Thursday, August 27, 2020

Act 2, Scene 3 of A Raisin in the Sun

Act 2, Scene 3 of 'A Raisin in the Sun' Investigate this plot outline and study direct for Lorraine Hansberrys play, A Raisin in the Sun, which gives a review of Act Two, Scene Three. One Week Later - Moving Day Scene Three of the second demonstration of A Raisin in the Sun happens seven days after the occasions of Scene Two. It is moving day for the Younger family. Ruth and Beantha are making a minute ago arrangements before the movers show up. Ruth relates how she and her better half, Walter Lee, went out to see a film the past night - something they have not done in quite a while. The sentiment in the marriage appears to have been revived. During and after the film, Ruth and Walter clasped hands. Walter enters, loaded up with bliss and expectation. As opposed to past scenes during the play, Walter currently feels engaged - as if he is at last guiding his life its legitimate way. He plays an old record and hits the dance floor with his significant other as Beneatha makes jokes about them. Walter messes with his sister (Beneatha otherwise known as Bennie), guaranteeing that she is excessively fixated on social liberties: WALTER: Girl, I do trust you are the primary individual throughout the entire existence of the whole human race to effectively indoctrinate yourself. The Welcoming Committee The doorbell rings. As Beneatha opens the entryway, the crowd is acquainted with Mr. Karl Lindner. He is a white, bespectacled, moderately aged man who has been sent from Clybourne Park, the prospective neighborhood of the Younger family. He requests to talk with Mrs. Lena Younger (Mama), however since she isn't home, Walter says that he handles the vast majority of the privately-owned company. Karl Lindner is the director of an inviting advisory group - an affiliation that invites newcomers, yet that additionally manages tricky circumstances. Dramatist Lorraine Hansberry depicts him in the accompanying stage bearings: He is a delicate man; attentive and to some degree worked in his way. (Note: In the film adaptation, Mr. Lindner was played by John Fiedler, a similar on-screen character who gave the voice of Piglet in Disneys Winnie the Pooh kid's shows. That is the means by which bashful he is intended to appear.) Yet, in spite of his delicate characteristics, Mr. Lindner speaks to something exceptionally guileful; he represents a huge part of 1950s society who were accepted they were not obviously bigot, yet discreetly permitted prejudice to flourish inside their locale. In the long run, Mr. Lindner uncovers his motivation. His advisory group needs their neighborhood to stay isolated. Walter and the others become furious about his message. Detecting their unsettling influence, Lindner quickly clarifies that his council needs to purchase the new house from the Youngers, with the goal that the dark family will make a sound benefit in the trade. Walter is daunted and offended by Lindners suggestion. The administrator leaves, tragically saying, You simply cant power individuals to change their hearts child. Straightforwardly after Lindner ways out, Mama and Travis enter. Beneatha and Walter teasingly clarify that the Welcoming Committee of Clybourne Park cant scarcely stand by to see Mamas face. Mother in the end gets the quip, however she doesn't think that its entertaining. They wonder why the white network is so against living close to a dark family. RUTH: You ought to hear the cash those people raised to purchase the house from us. All we paid to say the very least. BENEATHA: What they think we going to do - eat em? RUTH: No, nectar, wed em. Mother: (Shaking her head.) Lord, Lord, Lord... Mother's Houseplant The focal point of Act Two, Scene Three of A Raisin in the Sun movements to Mama and her houseplant. She readies the plant for the huge move with the goal that it wont get injured simultaneously. When Beneatha inquires as to why Mama would need to keep that raggedy-looking old thing, Mama Younger answers: It communicates me. This is Mamas method of reviewing Beneathas outburst about self-articulation, however it additionally uncovers the liking Mama feels for the suffering houseplant. Also, despite the fact that the family may kid about the battered state of the plant, the family emphatically has confidence in Mamas capacity to support. This is clear by the Moving Day blessings they present to her. In the stage bearings, the endowments are depicted as: a spic and span shimmering set of instruments and a wide planting cap. The writer additionally notes in the stage bearings that these are the principal presents Mama has gotten outside of Christmas. One may believe that the Younger family is on the cusp of a prosperous new life, yet there is one more thump at the entryway. Walter Lee and the Money Loaded up with anxious expectation, Walter in the end opens the entryway. One of his two colleagues remains before him with a calming articulation. His name is Bobo; the missing colleague is named Willy. Bobo, in calm franticness, clarifies the troubling news. Willy should meet Bobo and travel to Springfield to rapidly get an alcohol permit. Rather, Willy took all of Walters speculation cash, just as Bobos life reserve funds. During Act Two, Scene Two, Mama depended $6500 to her child, Walter. She educated him to put 3,000 dollars in an investment account. That cash was intended for Beneathas school instruction. The remaining $3500 was for Walter. Be that as it may, Walter didnt simply put away his cash he gave every last bit of it to Willy, including Beneathas partition. When Bobo uncovers the updates on Willys disloyalty (and Walters choice to leave the entirety of the cash in the possession of a scalawag), the family is crushed. Beneatha is loaded up with fierceness, and Walter is wroth with disgrace. Mom snaps and over and over smacks Walter Lee in the face. In an unexpected move, Beneatha really stops her moms ambush. (I state shock move since I expected Beneatha to participate!) At last, Mama meanders around the room, reviewing how her better half had functioned himself to death (and all clearly in vain.) The scene closes with Mama Younger admiring God, requesting quality.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Aims and Provisions of the 2004 Children’s Act

Points and Provisions of the 2004 Children’s Act The Children’s Act 2004 The Children’s Act acquainted in 2004 pointed with address worries about the assurance of youngsters. All things considered, to a critical degree it based on the arrangements of the 1989 Children’s Act. Most importantly, the principle inspiration for building up another demonstration identifying with kids was a progression of high profiled bodies of evidence including maltreatment against little youngsters. In addition, numerous individuals felt that the arrangements of the 1989 demonstration neglected to completely join the different various associations that are engaged with the security of children.[1] The reason for this article is to inspect the points and arrangements of the 2004 Children’s Act. Most importantly, we will see that the 2004 demonstration expected to achieve a progression of changes that would consider more prominent participation between different various offices and associations. This change has likewise occurred over the wide broad zone of social approach in Britain. The name given to this procedure of more prominent participation is synergistic partnerships.[2] The thought behind this new activity is that in the event that varying gatherings associated with social assistance arrangement cooperate, at that point there will be more noteworthy opportunities for shielding the security and interests of youngsters. In any case, before I really expound regarding this matter let us initially inspect the reasons and cases that achieved the 2004 Children’s Act. At last, the point of the 2004 Children’s Act was to expand on the past enactment went in 1989 and further the opportunities for viable youngster security. In any case, another further spurring factor was the homicide of Victoria Climbie in 2000. Nine-year-old Victoria was manhandled and killed by her watchmen in her London home. The general population and media clamor following the case was colossal. Moreover, it was generally felt that the case included featured significant issues inside the youngsters insurance administration. Most importantly, it was felt that various organizations had neglected to act as one in the months and years before Victoria’s murder. In that capacity, a progression of new thoughts and approaches were received towards the insurance of children.[3] This new wish to give better and increasingly viable insurance can be found as two moves. Initially, the foundation of the Every Child Matters program and also the death of the 2004 Children’s Act. Each Child Matters was propelled in 2003 and planned to guarantee that all kids paying little mind to the monetary or social foundation would have the option to accomplish their maximum capacity in life.[4] Furthermore, Every Child Matters was set up trying to consider more prominent participation between changing offices and associations engaged with youngsters. The setting up of Every Child Matters was an introduction planned for laying the reason for the Children’s Act of 2004. The Children Act itself meant to set up a lawful structure, which would give better assurance to youngsters and more prominent degrees of productivity in the associations accused of kid insurance. Neighborhood specialists were to get more help and counsel on the most proficient method to complete be tter assistance for kids. There were likewise changes to the law with respect cultivate homes, mindful and watching, and reception administrations. In any case, albeit every one of these issues are significant arrangements inside the demonstration, a definitive reason for existing was to make far more prominent degrees of collaboration and multi organization activity comparable to the insurance of children.[5] Most importantly, the Victoria Climbie case had featured the degree to which there was little participation between various offices as far as youngster assurance. Moreover, it was presently understood that there were a significant number of associations and organizations that could assume a job in youngster assurance. Normally, nearby position youngster security administrations were viewed as the most significant organization. In any case, it was unmistakably essential that youngster insurance administrations expected to work in close coordinated effort with different organizations. Thusly, offices, for example, the police, school specialists, social administrations, specialists and noble cause associations now all work together so as to give better assurance to powerless kids. Since every organization has a one of a kind task to carry out according to kids it is trusted that such synergistic associations will create better administrations for children.[6] For instance, if a social l aborer feels that a specific kid is in conceivable peril, they can call upon the aptitude and assessment of an assortment of different experts, for example, the child’s teacher or specialist. Along these lines, with everybody cooperating for same reason potential issues can be featured and managed in a significantly more compelling way. Presently in spite of the fact that the 2004 demonstration and Every Children Matters has realized noteworthy changes to the manner by which kid assurance administrations work, there have in any case been not kidding issues. For instance, it is now and then hard to unite various organizations in blend when they have already not worked in collaboration.[7] Also, various offices may have altogether different methods of understanding a specific circumstance, for example, that of a social laborer contrasted with a cop. Recently such issues have been featured as another disastrous and repulsive case. The instance of infant P appears over all the degree to which coordinated effort between multi office associations can separate with awful outcomes. Specialists, police and social administrations neglected to cooperate viably enough to secure infant P and in this way the case shows the potential issues that could proceed later on. All in all, the principle explanations for the 2004 Children’s Act have been talked about. Most importantly, obviously both the demonstration and the Every Child Matters activity came about in view of apparent failings inside the youngster security administration as featured on account of Victoria Climbie. Most importantly, government has endeavored to establish a framework whereby organizations associated with youngsters work in coordinated effort to accomplish better degrees of security. In any case, albeit such moves are sure the situation of infant P features the degree to which there are as yet significant issues. At last, it will set aside an extensive effort for such moves to work adequately. Cree, Viviane and Myers, Steve. Social Work: having any kind of effect, Bristol: Policy, 2008. Sheldon, Brian and Macdonald, Geraldine. A Textbook of Social Work, London: Routledge, 2008. UK Government, Every Child Matters: Change for Children, â€Å"Children’s Act 2004: direction on the obligation to cooperate† http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/procedure/direction/, date got to, 01/01/2009. UK Government, Every Child Matters: Change for Children, â€Å"Aims and Outcomes†, http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/points/, date got to, 01/01/2009. 1 References [1] Brian Sheldon, and Geraldine Macdonald. A Textbook of Social Work, London: Routledge, 2008, p. 96. [2] Ibid. p.25. [3] Vivienne Cree, and Steve Myers. Social Work: having any kind of effect, Bristol: Policy, 2008, p. 103. [4] UK Government, Every Child Matters: Change for Children, â€Å"Aims and Outcomes†, http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/points/, date got to, 01/01/2009. [5] UK Government, Every Child Matters: Change for Children, â€Å"Children’s Act 2004: direction on the obligation to cooperate† [6] Cree and Myers, Social Work, 2008, p.113. [7] Ibid, p.116.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Business Model Canvas A Complete Guide

Business Model Canvas A Complete Guide WHAT IS A BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS?The Business Model Canvas, developed by Alexander Osterwalder, is a visual representation of current or new business models, generally used by strategic managers. The Canvas provides a holistic view of the business as a whole and is especially useful in running a comparative analysis on the impact of an increase in investment may have on any of the contributing factors.The Business Model Canvas gives people a common language through which they can evaluate traditional processes and bring innovation into their business models.THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO A BUSINESS MODELMost startups fail because entrepreneurs put all their faith in the idea of the product the organization exists to create. In their loyalty to this product or service, they fail to give in depth consideration to the business model their organization will follow. Usually the business model is either a one-size-fits-all model, common in the industry or it is a random amalgamation of systems and processes, created at the spur of the moment to further the main goal; sell the product or service.Successful new ventures do not go to market with their first idea; instead, the product/ service has usually gone through several iterations before arriving at the final version. Similarly, organizations are more sustainable if they have considered several business models before deciding on a particular one. THE 9 BUILDING BLOCKSThe Business Model Canvas categorizes the processes and internal activities of a business into 9 separate categories, each representing a building block in the creation of the product or service. These categories represent the four major aspects of a business; customers, offer, infrastructure, as well as financial viability. All 9 categories are listed and explained below.1. Customer SegmentsThe total customer pie is divided into segments based on the manner in which an organization’s products or services address a specific need for the segment. The cust omer segment is an essential part of an organization’s business model and is key to ensuring that the product features are aligned with the segments characteristics and needs.To carry out an effective customer segmentation, a company must first know its customers, both through their current and future needs. Then the organization must list its customers in terms of priority, including a list of potential future customers. Finally, the company should do a thorough assessment of its customers by understanding their strengths and weaknesses and exploring other kinds of customers who may benefit the company more if they are to focus on them.Various  customer segments are as below;Mass Market: An organization opting for this type of customer segment gives itself a wide pool of potential customers because it feels that its product is a relevant need amongst the general population. A potential product for such an organization could be Flour.Niche Market: This customer segment is based on highly specific needs and unique traits of its clients. An example of an organization with a niche customer segment is Louis VittonSegmented: Organizations adopting the segmented approach create further segmentation in their main customer segment based on slight variations in the customer’s demographics and resultantly, their needs.Diversify: An organization with a Diversified Market Segment is flexible in the iterations of its product or service tweaking it to suit the needs of segments with dissimilar needs or traits.Multi-Sided Platform/ Market: This kind of segment serves customers who have a relationship to each other, i.e. blogging sites need a large group of active bloggers to attract advertisers. And they need advertisers to create cash flow. Hence, only by creating a pull with both segments will the blogging site be able to have a successful business model2. Value PropositionsAn organization’s value proposition is the combination of products and services it provides to its customers. Osterwalder stated that these offerings need to be unique and easily differentiated from competition. Value propositions can be divided into two categories:Quantitative: this stresses the price or efficiency of the product or serviceQualitative: this value proposition highlights the experience and results the product and its use, produce.The value proposition provides value through a number of attributes such as  customization, performance, “getting the job done”, brand/ status, design,  newness, price, cost and risk reduction, accessibility, as well as convenience/ usability.When creating your product’s value proposition, the first question an entrepreneur must ask himself is, what problem he is solving through his offered product or service. Then one needs to look into how the product, service or overall experience can be improved so that it provides greater value than the competition. Finally, it is imperative to identify the core value that your business pr ovides. One way to identify this value is for an owner to specify what he/ she wants customers to remember about their interaction with the company.3. ChannelsThe medium through which an organization provides its value proposition to its customer segment is known as a channel. There are various options for channels available to an organization, and the selection is based on the channel that is the quickest, most efficient with the least amount of investment required. There are two basic kinds of channels; Company owned channels such as store fronts or Partner Channels such as Distributors. A company can opt to choose either one or employ a combination of both.For an entrepreneur, the first step in dealing with channels is to identify the customer channels. Touch points with customers can be limited or diverse depending on company strategy. Then he/ she needs to evaluate the strength of the channel by conducting an SWOT analysis on the channel. Finally, the company can identify and b uild new customer channels.4. Customer RelationshipsAn organization must select the kind of relationship it will have with its customer segment in  order to create financial success and sustainability. Customer Relationships can be categorized as follows;Personal Assistance: In this kind of relationship the company interacts with the customer directly through an employee who provides the human touch by assisting the customer presale, during the sale and even may provide after sales services.Dedicated Personal Assistance: This kind of relationship is characterized by a very close interaction between the customer and the company through a dedicated representative who is assigned a set of clients and is personally responsible for the entire experience the customer has with the company.Self-Service: Self-Service places the onus of the customer experience on the tools the company provides for the customer to serve him or herself.Automated Services: These are customized self-service relat ionships where the historical preference of the customer is taken into account to improve the overall experience.Communities: In today’s electronic age creating communities of clients allows organizations to communicate with them directly. This allows for an enhanced client experience because the community allows clients to share their experiences and come up with common challenges and solutions.Co-creation: The customer has a direct hand in the form the company’s product or service will take.For an entrepreneur, the priority is to identify the type of relationship he/ she has with the customer. Then the value of the customer must be evaluated in terms of the frequency of his expenditure on the firms product and services. Loyal customers are relationships that the company should aim to invest in as they will yield steady revenue throughout the year.5. Revenue StreamsA revenue stream is the methodology a company follows to get its customer segments to buy its product or service. A revenue stream can be created through the following ways;Asset Sale: the company sells the right of ownership over the good to the customer.Usage Fee: the company charges the customer for the use of its product or service.Subscription Fee: the company charges the customer for the regular and consistent use of its product or service.Lending/ Leasing/ Renting: the customer pays to get exclusive access to the product for a time-bound period.Licensing: the company charges for the use of its intellectual property.Brokerage Fees: companies or individuals that act as an intermediary between two parties charge a brokerage fee for their services.Advertising: a company charges for others to advertise their products using their mediums.When setting up revenue streams, it is important to recognize that an effective price for the product and/or service will be arrived at through the process of elimination. Different iterations of prices should be listed and evaluated. It is important, in the e nd to take a break ad reflect on possible avenues open to you as a business.6. Key ResourcesThese are the assets of the organization fundamental to how it provides value to its customers. Resources can be categorized as human, financial, physical and intellectual.For an entrepreneur, it is important to begin with listing your resources. This gives you a clear idea of what final product or service your company needs to create for the customer and which resources are dispensable, resulting in cost savings for your company. Once the final list of resources is available, the company can decide on how much it needs to invest in these key resources to operate a sustainable business.7. Key ActivitiesActivities that are key to producing the company’s value proposition. An entrepreneur must start by listing the key activities relevant to his/her business. These activities are the most important processes that need to occur for the business model to be effective. Key activities will coincid e with revenue streams. Now it is important to evaluate which activities are key by adding or removing some and evaluating their impact.8. Key PartnershipsTo create efficient, streamlined operations and reduce risks associated with any business model, an organization forms partnerships with its high-quality suppliers. Key partnerships are the network of suppliers and partners who complement each other in helping the company create its value proposition. Partnerships can be categorized as follows;Strategic alliance between competitors (also known as coopetition),Joint ventures andRelationships between buyers and suppliers.An entrepreneur must begin by identifying its key partners followed by making future partnership plans. This can be done through an evaluation of the partnership relationship to judge which characteristics of the relationship need improvement and what kind of future partnerships will be required.9. Cost StructureThis defines the cost of running a business according to a particular model. Businesses can either be cost driven i.e. focused on minimizing investment into the business or value driven i.e. focused on providing maximum value to the customer.Following are some traits of common cost structures;Fixed Costs: costs that remain the same over a period of timeVariable Costs: as the name suggests, these costs vary according to a variance in productionEconomies of Scale: costs decrease as production increasesEconomies of Scope: costs are decreased by investing in businesses related to the core product.The first step for an entrepreneur is to obviously identify all costs associated with the business. A realistic understanding of the costs of the business is one of the hallmarks of a good business model. After identification, it is important to list all the costs on the canvas, so they are visually present and then create plans for each cost. Some costs may be decreased through certain measures while others may go up if you decide that an investm ent in a particular section will result in future gains.WHY TO USE THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVASVisual Thinking: The tool allows for easy, visual representation for decision makers to ponder upon. The tool provides a neat breakdown of the major considerations impacting the business and also makes clear the direction the organization is taking through its business model.Iterate Quickly: If a poster sized of the canvas printout is taken, it can be used in combination with sticky notes for executives to evaluate current and potential tweaks in the business model and their impact.Grasp the relationship between the 9 blocks: The Business Model Canvas allows the executive team to understand how the 9 building blocks relate to each other and the different ways these relationships can be changed to increase efficiency or effectiveness. An opportunity or innovation can be spotted through the use of this tool.Short and Succinct: The tool encourages teams to keep their suggestions short and simple enough to fit on post-it notes.Easy to circulate: The tool allows easy access and sharability. Pictures of the completed canvas or simply physically passing it around so people can grasp its gist as well as add to it, if need be, make the Canvas a very portable and convenient tool.APPLYING THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS A business model describes how a company creates, delivers and captures value. Everyone has their unique way of viewing the business model. During discussions about this, there has been an increasing need for an uniform template to define and discuss the business model. This template should be applicable to new and old businesses alike, across industries. © Flickr | marcfonteijnIn this article we will look at 1) what is a business model canvas?, 2) the traditional approach to a business model, 3) the 9 building blocks, 4) why to use the business model canvas, and 5) applying the business model canvas.WHAT IS A BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS?The Business Model Canvas, developed by Alexander Osterwalder, is a visual representation of current or new business models, generally used by strategic managers. The Canvas provides a holistic view of the business as a whole and is especially useful in running a comparative analysis on the impact of an increase in investment may have on any of the contributing factors.The Business Model Canvas gives people a common language through which they can evaluate traditional processes and bring innovation into their business models.THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO A BUSINESS MODELMost startups fail because entrepreneurs put all their faith in the idea of the product the organization exists to create. In their loyalty to this product or service, they fail to give in depth consideration to the business model their organization will follow. Usually the business model is either a one-size-fits-all model, common in the industry or it is a random amalgamation of systems and processes, created at the spur of the moment to further the main goal; sell the product or service.Successful new ventures do not go to market with their first idea; instead, the product/ service has usually gone through several iterations before arriving at the final version. Similarly, organizations are more sustainable if they have considered several business models before deciding on a particular one. THE 9 BUILDING BLOCKSThe Business Model Canvas categorizes the processes and internal activities of a business into 9 separate categories, each representing a building block in the creation of the product or service. These categories represent the four major aspects of a business; customers, offer, infrastructure, as well as finan cial viability. All 9 categories are listed and explained below.1. Customer SegmentsThe total customer pie is divided into segments based on the manner in which an organization’s products or services address a specific need for the segment. The customer segment is an essential part of an organization’s business model and is key to ensuring that the product features are aligned with the segments characteristics and needs.To carry out an effective customer segmentation, a company must first know its customers, both through their current and future needs. Then the organization must list its customers in terms of priority, including a list of potential future customers. Finally, the company should do a thorough assessment of its customers by understanding their strengths and weaknesses and exploring other kinds of customers who may benefit the company more if they are to focus on them.Various  customer segments are as below;Mass Market: An organization opting for this type of custom er segment gives itself a wide pool of potential customers because it feels that its product is a relevant need amongst the general population. A potential product for such an organization could be Flour.Niche Market: This customer segment is based on highly specific needs and unique traits of its clients. An example of an organization with a niche customer segment is Louis VittonSegmented: Organizations adopting the segmented approach create further segmentation in their main customer segment based on slight variations in the customer’s demographics and resultantly, their needs.Diversify: An organization with a Diversified Market Segment is flexible in the iterations of its product or service tweaking it to suit the needs of segments with dissimilar needs or traits.Multi-Sided Platform/ Market: This kind of segment serves customers who have a relationship to each other, i.e. blogging sites need a large group of active bloggers to attract advertisers. And they need advertisers to create cash flow. Hence, only by creating a pull with both segments will the blogging site be able to have a successful business model2. Value PropositionsAn organization’s value proposition is the combination of products and services it provides to its customers. Osterwalder stated that these offerings need to be unique and easily differentiated from competition. Value propositions can be divided into two categories:Quantitative: this stresses the price or efficiency of the product or serviceQualitative: this value proposition highlights the experience and results the product and its use, produce.The value proposition provides value through a number of attributes such as  customization, performance, “getting the job done”, brand/ status, design,  newness, price, cost and risk reduction, accessibility, as well as convenience/ usability.When creating your product’s value proposition, the first question an entrepreneur must ask himself is, what problem he is solving through hi s offered product or service. Then one needs to look into how the product, service or overall experience can be improved so that it provides greater value than the competition. Finally, it is imperative to identify the core value that your business provides. One way to identify this value is for an owner to specify what he/ she wants customers to remember about their interaction with the company.3. ChannelsThe medium through which an organization provides its value proposition to its customer segment is known as a channel. There are various options for channels available to an organization, and the selection is based on the channel that is the quickest, most efficient with the least amount of investment required. There are two basic kinds of channels; Company owned channels such as store fronts or Partner Channels such as Distributors. A company can opt to choose either one or employ a combination of both.For an entrepreneur, the first step in dealing with channels is to identify th e customer channels. Touch points with customers can be limited or diverse depending on company strategy. Then he/ she needs to evaluate the strength of the channel by conducting an SWOT analysis on the channel. Finally, the company can identify and build new customer channels.4. Customer RelationshipsAn organization must select the kind of relationship it will have with its customer segment in  order to create financial success and sustainability. Customer Relationships can be categorized as follows;Personal Assistance: In this kind of relationship the company interacts with the customer directly through an employee who provides the human touch by assisting the customer presale, during the sale and even may provide after sales services.Dedicated Personal Assistance: This kind of relationship is characterized by a very close interaction between the customer and the company through a dedicated representative who is assigned a set of clients and is personally responsible for the entir e experience the customer has with the company.Self-Service: Self-Service places the onus of the customer experience on the tools the company provides for the customer to serve him or herself.Automated Services: These are customized self-service relationships where the historical preference of the customer is taken into account to improve the overall experience.Communities: In today’s electronic age creating communities of clients allows organizations to communicate with them directly. This allows for an enhanced client experience because the community allows clients to share their experiences and come up with common challenges and solutions.Co-creation: The customer has a direct hand in the form the company’s product or service will take.For an entrepreneur, the priority is to identify the type of relationship he/ she has with the customer. Then the value of the customer must be evaluated in terms of the frequency of his expenditure on the firms product and services. Loyal cust omers are relationships that the company should aim to invest in as they will yield steady revenue throughout the year.5. Revenue StreamsA revenue stream is the methodology a company follows to get its customer segments to buy its product or service. A revenue stream can be created through the following ways;Asset Sale: the company sells the right of ownership over the good to the customer.Usage Fee: the company charges the customer for the use of its product or service.Subscription Fee: the company charges the customer for the regular and consistent use of its product or service.Lending/ Leasing/ Renting: the customer pays to get exclusive access to the product for a time-bound period.Licensing: the company charges for the use of its intellectual property.Brokerage Fees: companies or individuals that act as an intermediary between two parties charge a brokerage fee for their services.Advertising: a company charges for others to advertise their products using their mediums.When sett ing up revenue streams, it is important to recognize that an effective price for the product and/or service will be arrived at through the process of elimination. Different iterations of prices should be listed and evaluated. It is important, in the end to take a break ad reflect on possible avenues open to you as a business.6. Key ResourcesThese are the assets of the organization fundamental to how it provides value to its customers. Resources can be categorized as human, financial, physical and intellectual.For an entrepreneur, it is important to begin with listing your resources. This gives you a clear idea of what final product or service your company needs to create for the customer and which resources are dispensable, resulting in cost savings for your company. Once the final list of resources is available, the company can decide on how much it needs to invest in these key resources to operate a sustainable business.7. Key ActivitiesActivities that are key to producing the com pany’s value proposition. An entrepreneur must start by listing the key activities relevant to his/her business. These activities are the most important processes that need to occur for the business model to be effective. Key activities will coincide with revenue streams. Now it is important to evaluate which activities are key by adding or removing some and evaluating their impact.8. Key PartnershipsTo create efficient, streamlined operations and reduce risks associated with any business model, an organization forms partnerships with its high-quality suppliers. Key partnerships are the network of suppliers and partners who complement each other in helping the company create its value proposition. Partnerships can be categorized as follows;Strategic alliance between competitors (also known as coopetition),Joint ventures andRelationships between buyers and suppliers.An entrepreneur must begin by identifying its key partners followed by making future partnership plans. This can be d one through an evaluation of the partnership relationship to judge which characteristics of the relationship need improvement and what kind of future partnerships will be required.9. Cost StructureThis defines the cost of running a business according to a particular model. Businesses can either be cost driven i.e. focused on minimizing investment into the business or value driven i.e. focused on providing maximum value to the customer.Following are some traits of common cost structures;Fixed Costs: costs that remain the same over a period of timeVariable Costs: as the name suggests, these costs vary according to a variance in productionEconomies of Scale: costs decrease as production increasesEconomies of Scope: costs are decreased by investing in businesses related to the core product.The first step for an entrepreneur is to obviously identify all costs associated with the business. A realistic understanding of the costs of the business is one of the hallmarks of a good business mo del. After identification, it is important to list all the costs on the canvas, so they are visually present and then create plans for each cost. Some costs may be decreased through certain measures while others may go up if you decide that an investment in a particular section will result in future gains.WHY TO USE THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVASVisual Thinking: The tool allows for easy, visual representation for decision makers to ponder upon. The tool provides a neat breakdown of the major considerations impacting the business and also makes clear the direction the organization is taking through its business model.Iterate Quickly: If a poster sized of the canvas printout is taken, it can be used in combination with sticky notes for executives to evaluate current and potential tweaks in the business model and their impact.Grasp the relationship between the 9 blocks: The Business Model Canvas allows the executive team to understand how the 9 building blocks relate to each other and the d ifferent ways these relationships can be changed to increase efficiency or effectiveness. An opportunity or innovation can be spotted through the use of this tool.Short and Succinct: The tool encourages teams to keep their suggestions short and simple enough to fit on post-it notes.Easy to circulate: The tool allows easy access and sharability. Pictures of the completed canvas or simply physically passing it around so people can grasp its gist as well as add to it, if need be, make the Canvas a very portable and convenient tool.APPLYING THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVASThe biggest Business Model success story is Apple. Apple was a game changer when it introduced the iPod to the world. Through iTunes, Apple integrated device, software and an online store into an experience that set the music industry on its ear.Even though Apple was in no way the first entrant into the mp3 player market, its unique and well-executed business model ensured lasting success. This business model was in essence t he seamless coming together of the key components of the business model canvas to leverage its distinctive value proposition. Apple has lasting partnerships through the deals it negotiated with music producers so it could sell their music through its store.Apple revenue stream comes from the sale of its iPods. However, the added benefit of the online store creates a package that competitors have been hard pressed to match.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Taking a Look at Islam and Judaims - 777 Words

Introduction Apart from Christianity, Islam and Judaism are two of the most influential religions in the world, particularly in the Middle East. Although Judaism is not as large as Islam, it has impacted on the world in a profound manner. While it’s quite evident that both Islam and Judaism appear to be having conflicting differences in terms of their doctrines, they are both know as Abrahamic religions because they share a common origin in the Middle East through Abraham in the Hebrew Bible. Nevertheless, Judaism is often considered to be the oldest of all the Abrahamic religions. Most ethnographers have been more interested in understanding on how the convictions between the two religions compare, based on their religious believes about God, afterlife, the universe and people. This can be attributed to the fact that the conflict between Islam and Judaism has been viewed as a result of irreconcilable clash of religious doctrines. But, I do not believe that this is really the case. This essay will focus on drawing a comparison between Judaism and Islam so as to establish the similarities and differences that exist between them. The comparison will then be used to support my opinion based on the ides that these religions can live together peacefully and that they are not destined for perpetual conflict. Similarities There are several doctrines and historical events that can be linked to the two religions. Both Islam and Judaism believe in the existence of one creator

Thursday, May 14, 2020

See the Best Architecture in Spain

Think of architecture in Spain and Antoni Gaudà ­ comes to mind. Gaudi may be the most famous Spanish architect dead or alive, but dont forget Santiago Calatrava, designer of the Transportation Hub in Lower Manhattan and his signature bridges in Seville and Dallas, Texas. And what about the Pritzker Laureate, Josà © Rafael Moneo? Oh, and then there was the Roman Empire in Spain. Architecture in Spain is an exotic mix of early Moorish influences, European trends, and surreal modernism. These selected sites link to resources that will help you plan your architecture tour through Spain. Visiting Barcelona This northeast coastal city, capital of the Catalonia region, has become synonymous with Antoni Gaudà ­. You cant miss his architecture, or the new modern buildings going up every year. La Sagrada Familia, the great unfinished cathedral begun by Gaudi in 1882, and La Sagrada Familia school, for the children of the construction workersCasa Vicens, Gaudis Gothic/Moorish house designed for a Spanish businessmanGuell Palace and Guell Park, Gaudi commissions from patron Eusebi Gà ¼ellColegio Teresiano, one of Antoni Gaudà ­s first commissionsCasa Calvet, a rather traditional design for GaudiGaudi-designed wall around Finca Miralles, as wavy and abstract as Frank Gehrys workCasa Batllà ³, a very colorful remodeling job by Gaudi, is located in Illa de la Discordia or the Block of Discord. This street displays the architecture of Catalan architects Josep Puig (1867-1956), Lluà ­s Domà ¨nech i Montaner (1850-1923), and Gaudi (1852-1926).Gaudis La Pedrera, one of the most famous apartment buildings in the worldMontjuic Communications Tower, design by Spanish-born Santiago Calatrava for the 1992 Summer OlympicsAgbar Tower, French architect Jean Nouvel transformed Gaudis c atenary curveBarcelona Cathedral, the citys Gothic cathedralThe Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and Palau de la Mà ºsica Catalana, both UNESCO world heritage sites, are designs of the art nouveau architect Lluà ­s Domà ¨nech i MontanerHotel Porta Fira, a 2010 hotel designed by Pritzker Laureate Toyo ItoThe Forum Building (Edificio Fà ³rum) designed by Herzog and de Meuron Visiting the Bilbao Area Guggenheim Bilbao, the 1997 museum that made American architect Frank Gehry very famousMetro Station Entrance Enclosure, Fosterito, a 1995 high-tech train station by English architect Norman Foster If youre visiting Bilbao, take a side trip to Comillas, 90 miles west. Everything youve ever heard about Gaudi architecture may be found in the surreal summer home El Capricho. Visiting the Leà ³n Area The city of Leà ³n is roughly between Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela, in the vast Castilla y Leà ³n region of northern Spain. Casa Botines, one of only three projects Antoni Gaudà ­ built outside Catalonia, is a large, neo-Gothic apartment building.San Miguel de Escalada, a magical medieval monastary from the 9th century, a short drive from Leà ³n near the famous pilgrimage route, Way of St. James. If youre traveling from Leà ³n southeast to Madrid, stop by the Church of San Juan Bautista, Baà ±os de Cerrato near the city of Palencia. Well-reserved from 661 AD, the church is a fine example of what is called Visigothic architecture—an era when nomadic tribes dominated the Iberian peninsula. Closer to Madrid is Salamanca. The Old City of Salamanca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rich in historic architecture, UNESCO sites its importance in Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance, and Baroque monuments. If youre headed north from Leà ³n, the ancient capital city of Oviedo is home to many early Christian churches. These Pre-Romanesque Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias from the 9th century are UNESCO World Heritage sites, along with La Foncalada, a public water supply, an early example of civil engineering. Visiting Santiago de Compostela City of Culture of Galicia, an ongoing project headed by Peter EisenmanCathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a pilgrims destination at the end of the Way of St. James Visiting Valencia City of Arts and Sciences, a complex of educational buildings by Santiago Calatrava Visiting the Madrid Area The Monastery at El Escorial, in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 35 miles northwest of Madrid, is a UNESCO world heritage site for its historic association with royaltyCaixaForum, a Madrid museum by Swiss architects Herzog and de MeuronRoman aqueduct, 50 AD, in Segovia, northwest of Madrid Visiting the Seville Area Alcazar PalaceAlamillo Bridge Cà ³rdoba, about 90 miles northeast of Seville, is site to the Great Mosque of Cordoba in the Historic Centre of Cordoba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mosque/Cathedral is an architectural hybrid, claims UNESCO, that joins together many of the artistic values of East and West and includes elements hitherto unheard-of in Islamic religious architecture, including the use of double arches to support the roof. Visiting Granada Ornamentation at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Sean Gallup/Getty Images (cropped) Travel east of Seville a mere 150 miles to experience the Alhambra Palace, a tourists destination not to be missed. Our Cruise expert has been to Alhambra Palace and our Spain Travel expert has been to The Alhambra in Granada. In Spanish language, visit La Alhambra, Granada. It seems that everyone has been there! Visiting Zaragoza About 200 miles west of Barcelona, youll find a pedestrian bridge over the Ebro River designed in 2008 by Pritzker Laureate Zaha Hadid. This modern bridge stands in stark contrast with the historic architecture of this ancient city.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Company Profile Of Hewlett Packard - 1434 Words

1 Company profile Hewlett Packard (HP) is an American company founded in 1939 by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. It is one of the world’s largest IT Company and it operates in more than 170 countries. It provides a large range of hardware components as well as software and related services to individuals, small-to medium sized businesses and large companies. HP’s product line includes personal computing devices, enterprise servers, related storage devices and a diverse range of printers and imaging products. HP’s service portfolio includes technology service, consulting service, support service and enterprise service. HP markets its products to its customers directly as well as via online distribution. 2 Porter’s competitive forces model†¦show more content†¦Hence, there is a high barrier to entry into the technology industry. 2.3 Substitute products The PC and printers are one of the highly used items by consumers. However, PC sales have been declining due to consumers using their mobile phones or tablets. It will continue to decline unless HP develops a sustainable solution to produce successful mobile phones or tablets. 2.4 Bargaining power of customers Customers have moderate bargaining power mainly because there are many buyers and not one particular buyer is dominant enough to directly influence HP’s profit margin. Another reason why is because, customers knows that if they demand more customization and features for the product, HP or its competitors will be able to meet their demand in order to increase their profit. 2.5 Supplier HP’s suppliers have a high level of bargaining power mainly because of the type of industry it is in. HP is in the electronics industry. A PC or a printer is made up different components, some of which are sold by large reliable suppliers while some are sold by specified manufacturers. HP has over 50 suppliers for its manufacturing. This is good for HP as it has greater control over suppliers in terms of price, quality and delivery schedules. 3 HP’s objectives and goals HP’s main objective is to have customer loyalty, achieve sufficient profit,

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Employee Relations At The Work Place Samples †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Employee Relations At The Work Place. Answer: Introduction Employee relations at the work place are one of the fundamental responsibilities an organization should prioritize through their Human Resource Management. It determines the working mood within the organization and boosts staff morale (Hussain Ahmad 2012). Most organizations that pay close attention to their employee relations strategy, and implementing them to the latter; have a higher chance of benefiting from a contented and determined workforce(Burma 2014). Summary of the Meeting with the Employees From the meeting with the employees of the Adept Owl Games Company, the employees expressed their concerns regarding what they required from the companys management. At the top most of their wish list was their welfare that is, they needed the company to be flexible in balancing their working hours and their personal life. That the organizations should set specific working hours that should not interfere at any given time with their personal lives. In addition, the meeting addressed the employees concerns about harassment at the workplace and discrimination issues. The employees asked that, the company should treat them with dignity and avoid any measures that may only harass and frustrate their efforts within the company. Discrimination according to them involves any form unfair treatment to a section of employees and favoritism to a section of the other. They advocated for equal opportunities for all in regards to issues such as promotion and even hiring of the new recruits (Wright Nishii 2007). The Employees Needs as Compared to the Companys Strategic Objectives In relation to the strategic objectives of the Adept Owl Gaming Company, there is a close connection as the company has adopted strict policies that address most of the employees plights and their interests (Muller 2014). For instance, the company has anti-discriminatory regulations that aim at unifying all of its employees, in terms of various determining factors such as gender, age, relationship status among others. Therefore, the sensitive needs outlined by the employees include: Equality and Fairness Anti-Discriminatory laws Employee basic Welfare Employee Relations Strategy for Adept Owl Games Company The companys strategy will be based on the strategic objectives set out for the company which includes the need to have a closely integrated work force and satisfied with the provision of services towards them by the management (National Occupational Standards n.d.). Therefore, on that note, this strategy will basically be based on the four basic parameters: Equal Employment Opportunities The company will provide equal employment opportunities for the employees. The employment opportunities include job promotions within the organization. Having a harmonized field for the employment opportunities eliminates the bias in the recruitment process and also increases the chances of having a better and qualified workforce free from the influence of personal interests. Flexibility and Work/Life Balance Another better way of improving the employee-organization relationship is by addressing the work balance and the personal life balance. On the flexibility agenda, the company intends to have part time employees only report for their duties during the time they are supposed to be at their work stations. The company understands that the employees are social beings with other personal matters to run; hence their welfare must not be compromised. However, all these will also be done in a way that does not jeopardizes the organizational operations. Anti-Discrimination and Harassment This strategy aims at boosting the general relationship among the employees. All the discriminatory actions based on gender, social status, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity among others shall be dealt with strict concern. Equality is on the top priority of the company in increasing their close ties with their employees. Fair Recruitment Process The company has invested in a human resource department that recognizes fairness in the selection criteria and ensuring that all the employees get an equal chance of getting selected for new posts within the organization. And even for those who in the recruitment process for the first time, ensuring equity in the selection process is one sure way of promoting good relations with the company (Leat 2014). The Risk Management Strategy The Adept Owl Gaming company understands the risks associated with the granting too much freedom to their workforce. As much as it is a better strategy that aims at improving and boosting the relationship between the company and the and the employees, it is also fundamental to understand that the company needs to come up with a risk management strategy, to regulate the process (National Consumer Commission n.d.). Negligence and at the Workplace The risk that accompanies flourishing employee relations is the negligence at the work places. The increased levels of freedom granted to the employees as one way of improving their welfare may lead to the increased work negligence. Too much freedom may lead to the misuse of the freedom granted. Therefore, effective measures are necessary to be put in place address such cases. Penalty measures are required to curb on the complacency and negligence of the employees. Employee Discontent The disgruntlement among the employees is a common occurrence. And while it is widely recognized that theses may arise as a result of the managements negligence and poor management style, it may also arise from just an ever complaining labor force, with a lot of demands. In such a case, careful address of the employee needs is necessary. This risk requires a tactful way of approaching it as it may lead to damaging results if not clearly attended. The strike Risks Dealing with strikes is a tricky moment for the organization. It may result in a lasting bad impression on the management and also the organization. However, strikes are results of cumulative management blunders over time. It is therefore necessary to curb this risk by addressing pertinent issues that the employees raise, to avoid further unnecessary damages (EEA Norway Grants 2013). References Burma, ZA 2014, 'Human Resource Management and Its Importance for Todays Organizations ', International Journal of Education and Social Science, vol I, no. 2, pp. 85-94. EEA Norway Grants 2013, 'Risk Management Strategy ', Adopted by the Financial Mechanism Committee. Hussain, M Ahmad, M 2012, 'Mostly Discussed Research areas in Human Resource Management (HRM) A Literature Review ', International Journal of Economics and Management Sciences , vol II, no. 3, pp. 10-17. Leat, M 2014, 'Employee Relations', Edinburgh Business School: Heriot-Watt. Muller, D 2014, '16 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR YOUR EMPLOYEE RELATIONS STRATEGY', HRACUITY. National Consumer Commission n.d., 'Risk Management Strategy and Methodolgy', Annex B. National Occupational Standards n.d., 'CFAHR11 Plan and implement employee relations strategy', Overview. Wright, MP Nishii, HL 2007, 'Strategic HRM and Organizational Behavior: Integrating Multiple Levels of Analysis ', Cornell University ILR School , pp. 2-24.