Why Is Strategy Important to Business Essay Example for Free

Why Is Strategy Important to Business Essay The question of why strategy is important to business is compelling to say the least. There are a number of reasons why strategy can and often does determine the success, growth or failure of a business. Without a strategy the business is responding to internal and external circumstances or demands without the advantage of a plan in place to address them. This sometimes leads to wrong decisions or weak decisions and the business loses the opportunity to turn the circumstance into an optimal resolution that results in profits and better business. Strategy tells where you are, where you want to go, and how you are going to get there. It defines the overall direction for the business based on opportunity and threats in the external environment and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the business internally. Strategy provides the big picture and shows how each individual activity ties together to achieve a desired end result. Strategy gives insight as to the way the business should compete in the future. External environmental changes can be customer and/or competitor based, as well as political, economic, social, technological, environmental or legislative. The more the external environment changes the more opportunities there may be for a well prepared company and the more threats to the unprepared. The actions and intentions of competitors change in a stable environment, and if the company is reviewing the market and what is happening they can prepare for any real or potential competitive maneuvers and find new insights into how to create continued value for customers. (Simister, 2007) Strategy is important as a source of long term profits. As business competes for a fair share in the , with competitors over customers, uncertainty becomes a constantly revolving battlefield for better ways of doing business. A Chinese general and military strategist Sun Tzu said it best It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle. â€Å"Strategy is how you get to know your enemies, yourself and the terrain on which you will fight.† And finally this great strategist says what fits here best â€Å"Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. (Brainy Quotes, n. d.) Other reasons for business strategy are changes in customer needs and wants, sudden poor business performance, and lack of growth or stability in the business. We have laid out the importance of strategy, now the components are what will make the plan a success or not. Before we can make a plan, the goals and mission statement of the business must be defined. Without a clear mission and goals you will not know who, what, when, where, and how of your business. The alternative is like feeling the way in the dark. I once read a book entitled â€Å"If you do not know where you are going, you may it up somewhere else†. This would be the reason for charting the course with purpose and destination in mind. Once we know what the goal is and defined our mission, then we look at the internal strengths and weaknesses within the business. This will help identify what strategies to build the strengths of the business and correct the weaknesses of the business to take advantage of external opportunities. Then we must look at the political, economic, social and technological as they are strategic drivers because of how they can influence outcome. This leads us to the critical issues directly and indirectly impacting the business. With all of this done, now we combine this information to create the SWOT that will generate a picture of both external and internal conditions present and future, good and bad that will give us realistic and attainable goals. The SWOT will allow us to make short term plans and long term goals and put in place the tactical initiatives necessary to achieve the defined mission goals with a timeline, necessary resources, and where each initiative fits and in what priority. These steps will make the success of strategic planning successful.

BMW: Marketing Process Analysis

BMW: Marketing Process Analysis Marketing is a social and managerial process by which individuals and groups obtain they need and want through creation and exchanging products and values with others (Kotler et al. 2005). This definition incorporates both societal and organisation involvement in the realisation of the needs and wants of consumers through delivering products that is evaluated in terms of value created for the creator as well as the consumer rather than just offering a product. According to Groucutt (2005), marketing is all about symbols, brands, and choosing of products and services which are focused and related to the customer. This definition indicates the symbolic meaning of products as socio-economic symbols to alter the ego state of the target consumer. Marketing is a process for defining markets, assessing quantitatively the need of the consumer segments within the markets, allocating value propositions to cater to the needs, conveying the value propositions within the responsible zones of the organisations in relation to the output, communicating with respect to the delivery of the value propositions, and finally monitoring the delivery of the values (McDonald 2007). This definition point out the very calculated movement from the organizations part in utilising its resources to suitably target the right markets through properly defining the market and thereby providing the right product attached with the right value. The feedback from the related market is also a part of the marketing process to ensure the commercial viability also. BMW- Marketing process (LO 1.1) : Marketing process lays down the pathway to fulfill the unfilled needs of the customers by introducing products and services in the market to satisfy growing needs of the customers. The marketing process of BMW is modeled in sequence of steps which includes situational analysis, defining marketing strategy and appropriate marketing mix which promotes products sale (Kotler 2006). One of the key advantages of marketing process of BMW lies in the fact that its marketing approach is based on the situational analysis which catches the attention of the target audience, who are the segment A of the society (BMW 2010). Situational analysis as part of marketing planning process of BMW serves as a powerful tool to capture Australian luxury market by satisfying the changing consumer trends in the market. The advantages from the elements of marketing process are discussed in the following paragraphs. the benefits and costs of a marketing orientation (LO 1.2) : Cost Benefit 1. The two recently launched models X3 and X5 of BMW are a result of the market research conducted to serve the target audience. The cost spent on the research and development activities was enormous. Besides cost, lot of time was spent to conduct analysis on the target market and to find out the requirement of the customers. These Sport car models are the result of the in-depth market research to satisfy the customer demands. 2. The cost incurred on the marketing activities including the promotion, press conference, press release to target the audience was skyrocketing high. 1. Increased customer satisfaction as many people were craving for these new models of BMW. 2. The increase in sales and profits helped the company to attain competitive advantage in the age of growing competition. Micro and Macro Factors affecting Decision Making SOWT (LO 2.1) : The success of BMW lies in the STP strategy which is based on segmentation, target audience and positioning strategy to capture the targeted population (www.bmw.co.au). By means of segmentation, BMW identifies specific buying characteristics of the target audience. BMW segments the society on the basis of geography, demography, socioeconomic and behavior characteristics of the society (Drummond and Ensor 2001). Geographically, European countries and North America serve as the main markets for BMW automobiles as these areas are most industrialized nations and the local residents are financially well off to buy high priced cars due to the increased per capita income. In respect to demographics, the men and women both aged 30-50 years are the main users of M3 and M5 models. Behaviorally, these audiences have a clear image about the company and its products. They believe in superiority, performance and excellence before making a purchase. BMW has excelled in its performance as its produc ts are high in quality and also technologically superior. BMW has been able to create a good brand image in the minds of the people by means of innovative advertising campaigns. BMW due to its strategic positioning is known for age old tradition of quality. BMW M series is among one of those luxury cars which can be recognized by the crowd at a distance due to its successful marketing strategy based on positioning, targeting and segmentation. SWOT Analysis Strengths: BMW Automobiles is consistent in delivery quality projects. The firm comprises of robust workforce for effective product delivery. The firm makes use of latest technology, owns world class equipment and all the modern facilities in the designing and development of car models. Weakness: BMW is a global leader but still faces some shortcomings which are its incapability to work on small scale projects. BMW is known for its large seated cars and its inability to target the smaller segment is the only weakness. Opportunity: BMW automobile is rapidly expanding in different parts of the world. BMW makes use of latest technology to develop best of cars and operate effectively in international markets. Threat: The survey shows that the target market for BMW car model is looking for more value in the product which serves as a serious threat to the company. Marketing Mix and Marketing Process-4ps (LO 2.2) : While considering marketing process, marketing mix of BMW cannot be kept in isolation. The marketing mix forms an important part of the decision making process. The first P is the product which provides customer with the description about the product and how it meets the customer requirement. Example BMW X3, BMW X5 models, offered by BMW go through product life cycle which determines the age and maturity of the product in the market. The products developed ensure constant income and the company also develops replacement products on consistent basis for a fair settlement. The prices of BMW cars varies depending upon model customer has asked for like sports car which are priced high, the engine size also determines the price of the product and many more. The pricing for BMW X3 is competition oriented and same for similar brands as the market is large and creating large profits is not as important as it will be for a small car. The place and location for BMW cars follows a distribution chain network comprising of manufacturer, dealer and consumer. The organization is in tie ups with the superior dealers across the world and they are further responsible to offer the product to the customers across the globe at strategic locations. To promote the BMW models X3 and X5, a broad range of advertising campaigns including print and television media are used for product launch, color supplements etc. the slogans used for BMW are smart choice, the ultimate driving machine designed for peace of mind have been used to create competitive edge in the market, change the perception of people, mould their behavior towards car consumption and differentiate their products from competitors. Target Strategy ( LO 2.3 ) BMW follows a differentiated strategy catering to people with specific segmentation (David 2006). An example, BMW M series is a super sports vehicle and refers to specific target audience. BMW made changes in its car models when introduced in India as compared to its American version. There was higher ground clearance so as to make the cars compatible to Indian road surface, high resistance to dust in Indian market, horns located on the steering and not lever were some of the changes introduced to make it suitable for Indian market. Buyer Behavior and Marketing Activities ( LO 2.4 ) Consumer buying behavior is a blend of mental and emotional process and involves elements from sociology and psychology which affects consumer behavior while making purchase. In case of exclusive products like BMW M series the consumer purchase behavior is triggered by psychological factors, status symbol which influences customers attitude and behavior to make a purchase. Product Positioning ( LO 2.5 ) BMW M series, X3 and X5 are synonymous with performance and advanced technology used in driving. Drivers can now connect sports vehicle to the roads with high performance. The sport seats provide supportive front, back and thigh comfort. There are powerful headrests for drivers comfort with leather steering wheel with the horn placed at the lever comes to the ease of the driver. The motronic engine is powerful on all road surfaces and provides smooth drive in all season (www.bmw.co.au). Sustainable Catchment Management: Principles and Practice Sustainable Catchment Management: Principles and Practice What is meant by the world water crisis? Critically assess the contribution of River Basin Management in addressing this crisis The worlds freshwater is commonly discussed in the literature as being a finite resource under increasing pressure from the greater demands being placed upon it globally (Postel 2000, Hamdey et al 2003, Oki and Kanae 2006, UNEP 2007). It has consequently become a highly contentious resource, and in recent years the focus of much debate on how best to manage it; with the latest favoured paradigm (particularly in developed countries) being that of holistic sustainability achieved using the best practice of basin-wide management (Biswas 2004, Watson et al 2007). Such an approach is particularly emphasised in key policies such as Agenda 21 and the Water Framework Directive, with the latter enforcing the creation of River Basin Management Plans by law for all EU member states. This paper will discuss whether there really is a world water crisis, and if so to what extent river basin management (RBM) can help to address this using case examples such as the Murray-Darling basin to discuss t his in context. According to the research of Oki and Kanae (2006 pp1068) the global consumption of renewable freshwater resources is well below its Malthusian limits, with only 10% of the maximum available blue water and 30% of green water being presently used. However, because its distribution both in quantity and quality for purpose is spatially and temporally uneven as shown in figure 1 water stresses exist through a demand and supply imbalance. Gleick 1998, Hamdey et al 2003, and UNEP 2007 amongst others cite figures such as already 80 countries with 40% of the world population suffer serious water shortages (Hamdey et al 2003 pp3) and more than a billion people in the developing world lack access to safe drinking water (Gleick 1998 pp487), which suggests that water stress is a major issue (as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals); and with population growth/demographics (figure 2), economic, standard of living, and climatic factors set to change, such stresses are expected to worsen on the whole through increasing the imbalance. This is especially true for developing countries since an estimated 90% of the 3 billion people expected to add to the global population by 2050 are expected to reside in such countries with many of which already experiencing high water stress (UN 2007 cited UNESCO 2009). At what point down the line an actual absolute crisis at a nation scale is reached is still yet to occur; although given the social and economic value attached to water, and its three-dimensional effect upon food supply, ecosystem health, and standard of living for example, it may already indicate a crisis is underway (Newson et al 1999 cited Newson 2000). This is especially true if freshwater access is considered as a basic human right (Gleick 1998). Assuming this, RBM is often discussed in the literature as being a viable management option to address the crisis, since its approach is holistic and all-encompassing. Its current favour comes from the fact that unlike the traditional response to water shortages assessed through developing more supplies often via unsustainable sources and hard engineering practices such as damming rivers (Hamdey et al 2003) it tries to achieve long term sustainability through encompassing land-use planning, environmental management, and agricultural policy into the management of all surface and subsurface water within a catchment. This theoretically allows for all of the direct and indirect natural and anthropogenic demands placed upon the resource to be addressed and met under a best-practice regime to achieve an optimal relevant management outcome. A classic example of where such a policy has been successful is in the Murray-Darling basin, southeast Australia. The RBM regime here is a highly evolved form of institutional arrangements first started in 1917, and consequently modified, to meet the desired outcomes and changing pressures on the 1 million Km2 five jurisdictional state catchment. At its heart the scheme seeks to promote and coordinate effective management planning for equitable, efficient and sustainable use of water, land and other resources (Pigram 1999 pp108), which it achieves through a hydraulic approach using top-down policy making and bottom-up implementation, coordinated through the central Murray-Darling Commission (Shar et al 2005). In doing this it allows for all of the key stakeholders within each state to meet and discuss how best to manage the water resources to maximise the resultant biophysical, economic and social interests not only within each state (and its respective water share), but for the whol e catchment. Theoretically this coordinates the upstream-downstream interests and encourages more productive/efficient use of water through improved technology such as crop per drop (Postel 2000), which in turn allows all of the water demands to be attained equitably. And, combined with the top-down governance system setting standards which need to be reached by every state regarding water quality and quality, ecological requirements and permitted degradation levels through land use policies, it ensures that management is not static and behind the changing catchment pressures upon the water resource. This is not to say however the system is perfect since its effectiveness depends on the cooperation of each state government, and as of yet no true full sustainability has been achieved (Pigram 1999). However, with regards to the world water crisis it is clear to see that in this instance, along with many others, RBM is having a positive impact. This is because it is encouraging through laws and other means the more efficient and equitable use of water (Postel 2000), whilst regarding the whole basin and its long term demands and pressures such as climate change. In doing so it may lessen the effect of future crises/pressures through being proactive. Similar RBM regimes also exist under other political systems such as throughout the whole of the European Union (due to Water Framework Directive legislation) and South Africa (since 1998). In the latter Gregersen et al (2007) states that although the regime is working it is not yet sustainable, since such management systems take several years to develop and offer no ready made solutions. Therefore at its national level it is not fully able to address the water crisis, although it seemingly is on the way to try to do so through using a management system which looks to achieving this from the outset. It must be said however that most of the successful RBM regimes are in developed formalised society countries where the fundamental water stresses are often far lower in the first instance (see figure 1). Such systems cannot be directly transferred between political institutions easily due to the context in which the regime was fundamentally formed to meet within the founding country regarding the hydraulic and climatic conditions, demographics, socio-economic conditions and the structure of the water sector (Barrow 1998, Hunt 1999, Shar et al 2005). For example Hu (1999), Malanu et al (1999) (cited Shar et al 2005) and Hunt (1999) each found that the Murray-Darling RBM system could not be successfully transferred to the Chinese, Vietnamese and Solomon Island contexts because of such issues; with Shar et al (2005 pp46) arguing that transferring RBM regimes between developed and developing countries is particularly problematic since the problems developing country find critical have e ither remained unresolved or irrelevant in developed country river basins such as ground water exploitation. Thus in regard to the world water crisis it provides little use in this sense, especially since the greatest stresses/crises are expected to occur here. Hunt (1999) therefore argues that the contextual fit between policy development and application is key to managing the water resource successfully. In setting the correct framework to set play and play in provides an effective environment to address the water crisis in, whether through RBM or not. In some cases I would also argue that to address the current water crisis RBM can only be used as part of the solution, due to the interconnectivity of the water resource with standard of living (relating back to the Millennium Development Goals) and economic development. If full RBM sustainability is strived for under the current conditions, inclusive of the environmental requirement, it may only serve to worsen the current crisis such as in Jordan which withdraws some of its supply unsustainably from non-renewable aquifers (Macoun and El Naser 1999). The same is true for other basins globally such as in the Colorado, Tennessee and Yangtze river basins, since in order to meet their past a nd current demands, supply had to be increased through building dams for instance. This could be seen in some cases as being unsustainable due to the impact it has on the basin, and even though the two former river basins are now managed under RBM regimes (Newson 2009) they are operating under modified conditions. RBM still has value however in promoting more efficient water use (Postel 2000) and sustainable ethical management, so should not be completely ignored in management. The contextual fit of countries as a whole is important in determining the best approach to address the world water crisis. RBM may also fail in addressing the world water crisis too if it fails to be effective itself in the first instance. For instance since RBM seeks to achieve equitable sustainability (Barrow 1998), unequal power sharing may result in such a failure. To exemplify this if a dam was allowed to hold back more water for power generation it would put increasing pressure on the quantity of flow for the ecological needs and irrigative agriculture uses amongst others. Similarly if a factory was allowed higher pollution levels then the changes in the water quality could draw a system closer experiencing a water crisis (assuming it was already highly stressed). This is especially true if a non-integrated RBM regime is used, since the different interests of each RBM stakeholder groups, such as land owners, farmers, developers and conservationists would prioritise their needs over others. This consequently may be ineffective due to the differing overall outcomes, needing some coordination and comp romising to a certain degree to be effective in terms of long-term holistic management. A similar failing may occur within international river basins also if a common-goal transboundary management agreement cannot be established in practice even if it is agreed upon politically. This is the case today between Israel and Palestine despite the fact of the road to recovery (common goal) plan. Israel in 2003 abstracted 95% of the water from the diverted Lower Jordan to meet its own abstraction needs and left Palestine with only 5%. Consequently Palestine is in a water crisis since it cannot meet its own water needs (Frederiksen 2003). To be effective therefore in the first instance RBM plans need to be authoritative, equitable, coordinated and true to RBMs initial purpose. Only then can it help in addressing the world water crisis. In conclusion therefore it can be successfully argued that RBM is a worthwhile management option to pursue in relation to addressing the world water crisis. Where such regimes are well established and operational, such as in the Murray-Darling catchment, its sustainability approach to management allows for all of the demands and threats/pressures to the freshwater resource (such as excessive nutrient runoff from poorly managed land) to be identified and dealt with equitably and accordingly within the basins long-term carrying capacity. But, given the contextual fit of each country with regards to its current resource base, water pressures, and demands/needs, it may mean that in the grand scheme of things RBM may not be the most suitable management option to address the crisis with on its own. Interestingly RBM is according to Shar et al 2005 harder to implement in developing countries due to its developed background, but it is such countries where the water stresses are already at hi gh stress levels and expected to worsen from most through the predicted population growth and climate change pressures (UNESCO 2009). Only time will tell how useful and politically favoured RBM is in addressing the crisis, and whether it is continued to be used alone or alongside other water management concepts cuch as international virtual water sharing.

The Effect Of Globalisation On Health Environmental Sciences Essay

The Effect Of Globalisation On Health Environmental Sciences Essay The increased movement of both goods and people increases opportunities for the spread of disease around the world. There are also concerns about the following: potential public health problems due to market liberalisation, the emergence of new diseases globally and worsening of existing ones due to climate change and governmental oversight over economic policies that can affect spending on healthcare. International cooperation as a result of globalisation has also had a great impact on health practices in many countries including Europe. In this backdrop, as a healthcare management consultant working for an international organisation, you are asked to examine the implications and effects of globalisation on healthcare management. Identify the effects of globalisation on healthcare Globalization can be defined as a network of processes which nations, firms and business and people are getting more interdependent and connected across the global community through the increased and strengthened economic integration, exchange of communication, diffusion of the Western culture and travel as well as migration. We must give ample attention to the processes by which the connectivity and interdependence among nations are happening. Globalization is akin to a new phenomenon where basic human drive comes into action. The history of human kind has evolved through crossing borders, exploring new heights, expanding horizons, trading commodities, conquering territories and assimiliation of culture and social practices. Globalization involves people and their behaviours in a society. Similar to the trade and commerce benefits of globalization, the consequences and effects of globalization to healthcare is being magnified on a larger scale. The effects of globalization on healthcare might include the following: Tourism brings gaps among borders and increases awareness among cultural differences and practices. Global tourism starts to grow and a lot of countries have the liberalization of their airline industries which makes travelling more affordable. According to Sutherst,2004(Sutherst R (2004) Global change and human vulnerability to vector-borne diseases. Clin Microbiol Rev 17: 136à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢173) there are approximately one million international travellers every day and a significant percentage of these people are travelling between developed and developing countries which can facilitate the spread of communicable diseases. With the increasing number of travellers, the possibility of acquiring infections and diseases is greater than those countries who are not that inclined towards global travelling. Globalization can dramatically improve healthcare through the development of policies rooted on equality and allocation of resources for all members of the society especially those ser vices pertaining to health (UNDP, 1999; Ben-David et al., 1999; Cornia, 2001). Globalization can foster protectionist policies, allocate subsidies and preserve livelihoods and rural life by which the European Union frequently advances. The benefits of these are the quality and health of the people. If there is proper funding of health projects, it can result into a healthier citizenry who can function at their best and contribute to the development of the society. Through the process of globalization, healthcare settings are best influenced by the increased universal access to healthcare, legislation regarding exposure to hazardous wastes and environment. The stronger the economy, the better are the facilities for public health, water sanitation, health services and a lot more. Through the globalization, the application and profound recognition of health as a human right are being brought into the consciousness of people from across the globe. People are now more aware of the interdependence and interrelationship of health with the various types of human rights such as cultural, social, political, economic and civil rights. WORD COUNT: 459 Assess the influence of international institutions in healthcare settings The diversity of services in terms of health care has been immensely affected by globalization itself. Developing countries has the ability to attract customers by providing quality healthcare at a lower cost than the counterparts in their own country. Within a short period of time there are a lot of changes by which health and the people are most concerned off. The development of global standards of excellence and quality will also bring forth the rise of processes in the accreditation and licensing of medical and healthcare medical education. Through globalization, the circulation of services and goods are more efficient than before. Specific multilateral agreements between States often serve as a detrimental factor for countries of the developing world. Despite the economic benefits of globalization, there are several effects on the healthcare practices and settings from one country to the other. One of the best indicators in the level of development of a country is health. The reflection by which the resources and wealth of the country are being allocated to, shared equally by the entire population. International institutions can influence the delivery of health care through globalization. However, health itself cannot be assumed as significant similar to that of the basic needs of human. The movements of healthcare professionals, the exodus of the members of the health team are strongly related to the complex cultural, ethical, and human resources issues in their mother land. Thus it is imperative that health professional must promote health as a global human right. International institutions must be prepared before launching headlong into the challenges of globalization, M. Srinivasan,2006 et al. (Visualizing the Future: Technology Competency Development in Clinical Medicine, and Implications for Medical Education Acad Psychiatry, December  1,  2006; 30(6): 480 490.) The health practices being implored can be influenced by foreign relations and policies of a country. It is best that the challenges of globalization shall be faced with much ease and confidence so that there will be no room for errors which will compromise the health of the people. Developed countries are tapping their international institutions to recruit and acquire trained graduates from poorer countries. With the movement of professionals, healthcare settings are improved through the expertise and carative characteristics of people from the poorer countries. These countries are improving their immigration policies to accommodate the influx of various members of the health care team. Healthcare setting in developed countries are influenced by international institutions who are expecting reciprocity in terms of economic and social implications of globalizations. The increased of workers in the health care industry, can facilitate the health of the citizens. WORD COUNT: 434 Evaluate the impact of European Union membership on workplace health practices. Health will not transform how we think about the foreign policies and the health practices we implore. The establishment of the European Common Markets has brought about a lot of changes not only in free movement of goods and capitals but social and cultural aspects of the country. Through the European Union, services and persons are free to move. The principles of free movement can be applied in the health care industry as well. The members of the health sector have the following changes in terms of the influence of the European Union: Through the membership with EU they can allow the free incorporation and inclusion of health care providers and professionals as well as the cross-border delivery of health care services. Since the year 1970, the European Union (EU) has passed a myriad of regulations regarding health practices. One of the regulations is to reinforce the mutual recognition of nurses, physicians and other members of the healthcare professionals in terms of their qualifications. Through this, the Member States will recognize the professionals who hail from among the members of the European Union which is considered to be an indispensable precondition for the non-restrictive movement of services. Thus , in reference to the establishment of the European job market for the members of the health care team, it has not led to the extensive migration among the member of the European Union (EU). The accession of the Eastern and Central European countries to the European Union( EU)did hot stirred an alarm of brain drain. Brain drain is the major concern among authorities due to the imminent depletion of healthcare professionals to the better off countries located in the Northern and Western Europe. The numerous potential effects of the European Union (EU) on the social protection systems in the applicant countries due to the variations and differences between the type of health care systems among the 25 Member States. A lot of authorities are expecting mass exodus of professionals from the accession countries. Free movement of health care professionals and occupations has not paved the way into the expected transnational migration among the Member states of the European Union. The language barrier is one of the major reasons why the health care sector deal on a personal level and are quite sensitive about it. There are countries in Europe where English is not widely spoken. Thus, it will be very difficult to administer and render health care services. WORD COUNT: 411 WORD COUNT: 1314 Question 2 You are employed by Sahara Oil Company based in Qatar as their Occupational Health expert. The company produces and refines oil; it also explores gas deposits. There has not been a recent review of the environmental effects of the companys operations. You have responsibilities for the environmental health issues of Sahara Oils operations in Qatar. As well, one important responsibility you have been given is to be conversant with the impact of environmental legislation, directives and guidance and the processes that organisations need to adopt in order to provide health protection to the employees of the company, their families and the members of the local community who are affected by Sahara Oils operations in Qatar. Identify the economics of adopting a policy of environmental awareness in heath care settings. All of the above lead to improved QOL and increased life expectancy. However, all this come with a cost to human health and the environment. Effects on health: Such activities and their impact on the environment have serious effects on health of communities,, esp. Chdns health. However, there is uncertainty of the effects of such activities or technologies on health as there is no scientific evidence that directly links such activities to disease causation. E.g., there is still ongoing debate about the scientific evvidence linking greenhouse gases to global warming. Governments inaction is because they fear that taking action would affect trade. E.g. taking action to prevent bon-fossil fuels :-charcoal and oil burning- in order to reduce CO2 emission into the atmosphere by developing nations i.e., China and India would collapse their industries and economy. However, the economic cost of technological development on the environment and human health is higly significant. The Precautionary Principle states that in the case of serious or irreversible threats to the health of humans or the ecosystem, acknowledged scientific uncertainty should not be used as a reason to postpone preventive measures. The concept of a universal precautionary principle apparently has its origins in early German and Swedish thinking about environmental policy, particularly the need for policymakers to practice foresight in order to prevent long-range environmental problems. The concept was included in the Amsterdam Treatyan important step toward establishment of the European Unionbut the concept was left undefined and was applied only to environmental policy. In the past 20 years, there have been numerous references to precaution in various international treaties, statements of advocacy groups, and academic writings, but the significance of the principle in international law remains uncertain. The EIB considers the need for applying the precautionary principle when there is a risk that a project may cause significant and irreversible damage to the environment. In such cases, measures should be taken by the promoter to avoid in the first place and if a feasible alternative is not available to reduce that risk to an acceptable degree. Assess the actions that need to be taken by organisations to maintain the environment. Pollution of the aquatic environment occurs from many different sources including from oil refineries. Oil refinery effluents contain many different chemicals at different concentrations including ammonia, sulphides, phenol and hydrocarbons. The exact composition cannot however be generalised as it depends on the refinery and which units are in operation at any specific time. It is therefore difficult to predict what effects the effluent may have on the environment. Toxicity tests have shown that most refinery effluents are toxic but to varying extents. Some species are more sensitive and the toxicity may vary throughout the life cycle. Sublethal tests have found that not only can the effluents be lethal but also they can often have sublethal effects on growth and reproduction. Field studies have shown that oil refinery effluents often have an impact on the fauna, which is usually restricted to the area close to the outfall. The extent of the effect is dependent on the effluent compo sition, the outfalls position and the state of the recipient environment. It is possible to detect two effects that oil refinery effluent has on the environment. Firstly it has a toxic effect close to the outfall, which is seen by the absence of all or most species. Secondly there is an enrichment effect which can be distinguished as a peak in the abundance or biomass. These effects are not limited to just oil refinery effluents, which make it difficult to distinguish the effects an oil refinery effluent has from other pollution sources. The discharge from oil refineries has reduced in quantity and toxicity over recent decades, allowing many impacted environments in estuaries and coasts to make a substantial recovery. Specify the measures that exist to improve workplace health and safety practices When oil refineries do not practice workplace safety, it can result in numerous problems. These problems can force a refinery to trim production or shut down completely. For example, dozens of oil refineries were shut down in 2007 due to fires, leaks, spills and power failures. Crude Oil Pre-treatment (Desalting) Fire Prevention and Protection: The potential exists for a fire due to a leak or release of crude oil from heaters in the crude desalting unit. Low boiling point components of crude may also be released if a leak occurs. Safety: Inadequate desalting can cause fouling of heater tubes and heat exchangers throughout the refinery. Fouling restricts product flow and heat transfer and leads to failures due to increased pressures and temperatures. Corrosion, which occurs due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, naphthenic (organic) acids, and other contaminants in the crude oil, also causes equipment failure. Neutralized salts (ammonium chlorides and sulfides), when moistened by condensed water, can cause corrosion. Overpressuring the unit is another potential hazard that causes failures. Health: Because this is a closed process, there is little potential for exposure to crude oil unless a leak or release occurs. Where elevated operating temperatures are used when desalting sour crudes, hydrogen sulfide will be present. There is the possibility of exposure to ammonia, dry chemical demulsifiers, caustics, and/or acids during this operation. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as heat, and during process sampling, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. Depending on the crude feedstock and the treatment chemicals used, the wastewater will contain varying amounts of chlorides, sulfides, bicarbonates, ammonia, hydrocarbons, phenol, and suspended solids. If diatomaceous earth is used in filtration, exposures should be minimized or controlled. Diatomaceous earth can contain silica in very fine particle size, making this a potential respiratory hazard. Crude Oil Distillation (Fractionation) Fire Prevention and Protection: Even though these are closed processes, heaters and exchangers in the atmospheric and vacuum distillation units could provide a source of ignition, and the potential for a fire exists should a leak or release occur. Safety: An excursion in pressure, temperature, or liquid levels may occur if automatic control devices fail. Control of temperature, pressure, and reflux within operating parameters is needed to prevent thermal cracking within the distillation towers. Relief systems should be provided for overpressure and operations monitored to prevent crude from entering the reformer charge. The sections of the process susceptible to corrosion include (but may not be limited to) preheat exchanger (hydrogen chloride (HCl) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S)), preheat furnace and bottoms exchanger (H2S and sulfur compounds), atmospheric tower and vacuum furnace (H2S, sulfur compounds, and organic acids), vacuum tower (H2S and organic acids), and overhead (H2S, HCl, and water). Where sour crudes are processed, severe corrosion can occur in furnace tubing and in both atmospheric and vacuum towers where metal temperatures exceed 450 ° F. Wet H2S also will cause cracks in steel. When processing high-nitrogen crudes, nitrogen oxides can form in the flue gases of furnaces. Nitrogen oxides are corrosive to steel when cooled to low temperatures in the presence of water. Chemicals are used to control corrosion by hydrochloric acid produced in distillation units. Ammonia may be injected into the overhead stream prior to initial condensation and/or an alkaline solution may be carefully injected into the hot crude oil feed. If sufficient wash-water is not injected, deposits of ammonium chloride can form and cause serious corrosion. Crude feedstock may contain appreciable amounts of water in suspension which can separate during startup and, along with water remaining in the tower from steam purging, settle in the bottom of the tower. This water can be heated to the boiling point and create an instantaneous vaporization explosion upon contact with the oil in the unit. Health: Atmospheric and vacuum distillation are closed processes and exposures are expected to be minimal. When sour (high-sulfur) crudes are processed, there is potential for exposure to hydrogen sulfide in the preheat exchanger and furnace, tower flash zone and overhead system, vacuum furnace and tower, and bottoms exchanger. Hydrogen chloride may be present in the preheat exchanger, tower top zones, and overheads. Wastewater may contain water-soluble sulfides in high concentrations and other water-soluble compounds such as ammonia, chlorides, phenol, mercaptans, etc., depending upon the crude feedstock and the treatment chemicals. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as heat and noise, and during sampling, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. Solvent Extraction and Dewaxing Fire Prevention and Protection: Solvent treatment is essentially a closed process and, although operating pressures are relatively low, the potential exists for fire from a leak or spill contacting a source of ignition such as the drier or extraction heater. In solvent dewaxing, disruption of the vacuum will create a potential fire hazard by allowing air to enter the unit. Health: Because solvent extraction is a closed process, exposures are expected to be minimal under normal operating conditions. However, there is a potential for exposure to extraction solvents such as phenol, furfural, glycols, methyl ethyl ketone, amines, and other process chemicals. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as noise and heat, and during repair, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. Thermal Cracking Fire Protection and Prevention: Because thermal cracking is a closed process, the primary potential for fire is from leaks or releases of liquids, gases, or vapors reaching an ignition source such as a heater. The potential for fire is present in coking operations due to vapor or product leaks. Should coking temperatures get out of control, an exothermic reaction could occur within the coker. Safety: In thermal cracking when sour crudes are processed, corrosion can occur where metal temperatures are between 450 ° and 900 ° F. Above 900 ° F coke forms a protective layer on the metal. The furnace, soaking drums, lower part of the tower, and high-temperature exchangers are usually subject to corrosion. Hydrogen sulfide corrosion in coking can also occur when temperatures are not properly controlled above 900 ° F. Continuous thermal changes can lead to bulging and cracking of coke drum shells. In coking, temperature control must often be held within a 10 °-20 ° F range, as high temperatures will produce coke that is too hard to cut out of the drum. Conversely, temperatures that are too low will result in a high asphaltic-content slurry. Water or steam injection may be used to prevent buildup of coke in delayed coker furnace tubes. Water must be completely drained from the coker, so as not to cause an explosion upon recharging with hot coke. Provisions for alternate means of egress from the working platform on top of coke drums are important in the event of an emergency. Health: The potential exists for exposure to hazardous gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, and trace polynuclear aromatics (PNAs) associated with coking operations. When coke is moved as a slurry, oxygen depletion may occur within confined spaces such as storage silos, since wet carbon will adsorb oxygen. Wastewater may be highly alkaline and contain oil, sulfides, ammonia, and/or phenol. The potential exists in the coking process for exposure to burns when handling hot coke or in the event of a steam-line leak, or from steam, hot water, hot coke, or hot slurry that may be expelled when opening cokers. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as heat and noise, and during process sampling, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. (Note: coke produced from petroleum is a different product from that generated in the steel-industry coking process.) Fire Prevention and Protection: The potential exists for a fire due to a leak or release of crude oil from heaters in the crude desalting unit. Low boiling point components of crude may also be released if a leak occurs. Safety: Inadequate desalting can cause fouling of heater tubes and heat exchangers throughout the refinery. Fouling restricts product flow and heat transfer and leads to failures due to increased pressures and temperatures. Corrosion, which occurs due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, naphthenic (organic) acids, and other contaminants in the crude oil, also causes equipment failure. Neutralized salts (ammonium chlorides and sulfides), when moistened by condensed water, can cause corrosion. Overpressuring the unit is another potential hazard that causes failures. Health: Because this is a closed process, there is little potential for exposure to crude oil unless a leak or release occurs. Where elevated operating temperatures are used when desalting sour crudes, hydrogen sulfide will be present. There is the possibility of exposure to ammonia, dry chemical demulsifiers, caustics, and/or acids during this operation. Safe work practices and/or the use of appropriate personal protective equipment may be needed for exposures to chemicals and other hazards such as heat, and during process sampling, inspection, maintenance, and turnaround activities. Depending on the crude feedstock and the treatment chemicals used, the wastewater will contain varying amounts of chlorides, sulfides, bicarbonates, ammonia, hydrocarbons, phenol, and suspended solids. If diatomaceous earth is used in filtration, exposures should be minimized or controlled. Diatomaceous earth can contain silica in very fine particle size, making this a potential respiratory hazard. ( Word count :1300 ) Question 3 You have been appointed consultant to a pharmaceutical company in Mumbai that sources clinical trial contracts from abroad, especially the United States of America and western Europe. Because of its international operations, the work force of the company is also varied with employees from various countries around the world. You are asked to explore the issues that affect the companys operations in the current economic environment when implementing healthcare management practices. Analyse the responsibilities of organisations in improving work place health and safety. The following are recommended practical activities that executives can do at each stage of their personal journey to understanding the value of diversity. 1. Discovery. Executives must become aware of the need to view racial and ethnic diversity as a significant strategic issue. They should thoroughly read this timely study and review many of the excellent references outlined at the end of the study. 2. Assessment. Executives must determine where their organizations are on the road to capitalizing on racial and ethnic diversity. The Tables in the article present a series of best practices against which an organization can benchmark its responsiveness to diversity practices. Another useful exercise during the assessment stage would be to determine what data their organizations have access to regarding the diversity of the population of the community they serve, their organizations patient demographics, and their organizations workforce. A scarcer and more diverse workforce. As a result, healthcare organizations (HCOs) must develop policies and practices aimed at recruiting, retaining, and managing a diverse workforce and must meet the demands of a more diverse patient population by providing culturally appropriate care and improving access to care for racial/ethnic minorities. Ultimately, the goal of managing diversity is to enhance workforce and customer satisfaction, to improve communication among members of the workforce, and to further improve organizational performance. Research on diversity management practices in HCOs is scarce, providing few guidelines for practitioners. This study attempted to close that gap. Results show that hospitals in Pennsylvania have been relatively inactive with employing diversity management practices, and equal employment requirements are the main driver of diversity management policy. The number and scope of diversity management practices used were not influenced by organizational or market characteristics. The results suggest that hospitals need to adopt diversity management practices for their workforces and need to pay particular attention to marketing and service planning activities that meet the needs of a diverse patient population. Diversity has become a crucial subject in the field of management as organizations pay increased attention to major demographic shifts in the U.S. population. As of 1999, 28 percent of the U.S. population was a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, and it is projected that by 2030, 40 percent of the U.S. population will be members of a racial or ethnic minority group (U.S. Census Bureau 1999). These changes are resulting in an increasingly diverse labor pool and customer base. Policymakers are also being more attentive to racial/ethnic disparities in access to care and health status. While such disparities are well documented, relatively less is known about the underlying causes for the disparities. Researchers have examined financial barriers, racism and discrimination, and patient preferences as potential sources of these disparities (Williams and Rucker 2000). To respond to the demographic shifts of the workforce and patient population and address racial/ethnic disparities in access and outcomes of care, healthcare organizations (HCOs) will need to become culturally competent organizations. Cultural competency has been defined as an ongoing commitment or institutionalization of appropriate practice and policies for diverse populations (Brach and Fraser 2000). While cultural competence is the goal, diversity management is the process leading to culturally competent organizations. Diversity management is .a strategically driven process whose emphasis is on building skills and creating policies that will address the changing demographics of the workforce and patient populations (Svehla 1994). Diversity management and leadership practices are known to enhance workforce and customer satisfaction, to improve communication among members of the workforce, and to further improve organizational performance (Cox 1994; Dreachslin 1996). However, only some organizations choose to respond to workforce and customer demographics by initiating diversity management practices and becoming diversity leaders (Dreachslin 1999). Others resist, making only those changes necessary to comply with affirmative action guidelines. A recent survey on career attainment among healthcare executives across different races/ethnicities confirms that much improvement is still needed in the cultural and diversity climates of HCOs (De Anda et al. 1998). Research examining diversity management practices in HCOs is scarce. To date, only three prior studies have examined diversity management practices in HCOs-one using case study methodology (Muller and Haase 1994) and two others using survey methodology (Motwani, Hodge, and Crampton 1995; Wallace, Ermer, and Motshabi 1996). These studies have focused on human resources issues in diversity management. Each of the three studies found that relatively few hospitals had implemented diversity management programs even when hospitals considered diversity management an important organizational issue. Furthermore, Muller and Haase (1994) found that all hospitals in their study fitted the pluralistic profile in which they were not actively managing diversity but employing diversity management policies and programs that were primarily compliance-oriented strategies. Compare organisational approaches to ensuring positive policies of work place diversity. Cultural diversity in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, it is the expeditious thing to do. It ensures responsiveness and responsiveness is synonymous with survival. Diversity in the workplace is important because of its contribution to organization decisionmaking, effectiveness, and responsiveness. Those from diverse populations have experiences, insights, approaches, and values from which can come many different perspectives on and alternative approaches to problems, and knowledge about consequences of each alternative. From a leadership position (for example, an executive, managerial, and/or supervisory position), suggestions and recommendations of such alternatives and

A Critique of Thank You for Smoking? :: Critical Essays

A Critique of â€Å"Thank You for Smoking†¦?† Peter Brimelow’s â€Å"Thank You for Smoking†¦?† had me interested from the title alone. This essay lists a few of the benefits that can occur from smoking. Bimelow is aware of the many dangers of smoking as he acknowledges â€Å"the Environmental Protection Agency has claimed that ‘second hand smoke’ is a significant risk for nonsmokers and the Food & Drug Administration is making noises about regulating nicotine as a drug† (The Genre of Argument 141). Brimelow’s essay gives some reasons why and how smoking can be beneficial in some small ways. The message Brimelow is trying to get out is that, â€Å"smoking might be, in some small ways, good for you† (141). Brimelow uses words and phrases such as â€Å"might be† and â€Å"some† to narrow down his major claim. Brimelow’s major claim that smoking can be healthy in some ways. In some studies, certain cancers have been shown to appear less in sm okers than nonsmokers. This leads us to believe that smoking may be beneficial in some ways. I think this essay is successful because of the evidence presented along with the narrow major claim. The author’s purpose in this essay is to show how smoking can be beneficial in some ways. Brimelow presents his credibility with studies from the International Journal of Epidemiology, New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of the American Medical Association (Brimelow 142). He notes that smoking can both calm and stimulate people. Smoking has been shown to calm people while driving if they take long puffs. Smoking has also been shown to stimulate if taken in quick, short puffs. Brimelow reiterates this by telling us that â€Å"Current understanding is that nicotine is ‘amphoteric’ –that is, it can act to counter both conditions, depending on how it is consumed† (142). This is a reason how smoking can be beneficial. I would not think smoking could be beneficial in any way. However, Brimelow achieved his purpose in this essay and may have changed my mind. He used reliable resources for his evidence with studies that astonished me. I did not know some studies have shown some cancers to occur 50% less in smokers than nonsmokers. He gives a valid argument with these studies along with a theoretical example which I am still thinking about. A Critique of Thank You for Smoking? :: Critical Essays A Critique of â€Å"Thank You for Smoking†¦?† Peter Brimelow’s â€Å"Thank You for Smoking†¦?† had me interested from the title alone. This essay lists a few of the benefits that can occur from smoking. Bimelow is aware of the many dangers of smoking as he acknowledges â€Å"the Environmental Protection Agency has claimed that ‘second hand smoke’ is a significant risk for nonsmokers and the Food & Drug Administration is making noises about regulating nicotine as a drug† (The Genre of Argument 141). Brimelow’s essay gives some reasons why and how smoking can be beneficial in some small ways. The message Brimelow is trying to get out is that, â€Å"smoking might be, in some small ways, good for you† (141). Brimelow uses words and phrases such as â€Å"might be† and â€Å"some† to narrow down his major claim. Brimelow’s major claim that smoking can be healthy in some ways. In some studies, certain cancers have been shown to appear less in sm okers than nonsmokers. This leads us to believe that smoking may be beneficial in some ways. I think this essay is successful because of the evidence presented along with the narrow major claim. The author’s purpose in this essay is to show how smoking can be beneficial in some ways. Brimelow presents his credibility with studies from the International Journal of Epidemiology, New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of the American Medical Association (Brimelow 142). He notes that smoking can both calm and stimulate people. Smoking has been shown to calm people while driving if they take long puffs. Smoking has also been shown to stimulate if taken in quick, short puffs. Brimelow reiterates this by telling us that â€Å"Current understanding is that nicotine is ‘amphoteric’ –that is, it can act to counter both conditions, depending on how it is consumed† (142). This is a reason how smoking can be beneficial. I would not think smoking could be beneficial in any way. However, Brimelow achieved his purpose in this essay and may have changed my mind. He used reliable resources for his evidence with studies that astonished me. I did not know some studies have shown some cancers to occur 50% less in smokers than nonsmokers. He gives a valid argument with these studies along with a theoretical example which I am still thinking about.

Social Role Play and the Search For Identity in Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby

Social Role Play and the Search For Identity in Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby When I think about women’s role in our society, especially nowadays, the first word that comes to my mind is ‘exhausted’. What I mean is that this subject is exhausted. There are so many literary and sociological interpretations of the physical and psychological female image that whatever I say or prove would be just another attempt to understand the ‘incomprehensible’. It’s not because I am a woman, or may be exactly because I am. But here the important expression is ‘I am’ and the extension can be endless. And what a human life is but an everlasting search for the right word that would complete the sentence. As if we could complete it, our personality will be completed as well. And after years of searching, finding and again searching, we finally understand that there are so many ‘I ams’ some of which have no logical explanation or certain definition and all are subjected to so many social and personal factors. Nevertheless I will turn to one literary interpretation, Kate Chopin’s Desiree’s ...

Amazing Doctor for Marketing

Review questions for the midterm exam Topic 1: Introduction to Marketing 1. Define marketing and discuss how it is more than just â€Å"advertising and selling. † 2. Explain why it is important for all departments of an organization—marketing, accounting, finance, operations management, human resources, and so on—to â€Å"think consumer. † Why is it important that even people who are not in marketing understand it? 3. Marketing has been criticized because it â€Å"makes people buy things they don’t really need. † Refute or support this accusation. . What are the five different marketing management orientations? 5. Explain the production, product, selling, and marketing concepts. 6. Explain the societal marketing concept and provide three examples of companies that are practicing social responsibility in their business activities. 7. List the different steps of the marketing process. 8. What are the two important questions the marketing manage r must answer to design a winning marketing strategy? How does the marketing manager go about answering these two questions? 9.Explain what is meant by segmentation and targeting. 10. Define positioning and explain how it is accomplished. 11. Define the concept of marketing mix. 12. Define each of the four Ps. What insights might a firm gain by considering the four Cs rather than the four Ps? 13. What is the difference between the concept of customer (perceived) value and customer lifetime-value? 14. What is the difference between the concept of brand equity and customer equity? 15. Do loyalty cards foster (i. e. , create) brand loyalty in the marketplace?Explain your answer. Topic 2: The marketing environment and Strategic Planning 1. Define the concept of strategic planning and enumerate the steps that lead managers and the firm through the strategic planning process. 2. Describe the elements of a company’s marketing environment and why marketers play a critical role in tra cking environmental trends and spotting opportunities. 3. Explain what is meant by a market-oriented mission statement and discuss the characteristics of effective mission statements. 4. Explain the product/market matrix. 5.Explain what is meant by a business portfolio analysis. Also, name and thoroughly describe a framework (a tool) that can be used to conduct a business portfolio analysis. Topic 3: Marketing Research 1. Contrast between qualitative research and quantitative research. 2. List the different steps of the research process. 3. Explain the role of secondary data in gaining customer insights. Where do marketers obtain secondary data? 4. Compare open-ended and closed-ended questions. When and for what is each type of question useful in marketing research? 5.What is the difference between a Likert scale and a semantic differential scale? Propose a Likert scale to measure the concept of brand loyalty. 6. A marketing researcher should assess the reliability of his findings a nd the validity of his measurements. What is the difference between reliability and validity? Support your answer by giving examples. 7. A manufacturer would like to measure the effects of the colour of the product package (red vs. blue vs. black) on the sales. Would you advise the manufacturer to use ethnography, projective techniques or experimentation? Explain your choice.

Putnam [email protected] Case

Cost and Benefit Analysis of [email  protected] One of the primary advantages of the [email  protected] program is that it creates a cost advantage. Having employees work at home as opposed to in-facility is significantly less costly. According to Table A in the case, annual recurring costs for each individual working in-facility is around $10,650. That is over twice the recurring cost of the average [email  protected] employee with an ISDN connection and over 20 times the annual recurring cost of a [email  protected] employee with a cable modem connection.Given the large quantity [email  protected] employees at Putnam, this program provides a method of greatly reducing recurring costs in the short and long term. Additionally, the e-learning program costs less than half of what the traditional training process costs. It even better prepares employees for the job because the quality of the training is higher and individuals can complete the training at their own pace. Moreov er, [email  protected] employees feel that Putnam has made a sizeable investment in them, and feeling is supported by high productivity rates and decreased turnover.The turnover rate among [email  protected] employees is around 8% which is significantly lower than the Putnam average of 30%. By training employees for less and retaining them for longer, Putnam decreases both recruiting and training costs by a significant margin. Furthermore, the [email  protected] program allows Putnam to expand their business into new areas without having to invest in additional real estate. And because the majority of these [email  protected] employees are from rural areas where the cost of living is lower than locations near Putnam’s office facilities, Putnam can get away with paying [email  protected] employees less than their in-facility counterparts.All these factors contribute to the low cost advantage that the [email  protected] program creates. Because Putnam only allows hi gh productivity workers the option of working at home, the [email  protected] program can provide an incentive for employees to increase their productivity. According to a Putnam manager, anyone who is eligible to work from home and who wants to can work at home as long as he has higher than average productivity. Anyone at Putnam who desires to work from home will have the incentive to increase productivity above the mean so that they will have the option of working from home. However, this ncentive only applies to workers who have jobs that allow them to work from home. Also, many people like the social experience that the office brings and have no desire to work from home. One of the pitfalls of using this program as an incentive is that there is no reason for employees to produce anything higher than the company average. However, all things considered, this program does incentivize a select group of individuals to boost their productivity levels. Various costs arise from the [e mail  protected] program as well. It takes a special type of person to succeed in a [email  protected] position.Employees must be willing to sacrifice the social aspect of work and must be good at solving problems on their own because immediate help cannot always be obtained. Unfortunately the workers who fit the [email  protected] criteria do not necessarily bring about optimal production for Putnam. The most qualified and potentially productive candidates may find the [email  protected] program to be unfulfilling. Consequently Putnam is forced to accept candidates who while still productive, may not produce optimally. In fact, overqualified candidates in Vermont and Mane tended to have higher turnover rates due to the unfulfilling nature of the work.One of the other primary costs of the program is the communication barrier. By not being in-facility, [email  protected] employees cannot as easily talk to co-workers or supervisors about work-related problems. Also they are not exposed to the culture and are unable to get as good of a sense of how the company operates compared to in-facility workers. Putnam has tried to mitigate these costs through the advent of the chat system and other communication methods, but the fact remains that communication is not as good as it is among in-facility workers. Finally, employee performance needs to be monitored a bit more closely with [email  protected]Due to the lack of social pressure among co-workers to perform, employees could be tempted to shirk. But Putnam’s performance evaluation process has eliminated this problem, and in fact, [email  protected] employees have been equally if not more productive than in-facility workers. Human Resources Policies Overall I think Putnam is doing a pretty good job with regards to its human resources policies in the [email  protected] program. However, I feel a few changes could be made that could improve the program. According to some Putnam managers, monitorin g an employee working at home is not significantly different from monitoring employees in-facility.Rather, supervisors just have to monitor what’s going on â€Å"in different ways†. If it really isn’t much more costly or time consuming to monitor [email  protected] employees as opposed to in-facility employees, I see no reason to offer [email  protected] opportunities exclusively to high productivity employees. My recommendation is that Putnam rank workers on a relative scale in quintiles and assign each quintile a grade of A, B, C, D, or E with A workers being the top 20% and E workers the bottom 20%. Employees should not be made aware of their rankings.Next, my recommendation is that Putnam select a sample of employees from each of the bottom three quintiles to work at home for a period of 6 months to a year. The reasoning for only using the bottom three quintiles is that the top two quintiles are already eligible to work at home. The purpose of the experi ment is to determine from a cost standpoint whether or not it is advantageous to allow average and below average employees to work at home. Putnam should use the exact same evaluation process and compensation system with these employees. In other words, they should be treated no differently from the typical [email  protected] employee.Putnam should then compare the productivity numbers of the experimental [email  protected] employees and compare them to their respective productivity numbers from when they worked in-facility. If there is not a huge discrepancy in their productivity, then it may be advantageous for Putnam to allow employees of average to below average productivities to participate in the [email  protected] program. In fact, because overhead costs are so low for [email  protected] employees compared to in-facility counterparts, it could still be advantageous from a cost standpoint for Putnam to allow these employees to work at home even if their productivities drop off a bit.There are two major concerns I would have with employees in the bottom 3 quintiles working at home. One is that worker productivity will drop without direct monitoring. The second is that monitoring costs will spike due to the employees’ lack of motivation to do the job alone at home. If the increased costs of monitoring and the value of lost productivity do not exceed the difference in overhead cost between [email  protected] and in-facility employees, then Putnam should definitely consider allowing more employees to work at home.Doing so could decrease operating costs and increase profits in the long run. By performing this experiment Putnam can figure out how to optimally take advantage of its unique [email  protected] program. The limitation of this is that it may not be possible to assign a dollar amount to the cost of increased supervisory monitoring or the value of lost productivity. In light of this, it may be difficult to determine any cost advanta ges from performing this experiment. With regards to employee evaluation and compensation, I believe Putnam is doing a more than adequate job.By using both quantitative and subjective measures of performance like accuracy and call screening, Putnam keeps [email  protected] employees on their toes and producing at a high level. Additionally, by offering bonuses tied to performance of up to 20% of base salary, Putnam does a solid job of aligning [email  protected] employees interests with the company’s. The high level of productivity and low turnover rate among [email  protected] employees is proof that these policies work. One other aspect of HR that could be improved is making a clear cut path of promotion from [email  protected] employee up to a higher level position like manager or supervisor.By establishing a clear path to a higher level job in the company, Putnam can inspire its [email  protected] employees to work harder than ever. However, this could result in employee sabotage and decreased collaboration among [email  protected] employees. Employees may refrain from helping each other out because they are all seeking the same promotion. Experimental [email  protected] The first thing the travel agency should do is come up with a method of measuring employee performance. Without an accurate method of measuring performance, the experiment will not yield any meaningful results.The travel agency ideally would find a quantitative measure of performance that helps predict the total profit or revenues of the firm. By finding a quantitative measure that drives revenues, the travel agency can be sure that their method of evaluation will tie closely into firm performance. For the sake of simplicity in this exercise, I will assume that the number of clients served is the quantitative measure that most closely measures firm profitability and employee productivity. The next step in performing this experiment would be to research the costs associ ated with having a call center employee work at home as opposed to in-facility.If it is not any cheaper to have employees work at home, then there is no reason to even perform the experiment. This difference in cost is between work at home and in-facility employees will eventually determine whether or not a work at home program would be advantageous for the travel agency. The major cost would likely be installing the work phone in each employee’s house. There could be other costs in addition, however, like increased supervisory costs. Next, similar to my strategy for Putnam, I would rank all call center employees on a relative scale based on productivity and divide them into quartiles.Then I would take a random selection of a given amount of employees from each productivity quartile. These randomly selected individuals would be the ones taking part in the work at home experiment. These individuals would work at home for a lengthy period of say 6 months to a year. The travel a gency should heavily monitor their productivity during their time working at home, which in this case would be keeping track of clients served. At the end of the trial period of the work at home experiment, the travel agency should collect all the data regarding the participating individuals’ productivity.Their productivity should be compared to each individual’s respective productivity in the 6 months to a year prior to the experiment. Also, to adjust for possible seasonal factors influencing productivity, the travel agency could compare each work at home employee’s productivity to other employees in the same quartile who work in facility. The main concern here should be that worker productivity could decrease to the point that it would not be cost effective for the travel agency to have employees work at home, in spite of the fact that it probably costs significantly less in overhead to have employees work at home.If possible, the travel agency should attempt to assign dollar values to the additional costs of productivity loss and supervision from having employees work at home. If these additional costs are less than the difference in overhead cost between work at home and in-facility employees, then implementing a work at home program would probably be advantageous for the travel agency. There is a reason workers are ranked on a relative scale at the beginning of the experiment. Call center employees of different productivities may respond differently to working at home.The highest productivity employees are probably the most intrinsically motivated, and thus we would expect to see not as large a drop off in their performance as employees in other quartiles. Based on the data collected at the end of the experiment, the travel agency could decide that it is only profitable to allow employees above a certain level of performance standard to work at home. The firm could then use this standard as a benchmark and incentive for employees to o btain in order to get the option of working at home.