Summary of strategic strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Summary of strategic strategy - Essay Example For instance, Apple has gone through three different versions of the iPhone, each time introducing new capabilities into the product. Therefore, new technology can continuously be integrated into the product. In the past five years, they have tripled their sales. Although this has occurred with the return of Jobs at the helm of Apple Jobs, like Apple, believes that innovation is very important when it comes to new products. The idea of the iphone came when Apple realized how much most and individuals did not like their cell phones. Apple saw an opportunity to make a great phone that everybody would want to use again and again. This is often how Apple comes up with ideas for products. They see an opening in the market and decide to make the best product possible to fit in with that need. Apple believes in making sure all of its products are excellent. Furthermore, Apple wishes to inspire its employees by letting them know that they can do things the Apple they would not be able to do anywhere else. Apple also believes in hiring the best people in order to give them a piece of the business and the thin do as they please with it. They want their employees to make excellent decisions and contribute to the company overall. Furthermore, Apple police and always working hard are in hard are to make the best products possible. ... Book Analysis: Our textbook describes a company's importance as far as setting goals is concerned. It can be argued that Apple definitely sets goals, but unlike the structures presented in the book, they tend to use their own approach. As mentioned in the article analysis, Apple likes to find an area and the market that one could consider a whole. When the fullest discovered, Apple then dressed of formal product that will fill that need. The Iphone has been the perfect example of this. As Apple realize people were generally unhappy with their cell phones, they set the goal of coming up with a better cell phone.When Apple sets a goal, they tend to stick with the school. They do not tend to diversify, which is against many of the ideas presented in the textbook. Apple has found that by concentrating on a few products they are better able to meet their consumers happy. Apple believes that diversification will make them spread themselves too thin, and therefore, their products will not be as good or a successful.The book also mentions that the company should agree on performance measures. Apple however says that likes to hire people who are never satisfied. Apple's sphere of satisfaction comes with the fact that they believe satisfaction may reduce one's ability to perform or set better goals. Therefore, they strive to do better and better no matter how good their performance measures currently are. This information conflicts with the information that is presented in the book.One item of the book that Apple does agree with is the concept of making business strategies flexible. This can be seen with the various concepts that had been

Special School District Essay Example for Free

Special School District Essay Clare Foley, an eleven year- old, is suffering from mild mental disorder. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Special School District of St. Louis Country (SSD) should provide special education for children with disabilities in public schools (153 F. 3d 863). However, due to proximity, Clares parents transferred her to St. Peters Catholic School. It is also required that she has to undergo occupational, physical, and language therapy. These were among the demands of Clare’s parents to the SSD. SSD, on their part, denied the request because they claim that the statute restrains them from providing special educational services to private schools. Instead, they offered dual enrolment for Clare whereby she has to travel from St. Peters to receive the services (153 F. 3d 863). However, Clares parents asked IDEA for due process hearing based on the amendment made in the Act wherein disabled children have rights to receive educational services even if enrolled in private schools. In hearing the case, the panel rejected the claim of Clares parents on the ground that IDEA prohibits educational services in a sectarian school. Issue: Does Clare has an individual right to request for special education from SSD despite the fact that she studies in a private school? Holding: The district court decided in favor of SSD based on the hearing panels findings. The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the district court. Reason: The hearing panel concluded that the IDEA does not require SSD to provide special education services at a private school (153 F. 3d 863). Moreover, the amendment stated that â€Å"SSD cannot pay the costs of special education services for a particular child† (153 F. 3d 863). However, the SSD is required to spend proportionate amount for a class of students. In the present case, Clare alone is asserting such right which has been granted only to a class of students. Significance: This case limits the responsibilities of the public school mandated to grant public educational services and the rights of the children with disabilities. It serves as a clear example that the special education is not absolute and for reason of fairness it cannot be granted to specific individuals. Reference Bulk. Resource. Org. (2008). Foley v. Special School District of St. Louis County. Retrieved June 5, 2008, from http://bulk. resource. org/courts. gov/c/F3/153/153. F3d. 863. 97-2419. html

Investigative Report of Internet Addiction Essay -- Internet Addiction

Investigative Report of Internet Addiction TABLE OF CONTENT LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ...............................................iv ABSTRACT.............................................................v INTRODUCTION ........................................................1 Purpose .............................................................1 Growth Of The Internet ..............................................1 THE ADDICTION .......................................................2 What causes it ......................................................2 Symptoms ............................................................3 How To Overcome The Addiction........................................4 The elements of any addiction........................................4 CONCLUSION ..........................................................8 One Last Interesting Question .......................................9 REFERENCES ..........................................................10 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figures 1. The number of networks connected to the Internet vs. Time. 2. The percentage of the Internet domains 3. Will the equation people = Internet Users be true in 2001? ABSTRACT The problem of Internet addiction is not very noticeable now and that's why not many people are taking it seriously, but what these people are failing to see is the connection between the very rapid growth of the Internet and the addiction problem. It is really simple logic the bigger the Internet get the more users will be which will lead to a bigger number of addicts that can have their lives as well as others corrupted by this behavior. The main objective of this paper is to make sure that all reader know and understand what Internet addiction is and how it can be solved or avoided. I can not offer a professional psychiatric solution but I believe if a person knows more about the addiction, the better chance they have to help themselves as well as others; that's why I have included a short summary of the elements of addiction. I hope that by the time you read my paper you will have a better understanding about this issue to keep yourself as well as others of taking Internet addiction lightly. INTRODUCTION Purpose The purpose of this paper is to make you, the reader, alert and more aware of the newest type of addiction, Interne... ...not be life threatening like some drug addiction, but it can very harmful to the person professional and personal life. The key to staying away from this addiction is to understand its elements and have a strong will power to control one's self from all the temptations that the Internet might provide. One Last Interesting Question We all know that more and more people are gaining access to the Internet some way or another, but not every body had the chance of looking at figure 3 ! Figure 3. Will the equation people = Internet Users be true in 2001? (Source: ftp://nic.merit.edu/statistics/nsfnet) REFERENCES Elias, M. (7/7/1996) Net overuse called "true addiction", USA Today, pp 1-A. McAllester, M. (5/5/1996), Study says some may be addicted to the Net; Bulldog Edition.,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Los Angeles Times, , pp A-18. Network Wizards, [online]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Available URL: http://www.nw.com/zone/ Rodgers, J. (1994), Treatments that works, Vol. 27, Psychology Today, pp 34. Young, Kimberly, Centre of on-line addiction (COLA), [online]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Available URL: http://www.pitt.edu/~ksy/ Merit Network Inc., [online]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Available URL: ftp://nic.merit.edu/statistics/nsfnet/

Reading Report

From my experiences reading novels, dramas, poetry, and short stories, I think the purpose of fiction is to entertain; to provoke thought. I think students study fiction because it is very entertaining, and can teach many different lessons. People read fiction stones because it lets them get lost In a story that's not theirs. I believe people tell stones to express their Imagination and thoughts. B. A â€Å"take away† value I have learned from this concentration on fiction would be many life lessons. I feel Like the fiction stones we read In school relate to us somehow, and teach us lessons.They also teach us different vocabulary terms and how to use them. Reading stories Like Romeo and Juliet and Lice's Adventures In Wonderland also let us experience different types of literature. II. Nonfiction A. My English II class this year studied three very different examples of nonfiction. 1. The World Geography Textbook- Our geography textbook has a professional tone. The organization of the textbook had headers and sections, which makes finding the information you need easier to find. The purpose of this nonfiction is to inform. 2.The Burden of Womanhood- 3. MASS- This personal memoir about WIN has a serious, melancholy tone. The organization of this book is set up like a story, with pictures. I believe the purpose of MASS is to not only to inform about the events during WI, but to also entertain. B. Studying nonfiction in classes, such as an English II class, would be very beneficial. There are so many different values gained from studying nonfiction, such as how it helps develop critical thinking as well as literary skills, broadens students vocabulary ND world knowledge.Reading Report By theologically read fiction stories because it lets them get lost in a story that's not theirs. I believe people tell stories to express their imagination and thoughts. B. A â€Å"take away' value like the fiction stories we read in school relate to us somehow, and teach us lessons. Like Romeo and Juliet and Lice's Adventures in Wonderland also let us experience A. My English II class this year studied three very different examples of nonfiction. 1 . 3. MASS- This personal memoir about WI has a serious, melancholy tone.

The Twilight Saga 5: Midnight Sun 26. Awakening

The constant drone of the machines continued to echo through my psyche as the evening street lights casted shadows through the hospital room. Rene refused to leave Bella's side for any period of time. I let her have my seat next to Bella but continued to stay in the room, sitting in the corner quietly listening to Rene's thoughts whirl through her child like mind. She was unlike Bella in every way; she even sensed danger when it came to the Cullen's, unlike Bella. My poor baby†¦what time is it? She looked towards the clock. Eleven. Charlie should be here shortly. I'm going to have to have a talk with him. Her thoughts then became a little disjointed in anger as she thought of her daughter falling down two sets of stairs because she had run away from Forks. Forks, she scoffed internally. I knew this wasn't a good idea. I warned her. I told her she didn't have to leave. What kind of mother am I to condemn my child to a place like Forks? Ignoring her constant prattling, I continued to stare, fixated on Bella, waiting for her eyes to open, willing them to just flutter. I couldn't see the clock that was over my head, but I was counting every second as they passed. It was easy to keep track because my only focal point was Bella and how long she had been devoid of consciousness. It had now been exactly 39,982†¦83†¦84 seconds since we arrived at the hospital. Her heart thrummed evenly as her scent was beginning to slowly return to her. The sweet nectar that was her life filled the room with the delicious aroma. Craving the sweetness, I brought the scent into my lungs, letting my throat burst into flames. It was only two hours ago that she finished her second blood transfusion and I was afraid her scent would forever be a pitiful imitation of the luscious blood pulsating through her body. It felt like my body was undergoing physical suffering owing to her condition. Her blood deficient was because of me; a creature so monstrous that I preyed on this innocent creature by allowing her to become a part of my life. More than that, she was my life. My phone lightly vibrated in my jeans pocket ?Cdistracting me from my internal torment – and I pulled it out to read a message from Alice. Just picked Charlie up from the airport. Will be there in fourteen minutes. Snapping my phone shut, I got up to move to Bella's other side. With her mother here, I kept my distance, not wanting to over step my bounds with a parental authority that I so recently met†¦and especially under these circumstances. â€Å"Charlie will be here shortly. Carlisle and Alice just picked him up from the airport,† I said lightly. It's about time. â€Å"That's good,† her eyes never left Bella's face. For over an hour before now I was struggling to come over and talk with Rene. I wanted to flush out a good story to tell her about why we were here in the first place. She got the gist of the story from the doctor about her going through a window after falling down two flights of stairs, but that was all. â€Å"Mrs. Dwyer,† I began. Such a gentleman†¦Mrs. Dwyer. Her penetrating gaze moved from Bella's face to mine. Her eyes widened a little at my appearance. It always caught humans off guard, the little indications they didn't comprehend, no matter how many times they'd seen one of us before. She studied my face for only a brief second before she saw the grief that was displayed squarely on my face. Ignoring her senses she brought her thoughts to my expression. He really cares for her. He looks like he is going to cry. â€Å"Rene,† she corrected me. â€Å"Yes, of course, Rene. I wanted to apologize for this whole incident,† I used my smoothest voice to ease her stress, one I retained for not alarming humans. â€Å"This isn't your fault†¦,† she began, but her thoughts caught up to her mouth. What was he doing down here anyways? He didn't†¦follow her did he? He's not a stalker†¦is he? She tried to smile politely but even without her thoughts as a guide I could have guessed what she was currently thinking. Her thoughts weren't far off base. I was her vampire stalker, watching her sleep every night. I continued, not wanting to think that once she recovered, this would be the end†¦no more stealthily hiding in her room. â€Å"Yes, it is my fault. I really care about your daughter, so please understand that I want the best for her†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Why are you here?† She blurted out. â€Å"When I brought her home after playing baseball with my family she became upset. She really misses Arizona and after I confessed my feelings for her she became angry.† The memory of her yelling at me flashed through my mind. Though she was acting, it burned to hear her say goodbye and slam the door in my face which is ultimately my worst fear. His feelings? Hum, I wonder how much he actually cares for her†¦I hope her actions aren't because of me†¦my past†¦because of my fear of her staying in Forks. Nope, not his fault†¦mine, all mine. She stared at me with her eyes filling with the sorrow of her thoughts, so I went on, trying to distract her from her mental images. It was entirely my fault, not hers. â€Å"When I found out she had run off to Arizona†¦from a call she made to Alice, I had to fix it. Carlisle and Alice came with me to try and convince her to come back to Forks; that we all loved and missed her.† We all love her? Their relationship is a little more intense than I realized. Rene speculated. â€Å"She agreed to meet us at our hotel room but she never made it. Carlisle was actually in the hallway getting ice when he heard a loud crash. Alice and I heard it also,† The look on my face showed pure agony at the thought, though this wasn't acting, this was how I truly felt. â€Å"It was Bella; she had tripped and gone through a window. We rushed to get Carlisle but he was already there. All three of us helped stop the bleeding and get her to the hospital.† Poor child. He must have been scared out of his mind. Rene reached over to place her hand over mine. â€Å"Thank you for saving her.† â€Å"Thank Carlisle. He's the doctor,† â€Å"Yes, but without you, he might not of been able to stop the bleeding in time,† a tear slid down her face and the white blanket covering Bella now had a wet spot from the droplet. Edward, we're here. Alice called out to me through her mind. I have to warn you, he's not happy. You might want to get out of there before†¦ The door to the room flew open as Charlie came marching in, livid. His face was so screwed up in anger that all the blood had rushed to his face, covering it purple, like a radish with a sun burn. â€Å"This is all your fault,† he pointed a finger at my chest, coming closer and closer. I backed away from him, â€Å"I'm sorry.† It was a pathetic attempt, but it was all I could think to say with him advancing on me. I nearly knocked over my tray of food; nothing more than a prop, really, but my mind was in such anguish that I wasn't paying attention. No, this is my fault, Rene thought while stepping in between us. She placed her hands on Charlie's chest and began to push him towards the door. â€Å"Mr. Swan, I†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I began. Rene interjected. â€Å"Charlie, that's enough. Let's talk outside,† she commanded sternly. â€Å"You won't ever see my daughter again. Do you understand?† Charlie continued to shout at me as Rene continued to heave against him until he was outside of the door. His threat was unnecessary because I had to leave her to let her live a peaceful life without all the peril. I backed slowly into the corner, sitting down on the chair again. Bella's breath had picked up slightly; the tempo of her heart increasing, like she could sense the tension in the room. Watching her small chest lightly rise and fall with each breath, seeing the blood flow seamlessly through her translucent skin, listening to her heart which was echoed perfectly with the monitor all just emphasized how delicate and precious she really was. I had to save her from the nightmarish creature I feared and loathed that finally made it to the surface when I tasted the rich flavor of her blood. I was afraid that I wouldn't have enough discipline left to be around her forever. Would all my efforts fail? Pushing my ever growing thoughts of leaving from my mind ?C fighting tooth and nail against what I didn't want to be – I opened my mind to the conversation that was now being shouted in the hall. Listening in on their conversation wasn't difficult in the least. They were barely standing outside the door and with their raised voices it was loud enough that even the humans could hear it. â€Å"Charlie, calm down right this instance!† Rene yelled at him. â€Å"You left him in there with our daughter. She left because of him,† he growled furiously with the protective concern, emitting a possessive edge in his thoughts. I could witness his livid expression through Rene's human eyes. Not the best vision, but it would work. He was right, though; she did leave because of me, because of the danger I placed her in. Looking at her limp form on the bed, her brown hair surrounding her glorious bruised face only brought more fear rippling and quivering through my still form. I was gasping at the air like I'd been suffocated. â€Å"No. She left because of me! If she wasn't so scared to fall in love in Forks than she wouldn't have run away in the first place. This is my fault, not his. If you want to blame someone, blame me,† she retorted. â€Å"You didn't hear the way she yelled at him.† I flinched at the memory, my nerves stretching tight ?C guitar strings, tensed to resonate at the gentlest of pressure. â€Å"She was so angry and upset,† his voice had lowered some, noticing all the attention on them. Charlie hated attention as much as Bella did. â€Å"Wait, did you say love?† Rene eyed the door automatically, picturing my tortured face in her mind. â€Å"Yes. I believe he loves her,† she murmured. â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he stuttered. â€Å"That still doesn't matter!† â€Å"They were trying to help. You know our daughter, she is very clumsy. If it didn't happen now it probably would have happened in the future. It's better if it is when a qualified emergency room doctor is around,† Rene rubbed his shoulders. I could hear her impatience at her ex-husband. Dr. Jones was still on duty and over heard part of the conversation in the hall. Must be her father the way he was yelling. He walked towards them. â€Å"Hello, I'm Dr. Jones. I am the one who worked on your daughter this afternoon.† A nurse had followed behind him and entered the room. She began taking Bella's vitals, not even realizing I was sitting in the corner. Her thoughts concentrated on the information she was writing down on the chart. I continued to listen to the conversation outside the door. â€Å"Oh, hello, yes†¦I'm Charlie, her father. Dr. Cullen told me she was in a medically induced coma?† The light rhythmic movement of Bella's heart continued at a steadied beat, a little faster than when she was in a peaceful sleep. Again, I was counting the seconds. â€Å"Yes. She is healing nicely. Once her swelling goes down around her brain we will try and wake her, but it is strictly up to her body to decide when she is ready to awake from this coma,† he stated firmly, yet in a tone that would help ease his stress. â€Å"Yes. Of course. I understand,† Charlie rubbed his temples. â€Å"I'll leave you alone. Let you have some time with your daughter,† he murmured before walking away. â€Å"Thanks,† Charlie barely spoke. When the nurse swiveled around she finally saw me sitting there. Her heart jumped and began beating wildly. I didn't even see him sitting there. â€Å"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just leaving now,† she began to walk towards the door. Now that I think about it†¦ she glanced over her shoulder. He is hot! I might have to volunteer to come back in here tonight. She finally opened the door nearly knocking over Charlie who had reached for the door at the same time. Standing, I opened my mouth to apologize again. Charlie held up a hand. â€Å"No need.† Rene continued to stand in the hall, uncertain if she needed to enter or not, worried that Charlie might decide to release some more of his fury on me. â€Å"I'll leave you two alone,† I mumbled while walking out of the room. Rene turned to get dinner, taking deep breaths while her thoughts were grumbling in complaint at Charlie's behavior. And he's such a nice boy†¦I just don't understand. As soon as the door clicked shut Alice was at my side. I see he calmed down. He was in a white rage in the car on the way over here. I thought I was going to have to restrain him he was so angry. I nodded, not speaking. I was still burning from the pain. I know what you're planning. I ignored her. Curiosity continued to eat at her as she walked next to me down the hall which was rich with the scent of bleach and plastic. She looked at me inquisitively, wondering what I was thinking that was making the visions in her mind flash. My thoughts were burning, wishing I could know what was going through Bella's mind right now. Her mind was closed to me, and now her eyes were too, the one link I had left to her internal knowledge. Everything is going to be okay, I can see it. She tried to comfort me. Still, I continued to walk silently next to her. Bella's oddly deep brown eyes were fixated in my irises which were crimson with fresh human blood. My contacts were beginning to burn away. Before I could ask Alice, she had another box placed in her palm. Here, let's not give Charlie any reasons to hate you more. â€Å"Thanks,† I replied dully. If I thought going on a single hunting trip – leaving Bella behind, vulnerable – was excruciating, the next twelve hours were worse. The extreme and generally prolonged pain and mental suffering were the most constant of my torments. But, the most painful of my torments was Charlie's possessive nature over his daughter. With him here, I was basically kicked out of her room, Rene constantly apologizing for his poor behavior. During the afternoon hours Alice and Rene would converse about everything from style to yoga classes, even though Alice has no need for yoga. Though I sat there, listening to their conversations, they continued to become aware of how tightly wound I was, feeling the stress emanate out of me without the special gift that Jasper has. Edward, Alice called from her mind around two in the afternoon. Charlie is going back to Forks. The officers†¦well, he is the police force, they need him back. He already received that call and will be on a plane by five. This was the first decent news I had heard in days. Regardless, today would be a hard one. Harder than the day before because each second that I continued to count added to the time that her deep depths were closed, her mind locked up tighter than Fort Knox. Like Alice had predicted, Charlie came strolling around the corner to give us the news about his departure. He completely ignored me, but in his mind he was thinking daggers towards me. Daggers that would never pierce my cold, steel skin. Rene walked with Charlie out of the hospital, leaving Alice and I alone together. Let's go see Bella. Without answering her, I rose, walking quicker than human speed towards the room. Whenever Charlie wasn't taking up all of Bella's coma time, I was there, by her side. When I got the chance, I was holding her. Rene had stayed the night, and was planning on doing it again ?C something I wasn't terribly excited about. When we reached the door I opened it and was instantly hit with a spectacular scent wafting through the room. Each breath was full of fire which was also full of her life. I ignored the burning, pushed it in the back of my mind. There was a newspaper on her bedside table. I picked it up to the page that was left open. It was a story that covered the arson of a ballet studio and theft of a car that was left outside. Anger pulsed through me at the thought of James again, though I pushed it aside because another angry thought hit me. I wished that Rene hadn't known about this, because now she was too afraid to stay in her own home. My continuance of emotions ached for some kind of physical outlet, and yet the only outlet I had was now gone, dead. Not today†¦Alice murmured. She's not ready. My hopes plummeted at this news. She continued to watch the future which spun, twisted and became mangled again. I wish†¦ â€Å"This is obviously not the time to bring that up,† I barked. I was just going to say I wish she'd wake up soon, Alice's eyes were wide with innocence, and I didn't believe it for a second. Looking at her eyes, I saw the reflection of my own eyes which were an odd brown, muddy color. Momentarily it caught me off guard, forgetting I was wearing the contacts, even though they continued to obstruct my perfect vision. I stole my eyes away from her to bring them back to Bella's limp and lumpy form. Her eyes were closed lightly, as if she were very peaceful. Her hair glinted in the bright white light over her face. My remorse and the guilt burned with the thirst, and, if I had the ability to produce tears, they would have filled my eyes. Each second that I continued to count reminded me of the precious soul lying in the bed before us. She was so breakable, and I broke her, she was good and she didn't deserve my fate. My mind was bouncing around like a tennis ball, willing myself to stay away from her, to no longer let my life collide with hers†¦destroying it in the process. What have I done? As the hour passed my mind continually would titter on a line of right and wrong. First, my thoughts leaning one way, then the other. Alice was becoming irritated at my constant state of vivid flashes of the future which would crumble every time I changed my mind. Then, when I didn't think the burning could get worse, I imagined her waking up and kicking me out of her room. I had to remind myself that she had every right to hate me, to not trust me with her safety. That she should. Would you quit! Alice shouted from mind. You aren't going anywhere. I won't let you. Remember, you did save her life. Her thoughts were confusing and incomprehensible. Did I not place Bella in front of the danger that lurked around her until it struck? Wasn't this all my fault in the first place? Quickly, I decided that the best course of action was to ignore her thoughts. After an hour had passed Rene entered the room, her mind happily jumping from subject to subject. What books she liked, her favorite movies, how she painted Bella's new room in Florida. Each second, I counted†¦I angered even more†¦mostly at myself. I tried ignoring Bella once, letting her go and it didn't work. I remember thinking that there were other options besides her ultimate doom. Now that I am sitting at her bedside, where she was on the brink of death nearly twenty four hours ago, I realized that keeping her in the fragile state would inevitably destroy her. I had to leave. Not now, but after she recovered. I did this, I have to clean it up. I won't leave her here, broken, without help. I've had it! Alice stood up. â€Å"Rene, I'm sorry, I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow.† So soon? Rene stared at me. But he's not good company. â€Å"I understand, dear. See you tomorrow.† Surely it had to be miserable being around me, but if they understood my frustrations, my ever growing war that was raging inside me, then they would leave me alone. I argued with myself as the evening hours progressed, afraid my less noble side would win the argument. To add to my ever growing torments, the silence emitting from Bella was torturing me. Night after night I watched over her, and she spoke, tossed, turned, and murmured some more. Not last night†¦and not tonight. The mystery that surrounded Bella continued to make my curiosity flare. The lure of her unprotected and unconsciously spoken thoughts were making me sick with regret. I should have stayed away and then tonight would have been like any other night when I went to visit her. I missed her murmurs, her spoken dreams and fears. The only sound from Bella was her light breathing, which had a little rattle from her bruised ribs and her steady heart beat. I shook my head in disgust at what I had done to her. Though she was bruised and tubes and wiring seemed to be coming from her every orifice, she was still beautiful. Her dark hair was tangled wildly around her pale face. As the night progressed into the early morning hours, Rene never kicked me out. Instead she slept resolutely with Bella's hand in hers. Jealousy raged inside me at her touch. I wanted it to be me holding her hand, lying with her, comforting her. It was foolishness to think that we belonged together, even though I could never imagine myself without her, or with anyone else. She deserved happiness and love with whomever she chose, yet she chose me†¦the cold inhuman creature that almost brought her to her death. Could a dead frozen heart break? I felt like mine was. In an instant, a memory flooded my troubled mind, making my mind teeter in yet another direction. That first evening I became the peeping tom†¦Bella, she was dreaming of me, mumbling my name. â€Å"Stay,† she sighed. â€Å"Don't go. Please†¦don't go.† That was the night she changed me, the rare and permanent thing that you could never give back. It was love, and no matter how many years pass, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, I would forever love this one girl. I gazed at her unconscious face, reminding myself of the love that had settled into every portion of my stone body that night. If I loved her though, then I was strong enough to leave her because that is what would be best. Loving her would not keep me from killing her, if I let myself make mistakes, like I did this week, she could be killed. Though, it would not be intentional, only a horrible accident. Obviously, I am capable of making mistakes. In only an half hour of speaking with her for the first time I slipped up twice. Deliberately, I took in a deep breath, letting her scent rip through me like wildfire. With each breath, I let it remind myself of the monster that was living deep inside me. Though he was gone, missing right now, I knew he was still there, sending waves of fire through my throat. Rene was sleeping soundly now, dreaming about a horseback riding class she had that was a little bizarre. Still, I continued to count the seconds as the sun rose over the mountainous horizon. I closed the vertical blinds so my skin wouldn't sparkle. Again, I felt my contacts disintegrate and had to replace them. In the bathroom, my eyes still were bright red with Bella's blood. Another reminder of the damage I inflicted upon her by being with her. I felt my pocket vibrate and reached in to grab my phone. It was nine in the morning. It had now almost been two days of a still, unmoving beauty lying in this bed, comatose. I read the message. Bella will awake at 913. Thought I'd give you the heads up so you could wake Rene so she could get her breakfast. It will give you time to be alone with Bella. A great relief spread over me at this news. The seconds I would no longer have to count because she would be awake, talking to me. Purposefully, I dropped my phone, the sound vibrated off the walls in the tiny room. Rene jumped to her feet. â€Å"What's going on? Where's Grace?† she mumbled, her face bewildered. I had to suppress a laugh. â€Å"Grace?† I asked. â€Å"Dream,† she muttered. That horse scares the living fire out of me! Again, my giddy state was hard to control. My lips twitched on the edges at the thought of her waking. â€Å"They are serving breakfast,† I offered. Oh course, he wants time alone with her. â€Å"Yes, breakfast sounds nice.† Rene left with one last glance over her shoulder before shutting the door. Curling up onto Bella's bed, I held her hand while watching the clock. The seconds were going by slower. The last minute before her awakening seemed to take twice†¦no three times as long. Each second that ticked by had my thoughts scattering in every direction. Now that I knew she would be awake soon, the thought of leaving her was inconceivable. I would always love this fragile human girl for the rest of my limitless existence. I gazed at her unconscious face, feeling this love for her settle into every portion of my cold steel body. If I wasn't strong enough to leave her maybe I was strong enough to construct a new future. She moaned while her eyes fluttered. Could a dead, frozen heart beat again? It felt like mine was about to.

How to Conjugate French Regular -ER Verbs

How to Conjugate French Regular -ER Verbs There are five main kinds of verbs in French: regular -ER, -IR, -RE; stem-changing; and irregular. Once youve learned the rules of conjugation for each of the first three kinds of verbs, you should have no problem conjugating regular verbs in each of those categories. The majority of French verbs are regular -ER verbs. French Regular -ER Verb Conjugations The verb form that ends in -ER is called the infinitive, and -ER is the infinitive ending. The verb with the infinitive ending removed is called the stem or radical. To conjugate -ER verbs, remove the infinitive ending to find the stem and add the endings. The table lists the present tense conjugations for the regular -ER verbs parler (to speak or talk), donner (to give), and visiter (to visit). To help with learning, the infinitive form is listed (such as  parler) followed by the stem (such as  parl-). Pronoun Ending parler parl- donner donn- visiter visit- je -e parle donne visite tu -es parles donnes visites il -e parle donne visite nous -ons parlons donnons visitons vous -ez parlez donnez visitez ils -ent parlent donnent visitent Regular -ER verbs share conjugation patterns in all tenses and moods. More -ER Verb  Conjugations: Penser The rules for conjugating regular -ER verbs remain the same throughout all tenses and moods: Thats why they the are called regular -ER verbs. For your studies, it can be helpful, however, to view all the conjugations for all tenses of moods of a regular -ER verb, such as  penser  (to think). Remember that to conjugate this regular -ER verb, simply take the stem -pense  and then add the appropriate endings. Pronoun Present Future Imperfect je pense penserai pensais tu penses penseras pensais il pense pensera pensait nous pensons penserons pensions vous pensez penserez pensiez ils pensent penseront pensaient Pronoun Subjunctive Conditional Pass Simple Imperfect Subjunctive je pense penserais pensai pensasse tu penses penserais pensas pensasses il pense penserait pensa penst nous pensions penserions pensmes pensassions vous pensiez penseriez penstes pensassiez ils pensent penseraient pensrent pensassent Pronoun Imperative tu pense nous pensons vous pensez Some Common French Regular -ER Verbs Take some time to familiarize yourself with the most common regular -ER verbs, because youre likely to encounter these words often when reading or speaking French. They all share the same conjugation patterns, with a few exceptions noted below. aimer   to like, to lovearriver   to arrive, to happenchanter     to singchercher   to look forcommencer   to begindanser   to dancedemander   to ask fordà ©penser     to spend (money)dà ©tester   to hatedonner   to giveà ©couter   to listen toà ©tudier      to studyfermer   to closegoà »ter     to tastejouer   to playlaver   to washmanger     to eatnager   to swimparler   to talk, to speakpasser   to pass, spend (time)porter   to wear, to carryrà ªver   to dreamsembler   to seemskier   to skitravailler   to worktrouver   to findvoler   to fly, to steal A Few Exceptions All regular s of this kind of conjugation would be commencer  (to begin), manger (to eat),  nager  (to swim), and  skier (to ski). Though they are conjugated just like regular -ER verbs, watch out for verbs that end in  -IER, such as  Ãƒ ©tudier  (to study).

Building a Comprehensive School Discipline Referral Form

Building a Comprehensive School Discipline Referral Form A school discipline referral form is utilized in most school districts. Each district tailors the referral form to meet their particular needs. There are many important reasons that school districts require their teachers and administrators to utilize these forms. These include: Creating a paper trail to protect everyone involved.Gives the principal a starting point and foundation for gathering information relevant to the behavior infraction.Can help establish and document a pattern of student behavior.Guides the discipline process ensuring that every student sent the office on a discipline referral is being met with the same process.  Forces the teacher to evaluate what prior strategies they have implemented on their own to attempt to correct the behavior. Schools that do not use a school discipline referral form to document student behavior issues will likely have several obstacles should legal action be taken by a constituent of the district. Filling out and adhering to a school discipline referral form does take time. However, it is worth it as serves to protect everyone involved in the process. Categories Defined   Others Involved - None, Peers, Teacher, Staff, Sub, OtherPotential Witnesses - List all people who are not directly involved, but may have seen the incident.Nature of Incident - Excessive Talking, Unprepared for Class, Excessive Tardies, Inappropriate Language, Violation of Dress Code, Disrespect, Violation of School Bus Rules, Disorderly Conduct, Defacing Property, Truancy, Lying/Cheating, Uncooperative, Horseplay, Misuse of Electronic Device, Harassment, Bullying, Fighting/Assault, Vandalism, Violation of State Federal Laws, Violation of School Policy, OtherDescribe Incident - List a detailed description of the incident containing all of the known facts.Possible Motivation - Avoid Activity, Avoid Adult, Avoid Peers, Avoid Task, Obtain Peer Attention, Obtain Adult Attention, Obtain Activities, Obtain Items, Other, Dont KnowPrevious Classroom Discipline History of Student - Explain other behavior issues (related and unrelated) you have had with the student in the class.Previously Us ed Teacher Intervention Strategies - Counseling Referral, Parent Conference, Conference with Student, Seat Change, Detention, Loss of Privilege, Social Skills Instruction, Extra Assignment Students Statement - Provides the student with an opportunity to explain themselves and become a part of the process to find a solution.Consequences Assigned by Administrator - Class Removal, Campus Beautification, Counseling Referral, Alternative Placement, Loss of Privilege, Detention, Conference with Student, Mentoring, Conference with Parent, Out-of-School Suspension, In School Placement, ExpulsionFollow-Up Plan - Provides an opportunity to check up on the student, provide the resources, and a plan to support them in correcting the behavior. Sample School Discipline Referral Form Student Name: _____________________________________ Grade:_______________________ Referring Teacher: _________________________________________________ Date: ___/___/___   Time:____________ Location: ______________________________________ Others Involved: ________________________________________________________________ Potential Witnesses: _____________________________________________________________ Nature of Incident: ______________________________________________________________ Describe Incident:  Ã‚   ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Possible Motivation: ______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ Previous Classroom Discipline History of Student _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Previously Used Teacher Intervention Strategies (If applicable) ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Teacher Signature: ______________________________________________________________ Administrators Report   Student’s Statement What rule did you violate? ___________________________________________________________ Why did you violate the rule? _________________________________________________________ Did you get what you wanted? ________________________________________________________ What is another alternative to get what you want? _________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Consequences Assigned by Administrator   _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Parent Notification Method   ______ Phone Call ______ In Office ______ Email ______ Letter ______ Other _____________ Referral to Other Services (If Necessary) ______ Discipline Review Team _______ Counseling _______ Local Authorities ______Other Follow up Plan   _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Student Signature: _________________________________________ Date: ____/_____/_____ Administrator Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ____/_____/_____ Parent Signature: __________________________________________ Date: ____/_____/_____

The 55 AP Language and Composition Terms You Must Know

The 55 AP Language and Composition Terms You Must Know SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips One of the competencies you need to develop for AP Language and Composition is a thorough understanding of rhetorical strategies and techniques. This is because you will both be expected to identify these strategies and techniques in the writing of others and to use them in your own writing. But given the huge number of rhetorical terms there are, how do you know which ones you need to know and understand? Do you need to know what anaphora is? What about synecdoche? In this article I'll provide two lists: one of essential key AP Language and Composition terms to know for the exam, and one list of useful bonus words that will serve you well on the exam. Then I'll advise how to learn and use these terms for AP success! Want to get a perfect 5 on your AP exam and an A in class? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Essential AP Language and Composition Terms The following list of 37 terms, based on consulting both the AP English Language and Composition Course and Exam Description and free-response material from past years, provides an important overview of the major AP Lang rhetorical devices and techniques you need to know. With all of this AP Language and Composition vocabulary at your disposal, you'll be a top-notch rhetorical analyst in no time! Each entry has a definition and example or further explanation. Don't be intimidated by the size of this list- many of these are terms you are probably already familiar with! Essential Rhetorical Analysis Terms Terms Definition Example/Explanation Analogy Explaining something complex by comparing it to something more simple. "An amateur playing in a professional game is like an ibex stepping into a lion's den." Argument The combination of reasons, evidence, etc that an author uses to convince an audience of their position. Too comprehensive a concept for a single example! In effective rhetoric, every phrase serves to further build the argument. Aristotelian appeals Three different methods of appealing to an audience to convince them- ethos, logos, and pathos. See ethos, logos and pathos. Attitude The writer's personal views or feelings about the subject at hand. Difficult to convey in a short example, but something like "the deplorable state of this school" would convey that the author has a negative attitude towards the school. Audience Who the author is directing his or her message towards When you create a resume, your audience is potential employers. Compare and contrast Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative purpose. â€Å"Hybrid cars have a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional midsize vehicles.† Connotation The implied meaning of a word; words can broadly have positive, negative, or neutral connotations. conscientious = positive connotation fussy = negative connotation Context The extra-textual environment in which the text is being delivered. If I am delivering a congratulatory speech to awards recipients, the immediate context might be the awards presentation ceremony; the broader context might be the purpose or significance of the awards themselves. Counterargument The argument(s) against the author's position. If I want to eliminate the dress code, a counterargument might be that this will place a burden on students of a lower socioeconomic status, who must now afford an entire school wardrobe or risk unwanted attention. Deductive reasoning A form of logical reasoning wherein a general principle is applied to a specific case. If all planets orbit a star, and Theta II is a planet, then it must orbit a star. Denotation The literal, dictionary-definition meaning of a word. The denotation of "chair" is "a place to sit." Diction The style of language used; generally tailored to be appropriate to the audience and situation. You might say "What's up, loser?" to your little brother, but you would probably say "How are you doing today?" to your principal. Ethos Setting up a source as credible and trustworthy. "Given my PhD in the subject and years of experience in the field" is an appeal to ethos. Evidence The information presented meant to persuade the audience of the author's position. If I were arguing that Anne is a good student, I might reference her straight-A report card and her 1500 SAT score as pieces of evidence. Figurative language The use of language in a non-literal way; i.e. metaphor, simile, etc. "The sky's like a jewel box tonight!" Genre The specific type of work being presented. Broader categories include "novel" and "play," while more specific genres would be things like "personal essay" or "haiku." Imagery Any descriptive language used to evoke a vivid sense or image of something; includes figurative language. "The water was a pearl-studded sea of azure tipped with turquoise." Implication When something is suggested without being concretely stated. "Watch your wallet around Paul," implies that Paul is a thief without coming out and saying "Paul is a thief." Inductive reasoning Making a generalization based on specific evidence at hand. All of the planets in this solar system orbit a star, so all planets probably orbit stars. Irony At the most basic sense, saying the opposite of what you mean; also used to describe situations in which the results of an action are dramatically different than intended. "I do so hope there are more papers to sign," is something that might be said ironically. Juxtaposition Placing two very different things together for effect. "There they stood together, the beggars and the lords, the princesses and the washerwoman, all crowding into the square." Logos Appealing to someone's sense of concrete facts and logic. Citing peer-reviewed scientific studies is an appeal to logos. Occasion The reason or moment for writing or speaking. When giving a graduation speech, the occasion is graduation. Organization How the different parts of an argument are arranged in a piece of writing or speech. Think about the outlines you write in preparation for drafting an argumentative essay and you'll have an idea of what organization is. Pathos An Aristotelian appeal. Involves appealing to someone's emotions. Animal shelters ads with pictures of cute sad animals and dramatic music are using pathos. Purpose The author's persuasive intention. If you are trying to convince your mother you should get a dog, your purpose in addressing an essay on the subject to her would be to convince her that you should get a dog. Repetition Re-using a word or phrase repeatedly for effect or emphasis. "We run, and we run, and we run, like rats on a wheel." Rhetoric The use of spoken or written word (or a visual medium) to convey your ideas and convince an audience. Almost everything is an example of rhetoric! Rhetorical triangle The relationship between the author, the audience, the text/message, and the context. The author communicates to the reader via the text; and the reader and text are surrounded by context. Speaker The persona adopted by the author to deliver his or her message; may or may not actually be the same person as the author. Similar to the difference between author and narrator in a work of fiction. Style The author's own personal approach to rhetoric in the piece; similar to voice. We might say the Taylor Swift's songwriting style is straightforward and emotive. Symbolism Using a symbol to refer to an idea or concept. "Fire" is commonly used a symbol for passion and/or anger. Syntax The way sentences are grammatically constructed. "She likes pie," is syntactically simple. On the other hand, "As it so happened, when Barbara got out of class early she liked to have a piece of pie- key lime or pecan, always- at the corner diner; while she was there she watched the people passing by the window and imagined herself inside each of their lives, riding in their heads for moments and moments until the afternoon was whiled away and she'd become fifty people," is syntactically complicated. Synthesis Combining sources or ideas in a coherent way in the purpose of a larger point. A typical research paper involves synthesizing sources to make a broader point about the topic. Themes Overarching ideas or driving premises of a work. Some themes you will probably hear in your high school graduation speech include leaving behind a legacy, moving into the great unknown, becoming an adult, and changing the world. Tone The use of stylistic devices to reveal an author's attitude toward a subject. Only a narrow distinction from attitude. The phrase "the deplorable state of this school" reveals a negative attitude, but the word choice of "deplorable" is part of the author's tone. Voice An author's unique sound. Similar to style. Think of the way that you can recognize a pop singer on the radio without hearing who it is first. Want to get a perfect 5 on your AP exam and an A in class? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Let your voice be heard! Bonus AP Language and Composition Terms Here are 18 bonus AP Language vocabulary terms that, while not absolutely essential to your success on the exam, will be very helpful. They identify some common but obscurely named rhetorical techniques and some additional rhetorical and argumentative strategies. These terms also each have a definition and an example or explanation. Bonus Rhetorical Terms Terms Definition Example/Explanation Alliteration Using words with the same first letter repeatedly close together in a phrase or sentence. "She purchased the pretty purple parka." Allusion Making a brief reference to the cultural canon- e.g. the Bible, Shakespeare, classical mythology, etc. "Like Eve in the Garden of Eden, George was not good at resisting temptation." Anecdote Offering a brief narrative episode. This device can serve many functions in a text- for example, introducing an issue, serving as evidence, to illustrate a point, and so on. "When I went to buy my morning coffee, I ran into an old friend. He told me he had won the lottery and he was about to buy a yacht. Two months later I heard he had declared bankruptcy." Concession Agreeing with the opposing viewpoint on a certain smaller point (but not in the larger argument). â€Å"While I admit that hybrid cars have higher carbon production costs than conventional automobiles, this is dramatically offset by the much-smaller lifetime carbon footprint of the vehicles.† Didactic A text with an instructive purpose, often moral. Aesop's fables are an example of a didactic work. Euphemism Referring to something with a veiled phrase instead of saying it directly "She let Bob go," is a euphemism for "she fired Bob." Exemplification Providing examples in service of a point. â€Å"The Town Beautification Funds are being sorely misused; the streets are full of litter, the parks are full of broken equipment, and City Hall's facade is drab and crumbling.† Hyperbole Overstating a situation for humorous or dramatic effect. "My backpack weighs tons!" Idiom A commonly used phrase that signifies something very different than its literal meaning. "This costs an arm and a leg!" is an idiom which means "This is very expensive." Onomatopoeia Using "sound-effect" words (e.g. "clap," "buzz). "We heard an ominous hiss from the kitchen." Paradox A phrase or assertion that appears to contradict itself (but the contradiction itself may have its own meaning). Paradoxical phrases include "dark angel," "fresh rot," "blissful hell," etc. Parallelism Repeated structural elements in a sentence. "We went to sea; we went to war; we went to bed." Parody Using the form of something to mimic and make fun of it. Weird Al is the master of the musical parody genre. Personification Giving human characteristics to a nonhuman object or idea. "The sun was shining happily today." Sarcasm Mockingly stating the opposite of what you mean. Easier to convey in the spoken word than via writing. "Did you come up with that all by yourself?" might be delivered sarcastically after someone delivers a poorly-thought out idea. Satire A genre of humorous and mocking criticism to expose the ignorance and/or ills of society. Stephen Colbert is a popular modern satirist. Synecdoche Referring to one part of something as a way to refer to the whole. "Ask for her hand" is a synecdoche for marriage; the "hand" stands in for the whole woman. Understatement Deliberately minimizing something, usually for humorous effect. "My mom's a little bit irritated I crashed the car- I'm grounded for the next twenty-four months." The Angry Storm: a story of personification. How to Learn and Use AP Language Terms You might be tempted to bust out some flashcards, do some aggressive memorization, and call yourself finished. However, that's really only the first step of the three-step process of actually learning AP Lang terms. Step 1: Learn Rhetorical Terms As you initially try to familiarize yourself with these terms and what they mean, it's fine to make flashcards. You could use the term on one side and the definition on the other, or the definition and the example from the chart on one side and the term on the other- whatever's easier for you. You could make physical flashcards if you like to learn things with a tactile element involved, but for the sake of convenience you might consider making online flashcards at a site like Quizlet, where a free account lets you make and save flash cards and then quiz yourself with a variety of games and strategies. When you know the terms and their definitions inside and out, you're ready to move on to the next step. Step 2: Identify Rhetorical Strategies and Devices Next, you need to work on identifying rhetorical strategies and devices in actual written works. Make an effort when you read to seek out examples of the different rhetorical techniques at work. And think about the larger context of the piece: what's the author's purpose in writing this piece? Is the speaker the same as the author? What genre is it? What devices are being used repeatedly? You might try jotting down your thoughts about how pieces you read are using rhetorical devices. When you feel you can consistently identify these strategies at work in the writing of others, it's time to try your hand at using them yourself. Step 3: Deploy Rhetorical Strategies and Devices Once you feel you have a handle on identifying a given device/concept in other pieces, it's time to think about using it in your own writing. Consider your own purpose and argument when you write. Think about audience. Deploy hyperbole and irony. See what works and what doesn't. Trying to apply the terms will help you learn the concepts much better than simple memorization. Deploy rhetorical parachutes! Final Thoughts: AP Language and Composition Terms There are so many rhetorical terms that it can be hard to determine which ones you need to know for AP Language and Composition! This list gives you an overview of all the essential AP English Language and Composition vocabulary. When you're trying to learn these concepts, it's better to try to apply them- by seeing how other authors use them and using them in your own writing- than to just memorize the terms and their definitions. The important thing is to understand the concepts, not just know the terms! What's Next? If you're also taking AP Literature, see our ultimate guide to the AP English Literature test and our AP Literature Reading List. Make sure to also refresh your understanding of point-of-view in literature with this primer and take a spin through our list of the literary elements you'll find in every story. Studying poetry in a(n) English/Literature/Language Arts class? Whether you're reading "Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas or a Shakespearean sonnet, you're going to want to make sure you know important poetic devices and terms like assonance and iambic pentameter, just to name a few. We can help if you're not sure how to study for AP exams. Looking for practice tests? See our complete lists for AP Human Geography, AP Literature, AP US History, AP Chemistry, AP Biology,AP Psychology, and AP World History. Or see our guide to finding the best AP practice tests for any exam. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The practice of secondment and the goal of a more efficient and Essay

The practice of secondment and the goal of a more efficient and accepted implementation - Essay Example As will be discussed in this analysis, workers on secondment are often reticent to exert their full potential and treat the assignment with the same rigor and determination that they are inclined to do in their normal work. Furthermore, due to this approach, efficiency is lost and with that lost efficiency, profitability for the organization is also lost. As such, it is management’s desire to recapture this lost efficiency and work to promote the role of secondments, although temporary, as an integral role within the organizational structure and work to change cultural and personal perceptions that currently exist within the organization. 1.2 Identify the aim, scope and objective of the project. The purpose of this brief analysis is to discuss the process of conducting a project as it would relate to the process of secondment in the United Kingdom. These current issues include, but are not limited to: issues of reduced efficiency due to employee distaste for the system, loss o f overall profitability associated with the aforementioned loss of efficiency, and the overall reticence of employees throughout the organization to eagerly venture outside the norms and comforts of the routine they have grown accustomed to. As such, the purpose of this analysis will be to build a plan of action with relation to conducting a management project that is intended to better streamline and ensure the continued success of secondment; all the while working to reduce the negative aspects of the practice that have become so evident in company culture. 1.3 Justify the aim and objective of the project. The clear justification of this particular project is the direct need to redefine the process of secondment as something that can be a net positive for both parties involved and not a dreaded component of the work plan. As such, this analysis will draw upon the main goals of incentivizing the process in different ways, focusing on the needs of the employee and the employer, and maximizing the efficiency that had previously been lost due to dissatisfaction associated with interruption that secondment portends. The greater purpose intended is to create an environment in which secondment is looked upon in a different light; so that while valuable tangential work experience is obtained, the employee continues to maintain an open mind as to the process and is also mindful of the reward mechanisms that are associated with efficient and mindful implementation of the given secondment. 2.1 Identify sources of data and information for the project. For purposes of analysis as well as background information on secondment and the general views that are held with regards to it, this project has analysed multiple scholarly articles and journal entries which will work to shed a light on the common views regarding secondment, differing means of implementation, effects of employee distaste with the current system, specific shortcomings and strengths, loss of efficiency, and a multiplicity of ways in which the system might be improved. Secondly, in order to accurately measure the success of the project, a series of metrics will need to be established to measure employee response to the new rewards system which will be employed to foster success for secondment. Due to the fact that such a systemic

Final Report on Stocktrack Portfolio Adjustmnet Essay

Final Report on Stocktrack Portfolio Adjustmnet - Essay Example From the specified figures, it is evident that the final results exceed the expected results, which clear show that the performance of the market was good and so the prospects of investing in the market are positive in terms of maximum benefits and minimal risks. Actually, there is a high probability of the investor benefiting from his investments. Generally, the performance of the portfolio against benchmark index posted an outperformed portfolio. The outperformance can be attributed to improved economy that is just recovering from financial crisis thus enhancing investor’s confidence, vigorous positive public relations by organizations and the market that has played a key role in reducing consumer doubts and promoted their confidence in some organizations such as Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. that were victims of unsubstantiated rumors, and the need by market analysts to set new stock goal that reflects the real financial performance of the organization without the influence of external factors such as investor’s loss of confidence. The first bullish trend was caused by high prospects of economic growth as a result of stimulus package given to companies to protect them from going bankrupt. As a result of the bullish trend, the market underwent correction to reflect the reality of the performance of company in the market. Most of the stock was devalued and so the rate of investment in them went down, but after a while the companies started posting positive results hence stimulating confidence in the market . Adjustment 1, which is based on diversification concept worked better because the rate of return and correlation are independent and so the risk in the portfolio can be minimized without affecting the rate of return. Adjustment 3, which is based on trend analysis, did not work well for my analysis because it only shows the theoretic effects of investor’s demand on the stock. In addition, it does not show

My definition of Art Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

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Balanced Scorecard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Balanced Scorecard - Essay Example The Balanced Scorecard is one of the contemporary performance measure systems that the managers engage to gain operational performance insights from various departments of the organization. The Balance Scorecard embraces almost all the facets of an organization and renders more valuable information to managers concerning various critical organizational decisions. Dilanthi et al. propound that, "BSC is a management framework that measures the economic and operating performance of an organization [and] is intended to link short-term operational control to the long-term vision and strategy of the business" (183). Hence, the balanced scorecard basically provides a management tool to gauge the organizational performance by means of a unique approach. The most eminent feature of balanced scorecard measure is that rather than focusing on a single aspect, it encompasses all the major elements that have a significant impact upon of the organization's performance. Bryant, Jones and Widener (2004, p108) illustrate this point as that, "firms implement a BSC by selecting both financial and non-financial measures across four hierarchical perspectives: learning and growth, internal business processes, customer, and financial". Hence, the BSC measure rests on evaluating the performance of a firm on four distinct perspectives. Although the performance is also gauged in terms of financial perspective but it is not done exclusively. It is combined with other significant angles viz., learning and growth, customer, and internal business process etc. Dilanthi et al. suggest that, "non-financial measures, such as customer retention, employee turnover, and number of new products developed these measures serve as predictors of future financial perf ormance" (183). It implies that even the non-financial measures in BSC contribute to the future financial success of the company. This consideration and emphasis on non-financial elements in performance measurement also happens to be one of the major criticisms of the traditional performance measures, which led to the development of BSC measure. Yeniyurt assets that, "one major criticism to traditional metrics is that they do not consider non financial performance measures such as customer satisfaction, process efficiency and rate of innovation" (135). The Business Scorecard measures guides the organization in critical decision-making concerning employee management through learning and growth, unveiling of new products and services through internal business processes, estimating performance targets for the enhancement of customer experience and finally the financial perspective encompassing the financial position of an organization i.e., profits, losses and various costs (Bryant, Jones and Widener). Self identifies that in BSC, "we not only decide what measures are important; we also state unequivocally what constitutes success for each measurement. each year we can literally see how well we have done." (101-102). It means that in balanced scorecard measure, an organization defines its performance measures and sets goals on the performance level to be achieved on each particular measure. This makes a company analyze its performance at the end of the year against the targets established and targets achieved so that it can realize the elements that need to

Impact of social media on marketing strategies Dissertation

Impact of social media on marketing strategies - Dissertation Example Thank you very much Daisytan. Contents TABLE OF FIGURE 7 Abstract 8 1.INTRODUCTION 9 1.1.Overview 9 1.2.Background Of The Study 10 1.3.Significance of the study 12 1.4.Research Questions 12 1.5.Aims and Objectives of the Research 13 1.6.Structure of thesis 13 2.Literature Review: 15 2.1.Introduction 15 2.2.The 21st century Paradigm: 15 2.3.Ecommerce and Supply chain 16 2.4.Information Technology: 19 2.5.Unifying the competitive strategy with supply chain strategy: 20 2.6.E-businesses: 21 2.7.Ecommerce and developing countries 23 2.8.Consumer behavior and Ecommerce in Saudi Arabia 26 2.9. Summary 28 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: 29 3.1. Introduction: 29 3.2. Research Overview: 29 3.3. Research Approach 31 3.4. Research Strategy: 32 3.5. Research Philosophy: 32 3.6. Research Method: 33 3.7. Data Collection and Analysis: 34 3.8. Sampling Methods: 34 3.9. Reliability of Research: 35 3.10. Validity of Research: 35 3.11. Summary: 35 4. ANALYSIS 37 4.1. Introduction 37 4.2. Analysis Of Questionn aire 37 Question 37 4.3. Focus group: 55 5. Conclusions: 62 5.1. Summary Of The Findings 62 5.2. Recommendations for the researcher: 66 5.3. Recommendations to Saudi Post: 68 5.4. Recommendation for further Research 70 5.5. Limitations of the research study 70 6. References 72 7. Appendix 80 TABLE OF FIGURE Figure 4. 1: Access to technology 33 Figure 4. 2: Awareness of shopping online 34 Figure 4. 3: Ratio of people how have ever purchased online 35 Figure 4. 4: Preference of shopping online 36 Figure 4. 5: Physically touching of product is important or not 37 Figure 4. 6: Products can be found easily on the internet or not 39 Figure 4. 7: Factors influencing online shopping 42 Figure 4. 8: Is shopping online safe 46 Figure 4. 10: Is it more convenient to shop online 47 Abstract This research study analyses the trend of online shopping in Saudi Arabia. The research study has been aimed at the introduction of e-mall, an online store by Saudi Arabia and this research study analysed th e challenges that the management of Saudi Post would face as they are introducing this online store. The research study has been conducted using the primary as well as secondary data. To conduct this research, online surveys have been conducted and 200 respondents participated in the survey. After the survey, the interested candidates were invited for the focus group session. This research analyses the how successful e-mall can be in Saudi Arabia and the research shows that Saudi Post faces several challenges in order to build trust and convince people of Saudi Arabia to shop online. CHAPTER #1 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Overview E-mall is an online store where customers can buy a diverse range of goods online. People can purchase different kinds of products and services from e-mall throughout Saudi Arabia. With the advancement of technology, the trend of purchasing goods and services has been changed and now the buyers are seeking more convenient and suitable ways to buy goods and servic es. The revolution in E-industry has also brought innovations in the mind of buyers and sellers

Balanced Scorecard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Balanced Scorecard - Essay Example The Balanced Scorecard is one of the contemporary performance measure systems that the managers engage to gain operational performance insights from various departments of the organization. The Balance Scorecard embraces almost all the facets of an organization and renders more valuable information to managers concerning various critical organizational decisions. Dilanthi et al. propound that, "BSC is a management framework that measures the economic and operating performance of an organization [and] is intended to link short-term operational control to the long-term vision and strategy of the business" (183). Hence, the balanced scorecard basically provides a management tool to gauge the organizational performance by means of a unique approach. The most eminent feature of balanced scorecard measure is that rather than focusing on a single aspect, it encompasses all the major elements that have a significant impact upon of the organization's performance. Bryant, Jones and Widener (2004, p108) illustrate this point as that, "firms implement a BSC by selecting both financial and non-financial measures across four hierarchical perspectives: learning and growth, internal business processes, customer, and financial". Hence, the BSC measure rests on evaluating the performance of a firm on four distinct perspectives. Although the performance is also gauged in terms of financial perspective but it is not done exclusively. It is combined with other significant angles viz., learning and growth, customer, and internal business process etc. Dilanthi et al. suggest that, "non-financial measures, such as customer retention, employee turnover, and number of new products developed these measures serve as predictors of future financial perf ormance" (183). It implies that even the non-financial measures in BSC contribute to the future financial success of the company. This consideration and emphasis on non-financial elements in performance measurement also happens to be one of the major criticisms of the traditional performance measures, which led to the development of BSC measure. Yeniyurt assets that, "one major criticism to traditional metrics is that they do not consider non financial performance measures such as customer satisfaction, process efficiency and rate of innovation" (135). The Business Scorecard measures guides the organization in critical decision-making concerning employee management through learning and growth, unveiling of new products and services through internal business processes, estimating performance targets for the enhancement of customer experience and finally the financial perspective encompassing the financial position of an organization i.e., profits, losses and various costs (Bryant, Jones and Widener). Self identifies that in BSC, "we not only decide what measures are important; we also state unequivocally what constitutes success for each measurement. each year we can literally see how well we have done." (101-102). It means that in balanced scorecard measure, an organization defines its performance measures and sets goals on the performance level to be achieved on each particular measure. This makes a company analyze its performance at the end of the year against the targets established and targets achieved so that it can realize the elements that need to

Understand the Sources of Finance Available to a Business Essay

Understand the Sources of Finance Available to a Business - Essay Example Understand the Sources of Finance Available to a Business In every business, the availability of finances is an inevitable need. These are credits given by suppliers to manufacturers or traders, who pay for the goods after sales. The business, therefore, can acquire goods without paying for them instantly. Trade credits are advantageous since the business makes payment after the expiry of the period given. It is disadvantageous since there is no extension of the arrangement after the expiry period. Commercial banks may grant bank credits to a business, which act a source of business finance. The credit is useful for starting or expanding the business. The possibility of extension of bank credits’ payment period makes it advantageous as a source of business finance. The need for collateral to get bank credits forms one of its disadvantages. Bill discounting is another source of business finance. Banks deduct discounts during payments, equal to the remaining period’s interest. It is advantageous since cash is available immediate ly to the business. It, however, turns disadvantageous when the business is not credit worthy. It uses the business’ credit-worthiness to grant finance to the business. Customer advances are sources of business finance. These are advance payments made by the customer, mainly on large orders. It is advantageous since it does not need tangible security. ... It involves paying a small portion of the cost of purchase and settling the balance on installments. This is advantageous because there is delivery of the asset after paying the down payment. Other payments, therefore, comer later and the business has time to acquire finances. It, however, is disadvantageous because the business is under obligation to pay the installments whether it makes losses or have profits. The business constrains to pay the installments, in case of losses. Finance from co-operatives is a source of business finance. They can help in coming up with short-term finance and such loans need little security. They are advantageous because small business can avail them easily. It is disadvantageous since its availability is limited to co-operative members. Issuance of shares is a good source of business finance, mainly for long-term use. A business may issue preference or equity shares. Contrary to equity shares, preference shares have preferential rights. Shares have s everal merits. It is a reliable source of additional capital. Shareholders are also able to earn dividends from their investments. The demerits of shares may occur when equity shareholders, who have voting rights, take control of the business. This may bring the possibility of conflict of interest that may hinder a company’s smooth functioning. Debentures are loan certificates issued to the public. They are financial source if the business needs a large amount of funds. A business may have redeemable, irredeemable, convertible, or non-convertible debentures. The advantage of debentures as a source of finance for the business is the lack of control overs the business by debenture holders. It is reliable as a source of finance for business. The greatest disadvantage of

The various characters in Of mice and men. Essay Example for Free

The various characters in Of mice and men. Essay Discuss the importance of dreams of the various characters in Of mice and men. Do any of these characters have a realistic opportunity to realise their dreams? Of mice and men is a novel written by John Steinbeck set in the 1930s. John Steinbeck was born on the 27th February 1902 in Salinas, California. Of mice and men mainly focuses on loneliness and isolation. I will have to consider the importance of dreams of various characters in Of mice and men and do they have a realistic opportunity to realise their dream. Many of the characters have dreams in this novel, big dreams, wild dreams all sorts of dreams but I am only going to talk about the following characters: George and Lennie, Curleys wife, and Candy. George and Lennie share a dream of settling in a farm house and looking after animals and doing what any other people would do. During the story their dream is also shared by candy known as the swamper. I think that if Lennie and George didnt have a dream, they wouldnt have had the enjoyable time in their lives that they had even though Lennie was a big problem to George. If they never shared the same dream, I think that George would have left Lennie when the first time Lennie caused a problem. But one reason that George continued to stay with Lennie is because George knew that Lennie on his own would get into trouble and eventually die. George also knows that if he leaves Lennie, he is going to become a lost and a awful person, George says I seen the guys that go around on the ranches alone. After along time they get mean. They get wantin to fight all the time. From this we know that George wouldnt want to leave Lennie because what could happen to him, he is scared of the bad things that could happen to him so he needs to have a companion, and that is one way to achieve the goal of their dream. Basically George realises from the beginning that their dream could come true, because from the point when George, Lennie and Candy decided how they can collect the money and then they are sorted, but there is a problem, it is Lennie, Lennie doesnt understand anything due to his mental immaturity and therefore he acts like a child. George is scared that Lennie will do something wrong, something that will ruin their dream to become a success. One thing that is interrupting Lennie from doing well is Curleys wife. At the end of the story, George, Lennie, and Candys dream is destroyed by Lennie because of his immaturity and thoughtlessness. With his own mind Lennie took the wrong path, by talking to Curleys wife and that ended up into a death and a ruined dream that will never come true. It was not her fault because she is already isolated by the other workers and obviously she would want to talk to someone. We know hat the dream is ruined. After her death is discovered by candy he tells George about it and when George goes to tell the other workers candy is left alone with Curleys wife, he says to the dead lady you god damn tramp,you done it, dint you? I spose youre glad. Everybody knowed youd mess things up. You wasnt no good. You aint no good now.you lousy tart. Candy lets out all his anger and says all these bad things to her even though she wasnt the person the ruined their dream, she was the means of their dream to be ruined. After letting all his anger out candy states I could of hoed in the garden and washed dishes for them guys, this is one major speech that indicates us that their dream is truly finished. Curleys wife has a big dream of becoming an movie star with a life of luxury. She is one of the main characters that suffers loneliness and isolation, her big dream is to go to Hollywood and become and actress, nevertheless her mother may have had stopped her from going and realising her dream to become an actress. Her dream is one big source that keeps her occupied at all times, and that is why she is still with Curley. She misleads herself and then could of never gone to Hollywood, she says could of went with shows. Her vision is to be famous, eye-catching, recognised and well known, I think she has a dream to keep her away from isolation and loneliness. The marriage between Curley and his wife, kept her realising and questioning her dream. If Curleys wife admitted to herself that she is a failure and hadnt an ounce of acting in her, she wouldnt of been able to hold her marriage with Curley any more because she always dreams that she will be an actor some day that it goes to an extent that it become a part of her normal character. When Lennie kills her, her dream is put to an end. Candy is one of the workers that was made a permanent residence on the ranch. Candy is known as the old swamper. He himself knows himself that he will be getting kicked out soon. I think that he knows that George and Lennie are good people so he wants to really share the same dream with them, this is because of his old age and I think that candy feels isolated because of his age difference from the other workers. He realises that their dream can come true if only Lennie doesnt do anything dumb which he does and destroys their dream.

Creating Shared Value From Corporate Social Responsibility Commerce Essay

Creating Shared Value From Corporate Social Responsibility Commerce Essay This research is an investigation into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and what it means to the companies that practice it. The subject remains an intriguing one because it raises questions about a companys responsibility towards society and whether it is good or bad for businesses (Crane et al, 2008). There is a need to understand why a company should be concerned about what is happening to the communities they are operating in, the impact of its operation and whether it can assist without compromising its bottom-line. The concept of CSR came in to focus in the early 1950 (Crane et al, 2008), it is now generally accepted by most companies and is expected by communities (Porter and Kramer 2006, Savitz and Weber 2006, Blowfield 2008). This has come about because of several events that started in the USA, causing negative impact on communities for example the Vietnam War 1960, the Watergate scandal during the Nixon era, the oil embargo 1973, later Enron collapse, Exxon Valdez oil spill (Argenti 2003) and recently the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Another factor has been globalisation by large companies in less developed countries whereby there has been human and environmental consequences (Blowfield et al 2008: 92). These events have propelled the rise of pressure groups, public and media scrutiny and government legislations on social and environmental issues and so encouraging companies to be ethical, accountable and transparent at all levels of management and not just at operational level. However CSR has been generally voluntary with philanthropic and charitable activities (Crane et al, 2008) aimed towards the environment and the immediate community because of these practices, CSR has been perceived by many to be a marketing tool and for enhancing the image and reputation of the company (Savitz and Weber, 2006). Therefore companies need to avoid public suspicion by finding ways to satisfying the stakeholders, make a profit and be competitive in a sustainable approach such as building on material resources, cultural advantages and, stakeholder connection (Savitz and Weber 2006 145). As a result there is a need to understand how companies can secure long-term economic performance by avoiding short-term behaviour that is socially detrimental or environmentally wasteful (Porter and Kramer 2006: 6). This can be achieved by making CSR part of core company strategies and integrated into the value chain to create shared value and gain competitive advantage over rivals (Porter and Kramer 2006: 13). However, Blowfield (2008) states that the social responsibilities of multinationals varies from small or medium businesses. Overall aim and objectives Following what has been mentioned above the overall aim of this research is to provide an understanding on how CSR can add value to the company in the course of meeting stakeholders expectations, be profitable and competitive in a socially acceptable manner. There is a lot of literature on CSR, however not a lot has been written on how CSR in the value chain can create a shared value for the stakeholders and the business simultaneously. With regards to the value chain most literature on it is related to gaining competitive advantages and profits making but little impact on societal needs. Therefore this research shall investigate CSR in the context of the value chain. However the investigation extends to the supply chain which, if sustainable creates the value chain. To realise the overall research aim, the following objectives have first to be realized. Critical examine the concepts CSR shared value in relation Critically evaluate the integration of CSR into the supply and value chain. Analyse how practices of CSR can create shared values. Draw conclusion on the findings of CSR practices in the supply and value chain. This allows further questions to be raised: Why is it, that CSR means different things to different people? What is the relationship of CSR practices, within in the supply chain and the value chain? How can value gained from CSR be measured? It is hoped that this research will make a contribution to the current literature of CSR practices. Consequently offer an understanding of CSR in the supply and value chain and the benefit of value creation it can offer. This study is suitable for other business management students or academic researchers that may wish to study more on the subject of CSR and its purpose in the supply and value chain. Overview of literature The first aim of this literature review is to identify the most important concepts in the field of CSR, identify definitions and key issues that arise. Secondly the background and similarities and differences between the supply and value chains will be considered. The final discussion shall be on the relationship of the value chains and CSR. The research within this literature review focuses on objectives 1 and 2 as set out above. 3.1 CSR Concept CSR not a relatively new concept it can be traced back centuries, the mid 1800s the industrial revolution brought about the first steps of CSR as businesses where concerned with their employees welfare and increasing their productivity (Crane et al, 2008). However CSR really gained importance in the 1950s it was known as the philanthropic era (Crane et al, 2008). One of the first CSR definitions came from Howard Bowen who made the link between business responsibilities and communities expectations. It (SR) refers to the obligations of businessmen to pursue those policies, to make those decisions, or to follow those lines of action which are desirable in terms of the objectives and values of our society (Crane et al 2008: 25). Bowens definition places a social obligation on businesses when making decisions to consider their impact on the communities. However in contrast to Bowen, Milton Friedman sees management as having only one responsibility to maximize profits of its shareholders (Friedman, 1970). This leads to the shareholder theory, which suggests that companys managers, are supposed to spend corporate funds only in ways authorized by the shareholders (Smith, 2003). Therefore managers are not to spend this fund on non-profitable activities that does not increase shareholders value. Friedman does state that while it is true that managers should increase profit for the shareholder they need to play by the basic rules of the society (Carroll, 1991). However individuals and groups are affected by negative business activities and operation. These are the stakeholders internal and external of the company to whom they have obligation and responsibilities (Galbreath, 2009). In contrast to shareholder theory Freeman citied in Crane et al 2008: 69 states that managers have a moral duty to protect all stakeholders. To merge the stakeholder and the shareholder theory Carroll introduced the Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility. Figure 1: Source: (Carroll, 1991) The pyramid, attempt to summaries and classify the numerous definitions of what constitute CSR within four categories economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic (Carroll, 1991). However it gives the impression that economic responsibility is the first step toward CSR and once achieved the next levels can be attempted and that philanthropic responsibility can only be achieved when all the levels are completed. Secondly ethical and legal responsibilities are pursued concurrently with any activity gear towards for profit maximisation and cannot be practise separately as it frequently required by the law. Philanthropic responsibility can be said to be voluntary and companies does not have to contribute to the communities that should the responsibility for governments. To address the confusion, the four tiers can be further broken down. The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) may better represent the pyramid with the three Ps (Savitz and Weber, 2006). TBL like Carrolls Pyramid suggest that companies should take care not only of their bottom line but also their social/ethical and environment bottom lines (Meijer Schuyt, 2005) commonly identified as People, Planet and Profit. The diagram above illustrate that companies can pursue any of the three Ps in any particular order depending on what is priority for the company With these three social responsibilities to focus on companies should look at, how it can be integrated into the business. 3.2 The Supply Chain and the value chain This chapter shall look at the concept of the supply and value chain along with how economical, social and environmental responsibilities are managed to gain benefits for the stakeholders and the company. The supply chain is defined as The supply chain is defined by Supply Chain Council (1997) as a term increasingly used by logistics professionals it encompasses every effort involved in producing and delivering a final product, from the suppliers supplier to the customers customer (Lummus Vokurka, 1999) (Lummus Vokurka 1999: 11). It is a flow of goods (raw material) and services from a number of suppliers linking together to meet the needs of the customer at the end of the supply chain. From the researchers understanding the supply chain is a business process that forms part of the value chain. This understanding comes from the supply chain definition given by Cox citied Lummus Vokurka 1999 :11 the function within and outside a company that enable the value chain to make products and provide services to customers. The value chain of a company is a collection of activities that are performed to design, produce, market, deliver and support its product (Porter, 1998). It is a combination of two types of value adding activities primary and support (Porter, 1998) within the company that creates economic and social value (Porter and Kramer 2006: 13). Both the supply and value chains are vital for the integration and practice of CSR. The supply chain is more about effective and efficient processes from supplier/ producer to costumer, whilst the value chain activities links together to provide value to the stakeholders. Companies must use their supply and value chain to convert social needs and social issues into opportunities with the aim of meet the expectation of their stakeholders and achieve a unique strategic position. 3.3 From CSR to creating shared valued Traditionally companies carried out CSR through cash donation, charitable and philanthropic activities but these social initiative according to Michael Porter are however not effective as its often not carefully planned and not part of company strategies hence in the long term it is not effective (Porter Kramer, 2006). However, companies are increasingly aware that they can have long-term success only if they can create the same value for shareholders and the community in which they operate (Brabeck-Letmathe 2010). According to Nestlà © Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, for CSR to be a success for the company it needs to be part of the business function of creating value for shareholders and communities. Companies need to be able to integrate unmet social needs of employees and communities into the core business strategy and so unite all stakeholders values. Nestlà © employs the approach of Creating Shared Value (CSV) as a CSR practice. It involves addressing social causes that can in the long term provide added value for the shareholders and community. Research Design and Methodology A research is something that is undertaken by the people to find out things in a systematic way to increase knowledge (Saunders et al 2003:3). These involve finding a research methodology that can explain how the research is designed, how data will be collected, how the findings will be analysed and presented and also account for any limitations. In order to find the best research approach and the research strategy the researcher will follow the research process onion developed by (Saunders et al 2003: 83). This process allow for a systematic approach to answer the research questions and consequently meet the objectives set out above. The research methodology has five sub headings starting with the research philosophy and ending with data collection method at the centre of the onion. Figure 2: The Research Process Onion Source: Saunders et al 2003: 83 4.1 Research Philosophy This is about the way knowledge is gain and how it is developed. There are three recognised research philosophies positivism, interpretivism and realism. Positivism research process attempt to copy the method of the natural science and takes the role of an objective analyst, collecting data from the social external world in a value free manner (Saunders et al, 2003). Knowledge by this method is developed by reducing phenomena to simple elements representing general laws (Blumberg et al 2005: 23). While, the philosophy of interpretivism is motivated by subjective meaning of human interest (Saunders et al, 2003). Realism shares the philosophies of both positivism and interpretivism but at the same time stressing the error of studying people as objects in the style of natural science (Saunders et al, 2003). The philosophy framework adopted shall be the interpretivism, for the reason that corporate social responsibilities in the supply and value chain are complex and unique phenomenon wh ich cannot be generalised in a value free manner (Saunders et al, 2003). Furthermore, social phenomenon cannot be understood from just facts but from the exploration of people different experiences and why these differences result in the different construction and meanings people give to the social world (Blumberg et al 2005:21). 4.2 Research approach This involves the use of theory and the design of the research (Saunders et al, 2003). The theory approach includes inductive and deductive whilst the latter involves qualitative and quantitative approach. 4.2.1 Deductive This approached is adopted for scientific researchers were by a hypothesis is deducted and tested rigorously from a theory by the use of the appropriate research strategy (Saunders et al, 2003). For the deduction to be correct it must be both true and valid (Blumberg et al, 2005). 4.2.2 Inductive This involves building theory and defining the hypothesis by observation of empirical data (Saunders et al 2003:479). This study will have an inductive approach with the aims to understand why something is occurring and to build the theory by investigating CSR in the supply and ask why it influences the value chain and so infer a hypothesis that will answer the research questions. 4.2.3 Qualitative vs. quantitative These two approaches are generally used to gather data for unique phenomenon. Quantitative approach relies on gathering of numerical data and figures only. The objective of this approach to seek answers by measuring, analysis and interpretation of data with the aid of computer programmes (Saunders et al, 2003) (Zikmund, 2003). Such quantitative data gathered from large scale surveys or from electronic database are suitable for descriptive and causal studies (Hair et al, 2003). Qualitative approach involves the gathering of non numerical data (sentences or narratives) (Blumberg et al, 2005). The researcher has more control over the type of information gathered though leading or probing questions (Blumberg et al, 2005) or if collecting primary data through observation method, decisions can be taken on how and where the study will take place (Blumberg et al, 2005). Typically this study requires smaller samples or case studies and it is best suited for exploratory studies (Hair et al, 2003). 4.3 Research strategy Research strategy can be described as tool(s) utilised to answer the research questions. Saunders et al (2003) identify six main strategies experiments, Survey, case study, grounded theory, ethnography and action research that can be used, depending on the research approach selected. A case study is defined as a strategy for doing research which involves an empirical investigation of a particular contemporary phenomenon within its real life context using multiple sources of evidence (Saunders et al 2003:93) In this research a case study strategy will be used because of its ability to provide answers to the why and how questions. Saunders et al, states that a simple and well constructed case study can be used to challenge existing theory and provide source to hypothesis (Saunders et al, 2003). 4.4 Time horizons This involves deciding whether the research will be a snap shot taken a point in time (cross-sectional) or be a representation of event over a long period of time (longitudinal studies) (Saunders et al 2003:95). This research will utilise a snapshot approach or cross sectional studies because the research is not interested in change or development (Saunders et al, 2003) but at a point in time where the supply chain and value chain are influence by CSR practices. 4.4.1 Research purpose Saunders et al states that research enquires can be classified in terms of their purpose. These classifications include exploratory, descriptive or explanatory studies (Saunders et al, 2003). The purpose of this study is classified as an exploratory, whose objective is to find what is happening to seek new insight; to ask questions and to assess phenomena in a new light (Saunders et al, 2003).The exploratory study may be achieved by the use of both qualitative and quantitative tools but is most dependent on qualitative approach (Blumberg et al, 2005). 4.5 Data collection methods Data is collected depending on the nature of the research (Hair et al, 2003). As mentioned above this study is exploratory with the aim of exploring relevant literature and interviewing specialist on the subject (Saunders et al, 2003). Exploratory research provides the secondary data and primary data needed for analysis. The research aims to make use of both secondary and primary data. The former relates to data previously collected for other purposes and these are classified as documentary data, survey- based data and those complied from multiple sources (Saunders et al, 2003). For this research, secondary data regarding CSR practices shall be collected from relevant companies websites. In contrast primary data are collected for specific purposes through observation of peoples behaviour or utilizing semi and in-depth interviews (Saunders et al, 2003). Primary data can be collected by two methods, observation and survey which are further sub-divided into human and electronic observation as well as self completion and interviewer administered surveys (Hair et al, 2003). In this study primary data will be collected via interviewer administered surveys of individuals (Hair et al: 125). This approach is particularly helpful in collecting valid and reliable data (Saunders et al 2003: 245). 4.5.1 Interviews The primary data can collected from structured, semi-structured and unstructured interviews. This study shall employ a semi structured approach which is often used in exploratory research. This type of interview usually starts with specific questions but the respondents are permitted to follow his or her own thoughts subsequently (Blumberg et al, 2005). The interviewer has the flexibility to omit or raise new questions depending on the organisation or change the order of the questions to suit the flow of the conversation (Saunders et al, 2003). This type of interview being qualitative in nature requires that data are collected by note taking or by tape- recording (Saunders et al, 2003). 4.5.2 Sampling Sampling is the technique that enables the reduction of data by selecting only part of the population rather than all possible cases or elements (Saunders et al, 2003) due to time constraint. There are two approaches to choosing the appropriate sample probability or non-probability sampling. In probability sampling each case or element of the population has known and none zero probability of being selected randomly (Saunders et al, 2003: 486). While, for non-probability sampling the probability of each case or element being selected is not known (Saunders et al, 2003). Non probability methods include quota, purposive, snowball, self- selection and convenience sampling. Non probability will be best suited for this study as it allow for the selection of participants that can help answer the research questions and meet set objectives. This type of sampling is used when the researcher wishes to select cases that are particularly informative (Saunders et al, 2003). Data Analysis and interpretation Data analysis involves managing large amount of data collected by summarising and arranging it in a meaningful format (Zikmund, 2003). Saunders et al put forward two strategies for analysis of qualitative data these are theoretical or descriptive frameworks (Saunders et al, 2003). The first strategy of theoretical framework relies on the analysis of data according to a deductive position where the use of existing theory is needed to formulate research questions. The second strategy entail an inductive position whereby the descriptive framework is used to start and direct the analysis of your data (Saunders et al: 389) by transforming data in a form easy to interpret (Zikmund, 2003). This research will make use of the second strategy descriptive framework, in order to organise the case study on the basis of description of the general characteristics and relations to the research questions (Yin, 1994). Research Limitation Limitations should to be taken into consideration while conducting a research. This research will be investigating multiple case studies as oppose to just a single case study. This is because with multiple case studies their results are considered more robust (Blumberg et al 2005: 376). However, it demands a lot of thinking on how to best select the appropriate case studies for the required evidence (ibid). The research also utilise a range of academic literatures and reputable publications. However, the literature listed in the reference may not include all of the best up-to-date sources. Many other sources that could have been used but decision was taken to focus on particular literature mainly due to having access to them albeit some dated from the year 1991 and 2003. So the research structure depends on the type of sources found. Validity and reliability According to Saunders et al reducing the possibility of getting the answer wrong means that attention has to be paid to two particular emphases on research design reliability and validity (Saunders et al 2003:100). Reliability This means that the research can only be characterised as reliable, firstly if it can yield the same results consistently free from error (Saunders et al, 2003) (Zikmund, 2003). Secondly, the same observation ought to be observed by others and thirdly raw data has to be interpreted in a transparent way (Saunders et al 2003:101). Reliability of a research can be tested by repeatability and internal consistency. The former involves, similar scale or measure to the same respondents at different times to concur the same result (Zikmund, 2003). If the results gathered at the different times are dissimilar this indicates a low degree of reliability (Zikmund, 2003). However this test is more suitable for longitudinal studies where there is little time constraint. Internal consistency involve the measure of homogeneity where by all similar questions are grouped together in a questionnaire to measure the same concept (Zikmund, 2003). Validity On the other hand, this is about how data collection methods accurately measure what is intended to be measured and whether the findings are really about what they appear to be about (Saunders et al 2003:101, 492). There are three tests to be used when testing quality of case studies these are construct validity, internal validity and external validity (Yin 1994: 33). Table 1, summaries the three tests for validating of research. Test Description Case study Tactic Construct Validity Establishing correct operational measures for the concept being studied Use of multiple sources of evidence Establish chain of evidence Have key information review draft case study report Internal Validity Establishing a casual relationship, whereby certain conditions are shown to lead to other conditions, as distinguished from spurious relationship Do pattern matching Do explanation- building Do time- series analysis External Validity Establishing the domain to which a study findings can be generalised Use replication logic in multiple- case studies. Table 1 Quality Test Description and case study tactic (Yin 1994: 33) In this research, certain measures will be employed to increase the validity. To increases the construct validity it is import prior to the interview the questionnaire is pilot tested so as to ensure that respondents will have no problem to understand and answer questions (Saunders et al 2003: 308). A tape recorder will be verified to ensure that data can be recorded proficiently and this should allow focus on the interview and not note taking. The benefit with a tape recorder is that it can be replayed whenever required. Internal validity concerns with explanatory studies, where the research try to determine casual relationship between variables (Saunders et al, 2003). This research is exploratory and the internal validity of this study is not relevant. External validity is concerned with knowing that the results of the case studies are generalise or not (Saunders et al, 2003) and retested through replication (Yin, 1994) to other research settings. Timescale