Total Quality Management in Higher Education

Total Quality Management in Higher Education Total Quality Management (TQM) has become a frequently used term in discussions concerning quality. TQM is considered to be an important management philosophy, which supports the organizations in their efforts to obtain satisfied customers. However, there exist extensive numbers of examples of failed or badly performed implementation processes of TQM. This is a problematic phenomenon, which negatively affects organizations, irrespective of size, in their development towards excellence and ultimately survival in a competitive environment. Furthermore, diversity among researchers exists regarding the actual benefits of TQM. Total Quality Management (TQM) has been adopted by many organizations worldwide, its implementation in non-profit organizations, such as higher education institutions, presents more challenges and difficulties than those encountered in business organizations. A critical step in TQM implementation is the process of customer identification. In addition to customer identification, there are other issues such as leadership, cultural, and organizational issues that tend to create difficulties for TQM implementation in higher education. In this article it has been tried to bring out a clear status of higher education and emergent needs to enhance the quality of higher education. Globalization of higher educational services has become an area of key focus for many countries. In order to fuel the socio-economic development of the country, higher education is playing a more active role in our country and this requires a paradigm shift in terms of governance and service delivery. These issues along with the role of students from a quality perspective and performance measure for higher education in Pakistan are discussed, and suggestions are made for their resolution. Higher education institutions must become more innovative leading to quality institutions of knowledge production and dissemination. Realizing the importance of higher education, a lot of innovative experiments are being done to improve the performance of this sector. Application of TQM concepts is one of such measures, which will go a long way in revolutionizing the higher education system. The paper attempts to theoretically conceptualize TQM in higher education. BACKGROUND TQM is, compared to other concepts such as quality control or quality assurance, wider since it embraces the whole organization instead of focusing on parts of the product or service. TQM has been acknowledged as an important subject in management theory and practice and has become a frequently used term in discussions concerning quality. The use of TQM among many western organizations has been relatively high during the 1990s, but there exists a diversity of opinion among researchers regarding the actual benefits of TQM. Research results that claim that there exists positive effect on performance can be found in e.g., Allen and Kilmann, for instance, express a more pessimistic view regarding the benefit of TQM investments [3]. INTRODUCTION The application of Deming quality management principles in educational institutions throughout the world as a successful paradigm for school restructuring and reengineering has been widely documented [9]. Multiple positive effects of TQM on increased student achievement tests and teacher made tests, increased student self-esteem, increased teacher morale, and increased parent and community involvement in the institute. Profound knowledge consists of appreciation for a system, knowledge about variation, theory of knowledge, and psychology. Hence, one of the purposes of this article is to study the implementation of TQM in Pakistans higher education. TQM is a management philosophy adopted from industry which has been applied to higher education in many countries throughout the world. TQM, also referred to as continuous quality improvement, is not without controversy and is far from being universally accepted in education. TQM philosophy entails forming quality improvement teams which investigate problems, suggest solutions, and realize quality improvement. TQM strives for continuous quality improvement in organizations. The popularity of TQM, some institutions and companies has found it difficult to implement this program successfully. An examination of the literature suggests that only one-third to one-half of organizations have observed significant improvements through TQM programs [10,11]. This lack of significant success is often not a failure of the TQM concept, but a failure to pay sufficient attention to the cultural and structural variables that influence TQM. Unlike other programs, TQM involves changing the way people interact and work in institutions. As such, it is a context-dependent program, the success of which depends to a large extent on cultural and structural factors. Hence, another purpose of this critical study is to identify the cultural and structural issues involved in implementation of TQM in Pakistans higher education. TQM in the classroom has been successful. The historic role of teacher, lecturer and provider of knowledge has been replaced with a new role: teacher as mentor, facilitator and classroom manager. The goal is no longer simply to impart knowledge to students; teachers and students must design and deploy education together. If students are active participants in the classroom, it is more likely that true learning is really taking place. The study of the Literature suggests to accomplish collaborative learning with technology, new metaphors for teaching e.g. teaching as choreography or teaching as maneuvering must emerge as teachers focus more on structuring the learning and social environment to encourage active participation and group self-reliance in completing team work [2]. The importance of education for the development of excellence, expertise and knowledge leading to overall development in economy cannot be undermined. This has necessitated a sound strategy for the development of higher education in almost all countries of the world. Establishing leadership and educational governance quality in the world is possible only when we have a developed system of higher education in which efficiency and effectiveness remains the sole criterion to evaluate educational, instructional quality and institutional performance. The system of higher education is found efficacious in making available to the society a dedicated, committed, devoted and professionally sound team of legislatures to decide the future of any nation. This is possible only when the principles of quality management are inculcated in the system of education. Total Quality Management (TQM) is inevitably common factor that will shape the strategies of higher educational institutions in their attempt to satisfy various stakeholders including students, parents, industry and society as a whole. The paper is also a theoretical attempt to explain the application of TQM in education. It deals with issues pertaining quality in higher education and moves on to identify variables influencing quality of higher education. Based on the discussed research dimensions and overall purposes, this article focuses mainly on the four concepts TQM, Implementation, Institutional Culture and Change, and Institutional overall performance. Although the aim of this article does not include a formal analysis of these concepts, a general discussion will be held in order to outline the overarching research area within present research. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Total Quality Management Dale, describe TQM as an umbrella of concepts and ideas in various contexts related to the quality field [6]. Furthermore, TQM is described as the mutual cooperation of everyone in an organization and associated business processes, in order to produce products and services which meet, and hopefully exceed the needs and expectations of customers. Oakland describes TQM as an approach to improve competitiveness, efficiency and flexibility for a whole organization [20]. TQM may be defined as an evolving system, consisting of practices, tools, trainings, and methodologies for managing organizations in a rapid evolutionary context. According to the authors, the system provides customer satisfaction and improves the performance of organizations by e.g. eliminating product defects and speeding service delivery. As the definitions of TQM vary, so does the interpretation of the fundamental constituents. Many authors within the TQM area consider values to be elemental for the concept. However, the number of values, as well as the formulation, differs slightly between different authors. For example, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award is based on eleven core values and concepts [19]. Furthermore, Sila Ebrahimpour found in their extensive theoretical investigation that the following factors were the most frequently addressed within TQM definitions: (A) Customer focus and satisfaction. (B) Employee training. (C) Leadership and top management commitment. (D) Teamwork. (E) Employee involvement. (F) Continuous improvement and innovation. (G) Quality information and performance measurements. Still, there is a base of values, which seems to be common to most authors, consisting of the six values illustrated in Figure-1 [25]. TQM As A System Some authors have suggested a system approach to the concept of TQM, see e.g. Hellsten Klefsjo, declare that TQM not only consists of values, such as process focus, customer focus or people commitment [13]. The values are supported by techniques, such as process management, customer focused planning, or target-oriented groups, and tools, such as control charts, the quality house or Ishikawa diagrams, see Figure-1. The choice of TQM core values is supported by the findings of Sila Ebrahimpour [25]. Aim: Increase external and internal customer satisfaction with a reduced amount of resources TECHNIQUES Quality Circles Policy Development Self-Assessment Process Management Benchmarking Employee Development Quality Function Deployment TOOLS Ishikawa Diagram Design Matrix ISO 9000 Tree Diagram Control Chats Criteria of MBNQA Process Maps VALUES Top Management Commitment Focus on Processes Improve Continuously Base Decisions on Facts Focus on Customers Let everybody be Committed Figure-1: TQM seen as a continuously evolving management system consisting of values, techniques, and tools. The discussion held by Hellsten Klefsjà ¶ implies that TQM can be defined as a management system that consists of three units, which means a network of dependent units with a joint goal. The three units are the core values, techniques and tools. The goal of TQM is, according to Hellsten Klefsjo, increased customer satisfaction with a reduced amount of resources [13]. This implies that TQM is relevant in all fields of our society, not only in companies but also in health care, educational institutions, defense authorities. Interpretation of the Core Values A strategy for TQM in an organization must be built on the managements continuous commitment to questions concerning quality. According to Bergman and Klefsjà ¶, the management must establish a quality policy and support quality activities economically, morally and by managing resources [4]. But management should also set a good example by actively taking part in the practical work. Successful work towards TQM must be built with the managements continuous involvement as a basis. The core values are important parts of this work. However, the use of core values for managing an organizational change and cultural development is not unquestioned. According to my point view the management can stimulate the individual values by managing resources, supporting quality activities and by systematically working with techniques and tools that support the core values. Top Management Commitment Working with TQM and keeping up the quality improvements demands total commitment of the management [1,5,22]. The management must initiate planning for implementation and participate in the work including evaluation of processes and results. All senior leaders in the organization must create a customer orientation and set clear and visible quality values. The importance of the role of senior managers as advocates, teachers and leaders cannot be overstated. These leaders must serve as role models throughout the organization, thus reinforcing the quality values at all levels in the organization by choosing and applying appropriate techniques and tools. Focus on Customers A central core value in TQM is that all products and processes should always have a customer focus. Quality should be valued by the customers and should always be put in relation to their needs and expectations [20]. This signifies that quality is a relative concept, which, among other things, is set by the market competition. The organizations need to be dedicated to satisfying customers. To focus on the customer means, therefore, that one tries to find out the customers needs and values by conducting market analyses and then trying to fulfill the market expectations while systematically developing and implementing the services. Focusing on the customer does not only apply to the external customers. Every employee has customers within the organization, internal customers, and in order to do a good job their needs also have to be fulfilled. Base Decisions on Facts An important core value in TQM is to make decisions based on facts that are well founded and to not allow random factors to be of decisive importance. This calls attention to the importance of knowledge regarding variation and ability to handle and control variation. The improvement program called Six Sigma, with origins from Motorola in the 1980s, is one approach for considering variation within organizations. The different measurements required to obtain multiple facts can be classified as measurements of customer satisfaction including employee satisfaction, measurements of market position, development process and operating measurements. When the organization receives the described information it is in a position to quickly determine how well it is performing, compare its performance to that of competing or benchmarked organizations, and decide the action that is now convenient. Focus on Processes Much of the work within an organization can be looked upon as a process, which means a repetitive sequence of activities [4]. The goal of the process is to produce services, which should satisfy the customer. The corollary of focusing on processes is that the focus is not on results. Instead the result is the dependent variable. The result comes from whatever process is followed; process drives result. The process generates data that indicates how well the process is satisfying its customers. The process orientation and focus has become even more focused on in the currently dominating improvement program Six Sigma. Continuous Improvement It is not enough for an organization to do better than it did previously. The external demands an organization faces are continuously increasing. Consequently, an organization needs to continually try to improve the quality of its services/products and processes. The continuous improvement of the process leads to customer satisfaction, which results in an external quality improvement. The Deming cycle, or the PDCA-cycle, is a model for process analysis and improvement and serves as a symbol for continuous improvement. The PDCA-cycle consists of the four phases; plan, do, check and act [8]. Everybodys Commitment If the organizations quality strategy should be successful, all of the organizations employees should be engaged in the work of satisfying the customer with a continuously improved quality. Everybodys commitment means that continuous improvement should be practiced everywhere in the processes and that the involvement of all employees at every level should be facilitated. The work is based on the skills and participation of every employee and his or her understanding of what is required. Educating and training all employees provides the knowledge needed on the mission, vision, direction, and strategy of the organization as well as the skills they need to secure quality improvement and resolve problems. Maturity Levels of TQM If we consider TQM as a management system that can be implemented in an organization, we must be able to form an opinion of different levels of adoption to the system. Lascelles Dale describe six different levels of TQM adoption (or lack of it), which they have termed: Uncommitted Drifters Tool-pushers Improvers Award winners World class Figure-2: Levels of TQM adoption. (Lascelles Dale, 1991.) These levels are not necessarily the stages through which organizations pass on their TQM journey; they are characteristics and behaviors which organizations display in relation to TQM (Dale, 1999). The levels described by Lascelles Dale are intended to support organizations in identifying their weaknesses and addressing them, as a part of the continual challenge of continuous improvement throughout the organization [17]. As discussed by Lascelles Dale one level of TQM adoption are quality award winners [17]. Quality awards have been established over the last decades in order to stimulate TQM work and by appointing award recipients honor them for good work. This is used as inspiration for others. Many organizations choose to work towards TQM by means of the award criteria, for instance, by taking part in a quality award process. The types of quality awards extend from international, national, regional, branch-wise and in-company quality awards. An example of an international quality award is the European Quality Award, which was developed in order to sustain business excellence efforts among organizations within a European context. TQM and Organizational Performance Organizational performance is possibly the most widely used dependent variable in organizational research today. However, at the same time it remains one of the most vague and loosely defined constructs. Performance is a multifaceted concept, which can be measured at a organization or system level. While companys performance has its standardized indicators, it is more difficult to select for performance indicators of a system of organization and people. Previous research regarding TQM and performance has covered both soft and hard performance measurements, where hard measurements as accounting variables are in majority. However, one may argue whether financial figures are better at measuring the consequences of yesterdays decisions than they are at indicating tomorrows performance. The importance of soft performance measurements, as the organizations intangible and intellectual aspects, cannot be neglected. Activities may, at times, lead to favorable outcomes on one performance dimension and unfavorable outcomes on another performance dimension. Considering TQM, with its relatively extensive focus on intangible and intellectual aspects, one may argue that a study aiming at linking TQM to performance should include soft measurements. As McAdam Bannister maintain both hard and soft measures of performance are needed within the TQM framework [18]. Logically, the choice of performance measurements relies on the actual interest in what to examine. Furthermore, studying performance development in the context of TQM implementation necessitates a study of the impact of historical management decisions. Consequently, theoretical issues regarding performance and TQM investment will be the point of departure in the forthcoming discussion. One approach to study the relationship between TQM implementation and performance development is to compare quality award recipients with different control companies. However, sometime there was no significant difference between the quality award recipients and control companies during the implementation period. Another approach is to investigate the development of the share price on the stock market for quality award recipients. Implementation and Organizational Change The common standard dictionary definition of the term implementation is plainly to put into effect according to some definite plan or procedure. Based on that definition, implementation can be considered as a deliberate and sequential set of activities directed toward putting a strategy or policy into effect, making it occur. As a consequence one could view implementation as a process of interaction between the settings of goals and actions geared to achieve them. This means that implementation also can be considered as a form of organizational change. The above descriptions discuss implementation as a set of activities or a process. When considering TQM implementation, a definition that implies that implementation is a process of activities seems most suitable. This is due to the fact that the subject in this case, i.e. TQM, is, according to the definition, a thorough management system that includes all parts of the organization, and consequently is a process of activities needed. There must be a starting point when implementing. If no action is started, implementation cannot take place. There must also be an endpoint. Implementation cannot succeed or fail without a goal against which to judge it. Failure to implement may result either from overestimation of what can be accomplished or from underestimation of ability to implement. What Initiates the Change Process The ability for change and renewal is important and necessary in order for the organizations to maintain their long-term efficiency. A condition in this respect is that the change and renewal process brings improvements. Improvements demand changes but all changes do not bring improvements. An important aspect that affects the nature of the change process is the question concerning what factors initiated the change process. In addition to four main causes for strategic change namely environment, business relationships, technology, and people. TQM Implementation in the Organizational Development Context To implement a management system, such as TQM, requires an extensive organizational change, provided that the organization does not unconsciously work according to the system. Organizational Development includes TQM, the Excellence movement, culture management and business process reengineering. As a result, these change initiatives have tended to borrow fragments of the Organizational Development approach. This has had both positive and negative consequences. On the positive side, it has made aspects of Organizational Development more widely known. On the negative side it has tended to misunderstand and misapply much of the underpinning theory, methodology and intervention practices of Organizational Development. This has, according to Grieves, often resulted in radical authoritarianism or radical democratized programmed approaches, rather than culturally democratic or pluralistic approaches to change [12]. The Change Process TQM Related Recommendations and Strategies There has been much written concerning implementation of TQM. The books and articles extend from very tangible and detailed descriptions, e.g. Deming, Juran, NIST, [7,14,19]. The theory describes both obstacles for working towards TQM and several strategies for implementing the concept in an organization. The recognition of quality as a strategic issue in business planning is critical for a successful TQM implementation. TQM implementation should be clearly aligned with the organizations strategic priorities and goals and be planned properly [3,15,24]. The planned implementation appears to incorporate many initiatives that address soft aspects, such as team work, employee involvement and culture. Failure of TQM implementation is, according to some authors, not due to flaws in TQM principles but in inadequate systems for executing TQM properly, implying the importance of tangible aspects. However, Saad Siha maintain that the reasons for failure in implementing TQM are mainly due to h ow it is implemented, i.e. the implementation phase [23]. While TQM principles appear obvious, many organizations have found them very difficult to execute, reportedly due to the fact that the implementation is cumbersome, time-consuming, and frequently lacking focus. Some of the resistance to TQM may be understood as typical resistance to any change. This may be more severe if the organization is successful, if there is a particularly deep-seated culture, if there has been a great deal of change already, or if the change lacks legitimacy, education and communication. A well-defined implementation structure and clear resource allocation are therefore essential. Implementation of TQM is a complex process since all employees, starting with top management, need to accept a fundamental organizational change [18,24]. The issue of management commitment is stated as a critical factor for successful TQM implementation [1,20]. The management is not only obliged to be committed in order to change the organization towards TQM, it is also imperative that the management ensures that the employees are permeated with the same quality commitment and managers therefore need to focus on and work with the intangible aspects to a large extent. TQM applications across developed countries reveal that the tangible aspects, such as technology, structure and strategy, have a relatively small impact on TQM effectiveness compared to the largely hidden and intangible aspects such as values, attitudes and perceptions. The use of teamwork during the quality development process is therefore of major importance. Senior managers may begin the task of process alignment by series distinct but clearly overlapping steps. This recommended path develops a self-reinforcing cycle of commitment, communication, and culture change. The order of the steps is important because some of the activities will be inappropriate if started too early. In the introduction of total quality for managing change, timing can be critical. Organizational Structural and Cultural Impacts on TQM Implementation The impacts of the companys culture and structure on TQM implementation is examined through seven building blocks of TQM: management leadership, employee involvement, responsibility for quality at source, elective teamwork and coordination, focus on customer, benchmarking and continuous improvement [9,14]. Management leadership: In companies with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures, managements role is to plan, organize, direct and control employees. This does not match the TQM concept, which suggests that management should lead and create a vision rather than plan, empower rather than direct, and partner and delegate rather than organize and control. TQM philosophy directs management to create a vision that incorporates quality as integral to the business, and to establish policies, practices and structures consistent with that vision [9, 14]. Employee involvement: Since TQM de-emphasizes status distinctions and empowers employees to make decisions and use their own intelligence [9], It is less likely to succeed in organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures that centralize decision-making authority in managerial hands. Organizations with flexibility-oriented cultures and organic structures, in contrast, show a better fit with TQM practices such as employee involvement, empowerment, teamwork and coordination across functional areas. Responsibility for quality at source: TQM implementation requires employees to identify and diagnose quality problems and take corrective action without going through the management hierarchy [9]. This should be easier to implement in organizations that decentralize decision-making, empower employees and provide employee training in quality control techniques, than in organizations that centralize decision-making and focus on vertical controls. Elective teamwork and coordination: TQM emphasizes horizontal coordination based on flow of work processes across functional areas [9]. Organizations with flexibility-oriented cultures and organic structures have existing horizontal coordination and communication networks, and should be more successful at implementing TQM compared to the organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures that have mainly vertical coordination and control channels. Focus on customer: Organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures have an internal focus and pay less attention to the organizations interdependence with the environment. This does not match the TQM philosophy of obtaining customer feedback, meeting and exceeding the needs of external as well as internal customers, and blurring boundaries between the organization, suppliers and customers [9]. Benchmarking: The TQM concept of benchmarking industry best practices is more likely to be successful in organizations with flexibility-oriented cultures and organic structures that consider themselves interdependent with other entities in the environment, and less likely to succeed in organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures that largely ignore what is happening outside their boundaries. Continuous improvement: Organizations with control-oriented cultures and mechanistic structures focus on permanence, since it increases expectedness which, in turn, increases control. This does not match the TQM emphasis on change and learning through strategies such as benchmarking, employee training, cross-functional teams and experimentation. The `kaizen philosophy of small and continuous improvements finds a better match in organizations with flexibility-oriented cultures and organic structures. Challenges In TQM Implementation In Higher Educational Institutions: The main focus of the article is to identify and deliberate the critical issues and considerations of TQM implementation in the area of higher education. Critical issues in implementing TQM in higher education include leadership, customer identification, cultural and organizational transformation. Unlike business organizations, chancellors and departmental heads of higher educational institution do not enjoy ultimate authority in hiring and firing of personnel, process of allocation of resources and distribution of responsibilities and authorities. Lack of necessary authority makes it difficult to deploy their concepts, opinions, values and goals through layers of higher education institutions. Deep rooted traditions dating back to centuries, a rigid departmental model, inter departmental competition for resources, lack of market focus are the cultural and organizational reasons that makes it difficult to tune in with TQM transformation. Ambiguity in customer identification also crea tes hurdles in TQM implementation. While most administrators tend to perceive students as customers of faculty in classrooms, many faculty staff resent this metaphor as being too commercial. Without a well-defined customer and a customer focus, quality efforts may be easily diffused. Owlia and Aspinwall concludes that customer orientation is a more problematic principle of TQM when applied to universities because of special nature of many academics whose motivation to work is often independent of market issues [21]. The effectiveness of leadership is adversely affected by individualism among academic staff and due to absence of team working. Impact of TQM in higher education is small due to organizational inert

Helen Gardner :: Helen Gardner Essays

Helen Gardner In act one scene one we discover that Helen is a very down to earth type of person as she says â€Å"when I find somewhere for us to live I have to consider something far more important than your feelings. . . .The rent†, this shows that she is thinking about the more important things in life, she is also emphasising the letter â€Å"I† which is implying that she is a lot better than her daughter, this also shows that she has a roof over Jo’s head. The beginning of this play shows that Helen enjoys drink, â€Å"pass me a glass Jo† the first thing that she thinks about is alcohol, this shows that if she can afford to buy whisky then she may have been able to find a better place for them to live, although the accommodation isn’t very appropriate it still provides Jo with a roof over her head, we also get the impression that she is an unfit parent as her priorities should be towards her daughter and not towards alcohol. Helen feels that Jo owes her a lot, Jo feels the total opposite, and there is not a close relationship, Helen feels that she deserves respect from Jo, most people may think that as Helen is Jo’s mother then Jo does owe her a lot but most people would think that Helen owes a lot to Jo as she hasn’t really been there for her daughter all these years, but as an adult Helen does deserve respect from her daughter no matter what she has done, because at the end of the day Helen did bring Jo into the world and has brought her up to be what she is now. As we can see in act one Jo shares a bed with Helen this is a redeeming quality because if Helen despised Jo that much she wouldn’t be willing to do this, because at the end of the day the both need somewhere to sleep. Helen has a very negative view on life as she says, â€Å"that’s where we all end up sooner or later†, this was related to Jo trying to decide where to put her bulbs, she felt that the best place to put them was in a cold dark place, the cold dark place meaning to Helen a grave, this is yet another reference of death which Helen seems to use. I think that by being a prostitute and sleeping around is a way for Helen to find someone to love her, she craves it. Helen seems to be addicted to men, She gives Jo a distorted view on

Highway Administrator Paper

The administrator of the highway department was given a task to find a way to fill more potholes. This program to fill more potholes would decrease the number of complaints in the city and the number of damages to the residents' cars. To do this, the Highway Administrator implemented a goal-setting program, in hopes this would encourage the workers to fill more potholes. This program sets a standard for each crew to fill a certain amount of potholes per day, no matter the location of where the crew was working.The results will then be posted for all of the crews to observe and compare. As an incentive to fill the most potholes possible, the crew who filled the greatest amount of potholes each week was given a reward. I personally believe excellent results will be achieved since the Highway Administrator's plan follows the design of the goal setting theory. â€Å"Goal setting theory was based on the premise that much human action is purposeful, in that it is directed by conscious goa ls. † (Neil, 1994) A more updated definition of the Goal Setting Theory states that goals are the remarry drivers of the intensity and persistence of effort.This program is going to be successful since the goals to be met are specific, accompanied by feedback, and difficult, but accepted by the workers. These aspects of the program will increase the overall performance of the workers, meaning more potholes will be filled in the approved manner, therefore, decreasing the number of complaints in the city and damages to the residents' cars. Since the duties assigned to the workers are meant to help the community, it is safe to say that their Job performance is meaningful.The errors have a clear, spelled out Job description and a list of tasks they need to complete, in the order they need to complete them. With their specific Job description and the workers helping out the community, overall Job satisfaction will rise, increasing Job productivity. â€Å"Meaningful work and Job sa tisfaction are linked,† (Weir, 2013) and typically lead to overall life satisfaction. Goals set by the highway administrator's program were specific. The standard set by the highway administrator were that each crew was to fill 20% more potholes than they usually fill on a daily basis.This aspect of the goal is extremely efficient and specific which gives the workers a clear idea of what they need to do at work. If the goal were to simply â€Å"fill more potholes than you normally fill† than each crew could fill one more pothole than they normally do and still meet the goal, but this would probably not complete as much work done as fast as it needs to completed. This goal is also a clear standard because of the different working conditions each crew operates in. Asking each crew to fill five more potholes than normal might prove to be easy for one crew and extremely difficult for another, depending on the conditions.Each crew was also given a step-by-step sheet on how t o properly fill each pothole. This will create a filled pothole that will last longer, therefore, making less work for the future. The feedback that accompanies each goal comes at the end of each week. Feedback is objective information about performance. Motivational feedback serves as a reward and the highway administrator clearly understands that since he is using rewards to drive his employees' productivity. (Hogue, 2004) Each week, the highway administrator will post performance data on a board for all of the other crews to view.Since there are only rewards and no harsh consequences, this creates friendly competition for each crew. The crew who has the most potholes filled at the end of each week wins tickets to a sports game in their locality. Since there is an incentive involved with the weekly performance, the crews will work much harder in order to come first and win the reward. This will drive up the work performance significantly since the reward is something people know t hey will enjoy. Finally, the goals are official, yet accepted by the workers. It may not be easy at first to fill 20% more potholes than average.Once the crews realize the goals are difficult, yet not impossible, the intensity and persistence of the workers will maximize in order to be the best and finish the work as quickly and efficiently as possible. Each crew will work their hardest to fill many potholes as possible. The incentives come into play once again when it comes to the goal being difficult since each crew knows if they work harder, they will achieve more potholes than the other crews. It is also beneficial to he program that performance statistics aren't posted until the end of the week.If they were to post performance statistics every day, crews with lower performance may feel discouraged if they are not filling the most potholes, leading them to not work as hard as they may feel they don't have a chance. The highway administrator's goal setting program is meant to rai se productivity and I predict that is exactly what will happen. Since the goal setting program is based off of the goal setting theory, it needs to follow three important aspects to be successful. When the goals are specific, accompanied by feedback, and difficult, but accepted by employees, they increase the performance of the workers.These aspects serve as the primary drivers of the intensity and persistence of effort. â€Å"In order for an organization to be successful they must continuously ensure the satisfaction of their employees. † (Yip, Goldman, Martin, 2009) Taking the goal setting theory into consideration, the ultimate goal is for the goal setting program to be successful. When workers are satisfied with their Job and the work they've done, along with possible rewards they may have earned, they will intuition to work harder. This is mainly since work itself has a strong correlation with job satisfaction.If someone is not satisfied with the work they do, they may n ot want to work as hard or be as productive. Employees that like their work find it easy to work harder and strive for their best. They do this by setting personal goals for themselves, relating to work, and achieving them. Each crew may come up with team and individual strategies in order to employ every effort to fill the most potholes. This program will raise the workers' productivity by raising the workers' satisfaction. If I were the highway administrator, I would implement the same program with minor tweaks.Ultimately, I feel that this program will drive workers to increase productivity and fill more potholes. With this result and more potholes filled, complaints from the citizens and damages to their cars' will decrease immensely. This would improve the overall moral of the city if more potholes were filled. The reward aspect of this program is one of the most important parts. â€Å"A good reward system should foster personal growth and development and keep talented people f rom leaving† (Grittier, 1998). This program does Just that, which is why I agree with it and how it will affect the workflow.When individuals set goals for themselves as well as try to receive rewards that may be awarded to them, they grow as a person and do not want to leave due to Job satisfaction and potential rewards. This leads to affective commitment by the workers. Workers will stay with the organization because they want to, not because they feel obligated or need to due to their financial situation. The only aspect I would change about this program is the percentage of potholes that need to be filled. I would survey each crews work area and give them team goals to meet.Anything above that would be compared to the other teams and the crew who was most effective would receive the reward. Overall, the highway administrator's goal setting program will work effectively and serve it's purpose of filling more potholes to construct a better community environment.

About Traditional Hispanic Food - 4794 Words

Hispanic American: Heritage is defined as the customs and traditions that are handed down from generation to generation of families and society. A person with Latino heritage is a descendant of a family from Mexico, Central America, or South America. Peeps who are Hispanic are from a country where Spanish is spoken. Lets check out some of their traditions. Hispanic Food Hispanic foods have many different characteristics, but one of the main things that make it distinctive is that it tends to be spicy! Here are some traditional Hispanic dishes: * Moles: Pronounced Mo-lay, the name of this dish comes from the Aztec word for mixture. Mole Poblano de Guajolote, is a mixture of dried chiles, nuts, seeds, vegetables, spices and†¦show more content†¦Some of the most popular Hispanic dishes that are prepared during Cinco de Mayo are carnitas, barbocoa, moles and menudo. Identification Traditional Hispanic food can be identified by the appearance of the tortillas and the thick, rich enchilada sauces that can be green, brown or red and resemble a thick gravy. Rice and refried beans typically are served inside of the tortillas or on the side, and this dish can be referred to as an enchilada or as a chimichanga if it is deep fried on the outside. Melted cheese over the top of the dish is also a good indication of Hispanic food. Function The function of Hispanic food is to fulfill the traditional ways of growing, eating and serving Hispanic food. Hispanic food is high in carbohydrates, making it a filling meal because of the beans and cheese that are served along with it. The combination of the beans and cheese with the spicy seasonings and salsa give the food added flavor and traditional Hispanic flair. Hispanic food can be made into meals for large groups of people and large families quickly, cheaply and easily. Most Hispanic food keeps for a long time and does not spoil if stored in a cool, dry location. Reference: http://www.ehow.com/about_4578072_traditional-hispanic-food.html CUBA : Cuban Cuisine Cuban cuisine has been influenced by Spanish, French, African, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese cultures. Traditional Cuban cooking is primarily peasant cuisine that has little concern with measurements, orderShow MoreRelatedCulture Is A Major Factor Of Obesity1555 Words   |  7 Pagesoverlook the effect of food habits and how they can be passed down from generation to generation, much like a cultural tradition, and how respecting some of these traditions can be just as important as following their cultures values. Culture plays a greater role in minority obesity than doing exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle because food habits are passed down as a learned behavior. This can be further shown in the celebration of foods in different cultures. Food is an important part ofRead MoreHeritage Assessment Tool For The Field Of Medicine And Health Essay1517 Words   |  7 Pagesheritage which is different from culture. The traditional health assessment deal with people’s spiritual, mental and physical beliefs. People from different background have different beliefs on death, illness, health and diseases. In most community health is a complete balance between an individual’s mind, body, spirit. Heritage assessment will help the nurses and other healthcare providers to provide proper treatment plan, the patients understanding about the disease, their beliefs and practices andRead MoreHeritage Assessment Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagesdetermining traditional health methods such as he alth maintenance, health protection, and health restoration. It also helps in opening a pathway for effective communication between the patient and health care provider to understand ones culture, beliefs, as well as their health traditions. The greater the person’s identification with a traditional heritage, the greater number of positive responses they will have on the assessment (Spector, 2009). This paper will compare three heritages Hispanic, AfricanRead MoreHeritage Assessment Essay1191 Words   |  5 Pagesand practices and also health and illness beliefs. In this paper, the author will focus on the usefulness of applying a heritage assessment in evaluating the needs of a person as a whole. Three different cultures including authors will be discussed about the health maintenance, health promotion, and health restoration. The author will also evaluate health traditions which are based on her own other two families. The evaluation of different culture will reveal sim ilarities and differences in traditionsRead MoreTaco Us How Mexican Food Became More American Than Apple Pie1384 Words   |  6 Pages2016 â€Å"Taco USA†: Gustavo Arellano’s Response to a Tater Tot Burrito â€Å"Taco USA: How Mexican Food Became More American Than Apple Pie† was written in 2012 by Gustavo Arellano, a prolific food author for the Orange County newspaper OC Weekly. This article originally appeared as an online publication in Reason Magazine. Arellano has written books about Mexican food and its role in the American experience. His writings explain how this genre of cuisine has evolved and transformed as it has spreadRead MoreHispanic Cultures And The United States Of America1325 Words   |  6 PagesI. Introduction Hispanic cultures and population has experienced an immense growth in the past decade in the United States of America. In 2010 it is estimated that Hispanics cover 16 % of the population in The United States of America. A significant majority of Hispanics origin is in Mexico and the few Spanish speaking countries in the Caribbean. American culture is based from people who came from the European countries like Italy and the Great Britain. Cultural diversity is very important for everyRead MoreHispanic Medical Practices, Beliefs, And Perceptions Essay1692 Words   |  7 PagesHispanic Medical Practices, Beliefs, and Perceptions Related to Diabetes The incidence of diabetes is rising among the residents of California at alarming rates. Approximately 55% of the adults in California are estimated to have either diabetes or prediabetes according to the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research 2016 study on prediabetes (UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, 2016). This is especially concerning for the Hispanic residents within the state as they make up the largest ethnicRead MoreUnderstanding A Culture Is A Complex Task For Anyone1534 Words   |  7 Pagesrituals, nutrition, food preferences, and practices of health (Blais, Hayes, 2016). In America the those of Hispanics origin are a fast growing population especially in California and in particular Ventura County, where the US Census Bureau reports that 42.0% of the population in 2014 are Hispanic. (bureau) US Census Bureau confirms that more than half of the growth in the total population of the United States between 2000 and 2010 was due to the increase in the Hispanic pop ulation (Bureau, 2011)Read More Compare and Contrast Hispanic Culture and American Culture Essay example1403 Words   |  6 PagesCompare and Contrast Between Hispanic Culture and American Culture I. Introduction The Hispanic population has experienced an incredible growth in the past decade in the United States of America. In 2006 it was estimated that the Hispanic cover 11 % of the population in North America. Their Origin is in Mexico and the few Spanish speaking countries in the Caribbean. American culture is derived from people who originated from the European nations like Italy and the Great Britain. Cultural identityRead MoreCultural Clinical Project : Life Events Of The Peruvians1687 Words   |  7 Pagesand social experiences of the Peruvian people in the United States. As the 11th-largest from the total Hispanic population in the United States, Peruvians warrant a cultural investigation (Ennis et al., 2011). Hispanic communities are increasing and their social differences are vast. One cannot consider cultural competence without surveying the multiple populations within the large Hispanic population in the United States. â€Æ' Cultural Clinical Project: Life Events of the Peruvians Introduction

Official Listing of Countries by Region of the World

The 196 countries of the world can be logically divided into eight regions based on their geography, mostly aligning with the continent on which they are located. That said, some groupings dont strictly adhere to divisions by continent. For example, the Middle East and North Africa are separated from sub-Saharan Africa along cultural lines. Likewise, the Caribbean and Central America are grouped separately from North and South America due to similarities based on latitudes.   Asia Asia stretches from former stans of the  USSR  to the  Pacific Ocean.  There are 27 countries in Asia and it is the worlds largest and most populous region, with about 60 percent of the worlds population living there. The region boasts five of the 10 most populous countries in the world, with India and China taking the top two spots. BangladeshBhutanBruneiCambodiaChinaIndiaIndonesiaJapanKazakhstanNorth KoreaSouth KoreaKyrgyzstanLaosMalaysiaMaldivesMongoliaMyanmarNepalPhilippinesSingaporeSri LankaTaiwanTajikistanThailandTurkmenistanUzbekistanVietnam Middle East, North Africa, and Greater Arabia The 23 countries of the Middle East, North Africa, and Greater Arabia include some countries not traditionally considered as part of the Middle East (such as Pakistan). Their inclusion is based on culture. Turkey is also sometimes placed in lists of Asian and Europan countries since geographically, it straddles them both. In the last 50 years of the 20th century, due to a decline in mortality rates and a high rate of the fertility rate, this region grew faster than any other in the world. As a result, demographics there skew young, while in many more developed regions, such as in Asia, Europe, and North America, population bubbles skew older. AfghanistanAlgeriaAzerbaijan (The former republics of the Soviet Union are typically lumped into one region, nearly 30 years after independence. In this listing, theyve been placed where most appropriate.)BahrainEgyptIranIraqIsrael (Israel may be located in the Middle East, but it is certainly an outsider culturally and perhaps better belongs attached to Europe, like its seaward neighbor and European Union member state, Cyprus.)JordanKuwaitLebanonLibyaMoroccoOmanPakistanQatarSaudi ArabiaSomaliaSyriaTunisiaTurkeyThe United Arab EmiratesYemen Europe The European continent and its local region contain 48 countries and stretches from North America and back to North America as it encompasses Iceland and all of Russia. As of 2018, data shows that about three-quarters of its population live in urban areas. Having so many peninsulas, and the region itself being a peninsula of Eurasia, means a wealth of coastline on its mainland—more than 24,000 miles (38,000 kilometers) of it, in fact. AlbaniaAndorraArmeniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyGreeceHungaryIceland (Iceland straddles the Eurasian plate and the North American plate, so geographically it is halfway between Europe and North America. However, its culture and settlement are clearly European in nature.)IrelandItalyKosovoLatviaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacedoniaMaltaMoldovaMonacoMontenegroNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSan MarinoSerbiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUkraineUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (The United Kingdom is the country composed of the constituent entities known as England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.)Vatican City North America Economic powerhouse North America includes  only three countries but it takes up most of a continent and is thus a region onto itself. Since it stretches from the Arctic to the tropics, North Americ includes almost all the major climate biomes. In the farthest reaches north, the region stretches halfway around the world—from Greenland to Alaska—but at its farthest point south, Panama has a narrow point thats only 31 miles (50 kilometers) wide. CanadaGreenland (Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, not an independent country.)MexicoThe United States of America Central America and the Caribbean Among the 20 countries of Central America and the Caribbean, none are landlocked, and half are islands. In fact, there is no location in Central America that is more than 125 miles (200 kilometers)  from the sea. Volcanoes and earthquakes go hand in hand in this region, as many of the islands in the Caribbean are volcanic in origin and not dormant.   Antigua and BarbudaThe BahamasBarbadosBelizeCosta RicaCubaDominicaDominican RepublicEl SalvadorGrenadaGuatemalaHaitiHondurasJamaicaNicaraguaPanamaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesTrinidad and Tobago South America Twelve countries occupy South America, which stretches from the equator to nearly the Antarctic Circle. Its separated from Antarctica by the Drake Passage which is 600 miles wide (1,000 kilometers). Mount Aconcagua, located in the Andes Mountains in Argentina near Chile is the highest point in the Western Hemisphere. At 131 feet (40 meters)  below sea level, the  Valdà ©s Peninsula, located in southeastern Argentina is the hemispheres lowest point.   Many Latin American countries are experiencing a financial contraction (such as unfunded pensions for an aging populace, deficit government spending, or the inability to spend on public services) and also have some of the most closed economies in the world. ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileColombiaEcuadorGuyanaParaguayPeruSurinameUruguayVenezuela Sub-Saharan Africa There are 48 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. (Some of these countries are actually intra-Saharan or within the Sahara Desert.) Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world, and by the year 2050, will overtake the United States as the worlds third most populous nation. As a whole, Africa is the second largest and second most populous continent. Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa achieved independence between the 1960s and 1980s, so their economies and infrastructure are still developing. This is is proving most difficult for countries that are landlocked due to the extra hurdles in transportation and right of way they must overcome to get their goods to and from port. AngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCameroonCape VerdeThe Central African RepublicChadComorosRepublic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the CongoCote dIvoireDjiboutiEquatorial GuineaEritreaEthiopiaGabonThe GambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRwandaSao Tome and PrincipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanSwazilandTanzaniaTogoUgandaZambiaZimbabwe Australia and Oceania The 15 countries of Australia and Oceania vary widely by culture and occupy a large swath of the world ocean. With the exception of continent/country Australia, the region does not occupy a great deal of land. Islands have been known—since Charles Darwin pointed it out—for their endemic species and nowhere is this more apparent than in Australia and Oceania. For instance, about 80 percent of the species in Australia are unique to that country. Endangered species in the region range from those in the ocean to those in the sky. Challenges to conservation include the remote location and fact that much of the areas oceans are outside the direct jurisdiction of the countries there. AustraliaEast Timor (While East Timor lies on an Indonesian [Asian] island, its eastern location requires that it be located in the Oceania nations of the world.)FijiKiribatiMarshall IslandsThe Federated States of MicronesiaNauruNew ZealandPalauPapua New GuineaSamoaSolomon IslandsTongaTuvaluVanuatu

Power Corrupts Essays - 789 Words

Power Corrupts Throughout the history of man, rulers and philosophers have proven that power corrupts. The British Historian Lord Acton observed that â€Å"power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely†. Lord Acton statement is proven through the actions of rulers such as Charles I of England and Hitler. In a letter to his friend Lord Acton wrote that â€Å"power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely†. This quote describes how absolute power always becomes corrupt. Lord Acton recognized the dangers of political power. He understood that rulers put their own interest above all and will do just about anything to stay in power. He believed that wars were always started to†¦show more content†¦In 1642, he was finally overthrown in a civil war against forces led by Oliver Cromwell, who later removed the Parliament by force. Charles I is an obvious example of the corruption of power[3]. The Actions of Hitler also confirms Lord Acton’s theory. Hitler aimed to increase his powers by increasing the size of Germany. Even though Hitler had incredible power he wanted to continuously expand it. The German bourgeoisie paid a heavy price for handing power to Hitler. Once in power, the Nazi bureaucracy could not be controlled by the ruling class. They were guided by their own interests, which did not coincide with those of the bourgeoisie. As long as Hitler protected them against Bolshevism, the German capitalists were happy to back him up. As long as Hitlers armies were advancing, they joined in the applause and salutes. The United Nations was formed after the Second World War and part of the reason to why it was formed was to look out for a repeat of Hitler. Today in the United States of America, what president George Bush has done is essentially the same as Hitler. He conquered and invaded a country because of self interests. He justifies himself by claiming to l ead a democracy into Afghanistan. The truth of the matter is that he still invaded a country without the authorisation of the UN. Lord Acton theory that power corrupts wasShow MoreRelatedKing Lear - Power Corrupts798 Words   |  4 PagesPower is the ability to manipulate and control whatever one desires; to do what one pleases to do without answering to authority. The power that corrupts the characters plays an extensive role throughout Shakespeares play, King Lear. Goneril and Regan are corrupted by the power that Lear offers them. Edmunds corruption comes from the trust of his father. Absolute power corrupts absolutely with the characters, because once have full control, they are so cold that they will do anything to keep theRead More King Lear - Power Corrupts Essay773 Words   |  4 Pages Power is the ability to manipulate and control whatever one desires; to do what one pleases to do without answering to authority. The power that corrupts the characters plays an extensive role throughout Shakespeare’s play, King Lear. Goneril and Regan are corrupted by the power that Lear offers them. Edmund’s corruption comes from the trust of his father. Absolute power corrupts absolutely with the characters, because once have full control, they are so cold that they will do anything to keepRead MorePower, Corrupts, Society s Demands For Moral Authority2306 Words   |  10 PagesBecause power corrupts, society s demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases. ~John Adams The quote above has lot of meaning and relates in many ways to my analysis of how power is portrayed in television. There are a lot of power players and shot callers that can dominate the scene. How much power is could truly be shown in television show? How much power does the society have on conflicts in a relationship? Is there such a thing as a power struggleRead MorePower Corrupts, and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely1109 Words   |  5 PagesPower corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely There are many examples, throughout history, of leaders who have been corrupted with power. For example, people like Hitler and Napoleon have all committed shameful actions in the hopes of gaining absolute power. Authority, or simply the desire of control, can cause people to act in incomprehensible ways. Throughout the play Macbeth, written by playwright Shakespeare, the desire for absolute power is the main driving force for the two main charactersRead MorePower Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely1475 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† Over the centuries, this famous saying voiced by Lord Action has been analyzed and dissected numerous times by historians and philosophers. Some individuals say that power does not corrupt, it only attracts the corruptible. However, to judge fairly, past and current events accurately depict the ideology that power corrupts absolutely, and has convinced me, that its meaning holds true . Ivan the Terrible of Russia, Louis XIV of France, HenryRead MorePower Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely2410 Words   |  10 PagesPower Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely Throughout history the argument of power falling hand in hand with corruption has been brought to our attention in devastating scenes of destruction, turmoil and moments which will never be forgotten. But do these moments conclude that power eventually leads to corruption? Are there events over the past 100 years or more which argue this fact? In this essay I will discuss my own opinion on this topic looking at crucial figure heads in historyRead MorePower Corrupts Essay1943 Words   |  8 PagesPeople want power because it gives them control and dominance over others. Power gives the person who has it the ability to do whatever they want, say whatever they want and make people do what they want. In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller the whole plot revolves around the theme of power. There is a never ending conflict of characters to keep, assert and acquire power. The most prominent characters that ultimately hurt the community the most due to their greed and lust for power are DeputyRead MoreThe Importance Of Power And Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely Essay1332 Words   |  6 PagesPower tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We find ourselves under surveillance everywhere. When we go to buy soda at the store, we are being watched to make sure we do not steal anything. When we are driving through toll booths, cameras watch us securely above the road. When we go to a baseball game, we are constantly in check by the higher us that are in charge to make sure we are â€Å"good ol’ fashioned† sports fans. No matter where we go there is always some higher power watchingRead MoreAntigone: Absolute Power Corrupts Essay1636 Words   |  7 PagesPower corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, said Lord Acton generations ago. In the Greek tragedy Antigone, written by Sophocles, there was a character named Kreon, the antagonist, who was the king of Thebes. Thebes was an autocratic state where Kreon had absolute power. Throughout the course of the play, Kreon abused his privilege of absolute power; and this caused him to suffer greatly, even though he was warned by a few people of his bad deeds. What Sophocles commented on absoluteRead MoreEssay on Hamlet - The Lust For Power Corrupts1519 Words   |  7 Pagesthe dew that drops from thence Hath infected some chairs and stools of authority (Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher). Corruption in Shakespeares play Hamlet has infected Claudius, the brother of the old king Hamlet who kills him out of lust for power. In Shakespeares play Hamlet, corruption had inevitably led to the downfall of Denmark. Hamlet describes the present state of Denmark as an unweeded garden (Act 1 Sc 2, line 135-137) where only nasty weeds grow in it. Hamlet cannot believe that

Accounting Information Systems Australian -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Accounting Information Systems Australian? Answer: Introduction The review of background information relating to Intrepid Travel is a good indicator that the company has a global influence in tourism and travel industry. The purpose of this report is to critically analyze sustainable management and marketing for Intrepid Travel Company. The company has managed to provide services to numerous countries across the globe. This report will narrow down to management analysis of Intrepid Travel Company in Australia. As indicated in the background, Australia is the grass root for this company before globalization (Blaxtel, Hughes Tight, 2006). The report will analyze the importance of the company to the Australian and International Business Landscape. We also aim at focusing our analysis on its international business environment as well as funnel the analysis to Australian base. Several sustainable strategies will be incorporated in the analysis through relevant theory, human resource management, value chain and technological controls, leadership, plan ning and strategy. As a growing company, it is also important to focus on future growth and development. Future management strategies will also be applied in recommending better operations for Intrepid Travel Company. The style of travel applied by Intrepid is referred as Responsible Travel. This is a clear reflection of core purposes and objectives that the company have put into consideration. In this research report, we demonstrated how the company apply key features of this travel style (Bell, 2005). It also aims at initiating a reliable management Analysis for Australia based on the following key characteristics of Intrepid Travel. Intrepid Travel is a grass roots travel that apply all forms of local public transport systems. It also apply small scale locally owned accommodation, local restaurants as well as marketing for dinning. Western leaders who facilitated companys value were the main employees (Sampson, 2013). The company also employ local guides in order to assist traveller on local culture and etiquette. The maximum number of traveller in this travel type is 12. This enable these travellers to experience cultural grass roots and create wider opportunities for cross-cultural understanding. The information above will be appropriate to lay down our management analysis for Intrepid Travel in Australia. Importance of the company to the Australia and International Business Landscape A company whose main objectives are to enhance growth and development need to have a business approach strategy. Intrepid Travel Company is one of the major companies in Australian and International Business Landscape. There are a lot of benefits generated by this company towards economic growth of Australia (Sampson, 2013). From business point of view, the company contributes revenue to Australia through travelling services that attract numerous tourists from all parts of the globe. Tourism sector is one the major pillars of economy in Australia. A lot of foreign exchange is generated from tour and travel services. In that case, Australia ranks Intrepid Travel Company as one of core Partners towards business development and economic growth. Travelling in Intrepid is different from other forms of transport. The company endeavor to provide tourists and travelers with authentic experience in their life time (Dunn Norton, 2013). This approach attract a lot of tourists in Australia. Acc ommodation and traditional approaches applied by Intrepid Travel are unique. Therefore, the company also contribute much in maintaining Australian traditions and culture. Many travelers enjoy visiting farm stay, bush camp and cabin. This is beneficial to Australia for rural development program. Australian native food is another experience for traveler who chose Intrepid Travel (Hausman, 2007). Australia has a lot of edible plant species that travelers enjoy. This is another benefit to Australia. Culture is very important to any country. In that case, native food is part of Australian culture that Intrepid Travel have managed to maintain. Another business aspect in business landscape contributed by Intrepid Travel in Australia is employment. The rate of unemployment in developing countries is alarming. It is very important to seize opportunities that can reduce unemployment. In Australia, the company has managed to employ thousands of workers in order to provide service to thousands of travelers and tourists in Australia and other parts of the globe. Over 2,000 employees have been absorbed by Intrepid Travel Company in Australia alone (Holmes, Hughes, Mair Carlsen, 2015). This is a significant contribution to business landscape in Australia. With many people working in Intrepid Travel, Australian government is likely to collect more revenue via taxation systems. This will enhance provision of incentives to other business opportunities in Australia. At international business landscape, contributions of Intrepid Travel Company are very clear. More than 120 countries across the globe are operating via this company. This is a key performance indicator of an international company. More than 8,000 worker have been employed through this program across all parts of the globe (Krugman, Obstfeld Melitz, 2012). Thus, the company have played a very important role in business development and international relation. Continents have managed to work together so as to develop business concepts in travelling and tourism industry. Foreign exchange is part of business growth that the company managed to empower over the years. Intrepid Travel Company has also contributed to import and export of commodities. This is a great achievement towards business development. Many investors have managed to travel from one country to another in order to search for better business gaps and opportunities (Kotler, Bowen Makens, 2010). In that case, international community benefit from development projects initiated by this investors. A lot of gratitude goes to Intrepid Travel Company for making the world a globe village. It is possible to venture different environments so as to innovate better business ideas. The company offer a maximum of 12 travelers. In that case, it become easy for investors with similar mindsets top meet as they venture new business opportunities. At international airport services, contributions of Intrepid Travel Company are very clear. The company provide all the requirements to facilitate travelling. Insurance policies, passports, visas and other travelling documents are provided with ease at Intrepid Travel. As part of the program, travel insurance at the company is compulsory (Marshall, 2013). This is very important so as to cater several services such as medical expenses, emergency repatriation, to cover cancellation and personal liabilities. This program has made many travelers to prefer this company over other travelling agencies. Australia transport authorities have ranked the company as the most convenient way to travel within Australia as well as outside the country. This is a clear view that the company business profile and provision of services are unquestionable. Sustainability strategies It is very important for a business oriented company to set long term business strategies so as to facilitate growth and development. It is also important to guarantee sustainability of business operations in both short run and long run (McKenzie Pharoah, 2009). Intrepid Travel Company has operated in travelling and tourism industry for more than two decades. Each year, the company achieve more progress in business operations. It is not easy to maintain upward trend in business growth and development. The contributing factor toward the upward trend in this company is based in sustainability strategies applied by the company in different domains. These aspects include proper planning and strategy, appropriate organizing, leading and controlling, human resource management, leadership, controlling the value chain and technology. These aspects have contributed to sustainability practice that the company implemented since that day it was formed in Australia. Relevant theory The operations of Intrepid Travel Company are laid down on consistency theory (Reece and Walker, 2007). This is because the mode of operations since initiation stage has been consistent. That is, provision of responsible travel to clients. With consistent improvements, the company still remain on top of travel agencies in Australia and other parts of the globe. Traveler are aware of the requirements and services offered by the company. This build confidence from both sides. In that case, the company benefits from revenue collection while travelers benefits from quality services provided by the company. Through consistency, businesses are able to attract potential customers. Strategies applied by the company There are two main strategies applied by Intrepid Travel Company towards enhancing their operations. First, the company provide unique services during travelling periods. This unique approach attract numerous travelers from Australia and international community. The company provide cultural native food from Australia which attract many tourists (Malin Maidment, 2003). The company also provide accommodation and hotel services to their clients. This is a unique way to cater for travelers. Another strategy applied by the company is responsible travel to all the travelers. This strategy apply travel insurance policy. Insurance policy in the company are compulsory for any individual or group of people planning to take a trip (Sampson, 2013). This policy act as a guarantee that the trip will be safe and under responsible service provider. Travel insurance policy cater for medical expenses during travelling, cater for damages in case the trip is cancelled. This is strategy that make travelers comfortable and confident when moving from one place to another. Lastly, the maximum number of traveler in any particular trip is 12. This offer a remarkable chance for family vacations to various destinations such as tourism areas. Roles of planning and organising Due to numerous travelers who indicate their travelling interest via this company, proper planning and organizing become a priority. The company employed a team of travel analysts who plan travelling schedules for all trips taking place in Australia and other parts of the globe. This ensures that clients are scheduled for travel without delay. These analyst apply waiting time statistical tool that apply exponential distribution and Poisson distribution (Sanders Tamma, 2015). This help in organizing traveling time as part of stochastic process. Human resource management Intrepid Travel Company is one of major employers in Australia and across the globe. There are over 8,000 employees. Due to technological advancement in travelling industry, the company keep recruiting qualified skilled individuals to assist in planning and controlling. These experts assist in formulating booking strategies (Secker, 2010). Again, due to increase in competition, the company recruited financial and investment analysts so as to ensure the company remain relevant in the market. Leadership Leadership in any business operation need to be based on authentic leadership. The company has a team of leaders who oversee the operations carried out across all outlets. These leaders have a responsibility to ensure smooth operations in all travelling terminals (Slaper Hall, 2011). They also collect feedbacks from clients so as to develop more strategies that satisfy the clients. Leaders in this company work closely with other employees so as to maintain the mission of the company. These leaders are vetted by Australian Transport Agency so as to verify their authenticity in leadership. Controlling value chain and technology The company ensure smooth flow of travelers during all periods of the year. The company have managed to provide over 800 trips in each continent each year. Thus, the value of this company tends to increase each year. On the other hand, through technological advancement, traveler need not visit companys offices to book for a trip. The company has developed a booking site where travelers indicate their desired destinations in a given point in time (Daft, 2015). This technology is convenient in time saving and costs. Payments are also made via m-commerce. Future strategic management Intrepid Travel Company can apply three major management strategies towards enhancing a more responsible travel. Increase carrying capacity from 12 travellers to 20 travellers. This strategy will contribute to a better yield per trip. Initiate an insurance policy to cover other family members when travelling. This implies that a family require a single insurance cover during travelling. This will attract more customers. Human resource management should be empowered to hire experts from different parts of Australia and outside Australia so as to assist in planning and organising. Recommendations There company has achieved a lot of process since 1989. However, more developing aspects need to be laid down so as to enhance economic progress and quality service to all travelers. The following recommendations will be appropriate for Intrepid Travel Company. The company should work together with tourism sites so as to gain extra commission. For every tourist the company bring to tourism site, the company should get a commission of 10% from revenue charged from a particular tourist. This will act as motivating factor for the company. More technological advancements need to be initiated. There should more booking sites for travellers. This is enhancing customer obsession through putting their priorities first in all marketing initiatives. Brand positioning. This should be done via increasing sales opportunities via brand awareness and positioning in Australia (Fletcher, 2012). Again, the industry marketing executive needs to ensure the company group brands are well positioned both internally and externally. Conclusion In business operations, it is all about strategic planning and organizing. Intrepid Travel Company have managed to move from humble beginning to remarkable levels. If the company implement the future strategic management plan, the more growth will be achieved (Hitt, 2014). The recommendations asserted in this report is a clear indicator that the sky is the limit. The company has a wider growth and development path. All the departments need to work together so as to promote sustainability practices, leadership, planning, organizing and control. The Australian and international business landscape will fully benefit from all the laid down strategies and recommendations. References Bell, j. (2005) Doing your research project: a guide for first time researchers in education, health and social science. Berkshire: Open University Press. Pg. 56-65. Blaxtel, L., Hughes, C., Tight, M. (2006) How to research. 3rd ed. Berkshire: Open University Press. Pg. 76-95. Daft, R.L. (2015) Management. South Western College Pub. Pg. 79-85. Dann, S., Dann, S. (2004)Strategic Internet Marketing. Brisbane: John Wiley Sons. Pg. 9-15. Dann, S., Dann, S. 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