Monday, December 30, 2019

Should Immigration Laws Be Reformed - 1151 Words

Mark Zepeda Mr. Witt American Literature 26 November 2009 Should Immigration Laws Be Reformed? Immigration is a great part of this country. Immigrants came here for freedom and liberty from their oppressed and miserable country. They come here to find a â€Å"NEW† life to live and support their family. America was basically built from immigrants. How else would we have started this beautiful country? If it wasn t for Christopher Columbus (who was an immigrant) this wouldn t be the great country it is today. Immigration is becoming a big deal in this country. Everyone is complaining about it. Honestly they need to mind their own business. They are not the ones who are trying to make their families have a better life. Americans have it made for them. They can go find a job whenever they want, get a rental car, airplane ticket, start a career, just everything. Immigrants have to live here for some amount of years, and have a criminal check. Its just harder for immigrants to get respect in this country. Americans always complain about immigrants coming here to steal jobs from all the americans. They re trying to start a new life and get a family started. Mind your own business and let them be. There trying to be like â€Å"us† americans, to have a successful job and a family. Immigrants are a great benefit to our economy. We’re always saying immigrants are ruining our economy and are harming it. They should do their research and actually see how much immigrants help ourShow MoreRelatedReflection Of Jose Antonio Vargas989 Words   |  4 Pagesstory of Jose Antonio Vargas; the story of how one man helped lead action to reform immigration laws. Throughout the entire movie, I constantly asked myself what is American and can I even call myself that? Documented changed my viewpoint on immigration and opened up my eyes to the cruel world of bias and constant stereotyping. This documentary made it pertinent to me that immigration is misunderstood, that current laws are not fair, and that my views have been swayed by the elders to falsely view immigrantsRead MoreThe United States Is Immensively A Land Of Immigrants1333 Words   |  6 Pagesa better life, these non-native people settled in a new place with low unemployment rates. In 1965, it [The United St ates] reconsidered its immigration laws, making it possible for millions of people from the Caribbean, South and Central America, West Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia to enter the country legally. Even after immigration law had been reformed, because of a significant portion of those migrants financial status, the U.S. has not only become a land of legal migrants but also illegalRead MoreImmigration Of The United States1565 Words   |  7 Pagescould be terrorists, terrorists and immigrants posses many differences. Domestic terrorists or terrorists, who enter the country, have the intent of using violent acts to achieve a political goal. To further prove this argument, Sharon Bass, an Immigration Service Officer at the US Department of Homeland Security, addresses that â€Å"the average immigrant migrates to the United States to better their lives or their family’s lives, seek employment or reunite with relatives.† However, American public opinionRead MoreImmigration : A Concept At Odds American Culture998 Words   |  4 PagesImmigration: A concept at odds in American Culture On any given day, any media connected American will be bombarded by numerous views and commentaries on the immigration debate. On this Saturday morning, the 30th of January 2016, a perusal of CNN main homepage leads to 6 direct or indirect (political due to the upcoming election) references to the immigration debate. It is a hot topic in the media and it is a source of constant argument and rhetoric for and against with very little resolutionRead MoreThe Growing Problem Of Illegal Immigration871 Words   |  4 PagesGrowing Problem of Illegal Immigration Every year, millions of immigrants pour into the United States illegally. Are there any possible solutions to this trend? Immigrants cross the border either by the means of, swimming, using fake documents or by the means of using work visas. â€Å"Nearly half of the 12 million-plus illegal aliens in America arrived legally with non-immigrant visas,† said David Seminara, a tenured member of the U.S. Foreign Service (Illegal Immigration). Usually after the workRead MoreImmigration Policy Should Be Reformed1585 Words   |  7 Pagesinspectors. In the past, the United States was formed from many immigrants whom the Founding Fathers were descendants from and made a powerful country. Immigration is positive for the United States because there are political, economic, and multicultural benefits; therefore, immigration policy should be reformed to allow and encourage immigration. First of all, immigrants positively benefit the United States in which most of the time is not understood. One of the most important political rightsRead MoreImmigration Of The United States1081 Words   |  5 PagesImmigration in the United States Statistics show that about 69,975 people were refugees and had entered the United States in the year of 2014. Most of them were shown from the following countries: Iraq, Burma, Somalia, and Bhutan (Mossaad 1). Over the years, the United States and other countries have tried many ways to block out the immigrants from coming into the countries but none of the laws or restrictions have stop the immigrants from coming in completely. At this time, President Obama saidRead MoreImmigration Social Justice1146 Words   |  5 PagesJustin Hernandez English II Mr. Lench 31 May 2015 Immigration The United States have long battle immigration issues over the years with immigrants who take whatever measures necessary to make it to the United States. They take boats, hike across the border at night, are smuggled across the border in vehicles and are stow away on vessels and trains. The law that was passed in Alabama regarding immigration policies went into effect September 1, 2011. In addition, it will review the historicalRead MoreImmigration And Immigrants : The United States Essay1175 Words   |  5 Pages Immigration and Immigrants At this time, the United States has allowed more immigrants to enter the country than at any time in its history. Over a million legal and illegal immigrants take up residence in the United States each year. I am the immigrant, too. All the other countries people like to come here for the better lives for them and their families. America is a freedom-oriented country, where everyone likes to live. I came here 3 years ago, first, I did not like it, but it is good inRead MoreHe Ugly Side Of Immigration Policies. A Migrant Woman Gets1837 Words   |  8 Pageshe Ugly Side of Immigration Policies A migrant woman gets tackled and handcuffed by an officer as she tries to make a run for it after making it past border security. An immigrant family meets each other on separate sides of a 21ft chicken wire fence to eat dinner together as they talk through the fence that separates Mexico and the United States. Immigrants line up for hours waiting to see if they will be granted access to come into the United States. Being that I lived on the other side of the

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Gun Control A Violation Of Rights - 1498 Words

Gun Control: A Violation of Rights? There are a myriad of issues that citizens of the United States do not have enough education about. These people may only know one side, or may not know any side at all. Various topics range from abortion to gay rights. One issue in particular that deserves a great deal of attention is gun control. Certainly many Americans have heard little snippets about the opposing views on the issue; however, not all people have enough education to make informed decisions on where they stand with the issue. Numerous questions can be brought up from not knowing any information, but one specific question that Americans should be concerned with is, is gun control a violation of Americans’ Constitutional rights? Gun control is worthy of sustained research and writing because it is a huge national issue. It is important for citizens of the United States to be informed about the MYRIAD of issues that arise within the country, and also around the world; t herefore, if people living in the country want to become productive members of our society, they should start to learn about the various issues that country deals with (one of them being gun control). When people gather more and more information about issues such as gun control, they will be able to form better opinions about the problems, and thus, have a better say in what steps the government takes in tackling those issues. Personally, I am interested in this topic because my boyfriend is aShow MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay On Gun Control1397 Words   |  6 PagesConstitution protects the right of the people to bear arms and was adopted on December 15, 1791, as part of the first ten amendments located in the Bill of Rights. Since then there have been many attempts to create stricter gun control legislation and this leads to the argument whether or not this is an attack on the 2nd  Amendment? The Bill of Rights amendments adds to the Constitution specific guarantees of personal freedoms and  rights. The Second Amendment was originally based on the right to keep and bearRead MoreThe Argument Against Gun Control Essay1141 Words   |  5 Pagesconsider the topic of gun control. First, I present Dixon’s argument in support of gun control, which is that all personal guns should be banned. Second, I introduce Huemer’s argument against the regulation of guns, which is that banning personal firearms is not justified. Third, I critique Huemer’s argument against gun control on the grounds of three claims. First, the right to own a gun is nullified by its negative repercussions. Second, gun control does not violate an individual’s right to defend themselvesRead MoreShould The Right And Bear Arms Be Controlled? Essay1572 Words   |  7 PagesAmericans love of guns was established from the Second Amendment of the Constitution, they are granted an inalie nable right, which is the right to keep and bear arms. Many believe that gun represents the heart of the nation’s foundation and identity, a symbol of freedom. However, there are ongoing controversial gun issues. Should the right to bear arms be controlled? What is the extent it should go? Is gun control not infringing the right to bear arms? Few public policy debates are products of misinformationRead MoreEssay on Gun Ownership and the Second Amendment of the Constitution1624 Words   |  7 PagesGun Ownership and the Second Amendment Over the centuries, the Supreme Court has always ruled that the 2nd Amendment protects the states militias rights to bear arms, and that this protection does not extend to individuals. In fact, legal scholars consider the issue settled law. For this reason, the gun lobby does not fight for its perceived constitutional right to keep and bear arms before the Supreme Court, but in Congress. Interestingly, even interpreting an individual right in the 2ndRead MorePolitics and Gun Control Essay961 Words   |  4 PagesA well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. -U. S. Constitution, Amendment II Over 200 years ago, when the Founding Fathers drafted the Second Amendment, no one ever questioned the need for private gun ownership. The founders at that time had considered that private firearms were efficient to protecting personal liberty, both as a means of opposing foreign threats and also as a check againstRead MoreEssay about Public Safety vs. Civil Rights1628 Words   |  7 PagesSafety v. Civil Rights CJA 550 Crystal Shepherd March 7, 2011 The argument of public safety versus civil rights has always been at the forefront of many major political issues in the United States. Civil rights are the foundation of this country, and they protect it’s citizens. But with that, comes the protection of criminals, terrorists, and enemies of the state, and the freedom for these people to move and operate against American ideals. The slightest restrictions on civil rights increases theRead More Gun Control Essay911 Words   |  4 PagesIn the wake of all the school shootings in the past fifteen years gun control has become a more serious issue than before. Gun control has always been a concern in the United States, but not until the first major school shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado did this topic become a reality to the American public. In 1999, this massacre left fifteen people dead including the assassins. And just recently on March 5, 2001 did the tradition continue, when Charles Andrew Williams killedRead MoreThe War on Gun Control Essay957 Words   |  4 Pages Gun Control War We are no stranger to gun control debate and controversy here in the U.S. We hear of gun deaths, mass and school shootings on the news on a daily basis. Is it safe to say that the U.S. needs permanent gun control laws to protect its citizens or would it be in violation the constitution? The second amendment was written by our founding fathers back in 1791 in a day where it was common for any citizen to own a weapon. Many times we tend to misinterpret our rights as well as weRead More America Needs Some Gun Control Essay1552 Words   |  7 Pages Gun control is the effort to restrict or limit the possession and use of guns. The gun control debate may be one of the most important issues in our society. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that the 2nd Amendment restrains the government’s ability to ban handguns. Some politicians are passionate about gun control and make voting decisions based upon on this issue alone; hence, the people we elect into office direc tly affect our lives. A few republican politicians have a strongRead More Gun Control Essay1151 Words   |  5 Pagesweapons used to intentionally and unintentionally kill people, which lead to one of Americaï ¿ ½s most heated debates: gun control. With increasing crime and violence, many people look to gun control laws as a way to slow these trends down. On the other hand, others believe that owning a gun is a constitutional right that should never be taken away. James Q. Wilsonï ¿ ½s essay ï ¿ ½Just Take Away Their Gunsï ¿ ½ is an attempt to offer a solution to both sides of this argument. He claims that illegal possession of firearms

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Analysis of Just in time production methods Free Essays

string(38) " inventory improvements are required\." Introduction Just in time is a ‘pull’ system of production, so actual orders provide a signal for when a product should be manufactured. Demand-pull enables a firm to produce only what is required, in the correct quantity and at the correct time.â€Å"Just-in-time is an inventory system where raw materials are delivered right before they are needed on the assembly line, and finished goods are manufactured just before they are shipped to customers. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of Just in time production methods or any similar topic only for you Order Now Just-in-time improves return on investment by substantially reducing overhead cost, limiting quality inspections, and eliminating obsolete inventory†. This means that stock levels of raw materials, components, work in progress and finished goods can be kept to a minimum. This requires a carefully planned scheduling and flow of resources through the production process. Modern manufacturing firms use sophisticated production scheduling software to plan production for each period of time, which includes ordering the correct stock. Information is exchanged with suppliers and customers through EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to help ensure that every detail is correct. A more specific definition is provided by Calvasina et al. (1989):â€Å"JIT is a system of production control that seeks to minimize raw materials and WIP inventories; control (eliminate) defects; stabilize production; continuously simplify the production process; and create a flexible, multi-skilled work force.† Successful JIT implementation should accomplish two major objectives: improve quality and control the timeliness of the production and delivery of products. (Davy; Monden and Walleigh). (Sciencedirect.com, Accessed on 13th May 2011) JIT is of 2 types which are: JIT production: This where the production of the goods is started only when the customer places the order. In this method there will not be finished good stocks but there will be raw material stocks as the purchasing is carried out in normal way. JIT purchasing: This goes one step beyond the JIT production where the purchasing of raw materials for production is also carried out once the order is placed by the customer eliminating raw material stocks. http://www.tutebox.com/business/management/just-in-time-concept/ JIT Concept JIT is a process aimed at increasing value-added and eliminating waste by providing the environment to perfect and simplify the process.JIT in time concept was initiated in Japan making the Toyota as its master piece. JIT is system whether company starts manufacturing/purchasing once the customer orders the good effectively making zero inventories. In other words, in a JIT environment materials are purchased and produced as and when it is needed. The whole idea is based on the phrase provide the goods just in time as promised when the order is placed by the customer. The opposite of the JIT production is known as JIC (Just in case) system where it produces goods for inventory with the intention of having goods just in case a customer places a immediate order. The whole concept of the JIT is differentiated from traditional productions systems using push vs pull systems of production. The push system of production pushes materials to the next stage of the production irrespective of whether time and resources are needed at the next level of production creating lot of inventories at each level of the production flow. The traditional manufacturing organizations adopt push system where they produce for inventory and work in progress. The pull system of production is where the materials are pulled by next level of the production only when is signaled or required by the next stage of production. This drastically reduces the inventory held as it does not keep any work in progress. JIT concept is built based on the concept of pull production which eliminates the total inventory. Source: Kaluarachchi, 2009) Kanban: kanban is a Japanese word which means cards and information will be indicated in that card. Usually information includes serial no. of product identification, the quantity, the required operation and place of enquiry. Kanbans allow to link different production process together (Jarvis, podolsky.s, cheng.t.c.e, 1996). Key elements in JIT One problem with JIT is that it only works well in certain types of organization. The most successful users of JIT are currently car assembly plants, which make large numbers of similar products in a continuous process. You can see why this is, from the following arguments. Every time there are changes to a process, or it switches from making one product to making another, there are delays, disruptions and costs. JIT says that these change waste resources and should be eliminated. The level of production must allow a smooth and continuous flow of products through the process. Each part of the process should be fully utilized, so the process is likely to be a well-balanced assembly line. Deliveries of materials are made directly to the assembly line at just time they are needed. Suppliers must be able to adapt to this kind of operation. Lead times must be short or the delay in answering a request for materials becomes too long. This means working closely with the suppliers and even having hem build facilities that are physically close. As there are no stocks to give safety cover, any defects in materials would disrupt production. Suppliers must, therefore If something goes wrong, people working on the process must be able to find the cause, take the action needed to correct the fault, and make sure that it does not happen again. This needs a skilled and flexible workforce that is committed to the success of the organization. (source:- Donald Waters ( 2002) p.461) Benefits of JIT Manufacturing System The main benefits of JIT have been well famous within the literature. A carefully planned implementation of JIT can directly provide increased teamwork and employee involvement, as the organization works together to find areas of waste to target and work out ways to reduce waste in that area (Slack, Chambers, Johnston, 2007). This results in a simplification of the inventory management system, as well as business processes involved in inventory management. Supplier relationships and data regarding the business are used to identify specific areas where inventory improvements are required. You read "Analysis of Just in time production methods" in category "Essay examples" Lower stock holding means a reduction in storage space which saves rent and insurance costs Areas previously used, to store inventories can be used for other more productive uses. As stock is only obtained when it is needed, less working capital is tied up in stock. Funds that were tied up in inventories can be used elsewhere. Throughput time is reduced, resulting in greater potential output and quicker response to customers. There is less likelihood of stock perishing, becoming obsolete or out of date Avoids the build-up of unsold finished product that can occur with sudden changes in demand. Defect rates are reduced, resulting in less waste and greater customer satisfaction. Less time is spent on checking and re-working the product of others as the emphasis is on getting the work right first time. (Source: www.ritalogisticsblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-just-in-time-jit-manufacturing-and-inventory-control-system/ (Accessed on 9th May 2011)) Disadvantages of JIT JIT has many strong points, there are weaknesses as well. â€Å"In just-in-time, everything is very interdependent. Everyone relies on everybody else† (Greenberg, 2002). Because of this strong interdependence with JIT, a weakness in the supply chain caused by a JIT weakness can be very costly to all linked in the chain. JIT processes can be risky to certain businesses and vulnerable to the supply chain in situations such as labour strikes, interrupted supply lines, market demand fluctuations, stock outs, lack of communication upstream and downstream in the supply chain and unforeseen production interruptions. Weakness of Just in time is a high danger plan because scheduling work is short period and the inventory degrees are kept to a minimal degree. In total quality of product is key issue with Just in Time conception. There is little room for mistakes as minimal stock is kept for re-working faulty product Production is very reliant on suppliers and if stock is not delivered on time, the whole production schedule can be delayed There is no spare finished product available to meet unexpected orders, because all product is made to meet actual orders – however, JIT is a very responsive method of production. The key characteristics of JiT 1 The main characteristic of Just – In – Time 1 is to reduce the inventory and the benefits while reducing the inventories. The purpose of Just – In – Time (JIT) is for organizations, aiming to minimize their inventory, to have material that is provided when required for use, minimizing any physical stock that is stored. JIT is not without its challenges, overproduction or procurement of excess material can conceal manufacturing issues or compensate for demand variability and these issues need to be resolved for Just in time inventory to be successful. Just – In – Time (JIT) works in the three types of inventories: 1) Raw Materials: Inventories provide insurance in case suppliers are late with deliveries. 2) Work in process: Inventories are maintained in case a work station is unable to operate due to a breakdown or other reason. 3) Finished Goods: Inventories are maintained to accommodate unexpected fluctuations in demand. JIT Inventory Management Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory management is the process of ordering and receiving inventory for production and customer sales only as it is needed and not before. This means that the company does not hold safety stock and operates with low inventory levels. This strategy helps companies lower their inventory carrying costs. Just-in-time inventory management is a cost-cutting inventory management strategy though it can guide to stock outs. The goal of JIT is to improve return on investment by reducing non-essential costs. Examples: Just-in-time inventory management is used by Toyota Manufacturing as its inventory management system. The basic principle of JIT is â€Å"lean manufacturing† or reduction of inventory. Unlike the traditional accounting notion that considers inventory as adding and storing value, JIT considers inventory as waste and incurring costs. Lean Manufacturing:-Identification and elimination of waste is the central theme of a lean manufacturing production system. Lean manufacturing is a dynamic and constantly improving process dependent upon understanding and involvement by all employees. Successful implementation requires that all employees must be trained to identify and eliminate waste from their work.Waste exists in all work and at all levels in the organization. Seven Types of Waste are:- 1. Over Production:- Producing more than needed and producing faster than needed. Overproduction is to manufacture an item before it is actually required. Overproduction is highly costly to a manufacturing plant because it prohibits the smooth flow of materials and actually degrades quality and productivity. The Toyota Production System is also referred to as â€Å"Just in Time† (JIT) because every item is made just as it is needed. Overproduction manufacturing is referred to as â€Å"Just in Case.† This creates excessive lead times, results in high storage costs, and makes it difficult to detect defects. The simple solution to overproduction is turning off the tap; this requires a lot of courage because the problems that overproduction is hiding will be revealed. The concept is to schedule and produce only what can be immediately sold/shipped and improve machine changeover/set-up capability. Over-production results in higher costs for storage, Lack of Communication, Local Optimization, Automation in the Wrong Places, Cost Accounting Practices and Lack of Stable/Consistent Schedules excessive lead times, and it makes detecting the defects quite difficult. The solution for over-production is to stop producing materials and only produce what can be immediately sold or shipped. Poor information flow is another reason that over-production occurs, hence why communication is so important in the lean manufacturing process. 2. Unnecessary Inventory :- Work in Progress (WIP) is a direct result of overproduction and waiting. Having excessive inventory will lead to increased lead times, limited floor space, and poor communication. Too much inventory often masks problems from other areas as well. Generally an arrival of inventory can be traced to poor communication and batch processing. By achieving a unspoiled flow between work centres, many manufacturers have been able to improve customer service and slash inventories and their associated costs. 3. Waiting Times:- Whenever goods are not moving or being processed, the waste of waiting occurs. Delay refers to the waste of goods that are not moving. As you already may be aware, much of a product’s life is spent waiting for the next phase. The reason this is considered a waste is because the good should never be waiting. If they are waiting it is due to poor material flow, long production runs, and distances between work centres are too great. Goldratt (Theory of Constraints) has stated many times that one hour lost in a bottleneck process is one hour lost to the entire factory’s output, which can never be recovered. Linking processes together so that one feeds directly into the next can dramatically reduce waiting. (source: www.emsstrategies.com) 4. Inefficient Transporting :- Moving your product from one location adds no value to your product. Many products are damaged or lost, casing a waste of money. Transporting also requires the use of material handlers, and this also adds no value to the product. This is one waste that is difficult to reduce or eliminate. Material handlers must be used to transport the materials, resulting in another organizational cost that adds no customer value. Transportation can be difficult to reduce due to the perceived costs of moving equipment and processes closer together. Furthermore, it is often hard to determine which processes should be next to each other. Mapping the flow of your product may be one way you can gain a greater understanding of the transportation phase and learn how to reduce the costs. 5. Unnecessary / Excess Motion This waste is related to ergonomics and is seen in all instances of bending, stretching, walking, lifting, and reaching. These are also health and safety issues, Often the motion is not due to the employees behaviour, but the machine they are operating may be manufactured poorly and the employee is unable to turn a knob (or something similar) without using poor ergonomics. This waste leads to health and safety issues, which obviously lead to bigger problems in today’s controversial society. Causes for excess motion is Equipment, Office Plant Layout, Lack of 5 S’s, Lack of Visual Controls, Inconsistent Work Methods (Standardized Work), Large Batch Sizes. 6. Inappropriate Processing:- Several companies purchase high precision equipment to do a simple job. High precision equipment often leads to over-production of goods. This can also encompass using the wrong suppliers or the wrong process to do a job. The causes of processing waste is Engineering Changes Without Processing Changes, Decision Making at Inappropriate Levels, Inefficient Policies and Procedures, Lack of Customer Input Concerning Requirements.Toyota is famous for their use of low-cost automation, combined with immaculately maintained, often older machines. Investing in smaller, more flexible equipment where possible; creating manufacturing cells; and combining steps will greatly reduce the waste of inappropriate processing. 7. Rejects Defects:- Defects in the manufacturing process are a tremendous cost to a company. Any small defect directly impacts your bottom line and effects inventory, scheduling, inspection, and other factors. In many organizations the total cost of defects is often a significant percentage of total manufacturing cost. Through employee involvement and Continuous Process Improvement (CPI), there is a huge opportunity to reduce defects at many facilities. 5s’s 5S efforts almost always improve workplace safety, operator morale, quality, and throughput. A workplace organization tool/process that maximizes the cleanliness, organization, and safety of all elements in a working environment. 5S supports a smooth production process in various ways. Searching for tools is eliminated, flow principles are applied, and tools storage is done where they are needed most. Location indicators visualise how things have been organised, and non conformities are seen at once. The 5S method improves employees’ ownership and leads to substantial quality improvement, cost reduction as well as product and process safety The individual items within 5S are known as the â€Å"pillars† and are: 1. Sort: – Clearing the work area. Any work area should only have the items needed to perform the work in the area. All other items should be cleared (sorted out) from the work area. It has been variously anglicised as Sort, Systematisation or Simplify by those wishing to retain the S as the initial letter of each element. It is the series of steps by which we identify things which are being held in the workplace when they shouldn’t, or are being held in the wrong place. Put simply, we may identify a large area devoted to tools or gauges, some of which are needed regularly and some used infrequently. This brings all sorts of problems, including: Operators unable to find the item they need, being unable to see wood for trees. The time spent searching is a waste and if we only held the items needed regularly in a prominent position we would save time. Quality issues when gauges are not calibrated on time because too many are held. Safety issues when people fall over things. Lockers and racking cluttering the workplace making it hard to move around or to see each other and communicate. (www.training-management.com accessed on 10th June 2011) 2. Set: – Designating locations. Everything in the work area should have a place and everything should be in its place. Set is the series of steps by which the most favourable organisation identified in the first pillar are put into place. The standard translation is Orderliness but again some wish to keep the initial S and use Sort Set in order, Straighten and Standardisation. The sorting out process is essentially a continuation of that described in the Set phase. Removing items to be discarded or held in an alternative location will create space. This space will be visible and facilitate the alternative layout of the area. 3. Shine: – Cleanliness workplace appearance. Not only should the work area be clear, it should also be clean. Cleanliness involves housekeeping efforts, improving the appearance of the work area, and even more importantly, preventive housekeeping – keeping the work area from getting dirty, rather than just cleaning it up after it becomes dirty. 4. Standardize:- Everyone doing things the same way. Everyone in the work area and in the organization must be involved in the 5S effort, creating best practices and then getting everyone to â€Å"copy† those best practices the same way, everywhere, and every time. Work area layouts and storage techniques should be standardized wherever possible. Standardisation includes all the elements of setting out a consistent way of doing things. This includes standard manufacturing methodologies, standard equipment and tooling, component rationalisation, drawing standardisation, consistency in the documentation which accompanies work, design for manufacture (or concurrent engineering) and standardisation in the clerical processes which deliver work to the shop floor and track its progress. 5. Sustain:-The final stage is that of Discipline often listed as Sustain or Self-discipline. Ingraining the 5S’s into the culture. It’s tough to keep a 5S effort, or any improvement effort for that matter, going. The 5S’s involve a culture change. And to achieve a culture change, it has to be ingrained into the organization – by everyone at all levels in the organization. (www.training-management.com accessed on 10th June 2011) JIT II JIT II is a way to improve the customer-supplier relationship. JIT II uses â€Å"systems integration† which allows, â€Å"sharing of information so that the relationship is more like a partnership† (Pragman 1996). Essentially this equals more and more visibility throughout the supply chain, which equals better responsiveness and lower costs, the two main goals of supply chain management. â€Å"JIT II, a customer-supplier partnership concept pioneered at Bose Corporation and now practiced by major companies and their suppliers, can aid in cutting both design and response lead time† (Pragman 1996). This is talented through systems combination, which seeks ways to improve coordination between different functional areas, as well as bridges the gap between customer and supplier. With JIT II the suppliers have a person within the customer’s organization full time acting as a purchasing department employee for the customer firm. JIT II has really impacted the following areas: â€Å"the administration of the purchasing function, logistics, concurrent engineering and value analysis and material stores and support services. In each of these areas the lead time reductions are greater with JIT II than with conventional JIT† (Pragman 1996). The administrative benefits of JIT II are due to the fact that the supplier is constantly available in-house. JIT II reduces administrative costs for both the customer and supplier because the purchasing costs are not all on the customer and the supplier gets all the business from that specific customer as it wants as long as things go well. Because the supplier is always present â€Å"JIT II permits concurrent engineering and value analysis to take place on an ongoing basis, not just during sporadic sales calls† (Pragman 1996). Challenges in JIT Concept There are two major challenges faced in Just – In – Time concept, they are cultural difference, stress on workers, transportation and estimation. 1) Transportation: The main motto or aim in Just – In – Time is to reduce/ minimise the inventory. Just – In – Time follows different system, in which raw materials order is placed to the suppliers when demand increases from the customers, these raw material then delivered from the suppliers to the manufacturing plant in a right time at a right place, when the raw material is received initially assembling process take place and finally finished products are being delivered to the customer. This process is like chain flow, to have a proper flow transportation place a major role and some companies are careful to use two or more suppliers for most of their assemblies. There are several challenges which are connected in transportation. When the order is placed to the suppliers, it is their responsibility to deliver the raw material to the manufacturing plant in actual time at exact place. While transporting there are many chances of accident, for example: when the raw material is being exported from one country to another country through shipping. Delay in delivering goods because of traffic, climatic condition and crossing country borders, for example: as India is highly populated lots of time is consumed in traffic (Roadways), delay in climate condition occur while transferring goods through airways and checking of documents passing clearness for the goods travelling from one country’s border to another country this may also consume lots of time. In case, if any problem occurs in transportation the whole system is to be shut and finally resulting in loss of money, customer’s satisfaction increase in Inventory (Stock). 2) Estimation: Most of the companies or firm suffer because of the word estimation/ prediction. In this system without any demand from the customer the manufacturing unit starts producing good and place bulk orders to the suppliers. Finally when the raw materials are converted into finishes goods there won’t be customers to purchase it this may led to increase in inventory. And in some companies, manufacturing unit collects limited raw material and produce limited finishes good but the customer demand will be high. So these companies suffer by loosing lots of customer. In this case company suffers from two major problem one is excess of finished product which result in high inventory or stock and another problem is shortage of finished product which lead to loss of customer. How Toyota Implemented Just in Time: Challenges Faced and Results The major challenges faced by Toyota in implementing JIT included Multi-skilling the workforce to operate multiple machines based on work-flow patterns Redesigning every part of the vehicle to eliminate or widen tolerance since assembly lines did not have a choice of which parts to use and every part had to fit perfectly Testing and training suppliers of parts to assure quality and delivery in time on demand (brighthub.com, Accessed on 14th May 2011) Factories today just aren’t as efficient as they could be. JIT asserts that companies operate under the wrong ideas. The ideas, while logical, result in needless waste. Particularly, JIT challenges the following: As companies grow, functions tend to become specialized. Factory organization separates fabrication, assembly, shipping, and so on. But departmental production lacks synchronization. Bottlenecks form and cause large in-process inventory and long lead times. Finger pointing between departments to avoid responsibility abounds. (findarticles.com, Accessed on 14th May 2011) Produce to forecast. Forecasts, in varying degrees of sophistication, â€Å"push† production, in contrast to production being â€Å"pulled† by customers. Even the most sophisticated forecast isn’t right; differences inevitably wind up in inventory. (findarticles.com, Accessed on 14th May 2011) Operations environments in which JiT is most useful The JIT philosophy has been used in the manufacturing industry for about forty to fifty years now, the system has not only increased productivity but also increased the quality of products, explorative studies have been completed in recent years to see if the JIT system can be applied to construction companies so that they can get the benefits of the system. Most of the research concluded that it can be implemented but with some modifications Pheng Hui (1998) As stated earlier JIT has proven to work well in the manufacturing sector, it is obvious why it is successful in the manufacturing sector, as it originated from a manufacturing industry. The concept Just – In – Time used in the following companies: Toyota Motor Company General Motors Ford Motor Company Harley Davidson Manufacturing Magic Hawthorne Management Consulting Dell Computers. (Source: www.accountingformanagement.com/just_in_time.htm#Just-In-Time Concept (Accessed on 10th June 2011) Just – In – Time (JIT) Used in Dell: Dell has also leveraged JIT principles to make its manufacturing process a success. Dell’s approach to JIT is different in that they leverage their suppliers to achieve the JIT goal. They are also unique in that Dell is able to provide exceptionally short lead times to their customers, by forcing their suppliers to carry inventory instead of carrying it themselves and then demanding (and receiving) short lead times on components so that products can be simply assembled by Dell quickly and then shipped to the customer. Important factors to Dell’s success: Dependable suppliers with the ability to meet Dell are demanding lead time requirements. A seamless system that allows Dell to transmit its component requirements so that they will arrive at Dell in time to fulfil its lead times. A willingness of suppliers to keep inventory on hand allowing Dell to be free of this responsibility. (Source: www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/71540.aspx (Accessed on 10th June 2011) Just – In – Time (JIT) Used in Harley Davidson: Harley Davidson’s use of JIT is mostly characterized by its transformation in the late World War 2 era from an inefficient manufacturer that solved all of its problems with extra inventory to a nimble manufacturer able to meet demand and provide short lead times. Results of Harley Davidson’s JIT implementation: Inventory levels decreased 75%. Increased productivity. Harley Davidson’s success with the implementation of JIT had a lot to do with the fact that when JIT was put into practice, process problems could no longer be hidden by costly inventory that helped to meet ship dates. The inefficiencies in the processes were quickly identified and solved. (Source: www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/71540.aspx (Accessed on 10th June 2011) Toyota, Dell and Harley Davidson’s are the successful companies/ firm which use Just – In – Time (JIT). They produce the effective products according to the customer needs and they these three companies have achieved a competitive advantage within the industries by utilizing Just – In – Process (JIT) concept. Operations environments in which JiT is most less useful The Just – In – Time (JIT) concept is used and being useful in many of the firms/Industries especially in manufacturing sectors. But there are some companies were Just – In – Time (JIT) concept cannot be adopted, like drug/medicine manufacturing companies and in the pharmaceutical companies. Just – In –Time (JIT) is all about minimising or reducing the inventories, this concept will not be applicable in these companies. In this case manufacturing sector cannot predict like sickness, spread of deceases, accident and natural calamities. In this field people cannot demand for the product often, then it won’t be possible for the manufacture to place order for the raw materials from suppliers, next is assembling process and finally it is impossible to deliver the finished product to the customer at the right time in the right place, mean time the person may die. In this particular sector there must be a large bulk of inventories, the process should be in a continuous flow and Just – In – Time is impossible to implement. Just – In – Time (JIT) would not necessarily improve a drug company’s bottom line. Making all pharmaceutical manufacturing processes robust enough that you can do JIT might not be a good business decision because it might cost you more to make the process robust and get it reregistered than the value of having reduced inventory. On the other hand, generic-drug companies might be more eager to adopt Just – In – Time (JIT) manufacturing than innovato r companies. Generic-drug manufacturers are more prone to driving manufacturing innovation to reduce cost because their margins are razor thin compared with the branded products, which provides advisory services in the global supply chain and enabling technology. A drug maker would not necessarily achieve the same level of success with Just – In – Time (JIT) manufacturing as a carmaker has, and it would be misguided for a drug company to adopt JIT principles just because it works for Toyota, Dell and Harley Davidson’s. Financial and manufacturing considerations are different in the pharmaceutical and automotive industries. JIT principles that work for a carmaker might not be appropriate for all drug-production processes. (Source: Is JIT Manufacturing the Right Prescription, by Erik Greb, pharmaceutical technology, Volume 33, Issue 3, PP. 72-78) CHANGES THAT MIGHT IMPROVE JIT IN THEORY /PRACTICE Researchers such as Crawford et al (1988) suggested that an obvious aspect for successful implementation of JIT is the commitment of sufficiently large resources in education and training to overcome the cultural resistance to change. Secondly they stated that the JIT implementation requires that the company focus on total quality control and total preventive maintenance in the early stages of implementation process, both these steps are needed in order to consistently perform to schedule. Other indicated actions to ensure performance to schedule include cross training workers and stabilizing the master production schedule. Conclusion Just-in-time manufacturing can be a positive influence on a company. However there are many risks associated with attempting to implement JIT manufacturing techniques. When looked at it appears to be a very simple, quick, and easy thing to do. In reality it is a very complicated technique that takes long term commitment and a initial cost with no guarantee of success. The most important thing for the company is to have good organized resource allocation. Also, the management and employees must have on their mind that this concept can help the organization to solve many problems in logistics. If implemented successfully it would eliminate waste, make the company more productive and more efficient. It does this through shorter transportation and increased communication. Although there are many companies that are successful, many companies are not. Even though there are massive risks many still consider implementing JIT for it many advantages. The JIT concept is only one part in the value chain that brings the satisfaction to the customers. It means that the JIT concept cannot must solve existing problems in other organization processes. Everything in enterprises is needed to be healthy, through the hierarchy of employees and all workflow processes. Synergy is the only thing that can improve business results. And in the bottom line, the JIT concept is just one link in the whole chain, but very important. Reference: Donald Waters (2002) Operations Management Producing Goods and Services (second edition) London: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Pragman, Claudia. â€Å"JIT II: a purchasing concept for reducing lead times in time-based competition. (just-in-time management).† Business Horizons, July-August 1996 v39 n4 p54(5). http://ritalogisticsblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-just-in-time-jit-manufacturing-and-inventory-control-system/ www.tutor2u.net/business/production/just-in-time.html (Accessed on 10 June 2011)) Slack, N., Chambers, S., Johnston, R. (2007). Operations Management (5th ed.). London: Financial Times Prentice Hall. http://www.customwritten.com/Writing/jit-inventory-management-restaurant-paper.html www.ritalogisticsblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-just-in-time-jit-manufacturing-and-inventory-control-system/(Accessed on 10th May 2011)) http://etidweb.tamu.edu/ftp/entc412/Archive/Lean1.pdf http://www.emsstrategies.com/dm090203article2.html http://inventory-management.bestmanagementarticles.com/a-39335-just-in-time-jit-inventory-model–is-it-effective.aspx http://www.brighthub.com/office/project-management/articles/71901.aspx#ixzz1OniaZg4Z http://www.training-management.info/5s.htm http://ritalogisticsblog.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-just-in-time-jit-manufacturing-and-inventory-control-system/ www.chartitnow.com/5S.html (Accessed on 10th May 2011) http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=1510084show=abstract The concept again by collocating supplier and customer, by Schonberger Gilbert (1983) and Pheng Hui (1998) Pharmtech.findpharma.com/pharmtech/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=584969sk=date=pageID=2 (Accessed on 10th June 2011) Is JIT Manufacturing the Right Prescription, by Erik Greb, pharmaceutical technology, Volume 33, Issue 3, PP. 72-78 Findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1038/is_n4_v39/ai_18485578/?tag=content;col1 (Accessed on 10th June 2011) How to cite Analysis of Just in time production methods, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Children play king of the mountain with the strong Essay Example For Students

Children play king of the mountain with the strong Essay er players trying to keep the weaker ones from taking possession of the top of the hill. One of Goldings many themes expressed in Lord of the Flies is power. In comparison to society, the island consists of democratic, authoritarian, and spiritual power. Sitting in a throne may give a person power, but it does not give them complete authority. Democratic power is shown when choices and decisions are shared among many. Ralph, originally from the Anglo-Saxon language, means counsel. Ralph is an embodiment of democracy, he is willing to be a leader but knows that its important for each of the boys to be able to speak his mind. When there is a decision to be made, he lets the boys vote on it. In are present democratic government of the United States, the President has to go through Congress to pass a bill. The President runs the operations but he does not have complete power over the decisions. Like the President, Ralph has to go through the boys to make the decisions. The trouble was, if you were chief you had to think, you had to be wise. And then the occasion slipped by so that you had to grab at a decision. This made you think: because thought was a valuable thing, that got results(page 71)In addition to democracy, authoritarian power is additionally portrayed. Authoritarian power allows one person to rule by threatening a nd terrifying others. Jack comes from the Hebrew and means one who supplants, one who takes by force. Although the word military is never used about Jack, there is something about his manner that suggests military or authoritarian power. Jack lusts for power and is driven to destroy anyone who gets in his way. In 1956, Fidel Castro forced his way into Cuba planning to overthrow the government of Fulgencio Batista, a dictator in Cuba. After Castro became President of the Council of State in 1976, he seized property owned by wealthy Cubans, Americans, and others. He favored the lower classes and made Cuba a communist state. In relation to Castro, Jack overthrows Ralph from being chief and takes over the position with force and abuse. The boys look up to Jack and respect him but there is no understanding. They do not understand why he hides behind his mask or tortures innocent boys. But they do know to respect him or they will be punished. For instance on page 85, If Jack was chief, we d have all hunting and no fire. Wed be here till we died.Besides authoritarian, spiritual power is also represented. Spiritual power recognizes internal and external realities and attempts to integrate them. Simon comes from the Hebrew for listener. It was also the name of one of Jesus apostles, Simon Peter. This hints at the spiritual role the character will play in the novel: Simon is the only one who hears and understands the truth. In the beginning of the story Simon is introduced as a skinny, vivid little boy with epilepsy. In ancient times many thought that the epileptic seizure was an indication that a person had great spiritual powers and was favored by communications from the gods. In an ironic twist, Simon communicates with an evil figure rather than a loving god. Beginning in 1933, Adolf Hitler brutally slayed many impure people because of their religious beliefs. Many Jews, whom Hitler blamed Germanys problems on, were sent to concentration camps, where they were murdere d. This event relates to the fact that Simon is also killed by the strength of the boys belief in the beast. Simon is very quiet and intimidated, (he) felt a perilous necessity to speak; but to speak in an assembly was a terrible thing to him.(page 82) Different types of power, with their uses and abuses, are central to the story. Democratic, authoritarian, and spiritual power are each used by one of the characters. A person may have power but its how they use the power to determine the authority and dominance. .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b , .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .postImageUrl , .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b , .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b:hover , .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b:visited , .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b:active { border:0!important; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b:active , .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u858e538152a8276c34ad2738f05de49b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Italy (155 words) Essay

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Culture as an Issue in Knowledge Sharing

Over the past few decades, the business world has experienced various challenges as pertaining to cultural diversity competition, consumer loyalty, technology, scarcity of resources and the most recent one; globalization. As a result, most organizations have been forced to change the way they do business in order to survive these challenges.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Culture as an Issue in Knowledge Sharing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Under such circumstances, the application of Knowledge management has proven to be the most effective tool to utilize especially in firms that have gone global (international corporations). In order to have a competitive advantage over the rival companies, it is therefore important for such firms to understand and manage all knowledge they have on the clientele, the technological requirements and the resources required to ensure success of their ventures (Styhre, 2003). T his paper shall focus on knowledge sharing as a key combatant to the cultural barriers that are often experienced by international firms looking to market their products in foreign countries. A critical review of a relevant article shall be carried out to further support the fact that sharing knowledge pertaining to various cultural attributes may go a long way in handling the various challenges that are brought about due to cultural diversity. Using various principles of Knowledge Management as well as other literatures related to this topic, the paper shall in detail analyze the extent to which the article relates the topic under discussion (Knowledge Sharing) to the problems it wishes to address (culture). The article â€Å"Culture as an Issue in Knowledge Sharing: A Means of Competitive Advantage† by Soley and Pandya (2003) sheds light on how cultural factors may impede the ability of UK corporations to operate in international markets. According to the authors, the paper aims at evaluating: â€Å"Whether culture really does effect UK business operations in international markets, to examine and analyze the provisions businesses utilize to overcome the cultural problems of today’s international marketing, if they exist, to Identify the main cultural problems associated with UK business operations in international markets, to investigate whether technology can overcome cultural problems in international markets† (Soley and Pandya 2003 p. 205). In addition to this, the authors further embrace the fact brought about by Martin and Simmon (2001) who states that â€Å"In international business dealings, ignorance of cultural differences is not just unfortunate, it is bad business† (67). The authors claim that many organizations have in the past undermined this statement and as a result, they have lost a lot of time and money due to cultural misunderstandings.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this era where business dealings are bringing different cultures and nations together, it is important for organizations to have enough knowledge on how different people in different countries and markets perceive things. Failure to do so may consequently lead to detrimental effects on the enterprise. Soley and Pandya (2003) assert that culture is a great phenomenon that is not easy to comprehend. However, good communication within an organization may help lessen the gap that exist between various cultures and create an environment where business dealings are made on mutual agreement. Guffey and Almonte (2009), state that understanding how culture affects various aspects in an organization may help in averting future discrepancies. They assert that the culture adopted by a given country may determine the communication medium and technology to be used while making business deals. As such, having insight on the cultur e of the host country and knowing where to apply such knowledge may help in establishing tight business bonds with other nations irrespective of the differences. As regarding to the methodology used in carrying out the research, the authors used interviews which were conducted among senior managers of different firms within the UK. The interviews were aimed at uncovering whether knowledge of the different cultures affected how the selected firms conducted their business, and whether technology helped alleviate the cultural barriers while dealing in the international market. According to the findings, having such information is crucial to the business. Bradley (2005) asserts that communication is very important to organizations because it facilitates better understanding of the cultures which are adopted by their trading partners and customers. He claims that through effective communication, business partners are able to identify, share and transfer knowledge pertaining to their cult ures. According to Bernard (2008), knowledge sharing can only be effective if an organization adopts effective communication tools. He asserts that due to the fact that the world is becoming a global community; interactions with other people from other countries have become inevitable. As a result, the need to learn and understand other cultures has become a necessity. According to Soley and Pandya (2003), â€Å"Managers at all levels generally need to be able to communicate successfully. Increasingly they must communicate in a new world of diverse colleagues, clients and customers of international operations,† (p. 207). From this statement, the authors are suggesting that communication and culture are slowly becoming synchronized.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Culture as an Issue in Knowledge Sharing specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They acclaim that communication mediums such as the internet have in t he past decade enabled diverse individuals to communicate and come into agreements without having to meet on a physical level. Gattiker (2001) defines the internet as a diverse community. Through it, people are able to communicate with each other faster as compared to the traditional means of communication which were time consuming due to the variation in distance. As such, the internet provides businesses with an avenue through which they can transfer information and share ideas which consequently leads to the establishment of international links. I also agree with the point the authors raise as regarding to the internet as a means to cultural degradation. Wood and Smith (2005) assert that the continuous usage of such technology may result to more cultural differences. This is probably due to the fact that the internet is slowly developing its own culture which is being embraced by frequent users. According to December (2002), the internet technology uses a different language and t he interpretations of this information vary from person to person. As such, it is always important that organization exercise caution when sharing information because misinterpretation of such may have catastrophic impacts on the organization. The other issue addressed by the Authors is the impact of culture on the international market. They claim that having knowledge on the different cultures adopted by potential clients may help in reducing complexities and misunderstanding while transacting with people from different cultures. In addition to this, they claim that understanding different cultures help explain the behaviors of the consumers and as such, this knowledge can be used to develop strategies which may be useful in regards to gaining a competitive advantage against rival organizations. According to Mooij (2004), having knowledge on how culture may affect the international markets presents an organization with an opportunity to effectively put in place competitive strategi es. On the same note, the author reports that such knowledge enables an organization to understand the market segmentation and how the international market is developing. As a result, the organizations are able to make efficient decisions as to what to produce, where to supply and when. Understanding consumer behavior ensures that an organization produce according to the needs of the customers therefore assuring the organization steady market and a competitive edge against other companies (Hoyer and Macinnis, 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, Soley and Pandya (2003) claim that different scholars have raised different issues as regarding to the effects of culture on human behavior. According to the article, some analysts claim that human behavior is determined by culture while others acclaim that culture is nurtured from human behavior. In my opinion, I believe that human behavior is as a result of environmental factors and personal experiences. Ajami et al (2006) reiterate that culture is as a result of the similarities that exist in the human behaviors within a particular setting. As such, having knowledge on how individuals behave within a given society may come in handy while making decisions on the international market. Also, the authors of this article have clearly stated that the true definition of culture is inconclusive. This means that different people define it in different ways. As a result, they have utilized the definition which best describes what culture entails. Through this definition, culture c an be identified by five key attributes which are; â€Å"language, religion, technology, education and material culture,† (Soley and Pandya 2003, p. 208). They suggest that having knowledge of these attributes in regards to the host country may enable an organization make an investment or production decision. In their discussion on technology and material culture, they state that the degree of conversance to technology varies from one country to another. Avgerou (2008) reports that most countries in Africa lack technical knowledge mainly due to the cost of getting wired, poor IT infrastructure and lack of technical know-how within the host nations. As a result, having knowledge on which nations are fairing well in this sector may reduce the costs that would have otherwise been incurred in updating such amenities (Hill, 2008). In addition to this, this digital divide may lead to poor communication which in turn may cause losses to the parent company. Servon (2002) reports that many international corporations have in the recent past failed due to lack of due consideration of the technological drift that exist between the parent country and the host nation. This is attributed to the fact that technology in today’s society plays a pivotal role towards the success of any venture. As a result, investing in a country with poor IT infrastructure not only limits the potential of the firm, but also curtails the economies of scale which can only be realized through the utilization of cutting edge technology. As regarding to language, Soley and Pandya (2003) acknowledge the fact that it is the greatest determinant to culture. The authors state that; â€Å"language is the most obvious difference between cultures. Inextricably linked with all other aspects of culture, language reflects the nature and value of culture,† (p.209). From this statement, it is evident that having thorough knowledge of the language used in the host country is crucial to the su ccess of any venture. The authors further acclaim that despite the fact that the internet uses English as the primary language or business partners may understand and/or speak the language it is wrong to assume that they are willing to use it during business dealings. Consequently, it is always important that the organization gather enough information about the language preferences of the host country. Having the knowledge on how the host country deals with language will therefore assist in averting this cultural barrier. Allee (2001) reports that; â€Å"Without a language to describe our experience, we can’t communicate what we know. Expanding organizational knowledge means that we must develop the languages we use to describe our work experience,† (p.2). This means that in order to combat language as a cultural barrier, organizations must ensure that they use a language that will comfortably suit them and that business partners in the host nation. The other key attri bute that should be considered while dealing in international markets is education. Moore (2010) defines education as the process of acquiring knowledge, skills and ideas through training. Soley and Pandya (2003) suggests that the education level of the host country is very important towards the success of any international business. They claim that in countries where the education is low, there is a high likelihood that the communication and infrastructure is also low. As such, having knowledge on the educational potential of the host country may assist an organization device better ways of dealing with the clientele and the business partners. In addition to this, statistics indicate that people with no education are very resistant to change. As such, lack of education in the host country may by itself hinder the success of an organization. Martin and Simmon (2001) reiterate that knowledge is power especially when it comes to international institutions. They state that understandin g the host nation gives an international corporation a bearing on what to expect and how to handle issues without provoking the locals. As such, understanding the education capabilities of the host nation can be used as a tool to avoid conflicts as well as to counter various challenges that may arise due to this barrier. Religion is one of the other attributes that have been discussed within the article. According to Samovar, Porter and McDaniel (2009), religion varies from one person to another and it defines the culture that is adopted by these individuals. The authors assert that religion can be used to explain why people behave the way they do. They claim that in as much as international business is primarily focused on how consumers and workers behave, it is equally important to gain some insight as to why they behave the way they do. Having such knowledge gives the organization an idea on what not to do or produce depending on the religion of the target market. Soley and Pandy a (2003) contend that religion can have a huge impact on how people perceive business and economic aspects. Renavikar (2003) reiterates that religious holidays, women social standing and their economic roles vary among countries. She claims that in some countries, women are not permitted to gain an education and neither can they be employed. As a result, having such knowledge is imperative especially to organizations which are ethically bound to adhere to the affirmative action Act. Therefore, having thorough knowledge on the religious beliefs of the host nation will enable an organization to determine whether or not to invest in the country, what to produce and the ratio of employees to hire from the host nation. Ethical theories are the criteria that we use to make judgment as to the fairness or unfairness of actions undertaken regarding problems (Sabath, 2002). The theories provide support to decision making and shed some light the thought process behind a conclusion. Some of the theories include the Consequentialism, Deontology and Virtue ethics. They can be applied interchangeably in various settings or can serve to complement each other. According to Shafer-Launder (2007), the consequentialist ethics theory holds that actions can be judged as right and/or good only on the basis of the consequences they produce with no consideration for their intentions or motives. Utilitarianism is considered to be the most influential consequentialist theory. This principle dictates that the collective welfare of the people overrides the individual’s right and as such, the theory advocates the maximization of happiness for the greatest number of people (Sabath, 2002). In this approach, the net benefit is calculated and the net consequences evaluated. From these evaluations, a decision which adheres to the theory by having the most â€Å"productive† result is chosen. With this in mind, having knowledge on the ethical standards that the host country upholds is crucial to any organization. Soley and Pandya (2003) state that bribery and corruption are viewed differently depending on the host country. As such, understanding how these issues are perceived in the host country may help an organization avert legal complications. For example in some countries, giving gifts to business partners is viewed as a form of bribery while in others it is not. Through the hypothesis, the authors have been able to effectively bring out the objectives of the research study. All through the article, the authors brings into light the various attributes of culture and shows how they can impact international markets. In addition to this, they have managed to show how Knowledge Sharing and Management can be used to identify the various threats that could be brought about by cultural diversity (Nelson and Quick, 2000). On the same note, by use of examples and theories, they have successfully highlighted the various dangers hat can befall an organization if it d oes not have a Knowledge management strategy. In their recommendation, the authors have clearly stated that the topic under discussion is too wide and that their research is not conclusive. As such, they have recommended that other scholars should do more research on the topic to further provide more understanding and information on the same. This paper has summarized and reviewed the article, â€Å"Culture as an Issue in Knowledge Sharing: A Means of Competitive Advantage† by Soley and Pandya (2003). The authors have effectively brought out culture as an issue worth addressing in Knowledge Management. The various aspects discussed that may influence an investment decision are very useful especially to managers who wish to join and transact in the international market. However, they have failed to provide conclusive solutions to the addressed issue. As such the question as o whether Knowledge management can effectively combat culture as a barrier to international business sti ll remains unanswered. However, from the article, the importance of Knowledge Management and Sharing cannot be understated and to my opinion, the article provides a good foundation to business organizations which aim at venturing into the international markets. References Ajami et al. (2006) International business: theory and practice. 2nd ed. USA, M.E. Sharpe. Allee, V. (2001) 12 Principles of Knowledge Management [WWW] American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). Web. Avgerou, C. (2008) Social dimensions of information and communication technology policy: proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Human Choice and Computers (HCC8), IFIP TC 9, Pretoria, South Africa, September 25-26, 2008. USA, Springer. Bernard, A. (2008) Methods and Tools for Effective Knowledge Life-Cycle-Management. USA, Springer. Bradley, F. (2005) International marketing strategy. 5th ed. New Jersey, Financial Times/Prentice Hall December, J. (2002) Units of Analysis for Internet Communica tion. Journal ofComputer Mediated Communication, 6 (3), pp 67-72. Gattiker, U. E. (2001) The Internet as a diverse community: cultural, organizational, and political issues. USA, Routledge. Guffey, M. E Almonte, R. (2009) Essentials of Business Communication. 6th ed. USA, Cengage Learning. Hill, C. W. L. (2008) Global business today. 5th ed. London, McGraw-Hill. Hoyer, W. D. and Macinnis, D, J. (2009) Consumer Behavior. 5th ed. USA, Cengage Learning. Martin, L. L Simmons, B. A. (2001) International institutions: an international organization reader. USA, MIT Press. Mooij, M. K. (2004) Consumer behavior and culture: consequences for global marketing and advertising. USA, SAGE. Moore, E. C. (2010) What Is Education? USA, General Books LLC. Nelson, D. L. and Quick, J. C. (2000) Organizational behavior: foundations, realities, and challenges. 3rd ed. USA, South-Western College Pub. Renavikar, M. D. (2003) Women and religion: a sociological analysis. Michigan, University of Michigan. S abath, A. M. (2002) Business etiquette: 101 ways to conduct business with charm savvy. 2nd ed. USA, Career Press. Samovar et al. (2009) Communication Between Cultures. 7th ed. USA, Cengage Learning. Servon, L. J. (2002) Bridging the digital divide: technology, community, and public policy. USA, Wiley-Blackwell. Shafer-Landau, R. (2007) Ethical theory: an anthology. New York, Wiley-Blackwell. Soley, M Pandya, K. V. (2003) Culture as an Issue in Knowledge Sharing: A Means of Competitive Advantage. Electronic Journal on Knowledge Management, 1 (2), pp. 205-212. Styhre, A. (2003) Understanding knowledge management: critical and postmodern perspectives. USA, Liber. Wood, A. F. and Smith, M. J. (2005) Online communication: linking technology, identity, and culture. 2nd ed. USA, Routledge. This essay on Culture as an Issue in Knowledge Sharing was written and submitted by user Alicia R. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Society Social Networking Sites

Society Social Networking Sites Introduction The mounting popularity of social networking sites (SNSs) among Internet users across the world certainly demands an introspection of their shorter-term and longer-terms effects on individuals as well as societies. Available statistics demonstrate that an estimated 1.5 billion people across the globe have already created their profiles in SNSs, with the majority being on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Ning and Tagged (Das et al., 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Society Social Networking Sites specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At the surface, it is believed that SNSs have a great potential to essentially alter the character and scope of our social engagements on all fronts – individual, interpersonal, as well as societal (Ellison et al., 2009).. But while common practice always assumes the shifts to be beneficial, this paper seeks to demonstrate that SNSs have negatively altered the framework for social interactions that bind society together. Understanding Social Networking Sites In the literature, SNSs are defined as web-based services that provide people with the capacity to â€Å"†¦ (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system† (Tokunaga, 2011, p. 425). SNSs popularity continue to rise throughout the world, especially among adolescents, not only because of the way they have changed how this group of the population receive information (Neelamalar Chitra, 2009), but also due to their equalizing effect as users often feel the freedom to express themselves in ways not possible via other offline channels (Cardon et al., 2009). However, there exist salient issues that need to be illuminated to understand the actual effects that SNSs are having on the social relationships that act to glue the society together. Social Networking Sites: Unveiling the Defects By virtue of the fact that online social networking is a type of virtue communication that allows users to connect with each other, there exists a very constricted gap between private and public life in this modern age of communication as users find themselves helpless in controlling the distribution of content they have already uploaded on their profiles (Das et al., 2011). This disposition has occasioned serious personal and social consequences as individuals increasingly find themselves being rejected for job postings due to content they had posted on the sites, not mentioning that a sizeable number of users have already lost their life savings to online fraudsters who visit their profiles and use the personal information available to estimate a person’s social security number and ‘steal’ other sensitive information.Advertising Looking for essay on communications me dia? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Advocates of SNSs have argued that users of these sites can change their default privacy preferences to keep the fraudsters at bay, or to prevent sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands. However, a research conducted on 4000 Facebook profiles of Carnegie Mellon University students revealed that only 1.2 percent of the users took time to change their default privacy settings (Das et al., 2011), implying that many users do not care if their sensitive information, which could fundamentally alter their relationships with other members of the society, becomes open to public discourse. The second point deals with work productivity, which is known to be the mainstay of the society. It is within the realms of public knowledge that a society that does not work cannot look after itself, not mentioning that it cannot prosper or achieve the dreams of prosperity (Tokunaga, 2011). Howev er, owing to the proliferation of SNSs, people are spending considerable work hours chatting with their friends and browsing sites to update profiles. Indeed, extant literature demonstrates that â€Å"†¦it becomes a compulsive habit to visit own profile several times in a day for checking friends updates, changing status, and commenting on others photos and videos† (Das et al., 2011). In the workplace context, the attention of employees is distracted as they routinely visit the sites to update their status and communicate with friends, occasioning major adverse consequences on their productivity and customer satisfaction levels. Of course some advocates of SNSs would like to argue from the viewpoint that employers can always install monitoring software to dissuade employees from visiting these sites during work hours; however, it has already been found that monitoring of employees’ online activities raises serious ethical and legal concerns (Ellison et al., 2009). More importantly, the monitoring software is not full-proof, meaning that employees could still engage in these actions that bring adverse societal ramifications in lowered productivity and heightened customer dissatisfaction levels (Cardon et al., 2011). A recent study conducted on 237 corporate workers revealed that about eight in every ten employees use Facebook during work hours, resulting in 1.5% slump in their productivity (Das et al., 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Society Social Networking Sites specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The third point revolves around the fact that some SNSs â€Å"†¦have loosely articulated social or interactional norms dictating appropriate actions and behaviors† (Tokunaga, 2011, p. 426). In using SNSs, many people are unaware or ignorant of the context-specific social norms because of the inadequately specified set of conventions, further degrading the social fabric because these people end up relying on social behaviors learned and negotiated in offline contexts to direct their online actions and behavior. Equally uninteresting, a sizeable number of users end up relying on social behaviors learned in online contexts to guide and direct their off-line relationships, actions and behavior. Fourth, many online social norms, according to Tokunaga (2011), are characterized by carelessness and impoliteness, not mentioning that they have the potential to adversely demoralize the interpersonal relationships that act to hold the society together. In other words, it can be argued that constant interactions via social networking platforms have inexorably harmed interpersonal relationships that glue society together by providing a forum for negative incidences that result in relational strain. On context-specific norms and interpersonal relationships, advocates of SNSs would want to differ by putting up the argument that â€Å"†¦through social networking, people can use networks of online friends and group memberships to keep in touch with current friends, reconnect with old friends or create real-life friendships through similar interests or groups† (Neelamalar Chitra, 2009, p. 126). However, the germane issue is the context-specific norms used to relate to online friends and if these norms could still be used in furtherance of offline interpersonal relationships that are key to the stability of the society as a whole. Findings reported by Tokunaga (2011) demonstrate that not only are the context-specific norms for the two types of relations essentially different and hence cannot compliment each other, but some norms and value systems learnt in SNSs are adversely affecting interpersonal relationships, through which the foundation of the community is grounded. Lastly, it is a well known fact that the ambiguous and elastic concept of â€Å"friends† on social networking platforms has always presented further concerns through which millions of visitors to these sites must navigate. As postulated by Tokunaga (2011), â€Å"†¦friends merely refer to the contacts individuals create on SNSs, which obscures the nature of the relationships between users† (P. 426).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More People who have never met even for a single day suddenly become the best of friends because of their presumed shared interests that are matched in the arena of online protocols. Not only has this insensitive disposition of friendship continues to hurt the very basis of society (Das et al., 2011), but the dichotomous categorization of friends and non-friends on many of these networking platforms acts as fuel to many of the social problems encountered by users (Tokunaga, 2011), including falling prey to fraudsters and sexual offenders. It is possible that advocates of SNSs may seek to downplay this issue of the creation of strange friendship bonds on account that people are free to talk to anyone across the world (Neelamalar Chitra, 2009), and that these sites have assisted communities to minimize transaction costs for finding and connecting with ‘friends’, who may share one interest or concern but deviate on other dimensions (Ellison et al., 2009). These assertions, in my view, are valid to the extent that some of these friendship bonds have provided opportunities for some users, including but not limited to, job openings, educational prospects, skills acquisition and knowledge sharing. But we have seen the consequences of users who unconditionally accept friendship requests from strangers and end up being killed and mutilated in a presumed sex party. We have read in the news how children as young as 10 years are hijacked for ransom by their presumed ‘online friends.’ Conclusion It is indeed true that most SNSs have beneficial outcomes, but care must be exercised so that these sites do not alter the framework for social interactions that bind society together. Important issues relating to privacy, work productivity, context-specific norms, interpersonal relationships as well as the conception of friendship, need to be evaluated in more detail to ensure that the society does not suffer under the heavy baggage of the social networking s ites. References Cardon, P.W., Marshall, B., Jeongil, C., El-Shinnaway, M.M., North, M., Svensson, L†¦Juan, P. (2009). Online and offline social ties of social network website users: An exploratory study in eleven societies. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 50(1), 54-64. Das, B., Sahoo, J.S., Jyoti, S. (2011). Social networking sites – a critical analysis of its impact on personal and social life. International Journal of Business Social Science, 2(14), 222-228. Web. Ellison, N.B., Lampe, C., Steinfield, C. (2009). Social network sites and society: Current trends and future possibilities. Web. Neelamalar, M., Chitra, P. (2009). New media and society: A study on Indian youth. Estudos em Communicacao, 45(6), 125-145. Web. Tokunaga, R.S. (2011). Friend me or you’ll strain us: Understanding negative events that occur over social networking sites. CyberPsychology, Behavior Social Networking, 14(7/8), 425-432.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Analysing a newspaper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Analysing a newspaper - Essay Example The society was structured in a manner that male dominated over women. Most leaders were male chauvinists hence male supremacy reigned. The legal system did not incorporate ways of dealing with domestic violence. Most women who suffered violence ended up being victimized as part of the problem. The article on The Guardian website gives a review on how domestic violence issue has been handled in the UK. The news value is educative and concern peaceful co-existence in a family or domestic set-up. The news is also bad as it highlights violence in homes. Violence affects relationships and consequently leads to health and psychological problems. The news angle is neutral but rebukes perpetrators of violence. It does not support violence in heterosexual or homosexual relationships. The article has employed a criticism language on the government for laxity in coming up with an appropriate legislation in time. The editorial agenda is to sensitize readers on the need to stop domestic violence in families (Humphreys et al. 2013). The article gives insight on how the fight against domestic violence has come a long way. With no legislations relating to domestic violence, most men took advantage of the situation. However, with the emergence of civil and human rights movements, the vice came to shame. Most citizens became sensitized on the need for peace in the family. Couples had to find better ways to resolve their differences. Women’s Aid was founded in 1970 as a feminist movement and campaign tool. Domestic violence and gender oppression became a priority to deal with for the group. Domestic violence and numerous forms of abuse were decisively dealt with by Women’s Aid among other groups that were founded. In 1979, statistic revealed that two women got killed weekly by their former or current partner. The articles makes cites government statistics and other two sources on domestic violence. The sources add information about the

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Evaluation Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Evaluation Argument - Essay Example Waiting to meet Jesus is a healthy journey for everyone, but the pressures of the society can interrupt this waiting, and cause an individual to go against the will of God, by being forced to lie to having met Jesus, even though in the real sense Jesus has not yet visited the individual. Thus, the understanding and practice of religion might be marred with widespread confusion, most especially when the practice of religion is associated with induction of a child, but external pressure can obstruct the good judgment in matters of religion even more. The elaborate understanding of religion and its practice is fundamental for an individual seeking to join and practice it. The misunderstanding of the basic tenets surrounding a religion might see an individual simply enter into a religion, but remain disappointed afterwards, when the expectations held by the individual are not met (Klick, 27). In the article the article "Salvation" by Langston Huges, joining the religious practice happened in utter confusion, since the understanding of Huges was that he must first meet Jesus physically. Huges had been told by his auntie Reeds that â€Å"when you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you inside! And Jesus came into your life!† (Huges, n.p.). In this respect, his understanding of this process of getting saved was in its literal meaning. Thus, this understanding build such an expectation in his mind; that seeing the light and feeling something happen on the inside will be the hallmarks of accepting salvation. Th erefore, the fact that it was becoming too late and everyone else had gotten saved except for him, made Huges remain with no other choice but to take the step forward and accept salvation without having first experienced the light and something happening on the inside. It can therefore be seen that Langston Huges’ article, "Salvation", may not

Monday, November 18, 2019

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

Dance - Essay Example (The library of Congress, 2008). However in the nineteenth century, the art of dancing was more popularized through literatures. The influence of the popularization of music also contributed to the popularity of dance. Many other factors like an improvisation of the women’s role in the society and the strengthening of their physical activeness towards the beginning of the twentieth century were also influential in the development of social dance styles (The library of Congress, 2008). The arena of social dancing emphasizes on the sociability of the art than on set rules and competition. The inclusiveness is the basic principle adhering to the social style of dancing and is not performance oriented. This style of dancing more relies on the spontaneity in accordance to the situation than on the rules and regulations. How ever the various disciples with in the social dancing style share some universal principles. It is creative, spontaneous, coordinated and conventional in terms of these principles (Renzland P, 2008). In short, it is the style of dance which connects the art form with the common public. Some of the social dances which are popular in America today are Break Dancing, Alpine, Hip Hop Dancing, Argentine Tango, Balboa, Cajun, Ceili(dh), Charleston, Circle Mixers, Contra, Hambo, Irish Set, Lindy Hop, Old-Time-Waltz, Polka, Ragtime, Scandinavian, Scottish (Country/Folk) Dancing, Square, Vintage, Zwiefache and Zydeco. An understanding on the social scenario existing in the United States of America would serve as a background to analyze the relevance of social dancing in the present socio economic situation. American society is at the threat of individualization and a reverse socialization process is happening at an increased pace. This may be the result of the insecurity among the younger generation due to the disturbed family backgrounds. This scenario is supported by the fact that ideal family

Friday, November 15, 2019

Android The Most Popular Mobile Platform Computer Science Essay

Android The Most Popular Mobile Platform Computer Science Essay Introduction Mobile development platform is a technology that enables mobile developers to create of production and processes that support present and future development of mobile applications. In the assignment, I will compare three of the leading mobile development platforms in the market which is Android, BlackBerry, and Java ME with analyses on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for each of the different platforms. Android SDK Android is the most popular mobile platform in the world. Android delivers a complete set of software for mobile devices; an operating system, middleware and key mobile applications. (Android Overview, Open Handset Alliance 2010) In 2005, Google acquired the startup company Android Inc. to start the development of Android platform for mobile. The Android SDK was first release in November 2007. Google announced the availability of Android SDK Candidate 1.0. Google offers a comprehensive software development kits with a variety of packages that are available a la carte under the Android SDK Manager. In October 2008, Android is an open source and Google releases the code under Apache License. (Android Overview, Open Handset Alliance 2010) STRENGTHS Google Google is one of the most well known technology company in the world. Android is backed up by Google in collaboration with Open Handset Alliance. Most of the potential partners, venders and developers will believe that Google will give more attention and credibility on Android OS compare to other mobile OS because of the brand. Device Unlike the Apples IOS where you have the only one option for hardware supplier which is Apple Inc. The Android OS is open source and it is compatible with most of the devices such as Samsung, HTC, Sony and etc. This will provides consumers wider choices from which manufacturer to choose to buy their devices. Open source The Android OS is built from a Linux based using JAVA language for the programming. Most of the developers, especially freelancer they will choose to develop mobile application by using Android where we can get the information and source code easily. This makes developers to create many free Apps for Android market (Currently known as Goggle Play Store). (Android SWOT analysis, Arun Kumar 2012) WEAKNESSES Multimedia Support Android Multimedia Support is less unlike the Apple which has centralized in iTunes application and marketplace. Android does not have a central source of multimedia material. Upgrading of OS reliance on mobile manufacturers When Google releases a new version of Android OS, it has to wait for the mobile manufacturer to make a compatibility test and modify the code to make sure it works properly on their hardware configuration. Least of security- Since Android Application development is open source, so it was always prone to external threats like malwares. OPPORTUNITIES Compatibility Android OS not only compatible with mobile, it also compatible for tablet PC and e-book reader. There have been several release of Android tablets over last few months from computer machine manufacturer such as HP, ASUS, Dell and ACER. Developing Countries Google has a huge opportunity to develop inexpensive devices using the Android platform in developing countries. (Hylander 2010). Android also has high potential growth in Asia and Africa Countries and it has triggered up the sales of smart phones and tablet PCs. Developer friendly Android give the opportunities to developers to develop advance application and earn some revenue from the sales of application and advertising. THREATS Competitive There were many competitors in the market are going to fight with Android for their share of the market. For example, Symbian, RIM, iOS and Windows. System Crashed Downloading of application from un-trusted website may make the operating system crash or affect other application in the smart phone. Androids cheaper initialize installation in low cost mobile phone which will affects the buyer compared to other platform such as iOS in IPhone. BlackBerry BlackBerry is a brand of wireless handheld devices and services developed by Canadian telecommunications company Research In Motion (RIM).(RIM 2012) The first BlackBerry device, an email pager, was released in 1999. (Davis, Jim January 20,1999) Most of the BlackBerry devices are well known in their send and receive push email and instant messages ability especially the BlackBerry Messenger service. They are also designed to function the devices as personal digital assistants, gaming devices and so on. STRENGTHS BlackBerry is a recognition brand of mobile development platform. BlackBerry Messenger allows their users to text unlimited with no extra cost. Several types of form-factors available in BlackBerry mobile phones such as small keyboard, large keyboard, flip phone, candy bar and no keyboard. BlackBerry is an encrypted military-grade security platform, with 100% market share at FBI, CIA, White House, Congress, Department of Defense, major consultancies and major investment banks. BlackBerry is the only one platform approved for use in US national security agencies. (Raman885 November 2011) WEAKNESSES BlackBerry has a poor applications store experience which is not able to install on all devices. Most of the applications which are available for iOS and android devices are not going to be available for blackberry mobile platform. BlackBerry is a business oriented phone, most of the fun application available for other markets but not for blackberry devices. There were two different operating systems between touch screen devices and non-touch screen devices. OPPORTUNITIES BlackBerry Partners Fund is used to make applications are downloadable from independent companies which might be help to gain more market share. BlackBerry World is the most profitable mobile application store for developers. BlackBerry has the ability to perform synchronization of email, calendar and contact with compatible servers. THREATS The main threat facing by BlackBerry is their competitors which include iOS of Apple, Android platform of Google, Windows Phone from Microsoft and other mobile development platforms. JAVA ME JAVA ME also known as Java platform Micro Edition. Java ME provides a flexible environment for application running on mobile and embedded devices such as personal digital assistants and mobile phones. STRENGTHS Java ME is offering flexible environment for multiple mobile application. Java ME included the object-oriented programming features make large programs easier to write. Java ME is an open sources platform for mobile development. WEAKNESSES It is not a complete development platform but just a virtual machine. JAVA ME only limited to embedded and small devices such as mobile phones. Java ME is only mostly open source whereas android is completely open sources. OPPORTUNITIES It enables developer to build sophisticated applications for multiple applications with confidence. The most popular and widely accepted development platform for wireless devices from leading phones manufactures. THREATS Android development platform is the main threats for Java ME platform especially the user interface android support touch screen smart phones. Most of the developers may choose Android instead of Java ME as the platform because of the number of users of android OS phone are increasing. Conclusion The most ideal platform that I choose is Android mobile development platform. First of all,