Monday, April 13, 2020
Operatinal Efficiency of Mumbai Dabbawala by Amol Dhok Essay Example
Operatinal Efficiency of Mumbai Dabbawala by Amol Dhok Essay Amol Ramesh Dhok under the guidance and supervision of Dr. V. G. Dhanakumar, Professor of Quality, Extension and Operations Management, Indian Institute of Plantation Management Bangalore, (IIPM) and no part of this Paper has been submitted for any other degree, diploma or publication in any other form. The assistance and help received during the Completion of this Synthesis Paper and source of literature have been duly acknowledged. (V. G. Dhanakumar) Place: IIPM, Bangalore. Dated: -21-12-2009 ABSTRACT Mumbai Dabbawala system is a unique system in Logistics and supply chain management dedicate to millions of employees whose firms are adapting six sigma methodologies to improve customer satisfaction, work process, profitability, speed efficiency of all kinds. Study of Mumbai Dabbawala generally carries the practice of six sigma which tell total management commitment philosophy of excellence, customer focus, process improvement rule of measurement rather than gut feel. Their way of doing business has, therefore, become a case study destination for every management guru and B-school. CII arranged interface for who’s who of industry and business to share great management lessons from them. Their mission is to serve their customers who are mainly office goers by delivering their lunch boxes at their doorstep on time. They have 5,000 people on their payroll to ensure the prompt deliver. They steal all attention just because their service is of Six Sigma qualities. We will write a custom essay sample on Operatinal Efficiency of Mumbai Dabbawala by Amol Dhok specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Operatinal Efficiency of Mumbai Dabbawala by Amol Dhok specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Operatinal Efficiency of Mumbai Dabbawala by Amol Dhok specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Six Sigma is a process that helps organizations focus on delivering near-perfect products and services. If you use Six Sigma you can measure how many defects there are in a process and can systematically figure out how to eliminate them and try and achieve zero-defect status. I will show you how six sigma makes you more competitive at every level. Six sigma eliminates wasteful variation, changes business culture and sustain greater productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction rate. Dabbawala is excellent example of six sigma and most of the company should use this technique which are getting the defects in their business and who want to improve their business condition. It will show you how it could help your company to save money and make customer happier. INTRODUCTION The six sigma story began with the Motorola in 1980 where it was first developed and proven. By changing the way you look at the process, by understanding vital few factors that cause waste, error, and rework you can improve the ability of your processes to deliver higher quality to your customer and lower to cost. Although most have heard the phrase Six Sigma, which has been an industry term ever since Motorola introduced the concept in 1986, many still do not know just what Six Sigma really is. For many business organizations and by general definition Six Sigma is the measure of quality that strives for near perfection. It is a disciplined, data-driven methodology focused on eliminating defects. A Six Sigma defect is defined as anything that falls outside of a customers specifications. The results reported below by Six Sigma companies are convincing about its contribution to industry. How many customers can your business afford to lose? How much money can your company afford to lose because of mistakes? Why accept it as normal to be running processes at only three sigma or four sigma when, by changing the way you manage your processes, you could get a lot closer to six sigma all resulting benefits. Mumbai Dabbawala is an excellent example to construed execute six sigma after Motorola. Using an elaborate system of color-coded boxes to convey over 170,000 meals to their destinations each day, the 5,000-strong Dabbawala collective has built up an extraordinary reputation for the speed and accuracy of its deliveries†¦ The system the Dabbawala have developed over the years revolves around strong teamwork and strict time-management†¦ The meals are then delivered-99. 9999% of the time, to the right address. By considering this fantastic example you can bring lot of changes in your business. Methodology of Mumbai dabbawala is excellent example of six sigma, JIT, TQM. Companies who are getting losses if they use dabbawala concept they will definitely improve their position in business world. Mumbai dabbawala Before cutting to the management mantras, lets understand a few facts about dabbawallas. The origin of the Dabbawalas lunch delivery service dates back to the 1890s during the British raj. At that time, people from various communities migrated to Mumbai for work. As there were no canteens or fast food centers then, if working people did not bring their lunch from home, they had to go hungry and invariably, lunch would not be ready when they left home for work. Besides, different communities had different tastes and preferences which could only be satisfied by a home-cooked meal. Recognizing the need, Mahadeo Havaji Bacche (Mahadeo), a migrant from North Maharashtra, started the lunch delivery service. For his enterprise, Mahadeo recruited youth from the villages neighboring Mumbai, who were involved in agricultural work. They were willing to come as the income they got from agriculture was not enough to support their large families, and they had no education or skills to get work in the city. The service started with about 100 Dabbawalas and cost the client Rs. 2 a month. Gradually, the number of Dabbawalas increased and the service continued even though the founder was no more. Their mission is to serve their customers who are mainly office goers by delivering their lunch boxes at their doorstep on time. They have 5,000 people on their payroll to ensure the prompt delivery of lunchboxes within Mumbai; these delivery boys travel by local trains and use bicycles or walk to reach every nook and corner of Mumbai. The lunch boxes are delivered exactly at 12. 30 pm. Later, the empty boxes are collected and taken back to the homes, catering services or hotels before 5 pm. In fact, the next time you forget to strap on your watch before leaving for office, dont be surprised to find it in the lunchbox container brought by the dabbawalla from your home! On an average, every Tiffin box changes hands four times and travels 60-70 kilometers in its journey to reach its eventual destination. Each box is differentiated and sorted along the route on the basis of markings on the lid, which give an indication of the source as well as the destination address. NMTBSA (Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association) What is NMTBSA Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association About NMTBSA History : Started in 1980 Average Literacy Rate   : 8th Grade Schooling Average Area Coverage : 60 Km per Tiffin Box Employee Strength      : 5000 Number of Tiffin’s          : 2,00,000 Tiffin Boxes,                                   i. e. , 4,00,000 transactions every day Time Taken                 : 3 hours (9 am 12 pm delivery of carriers,                                   2 pm 5 pm collection of empty carriers) Cost of Service            : Rs. 200/- Rs. 300/- per month Turnover                     : Rs. 50 core per month approx. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL SECRETARY TREASURER DIRECTORS (9) MUKADAM MEMBERS (5000) How the dabba is delivered? ? The first dabbawalla picks up the Tiffin from home and takes it to the nearest railway station. ? The second dabbawalla sorts out the dabbas at the railway station according to destination and puts them in the luggage carriage. ? The third one travels with the dabbas to the railway stations nearest to the destinations. ? The fourth one picks up dabbas from the railway station and drops them of at the offices. ? The process is reversed in the evenings. Dabbawala methodology ? Error is horror, said Talekar while explaining the operational motto. In the event of a dabbawalla meeting with an accident en route, alternative arrangements are made to deliver the lunch boxes. For example, in a group of 30 dabbawallas catering to an area, five people act as redundant members; it is these members who take on the responsibility of delivering the dabbas in case of any untoward happenings. ? The dabbawallas must be extremely disciplined. Consuming alcohol while on duty attracts a fine of Rs 1,000. Unwarranted absenteeism is not tolerated and is treated with a similar fine. Every dabbawalla gets a weekly off, usually on Sunday. ? The Gandhi cap serves as a potent symbol of identification in the crowded railway stations. Not wearing the cap attracts a fine of Rs 25. ? There are no specific selection criteria like age, sex or religion; however, I have never seen a female dabbawalla. The antecedents of the candidates are thoroughly verified and a n ew employee is taken into the fold for six-month probation. After that period, the employment is regularized with a salary of Rs 5,000 a month. Need of the study of the dabbawala As management students, there was a lot that we learnt from this lecture,†. The belief that technology is indispensable to solve complex problems was shattered. FMCGs and other industries can learn a lot from the simple supply chain logistics and efficient reverse logistics (transfer of empty lunch boxes to the source location), ~ The concept of multi-level coding (co lour coding on the lunch boxes for identification) and reverse logistics can be implemented in industries as diverse as soft drinks (where logistics becomes an important aspect, transporting the filled bottles to retailers and collecting empty bottles back to the plants), pharmaceuticals and other FMCG areas. For example, can the bar coding mechanism (a computerized format) which is prevalent and expensive, be simplified with just colors/ number coding? In small and medium scale organizations where bar coding systems would require a lot of resources, these systems can prove to be very efficient and cost effective. Moreover, the dependence on technology could be drastically reduced. The learning’s for a working executive are enormous too. Managers and executives alike spend a lot of their valuable time learning various concepts in people and time management. Newer mechanisms like Customer Relationship Management, etc, have been developed to assist executives in the same. But, in the midst of implementing technology and IT, basic principles in people management, sustainable relationship development and customer satisfaction have lost their meaning. Our friendly dabbawallas are a perfect example of an important principle of both business and management the thirst to serve customers in a simple yet effective fashion without falling into the technology trap. I think this is an aspect which needs to be re-learnt and implemented in any organization today. What is six sigma? The Six Sigma quality certification was established by the International Quality Federation in 1986, to judge the quality standards of an organization. According to an article published in Forbes magazine in 1998, one mistake for every eight million deliveries constitutes Six Sigma quality standards. The Six-sigma rating means that they have 99. 99 % efficiency in delivering the lunch-boxes to the right people. That put them on the list of Six Sigma rated companies, along with multinationals like Motorola and GE. Achieving this rating was no mean feat, considering that the Dabbawalas did not use any technology or paperwork, and that most of them were illiterate or semiliterate. †¢ A statistical measure of the process or a product. †¢ A goal that reaches near perfection for performance improvement. †¢ A system of management to achieve lasting business leadership world-class performance. The six sigma approach to managing is all about helping you identify what you don’t know as well as emphasizing what you should know, and taking action to reduce the errors and rework that cost you time, money, pportunity and customers. The goal of six sigma is to help the people processes aim high in aspiring to deliver defect free product and services. Many companies believe that dealing with errors is just part of cost of doing business. But you don’t have to accept that faulty logic. With six sigma you can eliminate most errors, reduce your cost, and better satisfy customer. Es sential of the six sigma methodology †¢ Define the project, goals, deliverable to customers. †¢ Measure the current performance of the process. †¢ Analyze and determine the root cause of the defects. Improve process of eliminate defects. †¢ Control the performance of the process. Working of NMTBSA beyond the six sigma! Fantastic team work!!! Almost no errors in spite that the Dabba changes hand about six times ? The collection and delivery has to happen by lunch time ? It is amazing organization ? Approximately 5000 people working ? It is over 100 year old They carry Tiffin (Lunch box) from the home of customer and carry it to their workplace of work. e. g. from say housewife in Virar will give Dabba to him which will be delivered at Air India bldg on 11floor by lunch time (1 p. m. . They work with clockwork precision, but without computer program! They even brought couple of actual dabbawala to speak (he made an excellent power point presentation) ? Even Prince Charles and many other are wondering how they are sorting the dabbas so precisely. They use cycle, local train or they are on foot. Even in heavy floods they deliver. Lacs of people get cooked home made food. You must have seen such dabbawalas in Mumbai. Error Rate: 1 in 16 million transactions ? Six Sigma performance (99. 999999) ? Technological Backup: Nil. ? Cost of service Rs. 300/month ($ 6. 00/month) Standard price for all (Weight, Distance, Space) ? Rs. 36 Cr. Turnover approx. ? [6000*12*5000=360000000 i. e. Rs. 36 crore p. a. ] ? Earnings -5000 to 6000 p. m. ? Zero % fuel Zero % investment ? Zero % modern technology Zero % Disputes 99. 9999% performance 100 % Customer Satisfaction. DISCIPLINE ? No Alcohol Drinking during business hours ? Wearing White Cap during business hours ? Carry Identity Cards ANALYZED FROM THE MICHAEL PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL I. Threat of new entrants: According to Porter, the threat new entrant is dangerous to any organization as it can take away the market share the organization enjoys. Started in 1880, the experience curve of the 125-year-old dabbawalla service serves as a huge entry barrier for potential competitors. Besides, it would be difficult to replicate this supply chain network that uses Mumbais jam-packed local trains as its backbone. ii. Current competition: Porters five forces theory states that strategy is determined by a unique combination of activities that deliver a different value proposition than competitors or the same value proposition in a better way. The dabbawallas do face competition from fast food joints as well as office canteens. However, since neither of these serves home food, the dabbawallas core offering remains unchallenged. They have also tied up with many catering services and hotels to cater to the vast number of office goers. iii. Bargaining power of buyers: The delivery rates of the dabbawallas are so nominal (about Rs 300 per month) that one simply wouldnt bargain any further. Also, their current monopoly negates any scope of bargaining on the part of their customers. Thus, we encounter a perfect win-win combination for the customers as well as the dabbawallas. iv. Bargaining power of sellers: The dabbawallas use minimum infrastructure and practically no technology, hence they are not dependent on suppliers. Since they are a service-oriented organization, they are not dependent on sellers to buy their product. Hence, sellers do not assume any prominence as would be the case in a product-oriented company. The strategy map framework in Porters theory allows companies to identify and link together the critical internal processes and human, information and organization capital that deliver the value proposition differently or better. Human capital is the greatest driving force in the dabbawalla community; as a result, they are not dependent on suppliers or technology, thus negating the sellers power in the equation. v. Threat of a new substitute product or service: As substitutes to home cooked food are not seen as a viable alternative in the Indian scenario, the threat to the dabbawalla service is not an issue at least in the foreseeable future. This gives them a leeway to probably expand their already existing network into newer cities as demand increases in these places as well. Dabbawala and six sigma!! Mumbai’s 5000 plus Dabbawalas are world famous for their impeccable service standards. They pick up lunch boxes/ Tiffin carriers from over 2,00,000 homes/ apartments, deliver them to some 80,000 destinations and again ensure their safe return to those homes/ apartments – all on the same day with each lap of journey en route accomplished within the specified time limits. The people at work are not from any high academic background; rather many of them are almost illiterate. They face the same crowded pavements, on-road dense vehicular traffic and overloaded suburban trains, which normal office goers often give excuses for their late comings. Their way of doing business has, therefore, become a case study destination for every management guru and B-school. CII arranged interface for who’s who of industry and business to share great management lessons from them. A Dabbawala figured among a handful few from India who got invitations to witness the marriage ceremony of Prince Charles. Sometime back, there was lso an All-Dabbawala ‘Deal Ya No Deal’ show in Sony Entertainment TV. They steal all attention just because their service is of Six Sigma quality. Every business concern is made of a number of interrelated processes. When inputs are made to traverse through a process, they result into certain outputs (products services) serving either internal or external customers. A process is termed as industrial or commercial depending on wheth er 80% or more of the values derived are from machinery or from human activity, respectively. No matter how perfect a process is, no product/ service will come conforming to exact targeted specifications. It would always vary. However, when it varies within certain Lower Specification Limit (LSL) and Upper Specification Limit (USL) as acceptable/ agreed to or specified by the customers, then it is considered to be defect free or quality product/ service. Further, every opportunity of delivering a product/ service is also wrought with an opportunity for the occurrence of defect. When the Defects per Million Opportunity (DPMO) don’t exceed 3. 4, the process is said to have met Six Sigma level. And Mumbai Dabbawalas’ DPMO is less than 3. 4 or precisely, it is 2! ‘Sigma (r)’ denotes ‘Standard deviation’ – a statistical measure of dispersion/ variance. It is the positive square root of the arithmetic mean of the squares of deviations of given observations from their arithmetic mean. Say, it is a midsummer and your organization wants to hold a three-hour business plan meet of your 100 sales persons. You look for a conference hall with right facilities and ambience, especially the room temperature which should be maintained throughout at 2210 C. And two hotels in the city also promised the same. When measured at every half an-hour interval in the one where you held your meet, it read as 18, 28, 30, 24, 20 and 18; the arithmetic mean value and ‘r’ being 23 and 4. 7, respectively. Whereas, had you gone to the other hotel, other things remaining same, the observed values of the room temperature would have been say, 23, 22, 24, 22, 23 24. Although the mean was the same 23, the ‘r’ being less at 0. 8, the service of the second hotel was more qualitative and would have given you more satisfaction. Hence the saying, ‘Company may celebrate mean but customers are bothered by the variance’. However, its process was still not conforming to Six Sigma level. With two observed values out of six not meeting the customer expectations (22! 10 C), the DPMO worked out to 333,333. 33 (i. e. , 2/6 multiplied by 1,000,000), which was hugely far from the required 3. 4! Benefits of higher Sigma level* Sigma Level |DPMO |Cost of quality | |2 |308,537 |Not applicable | |3 |66,807 |25-40% of sales | |4 |6,210 (Industry Average) |15-25% of sales | |5 |233 |5-15% of sales | |6 |3. 4 (World class) |lt; 1% of sales | | | | | The figures in third column indicate that if, for example, you purchase a product at Rs. 10,000/- from a company operating at 4 Sigma Level, you are being made to pay about Rs. 1500-2500/- (i. e. , 15-25% of sale price) towards the cost of inefficient processes deployed by the company to manufacture the item. Putting it in other way, the company concerned can reduce the price of the product by Rs. 500-2500/- if it fixes its faulty processes or improves/ recreates the processes. This measure would also help the company to increase its market share tremendously. Why do six sigma? Six sigma allows you to achieve the constancy of the purpose that is secret to success, focusing your efforts on understanding the variation in your processes and defects that results. Here are the basic results. Money Money is generally most important reason for using six sigma. Here are few questions to consider: †¢ What is cost of scrap? †¢ What is cost of rework? †¢ What is cost of excessive cycle times and delay? †¢ What is total cost of poor quality in your organization? What is cost of business loss because customers are dissatisfied with your product? Do you know the answers of these questions in terms rupee. If so then you know how important it is to reduce process variation and defects. If not, then you need to get the knowledge that gives you power to make necessary changes. Customer satisfaction Six sigma focuses on the critical- to quality expectation of your customers than what matter most. By using six sigma management methods, your company can target the vital few factors in your processes that are allowing variations and defects that keep you from meeting the critical to quality expectation of your customers. Quality Another reason for using six sigma is the value and impact of committing to quality as a very particular way. Consider only following advantages of improving quality †¢ It inspires employees. †¢ It instills a culture and an attitude. †¢ It creates an image in the market †¢ It attracts investors. Growth As you identify and correct process variation, you save expanses which mean money to invest in growing your business. As you meet requirement and expectation of your customers more effectively and achieve higher customer satisfaction you increase your income which means money to invest in growing your business. Competitive advantages Six sigma allows you to become more competitive regionally, nationally or globally. A company that reduces its costs of doing business, meets the expectation of its customers more effectively earns reputation for quality and pride will certainly enjoy advantages over its competitor. Conclusion Six Sigma, as developed by Dabbawala, is an extension of many existing quality tools and techniques, but with the addition of business accountability. This resulted in process improvement gains that increased productivity and profitability. Six Sigma organizations become forward moving organizations by adapting new tools and techniques and overcoming learning disabilities. A gauge of quality and efficiency, Six Sigma is also a measure of excellence. Embarking on a Six Sigma programme means delivering top-quality service and products while virtually eliminating all internal inefficiencies. A true Six Sigma organization produces not only excellent product but also maintains highly efficient production and administrative systems that work effectively with the companys other service processes. In administrative processes, Six Sigma may mean not only the obvious reduction of cycle time during production but, more importantly, optimizing response time to inquiries, maximizing the speed and accuracy with which inventory and materials are supplied, and fool proofing such support processes from errors, inaccuracies and inefficiency). Much can be achieved from programmes like Six Sigma with the active, consistent, innovative, continuous and widely apparent participation by top management. When implemented strategically, Six Sigma can help companies turn over working capital faster, reduce capital spending, make existing capacity available, produce better results from the design and RD functions. Such outcomes also foster a working environment that stimulates employee development, motivation, morale empowerment and commitment. References ? www. google. com ? Six Sigma for managers Greg brue ? What is six Sigma Pete Pande and Larry Holpp ? www. wiki. compedia ? www. Mumbai dabbawala. com 13 MEMBERS GENERAL SECRETARY
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Learn How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story
Learn How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story If youve ever been assigned a book report, you may have been asked to address the theme of the book. In order to do that, you really have to understand what a theme is. Many people, when asked to describe the theme of a book will describe the plot synopsis, but thats not the same as the theme. Understanding Themes A books theme is the main idea that flows through the narrative and connects the components of the story together. A work of fiction may have one theme or many, and they arent always easy to pinpoint right away. In many stories, the theme develops over time, and it isnt until youre well into reading the novel or short story that you fully understand the underlying theme or themes. Themes can be broad or they can focus on a specific notion. For example, a romance novel may have the obvious, but very general, theme of love, but the storyline may also address issues of society or family. Many stories have a major theme and several minor themes that help develop the major theme. The Differences Between Theme, Plot, and Moral A books theme is not the same as its plot or its moral lesson, but these elements are related and necessary in building the larger story. The plot of a novel is the action that takes place within the course of the narrative. The moral is the lesson that the reader is supposed to learn from the plots conclusion. Both reflect the larger theme and work to present what that theme is to the reader. A storys theme isnt typically stated outright. Often it is suggested by a thinly veiled lesson or details contained within the plot. In the nursery tale The Three Little Pigs, the narrative revolves around three pigs and a wolfs pursuit of them. The wolf destroys their first two homes, shoddily built of straw and twigs. But the third home, painstakingly built of brick, protects the pigs and the wolf is defeated. The pigs (and the reader) learn that only hard work and preparation will lead to success. Thus, you can say that the theme of The Three Little Pigs is about making smart choices. If you find yourself struggling to identify the theme of a book youre reading, theres a simple trick you can use. When you finish reading, ask yourself to sum up the book in a single word. For example, you could say preparation best symbolizes The Three Little Pigs. Next, use that word as the foundation for a complete thought such as, Making smart choices requires planning and preparation, which could be interpreted as the moral of the story. Symbolism and Theme As with any art form, the theme of a novel or short story may not necessarily be clear. Sometimes, writers will use a character or object as a symbol or motif that hints at a larger theme or themes. Consider the novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which recounts the story of an immigrant family living in New York City in the early 20th century. The tree growing up through the sidewalk in front of their apartment is more than just part of the neighborhood background. The tree is a feature of both the plot and the theme. It thrives in spite of its harsh surroundings, much like the main character Francine as she comes of age. Even years later, when the tree has been chopped down, a small green shoot remains. The tree serves as a stand-in for Francines immigrant community and the themes of resilience in the face of adversity and the pursuit of the American dream. Examples of Themes in Literature There are several themes that are reoccurring in literature, many of which we can identify quickly. But some themes are a little harder to figure out. Consider these popular general themes in literature to see if any of them might be appearing in something youre reading right now. FamilyFriendshipLoveOvercoming hardshipsComing of ageDeathStruggling with inner demonsGood vs. Evil Your Book Report Once youve determined what the main theme of the story is, youre almost ready to write your book report. But before you do, you may need to consider what components of the story stood out the most to you. To accomplish this, you may need to reread the text to find examples of the theme of the book. Be concise; you dont need to repeat every detail of the plot or use multi-sentence quotes from a character in the novel, a few key examples can suffice. Unless youre writing an extensive analysis, a few short sentences should be all you need to provide evidence of a books theme. Pro Tip: As you read, use sticky notes to flag significant passages that you think may point to the theme; consider all of them together once youve finished reading. Key Terms Theme: The main idea that connects all elements of the narrative. Plot: The action that takes place over the course of the narrative.Moral: A lesson that the reader is intended to learn from the plots conclusion.Symbolism: The use of a particular object or image to represent a larger idea. Article edited by Stacy Jagodowski
Monday, February 24, 2020
Communication Strategy of Dahon Folding Bikes Essay
Communication Strategy of Dahon Folding Bikes - Essay Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that for 25 years now, Dahon Folding Bikes has worked on producing foldable bikes that fit the lifestyles of its target market, giving premium to giving its customers with the freedom to move around with their easy-to-carry bicycle units. It also puts emphasis on being able to contribute to a cleaner environment by producing transportation facilities that do not emit gas, and therefore, do not contribute to pollution. 25 years after it was first established, Dahon continues with its aim to penetrate its target market by creating innovations in their product lines. Dahon’s commitment is to develop new-patented technologies at 20 per year and looks at the improvement of its bikes by at least 15% every year. It further renews its commitment to giving back to the community by supporting various projects that tackle environmental concerns and is even involved in other causes. Now, with Bicycle Industry’s continuo us evolution, and the competition among the approximately 2,000 companies that manufacture and distribute bikes in the US and from the estimate of 100 different bicycle brands, Dahon seeks to strengthen its communications strategy to fully achieve the potential of penetrating the target market. It aims to reach more people by creating a good Communications Campaign that would mark its 25th year in the industry and seal its position as the brand of choice. Dahon appeals to a wide range of market segments due to its utility value and market positioning. Its primary are the members of Generation 0, a young market group who gives high value to the benefits that a product gives them. To penetrate this market segment, it will capitalize on Dahon’s philosophy, which is Personal Mobility. The phrase says it all. The products will give the target market with the independence to move around in the most convenient way possible. Main Marketing tools would be interesting leaflets and broc hures that list down and define the various uses of Dahon Bikes. The company should spend an approximate of $ 200,000 for the production and design of sales materials. This is the primary priority of Dahon Bike Company.
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Investment Strategy and Portfolio Management Essay
Investment Strategy and Portfolio Management - Essay Example The competition is very tough and the company finds it difficult to compete with others. (Blake 2000).The investment form the customers are the basis for running such institutions. Only if the contributors are more and they get attracted with the institution, they will deposit more funds. To attract the contributors and increase the inflow, the company must follow new policies and strategies. The fund withdrawals must always be less than the fund inflows. If the withdrawals exceed the inflow, then the company will undergo a tough time. It will be difficult for the company to increase the inflow once the level of withdrawals becomes more. To maintain the stability between the inflow and withdrawals they have to adapt to the new management policies and should alter their investment plans accordingly. (Bodie et al 2009). The company must decide the plans and policies on the day of investment committee meeting. The committee must discuss on the future strategic asset allocation and tactical asset allocation ranges. The current scenario in the investment environment is completely different than the one that prevailed earlier. Since there are various other investment institutions that offer other benefits and offers, the company must makes sure that they maintain their investors and the level of their assets. The investment institutions follow various forms of fund operations and investment options. The company provides fund for educational purpose and they cannot change the basic formalities and procedures. The characteristics of a investment institution is to make the public deposit funds and to provide them a time period after which they can withdraw either a part or the specified amount form their contribution.(Buckle, Thompson 2004). These financial institutions concentrate more on providing the investors with a good investment option that will fetch the company a long term investment. The present situation in the financial market is not much
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Love Is All About Sacrifices Essay Example for Free
Love Is All About Sacrifices Essay Love encourages people to sacrifice important things in their lives for others. Love can destroy or improve ones’ life. It once happen to a little country girl in the early days. Love totally changed her life both destroying it and improving it. This girl’s name was Kat and she was the mayor’s daughter who was advised by her father to marry a guy named Bruce. Bruce was kind of a nice guy, really successful, but very serious and didn’t have no time to have fun. He was very well liked by the whole town and all the girls went crazy when they saw him. Everyone thought it was a great idea if they got married. Although, on the other hand, Kat was a girl very high spirited and she had fun all the time. One windy and cloudy afternoon, Bruce asked Kat’s hand in marriage while talking to her father. Kat’s father was very happy about the news that he announced the request to the whole town. Kat rather seemed â€Å"okay†about the whole situation instead of being excited. That night she had a dream about a dart in a board spinning over and over again but instead of the spinning making her dizzy she was happy. It was a really strange dream and it kept repeating three nights in a row. Contrary to her strange dream, she went to seek advice from her grandma who was probably about 94 years old. She was so excited to see her granddaughter and listen to her. â€Å"I had a dream grandma, a very strange dream and I need you to tell me what you think it means†she said. â€Å"I’m all ears†said grandma. â€Å"Let’s hear it†. She explained the whole dream to her grandma and said â€Å" so what do you think it means? †Asked Kat. Grandma said â€Å"pumpkin this dream means you should follow your heart and instinct because something important is about to happen in your life†. With excitement she said â€Å" oh grandma, I love you, you always have answers to every question†. â€Å"That’s what I do†. So Kat decided to head towards home. On her way home she noticed a conveyance truck or moving truck parked in front of an old house. Due to curiosity, she neared and watched what was happening there. To her amazement, she saw a handsome spirited young man who was admiring the building. She asked â€Å"are you new in the neighborhood? †â€Å"Yeah I am, anyway I am Jason†. She stared at him for a while before answering†oh, I am Kat the mayor’s daughter and it’s nice to meet you†she finally said. I have to go, so I guess I would be seeing you around†she said. â€Å"Yeah â€Å"he answered. She looked so happy and relaxed on her way home. At her arrival at home her dad wanted to talk to her about Bruce but she said she didn’t like Bruce and wouldn’t marry him. Her father tried to convince her but she didn’t want to talk about it. The next day she went spying on Jason, she would get up early, go hide behind the house hoping to see him. This continued for many days until her best friend Tatiana followed her one day and found out she was spying on the â€Å"new guy in town†as she referred Jason to. During one morning, Tatiana went over to Jason’s house and told him all about what Kat did every morning. So he hid behind the house waiting for Kat to come. She did and was caught by Jason. He explained to her how he knew and that he also likes her but doesn’t spy on her behind her house every morning. Surprisingly, they started to go out for months during which Kat’s dad kept haunting her to marry Bruce. Six months later, they both expressed their feelings and decided to tell Kat’s dad that they are getting married. To their dismay , Kat’s dad did not agree with their decision and refused to give them his blessings. Out of love for Jason, Kat decided to leave her dad and the town to go get married to Jason in a different town or country. Before leaving she thanked her best friend Tatiana for being there for her and helping her. Also she invited her to be the brides maid at her wedding. Without her father’s acknowledgement she left the town, got married and had kids. Then he realized how happy his daughter is and began to regret not being there for her. So life can be real hard or easy but it all depends on the decisions made in our lives. Sacrifices made in our lives can result in pain or happiness. We should be wise and always make the right sacrifices!
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
helmet :: essays research papers fc
Safety in the head      John, being around for your next birthday would be great, so you need to use this helmet, it will save me many days of grief. Please wear this helmet when you ride your motorcycle. Having you come home to the neighborhood is a better feeling then you going home to a grave. This helmet will protect your head from hard hits that you will encounter when you fall off your motorcycle. Wearing a helmet will save you from getting a mangled face.      Since you feel that you are too cool to wear a helmet, let me advise you that having an attitude like that is not smart. When you wear this helmet it offers you protection from head injuries that occur when you fall. The pictures that are in the medical files show causes of death, involving motorcycle related crashes. The pictures are not too cool to look at. The pictures show dead bodies with faces and body parts that have been grounded down to the bone so much that they are not able to be recognized. I do not want you to be part of those pictures. John, you must wear this helmet when you ride. Another advantage to wearing your helmet is the face shield, the shield protects your eyes and face from flying rocks and other debris. Not to mention all the bugs that will hit your face and get in your eyes. John, according to the morning sun, the number of people killed in traffic accidents increased slightly last year partly due to yet another jump in fatal motorcycle accidents. Federal estimates released last week show that after many years of decline, motorcycle deaths steadily increased from 97-01, and have grown 27% in the four-year period. Last year there were 2680 motorcycle deaths. According to the national highway safety administration, that is 208 more than in 1999, enough to offset the 188 additional traffic deaths. About one-half were caused because people were not wearing helmets or sufficient gear. John, these numbers do not lie. This pole shows 1440 deaths that could have been saved if those people took proper precaution and equipped themselves with a helmets or sufficient gear. Since we all care for you, please do not become one of these numbers this year. Please wear your new helmet. People that have to go threw a death in the family of a loved one is so hard.
Monday, January 13, 2020
What Is Ethics
1. What is ethics? What is morality? Ethics is the philosophical study of morality. Morality refers to the belief of right and wrong, good and bad, beliefs that can include judgments, values, rules, principles and theories. 2. In what ways are we forced to do ethics? What is at stake in these deliberations? A person is forced to do ethics every time they exam any feeling, choice, or action concerning right or wrong. The thing that is at stake when doing ethics is a person’s values. 3. What is the unfortunate result of accepting moral beliefs without questioning them? Some of the unfortunate results of accepting moral beliefs without questioning them are it undermines your personal freedom meaning if you just accept belief from someone else without thinking about them they are not truly your beliefs. Another result of blindly accepting belief of someone else is when asked to defend these beliefs the person may have no sound argument to back it up. Finally it limits intellectual moral growth. 4. Can our feelings be our sole guide to morality? Why or why not? Feelings should not be sole guide to morality because by solely following feelings a person is not critically examining the problem. 5. What is descriptive ethics? In this field, what do researchers study? Descriptive ethics is the moral study of belief and practices. Researchers in this field try to explain how people actually behave and think. 6. What is normative ethics? Applied ethics? Normative ethics is the study of principles, rules, or theories that guide our actions and judgments. Applied ethics is application of moral norms applied to a specific moral issue. . What is metaethics? What is the difference between normative ethics and metaethics? Metaethics is the study of the meaning and logical structure of moral beliefs. Normative ethics job is to assume certain things about the meaning of moral terms and the logic relation among them but the job of meteethics is to question all assumptions. 8. What is the difference between judgments of value and judgments of obligation? Ju dgments of value judges what is morality good, bad, blameworthy, and praiseworthy. While judgments of obligation deal with actions and things a person feels what they should do. 9. What is the difference between moral and nonmoral value? Moral Value refer to value in the sense of morality while nonmortal value refers sense of good and bad that are not morality bad or good but rather quality. 10. What is the difference between instrumental value and intrinsic value? Instrumental values are things that are valuable as a means to something else. While intrinsic values are things that are valuable for its own sake. 11. To what does the â€Å"preeminence of reason†refer? The preeminence of reason refers to being able to critically think and logically argue a claim. 12. What is the principle of universalizability? The principle of universalizability states that if a moral statement applies to one situation it must apply to relatively similar moral situations 13. What is the relationship between morality and religion? The relationship between morality and religion is very important because same way critical reason is used to exam moral norms it can be used to exam religion. What is Ethics? Ethics are standards that differentiate right and wrong and how people should conduct themselves. Ethics refer to standards that would prevent someone from doing something wrong, like murder for example. Is it ethical to commit murder? Society has deemed murder as an unacceptable. In the same way ethics help to determine what are appropriate behavior at home, school, and the work place. How we interact with others can be considered ethical, treating others with respect, hospitality, sharing, and helping others in need would be considered good ethical behavior. Ethical standards also include virtues of honesty, compassion, and loyalty. The Virtue Theory The virtue theory deals with the individual, the expectation is to â€Å"cultivate excellence in all that you do and all that others do (Boylan, 2009). †It deals with the character of an individual. Qualities of a virtuous person would be considered an upstanding, trustworthy, dependable, and honest. In contrast an unethical person would be selfish, unreliable, devious, or careless. People are characterized as â€Å"good†or â€Å"bad†or a combination of both, it does not leave room for a good person to make a bad choice. Once a person commits an unacceptable act, he or she may be branded as a bad person even if they have high morals and ethics instead of a good person who made a bad decision. An example of this would be of a person who drinks and drives. This is bad choice and the consequences of this choice can lead to accidents and death, but does this mean that this is a bad person? More than likely there would be no negative consequence unless the person is caught or there is an accident causing physical or property damage. The Utilitarianism Theory Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that places right and wrong on the consequence of the action that will be for â€Å"the greatest good for the greatest number†(Boylan, p. 133, 2009). The utilitarianism moves from the individual’s interest and takes into account the interest of others. An example of this would be when a team member knows that another person is a better fit for a job and steps down so that person can take the lead, which would benefit the whole team in the process. An example of this that comes to mind is: during the plot to kill Jesus, John 11:49-50 â€Å"Caiaphas, being high priest that year, spoke up, you know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man should die for the people than the whole nation perish. †This is an example of the sacrifice of one to benefit the whole group or nation†(â€Å"Caiaphas – High Priest Of The Jerusalem Temple†). The Deontological Theory Deontological theory questions right and wrong by action instead of consequences. It is considered to be wrong when the action intentionally harms others. The deontological approach defines ethics as either right or wrong, there is little or no middle ground for exceptions (â€Å"Deontology Ethics,†2008). With the utilitarianism theory it is acceptable to lie if it is to prevent hurting a person, with the deontological theory it is wrong to lie because it is a lie. Conclusion The similarities between the ethics theories concern the idea of right and wrong, and good and bad. The differences constitute on how they interpret right from wrong, and good from bad. With the virtue theory deals with the individual, whereas the utilitarianism focus on the group where actions are right when they provide the greatest good to the largest group. The deontology determines rightness by actions not the consequences; deontology is more of an absolute, stealing is wrong, lying is wrong, and murder is wrong, anything that causes harm to another person. All three theories have a place in present society and are used interactively without conscious effort. From a young age people are taught right from wrong from parents, teachers, church, and other people they come in contact with. What Is Ethics? Ethics is not equivalent to feelings. We feel on whether a certain thing is right or wrong. Feelings actively affect our daily choices. It may sometimes prevent us from making the right ethical choices. [Peter Zafirides, 2012]. Some may feel remorse when an unethical deed is done. This can be mainly attributed to persons’ different needs and desires. In 1992, Dr. Cox, a 70 year old, with a lethal injection of potassium chloride had what rheumatologists’ described as the worst case of rheumatoid arthritis ever seen. Conventional medicine was unable to relieve her pain and repeatedly requested to die. The Independent, 1992]. In that case, Dr. Cox was charged with attempted murder. It may seem to some people that it is ethically and morally â€Å"alright†to end a persons’ suffering and misery by taking his/her life, if requested. However it is unethical to end a persons’ life for whatever the reason so. Hence, an ethical standard cannot be judged by feelings alone. Ethics is not religion as well. Many people are religious but not all are ethical. The same applies to people who are not religious are not necessarily ethical as well. However, most religions do practice an ethical code of conduct. Faith in religion does not require ethics but ethical principles apply to everyone. For example, during the 9/11 incident, what happened a decade ago was raging a â€Å"holy war†against the Americans and other western democratic nations in the name of their religion. Although the Islamic religion advocated good ethical standards, some deviate from the path and become corrupted, even in the name of their religion. Al Qaeda and the leader had taken the religion to its extreme. [Scholastic; Natalie, no date] A law abiding person may not necessarily be ethical. Although the law does embody high ethical standards generally accepted by the public, it may easily deviate from ethics as well. The law may become ethically corrupt under totalitarian regimes and turn it into a form of power to serve the interest of certain people or groups. For example, abortion is made legal in certain states and countries. Like China, where abortion is not a criminal offence but in turn is available on request by the patient and is even done by the government as a public service. Furthermore they are able to receive 2 weeks to a month of sick paid leave for abortion. [Act Now AU 2008][UN Abortion Policy, no date]. It may have been made legal by the law but that does not mean it is ethical to do so, unless in certain situation, it may affect maternal health or life. In Malaysia, an abortion is legal when there is risk of life or threat of injury to the pregnant woman. [WAO, 2011] Ethics is also not parallel to socially and culturally accepted norm. Although many cultures are ethical, some are very corrupted and even blind to ethical concerns. One good example would be the Netherlands Drug Law and Cultures. In the Netherlands weed or pot (common name of the drug marijuana/cannabis) is openly traded and consumed every day. There are even specific places (the coffee shops) in the Netherlands where they specifically cater to drug consumption. [Mark Owoll, 2000] Although it is widely accepted culturally, socially and legally in Netherlands, it is still unethical to consume cannabis/marijuana as it does harm to ones’ body through lung diseases, heart diseases, weakened immune system and many more and it is unethical to do harm to oneself. [WebMD, no date] Ethics is not a science as well. Ethics is not based off accurate calculation and scientific formulas and most certainly is unable to certainly predict the correct action to every ethical issue. However, social science and natural science are able to aid in making a better ethical decision. Science may provide the explanation but ethics provide the reason as to how we should act. For example, Cheryl, a mother of one and was pregnant with another at that time, was diagnosed with cancer while she was pregnant. Science had given her the option to have an abortion, and then proceed with chemotherapy or continue without chemotherapy and save the baby, but endangering her own life. Cheryl then decided to have the baby and died shortly after giving birth to her second child in an emergency caesarean birth.
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