How to write a science fair paper: July 2019

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Po Management

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Global Poverty Essay

Poverty is a serious issue that has been going on for centuries. Every day there are people who die due to hunger but there are solutions to reducing, and even stopping, poverty. Global poverty comes in an abundance of shapes and sizes. One of the main sources of poverty is the lack of investment in the future at all levels. The manufacturer outsources to China because he does not want to invest in long-term employees. The government does not want to invest in quality employees through education, infrastructure, health care, etc. The potential employee does not want to invest in his future through education or training, but would rather have immediate gratification of leisure. A second main source is the lack of certain basic government functions. The government needs to be able to provide stability, through laws and establishing property rights. Without these basic things, there is little incentive for the people to develop new products, or work hard, because it will just be taken a way by someone more powerful. I donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t think government is the solution to everything, but it is necessary for a few basic functions. Another main source of poverty (and economic inequality) is because we are very selfish and self-destructive. We are a species that cannot exist without soiling our own nest and devouring our own weak until we ourselves are devoured. We all want to have more stuff for the amount of wealth we have to give up. That means we all are demanding that someone generate more wealth for less than it is worth. Unfortunately, we are willing to take this to extremes. We are more than happy to see all of our neighbours lose their jobs in the mill next door because the super center gets the same item made by slave labour in China. The people at the top are merely making a profit on what we demand they do for us. Poverty hits children the most because they are our future generation and they need to grow up healthy and prosper but most children donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t have this advantage. They should have food and education so they can grow up and become something, push the world forward, but unfortunately those living in poverty donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t have the luxury of this. More than 80% of the population dies of hunger every single year and 22,000 of them are children. There are solutions to ending poverty but if we donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t stop it now it will only get worse. The percentage will double and there wonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t be children to bring the world forward because they would have died due to poverty. The infant mortality rate will increase and so will the amount of homeless people.In the political sense there could be an increased risk of war as well as genocide and terrorism. ThereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s also the possibility of the population migrating to places that are doing economically better than their community. The reason inequality exists is because of the devaluing middle-class workers. No matter how hard they work and how many hours they work; almost all of the profit goes to the executives and shareholders. Until middle-class workers are at the same level as corporations, the income gap will keep widening. ThereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s also the fact that women get paid less than men in most work places. This just makes matters worse. Unemployment also plays a role because those who are unemployed arenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t making any money at all and the rate for unemployment just keeps rising. ItÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s these people who are being discriminated against when it comes to the working class and thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s why economic inequality exists and why itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s on the rise. A major effect economic inequality could have is the increase in unemployment. And if unemployment increases then the demand and supply will decrease, thus causing the economy to go down. If people lose their jobs they have no money to pay for certain goods and services and some might not even be able to afford putting food on the table. This will also increase poverty. A possible solution for poverty is getting rid of capitalism. We need to get rid of all forms of physical force being the win/lose system of government, taxation, income redistribut ion and regulation and central banking and have a society based on the division of labour, individual rights and private property. Also, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s not education or income redistribution that will do it either. The level of invested capital per worker, both foreign and domestic, thus raising the productivity of labour in an unhampered free market government free capitalist system, Prior to the industrial revolution, 95 percent of children died before the age of 5, and since then the worldÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s population has exploded more than 10 fold. The Chinese economy since 1978 has grown 90 times since the introduction of Ã¢â‚¬ a freer more capitalistic market society,Ã¢â‚¬ Literally lifting 100Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s of millions out of abject poverty and misery. Poverty can probably never be completely eliminated but this could be one possible solution. Another solution could be allowing free trade with these developing countries, and maybe even give them some trade protections for a short time while they develop their comparative advantage. You could probably argue who benefits from poverty from many different angles. I wouldÃ‚ tend to say that no one benefits from poverty. Sure, if you can pay some people much less than the natural market rate to produce a good, some people will benefit by receiving some products at a lower price, but this actually isnÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t all that beneficial. By paying these people less, they have less money to contribute back to society, so from an economic standpoint, I would say no one really benefits from poverty in the long run. If instead, all countries had free markets, the world would be better off. One more possible solution for ending poverty is helping each other out, especially those living in third world countries. Countries that are developed, like the US, spend all their money on war when they could be focusing on helping other countries out, even helping their poor communities. Children living in poor areas need a quality education. They need to go to school to gain knowledge and life skills and how to reach their full potential which will help them out in the long run. There needs to be new schools built and the barriers that are preventing children from going to school (especially girls) needs to be broken. Without the proper education, these countries wonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t be able to improve their situation. Countries living in poverty also need health care and safe drinking water. If we can help provide these things for these countries they could eventually come out of the poverty because itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s hard to start a business or provide for a family when theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re busy looking for their next meal and some water. We can also help these countries by letting them come out of it themselves. We can lend them financial aid but having people from over here go over there to build the schools and hospitals only hurts the country. They need to be provided with jobs and they need to learn how to help because that is the only way they will get economically stronger. There needs to be access to food, water, health facilities, transportation, roads, education, daycare and many more infrastructures in each community to allow people in those communities to work effectively and productively. We have tried this in countries such as Africa and nothing came of it but thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s because we werenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t doing it right. We believed that we were helping them when, in fact, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve only made their situation worse. We need to be more conscious of whatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s going on and how to help properly instead of trying to throw money around. We need to participate and push for change if we really want to make a difference and reduce poverty as well as economic inequality. It wonÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t be easy but it will definitely be worth it.

PepsiCo Supply Chain Management Essay

Introduction Supply Chain Management is the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the operations of supply chain with the purpose to satisfy customer requirements as efficiently as possible. Supply chain management spans all movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point-of-origin to point-of-consumption. It is a cross functional approach to managing the movement of raw materials into an organization and the movement of finished goods out of the organization toward the end consumer. Supply Chain management is also the combination of art and science of improving the way company finds the raw components it needs to make a product or service and deliver it to customers. It seeks to enhance competitive performance by closely integrating the internal functions within a company and effectively linking them with external operations of suppliers and channel members. Moreover, this has been a prominent concern for both large and small companies as they strive for better quality and higher customer satisfaction. In a supply chain, a company links to its supplier upstream and to its distributors downstream in order to serve its customer. The goal of supply chain management is to provide maximum customer service at the lowest possible costs. Companies now are competing supply chain-to-supply chain rather than enterprise-to-enterprise requiring for more intimately connected relationships. Customer markets and supply chains are no longer limited by physical proximity, and businesses are sourcing from and managing a greater number of far-flung partners and channels. Success of a company now depends on effective global supply chain management, its ability to deliver the right product to the right market at the right time. The complexity involved in managing supply chains that span continents and dominate markets demands strategies and systems that are adaptable. Managing Supply Chain for Global Competitiveness takes a strategic look at all of the core functions of global supply chain management wh ich includes product design, planning and forecasting, sourcing, outsourcing, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, and fulfilment. An example to illustrate this theory on the supply chainÃ‚ management is the PepsiCo, Inc. Pepsi Co History PepsiCo, a Fortune 500, American Multinational Corporation is under the food consumer product industry and is the world leader in convenient foods and beverages. The Pepsi brand and other Pepsi-Cola products account for nearly one-third of the total soft drink sales in the United States. In order for the company to make sure that their products reach the customers, the company needs a efficient supply chain solutions. It was founded in 1965 through the merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay. Tropicana was acquired in 1998 and PepsiCo merged with The Quaker Oats Company, including the Gatorade in 2001. PepsiCo offers product choices to meet a broad variety of needs and preference Ã¢â‚¬â€ from fun-for-you items to product choices that contribute to healthier lifestyles. PepsiCo owns some of the worldÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s most popular brands, including Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, LayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s, Doritos, Tropicana, Gatorade, and Quaker. Coca-Cola Company in market value for the first time in 112 years since both companies began to compete. Other brands include Caffeine-Free Pepsi, Diet Pepsi/Pepsi Light, Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi, Caffeine-Free Pepsi Light, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Pepsi Lime, Pepsi Max, Pepsi Twist and Pepsi ONE,7 Up ,Aquafina (Flavour Splash, Alive, and Twist/Burst),Propel Fitness Water, SoBe, Quaker Milk Chillers. The Frito-Lay brands are : Cheetos,Fritos,Go Snacks, JamesÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ GrandmaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Cookies, HamkaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s, LayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s, Miss VickieÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s, Munchies, Sandora, Santitas, The SmithÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Snackfood Company, Sun Chips, Kurkure, Tostitos and some of the Quaker Oats brands include Aunt Jemima, Capone Crunch, Chewy Granola bars, Coqueiro, CrispÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ums, Cruesli, FrescAvena, King Vitaman, Life, Oatso Simple, Quake, Quisp, Rice-A-Roni, and Spudz PepsiCoÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Mission PepsiCoÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s overall mission is to increase the value of shareholderÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s investment. They do this through sales growth, cost controls and wise investment of resources. They believe their commercial success depends upon offering quality and value to their consumers and customers; providing products that are safe, wholesome, economically efficient and environmentally sound; and providing a fair return to their investors while adhering to the highest standards of integrity. A customer while purchasing a bottle of Pepsi will consider product quality, price and availability of the product. Thus, Pepsi focuses its competitive strategy as to producing sufficient variety, reasonable prices, and the availability of the product. Pepsi Ceo Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi has been the chief executive of PepsiCo since 2006. During her time, healthier snacks have been marketed and the company is striving for a net-zero impact on the environment. This focus on healthier foods and lifestyles is part of NooyiÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Ã¢â‚¬Å"Performance with PurposeÃ¢â‚¬ philosophy. In 2007, Nooyi spent $1.3 billion on healthier-alternative brands like Naked Juice, a California maker of soy drinks and organic juice. Today, beverage distribution and bottling is undertaken primarily by associated companies such as The Pepsi Bottling Group and Pepsi Americas. PepsiCo is a SIC 2080 (beverage) company. PepsiCo has also recently acquired a 50% stake in U.S.-based Sabra Dipping Company. PepsiCo also has formed partnerships with several brands it does not own, in order to distribute these or market them with its own brands. Competitive and Supply Chain Strategies In its business, diversity and inclusion provide a competitive advantage that drives business results. Its brands appeal to an extraordinarily diverse array of customers and they are sold by an equally diverse group of retailers. It understands the needs of our consumers and customers Uses diversity in our supplier base and in everything we do. Commitment to purchase from a supplier base representative of our employees, consumers, retail customers and communities. Developing partnerships with minority-owned and women-owned suppliers helps us build the world-class supplier base we need. Creates mutually beneficial relationships that expand PepsiCoÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s sphere of activity. It helps build community infrastructure by providing employment, training, role models, buying from other minority and women-owned business and supporting community organizations Figure Thus the major sustainable advantages that give PepsiCo a competitive edge as they operate in the global marketplace: 1. Big, muscular brands, 2. Proven ability to innovate and create differentiated products and 3. Powerful go-to-market systems. PepsiCoÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Supply Chain Management Difficulties without Just-in-Time When an operation of the company was not just-in-time based, the demand or production planner strived to optimize production-oriented goals and objectives such as equipment utilization, labour efficiency, throughput and uptime. Optimizing these goals often leads to run large batch sizes that are dependent on the availability of raw materials. This optimizes the equipment and labour utilization but the production planners and managers had not been looking at the expense of the bigger picture. The sourcing or purchasing managers strived towards reducing companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s spending overall. This manager consolidated suppliers offering products or materials at the lowest per unit costs through buying in volume. They even got the shipping and freight costs included in the purchase price, which led to the increase in the price of the commodity. Purchasing managers focused on getting the best price, not putting into consideration the supplier performance and reliability. The logistics/transportation manager was tacked with getting raw materials in and the finished goods out of the production process and seek to optimize the transportation and distributing network. This manager focused on the lowest cost and reliability of the logistics or transportation solutions. But lowest cost could only be attained if the purchasing team negotiates a delivered cost package deal with the supplier and the supplier is responsible of the reliability and performance of the carriers or transporters. Improvement with using Just-In-Time (JIT) When it comes to delivering high cost and perishable products to manufacturing sites, just-in-time (JIT) remains one of the most cost-effective supply chain solutions. In JIT process, on time delivery is an absolute necessity. Just-in-Time (JIT) is a philosophy that defines the manner in which a manufacturing system should be managed. It enhances customer satisfaction in terms of availability of options, assurance ofquality, prompt delivery times, and value of money. The Pepsi brand and other Pepsi-Cola products accounted for nearly one-third of the total soft drink sales in the United States. In order to ensure that PepsiCoÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s concentrates reaches bottlers as needed during the production had to reach them JIT, they partnered with 3PL provider Penske Logistics to manage its transportation. Penske also provides warehouse management for two Pepsi distribution centers in North America. I2 Transportation I2 Transportation is a part of end to end solution for planning, execution, and management of the entire transportation cycle. It is designed to enable an organization to utilize and manage an entire transportation network, as well as reduce cost while improving transport performance. I2 transportation is designed to employ sophisticated optimization and data techniques to define and evaluate alternative transportation strategies. It is also designed to provide comprehensive data management, analytics, and reporting of key transportation cost and service trade-offs. Implementation PepsiCo set two objectives for transportation management. One was to achieve an on-time delivery rate at 99.1% and another was to reduce transportation costs.It empowered with optimized processes and technology that enable the team to perform at the highest possible level. With the application of new technology that provides greater supply chain visibility, better organized data, and access to higher level of real time or near real time information, even the best team can improve their performance. In 2000, Penske converted PepsiÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s transportation management technology from propriety software to i2 transportation optimization solution. i2 transportation platform was enhanced with the addition of interface between the two companies. In addition, PenskeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s partnership with Business objects provided comprehensive supply chain data from its data warehouse, analysis and management applications. PenskeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s with use of i2 transportation could track performance at every stag e in the process which increased flexibility and provided greater control over the transportation operation. This increase in visibility made it easier to keep track of shipments, revise routes and schedules to accommodate unforeseen changes and implement alternative plans to counter delays. By PenskeÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s putting a solution in place to track andÃ‚ measure every shipment, Pepsi has been able to provide an on-time delivery performance of well over 99 percent. PepsiÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s transportation is consolidated to a central location to reduce costs. Penske also provided a nationwide carrier rate re-negotiation and service assessment which improved cost structure and achieve on-time delivery goal. With this centralization, allows negotiation in a large scale to secure the best rates and services. Furthermore, PepsiÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s orders are received electronically and optimized to ensure lowest transportation cost. Advanced technology is deployed to select the lowest cost carrier, find the best routes and consolidate shipments. Optimal load configuration ensures maximization of each truckload (2003). In summary, PepsiCo used the JIT process to its supply chain management. To make this possible, Pepsi partners with Penske that has provide them with i2 transportation optimization solutions which has satisfies their consumer with the on-time delivery and with the benefit to the company for it has also reduce transportation cost. I2 Supply Chain Visibility With shorter lifecycles and lead timesÃ¢â‚¬â€to customers demanding faster results and more responsive service. Globalization and outsourcing have added to the complexity, resulting in more diversified supply chains. The number of supply chain partners, as well as the amount of geographic dispersion, has increased dramatically as a result. To ensure that their order-to-delivery performance is not impacted, companies need to have greater coordination and visibility into the material flow across the supply chain. Increase Global Visibility With Companies have access to global visibility into all of their critical supply chain activities and partnerships. It allows organizations to respond more quickly and effectively to a wide range of unplanned and potentially disruptive supply and demand events. Supply-related events can include production bottlenecks, fulfillment delays such as port strikes and customs delays, and supplier shortages. Demand-side events might include customer orders that are greater than forecasts or changes to orders that have already been placed. I2 Supply Chain Visibility is designed to manage these events, assess their impact, and orchestrate a rapid and practical resolution while providing a unified view of the supply chain. The solutionÃ‚ can also incorporate packaged business process packs for replenishment, fulfilment, and manufacturing, and these packages can be configured to meet customer-specific requirements. i2 Supply Chain Visibility also enables companies to close the loop between tra ditional planning and execution processes. It enables better understanding of orders, inventory, and logistics data. Powerful Functionality This solution incorporates pre-built workflows that integrate data across order management, warehouse management, logistics, and inventory applications for the flow of both domestic and international goods. A series of predefined, extensible events and exceptions support each workflow and a visual Ã¢â‚¬Å"studioÃ¢â‚¬ allows workflows and events to be extended, configured, and customized to meet specific enterprise requirements. i2 Supply Chain Visibility delivers a robust technology that is scalable and extensible, and that operates smoothly in a distributed computing environment. Extensive Capabilities Inbound and outbound tracking of order, inventory, and logistics flows Domestic and international flows that track multi-leg and multi-modal shipments Visibility into exceptions and events across orders, inventory, and shipments Role-based views for buyers, suppliers, analysts, and 3PL vendors High degree of permissibility and privacy controls Track-and-trace inventory across multiple locations Configurable event detection mechanism and customizable event management workflows Event chaining such as linking of related events, audit trails, context-based problem prioritization and extensive notification options including e-mail, e-mail digest, pagers, and cell phones Calendars, internationalization (i18n), and multi-time zone support enabled Integration to underlying applications for intelligent resolution and to prevent event recurrence Root-cause, event trend, and performance analysis capabilities event library with over 100+ out-of-box events supported Fast, web-based supplier enablement and transaction support Benefits Exception-based management End-to-end supply chain visibility and event management tools Customer-specific solutions for replenishment, fulfillment, and manufacturing The ability to forecast and respond to supply/demand events The option to move from calendar-based to event-driven planning and re-planning. Increased employee productivity Reduced process, personnel, and expediting costs Improved customer, supplier, and partner communications. Real-time decision support E-solution by Hewlett Packard (HP) PepsiCo signed a deal with Hewlett Packard in 2006 to help improve its supply chain management and increase overall efficiency. The seven year deal involved the overhaul of current IT solutions with PepsiCo and focused on updating server environments as well as ensuring a new infrastructure which benefitted operations and increased overall cost-saving. In particular, HP introduced a number of new solutions which helped to encourage stronger customer relationship management and supply chain management. PepsiCo had also opted for BT as its network provider to ensure the e-solution is fully implemented. The supply chain management solution reduced costs as well as enhanced current service provision online and via its communications networking system. By standardizing and optimizing its server environment, PepsiCo International is better flex to meet its changing business needs and in turn provide better service to customers anywhere in the world. Pepsi Bottling Pepsi Bottling Group is the worldÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s largest manufacturer, seller and distributor of Pepsi-Cola beverages. With annual sales of nearly $11 billion, the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s fastest growing segment is non-carbonated beverages, including the number one brand of bottled water in the U.S., Aquafina, as well as Tropicana juice drinks and Lipton Ice Tea. As part of a 24/7 production operation, the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Detroit plant ships about 27 million cases per year. Production at the plant begins as empty bottles are unloaded from trucks via conveyor and transported to a depalletizer. From there, theyÃ‚ are, rinsed, dried and sent to a filling machine (filler speeds at the plant vary based on bottle size, ranging from 350 to 1,000 bottles per minute). The bottles leave the fillers and make their way to a packaging machine, and then to a palletizer. Each pallet is wrapped for distribution and moved to the warehouse for shipping. The challenge The plant uses a variety of sensors to monitor bottles as they travel through the sequence of steps and to manage the flow to the individual stations. Line sensors match the speed of the conveyor. The companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s inventory of sensors swelled over the years to include more than 120 different varieties. Many of these included multiple styles of the same product stocked under different brands. A similar problem was developing with its drives inventory, which had grown to over 50 different part numbers. The wide variety of sensors made it progressively more complex and time-consuming to replace a faulty device. Despite its fast, high-performance machinery, the increasingly lengthy and more frequent downtime was beginning to impact the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s ability to meet its productivity goals. In addition, operating costs were on the rise due to the excess spares inventory. Because of the extensive number of sensors they had in inventory, including multiple styles and brands, simply finding the right replacement resulted in an hour of downtime. A more strategic approach to maintenance was necessary, as even the smallest of delays could cost the plant thousands of dollars in lost production and overtime. Knowing that effective parts management and fast, reliable equipment repair lies at the heart of efficient manufacturing, the company explored ways to get its inventory and maintenance processes under tighter control. ThatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s when it decided to turn to Rockwell Automation for help. The Pepsi Bottling GroupÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Detriot plant reduced its number of sensors from 180 to 46, a decrease of 66 percent, by standardizing it sensors inventory to Allen-Bradley products. This reduced downtime and inventory costs. The solution The first task undertaken by Rockwell Automation was to conduct an Installed Base Evaluation Ã¢â‚¬â€œ a plant-wide inventory assessment to determine the exactÃ‚ number of sensors and drives the plant currently had in stock. Next it needed to figure out what products were actually needed and which ones could be eliminated. To streamline its operation, Rockwell Automation recommended that Pepsi standardize its entire sensors inventory on Allen-Bradley products. The local distributor, McNaughton-McKay Electric Company (Mc&Mc), helped design a migration plan to help ease the cost of this inventory conversion. Although all the drives employed at the plant were Allen-Bradley brand, many were older models representing a multitude of drive families. To simplify its drives inventory and upgrade its technology at the same time, Pepsi converted all of its drives to the Allen-Bradley PowerFlex family of AC drives. A detailed cross-reference chart developed by Rockwell Automation now provides te chnicians with a quick and easy way to identify failed and replacement parts, as well as installation instructions. To ensure reliable availability to spare parts, Pepsi set-up a Rockwell Automation Services Agreement that included parts management. With the agreement, Pepsi pays a fixed monthly cost for their spare parts, which are owned and managed by Rockwell Automation but stocked on-site. The agreement allows Pepsi to reduce its upfront expenses, have immediate access to spares, reduce carrying costs, and update its control technology cost-effectively. The agreement also includes an in-service warranty, so the parts donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t go out of warranty until they are actually used for the warranty period. To help the company better utilize its internal resources and reduce costly troubleshooting delays, the Rockwell Automation Services Agreement included TechConnect Support. This remote support service provides the plant with 24/7 access to Rockwell Automation technical specialists. When a problem occurs, Pepsi technicians can call for immediate troubleshooting assistance to resolve it as quickly as possible. To help facilitate problem resolution, Rockwell Automation technical specialists can also perform remote system diagnosti cs through an Allen-Bradley modem installed at the Pepsi facility. This helped Pepsi minimize risk and reducing long term costs. The results Leveraging Rockwell Automation Services & Support has proved to be a smart decision for Pepsi Bottling Group. The improved inventory and parts management capabilities helped reduce downtime and inventory costs, andÃ‚ standardizing on Allen-Bradley products eased training requirements and minimized the technology learning curve. These benefits have ultimately enhanced productivity by 8 percent and reduced the overtime required to fill orders. In addition, the plant was able to reduce the number of sensors it uses from 180 to 46, a decrease of 66 percent. Likewise, it was able to reduce the number of drive styles from several hundred to 14. Packaging as a tool for Supply chain management GS Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 1 standards (bar codes) RFID tags for real-time stock replenishments Commercial Security offerings Counterfeit & pilferage Online supply chain visibility across the chain Pack safety for the consumer Pepsi-Cola Saved $44 million by switching from corrugated to reusable plastic shipping containers for one litre and 20-ounce bottles, conserving 196million pounds of corrugated material. Palletization Ã¢â‚¬â€œ cost vs. value creator Key supply chain cost optimizer through an Integrated supply chain approach Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Drive standards Ã¢â‚¬â€œ pallets/trucks Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Pallet pooling services Palletization Roadmap PepsiCoÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Frito Lay Supply chain Frito-Lay is the snack food division of PepsiCo and the largest supplier of potato and corn chips in the world, currently holding 40% of the market share globally, and selling its products in 120 countries. Strength Frito-Lay is succeeding against a multitude of competitors in a fierce, yet slow-growth industry, selling approximately 4.5 billion packages of snacks per year. In order to achieve this, the company has learned how to masterfully create, innovate and manage all aspects of its supply chainÃ‚ using high-tech IT systems that allow it greater control over its production processes and distribution network. Supply chain in USA: Supplier Base: Frito-LayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s supplier network for potato chip production has fewer than 100 individual suppliers. Strategy Used: Several years ago, Frito-Lay approached its potato suppliers to seek those farmers willing to concentrate on cultivating a limited number of potato varieties, with a focus on producing the most appealing taste and quality potato chip for the consumer. Frito-Lay then offered these farmers long-term contracts, which made it easier for the farmers to get financing and for Frito-Lay to achieve more efficient, profitable economies of scale in other areas of the value chain. It is noteworthy to mention that steps like these that insure a stable supply of raw material are important to a company who purchases 2.3 billion pounds of potatoes and 775 million pounds of corn annually. From supplier to retailer Frito-Lay traditionally relied upon its in-house fleet of trucks to transport products from its plants to its 1,900 warehouses or 200 distribution centers. However, as the company expanded, operations managers realized that it was not economical to produce every product at every plant, and thus began specializing at particular locations. On the other hand, logistics became increasingly difficult and distances grew longer, and thus, Frito-Lay learned to exploit the benefits of truck carrier services, employing Menlo Logistics to handle route planning. Menlo was able to reduce the carrier base by 50% and negotiate nation-wide discounts with other carriers. Retailers The last stop involved is the 400,000 stores across the nation that carries Frito-LayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s snack food products. The company utilizes their own technological systems to show stores how reallocating shelf space, for example, can produce larger profits. Retailers are also provided with Frito-LayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Ã¢â‚¬Å"Profit-Vision ProgramÃ¢â‚¬ , which allows retailers to analyze their sales and compare it to national performance statistics. At the same time, Frito-Lay benefits from the program because it convinces retailers to allocate more shelf-space to their products. Strengths of IT corporation Tracks the logistical movement of products throughout the supply chain, from acquiring the raw materials to final delivery, by utilizing its 848 tractors, 2,251 trailers, and a fleet of thousands of local computer-equipped delivery trucks. Empowers its regional managers with access to vast amounts of information on their databases that can be used to effectively guide them in their distribution decisions. It is able to correctly assess demands across all of its products due to the availability of point-of-sale data and an impeccable IT system, giving planners the ability to discern consumer trends and appropriately prepare production plans. Its managers can be proficient in determining levels of inbound supplies, raw materials, the allocation of the companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s production capacity, and logistical details for truck routing. The companyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s ability to target local demand patterns with effective promotion and delivery systems results in continuously optimizing profit margins a nd reducing inventory and unneeded costs. Competitive advantages The company tries to captivate its customers by developing extensive databases that record who their customers are and exactly what they want. They focus on being the most reliable, quality-driven suppliers who provide services through the retail channel by means of collecting as much information along the way and utilizing it to address their weaknesses and capitalize on their strengths. Despite only delivering potato and corn chips, relies on its ability to add unparalleled value in its distribution channel. Its customers know that when they do business with Frito-Lays, they arenÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t simply buying a product to shelve in their stores, but incorporating an advanced information system with hopes of increasing sales and profits. Supply chain in India Horticulture produce in India is largely marketed through traditional channels. A typical marketing chain for horticultural produce consists of several players as shown in Figure PepsiCo is one of the pioneers of contract farming in India since 2001 Their experience in contract farming has covered many crops Ã¢â‚¬â€œ potato, basmatiÃ‚ rice, tomato, chili, peanut, oranges and more recently sea weed. PepsiCoÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s operations started in India started in the region of Punjab in collaboration with state government. PepsiCo IndiaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s project with the Punjab Agro Industries Corporation and Punjab Agriculture University remains one of the most ambitious contracts farming projects in the country. Pepsi Tropicana Supply Chain Background Of the four principal Distribution Centres (DC) in the U.S. the Jersey City, N.J. DC is responsible for the supply of Tropicana juices in all states in the Northeast U.S., and all Canadian provinces. Jersey City houses a unit load capacity Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) that is fully integrated into an Automated Warehouse System (AWS). The center handles chilled premium orange juices, and blended juices from concentrate as well as shelf stable juice products from either Florida or local co-packers. Products vary according to package size, and juice type and style, giving rise to approximately 200 Stock Keeping Units (SKU), each facing random demand from customers. Juices arrive already palletized and variously pre-packaged, and are unloaded according to demand, and moved into the ASRS area. The Jersey City Distribution Center (DC) of Tropicana is responsible for the supply of Tropicana juices in all states in the Northeast U.S., and all Canadian provinces. Premium orange juice from Florida represents approximately 65% of the shipments, and has an approximate shelf life of 65 days. The Jersey City DC receives five Tropicana Unit trains from the production facility in Florida weekly. Each train has approximately 45 refrigerated cars. Juices arrive already palletized and pre-packaged in paperboard containers and plastic and glass bottles. Two types of unloading procedures are currently in practice: cross-docking and warehousing. Cross docking normally is used for customers receiving a single product types or transfers to a smaller distribution center in Whitestone, NY. Each train usually contains 8 to 10 railcars that can accommodate cross-dock delivery. Problems There are three major problem areas related to the current practices in Tropicana. 1. Ordering policy of the individual retailers. At the moment, Tropicana manages the inventory orders for about 10% Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 20% of the retailers. This process is called CRP or continuous replenishment program. The Tropicana customer service department administers the ordering of those individual customers. From the supply chain perspective, this is mutually beneficial for both the customers and the warehouse. The advantage of the warehouse is that it is able to centralize the demand information of individual stores in its replenishment decisions of juices shipped from Florida to Jersey City. The retailers benefit from in time delivery and less stock out cost. Individual stores contribute the other 80% Ã¢â‚¬â€œ 90% of the orders, which are not under TropicanaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s control. This is subject to random variation and hence uncertainties of demand on the warehouse. One approach would be to create an incentive for the customers to entrust their ordering function to Tropicana. This is th e so-called supplier-retailer coordination problem. A carefully designed coordinated system will benefit each and every player in the supply chain network. This may require the design of contracts or cost sharing agreements with the customers. 2. Central ordering of juices that are shipped to the distribution center. Currently there are five trains of juices scheduled to arrive weekly from Florida. The company never ships partially filled trains from Florida. The Jersey City distribution center sometimes builds up inventory of certain classes of juices that are close to their expiration date, and the company has to get rid of them either at a very low price with sales promotion or donate them to charity. A carefully designed and sophisticated coordination of ordering policies will reduce the chances for these problems and result in savings. At the same time it will increase the fill rate because the additional capacity gained from more reasonable ordering can be used for ordering more juices of the type that cause trucks to wait in the yard. 3. Combining marketing strategies with inventory levels and other factors. Marketing strategies such as sales incentives can influence demand. Foreseeing an inventory buildup problem, the company can use marketing (and mainly pricing) as a tool to either increase demand (when certain items build up) or reduce demand (when insufficient inventory is available). Solution 1. Tropicana, a unit of PepsiCo, implemented i2 Supply Chain Strategist to model manufacturing logistics operations to include co-packer operations. 2. The model involved over 30 manufacturing and distribution facilities and the seasonal demand of over 20 product types. 3. Tropicana used i2 Supply Chain Strategist to execute hundreds of scenarios and sensitivities, producing data that provided insights into areas where the company could rationalize system capacity at manufacturing facilities and increase efficiencies within existing distribution and logistics systems. Limitations of Pepsi Supply Chain over Coke 1. PepsiCo has duplicate distribution systems for its beverages. Coca-Cola has for the most part maintained distribution of its entire beverage line-up through its bottlers. 2. Pepsi bottling system is more fragmented than Coca-ColaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s 3. In a consolidated system negotiations involve fewer players and therefore take less time to gain agreement, which may be why the Pepsi system has lagged in system efficiency efforts. PepsiCo and its bottlers have established a purchasing cooperative to gain purchasing power in buying raw materials. 4. While PepsiCo has been pursuing international beverage acquisitions, those investments will take time to produce significant operating income 5. PepsiCo consolidation puts pressure on the independent system bottlers to more readily consider agreements for warehouse distribution.

Monday, July 29, 2019

The Persistence of Memory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Persistence of Memory - Essay Example The painting is best known for its surrealistic elements and can appear to be irrational, unsettling, paradoxical or even nonsensical. But beneath the veneer of this confusion lies its aesthetic merit and conceptual integrity. In the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) where it is currently displayed, it is placed alongside The Disintegration of Persistence of Memory, which was painted twenty years later and meant to be a revision of the earlier work. It is interesting to note that in the intervening period the Second World War happened, which significantly altered Dalis understanding of reality. Also, in the years between 1931 and 1954, Albert Einsteins General Theory of Relativity would become highly acclaimed. This had a profound effect on artists and intellectuals of the time, including Salvador Dali. In this context, it is instructive to study Dalis watches as a manifestation of such theoretical physics concepts as the time-space continuum, time-warp, etc. This internal transformation in the artists understanding of physical reality would manifest itself in his later works. Hence a comparative study of The Persistence of Memory and its revised version would not only give insights into the mind of the artist but also the evolving geo-political realities and scientific discoveries of the twentieth century. It is due to aforementioned special qualities of the work that I chose it for my 3D project. Moreover, I took it up as a challenge to replicate disfigured pocket watches shown in the painting. But this task is not easy due to certain reasons. For example, creating soft watches in 2D is relatively easier than in 3D, for it is easier for the 2D artist to suspend laws of physics in favor of the idea he projects. Further, it is not always feasible to replicate in 3D what was depicted in 2D. I took inspiration from the fact that Dali himself had overcome these challenges in

Sunday, July 28, 2019

Public Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

Public Evaluation - Essay Example The evaluation process offers an overview of the possibilities through which policy makers are able to make precise and clear judgments on a particular policy implemented. Varied models attempts to explain the way evaluation process in policy can lead to successful policy making. This essay explains the significant methodologies employed in the evaluation process. It also focuses on varied approaches that were put a cross in an attempt of revealing the implication of evaluation and the way it can help policy makers to address policy issues. Evaluators employ collaborative relationships in order to collect adequate data that actors will analyze in order to determine in case a certain policy is effective or ineffective. Therefore, they employ varied methodologies in order to deal with contingencies that might modify the formal way of policy evaluation (Alkin 2010, p. 58). For the policy makers to understand a policy problem, they have to evaluate it through collecting data or informati on and analyze the collected data in a manner that enables them to find the desired solution to the problem. For instance, the stakeholders involved in the evaluation process let say an environmental policy, may gather adequate information through use of quantitative method in order to arrive at the desired goals. The policy analysts can chose the quantitative design model for analyzing the policy such as non-parametric or parametric experimental methods. The quantitative methodologies can include observations, interviews, questionnaires and surveys. Alternatively, the can chose qualitative design as a model for policy analysis such as observation, focused groups, interviews, surveys and case study analysis. These methodologies are significant because they can enable stakeholders to gather unbiased and precise information of a certain policy; thus making modifications or changes where necessary (Vedung, 1997, p.229). Radin (2006, p. 547) argues that performance measures as indicator s for public policy complexity. Therefore, he employs some approaches especially classical approach to reveal the measures of policy performance. Although, the author narrows this approach without the organization context in which the policy operates; thus reliability and neutrality of data requires evaluation. However, Radin does not defend classical approach because it logic, insensitive to the proper role of professional knowledge. The outcomes are also an enormous amount of misplace tasks, which can actually paralyze government rather than improving it (Radin (2006, p. 549). Performance measurement has become one of the significant indicators and a mechanism for data management. Radin uses numerous case studies especially that of government performance and results act and program assessment rating tool as effective approach toward policy performance measurement ((Radin (2006, p. 548). The case studies are appealing and it mostly tackles on the way performance measurement is empl oyed as an indicator for policy performance determination. However, the performance measure approach has some drawbacks, thus other models such as goal-attainment model attempts to reveal the way a policy can become successful. Vedung (1997, p.555) reveals the way stakeholder involved in

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Intr Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Intr - Lab Report Example In plants, an isolated seedling in fertile soil may have a very high chance of surviving to reproductive maturity. it will probably exhibit an extensive amount of module growth and will eventually produce a large number of seeds (Pujol 2006). However, a seedling that is closely surrounded by neighbours ,shading it with their leaves and depleting the water and nutrients of its soil with their roots, will be very unlikely to survive, and if it does, it will almost certainly form few modules and set few seeds (Wang 2005). Thus, itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s evident that the ultimate effect of competition on an individual is a decreased contribution to the next generation compared with what would have happened had there been no competitors. Thus the main aim of this report will be to test the null hypothesis that there is no statistically significant evidence in the data to show that the data provided is normally distributed. Group plants were collected and put into six pots per group while being planted at densities of 1,2,4,8,16,32 plants for every pot. Then a tray was used for storing tap water. The roots were keenly and carefully washed out in water while ensuring that the whole plant is kept intact. For each pot, the total root weight was taken, total shoot weight as well as total hypocotyls weight and the data recorded in an Excel table. The next step entailed calculating the mean weight (of shoots or roots or hypocotyls) per plant. Calculation of mean weight per plant was done by dividing the weights by the number of plants under study (Bossdorf 2005). Finally, all the contents of each pot were put into one bag and send to the oven Ã¢â‚¬â€œ labelling the bag with the group name and plant density. There were a total of 6 bags. All the six bags were put inside another bag to keep them together. One group measured the dried plant parts and the data recorded to be used for analysis. Then graphs of the data were drawn to facilitate evaluation of the relationship between

Friday, July 26, 2019

Golden Fleece Hotel , case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Golden Fleece Hotel , case study - Essay Example This report contains multitude of examples, through scholarly and pragmatic articles, researches and surveys that prove the point that information systems and internet applications in todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s world are all the tools you need to succeed in a business if you have proven yourself in the skill you excel at, or the business you work in. This business report can serve as a persuasive read for the owners of the Golden Fleece Hotel, who will benefit greatly with the installation of information systems to improve efficiency and effectiveness of their strategy. Having the state of the art information system can help them gain on the competitive front as well. Business operations in the hotel management business can make or break the business. Branding and maintaining quality is the way to move forward (Ralph, 2008). This consultancy is being provided by the IM consultants who are an Information Systems Consultancy firm. They provide information systems solutions to business all over the world. Methodology: This report incorporates a lot of secondary information. Secondary information is the data collection from the researches that have already been conducted and articles that have already been written. ... All references have been cited towards the end of the report. Academic sources and journals have been used where necessary to validate the theoretical framework of hotel management. Real life examples have also been employed that further validate the recommendations made towards the end of the report. Golden Fleece Hotel: The Golden Fleece boasts of a rich history; it is relatively new in the hospitality industry and has made its mark through the exceptional service they provide their customers. Since its inception in 1999, it has been moving upwards and seeing success; however, times changed as the hotel entered its 8th year of operation. A number of factors can be attributed to this change. According to research it has been proved that organizations can plan all they want; if they are unable to act according to the changes that take place in the external environment, their strategy will not work. The strategic plan should keep in mind the forecast of changes that may take place in consumer preferences, economical conditions, political environment etc. Therefore, environmental analysis serves as the key to making the right decisions. The management of Golden Fleece was not able to predict that changing nature of business and technology and has suffered duly because of it (Ralph, 2008). According to Silver, information systems are implemented to increase efficiency and effectiveness of the work processes in an organization. There are many types of systems that can be utilized, according to the decision making and information needs of the organization. When it comes to hospitality management the biggest need for the hour is to assimilate

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Independent study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 8000 words

Independent study - Essay Example In todayÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s intensely competitive business environment, the competitive advantage lies in how successful an organisation is in linking its strategic intent and direction to its overall operations. In order to steer an organisation in its intended direction and be successful in achieving its overall objectives, correct evaluation of organisational performance is critical. Evaluating organisational performance not only provides an assessment of the current situation but also provides information for corrective action if the performance is deviating from desired levels. However the effectiveness of performance evaluation depends on whether the right things have been evaluated. If a company has focused on evaluating the wrong aspects or neglected evaluating key aspects, which has significant implications on its performance, then results from the evaluation process will not be complete. The intention of this independent study is to gain valuable first hand insight in to how theoreti cal knowledge on management practices can be applied in practical settings. Balanced Score Card concept being a fairly recent management concept holds vocational value for the future career purposes, as it is set within the background of strategic management.

Secure Software Development Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Secure Software Development - Research Paper Example This research is aimed to assess and analyze some of major areas and aspects regarding Ã¢â‚¬Å"Secure Software DevelopmentÃ¢â‚¬ . This research will present some of major reasons for the security based issues in software development process. Here I will also present some of major initiatives that we can formulate to develop software application in a much better way. Computer software applications are more and more experiencing both external and internal penetrations. One key idea intended for this is the reality that software applications are yet through development faults that yet make them to be susceptible. This has taken problems regarding security into intelligent focus for the reason those businesses, comprising administrations, reliant mostly on software application for their every day processes. The situation becomes more insightful in situations where software applications are employed intended for dangerous missions. For this reason most of the building security applications are gaining more and more concentration these days. In this scenario, most of companies all through the world in field of security are paying attention to improve and enhance the security of overall technology based systems. As well, because clients (companies) have practiced unlucky security breaches, there is augmented awareness as well as disturbance intended f or Secure Software Development. Though, in building security applications, many have to be done. Safety methods have to be applied in the entire the software development stages of software engineering model. In this scenario, Devanbu and Stubblebine (2000) outlined that safety concerns have to inform each stage of system development, from system development requirements elicitation to design, execution, testing as well as application deployment. This is essential for the reason that system developer might naively insert defects in the entire phases of the software development procedure. Devanbu, P.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The ontological argument for God's existance Term Paper

The ontological argument for God's existance - Term Paper Example Each Christian must be familiar and informed about the teachings of the Church and Christ. However, it is also helpful to be well-versed with the philosophical and theological writings of Church members. Most of these writings of Christian philosophers and theologians can shed light on the problem of evil, GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s existence and other hostilities that are rejected by modern non-believers. A concise philosophical foreword to intellectual arguments on the subject of GodÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s existence can aid in propagating the truth and representing Christianity as a logical religion and a lifestyle to other people. This study concentrates on three popular arguments concerning the existence of God Ã¢â‚¬â€œ the ontological, cosmological and teleological argument. These evidences have constantly been disputed by different theologians and philosophers over the years. II. St. AnselmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s First Argument St. Anselm, a Doctor of the Church and CanterburyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Catholic archbishop, was the firs t to formulate the Ontological Argument. This argument is conceivably the most bizarre and most intensely debated proof about the existence of God. It has gained the attention of prominent philosophers such as G.W.F. Hegel (who supported AnselmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s claim) and Immanuel Kant (who opposed AnselmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s claim). ... In essence, this means that the idea of God is a concept buried in peopleÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s minds. God is a probable being and might truly exist. This is because the concept of God does not yield internal inconsistencies. If a particular thing/being exists solely in our own perception and could possibly have existed in reality, then it might have been superior and greater. Simply put, this certain something that is existent in reality great or perfect. Something that only resides in peopleÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s minds can become greater by existing for real. Suppose that, theoretically, God exists solely in a personÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s understanding and not for real, then it is probable that God would be greater than he already is (following from premise 3). This means that God can become greater. This argument becomes ridiculous because God is already a perfect being in which a Ã¢â‚¬Å"greaterÃ¢â‚¬ is no longer possible. This is where the contradiction lies. Hence, it follows that the notion of God existing only in a personÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s understanding is false. For this reason, God exists both in peopleÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s understanding and in reality. This argument is intriguing because it claims that God, who is perfect, should exist in all possible situations so as to gratify his perfection. A God who is existent in only selected circumstances and does not exist in others is a being who is less than perfect. III. GauniloÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Reply to St. AnselmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Arguments Gaunilo is a monk of Marmoutier and a contemporary of Anselm. He was responsible for the creation of one of the most vital critiques of the argument posed by Anselm. It is a sensible to care that the contention of Anselm unlawfully moves from the existence of a concept to the existence of something corresponding to that concept. As put sometimes by the objection, things are

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

DiscussionAnalyzing Cost of Capital Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

DiscussionAnalyzing Cost of Capital - Essay Example In order to reduce this and attain an optimum capital structure the firm needs to determine the combinations of equity and debt that minimize the W.A.C.C. The effective use of that capital should also be considered, as there would be no need of accumulating large amounts of capital without necessary considerations of the projects that are supposed to be undertaken. The company should also consider the cost of raising the particular capital that it deems appropriate. This is measured by the marginal cost of capital. . To obtain finance a company will pay implicit costs which are commonly known as floatation costs (Rosemary, 2012). These include: Underwriting commission, Brokerage costs, cost of printing a prospectus, Commission costs, legal fees, audit costs, cost of printing share certificates, advertising costs etc. For debt there are legal fees, valuation costs (i.e. security, audit fees, Bankers commission etc.). The company needs to determine the combination of capital items that will minimize to a large extent the marginal cost of capital (M.C.C). The company also needs to consider leverage. This is the amount of debt used to finance a firmÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s assets. A firm with significantly more debt than equity is considered to be more leveraged. A high degree of leverage increases the financial risk the company faces, as it may not be able to refinance such debt, leading to insolvency (Rosemary, 2012). An optimum capital structure needs has lower amounts of financial risk and sustainable levels of

Monday, July 22, 2019

Student Success Courses Essay Example for Free

Student Success Courses Essay College failure has been more common than not in recent years, many students just go off to school unprepared and unaware of what to even expect. Often in High School the teacher say they are preparing you for college, but in many cases it is nowhere near what college is really like. In High School you were forced to attend, your teacher held your hand along the way and you were required to take classes you may have not wanted to take or interested in. In the article, Ã¢â‚¬Å"Do Student Success Courses Actually Help Community College Students Succeed?Ã¢â‚¬ written by authors from the community college research center (CCRC), they explain that studies have shown college success classes to highly improve the success rates of college students. Many community colleges offer success courses, and some even require them. These courses help prepare students what to expect in the near upcoming years. They teach students about different resources around campus to utilize for success, studying habits, time management, how to set clear goals and even how to navigate the many different websites and online class programs. This article describes that these courses have been very affective, which is proved by lots of research. Some research was done in Schools of Florida, where students taking Ã¢â‚¬Å"student life skillsÃ¢â‚¬ or Ã¢â‚¬Å"SLSÃ¢â‚¬ were more likely to earn a community college credential, transfer to a state university, or remain in college after five years. The study shows that students not taking the SLS course were usually rated with higher failure rates. Many college success courses have specialized textbooks for their school, like we do here at TCC for example and they help the students specifically here at TCC and helping us be successful. The books can teach you about resources on campus, support groups, and how to succeed at your college. This article concludes that many students come to community colleges with very limited understanding of the opportunities and demands of college life and lack the skills and orientation needed to thrive in college. Student Success coursed more often than not contribute to positive outcomes by helping students early in college by developing goals, becoming aware of resources, and have an overall clear idea of what it takes to succeed in college. Works Cited Zeidenberg, Mark; Jenkins, Davis; Calcagno, Juan Carlos. Ã¢â‚¬Å"Do Student Success Courses Actually Help Community Colleges Succeed?Ã¢â‚¬ Community College Research Center: CCRC BRIEF. (June 2007): Volume 36. Web. 10 October 2013.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Business Ethics And Social Responsibility Management Essay

Business Ethics And Social Responsibility Management Essay Capitalism is often said the most selfish economic system but what usually is forgotten is that the very base of capitalism, the very foundation is based on ethics, morality and laws. Yes the system might seem to be fair but within that system, there is the paramount place for utility and protection of private property. This very fact makes ethics indispensable to the core ideology. It is unfair to take somebody elses property (an often repeated rule of capitalism), one can not force another person to work against ones will (another virtue of capitalism) , all point out to the special role ethics has played in the field of business and commerce. The whole modern day structure of commerce, business and trade is based on the unwritten and often vague principles of Ethics and moral behaviour. The point can well be taken forward by looking at the concept of externalities in business today. The point will be explained further by analyzing case studies of individual companies, today we live in an integrated society where no one person is isolated from the actions of the other. If today steel companies are producing pollution, then they are bringing trouble on themselves since they are polluting the environment they themselves breathe in. The harmful effects of pollution are global. This precisely is the concept of negative externalities. Ethics command us not to pollute the environment, modern day welfare Economics, directs us to the exact same. Now that we have established a firm base for ethics by use of modern day welfare economics, we continue to define what Business ethics are and what does the term corporate social responsibility mean. Business ethics (also known as corporate ethics) is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and business organizations as a whole. Applied ethics is a field of ethics that deals with ethical questions in many fields such as medical, technical, legal and business ethics. Further the practice of using ethics to make tough business decisions is known as ethicism and is increasingly gaining in popularity showing the kind of attention ethics is getting today. Professor Reshma Prasad says that firms can often gain super-normal profits by acting in an unethical fashion but sooner or later such behaviour does have its negative impact as well. Business ethics can be both a normative and a descriptive discipline. As a corporate practice and a career specialization, the field is primarily normative. In academia descriptive approaches are also taken. The range and quantity of business ethical issues reflects the degree to which business is perceived to be at odds with non-economic social values. Historically, interest in business ethics accelerated dramatically during the 1980s and 1990s, both within major corporations and within academia. For example, today most major corporate websites lay emphasis on commitment to promoting non-economic social values under a variety of headings (e.g. ethics codes, social responsibility charters). In some cases, corporations have redefined their core values in the light of business ethical considerations. Types of Managerial Ethics Archie B. Carroll, an eminent researcher, identified three types of management ethics, depending on the extent to which the decisions were ethical or moral: moral management amoral management immoral management Types of Managerial Ethics 1) Moral management Moral management strives to follow ethical principles and doctrines. Moral managers work to succeed without violating any ethical standards. They seek to succeed remaining within the bounds of laws. Such managers undertake such activities which ensure that though they may engage in legal and ethical behavior, they also continue to make a profit. The law should be followed not only in letter but also in spirit. Moral managers always seek to determine whether their actions, behavior or decisions are fair to themselves as well as to all other stakeholders involved. In the long run, this approach is likely to be in the best interests of the organizations. 2) Amoral management This approach is neither immoral nor moral. Amoral management simply ignores ethical considerations. It is broadly categorized into two types intentional and unintentional. Intentional amoral managers do not take ethical issues into consideration while making decisions or while taking any action, because in their perception, general ethical standards should only be applicable to the non-business areas of life. Unintentional amoral managers, however, do not even consider the moral implications of their decisions or actions. Amoral managers pursue profitability as the only goal and pay very little attention to the impact on any of their social stakeholders. They do not like to interfere in their employees activities, unless their behavior can lead to government interference. The guiding principle of amoral management is Within the law of the land, will this action, decision, or behavior help us make money? 3) Immoral management Immoral management not only ignores ethical concerns but it also actively opposes the ethical behavior. Organizations with immoral management are characterized by: Total concern for profits of the organization only. Strong inclination to minimize the expenditure. Laws are regarded as hurdles that should be removed or eliminated. Stress on profits and organization success at any cost. The basic principle governing immoral management is: Can we make money with this Action, decision, or behavior? Thus, ethical considerations are immaterial. Coming now to corporate social responsibility. A formal definition by Ravindran- CORPORATE social responsibility (CSR) is a concept that frequently overlaps with similar approaches such as corporate sustainability, corporate sustainable development, corporate responsibility, and corporate citizenship. While CSR does not have a universal definition, many see it as the private sectors way of integrating the economic, social, and environmental imperatives of their activities. CSR can be seen both in a positive light as well as some are more sceptical about the efforts that modern day firms undertake in the name of CSR. Different organisations have framed in the past different definitions, although there is considerable common ground between them. For instance, it is largely agreed largely that CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. So by balancing profits with an overall understanding and awareness of the short- and long-term consequences of an organisations activities on the environment and community, a company can help to ensure that future generations not only enjoy its products but also the environment. The paper will extensively analyze both the positive and negative effects of CSR initiatives. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CSR. is a concept that states that organizations, especially corporations, have an obligation to consider the interests of customers, employees, shareholders, communities, and ecological considerations in all aspects of their operations. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into the business model and day-to-day operations of the company. CSR policy gives a self-regulating framework whereby a business monitors and ensures its adherence to law, ethical standards, environmental norms and morality. CSR is a concept that frequently overlaps with similar approaches such as corporate sustainability, corporate responsibility, corporate sustainable development and corporate citizenship.In addition to integration into corporate structures and processes, CSR also frequently involves creating innovative and proactive solutions to societal and environmental challenges, as well as collaborating with both external and internal stakeholders to impr ove CSR performance. From a business perspective, CSR involves focusing on new opportunities as a way to respond to interrelated societal, social and environmental demands in the market.Ã‚ CSR isÃ‚ generallyÃ‚ seen as the business contribution to sustainable development which has been defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, and is generally understood focusing on how to achieve the integration of environmental, economic and social imperatives. CSR commitments and activities typically address aspects of a firms behavior (including its policies and practices) with respect to such key elements as; environmental protection, health and safety, human rights, community development, corporate governance and consumer protection business ethics, supplier relations, labor protection, and stakeholder rights Relevance of Corporate Social Responsibility In the present corporate arena every company aims at long-term, sustained growth for its business. How does the growth trajectory of a business becomes long-term and sustained ? This happens when in future the supply of customers is assured. It is imperative that the company invests now to assure this future supply of customers. Thus, it is important that the company invests in the society because from the society forms the base from which its future customers will come. For long-term success, investment in the society is the most profitable investment a company can make. Moreover, there is a marked change in the way consumers buy their products and services. They engage in a cultural and ethical audit of the producers. They are eager to know how the company treats its employees, whether the company is sensitive to societal needs, issues etc. A company having a good history of positive contribution to the society gains an edge over other companies, thus enhancing the buy-ability of their product or service. In other words a producer having a good reputation in terms of adherence to ethics and morals has higher probability of scoring over other producers. In crowded markets, companies strive for the mindshare of the consumers by offering them a unique selling proposition that separates them from the competition in the minds of consumers, through social endeavours. Corporate Social Responsibility plays a vital role in building customer loyalty based on distinctive ethical values. CSR initiatives also enhance the reputation of the company as an employer. A CSR programme can be an aid to recruitment and retention, particularly within a competitive market where companies vie for the best of minds and talents. Potential recruits often eager to know the firms CSR policy and history as an employer during an interview. Having an active and comprehensive policy can give an advantage to the employer and positively differentiates the company in the eyes of the potential recruits. CSR can also help improve the image of a company among its present employees.CSR initiatives targeted towards the current employees sends positive signals to them, contributing to the environment of mutual respect and understanding between the management and the employees. Consumers and society in general expect more from the companies whose products they buy. This sense has increased in the light of recent corporate scandals, which reduced public trust of corporations, and reduced public confidence in the ability of regulatory bodies and organizations to control corporate excess. Hence, the impact of business clearly extends beyond the company and the market to society as whole. Apart from profitability, it is important that the company considers the ethical, moral, environmental, legal and social context of its activities. Businesses need to take responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, local population, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. The implication for the corporate sector is to strike a balance between profitability and social consciousness and sensitivity. The inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making and business model is very important in the present corporate landscape. Positive Aspects of CSR CSR is an important business strategy because, everyone wants to associate with a partner they can trust. Customers want to buy products from companies they trust; suppliers want to form alliances with corporations they can rely on; employees want to work for companies they respect; and governments, increasingly, want to work with companies seeking feasible solutions and innovations in areas of common concern. Satisfying each of these stakeholder groups allows companies to maximize their commitment to another important stakeholder group-their investors, who benefit most when the needs of these other stakeholder groups are being met. Having a positive social image has its costs as companies have to invest in various endeavours but it pays in the long run. The businesses most likely to succeed in the globalizing world will be those best able to combine the often conflicting interests of its multiple stakeholders, and incorporate a wider spectrum of opinions and values within the decision-making process and objectives of the organization. We take two cases where years of CSR investments and adherence to societal norms helped corporations tide over crisis situations. Johnson Johnson British Petroleum Johnson Johnsons Tylenol Case Johnson Johnsons transparent handling of the crisis facing its Tylenol brand in 1982 is widely heralded as the model case in the area of crisis management. The company could make it possible through years of adherence to ethics and societal norms which were reflected in its CSR policies . The worldwide success of Johnson Johnson is widely attributed to its business philosophy. Robert Wood Johnson II first articulated this business philosophy in 1943 called The Johnson Johnsons Credo. In 1982 and 1986 Johnson Johnsons Tylenol acetaminophen was adulterated with cyanide and used as a murder weapon. During the crisis Johnson Johnsons managers and employees made countless decisions that were inspired by the philosophy embedded in the credo. Tylenol was immediately cleared from store shelves and the company was proactive and open in addressing each crisis. JJ went far and above what had previously been expected of corporations in such situations, instigating a $100 million re-call of 31 million bottles of the drug following a suspected poisoning/product tampering incident. In acting in the way it did, JJ saved the Tylenol brand, enabling it to remain a strong revenue earner for the company to this day. British Petroleum This example illustrates how investment in CSR initiatives can help a company gain the trust of the society . BP, with a $200 million re-branding exercise, has effectively re-positioned itself as the most environmentally sound and socially responsible of the extraction companies. The company stands in stark contrast today with Exxon Mobil that faces on-going NGO attacks, consumer boycotts, and activist-led litigation because of its decision to fight the environmental movement, and its failure to recognize the wider importance of CSR as a corporate strategy. Questionable CSR A counter view to the conventional one is that companies undertake CSR initiatives to distract the public from ethical questions that are posed by the fundamental operations of that company. Companys sole motive is to make profits and hence they start CSR programmes for brand building and in turn help achieve their corporate objective. Also by funding certain specific projects they also build reputation with government officials who in turn are obliged to favor them. Many firms claim to be committed towards sustainable development whereas their core business is a threat in itself. An example could be the hypocrisy of Ford. Although CSR issues aim at raising awareness of social and environmental issues no company changes its business model. Ford has a stance on reduction of greenhouse gases whereas their profits come from trucks and SUVs. Many companies have failed due to pursuit of unethical practices. An example of the same is satyam and Enron. Such companies CSR statements are only phony promises and their vested interests are the main reason for entering this corporate social sphere. To make companies behave in an ethical and socially responsible manner laws would have to be enforced. Corporate hypocrisy and sincerity needs to be addressed by making regulations and policies binding. We have taken two successful companies and analyzed their CSR initiatives and practices followed: British American Tobacco Dealing with the hypocrisy of the stance that organizations take Wal-Mart The unethical practices that are followed and how regulation can play an instrumental role in checking these undesirable activities British American Tobacco A major fiasco resulted as a revelation of the fact that the worlds second largest tobacco company masks the damage it causes to health, development and the environment in the garb of corporate social responsibility. Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was tried to be blocked by the top BAT executives .They tried to win political influence in Africa by using their support for AIDS prevention as a tool. They used tobacco industry research information to negate the findings of WHO regarding the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. BATs donation of HK$300,000 in 1992 to repair the Haizhou Bridge in Guangzhou province of China obliged the officialdom and helped establish. In 2005 BAT profits were greater than Ã‚ £2.7 billion a year from a 15 per cent share of the world tobacco market. The total number of deaths due to tobacco related diseases was about 5 million. This implies BATs 300 brands of cigarettes that were sold in 180 countries caused three-quarters of a million premature deaths. ASH Director Deborah Arnott said: Tobacco firms like BAT hide behind glossy reports and boast of Corporate Social Responsibility. But this report shows the cynicism and deceit behind the public face. It should be read by decision-makers, campaigners and health professionals in every country where BAT seeks sales. Companies like BAT offer the ultimate devils bargain. When they enter developing countries in search of new markets, they come with a smile a handshake and an open cheque book. But they leave behind nothing but a trail of addiction, misery and death. The various CSR initiatives taken were: A clinic for the diagnosis of disease Accommodation for the homeless Arts and educational projects Such programmes win allies in local markets and also open doors of politicians and regulators. Impact on developing world: The regulations in poorer countries are weak and by helping to a little extent the companies oblige politicians and in turn they win favors and can easily establish themselves. Hence stringent regulations are required to prevent this exploitation. Wal-Mart Wal-Mart is one of the largest private employers in the US. The sheer size and magnanimity of the company allows it to follow certain unethical processes as the laws against them are also not very stringent. Some of the controversies surrounding Wal-Mart are: Many employees having children working here live below the poverty line. Wal-Mart portrays itself as a company selling U.S. manufactured goods but in reality it utilizes products made in foreign countries and at questionable workshops. As a result of the cost advantage it gets it throws some of the competition out. Unethical business practices that this company follows include: Labor Union Opposition: Wal-Mart claims to follow open door policy but its effectiveness in Wal-Mart is questionable. It is a non union organization and hence this structure helps the company have a no complaint system. Third party intervention is not desired. Employees are provided lower wages than unionized corporations and as a result end up quitting by the end of the first year. The employees are prohibited to talk to union representatives. This is unethical as according to the National Labor Relations Act, employers cannot discourage employees from forming a union for they have that right. Cases were filed against Wal-Mart United Food and Commercial Workers Union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Wal-Mart. National Labor Relations Board alleged that Wal-Mart violated federal labor law as it bribed employees to report on co-workers who favored a union. (www.washingtonpost) Unfair Treatment of Employees: June 2001 Six Wal-Mart female employees filed a sex discrimination lawsuit. Women were not being trained or given promotions. Also they were underpaid as compared to their male counterparts. Discrimination on basis of gender was prevalent. Hence women were being treated in an undignified and disrespectful way. (www.arkansasnews.com) . Later in lieu of the given events Wal-Mart introduced workplace diversity initiatives to promote equality. Wages were very low compared to prevalent rates .They wanted to continue offering low prices to customers hence did not want to increase operating costs. Due to this the wages were kept low. Wal-Marts health insurance was very expensive and some of the employees could not even afford to pay for it. Case was filed against Wal-Mart as it did not pay employees more for overtime. Wal-Mart used illegal immigrants as workers to reduce costs. In October 2003 hundreds of illegal immigrants employed were uncovered. Companies have to spot ethical and unethical practices otherwise they would loose their reputation in the market. CONCLUSION Corporations today are best positioned when they reflect the values of the constantly shifting and sensitive market environment in which they operate. It is vital that they are capable of meeting the needs of an increasingly demanding and socially-aware consumer market, especially as brands move front and center of a firms total value. Global firms with global lifestyle brands have the most to lose if the public perception of the brand fails to live up to the image portrayed. Integrating a complete social perspective into all aspects of operations will maximize true value and benefit for an organization, while protecting the huge investments companies make in corporate brands. Along with the social responsibility, comes the opportunity to convert these social initiatives into tangible results namely profits. An organization should look what amount of value the project can give back to the organization. A social cost benefit analysis can give the organization a fair idea about what kind of rewards the initiative can generate for the organization. Thus an organization can decide on the initiatives taking into consideration these various factors.

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