Samasource Give Work Not Aid - 8822 Words

9 -9 1 2 -0 1 1 REV: JUNE 18, 2012 FRANCESCA GINO BRADLEY R. STAATS Samasource: Give Work, Not Aid Work is at the core of human dignity: it is how we define ourselves and our position in the world. The disparity in access to decent work that pays a fair wage between rich and poor represents, in my mind, the biggest threat to global stability. — Leila Janah, CEO and founder, Samasource As she landed at the San Francisco International Airport, Leila Janah reflected on her most recent visit to Samasource’s delivery centers in Kenya. Founded in September 2008, Samasource connected over 1,500 people living in poverty to work over the Internet. The company secured contracts for digital services from large companies in the United States†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"The sad thing,† she continued, â€Å"is that ‘asking,’ for them, was a rational response to severely limited economic opportunities.† The students she had in her classes weren’t lacking in human capital, but they were lacking in opportunities to deploy that human capital. Just a few years later, Janah went to Harvard University to pursue her undergraduate degree. She studied economic development with a focus on Africa. While at Harvard it became clear to her that while trade was good for developing countries at the macro level, the benefits didn’t necessarily flow to poor people at the bottom of the pyramid. During a year off, she joined the World Bank. While she found this big organization’s efforts to be well intentioned, she left after a short time, disillusioned with the process. Janah noted, â€Å"In trying to solve the problems of economic development, it was clear to me that the need wasn’t for aid to governments; the need was for dignified work to reach people.† Her next job was at a management consulting firm where she consulted for a large business process outsourcing (BPO) firm. During those engagements, she had the opportunity to learn how the industry worked. It became clear to her that digital work was a type that could yield development in emerging regions. In early 2008, she quit her job as a consultant and took a position as a visiting scholar for the Program for Global Justice at Stanford University. Later that year, Janah founded Samasource. Sama translates

Argumentative Essay On Caffeine - 1353 Words

Drinking caffeine in the morning to start off the day might seem like the right thing to do in the morning but is it really harmful? Caffeine can be really addictive and may even cause death if used way that not meant for your body. About 85 percent of the U.S. population that’s an adult drinks about three cups of coffee a day and that’s not even counting soda or energy drinks. Caffeine has been around for more than a thousand years and we still don’t understand everything about what it does for us. There are people who will argue if caffeine is an actual addiction or if it’s even healthy till this day. With all the information gather over the last one thousand years there is more evidence that caffeine is doing more harm than good.†¦show more content†¦This distinction can be difficult to discern, particularly with prescribed pain medications, for which the need for increasing dosages can represent tolerance or a worsening underlying problem, as opposed to the beginning of abuse or addiction (NIDA).† With that being said not everyone who consumes caffeine is going to be addicted to it but, it can happen. There are a lot of addictive things in this world and caffeine is in almost all of our normal consumables and it can be considered a form of addiction. How is caffeine an addiction, though? Your chemistry in your brain can change due to the amount of caffeine intake you ingest in a day to day basis. This means the brain will produce more of adenosine receptors to make up the ones being intercepted by caffeine. So this means you have to increase the dose of caffeine to make up for the last time. This makes it a form of drug because you’re still craving more power to get the same experience as last time you drank caffeine. Building a tolerance over caffeine is very doable over a long period of time of drinking it. To summarize it drinking caffeine will make you want more of it by producing a positive feeling for a short term. While caffeine is mainly a physical addiction to some people, there is still research being done today to see if it’s also a behavioral addiction as well. Some say caffeine isn’t a real drug because it’s not illegal to consume, but the only real difference is it’s a lighter form ofShow MoreRelatedPsychology and Ob9277 Words   |  38 Pagesparticipants generally receives a __________. For example, they may receive a dose of caffeine or a change in room temperature. a) dependent variable c) random effect b) treatment d) consequence ANS: b DIFF: 1 PG: 1-29 TYPE: R OB: 6 142. If you wanted to study the effects of caffeine on sleep, you could vary the consumption levels of caffeine. The administration of caffeine is a) the treatment. c) unethical. b) the control. d) the dependent variableRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesown conclusion, then its your responsibility to give them reasons they can appreciate. Lets examine that last remark. A conclusion backed up by one or more reasons in any order is called an argument, even when the reasoner is not being argumentative or disagreeable. The word â€Å"argument† is a technical term we will be using frequently in this course. Being logical means, among other things, that you should give an argument to support your conclusion if you expect other people to accept itRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagessolvers and decision makers who prefer to deal with technical tasks and straightforward, prescribed problems rather than social or interpersonal issues. They excel at problems that have one correct answer. Multiple-choice exams are preferred over essay exams. Research has suggested that these individuals are inclined toward careers in technology, engineering, and law. In college, students with a knowing style tend to major in the physical sciences, engineering, law, and computers. In business, they

Antecedents Consequences Internet Channel †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Antecedents Consequences Internet Channel? Answer: Introduction With the advent of ecommerce, the future of retail markets looks bleak. Though shopping has become a human need, transforming into a form of social ritual over the years, with the increase of online shopping, it has been observed that when compared to the marked increase of profits in the online market, the retail market falls heavily short and lags behind to a point that threatens its existence. This has led to the introduction of ecommerce schemes in many major retail chains, including Wal-Mart (Wolk and Skiera, 2009). The term pure retail is dead is slowly arising in the minds of the experts and the statistics are clearly pointing towards this devastating future of retail markets. Current Operation According to Kasiri and Ericson (2016), Currently, Wal-Mart, the giant of the retailing market, has begun to make its mark in the ecommerce market since 2011. It is estimated that the growth of sales in the ecommerce market will reach $22.049 trillion, a 6% growth from the previous year and that if the rates continues, the ecommerce sales will top $27 trillion in 2020. However since the introduction of ecommerce in Wal-Mart, the company has underperformed online. Despite having a larger sale base than most ecommerce companies, Amazon.com, an ecommerce giant, saw an increase of 27% in its retail sales in North America and 24% internationally, while Wal-Mart continues to have a slow increase of 15% year after year (Weltevrenden and Boschma, 2008). Discussion on the key points The difference in retail market and ecommerce has been estimated in the different mindset that the consumers go through during a transaction process (Kumar, 2016). Ecommerce markets provide convenience and competitive along with the theme of availability by providing anything we want, wherever we want and whenever we want. On the other hand, retail markets focuses on providing an experience to the consumer, that makes it beneficial for them to test a product, socialize in the marketplace, and create a social marketing platform to lead to a sale (Zhou, Dai Zhang, 2007). This is the reason why it is still seen that many new releases, consumers tend to appear in the retail market, socialize and purchase without resorting to a much more convenient ecommerce market. How it can be more effective with Internet technology Wal-Mart has already started investing in an ecommerce market to hold its position as not only one of the major retailing chains in the global market, but also a strong player in the world of ecommerce (Bellman, Lohse Johnson, 2000). However, due to its late entry in the ecommerce world, the position of Wal-Mart is falling short before the giants of ecommerce like Amazon and Ebay who are still ruling the online marketing world. However, if the future of the retail markets needs to be held, it should merge with the digital world and make its store more experience friendly, thus enabling Wi-Fi technology in stores and inducing customers to participate in product release programmes, in self-customization programmes (Wirtz, Schilke and Ullrich, 2010). Recommendation Retail markets should not search for new channels to increase their sales, nor should they compete to be the cheapest but rather they should start taking some serious efforts to make an environment conducive of marketing socialization, making the distribution of experience their main goal. Thus, they should use interactive mechanism where customers are put into an environment where they could try new products, play with the products, review their social networking sites, and even customize their own products in the store (Zhou, Dai Zhang , 2007). Conclusion Retailing has been an important part in the development of the market economy of the world. Now that its floundering under the pressure from the new form of market facilitated by the internet, there is a necessity to make some large scale alterations to the physical setting of the retail market and enable the market to adopt digitalization fast. References Bellman, S., Lohse, G.L Johnson, E.J., 2000, Predictors of Online Buying Behavior, Communications of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery), Vol. 42, No, 12: 32-38 [online]. https://www.cscanada.net/index.php/css/article/download/1087/1106 [Accessed 19th September 2017]. Kasiri, N. and Ericson, G.S., 2016, Beyond operational efficiency in retail: Rfid's tactical and strategic implications International Conference on Intellectual Capital and Knowledge Management and Organisational Learning, 136-142 [online]. Accessed from: https://search.proquest.com/openview/7f0483924466f5184a645d4596365fd3/1?pq-origsite=gscholarcbl=1796420 [Accessed 19th September 2017] Kumar, S., 2016, Impact of Information Technology on E-Commerce in India, International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science, 7.6[online]. Available from: https://search.proquest.com/openview/d9e2c4883acc8f4f38e11ab0984d62ce/1?pq-origsite=gscholarcbl=1606379 [Accessed 20th September 2017] Weltevrenden, J. W. Boschma, R.A., 2008, Internet strategies and the performance of Dutch retailers , Journal of Retailing Consumer Services, 15, pp. 163-178 [online]. Accessed from: https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=3cad=rjauact=8ved=0ahUKEwjrzaHw-bbWAhWIMo8KHZ7qAu8QFggzMAIurl=http%3A%2F%2Foro.open.ac.uk%2F24815%2F2%2F88C00795.pdfusg=AFQjCNEn6ZLb-w0NNJ1syEdoW0lqSkBQnQ [Accessed 20th September 2017] Wirtz, B.W., Schilke, O. Ullrich, S., 2010, Strategic Development of Business Models:: Implications of the Web 2.0 for Creating Value on the Internet Long Range Planning [in press], pps 19 [online]. Available from: https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=2cad=rjauact=8ved=0ahUKEwiM9reL-bbWAhXGRY8KHQBmDm4QFggvMAEurl=http%3A%2F%2Fisiarticles.com%2Fbundles%2FArticle%2Fpre%2Fpdf%2F7685.pdfusg=AFQjCNHpE2N0iW18ad5E_sDjdAAYt37DMw [Accessed 20 September 2017] Wolk, A. Skiera, B., 2009, Antecedents and consequences of Internet channel performance, Journal of Retailing Consumer Services, 16, pp. 163-173 [online]. Available from https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=6cad=rjauact=8ved=0ahUKEwjk8ZnD-rbWAhUGuo8KHT4QAIEQFgg3MAUurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.toknowpress.net%2FISBN%2F978-961-6914-16-1%2Fpapers%2FML16-022.pdfusg=AFQjCNFOXK5Dh64RO3i3OjHV4PAUAIL38w [Accessed 19th September 2017] Zhou, L., Dai, L Zhang, D., 2007, Online Shopping Acceptance Model A Critical Survey of Consumer Factors in Online Shopping, Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 8, No. 1:41-62 [online. Available from: https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=trct=jq=esrc=ssource=webcd=1cad=rjauact=8ved=0ahUKEwiFpZmb-rbWAhUZT48KHcT5BX0QFggnMAAurl=http%3A%2F%2Fojs.jecr.org%2Fjecr%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F08_1_p04.pdfusg=AFQjCNHgo0ww6SDKJyMEYOeDzyJ1AUKg2A [Accessed 20th September 2017]

The harvesting of roundwood Essays - Forestry, Logging,

The harvesting of roundwood The first stage of timber processing is the wood harvest. Felled trees with branches removed and trunks cut to length for transportation are commonly referred to as roundwood'. European forests are some of the most intensively managed in the world. Depending on the topography, the common practice usually ranges from: Clear felling and artificial regeneration of whole stands of plantation trees. Natural regeneration under shelterwood. Mixed and natural regeneration combined with selective cutting Clear fell harvesting with specially customised harvester heads offer the greatest efficiencies in terms of annual yield due to the regular trunk diameter of consecutive farmed trees. It would take 24 chainsaw operators to match this output manually. In northern Europe, output of 18 m3 per machine hour can be achieved with skilled mechanical operators when cutting softwood trunks of approximately 0.3 m3. Thinning and clear-cut harvesting operations are increasingly mechanised for optimum productivity, particularly in Nordic countries where almost 100% of logging is fully mechanized, integrating cut-to length systems. Mechanized round wood harvesting is carried out by customised cutting heads mounted on a hydraulically controlled harvester vehicle. This head' is equipped with a gripping mechanism, debarking rollers, a chainsaw and de-limbing knives. These line harvesting processes can occur at speeds of up to 5 m/s. A Typical mechanical timber harvester head displaying gripper and debarking rollers. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032116306050 Reference The wood from the trees: The use of timber in construction. (2017, February). Retrieved February 7, 2018, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032116306050

An analysis of the film Fight Club essays

An analysis of the film Fight Club essays For years, David Fincher has been turning out some of the most stylish and inventive thrillers to ever hit the American screens. In spite of critical and public backlash, his Alien 3 remains the most technically interesting of that series, and Seven stands as the suspense film upon which all other modern suspense films are based. With The Game, he proved himself more than a one-movie wonder and emerged as one of the most original filmmakers working in Hollywood. His new film, Fight Club, however, is his most challenging piece of work. It is a film that demands that its viewers look past what's on the surface and find something deeper. Fight Club is a multi-layered film with many subplots and multiple themes. Fincher delves into such topics as consumerism, the feminization of society, manipulation, cultism, fascism, and even the psychosemantics of the human id and ego. Primarily, it is a film that surrealistically describes the status of the American male at the end of the 20th century: disenchanted, unfulfilled, castrated and looking for a way out. It depicts how consumerist males have been emasculated by their modern life styles, by a feminized consumer culture that places more worth on nice furniture and nice wardrobe than masculine values like power and strength. The central character in the film, who remains nameless and who is played by Edward Norton, is very much like Lester Burnham of American Beauty. He is trapped in the corporate world and finds himself increasingly dissatisfied with the fruits it is supposed to deliver. Norton's character leads an unfulfilled and aimless life. Rather than masturbating as an outlet, he buys furniture from IKEA. It is by no chance that our Narrator is not given a name: he is the Everyman of the 90s, "a slave to the IKEA nesting instinct" (Fight Club) with an apartment that owns him more than he owns it. He also suffers from insomnia for which the only cure seems to come in the form...

British and Irish company law Essays - Legal Entities, Free Essays

British and Irish company law Essays - Legal Entities, Free Essays In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A company limited by guarantee does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as guarantors. The guarantors give an undertaking to contribute a nominal amount (typically very small) in the event of the winding up of the company.[1] It is often believed that such a company cannot distribute its profits to its members but (depending on the provisions of the articles) this is not actually true.[2] Converting a limited company to a Community Interest Company (CIC) removes this doubt entirely, as CICs feature an asset lock which prevents the extraction of profits. However, a company limited by guarantee that distributes its profits to members (nor CICs) would not be eligible for charitable status. A private company limited by shares, usually called a private limited company (Ltd.) (though this can theoretically also refer to a private company limited by guarantee), is a type of company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, Scotland, that of certain Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland. It has shareholders with limited liability and its shares may not be offered to the general public, unlike those of a public limited company (plc). "Limited by shares" means that the company has shareholders, and that the liability of the shareholders to creditors of the company is limited to the capital originally invested, i.e. the nominal value of the shares and any premium paid in return for the issue of the shares by the company. A shareholder's personal assets are thereby protected in the event of the company's insolvency, but money invested in the company will be lost. Introduction Companies limited by guarantee are widely used for charities, community projects, clubs, societies and other similar bodies. Most guarantee companies are not-for-profit companies, that is, they do not distribute their profits to their members but either retain them within the company or use them for some other purpose. Most such companies need their articles to be drafted for that particular organisation, and this is the main specialised work to be undertaken. Community Companies CIC at registering such companies and their website gives much more detailed information. Why use a guarantee company? The main reason for a charity, community project, etc., to be a company limited by guarantee is to protect the people running the company from personal liability for the company's debts, just as a business may be set up as a company limited by shares for the same reason. Sometimes funding bodies, such as local authorities, insist on an organisation being registered as a company limited by guarantee. Limited liability If a charity, community project, club, etc. is not registered as a limited company, then the people running it (typically the management committee, etc.) can be made personally liable for its unpaid debts. This can be a real risk. Some charities, community groups, sports clubs, etc. can be substantial enterprises, with liabilities that cannot easily be turned off. They may have leasehold premises, employ people, have equipment on finance contracts, etc. If the income does not meet these outgoings, the charity, etc. may become insolvent, and the people running it (though not usually the members at large who are not on the committee) can be made personally liable for the shortfall. This can happen because of unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, such as the sudden withdrawal of financial support from a body such as the local authority. With a company, on the other hand, the company itself is a separate legal entity and it, not the people who own or run it, is liable for its debts. In a company limited by shares, the shareholders' liability is limited to the amount the shareholder has agreed to pay for his or her shares. In a company limited by guarantee, the liability is limited to the amount of the guarantee set out in the company's articles, which is typically just 1. In both a company limited by shares and one limited by guarantee, the people running the company (the directors) will only incur any personal liability for the company's debts if they have been guilty

Do u agree or disagree with Boethius view on free will Essay

Do u agree or disagree with Boethius view on free will - Essay Example Most certainly, free will is practical, and the independence of choice by people to embrace virtue is a factor reliant on the exercise of free choice of the will. The choice to do the unethical is also subject to the free will and decision of an individual. All humanity is rational, and the choice to do evil does not come from God. If humans were to follow the will of God, there would be no evil. Therefore, the presence of evil in the society emanates from the authority of humans to observe the free choice of the will. The free choice of the will of individuals may be compromised because of the desires that humans possess. The passion possessed by individuals explains their how their desires drive them to commit evil despite God’s wish for humanity to prevail. Even so, there is no connection of God with the evil and all source of evil is from free choice of the will that individuals posses. God bears no responsibility for the actions of humans. The relationship that humans hav e, with God, requires the need to practice virtue. God does not require humans to compromise the free choice of will to have intolerable conducts in the society. The determination of causation in humans has unlimited provisions, and understanding is of basis of establishing what is better than the other is. This entails a succinct understanding of the ability of humans to launch detailed and comprehensive inquiry in a concern or problem. The voluntary decisions of the mind render the determination of the problem causation an unlimited endeavor. The notion of necessity and causation of phenomena or a problem has virtually no end and any inquiry would turn to end at supposition (Cahn 869). The only way to determine problem causation is to bring the diverse causes to narrow positions and assume that the unit used is representative enough to believe in the cause. Determination of causation refers to the notion that every action of humans is unavoidable. Free choice of will has an effect on the determination of causation. Every event has a cause, the basis of which its necessity originates. Human actions emanate from the causes, and their fulfillment is out of free choice of the will. The causes of the various actions of humans are the necessitating factors that motivate the observance of the free choice of will. In response to the question of necessity and liberty of the mind, there is a distinct relationship between necessity and the free choice of the will. Necessity refers to the factor that adjoins the cause and the effects of a choice. Since the mind possesses the freedom of choice, liberty is a creation of necessity. It is on liberty of mind that the proof of free choice finds its basis. It entails the capacity to pursue the diverse actions we have according to the forces dictated by the will. That is, if one chooses to advance an issue, he or she enjoys the freedom. Similarly, if the same person chooses to reverse the decision, they would enjoy the same lev el of freedom to do so as they would to perform the contrary (Cahn 869). That would offer a ten tentative means of determining free will. Since liberty of the mind and necessity have relationships, and God has a dictation on necessity, then God has control over the liberty of the mind. If necessity was to demand evil, liberty of mind that acts on the necessity would lead to choice of the evil. The relationship between necessity and liberty of mind may be a reason for immoral conducts of humans. Ethics and religion, in any society, show

Modernist and Postmodernist Fashion Designers Essay

Modernist and Postmodernist Fashion Designers - Essay Example The essay "Modernist and Postmodernist Fashion Designers" discusses the designers and fashion in the context of Modernism and Postmodernism. The word 'modern' from which 'modernism' seems to be coined, generically refer to anything that is contemporaneous; in this sense, all art can be said to be modern as at when it was made. However, as an art historical term, modernism refers to a period dating from around the 1860s through the 1970s and is therefore used to identify the style, ideology and forms of art produced during this period. According to Klages (2003), modernism can be described as the movement in visual arts, music, literature, fashion and drama, which rejected the old Victorian standards of how art should be made, consumed, and what it should mean. During the later half of the 20th century, it became gradually apparent to many that the worldview fostered through Modernism is flawed, corrupt, and oppressive. A couple of events, including both World Wars, further heightened this perception. The perceived failure of modernism, as a movement and ideology, gave birth to the new period now referred to as Postmodernism, an ideology that has only emerged as an area of academic study since the mid-1980s. However, the term postmodernism is used in a number of confusing of ways; there is a problem with assigning a definite or useful definition to the term, most definitions are hopelessly vague and often inconsistent with each other. For some, postmodernism means anti-modern. while for others it is merely a revision of modernist premises (Burke, 2005; Witcombe, 2000). The stance of those who see postmodernism as anti-modernism is a basic rejection of the major tenets of modernism; that is, a rejection of the doctrine of the supremacy of reason, the notion of truth, the belief in the perfectibility of man, and the idea that we could create a better, if not perfect, society. This stance has been labelled 'deconstructive

Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Management - Assignment Example Effective information cycles aid the public in improving the quality of goods and services provided when they feedback from the public. The feedback portrays the level of satisfaction among users of the firm’s commodities. Informing the public is a constitutional affair that the law looks into. This is because the firms and the public are in contract agreements most times. Involving the public in firm activity not only helps in providing quality production of commodities, it also creates security networks for the firms. Firms that involve the public in their activities gain a substantial amount of confidence in their customers and develop consumer loyalties with them. Firms can involve the public in their activities by allowing them to use their facilities friendly rates that are subsidized or without paying for them at all. Such facilities like the gymnasium, public halls and fields. Firms should also provide employment to the public without bias to create better relations with its

Challenges to Female Entrepreneurs | Research

Challenges to Female Entrepreneurs | Research INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Entrepreneurship as a research field attracts the interest of many researchers because it is a tool of development for many economies in the world (Creamer, 2006), Likewise views on feminism today are vast as they are varied and contentious, (Ikoku, 2002), which explains the increasing attention of Female Entrepreneurship in the recent years (Jamali,2009). Not only does female entrepreneurship contribute to economic growth and employment creation, but it is increasingly recognized to also enhance the diversity of entrepreneurship in any economic system (Verheul et al., 2006) and to provide avenues for female expression and potential fulfillment (Jamali,2009; Eddleston and Powell, 2008). The investigation of the factors that leads particular people to become entrepreneurs instead of others has been a question of many researches. So, many researchers have tried to understand the reasons leading those people to entrepreneurship. Toward that direction, theories and models (Leahey, 2006) were developed, and focused on the intentions that make people undertake entrepreneurship action, because the intentions are the best predictor factor for the future behavior of a person, such as the foundation of an enterprise (Krueger, 2005). So it is supported, that by formulating fundamental theories for the entrepreneurial intentions, we can explain a basic peace of the field of entrepreneurship as it affects genders. Institutional theory has been viewed as a fruitful theoretical lens in the context of female entrepreneurship research (Baugh et al., 2006). Drawing on institutional theory, Scott (1995) enumerates salient regulative, normative and cognitive pillars of institutions, which promote stability and predictability in social behavior, through compliance with codified laws. Of course there are some factors that contribute to the prediction of the entrepreneurial intentions such as the attitude and the degree of desirability toward that behavior and the level of the feasibility (Krueger, 2005). Davidson (2005) mentioned other factors defining the intentions of entrepreneurship such as propensity to action, personal convictions and other demographic variables such as gender, age, educational level and economic environment. 1.2 Women in Business The 20th century has been a period of rapid change for many women, but life for women in some parts of the world still remains harsh. However, women are getting a vital role in the global market as entrepreneurs, they play a large and growing role in the US, Canada and UK. Hisrick Ozturk,(1999) attributed their success to access to greater support from women mentors and role models and easier access to formal training in the principles of business planning and organization. Whereas, women in developing countries face obstacles such as lack of access to education and training, access to finance as well as discrimination and lack of respect or not being taken seriously (Woldie adersua,2004;Ezeaku Ozigbo, 2009). Globally, it is estimated that women account for 25-33 percent of all businesses (National Foundation of Women Business Owners, 1998). Whilst in the UK and the USA, they account for 26 and 33 percent of business start-ups respectively, surprisingly, in the Sub- Saharan Africa it is 80 percent (Kitching and Woldie, 2004).Despite the high contribution in Africa, their needs seem to be overlooked and largely hidden within the informal sector compared to their male counterparts (Mordi et al.,2009). The subject of womens career development has become increasingly important as the percentage of the Nigerian labour force that is female has increased from 11.2% two decades ago to 40.4% today (Federal office of statistics) and the proportion is expected to increase further (Nakhaie, 2007). Although there have been some women in managerial positions during the last decade, the number has been painfully few in the light of the fact that over forty percent of the work force are women. Nigerian Economy Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and accounts for half of West Africas population, and over 25 percent of Sub- Sahara Africa (SSA) (Nkamnebe, 2008). It is populated with over 150 million inhabitants, of which, over half of the population 15-64 years is young and active (C. I. A, 2010), still the country is characterized with poverty and is on the increase. For instance, poverty increased from 35 million people in 1985, to 39 million people in 1992; 67 people in 1996; and 74 million people in 1999. In addition, Human Development Programme indicates that 70.8 percent and 92.4 percent of Nigerian population live below US$1 (N117) and US$2 (N234) daily respectively (UNDP,2007). This claim supports the ranking of Nigeria among less developed nations of the world (UNDP, 2007). The Nigerian labour market has been characterized by high rate of unemployment, low wage and poor working conditions. This unwholesome situation evolved after the oil boom of the 1970s and remained so till date (Nnanna, Alade and Odoko, 2003). Prior to the oil boom, the Nigerian economy was largely agrarian and about 70% of the working population was engaged in agricultural activities in the rural areas. Wage rates were also comparable to international standards and the average Nigerian worker could afford decent living. In the 1960s, the emphasis of employment policies was that of shifting labour from the agricultural sector to the manufacturing sector. This appeared to be the natural path of economic growth and development, following the experienced of the developed countries (Ajakaiye, 2001). However, the Nigerian peculiarities of land tenure system, tenancy and the very rudimentary processes of farming made it extremely difficult to deploy substantially advance technology in the sector. Moreover, at that time economic policies concentrated more on the development of the manufacturing sector, under the much touted import-substitution strategy. Rather, labour moved from the agricultural sector to the services sector, with little productivity gains. Both agriculture and manufacturing lost out. The issue of sustainable development in the Third World like Nigeria has been a growing concern to both the government and the private sector. The government had invested so much money on this platform over the years but has not yielded any meaningful result. It has been realized in the recent years that there are limits to which the government alone can promote development especially with Nigerian peculiar developmental challenges due to maladministration, corruption, unstable macroeconomic regime and unpredictable fiscal policies by successive administrations (Fasua, 2006). Thus, both the public and the private sectors of the economy need to be involved in the industrial development process of the country. It is on this basis that government begins to engage in privatization policy with the view of allowing the private sector to participate in the economic development of the nation (Olu, 2009). The weak economy itself choked out several business enterprises and curtailed employment opportunities. Staff retrenchment became pervasive, starting first in the private sector and later the public sector. The unemployment was more problematic in the urban areas, as shown in the following chart (CBN, 2003). Nwoye (2007) further suggested that the best way to stimulate the economic system is by mobilizing energy, expertise and resource in Small and Medium Enterprises which will increase productivity, and ultimately improve the social life and economic welfare. The author was also concerned about the attainment of economic growth when half the population being female gender is marginalized in policy planning and economic resource management matters. Moreover, with women comprising of 52 percent of Africas estimated 805 million population, womens empowerment is of the essence for Africa sustainable growth. This claim is applicable to Nigeria which is the most populous country in Africa. 1.3 Research Gap Research on female business owners is extensive in the industrialised economies, especially the United States and Canada (Lerner, Brush and Hisrich, 1997), which has helped the development and needs of the female entrepreneurs. Most of the research reflects the characteristics, experiences and challenges of female entrepreneurs in the western world (Kitching and Woldie, 2004; Carter, 2000), However, a limited number of studies have been undertaken to investigate these issues in the developing countries (Mordi et al., 2010). Despite the extent of female entrepreneurs in involvement in new business formation, the economic impact of women led businesses has been down-played (Carter et al.,2002): Female entrepreneurship is an under-researched area with tremendous economic potential and one that requires special attention (Henry, 2002) Thus, there has been a growing call by scholars for studies in non- Western context to deepen our knowledge of the socially constructed nature of female entrepreneurs. In response to this research gap, the author chooses Nigeria as the scope of analysis. Aims and Objective of the Research The aim of the study is to take a deeper look at the problems faced by female entrepreneurs in Nigeria focusing on gender effects and other factors in the environment. The following objectives are formulated to guide the investigation: To identify factors in the business environment that affects the development and survival of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria. To ascertain if the issue of female gender marginalization in Nigeria affects entrepreneurial ability of women. To determine whether family roles have any effect on female entrepreneur performance in Nigeria. To determine if there is any relationship between gender and entrepreneurial skill in Nigeria. To ascertain whether culture and beliefs affect the performance of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria The dissertation deals with the problem of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The unit of analysis is the gender. The focus is on individual and organizational shortcomings of nascent and young entrepreneurs and their ventures and employs a theoretical framework that allows for addressing these managerial problems by adopting an evolutionary perspective. Research Questions The following research questions are formulated to guide the investigation: Are there factors in the business environment that affects the development and survival of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria? Does the issue of female gender marginalization in Nigeria affects entrepreneurial ability of women? Do family roles have effect on female entrepreneur performance in Nigeria? Is there any relationship between gender inequality and entrepreneurial skill in Nigeria? Do culture and beliefs affect the performance of female entrepreneurs in Nigeria? Research Hypotheses For the purpose of this study, it is important to test the following hypotheses: Hypothesis I Ho: The issue of female gender marginalization in Nigeria has no effects on entrepreneurial ability of women. Hi: The issue of female gender marginalization in Nigeria has effects on entrepreneurial ability of women. Hypothesis II Ho: There is no relationship between the family roles and female entrepreneurs performance in Nigeria. Hi: There is relationship between the family roles and female entrepreneurs performance in Nigeria. Hypothesis III Ho: Gender inequality is not significant to female entrepreneurial ability in Nigeria Hi: Gender inequality is significant to female entrepreneurial ability in Nigeria Significance of the Study This is significant to many people in many areas. In this light, the study is relevant because it seeks to provide entrepreneurial guideline and gender development procedure that would lead to effective attainment of national objectives in terms of economic growth and reduction of unemployment in Nigeria. To the female gender the study would serve as eye opener in terms of discovering their entrepreneurial potentials despite the influence of culture and beliefs. The conclusions can be used both in the evaluation of the current system concerning entrepreneurship as well as in the formation of new strategies in the entrepreneurship in tertiary education. It would provide students in higher-institutions with sound knowledge and give them avenue to the understanding the need for venturing into entrepreneurial activities, how, why and when entrepreneurial skills acquired tertiary institutions should be implemented. Finally, the study would serve as a veritable source of information for individuals, youths irrespective of gender and the government, on how to harvest the rich benefit of entrepreneurship in the national building and economic development. 1.7 Scope of the Study In view of the fact that the study of problems faced by female entrepreneurs involves all and sundry and cannot be exhausted in this research. It therefore becomes necessary to define the scope of the study. The scope of this study is female entrepreneurs and graduates on National Youth Corps Service (NYSC) in Lagos area of Nigeria, 2010. Therefore, this research is an empirical examination of entrepreneurship problems in Nigeria and entrepreneurial skills among graduates on NYSC; analysis by gender; it will go beyond theoretical approach to evaluate entrepreneurs problems and gender effect on entrepreneurship to generate further insight. 1.8 Structure of the Dissertation This study is divided into five parts. Chapter one is the introductory which highlights the statement of the identified problems, objectives, research questions and significance of the study, etc. Chapter two contains a detailed review of literature on key concepts of entrepreneurship, gender influence on entrepreneur performance and problems faced by female entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Chapter three discusses the research design, data collection methods, sample size determination, questionnaire design and administration, etc. In chapter four, the presentation and analysis of data and the testing of hypotheses are carried out. The results and interpretation are presented. Chapter five is the concluding part of the study, where reasons are given for the results obtained from the research. Conclusions, recommendations, and suggestions are made for improvement based on the research findings. 1.9 Definition of Terms Entrepreneur: Is the innovating individual, who initiates and nurtures to growth a new and an on going business organisation, where none existed before. Entrepreneurial Skill: The potential and ability of an individual to initiate and nurtures a new business to growth, expertly. Development: Is defined as gradual advancement through progressive stages of growth from within Capital Venture: Is a form of long term investment for start-up companies and growing businesses that have the potential to develop into significant economic contributors. Gender: Nature of human being that depict sex which is made of male and female. Graduates: Young Schools leavers especially those from higher institution of learner (i.e. universities, polytechnic and colleges, etc) National Youth Corps Service: A compulsory one year work experience program for graduates in Nigeria

Teenagers and Use of Contraceptives

Teen pregnancy has been a great issue that has been widely discussed about and seen to increase in the United States. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy one-third of girls in the US get pregnant at least once by the age of 20 and most of the pregnancies are unplanned (2011). Teen pregnancies have been increasing due to the fact that teens are not using contraceptives to prevent any pregnancies and society does not do a good job on informing teens of the importance of contraceptives and protecting themselves when they engage in sexual activity, especially at a young age.Psychological and socio-economical issues can also play a role in teen pregnancy, some girls decide to intentionally get pregnant because of their low self esteem, not having any goals for the future, having problems at home or even if their mother or sister were teen mothers. Teens should have more knowledge on protection and the importance of contraceptives because not only can it prevent pregnancies but also prevent sexually transmitted diseases.As previously mentioned teen pregnancies are at a high once again and teens who engage in sexual activity do not use the proper forms of protection and society does not highlight the importance of birth control. Sarah Brown, CEO of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy stated that the magic formula for the decline of teen pregnancy is having less sex or using more contraceptives (PR Newswire). Most teens are unaware of the importance of having protected sex it can change their life dramatically. Half of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned–about three million each year (NCPTUP).Unplanned pregnancies result from unprotected sex; therefore, the use of birth control should be highly motivated in order to prevent any pregnancies. In their public opinion survey the NCPTUP concluded that 46% of teens wished young people were getting more information about abstinence and contraception. Rekha Daver, professor of gynecology at the grant Medical School in JJ Hospital states that there needs to be more reproductive health education among children to teach them about safe sex and proper methods of contraception.Teens should be taught at a younger age to think about their future and how being pregnant can transform and affect their whole life, as well as teaching them the value of safe sex and what can be taken to prevent unwanted pregnancies or abortions. More health education in schools should be emphasized to acknowledge students the risks of becoming teen parents and the importance of preventing pregnancies by the use of birth control. Teens should have easy access to these contraceptives in order to protect themselves during sexual intercourse and should not be ashamed to seek these resources since it is for their well-being.The media can play a prominent figure in teen pregnancy and the use of contraceptives; it has its positives and negative outlooks on it. Many people are skeptical about TV series that are popular among adolescents because some believe that it teaches them to practice safe sex or not practice sex at all to prevent any unwanted pregnancies, but on the other hand some believe that it lionizes teen parents that are on shows like Teen Mom and it gives them a higher status since they are now popular and highly seen throughout the nation.Some teens may want to follow their footsteps and believe that if they become teen parents they might also become recognized like the teen moms on the show. Another TV series that is very popular and seen among teens is The Secret Life of an American Teenager, it informs the audience how not using protection during sex can cause a serious life changing effect and becoming a teen parent is followed by many psychological, socio-economic and social issues such as becoming alienated from friends, not being able to financially sustain and care for a baby and believing that others think they are infer ior now that they have had a baby.In a poll conducted by the National Campaign to prevent pregnancies concluded that seven in ten young adults between the ages of 18-29 would support a campaign that would educate women and teens about all the birth control that can be accessed (2011). Many people support the use of the media to educate young teens the importance of protection and the wide range of birth control that can be used in order to prevent pregnancies, this will help decrease the high rate of teen pregnancies in the future. It also highlights the significance of using protection to prevent any further health risks such as sexually transmitted diseases.Each year, approximately three million cases of sexually transmitted diseases occur among teenagers according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not only does protection prevent pregnancies but it protects the health by preventing the transmission of sexual diseases among partners; according to the mentioned statist ic, many teens are becoming victims of these diseases and most of the teens could have prevented this by using a condom, but most teens are not informed how to prevent these diseases so it is very important for them to become educated on the topic in order to decrease the rate of sexually transmitted diseases.Another factor that plays a prominent role in teen pregnancy and knowledge of birth control comes from the teen’s psychological issues and how their parents raise them. Some teens may face difficult issues at home or at school and feel depressed and alone, some may have a low self-esteem and do not have a set goal for their future. Andrea Parrot, a Cornell women’s health and human sexuality expert said that girls intentionally get pregnant because they do not see any life goals in their future other than becoming a mother.She also mentions that teens do not have anything to strive for and have no one to look up to for admiration or affection so they believe that a baby may be a source to receive unconditional love. Parrot believes that more programs that would help young girls acquire skills to achieve life goals, increase their self esteem, relationship with family and education on sex and protection would dramatically decrease teen pregnancy; although, these programs should be more effective if it targets girls at an early age in order for them to be informed at a younger age and not commit these mistakes later on in their life.The way the teen was raised also is important because teens who were raised in a single parent household are often left to learn life lessons and sex on their own or through peers, and a teen whose mother was a teen mother or whose sister was a teen parent as well, is more likely to become a teen parent themselves. Parents influence their children’s decisions, so parents should inform their children more on safe sex and the importance of it.In a survey by The national Campaign states that 46% of teens say par ents influence their decision about sex, eight in ten teens say it would be much easier for teens to delay sexual activity if they were able to openly talk to their parents about sex, and six in ten teens agree that they do not use contraceptives because they fear that their parents will fond out. It is the parents’ responsibility to inform their teens about safe sex and contraceptives in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies at an early age and prevent diseases.Parents should be more open about the topic and feel comfortable to cover the issue with their children so their children can openly talk about sex with their parents. Teen pregnancy is a major issue in the US, psychological issues such as self esteem, sociological issues like relationship with peers and parents and social problems like society’s role on informing teens on sex and birth control play a prominent role in teen pregnancies.Informing teens at a younger age on the importance of safe sex and protectio n does not only decrease the rate of teen pregnancies but also decrease the rate of sexually transmitted diseases. Having a greater knowledge on sex education is the key factor for teens to make a dramatic decision in their lives to take precaution and think about their future before acting upon a simple consequence that can change their life such as not taking precaution.

CASE Analysis: Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Essay

The case describes how seven eleven has successfully established an innovative business model. Toshifumi Suzuki, CEO of Seven eleven Japan (SEJ), described Seven Eleven Stores as: â€Å"Stores where you can find a solution for any of your daily life’s problems. We always try to plan and design a store in such a way that our store neighbours, in particular, can get whatever they need at any time they want† SEJ, headquartered in Japan, leads the world wide seven Eleven chain, which had 24,912 stores in 18 countries in March 2003.In 2003 ranking of retailers by market value, SEJ was number one in Japan. Since its establishment in 1974, SEJ has never experienced a fall in income or profits. With 9,757 stores as of May, 2003, SEJ is the largest CVS chain in Japan. Its stores feature the same basic designs: large, highly visible sign in green, red and orange, a large store window, much brighter than average lightning and a spotlessly clean store. SEJ identifies their customer orientation, offering not only a rich assortment of products but total comfort to customers, as the source of SEJ’s rise to the top of the Japanese retail industry. Industry Background The Japanese Distribution System Prior to 1974: Traditional Japanese retailing consists of a conservative, multi-tiered system that combines large numbers of small wholesalers and retailers into complex exclusive networks. These networks are not based solely on economic efficiency but also on tight human relationships. The wholesale to retail level ratios (W/R) is measure of layers within distribution system. W/R ratio 1992 1998 US 0.98 – Japan – 2.3 Although the development of information technology in the industry has gradually improved the efficiency of the distribution system, small-to-medium-sized retailers owe their existence mainly to the multi-tiered and vertically integrated structure. Retail Business Environment The Japanese retail sector is still dominated by small retailers. Firms with one to four employees make up about 70% of the total number of stores. In these small shops, CVS still accounts for only 3.2% of all stores and only 5% of total sales Because of Japan’s small land area, most Japanese retail stores have too little space to maintain a wide assortment of products in either the store or inventory. These small, local â€Å"mom-and-pop† stores typically lack both managerial know-how and planning skills. In addition, given their limited size, they are often unable to bear large inventory risks and thus have to rely on manufacturers and wholesalers to bear part of that burden. Legal perspective Japanese government enforced in 1974 the Large-scale Retail Store (LRS) Law which regulated the business hours of larger outlets. Initially applied to stores over 1,500 m2, it was later extended in 1979 to stores with an area of over 500 m2. The law mandated that stores close by 7 P.M. each day and remained closed at least 30 shop days per year. Fueled by heavy pressure from abroad, the deregulation trend caused the LRS law to be changed in 1990 and practically abolished in 2001. While operating its large stores under the LRS law, Ito- Yokado, a parent company of SEJ, launched a new retail business based on small regional stores, which can effectively co-exist with large stores. As a result, CVS chains prove that small stores can compete against larger retailers by improving the efficiency and productivity of their franchise and continual striving to meet customer needs. Because of the density of the store network, CVS chains are not only places to sell products, but are also becoming an important part of the social infrastructure. Seven-Eleven Japan Ito-Yokado, a parent company of SEJ, was founded by Masatoshi Ito in 1964 as a 66-square-foot family clothing store in Tokyo. After starting a new chain of super stores offering a range of food and clothing products, he expanded his business into other distribution areas such as restaurants, department, discount and convenience stores. By 2002, the Ito- Yokado group was one of the largest retail groups in Japan with  ¥5,574 billion ($41.6 billion) in sales and 114,600 employees. Toshifumi Suzuki negotiated directly with Southland, then owner of Seven-Eleven, to bring the convenience store concept to Japan. Japanese consumers were generally more sensitive to product and service quality, more fickle and less price-sensitive. Therefore products had to be fresh, and the turnover rate very high. To meet such customer requirements within the constraint of limited shelf and storage capacity, it was necessary to forecast customers’ demand by the time of purchase, the store location and the weather. Providing the customer with well-targeted, differentiated products 24-hours a day, 7-days-a week was critical. As of 2003, SEJ is the largest convenience store chain with  ¥2,213 billion ($17.5 billion) revenue and 5,061 employees. Its market value of $21,721 million and consolidated net income of  ¥82,825 million ($690 million) are the highest in the whole of Japan’s retail industry. Strategy SEJ practice of continuous item control and well-organized delivery system, and the heavy use of information technology (IT). The basic mission of an SEJ store is to provide solutions for all the problems of everyday life. Each store offers a variety of high-quality products and services that are required daily or on an emergency basis to make life easier and more â€Å"convenient†. The two main reasons for the failure of existing retailers. They ignored: 1)  the importance of convenience to the customer and 2) the quality of the products and the service. SEJ developed some key principles to define a quality convenience store. 1. Reduction of lost opportunity: A missed opportunity to sell an item because it is out of stock is one of the most serious problems in retail business in terms of disappointing customers as well as missing the actual profit. 2. Effective Item Control and Well-Planned Product Supply Management: The American practice of keeping large inventories of a wide variety of products could not be applied in convenience stores in Japan where shelf and storage space are limited and maintaining a large inventory is prohibitive. SEJ pursued a strategy of supplying products in high demand with a rapid turnover rate and eliminating dead or slow-moving products through item-by-item analysis. The well-organized analysis and frequent replacement contributes to SEJ’s high product supply efficiency. 3. Commitment to Customer Satisfaction with Original Product Development and Friendly Service:SEJ not only sells manufacturers’ products but also researches customers’ potential needs. SEJ uses this research to provide original products at reasonable prices (such as a lunch boxes and prepared foods) Merchandising The store space available for a Seven-Eleven franchisee is, on average, only 110 m2. The items kept in stock and on the shelf are precisely selected for the targeted customers and product quality is kept high. Product turnover is high, and goods are always new and food fresh. SEJ discovered that customer loyalty was driven more by specific items than by item categories. To meet the demand and achieve such tight item-by item control, SEJ implemented the POS (Point of Sale) system in 1982, whereby storeowners could identify customer trends and enhance product differentiation. SEJ introduced its POS systems to collect sales data used to improve merchandising and the item-by-item control process. For instance, the cash register would not open  until the operator pushed the account button indicating the gender and estimated age of the customer. This information from the POS system was used for consumer trend analysis. Store Network Expansion SEJ considers its market dominating strategy of high-density, clustered store openings to be the key to efficiency and stability. The advantages of the market dominance strategy are: Improved brand awareness Increased customer visits to the stores Boosted distribution efficiency Enhanced productivity of franchisee-support services Improved advertising effectiveness Franchise Strategy Approximately 60% of SEJ stores were modified from old family owned stores (e.g., liquor or rice stores). The relationship between franchiser and franchisee is one of reciprocal obligations. The franchisee is an independent business which gives SEJ royalties and a long-term commitment, and concentrates on the tasks of selling and effectively managing inventory. The royalty that the franchisee pays to the franchiser is 43% of its gross profit. In exchange for their long-term commitment and royalties, SEJ provides franchisees with service from field representatives called Operation Field Counselors (OFC). Each of about 1,300 OFCs supervises between seven or eight stores, providing (i) advice on store operation and ordering and (ii) information on the portfolio of available items and on sales methods. This person-to-person contact with store managers is a key element of the SEJ franchise system. Each OFC visits each store at least twice a week and spends at least two hours providing adv ice and information. Such a close relationship not only motivates franchisees but also supports company-wide brand image and promotional strategies. Outsourcing Policy SEJ is known for its outsourcing policy and ability to manage supplier relationships. The rationalized distribution system crafted by SEJ created conflict within the traditional wholesale system. Over time, however, SEJ’s  system has proved highly reliable and efficient, covering everything from raw procurement to product deliveries. The collaboration between SEJ and the business partners includes shared information systems and know-how about operations management as well as quality control in the food manufacturers’ factories and delivery centres. By 2002, the company had built a network of 223 distribution centres and 195 factories dedicated to fast food production, all of them created and operated by wholesalers, suppliers and forward agents. Information Systems Strategy Daily, Seven-Eleven stores serve a total of 9.5 million customers, process five million order transactions and send 35 million sales transactions to the information systems centre where sales data is collected, integrated and analysed. The decisions have to be based on well-analysed hypothesis, order and validation. Information technology (IT) for SEJ is merely a method to support the cycle. SEJ prefers to outsource most of its information systems management to external service providers due to the speed at which the information technology market moves. This strategy allows the information systems department of SEJ to focus on developing a systems vision that fits with the business strategy, while the rest of the information systems management is outsourced. The department has evolved into a more strategic organization that links needs from stores with top management and proposes innovative system plans. SEJ regularly explores opportunities to gain first mover advantage by trying out state-of-the-art technologies: the first POS system in Japan in 1982, the first major use of Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) in 1991, etc. Operation Infrastructure Total Information Systems SEJ has continued to develop total information systems. In June 1999, the fifth generation total information system, in which SEJ invested  ¥60 billion ($500 million), was released in collaboration with 14 companies including NRI, NEC, Toshiba TEC, etc. High efficiency, maintainability and reliability of the total network system: The system connects 70,000 computers in stores, at headquarters and at supplier sites through satellite telecommunications, exclusive lines, ISDN and mobile networks via the most appropriate telecommunication technology. The combination of ISDN and satellite telecommunications realizes 45x faster speeds at 35x better cost performance. Terminals are constantly monitored and software and configuration can be updated remotely. The most critical systems such as online ordering and accounting systems are backed up at physically separated locations in Yokohama and Osaka. And in earthquake-prone Japan, satellite telecommunication provides an extra layer of safety. The system, now shared by 10,000 stores, is considered highly reliable due to the crisis management planning and high service levels. The store information system which encourages all store staff to participate in ordering: SEJ provides stores with multimedia information such as pictures, video, audio, text and numerical data, which is used by all employees in Seven-Eleven stores. The system platform shared with business partners: SEJ provides its business partners—vendors, distributors and manufactures—with a common infrastructure consisting of 1,800 terminals at 1,100 locations. The applications on the platform vary depending on the partner’s business: raw material ordering system, inventory management, production management, automated sorting system, for example. The broad system infrastructure facilitates collaboration among SEJ allies by improving the efficiency of delivery through the sharing of order, sales and inventory information. And finally, sophisticated analysis system which eliminates intuitive decision-making . Electronic Commerce Business SEJ categorizes its electronic commerce (EC) business into four major groups: 1) financial services, 2) Internet shopping site, 3) public and regional  services, and 4) in-store intelligent copy machines. Financial Services (settlement, finance, and card service): Launched in 1987, Seven-Eleven hasdeveloped the payment acceptance service whichprovides customers with a convenient means to paytheir bills 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Affiliatedcompanies number about 1,500 and the types ofpayment are mainly utilities: electricity, telephone,water, rent, and mail orders. This business has beensuccessful with 144 million yearly transactions witha total value of  ¥1.15 trillion (about $12.8 billion)and a 20% annual growth rate. Internet Shopping Site: 7dream.com, a subsidiary of SEJ, provides the internet shopping site by utilizing SEJ’s existing operating infrastructure in its EC activities. SEJ also ties into other internet sites and provides payment acceptance and pick-up service at the retail stores. Goods purchased via the Internet are picked up at stores 24-hours a day or delivered to customers’ homes, raising the value of Seven-Eleven stores and enhancing convenience for customers. Public, civil and regional services: SEJ’s meals-on wheels service, named Seven Meal Service, offers prepared meals and cooking ingredients to regional customers. Order can be made via the Internet. SEJ plans to expand its public services at stores via its EC platform so that customers can obtain civil services. In-store intelligent copy machines: Multipurpose copy machines at Seven-Eleven stores are connected the Internet and enable customers to print event tickets and documents created by customers at home as well as to pay for pre-ordered airline tickets. With the capability to attract 1,000 customers per day per store, SEJ is pursuing synergy between the existing retail and EC business units to encourage potential Internet users to visit Seven-Eleven stores and become new customers. SEJ also provides its EC platform service for EC partners with functions such as authentication, database, settlement, and distribution. Temperature-Separated Combined Distribution System Since 1976, SEJ has been developing a streamlined distribution system to efficiently integrate product supplies. The company established the Combined Delivery System, whereby the same kind of products coming from different suppliers can be centralized into 223 Combined Delivery Centres (CDCs). The combined distribution system allows products from different suppliers to be loaded on the same trucks for delivery to Seven-Eleven stores. Combined distribution consolidates product shipment from manufacturers to stores at similar optimum temperatures. In 22 years, SEJ has reduced the average number of vehicles visiting each store from 70 a day in 1974 to ten a day in 1998. Delivery routes and time are also well organized to maintain high efficiency. Competitors SEJ is the largest CVS chain in Japan in terms of the number of stores, sales, and net income followed by Lawson, C&S, Familymart, and Ministop. These top-five companies dominate the market with almost 90% market share. All four competitors operate franchise businesses with store networks expanding all over Japan. Competitors are increasingly investing in EC business to compete and establish dominance in a new area. In 1997, Lawson began implementing multimedia terminals in stores to gain first mover advantage. Lawson also tries to differentiate itself in the Internet shopping site named @Lawson by launching new services such net coupons, which was rare in Japan in 1999. Future Vision The company strives to achieve the maxim â€Å"the retail business should always keep up with change of customer demands† with three principles. 1. Responsiveness to changing customer needs and continuous improvement of customer services 2. Manufacturing retailer 3. The combination of demand chain and supply chain management with the common platform. Case Questions: 1. A convenience store chain attempts to be responsive and provide customers  what they need, when they need it, where they need it. What are some different ways that a convenience store supply chain can be responsive? What are some risks in each case? As In this increasingly competitive world, the whole concept of convenience stores from the existing concept of retail outlets have emerged to improve competitive advantage of businesses by enhancing customer service and by providing him with superior quality of products and experience. However, attaining this competitive advantage comes with added costs and risks. As responsiveness towards a customer’s demands increase, a convenience store chain gets exposed to greater uncertainty and risks- the risk of not having timely supply of essential goods, system breakdowns etc. A convenience store may deal in both perishable food items like processed fast foods and non-perishable items( life of more than 1 month) like frozen foods, magazines, beverages, and other consumer items like soaps, detergents etc. It is critical for any convenience store to have a tightly linked supply chain system for perishable items that need to be supplied to the final stores on daily basis. This distribution system ought to be flexible and highly responsive to alter delivery schedules depending on customer demands. The following are some ways that shall make convenience store supply chains operating on market dominance strategies more responsive- Local capacity: The convenience store chains can provide local cooking capacity that is, live counters at the stores and assemble foods on demand. The Inventory could be stored as raw material under controlled conditions at the stores and be supplied by the distributors at regular intervals. This would eliminate the need to supply fresh and fast foods from the to the outlets thrice a day thus bringing down the transportation cost of the entire distribution system and would add certainty to the production and distribution schedules. This strategy of selling fresh foods to customers would also enhance customer confidence in the brand. This is seen at the U.S. fast food restaurant franchise Subway where dinner and lunch sandwiches are assembled on demand. The main risk with this approach is that capacity is decentralized, leading to poorer utilization. High level of integration- One way of insuring more responsiveness is by further decentralizing the entire system. This can be attained by dividing each region further into  zones and having production plants in each zone nearer to each convenience stores. This would increase the set up cost for the parent company but in the long run but would also inhance the flow of information and service among the stores, suppliers and distributors thus increasing customer responsiveness and satisfaction. Local inventory: Responsiveness to customer demands can also be attained by having inventory available at the store at all times. This allows for the centralization of cooking capacity. But the main disadvantage of this way is not delivering fresh foods to customers thus increasing customer dissatisfaction and need for extra storage space. Rapid replenishment: Another approach is to set up rapid replenishment and supply the stores what they need and when they need it. This allows for centralization of cooking capacity, low levels of inventory, but increases the cost of replenishment and receiving. 2. Seven-Eleven’s supply chain strategy in Japan can be described as attempting to micro-match supply and demand using rapid replenishment. What are some risks associated with this choice? The main risk for convenience stores to adopt a supply chain system that works on rapid replenishment strategy is the potentially high cost of transportation and receiving at stores. The suppliers and factories are centrally located but the stores are scattered all across the city. So the company’s effort to supply fresh foods multiple times a day to all the stores increases the transportation costs. This one aspect can be taken care of by probably decentralizing the authority to produce fresh foods at convenience stores itself. Also, the fact that goods get unloaded multiple times a day reduces the store efficiency and increases customer dissatisfactions due to reduced services and frequent disruptions. This tends to fade away the customer’s experience at the store. Sudden breakdown of the information system or the transportation system connecting the stores to distribution centre and suppliers would also bring the functioning of the entire system to a halt leading to customer inconvenience and the resulting loss in sales. Thus convenience stores that attempt to micro-match supply and demand using rapid replenishment must take extra precautions to ensure timely delivery of goods, proper functioning of the information and transportation system, and customer’s convenience 3. What has Seven-Eleven done in its choice of facility location, inventory management, transportation, and information infrastructure to develop capabilities that support its supply chain strategy in Japan? Seven-Eleven Japan has chosen to operate a highly responsive operation and has chosen a supply chain design that supports this strategy. Their facility location choices are to saturate an area with stores, thereby making it easy for customers to shop and their own delivery trucks to move from store to store to replenish inventory. Seven-Eleven’s inventory system is run on an information system that transmits directly to the supplier and distribution centre; goods are produced using a pull system to replace what has been sold during that delivery period. The transportation system is flexible to maximize responsiveness while also achieving efficiency. All choices made by Seven-Eleven are structured to lower its transportation and receiving costs. For example, its area dominance strategy of opening at least 50-60 stores in an area helps with marketing but also lowers the cost of replenishment. All manufacturing facilities are centralized to get the maximum benefit of capacity aggregation and also lower the inbound transportation cost from the manufacturer to the distribution centre (DC). Seven-Eleven also requires all suppliers to deliver to the DC where products are sorted by temperature. This reduces the outbound transportation cost because of aggregation of deliveries across multiple suppliers. It also lowers the receiving cost. The information infrastructure is set up to allow store managers to place orders based on analysis of consumption data. The information infrastructure also facilitates the sorting of an order at the DC and receiving of the order at the store. The key point to emphasize here is that most decisions by Seven-Eleven are structured to aggregate transportation and receiving to make both cheaper. 4. Seven-Eleven does not allow direct store delivery in Japan but has all products flow through its distribution centre. What benefit does Seven-Eleven derive from this policy? When is direct store delivery more appropriate? Direct store delivery (DSD) would lower the utilization of the outbound trucks from the Seven-Eleven DC. It would also increase the receiving costs at the stores because of the increased deliveries. Thus, Seven-Eleven forces all suppliers to come in through the DC. DSD is most appropriate when stores are large and nearly-full truck load quantities are coming from a supplier to a store. This was the case, for example, in large U.S. Home Depot stores. For smaller stores it is almost always beneficial to have an intermediate aggregation point to lower the cost of freight. In fact, Home Depot itself is setting up these intermediate facilities for its new stores that are often smaller. In case of seven eleven, the benefit of delivery through its own distribution centre is total control of the system, aggregation of demand and minimal disruption at the retail outlets. If several suppliers tried to make two or three deliveries every day, it would detract from the store manager’s abil ity to provide customer service. Each of these suppliers would likely prefer their own way of doing things, their own inventory system, truck size, etc., which would make things more difficult for the Seven-Eleven system. The demand and production data would have to be shared rather than residing on Seven-Eleven’s system from cradle to grave. For items that cannot be prepared quickly, pull production may not provide the responsiveness that Seven-Eleven desires. In this case, the DC concept allows pooling of inventory which increases their overall service level while minimizing total system inventory of those items. Direct store delivery might be more appropriate if the items being delivered do not need bulk broken at a DC, have special handling requirements (lottery tickets, newspapers, or alcoholic beverages), or the supplier has a system that is consonant with Seven-Eleven’s (perhaps a regular bread run that has an information system that integrates with Seven-Eleven’s). 5. What do you think about the 7dream concept for Seven-Eleven in Japan? From a supply chain perspective, is it likely to be more successful in Japan or the United States? Why? 7dream makes sense given that Japanese customers are happy to receive their shipments at the local convenience store. From a logistics perspective, online deliveries can piggy back on Seven-Eleven’s existing distribution  network in Japan. Deliveries from the online supplier can be brought to the DC where they are sorted along with other deliveries destined for a store. This should increase the utilization of outbound transportation allowing Seven-Eleven to offer a lower cost alternative to having a package carrier deliver the product at home. The primary negatives are that 7dream will use up storage space and require the store to be able to retrieve specific packages for customers. One can argue that the concept may be more successful in Japan given the existing distribution network of Seven-Eleven and the frequency of visits by customers. Online delivery is able to link with the existing network. The high visit frequency ensures that packages are not occupying valuable store shelf space for a long time. Also, the frequent visits ensure that the marginal cost to the customer of picking up at Japanese Seven-Eleven is small. The 7dream concept allows e-commerce sites to use Seven-Eleven stores as drop-off and collection points for Japanese e-commerce customers. It has been extremely successful; a recent survey revealed that 92 per cent of the customers of one e-commerce company preferred to have their items shipped this way. It seems likely that this concept would work only for high density urban areas; It is being established in congested, less-safe urban areas for a service like package delivery. Suburban customers in the US would likely find it incredibly inconvenient and avoid it unless home delivery was not possible and the alternative was to pick up a package (for example, one that must be signed for) at the local carrier’s office. This is less likely to be the case in the United States. 6. Seven-Eleven is attempting to duplicate the supply chain structure that has succeeded in Japan in the United States with the introduction of CDCs. What are the pros and cons of this approach? Keep in mind that stores are also replenished by wholesalers and DSD by manufacturers. The supply chain structure for the US market can be close, but it can never be exactly as it is in Japan, and will probably not operate as smoothly as in Japan. Some of this is attributable to the culture and the corporate culture. Regardless of how like-minded supply chain partners claim to be, it would be extremely difficult to duplicate the collective spirit that  permeates Seven-Eleven Japan. The disadvantages of this system is that Seven-Eleven in the U.S. would probably have to run two system depending on whether the area could be treated as a dense urban location or a suburban or rural outpost. The cost of running the Seven-Eleven Japan system in middle-America would be prohibitive. The U.S. consumer in that region has too many alternatives that have 24 hour operations and are within a short drive. The difficulty of duplicating the Japan supply chain structure in the United States follows primarily from the much lower density of U.S. Seven-Eleven stores. This is compounded by the fact that Seven-Eleven stores are getting both direct store deliveries as well as wholesaler deliveries to its stores. Setting up its own DCs does not allow Seven-Eleven to get the same level of transportation aggregation as it gets in Japan. Its own distribution system would help more if all wholesaler deliveries and direct store deliveries were stopped and routed through the DC. Even then, having its own distribution system would add much less value than in Japan given the lower density of stores and larger distance between stores. Perhaps a hybrid system can be applied in select markets to test the system’s efficacy in the U.S. 7. The United States has food service distributors that also replenish convenience stores. What are the pros and cons to having a distributor replenish convenience stores versus a company like Seven-Eleven managing its own distribution function? The advantage of someone else replenishing stores is primarily cost; less transportation, material handling, and labour costs for your own system. Depending on how supply and reordering operations are designed, it might be possible for the distributors to perform the aggregation/demand smoothing function with minimal intervention by the individual Seven-Eleven franchise. One can contend that a distributor brings much more value to the table in the United States relative to Japan. Given the lower density of stores, a distributor is able to aggregate deliveries across many competing stores. This allows a distributor to reach levels of aggregation that cannot be achieved by a single chain such as Seven-Eleven. The disadvantage of the outsourced replenishment service is an overall loss of control, an increased  number of deliveries to each store, and the difficulty of integrating information flows across disparate systems. Also, Seven-Eleven is unable to exploit having a large number of stores. In fact, it may be argued that going through the distributor has Seven-Eleven subsidize deliveries to competing smaller chains that may also be using the same distributor

Free Essays on TommyKnockers

Stephen King’s The Tommyknockers The Tommyknockers is a bone chilling, heart pounding story about a woman named Nancy Cragar, who discovers an alien ship. When she finds the alien ship, strange things begin happen to her and the town she lives, named Maconville. First she begins to lose her teeth and her hair, then her ribcage begins to move towards her back. She is being â€Å"modified† into a â€Å"Tommyknocker.† Her friend, named Dave, helps her dig up and the ship and slowly starts finding out the secrets about where people of Maconville have missing. Nancy’s house has suddenly been changed to run completely, and only, off of batteries. Dave then finds, in Nancy’s shed in her backyard, that the people who are missing are in that shed. The top of their skulls has been removed and many strange wires are running to their brains. Dave then figures out that the brains are powering her house, instead of the batteries he thought were. As Dave continues finding all of this out, Nancy is becoming more and more like the Tommyknockers in the ship, she now has â€Å"vine-like† arms that she uses to kill anybody who comes near her or threatens her. Her tractor, which was once a 350cc slightly modified engine, is now a very weird Alien modified hovercraft that they use to help dig up the ship. They open the hatch, with air tanks on because they figured out that the air in the ship will either extremely stale or non-existent. Using these air tanks, they enter the ship and find the Tommyknockers dead. Using simple logic, they come to that they died during the crash landing several hundred million years ago. Dave then runs away fearing that Nancy might try to kill him because he has been trying to talk Nancy out of entering the ship and that they should just leave it alone. Nancy does try to kill him, but fails and Dave then finds his old .22 shotgun and begins to brutality shoot Nancy repeatedly and repeatedly until her body i... Free Essays on TommyKnockers Free Essays on TommyKnockers Stephen King’s The Tommyknockers The Tommyknockers is a bone chilling, heart pounding story about a woman named Nancy Cragar, who discovers an alien ship. When she finds the alien ship, strange things begin happen to her and the town she lives, named Maconville. First she begins to lose her teeth and her hair, then her ribcage begins to move towards her back. She is being â€Å"modified† into a â€Å"Tommyknocker.† Her friend, named Dave, helps her dig up and the ship and slowly starts finding out the secrets about where people of Maconville have missing. Nancy’s house has suddenly been changed to run completely, and only, off of batteries. Dave then finds, in Nancy’s shed in her backyard, that the people who are missing are in that shed. The top of their skulls has been removed and many strange wires are running to their brains. Dave then figures out that the brains are powering her house, instead of the batteries he thought were. As Dave continues finding all of this out, Nancy is becoming more and more like the Tommyknockers in the ship, she now has â€Å"vine-like† arms that she uses to kill anybody who comes near her or threatens her. Her tractor, which was once a 350cc slightly modified engine, is now a very weird Alien modified hovercraft that they use to help dig up the ship. They open the hatch, with air tanks on because they figured out that the air in the ship will either extremely stale or non-existent. Using these air tanks, they enter the ship and find the Tommyknockers dead. Using simple logic, they come to that they died during the crash landing several hundred million years ago. Dave then runs away fearing that Nancy might try to kill him because he has been trying to talk Nancy out of entering the ship and that they should just leave it alone. Nancy does try to kill him, but fails and Dave then finds his old .22 shotgun and begins to brutality shoot Nancy repeatedly and repeatedly until her body i...

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Blue Cross Blue Shield - Research Paper Example Services offered by health care systems are various and include surgical care, cardiac care, pediatrics, cancer and women care, maternity care, and other specialty care services. Blue Cross and Blue Shield offer a number of different health care insurance coverage types. The one you are most likely familiar with is an HMO, or health maintenance organization. This benefit plan requires that you receive health care from providers who in ‘network,’ meaning that they have a contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield and a primary care physician will act as a coordinator in your health care needs, Most of the time you will need a referral to see a specialist or someone who is outside of the network (Types†¦). POS or point of service is usually the most preferred option and makes it possible for members to choose providers outside of the network as needed for health care services. Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers a preferred provider organization where members are able to choose their own provider though higher coverage is provided if the provider is in network and contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers flexible spending accounts, a plan that reimburses employees for specific expenses and funds are usually deducted from the employee’s paycheck and contributions to this plan are usually not subject to income taxes. Blue Cross and Blue Shield provide coverage to federal employees and provide coverage to approximately 4.5 million federal employees, their families and retiree’s. Federal employees include the Department of Defense, US Postal Service, Department of Energy, Health and Human Services and Environmental Services, and Employees of agencies paid through the National Finance center (Blue Cross†¦.). Being a federal employee is not the only way to become eligible for Blue Cross and Blue Shield coverage though. The National Labor Union also acts as liaison between Blue Cross and 38 independent

Identity Theft Through Unsecure Wireless Networks Research Paper

Identity Theft Through Unsecure Wireless Networks - Research Paper Example Unauthorized access also imposes high bills to the owner of the network where they involve lots of traffic by downloading videos and software. It is quite evident that a walk with a Wi-Fi enabled phone or laptop it’s easy to steal internet, this is just because most of the network have no security. It is also evident that most users use default passwords to access the administration area of the router thus enabling a cyber criminal to edit details with much ease and can even block the owner out of the connectivity. Malicious intruders can also get access to the network and do harm to devices to scan radio frequency bands which the Wi-Fi uses are readily available thus it easy to access their information using these devices. This can lead to even introduction of malicious software, viruses and worms thus invading computers in the network leading to great damage, this causes the user to loose vital personal identities. Although it may look good to help neighbors with free intern et, the risks involved are numerous. The criminals can also modify settings thus ensuring that the restart button no longer functions properly, thus leading to blockage. How To Secure Your Network People have come up with a few prevention on secure measures to curb this problem. Some of the methods which are widely used are; activating your router’s encryption, some of the routers are bought when their encryption is turned off and all is needed is to read the manual on how to activate your router on. Turning your SSID off, turning it off will hide your network from hackers who might try and steal your identity by using network. Disable remote administration, this helps you prevent hackers from unilateral changing your network security settings. Recruit professional if needed, if one is not a computer tech one should employ a tech guru who will be able to set up settings which will prevent unauthorized access. Use of firewall, this is where a number of integrated collection of security measures are made in order to prevent unauthorized electronic access to a networked computer system. Safety measures used to protect your information if a wi-fi is used. One should always be aware that they are never secure since the Wi-Fi hot spots are unsecure connections thus potential hackers will be hanging out in the same network and it won’t be difficult for them to get into your activity and retrieve your personal information thus though the hot spot has a password through a log-in screen you are still at risk. These are built-in security features contained in the windows that enable the firewall through the security settings to block all incoming traffic. This helps in keeping off all the hackers/thieves by disabling file sharing thus making an important security measure. One should protect their passwords since hackers can retrieve same passwords from the registry which makes your keyboard activity available to them that includes the password typed in, thu s installing a browser add-on that stores you password in the cloud e.g. last pass, passwords won’t be saved in your computer and you won’t have to type a thing. There are websites that use HTTP’s, they encrypt your activities thus anything you do in that site is confidential. Since not all websites do this one can download HTTP’s everywhere, they are add-ons that will force an encrypted connection on many popular sites. You should also check the network name since people

E-marketing and ICT in private hospitals in the United Kingdom Dissertation

E-marketing and ICT in private hospitals in the United Kingdom - Dissertation Example This research is an exploratory study on the capabilities of ICT by focusing on private hospitals of the UK. Large numbers of consumers are using the internet to extract health-related information. However, it is not known to what extent they effectively use the e-marketing platform of the private hospitals. Thus, with the aim to generate an in-depth view about the role of ICT in the private hospitals of UK, four objectives and two hypotheses were stated in Chapter I. After extensive literature review the theoretical framework was formed. This was a mix of qualitative and quantitative study with both primary and secondary data collection. Secondary data was collected through journals and websites and primary data was collected through survey questionnaires. Both the in-patients and the hospital staff were given the questionnaire. The study focused on one single hospital – The BMI Clementine Churchill Hospital. All the objectives of the study have been met. The first objective was to evaluate the current trends that accelerate the growth of using ICT in private hospitals. Proliferation of the internet technology and ICT, changes in consumer demand, the literacy levels of the consumers, and increase in consumer demand for health care, in addition to intense competition in the health care sector have led to acceleration in the growth of using ICT in private hospitals in the UK. ... Through the website the hospitals generate a large amount of consumer data which can be effectively used for enhancing their marketing efforts. No such evidence has been available through the study. Social media marketing too is not being used by private hospitals to understand consumer needs and wants. The third objective was to investigate the limitations of realising ICT in private hospitals. Their activities are limited to sending emails or offering online bookings. There is nothing to keep the visitors engaged once they visit the website. At the moment the consumer acceptance appears to be limited. Acceptance of technology is an attitudinal change that has to first come in the consumers. Thus, the onus for realising ICT in private hospitals rests with the hospitals as well as with the consumers. The fourth objective was to analyse critical issues surrounding the use of E-marketing in private hospitals. The first and foremost concern is the vast amount of medical information avai lable on the internet which can be misleading. Making online payments is another critical issue that impacts the acceptance of e-marketing. An e-platform can allow anyone to practice as a physician and this can be disastrous for the society. The privacy policies are yet to be addressed by the hospitals. Another critical issue is the concept of social media marketing. While it can help the hospitals to recognize consumer demands and needs it can also adversely impact hospital reputation. Since there is no control over the data posted and stored on the social media platforms, this could impact the reputation of the hospitals. The study concludes