Applying for masters in architecture Personal Statement

Applying for aces in design - Personal Statement Example In the previous three years, I have particularly been energetic about taking care of T-squares and planning phases. Generally significant, college instruction in Architecture has opened more up to date roads for investigating my enthusiasm in the claim to fame. The new endeavor is the utilization of CAD and other programming in study and executing my compositional drawings. By the by, I despite everything try to have a studio where I use planning phases and T-squares for making models. I have consistently done astoundingly well in my examinations and been among the top understudies in my group. My great exhibitions and energy have consistently propelled me to look for chances to improve my abilities through pragmatic aptitudes application and to go to higher learning at each chance. I have shown an enthusiasm, the capacity to be productive and creative in the misuse of information learned in secondary school and through to undergrad level while contemplating Architecture. During my University establishment, a cultivated planner once approached me my inspiration for being a draftsman. In my reaction, I said that I needed to improve the status of the world for better. Requested to expand further, I said that, my point is making simple and striking. The world needs specialists, and I see engineers through a comparable crystal as specialists. Draftsmen are, hence, important to show idea structures and spaces for most extreme satisfying of and surpassing people’s wants. My energy in structures had started path before I chose to seek after a profession in engineering. Structures have consistently entranced me, and I have consistently taken a stab at conceptualizing their creation from vastness to the brilliantly finished structures. It is my genuine conviction that I will get an opportunity in the establishment to propel my abilities. My trust in my capacities and adroit principals invigorate my determination to consider and be an

Immigration Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Movement - Coursework Example According to insights this can be said that in the year 2009, just about 200 million individuals changed their inhabitant nation all through the world. This number is just about 3 % of by and large populace on the planet. Monetary transient alludes to those people who are moving starting with one district then onto the next locale to look for business openings or for improving their money related condition. So this can be said that financial transient are particular in nature from the displaced people. Numerous nations have limitation in the field of movement and giving visa to the individuals. This will assist with disallowing an individual from going into the other nation. It is likewise useful to shield the nation and its economy from those people who need to work without legitimate and substantial work visa. China is a case of such sort of nations which totally halted to allow citizenship for remote vagrants. Again infringement of movement law might be destructive for the individuals and administration of that nation can deny their entrance and power them to leave the nation as quickly as time permits. Another term is utilized in the field of migration which is called lawful foreigner. The individ ual enters in the new nation to be a perpetual inhabitant in the wake of getting leeway from the separate end. For this situation the individual is called as lawful foreigner (Kleyn, 2-8). Movement can be characterized as an incredible instrument for monetary rejuvenation. In the event that populace of a nation builds, at that point number of working work power members additionally will get expanded. This will assist with improving the monetary state of that nation. Again increasingly number of laborers will assist with producing more purchasers spending in the economy. Organizations will prosper in this stage and business people will get more extension to extend their business exercises. At the point when industry achieves the development position then consequently

Retail Management Definition, Processes, Best Practices

Retail Management Definition, Processes, Best Practices The business dictionary defines retail management as the process of promoting greater sales and customer satisfaction.If you break this down, you will get all the aspects of running a retail business. For example, to achieve more sales, you must know what the market needs. Once you know what is needed, then making sales becomes significantly less burdensome since needs have to be met.In the course of meeting people’s needs, you will recognize the place of quality products, great customer service and employee satisfaction. For you to keep meeting needs, you have to stay competitive and make enough profit so as to expand accordingly and motivate your staff as well.This article helps you understand how the retail management process works to give you maximum profits while satisfying both customers and employees.THE RETAIL PROCESSESBeing a process, retail management consists of several steps to be followed so as to achieve its goals. These steps are what determine the way the business w ill be run and how profitable it will be.In retail management, there are four basic steps which have to be followed so as to achieve the goals set. Let us look at these.PlanningA plan is a proposed method of doing or achieving something. It details the steps to be followed so as to ensure resources are well utilized and misuse avoided or at least minimized.In retail management, planning is what sets the ball rolling. It is the first stage of running the business. At this point, a lot of work is done to set the stage for the final and most visible part of the processâ€"selling.Planning in itself can be broken into several steps as discussed below.1. Market ResearchYou have decided to venture into the retail industry. Your intentions are to gain a considerable market share and eventually be the biggest and most profitable business. But have you decided on what to sell? Where and how to sell it?These are some of the questions that you need to answer at this stage. If you will for examp le sell general consumer products, like what supermarkets sell, then you need to research on that. If aiming to sell cars, then you also need to do some homework.What are the products available on the market? Who are the suppliers? What is the growth of the industry? How fast does it grow? What are the returns? What are the usual expenses?When doing market research, you are seeking to find out what to engage in so as to achieve your goals. You want to ensure that you have set everything right in order to avoid unnecessary obstacles.This could also come down to the difference between needs and wants. There are businesses which specialize in providing wants, e.g. luxury living, whereas others provide needs i.e. food, shelter, clothing and healthcare.If you are operating from a retailer’s level, you are interacting directly with consumers. It therefore becomes necessary to ensure there is a need for the product you want to trade in. Even if you want to provide wants, ensure there is ‘need’ for them. This is the essence of market research.2. LogisticsThis step includes detailed organization of how products will move from the supplier to your stores in the event that you are the one collecting them. This has to do with the transport options which you have available, considering the relevant costs.Apart from transporting, time is also crucial in this stage. It is not enough to know where to get goods from. It is equally important to know what time it will usually take to get them to your store. Part of this is the time spent having your purchase order processed at your point of purchase.Logistics is not just external but also internal. The staff handling logistics must know the size of your store rooms. All the goods that will be received will have to be either going to the shelves or a storage area. It would be a disaster having more products than can fit in your storage area.3. ExpensesNo business can make any profit without keeping tabs on its expenses. You r budget essentially determines how much purchases you make. More than that, it serves as a safety warning because ideally, you should never go beyond your budget.In this planning stage, you will have to look beyond purchases. Consider the operating costs, salaries to be paid, bills to be settled etc. Calculate the expected costs in terms of rent, marketing, computer systems to be installed and whatever else you will spend money on.Although you may not be able to cover everything, try to check on as much as possible. Since costs are usually higher than profits when starting out, find out how long it will possibly take you to break even. This is important as it helps you maintain a realistic focus on your pursuit of profits.4. Profit marginsYou are in business and that means you have to make profit. This is something you have to plan for. Having done your market research and engaged several suppliers on possible quantities and discounts, you should have decided on the appropriate pro fit margins.It is very possible that when the time to buy comes, there may be a change in the prices. Whether this will be the case or not, once you have decided on the percentages you will make, then it’s easy to adjust your prices.The issue of margins can be a tricky one to handle at times, especially if you are completely new in the industry. Since you may want to quickly attract customers, you may decide to significantly lower your prices compared to your competitors.You may however find that there are products which retail at specific prices such that going lower than that may even draw suspicion.At the same time, price wars can be very vicious. And if you start that war and your competitors realize you are eating into their market share, you may not be able to withstand a counter attack unless you have very deep pockets. Or you have managed to secure some strategic agreements with suppliers.Some of these agreements can be about you being the only authorized retailer of certa in fast-moving products. You could also be the only licensed provider of a specific in-store service. This can ensure more trust gets built with your customers as they seek licensed and authorized services.These however don’t have to be the only means of achieving your goals. When it comes to strategy, there are always many ways to win.You can negotiate discount percentages on the basis of huge quantities being purchased. As long as the products do not have a short shelf life, you can for example buy 3 months’ goods at once so that you get higher discounts.Such a move would require you to also check your procurement policies so as to avoid overstocking your store. If you have someone or people handling your finances, you’ll need to consult them so that they can advise.5. StaffingHave you decided on the size of the store or whole company? This should be decided early. If possible, the hired staff should be part of the team arranging the goods on the shelves before the opening o f business.When staff are hired in the early stages of planning, they form relations which will help build the team spirit. You can start with a minimum number of employees then increase as you see the need.In planning for your employees, you should have in mind the various positions you will need to drive your business. From the managers to the cleaners, you will be looking for different qualifications.With the different qualifications also come different pay amounts. This is something to be discussed with the finance team. If you are looking to start a retail business and you are yet to have any employee or don’t have someone to consult on this, then you will have to work on this at the market research level.Included in staffing matters is training and other forms of employee retention. This is of great importance to avoid the resignation of your top talent. This can be a big blow to your business especially if it comes after you have started making profits.Your staff will typic ally be aware, or think they are aware, of your company’s profitability. When they think you are making much money but not investing in their good, then they can leave for the competitor or worse, defraud you.This means that you need to provide great incentives to your employees. Although there may be different types of incentives for the different categories of employees, there should at least be a standard. Ensure all your employees are happy with what they get.6. Inventory ManagementThe inventory is the backbone of any retail business because the stock is what is making the business stand. Minus the goods, there is no business. This means that the inventory is your company’s main asset. You will recognize this reality when you learn about the effects of pilferage.For an idea how you can lose business through employee theft. Watch the below video and see how it happens in a restaurant setting. Pilferage causes many companies to suffer great losses. If undetected or not tackled effectively, then you could as well end up shutting down. This is because the stock available for selling is less than what you bought. You will therefore make no profit from what you are selling.When you consider inventory management, there are three main points to consider:I. Restock levels â€" the products you are selling will run out and you will have to buy some more. The question is, at what point do you buy more stock?Ideally, customers should never come to your store and find that you don’t have the stock that is available elsewhere. If you have worked hard and managed to get the customers into your store, then ensure they come back again for the supplies they need.Because stocks run out, you have to replenish them soonest possible. At the beginning, you may have a hard time knowing the appropriate time to restock.The best way of going about this is by doing a thorough market research. This should include finding out what products move fastest and which ones move slowest. You should always have enough quantities of the fast-moving products in your store.If you know that the supplier takes two days to deliver and you sell 5 pieces of product A in three days, then make weekly orders of 12 pieces. From that point, closely monitor the progress and change accordingly.II. Understocking â€" this is having less products than the quantities needed by customers. This eats into your profits because customers will not have much to buy. When you notice that your store is experiencing dropped sales, this can be one of the causes.Understocking also does another harm. This harm is in the minds of customers but the effect is on your business. When your shelves look empty because you don’t have the right quantities of goods, they paint the picture that the business is not doing well.You might be experiencing delays in delivery but your customers rarely get to understand that. If they experience this severally, they will just go to the store which offers them everyt hing they need.III. Overstocking â€" this is just the opposite of understocking. When you have excess stock, your cash flow will suffer. This is because your money will be held in stock which is not moving thus causing a lot of inefficiencies in your operations.You will realize that you cannot operate in an efficient manner when the daily payments that need to be done can no longer be made. Another symptom of cash flow problems is the lack of petty cash.When you overstock, not only do you lack petty cash, you also stand to experience problems with expiring goods. When you buy too much and cannot sell them fast enough, you end up with goods whose shelf life is pretty short.For you to clear them, you will have to reduce their prices to encourage sales or give them away while it is still safe to use. This eats into your profit margins and could even lead to losses.Worse still, there is the danger of your staff not recognizing a certain product as almost expiring or already expired. If a customer buys such a product, you have very little control over what his reaction would be. Anything from being maligned to being sued is possible.BuyThis is the process of acquiring the products which you will sell. Although it may seem like an easy step, it is best to recognize its importance. Without careful consideration, you may not be able to maximize on some great opportunities.There are two basic stages in the buying process. SourcingFor you to buy, you have to find some sellers. In the retail industry, unless there is only one supplier of a product, it is best to have several suppliers you can buy from. This helps you stay in control of your business in case one is not able to deliver.In the sourcing stage, you will have to find out who is the best supplier. Note that the best is not necessarily the one who other retailers are buying from. The best is strictly according to your business needs.Who sells at the lowest price? Who is willing to deliver to your store? Who give s the best after sales services? What are their return policies? What are their credit periods? What discounts do they give? These and many other questions will be asked and answered at this stage.Take time to know the people behind those businesses. In some cases, the manager may not be able to give you a discount. But if you get to know the owner of the business and form a good relationship with him, you can get lower prices.Remember that relationships are not just built with your customers but your suppliers as well. These are the people who facilitate your business. If you don’t have the goods then you will have nothing to sell.Note that negotiations do not have to be solely based on the prices. Depending on what will benefit your business, you can get some advantage over your competitors if they collect their supplies while you get them delivered to your stores.The advantage for you is the cutting down of operating costs. This eventually adds to your profit. Additionally, if you can get suppliers who are willing to give you longer credit periods, that can also work to your advantage.This way, especially if you sell well, you may make more profit per financial period compared to the competition. This comes from the lower expenses you will have incurred due to less outgoing payments. This gives you the opportunity to put more money where it profits most.This can be especially good when you are just starting your business. ProceduresThe act of buying involves some processes. These processes can literally make or break your business especially when speed is required. At the same time, your processes must have appropriate checks and balances so as to ensure the safety of your business.In this age of technology, you most likely have a computer system which is running a software fit for the buying process. There are notable retail systems which have functionality to help you achieve efficiency. In general, there are two types of systems you can employ, either alone or together:I. Back-office system â€" this is the system you will use to make purchases and handle other work like record keeping. In purchasing, there is at least one document needed. This is the local purchase order (LPO). However, depending on the requirements of your system, which is really a reflection of the requirements of your business, you may need more documents.Some businesses may require a purchase requisition from the shelf attendant to be attached to the LPO. Others may also require a quotation to show that the price in the LPO is what the supplier gave.Most of these requirements are usually put in place for security purposes to prevent manipulation of the system. It is important to note however, that the more the requirements, the longer it takes to finalize the process of buying before making the actual order.II. POS system â€" this is the system running at the check-out counter. The POS system is usually meant to communicate with the back-office system to give information of what has been purchased. This way, the whole system keeps the inventory in check.In smaller businesses, the POS and back-office system can be combined. One system could have both capabilities such that the back office work is done when there is less POS work.This should only be the case if you are the only person working in the business such that you do both the back-office and cashier work.Procedures are key both when securing your system and the business in general as well as when looking to avoid unnecessary steps in the buying process. This is because it may take too long to go from one person to another in the case of a big business where there are several people who should give approvals.MoveThis stage describes the processes involved in getting the bought goods ready and available for selling. Several steps are involved as discussed below.1. Receive goodsWhether you have collected the goods from the supplier or they have been delivered at your store, this is t he first step. Here, you have to confirm that the delivered goods are what you ordered. This is a safety measure.Mistakes may happen either while receiving or they may have happened at the supplier’s side where the wrong goods were released. Check the exact goods in terms of weight/volume, quantity, type or flavor if applicable and any other relevant thing to be considered.Something else to be confirmed is that the set procedures were followed when making the purchase. Depending on the requirements you have for your business, it is important that all the requirements be followed.If for example there should be a requisition form, a quotation, LPO and maybe an electronic or manual approval, ensure these are all available.Along the same line, the selling documents from the supplier should match the buying documents from your side. This is important so as to avoid problems during payments. Check whether the information on the invoice and delivery note match. These should also match th e information on your LPO.If your LPO used the prices quoted by the supplier, then those are the prices which should be on the invoice. If there is a difference, then it should be resolved before the goods are received into the store.After all has been confirmed, then the receiving staff signs on the supplier’s documents and the goods are accepted into the store.2. StorageReceived goods will normally head to the allocated storage space first. If the products have run out at the shelf, then immediate replenishing should be done.Under storage, the goods are to be arranged in an orderly manner to enable quick and easy access when replenishing the shelves. It is also a good idea to have someone in charge of the storage area who can keep records of the products as they come in and leave for the shelf.This acts as an extra layer of security and comes in handy when tracking down missing goods.3. Shelf and product arrangementGoods have to be arranged on the shelves where customers will pi ck them from. These arrangements should be done in ways which make it easy to be seen and picked.Product arrangement should also be done in a relevant manner to draw customers in. For example, related items like toothpaste and toothbrushes should be close to each other. This will prompt some customers to replace their toothbrushes as they buy a new toothpaste.Watch the below video for some tips on how to do visual merchandising. 4. PricingThe products on your shelves must have the correct prices. Whether you use price tags or you have labels on the shelves themselves, the price must be correct. This is to avoid situations where a customer picks an item according to his budget only to realize when at the counter that the item is more expensive than the price indicated on the shelf.The customer then has to make the decision at the counter on whether to pay extra or leave the product. Such a situation can also raise questions of insincerity and once customers can’t trust you, then yo u lose them. Possibly forever.It is important for the shelf attendants to confirm prices upon receiving new stock. This is crucial because if goods come in at a higher price, you may have to increase their selling price to maintain your margins.If there is a possibility of price variations from what is currently in the system, it may be advisable for the purchasing staff to quickly work on the changes. In case it may take long, then it is better for the products to stay off the shelf with customers being advised appropriately.SellSelling could easily be said to be the main thing going on in a retail store. In any case, isn’t it all about buying goods to re-sell?All the same, there are several things that make up the whole selling process. Since it is an ongoing business of selling, then you have to ensure that this is always happening. How do you do this?1. In-store assistanceFor maximum sales, you have to ensure that customers get assistance when in your store. You can consider e mpowering your shelf attendants for this task. Generally speaking, customers are likely to buy more and come again if they get assistance during shopping.In-store assistance can be anything from welcoming customers into your store to helping them locate the products they want to buy. You can direct them to the right aisle, show them the manager’s office, help them find out whether another branch of your store has the product they want etc.2. Customer serviceAt the heart of customer service is the need to develop relationships. Every human being wants and needs to feel valued. So when customers come to your store, no matter how big it is, they will appreciate more if they have someone to ask questions and get advice from.The biggest mistake your staff could do at this point is rushing to sell. The customer will realize that you aren’t interested in meeting his needs but in getting his money. This will only work against you.It is important that you first of all understand the need s of your customer then proceed to offer a suitable solution. If this happens well, then you could be the authoritative voice which gives advice instead of the internet.The rule in customer service is that you should always seek to solve the customer’s problem. Once you do this, the customer will have no problem buying from you. Just remember to be honest and don’t push them to make a particular decision.Another aspect of customer service with the intention of selling is doing suggestive selling. This is simply recommending to them to buy something that works alongside what they have bought.For example, if someone buys toothpaste, you can suggest that he buys a toothbrush. To strengthen your suggestion, tell them that it’s advisable to change toothbrushes every three months. The more relevant information you give, the more likely you are to sell.A common mistake to avoid during customer care is giving certain customers preferential treatment over others. Understand that as muc h as the returning customer is important, so is the new one. If you treat the new customer well, he will come again. And he may come back with a friend.3. Handling complaintsDespite all your good efforts, you will always have complaints from customers. Be it products which did not work as expected or complaints about the customer service you thought was awesome. You should be ready for these.If you have a returns policy, then you need to follow it in case products are being returned. However, there will most likely be unique situations which need a different approach.When it comes to handling complaints, remember that the focus should be on the customer. Seek to understand the customer and make them feel valued. Let them know that their complaint has been received as feedback then proceed to solve the problem.BEST PRACTICESEvery industry has some best practices which help guarantee smooth operations. Although some of these are applicable across all or many industries, there are thos e which are quite unique to the retail industry.Below we look at some best practices which you can implement for better business results. This list is a mix of general tips that can be applied to any business and those specific to the retail industry.1. CommunicationThis is really necessary everywhere regardless of the industry you are in. When you have good communication, you can be sure that the job will be done well. This is because information shared is being understood.At the heart of communication is the mutual respect between the people exchanging information. Each party should first seek to understand the other person then be understood. Without understanding the other person, you might not communicate with him well.For your retail business, communication comes in three ways:Business to business communication is when you are exchanging information between yourself and any of your business partners. These could be your suppliers, banks, auditors and any other external entity which is facilitating your business. You have to keep in mind that just as you are in business, so are your business partners. Both you and them are seeking to make money. As such, clear communication that is understandable should always be sought.Business to employee communication is where you are communicating with your employees. As the people who are mainly working for you, you have to treat them well. Failing to treat your employees well could raise issues with labor officers or even lead your employees to defraud you. It is therefore important to develop a good relationship with your employees just as is the case with your customers. Keep in mind that it is your employees who interact with customers.Business to customer communication is what happens through advertising, marketing etc. This communication is mostly one-directional whereby it is you giving the communication while your customer is consuming the information. Customer care can also be viewed as business to customer communication. In this case however, the communication is slightly different in that it it two-way. The customer gives feedback, while you respond to them.2. Limit sales / promotionsIn your desire to make more sales, you might be tempted to offer more promotions to attract more customers. This however should be done in moderation. Over-doing it can bring serious challenges which may not be very easy to handle.To understand this, just think of your profit margins. As much as more sales could bring bigger profits, the way to go about it is not always the promotion way.When you offer too many promotions, you create a mindset in the customers’ minds that you are all about promotions. With this attitude towards your business, whenever you are not having a promotion, they will not buy. They will be waiting for the upcoming promotion so as to buy when things are cheaper.Watch the below video to see what other options your retail business could use to move stocks faster. 3. Employee train ingGetting the right employees for your retail business is a must. You will obviously do well to hire qualified and hopefully, experienced employees. That hiring should however not be the end of having a great team.Employees know how competitive the job market is. As such, the smart ones usually enroll themselves in classes to further their knowledge and remain relevant. As good as this is, it gets better when their employers recognize the need to offer them training that is relevant to the business.The truth is that not all your employees are excited about working for you. Some may be with you just for the rime being as they search for their dream jobs. Others may not have desired the retail industry but having gotten the job, lack the enthusiasm to develop themselves along those lines.But won’t your business need more knowledgeable staff?You need to make it your responsibility to offer employee training. This maximizes on their suitability to serve your customers in the best way possible, or as the industry requires. Still, the industry requirements can be exceeded.When you offer your employees relevant training, you make them more productive for your business. As you increase their capacity, you also reap the benefits.4. Salaries, benefits and incentivesWhenever effort is dispensed, there has to be some form of compensation. This is true for all work.Your employees work for you and they expect to have compensation for the efforts they put in. Although not all of your employees may know exactly how much your business makes, they are smart enough to know that they are important to the business.As you build a team to work with, consider the market rates of the salaries of the various employees you will have. Unless yours is a really small business and cannot manage to offer competitive salaries, ensure you explain it to the candidate during the interview.Make it known that there are benefits and incentives. These will show that you have other ways of rewardi ng your employees and will help in retaining them.Benefits are usually available for all employees e.g. a pension scheme, health insurance etc. Incentives on the other hand are more performance-based. They tell the employee that the more they deliver, the more of something great they can get.As an employer, you will have to make these very attractive and as your business grows, ensure that you make them even better.5. Recognize and value your employeesAs much as incentives can recognize the efforts an employee puts in, there is more to recognizing your staff than through these. To better understand the importance of valuing your staff, consider that there is a relationship between you and your employees.It is therefore all about building that relationship.Just as it works in other kinds of relationships, you have to respect your employees. Respecting them means that as much as you are giving them instructions, also consider listening to them. Some of them may know something about yo ur competitor that you may not know from any other source.If you are implementing some new ways of working, don’t just direct them to do things in a certain way. Create an environment that is suitable for holding conversations. Engage them and explain how the company is changing its approach thus the new way of operating.Whenever an employee does something good, be sure to acknowledge his effort verbally. Encourage them by mentioning it during office meetings. Do not hold back those positive comments as they really build up your staff and encourage them to do more. This shows them that their efforts are noticed and valued.6. Hiring and firingAs a business, you need to make decisions on a daily basis. Some may be easy whereas others may make you uncomfortable though they are necessary.Two major decisions are about hiring and dismissing an employee. You may think that this is not a difficult decision until you get a friend or family member who approaches you for a job though he is n ot qualified. Or an employee performs fairly well but is disrespectful to others.In such cases, you will need to make the decision that is best for your business. For example, if a family member needs a job but is not qualified, you should put the needs of your business first. Remember that you have to protect the needs of your business.Although your decision may seem harsh, just consider the effects of having a non-performing staff who may not be very open to correction. Always consider the pros and cons of working with family members.7. Know your competitorsApart from knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your staff, you should also know two more kind of people: your customers and competitors.Knowing your customers helps you serve them better. Many businesses put a lot of effort in thisâ€"and that is good. What should be included on top of that, is the knowledge of your competitors.These are the people who may potentially push you out of business. They are the ones who work on e nsuring that your customers become theirs. When you know your competitors, you will have a balanced and informed approach to your own business.You should know the individuals behind the big brands. You should know about their relationship with suppliers, customers and employees. Such information helps you understand the strengths and strategies used by them in their quest to gain a bigger market share.With this information, you are then well placed to come up with a strategy that will effectively counter them and establish you as the best option in the industry.8. Respond to your customersIf you value someone, you will be naturally interested in knowing what is troubling him. This means that you will be willing to listen to them express themselves about the issue at hand. It is through listening that you understand the situation then respond accordingly.This is what customer care is really about. When customers make inquiries or give feedback, their communication should be considere d and responded to. No matter how small the issue raised by a customer is, the right response is important.If you have given an email address on on your website or business card, ensure that you check those emails regularly. In fact on a daily basis or several times in a day. When a customer recommends a certain way of operating, listen and promise to share his thoughts with the appropriate people.When your customers feel that they can give feedback and it will be considered, they feel like they are a part of you. This increases their loyalty to you.9. KPIsThese are the basic methods of gauging an employee’s performance at work. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) help you set some standards for your employees either for individual performance or group performance.KPIs are helpful as they make it easy for an employee to know exactly what he is expected to achieve. When expectations are clearly defined, it becomes easy to work towards them and monitor progress.The achievement of KPIs also helps in recognizing the efforts of employees. In this case, you cannot use one person’s KPIs to “wrongfully” reward someone else. You will therefore have no complaints about one employee working but the recognition going to another.10. Prioritizing tasksTime is a very valuable but scarce resource. It is also impossible to recover it once misused or lost. So how do you avoid such situations?There is a lot of talk about setting priorities and following through with them. The problem usually starts with the challenge of distinguishing between what must be done from what may not even be necessary.When it comes to your retail business, you may face a lot of challenges with the many tasks that need to be done. This is especially a problem when you are starting and don’t have the money to hire enough employees.As such, you may be the one doing everything though nothing is really getting finished. This can lead to frustrations. There is an easy way to avoid the frustration.Nu mber the tasks you have in an ascending order. Then proceed to allocate time frames for each tasks. From here, start working on the tasks from the most important to the least.For example, you may have received some products to sell. Those products may have been more expensive and so you need to work out new retail prices. On this same day, you may not have checked your emails. This means that you have not responded to your customers.You will therefore need to start working on the most important task. In this case, it is the new prices of the received goods. Once this is done, you can safely sell the goods. Since selling is the primary work to be done, mails can be checked afterwards.CONCLUSIONThe retail industry has been experiencing changes as more people shop online. Buying from the physical store is however not stopping any time soon. People still want to touch products, interact with live humans and enjoy a real shopping experience.If you are thinking of starting a retail busine ss, just follow the advice given in this article. You will then be on your way to carving a market share for yourself.

The Era Of Freedom A Generation After The Emancipation...

The Era of Freedom A Generation after the Emancipation Proclamation, banned slavery, African Americans were trapped in a country full of harsh discrimination, and humiliation. The twentieth century brought an era that changed the lives of every African Americans across the U.S. The Civil Rights Movement, a movement to sees the cruelty that every African American faced on a daily bases, was one of the greatest events that took a step into a direction that no one would ve imagined during the 1950s. Many activist made themselves known during the movement, activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, just to name a few, were key players in the advancement of the movement, but who was responsible for the being the†¦show more content†¦If there was no available seats in the front of the bus, any white man could demand to take an African American’s seat at the back of the bus. That is what happened to Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955, sitting on the bus, a fter a long day at work, having no more seats in the â€Å"white† section of the bus available, the bus driver demanded four african americans in the front row of the â€Å"blacks† section to give up their seats. Three of them complied immediately, but Rosa Parks stood her ground and remained seated, eventually two police officer came and took her into custody. ( Rosa Parks ) Later in her autobiography, Parks wrote â€Å" People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically†¦ No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.† Rosa Parks was eventually tried and found guilty of violating segregation laws, she was fined ten dollars and an additional for four dollars in court fees, she was also given a suspended sentence for her crime. On the day of her trial, the African American community came together and boycotted the public bus, refusing to ride the bus and walking everywhere. T he boycott led by Martin Luther King Jr lasted 381 days. The number of participants in the boycott was larger than anyone expected that it prompted the creation of the MontgomeryShow MoreRelatedAfrican Americans During The Reconstruction Era1629 Words   |  7 PagesReconstruction era, African Americans faced many obstacles on their way to success. Reconstruction of the United States refers to the remodeling that took place after the civil war. The country was injured in all areas. Its society, economy and physical structure had been In January of 1863; President Abraham Lincoln lifted the chains off thousands of African Americans’ shoulders by releasing the Emancipation Proclamation. Unfortunately, this relief was short-winded. The Emancipation Proclamation statedRead MoreUncle Tom s Cabin By Harriet Beecher Stowe1008 Words   |  5 Pagesliterary world(Desta). It was believed that women were nothing but pretty objects, incapable of writing(â€Å"Women’s†). Harriet Beecher Stowe broke those boundaries and used her own pen name instead of a man’s. This was important for the movement, especially after her book sold 10,000 copies within its first week(â€Å"Harriet†). â€Å"Harriet Beecher Stowe set an example for other women to voice their opinions, even if they weren t made to feel welcomed in politics,† said writer Julie Carson(Carson). Harriet StoweRead MoreRhetorical Analysis I Have A Dream767 Words   |  4 PagesShelly Ahmed Deborah Williams Rhetorical Analysis 04 November 2017 â€Å"I Have a Dream† The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. There was about 250,000 people in attendance. It was the largest demonstration ever seen in the nations capital, and the first to have a lot television coverage. Dr.King uses the bible to receive an emotional reaction and connection from the audience as The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall seeRead MoreThe Cotton Gin1708 Words   |  7 Pagesthe South. Slavery shaped the economic backbone of the South, and as it became more widespread after Eli Whitney’s invention of the cotton gin, it became as strong as the political and social foundation of Southern character as well. Although there were times of early abolitionist movements that came from the Southern states, it was primarily a Northern political goal, which was not recognized until after the destruction of the Civil War and the process of the Thirteenth Amendment. Without the abilityRead More Lincoln and the Republicans934 Words   |  4 PagesThe Civil War was a war that was fought over the civil and humane treatment of every person, regardless of their outward appearances. It left a scathing scar on the nation After the atrocities that were suffered in the Civil war, the nation need a way to heal it’s wounds and unite again. Lincoln had a battle of his own to fight within the congress for the Reconstruction of the nation, While Lincoln believed that the south had suffered enough and had a long road to recovery, the radical republicansRead MoreEssay about Jim Crows Legacy 616 Words   |  3 PagesWhile the Emancipation Proclamation marked the end of slavery in the U.S., it did little to address the racism that remained. Left unchecked, that racism, like a weed, grew and its roots permeated almost all sectors of American culture spreading from the southern white population throughout the local and state governments south of the Mason-Dixon Line. Jim Crow laws provided leg al loopholes that skirted the spirit of the Emancipation Proclamation and they gave legal cover to those who longed forRead MoreEvolution Of Lincoln s Policy On Slavery Essay1573 Words   |  7 PagesEvolution of Lincoln’s policy on slavery in the United States. Abraham Lincoln was the great man of his generation just as well as he is considered a great man in history today. He made a huge difference that impacts us greatly today still. He is one of the main reasons to why we do not have slavery around anymore, along with some help of other people back then that supported him. Even though, racism still exist today it is not as horrifying and sickening as to how it was before back in the 1800sRead MoreKing of the Bingo Game1745 Words   |  7 PagesGame† Ideas of slavery, identity, and what is acceptable behavior differ greatly in the past-Civil War North and South. Ralph Ellison’s â€Å"King of the Bingo Game† depicts how traditional southern slave mentalities are in conflict even after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of the slaves, leading many, like the nameless main character to try and find a new identity and giving him a taste of power to control his life and the lives of others. From the beginning of the story, we are shown racialRead MoreThe Legacy Of Reconstruction And Reconstruction Essay2362 Words   |  10 PagesUnfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. Up until now, Foner’s revisionist historiography of Reconstruction was the only alternative offered to the Dunning School’s account of the important historical era. In recent years a neo-revisionist interpretation of Reconstruction has emerged in works by a younger generation of historians such as Gregory Downs, Carole Emberton, Hannah Rosen, Megan Kate Nelson and Jim downs. This new scholarship pays close attention to violence, the body, language, and gender—how theseRead MoreWhat They Fought for Essay1331 Words   |  6 Pagesthat they fought for more than just masculine identity; they highly valued being at home safe with their loved ones, at any cost. This book gives an inside perception of the Civil War, and a broad understanding of the sentiments of the people of that era. Mc.Pherson successfully defines the individual motivation of each of the men who volunteered and risked their lives for what they believed was right, and the glorious cause to fight for. The book begins with a chapter titled â€Å"The Holy Cause of Liberty

Nazi Germany And The Nazi Party Essay - 2053 Words

Propaganda was significant in Germany in the period of 1933 to 1945 as it affected the people of Germany greatly since propaganda was presented to people in their everyday lives in some manner or form, making it inescapable. Propaganda was used mainly to display anti-Semitic beliefs about Jews and others who were thought of as irrelevant to Nazi Germany such as the disabled, mentally ill, gypsies, communists and non-Aryans – who were all affected greatly by propaganda. Hitler and the Nazi Party achieved this through their propaganda minister – Joseph Goebbels – who used every form of media (radio, posters, newspapers, films, music and the arts) to portray the greatness of German culture. Though, some of these forms of propaganda displayed different levels of effectiveness – making some forms more significant than others. One of the most significant forms of propaganda in their impact on Germany was the use of radio. Radios and radio licences summed to 90% of the ministry’s expenses, which show how Hitler’s messages, speeches and Nazi- related broadcasts reached such a broad audience of the German population because radio was extremely accessible. Hitler made sure that radios were cheap enough for every family to afford so that his speeches were publicised, giving Hitler more opportunity to manipulate Germany and glorify the Nazi party. The significance of this form of propaganda is that the radio was such a regular part of family life, and would’ve been played frequentlyShow MoreRelatedNazi Germany And The Nazi Party1613 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout Nazi Germany in the period 1928 through to 1941, racism was utilized by Hitler, and in turn his Nazi party, firstly to secure Hitler’s position as a dictator, and secondly to unite the German people against a common enemy, which would lead to a united powerful state, ready and able to exert its national will. Whether or not his aims were oppressive in nature is debatable but, his aims for racial purification and domination over Eastern Europe are made obvious before Hitler’s assumptionRead MoreThe Nazi Party Of Germany1202 Words   |  5 PagesThe Nazi Party of Germany aimed to create a ‘racially pure’ society between the years 1933 through to 1945. This society, or Volksgemeinschaft, was to contain Hitler’s ideological view on what a pure person, or Aryan should be. It also involved the exclusion of anyone who did not fit this mould. The Nazi party was extremely successful in achieving their highly aimed goal. Through the Nazi’s control over youth groups and in children’s education, the Nazi Party and Hitler were able to reach this goalRead MoreThe World War II And The Nazi Party Of Germany Essay1184 Words   |  5 PagesSecond World War and other kinds of w ars was nationalism itself (Webster, 2014). During the World War Two, Nationalism was the evident action of the Nazi Party of Germany. 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Both governments used each of these methods maintain power and control overRead MoreThe Failure of Democracy in Germany in the Period 1928 to 19341117 Words   |  5 PagesFailure of Democracy in Germany in the Period 1928 to 1934 Those in power in Weimar Germany so consistently mishandled the political and economic situation leading up to the period 1928-1934, that a well-structured challenge from the Nazi Party brought about the fall of democracy. This Nazi Party was stronger ideologically, structurally within the party and politically, with Hitler as Fuhrer a major factor himself. In addition, factions within Germany for whom a right-wingRead MoreHitler s Political And Foreign Policy1263 Words   |  6 Pagesbad guys: the Jews. In Germany, the depression of the early 1930’s was an extreme event that caused democratic parties to lose support. The poor economy influenced people to turn to the radical Nazi party, which offered seemingly easy and quick solutions to all of their problems. Upon Hitler’s increase in leadership and totalitarian power, Germany â€Å"became the political and foreign policy [center] of Hitler s Reich† (Hagen). As their power expanded, Hitler and the Nazi Party effectively promoted GermanRead MorePrior To The Onset Of The Incomparable Discouragement In1600 Words   |  7 PagesDiscouragement in Germany in 1929–1930, the National Communist German Specialists Gathering was a little gathering on the radical right of the German political range. In the Reichstag (parliament) races of May 2, 1928, the Nazis got just 2.6 percent of the national vote, a propor tionate decrease from 1924, when the Nazis got 3 percent of the vote. The issue that concluded the start of World War 2 was Germany attacking and attempting to vanquish Poland on September first. the Nazi over the Jews in Nazi GermanyRead More The German Community during the Hitler Reign Essay1336 Words   |  6 Pagesduring Hitler’s reign in Germany, German citizens felt the impacts of the political as well as the economic situation of the country. These conditions in Germany led to the building of the Nazi party and to the Holocaust. The new government headed by Adolf Hitler changed the life of all Germans whether they joined the Nazi party themselves or opposed the ideas of Hitler or aided Jews to fight the persecution they suffered under this government. In 1929, Germany was in a very poor stateRead MoreA Brief Note On Nazis And The Environment1023 Words   |  5 Pages Environment Professor Yan Gao 2 December 2015 Nazis and the Environment The Nazi party in Germany left behind a legacy of atrocities that included racism, anti-Semitism, and genocide. The appeal of the Nazis relied on problems in Germany following the aftermath of World War I. They examined the different problems Germany faced and the different aspects of their political beliefs, one in particular being their environmental outlook. The Nazi party drew substantial support with their idealized versionRead MoreIb History Essay: Nazi Ideology1180 Words   |  5 PagesStrength and Weaknesses from the impact of Nazi ideology on Germany | | Jean-Vincent Mewald | 3/March/2012 | | Nazi ideology had a massive impact on the German people in the years from 1933-39. All aspects of the Germans where influenced by the Nazi ideology (culturally, socially and economical). Nazi ideology affected mostly the younger generation of Germans, as it was easier to manipulate them through school and youth groups. In addition, Nazi leaders thought it was of great importance

Water Pollution and Drinking Water Quality Essay - 937 Words

All around the world, countries are fighting to keep their drinking water clean. Whether it’s streams, rivers, or lakes, countries have taken great measures to maintain high quality drinking water for both human consumption and animal consumption. Countries must first understand the sources of the polltion, then determine the best methods to eliminate the pollution. Clean drinking water is a valuable resource and a the key to human survival. Plants and animals also depend on water for their growth, so all water must be kept clean. The major contributors to water pollution can be classified in three categories, industrial, agricultural and municipal. Examples of industrial wastes that can contaminant bodies of water are oil spills, acid†¦show more content†¦First, control over the discharge can take place at the point of generation within the plant itself. Second, the polluted water can be sent to water treatment plants before it is released into the surrounding water sources. Third, the waste water can be treated within the plant and recycled again, or treated in the plant and released. Another form of industrial waste that contributes to water pollution is acid rain. Acid rain is a product of industries burning coal. The burning of coal produces sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide, and when these chemicals combine with the earth’s atmosphere it forms acid rain The Northeastern part of the United States has the worst acid rain levels in the world. More specific, the states with the highest concentration are Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and some boarding parts of Canada and New England area. The falling acid rain can destroy plants and animals in several different ways. The acidification of a lake, river, or stream because of the high acidic levels in the water kills algae. Since algae are the main source of food, for many species of fish, they will also suffer from the high acid levels. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Acid rain also soaks into ground and dissolves nutrients from the soil. When the plants call upon these nutrients to grow, the absence kills the vegetation. Over a short period of time plants beginShow MoreRelatedPollution Is A Major Public Health Crisis1573 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Water, it is one of the most significant source to mankind and our planet. While it exists, so does everything else along. However, in today’s epidemic, there has been certain factors that have risen to awareness whether we can the water today is beneficial or not? In other words, the health risks against water contamination have risen in the past few decades; all from what you may ask? Well, it could be for various factors and perspectives; either environmental or materialistic. Pollution isRead MoreWater Pollution Is Bad For The Environment1252 Words   |  6 PagesPollution, of any kind is bad for the environment, but water pollution is bad for the environment and affects people. Our water quality is affecting positano and it s people. The article â€Å"Whale Facts† state s â€Å" Water pollution has become a growing concern over the last century as more and more waste is being disposed of in our oceans, rivers and lakes.†(Whale Facts). Water pollution is t aking over our oceans, rivers, and lakes which are our primary drinking source. All the water that we drinkRead MoreGroundwater Pollution and Drinking Water Scarcity Essay example1111 Words   |  5 PagesWe have the ability to provide clean water for every man, woman and child on the Earth. What has been lacking is the collective will to accomplish this. This is the commitment we need to make to the world. 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Water pollution doesn’t only threaten humans; it threatens plants and animals as wellRead MoreThe Great Lakes Of Water Essay1187 Words   |  5 Pagesmade of water. 97 percent of earths water is saline water and not safe for human consumption. This leaves just 3 percent of earth’s water as fresh water most of which is icecaps and glaciers. 68 percent of the fresh water on Earth is found in icecaps and glaciers. 30 percent of fresh water is found in ground water leaving around .3 percent of earth’s water as surface fresh water. Of the .3 percent of surface fresh water the great lakes make up 84% of North America s surface fresh water and aboutRead MoreWater Rights And Regulations Should Be Treated1258 Words   |  6 PagesWater is a limited resource and should be treated as one but often is sacrificed for economic gain or shear lack of respect. There are many questions that come up about water rights and regulations. In order to understand why water rights and regulations are necessary it is important know more about them. Riparian rights, as we know them, are a version of some of the oldest water rights ever observed. Roman law is the birth place of the earliest version of riparian rights which eventually becameRead MoreThe Problem Of Reducing Water Quality1361 Words   |  6 PagesOnly about 1% of all of the water that is on Earth is considered to be surface water such as lakes and rivers, however, the usable freshwater to us humans is only about .003% which we generally use for drinking, bathing, agriculture, or industry purposes. Unfortunately, pollution is reducing our few water resources even further on a global scale albeit mostly in developed countries. The United Nations have assessed the situation well in that, â€Å"Declining water quality has become a global issue ofRead MoreA Proposal to Protect Drinking Water Quality Essay1233 Words   |  5 Pages The purpose of this report is to propose a solution to the problem of reduced drinking water quality due to chemical pollution. Some bodies of water in the United States are becoming polluted from chemicals and restrictions are needed to protect drinking water quality. THE BACKGROUND OF CHEMICAL USE AND WATER QUALITY Drinking water quality was not a concern until the last century when the use of chemicals was greatly expanded. Chemicals are used to kill weeds, insects, and other pests. ChemicalsRead MoreFactors Affecting The Environment Of The Water Bodies On The Scotland River Basin District 51711 Words   |  7 Pages â€Æ' 1 INTRODUCTION: 1 2 DISCUSSION: 2 2.1 Scotland’s Water Sources: 2 2.1.1 Coastal Water: 2 2.1.2 Estuaries: 2 2.1.3 Freshwater Lochs: 2 2.1.4 Offshore Waters: 3 2.1.5 Rivers and Canals: 3 2.2 Extent: 3 2.3 Availability: 5 2.3.1 Current Condition of the Water Bodies in the Scotland River Basin District 5 2.4 Water Quality: 6 2.4.1 Water Pollution: 6 2.4.2 Catchment Management: 6 2.5 Cost of Supply: 7 2.6 Success of the Regulators: 8 3 CONCLUSION: 10 4 REFERENCES: 11 1 INTRODUCTION: ScotlandRead MoreWater Pollution819 Words   |  4 Pages Agricultural Water Pollution Previously, water was identified as a renewable resource, renewable resources are resources such as sunlight. In the recent years, water has been re-categorized as a non-renewable resource, although water is able to be used repeatedly because of the water cycle. Unfortunately seeing that a substantial proportion of water is being polluted, this water has become unsustainable, therefore making it nearly unusable again for human use, and non-renewable resource. According

Research Essay on Carbon Tax Is Best Solution for Climate Change

Question: Discuss About Carbon Tax Is Best Solution for Climate Change? Answer: introducation: The research essay discusses that the imposition of carbon tax is best solution for the climate change. Carbon tax refers to a fee that is placed on the greenhouse gas pollution that arises mainly from the burning of fossil fuels. A monetary price is imposed on the emissions of green house gases that result in global warming. The research essay includes the environmental and economical issues relating to the carbon tax and the related arguments. Carbon dioxide has contributed to various environmental issues like global warming and many more. Green house gases are an example of negative externalities that have adverse effects on a global scale. Carbon tax is one of the carbon pricing strategies that imposes certain tax at a particular rate per ton of carbon dioxide emitted. Carbon tax is one of the carbon pricing strategies that imposes certain tax at a particular rate per ton of carbon dioxide emitted. According to Parry (2015), no government can guarantee and ensure that after the imposition of carbon tax, the carbon dioxide emissions shall fall down. Implementation of carbon tax shall have negligible impact on curbing the CO2 emissions. The major vehicles use fuel that release carbon emissions. These vehicles cannot be banned as they are being used since ages. The present vehicles that use petrol and diesel as fuel shall continue to emit carbon even if the carbon tax is imposed. Even the large-scale industries shall continue using fossil fuels in their manufacturing as a small amount of carbon tax shall not affect them. On the other hand, Hoberg Meadowcroft (2015) stated that with the rapid climatic changes and the increased acceptance of the carbon tax policy, arguments could be made that carbon tax must be implemented all over the world. Various scholars have argued that it is more important to focus on the Benefit Certainty as it emphasizes more on environment instead of the economics. For example, the government uses the revenue generated from carbon tax in setting-up solar plants, windmills and dams for generating hydro electricity (Vera Sauma, 2015). Nevertheless, although the imposition of carbon tax could result in some negative environmental effects but the additional taxes levied on the carbon emissions shall encourage the firms to develop other efficient alternatives for consuming the carbon emissions (Jenkins 2014). Even if the large-scale industries continue using fossil fuels, the small-scale industries shall be discouraged to use fossil fuels. The number of small-scale industries is more than the large-scale industries. Therefore, the impact would be large. For example, Imposition of carbon tax shall encourage development of solar power, hydrogen engines and other renewable resources (Keen Kotsogiannis, 2014). Next in terms of economy, the additional burden of the carbon tax might encourage the producers to shift to other countries where there are no or comparatively lower carbon taxes. This shall have an adverse impact upon the economy of a country. The administration cost of the tax might be quite expensive which reduces its efficiency. It is also very difficult to determine how much exactly the tax must be. The extra burden of carbon tax might adversely affect the poor underdeveloped or developing countries (Stone, 2015). Even if the government makes promises to cut down other taxes, still it would not be accepted readily. The political reality is that consumers always dislike addition of new taxes and do not believe that they shall be revenue neutral Geography. The imposition of carbon tax has adverse impact on the low-income group of consumers (Baranzini et al., 2015). Instead, the cap and trade policy can be more efficient in solving the problem of carbon emissions. In case of cap an d trade policy, the level of emission of green house gases in the atmosphere is predetermined. This cap may influence the firms to lower their emissions as they are not allowed to emit green house gases beyond the permitted level. On the other hand, Carl Fedor (2016) have stated that the imposition of carbon tax helps the government to raise revenues that can be used to develop the alternatives and to repair the environmental damages caused by the carbon emissions. For example, the revenue generated from the carbon tax imposition can allow the government to provide green electricity at subsidized rates. This shall encourage the use of renewable resources and reduce environmental damages. Various studies have examined the effect of carbon taxes on the green house gases emissions with the use of simulation methods. Thus, it can be summarized that uniform carbon tax rate would lead to considerable reduction in the green house gas emissions. Nevertheless, although the capping and trading policy seems to be more effective but the the carbon tax policy is more effective in long-run because in case of cap and trade policy, the government often tends to provide many pollution credits under the pressure of various heavy industries. It has also been stated by the Congressional Research Service that tax rebates shall help in successfully meeting the challenges associated with the imposition of carbon tax. One study has estimated that the tax rate shall rise to $144 billion per metric ton of carbon dioxide by 2020 (Cui, Song, 2017). Therefore, offsetting the reductions in the existing tax rates by using the carbon tax revenues can yield highest benefits to the overall economy. Another importance of carbon tax is that the use of this tax shall displace some tax on labor and capital that shall not only reduce the environmental pollution but also lead to sustainable economic growth. A report had shown that in Europe, carbon was be ing traded for less than 10 Euros a ton (Weitzman, 2014). This proves the inefficiency of the cap and trade policy. The carbon tax has the capability of raising sufficient revenues which the government can utilize in paying its debts as well as working for the development of the economy. The revenue generated encourages the government to develop the economy as a whole. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that carbon tax is an effective policy to reduce the harmful impacts of the carbon emissions on the environment. The revenue generated from the carbon tax can help in repairing the damages caused to the environment (Murray, Pizer Reichert, 2016). Imposing taxes on the carbon emissions shall encourage the firms to either reduce the level of their carbon emissions or increase the use of renewable energy. The imposition of carbon tax discourages excessive consumption as they pay a social cost. Carbon pollution is considered as a negative externality. Due to the creation of negative externalities by a few industries that are carbon intensive, the social cost of production becomes greater than the private costs. The aim of imposing carbon tax is to convert the externalities into internalities. This would mean that the resulting price of the products shall be inclusive of external costs along with the private costs. This emphasizes on the fact that the perso n who causes the environmental costs shall be made to pay the entire social cost arising from his actions. However, the taxes arising from the taxation of carbon emissions should be used to reduce the burden of other taxes so that the revenue remains neutral. The imposition of carbon tax shall also encourage the firms to develop better environmental friendly ways of production (Baranzini et al., 2015). Even if the government makes promises to cut down other taxes, still it would not be accepted readily (Baranzini, Carattini, 2017). Despite of all the oppositions, implementation of carbon tax shall help in lowering the harmful effects of green house gases especially carbon dioxide. References Almutairi, H., Elhedhli, S. (2014). Modeling, analysis, and evaluation of a carbon tax policy based on the emission factor.Computers Industrial Engineering,77, 88-102. Baranzini, A., Carattini, S. (2017). Effectiveness, earmarking and labeling: testing the acceptability of carbon taxes with survey data.Environmental Economics and Policy Studies,19(1), 197-227. Baranzini, A., Van den Bergh, J. C., Carattini, S., Howarth, R. B., Padilla, E., Roca, J. (2015). Seven reasons to use carbon pricing in climate policy. Beaty, R., Lipsey, R., Elgie, S. (2014). The shocking truth about BCs carbon tax: It works.Globe and Mail. Brown, M. L., Rubin, J., Center, M. C. S. P., Leiby, P. N. (2014). Evaluating Carbon Tax Incidence, Market Effects, and Efficiency within the Transportation Fuel Sector. Carl, J., Fedor, D. (2016). Tracking global carbon revenues: A survey of carbon taxes versus cap-and-trade in the real world.Energy Policy,96, 50-77. Chen, X., Hao, G. (2015). Sustainable pricing and production policies for two competing firms with carbon emissions tax.International Journal of Production Research,53(21), 6408-6420. Chen, X., Benjaafar, S., Elomri, A. (2013). The carbon-constrained EOQ.Operations Research Letters,41(2), 172-179. Cui, L. B., Song, M. L. (2017). Designing and Forecasting the Differentiated Carbon Tax Scheme Based on the Principle of Ability to Pay.Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research,34(01), 1740004. Elgie, S., McClay, J. (2013). Policy Commentary/Commentaire BCs carbon tax shift is working well after four years (attention Ottawa).Canadian Public Policy,39(Supplement 2), S1-S10. Elliott, J., Fullerton, D. (2014). Can a unilateral carbon tax reduce emissions elsewhere?.Resource and Energy Economics,36(1), 6-21. Fahimnia, B., Sarkis, J., Choudhary, A., Eshragh, A. (2015). Tactical supply chain planning under a carbon tax policy scheme: A case study.International Journal of Production Economics,164, 206-215. Goulder, L. H., Hafstead, M. A. (2013). Tax reform and environmental policy: options for recycling revenue from a tax on carbon dioxide. Goulder, L. H., Schein, A. (2013).Carbon taxes vs. cap and trade: A critical review(No. w19338). National Bureau of Economic Research. Goulder, L. H., Schein, A. R. (2013). Carbon taxes versus cap and trade: a critical review.Climate Change Economics,4(03), 1350010. Harrison, K. (2015). International Carbon Trade and Domestic Climate Politics.Global Environmental Politics. He, P., Zhang, W., Xu, X., Bian, Y. (2015). Production lot-sizing and carbon emissions under cap-and-trade and carbon tax regulations.Journal of Cleaner Production,103, 241-248. Hill, J., Tajibaeva, L., Polasky, S. (2016). Climate consequences of low-carbon fuels: The United States Renewable Fuel Standard.Energy Policy,97, 351-353. Hoberg, G., Meadowcroft, J. (2015). Climate action: carbon pricing is an essential first step: this article is excerpted from Acting on Climate Change: Solutions by Canadian Scholars, Catherine Potvin et al, a position paper by the UNESCO-McGill Chair for Dialogues on Sustainability (March 2015).Alternatives Journal,41(1), 58-61. Jenkins, J. D. (2014). Political economy constraints on carbon pricing policies: What are the implications for economic efficiency, environmental efficacy, and climate policy design?.Energy Policy,69, 467-477. Keen, M., Kotsogiannis, C. (2014). Coordinating climate and trade policies: Pareto efficiency and the role of border tax adjustments.Journal of International Economics,94(1), 119-128. Marron, D. B., Toder, E. T. (2014). Tax policy issues in designing a carbon tax.The American Economic Review,104(5), 563-568. Martin, R., De Preux, L. B., Wagner, U. J. (2014). The impact of a carbon tax on manufacturing: Evidence from microdata.Journal of Public Economics,117, 1-14. Mathur, A., Morris, A. C. (2014). Distributional effects of a carbon tax in broader US fiscal reform.Energy Policy,66, 326-334. Murray, B., Pizer, W. A., Reichert, C. (2016). Increasing Emissions Certainty under a Carbon Tax. Parry, I. (2015). Carbon Tax Burdens on Low-Income Households: A Reason for Delaying Climate Policy?. Parry, I., Hassett, K. A., Morris, A., Williams III, R. C. (Eds.). (2015).Implementing a US carbon tax: Challenges and debates(Vol. 44). Routledge. Pereira, A., Pereira, R. (2015). 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Geneticists Essays - Geneticist, Genetics, Guggenheim Fellows

Geneticists Geneticists need many skills. One of the most important is to be able to ask questions. Another is to correctly organize data. In the way of training, one should major in biology, genetics, and many other biosciences. A bachelor degree can get a job, but I myself would advise getting the highest amount of bioscience education possible. Jobs can be acquired by asking your professors, but, they may not be aware of any need for geneticists. Many times, reading advertisements may of some good. You may even make an appointment with biology and genetic firms yourself. Sometimes clinics or hospitals may even need a genetic specialist. I, myself, could also see a geneticist opening up his own clinic, such as radiologists do. In this way they could be able to make more money considering the amount of highly specialized geneticists with a Doctor of Medicine. The current payment outlook is not good for geneticists. A starting geneticist working makes between $19,000 and $27,000 a year. Salaries, depending on experience, training, and success may be above $54,000 a year. Benefits usually include pension plans, health insurance, and paid holidays and/or vacations. The employment outlook is very good. Some, highly trained geneticists can open their own firms. This is probably because of a recognition that mutations may be able to strengthen our immune systems, raise our endurance, or even other things not thought possible. Most geneticists work in clean laboratories and work between thirty five and forty hours a week. They usually have the necessary equipment given to them by their firm or other supporter. I feel this would be a good career for me because of my inquisitive nature. I have always been intrigued by the altering of DNA to cause mutation. I am also extremely interested in the evolution of different species.

Famous Scarface Movie Quotes

Famous Scarface Movie Quotes Quotes from the 1983 film Scarface are by far some of the most popular movie quotes. Devout fans of the legendary gangster film  will always rate  quotes by the infamous protagonist, Tony Montana, as the best among the movie quotes category. How many of them do you know offhand? Test your memory skills with this collection of the best of Scarface quotes. I always tell the truth. Even when I lie.Every day above ground is a good day.In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women.Tony Montana: Me, I want whats coming to me.Manny: Oh, well... whats coming to you?Tony Montana: The world, Chico, and everything in it.You wanna waste my time? Okay. I call my lawyer. Hes the best lawyer in Miami. Hes such a good lawyer, that by tomorrow morning, you gonna be working in Alaska. So dress warm.Why dont you try stickin jou head up jour ass – see if it fits.Say goodnight to the bad guy.Dat chick hes with   she like me.I like you, Tony. Theres no lying in you.Amigo, the only thing in this world that gives orders is balls. Balls. You got that?So you wanna dance, Frank, or do you wanna sit here and have a heart attack?I got ears, ya know. I hear things.

HR problems negatively impacting on the operations of CGMS Case Study

HR problems negatively impacting on the operations of CGMS - Case Study Example Downsizing and reorganizing the structure of the organization have been figured out as the most viable strategies that can salvage the company from these problems. However, the key strategy is to reorganize the structure of the company since this will help it to be in firm control of its operations. Therefore, it has been recommended that the company should reorganize its structure in order for it to regain its waning status. Introduction Consolidated Global Mining Service (CGMS) is a giant company that deals with offering services related to mining as well as manufacturing of mining equipment. This is an industry leader in this sector but of late it has been facing different HR problems which are likely to threaten its viability in the long run. In order to address these problems, a lasting solution ought to be found and implemented in order to save the organization from crumbling. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to identify the critical problems that are affecting CGMS as well as to identify the strategies that can be implemented in order to solve the issues identified. This report will finally attempt to provide necessary strategies and recommendations that may be implemented in order to address the HR problems identified. ... conflict is related to the issue of downsizing since the company is spending a fortune on paying the interests while the revenue generated is not commensurate with the large size of staff members. The operational costs in terms of labour are higher than the revenue generated by the organisation and this is the reason why a holistic approach ought to be implemented in order to deal with the impending problem that is likely to scuttle the viability of the organization. Careel et al (1995) posits to the effect that the operational costs in terms of managing human capital should not exceed the revenue generated by the company. Such negative development requires the organization to downsize or reorganize its workforce. The other problem is that the organization does not have clearly defined structure. The issue in this case is that the organisational structure and the human resources management structures have to be standardized such that they can meet the demands of the organisation. Whe re there is a clearly defined organizational structure, it can be seen that there are less chances of duplication of duties since everyone is aware of what is expected of him or her in the organization. According to Wener (2007), organizational structure helps the company to define the job tasks to be performed so that the number of employees in an organization can be controlled such that they do not impact on the organization in the long run. One implicit problem bedevilling CGMS is that no one really knows his or her particular type of job description. Everything seems to be informal though the company has a very good reputation of producing the best results in its performance. Jobs need to be described and categorised so that the company can be in a position to achieve optimum results

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so Term Paper

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so - Term Paper Example have heard a lot of medical professionals who talks about the positive effects of meditation therapy or counseling over the health progress of a sick person. Upon reflecting what these people are trying to convey, I have realized that it is by having a positive attitude and outlook in life that enables a sick person to easily recover from his/her illnesses as compared to another person who has developed a negative outlook in life. There are many situations that can prove that there is neither good nor bad and that the way we think makes something good or bad. We have always been told that cigarette smoking could lead to the development of cancer. Despite all the scientific evidences that can prove this idea right, we can still find a lot of medical practitioners who are chain smokers. Is it really difficult to quit smoking? Is cigarette smoking the only way to control work-related stress? Of course, we all know that the answer is â€Å"NO†. Have you ever wondered why most of these medical professionals find it very difficult for them to quit smoking whereas there are some people without medical background who could easily resist the temptation of smoking? If cigarette smoking is really addicting, how come there are some people who smoke but can anytime control their mind and convince themselves not to smoke? It is given that each person is subject to either internal and/or environmental stressor. Although stressor is always present in our daily life, each individual has their own strategy on how they choose to manage stress. In the book entitled â€Å"Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustment in the 21st Century†, it was mentioned that mediation as a form of therapy is effective in terms of converting negative emotions such as the feeling of stress into a positive one (Weiten, Lloyd, Dunn, & Hammer, 2009, p. 130). This explanation mentioned in the book clearly suggests that it is how a person thinks that makes something either good or bad. Perhaps, some of

The real success factors on projects

The real success factors on projects INTRODUCTION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this paper, I will discuss Terry Cooke-Davies article on ‘The â€Å"real† success factors on projects'(Cooke-Davies,2002). In his article, Cooke-Davies identifies 12 factors critical in ensuring the successful projects. Cooke-Davies starts by differentiating between successful projects, successful project management, and consistently successful projects. In addition, he argued on the existence of a relationship between project management and operations management and then proposed how successful projects aligns with corporate success. Furthermore, he concludes by asserting the role people have to play in successfully delivering projects. After summarizing Cooke-Davies article, I will agree with the results of his research in identifying the 12 factors critical for project success and on the linkage between project management and operations management; but I will disagree with the research methodology especially with respect to the small sample size , and the extrapolation of this data to apply to worldwide projects. I will also argue that the writer did not expatiate on the critical role people in delivering projects. I will conclude by reappraising the role of this article in bridging our current gap in knowledge on factors relevant for project success. MAIN REVIEW   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  According to Terry Cooke-Davies in Sections 1 and 2 of this article, the reasons for project failure can be adduced to be the inadequate knowledge on the critical factors that lead to successful projects. Cooke-Davies argument is that prior to this research, the information available on the factors that lead to project success answered one question only which is â€Å"what factors determine a successful project?†. He asserted that in order to manage projects successfully, we need to answer three questions i.e. â€Å"what factors are critical to project management success?†, â€Å"what factors are critical to individual project success?†, â€Å"what factors lead to consistently successful projects?†. I will argue a similar view to that of Terry-Cooke here. It has been acknowledged that for projects to succeed, certain specific critical factors must be met. Researchers have acknowledged the critical role of specific factors to a projects success or failure and they also proposed that the reasons projects fail is as a result of an inability to thoroughly identify those specific factors critical to project success. The question then is What is a successful project?, What factors define a successful project?; I would suggest that the definition of a successful project will vary due to the fact that the different project stakeholders have individual interpretations of what makes project success. Along the lines of Cooke-Davies, I am arguing for a structured approach to identifying factors relevant to project success by grouping this factors into categories based on those critical for project management success, individual successful projects and consistently successful projects.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Section 3 focuses on the factors critical for project management success and the research methodology used in deriving the identified factors. Cooke-Davies starts by analyzing the cost and schedule performance data of 136 projects executed in Europe in the mid to late 1990s by 23 companies. From Cooke-Davies point of view, there is a correlation between the projects that where not completed on schedule and their budget overrun. The upshot of Cooke-Davies argument is that there are eight specific factors that contribute to the ability/ inability of a project to meet schedule and budget targets. He suggested that of these eight factors, six factors pertain specifically to improvement in schedule performance while two factors pertain specifically to improvement in budget performance. Cooke-Davies data leads him to the conclusion in this section that the overall strength of implementation of these identified eight factors on a project leads to an overall improvement i n the cost and schedule fundamentals of the project. I agree with Cooke-Davies in so far as the data analysis and results are concerned. The expert use of statistical tools e.g. Confidence Interval(CI), and a P value of 0.0005 helps to highlight the overwhelming statistical significance between budget and schedule fundamentals. The important and valid point Cooke-Davies suggests in this section is the relationship between budget overrun and schedule delay for a project. My disagreement with Cooke-Davies pertains to the extrapolation of this data to projects worldwide. Cooke-Davies depends on the assumption that the data derived from the sample size of 136 projects executed mainly in Europe can be extended to apply to projects worldwide. He fails to acknowledge the key role environmental factors in certain regions of the world e.g. Africa play in determining project management success. I also wish to highlight the non-inclusion of any projects been managed in Africa as a part of the resource pool of this research. This vital omission raises a pertinent question which is; Can we really extrapolate the findings of this research to apply worldwide when we have ignored data from a one continent?; the argument I am proposing for this section is that this data only pertains to projects been managed in the regions of the world where the data is derived from and cannot be extended to include those regions that are not a part of the resource pool.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cooke-Davies starts section 4 by asserting the existence of a gap between the traditional goals of project success(cost, quality, time) and the non-traditional goals such as the relevance of the project deliverable to the stakeholders. In a bid to bridge this identified gap, he argues for the use of a technique such as benefits management to help the stakeholders derive the full value from the project deliverable. Furthermore, he clarifies the distinction between the role of the project management team in delivering the project deliverable and the role of the functional management team in using the project deliverable to bring the stakeholder expectations to reality; he then proposes that the latter step is much more difficult than the former. He concludes this section by arguing that a good working relationship between the project management team and the functional management team is a critical factor in ensuring project success. The argument I wish to put forwar d here is completely in agreement with Cooke-Davies on the key concept of benefits delivery. In the past, project managers have focussed solely on delivering projects on time, budget, and at the right quality without an equal emphasis on how the project deliverable will meet the expectations of the stakeholders. In this light, I share the view of Cooke-Davies which is that a project cannot be successful unless the expectations of the stakeholders are met. Hence it is essential for the benefits management methodology to be used in translating the project deliverables to stakeholder reality.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In section 5, Cooke-Davies proposes how to achieve consistently successful projects. He argues on how consistently successful projects aligns with corporate success and he proposes three factors that are critical in ensuring consistently successful projects in an organization. Cooke-Daviess main argument in this section is the existence of a viscous cycle between projects that are consistently successful and improved corporate performance; his conclusion seems to be that organizations that deploy project management processes as part of their corporate culture tend to have a much more improved corporate performance. Along the lines of Cooke-Davies, I am arguing that the use of management techniques such as management by projects(MBP) in which all organizational goals are defined as projects greatly helps in ensuring consistently successful projects, and if these projects are managed in a coordinated way in line with organizational goals, it will invariably lead to improved organizational performance. My point of view is that the inculcation of a projectized organizational structure helps in the achievement of consistently successful projects. The corporate strategy of a projectized organizational structure is a focus towards ensuring that all organizational goals are managed like projects.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In section six, Cooke-Davies uses different project industries to argue on the existence of a relationship between successful projects and corporate success. He argues on how a successful/unsuccessful project can impact directly or indirectly on a corporate bottom-line. He concludes by proposing that the sustainability of a corporate organization depends largely on its bottom-line. Following from Cooke-Davies valid point, I am proposing a synergy between project management and value management in order to ensure long-term corporate success. This view has long been corroborated by researchers on the translation of project success to corporate success. The bottom-line is that effectively defining what the contribution of a project is to an organization is critical in the translation of the project deliverable to organizational benefits. This whole cycle of project and value management is iterative throughout the lifecycle of the project.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Section 7 of Cooke-Daviess work focuses on the people aspect of project management. He acknowledges the role people have to play in project success, and then he argues that the human factors of project management cannot be singled out as a single factor of its own but is embedded in each of the identified twelve success factors. Furthermore, he concludes that the goals of the research is on how project teams achieve results and not on what motivates the project team to achieve results. Inasmuch as I agree with Cooke-Davies valid point on the critical role of the people in successful projects, it is indeed a â€Å"strange omission† that he left out the human aspects of projects till the end of his article. I would like to espouse the fact that in order to achieve project success, specific human resources strategies need to be in place. Cooke-Davies view is based on the assumption that the people are somehow integrated into the process of attaining project su ccess; but he did not explicitly define the critical role people play in attainment of project success. In contrast to Cooke-Davies view, I wish to propose that the human factor in project success is so important that it has to be singled out as an independent factor of its own. I argue that it cannot be embedded into the twelve identified success factors because of a tendency for it to be overlooked by an independent reviewer. The relegation of the human aspects of projects to the last section of this article seems to reveal a bias of the writer for the process aspects of project success with little emphasis on the critical role of people in ensuring the success of the process. CONCLUSION   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cooke-Davies article helps greatly in shedding more light on the factors relevant for project success by highlighting three perspectives of what makes a successful project. He identified eight factors relevant for project management success, one factor relevant for project success, and three factors relevant to achieving consistently successful projects. Furthermore, he argued on the relationship between project success and corporate success; and then he shows how successful projects directly or indirectly impact on different project industries. He then concluded by proposing that the role people play in projects is embedded into each of the identified twelve factors. Inasmuch as I share Cooke-Davies view on the factors relevant to project success as well as the relationship between projects and corporate bottom-line; I wish to differ on the extrapolation of this research findings to regions of the world that are not represented in the research pool of data. I wis h to also highlight the fact that even when viewed from the perspective of the regions where the research samples where derived from, the sample size is so small for it to be fully indicative of the factors that could affect project success in those regions. I would also like to argue that people are so critical in projects that the human factor of project success should occur as an independent factor. Inasmuch as the article represents an excellent effort by Cooke-Davies to fill possible gaps in our understanding of what makes a successful project; more work still needs to be done using a larger sample size which should be a true representative of all the regions of the world. ASSIGNMENT APPENDIX CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS FOR PROJECTS ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES Cooke-Davies, T(2002) ‘The â€Å"real† success factors on projects. International journal of project management, Vol.20, pp.185-190. In this article, the author drawing extensively from his PhD dissertation and statistical data obtained from a survey of 136 European projects argued that there are 12 factors essential for project success. The author starts by asserting that the reason why this factors have not been properly identified before now is because of the inability to accurately define what project success means; furthermore, the author proposed a three pronged definition of project success. In subsequent sections, the author highlights the specific factors responsible for the success of each of the three different perspectives of project success. The author concludes by acknowledging ‘albeit belatedly that the people aspects of project success is embedded within each of the aforementioned factors. This work is a commendable attempt to compartmentalize the factors responsible for project success into three different perspectives. My point of difference from this work is in terms of the small sample fr om which the authors data is derived from. In addition, I argue that leaving the people aspects of project success to the last section may seem to reveal a bias by the author for process-focused project management rather than people-focused project management. Dvir, D. Lipovetsky, S. Shenhar, A. Tishler, A.(1998) ‘In search of project classification: a non-universal approach to project success factors. Research policy, Vol.27, pp.915-935. In this article, the authors draw their data from Israeli defence projects completed in the 1980s to propose an objective classification of project types and also the specific factors that may affect the success of projects. The authors proposed the use of the multivariate analytical technique to compare the impact of specific variables derived from a particular data set on other variables in other to arrive at the possible effects of identified potential factors on the success of projects. The authors argument is that the use of the multivariate technique produced results that shows how a wide range of factors affect project success. Furthermore, the authors argued that there is no universality in the factors that affect project success hence project managers must define the factors that relate to their particular projects. The authors assert in their conclusion that the use of the multivariate analytical technique allows for the results of this research to be extrapolated to other projects. My argument is that the authors in their conclusion seem to contradict themselves because they initially argued that success factors are project specific but then conclude by proposing the usefulness of their work for all projects. Inasmuch as I agree with the objectiveness of the multivariate technique used here, I wish to disagree with the assumption of the authors in extrapolating their findings to other projects. Soja, P(2006) ‘Success factors in ERP systems implementations: Lessons from practise. Journal of Enterprise information management, Vol.19, Nos.4, pp.418-433 In this article, the author drawing extensively from data derived from respondents involved in ERP systems and his own experience in the business world argues that there are certain factors that determine the success of ERP systems. The authors methodology involved the initial identification of potential factors that could affect the outcome of ERP projects. Furthermore, the aforementioned factors where then subjected to a survey among practitioners of ERP systems to determine the relative importance of each factor and the role of each factor in determining project outcome. The results was then statistically analyzed to determine the most important factors that could determine the success of ERP projects. The authors conclusion seems to be that the importance of the identified success factors vary depending on the type of project and its duration. Sojas argument has merit and the conclusion sheds more light on the ‘foggy area of the factors that could lead to successful project outcomes. My argument against Soja is with respect to the subjective technique deployed to identify the initial potential factors. I propose that a much more objective potential factors can be arrived at from a survey of the respondents themselves rather than relying purely on the literature review. Furthermore, based on the small sample size used for this research, it will be hasty for us to extrapolate the conclusion arrived at to all ERP projects. Segalla, M(1998) ‘Factors for the success or failure of international teams: The special case of international research projects. Journal of Managerial psychology, Vol.13, Nos.3/4, pp.133-136. The author of this article proposes that inability to identify specific project requirements determines the success or failure of international research projects. In addition, the author argues that the presence or absence of certain success factors play a role in defining how successful an international research project will be. The author identifies three requirements and four factors that need to be met before an international research project can be deemed to be successful. In his conclusion, the author asserts the vital role teams play in achieving project success with an emphasis on international research projects and recommends that the success bottom line for researchers is to â€Å"Go find a team†. Along the lines of Segalla, I am also suggesting that just like any other project, certain factors need to be in place to ensure the success of international research projects. Furthermore, identification and definition of the requirements of a project plays a key role in p roject success. I also agree with the authors assertion on the vital role teams play in achieving international research project success as compared to individual work by researchers. Trent, J.R(2003) ‘Planning to use work teams effectively. Team performance management: An international journal. Vol.9, Nos.3/4, pp.50-58. In this article, the author, an associate professor of management, evaluates data derived from literature review, practical evidence derived from sampling, and his own personal experience, to argue that certain factors are essential for ensuring the success of teams. The author compartmentalizes the different stages of the team planning process and identifies various factors that are essential for the success of each stage. In his conclusion, the author seems to acknowledge that there is no factor that can be said to guarantee the success of a team; he proposes that the presence of these identified factors will only help in promoting the ability of a team to achieve success. This article reflects another attempt by an academic to identify the factors that could lead to successful teams and invariably successful projects. The pursuit of these success factors has been likened to that of the ‘Holy Grail, and this work represents an addition to the plethora of research done on â₠¬Ëœwhat makes project teams work?. My main point of disagreement with this work rests on the conclusion of the author in which he seems to contradict himself by acknowledging that these factors do not guarantee successful teams. The question then is, what is the relevance of this work if its application does not guarantee successful teams? That answer to that question is ultimately left for the readers to decide.