Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Toyota Company - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 677 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2018/12/29 Category Management Essay Type Assignment Level High school Tags: Organization Essay Did you like this example? Introduction Toyota motor company is among the top ten leading and largest companies in the world. The company also counts as the second leading in the general vehicles production in the world and the motor industry. The Toyota Company has always been in my interest to study and possibly be an essential part of the organization shortly. Toyota Company is on a rapid rise and highly determined to take over as the worlds leading motor organization in the motor industry. The company established in the year 1867 has recently expanded and consequently adapted an effective management planning and strategy that has seen a vast success in the organization. The general growth and success of the company largely depend on the body and the structure of the top management team and public planning. The managements planning practices must be a positive influence on the employees for the success of the company (Dyer Nobeoka, 2013). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Toyota Company" essay for you Create order In the Toyota Company, the essential functions of the company are well managed by the plan. The plan gives the companys employees the best working conditions that have been key to the realization of the great success that Toyota has witnessed in the recent years. Through the management plan, the organization is then able to fully function and realize the maximum profit from the company products and services (Dyer Nobeoka, 2013). During the research period in this company, I found it excellent how the company strategy is laid and implemented hence choosing on Toyota company. The employees and the general staff of the company are instrumental to the success of the respective organization. It is therefore essential for the top management to create an excellent organizational culture that will be favorable to the employees in the group (Cameron Quinn, 2015). This culture will naturally help to boost the working morale of the employees as they develop a positive perception of the goals and the strategies of the particular company. The well laid down management strategies in the Toyota motor companys management has helped to create the necessary positive perception in the employees. The excellent performance of the management team has been vital in influencing the opinion as their involvement of the employees in the laying down of the goals, and the strategies have greatly succeeded (Cameron Quinn, 2015). The management has well known the best environment that the employees need to work and the culture that they expect of the company. Effective external communication of the company is vital in helping to market the product sales consequently increasing the sales and therefore profits. This initiative also ensures that the company is in a position to enhance their reputation and the general public image (Takeuchi, 2014). In the Toyota Company, a separate external communication department is run and well managed by the corporate manager that has dramatically recovered the companys reputation. A set of the guiding principles are also well laid that helps in the communication activities. Organizational and management communication is vital to the success of the company and for the reputation of the particular organization. Toyota Company has enhanced the flow of the dialogue in all directions in the company at the same pace that has enabled the employees, and all the stakeholders including management to well achieve the organization objectives and hence recovering the companys reputation. Toyota Company has also employed several stakeholders communication that ensures the control of the company is inclusive of all the stakeholders, and this has been important to the recent rise of the company and its general sales (Takeuchi, 2014). In conclusion, Toyota Company has dramatically improved their management planning that has enhanced the employeesperceptions of the company due to the favorable culture of the organization. The well-laid communication channels have helped in regaining the companys reputation References Cameron, K. S., Quinn, R. E. (2015).? Diagnosing and changing organizational culture: Based on the competing values framework. John Wiley Sons. Dyer, J. H., Nobeoka, K. (2013). Creating and managing a high-performance knowledge-sharing network: the Toyota case.Strategic management journal, 345-367. Takeuchi, H. (2014). The contradictions that drive Toyotas success.? Strategic Direction,? 25(1).

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Feeling of Right and Wrong in Susan Collins Book The...

In Susan Collins the Hunger Games there is a very compelling feeling of right and wrong, as children compete in the hunger games for their lives. At one point in the past there was a rebellion that caused a rebellion to occur and as a lesson to the districts. Two children from every district must battle against each other and only one can survive. These children are forced to kill each other in gruesome ways in front of millions of people for entertainment. Morality is defined as beliefs about what right behavior is and what wrong behavior is. The degree to which something is right and good: the moral goodness or badness of something (Merriam-Webster, 2014). The book Hunger Games makes it clear that the character President Snow made the hunger games as a form of punishment for the uprising that once happened. There is a man by the name of Dr.Ewing who† considers both the retributive theory and the deterrent theory on the subject whilst remaining commendably unprejudiced. The views which emphasize the reformation of the offender and the education of the community as objects of punishment. It also deals with a theory of reward as a compliment to a theory of punishment. Dr. Ewing’s treatment of the topics is philosophical yet he takes in to account the practical considerations that should determine the nature and the amount of the punishment to be inflicted in different types of cases† (Ewing, 2014). The realm of the trilogy anticipates a conceivable future of distress, rage,Show MoreRelatedThe Hunger Games Is An Unjust Social Hierarchy1770 Words   |  8 Pagesboldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong† (Collins, 2). In this moment, not only citizens, but neighbors, friends, family, neighborhood, look up at Katniss knowingly in pure frustration and empty hearts that their humanity is slowly slipping away before them and there is nothing no one can do about it. Susan Collins creates a government that generates fear to the citizens who live in a pain, fear filled dystopia. A dystopiaRead MoreAnalysis Of The Hunger Games 2484 Words   |  10 PagesKaitlyn Hall Crystal Bryan English 103-5038 24 May 2016 Dehumanizing Nations In the fictional novel The Hunger Games, selected teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in an arena when an entire nation watches on. Leaders from the Capitol who are in power use this tactic to dehumanized the people from the other districts. The concept of dehumanization has applied to various religions, races, and nationalities throughout history. From slavery to the Holocaust to genocides around the world, dehumanizationRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesServices Printer/Binder: Edwards Brothers Cover Printer: Coral Graphics Text Font: 10/12 Weidemann-Book Credits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2011, 2007, 2005, 2002, 1998 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by CopyrightRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesCredits and acknowledgments borrowed from other sources and reproduced, with permission, in this textbook appear on the appropriate page within text. Copyright  © 2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any formRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 PagesContributor Susan L. Verhulst Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny, IA John Wiley Sons, Inc. Associate Publisher Executive Editor Senior Editoral Assistant Marketing Manager Marketing Assistant Production Manager Senior Production Editor Freelance Development Editor Senior Designer Interior Design Senior Media Editor Senior Photo Editor Production Management Cover Design Cover Credit George Hoffman Lise Johnson Sarah Vernon Amy Scholz Laura Finley Dorothy Sinclair Sandra Dumas Susan McLaughlinRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pages Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning. Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers outside the United States. This book is printed

Monday, December 9, 2019

C and G Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector free essay sample

CG Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) Participant: Kristina Marinova Course Start Date: 27/01/2010 Level 4 Theory Assignment 1. Review your role, responsibilities and boundaries as a teacher in terms of the teaching/training cycle. My current role is limited to the learner support at the training centre that I am currently working. The courses that our learners do are English (Entry levels, Level 1 and Level 2), mathematics (Entry levels, Level 1 and Level 2), Home and Office IT (Level 2) and NVQ in Customer Service (Level 2). I normally deal with the learners face-to-face and when they come to the centre I need to identify their learning needs and to provide them with the information that they need with respect to their needs. When I am aware of those needs, I need to put them on Initial Assessment for determining their current levels in the relevant subject. Once the results are available, I am able to decide, along with them, on which programme they can be enrolled. Once enrolled I need to explain to them how they can access the courses as the learning that we provide is also self-learning and most of the courses can be accessed from home. I then have to make sure that the learner is comfortable with this type of learning and are also aware of the possibilities to get support and help even from home. In many cases we receive many requests for help by e-mail but in most cases we encourage the learners to come to the learning centre so they can get one-to-one advice and help. When a new learner is joined, the tutor is supposed to keep all the records in the learner’s personal folder. In this folder, we keep the personal details of the learners, their results from Initial Assessments and Diagnostics, learning agreements, results from tests, exercises, etc. Part of my personal responsibilities is to keep the file updated and to make sure that everything stays confidential and no information is lost. Another aspect of my job is to carry out one-to-one reviews with the learners so I am aware of their progress and how far they have gone in the achievement of their learning goals. For this purpose, the tutors in our centre are obliged to carry out regular progress review where they get an idea about the learning journeys of the individuals and to make the necessary correction in their learning plans so they suit the needs of the learners. That needs change with the time as the learners are acquiring new knowledge and skills so the tutor should be flexible with respect to this. As a tutor, I have a duty of care for the learners and I also have to act and speak appropriately and to treat the learners with respect. Building the trust and establishing a relationship with the learner is also important in the whole process of delivering teaching. In many cases, the teacher needs to know more about the learners in order to be prepared to take the right approach towards the learners and their needs. Alongside with my duties and responsibilities, I also have certain boundaries that I need to consider. Those professional boundaries are about knowing where my role as a learner stops. There are some strong ethical issues with respect to the above limitations, mainly, the appropriateness of the teacher/learner relationship and disciplinary lines for misconduct. The teacher should utilize effectively when the student requires further help, which is beyond the teacher’s limits. In such a case, a referral to another organization should be made, where the learners can meet their requirements. In my job as a tutor, I am constantly trying to stick to my role and responsibilities and to make sure that I keep my authority within the professional boundaries that I have. As a reference I can provide a detailed description of my position which can be found on the website of our company: www. tletraining. com[-0] or http://tleconsultants. com/intranet2 2. Summarize the key aspects of current legislative requirements and codes of practice relevant to your subject and the type of organization within which you work. As a tutor I need to be aware of the key aspects of current legislation and codes of practice that are relevant to our organizations. As I have to summarize the key aspects of those codes and requirements, I will not cite them but just state what they are about. In our organization, we need to consider: ?Equality Act – eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality, protect human rights and making sure that everyone has a fair chances to learn and take active part in society. Disability Discrimination Act – all learners must be given the necessary adaptations needed to allow them to participate in learning to their full potential. ?Sex Discrimination Act – no man or woman should be treated less favorably on the ground of their sex or marital status. ?Race Relations Act – none should be discriminated on the basis on their color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins. ?Data Protection Act – making sure that the learner’s private informatio n is kept strictly confidential. In our centre we have a client questioner where the learner provides personal details. Moreover, we keep proofs of identity, proof of address (bank statements, bills, etc) and eligibility proofs. I also need to make sure that no personal information is left unattended or disposed to third party. The learner’s folder is stored in a cabinet and all records are kept for 6 years. After that period the file should be destroyed. Reference: Data Protection – opsi. gov. uk Health and Safety Executive – hse. gov. uk 3. Discuss issues of equality and diversity and ways to promote inclusion with your learners. Review other points of referral available to meet the potential needs of learners. The above aspects refer to the acknowledging and respecting the individual needs of our learners, helping and supporting them. As a tutor I need to continuously monitor any barriers or boundaries that the learners so they can participate efficiently in the learning process. Equality is about the rights of learners to attend and participate no matter what their gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation and race are. In our centre we strictly monitor whether any of our learners are being discriminated by any member of staff or another learners. So far in my practice, I haven’t had any cases of discrimination or any complaints with respect to this matter as we treat equally the different learners that come to us and make sure that they are feeling comfortably in the centre amongst others learners. Diversity refers to valuing the differences in people including all aspects of such differences – gender, sex, race, age, disabilities or any other individual characteristics. Some issues, that might be considered, are: financial pressures, reluctance to train, learning difficulties, travel issues, access to resources, cultural pressure, etc. However, access to our courses is being given to anyone regardless of any of the above issues and all learners are able to benefit from the training that we provide. One of my priorities is to reach out to people who have never before been able to participate in learning and enable them to become fully engaged. I am trying to offer them ways of learning that they have never been introduced to before and to help them access the information and resources that they need for their learning. There is a variety of ways to promote a sense of inclusion (group discussions, group activities, feedback, etc. and make the learners comfortable in the learning environment. The most important, however, is to build a meaningful dialog with the learners. By listening to what the learners have to say about their individual needs or requirements, helps me to identify and use strategies to overcome barriers to successful learning. â€Å"Know your learners† is the main principle for every tutor to follow. Last but not least, I need to ensure that I provide equal support to all of the learners so all individuals meet their needs within the group. In some cases there are learners that have needs that cannot be met by our organization. In such cases we need to refer them to another organization or individual that would be able to provide them with the information or help needed. As an example, I can give cases where learners are not fluent in English and their knowledge is not sufficient for them to benefit from our courses, as they are not able to speak or write in English. For such learners we recommend ESOL classes (more basic English classes) in local organizations and colleges. We also have IAG (Information, Advice and Guidance) advisor in the centre, who is able to personally talk to the learners and get more information about their personal and professional needs. The advisor is able to refer them to the write educational or working organization that would satisfy the needs of the individual learner. We as tutors, learner mentors and teachers, also require additional help and qualifications, as we need to update and develop our skills. For this purpose, we may need to refer to some training organizations or may be enrolled on courses sponsored or provided by our own company. Reference: Brown, S. and Race, P. (1994) Assess Your Own Teaching Quality. London: Kogan Page Reece I and Walker S (2003) Teaching, Training and Learning: A practical Guide (5th Edition) 4. Analyze different ways in which you would establish ground rules with your learners, which underpin behavior and respect others. When it comes to behavior, I can say that the learners differ in respect to that and for this reason some ground rules need to be established in order to balance this difference. A group discussion about those rules can make the learners feel heard and included. Ground rules can be established by the tutor/teacher or they can be decided with the participation of the learners themselves. If the tutor is the one providing the rules, he/she needs to list them on a handout or slide making sure that the learners would understand them, add more and negotiate the rules. Another way of stating the rules is by putting notes in the classroom, as it is the case with the centre that I work in. We have notes on the walls or at the entrance door where each learner could read. Some of the rules that we have established in our centre are: ?Put your phone on silent or switch it off. Don’t disturb the others and take your calls outside. ?Make sure that you book your next session before you leave. ?Don’t print unnecessarily and collect your print outs as soon as possible. ?Don’t leave your personal belongings unattended. ?Switch off the monitor once you end your learning session. As discussed above, there are different ways to establish ground rules, but whichever way we decide to use, the importance is that those rules ensure that the class environment is respectful and that everyone has an opportunity to participate and remind students of the need for respect, openness, and ensitivity. From my practice I have seen that the learning process goes smoothly and pleasantly for everyone when all learners are sticking to the determined ground rules. They feel equal in this way and start proposing some additional rules. In this way to feel committed to the group and useful for the rest. The learners often interact with each other in the process of t he ground rules foundation and that serves as icebreaker. Ground rules enable students to have a clear understanding of acceptable behavior. Reference: http://gsi. berkeley. edu/resources/discussion/purpose. html http://www. learningandteaching. info/teaching/ground_rules. htm http://www. faculty. londondeanery. ac. uk/e-learning/small-group-teaching/setting-ground-rules 5. Evaluate a range of ways to embed elements of Functional Skills, in you specialist area. Functional skills are practical skills in English, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and mathematics, that allow individuals to work confidently, effectively and independently in life. In our organization, the functional skills are embedded in the courses themselves as we provide levels in English, mathematics and some additional courses, which are NVQ in Customer Service, Business Administration and Management. It is not surprising, that most of the learners are interested in the basic skills and the most of all they are enrolled on English and mathematics. What we do at the beginning is to test the basic skills of each new learner, as they are the basics that are required so they can move to more advanced and highly skilled courses. It is a requirement that the learner has at least Level 1 in English and mathematics so they are allowed to start one of the advanced courses. In case the learner is working at Entry level 1, 2 or 3, they need to spend some time working on their language or mathematical skills until they reach the required level to be able to do IT courses or NVQs. In my practice, most of the learners start with the basic skills and most of the time my support is focused on the variety of topics for English and mathematics. I am able to help learners develop their skills by learning about spelling, grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, speaking and listening concerning the English. For the mathematics, we focus on whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, shape and space, common measures and handling data. It is my duty to make sure that the learners are well picking up on all of the above topics and help them to overcome any difficulties that they come across in their learning journeys. I have to make sure that it is easy for them to follow the courses and to support them by providing different types of activities such as exercises, handouts, worksheets, mini tests, quizzes, etc. Without acquiring the functional skills, it is very difficult for every learner to progress onwards and to achieve good results. *The functional skills are embedded in my specialist area in variety of ways. English, for example, is required when the learners are filling the client questionnaires, where they show their abilities to read, understand written information and write in order to answer the questions. English is also required in the starting conversation where we need to explain them more about the courses that we offer and when providing them with whatever information they need in order to decided whether we can satisfy their learning needs. English is also required in order for the learner to understand the material and to work on the different courses that we provide. Mathematics in embedded when planning their learning journey as they need to be aware of the length of the courses, the hours that they need to spend or the duration of the session that they have in the centre or at home. They need to be aware of that and make the right calculations when booking their sessions in advance. ICT and the ability to use a computer are essential to our learners, as we are an organization that provides distant learning. That means that the courses are online and it is very important for the learner to know how to use the mouse, the keyboard, how to regulate the volume and connect the headset, how to log into their accounts and how to access the courses, for example. Reference: http://curriculum. qcda. gov. uk/key-stages-3-and-4/skills/functionalskills/index. aspx Functional Skills Pupil Book (2009) by Trevor Senior, Keith Gordon, Chris Pearce 6. Justify the need of keeping records and describe the types of records you would maintain. Keeping records is very important part of my job, as I need those information for planning, navigating and developing the learning process of the learner. We start collecting information as soon as the learner arrives in the centre. The first thing I would ask the learner is to fill a client questionnaire, where he/she provides me with information about his/her social and working status, previous learning or job experience and learning needs and goal. We also collect proofs of address, identity and eligibility. According to the Data Protection Act, this information is kept strictly confidential and some important data such as bank accounts balance sums, other names, etc are being blacked out. None of this information is shared with a third party or exposed to another learners. The next records that I keep, are those of any Initial Assessments, Diagnostics in English and mathematics and IAG forms (Information, Advice and Guidance). This information is essential for justifying the programme that the learner is enrolled on. Once the learning journey is agreed between the tutor and the learner, the learner is being enrolled on a programme and a Learning Agreement is printed out. One copy is given to the learner and the other is kept in the personal file of that learner. We also keep and individual learning plan containing progress reviews and some additional notes of the tutor. The personal folder of any learner contains also any assignments or exercises the learner has completed. For most of the courses I have to access a section called â€Å"Additional Documentation†, which contains exercises or different types of activities. Such information is a proof of the progress and the personal achievements of the learners. Those exercises and assignments are later used when the tutor provides feedback and discusses the learning process of the learner. When the learner completes a certain level in English or mathematics, for example, they need to pass an Online Test in order to achieve their qualifications. It is very important to keep the result slips in the learner’s file for a proof of achievement. Any progress reviews or exit interviews (when the learner finishes his/her learning and doesn’t want o be enrolled on any other courses) are kept in the files as well. Without keeping records, the learning process would be incomplete and ineffective so it is essential to keep such information and refer to it when necessary. Reference: http://www. teachersnetwork. org/ntol/howto/align/c15768,. htm 7. Review a range of different assessment methods available and explain the ones you would use for your subj ect area. Evaluate the use of assessment methods in different contexts, including reference to initial assessment. Justify the types of assessment records you would complete and explain why. When selecting the assessment methods, it is very important to think about the abilities and qualities we are seeking to discover in the learners. There are different assessment methods that are suitable for the needs of the students, the teacher’s curriculum, the learning and teaching strategies. Some of those methods include: examination, testing, essays writing, written assignments, oral assessments, visual assessments and other methods (discussions, simulations, peer assessments, self assessment, work based assessment, portfolio, etc. All methods have advantages and disadvantages but there are essential for the learning process, as students need to know they are achieving the required standard and what their strengths and weaknesses are. At my work place we have several types of assessments that are standard and on which we put every new learner, regardless of their previous learning experiences and qualifications. Those types of assessments are:  ·Initial Assessment We use computer based Initial Assessment tool, which has two sections – Numeracy and Literacy. This type of assessment has different stages and the numbers of questions that the learners are answering depends on the proportion of correct and wrong answers that the learner is giving. Once the assessment is completed the possible results can be: Working towards Entry level 1; general Entry level 1, general Entry level 2, general Entry level 3, general Level 1, High Level 1, general Level 2 and High Level 2. Those apply for the Literacy and Numeracy parts. Number Skills Check/Word Skills Check – if the learner is working generally on one of the above levels we need to put them in further diagnostic which gives the tutor more information about the strengths and weaknesses of the learners. It also provides more detailed information about how the learner is working on the different components. If we take the English, for example, the Words Skills Check examines the knowledge of the learner in the following sections: Speaking and Listening; Reading; Writing; Vocabulary, Spelli ng and Grammar. Based on this diagnostic, I can then create a complete programme about the courses, which the learner needs to be enrolled on in order to fill his/her knowledge gaps and to improve his/her skills.  ·Entry level Certificate in Literacy or Numeracy; Online National Test in Adult Literacy or Numeracy – after completing their programmes, the learners need to pass a test according to the National standards in order to achieve their qualification and gain a certificate. The rewarding body is OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations). Module examinations for the Home and Office IT – there are different modules in the programme for the IT course: Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Presentations. After completing each module, the learner is required to pass the relevant module examination in order to achieve the qualification.  ·Portfolio – when a learner is enrolled on NVQ in Customer Service Level 2 , they don’t have to pass any exam but they need to create their portfolio which will be evaluated by internal and external assessor. Reference: http://www. heacademy. ac. uk/ourwork/teachingandlearning/assessment [-0] http://www. tletraining. com

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The case of U.S.A versus Cecil Price et al (1967)

Introduction The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was an extremist organization in U.S.A and it always aimed at preserving the white culture and domination of other minority groups that lived in U.S. This group was also anti-communist and it never wanted the black people to have equal rights with whites (Sullivan, 2000).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The case of U.S.A versus Cecil Price et al (1967) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the second half of 19th century, the first Klan emerged but it collapsed around 1870. In 1920s the second group was formed and it subscribed to the traditions and activities of the former. The third clan came to the limelight after the end of the Second World War and its major aim was to suppress the civil rights activities that were often conducted by the black elites (Sullivan, 2000). This extremist group of terrorists is popularly known for advocating for the white domination over the minori ty groups that lived in the south. The Klan conducted a series of terrorist activities both in the rural and urban centers. They mainly targeted the black activists who always demanded democratic rights (Hansen, 2005). This paper discusses the tactics that were used by the Klan in the movie â€Å"Mississippi Rising† and also the tactics that were used by the F.B.I to investigate the group (Hansen, 2005). Tactics used by the Ku Klux Klan Lynching The Ku Klux Klan which was against the civil rights granted to the black people in U.S used a number of tactics in a bid to intimidate the black people who were demanding for equal opportunities. The tactics included the following. Lynching was one of the tactics that was commonly used by the members of the Klan. Lynching refers to the act of killing people through mob action and it was commonly practiced in U.S, between1860-1960. This tactic is closely connected with white supremacy which was widely practiced in the south after the c ivil war of 1860 (Sullivan, 2000). During the reconstruction period in the south that took place immediately after the American civil war, the Africa Americans were granted civil rights (Hansen, 2005). The whites who for a very long time had dominated the Africans were greatly disturbed. The people who were demanding for the civil rights were now targeted by this gang with the aim of being lynched and killed. The Klan members who conducted the lynching always had different motives. Some of them could raid and displace the Africans from their investments, others wanted to gain political control in the south, while others aimed at punishing those who had contradicted their customs (Hansen, 2005).Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Hate Messages Apart from lynching, the members of the Klan circulated fliers that had hate messages to the blacks. These messages were actually very provocative an d scary in nature. They burnt crosses in the black residential areas as a way of provoking them. In addition to these tactics, they carried out protest rallies on the street. They occasionally burnt firms and properties belonging to the blacks (Sullivan, 2000). The blacks resisted the lynching in several ways. For example, the black elites and journalists always informed the public about their rights. They protested against lynching through peaceful demonstrations and questioned the government’s position in these violent attacks against the blacks. Several advocacy groups together with some whites who disliked the activities of the Klan also helped them by pressurizing the government to address the issue (Dublin, 1993). How the F.B.I Dealt with Ku Klux Klan Inadequate Investigation The government responded by using the F.B.I to investigate and deal with the Klan. The F.B.I used four main tactics to dismantle the militia groups and they included the following. Infiltration was one of the methods they used. In several cases the F.B.I detectives simply discredited and disrupted political activities deeming them illegal without conducting proper investigations (Sullivan, 2000). The police officers and detectives from F.B.I unit used dubious methods like â€Å"Psychological Warfare from the Outside† (Sullivan, 2000) to suppress political movements. They created their own information and relayed wrong information to media houses concerning illegal movements like Klan. Apart from doing this, the F.B.I officials also wrote false reports and letters. They also kept on manipulating parents, workers and children to give the activists a hard time (Dublin, 1993). Misuse of the Law The F.B.I and police officers misused the law by harassing innocent people and treating them like criminals. The police officers created stories to file charges against innocent people and many citizens ended up being unlawfully arrested and imprisoned. They also used extra force an d violence to harass innocent people with the aim of silencing and preventing them from engaging in politics (Hansen, 2005). Conclusion From the above discussion it is evident that the black people in U.S faced a lot of challenges during the reconstruction period that took place after the end of the civil war. This inhuman treatment of the blacks by the whites was a great demonstration of racism and discrimination against the black people.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The case of U.S.A versus Cecil Price et al (1967) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The activities of the Klan were not simple criminal activities but they were militant in nature. This is because they had a large group that conducted raids in various parts of the south (Hansen, 2005). Besides, the Klan had a clear objective to achieve. The methods that were used by the F.B.I in conducting the investigations about the Klan’s activities wer e very illegal and action ought to have been taken against them (Dublin, 1993). References Dublin, T. (1993). Immigrant voices. Chicago: University ofIllonois Press. Hansen, D. (2005). The dream:Martin Luther King and the speech that inspired a nation. New York: Harpper Perrenial. Sullivan, P. (2000). Civil rights in the United States. New York: Macmillan Refence USA. This essay on The case of U.S.A versus Cecil Price et al (1967) was written and submitted by user Warb0und to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Electronic and Digital Media Industry

Electronic and Digital Media Industry Introduction Various scientific disciplines contribute economically to the mass media evolution and growth. The mass media in turn influences the political environment as well as democracy in the modern world. The fierce competition in today economically advancing experiences forces the media to keep up its obligation of entertaining, informing and influencing people’s emotional needs.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Electronic and Digital Media Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The most fancied topics being crime, disaster or dangers relayed in a manner that make people perceive the reality of the dangers more intensely and thus influencing authoritarianism and intolerance in the democratic world. (Zillmann, 2002) At present, the media plays a vital role on informing people on matters pertaining politics thus highly influencing the voters’ decisions. It assists in identification of the societal problems as well as offer service to people especially for them to deliberate on matters pertaining their welfare. (Vivian, 2009, 55) The issue of uncovering errors of the leaders makes the media to be the main watchdog for the society. The societal decisions rely heavily on the assumptions that the information provided by the media is positive and right. Today’s due to the freedom accorded by the law, the media is in a position of availing the surveillance reports regarding the social developmental projects. They are in a position to identify the pertinent issues pertaining governance, provide a platform for debates as well as steer them. They can also hold the officials to account on their practices through interviews or other data collection procedures. (McQuail, 2003) One main role involves provision of the incentives to educate the society. The media is in a position of resisting any external forces that may subvert their sovereignty over involvement in the political pr ocedures. It enhances democracy and â€Å"similarly, the low-power radio and television stations enables mass communication with narrow niches within the society† (Vivian, 2009, 51) Today the advancement to the chemical and electronic technologies is a revolutionary such as the reduction of human voice, text or images to a form of binary codes or light energy for transmission. Digitization has overcome the unnecessary paperwork but not replaced it. (Vivian, 2009, 39) The core media industries of books, magazines, newspapers, sound records, television and radio are still active beside the new technologies. Currently, the mass media utilizes the advanced technology of the internet for delivery of is products across the globe. According to Vilvian (2009, 40), digitization is a technology that involves breaking and coding of messages for high capacity and speedy transfers. The internet deliveries have also influenced the text and photographic production units such as the print me dia publishers.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They use the digitized deliveries and broadcasts provide inexpensive system in both running and maintaining transmitters. It also broadens the source of information for the media content. The democratization of the mass media in communication describes the environment as turbulent for change with prescience. Today the world has graduated from the mass media communication to web media communication. Much of the control features shifts to recipient who has access to the transmissions within the network and can determine the type of information received as well as the time. As opposed to the sequential message presentation of the network television newscast, they are in a position to switch instantly from dozens or hundreds of alternative sources through the net and theoretically connect to every recipient or sender wo rldwide. (Vivian, 2009) Most scholars agree that the development of the digital technology has emerged with major effects on the distribution of content as well as the style of distribution. This is probably due to the advancement of labialization concerning media markets, competition and the need for maximizing profits. The media select stories with the sole aim of profitability more willingly than relevance. Some of the characteristics brought about by the advancements of technology in the electronic and digital media entails tendency for convergence. Different media such as the newspapers, telephony, internet or television face technological and economical merges such as the digital television on the mobile telephony technology to reach the intended client efficiently. Secondly, do the mergers by media companies cause the concentration? There is a parallel concentration regarding ownership where by several media are under same ownership and links of ownership to other company gro ups. This makes the media houses to give news from similar sources. Another characteristic involves globalization where ownership of media companies is international and news covers cross borders without special focus. Today, commercialization is a huge factor such that many companies tend to blur the distinction between advertisements, news, and entertainment in a manner that audience without much spending face marginalization. (Murmann, 2003) There are high commercial influences by the advertisers and owners concerning edition and publishing of advertisements. Lastly, there is a major effect concerning trivialization. Today people are prone to more sexual and violent scenes mostly regarding private lives of the celebrities. As opposed to the earlier scenarios, the media is avoiding the contentious issues affecting the society and the serious debates. The debates have turned to be controversial issues to provide a crush on personality that seem entertaining or attractive to viewers .Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Electronic and Digital Media Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References McQuail D (2003) Media Accountability and Freedom of Publication. Oxford University Press Murmann JP (2003) Knowledge and Competitive Advantage: The Co evolution of Firms, Technology, and National Institutions. Cambridge University Press Vivian, J.C. (2009).The Media of Mass Communication (Ninth Edition) Pearson Education Inc Zillmann D (2002) Exemplification Theory of Media Influence. In: Bryant J, Zillmann D (Eds) Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research. 2nd edition. Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah, New Jersey

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Nietzsches The Use And Abuse Of History

Nietzsches The Use And Abuse Of History Between 1873 and 1876 Nietzsche published four â€Å"Untimely Meditations.†Ã‚   The second of these is the essay often referred to as â€Å"The Use and Abuse of History for Life.† (1874)   A more accurate translation of the title, though, is â€Å"On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life.† The Meaning of History and Life The two key terms in the title, â€Å"history† and â€Å"life† are used in a very broad way.   By â€Å"history,† Nietzsche mainly means historical knowledge of previous cultures (e.g. Greece, Rome, the Renaissance), which includes knowledge of past philosophy, literature, art, music, and so on.   But he also has in mind scholarship in general, including a commitment to strict principles of scholarly or scientific methods, and also a general historical self-awareness which continually places one’s own time and culture in relation to others that have come before. The term â€Å"life† is not clearly defined anywhere in the essay.   In one place Nietzsche describes it as â€Å"a dark driving insatiably self-desiring power,† but that doesn’t tell us much.   What he seems to have in mind most of the time, when he speaks of â€Å"life,† is something like a deep, rich, creative engagement with the world one is living in.   Here, as in all his writings, the creation of an impressive culture is of prime importance to Nietzsche.   What Nietzsche Is Opposing In the early 19th century, Hegel (1770-1831) had constructed a philosophy of history which saw the history of civilization as both the expansion of human freedom and the development of greater self-consciousness regarding the nature and meaning of history.   Hegel’s own philosophy represents the highest stage yet achieved in humanity’s self-understanding.   After Hegel, it was generally accepted that a knowledge of the past is a good thing.   In fact, the nineteenth century prided itself on being more historically informed than any previous age.   Nietzsche, however, as he loves to do, calls this widespread belief into question.   He identifies 3 approaches to history: the monumental, the antiquarian, and the critical.   Each can be used in a good way, but each has its dangers. Monumental History Monumental history focuses on examples of human greatness, individuals who â€Å"magnify the concept of man†¦.giving it a more beautiful content.†Ã‚   Nietzsche doesn’t name names, but he presumably means people like Moses, Jesus, Pericles, Socrates, Caesar, Leonardo, Goethe, Beethoven, and Napoleon.   One thing that all great individuals have in common is a cavalier willingness to risk their life and material well-being.     Such individuals can inspire us to reach for greatness ourselves.   They are an antidote to world-weariness.   But monumental history carries certain dangers.   When we view these past figures as inspirational, we may distort history by overlooking the unique circumstances that gave rise to them.   It is quite likely that no such figure could arise again since those circumstances will never occur again.   Another danger lies in the way some people treat the great achievements of the past (e.g. Greek tragedy, Renaissance painting) as canonical.   They are viewed as providing a paradigm that contemporary art should not challenge or deviate from.   When used in this way, monumental history can block the path to new and original cultural achievements. Antiquarian History Antiquarian history refers to the scholarly immersion in some past period or past culture.   This is the approach to history especially typical of academics.   It can be valuable when it helps to enhance our sense of cultural identity.   E.g. When contemporary poets acquire a deep understanding of the poetic tradition to which they belong, this enriches their own work.   They experience â€Å"the contentment of a tree with its roots.† But this approach also has potential drawbacks.   Too much immersion in the past easily leads to an undiscriminating fascination with and reverence for anything that is old, regardless of whether it is genuinely admirable or interesting.   Antiquarian history easily degenerates into mere scholarliness, where the purpose of doing history has long been forgotten.   And the reverence for the past it encourages can inhibit originality.   The cultural products of the past are seen as so wonderful that we can simply rest content with them and not try to create anything new. Critical History Critical history is almost the opposite of antiquarian history.   Instead of revering the past, one rejects it as part of the process of creating something new.   E.g. Original artistic movements are often very critical of the styles they replace (the way Romantic poets rejected the artificial diction of 18th-century poets).   The danger here, though, is that we will be unfair to the past.   In particular, we will fail to see how those very elements in past cultures that we despise were necessary; that they were among the elements that gave birth to us.   The Problems Caused by Too Much Historical Knowledge In Nietzsche’s view, his culture (and he would probably say ours too) has become bloated with too much knowledge.   And this explosion of knowledge is not serving â€Å"life†Ã¢â‚¬â€œthat is, it is not leading to a richer, more vibrant, contemporary culture.   On the contrary. Scholars obsess over methodology and sophisticated analysis.   In doing so, they lose sight of the real purpose of their work.   Always, what matters most isn’t whether their methodology is sound, but whether what they are doing serves to enrich contemporary life and culture. Very often, instead of trying to be creative and original, educated people simply immerse themselves in relatively dry scholarly activity.   The result is that instead of having a living culture, we have merely a knowledge of culture.   Instead of really experiencing things, we take up a detached, scholarly attitude to them.   One might think here, for instance, of the difference between being transported by a painting or a musical composition, and noticing how it reflects certain influences from previous artists or composers. Halfway through the essay, Nietzsche identifies five specific disadvantages of having too much historical knowledge.   The rest of the essay is mainly an elaboration on these points.   The five drawbacks are: It creates too much of a contrast between what’s going on people’s minds and the way they live.   E.g. philosophers who immerse themselves in Stoicism no longer live like Stoics; they just live like everyone else.   The philosophy is purely theoretical. Not something to be lived.It makes us think we are more just than previous ages.   We tend to look back on previous periods as inferior to us in various ways, especially, perhaps, in the area of morality.   Modern historians pride themselves on their objectivity.   But the best kind of history isn’t the kind that is scrupulously objective in a dry scholarly sense.   The best historians work like artists to bring a previous age to life.It disrupts the instincts and hinders mature development.   In supporting this idea, Nietzsche especially complains at the way modern scholars cram themselves too quickly with too much knowledge.   The result is that they lose profundity.   Extreme specialization, a nother feature of modern scholarship, leads them away from wisdom, which requires a broader view of things. It makes us think of ourselves as inferior imitators of our predecessorsIt leads to irony and to cynicism. In explaining points 4 and 5, Nietzsche embarks on a sustained critique of Hegelianism.   The essay concludes with him expressing a hope in â€Å"youth†, by which he seems to mean those who have not yet been deformed by too much education. In the Background – Richard Wagner Nietzsche does not mention in this essay his friend at the time, the composer Richard Wagner.   But in drawing the contrast between those who merely know about culture and those who are creatively engaged with culture, he almost certainly had Wagner in mind as an exemplar of the latter type.   Nietzsche was working as a professor at the time at the University of Basle in Switzerland.  Ã‚   Basle represented historical scholarship.   Whenever he could, he would take the train to Lucerne to visit Wagner, who at the time was composing his four-opera Ring Cycle.   Wagner’s house at Tribschen represented life.   For Wagner, the creative genius who was also a man of action, fully engaged in the world, and working hard to regenerate German culture through his operas, exemplified how one could use the past (Greek tragedy, Nordic legends, Romantic classical music) in a healthy way to create something new.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Population growth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Population growth - Essay Example Geometric growth can be contrasted to arithmetic growth rate, which grows in a sequence, for instance 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, .... One of the principles behind geometric growth is that the bigger a number gets, the faster it grows, this is the case with population since the larger the population becomes, more people will be available for reproduction hence the greater growth (Berlatsky, 133). For instance, a population having 500,000 people will grow five times faster than a population which has just 100, 000. From this equation, if r is greater than zero and b is greater than one, then the population will grow at exponentially, however, if r is less than zero and b is greater than one or if r is greater than one and b is between one and zero, then the population will reduce exponentially. A geometric decay curve for population would look something like this Geometric continuous time model of population growth is more realistic when it comes to determining population growth since they involve all parameters of population such as birth rates and death rate (Turchin, p96) In order to calculate the population growth rate using the continuous growth model, the following formula can be derived. If a population has Nt individuals where t is time in years, the number of children being born in a year is a fraction represented by the symbol ï  ¢ and the number of people that die in a year is a fraction that is represented by the symbol ï  §. These geometric progression equations have been used for a long time to calculate population growth rates of countries or of the world at large, for instance, the following figure show a curve of world growth rate that was calculated from the available data and backward projections of population. Geometric progression has been use in population growth and without it, calculating

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

International Business Management Master Essay

International Business Management Master - Essay Example "Passenger revenue" is initially recorded as a liability for sales in advance of carriage, with revenue from ticket sales recognised at the time that the Company provides the transportation. In respect of unused ticket revenue recognised, estimations are needed based on historical trends regarding liability for tickets sold but not yet processed, the timing and amount of tickets used for travel on other airlines and the amount of tickets sold that will not be used. These are used to determine the timing and amount of unused ticket revenue recognised. Changes to these estimation methods could have a material effect on the presentation of the financial results. Periodic evaluations are performed of the estimated liability for tickets sold but not yet processed. Any adjustments, which can be significant, are included in results of operations for the periods in which the evaluations are completed. These adjustments relate primarily to differences between the statistical estimation of cer tain revenue transactions and the related sales price as well as refunds, exchanges, interline transactions and other items for which final settlement occurs in periods subsequent to the sale of the related tickets at amounts other The Company's "cargo" business is operated as a contribution centre. ... This allows the maximisation the use of its scheduled route network to provide a worldwide cargo service. The management group utilises trucks to feed cargo to its major hubs in Europe and the United States. "Revenue" is recognised when the transportation service is provided. Passenger ticket and cargo waybill sales, net of discounts, are recorded as current liabilities in the 'sales in advance of carriage' account until recognised as revenue. Unused tickets are recognised as revenue using estimates regarding the timing of recognition based on the terms and conditions of the ticket and historical trends. Other revenue is recognised at the time the service is provided. Commission costs are recognised at the same time as the revenue to which they relate and are charged to cost of sales. "Employee benefits", including pensions and other post-retirement benefits (principally post-retirement healthcare benefits) are presented in these financial statements in accordance with IAS 19 - 'Employee Benefits'. For the Group's defined benefit plans, post-retirement obligations are measured at discounted present value whilst plan assets are measured at fair value at the balance sheet date. The cost of current service costs are recognised in the income statement so as to recognise the cost of providing the benefit on a straight line basis over the service lives of the employees using the projected unit credit method. Past service costs are recognised when the benefit has been given. The financing cost and expected return on plan assets are recognised within financing costs in the periods in which they arise. The accumulated effect of changes in estimates, changes in

Sunday, November 17, 2019

The Middle Ages Essay Example for Free

The Middle Ages Essay The Middle Ages are a period of European history from around 476 A.D. to 1453 A.D. when society and culture declined. The middle Ages is believed to be started from the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and was ended by the start of the European Renaissance. There are several key factors that led to the end of The Middle Ages other than the start of the Renaissance. The Black Plague and The Crusades undeniably led to the end of the Middle Ages because of the decrease of population from The Black Plague and the increase of foreign goods and trade from The Crusades among many other reasons. The Bubonic Plague, Black Plague, and Black Death are names for a deadly disease that killed between 75 and 200 million people in Europe. This Disease started and was carried by flees in rats on trade ships. The fleas would be transferred onto the ships cargo, which would in turn contaminate all customers. The disease was easily contagious and basically if you were in contact with anyone who had this disease in their system, you would be dead very soon . As a result of being extremely contagious it was spread very quickly and killed many people. Even though millions died, there is a silver lining. Those who survived the plague were able to move up in the European feudalistic social circle. Peasants were able to gain more powerful positions and in turn make more money. This scenario occurred in many other peoples lives and helped end The Middle Ages. The Crusades were a series of wars taking place in Asia Minor between 1095 and 1291. Pope Urban II was the first person that expressed a need for The Crusades at the Council of Clermont where he said we should invade the holy land and persecute the inhabitants who have taken over the beloved land of Jesus Christ. This was incorrect because most of the inhabitants ancestors of Jerusalem had always been there and this was their homeland. The Crusaders did not seize Jerusalem for long which is why The Crusades are often called historys greatest failure. The crusaders brutally murdered Jews and Muslims living in this area who had done nothing wrong. Most  crusaders were French peasants or serfs who wanted to escape the feudalistic social circle. If you went on The Crusades you became rich and made money. Even though The Crusades were not successful in the sense they didnt seize their homeland, it was still successful because the crusaders brought back many new things. These products were brought back to Europe and people tried to make them there which helped fix the economy in Europe. For example, soap was never used in Europe until the crusaders brought it back from the holy land. This was one of the many important things that were brought back from the holy land, which drastically helped end The Middle Ages. The Middle Ages were a 977-year period where civilization declined instead of rising. The Black Plague and Crusades helped end the Middle Ages even if they were both devastating in their own way and killed a lot of people. It is up to opinion if these two events were beneficial overall because of some of the extremely destructive results that took place however, they definitely helped end The Middle Ages.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Folic Acid Essay -- essays research papers

The New Sensation. Before you sit down to munch on your breakfast cereal or bread, you might want to take notice of a vitamin that seems to be popping up more and more in ingredients. This is being Folic Acid. The FDA is recommending that it be added to foods and that people take it in pill form every day. This is mainly because it is a key component in the never-ending battle our body fights against diseases. What is it capable of? It is proven to lower chances of birth defects, and heart attacks. The FDA has been viewing the evidence of the chances of lowering birth defects and has ordered that enriched gain products increase their amounts of folic acid. This is because it is found that most women who are pregnant do not eat enough fruits and vegetables to have the same impact as Folic acid has. The effect it has is that it decreases the chance of neural birth defects. Neural birth defects can cause death shortly after birth. It is estimated that nearly 400,000 infants have this birth complications because of this, yet it has been proven that what folic acid can do can greatly reduce the risk. Not only can this acid reduce the birth defect rate; it can also lower the chance of heart attacks in men and woman. It is believed that there is an amino acid called homocystine in most people that sometimes may get too high, when this happens it causes scarred arteries and increases the risk of heart attacks. In this articles it states that less than 12-40% of A...

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Mother’s love Essay

The relationship of a daughter and mother who is kindhearted and caring towards her daughter is one of the most valuable person a child has and should take for granted. In the short story by Anna Quindlen called â€Å"Mothers† is about a nineteen year old girl who her name was never mentioned in the story. The narrative has lost her mother and is trying to accept the reality that she is gone. The nineteen-year-old girl describes her life situation as if her mother was still alive, mentioning, â€Å"taking care of the wedding arrangements, or come and stay for a week after the children were born.† The young girl is conflicted over the thought of fantasies and reality, realizing that if her mother were still alive she would have strongly bonded with her and value every single moment. The short story begins with the nineteen-year-old girl, observing two women at a corner table in the restaurant. It was an older woman with her daughter spending quality time. The narrative d escribed her-self as â€Å"kind of vest pocket†, meaning she emotional feels empty and is stuck with no were to go. The narrative was wishing she had valued that moment with her mother when she had that opportunity. The girl seemed that she holds a regret inside of her because she did not have a good relationship with her mother.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mediation Is a Form of Negotiation

A Learning Team Charter is a necessary element in managing a successful team. An effective team that aims to accomplish manageable results needs goals, communication, and conflict management. What the team will go through is a process in management and here is where the team charter will show its value. Without a team charter, the team process will at the end of the day falter and fail. The major components of the charter needed to ensure team success includes team goals, system of communication, and most important, a system of settling differences or conflict management. To handle disputes a clause called the â€Å"alternative dispute resolution† (ADR). ADR includes processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement. Despite historic resistance to ADR, it has gained widespread acceptance among both the general public and the legal profession in recent years. The most common form of ADR is arbitration. Other forms of ADR are negotiation, mediation, conciliation, mini-trial, fact-finding, and using a judicial referee (Cheesman, 2010). The most effective method that will suit the needs of our learning team is the mediation method. If an agreement cannot be reached during the mediation process, then the arbitration method will be utilized. Mediation is a form of negotiation in which a neutral third party assists the disputing parties in reaching a settlement of their dispute. The neutral third party is called a mediator (Cheesman, 2010). Within a team environment the mediator would be the team members not involved in the dispute. If an agreement cannot be reached during the mediation process, then the arbitration method will be used. In arbitration, the parties choose an impartial third party to hear and decide the dispute. This neutral party is called the arbitrator. The arbitrator in a team charter environment would be the professor of our class. The arbitration process will only be used as a last resort and the professor’s decision cannot be disputed. In most cases there are no disputes that occur in a team environment because all members want to work together to accomplish a common goal which in a classroom situation means getting the best team grade possible. In the rare event that a dispute arises, the ADR process is fast becoming the process of choice in settling disputes.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Online Restaurant Essays

Online Restaurant Essays Online Restaurant Essay Online Restaurant Essay EXECUTIVE SUMMARY HENNY PENNY is the first online fast food restaurant in the history of Pakistan. Our aim is to provide the quality food of your own choice at your door steps with the most convenient online ordering and payment system. OUR BUSINESS We take great pride and care to provide you with the best food and dining experience in the quick service online restaurant business. We believe eating sensibly, combined with appropriate exercise, is the best solution for a healthy lifestyle. Whether youre taking back lunch or bringing back dinner, HENNY PENNY has all your favorite chicken, salads, sandwiches, snacks, sweets and Beverages. HENNY PENNY also offers a variety of menu items for those who want lower fat, lower calorie choices etc. To help you further, weve provided nutritional information so you can make informed choices about what to eat. PURPOSE The purpose to start this business is to serve people of new era with a different and the most competitive style. The prime purpose is to generate profit by providing superb customer services. We aim to be leader in providing quality food items that fit into a balanced diet. Our aim is to provide the hygienic and delicious tastes that the customers have never tasted before. We want to add convenience in the lives of fast food lovers by providing them the most wonderful dining experiences at their doorsteps. THE MOST FREQUENT CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS: ? You cant get a table during busy periods of the day ? Food is cooked too far in advance of when I order it ? Food is not served hot enough ? Their food doesnt stay hot if you take it home ? Packaging for take-out food doesnt keep it warm ? Restaurant is too crowded during meal times ? They dont use high quality meat ? Takes too long to get your order ? People who come in after me get served before I do You have to wait too long when you go back to buy something else FEATURES OF ONLINE RESTAURANT ? Aiming to serve you in a way that is more convenient than ever. ? Our restaurant caters you 24/7 a week. ? This e-restaurant allows greater customer service relationship by providing enhanced service to their customers. ? Our e-service ensures hygienic, nutritious, healthy food with quick delivery. ? Customers can ca ncel or change the order by simply clicking without disturbing their busy schedules. ? Calorie guide and nutritional facts are displayed with each food item to help the customer to make the most appropriate choice. With the unique ordering system, clients can choose from a wide variety of food offerings available in menu. ? Clients make their food selections and designate the day and time the food should be delivered. ? Once the order is placed, HENNY PENNY remains in contact with the customer to ensure that food is prepared according to the clients instructions and then confirms the on-time delivery. VISION STATEMENT The companys goal is that of a multi-faceted success. Our first responsibility is to the financial well-being of the restaurant. We will meet this goal while trying to consider; the effect of our products on the health and well being of our customers (and our staff), ? the impact that our business practices and choices will have on the environment, and ? The high quali ty of attitude, fairness, understanding, and generosity between management, staff, customers, and vendors. Awareness of all these factors and the responsible actions that result will give our efforts a sense of purpose and meaning beyond our basic financial goals. MISSION STATEMENT Change the way, food is served† Tom Peter’s, the Management Guru states: Any business that does not change will be dead in five years†. 2008 will go down in history as the year of change, but still retailers who prefer the old days and are, alas, losing market share. Businesses don’t change for the sake of change, businesses generally change because the consumer either asks or forces them to change. It is not the industry that is forcing change; it is you as consumers. CORE VALUES AND PHILOSOPHY ? Customer satisfaction through offering high quality food with exceptional service and good value. ? Be topical, not typical. ? Constantly involve the team in the ideas loop. More emphas is placed on the caliber and training of frontline people ? We take great pride in serving each other, our customers and our communities. ? We seek continuous improvement in all that we do. ? Build trust relation ship with customers by promoting love and expertise. ? We value a sense of urgency and emphasize an innovative, entrepreneurial approach to business. ? We expect fairness and mutual respect in all our activities. ? We know our success depends upon the initiative we take individually and our ability to work as a team. GOALS ? We are committed to exceeding our customers expectations every time. We aim to be market leader by providing the superb customer experiences to all our customers and thus by gaining their loyalty. ? We will seize every opportunity to innovate and lead the industry on behalf of our customers. ? Our goal is to increase the profitability and reputation of business. PROPOSED BUSINESS LEGAL STATUS Although the legal status of business tends to play an import ant role in any setup, the proposed fast food business is assumed to operate on a sole proprietorship basis which may extend to partnership in case of addition of new products that might add significant Business to the existing setup. INDUSTRY ANALYSIS Although the restaurant industry is very competitive, the lifestyle changes created by modern living continue to fuel its steady growth. More and more people have less time, resources, and ability to cook for themselves. Trends are very important and HENNY PENNY is tasking interest to provide lighter, healthier foods at moderate to low prices. THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY TODAY The food service business is one of the largest industries in the country. This number has been increasing for the past seven years. In the past five years the restaurant industry has out-performed the national GNP by 40%. The reasons given by the Folkney Report (November 1994) are 1) lifestyle changes, 2) economic climate, and 3) Increase of product variety. There are 600 new restaurants opening every month and over 200 more needed to keep pace with increasing demand. FUTURE TRENDS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES The predicated growth trend is very positive both in short and long-term projections. Folkney states that â€Å"as modern living creates more demands, people will be compelled to eat more meals away from home†. The DMR Industrial Report (April 1995) estimates this as high as 30% over the next five years. In 1988 The National Restaurant Association released the Foodservice Industry 2000 report that forecasted how the industry might look in the year 2000. Some highlights from the panels findings:  · Consumers will spend a greater proportion of their food dollar away from home.  · Independent operators and entrepreneurs will be the main source of new restaurant concepts.  · Nutritional concerns will be critical at all types of foodservice operations, and food flavors will be important.  · Environmental concerns will receive increased attention. OUR CUSTOMERS/TARGET MARKET All the youngsters, children and fast food lovers who want to get the most exclusive and the more innovative dinning experience WHO EATS FAST FOOD The food concept and product image of HENNY PENNY will attract 3 different customer profiles;  · THE STUDENT more and more young people have developed healthy eating habits. Some also go through a health food phase while in college.  · THE HEALTH CONSCIOUS PERSON OF ANY AGE OR SEX this includes anyone on a restricted or prescribed diet or those who have committed to a healthy diet.  · CURIOUS AND OPEN-MINDED if you try it, you will like it. Through marketing, publicity, and word-of-mouth, people will seek out a new experience and learn that nutritious food can be tasty, fun, convenient, and inexpensive. WHEN DO PEOPLE EAT FAST FOOD ? Lunch (44%) ? Morning snack (40%) ? Afternoon snack (31%) ? Dinner (19%) ? Evening snack (14%) ? Breakfast (12%) The average person (over the age of 12) eats at a fast-food restaurant an average of 9. 2 times monthly. COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS HENNY PENNY is not without competitive pressures. Chief competitors include Yum! Brands, McDonalds, etc Yum! Brands are the worlds largest, with 33,000 restaurants in over 100 countries. Four of the companys highly recognizable brands, KFC, Pizza Hut, are global leaders of the Mexican, chicken, pizza, quick-service food categories. Yum! has a workforce of 272,000 employees and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. McDonalds Corporation (McDonalds) is the worlds largest foodservice retailing chain with 31,000 fast-food restaurants in 119 countries. The company also operates restaurants under the brand names The Boston Market and Chipotle Mexican Grill. McDonalds operates largely in the US and the UK and is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois employing 447,000 people. MAJOR COMPETITORS ? McDonald’s ? KFC SWOT ANALYSIS HENNY PENNY restaurant is well positioned to leverage its strengths and address reasonable threats, weaknesses, and opportunities. The table below highlights these Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Strengths  · It’s the first online fast food restaurant in the history of Pakistan  · Menu reflects demand for fresh, healthy and fast food.  · Use of non-traditional channels.  · Partnering with the Pakistan food association  · Customizable menu offerings.  · Staff training is structured and designed to assure rapid start-up and success.  · Convenience is an important factor of fast food restaurant i Weaknesses Employee turnover is high.  · Lack of trust of general public about online order placing and then finally get their desired food item Opportunities  · Continue to Grow Business in the whole country  · Update website decor to encourage more dine-in business.  · Improve Customer Service Model.  · Continue to expand channel opportunities to include event wagons.  · Expand packaged dessert offerings.  · Continue to revise and refresh menu offerings.  · Develop more partnerships with movie producers and toy manufacturers to promote new movie releases through childrens menu packaging and cobranding opportunities. Threats  · Food contamination  · Competition.  · Economic downturn.  · Government policies  · Bird Flu  · People with the access of internet only can place online orders. COMPETITIVE STRATEGY There are three major ways in which we will create an advantage over our competitors: 1. Product identity, quality, and novelty 2. High employee motivation and good sales attitude 3. Innovative and aggressive service options NUTRITION CALCULATOR HENNY PENNY serves a wide range of quality foods that can easily fit into individual diet needs based on the principles of balance, variety and moderation. Our varied menu and range of serving sizes make it easy to fit our food into a balanced diet and to create a range of meal combinations that fall within recommended guidelines for calories, fat and other nutrients. Concerned about fat content? Need a special order? With our cooking system, customers can special order various menu items to help meet their nutrition needs. . Today, building on our Food Facts program, nutrition information is also included on our double-sided tray liners and on posters that are conveniently located near our front counters. Also, customers can get nutrition information online. Simply visit our Nutrition Calculator for nutrition and ingredient information and to customize menu items to your needs. HENNY PENNY is also helping you learn more about our food by adding nutrition information on some of our packaging. Some of our packaging now includes the HENNY PENNY Nutrition Chart Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to assist you in making sensible decisions about balance, variety and moderation in your diet. FOOD QUALITY ASSURANCE The bedrock of all our socially responsible supply efforts is our commitment to ensuring that all the foods and beverages we serve our ustomers are safe. We do business only with suppliers that share this commitment and work with them to continuously monitor, test, and track our ingredients. We have stringent standards and checks in place in critical areas throughout the food supply chain- from fork to farm. PURCHASING HIGH-QUALITY SAFE FOOD PRODUCTS Companies that supply food products to the HENNY PENNY must ha ve a number of food safety programs in place. They include, among others, programs for sanitation, pest control, and microbiological control, and a hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) plan and program. HACCP is widely recognized, worldwide, as an effective method of preventing food-borne illnesses. ENSURING FOOD SAFETY AT THE RESTAURANT LEVEL Food safety training begins the first day an employee arrives for work, with an orientation to our standards. It is reinforced and expanded in the curricula and materials that prepare restaurant employees for more advanced positions. Shift managers must successfully complete an entire course in food safety before being certified as capable of managing a shift alone. Our Operations and Training manual for restaurant managers includes a whole chapter on food safety, with requirements and guidance that cover all the critical control points at the restaurant level- from supply and delivery through storage, preparation, and holding. Food safety procedures are monitored by staff operations consultants, who regularly visit our restaurants to advise managers on operations. The consultants also conduct periodic restaurant operations reviews, which include assessments of food safety procedures. Managers are expected to correct any irregularities identified. Onsite assessments are also used to identify needs for expert assistance and for further development of our training programs. They are an important factor in evaluating company-operated restaurant managers and in deciding whether owner/operators are qualified for additional restaurants and for continuation within the System. INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF HENNY PENNY Just-in-Time (JIT) inventory is the big thing right now in operations. HENNY PENNY is another example of a JIT system wherein henny penny’s doesn’t begin to cook its orders until a customer has placed a specific order. Now, due to more sophisticated burger-making technology (including a record-breaking bun toaster), henny penny is able to make food fast enough to wait until its been ordered. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR HENNY PENNY? The major benefits for HENNY PENNY are better food at a lower cost. HENNY PENNY has found something that allows them to improve quality and lower costs. Lets take a look at how it does both. 1. Improved Quality the benefits of a better tasting burger should be fairly apparent. Unless of course PACKAGING Packaging design is a fundamental part of our top quality customer service. Many of our enu offerings have unique packaging designs to provide insulation, help ensure food safety, and make them convenient for carryout. This gives us many ongoing opportunities to minimize the environmental impacts of our packaging and to provide industry leadership in natural resource conservation. you prefer aged burgers, the fresher burger is going to be higher quality if made fresh just f or you. The less obvious benefit is the higher quality customer service that arises from the JIT burger assembly. When HENNY PENNY waits for you to order the burger, they do a few things to improve customer service. First of all, when you place a special order, it doesnt send henny penny into a panic that causes huge delays. Now that HENNY PENNY is in the practice of waiting until you order a burger until they make it, they dont freak out when they have to make a special order fresh just for you. This higher quality customer service is subject to henny pennys ability to actually produce faster. Without this ability, henny pennys ordering costs would be sky-high because the costs associated with ordering would be the loss of customers tired of ordering fast food that really isnt fast. . Lower Costs The holding costs for burger parts are fairly high because of its spoilage costs. Frozen ground beef thats good today might not be so good in a few months. Once cooked, the same ground beefs spoilage rate shoots through the roof. Instead of having a shelf life of months or weeks, the burger needs to be sold within 15 minutes or so. The holding costs go from roughly 20% per week to 100% per hour. For HE NNY PENNY, the benefits of JIT are fairly clear Henny Penny’s suppliers play a pivotal role in our success, providing quality products at competitive prices. Together, suppliers and the Company create new products, help reduce costs and ensure our customers receive the same great taste of henny penny in every community across the country. In essence, we shop where our customers shop our shopping basket is just a bit bigger! Henny penny buys and serves the same wholesome foods our customers use at home, supplied by brand name companies which Pakistanis know and trust. RAW MATERIAL SURVEY RAW MATERIAL SURVEY The adequate material will be available to support our project from local market suppliers like KN, Dawn bread. Raw material used in our products belongs to the following categories ? Natural form ( chicken , vegetables, rice) ? Finished form ( oil, bread bun, butter cheese ,spices, beverages) PRODUCTS Chicken Piece Chicken Burger Chicken Sandwich Coke Chicken Cheese Egg Sandwich Sprite Burger Club Sandwich Fanta Products Fried Chicken Burgers Sandwiche s Salads Beverages Zinger Burger French Fries Product Raw material used Fried chicken Chicken, floor, oil, spices Burger Bun, chicken ,floor, oil, mayonnaise, salad, cheese Salads Fruits, Vegetables, chicken, pasta, macaronis Sandwiches Bread, chicken, egg, vegetables ,butter, mayonnaise French fries Potatoes, oil Production process flow Fried chicken Burger Rice Sandwiches French fries Raw material Raw material raw material Raw material Raw material Freezing Freezing Cutting Cutting Pealing Marinating Marinating Cooking Mixing Cutting Frying Frying Serving Filling Washing Serving Filling Serving Frying Serving Serving Operating Facilities and Equipment to run the business: 1. Kitchen Equipment ? Commercial Fryers ? Hot Food Storage ? Steam Equipment ? Commercial Ovens ? Wood Cabinet Carts ? Work Tables Tissue rolls ? Cutlery sets ? Freezers ? Generators ? Microwaves ? Waste bins 3. Cooking equipment ? Restaurant Toasters ? Sandwich Grills ? Sandwich Press 2. Kitchen apparels ? aprons ? bandannas ? caps hats ? chef coats ? chef hats ? face masks ? finger guard ? kitchen gloves 4. Stationary ? Register rolls ? Sales b ook ? Tape p roducts ORDERING SYSTEM It is now easier than ever before to order a fast fo od delivery from your local takeaway because you can do it over the internet. Using this website, you can HENNY PENNY fast food restaurants in your local area and see the entire menu online. Ordering is just a matter of clicking on what you want and entering your address. The order be sent to the fast food restaurant for delivery to you its as easy as that. Best of all its completely free! You dont have to be a member to use this website but if you sign up for a free account, it will make ordering food even easier in the future. You can store all your details so that you only have to enter them once. Signing up also lets you to see a past history of all your orders. You can even see your favorite meals and quickly reorder them. Ordering ou start by entering your postcode. Check out the list and select whichever type of food that you feel like. Instead of ordering by phone and going for your usual burger and chips, you get to see the full menu of this fast food place. Decide what you want and simply click on it to add it to your shopping list. Youll see this at the left of the screen and it shows you everything youve ordered along with the total price. we give you the ch ance to customize your order by selecting the type of sauce you want on your burger or whether you want salad on your kebab. In your shopping list, you might see a cross like this next to an item. This means that you can customize this item. Just click on it to see all the choices you have. When youre sure youve chosen everything you want, just click on Place Order. After letting us know the delivery address of your order and choosing whether you want to pay by cash or card, just sit back, relax and wait for your food. What happens next? At any time, you can check on the status of your order by using the order tracking system on this website PAYMENT PROCEDURE ? On line payment through credit cards in cash at the time of delivery of order LOCATION To run the business we have selected the most favorite site of fast food lovers i. e. M. M ALAM Road DEPARTMENTS OF FAST FOOD RESTAURANT ? Finance department ? marketing department ? Operations department ? purchasing department ? customer services department Finance department: This department is responsible to arrange the cash inflows of the business. it also id entifies the sources from where the finances can obtain to run the business operations smoothly. Basic source of financing are: ? Banks. ? Credit Unions ? Family Network of connections With the loan provision proper accounts of cost and revenues are maintained round the year. Such as: Average Sale per Customer = Total Sales / Number of Customer transactions This can be done by the year, month, week or day. The important thing is sales members need a target to aim for and this is one of the most effective ways of doing this Sales per Full time Team Member = Total Sales / Number of full time equivalent team members. To allow you to benchmark with other businesses you need to look at full time equivalent team members to get a comparable figure Labor Costs as a Percentage of Sales = All payroll expenses related to Sales x 100 Total Sales. This tells you the cost of doing business with your present team Return on Investment: there are two ways of doing this: Return on Total Assets (ROA %) = Earnings before Interest Tax (EBIT) x 100 Total Assets Return on Equity (ROE %) = Earnings after Tax (EAT) x 100 Owners Funds NOTE: An old saying If you cant measure it then you cant manage it. Marketing department: The marketing department focuses on designing colorful advertising and promotion materials. WE BELIEVE: Your team has the ideas that can help you be topical. Typical businesses tend not involve the team in marketing strategies. Topical businesses constantly involve the team in the ideas loop. Once a month take a couple of hours to work â€Å"on† your business with your team, provide some refreshments, and brainstorm ideas. Set a budget (which could be nil) prior to the session so the team have a parameter to work within. The subject could include how to develop unique displays, marketing campaigns or advertising to get more people through your front door MARKETING PLAN SALES STRATEGY MARKET PENETRATION Entry into the market should not be a problem. The store has high visibility with heavy foot traffic all day long. The local residents and students always support new restaurants and the tourists do not have fixed preferences. In addition, $10,000 has been budgeted for a pre-opening advertising and public relations campaign. Marketing Strategy Focusing on the unique aspect of the product theme (healthy, tasty foods) a mix of marketing vehicles will be created to convey our presence, our image, and our message. Currently advertisement is being done through: ? E-mails Bill boards ? Advertisement on different entertainment sites ? Print media Operations department: This department focuses on preparing food efficiently Purchasing department: Is responsible to manage the adequate number of supplies and chicken purchases at the right time and in the right quantity. Customer services department Are concerned to tackle and answer the complaints of customers in the most con genial way. Any inconvenience faced by customers is tried to resolve through ? FAQs ? E-mails If youre having any problems with this website then please dont hesitate to contact us. You can find all our details on our contact page. If you have any problems or disputes with any of the fast food order that we serve, please contact us and we will investigate. We are also interested in your comment and suggestions. This website is for you so if you can think of anything we can help with, just let us know. MANAGEMENT REQUIRED TO RUN THE BUSINESS 1. Fast food manager 2. HR manager 3. Quality assurance manager 4. Training development officer CALIBER OF HR ? Excellent customer service skills ? Ability to lead and motivate teams and influence people Designation/type no owner 1 itchen supervisor 2 shift supervisor 3 cook 4 take away order taker 1 dish washer 2 cleaner 1 guard(12hour) 1 Total 21 ? Good organizational skills ? Energy and stamina ? Decision making ability and problem solving skills ? Strong communication skills, tact and diplomacy LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT GOALS HENNY PENNY is an innovative concept that targets a new, growing market. We assume that the market w ill respond, and grow quickly in the next 5 years. Our goals are to create a reputation of quality, consistency and security (safety of food) that will make us the leader of a new style of dining. STRATEGIES Our marketing efforts will be concentrated on take-out and delivery, the areas of most promising growth. As the market changes, new products may be added to maintain sales. MILESTONES After the restaurant opens, we will keep a close eye on sales and profit. If we are on target at the end of year 1, we will look to expand it to other countries. RISK EVALUATION With any new venture, there is risk involved. The success of our project hinges on the strength and acceptance of a fairly new market. After year 1, we expect some copycat competition in the form of other independent units. Chain competition will be much later.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Function of the SAT - PrepScholar 2016 Students Encyclopedia

Function of the SAT - PrepScholar 2016 Students' Encyclopedia SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many 4-year U.S. colleges and universities require SAT or ACT scores fromtheir prospective students. Admissions officers, particularly those selecting for academic ability, consider the SAT as a measurement of academic ability and potential. The SAT is meant to be a reasoning test that evaluates students' problem-solving and analytical skills, rather than their specific content knowledge. Note: this article is a series in the PrepScholar2016 Students' Encyclopedia, a free students' and parents' SAT / ACT guide that provides encyclopedic knowledge. Read all the articles here! SAT scores are not the sole criterion for admission, nor are they the only measure of academic ability within a student's college application. Scores are considered in conjunction with high school grade point average (GPA), course selection, and other indicatorsof achievement. Many admissions officers emphasize that they take a holistic view of each applicant, considering the "whole person" as evidenced by his/her grades, extracurricular involvement, recommendations, and personal essay, among other demonstrated interests, accomplishments, and goals. While most colleges do not publicize specific SAT score minimums, many share data on the average scores of their accepted students. If this data shows a range of scores from the 25th to the 75th percentile, then the higher end of the range may be more representative of the school's SAT score expectations for the majority of regular applicants. The lower end of this kind of range may reflect the scores of special interest applicants who can gain admission with lower SAT scores, like students who are recruited for athletics. While many admissions officers claim they take a holistic approach, some will not review applications that do not contain a certain minimumSAT score. Conversely, high SAT scores are rarely a guarantee of admission, especially not at selective institutions like those in the Ivy League. Studentsthat entered Harvard's class of 2017, for example, had an average SAT score of 2237. Harvard's recruited athletes, on average, scored 173 points lower on the SAT than their non-recruited classmates. In addition to sharing data on average SAT scores of incoming students, most colleges share their policies on SAT scores. Some schools "superscore" the SAT, or take students' highest section scores across all testing dates and recombine them into a maximized composite score. Popular schools that have a policy of superscoring the SAT include Boston University, Columbia, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Princeton, and the University of Connecticut. Other colleges look at a student's highest sitting on one date he/she took the SAT. Schools that consider students' "highest sitting" include Arizona State University, Colorado State University, Oregon State University, and University of Wisconsin. By researching their prospective colleges' stance on SAT scores, students may adjust their preparation and test-taking plans accordingly. An increasing number of colleges have adopted test flexible and test optional policies. These may allow students to send SAT Subject tests or AP tests in lieu of the general SATor to choose whether or not to send their SAT scores. NYU, for example,allows students to send three SAT Subject Tests or three AP tests in lieu of the SAT, among other options. While students may be able to decide whether their scores are an accurate representation of their academic ability when applying to test optional schools, those who omit their scores may be at an empirical disadvantage when compared with theirpeers who chose to include their scores. HampshireCollege is the only school thus far that has adopted a "test blind" policy, stating, "We will not consider SAT/ACT scores regardless of the score. Even if it's a perfect score, it will not weigh into our assessment of an applicant." While colleges take varied approaches to their consideration of SAT scores, College Board states that the SAT is meant to give national perspective to local data from schools on students' achievement and ability. As a standardized test, College Board maintains that the SAT measures academic ability independent from differences among students' educational experiences by school district, including variationsin curricula, school funding, and course rigor. Critics of the SAT drawon data that shows a correlation between higher SAT scores and higher levels of family income and parental education. Rather than testing students "on a level playing field," SAT critics claim that the SAT contributes to existing patterns of social and educational inequality. The changes made to the redesigned SAT, which will be administered starting in March of 2016, may have been partially motivated to address these criticismsand to make the SAT more accessible to students across income levels. The elimination of high level vocabulary words in favor of medium-range, multiple meaning words, for instance, may be one change aimed to make the test more fair and to improve its validity and predictive power. College Board also recently began a collaboration with Khan Academy to offer free videos, lessons, and sample questions for students to prepare for the new SAT. In addition to addressing the concerns of critics, College Board may have been motivated to update the SAT in order to remain competitive with its counterpart, the ACT. Historically, the majority of American students who lived on the East and West coasts took the SAT while students in Midwestern states took the ACT. In 20, the number of students who took the ACT nationwide surpassed the number that took the SAT for the first time. The redesigned SAT will more closely resemble the ACT in several ways, particularly in the format of its vocabulary questions and its newly optional essay. Read more from the SAT Encyclopedia! Further Reading Which Colleges Superscore the SAT? Colleges Requiring All SAT Scores Sent: Complete List How Can You Build the Most Versatile College Application?