Owens Dulce et Decorum Est Essay Example for Free

Owens Dulce et Decorum Est Essay Writing in a similar style to Owens Dulce et Decorum Est, Siegfried Sassoon also decided to attack figures of authority and those with no direct experience of trench warfare via Base Details. Base Details is entirely speculative. The word base in the title has two distinct meanings. It could be used as a noun, to mean place, as in a centre of operation; or you could interpret the word as an adjective meaning morally low or unacceptable. Sassoon has used play on words in the title so that the reader may more adequately perceive the irony and sarcasm expressed in this poem. The adjectives used in the first two lines of Base Details reflect the authors perception of his superiors: If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath, Id live with Scarlet Majors at the Base, The first line indicates that Sassoon is contemptuous of these officers. He has classed the Majors as unpleasant stereotypes, to be criticised and jeered at. In the following line, the word scarlet has a double meaning. On face value, it could be taken to mean that the officers have bright red cheeks. However, Sassoon has used the word as a metaphor, meaning that the Majors have been metaphorically splattered with the blood of the young men they had sent to the front line to die. The stanza continues: And speed glum heroes up the line to death. Here, speed indicates haste. The Majors are unnecessarily rushing soldiers to their deaths. The soldiers are referred to as glum heroes because that is exactly what they are. Their country is expecting them to be noble, intrepid and courageous. Instead they are despondent because they know that as soon as they are out of the trenches their grisly demise could come about at any second. All the hope, joy and energy that is a part of youth has vanished from these men. Sassoon then regales us with further speculation thus: Youd see me with my puffy petulant face Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel, The first thing we notice about these two lines is that Sassoon has used alliteration in order to make more of an impact on the reader, and to vary his writing style. Also worth noting is the fact that Sassoon uses rhyme throughout Base Details to good and memorable effect. Saying that the Majors are puffy and petulant indicates incredulity on Sassoons part, similar to that conveyed in the first lines of the poem. The phrase guzzling and gulping indicates greed, and animal-like actions. The Majors are inhuman. Then, we are told that the Majors stay in the best hotel. This brings home the stark contrast between the lives of the soldiers in the vermin-infested trenches, and the sedentary lives of their superiors. Sassoon continues: Reading the Roll of Honour. Poor young chap, Id say. I used to know his father well: Yes, weve lost heavily in this last scrap. The Roll of Honour referred to here was an official list of those who died in the war. The Majors words regarding one of the deceased are not at all heartfelt. They are meaningless, detached and emotionally void. He is unconcerned and he has placed himself above feelings of pity for those lost and their families. Each new death is just another name on the register and another letter to be dispatched. In the last line of the stanza, the Major refers to trench warfare as a scrap or game, which is identical to Jessie Popes view of war. This is a direct reflection of how little the Major knows about the fighting going on outside his quarters; and similarly, how unequipped he is for his job of directing troops. Base Details closes with the following: And when the war is done and youth stone dead, Id toddle safely home and die in bed. By using the words stone dead to describe the deceased soldiers, Sassoon makes a brutal and graphic impression on the reader. It is a cold and unfeeling phrase, and seems to render those who died as useless and unimportant. The Major wishes to die peacefully, and in bed unlike those he sends out to the front. The Major considers himself superior in all aspects, even in death. Base Details attempted to show the ignorant public back in Britain the hypocritical attitudes of many of these Majors; and how soldiers in the trenches were being treated in comparison to those who had obtained top jobs merely on the basis of their public schooling. Whilst Base Details depicts the life of a typical Major serving during World War One, another of Sassoons poems, The Hero, depicts the sequence of events on the home front following the death of a soldier. The poem Base Details by Siegfried Sassoon is a sarcastic attack against the army generals who view the war as a game similar to checkers. It is therefore evidence of why Siegfried Sassoon is known as the voice of protest. The first noticeable thing about the text is the title. The word base is a pun for the fact that base means headquarters as well as dishonourable or cowardly, which implies that he will talk about the dishonourable activities at the Army headquarters. Secondly, Sassoon appeared to have blamed the officers for the purposeless deaths of his fellow men, while they were behind the front line and had no idea what it was like. Sassoon uses many adjectives to describe his generalisation of those at the top fat and bald and short of breath which shows the hatred that he has. In this poem, Sassoon writes poor young chapI used to know his father well. This statement alone is typical of an army general. To show the fact that army generals can not comprehend what war is like he uses the phrase we lost heavily in this last scrap. The army generals are calling this a scrap like its a fight between boys at school. Sassoon calls the army generals Finally, Sassoon rounds the poem of with a phrase by reinforcing that they are unfit and fat. He also shows that those at the front line could die any moment by saying When the war is done and youth stone dead, Id toddle safely home and die, in bed which is a good ending because it says that the generals will die in a nice warm peaceful place, while the soldiers will die among the rats. Sassoons feelings towards the officers are best described in the poem Base Details. In this poem, Sassoon shows his resentment towards the officers by describing them drinking in the best hotels, and reading the names of those who died, saying poor young chap I used to know his father well and saying yes, weve lost heavily in this last scrap. The poem is finished with the lines and when the war is done and youth stone dead, Id toddle safely home and die in bed This poem truly shows the bitterness and resentment Sassoon felt towards the officers. He felt that they didnt really care about those who died, because they were safe themselves and had no idea of what was going on at the front line calling the battle that was fought a scrap, like it was nothing more than a small fight. In the last two lines of the poem, Sassoons feelings are clearer than ever, the way he says that theyll toddle home and then die in bed shows that he thought that the officers were safe and living comfortably while the soldiers, who were actually fighting the war, were living in shocking conditions, where they would die at any moment. Sassoon uses many different ways to convey his feelings, and particularly his bitterness and resentment towards the war and the officers, but in all his poems, his true meanings are clear and he writes in such a way that shows us clearly what he thinks and feels about the war. BASE DETAILS ESSAY In the poem, Base Details, SiegFried Sassoon expresses his great disgust towards the majors in the military. He is horrified and appalled at the way the majors act while men are dying out in the battle field. Mr. Sassoon is so furious towards the majors that it takes more than just one word to describe how indignified Sassoon is. These great feelings of anger are derived from the fact that the majors are living a life of luxury while sending young men up the line out into the battle field. This is all suggested in the title of the poem with the word base suggesting a military base, and/or a base person. And the word details suggesting a command, an assignment, and something or someone lowly. Base Details is a poem which expresses the feelings of the author towards military majors using differentiable types of imagery. The poem begins by Sassoon describing the majors as demanding, mean, and belligerent men. Bald, out-of-shape and full of gluttony. Sassoon categorizes the majors under the word scarlet signifying childless, bright redness from excessive drinking and yelling of anger. Sassoon presents to us the fact of the majors sending up the young men as soon as they are drafted up the line to death. This attitude taken from the majors is what angers Sassoon to the point of hatred. To convince the reader of such horrific truth, Sassoon describes how disrespectful the majors are with their puffy petulant faces from eating and drinking excessively. Sassoon states how the majors are stuffing their faces and Reading the Roll of Honor in safe luxurious hotels while men are dying out on the field

Types Of Operations Process In Tesco

Types Of Operations Process In Tesco The food and drink retail sector represents the largest industry in the UK, providing employment for over three million people in primary production, manufacturing and retailing. In 2003 retail accounted for 9% of gross domestic product (Datamonitor, 2003). In recent years UK supermarkets have come under increased scrutiny over their treatment of suppliers, particularly of own-label products, yet the development of strategic supply networks has been an integral part of most supermarket strategies for the past decade.The report below provides an insight into the supermarket company, Tesco, with emphasis on its external environment analysis and companys analysis of resources, competence and culture. Two future strategic options are suggested in regards to the resources based strategies. Inbound logistics are placed at the first stage of the value chain as they possess the earliest opportunity to create value. Therefore, the elements of this stage are considered to be upstream activities. The logistical tasks, in this case, include the receipt of goods from suppliers, storage of goods, handling transportation of goods internally and placing the products on the shelves. Tesco tries to maintain the level of consumer choice in store (+), whilst improving the efficiency of its distribution system (+). In applying a quality control procedure concerning damaged goods and products, it provides an excellent opportunity to reduce costs unfairly incurred by the company, therefore preventing these costs being passed on to the consumer (P+). Operations The production element of Tesco activities are service orientated. Hence, operations could be the second upstream opportunities that enable services and products to be provided, tasks such as opening every day in accordance with trading hours, maintaining the shelves, and the stock (+). In order to obtain future competitive advantage Tesco has to consider expanding further in terms of operating hours in those places, where it does not occur or opening new Metro and Express stores (P+). However, this might be restricted by law or planning councils, which is essentially takes away competitive advantage (-). Outbound logistics The third stage of the value chain is the outbound logistics that is concerned with delivering the product to the customer. Tesco currently adds value in its home delivery service (+). However, other tangibles that have to be improved are those of parking facilities, trolley collectors, till staff and systems to gain competitive advantage, if executed more efficiently than competitors, they will add value by saving the customer time (+), whilst increasing the turnaround (+). Adding value could be achieved through the implementation of a trolley deposit system, keeping them tidy and enabling customers to get to and from the premises quicker, as well as making these facilities readily available and quicker to obtain. Support Activities Company Infrastructure Planning and control functions are the ones that account to provide the continued focus on the costs and cash control of the companys operations (+). And departments such as profit protection whose main jobs are to reduce shrink. The company has now increased its staff count who are involved in upgrading its anti-fraud software (infrastructure/technology, interdependence), and installing new security systems which aim to reduce internal theft, an expense the customer will now not have to cover in the price of their purchases ( Human resource management HRM is regarded as up and downstream activity, covering everything from recruitment to management development. The company aims to increase the number of training schemes and further develop its recruitment programmes so to pass on to the customer the benefits of a well recruited, well trained staff, not the costs. Tesco continues to invest in customer service (+), where training is also linked directly to pay, so the staff are motivated to learn, and are encouraged to improve their approach to customers and service provision quality. Technology development It is a downstream activity and is the ability to provide new innovative product ranges/ solutions that anticipate customer needs. It also remains a key competitive advantage, adding value, as Tescos brand name gives the product vitality (+). However, installation and capital investment is a long term process and needs total commitment of the staff. But who will be responsible for the service provision and the floor personnel? (-). UK Operations In the UK, Tesco operates six different store formats, each distinguished by size and the range of products sold. Tesco Superstores Tesco superstores are the companys standard store format. These large supermarkets stock and sell all groceries along with a large range of non-food products. They also offer an in-store pharmacy. Tesco Extra Tesco Extra stores are the retailers large out-of-town hypermarkets (second in size behind superstores) which stock nearly all of Tescos product ranges. Tesco Metro Metro stores are medium-sized stores (sized between Tesco superstores and Tesco Express stores) that offer a range of food lines. Tesco Express Express stores are convenience shops that are mainly located on Esso petrol station forecourts. Most of their stock consists of food, with an emphasis on higher-margin products alongside everyday essentials. Tesco Homeplus Homeplus stores offer all of Tescos ranges, except food, in warehouse-style units based in retail parks. These large units feature an Order and Collect desk where customers can purchase and collect most items without delay. One Stop One Stop stores are the very smallest Tesco stores. These stores work on a different pricing to all the other store formats and are also distinguished by their later opening hours. Global Operations Tesco boasts a global store portfolio of over 1,800 stores. Besides the UK, the company operates stores in France, China, the United States, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Czech Republic, South Korea, Slovakia, Thailand and Turkey . Online Operation Tesco runs the worlds largest grocery home-shopping service, Tesco.com. The site was formally launched in 2000 six years after Tesco first began operating on the internet. Consumer goods, telecommunications and financial services are also provided via the internet. Tesco Direct, the supermarkets catalogue/internet service, was added to the retailers portfolio in 2007. Customers can browse the Tesco Direct catalogue or go online to purchase non-food goods ranging from home electricals, toys and furniture to sports equipment, jewellery and even bathroom suites. Tesco Personal Finance Tesco Personal Finance is the banking arm of the Tesco plc. The business was previously run as a joint venture with the Royal Bank of Scotland, but in July 2008 Tesco paid  £950 million to acquire the banks 50% share in the company. Financial products on offer include loans, credit cards, savings accounts, mortgages, and several types of insurance, including car, home, life, dental and travel cover. Tesco Clubcard Tesco is one of only two UK supermarkets to offer its customers a loyalty card-scheme (the other being Sainsburys). Introduced in 1995, Tescos Clubcard branded loyalty scheme is now the number one loyalty card in the UK, with around 13 million active Clubcard holders. Every  £1 spent in a Tesco store, online at Tesco.com or through Tesco Petrol, earns customers one Clubcard point. Shoppers can also collect points by paying with a Tesco Credit Card, or by using Tesco Mobile, Tesco Broadband, selected Tesco Personal Finance products or through Clubcard partners, Avis and E.ON. Each point is worth 1p in-store when redeemed, or 4p when used with Clubcard deals on holidays, day trips, etc. Points can also be used to rack up Airmiles, or converted into coupons. B: Capacity planning, Inventory management, Supply chain design, Performance measures and total quality management Tesco Capacity Planning Example : The Scenario Tesco operated a major distribution centre with 26 truck loading decks handling 20 vehicles arriving every hour. Deliveries for individual supermarkets needed to be selected, marshalled and loaded within 60 minutes. The existing loading system was totally manual, using pickers and fork-lift trucks. Due to increasing capacity needs, Tesco engaged with a material handling company to design the expanded facility. This company proposed a novel loading system using automatically guided vehicles (AGVs) to deliver prepared cages of goods. This system would have to be integrated with the existing manual facility, accessing the same warehouse and loading decks. The Challenge Tescos Project Director did not have confidence that the simple spreadsheet calculation of the planned additional capacity could accurately represent the likely outcome as it could not show dynamic interactions within a system comprising hundreds of movements per hour between the warehouse and the loading dock. The following questions arose: What would be the key issues involved in operating the two systems side-by-side? If the two systems could be successfully integrated, how could the optimum operating protocol be devised? How many AGVs would be needed (between 15 and 20 were proposed)? Where might AGVs and fork lifts interfere, causing delays and how could this be minimised? How can collisions be avoided (Health and Safety issue)? Where might loading bottlenecks occur, reducing anticipated performance? Would the target 60 minute turnaround be reliably met under different operating conditions? Tesco needed an independent assessment of the impact of the proposed changes and of whether efficiency and loading time targets would be met. The materials handling supplier recommended Paragon Simulation. The Solution Tesco commissioned Paragon to produce a model. Paragon worked with Tescos and the suppliers input, to accurately model the proposed facility. Paragon was asked not only to construct and run the model, but also to report results and to make a recommendation. The resulting model was a plan view animation of the facility with the AGV system in place. AGV movement, acceleration/deceleration, delay time caused by interference between the old (fork lift) and new loading systems and location of problems (to aid further analysis) were all represented. As the model ran, statistics were recorded on key performance parameters. Different methods of running the systems side-by-side could be set up, run (with varying load levels) and results compared quickly and easily using the Paragon Information Manager. The Benefits The outcome of the project was a confirmation from Paragon to Tesco that the proposed solution could work and deliver the required results. In very short project timescales (just 15 days from start to finish), Paragon were able to give Tesco the assurance they needed and key input on how best to integrate systems and operate the new facility. There was also an immediate cost saving because the simulation model showed that two fewer AGVs were needed than indicated by the original spreadsheet calculations a total saving of  £160,000. Tescos mistakes in US Not understanding the American Customer In early 2006, Tesco plc decided to enter the US market with convenience stores (Fresh Easy Neighborhood Markets) to be launched by 2007. Tesco had been studying the American market for two decades and its entry was long time coming. Though the company is not faring that well (currently loss making and is not predicted to break even until the financial year 2012), it hopes to turnaround sooner than later. The following are some of Tescos mistakes in the US market: The American way of shopping Car culture and weekly shopping expeditions Tesco opened stores in California, Nevada and Arizona offering about 4000 fresh products. But US customers do not shop daily, particularly in California where families shopped weekly in cars. Tesco on the other hand wants to cater to shoppers who have less time and want fresh and healthy food. Competition not only from US super chains Tesco was also facing tough competition from Japanese owned supermarket chain FamilyMart which had started two premium convenience stores under the banner Famima in California and had big expansion plans. The Japanese store offered a new community lifestyle experience along with services like banking, stationary department and also Japanese delicacies like sushi, noodles etc. Its imported groceries also cost less than Tesco. No Discount Coupons The American customer wants to try something before making a final decision on buying. Even discounts or taste samples help in finalizing a deal. But Tesco removed discount coupons. No Promotional Fliers There is less loyalty in the US market with the American consumer shifting loyalties based on weekly/daily special promotional offers. Tesco assumed that like British consumers who would not switch loyalties easily, the Americans would follow suit. A focus group found that Tesco was not sending fliers promoting the latest special offers. Good Effort but No Learning When Tesco entered US, it did not go unprepared into the American market. It sent around 50 to 60 British executives to live with California families to discover the products they bought and the food they ate. But with Tescos dropping profits it seemed they did not learn much into the American way of buying. Tesco did not partner with a US retailer when entering the US market and also intended to use its own proprietary distribution system. B :Tesco Inventory Management : Tesco plc (LSE: TSCO), one of worlds leading retailers, has selected Micro Focus to support the growth of its international operations, notably in the United States, by improving its supply chain operations. Tescos current supply chain management system monitors and controls its entire in-store inventory. The company has enlisted the assistance of Micro Focus to modernize and extend this system, so it can be rolled out in Tescos data center in California, when it launches its first U.S. store later this year. Micro Focus has been selected to extend Tescos supply chain application, as well as future proofing it against any changes that it may face as its operations continue to expand globally. Not only will the modernized application be ready for the imminent U.S. launch, but it will also be seamlessly deployed in each of Tescos current data centers across the globe. The move will also yield considerable savings for Tesco, as it will be able to use its existing servers and will be able to avoid investing in additional support for their international operations. Tesco Suppy Chain Design : Performance Measures of Tesco : Tesco can influence society at large owing to its size and scale of operations and it does so by encouraging its employees and customers to become more socially responsible. Tesco is of the view that it has a major role to play in promoting health food among its customers and strives to make health food available at affordable prices. The company has adopted several initiatives over the years to fulfill its responsibility to society. These include charity, fund raising for a cause and promoting education. These efforts are not limited to the UK but extend to other countries in which Tesco operates. Total Quality Management : Makes a significant contribution to the perceived customer benefits of the outcome: delivers a fundamental customer benefit. In order to identify core competences in a particular market, the question of why is the customer willing to pay more or less for one product or service than another- needs to be addressed. For example, Tesco have been very successful in capturing the leadership of the retailing market. This shows that Tesco designs and implements effective supply systems and deliver an efficient customer interface. Tesco was the first UK grocer to launch a loyalty card and has been the most effective. Palmer (2004) claims that until recently, it was the only grocer to use the information to mail customers every month. Strategy frameworks and structuring tools are key to assessing the business situation. Risk and value trade-offs are made explicit, leading to concrete proposals to add value and reduce risk. Explicit plans for action, including effective planning need to be developed by Tesco as the strategic alternative. From the generic strategies discussed above, Tesco is likely to employ two strategic options that are also likely to be primary market objectives of focus on market development though partnerships and diversification through new product development By entering new markets like China and Japan it can serve as a key growth driver of the companys revenues and expansion strategy. Tescos interests in Japan are likely to continue growing in due course, as Asian markets are showing an increase in consumer spending and increased trend towards retailing. These new markets are also demographically high opportunity markets. In the case of Tesco, one of the suggested strategic options is in international alliances with the local retailers in Asian markets. It will be considered as a method of development and may be formed to exploit current resources and competence. By entering into joint ventures or partnerships, in order to gain a larger economy of scale and larger market presence, Tesco will draw on the extensive local knowledge and operating expertise of the partner whilst adding its own supply chain, product development and stores operations skills to deliver a better shopping experience to customers. However, given the huge scale, potential and complexities of these markets, Tesco may feel that being the first mover is not necessarily an advantage. The success of the partnership will be related to three main success criteria: sustainability, acceptability and feasibility. Sustainability will be concerned with whether a strategy addresses the circumstances in which the company is operating. It is ab out the rationale of this expansion-market development strategy. The acceptability relates to the expected return from the strategy, the level of risk and the likely reaction of stakeholders. Feasibility will be regarded to whether Tesco has the resources and competence to deliver the strategy. b Product Development: Diversification Johnson and Scholes (2003) believe that changes in the business environment may create demand for new products and services at the expense of established provision. Ansoffs matrix also suggests that if new products are developed for existing markets, then a product development strategy has to be considered by the management level of a company. In expanding and diversifying Tescos product mix, it is also crucial to implement internal development when new products are developed. The nature and the extent of diversification should also be considered in relation to the rationale of the corporate strategy and the diversity of the portfolio. By following the changing needs of the customers Tesco can introduce new product lines. This may require more attention to RD, leading to additional spending. BARCLAYS BANK : A : A : Types of Operations Process in Barclays : Introduction Barclays is a global bank. It provides a range of financial services in 56 countries. Barclays provides retail banking services to customers, whether they are individuals or businesses. It offers a broad range of financial products and services including current accounts, savings accounts and general insurance. Within the UK, Barclays communications are designed to help customers Take One Small Step to managing their money better every day. Different kinds of customers represent distinct markets for Barclays. The market for personal banking services is very competitive. Personal customers have a choice of banks on the high street or on the web to assist them in managing their finances. For example, they can have their salaries paid into accounts, pay bills through the bank or save money to gain interest on their savings. There is also a competitive market for business banking services. Businesses require different services such as credit management, payments for suppliers or loans and overdrafts to help them to survive and grow. For example, an expanding business may need a mortgage to buy a new building. Barclays Bank history is as old as the history of the Great British banking industry as a whole. Founded back in the cobbled streeted and oil lamp lit London of the seventeenth century, Barclays has grown and progressed to be a member of the global banking fraternity with operations spreading across all of Europe as well as North and South America, the Middle and the Far East. The Bank was reputed to have begun its earliest trades way back in 1690, when the two founding partners John Freame and Thomas Gould first opened their doors in London. Their first premises were in Lombard Street, where they traded successfully for more than thirty years. One of the most significant events in the banks history took place in 1736, when Freame and Gould, obviously feeling that their days as bankers might be drawing to a close, invited Freames son-in-law, John Barclay to become a partner in the bank. The onset of World War One saw Barclays strongly represented as far north as the Midlands of England. In the year that the war ended, Barclays Bank announced its amalgamation with the London, Provincial and South Western Bank, firmly staking it place to be one of the UKs leading banking groups. By the middle of the nineteen twenties in England, Barclays had close to two thousand branches in operation in England, and had begun some tentative operations overseas, particularly in the British Colonies. Gradual expansion and consolidation was the order of the day for Barclays for the period before, during and after World War Two. Barclays woke up from the period of austerity that followed the War, with the opening of the first banking computer centre situated in London. During the height of the swinging sixties, Barclays showed that they were no slouches by introducing the famous Barclaycard, the first credit card to grace our shores. The following year, Barclays again shook the banking world by unveiling the countrys first automatic teller machine, providing cash from a wall. Today Barclays presents a mixture of a bank of a bank with a great history and rich tradition who has always reached out to the future. A mixture that finds her well prepared to weather the storm of the current financial crisis. Barclays is made up of two Clusters: Global Retail Banking, and Corporate Investment Banking and Wealth Management, each of which has a number of Business Units. The third major area of the business is Group Centre. From Human Resources to Corporate Affairs, this area comprises all the essential Head Office support functions that help Barclays maintain strategic momentum. Retail Banking Barclays UK Retail Banking is one of Britains leading retail banks serving around 15 million UK customers through contact centres, online banking and 1,720 branches. UK Retail Banking builds broad and deep relationships with customers and small business owners by providing a wide range of products and financial services. Through UK Retail Banking, customers have access to current account and savings products, Woolwich-branded mortgages, unsecured loan and protection products and general insurance. Barclays Financial Planning provides investment advice and products; Local Business provides banking services, including money transmission, to small businesses; and Premier provides tailored, relationship-based banking services to affluent customers through dedicated account managers. Barclaycard Barclaycard is a multi-brand credit card and consumer lending business which also processes card payments for retailers and merchants, and issues credit and charge cards to corporate customers and the UK government. It is one of Europes leading credit card businesses and has an increasing presence in the United States. In the UK, Barclaycard comprises Barclaycard UK Cards, Barclaycard Partnerships (Sky Card, Thomas Cook, Argos and Solution Personal Finance), Barclays Partner Finance and Firstplus. Barclaycard also added the Goldfish business to its portfolio in 2008. Outside the UK, Barclaycard provides credit cards in the United States, Germany, South Africa (through management of the Absa credit card portfolio) and in the Nordic region, where Barclaycard operates through Entercard, a joint venture with Swedbank. Barclaycard works closely with other parts of the Barclays Group, including UK Retail Banking, Barclays Corporate, Western Europe Retail Banking and Barclays Africa, to mak e use of their distribution capabilities. Western Europe Retail Banking Includes retail banking and Barclaycard operations in Spain, Italy, France and Portugal. Approximately 10,000 colleagues are employed in this part of the organisation, serving two million customers. Across the region, Barclays has more than 1,100 distribution outlets. Barclays Africa Barclays Africa encompasses Barclays Global Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, and Barclaycard operations in 10 countries organised in four geographic areas: North Africa (Egypt), East and West Africa (Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya), Southern Africa (Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe), and the Indian Ocean (Mauritius and Seychelles). Barclays Africa serves its 2.8 million customers through a network of 573 branches and service centres providing a variety of traditional financial products, including retail mortgages, current and deposit accounts, commercial lending, unsecured lending, credit cards, treasury and investments. In addition, it provides specialist services such as Sharia-compliant products and mobile banking. Management of Barclays : Barclays Capital Fund Solutions (BCFS) is the investment management business of Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC. The emergence of new asset classes, growth in demand for derivative solutions and an investor shift towards absolute returns have identified a strong necessity for an alternative fund management approach that: Offers clients greater customisation of investment management products Uses state-of-the art financial thinking but is adaptive to changes in the investment environment Delivers multi-asset class performance, with the flexibility to access new asset classes as they emerge Considers the complexities of multi-jurisdictional investors and asset bases to deliver pragmatic financial solutions The BCFS business model and approach focus on this evolving market segment. BCFS combines its multi-jurisdictional fund expertise with world-class structuring, derivatives trading and asset allocation expertise to deliver applied investment innovation in fund management across all asset classes. The BCFS team is advised by Barclays Capitals award-winning research team. Key Attributes Since launch of the first fund in January 2006, BCFS has: Attracted leading investors, establishing a significant fund business and market leadership in applied investment innovation Established a diverse client base from insurance companies, asset managers and corporate treasuries to family offices and private banking investors Provided exposure to multiple asset classes including equities, commodities, interest rates, foreign exchange, fixed income, emerging markets, hedge funds and property Grown assets under management to more than USD 6bn* in structured and quantitative strategies and manages more than 70 funds Built a global footprint with funds distributed throughout South America, Europe and Asia Pacific Increased its strong front- to back-office team to 70 Supply Chain for Barclays : Performance Measures of Barclays :

HR Management And Workplace Diversity

HR Management And Workplace Diversity As you know that diversity in the work force is one of the main object in employment favorable conditions, managing variety has been either ignored, poorly done or received little attention in some existing work organizations. To do workers some validity, many governments have tried legislating against different kind of ability to appreciate good quality or test in the workplace. However, research has demonstrated competence the defective and unfinished of such legislation since it still allows for employers to use statistically unbiased criteria in employee selection, recruitment and development providing it can be shown to be a valid qualification. Form the view of statement above, evaluate and analyze the diversity legal context (underlying set of ideas) in UK in relation to employment policy on equality issues and the do something as custom connected with the effective management of diversity. It is vital to understand the legal context for state of being equal and your legal duties not to recognize or identify difference in employment or the supplying of goods, facilities or services, as well as the favorable conditions, the law provides for implementing positive measures to help bring about impressively large equality at work. The law covers the six equality strands of age, restricted capability to perform particular activities, distinctiveness, gender (including pay and transvestites), religion or belief and nature of sexual preference in relation to employment and all but age in relation to services. To make sure that you obey with the law makes good business sense and helps you to minimize both reputational and connected with money risk resulting from costly existence of lawsuit. These guides provide a broad survey or summery of the law and cover all six diversity strands however are not a conclusive and final or most authoritative legal guide. For precise layout of instructions to look for legal consultants. Equality is about creating a fairer society, where everyone can take part and has the favorable condition to satisfy their capacity for development (DH, 2004). It is about recognizing designs of experience based on group recognize, and the challenging series of actions that limit individuals expressing possibility health and life chances. For example, occupational act of segregation. Women make up almost 75% of the NHS workforce but are concentrated in the lower-paid occupational areas: nursing, allied health professionals (AHPs), top level managers and subordinate    workers (DH, 2005). People from black and minority of particular origin comprise 39.1% of hospital medical staff yet they depend only 22.1% of all hospital medical consultants (DH, 2005). The state of being equal approach understands that our social identity in terms of gender, race, disability, age, social class, sexuality and religion will effect on our life experiences. Diversity literally means difference. When it is used as a contrast or addition to equality, it is about identifying individual as well as group differences, behaving people as individuals, and placing positive value on discrepancy in the people in area and in the workforce. In the past, employers and services have ignored many differences. However, individual and group of people from different culture should be taken into account therefore the needs of everyone and their needs are properly accounted for and understood react to within employment practice and service design and delivery. For the matter of diversity there is a proper way on which the organization can work out on the flexibility of employees and the flexibility of work and the development of business in recent years. For example, an employer may gave permition to an employee in flexible working pattern and accommodate child care arrangements, or a General Partition surgery may offer surgeries at the weekends in accommodate people which works the whole week. These approaches recognize that order to include many things and equal to all, organizations may need to respond distinctly to individuals/groups. Therefore, a previously planned engagement to equality in relevant facts to recognition of diversity which means that dissimilar can be equal. Why is equality and diversity important? Equal opportunity and diversity is becoming very important in all points of view of our lives and work for different reasons. †¢ We are living in a society of increasingly diversity and need to be able to respond suitable and thoughtful and sympathetic to this diversity. Around gender the healthcare setting will reflect this diversity, race and ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, states and distinct age. †¢ Your organization believes that successful implementation of equality and diversity in all point of view of work make sure that pears, all kind of workers and students are valued, motivated and treated honestly. †¢ We have human rights and legal framework (underlying set of ideas) protecting employment practices and service delivery and we need to ensure we work within this and elude discrimination. The UK framework has two parts to it: the anti- discriminatory framework (which gives individuals a way to increase complaints of discrimination around employment and service delivery) and the duties of the people (which place a proactive duty on organizations to address important organization discrimination). Overview of anti-discriminatory framework †¢ Sex Discrimination Act 1975 †¢ Race Relations Act 1976 †¢ Disability Discrimination Act 1995 †¢ Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) and (Religious Belief) Regulations 2003 †¢ Equality Act 2006 (covers service delivery in relation to sexual orientation and religious belief) †¢ Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 In the area of employment diversity and the age limit is the most important thing other than service delivery. Disability Act 2001 The students who have any kind of disability they are explored with some appropriate adjustments in the Disability Act 2001 and Discrimination Act 1995.For this reason teachers are required to get more knowledge regarding the disabled student so that they could anticipate their core abilities in reputed organizations. Diversity: In any organization diversity is very important part of any business. To give equal opportunities to Women, men, people in relation to gender reassignment. If there are different people from different origin with diversified point of view, it can produce more chances to create different ideas that could be helpful for the organization to get their objectives. Anyone in relation to ethnic origin, nationality, color or culture. Age, Religious or Sex: In order to any specific religion of any believe, age, gender including men, women, gay men, bisexual and heterosexual people there are following legislative principles: †¢ Indirect discrimination †¢ Individual discrimination †¢ Reasonable adjustment †¢ Positive action †¢ Genuine Occupational Qualification †¢ Harassment †¢ Victimization. Moral Duties of Public: There are also some significant duties for which Public are bound. NHS bodies and trust, education sector, local authorities, security agencies and the health services department all come in the circle of these rules. It is possible only by the implementation of these rules in the organization to get focused and demonstrate the diversity in the organization The duties were brought in under the following legislation: Race Relations Amendment Act (2000); Equality Act (2006): Disability Discrimination Act (2005). Each of the public duties requires organizations to: †¢ publish the results of any work make pledge to do something. †¢ produce a (race, disability and gender) equality scheme †¢ Carry out impact evaluate on their functions, policies and practices †¢ carry out equalities monitoring and take action to redress any imbalance A brief detail is discussed below. Ethnic and Race Disability: Eradication of discrimination which is not in the provision. Eliminate unlawful discrimination. Establish and propagate the equal opportunities. Always make sure that when the employees are functioning at the job in any organization, there should not be any religious or any sex discrimination between men and women or which does not come under the discrimination legislation. In public life good attitude should be encouraged toward the anticipation of disabled people. Disabled people should be treated with more favors as compared to the other people. Since 1998 the UK has also included human rights within its legal framework. The Human Rights Act applies to all public right to command and bodies acting a public function. The Human Rights Acts places the following responsibility on your organization. †¢ Organizations must support and make safe to an individuals human rights. This means treating people moderately, with self respect and respect while safeguarding the rights of the big community. †¢ Organizations should apply essential part human rights values, such as equal opportunity, privacy, dignity, and involvement, to all organizational service planning and decision making. The Human Rights Act facilitates a complementary legal framework to the anti-discriminatory framework and the people duties.

Crusades Essay -- essays research papers

In 109 The First Crusade was launched by Christians with the support of the Roman Catholic Church in hopes of recapturing Jerusalem from the Muslims. The Crusades arose out of feudal society in the eleventh century, offering crusaders freedom adventure and a possible economic gain. Pope Urban II gave a speech to the church leaders and nobles in France, telling them to rescue their fellow Christians from the Muslims. He promised them everlasting life in heaven if they went. The Crusades weren’t started for no apparent reason, their were many causes of the first crusade and many effects.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The crusades were mainly directed to Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulcher.(West 5) Jerusalem was taken by the caliph Umar in the 7th century, and early in the 11th century Fatmid caliph Hakim began to persecute the Christians and despoil the Holy Sepulcher. (Colombia 1) In 1004 the caliph Cairo of Cairo ordered the destruction of the church and Holy Sepulcher, but son after he proclaimed himself to be god, and the Muslims got ride of him, the Greek emperor was permitted to rebuild the Holy Sepulcher.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The new spirit of adventure in the art, literature and actions of the western Europeans became a cause for the increase of pilgrimages to the holy lands. Europe was in a period of expansion and its urge for war and conquest had grown during the years of fending off the raids of the Magyars, Viking and Saracens. The spirit of religious reform that led to the Investiture Controversy led to an increase in popular spirituality. People now wanted to participate actively and do something in honor of their god.(Nelson 1) The different groups of European society contributed to the cause of the crusades. The aristocracy found themselves losing the importance they once had when they stood between Europe and its attacker. They needed more land and started to fight with each other over it, their numbers were growing because there we no longer losses in battles.( Nelson 1) In 1054 the Church split into eastern and western organizations and the popes wanted to heal that split. They were also involved in the Investiture Controversy and were looking for allies. Middle classes knew they could become rich by cutting out of the Byzantines and taking the profits for themselves that byzantine merchants had been making on trade with them.(Nel... ...utman 3) The combination of these cultures resulted in the invention of the windmill, the compass, gunpowder, and clocks. The Pope saw the Crusades as a way to assert Church influence as a unifying force, with was as a religious mission. This was a new attitude to religion and it brought religious discipline, previously applicable to monks, to soldiery. Muslim architects began to imitate the European pointed arch, and Europeans learned Greek medicine from the Muslims. They also learned military techniques from one another. As a result of learning new military strategies and uniting themselves against one cause, the Muslims developed a stronger religious nation, which also helped the decline of feudalism and the Byzantine empire. The First Crusade was the only crusade that achieved more than temporary results and is the only crusade to ultimately succeed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

gatjay Failure of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald :: Great Gatsby Essays

Failure of Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby A society naturally breaks up into various social groups over time. Members of lower statuses constantly suppose that their problems will be resolved if they gain enough wealth to reach the upper class. Many interpret the American Dream as being this passage to high social status and, once reaching that point, not having to concern about money at all. Though, the American Dream involves more than the social and economic standings of an individual. The dream involves attaining a balance between the spiritual strength and the physical strength of an individual. Jay Gatsby, of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, fails to reach his ultimate dream of love for Daisy in that he chooses to pursue it by engaging in a lifestyle of high class. Gatsby realizes that life of the high class demands wealth to become priority; wealth becomes his superficial goal overshadowing his quest for love. He establishes his necessity to acquire wealth, which allows him to be with Daisy. The social elite of Gatsby's time sacrifice morality in order to attain wealth. Tom Buchanan, a man from an "enormously wealthy" family, seems to Nick to have lost all sense of being kind (Fitzgerald 10). Nick describes Tom's physical attributes as a metaphor for his true character when remarking that Tom had a "hard mouth and a supercilious manner...arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face...always leaning aggressively forward...a cruel body...[h]is speaking voice...added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed" (Fitzgerald 11). The wealth Tom has inherited causes him to become arrogant and condescending to others, while losing his morals. Rather than becoming immoral from wealth as Tom has, Gatsby engages in criminal activ ity as his only path to being rich. His need for money had become so great that he "was in the drug business" (Fitzgerald 95). Furthermore, he lies to Nick about his past in order to cover up his criminal activity. Gatsby claims to others that he has inherited his wealth, but Nick discovers "[h]is parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people" (Fitzgerald 104). Gatsby enters a world where money takes precedence over moral integrity. Materialism has already overshadowed a portion of his spiritual side. A quest for true love is doomed for failure in the presence of immorality. Once wealth has taken priority over integrity, members of the high social class focus on immediate indulgences, rather than on long-term pleasures of life such as love.

Environmental Analysis and Long-term objectives Essay

The organization selected for this paper to discuss the environmental analysis and long-term objectives is Dunkin Donuts. The main focus will be on the forces and trends operating in the environment which have a considerable effect on the running of the organization. The paper will first discuss these forces and trends in detail and then provide an insight to how these forces effect the organization and align themselves with the vision and values of the organization. The trends selected are: 1. Social responsibility 2. Environment 3. Fuel Social Responsibility One of the environmental trends is social responsibility which adds to the credibility of an organization. Social responsibility basically refers to the responsibility or the duties of an organization, government or even an individual towards the society in which it functions. Every organization has a responsibility to keep their actions and practices in the best interests of the people living in the society so that it does not endanger them in any way. Instead organizations should work to provide comfort and help to the society as a whole. This is a part of their corporate social responsibility. The company can also be involved in eradication of unethical practices and behavior taking place in the society so that the lives of the people could be made easier. For example, some companies take initiative in planting trees or constructing gardens in an area which serve a place for community people to come together and meet each other (Kotler and Lee, 2004). Social responsibility at Dunkin Donuts has actually helped the organization in a considerable manner. The restaurant holds a respectable position in the society due to its charity and community involvement programs. The company as well as their employees contributes for the community service organization in order to make the lives of the people better. Moreover, they are extremely committed to the environmental responsibility. The restaurant follows the environment regulations and promotes cleanliness. The restaurant itself is very clean and tidy with a proper system to discard the garbage. The company supports charitable programs and takes initiatives for supporting and participating in the welfare of the community people. They even sponsor educational programs in local community schools and provide funds for different events like Special Olympics, AYSO soccer teams etc. Recently Dunkin’ Donuts has entered into a relationship with a non-profit organization ‘Coffee Kids’ for supporting families in the coffee-producing regions of Mexico and Central America. On 22 May, 2008, the company went ‘green’ by initiating its first LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) restaurant which is a part of their corporate social responsibility commitment. This way the company hopes to improve the quality of life of the community people by making the area clean and green (Kotler and Lee, 2004). The trend operating in the environment must be aligned with the mission, vision and values of the organization for it to work in the best possible way. At Dunkin’ Donuts, there are seven core values and one of them is responsibility towards the environment and the community in which they are functioning. They are committed for improving the people’s quality of live. The first LEED being built up by the company is an effort towards promoting a healthy life for the people and improving their quality of life. The social responsibility practices of the company reinforce their mission, vision and values which are focused on making the ‘world a better place live and work’ (David, 2006). Environment The second force the paper talks about is the physical environment in which the organization is functioning. The trends in the environment have a much larger impact on the organization; here we are discussing the physical environment. Changes happen in the physical environment without any notice which might result in shock or disaster or even opportunities. Organizations need to have a contingency plan to deal with such contingencies resulting from the physical environment (Shaffer, 2000). In the physical environment outside the Dunkin’ Donuts Company and restaurant, variable changes can take place which can sometimes help the organization or hinder its processes at some other instances. The environment can provide opportunities as well as threats to the company. Since Dunkin’ Donuts has now essentially become a beverages company so it can specialize in different kinds of beverages and become a market leader. Moreover, the increasing number of suppliers in the industry can also result in new opportunities. Threat comes mainly from the substitutes and the new entrants. The company faces tough competition from Starbucks and their success becomes a threat for the company plus the industry doesn’t offers high barriers for the new entrants so more beverages company can be set up thus giving rise to the competition. Apart from this, the physical environment also includes the threat from natural disasters which can cause huge losses to the company so the company needs to have contingency plans for dealing with them. Thus, the physical environment can both help and hinder Dunkin’ Donuts depending on the situation (Reeve, 2002). The organization strives to accommodate any changes emerging in the physical environment in its strategy. The company was essentially based on donuts first but now it has developed into a beverages company. This was because it saw greater opportunities for itself in serving the beverages market. It saw the changing taste of people towards coffee and decided to establish a strategy based on a coffee company. Today Dunkin’ Donuts is known as the no. 1 retailer in hot and ice regular coffee. Thus, this shows the organization’s strategic adaptability towards the changing forces resulting in the environment (David, 2006). Rising Fuel Costs The burning issue facing the organizations today in their environment is the rising fuel prices. Companies have to face rising costs due to this shooting up in fuel prices which have almost doubled this year. As the costs are increasing so the companies have to raise the prices of their products and services which decreases their sales. This way many companies are facing problems due rising fuel costs which in turn decreases their average sales. Therefore, the third issue is of fuel which this paper will examine (Reeve, 2002). The rising cost of fuel is a trend in the environment which hinders the company by raising the costs of doing business and thus, decreasing the sales and profits. Since electricity is produced through fuel so increase in fuel costs also increases the electricity cost. At Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants, the food including the donuts and beverages is prepared to sophisticated machines which run on electricity. They have to pay higher for electricity which increases the cost of inputs and simultaneously, the cost of doing business. The company has raised the prices of its products worldwide recently but that has caused the sales to decrease and thus, it earns lower profits. This way fuel is actually a hindrance towards high profits for the company and simultaneously, its long-term objectives. Since rising fuel costs are hindering the company’s sales and profits, Dunkin’ Donuts is trying to find out ways of producing the products efficiently so that they involve low costs and the profits of the company could be increased. The company tries to specialize in certain beverages which can be produced with hands so that machine use could be limited thus, saving up the electricity. The company tried to adjust for these rising costs so that it can acquire an increasing number of customers to boost up its sales as well as profits (Shaffer, 2000). Conclusion The paper has discussed in detail the environmental analysis pertaining to social responsibility, environment and fuel. It first discussed what these forces actually mean and then identified their relevance with the organization and how organization adapts to these forces operating in the environment. Social responsibility at Dunkin’ Donuts is aimed at winning the hearts of the masses through charity and community involvement activities. The mission of the company is to improve the quality of life and this is effectively done through their social involvement programs. The company also takes immediate action to the changing environment which may involve rising incomes or changing tastes of the people and tries to accommodate the change in its strategy as it did from shifting to beverages industry from donuts industry. Finally, the company is also trying to cope up with the rising costs of fuel through cost efficient methods and increasing the prices since the income of a common man has also increased. All these forces or trends help or hinder the organization and its strategy in their own way. Thus, it can be said the Dunkin’ Donuts is a very capable organization who has effectively dealt with difficult times and has become the no. 1 retailer in coffee throughout United States (David, 2006). References David, F. R. (2006). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. Prentice Hall. Kotler, P. , & Lee, N. (2004). Corporate Social Responsibility: Doing the Most Good for Your Company and Your Cause . Wiley. Reeve, R. N. (2002). Introduction to Environmental Analysis. Wiley. Shaffer, J. (2000). The Leadership Solution. New York: McGraw-Hill

Head Start Speech

First of all let me just start out by explaining a little bit about Head Start. Head Start is a preschool, or pre K program that caters mostly to children that are part of low-income families. They also specialize in helping children with disabilities. Created in 1965, Head Start is the most successful, longest-running, national school readiness program in the United States. It provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. Head Start works on 5 different areas of development: Social/Emotional, Fine more, gross motor, cognitive and language development.Their daily curriculum includes all 5 areas of development. Nearly 25 million pre-school aged children have benefited from Head Start. I became involved in Head Start when I was just 4 years old. I attended Head Start as a student. Three years after graduated from Head Start, my mom began working for them. She started out as a cleaning lady and after a few years moved up the chain to cook and then eventually a teacher. So, since I was about 7 years old I was volunteering. I loved being around the children, the teachers and just the setting in general.When I was old enough, I also began working at Head Start as a teacher’s aide. I later went to work for the University of Idaho Children’s Center, where I figured out that I wanted to work with children as a career. In recent years there has been talk with in the federal government to pull the funding for Head Start. The reasons that are circulating are that there is no proof that Head Start works long term, although there is proof that I works tremendously until around the third grade where children begin to even out with one another.They say that in order to justify the need for the nearly 6 billion dollars that Head Start receives yearly, there needs to be hard proof that it is a program that works. To that I say: Talk to any parent of a child that attended Head Start. Do some research on the internet? If Head Start were a program that did not work then why would it me the longest running program out there. The NAEYC has given them annual accreditations for over 25 years. Head Start, in the area of Pre K education is considered the standard. It is what all programs are expected to mimic.There is proof that long term, all children that attend Head Start are 9% more likely to complete high school or the equivalent. African American students of Head Start have been proven to be 12% less likely to be convicted of a crime. Head Start is not meant for getting people ready for life after school but to bridge the gap for children that are struggling to start grade school. Without Head Start many of those children would go into kindergarten without the proper knowledge of numbers, letter recognition, the alphabet and many other skills.I have a statement that I would like to read from a parent of a child with disabilities that did attend head start: â€Å"Ha ving a child with disabilities is not easy. Since enrolling in Head Start, I have received the best possible care for my child. They are very supportive in helping get the services that I need to help my child succeed. Head Start is always there when I need someone to talk to or when I need some help for my child. Since my child has been in Head Start, his doctors can’t believe the progress that he has made. No one ever thought that it would be possible for him to get where he is now.We owe it all to Head Start. † Head Start Parent from Evansdale, Iowa -Gavin -Charlie’s Story Now if Head Start were a program that did not work would it have made such a large impact on all these children? And these are just a few of the over 25 million children that have benefited from Head Start. So I say to you that if on the ballot you see anything that will pull funding from this wonderful organization, that you will at least take the time to visit a local center and observe wh at goes on daily; take the time to talk to a parent that has a child in head start and listen to their experience with the program.