ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Managing diversity though has been considered as a strong reaction against the promotion of ideas of social justice based on minority group advantage, is explicitly based on the ‘business case’ and emphasizes multiple, individual differences, potentially applicable to all employees. However, diversity management is viewed more as an organizational imperative. Though the objective of diversity management is also the utilization of all available talents it is said that there is a shift in the orientation of this policy from the concept of equal opportunities. Nevertheless, the concept of diversity management as an emerging aspect of Human Resources Management (HRM) is occupying a central place in recent periods. Diversity Management – An Overview “Managing diversity effectively follows on from, and expands on equal opportunities”(NCVO) Equal opportunities is about keeping within the law, and the decisions about the payment of wages, recruitment, and promotional policies are to be framed based on the capabilities of the individuals to perform their functions effectively. This requires a systematic policy approach to all facets of personnel management and such policies are framed by pre-empting discrimination. Diversity management works based on a valuation of the varying aptitudes and skills that different workers bring along with them to be utilized by the organizations. Under this concept, the managers arrive at a working environment where all the workers are valued based on their skills and expertise and also such skills and expertise are utilized to the fullest extent. The idea of ‘diversity management’ is not a new one and has been found in existence even from the late 1980s. All the three concepts of Diversity Management, Human Resources Management, and Total Quality Management are having the central idea of improving the business efficiency and make it result to produce more economic gain in the form of enhanced profits. But the concept of diversity management is deviating in orientation from that of equal opportunities, as observed by Thompson (1997) the concept of ‘managing diversity has grown out of Human Resources management. He regarded diversity management as a movement away from traditional equal opportunities policies and practices . Diversity management is based on the concept that diversity should be treated as a posi
Introduction Coca-Cola Company is a manufacturer of soft drinks and has several lines of products with its own sub brands. This company operates globally and currently occupies more than 70% of the soft drinks market share in America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and other continents (Treadaway, 2010). The brand ‘Coca-Cola’ was recently ranked the strongest brand in the world. It is a household name when it comes to refreshments. Coca-Cola, an American firm, has managed to maintain its market lead ahead of its main rival, Pepsi-cola even in the face of the worst economic conditions. Through its many product lines, the main brand has continued to experience a market growth even in countries that had regarded it a symbol of America’s dominance over the world (Kotler, 2003). Social media has increasingly become popular in the world. Technology is moving very fast and with it are several changes in the communication sector. This super brand requires a massive awareness creation not just to its new sub-brands like Dasani, but also the older ones like Fanta. Conventional forms of mass media like newspapers, radios and television are still very vital forms of creating this awareness. However, with emergence of social media like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, communication is getting a new definition. A brand like Coca-cola cannot afford the consequences of assuming such new dynamics. The youths form a substantial portion of the target market for this brand. Statistics has it that well over 85% of youths in America and Europe are using these social Medias, either through their personal computers or through mobile phones. In Asia, 70% are on social media while Africa has 65% on it (Falkow, 2010). The middle-aged group is not left behind. Having realized the importance of s
Yayoi Kusama A Japanese-American artist, Yayoi Kusama, is known for her unique, “obsessive” style in painting. In her autobiography, Kusama says that “deep in the mountains of Nagano,” where she was born in 1929, she had discovered her style of expression: “ink paintings featuring accumulations of tiny dots and pen drawings of endless and unbroken chains of graded cellular forms” (Kusama). She also notes that her “disconsolate childhood” became the main source of inspiration: she had a dysfunctional family and suffered the symptoms of mental illness, including hallucinations and neurosis (Kusama). This mental problem is considered to define her painting style considerably. Kusama did not succeed as an artist in Japan and moved to New York in the 1950s. However, her success there was not immediate as well. According to Gamble, “Kusama’s career was held back by her gender and ethnicity.” The main reason for that was the patriarchal and hierarchical nature of the US art world in which ethnic minority women were exposed to discrimination most. Still, she began to gain popularity in the 1960s mainly because of her naked art performances which, however, did not bring any profit (Gamble). Those art pieces revealed Kusama as an artist who questioned sexuality and gender concepts and whose work had its roots in social justice. Maya Lin An American architect and sculptor, Maya Lin was born
Introduction We are surrounded by objects throughout our lives. Man-made objects, from the smallest ones, like toothbrushes and chewing gums, to the more significant, like buildings and roads, with everything that lies in-between – clothing, food, tools, money, furniture – virtually everything humans do finds its reflection in the form of some object or objects. They permeate our lives to such a degree that we stop noticing it like we do not notice our most basic activities. These objects, or material culture, however, can tell a lot about people who created and used them, from their capabilities and technical prowess to their tastes, beliefs and worldview. Thus, studies of material culture focus on multiple points of view, ranging from historical and archaeological to cultural and social, among others. There is a considerable amount of works which comment upon the former two fields, with the emerging trend of viewing material culture in connection to the latter two. Among such works is Understanding Material Culture by Ian Woodward. The point of his work is showing the connection between material culture the society produces and uses and the cultural background which can be traced from it. As the author himself puts it, “It is not just a matter of individuals pondering what objects might mean, but individuals reading objects in relation to other individuals within complex intergroup networks patterned by social status and role, and space-time contexts.” (Woodward 4). Thus, the book is valuable primarily for providing the cultural context for perceiving material culture as both a result and an extension of social and cultural background. Main body Understanding Material Culture is an extension of Woodward’s earlier work on the narrative presented by material culture. The book aims at expanding this topic and at the same time generalizing the information on material culture. The author achieves this mainly by providing definitions, adding information on such topics as theoretical approaches to studying material culture, as well as some historical insights. In other words, he provides all the necessary information needed to obtain a grasp on the topic he is expanding upon, namely, the narrative aspect of material culture. Such structure makes Understanding Material Culture a valuable textbook. It does not cover the topic of material culture in its entirety (if that is even possible for a single textbook) but presents a good overview of its social and cultural aspects. Such aspects as archaeological and ethnographic studies are absent entirely or only briefly mentioned, which, while hampering the objectivity, allows for a more thorough examination of topics the author is interested in. The book is divided into three distinct parts, with each consisting of two to three chapters. The first part is introductory, and consists of two chapters. The first chapter defines the terms and principles required for understanding the topic and demonstrates seve
Introduction The play chosen for this report is Plaza Suite, written by Neil Simon, which plays out in three extensive acts. Each act of the play covers events that unfold between three different sets of characters while categorically addressing the common theme of marriage. All three acts of the play make determining its overall theme a subjective inquiry that invariably leads to conclusions of marital discontent and challenges of married life. Others might argue that the play is a light-hearted poke at the marriage in a self-reflective approach to a common social theme that is central to every social setting of human civilisation. However, the play provides an insightful look into the dark side of marriage, a topic that is seldom openly addressed, and how that side changes an individual’s perceptions of life (Monsma 2014, p. 4). Below the surface concerns of the play in terms of marital challenges, the play provokes thoughts about resentment, tolerance and social pressure. The information in this report represents a director’s notebook documenting my comprehension of the play and how I intend to present it to an audience on a stage platform of choice. Why I Chose the Play After reading several other suitable plays for this assignment, I chose Neil Simon’s play because it addressed a common societal theme that receives much attention despite the fact that no universal best approach has been identified to date. The play covers the interactions of three sets of married individuals that are marked by negative connotations, courtesy of their active choices founded on faulty marriage ideals. The outcomes of the three acts in the play offer insightful information regarding the types of practices that the characters demonstrate. Marriage provides a foundation for social life in part through dictating the shape and size of the family, thereby making it an important element for study. Along those lines, I have chosen this play because it embodies a study of marriage. In addition, Plaza Suite presents several advantages for such study as indicated below. Having read the play, I identified several positive reasons for choosing this play, which also accompanied a set of challenges that equally affected the study. These advantages and challenges formed the basis for the interpretation of the play, along with the vision I have developed regarding the play that I would seek to project t
Benchmarking The market of coach services in Ireland is quite standardized, which means that the competitors pursue relatively similar strategies and policies regarding crucial value chain activities. The most efficient means of performing the mentioned activities might be non-lowering the price, gradual development of key resources and facilities, and efforts to minimize the number of delays and cancels of bus departures. It should be stated that GoBus demonstrates functional capacity in the framework of the aspects above an does not inferior to the competitors in this regard. However, there are some approaches among critical rivals of GoBus that might lead to a better performance than the latter’s one. The main competitor of GoBus, CIÉ (represented by Bus Éireann), may be defined as the best-in-industry coach service provider that offers lower prices in comparison with GoBus. The main reason for such a situation is that CIÉ is a public company having many agreements with the Irish government. Hence, the country compensates for some part of the expenses but can interfere in the affairs of the firm. However, it happens not often due to market stability and adequate governmental domestic policy and attitude to a national business. Services of Bus Éireann cover the entire country; thus, it has the opportunity of economies of scale. Moreover, it cooperates with a number of rail, flight, and shipping companies, which allows the rival to provide its services internationally and gain large profit margins. Collaboration with local coach providers also contributes to the Bus Éireann success. Moreover, the firm has a significant advertisement campaign, which results in the productive promotion of services and a good reputation among customers. It might seem that the other firms in the market do not undertake any substantial activity to lower the cost of their services. It might happen because of the established prices and standards of the coach service market. Lower costs may lead a competitor to the loss of sustainable competitive advantage and decreased profits. The only visible critical aspect that all the rivals care about more than GoBus is a refund policy, which helps a company to gain the trust and dedication of a client. Some complaints on the mentioned point coming from the customers of GoBus via the Internet were identified. In order to improve the GoBus’s own cost competitiveness, it might be essential to take the following actions. The company may sign a reasonable number of agreements with the government that will provide GoBus with favorable business conditions and maybe even with some compensations. Then, the firm should improve its refund policy, taking into account the feedback collected via social media. Furthermore, GoBus can expand its services coverage to the scale of the whole Ireland or international level, which may lead to economies of scale. Industry Attractiveness It might be important to notice that the industry attractiveness is a relative, not absolute aspect to discuss. Hence, it is cruci
The current project involves the development and implementation of a comprehensive COVID-19 management system for Tesla Inc. The pandemic has forced the closure of many businesses across the United States and the world. Firms and government face the dilemma of working or not, as explained by Xia (2020). Tesla is one of those companies which are keen on resuming operation at full capacity. The current COVID-19 safety measures include the deployment of ventilators (Ohnsman, 2020). Such efforts may prove inadequate because new spreads of the virus can take place. The new project is an information technology (IT) system developed to monitor workers and their health conditions. The term ‘comprehensive’ has been used because the system deploys multiple functionalities, including some of the current initiatives for COVID-19 management. Temperature checks and COVID-19 tracking are already available, which means that a decision-making platform in the form of a database combined with the right data analytics can be implemented. The new platform will help determine the health and risk conditions of each employee to help management decide the safety implications of having individual workers at the workplace. The COVID-19 management system project follows the guidelines provided by the Project Management Institute (PMI) through the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK). According to Xue et al. (2017), the PMBOK 2013 is the edition which added a chapter about stakeholders, meaning this is the best version to use. PMBOK can be defined as a project management guide for executives. The project lifecycle in this guideline comprises five sta
Purpose The purpose of the field trip is to understand the processes and operation of a library. I chose the Oviatt Library, my college campus library since it is easy to access. This report is a description of the library, the organization of workstations, standard procedures, equipment, employees, and resources. The library was chosen for this assignment for it reduces the cost of travel and time. This is because there are little effort and time required in preparation for approval from library staff, for I am a member of the library and a student at California State University. The field trip offers a hands-on experience of the real-life application of business management practices in a library. A description of the library, analysis of the library functions and processes, and recommendations are presented. Description Oviatt library is located at the heart of California State University. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 A.M. to midnight, and until 11:00 P.M. on Friday and Saturday. The library is organized into four floors and a basement, with each floor having two sets of restrooms and copy machines. The first floor has a lobby with an information booth to the left, and a coffee booth situated in the middle of the lobby. To the right of the information, the booth is a circulation desk that assists library users to locate books and reading materials. In addition, the lobby is fitted with two payphones and a reference service desk. From the lobby, the user enters the main library with different locations marked “Lab A,” “Lab B,” “Presentation Room” to the right of Lab A, and the “AS/RS viewing room.” The second floor of Oviatt library houses the “Special collection and reading room” and the “music/media and lecture room.” The special collection and reading room has a different access clearance for students or the members of the public. This section contains rare manuscripts, books, and rare publications, and scholarly scripts. Part of the collection in the Oviatt library entails modern western manuscripts, medieval manuscripts, and oriental manuscripts, which are available to library users through advance booking. However, some of the rare collections of manuscripts require special permission from the library staff prior to booking. The level of access to rare and special manuscripts depends on the level of clearance of the user. Level A cardholders can access and handle manuscripts and books pre-17 th century. However, level S and V cardholders can only consult these materials through the library staff and include all undergraduate students. The media room is fitted with computers, video, and audio equipment for priority use Oviatt students from the music department and school of arts. The media/music room has sound recording equipment including audio cassettes, compact disks, videos, multimedia CD-ROMs, and different mus
Risks associated with Sales Budget Main risks arise out of sales budgets when the actual production may be lower than the budgeted estimates. In this case for instance, it is seen that high end products produced by this company, which has a higher selling rate, (and profit margins) has been budgeted at 517 units during the budget period, but the actual production is only 421 units. Again, the profits may be affected due to increase in costs. In this case, it is seen that while the cost of goods for Mid-grade brand has been estimated at $140 per unit, the actual cost works out to $153 per unit, thus throwing the budgets off gear. (Budgeted at $ 390,180 but actually working out to $ 396,451) (Flex budget: Variance analysis –June, n.d.). Significant labor costs Perhaps, one of the major aspects that confront Guillermo is the high cost of labor, as has been seen from the budget. While labor cost has been pegged at $1025, 550, the actual labor cost has worked out at $ 1,077,222, eroding a large part of the profits. (Flex budget: Variance analysis –June, n.d.). The mismatch between budgeted costs and actual has led to budgeted earnings loss of $ 19,013. (Flex budget: Variance analysis –June, n.d.). The need to save labor and overhead costs may have been one of the precipitating causes for the owner to contemplate investing in “computer-controlled laser lathe” which could cut down labor costs devastatingly. (Scenario: The guillermo furniture store, n.d., para.4). Analysis of ethical considerations in preparation and subsequent use of budgets The ethical considerations could be seen in terms of being realistic and practical. The budget officer needs to consider futuristic realities in the business, including the trend of sales, costs and profits. In the context of this company, its owner is quite aware of the robust competitive elements in business and other aspects that affect his business, including operating costs. The use of budgets subsequently need also consider the fact that if major variances occur, the owner may be constrained to retrench workforce and opt for more mechanized operations, including CNC lathe machines and so on. This would put a large number of employees without jobs and put them into economic difficulties. Further, substituting other means for safety, discarding the present use of fire retardant coating, a cheaper device could have disastrous consequences for customers who use such products. There need to be no compromise on quality, since it underpins the future success and sustenance of this business. Again, if the business were to distribute competitors’ products along with one’s own, it would be unethical although it may increase the profit margins, since their own products would now need to compete with that of the competitors. While customers would have a greater choice about which products to buy, there is also a possibility that low quality furniture could now be passed off as original furniture, since it is marketed by Guillermo Furniture. The Co