Monday, December 30, 2019

Annotated Bibliography On Database Design - 1623 Words

CPSC 5340 Database Design Homework 3 Rikky Patel 9-27-2015 Part: 1 3.11. Suppose that each of the following Update operations is applied directly to the database state shown in Figure 3.6. Discuss all integrity constraints violated by each operation, if any, and the different ways of enforcing these constraints. e. Insert into DEPENDENT. Answer: This operation is accepted and it can be successfully inserted. g. Delete the EMPLOYEE tuple with Ssn = ‘987654321’. Answer: This operation can’t be used. Because Ssn has been used as a foreign key of WORKS_ON, EMPLOYEE and DEPARTMENT relations ad deleting records with Ssn = ‘987654321’ will leave no corresponding entry for record in WORKS_ON relation. If we want to delete this data than we need to delete it from all the tables. h. Delete the PROJECT tuple with Pname = ‘ProductX’. Answer: This operation can’t be used. Because Pnumber has been used as a foreign key of WORKS_ON relation and deleting record with Pname = ‘ProductX’ will also delete product with Pnumber = ‘1’. Since this value has been used in WORKS_ON table so deleting this record will violate referring integrity constraint. If we want to delete this data than we also have to delete data from corresponding tables. i. Modify the Mgr_ssn and Mgr_start_date of the DEPARTMENT tuple with Dnumber = 5 to ‘123456789’ and ‘2007-10-01’, respectively. Answer: This operation can be acceptable. 3.12. Consider the AIRLINE relational database schema shown in Figure 3.8,Show MoreRelatedPersonal Reflection1034 Words   |  5 Pagesproperly trained to assist my school district with programs to significantly improve the program for ELLs in my school District. The big challenges I anticipate in my Ph.D. program will be the classes of Statistics I and II, Qualitative and Quatitative Design and Measurement, and ultimately my dissertation. Nonetheless, with my work ethic and my study plan, I know I will meet these challenges. I have not developed a shift in thinking from the beginning of this course to the present. I started with theRead MoreHcs 465 (Health Care Research Utilization) Entire Class Assignme6475 Words   |  26 PagesAssignment, Annotated Bibliography Individual Assignment: Literature Review in Research: An Annotated Bibliography †¢ Resource: Literature Review in Research: An Annotated Bibliography Grading Criteria. †¢ Go to the Center for Writing Excellence. †¢ Click the Tutorials Guides link. †¢ Click the Annotated Bibliography link the under the Samples heading. You may use this format to create your annotated bibliography. †¢ Read: the Annotated Bibliography samplesRead MoreThe Effect Of Cell Phone On College Students Interaction At Dining Table1641 Words   |  7 Pagesothers. My research strategy will start with conducting a literature research on published articles that associated with the use of cell phone and human interaction. I used both EBSCOhost and sociological abstracts as my research databases. As I look throw the database with search terms â€Å"dinner table† and â€Å"cell phone use,† I barely found any articles related to the topic. After I identified some alternative search terms, I overcome the limitation of search result. Search terms such as â€Å"multitasking†Read MoreScientific Method and Health Care2524 Words   |  11 Pages | | | |Individual |Resource: Literature Review in Research: An Annotated Bibliography Grading Criteria |Wk 1 D7 |10 | |Literature Review in Research:| | | | |An Annotated Bibliography |Go to the Center for Writing Excellence. | |Read MoreManaging Information Security Risks: The Octave Approach1635 Words   |  6 Pagesenforcement. Biskup, J.; Flegel, U.; Karabulut, Y. Secure Mediations: Requirements and Design, 127-140. Database Security XII: Status and Prospects. Edited by S. Jajodia. Twelfth International Working Conference on Database Security, Chalkidiki, Greece, July 15-17, 1998. Norwell, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999 (ISBN 0792384881). In this paper, Biskup et al discuses the the secure mediation to it risks through design and system requirements. The need for designing security mechanism for the mediatorsRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography On The Voting Booths Of America Are Empty1233 Words   |  5 PagesAnnotated Bibliography Linda Feldmann Staff writer of The Christian,Science Monitor. Why the Poll Booths of America are Empty. The Christian Science Monitor: 1. Oct 03 2000. National Newspapers Core. Web. 12 Dec. 2016. This source focuses on the decline in voter turnout over the past few decades with the lead up to the 2000 Presidential election year. Comparing elections from 1960, the various experts have not been able to pinpoint a solid reason until a several people from Harvard come up withRead MoreNurse: Research and Turnover2314 Words   |  10 Pagesto provide evidenced based care requires the ability to read peer-reviewed primary research reports and initiate recommendations in the clinical area. In the current paper the nurse will analyze 10 research report on nursing turnover. An annotated bibliography of 10 articles related to the problem will be discussed. This is by no means an exhaustive list. The research reports provide credible evidence-based practice implications regarding nursing turnover. CritiqueRead MorePCOS Essay4926 Words   |  20 PagesScholarly Journals; English Search Results: 138 Academic Search Premier 70 CINAHL Complete 13 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 0 EBSCO MegaFILE 42 Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition 14 MEDLINE with Full Text 0 Polycystic ovarian syndrome AND clomiphene Limiters: Full Text; Scholarly Journals; English Search Results: 106 Academic Search Premier 62 CINAHL Complete 9 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 0 EBSCO MegaFILE 30 Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition 9 MEDLINE with FullRead MoreWorkplace Citizenship8908 Words   |  36 PagesAdditional study resources 10 Assignments 11 Overview of assignments 11 Submission of assignments 11 Extensions late submission 12 Grading guidelines 12 Copying plagiarism 13 Assignment 1 – Learning Reflections 14 Assignment 2 – Annotated Bibliography 16 Assignment 3 – PowerPoint Presentation 20 Assignment 4 – Final Essay 22 Your feedback 25 Student Evaluation of Learning and Teaching (SELT) 25 Support services and resources 25 External student information 25 Students with disabilitiesRead MoreImpact of Ict on Society2585 Words   |  11 PagesTechnologies Impact of ICT on Society Table of Contents PART A 1 1. Introduction 1 2. The annotations 1 2.1 Scholarly journal articles 1 2.2 Conference papers 1 2.3 Newspaper articles 1 2.4 Internet sources 1 3. Conclusion 2 Annotated Bibliographies 3 PART B (Endnote) 6 4. Introduction 6 5. The Endnote advantages 6 6. The Endnote disadvantages 7 7. The Recommendations 8 8. Conclusion 9 9. References 10 PART A Introduction With era of globalization

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Critical Review Of The Above Mentioned System Generated...

The critical review of the above mentioned System generated service routes case using Thomas Bertels and Arne Buthman s 10 Criteria for Evaluating Six Sigma Project, using Low, Medium and High are enumerated below: 1. Link to Strategic Imperatives This entails the act of creating short- and long-term plans to guide an organization to continued and increasing success in this highly competitive business environment. Project managers oversee specific projects ultimately designed to make progress toward strategic planning objectives. Implementing projects -- putting planned projects into action -- is important to both strategic planning efforts and project managers in a number of ways. High; This case is rated high on this parameter based on the fact that, there is a greater link to strategic imperatives; improving the route review process and route quality that the organization is determined to achieve. 2. Application of Six Sigma Tools Six Sigma is a method that provides organizations tools to improve the capability of their business processes. This increase in performance and decrease in process variation lead to defect reduction and improvement in profits, employee morale, and quality of products or services. Six Sigma quality is a term generally used to indicate a process is well controlled (within process limits  ±3s from the center line in a control chart, and requirements/tolerance limits  ±6s from the center line). High; Tools such as Process Flow Chart,Show MoreRelatedExtended Supply Chain1474 Words   |  6 Pagesalternative route(s) to prevent the company from being heavily influenced by unexpected logistics problems. At the same time, the company must know how long would an alternative route(s) take and what would it cost the company. The second step is to prioritize its suppliers based on the assessment obtained from the first step. The company should segment those suppliers by using different dimensions. For example, the company can use demand volume, logistics routes, or supplier demand to review which supplierRead MoreDescribing The Current Process From The Article. The Environmental1906 Words   |  8 Pages Describing the Current Process from the Article The Environmental Service Company which provides collection, processing, recycling and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous materials for industrial and automotive customers is facing a freight transportation problem. The company receives 45,000 service orders a week and is falling short in providing a quality service to all its customers. There s a great variation in the time the field worker gets to a trash site and in the pickup time. TheseRead MoreInformation System Used by United Parcel Service3850 Words   |  15 Pagesï » ¿UPS 1 UPS 14 United Parcel Service (UPS) Information System Introduction In the 1907, the United Parcel Service (UPS) started out in a close-sized office located in the basement. The founders of the United Parcel Service were two teenagers from Seattle. They had one phone and two bicycles and they promised to run this service under one statement only; best service and lower rates. For more than hundred years, this formula has been used by the UPS and it is running successfully. This is theRead MoreFedex Strategic Planning6196 Words   |  25 PagesStrategic Planning and Execution at FedEx Express Jacquelyn Haas, FedEx Services Jeff McLeod, FedEx Express Rick Dezemplen, FedEx Services Rodney Conger, ESRI Abstract ESRI GIS technologies are being used at FedEx Express to solve complex business problems in both the planning and execution of the daily delivery process. The application of spatial data at FedEx is unique in that it is being used to support several mission critical, multi user applications and processes worldwide. Spatial data is beingRead MoreShaheen Air International14539 Words   |  59 Pages TABLE OF CONTENTS: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 TIME LINE 3 THE COMPANY: PRESENT AND FUTURE PLANS 4 MISSION STATEMENT 5 DISTRIBUTION: NETWORK OF CHANNELS TO REACH END CONSUMER 5 DOMESTIC ROUTES 6 INTERNATIONAL ROUTES 7 PRODUCT LINE 7 PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE (PLC) 11 SERVICE FACILITIES 11 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 12 MAJOR COMPETITORS 15 MARKET SIZE AND MARKET GROWTH 18 PAKISTAN/SOUTHWEST ASIA TRAVEL GROWTH FORECAST 20 PAKISTAN DOMESTIC MARKET CAPACITY, TRAFFIC YIELD 20 AIRLINERead MoreObjectives Of A Risk Management Plan5550 Words   |  23 Pages IS3110 Final Project By: Alfredo Ramos Osbaldo Ruiz INTRODUCTION Purpose Of A Risk Management Plan Defense Logistics Information Services (DLIS) senior Management has decided that they are going to update the former risk management plan with a new plan. This new risk management plan for DLIS will not only lessen the amount of risk for future activities, but it will also be in compliance with standard regulations such as FISMA, DOD, DHS, NIST, COBIT, and DAICAP. A risk is by definition is theRead MoreThesis on Pakistan Railways6300 Words   |  26 PagesRAILWAY    INTRODUCTION. Pakistan Railways  (reporting mark  PR) is a national state-owned rail transport service of  Pakistan, head-quartered in Lahore. It is administered by the  federal government  under the  Ministry of Railways. PR provides an important mode of transportation throughout Pakistan. Railways at a Glance Assets | | * Track --------------------- | 7,791 route km | * Stations------------------- | 559 | * Bridges ------------------- | 14,570 | * Land ----------------------Read MoreRyanair Analyses44239 Words   |  177 Pages18 24 20 23 25 27 4. The low fare airline business model 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Differences between the LFA model and the FSA model 4.2.1. The service factor 28 29 29 2 4.2.2. Turnaround times 4.2.3. Homogenous fleet 4.2.4. Point-to-point travel vs hub-and-spoke travel 4.2.5. Higher seat density 4.2.6. Choice of airports 4.2.7. Distribution system 4.2.8. Frequent flyer programmes 30 31 31 32 32 33 34 5. Analysis of the macro environment 5.1. Introduction to the theoretical frameworkRead MoreEssay on American Airlines3778 Words   |  16 Pagesï » ¿ Table of Contents Abstract 3 Situation Analysis 3 Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, and Opportunities 4 Re-Branding 6 Pricing Strategy 8 Service Marketers 9 Future 12 Summary 12 References 13 Abstract In this case study we will review the new strategic business plan of American Airlines, and how they are responding to changes in the marketplace to compete in the modern era. We will also analyze the advantages of rebranding efforts, the effectiveness of existing practices of the airline andRead MoreResource-Based View of a Firm4400 Words   |  18 PagesRESOURCE-BASED-VIEW OF A FIRM LITERATURE REVIEW 3 Introduction- What is the Resource-Based-View of a Firm? 3 Resource-Based-View -Background 3 Resources Capabilities of a Firm 4 Firm Resources Sustainable Competitive Advantage 5 Value 5 Rareness 6 Inimitability- Is it hard to copy? 6 Non- Substitutability 7 Durability 7 Imperfect Mobility 8 Appropriability- Who captures the value the resource creates? 8 Competitive Superiority 9 The RBV of a Firms Ability to Innovate 10 Conclusion

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Southwestern Airlines Free Essays

Southwest Airlines Co. (â€Å"Southwest†) is a major U. S. We will write a custom essay sample on Southwestern Airlines or any similar topic only for you Order Now airline that primarily provides short Haul high-frequency, point-to-point, and low-fare service. Southwest was incorporated in Texas and commenced operations on June 18, 1971 with three Boeing 737 aircraft Serving three Texas cities; Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Today Southwest operates nearly 400 Boeing 737 aircraft to 59 U. S. cities. Southwest has the lowest operating cost structure in the domestic airline industry and consistently offers the lowest and simplest Fares. Southwest also has one of the best overall customer service records. LUV is Southwest’s NYSE symbol, selected to represent the company’s home at Dallas Love Field, as well as the theme of Southwest’s employee and customer relationships Within 30 years, Southwest Airlines has become the fifth largest major airline company in America. It currently operates 520 Boeing 737s throughout the United States. The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit. It primarily provides short haul, high-frequency, point-to-point, low-fare air transportation service in the United States. The company essentially functions as a â€Å"point-to-point† operation rather than a â€Å"hub and spoke† service like its competitors. This provides for a unique competitive advantage, which has led this company to be a strong performer within the industry. The major success to their continued success is due to their low-cost model, as compared to their competitors, which allows Southwest airlines to differentiate itself from the competition and perpetuates its success and popularity among consumers. When we look at southwestern airlines competitive environment using porters five forces we find that the bargaining powers of Customers in the airlines industry have many options and are price sensitive. If driving is cheaper than flying southwest may lose customers. There are also over 100 carriers in the U. S. market therefore there are many options for customers. The bargaining power of suppliers: Southwest is at the mercy of the labor Unions and Gas suppliers. If these costs become too high then price raises will mandatory. The threat of new entrants: With so many major airlines going bankrupt there is a large supply of airplanes and personnel. This means that it is easier than ever to start up and airline and try and compete with Southwest. The threat of substitute products: Flying has very few substitutes in the U. S. market if you need to be somewhere in a hurry. However there are other forms of transportation including busses, trains, and cars. The intensity of competitive rivalry: There is intense industry competition. Every route is hotly contested with price wars and a grab for customers. Price margins are low, and airlines need to be able to trim costs any way they can. Southwestern airlines has got the following strengths; Southwest’s commitment to customer service has led to an excellent track record. They held the unofficial Triple Crown in customer service for three consecutive years. The Triple Crown consists in being the best in on time performance, baggage handling, and customer satisfaction. This is an amazing feat considering no other airlines have held all three components for a single month. Southwest has a major advantage over other airlines because it operates a single type of plane, the Boeing 737. This means that all their pilots, facilities, and crews are trained on any plane that Southwest owns. Southwest also operates a fleet with an average age of 7 years. This means that they have less maintenance problems, and this leads to fewer delays, and higher customer service. Sensible expansion policy. Southwest has developed a very sensible strategy for expansion, paying particular attention not to strain the balance sheet. It has also achieved a national presence through flights to 59 airports in 58 cities. Southwest has been able to become a national airline by strategic expansion to airports where there is less competition. For example, it opened a major operation at Baltimore-Washington International and therefore avoided the presence of other major airlines at Reagan National and Dulles. The continued growth of the Company is testament to the strategic direction taken by management, particularly considering the difficult business environment. Southwest relies on direct ticket booking and does not heavily utilize travel agents this is a cost saver. They also do not have full food service on their flights, leading to a faster turnaround. Southwest also has a unique open seating system, with no assigned seats the planes load faster. Due to a change in passenger profile, business class and first class seats have suffered declining demand. Many companies have been forced to introduce low-cost fare options. Since southwest has been an industry leader and â€Å"ahead of the curve† in providing low cost, standardized travel options, it has no need to change strategy, thus saving on restructuring costs. The Company also benefits from its long establishment in the low-cost airline market, allowing the Company to capitalize on significant customer awareness of the brand. Southwest has a highly efficient operation. The Company was first to introduce to the Airline industry the ten-minute turnaround (between arrival at the gate and departure). This has subsequently increased demand for short flight routes. Strong financials. Southwest has the strongest market capitalization and balance sheet of all rivals in the sector. A market capitalization of $14,022 million accounts for twice the market capitalization of the five largest rivals put together. In the current volatile market, it should allow southwest to overcome short-term downturns in demand more Successfully than the other main carriers. The continued ability of Southwest to produce positive results highlights it among rivals. 2003 saw quarter-over-quarter increases in income, representing 51 consecutive quarterly profit rises. Revenues for the full year 2003, which were $5,937 million, increased 7. 5% against 2002 revenues. Southwest does not fly into major hub airports in most cities, this leads to lower gate costs, less congestion, and quicker turnaround times. Southwest has been marketed as the low price leader, and their planes have been painted in funky colors. Southwest views its major competition as the automobile and not other airlines. Southwest airlines operate a single type of plane B737 in an all coach configuration. They do not offer meals, and do no transfer bags to other airlines leading to lower operating costs. The airline has won the Triple Crown and is setting the industry standard in customer service. Southwest has come under intense competition from United. They are not a full service airline and do not offer the amenities and services for international travelers. They also do not have a higher cost first class option on their planes. Marketing. Southwest is a low-cost carrier. They provide themselves on cost efficiencies, which enable them to offer good service at lower prices to the customer than their competitors. Their marketing strategy was to convey the message that what Southwest had to offer was of value. Southwest markets itself as the only major short-hop, low-fare, and point-to-point carrier in the U. S. airline industry. Their marketing style is known for being unconventional, unique, unpredictable, and attention-getting in order to create and reinforce the Company’s maverick and fun-loving, combative image. They continually look for ways to make their distinctive image come alive and strike a spark in the minds of the consumer. Finance. In the year 2000, Southwest reported its 28th consecutive year of profitability as well as its ninth consecutive year of increased profits. In many years, Southwest was reporting profits while many other airline companies were reporting losses. Southwest is able to maintain and increase their profit margin by keeping costs low, being highly efficient, and creatively cutting costs. One of Southwest’s most important strategies is keeping its costs low and moving customers in above-average times. In an effort to move customers along quickly, Southwest tries to avoid congested airports. Southwest also encourages passengers to make reservations and ticket purchases through their website. By serving smaller airports near major metropolitan areas and in medium-sized cities, Southwest is able to produce better-than-average on-time performance, as well as reducing fuel costs of idle planes waiting for clearance to land. Serving smaller airports also lowers landing fees and terminal gate costs. Southwest’s operative principal is â€Å"employees come first and customers come second. † Southwest employees are â€Å"hired for attitude and trained for skill. † The Company’s strategy is that it can train people to do the tasks and hold the skills that are required, but a person’s attitude is not something that can be changed. The hiring process involves an interviewing approach called â€Å"Target Selection,† which aims at matching people’s traits (or target dimensions) for performing a specific job successfully. New hires are trained at Southwest University for People. Managers trained in this program take leadership courses that emphasize a management style based on coaching and encouraging rather than supervising or enforcing rules. The Company has the lowest turnover rate in the industry, which may be partly due to the fact that 80% to 90% of supervisory positions are filled internally. However just like any organization, despite the fact that they have strengths, south west also has weaknesses which include: Little room for strategic development. The main weakness of the Company results from operating in a highly competitive market, one that is increasingly susceptible to a volatile political environment. The airline industry is highly competitive as to fares, frequent flier benefits, routes, and service. Some carriers competing with Southwest have larger fleets and a more established brand name. Many carry passengers from the major hubs in the U. S. , holding long-standing relationships with key airports. To enter these markets, the corporate strategy of Southwest will have to be adjusted. No established alliances. Certain major U. S. irlines have established marketing alliances with each other, including Northwest Airlines/Continental Airlines, American Airlines/Alaska Airlines and Continental Airlines/America West Airlines. In 2001, AMR Corp. , parent of American Airlines, completed its acquisition of the assets of Trans World Airlines. This puts enormous strain on the Company to maintain its position in the industry while running a smaller fleet. Fully valued share price. Despite Southwest holding the strongest financial position in the airline industry, the stock of the Company is considered fully valued, particularly in the short term. This will disconcert the investor searching for quick gains resulting in the potential loss of capital to its competitors. The strong financial position will apply pressure to the strategic direction of the Company, forcing the directors of Southwest to consciously pursue the same level of growth if they are to maintain investor confidence. South west airlines have got the following opportunities; Southwest’s greatest opportunity is directly related to its greatest strength: to continue to develop its low-cost position in the airline industry. Southwest must maintain an emphasis on low-cost flying, and brand association that has served it well so far. After September 11, customer numbers dwindled due to consumer fears over flying. One way the Company hopes to regain the trust of the public is through lower airfare. In 2002, no fare was more than $399. However, in August 2002, the company reduced fares even further, lowering last-minute fares while maintaining the full schedule of frequent flights in order to further stimulate travel. As of 2003 Southwest was offering fares as low as $39. The company must keep prices as low as possible in order to stimulate demands, and look to edistribute expenses through other areas. Continual streamlining and automation is necessary in order to both aid in cost-cutting and maintain the competitive advantage on which the company brand is based. Southwest has expanded ticket counters and security checkpoints and has increased its airport workforce. The boarding process has been streamlined through replacing the traditional plastic boarding card system with an automated one, and the carrier is in the process of rolling out new self check-in technology. This should result in a reduction of boarding times, and contrast sharply with those carriers that still have extensive queuing. Expand geographically. The market share Southwest holds has grown substantially, particularly since 9/11. Fifty percent of the core market is under control of Southwest and this is expanding. With the increase in the number of cities and networks to which it is linked, southwest could begin to target large city markets and with such a strong brand name, both marketing and PR costs will reduce. Furthermore, the timing appears perfect, if it wishes to capitalize on the pressure currently endured by many of the established carriers. Southwest could strengthen its position through an alliance. Many competitors have reduced share price due to poor financials. Southwest could exploit this through a merger or a favorable acquisition. This could provide an easier route into the major hubs and remove many of the challenges associated with entering new markets. A major threat comes from the unstable airline industry as the result of the 9/11 attacks. Immediately after the terrorist attacks, and in the face of falling demand for air service, most major carriers announced significant service reduction, grounded aircraft, and reduced employee levels. These events negatively impacted industry profits. Despite the absence of subsequent attacks, the political environment remains unstable, throwing into question the airlines’ ability to make long-range strategic plans. Following 9/11, Southwest was able to offset losses through lower jet fuel prices and internal cost reduction initiatives. However, there can be no assurance that Southwest will be able to continue to offset future cost increases resulting from the changing commercial airline environment. Another threat derives from the Company being subject to varying degrees of competition from surface transportation in its short-haul markets, particularly the private automobile. The short-haul air services that compete with surface transportation regard price as a competitive factor for customers. Similarly, frequency and convenience of scheduling, facilities, transportation safety and security procedures, and customer service may be of equal or greater importance to many passengers. These can limit the number of customers who choose southwest. However, southwest airlines need to put up the following strategies; it needs to launch a new promotional campaign. They need to remind customers in the California market that they are the winner of the Triple Crown, and that low cost means high service and customer satisfaction when it comes to Southwest. With lower turnaround times, and fewer delayed flights southwest has great unique selling points. They just need to remind the public about how great an Airline they are. This can be done with more TV ads, and more sponsorship of major sporting events. Southwest also needs to continue to be southwest. They have a winning business model, and have made money every year of their existence. They cannot abandon what their core competencies are. They need to keep prices where they are, or even lower prices, and they advertise that fact to the public. Southwest airlines have been able to successfully implement its fuel hedging strategy to save on fuel expenses in a big way and have the largest hedging position among other carriers. In the second quarter of 2005, Southwest’s unit costs fell by 3. 5% despite a 25% increase in jet fuel costs. During Fiscal year 2003, southwest had much lower fuel expense (0. 12 per ASM) compared to the other airlines with the exception of JetBlue as illustrated in exhibit 1 below. In 2005, 85 per cent of the airline’s fuel needs has been hedged at $26 per barrel. World oil prices in August 2005 reached $68 per barrel. In the second quarter of 2005 alone, Southwest achieved fuel savings of $196 million. The state of the industry also suggests t hat airlines that are hedged have a competitive advantage over the non-hedging airlines. Southwest announced in 2003 that it would add performance-enhancing Blended Winglets to its current and future fleet of Boeing 737-700’s. The visually distinctive Winglets will improve performance by extending the airplane’s range, saving fuel, lowering engine maintenance costs, and reducing takeoff noise. In an overall effort to improve customer’s in-flight experience, in-flight entertainment is something that Southwest is currently evaluating and which JetBlue has been very successful at already because of its introduction in its long-haul flights. In comparison, Southwest has 415 airplanes to consider and that represents an investment decision at a whole new dimension. Additionally, Southwest has to consider how things may fit into their environment. At this point, 60% of its service is still very short haul. Southwest needs to be mindful of the fact that a certain approach that has been successful for its competitor may not be necessarily work to its advantage. In summary, Southwest has long been regarded as a benchmark in its industry for operational excellence. Southwest Airlines is a fine example of a company that is committed to its core competencies – efficient operations to drive its low cost structure, outstanding delivery of customer service and innovative HR management practices. We hope this paper provided a good insight into Southwest operations, as part of its overall strategy, to achieve success and gain competitive advantage. References www. southwest. com] (Southwest airlines official web site www. mba-tutorials/marketing/southwesternairlines. html www. answers. com/topic/southwesternairlines. html Allen, Margaret. â€Å"Ground Controller. † Dallas Business Journal. August 3, 2001 Southwest Airlines: High Tech, Low Costs† – Eweek. com, April 2005 How to cite Southwestern Airlines, Papers

Friday, December 6, 2019

Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change

Question: Discuss about the Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change. Answer: Introduction In the present epoch of globalization, the business organizations have to adapt themselves to the dynamic business environment and the market situation. Several times, when the companies need to undertake new projects or enter into different stream they have to adapt themselves or change the internal operations. This change could be in terms of job roles, business processes, organization structure or the use of technology. The companies implement change to seize new opportunity, address different issues or improve the productivity or the performance of the organization. However, in most of the changes, the employees have to modify or adapt their operations or working method. Therefore, the organization changes often meet with the employee resistance and similar challenges (Cameron and Green, 2015). If the employees cannot transition with the changes properly the change remains unsuccessful and cannot deliver the desired results. Along with it, in the unsuccessful implementation of th e change, the employees becomes stressed which results in loss of productivity. Therefore, the business enterprises develop several intervention techniques to control the negative impact of the change process in the organization. This discipline is called the change management which deals with the preparation and supporting the implementation of the new changes (Cameron and Green, 2015). The change management approaches supports the employees and the organization to embrace the change and streamline it in the current operations of the organization. Westpac, Singapore is an International Bank with headquarters in Australia which is trying to bring more than 40% of women in the senior management position. It is a significant change in the organization structure of the company and it needs appropriate change management approaches to smoothly implement the change. In this regard, the following report will provide a brief description of the organization and its external and internal environment. In the context of the external and the internal environment, an appropriate change management framework is proposed and in the subsequent section, the impact of the change on the organization and the employees is examined. Overview of the Organization and the Industry Westpac is the Australias first bank and has a long history of operating nearly 200 years in Australia. In Asia, the banking organization is active for the last forty years. In Asia, the headquarters of the company are located in Singapore and the regional offices are situated in the cities of Mumbai, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing. It provides services in the field of institutional and client management, foreign exchange, debt markets, wealth management commodities and transactional banking. Over the last few years, the bank has been ranked consistently as the most sustainable banking organization across the world by the Dow and Jones sustainability ranking. It shows that the sustainability practices of the company are deep embedded in its working environment. The company practices the sustainability methods in its business processes, culture and operations. The company has the workforce of about 40,000 employees and they are all focused to deliver value to the customers besides co ntributing to the community (Westpac, 2016). External analysis of the Westpac The external environment of the Westpac Bank is examined through the PEST framework wherein the external environment is assessed by the political, economic, social and technological factors. In Singapore, the relative ratio of the women in senior leadership positions is relatively low; hence the government is encouraging the companies to recruit women in middle and low levels. Along with it, the government is also trying to increase the flexibility in the working environment so that the women trying to take a time back to focus on families are welcomed again in the corporates (Vaswani, 2015). The Singapore government also regulates the banking entities operating in Singapore. All the foreign banks are required to maintain a proportion of their assets in the local branch. They are also required to follow workplace ethics and workforce diversity norms in the country. In the 2015 budget, the Singapore government has also assisted the companies to retain the older employees and mother, fund their working arrangements and skill acquisition (Au-Yong, 2015). Economic: The economic conditions in Singapore are the most ideal for the business development and growth. It is one of the most open economies with the least corruption index. It has a high per-capita GDP and growing middle class. Therefore, the economic conditions of the country are ideal for the banking organizations. There is a highly educated workforce and the company can achieve competitive advantage by diversified workforce including both women and men. Social: In the corporate culture in Singapore, the progress of women is often hindered. The working hour in the country is high and the work-life balance is low. It prevents many women to pursue the corporate career. They are of the perception that either they can pursue family life or corporate life. The women, who have taken a temporary break from the organizations to concentrate on family life, face several problems while resuming their career. Technology: In terms of technology, Singapore is a fairly advanced country. Westpac, Singapore has adequate resources to integrate best technical infrastructure in the organization. Internal Environment Assessment The company was founded in Australia and is the first and the leading bank in the country. The company has imbibed strong sustainability principles and promoted inclusion of the diversification in the workforce. In Australia, the company has been successful in implementing diversification and around half of the workforce comprises of women. The company put great emphasis on diversification which has resulted in the success of the organization and innovation in the company. With the diversification, the company brings different perspectives, capabilities, insight and experiences in the company. Moreover, the vision of the company focuses in providing best services to the companies, customers and communities. With regard to the services, the company has developed strategy to provide excellent customer services to the customers. Along with it, the company is also focusing on the market of Asia which is a growing market in the present. By operating in the Asian region, the company also a ddresses the customer needs of the Australian customers who are trading in this region. The strategic vision of the company is high and it maintains a strict discipline to achieve its objectives. In order to provide seamless customer service to all the customers, the company adopted digitalization in all its operations (Westpac Banking Corporation, 2016). Proposed CHANGE Management framework With the constant evolution of the business objectives and changes in the marketplace, it is important to introduce change in the organization with appropriate strategies. The change management is an important discipline that ensures that the changes are thoroughly implemented and expected outcomes are realized. The change management approach encompasses the wider implications of the change and the strategies required to move the organization from the current state to the desired state (Paton and McCalman, 2008). In the present case, the strategic objective of the company is to create diversification in the workforce and increase the number of women employees in leadership roles to 40%. In this regard, the company can adopt the change management framework given by Kurt Lewis. In this model, the change process is differentiated in three stages, namely, unfreeze, change and refreeze. The three stages of the proposed change are described below: Unfreeze: In this stage, the organization is prepared for the change. The employees and all the stakeholders are notified the necessity of the change. The management and the change management team develop strategies to implement the change. In this stage, it is important to state why the current attitudes, strategies and beliefs are not adequate to meet the expected outcomes and why the changes are needed. It is expected that the employees will encounter the situation of uncertainty. In an organization, there are several forces which are striving to maintain the current status of the organization; the management can present a provocative problem so that the people recognize the need for change. In the current situation, Westpac, Singapore is required to increase the number of female employees in the organization to increase diversity in the workforce. It is important since it is one of the primary strategic objective of the organization as well as inclusion of diversification is important for fostering innovation and growth of the organization. With respect to the situation, the primary drivers of the change are the management and the human resource department. It is important that the HR department and the management communicate with the employees the desired changes, its implication for them as well as the benefits. Transition: This is the second stage of thee change management model. It is the most critical stage as in this stage, the organization transitions from its previous state to the current state. In this step, the organization takes all the necessary steps and the actions for the implementation of the change. It is the stage where the change becomes real and the employees struggle with the new system and approaches. During this time, the stress, uncertainty and fear occur among the employees that creates resistance and chaotic situation in the workplace. Moreover, in this situation, the employees begin to learn new behavior, processes and systems and adopt them. It is important in this situation, to prepare the employees for the change by communicating with them and supporting them in this transition process (Reiss, 2012). The management and the HR department of Westpac, Singapore will also take the appropriate actions to increase the number of women in the leadership position. It should initiate the recruitment procedure to enroll women in junior and middle-level leadership roles. Refreezing: It is the last stage of the change management process, in this stage the change is reinforced and stabilized in the organization. The changes start to show in the organization structure and processes. The changes are institutionalized in the everyday working of the organization and the changes processes are stabilized in the organization. In the present context, Westpac, Singapore will implement several changes in the organization. The number of women in the workforce will increase and the senior women employees will achieve the leadership positions. It will show a drastic change for the male employees as well as the junior employees as their colleagues will change. The staff has to report to the women employees and adjust to their leadership style which might raise resistance from the employees. There will be an increased pressure in the human resource department to recruit appropriate female candidates for the senior positions. In this stage, it is important for the management to a cknowledge the efforts and contributions of the people who are significant in bringing change in the organization. The female employees in leadership position should also be supported by using appropriate strategies. Discussion on the Impact of the Change on the Organization and the Employees Whenever the change is introduced in the organization, a major challenge is to combat the negative effects of the change on the organization as well as the employees. The change affects the organization in several ways. For instance, the change results in the loss of self-confidence, confusion and conflicts. During the change, several processes occur about which the employees have little knowledge due to which they have difficulty in conducting day-to-day tasks. As a result, the employees feel incompetent and powerless. The changes also results in modification in the regular routine of the employees and confusion (Cameron and Green, 2015). The most important challenge is to combat conflicts and resistance from the employees. The employees get to attached to their old working habits and norms and find it difficult to adopt new business processes. In the present situation, Westpac, Singapore will also sustain several impacts due to the changes in the organization structure. In Singapor e, the employees give little emphasis to diversity and inclusion and promote male employees in the corporate ladder. Therefore, it will be difficult to change the perception of the employees and encourage them to embrace inclusion. Along with it, in Singapore, the women prefer to concentrate on the family after a certain age. It is due to excessively long working hours and the workplace culture wherein the men are promoted over men. The women also have several family pressures and commitments outside workplace which provoke them to abandon their jobs. In regard to the leadership roles, the women are not provided adequate support from the senior management which results in them second guessing their talent (HRM Asia, 2016). Recommendations to Tackle the Issues of Employee Resistance The primary reaction of the employees in change is resistance. The introduction of the change is uncomfortable and requires learning new approaches and technology. Therefore, the employees remain uncomfortable in adopting new approaches and rather stick by the older ones. It can be stated that the change introduces a situation of uncertainty an anxiety. In this situation, the best approach to manage change is accepting the employee resistance as the normal reaction to the situation. During the scenarios of the change, the most accommodating and supportive employees show resistance to learning new methods and technology. Along with it, the management of Westpac, Singapore can create a trusting, employee-oriented and supportive environment for the change (Finch, 2011). The company must introduce the strategy of communication to manage the change. In this strategy, the management should communicate the need of change to the staff and support the employees with the change. The change is best-accepted in the environment where the perception that a change is urgently needed is established. If the management is not convinced about the rationale and the need for the change, he will not be able to convince the employees. The employees should also be asked to join in the endeavor to bring change to obtain the maximum support from the employees. Conclusion It can be concluded that the change management is a significant discipline in the present dynamic business environment. Change management refers to all the approaches and the strategies that are focused on successful implementation of the change. Westpac, Singapore is a multinational banking organization with headquarters in Australia and manly deals with Australian subcontinent and Asia. The strategic objectives of the company include the policy of enhancing diversification and inclusion in the workplace. In this regard, in the Australian branch, the 50% of the workforce is of women. The company is targeting same in the Singapore. However, there are certain external factors such as the social perception of the people who discourage women from working. The company can implement the Lewins change management framework to implement the change in the organization. The company can implement the changes in three stages, namely, unfreezing, transition and refreezing. In the change implement ation process, the companies encounter employee resistance. It can be encountered by communicating with the employees regarding the need of change and creting an inducing environment for the change. References Cameron, E. and Green, M. (2015). Making Sense of Change Management: A Complete Guide to the Models, Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change. Kogan Page Publishers. Westpac Banking Corporation. (2016). Company overview - Westpac in Singapore. [Online.] Available at: https://www.westpac.com.sg/about-westpac/company-overview-westpac-in-singapore/ [Accessed on: 30 December 2016]. Vaswani, K. (2015). Women in the workplace: The Singapore way. BBC News. [Online.] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34864993 [Accessed on: 30 December 2016]. Au-Yong, R. (2015). Singapore Budget 2015: Return to workforce, family support important for non-working women: Tan Chuan-Jin. Straits Times. [Online.] Available at: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-budget-2015-return-to-workforce-family-support-important-for-non-working-women [Accessed on: 30 December 2016]. Westpac Banking Corporation. (2016). Where you'll enjoy an inclusive workplace. [Online.] Available at: https://www.westpac.com.au/about-westpac/careers/westpac-difference/diversity/ [Accessed on: 31 December 2016]. HRM Asia. (2016). Singaporean women feel under-represented in leadership roles. [Online.] Available at: https://www.hrmasia.com/content/singaporean-women-feel-under-represented-leadership-roles [Accessed on: 31 December 2016]. Paton, R.A. and McCalman, J. (2008). Change Management: A Guide to Effective Implementation. SAGE. Reiss, M. (2012). Change Management. BoD Books on Demand. Cameron, E. and Green, M. (2015). Making Sense of Change Management: A Complete Guide to the Models, Tools and Techniques of Organizational Change. Kogan Page Publishers. Finch, E. (2011). Facilities Change Management. John Wiley Sons.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Battle of Dak To in the Vietnam War

Battle of Dak To in the Vietnam War The Battle of Dak To was a major engagement of the Vietnam War and was fought from November 3 to 22, 1967. Armies Commanders US Republic of Vietnam Major General William R. Peers16,000 men North Vietnam Viet Cong General Hoang Minh ThaoTran The Mon6,000 men Background of the Battle of Dak To In the summer of 1967, the Peoples Army of Vietnam (PAVN) initiated a series of attacks in western Kontum Province. To counter these, Major General William R. Peers commenced Operation Greeley using elements of the 4th Infantry Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. This was designed to sweep PAVN forces from the jungle-covered mountains of the region. After a series of sharp engagements, contact with PAVN forces diminished in August, leading the Americans to believe that they had withdrawn back across the border into Cambodia and Laos. After a quiet September, US intelligence reported that PAVN forces around Pleiku were moving into Kontum in early October. This shift increased PAVN strength in the area to around division level. The PAVN plan was to utilize the the 6,000 men of the 24th, 32nd, 66th, and 174th regiments to isolate and destroy a brigade-sized American force near Dak To. Largely devised by  General Nguyen Chi Thanh, the goal of this plan was to force the further deployment of American troops to the border regions which would leave South Vietnams cities and lowlands vulnerable. To deal with this build up of PAVN forces, Peers directed the 3rd Battalion of the 12th Infantry and the 3rd Battalion of the 8th Infantry to launch Operation MacArthur on November 3. Fighting Begins Peers understanding of the enemys intentions and strategy was greatly enhanced on November 3, following the defection of Sergeant Vu Hong who provided key information regarding PAVN unit locations and intentions. Alerted to each PAVN units location and objective, Peers men began engaging the enemy the same day, disrupting the North Vietnamese plans for attacking Dak To. As elements of the 4th Infantry, 173rd Airborne, and the 1st Brigade of the 1st Air Cavalry went into action they found that the North Vietnamese had prepared elaborate defensive positions on the hills and ridges around Dak To. Over the ensuing three weeks, American forces developed a methodical approach to reducing PAVN positions. Once the enemy was located, massive amounts of firepower (both artillery and air strikes) were applied, followed by an infantry assault to secure to objective. To support this approach, Bravo Company, 4th Battalion, 173rd Airborne established Fire Support Base 15 on Hill 823 early in the campaign. In most instances, PAVN forces fought tenaciously, bloodying the Americans, before vanishing into the jungle. Key firefights in the campaign occurred on Hills 724 and 882. As these fights were taking place around Dak To, the airstrip became a target for PAVN artillery and rocket attacks. Final Engagements The worst of these took place on November 12, when rockets and shellfire destroyed several C-130 Hercules transports as well as detonated the bases ammunition and fuel depots. This resulted in the loss of 1,100 tons of ordnance. In addition to the American forces, Army of Vietnam (ARVN) units also took part in the battle, seeing action around Hill 1416. The last major engagement of the Battle of Dak To began on November 19, when the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Airborne attempted to take Hill 875. After meeting initial success, the 2/503 found itself caught in an elaborate ambush. Surrounded, it endured a severe friendly fire incident and was not relieved until the next day. Resupplied and reinforced, the 503rd attacked the crest of Hill 875 on November 21. After savage, close-quarters fighting, the airborne troopers neared the top of the hill, but were forced to halt due to darkness. The following day was spent hammering the crest with artillery and air strikes, completely removing all cover. Moving out on the 23rd, the Americans took the top of the hill after finding that the North Vietnamese had already departed. By the end of November, the PAVN forces around Dak To were so battered that they were withdrawn back across the border ending the battle. Aftermath of the Battle of Dak To A victory for the Americans and South Vietnamese, the Battle of Dak To cost 376 US killed, 1,441 US wounded, and 79 ARVN killed. In the course of the fighting, Allied forces fired 151,000 artillery rounds, flew 2,096 tactical air sorties, and conducted 257 B-52 Stratofortress strikes. Initial US estimates placed enemy losses above 1,600, but these were quickly questioned and PAVN casualties were later estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,445 killed. The Battle of Dak To saw US forces drive the North Vietnamese from the Kontum Province and decimated the regiments of the 1st PAVN Division. As a result, three of the four would be unable to participate the Tet Offensive in January 1968. One of the border battles of late 1967, the Battle of Dak To did accomplish a key PAVN objective as US forces began to move out from cities and lowlands. By January 1968, half of all US combat units were operating away from these key areas. This led to some concern among those on General William Westmorelands staff as they saw parallels with the events that led to French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.  These concerns would be realized with the beginning of the Battle of Khe Sanh in January 1968. Resources and Further Reading Vietnam Studies: Tactical and Material InnovationsEdward F. Murphy, Dak To. New York: Presidio Press , 2002.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Ecology of Panther a Leo (Lion)

Ecology of Panther a Leo (Lion) Introduction Understanding of the ecology of animals is very interesting. According to Humphreys (1997, p. 121), many of wildlife habitat encroachment has been reported worldwide. This has mainly happened due to the general increase in population. Increased population leads to high demand for food and other resources that led many to convert the animal habitats into poaching grounds and agricultural areas to feed the hungry population.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ecology of Panther a Leo (Lion) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Panther Leo or Lion species is predominantly found in Africa where they have faced tremendous interferences from poachers who have different interests (Firouz 2005, p. 91). Some hunt the animal for skin while others do it for revenge reasons when they attack humans. Lion belongs to the genus Panther with other animals like the Tiger, Jaguar and leopard also. Lions are referred as a ‘k ing of beasts’ in the wilderness. This research focuses on the analyzing the life of a lion. Geographic Distribution of the Species Triefeldt (2008, p. 56) noted that lions are largely found in Africa and in some parts of Asia. The species is reported to be endangered in these areas. Some of the remnants are known to reside in Indian National park, the Gil forest. From the historic perspective, some of the lion species are believed to have moved away from south west of Asia and North Africa. Until the recent past, lion was the most widespread mammal seconding humans. In India, the habitat of lions is in both the forests of dry savanna and the dry forests of deciduous scrub. In Africa, the lion species is found in grasslands of savanna where there are acacia trees. In the 480BC, lions were believed to be common in Greece. They attacked a Persian king during his reign and were reported to be rare by 300BC. Most of the lions were eradicated on the arrival of firearms during the 18th century. Later in the 19th and 20th century, lions started becoming extinct in Southwest of Asia and North Africa. In most parts like India, lions have become extinct. Generally, lions are known to live mostly in the shrubby and forested areas. The picture below shows a lion in its habitat Pattern of distribution of the species within its geographic range According to Lions (1996, p. 58), different lion species are found in different environments depending on the geographical region. However, Africa is commonly known to harbor many lion species, their distribution pattern vary from one location to another within the continent.Advertising Looking for essay on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In some parts of Africa, for example the Eastern part has a considerably high number of lion species compared to the number of the same species in other parts of Africa. In the Asian region, the most commonly found s pecies is the P.L persica. In Africa, researches show that there are five different sub-species found within different geographical regions. These lion species include, the Panther a Leo senegalensis that is found in the parts of Western Africa and P.I.azandica found in the Northern East of Congo. Followed by the P.I.bleyenberghi, a species that is found in Angola and southern parts of Congo, and the Panther a Leo krugeri also known as P.I. verneyi that include the lion species from Kalahari and P.I krugeri, which is found in southern Africa. In the Eastern Africa, there are the P.I nubica, the lion species that are categorized into Masai, Somali, Serengeti, and Congo lions. Individual distribution Lions are well organized. Based on their sexes, there is division of roles or duties. The animals due to their form of organization rarely live in isolation. Female lions giving birth at the same time have a shared responsibility of bringing up the cubs (Riley 2008, p. 79). A part from hu nting for these cubs, lioness would breastfeed them irrespective of the specific cub mothers. The male lions’ big responsibility is to protect the female lions and the young ones. Lions therefore live in groups or prides. A pride on average can comprise 13 lions, both males and females. They also do the hunting in a group and in very rare occasion, a lion will go hunting individually. Major habitats that the species occupies Hunter (2005, p. 46) says that the lion’s habitation varies. Their habitats include plains, forests, and grasslands. Quite a good population of lion species is known to reside even in the semi-arid and at high altitude areas except within the tropical rainforests and extremely desert areas. In fact, a lion species is known to live in Ethiopian Bale mountains that are 4,240 m. African lions are commonly found in savanna habitations or in plains. These areas are believed to have a high prey base. Lions in Asia found in Gir forest India. The lion prid es which constitute both sexes range from two to 40. Within the pride, male lions are usually more than their female counterparts are. In most instances, lions are found in groups, an adaptation that helps in increasing their efficiency when hunting and in guarding their territorial boundaries against other animals. Important habitat components According to Humphreys (1997, p. 127), lions inhibit a wide range of habitats. Mostly they prefer inhibiting in areas that are forestry and shrubby. As seen earlier, these animals like hunting in the darkness in order to hide from the prey. They also like a habitat with some kind valleys to make the hunting easier for them since such areas help them hide from the prey aimed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ecology of Panther a Leo (Lion) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As discussed earlier, lions live not in isolation but in groups. The female do most of the hunting especial ly hunting the light prey like gazelles and wild beasts. On the hand, male like hunting huge animals like zebras and buffalos. Both male and female lions have different preferences for prey hunted. Most of this species as seen from the discussion above, in Africa they are mostly found in Kalahari. This place is full of scattered acacia trees. They like such a place because they shelter under these trees during sunny seasons. Female lions also give birth under trees or under shade. Foods eaten According to DeGraaf (2000, p. 28) lions are predatory and carnivorous animals. The lion’s prey range from the small sized to the large sized animals. Their diet is mainly comprised of birds, rodents, buffalos Zebras and many other small and big animals. The lion as said earlier has the dominion over almost all other animals in the wilderness. Lion, the king of the Jungle, is able to straggle and kill animals like Rhinos, Antelopes, Zebra, and many others to obtain food. The animal is ve ry cunning .After killing other animals; lions ensure that they do not share their kills and do chasing away other predators. The figure below shows a lion carrying away its prey. McGuire (1989, 40) says that in most of the occasions, the female lions do the hunting. Hunting activity is usually individually and in prides also. The prides just like female and male lions, differ in food preference. Female lions prefer hunting preys like antelopes while their male counterparts prefer large animals like buffalos (Mitra 2005, p.125). The hunting is normally done in groups and at night. Lions are much slower compared to the speed of most of their prey. Although they can also run fast, most of the preys they hunt are faster hence, hunting at night helps them in concealing their presence against the animals they hunt.Advertising Looking for essay on ecology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Timing and pattern of reproduction Marshall (2010, p. 114) observes that lions are polygamous in their breeding. The gestation period of lions is around 110 days. Their breeding is throughout the year. By the age of four years, most lionesses are ready for reproduction. Mating takes place at specific times of the year among the lion, which can take several days (Mitra 2005, p.35). A female lion, when on heat can mate with several different males. When giving birth, the female lion isolates to a sheltered place away from the rest of the pride. Some researches show that lions breed well in protected area such as game parks. A lioness on average can give birth from two four cubs per each attempt. After birth the female does not immediately mate again, it takes some time, usually about two years. The cubs are usually blind at birth. Their eyes open roughly after a week. The diagram below shows lions mating. Olney (1994, p. 89) says that the mother lioness hunts for its young ones and p rotects them from predation until they are able to support themselves. In a situation where many lionesses have given birth at the same time, they share the responsibility of rising as well as feeding the young ones. Cubs’ mother isolates from the rest of the pride for a maximum period of 8 weeks. Weaning of the young lions can start from the seventh month. Normally, at the age of 3 years, a male lion riches maturity and at the age of 5 years, they are in a position to defend other pride members. The female lions mature so fast and from the age of 4 years, they are ready for procreation. The male lions rule the prides and always fight for their chances to take over the ruling position in a pride (Feldhamer 2003, p. 56). There is therefore a continuous competition between female lions and males over their social structure. Conservation or Pest Status According to Skinner and Chimimba (2005, p. 118) most lion species live in Southern and Eastern Africa. It is reported that desp ite the breeding ability of lions, their number is decreasing each day. Estimations indicates that about 23,500 lions are in African protected areas against the 100,000 lions present a century before (Olney 1994, p. 119). The main pest affecting the lion species are the humans. Poaching of lions and human encroaching the lion’s habitats, has been on rise. There increased cases of human-wildlife conflicts, a factor that is facilitated by loss of habitats for these animals hence migrating to human habitations. Due to habitats loss and poaching, the population of the remaining lion species lives in isolation, a factor that encourages inbreeding leading to decrease in genetic diversity. Interference of the lions habitats buy humans as posed a serious impact on species conservation (United Nations Environment Programme 2008, p. 113). There is need to create awareness to the public on the importance and need for conserving lions and wildlife in general. A part from humans, lions al so face predation from other animals. Although lions are serious carnivores, they are predated upon by animals such as cheetahs, hyenas and leopards which are commonly known in killing the lion young ones and the aged lions. Population Management According to Fleagle (1999, p. 81), after the realization that the population of lion species is decreasing every day, a number of coordinated measures has been put in place to manage the remaining population. This plan was started in 1982 for those lions in Asia, but since the lions in this region were discovered impure genetically, the plan was suspended (DeGraaf 2000, p. 78). The plan of lion population management in Africa started a year later focusing mainly on the subspecies in the southern Africa. This plan has been faced by a series of challenges. Most of the captive lions are from an unknown origin and diversity, a factor that makes population management based on their genetic diversity difficult. Amongst the pride, lions have a wa y in which they manage their population. Lions after giving birth always like staying with their young ones in the same pride so that they can continually watch over them. This process continues up to around 40 lions, which is the maximum number for a pride. After acquiring the maximum number, that a pride can support, the incoming extra lions split and shift to a different region for easy management and foraging. This avoids competition over resources like food, water, and shelter. List of References DeGraaf, R 2000, New England wildlife: Habitat, natural history, and distribution, University Press of New England, Hanover. Feldhamer, G 2003, Wild mammals of North America: Biology, management, and conservation, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Firouz, E 2005, The complete fauna of Iran, Tauris, London. Fleagle, J 1999, Primate adaptation and evolution, Academic Press, San Diego. Humphreys, P 1997, The lion and the gazelle: The mammals and birds of Iran, I.B. Tauris, London . Hunter, L 2005, Cats of Africa: Behaviour, ecology, and conservation, Struik, Cape Town. Lions, J 1996, Lions commentary on Unix 6th edition: With source code, Peer-to-Peer Communications, San Jose. Marshall, C 2010, Mammal anatomy: An illustrated guide, Marshall Cavendish, New York. McGuire, L 1989, Lions, Aladdin Books, New York. Mitra, S. (2005). Gir Forest and the saga of the Asiatic lion. New Delhi: Indus. Olney, P 1994, Creative conservation: Interactive management of wild and captive animals, Chapman Hall, London. Riley, J 2008, African lions, Lerner, Minneapolis. Skinner, J Chimimba, C 2005, The mammals of the southern African subregion, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Triefeldt, L 2008, Plants animals: A special collection from the World of wonder series, Quill Driver Books/Word Dancer Press Sanger. United Nations Environment Programme 2008, Africa: Atlas of our changing environment, United Nations Environment Program Nairobi.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Information Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Information Technology - Essay Example 2007). Similarly, the RSA cryptography standard is associated with a Public Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS) that highlights data encryption by utilizing RSA algorithm. The primary objective or reason for this standard is the construction of digital envelops and digital signatures. Moreover, the standard also defines syntax for private and publics keys of RSA. The syntax is utilized for digital certificates and the syntax for private keys is utilized for private key encryption (RSA Cryptography Standard. 2007). Public key cryptography relies on algorithms associated with asymmetric cryptography along with two incorporated keys i.e. a public key and a private key. Likewise, these two keys are separate and are utilized for decrypting and encrypting data or messages. If any user composes an electronic mail, he or she possesses a private for the email themselves. However, if the sender tries to open the email, he or she must possess a public key for accessing it. RSA public key encrypti on algorithm converts the private key to public key. Moreover, a signature algorithm that ensures authenticity of the sender can be incorporated with the private key without the intervention of the private key, as fundamentally it will not be possible to search two messages possessing similar signatures. The PKCS incorporates different versions such as v 2.1 standards that are associated with deploying public key cryptographic encryption along with digital signatures with appendix. Moreover, it also reflects ANS.1 syntax that illustrates keys for identifying different schemes. RSA is basically a public key algorithm that is invented by Rivest, Shamir and Adleman (Biskup) and is focused on an exponentiation module that comprises of two great prime numbers. Likewise, the security incorporated in RSA algorithm is focused on the solidity of multiplying the procedure associated with great prime numbers. Moreover, in the next version i.e. version 2.1, RSA multiprime function was incorpora ted. The table 1.1 shows the encryption and decryption of messages by private and public keys. Activity Keys Sending an Encrypted Message or data Utilizing the receivers public key Sending an encrypted signature Utilizing the sender’s private key Decrypting an encrypted message Utilizing the receivers private key Decrypting an encrypted signature Utilizing the sender’s public key Figure 1.1 Comparison X.509 and PGP X.509 is considered to be an ITU-T standard that is known for Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). Likewise, it specifies standardized formats associated with public key certificates and a validation algorithm for certification path. Moreover, this standard was preliminary developed in 1988 and was integrated with X.500 standard (X.509. 2007). After the integration, it was considered to be a solid hierarchical mechanism of Certificate Authorities (CA) that is responsible for issuing certificates. It is a fact that X.500 system was not completely deployed, as the IETF working group associated with public key infrastructure has acquired the standard for Internet that is considered to be a flexible environment (X.509. 2007). Besides, in the year 1998, PGP was considered to be a relatively low cost solution possessing features such as robust file, disk and email encryption suite that is based on Network

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Answer 2 questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Answer 2 questions - Assignment Example In terms of morals, a lot has changed since today casual sex is allowed, and even preferred in some cases (Wells & Twenge). The last three decades have seen the face of family life change drastically. In the United States, for instance, only 25% of the population is in nuclear families (Wells & Twenge). A variety of stepfamilies has arisen due to the increased number of divorces and remarriages. This "new normal" in the universe is reflected and accepted in all aspects of our lives. The media, for instance, encourages this view through advertising, broadcasting and promoting movies and music. The idolized music and movies stars today can get divorces up to three times,. As such, divorce and remarriages have become the best way to move on. Such principles have been accepted, and people do not see any issue. For this reason, the number of stepfamilies will continue to shot up if this trend goes

Monday, November 18, 2019

Law Of International Insurance contracts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Law Of International Insurance contracts - Essay Example The Convention recognized the inherent risks of the aviation industry, thus, it seek to protect the airline companies by putting limitations on its liabilities towards it passengers and cargo. To strike a balance between protecting the interest of the airline companies and protecting the welfare of the passengers, the framers of the Warsaw Convention 1929 instituted provisions that define the certain terms. Section 17 of the Warsaw convention specifically said that, â€Å"The carrier is liable for damage sustained in the event of the death or wounding of a passenger or any other bodily injury suffered by a passenger, if the accident which caused the damage so sustained took place on board the aircraft or in the course of any of the operations of embarking or disembarking. â€Å" The definition of â€Å"accident† according to the Warsaw Convention has been the subject of many debates and arguments in and outside of the courts for several years. In settling arguments, the courts have defined the word â€Å"accident† in many decided cases both in the United States and the in the United Kingdom. To get a clearer picture of how the courts define the word â€Å"accident† and how this definition has affected the insurable interests of aircrafts and their passengers, let us take a closer look at the leading cases decided by the Courts. The definition of the word â€Å"accident† in the airline industry is the same in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Note that the Warsaw Convention was meant to establish a uniform liability of airline companies towards their passengers thus, the courts, in defining the word â€Å"accident† according to Article 17 of the convention, adopt a more or less interpretation. According to the provisions of the Warsaw Convention, it is not enough that the carrier failed to convince the court that it took all necessary

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Market Demand For Knitwear: Competitive Analysis

Market Demand For Knitwear: Competitive Analysis Industry Analysis: Current market demand for knitwear is involved with the quality and competitive pricing of products. There is a close competition between the manufacturers and marketers to hit the best bargain and offer promotional discounts to consumers. Cut-throat competition has made manufacturers to offer multi-pack products at inexpensive prices. Developments in knitting, and advanced treatments such as digital printing, glossy foil prints, inkjet printing, flocking, and burn-outs have heated up the market. New knitting machines have opened up possibilities hitherto into unknown segments such as technical textile, for instance; products such as fishnet, fruit-net, shade net and composite products. The Smart Fabrics and Interactive Textiles market will return to growth, reaching a value of US$1.8bn by 2015, according to new research by Global Industry Analysts (GIA). (just-style.com)It seems that the revival of economic growth, a recovery of consumer confidence, product innovations and sustainability would all help to put growth back on track. On the other hand, demand for unique product offerings, served by unexplored, developing markets, will sustain growth. It can be safely assumed that the knitwear the industry lifecycle is at the mature stage as shown in the figure below. According to GIA, the intimate apparel industry is defined by new fabric developments, including innovations in fashionable and comfortable garment designs. The report found that competition within the industry had resulted in falling prices and a shift in production, prompting manufacturers to expand their operations into South America, Central Europe and Asia (Network). Europe is identified as the single largest regional market for knitwear, although the US; they dominate global knitwear sector with a 65% market share (LTD). Asia Pacific is currently growing to be a promising market for the same. During the recession, the Asia-Pacific market was buoyed by rapid growth in China, India, Korea, Indonesia and Taiwan. The global knitwear market is competitive and fragmented. The economic crises have narrowed the gap between the upper and lower end of the market with style differentiation almost vanishing.(Ltd.) With advancements in the industry in the recent years, RadiciGroup is introducing CornLeaf, a 100% biodegradable solution-dyed continuous yarn. Produced by Noyfil SA, the yarn is made from Ingeo, a polylactic acid (PLA) polymer derived from renewable vegetable resources. Compared to traditional dyeing and finishing processes, the manufacturing of CornLeaf requires less water and energy consumption as solution dyeing technology is integrated into the spinning process. CornLeaf lighter than other natural fibers, and has tenacity comparable to other synthetic fibers. According to RadiciGroup, the yarn also has greater hygroscopicity compared to synthetic yarns and is faster drying than natural fibers. RadiciGroups yarn is available in a range of lightfast, wash-resistant colors intended for use in intimate wear, furnishings and consumer goods. (W. T. Ltd.) Company Information: Sana Hastakala (P) Ltd. main office, that houses training, product design and development, and retail outlet, is situated in Kupondole, Kathmandu, Nepal. The address is: G 10/113, Kupondole, Kathmandu, Nepal Corresponding address: P.O. Box No. 3901, Kathmandu Nepal Sana Hastakala (SH), when translated to English, literally means Small Handicrafts. This company was established by conglomerates of handicraft businesses in Nepal to encourage the local artists and producers to participate in producing handmade goods and sell them abroad. In 1989, United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF, now known as United Nations Childrens Funds) provided technical and financial support, in addition to assistances from local handicraft businesses, to launch SH. After a year, the organization was able to sustain on its own and, though registered as non-government organization with Government of Nepal, now is a private limited company. SH strives to foster the resurgence of traditional craft skills as well as applying modern techniques in order to generate income for under privileged craft producers who are mostly women (Sana_Hastakala). SH has more than 1,500 individual producers, and collaborates with 80 producers groups. Income is distributed amongst producers and employees. Profits, also, strengthen the organization and finance community development initiatives. The community development fund is used to assist craft producers in purchasing raw materials and equipment, and provide skills training (SanaHastakala_Producers). SH has been proactive in establishing fair trade in Nepal and is the founding member of local chapter Fair Trade Group Nepal. Though many organizations have provided definition of fair trade, the definition offered by World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) has been widely accepted. It states that Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seek greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers especially in the South (WFTO). There are ten standards for fair trade and the list includes stipulations about labor conditions, gender equity, environmental considerations, and transparency to name a few (Weber). Fair Trade Group Nepal (FTG Nepal) is a consortium of fair trading organizations working with the aim to uplift socio-economic status of underprivileged and marginalized producers of Nepal (FTGN About Fair Tr ade Group). SH contribution to social development has been highlighted in periodicals. In 2007, World Fair Trade Day published series of case studies on Why Kids Need Fair Trade that exemplified how SH has helped Babita Rajbhandari, who had been previously trained in SH, to educate her daughter Boibha after her husband passed away (WFTD). In order to increase awareness of the fair trade, SH regularly promotes educational programs at local institutes that offer social work courses. To provide hands-on experience of fair trade, SH provides two 8-month long internships every year to students from the colleges (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures; FTGN Annual Activity Report). SH has two outlets located in Kupondole and Lazimpat. Their annual turnover in 2009 was NRs. 40.5 million (CAD 550,000), exports accounting for 78% and domestic for 22% of sales. Information regarding which categories contribute most to the sales was not disclosed; Japan is the number one importer of knitwear products (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). Many promoters of fair trade have associated with SH to promote local handmade products in the global market; most notably is Ten Thousand Villages, which has 75 retail stores in the United States of America (TenThousandVillages_USA) and 49 stores across Canada (TenThousandVillages_Canada). As promoter of fair trade, SH will provide brochure that highlights the activities of SH, and access to merchandise producers and manufacturing centers will be provided. The third party inspection can be arranged, but the buyer has to provide the cost of hiring external agency (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). Sana Hastakala has website http://www.sanahastakala.com that provides information to the products, and the services provided by the organization and information on Nepalese handicrafts. The website, however, lacks web-based ordering system. This is due to the lack of laws for e-commerce (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). SH recently won Best Entrepreneur Award given by Federation of Handicraft Association of Nepal for their contribution in product development, employment creation, export and sales promotion, technological, management and environmental improvements, socially responsible activities, and support to other handicraft entrepreneurs and buyers (WFTO-Asia). Competitive Analysis: Our top three competitors are, Ecowool: Ecowool is located in New Zealand; it has been selling the ship skin and woolen products for almost 20 years. Mayfair overseas: Mayfair overseas is the largest knitwear manufacturing and exporting group in India. Trident Craft Pvt. Ltd: Trident Craft is a handicraft company located in Nepal. All these three competitors offer similar knitwear products, such as cap, jacket, socks, gloves, hat, scarves, and sweaters. Competitive advantage over each of the competitors: Ecowool: All our products are handmade with Nepals rich artistic skill and craft techniques We are the founding member of fair trade group Our main objective is to provide financial and technical support to craft producers Mayfair Overseas: We do not use harmful chemicals in production because all products are hand made Traditional craft skills with modern techniques Designs and based on both traditional Nepali and classic western motifs Trident craft Pvt. Ltd: We use high quality sheep wool and agora wool from Nepal and imported wool from New Zealand to create beautiful knit wears We are the founding member of fair trade group and provides marketing services to our producers of our company Product Information: Sana Hastakala, in collaboration with local women and producers, market variety of handicraft products. Besides producing and exporting handicrafts items, SH helps entrepreneurs with financial and technical assistance; some of these business enthusiasts operate in a very small scale and usually manage their business operation from home. Such assistances usually consist of capital needed for raw materials, health checkup, product development and design, and marketing (Sana_Hastakala About Us). The products are beads, ceramics, hemp products, knitwear, metal crafts, silver jewelry and others. The complete list of products is provided in Appendix A. We are looking for prospect buyer(s) in Canada for knitwear products offered by SH. The knitwear products include woolen cap with earmuffs (or ear-flap woolen hats), mittens (boxer gloves and hunter mittens), woolen sock, and mufflers. Appendix B provides the images of these products. SH uses high quality sheep wool and agora wool from Nepal, and also uses imported wool from New Zealand. The quality of yarn has to be approved by the client prior to production. SH has its own catalog for the designs, which are based on both traditional Nepalese and classic western motifs (SH_Woolen). The design catalog is provided to clients upon request. SH also provides professional to develop pattern and design in collaboration and consultation with the clients. The samples, after approval, will then be sent to producers. All the knitwear products are hand-made and will have 100% Hand-made in Nepal labels (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). It is worthwhile noting that all knitwear (except for sweaters which is not in consideration because of size-requirement discrepancies between Asia and North America) products are unisex. The knitwear products are available in two different sizes: small (kid-size), and large (adult-size). Since these are hand-made, SH admits that it is hard to enforce size requirements, but will comply with clients requirements (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). The knitwear products are available in a range of fashionable colors. The local woolen yarn colors are usually pale white and grey. These wools are from sheep and yak, and no animals are harmed during the production of wool. The wools are dyed based on the clients requirements. The design catalog contains the range of colors available. The hats or caps and boxer gloves can have fleece lining upon request by the clients. These linings provide extra warmth and are usually preferred by most of the clients. The requirement of linings will be decided after consultation with clients. Being a member of World Trade Organization, Fair Trade Group, and Fair Trade Group Nepal, Sana Hastakala strictly adheres to the guidance and regulations to maintain quality and standards, which are regularly checked by these organizations. Besides quality and standard, SH ensures that these ten standards are followed: Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers, Transparency and accountability Trading practices Payment of a fair price Child labor and forced labor Non-discrimination, gender equity and freedom of association Working conditions Capacity building Promotion of Fair Trade Environment The details of these standards are discussed in detail by any Fair Trade organizations (FTGN_Standards). The compliance certificates can be obtained upon request by the clients. The client can request to be affiliated with Sana Hastakala to promote Fair Trade practices in Nepal. Some clients have expressed the positive outcomes and boost in profits because of this affiliation. SH assures that the client will develop business relationship that will benefit everyone and SH will be committed once this relationship is established (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). Transportation Procedures: Sana Hastakala (SH) offers two types of shipping: sea and air. If the client prefers DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), then SH will use its own freight forwarding firm, handled by third party, and the freight, insurance and cost of goods will be the landed cost. Some clients prefer EXW the products are picked up from the SH warehouse located at Kupondole, Nepal. The client will be responsible for all the charges thereafter (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). Nepal is member of World Trade Organization and strictly adheres to rules and regulations of WTO. Prior to 2005, Nepal enjoyed quota free access to major global markets. Nepal does not have any restrictions in exporting knitwear as long as it maintains quality standard requirements (Shah). However, importing textiles and clothing to Canada is subjected to Export Import Permit Acts and requires import permit from Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT) (DFAIT Import Conditions). The import also is subjected to certification fees and custom fees based on the total value of goods (DFAIT Schedule (Paragraph 3(1)(a)): Fees for Import Permits). SH prefers exporting through seaway for exporting goods, but this requires order in advance one year so that the product reaches the buyer in time. SH can also provide merchandise through air cargo the order is required four months in advance. The seaway shipment is cost-effective compared to air cargo. Currently, the shipping price through sea is US$ 3.00 below 500 kg and US$ 2.00 over 500 kg, whereas the air cargo cost depends upon the courier service used for transportation; on the average, air cargo costs US$ 9.50 below 500 kg and US$ 7.25 over 500 kg (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). The method of transportation will depend upon after discussion with buyer and their preferences, but sea shipment will be recommended to keep the landed cost minimized. The turn-around-time depends upon the quantity of merchandise ordered. A minimum order of 1,000 units of knitwear, mix and match of any products, is required to minimize the packaging and handling charges. The seller has to keep in mind that the estimated delivery time through sea is three to four months, whereas the estimated delivery time through air cargo is five to seven business days (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). The packaging will be done in weather-proof packages so that there is minimal damage to the merchandises due to weather and other natural disasters. The packaging is either in the tarp sacks or boxed, the latter being more expensive and will cost more to buyer (Sana_Hastakala Polcies and Procedures). Pricing Policies and Procedures: For selling any of goods or services some type of cost analysis is required. SH, according to the cost analysis, set prices, for their three merchandise (Caps, Mittens and Mufflers), as below: Caps: $3-4/Piece Mittens: $3-4/Pair Mufflers: $2-3/Piece A part of analysis is verification of pricing. For better understanding the market situation, the table one shows comparing prices between three supplyer that are competing in the market and SH. Obviously, this is one of the best means for validating price. By asking three or more suppliers of their prices for the same product, we can determine if a particular price is reasonable. However, the lowest bid may not always represent the lowest cost. There may be cost associated with making the lower cost product perform to standards, the additional cost of early replacement or the cost of redesign and/or testing required making the lower cost product applicable. This total cost of acquisition is the real cost that must be compared. Its obviously shows that SH prices are higher than the other competitor in the market and it is because of their quality and being handmade of the products. SH doesnt have any discount offer for first order but for compete with other competitors they offer discount for second and subsequent orders. They promote 12% discount for orders more than 70,000 and 20% discount for orders more than 100,000. Furthermore they have discount for fair trade members about 25%, also these excludes VAT which is 22% in Nepal. The company use advanced order to take advance payments to cover the cost of raw materials purchase. Then SH use totally prepaid advanced payment for first order and for the second order they recommend 75% advance payment, 25% after shipping. Also they recommend 50% advance payment and 50% COD payment for third order and subsequent orders. The firms policy on extending credit to its customers is depending on the loyalty of the customers to SH and their participation in promoting fair trade globally and locally. PART B: Prospecting/Qualifying Potential Customers: We propose these methods for prospecting and qualifying potential customers. Exhibitions and Demonstrations: Prospecting Exhibitions and demonstrations will be our primary prospecting method. This types of events gives a sales person extensive contact with large number of potential buyers over a brief time. Using this method we can set-up an interesting display to get peoples attention for example popcorn machine, lightning etc. We can set up our display to maximize visibility based on the flow of the traffic. We can use lead cards to write down prospect information for efficient and effective post- show follow up. In this kind of trade shows we can get the major buyers we want to pursue for contact. Qualifying: For qualifying potential customer in such kind of exhibitions or trade shows we can set up a booth with one sales person to qualify leads and get name and addresses to contact them later at their home or offices. Our sales persons approach to the customers will be assertive rather than common; we can use some questions such as have you ever use hand crafts products? Or by offering them sample to handle that make them get involved into conversation. We can write our message so that it fits on the back of the business card. Our website: Prospecting: Our company website would be our one of an automated prospecting tool. We can use our company website as prospecting tool by doing number of things such as, We can make the site attractive and easy to use We can get come in to their contacts by contact link on every page We can put call me links, whereby they can enter their phone numbers and we call them back. Qualifying: To qualify potential customers through our websites we can put our full product catalog online and also let them download a pdf and order a paper copy. Our website would allow them to make both free-text queries and guiding them through a product list. Our potential customer can get all information about our products price range from our web sites. We can use cookies so we can track the prospect and offer customized information. Networking: Prospecting: To find new prospects, networking can be the most reliable and effective prospecting method. We can focus on meeting the Centre of influence people by which we can come in to many valuable contacts. By networking we can get to know about prospects business and find key people in our industry. By meeting people we can tell them what we sell, exchange business cards. Eventually we can build a network of people talking to each other, sharing ideas and exchanging information. We can get networking prospects business card and follow up with our new contact. By doing networking we can develop credibility and a valuable, long lasting relationship that would be helpful in our business. Qualifying: To qualify potential customers through networking we can share information about their business and our business. We can ask them some open ended question or feel good question about our industry and also their industry like, What do enjoy the most about your industry? By making contacts through networking we can build up relationship by sending them something every month such as notepad with our company name and picture. These things will be reminded us and our products. Monthly hard copy and newsletter: Prospecting: This is one on of the good prospecting method that we can use to find potential customers We can target particular market by publishing monthly hard copy and newsletters of our company and our products. Though monthly hard copy and newsletter we can offer them an invitation to a seminar, free training session etc. Qualifying: We can send to our prospecting customer contacts articles, newsletters, books, brochures etc. to guide them about our company and our product. We can publish questionnaires to encourage the conversation. Securing an Appointment: The letter seeking an appointment is provided in the next page. February 21, 2011 Mountain Equipment Co-op 400 King Street West Toronto, ON M5V 1K2 Dear Sir/Madam, Sana Hastakala is Nepali Handicraft Company. We are the founding member of fair trade group Nepal (FTG) and member of International federation of alternative trade (FAT). This is a non-profitable organization and our main objective is to foster traditional craft skills as well as applying modern techniques in order to generate income for craft producers who are mainly women. We produce different woolen items and other handicrafts products. Sana offers you variety of woolen items which can be used in everyday life. We use high quality wool such as sheep wool, agora wool from Nepal, imported wool from New Zealand to crate beautiful knit wears, sweaters, jackets, hats and gloves. Designs are based on both traditional Nepali and classic western motifs and are available in beautiful range of fashionable colors. At your convenience, I would like to introduce you to some of our products features and benefits. Please let me hear from you if you would like to find out more about Sana Hastakala and what we can offer you. Regards, Jasmin Upadhyaya (Marketing Manager) Appendices: Appendix A Product Catalog for Sana Hastakala Beads necklaces, earrings Ceramics Earthenware statues, water and storage jars, flower pots, glass, cup and plate, tea pot, flower vase, serving bowl, soup bowls, paper Mache masks, puppets and dolls Dhaka Shawls, and cloths Dolls (made from cloth and corn husk depicting various occupational and tribal ethnic groups represent the culture of Nepal) Felt Hand Made Paper Products greeting cards, stationary sets, notebooks, gift wrapping paper, bags, envelopes, photo frames Household accessories Knitwear sweaters, jackets, hats and caps, gloves and mittens Metal Craft Singing bowls, trumpets, drums, various kinds of flutes, cymbals, cutlery items, such as knife ,spoon and forks with traditional designs , and bagh chal and chess games Mithila paintings, mirrors, ceramics, table cloths bed sheets and T-shirts Natural fiber Allo Hemp bags, cushions covers, wallet, and clothing Pashmina Shawls, mufflers Silver Jewelry Wood carving picture frames, mirror frames, small boxes, animals, buttons, decorative wall hangings, masks X-mas hanging Filigree Christmas hangings, and felt decoration Appendix B Images for knitwear products: Ear Flap Hats (DSC08796) Cap with Earmuffs (DSC02910) Boxer Gloves (DSC01045) Hunter Gloves (DSC02905) Mufflers (DSC01063) Woolen Socks (DSC01059) Works Cited: