Project Management Areas Managing Business Projects

Question: Discuss about the Project Management Areas for Managing Business Projects. Answer: Part 1 Introduction In this report, the statement, With respect to managing projects, the Project Manager is constantly required to monitor progress, gather information and problem-solve to make decisions is being evaluated with respect to two key disciplines of project management including Human Resource Management and Risk Management. An argument would be made on whether the activities of project manager must be based on the creation of value for the project. Project Management Definition As per PMBOK guide, project management process is carried out in five process groups including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closing(Duncan, 1996). Each of these process groups has defined core as well as facilitating processes as shown in the table below: Process Group Core Processes Facilitating Processes Initiation Initiation Planning Scope planning, scope defining, Activity definition, resource planning, activity sequencing, activity duration and cost estimation, schedule development, cost budgeting and plan development Quality plan, communication plan, risk management plan, human resource management plan, procurement plan, solicitation plan Executing Scope plan execution, scope verification Quality assurance, team development, information distribution, solicitation, source selection Monitoring and Control Change control, performance reporting Quality control, risk response control, scope control, schedule control, cost control(Boudreau, 1996) Project Closure Administrative closure, Contract closure Explanation Each of the key process groups of PMBOK guide has defined core as well as facilitating processes as shown in the table below: Process Group Core Processes Facilitating Processes Initiation Initiation Planning Scope planning, scope defining, Activity definition, resource planning, activity sequencing, activity duration and cost estimation, schedule development, cost budgeting and plan development Quality plan, communication plan, risk management plan, human resource management plan, procurement plan, solicitation plan Executing Scope plan execution, scope verification Quality assurance, team development, information distribution, solicitation, source selection Monitoring and Control Change control, performance reporting Quality control, risk response control, scope control, schedule control, cost control(NCKU, 2008) Project Closure Administrative closure, Contract closure Framework The project management framework defined in the PMBOK divides project activities into processes that are grouped into five categories based on the stage of the project including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and control and project closure. All the processes involved in the project management are listed into 10 knowledge areas of project management including project integration, scope management, time management, quality management, HR management, communication management, risk management and procurement management. As this report would be created considering two of these knowledge areas, this section would cover framework details of only those two areas that include Human Resource Management and Risk Management(Atkinson, 1999). Human Resource Management: This area involves development of a human resource plan which is done in the planning stage and execution of the same by acquiring project team, developing the team, and managing the same(Belout Gauvreau, 2004). Risk management: This area involves development of a Risk Management plan which is done in the planning stage and execution of the same which involves identification of risks, qualitative risk analysis, quantitative risk analysis, and risk response planning. Risk monitoring and control activities are also carried out in this discipline in the fourth stage of project management(U.S. Department of the Interior , 2012). Part 2 In this part, a few cases of large projects are taken as a base for understanding the importance and value creation in terms of human resource management and risk management. Human Resource Management Human resource management is essential on a project as the project performance largely depends on the people working for it. Projects can survive only when they have clarity of vision, strong work culture, and skilled workforce. Thus, reaching project goals require focus on human factors(Boudreau, 1996). It is an important part of any project management and it involves determination of competency and skill requirements of projects, assessment of potential candidates based on the same, selection and recruitment of right resources and their management. For any organization to be able to do that, the first step is to hire an efficient project manager who would the take care of the plan for the acquisition and use of other resources(Mishra, 2007). Inefficient HRM in Sydney Opera House Sydney opera house was the first construction project that used Computer Aided Design. The project was in major limelight for its unique design but from project management point of view, it is largely considered as a failure due to two main reasons. First, the project exceeded its original budget by a large amount. While the initial budget allocated was only AUS $1 million, the actual project cost $102 million. The construction work was also much delayed as the final design of the project was completed 4 years after the construction had already started. In the Sydney Opera House Project, there was no project manager involved but the designer Utzon himself was expected to take coordinate all activities. However, Utzon did not have any practical experience of such large construction projects because of which designs and implementation methods kept on changing and many a times, already build structures were demolished and rebuilt. The original design of roof which had made Utzon won the competition was under major controversy as it was later found not feasible and thus, Utzon revised its design. If the project had an experienced project manager handling coordination and execution activities, Utzon did not have to divert from his design work(Sanchez, et al., 2015). Moreover, there was no human resource management plan made but management of the construction project team was left to Utzon who was a good at aesthetics of designs but was not an adept manager. He would not listen to the concerns and suggestions of engineers but was only concerned about the aesthetics of the roof. This resulted into conflicts and delays. Because of the delays, people started to leave the project which resulted into high turnover(Ballesty, 2005). Effective HRM in DLC In the infrastructure construction project of Dubai Logistics City (DLC), management knew well in advance that capacity would be a constraint for such a large project to handle as contractors, skilled engineers, logistics and project management professionals were not available sufficiently with the government. However, with proper human resource planning, the management of the project took a different approach to human resource and took some professionals from the private sector. While taking people from private sector, they also realized that they had to do some modifications in contract arrangements to attract them as well as keep the workforce satisfied and motivated. Thus, strategies were adopted to curb quality issues and overcome constraints of supply chain. Some of these strategies included advanced payment structure and the promise of largest price that were adopted over the traditional mode of payment after work and fixed contract pricing(Sen, et al., 2007). Risk Management The process of risk management begins at the time of project planning such that probable risks are identified and response plan is created to manage them at the time of occurrence. If risks are not evaluated in advance then it becomes difficult to respond to them fast when they actually occur. Moreover, certain risks are likely to affect project to a major extent. Such was the case with the opera house. The risk of using a design that was made out of lack of practical experiences of construction project could have risked instability and lack of construction feasibility which was not evaluated before the project was planned. This resulted into selection of a design that was good as per looks but was not feasible for construction. Lack of Risk Management in Opera House The Opera House project had many risks and uncertainties that affected its performance but the same were not forecasted at the time of planning. From the starting of the project itself when a design competition was conducted to call designs for the construction of opera house, no clear evaluation was done on the past experience of the designers with construction projects. Various risks and uncertainties that were not accounted for in planning but cause major impacts on the project included: Impractical design: The design made by Utzon, the chosen designer was not practical for construction because of which he had to make major changes in the design and the final design was only completed after 4 years of the start of the construction work. Conflict due to change in Stakeholder expectations: The expectation of Australian government from the project was not made clear at the start nor was any consideration made for risk of inability to meet the expectations. The original design was created considering two theatres but later government officials demanded 4 theatres. Cost Conflicts: Initially, the government gave a go ahead for no limits on funding but at the later stages of the project, when the expenses exceed beyond expectations, limits were put on funding which lead to frustration and discouragement in the project team. The initial estimates of project cost were highly superficial that did not work with the project activities and thus, there was a need of more funding. By the time, government realized this and increased the funding in 1966; Utzon had already left the project. Loss of Human Resource: Utzon left the project in the middle of construction because of discouragement from lack of funding. New designer was to be hired and as Utzon took away his ideas as well, a new design was to be developed by the new designer. This rework escalated the cost to a large extent and the project ended up spending AUS $102 million by the end of the project. Risk Management in Sydney Cross City Tunnel Project Sydney Cross City Tunnel Project was an outcome of a Public Private Partnership which needed division of responsibilities as well as risks between the two entities . However, all the risks were offloaded to the private player while government agency only provided initial funds required for project. Private organization was unable to manage the risks well. It faltered specifically in the management of financial risks(GAMUT, 2014). The project reflects the importance of not only recognizing the risks but also in recognizing appropriate people or entities who should take the responsibility of managing the risks. Moreover, the project lacked a systematic risk management methodology that could have been agreed upon mutually such risk response plans could have been identified and appropriate risk policies could have been set. It was only after all the funds were exhausted and the project was making losses that the lacuna was realized and the government came up with a new arrangement in which risks were properly planned and shared between the two entities(Chan, et al., 2008). Part 3 Human Resource Management Use of human resource management strategies and tools defined in the project management methodology can add value to the project in following ways: Responsibility assignment matrix ensures that every work package is properly assigned to qualified team member which avoids role related conflicts(NCKU, 2008). RACI matrix can be used to identify if a person is given responsibility but lack accountability which can cause conflicts of interest. If this was used in the Opera House project, a realization could have made that Utzon who was given responsibility of managing project was actually not accountable for it and thus, could decide to leave the project exercising his freedom. On the other side engineers were given responsibility to take care of technicalities of the project but were not given authority to take decisions such that only Utzon decided what was to be done which again resulted into people conflicts and loss of interest in engineers. Human resource plan also takes care of the competencies of people such that they are hired on the job only when they have the right skills for managing a part of the project. In case of the Opera house project, Utzon was expected to manage people which required project management skills that were not present in him. A human resource plan helps management clearly identify staff requirements, cost estimations for resources, when resources are needed, required skills, training requirements and equipments required by staff. This clear identification of resource requirements can help resolve resource conflicts as well as ensure that they posses right skills and competencies to be able to complete the project with proficiency(Mishra, 2007). Risk Management A risk management planning can add value to the project as it is a proactive process for managing risks such that risks that have not occurred but can be expected are analyzed in advance and a plan is developed for responding to them as they occur. Risk management process also help managers identify the likelihood of each risk and the impacts they can cause on the project such that appropriate control strategy or response strategy can be developed. For instance, if there are risks found that can create major impacts on the project performance but if identified earlier, they can actually be avoided from happening; an appropriate measure would be taken to already eliminate the risk even before the same occurs. For instance, in the case of opera house project, if a risk of presenting a design which was not practical was realized at the start of the project, a requirement of having an experience with large scale construction project could have been added in the competition which could have resulted into applications of only those designers who also know the practical challenges of construction such that the design presented was sustainable. In the same way, if the risk of Utzon leaving the project in between was identified earlier, company would have already taken the designs and other work done by Utzon in their custody such that even if he left the project, the same designs could have been used by the new designer and new design would not have to be created. This way, a huge loss to the organization could have been prevented that was causes because of redesigning and reconstruction of the project. Conclusions Recommendations This report was prepared to understand how project management practices can add value to projects. For this, a case of Sydney Opera house project was taken which was explored against the practiced of human resource management and risk management used. The base of Project Management Body of Knowledge was taken for analysing the case. The report presented the arguments on the statement, With respect to managing projects, the Project Manager is constantly required to monitor progress, gather information and problem-solve to make decisions The report identified ways human resource management and risk management added value to projects. Based on this study certain recommendations can be made: Human resource management should include clear identification of roles, responsibilities, skills, competencies, and training requirements. A person made responsible for an activity must also be given required authority to be able to take decisions A person made responsible for something must also have an accountability for the same to be able to expect sincerity from the person All possible risks on the project must be identified and those that can be avoided must be avoided. A contingency and risk response plan is required if the project has to run smooth and losses are to be avoided. References Changefirst Limited, 2009. Change and project management , s.l.: ChangeFirst. Atkinson, R., 1999. Project management: cost, time and quality, two best guesses and a phenomenon, its time to accept other success criteria. International Journal of Project Management, pp. 337-342. Ballesty, S., 2005. Sydney Opera ouse - FM Exemplar Project : Procurement Case Study and decision Making Strateges, s.l.: CRC Construction. Barkley, B. T., 2008. Project management in New Product Development, s.l.: Mc-Graw Hill Companies. Belassi, W. Tukel, O. I., 1996. A new framework for determining critical success/failure factors in projects. International Journal of Project Management , 14(3), pp. 141-151. Belout, A. Gauvreau, C., 2004. Factors influencing project success: the impact of human resource management. International Journal of Project Management, Volume 22, pp. 1-11. Boudreau, J. W., 1996. Human Resources and Organization Success, s.l.: Cornell University. Bright Hub Media, 2015. Constructing Powerful Scope Statements. [Online] Available at: https://www.brighthubpm.com/project-planning/57950-example-and-evaluation-of-project-scope-statements/ California CIO, 1997. Project Management Planning, s.l.: California CIO. Caltrans, 2007. Project Communication Handbook. s.l.:Caltrans. Chan, A., Lam, P., Chan, D. Cheung, E., 2008. Risk-Sharing Mechanism for PPP Projects the Case Study of the Sydney Cross City Tunnel. Surveying and Built Environment, 19(1), pp. 67-80. Duncan, W. R., 1996. A guide to the Project Managment Body of Knowledge, s.l.: PMI. GAMUT, 2014. Sydney Cross City Tunnel, s.l.: Omega Centre. GDE, n.d. Project Management Methodology Guidelines. [Online] Available at: https://www.chandleraz.gov/content/pm000pmmethodologygde.pdf [Accessed 21 October 2016]. Helm, J. C., 2000. Teaching Continuous Risk Management Using A Requirements Management Tool, Houston, TX: University of Houston-Clear Lake. Henshaw, J. Osborne, B., 2004. Managing CRM Risk, s.l.: eLoyalty Corporation. Lacaster University, 2006. Case Study of Successful Complex IT Projects, s.l.: THE BRITISH COMPUTER SOCIETY . Mishra, S., 2007. Human Resource Management in a Project. PM World Today, 9(7), pp. 1-18. NCKU, 2008. The Importance of Human Resource Management, s.l.: NCKU. Project Management Institute , 2000. A guide to the Project Management Book of Knowledge , s.l.: Project Management Institute . Sanchez, A. X., Hampson, K. D. Mohamed, S., 2015. Sydney Opera House Case Study Report, s.l.: NRC. Sen, S., Mir, A. H. Durani, A. Z., 2007. International Case studies - The UAE, CHina and Malaysia, s.l.: PIICA. SLAC, 2009. RESEARCH SUPPORT BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION: RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN, s.l.: SLAC. Team FME, 2014. Human Resource Management: Project Skill, s.l.: FME. The Saylor Foundation , 2014. Project Management from Simple to Complex, s.l.: The Saylor Foundation . Time is Ltd, 2015. Evaluating a Project. [Online] Available at: https://www.time-is-ltd.co.uk/Management/Promise/PMManual/Evaluating%20a%20Project.htm U.S. Department of the Interior , 2012. Project Management Framework, s.l.: U.S. Department of the Interior .

Pablo Picassos Bequest Of Gertrude Essays - Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso's Bequest Of Gertrude Pablo Picasso was a very famous artist in his time. I have always found his work very interesting and unique. He has a style all his own and, I believe that this was what made him so famous and at the same time controversial. The painting I have chosen is called Gertrude. Pablo Picasso was born in Spain to Jose Ruiz and Maria Picasso. He later adopted his mothers more distinguished maiden name Picasso. Picasso was a child prodigy who was recognized as such by his art-teacher father who ably led him along. Picasso was taught for a few years and after he attended the Academy of fine art in Curna Spain where his father taught. Picassos early drawings such as, Study of A Torso, After A Plaster Cast (1894-1895 Musee Picasso, Paris, France) demonstrates the high level of technical proficiency he had accomplished by the age of 14 years old. (Encarta 2000) Picassos artwork is classified as modern art witch started in the early 1880s to the mid 1970s. In 1885 his family moved to Barcelona, Spain after his father obtained a teaching post at that citys academy of fine Arts. Picasso was admitted to advanced classes in the academy after he completed in a single day the entrance examination that applicants were traditionally given a month to complete. In 1897 Picasso left Barcelona to further his study at the San Fernando academy in Madrid witch was located in the Spanish capital. His academic studies did not last long in Madrid. He was unhappy with the training he was receiving and he left and returned back to his home in Barcelona Spain. Picasso visited Paris some time around the early 1900s. After that visit he decided that he would move back and fourth between Spain and Paris. He did this until 1904 when he finally settled down in the French capital. At this time Picasso started to explore and experiment with different art styles that were modern. This portion of his life is called the blue period. This was because of the blue tones Picassos paintings had. During the year of 1905 to 1906 a radical change took place in Picassos style of painting once again. His choice of colors and mood were evident in this period of his life. He used subtle pinks and grays that were often highlighted by brighter tones. This was tone as his rose period. (Rodenbeck, Compton's, Joseph) Along with her brother Leo, Gertrude Stein was among the first Americans to respond with enthusiasm to the artistic revolution in Europe in the early years of the twentieth century. The weekly salons she held in her Paris apartment became a magnet for European and American artists and writers alike, and her support of Matisse, Braque, Girls, and Picasso was evident in her many acquisitions of their work. For Picasso, this early patronage and friendship was of major importance. Picasso's portrait of the expatriate writer was begun in 1905, at the end of his Harlequin period and before he took up Cubism. Stein is shown seated in a large armchair, wearing her favorite brown velvet coat and skirt. Her impressive demeanor and massive body are aptly suggested by the monumental depiction. In her book The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (1932), Stein described the making of this picture: Picasso had never had anybody pose for him since he was sixteen years old. He was then twenty-four and G ertrude had never thought of having her portrait painted, and they do not know either of them how it came about. In any case, it did, and she posed for this portrait ninety times. There was a large broken armchair where Gertrude Stein posed. There was also a couch where everybody sat and slept. There was a little kitchen chair where Picasso sat to paint. There was a large easel and there were many canvases. She took her pose, Picasso sat very tight in his chair and very close to his canvas and on a very small palette, which was of a brown gray color, mixed some more brown gray and the painting began, and he created the rich earth tones that we see in the

Gordon Wood American Revolution free essay sample

The American Revolution was as radical as any revolution in modern history, for it replaced monarchical authority with representative government and created a society that was far more democratic than even the founding fathers had anticipated. These new ways of thinking are why Gordon Wood strongly believes that the American Revolution was the most radical and far-reaching event in American history. Before the revolution even began radical thoughts and ideas about things swept through the colonies. Through the Enlightenment and Great Awakening new ways of thinking based on reason emerged and took tolls on the peoples beliefs. Thinkers such as Ben Franklin noted that the government was more of Like a business and man-made sort of structure. This was a very a radical idea which went against the prevailing way of running countries through a monarchy. Once people conceived of a government as an artificial, then it became much less sacred and much more susceptible to criticism and even overthrow. We will write a custom essay sample on Gordon Wood American Revolution or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Revolution also brought change within social standards and hierarchy.The colonists had long thought themselves loyal subjects of the British monarchy, and significantly, there was no well- established aristocracy In place on American soil. In short, the colonies developed a more egalitarian society than Europe. Gordon Wood has said, Although eighteenth century society was much tighter and less permeable than American mythology would have It, the topmost ranks of the social hierarchy certainly remained more permeable and open to entry from below than In the mother country. The rank of gentleman in America was 118).America was the place where someone born into a low-class or in poverty could still work his way up the social adder and make a name for him or herself. Leaders of the American Revolution can be best labeled and defined as conservatives because of the traditional way they lead their country and people. However during this time of a struggle for freedom and independence there were obvious disagreements over such ways to run the people or to collaborate. However, during the Revolution the most influential and important leaders did not lead by violent protests but rallied the colonists through patriotic speeches.Leaders and decision-makers collaborated and met to discuss the Issues h at colonial America must face. The result of these gatherings and formulation of new Ideas such as liberty, Independence, and freedom lead to the whole radical movement to what we know as the Revolution. These leaders helped to Implement a constitution of the colonists desires in America, which ultimately resulted in The Revolution brought together America and its people. People with completely different views came together to reach the common goal everyone shared which was to gain independence from Britain.The movement itself went completely against all forms that had been in place for so many years. The people realized that they had had enough with British Rule and thus devised a declaration of their own independence as a Constitution that would lay out Americans rights and liberties. Because the British were unwilling to give these rights, the Revolution became extremely radical. However, the most radical moment was actually after the Revolution was completed and the British had lost. At that moment, the safest thing to do would have been to make their own monarchy.

Analyze the goals Essays

Analyze the goals Essays Analyze the goals Essay Analyze the goals Essay Analyze the goals and objectives using the mission statement as the basis.The Mission statement of Microsoft is as given below:â€Å"At Microsoft, we work to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential. This is our mission. Everything we do reflects this mission and the values that make it possible†The above statement tells about the intent of the company. For fulfilling the above mission, Microsoft needs to do specific tasks which are specific and also can be measure. These are known as goals.   Finally to achieve these goals, the company should use certain tactics which are classified as objectives.Looking at the above mission statement it can be said that one of the goals of Microsoft is to be a well-known global player, who would like to help people and businesses from all walks of life. In addition, the company wishes to make people attain their own goals by making them utilize their full potential. To attain this goal Microsoft set its objectives towards more effective worldwide sales and distribution network. In addition to this, the marketing strategy of the company should be designed such that people living anywhere in the world are aware of the company and its products and services. The entire system should be backed by an excellent customer support service which can take real-time feedback of these people.There are some common values that company that wishes to help people throughout the globe, should possess. Some of them are maintaining quality in products, transparency in processes, promptness and efficiency of customer service and concern over environmental issues arising directly or indirectly due to the products and services.Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses, taking into consideration all the environmental factorsStrengthsa.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to the developmental activities taking place in many developing an d third world countries, the company has a very good chance of developing newer markets. Combined with the excellent brand image the company has, this is one of the biggest opportunity and asset for the company at this stageb.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The presence of Microsoft in multiple countries has given it a very wide exposure and capability to deal with people belonging to various cultures. This could be extremely useful while the company expands to a newer market or newer countryc.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The market of mobile and handheld devices is booming. With some strategic alliances which Microsoft could gain a string foothold in this field. The company’s dominant international presence in the PC market can be a big asset in forging such an alliance.d.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even while the handheld device market is on a rise, the desktop systems market is still very strong. The tried and tested software development process ensures rapid development and updates of the existing products. The experience of the company in this market also proves beneficial at the time of product innovatione.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Users rely on buying software from a company that is well-known and provides excellent customer support. Microsoft scores well on these issues thereby getting customer loyalty and this increasing revenuesf.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The superior technical image of the company attracts highly-skilled professional who increase the quality of labor force and in turn help in developing superior quality productsg.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The company’s strategy for expansion is very aggressive which makes it a very formidable competitor. Microsoft is also well known for its large number of acquisitions which help it in expanding the product portfolio and also control the competition.(Hafner, Hibbert p. 1, 3)Weaknessesa.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the company enjoys top position in almost every area of software products, its biggest threat is the open-source software. The quality of these software considered by many, to be much better than Microsoft’s products which is not a very good signb.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The company’s products of late have been focusing on merely software upgrades. The few new software packages that have been released in the market like Microsoft Visio has garnered pretty lukewarm responses.c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the employees of the company are well-paid and are of a superior quality, the massive number of updates and installation deadline have le d to high attrition rated.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many users feel that the products have a single focus and do not usually work well when installed / combined with other products.e.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the company enjoys very good image in the market, the reputation has been often threatened due to its entanglement in antitrust and permatemps Vizcaino litigation. The reputation has been further threatened by the fact that the company is very cut-throat in competition and plays very dirty towards its competitors by stifling their growth in all possible kinds of waysf.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The repeated forays of the company in the wireless market have proved to be pretty disappointingg.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The massive structure of the company which is essentially decentralized in na ture has led to the company having major problems with employee management.h.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Software piracy of commercial and consumer applications software on a global scale threatens revenue streams(Hafner, Hibbert p. 2, 4)Recommend a strategic model for the organization. Justify the choice of the model. Discuss a global strategy for this organizationStrategic modeling for an organization must be done taking care of the mission, goals and objectives of the company. The organizational structure of the company defines what present focus of the company is and paves its way towards achieving long terms strategic goals. The modeling means grouping of the organization into various clusters and their modes of interaction with each other. In addition an organization has to develop an information system to meet the inter- and intra- organizational demand for information processing (Burton, Obel p. 10)The present organizational structure of Microsoft is a decentralized organization which is falling into professional bureaucracy and red tape. To make the organization effective, the structure should be matrix like with a functional base. While there is no need for centralizing the company, a little less formalization would be very beneficial for the internal environment. Being a very big organization automatically means that the company structure is complicated enough. Hence, efforts should be made for more effective communication by cutting of channels (Burton, Obel p. 290-293)Microsoft needs to continue its strategy of building strategic partners across the globe. Increasing the size of its own company should be taken one step at a time, so as to give the management as well as its employees to adjust to the various necessary changes. Forging alliances would make sure that the company stays within the competition and not much of the company structure is disturbed, which is seen to be a very common activity in the co mpany (Menzefricke p. 5). The strategic alliances should be with companies in the newer countries who could act as distribution centers. The company should also start actively foraying in the mobile and handheld device market by actively forging alliances. The focus here should be on product innovation for bringing out quality products, instead of just consolidating the market. This would enable the company in getting quality products which can then be aggressively marketed.Identify the key performance indicators to measure the performanceKey Performance Indicators are used for measuring the performance of each of the defined objectives. Using this, a process can be analyzed based on cause and effect, which can be used to implement strategies having built-in metrics to track and measure the performance.Based on the goals and objectives of Microsoft, its KPIs can be figured out. As the company wishes to grow throughout the world one of the KPI could be market growth. This can be furt her detailed by taking the market growth for each country group or each country. The rate of increase in the market share is yet another KPI, as are the sales or revenue growth rates. Hence, the company should take the sales target combined with the market share and make an analysis of the newer markets entered in a fiscal year to measure its true performance rating. As improving the quality of customer support is also an objective, one of the KPIs could be also be higher rate of customer satisfaction achieved in a given period. This can also be further divided into the percentage of returning customers, response time taken on an average, customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction indices etc. (Woods, Joyce p. 99)Establish the information requirements and hence strategic information systems to give a competitive edge to the companyThe world of business has always been ruled by information. With the advent of digital techniques the technology has advanced at a very fast rate. This as e ffected the way in which information is passed between various channels in business. IT based information systems have become the order of the day. The integration of business with IT ensures many advantages for the company adopting the digital mode of communication (Dobrev p. 7, 9). The major impact is on the enhancement of products, its life cycle, reduction in management levels and ultimately reduction the cost. The company can effectively manage its internal environment and concentrate its external environment. As a company expands the business goals of the managers change. This brings about an increase in the complexity of tasks performed by the managers leading from a structured world to an adhoc unstructured one. Integrating IT with businesses helps in simplifying the process, hence providing for a more effective working environment (Galliers, Leidner p.1, 2)IT inherently depends on systems. While working with IT companies should not only focus on its competitors but should a lso take into consideration its various present and potential collaborators which whom a strategic alliance or partnership could be forged. A classic example is the alliance between Intel and Microsoft which gave both of them a massive increase in sales and revenues along with the lion’s share of the market (Shapiros, Varian p.10). As can be seen this gives a much needed competitive edge to the company intending to employ Strategic Information Systems within the organization.Discuss the ethical and social issues associated with usage of IS/IT in the organization.The emergence of IS/IT systems have brought about newer ways of passage of information and also newer rules to ensure that the information that is passed is authorized and correct. The major problem seen with the software industry is the piracy of the software packages. While many efforts are made to curb this yet the problem seems to lie wit users who do not think that it is a crime to use software without proper aut horizations.The other issue is social in nature. There is a complete profile available of most of the people in the developed people available on the internet. The security when breached causes a breach in the personal data which was heretofore known only to select few. Many people are not comfortable with this scenario and the growing number of internet crimes does not help the situation either.Microsoft faces both the types of issues within its organization. To tackle these issues an attempt should be made to create awareness among people about the nature of their faults related to the software field.Suggest how customer relations could be improved with the usage of strategic systemsCustomer relation is an important aspect for any business organization. In case of smaller business units, the relations are closer knit and personal. The customer-relation process is hence closely monitored and any mistakes are easily found and rectifies. Larger organizations have trouble in maintaini ng customer relations at the same level as the smaller businesses, and this problem increases proportional to the size of the project (Knox p. 9). For global organizations like Microsoft with a dominating presence in almost every country that uses computers and software, the problem is even more acute. Any system used for this purpose in addition to providing inputs for increasing customer satisfaction must also have the additional features of being integrated with the entire system and also have economy of scale.For maintaining the huge database of customers, 100 million of which are in US alone, Microsoft relies on high-end software tools and technology to manage the customer relations across the globe. With sophisticated tools like MS SQL Server 2000, the company can process up to 2 million customer records per day. For getting a comprehensive view of its vast client network Microsoft has designed and deployed data warehouse (Microsoft p. 2-3). This system is used to improve cust omer satisfaction and increase the customer loyalty. The tools can be used to keep in touch with each customer helping the company serve them better. The tool also helps all the units of the company serve their customers in a similar way. This is helpful as the company has a highly decentralized structure with as many as 60 subsidiaries with different niche databases and sizes. Also each customer can be a part of multiple databases, which helps in having a complete profile of the individual customer, helping the company to cater to each specific customer. Finally having a common tool also standardizes the entire system throughout the entire organization (Microsoft p. 6-14).

The Cartesian Coordinate System Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Cartesian Coordinate System - Research Paper Example The Cartesian Coordinate System does not merely point reference to the graphical means of finding link between variables, rather, it gives Mathematics the desired image of identity in visible shapes and forms by which a learner can gain appreciation of the course as an interesting field of study. The Cartesian Coordinate System Prior to the concept of a two-dimensional system, the discovery of a coordinate system with one dimension had already enabled demonstration of the relative magnitudes of numbers in a graphical manner and had even shown how a distance between two points in the number line may be represented by the magnitude of their differences. The overall advantage, however, of a one-dimensional coordinate system is limited and is unable to extend its applicability to the relation or dependence of two sets of numbers quite significant in the mathematical studies of corresponding values wherein a set constituted by an ordered pair of numbers may be held in association to another or a couple other sets in a planar system of coordinates (Vance, p. 75). Importance of the Cartesian Coordinate System In 1637 Rene Descartes, a French mathematician and philosopher, used the Rectangular Cartesian System of Coordinates or a method of associating points with numbers, and by doing so. , associated a curve with its equation. Great progress in mathematics and the application of mathematics in science followed after this unification of algebra and geometry (Smoller). By definition of the Cartesian product of two sets, the case of interest is X ? Y where X and Y are both the set of real numbers R is symbolically denoted R x R ? { (x, y) | x ? R and y ? R }. Each member of the set is an ordered pair (x, y) and through the Cartesian coordinate system, it is possible to set up an association between this set of all ordered pairs (x, y) of R x R and the set of all points in the plane. Hence, the two-dimensional coordinate system becomes important in relating a point in a plane and a pair of real numbers which may be constructed using two perpendicular straight lines, vertical and horizontal, commonly known as the coordinate axes. With the point of intersection being the origin O, one may establish on each line a one-dimensional system which bears the same unit of length f or both axes where, normally, the horizontal line refers to the x-axis or axis of the values of ‘x’ or abscissa whereas the vertical line pertains to the y-axis along which lie the values of ‘y’ called the ordinates. Once the axes are drawn, one can begin to plot a data of points (x, y) and in determining a point corresponding to an ordered pair of values, it helps to draw lines parallel to the axes through the point (x1, 0) on the x-axis and the point (0, y1) on the y-axis (Vance, 76). These lines intersect at a point P, a distance x1 from the y-axis (to the right or left, depending upon whether x1 is positive or negative) and a distance y1 from the x-axis (above or below, depending upon whether y1 is positive or negative). These distances can be called directed distances and the point P, determined by the ordered pair of values x1 and y1, is denoted by the ordered pair, expressed as (x1, y1), where x1 and y1 are called coordinates of P. The two coordinate axes divide the plane into four parts, called the first, second, third, and fourth quadrants. It is useful to verify that the coordinates of points located in the different quadrants have the signs shown in the table. Quadrants Abscissa Ordinate I + + II _ + III _ _ IV + _ Since every other point may be plotted on the xy-plane, the line or curve connecting the

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 3

History - Essay Example The insufficient labor supply in America should actually be solved by considering immigration for people with different skills from other places to foster technology and development. The immigration system in America involves state, labor and justice federal departments. The labor department certifies that the immigrant’s employment shall not be of negative effect to the working conditions, salaries and employment in America. The justice department implements the laws in regards to the immigrants in America. The state department is responsible for distribution of applications to people in search for employment in the US. This also involves administering the immigration law. After immigration, most immigrants seek naturalization, after working in the US for over five years. Over the years, many immigrants have been granted legal status, but recently barriers have been put because of the rising numbers of immigrants. The immigration controversy brings out the conflict between the desires for growth and that for stability. In both cases, the proponents and opponents have their arguments based on the cultural and economic aspects, or status. The recent increase in the number of immigrants is the main reason for the immigration controversy in America. The origins of immigrants also pay a major role in their behavior and this adds to the existing controversy. The massive increase in the immigrants is a threat to the English-speaking heritage, because of the numerous ethic groups changing the ethnic composition of the population. Immigration controversy has been agitated by people especially leaders, who view immigration as a threat to the American culture and the English language. Religion has also been one of the major issues addressed along with the anti-immigration forces. The economic impact caused by immigration is one of the arguments brought forward against immigration in

Culture of Dissent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Culture of Dissent - Essay Example Muto Ichiyo is well known in Japan as a scholar of contemporary Japanese politics and society, and for his involvement in peace movements and people’s movements. He was a prominent member of the 1960s anti-Vietnam War movement.Ichigo begins his article, â€Å"Asian Peace Movements and Empire† with a summary of events beginning in Oct. 2001 and the establishment of the Asian Peace Alliance. As part of that network, it was hoped to create a response to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan that was representative of all Asian people. Ichigo goes into more detail about Asia’s own problems: the nuclear confrontation between Indian and Pakistan, fundamentalist fighting in India, and human rights violations among others. But in analyzing the conference on Asian Peace he acknowledges that 40% of the discussion revolved around â€Å"the American War†, with the majority of participants concluding that the ensuing violence against civilians had nothing to do with the wis hes of the American populace, but was rather the imperialists justifying a global pacification scheme. He uses the term neoliberal globalization and states the war was integral to that process, and as a result, it â€Å"wreaked havoc† on the world.One of the most forceful voices in clarifying what all of these writers are saying is that of Arundhati Roy in â€Å"The Algebra of Infinite Justice†. Infinite Justice was originally the name for Operation Enduring Freedom until complaints were made by Muslims, who stated only Allah could mete out infinite justice.