A Research On Financial Management - 1461 Words

INTRODUCTION This report describes on the first section a research about financial managers, which is covered with the job description, the roles, the skills Knowledge, work environment and the rewards job outlook. What is the financial management? â€Å"Financial Management means planning, organizing, directing and controlling the financial activities such as procurement and utilization of funds of the enterprise. It means applying general management principles to financial resources of the enterprise† (http://managementstudyguide.com/financial-management.htm, 2/12/2014). On the second section describes the author’s personal analysis of skills, the goals and ways of skill development. The purpose of this†¦show more content†¦The generic nature of the job can be misleading and the activities and roles can be different as it depends on the size of the company. Generally some of the roles of a financial manager are to provide and interpret f inancial information, to formulate strategic and long-term business plans, to analyse competitors and market trends, to develop financial management mechanisms that minimise financial risk, to control income, cash flow and expenditure and to manage budgets. SKILLS KNOWLEDGE The key skills for financial managers, which the employers looking for, are excellent communication, commercial and business awareness, self-motivation, the ability to work as part of a team, excellent problem-solving, time management, initiative, good IT, analytical approach to work and high numerical abilities and sound technical. It is also required knowledge in some sectors. More specific, in the sector of Economics and accounting, financial managers must have a thorough knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practice, financial markets, banking and the knowledge of analysing and reporting financial data. Secondly, in the sector of Administration and Management, they must have knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, HRM, leadership technique coordination of people and resources. Finally, in the sector of law and government, they need to have knowledge of laws, government regulations and the democratic

Airline Consumer Engagement Marketing Essay Free Essays

Abstract This paper discusses how airline companies engage with their consumers. It discusses the modes of consumer engagement and the process of engagement. Most companies use integrated marketing approach to engage consumers because of the diversity of needs in the market. We will write a custom essay sample on Airline Consumer Engagement Marketing Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now It also outlines the various theories of decision-making as applied in the airline industry. The aim is to establish how different consumers make their decisions about services and products in the market. Cognitive dissonance theory, maximization utility, the reasoned action and the theory of certainty provide realistic concepts for predicting the behavior of consumers. Companies are more likely to use them in designing and implementing consumer engagement strategies. Introduction Customer engagement marketing refers to all the strategies that a company or business use to establish a relationship between the consumers and the operations of the company. Effective consumer engagement strategies are important because they influence consumers towards developing values in relation to companies. Consumers who value the services or products of a particular company tend to be loyal customers (Bowden 2009). Consumer engagement can also be perceived as a marketing strategy that aims at creating and maintaining loyal customer base in the market (Bowden 2009). This paper seeks to discuss how companies in the airline sector engage with consumers of their services in the market. It also seeks to discuss how consumers make decisions using relevant theories. The Reasons for Consumer Engagement Processes Understanding why companies need to engage with consumers in the market is useful in determining how they conduct the process of engagement. Consumer engagement is a crucial aspect of brand management. Brand management is one of the marketing strategies that companies use to establish brand loyalty. It aims at increasing the positive perception of a particular product or services (Ashworth Kavaratzis 2010). For instance, companies in the airways sector engage in awareness campaigns to inform the public of their services and routes of destination. The awareness campaign is one of the aspects of brand management strategy. Consumer engagement strategies may provide platforms for receiving feedbacks regarding the services that companies offer in the airline sector. The companies can use the feedbacks to improve the nature of their services (Ashworth Kavaratzis 2010). For instance, an airline company may learn that their flight attendants take relatively longer time to serve customers c ompared to other companies. The airline company may use the information to serve as a basis of investigation and improvement of all services. Customer engagement strategies also provide information that a company can use to understand the composition of the market. The information regarding the composition of the market is useful in determining why certain age groups do not use the available services. It also makes the company understand how to change and improve their services to accommodate the interests of other people who do not use the services (Bowden 2009). Companies may also understand their competitions using the feedback they receive from consumers. Consumer Engagement Strategies Modes of Engagement Companies use various modes to engage consumers. The suitability of the modes depends on the objective of engagement. For instance, a company that seeks to get feedback on their new product will use Facebook because it provides options for receiving comments. The strength of the methods of engagement lies in the ability of consumers to provide feedback regarding the operations of companies in the airline sector. The market composition for airline services has become complicated. It consists of different groups of people who have varying needs. Each group of consumers requires a different advertisement method. The methods of advertisement include the traditional modes such as televisions, radios and printed articles. Most recently information technology has become the predominant mode of engagement. Information technology supports various social platforms such as Facebook and twitter. Information technology also involves advertisement through mobile phone applications. Most airline co mpanies use an integrated marketing strategy to respond to the challenge of diversity in the market. Integrated marketing strategy involves using various advertisement methods together. The scheme offers a comprehensive approach for engaging consumers of airline services in the operations of the company (Shakeel-Ul-Rehman Ibrahim 2011). Media planners in such companies acknowledge the diversity in the market in relation to the interests of people. For instance, the traditional advertisement methods may be helpful in reaching people who might find the use of technology a daunting task (Shakeel-Ul-Rehman Ibrahim 2011, p. 188). It can be argued tha tthe use of information technology offers more appeal to the younger generation and business people who value time. Consumer engagement through social media works on principles that are different from the traditional methods. It offers a platform for receiving feedbacks regarding the operations of the company. The Process of Engagement Bijmolt et al. (2010) maintains that the process of consumer engagement begins from acquisition of the same. The process of acquisition involves selecting prospective customers on the basis of their potential responsiveness and their ability to purchase the services. This aspect is important to airline companies in African countries because of the high rate of charges they impose for the services. Only people with adequate financial resources can afford the charges. The selection criteria might help companies to conserve their resources by focusing on customers who fit the qualification criteria. The selection process helps the airline companies to establish their focus in the market. The companies use the Recently, Frequently and Monetary model to select prospectus customers (Bijmolt et al. 2010). RFM is a strategy that companies use to determine the value of customers. The assumption of the valuation model is that a future customer has the same characteristics as the customer of th e past. The second step in the process involves the management of the acquired customers (Bijmolt et al. 2010). This step also involves a sub-process of allocating resources in relation to the establishment of effective marketing approaches. Media planners select suitable advertisement modes based on the analysis of the characteristics of the prospective customers. Airline companies might, therefore, use an integrated marketing approach to counter the challenge of diversity in the market. A higher proportion of people aged above 65 years and above find technology intimidating and involving. Majority of people aged below 45 years find technology appealing to their interests (Shakeel-Ul-Rehman Ibrahim 2011). Business people and executives of various corporations prefer direct inquiry because other processes consumes a lot of time. Correspondingly, the consumer management process follows a successful analysis of the characteristics of prospects consumers (Posavac 2012). Other steps involve cus tomer development and retention (Bijmolt et al. 2010). The processes aim at attracting loyalty to the services of airline companies by engaging in vigorous campaigns of the same. In general, airline companies engage consumers through a process that begins from a careful selection of the same and ends at retention. They also engage consumers through carefully planned advertisement techniques (Bijmolt et al. 2010). Consumer Decision-Making Process Making a decision involves engaging in a process that would help decide the right course of action in a situation with more than one alternative. Young (2010) people develop risk-benefit frameworks in most situations to analyze the options that are present. An individual would want to make decisions that impact positively on his or her life. The outcomes of situations depend on the nature of decisions that individuals make. Decision-making processes also apply in situations where consumers need to choose between products and services. The airline industry has several companies that offer same or similar services. The theories that explain decision-making processes include cognitive dissonance, consistency theory, commitment, certainty effect, choice-supportive bias, confirmation bias, the scarcity principle, and reasoned action theory (Young 2010). Cognitive dissonance theory maintains that individuals always seek to minimize the extent of discomfort in contradicting situations (Young 2010). According to the theory, individuals experience discomfort due to the conflicting ideas in their minds (Cooper 2007). It explains that an individual in such a situation is likely to take the easy option of eliminating the source of discomfort (Young 2010). Cognitive dissonance affects how consumers process information in relation to various products and services. Individuals will always have ideas that conflict with their pre-conceived perceptions about certain companies. The diversity in ideas results from the emerging trends, the shifting needs and social circles (Young 2010). In social circles, everyone tends to defend what they believe to avoid the uncomfortable situations. For instance, an individual may experience cognitive dissonance when he receives a message that contradicts the value that he attaches to an airline company (Cooper 2007). A friend may try to convince him that there is another company that offers better services than the company he has been using. Marketers may use the concepts of this theory to present consistent information when engaging consumers. Consistency theory asserts that lack of constancy in the relationship between beliefs and actions evoke uncomfortable feelings in individuals (Little-John Foss 2008). It affirms that people wish to engage in acts that are consistent with their belief and cultural system. The discordance in the relationship between the belief system and actions evoke uncomfortable feelings. An individual in such a circumstance is likely to change the belief and value system to accommodate the emerging trends. Human beings have predetermined belief and value systems that they use to evaluate decisions before making them. In other words, the choice that people make should always be consistent with what they perceive as right or wrong (Little-John Foss 2008). Any slight variation between the belief system and the course of action evokes the feelings of discomfort in individuals. The consistency theory explains why some people are particular about the flight attendants who serve them in an airplane. The theory may not find much application in customer engagement compared to cognitive dissonance theory. Most processes engaged in the provision of airline services do not contradict the belief systems of individuals. The theory of certainty result discusses how probabilities of outcomes influence the behavior of individuals (Secchi 2011). The theory maintains that people tend to develop less interest in situations which present low probability outcome of the desired results (Loughran et al. 2012). Similarly, an individual will develop more interest in a situation if the probability of achieving the desired results is high (Secchi 2011). Individuals make choices on the basis of the probability of the outcome of the situation. They perceive outcomes based on their past experiences or the experiences of other people. For instance, engaging consumers through social media provides a platform that consumers may use to present their feedbacks. Some of the feedbacks can be critical of a company’s operations. If so many people acknowledge the efficiency in operation of an airline company, then people are more to likely seek the same services. In other words, people want to get a hint of what would happen if they were to make a particular decision. The behaviour pattern is driven by the need to eliminate the negative feelings that come from disappointments. People have various expectations regarding how they want the outcomes of various situations to become (Loughran et al. 2012). Most airline companies use influential personalities in advertisements to create an impression of better past experiences. The personalities convince potential consumers that the services of the company were better. The aim of the advertisements is to influence consumers to develop positive opinions regarding the services of the company. Maximization utility theory predicts that human beings behave as if they were economists and were business-minded. It asserts that an individual is likely to make a choice of a product that offers the greatest value for the least amount of money possible (Kahneman Thaler 2006). In extreme circumstances, the costs of products and services are more likely to influence the purchasing behaviour of individuals even if the quality is compromised. Inadequate resources influence this type of a decision-making process (Kahneman Thaler 2006). In normal circumstances, people will want high-quality result for fewer inputs. It explains why people like to bargain when purchasing products and services. In the airline industry, people tend to go for companies that offer quality services at affordable rates. It can be argued that the understanding of this theory also affects the pricing strategies of various airline companies (Kahneman Thaler 2006). For instance, most airline companies have differ ent classes of passengers; first class, second class and third class. The first-class passengers can afford high charges for the highest quality of service. The low-class passengers are the people who wish to use airline services, but are discouraged by the high charges. Choice-supportive bias theory explains that most people twist their memories to convince the present result that the decisions they made were the best (Ross 2009). The theory asserts that most people manipulate their memories to prevent the feelings of disappointment that the result presents. The case happens in situations where an individual has to take an early stand in the matter that involves multiple options. Individuals will always want to remember less negative things about situations that happened (Ross, 2009). In a business environment, the choice –supportive bias theory occurs for consumers who have used a particular product or service for a long time. Such consumers will always talk negatively about other products or services. It is an advanced level of brand loyalty that results from effective consumer engagement strategies. Various companies understand that subjecting prospective customers through effective and consistent consumer engagement sessions influences th e way they perceive the services. Consumers would continue to stick even if their services were relatively poor compared other companies (Ross, 2009). The principle of scarcity affirms that individuals are more likely to go for services and products that are scarce in the market, especially if the demand is high. Individuals tend to associate scarcity of products and services with quality. The notion is that the services or products could be scarce because several people went for them (Siebert 2008). If many people went for them then, they must have been impressive. The abundant supply of a particular service or product may create the impression that it is less desired by people (Siebert 2008). Most people analyze situations to ascertain the behaviours of others towards various products or services (Siebert 2008). The aim is to avoid first-hand experience of disappointing results. Airline companies understand this principle and use it to increase the consumption of their services. They create a demand crisis then offer limited opportunities for utilization of their services. The strategy encourages people to book flights in advance to avoid a last minute rush. The reasoned action theory explains that individuals engage in certain actions because they planned to do so (Tanachart Islam 2010). It also explains that the intention originates from his or her attitude towards that behavior (Tanachart Islam 2010). In this context, the intention serves as the basis for prediction of a behavior pattern. Beliefs and values influence the formation of attitudes regarding certain patterns of behavior (Smith Biddle 2008). Understanding people’s beliefs system is important in understanding their attitudes. Understanding attitudes helps in predicting what an individual plans to do in a circumstance. An individual is more likely to engage in a particular action if he or she believes that it is the right thing to do in the circumstance. What other people think of the choice plays a central role in influencing the actions of the individual. The theory recognizes that there are factors that limit the influence of people’s intentions towards en gaging in a particular behavior (Smith Biddle 2008). For instance, the airline companies are aware that many people wish to use their services but are incapacitated by the lack of financial resources. The understanding has compelled the airline companies to develop different classes of service; high class, middle class and the low class. Cognitive dissonance theory, maximization utility, the reasoned action and the theory of certainty provide realistic concepts for predicting the behavior of consumers. Companies are more likely to use them in designing and implementing consumer engagement strategies. Conclusion Companies in the airline industry engage consumers through an integrated marketing approach. The approach is influenced by the diversified nature of the market. The engagement process begins from the selection stage and ends at retention of customers. There are various theories that explain how consumers make decisions regarding products or services. Such theories include cognitive dissonance, consistency theory, commitment, certainty effect, choice-supportive bias, confirmation bias, the scarcity principle, and reasoned action theory. References Ashworth, G. J., Kavaratzis, M., (2010). Towards effective place brand management: branding European cities and regions. Internet Resource. Bijmolt, T., Leeflang, P., Block, F and Eisenbesiss M., (2010). Analytics for Customer Engagement, Journal of Service Research, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 341-356. Bowden, J., (2009). ‘Customer Engagement: A Framework for Assessing Customer-Brand Relationships: The Case of the Restaurant Industry’, Journal Of Hospitality Marketing Management, Vol. 18, No. 6, pp. 574-596, COOPER, J., (2007). Cognitive dissonance fifty years of a classic theory. Los Angeles, SAGE. Kahneman, D. Thaler, R.H., (2006). â€Å"Anomalies: Utility Maximization and Experienced Utility†, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 221-234. Littlejohn, S. W., Foss, K. A. (2008). Theories of human communication. Australia, Thomson Wadsworth. Loughran, T. A., Pogarsky, G., Piquero, A. R., Paternoster, R., (2012). Re-Examining the Functional Form of the Certainty Effect in Deterrence Theory. JQ: Justice Quarterly, Vol. 29, No.5, pp. 712-741. Posavac, S. S., (2012). Cracking the code: leveraging consumer psychology to drive profitability. Armonk, N.Y., M.E. Sharpe. ROSS, B. H., (2009). Advances in research and theory. Amsterdam, Elsevier. Secchi, D. (2011). Extendable rationality understanding decision making in organizations. New York, Springer. Shakeel-Ul-Rehman Ibrahim, M.S.. (2011). â€Å"Integrated Marketing Communication and Promotion†, Researchers World, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 187-191. Siebert, H., (2008). Economics of the environment: theory and policy. London, Springer. Smith, A. L., Biddle, S., (2008). Youth physical activity and sedentary behavior: challenges and solutions. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics. Tanachart R., Islam, S.N., (2010). Designing an Efficient Management System: Modelling of Convergence Factors Exemplified by the Case of Japanese Businesses in Thailand. Heidelberg, Physica. Young â€Å"Sally†, K 2011, ‘Application of the Cognitive Dissonance Theory to the Service Industry’, Services Marketing Quarterly, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 96-112. How to cite Airline Consumer Engagement Marketing Essay, Essays

Harry Lavender free essay sample

Tough, concise PI – â€Å"I leapt airborne into space† †¢4) Cynical and hyperbolic PI – â€Å"as long as I didn’t start haemorrhaging from the eyeballs, things would be all right! †¢Opening segment of novel is subverts the conventions of the genre – â€Å"I woke up feeling like death. The blonde slept on. Thank god the black suit was hanging in the wardrobe†. By using no specific gender, the reader is coaxed into assuming the protagonist is a male, like all conventional hard boiled detectives. This is intentional, with Day questioning traditional constructions and perceptions of gender roles both within and outside the conventions of the genre. †¢Claudia serves as a feminist ideal, whilst not preaching or acting as a politically correct prototype. We become aware of Claudia’s sexuality and vulnerability through her relationship with Steve. †¢The pop culture genre allows Day to physically map the city of Sydney. Day exposes the corruption of the city as a direct contrast to rural areas, where incidentally Claudia’s children happily reside †¢Claudia unveils Sydney from an insider’s perspective, yet endows it with a sense of the exotic that only outsiders usually perceive. We will write a custom essay sample on Harry Lavender or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page †¢This text provides a new way of examining ourselves, our city and the values that dominate our ideology Christy Hong – Is The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender a typical detective genre? †¢A novel of literary merit that subverts the male dominated detective genre †¢Day appropriates the traditionally male dominated genre of the hard boiled detective whilst obeying its conventions †¢The culprit of the novel is a major character and kills for personal, sycophantic reasons †¢Sex love. Claudia is too cynical to fall in love, but is not averse to carnal pleasure, as her liaison with Steve Angell demonstrates. †¢Crimes are explained rationally – no room for fantasy, and banal situations are avoided †¢Day subverts the genre – Claudia is tougher than the toughest traditional male detective and not at all feminine. †¢Claudia – cynic, quick wit (â€Å"Here’s $50. Give the bastards a run for my money†), tempered, assertive, self-reliant, sexually unrestricted, hard drinking and tough – characteristic of Phillip Marlowe, the quintessential male detective †¢Claudia’s painful past (â€Å"a girl too tall for her age†), unhappy childhood (father abandoned family) and adulthood (divorce, and two children living with her ex Greg). This humanity presented Claudia as a good feminine model. Day has not created an extreme, politically-correct feminist hero, but a realistic feminist one, suitable for today’s society. Claudia does not preach about equality of opportunity, she practices it. †¢Carol Rawlins highlights the novel’s feminist perspective, as she is also tough, intelligent, aware, rational, unsentimental and honest, and adds depth to the characterisation of Claudia. †¢Sydney is depicted as the heartbeat of crime and pleasure, a place of corruption, violence and evil; that contrasts well with the portrayal of the country as a place of innocence, goodness and Utopian paradise.

Race to College free essay sample

â€Å"Racer ready? Racer go when ready.† As I stand at the top of the hill, waiting behind the starting gate, I stare blankly at the crowd that’s watching, cheering, and screaming back at me. One. I gather my thoughts, and stare down the monstrous course ahead of me. Two. I let the adrenaline rush through my veins. I hype myself up as I slam my skis down one foot after the other. Three. I’m off. As I launch myself down the hill, I see the first. I have a mere two to three seconds to observe the conditions around me. Is the snow rutted? Is the snow icy? Is the snow perfect? I have seconds to prepare myself for the challenge. I pass the first gate. Not perfectly or smoothly, but I still got through it. The second, the third, and the fourth gates pass and I’m headed for the next. We will write a custom essay sample on Race to College or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I’m not prepared. The grass shows its evil green blades through the snow and grabs onto the bottom of my skis. I slow down and fall face first into the snow. What just happened? What do I do? I check to see if I’m alright. None of my skis fell off and no bones are broken. I can still finish this race. I jump to my feet and start climbing back up to the gate I missed. As I go around it, I can see the finish line. I see my coach cheering me on; I hear my family screaming my name, and I watch my teammates at the bottom. Faster, I think. I need to finish this race. Determination shoots through me and I get a burst of energy. I go faster and faster and soon enough, I finished. In those 25-30 seconds of racing down the hill, I observe and prepare. I fall down, examine my conditions, and get back up again. I climb back up the hill, and I think of the people I am making proud. When I ski, I am faced with challenges and I need to assess what they are and how I can fix or avoi d them. When I fail, I do not give up, and I do not quit. Instead, I get back up and try harder. And college is a lot like skiing.

Giving Directions in Chinese

Giving Directions in Chinese Some of the most important vocabulary to prepare before going to a Mandarin-speaking country is phrases and words for asking directions. Especially when traveling through a Mandarin-speaking country, you will need to be able to ask for and understand directions. Here is a quick crash-course in understanding directions in Chinese including a vocabulary list and sample practice dialogues. This Mandarin Chinese lesson comes complete with audio files to help you with your pronunciation.  Audio files are marked with ââ€" º Turn è ½â€° (traditional form) / è ½ ¬ (simplified form) ââ€" º zhuÇŽn: turnÃ¥ ¾â‚¬ ââ€" ºwng:  toward Right / Left / Straight Ã¥  ³Ã‚  Ã¢â€" ºyà ²u: rightÃ¥ · ¦ ââ€" ºzuÇ’: leftÃ¥ ¾â‚¬Ã¥  ³Ã¨ ½â€° / Ã¥ ¾â‚¬Ã¥  ³Ã¨ ½ ¬Ã‚  Ã¢â€" ºwng yà ²u zhun: turn rightÃ¥ ¾â‚¬Ã¥ · ¦Ã¨ ½â€° / Ã¥ ¾â‚¬Ã¥ · ¦Ã‚  Ã¨ ½ ¬ ââ€" ºwng zuÇ’ zhun: turn left ä ¸â‚¬Ã§â€º ´ ââ€" ºyÄ « zhà ­: straight aheadç› ´ ââ€" ºzhà ­: continuouslyä ¸â‚¬Ã§â€º ´Ã¨ µ ° ââ€" ºyÄ « zhà ­ zÇ’u: go straight aheadç› ´Ã¨ µ ° ââ€" ºzhà ­ zÇ’u: go straight ahead Status åˆ ° ââ€" ºdo: go to / reachedÃ¥ ¿ «Ã¥Ë† °Ã¤ ºâ€  ââ€" ºkui do le: almost arrivedÃ¥ Å" ââ€" ºtà ­ng: stopåˆ °Ã¤ ºâ€  ââ€" ºdo le: have arrivedÃ¥ ¥ ½ ââ€" ºhÇŽo: okayÃ¥ ¥ ½Ã§Å¡â€ž ââ€" ºhÇŽo de: okay Landmarks ç ´â€¦Ã§ ¶  Ã§â€¡Ë† / ç º ¢Ã§ » ¿Ã§  ¯ ââ€" ºhà ³ng lÇÅ" dÄ“ng: traffic lightè · ¯Ã¥  £ ââ€" ºlà ¹ kÇ’u: intersectionå… ¬Ã¥Å"’ / å… ¬Ã¥â€º ­ ââ€" ºgÃ… ng yun: public parkç  «Ã¨ »Å Ã§ «â„¢ / ç  «Ã¨ ½ ¦Ã§ «â„¢Ã‚  Ã¢â€" ºhuÇ’ chÄ“ zhn: train stationè »Å Ã§ «â„¢ / è ½ ¦Ã§ «â„¢ ââ€" ºchÄ“ zhn: bus stationæâ€"…é ¤ ¨ ââ€" ºlÇš guÇŽn: hotel Example Dialogue 1 è «â€¹Ã¥â€¢ Ã¤ ½  Ã§Å¸ ¥Ã© â€œÃ§  «Ã¨ »Å Ã§ «â„¢Ã¥Å" ¨Ã¥â€œ ªÃ¥â€¦â€™(traditional form)è ¯ ·Ã©â€" ®Ã¤ ½  Ã§Å¸ ¥Ã© â€œÃ§  «Ã¨ ½ ¦Ã§ «â„¢Ã¥Å" ¨Ã¥â€œ ªÃ¥â€ž ¿(simplified form)QÇ ng wà ¨n, nÇ  zhÄ « do huÇ’ chÄ“ zhn  zi nÇŽer?Excuse me, do you know where the train station is? çŸ ¥Ã© â€œÃ£â‚¬â€šÃ¤ ¸â‚¬Ã§â€º ´Ã¨ µ °Ã¥Ë† °Ã¤ ºâ€ Ã¨ · ¯Ã¥  £Ã¥ ¾â‚¬Ã¥  ³Ã¨ ½â€°Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ§â€º ´Ã¨ µ °Ã§ ¶â€œÃ© Å½Ã¥â€¦ ¬Ã¥Å"’ç„ ¶Ã¥ ¾Å'Ã¥ ¾â‚¬Ã¥ · ¦Ã¨ ½â€°Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ§  «Ã¨ »Å Ã§ «â„¢Ã¥ ° ±Ã¥Å" ¨Ã©â€š £Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ§Å¸ ¥Ã© â€œÃ£â‚¬â€šÃ¤ ¸â‚¬Ã§â€º ´Ã¨ µ °Ã¥Ë† °Ã¤ ºâ€ Ã¨ · ¯Ã¥  £Ã¥ ¾â‚¬Ã¥  ³Ã¨ ½ ¬Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ§â€º ´Ã¨ µ °Ã§ » Ã¨ ¿â€¡Ã¥â€¦ ¬Ã¥â€º ­Ã§â€ž ¶Ã¥ Å½Ã¥ ¾â‚¬Ã¥ · ¦Ã¨ ½ ¬Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ§  «Ã¨ ½ ¦Ã§ «â„¢Ã¥ ° ±Ã¥Å" ¨Ã©â€š £Ã£â‚¬â€šZhÄ « do. YÄ « zhà ­ zÇ’u, do le là ¹ kÇ’u wÇŽng yà ²u zhuÇŽn. Zhà ­ zÇ’u jÄ «ng guà ² gÃ… ng yun, rn hà ²u wÇŽng zuÇ’ zhuÇŽn. HuÇ’ chÄ“ zhn jià ¹ zi n.I know. Go straight and turn right at the junction. Go straight through the park and turn left. The train station is right there. Example Dialogue 2 我å · ²Ã§ ¶â€œÃ¥Å" ¨Ã¦â€"…é ¤ ¨Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ¤ ½  Ã¥Å" ¨Ã¥â€œ ªÃ¨ £ ¡Ã¥â€¢Å Ã¦Ë†â€˜Ã¥ · ²Ã§ » Ã¥Å" ¨Ã¦â€"…é ¦â€ Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ¤ ½  Ã¥Å" ¨Ã¥â€œ ªÃ©â€¡Å'å•ŠWÇ’ yÇ  jÄ «ng zi lÇš guÇŽn. NÇ  zi nÇŽ lÇ  a?Im already at the hotel. Where are you? 我åÅ" ¨Ã§ ´â€¦Ã§ ¶  Ã§â€¡Ë†Ã¥ Å"ä ºâ€ Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¤ ¹â€¦Ã¥ ¿ «Ã¨ ¦ Ã¥Ë† °Ã¤ ºâ€ Ã£â‚¬â€šÃ¦Ë†â€˜Ã¥Å" ¨Ã§ º ¢Ã§ » ¿Ã§  ¯Ã¥ Å"ä ºâ€ Ã¥ ¾Ë†Ã¤ ¹â€¦Ã¥ ¿ «Ã¨ ¦ Ã¥Ë† °Ã¤ ºâ€ Ã£â‚¬â€šWÇ’ zi hà ³ng lÇÅ" dÄ“ng tà ­ng le hÄ›n jiÇ”, kui yo do le.I have been waiting for the traffic light for a long time, almost there. Ã¥ ¥ ½Ã£â‚¬â€šHÇŽo.Okay.

When to Spell Out Numbers

When to Spell Out Numbers When to Spell Out Numbers When to Spell Out Numbers By Maeve Maddox Reader Pam points out a significant difference between technical writing and non-technical writing: On your 10 rules for numbers, rule #2 doesnt tell the whole story, especially for technical writers. Any numbers used with measurements (time, distance) must be expressed as figures in technical writing (8 months, 6-inch nails, 9 p.m.) With any kind of writing, context determines usage, and a style guide appropriate to the genre must be the writer’s final authority. Writing online, David A. McMurrey, author of Processes in Technical Writing (Macmillan 1988), has this to say about the use of numerals in technical writing: The main hurdle to overcome is to learn that in technical contexts, we use numerals in text, even ones below 10. In other words, we break the rules that are taught in regular writing courses and that are used in normal publishing and copyediting practice. Thats because in the technical and scientific context, we are vitally interested in numbers, statistical data, even if its a 2 or 5 or- yes- even a 0. He acknowledges the difficulty in defining the rules, and distinguishes between â€Å"important† and â€Å"unimportant† numbers. You should use numerals, not words, when the number is a key value, an exact measurement value, or both. For example, in the sentence Our computer backup system uses 4 mm tape the numeral is in order. He gives these examples in which the word is preferable to the numeral: There are four key elements that define a desktop publishing system. There are six data types in the C programming language. Like the general writer, the technical writer is advised against beginning a sentence with a numeral: write the number out or, better yet, rephrase the sentence so that it doesnt begin the sentence. McMurrey concludes his rules about the writing of numerals with a reminder of the importance of context: Apply these rules in specifically technical, scientific contexts only. Be sensitive to what the standard practices are in the context in which you are writing. Recommendations to spell or not to spell a number differ from style book to style book. Many, for example, advise spelling numbers 1-10 and using numerals for eleven and up. I don’t follow that rule because I don’t like the way 11 looks in a sentence. Here’s the Chicago Manual of Style’s General Rule about the use of numerals: In nontechnical contexts, the following are spelled out: whole numbers from one through one hundred, round numbers, and any number beginning a sentence. For other numbers, numerals are used. The CMOS then goes on to treat the numerous exceptions and special cases at length. Bottom line: When it comes to writing numbers as numerals or as words, consider context, and equip yourself with an appropriate style book for the work at hand. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Business Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartHow to Pronounce MobileSupervise vs. Monitor

Exploratory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Exploratory - Essay Example Of course, it would be a misplaced conception to assume that these games are the same. What are the differences between the major gaming platforms, for instance the Wii and Playstation3? With the overwhelming market expansion, the most important question that lingers in many minds of course would be what exactly is driving the gaming console industry to its new levels of success witnessed in the recent past? I sought to find out by engaging merchandisers on one on one interviews, conducting a library research and consulting articles posted over the internet. The first thing I did to find information on this particular subject was to set up an interview with Mr. Jimmy Jonson, a Caltech undergraduate working on Kinect home applications based in Washington. â€Å"How do I get to know the best gaming platform that best suites me?† I asked. â€Å"There are numerous different types of computer gaming systems available for sale in the market currently and so choosing the right one that suit ones needs can indeed be a difficult process. As such, a potential buyer with interest should first outline the goals to be met before actually making the final decision to purchase.    Some of these goals include setting a price ceiling, the possibility of having the device playable to two or more people, ability to be able to play online, and the rating in the consumer market so as to be moving with the current technology, as opposed to using obsolete systems† (Jimmy Jonson, part 1). With major preferable gaming consoles to select and abundance of video games powered by different industries, it would be an experience of a kind should one decide to enter the world of video or computer gaming. The price tags, game genres, as well as the game consoles, there are simply so many options that one has to consider before officially launching a bid to secure one. And so to avoid the baggage of focusing on quite a huge number of the gaming

E Human Resource Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

E Human Resource - Essay Example E Human Resource is referred to the management, regulation and use of electronic processes and information relating to human resource and the employment laws. It is an extremely broad term and has been continuously evolving in its field. With the emerging trends like globalization, customer orientation, and specialization, companies have been especially emphasising on recruitments, evolution and sustainment of qualified employees. Companies have gained extensive awareness about the fact that human resources have been gradually transforming from being a cost factor to a success factor. They have also realized that a shrinking population and a shrinking workforce would be the most crucial crisis in the years to come. Many of the activities of the human resource departments can be delegated to the employees using the modern system f information and technology. Electronic Human Resource Management (e-HRM) is a tool which is web based and which helps in automating and supporting the human resource processes. Implementing e-HRM would provide the opportunity to delegate the process of data entry to employees themselves. Moreover it facilitates the use of human resource marketplaces (e-Recruitment) and allows greater amount of self service to employees (Biesalski, n.d., p.1). It is the outcome of the combination of various technologies. Firstly the growing importance of the knowledge factor in organizations has been the driving force behind the evolution of IT. Information systems like e-HRM that provides information allows companies to gain comprehensive and consistent concept for knowledge management. It is important to explain the concept of knowledge management in this regard. Knowledge management is considered to be a collection of various techniques. Using this large variety of techniques, organizations are able to acquire knowledge, organize the knowledge and finally make the knowledge transparent. Intelligent data analysis and e-HRM combined helps to disburden the employees of the human resource

Marketing plan Essay Example for Free

Marketing plan Essay This Report presents the strategic Market entry plan of Victoria Secret in Singapore. Victoria Secret is an American brand owned by Limited Brands Company with retail of Lingerie, Women’s Wear and beauty products with annual revenue of USD 8. 7 billion and market share of over 50 percent in North America. It was launched in 1970 by Roy Raymond who started this chain when he had nightmare experience while showing Lingerie for his Wife. He believed that â€Å"Underwear† is not just an Innerwear but can be converted into a Fashion product by tuning in proper colours, styles and patterns and make a product a sex symbol. As it caters to large market in its home country it has been strongly based but now for better growth and more returns Victoria secret has started International expansion. It is one of the fastest growing Lingerie products under Limited Brands Company Umbrella and contributing more than 40% of profits. 1000 number of Stores give strong presence to Victoria Secret and Online shopping ads to the charm. Victoria Secret invests heavily on Advertising with USD 65 Million average for year. The brand symbolizes romance, class, love, desire and romantic moments. They marketed these products by show casing their products with angel looking models breaking ice of set standards of modelling. It is one of the most watched and appreciated Fashion Shows of the world and features world’s best Supermodel as there showstopper creating a feel of sensation in female gender. The brand also took lines from Dove Advertisements by redefining beauty and showing the product users with boosted confidence and sexier looks. The company has done horizontal integration by expanding product range from Lingerie products only to cosmetics, women wear and cosmetics. The appealing brand image gave quick returns on the new product range and helping Victoria Secret in capturing new markets at higher pace. Also what is helping Victoria Secret is its excellent supply chain and IT collaboration which have helped in cutting down overheads. As companies are looking for growth and stability the expansion into Asian market is unavoidable so is for Victoria secret. Singapore being expanding and booming economy can be next destination for Victoria Secret. Singapore also has high fashion conscious population with high income. Singapore being financial hub and supply chain hub is residence for people who have highest per capita expenditure on luxury brands in all segments. In Asia, Singapore boosts for being top market for growing luxury brands. Country also boosts strong tourism and having largest malls in South east Asia helps cater to being selected as best destination in Asia for expansion. Being business friendly government adds to positive of Singapore. Business environment Factors Demography Population rose 2. 5% in 2012. Total population was 5. 4 Million. The Demography of Singapore consists of mix of Chinese, Indians and Malays which account for 74 %, 9 %, and 13% respectively with maximum population between 20-64. Singapore also is world tourist attractor and counts for approx 12 million tourists a year. Total female population is approx 50% and this results in large market size. Female also play dominant role in the society as they also earn. This results in freedom of females and opportunity for them to satisfy their needs. Political Stability Singapore the synonym for freedom to do business was ranked in top 10 best countries to start business. It takes 3 Days on average to start business in Singapore and this is result of stable political System in the country. It has been ranked among top countries for business environment for consecutive 14 years setting benchmark. Singapore is worlds one of the least corrupt country in the world. It ranks 1’st in corruptions perception Index, 2013. The political Stability in the country has provided the most stable economy in South East Asia. Economy The Economy of Singapore is strong with 5. 1% in 3’rd of 2013. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Singapore was worth 274. 70 billion US dollars in 2012. The Expected Net GDP for Singapore is expected to beat market trends and grow more positively in 4’th quarter. The Economy is supported by FDI, skilled labour and fully planned and excellent Infrastructure. The Rising economy has lead to rising per capita income. With the current economic scenario Singapore will attract more youth and global players which will bring more fashion conscious society which will indeed help growth of luxury segment. Industry With rising brand conscious population and trending international brands today brand is equally important for innerwear as is for outer wear. This was proved by growth of this segment industry even during depression of 2008. The rising economies of scale and large production numbers has led to reduced price of product which has increased demand and purchasing capacity. The following factors have contributed largely for growth of this industry: 1) E-Commerce: With rising e-commerce trend and more sophisticated players coming in picture the market has been taken by storm by these players. The customers have not fallen but E-commerce has attracted more customers because of easy access and getting products sitting home. Singapore boosts well E-commerce network with many local players in market along with international Players. The E-commerce has led to fall in prices of product as it involves lesser overhead costs. Association with global E-Commerce players has helped Victoria Secrets attain marvel in other countries and can do the same in Singapore also. 2) Sophisticated Supply chain: With rising use of Sophisticated IT tools for inventory planning, forecasting, Designing and scheduling has helped to reduce costs and development of industry in total. Many Global Brands with innovation in Supply chain have set example for the world. Singapore boosts excellent supply chain network and being Supply chain Hub is excellent destination. Market Analysis Singapore Market size Increase in Per capita income has led to entry to Luxury and premium brands coming in Singapore. The Size of market is expanding and will have higher success rate in coming years. The Table Below shows the growth of Women’s Inner-ware in Singapore. Source: Euro monitor International from trade associations, trade press, company research, trade interviews, trade sources a) Target Females in Age group of 18-50 which means 200,000 females. Middle and Upper Class Tourists Young and Brand Conscious Generation. Competition Triumph , Aerie , Calvin Kline , Armani , Sorella , Etam , La Perla Adore-Me offers direct-to-consumer lingerie at about half of Victorias Secret prices Intimint asks customers to take a quiz and sends them new lingerie selections every month, based on their preferences True ; Co. sends women five bras a month, giving them the option of keeping what they like and sending back what they dont. Low Price and high variety local Players who have well established network in Singapore c) Porters 5 Forces 1) Supplier Power: LOW, As Victoria Secret has Production facilities in Thailand and India the supplier Power is very low. Buyer Power: HIGH, As Singapore already has high end Lingerie brands in its vicinity the Customers have wider options and can shift their preferences. The market has both lower prices segment and more premium segment. 3) Competitive Rivalry: HIGH, As Singapore already houses Premium Luxury lingerie brands who have worldwide recognition, Victoria Secret has high competition. 4) Threat of substitution: HIGH, The price range plays critical role as Victoria Secret has Competition with lower, same and high price range Products. 5) Threat of New Entry: LOW, Being well established worldwide name has its own fan following which attracts masses. New entries will take time to create impact and in that mean Time Victoria secret can come up with Contingency plan. Landscape a) Independent Women: Singapore being modern and economically sound has Independent women who earn well and spend well. This has led to brand conscious population b) Internet Penetration and Media sensitivity: Singaporeans are always connected to Internet. This has led to Strong E-commerce market here. The Media plays important role as Singaporeans try new western brands more frequently and invest heavily in it if the like the brand . Population Mix: Being strong economy Singapore has attracted  nationalities from various countries which have brought in sense of fashion, demand for authentic classy items. This Demand is of high end products. d) Location: With production plants in nearby countries such as Thailand and India and Strong Supply chain hubs the Location is also ideal. Singapore being small can’t accommodate Production facility so being centre for supply chain helps. ENTRY IN SINGAPORE: MARKET FEASIBILITY STUDY Design Victoria Secret is renowned for its strong designing team which comprise mixture of people around the world to understand each geographic trend. Once they understand the trends they create new trends in the market. It defines Sexiness as youthful, mature, energetic, adorable and intimate. The competitors have targeted another value like Triumph emphasises on Simplicity. Victoria Secret will benefit from point that Singapore is mix of many. The Design Teams have large market size which they can target with larger variety. Bold and Loud Brand Promotion This brand brings sense of comfort and pride among women. This is reflected in there promotion activities. The brand highlights the beauty of every individual and helps concealing imperfections with its unique designs. It is most bought product by models. Their Catalogues feature world’s hottest and sexist women in the world. Singaporeans are vivid about Fashion and Luxury products. With Rising Per capita income and proper promotion by hiring trending models of Singapore Victoria Secret can target masses. The Footfall in malls is one of the highest in Asia which can contribute to high sales if located at proper places. Rapid Growth of High-end Female Market Women are booming rapidly in Singapore who are either in White collar jobs, Leaders, Elites, working in Multinationals, entrepreneurs etc. These women have decent jobs, High disposable income and strong purchasing power. Maximum percentage of Women are highly educated. They are open and eager to accept and use trendy and fashionable Products with good quality. They Care about their Lifestyles, Health and bodies. This is supported by fact that Singapore has low obesity Rate of 7. 3 % in females and ranks much below America where obesity is 35. 5% in females. As women consider themselves independent and delicate it is highly possible for them to spend a remarkable amount of income on underwear and branded lingerie for self rewards. This will help Victoria Secret to enter the market easily and reap Benefits of growing and educated economy. Price Barriers and Distribution Channels Normal bra Ranges from 40-80 USD in US which reduces to almost half during sales. Singapore can also cater to demand with same or lesser Price as there are production facilities in India and Thailand. This will help in taming local players who play games of lower prices. Price would not be a Barrier for Victoria Secret to enter into Singapore. Having strong supply chain network with both these countries and being placed near the demand can be met. The Retail Distribution channels are strong and can be built easily in Singapore owing to small country size and Strong local infrastructure. Being Business friendly environment will help Victoria Secret to Establish Strong Distribution channels in Shorter Periods. Overview Retail market in Singapore is up by 3. 3% in August 2013 is back on track after falling slightly. Total number of Retailers in Singapore is more than 30000 with less than 1% for Lingerie Products. The Scope of market is high. Singapore is heavily sustained on Imports from US, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia. Market Challenges and Opportunities Singapore has tightened foreign nationals working in labour market and this has led to increase in labour markets. The Rentals have gone for toss and are very high. The overheads cost the most for setting up business in Singapore. Being business friendly country the market attracts large number of players who provide cheap products, copied items from various world renowned brands. With challenges are opportunities also, being supply chain hub the country can act as stepping stone to enter bigger markets like of china. The Strong judiciary System and quick decision making helps to curb challenges faced such as intellectual copyrights and those related to design copying. SETTING UP RETAIL OUTLET IN SINGAPORE 1) Documents Required for Registration The following documents/information is required for registering a Singapore branch office: a) A certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the foreign company. b) A certified copy of Memorandum and Articles (MAA) of the foreign company. c) Particulars of the directors of the foreign company. A memorandum of appointment and details of at least two persons resident in Singapore who will act as the agents for the Singapore branch office. e) A memorandum executed by or on behalf of the foreign company stating the powers of the local agents. f) Details of the registered office address in Singapore 2) Registration Procedure and Timeline The professional firm hired to handle the branch office registration will take care of all the necessary registration formalities. No physical visit of company executives is required from headquarters. The registration process consists of two basic steps: 1) Name approval 2) Entity registration. The name for the Singapore branch must be the same as that of the parent company. It will generally be approved unless it is identical to any existing company name or is vulgar in nature. Assuming necessary document are ready and there are no delays in the name approval process, registration of a Singapore branch can be completed in 1-2 days. The company registrar will send an email notification confirming the registration of the Singapore branch 3) Retail Outlets – Key Facts and Requirements a) Business Incorporation: Before one can begin operations, retail outlet must first be registered with the Singapore Companies Registrar, ACRA. This involves just two procedures that can be completed online within 24 hours. It is best if retail outlet offers unique products and services that are not currently available in Singapore’s colourful retail market. b) Approval for Premises: One must ensure that intended business premise is an approved location for retail business. To have retail outlet in a conservation building or private property, approval from the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) is required for making additions or alterations to the premises. A Fire Safety Certificate from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) must be obtained to verify that retail outlet meets all fire safety requirements. If outlet is located in a shopping mall, the landlord may expedite the necessary approvals for you. 4) Licenses for Setting Up a Retail Outlet in Singapore Depending on the nature of the merchandise or products offered by retail outlet, apply for the relevant licenses. If outlet offers products which can affect human health and safety, relevant licenses may be required. To Import and sell cosmetics products domestically, notify the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) before placing the product in the market via the HSA’s PRISM site. The fee for the notification of cosmetic products is pegged to each product’s risks and variation (colour etc). 5) Hiring Staff Starting a retail outlet or franchise means that one may need to bring on board employees from home country to oversee operations. If one intends to employ or transfer employees from home country, apply for the relevant Singapore employment pass on their behalf. The Singapore employment pass is however subject to approval by the manpower authority and must meet Singapore’s new productivity vision. 6) Taxation of Singapore Branch A Singapore branch is generally considered a non-resident company for tax purposes. Non-resident companies are not eligible for tax benefits resulting from available tax incentives and tax treaties meant for resident companies.   Annual Filing Requirements Section 373 of the Companies Act requires a foreign company to file its Annual Report and the audited accounts of its Singaporean branch office within two months of its Annual General Meeting, or within 7 months from the  end of its financial year whichever is earlier. Also, each Singapore branch is required to file a Tax Return on an annual basis. MARKET ENTRY STRATEGY Victoria secret can enter Singapore Market in following ways: American exporters use agents or distributors to serve the Singapore market and other markets in Southeast Asia. Singapore firms are aggressive when it comes to representing new products and usually respond enthusiastically to new opportunities. Singaporean companies are open to joint venture proposals. Price, quality and service are the main selling factors in Singapore. Prospective exporters to Singapore should be aware that competition is strong and that buyers expect good after-sales service. Selling techniques vary according to the industry and product, but are comparable to the techniques used in any other sophisticated market. It is also important for U. S. firms to visit their representatives and maintain a good relationship with them. Victoria Secret has expanded in Maximum countries with 100% ownership strategy expect countries where it is difficult or impossible. As Singapore is business friendly and Provides Option for 100% investment Victoria Secret should come as 100% subsidiary. RECOMMENDATIONS 1) Enter the Singapore with 100 % subsidiary 2) Launch all product range in one go from Innerwear, shoes, cosmetics and clothes. 3) Target Shopping Centres for their retail operations for better Visibility 4) Promotion using both international and domestic models for better appeal 5) Enter with 2-3 Stores in Initial Phase for better understanding and Expand Further after setting customer base 6) Join hands with E-Commerce industry both domestic and International to promote brand 7) Target not only Young but also Middle age and Old age 8) High Variety and Utmost quality to remain Core of Business in Singapore also 9) Customized Marketing using social media and Electronic Platform 10) Customized Designs for Singapore Customers as per their taste and like 11) Customer Engagement using print media 12) Virtual Trial Rooms and trained Women staff for guidance on shape and size

educational philosophy Essay examples -- essays research papers

My Philosophy on Classroom Discipline My philosophy regarding the best way to manage a classroom is through a model of ownership and preventative discipline. In order to accomplish this, the teacher needs to set the tone for the class during the first two weeks of school and never veer from it. During this time, the students will be made aware of my classroom rules as well as what I expect out of each of them on a daily basis. This will create an open atmosphere in which all members of the classroom are aware of their rights and responsibilities. When a child is given the responsibility to make his own decisions, he may not be ready to do it in an appropriate manner. A young adult (age 15-18), on the other hand, is much more willing and able to accept responsibility for himself. In other words, a young child generally needs more structure and guidance whereas a young adult yearns for the opportunity to be treated as an adult. It is very important for my classroom to be a place where individuals are comfortable expressing themselves verbally. I will make it clear to my students that the quality of their learning experience rests primarily on their shoulders. They will be responsible for reading the material, studying it, and synthesizing it regularly. My goal is to make my students want to do the work so that they can be involved in class discussions. I have no problem with trying to actively involve a student who is not participating. If he is not prepared, I will not ...

Computers Are an Important Part of Most People’s Everyday Lives Essay

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Nowadays, computers are an important part of most people’s everyday lives. This change has improved the way people live. By advances in the technology, especially invention of computers, human beings can do their works much easier than the past. They have improved the way of our lives (life) dramatically. The number of advantages that computers can bring us is very much so that its disadvantages can be ignored (Advantages of using computers are so much that disadvantages could be ignored). Cases such as save (saving) time or facilitate (facilitating) job and affairs and improve(ing) our communications are my reasons which will be illustrated in details as following. To begin with, by using of computers we can save the time (more time). In todays’ community, it is told that time is money. With the huge advancements in technology, people’s life has more (become) complicated as it seems. Each of us hasn’t enough time to do all works on time (No one has enough time to do everything on time). The advent of computers in our lives(life), we can save time and do a big part of works more efficiently. For example, instead of going to shop and buying cloths, I (you) can buy it from my home by going to its website and even I (you) have this chance to see which cloth is the top-selling. (or) As an another example, I(you) can choose my (you) favorite five-star restaurant or hotel a couple of weeks before my(your) trip to a certain place. hat shows that I can better manage my affairs(It shows that people can better manage their life and schedule everything). The last example is that I even can control my home or personal room by using of my workplace’s computer (The last example is that home or personal room can be controlled or and monitored by using of a computer in workplace). These examples show computers have revolutionized our lifestyle. The last but not the least, computers improved our social behaviors. For the very first time in the history, Social networks and websites have given this opportunity to people to find friends and know people they never met before. Nowadays, there are a few internet-organizations by which we can find our future wife. It shows that computers even affect our lives (life) emotionally. To take these into consideration, I can confidently draw the conclusion that there are a lot of advantages which computers donate us such as finding new friends or saving the valuable time so that its drawbacks can be ignored.

Diversity in The Workplace Essay

Diversity has several definitions. According to Schmidle (2010), workplace diversity is a people issue, focusing on the differences and similarities that people bring to an organization. It is usually defined broadly to include dimensions beyond those specified legally in equal opportunity and affirmative action non-discrimination statues. Diversity is often interpreted to include dimensions which influence the identities and perspective that people bring, such as profession, education, parental status and geographic location. If you think of diversity and all of the categories it can be a bit overwhelming. Schmidle did leave out several categories that include age, gender, income level, social status, political views, religion, and marital status. The word â€Å"diversity† has a kind of conflict ring to it but it doesn’t necessarily mean it is a bad thing. Diversity can in fact be a good thing. Schmidle later goes on to discuss some of this positive outcomes of diversity including one of the most important aspects of diversity which is learning new things from others. If we are around the same people everyday that are the exact same and do things the exact same it is hard for people to think outside the box. This paper will discuss positive and negative aspects of diversity focusing on age. It will also discuss other forms of diversity as well. When discussing age diversity it is important to discuss the different categories. Individuals over 60 are considered to be the Traditionalist generation. Individuals in their mid-40’s to 60’s are baby boomers. Those in their late 20’s to early 40’s are in the Generation X category and the most recent generation is Generation Y who are early 20’s or younger (Bell, Narz, 2007). Each one of these groups has been described as having certain characteristics. Traditionalists are defined as having a more traditional  working environment. They typically work 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 but are said to work late and weekends during busy periods if necessary. Traditionalist are also said to be hard working, loyal employees who respect authority. It is typical for wives of this category to have been home with the children while the male is or was at work bringing in the sole income. Traditionalists are retiring from the work force at a steady rate but still remain influential in today’s working environment (Bell, Narz 2007). Baby Boomers are the children of Traditionalists and also thought to have a strong work ethic. A difference between Boomers and Traditionalists is that they are dual-career couples with the women working as well as the men. Boomers are said to question authority and have also been labeled the â€Å"me generation† (Bell, Narz 2007). Generation Xers are the children of Baby Boomers. They have grown up watching their parents working to try and have it all and have been affected by their parents working hard and late hours. They are more family and parent oriented, optimistic and confident. They are said to not have a very strong loyalty to their employer and tend to work for someone that best fits their needs (Bell, Narz 2007). Generation Y are the children of Generation X and are also called the millennials, the internet generation, and also the Echo Boomers. This is due to their computer knowledge and also due to them being one of the largest generations since the Baby Boomers. At a young age they were introduced to different lifestyles and cultures in school. Being that they were exposed so young they tend to have more accustomed to different races, sexual orientation, and ethnic groups. Generation Ys like to be challenged and want flexibility and telecommuting options. They are also family oriented and want to work part time or time off when having children (Bell, Narz 2007). After describing these different groups it is clear there is a difference in attitude, respect, loyalty, goals, and work ethic. Putting all of these individuals in a working environment together would seem like a very bad idea. Schaefer 2010 States: The popular press paints a picture of generational divide at work. Mature workers (Traditionalists and Baby Boomers) are portrayed as loyal and hardworking, but dinosaurs when it comes to innovation and technology. Younger employees (Generation Xers and Millennials) are viewed as innovative, but disrespectful, lazy, and egocentric. Taken at face value, these stereotypes can lead to conflict and turmoil in the workplace. Schafer later describes that this is not the case and actually have more similarities than differences. She also informs the reader that age diversity is a value to our organizations and will be a â€Å"an important component in the divers workforce of the future.† (Schaefer, 2010). What are some benefits and who does it affect? One benefit is respect. By respecting others differences productivity increases which can affect an employee and an organization economically, financially and competitiveness (Green, 2008). By being more productive the company makes more money, which makes it possible for them to be competitive. When a company makes more money it is easier for them to give raises and bonuses. Also when a company has diversity in the workplace it can reduce lawsuits and increase marketing opportunities, recruitment, creativity, and business image (Green, 2008). Diversity is not only positive. It can be if you have the right group of people working but for the most part managers will find obstacles and challenges. When I was managing I always said it only takes one individual to destroy a group’s character and flow. This type of person looks for problems and gets the rest of the group members worked up. Something simple like a gossiper can ruin a group’s charisma. If a group member is racist or not accepting of particular member’s religious views or sex it can also affect the rest of the group (Green, 2008). This can lead to the loss of personnel and effect work production which in turn affects the employees and organization economically, financially, and its competitiveness. Also if an individual is not socially accepting of others it affects the companies view to the customers and shareholders. The chain fast food restaurant Chik-Fil-A has recently announced it does not support same sex marriage. The public exploded with outrage and tens of thousands of people vowed to never eat  there again. If a business employs an individual who voices their discrimination, prejudice, or stereotyping of a particular group the same outcome could happen if left unchecked. I think for the most part we could all agree the older generation was not as accepting to different races, religion, and sexual preference as much as the younger generation is. This certainly does not mean a younger person would not be discriminatory or that all Traditional workers are discriminatory but it is something managers need to understand. Business will typically have a note on discrimination in their by laws or employee hand books that any form whether it be for age, sex, ethnicity, sexual preference will not be tolerated. Colleges employing individuals will have this as well. An example of this is the University of California’s system wide non-discrimination statement: â€Å"It is the policy of the University not to engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with the University of California on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic Characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation citizenship, or status as a covered veteran. This policy applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, merit increase, salary, training, and development, demotion, and separation. † (University of California, 2011). Having non-discrimination statements like this allows employees, the public, shareholders, and other colleges or competition see discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated at the school. This can help the business have a positive image to all who read it. It is fairly uncommon to find a current business without some form of discrimination statement. The one from the University of California above is very descriptive and most that I have found do not go into this much detail. The University of California also has their Principles of Community: â€Å"We recognize, value, and affirm that social diversity contributes richness to the University community and enhances the quality of campus life for  individuals and groups. We take pride in our various achievements and we celebrate our differences.† (University of California, 2011). These types of guiding principles allows the community and any other readers know the University welcomes differences in individuals. If someone was having any reservations about attending this University or working for them this further assures the individual the University would welcome them no matter how different they are. Age diversity can also affect the way a person is treated. If you think about front-line management, mid-management, senior management you typically vision an older individual at the senior management level, a slightly younger individual at the mid-management level, and again a slightly younger individual at the front-line management level. Does age have to do with getting promoted? If I simply get older will I be promoted? Apparently it does not but it does have a huge impact on getting dismissed. If an employee is more than twenty percent younger than their superior they are more likely to be let go. If the employee is less than twenty percent younger than their superior they are less likely to be let go (Giuliano, Leonard, Leving, 2006). This study shows a superior is much more likely to dismiss someone who is considerable younger than them compared to if the employee is rather close in age. The workforce demographics are also shifting. It has been reported workers in the age group of 55-64 there will be 36.5 percent more compared to 2006. That is a drastic increase. What about those ages 65-74 and employees 75 and up? There is projected an 80 percent increase in both. This means people are working longer and past the retirement age (Schaefers, 2010). This also lets us know age diversity with the Generation X needs to be paid attention to by employers. Many feel we have a solid understanding of this group already while others feel we have been focusing on the Traditional workers more. Whatever the case it is pretty clear employers will need to be prepared to provide for this generation and others who follow. How do we do that? We need to understand how each generation feels and act. Mature workers value loyalty from and to the company. They often few their younger co-workers as not having enough company allegiance. Generation Xers are considered to be loyal to a team, boss, or project but  not necessarily a company. Baby Boomers and Traditional workers may view this as disrespectful and it could cause conflict (Schaefers, 2010). We need to understand the core values of generations. Many values are shared between generations. The Traditionalists raised the baby Boomers. The Baby Boomers raised the Generation X and the Generation X raised the Generation Y. It is easy to understand some of the traits of the older generations have been passed down especially family. It did take some negative steps at times. The traditionalist taught their children to work hard and be loyal. This had a kind of family second effect and the Generation X was affected by this. They are very family oriented and family always comes first. So an employer would need to know that if they plan on keeping Generation X employees around they need to allow them to have flexible schedules and they need to be able to take time off for family(Schaefers, 2010). We need to expand our communication approaches as well with the other groups coming up. The millennial generation is extremely technology oriented and it is very important in their lives. This generation does most of their business through electronics and technology as well as their personal life (Schaefers, 2010). One of the major characteristic an employer should have and should instill on all employees is to show respect to one another. A younger employee does not want to get disrespected for a possible new and out of the box idea just as an older employee doesn’t want to disrespected for doing something the same way for so long. We have all heard treat others like you would like to be treated and it holds a lot of weight when trying to get different generations to work in a cohesive and productive manner (Schaefers, 2010). Productivity is another topic employer and employees are concerned with. Some feel the older workers do not work as hard or are productive as younger employees. Some decide this is true whether or not it is and respond to it. Making comments or speaking to other employees and management about the lack of work is one form. The truth is studies have shown this is not necessarily true in all cases. A three year study was conducted with a hardware chain. One store was staffed with only employees over the age of fifty, while the other five stores were staffed with younger employees. The over fifty store was considerably more productive in major business aspects than two of the other five stores and was close to the other three in sales generated against labor costs (Robbins, Judge, 2011). This is an impressive study that can refute arguments that the older individuals are not worth employing. Employers carry mixed feelings about older worker. Some feel they are more loyal, have more experience, better judgment, and stronger work ethic. Others feel they lack in flexibility and are not accustomed to today’s technology. When these employers are looking for new hires it is common for the older applicants to be looked over and if they are hired they are usually the first to go when it comes to layoffs (Robbins, Judge, 2011). The opportunity to quit is also a concern for employers. Given that an older applicant has fewer employment opportunities it is thought some employers hire these individuals based on the idea that they will not leave once hired. The younger applicant is thought to have greater opportunity and a more willingness to change jobs or jump ship if the job is not what they expected. They younger generations are also thought to expect the employer and business to take care of there needs better than the older generations (Robbins, Judge, 2011). Some companies realize the value in older employees and actually make attempts to attract them. Boarders and the Vanguard Group have realized the value and have offered benefits and options that lure them in. Flexible hours and part time work are a couple of the things the older workers are looking for. Since most have at least thought about retirement if not already been retired, these groups of workers enjoy spending time with family and doing the things they enjoy. Most states have agreed that a mandatory retirement is not necessary the pool of aged workers has increased dramatically. No longer is it required for individuals to retire at the age of 70. This has led a lot of workers to reinter or continue to be a part of the labor force. Some have lost loved ones and wish to socialize which they would not be able to do if they simply stayed home. The opportunity gives  them a reason to try and make new friends and also gives them a reason to stay busy. Others may have not prepared or had the opportunity to save up a proper retirement with today’s increasing prices and declining economy (Robbins, Judge, 2011). The employee’s job satisfaction needs to be considered when it comes to the diversity of age in a workplace. Employees over the age of 60 who are non professional’s satisfaction rate decreases during their middle ages and increases as they get older. Professional employees who were over the age of 60 however continually increased as they aged (Robbins, Judge, 2011). One of the ongoing concerns with diversity is if they want it. As discussed there are many advantages of having diversity in the workplace. If a company wants to grow it is important to allow new and different people to bring different things to the office table. This is so true that some literature can be found on how to increase workplace diversity. The most important decision for a company is to decide what kind of diversity they need. It may not be the best idea for a company whose main product is A company that sells women’s jewelry may n References Robbins, S.P., & Judge, T.A. (2011). Organizational Behavior(14 ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. Notter, Jamie (2009). Generational Diversity in The Workplace. Retrieved 30 August 2012 from Convergence Media: http://www.multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/group/mature/Gen eral-Diversity-in-workplace.asp Schaefers, Kate (2010). Age Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from Careers Thought Leaders: http://www.careerthoughtleaders.com/blog/age-diversity-in-the- workplace/ Schmidle, Deborah and Woods, Susan (2010). Workplace Diversity. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from Catherwood Library: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/library/research/subjectguides/work placediversity.html University of California (2011). Managing Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved 27 August 2012 from University of California: http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/pubs/hrguidearticle/chapter- 12-managing-diversity-in-the-workplace/ Green, Kelli A. and Lopez, Mayra (2008). Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from University of Florida: http://www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hr022 Greenberg, Josh (2004). Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and Solutions. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from AlphaMeasure,Inc.: http://multiculturaladvantage.com/recruit/†¦/Diversity-in-th- Workplace-Benefits-Challenges-Solutions.asp Bell, Nancy Sutton and Narz, Marvin (2007). Meeting the Challenges of Age Diversity in the Workplace. Retrieved 31 August 2012 from New York State Society of CPAs: http://www.nysscpa.org/cpajournal/2007/207/essentials/p56.htm United States Department of Labor (2010). Employee Tenure Summary. Retrieved 4 September 2012 from United States Department of Labor: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/tenure.nr0.htm Giuliano, Laura, Leonard, Jonathan and Levine, David I. (2006). Do Race, Age, and Gender Differences Affect Manager-Employee Relations? An analysis of Quits, Dismissals, and Promotions at a Large Retail Firm. Retrieved 4 September 2012 from http://moya.bus.miami.edu/~lgiuliano/Quits.pdf

Psychological Profile of Kurtz essays

Psychological Profile of Kurtz essays Pyschological Profile of Kurtz- Heart of Darkness I have counseled Kurtz for several years now and have come to the conclusion that Kurtz is the most unique individual I have ever come across. He is an orator, writer, poet, musician, artist, politician, and chief agent of an ivory company. He is a genius in every profession. But living in this jungle has made Kurtz a lusty, violent devil. Kurtz is as dark as they come. He wins control of men through fear and adoration. He has the power to charm or frighten primitive people into compliance with his slightest wish and to exalt himself to the position of deity among them. He will do anything to obtain his precious ivory, steal, murder, plunder, and even convince the natives he is a god to get it. Kurtz has no shame. He has stakes outside his house with drying black heads on them. Kurtz has vented his hatred of theses natives several times to me. He is convinced they are an inferior race and should all be exterminated. He is a man with no restraint, no faith, and no fear and yet it seems like he is struggling with himself. Kurtz has not always been this ravenous hunter of ivory. Through my many years of counseling Kurtz, I have found that he is a victim as well. The manager of the ivory company left him to die with no supplies for several months. You could tell the managers hatred for Kurtz. He cared more for the ivory than for Kurtzs wellbeing. Kurtz confided in me his fears of dying. He may never have become the ruthless man he is now if he was never cornered and tortured by the manager. He also has a fianc waiting for him back in Europe, although from letters from her that Kurtz has shared with me shows her unconditional affection for him, I am not so sure about his love for her. I am still inconclusive on Kurtzs motives for wanting to marry her. He seems to be a very shallow man when it comes to love. Kurtz is truly one of a kind. He appears to be a...

An Unfortunate Incident

Lily was very excited. Her 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle was almost complete. She easily fit the final pieces into the puzzle. She had taken two weeks to complete the puzzle and she proud of her work. As she stared at the puzzle on the dining table,she heard her mother call to her. Her mother announced that dinner was almost ready. She asked Lily to remove her puzzle and set the table for dinner. Lily was about to remove the puzzle when the phone rang. It was her classmate Judy. Lily could not wait to gloat about her newly-completed puzzle. She decided that dinner could wait for a few more minutes and proceeded to chat with her friend for fifteen minutes. Meanwhile her mother had emerged from the kitchen with a pot of hot soup. She was aghast to find the dinner table still in a mess,while Lily chatted happily on the phone. She turned to scold Lily but she accidentally knocked into the chair. The soup spileed over,directly onto the jigsaw puzzle. Lily came running the moment she heard her mothers angry voice but it was too late. The soup had ruined a good portion of the jigsaw puzzle. Lily burst into tears at the sight of the damaged puzzle. She regretted not listening to her mother and realised her mistake,but the damage had already been done. When Lily related the incident to me, I was saddened that my friends hard work had gone to waste. If I had been in her place, I would have placed the puzzle in a safe place before leaving the table. I would also have finished my chores before attending to the phone call.

Women Should Be able to fight in Combat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Women Should Be able to fight in Combat - Essay Example One of the key arguments against the women participating into the direct combats was that their presence might result into disruption of the cohesion of the teams as male soldiers may not be able to fully trust the female soldiers as their back-up during the battles. Various studies have clearly demonstrated the fact that physical strength of the women may not be the impediments in their joining the forces in the direct combats. It has been argued that with right training and focus, the physical strength of the women soldiers and their performance can easily be enhanced with right kind of training imparted on them in military academies. (Szivak, et al., 2013). Though somes studies also pointed out towards the lower aerobic abilities ofwomen along with other factors such as slower road-march speed and lifting capabilitis. (Kirkwood, 2013)However, research also suggests that these weaknesses can be improvedwith right kind of training offered. One of the reasons as to why women are being ignored from the jobs of fighting into direct combat is that of sexism. However, this issue can also be overcome if it is viewed from the same perspective as that of the racisim. Male soldiers need to treat the issue of sexism in same range as that of the racism in order to uphold the highest standards of dignity and pride in working for army. (Brook, 2013). It is critical to note however, that the stereotype thinking in army may needs to be changed in order to allow women a breathing space in terms fighting alongside male soldiers in combats. In order to achieve this, top military officials may need to be proactive and bring in radical changes in the way training is imparted to females at the initial phase of their training. (Sanders, 2005). As discussed above, it is relatively a myth that the physical conditions of the women can actually restrict their participation into the battlefields. The average lung power of women is relatively greater than the

Business - Gender Discrimination Speech or Presentation

Business - Gender Discrimination - Speech or Presentation Example Previous court rulings declare that, one of the responsibilities of a company is not to discriminate people against their sex. This indication is a determinant showing that discrimination begins even before the hiring process starts. As such, in this speech, I will seek to develop a persuasive argument showing the importance of addressing the issue of gender discrimination in work places. To begin with, the gap of gender at work place is still an impeding issue according to a new research on gender roles conducted by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Fact finding results reveal that women who work for 44 hours in a week earn 84.6 percent of total earnings of a man working for same hours (Stein, 2008:31). Worse still, the same statistics cites that, women who work for over 60 hours in week have earnings amounting to 78.3 percent of what men who are categorically in the same timeline earn. Additionally, it is agreeable that, sexual discrimination is a problem that affects education, e mployment, public institution, and domestic life (Lindgren, 2010:44). Even though today, women encounter minimal economic and social barriers as opposed to olden days, gender discrimination is still a major problem in many working places (Wrigley, 2008:7). With reference to a report brought forward by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, women who worked full time earned only 77 cents for every single dollar that a man earned in 2009 (Reeves, 2010:57). According to the US report on female worker, in spite of the fact that women comprise of the largest percentage of workforce in most organizations in the world, they commonly access employment positions in the traditional female fields which include nursing, secretarial work, and elementary school teaching. It is therefore congruent for us to address the vagaries brought about by gender or sexual discrimination in our working organizations (Stein, 2008:49). Studies assert that, in most working places today, there are many instances of sexual discrimination against women. Despite the fact that court rulings set forth that it is possible to hold a company liable for discriminating people due to their sexes, pre employment screening tests portray discriminatory cases at large margins. Company discriminatory cases of gender occur in incidences of hiring where the firm sets or asks unacceptable questions that discriminate against sex (Reeves, 2010:69). The application process designs bogus pre employment tests that screen for sex making the overall hiring process bias and unfair. For a long time, the court upholds scenarios where a man receives an employment opportunity over a woman with a slight margin of qualification (Stein, 2008:63). This drastic difference in qualification has been around for a long time and according to analysts, it is a sure sign of discrimination. A better understanding of how sexual discrimination works reflects cases where a man who dropped out of high school gets an administra tive post over a woman who has a master’s degree (Gregory, 2003:19). In this case, sexual discrimination is the ultimate factor depicting gender bias. Apart from gender discrimination gender discrimination during the hiring process, our working places today faces another form of sexual discrimination called sexual harassment (Lindgren, 2010:58). In this form of discrimination, some

Critically evaluate the current political and technological drivers Essay

Critically evaluate the current political and technological drivers associated with mitigating CO2 emissions in the UK - Essay Example 78). The carbon dioxide emissions in UK take various forms. These include emissions relating to the production of goods and services produced by the various businesses, emissions from household generation through private motoring and heating, and the emission related to imported goods and services. The carbon dioxide emission reached the peak in 2004, after which it has fallen considerably. Emissions from agriculture and food services have decreased. Some key products groups that have shown an increase in carbon dioxide emissions include the warehousing and imputed rent services, fabricated metal products and the publishing services. The increased emissions from goods and services is related to the increased rate of spending offset by carbon efficiency during production and the shift to low carbon intensive products (Dixon & Bahleda 2008, p. 56). Over the period, the household emissions associated with imports, either for individual consumptions or businesses contribute considerably to the increased carbon dioxide emission in UK. However, the direct absolute emission from the household consumption is relatively constant, with emissions from heating fluctuating depending on the severity of winter. The private motoring increases the level of carbon dioxide emissions due to increased travel by motor cars, which has been offset by the introduction of highly fuel efficient vehicles (Edmunds & Wise 2011, p.90). The emission of carbon dioxide in UK has shown tremendous decrease due to the displacement of coal, which is the main source of carbon emission, with other fuels like electricity and nuclear power. However, there has been annual variation in the level of carbon dioxide emission since 1990s, with no defined upward or downward trend. In 2006, the emission from energy supply was the highest followed by emissions from road transport. Emission from business and household emissions formed the lowest percentage. The emissions from the

Study Of A Renewable Energy Of Photovoltaic System Engineering Essay

Study Of A Renewable Energy Of Photovoltaic System Engineering Essay Besides, the guidelines to Account for and Report on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals for Buildings (Commercial, Residential or Institutional Purposes) in Hong Kong 2010 Edition of EMSD and EPD report that climate change has become a challenge to the international community. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to working closely with the international community in formulating measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Being a service economy without any major energy-intensive industries, electricity generation is the major source of GHG emissions in Hong Kong, accounting for over 60% of the total local emissions. The second largest GHG emission source is transport sector (16%), followed by waste (12%). Among various end uses of electricity, buildings account for some 89% in Hong Kong. Therefore, red ucing electricity consumption for building operations is instrumental in bringing down our GHG emissions. It will also have the co-benefits of reducing operational costs and improving the local and regional air quality. GHG emissions associated with the electricity purchased based on a territory-wide default value of 0.7kg/kWh in Hong Kong and these specific emission factors are available from the 2 nos. of electric companies (CLP The China Light Power Company Ltd. HEC The Hong Kong Electric Company Ltd.) from years 2002 to years 2007 in Hong Kong as following: Photovoltaic System More renewable energy sources may help containing fossil fuel use, thereby reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Solar energy is one of the renewable energy being widely used over the world mainly due to its clean and emission free properties. Solar energy can be used in many ways which can provide the heat energy, mechanical power and electrical power. One of the most common methods is to convert solar radiation into electricity through the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology. The sunlight will converted to electricity using photovoltaic solar cells. The photovoltaic cells are usually bundled together in panels and modules to produce the increased power. The PV panel advantages are no pollution, quiet operation and require a little maintenance. Over the past few years, photovoltaic technologies have been developed rapidly. To promote greater adoption of renewable energy technologies in Hong Kong, the Energy Efficiency Office (EEO) of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) always seeks opportunity to promote the use of new renewable energy technologies. Attention is now being paid to the flexible amorphous thin-film technology in view of the increasing popularity for applications in overseas countries Renewable energy is ready to be inexhaustible, harnessed and more importantly is a clean alternative to fossil fuels. Photovoltaic System is the type of the renewable energy in Hong Kong and aim to have 1 and 2% of Hong Kongs total electricity supply met by power generated by the year 2012. The world population of 10 billion by the year 2050, the worlds fossil fuel resources will advance more depletion rapidly according to the increasing global energy demand at the world. Photovoltaic is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect. The photovoltaic power generation employs solar panels composed of a number of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material. Photovoltaic device directly and silently convert light energy to electricity. No-post installation energy input other than the light source virtually. The sun is required normally. Materials presently used for photovoltaic include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium selenide/sulfide. Due to the growing demand for renewable energy sources, the manufacturing of solar cells and photovoltaic arrays has advanced considerably in recent years. Many solar photovoltaic power stations have been built which mainly in Europe region. As of December 2011, the largest photovoltaic power plants in the world are the Golmud Solar Park (China, 200MV), Sarnia Photovoltaic Power Plant (Canada, 97MV), Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station  (Italy, 84.2 MW),Finsterwalde Solar Park  (Germany, 80.7 MW),  Ohotnikovo Solar Park  (Ukraine, 80  MW),  Lieberose Photovoltaic Park  (Germany, 71.8  MW),  Rovigo Photovoltaic Power Plant  (Italy, 70 MW),Olmedilla Photovoltaic Park  (Spain, 60  MW) and the Strasskirchen Solar Park  (Germany, 54  MW) Advantages of Photovoltaic System For the renewable energy, solar power is pollution free during use. Production end wastes and emissions are manageable using existing pollution controls. End of user recycling technologies are under development and policies are being produced that encourage recycling from producers. PV installations can operate for many years with little maintenance or intervention after their initial set up. So that, after the initial capital cost of building any solar power plant, operating costs are extremely low compared to existing power technologies. Grid-connecting solar electricity can be used locally thus reducing transmission and distribution losses. Compared to fossil and nuclear energy sources, Very little research money has been invested in the development of solar cells, so there is considerable room for improvement. Nevertheless, experimental high efficiency solar cells already have efficiencies of over 40% in case of concentrating photovoltaic cells and efficiencies are rapidly rising while mass production costs area rapidly falling. 1.5 Environmental Impact of PV System The most important feature of solar PV systems is that there are no emissions of carbon dioxide the main gas responsible for global climate change during their operation. Although indirect emissions of CO2 occur at other stages of the lifecycle, these are significantly lower than the avoided emissions. PV does not involve any other polluting emissions or the type of environmental safety concerns associated with conventional generation technologies. There is no pollution in the form of exhaust fumes or noise. Decommissioning a system is unproblematic. Although there are no CO2 emissions during operation, a small amount does result from the production stage. PV only emits 21,65 grams CO2/kWh, however, depending on the PV technology. The average emissions for thermal power in Europe, on the other hand, are 900g CO2/kWh. By substituting PV for thermal power, a saving of 835879 g/kWh is achieved. The benefit to be obtained from carbon dioxide reductions in a countrys energy mix is dependent on which other generation method, or energy use, solar power is replacing. Where off-grid systems replace diesel generators, they will achieve CO2 savings of about 1 kg per kilowatt-hour. Due to their tremendous inefficiency, the replacement of a kerosene lamp will lead to even larger savings, of up to 350 kg per year from a single 40 Wp module, equal to 25kg CO2/kWh. For consumer applications and remote industrial markets, on the other hand, it is very difficult to identify exact CO2 savings per kilowatt-hour. Recycling of PV modules is possible and raw materials can be reused. As a result, the energy input associated with PV will be further reduced. If governments adopt a wider use of PV in their national energy generation, solar power can therefore make a substantial contribution towards international commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and their contribution to climate change. By 2030, according to the EPIA-Greenpeace Solar Generation Advanced Scenario, solar PV would have reduced annual global CO2 emissions by just over 1,6 billion tonnes. This reduction is equivalent to the output from 450 coal-fired power plants (average size 750 MW). Cumulative CO2 savings from solar electricity generation between 2005 and 2030 will have reached a level of 9 billion tonnes. Carbon dioxide is responsible for more than 50% of the man-made greenhouse effect, making it the most important contributor to climate change. It is produced mainly by the burning of fossil fuels. Natural gas is the most environmentally sound of the fossil fuels, because it produces roughly half as much carbon dioxide as coal, and less of other polluting gases. Nuclear power produces very little CO2, but has other major safety, security, proliferation and pollution problems associated with its operation and waste products. 1.6 Energy Payback A popular belief still persists that PV systems cannot pay back their energy investment within the expected lifetime of a solar generator about 25 years. This is because the energy expended, especially during the production of solar cells, is seen to outweigh the energy eventually generated. Data from recent studies shows, however, that present-day systems already have an energy payback time (EPBT) the time taken for power generation to compensate for the energy used in production of 1 to 3.5 years, well below their expected lifetime. With increased cell efficiency and a decrease in cell thickness, as well as optimized production procedures, it is anticipated that the EPBT for grid-connected PV will decrease further. The figure hereafter shows energy payback times for different solar cell technologies (thin film, ribbon, multicrystalline and monocrystalline) at different locations (southern and northern Europe). The energy input into a PV system is made up of a number of elements, including the frame, module assembly, cell production, ingot and wafer production and the silicon feedstock. The energy payback time for thin film systems is already less than a year in southern Europe. PV systems with monocrystalline modules in northern Europe, on the other hand, will pay back their input energy within 3.5 years. Figure Energy payback times for range of PV systems (rooftop system, irrad. 1700 resp. 1000 kWh/m2/year) 1.7 Future Markets of PV System International Energy Agency Photovoltaics Power Systems Programme (IEA PVPS) newsletter issue35, 2011/09/01, Page 6 report that The PV market continues to grow faster than expected and prospects for the future remain strong as long as policymakers encourage a stable and sustainable approach to market development. The global PV growth trend in recent years has been astonishing. In 2010, growth was higher than 100%, with capacity additions close to 17 gigawatts (GW) from 7.2 GW installed in 2009. At the start of 2011 the total installed world capacity was close to 40 GW, producing some 50 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electrical power every year. Most of that increase was due to the rapid growth of the German (7.4 GW) and Italian markets (2.3 GW), though other countries also showed significant development. However in many countries the rapid price decreases have led PV close to competitiveness. With PV system prices down in certain market segments to around à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬2/ Wp ($2.8), the cost of generation of electricity from PV went down in sunny countries to less than à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬0.15/ kWh. There are few doubts about the ability of PV prices to drop significantly and bring electricity costs below 10 eurocents ($0.14) in the five coming years. Chapter 2 Literature Review This part of the thesis summaries the related work by other researchers. The focus is on those researches that the related to my own area directly which is the study of the photovoltaic system. 2.1 PV Technology Photovoltaic technology is the direct conversion of the electricity from the sun light. The first PV cells, it was only realized in year 1954 after the development of material science and manufacturing of solid state devices. Nowadays, it is extensively accepted as a good technology to generate electricity directly from sun light with minimal environment pollution and as one of the possible alternatives to fossil fuel energy sources. At photovoltaic system, it has many ways to apply the PV to obtain the solar energy. Solar electricity, year 2004, Markvart. T. report that in the development of semi-conducting devices manufacturing, it mainly consist of silicon, the development of PV cells from the by-products of semi-conductor industry lower the cost and made civil application of PV feasible. Throughout the history of development of PV, its dominating applications have long been the stand -alone applications. In a stand-alone photovoltaic system, PV is the only way and source of energy powering the electrical load. It has not other external electrical power sources. To supply for the demand when there is no sunlight such as deep in the night. The PV system has not enough sun light to transform into the electricity. It requires some kinds of energy storage such as battery, fuel cells, and water tanks and so on. These types of systems are widely used for the rural area and the faraway area which power network is not more maturity. IEA PVPS trends in photovoltaic application, survey report of selected IEA countries between 1992 and 2010, T1-20:2011 show that these stand alone photovoltaic system fell below about 4% of total world-wide photovoltaic installations. Nowadays, the dominating type of photovoltaic application is the grid connecting photovoltaic system producing the clean power for supporting the electricity grid. From year 2000 to 2010, the percentages of gird connected in the reporting countries are from about 55% to 95%. IEA PVPS T1-20:2010, percentages of grid-connected and off-grid PV power in the reporting countries. The operational principle of the grid-connecting photovoltaic system is used the cells to convert the solar radiation into electricity. When the light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers, causing electricity to flow. The direct current (DC) electricity from the PV modules to alternating current (AC) with sophisticated power electronic devices and then supplies the power to the loads in conjunction with the utility grid. It services as a supplementary power source to main stream generation with fossil fuel, nuclear or other conventional means from the utility. Effectively the grid-connecting photovoltaic systems use the grid power as the storage and also the complementary source. It would supply the loads together with the gird when there is not enough from the sun, and would generate excess power into the grid when the PV system could provide more than the loads is needed. This is the fastest uptake type of PV application and became the dominant type by the end of 1999 (IEA PVPS T1-11:2002, P4). Luther et al. (2003, p.98) argued that this type of PV system will be contributing to the main-stream power production towards the reduction of CO2 emission in industrialized countries. Hence the course of change in PV application indicates a development of its role in supplying power to remote areas where no other means of electricity could be easily available and then to supporting the modern society in reducing the adverse effect of burning fossil fuels. The grid-connecting photovoltaic system is the most popular type of solar PV system for homes and businesses in developed areas. Connection to the local electricity network allows any excess power produced to feed the electricity grid and to sell it to the utility. Electricity is then imported from the network when there is no sun.   An inverter is used to convert the direct current power produced by the system to alternative power for running normal electrical equipment. 2.1.1 Grid-Connected Domestic Systems This is the most popular type of solar PV system for homes and businesses in developed areas. Connection to the local electricity network allows any excess power produced to feed the electricity grid and to sell it to the utility. Electricity is then imported from the network when there is no sun.   An inverter is used to convert the direct current power produced by the system to alternative power for running normal electrical equipment 2.1.2 Grid-Connected Power Plants These systems are also grid-connected, produce a large quantity of photovoltaic electricity in a single point. The size of these plants range is from several hundred kilowatts to several megawatts. Some of these applications are located on large industrial buildings such as airport terminals or railways stations. This type of large application makes use of already available space and compensates a part of the electricity produced by these energy-intensive consumers. 2.2 Crystalline Silicon Crystalline Silicon is the most mature photovoltaic industry technology. It has been developed since the 1950s which had the relatively high conversion efficiency of about 11% to 15% at Standard Test Conditions. Standard Test Conditions (STC) is the convention adopted by the photovoltaic industry benchmark for the performance of a PV cell under the particular testing circumstances. This way of characterization of PV modules has its limitations. Crystalline silicon is still dominating the PV market and is expected to do so for the near future. Meanwhile, in its crystalline form, pure silicon has a grey color and a metallic luster. Like a germanium, silicon is rather strong, very brittle and prone to chipping. The crystal structure of the silicon is resembles the diamond cubic crystal structure. The structure is very stable and less susceptible to degradation due to the heat and light. It also used in a high efficiency photovoltaic applications. In terms of charge conduction, silicon i s an intrinsic semiconductor which means that unlike metals it conducts electron holes and electrons which may be released from atoms within the crystal by heat and thus increase silicons electrical conductance with higher temperatures. This particular property enables crystalline silicon PV to last for over 20 years and remain functional. Some of the PV manufactures are offering the warranty of over 20 years. Crystalline silicon can subdivided into 2 types. It is mono-crystalline silicon (m-Si) and poly-crystalline silicon (p-Si). On the mono-crystalline silicon, it is the earliest commercialized technology for applications. It requires the high energy input to produce the raw materials for m-Si cell by single crystal growth. A less energy demanding casting procedure of Silicon crystal was therefore developed to lower the production cost. IEA PVPS trends in photovoltaic application, survey report of selected IEA countries between 1992 and 2010, T1-20:2011 show that due to its lower module price, the p-Si of photovoltaic system is becoming popular gradually. These two manufacturing technologies dominate the market of PV system and in year 2003 accounted for over 85% market share. The thickness of crystalline silicon PV cells is from 0.13mm to 0.3mm. It needs the suitable protection for the relevant mechanical reason. So, to provide the relevant mechanical protection, the most common method of the PV modules for crystalline Si is the cells embedded in the glass layers. This enables a natural integration with building since glass is one of the most widely deployed building materials. The manufacture process of the Crystalline Silicon photovoltaic cell (Picture from EPIA European Photovoltaic Industry Association) 2.3 Amorphous Silicon Amorphous is the term describing the characteristics of silicon atoms grouped together forming the PV cell. The amorphous literally means formless. The structure contrasts with its crystalline counterpart which is much more stable and high efficiency. One of the main reasons for developing amorphous silicon (a-Si) PV technology is the lower production cost. The lower production cost is brought about by the lower energy input for the deposition of silicon layer onto the substrate instead of high temperature crystal formation (Luther et al., 2003, p55) and the significantly less amount of silicon required for the cell production (Deng and Schiff, 2003, p.508). The thickness of silicon coating on the substrate is usually in the range of about 0.001mm. That is less than one-hundredth of that of crystalline silicon PV cells. The significant decrease in raw material used enable a-Si module to be sold at a much lower price per unit area than that of crystalline silicon modules especially at the time of ever increasing price of silicon due to the competition between manufacturing of computer chips and PV modules. In its amorphous state, the photo-electric property of silicon is subjected to light-induced degradation. The effect was reported by Staebler and Wronski, therefore known as the Stabler-Wronski effect (Goetzberger and Hoffmann, 2005, p.60). After an initial degradation of about 10% 20% decrease in conversion efficiency, the electrical properties of the a-Si cells will be stabilized. It is now a common practice for the manufacturers to publish the stabilized efficiency. The stabilized STC efficiencies of commercial a-Si PV modules are around 4% 8%. In order to improve the conversion efficiency of the a-Si modules, some manufacturers stack layers of Si depositions to capture more photons. Although with lower efficiency, a-Si PV cells are widely applied in indoor applications for small electronic appliances attributing to its better response to weak light. It is the third most widespread type of PV technology after crystalline silicon the a-Si has been used as a photovoltaic solar cel l material for devices which require very little power such as pocket calculators and toys. Since the thin layer of a-Si can be deposited onto various types of substrate. This enables the form of PV modules made of a-Si having a much greater variety. Furthermore, silicon in its amorphous form does not have the limitations of thickness or mechanical strength as in crystalline form. These special properties facilitate its application in a flexible form. This is very suitable for producing PV modules for building applications. Together with its performance being less affected by the heat built up in the modules, it can be a good candidate for applications in hot climates. The a-Si PV modules area commercially available for installation onto the roofs of buildings either applied onto the finished roof or integrated into the roof covering. The advantage over traditional PV panels is that they are very low in weight. It is not subject to wind lifting and can be walked on. The comparable disadvantages are increased cost and reduced efficiency. Flexible a-Si PV modules can made as roofing material 2.4 Other Thin-Film Technologies Thin-film is the general term for PV cells produced other than those thick layers of crystalline silicon. Amorphous silicon is the earliest commercialize thin-film technology. Its development was mainly from the drive to lower production costs by using significantly less rea material and energy input during the manufacturing process. Other new comers comprise Copper Indium Diselenide (CIS), Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) and so on. In 1975, a Copper Indium Diselenide (CIS) cell of 12% efficiency was successfully demonstrated at the USAs Bell Labs and work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) developed the technology under the US department of Energys thin film program during the 1980s, consolidating the technologys promise (Zweibel, 1990, pp.161-180). Due to the collapse of research funding in the US it was almost another 10 years before Siemens Solar Industries (SSI) produced the first commercially CIS modules in late 1990s. A family of similar compounds has also been developed such as CuInSe2, CuGaSe2, CuInS2, Cu2 and so on. the coating of thin film CIS onto substrate was found to be more flexible and easily manipulated (Goetzberger and Hoffmann, 2005, p.65). Therefore CIS is the major material used within this family of compounds. Similar to a-Si, CIS can be coated into many types of substrate. The choices of CIS modules are wider. For example, flexible CIS modules and modules on polymer back sheets can be found on the PV market. However, due to the rapidly evolving technology, the manufacturing process and even the compound used for CIS modules are ever changing. Second generation CIS modules was reported by Palm et al. (2004) and more development is imminent. With the flexibility in manufacturing the modules, CIS can be one of the candidates for building integration. These can further be divided into ordinary Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system and Photovoltaic (PV) systems and the solar cells in the market can be classified into two main categories: Crystalline Silicon Cells and Thin-Film Cells. PV cells are generally made either from crystalline silicon, sliced from ingots or castings, from grown ribbons or thin film, deposited in thin layers on a low-cost backing. The performance of a solar cell is measured in terms of its efficiency at turning sunlight into electricity. A typical commercial solar cell has an efficiency of 15% about one-sixth of the sunlight striking the cell generates electricity. Improving solar cell efficiencies while holding down the cost per cell is an important goal of the PV industry. Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) has a similar long history in the whole group of thin-film PV modules. Due to its tolerance to defects and grain boundaries, simple and easy to handle deposition process is possible for this material (Luther et al. 2003, p.70). Technology wise this type of material should have been booming. The major hurdle now is the market acceptance since both Cadmium and Telluride are toxic materials although CdTe itself is stable and harmless to the environment. Furthermore, different countries have different regulations regarding Cadmium containing materials (Deb, 2002). This uncertainty might increase the risk factor in investing production plant for CdTe and BP Solar was reported to have closed their CdTe plant (Luther et al. 2003, p.72). Synergising with the technology advancement in device handling and manufacturing process in semi-conductor industry, there are emerging technologies for thin film PV cell (Sopori, 2003, p.308). These include crystalline silicon thin film (m-SiTF), micro-crystalline silicon (ÃŽÂ ¼m-Si) and so on. However, they are still new technology and even not yet commercialized. Due to the longer history of development, crystalline silicon PV modules are still the more common to apply for the building envelope nowadays. But due to the PV modules brittleness, it have to be well protected by the glass layer and backing. It is this intrinsic nature of crystalline silicon that determines the formation and hence limits its applications on buildings. On the other hand, the thin film photovoltaic technology can be applied on many more substrate and the flexible film modules are available for thin film besides glass-glass modules and glass film modules that are common in crystalline silicon technology. The different size, form, material used can apply to the different building design. Hence, the applications of thin film photovoltaic modules are better than the crystalline silicon nowadays. 2.5 Electrical Characteristics and Performance PV modules can serve as the building envelope to keep out the weather and control heat gain. To analysis the electrical performance of a PV module, both the instantaneous power output and the energy yield over the time period under investigation has been considered. Instantaneous power has been normalized to per unit power under Standard Test Condition (STC) for easy comparison between different types of technology. Each PV panel is rated under industrial STC of solar irradiance of 1,000W/m2 with zero angle of incidence, solar spectrum of 1.5 air mass and 25à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ cell temperature. Electrical characteristics from manufacturers include maximum rated power, open circuit voltage, short circuit current, maximum power voltage, maximum power current and the temperature coefficients .Also, the energy yield has been normalized in a similar manner. The methodology of evaluation of performance has been based on the Standard IEC 61724 (1998). 2.6 Photovoltaic Simulation In the photovoltaic system simulation, the prediction of the PV module performance is the core part of the simulator. Normally, the modeling is based on the physical characteristics of the photo electric effect at the semi-conductor. The simulation is calculated the photo-current generated by a certain amount of the irradiance at the surface of the semi-conductor at specific physical conditions. Nowadays, the most of the commercial photovoltaic system simulation programs is the temporal series of data being simulated such as RETSCREEN, PVPSYST, PVSOL, PV-Design Pro, Hybird2 HOMER and so on. 2.6.1 RETSCREEN The RETScreen software is a program developed by Natural Resources Canada for evaluating both financial and environmental costs and benefits for many different renewable energy technologies. RETScreen has a specific Photovoltaic Project Model that can model PV array performance for many locations around the worldncludes a climatic database including average measurements for 4700 ground stations, compiled from over 20 different sources, and covering the period 1961-1990. These data are presented as a unique coherent database, and present numerous parameters including Irradiation, air temperature and wind velocities. 2.6.2 PVSYST PVsyst software has been developed at the University of Geneva in Switzwerland. This is an excellent package for design and analysis of a solar photovoltaic system. It is widely used due to the many parameters available for the user to modify. This software is oriented towards architects, engineers, researchers and holds very helpful tools for education. Both stand-alone and grid-connected PV as well as solar water pumping system could be designed by using PVsyst. 2.6.3 PVSOL The PVSol program is photovoltaic system analysis software developed by Valentin Energy Software in Germany with an English language version distributed by the Solar Design Company based in the UK. The first version of PVSol was released in 1998. 2.6.4 PV-Design Pro PVDesignPro software is a commercially available software model developed by the Maui Solar Energy Software Corporation (MSESC) and SNL for photovoltaic systems modeling. The software incorporates algorithms from both of SNLs PV array and inverter performance models as well as SNLs database of PV module and inverter parameters. NIST uses a custom version of PVDesignPro for comparing different PV technologies and predicting PV module performance for BIPV applications. The program uses an hourly time-step for modeling system performance. 2.6.5 Hybird2 Hybrid2 is described as a probabilistic time series computer model for evaluating the performance and economics of hybrid electricity generating systems. It was developed by the Renewable Energy Research Laboratory (RERL) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with support from NREL. This program is an engineering design model for hybrid systems consisting of PV, wind, generators and battery storage for both on-grid and off-grid systems 2.5.6 HOMER HOMER is a hybrid system model developed at NREL in 1993 for both on-grid and offgrid systems. A unique capability that HOMER offers is the ability to find the optimal configuration based on price estimates as well as perform sensitivity analysis to help understand tradeoffs between different technologies and economic considerations. The software has the ability to compare multiple system configurations as well as different battery types. HOMER uses the KiBaM code for battery life modeling as described below in Section 4.2.1. The model can incorporate the following componen