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The American Revolution is one of the most important eras in American history. It was the period that fashioned the American society and influenced the making of the constitution in readiness for the conceived independence. It refers broadly to the war fought by the 13 American states against his majesties army in a bid not only to reject the influence of the English parliament over American land but also to severe all forms of allegiance to Britain.There were many factors that led to the war yet it was clear that such recourse was inevitable due to the growing American society and the difference in ideologies between the leadership in American and that in Britain. One of the main issues that led to the war and consequent declaration of independence is the British imposition of higher taxes over the American Brits as passed by British parliament. Americans felt that since they did not have any representation within that parliament, then such a move was unconstitutional.The British ne eded to raise money and therefore decided that colonies must pay more as a cost of their upkeep by the British Empire. The American leadership tried to have those decisions lifted by appealing to the king since although hey did not recognize parliament authority over them, they still felt that they owed their allegiance to the king. However, the king did not intervene but instead called them rebellious and declared war on the.Another reason is the fact that the British Empire had made legislations restricting trade thus leading British traders to benefit more form trade than their American counter parts a move that was greatly resented. This in turn slowed growth in America and led to its leadership agreeing that a drastic measure was important to redress this situation. Another factor that led to the revolution was a shift in ideologies influenced by thinkers like Locke whose ideologies in liberalism led to the growth of a republican mood and a strong distaste to values that oppres sed some while benefiting others.Furthermore, most felt that Britain was corrupt and unfair which fuelled a need to break away in order to establish a state that recognized certain rights of the people to decide the direction their country took. These and many more factors, including the Boston massacre led congress to declare America’s independence from British rule and thereby starting the American revolutionary wars. The war was won by the Americans with the help from the French armies and navy and later more help from Spain and the Netherlands (Cohen, 2004).Andrew Jackson’s popular brand of politics was a distinct break from the previous administrations. Why was it different? What was his legacy for both good and bad? Support your answer with specific examples. Andrew Jackson was the 7th president of the United States of America and the last to have been a captive of war. He has a rich history which together combined to make him one of the most important men in the American history. He was known for being a tough man both as an administrator and as an army commander.He was born third born of a family of Irish immigrants and was born in South Carolina. His birth of an immigrant family is simply another testament to the great opportunity that America is since it offers people, from all background the chance to realize their dreams; no matter how ambitious they might be. Jackson’s military carrier started when he was fourteen when he joined the army as a courier which saw him captured by the British and consequently lost his brother as a result of that imprisonment.He later went on to distinguish himself as a military commander rising to the rank of major general due to his heroic act in the Battle of New Orleans defending the country against British attack. It is clear from observing Jackson’s history that he was a very determined man and his endeavors earned him popularity among the people. In the 1824 elections he lost to Adams although he had won the popular vote but congress chose the former since the Electoral College could not decide on one man to lead the nation.This election might have called in question the prudence of an electoral system of elections that runs against the feelings and decisions of the majority and that installs a leader voted for by the minority. Such a move might be seen to be contrary to the fundamental pillars of democracy that America so holds dear and might even run contrary to the provisions of the constitution that guarantees certain rights to individuals. This is because the decisions of the majority should reflect the greater good and to have such a decisions quashed by a small group of citizens is simply not right.Traditional democrats including Jefferson differed greatly with jack son on several fronts. They opposed increased federal strength fearing that it might lead to a centralization of power by the federal government. They also opposed plans for the formation of a central bank to offer regulations to all other banks and in doing so preferred that states retain most powers over their affairs. They also opposed plans to have a large national army and navy. They also favored low tariffs probably one of the areas that Jackson concurred with an opinion greatly opposed by the federalists.Jackson found the Democratic party after he broke off from the one led by Adams after he lost the election to Adam. Unlike his former allies, he favored a strong army probably because he had a good military carrier. However, his controversial life was because of his support for slavery and the Indian removal which is a contradictory to the bills of right and the American constitution. It is curious to note that as president he would be expected to defend the constitution yet he had shown his oppositions against such fundamental issues raised by the very constitution he would be expected to uphold.Nonetheless, the splinter Democratic Party he helped to make would co me to dominate American politics for many decades to follow a trend that continues even to today (Ward, 1962). During the first half of the 19th century, America became increasingly industrialized. It is important to understand what the industrial revolution was in order to relate it to how it affected the American society in the early 19th century. The industrial revolution first started in Britain in the 18-20th century and there were great changes in the area of agriculture, transport, industry and manufacturing and in the transport sector.These changes were experienced in other parts of the world including America and they changed society completely. The initial stages of the revolution saw an end to manual and animal labor and an adoption of machines in farming and in other sectors. The pioneering industries included textile, transport and the mining and development of metal including iron. The industrial revolution in America set the country on a course to become the greatest economic power in the face of the planet with wealth and industries unmatched by none.There are many factors attributed to America’s rapid industrialization among them being presence of capital, vast resources that could be used in industries and the presence of fast and reliable transport system to aid in trade. Before the 18th century American relied on primitive agricultural methods for it’s agricultural out put. However, the revolution changed all this and great technological advancement led to better and innovative methods to farm lands and more advance machines to be used in the production of various outputs.This led to the growth of other sectors, creation of employment and an increase in the per capita income of the people fuelling growth in all sectors. There are many factors that are credited with accelerating the pace of industrialization in American during this period. Firstly, there was not adequate labor to work in the utilizations of the vast resources f ound in American pushing efforts to create machinery that would make work effective and easier. Secondly, America was endowed with many rivers that could be used to transport products and also as sites for building mills and many other industries.Other inventions that accelerated industrialization included the steam engine that made transportation faster and the cotton gin that brought huge profits to plantation owners. Another factor that helped greatly to increase trade in this period was the building of roads and canals to improve transport within the country especially to those states that were landlocked. The invention of the steam engine was used to manufacture steam boats that revolutionized travel.Furthermore, steam engines were used on trains which saw the building of a rail way line that connected various parts of the country easing movement of people and goods. The invention of thee telephone and telegraph would also prove to be a major factor contributing greatly to the development of service sectors like banks. Lastly the presence of oil in the country was a contributing factor since oil provided useful products in the homes for lighting and in industries for lubricating machines. It would later become even more useful with the invention of the combustion engine.The industrial revolution not only saw many Americans acquire land but also improved the way they farmed increasing their output greatly. This is because they stopped relying on manual labor and used machinery that helped them keep the soil fertile while reducing the cost of production. Industries provided jobs for people and led to growth of urban centers whereby companies were based and suburbs were people lived. The great technological developments continued in many sectors including arms which saw an improvement in the status of the army (Hudson, 1992).The causes of the Civil War are many and complex There are many causes of the American civil war but three reasons stand out as the maj or causes. The American civil war was fought during the period 1861-1865 and was caused by the secession of the southern Sates for the union. It pitted Jefferson Davies commanding the confederate forces against the union forces under the guidance of the president Lincoln. The first reason is the issue of slavery since many differed on the issue depending on which part of the country one came from.Most northerners were against slavery since they claimed that it went against the constitution that identified that all men are born equal and all had certain rights guaranteed them by the constitution. They therefore could not understand how people calling themselves Americans and subject to the same constitution could own other people and thereby contradict the constitution in such a blatant manner. In this regard they were agitating for an end to slavery a motion that was not well received in the south.The southern economy was dependent on agriculture and Southerners felt that they neede d slaves to work on their large plantations. The election of Abraham Lincoln as president was the last straw for the southerners since they saw it as a clear move of bad things to come since Lincoln was one of the staunch supporters of the motion to abolish slavery. Lincoln and congress however tried to avert the problem by not formulating immediately a law ending slavery but instead drafted one stopping the spread of it.Southerners felt that if the growth of slavery was stopped hen slavery would die slowly and the effect would still be the same. Furthermore, Northerners gave States powers to hold referendum whereby citizens chose whether those states should keep slaves or not. Another factor that caused the civil war is the economic differences between the South and the north and the various legislations passed by Northern legislators to benefit them in the expense of Southerners. The North depended more on industries and service industry while the South depended largely on agricul ture especially in cotton.This largely meant that need for labor in the form of slaves was increasing and this in turn polarized the two sides of the country against each other. Furthermore, most merchant ships form the south exported cotton and returned with finished products from Europe. Most of those products were similar to those made I the northern part and hence northerners felt that they should purchase from them and not import them . This led to the formulation of higher taxes on imports in order to force them to purchase them from their northern counterparts and this angered them since these products were more expensive.Another important factor that led to the civil war was the debate of whether to have a strong federal government since most in the south favored strong states with a weak federal government. They felt that they should have the power to make their own regulations and have the authority to veto federal laws that they felt were not good for their states. They a lso felt that they should have the right to secede from the union and form independent countries if their populace felt so.However, the president and the north saw this as rebellion and could therefore not grant them such a request (Catton & McPherson, 2004). These reasons led to the Confederate states launch a secession war against the north for the right to self governance. As the war progressed Lincoln freed all the slaves held by the South a move aimed at strengthening support for the union and stopping Britain from intervening in the war. The end of the war saw a great period of reconstruction that saw great involvement by federal and state governments.With the end of the war came an end to slavery and an upholding of the constitutional provision that â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. † We ho ld these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of HappinessThe issue of human freedom has been an important subject from time immemorial and hence the presence of the phrase â€Å"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal† in the American constitution. There are several factors that led American leaders among them Thomas Jefferson to include this provision in the declaration for independence since their efforts to win America’s independence from Britain was motivated by a need for governance that respects the rights of the people.There are several factors that led America to fight for its independence but most of the included a need to stop British parliament from imposing its legislative authority over the American people. Most importantly was the act by British parliament to pass a law increasing tax over the American Britons a move that many felt was a violation of their sovereign rights since many felt that America owed its allegiance to he king but was not subject to legislations by the British parliament.Furthermore American leaders during the time preceding the declaration of independence felt that all people have certain natural rights which cannot be taken from them. These rights guarantee people certain rights conferred upon them which cannot be surrendered to the state and which allows men to decide their lives. Natural rights were argued from many schools of thought with religion playing a major part in leading to believe and adoption of the same in the constitution. Furthermore, natural rights could b traced to Britain whereby they were used to challenge the divine powers of kings and therefore remove kings who ruled unjustly.Therefore, the acts of Britain to dictate various laws upon the American public and levy taxes on them were considered to be breach of such rights since natural rights prohibited a party to gain while causing pain, harm or misery to the other. In this regard, the American constitution after independence went ahead to grant American citizens certain rights that could not be surrendered to the state and clarified that any law made in contradiction to these provisions would be void. This philosophy continued to grow and influence American society in years to come and this was evidence with the thirteenth amendment that abolished slavery.The issue of slavery was always a very controversial issue all over the world with many questioning the morality of some forcing others to work for them and be subject to their control. The Amendment was preceded by the emancipation proclamation by Abraham Lincoln during the civil war and was aimed at ruining the economy of those states which were trying to leave the union. As expected, the move won the Lincoln administration support from foreign nation especially the United Kingdom and dim inishing the rebellious state’s chance of recognition.However, the proclamation only freed slaves from Southern sates and it became necessary to enact a law ending slavery in the whole country. In this regard, it became illegal for any person to force any person to involuntary servitude guaranteeing the rights of all citizens to liberty. However, the end of slavery was not the end of problems related to minor groups who were mainly blacks in the American society. They were treated as second rate citizens and they did not have most of the rights enjoyed by the white majority.Though they were no longer slaves they were forced to work under deplorable conditions for their white employers and the same time receive meager earnings as the price of their labor. They were not allowed to vote since they were considered minority citizens and most were even subjected to violence and were not given access to justice to redress these violations of the rights. The American constitution gua rantees that all men are born equal and therefore guaranteed rights that cannot be denied them and this led minority groups to fight against such breach of constitutional guarantees.The situation escalated in the 20th century when segregation became widespread with black citizens not allowed to use white citizen’s facilities. These meant that minority groups were discriminated upon in employment, were not allowed in various establishments, and had separate schools with their white counterparts. This pushed these minority groups deep into poverty, a condition that will continue to be a big factor to the living stands of black people later on in the future.However, the 1900’s were an era of great civil movements that saw the granting of voting rights to all minority groups including women. The subsequent amendment to the constitution wanted to clarify that since the constitution clearly spelt that all people have certain unalienable rights, then any discrimination based on gender or race was contrary to the provisions of the constitution. Therefore, various governments continue to ensure that laws made do not infringe on the laws of individuals with the court reviewing laws and removing those that violate citizen’s rights.On the international arena, the adoption of the bill of rights have helped lead to more rights and freedoms for people all over the world (Vorenburg, 2001). References Catton, B. & McPherson, J. (2004). The Civil War. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Cohen, S. (2004). British supporters of the American revolution, 1775-1783. Boydell press. Hudson, P. (1992). The Industrial Revolution. Oxford Publisher. Ward, J. (1962). Andrew Jackson. New York: Oxford Publishers. Vorenberg, M. (2001). Final freedom. New york: Cambridge university press.

My Most Valuable Possessions Essay

The world today is full of ways to keeps us busy, distracted, and stressed. We all have to find ways to manage these in our lives, often this happens because of special items in our lives that have a special importance to us. Maybe these items are very different from person to person. For me, my most valuable possessions are my family and friends, my health, and my self-confidence. Each one has a unique quality that helps me to manage the distractions and stresses that life presents to me. Have we ever sit down and ask ourselves theses questions: â€Å"Who are we?†, â€Å"Why do we come to this world?†, and â€Å"What is the most important in our lives?† All of these answers are varies according to our purpose of lives. In addition, if someone comes and asks me those questions, I will tell them my family and friends are so important to me because they are the closest people in my life. They know me better than anyone else and of course they will be there for me w hen I need them. Because of that, I make them the priority in all I do. It is easy for me to always choose my family before work or any other activities I am involved in. However, I also make time in my busy life to spend time with friends and family members. My family is the only family I have and I value them because they cannot be replaced. When I am dealing with work, school, and all the other distractions that stress my life, it is nice to escape with a group of friends and does something that is very productive such as go to eat, watch movie, or relax a little at a bar. My friends and family really help me reduce stress in life which helps me stay healthy. Then, I am very fortunate to have a good health and rarely get sick. My good health is valuable to me and I recognize the importance of living a healthy life. Being healthy, I know that I have the ability to achieve my goals, be successful, and earn the money that is needed to do everything else in life. Because of this, I strive to eat healthy foods and take a little time each day to exercise in order to keep my body and mind in shape as well as encourage people around me to do the same. Living a healthy lifestyle allows my body to easily handle working and other physical stresses that someone on an unhealthy path might struggle with. Next, my health and having a close group of friends and family has help to build my confidence. I know that I have the support and the physical ability to accomplish anything I want to do. Self-confidence is so valuable to me because someone with confidence can be a strong leader when needed and can deal with a difficult or stressful situation much easier. In addition, being confident with myself has made me stand out as better employee at work and a better student at school. In brief, life presents another challenge we have to overcome. With the right tools, it can be much easier to deal with these difficulties and stresses. My success is a result, in most part, because of my family and friends, my health, and my self-confidence. Because of these three items, I know I will have a great life, and that is why these are my most valuable possessions.

Distribution Channel Management Essay

BMW Motorcycles is a division within the BMW Group. As such their mission is tied to that of the parent company. On the BMW Group website it is noted as follows:†Identifying potential and encouraging growth. Knowing what we represent. Recognizing where our strengths lie and making the best use of every opportunity. Following a clear strategy. Goals we have attained are in essence the point of departure for new challenges. This is the philosophy that inspires every individual at the BMW Group. It influences the company’s structure and it plays a vital role in the decision-making process. Our corporate ethos finds its expression in the uncompromising pursuit of the superlative. The result? Outstanding brands with an unmistakable profile. Automobiles and motorcycles which fascinate people all over the world and which win legions of new admirers every day. And a degree of success which sees the BMW Group go from strength to strength. With the three brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the BMW Group has its sights set firmly on the premium sector of the international automobile market. To achieve its aims, the company knows how to deploy its strengths with an efficiency that is unmatched in the automotive industry. From research and development to sales and marketing, BMW Group is committed to the very highest in quality for all its products and services. The company’s phenomenal success is proof of this strategy’s correctness.†BMW Motorcycles provides a robust product line following three general categories: Touring, Sport, and Enduro. Touring bikes are built for the long haul, with rider comfort as the premium. These are the motorcycles you would take on a cross country trip. Sport bikes satisfy the â€Å"need for speed† and styling trends for the younger crowd. Enduro bikes are for the adventurer is us all; these bikes are built for on or off road travel. BMW Motorcycles’ main competition comes from Japanese motorcycle companies. Most American motorcycle companies produce cruiser style bikes; BMW offers little choice in this style of motorcycle. However, each of the main Japanese manufacturers (Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, and Kawasaki) offers motorcycles that are very similar in style and performance. Although BMW has  historically had its own niche in the market, that of the older male, it has recently branched off into more dedicated off-road and super-sport bikes. These are categories that have been historically dominated by the Japanese manufacturers. Throughout the years, BMW motorcycles have been renowned for their durability and engineering. BMW has always been on the forefront of motorcycle engineering. BMW was the first motorcycle manufacturer to offer ABS on a motorcycle. They have also revolutionized motorcycle suspensions with their Telelever anti-dive suspension and Paralever single-arm suspension. Although BMWs are more costly, that price is offset by the life cycle of the motorcycle. Until recent years there hasn’t been much of a rivalry between the Japanese manufacturers and BMW Motorcycles. BMW had its small place in the market and was not a threat to the Japanese firms. BMW Motorcycles were not known to be stylish or fast, the two categories that attract the majority of motorcycle buyers. BMW attracted more mature owners who were impressed by the machine’s reliability and durability, and who had more money to spend on a new bike. The lack of power was partly due to BMW self-imposed limitations on horsepower in motorcycles. However, these limitations were lifted in the late 1990s, and BMW began to produce super-sport bikes that rivaled the Japanese bikes, and even surpassed the Japanese competitor’s performance. Up to this point, young males were rarely interested in purchasing BMWs. They cost twice as much as the closet Japanese bikes, they were slower, and they were less attractive. In essence they were the Volvo of the motorcycle world. However, like Volvo, once BMW redesigned their product line into more powerful and stylish motorcycles, they began to quickly cut into the Japanese manufacturers’ market share. BMW motorcycles have consistently won â€Å"Best Bike† awards in various categories within the past few years. Several of these awards include â€Å"2005 & 2006 Best Touring Bike† for the R1200RT, and â€Å"2005 Best Adventure Bike† for the F650GS. BMW Motorcycles reported December 2006 sales up 36.8% over the same period in 2005. In 2005, annual sales worldwide for BMW topped  100,000 motorcycles. In 2004, approximately 5.7 million motorcycles were sold in the US, of which 12,825 were BMWs. Estimates of market share for 2005 show Honda in the lead with 24% of the market, followed by Harley-Davidson and Buell with 22.6%, Yamaha at 15.9%, Suzuki at 11.8%, Kawasaki at 9.1%, KTM at 1.7%, BMW with 1.2% and â€Å"Other† at 13.7%. Although BMW gains less than 2% of total US motorcycle sales market, they only reflect less than half of BMW’s worldwide sales. BMW sold more motorcycles in Italy (13,651 bikes), than in the US, and Spain was a close third wit h 10,002 bikes. The BMW R1200GS has been the top selling bike worldwide for the past several years. As a result, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have recently introduced large engine dual sport bikes to their lineups to compete with the BMW. The BMW R1200RT has been increasingly sought after by police departments as their bike of choice, replacing the mainstay Kawasakis. With their ever increasing popularity and sales, BMW is becoming a threat to the Japanese manufacturers and the rivalry is growing. Two of the primary attributes for motorcycles are durability and performance. Durability is defined as the capability of withstanding wear and tear, it is measured by a products ability to perform or compete over a long period. For a motorcycle this can include engine life, the ability to conduct repairs, and retention of market value. Performance is defined as the way in which someone or something functions. For motorcycles it includes horsepower, acceleration, cornering ability, and maximum speed. Target MarketsTarget Market 1: Young Males 18-25- Generally college age males, style and performance are the biggest factors for this group. Cost could be an exclusionary criterion, as this group may not have a large cash base. Target Market 2: Adult Males (25-40)- Established professionals. Performance not as big a factor as durability or economy is. This group is willing to spend more for a higher quality product. They are style conscious, but style is not necessarily a prime factor. Target Market 3: Females (all ages)- Female motorcycle buyers are a growing market, but still small enough to treat all ages as a singular group. Female riders generally are looking for something economical and stylish. Performance is low on the list of criteria. Primary Product Categories. -Enduro . These are dual purpose motorcycles that are built for both on and off road. -High Performance. Specialized off road motorcycle. -Tour. These are bikes built for long distance rides. Comfort is number one on these bikes. -Sport. These are your speed bikes. They are built to go fast and look good. -Urban. These are the bikes built to cruise the road and get good gas mileage while they are at it. This is the commuter bike category, not flashy but dependable. EnduroHigh PerformanceTouringSportUrbanYoung Male21 / 3Adult Male11 / 3Female221Core products2Rarely sold to these individuals3Biggest purchaser of items in this categoryImportant Cells:Young Male /Sport. This is the primary product line for this target market. They are looking for style and speed. This is the category that provides those. This line is very important, as this is the largest share of the entire market. BMW has been behind in this line, and only recently become competitive within the past few years. Although they now have one of the highest performing motorcycles, it is difficult to overcome the brand recognition the Japanese motorcycles have built up in this line. The competitive advantage in this line is gained through a mix of performance and appeal, with cost also a major factor. Perceived performance and style may be more important than true performance and style. Young Male / Urban. This is a growing market the past few years. BMW is neck and neck with all its competitors to grab a share, due to the newness of this motorcycle category. This is important, because getting the recognition and sales in this product line can affect the sales of the other lines. No company currently has an advantage. The advantage can be achieved by offering a motorcycle with excellent handling, great gas mileage, at a low cost. One of BMW’s products, the F650, has been seeing robust sales due to the high MPG. BMW is poised to gain an advantage in this market, the key will be to ensure the BMW name recognition is realized within this target market. Adult Male Enduro. BMW has had the leading product in this market since the introduction of their R – GS line of bikes. This award winning product has been continually recognized and awarded for its attributes. It is the king of the hill of enduro bikes, with no true competition in sight. This bike has become on of the cornerstones of BMW motorcycles, and thus its continued success will be a direct reflection of the company. BMW has been able to sustain their advantage in this market / line by continually improving the product. Adult Male / Touring. This category has seen large growth in the past few years. BMW is poised to gain an advantage here, due in large part to the recognition they are gaining by the police forces. Police forces have been buying their R-RT models in increasing numbers for the past five years. This has had a direct impact on the sales volume of not only this product, but the touring line as a whole. The police usage has given BMW greater brand recognition. Keeping the bikes visible within police forces will be the key to maintaining their competitive advantage. There are only two real competitors in this category, the Kawasaki Concours and the Honda Goldwing. The Honda has been the leader in this line until several years ago when BMW sales began to overtake them. BMW provides better durability, performance and comfort than the competitors. These are all key attributes for this target market. BMW has been pursuing new markets and products; they also have opportunity to develop both, especially in the female rider market. In the past few years, BMW has introduced improved models of their existing motorcycles to increase their appeal to younger markets. They have greatly increased their performance and styling, both key attributes sought after by this largest target market. As a result of developing this market, profits in the young male market have soared. In addition, BMW has introduced all new models of motorcycles. Of these new models, the most notable are high performance sport bikes to appeal to the young males, and less powerful, smaller frame bikes to increase appeal to beginners and females. Since 1999 BMW has developed close to 15 new motorcycle products for introduction. Each of these bikes has seen brisk sales. BMW does not hold a competitive advantage in the motorcycle market; this is due to several factors. BMW motorcycles are expensive. In many cases they cost more than $10,000 more than their market competitor. Although BMWs are more durable than their less expensive competition, the prime market does not appear to be willing to spend the increased cost for a higher quality product. In motorcycle sales, no company holds a sustained competitive advantage. The Japanese motorcycle companies, with their powerful, inexpensive motorcycles share the competitive advantage over the American and European motorcycle companies. However, this advantage tends to shift to a different company each year as new bikes are introduced. The price points for Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki are all similar for each comparable product; with generally only several hundred dollars difference. Any competitive advantage among these companies will rarely last over a model year or two. Thus there is no sustained competitive advantage among these rivals. Due to the similarities in the product offerings between all these companies, unless some revolutionary technology is developed, it will be nearly impossible to sustain any competitive advantage. Customer satisfaction is a high priority with BMW; in 2001 BMW Motorcycles introduced the â€Å"Customer-Oriented Sales and Production Process†. This process is used from customer order to delivery. It begins with an online  ordering system which allows a BMW Motorcycle dealer to send a customer’s order directly to the manufacturing plant, eliminating wholesalers or resellers and providing instant delivery status. This system also allows the customer to change any detail of his order, up to the minute that production is begun. All BMW motorcycles and parts are built at the BMW plant in Berlin, Germany. BMW motorcycles were originally built in BMW’s historic Munich plant until the 1960s. BMW concentrates all motorcycle related production, to include many component parts in the Berlin plant. This plant can build up to 500 motorcycles a day. BMW motorcycles are built to general specification and also may be custom designed from anywhere in the world. The Berlin plant builds motorcycles to the specific requirements of the over 20 countries they deliver to. The BMW motorcycle plant in Berlin uses state-of-the-art technology. It has been recognized as the most modern motorcycle manufacturing plant in the world. Like their motorcycles, the production plant is focused on ergonomics and efficiency. In addition, the factory incorporates numerous environmental friendly processes. Many of these processes, including production water recycling, also help to cut production costs. The BMW logistics division is responsible for organizing the motorcycle production. Together with marketing, sales and production departments it plans the production schedule, generates the best production sequence and ensures timely delivery of the motorcycle to the customer. Logistic specialists plan and coordinate the delivery of material to assembly and make sure that quality parts are cost-efficiently delivered to the production line. BMW Motorcycles has more than 400 external suppliers provide some 9,000 different parts and components. These parts are delivered to BMW’s Berlin plant on time and in the correct quantities. Most of the suppliers specialize in motorcycle parts for BMW. 65 % of the suppliers are located in Germany, 34 % in Europe and 1% in USA and Japan. In 2001, BMW reengineered its distribution process to reduce costs and improve response time for dealers and parts vendors. Once the motorcycle is completely assembled, it is transported from the factory direct to the retailer who placed the customer’s order through a â€Å"Retailer Channel† method. BMW uses a variety of transportation methods including truck, rail, and sea lift ; depending on the destination of the product. In the USA, BMW motorcycles are received and distributed out of two warehouse locations in New Jersey and California. From there, they are delivered direct to the retailer. BMW Motorcycle dealers are authorized by BMW to sell the motorcycle product line, and to also provide an after sales service to BMW customers. To maintain brand image and ensure customer satisfaction is met, the dealers comply with corporate requirements and guidelines in the presentation of their facility. BMW considers corporate identity and brand image to be paramount to maximize awareness of the differences between it and its competitors. These guidelines establish standards for interior and exterior design, levels of customer service, signage, typefaces and advertising. The goal of these requirements is to maintain BMW’s prestigious reputation. In addition, BMW provides management support, training courses for all dealer staff, recruitment assistance, marketing support, and an internal comprehensive online reference system which gives immediate access to up-to-date product and corporate information. BMW’s dedication to customer service, both service visible to the consumer and services which are transparent, give it a decisive advantage within its distribution channels. By striving to provide the customer the exact product desired, in a timely manner, they have streamlined their distribution processes. In addition to providing satisfaction to the consumer, this retailer channel process has cut transportation and resale costs to the benefit of both BMW and the customer. The benefits of BMW’s â€Å"Customer-Oriented Sales and Production Process† are  that the consumer can get an individualized BMW motorcycle without having to purchase a cookie-cutter motorcycle and numerous after-market products. The customer gets his one of a kind motorcycle right off the production line. In addition, he can order his customized motorcycle and receive it in a comparatively short period of time, with instantaneous production progress status available upon request. These are benefits to the consumer that the competitors cannot provide. With Japanese manufacturers, they sell the base motorcycle with very limited options. It is a dice roll that the configuration you want is in stock locally. This level of customer service, along with the high quality of the motorcycles, creates a rabid dedication to the BMW brand. BMW motorcycle owner typically will purchase another BMW over any of the competitor’s brands. This is decidedly one of the factors giving to the steady increase in market share of BMWs, and thus proof of BMW’s competitive advantage. References1. BMW Group. http://www.bmwgroup.com2. BMW Group Mission. http://www.bmwgroup.com/bmwgroup_prod/e/nav/index.html?http://www.bmwgroup.com/bmwgroup_prod/e/0_0_www_bmwgroup_com/unternehmen/unternehmensprofil/strategie/strategie.html3. Web Bike World. http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-news/blog/4. Hoffman, Nicole P. An Examination of the † Sustainable Competitive Advantage† Concept: Past, Present, and FutureAcademy of Marketing Science Review [Online] 20005.BMW Berlin Manufacturing Planthttp://www.bmw-werk-berlin.de/berlin/htdocs/english/produktion/logistik/index_logistik.htmlThe Motorcycles:1.BMW Motorcycles. http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/index.jsp2.Suzuki Motorcycles. http://www.suzukicycles.com/3.Kawasaki Motorcycles. http://www.kawasaki.com4.Yamaha Motorcycles. http://www.yamaha-motor.com5.Honda Motorcycles. http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles

Networking Infrastructure - British Canoe Union Assignment

Networking Infrastructure - British Canoe Union - Assignment Example For instance, if a distributed denial of service threat attack a website, the traffic can be routed from the other available locations on a different network segment. Moreover, the MX record demonstrates where an email needs to be delivered. Furthermore, TXT records are utilized for holding any type of text. The Domain Name System is focused around the idea of name determination that is a key capacity of TCP/IP systems. Such systems are utilizing IP addresses as a part of request to recognize the beginning and objective of system transmissions. An IP location figures out where a datagram is sent and is extraordinary for the particular system area. IP addresses that were focused around IP rendition four (Ipv4) were as a 32-bit number. However the accessible locations were constrained and inevitably we arrived at the point where the Ipv6 tending to framework focused around the utilization of a 128-bit number where the IP location was sent. It is clear that individuals are prone to think that it’s hard to recollect 32-bit and 128-bit addresses that are sensibly straight forward for machines to distinguish. It is important to secure a more compelling framework for clients to distinguish the location of a system area. This is carried out by utilizing more significant names as the ones that we have in regular sites (e.g. http://www.thisismypersonalwebsite.com). This is a decent case of how a client may recollect an imperative site. However a machine must have the capacity to change over this name to an IP address that will figure out where the objective of the expected correspondence lives. Name determination is the term used to portray the change of the name utilized for a site or the Internet area to an IP address for that particular area. Each one time we enter the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for a World Wide Web address in a web program this is changing over into an IP

The Willowbrook Hepatitis Study- subject (Technological of educational Article

The Willowbrook Hepatitis Study- subject (Technological of educational research) - Article Example It has negatively affected their studies because they have to educate to public on the importance of the studies and the potential threats that may be related to the study leading to specimens for their studies are the public have grown to be critics of their works (Emanuel et al., 2008). The result of exposing the Willowbrook Hepatitis study problem led to the formulation of policies by the government as to what constituted an ethical research. The policies outlined ethical principles upon which ethical studies were to be conducted on the public. The study could not be revised to be performed ethically. This is because the public had developed a negative attitude towards the study and could not subject themselves or their children to the study. There were damages caused on the subjects who had participated in the study and this mounted fear on the public (Diekema,

U05a1- Problems Definition and Research Intrest Statement on Paper

U05a1- Problems Definition and Intrest Statement on Depression - Research Paper Example Proponents of the biological perspective have identified that depression is caused due to the chemical imbalances in a human body. Deficiencies in two neurotransmitters, substance that allow brain cells to communicate, serotonin and norepinephrine are the major chemical imbalances that lead to depression. For example, deficiency in serotonin can result in sleep deprivation, anxiety and uneasiness. Similarly inadequate supply of norepinephrine leads to laziness, fatigue and depressing moods. (Lysaker et al 2007) Due to depression there are other bodily chemicals that are also altered. For instance a chemical known as cortisol, a hormone that a body produces in anger and stress, is at its peak in the morning and gradually decreases as the day progresses but in people, suffering from depression, the cortisol level does not comes down in the later hours of the day. This high level of cortisal is not healthy because research has shown that people suffering from long term stress have high level of this chemical in their bodies. (Lysaker et al 2007) This school of thought considers negative thoughts as the major cause of depression. According to Beck, great advocate of cognitive perspective, depression is a result of one’s poor self concept and how a person evaluates himself rather than a person considers negative views about oneself due to depression. A study conducted by Abela and DAlessandros (2002) on college admissions showed that students having negative views about their future have strong relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and depressing moods. This was proved later when students, having dysfunctional attitudes, did not get admissions in their desired colleges showed symptoms of depression after their self concept became negative due to failing the test. (Beck, 2008) In addition to negative view about oneself, negative views about the world and future may also lead to depression. For example, a

Auditing and Accounting Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Auditing and Accounting Ethics - Essay Example In addition, in question 4 the responsibility in relation to external and internal audit toward the society has been discussed. Loebbecke A. (2000) stated that auditing has historically been concerned with the faithful and accurate accounting of economic resources. This concern arises from the imperative of maintaining accountability in the presence of agency conflicts between the management and owners of a firm. Over time, this notion of accountability has expanded as interest groups established new standards of performance. The underlying philosophy has, however been remained constant: essentially one of ensuring that accounting records have been kept and verifying compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.1 Hayes, R., Dassen R. , et al, (2005) addressed that the independence is one of the most pivotal traits of being an auditor. Hussy, R., (1999) has elucidated independence as the fundamental principle that the auditor must be, seen to be, independent to enable them to behave with integrity and make objective professional and business judgment. Independence could be of two forms as- According to Hayes, R., Dassen R., et al (2005), independence is potentially affected by self-interest, self-interview, advocacy, familiarity and intimidation threats. To approach of this comment, the threats have been clarified as followed: ‘Self-interest Threat’ occurs when a firm or a member of the assurance team could benefit from a financial interest in, or other self-interest conflict with, an assurance client. Examples of circumstances that may create this threat include: Teoh, H. Y. & Lim, C. C. (1996) mentioned that self-interest threat occurs when, (1) any product or judgment of a previous assurance engagement or non-assurance engagement needs to be re-evaluated in reaching conclusions on the assurance engagement, or (2) when a member of the assurance team was previously a director or

You are to write and deliver a speech on 'my future Essay

You are to write and deliver a speech on 'my future - Essay Example Through language different signs have different meaning. These signs include; spoken language or signed language. The different components of language include; syntax which is the order and hierarchy of utterances that are meaningful; morphology, which are the smallest possible semantic units that are composed of phonemes; semantics which is the meaning related to a word, phonetic and phonology which are sound and gestures that are constructions of a language. Language helps to promote literacy level, mostly when raising children. A child’s journey towards literacy involves the following; learning how speak, read, write, draw, understand, listen and watch. This helps to develop a child’s skills (Chomsky, 2006, p. 152). There are three strategies used in literacy development. The first being child-oriented strategies, which encourage children to initiate and engage in everyday interactions so that educators can respond to their ways and encourage them to engage in the interactions. The second is the interaction-promoting strategies that encourage comprehensive individual and group conversations between adults and children. The third is language-modeling strategies that expand the child’s oral language skills and facilities development of abstract language. Language promotes communication. Communication skills are very important to children without language, it is difficult to know what they want and need and what is important to them. Languages helps in expressing their ideas, hypotheses, emotions, desires, and all things that need expressions (Chomsky, 2006, p. 141). Communication activities provide opportunities for learners to use language with one another and with people in the community. Language promotes cultural identity. The language brought about by the wants of people who are at a particular location over a specified period of

Managing Working Capital Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managing Working Capital - Essay Example Fundamentally, the working capital is total current assets of GHS (Jain, p.13.4). Langabeer (2008) explained further that this is the â€Å"funds necessary to finance the conversion operating cycle for a hospital – from delivering services to receiving funds to paying invoices for materials used† (p.59). The net working capital, on the other hand, is the difference in GHS’s current assets and current liabilities or that portion of current assets that are financed with long-term funds (Jain, p.13.4). These conceptual s definitions underscore the requirement to manage working capital because it determines the ability of an institution such as GHS to pay its debt and enhance its value. According to Langabeer, it reflects the efficiency of a hospital in the manner it orders, stores and pay for goods and services, hence, â€Å"the key with working capital management is to match the amount of money needed in the short term with the amount of funds available and keep a ll other assets in assets with higher returns† (p.59). For instance, working capital management in GHS involves initiatives such as the investment in an equity fund or the purchase of property and the construction of a facility that would yield profitability. GHS’s treasurer plays an important role in the working capital management. This is highlighted by the fact that the working capital needs of GHS can be affected by several factors such as the nature of business, the seasonality of operations, the production policy, market conditions and the conditions of supply (Chandra, 2011, p.574). He must ensure an efficient management because it will inevitably lead to increased organizational performance, quality in service delivery and profitability. The activities follow the GHS working capital cycle, which – as in the case of all organizations – is a process in which it purchases or produces inventory, holds it for a time, and

Qualitative Research Methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Qualitative Research Methodology - Essay Example For example, the use of computer has become essential in the administrative field and for this reason the public sector has experienced a huge technical growth where the computer has become an integrated part to any administrative work system. One can refer to the decreasing prices of computers and the demand for new computer models. Technology is nourishing the society, to give efficiency, from the running of a fan to the satellites, circling the space. In every field of knowledge and work, technologies are used to gain time. For eg: before there was TV, there was the radio. But the latter was not enough. One wanted to see and hear at the same time. The aim of science is to make man use all the senses all that once to gain a wholesome knowledge of the surroundings. Therefore, the experts too want to find ways and means to create a technical system that helps the employees in finding informations related to their work with the least effort and shorter time to avoid searching in files and box folders for a certain paper which takes time and effort. This problem demands the need of the UAE E-administrative to be brought to notice, in order to check the police system to update its efficiency.

Beowulf Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Beowulf - Essay Example It is also evident in the way that he does not touch the treasures that he finds in beside the dead body of Grendel’s mother. This shows he is rich enough already, with his own wealth and the gifts that he receives for defeating the monsters, and not greedy in the way that a lesser warrior might be. Beowulf’s nobility is the kind that comes with breeding and character, and not the kind that comes with material wealth. Beowulf is ambitious because he sets off to fight an enemy that no one else has managed to defeat. He has a great belief in himself and his own powers, and this is an important quality for someone who leads others. He is undoubtedly very brave, because he tackles and kills Grendel with his bare hands. The scene with Grendel’s mother is very scary because of the monsters and the dark, slimy cave location, as well as the superhuman elements that surround the figure of Grendel. He is almost defeated, but does not give up, and grasps the strange sword with great courage. It is obvious that he is quite willing to sacrifice himself in the attempt to kill the monsters troubling the Scyldings. Beowulf is physically very strong. His hands are able to kill Grendel and wield the huge magic sword. This physical strength is a necessary quality for a Germanic hero because there was so much fighting and war in those days, and a hero had to be able to hold his own on the battle field. Beowulf is stronger and braver than everyone else, which makes him the ideal warrior hero. The quality of generosity is seen in the way that Beowulf takes the gifts he has received from Hrothgar for his feats of strength, and gives them all to his King Hygelac. The economy of the time was based on exchange of goods and services, and it was extremely important that subordinates show loyalty to their superiors. Beowulf is not obliged to give the treasures to the king, but he does so to demonstrate

Free

Free Will Essay Vilayandur S. Ramachandran came from a distinguished family in Tamil Nadu, India, and was neuroscientist, which is a field of study encompassing the various scientific disciplines dealing with the nervous system. Ramachandrans views on the brain and how it works are discussed in his work â€Å"The New Philosophy†. In his essay he discusses the nature of consciousness, discussing the effects of certain mental states and their influence on the body and the brain. One of his main topics, however, is the Ramachandrans view of free will. He suggest that â€Å"neuroscience intersects with philosophy because the question of free will has been a philosophical problem for hundreds of years and more† (Jacobus 569). He discusses the significance of the brain imaging that shows a â€Å"readiness potential† and what it really means to have a free will. Through his essay, though, it is interesting to point out where religion and Christianity stands on the issue of free will and whether Christians are puppets under Gods command. Ramachandran poses this question about free will: â€Å"Is your brain the real one in charge, making your free will only a post-hoc rationalization; a delusion..?† When a special experiment was underway, it was discovered that when a person was told to move their finger within the next ten minutes at their own free will, their brain would kick in almost a second before the actual willingness to move the finger. This posed the original question stated above and brought on other questions as well. If this person is now shown the screen displaying the signal from the EEG scanner hooked up to your brain, they can then see their free will. They will then have three options: 1) They will experience a sudden lack of will, feeling as though the machine is controlling them, making them feel like a puppet. 2) They will refuse to have their belief of their free will to be altered but instead believe that the machine has some â€Å"paranormal precognition by which it is able to predict your movements accurately† (Ramachandran 559-60). 3) The person will reconfigure the experience in their mind, and cling to their sense of freedom, denying what their eyes have seen as evidence and maintain that â€Å"the sensation of will precedes the machines signal, not vice versa† (Ramachandran 560). The point when the brain would â€Å"kick in† before the movement is called the â€Å"readiness potential†. The â€Å"readiness potential† is what happens when there is a change in the electrical activity of the brain that occurs before the subjects conscious decision to move a muscle (medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com). Ramachandran believes that â€Å"there is an inevitable neural delay before the signal arising in one part of the brain makes its way through the rest of the brain to deliver the messagenatural selection has ensured that the subjective sensation of willing to delay deliberately to coincide not with the onset of the brain commands but with the actual execution of the command by your finger† (Ramachandran 560). Ramachandran is a firm believer in evolution, believing that the events must have some sort of evolutionary purpose. â€Å"On one hand,† he says, â€Å"this experiment shows that free will is false and cannot be causing the brain events because the events kick in a second earlier. But on the other hand, the pause must have some purpose, otherwise why would the delay have evolved† (Ramachandran 560). Though these events have a purpose, evolutionary is not the answer. In Joshua 24:15 it says â€Å"Choose for yourselves this day who you will serve, as for me and my household we will serve the LORD.† God gives mankind a choice to follow Him and so free will is a gift from God as something to be accepted. Humans have the gift of God to reject or take the free gift that He offers. If humans really are descendants of apes, then when did the gift of free will come into the evolutionary chain of todays mankind? John 7:37 says â€Å"Anyone who is thirsty may come to me.† It is an offer. Not a demanding command. Anyone who is thirsty may come to me, shows us that God does not want us to be without his living water and without him, but it is our choice whether we choose to accept Gods free gift of salvation. When studying free will in the Bible and through works of literature like Vilayandur S. Ramachandran, there will always be people on both sides of the argument. Do we have control of our own destinies or are we merely puppets in Gods giant game of the world? My personal beliefs on the subject are as I have stated in this paper: Though God has a control over the destiny of the world and each of our lives, he gives us a chance to make a decision to follow him or to ignore the free gift of his son that he has offered to us. John 3:16 it says: â€Å"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believed in him would have eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.† Works Cited Jacobus, Lee A. A World Of Ideas. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. Print. The Free Dictionary. Medical Dictionary. Online source. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/readiness+potential Bible. New Living Translation.

Leadership Development Past Present And Future Management Essay

Leadership Development Past Present And Future Management Essay This article reviews notable trends in the leadership development field. In the past two decades, such trends included the proliferation of new leadership development methods and a growing recognition of the importance of a leaders emotional resonance with others. A growing recognition that leadership development involves more than just developing individual leaders has now led to a greater focus on the context in which leadership is developed, thoughtful consideration about how to best use leadership competencies, and work/life balance issues. Future trends include exciting potential advances in globalization, technology, return on investment (ROI), and new ways of thinking about the nature of leadership and leadership development. The Past Looking back at the state of leadership and leadership development over the past 20 years, we were surprised to discover more than a decade passed before HRP first contained an article with the word leadership in its title. At the risk of making too much out of mere titles, we note with interest the contrast between that early period and the fact that leadership development is now one of HRPs five key knowledge areas. The last two decades have witnessed something of an explosion of interest in leadership development in organizations. Some of the most noteworthy issues and trends in the field of leadership development in the past 20 years fall under these two general headings: The proliferation of leadership development methods; The importance of a leaders emotional resonance with and impact on others. Proliferation of Leadership Development Methods One clear trend over the past 2years has been the increasing use and recognition of the potency of a variety of developmental experiences. Classroom-type leadership training-for long the primary formal development mode-is now complemented (or even supplanted) by activities as diverse as high ropes courses or reflective journaling. Classroom training should not be the only part of a leadership development initiative, and may be the least critical. While training may even be a necessary element of leadership development, developmental experiences are likely to have the greatest impact when they can be linked to or embedded in a persons ongoing work and when they are an integrated set of experiences. Activities like coaching, mentoring, action learning, and 360-degree feedback are increasingly key elements of leadership development initiatives. Developmental relationships primarily take two forms: coaching and mentoring. Coaching involve practical, goal-focused forms of one on- one learning and, ideally, behavioural change (Hall, et al., 1999). It can be a short term intervention intended to develop specific leadership skills or a more extensive process involving a series of meetings over time. The most effective coaching allows for collaboration to assess and understand the developmental task to challenge current constraints while exploring new possibilities, and to ensure accountability and support for reaching goals and sustaining development (Ting Hart, 2004). Mentoring is typically defined as a committed, long-term relationship in which a senior person supports the personal and professional development of a junior person. It may be a formal program or a much more informal process. Recognizing the value of mentoring, organizations are increasingly looking at ways to formalize these types of relationships as part of thei r leadership development efforts. Action learning is a set of organization development practices in which important real-time organizational problems are tackled. Three kinds of objectives are sought: delivering measurable organizational results, communicating learnings specific to a particular context, and developing more general leadership skills and capabilities (Palus Horth, 2003). Effective action learning may range from tacit, unfacilitated learning at work to focused and high-impact learning projects to transformations of people and organizations (Marsick, 2002). Challenging job assignments are a potent form of leadership development and provide many of the developmental opportunities in organizations today. The level of organizational involvement in making job assignments part of their leadership development process runs the gamut from simply providing people with information about developmental opportunities in their current job to a systematic program of job rotation. Using job assignments for developmental purposes provides benefits that go beyond getting the job done and may even result in competitive advantages for the organization (Ohlott,2004). One developmental method has been so pervasive that it deserves somewhat greater attention here: the use of 360-degree feedback to assess leader competencies. Chappelow (2004) recently noted that perhaps the most remarkable trend in the field of leader development over the past 20 years has been the popularity and growth of 360- degree feedback. Others called it one of the most notable management innovations of the past decade (Atwater Waldman, 1998; London Beatty, 1993). To help those organizations disappointed with 360-degree feedback results, here is some of what we have learned over the years about how to implement them effectively (Chappelow, 2004): An assessment activity is not necessarily developmental. Three-hundred-sixty-degree feedback should not be a stand-alone event. In addition to assessment there need to be development planning and follow-up activities. Boss support is critical for the process itself, as well as for buy-in for the recipients specific developmental goals stemming from the feedback. The 360-degree feedback process works best if it starts with executives at the top of an organization and cascades downward throughout the organization. Shoddy administration of a 360-degree feedback process can be fatal. The timing of the process accounts for other organizational realities that could dilute or confound its impact. Another kind of leadership development method gaining popularity during the past 20 years has involved teams (Ginnett, 1990). The prevalence and importance of teams in organizations today, and the unique challenges of leading teams, make it easy to forget that teams were not always so pervasive a part of our organizational lives. One way to convey the magnitude of that shift is to share an anecdote involving one of our colleagues. During his doctoral work in organizational behaviour at Yale about 20 years ago, our colleague Robert Ginnett would tell others about his special interest in the leadership of teams. Routinely, he says, they would assume he must be an athletic coach; who else, theyd say, would be interested in teams? Importance of a Leader s Emotional Resonance with and Impact on Others Twenty years ago, our understanding of leadership in organizations was dominated by the classic two-factor approach focusing on task and relationship behaviors. That general approach can be characterized as transactional in nature, as distinguished from a qualitatively different approach often described as transformational. Transactional leadership is characterized by mutually beneficial exchanges between parties to optimize mutual benefit including the accomplishment of necessary organizational tasks. The exchange-model nature of transactional leadership tends to produce predictable and somewhat shortlived outcomes. Transformational leadership touched followers deeper values and sense of higher purpose, and led to higher levels of follower commitment and effort and more enduring change. Transformational leaders provide compelling visions of a better future and inspire trust through seemingly unshakeable self-confidence and conviction. Conger (1999) reviewed 15 years research in the related fields of charismatic and transformational leadership, and observed that scholarly interest in these areas may be traceable to changes in the global competitive business environment at that time such as competitive pressures to reinvent them selves and challenges to employee commitment. Prior to that time, leadership researchers generally had not distinguished between the roles of leading and managing: A person in any position of authority was largely assumed to hold a leadership role. It was a novel idea that leadership and management might represent different kinds of roles and behaviors. Hunt (1999) was even more blunt about the state of scholarly research in the field of leadership in the 1980s. He described it as a gloom-and-doom period characterized by boring work, inconsequential questions, and static answers. Research in the areas of transformational and charismatic leadership both energized scholars and interested organ izational practitioners. One factor presumably underlying the interest in charismatic and transformational leaders is the nature and strength of their emotional impact on others. The nature of the leaders emotional connectedness to others is also apparent in the growing interest over the past decade in topics like the leaders genuineness, authenticity, credibility, and trustworthiness (Goleman, et al., 2002; Collins, 2001). These seem related more to the affective quality of a leaders relationships with others than to specific leader behaviors and competencies. Attention given during the last decade to the concept of emotional intelligence also attests to that shifting interest. For example, Goleman, et al. (2002) present data that a leaders ability to resonate emotionally with others is a better predictor of effective executive leadership than is general intelligence. Recent research at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) has uncovered links between specific elements of emotional intelligence and specific behaviors associated with leadership effectiveness (Ruderman, et al.,2001). Effective leadership is clearly about more than just enacting the right behaviors, or merely translating feedback (e.g., from 360-degree feedback) into changed behavior. One way 360- degree feedback can positively impact an individuals effectiveness as a leader is by deepening that persons self-awareness about the impact of his/her behavior on others. Much leadership development feedback naturally affects how people think about themselves, not just their interactions with others. Similarly, it can lead to re-evaluations of many aspects of ones life, not just ones role as a leader. It can affect the whole person. It follows, then, that in some ways leadership development itself involves the development of the whole person. The Center for Creative Leadership began during the heyday of the human potential movement, and its ideals and educational philosophy still reflect a commitment to the value of self-directed change and growth (albeit informed by knowledge about the needs of the organization). Virtually all CCL leadership development programs include numerous activities to increase managerial self-awareness, and most address balance in life, including the relationship between health, fitness, and leadership. From our own participants, representing diverse companies across virtually all industries, the feedback is that balance in life has so far been more of an aspiration for them than a reality. The Present Today, effective leadership is commonly viewed as central to organizational success, and more importance is placed on leadership development than ever before. Developing more and better individual leaders is no longer the sole focus of leadership development, although it remains a critical aspect. Increasingly, leadershipis defined not as what the leader does but rather as a process that engenders and is the result of relationships-relationships that focus on the interactions of both leaders and collaborators instead of focusing on only the competencies of the leaders. Leadership development practices based on this paradigm are more difficult to design and implement than those that have been popular for the last several decades in which the objective was to train leaders to be good managers. In light of this, several themes describe the state of leadership development today: 1. Leadership development increasingly occurring within the context of work; 2. Critical reflection about the role of competencies in leadership development; 3. Revisiting the issue of work/life balance. Leadership Development Within the Context of Work Leadership development initiatives today typically offer performance support and real world application of skills through such methods as training programs, coaching and mentoring, action learning, and developmental assignments. Combining instruction with a real business setting helps people gain crucial skills and allows the organizations to attack relevant, crucial, real-time issues. The goal of leadership development ultimately involves action not knowledge. Therefore, development today means providing people opportunities to learn from their work rather than taking them away from their work to learn. It is critical to integrate those experiences with each other and with other developmental methods. State of the art leadership development now occurs in the context of ongoing work initiatives that are tied to strategic business imperatives (Dotlich Noel, 1998; Moxley OConnnor Wison, 1998). Furthermore, best practice organizations recognize leadership as a key component of jobs at all levels and are committed to creating leaders throughout their organizations. Increasingly, organizations have CEOs who model leadership development through a strong commitment to teach leaders internally. For example, Carly Fiorina at HP is annually teaching at 12 leading business results classes. The targets of leadership training programs are no longer relatively isolated individuals who were anointed by senior management. Instead of the thin horizontal slices, the program design is likely to involve work groups or several vertical slices of the organization (Fulmer, 1997). The proliferation of leadership development methods was previously noted. Not just the variety of development methods matters; greater variety is not necessarily better. It is also critical to integrate various developmental experiences to each other as well as to both developmental and business objectives. That way they can have a greater collective impact than they otherwise could have. But such efforts at integration are far from universal. In reviewing the entire field of leadership development, McCauley and VanVelsor (2003) noted that the approach of many organizations is events-based rather than systemic. One method of making leadership development more systemic is to make sure it involves more than training. An array of developmental experiences must be designed and implemented that are meaningfully integrated with one another. Leadership development efforts and initiatives must be ongoing, not a single program or event. The idea of leadership development strategies that link a variety of developmental practices including work itself (e.g., action learning projects) with other HR systems and business strategy is an emerging and probably necessary evolution of our state-of-practice (Alldredge, et al., 2003). Critical Reflection about the Role of Competencies in Leadership Development Although the field is moving away from viewing leadership and leadership development solely in terms of leader attributes, skills, and traits, leadership competencies remain a core dimension of leadership development activities in most organizations. A recent benchmarking study found that leading-edge companies define leadership by a set of competencies that guide leadership development at all levels (Barrett Beeson, 2002). A majority of organizations have identified leadership competencies, or at least tried to define the characteristics and qualities of successful leaders. How then are leadership competencies most effectively used in leadership development? Leadership competencies need to correspond to the organizations particular strategy and business model (Intagliata, et al., 2000). Leadership development programs implemented in isolation of the business environment rarely bring about profound or long-lasting changes; therefore, organizations must develop leaders and leadership competencies that correspond with and are specific to their distinct business challenges and goals. While common leadership qualities or competencies characterize effective leaders, developing such core leader qualities may not be enough. The leadership competencies of a best-practice organization uniquely fit the organization, its particular strategy, and its business model (APQC, 2000). This perspective has also been applied to the individual level. Not only may organizations differ in their identification of critical leadership competencies, some would argue it is unlikely all leaders within an organization must all possess the same set of competencies to be successful- or make the organization successful. According to this perspective, leaders should not be accountable for demonstrating a particular set of behaviours but rather should be held accountable for desired outcomes. This perspective looks beyond competencies, which have a tendency to focus on what needs fixing, and instead focuses attention on the whole person and on peoples strengths and natural talents, not on a reductionism list of idiosyncratic competencies (Buckingham Vosburgh, 2003). Development is increasingly seen as a process of developing and leveraging strengths and of understanding and minimizing the impact of weaknesses. Work/Life Balance Revisited Health and well-being at work are issues of increasing interest and attention, including their relevance to leadership. In an environment of constant change and unrelenting competition, managing stress and personal renewal to avoid burn-out are becoming a central focus for leadership development. Dealing with multiple and competing demands of a fast-paced career and personal/family relationships and responsibilities is a common challenge, and there is increasing recognition that a persons work and personal life have reciprocal effects on each other. We know that individual leader effectiveness is enhanced when people manage multiple roles at home and at work but we continue to learn more about the organizational benefits and maybe even the benefits to family and community as well. We also know leadership effectiveness is correlated with better health and exercising HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING (McDowell-Larsen, et al., 2002). We need to better understand which assumptions about organizational life are challenged by the idea of work/life integration as well as which changes organizations need to make to facilitate greater work/life integration. Challenging work/life situations are integrally related to the need for, and development of, resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity or hardship, a characteristic that can be developed at any time during a persons life. It is an active process of self-righting and growth that helps people deal with hardships in a manner that is conducive to development (Moxley Pulley, 2004). One of the fundamental characteristics of resilience is that it allows individuals to take difficult experiences in their lives and use them as opportunities to learn. This, in turn, develops their ability to face hardships successfully in the future. The Future Several trends will have a major role in our future understanding and practice of leadership and leadership development. They represent, in different ways, the critical role changing contexts will play in leadership development. Leadership competencies will still matter; Globalization/internationalization of leadership concepts, constructs, and development methods; The role of technology; Increasing interest in the integrity and character of leaders; Pressure to demonstrate return on investment; New ways of thinking about the nature of leadership and leadership development. Leadership Competencies Will Still Matter Leadership competencies will still matter, but they will change as the competitive environment changes. According to a Conference Board study (Barrett Beeson, 2002), five critical forces will shape leadership competencies (requirements) in the future: 1) global competition, 2) information technology, 3) the need for rapid and flexible organizations, 4) teams, and 5) differing employee needs. Given these, most organizations will not need the Lone Ranger type of leader as much as a leader who can motivate and coordinate a team based approach? This new environment will have greater ambiguity and uncertainty, and many if not all aspects of leadership (e.g., strategy development) will require a more collaborative approach to leadership. The model of effective leadership in the future will be one of encouraging environments that unlock the entire organizations human asset potential. The Conference Board report Developing Business Leaders for 2010 (Barrett Beeson, 2002) identified four essential roles for meeting the business challenges of the future, and the career derailers that will matter most in the future. The four essential roles for meeting future business challenges include master strategist, change manager, relationship/network builder, and talent developer. The most important derailers in the future include hesitancy to take necessary business risks; personal arrogance and insensitivity; controlling leadership style; and reluctance to tackle difficult people issues. Changes in the context in which leadership is practiced will bring certain competencies evenmore to the forefront, including globalization, the increasing use of technology, and public scrutiny of the character and integrity of leaders. Globalization/Internationalization of Leadership Concepts, Constructs, and Development Methods Future leaders will need to be conversant in doing business internationally and conceiving strategies on a global basis. Globalization will intensify the requirement that senior leaders deal effectively with a complex set of constituencies external to the organization. (e.g., responsibility for managing the companys interface with trade, regulatory, political, and media groups on a wide range of issues). Leadership development is rapidly moving to include substantial components involving international markets, world economic trends, and focus on particular regions such as the Asia Pacific rim (Cacioppe, 1998). Leaders are being exposed to how the world is becoming interdependent and the need to be up to date with international trends that are vital to the success of the business. Use of the internet to obtain information and to market products and services worldwide is a topic in many current leadership development programs. The Role of Technology The technology revolution has changed organizational life. It has changed the ways information and knowledge are accessed and disseminated, and the ways in which people can communicate and share with one another. This has profound implications for what effective leadership will look like as well as how to use technology most effectively in leadership development. Leaders will clearly have to be much savvier with regard to technology in general. Facility and comfort with communication technology and the internet will be a necessity. Given the pace of change and the speed of response time that leaders are now required to demonstrate, technological savvy has rapidly become an integral aspect of leadership effectiveness. It has even been noted that the effective use of technology is proving to be a hierarchy buster. It can be an avenue for people to communicate with leaders at all levels and whenever they need to at any time. Leading virtually is already a reality, and requirements to lead geographically dispersed units and teams will only increase. Technology will not be a solution for this challenge, but it will surely be a tool. The pressure on costs, increased reality of virtual teams, and availability of technology leadership development has reduced the need for people to travel to training programs, will make learning opportunities available to geographically dispersed leaders, and will allow individuals access to learning opportunities when it best suits their schedule. Technology can extend learning over time rather than limiting it to time spent in the classroom. Technology will also enhance the emergence and sharing of knowledge among participants via such venues as chat-rooms, thought leader access, e-learning advances, e-mentoring/ shadowing, and business simulations. While technology is useful for some aspects of leadership development, it cannot replace the importance of bringing leaders together to deepen their relationships and their learning experience. Maximizing the effectiveness of leadership development offers the best of both worlds: integrating face-to-face classroom and coaching experiences with technology-based tools and processes, i.e., blended learning solutions (e.g., Alexander Ciaschi, 2002). Increasing Interest in the Integrity and Character of Leaders The 1990s witnessed ethical lapses and arrogance among senior executives of certain companies of disturbing-if-not-unprecedented magnitude. Enron and WorldCom were two notable examples. Such events probably accelerated and deepened growing sentiment among many-including members of organizational governance boards-that interrelationships among leadership, character, and values ought to be made more salient. It is probably not a coincidence that a recent article in CEO Magazine (Martin, 2003) observed that the age of the imperial CEO is waning. In its place, a crop of new CEOs humble, team building, highly communicative are rising (p.25). Similarly, one of the intriguing and unexpected findings in the book Good to Great (Collins, 2001) was of the universally modest and self-effacing nature of CEOs in the good-to-great companies. This contrasts considerably with the often flamboyant and self-promoting style of many popular business leaders in recent years who, despite celebrity status, typically did not have an enduring positive impact on their companies. Bass and Steidlmeier (1999) noted that transformational leadership is only authentic when it is grounded on the leaders moral character, concern for others, and congruence of ethical values with action. A leaders credibility and trustworthiness are critical, and increasing numbers make the case that character-as defined by qualities like ones striving for fairness, respecting others, humility, and concern for the greater good-represents the most critical quality of leadership (e.g., Sankar, 2003). Assuming there is continuing if not increasing interest in the character of leaders, much work is needed in the years ahead to assure greater clarity of concept about these vital-yet-elusive concepts if they are to play a prominent role in leadership development practices in organizations. Pressure to Demonstrate Return on Investment The future trends noted reflect in part a response to the changing context of leadership. Perhaps the strongest pressure facing leadership practitioners in the future may be to demonstrate ROI (Kincaid Gordick, 2003). While leadership development is strategically important, it is usually expensive. Yet while leading-edge companies today such as PepsiCo, IBM, and Johnson and Johnson spend significant time and resources on leadership development, attempts to quantify its benefits precisely have remained elusive and have led some to speculate that investment in developing better leaders may be falling short of the desired impact. In todays economy, leadership development expenses will likely have to meet certain standards of proof of impact or return on investment. Demonstrating and quantifying the impact of leadership development investments is likely to emerge as a priority for organizations committed to building leadership strength. To maximize ROI for leadership development efforts, its payoffs organizations must effectively plan, implement, and evaluate their initiatives. They must create a chain of impact that connects leadership development to relevant organizational outcomes (Martineau Hannum, 2003). Historically, most organizations have not closed the loop through systematic evaluation and thus make assumptions about its efficacy based on anecdotes, reactions, or hunches. New Ways of Thinking about the Nature of Leadership and Leadership Development Emerging new perspectives on the nature of leadership may profoundly affect our thinking about leadership development. Increasingly, leadership and leadership development are seen as inherently collaborative, social, and relational processes (Day, 2001). Similarly, Vicere (2002) has noted the advent of the networked economy where partnerships, strategic and tactical, customer and supplier, personal and organizational, are essential to competitive effectiveness. As a result, leadership will be understood as the collective capacity of all members of an organization to accomplish such critical tasks as setting direction, creating alignment, and gaining commitment. Leadership development based on this paradigm is more difficult to design and implement than those that have been popular for the last several decades in which the focus was to train individual leaders. Taking this next step will require a deeper understanding of the role of organizational systems and culture in leadership development (VanVelsor McCauley, 2004). Conclusion The dual challenges of understanding the nature of leadership development and implementing effective leadership development practices will likely be greater than ever before. At the same time, we find ourselves guardedly optimistic about the fields future. Our optimism is directly tied to some of the trends that make the future both challenging and interesting. For example, leadership development practices will need to become better integrated in the broader context of organizational business challenges and systems. Thus, not only will organizations need to hire and develop leaders, they will also need to be the kind of organizations that nurture and reinforce enactment of the kinds of behaviours desired in those leaders. Similarly, demands to demonstrate ROI can encourage greater rigor and clarity in our understanding of the nature of leadership development and in how we assess its impact. Meeting such challenges will be one important thrust of more comprehensive efforts in the years ahead to demonstrate convincingly the strategic role of people in organizations.

Classroom Management Action Plan | Example

Classroom Management Action Plan | Example Classroom Management Introduction Classroom management is a term that refers to the techniques and skills that teachers use to keep students organized, focused, on task, orderly, attentive, and academic productive, during class. When teachers implement the classroom management strategies effectively, they minimize the behaviors that obstruct learning for both individual students and group of students while maximizing behaviors that enhance or facilitate learning. A lack of classroom management is also a major factor that makes teachers leave their profession within their first year. I am facing some challenges with the students that I teach. I have developed an appropriate solution and action plan that I would follow to achieve it. I have learnt several things from my research that would help me in my future classroom management. PROBLEM: CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT As a primary school teacher who is on placement, am faced with several issues regarding disorderly and disruptive behavior from my student such as talking, getting up from their chairs to walk to other students desks without permission, disobedience, aggressive behavior and refusal to finish assigned task or school work. My inability to control their behavior them has led to my lack of teaching them properly as required. The first reason for this issue is that this is because of my inexperience since this is my first role with a school setting of dealing with different children. Secondly, it is due to an underprivileged family background that most of the children come from. For example, some of them are from single parent family, other are living in extreme poverty conditions, and some parents are not concerned with their children education. Lastly, this is because of the different student’s ability to grasp information, For example lack of attention. EVALUATION RELATED TO MY SOLUTION To solve the above problems, I have realized that I need to implement a classroom management component. This is because the environment in which the students learn in is very important, and can create a learning atmosphere. Secondly, my behavior towards the students, how I interact and treat them is a concern on how they would act. I would develop a level of dominance in the class, through body language in a different situation, eye contact with the students, for example, when affirming an action to them. In addition, I should develop a positive attitude towards the students in my class, encouraging them to participate in class activities, treating all students fairly and equally. The other important thing is to express my expectations from them. For example, how they should act in class, at the beginning of the lesson I clearly tell them what I expect from them at the end of the lesson. In addition, how they should relate to one another and ultimately make agreements with them on different issues in class that they should do and not do. We agree with them the repercussions when they do not follow the agreements we have set together. I would prepare different learning skills and lessons to be able to incorporate the students interest instead of relying only on my scheme of work. I would also get involved with what the students go through outside the class. This would include learning more about their homes, if they are in need, are they from divided homes, language barriers between them and me, and lastly handle students with special needs carefully. ACTION PLAN Room Arrangement When the students enter the class, they are hit with exciting colors on the walls, with windows lighting reflecting on the different things on the wall, as they walk to their big circle table. They can look at their colleagues as they are facing each other. When they look at the wall they see arts, maps, famous people, and student work all portrayed in different posters that are colorful around the class. No work is in white paint. From my desk that is also in the circle, I will start the lesson. The students will get out their books and colorful pens to note today’s lesson. I believe the classroom set up would have a significant effect on the student and the environment would make them think discuss, and reflect on the lesson. The set up would help me walk around the class and look at what they are doing and their sitting arrangement will make them be able to interact with one another making room for discussions. The student work on the wall will help them feel part of the cl ass. Classroom Rules The best rule I would have will be a class is a place of learning, and we should all respect each other. If I respect them and they respect each other and me, I believe this would create a safe environment for learning. I would allow the students to eat and drink in class as long as they dispose of their waste correctly. However, I will notify them from the beginning that the privilege withdrawal things get out of control. I would create a class constitution if the behavior of the students were inconsistent. I will involve the students in making the rules, and allow them to discuss which ones to be in the constitution. I believe that involving them would make it a must for them to obey, and they will not fight back on the consequences of not obeying. I would make them write the final copy and hang it in class. To add on I would give them a copy to take to their parents to read, sign, and then return to school. This would help make the parents involved in what we are trying to do in c lass. In addition, I will be giving the students a newsletter monthly to take to their parents describing what we are doing in class. I believe involving the parents in their children schoolwork will make them support their children at home with any issue arising. I also want to create an environment whereby there is a good student teacher relationship with my class. This is so because my students are from different backgrounds, and want to create an atmosphere where they feel they are equal to each other by the way I treat them. I do not want to assume their capability in education by the way they look or act. I do not want their background difference to affect communication in class. I believe this is the foundation of most behavioral problems begin. Therefore, I would like to create an environment whereby I accept by students as unique people with different cultures that I can relate, respect, and like them. In addition, be able to communicate and listen to them. I want my student to be able to relate their life experiences in our class exercises, teaching them to appreciate and celebrate cultural differences. I want to have an open forum class meetings whereby we discuss what is working or not for us in class. In addition, then implement t he suggestions and ideas we have discussed. Am interested in finding out what the students are thinking of, and converting the environment to their liking as much as possible. This would make the student feel part and in control of their learning. In the case of a consistent misbehavior, I would ask the student to meet me after class. I would start by praising him on what he is doing well in class and explain to him how his behavior is interfering with the class. In addition, I would advise them on what to do to stop the behavior. In a class if they persist I would isolate them to seat alone at the back, if they persist I would call their parents to come to school and then we discuss the three of us. I believe in involving the parents in disciplining the child but disagreeing with sending the students at home. Class Procedures I want to develop consistency with the procedures I use in class. For example, I will be putting the class program on the blackboard for them to copy when they come to class, use assignments sometimes to engage them in their writing skills. In addition, I will use interactive notebooks for them to do all their homework and class work in them. I would staple loose assignments to the notebooks this would help them when revising for exams. I would them stamp every student book that has done the homework. I would then collect the books after every two weeks to grade them. The stamping is to make the students finish the assignment before the two weeks. The stamping is just a motivation for them to do the homework on time before the grading day. I will assist those who are not understanding with the home and class work. I will also grade their class participation in class. This would make them participate in various class activities. Encouraging all students Bill Rogers has different techniques on classroom management starting with preventing to positive management and ending with consequences. This is a very humane and logical approach to handling students. He gives strategies that teachers can use to work with the students for both of them control how the student’s behavior, instead of a teacher being authoritative, strict, and disciplinarian. Rogers’s first plan shows techniques to use to prevent problems dealing with discipline. Secondly, he distinguishes responsibilities from rights claiming that they need to balance. Under the rights, Rogers’s majors on how the students have a right to learn, feel safe, respected, and handled with dignity. I believe at the beginning of the term students be told their rights and explained to what they should do to have them. It is significant vital for the students to feel emotionally and physically safe for a good learning atmosphere to be established. Teachers should emphasize on how they treat each other, with full of respect and no calling each other names. Still at the establishment stage, he emphasizes on teachers consistent in establishing rules for the class. I agree with the rule because it would create accountability for the student concerned. However, if the problem persists force should be used to correct the child. Establishing attention is a preventive technique. Teachers should not speak over the noise. I agree because there is a particular place in class where I stand and the students keep quiet. Rogers talk about positive correction as a way to view the correction. His emphasis on address what a student should do instead of majoring on the problem. He should just state it and leave to give the student the right to choose to control their behaviors and not doing things just to please the teacher or other students. This has helped because when I find a student out of line, I tell them to stop and walk away, giving the student room to correct the mistake. Rogers’s deals with consequences by assisting the student find a connection between outcome and behavior. He insists that the consequence should be reasonable and related. I agree with the point because it gives the students a chance to decide about their own behavior. This would strengthen the teacher student relationship because the student feel fairly treated per the mistake done. Conclusion I have learnt that classroom management is a key component in any educational setting. I will use it to create a good environment for learning and to make my student feel safe participating. It does not mean punishing the behavior, but it involves setting up the right tone in class, preventing bad behaviors and encouraging a good relationship with the students, while encouraging them to do well and setting high expectations for them. I believe it is possible to create the environment that would limit the behavior problems from the start in my classroom. References Marzano, R. J., Marzano, J. S., Pickering, D. (2003). Classroom management that works research-based strategies for every teacher. Alexandria, Va: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Whitaker, T. (2003). What great principals do differently: fifteen things that matter most. Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education. Canter, L., Canter, M. (2001). Assertive discipline: positive behavior management for todays classroom (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Canter Associates. Abu Nemrah, M. (2006). Classroom Management and Organization. 2nd Edition. Amman: Dar Yafa. Erythromycin Stearate Tablets: Quality Assurance Assessment Erythromycin Stearate Tablets: Quality Assurance Assessment QUALITY ASSURANCE ASSESSMENT OF SOME COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ERYTHROMYCIN STEARATE TABLETS. Aiwaguore Johnbull Obarisiagbon1*, Oladejo Peter Ogunlowo2 ABSTRACT Erythromycin drug products have been mostly imported into Nigeria from different countries of the world; with relatively no Nigeria based pharmaceutical company manufacturing same. Cases of therapeutic failures have been reported in some of our hospitals. Hence, the need arises to study some of the physicochemical parameters of some of the available drug products in the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Market with a view to detecting drug products that meet the specified pharmacopeia standards and those that fall short of such standards. The parameters measured were the uniformity of weight, friability, tensile strength, disintegration time and dissolution rate of 12 selected erythromycin stearate 500mg film-coated tablets. The tensile strength of the tablets was determined using the static loading method and Mosanto hardness tester to find the crushing strength and their results compared. The 12 samples disintegrated within 30mins with four of them disintegrating within 3mins, suggestive of possible inclusion of superdisintegrants in their formulations. All products, except two had a percentage release of the drug within 90mins of 70% and above. The friability of three of the products exceeded 1%. However, their tensile strengths did not prolong the disintegration time beyond the official limits. The results obtained from the physicochemical testing of the drug products revealed the failure of two products having release rates of less than 70% within 90mins. Further tests need to be done on these two products (namely Rycin ® and Erythromycin 500mg) in order to draw a more definite conclusion. Keyword: Stearic acid, formulation, physicochemical, friability INTRODUCTION Erythromycin stearate is the stearic acid salt of erythromycin, with an excess of stearic acid. It is a white, bitter crystalline powder, which is practically insoluble in water, but soluble in acetone and in methanol. The solutions may be opalescent 1. Erythromycin is available as the free base, ethylsuccinate estolate, gluceptatae and lactobinnate derivatives. When given orally, erythromycin and its derivatives except the estolate are inactivated to some extent by the gastric acid, and poor absorption may result. Erythromycin is a typical representative of the macrolide group of antibiotics and is produced by Streptomyces erythreas The tertiary amine of desosamine confers a basic character to erythromycin (pKa 8.8). Through this group, a number of acid salts of the antibiotic have been prepared. A second sugar, Clandinose, which is unique to erythromycin, is attached via a ÃŽ ²-glycosidic linkage to the C-3 position of the lactone ring. Erythromycin stearate tablets contain the equivalent of not less than 90.0 percent and not more than 120.0 percent of the labeled amount of erythromycin (C37H67NO13).1 Clinically, erythromycin is widely used in the treatment and prevention of diseases. Like penicillin G, it is a broad spectrum antibiotic and it is effective against most gram – negative and gram – positive bacteria compared to other antibiotics. The side effects are relatively low. Current indications for the drug include: respiratory infections and whooping cough. Erythromycin is also known to be active against penicillin resistant Staphylococcus, Chlamydia and mycoplasma. The base and the salt, by being unstable at acid pH, are absorbed in the upper part of the intestine 2. To assure higher blood concentrations, the drug should be administered in the form of coated tablets that dissolve in the duodenum 3. Physiological factors such as the presence of food; and intestinal motility and transit time, may affect the absorption of the drug with a consequent variation in bioavailability. 4,5 Highest serum concentrations of the base or stearate is 0.3 – 0.5  µg/ml, four hours after administration. It rapidly reaches bacteriocidal concentrations in all tissues and body fluids except in the brain. It is usually eliminated in the active form from urine, and bile, but part of the drug is also metabolized by demethylation2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY This study was undertaken to analyze and compare some of the physicochemical properties such as disintegration and dissolution of coated erythromycin stearate tablets from twelve different pharmaceutical companies. All the drug products were imported into the Nigerian Pharmaceutical Market from abroad. The study is also to ascertain the extent to which these drug products conform to the standards as specified in the pharmacopoeias. MATERIALS AND METHODS Weight Variation From each product sample, 20 tablets were randomly selected and the weight of each tablet was determined. The mean weight and standard deviation were calculated. Friability Ten previously weighed tablets from each product sample were subjected to cascading and free fall shocks in the drum of a fraibilator set to rotate at 25 rpm for 4 minutes. The tablets were deducted of any adherent particles and reweighed. The difference in tablet weight was determined and the friability calculated as follows: Key W1 = Original weight W2 = Final weight Tensile Strength The crushing strengths of the tablets were determined individually with the aid of the static loading equipment. This was done by placing standard weights (kg) on top of the tablet until it yielded. The total weight was calculated as the maximum load (kg) that caused the tablets to break. This was then converted to Newton. With the vernier caliper, the width (thickness) and diameter of the tablets were measured in millimeter. Triplicate determinations were done for each product sample and the mean recorded. Disintegration Test Six tablets per product sample were subjected to the B.P disintegration test and the mean value of the disintegration time calculated. The disintegration medium (sodium phosphate buffer pH 8) was maintained at a temperature of 37oC  ± 0.5oC. Standard Curve A standard calibration curve was prepared as follows: 250mg (potency) erythromycin stearate was weighed and dissolved in 50ml methanol and sodium phosphate buffer solution, pH 8.0 was added to make exactly 100ml, giving a concentration of 2.5mg/ml. This was diluted serially with the sodium phosphate buffer solution to obtain the following concentrations; 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 µg/ml. The absorbance of the standard solutions were measured at 365nm using the UV spectrophotometer. The test was carried out in triplicate and plots of absorbance versus concentration were obtained as shown in the Figure 3.1. Dissolution rate of samples A stirred beaker method (Okor et al, 2002) was used. A caplet containing 500mg of erythromycin stearate was placed in a stationary cylindrical basket (aperture size 425 µm, diameter 2cm and height 3cm) suspended in 800ml of sodium phosphate buffer pH 8.0 as dissolution medium. The medium was maintained at a temperature 37  ± 0.5oC and stirred at 100rpm with a single blade – Gallenkamp stirrer. This was done with care to exclude air bubbles from the surface of the tablets. At various intervals, a 5ml specimen was withdrawn from a fixed zone, mid-way between the surface of the dissolution medium and the top of the cylindrical basket, not less than 1cm from the vessel wall. Every aliquot withdrawn for analysis was replaced with an equal volume of fresh dissolution medium at the same temperature. The aliquot was diluted 1 in 100 and then filtered through a Whatman No. 1 filter paper. The absorbance of the filtrate was determined at 365nm. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Sample brands of Erythromycin Stearate tablets: The list of different brands of erythromycin stearate 500mg tablets used in this study is shown in Table 3.1. Two brands, Erythrocin-500 (Abbott Laboratories, Pakistan) and Erotab-500 (Hovid) had no NAFDAC Registration Number. These products were probably smuggled into the Nigerian drug market without proper clearance by the authorities concerned, or the registration process was not yet concluded before the drugs were made available in the market for public consumption. All the drug samples had expiry dates with two samples; Icethrocin (India) and Zin Zine (India) having expiry dates of 12/2011. It is also observed that all the 12 samples were imported into Nigeria from abroad, with 8 samples from India. The standard curve obtained is a straight line with the regression coefficient equation of y = 0.014 x + 0.000. (Figure 3.1) TABLE 3.1: LIST OF DIFFERENT BRANDS OF ERYTHROMYCIN STEARATE 500MG TABLETS USED IN THE STUDY S/No BRAND NAME MANUFACTURER B. No. MFG DATE EXP. DATE NAFDAC REQ. No 1. Erythrocin-500 Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) 96282XV Dec. 12013 2. Erymycin ® Mercury laboratories Lt. Unit II GUJARAT, India. 9158403 March 2009 Feb. 2012 04-8419 3. Enthrox-500 Falma Laboratories (P) Ltd 54A Industrial Area, Bangalore, India. 50 July 2010 April 2013 A4-0915 4. Althrocin-S 500 Alembic Ltd. Plot 21/2 Vadodara 390003, India. 89970084E Jan. 2010 10/2012 043328 5. Erotab-500 Hovid AK11612 12/2012 6. Ice throcin Stallion Laboratories PVT 9293MD1/IDE 12/11 A4-3133 7. Donythrocin-500 Medopharm, 34B, Industrial Area, Malur- 563 130, India. 8E42 May2008 12/2012 043140 8. Zinzine Micro Laboratories Ltd. 92, Siplot, Hosur-635 126, India. ZZTJ 0044 January, 2009 12/2011 04-6174 9. Rycin Erythromycin ® Medreich Limited Bangalore-560 062, India. 690326 December, 2009 05/20 13 04-7570 10. Labcin ® 500 Laborate Pharmaceutical E-1 I hid Area Panipat 132103, India. LNFT-001 June, 2010 July 2012 04-6174 11 Erythromycm 500mg Mekopher Chemical Pharmaceutical Jomt Stock Co Mmli City, Vietnam. 10001 AX December, 2010, 12/06/J 04-75 70 12. Eryfast-500 Erythromycin Medibios Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, J-76, MIDC Tarapur Thane-40 1506, India. MD003 August, 2008 Aug. 20.10 A4-3007 Uniformity of Weight According to the USP 1980; 20 tablets are to be used in the determination, and there is compliance if each of the individual weights is within the limit of 90% and 110% of the average weight. Table 3.3 shows the mean weight of the various samples of Erythromycin stearate tablets Table 3.3: Mean weight of the various samples of erythromycin stearate tablets S/N Brand Name Mean Weight ( ± SD) Remarks 1 Erythrocin-500 1.13  ± 0.02 Passed 2 Erythromycin ® 1.10  ± 0.22 Passed 3. Enthrox-500 0.92  ± 0.01 Passed 4. Althrocin-S500 1.01  ± 02 Passed 5. Erotab-500 0.98  ± 0.01 Passed 6. Icethrocin 0.99  ± 0.01 Passed 7. Donythrocin-500 0.93  ± 0.01 Passed 8 Zin-Zine 1.01  ± 0.01 Passed 9. Rycin  ® 0.91  ± 0.02 Passed 10 Labcin  ® 500 0.88  ± 0.02 Passed 11. Erythromycin 500mg 0.97  ± 0.03 Passed 12. Eryfast 500 0.93  ± 0.01 Passed Friability Test The result of friability test of the various samples of erythromycin stearate (film coated) tablets is as shown in Table 3.4. The friability of a tablet is a measure of interparticualte cohesiveness of the particles and is a function of tablet hardness. A maximum mean weight loss of not more than 1.0% is considered acceptable for most products. From the table, products 1,2 and 7 failed the friability test, with friability values greater than 1.0%. It is expected therefore, that these product samples would break, chip or wear out during handling and transportation experienced in the manufacturing plant, in the drug distribution system and in the field at the hands of the end users (patients/consumers). These effects would result in possible loss in active drugs administered. Table 3.4 : Some of the physicochemical properties of the erythromycin stearate tablets. Tensile strength (MN/m2) S/No Brand Name Friability (%) Static loading method Monsanto hardness tester Disintegration time (mins) 1. Erythrocin-500 1.55 1.917 1.922 5.47 2. Erymycin ® 2.04 2.590 2.594 2.44 3. Enthrox-500 0.82 6.050 6.00 20.46 4. Althrocin-S500 0.25 4.190 4.184 14.40 5. Erotab-500 0.51 6.680 6.670 20.46 6. Icethrocin 0.76 5.370 5.402 20.83 7. Donythrocin-500 1.33 4.590 4.586 1.83 8. Zin Zine 0.25 4.820 4.750 5.46 9. Rycin ® Erythromycin 0.00 2.730 2.750 2.42 10. Labcin ®-500 0.87 6.780 6.802 16.21 11. Erythromycin-500mg 0.26 4.460 4.468 7.11 12. Eryfast-500 Erythromycin 0.27 2.940 2.950 2.81 3.4 Tensile Strength The tensile strength of the product samples are shown in Table 3.4. The results from the two methods used are compared, i.e. the static loading and the Monsanto Hardness Tester methods. Using Student’s t-test, the results showed that the differences were not statistically significant at 95% confidence level. In a previous work on comparison of testers by Brook and Marshall (11), it was affirmed that variations in crushing strength values between instruments are due in part to inaccuracies in instrument scale values, zero errors and varying methods of applying the load. Calibration is therefore necessary for accurate measurement using one instrument or when comparing results from more than one tester. This is the measure of the mechanical integrity of tablets, which is the force required to cause them to fracture (i.e. break) in a specific plane. The hardness did not have significant influence on the disintegration times of the product samples. Disintegration Time Oral uncoated tablets are expected to disintegrate in 15 minutes unless otherwise stated. Sugar and film coated tablets are allowed 30mins to 1hour within which to disintegrate. The 12 product samples of erythromycin stearate were all film coated, and all disintegrated within the official time of one hour. The disintegration time of 4 products namely, samples 2,7,9 and 12 were below 5 minutes. There is the probability that some types of super disintegrants were employed in these formulations. Concentration ( µg/ml) Fig: 3.1 Standard curves for Erythromycin stearate at max 365 nm. Dissolution Test The dissolution rates of the various samples of erythromycin stearate tablets are shown in Table 3.5. This table shows the amount of erythromycin dissolved at times 45 and 90 minutes respectively in percentages. All the product samples except Rycin ® (62.4%) and Erythromycin-500mg (65.50%) had more than 70% of drug released within 90 minutes. The relatively low percentage release of erythromycin from Rycin ® (62.4%) and Erythromycin 500mg (65.5%) would possibly result in poor bioavailability of the products. Erythrocin-500mg (Abott) used as reference standard at 90mins had amount dissolved of 80%. Another product ‘Labcin’ also released 80% of drug after 90mins. Product samples Rycin ® and Erythromycin-500mg were officially cleared into the Nigeria drug market with NAFDAC Reg. No 04-3205 and 04-7570. It is therefore possible that there was a mix-up between the product samples submitted for NAFDAC registration and those currently available in the market for patients’ consumption. It is also possible that the types of excipients used in the formulation of these product samples (Rycin ® and Erythromycin-500mg) may have reduced the percentage of the drug dissolved. Table 3.5: Dissolution Rates of Erythromycin Stearate tablets from the Various Samples, at 45mins and 90mins respectively S/No Brand % released (45 minutes ) % released (90 minutes) 1. Erythrocin-500 43.20 80.00 2. Erymycin ® 36.80 72.00 3. Enthrox-500 40.80 76.80 4. Althrocin-S500 40.00 79.20 5. Erotab-500 40.00 77.60 6. Icethrocin 46.40 76.80 7. Donythrocin-500 41.60 77.60 8. Zin-zine 40.00 76.80 9. Rycin ® 25.60 62.40 10. Labcin ® 500 40.16 80.00 11. Erythromycin 500mg 22.40 65.50 12. Eryfast-500 40.80 77.60 Figures 3.2, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.5 show the dissolution profiles of the various product samples of Eryhtromycin Stearate tablets. FIGURE: 3.2: Dissolution Profiles of Erythrocin -500 (Abbot), Erymycin, Enthrox -500.Figure: 3.3: Dissolution Profiles of Althrocin –S 500, Erotab- 500 (Hovid), Icethrocin Figure: 3.4: Dissolution Profiles of Donythrocin -500, Zin Zine, Rycin. Figure 3.5: Dissolution Profiles of Labcin, Erythromycin – 500mg, Eryfast 500 CONCLUSION The therapeutic response to a drug in its dosage form can be predicted by studying the physicochemical and biological properties of the drug product. A thorough knowledge of the impact of the various manufacturing methods and technologies on the performance of the drug product would always be useful. In this study, 12 different products of erythromycin stearate 500mg film-coated tablets were examined. The physicochemical properties studied included weight uniformity, friability, tensile strength, disintegration time, and dissolution rate. Product samples 1, 2 and 7 (Erythromycin-500, Erymycin ® and Donythrocin-500 respectively) had friability values above the standard set by USP of not more than 1%. Their friability values were 1.55%, 2.04% and 1.33% respectively. It was also observed that the weight variation within each drug product was within the acceptable limit. All drug products disintegrated within 30 minutes as required for film coated tablets by the pharmacopoeias and FDA regulatory guidances11. Film-coated erythromycin base tablets are expected to be absorbed at the duodenum (pH 6 to 6.5). All drug products except No. 9 (Rycin ®) and No. 11(Eryhtromycin 500mg) released 70% and above within 90 minutes. There is therefore, the need for our regulatory bodies, NAFDAC, NDLEA, PCN and Police Force to be adequately alert and watchful to prevail against the nefarious activities of some Nigerian nationals who possibly connive with their foreign cohorts to sneak in substandard drug products into the country even when such drugs have been initially registered. REFERENCES British Pharmacopoeia (2008). Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, London. Pp2377, 2380. Luciane C.M and Schapeval E.S (1996). Bioavailability study of coated erythrornycin stearate tablets in rabbits; Acta Farm. Bonaevense 15(2):77-84. Fell, J.T; Newton, J.M. Determination of tablet strength by the diametrical-compression test. J.Pharm.Sci. 59(5), 688 691. Tomoshenko, S. (1934). Theory of Elasticity, McGraw Hill: New York, p. 82 -85, 104 109. Frocht, M.M. Plastoelasticity; John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp 32-39. Stanley, P; Newton, J. M (1980). The tensile fracture stress of capsule-shaped tablets. J.Pharm. Pharmacol. 32(12), 852 — 854. Pitt, K.G, Newton, J. M; Stanley, P. (1988). Tensile fracture of doubly-convex cylindrical discs under diametrical laoding. J. Mater.Sci. 23, 2723 2728. United State Pharmacopeia 2008 (31) (1217), Rockville, US Pharmacopoeia Convention Inc. p 677. FDA Regulatory guidances, FDA Website for regulatory guidances. (www. fda. gov/ cder/ guidance/index. htm) Allen, P.V, Rahn, P.D, Sarapu, A.C, Vandewielen, A.J (1978). Physical characteristics of erythromycin anhydrate and dihydrate crystalline solids. J.Pharm.Sci.(67), 1087 — 1093. Brrok, D.B and Marshall, K. (2006). Crushing strength of compressed tablets 1. Comparison of testers. J. Pharm.Sci. 481 484. Ethical Fashion Markets in the UK and India | Research Ethical Fashion Markets in the UK and India | Research Thinking about my future life and career, long term aims for this MA are to build useful contacts in fashion industry in UK, gain a real insight into the Ethical Fashion Industry in UK, and hopefully complete a work placement at the Ethical Fashion Forum. In order to fulfill my project,I need to do the forecast research of the Ethical Fashion in UK and India in order to reach to the best topic of my research. To complete this MA, good time and project managementskills is going to be one of my most important challenges. Also, my strong focus would be on strategically planning and developing research skills. Fulfilling my learning agreement goals will give me new understanding and knowledge on the Ethical Fashion Industry in UK and India. For achieving all of the above, I need to build innumerable contacts with the fashion designer, businesses and organisation concentrating upon sustainability in the fashion industry in UK and India. Formerly, I have made enough contacts and gathered information; I will then discuss and orate about my project proposal. Ultimately, when I get an enthusiastic response, by looking at the success of Ethical Fashion Market, UK, I will then exchange those ideas with Kakoli Banergee, Trustee, Satya Jyoti Trust,India; to collaborate and formulate my project plan. If I receive a positive hope I would believe I have finally completed my MA journey, successfully. ANSHU YADAV Investigate into an Ethical Fashion market in UK and India PROJECT PROPOSAL TITLE Investigate into an Ethical Fashion market in UK and India AIM Understand the current scenario of ethical fashion business in India and relate to UK. Research UKS ethical fashion business; providea plan for making of a marketing body (Eco Fashion Park) for ethical fashion producer group and artisans in India. RESEARCH QUESTIONS What is Ethical Fashion? Defining Ethical Fashion Sustainability and triple bottom line Finding out issues and practices of Ethical Fashion Reviewing history of ethical fashion Fast Fashion and Cheap Fashion What is the market size of Ethical Fashion? Domestic (INDIA) market research on the Ethical Fashion Business and Lifestyle. International (UK) market research on the Ethical Fashion Business and Lifestyle. What is sustainable production and consumption . Defining the sustainable production and consumption Domestic (INDIA) industry research on methods of sustainable production and consumption International (UK)industry research on methods of sustainable production and consumption Sustainable Fashion producer groups and their problems in India What are the various certification possibilities for establishing a sustainable fashion business in UK and India? Ethical standards and Labeling Trade Tariffs and Barriers What is value chain? Defining value chain Research into linking the national ethical fashion producers and international buyers and markets. RESEARCH METHODS Quantity: Case Study, Grounded Theory and Consumer reactions study. Quality :Observational Analysis ANSHUYADAV Investigate into an Ethical Fashion market in UK and India 3. Primary Research: Focus on gathering information on ethical fashion from India and UK 3.1 Interviews with key forum members of Ethical Fashion Forum, UK. 3.2 Interviews with emerging fashion and textile designers in sustainable design in UK and India. 3.3 Social networking, for instance, Face book, 3.4 Fashion Business networking: Ethical Fashion Forum(UK), Designer Forum(UK), Ethical Trade Initiative(UK), Craft mark (India), Labour organisations, Manufacturers of Sustainable Fibres, Yarns and Fabrics. 3.5 Personal contacts in the Fashion Industry will help me gain appreciable approach. 3.6 Questionnaires and Videos of various artists involved in Sustainable Fashion practices. 3.7 International trend and fashion show visits. For instance, London Fashion Week, London; The Cloth Show, Birmingham; Premier Vision, Paris 3.8 Design institutes and government bodies 3.9 Non Profit Organisation, Satya Jyoti Trust, India. 4. Secondary Research: Focusing on Ethical Fashion Forum in UK. 4.1 Co work with Ethical Fashion Forum as a research intern, alongside an associate director, collecting research for EFF projects and events. 4.2 To understand the implications of formulating a marketing body(Eco Fashion Park) in India, for the sustainable Practioners. 4.3 Analyze Journals (MONOCLE,DRAPERS,FINANCIAL TIMES,ECO- TEXTILE) Weekly Magazines(TREND UNION,NEW CONSUMER, THE ECOLOGIST) and Online Magazine(THREAD), and Readings(ECO- CHIC, BY SANDY BLACK;GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK, BY T BLANCHARD,BUSINESS ETHICS AND VALUES, BY PETE ENGARDIO;SUSTAINABLE FASHION AND TEXTILES BY KATE FLETCHER. 4.4Get reports from online Databases and Articles( MINTLE, GMID, JUST STYLE.COM) 5. Literature Research: Refer to Bibliography RATIONAL OF MY PROJECT In my view point ethical fashion is the exciting subject to study as it has been grabbing the headlines within fashion industry in recent times.It is the uniqueness in fashion that allows us to look at sustainability in innovative ways. Therefore, Fashion provides an opportunity of awareness for sustainability. Many sustainable practices and movements are gaining momentum and moving towards mainstream. Green buildings, interiors, home products and even green weddings and events are flourishing, yet fashion is when embraced in sustainable ways, holds even greater impact potential. What is also unique to fashion, more so than other sustainable pathways, is that it is a large vehicle. Ethical fashion also interested me as it focuses on ill practices in the factories, poverty reduction, environment education, production and consumption issues, with a strong attention on workers health; in relation to the fashion industries. Ethicall fashion at a global level has captured my interest, for the very simple reason, that London fashion has stepped forward to promote ethical fashion clothing. Top shop, Marks and Spencer, Zara, Next, Europeon Fashion chain and USA Banana Republic are all specialising in â€Å"going green†. With a strong focus on Ethical Fashion Forum(UK), I want to know how to create such a not for profit organisation, where the ethical fashion producer group, from field to factory to end product, exchange ideas, collaborate and communicate effectively on various sustainable practices and events .My knowledge in Ethical Fashion from UK wouldthen allow me to provide the plan of making a successful marketing body (Eco Fashion Park) for Ethical Fashion producer groups and artisans of India, in India. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES LEANING GOAL 1: 1.1 Clarity of thoughts: Think deeply for filtering clear and in-depth information. 1.2 Assessed: Being able to decide the best final research topic. LEARNING GOAL 2: 2.1 Quick and Accurate Reading: discover to read relevant topics and fast. Also to improve summary and note taking skills, to be able to apply useful data resource at time of compilation of my project. 2.2 Assessed: Allowing myself to make reading list and note takings habits. LEARNING GOAL 3: 3.1 Professional Writing and Presentation Skills: enhance my English speaking and writing skills, professional approach towards any assigned task and submissions. 3.2 Assessed: Confidently being able to articulate and present myPGC Presentation and Learning Agreement. LEARNING GOAL 4: 4.1 Project Planning and Self Time Management Skills: Producing a comprehensive project proposal with a proposed approach, research direction and schedule to be followed. 4.2 Assessed: Being able to produce a timely submission of Project Proposal. LEARNING GOAL 5: 5.1 Professional Knowledge: History of Ethical Fashion Design, Business and Industry, increased awareness of Ethical Fashion Business in global context. 5.2 Assessed: Being able to approach future research phase professionally. LEARNING GOAL 6: 6.1 International Work Experience Placement: Co- work with Ethical Fashion Forum to gain more knowledge about Ethical Fashion 6.2 Assessed: Possible Case Studies and Personal Growth of improved interactive skills. LEARNING GOAL 7: 7.1 Research orientation skills: Improve my research making skills, by self understanding and implementing them in my dissertation. 7.2 Assessed: Being able to make a research oriented MA Dissertation in the last phase of research. PROJECT TERRAIN OUTCOMES KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING Project Proposal, presented in the PGC stage Project related information collection and analysis, using the primary and secondary research methods Learning agreement: refer to this document Self time management SKILLS, QUALITIES AND ATTRIBUTES Project Management: refer to the project time frame Learning Contract Summary Form Plan of learning resources inside the University (Oct- Nov 2008) Reading relevant magazines and books in library and using library learning resource to get the marketing report which I need Attend the lectures that are related to my project proposal Attend undergraduate lectures of Fashion and Textile Management. Ask questions about y research from my tutor and supervisor Multiple photocopies of magazines, journals, report and books from library Plan of learning resources outside the University (Jan-June 2009) Observe the magazine market from news, reports, blogs, forum on websites Make contacts with the relevant industry or hopefully find a research internship with Ethical Fashion Forum, UK, which can help me gain the knowledge of Sustainable Fashion and Textile industry. Maintain Chronofile (My Research log book) Academic support Keep in touch with supervisors and professors during doing the project Use the library learning resource to obtain any relevant report that I need. Practical learning Try to contact as many Fashion Designers, Sustainable Fashion Producer groups, consultancys and not for Profit Organisations. Interview the people who relate to my project proposal and learn the skills of communication. Identification of learning needs Suggestions from my supervisor and tutor Lectures which are related to my project proposal Latest reports and news on fashion, design and ethical fashion market Collect a lot of documentariesrelated to sweat shops and sustainable Fashion and Textiles. Learn to get the opinions from different people and understand Ethical consumer and producer groups in UK and India. Also interact with fashion students and make videos asking about their buying attitudes towards Ethical Fashion Clothing. Skills to summarize the information that I obtain during the research Skills to take a precise note from interview (primary research) and books and video (secondary research) Identification of non-learning resource needs Access to university computer which has professional software to produce my document and adjusting photos and pictures Target date for completion of project proposal