How an organisation communicates Essay

Introduction The aim of this assignment is to relate how an organisation communicates its core values and mission to the public, shareholders and employees. This is an objective that can easily get overlooked in the rush to master environmental analysis, strategic choice and outsourcing decisions. However it is important in practice and it is a challenge that many organisations take very seriously. Setting of organisational objectives is the starting point of managerial actions. An organisation’s end results for which an organisation strives is termed as mission, purpose, objective, goal, target etc. Many times, these terms are used interchangeably as all these denote end results. This unit is about providing direction to people in the organisation and enabling, inspiring, motivating and supporting them to achieve what the organisation has set out to do. It is expected to apply different styles of leadership appropriate to different people and situations. For the purposes of this unit, an organisation can mean a self-contained entity such as a private sector company, a charity or a local authority, or a significant operating unit, with a relative degree of autonomy, within a larger organisation. Task 1 Relate the organisation’s purpose, values and vision to people across the organisation (1.1, 1.2, and 1.3) An organisation’s mission is its basic purpose: e.g., what is it for? Why does it exist? A mission statement formalises the organization’s mission by writing it down. Johnson Scholes and Whittington define a mission statement as ‘a statement of overriding direction and purpose of an organisation’. Some companies refer to ‘vision statements’ instead of mission statements. Below is an example of Tesco’s mission statements; Tesco (a UK supermarket chain) their vision is to be the most highly valued by its customers. Their core purpose is to create value for customers to  earn their life time loyalty. This objective sits right at the heart of their business as one part of their values – ‘No one tries harder for customers.’ For Tesco to be considered a force for good, they must be a good neighbour and a responsible member of society. They know that if they look after their staff, they will look after their customers. Work can be a large part of their lives so people deserve an employer who cares. That’s why one of their values is ‘Treat people how we like to be treated’. They are committed to providing opportunities for their people to get on and turn their jobs into careers and across all of their markets they offer a wide range of competitive benefits. According to Michael Hyatt, the author of the New York Times bestseller, Platform; Get noticed in a Noisy World, it is crucial to translate the core values into behaviours that are easy to understand by your employees. He has identified 6 ways to communicate the core values to every member of the organisation. Living the values; leading by example is the best communication tool any leader possesses. A survey conducted by Deloitte has found that 70% of the employees who agree that their companies had performed well financially said their executive management team speaks to them often about the core values associated with the culture of the company.  Hiring new people based on values; recruiting people who already have values that are in alignment with the company’s core values. You can always easily train a person on how to do the job, but it becomes much harder to train a person to have the same values as your organisation.  Reviewing people based on values; incorporating core values as part of performance management process. Reviewing people based on values is interrelated with rewarding people for demonstrating the values.  Business objectives are the ends that an organisation sets out to achieve. A business creates business plans to enable it to achieve these ends – thus plans are the means to the ends. The objectives and plans that an organisation creates are determined by balancing the requirements of the various stakeholders in the organisation. The stakeholders are those individuals and groups that are affected by and have interest in how the business is run and it achieves. Every business has a range of stakeholders including: The  objectives that a company establishes are based on blending the various interests of these stakeholder groupings.  For example; an objective to be the market leader, will benefit all stakeholders because customers will receive high quality products, shareholders will receive high dividends, and employees will receive good wages and so on. Organisations create a hierarchy of objectives. At the top level, an organisation will often create a ‘mission’ setting out the purpose of the organisation. This will be followed by a set of objectives relating to such aspects as: Objectives about employee satisfaction Objectives about cutting pollution Objectives about customer satisfaction Objectives about market share Objectives about return to shareholders.  A business plan will then enable an organisation to achieve its objectives. The business plan must be set within a time frame and set out how the organisation and the various components of the organisation will work towards meeting required objectives. Responsibilities for delivering various parts of the plan will be allocated to key individuals and performance targets will be established which enabled the plan to be delivered. The business will create a series of polices, programmes and budgets to enable it to achieve planned targets. It is also essential from the outset to clarify how the plan will be evaluated on an ongoing basis. (businesscasestudies.co.uk) Motivation in Virgin Media, the word motivation could be defined as the driving force behind actions and behaviour. It leads individuals to take action to achieve a goal or to fulfil a need or expectation. Understanding what motivates employees at work ensures that a business not only has employees that have the knowledge, skill and ability to do the job, but who are also committed to achieve a high standard of work. There are much positive behaviour that indicates employees are motivated including taking responsibilities, helping colleagues, a commitment to achieving company targets and goals as well as interest and concern of the business. Virgin Media recognises that reward is one of the many motivating factors for a lot of its people and offers competitive salaries. It also offers bonus schemes such as it’sASPIRE field  pay and reward scheme. The scheme rewards every Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 9 or 10 with  £10. However, as a forward thinking business, it understands the importance of different motivational factors. It offers additional benefits including private health care, life assurance, company pension scheme and staff saving scheme. The opportunity to progress within the organisation is also an important factor. All virgin media technicians are managed through the ‘Your Story Framework’ for career progression. This includes regular meetings to discuss performance, review progress against set objectives to enable progression within the company. (businesscasestudies.co.uk) One theorist whose studies became influential is Elton Mayo. Mayo’s research concluded that motivating factors include recognition, a sense of belonging and involvement as well as social aspects of the workplace. In 1943, Abraham Maslow published his theory of a hierarchy of needs. Maslow identified that as individuals, we have five set of needs. At the first level, basic needs are those of food, water, warmth and shelter with wages that meet those needs. Safety needs include protection from danger, for example; health and safety at work as well as job security. Social needs include a sense of belonging in work teams. He identified esteem needs as those of self-confidence, feeling useful and needed by other people. Maslow proposed that having satisfied all the lower needs an individual would then be able to realise their own potential for self-actualisation. (businesscasestudies.co.uk) Task 2 Explain the skills necessary to provide support and advice to people during periods of setbacks and change. (2.1 and 2.2) Change is something that happens in businesses all of the time. Change can occur in an organisation’s internal or external environment. As a result, this process of change is constant. Effective managers are proactive in creating solutions to improve the organisations performance. They must then manage employees through the change process. Managers have to plan and drive change initiatives. This involves managing the change process and making it part of an organisations strategy. Strategies a business achieve its aims and objectives. This helps businesses to develop in a more focused way to the environment in which it operates, whilst facing new challenges with more certainty.  Organisations  require skilled and well qualified managers and leaders to drive change initiatives and effectively manage employees through the process. (businesscasestudies.co.uk) When business is booming, employee morale usually soars. It seems like everyone’s getting bonuses, hiring assistants and basking in the company’s success. But when bad news rolls in, the collective mood of employees can plummet. This can happen when the firm looses a big account, suffers a severe downturn or experiences regulatory of legal setbacks. Employees will then look to managers for guidance and reassurance. During trying times, the manager becomes more than the business owner. They must lead employees by setting an inspiring example. When managers’exhibit strength in the face of adversity, they assure the troops that they are able to steer the company through a rough patch and prevent it from sustaining lasting image. Managers must delegate freely to manage a fast-growth business. But boosting employees’ morale during tough times is one job no one can pass off. (Democratic Leadership style) Managers should make themselves visible when setback occurs. They should start attending staff meetings they normally skipped. Help clerks do filing, answer the phone alongside customer service representatives or relieve exhausted workers on the assembly line or loading dock. By pitching in with a positive attitude, they will lift everyone’s sprit. There is no single best way to build morale in the midst of organisational setbacks. While some employees will shoulder crisis without much complaint, many others will react negatively. Managers can customise behaviour to address those employees’ personality. Here’s one morale booster that will work for all employees; see out their advice and act on it. By soliciting their suggestions and implementing as many of them as possible you make them feel like problem solvers who can exert at least some control over an unpredictable situation. This in other word will be identified as the democratic leadership style which is also known as participative leadership. It is a type of leadership style in which members of the group take a more participative role in the decision-making process. (psychology.about.com) Example; if a country zoning board imposes a steep fine on your business, ask employees for ideas on how to cut costs. Approve even modest proposals  to save office supplies; this will help employees take ownership of the crisis and work together to outlast it.(edwardlowe.org) There are different types of support and advice people may need and this could be provided in many ways.(www.invo.org.uk) Personal/Professional Development; to review people’s progress and performance and provide positive feedback and encouragement and/or to see if they need any additional pointers to further develop their skills. For example, members of the public who take on research roles such as peer interviewing, may need feedback and guidance when they first put their skills into practice. Practical Support; to help people to familiarise themselves with a new research environment, for example, all research team members might need help with finding their way around a new location or building. Members of the public may need support with meeting their practical needs, such as payment of fees and expenses, making travel arrangements, parking, and assessing childcare. Emotional/Psychological Support; to help people to cope with any distress that arises as a direct consequence of being involved in research, for example, if they become upset after discussing a sensitive or emotional topic, or from hearing about other people’s bad experiences, or from returning to an environment that has been traumatic in the past. Some people may also be challenged by others about the benefit of public involvement in research and may be helped by being prepared to cope with professional or criticism. Emotional/Psychological Support is often as relevant to researches as it is to involve members of the public. On-the-job-Support; to allow people to let off steam or raise any concerns after a difficult meeting or frustrating experience. Some of these types of support can be provided through informal mechanism that develops organically as colleagues start to work together and form a team. Others may be better provided through a more formal approach that will need to be properly resourced. Communicate with Customers and Employees; do not be reluctant to confront bad news. Develop a strategy to disseminate information. It may not be customers you need to talk to, but suppliers and vendors. Managers also have to engage their employees. Listen to staff and address any specific challenges they face. ‘Keep them up to par with what is going on; even you don’t have all of the answers’. Conduct overall cost Analysis; as a manager, look at where you can reduce overhead. Negotiate with suppliers for a better price, find ways to save money. If the company has a bunch of products that doesn’t sell, cut back on inventory. ‘Companies think that because headcount is the biggest line, item on their budget then that is where they should cut costs. Getting rid of employees is the easiest strategy but it might not be the right one’. ‘Layoffs are generally a reaction versus a well thought out strategy. As a manager, you don’t want to cut so deep it hurts the company’. Empower Employees; find ways to increase moral and empower employees to be the best that they can be, their inputs and opinions should be valued. ‘Happy employees, take care of customers’. Employees are an important asset because they are in direct communication with customers. Motivated employees attract more satisfied customers which in turn, lead to increased profits’. Embrace Change; ‘Most people are not good at taking risks when they are threatened, we have a tendency to react by fright or flight’ says James.By becoming too defensive, it could reduce chances which could lead out a set of crisis situations. When face with a company setback, it is necessary to stay positive; look at what is working, be proactive, find new growth opportunities, preserve-hang in there and ride out the storm. (www.inc.com) Task 3 Analyse the need for integrity, fairness and consistency in managerial  decision making. (3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and3.4) Decision-making is a crucial part of good business. It is good information and experience in interpreting information. Decision-making increasingly happens at all levels of a business. The board of directors may make the grand strategic decisions about investment and direction of future growth (www.tutor2u.net) Often, association leaders must make decisions that members do not agree with but maybe greatly affected by. Members may feel they have little to say over the actions implemented by their leaders. Association staff members are often charged with implementing decisions made by leadership, including communicating the decisions to members and helping members understand that the decision will ultimately result in good. Recently, the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) leadership increased annual membership dues. This change alone would help to fund the association better and also provide new opportunities and means for future development. This single alteration has expanded the parameters of this organisation dramatically. They are now considering additional functions, retreats, scholarships programs and resources etc.  It is no secret that economic times are difficult, we find ourselves suddenly in a world of hopeful get-rich-quick strategies, and ‘’extreme couponing’’ champions. Asking people to give more when they have less is not a decision that is considered to be popular. Although the actions and decisions of our leaders are sometimes confusing to others, we must have confidence in the leadership in place, and in the decisions that they make more times than not, members voted them into the position of leadership. (www.raybourn.com, 2012) I think that for unpopular decisions, the more personal the communications method, the better. The scale and geographic spread of an organisation will have a big influence, but the nearer one get to a face to face communication, the better. So, phone is better than email. Video conference is better than phone, in person is better than video conference.  It is useful to think about unpopular decisions from the point of view of the decision itself (unpopular outcome) the process of coming up with the decision (fair process), and the opportunity to deal with the consequences of the decision (work grounds).(www.changingorganisations.com) Different types of communication styles could be used to communicate difficult and unpopular decisions. In business world, communication is necessary for conducting business in an  efficient manner. Any business involves two types of communication; external communication that is directed to the actors in the business environment, and internal communication or organisational communication that is directed to employees. In addition, it is not possible to imagine organisational communication without conflicts. Conflicts are normal in any organisation, because people have different opinions. People communicate their thoughts, idea, knowledge and fears differently in conflicts situations. Managers and team members should know and understand these different styles of communications to avert conflicts. Oral communication is one common form of internal communication for example, in a group or one to one meeting. Nowadays, electronic communication is growing in importance. This can involve written communication, such as an email, text or tweet or oral communication via video conferencing. Intranet; enterprise has recently developed a new intranet system called ‘the hub’ this replaced a purely information based system. It enables input from employees at enterprise’s locations across Western Europe and North America. This channel of communication supports enterprise’s core values. When the outcome of a decision is not known with certainty, a manager faces a decision-making problem under either conditions of risks or conditions of uncertainty. A decision is made under risk when a manager can make a list of all possible outcomes associated with a decision and assign a probability of occurrence to each one of the outcomes. The process of assigning probabilities to outcomes sometimes involves rather sophisticated analysis base on the manager’s extensive experience in similar situations or on other data. An example of a decision made under risk might be the following; a manager decides to spend  £1000 on a magazine ad believing there are three possible outcomes for the ad, 20 percent chance the ad will have only a small effect on sales, a 60 percent chance of a moderate effect and a 20 percent chance of a very large effect. This decision is made under risk because the manager can list each potential outcome and determine the probability of each outcome occurring. Accommodation Style; people prefer to keep their emotions in control and to speak indirectly, using metaphors or other techniques to prevent a conflict from escalating and damaging the relationship. Discussion Style; most managers’ keep their emotions controlled but try to speak clearly and accurately about their disagreements  to the other person. Engagement Style; people in this group are more comfortable with feelings and express them openly. They try to be direct about what their concerns are and are often passionate in their conversations.(psychosocial.actalliance.org) There is no normal style of communication. It simply varies between people and cultures. Communication styles can vary between people in an organisation. As we work with people from different communities and countries, it can be expected we will meet people whose communication styles may differ from our own. It is therefore, important to clear up misunderstandings and misinterpretations early on and to be open to different styles of communications. In contrast to risk, uncertainty exists when a decision maker cannot list all possible outcomes and cannot assign probabilities to the various outcomes. When faced with uncertainty, a manager would know only the different decision option available and the different possible states of nature. The states of nature are the events or conditions that can influence the final outcome or payoff of a decision but cannot be controlled or affected by the manager.  My suggestion is to use the following as a starting point; Summarise the issues relating to the decision Outline the process you went through to arrive at the decision Say what the problem is   Provide opportunity for people to tell you the implications of the decisions from their perspective Ask them to identify possible action or solutions in response to the implications they raise.  Conclusion It is more powerful if top senior managers and directors in every work place get to their people (employees) before the decision is finalised, they need to tell workers what they are contemplating and ask them what the implications are from their own perspective. (Don’t assume you know what their perspective is, even if you know them well and used to do their job yourself). You can then problem solve with them about how to alleviate the negative implications they have identified. And you never know, they might identify some positive implications or opportunities the organisation has not thought of. Bibliography (n.d.). Retrieved March 4th, 2014, from businesscasestudies.co.uk: http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/business-theory/strategy/business-objectives-planning-and-stakeholders.html#axzz2v2QsaooB (n.d.). Retrieved March 4th, 2014, from businesscasestudies.co.uk: http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/teacher-resources/#axzz2v2QsaooB (n.d.). (K. Cherry, Producer) Retrieved March 5th, 2014, from psychology.about.com: http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/f/democratic-leadership.htm (n.d.). Retrieved March 5th, 2014, from edwardlowe.org: http://edwardlowe.org/digital-library/maintaining-employee-morale-during-setbacks/ (n.d.). Retrieved March 6th, 2014, from www.invo.org.uk: http://www.invo.org.uk/different-types-of-support/ (n.d.). (R. Bowett, Producer) Retrieved March 7th, 2014, from www.tutor2u.net: http://tutor2u.net/business/organisation/decisionmaking.htm (n.d.). (C. M. Brown, Producer) Retrieved March 8th, 2014, from www.inc.com: http://www.inc.com/guides/2010/10/7-tips-for-dealing-with-a-company-setback.html (Ducham)

I Love My Country Essay

I love my country. I am proud to be a Canadian. We live in a beautiful land; we have ample natural resources; we have a long peaceful history; we are a truly multicultural nation; we have made major contributions to the advancement of society; and we are, all in all, a great people. Canada is the second largest land mass on earth — and what a beautiful country it is! Surrounded by three oceans, it has an incredible variety of landscape. From the vast, pure, arctic north, to the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, to the prairies, through the rocky Canadian Shield, the fertile farmlands of southern Ontario and Quà ©bec, to the picturesque Maritime Provinces, Canada is amazing. Each region has its own beauty. Our cities are filled with exciting things to do; our small towns are welcoming and rich with history; our farmlands are abundant and peaceful. In my southern Ontario home, I can enjoy four beautiful seasons and, within little more than an hour, I can be experiencing the country’s largest city, resting along the shores of the Great Lakes, or hiking through wilderness trails. I cannot imagine anywhere else on earth with such beauty and diversity. Our amazing landscape also provides us with many natural resources, which we have learned to harvest. Hydro power from Niagara Falls, abundant forests and fish stocks, fertile farmland, rich oil fields — the list is long. We have more than enough to help ourselves and, along the way, we have ample opportunities to help the rest of the world. Our wealth gives us so many advantages and, I think, special responsibility in the â€Å"global village.† One of the things about Canada which makes me most proud is our peaceful history. Certainly, we have been involved in wars and, when necessary (such as in World War II), Canadian soldiers made a major difference. But the Canadian mentality is oriented towards peace. Our troops are peace-keepers, not aggressors. Our instincts are to resolve our problems through negotiations, not bloodshed. Both in our relationships with other countries and in our internal problems, we tend to avoid violence. Even in our most difficult divisions –around the treatment of native peoples and in the Quà ©bec separatist questions –violence is rare. It does happen; there are always people who will be extreme. But we have never had any all-out wars, and I doubt that we ever will. Our attitude towards peace also contributes to our relative safety. Of course, there are incidents of violence in Canada. The Montrà ©al massacre of 11 years ago and recent episodes of school violence come readily to mind. However, both our laws and our collective sensibility makes us less likely to experience violence. We don’t have to worry about being shot when we walk outside our doors. In an increasingly violent world, we can still feel safe and secure in our homes. I am particularly grateful for Canada’s diversity. Canada truly is a multicultural nation. In Canada, people of different colours, races and religions live together. We don’t have neighbourhoods which are defined as â€Å"white† or â€Å"black†. We learn from one another and, in my opinion, our lives are richer for the opportunity to share in such varied experiences. The world is also greatly enriched by the contributions of Canadians. A Canadian team, led by Drs. Banting and Best, discovered insulin. Another Canadian, Joe Naismith, created the game of basketball. Canadians invented the mechanical arm which is used on space shuttle missions. And, perhaps most importantly to all teenagers, one Canadian, Alexander Graham Bell, revolutionized communication with the invention of the telephone! Canadians have, as well, had a huge presence on the world stage. From diplomats such as Lester Pearson to entertainers such as Celine Dion, the world has come to know and love Canadians. But it’s not just the famous who make Canada special. Everywhere I go in this country, I meet wonderful, welcoming people. When I read the works of Canadian authors, watch Canadian television, read Canadian magazines, I know just how special our country is. Canada is my home, and I want it to stay the way that it is. I love this country and, at this difficult time, I am counting on those in powers in this country — the politicians and the adults who elect them — to believe that Canada IS worth saving, and to work to save it.

Making Sex Offenders Names Public

Amanda McCloskey â€Å"Making sex offenders names public. † Making sex offenders names public does have there ups and downs but i am totally for it. Sex offenders can be men or women it does not matter about what gender the sex offenders are because either way the adult is the one who is taking the innocents of a child. In most cases the child can know there sex offender.The reasons why i think that sex offenders name should be public are, the protection of both genders and children in the area, for the sex offenders names to be out there so they have to live with what they did, so that the people from the community can prevent it from happening again. Sex offenders are very dangerous and we really don't know when they are going to do it again. The first reason why i think sex offenders names should be public is for the protection of both genders and children in the area.Men and women can both sexually abuse someone. Sometimes when your walking by someone you never really thin k to yourself that the person you just walked by can actually be a sex offender. Sex offenders names are already public but the reason i am for it is because then people actually can try to prevent it by taking there time and looking through the list of sex offenders and what the person did, who is actually by them and live close to them. Both genders can still be harmful, or even harmed.This whole topic and situation is just scary to picture and talk about but personally it needs to be out there, and the sex offenders website for your state needs to be always updated. When your a child you never think that someone can actually do something that harmful for you and it is just sad. Any person has a right to know so that they actually have a chance to protect themselves. Thats one of the reasons why i think that sex offenders name should be public. The second reason why i think a sex offenders name should be public is so sex offenders name to be out there for everyone to see and so th ey have to live with what they did.Also because they won't be able to hide if someone ask them about it, for instants trying to get a job and lying about it. The thought of being sexually offended is scary and i personally don't think anyone would want to go through that. People who are sexually offending shouldn't be afraid to tell on the person, because a lot of the people who don't tell often who did to them might do it to someone else, and if they talk they can prevent it from happening again. I don't understand how an adult can take avenge of a person knowing that it is wrong.

Food and safety Essay

The Food Act 1984 requires all food business operators and food handlers to comply with the Food Safety Standards. Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Practices and General Requirements sets clear requirements for food businesses to make sure that food does not become unsafe or unsuitable. This Standard sets the requirements for all food handling activities within your business such as; the receipt of food, storage, processing, display, packaging, transporting, disposal and recall of food. The Food Safety Standards are enforceable under the Food Act 1984 and all food premises and food handlers must comply with these Standards. There are other accepted ways of meeting some of these standards, however the business must be able to show that the food will still be safe and suitable. (This may require scientific evidence.) It is important to remember that Standard 3.2.3 Food Premises and Equipment also needs to be complied with. This Standard sets clear requirements for food premises fixtures, fittings and equipment to reduce the risk of food contamination. This is only a guide to the requirements under the Standard. For full details you must check the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Food Safety Standards – Standard 3.2.2. For information on how to meet with the Standards refer to the FSANZ Safe Food Australia, A Guide to the Food Safety Standards on the FSANZ website www.foodstandards.gov.au Key requirements for Standard 3.2.2 Food handling skills and knowledge Notification Food receipt Food processing Food recall Health and hygiene Temperature control & thermometers General requirements Food Handling Skills and Knowledge Food businesses must make sure that all food handlers, and people who supervise food handlers, have the right skills and knowledge in food safety and food hygiene for the work they do. Refer to the ‘Food Handlers Food Safety Training’ fact sheet. Notification Requires you to notify Council of details about your business. This is covered by your registration. Food Handling Controls Temperature control Potentially hazardous foods include: Raw and cooked meat, poultry and meat products; Dairy products and foods containing dairy products; Seafood; Processed fruits and vegetables; Cooked rice and pasta; Processed foods containing eggs; beans, nuts and other protein-rich foods; foods that contain any of the above foods eg sandwiches and custard and cream filled baked goods. Generally the Standards require that potentially hazardous food is kept under temperature control which means below 5ï‚ °C and above 60ï‚ °C. Businesses need to limit the amount of time that potentially hazardous foods are kept in the ‘danger zone’ ‑ temperatures between 5ï‚ °C and 60ï‚ °C. Food receipt Food businesses must make sure that all food that they receive is safe and suitable. This means that you must make sure that: food is protected from contamination; food can be identified traced back to its supplier; food is at the correct temperature. (below 5ï‚ °C and above 60ï‚ °C or frozen) You can meet these requirements by completing the records and following the section(s) on Purchasing and Receipt, found in your Food Safety Program. Food storage During storage you must make sure that the safety and suitability of the food is kept. This means that: Food must be protected from contamination Food must be stored under correct environmental conditions eg lighting and humidity Potentially hazardous food must be stored under correct temperature. (below 5ï‚ °C and above 60ï‚ °C or frozen). You can meet these requirements by completing the records and following the section(s) on Storage, found in your Food Safety Program. Food processing Businesses must make sure that when processing food: Only safe and suitable food is processed Food must be protected from contamination There are no organisms present that can cause illness when the food is ready to eat. That potentially hazardous food is keep out of the ‘danger zone’ ‑ temperatures between 5ï‚ °C and 60ï‚ °C as much as possible. Some processing steps have clear requirements for example: Cooking Cooling Thawing Reheating Cooking Food must be cooked correctly and thoroughly to make sure that the food poisoning bacteria is killed and the food is safe to eat. Food that is cooked must be cooked to a temperature of at least 75ï‚ °C. Cooling Any potentially hazardous food that is hot must be cooled to 5ï‚ °C as quickly as possible to ensure that the food is safe. Cool food within two hours from 60ï‚ °C to 21ï‚ °C and within a further four hours from 21ï‚ °C to 5ï‚ °C. Thawing When thawing frozen food make sure that the food does not reach 5ï‚ °C or warmer. The ideal method of thawing food is in the refrigerator. Reheating Reheating of potentially hazardous food must be done quickly. Use a method that rapidly heats the food to 60ï‚ °C or above. You can meet these requirements by completing the records and following the section(s) on Preparation, Cooking, Cooling, Thawing, Heating etc, found in your Food Safety Program. Food display Businesses must make sure that when displaying food: Food must be protected from contamination, for example barriers, covering ready to eat foods such as cakes and muffins that are on counters and supervision. That potentially hazardous food is either kept under temperature control or time is used as the control to keep the food safe. As a guide, the 2 hour/4 hour rule is summarised below: If less than 2 hours the food must either be refrigerated or used immediately For longer than 2 hours, but less than 4 hours, must be used immediately For a total of 4 hours or longer, must be thrown out. If using the 2 hour/4 hour rule the business must be able to provide evidence of the times, eg tags with times marked. You can meet these requirements by completing the records and following the section(s) on Display, Hot Holding, Cold Holding and Service, found in your Food Safety Program. Food packaging Food businesses must make sure that when packaging food: the packaging material used is safe for food; the packaging material used is not likely to contaminate the food; the food is not contaminated during the packaging process. You can met these requirements by following the section on Packaging found in your Food Safety Program. Food transportation Businesses must make sure that food being transported is: protected from contamination; and that Potentially hazardous food must be transported at the correct temperature. (below 5ï‚ °C and above 60ï‚ °C or frozen) You can meet these requirements by completing the records and following the section(s) on Transportation, found in your Food Safety Program. Food disposal/recall Food that is recalled or that may not be safe or suitable, (refer to ‘Your Legal Requirements’ fact sheet), must be labelled and kept separate from the other food on the premises until such time that it can be dealt with correctly. Wholesale suppliers, manufacturers and importers must have a written recall system for the recall of unsafe food. Further information about recalls of food is available on the FSANZ website www.fsanz.gov.au You can meet these requirements by completing the records and following the section(s) on Recall, found in your Food Safety Program. Health and Hygiene requirements Food businesses must: inform the food handlers about their health and hygiene responsibilities; make sure that the food handlers do not handle food if they are unwell with an illness such as gastro, or other illnesses that can be passed on through food; provide sufficient handwashing facilities, refer to ‘Food Safety Standards Premises and Equipment’ fact sheet; make sure that food handlers on the premises do not contaminate food. Food Handlers Requirements: Food handlers must do everything they can to make sure that they do not contaminate food. They must wash their hands with soap and running warm water in the hand wash basin provided and then dry them using either a paper towel or air drier. Hand washing before handling food must be done regularly and whenever there might be the risk of contaminating food. They must not behave in any way that could cause contamination of food, for example smoking in food handling areas. Food handlers must inform their supervisor if they are suffering from; diarrhoea, vomiting, a sore throat with fever, fever or jaundice, any infected skin wound or discharges from their ears, nose, or eyes as these conditions could contaminate food. You can meet these requirements by completing the records and following the section(s) on Hygiene/Health of Food Handlers, found in your Food Safety Program. Cleaning, Sanitising and Maintenance Businesses must make sure that the food premises and vehicles are kept clean. Food contact surfaces, ie- chopping boards and preparation benches, must be cleaned and sanitised regularly or in between tasks to make sure that contamination of food does not occur. This also applies to the eating and drinking utensils. Sanitising can be achieved by; using hot water (77ï‚ °C at least), using a food grade sanitiser or diluted bleach. The premises, fittings and equipment must be kept clean and in a state of good repair. Chipped, cracked or broken utensils must not be used. Garbage must not be left to build up and must be removed regularly. Miscellaneous Temperature measuring devices Businesses that handle potentially hazardous food must have a probe thermometer that accurately measures to +/-1ï‚ °C. Some sections of your Food Safety Program will require you to take temperatures and record them. Single use items These include items that should be used only once such as; paper cups, straws, disposable gloves, take away containers etc. The Standard requires the business to make sure that single-use items: do not contaminate food; do not pass on any illness; and are not reused. The main ways to make sure that food is kept safe using single-use items includes: protecting the single use item with packaging or a container; using dispensers that will allow only the customer who will use the single use item to touch it; storing the single use item away from chemicals, in food storage areas; throw away the single-use item if it has been used, damaged, touched or in any way contaminated. Animals and pests Premises and vehicles must be kept free of animals and pests. No animals are allowed in food handling areas apart from live seafood. Assistance animals, such as guide dogs, are the only animals allowed in dining and drinking areas. For further information on pests, follow the section on Pest Control found in your Food Safety Program For further information about Food Safety Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Practices and General Requirements please contact your Environmental Health Officer (EHO) on 9658 8831/8815.

Comparative Study on the Origin of Religion Essay

Since the early 1800s, there had been an ample amount of skeptics trying to account for the origin of religion. The basic question on everybody’s mind was where does religion come from? Some believed that people developed religion because they didn’t understand the forces of nature around them. Others believe that religion was created as a way of restrain people. In the 19th century, people were introduced to social science and anthropologists who once studied primitive culture were exposed to several theories on the origin of religion. Edward B Tylor was one of the first who developed a theory on religion. Max Muller was a German professor at Oxford University whose interest included Indian mythology and the study of religion. Another anthropologist was George Frazer who key contributions to religious anthropology was a religious encyclopedia. There are many explanations to the origin of religion, one of the most prominent being Edward B. Tylor’s theory of animism. This theory is considered the foundation of the physical evolution of religion; two other influential religious anthropologists, Max Muller and James Frazer, also based their explanations of the origin of religion on nature. All three religious anthropologists are similar in the sense that they traced the evolution of religion in an attempt to figure out the origin of it but differ in the way they approach the concept of religion. Edward B. Tylor developed the theory of animism to help explain the most rudimentary form of religion. Animism is defined as the belief that attributes souls and spirits to humans, plants, animals and other entities. Animistic religious beliefs are well-known among primitive societies who were â€Å"so low in culture as to have no religious conceptions what so ever† (Tylor). Tylor considered animism as the most primitive phase in the development of religion. He believed that the reflection of dreams and the observation of death caused primitive people to develop the idea of souls and spirits. Tylor thought that primitive people believed that everything in nature had a soul within it. He hypothesized that a belief in animism led to the formation of a more generalized god and, eventually, the creation of monotheism. Animism ultimately led to the evolution of religion in the minds of the people. It led them to take something so simple as nature and use it to explain the natural phenomenon in their environment. A conflicting theory that uses the concept of evolution is that of Max Muller. Another theory of the origin of religion was developed by Max Muller. He believed that people first developed religion from the observation of nature. According to his theory, primitive people became aware of regularity of the seasons, the tides and the phases of the moon. Their response to these forces in nature was to personalize them†(Hopfe and Woodward). They personalized them through linguistics. Muller believed that development of religion was a cause of confusion in language (Goldsmith). There seems to be a divide between Muller and Tylor over the nature of the origin o f religion. Max Muller believed that the answer to the sole origin of religion could be found in the past and a person can trace its origin in the linguistic remnants in the Indo-European languages. Tylor thought that implementing an ethnological approach would be more successful than studying languages for answers of the origin of religion. Evolution of religion is evident in Muller’s theory because â€Å"they personified the forces of nature, created myths to describe their activities, and eventually developed pantheons and religions around them† (Hopfe and Woodward). By developing religions and pantheons from identifying the forces in nature is a clear sign of the evolution of religion in the human mind set. Even though their theories are different, the idea of evolution of religion in the human mind is evident in both Muller and Tylor’s theory. Sir James George Frazer, a fellow religious anthropologist, began developing his own theories on religion. Frazer believed that humans used magic as a way to control nature and the events around them and when that failed, they turned to religion. They used religion to control the events for a while and when religion failed they turned to science. Frazer’s theories were similar to those of Tylor. They both believed that the human mind developed in the same way as that of physical evolution.. Even though Frazer took a similar approach to Tylor in tracing the origin of religion, he modified Tylor’s theory and replaced Tylor’s theory of animism with his idea of magic. A similarity between Frazer and Tylor is that they both believed that religion began from an intentional method of describing and making sense of a strange world. Frazer replaces the idea that religion explains nature by introducing science as a substitute. Frazer’s approach to tracing the origin of religion is similar to that of Tylor and Muller since all three traced the evolution of religion in an attempt to figure out its origin. Both Muller and Frazer’s theory are similar to Tylor’s theory since both trace the origin of religion through the evolution of it but differ in the way they interpret religion. All three of them seemed to miss a vital element of religion which is that no one who practices religion is doing so to explain how the world works. People use religion for several reasons. Some use it to give meaning to their lives while others use it to enforce social order. Maybe all three anthropologists didn’t miss this key component but rather didn’t know about it due to the rapid evolution of religion.

Strategic Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Strategic Management - Case Study Example The history of Hyatt can be traced back to Los Angeles, in 1957, when Jay Pritzker bought the Hyatt House Motel, from Hyatt Roberts, and Jack Crouch. With the help of his baby brother Donald Pritzker, Jay managed the company to make it the fastest growing hotel in the US. Since 1957, Pritzker family has built and expanded the company and brands largely in USA, and around the globe. The thrust of the corporation’s activities is in the United States with it headquarters in Chicago, Illinois (Hyatt Hotels Corporation). From the company’s total revenue, 80% of the company revenues come from their US market. Today, Hyatt is a multibillion corporation that offers luxury and upscale segments around the world. Their brands include; Park Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Hotels, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt house, Hyatt place, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, and Hyatt Residence Club (Hyatt Hotels Corporation). The services are designed to bring out experiences attuned to the styles of living, values, attitudes, and aspirations of the consumers. Currently, the hotel has over 130,000 rooms and units, in over 549 hotels around the world. Hyatt corporation owns, franchises, develops, and manages Hyatt branded hotels, residential and vacation ownership properties, and resorts around the globe. Hyatt aspires to make a difference in the lives of people it touches by providing authentic service (Hyatt Hotels Corporation). The company also aims at becoming the preferred brand in each market segment they serve. Hyatt integrated strategy focuses on reinforcing preference for their brands by driving preferences among the company’s associates. Hyatt integrated strategy is to be the preferred distinctive brand, which is basically steered by four factors. For the corporation, we want to be leading global hospitality company. For customers and guests, the company wants them to always choose Hyatt. For employees, Hyatt aims to be

Darwin and Evolution Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Darwin and Evolution - Assignment Example Prior to Darwin, though some naturalists had speculated about modification of species, they failed to explain why and how species change. They also believed that evolution began with the special creation of only a fixed number of species. Partly influenced by Thomas Malthus' essay on the Principle of Population and stimulated by a letter from Alfred Russel Wallace, in 1859 Charles Darwin discussed in detail the evolution of species through natural selection in his famous work titled On the Origin of Species, which totally revolutionized the previous concepts of evolutionary biology. Natural selection refers to a process in which species compete and struggle for their survival according to the limited resources and conditions of their natural environment with different adaptive abilities. As individuals in a population are not same due to difference in inherited characteristics, nature only selects those individuals that are best suited to the environmental conditions, and thus rest o f the population dies over time. As all the offspring in a population acquire characteristics from their ancestors, produced more than nature can support and have different reproductive characteristics, only those organisms will survive that are better adapted to the living conditions. This means that organisms with higher reproduction ability will remain due to higher probability of their descendants to survive, and other will eventually become extinct due to less survival rate of their offspring with the passage of time. Since environmental conditions are different from place to place, there will be variation in characteristics of species at different locations. Darwin concluded that populations extending over large areas or through migration might have been isolated resulting in variation of their characteristics according to varying environments. Over long periods of time, they may have diverged or evolved into separate species different from each other. For instance, Darwin fou nd that finches he observed on the Galapagos Islands were similar to one another than they were to finches of the mainland. He also noticed that some varieties were only existent on the archipelago islands. So, he proposed that all species might have descended from a common ancestor and increase in number of species occurred through evolutionary natural selection over time rather than special creation. Question Two Darwin and other naturalists believed that variations among individuals of a species were due to mixing of traits from both male and the female. He was not aware of the heredity mechanism and different traits were regarded to be the result of blending of characteristics through generations over time. However, the concept of blending inheritance failed to describe the survival of variety as they descended through generations with time. It also failed to describe the maintenance of specific characteristics in varieties and that how new species would emerge through blending. It was 1866, when Gregor Mendel published his experimental findings on garden peas. To experiment with pure seeds, he selected a self pollinating plant. He experimented with garden peas that were different from each other in many characteristics such as their flowers were either red or white, had green or yellow seeds, and tall or dwarf. After cross-breeding generations having different characteristics, he observed that descendants from each cross possessed characteristics of only one of the parents and blending did not happen. Mendel concluded that instead of blending of certain fluids, heredity from parents was passed on to offspring through independent discrete units, particles or factoren, which were later termed as genes. The characteristic that appeared in a descendant after cross breeding was termed

Database Design Concepts British Insurance Company Assignment

Database Design Concepts British Insurance Company - Assignment Example The second screenshot illustrates the working of the function "Add new customer". When the system admin will click on the "Add new customer", he will be redirected to this page. The page will inquire about the following details. System Admin can also upload the picture of a customer. Once all the details have been provided, the admin will click on the "save" button in order to record the details in the database. The third screenshot illustrates the working of the Product's Section. When the system administrator will click on the "Products" button located at the in the main panel, he will be redirected to the Product's Section. Here, the admin will be able to add new Products, view existing Products, make a web search to update the product's details and delete a Product. An admin will also be able to perform a Product related search in the search box provided at the bottom of the page. When the admin will click on any of the buttons, he will be redirected to the related page.  Ã‚   Screenshot 2: This Screenshot shows the working of the Product module. A manager or admin of the system can add the new product, view existing products, delete a product or make a web search to gather details for the product through the buttons on the page. A manager or admin can also make a search for any query regarding the product to make a quick search. Screenshot 3 When the admin clicks on the button "Add new customer", he will be redirected to the "Add new customer" page. The admin has to enter the mentioned details and click on the "Save" button in order to create a new customer account. Task 2A: Data Dictionary: Table Field Type Field Size Field Description Customer Text Up to 500 characters The details of the customers will be stored in the Customer table Product Memo Up To 64,000 characters The details of the customers will be stored in the Customer table Quotation Text Up to 1000 characters The quotations made by the advisors will be saved in the quotations table Advisor T ext Up to 255 characters Names of the advisors will be saved in the advisor table Task 2B: The tool used to create the ER diagram is Microsoft Visio. ER Diagram: 5 entities have been considered in the ER diagram. The product entity contains the following attributes; Description, Product No., and Name. The Database Admin entity contains the following attribute; ID Number. The Customer entity contains the following attributes; Name, reg no, age, address, contract number, date and advisor. The quotation entity contains the following attributes; reg no, client name, advisor name, estimate, and date. Similarly, the web search entity will make searches for a product from the internet in order to update the details of a product.  

The Institution of Family in Transition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Institution of Family in Transition - Essay Example Quite simply stated, these writers portray suffering as a strengthening force, colonialism as a rationale for rebellion and the re-identification, even redefinition, of the nation and gender as an irrelevant determinant of capabilities and limitation as they proceed from a premise of gender equity. But how do we read such texts Current literary theory depersonalizes the literature. The critical theories of Bakhtin, Foucault, Kristeva, and Derrida manipulate the parameters for reading and analyzing these works. Even though their theories are critically important and will be used to shed light on the narratives, the study aims to expand its theoretical framework beyond them. The reason is that much is lost in narrowing the possibilities for conversation to gender, sex and the body. For this reason and in an attempt to move from minimalistic readings to the radical readings required to free such texts from theory which marginalizes the meaning it attempts to elucidate, the study will turn to Baktin, Focault and Said's concept of contrapuntal reading. This is a valid approach to textual interpretation and reading since it challenges the static quality of the politics of identity. In Culture and Imperialism (1993) Said expands on ideas he had initiated in his earlier seminal work, Orientalism (1978). Said argues that rather than engaging in literary criticism that divides and separates along the lines of identities - race, class, gender, and sexuality - those identities should be recognized but not polarized. Said views these identities as special but part of overlapping and interconnected experiences. Rather than reading texts separately and isolating them according to its special history of identity, Said suggests that texts be read from a comparative, or contrapuntal, perspective. we must be able to think through and interpret together experiences that are discrepant, each with its particular agenda and pace of development, its own internal formations, its internal coherence and system of external relationships, all of them coexisting and interacting with others (Said 32). Said emphasizes the importance of recognizing the interdependence of various histories on each other, such as slavery, Islamic fundamentalism, and the caste system, as well as the interaction of contemporary societies with each other, such as the United States, South Africa, Egypt, Lebanon and India. Thus, in the act of reading, the reader must place the text in both its historical and current situation and place the texts in conversation with each other for the purpose of a deeper understanding of oneself and others. In other words, contrapuntal reading requires a perspective beyond one's own national borders, or landscape, into a universal perspective, where a collective memory represents the whole rather than the fragmented. In formulating a strategy for reading postcolonial texts, the study adheres to Baktin, Focault and Said's concept of contrapuntal reading. But before such an approach can be formulated, it is necessary to

Class Discussion cis 242 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Class Discussion cis 242 - Essay Example Operators and values are used to define a condition. The operators can be Relational and Logical operators that are used to compare two values; however, Logical operators are also used to combine two or more conditions. An example is given below for illustration of decision making structure using conditions, operators and values: /* â€Å"&&† a logical operator used to compare two conditions, the first condition is either â€Å"a† is greater than â€Å"10† and the second condition is either â€Å"a† is less than 20. If both the conditions get true, the â€Å"statements (A)† will be executed and if anyone of the conditions gets false, the â€Å"statements (B)† will be executed. As â€Å"&&† (and) logical operator has been used, therefore, both the conditions need to be true to execute â€Å"statements (A)†. Boolean operators have significance importance in C++, as these can be used in the conditions to determine either the condition is true or false. In programming, you need decision making structures that are based on conditions, whereas in the conditions we use Boolean operators. The above example explains the conditions along with Boolean Operators in detail. Loops are used to add excitement to roller coaster in amusements parks such as Six Flags. :D Just kidding of course, but in C++, they do the same kind of thing: Start at one point, execute some code, then end up back at where you started. They are useful for when you need to execute a piece of code multiple times. The different loop commands have the same basic function, but execute slightly differently. The while command is the simplest of the loops.Just like we say when we talk while (this) is true, do (this). For example: While the TV is on, I will watch it. Once the TV goes off, I will stop watching it. A good use of while is when asking for an entry, check to see that one of the expected entries is the one that the user used. The while loop checks to see if the condition is true before it

EMAS Advantages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

EMAS Advantages - Essay Example The System depth gradually increases as the airplane travels into the arrestor crib, providing increasing deceleration when needed by faster or heavier aircraft. Aircraft run out distance gets determined by the airplane bed configuration size, weight and speed (Richard de Neufville, 2003). At most commercial airfields, the RSA remains 500 feet wide extending 1000ft beyond each runway end. The FAA has this requisite in an event that an airplane of the overruns, undershoots, or swings off the sides of the runway (Richard de Neufville, 2003). The greatest danger of these incidents remain overruns, but since many airdromes got built before the 1000ft RSA length got adopted 20 years ago, the range beyond the runway end remains where many airdromes cannot achieve the full RSA standard. This is due to complications such as water bodies, highways, railroads and severe drop-off of terrain or populated areas (Richard de Neufville, 2003). The FAA devours a high - priority program of enhancing safety by advancement of the RSA at commercial airports and provides federal aid to support those advancements. However, it still can not be feasible for some airports to attain the RSA standard. The FAA, perceptive that it would be hard to achieve a RSA standard at every airport, began steering research in the end of 20th century to determine how to guarantee maximum safety at airdromes where the full RSA may not be obtained. Working in performance with the Dayton University, the New York Port Authority and the ESCO (Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation) the new technology developed to provide an additional measure of safety (Richard de Neufville, 2003). This system remains a cost - effective approach of improving safety where the runway safety area distance stays limited by site circumstances. The range of airplane operating at each airfield and available overrun distance in each runway gets

Biotanicals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Biotanicals - Essay Example Along with their continued use as a spice, many are processed for sale as dietary and medicinal supplements. Two of these spices, garlic and turmeric, have been used by healers for centuries and their use continues today as science confirms and unlocks the mysteries behind their healing powers. Garlic and turmeric have both received increased attention in recent years as science has studied their healing properties. They are interesting healing agents as they have been used for over two thousand years in Chins, India, and throughout Asia. In addition, recent scientific studies have confirmed the positive effects of garlic and turmeric, while demonstrating the underlying mechanisms by which they work. They are also of a culinary importance and are common spices that are found in many home kitchens today. With a basic understanding of their qualities and the associated health benefits, garlic and turmeric can be incorporated in just about anyones diet. Garlic, a pungent bulb, is a spice often associated with Italian cooking, but its value goes beyond its pleasant flavor. It has been used by the ancient Egyptians and has been known by just about every civilization as a curing and healing agent (Rivlin 713S). According to Amagase, "It prevents cold and flu symptoms through immune enhancement and exhibits anticancer and chemopreventive activities" (716S-717S). It is theorized that garlic fortifies the immune system by reducing free radicals or diminishing the negative impact that they have on the body. (Amagase 722S). However, it should be noted that the health benefits of garlic typically require a long term supplemental use, and is considered preventative rather than therapeutic (Amagase 721S). Garlics health benefits to the immune system are best acquired through the regular consumption of garlic or its derivatives. Garlic not only enhances the immune system, but recent studies have indicated

Narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Narrative - Essay Example In June 13, 1775, Leaders of the Colonial forces had collected intelligence that the British troops were planning to march Boston and occupy the surrounding hills. Consequently, 1,200 colonial troops under the control of William Prescott engaged Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill and they formed fortifications for a sudden and unexpected attack. From the beginning, American troops had marked remarkable victory against British Army and the British troops lost â€Å"over a third of the attacking forces, with a high number of commissioned officers, which was shocking news† (Maps of world.com). After the initial crisis, British Army powerfully returned to the battlefield and they captured the Hill and its surroundings completely. Absence of modern weapons and organized war strategies paved the way for unexpected turn in the battle. Death of Major John Pitcairn had pressed the revolutionary forces to withdraw from battlefield. In addition, Colonists failed to overcome the presence of ammu nition. Accompanied with modern weapons bayonet-equipped instruments British Army detained the upper hand. More than 115 American revolutionists were killed, 305 wounded and 30 captured. In case of Britain, 226 were killed and more than 800 wounded in the battle. Historians have identified number of reasons behind the battle related with politics, administration, problem of representation and taxation. The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed unnecessary taxes among the colonists and they were forced to pay taxes for necessary things. Mary Englar observes that ‘Many Colonists claimed Great Britain didn’t have the right to tax them’ (Englar 8). Similarly, Colonists had faced severe identity crisis and they did not get representation in administration. Another important reason is that Britain established some provoking military reforms in Boston and its surrounding areas and these military

A review of the literature on the effectiveness of acupuncture on Essay

A review of the literature on the effectiveness of acupuncture on chronic neck pain - Essay Example This effect however was not found to be clinically significant. The design of the study was a randomised, single-blind, placebo controlled, parallel-arm trial. The sample of participants was selected from two outpatient departments in the UK, with a total of 124 study participants in total completing the trial. The participants selected were between 18 and 80 years old, and were all selected on the criteria of having chronic, mechanical neck pain. The study was measured on an outcome basis, with the primary outcome being continued pain after one week of treatment. Secondary outcomes were pain at other time points, score on the neck disability index and the Short Form-36, and use of analgesic medications. Patients received either 8 treatments with acupuncture over the space of 4 weeks or 8 treatments of mock transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupuncture points. While the acupuncture was found to be effective in relieving the neck pain, it was found not to be clinically signific ant as the placebo group were also found to improve from the baseline. Based on the primary outcome of pain one week after beginning treatment, the study found only a 12% better improvement in those receiving acupuncture than those receiving the placebo. This small percentage was not deemed to be clinically significant despite being classed as statistically so. There were recognised to be limitations in the study, however. Although the treatments were all carried out by one practitioner, the control did not mimic the process of needling, which may have affected the credibility of the placebo. There was also no control by means of a non-intervention group, which could have been used to measure the significance of the treatment in comparison to patients having received no treatment at all for the neck pain. The study did not make any assessment to the safety of the procedure. Overall from this study, it would be concluded that acupuncture is not effective enough in treatment of

Analyzing Concepts of Love Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Analyzing Concepts of Love - Essay Example However, the same individuals that have been in a relationship for long cannot explain the meaning of love. Some individuals believe in the fact that love emanates from friendship that has cultivated trust and assurance. On the other hand, others believe that having someone special and cultivating love is a matter of luck. Worse still, others do not recognize that love does not exist, and may not have any term to explain it. Buttrose (pp.43) argues that despite the definitions that are concluded by researchers, the concept of love cannot be alienated from the life of human beings. According to Buttrose (pp.17) love is not only patient and generous, but also does it not brag of its doings. Through love, individuals are able to seek the truth that surpasses all selfish attributes of either party. Love shields the other partner from love, in an attempt to bring out the best in them. In this context, therefore, it is palpable to argue that, love must hope for the best for all individuals and should direct them towards achieving the best in their own potentiality. On another angle, other analysts argue that, individuals must be cautioned against falling in love, but maintain the aspect of staying steadfast in love, for love can be described as a dream that is likely to come true if good grounds are cultivated. Buttrose (pp.113) argues that love exists between two individuals or even more than two persons. Through love, a form of bonding is created between the involved parties. This is boosted by the commitment and zeal portrayed by the two parties in an endeavor to build love. This is an indication that, love is a feeling that creates bonding of trust, which may lead to familiarity and interdependence between the two individuals. Love in this context, is a reaction that, consoles the soul, and in a layman’s term, ‘brings a smile to the two parties’. Love is an emotion that needs to be experienced, in order to feel it. Over the years, it has prove n an uphill task to measure the depth of one’s love towards somebody or something. In the instance of motherly love, this kind of love cannot be put on a weighing scale. This love is unconditional and keeps on thriving with time. This kind of love is referred to as filial love that displays magnitude of attachment between the mother and child. Alternatively, there exists agape love that emanates from God. This kind of love is exceptional and cannot be compared to that of any other individual anywhere in the world. Love has been described as a form of magic. Just like magic can be created, the same way does love. This can only be proven if the individual focuses on the strengths of their partners and work towards boosting the ability of their partners to portray pleasant attributes. In this case, the two individuals are able to fit in the other person’s world as well as, identify the other party’s weaknesses. Each individual possesses good attributes and it only takes help and optimism of another person to cultivate these positive attributes. Just like the saying of ‘love all’ indicates, in this context, love can be defined as a magic that exits between two persons that have the ability to grow and mature. Love can be described as a long journey by two concerned parties. It is undoubted that a journey must be entangled with a myriad of issues. The major form of love that seems to face

Contemporary Middle East History (US INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ) Essay

Contemporary Middle East History (US INVOLVEMENT IN IRAQ) - Essay Example The incidents of September 11, 2001 drawn the attention of the public, legislators, and analysts on identifying, under disastrously altered conditions, the political and policy purpose of the U.N. charter’s declaration in Article 2(1), which designates the â€Å"sovereign equality of its Members† (Weis et al. 2004, 232). This was specifically true provided that the attacks were at that point bound for at the global solitary superpower, whose instinctive comeback was to bring its bear its armed forces, also its economic and political powers, and to formally oblige itself to a permanent war against any act of terrorism. As anyone would have thought, the early tendency of the United States, involving the bulk of its population, was to take in response directly and without using up time on widespread multilateral discussions. However, the body of states at the United Nations articulated advocacy for self-defense procedures in the Security Council and General Assembly in September 2001. And the moment the instigators of the attack were named, the U.S. labored significantly through multilateral channels in chasing Al Qaeda in their temporary defensive fortification in Afghanistan, and the Taliban administration that harbored them. Since the collapsing of the latter, legislators have been looking for reasonable next move in the war on terrorism (Crane & Terrill, 2003). It is at this point in time that matters of rightful response to September 11 become more difficult. The war on Iraq apparently became section of the war on terrorism through evasion, and U.S. decision and action took in a focal point in the debate regarding the use and applicability of multilateral channels, including the U.N. The resulting disagreement over self-autonomy, human rights and war at times appeared to neglect the development of the previous five decades (ibid, 105). There are still questions regarding the factors that persuaded

Achilles' Rejection of Agamemnon's Offer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Achilles' Rejection of Agamemnon's Offer - Essay Example Greeks heroes were known to perform heroic deeds, and Achilles is an opposite of this. He could have used the opportunity to accept the offer and show his heroism. His action of refusing to participate in the battle stained his heroic code of honor as both his friends, and the Greeks questioned whether he was a patriot to his country (Homer & John, 345). Known by the public as a great fighter, Achilles act of refusing to participate in the battle is an irony. Therefore, all the happenings that took place in the war were blamed on him because, as a warrior, he had refused an honorable settlement and allowed his pride to destroy his nation (Homer & John, 350). In conclusion, the act of Achilles in refusing reconciliation was a wrong act since the result was the fall of Greek and death of other talented fighters. Pride is a healthy aspect for self-image, but when in-excess, it becomes a tool of

Un-American Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Un-American - Essay Example The altered political ideology following the communist expansionism of the ‘Cold War’ had domestic repercussions in American society. The stage was set by F.D. Roosevelt, who conceded control over post-war Eastern Europe to the Soviet Union, granting â€Å"moral legitimization to what Stalin had acquired by sheer force† (Nisbet, qtd. in Maltsev and Simpson, 15). The subsequent race for nuclear supremacy, and the policy of ‘Mutually Assured Destruction,’ â€Å"inspired widespread fear of impending nuclear war† in Americans, who built bomb shelters in their backyards (Foner, 891). This let the â€Å"sweeping tide of anti-communism† (Pike, Global Security organization web site) engulf America. Any criticism of American society was construed to be ‘Un-American.’ Senator McCarthy’s witch-hunts made ‘McCarthyism,’ with its connotation of ‘unsubstantiated accusations of disloyalty’, a dominant theme of the 1950’s. America of the 1950’s witnessed â€Å"the twentieth century’s greatest citizens’ movement – the black struggle for equality† (Foner, 899). The rigid racial boundaries of the previous decade persisted in post-war America. The new suburban landscape was racially segregated, and reinforced by methods, such as ‘block-busting’ (Foner, 863). Jim Crow laws flourished in the South. The American judiciary led the assault on racial discrimination. In 1944, the US Supreme Court ruled racial segregation unconstitutional in public schools. Rosa Parks’ defiance led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and Martin Luther King burst upon the scene with his charismatic leadership. Despite strong resistance, America’s march towards a truly equal, ethnically integrated society began in earnest. Economically and culturally, the 1950’s gave a new definition to ‘the American way of life.’ Most significantly, â€Å"consumerism replaced economic freedom and democratic participation as central definitions

Haircuts Case Study Essay Example for Free

Haircuts Case Study Essay Strategic Business Area to Improve through IT. The most important aspect of the haircutting business model that can be improved in UMUC Haircut situation has to be customers (customer demand). The entire profit model revolves around two truth. The first is that people want to come get haircuts here at UMUC. Second, these customers will be repeat customers at a rate that facilitates profit. In order to meet both of  these goals for profit the use of a comprehensive scheduling tool is needed to both benefit customers and manage employees. A cloud-based open schedule application allows for simple transparency and has a secondary feature of using old scheduling data to form a more profitable business model. Being able to have a constantly evolving schedule provides the perfect amount of flexibility for Myra Morningstar. Specific Solution To best apply information technology to the scheduling problem a robust program will be developed. This programs first major feature is that it will be cloud based. So for a 7 day work week there will be open hourly blocks that can be filled with customer appointments. These blocks are of course able to be filled at the main counter on the central computer in the system but can also be filled via the web. Customers will be able to submit request for blocks which will be approved by management. At the same time, in the same program these blocks will correspond to individual chairs, in the sense that the chair represents an available stylist being able to perform the styling or cut. This program will be real time so that everyone is one the same page. Ultimate control will fall on Myra Morningstar. The program will run through the UMUC Haircut website. IT Infrastructure Requirements Services- Myra and staff will be required to learn and manage this program. Although not overly complicated it will require dedication of use to be successful. It will be tempting to use the paper scheduling method but this will need to be cut out. The initial construction of the program and subsequent upgrades to the program will be the work of a clever programer for hire and should not require constant technical support. Hardware- Any internet connected device will be able to access to the program. It would be a sound investment to have a small command terminal or server inside the store able to handle backing up this data constantly and allows a level of redundancy. (To both handling the data and backing it up) Software- A application will have to be purchased or designed to facilitate this online scheduling. An example of a pre-existing software package would be Appointment-plus, this service already includes customer self-booking. Telecommunications- A high-speed internet connection will be required at all times so that the program can communicate changes back and forth at all times. This need can be handled by fiber-optic or a dsl network from a local provider. Most of the information here will be data. Facilities- The main desk computer station will be the facility for housing the center server. This software, if uniquely designed for UMUC Haircuts will be entirely in-house but if a generic version it is applied it will be managed from that companies facility. How Online Scheduling will Improve the Process. As UMUC Haircut conducts business now there is no single method for managing both employee staffing times and customer appointments. Customers have to come in or use the phone to schedule an appointment or come for a walk in unsure of availability. This new program will allow for the front desk, all the stylist, and customers to access the scheduling tool at all times. This will stream line the process of getting into a chair and cut down on the almost guess method of scheduling employees. Online Scheduling Impact on Generic Strategy. The generic strategy goal that is strived for at every step in this process is Broad Market/High Value-to-Cost Ratio. With an affective online scheduling tool more customers will be able to access appointment opportunities that fit their schedule. This gives them the ability to plan ahead. at the same time the scheduling application also cuts down on the hours that stylist are getting paid even though there are no appointments. Being able to cut down on these wasted hours will make the cost drop which will indirectly rase the Value Ratio. Reaching more people online, at a  cheaper price will be the driving force to adopt an online solution for scheduling. References: Schmidt, M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.businesscaseanalysis.com/business.html http://www.appointment-plus.com/product/how_it_works.php

Cash Management Essay Example for Free

Cash Management Essay Cash management techniques are an important part of managing finances. It is impossible to see your money grow if there are not methods in place to make the most of the money that you have. A good start to cash management is budgeting, which is the process of tracking money in and out to get a better idea of how money is really being spent. A budget identifies where the money is going and where adjustments can be made to decrease expenses or increase revenue. Along with budgeting, it is important to track expenses in order to know how much money is being spent. Expenses can be divided into categories such as office supplies, rent and utilities. Once you have the expenses clearly laid out ways to decrease the expenses can be found which will allow the company to save money. One easy way to save on office supplies is to buy in bulk or buy direct from a distributer. This will get you a lower price for the items then at retail store and can help save money. Another example is with companies that have vehicles. Gas companies offer discount cards which could be used with all their purchases to save money. Additionally, companies that operate fleets of vehicles may benefit from contracting with a gas supplier to get their gas at a greatly discounted rate. Investing is a great way to make your money generate more funds. This can be done by investing the money in various ways to allow it to generate interest. The more money you invest or the higher yield accounts that the money is in the more you will get in return. For individuals, investing in a 401(K) plan at work is a great way to save money for the future. This money can be deducted directly from the paycheck before it is received and invested into the account. Some companies will even match the money that is deposited into the account or match a percentage of the money. This helps the account grow even more. Having the money deducted from the paycheck before it is received is helpful because that money isn’t missed. It was taken out before the check was received and doesn’t have to be calculated into a family’s budget. Companies can invest their money into bonds which will generate interest and return for the company. Additionally, they could invest it in the stock market or other markets and savings accounts where they can get a return for the money. This helps the companies increase their cash and their wealth. In addition to investing, companies need to make sure they are collecting on accounts. When they have accounts that are past due, companies are losing money and this money needs to be regained. The accounting department of a company needs to keep close watch on the accounts and identify the ones that are not being paid. These accounts need to be collected in order to minimize the loss of income for the company. Lines of credit are necessary when there is a decrease in cash flow. This could be due to a slow month with a decrease in revenue or income as well as an increase in expenses. Companies and individuals need a way to cover expenses when the cash is limited. Credit plays an important role at this point. For the individual there are credit cards and home equity loans to help cover expenses when the cash isn’t available. These options however should be used sparingly as it is best not to use credit and credit can be maxed out if an individual is spending more than their income. Companies can use lines of credit to help cover additional expenses or regular expenses when cash flow is limited. One example of credit used by a company is a short term loan. This can provide the business with extra liquid cash that they can use to make ends meet at the time and will have to be paid back in the following months. Like with the individual, if a company is using loans frequently they will find themselves in debt and unable to repay it. At this point the company needs to reevaluate the structure of the company and identify ways to decrease their expenses. Generating additional income is important because you want to maximize the amount of money being brought in while minimizing the money going out. The individual person can maximize the money coming in by working extra hours at work or getting a second job. If a person has a unique skill they can market themselves in their free time to make money from that skill such as sewing or construction. Companies can generate more income by increasing marketing campaigns or expanding into new sales markets to generate more money in return.

Instant coffee market in Japan

Instant coffee market in Japan Nestlà © has dominated the instant coffee market in Japan for a number of years, however, during the 1960s; canned coffee became more popular in Japan. Nestlà © overlooked this chance to gain more of the market share and branded canned coffee as a coffee-flavoured drink, so did not to enter the market. Kirin Beer, Nestlà ©s partner at the time, broke off its relationship with Nestlà © after they refused to enter the canned coffee market. This increased Coca Colas chances and they entered the market with Georgia, especially for this part of the Japanese market. Coca-Cola managed to secure 40% of the canned coffee market in Japan by utilising its existing distribution channel. Nestlà © only entered the market in the early 1990s and has only a 4% share, through a partnership with Otsuka Beverage [1, 2]. In 1991, Otsuka Beverages Nescafà © Canned Coffee sold 50 million cases (30 cans per case) from September to October and around 70 million individual cans from September to Novembe r. In the beginning, the individual canned coffee product was mostly placed on Japan-Rail kiosks throughout Japan. By entering the canned coffee market Otsuka created much competition between already existing brands; such as Coca-Cola group (Georgia) and beer group (Suntory, Kirin and Asahi) who had already achieved a great deal of market share [3]. However, Table 1 shows that Nestlà ©s market share for canned coffee products in 2005 remained at less than 10% [4]. The Japanese accepted Nestlà © instant coffee, which in turn helped them to be the dominant coffee product in Japan. Nevertheless, to compete with soft drinks they launched a new canned coffee that was not accepted by the Japanese like instant coffee, this was because to the Japanese it was just a coffee flavoured drink rather than a can of real coffee. Nestlà © spends approximately 1% of its annual sales revenue on Research and Development (RD) and in 2006 had 3,100 employees dedicated to this department. Around 70% of the RD budget is spent on development initiatives that focus on developing products and processes that fulfil market needs [1]. Analysis of the status quo of the Japanese RTD Market A report by AgExporter, in October 1992 found that Japan is the worlds largest market for ready-to-drink (RTD) canned coffee [5], which gives foreign firms a good opportunity for investment. In 1991, the Japanese consumed a total of $7.3 billion worth of canned coffee products, this accounted for roughly a quarter of all canned beverage sales [5]. The market reached a value of $16 billion in 2003, having grown with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9% in the years 1999-2003 [6]. A reason for canned coffees popularity is how it is easily adapted to each seasons temperature. Through the colder winter months, consumers favour hot canned coffee to soft drinks, beer, fruit juices, milk [5] and other cooler drinks. In the hotter summer months, cold canned coffee is preferred. A Japanese trade publication showed that sales of canned coffee were roughly evenly split between summer and winter months [5]. Another reason for the rapid growth in sales of RTD coffee is due to the extensive distribution in vending machines. About 70-80% of total sales of canned coffee are sold via vending machines according to the Japan Soft Drink Bottlers Association. The other 20-30% is sold in convenience stores and supermarkets [5]. Negotiation of strong product distribution through vending machines is particularly important in the Japanese soft drinks market. Almost three quarters of all canned coffee is sold via vending machines [5]. Graphs 1 and 2 show sales of RTD coffee have been declining since 2003, however in 2010 for Coca-Cola (Graph 1) the trend begins to rise whilst Nestlà © (Graph 2) continues to decline [7]. RTD coffee was not the only soft drink to suffer a loss in 2009; the losses were mainly a result of the recession and a shorter summer, which forced many consumers to cut back on spending on unnecessary goods. Chained coffee shops also reported a significant fall in customer numbers through 2009. This caused many Japanese consumers to use thermal flasks to take coffee to work [8]. Graph 1 [7] Graph 2 Graph 2 [7] Coca-Cola (Japan) Co Ltd remains the leader in RTD coffee, accounting for 24% off-trade volume share (see Table 2) and 27% off-trade value share (see Table 3) in 2009. The company benefits from its strong and well-targeted marketing campaigns. The companys strong branding also helped to sustain demand, with its Georgia brand enjoying a high profile. Coca-Cola accounted for almost double the off-trade value share of its nearest competitor in RTD coffee in 2009, with Suntory Holdings Ltd lagging behind at 13.8% off-trade value share in 2009 [8]. Even though there are policies in place that deter foreign companies, they do have some strengths that can be used to get a foothold in the Japanese market, including lower costs for product ingredients, packaging and labour [5]. Even though exporters have advantages, there are factors they should take into account when thinking of investing in the Japanese market. These factors include potential distributors, importers, retailers, vending machine manufacturers and operators to confirm that product packaging is compatible with equipment specifications, government labelling and sanitation standards, and consumer expectations [5]. Even though there are standards that need to be met, in recent years, the Japanese government has slackened a number of regulations and structural trade barriers, making it easier for foreign companies to enter into Japan. However, there are legal, business and cultural obstacles that remain. Among these are tariffs, food sanitation and labelling laws and Japans complex distribution system. Strict limitations have been placed on the use of certain food colourings, preservatives and additives that have to be avoided in canned coffee products [5]. Packaging All products sold in Japan must have the correct labelling. Labels for imported beverages must include the following information: Product name Raw materials used, including additives Date of manufacture or processing Name and location of manufacturer or processor [5] Nearly all leading brands use steel cans for their canned coffee, although a number of companies use aluminium cans, steel cans are favoured because they are sturdier and not as expensive. Non-carbonated beverages often come in aluminium cans that are more prone to denting; packaging is an important issue to address when selling via vending machine since Japanese consumers will reject dented cans. The most common serving sizes for canned coffee products are 150 grams, 190 grams, 250 grams and 350 grams [5] with the most popular being the 250 gram can. However, increased costs of production and ingredients have forced many manufacturers to switch to the smaller 190-gram can but still charge the same price. An increase in product quality is usually the main reason for using the smaller can size; this bodes well with the Japanese consumers who often perceive quality over quantity. Pull-tabs are featured on most brands of canned coffee; however, push-tab cans are gaining in popularity be cause of growing environmental concerns [5]. Most of the major canned coffee manufacturers own their own vending machine networks. Using this, manufacturers can maintain complete control over vending distribution of their products [5]. By working with major vending operators, this will provide foreign firms with an understanding of the Japanese vending machine business and provide assistance for things like product design, packaging, test marketing and strategic planning [5]. The success or failure of a foreign canned coffee product in Japan may well depend on the selection of an appropriate operator [5]. In Japan, trade shows are quite frequent and popular; they provide an excellent opportunity for exporters to introduce products to potential distributors and retailers. These events also offer exporters a chance to gather information about market conditions and products manufactured by Japanese and other foreign companies [5]. Other sources of information that are available and will aid foreign companies are trade journals and publications, which are a key source of information on product and market developments. Advertising published in these journals and publications can help product manufacturers find suitable business support services [5]. Re-launching Nestlà © RTD Coffee In 2004, Nescafà © Santa Marta, from Nestlà © Japan Group was introduced that is made with 100% Santa Marta coffee beans it was produced in 190g cans and cost  ¥115. Another two versions for Nescafà © Santa Marta were also introduced one was called UP and the other BREAK. UP was advertised to retain a just-brewed coffee taste and sharp bitterness and comes in a red can, and BREAK was advertised as a perfect way for loosening the tension and is sold in a blue can. Like the original, both come in 190-gram cans and cost  ¥120 each [9, 10]. Ways of rebranding Nestlà © RTD coffee include retaining the taste and aroma of freshly brewed coffee, making canned coffee healthier, increasing the range of coffee types, and giving canned coffee a more premium image. (See Appendix 1 for PEST analysis and Appendix 2 for SWOT analysis). By rebranding Nestlà © RTD coffee, it will help to give a fresh look, which will aid in attracting new customers potentially from competitors and new possible employees. Another advantage is to differentiate even more from competitors, and because the RTD coffee-market it slowly becoming saturated, rebranding will help boost sales and increase brand image. Possible rebranding of the two products BREAK and UP could include renaming the product followed by a slogan but still promoting that one boosts energy and one relaxes you. Renaming and redesigning each one would give the illusion of a brand new product to existing and potential consumers. Examples of rebranding BREAK could be Onsen followed by the slogan Relax, and an example for UP could be Boost with the slogan Kick start your day. Using a variety of Japanese words within the product names across the range would help attract various consumer groups. Words such as Onsen would more likely attract the older consumers who after a long day at work just want to relax, but changing the word to Karaoke coffee Keeping you in tune would most likely attract the younger consumers. Another aspect of rebranding RTD coffee is too look and choose the release of the coffee carefully as different seasons can help promote different coffees, especially if the name also includes something relative to a particular season. For instance a RTD coffee named Sakura Be one with nature would probably get the most attention and largest sales during the spring months, when the Sakura are in bloom, another seasonal coffee for the winter months, with the name Mountain Top that can promote coffee with cream. Another key factor in rebranding a product is the dominant colour in the design. For Nescafà © their brand colour is red, when combined with white it then portrays the national colours of Japan, this could be another factor in helping attract the consumers attention. Another role that colours play in rebranding is, when used correctly then can give products a premium look along with a highly impactful design of youth and vitality. Giving the product a more premium image will help consumers distinguish the product from competitors and make them realise it is not just another canned coffee. The product name once again comes into effect, giving the coffee a name of honour and meaning could help in rebranding a product as premium, example names could include Emperor Coffee Respect the taste and Samurai Coffee A cut above the rest. Even though rebranding can make the can look more prominent, another aspect is to go back to the roots of Nescafà © and make the coffee can simple yet effective. By replicating the instant coffee colour scheme and design onto the can, it would help the consumer to see that the same coffee goes into both the instant and into the canned coffee products. With Nestlà © dominating the instant coffee market, this strategy could help boost sales of the canned coffee. Using a name like Nescafà © Simple Anywhere, Anytime and the brand colour of red would be one way of promoting this strategy. By researching things that are, Japanese and things that the Japanese respect can aid in a successful rebrand of RTD coffee. The Japanese are very passionate about luck from good luck charms to New Year good luck predictions. Using the category of luck RTD coffee can help gain consumer loyalty and additional consumers. One way of promoting luck and RTD coffee is to change the name to Lucky and incorporating the kanji symbol hachi into the design. Using these two factors another can be added, the use of lucky ring pulls with this different items can be won such as a free can of Lucky if a ring pull is red, or by collecting a certain number of green ring pulls this would allow the consumer to trade them in for a unique mug. The mugs design can promote an upcoming film/anime or perhaps to look kawaii, which is highly popular in Japan. In order to keep consumers and bring in potential new ones from such areas as business people and teenagers canned coffee with the name Inspire may help, as this name has the possibility to motivate people after drinking it. By making canned coffee healthier, it may help attract consumers away from other healthy soft drinks such as green tea; ways of achieving a healthier coffee is decreasing caffeine content or making a caffeine-free version. This method can attract consumers who want to achieve or maintain a healthy lifestyle; this form of rebranding will most likely be successful especially in todays more health-conscious society. One possible problem with zero/low caffeine coffee which needs to be addressed is that the coffee must still maintain the real coffee taste which is present from freshly brewed coffee, however if this problem can be overcome then the firm will stand a good chance of gaining a higher market share. Another method that is being adopted to create a healthier RTD coffee is the use of polyphenol coffee, which contains caffeic acid, which aids the body by acting as an anti-oxidant [11]. If Nestlà © were to incorporate the Nescafà © Green Blend into a canned coffee version, this i s would maximises the anti-oxidants thus creating a more healthy canned coffee variety, this would allow Nestlà © to tap into the healthy RTD coffee market [12]. Nestlà © Japan Ltd increased its focus on health positioning in its advertising in early 2010, showing the entry into new area for a product type that traditionally has not been associated with health and wellness. In November 1994, a report was published which showed that only 20% of the sales of canned coffee was bought by women; they often favour unsweetened coffee so often visit coffee shops for black coffee, this is due to a majority of women being calorie-conscious so black coffee is preferred [14]. In 2006 infoPLANT carried out a survey about canned coffee, which looked at consumerism and packaging. Over a week at the start of October 6,480 successfully completed the survey, with 65.7% of the respondents being female. Graph 3 shows how often the respondents purchased canned coffee [15]. Graph 3 [15] Conclusion Regardless of Japans economic position, coffee has not gone out of fashion; in fact, it retains the same importance as ever. Coffee is regarded as a healthier alternative to caffeine-based energy drinks; and continues to have a broad appeal across a wide range of the population who work long and increasingly anti-social hours. Canned coffees diversity and popularity allows enjoyment by a wide range of consumers from high school students through to the elderly [2]. Although there is potential to rebrand Nestlà © RTD coffee to draw in the additional consumers; the majority of RTD coffee drinkers remains with business people. Therefore, it is very important to rebrand not only a product to attract other areas of the population such as younger and older generation, but also rebrand a product to attract the masses. This would enable Nestlà © to increase its consumer base but remain focused on RTD coffees main consumer. Word count (excluding tables): 2750 Word count (including tables): 2931 References [1] HILL, C. W. L. 2010. Part V Case: Nestle: Global Strategy International Business. 8 ed.: McGraw-Hill. [2] NESTLÉ. History of Nestlà © Japan Group [Online]. Available: http://www.nestle.co.jp/japan/e/profile/japan-history.asp [Accessed 13th December 2010]. [3] KARASAWA, K. 1991. Canned coffee sales regain two-digit growth. (Japanese coffee sales). Tea Coffee Trade Journal [Online], 163. [4] LOPEZ, J. 2005. NESTLÉJAPAN GROUP. [5] AGEXPORTER. 1992. Canned coffee sales in Japan brewing lots of interest [Online]. Available: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3723/is_n10_v4/ai_12921886/ [Accessed 10th December 2010]. [6] DATAMONITOR. 2004. RTD Tea Coffee in Japan. [7] Company Shares (by Global Brand Owner) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Off-trade Volume à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ % breakdown [Online]. Euromonitor International. Available: https://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx [Accessed 5th December 2010]. [8] 2010. Rtd Coffee Japan [Online]. Euromonitor International. Available: https://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/accessPDF.ashx?c=94PDFf=S-146710-17543094.pdfcode=SoTwtXEdCEmTuFcrWACsLR00dKM%3d [Accessed 5th December 2010]. [9] 2004. New Coffee Drink from Nestlà © Japan Group. [Online]. Available: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-7013702_ITM [Accessed 21st December 2010]. [10] 2004. New Canned Coffee Drinks from Nestlà © Japan Group [Online]. Available: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8240666_ITM [Accessed 21st December 2010]. [11] NESTLÉ. QA [Online]. Available: http://nestle.jp/faq/polyphenol/index.html [Accessed 11th December 2010]. [12] NESCAFÉ ® Green Blend [Online]. Available: http://www.nescafe.co.uk/CoffeeCupboard/everyday-choice/nescafe-green-blend [Accessed 11th December 2010]. [13] 2010. Coffee Japan [Online]. Euromonitor International. Available: https://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx [Accessed 5th December 2010]. [14] SILVERMAN, I. 1994. Women are newest target for canned coffee in Japan. Advertising Age, 65, 60. [15] KEN, Y. N. 2006. What Japan Thinks [Online]. Available: http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/10/26/almost-half-of-japanese-men-start-their-workday-with-a-canned-coffee/ [Accessed 11th December 2010]. Appendix Appendix 1: PEST Analysis for the re-branding of Nestlà ©-RTD-Coffee Political Ecological/environmental issues Current legislation home market Future legislation Regulatory bodies and processes Government policies Government term and change Trading policies Funding, grants and initiatives Economic Home economy situation Home economy trends General taxation issues Taxation specific to product/services Seasonality/weather issues Market and trade cycles Specific industry factors Market routes and distribution trends Customer/end-user drivers Social Lifestyle trends Consumer attitudes and opinions Media views Brand, company, technology image Consumer buying patterns Major events and influences Buying access and trends Advertising and publicity Technological Research funding Associated/dependent technologies Manufacturing maturity and capacity Information and communications Consumer buying mechanisms/technology Innovation potential Technology access, licencing, patents