; Callanan p. 452 2011). Therapists also have a responsibility to students and supervisees. They are not to manipulate the trust and dependency of the students and supervisees in which there are working with. Responsibility to the profession is the next core is in the AAMFT code of ethics. This includes reporting people practicing without a license and contributing to community service for advancement of the society. The next core area is financial arrangements. Marriage and family therapists are not to misuse clients financially for services. Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions states that clients are to be â€Å"truthful in representing facts to clients and to third parties regarding any services rendered†. The last core area in the ethical standards of Marriage and family therapy is advertising. Therapists are able to truthfully represent their competence, education, training and experience in marriage and family therapy. Nevertheless, they should not advertise themselves as specialists with show evidence and supporting this assertion. The therapists primary responsibilities are to protect the rights and to promote the welfare of his or her clients. The dilemma with multiple clients is that in some situations an intervention that serves one persons best interests may be conflicting to another. Indeed, the very reason that families tend to seek therapy is because they have conflicting goals and interests. The family therapist must insure that improvement in the status of one family member does not Occur at the expense of another family member. Other therapists implement the policy of not keeping secrets from other family members. They clearly discourage the sharing of any information that might lead to a special alliance with one individual and that excludes the remaining uninformed family members. The impact of the therapists values, unavoidable in any counseling process, can play a particularly role in marriage and family therapies. Issues discussed in family therapy elicit very important personal, familial, and societal values regarding preservation of the family system, extramarital relationships, and sex roles. Dealing with these values is not easy, particularly when the therapist confronts a conflict in values among different family members and is inclined to reinforce the beliefs and attitudes of one family member over another (Hines amp; Hare p. 65 1978). Premarital Counseling Couples now face more demands and have fewer supports than ever before. The typical complex marriage includes managing two careers while rearing children really requires that couples have very strong, well-established abilities to communicate, resolve issues, maintain support and set goals. Without this foundation, its easy to feel overwhelmed by stress and time pressures. Problems can intrude mu ch more easily than most couples realize. Therefore, premarital counseling is recommended for couples looking to eventually get married. Research shows that premarital counseling reduces the risk of divorce by up to 30% . Premarital counseling is a type of therapy that helps couples prepare for marriage. Premarital counseling can help ensure that you and your partner have a strong, healthy relationship, giving you a better chance for a stable and satisfying marriage. Premarital counseling can also help you identify weaknesses that could become bigger problems during marriage. There are a variety of formats of counseling through local psychology and counseling centers, including individual counseling, small group counseling and interactive seminars where couples participate with a large number of other couples. (Wright p. 65 1992) Characteristics and Qualifications of Marriage and Family Therapists To be qualified as a marriage and family therapist requires not just that you get the right degree, pass the right tests and meet the licensing requirements, but that you possess qualities that prove you to be both sensitive and firm. Corey, Corey and Callanan in Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions identifies personal characteristics for effective marriage and family therapists as being assertive, confident, accepting, appreciating the influence of diversity to just name a few. Self knowledge is predominantly vital for marriage and family therapists because when working with a family, their reactions and perceptions are influenced by their own regard to family of origin issues. Marriage and Family Therapists must be sensitive to dealing with peoples most personal and graphic secrets, shame, guilt and rage. A Marriage and Family therapist should be embarrassed to hear about these things or make distasteful comments about a chosen lifestyle or action, otherwise she risks shutting out the patient. An effective marriage and family therapists must listen to stories that are painful to hear but should remember that those stories are always more painful for the teller than the listener. An important quality in an marriage and family therapists is recognizing the difference between judging and advising. A good marriage and family therapist will help the patient with insights into sensible decisions that lead to greater personal happiness and responsibility but will not tell the patient what choice to make or ask the patient to adhere to the therapists own likes and dislikes. An marriage and family therapist should distinguish between dysfunctional qualities in a patient and those that are simply non-normative. Marriage and family therapists may hear confessions of illegal activity or hear from the victims of crimes, and legal codes dictate what they have to report. A therapists job is not just to listen but to encourage the patient to take action in his life to get the patient to see their actions in a clear light and make good decisions in turn. Marriage and family therapist can become eligible for state certification, or licensure, upon completion of their internship. First, candidates must register with the Association of Marital and Therapy Regulatory Boards. The Regulatory board will examine the applicants credentials, education and experience to establish competency before the applicant can qualify for testing. State certification costs vary from state to state. Each state has different rules regarding retesting if the candidate does not pass the test on his or her first attempt. Upon completion of the test, scores are validated and mailed to the candidate. A candidate who has passed the state exam is called a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is free to practice in a private or clinical setting. The educational requirements to become a Marriage and Family Therapist are regulated by each state and thus may vary; however, most will require a masters degree or higher in Marriage and Family Therapy or a related field from an accredited institution. It is essential for students to gain experience in working with a selection of families from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. A program that offers a all-inclusive course work and clinical supervision provides the ideal learning situation. Corey, Corey amp; Callanan p. 457 2011) Ethical Dilemmas is Marriage and Family Counseling Couples counselors and family and marriage therapists are likely to encounter many ethical dilemmas throughout their careers. Because of the nature of couples therapy, issues pertaining to informed consent, confidentiality, multiple relationships, and value systems can have a damaging effect of the counselor-client relationship if they arent handled appropriately and discussed by both parties at the beginning of the counseling relationship. Informed consent refers to the process of informing clients about the therapeutic process. Issues such as fees and payment schedules, appointment cancellation policy, theoretical framework that the counselor employs in his practice, approaches and techniques the counselor intends to use with clients and the limits of confidentiality should all be discussed. In addition to discussing verbal consultation, clients also should be given an informed consent package detailing all the information discussed in session. Clients should be asked to sign an informed consent document for both the client and counselors records. In couples counseling, informed consent prevents misunderstandings, disagreements and hostility between the counselor and the client. (AAMFT, 2011) One of the biggest ethical dilemmas in any kind of counseling is confidentiality. This is particularly complicated when it comes to couples counseling in which couples receive both individual and couple counseling. It is important for the counselor to determine early on in the counseling process whether information disclosed in individual counseling sessions will be kept confidential or if both individuals will sign waivers allowing whats discussed in private sessions to be brought up in couples counseling. According to the AAMFT Code of Ethics, counselors must discuss the limits of confidentiality with their clients and make sure clients understand these limits. Article 2. of the AAMFT Code of Ethics states that marriage and family therapists do not disclose client confidences except by written authorization or waiver, or where mandated or permitted by law. Verbal authorization will not be sufficient except in emergency situations, unless prohibited by law. When providing couple, family or group treatment, the therapist does not disclose information outside the treatment context without a written authorization from each individual competent to execute a waiver. In the context of couple, family or group treatment, the therapist may not reveal any individuals confidences to others in the client unit without the prior written permission of that individual. (AAMFT, 2011) In counseling, multiple relationships refer to a situation when the counselor and client are engaged in a sexual or nonsexual relationship outside the counseling relationship. Multiple relationships are often unavoidable, especially in small towns; as a counselor, you may attend the same church as your clients, your children might be on the same soccer team or you may serve on the same board or council. However, multiple relationships should always be avoided when possible. In couples counseling, multiple relationships can further complicate the counseling relationship if the counselor is involved in a multiple relationship with one client but not the other. The client that is not involved in the multiple relationships may feel that the counselor is taking sides or treating her unfairly. (Corey, Corey ;amp; Callanan 2011) At some point in their careers, counselors are likely to encounter couples with a value and belief system that differs significantly from their own. Within the counseling relationship, the counselor has a position of authority; the counselor must not take advantage of this position by trying to impose his values on the client or clients. Counselors must understand that individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and religions than their own may have different value systems. It is not the counselors job to change his clients value system; it is only the counselors job to help clients become comfortable with the decisions they make within their personal value systems. Article 1. of the AAMFT Code of ethics states that marriage and family counselors respect the rights of clients to make decisions and help them to understand the consequences of these decisions. (AAMFT, 2011). Personal Reflections In todays world more and more people are experiencing life struggles when it comes to family. These issues can range from problems in a marriage, how to deal with your children issues and understand yourself and how to deal with your family and certain issues. The area of marriage and family counseling/therapy has had an outbreak over the past decade. The counselors are expected to work effectively with families experiencing a variety of issues and problems. In marriage and family therapy/counseling there are so many different types of techniques that are out there but should be used and looked upon not a cure, but a method to help mobilize the family. Choosing this topic wasnt hard for me because of the love I have my family and evaluating what I believe needs to be repaired and what I believe stands strong for us. I believe in saving marriages and families, I think it is really important. Having strong family and a stable marriage plays such a major part in kids lives today, they need a solid foundation in order to have a healthy life. Watching so many young couples get divorce after less than two years of marriage and seeing how the kids suffer really from the break up of the family. I believe that if younger therapist/counselors were out there and start getting involved in the community, church and conducting seminars relating to marriage and families this could be the beginning of change. This is why I chose this topic to research.

The Legacy of Afghanistan’s Civil War Essay -- War Afghanistan Foreign

The Legacy of Afghanistan’s Civil War Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, President Bush declared, and subsequently launched an attack on "the axis of Evil". National, as well as international spotlight shifted to Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden, the presumed mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, was believed to be harbored. In the following months, Afghanistan became embroiled, for the second time in a century, in yet another major war. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, completely shocked and terrified Americans, many of whom had previously felt themselves immune to such unthinkable acts of violence. It, too, had the effect of raising questions, questions like: â€Å"why America? Who were these terrorists and for what reason would they sacrifice their own lives? What is the nature of Afghanistan’s involvement in these attacks and who, exactly, is Osama Bin Laden?† In the aftermath of these attacks, I found myself among the majority of Americans struggling to find answers to these questions. Like most Americans, I knew next to nothing about the country of Afghanistan, our country’s involvement in its civil war during the years 1979-1988, or the legacy this involvement left there. My hopes in commencing the research for this paper was to learn more about the country of Afghanistan itself and the nature of the United States’ involvement in it, especially during the years 1979-1988. What this paper intends to show is the evidence of all this research: that, the legacy of United States involvement in the Afghanistan Civil War, and missteps made in our country’s foreign policy during these years was, in part, responsible for fostering the anti-American sentiment which so tragically culm... .... [39] Digital National Security Archive. [40] Digital National Security Archive. [41] Cooley, 47. [42] Digital National Security Archive.. [43] Digital National Security Archive. [44] Digital National Security Archive. [45] Digital National Security Archive. [46] Digital National Security Archive. [47] Digital National Security Archive. [48] Rashid, Ahmed. Taliban. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2000. P. 176. [49] Rashid, p. 176. [50] Rashid, 176. [51] Rashid, p.185. [52] Terrorism Project. â€Å"Lessons from History: U.S. Policy Towards Afghanistan, 1978-2001.† 5 October 2001. <http://www.cdi.org/terrorism/afghanistan-history-pr.cfm>. [53] Terrorism Project. [54] Terrorism Project. [55] Terrorism Project. [56] Terrorism Project. [57] Terrorism Project. [58] Cooley, xvi. [59] Terrorism Project.

Case Study for Midsouth Chamber

In continuance of the case of Midsouth Chamber of Commerce, the organization has appointed Sage Niele as a new Vice President of Operations and Chief Financial Official of the company. During her initial period, she looked back and contemplated about the decision she had made to accept the positions and her reasons behind it. Alongside with her internal investigation, the backstory of the significant players in the preceding case was told. The organization’s difficulties with finding a system to replace UNITRAK was described in the case.Throughout their search, the company has found DMA’s software as an alternative to UNITRAK. When the new system was implemented, plenty of flaws and glitches were found that caused several difficulties for Midsouth Chamber of Commerce. With MSCC’s signed contract with DMA, they have allowed DMA to take over and handle the installation and support of the new system. The decision made it difficult for MSCC to recover the system by t he end of the case. This left Sage Niele, the new Vice President, tried to find new ways to repair the damage done to an already defective system.Unnoticed Mistakes in Midsouth Chamber of Commerce This review of Midsouth Chamber of Commerce’s history, exposed a number of problems and errors found with the organization’s information systems and as well as its management. First was with the implementation of UNITRAK system. When the UNITRAK’s president, Greg Ginder, was invited to give a short demonstration of the system’s capabilities, Ed Wilson Vice President of Public Affairs of MSCC have agreed with Leon Lassister Vice President of Marketing/Membership to purchase and implement the UNITRAK software without completing the demonstration and testing the UNITRAK system.That quick decision later lead to discovering several problems with the UNITRAK system. The system could not fulfill requests for lists and labels for mailings. The word processing, payment a nd invoicing, data changes, and list management were very difficult during that time. With Kovecki’s frustration with UNITRAK software, he was not cooperative with Lassiter. He does not give him information regarding the conversion of the new system and he was not very helpful with the staff members because he always try to avoid them.Issues with the system remained and later on the UNITRAK experienced financial problems and filed for bankruptcy. With no technical support for the system, MSCC decided to hire an outside consultant, Zen Consulting, to help assist in the maintenance and support of the software. After UNITRAK, came the implementation of Data Management Associate’s (DMA) software. Another decision was made quickly in implementing a new system. Dick Gramen, the new Systems Analyst, failed to read and fully understand the contract provided by DMA, which outlined what DMA were willing to provide and what MSCC must guaranteed.The contract was signed by the pres ident of the company, Jack Wallingford, without being reviewed by any other staff member or the corporate counsel. Troubles have raised with the implementation of DMA software. DMA encountered substantial problems converting the membership database from UNITRAK into the DMA custom software package. MSCC and DMA’s working relationship deteriorated due to many problems not being fixed and the lack of cooperation with DMA.From this research, MSCC’s history was reviewed and specified questions were answered to analyze and gather facts that seems to cause problems to Midsouth Chamber of Commerce. Firstly, the organization’s poor operational decisions for their information systems. There was no opinion or guidance from an experienced information system professional. Secondly, the lack of proper evaluation of the research. Even if a research was performed for the new system, a research that was not reviewed, was not enough to quantify the decision to implement a system .Lastly, the mistake of not checking the content of the business contract. In any organization, it is essential that a contract needs to be reviewed by all the staff members, corporate counsel, and officers before it could be signed and implemented. Based on all the facts gathered from the research, MSCC must work on having a good and effective communication with all the stakeholders. This would avoid poor decision, unevaluated research and contract that later lead to future pitfalls and mistakes. MethodThe case was examined thoroughly to determine the cause of difficulties and errors with the organization’s information system. The history of Midsouth Chamber of Commerce was investigated and reviewed by the author to understand how well the organization manages their information systems. Several questions were gathered and carefully answered to strategically associate the findings and analyze the issues. Results The review of Midsouth Chamber of Commerce’s history and the answers for the specified questions helped gathered facts to analyze what were the real problems and what causes it.The outcome of the study have identified the following problems: organization’s poor operational decisions for their information systems; lack of proper evaluation of the research; and the mistake of not checking the content of the business contract. Discussion As mentioned, having a good and effective communication is very essential in every organization. The purpose of this study was to show what the organization was lacking, that made them experience numbers of difficulties with their information systems. Also, to demonstrate what can be done to resolve it.With the problems identified in this case, the main cause was found and it was the lack of good communication between the stakeholders. The decision to purchase an unreliable systems like UNITRAK and DMA, the research and contract not being reviewed prior to signing and implementation of the systems, al l boils down to MSCC’s poor communication. Why â€Å"lack of good communication† was the important finding of this case? According to ManagementStudyGuide. com: Thus, we can say that â€Å"effective communication is a building block of successful organizations†.In other words, communication acts as organizational blood. The importance of communication in an organization can be summarized as follows: 1. Communication promotes motivation by informing and clarifying the employees about the task to be done, the manner they are performing the task, and how to improve their performance if it is not up to the mark. 2. Communication is a source of information to the organizational members for decision-making process as it helps identifying and assessing alternative course of actions.3. Communication also plays a crucial role in altering individual’s attitudes, i.e. , a well-informed individual will have better attitude than a less-informed individual. Organizatio nal magazines, journals, meetings and various other forms of oral and written communication help in molding employee’s attitudes. 4. Communication also helps in socializing. In today’s life the only presence of another individual fosters communication. It is also said that one cannot survive without communication. If Midsouth Chamber of Commerce would apply this finding to their organization, there would be a possibility to salvage their current and future information systems.

Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives

Many newspapers and magazines feature stories about the private lives of famous people. We know what they eat,where they buy their clothes and who they love. We also often see pictures of them in private situations. Is it appropriate for a magazine or newspaper to give this kind of private information about people? Give reasons for your answers. Everybody is interested to read the newspaper daily and also they used to read weekly or monthly magazine. Most of the people without fail used to read newspaper .People intention to read news paper to know about current affair and future development but the news paper and magazine are giving celebrities and famous person’ personal life instead of giving relevant news. In my opinion people hate this kind of inappropriate news. The news paper and magazine are publishing others personal life because of business. in fact people is not interested to know about others life. some people is interested to read about sports,science,business and politics.Moreover news paper and magazine should find relevant news for our society then only people like to read the news paper otherwise the ratio of buying newspaper will declined over period of time. The news reporter s are always seeing the news about celebrities personal life or their personal picture, which is not help our society, it may impact their business in their future. in addition the celebrities and famous people should not allow their personal life and should not discuss with media because it is not useful for people.Instead of going personal life,Reporters will collect the information like† How there are achieved their life and what is the secret of success† so this kind of things will help for our society. To sum up, The news paper and magazine should give good article, find out new information, which will help them to enhance the people knowledge and also the business will grow up. As far as my concern, may be people look at the news paper for others privacy but not interested to read anyone.

Updated List Colleges With the Highest SAT Scores

Updated List Colleges With the Highest SAT Scores SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’ve already taken the SAT, you know it will likely be an important component of your college applications. Maybe you've set a goal score for yourself based on the types of colleges you’re interested in. Even if you haven’t taken the SAT yet or are still considering whether to take it, you probably want to know more about what the most competitive colleges and universities expect when it comes to applicants’ standardized test scores. I’ve compiled a list of colleges with the highest average SAT scores for admitted students. You’ll be able to compare your own SAT scores (or goal scores) with those of top colleges and universities. I’ll also talk about what these rankings actually mean so that you can interpret this information effectively. For example, are these schools the best schools you can attend? Are they the most competitive? What do you do if your SAT scores are below the listed averages? Read on for a list of the top schools ranked by SAT score, and answers to the above questions! Colleges With the Highest SAT Scores: Rankings Let's get right to the good stuff: the list! The colleges below are ranked by mean (average) composite SAT score for admitted students.We've also included the mean scores for each SAT section: Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and Math. Rank School EBRW Math Composite 1 California Institute of Technology (Caltech) 780 790 1560 2 Duke University 760 780 1540 2 Harvard University 770 770 1540 2 University of Chicago 770 780 1540 2 Yale University 770 770 1540 3 Columbia University 760 770 1530 3 Vanderbilt University 770 780 1530 4 Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering 750 770 1520 4 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 750 780 1520 4 Princeton University 760 770 1520 4 Stanford University 760 770 1520 5 Harvey Mudd College 740 780 1510 5 Johns Hopkins University 750 760 1510 5 Northwestern University 760 770 1510 5 Rice University 750 770 1510 5 University of Pennsylvania 750 760 1510 5 Washington University in St. Louis 760 770 1510 6 Amherst College 750 750 1500 6 Bowdoin College 750 750 1500 6 Brown University 750 750 1500 6 Dartmouth College 740 750 1500 6 Pomona College 740 750 1500 7 Carnegie Mellon University 740 760 1490 7 Swarthmore College 740 740 1490 7 Tufts University 740 750 1490 7 University of Notre Dame 740 750 1490 7 Webb Institute 740 770 1490 7 Williams College 750 730 1490 8 Carleton College 740 740 1480 8 Cornell University 740 760 1480 If you want more detailed information about admissions statistics (and where you happen to fit) for any of the above schools, click the link to take you to that specific school's admissions page.On this page, you can look at average SAT scores as well as estimate your chances of getting in by entering your test scores and GPA. If you want SAT score information for other schools not listed above, simply search for "[School Name] PrepScholar admissions" on Google. The list above won't mean much without a Rosetta Stone of SAT scores. How Do You Interpret These SAT Rankings? Hopefully, you nowhave an idea of the highest expectations schools can have for students' SAT scores. This information isn't that helpful, though, if you don't know how students tend to perform on the exam. The SAT iscurrently scored out of 1600 points: 800 points possible for the Math section, and 800 points possible for the EBRW section. Currently, the average composite SAT score is 1060. In general, a student is considered to have an excellent SAT score if she is in the top 25% of test takers. To fall within this category, you'd needa composite score of around 1200or higher. On the other hand, a student is considered to have a low SAT score if he is in the bottom 25% of test takers, with a composite score around 910 or lower. Read our guide to learn more about how to think about "good" or "bad" SAT scores. Are These Really the Top Schools? The average SAT scores listed for the schools above are much higher than the overall average - in fact, some of them are pretty close to perfect. Butif a school has dizzyingly high average SAT scores, does this mean it's necessarily a top school? In a sense, yes. Schools that attract the strongest applicants tend to do so because they have excellent reputations and offer strong undergraduate programs. When schools have a stronger student body - undergraduateswith very high SAT scores, for example - they tend to build up a positive reputation and get more competitive as a result. It's a positive feedback loop: strong students with strong SAT scores continue to attract strong students with strong SAT scores. Many of the schools on the list above are ranked on well-known "best colleges and universities" lists, like the one that US News World Report publishes each year. These ranking systems aren't perfect, but they do take many quantifiable factors into account (besides just standardized test scores) when evaluating US schools. You’ll notice, for example, that all of the Ivy League schools are on this list.These schools have such high average SAT scores because they are well-reputed enough to attract students with exceptionalscores. A small side note: you might have noticed a trend in the scores that made you pause. Several of the schools listed tend to have higher Math averages than EBRW averages. Quite a few of these schools are heavy in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, math);these sorts of schools may weight test scores more heavily in the application process than your average liberal arts institution, which could account in part for their high test averages. With thatsaid,it’s important to note that the best school you can attend isthe school that’s the best fit for you. Perhaps you’re interested in schools with strong Romance-language departments, core curriculums, or generous financial aid programs. The reality is, not all of the schools listed above will meet every student’s criteria. What’s most important to your success in college and beyond is that you find an institution that is able to support and foster your interests, passions, and future career path. You wouldn’t list a school renowned for its engineering program as your top choice, for instance, if you wanted to major in comparative literature! Are These Schools Really the Most Competitive? The way you gauge a school's competitivenessis by looking at its acceptance rate.The greater theratio of student applicants to spots in a new freshman class, the lower a school's acceptance rate will be. Schoolsare defined as competitive if many students are vying for a limited number of spots. In terms of acceptance rates, many of the schools above are some of the most competitive in the country. Several have acceptance rates of less than 10%.There are some equally competitive niche institutionsnot included on the list, such as Cooper Union, the US Naval Academy, the US Military Academy, and Alice Lloyd College - all of which have extremely low acceptance rates. In sum, the top schools ranked by SAT scores do tend to be competitive, but they're not the only institutions with very low acceptance rates. Just because you're lagging behind the group doesn't mean you won't have an opportunity to catch up. What If Your SAT Scores Fall Below the Listed Averages? Do You Still Have a Chance of Getting In? So what do you do if you're trying to get into a very competitive school, but your scores don't measure up? In order to be a competitive applicant,you’ll have to make up for that perceived weakness elsewhere in your application. You can do this, for example, by earning an exceptionally high GPA or making an impressive commitment to community service. Admissions officers consider students' applications holistically - meaning that they don't just focus on standardized test scores. The extent to which you have to "make up" for a low test score with other parts of your application depends on how far you fall below the school's average. At an elite school, it's unlikely you'll get in with very low SAT scores, even if the rest of your application is strong. So how do you know whether your scores fall below a dangerous threshold? Because the scores above are averages, you know that about half of all accepted students will have SAT scores lower than the ones listed. You can also access information on the â€Å"middle 50† for each school - i.e., the scores at the 25th and 75th percentiles for admitted students. This will tell you the range of scores that the middle 50% of accepted students have. You’re generally a safer applicant if you fall in this middle 50% than if you’re in the bottom 25% of students. Another factor to consider is that each school will weigh applicants’ SAT scores a bit differently in the application process. Schools like Washington University in St. Louis, for example, are well known for heavily favoring students with excellent scores. Some other schools may forgive below-average test scores if another part of your application impresses the admissions committee (refer to my examples above). There are even schools that don't require test scores at all! If you want to calculate your chances of getting into a particular school, use our admissions pages. You can find these by Googling "[School Name] PrepScholar admissions." These pages will give you more information about the school you're interested in. Finally, if it turns out that your SAT scores just aren't up to par,consider taking the ACT. All four-year US colleges and universities accept ACT scores, and some students strongly feel that they perform better on the ACT than on the SAT. What's Next? If you're considering adding some of these schools to your college application list, you'll want your SAT scores to be the best they can be. Check out our famous guide to getting a perfect 1600 on the SAT, written by an expert perfect scorer. Don't have a ton of time to prep for your SATbut still want to improve your score? Then read our top SAT tips and strategiesto help you improve your exam performance. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Security Issues Related to the Expansion of the City Airport Research Paper

Security Issues Related to the Expansion of the City Airport - Research Paper Example Security issues related to the expansion of the city airport In post 9/11 world the security and protection are increasingly challenging tasks. Managers and business leaders have an important role, especially the security managers. The city airport is a busy airport operating close to its capacity. The expansion project includes the construction of a new runway and terminal. This is not an unusual situation, many other airports around the world. In this paper is presented the lessons learned with Chicago and Minneapolis airport expansion The implications related to an airport expansion are several. They are related to political issues, construction and environmental and demanding during the operation ( Neufville, 2008). From a Security Manager perspective produce a report about this project. This report will respond to the following questions: What are the full range of risks faced? What should the security strategy be? What additional security products and services might be needed? What special organisational structures might need to be created? What can be learnt from comparable projects that have occurred? What links might be developed with the public policing agencies, media and interest groups? Is there scope for security to be organised and arranged to bring financial benefits to the company? Would you advise the Board to reconsider their decision? In order to improve the efficiency in the process of decision making is important to define and measure all the benefits and risks of the airport expansion. It’s recommended a SWOT analysis. Risks Faced The airport expansion has associated major sources of uncertain and risks. â€Å"In the current climate, long-term forecasts cannot be developed with any degree of confidence. On the contrary, as has been extensively documented, forecasts of airport traffic today are ‘always wrong’.† ( Neufville, 2008). As said the expansion of the airport will the constructed on the adjacent land whic h is currently a small forest. Next to it there is a country park popular with local residents, which includes: children’s play area, lake with ducks/swans etc, football pitches. There is also a housing estate next to the park and forest with over 1500 residents. The proximity with the existing infrastructure implies some risks to the success of the project. The risks and uncertainties over the lifespan of the expansion could be divided into three major groups: - Political issues and Government policy; - Construction and environmental; - Demand during operation. Political issues and Government policy The project of the airport expansion requires government and local authority permits. These processes are intrinsically related to the decision-making process those entities. Therefore the delays in the decision-making process are a risk. When depending on the decision of those authorities the project could be affected by too many advances and drawbacks.  Ã‚  

Involvement of the Volkswagen Group in Chinese Market Dissertation

Involvement of the Volkswagen Group in Chinese Market - Dissertation Example Industries such as information and technology, automobile, fast food, manufacturing, information technology enables services, etc have been majorly influenced by the globalisation. The companies today have realised the fact that sustained growth is only possible when the company focuses not only on the national market but also international market. The major industry that has been influenced by globalisation is the automobile industry. Automobile industry today is a global industry with the demand for automobiles increasing like never before. There are various reasons for this increase in the demand for automobiles. One reason is the increase in demand for automobiles in the developing countries and countries like China. Chinese and Indian automobile markets have now become the major attraction to many European and American automobile companies. In response to this global demand and also to sustain the growth, major automobile companies have now been concentrating on the emerging markets such as China and India. This research is aimed at analysing the internationalisation of automobile manufacturers. In order to do so Volkswagen and the Chinese market is taken as an example. Volkswagen’s operations in China have increased rapidly since its first interest in it in the 80’s. This research aims to analyse the involvement of Volkswagen in the Chinese market and how it has affected the sales and in-turn the growth of the company globally. The research analyses the various strategies adopted by Volkswagen and how it has been implemented. It also looks into the result of these strategies on the overall success of the company. Also the Chinese market will be analysed in detail. That is, the reason behind the attractiveness of the Chinese market to the global companies and the advantages and disadvantages of doing business in China. This is a research proposal outlining the aims, objectives, methodology of the research. It addresses the important aspects such as relevance of the researc h, recipients of the research, rationale, etc. Research Aim, Questions and Objectives Research Aim Aim of any research is to find measurable and testable data or information that adds to the existing human knowledge. Any research must have a specific aim that needs to be accomplished at the end. The primary aim of current research is to analyse the involvement of the Volkswagen group in the Chinese market and relate it to the overall internationalisation of Automobile manufacturers in general. A secondary aim of this research is to understand the Chinese market with respect to automobile manufacturers. In order to accomplish the above aims of the research, there is a need to formulate specific research questions and research objectives that address the various aspects of the research topic. Research Question Research question is the most important aspect of a research proposal as it addresses the core of what the researcher intends to do. Research questions are vital not only for th e current research but also for further research as it leads to the formulation of new questions this leads to further investigation and research in the topic (Lester & Lester, 2009). A research question directly indicates if the researcher is on the right track to accomplish the aims of the research. A research question needs to be well formulated keeping the aims of the research. A research question should not be too elaborative or too restrictive. The reason for this is that an elaborative question might not be intriguing as it might turn out to be a explanation rather than a question. On the other hand, if the research question i