Midnight in Paris Analysis Essay Example

Midnight in Paris Analysis Essay In the film Midnight in Paris . there are a batch of interesting sights in the most beautiful metropolis in the universe. During the movie. Woody Allen showed us how Paris is beautiful in the forenoon. charming in the afternoon. and enrapturing in the eventide. but it is charming and has a batch of surprising things after midnight. Get downing with the Eiffel Tower. there were a batch of iconic shootings of Paris at its most touristic points like its beautiful streets under the rain. the celebrated river in the metropolis La Seine . and the wide gardens that makes this metropolis the most beautiful finish for the celebrated creative persons who were looking for a quiet topographic point to develop their endowment as authors. The film is a nice combination of Paris in 2010 and Paris in the yesteryear. when the celebrated creative persons and authors were there like Ernest Hamingway. F Scott Fitzgerald. Picasso. Gertrud Stein. and Salvador Dali. We will write a custom essay sample on Midnight in Paris Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Midnight in Paris Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Midnight in Paris Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Throughout the film the manager didn’t merely demo us Paris and its tourer locations. but besides took us to destinations out of the metropolis such as Versailles and Monet’s gardens in Giverny. Then. there were all the warmly illuminated shootings of the coffeehouse. eating houses. and the celebrated stores such as Coco Channel and Dior. In add-on. the beauty of the sights and the exposures grabbed the viewer’s attending to desire to watch this film and to detect a batch of more information about some of the most celebrated creative persons in the early nineteenth century. The film Midnight in Paris . had win with engagement of group of people who were capable and successful in their occupation as creative persons. The author and manager was Woody Allen. and the lead histrions were: Owen Wilson. Rachel Mc Adams. and Kathy Bates. The dramatis personae was by Marian Cotillard. Michael Sheen. Adrien Brody. and Alison Pill. The studio was Gravier Production. Mediapro. Televisio de catalunya TV3. and it was made in May 20. 2011 by Sony Pictures Classics. The romantic comedy phantasy movie had many incredible minutes get downing by detecting the metropolis in the minute to going back in clip each dark after midnight. On one manus. the film had a batch of interesting minutes between the yesteryear and the present. The narrative was about an American household who went to France for a concern trip. and the two immature people Gil and his bride-to-be were engaged to be married even though their outlook and their thought were different. She used to reason with him all the clip and she didn’t like him to be a author every bit much as to work in Hollywood. Gil was the sort of individual who likes to compose and to be a successful author. and by the clip he was in Paris. he believed that this ity is the lone topographic point he will happen himself in. Suddenly. and while he was walking around the Parisian streets. he found himself coming back in clip to the nineteenth Century when all the celebrated authors and painters were at that place. Therefore. this minute Gil had a large alteration in his life. Get downing by interrupting up with his bride-to-be and falling in love with a Gallic adult fem ale. He found himself with the stars of art in Paris in its aureate clip. and he didn’t believe that he had a batch of conversations with the best author of all time. Ernest Hamingway. On the other manus. Paris in its aureate clip was the best finish for a batch of creative persons around the universe. Ernest Hamingway was an American writer and journalist who chose to populate in the metropolis of art. Paris in the aureate age. His economical and unostentatious manner had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction. while his life of escapade and his public image influenced ulterior coevalss. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the mid-1950s. and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. He published seven novels. six short narrative aggregations. and two non-fiction plants. Three novels. four aggregations of short narratives. and three non-fiction plants were published posthumously. Many of these are considered classics of American literature. Hemingway was raised in Oak Park. Illinois. After high school. he reported for a few months for The Kansas City Star before go forthing for the Italian forepart to enlist with the World War I ambulance drivers. In 1918. he was earnestly wounded and returned place. His wartime experiences formed the footing for his novel. A Farewell to Arms. In 1922. he married Hadley Richardson. the first of his four married womans. The twosome moved to Paris. where he worked as a foreign letter writer. and fell under the influence of the modernist authors and creative persons of the 1920s Lost Generation expatriate community. The Sun Besides Rises. Hemingway’s foremost novel. was published in 1926. In my sentiment as a spectator. Hemingway was one of the most interesting personalities in the film because he had made a alteration on batch of creative persons after him and he was a good illustration for those want to be successful in their life as a Gil. and the most interesting portion in the film was the conversation that was in the old Peugeot auto when they were speaking about work forces and their fright of decease. Last. Midnight in Paris . had bundle of information everyone should cognize. Thus. I recommend watching this film. because it wasn’t merely a narrative like what we normally see in other movies. but had much information about some celebrated creative persons in the nineteenth century. Besides. we went back with the film to see how those people used to populate in nice and quiet universe particularly in the art metropolis. Personally. I liked the film from the beginning to the terminal. because and while I was watching it. I enjoyed its quiet music they used to listen to. The music and the rain in the Parisian streets had made a beautiful image about this metropolis and besides I enjoyed seeing some touristical topographic points I had visited while I was in holiday at that place. In add-on. I liked the narrative about Gil and how he was promoting himself to acquire on the right manner in the art. by holding a good self-pride. even though he had a batch of obstructions with his bride-to-be and her parents.

Free Essays on House Of Mirth

â€Å"Everything about her was at once was at once vigorous and exquisite, at once strong and fine. He had a confused sense that she must have cost a great deal to make, that a great many dull and ugly people must, in some mysterious way, have been sacrificed to produce her. He was aware that the qualities distinguishing her from the herd of her sex were chiefly external, as though a fine glaze of beauty and fastidiousness had been applied to vulgar clay.† –(p 3.) Readers are offered these early impressions of Lily Bart from the mind of Lawrence Selden as they walk toward his flat on Madison Avenue. I think that this quote is interesting for a few reasons: by saying â€Å"she must have cost a great deal to make,† Lily is immediately seen as a commodity: if workers were â€Å"sacrificed† to make this â€Å"produce,† her person is not only objectified, but quantified as a value in a transaction. Selden’s inner commentary pre-empts this thought as a â€Å"confused sense†: I take this as the kind of feeling that Selden must feel corrupt, to some degree, for thinking, as this perception that he has of women is somewhat culturally programmed. We also see the way that Selden views her â€Å"fine glaze† of beauty, which marks her as differing from the rest of the cattle-like women. I think it is interesting to consider that some of the first outside opinions we perceive of Lily attempt quantify her value: it is these monetary values that will trouble the rest of her days. Unlike the high Boston Society of Silas Lapham, the means in which one attains wealth is not of importance: the freedom that Lily seeks may be only available through financial stability, and the only financial gains in which Lily is successful come through the ideals of courtship and marriage which have been forced upon her.... Free Essays on House Of Mirth Free Essays on House Of Mirth â€Å"Everything about her was at once was at once vigorous and exquisite, at once strong and fine. He had a confused sense that she must have cost a great deal to make, that a great many dull and ugly people must, in some mysterious way, have been sacrificed to produce her. He was aware that the qualities distinguishing her from the herd of her sex were chiefly external, as though a fine glaze of beauty and fastidiousness had been applied to vulgar clay.† –(p 3.) Readers are offered these early impressions of Lily Bart from the mind of Lawrence Selden as they walk toward his flat on Madison Avenue. I think that this quote is interesting for a few reasons: by saying â€Å"she must have cost a great deal to make,† Lily is immediately seen as a commodity: if workers were â€Å"sacrificed† to make this â€Å"produce,† her person is not only objectified, but quantified as a value in a transaction. Selden’s inner commentary pre-empts this thought as a â€Å"confused sense†: I take this as the kind of feeling that Selden must feel corrupt, to some degree, for thinking, as this perception that he has of women is somewhat culturally programmed. We also see the way that Selden views her â€Å"fine glaze† of beauty, which marks her as differing from the rest of the cattle-like women. I think it is interesting to consider that some of the first outside opinions we perceive of Lily attempt quantify her value: it is these monetary values that will trouble the rest of her days. Unlike the high Boston Society of Silas Lapham, the means in which one attains wealth is not of importance: the freedom that Lily seeks may be only available through financial stability, and the only financial gains in which Lily is successful come through the ideals of courtship and marriage which have been forced upon her....

Applying The Social Entrepreneurship Concept Commerce Essay

The aims of this undertaking is to place the societal entrepreneurship construct, to place the characteristics for ICE-Port as societal entreprenteurship construct and to plan the ICE-Port.The execution of this undertaking will be in 3 stages, job designation, demand and and analysis and besides plan phases.This undertaking is expected to finish within 2 semester.The awaited consequence of this undertaking would be ICE-Port paradigm and SDD. Chapter 1 Introduction This chapter discusses the undertaking background, job statement, purpose, aims, range and significance of the undertaking. The undertaking background presents the overview of proposed undertaking and the job statement will place the job occurs. Significance of the undertaking is besides stated in this chapter. 1.1 Undertaking Background. Entrepreneurship plans were conducted among university pupils in order to expose pupils to entrepreneurial values and accomplishments, which cover leading, invention, creativeness, resiliency, fight, independency, calculated hazard and the ability to place and make chances ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mohe.gov.my, n.d ) . To heighten the entrepreneurship programme, The Higher Education Entrepreneurship Development Policy was launched on 13 April 2010. The purpose of this policy is to promote the development of entrepreneurship plans among higher instruction pupils in a holistic mode and well-structured program.The execution of the policy is aim at bring forthing alumnuss which non merely success in academic but besides have the enterprisers attributes, believing and accomplishments, to increase the figure of enterprisers among alumnuss for the accomplishment of economic transmutation ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mohe.gov.my, n.d ) . ‘Kemahiran Insaniah ‘ plan, one of the attacks introduced by the Ministry of Higher Education ( MOHE ) for the development of human capital among university pupils has outlined entrepreneurship accomplishments as one of the 7 elements as the aims of the plan ( hypertext transfer protocol: //www.mohe.gov.my, n.d ) . Before the execution of the entrepreneurship policy by MOHE, UiTM one measure further in develop and back up the entrepreneurship elements among their pupils. UiTM has introduced entrepreneurship classs as an attempt to advance entrepreneurship as a feasible calling option ( Arshad, Buyong, Wahab A ; Salleh, 2011 ) . This can be seen in academic survey program which entrepreneurship class has been highlighted as one of the compulsory topic in some faculities such as Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences ( www.fskm.uitm.edu.my, n.d. ) .Other than that, one of the iniatitives is the constitution of Malayan Academy of SME A ; Entrepreneurship Development ( MASMED ) .MASMED is the combination of Pusat Pembangunan Usahawan Malaysia ( MEDEC ) , Tunas Mekar and Entrepreneurship Research and Support Centre ( ERSC ) was established in April 2010 to carry on and form entrepreneurship programmes among UiTM pupils ( hypertext transfer protocol: //masmed.uitm.edu.my,2011 ) .MASMED respo nsible to bring forth enterprisers among the UiTM pupils and to construct the entrepreneurship accomplishments and values among the pupils to better the marketability of employment. ( hypertext transfer protocol: //masmed.uitm.edu.my,2011 ) . Besides the introducing of entrepreneurship class, UiTM exposed the entrepreneurship elements through the extracurricular and club activities ( Arshad, Buyong, Wahab A ; Salleh, 2011 ) . As defined by Dalrymple and Evangelou in 2006, extracurricular activities refer to the activities which are non covered in the university course of study and it will take topographic point outside the category clip. Perlembagaan Persatuan UiTM in 2012 highlighted the activities will be conducted must supply some value to the targeted group, including entrepreneurship, academic, community service and leadership.According to Arshad, Buyong, Wahab and Salleh ( 2011 ) , there are merely 0.6 % of UiTM pupils participated in more than 3 entrepreneurship activities while analyzing. This really little per centum is due to miss of publicity on entrepreneurship activities. To back up the MOHE and UiTM attempts in developing the entrepreneurship elements and involvements among pupils, this undertaking will be attempted to happen an alternate to advance the activities to be conducted by planing a portal and using the entrepreneurship construct and societal entrepreneurship construct was chosen. As one of the pupil association, ISEC was chosen to reflect for this undertaking. Since ISEC do non hold any community battle portal, societal entrepreneurship construct will be applied for the design of ISEC community battle portal ( ICE-Port ) .In suppport MOHE and UiTM entrepreneurial mission, this portal will be functioned as one of the medium for ISEC community to derive information about ISEC and activities planned at the same clip advancing the entrepreneurship activities. 1.2 Problem Statement The non being medium to advance an entrepreneurship activities have causes the pupils to non take part in such activities. In my informal treatment with Information Systems Engineering Club ( ISEC ) commission, current patterns have been applied to advance or inform the pupils about the extracurricular and nine activities is through the societal web medium such as Facebook and through the messaging between the organiser and category representatives.There are issues originate with the current state of affairs such as the pupils do non acquire the information because bash non hold societal web history and category representatives unable to explicate in inside informations about certain activities. And since ISEC is a pupil association, in work outing the job stated, as mentioned before, this undertaking will be focused on the using a type of the entrepreneurship, societal entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurship was chosen because Minister of Higher Education Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in 2011 said this attack will gives pupils the chance to pattern the procedure of advanced solutions by combine cognition, entrepreneurship, and research experience.The attack, he said, can be used in order to form plans to supply societal alteration to the local community.Resolution of issues or jobs faced by the community, he said, can be addressed through plans organized by their pupils through this attack. This construct more relevant to use among ISEC commission because it is non for net income intiatives ( Austin, Stevenson A ; Wei-Skiller, 2003 ) and the net income addition will be re-invested to the ISEC community. 1.3 Aim To use sosial entrepreneurship construct for the design of ISEC Community Engagement Portal ( ICE-Port ) . 1.4 Aims The chief aims of this undertaking are: 1. To place societal entrepreneurshipconcept. 2. To place the functionalities for ISEC Community Engagement Portal ( ICE-Port ) harmonizing to societal entrepreneurship construct. 3. To plan the ICE-Port. 1.5 Scope The execution of this undertaking is to help ISEC Committee in using the entrepreneurial constructs in their activities and prosecute the community of ISEC. 1.6 Undertaking Stakeholders The possible stakeholders for this undertaking are: 1. MASMED Staff 2. ISEC Committee. 1.7 Significance of Undertaking 1. Development Team. This undertaking can help those who are interested to implement this undertaking further.This is because this undertaking will plan the undertaking harmonizing to the societal entrepreneurship constructs and it will do easy for them to develop the system. 2. ISEC Community. Once the undertaking have been implemented, it will give benefits to ISEC commission and community in footings of prosecuting the community and the information sing ISEC activities can be informed in more proper ways. Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW This chapter purpose to reexamine the relevant literature of the portal development construct, community battle construct and societal entrepreneurship construct. 2.1 Portal Development 2.1.1 Definition of Portal. The portal is an individual log-on online campus services which would supply pupils with entree to online university web sites, and class information from any location. ( Cabacungan, Clark, Feldman, Flamm, Ford, etc.,2002 ) . Webopedia.com ( n.d, as cited in Maltz, 2005 ) defined a portal as a web site or service which provides many services and maps such as intelligence, hunt engines, electronic mail, forums which can pull a immense figure of users. Whereas â€Å" What is Portal † ( n.d ) defined portal as all in one web sites which contains the aggregation of information from different beginnings and incorporate it with individual entree point.Tatnall ( 2005 ) described portals as a door which enables users to entree to the other web sites by utilizing cyberspace, intranet or extranet. 2.1.2 Portal Categorization There are many types of portals as listed byTatnall in 2005 as described below: 1. General/Mega Portals. The end for this portal is to go the mainpage for their user to entree to the other websites.Free electronic mail, links to chew the fat room, shopping web sites, contains the information and intelligence about athleticss and current issues are some of the services provided by the general portal.They make their money through the advertizement, and the success of this portal are measured by their figure of visitants. 2. Vertical Industry Portals. These portals fundamentally focused on the specific industries such as wellness attention, bivouacing equipment and steel merchandises. 3. Horizontal Industry Portals. These portals are based around a group of industries and it provide their user with the information on a broad country of subjects. 4. Community Portals. It managed by community groups to portion their common involvements among each other. 5. Enterprise Information Portals. This portal designed for business-to-employee ( B2E ) processes. It enable the employees to entree and portion data.Usually can be entree utilizing intranet connexion. 6. E-marketplace Portals. It is an drawn-out of endeavor information portals but it can be entree to a company ‘s extranet connexion. Very helpful for business-to-business procedures such as engagement, reserve and supply of points. The purpose to cut down cost and to guarantee the services or order will get on clip 7. Personal/Mobile Portals. This portal was designed to do easy for nomadic user to pass on particularly from a distance. 8. Information Portals. This portal contains specific types of information such the athleticss information portals dedicated to supply information about athleticss. 2.1.3 Common Features of Portal. A research done by Butters in 2003 shown there are common characteristics in portal development. He listed as below: Utilities which includes electronic mail history, calendar and contriver. User profiling-The information about an user based on their involvements and background ( Schiaffino A ; Amandi, 2009 ) . Resource find including subject-specific and individual mark on. News/News provender. Community communicating which contains message boards and on-line treatment. Advertising refers as the advertizements through the utilizing of cyberspace. Maltz in 2005 listed the common characteristics of portal as below: Single mark on- A individual user designation and watchword will enable a user to entree all authorized systems without holding to log on in individually ( Anchan and Pegah, 2003 ) . Role-Based hallmark Newss and proclamation. Search engine. Calendar. Student information system. Directories Harmonizing to Cabacungan, Clark, Feldman, Flamm, Ford, etc ( 2002 ) , agreed with Maltz in naming the common standards of pupil portal specifically. They added pupil portal should hold: Learning Management System-Is an information system that monitors the acquisition classs and keeps path of pupil advancement records ( Brown A ; Johnson, 2007 ) . From a research based on the literature reappraisal, a functionalities that serves in pupil portal should hold characteristics as shows in the following tabular array. No. Title Author / Source Identified Functionalities 1. What features in portal? Butters, 2003 ‘http: //www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue35/butters -Utilities -User profiling -Resource find -News -Community Communication -Advertising -Leisure -Miscellaneous services. 2. Leadership development plan 2001/2002: Student portal undertaking. Cabacungan, Clark, Feldman, Flamm, Ford, etc.,2005. -Single mark on -Role-Based Authentication -Learning Management System -Search engine -Calendar -Student Information System. 3. Portals: A Personal Door to the Information Enterprise Maltz,2005 -Single mark on -Role-Based Authentication -Search engine -Calendar -Student Information System. -News and proclamation -Directories. 2.4.2 Types of Open Source For Portal Development. In this subdivision, researcher place several unfastened beginning application model to be choose for the planing the ICE-Port prototype.There are several application model identified, as described below. 1. Jetspeed. Harmonizing to ibm.com/developerWork ( n.d ) , Jetspeed, written in Java linguistic communication is a Apache Sofware Foundation merchandise, an unfastened beginning for the development a portal. Released under the Apache License, all entree to the portal is controlled through a portal security policy Provided tools for developers and user interface interior decorators, the purpose of Jetspeed is to let the rapidly portal development. It supports a assortment of entree medium such as web browsers and nomadic devices and has been widely implemented. 2.uPortal Using an unfastened standards-based engineerings such as Java and XML, uPortal provided an easy individual mark on campus application and stop user customization.A particular factor of uPortal is it is focal points on the development of universities portal. However, it still provided the common characteristics of portal. 3.LifeRay Portal A free MIT licensing fees, LifeRay is designed for easiness of usage and provided functionalities such as web logs, wikis and message boards.It allows the terminal users to custom-make their pages utilizing predefined portlets or appliance. Jetspeed uPortal LifeRay Beginnings Table 2.4.1: Comparison between unfastened beginning to be selected and used for prototyping. 2.2 Community Engagement 2.2.1 Definition. In the Principles of Community Engagement Second Edition, the writers described community battle as: â€Å" †¦ the procedure of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic propinquity, particular involvement, or similar state of affairss to turn to issues impacting the wellbeing of those people † . Communities Scotland ( 2007 ) explained community battle is the procedure of affecting people in determinations that affect them, by affecting communities in the planning, development and direction of services. BlackBoard.com ( n.d ) stated, with the community battle, it can assist: To present the online communicating for campus, groups or nines. Be more efficient in presenting intelligence and proclamation based on the user ‘s function. Support multiple unit with different demands. 2.2.2 Community engagement theoretical account. Harmonizing to Hashagen in 2002, there are 6 theoretical accounts for community battle as described below: 1. Consultation/public engagement theoretical accounts. This theoretical account is frequently use by public governments in acquiring the sentiment from the society and community.It includes studies, forums and treatment and sentiment polls. 2. Asset-based/social economic system theoretical accounts. These focal point on recognizing the value of the physical assets and human resources of a community, and seek to maximize the community control over, and benefit from these assets. 3. Community democracy theoretical accounts. These set out to widen local democracy into the community by, in consequence, set uping an informal community grade of authorities. 4.Identify based theoretical accounts. Typically it is come from the minority groups. 5. Learning-led and popular instruction theoretical accounts. It focused on edifice and back uping the accomplishments and involvements among community members.It will inform the members about preparation, employment and accomplishments development chances. 6.Service development theoretical accounts. This theoretical account purpose to assist in place the community jobs and happen a manner to work out the job. For illustration this theoretical account was applied by young person nine, athleticss nine and many other nines by act as a voluntary. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation as cited by†¦ †¦ listed community battle theoretical accounts in 5 ways: 1.Providing Information. Supply information about activities to the community. 2.Consultation. Community allowed to give any feedback or sentiments sing any issues. 3.Deciding together. Involved community in determination devising. 4.Acting together. Making and moving together in determination devising. 5.Supporting independent community involvement. Gives support to commission to develop their docket. No. Title Author / Source Identified Models 1. Models of Community Engagement Hashagen, 2003 ‘https: //www.dundeecity.gov.uk/dundeecity/uploaded_publications/publication_283.pdf ‘ -Consultation/public engagement theoretical accounts. -Asset-Based/social economic system theoretical accounts. -Community democracy theoretical accounts. -Identify based theoretical accounts. -Learning-led and popular instruction theoretical accounts. -Service development theoretical accounts. 2. Good pattern in community battle from an equalitive position. Equality and Human Rights Commission,2009. ‘http: //www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/good_practice_in_community_engagement.pdf ‘ -Providing information. -Consultation. -Deciding together. -Acting together. -Supporting independent community involvement. Table 2.2.2 The theoretical accounts of community battle. From the reappraisal of community battle theoretical account, researcher choose to use the theoretical accounts as described by Equality and Human Right Commission in 2009, which are the combination of supplying information theoretical account, audience, moving together and back uping independent community involvement model.Researcher found all these theoretical accounts more relevant to be applied because ICE-Port will supply the information about the ISEC and plans will be conducted, let community to give an sentiment about any related issues, and it will give support to community to develop their docket. 2.3 Entrepreneurship 2.3.1 Definition Harmonizing Martin and Osberg ( 2007 ) , entrepreneurship can be defined as the designation, ability and chance to make a new concern or endeavor with the purpose to convey something new to the universe. Entrepreneurship can be referred as the procedure of making something new which has to hold value to the stakeholders, or people for which it is developed, have return values to an enterpriser and presuming hazards such as fiscal, phsycological and societal countries ( Hisrich, Robert, Peters A ; Shepherd, 2005 ) . BusinessDictionary.com defined entrepreneurship as the ability and preparedness to take any hazards in order to do a net income through the development and organisation of concern venture. 2.3.2 Types of entrepreneurship Blank ( 2011 ) listed there are 4 types of entrepreneurship which can be described as below: Business Entrepreneurship. Social Entrepreneurship Is an entrepreneurship construct which focuses on the resolution of societal demands by producig merchandises and services.It can be for net income or non net income but it is non to make net income for the investors. 2.3.3 Entrepreneurship rules. 2.4 Social Entrepreneurship 2.4.1 Definition. Hibbert, Hogg and Quinn in 2001 has defined societal entrepreneurship as the using the entrepreneuship rules for societal mission impact instead than for net incomes and that net incomes will be used to work out a societal demands to specific group.While Pomerantz in 2003 defined societal entrepreneurship as either single societal enterprisers and non-profit organisations action in the development of advanced, mission supporting and making jobs.Lasprogata and Cotton ( 2003 ) agreed societal entrepreneurship as the non- net incomes organisations approach which will give a greater impact on their societal mission by using the entrepreneurial rules. Social entrepreneurship as defined by Dees is the combination of societal rules and concern rules and it is differentiated from the other types of entrepreneurship by its mission related impact ( Barley, 2009 ) . Harmonizing to Seelos and Mair ( 2005 ) , societal entrepreneurship refers to the attempt for compitently fulfill basic homo demands which unable to fulfill by utilizing current system. It is besides the combination between the traditional entrepreneurship with some added value to alter society. Nicholls ( 2006 ) agreed societal entrepreneurship as the utilizing the existing resources to convey societal impacts through the advanced activities and making new opportunities.Mair ( 2008 ) besides defined societal entrepreneurship as the procedure to fulfill basic demands which unable to fulfill by the organisations involved with the aim to do betterment in societal and economic structure.In other words, societal entrepreneurship can be defined as the designation of new solution and chances to address the job of unequal distribution of societal which consequences from conventional systems ( â€Å" Defining Social Entrepreneurship † , n.d ) . Another definition by Zadek and Thake ( 1997, as cited in Noruzi, Westover A ; Rahimi, 2010 ) societal entrepreneurship is the invention with the mission to make societal impact instead than personal or profit impact. As cited in SME ‘s Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2010, Cochran ( 2007 ) defined societal entrepreneurship as the resolution of societal jobs by using the entrepreneurship principles.Zhara, Gedajlovic, Neubaum, Shulman ( 2008 ) as cited by SME ‘s, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2010 suggested societal entrepreneurship as the mission to convey societal wealth through its activities and making new chances and ventures in an advanced manner. 2.4.2 Differences between societal entrepreneurship and concern entrepreneurship There are many treatment about the differences between concern and societal entrepreneurship. Boschee and McClurg ( 2003 ) distinguish the concern and societal entrepreneurship as stated below: Social Responsibility Business entrepreneurship by and large do no set a direct attempt on work outing the societal jobs. This signifier of entrepreneurship dramas their societal functions through charity plan such as contribution and hold a good relationship with their employees. Whereas societal entrepreneurship attempt are straight attached to societal jobs. For illustration the societal enterprisers will engage handicapped, populating in poorness and former captives who are hard to acquire a occupation. Performance Measurement Business entrepreneurship measured their public presentation by fiscal consequences. The success or failure of undertaking is determined by the economic value to the proprietors or investors. Social entrepreneurship public presentation are measured by both societal and fiscal returns The net income are re-invested to accomplish the societal mission. Mair and Marti in 2006 described the differences between concern and societal entrepreneurship as below: Aims. Business entrepreneurship precedence given to economic value. Whereas societal entrepreneurship precedence given to societal value. This does non intend the net incomes do non necessary in societal entrepreneurship, it is besides of import to guarantee the attempt sustainability and autonomy. Uhlig ( n.d ) with the same sentiment besides stated: Percept of Value. For concern entrepreneurship, the enterpriser and investors will concentrate for the return on investing as the chief value. While societal entrepreneurship lies in the societal impact and benefits which can work out the societal jobs and demands. The value for net income besides of import to re-invested for the following societal entrepreneurship activities. Wealth Creation Approach. â€Å" The concern entrepreneurship is driven to introduce within a commercial market, to the ultimate benefit of consumers. If successful, the invention creates wealth. The venture ‘s success is gauged by how much wealth it creates † . â€Å" To the societal entrepreneurship, wealth creative activity is necessary, but non for its ain interest. Rather, wealth is merely a tool the enterpriser uses to consequence societal alteration. The grade to which heads are changed, enduring is alleviated or unfairness is reversed represents the organisation ‘s success. † 2.4.3 Differences between societal entrepreneurship and charity ( traditional non-profit ) Social entrepreneurship besides differed from charity. Meldrum in 2011 described the differences as below: Role of Social Value Creation. The charity exist to redistribute income aggregation to those needed. While societal entrepreneurship making the new thoughts in order to better and give benefits to society. Social Structure. Charity works within bing constructions in society. However, societal entrepreneurship will place the societal jobs and creates chances to work out the job. Purpose. Charity to ease of load while societal entrepreneurship intent is to better the societal status. Fiscal In footings of fiscal, charity chiefly financed through contribution while societal entrepreneurship financed through the conducted activities. While Boschee and McClurg in 2003 differentiate societal entrepreneurship and traditional non net income as belows: Sustainability and Autonomy. Charity has been driven by a dependence theoretical account, trusting chiefly on voluntarism and governement or upper direction support in footings of income.The writers besides believed every bit long as the charity organisation depends on the 3rd party, they will ne’er go sustainable and self sufficient. For societal entrepreneurship, the aid from the authorities and voluntary are welcome, but they do non chiefly depends on it. Based on the definition and comparing between societal entrepreneurship construct and the other constructs, in general, societal entrepreneurship can be clearly described as below: Characteristics/ Beginnings Social Mission Business Principles Non-Profit For-Profit Invention Hibbert, Hogg A ; Quinn ( 2001 ) / / / / Pomerantz ( 2003 ) / / / Lasprogata A ; Cotton ( 2003 ) / / / / Dees as cited by Barley ( 2009 ) / / Seelos A ; Mair ( 2005 ) / / Nicholls ( 2006 ) / / Mair ( 2008 ) / Specifying Social Entrepreneurship ( n.d ) . / / Zadek and Thake ( 1997 ) cited by Noruzi, Westover A ; Rahimi, 2010 / / / / Cochran ( 2007 ) as cited by SME ‘s Entrepreneurship and Innovation ( 2010 ) / / Zhara, Gedajlovic, Neubaum, Shulman ( 2008 ) , as cited by SME ‘s Entrepreneurship and Innovation ( 2010 ) / / / Austin, Stevenson, Wei-Killer ( 2006 ) / Meldrum ( 2011 ) / / Uhlig ( n.d ) / / Boschee A ; McClur ( 2003 ) / / / Table 2.4 The component of societal entrepreneurship From the literature reappraisal, research worker has identified the societal entrepreneurship construct related to be applied for the design of ICE-Port. In general, all the literature stated shared the same thoughts about the societal entrepreneurship that are its nonsubjective is to decide the societal job, and the plans are societal enterprisers invention and it is applied concern entrepreneurship rules. Social entrepreneurship besides is for non-profit organisation which deriving and re-investing net income for the following entrepreneurial programs.From the literature, researcher agreed on Hibbert, Hogg and Quinn review.They has defined societal entrepreneurship as the using the entrepreneuship rules for societal mission impact instead than for net incomes and that net incomes will be used to work out a societal demands to specific group.This sentiment more relevant for this undertaking because it is non merely concentrate on the societal mission but besides using entrepreneursh ip rules as stated in the literature early.Since ISEC is a non-profit association, the net income addition from the plans conducted will be reinvested for the following ISEC programs.This undertaking besides will non merely focuses on ISEC community societal demands, but it will looking to the broad country of societal jobs which can non be satisfy by the conventional approach.From the research worker position, it is non needfully to introduce new plans, but it can besides accommodate the being societal mission plans, harmonizing to UiTM pupils environment. 2.4.4 Features in Social Entrepreneurship Websites. Dees ( 2001 ) stated the term of societal entrepreneurship may be something new but the phenomenon is non. There are many societal enterprisers before even cipher name them with that term.For a long clip, entrepreneurship does benefits society by bring forthing new, utile and valuable merchandises and provides more occupation chances. ( Austin, Stevenson A ; Skillern, 2006 ) . Martin A ; Osberg ( 2001 ) besides stated the rebranding by utilizing the societal entrepreneurship term is quickly pulling attending from many sectors. In 2006, the Nobel Prize Award to Mohammad Yunus, the laminitis for the Gramen Bank which has helped 1000s of people, largely adult females, out of poorness, thrust societal entrepreneurship into the planetary attending ( Noruzi, Westover A ; Rahimi, 2010 ) . He believed that the hapless people have under-utilized accomplishments because of the conservative systems and constructions fail to supply the necessary resources to them. From this issue, he founded the Gramen Bank in 1976 to supply loans to the hapless people in his hometown, Bangladesh ( Seelos A ; Mair,2005 ) .Other than Yunus, there are many societal enterprisers and they are utilizing internet platform in advancing their societal mission.Researcher have done some reappraisal on the societal entrepreneurship websites to place the characteristics of societal entrepreneurship web sites. Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) In support their pupils societal involvements and demands, MIT provide a broad scope of support for societal activities.It aid pupils to acquire involved in the societal issues and function communities itself.The characteristics provided in hypertext transfer protocol: //web.mit.edu/mitpsc are: What We Do-Describes the activities among their communities involved such as volunteering plan, family and internship, grants and service acquisition. Opportunities-Includes the public service undertakings outside the campus such as: Service Fair -It ‘s a great chance to happen out about community service that matches your involvements. Civic Engagement-Interaction among communities and authorities including take part in political mass meeting and vote enrollment. Yunus Challenge-New waste development such as medical equipment waste and waste direction. Davis Project For Peace-For MIT undergraduate pupils, this plan provide $ 10 000 family for undertaking that promotes peace, to be implemented during a summer. Support the PSC with donation-Special plans for MIT alumnas association who want to maintain back uping the plan by give a contribution. Buzzbank Buzzbnk is an online crowd support platform that advancing societal ventures to all walks of life and gaining fund for the demands of the community to do the thoughts become world. The community can pass their money and clip, and besides convey the societal message among their friends.Buzzbnk charges 5 percent fee on fund raised for each venture.According to https: //www.buzzbnk.org/ , the characteristics were included are: Explore Projects contains the lists of undertaking have done and approaching projects.Examples of undertakings are Provide Sustainable Homes for Women, Pants to Poverty and Our No Spray Potato Can Feed the World. Searching which specified on the societal entrepreneurship elements such as hunt for highest support undertaking, highest support sum, most popular undertaking and merely started project.Users besides can seek based on the classs such as animate beings, art, instruction and environment. Make a Loan-The inside informations on how to be the fundraiser. Submit Project- Allow their community to convey the thought to do support become world. Kiva Was founded in 2005, Kiva is a non-profit organisation with a mission to prosecute people through their activities in cut downing the poorness rate.Kiva lets persons impart from $ 25 to assist people in need.Social entrepreneurship characteristics included in Kiva web site, hypertext transfer protocol: //www.kiva.org are: How Kiva works-Describe the procedures to affect in Kiva activities. Kiva Social Performance-Identify single societal public presentation strength such as Anti-Poverty, Vulnerable Group and Family and Community Empowerment. Community-contains list of members which have lend their money harmonizing to the specific societal group such as alumnas, concern, spiritual, young person and athleticss. Get down some good Harmonizing to Ueland ( 2011 ) , Start Some Good is a site for societal enterprisers to gather a community and raise the financess needed to make alteration. Its end is to be the best platform for societal enterprisers to establish and turn the advanced ventures needed to better communities and the universe. Anyone including for- net income and non-profit-making organisation can affect in fund-raising runs. It charges 5 per centum of the sum raised.Features included in hypertext transfer protocol: //startsomegood.com are: Support good-Promoting and back uping the societal activities organized by the other party. Discover good-Contains lists of discover ventures such as Do Good Bus, Real Good Food and LearnToLive. Start good-The community can get down and propose their thoughts on societal ventures and the Start some good committe will supply the resources to get down the activities.This is to enable their community to make the hereafter they want for their communities. Community-Start some good community enrollment and battle. From a research based on the literature reappraisal, a functionalities that serves in societal entrepreneurship web sites should hold characteristics as shows in the following tabular array. Features/Organization Massachusetts institute of technology Buzzbnk Kiva Get down some good How it works? / / / Allow community to get down any new undertaking / / / Lists of undertakings / / / / Searching based on societal service involvements / / / / Alumni societal services plans. / / / Table 2.4.4 Social Entrepreneurship websites characteristics. The reappraisal on the common characteristics of societal entrepreneurship web sites besides help researcher to understand its concept.From the literature reappraisal of the common websites characteristics of societal entrepreneurship construct, research worker can reason the of import characteristics to be included are how does the portal work for the societal enterprisers to affect and show their thoughts towards the activities to be conducted, the different societal entrepreneurship undertakings classs such as about environment, humanity, animate beings and education.Other than that, the portal users should able to happen the societal plans harmonizing to their involvements and the ISEC alumnas should acquire involved in the plans by carry oning the particular societal mission plans for them. 2.4 Summary. In this subdivision, the treatment of related literature reappraisal has been made to back up this undertaking. From the analysis of the Table 2.4, research worker has agreed with Hibbert, Hogg and Quinn reappraisal. Basically all of the writers shared the same thought, but the thought from these writers more relevant to be applied in ICE-Port.From the Table 2.4.4, research worker has choose to unite the all 4 common characteristics from the societal entrepreneurship web sites, which are the description of the process to be involved in the plan conducted, it will let their community to get down any new undertaking, ICE-Port besides will included the list of the undertakings with the inside informations, provide hunt map based on societal enterprisers involvement and will let ISEC alumnas to acquire involved with the plans. Chapter 3 PROJECT METHODOLOGY This chapter describes about undertaking methodological analysis, stages, activities and its deliverables. 3.1 Methodology. This undertaking uses the methodological analysis as described in Figure 3.1 as a guideline to accomplish the purpose of the undertaking. It consists of three stages. This methodological analysis is of import to guarantee the aims of this undertaking can be achieved. Figure 3.1 illustrates the overview of the undertaking attack and methodological analysis that will be used in planing the ICE-Port. Phase Activities Deliverables Problem Designation -Discuss current job with ISEC commission. -Collect the diary and articles and analyze on societal entrepreneurship construct. -Review the literatures on the common characteristics of pupil portal. -Review the literatures on the common characteristics of societal entrepreneurship web sites -Description of job statement, purpose, acope, aims and the significance of undertaking. -The construct of societal entrepreneurship identified. -The common characteristics of pupil portal identified. -The common characteristics of pupil portal identified. 1st objective-Project proposal. Requirement and Analysis -Analysis and choosing functionalities for ICE-Port. -Analysis and choosing the functionalities of ICE-Port with the societal entrepreneurship construct. – Requirement confirmation Develop paradigm of ICE Port on selected SE functionalities. Create confirmation cheque templet. -Verify functionalities of a SE in ICE-Port through paradigm presentation with the user. -Description of functionalities of ICE-Port as harmonizing to SE construct. -SE functionalities for ICE-Port are identified. -The paradigm for ICE-Port is demonstrated and verified. -Checklist of confirmation on paradigm. -SRS 2nd nonsubjective Design -Designing theoretical account Identify suited application model Customized the design of selected application model harmonizing to SE functionalities -ICE-Port paradigm designed. -SDD -Project presentation by using SE paradigm. 3rd nonsubjective Figure 3.1 Project Methodology. 3.2 Methodology Description 3.2.1 Problem Identification Phase. In this stage, a preliminary interview session is prepared to help the research worker to behavior an interview.The purpose of carry oning the interview is to place the job of the undertaking. For this undertaking, research worker has done informal treatment with ISEC commission. Problem statement, the purpose, range, aims and significance of the undertaking has been identified.To derive the apprehension on the societal entrepreneurship construct, research worker has collect and analyse the diaries and articles on societal entrepreneurship.Researcher besides has reappraisal on the common characteristics of portal and societal entrepreneurship web sites. The deliverables of this stage are the description of job statement, undertaking purpose, aims, range and significance of undertaking, societal entrepreneurship construct designation, the common characteristics of pupil portal and societal entrepreneurship web sites, undertaking agenda and the undertaking proposal. 3.2.2 Requirement and Analysis. In this stage, the activities to be conducted are analysis the functionalities of ICE- Port harmonizing to the societal entrepreneurship construct and the identified functionalities will be selected for the design of ICE-Port. The demand confirmation will be conducted through the paradigm presentation with the user. The deliverables of this stage are the description of functionalities of ICE-Port as harmonizing to societal entrepreneurship construct, the checklist on the confirmation of paradigm and SRS will besides be produced. 3.2.3 Design. In the design stage, research worker will happen and place the suited application model for the development of portal and theoretical account will be designed. The selected application model will be customized harmonizing to societal entrepreneurship functionalities. The deliverables of this stage are SDD, and planing the concluding paradigm for ICE-Port. 3.3 Summary. This chapter discussed on the methodological analysis to be used for the project.Project methodological analysis is of import for the research worker as a guideline and guarantee the research worker to non divert from the undertaking scope.Currently, this undertaking has done the first stage that is job designation. Chapter 4 HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE Chapter 5 Undertaking Plan This subdivision will depict the undertaking program and work breakdown construction for this undertaking. 5.1 Project Timeline The planned agenda of this undertaking as described in Table 5.1 below. No Undertaking Duration ( Days ) Start End 1 Semester 5 – Undertaking Formulation 105 10 Sep 2012 27 Dis 2012 2 Problem Designation 7 10 Sep 2012 17 Sep 2012 3 Identify Research Area 4 Identify Supervisor A A A 5 Individual Assessment 94 21 Sep 2012 27 Dis 2012 6 Undertaking Topic 2 21 Sep 2012 23 Sep 2012 7 Preliminary Probe 14 24 Sep 2012 8 Oct 2012 8 Research Background 5 15 Oct 2012 19 Oct 2012 9 Undertaking Aim, Scope, Objective and Problem Statement Submission 2 4 Nov 2012 6 Nov 2012 10 Literature Review Submission 1 3 Nov 2012 4 Nov 2012 11 Develop Research Methodology 9 5 Nov 2012 13 Nov 2012 12 Mock Up Presentation 2 17 Nov 2012 18 Nov 2012 13 Proposal Presentation 17 A 26 Nov 2012 A 13 Dis 2012 14 Proposal Submission 17 10 Dis 2012 27 Dis 2012 No Undertaking Duration ( Weeks ) Start ( Month ) 1 Semester 6 – Undertaking Formulation 12 2 Requirement Analysis 3 Analysis and choosing the functionalities of ICE-Port with the societal entrepreneurship construct. 4 Feb 2013 4 Fixing SRS and paradigm 4 March2013 5 Requirement Verification and Validation 1 April2012 6 7 Design 8 Find suited application architecture model. 9 Identify design of selected application model 1 April 2013 10 11 SDD and Prototype 12 Customized the design of selected model harmonizing to SE functionalities 4 May 2013 Table 5.1 The undertaking timeline is of import to gauge the continuance of your undertaking, and place order in which activities should be performed.Currently this undertaking has done with Semester 5 undertaking preparation timeline.The following phases will be started on February 2003.The undertaking appraisal by utilizing Gantt Chart is attached in the Appendix subdivision. Chapter 6 ANTICIPATED RESULT AND CONCLUSION This chapter discusses the description of the expected consequence of proposed undertaking and the decision. 6.1 Anticipated Consequence The awaited consequence from this undertaking is to plan an ICE-Port based on the analysis of the identified societal entrepreneurship concept.The design will be represented in a paradigm and SDD.This undertaking is expected to be completed in two semesters ( refer to the undertaking agenda in Appendix ) . 6.2 Decision The execution of this undertaking tends to turn to the less of the engagement in the entrepreneurship activities jobs among UiTM pupils. Since ISEC commission confronting a job on advancing their activities to the community, ISEC was chosen to reflect for this project.Social entrepreneurship construct was chosen because it is more suited in the pupils environment.With the awaited consequence explained above, it is expectantly that this undertaking will give benefits for the ISEC community and the proclamation or publicity for the entrepreneurship activities can be more effectual and attractive. Appendix Academic survey program which entrepreneurship class has been highlighted as one of the compulsory topic in some faculities.

The Psychology of Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Psychology of Marketing - Essay Example This might not have been possible without the existence of those valuable possessions. This approach depicts a unique psychology of the consumers, which would be discussed in details in this essay. This trait or characteristics which the consumers portray can be evaluated within the domain of the consumer behaviour. The psychology of consumers cannot be understood without referring to the personal values. Though consumer researchers have largely ignored the importance of value in consumer behaviour, but consumer value has shown signs of being a challenging area in consumer research. Personal values have significant implications for the consumer researchers. The term value means different things in different disciplines. In anthropology value signifies the social elements which drives out or provokes reaction from an individual. In case of sociology, value means to focus on the customs or ideologies. It is a concept which groups together to form a mode of behaviour in the society. Psy chology examines value from the perspective of personal motives and attitudes. Values are accountable for the assortment and protection of the goals which human beings struggle to achieve and at the same time regulate the manner and the method in which the struggle takes place (Vinson, Scott, and Lamont, 2002, p. 44-45). Possession reveals the characteristics of the possessor. So if possession is measured in terms of material values, then a relationship can be drawn between personal values and possession. The link between these two aspects is materialism. Materialism is actually the value which symbolizes the perspective of an individual regarding the position possession should have in his/her life. It has been discussed that the individual holding solid material values put possession and also acquisition of such as a centre of their lives. Value possessions are means to achieve happiness and acts as an indicator of success for the possessor. Thus it can be said that materialism is closed tied to value possession and its usage in an individual’s life (Richins, 1994, p. 522). In this context the difference between personality and value can also be studied. Value has an evaluative component which lacks personality and it relates to our belief that we should do. Personality on the other hand involves those things that we naturally do, without pretending what we are doing. Personality traits of an individual do not conflict with each other, but values do (Parks, and Guay 2009, p. 677).The perception, values, attitudes, self-concept affects the consumption pattern of an individual. It reflects the type of products or services the consumer is willing to use or required. The consumption pattern is also largely affected by personality traits of an individual such as aggressiveness, compulsivity, etc. Apart from this self-identity, or self concept also affects consumption. The elements of value such as ethics, materialism, influence the buying behaviour or consu mer behaviour largely (Ruvio, and Shoham, 2011, p. 1089-1091). There are three psychological terms that needs to be discussed in this context are the self-image, self-identity and self concept. It becomes important to discuss these concepts which evaluating the significance of personal values and possessions. Self image denotes the total subjective insight of oneself, which includes the impression of the individuals’ personality and capabilities. It has been also said that self-image is the mental

Organizational Behavior Similarities Between Humans and Elephants Essay

Organizational Behavior Similarities Between Humans and Elephants - Essay Example Among their unique characteristics are having a long and flexible snout (proboscis), elongated incisor teeth (tusk) and a placenta just like humans. They have other distinguishing features which are not very obvious such as obscure features in their teeth, shoulders and ankles; they are one of the very few hoof mammals to have retained five toes (other mammals have only four or fewer toes). Discussion Elephants exhibit a remarkable high level of intelligence; this makes up for their very slow gaits which usually has an adverse effect on wild animals because slow-moving animals are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to escaping their predators. Their big size is a big help in their fight for survival since they have very few enemies in the wild; however, there is another characteristic of elephants which is their complex level of organizational behaviors. It is this social behavior which has allowed them to outlive other species in the wild as it makes them highly organized in t erms of foraging for food, looking for water sources and in fighting off predators; elephants also learn throughout their lifetimes (Haynes 64). Elephants are highly-socialized animals. They live in groups, tend to stay with their relatives, form into familial and kin groupings similar to human clans, highly gregarious and in general associate with other members of their herd. The social behavior of the elephants is very complex because they live very long lives (ibid.) and elephants are suspected to use the same type of personal individual identification as humans when they communicate with each other. They largely maintain long-term relationships; elephant groups are female-centered. By using infrasonic (low-frequency) calls, elephants can communicate with all the other group members and identify an elephant’s individual identity (Breed & Moore 196). The elephants are also very adaptive in their behaviors, with females influencing the males (Wasser 30). Social System of Ele phants – their social system is hierarchical and matriarchal. It is usually the oldest female elephant that is the recognized leader of the group. The rest of the group members follow their matriarch in search of food and water to areas which are recalled by the matriarch’s memory bank. Studies showed that elephant groups without a matriarch are often very tentative in which direction to go because no one gives the order (Dagg 32). An elephant herd needs a large territory because it has an inefficient digestive tract, able to digest and absorb only half the food an elephant eats (O’Connell 235) and needs a big grazing area. The study of elephant behavior will have a great bearing on efforts to ensure their survival. The herd behavior of elephants exhibit striking similarities to human behavior in the social organization sphere. There is an acknowledged leader in a group and this is the oldest female elephant (matriarch) but other female members (sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins, etc.) take a collective effort in caring for their young. It is the matriarch, together with the several generations of relatives, who will gather the group into a close-knit unit that will suddenly take a charge and stampede a perceived threat (AWF 1). Elephants use a variety of ways to communicate such as by sound, smell and stamping the ground (Waal & Tyack 79). Stress Conditions – elephants are very similar to human beings in many ways. One

Performance appraisal methods Essay Example for Free

Performance appraisal methods Essay In order to succeed in the market, companies need to ensure they provide efficient management of human resources. Companies can perform well only in such a case when all of the employees are able to realize their potential, apply their skills and make sufficient contribution to the development of the company. Performance appraisal is particularly important for all of the organizations because it enables them to determine the contribution of every employee to the performance of the company. Performance appraisal is currently one of the most important issues in human resources management which â€Å"continues to be a subject of interest and importance to human resource specialists. † (Hornsby et al. 1996, p. 10). Bernardin Klatt (1985); Hall, Posner, Hardner (1989); Maroney Buckley (1992); Thomas Bretz (1994) have all devoted considerable attention to the development of theoretical models of performance appraisal. How can a manager of the organization make a conclusion about the necessity to promote this or that employee, increase of decrease his salary, shift him to another department? How can the manager decide which employee needs special training or which can perform on the highest level without additional training? The most efficient tool in such a case is performance appraisal. If carried out correctly and on the basis of efficient methods, performance appraisal can be very helpful for the evaluation of employees’ work. â€Å"Companies that hope to succeed in todays competitive business environment must learn to identify their most capable employees for placement in key organizational appointments. To do this, managers should devote more attention to maximizing the effectiveness of performance appraisal systems. (Mcbey 1994, p. 23). Appraisal methods for the performance of the customer care supervisor in Fabulous. com require both the application of generally recognized methods of performance appraisal and their slight adjustment to the specification of the position. On one hand, this position needs to be appraised with the help of commonly used principles and methods. On the other hand, it requires deep understanding of the functions which customer care supervisor needs to perform daily, his responsibilities, all of the complication which can occur in the process of the fulfillment of his responsibilities. The choice of appraisal methods needs to be guided by the specifications of the position. In order to make a decision about the appraisal method which will be used for the position of customers care supervisor, it is necessary to analyze all of the most well-known methods of performance appraisal in relation to their effectiveness for this position. What needs to be kept in mind is that there is no possibility to find one completely efficient method. All of the methods will have both advantages and disadvantages. After more than 30 years of serious research†¦ it seems that little progress has been made in developing an efficient and psychometrically sound alternative to the traditional graphic rating scale. One major conclusion to be drawn from this research is that there is no easy way to get accurate and informative performance data. † (Rice 1985, p. 30). Even though there is no possibility to determine a completely accurate method, some tools of performance appraisal need to be used in any case because â€Å"timely, useful, and accepted feedback can help individuals make great strides toward optimal performance. (Coyens, Jenkins 2001, p. 34). Comparative standards include straight ranking method; alternative ranking method; paired comparison method; forced distribution method. All of these methods are inappropriate for the position of customer care supervisor due to the specifics of his activities. Comparative standards can be very efficient for the types of job in which employees need to do exactly the same kind of work and it is possible to tell the differences between their performance. However, the position of customer care supervisor is created in order to maintain a solid relationship with customers and supervise all of the major activities dealing with customer service in the company. This is not the type of job in which employees’ performance can be compared because it is hard to find the criterion of comparison in such a case. Comparative standards application in performance appraisal of customer care supervisor would lead to inaccurate results. Besides, in customer care it is particularly important to make emphasize on the further improvement of performance of the supervisor. Comparative standards do not provide any information on that point. The straight ranking method is the simplest and the most inaccurate because it only enables to compare employees. It does not let the appraisers to perceive the qualities of the employee himself. Alternative ranking method, paired comparison method and forced distribution methods can all be used in manufacturing companies and organizations of similar type but they will be completely useless when appraising customer care supervisor at Fabulous. com. Absolute standards include narrative essay; critical incidents method; weighted checklists; forced choice; Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales (BARS); Behavioral Observations Scale (BOS). â€Å"With this style of appraisal, managers use written, absolute standards. Reviews are not based upon relative standing of the employee in a specific work group. Absolute methods facilitate intergroup comparison of employees in an organization. † (Mcbey 1994, p. 11). They are more efficient and could be applied for performance appraisal of the position of customer care supervisor. However, they have many disadvantages which need to be discussed. Narrative essay generally could give a good idea about the employee working at the position of customer care supervisor. However, it is more a qualitative description than a quantitative method of appraisal. It would not provide all of the important data about the performance of the employee. Critical incidents method is efficient only to some extent because it provides information about the employee’s behavior only in critical situations. The work of customer care supervisor does not always consist of critical situations, in fact, they are quite rare. That is why there is no sense the measure the employee’s performance with the help of this method. Weighted checklists can be useful but they have a very large impact of the appraiser’s opinion, and weighting coefficients can sometimes be applied incorrectly. Forced choice is not the most efficient method to be applied for the case of customer care supervisor because this method does not meet developmental needs and does not allow the appraiser to interpret the ratings correctly at times. Behaviorally Anchored Rating Scales (BARS) are used quite frequently nowadays. BARS uses expected performance levels as a basis for the appraisal. Behavior is judged by a job analysis and comments from those in the same or similar jobs. Behavioral statements are developed for each job in the organization and are anchored by numerical scales. † (Mcbey 1994, p. 12). However, this method has some important disadvantages. â€Å"Although BARS provides excellent specific behavioral guidance for employees, it is among the most complex and difficult performance appraisal system that can be introduced, especially for smaller organizations without significant human resource staff capabilities. † (Mcbey 1994, p. 2). Other authors also point at the complexity of this method: â€Å"While advocates of BARS, particularly the consultants who do a thriving business with it, claim its a great leap forward, critics point to several drawbacks. The lengthy job analyses and complex scale construction require a major investment of a companys time and money. A scale designed for use in one department may not apply in another. † (Rice 1985, p. 32). In our opinion, there is no sense to apply very complicated performance appraisal techniques in our case because the position which is being analyzed is not the key position in the company. Such complex techniques should rather be used for employees occupying positions of senior- and top management. Behavioral Observations Scale (BOS) are very similar to BARS in their complexity. â€Å"The BOS system observes past performance as the standard for appraisal. BOS offers many of the same benefits as BARS, most notably concrete examples to guide employee behavior and developmental difficulty. † (Mcbey 1994, p. 13). The application of this method is also not efficient for the position which is being analyzed due to its over-complexity. Objectives-based approaches include Management by Objectives (MBO) and work standards approach. These approaches are the most suitable for the performance appraisal of the customer care supervisor because it is particularly important for the employee in the position to achieve his goals. There are types of jobs in which the goals are pre-determined for many years ahead of time: for example, a salesperson needs to ensure he or she sells as much merchandise available in the store as possible. There are no adjustments of this goal or any corrections because it is universal. The position dealing with customer care and maintenance of successful relationship with customers is very challenging and deals with change in many aspects. The goals constantly need to be re-adjusted according to the needs to customers. The capability of the customer care supervisor to achieve all of the goals is the measurement of his success in this position and his adequate performance. There can be no better appraisal methods for this position than objective-based approaches. Management by Objectives (MBO) is very useful in this case. â€Å"MBO became popular because, in theory, it can be tailored to each individual job and because it lets subordinates know how their performance will be measured and gives them specific, mutually-agreed-on goals. (Rice 1985, p. 33). Its mechanism is relatively simple. â€Å"As customarily practiced today, supervisors and their subordinates sit down at the beginning of each year, or every six months, and agree (often in writing) on specific goals to be accomplished. At the end of the period, the supervisors evaluate their subordinates in terms of how well they have met those objectives. † (Rice 1985, p. 33). Work standards approach is similar to MBO except that organizations determine goals and appraisal techniques on the basis of their past experience. Of course, there are some disadvantages of this method which need to be taken into consideration. For example, â€Å"one major weakness is the difficulty of setting reasonable goals well in advance, when they may be vulnerable to factors outside the employees control, such as economic conditions, labor problems and price increases. † (Rice 1985, p. 33). At the same time, this disadvantage can be interpreted as an advantage in such a case if the goals are constantly re-adjusted according to the needs of the consumers. In such a case, the performance appraisal method will work efficiently.

Makemedos Journey to Power in Aristophanes Birds :: Aristophane Birds Papers

Makemedo's Journey to Power in Aristophanes' Birds Humans have always journeyed in search of what they want and need. Our earliest ancestors were nomads, wandering the countryside in search of food and shelter. It is no surprise, then, that much of ancient and modern literature deals with the theme of the journey and getting what one wants. This is especially true in the writing of Aristophanes' Birds, from Aristophanes I: Clouds, Wasps, Birds, translated by Peter Meineck, published by the Hackett Publishing Company in Indianapolis, IN, in 1998. The main character, Makemedo, begins his journey by seeking a land free of worry and work, and ends it by becoming a divine ruler. His desire shifts from wanting a simple existence to wanting tremendous power. This change in his ultimate goal is shown throughout the play by a series of visits from other characters. Aristophanes uses the visitors as a way of mirroring Makemedo's journey on the path to power: the visitors represent the state of Makemedo's power, and the way he deals with them i s a reflection of his status. The first visitor on the path to power is Makemedo himself. He begins by journeying ". . . in search of a land free from hustle and bustle / where a man can just settle down and rest" (43-44). His original demands are simple, and his ultimate goal is to find the Hoopoe, a bird who used to be human, who will help him find such a land. Makemedo begins his journey as a seeker, delegating the power to the Hoopoe, who can help him obtain what he wants: We thought that you might be able to help us. That in all your flying about, you may have come across a nice soft and woolly city where two men can snuggle up and live in peace and tranquility. (119-122) The power is also in the hands of the birds themselves, who meet Makemedo and Goodhope with great hostility saying, "Now for these two old men, the penalty is clear: / Peck them to death! Tear them to shreds!" (337-338). Makemedo is in a position of very little power until he deviates from his original purpose and comes up with the idea for the birds to found their own city. The power shifts the moment the idea occurs to him. The birds are also won over: "Oh! What a transformation, from bitterest enemy to greatest friend! / You've won us over, from now on we're going to listen to you" (628-629).

Behaviour aspects

Employee attendance monitoring in the company had been ineffective due to the outdated system of punching time cards. At times some employees were punched in by their friends or coworkers even if they had not yet arrived. Thus, management could not trace how many times an employee was tardy or absent. The problem on employee tardiness had reached tremendous proportions that an employee had missed 200 minutes of work in a month. Considering that the company relies on their employees to provide the services that they market to their customers, tardy employees negatively impact the operations of the company.However, the company was worried that the employees would resist a new attendance monitoring system. From the workforce point of view, the old system is easier and much more employee-friendly in the sense that there are really times when they do not intend to be tardy but circumstance out of their control would cause them to be tardy. Moreover, the system was easy to manipulate and e mployees justify that they maintain the same productivity and output even if they were tardy a number of times. The company justified that chronic tardiness is a problem that has reached epidemic proportions because employees abuse the old system.Employees are paid in full per hour and if they come in 20 minutes late would mean a huge lost for the company. In order to improve the attendance monitoring of the company, the management invested on a biometric system, wherein employees have to press their thumbs on a scanner and the system logs the employee in or out. The time noted is also more accurate as it includes seconds. However, before the biometric attendance system could be implemented it has to be set-up and will be a major change for the employees.To aid in the implementation of the change in the attendance monitoring system, a plan was devised wherein employees will be made to become aware of the problem, the implications of the problem to the overall productivity of the com pany and the best possible solution to the problem would be the changing of the system (Cameron & Quinn, 2006) . To make the transition to the biometrics attendance system, a general assembly was called for and the attendance report for the whole company was presented to the body.The presentation contained only the percentage of work hours, the number of hours lost due to tardiness and the frequency of tardiness for the past year. The session served as the unfreezing of the status quo since employees are made to confront the issue and that change is inevitable. After the presentation, the biometrics was then presented to the employees and what the new system would be (Palmer, Dunford, & Akin, 2009). The employees were asked to go to the HR department for the entering of their thumbprints and personal data. The employees were given a specific period of time to comply with the required information.The HR then informed the workforce that a trial period for the new system will be set wh erein employees would get used to the new system. This corresponds to the implementation of the actual change. After the 2 months in which the biometrics had been implemented, another general assembly was called, this time it was to present the noticeable improvement of employee attendance and punctuality. This would be the refreezing stage wherein the employees are made to accept the change and that the new system is better than the previous system.Hopefully, the new system will continue to improve the attendance and tardiness in the company to the point when it would cease to be a problem. In order to motivate employees, the management will award those who have perfect attendance. References Cameron, K. S. , & Quinn, R. E. (2006). Diagnosing and changing organizational culture. (2nd edition) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Palmer, I. , Dunford, R. , & Akin, G. (2009). Managing organizational change: A multiple perspectives approach. (2nd ed. ) Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

PUMA case study Essay

In order to arrive at the correct judgment of what will be puma’s opportunities and threats, let analyze the external environments factors affecting the company basing on the PESTEL and industrial competitive factors using five forces framework. And later when determining the company’s strengths and weakness I will look at the company’s internal capabilities by looking at its value chain, value network and any other competitive factors which gives the company more competitive advantage than rivals. By definition external environmental factors are those factors which have impact on company although the company has either very little or no control at all over those factors. Usually these factors are classified as PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal). External Political Factors These refer to the following sub-factors:(I)Government stabilityThis has influence to any business. When the government in which Puma operates become unstable politically business will definitely be affected. For example civil wars affect both operations, leisure’s and sports events which are Puma’s business. In our case study we saw that after terrorist attacks of September, 11, 2001 and wars in Afghanstan, geopolitical uncertainty led puma to shift its production from Pakistan to China (Puma case study, 2003). (ii)Foreign Trade Regulations These includes treaties and agreements which must be respected by the member countries and Companies (Czinkota, Rivoli and Ronkainen, 1992).For example General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT),regulations in respect of monopoly and competition standards, Trade fair Act(1997), Paris conventional for the protection of industrial property, to name but a few. These have impact on Puma since wherever it operates it must adhere to. (iii) Taxation Policy These have impact on Puma’s business because are an expenses which reduce revenue but it can also be used as the barrier to entry to the targeted potential markets. Some government use to fix higher tax to incoming foreign company. Economic Factors These factors have a huge impact on Puma’s business. These are factors like cost of energy, oil, inflation, recession and recovery. For example interest rates(interest on loans and borrowings), inflation and unemployment has got negative impact on business since an increase of one or both of these factors is equivalent to the raise of business running costs at the same time will mean reducing the purchasing power(inflation and unemployment) of the people. GNP Trends can have impact on Puma’s business since a good GNP shows that the per capita income of the people is good. Positive growth trends means increases on people purchasing power which has a positive influence to Puma. People with big disposable income can spend more on the leisure like sports and also buys more of the products as oppose to the people with less disposal income. Sociocultural factors(i)Population demographic; there are arguments that the population is getting older and therefore Puma should starts to focus on the senior people segment in order to remain profitable and for business growth. (ii) Uneven income distribution means there are few people with disposable income (the rich) and the majority have very less purchasing power. It is not therefore a market puma should target. (iii) Lifestyle Changes These have the impact in business and it needs the company to be strategically innovative in order to cope with peoples’ taste/fashion changes to retain and persuade the customers. This is one of the factors making customers switch from one product to the others of the same use. (iv) Attitudes to work and leisureSince Puma operates globally it is possible to meet different societies with different attitudes to work and leisure. Negative attitude to work and leisure will have negative impact to business and positive one will have positive impact to Puma business. Technological FactorsProbably these are the most dramatic forces shaping our destiny which creates whole new markets and destroy others. These are such as;New discoveries/development and speed of technology transferThese makes the products life cycles get short and creates a fierce competition among industries and hence forcing the company to invest more on R&D so as to remain strategically innovative (cost implication to business). Technological factors can lead to both high rate of obsolescence and Increase Company’s budget (through R&D). Environmental factorsMost of the nations and international bodies have been enacting laws to protect the environment (green issues).Companies have been compulsorily required to adhere to these laws; for example the law to internalise pollution, waste remittance and all legislations regarding safety and environment issues. These have significant impact to business like Puma because it reduces revenue. Legal factorsThe company which operates globally must expect different laws in different markets place within its operations. For example employment laws, health and safety regulations and financial regulations. It will also need to know advertising and promotion regulations, pricing regulations and consumer protection legislations. (Brassgton and Pettiti, 2007). Porter’s five forces of competitive strategyWas developed as a way of assessing the attractiveness (profit potential) of different industries. It helps to identify the sources of competition in an industries or sectors (Johnson, scholes and Whittington, 2006).The focus is in the environmental factors influencing this competitiveness; which are as follows;(i) Threats of new entrantsThere are six major sources of barriers to entry which includes economies to scale, capital requirements, and control of distributition channel, customer loyalty, experience and retaliation. (Porter, 1998). To my opinions and with reference to sports industry for more than three decades, threats of entry has a very little influence to Puma. This is because to enter into sports industry you need not only heavy capital and technology but experience and knowledge together with attractive customer base which is the strong barrier to entry. Suppliers Power Suppliers can have power if;(a)There are a concentration of suppliers and they can purchase in big quantities(b)Suppliers have a wide range of customers and can easily switch from one supplier to the other(c)The cost of switching from one Supply another is very high and,(d)If they pose a credible threats of integrating forwards into the industry business. To my opinion these conditions does not apply to Puma and therefore can not be threats because Puma policy on suppliers is such that Puma have no long term relationships with supply and the fact that production, logistics, distribution have been outsourcing surely Puma will be having very few suppliers (mostly not related to production and transport departments). In addition to that it is not possible for those suppliers to integrate backward into industry’s business. Buyers bargaining power According to Johnson, Scholes and Whittington (2006) buyers are likely to have influence on industry’s business if the following condition prevails;(a)There are concentration of buyers and they purchase a big volume(b)The cost of switching a supplier is lower or involves little risks(c)The buyer pose a credible threats to integrate backwards to make the industry’s product. To my views this factor is not a threat to Puma because buyers are scattered all over the world such that they can not have collective bargaining power and the cost of switching from Puma to another suppliers is very big and risks because Puma is among reliable and paying company. The threat of substitutes Substitutes reduce demand for a particular â€Å"class† of product as customers switch to alternative even to the extend that this class of products becomes obsolete (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, 2006).Looking at the trend of sports industry for more than 40 years you will find that there are always Puma and the big three which dominates the sport industry and each having a very attractive customer base and thus this is a justification that Substitutes is no a threats to Puma. Competitive rivalryRefers to organisations with similar products and services aimed at the same customer group; which for Puma can be Adidas, Nike and Reebok and Fila, Diesel and Prada for football, running, basketball and apparel and accessories respectively. This is not a threat at all since for this factor to be threats the following conditions must prevail; there are must be numerous competitors and are roughly have equal size and power which is not the case for sports industry(Look at Adidas,Nike, Rebook and Prada,diesel and Fila) all have different power and sizes. The other factor is that for the rivalry to take place the markets must be matured but this is not the case for Puma because although the traditional market segment were heading to mature there are several niches which offer attractive growth, and yet analysts expect growth in geographical regions for football especially Europe, Asia and Americans. Opportunities and threats Looking at the environmental factors and the five forces affecting Puma I have noted some of the opportunities and threats for the company;OpportunitiesTrends of accessories/equipments is attractiveIf accessories can be properly managed can be greater opportunity for puma to grow the business. Currently 60% of the total sales are generated from footwear division, but according to experts apparel and accessories categories are showing attractive growth rate .why not Puma utilise this opportunity by providing its customer variety of such products by focusing on both high-value and stylish product and lower priced products so that can get shares from companies like LVHM, Hugo Boss and Prada. In my opinion Puma can start focusing on virgin markets such as Racing especially Horse racing, skateboarding, snowboarding to mention but a few. Alliances and joint venture Although puma has acquired some of the largest companies such as Swedish Tretorn the European third largest manufacturer of Tennis balls, it is not enough. Alliances and joint venture is one of the major opportunities for Puma to both expand geographical markets for its products and at the same time get access to valuable technology and competences. Threats Puma faces both intertype and intertypes competitorsPuma’s internal capabilitiesIf the companies are to achieve competitive advantage by delivering value to customers, they need to understand how that value is created or lost (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington, 2006).Puma’s value Chain has been divided into two; Primary and Support activities. If you consider the primary activities side you must understand that puma is described as Virtualized Company. Its in-house resources and activities such as inbound outbound logistics, operations and Procurement have been outsourced. This gives the company to deal with its core competency more effectively. It does not mean however that the company doesn’t care for the outsourced activities but the management are very careful on the selection of suppliers, logistics providers and producers but also it has a strong information technology infrastructure which helps them to coordinate easily and efficiently. Human resources management Puma with no doubts it has a strong HR by looking at the CEO and his deputy. The CEO being graduate in international business administration and having an ample experience in international business and marketing and worked for Colgate-Palmolive. Also the deputy CEO having an extensive experience in supply chain management and strategy implementation is one of the justifications that the company have strong HR capability. Technology development Puma has a proprietary technology which helps the company in terms of innovation and designing and also in information technology. For example the company due to technological ability developed shudol shoe. One of the technological innovations can also be seen on â€Å"cell technology†. To manage its entire coordination and consolidation from all 80 countries is one of the justifications that Puma is strong technology wise. Marketing and SalesPuma’s strengths come from the best implementation of its strategies in marketing and sales. Puma’s core competencies have been divided into marketing, brand and product management. Brand ManagementOne of the major reasons for puma’s turnaround was the new  positioning of the brand itself (refer to case study).One of the strategies used is sponsorship of either individual player or teams and associated the company with charismatic personalities who proliferate the desired brand perception, recogonition and awareness It has association with biggest names in history of sports such as Pele, Maradona and Cruyff. Recently the CEO, use the technique of associating the company with entertainment professional such as Arnon Milchan (the influential film maker),David Matalon and Peter Chernim these stars making brand appears in several Hollywood production. Apart from sponsoring teams like Jamaica and Cameroon Puma has been organising several events such as Puma street soccer in 1994 and 4SOME competition in 2003 aiming at both displaying puma label and communicating Puma philosophy. By 2003 the brand was so high that super stars like Madonna were proud to wear Puma Product without any compensation. Marketing Puma’s marketing division is responsible for all Puma advertising, promotions, PR and selling. Strong promotion and advertisement helps Puma be known company globally. Management are careful to select a media of advertisement and promotions.Footbal, Basketbal and running cups have become the mega events watched by viewers from across the global. Puma has been sponsoring either individual or teams. As a result these events offer excellent marketing opportunities for the company to create awareness of its brand. It has been fine turning its marketing strategies for football cups from 1960’s when Stars like Pele, Maradona and Cuyff to recent stars like Madonna. Product management Product management at Puma concerned with designing, operating and maintaining good products. This ensures that the company doesn’t only produce but creates a product that people will want to buy. Fistly; the company has a wide range of product which help the company to easily respond to different customers with different levels and interests. For example Puma football, running and basketball and others in accessories and equipments. In terms of technology and also to ensure that it offers customers’ product of high quality Puma has association with engineers and famous designers such as Jil Sander Mihara.For instance Puma innovation was â€Å"Cell technology† which convinced famous athletes to be Puma products such Cameroon National soccer team and Jamaica running professionals. Puma is innovative in each stage of the production for example to develop the new â€Å"Shudol shoes† worked with the team of Jordan Grand prix engineers. From Puma’s internal capabilities the following strengths and weakness have been observed;StrengthsStrong brand-name image/company reputationPuma has a reputation for being a pioneer in sports and the brand has very strong heritage in world football, featuring a glittering list of past brand ambassadors which includes some of the biggest names in the history of the game such as Maradona, Pele and Cruffy.It boasts most of the exiting teams and individuals and as a result of having such sports people as customers creates good atmosphere for Puma to enjoy not only the survival but also the company growth. Attractive customer base Having the association with quality players it gives an image to most of the people that the company have quality as well. As the results puma has loyal customers worldwide. This landmark deal laid a foundation for sports marketing and PR drive which saves and strengthens Puma’s position as one of the best performers on footwear, apparel and accessories for years now. Lower cost base and marketing Focused CompanyPuma is a virtualized company because it has outsourced all production, procurement of materials, distribution and logistics making its working capital just small. This make the company not only have a lower cost base but more importantly focuses in its core competencies. Weakness(i)The virtualized company can have serious strategic weaknesses in the long runPuma mainly depends on partnerships, collaboration and networking. Although virtual can meet and satisfy its customers adequately just like other, there arguments that such an extreme form of outsourcing are likely to result in serous weakness in the longrun, as the company become devoid to core competences and cut off from the learning which can  exists through understanding these activities in house (Johnson,Scholes and Whittington,2006). (ii) PricePuma products’ prices are relatively lower than rivals. This is a weakness because price may bring implication that you product has lower quality because most of customers associates high price with high quality. Therefore if the product is priced lower to some customer it will mean that its quality is lower as well. Secondly it reduces the revenue especially if it is not accompanied by high volume of sales. To determine and propose the optimal strategies for Puma in light of the above SWOT and analysing possible change issues and challenges in implanting the strategies. Having looked at Puma’s strengths and weakness and taking into consideration opportunities and threats the company can encounter. The following are my proposal of what would be the optimal strategies for the company:-A Hybrid strategyUnder this strategy the company seeks to not only provide product or services benefits which are valued by the customers that are different from those of competitors but also provide those products at a lower price than that of competitors. It has both lower price strategy and differentiation strategy. Lower price strategyThis can be a best strategy for Puma given its financial position and market shares as compared to rivals. Also Puma has already some element of this strategy which can be a foundation for the implementation of hybrid strategy. For example Puma’s products have lower price than those of competitors, defenitely is because the company have a low cost base after outsourcing all logistics, production, procurement of materials and distribution.Without lower cost base you can not sustain this because lower price reduce margin which unless you have some where within other portfolio to subsidise your business will be very difficulty to sustain. However lower price strategy alone can not be effective and sometimes is dangerous because is can led to â€Å"price war† as your rivals imitate what you  have done. Thus to be strategically safe it should be accompanied by differentiation. Differentiation seeks to provide products that offer benefits different from that of competitors and that are valued by buyers. In this case Puma can upgrades its product’s quality and add to them appealing attributes than that of competitors. This can be achieved by Puma because the company have been in this line of business for decades now such that it clearly know its strategy customers (what they want ) and it clearly know what are the competitors(what they offer and their strengths).After upgraded the products Puma can sell them at similar price of that competitors. In this occasion Puma will be increasing its market shares as more people will go for its products. In addition to that Puma can use hybrid strategy to enter into the markets where their rivals are well established. If you look at the big three i.e. Adidas, Nike and Reebok you will note that they are more well off in terms of both financial and present in every country than Puma making it difficulty for Puma to grow the business and grab from them the market shares. But entering the market with a superior product and with lower price will help Puma to take market share, divert the attention of the competitors, and establish a foothold from which they could move further (Porter, M, 1998). It should clear however that the best results from implementation of the hybrid strategy depends on the sustainability of the strategy itself. And to achieve this Puma need to work harder in order to achieve more sales volume so that to compensate the reduced margin due to selling products at the lower price. This can be achieved by strategically driving down costs .For example Puma should encourage more e-business which will enable the company to sell more but maintain lower cost base. It will also enable the company to sell across the boundaries with very minimum resources but yet be able to achieve high volume at least cost. Also incorporating the supply chain into the system with a quick delivery time which can be a critical success factor. Change issues and possible challengesDefinitely what is behind hybrid strategy is selling at the lower price than that of competitors and at the same time seeking to provide products that offer benefits different from those of your competitors. To achieve efficiencies and productivity from hybrid strategy Puma will need to make changes on the entire staff within and around the organisation. It will need to change employees ‘attitudes so that to direct efforts and dedication to achieving of the positive results from the operations with least costs. This can only be achieved if the management will inspire the people towards Maximising output subject to minimisation of cost (cost sensitive strategy) and build and maintain the marketing and sales focused team. To achieve lower cost base require real time visibility to cost-critical information for many important decision that impact cost prior to products delivery. This visibility must be immediate available and understood to all who impact costs in the process across the enterprise. Selling at a lower price reduce margin and to compensate the lost margin you need to increase sales volume. You can achieve this by having a skilled and competent sales force because such a sales force can; †¢Effectively persuade customers to buy and hence increase market shares. †¢Reduce time and efforts necessary to sell by increasing the relationships level with customers. †¢Increase competitive ability and strengths by reducing predictability and delivery concise and consistent. Financially the good sale force can have the following positive results;†¢Good team can expand the size of each deal and close more deals. †¢Can decrease selling expenses. When the team doesn’t perform well sales cycles are extended and multiple calls are required to convince customers. †¢Lower recruitment and training cost. †¢Also if you able to sell more with fewer costs associated with sales efforts your margin increase. †¢A good team easily adapt to changesAll these can positively contribute to lowering down the cost base for the best implementation and achievement of the hybrid strategyReferencesBrassington and Pettitt (2007) Principle of MarketingCzinkota, rivoli and Ronkainen (1992) International business (2nd edition) New York, London, sydnet, Tokyo-The Dryden pressJohnson, Scholes and Whittington (2006) Exploring corporate strategy (7th edition) London Prentice Hall. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competitive_strategyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter_5_forces_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PESTELArmstrong. M. (2006). A handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, (10th edn), Kogan Page, LondonGrant, R.M. (2005), â€Å"Contemporary Strategy Analysis†, Blackwell Publishing Ltd., Oxford (U.K.), 2005Hunger, J. David & Wheelen, Thomas L. (2003) â€Å"Essentials of Strategic Management†. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.