Role of Women in the Military Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Role of Women in the Military - Essay Example During the First World War, many women served in the military as nurses and also offered other assigned support roles to the armies of various nations. However, the only nation that was acknowledged for using a large number of female fighter troops was Russia (Stone 155). One of the most famous martial camps was Cossack regiment, front-line light cavalry under the leadership of a woman. Maria Bochkareva, another famous and astounding female figure in the military, worked her way out to one of the most crucial military ranks as a senior NCO. Bochkareva was given the mandate to command the first unit in 1917 following the establishment of â€Å"Women’s Battalions† by the interim government (Stone 154-58). The women were expected to propagate war propaganda, which they never did well leading to their disbandment. Nonetheless, the women fought their war well, albeit propaganda delivery failed. Bochkareva would later recruit women infantry in Russian Civil War. The role play ed by women in both civil war and World War I still remains conspicuous and cannot be ignored. The Second World War occurred on global unprecedented scale, which created the necessity to mobilize the entire society to join war. This increased the chances of women participation in the military and they became important and indispensable part of national armies. During World War II, some women took to nursing roles while many others were engaged in clerical and support roles. In 1938, Britain created military roles for women besides a small group of women who had been serving in the British military as nurses. By 1941, many British women were enrolled in the army affiliate, Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) and later approved military status (Martel 253). Martel argues that â€Å"The National Service Act of December 1941 drafted 125,000 women into the military over the next three years while 430,000 more

Government Agency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Government Agency - Essay Example They are supposed to help each other especially in the absence of the other person since he is the nearest one in the area. One post man was sick for one week so he was not able to deliver the mails. While the other knows it, he deliberately did not finish he tasks of the other post man, leaving some mails undelivered. Upon the return of the sick postman, he discovered that not all mails were delivered and some of them are urgent. It has caused the conflict between the two postmen so that the Postmaster had to intervene. As a judicial authority, the Postmaster has pushed for a truce between the two postmen, giving a proper sanction to the one who failed to deliver the mail such as asking him to deliver the remaining mails, while helping the sick post man to deliver the recent mails. The Postmaster has also created a rule that the postman at the adjacent county should be responsible for all the letters left by a sick postman-partner so that he is liable for any loss or

Home Depot case study for Strategic management for mba class

Home Depot for Strategic management for mba class - Case Study Example Switching costs were low in this industry and this situation assisted consumers to change their retailers easily. In addition, the industry faced threat of substitutes because many products had close substitutes available. In 2006, buyers’ bargaining power was high as they had different market options and good understanding of various brand choices. In contrast, supplier power was low as majority of the retail players received suppliers from a large number of distinct vendors. Need of high initial capital investment eliminated the threat of new entrants to some extent at that time. The home improvement industry underwent tremendous changes over the next six years. Degree of rivalry got intensified because the price factor became paramount. As compared to 2006, threat of substitutes became higher in 2011 mainly because of the innovation and development of improved substitute products. By 2011, the industry adapted to a competitive pricing strategy and this situation added furth er value to buyer bargaining power. Naturally, suppliers were also forced to provide material to retailers at minimum cost; hence, supplier power further declined in 2011. Similarly, threat of new entrants also reduced to a considerable extent because new entrants found it difficult to confront with huge players like Wal-Mart. 2. While analyzing the market environment of the Home Depot for the year 2006, brand awareness seems to be the most competitive strength of the company. The Home Depot was the world’s largest home improvement retailer during that time, and this dominance boosted its brand awareness. Increased utilization of rapid deployment centers also added to the strength of the company as this strategy contributed to the efficient supply chain operations. In addition, the organization’s simple and distinct business model has entirely changed the way consumers shop home improvement

Conflict management (case) Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Conflict management ( ) - Case Study Example Morris was the initiator of PFM, and since he was in Paris, he should have asked his French counterparts to be part of the project. This project was the one based on rearranging the present social network to be more French-like. Not inviting them was thus aggravating the conflict. The main issue was keeping significant information from the French who learned of this project through another source. In addition, Morris should have been present during the merger which was about to happen between Voila and America’s rival, Jardin (Osland et al, 2007). He should have been there to encourage and guide his team who were facing employment issues. There needed to be collaboration between Morris and his fellow team members: Drummond, and Hanover (Osland et al, 2007). He personally appointed them, so he was supposed to be physically present in Paris. This would in turn lead to a very close relationship between these leaders. As a result, communication, ideas and decision-making elements would be discussed between them; Cooperation between them would have avoided the conflict. In fact, maybe they would have to agree and arrive at common ground of applying the principles of both PFM and Nourriture Excellent (Osland et al, 2007). The conflict revolved between the two projects, with each side trying to kill the opponent’s side project (Osland et al, 2007). ... Full collaboration was required based on the fact that careers depended on it. Each party needed to recognize the role they played in the video conference break down and acknowledge the fact that each would take full responsibility of what they did. Another thing, which contributed to the conflict was the team members in Paris refused to acknowledge Drummond as a real team member (Osland et al, 2007). This was largely her fault because she did a lot of work, which did not involve the French. Drummond should have understood the meaning of the team and involve the Paris team. At the end of the day, they would not have felt left out in significant matters, and they would have involved her in the meetings she requested to be part. Being added to the investigative team sounded ridiculous to the French because at the time Voila members were not given any responsibilities. According to Osland et al (2007), Voila was never prepared to accept PFM. They showed this through their actions. Morri s and his American counterparts should have accepted this fact instead of trying to force the idea on them. This was based on the fact that the business idea would yield very good results. They should have known that the French could never accept any radical ideas no matter how good the results would be. Well, Hanover was able to realize this, and no wonder he was able to form an explanation of what happened, why it happened and finally the role each person played in the conflict (Osland et al, 2007). He should have gone a step ahead and state ideas of resolving the issue at hand and even apologize to voila company. However, it is ironical that even during the conflict period, business results from both parties were positive. In fact, it

Infant-Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS-R) Assignment Essay

Infant-Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS-R) Assignment - Essay Example The scale of space and furnishings, personal daily care and routine, listening and talking, activities, interaction, program structure and parents and staff are seven aspects to be evaluated in this study. According to the scale, it observes children in a kindergarten. Through improving the quality of the learning environment, education programs for children with special needs in a regular class are better implemented. I first arrived at Kidango Decoto Center, a child care facility for toddlers, located at Union City. The head-teachers and supervisors name of the center is called Catalina Garcia. I observed a classroom, which the age range is between eighteen months old and three years old, and the center has four teachers and sixteen children. This observation lasted about three hours in the morning, from 9:00 am up until 12:00 pm. On this morning, my observation was specifically to use the infant-toddler environment rating scale to assist in my evaluation. Students were arriving in the classroom at around 8:30 am, and they were offered breakfast. After the breakfast around 9:15 am, all the students got in their respective the classrooms. They were engaging in free play time where there were prepared games, crafts and interacted with their teachers and classmates. I was seated in the classrooms corner, where the children could not easily see me, and this observation needed not to be distracted by my presence in the classroom. Childhood is a curious, imaginative, energetic, adventurous age. Therefore, health and safety is the primary factor, in the kindergarten classroom environment settings. Secondly, the class should give the children, the same feeling as home. Let the children feel that they are here to master thoroughly. By setting the environment, teachers should ask themselves, what valuable things they want to pass to the children. They should also

Comparison Between Gold Rates and Sensex Essay Example for Free

Comparison Between Gold Rates and Sensex Essay Correlation : Correlation is a statistical technique that can show whether and how strongly pairs of variables are related. Correlation is computed into what is known as the correlation coefficient, which ranges between -1 and +1. Perfect positive correlation (a correlation co-efficient of +1) implies that as one security moves, either up or down, the other security will move in lockstep, in the same direction. Alternatively, perfect negative correlation means that if one security moves in either direction the security that is perfectly negatively correlated will move in the opposite direction. If the correlation is 0, the movements of the securities are said to have no correlation; they are completely random. Regression analysis: It involves identifying the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Case Analysis The initial analysis compares two Asset index prices the SENSEX and the GOLD. The Sensex has the top 30 stocks. The Gold is an important Asset in terms on Investment as it also offers the benefit on diversifying the Portfolio risk. To apply the Correlation and regression concept, we consider an investor who plans to invest in Gold looking at the rise in the gold prices. He is still reluctant if he should choose Gold as an investment option or if he should consider investing in some other investment options based on Sensex. as on 15th September 2012. Hence, he plans to carry out a research on the same, for which he attends a seminar on â€Å"Investment Opportunities†. There was a debate amongst the Financial Analysts â€Å"Does Sensex rates affect Gold prices?† Analyst1 : Gold prices have been on an uptick since 2000, while the stock market declined from 2000 to 2003 and then again in 2008. Hence, Sensex fluctuation does not determine the Gold prices i.e. rise in Sensex might not always lead to rise in gold price. Analyst 2: Through the recovery phase that commenced in 2003, gold prices kept rising. Analyst 1: Gold prices normally appreciates in value. Analyst2: Fluctuations in Gold prices are determined by the fluctuations in Sensex i.e.: Decline In sensex. This created a confusion. Hence, to clarify the confusion he plans to study the price trends of the Gold rates and the Sensex for the dates ranging from June 1st’2012 – August 31st2012. After checking the correlation he found that the correlation between the closing prices on Gold and Sensex was 0.24 which was weak. Thus, he decided that Sensex rates was not the only factor to consider investment in Gold. Otherwise, Gold is a good option for investment as it provides diversification and hedging in investment. Conclusion: Correlation between Gold and Sensex is 0.24 which is positive and weak. Thus, based on this correlation change in Sensex has an effect on Gold rate but it is very small.

Total Quality Management Essay Example for Free

Total Quality Management Essay INTRODUCTION The level of risk and uncertainties in operation of contemporary business requires that managers of businesses come up with unique decision-making that will bring about strategies, which their rivals would find difficult to imitate. This will position them in a vintage point of curving a niche over their competitors. Information technology is a useful tool that enhances the modeling process for business organization; which ensure effective decision making process. Business intelligence tool in recent times have greatly assisted business organizations in fashioning out effective strategies that would position their organizations i9n meeting their objectives and goals by adequately utilizing its resources to cope with the environment they operate in. an organization need to carry out a vibrant, pragmatic and effective strategy for it to adequately compete in an industry with high dynamic level of ways of conducting business, and high level of uncertainties and risks. Thus, to have that strategy that would give the organization a niche over its rivals, business intelligence tools are used by reorganization in supporting their strategic planning and strategic management. According to Vriens (2004), Due to the increasing complexity and dynamics of the environment the need to produce relevant ‘actionable’ intelligence is increasing as well. Because, of, for instance, increased global competition, (speed and impact of) political changes, and rapid technological developments. With the rapid changes and stiff competition the selection of the right business intelligent tool would go along way in bringing about effective strategic management which result in total quality management. CONCEPTUALIZATION OF TERMS Quality: According to Dale (2003: 4), the term  Ã‚  Ã‚   quality has no universally accepted definition. But it is usually associated with distinguishing one organization product, service, event, person, result, action or communication from another. â€Å"Internationally definition of quality is the degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfils requirements.† â€Å"It is also defined as that which gives complete consumers satisfaction.†Ã‚   (Bert Dearborn Ltd, cited in Dale 2003) USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AS BASIS FOR TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT (TQM) WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION TQM entails the delivery of quality in every process of organizational operations. Through information technology tools, which comprises of business intelligence tools, adequate planning is ensured, which result in quality delivery. Business Intelligence tools, such as data mining, data warehousing, OLAP etc, support an organization in its strategic management plans. This, they do by providing the organization with the necessary data in which its strategic plans are based upon. Effective strategic management, which entails immediate strategic planning and long-term forecast plans, has to depend on the availability of vital information for it to adequately meet the organization’s objectives and goals. This information needed to support the strategic management of an organization is derived from the database provided by different business intelligence tools. Database derived from business intelligence tools, such as Data Mining (DM), forms the bases on which strategic management information are derived for planning for an organization. According to Thearling (1995), Database marketing supports a variety of business processes. It involves transforming a database into business decisions. For building a new catalog for a retailing business, the historical database of customers would be utilized; this will include information on their location, zip code, sex, age etc. database marketing software would use this information to build a model of customer behavior that would generate a mailing list of customers most likely to respond to a new catalog. The catalog built, would enable the marketing organization to strategize in line with the information derived from the data mining process. This goes to show that data mining business intelligence tool is a supporting tool for strategic planning and not a solution-proffering tool for business problem (ibid). The importance of generating vital information for effective decision making through the aid of business intelligence tool, is further buttressed by Vriens (2004), To (re-) formulate their strategy; organizations need to collect and process information about their environment- about, for instance, competitors, customers, suppliers, governments, technological trends or ecological developments. FOUR STAGES OF TQM THAT IS OPERATED THROUGH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN AN ORGANIZATION The aim of TQM in an organization is to bring about perfection in the processes of an organization. This perfection leads to qualitative service delivery, which results in the satisfaction of clients needs. There are four stages in the implementation of Total quality Management (TQM) for an organization. Information technology plays significant roles in the effective and efficient accomplishment of these four TQM stages. The four identified stages to a successful implementation of TQM in an organisation include: The diagnostic phase: under this phase the organisations seek to find out those ways and pattern it would operate in order to bring about the delivery of quality service to its customers. In TQM diagnostic stage, it is mostly focus in analytical thinking. Its strength is in developing simple problem-solving algorithms that can be easily disseminated for mass use. Its Diagnostic methods are based on linear- cause-and-effect relationships. This makes TQM most effective in dealing with physical properties and the types of problems that can be isolated. The Diagnostic phase involves the setting out of questions that is vital in brining about a positive turn around in the quality state of products or services to the consumer. Diagnostic methods of TQM are based on linear- cause-and-effect relationships. This makes TQM most effective in dealing with physical properties and the types of problems that can be isolated. The diagnostic phase in TQM has to with raising questions about those functional part of the organisation activity, that is not well carried out. Thus, solutions on how these observed problem are prescribed the planning stage of TQM has to do with the drawing out of ways in which the diagnosed problem and intended functions for improvement, how they would be carried out.Diagnostic methods of TQM are based on linear- cause-and-effect relationships. This makes TQM most effective in dealing with physical properties and the types of problems that can be isolated. In this stage of TQM implementation those fundamental question can be diagnosed through business intelligent information tools, such as data mining, data warehousing. These business intelligient tools provide the data on which diagnoses could be applied on for effective planning. â€Å"Careful planning and goal setting during the diagnostic stage can overcome many of the problems of evaluation and institutionalization, especially where TQM is in place. Diagnostic information can be obtained from observations, questionnaires, interviews, and records. This stands as a major source of deriving a useful tool in analyzing and seeing those sphere of the organizational activities where quality performance can be improved upon. Thus, vital questions are raised in this effect†. (Jamshid 2005). Under this phase, decisions are made on those alternative that best suit the situation at hand. Also, decision on who should operate the different functions in the organization is decided upon and which material option is preferred to the other and that should be adopted. The importance of the diagnostic stage of TQM is that it is used in identifying problems and solving problems. Thus, it is very vital in the process of an organisation’s TQM implementation. The next stage is the Planning stage in the TQM implementation. Planning consists of strategic planning and developing more short-term detailed plans. Thus, in the TQM planning stage, this involves a strategic plan on which course to take in implementing the company’s TQM, to make it a successful venture. Furthermore, according to Thomas (1995), TQM must be built into other systems, particularly those involving planning and rewards. Leaders should expect a long-term process, including a transition period. They will need to be persistent, using constant reinforcement, for example, through continuous training. Cohen and Brand suggest that TQM should eventually be made an invisible part of the organization, permeating all areas and the responsibility of everyone. In the view of Nurre (2005), in the planning stage, managers make decisions concerning which alternatives should be selected. Financial information is often a vital component of this decision-making. Once the alternatives have been selected, detailed planning is possible. These detailed plans are usually stated in the form of budgets. The control function of management is aided by performance reports that compare actual performance to the budget. This feedback mechanism directs attention to activities where managerial attention is needed. That data presented by information technology tools gives the decision maker the choice to make the right by choosing the most feasible and productive alternative. The strategy preparation stage has to do with the identification and solving of quality issues by involving all management and supervision in a proper scheme of training and communication. Here, the organisation is oriented along the organisation’s move to bring about top quality in all its services, targets are set and these information are further relayed to subordinates to keep them abreast with the organisation strategy. The role of information technology comes to play in the area of information dissemination to top-level managers who are to partake in the implementation of the organization strategy on TQM. In addition, suggestions from the senior workers are welcome in drawing the strategy on which the organisation seeks to operate. This is also derived by the proper utilization of information technology tools. TQM strategy preparation requires systematic changes in management practice, including the redesign of work, the redefinition of managerial roles, the redesign of organizational structures, the learning of new skills by employees at all levels, and the reorientation of organizational goals. These make all the organizational functions to be directed at bringing out the best quality as outcome in every stage of the organizational activities.   â€Å"The strategy is based as the systems concepts and structured around the business processes of an organization. Such an approach makes the entire system documentation user-friendly and therefore easily implementable and upgradeable, in response to changing needs.† (Nandi, 2005). TQM’s strategy preparation stage, thus requires systematic changes in management practice, including the redesign of work, the redefinition of managerial roles, the redesign of organizational structures, the learning of new skills by employees at all levels, and the reorientation of organizational goals. It becomes very important in the TQM implementation because it gets the organization ready for the proper implementation of the TQM. Thus, this leads to the organization success. The implementation stage is the carrying out of service or giving customer the quality product to meet their needs as they envisage it. Under this stage, everybody including the supplier and consumer are linked in the quality chain of the TQM of the organisation. Current approaches to total quality implementation initially, when managers do TQ they tend to utilize exemplars specific to, and introduce bundles of activities primarily from, one mindset Many managers measure the success of their TQ implementation programmes in terms of increases in systems predictability, reductions in waste or system leakage, and improvements in system outputs per unit of input (Ibid). In this stage, there is the need to rely always on a control measure as a way of checking and preventing the TQM strategy from derailing and missing its target. Thus, statistical data need to be taken to see the satisfaction of clients from time to time. This information is derived from business intelligent tools. CONCLUSION The contribution of information technology to an organization strategic process is of great importance when such organization which to embrace total quality management. Through basic business intelligence tools like Data mining, Data warehousing, Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), Queries etc. the vital information needed for effective strategic planning is derived from databases. Also, these tools give the organization the medium of transmitting its information across the organization. Data mining brings about those hidden information unknown to an organization to utilize this for its advantage, while Data warehouse through its software collate those redundant data in the organization’s database and formulate a database useful for its planning process. The utilization of business intelligence tools requires that it is structured to suit the organization’s problem. Hence, it requires that a great understanding of an organization is known to the experts and practitioners of these business intelligence tools for it to be effective in aiding the organization in strategic drives in meeting its objectives and long term goals. BIBLIOGRAPHY Chopoorian, John A. et al (2001), Mind Your Business by Mining Your Data in SAM Advanced Management Journal Vol. 66, No. 2 Dale, B. (Ed.) (2003), Managing Quality 4th edition. Blackwell. Oxford. Drucker, Peter (1969), The Age of Discontinuity: Guidelines to Our Changing Society, New York: Harper and Row. Flynn, B.B. Flynne, E. J. (1996), â€Å"Achieving Simultaneous Cost and Differentiation Competitive Advantage through Continuous Improvement: World Class manufacturing as a Competitive Strategy† in Journal of Managerial Issues. Vol. 8, No. 3 Jamshid Gharajedagi, (2005) â€Å" Making TQM work for America: The interactive design approach† http://www.interactdesign.com/tqm.html (3/ 09/ 2005) Jayamalini, G. (1999) â€Å"An Overview of TQM in Libraries† Documentation Research and Training Centre, Indian Statistical Institute January 6-8. Morris, Foster (1994), â€Å"Regenerating Your TQM Effort: What to Do When It Runs out of Steam† in   The TQM Magazine, Vol. 06 Issue 4 Nandi,S.N. (2005) â€Å"TQM, benchmarking and Sips Division† http://www.npcindia.org/tqm.htm (4/09/2005) Nurre, Rosemary (2005), â€Å"Introduction to management accounting† http://smccd.net/accounts/nurre/online/chtr1.html   (4/11/05) Peter, J. Dowling, et al (2005), Strategic Management: Competition and Globalization (2nd Pacific Rim Edition) Porter, E. Michael (1985), Competitive Advantage: creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. New York Ringland, Gill (1998), Scenario Planning: Managing For the Future. London: John Wiley Sons Limited Ross, J.E. (1999), Total Quality Management: Text, cases and readings. Florida: St. Lucie Press, Boca Raton. Sims, Ronald R. (2002), Organizational Success through Effective Human Resources Management. Westport, CT: Quorum Books Thearling, Kurt (1995), From Data Mining to Database Marketing DIG White Paper. October http://www.thearling.com/text/wp9502/wp9502.htm (29/09/06) Thomas, Packard, D.S.W (1995), â€Å"TQM And Organizational Change And Development† in Total Quality Management in the Social Services: Theory and Practice. Burton Gummer and Philip McCallion, Eds., Albany, NY: Rockefeller College Press. Vriens, Dirk (2004), The Role of Information and Communication Technology in Competitive Intelligence University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands www.bi-kring.nl/bi-kring/community/partners/contentlev/abk/01chap.pdf (29/09