Motivational Strategy and Action Plan free essay sample

RegulatoryFocusTheory?University of Phoenix Material Employee Portfolio: Motivation Action Plan Determine the motivational strategy or strategies that would likely be most appropriate for each of your three employees on basis of their individual characteristics. Indicate how you would leverage their employee evaluations to motivate each of the three employees. Describe one or more of the motivational theories and explain how the theories connect to each of your selected motivational strategies. Team Member Name Summary of Individual Characteristics Motivational Strategy and Action Plan Relevant Theory Tina Engaged Passionate Persistent Inspirational Leader Happy Emotional stable This employee would not really need much motivation, since already in engaged, passionate and is a leader at work. I would suggest that the employee uses an action plan to continue with positive attitude. Also since the employee has passed reviews, to advance in progress with promotions in the company. McClelland theory is relevant to this situation. It relates to this situation because for the most part the employee is happy at the job. We will write a custom essay sample on Motivational Strategy and Action Plan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Brittany Competitive Good communicator Influential Independent Emotional Quick thinker This employee shouldn’t much motivation since she is so competitive. However we could motivate her to be more engaged and happy at job since so emotional. An action plan for this strategy would be to assign her to do task she is interested and likes to do that are easy and take little thought since she is a quick thinker. This situation relates to the self-efficiency theory because employee is independent. She likes to do things on her own and feels she can. Denise Timid Considerate Neutral decision maker Eager Happy with job Encouraging This employee needs motivation in company involvement in communication since timid and shy. She can demonstrate these skills in an action plan by being more involved in conferences, presentations, and meetings. This situation could be also related to the McClelland theory because for the employee is happy with job, but there is room for opportunity.

Preschool Stage of Development Essays

Preschool Stage of Development Essays Preschool Stage of Development Essay Preschool Stage of Development Essay Essay Topic: A Dolls House The Preschool Stage of Development ECE 332: Child Development Marilyn Gomez May 30, 2011 Abstract â€Å"The years from 3 through 5 are often referred to as the preschool years† (Henniger, pg. 107). Preschool is a place where the setting is geared towards mimicking a regular school setting but exposes the young child for the first time to a school. Preschool takes away some of the stress of strictly learning academics and focuses on developing the childs skills in cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language developments. Preschool encourages children to personally and individually meet their milestones of development. The Preschool Stage of Development In looking at the stages of a preschool development, the characteristics/milestones must be defined. There are some activities that can be provided that will enhance a preschooler’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language developments. A detailed explanation of the activities will give the reasoning to how and why the activities will enhance a child’s development. â€Å"Every child grows and develops at his or her own pace. Still, child development tends to follow a fairly predictable path† (MFMER, 2010). In language skills, children in the age group of 3 through 5 years old learn from 250 to 500 or more words. Answer simple questions, and understand rhyming words. They can speak sentences of three to four words through compound and complex sentences. In social skills, children in preschool can become more imaginative, cooperate, make friends, share, express feelings, show affection, ask why questions, become more independent, begin to make impressionable markings, count numbers, recognize letters of the alphabet, and can problem solve with teacher guidance. In physical skills, children in this age group can kick, jump, run, and maneuver tricycles, walk up and down stairs without falling, keep balance, hop on one foot, manipulate hand toys like cube links or legos, can dress and undress dolls/or themselves, and can use scissors to cut paper. In Henniger’s text the characteristics described are meant as a guide to understanding the patterns of stages in the development of preschoolers (pg. 107). For the physical aspect of preschoolers, children begin to lose their baby fat and can ride tricycles at the age of 3. Hopping, skipping, and drawing stick figures are achieved at the age of 4. Tying a bow knot and riding a bicycle is achieved at that age of 5. For the cognitive aspect of preschoolers, children learn the basic names of color and ask â€Å"why? † questions at the age of 3. Understanding concepts of three and show curiosity to learning how things work are achieved at the age of 4. Understanding the meaning of calendar use and sorting objects by colors and shapes are achieved at the age of 5. For the social-emotional aspect of preschoolers, children begin to imitate an adult during play and learn about stereotypes of sex roles at the age of 3. Working in groups of two or more and having special friends are achieved at the age of 4. Recognizing hurt feelings, expressing their feelings and enjoying group games are achieved at the age of 5. For the language aspect of preschoolers, children learn three to four word sentences and use past tense correctly through their conversations at the age of 3. Playing with words/rhyming, and using talk to solve problems or conflicts are achieved at the age of 4. Knowing about 5,000 words or more and dictating a story from a book or imagination is achieved at the age of 5. One activity that will enhance a child’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language development is the process of making scrambled green eggs from the Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham story. Children will have an opportunity to learn about the process of making eggs to eat. The children will use their fine motor skills to crack an egg and scramble their eggs in a mixing bowl. They will have an opportunity to ask questions and answer questions like â€Å"what will happen when we crack the egg? † â€Å"What does the egg look like? Is it in a circle shape or an oval shape? What colors do you see on the outside of the egg and what color is the egg when the inside comes out? How does the egg feel before it is cracked? How does it feel when it is cracked open? † Children will have an opportunity to share their thoughts with their peers for social and language development. Their ideas can be charted onto a poster board. Children will feel confident in making their own scrambled eggs and sharing their findings with their peers and parents. Children will be able to predict what will happen when the green food coloring is added into the egg mix. Children will also be encouraged to think of what will happen when the egg mix is poured into a hot skillet. â€Å"Will the water soluble egg stay in its water context or will it become solid? † Language will be enhanced through learning different words by placing them with content of what is happening. An example of this would be solid, liquid, hard, slimy, and smooth, cracked, like, and dislike. Rhyming words would also increase the child’s vocabulary while reading the book of Green Eggs and Ham like in a house with a mouse, a goat on a boat, on a train while it rains, in a box with a fox, and here, there, anywhere. This activity will enhance the child’s development because the child will be a part of the making of the activity. They will show a curiosity to learning and will have hands on experience. The activity will encourage children to trust in themselves and will build self esteem in what they are doing. It will make them feel a part of the group. Their cognitive development will be challenged when they are encouraged to answer questions or ask questions. Their motor skills development in fine motor will be challenged when they are encouraged to whisk the egg to mix the yoke and the food coloring. Their social development will be encouraged when they display â€Å"energetic interactions with peers. Many preschoolers show social initiative when an interest in reaching out to others, making social contacts, and trying out social behaviors† (Trawick-Smith, pg, 298). The social development will be through the interactions with peers while making green eggs. Their emotional development will be encouraged as they become courageous in mixing the eggs with confidence and receiving acknowledgment of success when they are finished mixing the eggs. Their language development will be encouraged through literacy and rhyming songs. A second activity that will enhance a child’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language development can be through creating an activity with frogs. By a Small, Small Pond by Denise Fleming can be the story that is used for creating the frog activity. The activity will be a multiple play area activity. Children will be encouraged to discuss about frogs. Questions like â€Å"where do frogs live? How do they feel? What do they look like? And what do they eat? Children will be encouraged to answer the questions as well as encouraged to ask questions. Children will be encouraged to look at a picture of the life cycle of frogs. They will learn the vocabulary words like amphibians, tadpoles, polliwog, young frog, adult frog, smooth, lumpy, leap, forward, croak, and snatch. They will be encouraged to participate in a frog relay race. They will use their gross motor skills to bend down like a fro g and leap up and forward using their legs. Children will be encouraged to socially interact with their peers while they play in the leap frog relay race. Those children who are standing by watching will encourage the two contestants and the two contestants will learn to feel emotionally confident to leap throughout the race. â€Å"Children who are nurtured, encouraged, and accepted by adults and peers will be emotionally well adjusted† (Trawick-Smith, pg. 298). This activity will enhance the child’s development because the children will be learning through play. They will learn how to bring a story to life and create games that are influenced by a story. Their cognitive development will be encouraged through the ongoing questions throughout the story and the game. Their motor development will be encouraged through the practicing and learning of leaping with their legs and jumps up and forward. Their social development will be encouraged throughout the day with their peers and acknowledgment from the teachers. Their emotional development will be encouraged as they successfully finish the race and getting recognition from their peers. â€Å"Children are elated when they feel liked by peers and emotionally crushed when they imagine that no other child in the whole world wants to play with them† (Miller, pg. 59). Children must feel that they are accepted by those around them. This will enhance their social and emotional development. Their language development will be encouraged and enhanced when they learn the many different words that are associated with the story about the frog. A third activity that will enhance a child’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language development is using their hands. This activity can be accompanied with the book My Hands Can Do So Many Things. Children will be encouraged to think of ways and things to do with their hands. Asking questions and encouraging children to ask questions like â€Å"how do you fold your hands? How do you wash your hands? Can you count with your hands? Can you tie a bow on your shoe? Can zip a zipper? Can you button a button? What are some things you can do with your hands? What things you should not do with your hands? Children will be encouraged to work on their fine motor skill developments with interacting with dressing boards. They will practice on zipping, buttoning, tying, and snapping buttons. They will be encouraged to develop their social skills by working with older peers for scaffolding or zone of proximal development. Cognitive scaffolding refers to temporary support provided by a more skilled person to assist learning in children. Children’s cognitive activities develop through interaction with older, more experienced individuals who teach and guide them† (Rathus, pg. 152). Children will be encouraged to develop their emotional skills by expressing their feelings and getting the opportunities towards successfully completing a task like zipping a z ipper or buttoning a button. Children will learn more language development with their peers as they communicate and interactively talk to their peers as they learn how to tie their shoe. This activity will enhance the child’s development because the children will learn that their hands can do many things and that their hands are used for manipulating objects to their desires and wants. They will learn to cognitively think of using their nice hands and keeping their hands to their own body. They will increase finger and hand strengths while practicing with the activities of the dress boards. They will socially interact with older peers and build trust with those peers and teachers. They will enhance their confidence and independence. They will learn to express their desires and feelings when they need to resolve a conflict that may arise when they are practicing their fine motor skills. In conclusion, teachers and caregivers must understand the milestones/characteristics of a preschooler in order to recognize if the child will need any further assistance or special recommendations. There should be developmentally appropriate activities set up to enhance a child’s cognitive, motor, social, emotional, and language developments. This way, children will be provided an opportunity to achieve a goal and master a skill. Reference Henniger, M. (2009). Teaching young children: An introduction (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Miller, D. (2010). Positive child guidance (6th ed. ). Wadsworth, California. Rathus, R. (2011). Cdev: Student edition. Wadsworth, California. Trawick-Smith, J. (2006). Early childhood development: A multicultural Perspective (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Mayo Foundation Clinic Staff (2010). Child development chart: Preschool milestones. Retrieved on May 24, 2011 from mayoclinic. com/health/child-development/MY00136

Financial Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Financial Report - Essay Example The company has a wide range of stakeholders such as the investors, the creditors, the government, customers, employees and the public. As mentioned above, the user’s have diverse needs, which are met through the provision of the financial statements. The key features in Sandall Arnold’s financial statements are the income statement, the statement of the financial position for two years, 2012 and 2013, and the independent auditor’s report (Gibson 2009, pp. 193) If the provision of the  £ 30 million worth of claim is not included in the Sandall Arnold’s financial statement, the auditor will issue a modified audit opinion ( type: likelihood of a misstatement) for the reason that all other items are correctly stated but the provision. However, if the provision is made, the auditors will give an unmodified opinion showing that the company’s financial statements present â€Å"a true and fair view† of the financial position. The two corporate governance deficiencies identified are the failure of the board of directors to develop remuneration package of other directors based on performance evaluation. Second, the board of directors disregarded a significant internal management process (performance evaluation). In order to improve decision making, the management should observe the rules and regulations set out by the company’s founders. Second, the board of directors should exercise fairness and probity when making de cisions (Bagshaw 2013, pp. 20-23) Based on the two-year income statement of Sandall Arnold’s company, the company’s revenue increased by 1.612% between 2010 and 2013. The gross profit increased by 96% between the two periods. The costs of sales decreased by 8.969% between the two periods. The profit before tax increased by 242.86% and the profit increased by 200% between the two years. The above movements are due to the revenue increase and a decrease in costs of goods sold

Community Needs Assessment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Community Needs Assessment - Research Paper Example The work of Maninno et al. (2002) has recognized that asthma is a major cause of school and work days losses in America since the 1980s. Maninno et al. (2002) found that between 1980 and 1996, the prevalence of lifetime asthma has increased in the United States. Related with this, the study of Manino et al. (2002) reported that school days and work man-days losses due to asthma have also increased. This needs assessment focused on the problem of asthma in South Bronx because this analyst believe that asthma is most likely a serious problem in the community given the reputation of South Bronx with regard to the family income of its residents. In addition to the usual objectives of needs assessment, the needs assessment was designed to develop insights on how a health program focused on asthma can best be developed for South Bronx. Thus, the author was keen on drawing data helpful to producing insights in that direction. To produce the community needs assessment, the author reviewed do cuments, news reports, and gathered a documented testimony from at least one community leader. South Bronx is a community populated by low-income minority families in New York City. Figure 1 shows New York City on the left panel and South Bronx on the right panel. South Bronx is composed of localities labeled with numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9 on the right panel and colored yellow. The entire Bronx (colored as peach and yellow) on the right panel is the peach colored area in left panel. According to the Lehman College that is located in the Bronx area, census data indicate that the Bronx had a population of 1.4 million people as of 2008. A significant part of this population resides in South Bronx. Unfortunately, according to the college, around 30% of the South Bronx population refuse to categorize themselves into a racial category. The Lehman College pointed out that although South Bronx is described as a low-income community, there is a section

Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 1

Equity - Essay Example he other hand, expects that the property may be asserted by loan bosses before individual A bites the dust, and that subsequently B would get none of it. A could secure a trust with B as the beneficiary, yet then A would not be qualified for utilization of the property before they passed on. Defensive law of trusts was created as an answer for this circumstance unlike the equity’s darling rules1. A would create a law of trust with both A and B as recipients or rather beneficiaries, with the trustee taught to permit individual A to utilize the property until A passed on, and from there on to permit its utilization to B. The property is then sheltered from being guaranteed by As lenders, at slightest the length of the obligation was gone into after the trusts law2. This utilization of the law of trusts is like life domains and leftovers, and is much of the time utilized as plan B to them. As per the common law, lawful frameworks, a law of trust is a form of connection whereby a land is held by one gathering for the profit of an alternate like the beneficiaries but according to the equity’s darling, there are no beneficiaries recognized by its court and this brings out the difference between the two courts. A law of trust is made by settler, who exchanges some or the majority of his or her land to a trustee. It is clear that the trustee holds that land for the trusts recipients. Since the Roman times, the law of trusts has been existing and currently, they have turned in a standout amongst the most critical advancements in property or rather land law. A manager setting land into the law of trust puts a piece of his or her heap of the rights to the trustee, differentiating the lands lawful proprietorship and control from its evenhanded possession and benefits. This may be an expense which is finished in some other reasons or to control the land and its advantages if the settler is non-attendant, debilitated, or is dead. Commonly the law of trusts is m ade in wills,

Background Study Of The Organization MIS System

Background Study Of The Organization MIS System In this thrilling subject, i would be focusing on the Management Information System of Starbucks. It is no doubt that this firm in question, is one popular and well patronised firm amongst many. That being said, i would be doing justice to the very background of this organization in question and i would elucidate in tangible details their IT systems, schemes and practices and lastly, i would be recommending what i see fit to suite the organisation even in this era of technology. But before i proceed, i would like to briefly define MIS(Management Information System) MIS (Management Information System) This may be defined as a general word for computer systems in an enterprise or organisation which provides information or details on firms business operations. Its also refers to the people who manage and maintain these systems. Furthermore, in a large corporation, MIS or the MIS department refers to a central or centrally-coordinated system of pc expertise and management, and entire network of computer resources in a business organization (firm). Body Background study of the organization Starbucks was first introduced in Seattles Pike Place Market in 1971. Back then, the company was called Starbucks Coffee, Tea ans Spices before change into what we have known today, Starbucks Coffee Company. Today, there are approximately 16, 706 Starbucks stores in 50 countries. The first ever Srabucks store in Malaysia opened on December 1998, located at KL Plaza, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Later, there are more than 115 Starbacks stores in Malaysia.Basically, their buyers will travel to Africa, Asia and Latin America to choose only the best quality of arabica beans. These high quality beans will be sent for roasting and production. Starbucks experts then only combine the roasted beans with Italian style expresso beverages to produce different type of cold and hot coffee beverages. The famous products introduced by Starbucks company and mainly can be found in all of its stores include more than 30 blends single-origin premier arabica coffees. As for their own signature of handcrafted beverages such as hot and iced expresso beverage, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages Vivanno smoothies, Frappuccino bottled coffee or blended and premium ice creams with the and brewed coffee and also tea product,Tazo Tea. Merchandises are also offered by Starbucks are coffee mugs and accessories. Customers not only can enjoy sipping their high quality coffee beverage but also indulging on baked pastries, sandwiches and cakes. The company focuses in providing a relax, comfortable atmosphere with modern fittings. It is an ideal place for hanging out with friends and families, with entertainment magazines to read. Most of the Starbucks company offer free wi-fi for their customers, so it is a great advantage to business people discussing on their work or students doing some research for assignments/ projects. POS The Point of Sale System (POS) or front of house till system; in addition to regular register functions offers some functions to be accessed only by Store Manager(SM), Assistant Manager(ASM) and Shift Supervisor(SS), with the correct security level.The Point of sale consists in two touch screen tills used by deployed partners that need to insert their username and specific password before to start. From the Point of sale, managers can access different managers functions menu, such as paid in and Paid Out, and Refund to customers. These manager functions are security measures for cash management and inventory control in the store. Paid in and paid out occurs when money is taken from the till to buy items necessary for the store operations and/or any kind of emergency. Other functions such as Cash Skim, Void transactions or refunds occur when money is given back due to complaints or customers are returning faulty merchandise. The point of sale is used also to record wastage. In conclusion, most Point of sale functions are related to customer service, sales, refunds, discounts, voids.By ringing items through the tills, data such as time, customer transaction, quantity of food and drinks sold, quantity of wasted items, are transferred to the Management Work Station where data are stored, analysed and produced in form of reports, graphic, charts or diagrams. MWS (Manager Work System) The Manager Work Station can be accessed in the office where there is a computer connected to the intranet, a private communication channel for employees to access the organization network that resembles the internet. To access the system it is required to sign in with a password and the partners ID. The system recognises security level and allows accessing the function assigned to the security level. The normal partners can just access the time punching option, which is that function that record staff punches in and out for breaks and shift. A start of day and end of day is run into the system on a daily base. Shift managers can access cash management functions that are used to count tills, modify or correct transactions and to prepare daily bank deposit. A menu of available reports is available on a report menu. The Store manager can access these reports to track sales, find out customer transactions within different hours range, to check sale by product category, to record wastage, to carry a financial audit. All this information is relevant for Store Managers to identify business requirements and customer needs, to identify peak time in the store, to increase or amend product ordering, to control wastage and track stock and decide whether is necessary to cut labour. Managers can access staff information and personal details in the work station, they can insert new partners, terminate partners, maintain employee records, track employees training and process payroll. The payroll process transfers information to the support centre in order to pay partners. Store Manager and the shift supervisors can use the IRIS System to process electronic ordering for food, stationery, packaging. The IRIS System can also use e-mail set up for communicating with London Support centre and other stores within the district and others. Hardware Hardware components of the computer system used in Starbucks There are two types of modem: The speed touch cable modem and the ISDN (integrated services digital network) modem. The speed touch cable modem and the ISDN connect the store computer system to the STARBUCKS retail network. The Retail Network is the communication access between the store and the internet. This allows the management work station to send and receive large quantities of data and information. There is a wireless internet provided by T-mobile, which allows customers to connect to the wireless network. There are two pieces of equipment; the Cisco Router and the Cisco Wireless access point. Connected to the computer system there is a Printer used to print reports of any nature, and a cash scale which counts Cash in a faster way and more accurately, mainly it is used to count the tills and at the end of this process all data are send to the system. At the Point of sale there are two small printers where all receipts come out, and two (chip and pin) credit and debit card machines. To protect retailers, a new security system has been designed for cards which will use a smart chip. When customers pay using one of these cards, rather then signing a confidential security number (PIN) is entered. Further more, the starbucks firm, uses Intel based systems and fast Computers. In terms of functionality, the starbucks firm is bent on getting hardwares(PC) that have great and outstanding specifications to avoid slow down on business. A sample spec would be: A PC with 512 Memory or 1GB. And A flat screen monitor and processor speed of 2.40GHZ and a HDD of 150GB to 200GB. The company has a nac for greater heights that why its no surprise that starbucks is doing greatly well in terms of their ability to maintain their standards. Software OS (Operating System): As we all know, the I.T age is springing forth with lots of sotwares and technology all with the focus of improving the lifes of humans in all ramification of life. Having said that, the Starbucks company makes use of Windows based softwares for their computers which is categorized in the hardware section. They run applications that aid their business. Example POS, Excel and others. Excel is often used for their spreadsheet needs. When it comes to system software for driving their hardwares, they run windows xp or 7. POS Installing a Point of sale system software into your business can have as dramatic an effect on your retail, bar, concierge, or any other hospitality based business. The right POS system software will enable you to have a more precise level of control over your business operations thus increasing efficiency, boosting profits, and helping you fine-tune your business model. Incorporating the wrong system, however, can be a waste of time, monetary investments and a source of ongoing frustration. Switching from a traditional cash register or as we like to say over sized calculator to a streamline computerized POS software can be a bit of a headache if you do not research your options before buying a new system. There are many factors to consider and various pitfalls to avoid. However you will definitely be impressed with the R.O.I return on investment and benefits your business cannot do without. Thus implementing a POS system can make it worth your time and effort. In the most basic sense, a POS system is a cash register with all the bells and whistles of the new fast paced, internet streaming technological speed. Current themes and practices This Starbucks new idea of POS is currently available for all 6,800 Starbucks stores and Target locations across the US. The solution is not yet in place in Canada. For the uninitiated, the solution works as follows. Consumers download the Starbucks Card Mobile App to their mobile phone; be itiPhone or BlackBerry. Customers with a Starbucks stored value card (effectively a gift card) that is registered on the Starbucks website, enter the card number into their phone when the obtain the app, and that card number is stored. When consumers visit a store, they place their coffee order as usual, and indicate their desire to tender with their mobile. Consumers start the Starbucks Card Mobile App on their mobile and navigate to the payment screen so that a 2d barcode representing the consumers Starbucks card is displayed. The Starbucks associate, selects mobile as the tender in the POS, and prompts the consumer to use the customer facing imager (the same as those used in airports to read boarding passes). The consumer places their mobile device under the imager, the 2d barcode is read, and the POS treats the tender like a gift card, following the usual payment verification procedure. Once tender is complete, the customer obtains their coffee as usual. The discussion on electronic wallet is an industry favourite, and this development will certainly encourage more discussion on the subject and provide some much need experience. Im fully behind this initiative, but at present, this solution is very much a Starbucks specific solution, and it is not easily translatable to other retailers. While retailers can learn a great deal from the obvious careful thought that has gone into the solution, and we can look forward to others moving down this road as well. To clarify for consumers (and non-technical retail executives) who ask why other retailers dont have mobile payment schemes as yet, consider the following unique characteristics of the Starbucks situation that make a solution like this pay off. Use of Stored Value Card Very few retailers have a stored value card with the massive following and ongoing usage that Starbucks have. Effectively consumers are giving Starbucks their funds in advance in exchange for some very small benefits (free drink on your birthday, free pump of flavouring in your drink). Starbucks gets loyalty data on customers, and a nice balance of cash on hand. More relevant to the mobile payment solution, the Starbucks mobile phone application allows consumers to make a payment onto their stored value card, and the applications 2d barcode payment system is connected to that card. Connecting the mobile payment system to the stored value card means that Starbucks can take the risk of a payment system internally. Stored value are not subject to the same roadblocks, legislation, and scrutiny that building a mobile payment system that would access a credit card or a debit card would have. Using the stored value card simplifies implementation and sidesteps many complexities of payment systems like EMV and PCI. Cross Platform While Starbucks are very keen on the iPhone, they have not limited themselves to an iPhone app, but also provided an app for the other key smart phone users via the Blackberry App. Considering the corporate core of Blackberry users and how often meetings now take place in Starbucks stores, this is a wise move to maximize potential users. Given the number of Android Users and the recent release and growing use of Windows 7 Phone platforms, it would not be surprising to see the Starbucks Card App ported to those platforms as well, ensuring maximum potential usage. Valuable App With over 400,000 apps on iTunes, retailers need to make their app unique and useful. Ideally it pulls together the mobile and in store experience in some way. Starbucks has managed both. Any successful retailers mobile app needs something unique to it to encourage download, and having it on a consumers screen on a permanent basis. Customer Demographic Based on my experience, and what I have read in the media over the past few years, the average Starbucks consumer is more likely than average to be a tech-savvy iPhone or Blackberry user, and beyond that, the kind of user who would be comfortable with technology and placing a payment with their mobile. It is important that any solution put in front of a consumer by a retailer fit their target market. A savvy comfortable customer is more likely to use the app, and use it well, to speed transactions and drive convenience for them, and speed throughput for the retailer. Infrastructure Most Starbucks locations have 2 terminals. In order to leverage 2d barcodes, special imagers are required, and this means hardware investment. 2 lanes means only a $300-$400 investment per store for imaging hardware. Considering the potential value of transactions per store, this is a very low cost. The ROI would be far less attractive for a lower margin retailer with dozens of lanes in a store to deploy, as it would be key to have the imagers in every lane to simplify the process for consumers. Transaction Type The slowest portion of any retail transaction, and the most difficult to trim time from, is the tendering process. Given that in Starbucks transactions generally include a small basket size and the ordering time is relatively short, the value of an alternative payment is increased, as it is a greater proportion of the transaction. This value is increased further by the incredible traffic at Starbucks sites. Having many small transactions provides a boost to the ROI of the solution. No Mobile Device Handling In order for any sort of mobile payment solution to increase throughput and minimize operational complications, it is key to streamline the process of scanning the mobile device. Starbucks has done this via a customer facing scanner with very simple signage. This allows the consumer to place their phone in the scanning area with no need to pass the mobile device to a cashier. This simplifies the process by providing a consistent process, not only increasing the scan speed, but also avoiding the potential of store staff dropping or otherwise damaging a customers mobile device. Consumers are also more likely to use the mobile payment solution if they do not have to pass their mobile phone to a cashier, given how consumers increasingly consider the mobile device as a personal item. As with all solutions implemented by consumer facing organizations, ROI is key. Looking at the Starbucks solution, the costs of entry are probably not that high. A mobile app is relatively inexpensive and standalone compared to other point of sale solution implementations. Using the stored value card leverages electronic processes and databases already in place. The crucial part is operationalizing the solution, and that can be put in place for hundreds or low thousands per site. All in all, this is a relatively low cost solution with the potential for a high ROI in both funds, and in good will from consumers. Other retailers looking to implement such a solution would do well to observe what Starbucks have done, but note well that this is not a one size fits all solution. Any future implementers should be sure that the app suits their customer demographic, their transaction model, and has a way of dealing with the complexities of payment. Other solutions will arise, and it will be fa scinating to see what comes next. Evaluation: 4).Starbucks also runs a high scale of management in handling their I.T related issues. They are I.T aware such that, they have good network services. An example would be, Starbucks offers free WIFI Zone. An attraction for a customer on the move. The firm has VOIP services for communication with other chains around the globe. As we live in a net centric age, starbucks has made it a perfect fit, to incorporate most I.T business related schemes into their business. A good analyses on this comoany, would however show us that starbucks uses the I.T based things to builkd their customer range. It is however no secret that most competitors have based their examples on comoanys in the likes of Starbucks. Some practices in starbucks, include some discount sales issued by the management. A customer however sees this as a grand oppurtuinty to have a 50%(Percent) discount on whatever he buys and also enjoys free internet. This indeed is a wise practice. The Mgt Informaion system has in many ways, made things easy for staffs. Most messages to staffs are communicated via the network. As fore mentioned, starbucks uses intranets and internet(Voip). This helps in forwarding swift messages to workers in the company. This comoany also makes judicious use of their MIS by running web based adverts and all. The firm keeps its customers continuesly aware of products and new recipes that might be tried in a given time. Thus, their market base increases undoubtedly. Marketing Analysis: Retails: Recommendation: In my opinion having pratronised starbucks from time to time, i would suggest the following: Starbucks should try in purchasing a reasonably fast internet with low traffic. They should try to maintain their hardwares and try upgrades from time to time, to avoid being left out in the dark age of slow computing. They should employ staffs that are more I.T learned to avoid diffulty in system operations. They should embrace more of touch screen services. And what i mean is, buying gadgets(hardwares) that provide self service for each customer. The MIS should continually see to it that customers are intrigued by the brilliant I.T based services that Starbucks provide thus leaving the customers spell bound to return and purchase more items . They could also provide on screen advertisements for new generation hardwares this in itself, could be an avenue for starbucks to get paid for advertising for I.T firms in the cities and wherever . They could also make a web based system, that would enable customers to order online to ease driving out of the office at lunch. Conclusion: At this juncture, i would like to reiterate that it is of immense importance that the MIS in starbucks embraces more heightened technology hardwares to ease the work load and the number of staffs. We all in the world are aware of the generation of computers. This promises to be huge and phenomenal turn in every industry especially industries like starbucks. As we see Managements improve their information systems, it would be an important part for starbucks to play in their MIS. With an improved and well balanced MIS, starbucks has what it takes to battle up for the future even competitors. Time is of the essence for firms like starbucks this is because each day slips away and more upgrades are made to databases. To this end, i would beseech starbucks, to keep up the very good work and embrace a new era of improved management systems. Thus increasing their profit base and client base.

FAITH AND REASON DURING THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURY :: Essays Papers

FAITH AND REASON DURING THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURY During the seventeenth and eighteenth century many ideas were placed forth that ended up changing peopleà ­s faith and reason. These new ideas challenged humanà ­s conception of the universe and of oneà ­s place in it. They challenged the view of a person, and they also challenged the belief of the economy. There were many scientists and philosophers during this time period, Francis Bacon, Renà © Descartes, John Locke, Nicolaus Copernicus, Isaac Newton, and Adam Smith to name a few. All of these people contributed to the change in peopleà ­s faith and in their reason. They were given new ideas and a new way to look at life. Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) helped change peoples reason. People believed that most truth had already been discovered. And those who have "applied themselves to the invention of arts have but cast a glance or two upon facts and examples and experienceÃâ€"."1 Bacon believed that these people never really worried about the facts. He believed that these people were afraid that movements and changes in philosophy would end in assaults on religion. They were also afraid that their investigation of truth might be dangerous to them. But he believed "that all knowledge is derived from sense experience, observation, and experimentation"2 and that there was much left to be discovered. Bacon believed that we are servants and interpreters of nature. What we know and what we do is only what we have observed of natureà ­s order in fact or in thought.3 Renà © Descartes helped change the idea of how the person is looked. He also came up with a way of deductive reasoning. He believed that "human beings were endowed by God with the ability to reason and that God served as the guarantor of the correctness of clear ideas."4 Descartes believed in "I think, therefore I am."5 He believed that everybody had the ability to think for themselves. Descartes provided a way of deductive reasoning, a way to arrive at an answer. The first step of this process is not to accept anything to be true unless it was not clearly true. The second step is to divide each of the difficulties into as many parts as possible. The third step is to conduct thoughts in order. And the final step is to make detailed reports to make sure that nothing is omitted.6 This method was influential well into the

Activity-Based Costing

The Activity-Based Costing indicates that all indirect costs shall be apportioned to direct costs for the organization. The ABC takes the indirect expense that relate to each activity for the specified product or service. The use of ABC can be identified where the several costs that cannot be apportioned for the particular cost. The ABC system is high-cost accounting technology which requires the efficient personnel, considerable amount and money. Traditional costing relates to costs of products/services whereas the Activity based costing relates costs and activities and products/services.It means the Activity Based Costing can also be implemented in production section and service sector too. The main base of the ABC is to distribute the indirect costs to the respective departments i. e. production department, service department, miscellaneous services etc. there will be no confusion about direct costs and they can directly be allocated to the respective departments. But some costs c annot be apportioned to the particular head and at that ABC will be identified. La Villa Roma Pizza With respect to La Villa Roma Pizza wants to introduce a small fee for deliveries.The company also wants to determine the cost of delivering pizzas to clients. Cost object In this regard, the company wants to charge a small fee with respect to deliveries. The main base of the company is to deliver the pizzas for particular charge. Again the company wants to impose some small fee which attracts negative approach to the customers. Hence the company has to charge the small fee for those who are out of specified area, specified condition etc. Cost drivers The charge of the particular activity is to be based on the distance and time of delivery.Hence it may vary for every activity. The fixed charge cannot be levied. The ABC provides more accurate cost information with cost driver associates with the activities. Cost of pizza. In addition to normal charge of the pizza, the additional charge may be levied who were supposed to be received beyond the specified area and specified time. REFERENCE: 1. http://greenbusinesscentre. com/Documents/TCM%20bulletin-ABC. pdf 2. www. bauer. uh. edu/mnewman/HS/Chapter04. doc 3. http://www. answers. com/topic/activity-based-costing

Piggys role as a confidant essays

Piggy's role as a confidant essays In every novel, the author selects a certain character to embody the essence of a hero. This character may posses certain admirable qualities such as communication, strength, or the unconquerable will to overcome adversity. William Golding, the author of Lord of the Flies, is no different in choosing Ralph to represent a reliable boy who could save the other children from their undeniable deaths. However compelling the hero may be, he often times encounters turmoil within himself seeking a companion to help him. Piggy, the most rational and intelligent of the boys, is willing to aid Ralph by not only helping him uphold their community, but also by helping him cope with the agonizing levels of hatred and carnage present on the island. Ralphs relatively tall stature and confident character allow the other boys to naturally elect him as their leader. Piggy, on the other hand, lacks the appearance, charisma and confidence that Ralph subliminally displays. His knees were plump...he was shorter than the fair boy...and very fat (7). Ralph proudly accepts the role of the leader, oblivious to the pressures that would later follow. Since Piggy has a low self-esteem, he quickly associates himself with Ralph in order to secure his position as Ralphs companion. This is a decision that Ralph would later come to appreciate. Little did Ralph know that the duties of his position would later lead him to console in Piggy. Piggy willingly listens to Ralph and together they try to protect the island from Jacks menacing ways. Piggy is comfortable with being seen as a right hand man in order to acquire a friend and provide assistance to the survival of the community. In the beginning of the novel, Piggy does not act as Ralphs therapist, but he does provide him with some words of wisdom. Ralph often returns the favor by reprimanding and ridiculing Piggy for hi ...

The Fall Of The House Of Usher Essays - English-language Films

The Fall Of The House Of Usher Essays - English-language Films The Fall Of The House Of Usher Regarded as his most famous piece of fiction, The Fall of the House of Usher inspires the usual horror found in most works by Poe. Every aspect expected from a Poe piece is found within this story. There is the first person narrative, the division of personality, and Gothic style; which all characterize classic Poe. Although some critics feel that the tale is difficult to read and an overdone and vulgar fantasy; most recognize it as the masterpiece it is. From the gloomy beginning to the shocking conclusion, The Fall of the House of Usher implements every attribute needed to create a model narration. As in most Poe stories, the unnamed narrator experiences a horrific sight. This harrowing incident is the realization by himself and Roderick Usher that they have in fact buried Madeline Usher alive. The thought of this atrocity causes the narrator to flee from the house indefinitely. He does not know at the time that the house will subsequently cave in after his departure. Almost every tale written by Poe is written in this fashion. Although most stories employ no real plot or characterization, the final terrible experience is typical. This is due to occurrences in Poes own life involving the illness of his child-bride Virginia. Her untimely death stirred an interest in the supernatural that pervaded his writing from that point on. Therefore, all first person narrators in Poes work encounter death in some mysterious and grave manner that helps Poe to cope with his personal issues. There is a division of personality found in The Fall of the House of Usher, which also presents itself in William Wilson. In the tale being discussed, Roderick and Madeline Usher are twins whose health is slowly diminishing. While Madeline seems to have accepted her fate, it looks as if Roderick does not quite understand his recent transformation. It is almost as if all the worry and frustration felt by both is channeled through Roderick. While he is slowly losing his mind, Madeline becomes increasingly sedate. The narrator mentions that the master of the house has indeed changed a great deal. Apparently, some curse has overcome him and his sister causing their recent decline in spirits, sanity, and health. Throughout the story, both are equally affected by the others actions. This element is found in many Poe tales, although usually it involves a dual nature within a single character. Numerous critics castigate Poes writing for its highly Gothic style. It is too serious and conveys a certain difficulty in reading. They claim that this particular style hinders the reader from being able to handle more than one story at a time. Nevertheless, Poes writing does reflect upon his own personality. Edgar Allen Poe was a staid and somber man, and these traits shine through his writing. Also, it seems that perhaps he did not intend for more than one story to be dealt with at a time. Poe wrote in a highly stylized way in order to contribute to the overall mood of the piece of fiction. Without that edge, his work would lose much of its eeriness. The Fall of the House of Usher certainly incorporates such language as evidenced by phrases such as singularly dreary tract and whither shall I fly. The elevated language and carefully chosen adjectives weigh on the reader throughout the story. Finally, while some critics may lambaste the work of Poe as fanciful ramblings, it stands to reason that perhaps they are mistaken. Carefully thought out narration, sensible characterization, and appropriate diction pervade not only The Fall of the House of Usher, but every subsequent Poe work also. While the discussed piece is the best example of his genius many other manuscripts fall into these same patterns. Nonetheless, The Fall of the House of Usher is a classic work that holds its own among the most recognized and celebrated short stories ever read

Camera Obscura Edinburgh Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Camera Obscura Edinburgh - Essay Example These aspects are (1) the visitors’ experience and (2) the visitors’ behavior. Key Words camera obscura, artistic Introduction The Camera Obscura in Edinburgh is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Scotland. The site is frequented by thousands of tourists every year who are eager to see and learn about this artistic marvel (Cooper 2005, p.37). It is a very important feature of Scotland’s tourism industry, and is loved and adored by so many people. Most people love visiting tourist attractions and sites; they love to explore and to take in the wonderful features on offer in not only their countries but other foreign nations as well. However, few people really appreciate these sites. This could be because a majority of them have little grasp of those attractions and therefore are not aware of how to conduct themselves when touring. It is worth noting that if one does not fully understand the history and nature of a particular tourist attraction, it is ve ry difficult to enjoy a visit to that site. At the same time, it is very easy for one to do things that might be considered wrong or inappropriate. Despite this, they cannot be wholly blamed, and this is why tour guides and operators are so important (Huang 2009, p.19). They help visitors to acclimatize themselves to whichever place they are visiting, and in the process improve their experience and allow them to express themselves without any reservations. The Camera Obscura in Edinburgh is an example of a tourist attraction that can do more in order to give its visitors the best possible experience. How to Improve Visitor Behavior Improving Communication (especially informal communication) Visitors always enjoy visits to museums and tourist attractions when they engage in interactive and hands-on exhibitions. These types of exhibitions are usually accompanied by fun, but they are not always accompanied by scientific, cultural or educational enrichment. Visitors often enjoy museum v isits, most visibly to observers, in hands-on and interactive exhibitions (Stine 2009, p.29). Hands-on exhibitions are not necessarily accompanied by educational, cultural or scientific enrichment, although they may be accompanied by having fun. Research carried out over the years has revealed that visitors often miss most of the attitudes and /or ideas that are normally the original objective of museums, exhibition organizers and curators. Museums and tourist sites generally understand and know how to develop the aesthetic, physical and scholarly aspects of spaces. Despite this, the attitudes, learning capabilities, motivations and preconceptions are not well understood. Edinburgh’s Camera Obscura should strive acquire an in-depth knowledge of how visitors learn and behave in leisure-oriented environments. This will allow it to â€Å"read† its visitors and as a result develop a very good understanding of their preferences, how they like to view those preferences and h ow much time they require to view the various attractions within the Camera Obscura (Hall 2009, p.10). It is therefore crucial that any

Learning to Manage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Learning to Manage - Essay Example Therefore, I must be able to manage myself if I want to manage others. In order to be an effect manager and leader one must be able to influence others to willingly do things with quality and standard that is above average and above the norm. A good manager is one who sets the example for others. He or she must be do what he or she expects of others and be able to do it even better and more willingly. An effective manager is both a follower and a leader and he or she should be able to direct the behaviour of his or her staff in order to accomplish the objectives of the company or business. The roles of a good manager also include helping people to be committed to achieving organizational goals and encouraging constructive change that is necessary. and knowledge. By creatively organizing, leading, and managing a good manager can match an individual's assets with the jobs and responsibilities. Then it is possible to help individuals work as a team. There are many different learning styles. Some individuals learn better by receiving information verbally. Others learn by incorporating motor skills and yet using intellectual skills work best with various individuals. Gagne (n.d.) suggests, "five major categories of learning: verbal information, intellectual skills, cognitive strategies, motor skills and attitudes. Different internal and external conditions are necessary for each type of learning." People also learn better by doing and by participating actively in the learning process. Interactive learning keeps the students, or learners, involved as this type learning involves interactions, either with other staff members, students, employers, teachers, the environment, or the learning materialInteractive learning offers involvement." There are many theories about learning. Learning theories suggest that learning is a process. There are various theories. One theory is the stimulus-response model. This is the behavourist orientation to learning. This theory states that behaviour is observable, learned by a change in behaviour, and is shaped by the environment that surrounds individuals. In other words, this theory suggests that external factors such as environmental elements determine what individuals learn Learning to Manage 4 instead of individual learning. Another learning theory is the cognitive orientation to learning. This focuses on the mental procedure, or the act/process of knowing, of learning. People who support this theory believe that learning comes from expectations, connotation, and the making of different connections. Thoughts and perceptions are viewed as a whole or a pattern instead of individual images. Individuals use knowledge and information that was gained