Thursday, October 31, 2019

BP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

BP - Essay Example It should not concentrate solely on deep-water assets. The asset portfolio of the company should be diversified. It should have onshore assets, off-shore assets, natural gas assets, shale gas assets etc. The business level strategy of BP should combine its cost leadership with product or process leadership. The process leadership can be achieved by having the most sophisticated technological processes in place. The marketing strategy of the company should focus on improving the battered brand image of BP in the minds of the consumers and other stakeholders. The corporate and brand image of the company have become unfavorable after the Gulf of Mexico disaster. The network level strategy of BP at this juncture should be one of cooperation and not of competition. BP should also pursue inorganic growth through mergers with smaller firms in the industry. Recently it bought a stake in the reserves of Reliance industries of India. Such a cooperative network level strategy will be suitable for the company. The oil & petroleum industry includes all those firms and corporations that are involved in the exploration, drilling, movement & transportation, refinement and, marketing & distribution of oil & petroleum. The importance of the oil & petroleum industry lies in the fact that oil accounts for a large portion of the world’s energy consumption. This proportion amounts to as high as 53% for the oil rich Middle Eastern nations, 32% for the nations of Europe and Asia, 44% for south and Central America, 41% for Africa and 40% for North America (Matthew Yeomans,2004). The population of the globe consumes more than 30 billion barrels of oil per day. In terms of the dollar value of the turnover of all the companies involved in the various stages of the oil & petroleum supply chain, this industry is the largest in the world. The ongoing political unrest in the Middle East and Western Africa will have an adverse impact where a significant proportion of the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Sample HIPAA Breach Notification Letter Essay Example for Free

Sample HIPAA Breach Notification Letter Essay We are sending this letter to you as part of [Provider]’s commitment to patient privacy. We take patient privacy very seriously, and it is important to us that you are made fully aware of a potential privacy issue. We have learned that your personal information, including name, address, ___________, ___________, and __________, may have been compromised. On [give date of discovery], it was discovered that [describe incident and give date of breach]. We reported the incident to the police because theft may have been involved [if applicable]. However, we have not received any indication that the information has been accessed or used by an unauthorized individual. [Describe steps patient should take to protect themselves:] We are keenly aware of how important your personal information is to you. If you choose, as a measure of added security, we are offering one year of credit monitoring and reporting services at no cost to you. This service is performed through [Vendor], an organization that watches for and reports to you unusual credit activity, such as creating new accounts in your name. [Vendor] will also request that the three credit bureaus place a â€Å"Fraud Alert† on your credit report. If you would like to receive this service, please respond yes by _______ or ________. We understand that this may pose an inconvenience to you. We sincerely apologize and regret that this situation has occurred. [Provider] is committed to providing quality care, including protecting your personal information, and we want to assure you that we have policies and procedures to protect your privacy.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Contracting Considerations Of A Tour Operator Tourism Essay

Contracting Considerations Of A Tour Operator Tourism Essay This report will consider the contracting considerations of a small to medium sized tour operator in relation to providing a report based holiday experience for a clientele from socio-economic bands A and B. The report will consider two key elements namely in the form of accommodation and other services in the resort and transportation of an appropriate type to and from the resort. In considering a possible solution to providing accommodation for the companys guests there are a number of options open to the small to medium sized tour operator. At the one end of the spectrum the tour operator could consider an option of direct investment. Such an option would see the tour operator investing in hotels and accommodation facilities which at the end of the investment the company would own the facilities which could be used for both its own guests and for the purpose of renting out accommodation to other tour operators which capacity allows for such an options (Holloway et al 2009). However, such an option in the circumstances is an unlikely option for the specific company in question. In the first instance the option is an expensive one, investment in hotel and accommodation facilities can cost millions in there initial investment or more, this may be an unsuitable or even unrealisable option for a small to medium enterprise. Secondly, the corporate objectives of the company are to minimise risks, direct investment however, may be seen as a considerably risky option for several reasons. In the first case once established, the company will have long term fixed costs to meet over a prolonged period of time, such a problem is not incurred where a contract based option is undertaken and thus the liability to meet expenses is limited to the agreed contract period which could be as short as a single season or less. Secondly, long term investment an overseas location also implies taking on the national risk which are associated with international trade including exposure to currency fluctuations, interest rates and changes in demand from the consumer perspective (Griffin and Pustay 2010). Again, where a contracting option is considered such exposures whilst still present are limited to a much shorter period of time and thus to a large extent offset. A more realistic option for the company in question may be to consider one of the many contracting options which are available, such contracting options are also wide and varied in nature and include both direct and indirect contracts with accommodation providers as well as a variety of options with regard to the length contracts undertaken (Holloway et al 2009). In the first instance, the company must select between contracting directly with accommodation providers or through the use of a third party agency (Cooper et al 2008). Negotiation directly may help the company to save money by excluding the fees of a third party however, the downside is that the company may have to deal with a large number of accommodation providers each with their own peculiarities and unique circumstances. On the other hand, the company could opt to use another intermediary who will undertake such sub-contracting on the behalf of the tour operator, for the tour operator this reduces complexity in the contracting process in that the tour operator now has only a single point of contact (Holloway et al 2009). However, on the downside the tour operator will now incur additional costs from the fees levied from a third party, in addition the tour operator will also lose a degree of control over the accommodation which is to be provided and arranged by the third party. T his may have an impact upon the tour operator whos clientele falls with the A and B social bands and so have very specific requirements in relation to their individual accommodation needs in comparison to other segments of the market. The next consideration from a contracting point of view is to consider the length and level of commitment in contracting options. Again the tour operator is presented with a wide range of options, at the lowest level of commitment end of the spectrum the tour operator can simply book rooms with accommodation provider in reference to specific levels of demand experienced, such an option means that costs are kept to a minimum and risks from contractual obligations are virtually eliminated (Cooper et al 2008). There is however, an additional risk incurring in that whilst the tour operators liabilities are minimised so are those of the accommodation providers, in short should the tour operator experience a surge in demand and the accommodation providers be unable to meet such a demand do to market forces, the tour operator may be left either having to disappoint customers or have to pay premium prices in order to satisfy the demand. At the other end of the spectrum the tour operator could contract to buy a set number of rooms or even entire hotels for a specific period of time (Holloway et al 2009). In such a case the advantage is that the tour operator has a guaranteed level of availability in a given hotel or resort and thus the risks of not being able to meet demand are off set given that the tour operator has a fixed capacity which it may use as it sees fit. The other major advantage is one of cost linked to economies of scale (Johnson et al 2008), by undertaking longer contracts that purchasing rooms at the spot rate, the tour operator stands to benefit from substantial bulk purchasing discounts as rooms and accommodations purchased over a long period come at a much reduced cost in comparison to shorter periods of hire. However, in such a circumstance the company also incurs some additional risks. Now that the company has entered into a contract for a fixed amount of accommodation the tour operator also has the obligation to pay for the rooms and so needs to be able to fill the accommodation to as close to full capacity as possible throughout the year (Holloway et al 2009). In reality this may mean offering significant discounts at certain part of the year so as to attract enough custom to fill the accommodation, alternatively the tour operator could forego full utilisation however, the contract would see the tour operator still having to pay for the accommodation which has been rented in advance. In addition to accommodation, there are other elements of the resort experience which the tour operator may wish to consider contracting out to third party providers. Key elements include the provision catering services, onsite entertainment and other forms of entertainment and added value services such as tours and excursions of sites of local interest to the clientele of the resort (Singh 2006). From a transportation perspective, the use of scheduled flights has become one of the most important ways travel operators have been able to take advantage of both the flexibility and speed of air travel as part of the holiday package (Holloway et al 2009). Unfortunately due to the constraints of the scenario the travel operator will have look at a number of alternative methods of getting guests to and from the proposed resort of which there are a wide number of options including alternative air transportation options as well as some more creative solutions making use of alternative modes of transport. The first and possibly most feasible option for a tour operator who can not take advantage of scheduled flights to a destination may be to consider using a charter service. Charter services offer to schedule an aircraft for the specific use of a client on a given route, charter options may include a single trip rental but more likely a charter provider will agree with a company such as a tour operator a regular schedule of flights for a season or more (Holloway et al 2009, Cooper et al 2008). There are several advantages for the tour operator if such an option is engaged in. From the passengers perspective, there is almost no difference to if the tour operator had made use of a scheduled flight, the guest will be transported to their destination on an aircraft which functions in all but the same way as one operating on a scheduled route. Secondly, a charter service operates with more flexibility than that of the scheduled flight, the tour operator can choose deviate from the time tab le which would not be an option which scheduled options and there is also flexibility of destination which may include local changes such as using an alternative airport or more radical changes changing the route of the aircraft altogether. There are however, still some drawback of the charter flight option, the main problem would be one of capacity. In the case the scheduled flight the responsibility for filling seats lies with the airline provider and the liability of the tour operator is limited to the number of seats for which they have purchased on any given flight. However, when an aircraft is chartered the cost of the charter becomes a fixed cost and the responsibility for filling seats then becomes the responsibility of the charterer, in this case the tour operator (Holloway et al 2009). The charter option has been a relatively successful option in recent years for tour operators, in some circumstances the model has become so successful that there has become a blur in the boundaries between scheduled and chartered flights. This has been exhibited in both operational elements in that some charter flights are so regular as to almost form a scheduled service including the sale of spare capacity to additional passengers. Secondly many travel operators have sought to consolidate their positions by buying charter aircraft providers and integrating these businesses into the main business unit (Monarch 2010). If the tour operator still wishes to investigate the scheduled flight option further, there is the consideration that a multi-modal transport operation may be considered. In such a case the tour operator may consider purchasing seats to the nearest airport served by a scheduled flight and then arrange onward transport via road rail or water. In many cases this may be an unattractive option, especially where distances are significant. Such an option may become and annoyance for guests and add unnecessary costs for the tour operator. There are however, times when the option may be an appropriate one especially for the upmarket segment. Such circumstances may exist where the tour operator can incorporate the onward transport into the holiday package, this may be possible where the route from airport to resort passes through an area of outstanding natural beauty or a luxury transport option can be added such as a river cruise which serves a duel function as transport and entertainment. Air transport however, is not the only option available to a tour operator one other major option to consider is transportation via water. Water transport has largely declined in recent decades due to the rise of faster and cheaper air transport which also allows access to a wider number of destinations than water based or land routes (Holloway et al 2009). Despite the decline of the standard ocean liner as a mode of transport which is now largely confined to summer transatlantic crossings the market for other water based forms of transport has both stabilised and began to grow again in recent years. The most important development has been a rebranding of the cruise, in past times the cruise as a form of holiday had declined as a function of both poor branding and the rise of alternatives. However, significant investment on the behalf of the industry has seen the holiday rising again in popularity amongst consumers. In selecting a transportation mode suitable for a market segment in socio economic groups A and B one option may be to consider providing a hybrid holiday which takes advantage of the rise in popularity of the cruise linked to the facilities present at the destination. From a pragmatic perspective the tour operator could in effect make use of a cruise ship to transport its guests too the resort making the transport via water an essential part of the holiday package as opposed to being a way of getting to the product in the form of the resort. Once at the destination, the tour operator would have the option of providing a return journey for guests either via the same method or via an alternative such as a charter flight. The major benefit of such an option is that the tour operator would be able to offer a high value added product in which all elements of the package including transportation are considered a part of the holiday. On the downside, the small to medium size of the tour op erator would necessitate the use of a third party to provide a suitable vessel for use. This in turn would add complexity to the operation and there would naturally be a greater limitation on destinations based upon the schedules and services of third party providers as well as the natural constraints imposed by limiting transport options to water based transport. There is also a rail option open to the travel operator, this has become an option with an increased level of feasibility from the UK since the opening on the channel tunnel back in the 1990s. Whilst, rail transport provides fast and efficient transport from the UK to the major cities in Europe, the real problem with this option is one of flexibility. To a large extent destinations will be limited to the major cities within Europe and it may be considered to access to more remote destinations and resorts becomes infeasible and impractical for users of the service. In addition, the large distances and nature of the rail network means that intercontinental options will be largely off limits to a tour operator if looking to use rail as a transportation option. Given the objectives of the company which are largely to reduce risk and the consideration of flexibility the recommendation of this report are that the travel operator opts to convey its guests the resort via a chartered air service model. Such a model would see that the company does not have to risks associated with investing in expensive capital items such as aircraft or ships which would increase the risk profile of the company significantly. In addition, by using an air service the company would also maintain the element of flexibility and speed opening up a wider number of destinations than would be available through land or water based forms of transport. These are both key benefits for the companys target client group in socio economic groups A and B. There are however, still some risks associated with the charter route, whilst the company would not own any specific assets associated with the transport of passengers, the company would still have a fixed capacity of seat for w hich it would need to fill on each flight so as to keep the cost per passenger for a minimum. The risk here is that during periods of low demand the company may have to offer significant discounts in order to fill flights, this may also create a conflict with the companys generic strategy of focusing on the premium end of the market (Porter 2004, Jobber 2007).

Friday, October 25, 2019

Sundowing And Alzheimers Disease Essay -- Alzheimers Disease Essays

SUNDOWNING AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE Sundowning, or sundown syndrome are terms that have been used for over 20 years to describe the reversal of day and night which often occurs in Alzheimer's and other dementing illnesses. (2) Those who are impacted are often called Sundowners and they act as if their biological clocks have reversed their day and night cycles. Some are able to function on little sleep throughout their 24-hour day cycle. Some individuals stay up all night and will then continually doze off during the day. This alteration in the sleep-wake cycle is not necessarily permanent and they may revert to earlier patterns of sleep, or may sleep for increasing periods of time. (1) Those suffering from acute or chronic confusion increasingly become highly agitated, confused, suspicious, active and restless, combative and disoriented late in the day, especially after dark. (2,3) They may see, hear and believe things that are not real. Patients become more impulsive and respond to their own ideas of reality, often in ways that can that get them in trouble. The confusion is often worse after a move or change in routine and can happen in any setting, whether they are living at home or in a facility. The behavior may be totally out of character for the person. And, the change is drastic. You may see them in the morning and the person seems mentally competent and alert. The same individual may not recognize you or other family members, seem lethargic, become easily agitated, confused, or disoriented late in the afternoon or evening. (1) There is currently no conclusive evidence about the reasons for these changes in the sleep-wake cycle. (2) However, in the online articles "Sundowning and Sleeping" and "The Sundown Syndrome" there are some theories identified about the cause. 1) The decreasing levels of light may be disorienting. The lower light provides fewer clues as to the person's surroundings and shadows may be frightening. 2) The person may feel they are supposed to "go home" around this time. 3) The person may be fatigu... ...dence regarding the reasons for these changes, some theories have been identified about the cause. This syndrome can be exhausting for the caregiver. Some measures have been identified that may lessen the effects. It is important to realize with sundown syndrome, as in any behavior related to Alzheimer's Disease, that the person does not have control over their behavior and that it is a result of the brain tryng to sort out a confusing environment. REFERENCES 1. Alzheimers.com. Sundown Syndrome and the Elderly. Alzheimers.com feature story. [On-Line] Avaialble: http://www.alzheimers.com/L3TABLES/L3T-428.HTM. 2. Crystal, H. (1998). Sundowning and Sleeping. Northern Virginia Chapter of Alzheimer's Association. [On-Line]. Available: http://www.alz-nova.org/sundown.htm. 3. Davis, M. (1997). Light in the Darkess. Perspectives Magazine. [On-line]. Available: http://www.siu.edu/worda/persp/sp97/alz.html. 4. Nitram, R. (1997). The Sundown Syndrome. The Arizona Daily Star Online. Availabnle: http://www.azstarnet.com/~rnitram/sundown.html

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Case Solution on Abrasm Company

————————————————- A ————————————————- Case Study ————————————————- On ABRAMS COMPANY ————————————————- Of ————————————————- Management control System ————————————————- ————————————————- Presented to Presented by: ————————————————- DR B. A.Prajapati ModiRashmi S. (24) ————————————————- MeghaniShital L. (20) ————————————————- Trada Lalit V. (60) ————————————————- RajdevBrijesh (46) ————————————————- Ozha Sandip (47) ————————————————- ————————————â€⠀Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- ————————————————- ————————————————- ———————————————— Batch: 2010-12 ————————————————- ————————————————- ————————————————- ————————————————- About The company ———â⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- US company ————————————————- Manufacturing auto parts ————————————————- Selling in Domestic as well as foreign Market ————————————————- Most of the Products related with†¦. ———————————————— Automobiles ————————————————- Trucks& Buses ——————————— Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Farm Equipments ————————————————- Product & Marketing Division ————————————————- Production Division: * ————————————————- Company works on Three Parts. 1. ————————————————- Ignition Parts 2. ————————————————- Transmission Parts. 3. ————————————————-Engine Parts. ———â⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Marketing Division: * ————————————————- Selling Through two Department. 1. ————————————————- O. E. M. department. 2. ————————————————- A. M. department. ————————————————- EXHIBIT 1 ————————————————- Partial Organization Chart —————————————â₠¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- ————————————————- ————————————————-Inside & Outside sales In 1992; * Total sales $500 million Inside sales (to AM div) – $100 million Outside Sales (to OEM)- $400 million * Ignition parts sales- $130million * Engine parts sales- $90million * Transmission parts sales – $100million * AM Division sales- $180 million ROI for the Manufacturing Plants * Each Plant has to meet targeted ROI. ROI = Budgeted Profit Actual beginning-of-the -year net assets Where Budgeted Profit =( Expected Revenue- allocated O/H- tax) Actual beginning-of-the-year net assets = total assets-current liabilities. Actual 1992 ROI computation- Rochester Plant Abrams company –Transmission PartsDivision ROCHESTER PLANT Profit & ROI Statement,Dec 31,1992 Sa les revenue†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦$124,866 COGS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 73230 Gross Margin†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 51636 Operating expenses†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 20792 Division Expenses assigned†¦.. 11340 corporate expenses assigned†¦. 3420 Profit before taxes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 16084 Taxes Imputed†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 4825 Profit†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. $11259 * Net Assets Assigned as of January 1,1992 Total Assets: Cash & receivable†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. $25000 Inventories †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 12875 Property, plant & equipment at book value†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 86560 Total Assets †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1 24435Less: current liabilities†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 26135 Net Assets†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. $98300 ROI = Profit / Net Assets = $11259/ 98300 =11. 45% Suggestions to improve evaluation system: * ROI can be used combination with other performance measures-balanced set of long term/short term; financial/non-financial * EVA can be used instead of ROI. Marketing Strategies * Top Management consider OEM & AM different. * Each parts? OEM sales have to meet an Annual Sales Revenue. * The OEM department have to†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 1. Minimize inventories. 2. Control cost. * AM has to concentrate on availability of Parts. Incentive compensation Plan Appropriate 50 line & staff managers under plan. * Bonus given on basis of fixed formula. * Each participant get bonus on standard bonus point(SBP). * SBP based on hierarchical position. Standard dollar award per point (SDAP) = total of SBP of all participants total bonus pool amount Standard Bonus in $ = Standard Do llar ? Standard Bonus Point Award per point. of Participant. if Actual Profit ^ 4% more than budgeted, Manager get 25% more standard bonus. Evaluation of incentive compensation plan: * The performance is measured by compare of actual profit and budget profit. All the measurement is associate with data, sometimes the performance will be influence by variance elements, such as, economic environment, the demand level, material price, cost of labor, and government policy, so the measurement need to improve in some areas. Suggestions: * The non-financial performance measurement system should be established. * The balanced scorecard is a good choice for company measure performance. With a good performance measurement system, the incentive compensation plan will be improved. Problems encountered with Management * Some dispute over transfer pricing. Bias with AM division on placing order of parts. * All divisions using too much inventories. Question- 1 Evaluate each of the concerns expresse d by top management, & if necessary, make recommendations appropriate to the circumstances described in the case. Ans-1 * Management has 3 main problems: 1. ROI Behavior. 2. Transfer Price disputes 3. Operational trouble shouting. Recommendations * Company should use EVA rather than ROI. * Company should control the investments separately using NPV and capital turnover measures. * Bonus should be based on the budgeted income level. * Company should change the TP method. It will give all internal partners full information about the cost structure and company will avoid â€Å"upstream fixed costs†. Question- 2 What is your overall evaluation of Abrams? management control system ? Describe strengths or weakness that you identified but did not include in answering the previous question. What changes, if any, would you recommend to top management ? Ans-2 * Company Management Control System was poor. * Company failed to minimize the cost and to control inventory level. Strength * T he company has a clear management structure. * The company has employed a bonus plan for employees. The AM Marketing division will input products form the other three divisions, and sell it to domestic and foreign market, it helps the company save cost when it input internal. Weakness * The Abrams Company has three totally independent divisions, and the three divisions are lack of connection. * The transactions between the three divisions dispute the transfer pricing. * OEM customers preferred than AM. Suggestions * Top management should try to control inventory level. * Company should use non financial measures like inventory turnover. * If it is an strategic issue company should connect this measure to the bonus system.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

What Is TTY Mode How Does It Work on Cell Phones

What Is TTY Mode How Does It Work on Cell Phones SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips A TTY (teletypewriter) is a device that helps people who are deaf, speech-impaired, or hard-of-hearing use a phone to communicate. While TTY devices were initially designed for landline phones, they are used today with both landlines and cell phones. In this article, I’ll be talking about TTY mode meaning on a cell phone and how to use it, as well as offering other, more modern options for people with hearing or speech impairments to communicate. What Is TTY Mode on a Cell Phone? A TTY device is used to communicate by people with speech and hearing impairments. A user with a speech impairment can type a message on the TTY machine and the machine will send the message through a phone line or mobile signal. For users with hearing impairments, the TTY machine will turn voice messages into text messages so the user can read them. While a TTY machine may sound a lot like text messaging, its actual functions are more seamless. TTY machines allow users to continuously communicate as part of one conversation, without receiving constant message notifications and updates like from text messages. During a TTY conversation, the messages appear immediately on the other party’s TTY screen without interruption. TTY devices can be connected to both landlines and cell phones, allowing for portable communication. Today, many cell phones have a TTY mode. What's the TTY mode meaning? Well, TTY mode allows the phone to function as a TTY device. Depending on the phone, it may have a built-in TTY software, allow you to connect the phone to an external TTY device, or both. Many phones have three different TTY modes: TTY Full, TTY VCO, and TTY HCO. TTY Full mode allows both the sender and receiver to communicate through TTY messages. TTY VCO mode is for hearing-impaired users who can send messages through voice, but need to receive messages on a TTY text display. TTY HCO mode is for users who can receive voice messages, but need to send text messages. How to Use TTY Mode on a Cell Phone You can activate TTY mode on both an Android phone and an iPhone. In this section, I’ll talk you through how to use TTY mode on both operating systems. How to Use TTY Mode on an iPhone Tap the â€Å"Settings† app. Tap â€Å"General† from the â€Å"Settings† menu. Tap â€Å"Accessibility† from the â€Å"General† menu. Select â€Å"TTY†. Select if you will use the built-in â€Å"Software TTY† or if you will attach an external device through â€Å"Hardware TTY.† Exit to the home screen. Select â€Å"Phone.† Select the person you want to call. When the call screen opens, tap the â€Å"TTY† button. Type the message you’d like to send to begin the call. If you’ve turned TTY mode on an iPhone on, you can make a call with or without the TTY mode. You can also return to the settings menu to turn TTY mode off if you no longer need it. How to Use TTY Mode on an Android Phone Select the â€Å"Applications† tab. Select the â€Å"Settings† application. Select â€Å"Call† from the â€Å"Settings† application. Select â€Å"TTY mode† from the â€Å"Call† menu. Select the desired TTY mode (TTY Off, TTY Full, TTY HCO, TTY VCO, which are three different types of TTY I discussed in the previous section). Tap back to the main menu to make a call. You can now select whether you want to make the call normally, or using the selected TTY mode. To turn TTY mode off, you simply follow the same steps and select â€Å"TTY off† from the TTY mode menu. Alternative Options for Communication for People With Speech or Hearing Impairments Today, physical TTY devices are fairly out-dated. Most people use TTY mode on their cell phones, or communicate through one of these alternative means. Text Messaging For people with speech and hearing impairments, text messaging has become one of the easiest and most effective means of communication. Text messaging is easy, built-in to every cell phone, and most tablets, and computers, and doesn’t require any extra set up. Video Calls The rise in video calling technology like Facetime, Google Hangouts, and Skype has made it easier for people with speech and hearing impairments to communicate using sign language. Today, people with these disabilities can use video conferencing technology to talk in real-time with their friends and loved ones using sign language that both parties can see. Video Relay Services Video Relay Service is a form of Telecommunications Relay Service that enables persons with hearing disabilities who use American Sign Language to communicate with voice telephone users through video equipment, rather than through typed text. Video equipment links the VRS user with a TRS operator (Called a communications assistant, or CA) so that the VRS user and the CA can see and communicate with each other in signed conversation. Because the conversation between the VRS user and the CA flows much more quickly than with a text-based TRS call, VRS has become an enormously popular form of TRS. Recap: Using TTY Mode on a Cell Phone What is TTY mode on a cell phone? TTY mode allows people with hearing and speech impairments to communicate by using text-to-voice or voice-to-text technology. Today, most cell phones are equipped with built-in TTY technology meaning that you don’t have to purchase an additional TTY device to communicate. There are also numerous other methods of communication for people with speech and hearing impairments, including text messaging, video calls, and video relay services.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Internet Replacement Book Essay Example

Internet Replacement Book Essay Example Internet Replacement Book Essay Internet Replacement Book Essay Today, internet very prevalent on the world. Internet have already taken a major role. But, internet replacement books? Internet is a global network and prevalent in every family, company. Internet help us search information, get in touch with people through email and chatting on internet. The book is a document providing information, knowledge of many issues in society when people read. Now, books very many and diverse genres. So internet replacement books. I think internet not replacement books. Because, indispensable books in life of people, books are the key to success and important the basic platform. Books will always concrete sources of information. In short, internet very prevalent, but it cant replace books. The book is very important to make up internet. I think not book not internet Thank you very much 222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 22222222222222222222222 Today, internet is very prevalent on the world. Internet accounts for a significant role. But, why books still can replacement the internet ? Internet is a global network system and prevalent in many households, company. Internet help us search informations, get in touch with people through email and chat on the internet. The book is a document providing information, knowledge of many issues in society when people read. Now, books very many and diverse genres. So internet replacement books. I think internet not replacement books. Because, indispensable books in life of people, books are the key to success and important the basic platform. Books will always concrete sources of information. In short, internet very prevalent, but it cant replace books. The book is very important to make up internet. I think havent got book havent got internet Thank you very much

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Free Essays on Jeremy Rifkin Essay

Jeremy Rifkin from the passage from â€Å"The Age of Simulation† contends that the Television is the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems in modern society. He claims that we as a nation sit in front of the TV endlessly in order to fulfill some aspect of out life that we are not getting in a regular environment. Which is in part due to the fact that Television is in and plays such a substantial role in our lives. He shows how all of the essential social needs can be and are to often met through this lifeless medium. How we reach stimulation that would otherwise be given through genuine human contact is now impersonal. We are making what was once personal now impersonal. Some would argue that this is not the case while the facts still remain, that we as a culture are spending more and more time in front of the television, we are spending it with friends and family and this shared experience be it in the same room or different houses give us the opportunity to communicate and share the same common feelings. As well discuss the issues that arose on the night before’s shows. The water-cooler chat has been in this country filled with the same topics across the country. This trend also seems to have bridged the economic gap; the rich are still watching the same Joe Millionaire as the poor. We now have a common theme in this country a starting ground that which communication between two people that previously would not have anything to talk about now have a common interest or at least no matter what your education level is you can hold the same conversation about what happened on Big Brother 4 last night. Some would also argue that we as a society have deteriorated so far due to other circumstances that the backwoods country culture of old has been lost due to fear. Therefore we have been forced to look for our stimulation elsewhere. Television then has filled a gap in our being that needed to be filled. Televis... Free Essays on Jeremy Rifkin Essay Free Essays on Jeremy Rifkin Essay Jeremy Rifkin from the passage from â€Å"The Age of Simulation† contends that the Television is the cause of and solution to all of life’s problems in modern society. He claims that we as a nation sit in front of the TV endlessly in order to fulfill some aspect of out life that we are not getting in a regular environment. Which is in part due to the fact that Television is in and plays such a substantial role in our lives. He shows how all of the essential social needs can be and are to often met through this lifeless medium. How we reach stimulation that would otherwise be given through genuine human contact is now impersonal. We are making what was once personal now impersonal. Some would argue that this is not the case while the facts still remain, that we as a culture are spending more and more time in front of the television, we are spending it with friends and family and this shared experience be it in the same room or different houses give us the opportunity to communicate and share the same common feelings. As well discuss the issues that arose on the night before’s shows. The water-cooler chat has been in this country filled with the same topics across the country. This trend also seems to have bridged the economic gap; the rich are still watching the same Joe Millionaire as the poor. We now have a common theme in this country a starting ground that which communication between two people that previously would not have anything to talk about now have a common interest or at least no matter what your education level is you can hold the same conversation about what happened on Big Brother 4 last night. Some would also argue that we as a society have deteriorated so far due to other circumstances that the backwoods country culture of old has been lost due to fear. Therefore we have been forced to look for our stimulation elsewhere. Television then has filled a gap in our being that needed to be filled. Televis...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Human Resource Management - Essay Example As such, job analysis can be termed to be a component of planning where jobs are studied and analyzed to know the requisite characteristics and nature of the job. With the help of this information, competent and suitable candidates can be employed on that particular job (Ostwald 2003). Jobs make positions, positions make occupations and occupations transform themselves into organizational structure. As such, job analysis is the building block of not only human resources function, but also organizational behavior, structure and planning (Fig.1). Planning, recruitment, training and appraisal- all other HRM activities directly stem out from job analysis. Job analysis is actually a comprehensive data collection technique where some data relates to the job specifications and other pertains to the individuals. Thus, number of employee, characteristics of employees, nature and mode of training and objective appraisal of employees can be done only on the basis of job analysis. Evaluation of job- with the help of job analysis, relative worth of jobs is ascertained which in turn helps in determining the base compensation and relevance of the job in the organization. This proves to be an important criterion of cost cutting and cost saving activity for a firm. Employee development- when both the specifications of job and the individuals handling the job are determined in advance, it becomes easier to benchmark the performance levels and analyze the gaps. Moreover, specific areas of gap can be figured out which can then be resolved by using employee counseling and training sessions. Safety measures- process of job analysis is applied in all kinds of jobs be it technical, clerical or managerial. Therefore, it extends a bit beneficial in technical jobs where use of tools, machinery and equipments can give rise to hazardous conditions and unhealthy workplace environment. Job analysis tries to do away with

Friday, October 18, 2019

In what ways has the fashion blog changed fashion journalism Essay

In what ways has the fashion blog changed fashion journalism - Essay Example The contemporary society which is characterized by the application of information and communication technology in various economic, social and political activities has found increasing use of the internet in the communication of fashion. The advent of the internet has contributed greatly to fashion journalism as facilitated by fashion blogs and websites. This paper gives a critical analysis and discussion of fashion journalism in relation to the fashion blog and how it has transformed fashion journalism. Traditionally fashion journalism involved the presentation of fashion designs by writer and publishers in books. Magazines and newspaper were also common print forms of fashion journalism. Craik (1997) points out that with the advent of computer and their application in communication via the innovative internet application, fashion websites and blogs have become the most common media through which fashion journalism is being perpetuated and communicated to the audience. Magazines and newspapers are also significantly used in the modern fashion journalism to communicate images and messages on fashion. However the internet is the most preferred media for fashion journalism. Blood (2002) explains that fashion blogs are preferred in fashion journalism because of their effectiveness in passing information on fashion to the audience. Additionally, fashion blogs provide a means through which fashion writers and producers would reach a great audience. This is because of the nature of the in ternet in providing global reach for information on fashion. With the evolution of fashion journalism, its production has also changed significantly over the years. Independent Fashion Bloggers (2012) demonstrate that the traditional production of fashion images and messages by writer involved writing of scripts on fashion which were published through long processes of book production. The production of fashion images involved black and white images which

The News and Law Enforcement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The News and Law Enforcement - Essay Example Follow-up surveys completed by participants and their supervisors provide a method for determining whether participants have the opportunity to change behavior upon return to the work setting (Wilson, 2000). It is tailored to provide information that program administrators can use to determine the strengths of the program and make decisions about how the program should be modified for current students or be introduced to a different student population. It identifies information actually needed by program decision makers, collects and analyzes this information, and furnishes the information to them, using methods which will aid in decision making. "The majority of agencies are in compliance, but there are some that are not," said Arthur Ortiz, director of the Santa Fe-based Law Enforcement Academy" (Romo 2009). The news story is real as it reflects current state of police crime problems and methods followed by other law enforcement agencies. The results suggested that the Police department might benefit from curriculum revision in three areas. The program might be changed to provide police officers with more time to discuss and analyze personnel law, planning, interpersonal communication, and relationships with the manager and/or mayor.

The Merits of Privatization Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Merits of Privatization - Research Paper Example tes, transcontinental railroad constructed by public and private partnerships during the nineteenth century is one of the earliest examples of privatization in the US. The transcontinental public private partnership is always cited as an example by the people who support privatization. Privatization not only brings efficiency but it also helps in curtailing costs and reduces bureaucracy. (Loulakis, 2003) The recent financial downturn and government bailouts have severely affected the American economy. With the government deficits and costs of borrowing increasing day by day, many leading economists have advocated privatization of government functions which would bring budgetary discipline and would reduce government’s financial burden. Though the consumers are greatly benefited by the reduction in the costs of goods and services due to privatization, the only point which may negatively affect the citizens is accountability. Citizens do not have any control over private companies and cannot punish them, like they can punish the government by not voting for them in state or central elections. Another point of concern with privatization is that private firms operate with only one motive that is profitability, which is secondary in government owned and operated firms. Though, privatization has greatly improved product quality and cost, there are certain services which should not be privatized. Sectors like defense, law enforcement, education and basic healthcare should always be under State control. The future of the country depends a lot on the above mentioned sectors and therefore, the motive of cost cutting, profitability and competition should not come into consideration. However, certain functions like sourcing of certain products can be outsourced. Another reason why these sectors should be under State control is because in case of any adverse events the government must have the capacity and the control to handle the situation quickly and

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Construction contracts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Construction contracts - Essay Example In the NEC3, this section defines all the terms that can or will be used to negotiate the contract. The NEC3 defines the Accepted Program as the one that supersedes all existing programs and is the Program identified in the Contract Data currently accepted by the Project Manager. Completion is defined as the period when the Contractor has finished all tasks as specified must be completed by the Completion Date according to the Works Information and has corrected Defects that can prevent the Employer from using the works or Others from doing their work. Completion Date is defined as the date on the Contract for completed works and the Contact Date is the date the contract was created. A Defect is any part of the Works that does not coincide with the Works Information or any part of the Works designed by the Contractor that does not comply with applicable laws or the design accepted by the Project Manager. The NEC3 defines the Fee as the sum of the amounts calculated by applying the subcontracted fee percentage to the Defined Cost of subcontracted work and the direct fee percentage to the Defined Cost of other work. Others are considered to be any people or organizations that are not the Employer, Project Manager, Supervisor, Adjudicator, or Contractor or an employee Subcontractor or supplier to the Contractor and NEC3 considers Parties to mean The Employer and the Contractor. Subcontractors are considered to be any person(s) or organizations that have a contractual agreement with the Contractor to perform duties that may include installing or constructing parts of the Works, providing services needed to enable the contractor to Provide the Works, or supply the Plant and Materials fabricated specifically for the Works. 1. Claims, proceedings, compensation and costs payable due to use of the Site by or for the purpose of the works, negligence, breach of legal obligations or interference of the legal right

Lenin's The State and Revolution critical summary Essay

Lenin's The State and Revolution critical summary - Essay Example For many Marxists, grasping the essence of State and Revolution is regarded as the hallmark of genuine communists. The social analysis presented by Lenin ultimately justifies violent revolution. Lenin explains that those who continue to claim that they are Marxists too are exposed as fraud if they dispute the concept that only a violent uprising led by the proletariat and participated by all working masses can bring about the downfall of the bourgeoisie and lead to the construction of a new society where the majority are indeed superior to the minority, one that is also the cornerstone for the achievement of communism in the future. Lenin’s articulation is not just based on the earlier works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels though. This is also a by-product of the actual revolutionary experiences in Germany and France. Because of this, his ideas are not entirely new but are the more timely and practical perspective of Marxism. However, not everyone, even among the ranks of th ose who claim to be socialists, appreciate the points raised by Lenin. Even as he presented his criticisms against the reformists and the anarchists alike, his concepts were also heavily bombarded by the very people he criticized. From whatever perspective, whether left or right, State and Revolution is undoubtedly one of the foremost texts that shape theories useful in political science. This means that it is definitely not just the Marxists or the revolutionaries who should comprehend its meaning. The State: Establishment and ‘Withering Away’ In the first chapter of State and Revolution, Lenin reiterated the essential point raised by Engels regarding the principal character of the state. In defining the state, he merely re-emphasized Engels’ theory that it is a reflection of the reality that class antagonisms could be resolved in societies according to the current level of historical development. In Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, Engels points out that the state â€Å"is a product of society at a certain stage of development; it is the admission that this society has become entangled in an insoluble contradiction with itself, that it has split into irreconcilable antagonisms which it is powerless to dispel† (Engels, 2004, p.157). Social hierarchy as represented by the government is a means of instilling order, one that favors the economic elite, the bourgeoisie. It is precisely because there is a majority of working masses that need to be oppressed to instill subservience that the state creates armed components such as the armed forces and the police, aided by the judiciary and the penal system. The state, as Lenin explains, is therefore an instrument of those who are dominant also in the economic sphere. It is a coercive mechanism that is employed by the bourgeoisie in order to maintain its power seemingly, at first, in the sphere of politics. However, it ultimately serves as weapon against those who may wa nt to change the status quo in the economy and production as well. However, the establishment of the state apparently does not resolve contradictions among the classes. Instead, it only sharpens these to the point that the oppressed and exploited would deem it necessary to wage a revolution. Lenin clarifies that revolutions are not just abnormal reactions of the masses to intense oppression and exploitation. Revolutions occur as a natural response to the realities of class antagonisms. Therefore, for as long as classes

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

The Merits of Privatization Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Merits of Privatization - Research Paper Example tes, transcontinental railroad constructed by public and private partnerships during the nineteenth century is one of the earliest examples of privatization in the US. The transcontinental public private partnership is always cited as an example by the people who support privatization. Privatization not only brings efficiency but it also helps in curtailing costs and reduces bureaucracy. (Loulakis, 2003) The recent financial downturn and government bailouts have severely affected the American economy. With the government deficits and costs of borrowing increasing day by day, many leading economists have advocated privatization of government functions which would bring budgetary discipline and would reduce government’s financial burden. Though the consumers are greatly benefited by the reduction in the costs of goods and services due to privatization, the only point which may negatively affect the citizens is accountability. Citizens do not have any control over private companies and cannot punish them, like they can punish the government by not voting for them in state or central elections. Another point of concern with privatization is that private firms operate with only one motive that is profitability, which is secondary in government owned and operated firms. Though, privatization has greatly improved product quality and cost, there are certain services which should not be privatized. Sectors like defense, law enforcement, education and basic healthcare should always be under State control. The future of the country depends a lot on the above mentioned sectors and therefore, the motive of cost cutting, profitability and competition should not come into consideration. However, certain functions like sourcing of certain products can be outsourced. Another reason why these sectors should be under State control is because in case of any adverse events the government must have the capacity and the control to handle the situation quickly and

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Lenin's The State and Revolution critical summary Essay

Lenin's The State and Revolution critical summary - Essay Example For many Marxists, grasping the essence of State and Revolution is regarded as the hallmark of genuine communists. The social analysis presented by Lenin ultimately justifies violent revolution. Lenin explains that those who continue to claim that they are Marxists too are exposed as fraud if they dispute the concept that only a violent uprising led by the proletariat and participated by all working masses can bring about the downfall of the bourgeoisie and lead to the construction of a new society where the majority are indeed superior to the minority, one that is also the cornerstone for the achievement of communism in the future. Lenin’s articulation is not just based on the earlier works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels though. This is also a by-product of the actual revolutionary experiences in Germany and France. Because of this, his ideas are not entirely new but are the more timely and practical perspective of Marxism. However, not everyone, even among the ranks of th ose who claim to be socialists, appreciate the points raised by Lenin. Even as he presented his criticisms against the reformists and the anarchists alike, his concepts were also heavily bombarded by the very people he criticized. From whatever perspective, whether left or right, State and Revolution is undoubtedly one of the foremost texts that shape theories useful in political science. This means that it is definitely not just the Marxists or the revolutionaries who should comprehend its meaning. The State: Establishment and ‘Withering Away’ In the first chapter of State and Revolution, Lenin reiterated the essential point raised by Engels regarding the principal character of the state. In defining the state, he merely re-emphasized Engels’ theory that it is a reflection of the reality that class antagonisms could be resolved in societies according to the current level of historical development. In Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, Engels points out that the state â€Å"is a product of society at a certain stage of development; it is the admission that this society has become entangled in an insoluble contradiction with itself, that it has split into irreconcilable antagonisms which it is powerless to dispel† (Engels, 2004, p.157). Social hierarchy as represented by the government is a means of instilling order, one that favors the economic elite, the bourgeoisie. It is precisely because there is a majority of working masses that need to be oppressed to instill subservience that the state creates armed components such as the armed forces and the police, aided by the judiciary and the penal system. The state, as Lenin explains, is therefore an instrument of those who are dominant also in the economic sphere. It is a coercive mechanism that is employed by the bourgeoisie in order to maintain its power seemingly, at first, in the sphere of politics. However, it ultimately serves as weapon against those who may wa nt to change the status quo in the economy and production as well. However, the establishment of the state apparently does not resolve contradictions among the classes. Instead, it only sharpens these to the point that the oppressed and exploited would deem it necessary to wage a revolution. Lenin clarifies that revolutions are not just abnormal reactions of the masses to intense oppression and exploitation. Revolutions occur as a natural response to the realities of class antagonisms. Therefore, for as long as classes

Enriques Journey Essay Example for Free

Enriques Journey Essay Just as Enrique arrives, there is tension between his mother and him. They begin to argue about how Enrique had developed bad habits such as drinking and staying out late as well as sniffing glue. These problems do not surprise me because he had been through alot on his intense journey all the way from Honduras. It hurt Lourdes to see her son do nothing but hurt himself and her family because the money he was spending on alcohol should have been sent back home to help pay for school. Enrique also put his mother down by constantly making her feel guilty for leaving and that she did not deserve to call herself his mother. Looking back at the relationship between them before she left, I thought that their relationship would have been stronger than ever after not seeing each other for years and that he would appreciate the fact that he found her unlike many of the other immigrants that search for years and are still unable to find their family members. Enriques motivation to stay in the United States is work and buy a house back in Honduras not to mention the amount of money he is making allows him to afford a lot more than he could back in Honduras. He wishes to continue working so he can support his girlfriend and his daughter back home in Honduras as well as buy a house so that he can move in with his girlfriend and daughter and finally be a family. He thinks that his girlfriend is cheating on him and he realizes that he wants to be there for his daughter and raise her before she calls someone else her father. Rather than Enrique moving back home he decides that he wants his girlfriend and the baby to move to the United States with him. I believe that there is so much conflict between Enrique and Lourdes is because Lourdes is trying to mother and discipline Enrique when she was not there raise him so he feels as if she is not his mother anymore. If she had not left and raised her family as her own they would not have any problems with their relationship and most likely Enrique would have not got himself into trouble by abusing drugs and drinking too much. I believe once Enrique begins to pick up his act and stops abusing drugs and drinking and coming home late his relationship with his mother would become better as well as eing able to function the next day and able to perform well at work so he can earn enough to visit his family back home in Honduras. I believe that Enrique made the correct decision coming to the United States, although he put his life in danger he reached his goal and finally got to see his mother after many years. Despite making the same mistake as his mother and leaving his girlfriend and daughter for a job to help pay for their needs, I believe it is necessary because if Enrique was back home there was a chance he could not have even had a job and then he would have had no way to support his family. He gained many things by coming to the United States. He had an opportunity to provide a decent living for his family as well as reuniting with his mother even though it was not easy for them at first. Enrique, on his journey, lost his sense of pride. After being harassed by so many times by the local police, he had nothing left to the point where it would have made no difference if he had died. He is in jeopardy of losing his family being many thousands of miles away from them, his girlfriend could leave him for someone who is making a better living in Honduras and would be able to be there to help raise their kids.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Strategies for Pricing, Promotion and Marketing Analysis

Strategies for Pricing, Promotion and Marketing Analysis Product Cost Literature Review We all are exposed to marketing in one or the other form everyday. Every time we buy or use a product, go window shopping, watch an advertisement, find a new product or someone telling about it. Marketing outputs are very familiar and are not as narrow as people generally know. Marketing is not just advertising, selling or making people buy things they want or they don’t. Marketing infact covers a wide range of absolutely essential business activities that bring us the products we want them, when we want them, where we want them, with all information. (Kotler P and Keller K, 2006) â€Å"Marketing is the management process that is responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements profitably†. (CIM, 2001) â€Å"Marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services to create exchange and satisfy individual and organisational objectives†. (AMA, 1985) A definition that includes the important elements of both the AMA and CIM definitions, but still embraces the evolving relationship orientation is offered by Gronroos (1997). â€Å"Marketing is to establish, maintain and enhance relationship with customers and other partners at a profit, so that the objectives of the partners, at a profit, so that the objectives of the parties involved are met. This is achieved by mutual exchange and fulfilment of promises†. (Gronroos C, 1997) Marketing management is the act and science of choosing target markets and getting, keeping and growing customers through creating, delivering and communicating superior customer value. (Kottler.P , Keller.K 2006) Marketing is a management process. Marketing involves management skills, requires planning, analysis, resource allocation, control and investment in terms of money, skilled people and physical resources. It also requires implementation monitoring and evaluation. Marketing fulfills customer requirement profitably Marketer has to work within the resource capabilities of the organisation and specifically work within the agreed budgets and performance targets set for the marketing function. Marketing identifies and anticipates customer requirements. Marketer creates some sort of offering only after researching the market and pinpointing exactly what the customer want. Marketing is about giving customers what they want It implies a focus towards the customer or end consumer of the product or service. (Kotler P and Keller K, 2006) Marketing offers and exchanges ideas, goods and services. The idea of marketing is an exchange process, organisation offers a product or service and the customer offers a sum of money in return. (Brassington F and Pettit S, 2006) Marketing deals with identifying and meeting human and social needs, one of the shortest definitions is â€Å"meeting needs profitably†. (Kotler P and Keller K, 2006) Marketing management tasks Capturing marketing insights Developing marketing strategies Connecting with customers Shaping the market offerings Delivering value Communicating value Creating long term growth (Kotler P and Keller K, 2006) The marketing mix is one of the dominant ideas in modern marketing. Marketing mix consists of everything the firm can do to influence the demand for its product. The many possibilities gather into 4 P’s. They are Product, Price, Place and Promotion. â€Å"The set of controllable tactical marketing tools– product, price, place and promotion- that blends to produce the response it wants in the target market. Marketing Mix Variety Advertising List price Channels Quality Promotions Discounts Coverage Design Personal selling Allowances Assortments Features Publicity Payment period Locations Brand name Direct selling Credit terms Inventory Packaging Transport Services Warranties Target Market (Kotler et al, 2001, p98) THE 4 Ps of Marketing The four strategies of the marketing mix (product, price, promotion and place) are interconnected. The marketing mix is one of the dominant ideas in modern marketing. Action in one affects decisions in another. It is the set of controllable tactical marketing tools that blends to give or meet the market needs. Target population must be first selected and then the strategies are applied towards. Marketing mix consists of everything that can influence the demand of the product. PRODUCT- Product can be a tangible object or a service offered by a company to the target market. A product can be any physical object, services, person, places, organisation and ideas that are offered to a market for acquisition, attention, consumption or use that satisfies the customer needs or wants. There are different product levels depending on the customer value hierarchy, they are; core benefit, basic product, expected product, augmented product, potential product. PRICE – Price is the amount of money charged for a product or service rendered, it is also the sum of value that consumers exchange for the benefits of having, using satisfying their needs or wants of the product or service. PROMOTION – Promotion are the activities that communicate the merits of the product or service that persuade the target customer to buy them. Special promotion offers like cash discount, rebates, offers etc. PLACE – Place is all the activities that a companies carries to make the product reach and available to the market. Place is also the distribution channel and distribution of the product or service in the most advantageous and best way possible to the target customer. (Kotler et al, 2001, p98), (Kotler P and Keller K, 2006), (Lancaster G and Massingham L, 1993, p100) Promotion The communication of merits of the product and persuading the customer to purchase is promotion. The benefits of the product have to be communicated to the customers for earning profits and gaining sales. The process of communicating with various form or promotion mix is known as promotion. (Kotler et al, 2001, p98) Promotion mix Promotion mix is the blend of promotional tools, which are, advertising, sales promotion, personal selling, sales force, direct marketing and public relations. These promotional tools are used to communicate or spread awareness to the customers. These tools have different characteristics and costs. Total marketing communications programme carried by a company or a business is called the promotional mix. (Kotler et al, 2001), (Michael J. Barker, 2003) Advertising Any paid form of non-personal communication of ideas or products through the medium or channel like television, newspapers, magazines, hoardings, posters, radio, cinema etc by an identified sponsor. Advertising include not only business firms, but also museums, charitable organisations, and Government agencies that direct messages to target publics. Advertisements are cost-effective way to disseminate messages, whether to build brand preference or to educate people. (Kotler. P, p590, 2005) The intention of advertisement is to inform and to persuade. The two basic aspects of advertising are the message that has to be communicated and how to be communicated. (Keith Crosier, 1998a) Personal Selling Personal selling is one of the effective tools of promotion mix involving an interactive relationship between the seller and the buyer. It is more effective in building up buyer preference, conviction and action. (Philip Kotler, 2005, p580 ; Kotler P and Keller K, 2006, p556) Sales Promotion Sales promotion is used for short run effects to promote product offers and to push sagging sales. Through sales promotion, companies get better, stronger and quicker response from the customers. Ex- contests, coupons, premiums, offers-buy one get one etc.(Philip Kotler, 2005, p580) Public relation or Publicity It is to build good relationship between the public and the company by favourable publicity, thereby building image. Lower in cost compared to advertising. It is most of the times the communication of a product, brand or business by placing information about it in the media without paying for the time or media directly. (Kotler et al, 2001, p690) Direct marketing Direct marketing is an interactive system of marketing that uses one or more advertising media to effect a measurable response or transaction at any location. Direct connections with carefully targeted individual consumers to both obtain an immediate response and cultivate lasting customer relationships by using telephone, mail, e-mail, internet, fax etc. to communicate directly with specific consumer alternative. (Bennett P D, 1995), (Betts et al., CIM, 1998) (Terance A. Shimp, 1997, p386) Promotion mix Advertising Builds awareness, public presentation (impersonal) Repetition of brand awareness and product helps in positioning and build customer trust Personal Selling Immediate and interactive lots of communication between the buyer and seller, sales call are costly. Communicating complex and deeper product information and features. Relationships can be built up important if closing the sale make take a long time. Sales Promotion Can stimulate sales by targeting promotional incentives on particular products Effective short term promotional tool. Public Relations News, stories and features are more authentic and credible. Cheap way of reaching many customers if the publicity is achieved through the right media but lose control. Direct Marketing Direct interaction with targeted individual consumers. Communication can be personalised and activities less visible to competitors. (David Jobber, 2001),( William G. Zikmund and Michael d’Amico, 1998), Kotler P and Keller K, 2006, p555-6) Advertising â€Å"Advertising is any paid form of non personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods and services by an identified sponsor†.(AMA, 1963) â€Å"Advertising is the non-personal communication of marketing related information to a target audience, usually paid for by the advertiser, and delivered through the mass media in order to reach the specific objectives of the sponsor†(Burnett, 1993) Advertising: Its role and structure Developments in magazines, radio and television have had a tremendous impact of advertising. Apart from marketing, advertising may also serve several other functions in the economy and in the society. (Bovee C. L and Arens W. L, 1992) A hierarchy of effects model proposes that ads can move consumers closer to buying step by step, from being unaware, to knowledge, to liking, to preference, to desire, to purchase. The basic functions of advertising are- Precipitation- Create awareness and stimulate needs and wants. Persuasion- Encourage action and commitment Reinforcement- Support customer’s past decisions Reminder- Create habit Advertisings have the ability to add value to the brand as they are capable of endowing a brand with a symbolic meaning that makes more value in the consumer’s eye. (Kotler P and Keller K, 2006, p556) Advertising performs the communication function of a company, which the company has faith on. The main function of advertising are informing, persuading, reminding, adding value and assisting other company efforts. Informing: Advertising makes consumer aware of brands, new brand, educates about the features and benefits, builds brand image or forming o it by reaching the mass audience at a low cost per head. It also increases demand for existing product, teaches new uses of product and awareness. Persuading: Advertisements persuades or try to push the consumers and customers to try the advertised products and services. At chances there is also demand created for the secondary product of the brand. Reminding: Advertisements make the brand memorable by recalling them, they also remind customers of their purchases, influences the consumer’s interest in mature brand bears influence on brand switchers by letting them know about the other. Assisting other company efforts: Advertisement assists other company efforts by carrying the information or spreading the awareness of sales promotion to consumers(coupons, offers). It also helps the consumers in recognising the product or brand by showing the packaging and design on television, hoardings and magazines. (Shimp T. A., 2000) Advantages of advertisements Advertising provides an introduction to the company and its products Advertising explains the products new features Advertisements are more economical Advertisements offering brochures generate leads to sales people Advertisements tell people how to use the products and make them aware of their right purchase. (Kotler P and Keller K, 2006, p556) Advertisings have the capability to compliment the other promotional mix elements, like- Delivering sales promotions directly and supporting them indirectly, carrying public relations messages and announcing public relations activities, it also presells the salesperson’s product. Thereby advertising increases sales and profitability. (Burnett, 1993) The economic impact of advertising can be linked to the opening shot in billiards, a chain reaction that affects the company that advertises as well as its competitors, customers and the business community. On the otherside or broaderscale, advertising is often considered the trigger on mass distribution system that enables the manufacturers to produce the products in high volume, at low prices, standardised quality. Advertising adds value to products, makes products more or less expensive, affects total consumer demand, encourages or discourages competition, narrows or widens consumer choice and affects national business cycles. Advertising influences in an economy that produces more goods and services that can be consumed. (Bovee C. L and Arens W. L, 1992). Advertising is expensive and its effects are uncertain, moreover sometimes it takes time to impact on consumer behaviour. Functions and effects of advertisements as a marketing tool To stimulate the distribution of a product To lower the overall cost of sales To build brand preference and loyalty To identify products and differentiate them from others To communicate information about product, its features and its location of sale To induce consumers to try new products and to suggest reuse. (Bovee C. L and Arens W. L, 1992) The magnitude of advertising Advertising is a big business. USA’s expenditure on advertisements alone total to 200 million dollars as of 1998. Some American companies invest more than 1 billion dollar a year on domestic product. (Coen R. J, 1997) Advertising is investment in brand equity bank Brand’s equity is enhanced by marketing communications that create brand awareness thereby leading to strong, favourable and unique relation in the consumer’s memory between brand, feature and its benefits. (Aaker D. A., 1993). A brand is differentiated from competitive offering from price competition. (Boulding W, 1994) Advertising affects on building brands Advertising helps to build brands by communicating value and adding personality. It is only advertising that can do this task well. Advertising is essential to build consumer perception of brand values in market. (Randall, 1994, p 16) Advertising cannot be evaluated separately and it is an extricable part of total brand. The sales of brand are associated with the advertising expenditure as they are directly proportional. Advertising takes the sales up and down with the increase and decrease with proportion to the communication spread to the consumers of the market. Mraket have instinctive and correct feeling that the brand is the most valued property that evaporates unless supported properly by investment in advertising. (Arnold, D 1993) Brand A brand is a name, term, sign, symbol or design or combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group sellers and to differentiate them from those of competitors. -American Marketing Association Ultimately, a brand is something that resides in the mind of customer. â€Å"A brand is every sign that is capable of distinguishing the goods or services of a company.† In this definition, the stress is on ‘sign’ and ‘distinguishing’. A sign may be a word, picture or form mark. The brand name is that part of the brand that can be pronounced. A brand name can serve as a characteristic in the recognition of the branded article.(Riezebos.R et al, p-33,63,85, 2003) Brands are fundamentally important to the survival and success of many firms for which companies have to manage them correctly. Strong brands are powerful and profitable yet there are many challenges and threats continuing strength and their existence. Branding is a fundamental strategic process that involves all parts of the firm in its delivery. Brand must always deliver value which must be defined in consumer terms. Brand has a continuing relationship with its buyers and users, this may change overtime but the company should always work on it to maintain it. Branding must be continuously adapted so that it is both efficient and effective due to the threat of growing competition. (Randall G, 2000, p1-5) The connection of Zippo lighters, Swatch watches or Mont blanc pens. With all the views it feels that a brand is something different from a product. When Virgin first started, it sold music as a product. Later the Virgin brand was built up and now is in various fields like airlines, cola, railways and financial services. It is now definitely a brand. A brand has an existence that is more than an actual product or service, it has a life of its own that feeds on the original product but also carries its original values and identify into new product areas. â€Å"A product is something that is made in factory and brand is something that is bought by a consumer† (Randall G, 2000, p1-5) It is every human being’s nature to invent and build brand values in each individual head. We do it with people, we do it with animals and we do it with inanimate objects. The skill of brand management is to see that each consumer is offered the right raw materials from which he or she will build the brand as the brand owner would prefer.(Randall G, 2000, p1-5) A brand is not an objective fact, it is made up of a million or more individual and subjective assessments. (Bullmore, 1999) Hankinson and Cowking (1993) have described brand definition under six headings; Visual Perceptual Positioning Added value Image Personality (Hankinson, G and Cowking, P,1993) Brand Image and Brand Identity Brand image- Brand image is what exists in the minds of consumers and the entire information of the brand they have received by word of mouth, advertising, packaging, experience, service etc. modified by perception, previous beliefs, social norms and forgetting. Brand image is what exists. Brand identity- Brand identity is what is under control and what is transmitted to the market. A strong brand is one that has a consistent, coherent identity. (Randall G, 2000, p1-5). Brand identity consists of twelve dimensions organised around four perspectives- the brand as product(scope, attributes, quality or value, uses, users, country of origin), brand as organisation (organisational attributes, local versus global), brand as person (brand personality, customer relationships), and brand as symbol (visual imagery and heritage). (Randall G, 2000, p68) As per Randall, (1993) brands perform five man functions for consumers. Identity- Brand must identify itself clearly and unambiguously, so name, legal protection and design elements are important. Shorthand summary- The identity should act as a summary of all the information the consumer holds about the brand. Security- Brand should guarantee to provide the benefits expected. Differentiation- The brand must clearly differentiate itself from its competitors and shows its uniqueness. Added value- Brand must offer more than the generic product. (Randall, G, 1993) One more view of brand is to excel in their offering product like price such as Asda, functional benefit such as Toyota or psychological benefit such as Timotei. (Davidson, H, 1997) When General Motors (GM) and Toyota both marketed a car produced by them in joint venture and cars were functionally identical but were branded as Toyota and Geo Prizm. In the course of 1990-94, Toyota were able to sell 200,000 Corollas at US $ 11,000 each and GM were able to sell only 80,000 and that to with a lower price of US $ 10,700. This shows the greater power of the Toyota brand over the other. This shows the perception of quality in consumer’s mind with respect to brand. (Almquist et al, 1998) Brands in Takeovers Nestle made a takeover bid for Rowntree at a premium due to the brand equity or value by Rowntree. The premium was not paid for the present performance of the brand but for their future potential. Nestle made kitkat the truly European brand. Brand Equity Brand equity is a set of liabilities and assets which are attached to a brand, its value, name, symbol of a company to that of the customers. They are grouped under five categories. Brand loyalty Name awareness Perceived quality Brand association in addition to perceived quality Other proprietary brand assets-patents, trademarks, channel relationships etc. (Aaker D A, 1991, p8) Celebrity Endorsements (Brand Ambassadors) Celebrities are individuals who enjoy public acknowledgment by a large share of a certain group of people. Their attributes like attractiveness, skills, extraordinary lifestyle are observed, They also differ from the social norm and take pleasure in a high degree of public awareness. Few classic examples of celebrities like, Meg Ryan, Pierce Brosnan, models like Naomi Campbell, Gisele Buendchen, sports persons like Anna Kournikova, Michael Schumacher entertainers like Oprah Winfrey, Conan O’Brien, and pop stars e.g. Madonna, David Bowie, Britney Spears and Rihanna and also business class or groups like Donald Trump, Bill Gates or politicians like Bill Clinton, Tony Blair. Appearances of celebrities are in different ways. Initially, when they appear in their actual profession (Tennis players in Wimbledon) like Anna Kournikova Pete Sampras. Later, their appearance in public by attending special celebrity events like world premieres of movies and academy awards, in news, magazine s provide information on events and the personal life of celebrities through mass-media. Celebrities act as spokespeople in advertising to promote products, services and ideas. (Kambitsis et al. 2002, Tom et al. 1992). Celebrities like Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Liz Hurley and Tiger Woods are paid billions of dollars for every contract with the company or brand as they play a major role in advertising industry. (Daneshvary, Rennae and Schwer, 2000, Kambitsis et al. 2002). For example, Famous Tennis player Venus Williams has been endorsed by the sportswear manufacturer Reebok International Inc. for $40 million and five year contract. Advertising with the use of celebrities create enormous publicity and attention of people. (Ohanian 1991) Celebrities as Spokespersons Spokespersons are generally used by companies to deliver their advertising message and convince consumers of their products or brands. Spokesperson who are popular and are widely known are endorsed by companies, thereby celebrity endorser (Tom et al. 1992). â€Å"A celebrity endorser is an individual who is known by the people for their achievements in their fields other than the product class endorsed.† (Friedman and Friedman, 1979, p63). Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones endorses the perfume manufactured by Elizabeth Arden (cosmetic manufacturer). Celebrities are endorsed due to their high influential potential capability and their higher recall and degree of attention in advertising. Advertising with celebrities create positive feelings towards brands, more entertaining and increases company’s awareness, Advertising with celebrities are likely affect consumers brand attitudes and purchase behaviour. (Solomon 2002) Source Credibility and Attractiveness The main intention of advertising is to persuade customers, attempt to modify or change consumer’s attitude towards brands (Solomon 2002). Celebrity endorsement strategy by advertisers enables to project an image in terms of persuasiveness, objectiveness, expertise, and trustworthiness. (Till and Shimp 1998). Source attractiveness- It is the endorser’s individuality, physical appearance, likeability, and similarity to the consumer perception, thereby to the perceived social value (Solomon 2002). Using celebrities or attractive people in television and print advertising is common practice followed and have proved to be more successful in influencing customer’s attitudes and beliefs. (Ohanian 1991) The Match-up Hypothesis Many research studies have showed the relativity between brand and celebrity endorsers and explained the effectiveness of using them to promote brands. Many of the celebrity endorsements proved to be successful. (Walker et al. 1992). Celebrity Endorser Company/Product Success (Yes/No) Liz Hurley Estee Lauder Yes Cindy Crawford Revlon PepsiCo Yes Yes Bruce Willis Seagrams No Michael Jordan Nike WorldCom Yes No Whitney Houston ATT No Jerry Seinfeld American Express Yes Milla Jovovich L’Oreal Yes (Successful and unsuccessful celebrity endorsements Source, Walker et al. 1992, Till 1998) It is not enough for a person to be just famous to endorse (Solomon 2002). Super stars like Bruce Willis and Whitney Houston who were attractive failed in their endorsements. Celebrity spokespersons should be knowledgeable, experienced, and qualified to talk about the product to be effective on consumer. (Tom et al. 1992, Daneshvary and Schwer 2000) References Philip Kotler, (2005), Marketing Management, 11th edition, Pearson Education, India AMA, (1985), ‘AMA Board approves new marketing definition’ Marketing news, 1st March, p1. Brassington F and Pettit S, (2006), ‘Principles of marketing’ 4th edition, Pearson education, England. Gronroos, C, (1997), ‘From marketing mix to relationship marketing- Towards a paradigm shift in marketing management decision 35(4), pp322-39. Kotler P and Keller L K, (2006), Marketing management, 12th edition, Prentice Hall, USA. Kotler P, Armstrong G, Saunders J and Wong V, (2001), Principles of marketing, 3rd European edition, Prentice Hall, UK Peter D. Bennett, (1995), Dictionary of marketing terms, American Marketing Association, Chicago. Keith Crosier, (1998a), Advertising, in kitchen, P.J.(ed.) Marketing Communication: Principles and practice, International Thompson Business Press, London. Michael J. Barker, (2003), The marketing book, 5th edition, Heinemann publication, Great Britain. Betts et al., CIM, (1998), Promotional Practice, 5th edition, BPP publishing, London. William G. Zikmund and Michael d’Amico, (1998), Effective marketing-Creating and keeping customers, International Thompson Publishing, USA. Terance A. Shimp, (1997), Aspects of integrated marketing communication, The Dryden press, USA. Lancaster G and Massingham L, (1993), Marketing management, McGraw Hill Company, Great Britain David Jobber, (2001), Principles and practice of marketing, McGraw Hill publishing company, UK. CIM, (2001), Marketing management, BPP publishing, London.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

problem analysis summary :: essays research papers

Problem Analysis Summary The employees of ABC Company have identified a problem, which must be resolved. ABC employs a part-time administrative assistant whose work ethics and productivity are lacking; thereby affecting others in the organization. The employee is responsible to answer phones, take messages, and assist each department in performing various administrative functions. The position held by this employee is important, as each department relies on her input and assistance in completing their assigned tasks. The administrative assistant’s lack of follow-through and general uncaring attitude towards her work has caused her co-workers to be frustrated, annoyed, and more importantly, has led to productivity being negatively affected.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In reviewing the problem it is important to note the specific details of the behaviors the administrative assistant is displaying. The hours for the position were presented to the administrative assistant; however, she arrives late for work on a daily basis. This issue has been discussed with her, without successful resolution; she has a daily excuse of why she is late. The worker in question does not finish the tasks assigned, and typically procrastinates beginning a project. When the employee works on an assignment, she does not stay focused, gets easily side-tracked and appears to be working on several projects at once, never giving any assignment her undivided attention. Finally, phone messages that are written by the worker are vague and incoherent. All of the aforementioned details lead the administrative assistant’s co-workers to realize there is a problem with this worker.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a casual discussion of two employees who work with the administrative assistant, it was discovered that most of the workers recognize that there is a problem with the worker in question. The co-workers began to share notes and soon realized that each department was experiencing the same difficulties with the administrative assistant. This appeared to be the triggering event that exposed the problem to the group.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To utilize critical thinking skills and thoroughly analyze the problem, we will address the following questions: 1) Could the administrative assistant be overloaded with work? 2) Could some of the projects be given to other members of the staff to relieve the pressure?

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Exploring Pain in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Essay examples -- Cat on a Hot

Exploring Pain in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof      Ã‚  Ã‚   "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof," written by Tennessee Williams is a brilliant play about a dysfunctional family that is forces to deal with hidden deceptions and hypocrisy.   The issues that this play revolves around transcend time and region.    By 1955 Tennessee Williams was already a well known and respected playwright. Theatergoers, as well as critics, had enthusiastically anticipated the arrival of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof." Many loved the play, but they had difficulty with the play's resolution. (Winchell, 711)    ...critics and ordinary theatre-goers have not always known what to make of the play. Both the original and the Broadway versions of the third act leave questions unanswered and an uneasy sense that the answers suggested are willed and artificial. (Winchell, 711)    In addition, many people love Williams's play "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" because the plot is intriguing and the character's secrets unfold slowly. His play's premise is unique and it is not a re-hashed drama. They enjoy that Williams entertains and enlightens. "Audiences go to his plays not to be shocked but to see the playwright's sympathetic portrayal of characters whose fears and loneliness reflect their own."" (The New Book of Knowledge, 174)    Tennessee Williams's plays have been praised and criticized by literary scholars. Most applaud his prose and mastery in developing characters, yet they are sometimes offended by his subject matter. Mark Royden Winchell wrote a compelling article analyzing Williams's play "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof." In his essay, Winchell states that the play "is a powerful work of art", yet he exclaims that it is perverse and "scandalous." (Winche... ...filmsite.org/cato/htm/ Leverich, Lyle. Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., Inc. 1995, 3, 17, 55, 59, 128, 129, 260, 417, 574 McLean, Colin. Interview, April 25th, 8:10 p.m. The New Book of Knowledge vol. 20 US, Grolier, Inc. 1994, 174-175 Reiter, Amy. A Capital Cat." Entertainment Design January 1999 7-8 proquest.umi.com/pqdweb Smith, Bruce. Costly Performances. New York: Paragon House, 1990, 6, 17, 59, 157 Williams, Tennessee. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof New York: Penguin Books Ltd. 1955 24, 124, 125 Winchell, Mark Royden. "Come Back To The Locker Room Ag'in Brick Honey." The Mississippi Quarterly 48 Fall 1995 701-712 webspirs3.silverplatter.com/cgi-binwaldo.cgi Wolter, Jurgen C. "Strangers on Williams's Stage." The Mississippi Quarterly 49 Winter 1995 33-51 webspirs3.sinverplatter.com/cgi-bin/waldo/cgi