ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Strategic management comprises a critical component in an organization’s quest to achieve business excellence. Thus, it is imperative for organizational managers to consider the environment in their strategic management context. According to Faulkner and Campbell, the strategic environment comprises diverse environments, viz. the firm, the competitive environment, business unit environment, and the industry environment (232). To exploit the business environment successfully, it is imperative for organizational managers to undertake a comprehensive environmental analysis. Faulkner and Campbell further affirm that it is paramount for organizational managers to develop an economic perspective of the business strategy by adopting different mediums (237). One of the models that an organization can adopt is the Structure, Conduct Performance [SCP] model. Using the SCP model enables organizational managers to evaluate the technical and economic conditions, which constitute the industry structure. Faulkner and Campbell further corroborate, “the industry structure is characterized by factors such as the numbers of buyers and sellers, the concentration of the industry, level of product differentiation, cost structures, and the degree of vertical integration and barriers to entry” (237). The industry structure has a significant impact on a firm’s behavior such as its determination of the pricing, product, distribution and promotion strategies, research, and innovation amongst other factors that contribute to the overall industry performance. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) asserts, “Industry level analysis sheds further light onto issues that might have been ignored by other macro-level analysis models” (11). The industry structure influences an organization’s performance. Furthermore, it provides organization’s managers with an insight into the process of formulating strategies. To attain long-term competitiveness, it is essential for organizations to focus on increasing entry barriers, overcoming competition, and attaining a high competitive advantage (Porter 79). Business Partners, LLC is a credit union servicing organization that was established in 1995 under the name ‘Strategic Partner’. The firm operates in the US financial services industry under the tenure of 16 credit unions. However, the main principle owners include Public Service Credit Union [PSCU], Great Lakes Credit Union [GLCU], and Farmers Insurance Group Federal Credit Union [FIGFCU]. The CUSO’s main offices are located at Chatsworth, California (Herter par.2). The firm’s operations mainly entail the provision of underwriting services, loan participation, loan origination, quality control, and servicing (Business Partners par. 1). The firm is focused on attaining long-term success in the US CUSO industry. However, to achieve this goal, the firm must continuously evaluate the industry structure to formulate effective business strategies and policies. This paper presents an application of industry –level analysis to Business Partners CUSO using the Porter’s five forces. Company Profile Since its inception, the firm has su
Introduction: Is Frugal the New Disruptive? The effect of financial crises and global warming has encouraged industries to come up with more sustainable and cost-effective products. Currently, the most viable approach to reaching such goals is frugal innovation (FI) (Rao 2013). FI is the design process in which products and services are created to be affordable, appropriate, and accessible (Basu, Banerjee & Sweeny 2013). Under this approach, it has become possible to meet the needs of region-dependent customers through the intelligent use of resources (Colledani et al. 2016). However, some critics argue that FI can be disruptive (Rao 2013). In particular, there is an opinion that FI “will merely exacerbate capitalist exploitation and inequality” (Knorringa et al. 2016, p. 143). The paper offers an overview of two FI products and the analysis of their potential for being disruptive. Sandia National Laboratories: The Robotic Hand Product Analysis The Sandia Hand is a device created by Sandia National Laboratories the main function of which is bomb disposal (Zax 2012). The main features of the robotic hand are its low cost, dexterity, and modularity. Due to the use of 3-D high-resolution rapid prototyping technology, it became possible to reduce the product’s cost ( Sandia Hand n.d.). The hand is dexterous because of four three-degree-of-freedom fingers. The device is modular since each finger socket can be controlled and replaced separately (Beciri 2012). The Sandia Hand has such benefits as the reduction of downtime, customization, mechanical breakaway options, and pluggable tools ( Sandia Hand n.d.). Control over the hand is managed remotely with a glove. The hand has a gel-like layer that imitates human tissue (Streams 2012). Designers emphasize that the ability of the hand to dispose of bombs is not the only beneficial feature of the device. With the help of the Sandia Hand, it will also become possible to find bomb makers ( Lifelike, cost-effective robotic 2012). Frequently, specialists disarm bombs by blowing them up. With the robotic hand, the valuable evidence will not be destroyed, and investigators will have more chances to find and catch the bomb maker. In the long run, it is expected that more arrests of bomb makers will lead to the reduction of bombings ( Lifelike, cost-effective robotic 2012). Disruptiveness Potential The potential growth and recognition of is Sandia National Laboratories rather high due to the positive feedback and the price of the product. With the help of a consulting company LUNAR, Sandia was able to bring down the cost of the robotic hand ( LUNAR helps develop 2012). Also, the designers of the device have taken into consideration the need for the reduced exploitation of resources, which is a FI approach (Prabhu 2017). However, the cost-effectiveness of the product can also lead to its becoming disruptive. Sandia senior manager, Philip Heermann, notes that the Sandia Hand has the same level of disruptiveness as the microchip does (Szondy 2012). The estimated retail price is $800 per degree of freedom, which makes a total price equal $10,000 ( LUNAR helps develop
Introduction It would be, then, politically paralyzing to claim that the old order of female difference has been overturned in favor of a new gender skepticism that on theoretical grounds disapproves of a historical, cross-cultural categories like “female,” “feminine,” and “woman.” For many Western feminists, Muslim world represents mystery, darkness, chaos, absence and ambiguity. Nature, too, with its unrelenting rhythms of growth and decay speaks of concealment. Insofar as anything exists, it exists as unconcealed, and that is what we see when we look at present beings. But the way beings appear or are revealed is open to ambiguity, change, error, and further determinations because of their historical context and simply because of the incarnate nature of being. Thesis In their political and social activities, Western feminists did not take into account needs and wants of Muslim women but promulgated and imposed their own norms and principles. Western Feminist Movement Western feminists influenced social and political ideas of Muslim women thus through the lens of western world views. The advantage was that Western feminists promoted human values and personal freedom, equal rights and western ideas in Muslim countries. A body and nature formed solely by social and political significations, discourses and inscriptions are cultural products, disemboweled of their full existential content (Chatty and Rabo, p. 12). One of the main objectives of the Western feminism is to give to the citizen of the new nation a feeling of dignity and importance resulting from that citizenship and from his ethnic origin, and to make him feel different from and superior to a citizen of another nation, even if both are Muslims. Islam, which is based on the equality of the faithful in the sight of God and on social doctrines which are both antiracist and anti-materialist, tends to lead in very different directions. Religious leaders, therefore, were generally not influential in the organization of independence in most of the new Muslim states. In fact, the leadership in most countries emphasized religion as a rallying point only where people of a different religion were perceived as a threat to the new state, as in Pakistan and Malaysia (Ghoussoub, p. 4). This pattern of secular thinking, nationalism, and emphasis on material progress has continued to dominate the plans and actions of most governments in the Muslim world. In the past few years, the initial euphoria of independence has worn off. Material progress has lagged or has not brought the new era of happiness expected of it (Ahmed, p.43). The weakness of Western feminism in the East is that it did not take into account unique cultural values of the region. Islam is an active force in the lives
Introduction There is much that can be said regarding the topic of gangs and juvenile delinquency. This piece of work gives an in depth discussion of the various issues associated with gangs and youth crime with respect to what have been discussed by various authors. Summary of the main arguments and findings presented in Hallsworth and Silverstone’s paper Crime is an aspect that has raised concern among individuals, groups, and organizations especially due to its increased rate among the juveniles and the adults. Juvenile delinquency is the engagement of children and youthful offenders in criminal activities (Clark 1991). From the article ‘that’s life innit: A British perspective on guns crime and social order’ by Hallsworth and Silverstone, there is a lot that can be depicted in regard to gangs and youth crime. The following are the main arguments and findings that the authors have brought out. Research in this paper indicates that there has been an increase in the rate at which young people (or the youth) are engaging in criminal activities over the recent past. Some of the factors attributed to the increase include; peer pressure, emulation of people and the desire to copy and be like them, poor upbringing for example where the parents or caregivers do not offer guidance towards good behaviour, poverty due to unemployment and lack of education among others. The rate at which young people engage in lethal gun-related violence in the United Kingdom is on the rise and the consequences are too harsh to an extent of raising concern among various responsible individuals and groups. For instance, more than 80 people were reported dead over the last two years (Hallsworth and Silverstone 2009). Hallsworth and Silverstone argues that although there have been a lot of violence, the main source is not quite clear and people live by speculations that the violence is linked to the emergence of a gun culture and gangs. This is however deemed to be an inadequate argument. Although there could be some truth in the argument, there is need to have a critical analysis of the situation in an effort to come up with factual conclusions. A major argument of this paper is that much ought to be done in order to come up with the main issue facing security in the UK and that use of gun culture or gang culture excuses does not solve the problem. While gangs are a reality, they are not involved in most of the illegal shootings that are experienced but rather the truth is far more complex. Most gun users had been previously involved in gun related incidents such as threats, shots or injuries. Apart from experienced professional criminals, there are also the ‘on road’ offenders who involve young people from barred backgrounds and who, as a means of survival or revenge, have decided on street-level criminology. ‘On road’ is a name that is given to the home of inhabitants of a volatile street world. The young men strive to earn a living through viol
Introduction All business organizations operate in a dynamic environment that keeps on changing from time to time. This environment refers to all the elements that exist either outside or within the organization that affect the organization both positively and negatively. Therefore, for an organization to ensure its continued survival, it has to adapt accordingly to these changes. Failure to which, it risks collapse. This paper, therefore, seeks to analyze ways in which an organization can implement changes so as to ensure its survival. Southwest airlines will be used as a case study for better understanding. Changes That Could Occur Every business, irrespective of the industry in which it operates, faces the risk of change in the business environmental conditions. Some of these changes may be due to; changes in technology, political instability, terrorist threats, natural disasters, rising prices of energy, changes in consumer preferences, increased costs of production and many more. However, since this case study is in the airline industry, only a number of those mentioned above will be applicable. Southwest Airlines is a renowned airline in Dallas which, due to the recent upheaval in the business environment, has had to come up with measures to ensure that it remains in business. It is one of the few businesses that have managed to make profits despite the constant changes (Kathleen, 2008). Before going into detail, it is critical to analyze the problems that the airline industry encountered as a whole. Being an industry that heavily relies on energy, it is, therefore, normal that the fluctuating prices in energy, specifically oil, will be a significant set back. Fluctuating oil prices have been an enormous headache to the economy as a whole. In the airline industry, a rise in oil prices means a subsequent rise in fuel prices. Airlines are, therefore, forced to transfer these increasing costs to passengers through increased air fare. As a result of this vicious cycle, airlines have been experiencing low demand for their services hence reduced revenues as compared to increased unit costs. Another significant problem has been the rising inflation rates which have led to a general and persistent increase in the prices of labor, airport cost and maintenance costs. The current weather conditions have also been a dominant problem. It has led to losses in revenue in the airline industry due to cancellations in flights emanating from poor visibility. Others include increased competition within the industry and rising unit costs. Measures Taken by Southwest Airlines With this in mind, we shall now concentrate on the measures that southwest airlines have taken so as to ensure continued growth, profitability and customer satisfaction. One of the effective measures taken that has seen Southwest Airlines emerge as one of the most profitable firms in the United States is the low air fares that it offers compared to its competitors. Southwest Airlines, unlike its competitors, chose to stick to charging lower rates despite the low demand of airline services by customers without compromising
Creativity is an important value shared within the modern developed society. Today, the growth of such industries where creativity plays a key role is observed and fixed by economists. As a result, society requires the development of a new class of creative people who can respond to the demands on contemporary economic progress. In his book The Rise of the Creative Class, Richard Florida presents a new concept of the Creative Class of persons whose occupations, ways of thinking, and approaches to living differ from the traditional norms and standards of the working people who can be discussed today as conservative because of their visions. In spite of the fact that the American society develops rapidly and intensively, the transformation of the social principles and patterns is the prolonged and complicated process that is why the representatives of the Creative Class cannot recognize their potential power completely to contribute to the transformation processes. Although today the American society is only on the first stage to transform into the society of creative people, this tendency is observed clearly and the Creative Class can become extremely influential in the society because the class’s representatives are the driving force of the progress based on innovation, originality, and freedom of thoughts and actions. The focus on liberation, individuality, and curiosity is typical for modern Americans who are inclined to use the opportunities of democracy completely. According to Florida, the Creative Class is the class of persons who work as scientists, artists, or architects. Thus, these persons use their minds and creativity to produce something new, to force progress. Florida states that these people are the important creative capital of the society, which plays a major role today because independent-minded persons have no barriers in their minds to produce new forms (Florida 38). While recognizing the numbers and power of the class, the creative people can rely on the growth of their impact within society. Although the Creative Class is oriented to the art and creative work without much reference to influencing this or that sphere, the situation can change tomorrow because today creativity and originality of the Creative Class is valued significantly. The representatives of the Creative Class take more influential positions in the society because many industries concentrate on the progress of creativity, and they are inclined to adapt to the changing situation and to hire more creative people to create the necessary conditions for generating more ideas. As a result, those people who take creative occupations and suc
One of the chapters in Martin Puncher’s The Norton Anthology of World Literature is titled Dante Alighieri. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to the Italian writer and philosopher Dante Alighieri. Puncher (2013) explores his life, works, and beliefs, which shaped his outlook on the world. The purpose of the chapter is to introduce the readers to Dante, explain his significance, and familiarize the audience with his poem Divine Comedy. The author notes that Dante was a product of his time. Being born into a renowned family, it would be inevitable that he would become involved in the politics of Florence. He opposed the rise of despotism in the city, which resulted in his exile. As Puncher writes, “Dante spent the next twenty years wandering from city to city, all the while continuing with his political writing as well as his poetic efforts” (2013, p. 926). He would not return to his home city, as his exile was lifted long after his death. Dante’s most famous work is Divine Comedy, which the author calls monumental. It is a description of Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. On his path, he encounters historical people and mythical figures, all sorted according to their deeds and his understanding of morality. An especially noteworthy feature of this work is Dante’s concept of Purgatory, which “would not become official Christian doctrine until well after the Comedy was completed” (Puncher, 2013, p. 926). Divine Comedy produced an enormous legacy, which still influences the minds of readers and scholars. Altogether, the author’s it should be evident that the author intended to accentuate the importance of Dante both in literature and in history. His works were reflections of troubled life experiences, which, in their turn, were a hallmark of
In this article, Kaplan and Norton (2007) discuss a strategic approach towards strategic management that they call the balanced scorecard. According to the authors, many companies neglect the problem of relations between short-term actions of the company and its long-term strategy, which adversely influences business and the enterprise (Kaplan & Norton, 2007). Unlike other approaches, the balanced scorecard does not rely on short-term financial measures; instead, it provides four processes of the managing strategy: translating the vision, communicating and linking, business planning, and feedback and learning. The first process focuses on making the company’s vision more clear and practical so that the enterprise’s employees can understand what actions will align with the company’s goal. It is crucial to clarify the meaning of the vision and provide specific actions related to employees, customers, or products. Only when the company’s executives agree on the necessary actions, translation of the vision becomes possible (Kaplan & Norton, 2007). It is difficult to align the company’s strategy with employees’ duties and actions when a detailed plan and communication are lacking. Therefore, communicating and educating, setting goals, and linking rewards to performance measures are the essential parts of the balanced scorecard. Communicating the long-term strategy upwards and downwards is essential (Kaplan & Norton, 2007). Another problem is the non-existent relationship between the budget and the company’s strategy. The balanced scorecard helps companies integrate their strategies and business processes and see if the budget can support strategic planning (Kaplan & Norton, 2007). Thus, the financial budget is linked to the strategic goals of the company; managers need to focus on the most critical issues linked to strategic success (Kaplan & Norton, 2007). Setting the long-term goals, allocating the resources, and establishing milestones are the processes of business planning. However, no matter how well thought and detailed the previous processes are, they have to function in a rapidly changing world. Therefore, assessment and feedback are necessary to understand how the balanced scorecard is working and what needs to be changed. Strategic feedback will test the hypothesis of business planning and collect opinions. Furthermore, it will also provide information about cause-and-effect relationships between strategies and processes. Without feedback and strategic learning, and development and adjustment are impossible. Critical Analysis I believe that in many ways, this article supports the findings of previous materials; strategic management is impossible if there is no clear plan and preparation, if communication is lacking, and feedback is ignored, or the company does not know how to learn from its mistakes. It is a valuable lesson because many companies still rely on vague missions and visions and separate their budget and resources from their strategic goals. The article points out that a company is in many ways a living organism where all relations and mechanisms are interconnected and should not be ignored. In my opinion, it is a reasona
Introduction Advancement in communication technology has brought about use of various multimedia devices. These include smart phones, iPad, iPhone and laptops among other multimedia devices. Moreover, it is predicted that the market will grow massively in future. This is mainly because the need for high data-rate transmissions of wireless network has increased tremendously. In order to address this need, several initiatives were made. These included interference management techniques, standardization efforts as well as extensive research. Furthermore, introduction of the latest fourth generation network (4G), which was aimed at improving wireless networking speeds revolutionized the industry. However, concern still reigns on ways of managing interference in 4G. This paper will therefore give an overview/introduction on 4G-interference management (Etemad and Riegel 38-39). 4G Network Over the years, different cellular standards have been introduced to curb emerging markets. Latest of which is the 4G network that succeeded 3G. Other cellular standards introduced earlier included 1G, 2G and 3G networks. There are various types of 4G standards, the main o