ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction The government is responsible for providing citizens with various public goods, that is, goods available for everyone for free and not decreasing in the quantity after one uses them. Public goods include such significant entities as national security, police service, street lighting, flood defenses, and highway and school systems. However, the government cannot produce all the necessary inputs to provide citizens with essential public goods. Therefore, it needs to acquire the needed resources, which is the primary function of public procurement. It is difficult to underestimate the importance of procurement in public organizations, which will be discussed in this paper. Although public procurement has much in common with private procurement, it is faced with unique challenges, including privatization issues, poor contract management, e-procurement, outsourcing government services, HR issues, and corruption. This paper will explore these challenges, as well as ethical considerations and leadership efforts concerned with dealing with these problems. The Role of Procurement as an Internal Service Function Procurement plays a significant role in the public sector since it enables governments to provide citizens with the necessary public goods. The primary goal of public procurement is to “obtain the right goods, capital assets or services … in the right quantity, for delivery at the right time to the right place, from the right source … with the right service, and at the right price” (Pitzer & Thai, 2009, p. 6). Public procurement’s responsibilities have been widened recently, and, apart from acquiring goods and services, they have begun to include such processes as identifying the need of the population and contract closeout (Pitzer & Thai, 2009). As a result, procurement in public organizations has become an essential tool for governments to fulfill their obligations to citizens. The goals of public procurement in obtaining goods may be divided into various categories. These categories include cost, quality, timeliness, managing risks, fulfilling economic and social objectives, maximizing competition, and maintaining transparency and integrity (Pitzer & Thai, 2009). When considering the right cost, procurement officers compare not only prices of goods but also associated indirect costs, such as the cost of shipp
Discuss How HTC Seeks to Develop the Virtual Reality Ecosystem, and What Are the Merits of Pursuing Innovation in Hardware, Software, and Services, or Both? In April 2016, HTC released its first VIVE virtual reality headsets, considered one of the most advanced VR systems. Primarily targeted at gamers, the VIVE was successfully developed to allow users to experience a fully intensive 360° immersion for prolonged times. The positive response of the public motivated HTC to develop VR further, while the sale of part of the smartphone business to Google provided the required funds (Yoffie, Wu,& Ciechanover, 2018, p. 1). Since then, HTC has been working on the creation of a coherent virtual reality ecosystem, developing hardware, software, and platform services while promoting the growth of the demand for VR worldwide. HTC directed its efforts in producing unique and distinctive hardware. For example, the VIVE Head-Mounted Display (HMD) featured a tracking system which allowed users to perform a vast array of sudden movements both in real and virtual reality. Hardware accessories were equally innovative: the VIVE Tracker, for example, featured such a high degree of versatility that almost every real object could become a controller in VR. Besides building advanced hardware, HTC focused on the VR content, developing high-quality software suitable for many categories, including games, design, healthcare, and sports among others. Moreover, the management supported external developers, encouraging them to implement content that was adaptable to other platforms, though having VIVE as the principal reference system (Yoffie et al., 2018, p. 11). Pursuing innovations in hardware means to be able to compete with big companies such as Facebook, and Samsung (Yoffie et al., 2018, p. 5). Developing the software is crucial to creating contents able to broaden the demand for VR (Yoffie et al., 2018, p. 9). HTC’s policy of integrating the development of hardware and software responds to the goal of creating an ad hoc VR ecosystem, where the VIVE platform holds a central position in the market, influencing the future tendencies through software and contents. Case. Resilience at InterMune What Steps Did InterMune Take to Execute I
Problem Statement It is highly important to analyze educational leaders’ behavior since it not only ensures an adequate control of all processes running in the institution but also shapes the climate in it. Presently, the majority of programs concentrate on what school principals should do rather than on what behaviors must be avoided (Northouse, 2015). However, some researchers insist that detrimental fallout even of one error is capable of offsetting the positive impact of a sequence of right actions, which implies that its consequences are too far-reaching to neglect (Shapiro & Stefkovich, 2016). That is why it is crucial to understand what flawed leadership behaviors are common to be able to eliminate them via professional training. Observed Behavior Having observed a principle over several days, I found out that despite his ability to communicate clear objectives to the staff and be consistent and decisive, he demonstrated poor interpersonal communication skills in utilizing and accepting opinions. First and foremost, this was proven by his total inability to listen to teachers. He frequently interrupted them during regular meetings, continued doing his paperwork in their presence, and failed to maintain eye contact, emphasizing his non-caring attitude. Moreover, he reprimanded one of the teachers (who protested against an ineffective solution he found to the problem in the classroom) in front of others and demonstrated his irritation since decision-making was “not her business”. That allows concluding that giving and receiving feedback was the key problematic behavior found in this principal. Leadership Style The description of the situation reveals that the major leadership style utilized by the principal is the autocratic (authoritarian) style. It is characterized by the desire of a leader to have control over all decisions and processes, rejecting almost any input from staff members, who often feel demotivated by this attitude (Kiboss & Jemiryott, 2014). Such leaders typically rely exclusively on their judgment and believe that only one person should be in charge (Antonakis, 2017). The critical attributes of this style include:   * accepting minimal input from staff members;   * being totally responsible for decision making;   * dictating all the work processes and methods to others;   * relying on rigid structuring;   * rarely trusting other people with important tasks;   * discouraging out-of-the-box thinking and creativity;   * introducing numerous rules to follow (Aydin, Sarier, & Uysal, 2013). Despite the fact that this style can be effective in some areas, it was inappropriate for the particular situation. The teacher who attempted to explain that the solution proposed by the principal will not suit her classroom was more aware of the situation, knowing those children who are going to be affected by it (Antonakis, 2017). She cared not only about the functionality but also about the students’
Definition/Explanation of Statute of Limitations Statute of Limitations, in general, refers to the laws setting the deadline for filing lawsuits within a certain time after the occurrence of the events, which constitute the source of the claim (LectricLawLibraryLexicon). In legal actions for medical malpractices statute of limitation runs from the time of occurrence of an injury. The exact time at which the injury was discovered is also of relevance. The final date within which the action can be taken is reckoned as the period to run from any of these two dates. Under circumstances in which a malpractice case is filed after the expiration of the statute of limitation, the defendant’s case can be dismissed as time-barred. The onus of alerting the court on the statute of limitation lies on the defendant. The statute of limitation extends from six months to four years in different jurisdictions depending upon the circumstances of the individual claim and the medical malpractice law in the respective states (Accidents.com). Similarities and Differences Alabama has not fixed any cap on damages. Medical malpractice actions must be commenced within two years. In cases where the injury is not discovered just after the occurrence, then the filing of the case should start within a time of six months. The six months will be calculated from the date of occurrence of the injury or from the date on which the injury ought to have been discovered. The maximum time allowed for taking legal actions for medical malpractice is restricted to four years after the date of the occurrence of the injury. Alabama does not limit the attorney fees (Larson). In the state of Georgia absent intent to harm, punitive damages are limited to $ 250,000. Georgia does not also limit the attorney fees. In Georgia, legal claims for medical malpractice should be filed within two years from the date of the occurrence of the event causing the injury. If a person was unable to discover the injury during that initial two year period of time, the limitations period will be extended”. In cases where the healthcare provider leaves an object in a persons’ body, action for a claim can be filed within one year from the date of discovery. In any case, Georgia State does not allow any medical malpractice claim to be filed after a period of five years after the date of occurrence of the act giving rise to the injury In most cases of medical malpractices in Georgia, the complaint of the plaintiff must be accompanied by an affidavit from an expert as a justification for the claim of medical negligence (ExpertLaw). However in Alabama “expert witnesses must be licensed to practice in the same specialty as the defendant, and must have practiced within their field of medicine within the past year” (Larson). Caps on Recovery of Damages The state laws determine the maximum amount of damages that can be awarded in claims filed for non-economic
Introduction One of the main social issues that exert a strong effect on the functioning of Australian society has to do with the fact that despite having adopted multiculturalism as its quasi-official ideology, the socio-cultural discourse within it continues to remain subtly eurocentric/patriarchal. The validity of this suggestion can be illustrated, regarding what account for the qualitative aspects of how teachers in Australian secondary senior schools go about educating students on the subject of sex(quality) and gender relations. After all, there is a good reason to believe that even though the concerned process is formally receptive to the “diversity celebration” principle, it results in marginalizing the alternative forms of sexuality in the eyes of students. The reason for this is that the country’s paradigm of sex education is heavily affected by the provisions of neoliberalism – the ideology that promotes “the introduction of markets and market values into formal institutions, normative assumptions, and cognitive principles” (Birch, 2016, p. 112). Consequentially, students are being prompted to assume that the society’s proper functioning can only be ensured for as long as men and women are willing to adhere to the traditional conceptualization of the inter-gender relationship – something that effectively disfranchises “queerness” and causes the affiliated youths to experience psychologically unhealthy anxieties concerning their sexual self-identity. As Shannon (2016) pointed out, “Sexuality education in Australia is permeated by neoliberal discourses of personal responsibility, individual choice, and homogeneity… This presents a distinct disadvantage to GLBTIQ students… and effectively serves to invalidate – their lived experience” (p. 574). It is understood, of course, that such a situation can hardly be deemed appropriate because there can be only a few doubts that, as a result of having been implicitly marginalized in the classroom, sexually diverse students will find it utterly challenging trying to integrate into the society as its productive members. In my paper, I will explore the soundness of the above-stated at length while assessing the concerned subject matter from the feminist perspective in sociology. First Body As it was mentioned in the Introduction, there is indeed a good reason to believe that the practitioners of sexually alternative lifestyles in Australia’s secondary schools often experience nothing short of institutionalized oppression – all due to their “queerness”. After all, the instances of such oppression taking place continually have been well covered by the Media. Probably the most notable of them had to do with the 2015 decision of Adrian Piccolo (New South Wales Education Minister) to ban the screening of the Gayby Baby documentary in fifty schools throughout the state (Mandle, 2015). According to Ferfolja and Ullman (2017), “This occurred just hours before its scheduled viewing in an NSW high school on Wear It Purple Day… The Minister’s rationale, reportedly, was that the film was not part of the curriculum” (p. 350). What is particularly interesting, in this respect, is tha
Introduction Management and organisational performance are two imperative issues in the executive business management literature. Different studies emphasize that the two aspects are correlative to each other and equally coherent to organisations. The achievement and drawbacks of several companies have always unswervingly associated with the forms of management with the urge and ability to handle managerial issues tactfully remaining a contested subject. Management in any organisation must consider all aspects related to organisational achievement, including all input and output attributes to the organisation. Managers are always apt with the task of ensuring that organisations run smoothly by guarantying maximum policy development and implementation to enhance productivity. Policies and strategic planning must always reflect the interest of the organisations with loss control and profit maximisation being integral issues. Customary care and public relations are among the obligatory factors that management must consider. Central to this reason, this study reviews the case study of Fine Coating Inc. Problem statement In the Fine Coating Inc., there are several problems underlying within the organisational paradigm. However, one major issue remains the focus to the case of Fine Coating Inc where the President or the chief executive of the organisation is in the states of mystery. Don Perucci is the Chief Executive Officer in of Fine Coating Inc, which is a coating company in Troy, Michigan. The main issue becoming a contention in Fine Coating Inc is the idea of implementing the Electronic Data Interchange device that would reduce the service costs incurred by the clients. Apart from the customary demands, the Fine Coating Inc cost of operation was as well increasing at an alarming rate as the process of receiving orders and completing deliveries was becoming increasingly expensive due to intensive manual operations. Central to this matter, Perucci needs to identify strategic and operational information systems urgently in order to respond effectively to various corporate, market and environmental demands. Customers are feeling that the process of ordering for services in the company is becoming hectic and costly. The service consumers are urging the company to integrate the Electronic Data Interchange device without considering the present circumstances unfolding within the organisation. Two integral issues are, however causing a dilemma with Perucci and Smith unable to make informed decisions in implementing the two aspects. Purchasing the sophisticated Electronic Data Interchange device will obligate the company to incur more production costs at the advent of integration of EDI venture in the sense that some employees, especially the supervisors will require in-service training before its implementation. The company will also require skilled network engineers and software technicians to manage all computers operation
Introduction Background Information Ashtead group provides rental solutions in various situations such as facilities management, nonresidential construction markets, disaster relief, traffic management and major event management. It provides equipment such as lifts, powers, generates, moves, digs, pumps, and directs for rental purposes. It was founded in 1947 as Ashtead Plant Hire Equipment Limited. The Group trades in the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol AHT (Ashtead Group PLC. 2012a; Ashtead Group Plc. 2012c) Markets Division The company operates in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. In the US, it operates under the brand name Sunbelt Rentals and A-plant in the UK. Sunbelt has over 372 outlets across various cities in the US while A-plant has over 110 outlets in the major cities of the UK. In the US, the Group has engaged about 6,822 employees while in the UK, it has employed about 1,916 employees. The operating revenue for Sunbelt as at 31 st October 2012 amounted to 1,041 million while for A-plant amounted 199 million. Based on the comparisons above, it is evident that the operations of Ashtead Group in the US are greater than the operations in the United Kingdom. Market share of Ashtead Group is greater in the US than the UK. In the US, it is the second largest in the equipment rental business while in the UK it is the third largest (Ashtead Group Plc. 2012b; Ashtead Group Plc. 2012d, Ashtead Group Plc. 2012f). Issues Facing the Management The key issue facing management is how to manage the leverage level of the group so as to attract new investors (Smith & Smith 2003). The company aims to seek new funding that can help in expanding the business but the company cannot receive either equity or debt because of the high leverage (Ashtead Group Plc. 2012g). Commercial Financial Environment Ashtead’s Business Environment Ashtead Group operates in construction equipment rental business industry both in the US and the UK. Since it operates in various locations and deals in a wide range equipment, the Group faces a complex business environment. The location of the businesses offers the Group a diverse legal and political environment for operation (Berkshire Hathaway Company 2013). It is necessary to analyze both the internal and external environments of the Group so as to ascertain the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that the entity faces (Skinner & Kim 2010). Ashtead Group has a strong brand both in the US and UK. This enables it to be on top of the competition. The strong brand name has been built for over six decades. Another strength of the company is that it has a wide range of products and services to offer. Diversification is a source of financial strength for the company because if one product does not perform as expected in the market, revenue from other products will cushion the company finances (Shim & Joel 2008). Thirdly, the group has extensive and well built distribution
Introduction One of the companies in UK engaged in international business is MEC International that offers its clients unique tailor made flexible marketing service in many parts of the globe (Travis, T 2007, p. 27). It works with her clients on project to project basis while utilizing a range of 40 to 50 senior level consultants to form specific groups to suit needs of specified clients or states in a particular market sample. MEC international offers nine distinct services to support international development of businesses. Services offered include risk services assessment which provides security advice for both private and public sector, business development strategies to help many clients or companies avoid known pitfalls, corporate communication that help improve public and government relations, finance whereby it provides advice to clients to help them realise their position in international markets, publications of reports and journals for clients with a certain market focus, diligence, fraud and even asset investigation, carrying out market surveys, trainings in media services which help improve communication and finally practicing energy consultancies. The above mentioned services are offered in many international markets such as Middle East, Gulf and Markets in Central Asia. From its solid base in London, MEC international operates in Easter Europe, Middle East and even in Central Asia utilizing technologically provided e-commerce. Also, the western countries are never left behind in their operations development as their Middle Eastern colleagues who are all ready. There are a number of challenges that are encountered by the MEC international in the Markets just like other international business companies. The major challenge encountered is communication barrier and pricing whereby the company spends a lot of its resources in training new recruits to work for them in the respected stations away from home and also because of their new market, pricing of the clients is not easy and exchange rate movements affect them because of their unfamiliarity with the country. Political uncertainty mostly in the Middle East and the Gulf has been a very big challenge including cultural differences. Inflation and lack or poor distribution channels of their services including poor public relations among their clients has mostly affected MEC International (Palmisano, J (2004,) MEC international has put forth combination of unique expertise and skills by closely working with both private and Public sectors in the respective countries including international corporations and banks as strategies to address these challenges (Daniels, J, Sullivan, D 2007, p.63). By offering their clients tailor made marketing services that are so unique, they negate challenges of poor public r