Abstract
As businesses seek to gain competitive advantage in today's technology driven world, they are finding it difficult to realise benefits and value from their information system investments. This paper discusses the strategic alignment model as presented by Henderson and Venkatraman (1999) and the concept of business models as related by Osterwalder (2004) in the context of Advantage Credit Ltd. Firstly, a review of relevant concepts and literature is made in order to introduce the reader to the subject matter. Advantage Credit Ltd is the leading payment services organisation operating in Israel. The company's business model is explained in depth using Osterwalder's nine business model building blocks and its strategic strengths and weaknesses are discussed within the framework of the strategic alignment model. Recommendations for closer alignment between IT and general business processes are also made.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Review of business models
Value Proposition
Target Customer
Distribution Channel
Relationship
Value Configuration
Core competency
Partner Network
Cost Structure
Revenue Model
Suggested solutions
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The concept of business models is not clearly understood as is evident in many publications by journalists, business executives and even academics (Osterwalder 2005). It is of paramount importance to reach an accurate definition of business models in order to utilise this concept in more complex models and strategies, including that of strategic alignment. The Strategic Alignment Model seeks to maximise the competitiveness of businesses by making optimum use of business and IT processes through symbiotic relationships, as opposed to having business and IT people competing within the same organisation. Osterwalder (2005) posits that a business model represents a conceptual blueprint of how an organisation goes about its business. It is a simple representation of the strategic positioning and strategic goals of the organisation which can be translated into a business structure and processes that are ultimately the organisation's daily operations and physical form. "

Tags:Advantage, Credit, Ltd, Osterwalder, Henderson, Venkatraman

Abstract
This paper discusses the leadership skills and strategies needed to successfully integrate human, information and organization capital with corporate strategy. It reviews the goals, resources and barriers for aligning the elements of the Learning and Growth Perspective with a Balanced Scorecard Strategy Map. The paper contains graphs.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Leadership and Strategic Organizational Change
Culture, Alignment and Teamwork
Motivation, Performance and Organizational Culture
The Process of Change
Barriers and Solutions
Summary

From the Paper
"Leaders who implement a Strategy Map system face numerous implementation decisions. To maximize the success of an implementation, leaders need to carefully match their vision, mission and strategy with the framework chosen to visualize performance measures. Leaders also need to consider how this affects the levels of the organization in which they plan to implement the system and the method it will take to accomplish such an implementation. Finally, leaders should formally link the scorecard system to its strategic business model. By carefully considering all of these factors, leaders, managers, workers and entire organizations can maximize chances for successfully implementing a strategic vision."

Tags:vision, goals, corporate

Abstract
This paper examines Intel's strategy and how it is aligned with the company's mission, vision, goals and objectives.

From the Paper
"Intel has long been the undisputed leader in computer chips, ranking ... in chip manufacturers around the world, but in recent years it has encountered strong competition from AMD. Intel's new CEO Paul Otellini is making sweeping changes in the company's strategy and these align beautifully with its organizational structure, culture, mission, vision, goals and objectives. Intel's organizational structure is an open and flexible one and its culture emphasizes egalitarianism and meritocracy where employees who demonstrate their desire and ability to do the work..."

Tags:Intel, strategy, mission, vision, goals, objectives, Internet cafe, AMD, antitrust, Otellini, China, nursing, motion capture

Abstract
This paper focuses on the efforts of Frito Lay, Incorporated, to implement a micromarketing plan. The paper explains that the company experiences a steady rise in sales, peaking between the years of 1989 and 1992. Despite their success in sales, the paper continues, their market share presence for their products continued to slowly decline during those years; senior management predicted the need to implement a micromarketing strategy a few years before this happened. The paper describes the plan, which would involve an alignment and redesign of their current business processes. The plan also included integrating, reorganizing, and synchronizing operating processes with the business cycle, creating a flexible informational infrastructure, and establishing a solid relationship between IT and the business side. The paper concludes that companies today would do well to implement what Frito Lay learned by using strategies that involved business and IT alignment, and allowed them to blaze the trail toward success.

Outline:
Introduction
Frito Lay's Limitations
Frito Lays IT & Strategic Plans
Strategies for Communicating Plans to Senior Management
Conclusions
References

From the Paper
"Implementing a micromarketing strategy was not easy for Frito-Lay Inc. In fact, because they did not have the proper systems and infrastructures to support this plan, profits dropped significantly in 1986 and their initial attempt was abandoned. Their organizational structure was not flexible enough, they clung to their hierarchal (top to bottom) approach and old fashioned paper based processes. The reporting and control relationships were not adequate enough. They failed to obtain employee commitment because the new strategy was not clearly explained to the employees. Managers continued to function as if nothing changed and new products where stagnant in their warehouses. The managers lacked the vision of the relationships between processes, technology and business organization. There was also a disconnect between communications with senior management and field managers, there was no commitment from senior management which affected the resources needed to accomplish the task."

Tags:organization

Abstract
This paper is a proposal for a research study which will attempt to examine the evidence that supports the motives of the terrorist organizations around the world to conduct terrorism on a global basis. It outlines how the study will be exploratory in nature, primarily through various government reports and reports of Embassy's around the world and how the research will explore a number of terrorism incidents, their patterns, the major groups involved, financing connections and the use of improved communications as a means to coordinate attacks. It encompasses terrorism data from 1992 through the year 2002.

Outline:
Abstract
Chapter 1
Introduction
Rationale for Study
Scope of Study
Thesis and Research Objectives
Chapter 2
Review of the Literature
Overview of Preliminary Research
Chapter 3
Methods
Chapter Four
Findings
Timeline
Works Cited

From the Paper
"Terrorism is politically motivated violence against persons who are not combatants in a conflict. Americans have always been targeted while in other countries, but on September 11, 2001, they also became the direct recipients of terrorist activities. The goal of these activities is to promote a sense of fear and deep insecurity. Terrorists strike those who are not combat ready. The victims are nor trained soldiers, they are ordinary citizens. These attacks often come without warning, in an attempt to invoke the greatest amount of fear (Wilcox, 1996). Terrorism attempts to undermine the citizen's faith in their government's ability to protect them. Terrorists use intimidation as their primary weapon to induce fear in a society."

Tags:911, middle, east, osama, bin, laden

Abstract
This paper examines Merrill Lynch's treatment of internal and external stakeholders and its short- and long-term plans, aligning these with the requirements for a strategic plan.

From the Paper
"Merrill Lynch's positioning strategy calls for a strategic plan that promotes risk management to ensure appropriate returns on its stockholders' equity, yet investment in opportunities for growth and diversification that take advantage of the firm's strengths and global client franchise. In addition, the company puts a premium on providing value-added advice, products and services and on developing employee talent and leadership to its full potential to achieve superior results. This paper will examine the degree of alignment between Merrill Lynch's..."

Tags:Merrill Lynch, strategic plan alignment, stakeholder, internal, external, short-term plan, long-term plan

Abstract
The paper discusses how the effective implementation of new technology mainly depends upon the employees. The paper looks at the cases of Dell and Starbucks and demonstrates how the effectiveness of technology was limited by people. The paper explains that a business has to attain a competitive advantage that is rooted in the organizational culture, and will be sustainable because the cultural orientation cannot be standardized. The paper discusses the training of the employees in how to use the new technology and also discusses the role of human resource management. The paper clearly shows that it is not the technology that creates the competitive advantage, but how the people use it that creates the organization's competitive advantage.

From the Paper
"The current business environment is characterized by a high level of uncertainty. Therefore the critical success factor for a business is to create an organizational culture which facilitates a continuous improvement process. The continuous improvement process can take place in the form of information technology being embedded in the existing work processes. However the implementation of the technology has to be aligned to the strategic focus of the company. This is referred to as the strategic alignment process which takes place between four phases: IT strategy, business strategy, organizational issues and information systems issues (Chandra, 1993). These four phases comprise the entire organizational structure. Therefore the effective implementation of the technology depends upon the organizational structure which itself comprises of the core competencies of the employees. If they are willing to embrace the new technology, then incorporating changes in information and communications technologies becomes a straightforward process. However if they are resistant to new technologies, then the result is employee resistance which disrupts strategic alignment."

Tags:organizational, culture, human, resource, management, employees, globalization

Abstract
This paper explores the perceptions that those who ascribe to political affiliations can be successfully labeled and thereafter categorized according to specific preferences and goals associated with the label in question. The paper argues that despite the fact that these events occur with depressing frequency, the process of attaching a label to a certain individual or organization does not result in any actual outcomes.

From the Paper
"Political Science: Exploring Labels of Political Alignment "Liberal, conservative, neoliberal, neoconservative, not to mention paleoconservative; new left and old left, socialist and democratic socialist- these terms are difficult to pin down with a hard and fast definition even if one thinks only right now. Worse yet, if one tries to define these terms over decades, not to mention a couple of centuries, it is impossible. It is almost as if this array of ill-defined terms serves to confuse the average citizen, to distract her [or his] attention from the fact that the wealthy and powerful have been getting wealthier and more powerful over the past couple of decades with tax cuts favoring the more wealthy, with the American government taking the lead in the world in pushing for globalization even as a decreasing percentage of American workers have health insurance or secure retirement benefits." [

Tags:label, liberal, conservative

Abstract
This paper discusses how to allign curricula with state and federal high standards in the specific content area of math and science. Assessment tools are emphasized.

From the Paper
"According to Hodges, international tests have repeatedly shown that math and science education in America must improve as American students are now repeatedly underscoring students from other countries in both math and science. One attempt to improve the quality of student knowledge in the math science area is to develop high standards at both the state and federal levels and then alignment of the curriculum to these standards. As to how to ensure that the curriculum is properly..."

Tags:curricula, state and federal standards, math, science

Abstract
This paper addresses the crucial issue of political alignment among Black middle-class families. It compares the attitudes of Black bourgeoisie in the 1950s with current Black liberal and conservative viewpoints on economic and racial issues. It contains an outline and a bibliography, with specific cited quotes throughout.

Tags:AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES / SPORTS, CULTURE, AND FAMILY, evolution black bougeoisie