ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The history of lean manufacturing philosophy and six-sigma production philosophy began in 1980s. During this time, many organizations were focusing specifically on total quality management (TQM) as a strategy for increasing performance. Organizational performance was then measured in terms of outputs and profitability without necessarily focusing on the inputs or processes. The Toyota Company first adopted the lean manufacturing philosophy with the goal of minimizing wastes. On the other end, the Motorola Company focused on costs that were associated with variation of products, thus leading to rejection of many finished products when subjected to quality testing. To resolve these challenges, Motorola incorporated the six-sigma philosophy. The benefits accruing from the two production philosophies were integrated to form the lean six-sigma production philosophy that was adopted by organizations such as Ford, Allied Signal, Honeywell, and GE among others. This paper discusses the case of Ford in an effort to demonstrate how the company fostered the lean six-sigma culture as a tool for improving performance through elimination of costs of variations (six sigma) and wastes (lean manufacturing). Company’s History and Growth Ford Motor Company or simply Ford is an American multinational organization, which was established in 1903. Its main offices are based in Dearborn in Michigan. It manufactures and sells various types of vehicles under the Ford brand name. Luxurious automobiles are sold under the Lincoln brand name. In addition, it owns Troller, FPV, and SUV. The latter is based in Brazil. The company also engages in the production of tractors. It has stakes in various other automobiles that manufacture organizations such as Mazda (Japan), Aston (the UK), and Jianglin (China). In its manufacturing plants, Ford established flow and large-scale systems of manufacturing. It also embraced large-scale techniques of management of workforce through an elaborated sequential manufacturing system that was characterized by mobile assembly lines. By 1914, this approach became a common practice that was adopted by many industries (Karel, Haslam & Williams, 2002, p.518). Ford sold Jaguar vehicles, which were acquired in 1999, Land Rovers, which were purchased in 2000, and the Tata Motors of 2008. Ford Motors Company also owned the Volvo between 1999 and 2010. However, amid selling these subsidiaries, the company remains the second largest automobile manufacturing organization in the US and fifth largest across the globe based on the 2010 automobile sales statistics. In Europe, Ford was the largest automaker in 2009 based on sales revenues (118.3 billion). In 2008, the company had employed 213,000 people across all its 90 manufacturing plants across the globe. Strengths and Weaknesses of Ford Motor Company The co
Introduction Business environment often experience dynamics and swings which create short and long term effects on profitability and chances of survival. When faced with a business dilemma that requires critical decisions, companies resort to analytical tools that ensure competitive advantage, besides, cutting a market niche. Thus, this analytical treatise attempts to explicitly review the social, economic, and management segments to understand the general environment facing Lavendary Cafe. Moreover, the paper evaluates decision science adopted by the subsidiary manager and provides an independent review of its effectiveness. In conclusion, the paper describes the main capabilities of this company and expansion model. Business DNA in China and America Several generic competitive strategies are adopted by different business entities across the globe depending on their product, strategic marketing approach, and geographical location. The most common generic competitive strategies in China include low-cost provider, broad differentiation, best-cost provider, market niche low cost, and differentiation based strategies. Lavendary Café has adopted a traditional entry strategy which is based on the Chinese culture. Besides, Chinese market is characterized by culture oriented clients in low and middle income segments. To benefit from these, the appointment of Chen was a wise decision to initiate an initial friendly touch with the customers. Through the employment of the local talent, it is very easy to understand market operation and make adjustments within fair time frame. In addition, the design of the China branch of the Cafeteria was meant to create the natural and typical Chinese setting with relevant menu for the same purpose. However, Chen seems to apply an unstructured management strategy characterized by sole decision making with minimal consultation from the headquarters. This form of management is characterized by conflict of interest as the outcome may not be in line with expected capital structure growth, goals, and mission of the mother company (Hill and Jones, 89). Moreover, Foster’s flight to China to meet Chen is a wise decision rationalized by Chen’s unpromising management skills of. However, it is vital to acknowledge market differences between China and America, especially, in menu, culture, customers’ preferences and income levels. There is no right way to manage; however, there are some fundamental principles and practices that can be employed by managers to i ensure the efficiency of management techniques. Accommodative leaders engage others in decision making process before the implementation of new ideas, thus involving the parties that are in the conflict. Chen lacks this aspect. In business organizations, performance plays a crucial role in determining success, sustainability, and relevance within a competitive edge. When aligning opportunity cost, performance is a key indicator before deciding on the forgone alternative. Therefore, performance indicator analysis
The United Arab Emirates has an active economy that makes it attract a lot of foreign investors. It is strategically located in the Middle East making it attractive to investors that want to set up operations in the region. The country main business hub, Dubai, is famous for its hospitality, financial and tourism sectors which have registered significant growth in the last two decades. The city is a famous transport hub linking visitors travelling to Asia, Europe, Africa and other parts of the world. This paper will analyze a variety of published sources to uncover economic conditions that affect demand and supply in the UAE. This will help establish how these factors impact on food production in the country. UAE citizens have a high purchasing power and this makes the country attractive for investment. Emiratis have refined consumer tastes and this makes them demand high quality products in the market. The country is arid which makes it difficult for various food production and other agricultural activities to be done locally. It imports cereals, beef, fruits, milk and poultry products from other countries. The scarcity of these products makes them valuable in the country which drives up their demand. Many Emiratis have higher disposable incomes which has led to an increase in demand of various food items. However, UAE lacks a unified food regulation system, which slows down firms in the food industry from achieving specification and quality requirements. It is also difficult for firms to get credit for their operations and this restricts the amount of capital investments they are able to make. The food sector is estimated to grow which opens up opportunities for firms interested in food production in the country. There are many supermarket chains in the country which make it easy for consumers to access food products sold. The market is has many expatriate workers from different countries who consume imported food products that are not easily available in the country. The region has modern transport infrastructure that makes it easy to deliver food products to their respective markets. It is estimated that more than 35% of imported food items are repackaged and sold to other markets. The food industry in the country is thriving because its main airports and sea ports are connected to other regions in the Middle East which makes it possible for finished products to be transported. This has also made distribution channels to be more effective which ensures products are delivered to various markets on time. Some products are bulky when they are still raw and they need to be processed in areas they are sourced from. It is more economical to produce such products in areas that have low labor costs to make them more competitive in the market. Goods processed abroad can be repackaged in the country and later sold in
Market Trade History and Rationale Trade history is based on Ricardian theory of international trading which assumes that goods usually form the basis of international trade. But this theory has since then been expanded by many researchers to necessitate the inclusion of intermediate goods such as fuel and machinery (Bowen, 1998, p.12).By the inclusion of other goods, markets have become more competitive than before, hence leading to reduced prices of goods. The current country partners in the Australian and the U.S markets are; China, Japan and New Zealand. These countries have played a significant role in developing the two markets. In the past many countries did not consider international marketing but preferred internal trading, since it was less involved and cheap. Nowadays many countries have partnered hence going further to form trading blocs, which are being considered as the basic way of trading. These trading blocs have enabled many economies to develop from shackles to the new heights of today. These trading blocs have of late had a positive implication in international politics, which is a good trend. The emergence of trade blocs started way back in 1834 where the German Custom Union was formed (Nigel, 2007, p.36). The other trading blocs that have since then emerged are;   * European Free Trade Association   * European Union   * North American Free Trade Association   * East Africa Economic Community   * Economic Community of West African States   * Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation In these trading regions and other trade markets there are barriers and restrictions to countries which want to venture in such markets. Trade barriers or restrictions may come inform of tariffs, subsidies, embargos, import licenses, export licenses and voluntary export restraints (Nigel, 2007, p.36). These types of restrictions have an overall increase in the cost of doing business and product prices go up. Competition and Cost of Market Entry The introduction of international markets has led to massive competition of markets, thus forcing many countries to introduce different types of products which can easily penetrate these markets (Lymbersky, 2008, p.45). It is important to note that this trading system has also caused imperfect competition, which is normally called monopolistic competition. Since the cropping up of this type of competition different types of models have been introduced in order to counter the same, an example of these models is the use of this equation: Q = S x [1/n – b x (P – P )].This model helps to determine the number of competitors in the market and the prices of the products being offered. Countries which engage in market entry usually have a cost issue to focus on, since such entries have their cost implications (Lymbersky, 2008, p.45). These costs normally occur due to the expanded markets and the logistical issues. There are also risks involved in market entry, for example a partner country ca
Development of a person’s body is a rather complicated process, and as people grow and age, their bones are continually made and remodeled, and their strength and shape change. To alter people’s bones in response to many environmental factors, two types of cells work together: osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The purpose of this paper is to define their function in bone remodeling and describe how osteoblasts and osteoclasts work together to maintain healthy bone function. Also, a microscopic image of healthy bone tissue and the one affected by osteoporosis will be observed. Microscopic Images A healthy bone viewed under a microscope looks like a honeycomb with different chambers of various sizes. Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by a bone mass loss, which may be caused by a deficiency in magnesium, vitamin D, calcium, and some other minerals and vitamins. When it occurs, the spaces and holes in the honeycomb of an affected bone are much larger than those of a healthy one. Osteoporotic bones lose mass or density, and their tissue structure becomes abnormal. The Function of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts Osteoclasts are rather rare cells that are responsible for the resorption of bones and are crucial for remodeling. Problems with osteoclasts differentiation, decrease in their number, and the loss of their function may cause bone osteosclerosis or osteopetrosis. However, an increase in their function or number is also dangerous as it can result in bone osteoporosis. Their function is to break down and reabsorb the bone through phagocytosis and help to make sure that bones are not overly degraded or produced. Osteoblasts are the bone builders that make a tightly packed sheet on the bone’s surface and let cellular processes extend through the developing bone. They are responsible for rebuilding the skeleton by laying down phosphorus and calcium crystals and by filling in the holes with collagen. Also, their function is bones’ mineralization and synthesis, which is rather essential for both the bone remodeling and bone formation processes. Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts Working Together Osteoblasts and osteoclasts work together to control the balance of bone resorption and formation. While osteoblasts make new bones in response to growth and other factors, osteoclasts produce digestive enzymes that dissolve or break up the bone tissue. Their mutual work helps to maintain the necessary rate of bone resorption and build formation because if there
Introduction Negotiation is a skill of bringing people together who have differences into a common platform where they can solve their disagreements. There are many dynamics especially in business negations which prevent people from coming to an agreement. These dynamics may include cultural differences, difference of gender, culture, perception, cognition and emotional differences. This paper therefore tries to analyze an all male and an all female negotiating teams which have cultural dimensions. On one hand the all male negotiating team seeks to buy a cell phone at $6 per unit while the all female negotiating team seeks to offer the cell phone with a $9 per unit. The main objective of this paper is to emphasize on the potential influence on cell phone price negotiations between Chinese and American negotiation. Cultural Difference When negotiating the two parties it is important to engage a third party intervention. This is due to the cultural difference between the Chinese and the Americans. Some of the benefits of having a third party intervention are to create an enhancing environment and a platform of communication between the two parties. This helps to reestablish communication between people of different cultural beliefs. Secondly, most of the time will be used on substantive means such as negotiating for a minimum price of the cell phone which will be satisfactory to every individual (Lewicki, et al, 2010). Moreover of there is any imminent conflict between the two cultures it can also be solved by a negotiator through engaging of the conflict resolution skills. There are some of the factors that should be considered when engaging a third party intervention in a cultural based negotiation process. To begin with, a Chinese and an American cannot conduct any form of transaction due the difference in their language. This creates a barrier of negotiation and therefore makes the negotiation process difficult to be conducted (Pienaar & Spoelstra, 1999). Evaluation of data is also another problem which requires intervention from a third party. This is due to the reason that all the parties have different figures in which they have to negotiate in order to come up to an agreement. Furthermore a third party may also be used in the case where there is no procedural or protocol for selling and buying of the cell phones between the two parties. In cases when their cultural dimensions consist of low power distance and high power distance a third party mediator may be used. In addition, autocracy may be used between parties with low term orientation and long term orientation. However, arbitration method may be employed between a low contest negotiation and a high contest negotiation (Lewicki et al, 2010). Arbitration helps to encourage distributive bargaining more than any other form of third party involvement. Therefore most of the business people from diverse cultures should engage themselves in arbitration so as to increase the chances of an agreement. Personality Due differences which maybe brought about by negative response to some individuals, it may become difficult for the negotiat
Economic Integration among nations Globalization has brought economic, social, and political integrations among countries; integration refers to the increase in international interdependence among different economies (Linda, 2001). This paper discusses advantages and disadvantages of integration; it will also analyze how governments should assist small and medium enterprises to compete with multinationals. Advantages and disadvantages of integration Through integration, nations and companies get wider access to the world economy and their dependence on local resources is reduced; governments promote economic integration between economies of different countries with the aim of establishing a global market. When operating across board the market base of the trading companies is improved given thus enjoyment of scale of economies is facilitated. With integration consumers get the chance of wider selection of goods and services, they can easily acquire commodities at lower prices. The net effect is improved living conditions among the citizens of a country (Moore, 2009). Integration of nations creates job opportunities among populations of different countries; it leads to trade liberation and market expansion. Countries with a large number of investments derived from integration have greater diffusion of technology that creates job opportunities to the citizens of the nation. When jobs are created, there is reduction of poverty rates and living condition among citizens of a nation improves (Martin, 2005). Integration has brought about some challenges, according to The United Nations conference on trade and development (UNCTAD) 1997, integration has brought economic, political, and social disparities among nation. The conditions have led to tension among countries and inequality is on the rise; Inequalities are threats to socioeconomic and can lead to backward economic movements. Integration among nations has created regional disparities among countries; poverty rates are still high in sub-Sahara Africa although there has been a fall in its rates in South and East Asia. The countries continue to suffer as they have been reduced to net consumers by integration. Despite globalization been taken as one of the major solution to world poverty, it has created some problems that have actually increased the rate of poverty (Linda, 2001). What could governments do to help their small companies compete after the formation of such blocs? Integration among countries have brought challenge to small and medium scale players as they are not able to compete effectively with multinationals operating in the same industry. Governments in such countries have the role of enacting policies that can facilitate competitiveness of small scale companies with multinationals (IMF staff, 2008). S
Introduction Mental health can be defined as how people think, feel, and act when faced with life’s situations. It impacts greatly on how individuals handle stress, make decisions or how they relate to other people or to the society in general. It also influences the ways individuals perceive themselves and others in their lives. “The DSM refers to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and this is a form of reference as to what a mental disorder is” (Boulevard, 1825, p.123). Culturally the exact view of the V Axes diagnostic system is essential in all mental issue because they give a complete picture of the patient and are also used to provide an excellent review of the clinician evaluation on the patient. DSM-V is yet to be published in the year 2012 but effort is being made to go beyond the DSM-IV framework. However, there are six research groups that have managed to shed light on DSM-V. These groups were sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health in conjunction with APA. This group did not include experts that had been involved in the DSM-IV framework. They tackled many issues including Cross-Cultural Issues which was presented in their series of white paper. Cultural issues affecting the mental health One of the major cultural issues is religion. These are a set of spiritual beliefs that act as individual’s codes for conduct. Religion is a powerful force that impact strongly on the individual emotional and mental aspect and one can argue that belief and experience go hand in hand. People who are extremely religious strictly behave according to what their faith subscribes and any opinion including that of the psychiatrist must coincide with what their faith holds. The way you would handle a Muslim for example is different from the way you would deal with a Christian or an atheist. Religion for example may affect the way we understand the mind-body phenomena, our diet, or even how a patient explains his/her sickness and also influence the kind of medication a patient may be willing to take. Depression in non-western countries in a religious sense may be perceived as soul loss (Mezzich, 1996). A psychiatrist, for example, may face a case of a Muslim victim of rape, who happens to be pregnant and is struggling with the issue of abortion, and is torn between the fear of being stoned to death for suspicion of immorality and her value for the sacred life of the unborn baby. The patient might argue that she fears that society might not believe her that she was raped. Such a case poses a dilemma to both the psychiatrist and the patient because whatever the solutions are given they must be in harmony with societal standards and they must also not compromise the patient life. In such a scenario, every fact counts, and a simple misinterpretation can translate to a major setback. If the above case occurred in a non-Islamist country where “sharia” law is not applicable especially where abortion is legal, then the issue can be dealt with at whichever angle. Conclusion The actual diagnostic and assessment need to address the cultural differences as determinants to the patient’s behavior (David, 2002). Right from the time a