Windows Server Backup Essay Example for Free

Windows Server Backup Essay There are several ways to work with and use backup data sets when working with DCs in Windows Server 2008 R2. Backups are performed with Windows Server Backup or through its corresponding Wbadmin.exe command-line tool. Both are Windows Server 2008 R2 features and must be added to the server to be made available. They are not installed by default. Backups are not discrete. They capture critical volumes in their entirety. On a DC, these volumes include the following: The system volume The boot volume The volume hosting the SYSVOL share The volume that hosts the AD DS database The volume that hosts the AD DS logs If you want to protect only the system state data, you must use the Ntdsutil. exe command-line tool. To do so, you must use the new IFM subcommand available in Ntdsutil.exe to capture this information for Install From Media installations. If the installation is for a read-only DC, this tool automatically strips AD DS secrets from the data to create secure installation media. Backup operators cannot create scheduled backups; only members of the local Administrators group have this privilege in Windows Server 2008 R2. In most cases, this means being a member of the Domain Admins group on DCs. If a server is down, you must use a local copy of the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to restore the system. WinRE can either be installed locally or found on the Windows Server 2008 R2 installation media. I would recommend that you perform backups every night while employees are not working to avoid having a slow system.

Organisational Structures in Social Work

Organisational Structures in Social Work Organisations Working Separately and Individuals Working in Isolation are no Longer an Option Introduction This paper will consider the key ideas and theories underlying organizations. In doing so there will be particular concentration on the areas of mental health and social services. There will be an examination of the legislative context and policy changes as they apply to the chosen areas. Since the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act there has been considerable emphasis on partnership working and the importance of this to mental health and social services will be examined. Attention will also be paid to the experiences of users and carers, particularly as it relates to issues of power and inequality. The paper will begin with a general introduction to the areas under consideration. It is no longer an option for organizations to work in isolation, this is particularly the case with organization concerned with services to the public. The organizations which come under the umbrella of what is known as human services operate in both the public and the private arenas. The introduction of market principles into areas that were once the sole responsibility of the state welfare system, has meant that an increasing number of human service workers are employed in the private sector. Human Service organisations are comprised of medical staff and others such as administrators, cooks and cleaners employed by the NHS or in private practice, the police and probation services, the prison services, social services, and to a limited extent those working in education. Certainly the pre-school sector could be described as a human service organisation because of the many different services the sector performs. Many of these are voluntary organisations. The voluntary human services might also include organisations that help the disabled, organisations such as Adaction which work with alcoholics and people with drug problems, and Mind, a voluntary sector organisation which caters for people with mental health problems. Social Services People seeking to work in the human services usually do better if they have had some prior experience. This might be through undertaking work placements or by undertaking voluntary work for a time. In social work, this is likely to be even more the case because prior community involvement is seen as a valuable asset. This may be a result of the fact that the social services has its roots in the voluntary charity work of the late nineteenth century. The role of a social worker is primarily defined by what used to be known as personal social services. This is because on the whole social workers are concerned with individuals and the care they may need. In the field of human services social work may be seen as both typical, and untypical , firstly its aim is to provide a personal service that benefits other people, social workers are more likely than other human service workers to be involved with people on an individual basis, often for a prolonged period of time. In other areas of the human services contact with the public is usually more fleeting. As a result of current Government policy a social worker who may be involved with clients with mental health needs, may find themselves in partnership with the NHS (or community mental health team) and a voluntary organisation such as Mind. More importantly, Government expects social care and health professionals to work closely and collaboratively with service users. What social work consists of is decided by Parliament. This is because the Government defines the statutes that outline social workers responsibilities and the people towards whom they have that responsibility, also the ma nner in which such responsibilities should be undertaken, and the legislative framework that underpins the professional practice of social work (Brayne and Martin, 1995).[1] Social workers have to abide by the code of practice set by the General Social Care Council, and are bound by the 1970 Social Services Act as it applies to local authorities. Since the Human Rights Act of 1998 social workers are bound by law to respect the inherent rights and dignity of every human person. Social workers are bound by the 1990 Community Care Act and subsequent legislation. Local Authorities are also by the Disability Discrimination Act and social workers whose clients who have mental or physical disabilities Social workers have to be familiar with this Act as well as the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act of 1970. Social workers also need to be aware of what defines a person with mental or physical or disabilities and how their needs might best be addressed. Local authorites have to regulate services to deal accommodate both their own financial restraints and people’s needs and disabilitie. The social worker is bound by the same terms as their employer. Local Authority Social Service Departments have a legal duty to find out if there are people with disabilities in their area, what the number is, and what help the Department is able to offer. Details of services should be published and the department has a duty to inform clients of their rights in relation to the services they provide.[2] The Local Authority and also the social worker have to take into account the major implications of the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act when dealing with people who have mental or physical difficulties. Disability is defined under this Act disability as: Disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (Brayne and Martin, 1999:460). Social workers have a duty to assess the service needs that disabled service users may have and decide whether they can help the person with that need. There is also a considerable emphasis within social services on encouraging the user to participate in decisions regarding their care. At the same time social workers are encouraged to lessen the power differential between themselves and service users, this means engaging in anti-oppressive practice e.g. accessible language, and doing what they can to empower individuals. Policy Changes Changes in Government social policy during the 1970s and 1980s resulted in significant changes to those organizations which provided services for people with disabilities, people with learning disabilities, and older people (Kirk, 1998). As a result of Government spending cuts numbers of institutions were closed and this resulted in care being increasingly focused on the community. The Griffiths Report (1988) was commissioned by the Government and it recommended that local authorities should be enablers, who organized and directed community care. Local authorities would no longer be the sole providers of care, but would have their own budgets to purchase care from the private and voluntary sector. This policy became a matter of statute under the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act. The Act stipulated that individual care packages would be organised by local authorities with input from voluntary and charitable organisations. The terms of the Act resulted in an increase in the burden of care for the social work profession. Under the 1990 Act social workers are required to make initial assessments and then refer clients to the appropriate services. The Act emphasized partnership working in all areas and social workers now have to consult with professionals from all walks of life in order to adequately provide for their clients needs. The Government has been committed to this idea of partnership working and has regularly updated the terms since coming to power, and produced a white paper on the delivery of integrated health and social care in July of last year.[3] When it comes to clients with mental health needs many social workers may find themselves working in conjunction with the organization known as Mind. Mind Mind is the leading mental health charity in both England and Wales.[4] Mind has over 200 local associations which run drop in centres, help lines, give housing advice and work with mental health professionals and social workers to improve the lives of people with mental health difficulties. The aims of Mind are as follows Advancing the views, needs and ambitions of people with mental health problems Challenging discrimination and promoting inclusion Influencing policy through campaigning and education Inspiring the development of quality services which reflect expressed need and diversity Achieving equal rights through campaigning and education.[5] Their aims demonstrate that Mind is geared towards the minimalisation of inequalitites and the promotion of the needs and rights of people with mental health difficulties. Mind aims to empower its users and to encourage their participation in assessing and providing for their needs. Mind campaigns to improve the lives of those with mental health problems and to raise awareness in the wider community so that the public and the Government are more accepting of people with these needs. Mind also advises Government, Health Authorities, and Social Services Departments on what is best practice for addressing mental health needs. In this way Mind might be said to be a good advertisement for partnership working which, as Molyneux (2001)[6] reminds us can sometimes be problematic. Social Services and Mind Mind is aware of the contribution that social workers make and points out that the right kind of social care can go a long way to alleviating the stress that mental health difficulties may bring. At present mental health users receive only a small amount of social care and are often referred for medical help alone. However, this course of action neglects the enormous social consequences that mental health difficulties can have and how it affects family units. Greater availability of social care would go a long way to alleviating such difficulties. The increasing Government emphasis on partnership working should lead to a greater connection between those who work for social services and the staff of mind. The two of them together could be of considerable help in assisting sufferers to reintegrate back into society after a long hospital stay. Conclusion This paper has examined some of the theories and structures underlying social service departments and the charity called Mind. It has looked at the legislative and policy contexts as they apply to people who need social care and who may also have mental health problems. It has looked at partnership working and how the responsibilities that are incumbent upon social workers are intended to minimalise inequalities and to substantially lessen the power differential between service users and service providers. Bibliography Banks, S. 2003 From oaths to rulebooks: a critical examination of codes of ethics for the social professions European journal of Social Work Volume 6 No. 2 July 2003 p. 133-144 Brayne and Martin 6th ed. 1999 Law for Social Workers London, Blackstone Press http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ Molyneux, J 2001 â€Å"Interprofessional team working: What makes teams work well?† Journal of Inter-professional Care 15 (1) 2001 p.1-7 http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ http://www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/ p.1 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 http://www.drc-gb.org/thelaw/thedda.asp http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html 1 Footnotes [1] Brayne and Martin 6th ed. 1999 Law for Social Workers London, Blackstone Press [2] http://www.after16.org.uk/pages/law5.html [3] http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PressReleases/PressReleasesNotices/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4116486chk=zOTHS/ [4] http://www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/ [5] http://www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/ p.1 [6] Molyneux, J 2001 â€Å"Interprofessional team working: What makes teams work well?† Journal of Inter-professional Care 15 (1) 2001 p.1-7

Buyer Supplier Relationship in JIT Environment

Buyer Supplier Relationship in JIT Environment Executive Summary The main purpose of this proposal is to outline the research methodology that will be adopted to structure a dissertation on the Buyer supplier relationship in a JIT environment. The research will be mainly made upon a case study of mining company called Vale Inco. The area of focus will be on its UK refinery, based on the outskirts of London. The aim of this dissertation is to establish how lean or JIT manufacturing impacts the buyer supplier relationship in the organisation of focus and how they are evaluated and measured. A framework will be established for buyer supplier relationship model under JIT finally. The research project will follow three objectives to achieve the aim: The various factors involved in the development of buyer supplier relationship will be looked into and analysed. The external situations, the uncertainties surrounding JIT adaptation will be investigated. Furthermore, the conceptual and analytical relationship between JIT, supplier involvement and cooperation, and supply chain integration will be established and examined. The initial literature review has been conducted relating to buyer suppler relationship and JIT purchasing. Although the literature review is not extensive, this will be a continuous process throughout the period of research of this project. An outline of the research methodology that will be adopted is stated at the end. A case study based approach will be the main method of research. The final analysis will be by means of a triangulation method. Finally, a contingency plan is outlined in case of some unforeseen circumstances during the course of research. Introduction The purpose of this proposal is to define the methodology that will be used to structure a dissertation about the Buyer Supplier relationship in a JIT environment and the various factors affecting the supply chain. The research develops around the case study of a Brazilian mining company, Vale Inco, which transforms mineral resources into the essential ingredients of peoples everyday lives. The focus of this dissertation will be on the Acton Refinery based in UK. After presenting the business environment where the company operates, a literature review and a discussion on the chosen methodology will follow. Background Vale  Inco  is a  wholly owned subsidiary  of the  Brazilian  mining company  Vale. It is Vales nickel  mining  and  metals  division and is headquartered in  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada. It produces nickel,  copper,  cobalt,platinum,  rhodium,  ruthenium,  iridium,  gold, and  silver. Prior to being purchased by CVRD (now Vale) in 2006,  Inco  was the worlds second largest producer of  nickel, and the third largest mining company outside  South Africa  and  Russia  of platinum-group  metals. They have gross operating revenue of US$23.9 billion with net income of US$5.3 billion. The focus of this paper will be on Acton Refinery based in the outskirts of London. The Acton Refinery originally recovered precious metals from the residue obtained from the nickel refinery at Clydach, Wales. However, over its lifetime, Acton has become one of the worlds major refiners of platinum-group metals (PGMs) platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium and iridium, as well as gold and silver. It also processes primary mining concentrates and secondary materials such as recycled spent catalysts and electronic scrap. The plant has approximately 120 employees. Recently, Vale has started implementing Lean manufacturing in order to improve efficiency. The objective of lean is to create a system that is efficient and well organised and devoted to continuous improvement and the elimination of all forms of waste. Just In Time (JIT) is the backbone of the lean manufacturing system. Our focus will be on JIT purchasing and the buyer- supplier relationship in a JIT purchasing environment. Aims and objectives The aim of this dissertation is to establish how lean or JIT manufacturing impacts the buyer supplier relationship in the organisation of focus and how they are evaluated and measured. A framework will be established for buyer supplier relationship model under JIT finally. The research project will follow three objectives to achieve the aim: The various factors involved in the development of buyer supplier relationship will be looked into and analysed. The external situations, the uncertainties surrounding JIT adaptation will be investigated. Furthermore, the conceptual and analytical relationship between JIT, supplier involvement and cooperation, and supply chain integration will be established and examined. Literature Review A  literature review  is a body of text that aims to review the critical points of current knowledge and or  methodological  approaches on a particular topic .A review of prior, relevant literature is an essential feature of any academic project. An effective review creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. It facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers areas where research is needed. (Webster and Watson 2002). This section will summarize previous research literature on Lean and JIT adaptation, the impact on the firms performance, supplier evaluation and the buyer supplier relationship and related issues. Specifically, the fundamental activities in JIT purchasing, the impact of JIT on the buyer supplier relationship and the supply chain integration will be discussed and reviewed. Lean JIT Manufacturing Heightened challenges from global competitors during the past 2 decades have prompted many manufacturing firms to adopt new manufacturing approaches (Hall  and  Meredith). Particularly salient among these is the concept of lean production (  Womack and Jones, 1996;  Womack et al., 1990). Lean production is a multi-dimensional approach that encompasses a wide variety of management practices, including just-in-time, quality systems, work teams, cellular manufacturing, supplier management, etc. in an integrated system. The core thrust of lean production is that these practices can work synergistically to create a streamlined, high quality system that produces finished products at the pace of customer demand with little or no waste. As mentioned earlier JIT is the backbone of Lean manufacturing. William J. Stevenson, in Production/Operations Management , defines the term just-in-time manufacturing as a repetitive production system in which processing and movem ent of material and goods occurs just as they are needed, usually in small batches (Stevenson, 1996). However, just-in-time (JIT) is more than an inventory system. JIT manufacturing is a philosophy by which an organization seeks continually to improve its products and processes by eliminating waste (Ptak, 1997). Since one purpose of JIT manufacturing is to reduce any waste and inefficiencies that do not add value to a product, it should come as no surprise that the JIT approach was developed in Japan a country with scarce resources and space limitations. Organizations wanting to use the JIT approach to manufacturing must have several building blocks in place. These building blocks were first established in the early 1950s by T. Ohno, former Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Company (Ansari and Modarress, 1990). The building blocks include: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ company-wide commitment; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ proper materials at the right time; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ supplier relationships; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ quality; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ personnel. The JIT manufacturing approach can give organizations the necessary benefits required to survive, and perhaps even prosper, in an economy with increasingly scarce resources. The JIT manufacturing process eliminates wasted space and tied-up capital that can be allocated to alternative uses to improve the overall success of the organization (Ptak, 1997). In addition to ordering smaller batches of materials at the proper time, successful JIT organizations should keep the following requirements in mind: Just-in-time manufacturing Overall requirements for proper materials at the right time an acceptable level of quality; on-time delivery schedule; reasonable cost (Galhenage, 1997). According to Ballou (1992,pp.528) the entire supply channel is synchronized to respond to the requirements of operations or customers. The basic concept of JIT is that the material reaches the assembly or production line exactly at the right time and the right quantity. It works on the pull system rather than the conventional push system. In order for this to work the supplier plays a key role in a JIT environment. Buyer Supplier Relationship A competitive advantage exists for companies that are engaged in successful long-term buyer-seller relationships (Anderson and Narus, 1990; Badaracco, 1991; Dwyer, Schurr, and Oh, 1987; Jap and Ganesan, 2000; Ganesan, 1994; Noordewier, John, and Nevin, 1990).This makes it important for companies to understand what factors influence their relationships with other firms. An identification of the relative influence of these factors can be used to focus a companys efforts on the areas that are most important, improving the sustainable competitive advantage derived from that relationship (Takala and Uusitalo, 1996). The factors that influence relationships are reputation, performance satisfaction, trust, social bonds and comparison level of the trust, mutual goals, power/interdependence, cooperation and commitment Trust Trust is a fundamental relationship model building block and as such is included in most relationship models. Most definitions of trust involve a belief that one relationship partner will act in the best interests of the other partner. Below are four of the most often cited definitions of trust: 1. A willingness to rely on an exchange partner, in whom one has confidence (Moorman, Zaltman and Deshpande, 1992) 2. One party believes that its needs will be fulfilled in the future by actions taken by the other party. (Anderson and Weitz, 1990) 3. A partys expectation that another party desires coordination will fulfil obligations and will pull its weight in the relationship. (Dwyer, Schurr and Oh, 1987) 4. The belief that a partys word or promise is reliable and a party will fulfil his/her obligations in an exchange relationship. (Schurr and Ozanne, 1985) An integral element to achieve the reported benefits from more collaborative supplier relationships is the establishment of trust (Smith, Carroll and Ashford 1995). An interesting perspective on trust is that long term relationships may not require trust; rather the relationship may be based on the necessity of having a supplier or distributor (Kumar, 2005) In a JIT system trust becomes paramount as delivery schedules and quality of incoming material holds the key for the success of the system. Mutual Goals Mutual goal is defined as the degree to which partners share goals that can only be accomplished through joint action and the maintenance of the relationship. These mutual goals provide a strong reason for relationship continuance. Soni and OKeeffe (1994) suggest that mutual goals influence performance satisfaction which, in turn, influences the level of commitment to the relationship. Shared values are similar but broader concept. Morgan and Hunt (1994) define shared values as, the extent to which partners have beliefs in common about what behaviours, goals and policies are important, unimportant, appropriate or inappropriate, and right or wrong. Most likely mutual goals encourage mutuality of interest and it then becomes possible for both parties to achieve those goals. Goals can be better measured as compared to values and norms. Interdependence and Power This is one of the key issues that lead to breakdown in relationships between the buyer and the supplier. Interdependence and power imbalance are important relationship variables. The power of a buyer or supplier is closely related to its interrelationship with each other and its partners. Anderson and Weitz (1990) defined power imbalance as the ability of one partner to get the other partner to do something they would not normally do. Han, Wilson and Dant (1993) found that both buyers and sellers saw the need to increase interdependence on the other. The level of interdependence can be measured with its percentage of purchase or sales according to the framework provided by Hill Hill (2009). Figure1: Customer/supplier dependence. % of a customers purchases that come from one supplier Supplier is dominant Customer and supplier are mutually dependent Customer and supplier are independent of one another Customer is dominant % of a suppliers sales that go to one customer Source: adapted from Hill Hill (2009), p.279 Another school of thought is that the effect of buyer-supplier power on relationships between the two parties is one of both facilitation and constraint (Cox  et al., 2003). If the buyer, for example, is in a dominant position over the supplier (and there is a degree of stability to that dominance) then that dominance will facilitate considerable discretion over the conduct and commercial outcome of the relationship. However, if the buyer is in a dependent position vis-à  -vis the supplier, then that dependence will act as a constraint on its ambitions. For example, the desire by the buyer to initiate collaboration may not be reciprocated by the supplier. Even where it is reciprocated, the supplier may try to take a disproportionate share of the gains of any collaboration. Fig 2 : Buyer Supplier Relationship Style The model that informs this paper is based upon the above principles. There are two main elements to the model (Figure 2). First, there is the identification of the dimensions of buyer-supplier relationships. The model posits that buyer-supplier relationships consist of two main dimensions. On one hand, the way in which the two parties interact the extremes here being arms-length and collaborative. On the other, the manner in which the surplus value from the relationship is shared between the two parties the three generic possibilities being the buyer taking the majority share, the supplier taking the majority share or the surplus value being shared equally. If the ideal-typical scenarios for both dimensions are combined, it can be seen that there are six generic relationship types that can exist between the buyers and suppliers (Cox  et al., 2003). Cooperation Anderson and Narus (1990) describe cooperation as coordinated actions taken by firms in interdependent relationships to achieve mutual goals, and in this manner, both parties cooperate in order to benefit from the relationship. Cooperation requires input from both sides and both sides working to achieve the best solution with coordinated efforts producing outcomes better than one firm will achieve alone (Anderson and Narus, 1990) Cooperation implies an ongoing relationship where the structure or boundaries of that relationship have already been established and where this cooperation must take place in order for that relationship to continue. Commitment Lawler and Yoon (1993) describe commitment as an emotional attachment to a group in which members will tend to remain in the relationship and do things not necessary to maintain the relational exchange Relationship commitment exists when each partner believes that an ongoing relationship is so important as to warrant maximum efforts to maintain it to ensure it endures indefinitely (Morgan and Hunt, 1994) Commitment to the relationship exists as an enduring desire to maintain a valued relationship (Moorman et al., 1992) Methodology Choice of methodology The research strategy will be interpretative and based on the case study of the international enterprise. An inductive approach will be deployed and primary data will be collected through interviews of the organisations employees and senior management; therefore gathered information will be both qualitative (mainly) and quantitative. The methodology of the project has been decided in accordance with the onion scheme provided by Saunders (2009). Adapted from Saunders et al. (2009, p.138) Quantitative and Qualitative study There are two kinds of research methods, as mentioned earlier quantitative and qualitative. It is imperative to choose the appropriate kind of method for the given circumstance. Qualitative methods produce information only on the particular cases studied, and any more general conclusions are only hypotheses. Quantitative methods can be used to verify, which of such hypotheses are true. Quantitative research is generally made using  scientific methods, which can include: The generation of models, theories and hypotheses The development of instruments and methods for measurement Experimental control and manipulation of  variables Collection of empirical data Modeling and analysis of data Evaluation of results   The qualitative method investigates the  why  and  how  of  decision making, not just  what, where,  when. Hence, smaller but focused  samples  are more often needed, rather than large  samples. Qualitative methods produce information only on the particular cases studied, and any more general conclusions are only hypotheses (informative guesses).  Quantitative methods  can be used to verify which of such hypotheses are true. Usually a mix of both methods is used in order to get good results from the research. In qualitative method new theories and structures are built upon existing theories and collected data. While on the other hand quantitative method builds up a hypothesis based on the existing theories and data and then tests its credibility. Data Collection Methods Preliminary Literature review has already been conducted as mentioned earlier. However, further review of the existing literature will be done throughout the period of research until the submission of the draft project. Due to limited time frame review of the research till date and secondary research needs to be conducted within the course of the stipulated time frame. A continuous review process will ensure any new literature will be incorporated to the project and factored into the analysis of the project. Two kinds of data can be collected during a research: primary information and secondary information. Primary information is data collected for the first time by the researcher himself and it is fundamental to make the study be as close as possible to reality. The problem of this kind of data is that the observers influence on an information source, misunderstandings of purposes and inaccurate measurements can affect them. Secondary information is data already gathered and collected in books, newspapers, databases, etc. However it might not be comparable with a new study because of different purposes or conditions it was collected for. Primary information can be gathered in three different ways: interviews, observations and experiments. Case study Yin (2009) defined a case study as an empirical inquiry which investigates a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, without necessarily separating phenomenon itself and context. A case study based approached will be adopted for this particular research with the focus on Vale Inco. After briefly defining the working of the company and its purchase team an interview with its purchase manager and senior buyers will be conducted from where primary data will be collected. This data will be then analysed by means of a triangulation method. Triangulation Method: Triangulation is broadly defined by Denzin (1 978: 291) as the combination of methodologies in the study of the same phenomenon. Given basic principles of geometry, multiple viewpoints allow for greater accuracy. Similarly, organizational researchers can improve the accuracy of their judgments by collecting different kinds of data bearing on the same phenomenon. Thus, the convergence or agreement between more than one method enhances our belief that the results are valid and not a methodological artefact (Bouchard, 1976: 268). . Research Limitations The selected combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches is aimed at reducing the limitation of research. However, the case study based approach gives a one dimensional view of the issue at hand and does not give a general idea of the overall scenario. Also, the interviews with the employees of the considered company gives a one sided perspective of the relationship. Also with the question of supplier co operation comes into picture, as the amount of co operation the suppliers might extend towards this research is unknown at this moment of time. Also in case the company concerned withdraws its interest in the research project or a during the course of the research a road block is encountered, a contingency plan is essential. In such a scenario the focus of attention will be shifted to another company which in most likelihood will be Transweigh Ind Ltd (Indian manufacturing company).

Class Politics in the United States :: Politics Political Essays

A distinctive feature of US politics, in comparison with most other industrialized nations in the world, is its virtual lack of class-based politics. President George W. Bush, for instance, has said that class is for ‘European democracies or something else—it isn’t for the United States of America. We are not going to be divided by class’ (cited in Harrigan, 2000: 6). And this seems to be the general attitude that pervades all of American society, to the extent where militating on the basis of class could even be seen as culturally abhorrent. It is a fact that in the 1990s, trade union membership accounted for only 15 percent of all wage and salary workers, down from 25 percent in 1975. This is despite 30 percent of all workers still employed in blue-collar jobs as of 1996 (McKay, 2001: 226; Vanneman and Cannon, 1987: 5). Between the two major political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, there are only relatively minor ideological differences, with the former leaning slightly more to the ‘liberal’ side, while the later are more ‘conservative’, though neither articulates anything near resembling class politics. This has led to much speculation among scholars as to why this could be the case. A number of reasons have been posed, including: 1. America is mainly a middle class society, with an individualistic culture; high levels of social mobility; and equality of opportunity, which are prized over collective action. 2. America does not have a feudal past, from which class cleavages can be drawn. 3. America is the richest industrialized nation in the world, and therefore has an overall higher standard of living, which minimizes any potential for class action. 4. The American working class is divided sharply along ethnic and racial lines. 5. The American two-party system makes it difficult for radical political parties to develop. However, despite this lack of class politics, the US continues to experience some of the most exacerbated income and wealth inequalities in the industrialized world, with the gap between the rich and the poor growing over the past thirty years. In addition, the proportion of the population living in poverty, according to official figures, is at around 14-16 percent (McKay, op. cit. :27). This raises the question as to the nature of class in the United States, and as to how the US class structure (if one exists) is reflected in mainstream politics.

The Mind, Music, And Behavior :: essays research papers

The Mind, Music, and Behavior abstract The main purpose of the paper is to investigate and present the relationship between the mind, music, and human behavior. For this purpose, research is presented on previous works and studies that link music with the mind. Based on this research, music increases neurotransmitter levels. Soft or mellow music has a tendency to promote tranquillity, while music with tempo sometimes distracts. Human memories can be cued by music, and music can promote improved learning. The brain is a two and a quarter pound piece of living organic tissue that controls the human nervous system. Music is a collection of sound waves that propagate through the air, and has varying frequencies and tones following a discernible order. Yet we all recognize the significance of the brain beyond its physical function. Our minds are the essence of what we are. The brain enigmatically stores memories, and lets people experience such things as emotion, sensations, and thoughts. In the same sense, music is more than just a collection of vibrations. This leads to the question of how does music affect the mind, and in addition, how does music affect human behavior? The reader might ask why such a question should be relevant. If more is known about the psychological and neurophysiological effects of music on the human mind, then the possibilities of this knowledge are unbounded. Music can be used to treat social and behavioral problems in people with disabilities. The use of music in the classroom might enhance or weaken a student's work characteristics. Therefore, whether the influence of music is positive or negative, much needs to be explored about the link between the mind and music. Physiologically, the brain receives information about sound waves from the ear through the auditory nerve. This information is then processed by the brain and analyzed for the juxtaposition of melody and rhythm. The mixture of melody and rhythm is what we commonly refer to as music. However, our minds interpret this auditory information as more than just sound signals; somehow, we are able to differentiate between certain types of music, and develop preferences for these different types. Yet, what are the ways in which the effects of music manifest themselves? First, there are particular biochemical responses in the human body to music. Research shows that college students, when listening to music, have more galvanic skin response peaks, as opposed to when they were not listening to music. This research also indicates a significant decrease of norepinephrine levels in students while they listen to "preferred" music. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that arbitrates chemical communication in the sympathetic

Gov’t Paper

People each have different personalities that others like and dislike about them. These individuals can be funny or serious; nice or a jerk; a talker or a listener. All this makes up a person and who they are. A person's personality is similar to a news program; sometimes they can be biased and unreliable; other times they are spot-on and trustworthy. Hardball and O'Reilly are both news programs that display their news differently. While both commentators give their opinions on the subjects, Chris Matthews pushes his opinion more than O'Reilly. During times where Matthews has guest speakers, he always tends to argue with the one that does not agree with his opinions; he pushes his ideas into his opponents' head, not letting them express their thoughts. Even though he refuses to let one's opinions out, Matthews allows the other, who agrees with him, to talk. In other words, he is hard-headed and believes his opinion is right. On one occasion, Jonathan Alters, gave his opinion about how the Republicans are attempting to woo the Latinos' votes, Matthews shuts him up by talking over him, basically yelling. Alters looks as if he was about to burst into tears. On the other hand, O'Reilly tends to ask for his guest speakers' view first, then adding his own. He actually allows them to finish their views, seeing their points out, instead of cutting them off. O'Reilly and Chris Matthews both have different perspectives in the topics that were discussed. O'Reilly leans towards the liberal side, while Matthews is a conservative. For example, O'Reilly notices how everything is based on race, and believes no one should be judged by that. However, it seems that Matthews only wants the Republicans to focus their targets on the white people and not Latinos. In one specific topic that both commentators discussed, the Zimmerman trial, it seems each were on one or the other sides. Chris Matthews argues that Zimmerman acted on self-defense, while O'Reilly gave both sides, but showed sympathy towards Trayvon Martin's family. O'Reilly has more facts, making it seem like his show was a news' show, while Hardball with Chris Matthews is all about argumentative opinions. O'Reilly adds statistics to show subjects and backs each topic with facts. For example, there was a segment about the Arizona forest fire that killed nineteen firefighters. O'Reilly gave facts like how the firefighter had contacted the headquarters, saying that they are using their heat shelters, which was the last resort. Then O'Reilly explains what these heat shelters are, a foil-like blanket that can protect the firefighters from the heat for a certain amount of time. Unlike O'Reilly, Matthews did not give facts, only his own opinions. During the Zimmerman trial segment, he only showed Mark Osterman taking the stand to defend his best friend. He then argues with the guest defense attorney, when she was explaining the harm that was inflicted on Zimmerman. It seems that O'Reilly is more genuine and actually cares about the public's interest. At the end of his show, he had a tip of the day, giving feedback to the audience who sends him e-mails. Hardball had a serious attitude, while O'Reilly had a calm attitude. During Hardball's segments, there was a lot of tension with the arguments. Also, his introduction had the serious music like it was life or death. In O'Reilly's introduction, it had funny captions, and in his segments, he had a calm manner. While Chris Matthews attempted to add humor and jokes into his show, it was not understood. He used a blue cow reference, but some people do not know the meaning of it, so it proved to be ineffective to draw the audience in. However, in O'Reilly's segments, the humor and jokes had a positive impact. After a serious discussion about the Zimmerman trial, to lighten the tension, Megyn Kelly and O'Reilly joked around. Megyn Kelly had given him a chocolate bar as her way of buying dinner. Then she explains that she is going on maternity leave until the fall, but O'Reilly jokingly said she won't be back until next year. Both persons continue to banter back and forth, while the camera crew laughed in the background. This was of course not planned, making it actually humorous. There has been significant issues about race in political topics. In Fremont, Nebraska, the townspeople are frustrated with the undocumented immigrants obtaining jobs in the town. Since Fremont is a meat packaging town, these townspeople need the jobs that the immigrants are taking. These illegal immigrants are sending money back to their home country to their families, so Fremont does not profit from this. In an attempt to stop this, he townspeople want to banned the undocumented individuals from renting apartments and houses without proper documentations. According to U. S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp, it is a discrimination to deny housing permits to those who were not in the country legally and it interferes with federal laws. However, the town counters back with a policy that requires businesses to use the federal E-ve rify software to check on the employees. Another topic discussed was how Republicans were trying to win the Latin American voters. The Republicans think that if they talk about the immigration reforms they will gain more voters. However, it was stated that no matter what, Latinos will most likely vote for Democrats even if immigration reforms were discussed by the Republicans. The most important topic discussed was the Zimmerman trial. When this first happened, people across the country defended Trayvon Martin, thinking that he was targeted for being a colored person and looking suspicious by wearing a black hoodie at night. Zimmerman was on the night watch around his neighborhood when these two ran into each other. A fight broke out, leading to Zimmerman pulling and shooting the gun at Martin. Zimmerman pled that he was acting in self-defense. All over the country, people even news station wanted Zimmerman to plead guilty to avoid race riots to occur. Nowadays, news delivery is on the decline of being trustworthy. Reporters, journalists, and those who deliver the news to the public now will spin the news to fit what the audience wants or to fit their own opinion. These people can twist a person's opinion just by intensifying the language and speech. The audience will then notice, â€Å"Hey, they are using powerful words; this makes them sound smart so therefore correct. If the newscasters exude confidence and seem to â€Å"know what they are talking about†, they will have more followers. The public tends not to look for the credibility of the sources or even the sources themselves to see if they are reliable. Instead, the public will definitely look for superficial materials like the appearance of the person delivering the news, how the program looks, or if other p eople like it. If someone were to wear casual clothes, their credibility increases; also if the newscaster was attractive, people tend to listen to them. For example, people tune in to Anderson Cooper on CNN and practically worship the ground he walks, just because of his appearance. If the delivery of the news looks not well done, not all people will want to read or view it. People want professional, not something that someone can program in five minutes. An individual will also tend to get advice from their peers as to what to read or watch. For example, if a person trashed a news station to his or her friend, the friend will not want to get information from that news station. With that being said, nowadays, people judge the book by its cover and not by the information provided. Most news station are affiliated with a political party. For example Fox News, when taking politics will favor the Republican view while MNSBC will favor the Democratic view. With that being said, each will attract a different group of people who agree with that the news station has to say. This makes the shows heavily biased. What I've learned through these research sources, is that there are still racial conflicts throughout the United States. Watching the two news program, Hardball and O'Reilly, each segment had something to do with race and ethnics. Latinos are especially targeted, whether it is to win their votes or to get them out of â€Å"American† jobs. Even though, today there are still some segregation in the communities, people will band together to defend someone of different skin color. What I do not get is that if people will defend Trayvon Martin and not know what actually happened, why can't they support the Latin Americans coming into America in search of an opportunity? I think people are just on the bandwagon. They think that supporting Trayvon Martin will make them look like the good guys, but in reality it just makes them look ignorant and stupid. I also learned that each news program is affiliated with a political party, making them biased and untrustworthy because they only address one side of the story. I know that they are just doing that to gain viewers, but if they just address both sides, there will be more educated people and not opinionated. I think the audience should also be aware of what is happening in our country right now. After watching these two shows, I am more aware of these topics. I never paid attention to the political topics and did not know how the Republicans were trying to woo the Latin American voters. My opinions on the two shows differ from each other. I absolutely could not stand watching Hardball. I think Chris Matthews is a hard-headed jerk. He does not think the other opinions matter but his. He yells at his guests when he is talking to them. I could not wait for it to end, and I nearly celebrated when it was over. On the other hand, I was more interested in O'Reilly just by how he represented the topics. He did it in a formally fashioned way; it felt like a conversation with some debates. I actually paid closer attention because of the humor and learned a few things along in the show. I felt that O'Reilly actually cared about the subjects because he gives both sides to the story. Both Hardball and O'Reilly display their information differently. These news shows are like a person's personality; they express emotions and thoughts. Each individual has a different personality that makes them who they are. A personality can make someone like or dislike an individual.

Environmental Factors Influencing Starbuck’s Marketing Strategy

Startbucks coffee company is a very large and popular company that conducts domestic and global business; it was defined to be the finest coffee in the whole world. It mission statement is â€Å"to inspire and nurture the human spirit- one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a timeâ€Å". Starbucks Company is one of the companies that know how to manage all the environmental forces that effect its marketing decisions. It is recognized for the successful marketing factors that have been influencing the company’s global and domestic growth more effectively in a positive way. These environmental forces are the key trends that influence marketing. This paper will discuss the different environmental factors, how these environmental factors affect Starbucks marketing decisions, and addressing how these factors relates to Starbucks marketing decisions. Environmental forces The five different environmental forces or factors that affect Starbucks marketing decisions as well as its customers and suppliers are social, economic, technological, and competitive and regulatory. The social factor of the environment is known as demographics the people that are described based on their ethnicity, age, gender, income, and occupation all over the world with the variety of their cultures and values. Starbuck Company is affect by the fact that the population is increasing nationwide and that many people with the demographics differences are lovers of Starbucks coffee. The economic factor has its tremendous impact on Startbucks market specially when the household income barely increases but the products and services’ cost easily and consistently increases that lead to a decrease in customers spending that may affect Starbucks marketing decisions. The technological factor plays huge role in Starbucks marketing decisions where inventions and innovations of new products are necessary to maintain customer base. Competitive factor refers to other coffee stores that compete. with Starbucks that try to provide products that please coffee drinker’s needs to attract the market from Starbucks. Regulatory force is the most important environmental factor that affects Starbucks marketing decisions. Regulatory forces or regulation contains a number of federal and state laws that business must follow under any circumstances. Regulations are made to protect consumers and companies to ensure that competition and fair business practices are applied legitimately. Global economic interdependence Starbucks’s global economic interdependence is important to operate the business in ways that contribute to the environmental and economic factors. Global economic interdependence helps Starbucks Company to create value within the diverse communities that leads to evolve the business model that delivers value of companies and farmers that source Starbucks’s products, customers, shareholders and neighborhoods where Starbucks Company has stores (Starbucks Corporation, 2011). Starbucks started applying trade practices in the year of 2000, 16 million paid off for fair-trade quality that is used by the manufacturers who invest at the company level. Fair- trade practices agreements allow coffee farmers to invest in their communities where they can develop business that is capable to compete with other coffee producers and protect their environments by educating communities of fair trade benefits (Starbucks Corporation, 2011). The importance of demographics and physical infrastructure Demographics and physical infrastructure are very important for Starbucks company where demographics workforce are classified as mostly as women who working as a larger number than men and minorities. Physical infrastructure where Starbuck Company must ensure the availability of all needed work related tools, transportations, and communication among all workers. Social responsibility and ethical cultures Starbucks is committed to conduct social and ethical responsibility that is strongly arrange in a line that dive to create a business like Starbuck stores that increases shareholds values by maintaining the solid relationships. Ethics and compliance are crucial for Starbuck Company successes, for that reason the company must ensure ethics are incorporate in all lines of business of the Company where Starbuck is providing a business ethics and compliance training to help partners to voice concerns, find answers to their concerns and maintain an audit line for customers, investors, and vendors. The effect of technology on Starbuck Starbucks company is been tremendously effected by technology. The use of Wi-Fi in their stores is one of the key successes for Starbucks business growth. The consistent use of Wi-Fi internet access is encouraging people to complete most of their out of the office meetings at Starbuck where workmates can get together to plan for a project, where a home buyer meets the real estate agent to sign a purchase contract agreements, where borrower can to close on their loans in a very interactive fun place like Startbucks. In addition to, the well enhanced technological system that employees use at all times. Conclusion Starbucks not only recognizes the central role that social responsibility plays in its business. It also takes constructive action to be socially responsible (Hartley & Rudelius, 2011).