BPR and SCM Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

BPR and SCM Relationship - Essay Example Business process re-engineering (BPR) is applied at the local, managerial, and corporate levels of the business. This concept has a significant impact on the various phases of the business process, where the changes that occur can be related to the flow of information and products (Desel & Erwin, 2000). BPR is used in SCM to renovate the managed and integrated processes that create a capable and viable business environment (Chan and Qi 2003). The crucial tenants of BPR is that it reduces tension between inter-organisational departments and business partners, particularly when the there is friction within the SC process (McCormack & Johnson, 2000). Business process re-engineering, specifically related to the main focus of technology and communication in supply chain management includes: (1)Further integration of activities between suppliers and customers across the entire supply chain;(2) on-going changes in supply chain needs and required flexibility from IT; (3) more mass customization of products and services leading to increasing assortments while decreasing cycle times and inventories; (4) the locus of the driver's seat of the entire supply chain and (5) supply chains consisting of several independent enterprises (Akkermans et al p 284 2003). The benefits of using the BPR concept to promote SCM needs are that it connects information management (McCormack & Johnson, 2000); promotes cost saving activities through efficiency and communication (Horvath, 2001), and reduces financial risk in unsuccessful supply chains (Cross 2000). Based on the above relationship between SCM and BPR, this essay will critically examine the use of both concepts in the airline and automotive manufacturing industries. The analysis focuses on the changes initiated that use (or do not use) BPR concepts as well as the manners in which SCM is (or is not) integrated into the business process. The analysis will examine what strategies are employed and their viability, with a final conclusion leading towards the similarities and differences of the selected industries through BPR and SCM. Airline Industry The value chain of airline industries (Kearney pp 3 2003) shows that the airline manufacturer exists beneath the scope of government and other regulatory boards. Airline Value Chain (Kearney pp 3 2003) Paul Brinkley, head of the U.S. Defence Department's Business Transformation Agency, says the agency is committed to making business modernisation improvements every six months for the next 10 years (Aviation Week & Space Technology p 19 2006). This is supported by Kenneth Miller, senior advisor to Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne, where the focus on modernisation and innovation stems from "acquisition, governance and transparency" (Aviation Week & Space Technology p 19 2006). This creates further pressure on the prime manufacturer who operates beneath the scope of the government regulatory boards and must develop technologies that are at once transparent and governed. The customer, suppliers and distributor are subjected to the rules of these regulations. The pressure can be seen as negative for the airline industry,

Corporate Tax Policy between USA and Ireland Article

Corporate Tax Policy between USA and Ireland - Article Example The policies also vary from country to country, as they are formed to suite the existing environment. Therefore, this manuscript will compare the tax policies of USA and Ireland using the opinions of various scholars. In the article by Sinn, the author suggests that corporate tax policy in Ireland is more effective in creating jobs and tax revenue than United States. He mentions Ireland as one of the European nations that have improved their corporate tax collection through alterations in the Irish tax Code. The author further explains the different techniques applied by most European countries in corporate tax collection to generate revenue and create more jobs. For instance, the use of proportional taxes called ‘flat taxes’ are utilized to attract foreign investors. In addition, the earnings retained in the corporate sector are not taxed while those on distributions are. The article continues to applaud the corporate tax policy system of Ireland as a source of tax reve nue with a potential of creating numerous job opportunities than the US. In other words, Sinn maintains that with increased foreign investment because of friendly taxation policies, revenue is increased which in turn generates jobs (Steinmo, 1989). The author also proposes two defensive mechanisms that can help in tax collection including the corporate tax especially in European countries. For instance, Sinn talks about tax harmonization such as that of indirect taxes to the import country and de-taxation of the income earned through corporate profits. This, he argues will boost the revenue collection in Ireland, which is transformed into job opportunities across the country. It is also significant to note the observation by the author concerning tax harmonization in the corporate world and other sectors of the economy in return for an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Sven Steinmo, on the other hand, explains the advancement of taxation policy especially in developed countr ies such as the United States and those from Europe. The author continues to explain the development of the theory of historical institutionalism in relation to the taxation policy. This is in the form of the connection of taxation policy with ideas, policy outcomes and interests. Sven proceeds to analyze the history of current taxation techniques. In this analysis, he explains the reason of how the issue of ‘good’ tax policy arose because of capitalism. In other words, the Sven reveals that many nations discovered several areas of generating revenue through utilization of fresh ideas. As a result, the government jumped in the advancement of the economy because of the new revenue resources such as corporate organizations and other sectors. The writer explains that this was not possible during the old days hence such a move attracted many policy makers and other stakeholders. Sven further analyses the politics involved in the tax policy system of the United States especi ally during the 1980s. This article puts emphasis on the Tax Reform Act that swept America in 1986 (TRA ’86). The author describes how the influence of this historic Act under the presidency of Ronald Reagan influenced other states around the world in the implantation of their tax reforms. Such tax reforms led to improved corporate tax policy systems in Europe especially in Ireland. This helped generate revenue and create job opportunities for their citizens. The author further points that, the integration of corporate taxes, and progressive income had several influences on the proceeding taxation developments. This led to the transformation of many nations into modern states because of increased

How is capability deprivation a more powerful approach for finding Essay

How is capability deprivation a more powerful approach for finding ways to fight poverty than a focus on raising the incomes of - Essay Example The realities faced by the poor people can be termed as dissimilar, multifaceted and dynamic; an aspect that leads to the analysts and researchers looking for explanations and solutions to the problem of unemployment. This paper shall address the issue of unemployment by arguing from the point that, poverty can be easily eliminated by applying the capability restitution mechanism as opposed to raising the income of the poor. The view of poverty in terms of capability perspective is one that is multi-dimensional as seen in the work of Sen (1). In the work, the author continues to argue that since poverty can be analyzed from the perspective of an individual’s lack of the basic items, income is one of the main items that would allow the same individual access their basic wants (2). This is to mean that, insufficient or lack of capital is a major determining factor of the ability of an individual to reassure their daily life. This interprets the reason why some families and perso ns are more economically able as contrasted to others. Therefore, in this case, the incapability of an individual to access the income that would be helpful in reducing poverty is useful in coming up with policies useful for dealing with poverty. It is at this juncture that Sen insists that; it would not be possible to give all these persons the necessary amount of money to maintain their livelihoods (2). Sen poses a question on whether it would be probable to fund a sick or a disabled person with sufficient funds to protract their livelihoods (2). In this case, it would be more sensible and practical to allow these individuals to obtain the skills of accessing income as opposed to giving them the funds. Though Sen is cautious of the fact that it would not be undemanding for persons with special needs and the sick to work equally the same as the ordinary persons, giving them an opportunity to acquire the right skills to work is the best solution in assuaging poverty (2). Capability restitution method is yet another more potent approach in alleviating poverty as the approach deals with issues of handling poverty. Poverty that is realistic, as indicated by Sen, does not revolve around the income liberty, but the main concern is a consideration of the mechanisms that bring out the poor persons from their misery (2). A cited example is that of the elderly members of the society, and other groups that are sinking in misery (1). In this case, apportioning a certain amount of money in an endeavor to fight poverty would result to the same persons being reliant on the fact that, with or with no jobs, they have an amount of money set aside for their use. It is warranted, from this argument, to argue that these persons have undeniably been reduced to slaves of their own desolation, as they have no capability to secure a job, and earn a considerable amount of money that would be helpful for their personal development. Sen gives a case in point whereby a family is allocate d funds as a means of alleviating poverty (2). In the event that the boy-child is given priority over the girl due to their gender difference, as seen in Asia and parts of North Africa, then a new division of poor persons will automatically emerge. In terms of capability deprivation, this means that girls are not given a chance to exercise their full potential as they are neglected in terms of access to healthcare, income amongst others (Sen 1). In the long run, the

Economic Report for United Arab of Emirate (UAE) Essay

Economic Report for United Arab of Emirate (UAE) - Essay Example The massive oil consumption in UAE has enabled it to reduce the usual lengthy and difficult process of accumulating capital as well as saving towards developing any economy. The enormous endowment of the natural resources, particularly exploitable oil and gas in the UAE have led to quick development of resource based industries (RBI), which has led to strategy development. The strategies that have emerged are industrial strategies that are geared at elevating the utilization of natural resources. Additionally, the UAE have deployed the use of windfall income that has enabled it to achieve magnificent economic development, particularly with the period between 1973 and 1982. This period was marked with high economic development of the UAE countries and it as well marked the period of relatively high oil and gas prices. Before the discovery and exploitation of natural oil and gas in the UAE, the UAE nations depended majorly on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, extraction and tr ading on pearls, seafaring, and fishing (Abed and Peter 11). Therefore, before the discovery of oil in the UAE, the UAE nations depended on limited natural resources that only made them have a subsistence economy. The first development of the UAE economy started in the early 1970s, and it was referred to the UAE’s First Development Decade. ... It is worth noting that, since 1973, UAE nations have enjoyed expedite political stability. The established formal political institution of the 1971 seems suitable for the existing tribal UAE society. Additionally, this political society has boosted the UAE economy by supporting an elaborate distribution of oil revenues in social and economic infrastructure forms, averagely high salaries, highly standardized social services including education, and social services that have since then raised the living standard of the inhabitants of UAE (El 74). Moreover, the UAE community has since then enjoyed a reduced likelihood of the occurrence of social and political unrest. In fact, since the formation of the state, the UAE government has maintained a high degree or ethical record pertaining to human rights; thereby, promoting political and social stability (International Monetary Fund 24). The UAE has actively become a member of numerous regional and international associations including the United Nations, Arab league, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Islamic Conference Organization, and the Arab Gulf Cooperation. The relationship that the UAE have built with many countries in the world, especially those within the West have been naturally warm. Usually, political and social stability goes hand in hand with the liberty in trade policies (International Monetary Fund 162). This notion has paved way for both domestic and international investment in the UAE’s industrial sector by other nations of the world; thus, improving the economy of UAE. The united states of Arab are blessed with the enormous oil reserves that are located both at onshore and off shore. In addition, UAE enjoys production of gas that is associated with the crude oil production. Furthermore, UAE

Views on Gender Roles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Views on Gender Roles - Essay Example Much of what we learn about gender occurs during our formative years, and it is largely a product of our culture. Mothers and fathers tend to reinforce gender roles in developing children, such as rewarding a boy for achieving in sports, or praising a girl for helping around the house. Because an individual’s culture, background, and upbringing play such a critical role in the development of views on gender, it comes as no surprise that gender views vary greatly. Each individual’s view on gender is unique, but it is not difficult to see that some general statements can be made about an individual’s view on gender based on the characteristics of that individual. Perhaps this holds true because the individual’s view on gender is largely learned from those around him or her, and the people in an individual’s sphere of influence often tend to have similar characteristics. Based on the cross-tabulation provided with the Starks textbook, I used the 2000 General Social Survey data to compare views on the wife at home, presumably in the traditional â€Å"stay-at-home mom† sense, though the website does not give information as to the specific wording of the survey itself (which could have made a difference in the results). The question of whether the wife should be at home was compared by gender, age group, education, income of the family, political party, region, did the mother work when the respondent was a child, and the religion. The results give us insight into how groups of varying characteristics feel about gender. Surprisingly, and most likely a dramatic change over the last fifty years, when questioned, men and women responded very similarly to the question, with 60.1% of females and 58.1% of males disagreeing with the statement. Only a 2% difference is shown between genders, and this small difference becomes even less significant when taken in

Thomson TUI Offline e-Tourism Strategy Case Study

Thomson TUI Offline e-Tourism Strategy - Case Study Example Hotelopia has made its presence prominent enough in the travel industry, which has resulted in its being the subject of news articles as well, which offer free publicity for itself. An example is the article that appeared on 10th September in newspapers (Dromore Leader) A favourable newspaper article about a business/company has the kind of credibility, which even the best crafted advertisement cannot have, since the reader views the article as written by an impartial observer, while the ad is a case of blowing one's own trumpet. This, notwithstanding the reality that newspaper articles on companies often are the result of a well-orchestrated publicity plan done by it, with much of the content of such an article being provided by the business concern itself to the writer. LateRooms provide customers with last minute accommodation, a facility which is not easily available offline, as a real-time offline facility covering destinations across the world is a physical impossibility. LateRooms charge the hotels a commission and not the customer. Besides, with last minute bookings, hotels are glad to provide accommodation below rack rates in order to maximise capacity utilisation, and minimise losses on account of rooms not hired out. LateRooms has been sufficiently prominent in the field, having won the award of the Hitwise UK Annual Online Performance in the Travel-Destination and Accommodation category (LateRooms Website) Winning an award is a strategy to automatically generate more business. LateRooms, by wresting the award from Lastminute.com this year, has enhanced its credibility. This is a strategy similar to the one employed by Hotelopia-getting a third party to certify the business quality, which beats putting an ad through the print media/ hoardings or online. Of course, it may be argued that a company cannot with certainty strategise to ensure winning an award. But we may reasonably assume that the company certainly can make a concerted attempt to win one. In the B2B sector, the divisions are split geographically into two, Hotelbeds and Portfoloio Incoming. Hotelbeds offers accommodation services on-line and destination services off-line to tour operators and travel agents. It has the brands Meetings, Events, Incentives and Conferences (MICE) in Asia, and Intercruises (the largest world provider of goods handling services to cruise liners). The Portfolio Incoming division "operates through a network of destination agencies worldwide", which includes separate brands for some countries-e.g. for Spain and for Greece (p 16- Results-Sept 2008) The strategies used by Thomson in its e-tourism business are world-wide coverage, excellent performance-reflected in awards won, and publicity-both self-generated and through liaising with the print media to have articles published on it. All this has resulted in enhanced returns to the company from e-tourism (p 16- Results-Sept 2008)Works Cited Dromore Leader dt. 10th Sept 2008, retrieved 10th Dec. 2008,

President Bill Clinton Essay Example for Free

President Bill Clinton Essay The Map Room Speech delivered by President Bill Clinton by way of apology and explanation regarding his conduct with Monica Lewinsky appeals to the listener as an American and as an individual, that is, makes its appeal to personal and presumably universal feelings and emotions regarding the state and the family. This speech must be reviewed with the idea in mind that this is not the first time that Clinton is speaking on the subject. His initial statement regarding Lewinsky involved the memorable line â€Å"I did not have sexual relations with that woman. † In the early stages of a scandal, it is possible to strategize along the lines of the Chinese saying that â€Å"less talk, less mistake. † That is, by delivering a direct and unequivocal statement, it is possible to brazen everything out and avoid further discussion regarding degrees of involvement or moral culpability. However, in view of later developments, it became necessary to take a different tack. The strategy employed by this speech involves admitting a mistake – admitting a â€Å"wrong† relationship with Ms Lewinsky and deceiving his wife in the process – but it is a mistake that had to be framed as a mistake that any other man would have made. But at the same time that it presents the President as having a lot in common with the man on the street, it also intends to reinforce the image of great-heartedness expected in a gentleman, where he says â€Å"I must take complete responsibility for all my actions, public and private. † Here we are presented with a fusion of Everyman and Hero. The first paragraph of this speech makes the point that he has, in the course of the investigation, answered questions that â€Å"no American citizen would ever want to answer. † The juxtaposition of â€Å"American citizen† with the concept of doing something unwillingly while at the mercy of a probing authorities is meant to create tension between the idea of the American as the â€Å"freest citizen on Earth† and a version of reality where he actually is not quite â€Å"free†. On some level it would evoke the historical â€Å"white man’s burden† that the US was supposed to have taken up when it acquired colonies in Asia – that the American has a great responsibility to truth because to those whom much is given, much is expected. The ordinary man on the street might feel this, that he submits to Big Brother on occasion, because he must keep his country great and intact. In the next paragraphs he owns up to his mistakes while emphasizing the mitigating factors. He has been truthful and never lied, since all his answers were â€Å"legally accurate. † This would dispose of the famous episode where â€Å"oral sex† as â€Å"real sex† was called into question during the investigation. He also stresses that he never asked anyone to practice deception for his sake, which statement seems to be intended to call attention to the fact that he is not a heartless cheating bastard or a predatory boss. He did not ask the women in his life – his wife and his mistress – to cover up for him, or to risk their integrity for him as he could have done so easily, as some unscrupulous men would have done quite easily, were they situated in a position as powerful as his. Clinton then proceeds to attribute his silence to a lapse in judgment. The earlier tactic of brazening out a tricky situation seems to have backfired, and thus must be transformed into, or presented as, keeping quiet out of the desire to protect the innocent – those who cannot protect themselves. Of course, one keeps silent or withholds information from the media, and this portion contrasts the family man’s desire to protect honor or the finer sensibilities of his wife and daughter with that of the media as a relentless institution that will say all, that must have its ratings and viewers, at the expense of reputations or feelings or whatever it is that is insulted in the course of getting the story. He also reminds the public that there was a politically motivated lawsuit – one which was subsequently dismissed – that was ongoing at the time the scandal erupted. Now the image includes political enemies, whose popular image would be, like the media, that of predators: Power-hungry individuals out to destroy a man who is only trying to do his best. In touching on this investigation he says: â€Å"The independent counsel investigation moved on to my staff and friends, then into my private life, and now the investigation itself is under investigation. This has gone on too long, cost too much, and hurt too many innocent people. † Here it is worthwhile to note the emphasis on cost, the toll which the investigation, where he and his wife have been cleared anyway, has taken not just in terms of time or money, but again in terms of the mental or moral anguish that it has caused â€Å"innocent people. † He then brings the situation home; the public issue is also a private one, and indeed, now that the public aspect of it has been disposed of, the process of dealing with it as a personal, a family issue, commences. The unspoken truth here is that this process will be more difficult than the public one. He says that the people he loves most are his wife and daughter. Such statements are rather like a Hallmark greeting card – bland enough to slide off without anyone taking umbrage or questioning the validity of the statement. At the same time, the cliche carries with it great power. While love is a complex thing that is constantly in flux, with family relations being a barometer of the same, the ordinary individual does not question its nature but only sticks to his guns and says â€Å"I love my family. † To say, â€Å"Now this matter is between me, the two people I love most: my wife and our daughter, and our God. I must put it right, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to do so. Nothing is more important to me personally,† is to say exactly what the ordinary American thinks he would feel in such a situation, and moreover, it uses much the same language that he would. The father of the family also puts his foot down when he says, â€Å"†¦I intend to reclaim my family life for my family. It’s nobody’s business but ours. † Of course, one of the more striking lines in this speech is â€Å"Even Presidents have private lives. † The audience here is asked to have mercy, or perhaps, more accurately, to step up and do their part as members of a community. If America is a great democracy, then the rules that apply to you and your neighbors down the hall or across the street apply to the president too – and not just rules, but privileges. The turn of phrase is made even more pleasing by the suggestion that this time, it is the nation – the man with his beer on the couch, watching tv, the mother preparing dinner, that has the power. Spare the President, because he’s only human. And this way, the passive viewer gets to feel that he or she actually gets to do something that matters. Then Clinton, in the last three paragraphs, draws matters to a close. He says that â€Å"It is time to stop the pursuit of personal destruction and the prying into private lives, and get on with our national life. † This is calculated to appeal to loftier feelings. It says â€Å"You’re better than that. † Or better yet â€Å"We’re better than that. † With these words, he aligns himself with the people. It is at this point that he ceases to be – at least within the framework of this speech – the beleaguered and erring politician, or the earnest, hardworking father and husband who has made the mistake of an office dalliance. At this point, he is gathering up the reins and resuming the role of President, Leader of the Nation. In its sweep, it even disposes of the notion that the presidency he holds is actually at the mercy of the people’s preference. But there is nothing wrong with this, not really. After all, anyone who has been a leader, whether coach of a basketball team, head of a clique or a mother of small children, knows that there is a time when one has to act decisively, to think for the followers and act rather than to pay obsessive attention to their every squeak and whimper. He refers to the country as having been â€Å"distracted for too long. † Indeed, the business of nation-building, or at least the one of getting along from one day to another as a nation, would appear to benefit from being presented once more as something lofty. For once everything is in place – when the people have enough to eat, for instance, and homes and televisions and cable tv – it is easy to become lost in inane distractions like a media circus. Or at least, that it is a media circus and detrimental to the work begun by the Founding Fathers and continued by the Pioneers, is the desired effect. He calls then for people to the â€Å"important work to do real opportunities to seize, real problems to solve, real security matters to face. † This effectively writes off the scandal in which he has been recently embroiled as â€Å"not real. † Security issues are real, the opportunity for economic growth is real, but the doings of a man and his intern are less â€Å"real. † And this makes sense in a practical way – set against the greater scale of things, it seems to say, does it really matter that Bill Clinton had sex with Monica Lewinsky? This speech acknowledges its importance to the nation in a â€Å"if it’s important to you, then it’s important to me† kind of way; â€Å"I care about how you feel,† he says to America. But as it ends, he presents the events of the preceding months as a small matter, after all, set against the backdrop of the greatness that is America in the century that (at that time) was just about to begin. In conclusion, in the alliances and associations created by this speech is a powerful message to the listeners that they mustn’t care too much about one man’s mistake – what they (and that erring man) have at hand is a much greater task: upholding the great American nation.