The Rugmaker of Mazar-E-Sharif Conflict

Conflict can reveal unexpected qualities in an Individual * Consider how conflict tests people’s characters and the way in which people’s choices in conflict situations reveal aspects of their character that might not otherwise be revealed. * Najaf does not surprise himself or his family so much as he surprises the reader with regards to his qualities. It is surprising to read of an individual whose overriding response to conflict is one of compassion and whose faith in God never falters.Conflict between Border Protection versus Asylum to Refugees * Najaf describes his and other refugee’s desperate plight and risks they took when they fled their countries. He recounts the harrowing escape the refugees had over land and sea, each step of the way, risking capture or death. * The concern for the Australian Government is to attempt to confirm the identities of Asylum Seekers and assess their character.This is one of the frustrations for Najaf, that people who have no understanding of the qualities of his character can â€Å"decide if I am a fit person to take my place in the community of Australia. † Internal Conflict * As Najaf flees across the border from Afghanistan to Pakistan, he becomes sentimental about the loss of his homeland. While he discovers freedom, he is torn between what he has left behind and his hope of what is to come. When Najaf reaches Australia, this conflict of emotion is a constant throughout his time in Woomera.There is a battle in the heart and mind of the Woomera detainees between feelings of hope and despair. * Conflict feelings are amplified by the trauma of being incarcerated and the anxiety of waiting for the news of either acceptance or rejection into Australia. While he is often sorrowful, he endures by striving to remain optimistic. He recalls the hazardous journey he took to arrive in Australia and cling to the hope that maybe these Australians will let me become a complete man again. However, the inter nal conflict driven by fear of rejection and the hope of acceptance persists. * In Australia, Najaf is lonely and feels incomplete. * Certainly, there is joy at his new beginning, but the memories and homesickness still cause anguish â€Å"I cannot forget the Afghans who have not met with the good fortune, and I never will. But I will never forget the sunshine of Maria’s smile on the day of the party either. †

Class or Mass Essay

Neptune Gourmet Seafood is faced with the issue of increased supply in its market. The response action is very time sensitive as a failure to react may cause severe loss in brand perception. Though they have increased investments as of late to produce more and also maintain high quality products through their freezing technology, they still need to find a way to combat long-term supply issues. They should not threaten their high brand image through low cost maneuvers, as this is the key driver of their competitive advantage. The recommendation I propose is to partner with very well known supplement retailer GNC to begin exclusive production of fish oil. On top of that, Neptune should recommend to GNC in the partnership that they expand to the young and upcoming market of frozen healthy meal delivery. GNC can partner with a smaller company that has already established their healthy meal plans, such as MagicKitchen.com. Utilizing GNC’s distribution and marketing prowess, both Neptune and GNC will be able to sustain competitive advantages through high brand equity and first mover advantages in a small, yet poised to grow market. As the world starts to become more health conscious, it will be a huge competitive advantage to have already set up the correct infrastructure to tack this market. Industry Dynamics Neptune Gourmet Seafood is North America’s third largest seafood producer playing in a market where seafood is considered high-end. They have generated nearly a third of its revenue from selling frozen and processed fish through US grocery chains and organic food retailers. An even bigger market is through the many restaurants within 250 miles of Fort Lauderdale that they sell to; along with many big cruise lines. The final third of their market was through wholesalers who then sold the fish to restaurants across the country. Neptune was considered top quality, and therefore demanded a 30% premium over the majority of its competitors. They demanded this premium due to their investments in new ships and freezing technologies that allowed them to find the biggest and best catches along with administering their top notch freezing agents to keep fish fresh. Some customers even preferred their frozen fish to fresh fish. Situation  Analysis Neptune Gourmet Seafood is in a tough situation where they continue to have surplus inventory although demand for their product is increasing. They have recently become more productive through both investments in new freezing technologies as well as new government regulation forcing them to deeper waters where they are having more successful catches. After analyzing their current market situation, some possible opportunities have been unveiled (Appendix A) that could possibly remedy their current predicament. These opportunities are coordinated with the company objectives, but it is clear that not all will be optimal due to offsetting industry conditions. The managers and decision makers at Neptune Gourmet Seafood have each begun to disagree about the proper course of action to best sustain a competitive advantage. (Appendix D) These issues come down to three main areas: Inventory Levels: Is this a short-term problem that will pass with time or is it a strategic problem that must be addressed now to avoid long-term damage. Pricing Scheme: Will a 50% discount help to rid of excess inventory or will it simply reduce profits? Will profits be hurt in the long term? Brand Awareness: Should the brand equity of Neptune Gold be jeopardized with the creation of a secondary Neptune Silver brand? What other opportunities could be explored to increase the brand awareness and brand equity of Neptune as a whole. After performing a SWOT analysis (Appendix C) it became clear that the creation of a secondary discount brand would not only hurt the reputation of Neptune but also cut into its own sales. Moreover, the increasing supply of fish due to new regulation makes it clear that this problem is not something that will just go away by shedding a bit of inventory. It is an issue that needs a long-term solution in order to sustain a competitive advantage, whether that is in another market with a different product, or some other long-term strategy. (Appendix B). For that reason, the idea of expansion to the fish oil market with a partnership with GNC has emerged. This will be able to rid of excess inventory as supply increases while also tapping into a budding demand market. (Appendix E2). Further, they should use their frozen fish to provide the seafood for GNC expansion to the frozen meal delivery market. GNC can partner with MagicKitchen.com to utilize there already in place menu  (Appendix E4) while using the distribution, advertising, and target market that GNC already obtains. Importance of Decision The whole seafood production market is facing a difficult problem of how to deal with increased supply. The response that Neptune takes is vital to its long-term solvency as a misstep may set them back compared to their competitors. Due to its historical success along with a recognizable and trusted brand, Neptune’s customers expect no change in the status quo. Any negative spillover onto their current product or product mix may induce a negative customer response. Furthermore, a move to a low cost brand may hurt their brand image beyond repair. Evaluation Criteria Speed: how fast will the alternative address and remedy the surplus issue? Growth: will the alternative continue growth in current/new markets? Resource Usage: will the alternative use current resources or require new investments? Quality: will the quality of product be reduced through the alternative? Competitor Response: will the alternative start a price war? Customer Response: will the alternative affect customer perception of high quality? Supply Inventory: will the alternative address the increase in supply in short and long-term? Alternatives Neptune is at a point in which action is required. A â€Å"do nothing† strategy would almost certainly put them in a hole that would not allow them to compete long term in this industry. The alternative of a price cut does not align with their core values, and therefore the following three options were considered: 1). Create a Neptune branded chain of high-end Seafood restaurants located along the Florida Coast. Pros: Get’s rid of excess supply Maintains high quality brand perception Increases revenue while creating a testing ground for new products Cons: Large investment buildings and gaining restaurant experience Directly competing with a large portion of customer base 2). Form a partnership with GNC and begin production of fish oil tablets and recommend expansion into preplanned frozen meal market where Neptune would  be exclusive supplier of fish. (Further partner with MagicKitchen.com). Pros: Long term solution for increase in fish supply Extends brand to another market, non-seafood eaters GNC already understands processes to create/has distribution GNC has distribution system in place for frozen sector, already has target market as well Cons: GNC features many brands of fish oils already Possible cannibalization with GNC advised frozen meal plans 3). Create a mass-market brand called Neptune Silver that sells at lower cost through the same distribution channels. Pros: Addresses supply problem now and in the future Attracts new lower end customer base Cons: Decreased revenue Brand perception is lowered, may lose high-end customer base as well Possible lost ability to charge a premium in the high-end market Alternatives Evaluation Matrix Recommendations Short-term – Tactical: With the surplus of inventory increasing every day, Neptune must prepare its transportation services to begin regular deliveries to GNC’s manufacturing site. Long-term – Strategic: Neptune must take action in a few different areas if they are to be successful. Based on the alternatives matrix, the joint venture with GNC gives them the biggest opportunity to retain a competitive advantage. The current growth of the fish oil industry shows the trend that more and more consumers are starting to care about their longevity in health. Furthermore, the meal plan expansion recommendation to GNC helps to gain another competitive advantage in the pre-planned healthy meal industry. They must prepare an offer to GNC outlining the opportunities for GNC and the possible market penetration that they can achieve through this partnership. They will also recommend partnering with already in place frozen healthy meal delivery services such as MagicKitchen.com . The healthy frozen meals industry is growing and doesn’t have a lot of players. First mover advantages will be acquired and  flourished with the scale and distribution GNC already has in place. Key Implementation Actions 1). Begin weekly or monthly transport of specified amount of surplus fish to be used for fish oil at first until partnership with frozen meal team is acquired. 2). Fish oil production will begin at GNC production site, begin marketing and advertising campaigns. 3). Once GNC has partnered with a frozen meal provider, they must begin the marketing and advertising to help bring the health conscious customers of GNC together with the convenience of frozen meals. 4). MagicKitchen.com can utilize GNC distribution systems to deliver low transaction costs Impact to Resources and Capabilities on Competitive Advantages The impact of this partnership is an enhancement to both companies’ competitive advantages. Neptune is able to not only maintain its high quality perception but also penetrate a growing market of fish oil and pre-planned healthy frozen meals. GNC will be able to expand its product mix by penetrating the busy yet health conscious individuals. This is a market that is sustainable and growing due to the increase of information available about healthy eating habits and the importance of food to longevity. The groups of health conscious people are also great brand ambassadors, and are driving marketing efforts and demand for products through their use of social media (Appendix E5). Furthermore, through the partnership GNC will save on transportation costs and other costs by utilizing Neptune as its sole fish supplier. Expected Competitor Response Due to the common issue of increased supply throughout the market, it is likely that other competitors will be trying to find other outlets to sustain a competitive advantage. However, due to the lack of premium brand recognition it will be difficult for them to make such large partnerships. Neptune’s increasing margins over the past few years are giving it ample cash to make these big deals. The competitors will likely try to rid excess inventory through price cuts or charitable giving. Appendix A). Market Expansion Grid B). Porter’s Five Forces C). SWOT Analysis D). Stakeholder’s Analysis E). Exterior Research A) Market Expansion Grid B) Porter’s Five Forces C). SWOT Analysis D) Stakeholder’s Analysis E). Exterior Research E1. Finding New Uses Fish Byproducts Report http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/ar/archive/apr07/fish0407.pdfGlobal demand for fish protein will exceed supply by 2016 â€Å"Fish oil and protein supplements for humans can be made from high-fat livers. And low-fat livers, such as salmon, can be used as supplements for pets and livestock as well as humans.† E2). Grandview Research Industry Report: Fish Oil Market Global fish oil demand nearing $2 billion and expected to grow at 9% between now and 2014 The major driver of this growth is the increase in direct human consumption based on increased health benefit awareness and concern of general population. Not enough production to keep up with the increasing demand. E3). Global Frozen Food Market Report http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2013/09/global-frozen-food-market-to-reach-294-billion-by.aspxManufacturers finding more and more demand from organic and natural frozen market Overall market expecting nearly 15% increase by 2019 E4). Possible Partners for Frozen Meals for FNC http://www.magickitchen.com/press_releases/Local-Partner-Program.htmlDelivery of frozen healthy meals to individual doors Could do bulk deliveries to GNC for mass pickup and low costs E5). Health Conscious Shoppers building brands http://socialtimes.com/health-conscious-shoppers-become-powerful-brand-advocates-infographic_b149137More healthy people, more brand recognition and driving  demand. Infographics:

Business Process Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business Process Management - Case Study Example Out of these 90-92% of the outlets are franchised operations which are handled by independent franchises. An important aspect of operational excellence of Burger King is embedded in its customer service. The customers are not merely customers, but they are called guests and are also served the value as one would serve to their guests. The operation excellence achieved by Burger King comes from its trained team of workers at each and every restaurant. The top management boasts about serving their customers well with the best burgers, cooked on an open fire and also have a clear vision and guiding values to take its people along. Burger King is divided into different operating divisions which are headed each by independent vice presidents who report to the senior vice presidents of each franchised divisional zone. These leaders hold strong values, leadership skills and thus result in producing great results. All divisions are supported by cross functional team from all critical areas that is human resources, marketing, finance, technology, research and development etc. When the customers who step into the Burger King outlet he or she first experiences the ambience and the dcor of the place, filed with the hot smell of the burgers with fries. On the counter as the customer places the order, the order is forwarded into the kitchen, where the process begins. To analyze a simple process of how it works, we have a simple process flow represented by the diagram as under: Burger King uses conveyor belts similar to an assembly line, which are highly specialized piece of equipment. The process starts with the worker placing the raw burger patty on one end of the moving conveyor belt which proceeds under the broiler. In the broiler hamburgers are cooked from top and bottom both. And at the same time burger buns are placed which also move on to the broiler and are roasted. These are cooked for a specified time period. After the bun and the raw meat are broiled for the standard set time, both of these assemble and in the sandwich assembly add-ons are inserted which include tomatoes, condiments, cheese, sauces etc. Burgers at this stage are almost prepared and ready to be served; they are then placed in the microwave oven and then served fresh. Burger Making Process at Burger King Process Improvement at Burger King We have explained the process that is used at Burger King to make the burgers, the process is quick in terms of speed of delivery until the ordered menu is very customized, but still at Burger King it is made sure that work in process inventory is maintained and replenished in an ordered manner. This work in process inventory helps catered well and quickly to the individual customer needs and requirements as it reduces the preparing time to a relatively short interval. The strength of the burger making process at Burger King lies in its ability to make made-to-order burgers and meals, to attract individual who prefer to eat their own way and style. But the inherent weakness that arises from the assembly type production method at Burger King is its lack of flexibility. Since the raw material that is buns and patty move on the conveyor belt and get processes using the standard and set cooking time of 90 seconds, hence the size, shape and other specifications such as thickness

Patient Care Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Patient Care Plan - Essay Example He has been on hemodialysis 3 times a week. The patient was diagnosed to have ESRF one year ago. He has history of hypertension for 25 years and history of type-2 diabetes mellitus for 22 years. Other than these, the patient is also a known case of ischemic heart disease diagnosed 12 years ago and for which he underwent GAGs in 1999. He also has mild Parkinsons disease, diagnosed 6 years ago. he suffers from dementia too. There is history of recurrent falls, but with no eventful fall so far. He has a pressure ulcer on his right toe. Alison is irregular with his medication and follow-up. Despite appropriate education on dialysis, he refused the treatment initially. The patient is not allergic to any known medication. He lives with his wife and requires assistance for activities of daily living. There is history of episodic fecal and urinary incontinence which are managed by his wife. In this report, the pathophysiology, clinical interventions, medications, diagnostic tests and nursing care plan will be discussed with reference to the clinical condition of the patient. Examination: On admission to the hospital, Alison appeared conscious, alert and oriented to time, place and person. His Jugular Venous Pressure was not elevated. His temperature was high (35.3 deg.C), blood pressure was slightly on the lower side (120/60mmHg), respiratory rate was very high (78 per minute) and oxygen saturation in room air was 96 percent (normal limits). Examination of the cardiac region revealed ejection systolic murmur. Auscultation of the chest revealed basal crackles in the lower part of the lungs with reduced breath sounds in the right base. Abdominal examination and examination of central nervous system were unremarkable except for few tremors due to Parkinsonism. Alison has a permcath in situ for dialysis. He has a pressure ulcer on his right big toe. Diagnosis: Known patient of end-stage renal disease secondary to type-2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Essay

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Process Standards Worksheet - Essay Example 6. Expectations for each grade level (Pre K-2, Grades 3-5, etc.) are listed under each standard. Review the Math Standards and Expectations section and select two significant process standards. Explain in 100- to 200- words why you choose these two standards. I have decided to review the measurement standards, Data analysis and probability standards. I have chosen these two areas because they are the most challenging parts of mathematics involving critical thinking. In the case of measurement standards, a student between pre-k and grade two cannot distinguish between standard and nonstandard units. In addition, due to their age and class, understanding estimates is hard for them hence basic measurement tools become essential for them. For example, a grade two student cannot use a Vanier caliper since they will make numerous errors in the measurement. For the case of data analysis,expecting a grade two student to understand about graphs is an over estimate. Such should only learn the basics of data, how to classify them and use objects and pictures to represent data. In addition, the activity of designing investigation and the concept of categorical and numerical data is not fit for grade 3-5 student. This student should only be taught about data collection methods and how to represent the data using tables and graphs. Directions: Review the NCTM Principles and Process Standards for School Mathematics, and complete the following two tables. Table 1: NCTM Principles Description Provide a short description of each of the six NCTM principles for school mathematics. NCTM Principles Principle Description 1 Equity This means giving students equal opportunities to learn mathematics regardless of their personal characteristics, backgrounds, or physical challenges. 2 Curriculum This is the arrangement of mathematics topics in order to introduce ideas in a way that they build on each other thus portraying the relationship among important mathematical ideas. 3 Teaching Thi s is trying to give students as much information about a mathematics topic as possible. This can only be possible if teachers understand deeply the mathematics they are teaching. 4 Learning This is the concept understanding of a student about a particular mathematics concept and it enables the student to solve problems and settings that they have not encountered before. 5 Assessment This is the process of teaching while trying to uncover how much students have understood a certain topic during a particular learning period. 6 Technology This is the use of emerging learning machines like calculators and computers in working out mathematical problems. This actually has helped a lot since it has made some mathematical problems easier to solve and understandable. Table 2: NCTM Process Standards Complete the following table by providing a brief description and a real-world example of the five NCTM Process Standards for School Mathematics. NCTM Process Standards Standard Description Real-W orld Example 1 Problem solving This is applying mathematics knowledge to solve problems that arise in life and to design a strategy that monitors the way these problems are solved. If someone has 10 dollars to buy pens each at 2dollars, he can use mathematics to know the number of pens that he can buy. 2 Communication This is the use of other mathematical judgments to consolidate and organize a particular manner

Behaviour & Individual Differences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Behaviour & Individual Differences - Essay Example He frequently has trouble turning in homework and loses things such as pencils, books etc. The teachers have spoken to the child but to no avail. When asked why he has not done the homework, he says he has lost the assignment paper. They have also spoken to his parents. The parents also report the same behaviour at the home. The teachers at previous school have also reported the similar behaviour at the school. Since the start of traditional education, the debate has been ranging regarding teaching the students of various sections of the population in one classroom and yet fulfilling the individual range of need of any child. Today, this concern has been expressed and addressed by lot of institutions as well as experienced educational experts around the world. Since, the onset of eighteenth century, the governments are taking lot of interest in the spread of both quantity and quality of the education for all sections of the population. In addition to that, they are also concerned about the education of children with various needs such as children who are affected by ADHD. To this end, they have enacted several laws which were designed to benefit the students (Cialdini, 2007) 3. The Education Act implemented in 1944, organized the education system in three categories as per the requirement of the child such as primary, secondary and tertiary. It also classified the 11 categories handicap. 5. The Warnock report in 1978, the term SEN was mentioned which replaced 11 categories of Handicap. This report also established the 5 stage approach for assessment and recognition. The authorities also considered the SEN in the mainstream education. 6. With Education Act in 1981, the authorities enacted the recommendations from Warnock Report. The recommendations which were enacted were the 5 stage approach, abolishment of handicap categories. It also included the introduction of

International Marketing - Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

International Marketing - Theory - Essay Example The purpose of laying importance of marketing and marketing plans in the first paragraph was to narrow down the topic towards marketing strategy, its formulation and its purposes for the firm it self. Now when we talk about strategy planning in marketing, we basically tend to make a match between organizational resources and its goals i.e. what an organization can really do by utilizing its resources and what its managers wanted to do (Kotabe 2007). So the strategy basically matches or ties up both ends of the same string so it could be implemented and formulated. If we delve deeper into the topic we see that marketing strategy formulation is of two types; one is based on the General marketing strategy and the other one is based on decision strategy. I have explained them in the next paragraphs to follow. The company I have chosen for this assignment is Dell Inc., and no body can deny its market share, value and prowess up to this date. I will start with the sector analysis and compa ny analysis and then will move on to the marketing strategies. Dell comes under information technology sector. ... The situation started to get better after 2001 and showed a great improvement after year 2003 when the average salary of a computer employee was more than double than what other people were getting from their respective professions. The industry labor force also increased from nil to 3.1% which broke the records in the US labor force industry as it was a growth of more than 75% as compared to previous records. Growth in the information technology industry is there because of the demand factors all around the world. The demand factors included the invention of nano-technology as more and more industries are heading towards this technology, emerging markets like India coming into the field with better and more IT products with better software programs, rise in demand of computers in the Asian markets, companies around the world are looking for cutting edge techs which is only possible if more and more sophisticated software and hardware are being made. Emerging markets in central and S outh America is also one of the reasons for the boom in this sector (Kerin 2008). Apart from this all, another reason for the boom in this sector is the mergers and acquisitions which took place after the dot com crisis. Those mergers and acquisitions compelled companies to pool in their resources and funnel up their energies so to invest in research and development and come up with new products which would give them a competitive edge (Srivastava 2008). This is also a very pertinent cause to explain and relate to the boom in the information technology sector. This rearrangement in the market made suppliers few in numbers which brought major giants on neck n neck competition with each other. This also lowered the switching costs