Individual assignment---report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Individual assignment---report - Essay Example The paper suggests use of trained technicians and enhancement in the quality of the products in order to increase the revenue of the company and to stimulate its acquired market share. Table of Contents Abstract 2 1.0.Introduction 4 2.0.Implementation of ICT in River Island 4 3.0.Issues at River Island 5 4.0.Literature Review on ICT 6 5.0.Utilisation of ICT to Solve the Matter 7 6.0.Conclusion 9 References 10 1.0. Introduction Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is universally identified as one of the most significant tools that are utilised for the purpose of social alterations as well as national development (Ministry of Human Resource Department, n.d.). In the current day phenomenon, ICT along with the internet are altering the human activities that have been dependent upon the information. It offers the individuals as well as the communities with an opportunity to be not only consumers of the goods and services, but also acts as active generators of the information. It is by means of media convergence that it becomes easier for ICTs to develop and coordinate the capacities of other Medias (FAO, 2000). ICTs are normally related with the issues of data processing as well as information management by means of large scale information systems. It is worth noting that it is not only the information technology itself which is a significant factor for the quality of work; rather, it can be regarded as the strategy that the company adopts so as to coordinate the aspect of technology with the changing requirements of the organisation (FAO, 2000). The company that has been chosen for the study is River Island. River Island is based in London and was initiated in the year 1948. The founders of the company were Andrew Hunt and Bernard Lewis. The company has more than 60 years of experience in fashion retailing and is considered as one of the successful companies in British High Street (River Island Style Insiders, n.d.). 2.0. Implementation of ICT in River Is land Information and Communication Technology facilitates in the smooth operations of the organisation and thus assists in many other ways such as stock control, keeping extra records, advancing the communication process, production as well as marketing. Through ICTs it is gradually becoming easier for the company to reduce its costs significantly (Business Studies Online, n.d.). It is to be mentioned that River Island also makes use of the ICT’s in order to improve its operation in an effective manner. River Island has worked with consultancy named Royal National Institute of Blind People Web Access Consultancy so that its new website offers high degree of accessibility ensuring that as far as possible it is reachable to all the users. It is worth mentioning that online shopping is a type of ICT used by the company for making its goods available to the consumers online. The company’s online services assist the consumers in purchasing clothes, shoes as well as accessor ies. Notably, River Island provides a wide on-line range of women’s as well as men’s fashion related clothing’s to the customers (River Island, 2012). The leading fashion retailer, River Island, demonstrated its plans to initiate stores that are mainly dedicated to accessories as well as shoes. It was noted that the company decided to bring certain alterations in its business’s in-store design policies and introduce numerous interactive technologies that can be utilised by the customers. It further planned to

Progressive Era vs. Gilded Age Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Progressive Era vs. Gilded Age - Essay Example The Gilded Age on the other hand was a period of rapid growth and development in terms of the economy of the country and it began in the late 19th century. The main aim of the Gilded Age was to make progress in the industrial sector of the economy so that positive changes could be seen in the Gross Domestic Product as well as capital formation of the country. It mainly saw the growth of heavy industries, transport, mining and other such aspects of development which form the backbone of the economy. It was this period during which the US soared past other rival countries like Germany, France and Britain with respect to technology. Wall Street was also established during this period. On the other hand, the Progressive Era sought to bring about political reforms in the country on the basis of the Gilded Age. During the Gilded Age there was a vast amount of widespread corruption as well as glitches in the process of development which needed to be curbed. Movements were begun in the Progr essive Era to bring about the welfare of the people and expose all the corruption. This period also saw the growth of a large number of people that were modernizers and were ready to adopt the path of science and technology. They believed in education and how it was the sole object that could lead people into the future. They had faith in improving substantially, the environment as well as people’s lives with the help of proper government and social interventions. In terms of business, the Gilded Age was the period where the economy witnessed a very high growth in wealth of about 3.8% which subsequently led to a higher growth in national income. The GDP of the economy also doubled with time. More and more careers began to give way and younger people, even younger than 21 began to be hired for jobs in all kinds of blue collar fields. All this took place after the economy had faced a depression also known as the Panic of 1873. Almost twenty years after, the Panic of 1893 struck the American economy however the Progressive Era emerged as a result of the same because during this time, the citizens were trying to handle the stress caused by the depression by trying to put emphasis on employment and hard work. However, all these aspects declined considerably due to lack of finances, and this state carried on till about the First World War During the Gilded Age, none of the parties wanted any kind of involvement on part of the federal government in the private sector except for a few areas like railroads and tariffs which were for the common benefit of the people. The concept of laissez-faire was adopted by the private sector as the economy developed into a capitalist form of market. However, with the Progressive Era dawning upon the economy by the late 19th century, more and more small-scale entrepreneurs, farmers and laborers began believing that they could receive better help from the government. They felt that the government could take out policies for the purpose of their protections against the big industries and thus help in increasing the employment levels of the primary and secondary sectors of the economy. The Gilded Age witnessed the growth of a number of labor movements and unions being formed. These were generally groups of people coming together in order to protest against the current wage rates, hold strikes for unfair conduct and unhealthy working environments. For example, one very significant strike that

Corporate Social Responsibility And Competitive Advantage Theories Management Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility And Competitive Advantage Theories Management Essay Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible business (SRB), or corporate social performance, is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. ¼Ã‹â€ Wood, D. 1991 ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° Kotler and Lee (2005) thought CSR is a commitment to community well-being through discretionary business practices and contributions of corporate resources. Ccorporate social responsibility includes human rights, employee rights, stakeholder rights, environmental protection, community relations, transparency and corruption. (Frynas, 2005) Competitive Advantage Competitive advantage is generally believed that the company holds the trumps in resources, capacity, and value created for customers, profit levels and market share and so on. Barney (1991) said a firm is said to have a competitive advantage when it is implementing a value creating strategy not simultaneously being implemented by any current or potential competitors. The basis of a competitive advantage comprises low costs for raw materials and energy, efficient production technologies and locational advantages.(Torsten Frohwein, Bernd Hansjurgens,2005). The opportunities for competitive advantages derive from the following implications: regulation and information.(A. B. Jaffe, R. G. Newell, R. N. Stavins,2001) The relationship of CSR CA Porte (1995) identifies the objectives of environmental improvements and enhanced competitiveness can be combined in a win-win situation. There is no consensus that the relationship of Corporate Social Responsibility and Competitive Advantage. In this paper, the relationship between CSR stakeholders is analyzed. A model of CSR contribution to competitive advantage was built so as to study the relationship between CSR CA. CSR is divided into the main stakeholders investors, employees, consumers, business partners, natural environment, community and government responsibility, using the description of corporate social responsibility and stakeholder theory framework. The essay described the competitive advantage from three dimensions: strategic resources, enterprise core competencies and business environment according to the comprehensive theory of competitive advantage. Main body CSR Enterprise Strategic Resources Barney (1991) analyzed competitive advantages from point of view of resources: Valuable, Rare, Imperfectly Imitable and Non-Substitutable. This essay selected two closely related resources with CSR to analyze: corporate reputation and corporate personnel. CSR Corporate Reputation Olins (1990) said that corporate reputation might be extended to a large range of product brands. Balmer (1998) Pointed out that corporate reputation finally is able to bring competitive advantage for enterprises and it is an important strategic resource. Corporate reputation comes from stakeholders; therefore, companies must be responsible to its stakeholders. That means CSR could effect corporate reputation, thus affecting t competitive advantage. Conversely, good reputation will also help companies to promote corporate social responsibility. Since the reputation determines attitude of the public and generates more favorable effect. Some multinational companies with high reputation, such as Wal-Mart, Starbucks, Nike and McDonalds fulfilled corporate social responsibility in brand-building to rebuild corporate reputation, image and corporate culture, thus enhanced the influence of brand. From a long-term perspective, corporate social responsibility is more conducive to enhance the long-term development and public image. CSR corporate personnel From the point of human resources, human capital is the basis for competitiveness. Staffs including employees and employers are makers, implementers, innovators and evaluators of core competitiveness of enterprises. Business survival and development depends on initiative and creativity of staff. Staff is the driving force for the development. Staff is a powerful competitive advantage to obtain protection. An enterprise survival depends on staff. Therefore, how to retain staff and how to develop staffs contribution of core competitiveness is the core issue. Companies must not only provide employees with reasonable salary and benefits, but also need to create equality, non-discrimination, safety and health, continuing training, working environment. All these are responsibility that enterprises must bear to employees. Staff loyalty and satisfaction result in competitively in the market. The enterprises fulfill their social responsibilities to their staff, such as attracting staff, retaining staff and stimulating creativity, which would have a positive impact. CSR Core Competencies CSR risk control capabilities Risk control is that managers have taken various measures and methods to eliminate or reduce various possibilities of risk, or to reduce losses caused by the incident. CSR that enterprise lead to its stakeholders could reduce the possibility and losses of risk, while appropriate penalties could be subject to ignoring the social responsibility. CSR business innovation Business innovation means such new methods or procedures that an enterprise uses its skills and resources to build new technology and products so that customer requirements can be changed or provide in better response. Business innovation includes product innovation, production process innovation and management innovation. Enterprises create new products and services by innovation to access to excess profits rather than average profit and win in the competition. Therefore, enhancing business innovation can obtain competitive advantage. In 2007, the British consulting firm Account Ability and CSR Network conducted Corporate Social Responsibility Assessment, and British Petroleum was ranking first. BP has also invested $20 million to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to resolve the problem in order to mitigate global warming. The result of carbon dioxide emissions was reduced by 10%in 2001 compared to 1990. And it also received $560 million of value-added returns. Therefore, CSR will stimulate innovation and bring benefits for enterprises. CSR the corporate environment A good relationship with stakeholders helps enterprises to expand market, win opportunities so as to form competitive advantage. CSR Consumer CSR the Natural Environment CSR Business Partners CSR Community CSR Government model Competitive Advantages Business partner Community Government Consumer Natural Environment Staff Corporate Environment Competencies environment mpetencies Transformation and Influence between CSR CA CSR can be transformed into competitive advantages. First, corporate social responsibility is good for optimizing the living environment. Corporate social responsibility can help corporations avoid condemnation, punishment and restrictions from government, community and the public so that decision-making and management are flexibility and autonomy. Maybe they enjoy preferential policies and incentives by government. Second, enterprises carry out their social responsibility to improve the public image, advance enterprises visibility, reputation, enhance social harmony, to attract consumers. All these can create a broader market and better development. Third, corporate social responsibility can cross international barriers. At present, corporate social responsibility has become accepted indicators of high standards and strict requirements. In an increasing economic globalization, corporate social responsibility would help enterprises to international markets, reduce the impact of social responsibility and enhance and upgrade competitiveness in the international market. Fourth, corporate social responsibility will help to attract talent. Corporations regularly involved in social responsibility are more well-known to easily recruit and retain talent. Fifth, corporate social responsibility will help improve financial performance, because Investors are always interested in responsible corporation.

Adaptation of Renewable Energy Essay -- Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat. On October 5, 2010 the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) approved the first sizeable solar energy plants to be built in California which will be divided into two developments totaling 6,800 acres of public land. This project is estimated to last 30 years while generating almost 1,000 new jobs. The solar energy technology that will be used in California’s Imperial County is called the sterling energy systems SunCatcher technology. It will require 28,360 solar dishes and will produce approximately 709 megawatts which will provide electricity to 212,700 to 531,750 homes. The second project is called the Chevron Lucerne Valley Solar Project and will use solar photovoltaic technology in San Bernardino County using 40,500 solar panels, producing 45 megawatts, and powering 13,500 to 33,750 homes. Another project planned for the San Bernardino County will use parabolic m irrors and create 250 megawatts of power. There are several solar power projects still awaiting DOI approval, such as a 1000 megawatt blythe solar power project consisting of a parabolic trough facility. This is slated to be the world’s biggest solar power plant. Companies who work on renewable energy projects receive credits from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. ( EERE Network News) More countries are putting the transformation of solar power into electricity high on their â€Å"political agenda† (Solar Energy). In America, less than one percent of electrical use is powered from solar energy. European countries however, are eager to use solar power and promote that by making utility companies purchase expensive solar power at a fixed cost. The leadin... ...will decrease as it has slowly started to do. There are many countries in the world that was to cut down on the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the air and the more countries that get on board with that then they sooner the world will start switching over. There is still a long way to go before renewable energy can become the dominant energy source. Works Cited EERE Network News. Interior Department Approves First Solar Energy Projects on Public Land. 08 10 2010. 13 12 2010 . Fife, Mike. "Solar Power." Solar Power Reliability and Balance-of-System Designs 14 10 2010. Pebbles, Victoria. "Siting Wind Farms in the Great Lakes Region: Policy Summary and Analysis." Siting Wind Farms in the Great Lakes Region: Policy Summary and Analysis 15 10 2010. "Solar Energy." Solar Energy. New York: New York Times, 1 4 2010.

W.A.T.C.H.

It is simply being late of activities to be conducted as in meeting or work. This is the reason why a project entitled We Advocate Time Consciousness and Honesty (W. A. T. C. H) conducts related programs every second week of June to solve the Filipinos punctuality problems. Everyone must be a time advocate to alleviate this serious yet mostly neglected problem.Problem Solutions The following are some solutions and recommendations to prevent and cure punctuality problems among all people whether a student or a professional. This robber is not as simple to be solved by equations. This requires discipline, honesty, and zeal. A Time Advocate guards time. The primary action to be a time advocate and a good follower of W. A. T. C. H is to always keep track of time. Knowing your time should be as important as checking your wallet as you step out from your house.You should know your every time schedule. To avoid being late, you can adjust your watch a few minutes from the exact time and it i s recommended that you compare your hatch's time from your office's time. You should be disciplined enough that you won't rely that your watch Is set in advance. A Time Advocate is prepared. Aside from the keeping an eye to time, one thing that you can do to develop punctuality is to be prepared. Simple preparations such as setting your clothes beforehand and the things you need for work or school is helpful.Everything that you need for tomorrows activities must be prepared the night before to avoid setbacks. A Time Advocate influences others. The most Important action that a time advocate must do Is to make Influences. One can make Influences through (1) being an example by applying what you learn about punctuality, (2) setting rules on punctuality and honesty In your own workplace, and 3) attending summits and seminars about W. A. T. C. H or other related programs. Time Is gold, so make It precious.Be a time advocate. W. A. T. C. H. By immeasurable office's time. You should be dis ciplined enough that you won't rely that your watch is need for tomorrow's activities must be prepared the night before to avoid setbacks. The most important action that a time advocate must do is to make influences. One can make influences through (1) being an example by applying what you learn about punctuality, (2) setting rules on punctuality and honesty in your own workplace, and is gold, so make it precious. Be a time advocate.

A brief for an awareness campaign

For my project, I have chosen to create an awareness campaign, about child abuse, which can come under the marketing and advertising part of the course. My campaign is going to be mainly focused on sexual abuse, as it is quite a sensitive topic and not many people choose to do it. I am aware that it is going to be challenging, and that I would have to use some very effective techniques in order to give out the right message. The main aim is to educate people and inform them about what is going on in the world, as well as marketing for the charity organisation. These are very covert marketing techniques, as it is quite subtle and focused on the organisation's activities rather than the organisation itself. The project is going to be consisted of 4 posters that could be used in either magazine pages or on billboards. They will all have the same layout as well as the same idea, to make it as simple as possible for readers yet effective. Enigma will play a big role in my posters, as they will all be linked, as if it is like a series of pages and they all complete each other. By looking at advertisements by organisations such as NSPCC, I have realised that the use of dull and dark colours are very common, same as the close up shots. However, my use of innovative ideas will make the campaign more appealing, and the enigmatic factors will attract many readers. I will use the idea of including a child's picture in the poster, however unlike the others I will use as much bright colours as I possibly can, that will then be contrasted with the background. The main background is going to be an old diary opened, in quite gloomy and dark colours. The wordings â€Å"dear diary†¦ † are going to be used on the first three posters. The diary connotes that it is real life events, and just like how the book is opened, a person is opening their life for us to look at and go into it. Diaries are usually symbols of truth, as they are very secretive and owned by one person, so the fact that it is the main background connotes that the organisation is very honest about its activities, and that it is simply showing the viewers nothing but the reality. In the middle, there is going to be a very simple, yet colourful picture of a child, each one showing the situation developing, and then followed by short sentences beneath it, symbolising the child writing in their diaries. It shows a sequence of events as it starts by a picture of a girl happily sleeping in her bed, with the word â€Å"My first night in my new bed. he said I was a princess†. The enigma in the text makes the audience wonder who the â€Å"he† is and what the advert is about. The second poster shows a little boy at the park smiling and enjoying his time, however this time there is a hand holding onto his hands. It is then followed by the words â€Å"went to the park today, he played with me on the swings†. There we can immediately feel the enigmatic meaning of the next, where the audience feel the worry and almost know what it really wants to show, especially with the pun on the word â€Å"playing with me†. Even though it builds up tension, the readers would still want to get to the end and know what it is about. The third one is a picture of a little girl with two man hands on her shoulder, and again with the words â€Å"He said no one would understand†¦ he is my only best friend†. Now, it gets clearer to the readers, as the point would have been successfully showed. The last picture consists of the organisations name, followed by some facts, a helpline and then the slogan which is â€Å"This smile†¦ this child†¦ ead between the lines†. The slogan refers back to the smiles of the children in the pictures, and the appearance of a diary supports the idea of reading between the lines, in order to find the truth. The logo of the organisation is going to be placed on every single poster, adding to the confusion and enigmatic effect, but also helping the readers to understand. The advert is very disturbing to readers, as they are seeing innocent childhoods being taken away without realising, and how brainwashed the children get. The contrast in colours shows the active and bright life of children however surrounded by the gloomy colours connoting the dangers around them. The idea is targeted to a more educated, and clever audience, as it is based on challenging the readers to get to the point instead of giving it to them. This means that the advert is targeted at ABC1 audience from both genders, however since it is common for children to get abused in the lower class if society, then the advert is very important to appeal to them too. So overall it appeals to both ABC1 and C2DE audiences, with a very wide range, starting from young children to old grandparents both reporting the same problem. The billboards are going to be created using the same pictures, however with all of them stitched together, making it seem like a storyboard. It could be placed anywhere, however it would be best put at a place such as a shopping centre where viewers can stand and read all of the writing. Stickers are also going to be created with the logo of the campaign and distributed around. I am working in a pair with Kirstie Browne, and we have both decided to equally divide the work, and use a program called â€Å"Easy media creator 10 Suite† to help us create our posters, and make them seem professional. We will start by taking the pictures we need on digital cameras then use them for our final piece. The organisation that we will most probably choose is going to be â€Å"NSPCC† as it is mainly focused of the sexually abused children.