Saturday, August 22, 2020

Learning Outcome Essay

Have the option to direct and record evaluations as per inner and outer procedures and prerequisites 2.1 Review the appraisal necessities and related strategies of learning programs (AQA. 2012).Assessment is the procedure by which a learner’s aptitudes and information are explored so as to assess what they have realized or on account of NVQs, how they are performing against the skills they are required to illustrate. I consider homeroom to be as having four fundamental purposes. The initial three include: Diagnostic or needs appraisal reason: To figure out what understudies definitely know so instructors can choose the subjects and ways to deal with use. Developmental reason for educator: To evaluate understudy information or execution on some key subject or measurement to illuminate instructional plans. Summative reason: To pass judgment or assess understudy execution (i.e., give an evaluation). Moreover, inquire about is progressively evident that the nature of the input educators give understudies comparative with how to improve is a totally basic part of study hall assessment.(Serve, 2006) This prompts the fourth reason: Formative reason for understudies: To assist understudies with building up the abilities to ponder fundamentally their own work. By requesting that understudies survey themselves, educators urge understudies to take part in the kind of higher-request thinking important forever today. The point of appraisal in this manner is principally to instruct and improve understudy execution, not just review it. Evaluation will guarantee that students are reasonably, precisely and normally surveyed in a steady way, give symptomatic data that helps both staff and students/contender to give, suitable help to empower accomplishment of the learning results (introductory appraisal), permit students/possibility to screen their own advancement, empower guides to audit and build up their learning projects to accomplish their expected learning results, give proof of progress and accomplishment to empower accreditation and movement to happen, empower a discourse between the students/applicants and coach/assessors to guarantee movement inside the arrangement (following) and give a proportion of the learner’s accomplishment on capability based courses (grades). (Barnet College Assessment Policy, Jan 11, 2010) FIG.1 Scheme of Assessment It is basic that inward appraisals are led by staff that have the suitable information, comprehension and abilities, that evaluation proof gave by applicants has been created and validated by the prerequisites of the detail and furthermore that the consistency of the inside evaluation is made sure about through inner normalization as fundamental. (www.llantarnamschool.net/). As of late, appraisal of understudy accomplishment has been accepting the consideration of instructors, guardians, analysts and training frameworks. This consideration has featured appraisal as fundamental to the educating and learning process. Current appraisal rehearses need to consider changes based new understandings of learning speculations, new educational programs that are being grown, new information and abilities that are vital for the 21st Century and the responsibility necessities of frameworks and governments. In this regard evaluation of understudy accomplishment is changing as today’s underst udies face a world that requests new information, aptitudes and practices that have not yet been characterized (Segers et al 2003). Understudies, in this quick and consistently evolving setting, need grow profound understandings of orders as well as build up the capacity to examine, orchestrate and make derivations just as think fundamentally and issue explain. Helping understudies to build up these information, abilities and practices and become long lasting students requires changes in the appraisal forms at the school and study hall level. Evaluation might be beginning, developmental or summative. (Hampshire Learning Policy and Procedures for Assessment and Internal Verification, Nov, 2012) As a history educator I utilize various sorts of evaluations to survey in the case of instructing has occurred in my exercises. When teachers’ study hall appraisals become a necessary piece of the instructional procedure and a focal precept in their endeavors to enable understudies to learn, the advantages of evaluation for the two understudies and instructors will be limitless. The motivation behind these appraisals is to determine the student’s levels of comprehension and check whether there is any opportunity to get better and whether there are any shortcomings in order to have the option to address them. My center is to improve my appraisals to make them spurring and to upgrade understudy learning. Appraisal challenges that have been distinguished are as per the following: Figuring out what truly is importantâ for understudies to know and have the option to do ever. Showing the aptitudes of â€Å"doing history† in a universe of testing that frequently appears to esteem just truthful information. Recognizing and utilizing appraisals that furnish instructors with preferred data over just different decision tests. Getting understudies propelled to work admirably on expositions and other composed work. Helping understudies figure out how to improve their own work and produce quality items. Considering understudies responsible for quality work, instead of them simply turning in something. The appraisals must be directed and recorded as per inside and outer procedures and necessities. I utilize these appraisals to assess my training and to recognize any open doors for development. FIG. 2 Assessment targets Great evaluations ought to follow these fundamental standards or the abbreviation AVRFI. Credibility: All appraisal action must have set up procedures to guarantee that the accomplishment is the learner’s/candidate’s own work. Students/applicants must sign an announcement with this impact. Granting Bodies sheets have their own standards and guidelines about legitimacy and mentors/assessors must make themselves acquainted with them and comply with them. Legitimacy: The strategy for appraisal and the proof gave must be suitable and fit for exhibiting the accomplishment of learning results/skills and related evaluation models of the arrangement at the proper level. Unwavering quality and consistency: The appraisal results ought to be normalized across levels and arrangement. Balance and normalization must follow the College and Awarding Bodies board systems. Qualification for reason: Assessment must be fit for the students/up-and-comers and the learning. The appraisal system must be plainly fitting for the objective gathering of students/applicants in the right setting in which they are learning for example schoolwork must be steady, or starting indicative must not be scaring. The measures and strategies which are being utilized to pass judgment on the work must be obvious to the student, staff and interior and outer mediators/verifiers and meet and surpass the prerequisites of QCA/QAA, the granting bodies and our student/competitor sanction. Comprehensiveness: Assessment ought to be founded on learners’/candidates’ needs. It must permit all students/possibility to exhibit their accomplishments paying little heed to singular conditions. Understudies, in this quick and consistently evolving setting, need grow profound understandings of orders as well as build up the capacity to examine, incorporate and make inductions just as think basically and issue fathom. Helping understudies to build up these information, abilities and practices and become long lasting students requires changes in the appraisal forms at the school and study hall level. Current learning speculations endeavor to catch all the parameters of human learning and give data on how individuals learn. Consistent themes through learning speculations demonstrate headings that have significant ramifications for the educative procedure. (www.barnetsouthgate.ac.uk/) My appraisals are separated into three particular classes, which are: introductory/analytic, developmental and summative evaluations. Introductory/analytic Assessments: This is a pivotal piece of the learning procedure that gives the data expected to choose a learner’s beginning stage. These appraisals occur before the course initiation and it encourages instructors to know and perceive about students needs or perspectives. Basically it causes me to distinguish the students earlier information, for example, student needs or challenges for which I may design an extra help for them (Reece, I. what's more, Charlton, M. 2007). This can likewise assist me with checking on the off chance that they have any proof based acknowledgment of earlier learning (RPL). Introductory appraisals can help me check their education, numeracy and ICT levels and are considered to assess understudy abilities, information, quality and regions for advancements. Developmental Assessments: These are on-going appraisals that happen all through the course procedure. Developmental appraisal is centered around improving understudy inspiration and learning with the objective of creating higherâ€quality work or thinking. There are two distinct crowds for developmental evaluation. One crowd is the instructor. That is numerous educators may check understudy understanding by posing inquiries or by watching understudies as they examine a point in little gatherings. These educators are casually gathering information that will enable them to figure out what requirements to occur next in guidance. So the instructor is in this manner the information client. The second crowd for developmental evaluation is the understudy. Understudies need to realize what will move their exposition answer on a specific inquiry from a C to an A. They have to comprehend reading content profoundly for comprehension and how their methodologies for contemplating substance can be improved. Research shows that furnishing understudies with compelling input can increaseâ student accomplishment essentially (Marzano, Pickering, and Pollock, 2001). Criticism is best when it is opportune, happening inside one to two days of the work; when it gives input explicit to t

Friday, August 21, 2020

British Politics and the European Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

English Politics and the European Union - Essay Example As saw by Scheffler (2008: 37), the media has been given entire chance to feature the shortcomings of European Union and thus, the feeling of wariness has kept on extending. This has additionally come about into the developing of the contrasts between the gatherings in the combination and subsequently coming about into a progressively advanced discussion on the benefits of the joining. This is accepted to be one reason that have formed the British way to deal with Europe which is significant too before one can portray British as a cumbersome accomplice in the association (Bache and Jordan, 2006:4). Be that as it may, these are disappointments of the legislature and don't legitimize the British cumbersomeness as for the undertakings of the reconciliation. As expressed by Booker and Richard (2003:174), be that as it may, every free country would need to profit by all the financial incorporations tat they are occupied with and subsequently would take part in the undertakings of such com binations in the event that they advantage. Absence of preference strategies of the European Union is in this way saw as a purpose behind awkwardness.However, as expressed by Bache and Jordan (2006:5), the late participation of Britain to the European Union probably cost the country enormously. Since Britain joined the European Union late after different individuals states had joined and set standards and guidelines, a few lawmakers have contended that the principles were set for the current individuals. Therefore, Britain has not profited much from the joining of the reconciliation (2006:5).... gouge countries would need to profit by all the financial reconciliations tat they are occupied with and consequently would take part in the issues of such incorporations on the off chance that they advantage. Absence of partiality approaches of the European Union is thusly seen as an explanation behind ponderousness. In any case, as expressed by Bache and Jordan (2006:5), the late participation of Britain to the European Union more likely than not cost the country extraordinarily. Since Britain joined the European Union late after different individuals states had joined and set principles and guidelines, a few government officials have contended that the standards were set for the current individuals. Accordingly, Britain has not profited much from the joining of the incorporation. This implies the approaches and guidelines of the incorporation don't profit the country. The guidelines that were set for the establishing individuals states subsequently presents a specialized limitatio n to Britain and consequently presents it as an unbalanced part. This mirrors the way that the political practices just as the established mentalities of the authors of the European Union are not the same as those that the United Kingdom was acclimated. The connection between the joining and the United Kingdom is in this manner extremely troublesome as the countries and the Union’s arrangements and constitutions are not homogenous. The distinctions in the constitution have in this way given troubles respect to the United Kingdom’s connection to the coordination. For instance, the premise of the European Union is the division of the forces of organizations just as political alliances not at all like the British’s accentuation on unified express, an antagonistic â€Å"winner take all† as a style of gathering governmental issues and the casual constitution. In this specific circumstance, it is hard for the country to profit enough

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Appearance vs Reality Essay - 453 Words

Appearance vs Reality One normally disguises in order to be someone else, whether this be in a costume during Halloween, or as a character in a play or movie. Shakespeare uses the idea of disguise in his ‘Taming of the Shrew’ The minor theme of the play is appearance vs reality. Throughout the drama, things are never really as they seem. Katherine appears to be a real shrew, but it is all a cover-up for the hurt she feels. Bianca appears to be a self-sacrificing angel, but she is really a spoiled young lady who can quickly revert to shrewish behavior. Baptista appears to the outside world as a wonderful father; in truth, he pampers Bianca, totally spoiling her, and treats Katherine badly, depriving†¦show more content†¦The play is also filled with people in disguise, appearing to be something they are not. Lucentio disguises himself as Cambio, the tutor, so he can get to know Bianca. Hortensio also disguises himself as Licio, another tutor to Bianca. Tranio disguises himself as Lucentio in order to present his master as a suitor for Bianca. The Pedant pretends to be Vincentio, the father of Lucentio. Through these appearances, the plot becomes complicated and often humorous, but Shakespeare masterfully reveals the true identity of all characters in the fourth act of the play. Some see Katherinas nature as revealed rather than changed- she was always brilliant and admirable, but her qualities were hidden under her shrewishness. Bianca, on the other hand, reveals willfulness and deceit under her mildness. Tranio reveals qualities that make him more effective than Lucentio. Is he really more of a master than a servant? Most of the plays humour comes from the way in which characters create false realities by disguising themselves as other people, a device first introduced in the induction. Initially this is accomplished by having Christopher Sly believe he is someone he is not and then by having the main play performed for him. By putting The Taming Of The Shrew in a play within a play structure, Shakespeare immediately lets the audience know thatShow MoreRelatedEssay on Appearance Vs. Reality961 Words   |  4 Pages One of the characteristics of Realism, in American literature at least, is the ironic use of perceptions of â€Å"appearance† vs. â€Å"reality.† With this in mind, Henry James’s â€Å"The Real Thing† and â€Å"The Beast in the Jungle† are two works wherein such characteristics can be shown to operate as James employs cleverly woven twists of â€Å"appearance† and â€Å"reality† in each of the plots. In James’s â€Å"The Real Thing,† the plot is centered on an unnamed artist and his interactions with two sets of models: the MonarchsRead MoreMacbeth Appearance vs Reality1046 Words   |  5 PagesAppearance vs. Reality The role of deception and the motif of appearance and reality had a large role in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. The motif of appearance and reality is first introduced by Shakespeare early on in the play when Macbeth must cover up for the murder of Duncan. This motif of appearance versus reality, or deception, appears again when Macbeth fools the murderers that killed Banquo. Macbeth tricks the murderer’s into believing it was Banquo’s fault that they led such miserableRead MoreMacbeth - Appearance vs. Reality1537 Words   |  7 PagesAppearance vs. Reality – Macbeth: Commentary Macbeth is a play written by William Shakespeare, which focuses on the life of Macbeth. Out of the four Shakespearean play categories, it is categorized as a tragedy, as the events of the play ultimately lead to the downfall of the protagonist, Macbeth. The theme of appearance versus reality is constantly repeated throughout the play, as it greatly contributes to the development of the plot. The idea is constantly conveyed by the characters using a pleasantRead MoreAppearance vs. Reality in Hamlet1000 Words   |  4 PagesThere is a general understanding that appearances can be deceiving. This is one of the most fundamental questions in philosophy, appearance vs. reality. When we meet people and get to know them throughout our lives, we soon discover that there is a genuine side to everyone behind the appearance they show. In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the characters Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Claudius use appearance vs. reality to manipulate and deceive , which ultimately leads to theirRead MoreAppearance Vs. Reality Of Macbeth Essay1612 Words   |  7 PagesSteven Hua Ms. Amato ENG2D 08 December, 2016 Appearance vs. Reality In Macbeth Things are not always as they seem to be, people are often deceived to believe something different than it’s true meaning. Instead of knowing the reality of a situation, people’s thoughts are sometimes shifted to see only what they appear, leaving them blindsided to the real truth behind whats really going on. Appearance versus Reality is first seen when king Duncan misjudges Macbeth’s intentions and is blindsided toRead More appearance vs reality Essay713 Words   |  3 Pages Appearance vs. Reality nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Things are not always as they appear. You may think someone is a certain way because of how they dress and carry themselves this is called stereotyping. Many people stereotype without even noticing that they are doing it. Everyone has his or her right to first impressions, but stereotyping is wrong. There are many examples of this topic in literature as well as in our society today. The main population accused of stereotyping is teenagers; theyRead MoreMacbeth: Appearance vs Reality977 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth: Appearance vs Reality Brooke Soper The way people act on the outside and who they really are on the inside may be two totally different things. Some may change because they feel they don t fit in. Others pretend to be something they truly aren t. No matter which way you look at it, if you try to act like someone your not, the truth will always appear in the end. That is exactly what happened in William Shakespeare s play, MacBeth. Banquo, MacBeth, and Lady MacBeth each projectRead MoreThe Judgement Of Appearance Vs Reality1561 Words   |  7 PagesThe Judgement of Appearance VS Reality â€Å" I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. I am Divergent† (Roth 442). This quotation display a certain substance people all need understand about the interior of themselves in life; people are more than one thing, one personality, and one judgement, individuals are all divergent. Divergent is a powerful word, which means that people are all different from what the world may want them to be or how they are portrayed as to the rest of the world. Divergent meansRead MoreMacbeth Appearance Vs Reality1245 Words   |  5 PagesExploration of Appearance and Reality in Macbeth As Plato famously said in Phaedrus, â€Å"Things are not always as they seem†, meaning that not everything is what it appears to be. In today’s society, many politicians appear trustworthy and are in reality crooked. Photoshop also manipulates appearance and reality. In literature, authors use appearance versus reality to create an interesting plot or characterize. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, the theme of appearance versus reality is seen frequentlyRead MoreAPPEARANCE vs. REALITY IN THE PRINCE AND HAMLET1614 Words   |  7 Pages3. Reality and appearances, or if you prefer, being and acting, are important themes for both Machiavelli and Shakespeare. Why? How do their perspectives on this subject agree or differ? APPEARANCE vs. REALITY IN THE PRINCE AND HAMLET One of the most fundamental questions in philosophy is the appearance vs. reality. We find ourselves asking the question of what is genuinely real, and what is viewed merely as just an appearance, and not real? It becomes difficult when we assume there is

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Fraud Scandal Of Glaxosmithkline - 1596 Words

GSK Analysis This paper covers the information given from the bribery scandal that GSK paid off the Chinese government and doctors in the country. This analysis will take a look at what happened, what went wrong and the conclusion for the company looking in the future to do business in China. The company’s response is a key issue in how they came back from such a detrimental hit in a growing market. There are a number of factors that will be interpreted and discussed for the future dealings in China. Questions Arise The first question to arise would be what kind of laws does China already have in place? Also, one has to consider the way the laws are enforced if any standard has been set. There are two standard laws that handle this type of incidence in the country. The first one is the Anti-Unfair competition law AUCL (Rogers, 2014). The punishment that is set forth will be determined by the severity of the crime. This law is in direct correlation with anti-corruption and bribery in the country of China. It goes into detail with Article 8 of the AUCL which forbids any industry or commerce representatives from giving bribes in the form of property or other means for the purpose of selling and purchasing products and services (Rogers, 2014)†. Payments or stealthy charges that are improperly acknowledged in the recordkeeping or ledgers are also prohibited. In the case of GlaxoSmithKline, they even tried to bribe the officials that are the ones who enforce thisShow MoreRelatedThe Fraud Scandal Of Glaxosmithkline1927 Words   |  8 Pages GSK Analysis This paper covers the information given from the bribery scandal that GSK paid off the Chinese government and doctors in the country. This analysis will take a look at what happened, what went wrong and the conclusion for the company looking in the future to do business in China. The company’s response is a key issue in how they came back from such a detrimental hit in a growing market. There are a number of factors that will be interpreted and discussed for the future dealingsRead MoreIA1 Essay1918 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿ GlaxoSmithKline in China Case Study 1 Khoa Nguyen AMBA 660 9043 Introduction There has been a lot of increase in expanding companies throughout other countries. In order for a CEO of a company based in USA to move some of its operations to China, it’s best to understand the foreign and local policy that is in placed in China and the bribery scandal that involved four employees of GlaxoSmithKline. This case study will examined the GSK scandal by analyzing the case that involved theRead MoreThe Relationship Between Uk Shareholder Voting And Executive Pay1092 Words   |  5 Pagessecond advantage is enhance the transparency, accountability and governance.This new regulation require boards publish directors’ compensation reports add to annual reporting, and disclose individual managers’ unreasonable payment.Under the fraud and financial scandals increase frequence and severe cases, the shareholders ask to improve the transparency of compensation and thereby make more perfect rule of corporate governance. M. B. Kimbro and D. Xu(2013) expres sed the view that excessive executive compensationRead MorePlan and Response for a Chief Nursing Officer2325 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Chief Nursing Officer: Plan and Response The reality is that healthcare fraud negatively impacts everyone in the nation. Health care identity theft dominated all other crimes in the sector last year, according to Louis Saccoccio, executive director of the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA), an advocacy group whose members include insurers, law enforcement and regulatory agencies (Kavilanz, 2010). Groups of organized criminals are hacking into the digital databases of healthcareRead MoreCase Analysis : Pharmaceutical Company2946 Words   |  12 PagesChinese operations would be replaced by Herve Gisserot (Quelch Rodriquez, 2013). GSK began taking action by dimissing more than 100 employees in China as disceplanery action or those who did not uphold GSK’s code of conduct during the 2013 bribery scandal (Ward, 2015). These dismissals were not made until 2015, after the company was found guilty by a Chinese court in September 2014. GSK was fined almost $500 million and the four executives along with Reilly were convicted of bribery-related chargesRead MoreQui Tam Actions Seminar Paper5679 Words   |  23 Pagesbounties as enacted under these Acts, including language of the statutes and the requirements placed upon the whistleblower in order to be eligible for these bounties. Part II will provide a discussion of Cheryl Eckard’s qui tam action against GlaxoSmithKline for violations under the FCA which resulted in the highest whistleblower bounty award to date, $96 million. Part III will examine how the bounty scheme under the FCA in the area of federal procurement has affected the strength and avail abilityRead MoreCase Study : Pharmacare Company s Human Rights Issues Presented By Pharmacare s Treatment1796 Words   |  8 Pagestraced through the case with GlaxoSmithKline, which is one of the top global vaccine manufacturers. The company was fined up to eighty-eight thousand dollars for conducting the illegal lab vaccine trials between 2007 and 2008, which caused the death of fourteen babies. Such unethical behavior and absence of procedural standards discovered the vaccine scandal in the developed world. Such fine was realized as the largest ever and in health care, it became the largest fraud in the history of U.S. SuchRead MoreBig Pharma2583 Words   |  11 Pagesof ways to reach out to the public to advertise on their latest and greatest drugs; from television and radio spots to newspaper and internet ads. The advertising budget for the drug companies have sky-rocketed to a significant sum. In 2007, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)s biggest advertising price tag was attached to Adva ir, the firms blockbuster asthma medication, which rung up US$127 million in advertising spending. The total amount of money spent on marketing by pharmaceuticals was U.S. $57.5 billionRead MoreLaundering Act 2010 Of Britain, Canada And China2161 Words   |  9 Pagesare found guilty of bribery, taking bribes or bribe officials may be both fined up to 10 years in prison and a fine, while the company may be imposed unlimited fine. For exmple, according to a report by the BBC, on December 3, 2013, the British anti-fraud office announced that it would start the foreign bribery and corruption probe of the British engine maker, Rolls Royce. Moreover, Rolls Royce was accused to pay bribes to Chen xin, former executive of Chinese International Airlines and ChineseRead MoreAudit Plan- Glaxosmithkline4420 Words   |  18 PagesAudit Plan- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Key business and audit risk: In order to make the report more efficient we must identify the key areas of business risk and auditing risk. Business risk can be defined as the risk, which could affect an organization’s ability to achieve its objectives (Gray and Manson, 2007). Audit risk is defined as the risk that the auditor gives an inappropriate audit opinion when the financial statements are materially misstated (Soltani, 2007). In Gray and Manson (2007)’s

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

How Much Does It Cost to Save Essay - 2398 Words

How Much Does It Cost to Save? The impact of software development offshore outsourcing has many economic and social impacts. Economically, India is thriving with GDP growth accelerating exponentially including having the potential to achieve double-digit growth.1 Meanwhile, in the United States, the numbers relating to developer jobs are quite the opposite. Most figures suggest that by 2015, roughly 3.3 million business-processing jobs will have moved abroad. As of July 2003, around 400,000 jobs already had.2 Socially, job loss has many strong emotional implications. Job loss due to cost cutting measures coupled with the dot-com layoffs in Silicon Valley conveys an outlook for finding a technical position quite bleak. In†¦show more content†¦In order to compete, US developers would have to take a reduction in salary. This conflicts with the cost of living in places like Silicon Valley. Cost cutting though ultimately has many benefits for companies and individuals as it opens up other opportunities and investments. Silicon Valley firms have used resources freed up through offshore production to develop new products, new industries, and new employment opportunities.4 A Silicon Valley engineer may not like the opportunities that come up because of outsourcing, but they are there. Gregory Mankiw, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, feels that â€Å"there will be jobs in the future because this is a vibrant economy, a dynamic economy.†5 Mankiw’s support for outsourcing is without a doubt supported by financial analysts in India. A member of Delhi Stock wrote in the India Times that Mankiw â€Å"clearly had logic and facts on his side; a detailed study by Deloitte in August 2003 estimated that approximately 356 billion of work for the global financial-services industry alone will be relocated offshore within the next five years† leading to aShow MoreRelated math lesson Essay1734 Words   |  7 PagesAlexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday: Understanding Opportunity Costs Grade Level:2, 3, or 6th Duration: three 50-minute class periods Student Goal: To understand that there is an opportunity cost to every economic decision and that these costs come as a result of limited resources. Student Objectives Students will: †¢ Identify quot;opportunity costsquot; in the story and in their own lives. †¢ Create an opportunity costs bar graph as a whole class. †¢ Complete a table of personal spendingRead MoreReducing Costs With Fsm Automation1119 Words   |  5 PagesTitle: Reduce costs with FSM automation SEO: field service management software, FSM solution, service scheduling Every company wants to improve. Most companies want to reduce costs, improve customer service and increase efficiency – which is a challenging goal. Luckily, field service management software, combined with field service reps on mobile technology, is the killer app that not only improves customer service, but also increases efficiency to reduce your field service expenses. In the pastRead MoreHow to Save Money1014 Words   |  5 PagesTopic: Save money General purpose: To inform/demonstrate Specific purpose: To demonstrate my audience how to save money Central idea: Easy and cheap tips/ideas to learn how to save money on daily basis, and improve our financial life Strategic order: Chronological INTRODUTION I. For what do you want to save for? What is your goal? A. Saving money, improving your financial life, building wealth. It all starts when you set a goal and make a plan to reach that goal. B. Starting is alwaysRead MoreTotal Cost Minimization : The Cost Of Money1670 Words   |  7 PagesTotal Cost Minimization There are many problems in the world today, ranging from war and fighting, to disease and starvation. However, one of the biggest issues in today’s day in age is money. People either have too much money or not enough of it. Money is something that everybody needs to survive in order to support themselves as well as their families. In order to maintain a decent amount of money, people are always thinking of ways to save money and reduce the amount of money spent on a day toRead MoreCollege And University : The Reality Of Adulthood And How This Impacts On A Financial Scale? Essay1372 Words   |  6 Pagesschool graduation. One of the many issues students face is the reality of adulthood and how this impacts themselves on a financial scale. For instance, many students have not had to save their money nor do they have much of it (however, it depends on the family situation). With that said, they do not know how much one year of post-secondary education is going to cost them. The refore, some students do not save any money until the summer of or year before they leave for post-secondary. Students inRead MorePlanning For Retirement And Aging1511 Words   |  7 PagesFewer than half of Americans have calculated how much they need to save for retirement. After working for a lifetime, retirees want to know that their golden years will be just that - golden, and spending some of those years in a sub-par nursing home is sure to make the experience much more difficult to enjoy. Planning for retirement can be confusing and overwhelming at times. This is why it is vital to talk about what the potential needs are and what the costs of living out the rest of their lives mightRead MoreIts Better late Than Never897 Words   |  4 Pagesplan, keeping in mind the various cost estimates and timelines involved. Ryan figures that the two largest expenses down the road would be those related to the wedding and down payment on a house. He estimates that the wedding, which will take place in twelve months, should cost about $15,000 in today’s dollars. Furthermore, he plans to move into a $250,000 house (in today’s terms) after 5 years, and would need 20% for a down payment. Ryan is aware that his cost estimates are in current terms andRead MoreCostco Wholesale Corporation ( Cost )1567 Words   |  7 Pages672 warehouses all around the world. (Costco, n.d.) As shown from their own website, â€Å"Costco is a membership warehouse club, dedicated to bringing our members the best possible prices on quality brand-name merchandise.† (Costco Wholesale Corporation(COST), 2015) Costco is a big success in wholesale and retailer industry, and it has its unique value chain business model that make it outperform other competitors, such as Wal-Mart or Target. As go through all the research sources, Costco has focusedRead MoreHow A Wedding Can Be Stressful And Plain Scary786 Words   |  4 Pages So how much should a couple expect to shell out before saying â€Å"I do.†? How much does the average wedding cost? This is actually a more complicated question than it appears. CNBC reported that the average wedding costs $28,400 by one unnamed source and an average of $26,000.00 by other unnamed source. However, the national average is not the best indicator of how much a wedding costs because some states averages are higher than others. For example, in New York City, the average cost of aRead MoreJohn Wesley s Three Christian Prudence908 Words   |  4 PagesTake a moment to look into the sentence â€Å"the use of money† what does that truly mean to someone? Is it how we spend money? How we save money? How we help someone who needs money? What does it mean when asked what does the use of money mean? John Wesley mentions three Christian prudence on the use of money and defines exactly what it means by the use of money. As the social human beings that we all, are we tend to have our eyes on the latest trends and gadgets, and with them having the word â€Å"new†

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Problem Action Consequence Technique-Free-Samples for Students

Question: You are required to analyse the Ethical Dilemma you have Identified above using the Problem-Action-Consequence Technique (PACT). Answer: Introduction The case study that has been described in the YouTube video presents the situation of an un-tested system that is being passed for go-live. The test manager associated with the project is Ken and he has been informed about the release of the system in the untested state as per the demands by the project client and stakeholders. Ken refuses to accept the decision as he understands the adverse implications of such a step in the long run (Youtube, 2017). Ethical Problems The project schedule experienced multiple changes during the timeline of the project. The project client has again put up a request to receive the final release of the system before the original deadline. Due to such changes in the project schedule, system testing has not been completed. There are certain modules of the system that are still in the un-tested state that may bring up functional errors and non-functional defects during the usage of the system by the end user. The project lifecycle comprises of a series of steps. Some of these steps are mandatory and extremely significant in nature. System testing is one of such phases that must be carried out. In this case, the release of the system would lead to system delivery in an untested state that may bring up the issues of system defects that may lead to performance and quality issues for the users (Bostrom, 2013). There may be operational errors that may also be experienced by the end-users. Set of Actions The senior management has decided to deliver the system in the untested state. The system might have certain defects and the action may impact the stakeholders associated with the system in the following manner. Client: The project client will not be able to experience the desired functionalities and benefits due to the defects present in the system. End Users: The user engagement and satisfaction levels will be low. Project Team Members: The project team will be held accountable for the defects in the system and their performance will be questioned by the top management. Alternative Actions as per Ethics There are certain actions that the project team may take instead of agreeing with the demand of the project client to deliver the system before its due deadline. One of the essential steps that should have been taken is the project estimations during the planning phase of the project. The client requirements and expectations experienced frequent changes and therefore, the estimations should have been done accordingly (Peslak, 2007). Following are the set of actions that Ken may take during the timeline of the project. Agreeing with the senior management to meet the customer demand by delivering untested system. Resignation from the company Preparation and explanation of the presentation in front of the senior management describing a detailed account of the implications of the decision to go ahead with the untested system delivery. Consequences of the Action Ethical standards and guidelines must be followed by the team members of the project during the project execution (Schultz, 2010). There is a defined series of steps that must be followed in a project timeline that comprise of planning, execution, implementation testing, control and closure. All of these phases must be executed by adhering to the professional and ethical codes of conduct. In the case study, the senior management is willing to miss out on the testing phase in order to meet the customer expectations without letting the customer know about such an issue. There are different ethical theories that have been applied to understand the ethical consequences of such an action. Ethical theory of Consequentialism is a normative theory that evaluates the act on the basis of the series of the outcomes. If the outcomes are evaluated as positive in nature and beneficial to all then the act is termed as ethical and vice versa (Dorsey, 2012). The consequences of the action in this case will include the decreased customer satisfaction and engagement due to the operational and performance issues in the system, deteriorated team and organizational reputation along with losses experienced by the project client. Due to all of these outcomes, the act is termed as incorrect on the ethical grounds and principles of this theory (Slote, 2008). Deontology ethics is a normative ethical theory that evaluates the ethical correctness on the basis of the rules that are defined for a particular task or an activity. As per the rules of a business project, there are certain phases that must be carried out before delivery the project to the client. In this case, the management is willing to miss out on the testing phase without letting the project client know about such a decision. There is a clear non-adherence to the defined rules that is observed. Due to all of these reasons, the act is termed as incorrect on the ethical grounds and principles of this theory (Gaus, 2001). There are certain virtues and traits that are observed in the scenario as described in the case study. Some of these traits include selfish interests before the interest of the client, dishonesty and incompetence. These traits are negative in nature and therefore, the act is termed as unethical as per the theory of Virtue Ethics (Carr, 2004). Recommended Steps There are three options recommended that may be taken by the project team, Test Manager and senior management. The option recommended as an action that shall be taken is the last one that says that the Test Manager must present the set of outcomes that may take place due to the delivery of untested system to the project client. There may be operational and performance issues that may come up as an outcome. Also, there may be security vulnerabilities that may be present in the system that may have an extremely adverse implication. All of such issues must be explained by Ken to the senior management which shall then be informed to the project client. There shall be additional resources that must be included in the team to speed up the testing process to deliver the project before the original deadline. In this manner, all of the project phases will be executed and the client expectations will also be met. References Bostrom, N. (2013). The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://intelligence.org/files/EthicsofAI.pdf Carr, D. (2004). Virtue Ethics and Moral Education. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://ebook.umaha.ac.id/E-BOOK%20ON%20EDUCATION/RELATIONSHIP%20BEETWEN%20EDUC%20_%20MORAL,%20ETHIC,%20RELIGION,%20TRUTH,%20_%20PHILOSOPHY/VIRTUE%20ETHICS%20_%20MORAL%20EDUC,%20David%20Carr.pdf Dorsey, D. (2012). Consequentialism, Cognitive Limitations, and Moral Theory. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://people.ku.edu/~ddorsey/agency.pdf Gaus, G. (2001). What is Deontology?, Part One: Orthodox Viewsa. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://www.gaus.biz/deontology1.pdf Peslak, A. (2007). Information technology intellectual property ethics: issues and analysis. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/70ab/477752c78990466179afd38446bcbce97601.pdf Schultz, R. (2010). The Role of IT in the Ethics of Globalization. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://iisit.org/Vol7/IISITv7p353-368Schultz729.pdf Slote, M. (2008). Satisficing Consequentialism. Retrieved 30 November 2017, from https://www.princeton.edu/~ppettit/papers/1984/Satisficing%20Consequentialism.pdf Youtube. (2017). A dilemma in IT: Select action end of video and see its consequence. YouTube. Retrieved 13 August 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mugeCY3vbxo

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Strategic Management Study Guide Essay Example

Strategic Management Study Guide Essay STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT TEST 2 (Chapters 3, 4, and 6): STUDY GUIDE †¢Know definitions and be able to recognize examples of concepts †¢Test will be multiple choice, 45-50 items †¢Bring scantron sheet and #2 pencil Additional free student study resources available including an interactive quiz from the publisher at: http://highered. mcgraw-hill. com/sites/0078029317/student_view0/chapter1/chapter_quiz. html Chapter 3: Assessing the Internal Environment †¢What is value chain analysis? How is it useful for understanding competitive advantages? Strategic analysis of an organization that uses value-creating activities. It is useful for understanding the building blocks of competitive advantages. †¢In the value chain, what are the 5 primary activities? Which 4 activities are support activities? Primary- inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and service. Support- general admininistration, human resource management, technology development, and procurement. †¢Relating to primary activities, what specific activities are associated with inbound logistics? Operations? Outbound logistics? Marketing and sales? Service? Inbound logistics- receiving, storing, and distributing inputs of a product. Operations- all activities associated with transforming inputs into the final product form. Outbound logistics- collecting, storing, and distributing the product or service to buyers. Marketing and sales- activities associated with purchases of products and services by end users and the inducements used to get them to make purchases. Service- actions associated with providing service to enhance or maintain the value of the product. †¢What is a Just-in-time inventory system? were designed to achieve efficient inbound logistics. Parts and deliveries arrive only hours before they are needed. †¢Relating to support activities, what specific activities are associated with procurement? Technology development? HR management? General administration? Procurement- purchasing inputs used in the firm’s value chain, including raw materials, supplies, and other consumable item s as well as assets such as machinery, laboratory equipment, office equipment, and buildings. Technology development- development of new knowledge that is applied to the firm’s operations. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management Study Guide specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer HR management- activities involved in the recruiting, hiring, training, development, and compensation of all types of personnel. General administration- general management, planning, finance, accounting, legal and government affairs, quality management, and information systems: activities that support the entire value chain and not individual activities. †¢How has Walgreen’s used information systems to be a sources of competitive advantage? Introduction of a computer based prescription management system- automates telephone refills, store to store prescription transfers, and drug reordering. Also provides information on drug interactions and frees up pharmacists from administrative tasks to devote more time to patient counseling. †¢What are the two levels of interrelationships among value-chain activities? 1. Interrelationships among activities within the firm 2. Interrelationships among activities within the firm and other stakeholders. †¢What is resource-based view of the firm? Perceptions that firms’ competitive advantages are due to their endowment of strategic resources that are valuable, rare, costly to imitate, and costly to substitute. What are the 3 types of firm resources? Tangible, Intangible, and Organizational Capabilities. †¢What are the 4 kinds of tangible resources? Financial, physical, technological, and organizational. †¢What are the 3 kinds of intangible resources, Human, Innovation and Creativity, and Reputation. †¢What examples of organizational capabilities? Ex. Outstanding customer service. Excellent product developm ent capabilities, innovativeness of products and services. Ability to hire, motivate, and retain human capital. What are the four criteria that a firm’s resources must possess to maintain a sustainable advantage? 1. Resource must be valuable in the sense that it exploits opportunities and/or neutralizes threats in the firm’s environment. 2. It must be rare among the firm’s current and potential competitors. 3. It must be difficult to imitate. 4. Must have no strategically equivalent substitutes. †¢How can the following four resource characteristics help sustain a competitive advantage based on inimitability: physical uniqueness, path dependency, causal ambiguity, and social complexity? 1. Inherently difficult to copy. 2. Resources are scarce because they were acquired through a unique series of events. 3. Costly to imitate because competitor cannot determine what the resource is and/or how it can be re-created. 4. Costly to imitate because the social engineering required is beyond the capability of competitors, including interpersonal relations among managers, organizational culture, and reputation with suppliers and customers. †¢Substitutability can take which two forms? 1. Substitute a similar resource that enables it to develop and implement the same strategy. . Very different firm resources can become strategic substitutes. †¢ See exhibit 3. 7 – what are the implications for competitiveness based on differing characteristics of a resource or capability? The less valuable, less rare, easier to imitate, more substitutes, the less competitive advantage. †¢What are the four factors that help explain the extent to which employees will be able to o btain a proportionally high level of a firm’s profits? 1. Employee bargaining power. 2. Employee replacement costs. 3. Employee exit costs. 4. Manager Bargaining Power. What are the two approaches to use when evaluating a firm’s performance? Financial ration analysis and taking a broad stakeholder view. †¢What is financial ratio analysis? How can historical comparisons, industry norm comparisons, and competitor comparisons each serve as useful reference points? 1. Technique for measuring the performance of a firm according to its balance sheet, income statement, and market valuation. 2. Provides a means of evaluating trends. 3. Assesses relative performance. 4. Gain valuable insights into a firm’s financial and competitive position. What is the balanced scorecard? Why is it useful? a method of evaluating a firm’s performance using performance measures from the customers, internal innovation, and learning, and financial perspectives. Provides managers with a fast, but comprehensive review of the business (operations measures that drive the future financial performance). †¢What are the four key perspectives of the balanced scorecard? 1. Customer perspective- measures of firm performance that indicate how well firms are satisfying customer’s expectations. 2. Internal business perspective- measures of firm performance that indicate how well firms internal processes, decisions, and actions are contributing to customer satisfaction. 3. Innovation and learning perspective- measures of a firm performance that indicate how well firms are changing their product and service offerings to adapt to changes in the internal and external environments. 4. Financial perspective- measure of firm’s financial performance that indicate how well strategy, implementation and execution are contributing bottom-line improvement. †¢What are the limitations of the balanced scorecard? Lack of a clear strategy, limited or ineffective executive sponsorship, too much emphasis on financial measures rather than nonfinancial measures, poor data on actual performance, inappropriate links of scorecard measures to compensation, inconsistent or inappropriate terminology. Chapter 4: Recognizing a Firm’s Intellectual Assets: Moving Beyond a Firm’s Tangible Resources †¢What is the knowledge economy? An economy where wealth is created through the effective management of knowledge workers instead of by the efficient control of physical and financial assets. How has the emphasis shifted between intangible and tangible resources as a result of changes in the competitive environment? Shifted from tangible resources such as land, equipment, and money. Efforts were more directed toward the efficient allocation of labor and capital. Now intellectual and information processes create most of the value for firms in large service industries. †¢What is the market va lue of a firm? What is the book value of a firm? What does the difference between the two values represent? In what types of firms does this difference tend to be the greatest? Market value- the value of a share of its common stock times the number of shares outstanding. Book value- is primarily a measure of the value of its tangible resources: total assets- total liabilities. The difference between the two represents the firm’s intellectual capital ( a measure of the firm’s intangible assets). In firms where knowledge and the management of knowledge workers are relatively important contributors to developing products and services and physical resources are less critical, the ratio of market to book value tends to be much higher. †¢What is intellectual capital and how can it be increased? Intellectual capital= market value of firm-book value of the firm. To increase: attract and leverage human capital effectively through mechanisms that create products and services of value over time. †¢What is human capital? Social capital? Explicit knowledge? Tacit knowledge? Human capital- the individual capabilities, knowledge, skills, and experience of a company’s employees and managers. Social capital- the network of friendships between talented people both inside and outside the organization. Explicit knowledge- knowledge that is codified, documented, easily reproduced, and widely distributed. Tacit knowledge- knowledge that is in the minds of employees and is based on their experiences and backgrounds. †¢How is new knowledge created? Through the continual interaction of explicit and tacit knowledge. †¢How has employee loyalty to the company changed relative to loyalty to the profession? Knowledge workers place professional development and personal enrichment above company loyalty. †¢What is a first critical step in the process of of building intellectual capital? What are the other processes organizations use to build human capital? Hiring talented individuals, developing them to fulfill their full potential to maximize their joint contributions. Retain the best and brightest. †¢Why do many companies use employee referrals for new hires? Incentive bonuses paid to the referrers are cheaper than what they would have to pay headhunters to find candidates, plus the current employees would find good candidates because they are putting their reputation on the line for them. †¢What strategies are used to develop human capital? Encouraging widespread involvement, Transferring knowledge, monitoring progress and development, and evaluating human capital. How as the importance of evaluating human capital changed in recent years? Collaboration and interdependence are vital to organizational success. Individuals must work collectively. Traditional past systems evaluate performance from a single perspective. †¢What is 360 degree feedback? Superiors, direct reports, colleagues, and even external and internal cus tomers rate a person’s performance. †¢What are the 6 benefits of diversity in a firm’s workforce? 1. Cost argument- firms with more effective management in diversity will have a cost advantage over those that are not. 2. Resource acquisition argument- firms with excellent reputations as prospective employers for minorities will have an advantage in the competition for top talent. 3. Marketing argument- for multinational firms this will be useful. 4. Creativity argument- less emphasis on conformity to norms of the past and diversity of perspectives will improve the level of creativity. 5. Problem solving argument- people with different perspectives have a better shot at solving complex problems than those who all think alike. 6. Organizational flexibility argument- greater flexibility leads means better reactions to environmental changes. What is network analysis? Closure relationships? Bridging relationships? Analysis of the pattern of social interactions among individuals. †¢How can effective social networks be advantageous to an individual’s career? Private information now available. Access to diverse skill sets. Power. †¢What is groupthink? tendency in an organization for individ uals not to question shared beliefts. †¢What are intellectual property rights? What actions can be taken to manage intellectual property? Intangible property owned by a firm in the forms of patents, copyrights, trademarks, or trade secrets. What are dynamic capabilities? The ability to sense and seize new opportunities, generates new knowledge, and reconfigure existing assets and capabilities. Chapter 6: Corporate-Level Strategy: Creating Value Through Diversification †¢What is corporate-level strategy? What two related issues does it address? a strategy that focuses on gaining long-term revenue, profits, and market value through managing operations in multiple businesses. Acquisitions and mergers. †¢How is related diversification different than unrelated diversification? What are the potential benefits of each? Related diversification- a firm entering a different business in which it can benefit from leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, or building market power. Unrelated diversification- a firm entering a different business that has little horizontal interaction with other businesses of a firm. †¢Be familiar with the classifications of Exhibit 6. 2 3M was using exorbitant rebates to retailers, which pushed them into a â€Å"monopolistic position† and courts ordered 3M to pay 68. 5 million dollars to another tape company. †¢In related diversification, what is meant by economies of scope? Cost savings from leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, or building market power. †¢What is a core competency? What are the three criteria for assessing if a core competency creates value? Firm’s strategic resources that reflect the collective learning in the organization. 1. Must enhance competitive advantage by creating superior customer value. 2. Different businesses in the corporation must be similar in at least one important way related to the core competence. 3. Must be difficult for competitors to imitate or find substitutes for. †¢What are sharing activities? What are the two payoffs associated with sharing activities. -Having activities of two or more businesses value chains done by one of the businesses. -1. Cost savings -2. Revenue enhancement †¢In related diversification, what is market power? Firm’s ability to profit through restricting or controlling supply to a market or coordinating with other firms to reduce investment. †¢What is pooled negotiating power? the improvement in bargaining position relative to customers and suppliers. †¢What is vertical integration, in its associated risks and benefits? an xpansion or extension of the firm by integrating preceding or successive production processes (occurs when a firm becomes its own supplier or distributer). Pros- secure supply of raw materials or distribution channels. Protection and control over assests and services required to produce and deliver. Access to new business opportunities and new forms of technology. Eliminating the need to deal with a wide variet y of suppliers and distributors. Cons- costs and expenses associated with increased overhead and capital expenditures. Loss of flexibility resulting from large investments. Problems associated with unbalanced capacities along the value chain. Additional administrative costs associated with managing a more complex set of activities. †¢What 5 issues should be considered in making vertical integration decisions? 1. Is the company satisfied with the quality of the value that its present suppliers and distributors are providing? 2. Are there activities in the industry value chain presently being outsourced or performed independently by others that are a viable source of future profits? 3. Is there a high level of stability in the demand for the organization’s products? . Does the company have the necessary competencies to execute the vertical integration strategies? 5. Will the vertical integration initiative have potential negative impacts on the firm’s stakeholders? †¢What is the transaction cost perspective? A perspective that the choice of a transaction’s governance structure such as vertical integration or market transacti on, is influenced by transaction costs, including, search, negotiating, contracting, monitoring, and enforcement costs, associated with each choice. †¢What is unrelated diversification? What is a parenting advantage? A firm entering a different business that has little horizontal interaction with other businesses of a firm. Parenting advantage- the positive contributions of the corporate office to a new business as a result of expertise and support provided and not as a result of substantial changes in assets, capital structure, or management. †¢What is restructuring? What are the three types of restructuring? The intervention of the corporate office in a new business that substantially changes assets, capital structure and management. 1. Asset restructuring 2. Capital restructuring 3. Management restructuring What is portfolio management? Method of assessing the competitive position of a portfolio of businesses within a corporation, suggesting strategic alternatives for each business, and identifying priorities for the allocation of resources across the businesses. †¢What is the Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) growth/share matrix? What are the 4 quadrants in the matrix? What are the suggested strategies associated with each of the quadrants? What are the limitations of the BCG matrix? Each of the firm’s strategic business units is plotted on a two-dimensional grid in which the axes are relevant market share and industry growth rate. 1. Stars-competing in high growth industries with high market shares, long term growth potential and should continue to receive substantial investment funding. 2. Question marks- competing in high growth industries with but have weak market share, resources should be invested to enhance their competitive positions. 3. Cash cows- have high market shares in low growth industries. Have limited long run potential, but represent a source of current cash flows to fund investments into starts and question marks. 4. Dogs- have weak market shares in low growth industries, weak positions and limited potential. Most recommend they become divested. Limitations of BCG matrix- 1. the only compare based on two dimensions. 2. View them as a stand-alone entity, ignoring common business practices and value creating activities that may hold promise for synergies across business units. 3. The process becomes largely mechanical, substituting an overly simplified graphical model for the important contributions of the CEO or other managers experience. †¢What are the three primary means by which a firm can diversify? 1. Through acquisitions or mergers 2. Pool the resources of other companies with their resource base, commonly known as a joint-venture or strategic alliance. 3. Diversify into new products, markets, and technologies through internal development. †¢What are the benefits and potential of mergers and acquisitions? 1. A means of obtaining valuable resources that can help an organization expand its product offerings and services 2. Can provide the opportunity for firms to attain the three bases of synergy—leveraging core competencies, sharing activities, and building market power. 3. Can lead to consolidation within an industry and can force other players to merge. Cons- competing firms can often imitate any advantages realized from the MA. there can be cultural issues that may doom the intended benefits from the endeavors. †¢What is a divestment? The exit of a business from a firm’s portfolio. †¢What is a strategic alliance? Joint venture? How do they differ? What are their potential advantages and downsides? Strategic alliance- a cooperative relationship between two or more firms. Joint venture- new entities formed within a strategic alliance in which two or more firms, the parents, contribute equity to form the new legal entity. A strategic alliance is a cooperative relationship. A joint venture is a special case of alliances where both firms contribute equity to form a new legal entity. Pros- Reducing manufacturing or other costs in the value chain. Developing and diffusing new technologies. Cons- many fail to meet expectations. Without proper partner, a firm should never consider it. Little attention is often given to nurturing the close working relationships and interpersonal connections that bring together the partnering organizations. †¢What is internal development? What are its potential downsides? -Entering a new business through investment in new facilities, often called corporate entrepreneurship and new venture development. -It may be time consuming, firms may forfeit the benefits of speed that growth through mergers and acquisitions can provide. †¢How can managerial motives erode value creation? They may often act in their own self-interests (CEOS). â€Å"growth for growth’s sake†, excessive egotism, and the creation of a wide variety of antitakeover tactics. †¢What is meant by growth for growth’s sake? Egotism? Manager’s actions to grow the size of their firms not to increase long-term profitability, but to sever managerial self-interest. -Manager’s actions to shape their firm’s strategies to serve their selfish interests rather than to maximize long-term shareholder value. †¢What are the antitakeover tactics of greenmail, the golden parachute, and poison pill? Greenmail- a payment by a firm to a hostile party for the firm’s stock at a premium, made when the firm’s management feels that the hostile party is about to make a tender offer. (sort of like a bribe)