ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Introduction Changes in the macro-environment have different effects in different individual firms as well as various firms in the same industry. These changes depend on the structure of the business and its position in the market. Such changes affect the business or organization through microeconomic factors such as its profitability, the level of production, demand for the firm’s products and services as well as the cost incurred by the organization in its daily operations. All companies are affected by both the microenvironment and macro environment. The macro-environment refers to the collective external factors which affect a firm or industry’s decision-making process and general performance. They include technological, social, political, economic, demographic, legal, and social issues. (Kotler & Armstrong, 2004, p. 111) Comparison between Wal-Mart and McDonald’s Strategies McDonald’s is said to be the world’s largest fast-food hamburger chain store. The global economic crisis had its effects on the food industry in China just as it did in other industries. Being in the food industry, Mcdonald’s was also affected. Its sales dropped in the country as a result of a decrease in demand, leaving the fast-food chain with no option but to come up with strategies that will ensure that more customers are coming into their restaurants in order to increase the level of sales and in effect offset the losses that were experienced during the economic crisis. The economic crisis also led to an increase in the cost of production for the restaurant’s products which in turn affected its level of production. An increase in the cost of production and a decline in the level of sales means that the profitability margins of the firm are negatively affected. Wal-Mart operates a number of stores in different parts of the world including Mexico where it is known as Walmex. It deals in grocery products. Walmex was also affected by the global economic crisis resulting in a decline in its general performance which was occasioned by increased marketing expenses, production costs, and low demand levels as a result of the slow consumption trends witnessed in Mexico. (Reuters, 2010, para. 7) To cope with the effects of the macro-environment on the production, low demand, and decline in profitability in the performance of the two firms, they came up with different strategies suited for their industry. This shows a strategy contingency approach where the firms came up with strategies that were suited for the environment in which they operated. Walmex opted for a customer-oriented approach where it sought to maintain its loyalty
Executive Summary Schlumberger is reputed as the leading service company in the oil and natural gas industry. The company’s business magnitude is big, enabling it to spread its presence its presence across the globe. Schlumberger’s main strategy is building alliances and forming mergers. This provides the company with ability to penetrate in the market easily. It builds its competitive advantage against industry rivals. Thirteen different companies carry out Schlumberger operations, each specializing in specific areas. Growing global demand for energy has enhanced the company’s potential of growth in future. More industry players are willing to form alliances with Schlumberger to enhance their chances of business operations. Continuous legal suits and actions against the company affect Schlumberger’s profile. This may result in governments tightening regulatory frameworks, thus making it difficult for the firm to operate in their markets. More investments should be made in the area of research and development. This will enable the company come up with practical solutions to the perennial environmental degradation problem that affects the company. The company over relies on the expenditure levels of the oil marketers. This puts its business at risk because the oil marketers equally depend on global oil prices before making expenditure decisions. Global oil prices are erratic and they put oil marketers’ investment and expenditure into jeopardy. Schlumberger should sustain its alliance and merger strategy, but maintain close scrutiny prior to making decisions. Both companies engaging in the merger or alliance must realign their structures in order to eliminate chances of making costly mistakes. Failure to observe this measure may result in losses for both companies. Merger and alliance agreements must be fully understood and observed to limit the number of legal actions emerging as a result of breach of contract. Introduction Schlumberger is an international firm that offers different services to different playe
As described by Arnold van Gennep in “The rites of Passage,” the concept of the rites of passage is a ritual event used to signify the process of transition of a person from one social or cultural status to another (Gennep 23). Arnold van Gennep states that the concept of rites of passage is a general socialization theory whose aim is to mark, describe, and note the milestones that an individual makes in his or her life. Van Gennep introduced the “three universal” phases for all the rites of passage- separation, transition (liminality) and incorporation (reintegration) (Mahdi, Christopher and Meade 36). According to this concept, an individual must lose his or her identity in the stage of separation. An abrupt process ruptures an individual’s relationship with the members of the society, the family, and the community. In most cases, the person has to be alienated or move across social and geographical boundaries. The transition phase is the intermediary period in which the individual, after losing the identity, is prepared for the final stage of incorporation back to the community. There is a lot of confusion, education, and testing, and the individual may lose name, language, disguise, or behavior (Mahdi, Christopher, and Meade 36). The final stage involves the movement of individuals from isolation by returning to the community but possessing a new identity. In the initial stages, Homer presents Telemachus as a young and relatively weak individual. However, the reader is able to forecast Telemachus’ ability to exercise authority in his father’s household. In Book 1, Penelope (Telemachus’ mother) attempts to dictate the type of song to be performed for the 118 suitors in her household. However, despite being a minor, Telemachus is able to admonish her, which signals Telemachus’ future as a hero and respectable man in his society. Nevertheless, despite seeing the economic and social destruction the suitors are making in his father’s house, Telemachus is not able to drive out them. Yet, he calls an assembly threatening to remove them. In fact, he accepts the fact that he is immature when he says, “I am a weakling… knowing nothing of valor” (Armstrong 131). It indicates his weakness and inability to fit the social definition of a hero. Therefore, a rite of passage is required to transform Telemachus from childhood to manhood and a hero or respectable man. To achieve this, Telemachus must leave for Pylos and Sparta, specifically to search for his father. At this point, Homer attempts to describe a clear definition of the social definition of a respectable man- that of an individual who has a strong link with the fat
Introduction Oil is a very important commodity since its products are used for domestic and industrial purposes. However, its supply is scarce and this makes it be a very precious commodity. This explains why countries that have oil deposits command international markets. For instance, the Arab region is an indispensable player in the international market even though it does not have another reliable source of income apart from oil. This paper is a report about the history and growth of the Canadian International Oil Corporation. Background Canada is the third largest world producer of oil after Venezuela and Saudi Arabia; therefore, this country has a lot of oil deposits in its deserts. In 2007, it was estimated that this country had more than 167 billion barrels of oil that were mostly concentrated in Alberta. The Canadian International Oil Corporation is a privately owned company with subsidiaries in Houston, Calgary, and other regions in the world. It focuses on onshore mining and drilling of gas and oil respectively using conventional and unconventional ways (Charleston 2010). It has employed permanent and part-time highly qualified specialists to manage its activities and ensure it produces world-class products. The company was established in 2010 in Texas to ensure it maximizes the potential of Canada in providing oil products to the public. Many companies were working in these oil fields under different names and controlled by different investors. However, they faced serious challenges in establishing their foundation in Canada and competing with other established companies. Therefore, it was prudent for these players to come together and form the Canadian International Oil Corporation. They have invested a lot of human and monetary resources in the company to ensure its activities can attract huge international and local clients (Martins 2011). Therefore, this has enabled it to invest heavily in other countries and compete with giant exporters of oil from the Arab region. International Investments The demand for oil and its products is usually felt in all regions in the world and this allows this company to make use of the international market. It started widening its operations by investing in other regions like Houston and Texas. The success of these branches motivated the stakeholders to start investing in international markets like the United States. However, before this was done, it ensured the following issues addressed. First, it ensured it had acquired adequate oil fields and deposits to supply the local and international markets. This means that it assessed the market volume offered by both foreigners and locals before investin
In the twentieth century states were boasting about their nuclear power since nuclear weapons were the most sophisticated type of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). However, at present nuclear weapons are regarded as a primitive type of WMD and biological weapons come into play. Many countries are getting concerned about this potential threat. Admittedly, in a globalized environment proliferations of biological weapons can cause millions of deaths. The reason why biological weapons should be regarded as a more dangerous threat than, for example, nuclear weapons is that the former “combine maximum destructiveness and easy availability” (Betts 1998, 4). Apart from this biological weapons are characterized by “low visibility, high potency” and “relatively easy delivery” (Danzig & Berkowsky 1997, 431). Reputedly, creation (and/or transportation if necessary) of nuclear weapons requires significant financing, whereas biological weapons are quite easy to obtain. The agents of the biological weapons are bacteria, toxins and viruses which “occur naturally in the environment” and, what is more, “many are used for wholly legitimate medical purposes (such as the development of antibiotics and vaccines)” (Danzig & Berkowsky 1997, 431). It is necessary to point out that there is no need in transporting biological weapons since aerosolization is the major method of this kind of weapons proliferation. Basically, anyone “with modest finances and basic training in biology and engineering” can create one of the most dangerous weapons of mass destruction (Danzig & Berkowsky 1997, 431). It is also important to note that insignificant amount of any type of biological weapons will suffice to cause thousand or even millions of deaths. For instance, only a “millionth of a gram of anthrax constitutes a lethal inhalation dose”, it is not difficult to imagine how many people can day if a kilo of the substance will be aerosolized (Danzig & Berkowsky 1997, 431). Anthrax is not the only potential threat. Among agents and diseases which can be used as a biological weapon are Burkholderia bacteria, plague, smallpox, typhus, volatile nerve agents (Building a Stronger Defense 2007, 2). Some argue that there is no need to be preoccupied with biological weapons since they were not used and are not likely to be used in future. However, it is possible to find many records about the use of biological weapons since the Middle Ages. For instance, soldiers catapulted cadavers “over
Introduction Research Purpose In the 21 st century, one of the recurring debates in the business field concerns the fundamental role played by employees in enabling organizations to accomplish their set objectives, including maintaining competitive advantage in the marketplace (Hakes, 1991). A rapidly changing economic environment typified by such phenomena as vagrancies of the macroeconomic environment, globalization and deregulation of markets, shifting customer and shareholder demands, and escalating product-market competition, has turned out to be the norm, necessitating organizations to reformulate and restructure their practices and policies to remain relevant (Topolosky, 2000). The stakes are even higher in the oil and gas industry, which is inarguably affected by a myriad of events as they unfold on the world map (Stevens, 1998). One of the key priority areas that have been targeted by the oil companies as a matter of urgency is employee satisfaction and motivation, especially after the realization by leaders that people concerns are business concerns, and that success comes through people (Bruce & Pepitone, 1999). This study is informed by the need for organizations to develop and implement processes and programs that will ensure employees remain productive and committed to the goals, objectives and aspirations of their respective organizations through embracing strategies, programs, and value propositions that enhance their productivity and commitment to the organization. More importantly, The present study will purpose to critically evaluate employee satisfaction strategies, including current motivation and reward system in Qatar petroleum, with a view to inform human resource policy on the underlying issues related to how employees could be further empowered to push the company’s agenda forward. Background to the Organization This particular study will be focused on critically evaluating employee satisfaction, current motivation, and reward system in Qatar petroleum. This state-owned company, which runs joint ventures with other international oil giants such as Shell and Petrochina, is responsible for all oil and gas exploration, processing, and marketing in Qatar and Abroad (Qatar, Petroleum, 2010). According to Siddiqi (2009), “ Qatar , the world’s leading natural gas exporter, is home to the third-largest gas reserves, after Russia and Iran. The offshore North Field’s reservoir, covering a small area of 6,000 sq km, boasts more reserves than the combined proved figure for the Americas and Western Europe, as reported by BP at 756 trillion cubic feet” (p. 49). The accomplishments of the Qatar Petroleum are mind-boggling, with industry players and published financial data portraying a company with proven verification of stellar growth in the past few years despite the volatility in the global economy occasioned by the 2008 financial crisis (Siddi
Introduction “ On Jan. 12th a powerful 7.0 quake hit the impoverished nation of Haiti. This was followed more than 30+ strong aftershocks ” (architecture for humanity 1) – stated the website architectureforhumanity.org about the earthquake in Haiti. The capital of Haiti, “ Port – au – Prince and other towns of Haiti like Léogâne, Jacmel and Petit-Goâve ” (Zimmerman 221) became the victims of a powerful earthquake on 12 January 2010 measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale. There were 52 aftershock incidents till January 24 th . There were massive losses that kept on a mounting day by day as new news of losses unfolded. About 3 million people were affected and 8 Billion USD was the estimated loss caused due to the earthquake. No doubt the tremors have taken a massive toll on the lives and resources of Haiti, but it was not only the tremors that caused the damage to such a massive extent. The other reasons which increased the loss were the extremely dense population of the towns, building standards not complying with earthquake and other disaster norms, considerably bad state of the environment, use of lands without any proper organization, and the division of economic activities without any proper balance. 65 percent of Haiti’s economic activities and 85 percent of tax revenue is accounted on the capital city. Haiti needed to be rebuilt, that too, in such a way that in the future no other disaster could impart such a hu
Chris Carlson’s article Reflections from Occupied Ohlone Territory from the book Ten Years that Shook the City casts light upon the current issue of America namely the life of native inhabitants of America. It was not very easy for me to catch what the author drives at in the beginning of the article. The author provides the current situation of many cities where the native history is underestimated and the real inhabitants of the land and their traditions are forgotten. Firstly, it was difficult for me to catch the idea of the article as far as the title of the article and its beginning are not connected at all. I have not understood the meaning of the word Ohlone that is in the title and what is their territory. The author provides the information about the occupation of Alcatraz and the Indian Problem without any word about Ohlone . Going on to read the article, I have caught the author’s point. I understand that Ohlone are Native Americans inhabited the central California coast. The author calls the Native American people the Indians in his article and he provides the information about the long way of fighting for their rights. It is a very curious thing that the people who were the first who inhabited these lands have to fight for their rights. The persistence of these Indians amazes me. These people have been fighting for their rights for a long time and this fight continues in our days. This tribal people gathered together to demand recognition and empowerment from the US government and they did all their best to achieve this aim (p.164-167). There were cases when their efforts were effective and their demonstrations and rebellions ended with the satisfaction of all their demands but there were also cases when the government reacted quite aggressively to the demands of the real governors of the lands. The years between 1973 and 1976 were the most difficult for Indians. 271
The modern business world could be characterized by the increased sophistication and complexity resulting from the emergence of new ways to earn money and guarantee stable incomes. At the same time, the growing popularity of the sphere attracts new actors that stipulate the high need for a significant competitive advantage to preserve leading positions and survive. Additionally, the instability of the international markets and oscillations in central showings introduce a particular uncertainty into the functioning of the majority of companies and corporations. In this regard, information related to the future alterations in the market and its behavior becomes crucial regarding companies development and stability. They use different tools and approaches to investigate the needed segment and make certain conclusions about its character. Therefore, forecasting is one of these instruments that become popular today. Background In general, it could be determined as a specific planning tool used by managers to analyze the past or present data with the primary aim to predict the further development of the market and emergence or disappearance of particular trends (Bisgard & Kulachi, 2011). The practice is based on a certain experience gained by specialists during their career, their experience, knowledge, and judgments (Haran & Moore, 2014). In such a way, the level of objectivity and probability of error depend on the expertise and competence of a particular manager. Regardless of this fact, forecasting is still used by numerous companies as the primary tool to create their development strategy as a successful analysis might help to acquire a competitive advantage and introduce the basis for the further evolution. Benefits In such a way, regarding the high probability of error, which comprises about 30-40% depending on numerous factors, the efficiency of this method is often doubted by specialists working in the sphere (Heizer & Render, 2011). That is why a question whether a company might benefit from using forecasts remains topical nowadays. However, the efficiency of this measure could be evidenced by several facts. First, accurate forecasting demands relevant data that should be collected using credible sources. It means that trying to predict the further development of the market or some of its sectors a specialist performs a specific work that might help the company to preserve its leading positions. Second, forecasting also implies a deep assessment of the firms current state to consider its potential and create a specific strategy. It might also be helpful in evaluating the companys strengths, weakness, and opportunities for growth. In such a way, regardless of the comparatively high probability of error, forecasting remains a potent tool that might help firms to improve their f