Meditation as a strong tool of relaxation and internal balance

Meditation as a strong tool of relaxation and internal balance Sometimes I really feel regret that human body is a complicated mechanism, which consists of thousands of physical, mental and neuronal connections. That is great to be unique creature with millions of various abilities and peculiarities. But sometimes I want to be like those robots or machines, which have the Off button. You have a busy day at college, solve problems with writing essays and preparing reports or sweat over the books before an exam, than you rush to your side job and do a millions activities, which require a lot of efforts and concentration. Even feeling comfortable in the warm soft bad after a difficult day, it is sometimes impossible to turn off our head and stop thinking about vital problems. Is it familiar to you? I have been looking for my Off button for a long time. Herbal tea, physical exercises these means perform their function but revealed to be less effective than I expected. Even if the body was tired I did not managed to make my mind be clear and direct it into the positive stream. After a lot of trials and experiments my perfect remedy was found. And this remedy appeared to be a meditation. What is meditation? Meditation is a very interesting and astonishing process, which was practiced by our ancestors for thousands of years. For some time it was a little bit forgotten and now meditation gains its popularity again. Meditation is directed on optimizing your physical and mental processes and their correlations. Apparently, during the meditation a person needs to concentrate and focus his or her attention. It is necessary to manage your thoughts and direct annoying and overwhelming ideas into another stream, out of your head. Its benefits to your organism The action of meditation is exiting and very favorable for the person’s mind and body. Due to meditation, people obtain the feeling of calmness, comfort and balance. The interesting thing about meditation is that all these feelings do not end after completion of the meditation session, but they last during the whole day. So performing meditation in the morning, you will be charged with the energy and positive mindset during the whole day. As you know, mental and physical component parts of our body have strong correlation. Thus, influencing our mind with positive action, meditation impacts our physical well-being and condition. Your self-development I want to draw your attention to the fact that the sessions of meditation have not only short term effect of your feelings and emotional balance. These exercises can bring your some use within your strategic goals of self-improvement.   Thus, meditation helps by developing your self-awareness, creativity and imagination. Meditation can become your method of calming down in the stress situations and elimination of negative emotions, when you need to avoid conflicts or focus on some serous things. Meditation in the class The same way as meditation is useful for students, it is very effective for teachers. Teachers spend the most part of their day in the interpersonal communication, giving his or her energy and knowledge, and that can be very exhausting and energy-sapping. Considering the invaluable action of meditation and its use for both learning and teaching sides, some teachers practice meditation in their class. It is two-way benefit: teacher becomes more friendly and calm and students gain their concentration and attentiveness. Meditation takes only few minutes, but it is enough to settle the positive and approachable atmosphere for the lesson or even for the whole day. Besides a lot of students forget about such great thing as meditation, due to their disorderliness or active way of life, in this case in-class meditation is quite the thing. So meditation has become my secret and success factor on the way to advance and achievements of all sorts. Meditation has resulted in positive improvements within all spheres of my life and now at college I have only excellent grades. So meditate, find your balance and be happy with your educational progress and student life!

Standard vs. Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges

Standard vs. Tipping Bucket Rain Gauges A rain gauge is a  weather instrument that gathers and measures the amount of liquid precipitation that falls from the sky. How a Tipping-Bucket Gauge Works A tipping bucket rain gauge has several components that allow it to accurately measure rainfall. As rain falls, it lands in the funnel of the tipping bucket rain gauge. The rain travels down the funnel and drips into one of two very carefully calibrated ‘buckets’ balanced on a pivot (like a see-saw). The top bucket is held in place by a magnet until it has filled to the calibrated amount (usually approximately 0.001 inches of rain). When the bucket has filled to this amount, the magnet will release its hold, causing the bucket to tip. The water then empties down a drainage hole and raises the other to sit underneath the funnel. When the bucket tips, it triggers a reed switch (or sensor), sending a message to the display or weather station. The display counts the number of times the switch is triggered. Because it knows how much rain is needed to fill the bucket, the display can calculate the rainfall. Rainfall is measured in inches; 1 of rain would fill a container with straight edges to a level of 1. Getting the Best Results From Your Rain Gauge To get the most accurate results from a tipping bucket rain gauge, you need to properly install the rain gauge. The rain gauge must be positioned on a flat surface – if the surface isn’t flat, the see-saw may tip before the bucket has filled to the calibrated level, or not tip at all. If the bucket doesnt tip at the calibrated level, the rainfall calculated will not be correct. Use a spirit level to determine whether a surface is flat, and then fix the gauge to the flat surface to ensure you are getting an accurate reading.The rain gauge must be positioned on a surface that does not vibrate – surfaces such as a porch or fence can move and vibrate. The tipping bucket is very sensitive and any vibrations could cause the gauge to tip even if it is not raining.The instrument must not be positioned near trees – being positioned near trees could allow leaves or pollen to fall inside the funnel and block it, causing an inaccurate reading.It must not be positioned in a sheltered area – being positioned in a sheltered location (such us beside your house or a fence) co uld significantly increase or decrease the amount of rain depending on the wind direction, and cause an inaccurate reading. The gauge should be positioned at least twice as far away from the object as the object’s height (e.g. if the fence is 6 feet high, the gauge should be positioned at least 12 feet away). Your weather equipment must not be located near any magnetic, steel, or iron objects – magnetic, steel, or iron objects can affect the amount of time the magnet will hold the bucket or whether it will hold it all, causing an inaccurate reading. Will a Rain Gauge Measure Snow? If it snows where you live, most rain gauges will not be able to measure the snow fall; snow will block the opening of the collection funnel. However, special snow gauges are available to measure this. Following these recommendations should ensure your get an accurate result from your tipping bucket rain gauge.

Teenage Drivers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Teenage Drivers - Essay Example Moreover driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs multiplies the risks of car accidents for these teenagers. Backed up by several statistical evidences, facts, and medical researches, most of the people are of the view that children should be at least 18 years old to get a driving license. (Davis, 2005) However, many people also believe that the sweeping statement blaming all young drivers should not be made as there are only a portion of the total teenage drivers that cause the major chunk of accidents (Davis, 2005). Several people, including parents, prefer having their children be able to drive as soon as possible so as to lessen their burden of having to drive their children to schools and universities and after school events such as parties and movies. The statistics show that every year about 5500 to 6000 teenagers lose their lives in car crashes proving it to be the most common way for a teenager to lose his life (valdes-dapena, 2005). There are many factors contributing to this. Teenagers are most likely to take risks. These risks might be influenced by various sources including emotions and peer group pressure. Other stresses caused by their busy schedules, considering that a lot of teenagers in many parts of the world attend school and universities and work at the same time, also contribute to taking risks (Ipp, 1997). Moreover, the young high school or college going children, are often under the influence of alcohol and marijuana while driving. Put bluntly, beginner drivers simply lack the experience and ability required to carry out the simple looking yet complex tasks associated with everyday driving and hence controlling the vehicle at high speeds especially in response to hazards that might be done quite easily by an experienced driver, may become very difficult for young drivers. As the sun sets, adolescents behind wheels become even riskier (Ipp, 1997). The Medical Aspect Scientists at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md., have found that the careless attitudes and rash emotions that influence teenagers' decisions are due to a crucial part of the human brain that remains undeveloped until the age of 25. This part of the brain is responsible for influencing better decision making and impulse control and is among the latest to build up (davis, 2005). This NIH research was led by Jay Giedd, chief of brain imaging in the child psychiatric unit at the National Institute of Mental Health. Jay Giedd, along with a team of professional researchers, analyzed 4000 brain scans from 2000 volunteers to record how brains develop as children grow up and mature. His analysis illustrated a very important point. An area of the brain, called the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, remains under developed until the age of 25 (Davis, 2005). This area helps a person to 'look further ahead' and make sound and mature decisions. Due to the slow process of this area's development, as the children's bodies grow physically, their hormones encourage more risk-taking and thrill-seeking. But as the hormones ignite the limbic system which is responsible for responding to pleasure, emotions run high. These emotions cause difficulty in making the intelligent judgments needed

Change and Continuity in Contemporary Business Essay - 1

Change and Continuity in Contemporary Business - Essay Example A smart enterprise would keep a close eye on the changes in competitive advantages of the organization and realign their strategies & policies such that the business revenues and market share can be sustained. Such enterprises grow globally by carefully choosing their countries/regions of expansion after analysis of the external & internal factors that can drive the competitive advantages of the company in those geographies. Ford Motors is one such smart enterprise that has been changing their strategies & policies to sustain the challenges posed by the local factors in a country by not only globalizing rapidly but also changing their strategies pertaining to their regions of operations. This report presents the internal and external factors and the corresponding responses by Ford Motors to sustain as well as grow their business globally. Balanced Score Card System developed by Kaplan and Norton via their book "Balanced Score-Card - Translating Strategy into Action" published in 1996 (Source: http://www.balancedscorecard.org/BSCResources/AbouttheBalancedScorecard/tabid/55/Default.aspx) Ford Motors was incorporated by Henry Ford in 1903 in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. Henry Ford is known to have adapted practices that were not popular in those days - like, doubling per day wages and reducing the shifts from 9 hours to 8 hours. It was the worker friendly policies that boosted productivity of Ford much ahead of their competition. Ford is known for their methods of large scale car manufacturing and management of huge workforces globally. In 1911, Henry Ford established the first production unit outside USA in the UK by converting a tram works at Trafford Park that is in south of Manchester. In 1920, after the Second World War, the famous Dagenham facility was established that formed the base for launch of Ford Motor Company Limited (UK) in 1929 that was the hub of the European Ford organization (till the time Ford Motor Company Europe was established much later in 1967). In 1971 Ford combined the US, Canadian and Mexican operations together and established the North Ameri can Automotive Operations. The Dagenham facility was one of the most productive in assembly plant in entire Europe which, however, was closed in 2001 amidst some local factors that reduced the economy advantages of Ford manufacturing in Britain while the manufacturing in Germany and other parts of Europe was much more economical. The primary reasons for Ford manufacturing closure in Dagenham was the insurgence of shop-floor militants that developed a powerbase disrupting production by launching almost continuous Guerrilla warfare while Germany offered much more peaceful and strike free industrialization proposition. Moreover, Ford Motor Company

Computer Information System Brief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Computer Information System Brief - Essay Example It is easily understood that Kudler has appropriately invested and organized their computer information method for various business functions. To develop the organization’s computer information system, it is necessary to identify the key business and accounting information needs such as strengths and weaknesses, opportunities as well as threats that Kudler may encounter. â€Å"The accounting firm discovered many troubles in the current information system for Kudler’s Fine Foods. While investigating Kudler’s Fine Foods’ key business and accounting needs, it was determined that they are in need of many changes† (Kudler Fine Foods Information System Analysis, n.d., para. 2). To correctly evaluate and suggest a successful computer system and make assessments based on: 1) Key business and accounting information requirements of Kudler’s Fine Foods. 2) Identifying Kudler’s current computer information system 3) Explaining advantages received from technological improvements in Kudler’s business. 4) Recognizing strengths and weaknesses by way of probable technology threats. The management of Kudler understands that using computer information technology enhances the accounting operations of the company and helps in meeting their company requirements. The computer information system in Kudler feels that food incorporation will develop the communication system between their retail stores by connecting every point-of-sale terminal, altering just-in-time procedure of inventory control management and cooperating with workers, clients as well as dealers to bring foodstuffs to market as quickly and cost efficiently as possible. Besides, by forming a virtual company, Kudler will be capable of expanding a well-organized distribution infrastructure in addition to organizing network of citizens and monetary resources to rapidly make profits for the company. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Kudler’s current comput er system and technology use, including hardware and software. At the present, most organizations use Information Technology (IT) to enhance functions and develop consumer service. Kudler Fine Food has plans to promote the inventory and ordering mechanization by setting up new e-commerce abilities and an online cookery linkage. Strategic Information Systems of Kudler Fine Foods Company have the capability to amplify strengths into possibly sustainable competitive benefit. Strengths of Kudler’s current computer system are as follows: Easily assessing all costs associated and completion targets. Ease of preservation and maintenance. Tolerates alterations in Management Information System staffing. Documentation of all the activities in all the locations. Well defined user input. Controls all the activities taking place in all the locations. Weaknesses of Kudler’s current computer system include: Increased development time. Enlarged cost of development. Inflexibility. Diff iculties in estimating expenses and projecting overruns. Explain what opportunities Kudler has in terms of technology and provide suggestions for improving Kudler's ability to maximize these opportunities: The Kudler’s food store was established by Kathy Kudler. Kathy enjoys cooking epicure foods and realized an opportunity to give her cooking to the public as a source to obtain revenue. Her stores give the most delicious domestic and imported food items such as pastries and other fresh baked eatables, fresh meat, fresh produce and seafood, packaged food and condiments, specialty

Dell Business Analysis: Organisation and Effectiveness

Dell Business Analysis: Organisation and Effectiveness Summary The research is about study of distribution channel management at Dell Computers, UK. My work is more practical in nature, studying the Distribution Channels of Dell, both at a strategic and an operational level. I would be analysing the business function on its efficiency and effectiveness, comparing with the other industry performers. I would mostly be comparing the function against Sony Electronics, the most respected name in multi-channel distribution network; Acer, pioneer of value computing products and proprietary brands like Advent. The research aims to analyse and study the distribution channel of Dell in UK, distribution channel of its competitors, efficiency and effectiveness of Dells Distribution channel as compared to its competitors. And based on the research and analysis propose recommendations to enhance its effectiveness. The literature review section of the dissertation explores the definition of distribution, channel, and distribution channel and distribution channel management. Apart from that the section also examines the activities and the levels of distribution channel. The latter half of the section focuses on the distribution strategy adopted by Dell, Sony and Acer. Research is conducted by means of case study as well as survey. Case study analysis incorporates the study and effectiveness of the distribution strategy of Acer, Sony and Dell. Two set of questionnaires are designed to collect data from the end customer and the channel partners. Apart from that secondary data is used from from books, journals, company reports and documents, government websites whereas primary data is collected by means of survey questionnaire distributed channel partners and the end customers. In all 50 questionnaires are collected duly filled out of 60 questionnaires being sent out to the end customer whereas the questionnaire for the channel partners was send to 50 channel partners out of which only 30 responses were received. Questionnaires were sent out using survey distribution services of a web site. Care was taken to ensure that diverse demographic is covered for the survey. The research has its own drawbacks such as the work limited to the English market. Financial and time constraints of my semester mean that Im not able to conduct a global research that would be more apt in this case. Another limitation is most of my work is conducted through a personal observation method; as such it is prone to my personal bias. Thirdly distribution channel model is a sensitive piece of company information. As far as information on the competitors distribution channel is concerned its bit difficult. CHAPTER 1: Introduction This chapter will introduce the topic, specify the key aim and objectives of the dissertation, discuss the research approach and state the dissertation outline. The key aim of this chapter is to establish the foundation for the research topic by giving out basic information. 1.1 Introduction The research is about study of distribution channel management at Dell Computers, UK. The dissertation is more practical in nature, studying the Distribution Channels of Dell, both at a strategic and an operational level. I would be analysing the business function on its efficiency and effectiveness, comparing with the other industry performers. I would mostly be comparing the function against Sony Electronics, the most respected name in multi-channel distribution network; Acer, pioneer of value computing products and proprietary brands like Advent. Dell Inc. is a multibillion dollar, multinational technology firm that manufactures, develops, sells and supports personal computing and computer related products. Dell has seen a rapid growth to become one of the top three vendors in the PC manufacturing industry, and has seen a substantial increase in share price and market value. While many other companies were unable to handle the demands of the competition, Dell has proved successful in such an environment. The main key to success to Dell has been its two innovative practices that is direct sales and build-to-order business model. This model is simple as a concept but highly complex to execute, especially in the present conditions of rapid growth and change. Dell has continually renewed and extended its business model while striking a balance between control and edibility. Dell made changes in its design, manufacturing, procurement, and logistics processes to reduce the costs, and to speed up the entire distribution system. It has expanded into International markets and it started making notebook and server product lines which has led to extraordinary profits for dell, and has given a great market value for the company. Dell has reached sales of $18.2 billion by the year 1998, with a profit of $1.46 billion, and Dells market share in the PC market grew from 3% in 1995 to 9.2% in the year 1999 with stock price increasing by 40 times. Dells market capitalization has reached $100 billion. 1.2 Research aim and Questions The primary purpose of my research work is to analyse the role distribution channels play in the functioning of a business, both in the long run and in the short run. My study is to present a detailed description of the unique distribution channel adopted by Dell Inc., analyse its efficiency and effectiveness, identify possible loopholes and put forth recommendations for development. My study is being undertaken with an aim to answer the following research questions: * How are the various distribution channels organised within Dell Inc.? * How does it compare with its competitors? * How effective and efficient is this channel management at Dell? * What can be done to make it better? The four research questions are the guiding blocks of my entire research and all of the work would be done, keeping them in view. Distribution Channels within Dell: I would be looking at Dells innovative distribution channel management which has literally revolutionised the importance of Direct Marketing in the consumer electronics space. Direct marketing is still the primary distribution mechanism within Dell. I would be documenting the evolution of this concept within Dell right from its customized sales regime during PCs Limited to the complex and sophisticated systems that it employs currently. I would be presenting a visual of the entire distribution network that it stands at today. Comparison with its competitors: I would be comparing the dynamic distribution systems of its arch rivals. Sony and Acer are the brands that I would be concentrating upon. I would be looking at the strategies adopted in different economies, though my primary concentration would be on the English markets. Efficiency and Effectiveness: I would be conducting an efficiency and effectiveness test of Dells powerful distribution network against its competitors. This would be an empirical study. I would be concentrating on the parameters of Customer Satisfaction and Vendor relationship management. Recommendations: Finally, I would be putting forth recommendations for future developments along with the cost benefit analysis of such implementations. 1.3 Research approach The study is conducted by collecting secondary data and primary data. Secondary data is collected from books, journals, government websites, company documents whereas primary data is collected by means of survey questionnaire distributed among channel partners and the end customers. Participants of research would be intermediaries in the distribution network and the end customer. In order to select the participants the study has made use of stratified random sampling method in order to make sure that major demographic segments are represented while selecting the samples (Rao Skinner, 1996). Questionnaire design consists of two parts. The first part contained the demographic information while the second part dwelled on each of the subjects perception on each variable using five point likert scales from 1 (â€Å"Strongly Agree†) to 5(â€Å"Strongly Disagree†). The study did not require any assistance from a third party or any other institution. In order to collect data the study made use of web portal survey to distribute survey and get responses. The system was designed in such a way that the respondent have to submit all the answers. Out of 60 questionnaires, responses for 50 surveys were obtained. The duration for the survey was kept as two weeks, a reminder mail was being sent to the respondents at the end of week one to remind them. 1.4 Importance of the study Organizations have been undergoing strategic changes over the past decade. More so in the past couple of years. The current recession has proved that risk management and strategic planning are most vital for an organizations long lasting and self-sustaining performance. My work will strive to highlight one such areas of strategic thinking and inform the senior management about the benefits involved. 1.5 Research Scope My work would primarily be concentrated on the UK market. Though Dell is a global corporation with intermediaries present across the globe, all working towards forming an effective value chain to maximize business potential and ensure efficiency in operations; UK being the second biggest market after the US will be a general approximation of the entire organizational behaviour. Furthermore, the cosmopolitan nature of London and demographic diversity ensures that it would be a close estimate of the general population. 1.5 Limitation of Research I intend to undertake my research as comprehensively as possible. As in any research work, inherent are some unavoidable drawbacks in my study. Few of them are: * Financial and Time Constraints: As outlined before, the scope of my work is limited to the English market. Financial and time constraints of my semester mean that Im not able to conduct a global research that would be more apt in this case. * Personal bias. Most of my work is conducted through a personal observation method; as such it is prone to my personal bias. However as the person who is to do the entire research right from formulation of research questions to recommending solutions, I would be most qualified to comment on the topic. * Information Constraints. Distribution channel model is a sensitive piece of company information. Though I have secured access to Dell, wherein I could do all the data mining myself, the extent of information that I would be able to muster about the rivals model is still to be seen. 1.5 Dissertation outline The structure of the dissertation is as follows Chapter 1: Chapter 1 encompass introduction to the topic, followed by brief background into the research topic. This beginning chapter also lays bare aims and objectives of the research followed by structure of the thesis. Apart from that this chapter also gives information on the research approach adopted and the limitations of the research. Chapter 2: The literature review section of the dissertation explores the definition of distribution, channel, and distribution channel and distribution channel management. Apart from that the section also examines the activities and the levels of distribution channel. The latter half of the section focuses on the distribution strategy adopted by Dell, Sony and Acer. The final section compares the distribution strategy by all the three players. Chapter 3: The thesis then moves on to methodology section wherein the research model, research framework and data collection methodology is discussed. Questionnaire method is used to collect the necessary data from the consumer. Chapter 4: This chapter explores data findings Chapter 5: This chapter presents the conclusion. Chapter 6: This includes references using Harvard referencing style Chapter 7: This includes the Appendix 1.6 Summary The chapter introduced the topic of the dissertation, specified the key aims and objectives of the research. Discussed the research approach in form of secondary and primary data collection through the means of questionnaire and clearly stated the limitations of the research in brief. The chapter also outlines the research structure specifying the contents of each chapter. Chapter 2: Literature Review During my research, I would primarily be looking towards the concepts of Distribution Channel and its management. I would be guided by the various contributions in the field, though my work would primarily be influenced by the theories and suggestions of Philip Kotler in the area. A Professor of Business Studies at the Kelloggs Business School, Kotler is often regarded as the ‘Father of Modern Marketing. My work also coincides with various other management thinking like Consumer Behaviour, Relationship Management, Marketing Mix and Optimization, among others. 2.1 Definition 2.1.1 Distribution Kotler (1996) states that distribution is a key element in the marketing mix (place amongst the 4Ps). It is the systems and practices in use which make a product or service available to the consumer of such a product or service. 2.1.2 Channel Channel is defined as â€Å"a set of interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for consumption or use† (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). It can also encompass physical movement, warehousing, ownership of the product, presale transaction, post-sale activities; order processing, credit and collections; and other different types of support activities (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). 2.1.3 Distribution Channel The Distribution Channel is the chain of intermediaries, each of them passing on the product or service to another intermediary until it reaches the consumer. The business dictionary defines it as â€Å"The route by which a product or service is moved from a producer or supplier to customers. A distribution channel usually consists of a chain of intermediaries, including wholesalers, retailers, and distributors, that is designed to transport goods from the point of production to the point of consumption in the most efficient way† (Dictionary, 2010) Another definition of Distribution channel states â€Å"A group of independent and interdependent organizations involved in the sale and movement of goods and services to the end users may be called a distribution channel or network† (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). More specifically, a distribution channel is: * The transfer of goods from manufacturer to the end user. * Route of a company for distributing the goods. * The process of moving goods from the manufacturer to the consumer. * A supply chain consisting of all parties in between production to the end user. 2.2 Types of channel members The activities in the distribution channel can be carried out by the marketer himself or it can be carried out by specialist organizations. The specialist organizations and the channel members can be categorized into two types. * Resellers * Specialty Service Firms. Resellers are the companies which usually buy and take the ownership of the products from the manufacturer with the intention of selling to end consumers. An organization can have one or more than one reseller in the chain. The network or chain of resellers is known as reseller network. The resellers can be further classified into: Retailers: A retailer sells the product directly to the end customer. Wholesalers: Wholesalers buy the products from manufacturer or other wholesalers and then they sell the products to the retailers. Industrial Distributors: They are the ones who sell products from one business to other, they are suppliers who buy the goods and sell it to another firm. Specialty service firms are organizations that do not take the ownership of the products. They also provide additional services along with the products. Specialty firms can be: Agents and brokers: They are the firms which bring together the suppliers and buyers and mediate the sale and they charge a fee for this kind of service. Distribution service firms: They provide services which help with the movement of goods in the distribution channels like transportation, processing and storage of goods and products. Others: They are the firms which provide other services to the channels in distribution like insurance, routing assistance etc. The distribution channels consist of many parties among which each of them is trying to meet their objectives. Relationships between channel members should be strong with each others especially on which they are depending for the further distribution of product. 2.3 Levels The arrangement of the distribution channels can be classified into two types: * Independent channel arrangements. * Dependent channel arrangements. Independent channel arrangements: In this type of arrangement the channel members negotiate deals with others which do not result in the binding of the relationships. Channel members are free to make arrangements which they feel is in their own and best interest. An individual member decides what is best for them and not the entire channel. This is also called conventional distribution arrangement and often significant conflict as each member decides what is best for him and not in concern with the entire channel As shown in the figure 2 there are four levels of distribution channels. Channel 1 is called the direct marketing channel which is the distribution of products or services from the manufacturer to the customer. The best example for this channel is Dell which does not makes use of any intermediaries to distribute its products to end customers; there are no retailers, agents or wholesalers. The channel does not have any intermediaries. This type of channel helps to eradicate the excess cost and also helps to have good control over the quality and marketing. The other three channels fall in the category of â€Å"indirect marketing channels†. As shown in the figure 1, the second channel has one intermediary, if the market is a consumer market the one intermediary is basically a retailer. Electronic consumer goods market of UK is an example of second type of channel arrangement. In this type of distribution arrangement the companies sell good to large retail chains, example would be Sony, Canon, and HP selling their electronic goods to large retail chains such as Dixons. These retailers in return sell the goods to the end customer. As shown in the figure Channel 3 consists of two levels which are the wholesaler and the retailer. The role of the wholesale in this channel is to buy the products at bulk from the manufacturer and then sell the same to retailer in smaller quantities. This model works best for retailers on small scale and not for big chains such as Dixons. This type of distribution channel is best when there are large number of small retailers and not big companies. Example in this case would be the medical drugs distribution market in the UK. The fourth channel has added level to it in the form of agents who work as intermediary between manufacturer and wholesaler. The agent acts as representative for both the sides. This works in textile market. Figure 2 gives information on the four types of distribution channel. Dell follows the manufacturer to direct customer channel thus discarding the intermediaries in between. Source: http://nptel.iitm.ac.in/courses/IIT-MADRAS/Management_Science_II/Pdf/1_4.pdf A direct distribution channel is where a company sells their products direct to consumers. While direct channels were not popular many years ago, the Internet has greatly increased the use of direct channels. Additionally, companies needing to cut costs may use direct channels to avoid middlemen mark-ups on their products. Distributors, wholesalers and retailers are the primary indirect channels a company may use when selling their products in the marketplace. Companies choose the indirect channel best suited for their product to obtain the best market share; it also allows them to focus on producing their goods. Though, in practicality, a number of other players exist, they can be generalised to the above. The specific channel of distribution adopted by a company depends, to a major extent, on its business model, the industry type and the scale of its operations. As an Instance, Sony has its own set of company operated exclusive showrooms. The strong brand equity of Sony, the scale of its business and clearly identifiable product differentiations that it enjoys with the consumers, allow it to leverage on its economies of scale and scope by operating its own outlets. Directly, this result in better margins for the company and indirectly it helps building on its already demanding brand leadership. Dell, on the other hand, relies more on online sales. This is because of the organization of its service delivery utility. Dells business model is based upon its centralised manufacturing facilities, rather than the nuclear organization at Sony. Online sales suits such a strategy by negating the high costs of transportation and inventory planning issues involved. A manufacturer selling a physical product might require three channels: Sales Channel, Delivery Channel, and Service Channel. In Our case, Dell uses telephone and internet as sales channels, express mail services as the delivery channel and local repair people as its service channel. 2.4 Distribution Channel Activities Distribution includes different range of activities (Richard Gay, 2007) * Linking many suppliers to provide wide range of consumer choice * Assist the exchange process identify the needs of the buyer in the context of product categories, quantities, range etc. and devise manufacturing, inventory and packaging schedules to fit. * Marketing information: This encompass collection, distribution and analysing marketing research information such as the past sales data about the players within the organizations marketing environment. * Promotional activities- This involves setting of promotional objectives and activating the various elements of the marketing communications mix and measuring their effectiveness, this will encompass identify and communicate with prospects. * Pricing: Deciding on the sales terms and conditions at each stage of the value chain * Risk management This includes analysis and resource sourcing required for involvement in the channel , the degree of control and influence and the potential benefits such as revenue and profit generation. * Physical Distribution Management It includes the transportation all aspects of warehousing management and information flows. Other Activities that may be part of the distribution channels are as follows: * Order Generation. * Handling of Goods. * Shipping of Goods. * Storage of Goods. * Display of Goods. * Promotion of Goods. * Sale. * Feedback. 2.5 Distribution Channel Management Distribution Channel Management is all about getting the product or service to the right people at the right time under the constraints of profits, efficiency and effectiveness. Successful marketing does not end when a business has developed a product or service and has found its appropriate target audience with a view to selling it at the right price. The next issue that needs to be faced is how they are going to distribute and sell this product/service to these people- the consumers. When a product/service is purchased by a consumer, it may have been bought directly from the business, or it may have been through a number of intermediaries (wholesaler, retailer, etc.): these are known as distribution channels. Small businesses need to acknowledge the different types of distribution channels to utilize sales potential. Distribution channel management involves a lot of channel decisions, strategic alternatives and numerous linking concepts, all of which would be explored in my research paper. Distribution channel management involves a lot of channel decisions, strategic alternatives and numerous linking concepts. The PC industry is driven by rapid technological improvements in components, particularly microprocessors, other semiconductors, and storage devices. The improved performance of hardware has been matched historically by increased complexity of software, creating demand for the latest hardware. Figure 2 PC Supply Chain This means that time is a critical competitive factor in the industry in two ways: * Firstly, excess inventory loses value (at an estimated 10% per month 😉 and costs money; * Secondly, products incorporating the most advanced technologies are in high demand and carry a price premium. As a result, companies that minimize inventory and bring new products to market faster can reduce costs, increase market share, and maintain higher margins. Two factors come into play in determining the ability of PC companies to manage inventory and introduce new products. First is the standardized, modular nature of the PC. PCs are built from standard components, using common architectural interfaces determined largely by Intel, Microsoft, and, earlier, IBM. PC makers also can outsource much of their production and purchase components from a well-established production network of contract manufacturers and components suppliers. This makes it quite easy for PC companies to introduce new PCs with the most advanced technologies. By the 1990s, PC makers could no longer gain much of an edge by virtue of design and manufacturing, as everyone had access to the same technical information and supply base. The difference among PC companies was determined increasingly by the second factorâ₠¬â€the structure of distribution. The traditional distribution system of the PC industry is an indirect model often referred to as â€Å"the channel†. The PC maker sells its products to distributors, who buy products from many manufacturers and then sell them to a variety of retailers, resellers, system integrators, and others, who sell products and services to the final customer. This distribution system was an effective means for distributing high volumes of PCs with a variety of configurations to reach a broad customer base. However, it had inherent weaknesses that left it vulnerable in a time-based competitive environment. First was its reliance on market forecasting to drive production. Even the most successful PC makers, such as IBM, Apple, and Compaq, were chronically bedevilled by their inability to accurately forecast demand in a market driven by ever shorter product cycles. They were either caught with short supplies of hot products, causing them to lose sales to competitors, or stuck with excess inventories of slow sellers, which clogged the distribution channels and often had to be sold at a loss to move them out. Even with the best forecasting, the indirect model was plagued by the need to hold inventory at each step. In the early 1990s, it was common for PC makers to have up to 90 days of inventory on hand and in the channel. The high inventory costs and lack of responsiveness of the indirect channel meant that there was an opportunity for someone who could a way to circumvent the channel. The company that seized this opportunity was Dell, which pioneered a new business model based on selling PCs directly to the final customer, and building the PC only when an order was received Selling directly removes two links in the supply chain where inventory could build up and also enables Dell to know its final customers, provide better service to them, and promote repeat or expanded sales to them. Build-to-order production allows Dell to introduce new technologies as soon as customers want them and makes it possible to adjust production to demand very quickly. It also means that Dell does not purchase components and assemble PCs until it has received payment from the customer, giving the company a negative cash conversion cycle in which it receives payment from customers before it must pay suppliers. The current environment for the computer hardware industry is shaped by several macro forces. Primarily, Dell and its competitors are influenced by economic, demographic, technological and national forces. Government, social, physical and national forces peripherally affect the computer hardware industry to varying degrees. The commoditization of the personal computer—a vital tool for business and consumer. Customers- are a key driver for the economics of this industry. Corporate spending accounts for 80% of all technology spending, and economic conditions decreasing business capital expenditures has a negative and direct impact on the computer hardware industry. While this industry is mature in the U.S., leading to decreased growth expectations, computer spending by other countries around the world will likely fill this void. Pricing in the computer manufacturing industry is extremely competitive. IT reflects the rapid pace of technological change and decreasing PC costs. Since 2000, the prices of chips and disk drives declined and the standardization of primary components of PCs led to a decline in PC prices. Direct sellers, including Dell, have traditionally been able to under-price indirect sellers in the industry including Compaq and HP. However, most PC vendors now offer a desktop model for less than $500 and a laptop for $700. Key success factors for companies in this industry continue to evolve as the industry matures. Specifically, they include: * Competitive prices * Superior relationships with suppliers * Product customization for business and consumer customers * Quality customer service * Excellent cost structure 2.5.1 Channel Issues Some of the channels issues that the companies face are as follows Product related issues Promotions related issue Pricing related issues Target market related issue Product related issues: The nature and type of the product decides the distribution option that should be chosen for the product. A few products require special handling. Ex. Flowers, Fragile goods etc. Promotion related issues: The type of promotions that are required to sell the products to the customers also decides the distribution options; there are products which require an extensive contact of the sales person with the customer like automobiles etc. and there are products which require no sales assistance from the sales person like milk etc. Pricing issues: The price at which the marketer desires to sell their product also decides the distribution option for the channel if a product is prices really less it cannot have many members in the distribution channel as each one of them looks at making their own profit in the channel. Target market issues: The distribution channel is successful only if the product can reach the right customer. Choosing a distribution channel is the path to reach the target customer. A key decision in setting of a channel arrangement is for the marketer to choose the approach to reach his target customer in the best possible manner. 2.6 Dell 2.6.1 Company Background Dell Inc. is a multibillion dollar, multinational technology firm that manufactures, develops, sells and supports personal computing and computer related products. Based out of Texas, it employ

Commentary on the poem Night of the Scorpion Essay examples -- English

Commentary on the poem Night of the Scorpion Commentary The poem â€Å"Night of the Scorpion†, written by Nissin Ezekiel has an interesting contrast of good and bad hidden within it (an essence of equality). The poet has made the mother’s experience of getting bitten by a scorpion sound very painful and endless. The poet has conveyed this by using some descriptive language. E.g. â€Å"May the poison purify your flesh of desire, and your spirit of ambition†. This poem which was written by the first person, has other techniques such as; alliteration – â€Å"I watched the flame feeding on my mother†; tone of voice (short sentences giving a tense atmosphere) – â€Å"My father, sceptic, rationalist, trying every excuse and blessing†. In addition, the narrator gives the impression that everyone was concerned about his mother getting bitten. â€Å"More candles, more lanterns, more neighbours†¦ They sat around the floor with my mother in the centre†. From this passage, it seems that everyone trying to support her and getting rid of the pain that the horrible sting had caused. Although, ...

Custom Coffee & Chocolate

Mgmt 5000 Custom Coffee & Chocolate The mission of Custom Coffee & Chocolate is to provide lovers of fine chocolate and coffee a place to indulge themselves. From the cafe’s current offerings and proposed expansion, I do not think that the indulgence aspect of the mission statement is limited to the chocolate and coffee itself. I think that the menu variety, entertainment events and amenities that they will offer lend themselves to the mission of indulgence. The menu variety, for example allows one to indulge the pallet and explore the world through taste.Entertainment events allow one to immerse themselves in the sounds and words of other cultures while relaxing and surfing the net all at once. The cafe’s strengths include knowledge of customer base, specialized products, repeat business and a high traffic location. Weaknesses are lack of financial capital, limited staff, and majority of business is takeout. They are also weak in their lack of marketing and short-term lease on property. The cafe does have some opportunities though.The opportunities present are expanding the menu and services, marketing cafe as an entertainment or meeting venue, or include the always-popular wireless connection. Threats present for the cafe are other restaurants and businesses in the area. They are likely to see their success and create a similar offering of their own that features lower prices, better product or services. I believe that one of the first goals that Custom Coffee & Chocolate should achieve is extending their hours and staff. By achieving this goal first, it will make moving toward all their other goals flow smoothly.Their next steps should be to secure a wireless connection and begin to have small entertainment events. Brewer should begin to ramp up the cafe’s marketing plan by advertising the events and wireless access. The marketing campaign should be targeted in the local lounges, campus commons, and dorms. After the entertainment has bee n established as a success, it would provide a good test market to begin expanding the cafe’s menu into new areas. Then finally, they should launch a website for the cafe that features all their best assets.

Lakes

Lakes are basically water bodies that are enclosed by land, majority of which consist of fresh water. They can be classified based on the nature of their formation process. Lakes can be formed by landslides, glacial blockages, depressions created by tectonic uplift of mountains and several other natural phenomena. The size and shape of lakes also vary to a great extent depending upon their type (Lake Access). Also, the diverse variety of aquatic life inhabiting these lakes is determined by their type and geographic location.A subglacial lake is one which is found under the surface of ice caps and glaciers. The water in such lakes remains in liquid state, as the layer of ice above retains the heat resulting from geothermal heating and friction. A subglacial lake is usually round-shaped and does not facilitate animal life due to the extremely low temperatures. Lake Vostok located in Antarctica is a classic example of a subglacial lake; its coordinates on the earth are 77 degrees South- 105 degrees East. The amount of water found in such lakes is approximately around 5400 cubic kilometers.A reservoir is an artificial lake brought into being by human intervention. These man-made lakes are usually bigger compared to their natural counterparts. A reservoir is made by filling up an open pit mine or unused patches of land behind a dam with massive quantities of water. These lakes are commonly shaped like a bean or moon. They accommodate aquatic life such as Catfish, Guadalupe bass and many other varieties of fish. Lake Nasser, an artificial lake on River Nile is a well-known reservoir; it is geographical location extends between 22-25 degrees North and 31-45 degrees East.An endorheic lake is a closed lake which does not experience any substantial outflow of water. The surface of such lakes is flat and dry since they are mainly located in desert regions, where inflow of water is low; they are also characterized by steep holes and their depth varies a lot. Although the ou tflow of water in most lakes is through underground diffusion or rivers, endorheic lakes are quite an exception since the outflow is only by water evaporation in the endorheic basin. Hence, these lakes are also known as terminal lakes. Endorheic lakes mostly consist of reptilian life forms such as snakes and lizards. Lake Eyre is a commonly known endorheic lake located in central Australia between 28-22 degrees South and 137-22 degrees East. Lake Turkana and Lake Torrens are some other examples of an endorheic lake.A meromictic lake consists of several layers of water that do not mix with each other. The deepest layers in such lakes have a scarcity of oxygen and the sediments there remain intact. They are circular in shape; the basin of such lakes is quite steep, while the surface area of the lake is relatively less deep. Meromictic lakes are inhabited by cormorants, turtles, herons, geese, ducks and raccoons. Green Lake located between Washington D.C and Seattle is an excellent exa mple of a meromictic lake; it is nearly 2.1 meters in depth. Lake Nyos and Lake McGinnis are some of the other popular meromictic lakes.An Oxbow is a lake which is formed when a stream channel bend is abandoned from a river. When a river meanders slowly in a low-lying plains and river valleys, a horseshoe-shaped bend is cutoff from the main channel as a result of continuous silt deposition, giving rise to oxbows. They distinctively look like curve-shaped cracks or loops. An Oxbow does not support much of animal life and its size is about 22miles long and three-fourths of a mile wide. Lake Reelfoot in Tennessee and Lake Chicot in Arkansas are examples of an Oxbow.Reference:Lake Access. (n.d.). Formation of Lakes. Retrieved 2 July, 2007 from,

Million 1988 and Updated Oct Essay

Million 1988 and Updated Oct Essay Million: 1988 and Updated Oct Essay Overview Simple, Secure Sharing From Anywhere www.box.com Updates Files Contacts Apps My Account Search Files All Files Business Development Updated Oct 12, 2011 by Julia Withersbee Upload New... John Stevens Help  · Log out Account Info 383 12 Personal Account Storage: 2.5MB of 5GB Business Solutions Marketing Updated Oct 3, 2011 by Adam Smith 383 12 Resources Trash Help Articles Box Community Analyst Research.docx Updated Oct 5, 2011 by You  · 350 KB Security Overview.pdf Updated Oct 11, 2011 by You  · 1.2 MB For nearly 7 million individuals, businesses, and 82% of the FORTUNE 500, Box provides simple, secure content sharing from anywhere, on any device – documents, spreadsheets, images, you name it. With Box, you take it all wherever you go. A Hard Drive in the Cloud: Online Storage Organize all your files into folders Store all kinds of files online, then arrange them into folders just like on your desktop. View and access files on demand Box provides anytime, anywhere access to your files from any device – whether you’re in Nebraska or Norway. Convenience and peace of mind Throwing thumb drives in your bag, transferring files to CDs, stressing about a stolen laptop – that’s yesterday. Today, everything’s on Box. Get and Share Big Files Quickly and Easily www.box.com shared Manage Your Content In The Cloud By combining the core features of traditional content management with the usability of typical online collaboration software, Box is reinventing how businesses share, manage, and access all of their content with Cloud Content Management. Empowering the New Knowledge Worker Capture – Put your content in the cloud for access anywhere, anytime Send a link Paste it into an email or an instant message, even send directly from Box. Receive real-time updates Always know when someone’s viewed, edited or commented on your file. Invite People to Folders www.box.com Updates Files Contacts Apps My Account Collaborators Invite people Folder Options to update or share les in this folder. Search Files Marketing Business Plan.pdf Updated Oct 11, 2011 by You  · 1.2 MB Upload New... Marketing Plan.docx v2 Updated Oct 13, 2011 by Jessica Brown  · 350 KB Strategy.pdf Updated Oct 11, 2011 by Brian Smith  · 1.2 MB Enter email addresses Invite Collaborators Create a new folder, upload files, then invite others to join. Invite others to share and edit Turn folders into shared online workspaces, where all your files are in one place. Anyone you invite can view, edit and

Cause and effect of smoking during pregnancy Essay

Cause and effect of smoking during pregnancy - Essay Example Research studies carried out recently show that the child of a smoking mother is almost doubly at risk in contacting very serious respiratory tract diseases in its early stages of life and usually leads to hospitalization. Another major cause for this is that many societies are well known for their high rate of smoking and even since the 1800’s, people are quite aware of the fatal effects it has on health. But in the 19th century, the correlation between maternal smoking and the rate of LRI (Lower Respiratory Infection) was determined. A clinical research was carried out to determine the effect or impact that parental smoking had on children who were constantly exposed to it, and the Odds Ratio was calculated, based on the LRI, for hospitalization. The risk calculated was age related and the OR’s of prevalence of serious LRI were 1.71 (95% CI, 1.33-2.20) and 1.25 (95% CI, 0.88- 1.78) for children aged 0.2 years and 3 to 6 years respectively. (Li JS, Peat JK, Xuan W, Berry G, 1999) Other studies have shown a link between maternal smoking and a high incidence of respiratory problems including impaired lung infections. Some studies have shown harmful effects of placenta - borne exposure at the time of pregnancy including breast milk, as well as air- borne exposure right after delivery. More recent evidence, of the effect of smoking mothers on their off spring, shows that immunity plays a major role in determining this, proving to be an important mechanism. Another cause for children inflicted with wheezing and other respiratory problems was due to dust mites found in the homes of smoking mothers. According to a study undertaken by Noakes, he suggests that â€Å"Maternal smoking is associated with impaired neo-natal toll- like- receptor mediated immune responses†. (P.S Noakes, Eur. Respir. Journal, 2006) Another major factor that contributed to an adverse effect on pregnant smoking mothers was the lack of social support render during

Differences between Chimpanzees and Human Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Differences between Chimpanzees and Human - Essay Example Chimpanzees make friends and strengthen by mentoring each other. Researchers state that chimpanzees shave an estimate of 50 close friends and links compared to those of human being that is estimated to be around 150 and 200 (Dale, 26). The human anatomy has a skin that has limited areas that are covered in hair, in a chimpanzee, all parts of the body other than the face is covered in hair. The skull of a human brain is sustained by a vertebral column while the skull of a chimpanzee dangles forward from the vertebral column. Human beings walk in an upright manner that is enabled by the legs that are stronger than legs, feet that are arched and the capability to straighten the knees that enabling walking, on the other side, the chimpanzees walk on four legs since they have longer arms and knees that are bent. The social life of chimpanzees is largely based on survival while that of human beings s based on needs. Human beings show advanced forms of communication whereas chimpanzees use sounds and gestures that are only known to them. In this film, the social behaviors of humans surprised me, especially the fact that their social closeness is based on survival. Unlike in other animals such as the lion, there is no territory for the strongest; the chimpanzees live as one big happy family. The other thing that I found impressive is their ways of displaying affection, love, and kindness. They often play with each other, cuddle and hug each other. The adult chimpanzees take care of the young ones by ensuring that they get food and that they are safe from external threats and risk. Finally, I did not realize that chimpanzee s mourn for the sickness or loss of one of them, they are very compassionate (Dale, 34).