Operations and Supply Chain Management Essay Example

Operations and Supply Chain Management Essay Although planning Involves determining how the various supply chain processes (sourcing, making, delivering, and returning) will be met, planning itself is not considered a supply chain process. False Delivering is not considered in supply chain analysis when outside carriers are contracted to move products to customers. False We will write a custom essay sample on Operations and Supply Chain Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Operations and Supply Chain Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Operations and Supply Chain Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Service Innovations can be patented. False Investors pay close attention to efficiency and productivity measures Like net Income per employee because they are interested in how well the firm manages its workforce elations. False Wall Street analysts are not particularly concerned with how efficient companies are from an operations and supply management view. False A doctor completes a surgical procedure on a patient without error. The patient dies anyway. In operations management terms, we could refer to this doctor as being efficient but not effective. True The goods-services continuum consists of which set of the following categories? Pure goods, core goods, core services, pure services Which of the following are defined as core goods? -Data storage systems Current Issues In SCM do not Include: Increasing global supply chain employment One of the package of features that make up a service is: Facilitating goods Supply chain refers to processes that move information and material to and from the manufacturing and service processes of the firm. True Although planning involves determining how the various supply chain processes (sourcing, making, delivering, and returning) will be met, planning Itself Is not A major aspect of planning involves developing a set of metrics to monitor the supply chain. True The approach that advocates making revolutionary changes as opposed to evolutionary changes is called creation theory. False The term electronic commerce refers to the buying and selling of electronic products and devices. False Attempting to balance the desire to efficiently use resources while providing a highly effective service may create conflict between the two goals. True Which of the following are not listed in the text as jobs in SCM? Data center manager The supply chain processes mentioned in the textbook are planning, sourcing, delivering, and returning. False

The Definition of a Bar Graph

The Definition of a Bar Graph A bar graph or a bar chart is used to represent data visually using bars of different heights or lengths. Data is graphed either horizontally or vertically, allowing viewers to compare different values and draw conclusions quickly and easily. A typical bar graph will have a label, axis, scales, and bars, which represent measurable values such as amounts or percentages. Bar graphs are used to display all kinds of data, from quarterly sales and job growth to seasonal rainfall and crop yields. The bars on a bar graph  may be the same color, though different colors are sometimes used to distinguish between groups or categories to make the data easier to read and interpret. Bar graphs have a labeled x-axis (horizontal axis) and y-axis (vertical axis). When experimental data is graphed, the independent variable is graphed on the x-axis, while the dependent variable is graphed on the y-axis. Types of Bar Graphs Bar graphs take different forms depending on the type and complexity of the data they represent. They can be as simple, in some cases, as two bars, such as a graph representing the vote totals of two competing political candidates. As the information becomes more complex, so will the graph, which may even take the form of a grouped or clustered bar graph or a stacked bar graph. Single: Single bar graphs are used to convey the discrete value of the item for each category shown on the opposing axis. An example would be a representation of the number of males in grades 4-6 for each of the years 1995 to 2010. The actual number (discrete value) could be represented by a bar sized to scale, with the scale appearing on the X-axis. The Y-axis would display the corresponding years. The longest bar on the graph would represent the year from 1995 to 2010 in which the number of males in grades 4-6 reached its greatest value. The shortest bar would represent the year in which the number of males in grades 4-6 reached its lowest value. Grouped: A grouped or clustered bar graph is used to represent discrete values for more than one item that share the same category. In the single bar graph example above, only one item (the number of males in grades 4-6) is represented. But one could very easily modify the graph by adding a second value that includes the number of females in grades 4-6. The bars representing each gender by year would be grouped together and color-coded to make it clear which bars represent the male and female values. This grouped bar graph would then allow readers to easily compare the number of students enrolled in grades 4-6 both by year and by gender. Stacked: Some bar graphs have each bar divided into subparts that represent the discrete values for items that constitute a portion of the whole group. For instance, in the examples above, students in grades 4-6 are grouped together and represented by a single bar. This bar could be broken into subsections to represent the proportion of students in each grade. Again, color coding would be needed to make the graph readable. Bar Graph vs. Histogram A histogram is a type of chart that often resembles a bar graph. However, unlike a bar graph, which represents the relationship between two different variables, a histogram represents only a single, continuous variable. In a histogram, the range of values is divided into a series of intervals, known as bins or buckets, which are labeled on the charts x-axis. The y-axis, when the bins are evenly spaced, measures the frequency of the given values. Histograms can be used to produce models of probability and to estimate the likelihood of certain outcomes. How to Make a Bar Graph The easiest way to create a bar graph is to use the Charts tool in Microsoft Excel. This tool allows you to transform spreadsheet data into a simple chart, which you can then customize by adding a title and labels and by changing the chart style and column colors. Once you have completed the bar graph, you can make updates and adjustments by changing the values in the spreadsheet. You can also create simple bar graphs using free online tools such as Meta Chart and Canva.

Canadian Employment Insurance (EI) Applications

Canadian Employment Insurance (EI) Applications When to Submit an Employment Insurance Application Apply for Employment Insurance as soon as you stop working, even if you havent received your  Ã‚  (ROE). Be sure to submit your Canadian Employment Insurance application within four weeks of your last day of work, or you may lose benefits. You should receive your ROE from your last employer within five days of becoming unemployed. Some employers submit ROEs electronically, in which case you do not need to submit a copy to Service Canada. If you have difficulty getting a ROE from an employer, go to your  Service Canada Centre  or contact Service Canada at 1 800 206-7218 to find out how to get your ROE and what is needed to calculate your claim. Employment Insurance Application Form When making an application for Canadian Employment Insurance benefits, you will need to give the following information: Social Insurance Number  (SIN), and the SIN of the other parent if applying for parental benefitsMothers maiden namePersonal identification, such as a  drivers license  or  birth certificate, if you apply in person at a Service Canada Centre.Record of Employment (ROE) from each job for the last 52 weeksBank information or a blank personal cheque marked VOID, so  Employment Insurance benefits  can be paid by direct depositEmployment details, including gross salary (before deductions and including tips and commissions), gross salary for the last week of work from Sunday to the last day, and other amounts received or still coming, such as vacation pay and severance pay. Youll need to provide the names and addresses of your employers, including  postal codes.Dates of weeks in the last 52 that you  did not work  and whyMedical certificate if you are claiming sickness benefits or applying for compassionate care benefitsAdoption certificate if you are an adoptive parent c laiming parental benefits. Where to Apply for Employment Insurance You can  apply for Canadian Employment Insurance  in person by going to the Service Canada Centre nearest you. You can also apply for Canadian Employment Insurance  online.

Pepsi and Coke Financials Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pepsi and Coke Financials - Essay Example In both ratios, Pepsi emerged to be superior noting that even without its inventories; its current assets can more than pay-off all its short-term liabilities. In terms of moving its inventories to the market, Coca-Cola shows advantage because of its lower inventory ratio. Pepsi and Coca-Cola display always the same capital structure with creditors and investors having 50-50 contribution in its assets. It should be noted that both companies have 0.50 debt to equity ratios indicating that there is an equal share between creditors and equity holders. Profitability ratios including net profit margin, return on assets, and return on equity shows that Pepsi is performing better. Even though Coca-Cola has a higher net profit margin and a stronger cost management techniques, this is offset by Pepsi's higher return on assets and return on equity. It should be noted that the net income of Pepsi generated more value to the company's resource and investors. The higher return on equity has become the primary basis of this recommendation. Realizing that the goal of a business organization is to maximize shareholder wealth, it is important that it shows a high return on equity.

Analyzing an advertisement poster Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analyzing an advertisement poster - Essay Example Ultimately, the paper will draw a conclusion with relation to the advertisement poster. Notably, the ad uses different colors to capture the attention of the audience. The blue color at the top of the ad seeks to inform the audience that FIFA 14 is available on PS4. The foreground of the ad has bright colors to capture the attention of the eye while the background has a dark color to create a comfortable color mix. Moreover, the colors in this ad represent the various football sponsors of FIFA 14 video game as well as the identity of one of the successful football in the world. The color mix in this ad creates a very effective visual effect that helps the target audience to relate with the product. Furthermore, the ad uses a human figure to present its message to the target audience. The human figure in the ad represents Lionel Messi who is the most decorated player in the world who plays for Barcelona, which is a very successful football club. The human figure relates the product with success and hence encouraging the audience to buy the product with a promise of becoming like Messi. Moreover, the ad depicts the product in a very clear way. Indeed, the audience can easily identify the product and the body that licensed the product subject to the good mix of colors and the large font of the product description. Various words and texts appear on the image. These words and texts are clear and represent the product, the sponsors of FIFA 14 video game, and the official bodies that licensed the product. Moreover, the words and texts represent the device, which supports the application of this product. Furthermore, the texts represent the sponsor of the club shown on the image. Notably, the image has a defined boundary. The name of product is at the center of the image while the human figure aligns to the left. The name of the device that supports the application of the product is at the top of the image with a unique color. The ad uses

Evaluating Organisation Values and Structure

Evaluating Organisation Values and Structure Organization culture can be defined as a functional element of a business that comprise of organizational values, experiences and beliefs and the cultural norms of the organization. The specific collection of these values and attributes are shared by the employees within an organization and are controlled according to the level of interaction between them. The main protectors of organizational cultures are the employees within the organization and the stakeholders outside the organization. Thus this report discusses the key aspects of organizational culture and behaviour and also covers basic theories related to organizational management. Organizational values can be attributed to the beliefs and ideas of the individuals within the organizations regarding the strategic goals. The organizational values are conveyed right from the top of the organizational pyramid to the bottom. As far as organizational culture is concerned, there are various factors comprising of the organizational culture. These factors include employees, creation of values, growth, commitment, motivation and future emphasis. Organizational values and culture influences the kind of behaviour individuals carry within a work place. Thus these are the basic concept regarding organizational culture and values. It is a well known fact that an organization cannot succeed without a sound organizational culture and positive behaviour of the individuals comprising the organization. There are various factors that influence the behaviour of individuals and are an important part of the organizational culture. All these phenomenons and other activities such as coordination, task allocations which are collectively directed towards achieving the organizational objectives consist of the organizational structure. Most of the organizations have organization structures comprising of the clustered entities. The structure of an organization depends of its objectives and the strategies which are formulated to achieve these objectives. Organizational structure enables giving responsibilities for different business operations to various business entities such as department, workgroup or team, individuals and many more. If an organization doesnt have a sound structure, there are chances that it might face difficulties in achieving its objectives. We shall now discuss organizational structure and culture in more detail. Organizations witness different cultures because they consist of different types of individuals. The culture within an organization has direct implications on its performance and also reflects its values and beliefs. If there is no alignment between the organizational culture and the companys business strategies, the company will struggle to work with full potential and satisfy the objectives of its stakeholders. There are many types of organizational cultures as suggested by various academic scholars. First of all, there can be Collaborate organizational culture which is found where the workplace is open and friendly and employees share lot of things among themselves. Next is the Create culture wherein the workplace is dynamic, entrepreneurial and innovative and experimentation is considered to be the driving factor for development. Then we have the Control culture wherein the organization is very structured and formal and employee behaviour is governed by the set rules and procedur es. Finally, we have Competitive culture which is observed in the results seeking organizations with employees being highly competitive, goal-oriented and productive. Thus these are different types of organizational cultures which have direct or indirect effects of business performance. The main factor of organizational structure and culture that drives the performance is leadership. Leadership is characterized by the focus on internal business environment, organizational effectiveness and business results. Thus all the organizations thrive to create a sustainable and robust culture that ensures future viability of the business and enhanced performance. Figure 1 explains the main factors of organizational culture and its impact on performance. Figure1: Organizational Culture and Performance Factors influencing Individual behaviour Individual behaviour within a workplace is influenced by various factors such as emotions, culture, persuasion, values, norms, ethics and personal attitudes. The main factor influencing human behaviour is the work environment and organizational culture. For example, if an employee is highly motivates within a workplace, he/she would develop a positive approach towards work and the productivity will increase along with the profits. On the other hand, if an individual faces issues such as ignorance, demoralization, corruption and unethical behaviour, this will have a negative impact of the individuals behaviour. Moreover the individuals abilities and skills, perception and personality also help in determining his/her behaviour within an organization. Thus there are the main factors that affect an individuals behaviour within an organization. Organizational Theories There are various organizational theories in academic literature using which the organizations survive in the competitive market. The foremost organizational theory is the contingency theory which suggests that whenever the company management takes important decision, they should consider all the aspects of the companys current performance and act accordingly. Next is the systems theory which considers the organizations in a broader perspective and helps in interpreting the market and anticipating the needs of customers. Then we have the scientific management theory which helps in accurate measurement and monitoring of organizational tasks and also the strategies developed in order to achieve these goals. Finally there is the human relations theory which supports the idea of trade unions and government regulations. According to this theory, more emphasis is given to employees and their potential in the organization. The main culture and subculture within an organization plays an important role in the company and is also vital for its success or failure. Thus these are the basic organizational theories that play a significant role in organizational management. These theories help in every aspect of organizational management as they help is management operations such as sales forecast, performance monitoring, decision making, enhancing the business networks and so on. Thus we shall now discuss about management theories and organizational culture of two organizations namely Google and Microsoft. Google have very different and unique approaches towards management. The main management approach of Google is effective employee handling and motivation by providing a wonderful experience at work. All Google employees are called as Googlers and the whole organizational culture of Google is very unique. For example, employees have the liberty to comment on the companys strategies or give suggestions to the top management personals. The company management principles consider all its employees equally important for the success of the company. Googlers were allowed to carry their pets at workplace, were given free lunch and snacks and other amenities. Thus one can clearly suggest that Googles zero percent employee turnover rate is an excellent testament to its respectable organizational culture. Moving onto Microsoft, managers here are described as Mentors and employees as Pupils. Mentors in Microsoft carry high profile with a wealth of knowledge and experience whereas pupils are encouraged to be hard-working and enthusiastic to take risks. Microsoft has been successful over the years by using a sound organizational structure. The company is managed by 10 Board of Directors who are elected every year. The company is sub-categorized into various teams that handle critical aspects of business. All the employees of Microsoft share the same values and beliefs and the expectations they have from the company. These shared views affect the companys performance, decision making and also team performance. Employees are allowed to grow within the company as a part of the strong organizational culture Microsoft has. Thus over the years, Microsoft has successfully used its organizational culture and resources in order to achieve its business objectives. Thus these are the different approaches towards management of two organizations namely Google and Microsoft. There is one thing common between the two companies as far as the role of technology in organizational culture is concerned. Both the companies are equipped with latest technological gadgets that make it easy for them to give good performance, analyze markets, anticipate future forecasts and many more. One can clearly comment that indeed the organizational culture and sound approaches towards organizational management are the basic elements needed by the organization to have an edge over its rivals. Thus we shall now discuss about various leadership styles and their effectiveness in leadership approaches. Importance of different leadership styles Leadership style can be defined as the effective behaviour of leaders towards achieving team objectives and management of the team. It can also be considered as the way of giving direction to others, implementing strategies and motivating individuals. There are numerous leadership styles discussed in the academic history. We shall now discuss about different leadership styles and their importance in organizational performance. The first is autocratic style where all the decision making authority lies with the leader. Here the leader doesnt pay much attention to the suggestions given to him/her and all the initiatives taken are the leaders responsibility. The only advantage here is that the leader possesses extreme wealth of knowledge and experience which is used to achieve organizational goals. Next is the Participative style wherein the leader consults his/her group of team before making decisions. This is very advantageous as far as team performance is concerned. This style also he lps members of the team to self motivate by taking active part in team discussions. Democratic leadership style ensures that the leader takes the final decision but consults a couple of individuals regarding the decision making process. This leadership style is a sign of strength as it helps in earning the respect from employees. Finally we have the free reign leadership style, wherein employees are allowed to take their own decisions. However the responsibility of the decision lies on the leaders shoulder but this helps the employees to analyze situations and determine the strategies. Here the tasks are generally completed based on the priority factor of an individual task. Thus these are some of the leadership styles that the leaders in real world carry with themselves in order to complete tasks or achieve organizational goals. There are various factors that influence the different leadership styles within the organization. These include available time, responsibility, and possession of information, knowledge of employees, internal conflicts, and stress levels, type of objectives and finally the rules and regulations of the organization. All these factors highly influence the leadership styles in a way that there is lot of uncertainty that same style would be used for the whole process of achieving organizational objectives. Thus these are the main issues regarding different leadership styles and their effectiveness. Motivation Theories In order to discuss the application of motivational theories within a workplace, we shall first discuss about different types motivational theories. The first is the incentive theory wherein a tangible or an intangible reward or benefit is given to the employee after completion of a particular task or exceptional services. According to this theory, the reward given to the employee will motivate him/her to continue giving exceptional service to the organization and develop positive attitude towards work. Next is the need motivational theory suggesting that the needs and wants of a human being reflect the type of performance given by them. The fulfilment of one need motivates individuals to work harder in order to fulfil the next need or a want. Over the years, there has been very strong relationship between the motivation theories and management practices in organizations. Motivation theories are the driving factors that positively influence the performance of individuals and hence the company. On the other hand, management theories cover effective administration as well as the business. Both these theories are interrelated and work together. For example, a manager motivates an employee by giving certain benefits or rewards for hard work and as a result the productivity of the employee goes up and so does the profits of the company. In this case, the manager applied motivation theory and the whole process comes under the management theory which includes using relevant resources in order to meet the objectives or get the work done. Moreover, if a sound motivation theory is not applied then the overall process of management has chances of not meeting the expected outcomes. Thus one can clearly suggest that indeed, the motivat ion theories have sound influence on the management theories within any given organization. Thus we shall now try to evaluate the nature and work behaviour of groups or teams and also discuss the factors that lead to their failure or effectiveness. Team effectiveness and failure A very common practice observed within many organizations is the formation and working in teams. Working in team enables completion of goals with team efforts and condensing bigger objectives into smaller individual tasks. Teams can be formed within an organization with different departments, rank of employees, based on projects and also based on abilities of individuals. In the case of team efforts, the whole team is responsible for completion of the given task and if one member underperforms then it can affect the performance of the whole team. Thus specific groups are formed in order to complete the given task in a specific manner which a single individual cannot perform. Groups or teams have different natures or behaviours which influence their performance. The team or group can be ambitious, enthusiastic, hard-working, motivated, inexperienced, disorganized and many more. All these factors directly or indirectly lead to the team effectiveness or failure. The factors or behaviour of the team that leads to its effectiveness are high morale, motivation, energetic, high experience, well coordinated and hard working. For example, if a team has these factors then it can easily coordinate and work hard collectively in order to achieve team goals. On the other hand, factors such as individual concerns, lack of coordination, dissatisfaction among members, over ambitious leader, low morale and lack of experience can lead to the team failure within an organization. For example, if a team has less experience and coordination among team members, then it is obvious that the performance cannot be enhanced and thus leading to the team failure. Thus these are the main factors that affect the whole performance of the team and which lead to the team effectiveness or failure. We shall now analyze the role of technology on team functioning within an organization. Impact of Technology on Team Functioning In todays world, almost all the businesses are loaded with technology and make the full use of technological equipments in order to run their administration tasks. Technologies such as e-mails, mobile phones, Blackberry, groupware, computers and laptops have played significant role in improving team performance. For example, if team members are not at a same place, they can still have a communication via the e-mail. Mobile phones have brought a big revolution in the world of technology which helps team members when they are out of the office, on the road or otherwise unavailable. Groupware helps the team members to plan important meetings and collaborate in a virtual environment which can be accessed from all parts of the world. Finally computers and laptops allow team members to use internet and perform various business tasks very easily. Thus these are the main factors that have a deep impact on the team functioning. There are so many other technological factors that influence the team performance. For example, there has been extensive advancement in the technological gadgets such as video conferencing, web cam, fax, printers, scanners and many more have direct or indirect influence on team functioning. As far as information technology is concerned, it helps the team to perform back-end operations such as monitoring sales forecast, managing customer database, conducting business through websites, using various software and many more. Information technology plays a vital role in todays organizations and is the determining factor for the success or failure of the organization. The development of information technology over the years is showing no signs of slowing down. A region-wide Wi-Fi and nanotechnology are the latest inventions that boost all the aspects of business functionalities. Thus these are the main impacts of technology on the team as wells as business functioning. Conclusion Thus one can clearly suggest from all the above discussions that indeed a sound organizational culture and organizational structure plays the determining factor for the success or failure of the organization. In this competitive business environment, all the companies are constantly trying to improve their organizational culture so that they can have an edge over their competitors. Employees are a very important aspect of organizational culture and thus there are various factors that influence individual behaviour at the workplace. Thus these organizational theories underpin all the basic principles of management. The example of Google and Microsoft explained that how a sound organizational culture helped the companies to progress toward their desired goals. An organization consists of various individuals and these individuals can work together forming various teams among themselves. As we have seen, there are many factors that affect the team performance and thus a positive organizational culture will always have a positive impact on the team performance. Finally, the use of technology in recent years has been the driving factor in the effective working of a team or an individual or a company.

Howard Zinn Chapter One

Columbus has always been portrayed as an enlightened, peaceful explorer who â€Å"discovered† a new world, and became friends with the native people. Howard Zinn’s view on Columbus’s encounter with the natives is an entirely different perspective. Zinn describes Columbus as a man who is willing to torture and kill others to be able to accomplish what he wants; in this case he wanted to obtain gold and other resources to take back with him to Spain.When Columbus and his men arrived to the islands, he noticed that the natives were generous, and accommodating because they willingly traded everything they owned and brought them such things like: food, water, and gifts. Since the beginning the natives offered all of their hospitality to Columbus and his men. Columbus believed that the natives were ignorant because they had no weapons for self defense; when he showed them a sword, they had no idea how to use it and ended up cutting themselves.Columbus was more than cer tain, that he could take control over the natives, and captivate them as slaves. In his writing he wrote, â€Å"They would make fine servants†¦. With fifty men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want. † (Zinn, 3) This attitude leaded to enslavement, feeling superior, and genocide by Columbus and his men towards the natives. Columbus had persuaded the king and queen of Spain to finance an expedition to the lands, and the wealth; he expected to be at the Indies and Asia.Columbus would receive ten percent of all the goods collected, governorship over new-found lands, and the fame that would go with a new title: Admiral of the Ocean Sea. Columbus believed the natives could lead him and his men to where the gold was, to be able to take it back to the King and Queen so he took many of them as prisoners on his ship. He also wanted to take them back to Spain as slaves and be able to make them do whatever they wanted them to do. Columbus took advantage of th e ignorance of the natives, and made them do hard labor for him and his men.Columbus believed that there were huge fields of gold, in the province of Cicao on Haiti. He became desperate to pay the dues back to the king and queen, so he order every native older than fourteen to collect a certain quantity of gold by three months. Once they had collected the amount, they would receive a copper to put around their neck, those without it had their hands cut off and bled to death. Many felt it was impossible to do this, and tried escaping but were always found and killed.When it was finally clear that there was no gold left, they took them all as slave labor to huge estates which are called encomiendas. Columbus’s big plan for Hispaniola since the beginning was to take advantage of the natives and take their land, and the gold he believed was located there. He built the first fort in the Western Hemisphere, and left some of his men to find and store gold there. Columbus had to ask for a little more help from their majesties, he convinced them by saying he would take them â€Å"as much gold as they need †¦ nd as many slaves as they ask† (Zinn,6 ) Columbus’s plans affected the natives, in many ways; first of all they were going to lose their land, and also they were going to be taken captive for slave labor. Howard Zinn not only introduced a new perspective on Christopher Columbus, but he changed the way I viewed things. I never knew how much killings, and torture was put upon the natives in the searching of the â€Å"New World†. I learned how the hero I thought Columbus was, in reality was more like a villain. He didn’t care what he had to do as long as he got what he wanted, even if it dealt with murders and torturing the natives.