The Movie Thor - 1706 Words

As the comic book and religious scene progressed, so did the cinematic universe. Heroes in comic books and religious text went from telling their journeys on sheets of paper to also having them on the big screen, where millions of people watch their favorite stories come to life. One of Marvel’s movies that is clearly similar to the Biblical story of Samson is their 2011 cinematic adaptation of the Asgardian, Thor. In the movie, Thor is seen as a strong warrior. However, viewers can tell the Asgardian is full of arrogance. Right when Thor is about to be crowned king of Asgard, his coronation is interrupted by Frost Giants, Asgard’s archenemies. Thor is cocky and decides to lead a battle against the Frost Giants in their domain in order to seek his own version of justice. According to Heather Havrilesky, â€Å"if you’re a big, flaxen-haired Adonis who loves to fight and is about to inherit the throne of the glorious kingdom of Asgard, arrogance is downright unacc eptable.† Thor, mistakenly, starts a war between the Frost Giants and the Asgardians. This shows that Thor is not the type of king that tries to avoid war to protect his people. Instead he is greedy and impulsive and decides to prove himself to be superior and not a good leader. Odin, Thor’s father and the current King of Asgard, notices Thor’s arrogance and this lack of leadership. As a result, Odin strips Thor of his godly powers by taking away his hammer, Mjolnir, the source of his powers, and exiles him to EarthShow MoreRelatedMovie Review Thor2768 Words   |  12 PagesMOVIE REVIEW THOR: THE DARK WORLD For SIR MUHAMAD FUAD ABDUL KARIM By NOR FAIEZAH BINTI AMIR HAMZAH 2012141929 NURUL FAZLINA BINTI OTHMAN 2012912953 Group: BA4A (AM228) Date of Submission: 15TH December 2014 TABLE OF CONTENT Table of Content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 1 Short Synopsis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 2 Four Issue or Problem Revealed†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..... 3 - 4 How Issue Can Be Relate to Organizational Behavior†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 5 - 8 Suggestion to Rectify the Problems†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Read MoreThor as Portrayed in the Kenneth Branagh Movie697 Words   |  3 PagesIn this paper, I will talk about Thor as portrayed in the movie directed by Kenneth Branagh as he may be depicted differently in other sources. Thor is the god of thunder and son of Odin, ruler of Asgard in Norse mythology. A powerful God that was next in line for the throne of Asgard. Thor had the power of thunder and was able to control its power with his hammer, which also allows him to fly. Comparing Thor to Jesus, both are powerful beings. Asgard and Heaven are very similar as it is whereRead MoreHow Transmedia Has Worked And Is So Successful1587 Words   |  7 PagesTransmedia has been a huge part of how Marvel Studios have worked and is so successful(Menard, 2014). Every single movie feels unique, but also it feels like it is part of a bigger universe(Weekend Warrior, 20 16). Transmedia have been making the Marvel Studios bigger and more interconnected for almost 10 years(ComicBookCast, 2016). Transmedia has made Marvel Studios able to build the larger world that they have established(ComicBookCast,2016). Transmedia has made watching all Marvel Studios moviesRead MoreThe Film Thor ( 2011 ) Directed By Kenneth Branagh1573 Words   |  7 PagesSierra Burow 4/16/15 SCAN 3202 The film Thor (2011) directed by Kenneth Branagh is a piece of contemporary expressive culture that draws from many various components of Norse mythology. Of the mythological characters being used, the most prominent in the film are Thor, Odin, Frigg, Sif, and Heimdall. The contemporary depictions of these characters parallel and diverge their depictions in original old Norse mythology sources in numerous ways. These original sources include but are not limited toRead MorePoster For Thor Is Extremely Detailed And Eye Catching1407 Words   |  6 PagesThe movie poster for Thor is extraordinarily detailed and eye-catching. This poster uses a different combination of colors. The main colors are dull shades of blue and gray, but throughout the middle of the poster, a beam of light is created by a hue of colors like red, white, and gold. The first element of the poster that catches the viewer’s eye is the couple standing directly in the middle of the action with very serious faci al expressions, looking off to the right of the poster. This image isRead MoreMisconception of the God of Lighting Marvels Version1610 Words   |  7 PagesLighting, Thor, or at least in the Marvels version he is like that in the movie Thor. Marvels version of Norse Mythology is actually different from the actual mythology which results a misconception of the myth to the people who watch the movie Thor. People sometime believe that Marvels version of Norse Mythology is the actual myth of Norse Mythology itself, because they believe that Marvel is telling the true tales in their own way. They sometime have forgotten that the movie Thor is an artistRead MoreThor : The Dark World1422 Words   |  6 PagesIt may not have been the finest work of film to come from Marvel, but Thor: The Dark World still offers the comedy and intense action that fans long for. The film wasn’t as enjoyable as I had hoped it would be. The plot was hard to follow because of the fact that I havenâ€⠄¢t watched the first movie. I didn’t understand any of the references made in the movie and was difficult to get hooked on to it. Flashbacks could have been used to help the audience gain a better understanding of the storyline. InRead MoreSimilarities Between Asgardian And Nine Realms1403 Words   |  6 Pagesfocusing on the Nine Realms of the Asgardians and Norse Mythology characters and will be exploring the simliarities and differences the worlds share between the MCU and the real Norse Mythology. In the MCU we first learn about the Asgardians in the movie Thor where we learn that the Nine Realms are all different plants and worlds cosmically connected to the Tree of Yggdrasil which is still extremely similar to real Norse Mythology. Asgard is the head of the Nine Realms and its inhabitants called theRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Theft Of Thors Hammer1034 Words   |  5 PagesIn the myth â€Å"The Theft of Thor’s Hammer†, it is more of a straightforward story rather than one with multiple problems and solutions. Thor lost his hammer, Loki finds it with the frost giant Thrym, then they make a deal and he gets it back (with some little things scattered about in the middle). This myth shows feminist, anthropological, and psychological approaches through different parts of the myth, short as it is. In society, myths are used to tell stories. Stories that either are used just forRead MoreThor and the Odyssey Essay1198 Words   |  5 Pages In the movie Thor the title character is cast out of Asgaurd by his father and returns by proving himself worthy of his power and his father’s thrown. Similarly, the Odyssey is about Odysseus’ long journey back to his kingdom after the Trojan War. Thor and the Odyssey are very alike; but great hardship and historical literature reveals a contrast. Both narratives compare as timeless tales of reputable heroes. They both include similar plots of long journeys back home. The main characters’

Analysis Of The Beatles Moulin Rouge ! - 1106 Words

Moulin Rouge! Analysis All you need is love; love is all you need. These famous lyrics sung by The Beatles, is the central theme of the narrative and resonates throughout the film, â€Å"Moulin Rouge!† A romantic tragedy with a hint of Shakespearean forbidden love, Moulin Rouge is encapsulated from its tragic but touching romance by melodic and ambient singing. Baz Luhrmann, known for having vibrant cinematography and theatrical mise-en-scene, showcases his directing as shown by the choreography and art direction. The narrative structure of the film is a cinematic fairy tale romance as if the audience was reading a classic tale. The film begins with a hauntingly beautiful voice sung by what seems to be the narrator (whom we later find out to be Toulouse-Lautrec).The skyline of Paris is silhouetted in a grainy type of sketch drawing, resembling the artwork of a children’s book. As the story progresses, we are pulled into this universe as we observe this fantasy. The voice conveys the pain of a writer, Christian, who we learn, has lost a lover, Satine. Christian is obviously in agony as he types away on his type-writer. â€Å"The greatest thing you ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return,† he types. This statement commences the plot to fall into place and sets the theme of the narrative. Within the first few minutes, the tone of the film is already established. There is a sense of tragedy and heartbreak just from the melancholic score and dark lighting. The mainShow MoreRelatedEssay about Moulin Rouge vs. the Great Gatsby621 Words   |  3 PagesFilm Analysis A Moulin Rouge vs. The Great Gatsby Apart from having the same director, Baz Luhrmann, Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby have an astounding amount of similarities. They are both passionate love stories with similar characters in coinciding roles. Although the two movies are set in the early 1900s and 1920s, they use modern music to captivate the audience’s interest. Baz Luhrmann has a knack for making colorful romantic thrillers, and it certainly shows in Moulin Rouge and TheRead MoreGlee Essay9324 Words   |  38 PagesTopic 2. ‘There is nothing ironic about show choir!’ - Rachel Cohen Is Rachel’s assessment of the musical performances on Glee correct? Discuss the interplay of melodrama, irony and intertextuality in Glee. Your essay should contain detailed analysis of at least two scenes from Glee’s 1st season. Your essay should also make reference to your core course readings on television and postmodernism. Due 14 September their true voice; and this one was, to me, ultimately about the series demonstrating

Positive and Negitive Effects Computers Have Free Essays

July 23, 2011ENTRY 1: ME, A WRITER? Attitude: I was never really good at writing. I’ll admit I’m not too thrilled about taking a composition course. This will be a challenge, one that I hope to complete. We will write a custom essay sample on Positive and Negitive Effects Computers Have or any similar topic only for you Order Now I’m not looking forward to the long days and nights studying. What I am looking forward to is learning the different techniques and styles. I look at this as an opportunity for me. Inventory: I am an Independent learner, so distance education should be easy for me. Being a Pragmatic I like rules and prefer learning step by step. I have also learned that I am an Abstract learner, so I focus on large ideas, meanings, and relationships. I could properly use a little help with my verbal and social skills. I find myself at a loss of words whenever there is a group conversation. August 4, 2011ENTRY 2: PREWRITING Brainstorm: Ways computers affect my life Positive effects of computers on your personal life: †¢Genealogy †¢Reconnecting with friends †¢Easier/Faster communication †¢Catalog pictures †¢Games †¢Access to information †¢Read the newspaper from all over the world Positive effects of computers on your professional life †¢Training online †¢Job Work faster †¢More affiant †¢Easier access to information †¢Meetings at a company are reduced †¢Manage payroll, accounts receivable, taxes †¢Control inventory Positive effects of computers on your academic life †¢Distance learner †¢Can study day or night †¢More resources to information †¢Video conferences †¢Access to your courses Negative effects of computers on your personal life †¢Spend more time on the computer than with your family Addiction-less interaction with people †¢Faster communication may not be better communication †¢Identity theft Negative effects computers have in your professional life †¢Working from home limits your interaction with colleagues Negative affects computers have in your academic life †¢Less interaction with classmates †¢If your computer crashes you lose your assignments †¢Can be a d istraction for students (playing games etc. ) †¢Plagiarism Thesis: January 12, 2012 ENTRY 3: DRAFTING Evidence: Organization: How to cite Positive and Negitive Effects Computers Have, Papers

Managing and Leading Strategic Changes

Question: Discuss about the Managing and Leading Strategic Changes. Answer: Introduction The main aim of this research paper is to develop a thorough understanding of the organizational policies as well as changes and development in the higher education. It can be seen that many common people think that universities are comparatively stable organizations that have gone through little changes over the centuries. However, the concept has largely changed and especially in the last few decades of the twenty-first century, many universities have gone through many modifications through extraordinary as well as fundamental changes. Goetsch and Davis (2014) have opined that the notion of organizational changes, once applied exclusively to the business organizations, has hugely expanded its reach in order to include higher education. Therefore, it can be stated that global higher education has under gone a specific period of the remarkable changes in the first 15 years of the 21st century. Consequently, this particular research work would try to analyze some trends that affect the universities around the globe including Australia (Ward and Peppard 2016). Firstly, the focus would be shed on critically analyzing as well as evaluating the nature of relationships between the environments of the organization in sole relationship to a selected focus. In order to reach an attainable solution, a thorough investigation would be made utilizing proper academic literature (Hrebiniak 2013). Justifying the focus of the review In this part, it is required to focus on major key trends that affect the universities in different parts of the globe and these have been mentioned here. The changes have taken place in spite of increased access to information, understanding regarding higher education has remained limited (Hill, Jones and Schilling 2014). More number of people is going to university Reports say that since 2000, participation in higher education has significantly increased. Figures released by UNESCO states that students enrollment in tertiary education has risen from 19% to 32% in the year 2012. The UK, USA and Australia have among the highest ratios; reports have stated that young people with the parents who attended tertiary education are over six times more likely to enroll (Goetsch and Davis 2014). This below mentioned picture has shown large differences in how equal expansion of the higher education has been in different parts of the globe (Kapferer 2012). Figure 1: Gross Enrollment ratio in tertiary education, % (Source: Eden and Ackermann 2013) People are travelling in different parts of the globe for further afield While the figures on the proportion of tertiary students enrolled gradual increase, they are slightly misleading, as they divide the entire number of students by the total number of school-leavers in the country. Reports have stated that the US and Western Europe as well as Australia are net importers of the students, while sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia are the net exporters. According to OECD, the number of students that are studying broad has been doubled from 2.1m in 2000 to 4.5m in 2012 (Galliers and Leidner 2014). Reports have found out that in the US, over 800,000 international students make up only 4% of their students population, while the UK has around half number of the international students but they make up 20% of the overall student population (Eden and Ackermann 2013). The population has significantly grown in Australia as well and the Australian government puts enough importance on changes in the universities (Cameron and Green 2015). The rise of the student experience Cummings and Worley (2014) have stated that the focus on the students experience has been an important corrective to the traditional teacher-focused approaches to teaching in higher education. However, the danger is that highlighting the students experiences has obscured the necessity roles that the students engagement with knowledge plays in the transformative potential of higher education. Lee, Hwang and Choi (2012) have mentioned in his research paper that it is the knowledge that changes the understanding of the students of themselves as well as the world. Quality of teaching under scrutiny Fullan (2014) has stated that as the focus on the students experience has increased, so has the intensity of scrutiny on the quality of teaching. The teachers have found out that the previous trend of study is required to change thoroughly, as the nature of study has elaborated enough with the course of time. League tables have suggested that the students who have been in the modern educational centers have received higher quality education and this has been helpful to them (Hayes 2014). The impact agenda Bush and Middlewood (2013) have mentioned in his research paper that since the turn of the millennium, there has been an ever increasing expectation for the research work to bring a benefit to the society that funds it. It has been seen that this is now a standard element of research funding in the European Union and South Africa along with Australia (Eden and Ackermann 2013). It is well known fact that the individual research projects contribute bodies of knowledge in a discipline or professional field. It is these bodies of knowledge that lead to impact, not individual studies (Ahlemann et al, 2012). The most obvious change in student life between 1995 and 2015 is the development of the internet. The internet existed in the year 1995, but most of the websites people use now a day were not there and thus with the advent of internet, the education system has changed a lot. Today, the students prefer to find out their required books and journals online rather than searching in the library of the university. It is expected that this trend is going to be followed in the coming 3 to 5 years, as most of the students found online searching to be more reliable, time-efficient as well as cost-efficient. It is expected that the trend of online surfing for the books and journals is going to evolve more with the course of time (Ambrosini, Jenkins and Mowbray 2015). Using appropriate academic literature Ahlemann et al. (2012) have mentioned in his research paper that people assigned with analyzing the universities would agree that they are the organizations that for several reasons are specifically resistant towards change. Moreover, it has been found that from the last decades, so many universities have shifted towards a corporate management model. The higher education institutions can be termed as the complex adaptive systems that are permanently interacting with their environment and gradually changing their behavior as required in other to survive as well as to thrive or to avoid deterioration (Eden and Ackermann 2013). Both the internal and external factors play one of the major roles in determining their capability as well as willingness to change. A university that operates in an open and highly internationalized context and making the graduates, expert in their specialized factors through rapid developing technologies operate in a complex situation (Alexander 2013). As a result of that, it is likely to be much more open towards change than one, which serves especially national or smaller regional constituencies and trains the highly qualified professionals for the comparatively stable public service sectors. Fullan (2014) has mentioned in his research paper that complex and dynamic environments in turn might lead to emergence of new internal organizational arrangements that would test capability and willingness to change of the universities (Gibb, Haskins and Robertson 2012). Therefore, this part would be focusing on the different forms of changes in the universities and these have been mentioned in details here: Source of changes Externally driven Internally driven Types of changes Planned Changes caused by policy mandates or the new government regulations (Fullan 2014) Changes initiated through institutional level strategic planning (Fullan, M., 2014) Emerging Changes generated by broad social as well as cultural trends in the operating society Changes generated by the grass root initiatives Table 1: Sources of changes in the university (Source: Fullan 2014) Now, it is necessary to shed light on the possible changes in the higher education institutions and these have been mentioned here in details: Strategic goals and mission, i.e. creating a new institutional strategy or modifying the existing one Curriculum and teaching methods, i.e. introducing a new teaching new teaching program as well as modifying the existing one for using e-Learning in teaching Human resources, where they introduce salary differentiation depending on the performance indicators or changing the rules of getting permanent work contracts (Cummings and Worley 2014) Research, development and innovation is the next probable area where focus is shed on enhancing the university-industry cooperation or creating new mechanisms of knowledge transfer Student services and welfare, i.e. establishing a new career advisory services The culture of the organization is another major important aspect here and this focuses on the emergence of an outward-looking culture that fosters risk-taking as well as the transformation of a bureaucratic organization into a learning organization (Eden and Ackermann 2013) Quality and evaluation, i.e. introducing a new standard form of course description or a new system of evaluation of teachers by the students Internal organizational and the management structure and in this case, focus is shed on integrating a decentralized university through shifting some jurisdictions from the faculties to the rectors office or merging smaller disciplinary chairs into the larger interdisciplinary departments (Hrebiniak 2013) It can be stated that the education is undergoing constant changes under the effects of globalization. Therefore, it can be stated that the effects of globalization on education tends to bring rapid developments in technology as well as communications are gradually foreseeing changes within the learning systems throughout the globe (Sallis 2014). Ideas, roles, values and knowledge have changing roles and thus it has left impact on the society from industrialization towards an information-based society. The global education leaders are looking forward to bring all the technological changes in the field of education and thus the global trends in education are gradually emerging (Sallis 2014). Creating a proper framework This part of the research work would try to shed light on creating the framework that would analyze the competencies of the present education leaders on some particular perspectives. With the gradual expansion of time and technology, it can be seen that the pattern of the education system has changed and this is because of the educational leaders. Creativity/innovation Sallis (2014) has stated that e-Learning has significantly gone from a niche type of teaching for technical subjects to being a preferred, growing and almost necessary procedure to teach everything. Therefore, it is understood that the technology is gradually expanding and the requirements of the people and desire to learn on their own time. Moreover, engaging people in e-Learning has become the goal of many companies. The education leaders have found out that e-Learning is such a type of learning that has changed the path of learning in different parts of the globe. The leaders have found that e-Learning as compared to the classroom learning focuses more on social interaction as well as instructional materials (Jones and Sallis 2013). At present, technology has advanced largely and e-Learning is considered as the delivery of learning, training as well as the education program by the electronic means. The leaders have found this highly important and interesting as well as time-saving, therefore, it can be stated that they have applied new ideas of learning. The universities have gradually relied on this procedure, as e-Learning is the learning in which the interaction between the teacher and the student is online (Ward and Peppard 2016). Apart from e-Learning, the leaders have introduced blended learning and this as well is one of the major educational patterns followed in the present days. This blended learning focuses on a face-to-face classroom in the virtual learning environment. Here as well the students and the teachers are connected online and this smoothes the entire learning procedure. Besides that, digital learning is another major important learning technique that has been embraced by many education leaders now a day. It can be stated that the digital learning takes into account online learning that takes into account blended learning as well as e-Learning. Moreover, this focuses on offline digital learning like utilizing the local software and the digital cameras. Analytical skills or Problem Solving The leaders are capable enough in drawing a reasonable conclusion and in solving any major issues of the workplace. Hill, Jones and Schilling (2014) have stated that the decision makers require understanding as well as analyzing data presented to them before making any major decisions. If any issue arises, one needs to be properly analyzing the business procedure in order to find out what is going wrong. After that, they try to figure the problem and know the procedure of fixing the issue. The leaders have found that analytics are more important today and would be even more important in the near future. Ward and Peppard (2016) have stated that overall, 58% of the corporations leaders say analytics are significant to their corporation presently and 82% opined that it would be of high significance in the coming 5 years. Flexibility or Adaptability The education system has been changing with the course of time and along with the technological enhancements. Therefore, it can be stated that all the leaders are capable enough to handle the situation that takes place in the organization. They always accept the challenges in the work place and this challenge accepting attitude has helped them to include several new modifications in the educational field. The leaders have so far met the expectation of the work field and innovation of e-Learning is one of the news ideas that have changed the educational scenario of the globe in different universities. Online learning and e-Learning have exceeded the expectation and the students in different parts of the globe have benefited from this educational system. Using the above framework to critically evaluate the readiness I believe that business innovation is a collaborative affair that runs from ideas, through the development to the implementation. This procedure generally takes into account many people with various expertise. I believe that to achieve an attainable position in the workplace, it is necessary that the leaders are required to innovative in nature. The innovative leaders require a powerful imagination as well as excellent communication skills. I believe that I need to have confidence in the team and the ability of the team members to work together in order to achieve the set target and objectives. I would try to introduce some new ideas of learning in the higher schools and universities, so that the students feel interested enough in higher studies. My analytical and Problem solving skill I believe that the leaders in any field must have the capability to envisage, eloquent as well as conceptualize the multifaceted and the convoluted issues by making the decisions. It can be stated that analytical skills are highly necessary in the workplace because it makes sure important problem solving takes place to keep productivity and some other areas of the workforce functioning smoothly. I would try to incorporate new technologies in the education modernization system and this would be helpful to bring several new changes in the educational sector. My flexibility and adaptability skills Since my school days, I respond to the changes in proper direction as well as priorities and this is one of my natures or strengths. Therefore, I believe that this specific nature would be helpful for me to be establishing myself in the educational field. I have proper analytical abilities and thus I am able to take enough large volumes of information and after that produce the result. I am capable enough to deal with any kind of organizational or the work place issues and thus I am confident enough. Moreover, gradually I have learnt to handle the assignments efficiently and have been able to discover a more efficient as well as productive ways to complete a specific task. I have been popular in the schools and universities and thus was known as the problem handler. I used to recognize the problem and then used to create a repair to avoid it from becoming a major issue. Moreover, I am compatible enough to analyze the data from the collected information and then used to come up with a proper solution to a problem. I always determine what I want to focus on clearly and this helps me in making the path through which I must achieve my success. After this stage, I list down all the possible sources of data and after that determine which one is the best source of data and which are the useful. Apart from that, I determine the methods and the procedures of gathering data and statistics. I need to exceed my level of excellence, so that new innovations can take place in the education industry through me. Conclusion After concluding the entire text, it can be stated that this research work has aimed to find out the changes that have taken place in the last few decades and are expected to change in the coming 3 to 5 years. It has been seen that building a education center is argued in the present years to be enough crucial for the corporations for adopting and leading modifications in the new era of the rapid changes. It has already been understood that as the organizational culture and changes are one of the complex issues, particularly if the changes proposed by the learning organization is to occur very quickly. References Ahlemann, F., Stettiner, E., Messerschmidt, M. and Legner, C. eds., 2012.Strategic enterprise architecture management: challenges, best practices, and future developments. Springer Science Business Media. Alexander, K., 2013.Facilities management: theory and practice. Routledge. Ambrosini, V., Jenkins, M. and Mowbray, N. eds., 2015.Advanced strategic management: A multi-perspective approach. Palgrave Macmillan. Bush, T. and Middlewood, D., 2013.Leading and managing people in education. London: Sage. Cameron, E. and Green, M., 2015.Making sense of change management: a complete guide to the models, tools and techniques of organizational change. Kogan Page Publishers. Cummings, T.G. and Worley, C.G., 2012.Organization development and change. Cengage learning. Cummings, T.G. and Worley, C.G., 2014.Organization development and change. Cengage learning. Eden, C. and Ackermann, F., 2013.Making strategy: The journey of strategic management. Sage. Fullan, M., 2012.Leading in a culture of change personal action guide and workbook. John Wiley Sons. Fullan, M., 2014.Leading in a culture of change personal action guide and workbook. John Wiley Sons. Galliers, R.D. and Leidner, D.E., 2014.Strategic information management: challenges and strategies in managing information systems. Routledge. Gibb, A., Haskins, G. and Robertson, I., 2012. Leading the entrepreneurial university: Meeting the entrepreneurial development needs of higher education institutions. InUniversities in change(pp. 9-45). Springer New York. Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B., 2014.Quality management for organizational excellence. pearson. Hayes, J., 2014.The theory and practice of change management. Palgrave Macmillan. Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A., 2014.Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Hill, C.W., Jones, G.R. and Schilling, M.A., 2016.Strategic management: theory: an integrated approach. Cengage Learning. Hrebiniak, L.G., 2013.Making strategy work: Leading effective execution and change. FT Press. Hrebiniak, L.G., 2014.Making strategy work: Leading effective execution and change. FT Press. Jones, G. and Sallis, E., 2013.Knowledge management in education: Enhancing learning education. Routledge. Kapferer, J.N., 2012.The new strategic brand management: Advanced insights and strategic thinking. Kogan page publishers. Lee, S. M., Hwang, T., Choi, D. (2012). Open innovation in the public sector of leading countries.Management Decision,50(1), 147-162. Sallis, E., 2014.Total quality management in education. Routledge. Ward, J. and Peppard, J., 2014.The Strategic Management of Information Systems: Building a Digital Strategy. John Wiley Sons. Ward, J. and Peppard, J., 2016.The Strategic Management of Information Systems: Building a Digital Strategy. John Wiley Sons.

There is a famous statement thatthere is an old quarrel between philosophy and poetry Essay Example For Students

There is a famous statement thatthere is an old quarrel between philosophy and poetry Essay There is a famous statement thatthere is an old quarrel between philosophy and poetry. Well Plato is definitely a person who believes in it. He lived at a time where his city was in disaster after the Peloponnesian war and this helped him to contribute his ability in philosophy as well as literary theories. All his literary theories are influenced by his philosophy. Plato was very critical about the knowledge of the poets in is time. He lived in a critical time where people needed good guidance. People tend to look up to the poets because they water the desires of human feelings. This attracted people towards poets. This is a dangerous situation if the poets do not know what they should bring forward through their poetry. Plato simply thought that poets write while they are in a trance possessed by Muse the goddess of art and conveying Muse ideas through poetry. These ideas poets presented were the weak side of human nature; our emotions are watered the withered. Plato reveals two contradictory aspects of poets knowledge. We will write a custom essay on There is a famous statement thatthere is an old quarrel between philosophy and poetry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now He says poets are responsible for what they write and also they are not responsible for what they write because they are writing poetry in a trance. Homer was one of the poets whom people would believe in any time. Homer basically created the culture of the Greeks. The heroes, the gods, the underworld and war were all Homers creations. According to Plato these are imaginations of Homer. Plato blames Homer for giving the wrong idea of gods and goddesses. According to Plato even if gods have defects they should be created as perfect idols so people would tend to imitate the right way of life. As stated by the Stafford Encyclopedia of Philosophy To interpret Homer well, we have to understand what Homer said; to do that, and to support our judgment that he spoke superlatively well, we have to understand the subject matter about which Homer speaks just as we would in, say, evaluating someones pronouncements about health. Further, Homer himself must have understood well that about which he speaks. So as interpreters we are making claims about the truth of Homers teachings about XYZ; and thus we are assuming that Homer sought to state the truth about XYZ. When Homer talks about was he doesnt give us accurate information because he never fought war and he does not know how a general would command or behave in a war because he was never a general. This is well argued by Plato in his work Ion. Plato produced three methods on evaluating poetry. The dependency of the poets is it actually their talent or divine inspiration, the role of the poet as an educator and a social reformer and contribution to literature through poetry. Plato protests about the lack of knowledge of poets of his time and about the poets them selves. He thinks that Arts are a third remove from reality- the idea of the object /the object/ the representation of the object. It is like a mirror held up to a mirror, they will only be imitations. In Pheadrus which relates a myth, humans are the most ignorant set of souls and philosophers know some kind of truth and they are near to Zeus. In Platos opinion poets are behind gymnasts and businessmen. So they are not in a reliable place to be creative. He thinks poets are writing in madness. According to him there are four types of madness or inspirations; madness of prophecy, mythical rituals, poetic madness inspired by Muses and madness of love created by Eros and Aphrodite strongest of all madness. When poets produce a work and publish it they are not near the reader and this is dangerous it would make people understand the subject matter in different ways. Plato also says that some poets try to write without the divine inspiration but they end up making them self justifying divine inspiration. .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 , .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .postImageUrl , .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 , .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646:hover , .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646:visited , .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646:active { border:0!important; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646:active , .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646 .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua69964bcf3afbd1351b674f317678646:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How do the Poets Studied use Imagery and Structure to Convey their Attitude to War? EssayPlato wants the poets to that it is easy to inspire the irrational part of human nature and poets should not water it. He also ridicules the comparative ability in poets they make an ass look like a horse. Plato gives an example for poets à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" if a person calls himself a doctor and gives the same pill for all illnesses he should be called a madman. Similarly if poets give their audience the wrong message they will take it as it is. Plato compares the audience to a wild beast and if poets entertain the needs of the wild beast it will get addicted to the entertainment. Such work is an inferior son born to inferior parents. Plato is against the entertainment which is directed towards emotions because by giving space emotions will let people out pour it without control and it will make things worse when worse things happen to them. Plato specifically tells not to represent women in any sort -quarrelling, lamenting, mourning, love or childbirth. Also bad men of any sort-cowards, comic abuse, foul language and madness. Plus any workmen which guardians feel ashamed to imitate. Likewise he introduces three aspects of good poetry. It should be charming, correct in technique consistency /characterization and set and example to the society. In writing poetry you should be praised by others and not praise other by you. According to Plato only poetry that should be in an ideal state is hymns to gods and poems that praise good men. Plato gives some advice on writing poetry to fellow poets. He thinks the ideal subject matter should be philosophy and the ideal technique should be the form of dialogue. A dialogue in a work will make you have an argument and not be one sided. In Laws he says poets are the wickedest class of unbelievers because they say god can be won over by gifts and sacrifices also makes gain out of the fears and terrors of mankind. He strictly thinks the poets should educate children and statesmen. Since children Previous are the future of the country and nobles are the current rulers they should know how to separate good from bad. A reason Plato gives to banish poets from an ideal state is that they have no say in political views. He also states that there should not be epic and lyrics if they provoke emotions in a negative way. Plato gives many reasons for his dislike for poetry and we have to keep in mind he had no grudge against poetry but he had issues against the power of poetry. He certainly respects Homer but is critical about the credibility of his work which has influenced many generations. Even though he thinks of banishing poets in his earlier works he brings a better idea of censoring the poems through a board of scholars before publishing. This maturity made him give advice on how to write appropriate poems which would help develop the county.

A Brave New World by Aldus Huxley misc 12 00 essays

A Brave New World by Aldus Huxley misc 12 00 essays The novel Brave New World is like no other in fantasy and satire. It predicts a future overpowered by technology where the people have no religion. Has Huxley written about a degrading way of life or has he discovered the key to a perfect world that should be called Utopia? This essay will show that upon close analysis the way of life in the novel is justifiable and all the precautions that are taken are needed to preserve their lifestyle. This essay will also show that however different and easily looked upon, as horrible as their lives seem to be, in actuality it is better than ours. The first argument that would contradict the fact that Brave New World is a Utopia is the government overpowering the world, causing the loss of freedom and liberty in the people. Before judging their lives the reader must ask himself one simple question: Is it really that bad? Obviously no it's not. In the novel, the people don't have to worry about having a job. One must remember that being born and raised in Utopia, one does not know what freedom is and therefore does not know what is missing. Freedom leads to happiness, and if one already possesses happiness, then there is no need for freedom, especially if your government is making sure that all your needs are satisfied. Religion plays an important role in people's lives. It represents our principles and values. Religion guides us, gives us something to believe in and a set of rules to live by. However, who is to say that one hundred years from now people will still believe and practice religion? Mustapha Mond when referring to the Holy Bible says that "they're old; they're about God hundreds of years ago. Not about God Now" (Huxley, p.237). Mustapha Mond is saying that with the evolution of time the need for religion has disappeared and has been replaced by the worship of another God who is Ford. They basically live a fulfilled life and then they die. Also thanks to their conditioning they ...

Treasury Yield Curve Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Treasury Yield Curve - Coursework Example Inflation affects purchasing power of money and therefore has a major effect on interest rates. Therefore if inflation rate is expected to be 1% during the next year this is added to the risk free interest rate (say 3.5%) and so the Treasury bill rate will be: rT-bill = rRF = r* + IP = 3.5% + 1% = 4.5% The inflation rate is the main factor which determines the shape of the treasury yield curve. If the inflation rate is expected to increase, then the treasury yield curve will slope upwards; which is normal. On the other hand, if the inflation rate is expected to decrease, then this will cause the treasury yield curve to slope downwards. Another factor affecting the Treasury bill rate is interest rate risk. When interest rates rises the prices of treasury bonds decline sharply and since this is a regular occurrence all long term bonds including treasury bonds have an element of interest rate risk. A maturity risk premium (say 2.5%) is therefore added to the risk free rate resulting in the following formula for calculating the Treasury bill rate. rT-bill = rRF = r* + IP + MRP. = 3.5% + 1% + 2.5 = 7% This premium increases with the time to maturity. Therefore, the longer the period the higher maturity risk premium. ... This information tells me that interest rates are subject to various economic conditions that will cause it to rise or fall and that the trend does not have to be continuous as it would appear from the examples seen. This yield curve has a dip and a hump indicating that the interest rates on one year maturities are higher than interest rates on 5 year maturities. The interest rates on medium term maturities rises constantly between year 6 and year 20 and then falls resulting in interest rates on some long term maturities being much lower than the interest rates on some in the medium term. Part 2 Yield to Maturity The yield to maturity is the annualized discount rate that equates the future coupon and payments to the future coupon and principal payments to the initial proceeds received from the bond offering (Madura 2006, p157). Consider Wal-Mart bond which matures on July 2015 with coupon rate of 2.25% which is paid semi-annually. The value of a bond (Vb) is found using the following formula. Vb = 1000 = [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)1] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)2] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)3] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)4] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)5] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)6] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)7] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)8] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)9] + [$11.25/(1 + rd/2)10] + [$1,0001/(1 + rd/2)10] The PV table can be used to find the figures for each of the ten six-monthly period: where $11.25 is the half yearly coupon rate. The time to maturity is five years and so Wal-Mart 2.25% Corporate Bond Time Periods Interest Payment Maturity Payment Total cash Flow PV Factor (1.125%) PV of Cash Flow    $ $ $    $'000 0       1000 1 1000 Par Value of Bond 1 11.25    11.25 0.9889 11.1251 2 11.25    11.25 0.9779 11.0014 3 11.25    11.25 0.967 10.8788 4 11.25    11.25

Nectar Fruit Juices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nectar Fruit Juices - Essay Example During the analyses of different elements and factors, there have been several recommendations made which can be beneficial for the officials of NFJ to discuss, follow, and execute them in their December 2011 meeting. One of the main recommendations made in the light of analysis is the introduction of more flavors of nectar fruit juices that intrigue more of the children under 15 years of age, as the analysis has shown majority of the NFJ users to be under 15 years of age. The report will be consisting of 5 sections in total (including the section 1 of introduction). Second section will be presenting analyses of the data collected through the collection of answers of the questions, where the questions will be discussed and analyzed one by one. Third section will be presenting different options that may be considered by the management for key decision making purposes. The fourth section will be presenting the validity of this analysis and describing the use of this report for future r eferences. The final section will conclude the report and will provide general recommendations. 2. Results and analysis This section will present the findings and analysis based upon the answers taken from all the surveyed students. The section will analyze the questions one by one in the form of subsections, where the results will also be mentioned. 2.1. Racial or ethnic group: The students who were chosen to take part in the questionnaire were of different ethnicities as they mentioned in their survey forms. The final data collected from that scheme has been provided in the form of a pie chart below in figure 1: Figure 1: students’ ethnic groups The figure shows that more than half the students were white or European, as the survey was being filled in a European country. Therefore it was highly likely that majority of the participants will belong to the white community. The second major number participants were the Asians. This is because of the immigration of more than 100 million Asians who are residing in different countries of Europe and its normal perception of Asian people to take part in the social activities in Europe. Other people belonged to West Indian, African, or other ethnicities. 2.2. Ratio of male to female participants: As the graph in figure 2 suggests, the ratio of male to female participants who filled the surveys was nearly 55:45, which means almost an equal number of males and females invited to participate and give their views about NFJ. Figure 2: Male to female ratio of participants. 2.3. Drinks per week by the groups: The data shows different age limits and their consumption of drinks on weekly basis. The data shows the average number of drinks that are consumed by the people of different ages. Referring to the figure 3 given below, the people between 6 to 10 years of age consume the largest number of nectar fruit juices, as this suggests that the children are more intrigued by the tastes and flavors in which these juices are available in the market. Figure 3: Percentage of drinks per week groups The figure also shows that the children of 1 to 5 years of age, as well as the teenage from 11 to 20 years of age also consume NFJ more on weekly basis compared to those who are more than 21 years of age. Another important finding in this graph is that around 13% of the people have claimed to never use the nectar fruit juices. There are two points that this analysis will lead the managers to think about. First one is that

Banking Regulatory reforms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Banking Regulatory reforms - Essay Example A few months later, the Franklin National Bank of New York had to shut their operations due to substantial foreign exchange losses. The turmoil in the financial sector prompted the governors of the central banks of G10 countries to decide upon measures on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices. Later, this came to be known as the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision with a purpose to extend cooperation among its member countries in the matters related to banking supervision. Initial objectives were to set minimum supervisory standards; exchange information on supervisory practices and improve the techniques of supervision on their banking system. The Central banks of the each member country represent their countries in the committee. It must be noted that the committee's decision has no legal bearing. The committee formulates standards and recommends them to their member countries for its implementation. The committee's sole aim is to have common standards for regulatory and adequacy measures. The 1988 accord among the member countries, with regard to the regulation and supervision of banking sector, continued until 1999 when the Committee decided to further improve the capital adequacy framework. Current Regime under Basel II The revised capital framework came into force in 2004 called Basel II. The Basel II was aimed at creating an international standard for regulators to decide upon how much capital the banks must have to safeguard themselves in the event of any financial crisis. Sufficient consistency of regulations was focused at to ensure that this does not become a reason of competitive inequality for some of them. Their advocates believed that such a regulatory framework is needed to prevent failure of banking system should such crisis emerge in the future (Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, 2013). Basel II, in theory at least, attempted to set up capital and risk management requirements so that banking failures could be avoided. For this, Basel II created disclosure requirements so that all market participants could know about the capital adequacy of a financial institution. They also ensured that market risk, credit risk, and operational risk are articulated based on available data. Basel II focused on minimum capital requirements, market discipline and adequate supervision (Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, 2013). Though Basel II regulatory measures were in force yet it could not prevent 2008 international financial crisis. Post 2008 crisis, the Central banks came out pointing various reasons of financial failures and about the weaknesses that existed in Basel II accord. An urgent need was felt by all concerned to address weaknesses in Basel II. That is why the Basal committee on banking supervision decided to create a new comprehensive accord that could further reform and address the issues that were instrumental in causing the 2008 financial crisis (Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, 2013). It will be interesting to see how Islamic banks, in the context of Basel II manage the capital adequacy and risk exposures. Islamic banks do not use money markets and that is why they are susceptible to liquidity risks. Their inability to borrow for short-term fund needs make them vulnerable to market fallouts. The situation necessitates that Islamic banks must maintain higher liquidity than any conventional banks. Basel

Research Methods For Hospitality And Holiday Business Managers Tourism Essay

Research Methods For Hospitality And Holiday Business Managers Tourism Essay I am writing essay on Research methods for hospitality and tourism managers. The aim of this research is to enhance and refine a capability for critical thinking about hospitality and tourism related managerial problems. Research is depending on size of the organization. Research is the very important for any organization at is offers a measure of control and autonomy over any company. It gives opportunity to confirm clarity, pursue, or even discover new aspects of company. It is the combination of reasoning and experience and must be regarded as the most successful approach to the discovery of truth. Definition of research, It is active, diligent and systematic process of inquiry in order to discover, interpret or revise facts, events, behaviours or theories, or to make practical applications with the help of such facts, laws or theories. The term research is also used to describe the collection of information about the subject. (wordiq.com). according to Oxford Concise Dictionary Research is the case study of particular topic. It is the systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources, in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions or in other words research is an endeavour to discover new or collate old facts etc by the scientific study of a subject or by a course of critical investigation (Oxford Concise Dictionary). Business research helpful to finding out who are your customer and what are the basic needs. Research is the review or synthesizes existing knowledge. Research helps to investigate existing situation and problems and provide solutions for problems. Its explore and analyse more general issues. Research methods used to collect customer satisfaction may be questionnaires, interviews or seminars. Nowadays business research is the keypad of any development plan for and any organisation. It is a increasingly popular way for companies to train and educate their managers and other employees in a vast array of different fields. Research is the imperative for the company to know what type of products and services would be profitable to introduce in the market. Also with respects to its existing products in the market, good market research enables a company to know if it has been able to satisfy customer needs and whether any changes need to be made in packaging delivery or product itself. This enables a company to formulate a viable marketing plan or measure the success of its existing plan. (morebusiness.com) Types of research:- The word research is used to describe a number of similar and often overlapping activities involving a search for information in other word research is process of collecting data, information and fact for the advancement of knowledge. (Webs.uidaho.edu). There are mainly two types of research and secondary research Primary research: It is the process of the collection of data that does not already exist. This is done with the various forms like questionnaires, direct observation and telephone interviews etc. There are two basic approaches to data collections using primary methods. Qualitative research : Qualitative research is seeks out the why, not the how of its topic through the analysis of unstructured information things like interview, transcripts, emails, notes, feedback, photos ,Forms and videos. Qualitative research is used to gain inside into peoples attitudes, behaviours, value system, caserns, motivations aspirations, culture or lifestyle. Its used to inform business decisions, policy information, communication and research. Focus groups in depth interviews, contained analysis ethnography, evaluation and semiotics are among the many formal approaches that are used but qualitative research involves the analysis of any unstructured material including customer feedback forms, reports and media clips. (qsrinternational.com) The methods of collecting qualitative data are Individual interview Focus group Observation Advantages of qualitative research Qualitative research produces more in depth, comprehensive information Uses subjective information and participant observation to describe the context or natural settings of the variables under consideration as well as the interaction of the different variables in the context. Its seeks the wide understanding of the entire situation. Disadvantages of Qualitative research The very subjective of the enquiry leads to difficulties in establishing the reliability and validity of the approaches and information. It is very difficult to prevent a detect researcher induced bias. Its scope is limited due to the in depth, comprehensive data gathering approaches required. (okstate.edu) Quantitative research: According to the Aliaga and Gunderson (2002), quantities research is explain phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based methods (in particular statistics). This methods investigates why and how of decision making not only where, what, when. Quantities research has an ability to provide complex textual descriptions of how people experience given a research issue Advantages of Quantitative research: In Quantitative research its seeks to explore phenomena, it is design in an excellent way of finalising results and poring and disproving hypothesis, a structure has not change for centuries. After statistical analysis of the results comprehensive answer is reach and result can be legitimately discussed and published. It is a useful for tasting gain by the series of a Quantitative experiment, leading to a final answer and narrowing down of possible directions for follow up research to take. Disadvantages Quantitative experiments can be difficult and expensive and require a lot of tie to perform. Quantitative studies usually require extensive statistical analysis, which can be difficult. Limited outcomes to only those outlined in the original research proposal due to closed type question and the structured format (experiment-resources.com). Hospitality industry is evergreen industry in the world and its growing rapidly. In recent years because of globalization in this industry there are lots of challenges and competition. To survive in this competition this industry adopts some research, like market research. Market research is the systematic, objective collection and analysis of data about target market, competition and environment with the goal being increased understanding of them. Through the market research process manager can take data a variety of related and non- related facts. And create useful information to guide the managers decision. Marketing research is not an activity conducted only once, it is a ongoing study. The information gain through marketing research is information that can guide managers in most important strategic business decision. Some benefits of market research are. Market research guide to communication with current and potential customer. Its helps to identify opportunities in the market place. Market research minimizes the risk of doing business. If uncovers and identifies potential problems. It creates benchmarks and helps to track progress and its also helps to evacuate success. (sallbusinessnotes.com) Business research:- business research programme are an increasingly popular way for companies to train and educate their managers and staff. Business research education can pertain to economics, business strategy and ethics in facts, anything related to modern business and trade. In short business research provides the needed information that guides managers to make informed decisions to successfully deal with problems. Benefits of business research are, Business research provides well educated and informed staff means that operations will run very smoothly. With this research senior managers will be able to drive a workforce on using effective motivational techniques With the help of business research it is possible to find the edge over the global competition. (content4reprint.com) Research helps to stay in competitive and build customer loyalty. Research also boost the sales and increase business profitability. It enhances the brand and gain a reputation as an innovative business. Business research help to find out the opportunities and threats. History:- Marriott has founded by J.Willard Marriott 1927, when he and his wife opened a root beer stand in Washington D.C. the Marriott quickly noticed that soft drinks sold in large amount during Washingtons long hot summer but that business needed a boost during the cooler months. They added the first Mexican food in that area, were added to their counter menu. The Marriott called their restaurant the hot Shoppe. In 1928 the Marriott opened their third restaurant, which offered curb side service. Hot Shoppe remains popular in the Washington area through the great depression. In 1937 Marriott branched out from the restaurant business for the first time, pioneering in-flight catering with boxed launch for eastern, American and capital airlines flights from Washingtons old Hoover airport. In 1940 Marriott opened five new restaurants. In 1964 Marriott handed the presidency to his son, Mr. Bill Marriott. Hot Shoppe Inc. over the next few years, the company continued to open hotels and restaurant s. Today Marriott international is leading company with more than 3000 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. (fundinguniverse.com) Marriott International continuously increasing their business and opening new hotels, inns, restaurants and resorts to attract customers by using new ideas and new strategies. Like recently Marriott International opened their new Ihilani resort spa on the island of Oahu, which offering service and treatments that are uniquely part of the Hawaiian tradition and lifestyle. Ihilani spa is very famous and received numerous awards. (Marriott.co.uk). Marriott according to the place, religion and wishes they making their business for building their brand it is essential to consideration of operating environment. Alternative pricing method, introducing new strategies, environmental analysis is the most essential factor to build up company brand. Marriott International is mainly focused on employees because they said, with employment rates holding at records high levels, recruiting and retaining employee is the greatest challenge facing hospitality industry today. Mr Marriott said the companys human capital strategy focused on five principles to generate even greater value for employees and the company (hotelonline.com). The mission of this strategy is to keep employee on the job, employees satisfaction is main purpose of this strategy. Because of employees satisfaction customer gets good experience and customers feel like home. This strategy has ability to convert the economy from raw materials and machines to minds and attitude. Like when the employee is satisfied on his job and making family environment which helps to give good service and customer satisfaction. Research for marketing and sales plan in Marriott international Marriott international is the one of the top lodging industry in world. The company have some 3400 operated and franchised properties in more than 65 countries. Vision of the Marriott Company is to be the worlds lodging leader. It is grounded in his intense focus. On taking care of the guests, extensive operational knowledge, and development of the highly skilled and diverse workforce. I am going to do research on marketing and sales plan in Marriott International based on following questions. Describes the products or services of Marriott will provide? What are the core products or services? What are specialities of Marriott? Marriott international has more than 3000 operated or franchised lodging properties in more than 3400 lodging properties in 60 countries and territories. Marriott international operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, The Autograph Collection, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyards, Tower Place suites, Fairfield suits, Fairfields Inn, Spring Hill suites and Bulgari Brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott vacation club, The Ritz-Carlton destination club and grand residences by Marriotts brands, licenses and manages whole ownership residential brands, including the Ritz Carlton Residences, JW Marriott residences and Marriott residences, operates Marriott Executive apartments, provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott Execute division and operates conference centre. (news.marriott.com)

Thomas W. Lippmans Understanding Islam Essays -- Thomas Lippman Islam

Thomas W. Lippman's Understanding Islam Thomas W. Lippman gives an introduction to the Muslim world in the book Understanding Islam. He has traveled throughout the Islamic world as Washington Post bureau chief for the Middle East, and as a correspondent in Indochina. This gave him, in his own words, "sharp insight into the complexities of that turbulent region." However, the purpose of the book is not to produce a critical or controversial interpretation of Islamic scripture. It is instead to give the American layman an broad understanding of a religion that is highly misunderstood by many Americans. In this way he dispels many myths about "Muslim militants," and the otherwise untrue perception of Islamic violence. In this way the American reader will become more knowledgeable about an otherwise unfamiliar topic. However, the most significant element of Lippman’s book is that it presents Islam in a simple way that makes the reader feels his awareness rise after each chapter. This encourages him to continue learn ing about the world’s youngest major religion. Understanding Islam dispels many misconceptions about the Muslim world, and presents the subject in a way that urges his reader to further his understanding of Islam through continued study. The book lays the foundation of Islamic basic beliefs and practices. Muslims believe in one God, and feel their religion continues the Judaic and Christian traditions. Arab peoples "trace their origins to the patriarch Abraham, who, according to the Koran was neither Jew nor Christian, but a kind of universal ancestor of monotheists" (5). Thus, Muslims believe in the same God as Jews and Christians. The Islamic translation for God is Allah. Many Americans think of Alla... ... Understanding Islam gives a broad outline which could help to erase American misconceptions about this religion, and could be helpful in easing global racial tensions. The book is not top of the line scholarship about Islam; it is for the uninformed or otherwise unaware beginner. After reading this book the reader has a basic understanding of Islam, devoid of many American or western misconceptions. However, Lippman explains that the holy book is not spelled "Koran," but rather "Qur-an," though he uses the first spelling throughout the book (56). The real version is written in arabic, but I would have rather him used the more authentic spelling. In this way I see that this book was beneficial, but not the final word. It is a good book because it lays a positive foundation for Americans, and hopes to inspire them to continue their study of a fascinating religion. Thomas W. Lippman's Understanding Islam Essays -- Thomas Lippman Islam Thomas W. Lippman's Understanding Islam Thomas W. Lippman gives an introduction to the Muslim world in the book Understanding Islam. He has traveled throughout the Islamic world as Washington Post bureau chief for the Middle East, and as a correspondent in Indochina. This gave him, in his own words, "sharp insight into the complexities of that turbulent region." However, the purpose of the book is not to produce a critical or controversial interpretation of Islamic scripture. It is instead to give the American layman an broad understanding of a religion that is highly misunderstood by many Americans. In this way he dispels many myths about "Muslim militants," and the otherwise untrue perception of Islamic violence. In this way the American reader will become more knowledgeable about an otherwise unfamiliar topic. However, the most significant element of Lippman’s book is that it presents Islam in a simple way that makes the reader feels his awareness rise after each chapter. This encourages him to continue learn ing about the world’s youngest major religion. Understanding Islam dispels many misconceptions about the Muslim world, and presents the subject in a way that urges his reader to further his understanding of Islam through continued study. The book lays the foundation of Islamic basic beliefs and practices. Muslims believe in one God, and feel their religion continues the Judaic and Christian traditions. Arab peoples "trace their origins to the patriarch Abraham, who, according to the Koran was neither Jew nor Christian, but a kind of universal ancestor of monotheists" (5). Thus, Muslims believe in the same God as Jews and Christians. The Islamic translation for God is Allah. Many Americans think of Alla... ... Understanding Islam gives a broad outline which could help to erase American misconceptions about this religion, and could be helpful in easing global racial tensions. The book is not top of the line scholarship about Islam; it is for the uninformed or otherwise unaware beginner. After reading this book the reader has a basic understanding of Islam, devoid of many American or western misconceptions. However, Lippman explains that the holy book is not spelled "Koran," but rather "Qur-an," though he uses the first spelling throughout the book (56). The real version is written in arabic, but I would have rather him used the more authentic spelling. In this way I see that this book was beneficial, but not the final word. It is a good book because it lays a positive foundation for Americans, and hopes to inspire them to continue their study of a fascinating religion.

Aramco Supply Chain Managment

Table of Contents Page Number Introduction3 Background of the Company8 The Dilemma in Saudi Aramco Supply Chain Management10 Analysis of the operation of the Company’s Supply Chain Management12 Conclusion16 References17 Introduction: Several company managers are continuously searching for the best possible way of reducing cost and utilizing their inventories so that the company can implement cost reduction strategy. With all prices of prime commodities are accelerating for increases to maintain the business, the challenge for manufacturing companies nowadays is to come up with a management strategy that could lessen the burden of imposing additional prices to the consumer’s purchases. Yet seemingly, it seems impossible to achieve due to the domino effect in the market offering. Starting from the raw materials to the manufacturing plant then to the manufacturing plant to its distribution centers and from the distribution centers to the consumers, the process entails expenditures either from the supplier or from the manufacturing plant. Once transporting raw materials is affected by the movement in the prices of gasoline and oil, salary increases of its work force and additional price for the vehicle’s spare parts suppliers cannot but face the reality that they must charge additional cost to their buyers. So goes the trend. The usual thinking about a supply chain is a vertical flow of the entire materials for production that is fully integrated because it is owned by a single firm although its channels are operating independently. Hence, an efficient coordination among the managers of its channels is demanded for the success of the supply chain. However, a supply chain need not only be limited to a single ownership of the entire process. By its definition, according to the paper of B. B. Arntzen, G. G. Brown, T. P. Harrison, and L. Trafton (1993) a supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution alternatives that begins from the procurement of materials, converting the materials into mid-way and finished products, then the distribution of the products to customers. Supply chain is not limited to manufacturing alone but also in the service industry. There may also be expected difficulties along the entire chain due to the varying approaches from industry to industry or from firm to firm but the process proceeds as planned. Company A Company B DistributorCustomers Raw Materials manufacturing plant Finished Product Company This may sound simple but a realistic supply chain actually embraces several finished products with shared components, facilities, and capacities. Materials flow does not come only from one single network but from other networks also. At times, different modes of transportation are considered and usually the bills of materials for the finished products are both costly and enormous. R. H. Ballou, (1992) believes that traditional supply chain still operate along this pattern but on this case the supply chain deviates from the old practice of supply chain and paved the way to another model of creating an effective cost reduction strategy. In the supply chain, according to M. C. Cooper and L. M. Ellram (1993) the main focus lies on the mistake of materials, unnecessary information and unpredictable finances as they move from their supplier, to the respective manufacturer then to the wholesaler passed on the retailer before finally reaching the consumer. However, another view was presented by J. B. Houlihan (1985) because his notion of supply chain is involved in coordinating and integrating these flows for inside the company and its relation with other companies. The ultimate goal of all effective supply chain management is to reduce inventory but available when needed hence, minimize the cost of production. The product flow consists of the progress of goods from supplier to customer. Information flow is the transmittal of orders and keeping posted the status of the delivery. The financial flow covers the credit terms, payment schedules, and consignment title of ownership arrangement. As Cohen, et al. (1989) noted supply chain also consists of strategic decisions and operational decision levels. Strategic decisions usually entail longer time to observe its effect on the company. It requires close monitoring of the corporate strategy, but oftentimes, in many companies, it is already the firm’s business strategy. Setting aside, operational level decisions are shorter period and concentrates mainly on the day to day basis of inventory, production, and packaging. The main objective on this level is maintaining an effective and efficient product flow from the strategically planned supply chain. Houlihan (1985) reiterates that supply chain management operates according to four major decision areas namely; business location, production input and output, materials inventory, and distribution including transportation and channels. It should be noted that on these decision areas the elements of strategic planning and operational procedures are inclusive. It is because strategic decisions include what products to produce, and which plants to produce them in, allocation of suppliers to plants, plants to Distribution Channels, and Distribution Channels to customer markets Business location refers to the place where production facilities, warehouse, and source point are easily accessible both by the suppliers and other stakeholders of the company. Location facilities cover an assurance of resources for a longer period due to the long term plan of the business. Considered also for an effective supply chain location are the size, number, and the possible paths by which the product flows through to the customers. This decision is important because it represents the main strategy for accessing customer markets which definitely have effect on revenue, cost, and level of service. It is determined by employing a routine check on production costs, taxes, duties and duty drawback, tariff, local content, distribution costs, production limitation and many others. Production decision is also a critical concern in supply chain management because it entails the capacity of the manufacturing facilities to handle the production process. It is focused on detailed production scheduling. It includes the construction of the master production plan, time table on the machines, and maintenance of equipments. The elements of workload balancing and quality control that are being measured on this facility are seriously considered. Materials inventory are managed properly in the supply chain management levels of decision. Inventories could either be raw materials, semi-finished or already finished merchandize. These materials may also be in the process between locations or in other place as in the case of outsourcing activity. The purpose of managing the inventories is to safeguard against any uncertainties that might exists in the supply chain. Holding inventories can cost as much as one half of the product’s value. Too much inventories of raw materials means slow return of investment and large inventories of finished products can cause lower prices due to overflowing supplies. The aspect of transportation viewed according to the context of H. L. Lee and C. Billington (1992) is also another element in the supply chain management issues because it is closely associated with the inventory due to its mode of moving the raw materials or the finished products. The best mode of trading off the cost is to transport with the indirect cost of inventory associated with the type of transportation. While using air is fast, reliable, and warrant lesser safety stock, it is very expensive. Shipping by sea or by train may be cheaper but they take longer time and consumed large amount of inventories to buffer against the uncertainties associated with it. Hence, shipment sizes, routing, and scheduling of equipments are the main factors operating in the Supply Chain Management. Another point was raised by J. M. Masters, (1993) as he discussed on the process of supply chain management and the level of decisions that have to be made on these models are enormous and require considerable amount of data. Due to the huge data requirement and the broad scope of decisions, each supply chain decision models provide approximate solutions. The operational decisions, meanwhile, address the day to day operation of the supply chain. Therefore the models that describe them are often very specific in nature. Due to their narrow perspective, these models often consider great detail and provide very good, if not optimal, solutions to the operational decisions. As a solution for successful supply chain management, Saudi Aramco employed a sophisticated software systems, with Web interfaces and has already been in competition with the Web-based Service Application Providers or the SAP, that provide part or all of the SCM service for the company. Saudi Aramco must have been blest to be able to implement supply chain management on its production process and updated it with the use of modern day Information Technology. In spite of the global financial problem that oil producing countries are suffering at present, Saudi Aramco still stands tall amidst financial chaos. Supply chain management is at its best at Saudi Aramco that is why there is less worry even if the prices of oil and crude went down in the global landscape. At Saudi Aramco, the corporate policies guide the supply chain to a particular and specific objective that the firm hopes to achieve (http://www. saudiaramco. com. sa/html/). 11. Background of the Company State-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco) is the king of oil. It is the world's number one oil producer, supplying more than 10% of the world's oil demand. The company controls proved oil reserves of about 259. 8 billion barrels. It extracts 9. 1 million barrels a day, operates refineries, markets oil internationally, and distributes it domestically. Saudi Aramco owns a fleet of oil tankers and invests in refineries and distribution networks in other countries; it also owns 239. 5 trillion cu. ft. of natural gas reserves. The company dates back to 1933, when Saudi Arabia agreed to open up a large area for exploration by Standard Oil of California now known as Chevron. From its headquarters in Dhahran on the eastern shores of the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Aramco manages virtually all of Saudi Arabia's enormous hydrocarbon enterprise. From the giant Ghawar and Safaniya oil fields, the world's largest onshore and offshore fields, to the leading-edge technology at the Exploration and Petroleum Engineering Center, and from one of the largest and most modern fleets of supertankers to refining and marketing joint ventures around the globe, Saudi Aramco is positioned to continue to play its leading role in meeting the world's demand for oil. Saudi Aramco revenue is estimated between 150 billion and 350 billion dollars. It varies greatly year to year due to high dependency upon hydrocarbon prices. Saudi Aramco is responsible for 99 percent of the Kingdom's proven crude oil reserves of 259 billion barrels (41. 2 1010m? ) about a quarter of the world's total. That is more than double the total of Iraq, the country with the world's second largest reserves, and nearly 12 times the reserves of the United States. Saudi Aramco produces and exports more crude oil than any other company. Recent production has averaged some 8 million barrels (1,300,000 m? ) per day. That is more than twice the output of the next highest producer and nearly five times greater than the largest U. S. oil company. Saudi Aramco maintains a maximum sustained crude production capacity of 8. 5 million barrels per day. Saudi Aramco ranks among the top ten companies in gas production worldwide. The company is also a leader in both the production and export of natural gas liquids (NGL), and a major producer of refined products. The company produces natural gas in association with crude oil and non associated gas from deep, independent gas fields. This gas is used as fuel and feedstock for the Kingdom's backbone industries and utilities, and for export and domestic consumption as NGL. A vigorous program is currently under way to expand gas production and processing capabilities to meet increasing demand for gas at home to power the Kingdom's robust domestic economic growth. Saudi Aramco's oil operations encompass the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including territorial waters in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Totaling more than 1. 5 million square kilometers, this area is larger than the combined areas of Texas, California, Oklahoma and Utah, or of France, Spain and Germany. Most production comes from fields in the coastal plains of the Eastern Province in an area extending 300 kilometers north and south of Dhahran. Saudi Aramco VP announced Aramco's plans to build projects worth about 487. 5 billion Saudi Riyals (US $130 billion) in the next 5 years. Due to the unprecedented global demand for oil, Aramco announced that the number of its oil rigs will double by the end of 2006 (http://www. saudiaramco. om) Governed with its vision and holistic mission, the company is striving to make perfect its management concept and practices in order to build solid human resource foundation and company culture that would serve its competitive against other banking institutions in the entire Kingdom within the next couple of years (http://www. saudiaramco. com. sa/html/). 111. The Dilemma in Saudi Aramc o Supply Chain Management Saudi Aramco is the world leader in the oil industry and it possesses the huge deposit of oil and mineral resources. It built strong and reliable ties with its market all over the world while continuously harnessing its rogressive communication with its entire supplier from manpower, facilities, equipments, construction, development projects, and community services. At present Saudi Aramco remains stable and assured of the relentless efforts of its entire people in making the company a world leader in the oil industry and a good example to follow. The entire materials and needed machineries for the oil drilling, processing, plant treatment, transportation and distribution of petroleum are provided by the supply chain from all private industrial suppliers around the Kingdom belonging to the Saudi nationals. No imported materials are used aside from those that are not available in the kingdom. The ongoing calls for localization of Aramco’s production materials are contained in the company’s oath to support local industries and private industrial businesses in the Kingdom. One particular project that the company listed on an indefinite postponement is the envisioned 40 hectares plant facilities and accommodations at Rastanura. In the middle of 2008, Saudi Aramco invited bidders and quotations from several constructing firm around the Kingdom and to some well known companies the Gulf. Toward the end of year, the project was awarded to Foster Wheeler Group of Companies Middle East. The said project was divided into four phases and phase one would start by March 2009. However, Foster Wheeler received a notice from the company on mid February 2009 stating that the Rastanura project would be postponed indefinitely. Foster Wheeler through its resources found out that the main reason for the postponement is the company supplier and sub contractors were heavily affected by the global financial crisis (Thajudeen, 2009). Saudi Aramco suppliers of equipments and high quality standard materials could not meet the requirements needed by the company for the construction of its project. The cost of delivering the materials to Saudi Arabia from the place of origin almost tripled. The high price of raw materials plus low supply prompted Aramco suppliers to increase its prices too but since everything was stipulated in the contract, Saudi Aramco would not accept the new price schedule. The problem begins. Due to the company’s adherence to the Saudization program an option to change suppliers and seek foreign assistance cannot be implemented. France and Great Britain are rich suppliers of equipments needed to continue the construction of drilling plants and community accommodations of its people. The prospect of getting from these countries will destroy the supply chain which Aramco have been protecting and preserving all those years. Japan’s Sumimoto Industry’s offered Saudi Aramco well defined and structured supply chain that could even generate a healthy foreign relation between the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the people of Japan. The offer was shelved temporarily and for further consideration and study. While the present economic crisis continuously spreading in some major industries in the Kingdom, Saudi Aramco remains financially firm and liquid. There is no question whether the company can provide the necessary funds for the completion of the project. There is also no doubt in the capacity of Foster Wheeler to deliver the project on time. It is only a matter of the availability of supplies that Saudi Aramco encountered some critical problems. 1V. Analysis of the operation of the Company’s Supply Chain Management For the past several years, Saudi Aramco perfectly managed its supply chain and it can be proven by the smooth development and completion of all existing projects the company have ever made. The fact is that starting 2008 up to the present the global financial crunch created havocs and collapsed of several industries in the world. Included in this chaotic situation are some suppliers of Saudi Aramco. The law of supply and demands in Economics is pretty much at work at this time. There seems to be a blank solution to this perennial problem at present. If this is the case, the postponement of Saudi Aramco project in Rastanura would be justified. On the second thought, there could be another better solution that could be worked on without jeopardizing the effort exerted by Foster Wheeler to win the project. An excerpt from the speech of Abdallah S. Jum'ah, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco (2002), he said â€Å"The greatest share of our investments as oil and gas producers goes to assuring that we maintain the ability to supply our products without interruption. While such costs are burdensome, they nevertheless are critical to the sustainability of energy supply. No one can long afford to be without this lifeline. † This was also reiterated in the speech delivered by Ali I. Al-Naimi (2002), Saudi Arabia's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, in Washington D. C. as he claimed â€Å"we have invested billions of dollars to build production capacity and to construct diverse export routes. The importance of the excess production capacity of Saudi Arabia has been demonstrated in more than one supply crisis in the past two decades such as the Iranian Revolution of 1978-1979, the Iran-Iraq war in 1980, the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the supply infrastructure crisis of 2000†. Granted that the chain of supply has a domino effect and a disruption in one unit of the chain may result to the interruption of operation of the entire system, Saudi Aramco with its huge resources could help solve the problem in terms of loan assistance to the ailing unit of the chain. Saudi Aramco management could serve as mediator between suppliers of materials to the members of its supply chain to retain its old price schedule which would be compensated by Saudi Aramco in terms of supply of oil with no extra charges and at its lowest price. The problem is rooted in the availability of funds and not on mismanagement of the supply chain. The remedy to this kind of situation is by capital assistance. Another possible option to maintain the flow of the supply chain is by acquisition of the units in the chain that is experiencing a hard blow from the economic crisis. Aramco could temporarily take over the financing of its production so that the unit may continue to operate and the employee would not lose their jobs. Unemployment would create additional burden to the ongoing financial crisis. Saudi Aramco has the capacity to generate production of its supply chain unless it is willing to suspend indefinitely its project with Foster Wheeler. The movement of Saudi Aramco supply is vital to its operation in distribution and expansion in order to accommodate the growing demand for oil in the world. Saudi Aramco is also part of another supply chain and the disruption on its supply would create stoppage of production to it end user. In the same manner, the stoppage of supply from the company supply chain might also result to a decease or worst, stoppage of the company production in the long run. For as long there is still the chance to save the continuous decline of financially able company in the supply chain of Saudi Aramco, it is the best opportunity for Aramco to show its goodwill to all its allies and to the world in general. The management team of Saudi Aramco is determined to continue to play its role in meeting the world's demand for oil exploration & producing, refining, distribution, shipping, marketing as the leading producer of the energy that powers the world's economies and empowers its people, committed to fulfill the kingdom development goals including developing the Kingdom’s industrial base and diversifying economy, helping creates jobs for Saudi nationals and maximizing the value of the Kingdom’s natural resources. Much more so, the Company cannot afford to create possible problems in its supply chain. Saudi Aramco is a government owned company and it does not depend on any political pressures or compromises from any person in the country except to the King due to the monarchial form of government that Saudi Arabia has. The company structure of Aramco is bureaucratic and hierarchical that is why there is absence of threat coming from the labor sector or any human rights advocates in the international scene. Saudi Arabia law is based on Shari’ a law and its legal implications. In this case, the Company has the power to take control temporarily of its suppliers who are experiencing financial downturn. At Saudi Aramco, there is no other power aside from the monarch and the top management level of the company. Stakeholders are not a major threat nor can they pose any threat at all. Aramco’s investment is more of partnership with other big oil producing countries and not on the individual share of investments. What can be considered to have power over the company is the presence of foreign partners as distributors and international oil producing companies that accepted Aramco’s partnership strategy in producing enough supply of world’s fuel and oil needs. Saudi Aramco also uses Management Information and Decision Support System that delivers information to support many of its day-to-day management’s decision-making needs and supply chain operation processes. Reports, display, and responses produced by such systems provide wide range of information that the Aramco management has specified in advance to meet adequately their information needs. Such predefined information satisfies the need for awareness and updated situation of the organization in relation to its supply chain performance, financial situation and production apabilities (http://www. saudiaramco. com. sa). Saudi Aramco MIDSS provides the needed information to the Aramco’s decision makers at the operational and tactical level of the organization. Based on the data generated from the program Saudi Aramco management can determine how and when to entertain an increase of oil production, price, cost of operation, wages and purchasing ability of the company. The in formation takes the form of periodic, exception, and demand reports and immediate responses to inquiry. Saudi Aramco’s web browsers, application programs, and data-base-management-software provide access to information in the intranet and other operational database of the organization. These databases are maintained by transaction processing system. The data about the business environment are gathered from the Internet or intranet when necessary and when greatly demanded. (http://www. aramco. com) Based on this technological competencies, the company is able to secure all the necessary information its suppliers might be needed at the moment so as to continue their production. V. Conclusion The plight of Saudi Aramco supply chain management definitely lies on the hand of the company. We have learned from Saudi Aramco that the company’s supply chain has been operating perfectly without interruption. The company was able to manage its supplier’s time scheduling, processing, manufacturing, delivering, and stocking. There were minor problems along the way especially in transporting the supplies needed by the company but the problem was resolved immediately before it can cause damage to the company’s oil production. By becoming the world leader in the oil industry the company’s long term plan must not sacrificed due to financial difficulties of its suppliers. Small problem that is left unattended became big and too difficult to solve in the near future. The same occurrence is happening to the supply chain process of the Saudi Aramco high quality materials and equipments for its development and expansionary project at Rastanura. The delay in the start of the project would lead to the extension of its completion, late performance, and finally slow production which would be advantageous to competitors. Supply chain management assures the end ompany an uninterrupted production and a continuous flow of resources from the suppliers’ supplier to the manufacturer to the consumer then back to the supplier’s supplier. The cycle goes on and on for as long as the chain remains consistent and stable. Saudi Aramco with vast resources and technological capabilities can easily detect any di sruptive factor along its supply chain. Now is the time for Saudi Aramco to divert momentarily a portion of its focus to the financial status of its suppliers. V1. References: Al-Naimi, A. I. (2002) Saudi Arabia's Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Washington, D. C. April 22. http://www. saudiaramco. com/html/speeches (access June 5, 2009) Al-Naimi, A. I. (2002) Saudi Arabia's Approach to Oil Market Stability and Energy Security, Expanding Energy Frontiers – The Institute of Energy Economics of Japan, Osaka, Japan http://www. saudiaramco. com/html/speeches (access June 5, 2009) Arntzen, B. C. , G. G. Brown, T. P. Harrison, and L. Trafton (1995) Global Supply Chain Management at Digital Equipment Corporation, Interfaces, Journal of Operation Management, No. 231, p. 112 Ballou, R. H. (1992) Business Logistics Management, 3rd Edition, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, p. 1 – 23 Cohen, M. A. and H. L. Lee (1989) Resource Deployment Analysis of Global Manufactu ring and Distribution Networks, Journal of Manufacturing and Operations Management, No. 7, pp. 81-84 Cooper, M. C. , and L. M. Ellram (1993) Characteristics of Supply Chain Management and the Implications for Purchasing and Logistics Strategy. The International Journal of Logistics Management, No. 23 pp. 4, 2, 13-24. Jum'ah, A. S. (2002) President and CEO Saudi Aramco, Calgary, Canada, June 11. http://www. saudiaramco. com/html/speeches (access June 5, 2009) Lee, H. L. , and C. Billington (1992) Supply Chain Management: Pitfalls and Opportunities, Sloan Management Review, No. 33, Spring, pp. 65-73. Lee, H. L. , and C. Billington (1993) Material Management in Decentralized Supply Chains, Operations Research, No. 41 pp. 35-47 Masters, J. M. (1993) Determination of Near-Optimal Stock Levels for Multi-Echelon Distribution Inventories, Journal of Business Logistics, No. 14, pp. 165-195. Thajudeen, S. M. (2009) Foster Wheeler Group of Companies Middle East Region, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, February 15. http://www. saudiaramco. com. sa/homepage/projects (access June 5, 2009)