Impact of Technology on Business Communication Essay - 1

Impact of Technology on Business Communication - Essay Example This section presents some of the vital business communication technologies for better business handling and management. Below are some important examples of business communication:This technology is currently extensively used in business communication. There are lots of popular social networks those heavily support such business communication like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Such social networks allow companies to reach and communicate with thousands of concerned customers and diverse experts straight away by means of short messages planned to influence, notify and sell. However, such business communication method involves a lot of irrelevant communication areas that make huge information store having no considerable significance.One more new and state-of-the-art business communication technology is the Shared Digital Workspace. These digital workspaces are similar to traditional specialized networks designed for file sharing, where numerous partners are able to get access and perform their functions on a particular project immediately. This permits networks better group teamwork as cooperative aimed at conflicting requirements in some relaxation intended for time and place. This is mainly valuable for companies that deal in different states all over the world. However, this business communication technology requires some proprietary communication application involving higher costs and also demands extensive application personalization for better and effective management of business needs.

Three Key Techniques for Better Listening Essay Example for Free

Three Key Techniques for Better Listening Essay In this McKinsey article, Bernard T. Ferrari explores three key techniques for better listening and its importance. By showing respect, keeping quiet and challenging assumptions, Mr. Ferrari argues that will create a â€Å"base of knowledge that generates fresh insights and ideas. First, show respect. Respect breeds confidence and trust. If you’re a manager, you probably have a complex set of responsibilities. You can’t know everything about every facet of your domain. By respecting your teammates, you will naturally draw them into the conversation and learn from them. If you simply jump to a solution, you short circuit the entire process. Not only do you miss out on any advice about the current situation, you also teach your colleagues not to offer advice in the future. Second, keep quiet. Ferrari suggest a variation of the 80/20 rule — let the other person speak about 80% of the time while you speak only 20% of the time. Many executives struggle as listeners because they never think to relax their assumptions and open themselves to the possibilities that can be drawn from conversations with others. But many executives will have to undergo a deeper mind-set shift—toward an embrace of ambiguity and a quest to uncover â€Å"what we both need to get from this interaction so that we can come out smarter.† Too many good executives, even exceptional ones who are highly respectful of their colleagues, inadvertently act as if they know it all, or at least what’s most important, and subsequently remain closed to anything that undermines their beliefs. Third, challenge assumptions. This doesn’t just mean that you challenge other people’s assumptions. It also means that you encourage your colleagues to challenge your assumptions. So it takes real effort for executives to become better listeners by forcing themselves to lay bare their assumptions for scrutiny and to shake up their thinking with an eye to reevaluating what they know, don’t know, and—an important point—can’t know. One of the interesting twists in Ferrari’ s framework for effective listening is his â€Å"field guide to identifying bad listeners†. He identifies six â€Å"types† of bad listeners: The Opinionator listens to others primarily to determine whether or not their ideas conform to what he or she already believes to be true. Grouches are poor listeners who are blocked by a feeling of certainty that your idea is wrong. The Preambler’s windy lead-ins and questions are really stealth speeches, often intended to box conversation partners into a corner. Preamblers use questioning to steer the  discussion, send warnings, or generate a desired answer. Perseverators talk a lot without saying anything. If you pay close attention to one of these poor listeners, you’ll find that their comments and questions don’t advance the conversation. Everyone wants to solve problems, but Answer Man spouts solutions before there is even a consensus about the challenge—a clear signal that input from conversation partners isn’t needed. Pretenders feign engagement and even agreement but either aren†™t interested in what you’re saying or have already made up their minds. This article is particularly aimed at executives. However, it is useful for every person who wants to learn how to communicate better. Ferrari uses very interesting and humorous examples, so it’s easy and interesting to read. I find this article very helpful because I struggle to be a good listener. When I’m engaged in an intense conversation, I’m often framing my response or am thinking about a solution to the problem at hand. Of course, when I’m thinking about something else, I’m not really listening. More importantly, if the other side thinks I’m not listening, they’re less likely to be persuaded to my point of view. Also, I had always thought of questions as being solely an expression of interest and generosity. Now, I am beginning to better understand that questions. Even seemingly friendly inquiries can be a subtle source of control. We simply can’t listen if we’re talking, even if we are talking by questioning.

Japanese Business Culture Essay -- Globalization

Japan is the third-largest economy in the world, an island of nations within East Asia. Japan is the world’s tenth largest country by population, with 127.3 million people. A major economic power that continues to experience growth resulting from industrial and technological breakthroughs. In the last decade, Japan has experienced growth through globalization that affected it citizens by employment and wages. As a vital key to conducting business in Japan it is essential for a corporation to understand etiquette and protocols as well as the religious beliefs that may or may not impact business. Japan has solidified itself a global economic power and concentrated contributor through automotive, advanced technology, and textile industries. The greatest accomplishment of any country is the heritage of culture it produces and passes down thru generations. Japan grew as an economic force beginning in the 1960s, and has exiliterated a high standard of living since that time. Japan is a parliamentary democracy modeled by the British system. It is comprised of two legislative chambers of elected representatives, a parliament. People, businesses, culture, and economic strength are key components to a country globalization. Over the last decade, Japan has managed to shift dependence from foreign energy suppliers to international environment focused on import and exports. The two tiered financial structure and the Japanese’ perception of frail and weak economy are factors that influence this countries resiliency during a global recession. Examples of economies that have proven competitive in Japan are amongst the industrial industry. Exports have been the main resource of Japan's economic growth. Japan imports raw materials and proce... ...ral Michigan University. (2008). Administration, globalization and multiculturalism. (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill Learning Solutions. Japan disaster threatens economic recovery, affects economies globally. (2011, March 15). Retrived from http://www.huffingtonpost.com Kaneko, Kaori. (2012). Economy picking up, exports better: japan. Retrived from http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-12 Kwintenssential. (n./d.). Japan. Retrieved from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/country-profiles.html Morrison,Charles E. & Soesastro,Hadi.(1998). â€Å"Japan,† Domestic adjustments to globalization Reischauer, Edwin O. (1982). The Japanese.(13th ed.) Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Webster, Fiona. (2001). Globalization does it work on japan. Retrived from http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fb20010320a1.html

Huckleberry Finn Analysis Essay

Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been regarded as one of the greatest novels in American regionalism. So many Americans have read it, and many have enjoyed it and many believe that it is worthy of the highest praise, and deserves to be included in the canon of Great American literature. As a piece of regionalist literature, the novel shines out amongst other novels. Twain vividly describes the Mississippi river and surrounding area of Missouri with detail unrivaled. His characters’ dialogue accurately depicts the dialogue of the area, and their attitudes, especially towards African Americans, are also historically accurate. However, as Huck and Jim move farther south down the river, Twain loses touch with his style of writing. The regionalist aspect suddenly crumbles, and his plot line gets outrageously unbelievable. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not deserving of inclusion in the canon of Great American literature. As Jane Smiley said in her essay Say It Ain’t So, Huck, â€Å"There is more to be learned about the American character from its canonization than through its canonization(Smiley 61). If Twain had kept the story line in his territory of familiarity the outcome may be different, but as his setting moves south, his writing moves right along with it. To clearly see how Twain’s writing deteriorates as the novel progresses one must compare quotes from when the novel is set in Missouri to when the novel is set farther south. Here is a quote from the beginning of the novel, describing the area around Jackson Island, â€Å"†¦but mostly it was big trees all about, and gloomy in there amongst them. There was freckled Boyer 2 freckled places on the ground where the light sifted down through the leaves, and the freckled places swapped about a little, showing there was a little breeze up there†(Twain, 51). The way he describes nature in this excerpt shows his true talent. The personification of the ground and the light, giving it the human-like characteristics of freckles gives the passage a personal touch. His diction and prose make the reader feel like they are watching the golden beams of light dance before their eyes. This is why Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are recognized across America. However, in Chapter 31, when Jim ends up on the Phelps’ plantation, and the Phelps end up being Tom Sawyer’s family, and the Phelps mistake Huck for Tom and Tom for Sid, Twain is really pushing the believability of his novel, and from this excerpt we can see that the beauty of his prose is gone, as though he’s lost touch with the regionalist touch that makes his writing great, â€Å"‘Phelps’s was one of these little one-horse cotton plantations, and they all look alike. A rail fence round a two-acre yard; a stile made out of logs sawed off and up-ended in steps, like barrels of different length†¦(Twain, 273)† and on and on about the buildings of the plantation. There is nothing here that even remotely sounds like it came from someone who knows the area. Twain even says, â€Å"†¦and they all look alike† in the passage. He really lost his essence and creativity. He wrote out of his sphere of knowledge, and his novel suffers for it. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a wonderful piece of literature. Twain captures the true essence of being a teenage boy on a big adventure on the lazy Mississippi river. However, the end of his novel switches settings from Missouri, to further south, on a plantation coincidentally owned by Tow Sawyer’s family, and the reader can clearly see that Twain was out of his element, and he lost the wonderful sense of regionalism that made his Boyer 3 his works, and his era, influential in American literature, mainly because he wasn’t writing about the region he knew, grew up in, and loved. This is why Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is not deserving of inclusion into the great canon of American literature.

Do Educated Women Makes Better Mother Essay

â€Å"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. ’’ Mothers play a vital role in the upbringing of children and they nurture the babies with all the important values to make them great leaders, tycoons, corporate kings and masters of their professions. Therefore, educated women indeed make great mothers as they are more aware of the needs, norms and necessities of this challenging world that their children are going to face. An educated mother knows how to use psychology to her advantage and pave the way for the child to attain great heights. Some educated mothers force their children to excel which puts these children into a planetarium of success. â€Å"You have to be cruel in order to be kind. † Therefore, they may exercise force on their children but it is only a good education will pave the way to a brighter future. Prominent lawyers, doctors and lecturers, writers and other professional pay great tribute to their mothers who took great care for them to emerge the victorious lot and to become the best in the society. â€Å"Behind every successful man is a woman. The educated mother is aware of the perils of illiteracy and will ignorance and being ill-equipped for the future. So, educated mothers will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that their offspring are healthy, strong, fit and most importantly multi-talented. This positive approach allows the children to be the best and to reach for the sky. Education helps these mothers to steer their children away from bad habits, immoral behavior and wrong ways. An educational mother can teach her children when they lag behind in their schoolwork. Some teachers are mothers too and it is not uncommon to see their children doing profoundly well in examinations. Apart from that, educated mothers are a source of inspiration for their children. When the children are aware of the high capability and integrity of their mothers, they will follow suit in their mother’s footsteps. Educated mothers motivate their children in all aspects. These mothers are also aware of setbacks, failure, frustrations and peer pressure. Being educated allows these mothers to use professional approaches in handling children to help them overcome these obstacles in life. Educated mothers indeed know the strength and the weakness of their children. They will teach their children to capitalize on their strengths but not in weakness. This positive approach will go a long way in life. We can, therefore, come to conclusion that educated mothers create a future generation of capable, intelligent, highly skilled and profound individuals.

Free business-writing tips on new website - Emphasis

Free business-writing tips on new website Free business-writing tips on new website Writing-skills experts Emphasis launch a series of online resources A new, interactive website launches today, giving users practical advice and expert feedback on their business-writing skills. Launched by leading business-writing trainers Emphasis, the site features a comprehensive set of resources designed to help anyone who has to write emails, reports, tenders, proposals, letters or other documents at work. Users can sign up to receive a regular podcast and writing tips e-bulletin. They can also access a unique writing-skills forum where the Emphasis trainers guarantee to respond to any queries within two working days. One of the sites main advantages is that users can improve their writing in private and in their own time. People often feel uncomfortable about revealing any weakness in their writing skills, explains Rob Ashton, Chief Executive of Emphasis. With the resources available on this site, they can improve their writing in private and whenever they like. The Write On podcast, presented by the BBCs Clare McDonnell, is effectively the UKs first business-writing radio programme. Its full of expert advice and insight on everything from writing better executive summaries and press releases to speech writing, emails and the psychology of proofreading. Other resources include a blog with contributions from writing experts and the comprehensive Knowledge Bank. Visitors can even order a free copy of the Emphasis style guide, The Write Stuff, directly from the site. Press enquiries For more information, please contact us on +44 (0)1273 732 888. or email us here. Notes for editors Emphasis Training Ltd is the UKs leading business-writing training company, providing bespoke courses for a huge range of private and public sector organisations, both in the UK and internationally. Since 1998 it has helped thousands of people in government departments, law firms, blue-chip companies, universities and charities to produce first-class business writing. With headquarters in Brighton, East Sussex, Emphasis has a dedicated team of experienced, specialist trainers who run bespoke courses on-site for organisations across the UK. It also runs open courses for smaller groups or individuals throughout the year in London.

Free Essays on The Three-Legged Stool

The Three-Legged Stool The book ‘The Three-Legged Stool’ by Ronald S. Boreham, clearly explained the philosophy for managing a company. The book had offered a different technique to evaluate company success. Author had also clearly proved his point by providing examples of successful companies like Wal-Mart. The book focuses on balancing the three important constituencies of any business –customers, employees and owners. Book also focuses on relationships with suppliers. There are many companies out there that are missing this balance. I totally agree with each and every detail provided in this book. Relationship is completely made of trust. Customers should always be portrayed as people instead of numbers, knowing more about a customer than a competition is an important key to maintain an existing customer. I also liked the guidelines to evaluate the customer, also always believed in face to face contact with customer. If the employer has nothing to hide then employees will feel important. A little attempt made to get an employee opinion can bring in great deal of success. I always believed in open door policies which doesn’t only mean to visit the supervisor but by telephone, letter, email etc. Many companies today are missing employee survey, which in my view is dropping the communication ball. I also liked the misconceptions and myths book had described. Good long term relationships with owners and shareholders are also extremely important. When such good relations are enjoyed any temporary bad news are correctly viewed in people’s minds. A good balance between shareholders and employees is extremely important. An interesting aspect of the book was relationships with suppliers. Due to heavy competition companies these days are neglecting this relationship. A relationship with Supplier is nothing but a win-win situation. It brings out new ideas and creativity along with value. In conclusion the book had laid out a g... Free Essays on The Three-Legged Stool Free Essays on The Three-Legged Stool The Three-Legged Stool The book ‘The Three-Legged Stool’ by Ronald S. Boreham, clearly explained the philosophy for managing a company. The book had offered a different technique to evaluate company success. Author had also clearly proved his point by providing examples of successful companies like Wal-Mart. The book focuses on balancing the three important constituencies of any business –customers, employees and owners. Book also focuses on relationships with suppliers. There are many companies out there that are missing this balance. I totally agree with each and every detail provided in this book. Relationship is completely made of trust. Customers should always be portrayed as people instead of numbers, knowing more about a customer than a competition is an important key to maintain an existing customer. I also liked the guidelines to evaluate the customer, also always believed in face to face contact with customer. If the employer has nothing to hide then employees will feel important. A little attempt made to get an employee opinion can bring in great deal of success. I always believed in open door policies which doesn’t only mean to visit the supervisor but by telephone, letter, email etc. Many companies today are missing employee survey, which in my view is dropping the communication ball. I also liked the misconceptions and myths book had described. Good long term relationships with owners and shareholders are also extremely important. When such good relations are enjoyed any temporary bad news are correctly viewed in people’s minds. A good balance between shareholders and employees is extremely important. An interesting aspect of the book was relationships with suppliers. Due to heavy competition companies these days are neglecting this relationship. A relationship with Supplier is nothing but a win-win situation. It brings out new ideas and creativity along with value. In conclusion the book had laid out a g...

January Calendar of Famous Inventions and Birthdays

January Calendar of Famous Inventions and Birthdays Many famous inventors, scientists, authors, and artists were born in January, and many patents, trademarks, and copyrights for inventions, products, films, and books were issued during this month throughout history. If you were born during the beginning of the year, in the first month of the Gregorian calendar, be sure to check out which famous figures share your January birthday or what inventions made their public debut on this day in history. Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights From the trademarking of Willy Wonka Candy to the release of Michael Jacksons Thriller song, many inventions and creations were patented, trademarked, and copyrighted in January throughout history. Find out which household items and famous inventions got their official start throughout the month. January 1 1982 -  Vladimir Zworykin, the Russian engineer who invented the cathode-ray tube, died. January 2 1975 - The U.S. Patent Office was renamed U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to incorporate its new function as a trademarking office. January 3 1967 - The patent for an apparatus for solar cooling and heating a house was given to Harry Thomason. January 4 1972 - Willy Wonkas trademark was registered. January 5 1965 - Home of the Whopper was trademark registered by Burger King. January 6 1925 - Agronomist George Washington Carver was granted patent Number 1,522,176 for cosmetics. January 7 1913 - Patent Number 1,049,667 was granted to William Burton for the manufacture of gasoline. January 8 1783 - Connecticut became the first state to pass a copyright statute, entitled Act for the Encouragement of Literature and Genius, which \was enacted with the help of Dr. Noah Webster. January 9 1906 -  Campbells soup was trademark registered. January 10 1893 - Thomas Laine patented the electric gas lighter. January 11 1955 - Lloyd Conover patented the antibiotic tetracycline. January 12 1895 - The Printing and Binding Act of 1895 prohibited the copyrighting of any Government publication. January 13 1930 -  Mickey Mouse cartoon first appeared in newspapers throughout the U.S. January 14 1890 - George Cooke received a patent for a gas burner. January 15 1861 - E.G. Otis was issued Patent Number 31,128 for improvement in hoisting apparatus (safety elevator). January 16 1984 - Jim Hensons copyright claim on Kermit, the Muppet was renewed. January 17 1882 - Leroy Firman received a patent for the telephone switchboard. January 18 1957 - Lerner and Lowes musical motion picture My Fair Lady was registered. January 19 1915 - Doublemint  Gum was trademark registered. January 20 1857 - William Kelly patented the blast furnace for manufacturing steel.1929 - The first outdoor feature-length talking motion picture was made, a film called In Old Arizona. January 21 1939 - Arlen and Harburgs song Over the Rainbow was copyrighted.1954 - The first atomic submarine was launched, the USS Nautilus, which was christened by First Lady Mamie Eisenhower. January 22 1895 - Lifebuoy soap was trademark registered.1931 - VARA (a Dutch company) began experimental television broadcasts from Diamantbeurs, Amsterdam. January 23 1849 - A patent was granted for an envelope-making machine.1943 - Casablanca the movie was copyrighted. January 24 1871 -  Charles Goodyear, Jr. patented the Goodyear Welt, a machine for sewing boots and shoes.1935 - The first canned beer, Krueger Cream Ale, was sold by the Kruger Brewing Company of Richmond, VA. January 25 1870 - Gustavus Dows patented a modern form of the soda fountain.1881 - Michael Brassill obtained a patent for a candlestick. January 26 1875 - The first electric dental drill was patented by George Green.1909 - Milk-Bone Brand was trademark registered. January 27 1880 - Patent Number 223,898 was granted to Thomas A. Edison  for an electric lamp for giving light by incandescence. January 28 1807 - Londons Pall Mall became the first street lit by gaslight.1873 - Patent Number 135,245 was obtained by French chemist Louis Pasteur for a process of brewing beer and ale. January 29 1895 -  Charles Steinmetz patented a system of distribution by alternating current (A/C power).1924 - Carl Taylor of Cleveland patented a machine that made ice cream cones. January 30 1487 - Bell chimes were invented.1883 - James Ritty and John Birch received a patent for the cash register. January 31 1851 - Gail Borden announced his invention of evaporated milk.1893 -  Coca-Cola  trademark for nutrient or tonic beverages registered.1983 -  Michael Jacksons Thriller ​was copyrighted. January Birthdays From Scottish scientist James G. Frazer to the inventor of the computer mouse Douglas Engelbart, many great scientists and creators were born in the month of January. Find out who shares your January birthday and how their lives accomplishments changed the world. January 1 1854 - James G. Frazer was a  Scottish scientist. January 2 1822 - Rudolph J. E. Clausius was a  German physicist who researched thermodynamics.1920 - Isaac Asimov  was a scientist who wrote I, Robot and the Foundation Trilogy. January 3 1928 - Frank Ross Anderson was the International Chess Master of 1954. January 4 1643 -  Isaac Newton  was a noted physicist, mathematician, and astronomer who invented a telescope and developed many theories.1797 - Wilhelm Beer was a  German astronomer who made the first Moon map.1809 -  Louis Braille  invented a reading system for the blind.1813 - Isaac Pitman was a British scientist who invented the stenographic shorthand.1872 - Edmund Rumpler was an Austrian auto and airplane builder.1940 - Brian Josephson was a  British physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1973. January 5 1855 -  King Camp Gillette  invented the safety razor.1859 - DeWitt B. Brace invented the spectrophotometer.1874 - Joseph Erlanger invented shock therapy and won the Nobel Prize in 1944.1900 - Dennis Gabor was a physicist who invented  holography. January 6 1745 -  Jacques and James Montgolfier  were twins who pioneered hot air ballooning. January 7 1539 - Sebastian de Covarrubias Horozco was a famed  Spanish lexicographer. January 8 1891 - Walter Bothe was a German subatomic particle physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1954.1923 - Joseph Weizenbaum was an artificial  intelligence pioneer.1942 - Stephen Hawking  is an English physicist first who revealed Black Holes and Baby Universes. January 9 1870 - Joseph B. Strauss was the civil engineer who built the  Golden Gate Bridge.1890 - Karel Capek was a  Czech  writer who wrote the play R U R and invented the name robot. January 10 1864 -  George Washington Carver  was a famed African-American agricultural chemist who is credited with inventing peanut butter.  1877 - Frederick Gardner Cottrell invented the  electrostatic  precipitator.1938 - Donald Knuth was an  American computer scientist who wrote The Art of Computer Programming. January 11 1895 - Laurens Hammond was an American who invented the Hammond organ.1906 - Albert Hofmann  was a  Swiss scientist who was the first to synthesize LSD. January 12 1899 - Paul H. Muller was a Swiss chemist who invented DDT and won  the Nobel Prize  in 1948.1903 - Igor V. Kurtshatov was the Russian nuclear physicist who built the first Russian nuclear bomb.1907 - Sergei Korolev was the lead spaceship designer for Russia during the Space Race.1935 - Amazing Kreskin was a noted mentalist and magician.1950 - Marilyn R. Smith was a noted microbiologist. January 13 1864 -   Wilhelm K. W. Wien was a  German  physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1911.1927 - Sydney Brenner was a South African biologist and the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine winner for his contributions to our understanding of the genetic code. January 14 1907 - Derek  Richter was a British chemist who wrote Aspects of Learning and Memory. January 15 1908 -  Edward Teller  co-invented the H-bomb and worked on the Manhattan Project.1963 - Bruce Schneier is an American  cryptographer who wrote many books on computer security and cryptography. January 16 1853 - Andre Michelin was the French industrialist who invented Michelin tires.1870 - Wilhelm Normann was a  German chemist who researched the hardening of oils.1932 - Dian Fossey was a noted zoologist who wrote Gorillas in the Mist. January 17 1857 - Eugene Augustin Lauste invented the first sound-on-film recording.1928 - Vidal Sassoon was an  English hair stylist who founded Vidal Sasson.1949 - Anita Borg is an  American computer scientist who  founded the Institute for Women and Technology and the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. January 18 1813 -  Joseph Glidden  invented useable barbed wire.1854 - Thomas Watson assisted in the invention of the  telephone.1856 - Daniel Hale Williams  was the surgeon who performed the first open-heart operation.1933 - Ray Dolby invented the Dolby noise limiting system. January 19 1736 - James Watt  was a Scottish engineer who invented  a steam engine.1813 -  Henry Bessemer  invented the Bessemer engine. January 20 1916 - Walter Bartley was a famed biochemist. January 21 1743 -  John Fitch  invented a steamboat.1815 - Horace Wells was a dentist who pioneered the use of medical  anesthesia.1908 - Bengt Stromgren was a  Swedish astrophysicist who studied gas clouds.1912 - Konrad Bloch was the German biochemist who researched cholesterol and won the Nobel Prize in 1964.1921 - Barney Clark was the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart. January 22 1909 - Lev D. Landau was the Russian physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1962.1925 - Leslie Silver was a noted English paint manufacturer. January 23 1929 - John Polanyi was the Canadian chemist who won the Nobel Prize in 1986. January 24 1880 - Elisabeth Achelis invented the World Calendar.1888 - Ernst Heinrich Heinkel was the  German inventor who built the first  rocket-powered  aircraft.1928 - Desmond Morris was an  English zoologist who researched  body language.1947 - Michio Kaku  is an American scientist who wrote Physics of the Impossible, Physics of the Future, and The Future of the Mind and hosted a number of science-based television programs. January 25 1627 - Robert Boyle is the Irish physicist who wrote Boyles Law of Ideal Gases.1900 - Theodosius Dobzhansky was a noted  geneticist  and the author of Mankind Evolving. January 26 1907 - Hans Selye was an  Austrian endocrinologist who demonstrated the existence of biological stress.1911 - Polykarp Kusch was an American nuclear physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1955. January 27 1834 - Dmitri Mendeleev was the chemist who invented the periodic table of the elements.1903 - John Eccles was a British physiologist and neurologist who won the 1963 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the synapse. January 28 1706 - John Baskerville was the English printer who invented typeface.1855 -  William Seward Burroughs  invented  the adding machine.1884 - Lucien H dAzambuja was a  French astronomer discovered the chromosome of the sun1903 - Dame Kathleen Lonsdale was a noted crystallographer and the first woman member of the Royal Society.1922 - Robert W. Holley was an  American biochemist who researched RNA and won the Nobel Prize in 1968. January 29 1810 - Ernst E. Kummer was a  German mathematician who  trained German army officers in ballistics.1850 - Lawrence Hargrave invented the box kite.1901 - Allen B. DuMont invented an improved  cathode ray tube.1926 - Abdus Salam was a noted theoretical physicist. January 30 1899 - Max Theiler was the  English microbiologist who won the Nobel Prize in 1951.1911 - Alexander George Ogston was a  biochemist  who  specialized in the thermodynamics of biological systems.1925 -  Douglas Engelbart  invented the computer mouse.1949 - Peter Agre is a noted American scientist and the director of the John Hopkins  Malaria Research Institute. January 31 1868 - Theodore William Richards was a chemist who researched atomic weights and won the Nobel Prize in 1914.1929 - Rudolf Mossbauer was the Germany physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1961.

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 107

Essay Example That is until one day when his desire uncoiled when he was offered a summer building job to carry out â€Å"real work†. He was willing to perform it precisely, when he reaches at the construction site, with no fear at all. It is clear that Rodriguez was not seeking for a summer job, rather a chance to work with his back and hands. His desire is to feel his body in a unique or new way; he wanted to know the meaning of real work, even if it lasted for a short time so long as he worked like hard for once. Just like men whose desire is to fulfill their sexual fantasies by performing in the City of Night, Rodriguez wanted to fulfill his erotic dream by trying to side with the working class, a task for himself and for his audience (Dunbar-Odom 37). As a simple laborer, Rodriguez had a positive attitude towards his contract. The work seemed simpler than his friends did and he had thought. He enjoyed doing it, since he says that he had many physical pleasures during the labor. Each day counted for him, as he woke up every morning with a new working spirit. During the day, his desire to work conquered all the barriers that came his way. Sometimes he could even do too much that his colleagues were amazed, but all was for the sake of fulfilling his fantasy (Rodriguez 275). During his shoveling work, he realized that he was not doing what was right. He was fooling himself by expecting to be admitted in the world of the laborer. He says, â€Å"I could not learn in three months what my father had meant by â€Å"real work,† to mean that what he had been doing up to that level was not sufficient enough to measure to what his father could recognize as hard work. He could not be pleased by the achievement of his son so far. He needed more experience and efforts and that for him to accomplish â€Å"real work,† he had to take quality time. According to his mother and father, â€Å"real work† means struggling with self-confidence to achieve

HIP HOP Dance (Article Responses) Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

HIP HOP Dance ( Responses) - Article Example While the article is quite informative regarding the different related dance forms, it does not talk much about the characteristics of hip hop culture apart from dance moves. Hence the reading becomes little monotonous at times and the details and given one after another without much flow or transition of paragraphs maintained. The dance form helps in maintaining fitness can be regarded as an added advantage. It has been seen that many people prefer to learn and practice a dance form like this instead of hitting a gym. This helps in combining pleasure with effort and lead to the desirable outcome. One of the beneficial impacts observed in the article about this dance form is that it helped in minimisimg violence as people charge their energy into break dancing with each other instead of fighting. This is the psychological aspect explored by the author and gives us innovative insights. We come to learn the various forms of Hip Hop dance includes Harlem shake, Snap dance, Gangsta walki ng. Thus these arouse the readers’ interests in learning more about this dance form in practice. It would not be wrong to say that this art form has become a part of our culture. Thus we see that Hip Hop has got a worldwide appeal with more than million followers over the world. Reference Oak, M. (2013), History of Hip hop dance,retrieved on September 15, 2013 from: www.buzzle.com Pedagogy of Hip Hop dance Watching Hip hop dance in the classroom instead of continuous chain of boring lectures sounds fascinating indeed. Gone are the days of Gurukul system where the learners imbibe knowledge verbally from their guru. The author Seth E. Davis comes out with an innovatively fresh approach of conducting a literature class on the beats of hip hop music and dance. The article brings out a certain diversion from education to a dance form rendering a pedagogical significance through the medium of an art form. The arcticle observes that Hip hop dance form has helped in narrowing the gap between the learners and the instructors. The view of combining the techniques of the dance form into the curriculum is supported by various scholars.Use of Hip hop dialogue through rap, spoken words, dancing, turntablism and muralism are the ways of learning taken up by students, as pointed by the scholar Rodriguez. Hence it helps in spreading knowledge among the students in an interesting way. The author here neglects the relevance of the discipline factor in a student life. Though the article facilitates healthy development of teacher – pupil relationship which forms the core aim of education but it undermines the importance of teachers in the long run. Hip hop culture manifests students to think critically on a subject matter and develop their own understanding. Inspite of the fact that the art form marks a tool for social change, it cannot be overlooked that it hampers the overall atmosphere of the classroom. Reference Davis, S. (2007 ), Hip hop pedagogy, retrieved on S eptember 15, 2013 from: http://ccr.syr.edu/~sedavi07/hiphoppedagogy.html The Evolution of Hip Hop: Is it even Hip-Hop? Is the role of hip hop limited to uplift back culture? Have the basic features changed? Kool DJ Herc is regarded as the pioneer of the hip-hop culture. However, throughout the years the culture has gone through vast changes. In the article titled â€Å"The Evolution of Hip-hop; Is it even Hip-hop?† Dushawn Roberts opines that the exclusive American-African culture has been greatly influenced as well as

Forecasting and Business Analysis Research Paper

Forecasting and Business Analysis - Research Paper Example In order to plan for the feasibility of the expansion, they needed to forecast their sales for the period. As a reference to their sales forecast, the Recreational Good Retail Turnover estimate for 2010 is required. The Recreational Good Retail Turnover (RGRT) dataset is gathered starting April 1982 until the end of March 2010. Figure 1 is the graphical summary of the data per quarter of each year. It can be observed that the trend of RGRT is increasing every year with seasonal peaks by the fourth quarter of each year. Furthermore, it can be observed that a linear trend is visible starting from the year 2000 up to the present, thus, these dataset shall be significant. Accompanying the RGRT is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) dataset is gathered from the start of September 1948 until the end of March 2010. The CPI is collected every quarter of the year. It can be observed that the CPI is also increasing through time. The method used for forecasting RGRT in this paper is autoregression (AR) model of univariate analysis. Using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), the AR(pmax) of RGRT is estimated. Lower order AR models are then determined until such time that Yp-1 is statistically significant or the P-value for testing Yp-1 = 0 is less than the chosen significance level of 0.05. In order to corrIn order to correct for the seasonality of the RGRT dataset, a method of calculating seasonal index is applied, wherein, the average seasonal index for each period is used as a multiplier for the regression equation (Rowbotham, Galloway, & Azhashemi, 2007). Other factors that can affect the RGRT are also checked for their statistical significance. These factors are unemployment rate, consumer price index and average weekly earnings of the population. Evaluations of results The unemployment rate, consumer price index and average weekly earnings are significant to the calculation for determination of RGRT forecast values. Appendix A shows the summary of fitted values for each factor. All factors show an increasing trend through time. This means that the increasing trend of RGRT is justified and it is safe to assume that there are no significant downward slope for the year to come. The AR model for RGRT is determined to be in the first-order as estimated by OLS. The RGRT model reduces to Yt = + Yt-1 + et where the fitted values are = 760.6366 and = 16.8146. The P-value for the equation is less than the signifiance level of 0.05 such that the model is considered as statistically significant. Appendix A provides the summary of other values of the regression equation for RGRT. The plot for the estimated values of the trend component is reflected in Figure 3. In order to allocate for the seasonality of RGRT, the average index per quarter is calculated. The index is computed as the predicted y-values using the regression equation divided by the actual y-values from the dataset (Rowbotham, Gall

Prenatal development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Prenatal development - Assignment Example The period of prenatal development is interesting because it is the actual manifestation of physical growth from nothingness to a real human. It is amazing how something about the organism changes every month until it turns into a fully matured baby. Teragotens are substances which may result in an abnormality of a fetus. These can be in the form alcohol, caffeine, drugs, diseases and lead, mercury or radiation. While mothers may be exposed to some of these things unintentionally, others have a choice of whether to pay attention to science or their personal beliefs or experiences and continue their usual alcohol or caffeine intake. The most important thing I learned among the five is the general risk factors. This is significant because these factors are very simple things but have a very big impact on the development of a new human being. Nutrition, stress and the mother’s age should be of utmost consideration when planning or having a baby. With this knowledge, I am able to appreciate everything my mother had done to keep herself and me healthy until I was born. Also, I would be able to use this knowledge in building my future family and whenever friends ask me for

Understanding Mental Health Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Understanding Mental Health - Essay Example The term mental health refers to a state of complete cognitive, psychological, emotional and social well-being of a person. Or in other words, it may also be termed as the absence of any mental disorder or disease. This paper aims at analyzing the case study of Peter, a man who is chronically suffering from addiction to alcohol and drugs. The World Health Organization however advocates that mental health is â€Å"not merely the absence of disease or infirmity† (WHO, 2001, p.1). It offers a much more comprehensive definition of the term by stating that mental health is â€Å"a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". WHO stresses that mental health "is not just the absence of mental disorder† (WHO, 2001, p.1) The Med lexicon’s Medical Dictionary (2010) defines mental health as â€Å"emotional, behavioral, and social maturity or normality; the absence of a mental or behavioral disorder; a state of psychological well-being in which one has achieved a satisfactory integration of ones instinctual drives acceptable to both oneself and ones social milieu; an appropriate balance of love, work, and leisure pursuits† (Neer aja & Anuradha, 2014, p. 87) . Hence, the three basic ideas that can be inferred from the two definitions about mental health are: firstly, that mental health is an essential part of human health; secondly, that mental health is a wide concept and cannot be defined as merely the absence of disease; and thirdly, that mental health is intricately connected to physical health and behavior. (Herrman, Saxena & Moodie, 2005) Though Peter was not suffering from any obvious physical disease or disorder, his addiction to alcohol and drugs had severely affected his

Prenatal development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Prenatal development - Assignment Example The period of prenatal development is interesting because it is the actual manifestation of physical growth from nothingness to a real human. It is amazing how something about the organism changes every month until it turns into a fully matured baby. Teragotens are substances which may result in an abnormality of a fetus. These can be in the form alcohol, caffeine, drugs, diseases and lead, mercury or radiation. While mothers may be exposed to some of these things unintentionally, others have a choice of whether to pay attention to science or their personal beliefs or experiences and continue their usual alcohol or caffeine intake. The most important thing I learned among the five is the general risk factors. This is significant because these factors are very simple things but have a very big impact on the development of a new human being. Nutrition, stress and the mother’s age should be of utmost consideration when planning or having a baby. With this knowledge, I am able to appreciate everything my mother had done to keep herself and me healthy until I was born. Also, I would be able to use this knowledge in building my future family and whenever friends ask me for

Lewis Carroll's Photographs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Lewis Carroll's Photographs - Research Paper Example For most artists and writers in this era, the child was nothing more than a shadow of the adult. This ultimately meant that rather than being portrayed as they were, they were instead portrayed as adults wanted them to be portrayed.Carroll embraced this theme of the child as a shadow of humanity in his photographs in order to draw attention to how misconceived children were by adults, particularly using the real children that he met in his life. Lewis Carroll sought to show children as adult shadows, the children’s identity as being shadowed by the adults, as well as the shadows that the children cast. Therefore, this paper will seek to show how Lewis Carroll used children in his photographs to show their innocence and the misconceptions that adults oftentimes had about them. Lewis Carroll exemplified how misconceived children were by undressing them or dressing them through a creation of what he perceived to be his own shadow of being a child. Recognized as a leading amateur and child photographer during the Victorian era, Carroll used the photographs he took to displace reality. Because photography in this period was a relatively new phenomenon, Lewis Carroll took it as a means of writing by using light with his most preferred photographic subject being the child as shown in the photographs above. This was obviously something of a new and dynamic approach. At least sixty percent of all his known photographs were of children. At the time, photography was taken as the only art form that could accurately record true reality. Carrol then took this representation of â€Å"reality† and created a reverse text for the discussion of children. This reverse text helped to falsify how real a photograph could be. In various photographs, rather than giving the audience his own view of who a child should be, Carroll came up with the composition an adult would have a child.

Sufism is the heart of Islam Essay Example for Free

Sufism is the heart of Islam Essay Sufism which is seen as the heart of Islam is a concept which is highly regarded in the Islam religion because of the role it plays in the religion. Studies show that Sufis are men who practice the highest morality and are not led by worldly or their own selfish desires 1. It can be argued that, Sufism is the heart of Islam and it cannot be separated from the Islam religion. This paper is written to critically analyze the fact that Sufism is the heart of Islam. This study found out that there are varied studies which exist touching on the concept of Sufism. Understanding the concepts of Sufism is a core ingredient to understanding the concept of Islam religion. For example, Sufism is all about personal and spiritual growth of Sufis. Studies show that, religion to the men of Sufis is important as long as it does not stand in the way of spiritual growth and progress 1. In other words, religion is there to be analyzed and reasoned so that a follower can derive meaning from the teachings of the religion. Other studies show that, Sufism emphasizes more on love for all human beings and that means that no one should hurt the feelings of other people. When Sufis learn to love each other and treat them equally then they eventually achieve higher levels of morality which is measured by ones behavior and decision making process. God in religion is seen as a God of love and to be actualization with His teaching there is need to practice love actions. The concept of Sufism started with the early leaders of Islam like the Shia Imaams and their followers who used to follow highly spiritually life’s1. Sufism was the commemoration of a kind of divine wisdom from the Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon Him) and Imams. Early leaders who started the principles of Sufism wanted to achieve higher levels of morality through the use of supplications, teachings and writings. At the time those who led spiritual life did so with so much piety. Sufism is a principle which is made through finding meaning of religion through unveiling the truth through intellectual reasoning. This study found out that the development of piety started among spirituality amongst early Muslims because of tyranny of Islam leaders who purportedly seized the helm of empire after the death of Iman Ali in 40 Hijra 1. This study also found out that critics have a hard time conceptualizing Sufi as an integral part of Islam since they don’t see its evolution from consciousness from the Quaran of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) teachings 1. From an analysis of how Sufism started its apparent that Muslims who wanted higher levels of morality adopted the concept for their own spiritual benefits and actualizations. Other studies show that Sufism is as a result of mysticism of Jews and Christians at earlier times hence their refusal to adopt Sufism as a major component of Islam1. However studies, critics of Sufism have no bases since Sufism is based on mysticism of the Islam religion. In other words, Sufism is a core ingredient of Islamic faith and one has to work hard to acquire higher levels of Sufism. Sufism is based in finding direction in the Islam faith which also preaches finding order in the human society and within the human soul 1. God finds His relationship with men through religion and love which makes it possible for man to be able to come together to God and eventually return to him at the end in paradise. Quran states that, â€Å"Lo! We are Allahs and Lo! To Him we return. † 1 The principles of Islam describe how a man is supposed to behave in order to be able to have unity with Allah. Such is the part of gnosis which offers direction to the life of an Islam also known as the spiritual journey of Islam. To be able to comprehend and follow the steps of Islamic principles, Muslims have to use qualified teachers in Islam to give them the necessary direction in their faith. The Islam religion believes that Allah is the only supreme being who should be acknowledged and acknowledging any other being beside him is wrong 1. Consequently, in being in unity with Allah, there is need for Muslims to be able to ape or follow His example and the ways He has set for humanity. That can only be followed if one has a purified heart and at the same time is willing to work hard to achieve higher levels of morality 1. With that in mind, it is important to note that following and being in adherence with the principles of Islam calls for discipline and self sacrifice. In order to appease Allah, there is need for Muslims to praise and pray to Him both in the morning and the evening, sell their merchandise to help the poor to mention a few2. At the end of it all faithful Muslims will be paid by God according to what they did since they have been able to find their self. A Muslim will only be able to achieve higher levels of morality if they find their ‘self’ in the Islam faith. Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) once said that one who has known his self has already Known Allah2. This is to say that there is significant peace that comes with finding direction in the Islam faith. On the other hand, it is through self discovery that Muslims are able to have peace and contention with themselves if they know that they are following in the way of morality. Other studies show that to be a successful Sufi, one has to follow the journey of self-realization 2. The Islam religion is based on strict discipline and procedures for example praying 5 times in a day. It is only through keeping and following the laid procedures that Muslims are able to live in light. This paper asserts that, Sufism plays an integral role in the life of Muslims since the principle cannot be separated from the life of Islam. There are many misconceptions surrounding the principles of Sufism but it is important to understand that the principle of Sufism is not any different from the concept of Islam. Studies show that Sufism is a major Islamic mysticism revolving around the journey of self, love and God 2. The journey of Sufism emphasizes on ones inner struggles and more especially the conduct of human beings. The Quaran states that one should â€Å"seek among that which God has bestowed upon you the hereafter. But don’t forget the portion of this world either (28:77). 2 With the above in mind, when people become too inclined towards secularization or spiritualism they may miss out on some important principles vital to Islam principles. Studies show that while Islam is submission, Sufism is the principle of Islam in that Muslims have to submit to mystical principles 2.

Oishi: Strategic Marketing Plan

Oishi: Strategic Marketing Plan Part 1 Oishis Strategic Marketing Plan 1 Introduction Oishi is the leading snack food manufacturer in China. Since its establishment in 1993, Liwayway Holdings Company Limited, owner of the Oishi brand, has been in the cutting edge of innovation and aggressive marketing activities. The company rapidly expanded across the country and established a large distribution network. The Oishi brand has also become one of the most recognized snack food brands in China. Children have been the main consumer group of the Oishi products. However, market changes in the perception of snack food have occurred. Childrens parents become wary of the growing obesity problem among the children. The obesity dilemma has been attributed largely to salty snack foods being consumed by children. Numerous studies were conducted showing the direct relationship between â€Å"junk foods† and obesity. Parents are now shifting to healthier food for their children. The market for the traditional salty snack food and other similar food will be affected significantly by this change in consumer behavior. Hence, Oishi should develop a new marketing strategy to maintain its leadership and overcome the threat of its consumers changing or shifting to other food. In this marketing plan are proposed steps to improve its current marketing activities and provide new and additional alternatives. The development of a marketing mix geared toward manufacture of new food products that satisfy customer needs and wants is the major proposition in this marketing plan. A shift in target market segment is also recommended, identifying the young adults (ages 18-34) as the new primary consumer base for the Oishi brand and products. 2 Background Oishi is a leading snack brand in China manufactured in more than 100 variants of snack foods. The brand is manufactured under various product lines of salty snacks such as potato chips, prawn crackers, peanut crackers as well as other snack food including cookies, popcorn and corn curls, cereals, and marshmallows. Among Chinas vast market, Oishis principal consumers are children. The Oishi brand is owned by Liwayway Holdings Company Limited (LHCL), which traces its roots to the Liwayway Marketing Corporation (LMC) established in the Philippines in 1946. Carlos Chan, owner of the LMC, embarked on an ambitious expansion plan in China in 1984 and set his attention to Shanghai. Nine years later, Chan established the LHCL to manufacture, distribute and sell Oishi products in the country. The company aggressively marketed the Oishi brand targeting the children segment of the market as its primary consumers. LHCL grew rapidly in the following years by expanding outside Shanghai and building manufacturing and distributing facilities in other parts of China. The company established sales and distributions across the country, which included urban cities and smaller inner towns. LHCL was able to establish a network of more than 400 dealers nationwide. Due to the aggressive marketing strategies and strong management capabilities of LHCL, the Oishi brand became a famous snack brand in the country. Oishi was eventually recognized as a Shanghai Famous Brand in 2001 and was awarded as a China Famous Brand in 2006. The company took bolder steps and entered the market of Vietnam in 1997 and Myanmar in 2006. At present, expansion in Thailand and Indonesia is under development (Oishi.com.cn). 3 Strategic Objectives The creation of strategic objectives of the marketing plan is necessary, as it will serve as the companys guide and measurement in achieving its goals. The firms strategic objectives will aid it in gaining competitive edge in the industry and maintain its leadership. The primary objectives for this marketing plan are the following: To be the industrys leading manufacturer and seller of healthy and quality snack foods Deliver customer satisfaction and establish long-term relationships with customers Improve production and distribution process by establishing long-term relationship with both suppliers and distributors Increase profitability by providing quality snack food with added value but at lower costs In order to achieve these strategic objectives, the following specific marketing objectives and strategies will be employed: Raise market share to 20% for the next five years Increase advertising and promotional activities by utilizing all forms of media communications broadcast, print and electronic (primarily the Internet) to increase greater awareness of the Oishi brand and its products Augment and amplify nationwide presence by establishing more distribution points and getting more sellers and distributors Increase production and offer more product variants that use health-enhancing ingredients to capture other segments of the market Improve worker productivity The above strategic marketing objectives will serve as a guide in the creation and employment of a marketing plan. 4 Environmental Scan of Factors that Affect China Snack Industry Competition China is an attractive market due to its large population and strong economic potential. In almost any industry, numerous firms are vying position to become a leading player. The snack market is not an exception to this competition. Chinas snack food industry is highly competitive with various companies seeking competitive advantage. The Chinese snack market is a $3-billion-a-year industry (Terhune, 2005), hence foreign and domestic companies are competing to gain a sizeable percentage of the market share from this profitable industry. 5 Five Forces Model Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter (1998) said that the state of competition in an industry is dependent on five basic forces, which ultimately will determine the profit potential in the industry. These five forces are intensity of industry rivalry, threat of new entrants, and threat of substitute products, bargaining power of buyers, and bargaining power of suppliers. Combined, these forces dictate the profit potential of the industry and its competitiveness. In table 1, a summary of the five forces affecting the industry competition is shown. 5.1 Industry Rivalry The Chinese snack market is composed of domestic and international players competing for a share of the market. Among the major competitors of the Oishi brand are foreign companies like Pepsi as well numerous local firms such as Wangwang, Master Kong and Dali. These competitors offer almost similar products but of different brands or trade marks, making the industry highly competitive. Due to the highly competitive characteristics of the industry, the there are many companies competing. It will be too costly as well to leave the industry and change products. However, despite the number of companies competing, Chinas large population with an increasing number of people capable of purchasing the snack food, the China market remains competitive and is far from maturity or being exhausted. 5.2 Threat of New Entrants The threat of new entrants is high as barriers to companies entering the competition are relatively low. Government regulations on the formation of companies entering the snack market are not too strict. Even community-owned companies can enter into the competition. Capital requirements for entering into the snack food industry do not need to be large. However, if a new company wishes to compete with the largest companies, this will serve as a barrier to them. As stated earlier, product differentiation is not present. Although brand identification is an important barrier to new competition, smaller Chinese companies can easily set up business although at a local level. As such, many smaller firms manufacturing and selling snack food are being set up across the country. 5.3 Threat of Substitute Products Substitute products for salty snack foods are foods manufactured with health-enhancing ingredients. Consumers, most especially the health conscious parents, can easily shift to these products for their children. The prices of the substitute products are also almost the same with the traditional snack foods being sold. Thus, consumers will not hesitate to buy substitute foods that are enriched with healthy ingredients. The USDA Food and Agricultural Service stated in a report that youth perception in food consumption is changing toward a healthier diet, especially those living in Shanghai (Global Agriculture Information Network [GAIN] Report 3). 5.4 Bargaining Power of Suppliers Suppliers can possess significant bargaining power with regard to the pricing of their products if they act as a group dominated by a few companies and they more concentrated than the industry they sell to (Porter, 1998). However, in the case of China, suppliers are scattered around the country and are not acting in a group. They also do not offer unique or differentiated materials to sell to the industry players. Suppliers also do not possess that capability to integrate forward into the industry. Thus, suppliers do not have sufficient bargaining power in the Chinese snack food industry. 5.5 Buyers Bargaining Power Porter (1998) said that buyers can exert influence in the industry if the following characteristics are met: They act as a group, Purchase in large volumes, The products are undifferentiated, forms component form of the product and represents a significant portion of the cost, The quality of the product is unimportant to the consumer, The product does not save the buyer a money, The buyers pose a credible threat of integrating backward to make the companys product. Except for the products being undifferentiated, buyers do not possess the capacity to exert influence in the industry since most of the characteristics mentioned above are not present. Hence, Chinese consumers are not significant in influencing the industry players. However, with the recent trend of the changing consumer perception and demands on higher quality products, the consumers are now looking for healthier snack foods. Thus, they are beginning to acquire power to influence the manufacturers of snack food to create health-enhancing processed food. In sum, the Chinese snack food industry is highly competitive but is far from maturity. Profitability is still achievable at a high rate due to the large market of China. However, with the numerous companies jockeying for position in the industry and the changing consumer needs and value perception on snack food, LCHL needs to adopt a new strategic marketing plan in order to sustain its current leadership. 6 SWOT Analysis After identifying the factors affecting the competitiveness of the industry, an analysis of the organizational strength and weaknesses is also necessary in order to determine the aspects it needs to improve and alter. The identification of opportunities and threats is also important to aid the organization in drafting a marketing plan and identify the areas it needs to put focus on. A summary of the SWOT analysis is shown in table 2. Table 2 SWOT Analysis on LHCL Organization Strengths * Strong brand recognition * Good reputation in the industry * Adequate access to raw materials * Numerous varieties of products to choose from * Good networking and distribution system Weaknesses * Lesser appeal to the other segments of the market, especially the young adults * High cost structure * Insufficient patent protection Opportunities * Large portion of domestic market still not saturated * Shift or diversification to health-enriched food ingredients * Potential of expansion in the international market * Advancement in technology * Loosening up of international trade barriers Threats * Shift in consumer choice from traditional snacks to health-enhancing snack food * Emergence of new products * Flood of substitute products * Growing number of smaller firms entering the industry 6.1 Strengths The companys primary strength is its strong brand recognition across the nation. Oishi is a nationally recognized brand being awarded numerous titles. LHCL also has built a good reputation in the industry through its organizational management and innovativeness. The company has adequate access to raw materials and developed a good relationship with its distributors and sellers. Another strong point of the Oishi brand is the wide selection of product variants. Customers can choose from a range of products that suit their needs. 6.2 Weaknesses A weakness of the Oishi brand is its lesser appeal to the other segment of the market, most especially young adults in the range of 15-25 years old. This segment comprises a significant portion of the population and can increase the revenue substantially. LHCl also has a high cost structure, by having numerous facilities and employees. Although this characteristic can be considered as strength that the company possesses over its smaller rivals and in order to achieve a greater market share, this could be a potential weakness in terms of reacting rapidly to strategic market changes. The company also has insufficient patent protection. Protecting the companys formulas and ingredients in creating products is an advantage over competitors. This provides differentiation for the Oishi brand over other brands in the market. 6.3 Opportunities A large portion of the domestic market in China is not yet fully saturated, thus providing core opportunities for LHCL to grow. The company can still expand its operations inside the country to reach more consumers, especially in the inner towns. The advancement in technology such as the increasing utilization and importance of the Internet also provides opportunity for the company to have greater access to consumers. Technological advancements also offer improvements in the manufacturing processes of the company and in research and development area to improve its products. There is also a potential to expand in the international market as developing countries become more responsive to globalization. The relaxing of trade barriers in many countries such as tariffs due to globalization provides an opportunity for Oishi to penetrate overseas markets. 6.4 Threats The biggest challenge that company faces is the changing consumer taste in snack food. Consumers are now more conscious about their health, most especially parents of children that eat or consume the products. Numerous studies show that â€Å"junk foods† such as salty snacks are a cause of obesity. Marshall et al (2007: 175) suggested that parents overindulgence to their childrens whims such as requesting so much junk foods cause obesity, thus they recommended that parents should not give in to their childrens requests. With this changing consumer perception is the emergence of new snack food products that are enriched with healthier ingredients. Substitute products are now also flooding the market due to the growing awareness on obesity among children. These serve as threat to Oishis traditional snack food products. Also, the increasing number of smaller firms poses a threat to the company as they can eat up a significant portion of market. Although they operate on a smaller scale, they are numerous and present in every market where LHCL operates. 7 Marketing Plan Strategy involves the creation of a plan that integrates the organizations objectives, principles, policies and decisions and sequences of action into a cohesive whole (Proctor, 2000). A marketing plan is a strategic plan of action that an organization develops and employs to achieve its strategic goals as well as deliver customer satisfaction. Strategic marketing is therefore a challenge upon organizations to manage marketing complexities, satisfy customer and stakeholders expectations and reconcile market changes with the organizations resource capabilities (Bradley, 2003). Hence, the creation of a strategic marketing plan will provide definite and measurable steps that an organization can take to achieve its objectives, gain competitive advantage and deliver customer satisfaction and meet stakeholders expectations. Various forms of marketing methods can be applied in the development of a marketing plan. One form of marketing technique is the marketing mix. The 4Ps (product, price, place and promotion) of marketing mix is designed to develop a mix or package of products that meet the customers needs and wants. 7.1 Products As stated earlier, consumers are now changing their perceptions on snacks. The consumers, particularly the mothers of young children, are more conscious about the health benefits they or their children could get from the products they buy. A very important question here is, â€Å"Does the company produce the products that the consumers want?† It is not the company who will dictate what products it would sell but the consumers should dictate what products they should buy. Hence, it is necessary for LHCL to manufacture snack food products that satisfy the desires of their consumers. The firm should start using health-enhancing ingredients while minimizing the changes it could make to the products. It is also necessary to create product differentiation. The Oishi brand should be differentiated with other brands by the adding more characteristics to the products, such as lowering its costs or providing incentives to consumers and customers. 7.2 Price The prices of Oishi products should be competitive in order to attract more customers and consumers. At present, the prices of the Oishi snack food are competitive. However, the firm can add more value to the products by giving freebies or additional benefits to loyal customers. This will ensure that loyal customers will not shift to other brands. It will also entice new customers, particularly those in the areas not yet covered by the company. 7.3 Place LHCL should expand its presence all over the country to include more inner townships and communities. The current distribution network of the company, which comprises large distribution enterprises and small family businesses, can be enlarged to include community-owned enterprises as well as direct sellers. In places where there are no available distributors, the company can put up its own distributing centers. The Internet is also another place for distribution or can be used to enhance the current distribution system of the company. Orders can be placed online and a tracking system can track the progress of the orders. Retailers can and wholesale distributors can use this facility with regard to their purchase orders. 7.4 Promotion Promotional or advertising programs are necessary to increase consumer awareness on the Oishi brand and its products. In increasing consumer-awareness, the company should increase its advertising and promotional activities. The company should put significant investment in advertising so that revenue-generation can be increased even more. It can enhance increase sales by 20-50% and entice more customers thereby increasing market share. All forms of media must be utilized such as the traditional advertising facilities in the print and broadcast media. The Internet is another major tool for promoting the product. Presently, the companys website provides basic information on the products. The website can be enhanced by adding more information such as the health benefits that the products can offer to the consumers. The US FAS said that young adults or the 80ers (those belonging to the 18-34 year-old range) are increasingly using the Internet in buying snack food. Thus, LHCL can use the I nternet to increase its sales and attract these â€Å"high-tech† consumers. 7.5 People In order to implement the marketing mix program, a creative marketing department or team must be established. The creative team will be responsible for the development of creative advertising materials and promotional tools. They will do further market research to identify which segment of the market is most receptive of the products and to identify more specifically the consumers needs, desires and buying behaviors. 8 Market Segmentation Market segmentation is necessary to identify the specific consumer base of the company. As stated by Proctor (2000: 189), segmentation is a powerful component of marketing strategy. The Chinese snack food market is composed mostly of young adults and children as the main consumer groups. Traditional consumers of the snack food belong to these generations. With the inclusion of parents as guiding their children in selecting snack foods, the Chinese snack food market is a $3-billion industry. Previously, Oishi is targeted towards children. Children below 15 years old were the previous main consumer group for the Oishi products. However, numerous studies (Mrshall et al.; Curtis McCluskey; French et al.) show that children are becoming obese due to eating â€Å"junk foods† such as salty snacks, potato chips, and other similar products. Parents are already concerned about this rising obesity trend on their children. Further, the US FAS also reports that young adults, particularly in Shanghai, are changing their perception on food consumption. The report states that the Shanghai youth are more likely to purchase high-quality food products such as fresh milk and organic produce (GAIN Report 3). LHCL should therefore target these consumers to be its main consumer base in the near future. The marketing mix design provided earlier specifically addresses this issue. The marketing mix is focused on attracting the young adults and health-conscious consumers. They will be the primary consumer base of the Oishi brand. Part 2 Report Marketing concerns satisfying customer needs and wants and in doing so paves the way for achieving the organizations objectives (Proctor, 2000). This is a general principle applicable to all organizations in the business community. Since the opening up of China in the global market, numerous companies have put their investments in the country in the hope of establishing a leading position or at least take a substantial portion of the large Chinese market. Due to the unprecedented increase of foreign firms, domestic competition in every industry has intensified. However, local or domestic brands are still preferred by Chinese consumers at the expense of foreign multinational brands (Ewing et al, 2003: 84). Nevertheless, the presence of global corporations in China provides competition against domestic companies. Developing an appropriate marketing strategy that will satisfy customer demands should be the goal of every organization in order to achieve competitive advantage and attain the organizations objectives. As Proctor (2000) stated, marketing is about the competitive positioning of products and services in the minds of the customers. It is also about the communication of messages and images (reflecting product and service positioning) and the means which are used to convey these messages and images to the customers. Although there is a preference for local brands by the Chinese, the presence of foreign companies are to be considered a major threat as they are capable of creating products and services that meet the needs and wants of the consumers. It is important that every organization should analyze the market conditions and the relationships that exist within the market in order to identify which segment of the market to target. Market segmentation is therefore another crucial factor in the creation of a marketing strategy. Proctor (2000) points out that market segmentation amounts to partitioning a market into a number of distinct sections, using criteria, which reflect different and distinctive purchasing motives and behavior of customers. Separating the market into various segments or groups helps companies determine their specific market and establish a loyal customer base. This is particularly important for entering new markets as well as maintaining current position in market. Another significant concept in marketing is the product life-cycle. This concept is a sequence of stages to determine the life-cycle of a product or service. There are four stages, namely introduction, growth, maturity and decline, in the product life-cycle. In the introduction stage, the new products are introduced into the market. An organization will seek to build market awareness on the product and establish a market for it. Once introduced and a market has been established, the product will be marketed and sold and new features may be added to expand its market this is the growth stage. The product will then reach its maturity, and at this stage improvements will be needed to maintain its peak such as lowering its price or new distribution channels are created. When the product saturated its maturity stage, a decline in sales will occur. This is the declining stage. At this point, the company may choose to maintain the product and sell it to a loyal segment of the market or stop its production. The product life-cycle concept is necessary so that LCHL can manage its products and plan for future products or services when the current offerings have reached their declining stages. An important marketing principle as well is the Boston Consultancy Group (BCG) growth-share matrix. This concept is relevant to companies with several portfolios. Under the BCG matrix, a companys different portfolios or divisions growth and market share will be analyzed and categorized into four elements; cash cows, stars, question marks and dogs. Cash cows represent portfolios that generate more profit than the expenses it incurs. Stars generate large amounts of cash, but also consume a large amount of money due to its relatively large market share. Question marks, on the other hand, are portfolios that grow rapidly but generate less income due their low market shares. Dogs, meanwhile, are those portfolios that have low market share and low growth rate, and therefore generate low income. (NetMBA.com). This matrix is particularly important for Oishi brand so that the company can identify which of its product variants are cash cows, stars, question marks or dogs and which portfolio ne eds to be improved. All of the above concepts can contribute to achieving competitive advantage for a company. It is common that every business organizations ultimate and strategic goal is to gain competitive advantage over its rivals. Carpenter et al (2001) said, â€Å"Competitive advantage can arise from satisfying customers better, faster or more cheaply than competitors†. Porter (1998) said that the competitive strategy takes offensive or defensive actions to create defendable position in an industry, in order to cope successfully with competitive forces and generate superior return on investment. He added that the basis of above-average industry performance is sustainable competitive advantage (qtd in 12Manage.com). In the Porter model, competitive advantage has two basic types; cost leadership and differentiation. Cost leadership occurs when a company offers the same product or service at a lower price than its rivals. Differentiation advantage occurs when a company delivers higher quality products or services at the same price as its competitors. A third type, focus, appears as an advantage when a company focused its strategy on a particular or narrow segment of the market to create a loyal base of customer and become the company of choice in the same market segment. In sum, the above marketing concepts help in gaining competitive advantage and profitability for the company. Hence, LCHL should adopt all the concepts stated above and incorporate those in its corporate strategy and strategic marketing plan. It is necessary that LCHL should maintain its current leadership by creating a competitive marketing strategy. Reference About Oishi. Liwayway Holdings Company Limited, n.d, from http://www.oishi.com.cn/en/about.htm. Bradley, F (2003) Strategic marketing: in the customer driven organization. Chichester: Wiley Print. Carpenter, G., Glazer, R and Nakamoto, K. (2001) â€Å"Market-driving strategies: toward a new concept of competitive advantage†, Kellogg on Marketing. New York: Wiley Press, pp. 103-130. â€Å"Competitive Advantage†, 12Manage.com. 12 Manage, n.d. Web. Ewing, M., Napoli, J and Pitt, L. (2003) â€Å"The development of domestic brands in China†, Chinese Economic Transition and International Marketing Strategy, pp. 84-95. French, S., Jeffrey, R., Story, M., Breitlow, K., Baxter, J., Hannan, P and Snyder, P. (2001) â€Å"Pricing and promotion effects on low-fat vending snack purchases: the CHIPS study†, American Journal of Public Health, pp. 112-117. â€Å"Global agriculture information network. Shanghais youth market: changing perceptions in food consumption†, USDA Food and Agriculture Service, People Republic of China Market Development Reports, Retrieved November, 2008. Marshall, D., ODonohoe, S and Kline, S. (2007) â€Å"Families, food and pester power: beyond the blame game?†, Journal of Consumer Behavior, pp. 164-181. Porter, M (1998) On competition, Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing. Proctor, T (2000) Strategic marketing: an introduction, London: Routledge Press. Terhune, C (2005) â€Å"To bag Chinas snack market, Pepsi takes up potato framing†, The Wall Street Journal Online. â€Å"The BCG growth-share matrix.† NetMBA.com. NetMBA, n.d. 360 Degree Feedback: Analysis 360 Degree Feedback: Analysis 1. Introduction The researcher has highlighted the research question, aim and objectives, before the specific introduction to give a clear picture of the dissertation. 1.1 Research Question To ascertain whether 360 degree feedback could prove to be a promising appraisal mechanism for the staff motivation and development in the current economic crisis and funding cuts? 1.2 Aims and Objectives The research sets out to explore the relevance of 360 degree feedback appraisal system in contrast to the traditional appraisal process currently functional in the library and technical services department of the University. What is 360 degree feedback and in what ways it could prove to be an efficient tool for continuous improvement, development? What is the current functional appraisal technique in the universities library/technical services department and the benefits of introducing 360 degree feedback as an appraisal tool? To analyse the functions/pitfalls of introducing 360 degree feedback within the library/technical services department of the University, with an emphasis on its use for the continuous improvement, development and motivation of the staff. 1.3 Specific Introduction â€Å"University staffs tend to report high levels of stress at the best of times, and academic staffs usually rate their experience of stress as higher than other staff groups in the higher education setting,† (Easton and Laar, 2010). The current funding cuts by the government and the global financial crisis demands a major change in the way various processes function across universities in United Kingdom (UK). The current study is an endeavour to address the numerous limitations in between the traditional appraisal system and the 360 degree tool. The researcher aims to expand the literature that previously exists on the 360 degree appraisal system and to analyse why the gap exists in between both the processes. The researchers primary focus is on the staff motivation and personal development as the key factors that need consideration within the University of Huddersfield. The researcher has given a thorough critical analysis of the 360 degree feedback appraisal system through the review of the academic literature and has focussed on identifying whether or not there are any benefits of using 360 degree feedback over the traditional appraisal systems. As stated by Mason, et.al, (2009), multi-rater feedback is by fa r the best tool for staff development and monitoring effective continuous development in any organisation. Borman, (1997); Javitch and Burke, (1995); Yammarino and Atwater, (1997) state that one of the elementary assumptions of the 360 degree feedback approach is about the employees specific workplace behaviour and when compared to an individuals perception, can act like a catalyst and prove extremely beneficial for enhancing the employees self awareness, self development, motivation and subsequent behavioural change (Church, 2000). Concurrently, Cardy, et.al., (2011), critic that although the evaluation from 360 degree feedback includes feedback from all directions managers, colleagues, customers and the responses from all the point of views propose immense probability for improvement, insight and learning, the feedback from these multiple source seldom agree. On the rating scale, colleagues may rate some characteristics higher while managers may rate those very characteristics lo wer and likewise. The whole prototype of 360 degree feedback interpretation and evaluations can draw a perplexing image of the feedback which will hardly be of any significance to the individual in improving their performance. The underlying rationale of this study has been to evaluate the pros and cons of the traditional appraisal system currently functional in the university, and to analyse by what extent the human resource department, can benefit by introducing 360 degree feedback as their employee appraisal mechanism, especially in relation to the motivation and development of staff. 1.4 Research Plan The below figure (Figure.1) gives a diagrammatic representation of the research plan. The researcher has used the mind mapping technique to construct the research plan (Buzan and Buzan, 2007), which gives a clear picture of how the research task is carried forward as per the time line set by the researcher. The research plan has helped the researcher to carefully pre-plan the actions that needed to be taken during the research. In the following chapters the researcher has critically analysed the 360 degree feedback tool. The literature review covers the latest developments in the 360 degree feedback mechanism along with a thorough comparison with the traditional appraisal system currently functional in the library and technical services department of the University of Huddersfield. The research methodology chapter gives a thorough account of the research design chosen by the researcher, the various techniques used for the research, discussions about the semi structured interviews and questionnaires, followed by the analysis of data, research findings and conclusion. Chapter 2 2 General Literature Review 12-21 2.1 Specific Literature Review 21-27 2.2 Summary of the Literature Review 27 2. General Literature Review â€Å"The way 360 degree feedback is done seems to be critical to successfeedback interventions depend for their effectiveness on the extent to which they augment task motivation and encourage learning, although there are moderating variables such as the nature of the task,† (Kluger and De Nisi, 1996; Tyson and Ward, 2004). 360 degree feedback is an appraisal system used in strategic Human Resource management (HRM) as an intervention and an evaluation technique for personal development of the employees (Cardy, et.al, 2011; Fleenor, 2008; Tyson and Ward, 2004). It has also been referred as the ‘‘vital sign of the modern organization (Fortunato and Smith, 2008; Church and Waclawski, 1998). In this process the employees receive confidential, anonymous response from colleagues, managers, customers, family members etc (Figure 2). About three to five people fill out an anonymous online feedback form that asks questions covering a broad range of workplace competencies. The feedback forms include questions that are measured on a rating scale and also ask raters to provide written comments. The person receiving feedback also fills out a self-rating survey that includes the same survey questions that others receive in their forms. Various authors have outlined that 360 degree feedback is quite effective as it is a non bias process which makes performance management a more objective and fair process (CIPD, 2009), in contrast to the traditional appraisal processes where in a lot depends upon how the appraiser perceives the individual, which can be bias and less transparent. The 360 degree feedback has been used in many organisations for the development of staff members, and the gap in the two appraisal systems is due to the bias nature of the traditional appraisal mechanisms over the transparency of the 360 degree f eedback process. While traditional measures of appraisal systems date back to decades, current literature highlights the multiple developments in the field of appraisal techniques (Dalton, 1996). One among the later developments in the field is the 360 degree feedback appraisal mechanism. This research has explored the relevance of 360 degree feedback appraisal system in contrast to the traditional appraisal process currently functional in the University. Specifically, the author has examined how employee motivation and personal development are affected by 360 degree feedback. The aim throughout the research has been on comparing the traditional appraisal system functional in the University of Huddersfield (UOH) with the 360 degree feedback methodology by exploring how it could contribute in the personal development and motivation of the staff members within the University of Huddersfield. Meyer, (1991); and Folger and Cropanzano, (1998), disagree that evaluations of traditional appraisals are often positively inflated as usually the appraisers are not trained to give negative feedback, and if this is the manner in which the appraisals are conducted then the effectiveness of the performance management process will significantly be undermined (Guangrong, 2010; McCarthy and Garavan, 2001). Therefore one could state that if the tool if used accurately it can provide a non bias and more transparent appraisal system, which may decrease the possibilities of employee dissatisfaction in contrast to the traditional appraisal mechanism, and can emerge as an excellent motivational factor for the employees. As a matter of fact ‘360 degree feedback can significantly enhance the performance management process (Staff360, 2011; CIPD, 2009). However Fleenor, (2008) and Vinson, M.N. (1996) disregards the facts about the effectiveness of 360 degree feedback as people may use their role as a feedback provider as an opportunity to criticize others behaviour at work. According to Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, (2009) if the 360 degree tool is perceived to be in any way threatening, it can seriously damage both commitment and performance. â€Å"It is important that people receive regular honest feedback on their performance. They should understand how their role contributes to overall organisational aims and objectives and how they are performing against agreed criteria. 360 degree feedback can enhance this process by widening the scope for information from the line manager relationship to embrace a wider range of opinion. However, it is important that this is carried out sensitively and fairly,† (Staff360, 2011). Lepsinger and Lucia, (2009); Fleenor, (2008); Tyson and Ward, (2004) comprehend that there are direct evidences of employees performance improvements from 360 degree feedback appraisal mechanism. Various authors research prove that 360 degree feedback also results in improved customer satisfaction, improved management skills and these improvements motivate the employees to work on their identified strengths and use them for advancement in their carrier (Edwards and Ewens, 1996; Hazucha et al. 1993). Hence, the current study is an attempt to deal with the several limitations, and develop the literature that previously exists on the 360 degree appraisal system and to analyse why does the gap exist in between the traditional appraisal system and the 360 degree tool. â€Å"The University of Huddersfield has charitable status as an exempt charity under Schedule 2 to the Charities Act 1993 (amended by the Charities Act 2006). It is therefore subject to charity legislation but is not required to register with the Charity Commission and is not regulated by it. As an exempt charity, the University does not have a registered charity number. In 2010, the Higher Education Funding Council for England took over as the ‘Principal Regulator for the institutions it funds and now has a general duty to promote compliance with charity legislation. This does not affect the Universitys status as an exempt charity,† (hud.ac.uk, 2011). The UK governments educational funding slice and the recession hit economy demands a drastic alteration in the way various processes function across the Universities in UK. However, since the 360 degree feedback is a tool primarily developed and used mainly in the private sector organisations, there is a challenge in its implementation in a public sector or a third sector organisation and as in this case, the University of Huddersfield which is a registered for charity organisation. Brutus et al., (1998) support that the reactions to performance measurements may vary between public and private sector organizations—public sector managers underestimate their achievements compared with private sector managers, for example. Hence, based on these findings one could ascertain that there is a greater need for motivation and development of employees in the public/third sector organisations, and the 360 degree performance appraisal system is an HRs ideal response to combat such issues. As suggested and supported by Lepsinger and Lucia, (2009); Borman, W.C. (1997); Javitch, M.J. and Burke, W.W., (1995); Yammarino, F.J. and Atwater, L.E. (1997), one of the elementary assumptions of the 360 degree feedback approach is about the employees specific workplace behaviour and when compared to an individuals perceptions, can act like a catalyst and prove extremely beneficial for enhancing the employees self awareness, self development, motivation and subsequent behavioural change (Church, 1995, 2000). The researcher has explored the 360 degree appraisals methodology that has become popular in human resource circles over the last few years, wherein the employees performance is assessed by their colleagues, managers and others and has analysed its benefits over the traditional appraisal processes. Brown, (2006) criticizes that while the 360 degree process seems like an interesting idea; it involves more meetings and many forms to be filled out in comparison to the traditional appraisal systems. However Maylett, (2009) and Wiley, (1993) supports that 360 degree feedback can prove to be a good instrument for the staff development as this process gives an individual in-depth performance feedback and hence based on the findings the employee can work on their personal development, by getting trained in the area where there weakness lies and the time lost in filling the extra forms are worth the effort. Arguments from different authors suggest that the feedback systems have always been in to existence in the organisations in some form or the other, but of-late has been developed and given a name ‘360 degree feedback and according to Garavan, et al., (1997) 360 degree feedback process is like an ‘old wine in new a bottle. It is also known as multi-rater feedback and is an appraisal process in which the individual is assessed by themselves, colleagues, managers, stakeholders, customers, etc. The 360 degree instrument can be used to achieve various goals and one aspect of it is the need of continuous measurement of improvement efforts, development of staff and their motivation. Ward, (1997) defined 360 degree feedback as ‘the systematic collection and feedback of performance data on an individual or group derived from a number of the stakeholders in their performance. †Because of their shorter expected tenure, women are less likely to be as motivated by the deferred rewards of career ladders. As a consequence, she argues that employers with large shares of women have historically used shorter-term rewards and undertaken more routine and extensive monitoring,† (Brown and Heywood, 2005; Goldin, 1986). Various authors criticize that traditional appraisal techniques are not that effective in case of female employees and there are many incidences of gender bias in appraisals. Renowned authors, Brown and Heywood, (2005) support that ‘a major and recurrent criticism of the traditional appraisal process is its openness to subjective and discriminatory outcome. The primary goal of this research has been to expand beyond the current literature by analysing the data and results to create suggested policies for the University of Huddersfield, to implement pertaining to the improvement of staff morale and productivity. Furthermore, on reviewing the growing body of literature and the research on 360 degree feedback, the researcher was able to identify the usefulness of having 360 degree feedback over the traditional appraisal processes in the University of Huddersfield; the study has also given ample scope to the researcher in developing more insightful questions. The author has identif ied the various factors on which the success of 360 degree feedback mechanism depends; the literature supports that more effectively the 360 degree instrument is implemented the better are the results. Newbold, (2008) highlights that that if the tool is implemented accurately, with the proper training and the correct resources, a 360-degree appraisal could prove to be a powerful and positive addition to any performance-management system. The 360 degree feedback has been used in many organisations for the development of staff members, and the gap in the two appraisal systems is due to the bias nature of the traditional appraisal mechanisms over the transparency of the 360 degree feedback process. Various authors have outlined that 360 degree feedback is quite effective as it is a non bias process which makes performance management a more objective and fair process (CIPD, 2009), in contrast to the traditional appraisal processes where in a lot depends upon how the appraiser perceives the individual, which can be bias and less transparent. Maylett, (2009); Meyer, (1991); Folger and Cropanzano, (1998), argue that evaluations of traditional appraisals are often positively inflated as usually the appraisers are not trained to give negative feedback, and if this is the manner in which the appraisals are conducted then the effectiveness of the performance management process will significantly be undermined (McCarthy and Garavan, 2001). Therefore one could state that if the tool if used accurately it can provide a non-bias and more transparent appraisal system, which may decrease the possibilities of employee dissatisfaction in contrast with the traditional appraisal mechanism, and can emerge as an excellent motivational factor for the employees. However Vinson, (1996) disregards the facts about the effectiveness of 360 degree feedback as people may use their role as a feedback provider as an opportunity to criticize others behaviour at work. â€Å"Multirater feedback has several significant advantages over single-rater assessment. Rather than relying on the perceptions of one individual, multirater feedback takes into account multiple perspectives. Those working with the employee, along with the supervisor, are generally able to provide a more comprehensive picture of an employees behaviour or performance. This is especially critical when the supervisor does not have the opportunity to observe all areas of an employees performance,† (Maylett, 2009). Maylett, (2009); DeNisi and Kluger, (2000) support that ‘360-degree feedback for decision making affects the actual ratings given to the individual being appraised and these systems should be primarily, if not exclusively for developmental purposes (Figure 3). Furthermore, the conditions in which 360 degree feedback work in an organisation largely depends upon the perception of 360 degree feedbacks potential to enhance human resource management system of the organisation. As suggested by Lepsinger and Lucia, (2009) factors like culture (that supports openness and honest feedback) and systems (that minimise irrational responses and have built in ways to identify people whose ratings are untrustworthy) assess if the organisation is ready to implement the 360 degree feedback process, and the researcher has explored the possibilities of its implication in the University of Huddersfield, based on these grounds. 2.1 Specific Literature Review This section of the dissertation takes a specific critical standpoint on whether 360 ° feedback as strategic Human Resource tool have a profound strategic justification in the University of Huddersfield (UOH) which is a registered for charity organisation (hud.ac.uk, 2011) . The researcher has given a critical account of the 360-degree feedback tool, as an option for performance development appraisals and for motivating the staff in performing better, in the registered for charity organisations. Currently, the 360 degree tool is not very common in the third sector, registered for charity organisations and the investigation could be a scope for a research elsewhere. According to Berk, (2009); and Fortunato and Smith, (2008) 360 degree feedback is an appraisal tool used by approximately 90% of the Fortune 1000 organisations (Fortunato and Smith, 2008; Bracken et al., 2001; Tornow and Tornow, 2001; Edwards and Ewen, 1996, 2001). Cardy, Leonard and Newman, (2011) believe that the incre ased popularity of the 360 degree feedback is unquestionable and that organisations have spent innumerable amount of funds in implementing the feedback system. However, Cardy et.al, (2011) argue that many Fortune 1000 companies have implemented the 360 degree feedback without having considered the purpose, which is not very advisable, as 360 degree feedback is at its best for staff development, motivation, and for administrative use such as in determining performance related salary. The utility of 360 degree feedback, mainly upward feedback, may be constricted when appraisers provide erroneous ratings (Bernardin and Tyler, 2001; Bracken and Timmreck, 2001). Kuvas, (2006) highlighted that the relationship between the performance appraisal and work is interrelated to the employees inherent motivation at work. For an employee to perform in an organisation, job satisfaction and motivation to execute an activity for itself, in order to experience the pleasure and satisfaction inherent in the activity (Kuvas, 2006; Deci et al., 1989; Vallerand, 1997). Cardy et.al. (2011) highlight that when feedback received from too many sources are used for the estimation of an employees performance the diverse sources of feedback seldom agree in their evaluation, although a broader understanding can be attained. Analysis and criticism of traditional appraisal system in contrast with 360 degree feedback The primary principle of appraisals is to put forward an opinion or feedback on how the employee performs in their current job role and to discuss further what could be done to facilitate the employee to perform the expected job, if they are not performing as per the objectives. Prowse and Prowse, (2009); and Randell, (1994) argue that appraisals are the systematic evaluation of an individuals performance linked to the organisations culture and behaviour. The various departments in the University of Huddersfield (UOH) use different appraisal mechanisms. The computing and library services, technical services and other administration departments of the University use a competencies framework for the staff appraisals. The appraisals are conducted half yearly (every 6 months) to follow up on the employees personal development plan. There are three documents that are usually taken in a one on one appraisal, the filled employee preparation form, the filled up competencies framework and the competency framework Role Profiling document which provides a brief idea of which level each role is at (Figure. 4). After the discussion the appraising line manager fills up the appraisal record which both the appraiser and the ‘appraisee sign and get a copy. This process is followed up every 6 months (Please refer to appendix 1 for appraisal documents). The purpose of the process is to facilitate the employees to develop in a systematic way so that university as an organisation functions in the best possible way utilising the optimum talent identified. Various authors support that the appraisal system also offers an opportunity to put across and discuss the employees achievements over the past year with th eir managers to confer their performance in general and make plans for the year ahead. The performance appraisals are potentially a solution for the organisations to get the most out of their employees (Prowse and Prowse, 2009; Armstrong and Baron, 2005). The scheme currently functional in the university is highly participative, with a huge emphasis on appraisal ‘self and making sure that the staffs have a key responsibility in determining their own improvement and personal development (UOH, 2011). â€Å"In order for an appraisal system to be absolutely flawless and effective a number of elements have to be in place, as in the understanding and agreement on performance goals, a process for collecting ongoing performance data and a framework of productive periodic review and formal appraisal discussions,† (Lepsinger and Lucia, 2009). Although the current appraisals seemed to have worked fine till date, the literature provides evidence of the flaws in the traditional appraisal processes. Lepsinger and Lucia, (2009); and Lee, (2006) highlight that disagreement on set performance criterion, the line managers inability as an appraiser to process the bulk of information received and the employees need, while being appraised to defend their self image, are the key factors which act as a barrier in the smooth functioning of the traditional appraisals. It could be argued that the two parties involved in a traditional appraisal usually do not agree with the performance criteria set and it is highly likely that a difference of opinion may crop up between the appraisers and appraisee on what it takes to perform the job effectively. Prowse and Prowse, (2009); and Lee, (2006) argue that that the appraisal practice cannot be executed successfully unless the appraiser has the right interpersonal skills to provide the feedback t o the appraisee. If the appraiser and appraisee do not come to a conclusion on what can mutually be agreed as a requirement for excellent performance, then it is quite evident that both may end up with diverse conclusions about the staffs effectiveness in meeting the set performance criteria. Furthermore, rather than reassessing the actions necessary for a thriving performance at work, if the traditional appraisal attempts to achieve a specific target or result, it hardly does anything to seize the gap in perception or help the appraisee in comprehending what amendments are vital for their advancement and development in performing the job (Lepsinger and Lucia, 2009). â€Å"Traditional performance appraisal systems are flawed in their design, implementation and use. Supervisors seldom are effective in using such systems because the assumptions that guide how we use performance appraisals are unsubstantiated,† (Lee, 2006). Lepsinger and Lucia, (2009); and Lee, (2006) solicit to discontinue the use of the traditional performance appraisal methods and state that the traditional appraisal processes that rely upon ratings should be discontinued and advanced performance management mechanisms should be adopted which are designed to produce ample quantitative and qualitative information. The line managers inability as an appraiser to process the mass information received is another major issue in the traditional appraisal processes. The though process behind an effective appraisal is very complex. Experts break down the intricate process for collecting and processing information used in the appraisal process (Lepsinger and Lucia, 2009). Merits of introducing 360 degree feedback as an appraisal tool in the University of Huddersfield â€Å"Critiques of appraisal have continued as appraisals have increased in use and scope across sectors and occupations. The dominant critique is the management framework using appraisal as an â€Å"orthodox† technique that seeks to remedy the weakness and propose of appraisals as a system to develop performance,† (Bach, 2005). As discussed previously The University of Huddersfield uses competencies framework for the staff appraisals. The competencies framework is a description of the relevant behaviours needed to be competent in the job roles and support the organisation in remaining an exceptional University. The competencies appraisal framework boasts to benefit the employees by providing precision of performance expectations, uniformity and fairness throughout the appraisal, allowing superior identification of individual development requirements and giving a clearer picture of required skills to progress in the career path. In turn the university benefits by a lucid method of continuous development and performance management, enabling the identification and prioritisation of improvement needs to facilitate the improved stipulation of the learning and development courses or other areas of development (Source: HR, 2011). â€Å"360 degree feedback can make a positive contribution to the appraisal system. It can help to gain agreement on expectations, by using a broader range of information, and by facilitating open discussion,† (Lepsinger and Lucia, 2009). There are numerous benefits of introducing 360 degree feedback in the University of Huddersfield. As per the discussions with the human resource staff and the appraising managers it can be argued that the current appraisal system functional in the university is not flawless. The bias nature of the one on one performance appraisals is prone to disputes among the appraising manager and the employees, and although the university has a procedure in place to resolve such conflicts it could still benefit by introducing 360 degree feedback along with the traditional appraisal mechanism to rule out any such possibilities of conflicts. 2.2 Summary of the Literature Review To sum it could be concluded that the 360 degree feedback has a proven record as an excellent tool for staff development and motivation. The researcher has observed that the tool has become increasingly accepted in the organisations worldwide ever since the masses have discovered its value. Since the academic literature supports the research question proposed by the researchers. Chapter 3 3 Introduction to the Research Methodology 29 3.1 Research Design 29-33 3.2 Research Strategy 33-35 3.3 Review of Research Data Collection Methods 35-36 3.3.1 Semi-Structured Interviews Qualitative Data 36 3.3.2. Questionnaires Quantitative Data 37-39 3.4 Pilot Test 39 3.4.1 Questionnaire Pilot Test 1 40 3.4.2 Questionnaire Pilot Test 2 40-41 3.5 Alternate Research Methods considered but 41-42 3.6 Ethical Considerations 42-43 3.7 Methods of Data Analysis 43-44 3.8 Summary of the methodology 44 3. An Introduction of the Research Methodology In this section of the research paper the researcher has explained the various types of research methods and techniques available, and used by the researcher, followed by a justification of why these methods have been considered appropriate for this dissertation and why the other methods have not been considered. The process of data collection and data analysis has also been described in this chapter. 3.1 Research Design The researcher throws light on the research design and gives a general idea of how the researcher has gone about addressing the research question and description of its approach with rationality, followed by an account of the objectives derived from this research, gives an account of the sources which has been used in this research to collect data, and a description of the ethical considerations (Creswell, et.al. 2011; Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2009). To quote Saunders, et.al, (2009): â€Å"Combining both quantitative and qualitative analysis ‘the researcher may possibly use the quantitative data and ‘qualitize it that is converting it into narrative that can be analysed qualitatively. Alternately, the researcher may ‘quantitise the qualitative data, converting it into numerical codes so that it could be analysed statistically,† (Saunders et.al, 2009). The author has carried out the research by conducting semi-structured interviews followed by a brief experimental introduction of 360 degree feedback process, and the analysis of the results were done by the careful examination of combination of the mixed methods. Various authors justify that there are diverse rationales for research; however practitioner researchers are faced with queries that demand versatile responses (Creswell, 2003) Hence, a mixed methods approach that uses qualitative and quantitative research can be considered as appropriate for several p