Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The Chicken Coop Case Essay Example

The Chicken Coop Case Essay Example The Chicken Coop Case Essay The Chicken Coop Case Essay The chicken coop case Facts Since 1974 the Company had registered Increase In 10% In sales per year, Industry has only being growing 5% per year, during the past 5 years. 1994 1) $775,000 average sales per restaurant 58. MM mark In sales 2) 7. 7 billion chicken SIRS segment ? which KEF dominates with 5,000 restaurants and greater that 50% market share. Each week MM consumers make purchase at KEF. 25% of market shares, small and independent stores 1995 sales were down in 20 (6%) of the 76 stores those 20 where the 32% of total sales Owner went to visit the 20 stores Marketing UP and Quality UP recommends three pronged approach 1) Conduct focus group 2) Brand image monitoring survey pilot for a continuous brand tracking program 3) Customers will be paid to visit the coop and the competition and they will not know which Company paid them Turnaround really expensive marketing strategies Executive meeting In order to define: Investment In market research, how much and which programs to fund. 985 24 restaurants By paying more attention to customer the Coop will gain market share. Success of restaurants was quality of food, quality of service, cleanness quality of entire addling experience and good value (price, quality and abundance) for low prices. Focused providing family environment targeting consumers between the ages of 18 to 45 years. Starting price $3. 99 and whole meal for eight people for $24. 95. The CEO of The Chicken Coop, must decide if the company invests in market research, how much money to spend, and which programs to fund Take decision based on What is the size of the loss? What have been attributed to this loss? The loss is 6% of sales in 20 stores that means that $775,000 is the average sale per store, so the 6% ass per store is $46,500, times the 20 stores the total size of the loss will be $930,000. The loss can be attributed by many factors, for example, more competition In the area where the 20 stores less performing are, changes In demographics, people that used to go to those stores moved from that neighborhood and different people came, changes in consumer habits, healthy programs and obesity start concerning parents and people living nearby, the stores werent delivering the value that characterizes The Coop such as quality of food, quality of service, cleanness quality of entire dining experience and good value (price, quality and abundance) for low prices, or the economy was suffering a recession and the first impact are the 20 stores. Analyze the dynamics between Michael and Wallace. Are they looking into the same direction? They are looking into the same direction because they have the same objective that is increase sales and reduce the gap of sales in revenue in the less performing stores, so what they are proposing different ways to close the gap and fulfill the obje ctive. Wallace Is relatively new to the Company but he has great experience In the Industry and he knows what he Is doing and how to be successful In the business, the difference with Michael Is that she Is a loyal employee that shares the core values and beliefs of The Coop well defined. So one is proposing Innovation Ana evolution Ana ten toner one Is proposing quality Ana customer satisfaction, which in this case both ideas and methods are needed. Evaluate the initiatives proposed by Bushmaster Wallace and Michaels Bushmaster is proposing customer feedback cards, this approach is the cheapest one and the information they will get is limited in terms of innovation and attracting new consumers. Wallace is proposing Brand image monitoring survey, this is the most expensive proposition in long term for the company, here is where the Coop will have to start making focus groups and they are worried about not being well equipped for that in their facilities and the outcomes of the results may not be as trustfully as any other method. Michaels is proposing Taste tests, this approach can help to identify where the stores are failing in terms of quality and also it can identify what customers really would like in terms of food and taste but the information may be not accurate customer samples cant be loyal customers because they dont fully represent the whole market.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

ESL Beginner Dialogue Comparing the City and the Country

ESL Beginner Dialogue Comparing the City and the Country In English, the comparative is the form of an adjective or adverb that involves a comparison between greater or lesser, more or less. The comparative form changes depending on the adjective you use, but almost all  one-syllable  adjectives, along with some two-syllable adjectives, add  -er  to the  base  to form the comparative. Its important to learn a wide range of adjectives for the sake of description. A good way to practice this is by comparing the city and the country in a conversation. To describe physical locations as well as the character of the people and places, youll need to use the comparative form. Use the sample dialogue below to describe the city and the country. Then have your own conversations with others in your class. The City and the Country David: How do you like living in a big city? Maria: I like it so much more than living in the country. There are many things that make it better. David: Oh, really? Can you give me some examples? Maria:  Well, it certainly is more interesting out in the city than it is in the country. There is so much more to do and see! David: Yes, but the city is more dangerous than the country. Maria: Thats true. People in the city arent as open and friendly as those in the countryside, and the streets arent as safe. David: Im sure that the country is more relaxed, too! Maria: Yes, the city is busier than the country. However, the country feels much slower than the city. David: I think thats a good thing! Maria: Oh, I dont. The country is so boring! Being in the country is much more boring than being in the city. David: How about the cost of living? Is the country cheaper than the city? Maria: Oh, yes. Living in the city is more expensive than in the country. David: Life in the country is also much healthier than in the city. Maria: Yes, its cleaner and less dangerous in the country. But, the city is so much more exciting. Its faster, crazier and more fun. David: I think you are crazy for moving to the city. Maria: Well, Im young now. Maybe when Im married and have children Ill move back to the country. More Dialogue Practice - Includes level and target structures/language functions for each dialogue.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Retail Strategy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Retail Strategy - Assignment Example There is clearly no point designing a product which no one demands of. Therefore it is essential that that it should have the features which are valued by and attract the consumers, for example, it must be of good quality, work perfectly and look good. Price is the second most essential part of a retail strategy. The price must be set in such a manner that it not only depicts the value of the good produced but takes care of the market conditions and see how much customers are willing to pay for such goods. The third P of retail strategy is place. There is clearly no point in making a product if we cant get to a place from where we can get it across to the customer. Therefore making sure that the goods are present on the right time and at the right place is a very essential. The fourth and final P of a successful retail strategy is promotion (Tellis, 1997). Promotion refers to letting our prospective buyers know about the availability, existence and feature of our product. Successful promotional or marketing strategies play a very essential role in the success of a product and this is the reason why companies spend huge sums on money on promotional

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Professional Portfolio and Self-Marketing Plan Term Paper

Professional Portfolio and Self-Marketing Plan - Term Paper Example Solid nursing experience that includes admissions, assessments, treatment, referral, and education for a broad range of patients. Widely recognized as an excellent care provider and patient advocate. Demonstrated ability to assist healthcare team members to provide quality patient care. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. Extreme accuracy in patient history, charting, and other documentations. Proficiencies: Patient care advocate Intravenous therapy Care plan administration Patient/family education Ante partum, Mother/Baby, and Pediatrics Status post surgical care Lactation counseling Career Experience Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA (Contractor) December 2008 to December, 2010 Registered Nurse in the Mother/Baby unit of the facility delivering a complete range of RN services and expertise in assessments, admissions, referrals, extensive plans of care, administer medications, assist physicians, IVs, IV antibiotics, blood transfusions, wound care, lacta tion counseling, education of patients/family members, and accurate documentation of patient history, medication, and treatment. Carteret General Hospital, Morehead City, NC September 2006 to October, 2008 Staff Nurse in Ante partum, Mother/Baby, and Pediatrics. ... Have experience in fetal monitoring, doppler, and fetal tracking. Prepared equipment/supplies and assisted physicians during examinations and treatment. When designated, acted in Charge Nurse capacity. Raleigh Children & Adolescents Medicine, Raleigh, NC October, 2001to August 2006 Delivered a complete range of RN service and expertise in the clinic environment. Accurately obtained and documented patient history and medication, assisted physicians during examinations/treatment, handled referrals and admissions, and extensive interaction with patients and family members, staff, and physicians. Rex Wellness Center, Raleigh, NC September, 2000 to May, 2003 Part-time lifeguard and receptionist at the wellness center. Covered the front desk, greeted clients, and assisted with membership enrollment of the center. Triangle Pool Management Company, Raleigh, NC May, 1996 to September 1999 Pool manager and lifeguard (part-time). Wal-Mart Pharmacy, Raleigh, NC February 1996 to May 1998 Pharmacy tech (part-time). Educational Background Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN (2001) Barton College Wilson, North Carolina Currently Enrolled in Masters Program in Nursing Licensure Licensed Registered Nurse (RN), State of North Carolina (License Number 193770) Course/Certifications Nursing Tutorial and Consulting Nurses in the New Decade Legal Issues in Nursing Advance Charge Nurse Development Stress, Depression, and Pain Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) Pediatric Advance Life Support Certification (PALS) NRP Certification Certified Lactation Counselor Honors/Awards Member of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing Numerous Customer Service Awards (Portsmouth Naval Medical Center) Admiral Commendation Letter Courses Completed NUR 553: Issues in Healthcare Informatics

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Two representations of women Essay Example for Free

Two representations of women Essay When writing literary works most, authors will agree that it is difficult to write a story without any inspiration. The writers will often have some motive, either from past experiences or something that can inspire an idea for a particular story or essay. Although the story or essay can be fictitious it can still change how society feels about a certain issue. The two works The Female Body by Margaret Atwood and The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin romanticizes the view of women in their own opinion, emphasizing ideas such as women being portrayed as common housewives, objects, emotional delinquents, and submissive individuals. The similarities include both authors has their own distinct impression of how women are being depicted in society and the conflicted roles of husbands versus wives or man versus women. The obvious comparison when comparing these two works is the aspect that they are both written by feminist. In The Female Body, Atwood is trying to express her point of view, or sway the readers to understand the properties of the female body. Atwood uses words that she believes society would view the female body. In the first section she refers to the female body as being a topic because it is constantly being talked about. My topic feels like hell. (Atwood 73) Atwood uses her body assuming that all other females feel the same way. Atwood goes and develops the female body as a renewable one luckily (Atwood 75) and that the female body will not always be accepted in society. When the body is young it has uses; It sells cars, beer shaving lotion, cigarettes(Atwood 75). However she mentions that those things wear out so quickly (Atwood 75) She explains that society holds a supernatural image of what the perfect female looks like in their minds. When most women do not satisfy that image they go in search of a renewable look, they can go out and be made of transparent plastic or acquire cosmetics to enhance their beauty, and lose weight to appeal their significant other. (Atwood) When Atwood suggests that the female body is renewable she blames society for making it that way because most females go under the impression that they are designed to look a certain way or please a certain audience. Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour present its readers with Mrs. Mallard, an old lady whose husband supposedly died. In this story the author depicts the common stereotypes that separate men from women, and as the reader progresses they find out that Mrs. Mallard shows an emotional weakness, vulnerability and most importantly dependence. Kate Chopins goal of this story is to suggest to the audience that women are expected to preserve the role that society implies on them. In the early 19th century females were dependant on males to go out and work in order to bring back the necessary money for survival. The female would be a housekeeper nurturing the children and cooking meals- typical qualities for women during those times. However as the story progresses the stereotypes start to diminish. Go away Im not making myself ill (Chopin 92) During the span of the hour Mrs. Mallard went from dependent and fragile to strong and independent when she told Josephine to go away. Additionally to the similarities of the two works exposing the generalization of how women are being expected in society, there is an idea that the authors highlight the importance of the conflicted roles between male and female. Atwoods The Female Body implies that the male brain has a thin connection and all their thoughts are sealed off in each compartment and thats what separates males from females. Good for aiming though, for hitting the target when you pull the trigger. Whats the target? Whos the target? Who cares? What matters is hitting it (Atwood 76) Atwood states that the male shows no emotional comfort in anything he does. Atwood also connects the simplification of the powerful and the powerless. The females body intention is to please the males by being used as a door knocker and a bottle opener. (Atwood 75) Women always try to please the men by using their body and sex appeal. Some advertisements for example show a vivid image of a female in nothing more then a skimpy bikini selling products like beer or cigarettes. In the contemporary world individuals never see the male body used to sell beer. The Story of an Hour also reveals an excellent example of the different roles between males and females, in this case husbands and wives. In this story Mrs. Mallard is tired of being caught doing the chores that her husband  expects her to do; she seeks freedom and liberation. Although death is ought to be a sad time, not all conditions would maintain that statement. For example if someone were suffering horrendously, it would actually be a good thing if he or she died. In the story it shows that Mrs. Mallard died at the end of the story but prior to that event it stated that Mrs. Mallard did actually love her husband, but often she did not. (Chopin 92) The story also suggests that she believed that her husband was frustrated with the marriage and assumed that she was too. This conflict revealed the sign that Mrs. Mallard was struggling for freedom, and when she sees that her husband is alive, she must die. This is the only way to be literally free from his gasp. When she had died of the joy that kills it leaves the reader to wonder about how she had died. Whether from the heart attack or she thought she had finally escaped her husband and is free at last. In conclusion, the similarities of Atwoods The Female Body and Chopins The Story of an Hour both imply the how women are being seen by the eyes of society and the important clashes between how the role of women and men reflect the common stereotypes. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. The Female Body The Mercury Reader. A Custom publication compiled by Angus Cleghorn. Boston: Pearson 2002. Chopin, Kate The Story of an Hour The Mercury ReaderA Custom publication compiled by Angus Cleghorn. Boston: Pearson 2002.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Future of the grocery store :: essays research papers

Where will the grocery industry be in the near future? Chester Sideman and his wife Carmen married 25 years ago. After they married they decided that they did not want to be typical working Americans who worked from 9-5 and retired at age 55. They had always envisioned running their own company and running it in the form that they saw fit. After thinking long and hard they decided to build a company from the era that they were from. Being that they were from the â€Å"hippie† era, they fell in love with the idea of running a grocery store that provided a healthy alternative to the grocery shopping experience. A few years after opening, Chester and Carmen began to notice a trend. They were seeing that their health food store was beginning to gain popularity with the locals here in San Francisco, since so many were from the same era. Seeing this, the couple decided that they needed to expand and take full advantage of their popularity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First they decided to expand into a neighboring store that had gone out of business. With this added space, they were able to triple their size and bring in an enormous variety of products that tied into the theme of the store. With this added size, they also found that they needed help in the day-to-day operations of running the store. Due to this fact they hired Craig Premer. Craig was a grocery industry professional that had worked for years in the business. He was also able to see the great potential that this store had.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After five years of Craig taking control of running the store, he had implemented all the ideas that he had to help build the grocery store. At this point, the store was doing great. Profit was double what it had been before Craig got there, but beginning to level off. Craig noticed this and had a talk with Chester and Carmen. Craig: Chester, we need to reevaluate what it is that you want out of this store at this point. I understand that this store has been doing very well the past few years, but with the increase in competition from stores like Whole Foods and Rainbow Grocery, I feel that changes need to be made. Chester: I know that our profits have been doing well and have started to level off, but do you think big changes need to be made?

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

1- Explain the Differences Between Pangloss’s Philosophy of Life and Martin’s. How Do Each of These Characters Influence Candide

Pangloss’s philosophy of life is that all is for the best in the â€Å"best of all possible worlds. † This optimistic philosophy actually is the key element of Voltaire’s satire. Pangloss’s philosophy is against the ideas of the Enlightenment period. Pangloss believes that a powerful God had created the world and that, therefore, the world must be perfect. When creatures of the world, see something as wrong or evil, it is because they do not understand the ultimate good that will come out of it. Voltaire satirically shows the reader that Pangloss is not a believable character. Voltaire illustrates this by showing us that he keeps his optimistic thought even when he is imprisoned. Pangloss ignores any evidence that contradicts his initial opinion. He also uses illogical arguments to support his beliefs. Pangloss’s philosophy tries to impose a passive attitude toward all that is wrong in the world. If the world is the best one possible, then there is no reason to make any effort to change things. Martin is more believable than Pangloss, not because he is more sophisticated, but because he is smarter and more likely to draw conclusions with which we can identify. Martin had been robbed by his wife and beaten by his son and deserted by his daughter and also lived financial setbacks, and therefore he’s a pessimist whereas Pangloss is an optimist. He uses his experiences to judge the world whereas Pangloss was merely using a theory. As a result, Martin is more insightful than Pangloss to foresee events that will happen. Even though Martin’s philosophy is more believable than Pangloss’s, he’s still not good at predicting how some people will behave because his philosophy is coming from extreme pessimism. Therefore it might not be wrong to say that Voltaire is trying to prove that we need flexible thought in our lives based on real evidence. Both philosophers will ultimately fail because there’s no room for exceptions in their beliefs. Candide starts his journey with the influence of Pangloss’s belief of â€Å"best of all possible worlds†. Pangloss and Candide, suffer and witness a wide variety of horrors and tragedies together. During these tragedies, Pangloss’s s philosophy proves to be useless and even destructive at the end, because it prevents them from making realistic judgments. For example while Jacques was drowning, Pangloss doesn’t let Candide save him by saying that the bay of Lisbon had been formed for this Anabaptist to drown in. Also when Candide was buried under the rubble of the Lisbon earthquake, he asked for oil and wine because he was dying, but Pangloss ignored him and still tried to reason with the causes of the earthquake. At the end Candide rejects his philosophy of optimism and as he and his servant Cacambo travel and go through more horrors, Candide starts believing a pessimistic view of life. When Candide meets Martin, they set sail together and Martin is just the opposite of Pangloss. He does not believe that everything is for the best in this world. Even though Candide tries to oppose Martin by talking about free will but it does not solve the problem of presence of evil in the world. In general, Martin’s arguments seem more reasonable than Pangloss’s ideas. But, like Pangloss, Martin believes so firmly in his own view of the world that he is not flexible and usually dismisses real evidence that contradicts his philosophy. When Candide cannot find Cunegonde, Martin shows the bad influence of his pessimism. Instead of attempting to comfort his friend, Martin uses Candide’s distress to further confirm his own world-view. Just like Pangloss’s optimism, Martin’s pessimism also keeps him from taking initiative to improve the world.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Analysis of Memories of an Immigrant

Today, during our broadcasting, we will talk about immigration, particularly the huge immigration’s period, from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, to the USA: nearly 12 million immigrants, coming from all parts of the world, arrived in the United States between 1870 and 1900. To discuss of this subject with us, the famous author of â€Å"Memories of an immigrant†, Mary Wilde, will present her book. Good morning, as you know, immigration is an important subject in the world today. But, what did you decide to write a book about it, and what did you choose this time in particular. â€Å"Memories of an immigrant† is a biography of my grand-mother Annie McBride, an Irish immigrant. Social and cultural differences of immigrants have built north-American culture. In your book, why did your grand-parent decide to immigrate to the USA? Annie was born in 1880 in Ireland. She emigrated in 1901 because she wanted personal freedom or relief from political and religious persecution. Actually, there were political subordination by the British policy and religious prejudice of Protestant Masters to the Catholic Irish. In 1845, the great potato rot killed many of the crops people had planted and a famine resulted, but 50 years after the situation was the same. What were her expectations and dreams? Fleeing crop failure, land and job shortages, and famine, she came to the U. S. because it was perceived as the land of economic opportunityâ€Å"Golden Land â€Å". She decided to settle down in the US to start a new life, in order to have better prospects, so as to earn a better living. She hopped for a better future. Did she go with all her family in the â€Å"Golden land†? Hers parents died when she was young but she was raised by her uncle Bill and his wife: a couple of farmers. In 1895, Bill immigrated to the new country while his wife and Annie would staid in Ireland. After he had worked and earned money for the passage of them, they could have joined him. There is an extract of her journey to the US. Annie McBride said†¦ My journey to Ellis Island: Day 20 I'm in this boat since 20 days. It is so long. I thought the trip gonna be less hard. I am in steerage class; my bed is not comfortable at all. I sleep with six other persons, a French woman and an old German man. The four others, I don't know their name, I didn't understand their language. They are kind people; I ate with them yesterday evening, in the dormitory. My only diner was a lukewarm soup, a boiled potatoes and a stringy beef. The quality is poor, but it was good compared to the piece of bread we had in Ireland. I still have two months to end this trip. During the day, I talk with Julie and Gunter, my bedroom's mates. I learn very much about their country their lives and why did they decide to come to the USA. For me, eating potatoes was a miracle, in Ireland; the potato famine was a disaster and left lot of people destitute. I had the feeling that I was living the beginning of my new life. A life without fears and problems. I am very hopeful and impatient. Yesterday I didn't succeed to sleep, outside, a huge storm was rumbling. I was afraid because I hate storms and I always thought that in the ocean, it could be very dangerous. One hour ago, when I talked with her, Julie told me that the captain wasn't very nice, he committed sexual offences. I think this behavior is inappropriate to a female passenger, and I don't understand why he used this language. There is not drinking water on the boat. Yesterday, I drunk water with and horrible rancid smell and I had an unbearable stomach ache. I staid in my bed all the day, I was so bored. I heard that a typhus disease appeared on the boat. I'm afraid, it's gonna increase my constant pressure, this illness made lot of dead people in Ireland. I will propose to people to play cards with me, stay without do anything is just impossible, I think I will die of boredom. This day will end in four hours and let the place to another long and hard traveling day. I can't wait to arrive to USA. To see this new country, this new people, to live my new life. How was the arrival in the US and at Ellis Island? After four weeks in the boat, she made out the shore through the fog and was very excited. Annie's first view of the United States was at Ellis Island in New York. After leaving the ship all the immigrants had medical and legal inspections. If they were healthy and if they had 25$ they were allowed to leave Ellis Island and start their new lives. After inspections, where did she go? Bill told her the situation was very difficult when he arrived in the USA. In the ship, he met another Irish Sean who proposed to him to go to Philadelphia where there were working opportunities: the country was growing and it needed men to do the heavy work of building bridges, canals, and railroads. Thus, they were engaged to do work of building of railroads and canals, for miserable wages. They were forced to live in cellars because of poverty. Their brogue and dress provoked ridicule; their poverty and illiteracy provoked scorn. Then, Bill and Sean settled in the already existing Irish communities, where Catholic Churches had been built, and cultural traditions were carried out. Consequently, Molly, Bill’s wife, and Annie joined him at Philadelphia. They found work as chamber maid and caretaker of children. The Church played an integral part in their lives. It was a Church who fought not only for their souls but also for their human rights. Often stereotyped and discriminated against, many immigrants suffered verbal and physical abuse because they were â€Å"different. † Their transition into American life, however, was not smooth as the Irish minority came into direct and sometimes violent conflict with the Protestant majority. After 10, Annie had children with Sean, and in 1950, she founded a college, today renowned, in Virginia. Thank you for your presentation and participation, Mary Wilde.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on The Language Of Music

A painter hangs his or her finished pictures on a wall, and everyone can see it. A composer writes a work, but no one can hear it until it is performed. Professional singers and players have great responsibilities, for the composer is utterly dependent on them. A student of music needs as long and as arduous a training to become a performer as a medical student needs to become a doctor. Most training is concerned with technique, for musicians have to have the muscular proficiency of an athlete or a ballet dancer. Singers practice breathing every day, as their vocal chords would be inadequate without controlled muscular support. String players practice moving the fingers of the left hand up and down, while drawing the bow to and fro with the right arm- two entirely different movements. Singers and instruments have to be able to get every note perfectly in tune. Pianists are spared this particular anxiety, for the notes are already there, waiting for them, and it is the piano tuner’s responsibility to tune the instrument for them. But they have their own difficulties; the hammers that hit the string have to be coaxed not to sound like percussion, and each overlapping tone has to sound clear. This problem of getting clear texture is one that confronts student conductors: they have to learn to know every note of the music and how it should sound, and they have to aim at controlling these sound with fanatical but selfless authority. Technique is of no use unless it is combined with musical knowledge and understanding. Great artists are those who are so thoroughly at home in the language of music that they can enjoy performing works written in any century.... Free Essays on The Language Of Music Free Essays on The Language Of Music A painter hangs his or her finished pictures on a wall, and everyone can see it. A composer writes a work, but no one can hear it until it is performed. Professional singers and players have great responsibilities, for the composer is utterly dependent on them. A student of music needs as long and as arduous a training to become a performer as a medical student needs to become a doctor. Most training is concerned with technique, for musicians have to have the muscular proficiency of an athlete or a ballet dancer. Singers practice breathing every day, as their vocal chords would be inadequate without controlled muscular support. String players practice moving the fingers of the left hand up and down, while drawing the bow to and fro with the right arm- two entirely different movements. Singers and instruments have to be able to get every note perfectly in tune. Pianists are spared this particular anxiety, for the notes are already there, waiting for them, and it is the piano tuner’s responsibility to tune the instrument for them. But they have their own difficulties; the hammers that hit the string have to be coaxed not to sound like percussion, and each overlapping tone has to sound clear. This problem of getting clear texture is one that confronts student conductors: they have to learn to know every note of the music and how it should sound, and they have to aim at controlling these sound with fanatical but selfless authority. Technique is of no use unless it is combined with musical knowledge and understanding. Great artists are those who are so thoroughly at home in the language of music that they can enjoy performing works written in any century....

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

10 ways to turn your expert analysis into an exceptional report

10 ways to turn your expert analysis into an exceptional report 10 ways to make your client love your next report You’ve done your research. You’ve investigated your client’s processes in detail and you’ve analysed your findings. As a result, you’ve come up with some substantial recommendations that you feel your client will be truly happy with. All you have to do now is write your report. This is the point where things can easily go wrong and all that hard work can be undone. You have probably spent a lot of time with your client and may have built up a strong relationship. But this does not change the fact that leaving the right impression will depend on the quality of your report, which will ultimately depend on the quality of your writing. So what can you do to make sure that your report goes to the top of the pile, makes a lasting impression and demonstrates all your hard work, technical expertise and innovation? To help get you started, here are my ten top things to think about before you start writing your report. If you want more, be sure to sign up to our free webinar: How to transform your expert analysis into exceptional documents. Simply click here to reserve your space (places are limited). 1. Know what the client wants First things first. Your report should be client-centred, rather than consultant-centred. The chances are that no sooner do you realise that the report deadline is looming than you fall into the ‘getting it done’ trap. At this point, it’s worth taking a couple of deep breaths and spending a few minutes thinking about what your client actually wants. This may sound obvious. It should be. Yet so often reports follow a standard template structure that poorly reflects an individual client’s brief. Why not ask the client exactly what they want to see in the report and even how long they would like the report to be? Alternatively, ask yourself a few simple but telling questions. What information does the client expect? With what level of detail? How much knowledge do they already have? What will they use the report for? Who will read it? 2. Copy and paste with caution It goes without saying that you should copy and paste only with extreme caution. It is all too easy to forget to change the company name, paste in confidential information from another document or to leave out a vital piece of client-specific information. Your brain tends to see only what it wants to see, and to ignore what it doesn’t. Be VERY careful. 3. Put key messages up front And what about the key messages and recommendations that you want to get across? How can you make sure that these really stand out and are not lost among volumes of peripheral detail and background? Many analysts use a basic structure in which they start with their findings, then outline their conclusions, and then give their main message – their recommendations – at the end. The effect on the client is to keep them guessing or arguing with every point and perhaps ending with a conclusion that differs from your own. A far more effective structure is to start with your main message and then provide the information that supports it. 4. Avoid jargon and ‘businessese’ Then comes the next common trap: falling into jargon or business speak, or using unnecessarily flowery language. Many people believe this shows how much knowledge, intellect or even superior industry expertise they have. But does it really? The truth is that your client has no interest whatsoever in the sophistication of your use of vocabulary. What’s more, the public and private sectors are becoming increasingly cynical about consultants, believing that they produce over-long, over-written reports on purpose to justify their ‘exorbitant fees’. Whatever you do, avoid providing any additional ammunition to that particular argument. The bottom line is that clients will not appreciate long words, complicated language, management speak and ‘businessese’ jargon, nor will they want to plough through lots of acronyms and abbreviations. They will find them irritating, confusing and time-consuming. Take the time to find a more effective way of writing whatever it is you want to say. If using complex technical terms is absolutely unavoidable, make sure you provide a glossary in the appendix. Industry jargon has its place, but only if you’re certain your audience will understand it. (And they usually understand less than you think they do.) 5. Don’t write for robots On the subject of language, remember that when companies and organisations appoint consultants, they hire people, not robots. Language like ‘it is recommended †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, ‘it is estimated †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, or ‘it has been proven †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ does not sound more professional; it simply depersonalises your report and makes it less accessible. Your client wants to know that their advisers are real human beings, so be bold and put people at the heart of your writing: ‘we recommend †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢, ‘we estimate †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ or ‘we have proven †¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢. It is far more interesting and meaningful to read about organisations and individuals taking action than to read about all sorts of actions and events mysteriously occurring. Think ‘Tarvex’s customers are crying out for the new product range’ rather than ‘The new product range has experienced considerable demand’. Or ‘The CEO has transformed the company’s performance in the exports market’ instead of ‘The company’s performance in the exports market has been transformed’. Make your language as lively as you can. If you’re trying to ‘sell’ a particular recommendation, paint a vivid picture of the excellent results it will bring – or of the horrendous pitfalls that will await as a result of not implementing it. And naturally you also need to examine all the pros and cons, including the cost implications, of following – or not following – your recommendations. 6. Make your words count Generalisations or exaggerations are another characteristic of poor writing to be wary of. Take ‘record levels of profit’, for example. Are they truly record levels – ie the highest ever – or do you really mean the highest in recent years? If so, how recent? If you mean for five years, say so. And what about ‘a large percentage’? (Is this 51 per cent or 99 per cent? There’s quite a big difference, after all.) Beware of words and expressions such as ‘record’, ‘significant’, ‘considerable’ and ‘wide section of the community’ unless you can actually quantify them. 7. Punctuate with care We notice words and language and how people use them: pulling people up for poor punctuation, dodgy spelling or dubious grammar is almost a national pastime. And the likelihood is that your client will have a similar awareness of language – and irritation with its misuse. So never delude yourself that it is only what you say that counts and not whether you know how to punctuate correctly. It is amazing the bad feeling and ill will that a misplaced comma or a misjudged apostrophe can cause. If you want more advice on improving your business writing, why not download our free guide, The Write Stuff? Click here to get your free copy today. 8. Structure strategically Another common error is to try to plan and structure the report simultaneously. It is, in fact, much easier to do these two things separately. Start by brainstorming all the information that needs to go into the report. When you’re sure you have covered everything, it’s time to tackle the issue of what goes where and in what format. The structuring process requires an element of detachment – even bloody-mindedness. Only information that is essential to your client should go in the main body of the text; any information that is ‘important’ or ‘of interest’ should be relegated to appendices, footnotes or a separate chapter. Additional detail, figures, references or diagrams are all examples of ‘important’ information. Put yourself in your client’s shoes. How would you react to a report if you felt your valuable time was being wasted on nonessential detail? Yes, your client may be interested in the background to the project and in how you carried out the research and the consultation process. But what they’re actually paying you for is to identify the cause or causes of a problem or challenge and to tell them how to solve it. If you make them wait until the end of the report to tell them your recommendations, the chances are that their patience will be wearing very thin indeed. This brings us to another tip on helping your client to navigate your report. As you start to structure your report, plan how best to divide it into logical sections and give some thought to your subheadings. Subheadings should be clear and meaningful, rather than generic, so that they act as signposts, guiding your client through the report and showing them where to find specific topics. 9. Optimise your executive summary Pay particular attention to your executive summary. As we all know, this may be the only part the real decision-makers read, so make sure it can stand alone and that it contains real information, including hard facts and figures. If your report includes recommendations, the executive summary should make it clear what these are and include their implications, values and costs. What about length? As a general rule, it’s best to stick to a maximum of two pages, using headings and bullets (but not too many), and perhaps a carefully selected graph or pie chart to get your main message across. 10. And always remember A well-written report will influence your client’s thinking and decisions and galvanise them into action. It will also act as a first-rate marketing tool for your firm. But a poorly written one will exasperate your client and jeopardise your reputation and the chances of them implementing your recommendations. It might even lose you business. In your client’s view, you’re only as good as your last report. So which impression do you want to leave them with – incisive must-read or supposed-to-read-because-they-paid-for-it? Want to learn more about transforming your expert analysis into exceptional reports for your clients? Sign up here for our free webinar. Want to improve your team’s report writing? See our report-writing course for companies and our business-writing courses for individuals. You can also call us on +44 (0)1273 732 888 for a no-obligation chat with one of our friendly advisers. Image credit: Dragon Images / Shutterstock

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Critique paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Critique paper - Essay Example Basically, it is a positive effect in work output and efficiency due to the attention given by the management in understanding the needs and observing the work ethics of the people. Based on the article, Hawthorne effect works like an investment to the workforce. When the people are given what the need such as proper compensations, workload, and even trust, they are bound to produce better results which then serve as rewards to the organization or company (Accel, 2010). Based on the data presented by the article, Hawthorne effect can be considered as an observable positive effect due to the attention given by the superiors or the researchers. There are underlying issues then in such case. Due to the probability of a Hawthorne effect, the credibility of the results of the study decreases. In an analysis of the Hawthorne effect and the empirical research undertaken in Hawthorn Works of the Western Electric Company there are factors questionable in the research (Adaira, 1984). One signi ficant observation is related to the procedure undertaken. There are problems in the variables involved in the study. Basically, defining the variables in a study is the most important part of the procedure.