United States Postal Service Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

United States Postal Service - Case Study Example Rather, it creates revenues out of its sale of postage stamps, products and services. Over the last 2 years (2007-2008), the USPS has been hit by increase in cost of postage stamps, cost of deliveries and shipments and the increasing tendency of people to use email to send messages rather than posting letters or cards. It has absorbed a loss of $5.3 million in 2007 and $2.8 million in 2008, leaving it strapped for cash and increasing the possibilities of bankruptcy or business failure. This has been eating into its retained earnings for the period (David, 81). Meanwhile its revenues stand at $75 million and though it has cut back on employees and increased the number of points served, this is not translating into an increase in profitability, mainly due to the rise in costs. USPS clearly needs to follow the lead of its competitors UPS and Fedex, who have leaner and more profitable operations. Its service agreements with them need to be scrapped. USPS also needs to reduce the number of service outlets it has which will reduce the cost of maintaining them. At best one service location per district will work fine. It needs to adopt a centralized system. The internal analysis for USPS shows that it is suffering from many problems. Its employee unions have been successful in bargaining for compensation and benefits, while the employees have been working less hours due to lack of work. As 52 percent of its revenues derive from first class mail, a decline in this volume has affected its revenues. Meanwhile the fact that its Board is appointed by the President and its prices are regulated by CPI, there is a double bind on USPS in that it cannot increase its prices beyond a certain limit. The separation of business into market regulated and Government regulated areas has been the death knell for USPS (David, 83). No organization can be run as a combination private and public enterprise- it is either one or the other. In spite of all its efforts,

Internet Cafe Business Plan Essay Example for Free

Internet Cafe Business Plan Essay Internet Cafe Business Plan Executive Summary JavaNet, unlike a typical cafe, will provide a unique forum for communication and entertainment through the medium of the Internet. JavaNet is the answer to an increasing demand. The public wants: (1) access to the methods of communication and volumes of information now available on the Internet, and (2) access at a cost they can afford and in such a way that they arent socially, economically, or politically isolated. JavaNets goal is to provide the community with a social, educational, entertaining, atmosphere for worldwide communication. This business plan is prepared to obtain financing in the amount of $24,000. The supplemental financing is required to begin work on site preparation and modifications, equipment purchases, and to cover expenses in the first year of operations. Additional financing has already been secured in the form of: (1) $24,000 from the Oregon Economic Development Fund (2) $19,000 of personal savings from owner Cale Bruckner (3) $36,000 from three investors (4) and $9,290 in the form of short-term loans. JavaNet will be incorporated as an LLC corporation. This will shield the owner Cale Bruckner, and the three outside investors, Luke Walsh, Doug Wilson, and John Underwood, from issues of personal liability and double taxation. The investors will be treated as shareholders and therefore will not be liable for more than their individual personal investment of $12,000 each. The financing, in addition to the capital contributions from the owner, shareholders and the Oregon Economic Development Fund, will allow JavaNet to successfully open and maintain operations through year one.

Romeo as an Irrational and Impulsive Young Man Essay -- Papers

Romeo as an Irrational and Impulsive Young Man "Romeo and Juliet" is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in 1592. It is set in Verona, were a bitter feud between two rival families, the Montague's and Capulet's. The main characters, Romeo and Juliet, are the children of the two rivals, who meet and fall in love at the Capulet's ball. Nevertheless, the relationship of these "star-crossed lovers" ends in tragedy as they are unable to fulfil their love. The feud between the two families forces the two lovers to take their own life. However this act allows the families to forget their pointless feud. Romeo described to us by his cousin, Benvolio, as irritable. "gladly shunned who gladly flied from me" Benvolio is saying Romeo is avoiding him. This is because Romeo says he is in love. "In sadness, I love a woman" Romeo says he is in love but is he really? Romeo uses dull and depressing language and a series of oxymorons: "cold fire, heavy lightness, sick health" Romeo is depressed because his love for Rosaline is not returned. Romeo first irrational act is when he enters the Capulet's ball despite their bitter hatred and the fact they would kill him if they find him in their house, he still enters the ball. He is prepared to take a risk to see his love, Rosaline. But, when he lays eyes on Juliet he falls in love with her. "I never saw true beauty until this night" It almost seems as if Romeo is being inconsistent in that he can forget Rosaline so quickly when he was infatuated with her just a couple of minuets ago. Was he really in love with Rosaline? If his love for Rosaline ended so quickly could... ...irritated beyond endurance but, when he realises what he has just done, he is shocked. At this point, we see Romeo's actions reflect his love for Juliet. Finally, as he stands before Juliet and gazes at her, he shows no sings of synthetic emotions or trivial behaviour he displayed at the start. In a respectful speech, he addressed Juliet's death which has dealt such a cruel blow. As he takes the poison Juliet arouses and kills herself when Romeo dies; the depth of his feelings for Juliet is finally established Romeo is being true to his convictions. Overall Romeos has an irrational and impulsive nature; this got him into a great deal of dilemma. However if Romeo was not irrational and impulsive he would have never found or experienced true love and the bitter feud between the Montague's and Capulet's would persist.

Diversity management Essay

Diversity is crucial and inevitable for any service organisations to create opportunities for more innovative ideas. Diversity involves individuals from different ethnic background, culture, age, gender, status and personality characteristics to communicate and share values. To promote and implement diversity, managers should have an effective recruitment strategy. Although diversity creates opportunities, it can create contemporary issues. The issues on diversity are rather complex. This is due to the changing nature of social trends organisations need to adapt. For example, there has been an increase of women entering in the workforce by 40 per cent since August 1961 [ABS, 2013. ] and an increase of employment in part-time and casuals since 1979. The percentage of full-time employees fell from 42 per cent to 39 per cent, while part-time increased from 25 per cent to 36 per cent [Lawson, 2007. ]. There are other several trends which influence the nature of diversity in the service industry. These include the recognition of Australia characteristics as more of a multicultural country. The country is also known as an aging population and is skewed towards white-collar services. An increase of technology development creates more of a diverse country through networking. This suggests that social attitudes, cultural trends and values can often change. For example, Qantas had the difficulty of maintaining the company’s consistency in terms of performance due to the changing nature of diversity. Work-life balanced positions are more in demand. Thus Qantas has responded in employing more casual and part-time employees. This change has driven Qantas to reduce costs and improved its international competitiveness. There has also been an increase in participation of women in the workforce. Qantas has the total 42 per cent of women in which only 23 per cent of women occupy senior roles [Broadbridge, D. (2013: 68)]. Thus Qantas had implemented family practices to maintain women within the airline. This reinforces that, there is a need of ongoing diversity management to gain a productive diversity. Hence organisations are able to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. Managing diversity is defined as â€Å"the challenge of meeting the needs of a culturally diverse workforce and of sensitizing workers and managers to differences associated with gender, race, age and nationality in attempt to maximise the potential productivity of all employees† [Ellis and Sonnenfield (1994: 82)]. Tesco, a UK customer focused retailer has identified the essential of diversity management. To reach its maximum potential goals, Tesco has established a clear mission statement – â€Å"we make what matters better, together† [Tesco PLC, 2013]. The retailer’s mission statement promotes productive diversity. Tesco has recognised the importance of inclusion to ensure high employee satisfaction. The strong communication between managers and employees encourages each employee to maximise their own potential productivity against the organisation values and its benchmark. The industry further provides flexibility to all employees where â€Å"everyone is welcome† to motivate employees to become further productive. Therefore as a result, Tesco has gained significant benefits. These benefits include an increase of diverse knowledge and skills towards customer services, innovative opportunities, positive reputation of the organisation and an increase of service productivity. Thus it reinforces the importance of effective diversity management to gain a sustainable competitive advantage. A financial company, Westpac has also incorporated diversity management strategies to ensure the company achieve its vision – â€Å"To be one of the world’s great companies, helping our customers, communities and people to prosper and grow† [Westpac Group Ltd, 2013.]. Westpac has established The Westpac Group Diversity Council and diversity policy to ensure their objectives have been achieved. The policy outlines that managers should have continuous review and discussions in addressing with any emerging diversity-related organisational issues. This provides the organisation a constant strategic and effective diversity management evaluation. It also outlines engagement strategies such as effective communication to increase its productive diversity. Hence ensures the company reaches its vision. Westpac Ltd, 2013.  has clearly identified within its industry that, 43% of employees (36% men and 48% women) work flexibly, over 12% employees have disability, 61% employees are women are and 32% of employees were born outside of Australia and New Zealand. These statistics suggests Westpac have provided an inclusion of all recruited employees to promote a diverse service culture. As result, Westpac has gained positive response in managing diversity. The finance company has received recognition as one of the world’s most ethical companies [Ethisphere Institute, 2013.]; top ten employer for LGBTI (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex) inclusion [Australian Workplace Equality Index Awards, 2013. ]; won the Gender Equity in workforce [AHRI Diversity awards, 2013. ]; won the Employer of Choice for Women Award [Workplace Gender Equality Agency, 2013. ] and has been ranked 10th in the Global 100 list of the world’s sustainable corporations. Therefore it emphasises the need of diversity management in service industry to maintain a sustainable competitive advantage. Diversity can provide organisations great benefits, but it is also the cause of contemporary issues and conflicts when organisations need employees to think in the same direction. For example, according to Sunday Morning Herald, in 2002, TPG had a discrimination-related issue – a Muslim employee had asked the organisation to have a five minute break for his prayer was rejected. The issue was brought to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. As a result, TPG had failed to recognise its need of incorporating diversity with its culture values. Thus there was a need in changing its work ethnic values. Conflict can arise due to the differences of stakeholder’s values and miscommunication. Hence it is difficult to measure fairness and equality between the different cultures and social and ethical values. For example social etiquette is vital in a diverse service industry. The term â€Å"respect† can be interpreted in different perspectives. This is due to language barriers and different cultural aspects. It is also difficult to recruit a diverse workforce that is able to parallel with the organisational culture values. For example, most recruitment is based on skills, personal traits, experience and qualifications that are fitted to the organisation’s value. Conflicts are also inevitable, thus, managers should implement conflict resolution strategies to decrease the amount of conflicts. Conflict resolutions include identifying the issue, negotiating, mediating, grievance procedures and involvement of courts and tribunals. Thus, these strategies are a vital tool for service industries to promote productive diversity. Identifying the issue is the first step when a conflict arises. Managers who recognises the cause of the conflict are able to prevent further complex disputes. To avoid misunderstandings, managers should use active listening skills. This includes mirroring, paraphrasing, summarising, clarifying questions and providing the speaker motivational response. Negotiating is a bargaining process between two or more parties seeking to discover a common ground and reach an agreement to settle a matter of mutual concern or resolve a conflict [Chapman, S. 2011. ]. Mediation is the process of using a third party to settle a dispute [Samson, D.  and Draft, R. 2012. ]. Both solutions provide an ongoing communication between stakeholders to reach a â€Å"win-win† situation. Grievance procedures are used in certain conflict situations which must be handled in procedure. This method provides clear instructions on resolving a dispute. Courts and tribunals are a third individual mechanism that enforces a solution based on the conflict circumstance. Although it is used effectively to end a dispute, it could be argued that, this mechanism would be the causes of organisations to have further internal disputes. This is due to the negative publicity. In 2011, Qantas had a dispute in terms of different values between CEO and the union and employees. It could also be argued, that this conflict is due to poor management. The issue was based on providing employees a sense of job security, due to the â€Å"cultural shift† of outsourcing parts of its operation to Asia. The lack of flexibility and ineffective communication due to the top-down management hierarchy were also the causes of conflict. As result, the dispute had become internationally known and major costs were involved. Qantas human resource managers should have clearly communicated its vision to provide a sense of employee’s job security. Integrating diversity in the workplace is not only to create opportunities but it is to abide legal ethics. The legislation enforced in Australia to ensure equality employment is Equal Employment Opportunity Act 1987 (Cth). The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) outlines that all employees have equal access to the opportunities that are available, including promotion possibilities, overtime availability and leave entitlements [Chapman, S. 2011]. Thus, it could be argued, that, the legislation promotes diversity. Organisations which fail to abide the legal systems would be subjected to hefty fines and gain a negative industry reputation. For example, in 2003, the phone company, TPG had discriminated a female pregnant employee under the EEO. The company did not offer a suitable part-time position after her maternity leave. As a result of this issue, TPG had to cover $75,000 of damage [Sunday Morning Herald, 2003. ]. This suggests poor productive diversity. It is recommended, that TPG should evaluate its diversity management and its culture values. This case study also suggests the need to reform the legislation where women with pregnancy are included to avoid further conflicts. Thus, the Equal Employment Opportunity Amendment Act 2012 (Cth) legislation further reinforced and depicts issues on conflicts based upon discrimination, harassment and racism. Westpac and Qantas have obligated to promote EEO within the workforce. Westpac has effectively promoted EEO and its values to employees. The establishment of the diversity council group had lead Westpac to manage its diversity effectively. Through continuous evaluation, Westpac has created high staff morale. Thus the company is able to maintain its low staff turnover and absenteeism. Qantas has established a Diversity Statement to ensure the airline industry is obligated to the EEO. The EEO provides Qantas to promote diversity through leadership, talent and development programs, flexible work arrangements and recruitment and selection processes [Qantas Airways Ltd, 2013. ]. This management approach supports Qantas objectives, delivers competitive advantage and benefits to customers. In conclusion service industries that effectively implement diversity management allows organisations to achieve its maximum potential goal. Hence it is an essential strategy for managers maintain a sustainable competitive advantage through productive diversity. It is also an opportunity for organisations to embrace diversity to become more innovative. Although productive diversity allows positive recognition response like Westpac, it can also be the cause of contemporary issues. Unable to identify contemporary issues will lead to conflicts. Conflicts are inevitable. Therefore, there is a need for conflict resolution mechanism to maintain ethical practices in the workforce. Further disputes can create a disadvantage. For example, Qantas should have positive reinforcement if there is a need for change of work practices. The lack of job security has lead unions and employees to go on strike. As result, major financial costs were involved and negative publicity. The establishment of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act 1987 (Cth) is enforced for all organisations to abide. The legislation ensures equity and fair ethical practices in the workforce. Failure to abide the legislation results in disadvantage outcomes. This could include negative publicity, increase of costs and decrease staff morale which leads to high staff turnover and low productive diversity. Overall the importance of incorporating diversity management, conflict resolution and equal employment opportunity determines the effectiveness in achieving organisations objectives. It is strongly recommended that, service industries should continuously evaluate its effectiveness of diversity management and conflict resolution to ensure an increase of productive diversity.

“Remember The Titans” Directed by Boaz Yakin Essay

In the film â€Å"Remember the Titans† an important scene is at the Gettysburg battle location. Here, Boone makes an impacting speech to the players on overcoming their racism. Boone is the head coach of the mixed coloured football team he is speaking to. The film is set in the 1970’s, when racism is common. The Gettysburg scene has some visual techniques which helps one understand why it is important. One example is the silhouette with Boone the background. A verbal technique is the Boones voice is serious. Gettysburg is the turning point in the film, where the players over come their racism. At the football training camp in Gettysburg, the head coach Boone, takes them on a run at three o’clock in the morning. He takes them to the scene of the Gettysburg battle. The weather is foggy and damp. The mist from the fog, gives a softening effect on the cemetery behind Boone, when he gives his speech. The gravestones in the cemetery resemble the men killed in the battle. The gravestones also give the scene a serious effect. When Boone is speaking, one knows that what he’s saying is important because Boone is talking in a very serious and flat tone. â€Å"50,000 men were killed fighting the same fight you’re fighting.† The fight is the fight of racism. The men in the battle fought over political issues, including the use of the black slaves. The quote means that the players are fighting over racism, when the fight has already been fought with a drastic outcome. The tone of Boone’s voice is very serious, because it is clear and does not change tone. His voice impacts one because the only thing that can be focused on is the words. His voice helps me understand why it is important because he asks rhetorical questions and the words are powerful. â€Å"I don’t care if you don’t like each other, but you will respect each other.† When Boone speaks at the scene, he is standing in front of everyone, and the assistant coach, Yoast is standing with the players. This shows that Yoast connects with the players. During Boones speech there is a silhouette of Boone and the cemetery behind him. This gets the viewer to focus on the words he is saying, and the cemetery behind him, not on what he looks like saying them. â€Å"Did the die for nothing?† When he says this, the viewer is taking in what he says because one is focused on Boone himself and his words. When they get back to the camp, during a training session, the two captains shout the mantra, â€Å"left side† â€Å"strong side† to each other. This shows a new understanding and respect towards each other. They impact the rest of the team, which then come together as well. On the bus ride too the camp, the players are not talking to each other. In comparison to this, the bus ride on the way back to school, the players are all singing together. This is the turning point which shows me that Gettysburg is important. Overall I think that Gettysburg is an important scene because through Boone’s speech, the cemetery and the reactions after the speech, it shows that it affected the players because they changed from disliking and not trusting each other, to trusting and respecting each other. This shows that it must be important because of the result.