For Word Count, Make Words Count

For Word Count, Make Words Count For Word Count, Make Words Count For Word Count, Make Words Count By Mark Nichol One of life’s incredible incongruities for journalists is that they spend their secondary school and school years cushioning papers and papers in light of the fact that an educator requires a base word check. In the battle to arrive at a 500-word or 1,000-word or 5,000-word lower limit, rushed, harried understudies confronting an approaching cutoff time will trouble their assignments with prolix exposition. Some of the time an educator or teacher will punish the author for enjoying this verbose verbiage, however more frequently the understudy will pull off it, or will even from a pessimistic standpoint get a simply satisfactory evaluation, and this unfortunate propensity will be decidedly fortified. At that point, understudies sufficiently absurd to choose to become columnists or practice some other type of expert composing may gracious, the incongruity find that they should build up an oppositely inverse expertise: Many paper and magazine journalists are doled out to turn articles in that cling to a most extreme word tally. From the outset, accomplishing this objective may appear to be far off, however then they lead examination and interviews and the words begin to accumulate. Frequently, before they know it, they’re looking down a 4,000-word draft of a 2,500-word article. Now, the arrangement isn't just to slice nominalizations and seek after different systems to make composing progressively compact, yet to hack away at whole sentences, passages, and segments, paring the piece down to its basics. At that point, when you’re inside 100 words or so of your assertion tally, you can additionally lessen on a phrasal level. In any case, you’re not done at this point. After you turn the piece in, your editorial manager may request that you give more subtleties or give another perspective, and all the more slicing might be so as to suit the expansion. Afterward, you might be informed that the format of your article is losing a page, or that the photographic artist appointed to shoot a few pictures to go with it has such huge numbers of good shots that the architect needs to add another picture to the initial spread. Cut, cut, cut. Abbreviating an article is typically excruciating for the craftsman who has amassed it, so rely on a relative or a companion to give some impartial course. Scholars regularly feel that such consolidating ruins a piece, however truly perusers are probably not going to feel that anything is absent. On the off chance that it’s any encouragement, on the off chance that you hold republication rights, you may have the option to offer a more augmentation adaptation to another distribution, or you can present the whole article on your own Web webpage. (You may even demand that the editorial manager run the full article, instead of the form distributed in the print distribution, on the publication’s site.) You can generally request that your manager make more space for your story, however the choice is up to them (or might be out of their hands despite the fact that they would like to do as such), and it’s impulsive to push your contention farther than one pleasant solicitation. An essayist who turns in lean duplicate and will generous render it even more slender on demand is an author who gets extra assignments or gets calls or messages about resulting pitches returned. Need to improve your English shortly a day? Get a membership and begin accepting our composing tips and activities day by day! Continue learning! Peruse the Freelance Writing class, check our famous posts, or pick a related post below:Passed versus Past20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word FormsJanuary 1 Doesn't Need a st

SAT Prep

Step by step instructions to Beat Procrastination in Your ACT/SAT Prep SAT/ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Not on our watch. To excel on the SAT/ACT, you have to focus on a specific measure of study hours. The higher the score you need, or the more focuses you have to improve, the more hours you have to place in. (Peruse increasingly about to what extent precisely you have to read for the SAT or ACT here.) On the off chance that all out hours is your fundamental objective for examining, at that point lingering is the thing that you have to destruction to be effective. So we’ll talk somewhat regarding why stalling occurs, and afterward offer noteworthy guidance for battling it. Peruse in to vanquish lingering unequivocally! For what reason Do We Procrastinate? Before we can examine how to battle lingering, it's useful to comprehend why we do it. You might be shocked what makes you put off significant work like reading for the ACT/SAT! The basic shrewdness is that hesitation occurs because of an absence of time the board aptitudes. As indicated by this hypothesis, understudies don’t acknowledge how much time an assignment will take, so they don’t start it until it’s past the point of no return. This may clarify a few understudies who hysterically pack for the SAT or ACT the week prior to the test. Another hypothesis is that slackers think little of the significance of an assignment in the long haul (say, a high SAT/ACT score) versus the significance of undertakings for the time being (schoolwork, extracurricular exercises, companions, rest, and so on). This could clarify why a benevolent understudy continues abstaining from reading for the ACT/SAT, in light of the fact that different undertakings, similar to schoolwork and get-togethers, continue diverting them. In any case, are these the main reasons we hesitate? All things considered, most adolescents comprehend that the SAT/ACT is significant †indeed, as universities get increasingly serious every year, you could contend young people have never been progressively mindful. So why hesitate on SAT/ACT considering? Another hypothesis, as detailed in The Atlantic, clarifies why even profoundly energetic understudies could stall on their SAT/ACT considering: â€Å"Scientists have started to imagine that dawdling may have less to do with time than emotion†¦ Instead, Ferrari and others think delaying occurs for two fundamental reasons: (1) Wedelay activity since we have an inclination that we're in thewrongmood to finish an assignment, and (2) We expect that our disposition will change in the close future.† Lingering: more about your state of mind than your time the board aptitudes. What's more, that, thus, prompts an endless loop: â€Å"Putting off an importanttask causes us to feel restless, blameworthy, and even embarrassed, Eric Jaffe composed. Uneasiness, blame, and shamemake us less inclined to have the enthusiastic and intellectual vitality to be productive.That makes us even more averse to start the assignment, in any case. Which causes us to feel blameworthy. Which makes us less gainful. What's more, around we go.† It’s simple to perceive how that could happen to an understudy who needs to read for the SAT. Let's assume she intends to begin concentrating by taking a training test on a Saturday. Be that as it may, she doesn’t get around to it in light of the fact that she’s taking a shot at other schoolwork assignments. This causes her to feel on edge and blameworthy about skirting the training test. So on Sunday, she doesn’t take the training test since she’s as yet feeling very pushed and on edge, and rather ends up reading for AP LIterature and preparing for the following discussion competition. And afterward the school week begins, she gets a large number of new schoolwork assignments, and she continues putting on the training test. Every day she skips it, the more liable she feels, and the more uncertain she is to begin considering. Sound recognizable? You can perceive how this makes an endless loop: you feel regretful for not considering, which sets you feeling awful and subsequently makes you less inclined to begin contemplating whenever you consider it. Particularly given how distressing the SAT/ACT is, the feelings of uneasiness and blame that accompany reading for it very well may be overpowering. Also, incidentally, the understudies who may manage the most blame and stress are the ones who are pointing the most noteworthy: the individuals who need a 2200 SAT or 33 ACT or higher. So you have to get through the time the board and feeling traps to make SAT/ACT contemplating a sensible, non-upsetting piece of your life! Sound overwhelming? It is, however in the event that you follow our recommendation, it doesn’t must be. Peruse on for methods to slice through the dawdling circle and study effectively for the ACT/SAT. Section 1: Deadlines and Accountability It might sound repetitive, yet the main method to slice through tarrying is to set cutoff times and consider yourself responsible to them. Become familiar with why cutoff time setting is significant and how to make successful cutoff times here. Cutoff times Each understudy's preferred word. One factor that quite often vanquishes dawdling is a hard, unavoidable cutoff time. Why? A cutoff time drives you to make a move before you face a terrible outcome †regardless of whether that’s an awful evaluation or a bombed test. The intensity of cutoff times clarifies why such a significant number of understudies put off work until the prior night something is expected, and afterward remain up the entire night to finish a task. Indeed, you might be imagining that the SAT/ACT has a cutoff time: the day of the test. In any case, if your solitary cutoff time is simply the test, that won’t assist you with concentrating definitively! Actually, that could prompt a minute ago packing, which isn’t supportive by any stretch of the imagination. An approach to battle this compulsion to pack is to set littler cutoff times well ahead of time of the test. Setting littler cutoff times en route can assist you with being beneficial and hit key achievements in your SAT/ACT contemplating. For instance: two months before test: take a full practice test 7 weeks before test: recognize significant territories to improve and accumulate study assets a month and a half before test: put in any event 6 hours of contemplating frail territories What your cutoff times are and what number of you set relies upon your examination objectives, the time you have until the test, and where you have to improve. Be that as it may, the key is to set probably some littler cutoff times with the goal that the test date itself isn't your lone help to examine. You can most likely observe that setting littler cutoff times will take some arranging and reflection on your part. You’ll need to make sense of to what extent you need to read for the SAT/ACT to make sense of your time allotment, as a matter of first importance †will you concentrate more than four months or two? You'll additionally need to make sense of the amount you have to improve by, which we'll examine more underneath when we talk about objective setting. Be that as it may, despite the fact that it seems like additional work, setting littler cutoff times is critical to dodging the lingering trap. By considering yourself responsible to an examination task every week, you can ensure you really concentrate in the approach the SAT/ACT. So your first errand is this: subsequent to choosing to what extent you’re going to read for, set week after week cutoff times. In any case, how might you ensure you really respect them? Continue perusing. Responsibility So you’ve set your cutoff times and you have a smart thought of what you have to do among now and test day. Tragically, one thing scientists have found is that cutoff times are in reality progressively viable on the off chance that another person sets them: â€Å"The bunch withexternal cutoff times played out the best. Individuals deliberately attempt to control [procrastination] by utilizing expensive willful deadlines,† Ariely and his co-authorKlaus Wertenbrochconcluded, and [they] are not generally as powerful as some outside deadlines.† We’re not saying you ought to request that your Mom make an investigation schedule for you and power you to concentrate every day. For this situation, you will even now be setting your own cutoff times. Be that as it may, on the off chance that you set cutoff times like the ones above, let others know so they can consider you responsible. Include your loved ones, including guardians or potentially gatekeepers, in your SAT/ACT study plan. Put your investigation cutoff times on the family schedule on the off chance that you have one, and inform your companions concerning your arrangements so they can hold you to them. Make your SAT/ACT examining an exceptionally open piece of your life, so your loved ones can get you out and ensure you're really adhering to your vows to contemplate. Despite the fact that it might appear to be ungainly or embarassing to go on about your SAT/ACT study plan with loved ones, on the off chance that they can bolster you and ensure you adhere to your deadliens, you're considerably less prone to delay. Use Reminders A last piece about cutoff times is to set updates so you don’t disregard your week after week study objectives. The cutoff times won’t benefit you in any way on the off chance that you disregard them! So ask your companions, family, or guardians to remind you to consider †this expands on the responsibility piece above. You can likewise set telephone or email alerts reminding you to consider on the off chance that you have an arranged report square. You can even put updates, similar to post-its or signs, around your home if that’s your thing! Discover an update framework that works for you and set up it to ensure you really arrive at your week by week study cutoff times. Section 2: Don’t Think of It as Work Despite the fact that reading for the ACT/SAT is presumably not your concept of an overly fun time, on the off chance that you can figure out how to consider it a game instead of a task, you're bound to read for it. From The Atlantic: â€Å"procrastinators are bound to finish a bit of work if they’re convinced that it’s not really work. In one investigation explored by Jaffe, understudies were approached to finish a riddle, yet first they were allowed a couple of moments to play Tetris. 'Ceaseless slackers possibly postponed practice on the riddle when it was portrayed as an intellectual assessment,' he wrote.When researchers depicted the riddle as a game, they were similarly prone to rehearse as anyone else.† So in the event that you can figure out how to fool yourself into feeling that reading for the SAT/ACT isn’t work, you may dawdle less. I concede that you’re most likely never going to have the option to treat the SAT/ACT simply like it’s a ga

the clock is ticking COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

the clock is ticking COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog were actively reviewing applications unfortunately, keeping you abreast of our daily activities was put on hold (not on purpose we lost track of what day it was ).   with hopes of releasing decisions beginning on march 18th, we are   identifying all the candidates who would be a great fit at SIPA and those who we have to unfortunately turn away this year. during our application review process, we are also evaluating candidates (who have applied by the fellowship deadline and those who have submitted the separate SIPA scholarship application) for a SIPA award/fellowship.   unfortunately, SIPA does not award as many fellowships to entering first year students as we do for our second year students.   you would think that with so little money to offer, the task of giving it away would be easy but in reality it only makes it that much tougher because we want to give money to so many qualified applicants.   so we only hope those we admit without funding will still come and make SIPA and new york their home for at least two years.   luckily, our second year funding is much larger so the opportunity to receive a second year award is that much greater.   in the meantime, you should also check out various external scholarship sites such as the one posted on the APSIA website. the review process continues stay tuned. and breathe.

Traditional Marriage Has Changed Over The Centuries

Traditional marriage is a marriage between one man and one woman. Also, it is a form of marriage recognized in a given country or religious group. Traditional marriage has been in jeopardy since the traditional concept of marriage has changed over the centuries. One reason why traditional marriage is in jeopardy is because same-sex marriage has increased, especially because it’s legal in the USA. Another reason traditional marriage is in jeopardy is the acceptance of high divorce rate. Traditional marriage has become irrelevant in today’s society where many couples remain together without marriage. According to Bill Frist’s article A Constitutional Amendment Is Needed to Save Traditional Marriage, he planned to bring the Marriage Protection Amendment to the Senate floor in 2006. He believes that the Marriage Protection Amendment has nothing to do with discriminating against same-sex couples, but it s about defending traditional marriage that has served society well throughout history. However, Deborah Zalesner’s article The Contractual Family: The Role Of The Market In Shaping Family Formations And Rights explains attempts to discuss how non-traditional families can take advantage of the contract law to create and protect their families and also achieve many of the rights and benefits based on their married and biological soulmate. Whereas Ivan Kenneally’s article Is Traditional Marriage Toast? Very possibly suggests that the problem for protecting traditionalShow MoreRelatedHow The Family Changed Over Time1478 Words   |  6 Pagesin which the ‘fami ly’ unit is perceived has changed immensely since the last quarter of the twentieth century. Over time, many factors have contributed to these changes including, and not limited to, the industrial revolution, the feminist movement, the period of modernity and technological advancements. As a result, these factors have influenced significant changes to the ‘family’, these include; the increasing rates of female occupation, mean age at marriage, divorce, unmarried couples, single parentsRead MoreModern Family Myth Essay1153 Words   |  5 Pagesknown family structure has been modified and tweaked and the standard image of a modern day family is no longer exactly how it looked 60 years ago. Twenty-first century culture has opened the door for many new views including the redefining of the typical structure of a family; in today’s world the model family is no longer just between a male and a female but also includes homosexual couples (Male/Male or Female/Fem ale). Before complying with the definition of how the traditional family should be, weRead MoreWomen Of A Russian Jewish Woman By Pauline Wengeroff1364 Words   |  6 Pagesthis was reflected in the institution of marriage. Jews began to gradually change their views about marriage, and specifically about marriage age, choice of partner, and the role of each partner in approaching their marriage. Although such change seemed inevitable, it was something new for a group which historically was so grounded in the upkeeping of religious and cultural traditions. As representative of the early beginnings of change in Jewish marriage customs in the mid 1800’s, Pauline WengeroffRead MoreThe Institution Of Marriage1332 Words   |  6 PagesThe institution of marriage has been constantly evolving, and still is. Throughout history, matrimony has been a matter of power, money and survival rather than emotions. It has only been in the last 200-300 years that people started marrying for love. (3 ) The history of marriage dates back to the ancient world, 4,350 years ago. Before then, marriage did not exist. Anthropologists believe families consisted of groups of up to thirty people, where the women were shared around. When a child was bornRead MoreThe Confusion Of Today s Culture1246 Words   |  5 Pagestoday’s culture about â€Å"roles† in marriage compels us to understand what unique responsibilities various cultures assign to a wife. With this, many cultures place a special emphasis on the headship granted to the husband and the role of subordination belonging to the wife. In various places, men have authority over their wives, in law and in practice. Modern values such as gender equality may be at odds with some traditions, one example being a traditional jewish marriage, which is based on the man acquiringRead MoreThe Pros of a Western Wedding over a Traditional Shinto Wedding1227 Words   |  5 Pageswestern wedding than a traditional Shinto wedding. Ther e are several reasons for couples prefer a western than Shinto wedding because they have a different views on marriage. In Japanese traditional wedding both style and culture are involved and that has been known for many years. There are two major differences between a Shinto marriage and western marriage. When a couple is in love and they decide to get married, traditionally that is a western marriage. As in a Shinto marriage, the couple is arrangedRead MoreEssay about The Deinstitutionalization of Marriage1213 Words   |  5 PagesAndrew Cherlins article The Deinstitutionalization of Marriage is an analytical evaluation of the changing themes of the American approach to the relevance of marriage and its evolution over the past century. Through a method of statistical analysis of the changing ideologies and practices of Americans in regards to the institution of marriage Cherlin is able to show that marriage has now become an option rather than a necessity. In analyzing the recent growth of cohabitation he finds thatRead MoreMarriage Argumentative Essay1631 Words   |  7 PagesEstablished with Adam and Eve, still surviving, marriage is the oldest institution known. Often the climax of most romantic movies and stories, whether it may be ‘Pride and Prejudice’ or ‘Dil Wale Dulhaniya Ley Jaein Gey’, marriage has a universal appeal. It continues to be the most intimate social network, providing the strongest and most frequent opportunity for social and emotional support. Though, over the years, marriage appears to be tarnished with high divorce rates, discontentment and infidelityRead MoreHow Chinese Culture Has Changed Over The Years1509 Words   |  7 Pagesworld has come across. It boasts a vast geographic expanse, over 4000 years of written history, as well as a rich and profound traditional society. Many aspects of Chinese civilization can be traced back many centuries. It is so diverse and unique, yet harm oniously blended, and presents itself a priceless benefit to the world. One of the integral parts of Chinese culture that was not thoroughly discussed in class is the role Chinese women played in ancient traditional society and how it has transformedRead MoreFamily Structures Are Changing The Face of America1425 Words   |  6 Pageshad progressed the definition of a family has changed drastically. What one would have considered a family in early centuries has truthfully changed from what one would consider a family in today’s society. During earlier centuries a family consisted of a father, mother and their children; however that is no longer the case for most families in American society today. In American society families are defined in many different facets such as the traditional family, blended families, single parent homes

A Plea for Help in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre - 1563 Words

Many people believe that eating disorders are a product of the twentieth century, brought on by teenage girls aspiring to be supermodels like Cindy Crawford. Although such pressures are precipitating factors to many eating disorders, doctors diagnosed patients with anorexia as early as 1689 (Spignesi 7). One early example of anorexia is present in the novel Jane Eyre. Written in the mid-nineteenth century by Charlotte Brontà «, this book describes a young girl whose personality bears striking similarities with that of a diagnosed anorexic. The life of the main character, Jane, has also been shown to share innumerable similarities with Brontà «s own life. Biographical information from researchers and autobiographical information from†¦show more content†¦. . anxious at social events and unable to easily establish close relationships (288). Other characteristics that Burns shares with anorexics include her attempts to please and rebelling through non-vocal measures. Burns po ssession of these tell-tale signs strongly suggests that she might have an eating disorder. Of all the characters in Jane Eyre, the one whose personality most resembles that of someone with an eating disorder is Jane herself. Janes symptoms start in her early childhood. According to Angelyn Spignesi, author of Starving Women: Psychology of Anorexia Nervosa, Traditionally, the mother of the anorexic has seemed to be a bitch. . . . One thing researchers consistently document: the anorexics mother is domineering, demanding, frustrated, and ambitious (39). Although Janes mother has died, the dominant female figure in her life, Mrs. Reed, strongly mirrors these characteristics. As Janes aunt and guardian, Mrs. Reed tries to control the main aspects of her life. Control issues, such as the red room incident (45), are a common scenario in the lives of most anorexics. Jane is forced into a life of near solitude, completely separated from the Reed family, and as Jane herself says, condemned to take my meals alone (59). Like Helen Burns, Jane exhibits classic symptoms of a person with an eating disorder: she is meticulous, scholarly, compulsive, and a perfectionist. She alsoShow MoreRelatedEssay about Finding the Balance of Love and Freedom in Jane Eyre1339 Words   |  6 PagesSimilar to many of the great feministic novels of its time, Jane Eyre purely emerges as a story focused on the quest for love. The novel’s protagonist, Jane, searches not only for the romantic side of love, but ultimately for a sense of self-worth and independence. Set in the overlapping times of the Victorian and Gothic periods, the novel touches upon both women’s supposed rights, and their inner struggle for liberty. Orphaned at an early age, Jane was born into a modest lifestyle, without any major parentRead MoreJane Eyre and Feminism1822 Words   |  8 PagesCharlotte Brontes novel Jane Eyre embraces many feminist views in opposition to the Victorian feminine ideal. Charlotte Bronte herself was among the f irst feminist writers of her time, and wrote this book in order to send the message of feminism to a Victorian-Age Society in which women were looked upon as inferior and repressed by the society in which they lived. This novel embodies the ideology of equality between a man and woman in marriage, as well as in society at large. As a feminist writerRead More Jane Eyre and Feminism Essay1799 Words   |  8 Pages Charlotte Bronte’s novel Jane Eyre embraces many feminist views in opposition to the Victorian feminine ideal. Charlotte Bronte herself was among the first feminist writers of her time, and wrote this book in order to send the message of feminism to a Victorian-Age Society in which women were looked upon as inferior and repressed by the society in which they lived. This novel embodies the ideology of equality between a man and woman in marriage, as well as in society at large. As a feminist writerRead More Futile Search for Identity in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Ess ay1763 Words   |  8 PagesFutile Search for Identity in Jane Eyre      Ã‚   According to the university psychology department, The human brain is most emotionally affected in childhood. As a child, many experience numerous great events, however one negative event can undermine all of the great events that the brain would have remembered. The traumatizing occurrences that take place in peoples lives are catastrophic in childhood, and have a long lasting effect in adulthood. These events can cause a lack of love beingRead MoreEssay about Jane Eyre: The Freedom of Love1842 Words   |  8 PagesParallel to many of the great feministic novels throughout literary history, Jane Eyre is a story about the quest for authentic love. However, Jane Eyre is unique and separate from other romantic pieces, in that it is also about a woman searching for a sense of self-worth through achieving a degree of independence. Orphaned and dismissed at an early age, Jane was born into a modest lifestyle that was characterized by a form of oppressive servitude of whi ch she had no autonomy. She was busy spendingRead MoreRepresentation of the Other in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay4463 Words   |  18 PagesRepresentation of the ‘Other’ in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Abstract This study aims at examining the representation of the’ other’ as portrayed in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre (1847). It attempts to inspect how the ‘Other’ is viewed in Nineteenth century England and the cultural ideology behind such specific representation. It poses crucial questions as to why the ‘Other’ is always represented negatively in main-stream western narrative as in the case of Bertha Mason who is portrayed asRead MoreEssay about Comparing and Contrasting the Men of Jane Eyre1829 Words   |  8 PagesComparing and Contrasting the Men of Jane Eyre      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Love and companionship means different things to different people. Sometimes one searches for it in a person much like himself; a mate who upholds their own values and thinks the same thoughts. Other times, people yearn for someone with fresh ideas and an opposite personality to bring new emotions to his life. But in either case, the person that sometimes ends up being the mate one is attracted to is not always a choice that is conventionallyRead More The Subtle Truth of Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay2221 Words   |  9 PagesThe Subtle Truth of Jane Eyre      Ã‚  Ã‚   The role of a woman in Victorian England was an unenviable one. Social demands and personal desires were often at cross-purposes. This predicament was nothing new in the 19th century, yet it was this period that would see the waters begin to stir in anticipation of the cascading changes about to shake the very foundation of an empire on the brink of global colonization and industrialization. The question of what role women would play in this transformationRead MoreEssay Impact of Society of Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre2754 Words   |  12 PagesImpact of Society on Jane Eyre  Ã‚        Ã‚   For the middle classes, the years preceding the publication of Jane Eyre were a time of turbulence and change from which the family provided a haven of stability and security. At the center of the family stood the Angel at the hearth - a Madonna-like wife and mother from whom all morality sprang. Not everyone agreed but the conception was supported by mainstream political and religious beliefs, and girls were taught that they should aspire not [to]

Islam Free Essays

Islam: Field Study Research Karen Edmonds-Leach Professor Jonathan Pedrone REL212: World Religions-Summer September 4, 2011 Islam: Field Study Research After interviewing a member of the Islamic faith, I came to the realization that there are very many misconceptions about the religion of Islam and that these misconceptions are very hurtful, disrespectful, and inhumane. In this paper, I will first discuss several misconceptions that I had about the Islamic faith. I will then analyze how my prior understanding about the religion was altered through interviewing a member of the Islamic faith. We will write a custom essay sample on Islam or any similar topic only for you Order Now Next, I will discuss my beliefs on misconceptions about other people’s religion being common or not. Lastly, I will recommend steps that can be taken to minimize misconceptions people have about religions that are not their own. I had many misconceptions about Islam before speaking with a member of the religion. The first was that Islam oppresses women. When I thought about women in Islam, I thought of the image of a woman wearing a veil, and other heavy, dark clothing, where no skin would be visible, even in the hot summer months. I thought about how women were forced to stay home, and were not allowed to drive vehicles. I also believed that the Muslim’s God, Allah, was not the same as the God in Christianity, and was a false god. I believed that Muslims worshipped Muhammad, and that Muhammad and Allah were the same thing. I did not think that Muslims believed in Jesus Christ. I also thought that Muslim men all married multiple wives. I thought that polygamy was something that was widely practiced in Islam, and was somewhat of a requirement. For those men who married one wife, I believed that they were merely â€Å"Americanized†. Another misconception I had was that all Muslims were Arabs. Not only did I think they were all Arabs, but I thought that being a Muslim and an Arab was the same thing. Lastly, just as the cross is something like a symbol of Christianity, I believed that the crescent and the star was the symbol of Islam. I had all of these misconceptions about Islam, as many other people who practice religions outside of Islam do, but speaking with a Muslim quickly changed my mind about these harsh misconceptions. Each one of my misconceptions about Islam count toward my overall understanding of the religion. My prior understanding was completely altered through my encounter with the Muslim woman I interviewed. I believed it would be a great idea to talk to a woman about how women are suppressed in Islam. I interviewed a friend of mine, named Kiran Masood. She was born and raised in the Islam religion, and continues to practice it today. She informed me that this is not necessarily the case. She stated that some Muslim countries do have laws that oppress women, but this practice does not come from Islam itself. Masood stated, â€Å"countries that have laws against women created these laws themselves. They may say that their basis is from the Qu’ran, but the Qu’ran does not suggest any oppression women† (Masood). Though this is true, there are some social constructions in Islam, where women and men are given different roles and equity. This is something that all religions accept, and is not a surprise to me in Islam. In addition, another common misconception is that a woman can be forced to marry against her will, and this is not the case at all. Masood informed me that â€Å"no one can force a Muslim girl to marry someone she does not want to marry; her parents may suggest she marry a suitable man, but by no means is this girl forced to marry someone that she may not want to marry† (Masood). I was also informed that divorce is not common, and it is used as a last resort. Masood also quickly refuted my second misconception, that Allah is a different God. â€Å"Allah is not a different God; Allah is simply the Arabic word for God† (Masood) which is something that I was not aware of. Allah is the same God worshipped by Muslims, Jews, and Christians. The one difference in Islam and Christianity is that Muslims believe the God is the one and only. The religion does not accept Jesus as God’s son, and believes that He has no human-like attributions. In Christianity, Jesus is accepted as God’s son and was basically God in flesh when He was on earth. Also, Muslims do not worship Muhammad, as I was lead to believe. Muhammad was chosen to deliver messages, but is not the founder of Islam, and Muslims do not worship him, though they do honor him and respect him, as they do Jesus, Moses, Adam, and Noah (the other prophets of the Word). My third misconception, that all Muslim men marry multiple women, also came to be false. Masood informed me that polygamy, marrying multiple spouses, is not encouraged in Islam, and is not mandatory. She stated, â€Å"In the religion of Islam, marrying multiple women is permissible, but is not something that the religion requires† (Masood). If a man decides to marry multiple women, these women cannot be forced into it, meaning if they do not want to marry a man with other wives, then she does not have to. My fourth misconception was that Muslims and Arabs are the same thing. Masood simply told me that the two are different, but I decided to do more research on the subject. There are about 1. 2 billion Muslims in the world. Muslims reside in a variety of places, including Nigeria, the Philippines, and of course, the United States. Muslims also represent many races, cultures, and nationalities. About 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world, primarily in Indonesia (Isseroff). This is far from 100% of Muslims. Lastly, I believed that the crescent and star was the symbol of Islam, which is not the case. In the days of the Prophet Mohammed, Muslims did not have a symbol; instead, they used solid-colored flags. The Turks in fact introduced the crescent as a symbol. It was adopted due to the Ottoman Empire’s conquest of Constantinople. In turn, all of my beliefs about Islam turned out to be false. In fact, some of them turned out to be the complete opposite. I believe that misconceptions about other people’s religion are extremely common. No matter what religion someone practices, they always have certain beliefs about other people’s religions. This is not to say that people disrespect other people’s religions, but they simply have their own beliefs towards them. Most times, we do not know anything about other people’s religions. We are so set in our own mindset that the religion we practice is the only correct religion; that we fail to learn anything about other religions in the world. Because we lack knowledge of other religions, we use stereotypes and misconceptions to justify why we do not agree with the other religions’ practices. Even those who do not practice any religion, I believe they use stereotypes and misconceptions about all religions, because those people are so fixed in their own belief that no religion is true, and that they all are false. It is important for people of all religions to have an understanding of others’ religions, because sometimes, people have a lot more in common than they think they do. For example, I thought that my own religion, Christianity, was completely different from Islam, but in reality, the two religions share many similarities. I was surprised at the information I learned from Kiran Masood, and it was a shock that Islam has a lot of parallels to Christianity. Every religion has certain misconceptions. In this paper, I analyzed the misconceptions of Islam, but Christianity and other religions have misconceptions as well. We always are so quick to judge others that are different from us, but instead we should be interested in learning new things about other religions. The purpose of this is not to persuade someone to convert to a different religion, but to just be enlightened and educated about the different religions that exist in our society. One step that could be taken to minimize misconceptions people have about religions not their own is for people to let their guards down and to be more accepting to people’s differences. Not everyone will have the same beliefs, but instead of stereotyping and discriminating against other religions, we can learn from each other. Just having knowledge of new things is prideful, and is an asset that we all should have. If we take the time to learn about other people’s beliefs, these misconceptions would not exist. We should educate ourselves, instead of jumping to conclusions. One way I like to think about this is that I do not like when people of different religions criticize and stereotype against my own religion, Christianity. I wish that people would not be so quick to speak negatively about Christianity, because most times, they do not know what they are truly talking about. They jump to conclusions, and did not take the time to learn the truth behind Christianity. Because I have such strong feelings about this, I should in turn not treat other religions this way, since I know how it feels. I should take the time to educate myself about different religions. Though it will not cause me to convert from Christianity, just having basic knowledge about other religions can help me make a better judgment on certain topics. No one can make judgments or participate in a debate if they have not done research on the subject. Interviewing my friend Kiran Masood gave me a lot of enlightenment. I learned so much about the religion of Islam that I did not previously know. Though we have known each other for a while, I never thought to learn more about the religion she practices. I found it to be a rewarding experience, and learning about different religions is something that I will continue to practice. It is important for us to understand that we all have differences, whether it is race, culture, ethnic background, economic status, or religion. Amongst all these differences are many similarities between us. Instead of always focusing on the differences that separate us, we should look at the similarities that bring us together. Our differences make us special, and our similarities give us things in common. Learning about people’s differences is important because it is what makes that person unique. Though we all have a variety of differences, one thing we have in common is we all are human beings with feelings and beliefs. We should all value our beliefs, and be open to learning about others’ beliefs as well. References Isseroff, A. (n. d. ). A Concise History of Islam and the Arabs. Middle East: MidEastWeb. Retrieved September 1, 2011, from http://www. mideastweb. org/islamhistory. htm. Fisher, M. P. , Adler, J. A. (2011). Living Religions (8th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, N. J. : Pearson Prentice Hall. How to cite Islam, Papers

Juvenile delinquency free essay sample

Do we still have hope? Our future is in the hands of the young children who are growing up to be delinquents. Delinquency is when a juvenile has engaged in a criminal act and this problem has become a social norm for youth in the United States. Undisciplined children are those beyond parental control. Some of these children feel untouchable because their parents have no type of control over them. These are the type of children who are more likely to engage in criminal activities. Other children who would most likely fall into delinquency are dependent children, neglected children and abused children. It is important to keep in mind that children are very vulnerable in every stage of their childhood; there is no such thing as a mature child. Every child needs the love and nurture from a parent because Parents play a big role in a child’s life; they are the key to success for a child’s future. We will write a custom essay sample on Juvenile delinquency or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Unfortunately, not every child has both parents to care and provide for them. Are drugs responsible for youth gangs and violent crimes in the United States? Drug abuse is the most common offense amongst juveniles in US society, because of the high rates of drug trafficking in urban cities (Decker, 1999). Are there any other causes besides drugs that contribute to juvenile delinquency? There are many underlying causes that can contribute to youth delinquency. For Example, Loose laws regarding guns, drugs and violence can lead to delinquency. In my research I will compare juvenile delinquency in the city of Lawrence which has a high crime rate with two other areas like Lowell, has similar environmental features to Lawrence. The second area is Methuen, which is a more suburban district but urban at the same time and has different characteristics to Lawrence. Local authorities and kid clubs should invest more time in properly educating the children on dealing with peer pressure, drug and substance abuse, and with how to deal with their surroundings. The state should also get involved and enact a two strikes rule in which any child 18 and under, who becomes involved in criminal activities and is arrested more than once, will immediately become custody of the state. Once the child is in custody of the state they will be sent through a behavioral correctional program and other strict programs such as boot camps in order to reform the child. In the end, parents and society need to change their attitudes about youth violence. For young  children to survive in this new world parents and other adults need to understand children’s needs and emotional background in order to help them grow up to be virtuous and good people. Juvenile delinquency has become a trend amongst the youth; there are several factors that contribute to this behavior that has become an epidemic. Some examples include failure to individuality, lack of supervision and guidance from parents, drugs and alcohol consumption. Juveniles often times are influenced by friends and peers, according to Sharpe in her research (2003). The number of friends determines the involvement of a juvenile in delinquency. Studies have shown that family has a great impact in a childs life, family influences a Childs attitudes, socialization and decision- making. It is hypothesized that adolescents who lack family guidance will participate in criminal activities. The juvenile will try to seek in the streets and in groups what he or she cant find at home. According to Ellen Grinney, 60% and 80% of children that run away from their homes in the United States are due to abuse (p.58).Children need love and order, someone who can discipline them and also care for them. A person who is going to tuck them in their beds every night, a person who helps them with their home work, a person who washes their wounds and a person who says I love you every now and then. Children need attention and understanding from both parents. Most teenagers who have antisocial behavior are usually frustrated because they couldn’t fulfill their parent’s expectations Ellen Grinney, (63). Parents have great influence with their kids since children imitate their parents at a young age. Culture and the environment are also crucial in a child’s behavior. A child reared in a wealthy environment taking piano lessons and having his or her mother at home helping him or her with their homework has a greater chance of becoming someone in life and a virtuous person with many talents and attributes. Compared to a child being raised in the projects having to go home and watch television, kids do learn a lot from televised programs but not important things that would help them in school. Like another example the child who comes home from school and instead of doing his or her homework goes out to play with the neighbors or comes home to a drunken parent. three examples are examples of different environments and child rearing. Drugs are a major factor in a child’s  development. Drugs weren’t as usual thirty years ago as it is now. (Decker, 1999) Drugs are all over the nation you can find any kind of drug in every city and in all the ghettos of the United States. It is scary how common drugs are they are obtainable to kids of any age. It is becoming so common that in some states of the U.S an ounce of marijuana is legal to carry if it is for medical usage but how are they going to prove that the person who carries is not using it for medical reasons. This is a big controversy because I wouldn’t want my kids to grow up in this society with these types of social norms. I feel that this is saying that it is OK for people to use marijuana. Technology is so advanced in this time that there is no need for a drug to be legalized for medical usage there are many different methods that can be used for whatever marijuana is being used for. In a research article by Sharpe (2004) children between the age group of 10-15 were being, investigated, one specifi c question was addressed for guiding the study would the age group 10-15 who were first time offenders reoffend in the future? The focus of the investigation was the ages, time of the offense, gender and race. juveniles who had previous history with the law have been proven to be strong prediction of future re offending. Juveniles who dont have a history with the law enforcement are less likely to commit a crime. The results in this study supported the hypothesis. 13.7 years was the average age of the juveniles at the time of the first offense, the majority of the juveniles were males and 58% were Caucasian. (Sharpe 2004) Next, the topic of gangs in relation to juvenile delinquency is addressed to poor education. In Sharpes research she states that juvenile delinquency has an association with gangs. A child who is lacking love and support from the family will find it in a gang; The gang then becomes the surrogate family. The focus of the study was to investigate the exposure of multiple risk factors within the juveniles environment. The National Gang Crime Research Center conducted a 100- item questionnaire in which the questions focused on all aspects of gang life. The results indicated that environment and risk factors differed according to the individuals age. (Sharpe) METHODOLOGY The research design being utilized is idiographic where it will seek to find a direct relationship between juvenile delinquency and a number of factors. These factors include a family’s nucleus, socio-economic class, peer pressure and (a) parent’s direct involvement on the child’s life. The population of the study will include various rehabilitation youth center from geographically adjacent towns that are similar in their composition but differ somewhat in their social-economic stratum. By utilizing this population, we will eliminate the hesitation that a juvenile that has not gone through such a program may have in answering these questions. Using these locations will allow us to maintain some variables unchanged while  observing other variables fluctuate and coming to conclusions as to what can be considered a dependent variable; in essence determining if a change in one variable the cause for a result or is it just mere coincidence. The instrument for data collection is a questionnaire made up of ten questions. The surveys intent is to collect data that is quantifiable and would eliminate subjectivity on the answers. Most questions will inquire to obtain data that will be attributed to the person’s variables. Some of the variables are straight forward and are limited to one or two choices; sex, race and age. Variables also include the composition of the child’s immediate family or caretaker, single parent or not, parent(s) educational level and the parent(s) income. These variables are easily measured and their answers will be non-subjective and their objective is to determine how much of a factor is a parent’s involvement in a juvenile’s life is a deterrent for criminal activity. Other variables, such as the family’s drug abuse history, are not as easily quantifiable and may have an innate bias but these variables used to try to clarify if a history of use/abuse by close family members to the juvenile creates a cycle where the juvenile will result to gangs and drug abuse. Lastly, the questionnaire will address the pressure exerted by his/her peers and how likely, if at all, this would be consider to be a determinant factor for a juvenile to commit a crime. The sampling pool should consist of an equal number of participants from each location. Age range and sex of the participant should be consistent within the sampling group and throughout the population. Participants will be given the same questionnaire and their answers will be recorded. Data will be analyzed through quantitative analysis, mean, percentages etc. Strong dependent relationships between variables will be measured according to the percentage that one variable will cause the other. For in stance, if variable X occurs than there is a 45% chance of variable Y. On the conclusion section of this research we would compare the findings based on the data collected versus what was expected. Since obtaining data that is easily measured was one of my main criteria while designing the survey, it should be easy to obtain non- bias information and to come to conclusions as to what hypothesis would be correct, what variables matter and which ones are not as much of a factor. Societal impact of the findings  should be discussed as well. Juvenile Delinquency free essay sample We hear a child stealing an apple from the market stands, and then rob a small shop, next day we learn about a 17-year-old kid who killed his classmates. People are concerned and rightly so. Thats all what we do or maybe give them a harsh punishment. It seems that the problem has only focused on punishment and very little on prevention or intervention. There is no single cause of violence but we can certainly list a lot of risk factors, which increase the development of criminal behaviour. These include child abuse and family disintegration, violating behavior, academic failure, school dropout, and lack of contact with the society, fighting with peers and antisocial behavior early in life. Juvenile crime rates have nearly doubled in many countries. In the news we keep hearing about youngsters got mixed up in shady affairs and committing petty crimes. What actually is a juvenile crime? Juvenile crime is a term denoting various offences committed by children or youths under the age of 18. We will write a custom essay sample on Juvenile Delinquency or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Such acts are sometimes referred to as juvenile delinquency. Childrens offences typically include delinquent acts, which would be considered crimes if committed by adults, and status offences, which are less serious misbehavior problems such as truancy and parental disobedience. Both are within the jurisdiction of the youth court; more serious offences committed by minors may be tried in criminal court and be subject to prison sentences. In order to reveal the real background of juvenile crime its obviously not enough to stop at this point. Probably none of the young delinquents were born with hostility, rage and hatred. Their environment and our society have turned them into who they are today. Juveniles have to face the cruel sides of the world too early and they are not well prepared for it yet. Some of them are able to deal with it, some of them are not. The latter shocked by the realization will escape to the world of crimes so trying to hide themselves from all the dissatisfaction. Young people should not be expected to have the same values and judgment as adults, therefore not the same treatment either. This is especially true if they have been the victims of poverty, neglect, and abuse. The good approach of the problem can help a lot. Young lives can be salvaged but not with incarceration. It has never been a good solution. Nevertheless developing more programs’ to prevent these children entering the juvenile justice system would be far more effective and less costly.

Project Management Failure Essay Example

Project Management Failure Paper PROJECT MANAGEMENT FAILURE: MAIN CAUSES by Soraya J. NetoAlvarez A Graduate Research Report Submitted for INSS 690 In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Master of Science in Management Information Systems ` Bowie State University Maryland in Europe March 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT LIST OF CHARTS AND TABLES CHAPTER I LITERATURE REVIEW Understanding Failure The Systems Failure Method II METHODOLOGY Sample Selection Procedure Limitations III PROJECT MANAGER (PM) CHALLENGES Managing People The Organizational Challenge Lack of Resources Lack of Clear Vision and Objectives Lack of Training Project Size Lack of User Involvement IV ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION V CONCLUSION RERERENCES APPENDICES A. Interview Protocol 1 1,2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5,6 7,8 9 9,10 10,11 11,12 12,13 13-15 16 17 18 18 iii iv II ABSTRACT In the business world, â€Å"problems† can be looked as opportunities to improve the processes that contribute to business objectives. Information Systems and Technology (IS/IT) play a very important role in the daily operations of most businesses; hence, the development of such systems has become very important. There are well known models designed to guide Project Managers throughout the development and successful completion of these projects. However, many IS/IT projects continue being reported as â€Å"failures†. We will write a custom essay sample on Project Management Failure specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Project Management Failure specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Project Management Failure specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Studies suggest that a great deal of responsibility lies on Project Managers who need to focus on their interpersonal skills to get people to accomplish the work. Nevertheless, technical skills play a very important role in project development; learning from hard lessons can avoid repeating mistakes as well as developing tools for analyzing, predicting, and taking actions to prevent failure. III LIST OF CHARTS AND TABLES Page Chart 1 – Major Causes of Project Failure Chart 2 – General Dynamics Partial Organizational Structure Chart 3 – Success by Project Size Table 1 – Common Causes for Project Failure 6 8 12 13 IV CHAPTER ONE LITERATURE REVIEW Information systems projects continue to fail at an alarming rate, according to a 2001 Standish Group study; only 16% of all projects are fully successful, 84% fail. Failed IT projects cost US companies an estimated $145 Billion per year causing serious business problems. Many research studies have been conducted to determine the reasons for project management failure. Project Managers (PMs) are usually held responsible for the success or failure of their projects; therefore, most studies revolve around PMs skills. The development and design of a project requires skills that range from soft people skills to sophisticated technical skills. This study looks at the main reasons for project failure, and analyzes whether they pertain to soft or hard skills. Before discussing the reason for project failure, it is important to define â€Å"failure† in the context of project management. Understanding Failure Failure does not always have to be negative; it can be a positive experience if the procedures involved in the failure are analyzed and corrected. If one does something always right, there is no opportunity for learning. Failure gives opportunity for learning from previous mistakes; therefore, improving the decision making process. â€Å"When one does something right, one only confirms what is already known: how to do it. A mistake is an indicator of a gap in one’s knowledge. Learning takes place when a mistake is identified, its procedures are identified and it is corrected† (Ackoff 1994). The idea is to take advantage of the failure and turn the negative feeling around by analyzing what went wrong and 1 correcting it for future times. In project management, a project is onsidered â€Å"failure† when results don’t match initial objectives; common reasons for project failure are budget overruns and time overruns. Understanding why projects are not completed on time and/or go over budget can help correct the problem. For instance, a recent study conducted by Spikes Cavell (Lytinen 1999) shows that a successful practice to overcome time overruns is implementing meeting miles tones. Analyzing failure is not always that intuitive, so PMs are starting to apply the system failures method to information systems analysis to prevent project failures. The Systems Failure Method The aim of the Failures Method is to investigate some identified failure to learn what aspects of the situation may have led to the failure occurring. The investigation consists of comparing â€Å"ideal† models against the real-life failure situation. This comparison is expected to reveal discrepancies between the two, highlighting areas of concern. These discrepancies can then be interpreted in relation to the failure situation and conclusions can be drawn. (West 1998) Investigating whether failures can be avoided, or reduced by some degree, is certainly a worthwhile effort. Studies suggest that most IS project disasters are avoidable (Heekens 2002). Many times, warning signals occur long before an information systems project has begun to fail. History has shown that software projects are far more likely to be successful if they are highly focused and built upon well-understood technology (Heekens 2002). 2 CHAPTER TWO METHODOLOGY This study was designed to identify the main causes for project failure. Interviews with Project Managers from General Dynamics Systems Integration Management Office (SIMO) were conducted. Data gathered from interviews was analyzed and corroborated with previous surveys and case studies on project failure. Sample Selection In order to find out common reasons for IS/IT projects failure, Project Managers from the SIMO office were interviewed. Participants were composed from a diverse socioeconomic background including Black, Hispanic, and White. Their ages ranged from 30 – 55 years old. Each participant had at least five or more year’s experience in his or her profession. Procedure The interviews took place during August – September 2002. The interviews were conducted in person during lunch breaks. Project Managers were given a survey (shown in Appendix A), and asked to list the main reasons for project management failure. Later individual appointments were scheduled to discuss answers in more detail. Results were then combined and analyzed. A table containing the most frequent causes for project failure was produced (See Table 1 Discussion Section). The table serves as a discussion tool, and it shows the type of skills (soft or hard) related to the reason for failure. Common reasons for project management failure are discussed and analyzed in detail. Discussion points are reinforced with statistical data. Limitations Unfortunately General Dynamics does not require Project Managers to have any type of formal Project Management training, so most PMs have little knowledge of Project development techniques and models. General Dynamics’ main customer is the US Armed Forces; therefore some requirements are unique. A larger sample is required to include other companies that have customers from different industries. Farther research could include companies from other countries as well. 4 CHAPTER THREE PROJECT MANAGER (PM) CHALLENGES Managing people Managing a project is not just about accomplishing tasks, but getting people to accomplish the work. One of the major challenges for a Project Manager (PM) is managing people. Most Project Managers have the technical skills required to manage a particular project, but not everyone has the interpersonal skills required to manage people successfully. A PM has to communicate with people inside and outside the organization, and be able to speak their languages. When dealing with top management and stakeholders, the PM should address how the system will contribute to business objectives, and highlight initial investment and return on investments figures. They want to hear the project in terms of profits to the company. Their reason for launching a project is to make money or to save money, so the PM should focus on the financial aspect of the project. When dealing with team members, the PM is esponsible for fostering teamwork. Usually the team consists of people from different departments who have their own priorities, and departmental interests. The PM faces the challenge of getting team members to share a common objective and focus on what is best for the project itself and not each individual department. For a project to be successful, everyone should pull in the same direction and towards the same vision. According to Fortune (1 997) â€Å"You don’t get people to buy into a vision, you get them to enroll†. Once again, it is on the 5 PM to inspire team members to take ownership of the project and do their best to lead the project to a successful completion. When dealing with engineers, scientists, and computer experts, it is crucial for the PM to remain focused on the business objectives. It is very easy to lean towards the state of the art technology, even if it does not add value to the business. The PM has to look at the system technology from the business perspective. If it does not contribute to the efficiency of business processes, there is no need to spend the extra money. In 1998, the French computer manufacturer and systems integrator, BULL, contracted an independent research company to conduct a survey in the UK to identify the major causes of IT project failure in the finance sector (Linberg 1999). Interestingly enough the survey reveals the major causes of project failure during the lifecycle of the project are a breakdown in communications (57%), a lack of planning (39%) and poor quality control (35%). See Chart 1. Chart 1 6 The Organizational Challenge Most companies have some type of hierarchical organization, which may undermine the authority of Project Managers (PMs). For instance, having PMs report to a section leader, who is under a team chief who reports to a department manager who also reports to someone higher, may delay communication among team members from different departments. Ideally, PMs should be able to control the company’s resources needed to accomplish their projects, and directly supervise their teams. Unfortunately, in the real world PMs have little or no authority, so they have to rely on the official process for communicating their needs across the organization. This cross-organizational communication can result in delaying project tasks, which can ultimately bring the project to failure. The field study conducted in the General Dynamics Systems Integration Management Office (SIMO), Project Managers were asked to give the most common reasons for project failure. Survey results indicated that 75 percent of Project Managers are unhappy with the current structure of the company, and list it as the top reason for not accomplishing their projects on time. General Dynamics is broken down into departments; each department has its own manager, and the department is further broken down into sections managed by section supervisors. See Chart 2. 7 Site Manager IT Manager Engineers Dept. Training Division Personnel Manager Acquisitions Systems Integration Office Chief Project Manager Project Manager Project Manager Project Manager Chart 2 General Dynamics Partial Organization Structure The System Integration Management Office (SIMO) has a team chief who is responsible for communicating with other sections and departments. When interviewed Project Managers pointed out the inefficiency of going through the team chief to coordinate tasks with other departments. As Project Managers, they believe that a flat organization would be the ideal because they would have the authority to contact other key players themselves. By coordinating the tasks themselves, they increase the accuracy of the information, and make changes in the schedule as needed. More than 50 percent of General Dynamics Project Managers attribute the success of their projects to the good personal relationships at work. In most cases, they don’t follow official communication channels. They establish good relationships with people from other departments, and approach them directly whenever they need to get the job done. This shows the importance of good interpersonal skills, but also reiterates the need for an organization structure that facilitates communication across the company. Lack of Resources Project managers face the challenge of coordinating the use of valuable resources when other people seem to have higher priorities. Not having control 8 ver resources can cause the project to fall behind schedule and subsequently to fail. A survey conducted by IT Cortex (Lytinen 1999), on â€Å"Reasons for Project Impaired Factors† conducted among 365 IT managers from companies of various size and in various economic sectors showed that lack of resources is one of the main reasons for project failure followed by lack of executive support. It is interesting to point out that lack of IT manag ement and technology illiteracy was at the bottom of the list, showing soft skills superceding technical skills. When competing for resources it is important to document the days and times resources are available, and try to accommodate the needs of the project during these times. Organizational skills play a very important role in managing resources successfully. Lack of Clear Vision and Objectives Not understanding the true needs of the company can prompt supervisors and project mangers to jump to a quick solution, decreasing the chances for selecting the best solution. Solution jumping can take place in the department where the problem/opportunity is identified, or by the Project Manager himself/herself. An example of a department jumping-solution is when instead of describing the problem, a solution is drafted and turned into a project requirement. For instance in a manufacturing company, the head of the production department requests to start up a project for the creation of an additional production line to meet customers’ demands. Once the PM starts identifying the true needs, he/she realizes that the real problem lies in the existing production lines that are not performing at optimal levels. In this case, 9 the real need and perhaps the best solution to the problem is to focus on the other production lines first. Sometimes the PM feels the pressure to get the project started right away without understanding the true needs of the company. Without this true understanding, it is very difficult to select the best solution to the problem. General Dynamics ensures its PM’s are familiar with the company’s needs by holding weekly meetings to discuss and debate new and ongoing projects, increasing the odds for selecting the best solution, and keeping projects on schedule (Heekens 2002). Banco Itamarati, a privately held Brazilian bank, attributes the success of its IT project to clear vision and documented specific objectives. The company produced an annual net profit growth of 51% and moved from 47the to 15th place in the Brazilian banking industry (West 1998). Lack of Training – The â€Å"Accidental Project Manager† Phenomenon Researchers at Athabasca University’s Centre for Innovative Management in Alberta, Canada, conducted a global online study on project failure. As part of the study, a large-scale online survey was posted to key websites on the Internet and distributed via e-mail to 40,000 executives, project personnel, and consultants involved in managing or directing public and private sector projects. The researchers received 3,156 responses (7. % response rate). Results indicated that project failure dominates all sectors, and more than half of PMs have little or no formal training to deal with the complexities of today’s projects. (Res 2001) In addition, the study indicated that company executives continue to underfund project management; they view the job of a Proje ct Management as 10 an add-on to an employee’s job description, thus creating â€Å"Accidental Project Managers. † Furthermore, 75 percent reported that projects consistently came in late and over budget, and that management tools, techniques, and methodologies were rarely applied to projects. Project Size A research study conducted by the Standish Group in shows that small projects are more likely to succeed than large projects. Typically, as project size increases, cost increases as well, and its chances of success decreases. Extra features and functions may decrease the likelihood of success. Results show that projects costing less than $750 K had a success rate of 55% while projects budgeted over $6M were successful only 8% of the time (See Chart 3). Some IS projects should be segmented into smaller subprojects to increase the likelihood of success. Pilots can be used in this case as relatively inexpensive methods to provide a â€Å"proof of concept† for an application before additional resources are allocated. This is especially useful when it comes to the use of new technology. One of the biggest mistakes a company can make is using a new technology on a highly visible and large project. A $100 million project should not be started with any technology unless a $10 million project has used it first, and a $10 million project should not be conducted until a $1million project has been completed (Glass 1998). New technology is notorious for having software bugs. Big projects should be broken down into small, low visibility projects, where problems are easier to address before it is unleashed on a larger project. 11 Success by Project Size Over $10M $6M to $10M $3M to $6M $1. 5M to $3M $750K to $ 1. 5M Less than $750K 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 0% 8% 15% 25% 33% 55% 60% Chart 3 Lack of User Involvement A Standish Group survey (2001) shows user involvement as the number one reason for successful projects followed by executive management support, and a clear statement of requirements. One of the participants in this survey was the IT executive manager from a Hyatt Hotel. Hyatt implemented a system that allows customers to dial from a cellular airplane telephone at 35,000 feet, and check into your Hyatt room, schedule the courtesy bus for pick up, and have the keys to the room waiting at the express desk. This new reservation system was ahead of schedule, under budget, with extra features. Hyatt had all the right ingredients for success starting with user involvement, management support, clear requirements, proper planning, and small project milestones. 12 CHAPTER FOUR ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION The results of compiling the main reasons for project failure from different surveys and case studies are hown in Table 1. Although no percentages are shown, the reasons are prioritized from most common to less common. It is also indicated whether they pertain to soft skills or technical knowledge. As shown in Table 1, the top two most common reasons for failure pertain to soft skills (lack of user involvement, and lack of management support), but there is also a good balance of soft skills and technical knowledge. This shows that both are important, and one cannot focus just on the soft skills or the technical knowledge. Managing projects is not all science. Project management involves working with people, and getting people to accomplish the work. Common Reasons for Failure Lack of User Involvement Organizational Structure/Lack of Mgmt Support Lack of clear vision Unable to Manage Team Unable to Cope with Project Size Lack of Training Lack of Resources X X X X X Soft Skills X X X Technical Knowledge Table 1 Common Causes for Project Failure From Most Common to Less Common 13 Lack of user involvement deals mainly with soft skills because the Project Manager needs to schedule appointments to interview users, and get them to buy into the project. Sometimes project mangers can face resistance from users who do not like change. PMs have to use their interpersonal skills to assure users that they will benefit from the new system. In addition, it is important to make the users feel they are part of the project and their input is highly valuable for the overall success of the project. Organizational structure/lack of management support also deals with soft skills because Project Managers need to adjust to the company structure, and be able to find effective channels of communication. In order to get all the key players involved, project mangers need top management support to schedule meetings, and to use the company’s resources. Lack of clear vision deals more with critical and analytical skills; the Project Manager is expected to understand project requirements, and convey these to the rest of the team. It is important to grasp the true needs of the company and to ensure that the project meets the business objectives. Unable to manage team deals with soft skills since Project Managers are in charge of getting the teams together and motivating every member to excel within the project. Unable to cope with project size deals with technical knowledge and the ability to break complicated tasks into smaller manageable modules. Complex projects can be compared to math problems; solving complicated math problems requires breaking the problem down into small pieces, and solving it step-by-step. 14 Lack of training deals mainly with technical knowledge; Project Managers need to understand different models used for developing and designing systems; recurrent training is also important due to fast technological advances; knowledge of management tools is necessary to facilitate planning and tracking of project tasks. Lack of resources can require both soft skills and knowledge of the systems. Competing for resources requires coordination with other users. This coordination can be accomplished by communicating the project needs well in advance. Scheduling resources also requires technical knowledge to know which resources are needed and when they can afford to go offline without inconveniencing other users. 15 CHAPTER FIVE CONCLUSION A Project Manager is like a bridge that links key pieces together, and in order to reach pieces effectively he/she needs to have a balance of soft skills and technical knowledge. Some pieces need to be handled with soft skills, especially those that depend heavily on people to accomplish the work. Other pieces need to be addressed logically and precisely, such as instructions given to programmers and engineers for system implementation. Project Managers need to be able to learn quickly and become familiar with the needs of the company and the business objectives. It is important for a Project Manager to keep a positive attitude even when projects fail or are cancelled. Failure should be seen as an opportunity to learn what went wrong and could go wrong again if not corrected. Project failure can ultimately lead to success if it provides insight, and encourages learning. According to an article in the Journal of Systems and Software (Lingberg 1999), struggle and challenge are part of the learning process. Many organizations have used an IS project failure as a method to improve the next version of software or on a completely different project. The key point to be made with this notion is: if you lose with an IS project, do not lose the lesson. Not every IS failure can be labeled as a â€Å"failure†, especially if lessons can be learned and applied. 6 REFERENCES Ackoff, R. L. , 1994, It’s a Mistake! Systems Practice, 7, 3-7. Fortune, J. , Peters, G. (1997). Learning from Failure: The Systems Approach John Wiley Sons, Inc. Heerkens, G. R. (2002). Project Management. New York: McGraw-Hill Lytinen, K. Robey, D. (1999). Learning Failure in Information Systems Development: Info Systems J. 9, 85-101 Linberg, K. (1999). Software Developer Perception s about Software Project Failure: a case study: Journal of Systems and Software, 49(2-3), 177-192 Parker, W. (2003). WorkStart Net: The Eight Keys to Project Management Failure. Retrieved March 2003, from WorkStar Web site: http://www. workstar. net/library/pm1. htm Results of World’s Largest Study on Project Management: Athabasca University Study Indicates High Rate on Project Failure and Accidental Managers in Today’s Organizations. (2001). Retrieved December 15, 2002, from Athabasca University Web site: http://www. athabascau. ca/media/mba_pm. html Ross, J. , Weill, P. (2002). Six IT Decisions Your IT People Shouldn’t Make: Harvard Business Review, 80(11), 85-91. Satzinger J. , Jackson, R. , Burd S. (2000). Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World. Course Technology MA. Spot Light on PM Training: Global Study Cites Problem of â€Å"Accidental† Managers. (2001, December). PM Network: Project Manager, 15 (12), 8 The Standish Group Report Retrieved December 2002, from http://www. scs. carleton. ca/~beau/PM/Standish-Report. html West, D. (1998) The systems Failure Method and its Potential Use in Information Systems Analysis: Computing and Information Systems, 5, 135-38. Wiegers, K. (2003). Know Your Enemy: Software Risk Management. 1-9. 17 Appendix A Interview Protocol Project: Reasons for IS/IT Project Failure Time of Interview: Date: Interviewer: Interviewee: (Description of Project) Questions: 1. What is your professional background as Project Manager? 2. What is your educational background? 3. How many projects are you currently managing? 4. List the project management models/methods that you use to manage your projects 5. List the major challenges that you face as Project Manager to successfully complete your project. 18

Vermont Teddy Bear Case Essay Example

Vermont Teddy Bear Case Essay Example Vermont Teddy Bear Case Essay Vermont Teddy Bear Case Essay Although Vermont Teddy Bear is a company with a rich track record in the business of last-minute gifts, its mission statement lacked its basic goals and philosophies that aim to shape its strategic posture. Vermonts mission statement clearly speaks to someone who is well acquainted with what the company does and what it sells, which is in my opinion a crucial point that the company missed when they addressed its customers. The following points provide an insight on what went wrong when Vermont decided to formulate its mission statement: * The Basic Product the company sells: Vermonts mission statement clearly failed to mention the type of product they sell. By defining the product the company simply distinguishes its offered products from competitive products of similar nature provided by other competitors in the market. * The companys targeted customers In this element, the company mentions who are its customers or potential customers. What will it do to serve them and how will its customers find this company different from the other companies or competitors who provide similar products in the market. Although Vermonts mission statement might have implied that it is currently targeting American customers through :The Vermont Teddy Bear brand represents the rich heritage of the Great American Teddy Bear begun in 1902. , yet this contradicts with the companys current plan in which it intends to exploit international markets, in other words, the company should revise its statement to include potential customers too. * The Technology applied: By defining technology, the company tells its current technology that it uses in making its products i. . whether state of the art technology or hand-made technology. It also tells about the unique ways in which its products are technologically more advanced or distinguished then their alternates. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the word craftsmanship found in the companys mission statement might tell that the companys products are hand-made, which distinguishes it from other players in the industry, given the fact that most stuffed toys to day are manufactured. The Companys concern for survival, growth and profitability: Vermont failed to fine the means it seeks to survive in the longer run given the fallback they are currently going through. It not merely lists them out but also defines the logic behind them and how will the company strive to achieve them; these goals serve as economic indicators for the companys performance, and hence indicates how far the company is from satisfying the principal claims and desires of its employees and stockholders. The Companys Philosophy: By defining philosophy, the company defines its way of working, its culture, its beliefs and how it sees work to be carried out. it is also an analytical way of defining the norms of which it runs. In my opinion, the companys mission statement had covered the companys creed through the following: We will strive to wholesomely entertain our guests while consistently exceeding our external and internal customer service expectations. * Concern for public image Concern for public image is a wide term that includes not only the corporate social responsibility but the overall impact of the actions taken by the company on its image, which in my opinion was totally dropped when formulating Vermonts mission statement. * Companys self concept By defining the self concept, the company shows the outside world its core strengths and the place it sees itself in the future. When reviewing Vermonts mission statement, it is clearly evident that the statement failed to express the companys core strengths in terms of the entrepreneurship capabilities and a robust distribution channels. In light of what was mentioned above, I suggest that Vermont should revisit its mission statement, the following statement will help the BOD in their plans for the company: Become number one instant gift solution in the USA in the next 20 years. We design and manufacture the best teddy bears in America. We satisfy customer needs through product differentiation, we offer exclusive hand-made teddy bears to premium customers as well as providing convenient products to the other customers. Speed and easiness of delivery of our products will be respected along with premium quality. Monthly Measuring customer satisfaction will be our main tool for maintaining our market positioning and for our continuous development for our brand and products. While achieving our mission in owning a profitable business, we will strive to being ethically, legally, and environmentally responsible while remaining fiscally sound. Vermonts external environment consists of three components: its operating, industry and remote environment. In these three environments, there is a chance that one of its external environments may change. All of these environmental sectors affect the companys operations both on the local and international level, and its very possible for change to occur (as witnessed throughout the case study). Operating Environment: Competitors of Vermont Teddy Bear could be subdivided into three categories: * Major plush doll manufacturers such as Mattel and Hasbro were considered competition in this sub segment of the toy industry. * Other bear manufacturers including Steiff of Germany, Dakin, Applause, Fiesta, North American Bear, and Gund, the leading market of toy bears. Variety of other special occasions greetings such as flowers, candy, balloons, cakes and other gift items that could be ordered by phone for special occasions and delivered next day. As for Labor, and given the massive production the company is required to undertake to meet its customers needs especially in special occasions such as Christmas, Valentines Day amp; Mothers Day , the company heavily relied on outsourced home worker s who performed production functions at their homes and hence were treated as independent contractors. Although these home workers/independent contractors allowed the company flexibility in meeting heavy demand as mentioned earlier which allowed them in scheduling their hours of work, home workers were free to reject or accept any work offered by the company which might make the company vulnerable to failure in meeting its customers heavy demand especially in high season sales. The company maintains a solid HR system through a strong built bear culture among employees. The companys manpower do not belong to any unions which eliminates any Labor issues. n the credit side I believe that the company does not face any problem with external financing; the company has two sources of financing, equity through issuance of shares since it is a traded company in the New York stock exchange market, in addition to debt and leasing which can be provided through commercial banks and leasing companies, which in my opinion is not a viable point for Vermont as it already consumed most of its credit li mits lately, comparing with its competitors who had greater financial resources. Historically, the companys focus had been to design and manufacture the best teddy bear made in America, using American materials. This philosophy was modified significantly in 1998 with the companys decision to explore the offshore sourcing of materials and manufacturing alternatives in an effort to lower the companys cost of goods sold and to broaden its available sources of supply, in my opinion such change would diverse the companys dependence on American supplies or raw material, now that it has a wide pool of international suppliers which will give the company a significant bargaining power in terms of cost and quality. Although many teddy bear producers define their product as toy and marketed solely to children. The company marketed its bears as an attractive gift or collectible for both children and adults which enabled the company to penetrate a wide-ranged customer pool, including children, young and old people whether males or females. If the company considers going globally, the company might face problems when addressing global customers, such Anti-Americans who might avoid buying the companys products knowing that it is an American product, especially that the companys competitive advantage stems from their origin, being one of the earliest producers of teddy bears in America. Industry Environment: Barriers to entry into this industry is there, evidenced by the challenges that Vermont along with the other current players face in the market, such as economies of scale, product differentiation, capital requirements and access to distribution channels. Given that both the stuffed toys and last-minute gifts markets are already saturated, I believe that the possibility of entry of a new player to the said markets is quite difficult, unless this new player intends to acquire an existing company to capitalize on its position in the market. For Vermont and as discussed earlier, the company had recently shifted to rely on various suppliers from local markets and different countries in its raw material in an attempt to reduce its costs, yet it was implied that it still relies on an American supplier-who happened to be the only eye maker left in America-in attempt to produce the ears with domestic materials, this might give this supplier some bargaining power to exert on Vermont. Last minute gift customers normally lack the power to force down prices or play competitors off against each other, this is mainly attributable to that Vermonts industry is a fragmented one, and last minute shoppers are ready to pay anything to acquire a gift due to time constraints which disable them to consider or make comparison with other competitors products; they will simply buy the first thing their eyes lie on to buy that gift especially in special occasions and events. Capitalizing on what was said earlier, Vermonts Teddy Bear as a product had several substitutes including toy bears, stuffed dolls or animals, flowers, candy, balloons, cakes and other gift items which in my opinion deserve the most attention strategically. To my opinion, and given that the Industrys competitors are numerous and that the industry growth is slow, Vermont is facing an intense rivalry from its competitors which the company should focus on strategically in the future. Remote Environment: The remote environment is what originates beyond the daily operations of Vermont. The remote environment is made up of five factors that are not influenced by a single company. These factors are economic, social, political, technological and ecological. Although these factors cannot be affected by Vermont, they can definitely effect the operations of the company. These must be all considered by the company when working with the market. Over the next twenty years, there are several changes that might take place in the remote environment. Since technology is not an important factor in this industry the company might disregard it when formulating its strategy. Political factors are quite stable on the local side yet if the company considers going global it must take these factors into consideration, for example if changes occurred in laws and regulations with respect to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), they must make changes to meet Political standards. Ecological factors also might cause several issues; although the companys manufacturing practices are environmentally sound, other factors might be an issue (for example global warming) given the fact that the company owns and operate a factory at which it produces its products, then the energy used by the company to produce its products must e modified in order to meet ecological standards. To be sustaining in the market, Vermont should encourage the knowledge of the internal environment that affects its business. There are many internal factors that impact Vermonts performance; these factors constitutes of the companys competitively important resources and capabilities. Unfortunately reso urces whether tangible or intangible are scarce by nature and it will be a great challenge for the company to manage their resources in order to gain the competitive advantage. Tangible Assets: The company operates and owns a fully integrated facilities including retail stores, manufacturing and distribution facilities in a 62,000 square-foot building on 57 acres that the company owns; * The manufacturing/production facilities included a state of the art packing and shipping equipment; * The companys call centers had state-of-the art technologies including PC terminals and very high tech telephone switching equipment that allowed the company to handle significant call volume; * The company installed a new telephone system, which improved its telemarketing operations and was designed to accommodate future growth in telephone call volume; * The company had a high-tech shipping system, including state-of-the art multicarrier software so that if a major carrier like UPS went on strike, it could immediately make adjustments; * In 1998 the company succeeded to secure a source of finance amounting $600,000 (in the form of equity investment that was injected by Shepherd Group) which will provide working capital for the company to pursue growth in the Bear-Gram channel and to maximize the benefits of importing raw material; * The company had launched an extensive website including pictures of the product in 1997 where its customers are eligible to place their orders online, which was part of the companys computer network of approximately 250 workstations that linked order entry with sales and accounting systems. Intangible Assets: * The companys name in combinatio n with its original logo was a registered trademark in the United States including The Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Bear Gram, Teddy Bear Gram and Make-A-Friend-For Life; * It owned the registered trademark Vermont Teddy Bear in Japan; * The company claimed copyright, service mark, or trademark protection for its teddy bear designs, its marketing slogans, and its advertising copy and promotional literature; Organizational Capabilities: * The companys manufacturing practices were environmentally sound. The company sought to use the best available materials for its bears; * The companys products were sold with a Guarantee for Life under which the company undertakes to repair or replace any damaged or defective bear at any time; * The companys products were designed in such way to a certain event or occasions, the company even provided outfits to individualize the customers bears or to emphasize certain relevant characteristics of the receiver; * The company was primarily know for its Bear-Gram delivery service, where customers could send the gift of a Vermont Teddy Bear by placing an order through the companys 800 number or online, providing its customers with an instant and spontaneous solution for the perfect gift especial in events and special occasions; * Since its inception in the 80s, the companys main focus was to design and manufacture the best teddy bears made in America, using American materials and labor, which helped the company to build up a strong and extensive custome r base; * The companys decision to explore the offshore sourcing of materials was a brilliant and a dynamic solution for lowering the companys cost of goods sold and reducing the suppliers power over the company; * The company has a wide range of products that suits both premium and regular customers; it has its handcrafted 15-inch classic teddy bears as well as its manufactured bears, in addition to other items related to teddy bears such as clothing, jewelry and accessory ornaments; * The company strove to provide rapid response to its customer orders and complaints. It believed that as a result of the quality of its products and service, it had established a loyal customer base; The value chain analysis (demonstrated below) aim at increasing customer satisfaction and managing cost effectively; it is a systematic approach to examining the development of competitive advantage, it comprises both primary and support activities: Source: pcwin. com Primary activities of Value Chain Analysis are directly concerned with the production or delivery of a product and consist of: * Inbound Logistics: Vermonts manufacturing premises included a state-of-the-art packing and shipping equipment, in addition the company also had a three-year lease on 10,000 square foot of inventory space at a separate location in Shelburne. Exploiting offshore markets for the sourcing of its materials provided the company with a wider base of suppliers which prevented the company from dependence risks; * Operations: despite the companys 1998 move to the offshore sourcing of raw materials and which implied a significant departure from the companys historical position as an American manufacturer who uses almost exclusively American materials, the companys products were still environmentally sound; the company sought to use the best available materials for its bears. The company produced two type of products; its handcrafted 15-inch classic teddy bear for those customers who are interested in an American made product and its manufactured event or special occasion-customized teddy bears for the rest of its customers, in addition to selling items related to its teddy bears; * Outbound Logistics: The company was known for its Bear-Gram delivery services, which enabled the company to provide instant delivery services (either by air or ground delivery services) to its customers throughout the different states of America as well as outside customers such as Canada through a carrier such as UPS. In addition, the company had a high-tech shipping system, including state-of-the-art multicarrier software so that if a major carrier like UPS went on strike, it could immediately make adjustments; * Marketing and Sales: The companys extensive computer network in addition to its new telephone system enabled the company to expand its customer base not only in Ver mont but throughout the rest of the states and the world and provide rapid response to its customer orders which in turn; * Service: The company sought to respond promptly to customer complaints. Each bear was sold with a Guarantee for Life under which the company ndertakes to repair or replace any damaged or defective bear at any time; These primary activities are supported by secondary activities which help to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the primary activities of the company and consist of: * Firms Infrastructure: it can be subdivided into three main categories: * Organizational Structure: The companys Board members and Executive Officers had solid experience in different fields including marketing, finance amp; investment; * System of Planning Finance: The company managed to secure a $3. 5 Million commercial loan to partially finance its new facility, later the company completed a sale-leaseback transaction involving its factory, this financing replace the company s mortgage and line of credit. The company had also signed a letter of intent with a potential investor for a proposed $600,000 equity investment; the company intends to direct the proceeds of the said transaction to financing its working capital needs to pursue growth in the Bear-Gram channel and to maximize the benefits of importing raw materials; * Quality Control: The company strives to maintain its products environmental friendly and was safe for children. * Human Resource Management: * The company employed 181 individuals, none of them belonged to a union which provided the company with some sort of protection against strikes; * In order for the company to meet heavy demand at holiday periods such as Christmas, Valentines Day and Mothers Day, the company depended on independent contractors/home workers. * Technology Development: The manufacturing/production facilities included a state of the art packing and shipping equipment; * The companys call centers had state-of-the art technologies including PC termina ls and very high tech telephone switching equipment that allowed the company to handle significant call volume; * The company installed a new telephone system, which improved its telemarketing operations and was designed to accommodate future growth in telephone call volume; * The company had a high-tech shipping system, including state-of-the art multicarrier software so that if a major carrier like UPS went on strike, it could immediately make adjustments; * The company had launched an extensive website including pictures of the product in 1997 where its customers are eligible to place their orders online, which was part of the companys computer network of approximately 250 workstations that linked order entry with sales and accounting systems. * Procurement: * The most relevant long-term objectives for the company are as follows: * Competitive Position: the company always strives on keeping its position as a market leader backed by designing and manufacturing the best teddy bears made in America and represent an attractive gift or collectible for both children and adults; * Profitability: sustain and increase profitability by improving the Bear-gram services that is provided through either the internet or the phone which are designed to accommodate future growth in request volume; * Public Responsibility: the companys manufacturing practices respect the environmental aspects by using the best available materials for its bears. The company uses Differentiation-focus as a generic strategy illustrated in: * Using American-made materials in its products; * The company offers a life-time guarantee; * Easy order placement and prompt delivery; * Rapid response to its customer complaints. Grand strategies are applied through: * Product Development : The company diversified the spectrum of its products to include the following: * More than 100 different bear outfits to individualize the companys bears, to emphasize certain relevant characteristics, or to personalize bears for different occasions and events; * Using recycled Ben and Jerrys ice cream containers to make the bear joints movable, a feature associated with traditional, high quality teddy bears; * Selling items related to Teddy Bears; * Selling stuffed toys manufactured by other companies; * Changing the packaging structure to ensure damage-free products and lower courier services; * Turnaround Strategy: The company exercised the turnaround strategies to survive the following incidents: Incidents| Actions reflecting Turnaround Strategy| The companys expenses increased while sales growth did not offset this growth;| * Eliminate several unprofitable marketable ventures (such as its sponsorship to NASCAR circuit race car and driver); * Reduce General and Administrative exp enses; * Change of key management position;| * The company applied a new trademark name to broaden brand appeal and take advantage of national and international distribution opportunities; * Explore new opportunities for growth through opening new retail stores and expanding the catalog;| * Focus on Bear-Gram business to expand the companys distribution channels; * Shut down retail stores to reduce costs; * Change of key management position;|