ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Executive Summary The business environment is becoming tighter by the day due to globalization and technological advancement thus compelling businesses to seek new ways of surviving. One such survival method is merging. This essay examines the merger between American Airlines and US Airways to find out the underlying factors and suggest marketing strategies for the post merger airline. American Airlines, which is one of the largest airlines in the US, since its inception has been a formidable force in the industry, but since the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks in which two of its planes were destroyed, the airline’s outlook has not been promising until it filed for bankruptcy in 2011. US Airways on the other hand has had its share of woes in its history, but since 2005 when the current CEO took tenure; its record of accomplishment has been appealing. The merger is valued at about $11 billion and US Airways stakeholders will get 28% stake in the new entity while American Airlines stakeholder keep the remaining 72%. The merger is almost sealed for almost all possible obstacles have been passed. In the post-merger period, the new airline should take a proactive approach in its marketing endeavors to entice customers to loyalty. The appropriate strategies would be relationship marketing, market segmentation, brand position, and appropriate application of the marketing mix. Introduction As the business landscape continues to become more competitive due to globalization and technological advancement, businesses have resorted to all manner of strategies to retain their competitive edge. The desire to stay abreast of competition hinges on the need to capture a market share that can ensure profitability. A typical example of the activities that a business can engage in to achieve this goal is merging, which is seen an option due to accruing economies of scale. A merger is a mutually beneficial and voluntary coming together of two or more companies where the pre-merger parties agree to relinquish their identities to form a single legal entity, which henceforth takes over the operations of the pre-merger entities. This essay seeks to examine the merger between American Airlines and US Airways with the aim of analyzing the circumstances surrounding the merger and suggesting marketing strategies that could propel the resultant carrier to achieve the pre-merger goals. A situational analysis of the merger An overview of the US air transport industry The US airline industry is the largest in the world both in terms of size and air seat miles. However, the industry’s performance has been falling short of expectations. Analysts say that the mergers that have been occurring in the industry only serve to curtail the freedom of choice for passengers. This aspect has affected domestic flights because after mergers, airlines tend to cut down on the number of scheduled flights as well as the number of seats offered. This assertion implies that from a dom
Introduction Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disease that prevents individuals from maintaining routine actions. It affects children mainly but can start even before birth or in the young adulthood. The disease has genetic nature and is characterized by muscle weakness that worsens with the course of time. It happens because those nerve cells that control voluntary movement are lost due to the genetic deficiency of protein. SMA is classified in relation to the age of individuals who have it into five types (SMA 0 – prenatal onset; SMA IV – adult onset). This paper will discuss SMA I, which is usually diagnosed by the age of 6 months (Hardart & Truog, 2003). Spinal Muscular Atrophy Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type I, which is also known as Werdnig-Hoffman disease is “ an autosomal recessive disorder of childhood that causes profound weakness and death from respiratory failure, typically by the age of 2 years in the absence of mechanical ventilation ” (Hardart & Truog, 2003, p. 848). It is basically found due to the fact that the child never turns out to be able to sit. Still, some of them may learn to roll. They can even live without enteral nutrition and respiratory issues for a couple of years. However, such things happen rarely, and these children require special nutrition and treatment of respiratory failure. Before the age of two, they can also require ventilatory assistance. In the most severe cases, it can be needed even before 5 months of age. Basically, they can just partially move their finger and facial muscles (Bach, Vega, Majors, & Friedman, 2003). Expected outcomes for SMA are defined not by its type but by the severity of symptoms that is why it is difficult to presuppose what will happen with one. Still, these children cannot live without special treatment and often die before they are 2 years old when it is not provided. Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Children with SMA may reveal different symptoms depending on the severity of the disease. It is defined by the amount of protein that the nerve cells receive for normal functioning. Still, those who have SMA I tend to reveal noticeable symptoms from the very birth. They are extremely weak and cannot breathe decently. Eating is also a problem for them, as they cannot suck and swallow like their peers. The most critical symptom is their inability to sit without external assistance, but they also have mild joint contractures. As a rule, the disease affects proximal muscles at first and then moves away from the center of the body. Thus, the muscles on the fingers and feet are often much stronger than those on the back. The diaphragm and heart are not affected mainly till the time when SMA I is in the late course. Considering thos
Background In every company, the employees exhibit different personalities that are significant in the accomplishment of the performance goals. Diversity encompasses the employees’ perceptions of on themselves and others. Various perceptions are observed to be directly or indirectly affecting their workplace relationships and activities. The organization’s competitiveness and success are based on the effective implementation of diversity in the workplace by handling issues related to discrimination against one’s race, color, beliefs, and religion among others. This essay describes the diversity gap existing in the workplace by examining the possible underlying causes of the performance problems or improvement opportunities. Problems arising from workplace diversity have been closely associated with differences in gender, job positions and rankings, and ethnic backgrounds. Although human resource management has ensured the smooth running of global businesses with respect to diversity, a plethora of challenges are encountered as organizations strive to achieve their goals. One of the primary challenges is discrimination that results from the poor understanding and appreciation of different cultures. The existence of a gap between the ongoing actions and expectations of the organization worsens the state of discrimination based on gender and ethnicity among other aspects. Workplace diversity can be seen as an opportunity for the effective management of employees to understand and appreciate the differences that exist amongst them. This situation will result in the improvement of performance amongst various teams. On the other hand, it can be seen as a source of a decrease in performance and productivity since the conformity amongst employees who do not embrace workplace diversity is difficult. As a result, a thorough management of diversity is needed to address the issue with respect to human research, organizational change and development, leadership, and strategic management. Human Performance Enhancement (HPE) Strategy It is perceived that the gap that exists amongst various individuals in any organization mostly occur due to problems related diversity. It is realized that the promotion of work diversity provides a solution that minimizes the gap. Organizational strategies that embrace inclusion are paramount to the promotion of improved performance among the employees who have varying characteristics in aspects such as gender, race, ethnic groupings, personality, age, tenure, lifestyle, organizational hierarchy and functions, and education among others. Diversity inclusion is a technique that has been embraced in organizations owing to the fact that employees have been dividing along the cultural, racial, religious, and/or hierarchical lines among others. The strategy of inclusion brings in the interaction that exists between the management and employees. It also promotes the development of sound rela
Introduction Below are discussions on the root cause of the company’s choice: whether the company’s management had any other choice; what the incumbent management team can do to restore the company’s reputation; the role of corporate governance in the process; and ethical and strategic actions the company should take. The case analysis Chiquita is a US company that has invested millions of dollars in planting bananas in Colombia. It came into existence after the United Fruit Company. It should be said that the company owns a large plantation of bananas in Colombia, which is the largest source of its labor force. Chiquita transports the banana fruits to its major market segments like the United States and the fruits are processed into different products such as banana juice. Chiquita, Del Monte and Dole are considered the major players in the same industry. Therefore, Del Monte and Dole are Chiquita’s major competitors. Notable, the company faced a tough situation due to random changes in consumer preferences. The industry also posed a steep financial terrain that rendered the company’s financial position volatile. The banana business in Colombia has been a breeding zone for violence as numerous hostile groups have come up to fight against the Colombian administration leading to an outbreak of civil wars. The most notorious terrorist groups, FARC and ELN, emerged more powerful than the country’s administration. The two groups demanded funding from the government of Colombia and other businesses. These two terrorist groups created a hostile condition that was unfavorable for Chiquita to conduct the banana business. Consequently, in an attempt to create a favorable environment, the organization made some choices that ruined its reputation (Schotter and Teagarden 2). The root cause of Chiquita’s action in Colombia The chief root cause for Chiquita’s action was the desire to provide protection to its employees against the terrorists. The two groups being considered as a major threat to security in Colombia created an unfavorable situation for business operation. These terrorist groups were engaged in extortion and kidnapping in addition to allegedly killing fifty Chiquita’s employees as a warning sign against the failure to submit their portion of the funds. The insecurity created by the insurgents inflicted fear in Chiquita’s employees. Such a situation could result in lower workers’ efficiency. Some workers would prefer to quit the company if the insecurity condition persisted. Since the Colombian government would not restore peace and stability, the company resolved to associate with the AUC, a paramilitary gr
Introduction Risk management is an issue that is seen to cause a lot of concern all over the world. It governs all dimensions of life and this is partly the reason why everybody seems to be interested in it. In business however, it requires more than mere mentioning. It is an issue that needs to be clearly understood and its importance recognized by all. Background To The Study This proposal is an attempt to dig dip into the interesting topic of risk management. It seeks to clearly elucidate and dissect the concept of risk management so as to bring up its relevance not only to business operations but to other interested parties as well. No business can competitively survive in the present business world order without a proper risk management strategy in place. In any case, research has proven that most businesses that lead the market are those that have instituted concrete measures of dealing with potential risks. The study is therefore part of the combined effort to elucidate the aspect of risk in a clear and lucid manner so that its importance is well understood and appreciated. Risk management is a topic that has spurred a lot of discussions and debates in recent times (Ridley, 2007). This is partly because in an increasingly dynamic and competitive world such as ours, the concept of risk becomes indispensable. Risk management has grown to be an important subject of consideration in any business undertaking in contemporary times. This has therefore created the need for a thorough study and understanding of the concepts of risk and risk management. Studies have therefore been conducted and many opinions and suggestions have been put forward as contributions to the topic. Today many businesses will normally have a whole department dealing with risk management. In common business parlance risk refers to the likelihood of a loss occurring. Such a loss or losses might be detrimental to the performance of any business establishment (Arthur, 2006). This has therefore created the need to study such risks, classify them into categories, assess them and formulate possible avenues of addressing them. That is what risk management entails. Risk management is therefore the process of recognizing, classifying, assessing and finding ways to mitigate or totally eliminate risks (World Bank, 2009). Business operations all over the world are faced with myriad risks and challenges that from time to time hamper their operations. Such risks range from natural catastrophes such as earthquakes to human causes such as infernos and conflagrations. As a business manager, one is expected to be quite awash with relevant knowledge regarding the risks that are inherent in the environment within which the business operates. Research questions This study will therefor
Introduction Police brutality is a problem that continues to affect many American citizens. The involvement of different stakeholders is an approach that has led to effective mitigation strategies. However, there are numerous forces that influence the nature and future of this predicament. This paper describes how technology continues to influence police brutality. Technologies and Information Systems Different technologies have revolutionized the way human beings and professionals pursue their aims. Within the criminal justice system, modern information systems have made it easier for the police to achieve their goals. However, different departments have failed to acquire and implement adequate technologies to educate different officers about the importance of ethical policing (Brown, 2014). This gap has led to the current problem of police brutality. Mass media has developed within the past few decades due to emerging technological systems. Different inventions such as the Internet and platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have transformed the way information is shared. These developments have created a situation whereby more officers and individuals propagate prejudiced or biased ideas (Brown, 2014). The negative portrayal of Muslims and minorities in the country is something that promotes this malpractice. The inappropriate use of information systems to support misbehaviors such as discrimination based on gender, race, and religion has contributed to this problem. Using Technology to Address the Problem Modern technologies can be proposed to deal with this problem. To begin with, video recording is a technology that can be considered to capture cases of abuse and brutality. This move can ensure that culprits are identified and punished. Members of the public can view such videos in order to acknowledge the nature of this problem and implement superior campaigns to deal with it (Koper, Lum, & Willis, 2014). Cell phones can also be utilized to inform the relevant authorities about incidents that amount to police abuse. This practice can make it easier for more people to report similar malpractices. Emerging technologies can be considered to install surveillance cameras in different locations and towns. This idea can ensure that any form of mistreatment is captured. When police officers are aware of this technology, they will act ethically and pursue their aims in a professional manner (Koper et al., 2014). Such initiatives can also present adequate evidence that can be used in court. Koper et al. (2014) argue that a number of police officers might be victimized by an offense they did not commit. With these proposals in place, different authorities and agencies can make informed decisions and act accordingly. Modern platforms such as Facebook and Twitter can be used to inform and educate more people about the nature of police brutality. The model can target those who at risk of abuse and empower them to report any misconduct (Schulenberg, Chenier, Buffone, & Wojciechowski, 2015). Apps can also be launched to monitor or report every form of abuse instantly
Introduction Information seeking is part of human information behavior whereby individuals use various methods in search of information related to their areas of interest. A lot of people are information seeking in day to day lives. Many of them spend much time in the libraries, internet as well as in the archives searching for information. Apparently, it is an area that requires skills and wide knowledge to get the necessary details (Francis & Fisher 1996, p. 493). It is very crucial to look for vital information which includes locating as well as evaluating different sources in the academic research. These aspects are very essential for both completions of a particular course as well as in other areas in real-life situations. Information seeking usually enables the facilitators to ensure that the students develop the required skills and knowledge so that they can build their careers (Birks & Hunt 2003, p. 232). In this paper, I am going to make an analysis of two articles that focuses on information-seeking skills. The two articles are, “Teaching information skills to large groups with limited time and resources” by Verlander, Paul and Scutt, Catherine and “Developing and evaluating an interactive information skills tutorial” written by Maria J. G et al in collaboration with the corroborative Research as well as the Institute for Health and Social Care Research from the University of Salford. Perspectives of the two articles An article by Maria Grant et al concerning the establishment and evaluation of interactive tutorials on information skills is one of the articles that are more elaborate in the discussion of the concept of information-seeking skills. Its aim was to establish and assess a web-based interactive process whereby information skills tutorials would be integrated into the curricu
People in different parts of the world have significantly varying cultural convictions which are defined by their unique beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions towards life. Multicultural psychology is a well established field that takes these differences into consideration. It is a field that acknowledges the presence of diverse cultures and the need to enable people to coexist and tolerate each other (Dana, 2005). Multicultural psychologists are interested in determining the impact of cultural diversity on psychological practices like counseling and the general development of specific cultural beliefs among human beings. The research paper explores two major emerging issues in multicultural psychology; the internet and assimilation. It describes the impact that these issues have on the society as well as how they will affect the interaction among culturally diverse groups. The world has experienced significant transformations in virtually all aspects of life following the emergence of technological advancements particularly in the 21 st century. The globalization process has seen many transnational and cross-cultural interactions. The internet, according to recent research, has proved to be one of the most influential agents as far as globalization is concerned (Reynolds & Lambert, 2009). It has already been established that the internet has brought cultural diversity in the society where people with varying cultural backgrounds are able to interact, mostly in an indirect manner. In most countries and particularly in the United States, the internet has become one of the dominant ways of sharing information on a daily basis. The internet, therefore, has resulted in what can be referred to as cultural identity crisis in the society. People in different societies are bombarded with numerous multicultural information through the internet and hence the challenge of maintaining one’s original culture as advocated by multiculturalists. Modern multicultural psychologists have been challenged by the impact that the internet has had on the society, particularly among the young people. Recent research findings reveal that the adolescents are facing serious problems when it comes to cultural identity formation (Dana, 2005). The young people are faced with the challenge of either embracing multicultural identity or change their own traditional cultural orientations. The internet, among other media, has brought a new way through which young people in the world interact among themselves. This, therefore, has significantly affected the way adolescents interact in the culturally diverse society. Multicultural psychologists have been forced to device alternative methods that take into consideration the various research approaches on globalization and the young people and cultural identity formation. Another key emerging issue in m