...their nature and impact, auditing them to find their impact to the business, and making various profiles for positioning. A common process of environmental analysis or scanning is discussed in the following section. Environmental Analysis Process A business manager should be able to analyze the environment to grasp opportunities or face the threats. Organizations need to build strength and repair their weakness available in the business environment. Therefore, this process consists not only a single steps but a process of various steps. Environmental analysis comprises scanning, monitoring, analyzing, and forecasting the business situation. Scanning is to get the relevant information from the information overload. It is to focus on the most relevant information. Monitoring is to check the nature of the environmental factors. Analyzing requires data collection and use of different required tools and techniques. Forecasting is to find the future possibilities based on the past results and present scenario. Environmental analysis process is not static but a dynamic process. It may differ depending on the situation. However, a general process with few common steps can be identified as the process of environmental analysis these are a) Monitoring or identifying environmental factors, b) Scanning and selecting the relevant factors and grouping them, c) Defining variables for analysis, d) Using different methods, tools, and techniques for analysis, e) Analyzing...
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...(1992). Environmental scanning. In M. A. Whitely, J. D. Porter, and R. H. Fenske (Eds.), A primer for new institutional researchers (pp. 86-99). Tallahassee, Florida: The Association for Institutional Research.] Editor's Note: The Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, published by the H.W.Wilson Company, is an index to English language periodicals of general interest available in most libraries. We consider a periodical to be readily accessible if it is indexed in the Readers' Guide. For those periodicals not included in the Readers' Guide, we provide the address and, in most cases, the phone number to guide you in your scanning. The Encyclopedia of Associations, published by Gale Research, Inc., is a guide to over 22,000 national and international organizations. Information about how to contact the organizations mentioned in this chapter is from the 1992 edition of The Encyclopedia of Associations and is available in most libraries. Publications of U.S. government agencies are indexed in the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications. Most publications included in the Monthly Catalog are available from The Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 732 N. Capitol St., NW, Washington, DC 20401. Information: 202/275-3648, orders and inquiries: 202/783-3238. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For overviews of environmental scanning, see: Aguilar, F. (1967). Scanning the business environment...
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...Environmental Scanning By James L. Morrison [Note: This text was originally printed as a chapter in A Primer for new Institutional Researchers and is reprinted here with permission from the Association for Institutional Research. The bibliographical citation is: Morrison, J. L. (1992). Environmental scanning. In M. A. Whitely, J. D. Porter, and R. H. Fenske (Eds.), A primer for new institutional researchers(pp. 86-99). Tallahassee, Florida: The Association for Institutional Research. Issues Successful management of colleges and universities depends upon the ability of the senior leaders to adapt to rapidly changing external environment. Unfortunately, the lead time once enjoyed by decisionmakers to analyze and respond to these and other changes is decreasing. Traditional long-range planning models, with their inward focus and reliance on historical data, do not encourage decisionmakers to anticipate environmental changes and assess their impact on the organization (Cope, 1981). The underlying assumption of such models is that any future change is a continuation of the direction and rate of present trends among a limited number of social, technological, economic, and political variables. Thus, the future for the institution is assumed to reflect the past and present or, in essence, to be "surprise-free." However, we know that this is not true, and the further we plan into the future, the less it will be true. What is needed is a method that enables decisionmakers both to...
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...various hardware and software. Accuracy of Data Accuracy of data input is important. What method of data input would be best for each of the following situations and why: As far for printed questionnaires the best method for data input would be a keyboard, because it permits one to produce the required test that formulates the questionnaires. The best method for a telephone survey would be voice recognition and recording system because a voice input device can be programmed to distinguish and record answers spoken into the receiver allowing it to all be computed. Bank checks would best be used in a scanning method that recognizes bar codes. To be more specific a magnetic scanning input device would be the exact system to use. This system reads the numbers at the bottom of the checks and will mechanically make modifications to the correct accounts. It will input the codes in a system will magnetize the information at the bottom of the check for simple interpretation. For retail tags the best data input for would be a bar code scanner as well. This specific scanner is called an optical scanning input device. By using a bar code scanner it would be unnecessary to use a keyboard to enter numbers manually. Finally for the long documents the best method to use would be to use a simple scanner linked to computer due to the fact that it can be easily kept in order and sequence. Convenience and Quality Convenience and quality of output are important. Explain what method of...
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...an efficient and effective way to quickly grade test. However, scantrones, or OMRs, rely on the testee to fill in bubbles using only #2 pencils. For the purposes of our questionaire, this would work, but #2 pencils would have to be supplied with the questionaire. A better method would be using OCR technology that scans and recongnizes the document based on light properties. With this method, the questionaires could be filled out using any analog input device, pencils or pens. Telephone survey Telephone surveys used to be conducted primarily by a pool of telemarketers that would use terminals to input the user's responses to questions. However, automated voice technology has enable a greater number of calls to go out that ask the user questions based on prerecorded questions. Because of this method, automated survey's rely on user input from touchtone key input, or automated voice response. Automated voice response systems has improved, but they rely on the background noice from the user’s side to be quite. So, for now, the best data input system for telephone survey’s would be the reliable touch tone input. Bank checks According to Stair and Reynolds (2006), banks have adopted the magnetic ink character recognition, or (MICR), to help automate the scan process of checks. This system enables banks to quickly scan checks and input there values in the bank database. What this system does not...
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...and its employees’ performance. Harari suggests that exploiting and sharing knowledge of information can only be vital for a company and its employees. A “behind closed door” policy, as referred to by Harari, is often managers’ most self-defeating action within the workplace. Not only does it create paranoia among employees, but also yields misleading or uncertain information and the decisions that are based upon it (Harari, 1995.) In a 2015 survey conducted by 15Five, provider of the leading web-based team feedback and alignment platform, only 15% of employees are completely satisfied with the quality of communication in the workplace. After surveying 1,00 0 full-time employees in the US, findings indicate that the majority of employees want more honesty and transparency in the office. According to 15Five, “81% of employees would rather join a company that values 'open communication' than one that offers great perks such as top health plans, free food, and gym memberships.” More than half of the individuals who completed the survey...
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...Question: How do you understand environmental scanning, why is it important and what are the potential problems of implementing it in a Sri Lankan Context? Successful Businesses depend upon the ability of the senior leaders to adapt to rapidly changing external environment. Unfortunately, the lead time once enjoyed by decision makers to analyze and respond to these and other changes is decreasing. Traditional long-range planning models, with their inward focus and reliance on historical data, do not encourage decision makers to anticipate environmental changes and assess their impact on the organization (Cope, 1981). The underlying assumption of such models is that any future change is a continuation of the direction and rate of present trends among a limited number of social, technological, economic, and political variables. Thus, the future for the institution is assumed to reflect the past and present or, in essence, to be "surprise-free." However, we know that this is not true, and the further we plan into the future, the less it will be true. What is needed is a method that enables decision makers both to understand the external environment and the interconnections of its various sectors and to translate this understanding into the institution's planning and decision-making processes. Environmental scanning is a method of accomplishing this. Brown and Weiner (1985) define environmental scanning as "a kind of radar to scan the world systematically and signal the new, the...
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...International Journal of Production Research Vol. 48, No. 17, 1 September 2010, 5137–5155 Supply chain performance measurement: a literature review Goknur Arzu Akyuz* and Turan Erman Erkan Department of Industrial Engineering, Atilim University, Kizilcasar Mahallesi, 06836 Incek Go¨lbasi, Ankara, Turkey (Received 19 February 2009; final version received 2 June 2009) This paper is intended to provide a critical literature review on supply chain performance measurement. The study aims at revealing the basic research methodologies/approaches followed, problem areas and requirements for the performance management of the new supply chain era. The review study covers articles coming from major journals related with the topic, including a taxonomy study and detailed investigation as to the methodologies, approaches and findings of these works. The methodology followed during the conduct of this research includes starting with a broad base of articles lying at the intersection of supply chain, information technology (IT), performance measurement and business process management topics and then screening the list to have a focus on supply chain performance measurement. Findings reveal that performance measurement in the new supply era is still an open area of research. Further need of research is identified regarding framework development, empirical cross-industry research and adoption of performance measurement systems for the requirements of the new era, to include...
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...Tanglewood Stores - Case 2 This print version free essay Tanglewood Stores - Case 2. Category: Business Autor: reviewessays 18 July 2010 Words: 6001 | Pages: 25 Tanglewood stores Case two Conduct an analysis of Tanglewood's staffing data and determine if their current staffing practices are sufficient to meet their ongoing needs, or if there will be problems in adequately staffing the organization in the near future. Recommend how Tanglewood should design its overall staffing mission and strategy based on their upcoming needs. Calculate representation statistics for various jobs within a single Tanglewood department store to determine where the most critical problems exist. Recommend what you would do in light of the information you obtain in the calculation of various demographic statistics both for this specific store and for the chain as a whole. Specific Assignment Details For the store manager group, you will analyze the information and prepare a report showing the results of the Markov analysis and the EEO investigation. The Director asked you to address these questions in your written report: 1. Currently the organization expects that their forecast for labor requirements is essentially constant from the previous year. Based on this assumption complete the five stages of the planning process: a. Currently the organization expects that their forecast for labor requirements is essentially constant from the previous year. This means...
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...mouse to update obtained information. When writing out data manually, such as handwriting or by using shorthand, the data may not be read correctly. Human error is the greatest error in obtaining any statistical information. By using the keyboard method, it will avoid those manual errors. Among this method's advantages, one of the most important is that most people are familiar with using keyboards and keyboard/mouse layout, so there is little training required for using keyboards. One great advantage of obtaining printed questionnaires is that one can utilize an optical mark recognizer. The optical mark is a pencil mark that is filled in, or bubbled in, by the person completing the survey. Once this data is received, it is scanned into the computer providing the results of the survey. This is a convenient and accurate data input method that captures that data by contrast and reflects at predetermined positions on a page (such as ranking on a scale...
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...Chapter – 1 INTRODUCTION The world as we know it today is centered on the workings and ability of the World Wide Web. Internet security, however, is one area of concern and poses one of the biggest challenges to this internet savvy era. Our interaction with the internet has increased to such an extent , that experience, mixed with continued research has taught us that with each such interaction, we are prone to many malicious attacks, security lapses and even extremely skilled hacking operations. The field of Network Security and Cryptography has come a long way in the past decade, but it is safe to say that there is a lot more work to be done. Here we choose to concentrate on Web Applications and we particularly approach them from the developer’s perspective. With every step taken towards better security on the internet, end-users are doing their bit to safeguard their systems and data. However, keeping in mind how commercial and competitive the world we live in has become and the manner in which the market for web related products has grown, it becomes imperative for a developer to ensure that his web application is not just marketable as a breakthrough user friendly concept but also as a secure one. We imagine a world where, every skilled developer is able to make phenomenal applications and is able to provide his users with a large amount of credibility and reliability in terms of security. We aim to conceptualize and subsequently generate a security tool exclusively...
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...TITLE: OBSERVATION AT A POPULAR BOOKSTORE CAFÉ Over the past few years, commercial spaces have become areas for multifunction activities. Along with the availability of gourmet coffee, food, ample seating, and free WIFI bookstore cafes have welcomed a clientele that blends leisure, social and work related activities. In this context, a local popular Barnes and Noble bookstore cafe served as the perfect environment to perform a field observation for this assignment and to explore customer behaviors and reasons for patronizing this particular establishment. Nestled in a busy Shopping Center on the east side of a traffic jammed Central Avenue, in Westchester County, Barnes and Noble bookstore is surrounded by a movie theater, restaurants, popular stores, and ample parking. This observation was performed at this establishment during one two-hour visit on a cold weekday mid afternoon between 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm. Upon entering through the main heavy double doors, a strong inviting aroma of toast and brewed coffee permeated from the “Café” located to the left, far north end past the magazine section. This was a busy place buzzing with loud sounds of blenders, toast popping out of toasters, grinding coffee, milk frothing, calling of drinks and food by the baristas, and, back and forth chatters between customers. Outside, pedestrians wearing heavy coats peered in through a series of large windows as the mid afternoon light poured in creating a bright and warm...
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...CHAPTER 3 – Social Responsibility and Ethics in Strategic Management 6/8/11 3.1 Social Responsibilities of Strategic Decision Makers: 1. The concept of social responsibility proposes that a private corporation has responsibilities to society that extend beyond making a profit. A. As shown in Figure 3-1, Archie Carroll proposes that the managers of business organizations have four responsibilities: economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary. 1. Economic responsibilities of a business organization’s management are to produce goods and services of value to society so that the firm may repay its creditors and shareholders. 2. Legal responsibilities are defined by governments in laws that management is expected to obey. (ie: U.S. business firms are required to hire and promote people based on their credentials rather than to discriminate on non-job-related characteristics such as race, gender, or religion). 3. Ethical responsibilities of an organization’s management are to follow the generally held beliefs about behavior in a society. (society generally expects firms to work with the employees and the community in planning for layoffs, even though no law may require this; because the affected people can get upset if an organization’s management fails to act according to generally prevailing ethical values). 4. Discretionary responsibilities are the purely voluntary...
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...medicine, (b) a company offering a health club facility in the same building where employees work, and (c) a tertiary hospital developing a coronary bypass program. 5: Retin-A is a topical ointment originally developed for the treatment of severe cases of acne and related skin disorders. An observed side benefit resulting from use of this product is its beneficial effect on aging skin. If the manufacturer of this product decided to pursue the latter market, what type of a growth strategy would it be pursuing? Chapter 3 2: What environmental factors would you suggest account for: (a) in-company clinics that deal with employee medical problems, such as the one established by Toyota, and (b) the success of after-hours clinics and urgent care facilities in many metropolitan areas? 3: Assume you were hired to design a MCO plan targeted to baby boomers in San Antonio, Texas, a city with a large Hispanic population. How would you make this service offering unique to respond to the major trends discussed within this chapter? 5: A primary care medical group has a list of patients who had once used the group on a regular basis as their primary source of care. However, in scanning their records, these patients had not been in for an appointment in the past 2 years. The senior partner wants to send them an informational flyer about the practice and a refrigerator magnet that has the...
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...We are all blind people and strategy formulation is our elephant. Since no one has had the vision to see the entire beast everyone has grabbed hold of some part or the other and “railed on in utter ignorance” about the rest Course Title: Bachelor in business studies Module : MGT 330 Module title: Business Strategy Submitted to : Mr Mervyn Sookun Submitted by : Madan Gupta Student Id no: 860199. Contents Page No. 1. Core of the assignment. 3 2 Introduction 4-5 3Porters Generic Strategy 6 4 An Empirical Analysis 7 5. Role of different Schools of Strategy 8-12 6.Advantages & Disadvantages of Strategy 13 7. Conclusion 14 8. Reference 15 : Core Of Assignment: This assignment is designed on the strategy formation and strategic management. The statement of the assignment have been taken from the Strategy Safari (2001) written by H. Mintzberg. As the assignment progresses we will discuss how the strategy formation takes place where the writer comapares it with the elephant. According to the writer We are all blind people and the strategy formation is our elephant and because...
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