The ARES Decision

The Area's project idea aroused with the purpose to solve BAN current problems. These problems included a significant amount of resource waste and lack of coordination among departments. For instance, dispatchers who were responsible for 20-30 trains in their assigned territory most of the times were able to only focus on 5-7 trains, treating the rest of the trains with less attention. In addition, dispatchers were on their own and there was no cooperation among them since they could only see information about their territory and not others.For dispatchers, there was no way to see the whole stricture of the current situation, so poor decisions about scheduled maintenance-of-way (MOW) crews were being made. Communications with trains and MOW vehicles was poor, current information about railroad operations were difficult to obtain and sometimes the information was erroneous. Certainly, ARES will improve operations in BAN but the top management specifically the CEO of BAN and top manage ment is not completely convinced to carry out the project. ARES is a very large and costly project and they need to be sure that the benefits are realistic.Moreover, they want to make sure that BAN will obtain a return after investing $350 lions on the project and also there is the question on whether the investment could turn out to be more. Another issue is related with the organizational structure according with the chief operating officer the new technology alone will not benefit the company but the restructuring of the entire company and many operations as well (Cash, p. 25). For all those reasons they want to consider other cheaper alternatives before making this important decision.Industry Competitive Analysis -? Porters Five forces Treat of new Entrants: Given that the railroad industry requires a heavy initial investment the treat of new entrants is low. However, effects of deregulation on both the trucking and railroad industries were changing the competitive environment i n transportation (Cash, p. 62). Trucking companies needed a lower initial investment to enter and they Were gaining advantage Over railroad companies since they were providing door-to-door delivery service which was being preferred by customers in order to meet the just-in-time production.Treat of Substitutes products: For BAN its largest source of revenue was coal (Cash, p. 62), and its major competitor was the Union Pacific UP), which was another railroad company that had recently invested in a new technology. Heehaw commodities like coal and grain would normally be transported by train which put BAN in a position where it was difficult for customer to switch but when it comes to transport light products trucks were moving ahead by providing faster service that customers were willing to pay.Bargaining power of Buyers: The railroad industry had a few companies providing the service to the customers, but it was facing two major challenges which were better service and capital intens ity (Cash, p. 68). This was making the trucking industry stronger since customers were looking for a faster service and they were able to provide it. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Farmers and other big corporations were Ban's suppliers. For suppliers providing light products like agricultural and food products they had the alternative to switch to the trucking companies, but for the ones providing yeah. Products like coal and automotive products they didn't have to much bargaining power since railroad companies were the best way for transporting these. Industry Rivalry: The number one competitor is the Union Pacific (LCP) and they were also investing to be more efficient (Cash, p. 4). Certainly, the trucking industry was becoming a strong competitor for BAN as well, since the costs in the trucking industry were going down due to the effects of deregulation and they were providing more flexibility for customers.Generic Strategy BAN currently is following the cost leadership strategy by using economies of scale to transport high volumes of commodities to its customers. Coal was the number one source of revenue and BAN had long term contract customers (Cash, p. 4). The second largest source of revenue was agricultural modesties and BAN was expecting to grow in this segment given recent changes in economic policies in Eastern Europe.To satisfy the expected increase in demand for this type of products BAN will need to become even more efficient to keep its cost leadership strategy, maintain its current customers and gain potential new customers in the future. Organizational Structure Burlington Northern is structured in a functional form, where similar knowledge, tasks and skills are being grouped together. This is because the functional form promotes economies of scale (Cash, p. 35). For instance chapters are in charge of controlled the trains and each of them were assigned to a region and they Were only responsible for that region.They also schedule maintenance with the MOW crews. Other operations were divided by function as well, such as control systems and communications, maintenance, and freight car management and each of these departments were reporting to the operations manager assigned to that department. The idea behind this form is to create a rational system to operate in as efficient as possible (Morgan, p. 22). However, the question was whether after implementing ARES this form would still be suitable; the new system might suggest an organizational structural change.Stakeholders Top management: This group has the responsibility of keeping the company running, which means that the BAN must continue making profit in order to maximize the company's value. F-or this reason they have to make sure that an investment of this magnitude is justifiable and that in the long run will provide the identified benefits. Employees: This group will be affected directly by the ARES project, the whole business process is going to change and they il l have to adapt to the new system.The advantage is that this new system promise to be more efficient and safe which can make their jobs easier but on the other hand some people might lose their job or since ARES is supposed to automate a lot of processes currently being made by them. Customers: ARES is going to improve the scheduling of trains which ultimately will provide a faster and more reliable service to its customers. However, in order to still be profitable after ARES implementation, BAN might increase the price for the service and customers which will affect customers.Solutions: One solution for BAN could be to implement the entire ARES system in a geographic region first. With this solution the top management could analyze the benefits in reality before doing a whole implementation of the system which is riskier. Another solution could be to not do any implementation for now and wait and see how other railroad companies adapt to new emerging technologies, by doing this BAN would take an adapter position which would still keep them competitive regarding technological development but with less risk.Adaptive companies use information technology at a level close to their competitors (Friedman, p. 72). But this solution affects the customers that are demanding faster delivery necessary for the recent trend of KIT manufacturing who might end up switching to trucking companies, which ultimately affects BAN because by the time they finally implement a system to improve the delivery to customers, they will have lost a lot of potential customers. The best solution and recommendation for BAN is to do a whole implementation of ARES despite its high cost.Without a question, the environment is changing and BAN must adapt and stop using old technology if they want to continue being in business. BAN is a very large company that eels with complex business processes everyday thus in order for them to survive and keep growing they should be aggressive and be the leader in the industry having the most advanced technology. ARES will automate a lot of processes in a more efficient Way minimizing human errors which ultimately will reduce labor cost by eliminating unnecessary manpower.ARES will also improve the scheduling of trains which will eradicate the meet and passes problem one of Ban's biggest challenge. Clearly, the poor utilization of Ban's assets (bad scheduling and waste of resources) is creating bottlenecks which s preventing them from making more profit and meet the market demand. One important message revealed in the book ‘The Goal† is that companies should balance the flow with the demand from the market (Goldwater, p. 139). The demand is growing national and is expected to grow more even in the international arena in the future.ARES will optimize the whole system of BAN which in the long run will generate high revenues because they will be able to meet the market demand. However, the implementation Of ARES will affect the e ntire company and operations and many organization changes will be required. Companies in order to survive must embrace change and successful adaptation of organization to environment depends on the ability of top management to interpret conditions facing the firm in an appropriate manner to adapt relevant course of action. Morgan, p. 47). In order to take advantage of all ARES features and benefits BAN they should also switch to use a matrix organizational structure. The fully developed matrix is team driven, in that priority is given to business, program, product, or project areas, with functional specialist providing support, where the focus is on end product or revere encouraging a flexible, innovative, and adaptive behavior (Morgan, p. 51 Matrix organizational structure is the best choice for a growing and complex company like BAN.

Culture and Social Structure Essay

Culture is a difficult thing to strictly define. Such a large variety of societal aspects fall under its realm, that it’s sometimes complicated to draw a line between what is part of a culture and what is not. To put it in extremely vague terms, culture is a way of life. All the traits that make up a particular society, from religious beliefs to modes of dress to art to methods of farming, build up a culture. Culture includes the good and the bad, the old and the new, the strong and the weak – essentially it includes â€Å"everything†. Many varieties of cultures exist. There are the obvious ethnic cultures – African-American culture, Latino culture, Greek culture, etc., each with their own foods, art, religion, familial roles, and values. American culture, for example, is generally considered to be relaxed – apple pie, blue jeans, baseball and the like. Family roles are not set in stone, there is freedom to choose a religion based on one’s own comfort (or choose no religion at all), and while a certain level of morality is maintained, values are generally loose. Compare this to the culture of the remote parts of India. There, a woman is required to serve her husband and his family, even after his death. They are very devout, and there is only one religion to â€Å"choose† from. They are held to a strict moral code, and anyone who violates this code is considered an outcast. There are many other ways to consider culture. There is the culture of a particular age group. A septuagenarian has a way of life very different than that of a teenager. His music, dress, beliefs, and goals are generally dissimilar to those of his younger counterpart. Or there is the culture of a particular time period. Pre-historic culture is, through modern inventions and human development, very different than the culture of today. A very important part of any culture is the social structure within. The social structure is essentially the roles or positions that particular individuals or groups in a culture fall into. For example, in the American culture, the President takes on a leadership role, those in the armed forces take on a protective role, and everyday citizens take on the responsibility of keeping the economy alive. On a much smaller scale, the social structure exists within a family as well. In your â€Å"typical† family, the mother takes on a nurturing position, while the father takes on the responsibility of earning money and providing for the others. Similarly, on a sports team, the coach is the leader, charged with guiding and motivating his players. The players themselves are responsible for putting forth their best effort and taking the team as far as it can go. While culture can be hard to define using words, one need only look around to experience everything that culture contains. One’s everyday life is culture, from the worldwide culture that everyone lives in, down to the personal culture of one’s own house. Each person has a role in many different social structures, and each role is genuinely important. It is these roles, in these social structures that make up every part of every culture.

Challenges of teaching and learning in inner city

† ( DCSF 2009 p.2 ) For many kids, school provides an array of rich and rewarding experiences, leting them the chance to boom in their acquisition and win to their possible. This nevertheless does non happen for all kids, with old grounds foregrounding that pupils from poorer backgrounds achieve less than their equals. Nevertheless, turn toing this issue has become a cardinal mission among Government leaders, school senior direction and instructors, taking to interrupt the nexus between disadvantage and low educational accomplishment. To ease these ambitious purposes, the Government implemented through the Children ‘s Act ( 2004 ) , a legislative programme that would use a reform within the Education system. Every Child Matters: Change for kids ( 2004 ) outlined a national model that would set up programmes of alteration, edifice services around the demands of all kids and immature people, taking to maximize chance and minimise hazard. Through five cardinal results: being healthy, remaining safe, basking and accomplishing, doing a positive part and accomplishing economic well being, the aspiration for the national model was to contract the spread between kids ‘s attainment degrees and purpose to advance positive good being in childhood and subsequently life. The primary focal point was to sketch a national model for alteration, designed to better and incorporate services, working together more efficaciously to run into the demands of kids and immature people. The results for the bringing of concerted services were to guarantee that all kids and immature people be safeguarded from injury, have better chances to develop and make their possible and receive effectual support, where necessary, from targeted services. Furthermore, parents and carers would hold better entree to services they require, having advice and support where necessary. The Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) model set out a vision for a individualized and high quality, integrated service, available for all to entree. In order to interrupt the nexus between disadvantage and low accomplishment, and have every kid successfully attain the five specific results, those that work closely with kids and immature people need to understand the effects of deprived upbringings and what barriers they can show. The causes behind hapless upbringings are diverse and varied, but must be noted that money may non be the exclusive ground. Poor lodging and unequal diet are important factors ; nevertheless, cultural barriers to larning can besides hold a dramatic affect on kids, particularly for those that live in disadvantaged communities, preponderantly within the interior metropolis. Parental sentiments of the value of schooling act as a cardinal factor as low aspirations and agnosticism about instruction can act upon kids ‘s beliefs. The impact of this can go more evident when kids start go toing full clip schooling, as the scope of their educational experiences can change dramatically. Some kids, from more advantaged places, may hold had entree to a greater assortment of educational experiences such as books, visits to interesting topographic points like museums and theaters, every bit good as the wider universe, advancing acquisition at an early phase. Unfortunately, nevertheless, other parents may non hold the money, resources, accomplishments or assurance to supply their kids with such experiences, perchance impacting their acquisition development. The significance of this is huge, act uponing a kid ‘s future educational experiences unless tackled at an early age. In the study Interrupting the nexus between disadvantage and low attainment: Everyone ‘s concern ( 2009 ) , it is expressed that ; â€Å" When kids start school already behind their equals, this can set up a go oning rhythm of under – public presentation. They find it difficult to maintain up and so may larn more easy, hence falling even further buttocks. † ( DCSF 2009 p.18 ) Interrupting this rhythm of under accomplishment requires Government, schools and wellness attention bureaus to seek to advance ways to battle the effects of poorness as kids from disadvantaged backgrounds can be at increased hazard of being unable to entree the course of study, and lose assurance in their ability to win. Within the Enjoy and achieve result of Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) , it is outlined that kids should be ready for their school experience, and attend and bask their acquisition through active engagement. Children should play an active function in accomplishing national instruction criterions, fostering this with their personal and societal development. Previous research has shown that it is paramount that instructor ‘s identify those who are falling behind early on through appraisal, conveying about a individualized attack to learning and larning. Harmonizing to Gilbert ( 2006 ) , personalisation should be a cardinal characteristic of instruction, later raisi ng the outlooks for students, guaranting the intended results match their outlooks. As it is believed that students from disadvantaged groups within our society are least likely to accomplish good, the Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) docket emphasises the importance of every kid, irrespective of their societal background, holding an impregnable instruction: â€Å" Children and immature people learn and thrive when they are healthy, safeguarded from injury and engaged. The grounds shows clearly that educational accomplishment is the most effectual manner to better results for hapless kids and interrupt the rhythm of want. † ( DCSF 2004 p.8 ) This farther physiques upon Gilbert ‘s ( 2006 ) accent of individualized instruction and acquisition, as cut downing the persistent and unacceptable spreads in mean attainment, between different societal groups, requires focus upon what indispensable cognition and accomplishments kids require in order to boom in our changing universe. This lays farther accent on the importance of instructors geting cardinal qualities in order to help all kids, irrespective of their background, on both an educational and societal degree. Although an outstanding pedagogical attack to instruction is cardinal, instructors must chiefly understand why some kids fail to entree instruction and make their possible. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, frequently populating within an interior metropolis environment, could see an array of barriers to their acquisition, encouraging schools and local governments to implement and follow schemes to turn to them. Within Interrupting the nexus between disad vantage and low attainment ( 2009 ) it was expressed that the effects of disadvantage can be cumulative and relentless, typically taking to hapless students doing slower advancement, frequently attributed to assorted factors. As antecedently outlined, spreads within kids ‘s cognitive ability, before the age of five, could put the foundations for low accomplishment, farther stressing the demand of multi bureau cooperation. The Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) , model emphasises the impression that supplying support for households is imperative, advancing the benefits of early acquisition experiences and the importance of the place acquisition environment. Lack of parental support could take down kids ‘s aspirations, act uponing their behavior and attending at school, therefore making personal barriers to get the better of. Reacting to this, harmonizing to Balls ( 2009 ) , requires schools and instructors to work closely with parents and households, using cardinal behavior and absence policies. With add-on to these societal barriers, kids from deprived upbringings are frequently more likely to be recognised as holding Particular Educational Needs ( SEN ) . Balls ( 2010 ) expressed that the designation of Particular Educational Needs ( SEN ) should non be confused with the belief of underperformance or non meeting possible. Through actively turn toing particular educational proviso, instructors should convey about individualized instruction and acquisition attacks, implementing appropriate intercessions where necessary. This farther builds upon a old Government study, Quality Standards for Special Educational Needs ( SEN ) support and Outreach services ( 2008 ) . The criterions outlined aimed to steer the development of proviso and support, helping local governments and others in finding appropriate resources and rating procedures. Furthermore, the study highlighted how choice Special Educational Needs proviso can lend straight to the five Every Child Mat ters ( 2004 ) results. Understanding the societal and educational barriers that kids populating within the interior metropolis can see allows instructors to, as the Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) docket highlighted, support students wider good – being, and take a individualized attack to larning. One important undertaking that aimed to convey about alterations to battle the disadvantage and low attainment nexus was that of The Extra Mile: How schools win in raising aspirations in disadvantaged communities ( 2008 ) . The undertaking aspired to research in item the barriers that kids from deprived communities face, seeking ways to better their opportunities to win at school. The focal point of the undertaking was non entirely on kids from utmost poorness, but more on kids whose households have been hapless for coevalss, frequently populating within communities with high offense degrees and low skilled, ill paying occupations. The impact of this generational poorness can foster construct upon kids Ã¢â‚¬Ë œs barriers to larning and influence accomplishment at school, as parental cynicism about the importance of instruction, can be made more evident: â€Å" Parents may hold had bad experiences of their ain at school, and this rubs off on their kids. Sometimes, the emphasiss of their state of affairs are reflected in the behavior of their kids, who come to school troubled and wary, and non mentally prepared for larning. † ( DCSF 2008 p.3 ) With the purpose of raising aspirations for all kids, the undertaking leaders investigated, through sing first-class schools within disadvantaged countries of England, the features that instructors and school administrations require so to convey about alteration within instruction. Research showed that dynamic leaders bring a committedness, thrust and finding, actuating staff and making a ‘can bash ‘ ethos across the school. Furthermore, the schools visited aimed to guarantee that staff and students have an array of chances to turn and come on, bring forthing quality schoolroom experiences, orienting the course of study to the demands of their students intake. This builds upon the Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) docket, emphasizing the importance of individualized instruction and acquisition, easing all kids, irrespective of their background or start in life. Furthermore, through following a individualized teaching method, instructors can help kids to achieve their possible, constructing formidable foundations for future acquisition. Pedagogy and Personalisation ( 2007 ) highlighted that ; â€Å" Personalised acquisition agencies that kids and immature people, whatever their starting point, are able to carry through their possible as scholars. † ( ibid 2007 p.7 ) For all instructors, it is imperative that they engage their students in larning through a positive and motivative ethos ; nevertheless, within the interior metropolis environment it is apparent how this encouraging attack to learning and larning can significantly contract the attainment spreads between kids. Balls ( 2009 ) expressed that the success of this really much relies upon a cardinal scheme that would advance equality and inclusion within every school. Through developing a universal system, Balls ( 2009 ) aimed for all schools and instructors to put high aspirations for kids ‘s accomplishments, orienting larning experiences to specific demands and guaranting that every kid has person within the school that can back up their development. This specific result builds upon a antecedently implemented scheme intended to advance first-class instruction and acquisition within the interior metropolis. Excellence in Cities ( 2001 ) identified the benefits of single support for k ids, presenting Learning Mentors to better chances for deprived students. Working aboard learning staff and within the school ‘s pastoral support system, larning wise mans help kids to acquire the most out of their school experience, working with parents to enable them to foster back up their kid. Teaching, as a profession, is one of the most demanding occupations ; physically, emotionally and intellectually, nevertheless learning within the interior metropolis environment, can convey about farther challenges for both established and developing instructors. Meeting the demands of interior metropolis kids requires difficult work and dedication, constructing upon established partnerships to convey about alteration. Quality acquisition experiences are imperative ; nevertheless, within the interior metropolis these experiences can alter kids ‘s future chances. Interrupting the low attainment and disadvantage nexus, through understanding barriers to acquisition, requires instructors to guarantee that all kids have the chances to boom and develop, obtaining the Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) , outcomes, and lay the foundations for future acquisition. Challenges of teaching and learning in inner city † ( DCSF 2009 p.2 ) For many kids, school provides an array of rich and rewarding experiences, leting them the chance to boom in their acquisition and win to their possible. This nevertheless does non happen for all kids, with old grounds foregrounding that pupils from poorer backgrounds achieve less than their equals. Nevertheless, turn toing this issue has become a cardinal mission among Government leaders, school senior direction and instructors, taking to interrupt the nexus between disadvantage and low educational accomplishment. To ease these ambitious purposes, the Government implemented through the Children ‘s Act ( 2004 ) , a legislative programme that would use a reform within the Education system. Every Child Matters: Change for kids ( 2004 ) outlined a national model that would set up programmes of alteration, edifice services around the demands of all kids and immature people, taking to maximize chance and minimise hazard. Through five cardinal results: being healthy, remaining safe, basking and accomplishing, doing a positive part and accomplishing economic well being, the aspiration for the national model was to contract the spread between kids ‘s attainment degrees and purpose to advance positive good being in childhood and subsequently life. The primary focal point was to sketch a national model for alteration, designed to better and incorporate services, working together more efficaciously to run into the demands of kids and immature people. The results for the bringing of concerted services were to guarantee that all kids and immature people be safeguarded from injury, have better chances to develop and make their possible and receive effectual support, where necessary, from targeted services. Furthermore, parents and carers would hold better entree to services they require, having advice and support where necessary. The Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) model set out a vision for a individualized and high quality, integrated service, available for all to entree. In order to interrupt the nexus between disadvantage and low accomplishment, and have every kid successfully attain the five specific results, those that work closely with kids and immature people need to understand the effects of deprived upbringings and what barriers they can show. The causes behind hapless upbringings are diverse and varied, but must be noted that money may non be the exclusive ground. Poor lodging and unequal diet are important factors ; nevertheless, cultural barriers to larning can besides hold a dramatic affect on kids, particularly for those that live in disadvantaged communities, preponderantly within the interior metropolis. Parental sentiments of the value of schooling act as a cardinal factor as low aspirations and agnosticism about instruction can act upon kids ‘s beliefs. The impact of this can go more evident when kids start go toing full clip schooling, as the scope of their educational experiences can change dramatically. Some kids, from more advantaged places, may hold had entree to a greater assortment of educational experiences such as books, visits to interesting topographic points like museums and theaters, every bit good as the wider universe, advancing acquisition at an early phase. Unfortunately, nevertheless, other parents may non hold the money, resources, accomplishments or assurance to supply their kids with such experiences, perchance impacting their acquisition development. The significance of this is huge, act uponing a kid ‘s future educational experiences unless tackled at an early age. In the study Interrupting the nexus between disadvantage and low attainment: Everyone ‘s concern ( 2009 ) , it is expressed that ; â€Å" When kids start school already behind their equals, this can set up a go oning rhythm of under – public presentation. They find it difficult to maintain up and so may larn more easy, hence falling even further buttocks. † ( DCSF 2009 p.18 ) Interrupting this rhythm of under accomplishment requires Government, schools and wellness attention bureaus to seek to advance ways to battle the effects of poorness as kids from disadvantaged backgrounds can be at increased hazard of being unable to entree the course of study, and lose assurance in their ability to win. Within the Enjoy and achieve result of Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) , it is outlined that kids should be ready for their school experience, and attend and bask their acquisition through active engagement. Children should play an active function in accomplishing national instruction criterions, fostering this with their personal and societal development. Previous research has shown that it is paramount that instructor ‘s identify those who are falling behind early on through appraisal, conveying about a individualized attack to learning and larning. Harmonizing to Gilbert ( 2006 ) , personalisation should be a cardinal characteristic of instruction, later raisi ng the outlooks for students, guaranting the intended results match their outlooks. As it is believed that students from disadvantaged groups within our society are least likely to accomplish good, the Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) docket emphasises the importance of every kid, irrespective of their societal background, holding an impregnable instruction: â€Å" Children and immature people learn and thrive when they are healthy, safeguarded from injury and engaged. The grounds shows clearly that educational accomplishment is the most effectual manner to better results for hapless kids and interrupt the rhythm of want. † ( DCSF 2004 p.8 ) This farther physiques upon Gilbert ‘s ( 2006 ) accent of individualized instruction and acquisition, as cut downing the persistent and unacceptable spreads in mean attainment, between different societal groups, requires focus upon what indispensable cognition and accomplishments kids require in order to boom in our changing universe. This lays farther accent on the importance of instructors geting cardinal qualities in order to help all kids, irrespective of their background, on both an educational and societal degree. Although an outstanding pedagogical attack to instruction is cardinal, instructors must chiefly understand why some kids fail to entree instruction and make their possible. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, frequently populating within an interior metropolis environment, could see an array of barriers to their acquisition, encouraging schools and local governments to implement and follow schemes to turn to them. Within Interrupting the nexus between disad vantage and low attainment ( 2009 ) it was expressed that the effects of disadvantage can be cumulative and relentless, typically taking to hapless students doing slower advancement, frequently attributed to assorted factors. As antecedently outlined, spreads within kids ‘s cognitive ability, before the age of five, could put the foundations for low accomplishment, farther stressing the demand of multi bureau cooperation. The Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) , model emphasises the impression that supplying support for households is imperative, advancing the benefits of early acquisition experiences and the importance of the place acquisition environment. Lack of parental support could take down kids ‘s aspirations, act uponing their behavior and attending at school, therefore making personal barriers to get the better of. Reacting to this, harmonizing to Balls ( 2009 ) , requires schools and instructors to work closely with parents and households, using cardinal behavior and absence policies. With add-on to these societal barriers, kids from deprived upbringings are frequently more likely to be recognised as holding Particular Educational Needs ( SEN ) . Balls ( 2010 ) expressed that the designation of Particular Educational Needs ( SEN ) should non be confused with the belief of underperformance or non meeting possible. Through actively turn toing particular educational proviso, instructors should convey about individualized instruction and acquisition attacks, implementing appropriate intercessions where necessary. This farther builds upon a old Government study, Quality Standards for Special Educational Needs ( SEN ) support and Outreach services ( 2008 ) . The criterions outlined aimed to steer the development of proviso and support, helping local governments and others in finding appropriate resources and rating procedures. Furthermore, the study highlighted how choice Special Educational Needs proviso can lend straight to the five Every Child Mat ters ( 2004 ) results. Understanding the societal and educational barriers that kids populating within the interior metropolis can see allows instructors to, as the Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) docket highlighted, support students wider good – being, and take a individualized attack to larning. One important undertaking that aimed to convey about alterations to battle the disadvantage and low attainment nexus was that of The Extra Mile: How schools win in raising aspirations in disadvantaged communities ( 2008 ) . The undertaking aspired to research in item the barriers that kids from deprived communities face, seeking ways to better their opportunities to win at school. The focal point of the undertaking was non entirely on kids from utmost poorness, but more on kids whose households have been hapless for coevalss, frequently populating within communities with high offense degrees and low skilled, ill paying occupations. The impact of this generational poorness can foster construct upon kids Ã¢â‚¬Ë œs barriers to larning and influence accomplishment at school, as parental cynicism about the importance of instruction, can be made more evident: â€Å" Parents may hold had bad experiences of their ain at school, and this rubs off on their kids. Sometimes, the emphasiss of their state of affairs are reflected in the behavior of their kids, who come to school troubled and wary, and non mentally prepared for larning. † ( DCSF 2008 p.3 ) With the purpose of raising aspirations for all kids, the undertaking leaders investigated, through sing first-class schools within disadvantaged countries of England, the features that instructors and school administrations require so to convey about alteration within instruction. Research showed that dynamic leaders bring a committedness, thrust and finding, actuating staff and making a ‘can bash ‘ ethos across the school. Furthermore, the schools visited aimed to guarantee that staff and students have an array of chances to turn and come on, bring forthing quality schoolroom experiences, orienting the course of study to the demands of their students intake. This builds upon the Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) docket, emphasizing the importance of individualized instruction and acquisition, easing all kids, irrespective of their background or start in life. Furthermore, through following a individualized teaching method, instructors can help kids to achieve their possible, constructing formidable foundations for future acquisition. Pedagogy and Personalisation ( 2007 ) highlighted that ; â€Å" Personalised acquisition agencies that kids and immature people, whatever their starting point, are able to carry through their possible as scholars. † ( ibid 2007 p.7 ) For all instructors, it is imperative that they engage their students in larning through a positive and motivative ethos ; nevertheless, within the interior metropolis environment it is apparent how this encouraging attack to learning and larning can significantly contract the attainment spreads between kids. Balls ( 2009 ) expressed that the success of this really much relies upon a cardinal scheme that would advance equality and inclusion within every school. Through developing a universal system, Balls ( 2009 ) aimed for all schools and instructors to put high aspirations for kids ‘s accomplishments, orienting larning experiences to specific demands and guaranting that every kid has person within the school that can back up their development. This specific result builds upon a antecedently implemented scheme intended to advance first-class instruction and acquisition within the interior metropolis. Excellence in Cities ( 2001 ) identified the benefits of single support for k ids, presenting Learning Mentors to better chances for deprived students. Working aboard learning staff and within the school ‘s pastoral support system, larning wise mans help kids to acquire the most out of their school experience, working with parents to enable them to foster back up their kid. Teaching, as a profession, is one of the most demanding occupations ; physically, emotionally and intellectually, nevertheless learning within the interior metropolis environment, can convey about farther challenges for both established and developing instructors. Meeting the demands of interior metropolis kids requires difficult work and dedication, constructing upon established partnerships to convey about alteration. Quality acquisition experiences are imperative ; nevertheless, within the interior metropolis these experiences can alter kids ‘s future chances. Interrupting the low attainment and disadvantage nexus, through understanding barriers to acquisition, requires instructors to guarantee that all kids have the chances to boom and develop, obtaining the Every Child Matters ( 2004 ) , outcomes, and lay the foundations for future acquisition.

The quantitative questionnaire method versus the qualitative focus Essay

The quantitative questionnaire method versus the qualitative focus group method - Essay Example Within data collection, there are two different methods to ascertain information. These include the quantitative questionnaire method and the qualitative focus group method. Both of these aim to find out the pertinent details with the research that is being conducted yet these are inherently different in their intent and purpose. The reason for this is that one of these, i.e. questionnaire brings out just numbers and information while the focus group methodology aims to explore how and why these numbers or information sets have come up from and what are the exact reasons behind the very same. The manner in which questionnaires and focus groups are seen as significant have brought to the fore the importance of understanding how and where to employ them and what kind of research knowledge would be handy for making use of either of these methodologies. Without a doubt, both quantitative questionnaire method and the qualitative focus group methodology make use of the sample which remains an imperative tangent of any research, be it marketing or business. For the extent of this paper, focus would be on these two different tools, both of which come under different headings – quantitative and qualitative. The data collection remains an important part of any research which is being completed in order to satisfy a need or requirement. It is for this reason that data collection is given the significance as it studies how research will be used and what are the pros and cons to diversify the basis and extent of this research which has been employed. Since data collection always comes about when a sample has been chosen, it is necessary that the respondents are told exactly what their collection would do in order to bring about a research in the first place. If this research helps the business to grow as a whole, then there is no reason why this research should not be conducted. In fact recent research studies have depicted and highlighted the fact that data collecti on and indeed the selection of samples would make the entire research process a sure success, and there are reasons available to provide evidence for the same (Patzer 1996). One must understand that sample selection is always a random act and it should not be a forceful measure because there are certain sets of audiences which would not appreciate the idea of being researched upon and taken within the sample itself. Hence it is always a good exercise to think of the sample as being comprehensive and complete from all sides, without any bias or prejudices whatsoever. Data collection is therefore dependent on the sample selection measures which are deemed as important because this will bring in the much needed value and quality within the research process and also make it look more real and genuine. The research studies which are being conducted in this day and age are usually imaginary and depend a great deal on how people manage time constraints. If proper understanding and analysis regimes are followed, this research would bear fruit and make the whole exercise of conducting the said research an important one (Bryman 2001). A questionnaire is basically a research instrument which includes a series of questions in order to gather information from the prospective respondents. The questionnaires are usually designed for statistical analysis of the responses which have been envisaged. This form of data collection was invented by Sir Francis Galton. These questionnaires are comparatively different from the surveys as these are cheap in cost and hence do not require that much effort from the questioner when one compares these questionnaires with telephone surveys or even verbal ones. The respondents in essence have standardized responses/answers which are simple and easy to collect and combine data. For the sake of the users, this collection of data might just be very frustrating as the respondents have to read the questions and hence answer them accordingly. It ha s been noted

Robert Nozick's Postition on Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Robert Nozick's Postition on Ethics - Essay Example Thus, the main rule or the formula in terms of Mill’s utilitarian thesis is that we ought to act and make decisions on the basis that the greatest good for the greatest number is achieved. Conversely, the basic tenets of Nozick’s position on decision theory, runs as follows: Nozick argues that our decisions ought to pass a test which states that one should only will for themselves that which they were willing to have everyone else do. Phrased in other terms, we ought not to lie because we would not be living in a society where lying was manifest universally. This notion is the categorical imperative, and it is central in terms of the philosophical background for the problem of incommensurability. More importantly, it is a shift in emphasis that maintains that it is the consequences and not the intentions that matter. It will be argued that Nozick's position is incommesurable with utilitarianism on the grounds that his focus is on the consequences, and this is an extensi on of what he see's as the limitations of focusing on the 'intentions' of actions. Considering the consequences and the intentions of an ethical decision is incommensurable, and this is the core of Nozick's critique of utilitarianism. What is important to note in a preliminary sense, is the quantitative approach taken to decision making in both philosophical utilitarianism and in Nozick. By quantitative, it is implied in the general sense that there is a formula and a measure to decide on ethical questions. Further, there is a concern with the ‘universal’ or the ‘greater number’ in both formulas. These are all key notions which is informing the general problem of in-commensurability Consider, for example, the problems which arise when measuring the two instances provided at the outset of this analysis. Consider an instance, where an individual was in the position of having to choose between having civic virtue ‘society’ and choosing to be loyal to his friend. And, in the other instance, an individual had to choose between his dying mother and the underground resistance movement – a form of civic duty again. One can see at the outset, a number of problems. If we apply utilitarianism, then, in both examples society is the greater good. And, if we take the categorical imperative as the measure, we can see some further paradoxes as well. For example, in the Nozickian framework the individual who turns against his friend (because of utilitarianism) is a committing an act which you would not to want to will universally. And, it is the ‘universal’, at the same time, who is the primary concern as well. The problem at this point, is related to the notion of the ‘universal’ and the connection with the universal along with the concept of measuring or quantifying. It can be said that quantification is an important consideration in both utilitarianism and in the notion of the universal in Nozick. He ar gues that when we are examining the relationship between the individual over and against the whole, it is impossible not adequately consider some qualitative distinctions. For example, he points out that while morality is as much a general ethos which is qualitative, that is, the general principles or values which any given culture maintains, the abstract measure of

Final Exam Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Final Exam - Speech or Presentation Example the three-week training program, and then were tested again.  The dataset also includes (1) a measure of participant confidence in knowledge and (2) a certification exam score. The data are discipline-neutral. Therefore, part of your final project is to create a context for the research that is associated with your discipline or area of interest (e.g., training to assess mental health status; training to work with special education children; training to become a technician or consultant).   This work is an investigation into the impact of a training program on the knowledge base of three categories of employees. The employees are classified as professionals, paraprofessionals and non-professionals. The objective is to evaluate the impact of the training on the knowledge base of the employees in the various categories and establish whether the training had significant impact on the performance of each category. There is high consistency among all variables with the assumptions of normality. For example, the absolute skewness values are all within the range 0

A report on a research topic linked to the BP share price Essay

A report on a research topic linked to the BP share price - Essay Example The reason for this fluctuation is elaborated in the report by considering each year’s share price performance. The raw data available regarding the share price of BP is divided into three parts, considering five years and four years intervals. The data is analysed in order to study the movement of share price during the periods, along with operation of the company. The technical analysis in form of graphical representation of raw data is employed in order to examine movement of shares over the years. The report highlights the main aim of the study, along with three research questions, which describes the aim. Lastly, the report ends with a conclusion and recommendations pertaining to performance of the share price of BP. Before undertaking a research, realizing the research aim is very important so as to define what the researcher desires to find out. However, the research objective describes the process, which will help in achieving the proposed aim. The main aim of the study is to examine performance of the share prices of BP PLC, over the period of 2000-2013. Share price movement is observed in order to draw a conclusion on performance of the company over the years. In order to find answers to the abovementioned research questions, technical analysis has been employed. Technical analysis refers to forecast of financial price movements in the future based on the past data available for a particular stock. The price actions are studied in order to get a clear picture of movement in share prices. The technical analysis helps to determine the share price trend as bullish or bearish and accordingly, future movement of the share is established. It helps to invest money in trade since the analysis provides an idea regarding trend of the market. The movement in share prices is described in form of graphical representation by dividing the raw price data of BP shares into three parts; considering the interval to be 5 - 5 - 4

The Importance of Identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Importance of Identity - Essay Example In essence, it is argued that although ones identity is associated with good things, there is also a bad side of it. For example, some people may fear being identified with certain race or ethnicity with a perception or a belief that other races or ethnic groups are better than others. In fact, people of a certain race may be discriminated against by people of a different race especially where racism is prominent. Identity is also argued to be ones beliefs and personality. These traits constitute what people are and what they stand for. For example, in leadership, the belief of integrity in leadership may portray a picture of what one stands for, and this is what other people identify a leader with. Another example is that, if one believes in success, it is apparent that such a person would thoroughly prepare for an interview, and because of confidence and the thorough preparation, the interviewer finds a distinct personality in the interviewee, something that is factored into when recruiting people. Talent is also another form of identity, which people are identified with. It is what one is best known for that makes one distinct from others. Most of the things that happen to people are as a result of their identity. Although there is natural and constructed identity, in most cases, constructed identity occupies the biggest part of people’s lives. All in all, identity is vital in people’s

BRITISH STUDIES Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

BRITISH STUDIES - Essay Example There are many benefits to being a part of this great institution, and a revamping of the marriage law could be an asset in the improvement of our culture, economy and health. Whereas it can be argued that many aspects of society are required to evolve and grow with the times, the rate and extent to which marriage is able to do this is of the utmost importance as it is one of the most basic traditions and helps to establish one of the most fundamental aspects of modern society. As a function of seeking to understanding and define this institution in the light of the current era, with regards to how much or how little the institution of marriage has been able to evolve with the times, it will be the hope of this author that such an analysis will be capable of presenting a functioning and well argued piece of research into this topic so that the reader might come to a more informed understanding of societal evolution and growth with regards to this most fundamental of traditional socie tal demarcations. As with many traditions and cultural understandings, there can be no denying that the culture of marriage has changed. The cozy imagery of the perfect marriage, as exhibited by the now-comical television shows of the early 1960s and late 1950s have long since faded from memory (Dommaraju, 2009). Fairy tales with stories of love- ever- after were, and to a large part still are, what children are raised on. Within the not so distant past, little girls dreamed of the knight in shining armor, or being brought back to life by a simple kiss from a Prince. When the movie, â€Å"Love Story†, first appeared society was still extremely absorbed in a marriage culture that encouraged and supported getting and staying married until the end of one’s days (Fortunato & Archetti, 2010). Within a few years, the womens movement, the pill, the

SLP 5 Medicaid_Health Care Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SLP 5 Medicaid_Health Care Finance - Essay Example For a family of five, the maximum allowable family income in Florida can not exceed 23.2 percent of the FPL (Family-related Medicaid programs fact sheet, 2007). Any family with 5 members must make less than $5,112 per year to qualify for Medicaid. A single adult would have to make less than $2,160 per year to be eligible for the program (Family-related Medicaid programs fact sheet, 2007). California's state administered Medicaid program is known as Medi-Cal. To qualify for Medi-Cal, the recipient must be 65 years or older, blind, are younger than 65 and have a disability (Medicare information for Californians, 2008). The person's eligibility is based on income, and whether or not you qualify for certain federal disability programs, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To be eligible, a single person must make less than approximately $12,000 per year, and a married couple must make less than $18,000 per year (Medicare information for Californians, 2008). A key difference between California's and Florida's program is that California's program is designed to cover the elderly and disabled, while Florida's program is meant to cover the cost of children's health care. In fact, the eligibility requirements for children in Florida are much more liberal than for adults.

Magic Toyshop Essay Example for Free

Magic Toyshop Essay The Magic Toyshop is the second novel of the feminist writer Angela Carter. It is one of the most popular of her early books. In Carter’s works mythological and Biblical themes often appear, and The Magic Toyshop is a good example of that. This essay is intended to discuss the introductory chapter of The Magic Toyshop, in which Carter rewrites a major Biblical story. The Magic Toyshop follows the story of a teenage girl, Melanie. She is one of three children, her younger brother is Jonathon and her five year old sister is Victoria. They live in the English countryside in a middle class family. Their house is spacious; they all have their own bedrooms. Their parents are rich, successful and the children have everything they need. The children have a middle aged governess Mrs. Rundle. She is overweight, was never married, only added the Mrs. title to her name a few years ago as a present to herself. Melanie has a fear of becoming someone like Mrs. Rundle. She does not believe in God but she prays that she would marry and have sex in her life. She is worried about her weight because she thinks she is too thin, but she would not eat too much either because then she might become fat and never marry. She already sees herself as someone’s wife; she looks at herself as a male would do. (Gamble 69) The novel tells the story of the children becoming orphans and having to leave their home. Their parents are killed in a plane crash and the three children must leave the countryside to live with their uncle in London. Uncle Phillip owns a toyshop and is a toymaker himself. The orphans do not know anything about him; Melanie’s only memory of him is that when she was a little girl he made her a jack in the box which was very scary. They do not know that the world they are about to enter is radically different from the one they lived in until now. At the beginning of the novel Melanie is a happy fifteen year old girl who is starting to discover herself. She explores her body, discovers it as a colonizer discovers the unknown land. She likes to pose in front of her mirror; she plays the roles of the characters of paintings (by male painters naturally). The novel uses the terminologies of explorers thus making us believe there is a male voice behind the words. Melanie’s only wish is to marry well. She is already getting ready for married life, she is making herself ready for a husband. She believes that marriage is the only way to have inancial and emotional security, the only way to be a respectable woman and to have a happy life. This is the only way she knows. This is what the culture, the social background of the age indoctrinated her to believe. She is dreaming of a perfect husband who is handsome, gentle, amiable, who has a good job and adequate financial background. Although she is a little worried about not getting this perfect life, not having sex, she genuinely believes that things are going to work out for the best. Melanie is planning to spend her adolescence preparing for the life that comes after. However soon enough she will realize that life is not a fairytale. She will meet and fall in love with a boy that does not fit in the image of the perfect husband she pictured for herself, a boy that she would have never thought to fell for under normal circumstances. She will realize how these circumstances can make her grow up in a few days or even a few hours as on the train ride to London she realizes she has to be the mother of her little brother and sister , and how they can suddenly take away all of her dreams and principles. However there is another way to interpret the beginning of the first chapter, the scene where she is exploring her body. Melanie is not only preparing herself for her future groom, but she is exploring her own sexuality too. She is in the age when she realizes that she is a woman, that she has not only grown mentally but physically too. â€Å"In Carter’s own words, Melanie ‘is very conscious of desire, she is filled with it. And that gives her power’. † (Gamble 69-70) One night Melanie decides to go further then posing in her own bedroom. Her parents are not home, they are in America. In the darkness of the night, when everyone in the house is asleep, she goes to her parent’s bedroom. She looks at their wedding photograph and starts thinking about her parents. How she cannot imagine her mother naked, as she never saw her that way she even jokes about her mother being born with clothes on -, and how her father always wears the same suit. She wonders if her parents had sex before their wedding – this makes her believe she really is growing up if thoughts like this occur in her mind. She notices Uncle Phillip in the picture and thinks about the old jack in the box she was so afraid of. Then she goes over to her mother’s dressing table and looks into the mirror. She starts posing there too and feels that she looks different in her mother’s mirror. This moment can be understood again as a flesh of transition between childhood and becoming a woman. Being in her parent’s room is like pretending to be an adult just like they are. Posing in her mother’s mirror Melanie is trying to imagine how she will look like and feel as an adult, married woman. This moonlit night is the one when the fall happens†¦ Looking at her parent’s wedding picture Melanie decides to try on her mother’s wedding dress. She finds the dress and puts it on but it is too big. She is a little disappointed but still thinks she looks beautiful in it. She feels like a bride. â€Å"A bride. Whose bride? But she was, tonight, sufficient for herself in her own glory and did nor need a groom. † (Carter 16) Melanie decides to go out to the garden. She first feels free and excited; the night was so different from the one she imagined. The moonlit garden was like the Garden of Eden. â€Å"She was alone. In her carapace of white satin, she was the last, the only woman. † (Carter 17) This realization of loneliness soon turns into panic. She truly feels alone and feels what happening is too much. Crying she runs back to the front door but it is closed†¦ She forgot her keys. Suddenly the sweet, dark night turns into a scary land. Melanie realizes what she did was forbidden. She is frightened, she thinks there is something in the dark. After Mrs. Rundle’s cat appears in the garden, Melanie feels a little more comfortable. She starts to pull herself together and decides she will climb up the apple tree to her window. (The apple tree can be a symbol of Eden again). But she cannot do that in the wedding dress. The cat gives her so much comfort that she can take the dress off. Then something happens: she realizes her own nakedness as never before. â€Å"She was horribly conscious of her own exposed nakedness. She felt a new and final kind of nakedness, as if she had taken even her own skin off and now stood clothed in nothing, nude in the ultimate nudity of the skeleton. (Carter 21) This scene might be interpreted as the happenings in the Bible right after the Fall. The serpent deceives Eve so she and Adam both eat from the forbidden tree. â€Å"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. † (New International Bible, Genesis 3:7) The naked Melanie puts down the dress and the cat climbs on it. It scratches the dress. Melanie starts climbing up the tree, she does not know how long it takes but she finally gets to her room. She bleeds form â€Å"hundreds of cuts† but does not mind the pain. She honestly regrets what she had done that night, but cannot take it back. She ate from the forbidden fruit and knows that she deserves the consequences. Right now pain seems to be the punishment. The morning has come and when Mrs. Rundle, Jonathon and Victoria leave the house Melanie is alone in the house with her sin. Somebody is knocking on the door. It is a messenger boy with a telegram in his hand. â€Å"As soon as she saw him, she knew what the telegram contained, as if the words were printed on his forehead. (Carter 24) She runs to the bathroom and vomits. She reads the telegram and realizes what she already guessed was true. Her parents were dead. Melanie’s childhood, her fairytale life ended in this moment. She committed a sin last night and now was expelled from Eden. â€Å"This ‘wedding dress night when she married the shadows’ (Carter 77) exiles her and her younger brother and sister from their comfortable, liberal, middle-class home in the country to live in a dark, narrow house above Uncle Phillip’s toyshop in south London. (Sage 15) And what was Melanie’s fault really? As Lorna Sage says it was the â€Å"stepping over the boundary between reality and fantasy† (Sage 15) Melanie, Jonathon and Victoria are taken to their Uncle Phillip’s house. Melanie soon realizes she will have to live there in terror, in constant fear of her uncle. She has to say good bye to the magical life she had in the countryside and has to grow up sooner then expected. We can understand Uncle Phillip’s house as Purgatory. She goes through a grueling rite of passage into the state of being a woman. Whatever way she might once have grown up is simply cancelled after she arrived at Uncle Phillip’s. † (Day 25) Melanie goes through hell until one day Uncle Phillips ends this story. When he learns that his wife has a sexual relationship with her own brother, he sets the house on fire. â€Å"In the end only Melanie and Finn are left standing amongst the wreckage staring at one another in wild surmise, Adam and Eve at the beginning of a new world. †

Multimedia & Education Essay Example for Free

Multimedia Education Essay With a vast array of educational sources available online or by using technology which is involved with multimedia, it is only inevitable that a great deal of teaching will be used this way. Advantages may include improved efficiency, interested learning and a sense of enjoyment for younger learners. Traditional classroom based teaching will need to work together with the advances of computer based learning to fulfil and expand the learners knowledge. Bibliography www. computerweekly. com www. mit. com www. nhs. com www. bbc. co. uk. As technology has evolved rapidly in and around our environment, public services are now steadily introducing multimedia and other forms of computer based applications. The Territorial Army (TA) and the National Health Service (NHS) are two that have evolved dramatically within the last ten years in relation to technology. The TA has several high-tech intelligence and weaponry applications and the NHS has such vital modern equipment all implementing some form of multimedia. With this it should only make sense that multimedia be included in another very important sector, Education. Within the last five years multimedia and education have bonded well to produce some very informative information. This has become readily available for children as young as two up to adults participating in education via adult learning schemes. The most significant and straightforward way to view these types of information is from the World Wide Web (WWW). The similarity between primary and university study is that they need to be online indefinitely. Although they need internet access it must not be a limited package. The connection they apply must be quick and effective otherwise users will establish a lackadaisical attitude towards the idea. Inside the last twelve months there has been a surge in primary and secondary schools in particular enquiring about wireless connections. Many schools are looking at this form of connection due to its low cost and flexibility. Laptops can be transferred from one classroom to another, rather than having a fixed station. An example of multimedia used within education is a project aimed towards disaffected children to encourage them back into learning. Interactive mathematics, composing digital music and building virtual 3D art exhibitions are some of the applications which are used and created. The main idea behind the project is to establish a stable bond between pupil and teacher with the use of I. T. Other outcomes which are hopefully achieved is the better retention of the technology they are using (both pupil and teacher). If the time for this technology is used wisely and productively with the school environment it could play and integral part in the pupils advances post education, however if the pupil is not receptive to new forms of teaching then the answer must lie elsewhere. Ian Peacock chairman of Hackney Councils Education Committee said We need to ensure that the childrens use of computers in the classroom provides some of the buzz they get from playing media-intensive games in their leisure time. (ComputerWeekly, 2001). As education and multimedia within the ages of two to sixteen is of great importance, the education of the older age group should also be considered vital for those willing to expand their skills and acquire the relevant knowledge. This next form of learning via means of multimedia shows how far the technology has developed to cater for this age group. MIT Open Courseware is designed to: ?Provide free, searchable, access to MITs course materials for educators, students, and self-learners around the world. ?Extend the reach and impact of MIT OCW and the open courseware concept. There is a wide variety of courses to opt for, from history to nuclear engineering. The site is aimed at self-learners who can log on anywhere in the world and start accessing information on their chosen subject. Lecture notes and assignments are all included just as if they were studying in University. This form of studying is very familiar at present with more than 2000 courses available on the internet reported by 1996. That number has grown progressively and there are courses available today to suit the majority of users whatever their subject. These online courses prove to be significant to those who maybe cannot afford fees towards university or who reside to far from any teaching institute. We live in a very rural area. Access to quality educational materials is a 225-mile drive to the nearest library of any significance. (Self Learner MIT, 2005).

Assessing Strategic Analysis About Ryanair Airways

Assessing Strategic Analysis About Ryanair Airways The Ryanair is started by the Ryan family in 1985, with share capital of one pound and only with 25 colleagues , they started daily basis flights from Waterford in the Ireland to London Gatwick, with 5000 passengers on the route . The company grow further with high competitors British Airways and air Lingus . It is operating in a highly competitive sectors . but after 3 years of fast industrial growth , company increasingly got the numbers of passengers. with the price and routes competition they face  £20mn losses and it leads thinking about restructuring , Ryanair was take models from southwest airlines low cost leadership model .Under the new management team with new CEO Michael OLeary rethink and Launch a New LOW COST , NO FRILLS Strategy . In 1997 the EU Air transport authority allows the Ryanair to first time to operate 18 new routes in European Continental area. They took many corrective action against cost reduction Eg no free drinks ,foods, and other facilities. Ryanair go t good response from all European passengers who likes frequent , quick and Low cost Travel . Ryanair overtakes BA and Air Lingus in the Dublin London routes . Ryanair achieves their objective in a short period , they won many awards and positions in airlines industry, Ryanair got good name for punctuality. consistently the organisation expands operations , therefore in become very famous airline in the world ., and currently Ryanair operating 24 countries 436 low fare routs carried nearby 60mn people . Ryanairs Strategy : Ryanairs objective is to firmly establish itself as Europes leading low-fares scheduled passenger airline through continued improvements and expanded offerings of its low-fares service(Ryanair.com)The Ryanair key strategies. Industry Leading passenger service High frequency on short- haul routes. Significantly providing a service with very Low fares . low operating costs, addressing aircraft and equipment, personnel productivity, customer service costs and airport access fees Use the internet effectively Commitment to the safety and quality maintenance . Expand the operation results via Ancillary services. Ryanair offering a highly differentiated product with very lower fare, which increasing their competitive advantage to maintain competitive position on over its competitor. The firm makes to claim to their market area by marking Europes first no frills airline service.(Ryanair.com). Sustainable competitive advantage : Cost reduction Strategy: The Ryanair has following cost reduction strategy for achieving its goal for retaining their competitive position in airlines industries . there is five main functional factors like Airport charges , contracting out services , fleet commonality , managed staff costs and marketing cost .these are the areas they are giving great focus to improve low cost operation . According to fleet commonality the airways using particular type of aircraft which controls the cost and limits the cost for employee training and development , maintenance cost and managing spares , giving more flexibility to scheduling the duty crew and aircraft. The Ryanair using Boeing 737 series to operate more numbers of passengers, and it allows 25% of increased their passengers with guaranteed 15 years of operating life .the old fleet took more maintenance coat and less fuel efficient , according to EU noise reduction requirements, the Ryanair fleets are required to install hushkits to avoid noises , it take more cost for installation almost $20mn , the increased weight might leads by negative figure of fuel efficiency . Contracting out services : The better way of reducing operating cost to give the services and maintenance work to contract or outsourcing . Ryanair operates all European countries secondary airports , it makes more numbers of passengers arrive the other city airport. The Ryanair making many contract like with France and Spain to engage with contract to assure certain number of passengers , so it makes to fill up the aircraft first the second think is about fares .Bringing more passengers in to particular airport it gives considerable amount of financial aid . The Ryanair given a contract for making luggage handling, ticket booking , customer service calls, fleet handling and maintenance and other functions . the firm obtains competitive amounts and more number of years of fixed price contract . it also avoid direct employee relationship controversies . Airports and route polices : The Ryanairs policy is to avoid many charges like passenger loading fee, landing fee, flight parking charge and noise charges , because the Ryanair avoiding congested main airport , by choosing secondary airport . it reduces many fees and indirect operational inconvenience .less busy airports give more time to on-time departure, and also reduces the landing traffic time .except London Heathrow and Gatwick airport Ryanair operates regional and secondary airports .also the firm consistent with policy of point to point connection on short range routes. Staff costs and Productivity ; The company manages a staff moderately , in this way the organisation pays modest salary , but if the company gives a pay according to the performance it will encourage the employee performance .Ryanair continuously improving their productivity with productive work force , based on on-board product sales they giving commission and incentives to the cabin crew . Ryanair giving a competitive salary to their pilot and employees, Because keeping their employee turnover they offering more than competitor. The Ryanair refuse to recognise employee union , it means they want to avoid employee relationship controversies . before recessions Ryanair gives many incentives , because it gain more profits as well as good passenger market, but after hitting recession it situation is changed because of economic slowdown , at the same time Ryanair got more number of passengers . it leads recruiting new staff members in to the team. They always think about low cost and high productivity . Marketing Cost ; The firm try to reduce marketing cost by minimising travel agents ,the firm main advertisement via their own website and radio and news paper. And they giving many deals and offers getting more attraction from all kind of customer. Ryanair follows well focussed strategy regarding the Low fares and no frills . but it leads lot more criticism and controversies in their operation . Ryanair taking advantage over the internet to make very fast booking for ticket, they were made a contract for 10 years maintenance of Ryanair website to the Accenture. The website makes more flexible to operate the airline business. And also they offer more additional services via their website to arrange hotels booking , prepaid visa credit cards , giving free city guide it makes more comfortable for their passenger for arranging their travel plan . Enhancement of operating results Through ancillary Services: The Ryanair follows ancillary revenue strategy , to convert the cost centres in to good revenue sources . they giving optional add ones to above the average prices . particularly the Ryanair understands well on optional .and also involves a un avoidable aspects of products. They engaged on in-flight sales Like : food and beverages and merchandise . they are giving a catalogue for the sales product and it will be addressing by the cabin crew , the crew get paid according to the sales levels. Via online they making more revenues by distribution of travel related services and merchandise , and also Ryanair receives commission from their product suppliers. It makes 20 % of revenue by ancillary services. Ryanair marketing message Lowest price on the Market Guarantee of no fuel surcharges it supports Ryanair brand image. The figure says how much they generating revenue from ancillary product. But it sometimes make bad impression on the brand , but prices are in real time is not very low . many times raynair attacked by media for breaching the social contract. They selling charity calendar to passenger it was hit around  £35,000 in 7000 copies in the year 2008 . Analysis : When analysing Ryanair position and strategies , It vital to consider overall industrial environment . I would like to use PESTEL analysis for analysing macro environment of Ryanair. PESTEL: It very constructive framework , it is describing about various factors of while doing environmental analysis of particular organisation . POLITICAL : The Political factors includes all policies and actions of government which affect the overall or any functional area of business operations Like , getting approval to operate the in a particular nation., Taxation , route changes , employee union policy in the local government. The securities and Tourism policy will directly hitting by airlines industry . the European union deregulates the aviation polices to gave more opportunities across EU , to competing each other in local routs. After 2004 most of the eastern European countries mingled with EU it makes expands the EU market. Ryanair crosses many government policy related problems especially in Taxing problem , if any country increase the airport tax suddenly the Ryanair stop their service , then the local government starts negotiate with Ryanair , the similar tactic they followed for negotiate with local government . ( in August 2006 , UK authorities imposed severe security measures at all airports in the face of an alleged imminent terrorist plot to attach up to 10 aircraft on transatlantic routes. These measures applied to all passengers including short-haul ones, so they were to be body searched and banned from carrying liquids and gels in their carry -on luggage. Airports serving London were especially affected. Ryanair had to cancel 279 flights in the days immediately following the incident and refunded  £2.7 million in fares to approximately 40,000 passengers, and also suffered a losses of 1.9 million Euros in reduced bookings).( Ryanair Case Study by Eleanor OHiggins,2008 -2009). UK government establish a law for security concerns , which restricts the operation due to terrorism attack. Increasing route change by the local government Increased trade union pressure Also government upgrade the law against carbon emission to air transport , to compensate other taxes. The new EU regulation and EU expansion caused for more business advantage as well as increased more competition . The French government supports for their national carriers . Now the organisation comfortable with inside the Europe policies and regulations. Still some problem their facing especially with union. Economic : Basically the Ryanair operates based on European continental area so that its operations are not affected by the exchange rate . The main area of economic concerns is oil prices. Ryanair has addressed the problem of increasing oil prices through some productive method, they having some productive fund for managing oil prices hike . but British airways addressing this problem by increasing surcharges , but Ryanair basic strategy is no surcharges for passengers . The general economic environment remains extremely difficult, as the recession saps consumer confidence, but this is proving to be good for Ryanairs traffic growth, as more and more passengers switch to Ryanairs lowest-fare, lowest-cost model. Many of our competitors have in recent months reported short-haul traffic falls, while Ryanair continues to grow. Michael OLeary, http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article5645152.ece 1.EU expansion 2. some fast cares and trains 3. regional subsidies 4.Recession 5. depreciation of US dollars These are the factors that affects the Ryanair operations by economically . Social: The modern globalised business culture which enables more international and frequent domestic business travelling . increasing travelling and tourism lifestyle creates more airways travelling business. Offering very low cost services that increases frequency of passengers travelling . fluctuating of customer taste may affect the business styles , it may lead to rethink their business model according to the current situation . The Low fare for air travelling invites more passenger to travel frequently ,as well as it expands the travelling life cycle . they taken care of health and safety in effective manner. Technological and Environment They effectively using the sophisticated technology to improve their performance and accuracy of business. Ryanair investing high volume of money for Boeing 737-800,900. series aircraft to cope with continuous growth to keep competitive advantage. The strategy behind the using Boeing 737 series is to reduce the level of fuel consumption. Ryanair use the technology tool wisely , by using internet to manage passenger booking tickets and other value added services, it also increase their business accuracy and generates more revenue . when launched the Ryanair website within one week , the company got 50,000 bookings in a week . in the financial year of 2004 the website accounting 98% of overall Ryanair bookings. And the website named one of the most popular website in the world by Google . The environment scanning includes how the business has affect the world environment . especially in the concerns about global worming . but according to the carbon emission percentage the airlines industry accounts only 2% of carbon emission . avoiding noise pollution and reducing green house gasses emission is main concerns for now a days. Boeing 737 900 helps to reduce the carbon emission . Legal : Ryanair faces many legal issues in the past decades, the company engaged with all EU countries employees , it makes more difficult to manage the people in different countries, they are facing different critical situation regarding the Legal issues. The EU makes the law for providing compensation food accommodation for passengers if any flight cancels their schedule . many of the Belgian employees are laid off after the trail period , but it accepted by Irish law. Many of the Ryanair cases are still open . Significantly , damaging for Ryanair has been an European Commission ruling on subsidies. Many airports have aided for subsidise Ryanairs operations because of the economic benefits they can bring to the local area. The Commission ruled that subsidies from Charleroi in Belgium were illegal and that Ryanair must repay 4m. There are 3 main type of strategy was described by porter , 1.differentation 2.cost focused 3.niche , these are strategies for identified by porters generic strategies model . The Ryanair Cost focused model it focused to reduce the features of products to keep the cost low so the flying fare might be minimised. The differentiation strategies is charging high fee for features that add value for product .the niche strategy involves highly sophisticated product into narrow market. The porter argues the strategies mixing is a blender, this is not appropriate for Ryanair , the most successful low fare airlines they dont have premier or standard operations. Most of the occasion Ryanair try to introduce the differentiation strategies with business class and frequent traveller programme , both plan are cancelled. The Porters five theory is used for analysis the Ryanairs , it evaluates how influences affect competing organisation with in the field. And also this analysis explain why the differentiation strategies failed. The porter five forces give a clear picture about how the forces involves the competition environment . Situation Analysis: Strengths The foremost factors that would consider in the top which is their marketing strategy it includes strong branding and reputation and also leads strong and aggressive pricing strategy. The low cost strategies gives more number of customers it also give morale boost to expand the operation to all over Europe .The EU regulations supports the airline to open a new routes, it is one of the greatest advantage for Ryanairs operation expansions to Europe .The Leadership of Michael OLeary s leadership is one of key for success of their business . the customers are very happy with their money proposition of the services . their innovative cost reduction policy attracts many customers. And the mostly the revenue generation from ancillary services gives more financial strengths to the organisation. They having strong public image. And some more like established market share , safety factors, high load factor, first mover advantage these are the strength of Ryanair aviation company . Weaknesses For low fare travel strategies may affected by many times with external factors. This leads on more risk on the business operations. Most their operation with customer relation with online , sometimes because technical error they getting bad name from their customers. Mainly the employee relationship is not good, because their refusing to recognise the employee union . the volatile customer relationship is one of the key point of weakness. The decision mostly depends on Michel OLeary .the employee commitment and loyalty is very lees on the organisation . out sourcing the services may decrease the commitment of employee ,but most of the money used for buy a new aircraft . Opportunities : The strong strategy and strengths to get more opportunities to still dominating in the European airlines industry by providing more quality services at the same time keeping the low cost strategy . the continuous initiatives in company diversified the resources it will give hand on to make a growth . Such opportunities that will include e-business development as well as contracts with suppliers in this difficult economic timing where every one is trying to survive. EU law allows to make more new routes , it will expand the operations , and also the Ryanair having ability to operate the flights into the US domestic airline services .because the regulations are very flexible for operate the low cost airlines in the US. The Leadership getting more involvement on improving the operation and growth of the organisation. Threats : Threats are in the non-static model industry is always challenging and also changing according to the situations . mostly threats from macro environment via government polices affect low cost model , many times it was affected Ryanair , in terms of taxation, like airport traffic charges . The us dollar variations affect the fuel price, it leads increase fuel price . the fast growing technology advancement may be a threat to the organisation . The concerns about competitors, the company should be able to give a unique and more advanced technological services to be able to survive in the competition in the airline industry. The increased competition in the low cost airlines and mergers between competitors is a crutial threat for the company . the trade unionism is more vital point of threats . the industry criticism is may leads many threats from the financial side. Strategic choices : There four different strategies identified in porters generic model , it has 1.differentation , 2. Cost focus 3.. cost leadership 4. Differentiation focus . In a first concern all it is clear the strategy is adopted to be the low fare air travel provider, but at the same time it is focusing on certain segments on location , demographic and niche basis, such as providing Air services which are very short in distances and there are no connecting flights which minimise the cost of luggage handling and connecting passengers .by discussing above strategy it is necessary to explain same direction . i would like to present by the use of ansoff model. It will give a good idea about market development , product and service development, market penetration . Market development strategy can be implemented by introducing existing services to new places in order to attract more passengers and revenue generation. The organisation can elaborate through introduction of operation to other areas of world not just concentrate at one or set number of places. An different aspect is need to be consider of when Market development , which is the communication and channel of distribution have to be altered according to the cultural and geographical aspects of new market. Ryanair can expand its services by introducing flights to different places in Africa, South Asia and Eastern part of the world where there is huge potential of market growth . There are more valuable reasons for this factor, one is there are most of tourist and people are allow to visit those places in holiday timings such as Egypt, India and Dubai etc. Secondly there are many people who have been migrated to west European countries from different countries so they need to going their home countries as well, if these people will get low price deals even the quality is just normal level , the target customers will choose this option as most of the region in eastern and southern part of the world are emerging countries, so low cost fares and no frills would be more valuable as compare to European services . The only think is here that Ryanair is competing with big competitor Airlines in European markets, because it has ability to compete on short routes but it not be able to manage the competition with other national airlines at such a large extent, where they have good experience with airlines services and people might prefer to use their national Airlines instead of those which are badly reputed and being criticised in terms of customer behaviour. On the other hand need more financial capital as operations will be expanded and the size of fleet has to be increased ,which is not possible in current Ryanair position where it is facing financial difficulties in year 2009 due to recession and increased competition at different ends. When diversification occur where the new product and services are introduced in the field. Any strategy is evaluated in aspects of Suitability, feasibility and acceptability , The strategy of diversification which is unique, and there will be some concerns regarding the capital budgeting . as Ryanair Aircraft comprised of Boeing aircrafts, for this strategy it has to invest some more money to get small air crafts having a capacity of 20-30 passenger which can be used for private basis. The overall strategy might also not align with the proposed proposal as it is very niche segment and there profits generated may not be important as compare to current figures being reported from couple of years by Ryanair. Strategic Decision and Recommended Strategy : According to my perspective and my above analysis, Ryanair is doing well under the leader ship of Michael O Leary . According to Michael O Leary it is not fruitfully when you minimise the prices and make losses, the actual competency is reducing the fares and still continue to making profits. It reflects the strategy of market penetration and product development. I agree at some extent. The Ryanair is one of the Porters preferred company profile for charismatic leadership of OLeary .the successful company have a well structured and strong Leadership who willing to made more choices , The porter says I have found that there is a striking relationship between really good strategies and Really strong leaders. (Porter in 2006 ). And also it is created more dependence for OLearys commitment if in case he departs from the company it create more impact on the organisational business. The attitude of employee is a major weakness of its strategy, Recognise the employee union might be give a good result from the employee side, and also it increases employee commitment , the employee feels good. But at the same time the unionism might demand more , and conduct frequent strike , it may affect Ryanair operation .example frequent strike affected many times on British airways. I suggested to implement a strategy it increased move to expand the staff bases across the Europe . Especially in East side of Europe, because there is very less wages . by setting up Training institute across the Europe , it reduces agency cost. Also the purchase of new aircraft like 20 airbus and 116 Boeing is more valuable for the future of the organisation operations. It is vital move on their advancement of cost reduction strategy , because it reduce the fuel consumption as well as increasing the number of passengers . it gives more revenue on their day to day and long term operation. The Ryanair website has some customer relationship problem , in the area of payment of tickets , it may affect the moral image of the organisation , so that make the use of new technology to avoid this kind of problem. The website look and feel is quite older they should be redesign the website look which gives more user friendly , It can give more options when booking , the price of the booking needs to displayed by properly and give a brief explanation about all other costs. It will give a good image to the company because if they feel there is no hidden charge they will believe the company . It is good to lower the cost of operating the business, but not being so cheap which allow inconvenience to passenger and it decreasing value created to them. I strongly recommended those customers who book Low fare flights but dont arrange boarding pass via online, it Leads more expensive for them to arrange for boarding pass at airport and sometimes some extra amount need to be paid as compa re to original ticket. This strategy should be eliminated as customer gets frustrated and if customer feel more incontinence it may not want to think to travel again with Ryanair. It is important to assess the number of passengers travelling within the one year of period on a particular route .if they find a new route like Athens to London , Cyprus to Amsterdam . It is commercially profitable and possible to providing the service on the suggested route . The main reason for success is providing lowest fares then competitor without charging the fuel surcharges, but the organisation must think about giving more value to the passengers.   Ryanair can be summarised as a organisation it has had a very clear strategy differentiating it from competitors in a way of enabled it to meet passenger needs effectively, and there are remarkably few commercial weaknesses in its approach. Critical Reflections from Learning Outcome : When i started before i have some less idea about corporate strategy, I dont have much knowledge about the organisations strategies , but now I have understand what is use of strategy and what it says. More then that how strategies are important for successful organisation. It gives me a detailed idea about how to manage long term business, I had understand well in the frameworks which i studied it gives a clear picture about the macro environmental and micro environmental factors. I used to analyse environment via PESTEL framework , it is very useful to assess the industries current environment. But it takes more time to asses all functional areas. It is put me reed more sources. And I also used SWOT analysis to assess the current situations about Ryanair. The comparisons between in the four major area that gives a clean picture about the current situation. The Ryanair CEO Michael O Leary has a very charismatic and contradicting personality and his statements like  £1 for toilet use means reduction in cost but at same time inconvenience to customer .In most of the time it gets confusing to count the above statement as strength or weakness. The over all module shape my view about on the corporate strategy , it gave a more knowledge about how to operate a business in the corporate levels. And also addressing many framework that gives a solution for the conflicts ,some time it take vague . The case study which is related to subject give great and depth knowledge about current and historic trends of their strategies . it also teaches some successful strategies on the industrial operations. The module gives full extend level of knowledge about strategies as well as the delivery of subject knowledge is excellent , the tutor gives many more real time example and shares knowledge with us, encourage the student participation in the class , it makes more interactive in the class room. But the course is very short time period so the time management for study this subject is somewhat difficult. References: JOHNSON G, SCHOLES K, AND WHITTINGTON (2008) Exploring Corporate strategy text and cases 8th edition FT and Prentice Hall , Pearson Education publishers , London KOTLER P, ARMSTRONG G, SAUNDERS J and WONG V (1999) Principles of Marketing 2nd  European Edition (Prentice Hall, London) KOTLER P and KELLER K (2005) Marketing Management 12TH edition Pearson Education, London MARCOUS A, GILLIESPIE A, MARTIN B (2003) Business studies 2nd edition Hodder Arnold , Oxon. PORTER (1987) From the Competitive Advantage to the Corporate Industry, Harvard Business Review may 1987 pp 43 to 59 . PORTER (2001) Strategy and Internet In Harvard Business Review in march 2001. Pp 44- 73. PORTER (1996) What is strategy ? in Harvard Business Review pp 61- 69. MILNER M and BRIGNALL M (2006) EU court rules that airlines must compensate stranded passengers in The Guardian 11/01/2006 Mintzberg H (1989) Mintzberg on Management (Free Press, New York) The stock holders information http://www.ryanair.com/doc/investor/Strategy.pdf . Referring the home website for data http://www.ryanair.com/en/about Ryanair Case Study by Eleanor OHiggins,2008 -2009 Bibliography: Ryanair Strategic Study from Michael Choi WWW.Ryanair.com ACCA book for business analysis www.airscope.com