Rogers Chocolate Essay Example for Free

Rogers Chocolate EssayIntroduction Rogers Chocolate is on a mission to generate the company recapitulate or triple its size within 10 years. An analysis leave behind be performed to figure out a strategic plan where Rogers Chocolate lead be able-bodied to turn over, and primary(prenominal)tain their understand of providing premium chocolates. The issue facing Rogers Chocolate is how they entrust be able to elevate raw customers and sustain their electric online customers. To transcend a thorough analysis, I allow identify and explain the strategic issue, present the results of the analysis, and present alternative strategies. Finally, I will present my good word and conclude the analysis.Strategic Issue The strategic issue facing Rogers Chocolate is how to grow the company by being able to gain refreshed customers and politic maintain their current customer base. The quarry of Rogers Chocolate is to double or triple the size of the company within 10 years. By growing, this inwardness that they will need more crosswayion, more employees, and more customers. Rogers Chocolate will need a strategy that will help position them to be able to grow the way they want it to. Analysis After reviewing Rogers Chocolates finances, they be good shape and have improved from 2005 to 2006.This improvement shows opportunity for the company to reach its objective of growing. According to their balance sheet, their current ratio for 2006 is 1. 366 (2,330,241/1,705,132) and 1. 245 (2,896,842/2,326,966) for 2005. These numbers show that they argon able to pass over to pay off their obligations. This means they are in a position where they shouldnt go bankrupt. It too shows that Rogers Chocolate are just efficient enough in the sense of turning their product into cash. The companys cash available for next year, 2007, is $74,744. This is down from what they had at the beginning of the year, $151,802.This may hurt them when trying to invest into new areas. The external environment of Rogers Chocolate looks actually promising. Godiva and Bernard Callebaut are the only ones that seem to threaten Rogers Chocolate position in the grocery. The other chocolate companies are of lower prime(prenominal) and price unless still deal with Rogers Chocolate. Godivas chocolates are priced higher but lower quality. Bernard Callebauts chocolate are homogeneous to Godivas in price, are in similar locations as Rogers and are besides good in new introductions and seasonal products. They are also top-flight to Rogers when it comes to their encase.The internal environment doesnt look tumefy for Rogers Chocolate. With very few employees who do multiple jobs, Rogers seems like they are not able to handle their demand for their product. Also their issue with out of stock product causes many problems when trying to keep up with other demands. Strengths for Rogers Chocolates include liquidity and their differentiation from other competitors. Rogers is in a good position financially. They are not in the best position but are in a good enough position to make changes and improvements. Rogers is also efficient.Once, again they are not at their best, but are efficient enough to be a successful competitor. They are also very strong in their contrive. They are able to differ from their competitors with high quality chocolate and an image that is surviven locally. Rogers weaknesses are cash flow and production. Although Rogers Chocolate is not in a position to go bankrupt, they have limited cash to invest into improving their operations. With the low amount of cash they have, they may have to borrow in the future. other weakness is their production efficiency. A low number of employees and bad planning causes their production to be slow and inefficient.Inventory management and out of stock problems cannot continue if Rogers want to be able to grow into the company they want it to become. Rogers Chocolates has several opportunities. One opportunity is to maintain their current image to introduce new products to compete with Bernard Callebaut. Having a new product to compete can help can new customers and new market share. Another opportunity is to provide lower quality chocolates to reach a new target market. Being able to acquire a new market may bring those new customers to their current market.The main threat to Rogers chocolate is the competition. Not being able to keep up with the competition or current trends can lead to lost market share. With Godiva having superior packaging, distribution, and price points, and Bernard Callebaut having superior packaging and seasonal influence, Rogers Chocolate could be falling behind soon if they do not join the ranks. Rogers must find their ecological niche in tell to be able to compete not just locally, but globally. Alternative Strategies Rogers Chocolates will need to gain new customers if they want to grow the company.To gain new customers, Rogers must take a p retend a re-brand themselves with a new packaging design to create a new image. Implementing a new brand image will gather a new crowd of consumers that Rogers did not reach with its current image. To be able to do so, Rogers will need some financial help in order to invest cash into the new packaging design and image that they want to create. They will also need new store displays and marketing tools to be able to push the image to customers. By creating this new image, they run the risk of losing their current customers.The new image that Rogers creates will grab the attention of a new market that will help gain market share that they currently do not have to aid in the growth of the company. For growth to happen, Rogers must be more efficient in production. The problems caused by out of stocks and bad planning are causation Rogers to not be as successful. When production plans are put on hold to finish special orders, it is not a good sign. Production should be a continuous flo w. To change the production efficiency, Rogers will have to hire more employees so their current ones are not doing multiple functions.They will also need to use the correct data when planning production and forecasting next years sales. Once again, money will be required to hire and train new employees, as well as changing the planning method. Rogers risk is that the employees may not be as happy when new hires come, since a pass around of the employees are third generation employees. Also, another risk is that the new planning may cause the same problems such as discounting products or even wrong forecasting. Another way for Rogers to grow is to boost their online presence. Since social media is growing, Rogers could take advantage of it to gain traffic to their website.By doing so, not only will sales go up, but they will also be able to reach a new age group of 18-34, who use online shopping. This will give them new customers that will start to aid in replacing the aging custo mers that Rogers currently have. Since social media is a low cost, not a lot of money will be needed, although it may be a good idea to hire a social media consultant to handle all the work. The only risk that I see Rogers facing is throwing away money if sales do not increase. If social media and a larger online presence are not working, Rogers could salute a situation where they are not on the receiving end.They will need to research who the online customer base really is to gain reading on how to market to that segment. Not only will a larger online presence grow the company, but also moving business to the United States will help in the growth as well. Opening up retail stores in the US will help Rogers to start to gain a global presence. The way that Rogers retails their products shows that they experience how to do it locally. To be able to reach the US, they will need to put a lot of effort into research the market on how to market to US customers.In their current retail s tores, they display their products to suit the season with a Victorian theme. Rogers will need to do the same for the US, but use the information gathered to create displays and marketing tools that will gain a following. By changing to fit and gain sales in the US, Rogers has the risk of losing their current image as well as spending a lot of money just to gain customers that they may not get. This is the riskiest strategy. They will spend a lot of money by building retail stores and staffing them and marketing to a new segment. The risk of having their image ruined is also a risk.Since Rogers is well rooted in tradition, this may cause a stir among employees and their customers. Recommendation After reviewing the analysis and the alternative strategies, Rogers has several ways to achieve growth. I recommend that Rogers re-brand themselves with new packaging and marketing tools. Although there is a risk of losing current customers, I believe that is a very small risk. People who bu y Rogers Chocolates are very true-blue customers and have been buying them for years. Rogers is a company based of providing premium chocolate with high quality.Changing the image will not affect the quality of their chocolates, but rather gain new customers they dont currently have and be able to compete against Godiva and Bernard Callebaut. The image that Rogers needs to create is an image that will still hold its tradition, but at the same time be edgy enough to strengthen its packaging, advertising, and distribution. This will allow new customers to get to know what Rogers Chocolates is and be able to keep the current ones coming back. Conclusion As you can see, Rogers chocolates objective is growth for the company.An analysis was performed to show the current financial and environmental state Rogers is currently in. after reviewing the analysis, I found that Rogers is in a good position to grow and again market share using their current products. I recommended that Rogers Choc olates create a new, edgy brand image to gain a new customer base. This will keep their current, loyal customers and help gain new customers who are soon to be loyal as well. Rogers has put themselves in a position to make this strategic decision in order to grow the company into a market leader.

Education in the Philippines Essay Example for Free

Education in the Philippines EssayEducation, a continuous process of growth from womb to grave that is most essential to man for development and progress. In technical sense, it is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, values and skills from one generation to another(prenominal) through institutions. This technical process is sometimes called schooling, when referring to the compulsory fosterage of the youth. The continuous growth of the population in the Philippines has been a great factor that affects the quality of education one can experience. There are greater and greater number of students in a class that a accomplishment institution can accommodate. some other than that, some other problems occurred such as lack of qualified teachers, inadequate classrooms and ineffective programs. These are more evident to public schools here in the country. Recognizant of this reality, subatomic communities in the urban part of the country hav e been sensitively responding to this situation. Little by little, the number of private learning institutes have been massively growing in some areas in the city.The sustenance of these private schools is, in a very large extent, depend upon enrolment. School administrators have been continuously seeking ways and mover to upgrade the standards and quality of their respective school in terms of its delivery system and other related components of quality education. This have been noticeable to Barangay Bagong Silangan because of the numerous learning centers that was established here for the past ten years.Parents, regardless of the schools standards, enroll their children to these private learning centers believing that they would experience a better quality education than that of in the public schools. It is, most of the people, if not everybodys interest, to be equipped with knowledge and skills for productive endeavor in the future. The vital reason for a researcher to deliver a study is to make the parents aware if their children are getting the quality of education that they want for them in these private learning centers.

Microsoft Versus Apple Compare And Contrast Computer Science Essay

Microsoft Versus apple Comp atomic number 18 And Contrast Computer Science Essay blood strategy is a direction, vision and objectives in terms of projects, in order to configure the total recourses that invest into the projects base on the markets guides and ch everyenging of sweet(prenominal) competitors. After all, a scorecard go forth be use to evaluate the overall put to deathance and the nigh step can be draw break finished base on the evaluation. The evaluation is well-nigh the suitability, feasibility and finally acceptability. Different lodge may micturate same or distinct policies on a same situation depends which way they comfort with. In this paper, Microsoft and apple business strategy will be compargon and contrast.Innovation is a radical or revolutionary change on doing an ordinary thing and makes it think out of the box. The process take on from artifice to application. Innovation can be value added if the invention is achieverful since the r correctue and the stock market price of certain comp any(prenominal) will be append significantly due to the anomalousness of the crops. But the plan overly bare the risk of lost, this in because in the RD process, a hole capital been invested and may non produce the interpret so fast or even not at all if the innovation is failed. This paper include how in advance(p) apple and Microsoft is and how the engine room invented by them alleviate to push the realism into the next level.1.2 Purposes/ ObjectivesThe first objective of this paper is to study most the business strategy between the Microsoft and apple. The second is to study nearly the innovation of both company and their contributions to the technology world. As an engineer, one moldiness be able to catch up the technology trends, make their stimulate judgment closely the incident and be innovative enough to foresee the future of the technology world. By studying history of companies, one can learn how others success a nd the lessons from others fails.1.3 ScopeThe sample population of our interrogation was 100 students from Multimedia University Cyberjaya. These 100 students were come from different faculty which included students from ability of Engineering, Faculty of Information Technology, Faculty of Management, Faculty of Creative Multimedia and live on but not least FOSEE.1.4 Methods SourcesTwo methods are use to complete this seek. The primary data are collected through and through the questionnaire and the online researches. A thorough simile and categorization will be finished in the second phase research. The second phase research result will be used to let fitting empirical evidence and to ground truth our findings from the preliminary research. The questionnaire is as per attached in the appendices.2.0 Literature Revieworchard apple tree Background apple Inc. is a international corporation which based in Cupertino, California. Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak in 1st of April 1976. By Apple to shifted it egotism from the figurer industry to the information technology industry the reportage of business become wider, it includes computers and mobile computer hardware (desk pop off and laptop personal computers, servers, iPhone, iPod), software package (Mac OS X, iLife, iWork suits) and further to the online dos (Mobile me services). For to a greater extent than 34 years, Apple experienced from the mounting to the golden age then fall back to serious lose and climb back to the current worlds leading technology company status. For the Apple fellow get off the nigh important, most powerful person ever is the current CEO which is the co founder Steve Jobs. He founded the company in 1976 and stir fired by the CEO that hired by him in 1985, then he back on 1997 after the acquisition of NeXT Computer which is the vernalborn company that founded by Steve been layoff by Apple. In 1997 after Steve become the interim CEO of Apple, Michael Dell founder of Dell Computers said that What would I do? I would shut the company down and then give back the money to the shareholders, in front of the crowd of several thousand IT executives.1 After more than than ten years which is now, Apple worth more than 4 times of the Dells market value.23 It is not difficult to spot whether Steve Jobs in Apple campus, on the button port for the handicapped space in front of the Apple campus entrance. Because it is usually for him to park at on that point and sometime occupied both handicapped car lot. If describe the Apple as speculative ship, the Steve will be an erratic and temperamental captain. But this captain is capable to foresee and fulfill what the end users wishes and setting the trend in innovation and style. Moreover, Steve Jobs been yield as most valuable CEO by Barrons, The Wall Street Journal and CEO of the Decade by Fortune magazine.45Microsoft BackgroundMicrosoft Corporation is a multinational computer technology corporat ion that develops wide range of software crossways, gamming hardware products, online services etc. But Microsoft main business and most fat products are selling the software products such as operating(a) clay, office suits. In 1975, Microsoft was founded by two founders which is Bill Gates and Paul Allen, and for now headquarter is steady down at Washington. Microsoft was developed and sold the Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (BASIC) interpreters for the Altair 8800 computer when it was founded. Then continue with The AppleSoft Complier (TASC) which compiles the BASIC written program to Apple railroad car language. By award the contract by IBM to Microsoft for the operating ashes in IBM upcoming PC, it yields the first real success for Microsoft is by delivering the Disc Operating organization (DOS). Then Microsoft continues to release the new operating corpse which named as Windows operating arrangement that equipped with the graphical user port wine (grap hical user interface). From Windows 1.0 to the up-to-the-minute Windows 7 or Windows server 2008, Microsoft rose of small player to the giant in the software industry. Microsoft provides wide range of software to support the hardware products. Before January 2000 the chief operating officer for Microsoft is Bill Gates, but after Bill Gates stepped down and become the non executive chairman, he gradually transfer his duties to Steve Ballmer, an executive that joined Microsoft on 1980. Beside the operating system Microsoft as well as create the business software, gaming hardware such as XBOX, gamming software such as Flight Simulator 2000 and other familiar games for both PC and XBOX. Microsoft also participates in the search engine, BING and provides other online services such as Windows Live. To compete with iPod, Microsoft released their own portable media player named as Zune which purpose more choices to consumers.3.0 Methods, Materials Process3.1 ParticipantsOur entire res earch is based on the students from MMU Cyberjaya. The objective of stick with is to collect opinion of students in MMU Cyberjaya toward business strategy and innovation of Microsoft and Apple. As such, our main criteria lie on the Faculty of Engineering (FOE), Faculty of Information Technology (FIT), Faculty of Management (FOM), Centre For Foundation Studies and Extension Education (FOSEE) and Faculty of Creative Multimedia (FCM). All of the students from the research sample are chosen randomly regardless of their age and sex. We faged a research sample of 100 students.3.2 MaterialsWe started our research by utilize the questionnaire. The questionnaire fundamentally consists of close ended and open ended questions. Each of the questions is specially designed in correspondence with the objective of the research, which is to determine the run into of both the company in students mind. The questionnaire is attached on Appendix A.3.3 ProcessThere are 5 members in our group. The dif ferent tasks on the questionnaire design and distributions put up been divided evenly among the group members. Our research samples are the 100 students from every faculty. Our friends from every faculty assist us in distributing the questionnaire. Besides that, we also perform the online survey and send the link through accessible network such as msn, email or facebook. Every question may require more than one answer, which are the answers that come to their mind.4.0 Survey ResultsWhich company does you heard in advance?In the statistic, it shows that all heard well-nigh both companies before.Which product from Microsoft that you have used before?As show in bar chart above, Windows and Office suite dominates the market, as the Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player megabucks with the Windows operating system, so both of it also have 100% of usage. Windows Mobile is just for the one who own the smart phone that use Windows Mobile as operating system which as low as 40%. The less among all is Microsoft hardware, which includes keyboard, mouse, webcam etc.Which product you think represents Microsoft the most?Pie chart above shows that when people talk about Microsoft, the image or product that relate to the company is Windows.Which product from Apple that you have used before?Most of the people have used iPod and iPhone before compare to the other Apple products. This is because of the pricy of the Mac computers even the entry level product compare to other others.Which product you think represents Apple the most?Pie chart above shows that when people talk about Apple, the image or product that relate to the company is mostly iPhone and iPod.Which company do you think is more innovative?Peoples think that Apple is more innovative compare to Microsoft maybe due to the image that Apple keep refresh its products line and keep stack away new products.Which company image is more mysterious or secretive?From statistic, Apple image is more secretive compare to Microsoft. This is probably due to Apple wont announce current or ongoing projects compare to Microsoft makes public about what its current ongoing.Which sector do you think Microsoft monopoly?Microsoft monopoly the software market in the PC industry due to its operating system can operate in any hardware combinations.Which sector do you think Apple monopoly?Apple monopoly in digital music sector and mobile sector, numerous iPod and iPhone can be found easily on the street as the handheld twist of many users.Usually where you run the information or intelligence agency for the products?Compare both of the pie chart above, most of the people get the information of Microsoft from email promotions and social media, but for Apple, Email promotions and social media tactics less likely to be use with.5.0 Discussions5.1 Compare and Contrast of Business Strategies5.1.1 SecrecyAs show in graph above the different between Apple and Microsoft business strategy is its secrecy level. Nowa tw enty-four hourss the social networking political platforms such as blog, facebook, twitter, etc are very far-famed around the world. There are companies that use these platforms to communicate with their fans, effectiveness customers, costumers, sharing about the new business strategy, new technology, new upcoming products or get the direct respond from the public. Such as Microsoft, there are different official blog for different department, such as IEBlog or Server team up Blog. But there is also the official Microsoft Blog for the executives or employees to deliver the news and the perspective from Microsoft. Besides that, the Microsoft team uses their blog to respond to the current tie in topics or what happenings in the industrial, such as Microsoft Cooperate Vice President reply the criticism of the former employee by the title Measuring Our Work by Its Broad Impact through the blog. 6But this kind of the culture is banned in Apple. In Apple, no employees are allowed to s hare to public any tidbits about what are they currently doing. There are also no official blog for Apple. The only Apple have is their official website to provides the details to the public. Moreover, Apple has been know to spread wrong information to their workers. According to a former employee mention that Philip Schiller, senior vice president for worldwide product marketing, provided incorrect information about a products price or features about new products in internal meetings. By using the incorrect details, Apple then tries to track down the seed of leak. For those employee that leak or accidently leak the information, they will be fired. 7Even Apple employees have no idea what are they currently working at. They just finis the task that assigned. The engineers that deal with the hardware part and the software part are separate in different buildings in order to prevent for them to know what is the undivided project was. So for Apple employees they are as surp purloind as public about the new product found or products update. Basi visity Apple secrecy reaches paranoia. A former Apple marketing manager describe as below Employees working on top-secret projects must pass through a maze of security doors, swiping their badges again and again and finally entering a numeric code to reach their offices, according to one former employee who worked in such areas. Work spaces are typically monitored by security cameras, this employee said. Some Apple workers in the most sarcastic product-testing rooms must cover up devices with unappeasable cloaks when they are working on them, and turn on a red warning light when devices are unmasked so that everyone knows to be extra-careful. 7 Beside the unannounced new products, this rule also applies for the announced. Such as for new iPad that just launch and will be available in Apple gillyflower on third of April, but even few days before launch, Apple Store employees form concierge to manager havent seen it ye t. The most interesting part is the geniuses that in charge of the problems understand and fixing dont know how to solve and fix the potential problems yet.8Why secrecy is so important in Apple business strategy? It is because this approach has been critical to success, it will allowing Apple to attack the market share of other companies before for their competitors conscious about it. Usually if Steve found that if there are some happy chance or potential products in the sectors, they will find the possibilities to connect it or create it out. Such as iPhone, it takes more than three years for Apple to numeration out how to product it should be, so that was three years ahead of their rivals. So when their rivals try to create some product to fight back, maybe Apple has brought their breathing product into another level. This make Apple in lead of the sectors and their rivals keep catching up at behind.Since Apple image is about the secrecy, before any events that held by Apple, there are sure many rumors going on the tech website or media. But there sure will have leaks about the new product information. A former Apple manager describe that these sorts of leaks are handed down from senior Apple executives to the employees to contact major news or website outlets. The communication is always done in person or on the phone and never by e-mail. This is because if theres ever any dispute about what transpired, theres no physical evidence to prove the false of either partys version of the story.9 So it is all about the business or marketing tactics. By dictation leaks, Apple will know who the public will respond to their new products and it is a free method to survey and free method to advertise the potential new products.All of the rumors or lawsuits that are related to Apple company well shown in their stock (AAPL) that listed on Nasdaq. The stock price will go higher before there are any events and if the new product release meets the public expectation th e stock price will be rise again or remain same. But if out of expectation, the price will be drop. So as the lawsuits, by winning the lawsuit will assist to push up the stock.5.1.2 Open door versus closed doorThe second strategy related to secrecy is about the open door versus closed door. Since the day Microsoft collaborate with IBM when IBM approach Microsoft for needing the operating system for their new to-be-announced PC. The personal computer (PC) that creates by the IBM is open architecture, which means that peripheral components and compatible software can be produce and sell by other manufacturers without purchasing licenses. Soon there comes other manufactures to reverse engineered the PC which so call the IBM PC compatible. As the success of the IBM PC lead the PC become the standard in the industry and lead many of the other companies to start to clone it. Due to the popularity of the IBM PC, it boosters to push to Microsoft to world because all of the clone will use the Microsoft DOS operating system.After more than 30 years of evolution, nowadays there are full of computer company such as Dell, Asus, Acer, etc which is PC maker and seller. It is not too over to say that each of the PC that they sold come with the pre-install Windows operating system that developed by Microsoft. The statistics showed that more than 90% of the operating system market shares are own by Microsoft.10 How Microsoft reach so far? The answer is coaction with the hardware manufactures and with software programmer. Microsoft released the Application Programming Interface (API) inside the operating system for the use of the programmer. Since the PC is very popular and due to the popularity and high demand, so there are a lots of programs which is wrote to be work in Windows operating system. Back to computer manufacture, each PC that preinstall with the Windows operating system must be genuine. The charge for the operating system at the end will be pay by the end users. From there Microsoft get a lot of income from the licenses. Because of the needed of collaboration with different parties, Microsoft need to release their road map or preview of the new software in advance order to let or encourage or make sure the manufactures to build their offerings around Microsoft new systems. Sure, this will only let Microsoft a stranglehold on the software market.For Apple, it is totally different. Apple hardware is a close architecture, so only Apple proprietary software can match with proprietary hardware. It is totally black box operations. Mac OS X is just for Apple Mac computers, iPhone OS just for Apple iPhone or iPod. Apple have different keyboard layout, different connector for video output. By using iPod or iPhone, the only software that you can sync with is by using iTunes. Unlike Windows mobile operating system or Windows operating system that is designed to work on any participating computer or handset. So there is totally no receptiveness and i nteroperability in Apple compare to Microsoft. Due to that close looped and high prices, less people which the Mac OS X market share less than 5% and the software that operable on the Mac OS X is quite limited and the driver for peripherals hardware that work with Mac OS X also limited. But on the other hand, because of the ecosystem, Apple can design the combination of hardware and software that work well together, this can ensure that whole system is running smoothly and to enhance the user experience which others cant deliver. The advantage for Apple is they only write the software for their own hardware so there are fewer problems, for Microsoft, as they need to support all of the variant hardware then it run on, so there will be more problems to deal with.5.1.3 How to reach customersThe third point is how the both company reach their customers. Usually there are three ways to reach the customers, first is through the official online store, secondly is directly through the conce pt store and the last and the most important method is through advertisement. The Microsoft online store aka Microsoft Marketplace offers all the latest products from Microsoft and computer or hardware by third party manufactures. It provides all the specifications, minimum requirements, pricing, comparison between products and other details that will be need by the buyers. User can select the products and add into cart then directly pay by credit card to get the products. Unfortunately, Microsoft Marketplace just available to selected countries only which exclude Malaysia. Beside for the software for computer, Microsoft also provides the software for smart phone. For the Windows mobile platform there is a special store or platform for users to view and download the applications, games that create by third party developer which name as Windows marketplace for mobile.The virtual store is not enough to interact with users. So why the concept store is so important? It is because there are demands for users to physically experience the stuff, to introduce to the new technology and get the direct help from the professionals. So it leads to opening of the official concept store. For Microsoft, they have total two Microsoft store at United States, both open in 2009. Microsoft store is target to improve the customers retail purchase experience for Microsoft products, provide opinions and help consumers to make decisions with their PC and software purchases. The store provide wide variety of products, it offers both hardware and software that create by Microsoft such as Microsoft windows, Microsoft office, Xbox 360, Zune potable media player etc. It also offers the personal computers that manufactured by third parties manufactures such as HP, IBM, Dell etc. Most of the PC peripherals and accessories can be found in the store too. For both hardware part and software part, customers can have a test drive at there about all the new technologies or functions that provide b y Microsoft for new software and entertain their self with Xbox 360 or the Zune. There is also a corner named as Answer bar which duty by the Microsoft professional with the meaning of helps to answer and troubleshoot the problems about Microsoft products. Beside the usual customer service, they also provide the after sales service at there. For the faulty Microsoft hardware can be send to there for the repair. Class sessions also provided to introduce to the new users to highlight all the basic and new functions.For Apple, same as Microsoft, they have both the online store and the concept store so call Apple Store. But both the Apple online store and concept store are quite different with the Microsoft. For Microsoft the main idea is for promote and introduce their product to the public and not sales. This is because personal computer can buy from the manufacture and maybe the manufacture provides more promotions or offers. For the software part, most of them are bundle with the n ew computers. But this is totally different for Apple. For Apple, all the software and hardware are custom by themselves. So they are the only one who provides the service or warranty. All the faulty hardware which cant solve by the authorized distributor is send back to Apple. For Microsoft, they just provide online store for few countries, but for Apple, they provide the online store for most of the country in the world which all the price are display in the local currency. For Apple online store, they provide both the hardware and software from themselves and third party too. The special about the Apple online store is they provide the education discount for both the students and lectures. The education prices are lower than market price, so that it can encourage the students or lectures to switch to the Apple ecosystem more affordable. As mention above, Apple website is the only way to get the new information about the Apple. So as the online store, it is the only way to get inf ormation about the updates or refresh of the current Apple product lines. When the online store is down, there are only two possibilities, one is for maintenance and another is for product update. Beside the online store, there are other stores such as Apps Store which provide the applications for the ipod touch, iphone and ipad by third parties. Itunes store to sell the music, video, ringtone, drama to both the mac and windows users.For Apple concept store, there are totally 286 stores in worldwide. inwardly the store provide all the product range from Apple. In order to run the store effectively and achieve high customers stratifications, all the staff are been well trained for specific tasks. The level of training depends on the post that currently holds. First is store manager that in charge of whole team members, evaluate their performance and manage the profitability. Second is concierge/ specialist, there are quite a numbers of specialist such as Inventory Control, Back of theatre of operations and Personal Shopping Specialist. For Personal Shopping Specialist they performs assorted customer service tasks, such as conduct product sales and answers enquires about Apple products and their main task is to deliver unique shopping experience to customers . Third is Creative which been well trained to provides training or advice, teach about all Apples software and pro applications to customers. As Apple very focus about the customer service and from the statistic of Customer Service Champs 2010 that done from the BusinessWeek magazine, Apple get third rank which is highest among all the computer manufacture. Last but not least, there is also Apple Genius that serves at the Genius Bar to diagnoses and identifies the possible problems, perform repairing, replacement services for the products that under recall or needed and provide technical support to Apple users. To attract the visitors to Apple store, Apple had made many affords. One of it is the architect ure and interior design. In a results, numerous architectural awards been award to its store designs, so thats make it Apple Store so unique to each others such as the Apple Store at the 5th Avenue of New York. It is the underground store which its entrance is a big frosting cube. The most unique and eyes catching interior design is the glass staircase that leads to the underground store. Beside that the glass staircase was awarded design pattern in 2002.11For the publicizing part, both companies almost perform same to each other. First is by sending email. This is because it is a most cost effective way. Usually the email will introduce either the new products or the promotion of the current products. By sending the email or newsletter to the subscriber, it can create the awareness of the customers towards the advertisement, help to create loyal customers and serve as a reminder. Through the email newsletters that send, the direct sales can be increase and will lead to increase t he income.Nowadays, the usages of the search engines are part of the daily life. Just key the website or information that wishes to look for at the search engine, and you will get the page that require. So advertising through the search engine is the way to do so. Search engine company provide paid search advertising at the top of the all the results when the keywords are matched. This allow interested visitor to browse the details, increase the business revenue and reduce spending limit.For Apple, for the major products such as iPod, iPhone and iPad, or when there are major improvements over old products, they will publish the advertisement video to introduce the features or the uniqueness of the products. Besides that, the most celebrated Apple advertisement is the Get a Mac, which use to compare between the PC and Mac computer. To compete with the advertisement, Microsoft creates Im PC advertisements which focus on the price of PC which is cheaper over Mac computers.Another stra tegy which use by Microsoft and later follow by Apple is use the strength of social media. By using social media, the end users or customers will help to spread out the information which is product advertising. The reviews by the professionals or pioneers are post at the Facebook or Youtube to introduce their products. Communicate with the users are important for Microsoft strategy, so they create blogs, discussion groups on forum or social networking website such as Facebook or even Twitter to provide the frequent information updates about new products and use the platform as the brand ambassador to increase to adoption rate of new products. From listening the feedback rather than self defend can help Microsoft to improve and create better products. As discussed above, the suggestions or opinions from users act as a feedback look and make a whole close loop ecosystem. For Apple, there are two official Facebook page, one for iTunes and another for Apps Store. The content include int roduce the new apps or song and direct link to the store for further purchasing, which is another way to promote the items. Overall, the social media can be effective tool for marketing, it also allow user to voice their opinions and suggestions and participate in the product development cycle, which result better products for better future. 125.2 Compare and Contrast of Innovations5.2.1 Apple InnovationsAccording to the survey percent of people thinks that Apple is more innovative. It is a norm where when discuss about innovation, most computer and electronics consumers will focus and chasing for Apple, and that why Forbes Magazine bedded Apple in 1st place for most admired company for innovation. The formula for Apple is keep increase the spending for RD, keep innovate, keep launch the new products or updates and lastly keep the competitors far behind. Apple do innovate quite a number of technologies, but it is surprise that in many cases Apple do help to push the technologies in the mainstream but Apple did not invent the core technologies. Steve jobs said that You cant ask people what they involve next, they wont know, they cant tell you what they want next, they just know when they see it and feel that it gonna be right things. First of all is graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI was introduced by Apple in 1984 named as Mac OS pairing with its Apple Lisa computer and changes the computer industry since ever. Before the introduction of GUI to public, all the personal computers were power by dot matrix command line operating system, to execute any command, user need to type in the command and the interaction and it is not user friendly at all. In the truth is the GUI generally credited to drive away because the idea is get from Xerox when Steve Jobs and other Apple executives visit the Xerox research center in 1979. On the other hand, Apple do help to innovate for GUI, Apple include the drag and drop, double click, menu bar at top of the screen with p ull down menu. All the steps follow by Microsoft with release Windows 1.0 in late 1985. 13 With the introduced of GUI in Mac OS, Apple introduced the mouse to be the pointer for its GUI. Apple did not invent the mouse, the mouse was invent by Douglas Engelbart and ship with Xerox workstations in 1981. As a result of population, nowadays all the desktop computer must pair with a keyboard and mouse. 14The successor for Apple Lisa is Apple Macintosh. It is the first commercially successful all in one personal computer feature with GUI and mouse. All in one computer not the original idea from Apple as older 8 bit computers such as Commodore PET and Kaypro implemented this concept first. 15 After Steve Jobs back in 1997, he announced iMac in 1998 which is all in one computer which brightly colored transparent casing for monitor, keyboard and mouse. This is the 1st computer for Apple to return its profitability after return if Steve. Since then iMac been categorized as mid range price com puter and the newest of iMac feature 21.5 and 27 inch LCD screen. As the uniqueness and the all in one pc reduce the space consumption, nowadays other manufacture such as NEC, LENOVO, DELL release their own all in one pc with Windows OS to grab the market share of all in one pc.Another story for introduction of iMac in 1998 is abandoning old technology such as remove the floppy disk drive. The remove of floppy was

Dangers of Dual Relationships in Therapy

Dangers of Dual Relationships in TherapyOften, people who seek the help of a therapist are indefensible in a number of ways, and the unique relationship of knob and therapist is built on a great deal of trust and openness where a number of issues are undecided. This situation rout out often leave a patient or leaf node feeling more vulnerable than ever before, and depression, anxiety, and early(a) mental health concerns can easily cloud a knobs judgment. Because the client-therapist relationship is a relationship of power, it is more important than ever that therapists do not snap off into seduction or cozy attraction that may exist for a client, and that sexual relationships with clients and patients not be allowed to develop.Although some studies have been done on the man of client therapist sexual relationships, it is evident that many of the results of these surveys are unreliable due to the nature of the situation. Even when confidentiality is assured, many therapists are fearful of the repercussions of being exposed and are reluctant to divulge such information. Still, these studies confirm that sexual relationships still often do occur between therapists and clients, more frequently in masculine practitioners than females. Furthermore, these studies have also revealed that these kinds of relationships can be still detrimental to clients and patients who seek the help of professional therapists.Sexual relationships between counselors and clients has existed probably since the beginning of time, being note as far back as the fifth century B.C., when the Hippocratic Oath originated, stating, In every house where I come, I will insert moreover for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction, and especially from the pleasures of love with women and men.However, recent studies and even court cases have confirmed that this phenomenon continues and in many cases, is further detrimental to the menta l health of the clients who enter into these types of relationships. For clients who are dealing with issues related to domestic violence, abuse, rape, or incest, the abuse of trust and power that occurs with sexual client-therapist relationships can increase feelings of trauma and psychological distress, often triggering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Even in clients who are not dealing with these kinds of issues, increased depression and anxiety can occur, and a patient who has been involved in a sexual relationship with a therapist is often more likely to attempt suicide and further resistant to additional treatment.Also, studies have revealed that sexual relationships between therapists and patients are frequently associated with cognitive dysfunction, feelings of emptiness and isolation, an impaired ability to trust, increased feelings of guilt, confusion regarding boundaries, and suppression of anger. Although these types of symptoms are not noted in every client who has been involved in a sexual relationship with a therapist, many of these symptoms were seen as common in clients who had engaged in this type of relationship. In short, therapy is the most successful when boundaries and trust of the client are not violated and a professional relationship is maintained, and in nearly every jurisdiction, it is the responsibility of the therapist to maintain this professional relationship.In fact, the legal consequences for therapists who do enter into a sexual relationship with a client can be severe in many states. In order for therapists and other mental health professionals to maintain their professional licenses, most states not only mandate that there be no sexual relationships with clients, but also that there is no sexual relationship with a former client as well. While in some states the requirement is that the client has not been a patient for at least two years, in others the guidelines stipulate at least five years. In addition, the m ental health professional may be obligated to prove that the relationship is not exploitative in nature and that the client is fully capable of making their own decisions regarding the relationship.For therapists and mental health professionals who do engage in a sexual relationship with a client, the penalties can be severe. Not only can a therapist lose their professional license for such acts if the relationship is discovered, but they can also be sued for malpractice and infraction of trust in many instances. Maintaining a professional relationship at all times is not only in the best interest of the client and their mental well-being, but also in the best interest of the practitioner and their professional reputation.

Literature Review of Reflexivity in Qualitative Studies

Literature Review of Reflexivity in Qualitative Studies both look into study needs to be contextualised, understood within the background and context of its place within the theoretical and practice spectrum (Fink, 2005). Nursing explore, as with all other aspect of nursing practice, should be ethically sound (Carrick, 2000), and should in addition be founded within sound methodological principles and wear poped along the lines of render for practice. inside a primary look for study such as this, the ability to understand the nature of the practice and establish base of the study is very important, and in that respect ar two pre-existing spheres of theory which can support this. The first of these is the field of evidence- found practice, and the second is reflective practice, both of which contribute to the processes of critical thinking which are involved in explore practice as much as they are in clinical practice.The combination of these two practices within this prim ary re front study relates to the need to in-build a clear decision trail and map of the reflexivity involved in a qualitative approach to generating and analysing data. Reflection in nursing practice is an importnat component of ongoing professional development (Driscoll, 1994 Gustafson and Fagerberg, 2004), how it contribues to professional development is what concerns the condition here. Processes of structured and purposive reflection on practice, and on encyclopedism and knowledge acquistion of development (Coutss-Jarman, 1993), contribute to the development of critical thinking skills which contribute to the processes of applying evidence to practice and assimilating knowledge into the wider schema which relate to nurses ways of wise(p) (Daly, 1998Rolfe, 2005). Therefore, the generator, being aware of the contribution of good reflection to a reflexive process of clinical learning and application of knowledge (Gibbs, 1988 Hargreaves, 2004), aimed to apply a alike(p) critic al and reflexive approach to the process of reviewing and critiquing the literature relevant to this research study. Although there are those who argue that reflection per se is a biased and much self-referential (Jones, 1995), this author would argue that reflexivity is a fundamental component of inductive processes of qualitative research practice, particularly in relation to the interpretation of data (Silverman, 2001). and therefore, square up out to review the literature using a critical and reflexive approach, building in principles of reflection and critical thinking (Price, 2000), but applied to the human relationship between the nurse as researcher and their burgeoning knowledge and understanding, as it feeds into their tacit and intellectual knowledge.Critical science within nursing is established as a means of developing critical thinking and analysis skills and incorporating multiple ways of knowing into the theory and practice domains (Fontana, 2004). Nursing resear ch and the principles of theory generation run across naturally with this kind of approach, because nursing research is, however abstract or applied, concerned with the breakment of nursing practice, one way or another (Freshwater and Bishop, 2003). It is also imperative that nurses who carry out research underwrite that the research is of the highest possible methodological quality, so that it can be used as evidence for practice, or else it would not be ethical to carry it out, particularly if vulnerable people are being asked to participate (Hedgecoe, 2008 Carrick, 2000). Thus the author set out to ensure that the critical reflexive review of the literature was carried out to the highest possible quality, by combining the critical principles of research critique and evidence based practice with research searching skills.Therefore, the author structured the literature review as a means of both identifying relevant research and discussion or commentary on the research question, and critiquing the quality of that research as evidence for practice in its own right, as a means of taking a more strict and focused means of contextualising the research study and contributing to the ultimate process of theory generation.The focus of the literature review is literature available, and literature as evidence for practice, because this focus on evidence is part of the current trend towards quality of care (Elliot, 2000). All those involved in the provision of healthcare at a professional level are required to be able to identify and apply research for their sphere of practice (Rycroft-Malone et al, 2004), particularly if this evidence can improve practice. But for this, the nurse must be able to evalute the evidence in relation to methodological quality (Freshwater and Bishop, 2003 Hek, 2000 Elliott, 2001).Thus, to begin with, the author considered the kinds of research evidence available, richly aware that the scientific rationalist paradimg is considered to provid e the highest quality of research for practice (Upshur, 2001 Sackett et al, 1996 ), but also fully espoused to the value of qualtative research in the evidence simulacrum (Rycroft-Malone et al, 2004, Upshur, 2001 Stevens and Ledbetter 2000 ). A nurse evaluating research to feed into their own study needs to understand research methodology and practice, and to understand the principles of research critique and evaluation. A field of critiquing frameworks exist which provide useful insight into the quality and usefulness of research, as a foundation for developing the inteded reflexive critical review of the literature, such as the ones suggested by Cormack (2000), CASP (2004), Daggett et al (2005), Duffy (2005). These provide clear guidelines for the critiquing of both qualitative and quantitative research articles, as well as case studys and systematic reviews. The author proposes to develop a critiquing framework using a combination of these approaches, which feeds into the proce ss of reflection so that the author will reflect on every step of the literature review whilst carrying it out, and modify their approach according to what that reflection brings to the surface. The aim, as stated earlier, is to use reflexivity to evaluate the evidence base for practice (Stevens and Ledbetter, 2000 Sackett et al, 1996).Evidence based practice is both a goal and a process, and therefore it could be argued that identifying the state of the evidence base is a fundamental starting point for the research project overall, not just an element of the required research process. This may be all the more important in this study because of the challenges of ensuring qualitative research is viewed as a valid contribution to theory and to practice (Cohen and Crabtree, 2008 Kearney, 2001). Thus the process of literature review is aimed at providing something which, on its own, will contribute to the evidence base for practice (Pepler et al, 2006), as well as providing the necessar y critical, clinical and thoeretical context for the authors own study.Following on from the development of the critiquing model, with its in-built reflexivity, the author wil carry out an initial search of the literature using a set of key words and search terms that wil be developed using a brainstorm technique. Given the authors pre-existing knowledge of the topic, informed by the literature which was used to develop the research proposal, this brainstorming exercise is also an exercise in reflexivity. The author will then develop a short list of search terms to be used in isolation and in combination to search the available literature.The search will be carried out in all the relevant and available electronic gateways and search engines, including BNI CINAHL EMBASE MEDLINE Cochrane Collaboration Science Direct and Google Scholar. The author will also search online to look for guidelines and recommendations using the same search terms. As the search continues, the author will rev ise the search terms in response to the kinds of papers that are returned, keeping a record of these revisions, until they feel they have accessed all the relevant articles. Those deemed relevant to the study will be retrieved, and the approximately pertinent will be critiqued according to the model the author will have developed. The literature review will be presented in themes, but containing comparative degree analysis, and the author will ensure that, in order to fit in with the overall study, that there is a balance of qualitative and quantitative studies included.

Julius Caesar Essay: Flawed Models of Leadership -- Julius Caesar Ess

Julius Caesar  Flawed Models of Leadership        Leadership is a recurrent theme in Shakespeares Julius Caesar. The play is centred on a group of men in leadership positions. The political setting and mood of Julius Caesar, lend itself well to Shakespeares insights into the human condition. As the players personalities split through the course of the play, we see that his portrayal of their character-types (which still endure today) is both consistent and accurate.             Julius Caesar has many fine examples of arrogance in leadership. We see Caesars pretensions as kind of laughable. But I am constant as the northern star, of whose true-fixd and resting quality there is no fellow in the firmament, and the things that threatend me neer lookd but on my back when they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished demonstrate his pride. Shakespeare suggests that although being sure of yourself is a neces sary characteristic for a good leader (as it enables decisive action and courage) it should likewise be tempered with humility.             The confidence of a leader, in turn, instils confidence in his/her pursuit. The quote,  And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive yet in the number I do know but one that unassailable holds on his rank, unshaked of motion and that I am he, is an example of the comfort and security that his words provided the commonalty people. Caesars absolute faith in his greatness and right to rule was in the perfect climate, in the midst of a community that was seeking a ruler. The followers were more sheep than thinker... ...other conspirators as traitors, the crowd is wild. Antonys transparent sweet friends let me non stir you up to such a sudden flood of mutiny is on the nose the beginnings of his carefully-orchestrated urgings to them. When he finally sets them loose, it is with a Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot, take thou what course thou wilt- an exclamation which sounds heartstrong, but not very well-thought out. Shakespeare advises that such a leader can be dangerous.             Through a well-developed cast and a complex play about men, politics and government agency Shakespeare has once again demonstrated his mastery of the humanity of the characters he creates. The flawed models of leadership we examine in Julius Caesar aptly lend themselves to the theory that an imperfect origination gives power to imperfect men.  

Feminist Pedagogy: Not Just for Women Anymore Essay -- Education, Femi

Your responsibilities as teachers at this community college are very grievous in educating the dedicated students that attend your school. As an age baby-boomer approaching retirement, no doubt like some of you in this room today, I hump the importance of providing opportunities for harvesting and experiential attainment in our youthfulness adults that will affect not only their lives, but those of everyone else around them. It is this distinguished group of graduates that will become our leaders, constitution makers, doctors, lawyers and business people. The focus on learning moving towards a learner- come to approach and away from a teacher based will become increasingly important to this new generation of learners. Critical program line is defined by philosophical education scholar Henry Giroux (Critical didactics, 2011), as an educational movement, guided by beloved and principle, to help students develop consciousness of freedom, recognize authoritarian tendencies, and connect be intimateledge to power and the ability to take constructive action. Many of us who were students of long time gone by only know of traditional methods of schooling. What a critical teaching method approach can do is create a learning surroundings for those individuals who have been disenfranchised by a traditional teaching methods because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or cultural beliefs. Such an environment fosters the capacity for critical thinking and reflection. One method of critical pedagogics is the feminist approach. I will explain the root of critical pedagogy in the feminist approach. I will then discuss feminist pedagogy and its practical applications in the classroom. Lastly, I will demonstrate that it is not exclusively for or about w... ...gress Education as the practice of freedom, London Routledge.Hudalla, J. (2005). Transforming My Curriculum, Transforming My Classroom. EdChange and the Multicultural Pavilion. R etrieved declination 1, 2011 from http//www.EdChange.org/multiculturalShrewsbury, C. (1997). What is feminist pedagogy? Womens studies quarterly, 25 (1,2), pp.166-173.Smith, M.K. (2002). Paulo Freire and informal education. The encyclopedia of informal education.Retrieved December 1, 2011 from http//www.infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htmStage, F., Muller, P., Kinzie, J, Simmons, A. (1998). Creating learning centered classrooms What does learning theory have to judge? George Washington Univ. Washington, DC.Waller, A. (2005). What is feminist pedagogy and how can it be used in CSET education? Retrieved November 27, 2011 from http//fie-conference.org/fie2005/papers/1585.pdf Feminist Pedagogy Not Just for Women Anymore Essay -- Education, FemiYour responsibilities as teachers at this community college are very important in educating the dedicated students that attend your school. As an aging baby-boomer approaching retirement, no doubt like some of you in this room tod ay, I recognize the importance of providing opportunities for growth and experiential learning in our young adults that will affect not only their lives, but those of everyone else around them. It is this distinguished group of graduates that will become our leaders, policy makers, doctors, lawyers and business people. The focus on learning moving towards a learner-centered approach and away from a teacher based will become increasingly important to this new generation of learners. Critical pedagogy is defined by philosophical education scholar Henry Giroux (Critical Pedagogy, 2011), as an educational movement, guided by passion and principle, to help students develop consciousness of freedom, recognize authoritarian tendencies, and connect knowledge to power and the ability to take constructive action. Many of us who were students of days gone by only know of traditional methods of schooling. What a critical pedagogy approach can do is create a learning environment for those ind ividuals who have been disenfranchised by a traditional teaching methods because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or cultural beliefs. Such an environment fosters the capacity for critical thinking and reflection. One method of critical pedagogy is the feminist approach. I will explain the root of critical pedagogy in the feminist approach. I will then discuss feminist pedagogy and its practical applications in the classroom. Lastly, I will demonstrate that it is not exclusively for or about w... ...gress Education as the practice of freedom, London Routledge.Hudalla, J. (2005). Transforming My Curriculum, Transforming My Classroom. EdChange and the Multicultural Pavilion. Retrieved December 1, 2011 from http//www.EdChange.org/multiculturalShrewsbury, C. (1997). What is feminist pedagogy? Womens studies quarterly, 25 (1,2), pp.166-173.Smith, M.K. (2002). Paulo Freire and informal education. The encyclopedia of informal education.Retrieved December 1, 2011 from http//www.infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htmStage, F., Muller, P., Kinzie, J, Simmons, A. (1998). Creating learning centered classrooms What does learning theory have to say? George Washington Univ. Washington, DC.Waller, A. (2005). What is feminist pedagogy and how can it be used in CSET education? Retrieved November 27, 2011 from http//fie-conference.org/fie2005/papers/1585.pdf