International Terror Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Terror - Essay Example Hindu; Chinese (Sinic); Orthodox; African; Japanese The Western: currently, the west dominates each aspect of international activity from politics to economy since it’s been very active in establishing the international organizations like IMF, UN and WTO among others. For example, the west has 3 seats out of 5 Security Council of the United Nations. It also promotes IMF economic policies and enforces them on other states. Other emerging powers like China will not accept to be regarded as inferior or be imposed upon some institutions. Possible outcomes are; that nations will seclude themselves from western polices like N.Korea is doing; â€Å"band-wagon† implying that nations will join nations that are on the rise in terms of values and institutions for example Turkey is joining the EU; and lastly countries will seek to counter- balance in terms of military and economy against the west i.e. Modernizing and not Westernizing. Islam: the Islam is increasing very dramatically and adopting the non western civilization and reiterating the quality of their own society. This does not means that Islamic nations won’t modernize, but will do so in ways unreceptive to the western. This is because they control important oil sources and are growing very fast demographically. Latin America: this includes the nations of South America. The conflict from this will basically from the religious point of view especially the Catholics and orthodox. However in other policies, the Latino Americans support the U.S policies which are aimed at strengthening international democracy, trade and investments. Brazil is considered a success in democracy. Hindu: religion is what the Hindus and Arabs have in common that distinguishes them from the Africans and the west. This is a culture of religion that originates from India. India is described as a torn Nation by Huntington and its alignment could fall in the â€Å"west vs.

What is america Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

What is america - Essay Example Sitting Bull, a leader of the Lakota Sioux says: "The life my people want is a life of freedom" (Foner 1999, p. 49). Ideas of freedom and liberty define America and its style of life influenced by historical events and struggle for independence. For a long time, freedom was at length granted the slaves, not as a measure of social justice, but as an act of war. Emancipation came as a more or less accidental by-product of a titanic conflict between two powerful classes, each seeking in its own self-interest to dominate the Federal government, and neither concerned with the moral aspects of slavery (Bigsby, 2006). Studies of ethnicity in the United States have tended to emphasize the significance of large-scale social, economic, and political processes to account for the demise or endurance of hyphenated-Americans. It has been shown that, after arriving as immigrants, such groups search out economic opportunities and employ ties of common origin to create or occupy economic niches. "The idea of wage slavery served to deconstruct, as it were, the sharp contrast between slavery and freedom, to expose the forms of coercion and hidden inequalities inherent in ostensibly free economic institutions" (Foner 1999, p. 58) Long struggle against oppression has created some stereotypic impressions of American as liberals and fighters. The stereotype of the American is used in a variety of ways in reference to a number of social traditions and values. It embodies all aspects of human activities reflecting historical and social development of the nation. Americans develop the specific system of standards or rules a person attributes to the membership of the group as a result of her experience. A person's cultural preferences may contain several cultures which he/she attributes to different sets of other persons. Again, "The long contest over slavery gave new meaning to personal liberty, political community, and the rights attached to American citizenship" (Foner 1999, p. 83). America means the land of immigrants who come to America looking for better life and unique destiny. The Old World background made in new social surroundings created the role of environmental factors, and finally, the relation between institutional forms (social classes and authorities) and cultural values. The settlers created new social order in order to meet specific local conditions. The new comers were involved in public policy and social life, religious and political affairs. Probably, since that time, the national idea of the land and equality has been central in American culture. The new comers brought to America a common set of values affected church, state, and social order. It was amazing how much they changed in the American land bringing new religious traditions and values. The land symbolized unity of the nation and its traditions, resistance to foreign influences and interactions (Bigsby, 2006). There is no question that this common set of ideas and beliefs, assumption s and customs shaped the character of the new World that the immigrants founded. The most part the colonists' notions about economics, politics, and society were indistinguishable from those of their countrymen who never contemplated moving to the New World. Catholicism and Protestantism influenced morality and goodness, human values and attitude towards the world (Foner, 1999). Church

Project Time Management Essay Example for Free

Project Time Management Essay This essay on project management will briefly give a proper description of the project management and what it entails. It will further discuss all the tasks that are normally involved in proper time management. The major focus of this particular essay will be on the time constraint and how time can be properly managed and the general importance of managing time in IT projects. It will then be concluded by giving reasons as to why project managers should actually have their projects well managed especially in the time part of it if at all he would want to realize success at the end of the projects. Introduction Project management is that discipline that is concerned with planning, organization and resource management to bringing a specific project to a successful completion of its major objectives and goals (Baker, 2000). The major challenge of managing projects is to achieve its set objectives and goals while at the same time adhering to the constraints of project management which are normally scope, time, quality and budget. The secondary challenge is normally the optimization of the allocation and to integrate the necessary inputs in such a way that the pre-defined objectives may be met. A project may be well defined as set of different or even similar activities that make use of available resources such as money, materials, people, space and many others to achieve the set project goals and objectives. According to Conn, M (2007) the job of managing a project is quite often the major responsibility of an individual person who in this case is the project manager or the project management team. In most cases the project manager seldom takes part in a direct way in the various activities that will produce the final result, but rather he will strive to make sure that the general progress and the mutual interaction between his workers is well maintained so that the overall risk of the project failing is reduced or eradicated. The manager of a project is often an ambassador of his clients and therefore the needs of his clients are well determined and implemented by the project manager and this is usually based on the kind of enterprise they are representing. In any given field, the project manager should be able to envision the whole project that is from start to finish. He should also have the ability to ensure that the vision is realized by the project. This clearly tells someone that before you become a project manager, one should make sure that he is well informed and be ready to listen to the needs of clients which in most cases they are varied. Just like any other human undertaking, all projects have to be done and delivered through some well known constraints. Traditionally, the constraints are listed as time, scope and scope. These constraints are better known as the triangle of project management, where constraints are represented by each side of the triangle. This particular essay will have its major focus on the time constraint of project management (Cable, D. 2004). Project time management Project time management basically means the planning of the processes and organization of resources in a project to ensure its well-timed completion. The management of time is an important skill that is very critical and any project manager should have this vital skill. From surveys done by scholars on project management, the survey reports claim that most of the successful project managers have the history of completing their projects within their stipulated time and the project budget. Project failure from the past may have been caused by lack or absence of schedule management that is, defining, scheduling and implementing these tasks or activities that are to be undertaken by the steering team or manager. In the present world, there are so many softwares that project managers can use in time or schedule management within a project (Brooks, 2001). Tasks in a project The first task in a project time management is the activity definition. Here the main activities in the project are defined so that the management team knows what they are dealing within as the progress goes on. In preparation of the project schedule, the manager of the project should be fully aware of the content of each given tasks that are involved in the project, the length of time the task will require to be completed, the kind of resources that the tasks will need and the exact order the tasks should be done. The project manager should know that each of the said elements normally will have direct bearing on the time or schedule of the project. And if the project manager omits certain tasks then the project stands higher chances of not being completed. Once more, if a manager of a task does not take seriously the amount of required resources or the length of time required for a particular task then the project manager stands higher chances of missing the time schedule for his project. The time schedule can also be missed or rather be blown if the project manager makes a bad sequencing of the project tasks. While project schedule can be build by either listing, in a particular order, all the important tasks that have to be completed in some specific manner. This task is often referred to as activity sequencing. Assigning of order and specific duration in which it should occur in every given task will also help the project management team a great deal. After assigning of this sequence requirement project management team should now allocate all the required resources for that particular task. This should be followed by determining the tasks that should first be completed (predecessors) and determining the tasks should be completed last (successors) and this is normally a pretty simple exercise. Normally difficulties do arise in managing project schedule. In most cases the difficulty will arise when there is not enough time and resources for the proper completion of the tasks of a given project sequentially. It is therefore advised that the given tasks in a project be overlapped in such a way that more than one task is attended to at the same time (Cable, 2004). The softwares that are commonly used in managing projects normally simplify the tasks that are involved in the creation and management of project schedules by handling all sorts of iterations in the time logic for the project manager. When all the required tasks have been put in an ordered list, then they have been well resourced and put in a correct sequence, the manager of the project will be able to notice that some of the laid down tasks are flexible in terms of start and finish dates. Such flexibility in project management is well known as float. And other tasks do not have any kind of flexibility at all and therefore are zero floats. Therefore any line through all the given tasks that have zero floats is referred to as the critical path. All the tasks that are found on the critical path, and there is possibility that there can be multiple of them, paths that are parallel, they must come to a completion on the stated time if the entire project has also to be completed on time. The key task of a project manager is time management and the management of the critical path (Cavendish, 2003). The project manager should however be aware of any items can be removed or even added in the critical path, this may be due to changing of circumstances that may occur during the project execution. Regardless of how well a project manager manages his time schedule and the available resources then the project manager would only have budget management as the only critical element left. At this particular point, it is therefore advised that all managers of different projects be fully aware of all the tasks that are involved in the projects that they are managing. This will enable them to have full control of every progress in the tasks and it will ensure that the project in progress is completed within the specified time in the budget (Clough, 2005). Importance of project time management Project time management is an important aspect of project management. The following are some of the major importance of project time management. Proper project time management will ensure that project managers deliver their projects within the stated time on the project budget. That means that time and good schedule management will always work to the advantage of the project manager in that the project manager will always be delivering his projects without unnecessary delays that are normally brought about by poor time management (Baker, 2000). Another importance of time management in an IT project is that the project manager will be in a very good position to allocate resources and everything that will be needed in that particular project because when time is managed properly, the manager will be able to tell all that will required by specific tasks in the project. This will have a very positive impact on the IT project in that time will be well managed and resources well allocated and the end result will completion of the project in good time (Cohn, 2007). With time management in a project, the project manager will be able to plan everything that will have to take in every step. And this is one of the most vital things of time management that most managers of different projects agree upon. Effective management of time in projects often motivates the participating team members in such a way that they will always be willing to actively involved in planning the project. Involvement of the fellow members of the team in planning for the project will definitely increase the chances of the project realizing success. Time management will help the project manager to have his deadlines set. Normally projects should be done within a set period of time, but deadlines most of the times if not so well planned become unrealistic. With proper project time management skills together with skilled project manager, proper and realistic deadlines will be set which will ensure that a sense of urgency has been inducted into the team members. Again, the use of project time management skills in managing IT projects will ensure that the project manager keeps good track of the progress of the project and he will also be able to make priorities in his own work (Duane, 2007). Another important task in time project management is the scheduling of the project activities in the order that they should occur. This is very vital because it defines the activities to be prioritized and the trailing ones. This helps in determining the most important step from the less important step at any given time. Project time management is an important tool in project management in such a way that it helps the manager of the project to sift and sort out ideas concerning the progress of the project before the manager of the project commits himself in allocating resources. This is normally achieved by having objective criteria for his project selection and this will enable the manager to only approve those projects that are on priority (David, 2000). Conclusion Drawing from the essay, it can be said that it is very important for a project manager to be fully aware of what his project entails. Putting down all the activities in an ordered list or manner will help in time allocation of the various activities in the project. Using all the available tools of project management, a project manager will be able to deliver his projects on time since his work will be well planned. Meeting the deadlines in project management is the most important thing and using project time management is the only way towards achieving it.

PESTEL analysis of Toshiba, Japan

PESTEL analysis of Toshiba, Japan Toshiba Corporation is a company based in Japan that specializes in the production of industrial and consumer electronic and electric products including notebook computers (laptops), electro medical devices. LCDs, home appliances and semiconductors. It is among the oldest and largest companies in Japan. Toshiba laptops are selected as the product to be marketed in Cuba. Cuba is a potential market because of the dynamics involved. It has the ideal setting ground for any company that aims at getting future high volumes of their products. B) Cubas History Christopher Columbus is credited with the discovery of the island of Cuba, an event that led to the colonization of Cuba by Spain. Despite this Cuba had been inhabited by indigenous people for centuries before the discovery. After the Spanish-American war is that Cuba gained its independence and sovereignty in 1902 (Ritter, 2004, pp.47). In the early years of the Spanish occupation, many native Cubans were butchered or forced into slavery while others died from the smallpox and measles brought from Spain. The rest fled to the mountains to escape slavery. This led to the introduction of African slaves to work in the sugar cane plantations. Slavery and slave trade are highly credited with taking the Cuban sugar industry to where it is today. The economic prosperity of Cuba began after Britain took over the island from Spain after the seven year war which ended in Britains favor. Trade regulations were eliminated and the path to prosperity was created. C) Geographical Setting Location Cuba an island that is located in the Caribbean Sea. The entire country or island measures an estimated 48,800 square miles. The country has several highland regions the most notable of which are the Guaniguanco, the Escambery and the Sierra Maestra. The island is located south from the famous Florida Keys (Cuba, 2010). The country has a coastline that extends for an estimated 3,700 kilometers. In relation to other countries, the country lies to the eastern side of the Gulf of Mexico and to the western side of the North Atlantic Ocean. The Yucatan Channel lies to the south east of Cuba. Climate The Cuban highlands, which are about a third of the country, have an overbearing effect on the climate. The fact that the country is an island also has ramifications on the weather and climate patterns experienced. The climate can be defined as tropical climate with a dry period from the month of November lasting until April while the rainy season lasts from May to around October. The country also happens to lie within the path of major hurricanes and other destructive storms which are common in the months of September and October. The average temperatures in Cuba vary between 23?C and 27C throughout the entire year Topography Cuba has several archipelagos but Cuba is the main island. The island has a hilly or mountainous topography marked by several highlands such as the Sierra Maestra, the Escambery, and the Guaniguanco. The rest of the country is marked by plains the largest of which are in the provinces of Matanzas and Camaguey. The rest of the country is marked by coast lines. D) Social Institutions The Cuban culture is a blend between African, American and European cultures. The European cultures were imported to Cuba courtesy of Christopher Columbus (Spain) and Britain. The American culture influence Cuba beginning from the period after the Spanish American war that rid Cuba of the Spanish colonists while the African cultural influences as a result of the many slaves brought in to work in the plantations. 1) Family The family is an important social institution in any nation, society, or community. The stability of the family as an institution is reflected upon the wider society as the society tends to have better social institutions that borrow their moral fabric from the family. Cuba is no exception to these basic rules of nature. Most families in Cuba live as extended families. a) The nuclear family The nuclear family had not had a very distinct role in Cuba until the post Fidel Castro era. The nuclear family is composed of a man, his wife, and their children. This means that in a household where there are three generations of a family, it is possible to have several nuclear families. b) The extended family The extended family is very important part of Cuban society. The family structure in Cuba is that up to three generations of a family live together in the same structure or household, a factor that makes it difficult to create a clear dividing line between the nuclear family and the extended familys role in the family setup. The leader or head of the family or the household therefore is the eldest parent figure in the family. This may be the grandfather or the Godmother within the family. He or she wields power over all the other family members and determines the role of each family member within the family. c) Dynamics of the family and parenting roles 1) Parental Roles: The role of parents is diverse depending on whether the family lives as an extended family or as a nuclear family. In the nuclear family setup, the father is the bread winner in the family while the mother is resigned to the role of care giver and is responsible for maintaining discipline within the family. In addition, family customs and traditions are passed down under the watch of the mother. In the extended family, the elder is in charge of the family. If the elder is a man, he is also the main breadwinner in the family though he is assisted by other family members. If the elder is a woman, she mainly serves as an overseer in the family and offers her guidance while the men in the family serve as the breadwinners. 2) Marriage and Courtship: The Cuban society still takes courtship as primarily the role of the man. Dowry is paid based on the individual customs of the bride. The weddings are one day glamorous events that showcase a lot of Spanish influence. 2) Education a) Education serves as a way of socializing the individuals into the ways of the society in a way that the family as an institution cannot. The educated people are the ones in positions of power and they are held in high regard within society. 1) Primary, secondary and university education and literacy rate The Castro government made primary education compulsory. In addition, school uniforms are also a requirement for all students and are used to denote the grade level of a student. In the Cuban education system primary education takes six years. Secondary education is divided into two categories. The first category is the basic secondary education where students learn basic skills such as language, art, arithmetic, and the sciences. This follows primary education and is almost compulsory for all. The second category is the pre-university education which prepares one for entry into university. After the completion of pre-university education, the students are awarded what is referred to as the Bachillerato in Cuba (C.I.A 2010). It can be compared to a diploma in other education systems in other countries in the world. After the pre-university education, an individual has two options, to pursue either technical education where one will gain skills to enable them gain employment or to pur sue professional education at the university level. b) Literacy rate. The literacy levels in Cuba are reported at 100% although the figure is disputed. The country also reports an enrolment/attendance rate of 98% in primary schools. 3) Political system a) The political system in Cuba can be defined as socialist. The government has executive power which is vested in the Council of State and the Council of Ministers. The legislative role is assigned to the National assembly of peoples Power which is recognized by the constitution as having the highest authority in the country. No voting is done in respect of the positions of prime minister and president. b) The Communist Party of Cuba is the leading social force of the nation (C.I.A 2010). There is widespread censorship in Cuba with a system that is highly authoritarian. The communist party screens all candidates vying for seats in the legislative assembly. c) The current government has been in power since 1959 when Fidel Castro ovethrew the dictator government. It can be described as stable because his successor, Raul Castro, has managed to keep the country at peace and with improved management. d) Special taxes not common e) Local government heavily influenced by the ruling party 4) Legal System a) The main judicial organ is the Peoples Supreme Court. All judges according to the law are not subject to any other authority but the law. They can be elected or replaced and are accountable for their actions. Cuba has been sub divided into fourteen provinces which are further subdivided into 170 municipalities. Representatives to the municipalities and provinces are elected to serve terms that extend for two and a half years. b) The country is socialist. c) The authoritarian approach has affected patent and conventions. They are tightly regulated 5) Social organization a) The presence of groups which can lead to the creation of group behavior or culture is not a common occurrence in Cuba. b) The main aim of the government in relation to the existing social order is to create a classless society where income, race, sex or occupation are used as a definitive means of determining rewards or other favorable allocations. c) In addition, the government prohibits the formation of classes or clubs that may create lines along which the society may be stratified. 6) Business in Cuba Tour guides, barmen, and waitresses require to be tipped although there are no prescribed tipping rates. Tipping allows for one to receive exceptional service from the individuals receiving the tips. Business hours in Cuba are officially between half past eight and half past noon and half past one to half past four during weekdays. Some businesses however opt to open during weekends where the hours of business are between 8 am and 5 pm for alternate Saturdays. E) Religion and aesthetics 1) a) The low number of Protestants can be attributed to the late arrival of protestant doctrines and beliefs to Cuba. b) Cuba is also known to be home to other minor religions which have their roots in western Africa and the slaves who were taken from the region to work in the sugarcane plantations in Cuba. c) Cuba is largely considered as a catholic nation though the Catholic faith practiced within Cuba is modified to suit Cuba. There are also Jews and evangelical Christians amongst the population in the state. d) Nearly 60% of the population is made up of catholic adherents while an estimated 6% are Protestants. e) Santeria which may be referred to as a cult has its origin in Nigeria in western Africa and is widely practiced in and around Cuba. 2) Aesthetics a) Cuba has a strong heritage and history which reflects its visual arts potential. b) The country has numerous galleries, cultural centers, and art museums which have been used for the storage of artistic material from the citizens of Cuba. The government is supportive of art and is known to provide all kinds of assistance to artists in the country. c) Music dance and folklore in Cuba is very rich and displays the three main backgrounds that determine and continue to influence the Cuban society. d) There are influences of African, American, and Spanish elements that are derived from the interaction of Spaniards, Americans, and Africans in the history of Cuba. F) Living conditions 1) a) Many surveys conducted show that Cubans on average consume too much sugar and eat inadequate fruits and vegetables. There are rising cases of diet related anemia and obesity which can be regulated or checked by simply a change of diet. b) A typical meal includes bread, ham, cheese, and rice and plenty of soft drinks with and between meals. c) The government cannot guarantee adequate nutrition for its population and this is considered as one of the failures of the Castro administration. d) The foods made available to the public by the government are as follows; rice, beans, cooking oil, plantains, brown sugar, milk and soy yoghurt which are provided on a monthly basis to holders of ration cards. Other products such are chicken, beef, soy/meat blend and frankfurters are provided based on their availability. 2) a) In Cuba, housing is relatively cheap but in the same breath the housing structures are sparse. Most dwelling places are either in poor condition or are defective in one way or another that makes them unsuitable for dwelling in. b) Most dwellings occupied on a rental basis. The houses have some form of supply of electricity and water and are therefore a bit habitable. c) In most cases houses are occupied are more than one family. 3) The tropical wealthier requires light dressing to cope with the heat and humidity levels. a) A form of dress that can be identified with Cuba is the Havana shirt otherwise known as a Guayabera. The shirt has an array of designs but in general has two or four pockets and largely a casual dress that does not require the wearer to tuck into his trousers. There is a traditional dress made for women in place of the Guayabera and it is very popular all over Cuba although it has been rejected on grounds of being indecent in some cultures. b) The dress code at work is no different from that in many western countries. Employees/workers are expected to maintain a formal dress code. 4) a) In leisure and recreation activities and sports, Cuba is well endowed. To begin with, Cuba is an ideal destination for hiking, snorkeling, climbing, fishing, and caving. The sport is used to symbolize equality in society as well as freedom. The country also has rich soccer traditions among the Caribbean countries. Cubas national team has been to the FIFA world cup where they managed to finish in the seventh position. The beach provided by the long coastline of Cuba provides ample grounds for leisure activities such as skiing, diving, swimming, and sun bathing which are common in almost all of Cuba. c) Most sports and recreational activities in Cuba are carried out in open spaces and often require little or no equipment. Baseball for example is played even on streets by children and thus very low amounts of income are channeled towards sports unless when organized sporting teams are involved and where there are competitions to be won at stake. 5) Social security The social security system in Cuba represents the general values of the wider society whereby there is equality among all beneficiaries. There are no discriminations or preferential treatment for certain individuals based on sex, race, or gender. The Cuban social security system is very efficient. There are an estimated 360, 000 retirees within the population which represents nearly 10% of the population. Each of the retirees in Cuba is paid on a monthly basis. Under the social security system, the government through its social security system pays benefits to an estimated 1.5 million people on a monthly basis. The social security covers areas such as temporary illness, accidents, maternity, and social care for the elderly people within the population. G) LANGUAGE 1) The main language used for communication is Spanish. The language was brought to the island by the Spaniards during the early occupation after Christopher Columbus discovered the island. Spanish is however recognized as the official state language of the people of Cuba. 2) Other languages that are prevalent in Cuba are English and Creole which represent the different heritages and traditions of Cuba. 3) It is important to note the Spanish that is spoken in Cuba varies in some cases from that spoken in Spain and other countries. This is largely because of the French and west African influences that have affected the language. English is mainly spoken as a result of tourist influences. II) ECONOMIC ANALYSIS A) POPULATION 1) The population of Cuba stands at an estimated 11.5 million people as of this year and will reportedly continue to grow at an estimated rate of 0.2%. a) The birth rate in the population is 11.1/1000 which is relatively low even amongst countries of the western world. b) The fertility rate for every woman is estimated as 1.43 children. This represents a drop in fertility rates which may explain why the growth in population has been very low for the last few years. c) Abortions in Cuba are also responsible for the population decline with an estimated 50 abortions for every 1000 pregnancies in the population. 2) a) The population is evenly distributed as only 103 people live in every square kilometer in Cuba. b) The life expectancy is relatively high at an average age of 77 years. The ethnic composition of the population is very varied though there are not many ethnicities. c) The population composition is such that the majority is men and boys for all ages but after the age of 65 years, the number of women outstrips that of men. This fact can only be explained by the lower life expectancy rate for men as compared to women. d) Many Cubans have in one way attempted or plan to attempt illicit migration with the most favored destination being the United States. The rest of the population has a majority that is intent on moving to urban areas. The situation is such that the larger portion of the population is housed in urban centers all over Cuba. e) Mulattos account for nearly half the population while whites account for 35% of the population. The rest of the inhabitants is generally collected of blacks and Chinese with the Chinese forming the smallest ethnic group in Cuba. B) Economic Statistics and activity 1) Gross National Product/ Gross Domestic Product a) Cuba reported a gross domestic product per capita that stood at an estimated $111.1 billion. b) This translates to a per capita income of roughly $9,700 for the year 2009. The estimated real growth rate (nominal growth rate less inflation) was an estimated 1.4%. This is very ideal but there is plenty of room for improvement especially since the growth rate or the GDP or even the per capita figures do not show the situation on the ground 2) People live on less than the expected $9,700 per annum. Businesses publicly owned enterprises lies at 78% to a dismal 22% representing private investment or privately owned enterprises. 3) Average family income is dependent on the ratio of breadwinners to the relative size of the family.2008 estimates were $218. 4) Distribution of wealth a) Income classes. Three major classes exist, the highest is elite and military personnel. The second tier is business magnates and the last is the general workforce. b) Proportion of population to each class. The top tier is about 1/8ths of the total population, the second is and the rest is the general workforce. c) Priority is given to the elite classes and the military. The rest of the workforce is structured in respect to the demographics of income and position 5) The country has deposits of cobalt, iron ore, nickel, copper, salt, manganese, silica, timber, petroleum and farming land. 6) a) The transport system in Cuba comprises of nearly 4200 km of public railway network and a further 7700 km that is set aside for use by sugar cane producers. The highway network consists of nearly 61,000 km of tarmac spread all over the country. b) The country also boasts of waterways that extend for 240 kilometers. The country also has several ports that are used for commercial purposes.There are three main ports. There are also 170 airports as reported back in 2006 c) Because Cuba is an island, the usage of waterways is a major transport form. Nearly half the population uses the train network to go to work. Only about a third drive to work. 7) Communication Systems a) Main types include Print newspapers, radio stations and television stations b) Internet usage widespread c) Media heavily restricted by the government 8) Working conditions a) 78% of employees work for the government b) Good employee-employer relationship c) Employees entitled to benefits and good remuneration 9) Principal industries a) Petroleum, Construction, sugar, tobacco, nickel, pharmaceuticals, agricultural machinery and steel cement accounted for about 37% of the total GDP. b) Principle industries include petroleum, Construction, sugar, tobacco, nickel, pharmaceuticals, agricultural machinery and steel cement Most industries are government owned. Estimated ratio of 2:1 10) Foreign investment a) Direct foreign investment is restricted b) Potential for investment in Housing and food industries 11) International trade statistics a) 1) Major exports include sugar, tobacco, nickel, fish, coffee and citrus. At $ 2.4 billion. 2) The trend for exports is posititve as the government opens up the Cuban economy to private companies b) 1) Imports include food products, petroleum, equipment and machinery at $ 6.9 billion 2) Imports are increasing due to the growth in population and the demand for products and services. c) 1) Imports are more than exports leaving a high balance of payments deficit. About $4.5 billion. 2) Imports are more than exports leaving a high balance of payment deficit. Recent pronouncements by the Cuban government suggest a push towards closing this gap by increasing resource utilization. d) Exchange rates 1) US dollar used mainly in foreign exchange 2) Exchange rate at $ 1 US dollar equivalent to $ 0.9 Cuban convertible Pesos 3) Due to the global recession, the countrys exchange rates are fluctuating and dipping with the global trend. 12) Trade restrictions a) Embargoes placed by United States b) Free trade only with Venezuela c) Import duties high depending on type of product d) the government is subject to tariffs affecting countries of the South American organization. These tariffs are on sugar and petroleum. e) Licensing of business restricted f) Customs duties also high 13) Extent of the economic activities not included in the cash income activities a) Counter trade present in the country 1) Medical personnel used as main products of trade 2) Barter trade common b) Very little aid since US withdrawal 14) Labor force a) Available skilled labor force limited since majority of the population is elderly b) Unemployment rates low at 1.7% 15) Inflation rates low C) Developments in science and technology 1) Highly developed 2) Computers are wide spread. Low investment in research and development 4) Labor force technologically skilled D) Channels of distribution (macro analysis) 1) Trade in Cuba heavily controlled by the government a) Retail 1) Poorly developed retail sector 2) No large shopping centers 3) Good stored are of poor quality and expensive 4) Most tansations are done using cash. 5) Goods sold in dollars in small scale with a small percentage sold on large scale. 6) Chain stores, Department stores and speciality shops fill the supply gap the government cannot currently satisfy. b) Wholesale middlemen 1) Supply chain of estimated 500,000. 2) Mark-up of about 5% on products 3) Goods sold on cash basis c) Import/export agent: the government is the main exporter/importer. d) Most warehouses are fully owned by the government. e) The government has nearly 100% penetration of the markets through its expansive administrative networks. E) Media Media heavily controlled by the government 1) Number of Television Stations: 58 2) a) Television Sets per 1,000: 236.1 b) Number of Radio Stations: 225 c) Number of Radio Receivers: 3,900,000 d) Radio Receivers per 1,000: 348.7.Number of Individuals with Internet Access: 60,000 3) The main use of media houses is for the spread of national ideas that the Communist party in charge in Cuba believes are ideal for the entire population. 4) Any television or radio stations that go against the ideals supported by the party are closed down. 5) There are an estimated 26 national newspapers serving the population of Cuba. Cuba: Country Note Book Introduction Toshiba Corporation is a group of companies including Fujitsu, Mitsubishi electronic, Hitachi, and NEC Corporation. Toshiba relies more on domestic market constituting 60% of its net sales. The balance is taken care of by exports to North America, 16%, Asia 11%, and Europe, 10%. Since its formation in 1939, Toshiba has played a significant role in putting Japan in its current position in international trade. Business in Cuba Official business hours range from 8:30 am to 12: 30 pm for morning session and 1:30 pm to 4: 30 pm for evening session. Weekends are however optional but those who operate open between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturdays (B8a, B8c). Marketing Strategy for Toshiba laptops (Notebook computers) TARGET MARKET Toshiba Computers mostly manufactures high-end high-performance laptops. The main target of the products would have to be the government and institutions. This is because of the entanglement of all business in the country with government policy and regulation. If the company can manage to get a foothold in the government by offering technological set pieces that accord due privacy and safety of information, then the company shall have overcome a huge barrier. The low per capita income suggests that the market would have to upper-middle class and this is mostly government officials and politicians (IIB). Teenagers and youth below 30 would also be ideal as a segment for the laptops. This is because they are Tech-savvy and want more and better machines for work and play. The fast growth in computer and internet access can be further fuelled by Toshiba offering attractive high-performance laptops and computers. Institutions such as primary and secondary schools, as well as administrative institutions would make and ideal market for moving volumes in bulk (D2b). These places require many computers and laptops to fit in the current global trend. The current government led by Raul Castro is attempting to break the trade barriers ignited during Fidel Castros regime. The trade embargos by the United States do not affect Toshiba because it is a Japanese company(12A). This is good news for the company because the possibility of cut-throat competition is eliminated because American technology companies such as Apple cannot do business in Cuba (12A, 12D). Government policy would favor the company because it is inclusive and the business atmosphere does not vary so much from the Japanese model. The governments interests in arts and sports also require technology. In addition, the media is still backward in matters of technology (E1, E4). The secondary target markets would include such aspects of society as media and transport as the country moves towards a technological revolution of sorts. Marketing is aimed at awareness creation and forming good relationship with customers to the companys advantage. Marketing strategy is therefore very important as whatever the strategy used can either be profitable or destructive to the company. A marketing strategy that utilizes 4Ps that is Product, Promotion, Price and place respectively is ideal for products such as computers. Although, no trade partnership currently exists between Japan and Cuba, the country is a potential export destination for notebook computers. Cuba is highly literate thus can easily embrace the use of notebook computers. Students especially those at pre-university, University and other higher education institutions form the best target market for this product. Besides, the working population including teachers and doctors will find laptops essential hence another potential target market. Product Product refers to either good or service produced or manufactured by accompany especially under large scale with accurate amounts. This involves a description of all the special features of the product in question. Toshiba mini laptop has a full size keyboard and touchpad for easy typing. Its 10.1 diagonal screen is large enough for the eye; leave alone its durable textured four color finish. Its battery has a long life of up to eight hours. It also has attractive features like USB Sleep-and Charge, MP3 player and smart phone hence very convenient for youths. It is also video compatible and its CPU ensures more data storage and faster Internet connection (C1). Promotion In this case Toshiba can place advertisements in Cuban media. This of course will require first good relationship with Cuban government as it controls all media houses. The company can also take advantage of the widespread internet usage and advertise its product online. Toshiba can also promote its laptops through public relation measures like sponsoring sports where it is guaranteed to catch the attention of most youths (C3). Alternatively, Toshiba can take advantage of the widespread internet access in Cuba to engage in e-commerce by placing its product in virtual internet stores. Pricing Considerations should be given to prices of similar products in the market. Price administration on the other hand refers to involves all activities used to fit basic prices for every target market depending on sales situations. The exchange rates are also attractive for such a company (11b1, 11d2) Place The company can develop partnership with Cuban government to ensure that its product is placed in Cuban government stores like shopping malls. It is also possible for Toshiba through good relationship with Cuban government to find its own store for its product (D1). Rhiw location demographics will also affect the places where it can be marketed.

Essay --

Effective Virtual Leadership Josh Henson Shorter Universityâ€Æ' EFFECTIVE VIRTUAL LEADERSHIP Twenty first century technological advances in communication have broken down almost all of the physical barriers to communication in the world today. Today a person can communicate with almost anyone in the world at any time. Leaders in today’s workplace face new advantages and new challenges when it comes to advances in communication. The traditional workplace is changing as the virtual workplace expands. Research indicates that one of the biggest challenges to companies today is finding leaders with the skills to thrive in a complex and changing world (Dennis, Meola, Hall, 2013). Leaders of today need to be able to reach across differing cultures, many time zones, and they need to collaborate and build alliances across geographic distances (Dennis et al., 2013). Leaders today need to have a global mindset which includes operating from multiple sites, directing workers at multiple locations and working with clients in different geographic areas (Dennis et al., 2013) . In a recent study by ASTD.org entitled Virtual Leadership: Going the distance to manage your team, a survey of five hundred and five managers found that ninety-nine percent responds affirmatively when asked if their employer provides some employees to opportunity to work virtually (Mandzuk, 2014). A virtual workforce is described as any team whose members are not all physically under the same roof, as long as the participants have complementary skills and knowledge that produce greater value when they work together than if they worked separately. A virtual team can be local, national, or global, with members from one firm or many. Teams can be made up of full-time... ...dgment. According to the article qualitative judgment is the ability to formulate and select the right options (You can’t be a wimp, 2013). Qualitative judgment involves moving from the big picture down to the concrete, developing a diverse and trustworthy social network, and thinking through second and third order consequences ( You can’t be a wimp, 2013). Qualitative judgment is the second quality of a great leader. The third quality of a great leader is credibility. The lack of credibility will keep your ideas from ever being accepted in the company (You can be a wimp, 2013). Credibility according the article is gain by listening to diverse and contradictory views, building support from the board, employees and outside constituents, and having the courage to make the best decision for the company despite its popularity (You can’t be a wimp, 2013).

Recruitment and selection process for Boots Essay

The recruitment and selection process is used to employ new people for the organisation, company or business. The recruitment process can be quite expensive due to the work and staff involved. Money is needed to advertise the position in newspapers, replying to candidates, paying interviewers, and also if candidates are successful then money will be needed to actually train them. In the selection process there are five main areas which are completed – * Job descriptions * Person specifications * Advertising * Selection process * Interviewing Job descriptions A job description is a list of the main tasks required to full fill the position. I have gathered evidence of a job description from Boots. The job description which I have collected states all of the tasks which are required, but in an actual job description only the main tasks will be noted. I have also got a job description from my local job centre but the information given is not enough for what would be required by an applicant. The description does not show the days which will be worked or even the type of work which will be required. More and more organisations like Boots, Marks and Spencer and Tescos have job descriptions for every job, from a Cleaner to a Managing Director. There are three main ways in which a job description can be drawn up by the personnel department. These are – * Line manager can draw up a job description of what the job entails. * Actual existing job holder can do it. * Human resources manager can interview the job holder and the line manager to find out what the job involves. The best approach out of these three options would be to interview the line manager and the job holder because the line manager may miss out little things which may be included in the job and the job holder will be able to give more information. A job description also gives the applicants other details of the job which are necessary such as- * Actual job title * Location of the job * Duration and hours required * Main tasks required * Pay and other benefits * Person to contact and place to apply.

Swot Analysis of Dell Computers

Dell Computer Corporation started in 1984 by Michael Dell with this very simple premise as its basic foundation: that personal computers could be built and sold directly to customers and by doing this, Dell could address their specific needs and provide the best computing solutions that meet those needs. Dell’s Direct Method provides two distinct advantages: 1. reducing marketing and sales cost by eliminating markups of distributors and retailers and 2. building to order reduced inventory costs and risks of retaining inventories. Dell’s Direct Model is the main reason why it has achieved its stellar status in business today. This strategic model enables Dell to interact with customers directly providing them with fast, reasonably-priced and friendly means of production and distribution. SWOT Analysis of Dell Computer Strengths Dell's Direct Model approach of enables the company to offer direct relationships with customers such as corporate and institutional customers. Their strategic method also provides other forms of products and services such as internet and telephone purchasing, customized computer systems; phone and online technical support and next-day, on-site product service. This extensive range of products and services is definitely one of Dell’s strengths. Dell Computer's award-winning customer service, industry-leading growth and consistently strong financial performance differentiate the company from competitors for the following reasons: Price for Performance – Dell boasts a very efficient procurement, manufacturing and distribution process allowing it to offer customers powerful systems at competitive prices. Customization – Each Dell system is built to order to meet each customer’s specifications. Reliability, Service and Support – Dell’s direct customer allows it to provide top-notch customer service before and after the sale. Latest Technology – Dell is able to introduce the latest relevant technology compared to companies using the indirect distribution channels. Dell turns over inventory for an average of every six days, keeping inventory costs low. The company's application of the Internet to other parts of the business –including procurement, customer support and relationship management — is growing at a rate of 30 percent. The company's Web site received at least 25 million visits at more than 50 country-specific sites. Weaknesses Dell’s biggest weakness is attracting the college student segment of the market. Dell’s sales revenue from educational institutions such as colleges only accounts for a measly 5% of the total. Dell’s focus on the corporate and government institutional customers somehow affected its ability to form relationships with educational institutions. Since many students purchase their PCs through their schools, Dell is obviously not popular among the college market yet. For home users, Dell’s direct method and customization approach posed problems. For one, customers cannot go to retailers because Dell does not use distribution channels. Customers just can’t buy Dell as simply as other brands because each product is custom-built according to their specifications and this might take days to finish. Opportunities Personal computers are becoming a necessity now more than ever. Customers are getting more and more educated about computers. Second-time buyers would most likely avail of Dell’s custom-built computers because as their knowledge grows, so do their need to experiment or use some additional computer features. Demand for laptops is also growing. As a matter of fact, demand for laptop has overtaken the demand for desktops. This is another opportunity for Dell to grow in other segments. The internet also provides Dell with greater opportunities since all they have to do now is to visit Dell’s website to place their order or to get information. Since Dell does not have retail stores, the online stores would surely make up for its absence. It is also more convenient for customers to shop online than to actually drive and do purchase at a physical store. Threats In a volatile market such as personal computers, threats abound. Computers change in a constant sometime daily basis. New software, new hardware and computer accessories are introduced at a lightning speed. It is essential for Dell therefore to be always on the lookout for new things or introduce new computer systems. The threat to become outmoded is a pulsating reality in a computer business. Not only that, companies must produce products that are high in quality but low in price. This is one challenge that Dell contends with. One of the biggest external threats to Dell is that price difference among brands is getting smaller. Dell’s Direct Model attracts customers because it saves cost. Since other companies are able to offer computers at low costs, this could threaten Dell’s price-conscious growing customer base. With almost identical prices, price difference is no longer an issue for a customer. They might choose other brands instead of waiting for Dell’s customized computers. The growth rate of the computer industry is also slowing down. Today, Dell has the biggest share of the market. If the demand slows down, the competition will become stiffer in the process. Dell has to work doubly hard to differentiate itself from its substitutes to be able to continue holding a significant market share. Technological advancement is a double-edge sword. It is an opportunity but at the same time a threat. Low-cost leadership strategy is no longer an issue to computer companies therefore it is important for computer companies to stand out from the rest. Technology dictates that the most up-to-date and fastest products are always the most popular. Dell has to always keep up with technological advancements to be able to compete.