A Swot Analysis And Porter s Five Forces Model Of...

Abstract The casino industry is very important within the USA because of its size and the amount of yearly revenue it produces. Statistically, in 2009 alone, the industry alone produced approximately 30.74 billion. Also, the casino industry provides multiple job opportunities and helps build attractive places that encourage tourism, and bring revenue to states in different ways. However, this industry is currently facing multiple challenges due to competition among casinos, the construction of new casino locations, governmental regulations and the new technologies that are revolutionizing the gambling world. This report will analyze this industry by using a SWOT analysis and Porter’s Five-Forces Model of Industry Competition. Finally, in the concluding paragraph, an answer as to how to deal with the slower growth in gaming revenues will be provided. Case Study – Casino Industry in 2011 Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos are used in the case study due to them being the two most popular places for gambling in the country. In order to have a general picture of this industry, a SWOT analysis can be conducted. In Strategic management, text cases seventh edition (2014), the authors provide that â€Å"SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It provides ‘raw material’- a basic listing of conditions both inside and surrounding your company† (p. 47). Furthermore, the definition of SWOT is expanded by explaining that â€Å"the general idea of SWOTShow MoreRelatedSwot And Analytical Tools : Business Analysis Tools1040 Words   |  5 PagesANALYTICAL TOOLS Business analysis tools are different techniques investors use to assess a company’s operations. In most cases, the purpose of the analysis is to determine how effective or efficient a company is in the overall market locally, nationally and globally. A scan of the internal and external environment is an important part of this strategic planning process. A few different tools are commonly used such as SWOT, PESTEL, Comparative and Porter’s Five Forces. Each one takes a differentRead MorePest Analysis : Pest And Porter s Five Forces1314 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to Mind tools (n.d.). PEST Analysis, PEST and Porter s five Forces each analyze different aspects of a business. PEST (Political, Economic, Socio-cultural and Technical) factors are often considered to gauge the expected impact of business decisions, and the likelihood that the trend set will continue in a particular direction. PEST analysis allows a company to determine if the resources and capabilities used by the company support the company s opportunities, or diminish existing threatsRead MoreSituational Analysis1169 Words   |  5 PagesSituational Analysis University of Phoenix STR/GM581 International Strategic Planning Implementation Steven Hall Situational Analysis IKEA is a global home-furnishing retailer founded in 1943. â€Å"In 2008, IKEA had 253 stores in 24 countries plus 32 stores owned by franchisees and 20 stores expecting to open in 2009† (The Times 100, 2009, p. 1). This paper will show the organization’s mission, vision, and values. In addition, this paper will show a consideration of broad environmentalRead MorePorter Five Forces Model950 Words   |  4 PagesPorter’s Five Forces Model: an overview Porter’s Five Forces Model: an overview Abstract Porter’s Five Forces Model is a structured framework for analyzing commerce and business establishment. It was formed by Michael E. Porter of the Harvard Business School between 1979 and the mid 1980’s. Porter developed the Five Forces model in opposition to the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, environmental opportunities, threats) analysis that was an industry standard for businesses to determine how theyRead MoreDefinition and limitations of SWOT analysis, Porter’s five forces analysis and Ratio analysis1100 Words   |  5 PagesDefinition and limitations of SWOT analysis, Porter’s five forces analysis and Ratio analysis SWOT Analysis All companies need certain strategy analysing tools to assess their ability or inability to do something. To be more precise, SWOT is an acronym, where S means Strengths, W means Weaknesses, O means Opportunities and T means Threats (Management study guide, 2009). This model suggests what strengths a company has which can help it prosperRead MoreMarketing Audit : The World s Top Hotel Administrator And Business Sector Essay1334 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION Accor, the world s top hotel administrator and business sector pioneer in Europe, is display in 92 nations with more than 3,500 hotels and 450,000 rooms which includes 160,000 employees. Accor s expansive arrangement of inn brands – Sofitel,Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Aparthotels Adagio, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis plan and hotelF1 – gives a broad offer from luxary to budget. The Group, which is situated in France, has been doing business for moreRead MorePorters Five Forces3126 Words   |  13 PagesPorter’s Five Forces Model Porters five forces Each element of a Porters five forces model is best considered in the context of other elements in the model. Examples: supplier power is increased if there is a high degree of rivalry between companies trying to obtain the supplies; entry barriers are increased if there is a substitutes threat. A Porter s five forces analysis can be usefully performed alongside SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, and other analysis techniques. The next two sectionsRead MoreSwot Contribution to Porters Model2629 Words   |  11 PagesDiscuss how Porter’s 5 forces model might contribute to a SWOT analysis Created in 1994 and launched in 1995, Amazon.com today is a group which count several websites and search engine such as Alexa or A9, mobipocket.com, the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com) or even the group Abebooks, specialized in ancient and rare books. In 2007, Jeff Besos, Amazon s CEO, launched the Kindle, made to compete with a whole new range of pads like the Apple Ipad. Over the years Amazon has diversified its activitiesRead MoreStrategy Management983 Words   |  4 PagesComprehensive strategic analysis of CRH Plc and recommended strategy 1.1 Introduction This assignment 1.2 Choose the Model for CRH Strategy literature offers many techniques and models suited for systematic strategic analysis. The SWOT analysis, the PESTEL analysis, the Five Forces analysis framework are the prime examples of techniques that can be adopted for strategic analysis. This assignment will use PESTEL and Five forces model to analysis the environment of CRH plc. PESTEL analysis is to identifyRead MoreSwot, Pest, Portes Five Forces Analysis1371 Words   |  6 PagesSWOT ANALYSIS When we talk about of strategic decision making in an organization, we must take consider many factors that must be studied within the company. For that, there are several useful tools such as SWOT analysis, which is meant (strengths, Weaknesses, opportunities, and Threats), this method is the simplest and effective way to analyze the present and see how will be the future of the company. The main purpose of this analysis is to support the organization to locate the strategic aspects

Accountability sensitive items free essay sample

?I have been tasked with writing this 1000 word essay on the importance of accountability of sensitive items within the military. The reason I have been assigned to do this task is due to my failure of being attentive that cause me to wash and utterly destroy my meal card on the night of 07MAR2014 at approximately 2350 hours. I had just came back from playing some playing billiards and having some drinks with some friends (no I did not drive). After checking to see if any washing units were available, I then proceeded to my room in order to sort my articles of clothing. While being preoccupied with thoughts of a blonde female type one each and a redhead female type one each I failed to thoroughly check and double check every pocket of the uniform I had worn that day. My preoccupation and oversight caused me to lose accountability of my meal card, which resulted in its washing/drying. We will write a custom essay sample on Accountability sensitive items or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Also possibly allowing it to fall into the hands of someone wishing to gain access to the dining facility and eat off the Army’s money. Also the lack of this type of diligence in the future could cause me to lose other types of sensitive items i. e. identification card, nods, important documents, TA-50 etc. Which if lost could pose a greater threat to combat readiness and mission effectiveness. In losing accountability of my meal card, I have shown a general disregard for the Army Values of Duty and Respect, as well as violated several points of the Soldier’s Creed. In the Army Values, Duty is defined as a soldier’s ability and devotion to â€Å"fulfill your obligations† and resisting the temptations to take â€Å"shortcuts† that might undermine the final product. Sensitive items can include all of your protective gears, lists of things to do, or maps. Securing these sensitive items comes down to maintaining operational security which in turn increases each individual soldiers overall readiness and also mission success. Exercising the habit of maintaining accountability and security of sensitive items of a soldier allows each team to operate at peak performance, especially when the threat of opposing adversaries accessing these sensitive items is lessened. The best method to keep a sensitive item secure is to always have it one your person. The problem with this is it’s not always possible. Toting around everything of value would be a very tedious and inefficient process. That’s where secondary measures come in to play. When sensitive items are not on your person or out of your sight they should always be kept under lock and key. They should be left in a place where security is in place to guard those items. The level of security usually depends on how sensitive the item is. It all comes down to Operational Security which is everyone’s responsibility. Each individual soldier must play an active role in keeping sensitive items out of the enemies grasp. An excerpt from Army Regulation 530-1 chapter 2, it says the following; â€Å"Operations security is everyone’s responsibility. Failure to properly implement OPSEC measures can result in serious injury or death to our personnel, damage to weapons systems, equipment and facilities, loss of sensitive technologies and mission failure. OPSEC is a continuous process and an inherent part of military culture and as such, must be fully integrated into the execution of all Army operations and supporting activities. †

Mobilink Telecommunications Pakistan free essay sample

This report is a result of the instructions of our teacher, Ms. Sobia Shokat. Who is conducting the course Principles of Management. This effort by the student team will serve two distinct purposes; the first is to establish a comprehensive working model of the management practices at Mobilink. The second advantage is to evaluate the organization from an independent observer’s point of view; this would result in establishing an impartial but critical analysis of the organization. This analysis would help in isolating any problem areas with in the organization that might have crept into its day to day affairs. The report starts off with a brief profile of the organization. It then looks at Mobilink’s parent firm, Orascom Telecom and what values Mobilink have inherited from this multinational telecommunications company. It then looks at the company mission statement, its vision and its core values. Then the report looks at the key management functions of planning, organizing, staffing, leading and controlling. We will write a custom essay sample on Mobilink Telecommunications Pakistan or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Then the student team attempts to undertake a SWOT analysis of the organization under the current market and prevalent situation. Then the report looks into the strategic management of the company and how it plans to preserve its position of market leaders in the country by improving on the quality provided to its existing customers and also attracting new consumers so that the company continues to grow in the years to come. Finally the student team has attempted to put forth a list of suggestions to the management of he company so that it helps them not only the current market status of leaders in their field but also to continually grow into the future by providing ongoing value addition improved services and products to its valued customers. Another example is the Karachi to Hyderabad highway. Mobilink commuters that are traveling to and from these cities are able to enjoy the same connectivity standards while on the move. Functions of Management Planning A wise man once said Those who fail to plan, plan to fail Planning involves selecting the mission statement, objectives and the setting of courses of actions to achieves these objectives in the short run and the mission in the long run. Good plans provide a rational approach to achieving pre-selected objectives. It is basically the duty of the senior management to develop plans which if followed in letter and sprit lead to the realization of the objective and goal of the organization. Planning is concerned with the future impact of todays decisions. It is the fundamental function of management from which the other four key function branch out. The organizing, staffing, leading and controlling functions stem from the planning function. The manager is ready to organize and staffs only after goals and plans to reach the goals are in place. Likewise, the leading function, influencing the behavior of people in the organization, depends on the goals to be achieved. Finally, in the controlling function, the determination of whether or not goals are being accomplished and standards met is based on the planning function. The planning function provides the goals and standards that drive the controlling function. In Mobilink, the top management emphasizes a great deal on planning. They spend a lot of time only to plan all the organizational activities and goals and also the methods to achieve them. There are 2 different sets of planning which are done in MOBILINK which are Organizational Planning (Internal recipients) Marketing Planning (External recipients) In organizational planning, the company develops things like the vision, mission statement, the goals, the over all objectives of the organization. This also involves developing a list of alternative strategies on how to achieve these desired results. Then finally the best possible alternative is selected and a course of action is developed to follow. The organizational plans are shared – as per job description and need to know basis – with the internal components of Mobilink. That is the employees – as per their position in the corporate chain – are made aware of what the management wishes to do with the organization and how it plans to go about meeting these objectives. The Marketing plan is something that is more dynamic and market driven. The ultimate recipients of this plan, or the people at which it is directed are the customers of Mobilink. This plan is more of a guideline, a working model which the marketing department uses to come up with newer ways to attract the target audience. Types of Planning Company Mission statement The mission statement broadly identifies what the company is set out to achieve. Our mission is to be the primary telecom operator in the country, providing the best quality services to our customers, value to our shareholders, and a dynamic working environment for our employees. Company Vision This can be called the purpose of the company; it identifies the basic functions of the company Mobilink aims to not only retain its large customer base, but also provide the best possible products and services to its valued customers with continuous innovation and technology. Company Objective These are the activities towards which all the activities are aimed. Be there for you, always We speak your language Aur Sunao! Company Goal The end point of planning, and also the end point of organizing, staffing, leading and controlling Reshaping communications Company Strategy This would be the long term objectives of Mobilink, and the course of action that it takes to achieve these objectives in the short run as well as the long run. To serve the Pakistani telecommunications market effectively Company Policy The general plans or generalized laws or statements that provide a direction to creative thinking. All activities of Mobilink must adhere to the company policy. This policy is stated below Maximize profits staying the cellular phone services business of the country Company Procedure Any plan that handles the future activity of the company. These are chronological sequences of required actions that the management enforces so that the goals are met. The hiring procedures The operations procedures The way in which clients are handled The product development procedure The employee training procedure Company Rules Rules are strict actions that need to be done or avoided. They allow no discretion. Mobilink follows certain rules like no new connections will be provided to those persons that do not have the latest computerized national identity cards. This rule is very strictly enforced and if any employee is found to be in violation of this rule then this bears serious consequences. Company Budget A budget is simple a statement of expected results stated in numbers and figures. The creation or development of such a number is a very tiresome and tedious procedure at Mobilink. The top brass of the company in consultation with the parent firm of Orascom is responsible for the budget creation of Mobilink. Management by Objectives The company is very much managed objectively. This is evident in the fact that all promotions are based on results, and target achievements. The promotions from the post of associate level 2 to associate level 1 is done after complete and through evaluation of the employees performance over a period of two years where he is judged not only on how much business he has brought into the company but also how he has managed to satisfy both internal and external customers on the assigned tasks. His over all outlook towards his job responsibilities are also a good bench mark as to the direction senior management sees him taking. Over all the level of enthusiasm is seen in the individual who is considered for promotion. For motivation, the company engages different professionals who develop leadership skills and team building and trust relationship amongst the many departments of the company. The company is renowned for the many training seminars and motivational workshops that it conducts for its employees. It is not very uncommon for Mobilink employees to travel not other countries, especially those countries where Orascom Telcom has a presence for the training and development needs of its key personnel. Also the company makes use of the various training institutes that exist in the country for professional trainings and employee development. Management is also very flexible towards those employees that want to pursue advanced or higher education during evenings and weekends. In fact certain departmental heads have been know to encourage their sub-ordinates to enroll in masters program and further their careers. Compensation Planning for Employees Compensation is basically what the company pays someone to entice them to continue to do work for the company – it is a critical facet of any managers job. Compensation includes many things beyond straight salary. It also includes benefits, perks, stock options, etc. The company has to balance what these cost against what the employees perceives as their value, and that varies by employee. Mobilink is well known in the corporate world for its very competitive remuneration and fringe benefits. These go a long way in keeping the employees loyal as well as motivated toward achievement of group and individual goals. This ultimately helps the organization grow ten fold. Mobilink measures compensation levels against other employees in the company, against other employees in other companies in similar positions, and against performances It then reevaluates the pay scale and if need be, a revision is carried out. Also Mobilink determines salary ranges for existing positions and adjusts those periodically to compensate for economic factors (cost of living changes, inflation) and competitive pressures (industry demand for that type of employee, profit margins, and of course the employee performance). Finally Mobilink complies with government regulations regarding discrimination, contractor versus employee determinations, and union and other contractual obligations. Organizing Organizing is the second function in the management cycle. Once strategic planning and management planning are implemented, organizing to get the job done is carried out. Organizing can be defined as the act of deploying the resources needed to achieve an identified goal or attain a desired result, including human resources. Principles of Organizing Organizing is based on the following five principles: Unity of command Span of control Delegation of authority Homogeneous assignment Flexibility Organizing Process The organizing process involves these five steps: Determining the tasks to be accomplished Subdividing major tasks into individual activities Assigning specific activities to individuals Providing necessary resources Designing the organizational relationships needed. In MOBILINK, these organizing activities flow from the top of the organization. The top management is concerned about how their plans are formally organized and every effort is made to maintain a strategic control in the organization. Qualities of a good organizer Management thinks strategically about their work while always keeping the final goal in mind and continually making contributions to the goal. This is especially important in the over all growth of the individual employees and ultimately of the company. A qualities working atmosphere include: Imagination Sense of Humor Blurred vision of a better world An organized personality Strong ego/sense of oneself A free, open mind, and political relativity Ability to create the new out of the old Organizational Structure The organizational structure of the company is that there is a board of directors. This board consist of the CEO and other top ranking officials of the Orascom Telecom group of companies in the world. Then Mobilink has the CEO, After him are the chiefs, below them are the directors for individual functional areas of the company. Below these there are the senior managers that look into coordination of overlapping activities and functions of the organization. Then there exist the managers, below these are the assistant managers, the associate levels one and two report to the assistant managers and finally there are field staff in the sales and marketing department. Mobilink consist of more then 650 franchise based distributors through out the country. The number of these distributions is growing with each passing quarter as newer locations and cities are brought into the Mobilink network. Organizational Chart Levels of Management The levels of management and supervisors as defined and developed at Mobilink is as follow. The directors act as direct supervisors for the middle and lower level managers. Above the directors there exist the chiefs that are highly specialized in their functions and demand through compliance of practices and procedures from their employees. Above the chiefs is the CEO who is steering the direction of Mobilink. Structures: Centralized versus Decentralized, Line versus Staff In MOBILINK, working productively and developing feelings of cooperation and effectiveness is one of the key most aspects of the staff functions. This means that not only right people for the right jobs are hired but also developing staff with in the organization so that they can become better managers and grow in their respective fields. In MOBILINK, There are four primary elements in designing an organizational structure: 1. Job specifications what each division/office/unit is responsible for 2. Departmentalization the grouping of jobs and responsibilities in common sectors with the objective of achieving coordination 3. Span of control a definition of how many job roles should be in each unit and which roles require coordination by a unit manager 4. Delegation of authority assigning the right to make decisions without having to obtain approval from a supervisor The resulting organizational structure will vary according to these four elements. An organization with decentralized authority and very heterogeneous departments will appear very different from one with centralized authority and a very homogeneous product. Practical Aspects of Directing Teams When directing a small team it is important to structure the tasks to be performed. Goals should be easily understood by everyone and tasks broken down so that they appear achievable. Nothing will be more demoralizing for ther team than setting them a task which seems impossible. Therefore it is important to define a task as a series of small but significant steps which seem realistic. As the person performs these broken-down steps he/she will still feel that something tangible has been accomplished, and the next step toward finishing will become clear. Goal analysis It is probable that the team leader will want to set goals for the team or project. One such goal may be to improve communications amongst the team. Clearly there will be many different interpretations of this goal by different team members. Goal analysis seeks to remove this ambiguity. Goal analysis should define an abstract goal in terms of concrete criteria, which when met will clearly demonstrate that the goal has been achieved. The criteria should be expressed in terms of actions or results rather than abstractions (which may be ambiguous). There are 5 steps: Write down the goal. At this stage the goal is an abstract thing, and it is important not to worry too much about how the goal is written down a rough definition or idea will suffice. Without editing or judging describe the goal. Get team members to quickly describe what they understand by the goal. At this stage all suggestions should be noted down no ideas are wrong or stupid. This is similar to the technique of brainstorming. Sort. Sort out the ideas generated by 2 into an ordered or prioritised list which defines the goal. At this stage it may become apparent that some ideas are abstractions but are still important. If this is the case use steps 1 and 2 to clearly define these. State each action or result obtained from the step above Make the team read and try to understand the list from step just above this. Test the statements. Ask the question When these all statements have been demonstrated to be true, will the goal have been achieved? Test each statement in turn for relevance. If the answer is yes then the goal has been defined. Factors in Leadership There are many factors involved with good leadership. We view how each of these factors is involved with the way a leader leads. Motivation The key to holding the team together is motivation. In simple terms, motivation can be considered as the amount of effort an individual is willing to put into their work. Therefore, it is important to ensure that any team is highly motivated towards their work. A lack of motivation in any member of a team can have a negative affect, reducing the groups effectiveness and possibly leading to the de-motivation of others. Given the fact that different people are motivated in different ways, the problem facing someone in the role of leader is to create an environment in which each individual fulfils their potential. It is important to highlight the major influences in the motivation of people. According to the influential motivator-hygiene theory, motivation occurs when people have job satisfaction. Job satisfaction can be improved by increasing opportunities for: Achievement Recognition Responsibility Career advancement While not increasing job satisfaction, improvements in the following areas can lessen job dissatisfaction: Supervision Salary Working conditions Six Steps to Motivation Utilized by Mobilink The following steps can be taken to help achieve and maintain group motivation: Provide opportunities for group members to become acquainted. Indicate the importance/value of the group. Make people feel they are important.

Types of Tests

Types of Tests Tests are a necessary aspect of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). For an educator it is crucial to monitor the progress of the learners and be aware of difficulties they may experience.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Types of Tests specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Testing is a suitable way for the teacher to observe the learner’s success and failure and make conclusions considering the methods and approaches implemented for each specific learner or class (Hancock, 2006). There are a number of various tests designed to determine the learners’ progress in each aspect of English such as proficiency, vocabulary, skills and knowledge, theoretical and practical application of language. This paper focuses on ten different types of tests and their use for TESOL. Proficiency tests are normally composed of several levels. This is done in order to determine the learner’s proficiency in various spheres such as grammar, vocabulary, and text comprehension. Tests of thins kind are based on multiple choice scheme so the learner needs to select one of the offered answers. The questions of such test are selected in order to target different aspects of the English grammar and also the learners’ ability to read and understand written text. Proficiency tests are good for TESOL educators because they serve as a perfect tool for monitoring general progress, the efficiency of various teaching methods and the level of knowledge and skills of learners at various stages. Diagnostic tests are rather specific; they are also recognised as progress tests. They are called this way because they are designed to diagnose certain aspects of language and the level of the learners’ progress (Gonzalez, 1996).Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The tests of this type are often conducted in the end of a unit and are directed at the determination of the knowledge the students acquired and the skills they obtained. These tests are normally based on short-term objectives. Since teaching English to the speakers of other languages is always broken down into units, diagnostic tests serve as useful means to estimate the quality of learning and to determine if the students can move on to the next stage based on their progress level. Placement tests represent a particular kind of diagnostic tests (Brown, 2003). They are designed to cover the materials within a certain curriculum. They are conducted with the purpose to determine where the students are to be placed in relation to the information studied by specific learners. In TESOL this kind of tests is useful because they help to save time and effort to both educators and students and place the learners exactly where they need to pick up from instead of making them go through certain materials for the secon d time. Achievement tests can be viewed as a kind of progress or diagnostic tests because the main objective of these tests is to evaluate the knowledge of a learner within a particular curriculum, program or unit. The length of the period of time covering certain material or program evaluated by the test is indefinite, and this is why the tests are called â€Å"achievement† instead of â€Å"progress†. Achievement tests are oriented at the evaluation of specific kinds of knowledge, which is useful in TESOL because this allows estimating the quality of the program, and its suitability for the learners.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Types of Tests specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Language aptitude tests are important in TESOL, they are conducted even before the learning starts in order to determine each specific learner’s ability to learn and comprehend foreign languages which varies from one in dividual to another. The tests of this kind are not very popular in the present days because of ethical reasons (Gonzalez, 1996). These tests tend to create bias for the teachers and students and they are viewed as invalid since they are conducted prior to actual language teaching and learning experience. Testing is recognised as norm-referenced when a mark is given to a learner (Brown, 2003). This way, the individual performance of each student is related to that of the remaining members of the class. This way of testing is applied because the progress and skill of each learner need to be placed on a certain position within the class. In TESOL giving marks is vital for the awareness of progress and failure for both teachers and students. In criterion-referenced testing the progress of an individual learner is not compared to that of other students, but is matched against a set of criteria which are designed to determine the level of knowledge. In TESOL the criteria are designed to create a frame of what the learner should be able to do at a certain stage of their learning process. The special feature of these tests is that they do not facilitate competition between the learners and focus of the positive effect of learning. In TESOL English language is broken down into four skills which are reading, writing, speaking and listening and seven linguistic components spelling, grammar, syntax, morphology, phonology, graphology and vocabulary.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Discrete-item tests are designed to evaluate these parts separately which provides the learners with more specific understanding of the difficulties a learner may experience. Global/integrative tests, on the contrary, are designed to view language as a whole. They do not separate the components from the context. This way, the learner’s ability to apply and combine many elements at the same time is evaluated. This approach towards testing considers the separate evaluation of the components as inadequate. Communicative language testing is designed in order to evaluate the learner’s ability to communicate certain information to other people and also to be able to comprehend the information received from other speakers (Gonzalez, 1996). Communicative testing normally concerns both written and spoken language skills and knowledge. The results of communicative languages tests are evaluated based on the quality but not the quantity of communication. The purpose of this kind o f testing is to determine the learner’s ability to apply the theoretical knowledge from their lessons in practice which requires levels of creativity. Such testing is focused on the content, integration and interactivity. In TESOL such tests are vital because they evaluate the levels of learners’ preparation for the independent application of their knowledge. In any kind of teaching testing is recognised to be one of the most controversial aspects. At the same time, it is one of the most important areas of teaching. It is impossible to determine an English language testing method which could be called the best. Testing methods are selected based on the individual choice of each educator based on the goals they pursue. There are five principles of language assessment; they are reliability, validity, authenticity, practicality and washback. The efficient test method is the one that aims for the highest levels of these features. Reference List Brown, H. D. (2003). Languag e assessment: Principles and classroom practices.  Harlow, United Kingdom: Longman. Gonzalez, A. B. (1996). Testing English as a foreign language: An overview an some  methodological considerations. RESLA, 11, 17-49. Hancock, C. R. (2006). Language Teaching and Language Testing: a way and ways  to make appropriate connections. Accion Pedagogica, 15, 6-13.

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

Enterpreneurship - Essay Example It is evident that e-mail, the notable contribution of information technology provides users with a simple and inexpensive way of communication. Over the last decade, more high-tech communication facilities have been developed including voice over internet protocol telephones and smartphones, which allow personnel to communicate through live chat systems. Likewise, data management is another important role of information technology in modern organizations. As MacKechnie points out, many of the companies nowadays deploy digital versions of documents on storage devices in order to get rid of the troubles associated with bookkeeping. This system promotes easier and immediate access of data in a multinational corporation regardless of its geographical locations. In addition, the IT plays a notable role in managing the inventory levels of an organization. Since purchase, production, and distribution processes of a firm are connected by a computer system, it is possible to maintain effecti ve control over stock and to ensure inventory optimization. According to McAulay, the management Information Systems (MIS) greatly assist companies to accurately trace productivity levels, sales data, and operational expenses. Thus, the information gathered can be effectively employed to analyze profitability, to point out areas of improvement, and finally to increase returns on investment over time. Furthermore, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is an effective application of information technology that stores every interaction a company makes with its customers. Such a system aids the company to deliver improved services to its customers and thereby to maximize its sales volume. Impact of IT on entrepreneurs and their organizations According to John, since information technology plays a vital role in transferring technology from institute to industry, it greatly assists entrepreneurs by introducing technological changes in management and emphasizing on their relevance in the present environment. John adds that IT sector provides information to all business entrepreneurs without any discrimination (109). This easy accessibility to information has greatly aided entrepreneurs to focus more on their planned venture. In addition, IT also ensures that entrepreneurship is not concentrated in particular area or people. The affordability of information assisted entrepreneurs to bring greater and deeper improvements in their venture. The IT developments enhanced cross border information sharing and this situation greatly aided entrepreneurs across the globe to effectively plan their venture development process. The developments in information technology â€Å"will also bring about access to just-in-time information of business opportunities† (John, 109). The emergence of e-commerce was a milestone in business management that entirely restructured the way organizations provide value to external and internal customers. In short, the rampant developmen ts in IT sector including the introduction of e-commerce were helpful to entrepreneurs to redesign their operations so as to ensure increased customer satisfaction. 2. Differences in Asset Structure Across the global market, today’s economy is considered to be the â€Å"knowledge-based economy†, where the responsibility of creating value lies heavily on the various kinds of assets related to all kinds of knowledge, which is called the intangible

Causes of World War I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Causes of World War I - Essay Example This is what will be dissertated in the following. "Facts are mere accessories to the truth, and we do not invite to our hearth the guest who can only remind us that on such a day we suffered calamity. Still less welcome is he who would make a Roman holiday of our misfortunes. Exaggeration of what was monstrous is quickly recognized as a sign of egotism, and that contrarious symptom of the same disease which pretends that what is accepted as monstrous was really little more than normal is equally unwelcome." (Max Plowman from Subaltern on the Somme). World War I, which has also been known as the First World War and the Great War, lasted from August 1914 to the final Armistice on November 11, 1918. Ultimately, this war created a decisive break with the old world order that had emerged after the Napoleonic Wars, as modified by the mid-19th Century national revolutions, "the processes of European national unification and European colonialism." ("Wikipedia", 2006). Unlike World War II, the circumstances leading up to World War I are more politically complex. There are several commonly used explanations towards the reasoning for the cause of World War I, some of which are as follows: The actual 'spark' of World War I occurred after the assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife by a Serbian nationalist on the morning of June 28, 1914, while traveling in a motorcade through Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina. "The Archduke was chosen as a target because Serbians feared that after his ascension to the throne, he would continue the persecution of Serbs living within the Austro-Hungarian empire." ("Cyber", 2006). The humiliation of Germany, which occurred after Austria attacked Serbia on July 29 and Germany invaded Belgium on August 3, in accordance with the Schlieffen Plan. The guilt plause in this particular situation portrayed Germany and Hungary as being the aggressors, and therefore as those bearing responsibility for hostilities. What this meant was that Germany was responsible for paying all war costs - including pensions - of the Allies. It has been said by some that "This directly affected the global economy and indirectly contributed to the Great Depression." ("Wikipedia", 2006). Another commonly viewed explanation is that of the building of alliances and the related arms race. This factor was of great significance primarily because of the fact that the incorporation of allies resulted in severe strengths or weaknesses. From the end of the Franco-Prussian War, a system of secret alliances formed and developed in Europe. This of course eventually split the continent into two hostile and separate sides. These secret alliances led to much speculation and suspicion and the belief that far more secret alliances actually existed, then was in fact, the case. The major participants in the related arms race were Britain and Germany, tying in with the concept of new imperialism which gave way to the need for alliances. Competition was another major factor in the cause for World War I. The competition for colonies was a source of much international antagonism. "The great powers sectioned off Africa among them, established spheres of influence in China and sought protectorates elsewhere. Sooner or later this rush

Essay on Virtue Essay Example for Free

Essay on Virtue Essay For most religious people it is one of the main goals in their life to live after the guidelines of virtue and show behavior with high moral standards. Virtue means goodness, morality, integrity, dignity†¦ Everything that Randle McMurphy is not at the first instance in â€Å"One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest†. His character opposes all classic characteristics of virtue and roughly speaking he fails to survive in the end. Therefore is it important to be virtuous? I believe that although virtue is coming out of fashion in today’s culture, it is a necessary, daily element in our life. For most people virtue isn’t the â€Å"coolest kid in town†. If someone announces that they’re giving up on dating, spending money on nice clothes and to overall work on becoming a more virtuous person, one will be labeled as a â€Å"freak†; someone maybe too religious that has a screw loose somewhere. Being virtuous can be boring because you have to control and put yourself in the background in a time when most teenagers and adults live their life for the public. One will sit in a nice restaurant with a plate more like art than food in front of them, but instead of enjoying their meal and talking with their friends, people will take a picture to display on instagram or facebook showing other people how good their life is. Being wicked and a little bit crazy is a strangely attractive characteristic nowadays. Along the lines of â€Å"good girls go to heaven. Bad girls go everywhere. † In OFOTCN McMurphy is that kind of crazy, wicked person. Although he fails to fit into society, it is hard to argue that he is not polarizing, fun and strangely likeable. When Murphy is asked why people believe he might be mentally ill, he bluntly says, â€Å"Well, as near as I can figure out, its cause I, uh, fight and fuck too much. † A virtuous person would never say that. But coming from Randle, it is oddly witty and authentic. McMurphy is not the perfect example of virtue; he is the exact opposite, the how-not-to-do-it. Yet you feel yourself rooting for him, wishing that he will succeed in his life. Maybe because you see good in him even though you have to dig past a few layers, or maybe you are inspired by his pure love of life and spontaneity. In Addition his relationship with Chief shows true affection and care. For example when Randle is genuinely interested in Chief’s story and even asks him to run away with him. He builds a friendship and basis of trust where the Chief even reveals his ability to communicate. The amazing part is the fact that the Chief never spoke a word with anyone and acted dumb the entire time he was on the ward, fooling everyone. McMurphy brings a lot of joy and freshness into the sanatorium, although they’re primarily enforced with alcohol and women. He is unique and against all norms. If you’ve read The Catcher in The Rye, you know that McMurphy is someone who isn’t â€Å"phony†. But all his likeability aside, McMurphy fails to run away from the psychiatric hospital and even loses his life in the end. Therefore it shows us that it isn’t really possible to live in society without norms. Which brings us to the point that humans need virtue as an element in their life in order to survive. We need and want virtue in our life, so that we can keep things in order and live a happy life. There is an invisible book of rules that almost everybody knows of. Not everyone follows it, but it’s usually known in the name of â€Å"common sense†. For instance people know that it is hurtful to cheat on someone. Loyalty and honesty are elements of virtue and people live by their rule everyday. When you promise someone to do something, you have to do it or will be labeled as irresponsible and untrustworthy. You don’t have to say these things out loud because it’s common sense. Elements of virtue lie so deep in our culture that they’ve become everyday values and traditions that have formed a common code for society. Beside materialistic or selfish values, we need morals and principles that leave us with something more substantial than money or success. Virtue is something that is expected of everyone, yet not usually voiced. Someone who is against all norms usually doesn’t survive in society. The example is Randle McMurphy, who is a healthy and intelligent man. There is nothing stopping him from living a normal life, but his persona is so impulsive and difficult that it is very hard to find virtue in him. Therefore people are quick to judge him and label him as a danger to society. He gets send to the electroshock treatment because he acted impulsively and smashed a window in order to get Martinez’ cigarettes. Bystanders will describe this act as dangerous and violent and conclude that he is a threat. I think that McMurphy didn’t mean any harm, but failed to think twice about what he was doing. A virtuous person would’ve never smashed the window in the first place and therefore never gotten a punishment. We are imprinted with the knowledge that some things are right and others wrong, whereas those judgments are based on the concepts of virtue. But humans aren’t that easy and the way society understand this concept has its flaws. All humans are different in their personas and stories, but no one is better than the other. In OFOTCN everyone in the psychiatric hospital is very different from the other, but they each have their pluses and minuses. The nurses aren’t more virtuous than the patients, which is shown in the irresponsible behavior of Nurse Ratched that ultimately resulted in Bibbet’s death. But for society it might seem that she showed virtuous behavior in forms of honesty. It might seem unfair that those â€Å"Looneys† are locked up either in the prison or sanatorium because they don’t behave in an acceptable manner. â€Å"What do you think you are, for Chrissake, crazy or somethin? Well youre not! Youre not! Youre no crazier than the average asshole out walkin around on the streets and thats it. † McMurphy is the one to voice out that the people in the hospital are no less valuable than the â€Å"normal† people. It is ironic that especially Randle, who seems to be dangerous and aggressive, to say something that true and tolerant. We see that the patients have accepted and believe the opinion of the society. So has the hospital, that just strictly follows the daily routine, shocks patients if they’re not obedient and don’t put visible effort in genuinely helping them. Nurse Ratched says, â€Å"The best thing we can do is go on with our daily routine. † right after Bibbet’s death and McMurphy’s brain surgery. For society it is easy to say that someone is bad according to his or her moral standard and integrity. But not every person is born into a nice environment, a loving family or prosperity. There is much more to a person’s life that forms their character, way of thinking and thus value of virtue. We see that McMurphy is by no means a purely malicious character but a fun-loving guy who loves life. Yet his way of dealing with things put him in trouble and difficulty. It is very important to understand and have virtue in your life, because even though we often neglect open and excessive virtuous behavior, it is an unspoken rule in society to behave to some extent of common virtue. It is somewhat ironically contradicting and there is just simply no scientific answer to being virtuous because there are so many factors that play a role in someone’s behavior. Everyone is good and bad and the lines between villain and hero are sometimes surprisingly blurred. Humans are complex beings that can’t be simply categorized into wrong and right and many situations seem ambiguous depending on the perspective. That is why virtue is a great ideal but by no means a scale to critic.