ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Research Design A qualitative research. Data gathered from the company’s official site, press releases, and literature analysis. Data was used to:   * describe and analyze the current situation;   * determine the company’s crisis strategy. Our research is qualitative. The information about the core values and strategies of Volkswagen was gained through the analysis of the data from the company’s official site as well as relevant press releases. The data concerning the crisis of Volkswagen was gained through the analysis of press releases. The theoretic information concerning strategic and management that was necessary for the evaluation of the possible strategies was gained through literature analysis. The gathered data was then analyzed to provide information concerning the company’s environment and strategy. Summary   * The overview of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft;   * Current crisis;   * Current strategy;   * Strategic planning options;   * Recommendations;   * Conclusion. Upon describing all the factors relevant to the choice of a strategic planning option, the evaluation of the possible options was carried out. As a result, we managed to suggest some recommendations concerning the future actions of the company in the field, and a conclusion was made about the possible outcomes of both adopting and ignoring the proposed ideas. Volkswagen: Overview According to Hoover’s (2015), Bloomberg Business (2015):   * Almost 80 years of operation.   * 11 brands. Volkswagen Group or Aktiengesellschaft (VW) is a group of car manufacturers that develops, produces, and sells passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, and buses as well as their parts; apart from that, the company offers other machinery like “turbo compressors, industrial turbines, and chemical reactor systems” (Bloomberg Business, 2015, par. 1). VW owns luxury and family car brands, including AUDI, Lamborghini, Bentley, Bugatti, Seat, and Skoda; apart from that, the company’s share in Porsche is 49.9% (Hoover’s, 2015, para. 1). Competition   * #1 in Europe; 10 million cars per year. According to Hoover’s (2015), VW is the Europe’s #1 carmaker with its annual production amounting to 10 million cars, trucks, and vans. Apart from that, the company operates South and North Americas, and the Asia-Pacific Region. According to Hoover’s (2015) and Morningstar (2015), the list of VW’s competitors includes Toyota Motor Corp and General Motors Company. The company’s board of directors believes that their products are capable of achieving success despite the challenging environment (Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft [VW AG], 2014). Competitive Advantage (Beene 2015b) Official website data:   * Environment-friendly cars. In reality:   * Cheating software. Being an international car manufacturer giant, VW possesses a number of strengths that include, for example, its size and reputation that is compiled of the fame of the numerous unique brands. Still, the main strength that the company used to pride itself on is the VW environmentally friendly cars like, for example, this supposedly clean-diesel Golf TDI (VW AG, 2014). It is the clean diesel that the com
The present state of our economical and social situation is pretty bad. The labor market is shrinking and it is time that government takes on its responsibilities and helps those who are in need and to whom it is entitled to serve: the people. It is important that government take immediate actions and must step up in influencing the economy to get it rolling. The “traditional” way of the government “stepping back” and letting the market do the job has brought us into this situation. It is time that government takes a leading role in finding new ways, new technologies and not letting its people be at the mercy of the market greed. It is time to vote for the NATIONS LIBERAL PARTY. Our nation is in a difficult time. But it has been so even before in its history. Together, we have passed through those precious moments, and together we will pass through this moment. For many years our system of free-market and government stepping back from intervening on individual freedoms has brought us enormous wealth. Let us not forget our roots. Let us conserve what our predecessors have built throughout history. We strongly believe that government should not impose its will over the people and let them conduct freely their lives and transactions. Let us not abandon what we have been fighting for. Let us preserve what we have built and achieved. Vote for the NATIONS CONSERVATIVE PARTY.
Small businesses are critical to the United States economy because they stimulate innovation and provide numerous employment opportunities. The objective of all business owners is to expand and make more profits while ensuring that their employees remain productive. Business owners use different methods to motivate their employees and increase their productivity. For instance, businesses can increase their employees’ wages and offer better health care. However, the operational costs of running businesses significantly reduce the profit margins realized by many small companies. Although business owners seek ways to reduce their operational costs, the new Affordable Care Act increases the complications of running businesses. This submission will analyze how the Affordable Care Act affects American small businesses and will provide recommendations on how such businesses can maintain their profitability. The Affordable Care Act lowers the profit margins of small businesses The Affordable Care Act makes it almost compulsory for all businesses in the United States to offer health care coverage to all employees. The act offers provisions for businesses with less than fifty employees to offer health insurance exchanges and buy health insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act demands all firms that hire above fifty workers to provide health care coverage to the workers, and this increases operational costs to small companies. Businesses that do not offer healthcare coverage to their employees despite having more than fifty employees face stiff penalties that could significantly reduce their profit margins. The Affordable Care Act stipulates two types of penalties against businesses fail to provide the expected healthcare coverage. Businesses that do not offer affordable health care coverage or fail to offer any healthcare coverage face a penalty of $2,000 per uninsured employee. However, the act exempts fines on the first thirty workers and employees who work on a part-time basis. The Affordable Care Act prevents small businesses from expanding The Affordable Care Act insists that all businesses with more than fifty employees offer health care coverage to their workers. Such a provision implies that hiring the fiftieth employee has costly financial repercussions to our business operations despite our interest in hiring more employees and expanding our company. The financial implications of hiring additional workers complicate the future of our business and our ability to realize our mission of expanding our operations. The Affordable Care Act makes it difficult for our company to compete with our rivals, who have better financial resources. The Affordable Care Act offers some benefits to small busines
Introduction A marketing undertaking that aims at driving sales through online platforms is referred to as E-commerce marketing. This can be achieved through various product offerings and a particular brand of an online store. Hence, data-driven environments coupled with a multichannel composed of traditional marketing principles are prudent in facilitating e-commerce digital marketing of an online brand (Huang & Benyoucef, 2013). Definition of e-commerce marketing Although e-commerce marketing has grown and vastly spread its wings over the recent years, it can be classified into two broad areas. First, this form of marketing optimizes user experience when it comes to the products being offered by an online firm. Second, it assists in driving website traffic (Xiao & Benbasat, 2011). It is vital to mention that both of these actions are crucial in boosting the expansion of an online business. If one of these components fails, it is highly likely that the other one will also encounter a lot of stumbling blocks. Any well-managed digital landscape can rapidly enhance the growth and development of seasoned marketers especially when common terms and principles are firmly put in place. E-commerce terms and principles Ecommerce marketing channels are also part and parcel of e-commerce marketing since they make up the framework for e-commerce marketing. In other words, the channels build the success of e-commerce marketing (Xiao & Benbasat, 2011). Advertising platforms To begin with, Pay-per-click Advertising (PPC) is a popular e-marketing channel that is broadly aimed to boost the traffic of serious buyers on a site. Users who are targeted by PPC often have the sole purpose of buying. This intention explains why PPC is more effective than most conventional advertising platforms. To obtain paid listings, enterprises usually bid for impressions. When a business desires to appear on the initial pages of a search item, the Pay Per Click is commonly used (Huang & Benyoucef, 2013). Relationship marketing Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is also a common marketing channel used in e-commerce marketing. Although it is related to the use of PPC, it largely employs Google’s AdWords to measure how best a piece of advertisement can be identified in Google’s search results. Facebook On the other hand, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) usually drives web traffic from users searching for items on the web naturally. Other e-commerce marketing channels include Display Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, and Email Marketing. The most common e-commerce marketing terms include Google AdWords, Search Engine Results Page (SERP), Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), and Conversion Funnel. The aforementioned terms also define the nature of the operation of an e-commerce market in any buying and selling the domain. Twitter As much as we may argue that online (or e-commerce) marketing is a recent development, its maturity is often arrived at warp rate compare
Introduction This paper discusses and summarizes the article “Camouflaging Power and Privilege: A Critical Race Analysis of University Diversity Policies,” written by Susan Iverson in 2007. Iverson’s article explores US universities’ efforts to eliminate inequalities by examining the texts of 21 diversity action plans. She argues that universities’ intentions to change the unjust status quo could be implemented with good intentions. Still, these efforts can result in the construction of discursive effects that reinforce practices of exclusion. Although Iverson dives into quite a debatable terrain related to the nature of objectivity in students’ performance evaluation, her findings can help university policy-makers to reconsider their approach to the problem of inequality. Reasons for Writing Article The reason why this article was written seems to be related to the author’s personal commitment to minorities’ problems. Indeed, Susan Iverson devoted much effort to the discourse analysis of diversity action plans. For example, before publishing the article under discussion, she wrote an unpublished doctoral dissertation on the same topic (Iverson). Interestingly, the narrative of the article extremely resonates with the current time. The waves of Trumpism and white nationalism raised new questions and concerns about minority rights. In the paper, the author used the framework of critical race theory. It guides the author in making arguments through the text and helps fulfill her intentions. Originating in the 1970s, critical race theory has become one of the most used and discussed theories in the modern academic community of social sciences. It poses reasonable questions to the dominant discourses which support bias toward minorities and “confirms that scholars and practitioners must listen to those who experience racism, sexism, and classism to counter the dominant discourses” (Iverson 588). Therefore, further in the article, the author comments and opposes many findings from diversity action plans through radical arguments of critical race theory. Deceptive Representation of Minorities in Education After the theory introduction, the author lists the discourses of universities’ diversity initiatives that do not help but only harm minority experiences. Discourse of access considers the existence of natural barriers for non-whites by creating a dichotomy between white insiders and minority outsiders (Iverson). Iverson indicates that “diversity policies use a majority (White and male) as the standard against which to measure minority progress and success” (p. 594). Discourse of disadvantage refers to universities’ attitudes towards minorities as defi
The environment at the workplace is an essential factor that affects the functioning of an employee, his/her motivation, efficiency, and outcomes. For this reason, it is critical to devote significant attention to the monitoring of this factor and investigation of all points that impact its state. Speaking about the healthcare sector, this issue acquires the top priority because of the need for the better cooperation between all specialists that could be achieved only in terms of the appropriate working environment (Leiter & Laschinger, 2006). For this reason, different specific toolkits provide both employees and employers with an opportunity to assess the current state of the working environment and find areas that should be altered to ensure the increased efficiency of diverse health units functioning. Using the toolkit suggested by the Royal College of Nursing, we will check an organization again the suggested indicators to ensure that appropriate relations between workers are cultivated and the unit promotes dignity at work. The first four items include (RCN, n.d.):   * an effective bullying and harassment policy – yes   * a robust, consistent response to incidents of violence at work – yes   * a safe environment/culture for staff to raise concerns without fear of reprisal, and appropriate support for those who do – yes   * policies that promote dignity and diversity in all workplaces – yes These four units indicate that the current workplace environment in the health unit could be considered satisfactory. The rationale for positive answers is explained by several factors. First, the selected medical unit adheres to an efficient and strict harassment policy that helps to minimize cases of intolerant behaviors or sexual discrimination. All workers realize the fact that their wrong behavioral patterns are inadmissible and will be punished. For this reason, all specialists feel safe and cooperate in mixed teams. This factor apparently contributes to the improved working environment and better outcomes. Second, managers and leaders respond to incidences of violence appropriately. Using employees reports and feedbacks, they reveal cases of violence or abusive behaviors and discuss them to cease their development and punish all initiators of conflicts. The severity of punishment depends on the nature of the conflict, character of violent behavior, and consequences triggered by these inappropriate actions (Leiter & Laschinger, 2006). In such a way, the robust response helps to guarantee security to all workers and avoid bullying. The next point in the checklist indicates that all workers can raise specific concerns related to different peculiarities of the existing working environment, its quality, and problematic areas. It is a core component of the functioning of every organization as its employees have an outstanding power to contribute to its development by suggesting new ideas for its improvement (Kelly, McHugh,
Steven Dowshen’s “How TV affects your child” is an article designed to enlighten parents about a social issue that can alter their children’s health. In this article, the author sensitizes parents about the likelihood of coping with obese, aggressive and drug-dependent (alcohol and cigarettes) children due to too much television-watching. Ethos and pathos are some of the techniques that the writer uses in order to make a believable case against television watching in children. The first part of the article uses logos as a rhetorical strategy. The author probably wanted to establish that the article is factual and formal. One cannot find any mention of personal stories throughout this essay because the creator wanted to prove that the subject matter was serious. As such, the writer’s first and second paragraphs contain startling statistics about the number of children that watch television in the country. These are details that emanate from objective health research, so one can be fully convinced that the assertions are true. In subsequent portions of the essay, the author uses cause and effect in order to validate his arguments. For instance, he explains that television leads to violence because no one is punished for their violent behavior; even the heroes are violent. The author views the promotion of violence on television as a cause of desensitization towards aggression and violence among children. The effect of this desensitization is violence (Dowshen 7). Conclusions are carefully linked to their logical causes thus strengthening the author’s case. Ethos has been employed in the article in order to convince the audience that the writer is credible. At the beginning of the essay, the author cites the Kaiser Family foundation and then also mentions the American Academy of pediatrics (AAP) when recommending the amount of television exposure that children should have. Later on, the author mentions the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth when quoting statistics on the exposure of youth to alcohol advertisements. Towards the end, the article talks about the Federal Communications Commission. All these large organizations are experts in their field, so when they make assertions about something, they are sure about it. When making recommendations or talking about sweeping statements in the article, it was necessary to back them with credible sources hence the use of these groups. Expert scholars and practitioners such as the AAP can rarely be disputed when it comes to health matters because they have tested and proven their statements scientifically. However, in some parts of the article, the author did not substantiate his claims. For instance, when talking about the likelihood of starting to smoke for children who watch television for
Introduction and Background With increased oil prices, airlines all over the world have found themselves in a position where reducing their operation costs seem the only viable way of remaining profitable. The situation in the industry is so bad that British entrepreneur Richard Branson, in his characteristic jest, once said that becoming a millionaire is easy if one was to start as a billionaire and venture into the airline industry. Branson was referring to the loss-making potential that airlines are exposed to in current operating environment different factors are seemingly conspiring to reduce the profit-making potential of airlines. Such include rising oil prices and increased pressure from competitors (most especially low-cost airlines). Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa Airlines), like other airlines across the world has opted to cut its costs in a bid to remain profitable. Unlike some of its competitors however, Lufthansa is also facing extra challenges brought about by its workers. Represented by their labour unions, Lufthansa workers have been on and off strike action since 2008. As recently as March 2013, the airline was insistent that it would continue with its austerity plans, which seeks to cut 3,500 employees and ‘force’ its employees to take longer work days (an extra hour per week), in addition to having no pay rise within a two-year period (Redl 2013). Lufthansa’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Simone Menne has been quoted saying that the company is “ready for new strikes, if necessary also by the pilots” as it pursues its long-term goals of cutting costs and enhancing its profit-making (Redl 2013, para. 6). Adamant that the cost-cutting measures were necessary to protect the company’s long-term growth, Menne stated that the management would not address employees because by so doing, the company would be compromising the airline’s future for the sake of short-term harmony. But what long-term growth was Menne referring to one may ask. Well, according to Redl (2013, para.4), “Lufthansa is trying to bolster its finances so it can avoid jeopardizing a planned multibillion-euro investment in new, more fuel efficient aircraft”. The main employees’ issues that Lufthansa is grappling with include a 5.2 percent wage increase demand, enhanced job security demands, and improved trainee conditions demands (The Hindu Business Line 2013). The employees are represented by two unions, namely Ver.di, and Unabhangige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO). The former is a large union representing a large number of employees at Lufthansa, while the latter is a niche union representing two-third of the flight attendants in the company (Lindsey 2012). Statement of the problem Considering that Lufthansa Airline employees may have an inkling of the financial statu
Mankind has experienced problems of varying magnitudes over a long period of time now. These problems have been viewed to originate or to be caused by various factors. A number of sociological theorists have attempted to provide explanations concerning the occurrence of the realities faced by human beings. Examples of sociological theories of knowledge focusing on the development of social phenomena include social constructivism and social constructionism (Loseke, 2003). Although the two theories consider how the social problems develop, they are unique in that social constructivism is considered individual or psychological while social constructionism centers on describing phenomena as social constructs. The paper seeks to describe the term “social problems are constructs” in relation to the social constructionism theory. It will also use President Obama’s State of the Union speech to describe the ways he proposed concerning the solution of problems facing the people of the United States. Social constructionism as a theory refers to the description of social phenomena in terms of the associated social context. The proponents argue that most common knowledge is developed through social interactions and hence the understanding of reality is perceived as being mutual within specific social contexts (Loseke, 2003). The term “social problems are constructs,” therefore, implies that most social challenges have a direct relationship with the context in which they occur (Lefcourt, 1993). They are generated or shaped by the people within the given setting. Since the mid twentieth century, constructionism has spread across the states of America following the publication of several books and articles on this theory. Apart from explaining the ordinary reality, the theory also seeks to explain extraordinary conditions that may occur. In the United States, for instance, such morally shocking events like the terrorist attacks, and the Columbine High School massacre have been explained from the constructionist perspective (Loseke, & Best, 2003). There are levels in which social problems can be categorized as constructs. In describing social problems, constructionists attempt to respond to the audience’s concerns. These include the explanation of what the condition is and providing facts as well as giving meaning to the mentioned facts. When it comes to the provision of facts, the constructionist has to state what the condition is, the consequences of the condition and the number of victims in the given phenomenon. Additionally, the meanings to the facts need to be provided by constructing a social frame with a number of components. First, the diagnostic frame provides the meaning of the condition at hand which includes both the type and the cause of the problem. Secondly, the motivational frame supplies the reasons why the condition is of great concern to the people and he