ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
The immediate goal of the company seems to be to find a way to grow in terms of its R&D department by increasing the number of engineers employed. This is needed to keep up to pace with the fast growth in its sales which continually requires innovation. There is also the measure of research spending as a proportion of sales which is an important figure in the industry. The paper performs a SWOT analysis with regards to this question of rapid growth. First off, the company has some strengths it can bank on (SWOT Analysis). It boasts one of the best internal cultures in the industry with its employees giving rave reviews about the way the company handles its employees. It was also voted one of the best employers in Canada (Beamish). This will help in attracting new talent away from competitors to the R&D department at RIM as part of the company’s growth measures. Another internal strength is that relative to some of its competitors like Google and Microsoft, the company is in a better geographically diversified position which may help in its efforts to court new talent in new facilities set up by the company. Another of the important inner strengths of the company relates to its consistent popularity in the e-mail section of its market which has been able to maintain its place. That could be used as a launching point for further innovation, stressing this advantage of the company as well as its large executive customer base in the US. The company has many internal weaknesses to its growth plans though (SWOT Analysis). RIM has a policy of getting fresh graduates through its co-op program and then slowly developing them and inculcating in them the RIM culture (Beamish). This approach is unfeasible if it wants to grow rapidly now. The company also has the tendency to rely too much on local talent from the area of its main facility and the adjoining places. Its standard reserve available at Waterloo is slowly withering away as well and it will need to go outside of it to get a larger number of fresh engineers. This in turn poses another important problem. The company’s main facility is already overcrowded with the company founder famously joking about the parking problem there on national television. The company is going to find it very difficult to keep the nearly 1400 new employees it needs at Waterloo (Beamish). If they are somehow hired, they would have to be inculcated with the RIM culture faster than the usual crop of employees if that element of the company is to be retained. These new recruits also have t
After the conclusion (end) of the Seven Years War in 1763, British, facing no immediate threat from the French turned her interest to the colonies (Pauline 16). British had accumulated enormous defence expenses during the wars and as such needed to collect revenue from the colonies in order to offset them (Pauline 43). As a consequence British administration started enforcing the Navigational Acts strictly. These Acts restricted colonial trade with other nations (Pauline 43). Strict application of these Acts was an attempt to control colonial legislatives. American’s anger was aroused by the passing of the Sugar Act and subsequent Currency Act. The former sought to raise American money for the Crown through increased taxation of imported merchandise from non British colonies, while the latter forbade colonies from printing their own money (Pauline 67). This move was opposed by the colonies as they decried unanimously against taxation without representation. Protests followed as well as boycotts of British merchandises (Pauline 71). Americans were also angered by the passing of the Quartering Act in 1765 that required the colonies to provide lodging and supplies for British troops (Pauline 73). New York being the headquarters of British troops responded by dishonoring the Act, and a scuffle ensued injuring one colonist. Whereas many events led to American Revolution, however the most crucial ones were the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party as well as The Stamp Act. As a result of the passing the Tea Act in 1773 British East India company was allowed to sell tea directly to the colonist, by passing the colonists middlemen (Pauline 97). This meant that the firm could undersell any other tea found in the colonies including smuggled tea (Ibid 97). Such acts rekindled colonial fury on the issue of taxation without representation. There was clamour for removal of tax on tea by the colonists. Subsequently citizens of Boston would not allow for the unloading of British ships that had docked on the habo
Any profit making organization should be ready and willing to embrace change. The entity needs to be dynamic to develop. Managers should make sure that this happens. Before any change is implemented, planning should be carried out. Functional strategic choices and plans are necessary. However, a good strategic plan does not always translate to successful implementation (Fred, 2013). The process of putting into action the formulated ideas is very important. A thorough evaluation is needed before a policy is implemented. Sinclair Broadcasting Group (SBG) is an example of an organization undergoing change. The plans put in place have favored the company. However, the implementation process is not that easy. In the current paper, the author will look at different strategic choices adopted by SBG. Some of the issues arising from the implementation of these plans will also be analyzed. In addition, a strategic plan will be developed in this paper. A Description of the Strategy Selected for Sinclair According to Fred (2012), an effective strategic choice helps an entity to make sustainable decisions. When selecting a strategy or choice to be implemented, managers should take into consideration the importance of putting in place a plan that is in line with the company’s goals and objectives. It is important to note that some strategic choices are better than others. In light of this, the management should assess existing alternatives before selecting the final approach to be adopted. Strategic planning helps the stakeholders in the making of important and functional choices for the entity. A manager makes a wide range of decisions on their day-to-day undertakings. Some of them include strategic decisions for the organization. The failure to put in place important policies and frameworks may lead to the failure of a company. To avoid this, Brown (2011) recommends the use of the ABCD plan before coming up with a decision. The acronym stands for Authenticity, Believability, Communicability, and Deliverability (Brown, 2011). In the first case, the choice should be made on the basis of two or more options that offer the manager with the same alternative. On its part, believability ensures that the choice made can be traced back to ‘real bases. It also makes sure that the decision is based on evidence, ensuring that it is logical. When it comes to communicability, the choice has to be effectively and efficiently communicated to the stakeholders. Failure to communicate means that the decision becomes a waste of time. The last element is deliverability. After following the steps enumerated above, the administrator must ensure
Abstract The field of management is intriguing. Business entities often look for ways to dominate in the industries they ply their trade. Such underscores the idea that competition is inherent in the world of business. As a result, business owners seek the best talented individuals to manage or lead their organizations. Although a difficult task, organisations hire the individuals that meet the qualifications that are set. However, people move or step aside from leadership/management positions due to various reasons. Such presents a dilemma as replacing top leaders is even more arduous. Based on this evidence, management is an important field to review. This paper focuses on the role of Steve Jobs as the leader of Apple. Steve Jobs is highly regarded based on his role in the rise of the company. However, Steve Jobs stepped aside due to health reasons before eventually succumbing to cancer. His exit from the company elicited divided opinion on the future of Apple. This paper responds to the question whether Apple would decline in the absence of Steve Jobs. In the end, I conclude that Apple had structures that protect the company from declining. Precisely, although Steve was phenomenal to Apple, the success the company enjoyed was not solely attributable to him as an individual. Introduction Leadership is a critical attribute in the world of business. Every keen observer appreciates the influence of a leader regarding the success or failure a business venture registers. Since the business environment is overly competitive, different leaders develop various approaches that they perceive would give the business entities they lead a competitive edge. The leadership style leaders adopt may endear or distance themselves from the workers. Such notwithstanding, the role of leadership in business is indispensable. As the case of Steve Jobs reveals, leadership heavily influences success. Purpose of the work The main purpose of this paper is to highlight whether the loss of Steve Jobs would lead to the decline of the Apple Company. As the paper progresses, it becomes clear that Steve Jobs was a great talent who aided the company from confines of extinction to its current position. Based on this observation, the paper captures the important personal attributes that made Steve Jobs stand out and in the process propel the Apple Group to its dominant position. By doing this, in a way, the paper underscores the view that certain individuals have abilities that are difficult to match. In connection to t
Introduction Youth culture has been described as the tendency by the youth to differ from their immediate and cultures. Youth culture sprang out as a reaction to the educational, political and economic changes after World War II in Western civilization (Helping youth conference, 2005). Also, pop culture is the short form of popular culture and can be categorized as the values, language, attitudes, music and entertainment of the masses. Today, popular culture is depicted in the major media which include movies, radio, television and the World Wide Web or the internet. However, different regions will have slightly different pop culture depending on the evolution that took place in time (Cooper, 2000). In the paragraphs that follow, are the descriptions of how youth culture within the last 30 years influenced New York, London and Tokyo cities. New York City and Pop Culture The youth culture became an accepted form of life in several developed nations and was easily emulated by other nations. Changes in the youth culture manifested itself in strange behavior and lifestyle such as strange dress codes by the female youths and funny haircuts by the males. An example, Punk, used the “do it yourself” aesthetics with a message that any person can become a musician to attack to the previous generation of the hippie subculture (Faqs.org, 2008). Punk tried to negatively impact the society’s mass marketing, but surprisingly, it also turned into a style for shoppers around the globe. The availability of records and dressing styles was welcome among most of the youth who would adopt the lifestyle even without joining particular subcultures (Faqs.org, 2008). Youth culture has become younger and older at the same time by assuming new meanings. As such, some people take on their youth culture into their adulthood in a move that tries to explain the situation as a lifestyle (McRobbie, 1999). It is evident that youth cultures in the last 30 years have had a strong influence in the current lifestyle of people in New York City. Some of these influences are depicted in the media like film, popular music, television, and the internet. Alternatively, youth has been defined as post-adolescent and pre-adult groups, or as the 1.1 billion young people who are between the ages of 15 and 24 years according to the United Nations (Kett, 1977). It has been noted that the youth form the largest portion of the most media and technologically literate people of their society. As a matter of fact, the youth are considered as the primary engine for the growth of global media culture and are targeted as a consumer class by multinational corporations (Klein, 2000). As noted earlier, youth movements like punk from 1980s onwards led to the rise of the hip-hop culture, and the violent rap subculture styles called “gangsta”. Past youth culture has influenced most of the activities that currently takes place in New York City in several ways. This influences range from the type of music, movies, dressing styles, TV shows and languages among many more. For instance, most of the youths and adults in New York prefer certain music to others due t
Introduction The argument presented by John Keynes is an illustration of the paradoxical twist that prevailed during the time when the document was prepared. He developed this theory in his attempt to explain the great depression; hence, sway individuals, corporations, and governments from classical practices. This argument was to a large extent applicable to European countries, which at the time deemed themselves superior. At the time, Europe was expanding its industrial capacity, and value for money in relation to employment, economic growth, and consumerism was in the lime light. Hence, this theory was mainly relevant to Europe as a directive to the country’s use of money. Keynes’s general theory is not static, and it does not focus on a single element of money; rather, it encompasses a varied holistic approach that examines different realms of money and the economy. It was a perfect reflection of the economic situation of Europe that sought to challenge some of the classical ideologies regarding the use of money, especially in bad economic times characterized by unemployment and high inflation rates. Keynes challenges classical theorists who believed in full-employment and the fact that poor economic times should be followed by the termination of unsustainable economic activities. In addition, he does not support the idea of inflating the prices; otherwise, the propensity to consume would not be achieved and the efforts to revive employment would be in vain. Main body The document reflects the period it was produced in that during this time money was in limited supply; hence saving the money was associated with thrift. Apparently, the ideas of Keynes formed the basis for the current theories associated with money, demand, supply, and associated push and pull factors. The 1930s was a time when countries were unstable due to inter-wars, colonization, and the fight for freedom. Hence, reinforcing the circulation of money at this time was illogical given the fact that most countries were focused on gaining sovereignty. In addition, the existence and exchange of money at this time challenges the period in which the document under review was produced because money was mainly in the possession of the feudal lords and aristocrats. In addition, whereas Keynes gathers ideologies from great scholars, these ideas are not congruent with the referred period; hence continue to challenge the application of the theory at the time. One ideology asserts the need to give every individual an equal chance of being employed as well as promote innovation and invention by supporting manufacturers, and arts, and handicrafts. Whereas this theory reflected the endeavors of the British who had gone out in search of more resources to reinforce and expand their dreams of industrialization, the same would not be said about other countries. On the other hand, this document challenged the manner in which the British solely relied on employment to sustain it
Introduction Financial management refers to the planning and management of finances of a business with the sole aim of achieving the set goals. It is geared towards maximizing profits and reducing losses. The main objectives include wealth creation and generation of a substantial return on investment (ROI) and cash based on risks taken and resources invested. Financial management involves acute planning, good control of finances, and appropriate decision-making (Megginson & Smart, 2009, p.24). Nike is a publicly-traded company that deals in sportswear and associated sports equipment. It is based in the United States and has its headquarters at Beaverton. In 2008, it had a workforce of 28,000 people and with its high financial turnover, good financial management was inevitable (Business Week, 2004). Discussion Before the entry of Don Blair in1999 as the Chief Financial Officer, Nike was undergoing a bad financial management crisis. This was a result of bad financial discipline, inappropriate supply-chain management, and bad operations. Blair helped in restoring its credibility in the financial markets by changing the business model they were using at the time. He introduced a new financial model that inculcated discipline, maintained steady growth, and attained an increase in profit levels (Business Week, 2004). Nike’s financial model ensures a good financial and operational relationship with its designers and numerous marketers. Their financial exploits are mainly pegged on the creativity and ability of their designers to produce quality designs that guarantee good performance in the market (Business Week, 2004). The financial model that Nike adopted in the fall of the year 2000 was much different from the one they had before. The design they came up with centered on lower-octane revenue growth. Revenues shot up to 40% from 15% in earlier years with a small difference of 5% whenever they dipped. Nike has achieved substantial financial growth because it has excellent management of working capital and its culture of leveraging all of its assets (Business Week, 2004). This has maintained a steady cash flow and augmented the financial strength of their operations. Nike has also improved its operations in retail investments. They raised their dividends and spent $420 million in stock purchase last year. This has raised their cash flow by a great margin (Business Week, 2004). Nike’s financial model is geared towards achieving a higher rate of growth, increasing volatility by a steady margin, and maintaining its investors’ confidence. They are achieving this through high financial investment in creativity and innovation. Nike understan
Introduction The perception of work in society has been changing significantly throughout history. Once, it used to be the equivalent of “exploitation”; at another point, it was interpreted as the only way to reach the so-called ‘American Dream’. The latter would symbolize the wealth and prosperity gained due to one’s diligence and ambition. The opportunity to test one’s abilities and succeed has always looked attractive, both to Americans and those who come to this land in search of a better life. The question, meanwhile, arises regarding the concept of this dream and its main attributes in modern reality. It is, likewise, interesting to know whether this dream is equally available to natives and immigrants. Lastly, the question is whether this dream is worth the struggle or is it just a vague image skillfully employed by the mass media? Thus, the paper at hand is devoted to the analysis of the American Dream, its modern interpretation along with the myths and prejudices that typically surround this problem. Particular focus is put on the value that this dream implies for immigrants. Core Theme and Related Questions In the global context, America has always been the country that offers the most promising prospects for new-comers. Hence, numerous books and films have been released that elucidate stories of people coming to this new land and beginning their lives from scratch. The core value of this dream resides in the fact that it is supposed to be equally accessible to everyone, notwithstanding his or her social position, ethnicity or cultural background. It would be fair to say that, even nowadays, it is the dream that makes thousands of people leave their homeland, cross the ocean and plunge into a new environment; the image of which is widely distributed by the Hollywood film industry. At this point, a question arises concerning the basic elements that make the concept of the American Dream so attractive. In addition, according to its name, the American Dream is, first and foremost, supposed to be a privilege of the natives; thus, it is unclear whether immigrants are still welcomed to share this benefit. Moreover, the media’s active distribution of this theme makes it problematic to distinguish fiction from reality. Otherwise stated, it is no longer evident what real outcomes an “American Dreamer” should basically target and which hopes it would be more rational to put aside. Text Analysis Sandy Close and Richard Rodriguez discuss the main aspects associated with the American Dream in their recent interview. Their conversation elucidates some important background points. Hence, for instance, the famous writer believes that the concept of the American Dream has changed throughout time, so that now there is only the catchy slogan left while its content has faded away. Rodriguez explains that the entire idea was based upon the immigrants coming to start a new life in the USA, though, at a certain point, Americans would decide that the mission was accomplished, and they needed no more new-comers. According to the writer, this was the turning point, after which the American Dream would cease t
The constitution is sheer genius in my opinion, almost divine. However, there is one core concept of the constitution that is wrong: it’s wrong due to the fact it’s based on concepts and practices of capitalism. The concept that I’m arguing against is “ambition counteracting ambition” or “evil counteracting evil”, this concept is absurd, it’s like saying a lion guard another lion, or gravity counteracting gravity. The truth of the matter is the one overwhelms the other, or even worse they both will combine and cause almost unending havoc. Now I’m not arguing against the reasoning of this concept, when James Madison said, “Men aren’t angels” I perfectly agreed but we aren’t demons either. What I’m arguing is the absurdity and the usage of this concept, since the people are not really represented. James Madison being one of the “Founding Fathers ” succeeded in establishing the state of America and its society by working out the key principles implemented in the Constitution. That is why he was known as “Father of the Constitution”. In American society, people believe that the point of somebody’s ambitions can make an impact on his future life. It is concerned without the exclusion of the fact that many negative aspects are involved in terms of this approach to negatively illustrate the relationships between people in power and those being subordinate to this power. In this paper, the points about James Madison’s concepts are concerned with one of John Locke’s works in order to support the vision of the Constitution on the facts relevant to power in relationships between its branches. “The Second Treatise” by J. Locke is a manifestation of power that is present in nature and can be elaborated in society. This work explains the ways of people’s reorganization into civil society with strict glimpses on the rights which individuals have when meeting the repressions in it. One of the concepts being popular in the epoch of Enlightenment is outlined by the author. It is a “social contract theory”. In other words, the author states several points as of the men and power. His “state of nature” is a unity of people equal in rights, but, as the author continues, each of the individuals can use the power coordinated by natural law. This is because “natural law is universal and knows no boundaries of state or country when being carried out.” (Locke 11) Another point of Locke’s work touches upon the fact that the society appeared after making some agreements between people intending the political power emergence. The role of state the author comprises in t