ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Case Summary This case discusses FedEx Corporation and the company’s strategic management. The case is divided into strategic business operation and strategic human resource management sections. The case begins with examining the origin of the FedEx Corporation. This part entails a brief overview of the company’s financing and the way the company managed to establish its human resource operations. The first part of the case brings out issues of strategic business operation. This part discusses the strategic plan that was unveiled by the company in the year 2000. The plan was aimed at improving how business operations in the company are executed and generating more revenues. The plan also aimed at enhancing strategic business practices in the company. Such practices include acquisition, marketing/advertising strategies, the orientation of delivery services, issues of competitiveness, and the financial position of the company. The second part of the paper focuses on issues of strategic management. A discussion of performance management in the company is presented in this part. Management of technology, communication, employee retention, and the benefits scheme of the company has been explained in this section. Issue exploration It is vital to note that FedEx Corporation is a logistics company that deals with delivery of mails and goods. The company is based in the United States. There are a lot of dynamics in the logistical sector. The dynamics entail the nature of goods and services that are delivered by the company, the change in the means of transport and communication to ensure efficiency in the delivery of goods, and the management of the customers and the employees at the same time. The changing costs of transportation come out as one of the critical issues in the management of business in the company. The company made quick progress upon beginning its operations. However, profits flopped significantly a few years after its operations in the field of mail delivery had picked up. The flop was caused by the rise in the prices of crude oil in the international market, which caused a rise in costs of transportation. Competition has also been on the rise in terms of services and prices (Dawkins & Brockmann, n.d.). The other critical issue facing the company as presented in the case concerns the segmentation of business operations and ensuring effective management of segmented business operations. The company was divided into two main segments: FedEx logistics, a segment that provides supply chain solutions to companies and individuals. This is a complex section since it involves different operations like information, transportation, and physical logistical services. The other section is the FedEx Custom Critical, which deals with delivery of special types of goods under special shipment arrangements. This segment also deals with delivery of goods that are to be delivered within certain restricted timelines. There is also the FedEx Trade Network and Viking. Meeting the specifications of customers is among the most challenging factors in shipping and delivery of goods in diverse locations. Managing a large set of customers is also
Introduction Being the first American man of letters, Irving is renowned for his best and prolific tales. He was born in New York in a family of eleven in 1783. Among the famous tales we have “The legend of sleepy hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle”. Throughout his life, Irving was a great biographer and an eminent state man who stood out against all odds to offer the best literature ever. This paper seeks to analyze the tale “The Adventure of the German student” which was written by Washington Irving in 1824. Absence of reason as well as balance, together with having excessive enthusiasm by the youths in the modern world is destructive. Background information Initially, Irving began his writing career in 1802 when he wrote “The Morning Chronicles”. He selectively used mockery letters which consequently earned him recognition amongst the New Yorkers. Due to health conditions, Irving was forced to relocate to Europe, but eventually returned in 1806. He ventured in the writing career with his brothers, but the venture seemed an unprofitable a condition which forced him to abandon it. The death of his girlfriend Matilda Hoffman was a major blow to his social life and his writing career (Irving, [a] 55). As a result, Irving went back to Europe, particularly England, where he worked in a family business. After a lengthy period of indecisive life, Irving finally decided to make literature writing his livelihood. In the period that was between1819-1820, there was notably the most strenuous moment for him as he worked himself up in building a name and a portfolio. To date, Washington Irvin is appreciated for his unrelenting efforts in creating and composing great tales of terror ranging from Europe to America. His extra-ordinary stories of horror and romance caught the attention of the many readers throughout the world. The Adventure of the German Student In 1824, he published the tales of a traveler which reflected the French revolution (Irving, [b] 65). The key character in this tale was a young German student who resided in Paris. Gottfried Wolfgang was his name and he came from a good, well up family. Having studied well, he was possessed by a visionary and enthusiastic character which made him wonder in wild and hypothetical doctrines. His secluded and singular life affected him both physically and men
The phenomenon of indentured servitude was quite common in the 17 th century colonial Virginia. Often being the only means for the less fortunate families to provide their younger members with an opportunity for a wealthier life, indentured servitude, though doubtlessly being an important experience, often resulted in mistreatment of servants, particularly, women. Because of the lack of control over the quality of living conditions provided by the owners of the colonial Virginian property to their British servants, the increasingly hard work conditions and unbearable living ones, combined with the impossibility to change the situation, resulted in extraordinarily high death rates among the indentured servants, as well as a high number of records of physical abuse. The letter provided has quite a lot of pieces of evidence to support the claim concerning the unreasonably hard working conditions in the coastal Virginia. More to the point, the letter in question points exactly at the lack of decent working and living environment in several ways by approaching the problem from several standpoints. First and most obvious, the actual evidence concerning the unsanitary conditions, which workers had to dwell in, should be mentioned: “The household is a dreadful place.” 1 The existing records concerning the life of English employees in the setting of colonial Virginia show that the rates of disease contraction was terrifyingly high among the specified demographics due to the unsanitary environment that was extremely favorable for the development of various health issues, such as malaria (due to a large amount of mosquitoes). 2 Speaking of which, the fact that the area was swarming with pests did not add to the safety of the indentured workers’ health. Though the letter does not mention the actual health issues, the healthcare concerns are obviously hinted at in a range of passages, including the fact that the young indentured servant has to share the house with the people, whom she defines as “low” and, therefore, having little idea of personal hygiene 3 . The issue concerning the physical threats to the life of an indentured worker on the plantation in a colonial Virginia does not end there, unfortunately. According to the evidence mentioned in the letter, as well as other historical records that are available at present, both men and women, who were employed as indentured workers, suffered from severe physical abuse. 4 In most cases involving female indentured employees, the issue of sexual abuse was also rather frequent; though sometimes resulting in marriage, the specified issues in most cases ended with the female servants often triggered the increase of the time of servitude. As a result, the environment, in which female workers had to carry out physically challenging work, were far from favorable. 5 The male workers, in their turn, also had to deal with a lot of pressure coming from extremely poor working conditions and the poor treatment of the employers. As the letter shows, the servants were deprived from basic human rights, including the right to rest and leisure. According to what young Johanna wr
Introduction Various statistical models can be utilized to analyze variance. These models can be also employed to conduct statistical tests. Moreover, they are also essential in determining whether the methods of various groups are similar. In this regard, analysis of variance generalizes t-test into multiple groupings. Some of the main reasons why analysis of variance, which is also known as ANOVA, is compared in conducting multiple two-sample t-tests are because the former results in type 1 errors. Most researchers therefore utilize ANOVA to compare two or more methods of statistical models. ANOVA models are classified in three categories. These include Fixed-effects, Random effects and mixed effects models. Fixed effects usually assume that data comes from normal populations. This may vary in their methods. On the other hand, Random effects types utilize the assumption that data comes from a hierarchy. It also makes the assumption that the differences are controlled. Model three, on the other hand, assumes a situation where both random and fixed effects are entailed. This paper will discuss analysis of variance as well as explore its limitations and assumptions. Analysis of Variance Analysis of variance, which is also known as ANOVA refers to the techniques employed to analyze effects of categorical factors. It does this by decomposing unevenness of variable among dissimilar categorical factors. When conducting such analysis, it is important to know the factors that may have significant effect on response as well as the degree of variability in response associated with each factor. There are many procedures that can be utilized in conducting analysis of variance. These include one-way- ANOVA, multifactor ANOVA, Variance components analysis and General linear models. These models are utilized in different situations as shown below. One-way is utilized when the statistics is broken into other dissimilar groups in accordance with one-factor. Multifactor ANOVA is usually suitable when multiple factors are available and also when crossed. The other model utilized is known as variance-components-analysis, it is employed in determining the level of variability presented in a product. In addition, there is General linear model which, is usually utilized when all the other methods are inappropriate for analysis of variance. For analyzing an experiment with more than one independent variable, multifactor technique of ANOVA would be appropriate. Discussion When conducting analysis of variance for more than one independent variable, it is essential to utilize the multifactor ANOVA technique. This is because it works for more than one crossed factors. These factors can be significantly different and this suits it best. It is also important to note that multifactor ANOVA can be used to estimate interactions as well as effects among factors. The technique also outputs more results that include graphical ANOVA as well as ANOVA table, which consist of the most recent edition of statistics for experiments. Assumptions in Analysis of Variance versus T-
Gender identity is the manner in which people see themselves, that is either male, female or in between the former and the latter. In most individuals, there is no significant dissimilarity between gender identity and biological characteristics. Gender identity can also be described as one’s self-conception as either being male, female or transgender. There is a close association between sex roles and gender uniqueness, where the former is an outward expression of the latter (Rathus, Nevid & Fichner-Rathus, 2005). Factors that determine gender identity Social factors can be used to determine a person’s gender. Dressing code, body shape, how someone speaks and hairstyle are some of the social factors that can be used to determine a person’s sex. The male and the female sexual category have their own approach of practicing the above mentioned social factors except for the transgendered person’s. Considering natural factors, the misassigned gender (that is in biological terms) can be altered to the proper one; however, a shift from the correct biological sex is usually rare. A typical individual has two sex chromosomes. Males have (x y) while females have (xx) chromosomes (Rathus, Nevid & Fichner-Rathus, 2005). If two x chromosomes, one from the man and the other from the woman are combined together, a female child is conceived. While the vice versa (x and y) chromosomes from female and male respectively, will yield a male child. Psychological factors: there have been some instances whereby individuals with unusual sexual development experience changes in their gender uniqueness, role and assignment at puberty. The bodily changes experienced by a person such as changes in body shape and traits help one identify his/her gender identity at puberty. Environmental factors i.e. society, accord children
Introduction and benefit of product hierarchy In most cases, the product distribution of a business occurs in a defined succession that the company has designed by considering the customer requirements; therefore, the product hierarchy (which is affected frequently by competitive rivalry) extends from the fundamental necessities to the specific products that fulfill the consumer requirements. This means that the products that have a high level of demand amongst the customers will have the opportunity to attain the top positions in the hierarchy, whereas the products with comparatively low demands will be positioned at lower levels. The aim of this paper is to analyze the product hierarchies of the five companies in the consumer electronics market in Dubai, and these companies are Apple, Samsung, Sony, LG, and Toshiba. In order to do so, this paper would assess the performance of the consumer electronics market in Dubai, briefly discuss the position of the five companies in Dubai, form a PEST analysis, create product hierarchies for the companies, and analyze the substitute ability. In addition, this study will also examine the level of competition, elaborate a BCG matrix for the companies, create a sequence of consumer choice, and evaluate the future of the product in UAE. Performance of Consumer Electronics Industry in Dubai Chahine and Heberto (2) Consumer Electronics Industry stated has boosted in spite of the global financial crisis in 2008 and multinational companies had shown their interest to penetrate this market under adverse economic situation; however, Estimated industry size is about US$3 billion. Most international brands have already started their operation in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai markets; according to the report of Abdelgalil and Natasha (7), Dubai is a leading market for consumer electronics, for instance, TV, smartphones, watch, cameras, and other household electrical appliances. There are many factors that influenced the players of this industry to enter this market, such as, the rapid growth of the consumer electronics market, population and economic growth rate, high purchasing power of the customers, diversification strategy and so on. Customers of UAE are not price-sensitive and a consumer confidence score is high; however, the following figure shows more details in this regard- Figure 1: buyer confidence in the county increased in 2009. On the other hand, local companies have to meet substantial domestic demand for electronics products and started to enter a new market, for instance, East African nations are the prospective market for exporting local electronics appliance
Introduction It is the duty of the U.S. Armed Forces to protect the country from both internal and external threats yet few people seem to realize that the basis for such responsibilities is not due to orders from the president or that of Congress but rather it is a result of a sworn oath to protect the Constitution. The Constitution itself is greater than any single branch of government however it is still vulnerable to corruption from within and as such it is the duty of each and every military officer to ensure that such corruption is stamped out. On the other hand, it must be mentioned that though it is the duty of the military to protect the Constitution it is only through the Constitution itself and its various amendments that the military was even brought into being in the first place For example, it is only through the powers given to it by the constitution that Congress is able to authorize the creation of the military as well as control its budget and it is only through Congressional action that war can be declared (McCarthy, 2011). It must be noted though that the constitution also happens to give the President significant powers in terms of being the commander and chief of the Armed Forces in times of war and as such all military leaders/officers are de facto obliged to obey the president. Based on such factors, this paper will explore how the Constitution applies to being a military leader/officer and what are the various contributions the Constitution has had in the creation of the modern day system seen in the U.S. Armed Forces today. Sworn Oath of Defending the Constitution First and foremost among the oaths sworn by a military officer/leader is a pledge to defend and support the Constitution of the United States, do note that this isn’t a pledge to obey the President or support Congress in its decisions rather it is an obligation to defend the tenets of the Constitution from both foreign and domestic threats. What you have to understand is that while the Constitution itself is responsible for the creation of the U.S. armed forces (seen in Section 8 Article 1) the fact is that it also entails a distinct separation of powers in order to create a checks and balances system of which each and every U.S. military leader/officer is a part of. The pledge to defend the Constitution is in part an aspect of this check and balances system wherein despite the fact that the military is under the control of a civilian government, military officers/ leaders also acts as a means of ensuring that such a
Welch, J., & Welch, S. (2005). Winning. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers This book was authored by Jack Welch in collaboration with Suzy Welch and was published by HarperCollins Publishers in New York in 2005. The book is titled, ‘Winning’ because of its focus on a winning culture as being pertinent for exemplary performance in business, in a professional career, and social life. The book has 372 pages of easy to read advice on how to succeed in business particularly in career and life. As such, the author targets managers and owners of business enterprises, although the book is valuable to anyone interested in setting up a business as well as those endeavoring to succeed in life. The book belongs to the genre of motivational books, although it can also serve as a complementary textbook for students undertaking business-related courses such as business administration and entrepreneurship. This book serves as a guide on how to become and remain a winner in business, even under the most difficult circumstances by adhering to some fundamental philosophies and principles of management. As such, the author’s aim in this book is to assist individuals who have a purpose and passion to achieve exemplary performance regardless of what position they hold in a business organization. Jack Welch uses narrations of personal experiences he gained while he was in leadership positions in the corporate world and when interacting with people during his motivational talks around the world. The author does not necessarily paint a rosy picture of the journey to success and particularly insists that any challenge encountered is a learning opportunity that should be embraced and appreciated wholeheartedly. Indeed, the author achieves the motivational purpose of the book; that of motivating people to succeed in business, career, a
The article considered for this paper is titled, “Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System” by Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton. The primary focus of the article is on the Balanced Scorecard which was developed and proposed by the authors in 1992. In this paper, the balanced scorecard of Boeing has been implemented. The following balanced scorecard is prepared by considering the financial performance of the company and its strategic objectives set out in its annual report. The balanced scorecard can provide a unique way of setting objectives and a roadmap for achieving them. These objectives are mainly non-financial and assist companies to make strategies for the next periods. The balanced scorecard is easy to understand, and the information provided in the model is categorized into four dimensions including customers, internal business processes, learning, and growth. The company’s vision statement is “Connect, Protect, Explore and Inspire the World though Aerospace Innovation.” Financial Perspective                                             Objectives                                                         Measures                                                                                 Targets                                                             Initiatives                                                                                                                           Improve financial performance of the company in the coming period  Increase the liquidity of the company                                                    Improve liquidity by 10%                                            Invest in design, manufacturing, and development.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Speed up the innovation process.                                                                                                      Increase the company’s shareholders’ value                         Increase ROCE and ROE                                                                    Increase ROCE and ROE by 20%.                                       Make new sales contracts with customers and increase the number of orders.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Reduce the operational cost and expenses to increase the profit margin of the company.