ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Executive Summary Brunswick Velodrome Facility is one of the most successful cycling clubs in Melbourne that has attracted a large number of the local population. It’s cycling services have gained massive popularity, especially after the renovation of the tracks that it clients use. The firm has majorly targeted the local population which makes up over 95 percent of its clients. Although it has been renovating its facilities to meet the international standards, it is worrying that some clients feel that the firm is out of touch with the reality of change. Some clients feel that the management of this firm has failed to embrace changes which are taking place in this industry. In the past, cyclist would come for a few hours, get the services and drive back home. However, the current youth- which is the majority of the clients- want a place where they can board for several days as they enjoy the experience of cycling. This is one of the changing trends that this firm has failed to appreciate. It is recommended that the firm should use ISO 9001 quality management tool to ensure that it has the capacity to meet the changing demands of the customers. Using some of the principles of this quality management tool, this firm will be able to remain dynamic in the market. Problem Definition Brunswick Velodrome Facility is one of the most successful cycling clubs in Melbourne. It has been offering the local community superior cycling services. However, some changes are taking place in this industry that requires this firm to adjust its service delivery approach in order to remain competitive in the market. A case study conducted on this firm has identified some areas of weaknesses that should be addressed in order to enable Brunswick Velodrome Facility to remain competitive in this industry. Limited number of employees was found to be one of the main areas of weakness that is limiting the ability of this firm to achieve success. The current workforce is unable to meet the demand of the customers. For this reason, some of the clients go unattended when they visit the facility. This reduces the levels of satisfaction of these clients. Another issue that was identified was the inability of this firm to manage the market changes. This has limited its ability to deliver quality products which meet customers’ demands. According to Reib (2012), a firm can only achieve success in the market by delivering products which meets the market requirements. This is only possible if a firm is able to change with changes taking place in the environment. These are the key issues that need to be addressed at this firm in order to make it successful. At this stage, the focus will be to determine how this firm can develop a management plan on how to implement change management strategies. Customer Expectations In the current competitive market, firms are struggling to find the best strategies that can help them remain releva
The criteria for critiquing a research project described by Leedy and Ormrod (2015) have 10 sections that coincide with the main parts of a research study. In the first section of research problem, the critique should focus on evaluating if the problem has been clearly and concisely stated, if the problem has been sufficiently narrowed down into a researchable problem, if the problem is significant enough to warrant a formal research effort, and if the relationship between the problem of interest and previous research studies has been clearly stated. In the literature review section, the critique should focus on establishing if the literature review is logically organized and effective in providing a critique of the relevant studies, if the gaps in knowledge about the research problem have been identified, if previous research studies relevant to the topic of interest have been included in the review, and if all cited works are included in the reference list and vice versa (Leedy & Ormrod, 2015). In the section on theoretical or conceptual framework, the critique should focus on establishing if the framework is applicable to the identified problem and if the concepts of the framework are adequately identified and defined. In the research variables section, it is important to evaluate if the variables (independent and dependent) have been operationally defined and if any confounding variables have been identified or noted. In the section on research hypotheses, it is important to evaluate if the hypotheses are not only clear, testable and specific, but also able to describe a predicted relationship between two or more variables. Additionally, it is important for the critique to establish if the stated hypotheses flow logically from the theoretical or conceptual framework (Leedy & Ormrod, 2015). In the next section (sampling), the critique should focus on establishing if the sample is adequate and representative of the defined population, if the techniques used to select the sample are appropriate, if any sampling bias in the method is acknowledged, and if the criteria for selecting the sample have been clearly identified. The next section of the research critique process focuses on the research design, and aims to assess if the design is adequately described, if it is appropriate for the identified research problem, and if it addresses issues that relate to the internal and external validity of the research study. Moving on, the section on data collection methods should aim at critiquing the appropriateness, adequacy of description, as well as the validity and reliability of the data collection methods. In data analysis, it is important to critique the clarity and logical organization of the results section, the appropriateness of the data analysis techniques, the comprehensibility of tables and figures, and the appropriateness of the s
The article, titled “Promises and poverty,” reveals the truth behind Starbucks, the biggest coffee corporation in the world, and its operational process in Ethiopia. The author of the article, Tom Knudson, is an American journalist who has won Pulitzer Prize two times for National Reporting and Public Service. The report highlights the inconsistency between the company’s claims to be environmentally friendly and the actual situation that takes place on East African coffee plantations. The main problems that the author points out are the forced industrialization, dubious marketing tactics, low wages, and deforestation. The article does not entirely demonize Starbucks; Knudson lists several accomplishments the company has made to improve the life quality of Ethiopians, such as providing schools, clinics, and other projects. However, these efforts are not enough to relieve the hardships of poverty – the coffee farmers barely make any money from their work. At the same time, the company proudly talks about how it helps the growing Ethiopian economy. They do so by printing confidence-boosting messages for their customers on the bags, thereby including a customer in the process of making Ethiopia better. The author notes that this comfortable social justice, packaged in a single cup, does not reflect the actual story. The article talks about the conflict between the company and the local tribes after Starbucks purchased the land for plantation at the Ethiopia Gemardo Estate. Despite providing new access to the clean water, housing, and healthcare, the company put the Sheka Forest, located in the Gemardo area, at massive risk of deforestation. In addition, the heavy usage of plantations polluted the nearby rivers, making the life of the local tribe Shabuyye difficult. Yatola, the member of the tribe, reports that the number of fish in the river has significantly decreased. He describes that the river “becomes black, almost like oil” (Knudson, 2007, p. 96) and has a terrible stench. Although Starbucks offers a higher than average wage to their Gemardo workers (around 77 cents up to $1.10 a day), the U.S. State Department reports that it is still not enough to make a living. Moreover, most of the money that comes from a customer does not end up in farmers’ pockets. Instead, it is redistributed to the wages of the buyers, processors, and other intermediaries. The author notes that Starbucks is working on this issue, quoting the words of Dub Hay – the company’s global purchasing executive. To support their eco-friendly image, Starbucks conducted a set of ethical sourcing standards called Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices, which ensures the provision of ethically collected coffee. However, Knudson reports that an African company inspector was fired during the inspection of the plantation. Despite t
PESTEL analysis of Western European Brewing Industry Political factors  1. Unfavorable attitude of European governments toward beer and alcoholic beverages, in general. These products are regarded as demerit goods which means that their consumption has to be restricted. This results in numerous legal regulations on the advertisement, marketing, and production of such products 1 . Economic factors  1. The decrease in consumption of beer. In many European countries such as Belgium, Denmark, Norway, France, and the United Kingdom bear consumption level dropped significantly within the period between 2000 and 2007.  2. Merges in the industry due to global pressure of consolidation.  3. Economic recession in Europe and the United States 2 . Social factors  1. Growing concern about the dangers of alcohol consumption.  2. The changes in the buying behaviors of consumers, especially the growing popularity of wines 3 .  3. Increasing demand for alcohol-free beer.  4. Low birth rates in European countries 4 and increase of population In Asian countries and India. Technological factors  1. The development of new technologies which can facilitate the production and storage of beer. For instance, one can mention those technologies that improve beer recovery process or filtration 5 . Environmental factors  1. The demands to make brewing process more eco-friendly, for example, we can speak about the necessity to reduce the discharge of chemicals 6 .  2. The necessity to develop an alternative to conventional bottles or aluminum. cans. The main purpose is to make beer containers more recyclable. At the given moment, the influence of these environmental factors is not very strong but this issue can become much more urgent within the next two decades. Legal factors  1. Stronger enforcement of laws prohibiting underage consumption of alcohol. For instance, one can mention such plan “Think 21” which is aimed at reducing the availability of alcoholic beverages to ado
Introduction Clear Wash is an international company that offers bleaching products for washing cloths and cleaning furnished floor surfaces. The main purpose of the company is to offer its customers with safe and effective products that ease the process of washing and cleaning. The bleaching solution of Clear Wash targets dry cleaner companies, households, and hotels, as the major consumers. As dry cleaners often use the bleaching agents in their laundry procedures, Clear Wash targets them as the main consumers since they buy its products in huge quantities, as per the demand of their businesses. These companies buy different types of bleaching agents, including the colored solution that removes tough stains on colored cloths and the white solution that removes tough stains on white cloths. The household customers are parents, who buy the products to use them in their homes for laundry and cleaning purposes. Hotels are the greatest target of the company because they buy the products to wash surfaces, table linens, beddings, and curtains, which are determinants of the hygienic state and reputation in the hotel industry. In essence, the company needs to expand their market share and elevate their sales. Therefore, the essay describes a marketing campaign by outlining various ideas that would make Clear Wash to grow competitively in its market and uplift its brand. Marketing Campaign There are different channels of visual communication that Clear Wash can use in communicating with its customers. The channels include the Internet, billboards, packaging, television, and outdoor screens. Keller, Parameswaran, and Jacob (2011) illustrate that for consumers to create a good relationship with a given brand, they require clear, persistent, and consistent information about product from various sources. The knowledge from these sources varies, according to functional benefits, emotional values, target audience, attractiveness, and convenience. Therefore, it is important to use as many channels of communication as possible to pass the message to customers. The functional benefits can be improved by coming up with diverse products that have wide usage. Keller, Parameswaran, and Jacob (2011) argue that coming up with a mild product that people can use to disinfect clothes of the sick and babies without causing any effect on their skin, such as irritation, can improve the company’s brand. A new product in the company expands market share, improves sales, and augment competitiveness (Sandhya & Girija, 2011). The visual communication offers effective marketing strategies, which pass the right message to the consumers. In this case, the packaging of the products should include images that capture the attention of potential customers. The company should also put videos on the Internet, which illustrate a procedure of laundry and cleaning, as well as the way of handling people, who are allergic to the products. Hence, improvement of the functional benefits of th
The authors of the article pay special attention to process improvement. In particular, they focus on common factors that lead organizations to failure, even when they have allocated vast investments to improving performed processes. They mention the primary limitations and risks connected to process improvement that prevent organizations from achieving better economic outcomes and meeting or even exceeding customer expectations. More specifically, the authors claim that the major limitations of process improvement are resource-intensiveness, an increased risk of failure, and an inability to address all business needs and create competitive advantage. Moreover, there are significant risks related to the cost-inefficiency of investments, as sometimes changes do not satisfy stakeholders and costs commonly surpass benefits. Finally, process improvement cannot solve all of an organization’s problems or help management cope with all existing challenges because, in fact, a new process is likely to aggravate current issues and create new ones (Guo & Hariharan, 2016). Based on the arguments mentioned above, the authors point to the fact that process improvement is not necessarily the best option for all businesses. In addition to the above-mentioned risks and limitations, this statement can be explained by several other factors. For instance, regardless of some process issues, businesses may still remain competitive by offering desirable products because, in fact, it is the product (or service) that determines the company’s success. In this way, if a product is innovative or unique enough, there is no need for process improvement, especially in the case of limited resources. Furthermore, senior management should always give preference to organizational, rather than operational, excellence and seek ways to operate in correspondence with available resources, market demand, and the state of the national or international economy based on the company’s size and level of operations. The authors do not criticize the methods or the very concept of process improvement because, in most cases, it is efficient and does benefit organizations. Instead, they call for management to perform an adequate estimation of the company’s needs and resources and to make decisions according to them in order to avoid the potential risks and drawbacks connected to hasty and poorly developed business strategies. In my opinion, this article is a comprehensive guide for all senior managers interested in process improvement. In a concise manner, the authors describe all significant potential pitfalls and draw attention to the cases in which there is no need for process improvement. For me, this article is a sort of revelation because I generally fall into the category of those who believe in the overall positivity of this popular trend. Therefore, the strengths of the given article are its clarity of arguments—especially as it recalls real-life c
Global warming occurred as the most considerable issue of the twentieth century since it influenced the earth by putting an increment to earth’s average temperature. The well known gases that contribute to global warming are mainly carbon dioxide along with those that help in retaining heat in the atmosphere. The result that appears to us serves as the main threat to the earth which evokes the need to stabilize the effect of greenhouse gas concentrations in the air. This need was escorted by an international environmental treaty UNFCCC to lay the foundation of ‘Kyoto Protocol’ which not only established legal binding to reduce four greenhouse gases and other two groups of gases (annex I), but also in January 2009 ratified the protocol with the help of 183 nations worldwide. Kyoto Protocol also presented flexible procedures to cope up with global warming such as emissions trading and joint implementation to allow annex I countries to support financial exchanges through conducting operations and projects in non-annex I countries. The important members of the annex I group are U.S, Japan, Russia and Germany who managed to act as signatories by agreeing upon the greenhouse gas (GHG) portfolios which on the other hand provided an opportunity to the non-annexed nations to bear no restrictions on GHG emissions. Non-annexed economies possess some financial incentives in the form of carbon credits to be sold to annex-I economies. Among the signatory nations, the United States adopted a diplomatic policy by neither ratifying nor withdrawing from the Protocol. This was heavily criticized by global legislators who blamed the US for buying time to make the decision, and was later condemned when in 2001 Bush’s epoch formally announced a withdrawal from the Kyoto legislation. From Political Decisions to US Withdrawal Apart from the political decisions influenced from worldwide legislation, this withdrawal put an impact upon the economical side of the political debate. On one hand the response to the global warming issue that initiated in the 90s and which witnessed US government’s promises revolves around the political sphere that includes but are not limited to the role played by UNFCCC and some EU Climate Change Programmes. On the other, the 2001 withdrawal of the US has illustrated the rhetoric of many leaders of the US who were once favoring reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions that flowed freely during the late 1990s. During that epoch, actual emissions were on the average rising in almost all the nations of the world, which later made the global warming policy so as to create awareness among the public from the aftermath dangers. Contemporary era indicates much awareness to the issue that even points out some impediment that reflects the lack of a viable architecture for international cooperation. It has been eighteen years since governments have been building a framework for limiting global warming. However, after 1992 at the ‘Earth Summit’, diplomats adopted the Framework Convention on Climate Change that was only limited to creat
The past years has seen a gradual increase in presidential powers leading to an imperial presidency. This increase can be attributed to a number of historical events in the country. During national crises like Civil War and the Great Depression it is important that the president show good leadership; a leadership that keeps the country united despite the crisis while at the same time ensuring that the crisis is successfully resolved. If the president succeeds in dealing with the crisis effectively, he will command a great respect among the citizens hence increasing his presidential powers. Secondly, many people would respect leaders who initiate sound policies. During tenure as the occupant of the House on the Hill, President Franklin Roosevelt commanded a great respect among the Americans when he showed leadership in legislation as the New Deal policy originated from the executive branch under his direction. This was also the case in the presidency of Johnson who initiated the Great Society policy. Such show of leadership in formulation of major legislation led to the increase in the presidential powers. One of the reasons why President Clinton was powerful presidents is because of the many executive orders he issued during his reign. Such executive order as the Emancipation Proclamation was popular with the people thereby increasing the president’s powers. The ability of the president to run a country with sound trade policies that ensure economic growth is a major factor in boosting the image of the president. Good public image comes with increased powers thus the conclusion of such trade agreements as the Reciprocal Trade Agreements and reduction of tariff on foreign goods saw an upsurge in presidential powers. This led to creation of an imperial president. Moreover, being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the president must show good leadership especially during war. Successful execution of this duty will without doubt lead to an increase of powers of the president. Many presidents of the United States of America earned local and international respect and thus an increase in their powers by their activism both at the local and international stage. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt saw an upsurge in their presidential powers due to their presidential activism in national and world affairs. Presidents who are seen by the public as strong and able usually command a popular admiration and consequently increased powers. This was the case for presidents such as Clinton and Franklin Roosevelt who became powerful due to popular admiration for being strong and able. Many presidents also saw their powers as president increase due to their strong and popular foreign policies. This is because these foreign policies affect the lives of the American people both directly and indirectly. Thus the successful of such policies would lead to admiration both locally and internationally. The resulting good reputation leads to presidential powers increase. The budget of any country