The Bluesky Software Consulting Firm

People clearly are an organization’s most critical resource. Their knowledge and skills along with their commitment, creativity, and effort are the basis for competitive advantage. It is people that have creative ideas for new products or for process improvements that devise marketing strategy or take technologies to the next level. As consultant for Blue Sky, it is my obligation to develop recommendations based on issues addressed in the case, to ensure Willis can develop an effective management team in accordance with company’s requirements. Blue Sky is a fifteen year old software-consulting firm, however, has some obstacle to overcome. As the consultant, I will respond to four outlined questions pertaining to the case study. This analysis will provide areas of improvement for Blue Sky Software and the necessary management techniques to make for their organization to run functional and efficient. Question 1, in the case asked to address the differences in leadership style and approach today and in the recent past at Blue Sky. In the past, the leadership styles were lead by an autocratic leader. Autocratic leadership can be said to be synonymous to dictatorship where only one person has the authority over the followers or workers. Their decision has to be taken as the golden rule and should never be questioned. They plan out everything and order their subordinates to work according to their rules. Max Blue seemed to think meeting was not necessary and thought planning was a waste of time and no one questioned his authority. This type of leadership style unfortunately made employees at Blue Sky passive as they couldn’t make decision on their own. There seemed to be several types of leadership styles circulating throughout the company depending on the different department you were in. The organization structure was broken down by the CEO, VP of the division, director of marketing, CFO, and the regional directors being in the upper management levels. The regional directors were all younger and had been with Blue Sky relatively a short period of time. They seemed to be more aggressive, whereas, they wanted to expand clientele and product lines. The older manager mainly the vice presidents who had been with the organization for awhile, had a more passive approach because of the autocratic leadership style from Max Blue. Willis, the new CEO is more of a collaborative leader. When establishing collaborative relationships it is not always natural or easy, particularly because people have different lifestyles, backgrounds, and experiences. A collaborative leader takes a much different approach essentially suggesting that the most effective way to guide an organization, process, or project is through inclusion and consensus. Also, the â€Å"benevolent dictator† approach is highly efficient eliminating the wavering of many competing voices in the decision-making process. Even though, collaboration is the way people naturally want to work, because it builds teams through mentoring and coaching, building trust and mutual respect and beak down walls between people, teams, departments and division to accomplish goals. It was clear the others looked to Willis to solve the problem, so this left Willis not being able to come to a consensus as he had hoped. In question 2, of the case study there was a focus toward the organization looking at motivation being a critical element. Be sure to discuss and evaluate the approaches to motivation at Blue Sky now and the past. In the past, the approaches to motivation were to provide employees with big dividends. Many studies show that interesting work and sense of accomplishment are some of the greatest motivators for an employee. These rewards lead to the type of motivation known as â€Å"intrinsic,† which can be defined as causing â€Å"†¦ people to engage in an activity for its own sake† (www. reference. com). Studies show that intrinsic motivation is important for high job satisfaction, which can affect an organization's performance. Many different techniques exist to intrinsically motivate employees(Walker, 2008). Some include: job enlargement, job rotation, and job enrichment. As noted earlier, job satisfaction among employees is important for a company to attain, thus, the use of techniques that boost intrinsic motivation is key. However, the employees were happy because they were paid well. The flip side to that is those older employees are closes to retirement, and have no intrinsic motivation. They are not motivated in sharing to new ways in doing things for the organization, such as saving money and hiring new clientele as suggested by Hubres in her memo. Therefore, it has been suggested by Willis that James and Counts work together to develop a retirement package for senior employees in the division without any immediate replacement for retirees. This would be a start in saving money for the division. In question 3 of the case study, it relates to strategic plan and decision-making process. The question ask, if there has been a strategic planning and decision-making change at Blue Sky? If so, is this a positive change? Yes, there has been a strategic plan and decision-making process at Blue Sky and positive change. The strategy plan comes from an outside consultant that has been asked to help Willis to develop an organization plan. A strategy plan must be for an organization and not an analysis of the current plan. In the past, there was no strategic plan in place based on Susy Hubres, one of the newest members of the Executive team. In her memo, she is proposing a three-day retreat for Blue Sky executives, and her main agenda for the meeting is developing a ten-year strategic plan.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream- A Shakespearean Comedy Essay

Desperate lovers, mischievous fairies, bad actors, and a flower which causes love upon first sight-these are just some of the components that add to the comedic flavour of Shakespeare’s work _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_. The main elements of a classic Shakespearean comedy are clearly portrayed in this play. An identity mix-up of Lysander and Demetrius, continuous references to music and dance to signify happy events and finally a happy ending all help to prove that _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_ is indeed a comedy. The plot of a Shakespearean comedy often includes a mix up of identity. In _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_ Puck mistakes Lysander for Demetrius and rubs the love potion on his eyes. As a result, Lysander stops loving Hermia and instead falls in love with Helena. When Puck and Oberon find Lysander wooing Helena, Puck realizes his mistake and admits to Oberon, â€Å"This is the woman, but not the man.† (3.2.42). Puck’s mistake helps to develop the plot as well as bring out several comedic situations throughout the play, such as the quarrel between Hermia and Helena. This mistaken identity helps to make this Shakespearean work a comedy. Although Shakespearean plays often have tragic endings, his comedies end on optimistic notes, which are often signified through several marriages. _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_ ends with the grand marriages of Duke Theseus and the lovers Hermia and Lysander as well as Helena and Demetrius. Upon finding the lovers in the forest, Theseus decides to ignore Egeus’s will, â€Å"Egeus I will overbear your will† (4.1.177). and chooses to marry the lovers. He declares, â€Å"For in the temple, by and by, with us / These couples shall eternally be knit† (4.1.178-180). The lovers are elated and everyone at the court watches the mechanicals’ hilarious performance of â€Å"Pyramus and Thisbe† as a way to happily wait for their nuptial hour. This happy ending helps to keep the comedic air alive in the play. Throughout the play, several references are made to reveling through dance and song as a way to signify and bless happy events. This is shown when Titania asks Oberon to join her in blessing the marriage of Theseus and  Hippolyta. She asks, â€Å"If you will patiently dance in our round, / And see our moonlight revels, go with us.† (2.1.140-141). Through this quote, Titania refers to dance as a way to bring happiness to the marriage of the Royals. The dance and song throughout the play lighten the mood of the play, helping it become a comedy. The mistaken identities of Lysander and Demetrius, the reveling through dance and song, and the happy ending, which is symbolized through several marriages help prove that _A Midsummer Night’s Dream_ is indeed a comedy. The inclusions of these basic elements make a comical and entertaining play for all audiences to enjoy. WORKS CITED Gill Roma, ed. _A Midsummer Night’s Dream._ Great Clarendon Street, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 2005. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM: ESSAY PREPARED BY: RISHITA APSANI PREPARED FOR: MR.LANDRY DATE: 12/13/2007 Rishita Apsani English

Monitor a Safe Workplace Essay

|Unit BSBOHS407A |Qualification | |Monitor a Safe Workplace |Certificate IV in Frontline Management | | | |Learner | |Start Date | | |Assessor | |Due Date | | | | |Task |Description |Who |What |Duration | |( 1 |Complete your workbook |Student |Workbook |10 hours | | | | |Text book | | |( 2 |Journal entry (one per week) |Student |Diary |20 mins | |( 3 |Scenario and Questions |Student |Questionnaire |1.5 hours | |( 4 |Underpinning Knowledge Questions |Student |Questionnaire |1.5 hours | |( 5 |Workplace Project |Student |Computer |6 hours (report) | | | | |Work Team |+ time on the job | |( 6 |Supervisor’s Checklist |Supervisor |Checklist |15 mins | | | | |Workplace Project: | | | | | |Create an OHS file for the information you collect while working through this unit. Consider your own organisation, or one that you have researched. | |Include the following: | |description of your organisation; | |organisational chart of your workplace with list of names, positions and responsibilities; | |floor plan of your workplace with emergency exits labeled; | |your organisation’s OHS policy and procedures; | |organisational chart and job descriptions; | |information from relevant state or territory’s OHS au thorities; | |information from national OHS authorities; | |Risk Assessment forms and instructions/procedure | |copies of your organisation’s records and reports relating to OHS; and | |information from employees and health and safety representatives. | | | |Categorise the information and write a contents page for the folder/file. | | | |Conduct two (2) Risk Assessments on potential workplace hazards using the organisation’s procedures; attach the documentation. | | | | | |Contact your assessor if you require further information. | | | | | | | |_______________________________________ | |Student Signature | |DECLARATION: The attached information is all my own work | | | Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace Candidate’s Name: ___________________________________________________ | |C |NYC | |FEEDBACK FROM MANAGER/SUPERVISOR | | | | | | | |Please consider how the candidate GENERALLY performs. | | | |Does your feedback confirm that the candidate can: | | | |Provide information to the workgroup about OH&S policies and procedures |( |( | |Implement and monitor participative arrangements for the management of OH&S |( |( | |Implement and monitor an organisation’s procedures for providing OH&S training |( |( | |Implement and monitor procedures for identifying hazards and assessing risks |( |( | |Implement and monitor the organisation’s procedures for controlling risks |( |( | |Implement and monitor the organisation’s procedures for maintaining OH&S for the team |( |( | | | |How does the candidate monitor safety in the workplace? | | | | | | | | | | | |COMMENTS FROM SUPERVISOR REGARDING CANDIDATE’S PERFORMANCE AGAINST THESE COMPETENCIES | | | | | | | |Supervisor’s Name and Signature: | | | |Email: | | | |Qualifications: | | | |Date: | Important: The candidate cannot be deemed competent until this checklist is returned. Please contact the assessor to discuss issues relating to this assessment, Corelink 02 9779 9800. Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace Candidate’s Name: __________________________________ | | | |ASSESSOR’S OBSERVATIONS |Satisfactory | | | | | |Yes No | |Participates in group activities and group discussion in the learning & development environment, OR, responded to |( |( | |assessor’s questions in the required time frame and to the required standard. | | | |Completed workbook activities to appropriate standard |( |( | |Recorded legitimate details of workplace issues in his/her journal and offered these issues and other discussion |( |( | |generating evidence to the workshop group | | | |Discussed and demonstrated an ability to work through issues raised on a one-to-one basis with the assessor (where |( |( | |the assessor coached the candidate through the issue) | | | |Demonstrated underpinning knowledge of the performance criteria for this unit |( |( | |Performance in the learning & development environment was at a standard that reflected the candidate’s knowledge and |( |( | |understanding of this unit | | | |Ability to recognise opportunities to transfer learnings from group activities and discussions into the workplace |( |( | |Knowledge of how the elements and performance criteria of this unit integrate with and relate to the candidate’s |( |( | |organisation’s actual strategy | | | |ALL evidence submitted for assessment was appropriate for the level at which the candidate is being assessed |( |( | |Used effective people skills to relate to and communicate with others whilst in the learning & development |( |( | |environment | | | | | |COMMENTS FROM ASSESSOR REGARDING CANDIDATE’S PERFORMANCE | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Assessor Name and Signature: Date: | Important: The candidate cannot be deemed competent until this checklist is returned. ———————– 1. Notes to Learner: †¢ ALL evidence should be checked off and attached to this document prior to submission for assessment. It is important you supply enough evidence so you can demonstrate that you are capable of performing at the appropriate standard in the workplace. Without the required evidence, you cannot be assessed as COMPETENT IN THE WORKPLACE by your assessor. †¢ The supervisor/third party checklist is to be completed by your supervisor. If you do not have a supervisor (for example, if you are a business owner), contact your assessor to arrange for a suitable third party to complete the checklist. †¢ Whether you are participating in FLM facilitated-learning workshops or learning self-paced, the assessor will complete a checklist to record evidence of your participation in group discussion, group activities or one-on-one interviews and emails. This will record an assessment of your underpinning knowledge and ability to transfer the learnings from the discussion and activities back to the workplace. †¢ Please contact your assessor if you require any assistance whilst preparing or collecting this evidence. †¢ If you do not have the instructions about how to keep a Journal, please contact your assessor. †¢ If you do not understand anything fully, contact your assessor. †¢ Go to Corelink’s website if you need tips on studying via distance learning. QUESTIONNAIRE Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace SCENARIO Complete your answers using a word processor. The answers do not need to be lengthy (bullet points will do). The company you work for was recently purchased by another, much larger company. Although the employees have been assured that no retrenchments would occur they are still skeptical about what the future holds for them. The new managers appear to be quite open with staff about their vision for the company and have introduced major changes to its work practices to help them achieve their objectives. Workers are required to move to a new safety system. There has never been a formal system in place before. You have been put in charge of the project. Describe how you would go about the following: a. Information Sessions on OHS Legislation b. Method of explaining industry regulations to staff c. Draft of a suitable OHS Policy d. Explanation of how accessible this policy should be to employees e. Procedure for electing OHS representatives and committee f. Explanation of how meetings will be conducted g. Consultation methods you will use, and as assessment of that consultation with employees regarding the identification of workplace hazards h. Training requirements i. A checklist relating to hazards in your work area j. Draft of an Incident Reporting Procedure UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONNAIRE Certificate IV in Frontline Management BSBOHS407A: Monitor a Safe Workplace Complete your answers using a word processor. The answers do not need to be lengthy (bullet points will do). 1. Discuss the responsibilities that OH&S legislation places on employees and managers 2. Describe the legal responsibilities of safety representatives and committees 3. What is meant by an employer’s OH&S ‘Duty of Care’? 4. What should OH&S audits evaluate? 5. What OH&S records should be maintained? 6. Why do we have OH&S policies and procedures? 7. ———————– Corelink PTY LTDAssessment Tool  ©Corelink Pty LtdAssessment Tool

Lab report on NITROGEN Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

On NITROGEN - Lab Report Example Nitrogen is a diatomic element with an atomic number of seven and weighing approximately 14.0067 amu. It is a nonmetal and is located in group fifteen, period two of the periodic table. It is one of the main elements, which make up all organic compounds. It exists typically in pure form as either a gas or as a liquid at super cooled temperatures. In addition, Daniel Rutherford discovered nitrogen in 1772. Since its discovery, we have learned that many natural cycles, such as the nitrogen cycle, effect the way in which energy travels through the food chain. The importance of nitrogen in cellular and molecular biology has been emphasized. Industries have taken advantage of nitrogen through processes, such as the Haber process, which is used to create ammonia (Jones 201-2). As mentioned previously, ammonia (NH3) is an important nitrogen-containing compound, which is created industrially. It is used heavily in fertilizers as well as in some foods, medicines, etc. In large amounts, it can be toxic to humans. Trinitrotoluene, otherwise known as TNT, is a very explosive compound including nitrogen. It has widely been used as a common explosive device by both military and civilian groups. One of the reasons it is so highly valued as an explosive is due to it’s insensitivity to factors, which could accidentally detonate it. TNT is very toxic to humans when exposed to any portion of skin or accidentally ingested and can be fatal ("Trinitrotoluene (TNT)"). Lastly, amino acids contain large quantities of nitrogen. Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins, which themselves are the foundation for tissues and all other biological structures. There are twenty different amino acids in which DNA and RNA code for. Understanding the coding and structure of amino acids is especially important in the study of genetics and how to cure genetic disorders which originate from mutations and errors in the coding to create the amino

Analysis of the Workflow Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Analysis of the Workflow - Research Paper Example By this, they make a choice on the size and color of the image, the focus of the image and also the type of the image (Mann 18). These are the most crucial factors that one has to consider while capturing an image since it will determine how pleasant this image will be. This is followed by the storage of the image. The photographer stores the captured images as the original copy either in DVDs or hard disk drives from the memory card of the camera. This is usually for the purposes of future editing for archiving these images (Mann 20). The editing of the image comes after one has cataloged the images. The photographer alters the original image to a more appealing presentation that the customer desires. They are also sorted out appropriately. These edited images are then archived. It should be noted that the archived photography is separate from the original images captured due to editing (Mann 23). This workflow compared to the one provided in the above website differ in that the one in the website is extremely detailed, following each process, while this one gives the most essential parts of the workflow. The two are great I that the images that are produced are often of great quality provided one will follow a single workflow. To conclude, there are other workflows that will differ from the one stated above, but a photographer should make a choice on the best workflow that will please them.

Character comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Character comparison - Essay Example In this story , the character Paul rides his rocking horse with an undying passion to bring luck and money to him ,so that he can help is mother in becoming wealthy. The son being at a tender age, asks naively his mother as to the reason for her unhappiness. However the mother is unable to give an appropriate answer to the child as to her reason for her unluckiness and unhappiness. The mother is greedy, and wants to reach the status of artistrocracy and lead a wealth life style which she is deeply missing in the current situation.The son being naive and caring for his mother, attempts to fulfill the wishes of his mother. The character of mother is not living in realism, but is attracted to the pompous life and riches. She never understood that life is not a game of money but something to be bound with love and happiness. The Paul in his innocence and kind heartedness, deliberately and desperately tries to help his mother in winning money. He has lived in a situation where his parents crave for money and it is the only things echoes in the house. His character and attitude is different than his mother, who is greedy and materialistic. Paul is in a stressful situation wants to earn money to bring about a peaceful situation at home. The mother is selfish, less caring, and is not attentive to her duty towards home and children. She is not keeping interest in the happiness of her children, but is only concentrating on the luxurious life she would lead when money pours in. Being elderly and experienced, the mother is unable to understand the subtle attitude of her son and depicts to be ignorant and cold hearted. The son her is acutely aware of his mother’s relentless desire for leading wealthy life style .Even when he is deprived of love and caring from his mother , he thinks selflessly for her and providing her with what she dreams for. The boy being hearing the want of money from his mother since early years of childhood only hears the words â€Å"There mus t be more money†. The boy undoubtedly wants to help is mother but is not selfish like her. He is a giving person and continuously rocks the horse and also makes handsome money with his clairvoyance in betting. The mother instead is drowned in the dream of acquiring money and is utterly forgotten the demand of love firing in the hearts of her children. The character of the son is more inquisitive in nature, as he is dissatisfied with the answer of his mother regarding her unlucky situation. This shows that the son is more of a thoughtful nature and wants to know the thinks very deeply. The mother’s character is very shallow and does not give importance to aspects like emotions and relationships. Here the son is shown to be more loving, caring, understanding and soulful person. The son in his effort to make money indulge in rocking horse to attain a clairvoyant state where he get intuition about horse race winning .The son is only thinking of his mother and rides the hors e all time to foresee winning clue in a desperate move to acquire money. This shows how thoughtful he is about his mother and how much he cares for her. However, both the characters are closely connected as they share blood relationship and live in the same house. The son and

The Last Mountain Movie (Mountain top removal) Essay

The Last Mountain Movie (Mountain top removal) - Essay Example The process results in both air and water pollution, which is not just local but also has the potential to spread across states. Huge amounts of coal sludge is generated, which when spilled, pollute local rivers. Local wells and springs are contaminated with heavy metals. Moreover, freshwater fish from water bodies around such locations are unsafe for consumption due to the risk of mercury poising. The process also damages the homes of local residents by causing floods as the natural drains such as waterways and streams have been buried in the process. The process also results in the depletion of forest cover, which would have otherwise existed on the mountains. The use of explosives for blasting the mountain tops leaves behind vast amounts of toxic wastes, and the resultant rubble along with silica dust or fly ash often finds its way into people’s homes as the wastes are dumped down the valley. Thus, the ecological balance and safety of the local environment is affected in a very adverse way. The local people have been affected in terms of both health and economy. The pollution caused during the process of mountain top removal and coal mining results in innumerable adverse effects on human health. Common health complications include brain damage, breathing disorders and cancers. As pointed out in Bill Haney’s The Last Mountain, every year in the US, emissions from the coal plants result in more than 10 million cases of asthma, 600,000 cases of brain damage in newborn children, apart from 43,000 premature deaths. Brain tumors and autism are common in such localities. The homes of the local residents undergo destruction because of flooding and rubble dumped into the valley. A large number of people lose their jobs due to increasing mechanization of coal mining. As big coal companies have replaced manual labor and jobs with machines, the number of local jobs has been brought down significantly.

Barry Bond And Jackie Robinson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Barry Bond And Jackie Robinson - Essay Example Before drawing comparison of both these luminaries from the world of sports, it is quite pertinent to mention that these two players are from different era and Robinson was the first to break the concept of colour line in the history of baseball since his first appearance with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the year of 1947. And, he was the first black man to play in the league since 1880s. This fact helped him to bring an end to the racial segregation prevailing in the world of sports and particularly in professional baseball. He was an epitome of character and his impeccable talent provided a strong blow and challenge to the traditional basis on which the segregation was made in the area of baseball. He also made a considerable contribution in the Civil Rights Movement. On the other hand, the accomplishment of Bond as a baseball player is remarkable and this places him in a position unparalleled with the baseball players of all times. He has set a record of getting seven ‘Most Valuable Player Awards’ but in the personal front he had certain loop holes which makes him a diminished entity to an extent before the personality of Robinson.

Project part 1 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project part 1 - Research Paper Example Our village is in mountainous regions and the nearest city is Chongqing which is 369 kms southwest. Chengdu is also now a couple of hours away due to good roads. We only travel very rarely for entertainment or for medical reasons (China Daily, 2004). My typical day as a farmer and head of family starts at 6 am. I get fresh in a local nearby pond and use the sanitation facility there. After having light breakfast, I head towards the local market to get some vegetables for lunch and dinner. We try to grow some vegetables in our own farm to cut on food shopping costs. Later I spend some time with children teaching them what ever I can from experience of life. Afternoons are less busy, and I have a small nap post lunch. Later in the afternoon I head towards the farm and work there typically till evening looking after the crop and sowing seeds etc. water is problem most of the times so we have to be more careful about the crops. After I get back home, we cook rice and curry for dinner and go to sleep. Very rarely I get some meat for the family as it is costly and we cannot afford it. Most of the times we depend on local vegetables and rice as our staple food. We buy these groceries from local market which is not far from my home and is situated at the centre of our small village.

Transition from Print Media to New Media Essay Example for Free

Transition from Print Media to New Media Essay New media has emerged from the print media. But its target audience is different from that of print media. Today, we have young readers getting attracted towards new media. This is because they feel that they really don’t need to waste their time reading when they could easily see or watch whatever they want to with audio and video, now a days the younger generation has gained a presence for it due to advances in technology and just reading a book for â€Å"fun† has started to become something of the past. The first news websites were launched by media houses around 1986. But, as you have already studied, these web editions were simply replicas of the respective print editions. The function of these websites was nothing more than generating awareness about the existence of these media houses. The actual transition in India happened after 1996 when several independent media houses tried to bring out a news website. But after 2000, most of the independent media organizations along with their websites closed down. That was the time when the phenomenon of convergence became popular. Convergence means the coming together of different forms of mass media. Ever since the first murmurs of electronic media, print media has always felt an undue threat, first from the radio and then from television. And now the Internet is seemingly up against the vast and widely spread print media. When the radio came in the early 1930s, everybody felt that newspapers would become obsolete. When television came in the 1950s, people and even experts felt that nobody would get the time for or feel the attraction of the written word. But everyone was wrong. Each media has managed to create its own time and space across cultures and around the world. However, the print media too, be it the newspapers or books, has been able to hold its own. Consider this – the circulation figures of major newspapers around the world have only increased over the years; publishers too come up with a deluge of books and new magazine titles pop up from nowhere every day. Alternatively, there are thousands of TV channels, even more radio stations, and the infinite Internet. In this deluge of information, where every media is fighting for attention, who wins? Nobody actually. Thanks to the distinct features, the ease of use and the reach of every media, they all have managed to create a specific target audience or readership for themselves. There is a little bit of appeal for everyone in every media. Information, knowledge, entertainment, fun, and serious business – all these things can be found in every media now. Now it is only left to the audience to choose what suits them. There lies the competition, which nobody has won yet. And nobody might ever win it completely ever. It’s true we are bombarded by images and sounds from various electronic media, which has shortened our attention spans. This quick deluge of information suits many of us who are hard pressed for time and because of this very few people get the time to read. Everyone wants content in a flash. The Internet has proved to be the most effective media here, where knowledge is literally at your fingertips. You type in what you want, and you get the results in milliseconds – in whatever form you want. There are now online editions of most standard newspapers. This is also the reason you have ebooks now. But how many people have access to the Internet? 10 percent of the population in India and just 8 percent over the world. Where do the rest of the 90 percent go? They turn to newspapers, the TV or radio. But, it is only a matter of time till the fast-spreading Internet is accessible to the rest of the people and a majority will look to it for most of their needs. So in such a scenario, is it just the print media that is dying? Is it not TV and radio too? Although, it is the print media which seems endangered, it is a fact that the success of any media tells upon another media. It is only a tug of war going among these, where the centre gets oscillated between the ends. Each has been devising ways to deal with the plus points of the other. TV is getting interactive, radio is getting gripping, newspapers and books are trying to get more attractive with the incorporation of visuals and graphics and interactivity to some extent, and all of them together are going online. Adaptability is crucial for existence. The bottom-line is if the print media continues to adapt to the changing media habits of people and corner its target readers well, it will survive. And it ought to do that for its good. Somehow, there is a feeling that even if it fails in that, the power of the written word will always be supreme. So while traditional media’s old channels – print and broadcast – are floundering, their online properties are thriving. In fact, I’d argue that the influence of traditional media outlets like theNew York Times and CNN are greater than ever. The internet and social networking sites have given traditional media outlets an audience beyond their once limited geographies. For example, take the Boston Globe. By all rights the Boston Globe’s circulation is in free fall. New England’s largest daily newspapers once bragged about a circulation of more than 700,000 and now finds itself below 300,000. There is little doubt that the print product for the Boston Globe is heading to obsolescence. But look at its other â€Å"new† delivery channels: * Boston.com receives an average of 4.2 million unique views per month in 2010. More than 5.500 other sites link to its content * The Boston Globe has more than a dozen Twitter channels – from books and movies to the Bruins and local news – that is followed by tens of thousands of people * The Boston Globe Facebook page has more than 6,500 people liking it The Boston Globe is also providing video and audio content. It even has a free smart phone application. Their audience is actually greater now than it has ever been. These new channels will continue to grow. So while traditional outlets are still struggling to fully monetize these new channels – they have jumped into online and social channels in a big way. People are getting their news on different channels (and in different formats), but they are still relying on traditional media outlets to deliver it to them. Traditional media – new and old alike – are reinventing journalism and news delivery. Don’t forget that. Media outlets still pack an enormous audience and have an even greater ability to influence people – from what books to read to what products to buy. Media relations isn’t dying – it’s just moving online and onto social networks. The media industry has always adapted to meet the changing needs of advertisers and to incorporate new technologies into their service and product offerings. Over the last two decades this industry has changed at a breakneck pace that is no longer a series of adjustments but a wholesale evolution of the industry. New media have entered the arena while others have been forced to evolve to avoid becoming obsolete. These changes have been driven by advancements in technology, consumer media usage and the almighty dollar. Perhaps no media has been more challenged by these changes than print. While print media has been the hardest hit, talk of its extinction is premature and ignores the fact that it has and continues to play a significant role in consumer marketing. Print media is here to stay but its form and role will never be the same again. Like all media forms, print has evolved over time and has been undergoing a period of considerable change that began prior to the recent recession. Newspaper ad revenues have been experiencing significant decline since 2001 while penetration has been declining in many key segments since the early 1970’s (see chart). This decline has been less pronounced with readers age 55+. As more tech-savvy baby boomers reach retirement, the decline seen in younger segments will likely be matched by the older segments. In order to combat the decline in all age groups, print media has diversified their offerings and taken steps to acquire new readers while cutting costs. Nearly all newspaper and magazine publishers have added complementary websites to their offering. In an effort to attract younger readers major publishers such as the Tribune and Sun-Times Media Group launched free circulation newspapers geared towards their target audience. Magazines such as Road Track and Sports Illustrated have provided unsolicited free 6 month subscriptions followed by a renewal subscription contact strategy thereby providing a free trail. In an effort to cut costs, some publications have abandoned long standing formats. On February 8th 2010 the Chicago Tribune trimmed its traditional broadsheet format to reduce costs and changed their editorial ratio as part of their bankruptcy agreement. As print revenues continue to decline profits are improving and should it be determined that these acquisition efforts and format changes played a key role, it is likely that other publications around the country will follow. Online advertising has benefited from regular techn ological advances and has become a mainstream advertising medium now representing 12% of total ad spending compared to 34.6% for print. [1] The explosive growth of online advertising has tapered off and for the first time experienced negative growth in the first quarter of 2009. Internet advertising spend grew 37.5% between 2005 and 2008 while print declined 29.9% over the same period.[2] However, the decline of print has not been made up by growth in online advertising. Changes in the media industry have impacted the two primary components of print media in different ways. For a long time, newspapers enjoyed the highest penetration levels of any media. This began to change with the introduction of television and its increased usage. Over the past two decades this evolution has been most impacted by a culture that thrives in convenience and demands their information in â€Å"real-time†. These have never been the strengths of print but proclamations that print is dead ignore prints strengths. These strengths have begun to show their worth as online advertising has failed to carry the same perceived value that even the wounded print industry maintains to this day. The very nature of the internet makes it impossible to completely replace print media. Print retains characteristics not replicable through vehicles: browsability, credibility, tangibility, size, inserts, ad impact, ad content, and usability. Print will have to redefine its niche, purpose and approach, but it has been a proven vehicle for marketing communication and the differentiating strengths it retains will help it survive. The internet has only partially succeeded at supplanting print as a news source. Journalism has been supplanted, in part, by blogs, and independent sources that lack both the clout and professional reputation of long standing institution such as the Wall Street Journal. Advertisers also have a vested interest in seeing print survive. The ability to reach large numbers of baby boomers and older consumers, with their considerable spending power through a tangible vehicle, will help support print through this transition period. There is no doubt media is undergoing a metamorphosis. For print, this future is unclear but the overall demise of print media is grossly exaggerated. Print is undoubtedly undergoing a significant change, one that will redefine its niche and better position it for the future. Media has always adapted to the needs and desires of its consumers and advertisers and this change is no different. Only time will tell the fate of print, but that fate is far from decided.

The Corporate Analysis Pret A Manger Marketing Essay

The Corporate Analysis Pret A Manger Marketing Essay Introduction 1.1 Background The name of Prà ªt à   Manger sandwich shop roughly translates to ready to eat. This name embodies the restaurants aim of providing healthy alternatives to fast food. Co-founders and college friends Sinclair Beecham and Julian Metcalfe wanted to provide the United Kingdom with healthy on-the-go sandwiches, without compromising the nutritious content of the food. Upon forming this resolve, Beecham and Metcalfe borrowed their capital of  £17,000 from a bank, and opened their first Pret deli on Victoria Street in 1986. At the start of their venture, the two friends lacked employees, and they personally prepared each item. Twenty-four years after the launching of Pret, the company has perfected its formula for success, and has opened several branches outside of the United Kingdom. The aims and objectives of founders Beecham and Metcalfe was to have proper sandwiches without any additives, chemicals, and preservatives. Each store only stocks natural ingredients, and the sandwiches are made on each stores kitchens in the morning. Each sandwich is packed in cardboard containers, ensuring consumers of the foods quality and freshness. The days leftovers would be distributed to charities catering to the noble cause of providing food for the homeless. From its initial launch of 1986, there are more than 200 Pret shops throughout the world. In 2000, the company opened its first branch in New York, and commenced on having another food shop called Itsu, which are sushi restaurants in the UK, during 1997. By 2001, McDonalds was attracted to the speed Pret is establishing itself as a dominant player in the fast food industry, and bought 33% of the companys stake for fifty million pounds. By 2002, Pret opened outlets in Asia, with the blessings of political standing from McDonalds. The last milestone in Prets current timeline is that by March 2004, the company ceased their ventures in Japan, after incurring losses over eighteen months of testing the market. After the companys losses in their Asian ventures, Pret re-organized itself into a better, more stable company in terms of closing shops that were making more debts than profits, and reducing their workforce. This happened from 2002 to 2003. After closing the shops that were not making money and reducing the workforce to a number of people which would be just as effective, Pret is right on track, and was targeting to have twenty new stores in the UK in 2005. Currently there are more than 2,200 Pret employees worldwide. During the year 2004, Pret A Manger was dubbed as the fourth largest company in the United Kingdoms  £3.5 billion sandwich bar market. In terms of the branded coffee bar sector, Pret took the sixth place from the  £1 billion market share. Lastly, Pret has thousands of customers, and has the consumers vote for cleanliness and food quality. Overall the brand started from one small store in the streets of London, and has grown as one of the leading sandwich stores in the UK. Chapter 2 Information Gathering All forms of available media were used by the author to gather ample information for this paper. A thorough contextual analysis was done with all gathered snippets of published materials such as magazines, journals, encyclopedias, newspapers, pamphlets, and books. The author also used the literature found in Pret A Mangers wrapping, wherein they provided recipes for their food in the packaging of their sandwiches. Aside from published materials, the author investigated all available resources in the public domain such as the Internet. The Internet yielded very crucial information, especially for those renowned websites which provided reviews, overviews, and customer narratives regarding Pret A Manger and other sandwich stores in London. The author also used Pret A Mangers official website to provide an accurate representation of the company within this report, since it is important that the company is not misled in this analysis. Other websites were used as long as they provided pertinent information for this paper. Yet the information gathering would be incomplete if the author only used contextual analysis to relieve the history of Pret A Manger. Due to this, the author personally frequented Pret stores in London, in order to observe the attitude and relationship of the serving staff, management, and crew towards customers. This attitude and rapport was compared to the actions and relationships with Subways, since Pret A Manger and Subway are the two leading competitors in the sandwich market. By frequenting the two stores, the author was able to establish the differences in service, as well as what probable threats and disadvantages Pret A Manger is prone to. Along with casual conversations with fellow diners, the author is able to see what should be done in order to ensure that consumers would continue to utilize Pret over other stores. Chapter 3 Analysis Discussion 3.1 PESTLE Analysis A. Political When McDonalds bought 33% of Pret A Mangers stakes, it brought about a huge windfall of investments for Pret A Manger. Since McDonalds is one of the biggest fast food chains worldwide, other people acknowledged McDos interest in Pret as equals to generating more profit. After all, if a powerhouse such as McDonalds would be interested in a little sandwich shop in the United Kingdom, then they might have missed something about that sandwich shop. The simple of act of McDonalds buying a non-controlling stake in the company generated more political power for Pret than never before. A few years after the sale, Pret was able to open at least twenty shops in the United States and Hong Kong. Prets political power could be said to have began in McDonalds interest, and was fueled by the success Pret attained due to its many accomplishment. Throughout the years, the image of Pret A Manger as a leading sandwich retail store is unblemished to this very day. B. Economic The brand Pret A Manger continues to flourish and to supply stable work opportunities in these economically disturbing times. In 1992, six short years after the first store in Victoria was opened, three more shops were opened and the brand continues to grow. The sandwich store Pret a Manger was followed by Itsu, a sushi bar which is renowned in London and the United Kingdom. Ten years after the Itsu was launched, there are more than a dozen Itsu stores established both in New York, United States, and London. Though the brand hit a standstill when they were forced to recall and to call their stores in Japan as losses, even the founders acknowledged that the speed with which they have expanded were too fast for development. Instead of producing service and products which were supposed to be unrivaled anywhere else, the company was intent on building more and more shops in different locations. Because of this, the plan backfired, and they have to gather their remaining assets and convert them to other sources of income. It is also worth mentioning that there are those who believe that once a business has entered the mainstream of the business industry, which is in Manhattan, New York, then that company would be labeled as one in the big league. By having branches in Manhattan, Pret was able to demonstrate to the world its power as a big player in the sandwich industry. C. Socio-Cultural Pret asserts itself as having its own attitude and outlook, as well as image for all consumers. Most of Prets customers are familiar with the Pret attitude, which is an environment friendly service coupled with enthusiastic, over-eager staff. Its identity as a healthy-food provider exceeds all expectations as it obviously embodies this ideal in everyday standards. The food are created fresh daily, all excess would be given to the homeless, and even the packaging is made up of recycled cardboard paper. There are no preservatives at all: only fresh, pure food to be enjoyed by those who enjoy healthy lifestyles. This nature-loving attitude is also emphasized in Pret A Mangers website. Its Sustainability tab mentions how the company aims to provide clean, healthy food for all customers so that all might get the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Even their delivery cabs conserve energy in the form of using green energy sources during delivery. In-house recycling is highly encouraged, and once a customer walks into the store, he or she will immediately understand what the Prets commitment to nature is all about. D. Technological Like other major companies, Pret has embraced technology and utilized it for their own advancement. Such is the blessing of e-HRM, which enables workers to produce more output in lesser time. With Pret, they have used technology to keep track of their in-house resources, stocks, list of groceries to buy, and other things. The company uses it to check their employee resources, delegations, tasks, and leaves. They log into a system from any Pret store branch, and can check their leave credits, file leaves and offsets, and other personal details. E. Legal Though Prets unyielding commitment to preserving nature goes untarnished, the company is not free of intrigue. There was an incident wherein a former KGB agent was poisoned while dining in an Itsu Restaurant. The branch at Picadilly, London, had to be closed, yet autopsy report and other investigations have proven that the source of poison was not in the store, and the agent contacted the poison before entering the restaurant. Aside from this incident, there are also other reports wherein people filed cases against the sandwich empire, as is inevitable in a popular brand. Yet Pret has faced each one of them, and has managed to keep its slate clear of any negative connotations about the brand. F. Ethical There is no ethical discrimination and other ethical dilemmas involved in Pret A Manger. It is an honest store which aims to provide quality service, and accepts applicants of all people of all races. This as much is mentioned in the portfolio of Pret A Manger, as they welcome applicants from all people, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, color of their skins, genders, and other factors. 3.2 Business Analysis SWOT Analysis Figure 1 Pret A Manger SWOT Analysis The figure below would determine Pret A Mangers SWOT analysis: A. Strengths  · Established name there are many Pret A Manger stores throughout the United Kingdom. Along with Itsu, these stores are visible, and easily accessible to all potential customers. Also, Pret has twenty-four years of experience as a famed sandwich maker. Their name is synonymous to healthy sandwiches, and they have also established themselves as a major contributor in the sandwich market.  · Many loyal followers there are thousands of loyal customers who rely on Pret to feed them during breaks and snacks. Since they can get food in a speedy manner, most business people would prefer to eat at Prets.  · Aim to be a healthy food chain is unique and is attractive to many people in this golden era of lifestyle awareness, most people are investing in their health. Due to this, Prets healthy and environment-friendly approach to service is greatly embraced by the people. B. Weaknesses  · Too many stores sharing the same items since each store would individually prepare its sandwiches and products for the day, there are instances wherein what a customer might want may not be available in the store. Since there are too many stores sharing the same items, each store lost its unique characteristics to entice new customers.  · Some would say that the prices are too high for a sandwich customers have said that they would prefer if the sandwiches are made cheaper. Then again, with the quality of service, as well as the health benefits given by the store, it is no wonder that the prices are high. C. Opportunities  · Expansion plans in other countries by placing Pret in mainstream competition, the world would be able to understand that Pret is a brand that is clamoring to be known. The quality of their sandwiches and products would precede them.  · Since there are many followers, it would be easier to know what consumers want, and how to retain these wants to keep the customers loyal to Pret. D. Threats  · By entering the mainstream competition in New York and other countries, Pret A Manger has established its force. However, it is open for comparison to other prestigious brands, such as Subway Sandwiches, which are rampant in the United States. Though Pret has twenty stores in Manhattan alone, Subway has dominated the sandwich scheme in the United States, and is available in all states for the customers. Chapter 4 Conclusion and Recommendation As was clearly portrayed in this paper, Pret A Manger is an established, reputable company with many followers throughout the world. Its brand of loving nature and providing healthy food to all consumers makes is stand out in this world wherein fast food is in demand. Pret is able to provide speedy service, without the saturated fat, and cholesterol served by other organizations. Prets strengths could be said to lie in this image and identity. Since people are already sold to the idea of perfect sandwiches which are healthy and delectable, more and more consumers are lining up at Pret stores. Furthermore, since the brand is using recycled paper, and is supporting charities and the poor by providing them with food, and recycling, those who are nature buffs and who feel a deep sense of environmentalism would flock to the stores. The author strongly believes that the threats faced by Pret A Manger could be handled well, since it was already proven before that the company could continue with its production despite losses, as was the case when they lost huge investments in Japan. However, since people at the store were complaining of the prices, there must be a better alternative to selling the sandwiches without lowering the quality. The author recommends that the store conduct sales and other promos in order to entice new customers to try their products. Since it is also a misconception that all Pret products are expensive, they should be able to bring about new customers by showing them that each product is accurately priced. Once new customers would see how much effort, patience, and top quality materials were used in order to give them their orders, they would realize that the prices, once one compares them to other sandwich stores, are not ridiculously expensive. Lastly, throughout the company analysis, it was established how much people appreciate Pret A Manger, as was evident by the number of stores which were made in order to cater to the needs of all citizens. Having Pret littered around the country and the world makes it accessible for all consumers and customers. Once Pret is able to entice new customers, and convince them that their prices are not extravagant, then the author strongly believes that Pret would be able to trump the competition which is in Subway sandwiches. Pret would be able to claim the number one spot as the most dominant contributor in the sandwich market.