The Rising Production of Oil by Non

Introduction Since its establishment in 1960, the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) has dominated the global oil markets and prices. However, the rising production of oil by non-OPEC countries has become the biggest threat to OPEC’s power. The powerful OPEC was established to safeguard the interest of member oil exporters, a role that the organization had managed to sustain until recently when its market share declined from over 50% to 40%.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Rising Production of Oil by Non-OPEC Countries is the Biggest Threat to OPEC’s Power specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Oil extraction by non-OPEC countries has been on the rise until the recent mid-2014 fall in oil prices. Countries such as the US have intensified their oil extraction in the shale fields. Russia has also increased its oil extraction to the extent of becoming a major non-OPEC oil producer. A s the paper confirms, the increase in oil production by non-OPEC countries has led to the witnessed non-cooperation among OPEC members, disparity in technology and innovation between OPEC and non-OPEC countries, and the issue of non-OPEC countries taking over the role of swing oil producer and price marker, and hence the biggest threat to the power of OPEC. Non-cooperation among OPEC Members The increased production of oil by non-OPEC countries has resulted in reduced oil prices across the globe. According to Yergin (2006), the power of OPEC has been sourced from its ability to regulate oil prices in the world markets by managing the supply and access of oil by other countries. Birol (2007) affirms that the mechanism that OPEC used to cling to this power as a cartel was the cutback in oil production by the dominant Saudi Arabia if oil prices went down. According to Guidi, Russell, and Tarbert (2006), Saudi Arabia accounts for approximately a fifth of all the oil reserves in the worl d. A cut down in its oil production means low supply in the market. Hence, the demand for oil goes up, followed by price increment, which in turn results in high asset prices in the US and other OPEC countries (Ahmadian, Hassan, Regassa, 2013). Since Saudi Arabia accounts for more than half of all the OPEC oil reserve capacity, it acts as the swing producer and regulator of oil prices (Portman, 2007; Guidi et al., 2006). Hence, it can reduce its oil production to raise prices. However, this trend has been threatened by the recent increase in oil production by non-OPEC countries. For instance, Braml (2007) observes that an increase in oil production by non-OPEC countries has resulted in increased oil supply in the market, hence reducing oil prices. Therefore, OPEC members have called for meetings to deliberate on their position concerning the falling world oil prices.Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, the meetings have ended in disarray after members fail to agree. OPEC remains a divided organization, owing to competition from non-OPEC countries in terms of oil prices (Birol, 2007). For instance, OPEC members within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that include countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have been willing to let world oil prices fall for them to increase their market share in the world. On the other hand, member countries of OPEC such as Venezuela and Iran have opposed the policy that allows oil prices to fall. They have advocated higher oil prices in the world markets (Mann, 2012). Such countries have also advocated lower oil production, which is opposed to the GCC OPEC members. This deadlock within OPEC saw the November 2014 summit unsuccessful. The impact of the increased threat to the power of OPEC because of the amplified oil production by non-OPEC members became more evident when Saudi Arabia declined to reduce its oil production alone unless other oil producers such as Russia (a non-OPEC member) also reduce their production. Ahmadian et al. (2013) confirm how such intimidation to the OPEC members threatens to split its power and make oil prices shift in terms of regulation. For example, immediately after the failed November 2014 OPEC summit, oil prices fell rapidly (Colgan, 2014). The power to control oil prices is slowly slipping away from the OPEC since Saudi Arabia is even more likely to flood oil markets with cheaper supplies to increase its market share and/or maintain its old markets. Morse and Richard (2002) maintain that OPEC fears that the increased oil supply from non-OPEC countries such as Russia, Canada, and the US will take over the market with lower prices. The increase in oil production from non-OPEC countries has threatened the power of OPEC members by putting the interest of individual countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE ahead of that of OPEC as a body (Webb, 2013). Innovation and Technology Issues by OPEC Members Apart from having the highest oil reserves, Saudi Arabia (a dominant member of OPEC) also has the cheapest oil production technology (Yergin, 2006). This situation, which seems to have worked to the advantage of the other 12 member countries in the OPEC since Saudi Arabia is the leader, has led to the adoption of even cheaper expertise by non-OPEC members. Birol (2007) observes that through its cheap production cost, Saudi Arabia has managed to regulate oil supply in the world market since it shields the other members to maximize their profits.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Rising Production of Oil by Non-OPEC Countries is the Biggest Threat to OPEC’s Power specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the increase in oil production by non-OPEC countries is a threat to the existence of this dominant power syst em. For instance, Braml (2007) asserts that both the US and Canada have employed cheaper technologies in their extraction of oil in the recent past. Since oil prices have been high until mid-2014, these countries have also managed to supply oil to the world markets at lower prices compared to those floated by OPEC members. As a result, OPEC members have no choice but to reduce their oil prices in the world market to secure their traditional markets and/or increase their business share (Dullieux, Ragot, Schubert, 2011). Mann (2012) observes that the efforts to maintain the OPEC member countries’ markets have ended up in more splits than unity in the organization as their market domination powers are threatened. The only way to save the decline of OPEC power will be through increased oil production by countries that have higher oil reserves such as Saudi Arabia and/or reducing oil to out-win the non-OPEC oil producers (Guidi et al., 2006). Critics such as Braml (2007) argue th at this move will work only if the cost of production of oil by non-OPEC countries such as Russia, the US, and Canada is higher than the market prices floated by OPEC members, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. However, Colgan (2014) observes that although a reduction in oil extraction activities was witnessed after November 2014 when OPEC summit failed to reach an amicable solution to the falling oil prices, modern technology seems to maintain oil production by non-OPEC members afloat. Non-OPEC countries, for instance, the US, Canada, and Russia have used modern technology in their extraction of oil (Morse Richard, 2002). Innovation and the increased technological expertise have made the extraction of oil in non-OPEC countries more efficient and cheaper (Guidi et al., 2006). This situation has threatened the OPEC markets even more. For instance, Saudi Arabia has vowed not to reduce its oil supply in the world market, unless non-OPEC countries such as Russia also r educe their supply formation. This case illustrates that the efficiency of oil production is a threat to the power and existence of OPEC. The use of innovative technology by non-OPEC countries in oil extraction and production means that major non-OPEC oil producers such as Russia will take over global oil markets that were traditionally dominated by OPEC members (Siddiqi, 2002). The existence of countries such as Venezuela and Iran in the OPEC is pegged on the benefits of being safeguarded by dominant members, including Saudi Arabia, in oil export (Ahmadian et al., 2013).Advertising Looking for research paper on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The fact that Saudi Arabia, which has been the dominant market swinger and dominant regulator, is opting out of its traditional role in OPEC is a threat to its power. Instead of cutting back its oil supply to raise oil prices, the country has opted to increase its oil supply to the global markets with the view of securing and increasing its market share. This case will leave smaller OPEC members exposed to global competition for oil markets with major producers in the non-OPEC countries such as Russia. Portman (2007) asserts that the cost of oil extraction and production has been very high. Countries have opted to let states with high oil reserves such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE supply them with oil. However, Yergin (2006) affirms that modern technology and innovation in oil extraction has made it cheaper and more efficient. Therefore, the power of OPEC in dominating world oil prices is likely to be split or worse still taken over by non-OPEC countries. Non-OPEC Countries taking ov er the Role of Swing Oil Producer and Price Marker An OPEC member, namely Saudi Arabia, has dominated the role of price marker and swing producer (Siddiqi, 2002). Saudi Arabia has managed to play this role, owing to its large oil reserves and its willingness to preserve the reserves for future generations. Saudi Arabia has kept world oil prices high through limiting its output (Birol, 2007). Since it has huge reserves, it has set prices that are followed by the other small members, thus enabling them to maximize their profit through their output at a given price. Since OPEC has failed to set limits on output per member country, most of the smaller countries take advantage and produce above the quotas allocated in an effort to make more profits. Saudi Arabia has also used its large oil reserve that has been spared over the years for the prosperity of future generations as a way of controlling oil prices (Colgan, 2014). For instance, it voluntarily limits its output of oil to the worl d markets with an aim of saving it for the future generations. However, this privilege of being the market swinger is threatened by the increased oil production by non-OPEC countries. Although dominant countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait have no need for immediate revenue that comes from high prices of oil, their market share has been threatened. Citing a similar occurrence in 1986, critics of this school of thought such as Ahmadian et al. (2013) have argued that the increased oil production by non-OPEC countries is not a threat to OPEC power today. However, contrary to the fall of oil prices from $50 per barrel to $30 per barrel in 1986 when Saudi Arabia maintained its position as the oil price marker by letting the oil prices fall as it increased its production and supply, Guidi et al. (2006) assert that the current situation has other factor to consider: innovation and technology. Although the 1986 fall in oil prices was seen as a threat to the power of OPEC count ries just as it is today, Saudi Arabia emerged victorious as a dominant power where it saved the power OPEC for more than two decades (Guidi et al., 2006). It is required that for a country or an organization to remain a cartel or the price marker, its cost of production must be lower than that of its competitors. OPEC and Saudi Arabia have to contend with this major and new factor if their plan is a replica of the 1986. There has been a heightened innovation and technological development in oil and gas extraction technology by non-OPEC countries such as the US (Braml, 2007). According to Webb (2013), oil extraction and production at the shale by the US has managed to reduce the operation cost, thus making the US and other non-OPEC countries remain competitive amidst the falling oil prices. The reduced cost of oil extraction by the US, which is a non-OPEC country, owing to innovations and modern oil production technology is the biggest threat to the power dominance of OPEC (Webb, 20 13). According to Yergin (2006), it is even projected that the US may take over as the new world oil price marker with the fall of OPEC. This outcome has a high likelihood of succeeding since other smaller member countries in OPEC may not sustain high profits, especially when the dominant Saudi Arabia gives in to the fall in oil prices against OPEC members’ will. Colgan (2014) asserts that although Saudi Arabia may remain afloat as a powerful oil producer and supplier and increase its market share, its price marker position is likely to crumble with the fall of OPEC. In fact, the relevance of OPEC is already crumbling, with members having divided opinions as GCC countries go for a fall in world oil prices for them to increase their market share while smaller countries such as Venezuela cling on the traditional high oil prices. Conclusion As evident in this discussion, the rising production of oil by non-OPEC countries is the biggest threat to OPEC’s power. Although Sau di Arabia and the other 12 OPEC member countries have controlled oil prices since 1960, developments such as the current increase in oil production by non-members and the fall in oil prices threaten OPEC’s power. Previous strategies applied by OPEC to control oil prices by having the dominant member reduce its production while allowing smaller members to maximize profits and production have been overtaken by innovation and technology. Countries such as the US, Canada, and Russia have made Saudi Arabia change its traditional role in OPEC, thus resulting in divisions between GCC and non-GCC members within OPEC. The use of modern technology and innovation has resulted in reduced operation cost by the US. This situation has threatened the traditional strategies that OPEC countries have been using to retain their power. Reference List Ahmadian, A., Hassan, A., Regassa, H. (2013). The Impact of Oil Price Fluctuations on the Automobile Industry. International Journal of Business E conomics Perspectives, 8(2), 35-43. Birol, F. (2007). World Energy Prospects and Challenges. Asia-Pacific Review, 14(1), 1-12. Braml, J. (2007). Can the United States Shed Its Oil Addiction? Washington Quarterly, 30(4), 117-130. Colgan, D. (2014). The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Limits of OPEC in the Global Oil Market. International Organization, 68(3), 599-632. Dullieux, R., Ragot, L., Schubert, K. (2011). Carbon Tax and OPEC’s Rents under a Ceiling Constraint. Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 113(4), 798-824 Guidi, M., Russell, A., Tarbert, H. (2006). The effect of OPEC policy decisions on oil and stock prices. OPEC Review: Energy Economics Related Issues, 30(1), 1-18. Mann, Y. (2012). Saudi Arabia’s Policy Toward non-OPEC Countries. Diplomacy Statecraft, 23(2), 381-391. Morse, L., Richard, J. (2002). The Battle for Energy Dominance. Foreign Affairs, 81(2), 16-31. Portman, C. (2007). High commodity prices are here to stay. Economic Outlook, 31(4), 21-29. Siddi qi, A. (2002). OIL: The threat of war underpins world oil markets. Middle East, 329(1), 44-45. Webb, T. (2013, Jan. 17). OPEC stranglehold ‘will be broken by shale revolution’. The Times, p. 12. Yergin, D. (2006). A Great Bubbling. Newsweek, 148(25), E14-E18. This research paper on The Rising Production of Oil by Non-OPEC Countries is the Biggest Threat to OPEC’s Power was written and submitted by user Daphne Rush to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

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Managing Change in Organisations: Supermarket Case Study Meena Bazar one of the chain super markets of the Bangladesh which serve in Bangladesh from 2000. Meena Bazar, the first truly national supermarket chain was founded with the promise of year-round. Superstores are set to boom in the country as the current market players are planning to open several hundred more outlets in the next few years to cope with the rising demand from the consumers. With a strong 15-20 per cent annual sales growth, about 30 companies with more than 200 outlets have already made foray into the industry since Rahimafrooz, one of the largest business groups in Bangladesh, introduced Agora, a chain superstore, in the capital a decade ago. Strengths of the Meena Bazar is Size allows for competitive buying terms, Strong senior management, Flexible formats. 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Due to our continuous expansion plans, we are looking for smart, hardworking and proactive young people to be part of our dynamic team. Here the Meena Bazar is the selected organization for the study and access this organization for the find our which will help to do batter performance of it. Bangladesh chain superstores sectors: Superstores are set to boom in the country as the current market players are planning to open several hundred more outlets in the next few years to cope with the rising demand from the consumers. With a strong 15-20 per cent annual sales growth, about 30 companies with more than 200 outlets have already made foray into the industry since Rahimafrooz, one of the largest business groups in Bangladesh, introduced Agora, a chain superstore, in the capital a decade ago. The annual turnover of the superstores now stands at around Tk 15.0 billion (1500 crore), according to Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association (BSOA). Hassle-free shopping environment, hygienic commodities, fresh vegetables, meat and fish at the supermarkets are earning appreciation of the customers, market operators said. The supermarket biggies have attempted the massive expansion drive to attract the shoppers, who still depend on unplanned wet markets to buy their daily essentials. They say that a rise in organized retailing would offer the consumers hygienic foods at competitive prices, compared to those offered by retailers in the kitchen markets, where commodities are sold mostly in unhygienic condition. The rise in the number of supermarkets, according to analysts, will diversify the choices of consumers and boost their spending, so much needed for economic growth, while the wet markets will also improve quality and services following in the footsteps of supermarkets. 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In the early days of the business, around 500 customers would visit a supermarket outlet daily. Now some 5,000 customers come to a store everyday, they say. Meena Bazar SWOT Analysis Strengths Size allows for competitive buying terms Strong senior management Flexible formats Strong hypermarket portfolio Coverage the Mega City Dhaka Increasing level of investment Strong price message and offer at competitive price than the competetors Expanding non-food and online offer Efficient distribution Weaknesses Can not spread the outlets all over the Bangladesh Increasing geographical spread makes focus on specific Markets difficult Exposed to macroeconomic difficulties in some markets International expansion requires substantial investment High reliance on Dhaka Market Poor CSR and community impact Opportunities Forming or merging a strategic alliance with suppliers Growth of non-food Growth of convenience and compact hypermarket formats Effective use of Club card database to increase basket size Develop additional services Threats Faces range of diverse competitors internationally Increased level of eating out Move towards premium does not sit with Meena Bazars traditional strengths Restrictive planning guidelines Political opposition to the power of supermarkets tends to focus on Meena Bazar PEST Analysis for Meena Bazar (P)olitical Factors For employment legislations, the government encourages retailers to provide a mix of job opportunities from flexible, lower-paid and locally-based jobs to highly-skilled, higher-paid and centrally-located jobs. Also to meet the demand from population categories such as students, working parents and senior citizens. Meena Bazar understands that retailing has a great impact on jobs and people factors (new store developments are often seen as destroying other jobs in the retail sector as traditional stores go out of business or are forced to cut costs to compete), being an inherently local and labour-intensive sector. Meena Bazar employs large numbers of; student, disabled and elderly workers, often paying them lower rates. In an industry with a typically high staff turnover, these workers offer a higher level of loyalty and therefore represent desirable employees. (E)conomical Factors Economic factors are of concern to Meena Bazar, because they are likely to influence demand, costs, prices and profits. One of the most influential factors on the economy is high unemployment levels, which decreases the effective demand for many goods, adversely affecting the demand required to produce such goods. (S)ocial/Cultural Factors Current trends indicate that British customers have moved towards one-stop and bulk shopping, which is due to a variety of social changes. Meena Bazar have, therefore, increased the amount of non-food items available for sale. Demographic changes such as the aging population, an increase in female workers and a decline in home meal preparation mean that Bangladesh retailers are also focusing on added-value products and services. In addition, the focus is now towards; the own-label share of the business mix, the supply chain and other operational improvements, which can drive costs out of the business. National retailers are increasingly reticent to take on new suppliers. (T)echnological Factors Technology is a major macro-environmental variable which has influenced the development of many of the Meena Bazar products. The new technologies benefit both customers and the company: customer satisfaction rises because goods are readily available, services can become more personalized and shopping more convenient. The launch of the Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) initiative provided the shift that is now apparent in the management of food supply chains. Meena Bazar stores utilise the following technologies: Wireless devices Intelligent scale Electronic shelf labeling Self check-out machine Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Industry Analysis: Porters Five Forces Threat of New Entrants The Bangladesh grocery market is primary dominated by few competitors, including four major brands of Agora, PQS, and many small chain shop. That possess a market share of 70% and small chains of with a further 10%. Over the last 10 years, according to, the grocery market has been transformed into the supermarket-dominated business. Majority of large chains have built their power due to operating efficiency, one-stop shopping and major marketing-mix expenditure. This powerful force had a great impact on the small traditional shops, such as butchers, bakers and etc. Bargaining Power of Suppliers This force represents the power of suppliers that can be influenced by major grocery chains and that fear of losing their business to the large supermarkets. Therefore, this consolidates further leading positions of stores like Meena bazaar and Agora in negotiating better promotional prices from suppliers that small individual chains are unable to match. In return, Bangladesh based suppliers are also threatened by the growing ability of large retailers to source their products from abroad at cheaper deals. Bargaining Power of Customers Porter theorized that the more products that become standardized or undifferentiated, the lower the switching cost, and hence, more power is yielded to buyers Porter M. Meena Bazars famous loyalty card Clubcard remains the most successful customer retention strategy that significantly increases the profitability of Meena Bazars business. In meeting customer needs, customizing service, ensure low prices, better choices, constant flow of in-store promotions enables brands like Meena Bazar to control and retain their customer base. Threat of Substitutes General substitution is able to reduce demand for a particular product, as there is a threat of consumers switching to the alternatives Porter M. In the grocery industry this can be seen in the form of product-for-product or the substitute of need and is further weakened by new trends, such as the way small chains of convenience stores are emerging in the industry. In this case Meena bazar, PQS and Agoras are trying to acquire existing small-scale operations and opening Metro and Express stores in local towns and city centers. Bargaining Power of Competitors The grocery environment has seen a very significant growth in the size and market dominance of the larger players, with greater store size, increased retailer concentration, and the utilization of a range of formats, which are now prominent characteristics of the sector. As it was mentioned above, the purchasing power of the food-retailing industry is concentrated in the hands of a relatively small number of retail buyers. Assessment of Meena Bazar: An organizations performance can measured through some features. The features are given below and assess the Meena Bazar Human Resources Human resources are an organizations most important asset. Ultimately an organizations distinctive competences lie in the skills and abilities of its employees. Because these skills and abilities give an organization a competitive advantage, organizations must continually monitor their structures to find the most effective way of motivating and organizing human resources to acquire and use their skills. Typical kinds of change efforts directed at human resources induce (1) new investment in training and development activities so that employees acquire new skills and abilities; (2) socializing employees into the organizational culture so that they learn the new routines on which organizational performance depends; (3) changing organizational norms and values to motivate a multicultural and diverse workforce; (4) ongoing examination of the way in which promotion and reward systems operate in a diverse workforce; and (5) changing the composition of the top management team to improve org anizational learning and decision making. Assessment of Meena Bazar: Meena Bazaar have only seven outlets in Banladehs. They have 70 people who directly involved in the outlets for customer service. Another 20 personnel have worked in the background for the management of the outlets. From the assessment, found that the management of Meena Bazaar have not take any initiative for formal training of their worker who are directly involve with the custom service to improvement of the service quality. For that reason many times the worker face problems in the outlets and occur many unexpected situation. Meena Bazaar can successfully implement the organizational culture to the worker. They have a dress code in the outlets. From this the buyer can easily tress out who will serve them and can help them. Another culture is that they are very aware about the time. They have a good organizational bonding. In the Meena Bazaar there is not any reward system for the outlet managers. If there was any rewarded system to them who can achieve the highest sell in his outlet the manager will motivate to sell more and more. By which the organization can earn more and more profit. Changes in the nature of work over the last years have a reflective and alarming impact on the roles of the HR within the new modes of organizational flexibility as well as leveling power of information technology. Generally, the emergence of HRM as a universal remedy for integrating business strategy and people management has exposed personnel practitioners to a fresh set of role challenges and managerial expectations that have stressed out the gaps between the HR language and reality. Further, the attempts to capture the changing environment of the HR personnel roles in response to major transformations in the workplace, the associated rise of HRM, and the competitive advantage of the whole organization through its manpower are few aspects that HR functions embark upon. Organizations are now faced with leaner structures and increased competition which in turn are generating a rapid pace of change in the workplace. The greatest barrier to adapting to continual change lies with the management of people rather than technology. In Meena Bazar, the constant efforts of effective implementation and utilization of the HR strategies make it possible for the company to perform well in the market. The increasing profit yean in and year out is an evidence of the successful HR practice. Functional Resources Each organizational function needs to develop procedures that allow to manage the particular environment it faces. As the environment changes. organizations often transfer resources to the functions where the most value can be created. Crucial functions grow in importance, while those whose usefulness is declining shrink. An organization can improve the value that its functions create by changing its structure, culture, and technology. The change from a functional to a product team structure, for example, may speed the new product development process. Alterations in functional structure can help provide a selling in which people are motivated to perform. The change from traditional mass production to a manufacturing operation based on self-managed work teams often allows companies to increase product quality and productivity if employees can share in the gains from the new work system. Assessment of Meena Bazar: For Meena Bazaar the functional resources includes its availability of the products in every outlets. From the assessment Meena Bazaar is not fully successful to available the products in every outlets in at time. It is happen for their distribution system. The distribution system is not so strong to reach to the outlets at a time. Anther matter for the super chain shop the inventory system should be very strong. Because if the customer cannot find his / her desired regular product then can switch any time. The one of the competitor of Meena Bazaar is Agore. The agora offer the new shape of product to their customers. But Meena Bazaar can not do that frequently. Technological Capabilities Technological capabilities give an organization an enormous capacity to change itself in order to exploit market opportunities. The ability In develop a constant stream of new products or to modify existing products so that they continue to attract customers is one of an organizations core competences. Similarly, the ability to improve the way goods and services are produced in order to Increase their quality and reliability is a crucial organizational capability At the organizational level, an organization has to provide the context that allows it to translate its technological competences into value for its stakeholders. This task often involves the redesign of organizational activities. 113M, for example. has recently moved to change its organizational struchire to better capitalize on its strengths in providing IT consulting. Previously, it had been unable to translate its technical capabilities into commercial opportunities because its structure was not focused on consulting, bu t on making and selling computer hardware and software rather than providing advice. Assessment of Meena Bazar: The inventory management system should be very strong and automated in the chain super shop. The Meena Bazar have a inventory software for their inventory management. But their inventory management software is not the customized automated. If the inventory and selling information store in a central software and the central store can see the status, the management can easily send the desired product. So the technological capabilities is not so updated. By the inventory management system the manufacturing company can be benefited in many ways. The basic function of inventories is to act as a buffer to decouple or uncouple the various activities of a firm so that all do not have to be pursued at exactly the same rate. The key activities are (1) purchasing, (2) production, and (3) selling. The term uncoupling means that these interrelated activities of a firm can be carried on independently. Without inventories, purchasing and production would be completely con trolled by the sales schedules. If the sale of a firm increases, these two would also increase and vice versa. In other words, purchasing and production functions would depend upon the level of sales. It is, of course, true that in the long run, the purchasing and production activities are and, in fact, should be tied to the sales activities of a firm. But, if in the short term they are rigidly related, the three key activities cannot be carried out efficiently. Inventories permit short-term relaxation so that each activity may be pursued efficiently. Stated differently, inventories enable firms in the short run to produce at a rate greater than purchase of raw materials and vice versa, or to sell at a rate greater than production and vice versa. Organizational Capabilities Through the design of organizational structure and culture, an organization can harness its human and functional resources to take advantage of technological opportunities. Organizational change often involves changing the relationships between people and functions to increase their ability to create value. Changes in structure and culture take place at all levels of the organization and include changing the routines an individual uses to greet customers, changing work group relationships. improving integration between divisions, and changing corporate culture by changing the top management tram. These four levels at which change can take place are obviously interdependent; it is often impossible to change one without changing another. Suppose an organization invests resources and recruits a team of scientists who are experts In a new technology-for example, biotechnology. If successful, this human resource change will lead to the emergence of a new functional resource and a new technological capability Top management will be forced to reevaluate its organizational structure and the way it integrates and coordinates its other functions to ensure that they support its new functional resources. Effectively utilizing the new resources may require a move to a product team structure. it may even require downsizing and the elimination of functions that are no longer central to the organizations mission. Assessment of Meena Bazar: The organizational capabilities include the value system that delivery to the Meena Bazars customers. The main weakness of Meena Bazar is their organizational capability . Because their number of outlets is only seven and only centralized in Dhaka. They should have to expand their outlets to all over the Bangladesh. The all products of Meena Bazar have not produce in their own farm. So they have to maintain the relationship with the supplier. If the supplier is not supply the batter goods, Meena Bazar also can not serve the batter goods. To improve the quality of the served product they have to make good relation with supplier. Proposed Action Strategy 1: Product Development The retailers in the Bangladesh represent Gemcom Groups largest sales and marketing channel which encompass national and regional grocery supply stores and mass merchants. Distributors represent Meena Bazar second largest channel and generally sell to both traditional and resellers and retailers. In Bangladesh, Meena Bazars market share is still relatively high. Meena Bazar Corporation has more than distributors located in Dhaka. Strategy 2: Product Penetration The company uses the store as a venue to sell its products. This is accomplished through the use of marketing campaigns and product bundles. The company is able to build awareness of its products and brands through mass media advertising, public relations efforts and branded Internet properties. The company also makes it a point to receive feedback from its customers through market research. The company then uses these feedbacks to refine its product development efforts and marketing strategies. The company also initiated an e-commerce strategy to increase online sales and provide new innovations in business class which increases customer satisfaction. Strategy 3: Efficiency and Effectiveness Meena Bazars direct to customer model solve the problem for additional capital for marketing and sales. By selling directly to consumer it eliminated retailers along the way. One advantage of this kind of system is that the firm is continuously in contact with its customers and they are benefiting in two areas concerning sales and marketing, seeing sales trends and learning about unmet costumer demands. Strategy 4: Technology Improvement Technology is an important source of competitive advantage. And this is considered a strength of Meena Bazar because the firm enjoys better access to technology. Meena Bazar introduces the latest relevant technology much more quickly than companies with slow-moving indirect distribution channels. Techniques for change Revolutionary Change Revolutionary change is dramatic, rapid and broadly focused. This radical shift may mean new ways of doing things, new goals or a new organizational structure. The three important components of revolutionary change are reengineering, restructuring, and innovation, as described by Jones and George. Revolutionary change is appropriate within the technology industry, where swift advancements often happen. Although an organization cannot plan for every situation, scenario planning may be most appropriate to predict potential revolutionary change. In scenario planning, a business envisions possible future outcomes and creates a plan to deal with each one. Technological change increases is a process of a decision. Management can take decision it by within a meeting and implement. So the it goes under Revolutionary Change process. By setup a central server, Meena Bazar can control the inventory management system in centrally. Automated system can facilated the organization to check out inventory before the stock out. The inventory and distribution is considered as one of the most important aspects of any companies that are involved in a supply chain. It can help them to manage and control the overall flow of products of materials that are used in production and distribution. The said importance is the reason why, most of the companies are already using the technology of WMS. It is a computerized system that helps many companies to incorporate the different aspects of their operations in order to control the physical flow of their supply chain. The all outlets can easily maintain same quality and attract the customers. Benefits of invent ory system: Increased productivity of Meena Bazar managers Sales and customer satisfaction Increased profitability Mobile, real-time access to point of sales (POS) reports from store systems Easy integration with inventory management Evolutionary Change Evolutionary change is described as incremental, gradual and narrowly focused. This change is constant. Evolutionary change may be a carefully developed, long-term goal that an organization is moving toward. One tool that can promote and direct evolutionary change is strategic planning. Under the Evolutionary Change the human resource training and development is running. Because. The training and development process is not finished with in a period. The process of training is given below Organizational Capabilities developing includes make more outlets for Meena Bazar. Because people like to take everything with in the hand. So no one find the Meena Bazars out lets even though the price and the quality is more comparable to others. Another matter is that when Meena Bazar provide the discount offer the competitor also offer some benefits. So the main strength will if Meena Bazar increase its out let. The outlet increasing process is not done quickly. Because lot of research and the organizational is needed for the decision. Conclusion It seems that the major problem encountered by Meena bazaar is due to the very few outlets in all over the Bangladesh. In addition, the problems also arise because of the inadequate knowledge of its management about the use of strategic management and other management systems. This way, the empire of Meena Bazar will remain get the highest position in the chain grocery market in the Bangladesh.

The Truth of Thanksgiving Essay -- American History Thanksgiving Essay

The Truth of Thanksgiving While children are growing up in America, they are told several tales of America’s establishment and history. However, these stories are generally not told as they actually happened. An instance of this is the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is explained as this elaborate ceremony where the Pilgrims and Indians gathered in harmony at this large harvest in celebration of their coming together. According to the primary document of William Bradford’s journal, Thanksgiving didn’t pan out quite as it is explained to Americans today. In the film, The Addams Family Values, the Addams children take part in a traditional, yet misconceived celebration of the first Thanksgiving. This film in comparison to Bradford’s testimony proves how Americans view their history as they please; giving America the official Thanksgiving ceremony even if it never actually happened. In the film, Addams’ Family Values, the Addams’ are depicted as an odd American family. They practice magic, dress in all black, worship the dead, etc. In this specific film, the Addams children, Wednesday and Pugsley, are sent to summer camp. The camp is a Native American activity based camp named Camp Chippewa. At camp, Wednesday and all of her friends are considered â€Å"losers†. Wednesday and Pugsley have black hair, wear all black clothes and, along with all their friends, don’t enjoy typical kid activities, such as watching Disney movies and playing with dolls. All the other children are blonde, rich girls, who are considered the â€Å"cool kids†. They are all apples of their parent’s eyes and truly enjoy being at summer camp. The children partake in typical â€Å"Indian† activities such as shooting bow ... ...to Bradford’s, â€Å"Of Plymouth Plantation†. Americans have such a need to be exceptional and different that they are willing to risk their true history for a celebration that comes only once a year. It is important for American children to learn their true history rather than the alternative in order for them to understand the struggles the original founders went through to create the America we have today. Works Cited The Addams’ Family Values. Dir. Barry Sonnenfeld Perf. Angelica Houston, Raul Julia, Christopher Llyod, Joan Cusack, Christina Ricci, Carol Kane, Jimmy Workman. Paramount,1993. Bradford, William. â€Å"Of Plymouth Plantation.† Ed. Nina Baym. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. New York: 2003. 156-195. Newman, Andrew. â€Å"William Bradford, the ‘Pilgrims’, Thanksgiving†. American Literature I. EGL 217. 06 Feb. 2006. (cited as â€Å"Lecture†)

One Wish

Ever since I played in my first soccer game when I was five, I knew I wanted to play professional soccer. I loved the feeling of running past defenders and scoring a goal. If I had one wish, it would be to play on the USWNT because I would get to travel to new places, be on Nike commercials and go to the Olympics. To begin with, I have always wanted to travel to new places such as Europe. Imagine, seeing the Alps mountains, and getting to play where futbol originated. Another reason is that I would become a better player; I would learn to be more adaptable to climate change and less sleep.In addition, I would be on Nike commercials! For example, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of my favorite players, and he has a butt load of Nike gear! So, if I became a professional soccer player I could get Nike gear and I could meet Cristiano Ronaldo! This leads up to being on T. V. which is one of my top reasons for wanting to be a professional soccer player. People around the whole globe would soon lea rn my name. Additionally, I would have the chance to be on the Olympic roster! Imagine, standing on the podium, a bouquet of flowers in your arms, sweat dripping down your face, being awarded a gold medal.Just feeling the weight of the gold medal around your neck, the sense of accomplishment you feel, the roar fans screaming your name. That’s the feeling I want. While I’m playing, knowing I was playing against the best teams in the world. In conclusion, if I had opportunity to have anything I wanted, it would be to play professional soccer because of the Nike commercials, visiting new places, and going to the Olympics. I love playing soccer, and that’s why I wished to be on the USWNT. If you had the chance to wish for anything, what would it be?

Free Essays on Opinions And Differences Between Windows NT And Unix (Linux)

Opinions and Differences Between Windows NT and Unix (Linux) â€Å"A Professional choice or decision for an Operating Systems† There are many different operating systems and many different types. Most people wonder what the differences are between these operating systems available today. Capabilities are the major factors that play a key part in decision making for individuals and corporations. Trying to determine which system is best to use depends on a lost of different things. Most major companies have to choose between many different types of servers. The most common two are Windows NT and Unix (Linux). Windows NT servers are increasing in popularity with Microsoft but is it increasing the productivity of your MIS operations? When trying to choose between Unix and Windows NT you must think about this: A Unix operating system will give you many choices; any type of hardware, diverse choices of vendors. It is dynamic; you can build a customized kernel to fit the specific computing needs at hand. Windows NT will give you restrictions: only Intel or Alpha and then only one GUI, NT server is static. For example you will never be able to build a customized kernel. IT professionals believe that some companies are going to Unix operating systems manly because NT fails too much. In network World, Companies aren’t inclined to talk about their decisions because of pressure from upstairs. Managers who decided, against advice from technology people, to use NT rather than Unix are not unwilling to lose face. Unix is not a single operating system; it refers to a family of operating systems. Mary Hubley mentions that the public’s overly positive perception of NT’s capabilities is based mainly on marketing hype, â€Å"Many people believe that NT is easier to use that it actually is, scales better that it does, and is powerful enough to do what Unix can do. But most of this perception is due to great marketing by Microsoft, ... Free Essays on Opinions And Differences Between Windows NT And Unix (Linux) Free Essays on Opinions And Differences Between Windows NT And Unix (Linux) Opinions and Differences Between Windows NT and Unix (Linux) â€Å"A Professional choice or decision for an Operating Systems† There are many different operating systems and many different types. Most people wonder what the differences are between these operating systems available today. Capabilities are the major factors that play a key part in decision making for individuals and corporations. Trying to determine which system is best to use depends on a lost of different things. Most major companies have to choose between many different types of servers. The most common two are Windows NT and Unix (Linux). Windows NT servers are increasing in popularity with Microsoft but is it increasing the productivity of your MIS operations? When trying to choose between Unix and Windows NT you must think about this: A Unix operating system will give you many choices; any type of hardware, diverse choices of vendors. It is dynamic; you can build a customized kernel to fit the specific computing needs at hand. Windows NT will give you restrictions: only Intel or Alpha and then only one GUI, NT server is static. For example you will never be able to build a customized kernel. IT professionals believe that some companies are going to Unix operating systems manly because NT fails too much. In network World, Companies aren’t inclined to talk about their decisions because of pressure from upstairs. Managers who decided, against advice from technology people, to use NT rather than Unix are not unwilling to lose face. Unix is not a single operating system; it refers to a family of operating systems. Mary Hubley mentions that the public’s overly positive perception of NT’s capabilities is based mainly on marketing hype, â€Å"Many people believe that NT is easier to use that it actually is, scales better that it does, and is powerful enough to do what Unix can do. But most of this perception is due to great marketing by Microsoft, ...

Deviant behavior Prostitution

Deviant behavior Prostitution Deviant behavior is an act that breaches the cultural norms. Norms are considered to be the behavior standards that define the actions that are acceptable in the society. Thus they form a paradigm for predicting actions or behaviors in the society. This means that deviance is any â€Å"thought, feeling or act† (Clinard Meier, 2008, p. 45) that according to the social audience’s judgment violates the cultural norms (formal or informal rules) or values.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Deviant behavior: Prostitution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This paper will focus on prostitution as a deviant behavior. It will begin by defining prostitution and explaining why it is considered to be a deviant behavior. Then two sociological theories namely, the labeling theory and the differential association theory will be used to explain why the behavior continues to exist. Finally, the paper will end by discussing the reasons as to why prostitution is best explained by the differential association theory. Prostitution Prostitution is defined as â€Å"the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return of payment† (Clinard Meier, 2008, p. 68). Thus the person who offers such services is referred to as a prostitute. In some countries the act is legalized and regulated by the government while in others it is illegal and attracts severe punishment. Prostitution is some times viewed as a profession since there is a significant level of expertise or skills and practice that is required in order to successfully offer the services (Clinard Meier, 2008, p. 69). According to religious teachings, prostitution is considered to be a sinful act that should be condemned. The social audience also has a negative attitude towards it since they believe that sex is meant for procreation and not for mere pleasure. Thus commercializing it is unacceptable (Clinard Meier, 2008, p. 69). The medical perspective on prostitution condemns the act on the ground that it facilitates the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Thus prostitution is labeled as a deviant behavior since it does not meet the standards of morality as defined by religious perspectives, health principles and social perspectives. The prostitutes are thus labeled as deviants due to the fact that they â€Å"willfully sell their bodies in exchange for material things† (Taylor, 2010, p. 59). The causes of prostitution are as follows. First, the rising levels of permissiveness in the society have provided an opportunity for individuals to engage in deviant behaviors without being punished (Taylor, 2010, p. 63). Second, rising levels of poverty has forced people to engage in the act in order to earn a living. Finally, the rise in cases of failed relationships and marriages has forced the affected individuals to embark on prostitution in order to fulfill their sexual desires. Sociological Pe rspectives Differential Association Theory According to this theory, criminal or deviant behaviors develop through learning. This means that deviance is not an inherent trait of the individual since it only develops as the deviant learns about the outlawed acts from others. The learning occurs as individuals interact by â€Å"communicating ideas and symbols† (Taylor, 2010, p. 71).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The symbols and ideas in regard to deviance can be favorable or unfavorable. Thus a person will take the favorable symbols and ideas, especially if they outweigh the unfavorable ones. This means that a person will engage in a deviant behavior if the merits are greater than the demerits. In the context of prostitution, the behavior is usually learned as individuals share their ideas about sexuality. Besides, most people usually join the sex industry after learning about the material benefits that are associated with prostitution. Research studies in sex industry reveal that the success of the practitioners depends on the level of their expertise or skills (Clinard Meier, 2008, p. 67). Such skills are usually acquired as prostitutes interact and share ideas on prostitution. Besides, advancement in communication technology such as the introduction of the internet has made it easy to share information on prostitution. This encourages individuals to join the sex industry as they learn more about it. These trends show that learning is an integral aspect of prostitution. Thus according to the differential association theory, prostitution continues to gain popularity in the society as individuals learn about it from each other through their interactions. The Labeling Theory According to this theory, deviance is created as members of the society formulate norms whose violation amounts to deviance (Taylor, 2010, p. 73). Labeling in this cas e is the process whereby the members of the society judge the actions of individuals based on accepted norms and then stereotype such actions as either deviant or not. Thus it involves the â€Å"invention, selection and manipulation of beliefs that define conduct in a negative way† (Clinard Meier, 2008, p. 76). This forms the basis for labeling individuals as deviants. Thus according to this theory, deviance occurs when an individual is labeled as a wicked person. After sometime, the deviant person internalizes the label and focuses on engaging in acts that are associated with the label. This theory suggests that prostitution is a social construction that can cease to exist if those who engage in it are not labeled as deviants (Taylor, 2010, p. 73). The society usually punishes those found to engage in prostitution. However, this does not prevent such individuals from engaging in the act. As they continue to engage in prostitution, they get more severe punishments and stigma from the community. Eventually the prostitutes accept their status and continue to engage in prostitution. This means that the actions of the prostitutes are reinforced by the punishments that they receive from the community. This is based on the fact that prostitutes are considered to be outcasts.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Deviant behavior: Prostitution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Thus they continue to engage in prostitution due to the fact that they can not be accepted by the society. This means that, according to the labeling theory, individuals practice the act because they have been labeled as prostitutes. It also means that prostitution continues to exist since the punishments used against it reinforce the actions of those who engage in it. Conclusion The above discussion shows that prostitution is considered to be a deviant behavior. The reason as to why a person can engage in prostitution and the persistence of the act in the society is best explained by the differential association theory. This is because prostitution just like any other behavior is learned through interaction (Clinard Meier, 2008, p. 64). Thus individuals continue to engage in it after realizing that the gains are more than the costs. Prostitution does not exist simply because those who engage in it have been labeled as deviants as suggested by the labeling theory. This can be proved by the fact that even in countries where the act has been legalized; its popularity has increased instead of diminishing. Besides, consequences such as stigmatization have resulted into a significant reduction in the prevalence of the act instead of perpetuating it. However, it is apparent that an increase in availability of prostitution literature and free interaction has significantly increased the popularity of the act in the society. It is for this reason that differential association theory is considered to be the best in explaining prostitution and its prevalence in the society. References Clinard, M., Meier, R. (2008). Sociology of deviant behavior. New York: Cengage. Taylor, H. (2010). Sociology. New York: Cengage.

Car history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Car history - Essay Example Steam cars had been built in America since before the Civil War. In 1871, Dr. J. W. Carhart, professor of physics at Wisconsin State University, and the J. I. Case Company built a working steam car. That was enough to encourage the State of Wisconsin to offer a $10,000 prize to the winner of a 200 mile race in 1878. In 1873, Karl Benz developed a successful gas-powered two-stroke piston engine. After this he focused on developing a motorized vehicle. His Patent Motorwagen, introduced in 1886, is widely regarded as the first purpose-built automobile that is a vehicle designed from the ground up to be motorized. Benz unveiled it officially on July 3, 1886 on the Ringstrase in Mannheim, Germany. Henry Ford had an engine running by 1893 but it was 1896 before he built his first car. By the end of the year Ford had sold his first car, which he called a Quadracycle, for $200 and used the money to build another one. With the financial backing of the Mayor of Detroit, William C. Maybury and other wealthy Detroiters, Ford formed the Detroit Automobile Company in 1899. A few prototypes were built but no production cars were ever made by this company. It was dissolved in January 1901. Ford would not offer a car for sale until 1903. Today it has been 100 years of the advent of electric cars. It has an interesting history of development and its still carry on. It was first developed in France and England during the last quarter of 19th century. During late 1890s and early years of 20th century, a lot of innovations were made in motor vehicles industry. Till 1895, Americans didn't begin to devote attention to electric vehicles. It was the first commercial application in America which established as a fleet of New York City taxis in 1897. The early electric vehicles were little more than electrified horseless carriages and surreys. For example, in 1902 Wood's Phaeton which had top speed of 14 mph, a range of 18 miles and cost $2,000. The years 1899 and 1900 were the sky-scraping point of electric vehicles in America, as they outsold all other types of cars. With the passage of time, the car industry got prosperity and the motor vehicle used to be turned into steam, electric, or gasoline versions. Most early electric cars were ornate with massive carriages and designed for the upper class with cost under $1,000. However, by 1910, they had fancy interiors, with expensive materials, and averaged $3,000. Electric vehicles enjoyed success into the 1920s with production peaking in 1912. At the start of its advent in 20th century, electric cars got popularity as it had many advantages over their competitors. They did not have the noise, smell and vibrations associated with gasoline cars. Unlike gasoline cars, electric vehicles did not require gear changes. Also, steam-powered cars suffered from long start-up times of up to 45 minutes on cold mornings. The steam cars had less range before needing water than the range of an electric car on a single charge As compared to steam-powered and gasoline cars, the electric cars was the preferred choice of many because it did not require the manual effort to start. With other cars there was a

Creating A New Nigeria. What Ignored Sectors Must Be Reformed To Research Proposal

Creating A New Nigeria. What Ignored Sectors Must Be Reformed To Re-Brand The Giant Of Africa. Lessons From Other Emerging Economies - Research Proposal Example relation to the current competitive environment, these sectors are often recognised to play pivotal role for the countries to stimulate continuous growth and economic development. Therefore, rebranding of these particular areas has become a major concern for the Nigeria to improve its economic and socio-cultural development. In relation to the rebranding of the sectors, Aibueku (2011) has critically explored that education is one of the major sectors facing major challenges in Nigeria. According to the study, it has been perceived that the educational system of the nation is undergoing challenges due to the lack of effective mechanism and policy development measures (Aibueku, 2011). In addition, the sports and tourism development sector of the nation has also been recognised to face major hurdles during the past few decades. In this regard, rapid decline of the sports and tourism sector in the country has significantly lowered the opportunity for Nigeria to stabilise its economic development. Lack of policy measures along with support from governmental agencies and continuous instability of the political system have substantially influenced the current sports and tourism sector of Nigeria (Elendu, 2013). In addition, the media and entertainment sector in Nigeria is also considered to be ignored from its further development. Ineffective measures of using advanced technological aspects along with lack of policy developmental efforts of the nation are identified to reduce the scope of the current media and entertainment business sector of Nigeria (Obono & Madu, 2010). The study of Nigeria always provides adequate information relating to the sectors, which are major contributor to its economic growth from the research work of other researchers. However, there is a lack of research study of the ignored sectors of Nigeria, which are affecting the economic as well as social growth of the country as a whole. In this regard, the proposed research study focused on