Abstract The following essay discusses issues of financial status, manpower, business strategy, business relations, geographical spread and contingency plans with regards to the company, Krispy Kreme Doughnut Inc.
From the Paper "Started in 1937, this doughnut company has survived America's many political upheaval and economical chaos. It is therefore surprising to see the corporation's IPO [Initial Public Offering] last year to hit the jackpot. Speculators were grim with the fact how a restaurant franchise could even snag such a high stock price at [as high as] $105 when the so-called booming tech stocks were diving all time low. Hence in this regard it is prudent to have a cautious study of the company's over all structure."
Abstract This paper identifies the internal conflict and weakness of management at McDonald?s. The author looks at issues of organizational structure, organizational culture and the role that management plays in solving issues.
From the Paper ?One of the most important organizations in the food and beverage industry, McDonald's Corp. has recently been seeing stagnant growth in its financial position. This is basically due to the fact that organization is undergoing some internal conflict.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The company is basically organized in a lateral form where the CEO is at the top while management of various departments is outsource. For instance:
Consulting: this groups looks after the financial position and anticipate future financial status of the company. It deals with development and progression strategies, identifying opportunity growth for the company.?
Tags: structure, run, control, admin, manage, system
Abstract This paper explains how Information Technology is in use in virtually every business today as managers are graded on their ability to handle the flow of information in computer databases. The author contends that one of the most important skills that any business manager will have to have in the foreseeable future is the ability to manage the IT hardware and software now required by business. This paper details the need for integrating IT systems and making them usable for the entire office staff. It describes the role that people play in the system and details several success stories of companies that have introduced IT systems into their company.
From the Paper "It is barely conceivable that any modern office should not have to work with both the blessings and the perils of Information Technology -- that already-broad term grows each day to include such electronic devices and services as voice mail, e-mail, PCs (or Macs), computer networks. The world of Information Technology (or IT as it has become almost universally known) has become nearly as broad as technology -- or information -- itself. Any manager of even the smallest family-based business in the future will have to come to terms in small measure with the world of IT. In addition to the challenges of facing constantly changing technology, any manager trying to assess and work with IT challenges must also address the fact that the entire idea of IT is broad to the point of vagueness. IT means something at least a little different for everyone who uses it, which makes the job of a manager trying to institute consistent IT policies and practices even harder."
Tags: Management, Information, Technology, IT, systems, interface, office, modern
This paper provides a look at the principles of New Urbanism, a land development movement designed to combat ugly urban sprawl, by redeveloping inner cities and/or making the most efficient use of open space development.
Abstract This paper examines the topic, New Urbanism, synonymous with the term "Smart Growth" which is a way to develop land efficiently, whether it may be a new development using open space land, or a redevelopment of a part of an inner city- called "infilling". The paper explores the ten principles that New Urbanism is guided by and gives examples of developments across the country that have used this method and prospered.
From the Paper "Small, picturesque towns like Nantucket and Savannah dot the eastern landscape of the country. These towns are the illustration of the principles America was founded upon: closeness, unity, community, and family. The neighborhoods were compact and had mixed-uses. Everything a family needed in the normal course of the week was all within walking distance. There was a town square where the townspeople met and talked. In the youth of this country small developments like these were common, however in the last 50 years America has seen development practices take a turn for the worse. The current practice of building suburbs nationwide sprang up after World War II, and development has sacrificed hundreds of thousands of acres to this practice ever since. Now the majority of U.S. citizens now live in automobile-oriented, unattractive suburbs full of strip malls and four-lane roads with four-foot sidewalks. Although this is still the norm, there is a new kind of development that is making an impact on the way communities are built. This new method, called New Urbanism or Smart Growth, has caught on in the last 20 years and is now popping up all over the country. New Urbanism is a way to combat ugly urban sprawl, replacing it instead with small, interconnected communities that are pedestrian-friendly and contain housing, work places, shops, entertainment, schools, parks, and other amenities essential to the daily lives of residents, all within easy walking distance of each other. New Urbanism involves using the principles it sets forth to fix and redevelop existing cities, called "infilling", as well as to create new, high-density, compact towns and villages."
Abstract This paper describes the necessary elements in creating a successful business structure. The paper illustrates the conceptual development of the nature of the business as a beginning point for a new business. It details the development of a new enterprise by through performing market research, choosing a name and location, creating a legal structure as a sole proprietorship, general partnership, a corporation or a LLC, insurance, and advertising.
Table Contents
Executive summary
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Writing the Nature of the Business
3.0 Market Research
4.0 Choosing a Name
5.0 Location
6.0 Legal Structure
6.1 Sole Proprietorship
6.2 General Partnership
6.3 Corporation
6.4 Limited Liability
7.0 Insurance
7.1 Types of Insurance
8.0 Advertising
8.1 Media Advertising
8.2 Promotions and Discounts
9.0 Conclusion
Work Consulted
From the Paper "Starting a small business is a complex task but one that may increase earning potential and the control of being there own boss. The steps of completing a successful business structure include writing the nature of the business, performing market research, choosing a business name, obtaining a business location, choosing a legal structure, selecting insurance, and advertising the business to the public. Completion of these steps will give the business a solid base to build on."
Abstract This paper provides a thorough examination of training procedures for new employees and refresher courses for existing employees. It tackles issues such as the objective and need for training, types of trainees in different work conditions and provides examples of different training methods. The writer states the obvious advantages of having a well trained team for better production.
From the Paper "Training has become the most important feature of a successful organization. The need of proper training was felt when the organizations started falling apart due to tiny mistakes of its employees. Training is necessary because it improves profitability and/ or more positive attitudes towards profit orientation. Enhances the job knowledge and skills at all levels of the organization. The work force gets a high morale. Due to proper training employees can identify with organizational goals, corporate image gets improved. Training fosters authenticity, openness and trust. A boss an the subordinates get to work in a better environment and relationship. Training aids in developing leadership skill, motivation, loyalty, better attitudes and other aspects that successful workers and managers usually display. The quality of work is also increased and so is the productivity. Its cost effective as well, it cuts costs in different areas e.g. production, personnel, administration etc. it develops a sense of responsibility to the organization for being competent and knowledgeable. Labor management is also improved, as workers instead of feeling ignored, feel taken care of which develops a sense of loyalty"
Abstract An examination of the financial side of running a business. Includes graphs and tables. Topics discussed are short run costs, long run costs, monopoly and oligopoly.
From the Paper "In economics, the short run is defined as a time period in which a company's inputs are fixed. The short run costs of a firm are the cost functions that are prevailing in the production of a firm's goods in the short run. In the short run, the obligations of the firm per time period for all fixed inputs are called "total fixed costs". These includes the interest payments on the capital borrowed for the purpose of business, property taxes, leasing expenses etc. on the other hand, the total obligations for variable inputs over a period of time are the "total variable costs" of the firm. The variable inputs include those inputs that can be very easily changed and on a short notice. The variable costs of a firm usually includes the payments for the purchase of raw materials, labor costs etc. within a certain limit a firm can easily increase or decrease its output by varying the consumption of variable input. This gives rise to the Total Fixed Cost (TFC), Total Variable Cost (TVC) and Total Cost (TC) functions of the firm."
Abstract This paper discusses whether drug testing is a valid and ethical concept adopted within the workplace. The author looks at how if it is conducted in an orderly and open manner it can only benefit the organization and its employees.
From the Paper "Ethical issues are confounding the organizations in an era where globalization, cultural change and technology have completed radicalized the traditional theories of management. Managers are finding it hard to deal with the issues that are arising in the workplace from sexual harassment to drug testing in the workplace. While the former has largely been handled through the years with specific guidelines being set by the courts that help managers understand the nature of the problem and the manner in which it should be tackled, drug testing is a relatively new issue that has given rise to controversial debate in the society."
Abstract This paper moves through different historical events and shows how due to the necessity, society's attitudes towards fashion changed accordingly. It examines events such as the world wars when women joined the work force and had to dress appropriately and the move to more relaxed work attire in the current market.
From the Paper "Fashion is not just art, it is a measure of social attitudes for a particular period in history. Today, a woman cyclist will most likely be wearing spandex and skin-tight bicycle shorts. Her male counterpart will be wearing the same. What is acceptable now would have been scandalous in our mother's time. This paper will illustrate through example that fashion is a reflection of societal attitudes."
Abstract This paper discusses the refusal of one company to promote a female employee to the supervisor position after promising to do so. It includes the background of the dispute, its resolution, the effectiveness of the resolution and its outcome and finally an analysis of the conflict resolution process. Several issues are discussed such as employee gender, management policies, human relations, compensation and more.
From the Paper "The dispute occurring is between an employee and a supervisor. The employee has worked for the company for three years, working towards a position as a supervisor. This was noted in their performance review and was also incorporated into their work plan. The employee both worked and completed studies in business to assist them in gaining the expected promotion. After three years, the promotion became available. The employee was told by their supervisor that they would not be getting the promotion but that somebody else would be hired from outside of the organization. The position was advertised and a new person recruited. The employee enquired as to why they would not be considered for the position but was given no direct answer. Their employment record had no problems so the employee was left to assume that the only reason for their not getting the promotion was their gender, being that all other supervisors in the company were male, including their boss and that they were female."
Abstract A discussion of the recent problem of mandatory overtime, the legislation and its effects on the worker. The essay is a two-article complementary critique on eliminating the unsafe working practice of mandatory overtime.
From the Paper "Nurses are becoming tired and overworked! As an Emergency Room RN , I can sympathize with the emerging nursing shortage. Mandatory overtime is becoming commonplace, and it is unsafe. In Mandatory Overtime-when enough is enough, M. O?Leary looks at why the nursing profession is not treated like other jobs that deal with the responsibility of human lives. ?When pilots fly, they do not have to work unsafe overtime because lives are in their hands. Semi- truck drivers also do not have to work unsafe overtime because lives are in their hands.? (O?Leary, 2000) Now, the mandatory overtime discussed is not the type when a nurse needs to stay later and catch up on charting. We all know it gets busy. This overtime is the type that employers require one to stay for a set number of hours after their regular hours have already been worked. ?As a result we must take additional actions in order to protect nurses from being forced into unsafe staffing environments by the growing risk of unsafe overtime.? (O?Leary, 2000)"
Abstract Napster is a program allowing users to directly transfer music files without the aid of a centralized file server. Full-length songs may be exchanged in mere minutes through the program, and neither the artists nor the record companies are compensated for their work. The daunting prospect of consumers freely downloading complete libraries of music propelled the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to successfully sue Napster for trafficking in piracy. This paper analyzes the arguments made by both sides, investigates the virtues of the verdict, and discusses other court outcomes that would have been more beneficial to all parties involved. In addition, lawsuits of other file-sharing applications are discussed, including the likely outlook of Internet peer-to-peer sharing for the future.
From the Paper "The advent of the Internet has enabled users to promptly and effortlessly share information between one another as never before. While the vast majority of individuals embrace this new technology as a blessing, the capacity to impart so much data has produced a crisis regarding copyright infringement. Napster is a program allowing users to directly transfer music files without the aid of a centralized file server. Individuals are able to gain access to an immense library of copyrighted music, thus rattling the record industry.1 Full-length songs may be exchanged in mere minutes through the program, and neither the artists nor the record companies are compensated for their work. The daunting prospect of consumers freely downloading complete libraries of music propelled the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to successfully sue Napster for trafficking in piracy. The following will analyze the arguments made by both sides, investigate the virtues of the verdict, and discuss other court outcomes that would have been more beneficial to all parties involved. One such result would incorporate monthly fees and bonus features into the software, which would appease the RIAA's concerns and also allows Napster to continue its operations. In addition, the lawsuits recently launched against Morpheus, Kazaa, Grokster, and My.Mp3.com are predicted to result in the continuance of their operations, given that illegitimate files are removed from their respective systems."
Abstract This paper attempts to educate the reader about the four major classes of drugs. Physical and emotional reactions to the various drugs will be discussed. A discussion on government regulations regarding drug use and mandatory screening are also described. The reader is challenged to take a position regarding mandatory drug testing of individuals employed in the aviation field.
From the Paper "When one thinks about substance abuse, one normally thinks about drugs such as alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. We can go on forever. Drugs are classified into four categories: stimulants, depressants, psychedelics, and inhalants. Each of these different types of drugs causes different effects on the human body. The average person can think of a neighbor, friend, or family member who is a substance abuser. It seems that he or she rarely stops and thinks about what drugs and other chemicals can do to our body. Think about how they can impair the proper judgement of an airline pilot, flight crew, aircraft mechanics. Drug abuse onboard an aircraft can result in serious injury or death in both the user and innocent passengers."
Tags: drugs, workplace, abuse, aviation, substanceflight, crew, testing, government
This paper looks at discriminatory practices including bias in hiring, promotion, job assignment, termination, compensation, and various types of harassment, focusing specifically on the United States.
Abstract The following paper is a discussion on the main body of employment discrimination laws, which are composed of federal and state statutes, with a look at some state constitutions which provide additional protection where the employer is a governmental body or the government has taken significant steps to foster the discriminatory practice of the employer. Hypothetical fact patterns are posed where several issues are raised, such as the pay differential between employees.
From the Paper "The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution limit the power of the federal and state governments to discriminate. The Fifth amendment has an explicit requirement that the federal government not deprive individuals of "life, liberty, or property," without due process of the law. See U.S. Const. amend V. It also contains an implicit guarantee that each person receive equal protection of the laws. The Fourteenth Amendment explicitly prohibits states from violating an individual's rights of due process and equal protection. See U.S. Const. amend XIV. In the employment context the right of equal protection limits the power of the state and federal governments to discriminate in their employment practices by treating employees, former employees, or job applicants unequally because of membership in a group (such as a race or sex)."
Abstract The paper defines inventory as all goods and materials used in production and distribution including raw materials, component parts, sub-assemblies, finished goods, and the various products and supplies required in the production and distribution process. The author of the paper shows that Inventory can be a liability as well as an asset: excessive, finished (goods) inventory requires larger warehouses and that many times this is the first indication of bad decisions in the production and process stages. The paper shows that improving product-availability and reducing overall working capital investments, without jeopardizing the company performance is a tightrope that most inventory managers have to walk. The paper uses Toyota car manufacturers as an example of successful inventory management.
From the Paper "Inventory personnel have to constantly track market conditions and price trends. Software has to be designed to input these trends to determine the inventory requirements and the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) (Business Open Learning Archive, online). The inventory manager has also to be in constant contact with the production and the sales department, in order to ensure that stock outs at the sales end do not occur as a result of material shortage at the production end. Computerized systems have helped simplify the purchasing system and have help improve the efficiency of data recording."
Tags: manager, supplier, kanban, system, Just, in, time, (JIT), system, Optimum, Product, Timetables, (OPT), software, Toyota, business, management
