Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 9

Assignment - Essay Example Ebay is a monopoly in the online auctions market with no close competitors or substitute products. Ebay is considered as a good monopoly as it has able to derive down the cost of searching for buyers and sellers besides allowing small sellers to find effective resell market. It has therefore helped to reduce the information asymmetry in the market however, its partnership with PayPal as the only payment processing service for settling payments between buyers and sellers is considered as a relatively unwanted move to dominate two different segments of the market through single platform. Royal Mail of UK is a State owned postal service offering low cost inland and foreign postal services in UK. It is considered as a good monopoly because it has been able to derive the cost down for the consumers without effectively altering supply in the market. Reuters. iTunes Monopoly? Apples Jobs Ordered by Judge to Answer Anti-Competition Charges. 23 March 2011. 2011 March 2011

Labor Relations Project and Presentation Essay Example for Free

Labor Relations Project and Presentation Essay Labor Relations is a very delicate part of a business that should be properly reviewed and studied before implementing or changing a businesses conduct. Happy Trails is a medium-sized company that is trying to minimize cost to continue to serve its tenants with a cost effective service. Unfortunately cost has to be reviewed in all possible ways and strategies. We will be covering a few of the advantages and disadvantages of unionizing. A recommendation will be given to help guide Happy Trails. A review will also be conducted of the issues a union might raise during the organizing effort. The steps that should be covered by the LPN’s will also be presented. We will then present the labor practice that the LPN’s should avoid. We will then advise the independent living home management on what we feel they should do. We will cover the arguments and defense the hospital will rise to the unions organizing issues. Then we will take a look at what the company must do if they resist unionization. We will then see what unfair labor practices need to be avoided by management. We will finalize this paper by reviewing what activities Happy Trail management should and should not engage in. Advantages Disadvantages The advisement to unionize, or not, is a complicated stance. There are advantages and disadvantages on both sides of the decision. With a decision to unionize, the LPNs would be protected and guaranteed wages and certain work conditions. On the other hand, Unionizing immediately creates an adverse relationship between members and the employer sometimes out weighing the benefits. In the event that a group of employees has a community of interests coupled with concerns about their treatment as an employee by an employer for any reason, the employees have the right under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), (Bennett-Alexander Hartman, 2007). Recommendation In this case, the recommendation for the LPN’s would be to unionize. This would protect them from being over (or under) worked, insure that proper wages and entitlements were established, as well as make sure Happy Trails was not expecting or giving RN level care through the lesser qualified LPNs. Steps to Unionize For the group of LPN’s at Happy Trails, the first step would be to contact the local healthcare union representative mentioned in the overview. This would be a perfect starting resource for information, questions and answers. This is also the step in which the union should become clear about what issues are important and expected to be addressed by the collective bargaining. For the LPN’s at Happy Trails, their issues should be concentrated on wages, minimum hours worked, overtime terms, benefits, as well as clearly understanding the scope of their expected duties. Secondly, the LPN’s would need to decide to join an already established industry union, or to create a union of their own. In either case, a sufficient number of authorization cards (or petition signatures) must be acquired, and the union must be voted in during a union representation election, or by asking the employer to voluntarily recognize the union. The National Labor Relations Board supervises and the union election, and certifies the results (Bennett-Alexander Hartman, 2007). The last step is to win a strong union contract. The LPNs in this case would need to negotiate wages paid, overtime payment terms, benefits, and minimum expected hours worked. Any union is only as valuable as the contract agreed upon. Unfair Labor Practices that should be Avoided by the LPNs Generally, most unfair labor practices are committed by the union or the employer. The only unfair labor practice the LPNs should avoid is to not try to coerce their fellow workers to join the union. Should Happy Trails Oppose Unionization? Although unionization of groups like nurses is typically non-traditional, over the past 10 years there have been many registered nurses’ groups that have unionized across the country because of the demand for their employment and the shortage of nurses. Because of the need to have every American be able to afford healthcare, licensed practical nurses are in demand more because of their lower wages. Happy Trails should not oppose unionization. There are many other healthcare facilities in the area who are working with unions Happy Trails would benefit by negotiating with a union also. Because of the unhappy nurses at Happy Trails, trying to block unionization would probably be the worse step for the organization take. Employees may feel that management’s trying to manipulate them and this can decrease employee morale. The nurses may go to any of the other facilities to seek work and representation by the union for better working conditions. If Happy Trails loses more nurses, it may be hard to recruit new workers. Steps to Resist Unionization Tactics and strategies must be implemented in order to resist unionization. One strategy that has been used in the past is to hire consulting firms, also known as union busters (Bennett-Alexander Hartmann, 2007). These firms use methods that discourage employees from voting to have union representation. This strategy is a costly one and should only be used if basic steps are not working. One important step to avoiding unionization is through employee relations (Thomas Associates, 2009). Employee relations programs have the employees best interest in mind. An effective program will help employee/employer communication, which can help resolve any issues or dissatisfaction. If step one does not stop union organizing, the next step is to prevent the union from gaining employee support. Throughout this step the company should inform the LPNs of the cons of signing a union authorization card. If the employees are informed and feel valuable to the company they will be less likely to sign a union card. Information can be provided through meetings, letters, and bulletin boards. If an election campaign begins because 30 percent of employees signed cards, the next step is to resolve any employee issues and to legally convince employees that their best interests are served by rejecting the union. Happy Trails would need to build a strong campaign and reinforce the value of the existing benefits and the excellent working conditions. Arguments against Unionization by Happy Trails Arguments Happy Trails can use against unionization include the following: †¢ Funding the workers’ salary if a union exists †¢ Relationships between employee and employer may be threatened with a union †¢ Union dues paid by employees is taken from their paycheck †¢ The union cannot guarantee anything What unfair labor practices need to be avoided by management? a) Management should not try to control or interfere with union affairs. They should not try to get their favorite/certain candidate to be elected to the union office. b) Management should not discriminate against employees who join or is in favor of brining in a union. They should not discriminate against employees â€Å"who exercise their rights under the law (e.g., terminating, demoting, or giving poor working schedules to such employees).† (Bennett-Alexander Hartman, 2007, pg 666) c) Management should not interfere, threaten or restrain their employees from exercising their rights under the labor law legislation, for example, they should not tell employees that they are not allowed to have unions or they will be punished or terminated if they do bring a union). d) Management should not refuse to bargain with the union. And they should not refuse to bargain in good faith. †¢ Happy Trails’ management team may engage in any number of activities during the unionization. Which of the following would you advise? Explain why or why not? Activities during Unionization Promote LPNs, offer bonuses, and place some into leadership and management roles. Unionization can be a long process but is quite beneficial for the LPN’s. Unions are typically formed because employees are unhappy with their pay, working conditions, or poor benefits. For that reason the activity management should engage in is to actively promote LPN’s, offer bonuses, and place some into leadership and management roles. This is the best tactic to use and could benefit Happy Trails as well as the LPN’s. However, the company has to make sure the tactics do not interfere with the employees’ efforts to unionize. Raises and opportunities must be given to everyone, not just union supporters; otherwise the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) could view the act as illegal and as unfair labor practices. As long as the employer bargains in good faith no law has been broken. Tell employees salary increases must cease to finance the collective bargaining agreement. This option is not viable therefore I do not recommend it. Utilizing scare tactics and threatening to cease salary increases will do more harm than good. Strikes could occur, which would have a negative impact on the company. The LPN’s shouldn’t feel like they are being punished for going with the union. Explain current employee benefits to the LPN’s, comparing them to union promises. Though this option is informative it is timely. There are cons to being in a union such as dues and possible strikes. Providing information to employees could sway their decision especially if they are not familiar with the union practices. However, overall the union has benefited employees, which is why this method could be more wasteful than effective. Most union members have better benefits and pay than non-union members. The LPN’s are aware of the superior wages and benefits other LPN’s in the areas have received therefore there is not much to explain. Threaten to close facility due to union campaign Being that Happy Trails is a health care facility, closing the facility would not be practical. It would also be considered discrimination against employees if they closed the facility down due to the union campaign. The NLRA does not allow discrimination against employees for participating in union activities. By staying open, they have the upper hand and it would give them more opportunity to explain the disadvantages of a union to their employees. Assist in circulation of antiunion petitions. During a unionizing campaign an employer cannot assist in antiunion petitions. Assisting in this activity could be considered interference by the employer. Participating in these activities is illegal and viewed as unfair labor practices. Counter union exaggerated claims on flyers. We recommend the management not to send the flyers with exaggerated counter offers to union claims. The management is not supposed to â€Å"promise wage increases or other benefits if employees don’t join the union.† (Bennett-Alexander Hartman, 2007, pg 673) And they are not supposed to e-mail, post or circulate any intimidating letters or leaflets (flyers). The management can however give pay raises or benefits, but they have to give them all across the boards, not only to the union supporters. However, this tactic is limited if the management decides to do this after the union has applied for the certificate or has given notice to the management to bargain its first agreement. Tell employees they do not need to talk to union organizers, that they may vote against the union, and that the independent living home does not welcome the union. We recommend the management to talk with the employees, and tell them that they have the option to join the union, but it’s not mandatory for them to join. They can also tell the employees that the independent living home does not welcome the union, but if the employees vote for the union, the management will follow the good faith bargaining agreement. Solicit employees to request the return of their authorization cards. We would recommend the management not to ask employees to return the authorization cards (badges) that mean you are letting them go. Employers can not threaten to fire, lay-off or terminate employees for supporting or joining a union. Tell employees they may be replaced if they vote for the union. We would recommend the management not to tell employees that they will be replaced if they vote for the union. That would mean the management is threatening the employees. Management can’t threaten to fire, lay-off or terminate employees for supporting or joining a union. Appeal to the employees to defeat the union. We would recommend the management to talk with the employees and tell them not to vote in favor of the union. The independent living home will do everything possible to raise the wages and benefits as much as possible if the union is defeated. The management has to be careful not to negatively influence the employees against the union. The management can also tell the employees, that if the union is organized, we will treat the collective bargaining process with full faith and not follow any unfair labor practices. The management also can state that we will follow exactly what the law requires. Statistics for union members in United States and California (Statistics, 2013): [pic] Conclusion When making huge changes that change an employees, benefits, pay, rights, and responsibilities it is very important and should be done very carefully. A company must remember how important these changes are to people and what issues could be created if the employees feel they are not being taken into consideration. When an employee feels violated they can go to extreme measure like becoming part of a union. A union can become a huge burden for a company and cost employees money. Many of the reasons why employees look at unions can usually be avoided and handled in house. Employees should also remember that a union cost money and they should search for a union that is worth their money. Unfortunately sometimes employees end up loosing more than winning when they become part of a union. If the people in the union are not doing their job and looking out for all employees then they might just be spending their money and not getting what they deserve. References: Bennett-Alexander, D. D., Hartman, L. P. (2007). Employment law for business (5th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill. Ch. 14-Labor Law. Pg. 666 673. Labor Union Statistics. Retrieved on February 17, 2013. http://www.bls.gov/ro9/unionca.htm Thomas Associates (2009). Avoiding Unions. Retrieved February 18, 2013 from http://www.employersattorneys.com/employment-law/California-employer-how-to-

Red Badge Of Courage Essay -- essays research papers

The effects that the physical environment, (nature) have on the main character, throughout any novel are so great. No one seems to notice the little details that slowly, yet gradually show, a main character's struggle, and the ironic role that nature plays in effecting their actions. Environment is always used some way, whether it is to help the main character cope with his or her struggle or, the strong emotional changes that it leaves the main character feeling after personal encounters with the cruel world. It happens more or less in every novel, although sometimes it's not as noticeable as others. In the Red Badge of Courage, main character Henry Fleming, is faced with many obstacles and tough situations that he must deal with. Nature and the physical environment around Henry, play a big role in the decisions that he makes, the actions that he takes and the re-evaluation of lifes values he later takes. The first large decision that Henry makes, is actually enlisting in the army. Crane, the author of the novel, doesn't make it appear as if this was a tough decision for Henry, although it was one of the largest, and the basis for the plot. Henry was bored of his life in the farm. Doing the same thing everyday was not enough action for him. He under estimated the power or war and thought that, that was the action he had been craving. Henry learns throughout the novel, that he had never been more wrong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After his enlisting in the army,...

Is Medical Marijuana a Good Thing?

Is Medical Marijuana a good thing? Medical Cannabis or as most know it, Medical Marijuana, is parts of the herb cannabis used as a doctor- recommended form of medicine. It also refers to synthetic forms of cannabinoids, which are a class of diverse chemical compounds that activate cell membrane receptors, like Tetrehydrocannabinol (THC), which is why it is recommended from doctors as well. THC is the psychoactive drug in Medical Cannabis that works with the central nervous and immune system to help reduce pain seen in different medical issues, like cancer patients or patients with AIDS. Medical Cannabis is illegal in most countries.In the United States, federal law outlaws, all use of herb parts from Cannabis, while some states have approved use of herb parts from Cannabis as medical cannabis in conflict with federal law. The United States Supreme Court ruled that the federal government has a right to regulate and criminalize cannabis, even for medical purposes. A person can therefor e be prosecuted for a cannabis-related crime. Medical Cannabis has been known to be used as a good thing as well, like to alleviate pain. Medical Marijuana is looked at from many perspectives, for example, physicians, medical organizations, and even government officials.They all have different views. Some think it is a good thing and others bad. It is also looked at as health risks and treatment options as well. Some people support medical marijuana because it helps with pain when dealing with certain diseases like HIV/AIDS or cancer. One supporting factor of medical marijuana comes from the, â€Å"Medicinal and Recreational Marijuana Use by Patients Infected with HIV†. There are many types of cannabis but the most commonly used for medicinal purposes are hybrids of Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indicia, which are believed to produce differing therapeutic effects (215-216).Bendayan says, â€Å"Marijuana has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years in a wi de variety of condition. Physicians in ancient China used Marijuana to control pain in childbirth, as well as for constipation and appetite stimulation† (222). It has also been used for the treatment of chronic pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, mood disorders, and much more. It has been suggested that persons with HIV/AIDS are the largest group of medical marijuana users in both Canada and the United States.A study was done and it showed, as compared with placebo, marijuana and Dronabinol, a pill form of THC, dose increased daily caloric intake and body weight in HIV positive medical marijuana users. It also showed an improved ration of sleep within the patient as well. Another study was shown in the article, â€Å"Is marijuana medicinal? † Donald Abrams pronounces, â€Å"We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled study of cannabis for patients with HIV-related peripheral neuropathy at San Francisco General Hospital because preclinical studies and anecdotal patient reports said it was helpful† (38).After a 2-day run-in period, patients were to smoke cannabis or placebo three times a day for 5 days. Among 50 patients who completed the study, neuropathic pain decreased by about 34% with cannabis versus 17% with placebo. This plainly shows that smoking medical marijuana helps with pain. Another reason some people support medical marijuana is it isn’t a hard drug like most think it is and the Federal Government should not be involved.This Magazine discusses in the article, â€Å"High time a change: legendary pro-pot lawyer Alan Young prepared to fight the feds’ drug laws yet again†, how marijuana is not harmless as the federal government makes it out to be. He thinks that, â€Å"marijuana is relatively harmless compared to the so-called hard drugs, and including tobacco and alcohol† (Consiglio 6). He convinced the courts that prohibiting pot was unconstitutional for patients under medical supervision. Young also b elieves that if the Bill C-15 is passed, which states that if Canadians get caught with more than five marijuana plants then you shall be sentences for six months.Young strongly disagrees and thinks that they are trying to use the law to solve every problem. He makes a plan with three steps included. â€Å"First, he plans to strike down MMAR seed policies preventing patients from purchasing anything other than a single, domestic strain. Then, he'll fight to increase the grower-patient ratio (it's currently one-to-two). Lastly, and for Young most importantly, he plans to create an impediment for raids of authorized grows by requiting an initial Health Canada inspection† (Consiglio 6).He accepts that the bill will be upheld. He wants to help people that actually use marijuana correctly to be able to without the law being in the way. Philippines Daily Inquirer says â€Å"Advocates of medicinal marijuana, however, claim the weed is safer and has fewer side effects than pharmaceu ticals† (â€Å"Drugs Body†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). In Canada, where medicinal marijuana is legal; the herb is reportedly being prescribed for relief of pain or persistent muscle spasms. Marijuana’s highs and lows were both shown on medical marijuana. â€Å"Proponents for legalizing arijuana tout its pain-relieving benefits and use by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments; opponents stress that science has yet to prove the drug is safe† (CNN Wire). Six thousand studies have been shown about the cannabis plant, according to NORML, which is an organization that believes marijuana should be legalized. â€Å"Our bodies make natural cannabinoids, or active chemicals that cause drug-like effects through the body, according to the National Cancer Institute. The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana — delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — works in the same way as these natural chemicals†.Also another study was done with Type II diabetes; cannabis lowers the risk of having diabetes because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Men’s Health Magazine discusses, â€Å"how the active ingredient in pot may potentially prevent heart attacks. Harvard researchers pumped mice with cholesterol for 11 weeks, and then gave them low doses of THC† (â€Å"Pot Luck† 44). THC reduced inflammation in the rodents' blood vessels. On the other hand, The National Drug Abuse says that marijuana can put users at risk for heart attack or stroke because it increases you heart rate and it contains many carcinogens.Other researchers found that it cause people, especially teens to lose IQ points. â€Å"Adults who had smoked as teens tended to show more pronounced deficits in memory, concentration, and overall brainpower in relation to their peers† (CNN Wire). Mostly, marijuana is smoked for medical purposes or to take away stress. The good thing is, it’s at a low rate for addiction, and no possible ove rdoses have ever been reported. Some people oppose marijuana because they say it increases pain. â€Å"Medical News Today reported on a study that found that active ingredients such as those in marijuana tend to prolong pain.Medical News Today noted that this was surprising since marijuana often said to relieve pain. Researchers said that marijuana many be useful in some situations but conclude that it should be used with great care for pain relief in light of the study† (â€Å"Marijuana Use†). Also an experiment was done with rodents and human, explained in the issue of Science, which propose that these â€Å"endocannabinoids†, which are made in the human body from smoking medical marijuana can actually prolong pain rather than relieve it. Researchers recruited human volunteers to determine whether a compound that blocked endocannabinoid receptors would have an effect on the increased sensitivity to pain (hypergalesia) and tendency for normally non-painful stim uli to induce pain (allodynia) often reported in areas of the body near where acute pain has been inflicted† (â€Å"Marijuana Use†). The volunteers did not show reduction in perceived pain but has less hyperalgesia and allodynia. The results matched up well with the endocannabinoid hypothesis very well.Models showed that cannabinoids over-activating the pain system and it just doesn’t seem like a good idea to further increase this effect. Another reason people oppose medical marijuana is because it is based on science and politics. They also confirm that it has no medical use. â€Å"The FDA’s Opposition to Medical Marijuana Legalization Is Based on Science†, an article that was written about how marijuana has no medical use and it should be outlawed. The Drug-Free Action Alliance states, â€Å"Different organizations argue that marijuana should be evaluated for use in the same scientific manner as any other substance.The viewpoint states that at th e moment evidence indicates that marijuana has no medical use. However, the organizations argue that marijuana should not be legalized through voter or legislative initiative, because such initiatives are not scientific†. A lot of places including the American Medical Association (AMA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and even the American Cancer Society does not support smoked marijuana as medicine. The AMA believes that there should be more research into any therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids-based medicines. Medical organizations believe that safer treatments exist.For example, Marinol, which is taken orally, and it’s a synthetic version of THC. It is also available in all fifty states. â€Å"The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the sole federal agency that approves drug products as safe and effective for intended indications†. â€Å"Marijuana is listed in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the most restrictive schedule. The D rug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which administers the CSA, continues to support that placement, and FDA concurred because marijuana met the three criteria for placement in schedule I under 21 U. S. C. 12(b) (1) (e. g. , marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and has a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision)† (â€Å"Drug-Free.. †). There are alternative approved medications for treatment of the purposes of smoked marijuana. In the article, The FDA’s Opposition to Medical Marijuana Legalization Is Based on Politics reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement declaring that marijuana has no safe medical uses. Sidney Spiesel says â€Å"that this statement is not based on science.The best evidence, Spiesel argues, suggests that marijuana may have medical uses but that further study is needed. Spiesel contends, however, that the governmen t has blocked marijuana research. He concludes that the FDA's statement is based on politics, and he calls into question the objectivity of government science. † In both cases the FDA does not approve medical marijuana; it is clearly blames on both science and politics. My opinion of medical cannabis is I believe that it should be used for medical purposes because I consider that it could possibly alleviate pain.A doctor or provider should keep a check on how much is smoked by the user. They should also have random checks of the patient and how intense their pain is. I believe that your prescription should be taken away if you are caught selling it or abusing the drug. I know that marijuana makes people sleep well and have a hardy appetite and should be given for the right purposes, like anorexia. I think if we got rid of Marijuana, people would be doing harder drugs that could possibly turn into an addiction for them and may cause more deaths from overdose.I feel that there a re more supporting views when it comes to using marijuana medically. In conclusion, medicinal marijuana has many supporting and opposing views. The analysis conclude that medical marijuana can increase or decrease pain or should the federal government and FDA be involved or not. All of the outlooks have many supporting details as well. Medical marijuana is politically, medically, and scientifically viewed and different matters are discussed and laws are being made about this issue. Works Cited Abrams, Donald I. , and Jodie Trafton. â€Å"Is marijuana medicinal? † Internal Medicine News 15Apr. 2012: 38. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. Consiglio, Alex. â€Å"High time a change: legendary pro-pot lawyer Alan Young prepares to fight the feds' drug laws yet again. † This Magazine May-June 2010: 6. Academic OneFile. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. Drug-Free Action Alliance and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Association of Ohio. â€Å"The FDA's Opposition to Medical Marijuana Leg alization Is Based on Science. † Marijuana. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from â€Å"Marijuana as Medicine. † 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. Drugs body says no to legalizing marijuana. † Philippines Daily Inquirer [Makati City, Philippines] 14 Nov. 2012. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. â€Å"Highs and lows of using marijuana. † CNN Wire 7 Nov. 2012. Academic OneFile. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. â€Å"Marijuana Use Can Increase Pain. † Marijuana. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from â€Å"Discovery That Active Ingredient in Marijuana Spread and Prolong Pain Has Implications for Medical Use of Drug and Concepts of Chronic Pain. † Medical News Today. 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 26 Nov. 012. â€Å"Pot luck. † Men's Health July-Aug. 2005: 44. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. R Benda yan, et al. â€Å"Medicinal And Recreational Marijuana Use By Patients Infected With HIV. † AIDS Patient Care ; Stds 18. 4 (2004): 215-228. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 26 Nov. 2012 Spiesel, Sydney. â€Å"The FDA's Opposition to Medical Marijuana Legalization Is Based on Politics. † Marijuana. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from â€Å"All Smoke: The FDA's Statement on Medical Marijuana Isn't About Science. † Slate. 2006. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.

Environmental Scan

There are two things that could affect an environmental scan; they are internal and external environments. Benefits can arise from doing an environmental scan on a business, which in turn can only add to the value of the business. Two companies will be covered; their internal and external environments will be described using an environmental scan. What competitive advantages each company has and what strategies(s) each company is using. How each company creates value and sustains competitive advantage through business strategy? What measurement guidelines each company is using to verify its strategic effectiveness? Also how effective are the measurement guidelines that each company is using? These two companies are Coca Cola and Wal-Mart. A environmental scanning (2011), according to Business Dictionary, â€Å" Careful monitoring of an organization’s internal and external environments for detecting early signs of opportunities and threats that may influence its current and future plans. In comparison, surveillance is confined to a specific objective or a narrow sector. The whole process can be seen as information seeking and managerial learning for the business. The internal environment for Coca Cola is inside the business’s control. There are some key attributes in this environment that include competence in production method, through management skills and successful communication. How can Coca Cola monitor the internal environments? They have to do an evaluation of the operations and take any action on the factors that cause inefficiencies on any stage of production and the consumer process. On the external side of it Coca Cola has to know that with the external environment it could affect the entire business, and the economy. Ups and downs in the economy, principles and attitudes from Coke’s consumers and demographic patterns greatly control the success of coke. What is competitive advantage? Competitive advantage (2011), according to Business Dictionary, â€Å" A superiority gained by an organization when it can provide the same value as its competitors but at a lower price, or can charge higher prices by providing greater value through differentiation. Competitive advantage results from matching core competencies to the opportunities. † Coke has a tough marketing sense and a brand name that you are sure to know. Wal-Mart has been able to maintain a competitive advantage allowing them to use many strategies. Their low prices is a very good strategy, it seems to be the best strategy they have had to date. Wal-Mart also treats their employees well, their aisles are well organized and clutter free. The technology that Wal-Mart uses helps them to stay ahead of the game, also there is the up to date inventory technology. Branding accounts for the highest percentage of Coca Cola’s value, its percentage is 80. Coca Cola has a strong global foundation In conclusion, by conducting routine checks on the business environment and keeping track of what is going on in the business will make a great impact on the business. A key element to a successful business is doing an environmental scan, understanding the risk and managing them appropriately.

The Little Engine that Could essays

The Little Engine that Could essays I sell here gentlemen, what all the world desires: power. Matthew Boulton, once boasted, speaking of his steam engine factory. James Watt, Boultons business partner significantly improved an inadequate form of the steam engine and marketed his new, more fuel-efficient invention (Ashton 25). Better engines were produced, and more uses were found for steam-power. Steam power fueled the Industrial Revolution by cutting manufacturing costs of goods significantly and quickening production (Ashton 26). The world was no longer dependent on manpower and horsepower. The steam engine forced the creation of railroads and improved transportation while causing a noticeable change in the economy. These changes clearly affected the way that people lived and thought about industry. This vital ingredient of the Industrial Revolution is still recognized as one of the greatest inventions of the time (Steele 47). The cost-effective and portable steam-engine powered the Industrial Revolution, an d consequently led to a significant change in Western commerce. The steam engine transformed the manufacturing world by making work significantly cheaper and more accessible. Prior to using steam power only animals, humans, wind, or moving water could be used to create power. However, animals and humans can not be harnessed together in large numbers to effectively create enough power. Wind and moving water both were usually found in the deep countryside, therefore once the goods reached the cities the cost was extremely high (Gordon 144). One steam engine was able to do the work of hundreds of horses (Siegel 18). On account of the steam engine, it was the first time in history that power was virtually limitless. This source of power was not only mighty, but inexpensive. William Blake, an economist during the rise of the steam engine wrote, Even a fit person can produce only a horsepower-hour o ...

How to Write a Horror Story 7 Tips for Writing Horror

How to Write a Horror Story 7 Tips for Writing Horror How to Write a Horror Story: 7 Tips for Writing Horror In our era of highly commercialized crime and thriller novels, it may seem like zeitgeist-defining horror books are a thing of the past. Indeed, Stephen King was once the perennial bestselling author in the world, and children in the 90s devoured Goosebumps books like The Blob devoured, well, everything.But let’s not forget there’s a huge base of horror fans today, desperate for their next fix. So if you’re hoping to become the next Crown Prince of Dread, your dream can still come true! And the first step is learning how to write a horror story. 7 key tips to writing a blood-chilling horror story 😠± 1. Tap into common fearsThe most important part of any horror story is naturally going to be its fear factor. People don’t read horror for easy entertainment; they read it to be titillated and terrorized. That said, here are a few elements you can use to seriously scare the pants off your reader.Instinctive fearsFears that have some sort of logical or biological foundation are often the most potent in horror. Darkness, heights, snakes, and spiders - all these are extremely common phobias rooted in instinct. As a result, they tend to be very effective at frightening readers.This is especially true when terror befalls innocent characters apropos of nothing: a killer traps them in their house for no apparent reason, or they’re suddenly mugged by a stranger with a revolver. As horror writer Karen Woodward says, â€Å"The beating undead heart of horror is the knowledge that bad things happen to good people.†Monsters and supernatural entitiesThese stretch beyond the r ealm of logic and into the realm of the â€Å"uncanny,† as Freud called it. We all know that vampires, werewolves, and ghosts aren’t real, but that doesn’t mean they can’t shake us to our core. In fact, it’s the very uncertainty they arouse that makes them so sinister: what if monsters are really out there, we’ve just never seen them? This fear is one of the most prevalent in horror, but if you decide to write in this vein, your story has to be pretty convincing.Societal tensionsAnother great means of scaring people is to tap into societal tensions and concerns - a tactic especially prevalent in horror movies. Just in recent memory, Get Out tackles the idea of underlying racism in modern America, The Babadook examines mental health, and It Follows is about the stigma of casual sex. However, societal tensions can also easily be embodied in the pages of a horror story, as in Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery. Have you ever tried writing horror? Did you manage to scare yourself? Tell us in the comments!