Modern Challenges in Islam Essays

Modern Challenges in Islam Essays Modern Challenges in Islam Essay Modern Challenges in Islam Essay Essay Topic: The Giver 1. Typical characteristics, including ethics, Islam shares with others Prophet Mohammad founded Islam at a time when the society was full of tribal codes and animistic practices where the community lacked law and order (Martin et al., 2016). With the formation of the Islam, people regained their hopes of having a better life. The features of Islam that it shares with other forms of religion include; There is only one God- apart from idol worship, all other religions have one supreme being God whom they worship. Islam religion believes in Allah while the Christian, worship God. All of them believe that God or Allah is the source and protector of life and must be praised and glorified by every human being. Beliefs inequality- according to the Islam religion, all people, irrespective of their race or caste divisions, are equal in the eyes of God and should be treated as such. In the same way, Christianity and other religions also believe in the equality of human races. Disbelief in a deity- just like any other religion like Christianity, Islam also opposes the worship of other gods like idol worship. They all believe that Allah or God is the supreme being that should be revered by all people at all times. Everything in peoples lives happens on the will of God or Allah- the supreme is the giver and protector of life. Therefore he alone has the power to control everything that is going on in peoples lives. He knows when time is ready for an individual to die and he knows when someone is to be born (Martin et al., 2016). Guiding Book- just like others, Islam has the Quran from where they get to know the word of Allah and what he expects from them. In the same way, Christians have the Bible where they get to read the word of God and know the ten commandments.the guiding book is like a manual that controls the actions of people (Martin et al., 2016). Life after death- just like any other religion, Islam people also believe when a person dies, he or she is taken to start a new life in a sacred place with Allah. In the same way, Christians believe that people who die believing in Christ are taken to heaven to live their new life next to God.; 2. How Islam is responding to challenges in the modern day world The new trends in the contemporary word especially civilisation and technological advancement in the society are the biggest challenges facing the modern Islam people.; Muslims thus become unable to decide between their religion beliefs and new demands in the society. It also weakens their spiritual stand, and some are torn between decisions, unable to take one path (Martin et al., 2016).; Rather, they choose to remain in between, and it becomes tough for them to fit either in the modern society or to stay loyal to their religion and follow all the norms and rules that were set by their forefathers in the ancient. Islam, therefore, responds to the challenges of the modern world in the following ways; Supporting a new and a just universal order- people in the Islamic society have formed organisations and humanitarian groups that they use to fight for a new world where justice and respect for the dignity and religions of individuals prevail. They want a country where all people are treated equally regardless of the religion belief of the people in power. The persons in the lower are also encouraged to champion equality in the distribution of resources across the country, so that all people, be it Islam or Christian gets equal share (Martin et al., 2016). Balanced and sustainable development in the Islamic countries- to compete favourably with the other nations which are non-Islam, the Islamic countries are trying to ensure that development levels in their countries are on a par with the other countries. It reduces their dependency levels to the other states. In so doing, the Islam earn the power and the mandate to participate in world conferences and negotiations especially about trade and exports (Martin et al., 2016). Profound and proper understanding of the recent times-; the Islam people, after research and analysis of the current demands in the world, have decided to accept whatever changes the comes their way and embrace it. The accepting change allows them to fully fit in with other people who will then stop viewing them as mics, but as other members of the society. It ensures mutual coexistence between the Islamic and other individuals in the community. Accepting intermarriages- as much as a large percentage of the Islam people still oppose intermarriages with other people of different religion, there is a portion of them that have realised intermarriages is a good method of ensuring that other people accepted them and treated as their equals. Intermarriage also helps in the reduction of inter-religion conflicts since people going to treat each as a family (Martin et al., 2016). 3. What has changed about the roles of women in Islam over time Previously in the Islamic culture, women were considered slaves and less necessary. They had no human rights, no freedom and were not allowed to own or inherit property in any way. Their primary duty was to entertain men and was not allowed to contribute to any matter in the society or family especially about decision making (Martin et al., 2016). However, over the years, the Islamic laws have changed, and women are now treated as independent and dignified human beings. They have regained their status rights and voice and can positively contribute to matters in the society. Again, the law gives women the power to choose their spouses and not to marry people chosen for them by their parents or guardians. They have gained the right to go to school and get a quality education that they can then use to seek employment and live a free and fulfilling life of their choice (Martin et al., 2016). Women have been allowed to vie for leadership positions and to participate in national elections as opposed to before when they were not authorised to go for management positions. In addition to that, the abolished female circumcision since it was considered inhuman mutilation of the female genital organs. Those who chose to go for circumcision do so out of their free will, but no law forces them to do. Hence, the women gained their freedom. T hey became their people, with the right to make their decisions and live their lives (Martin et al., 2016). References Martin, R. C., Woodward, M., ; Atmaja, D. S. (2016). Defenders of Reason in Islam: Mutazililism from Medieval School to Modern Symbol. Oneworld Publications.

French Revolution of 1789 - Timeline

French Revolution of 1789 - Timeline Our narrative history for this period begins here. 1789 January January 24: The Estates General is officially summoned; election details go out. Crucially, no one is really sure how it should be formed, leading to an argument over voting powers. January - May: The Third Estate politicises as cahiers are drawn up, political clubs form and discussion takes place both verbally and through pamphleteering. The middle class believe they have a voice and intend to use it. February February: Sieyes publishes What is the Third Estate? February - June: Elections to the Estates General. May May 5: The Estates General opens. There is still no decision on voting rights, and the third estate believe they should have more of a say. May 6: The Third Estate refuses to meet or verify their election as a separate chamber. June June 10: The Third Estate, now frequently called the Commons, gives an ultimatum to the other estates: join in a common verification or the Commons would go on alone. June 13: A few members of the First Estate (priests and clergy) join the Third. June 17: The National Assembly is proclaimed by the former Third Estate. June 20: The Tennis Court Oath taken; with the National Assemblys meeting place closed in preparation for a Royal Session, the deputies meet at a tennis court and swear not to disband until a constitution is established. June 23: The Royal Session opens; the King initially tells the estates to meet separately and introduces reforms; the deputies of the National Assembly ignore him. June 25: Members of the Second Estate begin to join the National Assembly. June 27: The king gives in and orders the three estates to unite as one; troops are called to the Paris area. Suddenly, there has been a constitutional revolution in France. Things would not stop here. July July 11: Necker is dismissed. July 12: Revolt begins in Paris, caused in part by Neckers dismissal and the fear of royal troops. July 14: The storming of the Bastille. Now the people of Paris, or the mob if you prefer, will start to direct the revolution and violence will result. July 15: Unable to rely on his army, the King gives in and orders troops to leave the Paris area. Louis does not want a civil war, when that might be all that would save his old powers. July 16: Necker is recalled. July - August: The Great Fear; mass panic across France as people fear a noble led backlash against their anti-feudal demonstrations. August August 4: Feudalism and privileges are abolished by the National Assembly in perhaps the most remarkable evening in Europes modern history. August 26: Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen published. September September 11: The King is granted a suspensive veto. October October 5-6: Journee of 5-6 October: the King and the National Assembly move to Paris at the behest of a Parisian mob. November November 2: Church property is nationalised. December December 12: Assignats are created. 1790 February February 13: Monastic vows banned. February 26: France divided into 83 departments. April April 17: Assignats accepted as currency. May May 21: Paris is divided into sections. June June 19: Nobility is abolished. July July 12: The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, a complete restructuring of the church in France. July 14: Feast of the Federation, a celebration to mark one year since the fall of the Bastille. August August 16: Parlements are abolished and the judiciary reorganised. September September 4: Necker resigns. November November 27: The Oath of the Clergy passed; all ecclesiastical office holders must swear an oath to the constitution. 1791 January January 4: Last date for clergy to have sworn the oath; over half refuse. April April 2: Mirabeau dies. April 13: The Pope condemns the Civil Constitution. April 18: The King is prevented from leaving Paris to spend Easter at Saint-Cloud. May May: Avignon is occupied by French forces. May 16: Self-Denying Decree: National Assembly deputies cannot be elected to the Legislative Assembly. June June 14: Le Chapelier Law stopping workers associations and strikes. June 20: Flight to Varennes; the King and Queen attempt to flee France but only get as far as Varennes. June 24: Cordelier organises a petition stating that liberty and royalty cannot co-exist. July 16: The Constituent Assembly declares that the king was the victim of an abduction plot. July 17: Massacre at the Champs de Mars, when National Guard open fire on republican demonstrators. August August 14: Slave rebellion begins in Saint-Domingue. August 27: Declaration of Pillnitz: Austria and Prussia threaten to take action in support of the French king. September September 13: The King accepts the new constitution. September 14: King swears the oath of allegiance to the new constitution. September 30: The National Assembly is dissolved. October October 1: The Legislative Assembly convenes. October 20: Brissots first calls for war against the à ©migrà ©s. November November 9: Decree against the à ©migrà ©s; if they do not return they will be considered traitors. November 12: The King vetoes the à ©migrà ©s decree. November 29: Decree against refractory priests; they will be considered suspects unless they take a civic oath. December December 14: Louis XVI requests the Elector of Trier disperse à ©migrà ©s or face military action. December 19: The King vetoes the decree against refractory priests. Back to Index Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Case Study Analyses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case Study Analyses - Essay Example Wal-Mart is a business which over the years has empowered the employees to be able to live a better life, this was especially so in the earlier days when Wal-Mart was in its full glory. To begin with, being a large organisation helped the employees to have job security because it was harder to lose their job in a large organisation such as Wal-Mart. However, it is necessary to note that this seems to have changed since in the recent days, Wal-Mart has had various issues with its employees where many employees complain of being overworked, underpaid and that they don’t have job security anymore. The Wal-Mart Way is the strategy which Wal-Mart uses in doing its retail business. The Wal-Mart way has helped the firms to become a colossal success and this success in turn affects the employees and the associates by empowering them. The absence of Sam has however meant that the employees and the associates are no longer as advantaged as they used to be. Wal-Mart can be seen as the pi oneer in corporate social responsibility. Sam had a genuine sense of responsibility towards the stakeholders and especially the communities in which his business operated. These early stances on corporate social responsibility can indicate that Wal-Mart’s core values are geared towards responsible business which looks at the interests of all the stakeholders. The Buy American stance for instance is a good example because by implementing this idea, Wal-Mart was getting a disadvantage because it had to buy more expensive goods from the local manufacturers while its competitors continued buying cheaper goods from overseas manufacturers. If Wal-Mart was doing this just to entice the customers, it could have given up later but instead of that, it stuck on its policy. The effect of Wal-Mart on the smaller merchants does not neutralise the advantages of the firm’s corporate responsibility because Wal-Mart does not owe anything to these merchant as long as it applies ethical r ules of competition. With regard to the closure of the stores, Wal-Mart, just like any other employer, owes it to the employees to provide safe and secure employment. There is no employee who doesn’t want to know that their jobs are secure and that they will not wake up one day and find that they no longer have any their jobs. In this regard, Wal-Mart owes it to the employees to make sure that their jobs are secured and that they will not suffer trying to look for other jobs. With regard to the loyal customers, Wal-Mart also has a responsibility because these customers were used to getting the services of Wal-Mart. In a modern world, customers’ lives are moulded by the services they get from businesses like Wal-Mart and when they receive these services for long enough, their lives are highly dependent on these services and if these services are removed, the customers are affected. This is why firms like Wal-Mart have the responsibility to do whatever it takes to ensure the continuity of these services and therefore Wal-Mart owes it to these customers to continue offering the services. The competitors in some cities have secretly hired consultants to block Wal-Mart from entering these cities. This is not fair business and it breaks all rules of business competition ethics. This is very

Insanity plea Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Insanity plea - Research Paper Example Of importance to note is that, a person is liable to have committed crime when he or she has committed an illegal act, and or intended to commit an illegal act such as murder, stealing rape among other heinous acts (Anderson and Gardner 52). Simply, the issue of insanity does not revolve around the diagnosis that the accused undergoes but rather the impact that it might have caused on his or her ability to do specific things at the said time when there was an alleged criminal act. Hence, the Law stipulated that it is the relevant factor revolves around a person ability to do a specific thing but not the diagnosis symptoms that are affiliated to him or her (Brooks and Brakel 10). The defense of insanity is only present when a court absolutely declares that there is the absence or present of legal insanity in that the defendant being sane, but also having a medical disease or defect to extent of not being able to resist committing a given criminal act (Brooks and Brakel 12). ... In any court proceeding where the accused is thought of being insane or an insanity defense is found necessary, the accused begins by admitting that he or she committed the crime before a panel of a jury or judges. The lawyer then takes up the case of the accused by convincing the judges that the accused or defendant should not be held responsible for the alleged crime because he or she was mentally incapacitated as at when crime was committed. Thus, the lawyer tries to get the judges convinced as they give their verdict, to give consideration on the state of mind of the defendant objectively as they lay down their description of the victims in a given case (Fersch 2). History of Insanity Defense Pre –McNaughton At present, the defense put upon insanity is confirmatory, meaning that the defendant is at liberty to argue that they are ‘insane’. In case they are confirmed to be insane, the elements of the case are automatically null and void. Never the less, the defe ndant must be in a position to prove the ‘insanity defense; through a comprehensible and persuasive evidence (Worrall and Siegel 62). The argument for an insanity defense over centuries has been alleged as immoral especially when the person being punished is not responsible for their criminal behavior. It further argues that if a person is unconscious of what he or she is doing at the time when the crime is committed then that person is not reliable for the act (Worrall and Siegel 62). According to Pre -McNaughton rule on insanity, three main phases are used to test the phenomenon. They include; â€Å"the good and evil test†, â€Å"the wild beast test†, and â€Å"the right and wrong test† (Worrall and

Equality Within Modern Educational System Essay

Equality Within Modern Educational System - Essay Example (Beveridge, 2004) Crucially, the home-school relationship is also influenced by the child himself or herself. It is apparent, for example, that where parents see that their children are liked and valued by teachers, they are more likely to feel positive about communication and cooperation with school. At the same time, however, there is evidence that children seek to preserve some privacy in their home and school lives and to 'manage the gap' (Alldred et al., 2002) between them. Concepts of inclusion and inclusive education have developed over time within the context of broader social values and political priorities. When the Warnock Report (DES, 1978) was published, it used the term 'integration' to refer to the involvement in mainstream school of those children with special educational needs who had traditionally been educated in segregated provision. It distinguished between different forms of integration: locational, when children with special educational needs share a site with mainstream pupils; social, when they also share social out-of-class activities; and functional, when they join in at least some mainstream lessons. This very simple model quickly became associated with narrow interpretations of what integration involved. It appeared to endorse a step-by-step progression, where children who could demonstrate their suitability might gradually move towards full involvement in mainstream provision. As Sir Cyril Taylor (Chairman of the Specialist Trust) once said while giving interview to BBC, "Everybody should be concerned if there are children in the under performing schools" (BBC, 2006a). Bearing all of these approaches in mind, the emphasis was placed on where education took place, rather than on its quality. Further,... This paper approves that disabled school pupils and university students in England and Wales are about to get legal rights against discrimination. Under legislation coming into force on 1 September, educational institutions will have to ensure that disabled learners are not disadvantaged. And admissions procedures must not discriminate against disabled students seeking to enrol. Earlier disability legislation had exempted the education sector. But the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act now extend the anti-discrimination protection to education. Institutions have to make â€Å"reasonable adjustments† to ensure that disabled students can participate in courses and lessons. This essay makes a conclusion that in all schools, the quality, style and attitudes of leadership (in particular those of the head teacher) are crucial to creating and maintaining an inclusive ethos. One head stated, ‘We are a comprehensive school’, before stressing his duty to all-children in his community, including those with learning and behavioural difficulties. In schools coping well with behavioural issues, statements such as this were an articulation of deeply held beliefs, and senior staff, imbued with inclusive values, possessed the skill and motivation to influence the attitudes and actions of their sometimes more-doubting colleagues. Many teachers and Learning Support Assistants have become receptive to senior staff initiatives to engender positive behaviour management. Conversely, head teachers and senior staff are receptive to, and supportive of, teacher ideas and initiatives.

Supply Chain Strategic Management For Nike Marketing Essay

Supply Chain Strategic Management For Nike Marketing Essay Nike, Inc was founded in 1964 in the state of Oregon, US. Nike is the largest seller of athletic footwear and apparel in the world. Its main business is in the design, development and marketing of high quality footwear, apparel, and equipment and accessory products. Products are sold to retail accounts via NIKE owned stores and online sales, independent distributors and licensees in 170 countries across globe. Footwear and apparel products are manufactured outside Unites States while equipments are manufactured both in US and outside US. Nikes products are produced in factories owned/operated by independent contractors Nikes footwear products dominates its market share and footwears are designed for aquatic activities, baseball, cheerleading, football, golf, lacrosse, outdoor activities, skateboarding, tennis, volleyball, walking, wrestling, and other athletic and recreational uses. (Nike 2010) Nikes accessories and apparels are designed to match its footwear and performance equipment like bags, socks, sport balls, eyewear, timepieces, electronic devices, bats, gloves, protective equipment, golf clubs are also manufactured. Plastic products are produced in Nikes self owned subsidiary, NIKE IHM, Inc. Other wholly owned subsidiaries of Nike are Cole Haan, Converse, Hurley and Umbro. Supply Chain Process Overview: Business related operations like marketing and contracts with the factories for product development activities is executed in Nikes headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Nikes global operations are largely categorized into four geographic segments United States; Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Asia Pacific and Americas (includes Canada, Mexico and other Latin American countries of Chile, Brazil and Argentina). Nike has outsourced its manufacturing activities across globe since mid-1970s. And the products are developed at factories owned and managed by business partners. (SCM are ERP Implementation at Nike: From Failure to Success 2005) United States Market: Fig 1.1: Nike US Retail Stores Source: Nike Annual Report Fig 1.2: Nike Non-US Retail Stores Source: Nike Annual Report plastic and metal hardware, and specialized performance fabrics designed to repel rain, retain heat, or efficiently transport body moisture. NIKEs contractors and suppliers buy raw materials in bulk. Most raw materials are available in the countries where manufacturing takes place. Supply Chain Framework: The three components of SCM framework are Supply chain network structure, supply chain business processes and the supply chain management components. The three vital components of supply chain network structure are members of the supply chain, structural dimension of the network and various types of process links across the supply chain(Lambert and Cooper 2000). Key members involved in supply chain should be identified. Primary members of a supply chain to be all those autonomous companies or strategic business units who carry out value-adding activities (operational and/or managerial) in the business processes designed to produce a specific output for a particular customer or market .In contrast, supporting members are companies that simply provide resources, knowledge, utilities, or assets for the primary members of the supply chain (Lambert and Cooper 2000). Structural dimension of the network assist in evaluating and managing the supply chain. Horizontal structure means the numbe r of tiers across supply chain and vertical structure means number of suppliers/customers within each tier. Any changes in structure impacts supply chain and proper analysis should be done before making modifications. Successful SCM needs a shift from handling individual processes/functions to integrating activities across supply chain. GSCF identified eight supply chain processes Customer service management, Customer relationship management, Demand management, Order fulfilment, Manufacturing flow management, Procurement, Product development and commercialization and Returns. There exist 4 types of links in business functionalities. They are Managed business process links, monitored business process links, not-managed business process links, and not-member business process links. Managed process links are links that the firm views them as vital to integrate and deal with. These are the links that exists between firm and tier1 customers/suppliers. Monitored process links are albeit not crucial, but vital to the firm and they are the links existing with other member companies. Not-Managed process links are not crucial and the firm is not directly involved in managing them but assign the job of managing the links to member factories. Non member process links are linkages between the firm and other non-members of the supply chain. The nine management components for successful SCM of Nike would be planning and control; work structure; organization structure; product flow facility structure; information flow facility structure; management methods; power and leadership structure; risk and reward structure; and culture and attitude. Supply Chain Process and Objectives of Nike: Precision : The objective is to satisfy customers through product delivery and information accuracy. Nike follows few methods to measure precision DIFOT (Delivery in Full- on Time) and Time to provide resolution to customer queries. The products are produced in factories based on the orders and the developed finished goods are consolidated and then distributed by air/water/road ways to NIKE Customer service centres Fig 1.3: Nike Delivery process Fig 1.4: Nike Apparel and Footwear Product Flow Fig 1.5: Nike Previous Supply Chain Model and desired Simplified Model Fig 1.6: Pictorial representation of Inventory management Fig 1.7: Life Cycle Cost Analysis Fig 1.8: Supply Chain Objectives of Nike Nikes i2 implementation failure : Supply and demand issues need to be paid utmost attention particularly in retail industry as it has to deal with wide choices for each product category like size, color etc. The huge SKU which signifies varied inventory pictures a hurdle to supply chain management. The manufacturing cycle before the implementation of software solutions is generally 9 months. Hence the need for demand planning system arose and Manugistics software was implemented. Due to various limitations in the software, in march 1999, Nike decided to implement software from i2 Technologies for managing its supply and demand. The desired functionality of the software was to match its supply with demand by mapping out the production of varied products at manufacturing units. The module should have been implemented and linked to ERP and other backend functionalities but however Nike implemented software from i2 using the legacy systems rather than implementing as part of its SAP ERP Project (SCM and ERP Implementation at Nike: From Failure to Success 2005 ) In 2000, after the implementation of i2 software, NIKE stated that it resulted in stock pile up for slower-selling shoes and shortages for high demand shoes. Nike blamed i2 software for poor planning forecast which was actually developed to reduce production days. Investors believed Nikes blame game and the shares of i2 dropped severely. But i2 managers claimed that Nikes issues were not linked to software but the way the software was implemented. They did not use the standard template offered by i2 for its footwear division. But i2 accepted the blame of not being forceful in compelling Nike to stick onto their implementation methodology and the bitter truth was i2 desired to solve Nikes complex issue of tracking every shoe model it manufactures. Nike experienced some major issue and hence i2 thought resolving those legitimate issues would really serve as value addition to i2 Technologies. Joshua Greenbaum, a consultant stated that i2 software is not known for technical failures but it is well known for its complexity and the issue here is that Nike went go-alive with the new software even before they were ready to go live which resulted in major chaos. Lessons learnt by Nike : Implementation issues in supply chain can have disastrous effect in Supply chain process of an organization and hence great care should be taken while implementing software solutions for managing supply chain. If a standard template is customized as per the clients requirement then the service provider should monitor that the client adheres to implementation procedures as instructed. If a solution is being offered to address complex issues, then the system should not go-live before appropriate testing to check if all the needs of clients are better served. Premature switching has devastating effect on the organization which Nike has learned at its cost. Fig:1.9: Nikes latest SAP IT Solution to manage supply chain functionalities Nike owns a system Futures wherein the retailers place orders 3-6 months in advance which does assist in demand and forecast planning. But the scenario is different for it Football Team Sports (FTS) category which constitutes 10% of its overall market. Its FTS line comprises about 100 varied styles and it uses a unique fabric Dri-Fit that absorbs sweat. Usually sports team places the order, expects delivery in a weeks time, demands more customized options and hence prestocked items doesnt hold good for all customers. The challenge for FTS apparel lies in its supply chain. Nike has to seek ways to reduce current lead time like modifying demand planning/ forecast system, shifting production base from Asia to Europe and preordering undyed fabric called greige and contracts with strategic suppliers/manufacturers can result in faster delivery even amidst last minute orders. (Nike:Just Do it But How? 2009) Evans and Danks model : Fig 1.10: Evans-Danks Model Source: Evans and Danks (1998) Strategic supply chain management Creating shareholder value by aligning supply chain strategy with business strategy. In: Gattorna, (ed.): Strategic supply chain alignment, Hampshire: Gower, pp. 18-38 Sourcing Strategy : Global Commodity Chain (GCC) perspective provides greater insights on design, distribution and marketing activities. Nike has captured a greater place in US athletic footwear market albeit its manufacturing activities are held overseas, formulating Nike to be archetype of global sourcing strategy. Its successful execution of sourcing strategy can be best known in Nikes effort to retain its power and authority over its highly profitable nodes of the footwear commodity chain which offers them the strategic and geographical mobility. Nikes distribution network was broadened by forming strategic alliance with retail outlets. It shifted its manufacturing base from high cost production countries to low cost countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Asia etc. The merits of producing goods in developing nations have to be weighed against the demerits of other costs like sourcing, production flexibility, transportation and storage. Nike took advantage of global sourcing as a way to reduce cost and in 1980s relocated its plants to Taiwan, South Korea and in 1990s to China, Indonesia and Vietnam. In 2006,over a half a million workers were engaged in 700 factories in 51 countries, although the firm had around 23000 employees in its payroll.(Lechner and Boli 2004). The efficient management of sourcing strategy obtained Nike to manufacture goods as low cost and thereby its market share and profitability increased. Nikes Futures system is order and planning system which serves to resolve inventory and financial bottlenecks. Nike had more flexibility options like modifying design specifications by dealers which offered competitive advantage over its competitors like Adidas. Donaghu and Barff categorised and identified 3 sets of Nikes factories developed partners, volume producers and developing sources. Developed partners are Nikes first/upper tire suppliers who are accountable for innovative and stylish/premier models. Volume Producers produce products in large quantities but selected products. Developing sources are recent factories that have enticed Nike due to low labor cost. Various steps are involved in making a atheletic shoe designing, model and pattern making, molding of soles, material cutting, stitching, lasting, finishing, final inspection and packaging which requires little skill. Hence unskilled workforce and lower wage rate are quintessential in manufacturing shoes competitively. Nike did not own a factory in Asia but had contracts with partners who manufacture apparels and footwear. Nike took the ownership of the products only after they are finished and delivered from factories. Fig 1.11: Members within Nikes Supply Chain Process Fig 1.12: Nike Brand Factories across globe Source: Nike website Demand Flow Strategy: Nike uses Futures Order system to manage its supply with demand. Nike sells its product through various channels Nike owned stores, online, independent distributors and licensees. Nike doesnt own a factory but outsources its manufacturing activities to subcontrators across globe. Nikes manufacturers deploys Just-in-Time principles to manage inventories. Supply Chain Integration Strategy: Information integration, Decision integration, Financial integration, Operational integration and Physical or Virtual links are the key factors of Supply chain integration. Nike uses SAP software solutions to manage its supply chain processes. Nike never manufactures but establishes contracts with subcontractors across globe. Since 1972, Sojitz Corporation of America (Sojitz America), a large Japanese trading company has been offering financial assistance in exports-imports of Nikes products. It offered purchasing and financing services for Nikes goods in Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, Chile, Brazil, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, South Africa, China, Korea, and Thailand, excluding products produced and sold in the same country. (Nike 10K Report, 2010) . Any disruption/failure from it would affect Nikes power to buy goods from suppliers and to sell goods to customers. FishBone Diagram: Fig 1.13: FishBone Diagram for Nike Time Compression: Time is a critical factor in todays supply chain. Time compression can be defined as reducing the amount of time taken for a process in a business operation ie inputs is being transformed to expected/desired outputs in a process but in a compressed period of time. To achieve time compression for the holistic supply chain, activities that does not add value to the process should be identified which is achieved by removing waste and refocusing on the process steps. The horizontal and vertical structure which forms the basis of supply chain must be properly integrated. The structural and infrastructural linkages in a supply chain depicts how efficiently resources, inventory are utilized. (Beesley 1996) Few generic principles to identify and understand supply chain process: The end users in a supply chain are customers who demand speed and adhere to delivery. Nike customers demand variety in products ranges and hence Nike strives to manufactures wide range of products but maintains a minimal stock so as to accommodate many varieties. Customers are not willing to pay extra cash for speedy delivery because similar services are offered by its competitors also. Many firms are just order qualifiers and not order winners. The call for JIT inventory can be satisfied by maintaining correct proportion of stocks in stores. Positioning of resources and inventory also plays a vital role in maintaining a optimal supply chain. Burbidge and Forrester states that the effect of demand variation in a supply chain oscillates out of control and impacts the lower level of supply chain. Fig 1.14: Internet Driven Supply Chain Model Wireless Technology and RFID are used by Nike at a minimum level. Efforts are taken to widely utilize it across its factories. The usage of RFID however raised some privacy concerns and hence Nike is striving hard to resolve such issues and trying to make use of the technology in the best possible way. Globalisation does impact Nike and offers many challenges. Global sourcing and reduced tariffs in developing countries have created complicated webs in supply chain. Infrastructures in developing economies are not well developed and hence it requires partnerships with 3PL providers who possesses better knowledge on market and in few cases Nike has to build its distribution centres. Periodically detailed research has to be done to understand infrastructure issues. Consumer expectation varies in different countries. One size fits all rule doesnt apply anymore. Customization plays a vital role in acquiring customer satisfaction. Product proliferation challenges can be tackled by being more responsive and quick in addressing the needs of the end users. Nike needs to adapt lean and agile manufacturing programs based on their volume-variety formulae. Retailing customers demand for shorter lead times and faster inventory turns and they make attempts to push the products upstream. As a reciprocative action, Nike offers out-of-stock and replenishment programs but should strive to improvise/speed-up time to market and reduce lead times. Conflict exists between cost and flexibility. Manufacturing lead time is longer due to technical complexity associated with fabrics and products require complex innovation which ultimately results in cost of time and delays. Supply Chain Integration Issues and Recommendations for Nike The key thing to focus is to understand the nature of the demand for the products in supply chain. Functional products are those products that fulfil minimum needs, dont alter to a large extent over time, possesses stable and expected demand and lengthy life cycles. Innovative products are expected to have short life cycle and unpredictable demand. Innovative products supply chain differs from functional products supply chain. Two types of supply chain are Physically efficient supply chain and Market Responsive supply chain. The below table shows the attributes of two supply chain. To develop an ideal supply chain strategy, the nature of demand for products is plotted against their respective supply chain. The 2*2 matrix thus depicts if the existing supply chain matches the right demand for the products. The supply chain strategies are perfect if the functional products possess efficient supply chain and innovative products possesses responsive supply chain. Physically Efficient Process Market Responsive Process Primary Purpose Supply predictable, demand efficiently at the lowest possible cost. Respond quickly to unpredictable demand inorder to minimize stockouts, markdowns and obsolete inventory Manufacturing focus Maintain high average utilization rate Deploy excess buffer capacity Inventory strategy Generate high turns and minimize inventory throughout the supply chain Deploy significant buffer stocks of parts or finished goods. Lead Time focus Shorten lead time as long as it doesnt increase cost Invest aggressively to reduce lead time Approach to choosing suppliers Select primarily for cost and quality Select primarily for speed, flexibility and quality Product design strategy Maximize performance and minimize cost Use modular design inorder to postpone product differentiation as long as possible. Table 1.1: Attributes of Physically efficient and Responsive Supply Chain Source: Fisher,M.L., What is the Right Supply Chain for your Product? A simple framework can help you figure out the answer Functional Products Innovative Products Efficient Supply Chain Match Nikes atheletic shoes and casual shoes, sports equipment, apparels and accessories. Mismatch Nikes shoes for diabetic patients, Zoom Air shoes for athletes, high technology sports equipment. Responsive Supply Chain Mismatch Match Table1.2: Nikes product and supply chain positioning matrix Nike should take efforts to shift from upper right hand cell to lower right hand cell. This can be achieved by making few of the products functional and developing a responsive supply chain for the rest of the innovative products. Nike can handle unceratinty by three ways reducing leadtime and becoming agile such that products are produced only when there is market demand; searching for new information that act as indicators and sharing a common platform and components for varied products and demand becoming predictable; hedging against outstanding ambiguity with buffers of inventory (Fisher ) Arcs of Integration: Ragatz et al (1997) claims that the effective integration of suppliers into product value/supply chains will be a key factor for some manufacturers in achieving the improvements necessary to remain competitive.The two types of integration are : delivery integration or forward integration which involves the flow of material between suppliers, manufacturers and customers (Saunders 1997, Trent and Monczka 1998) and Information integration or backward integration that include the effective functioning of IT and flow of data between customers and suppliers (Martin 1992, Trent and Monczka 1998). Tan et al (1998) state that when firms integrate and act as single unit, overall performance is improved across the supply chain. Manufacturers should decide in which direction (customers or towards suppliers) and to which extent (degree of integration), they should undertake upstream and downstream integration. Fig1.15: Integration in the Supply Chain Source: Frohlich, M.T., Westbrook, R., 2001., Arcs of Integration: an international study of supply chain strategies. Journal of Operations Management, 185-200 Fig1.16: Nike striving to move towards outward facing Arc of Integration Source: Frohlich, M.T., Westbrook, R., 2001., Arcs of Integration: an international study of supply chain strategies. Journal of Operations Management, 185-200 C2C Cycle: Fig 1.16: Nikes 5 year trend of Operation Cycle Source: Thomson One Banker Agility is defined as a capability to meet demands of end users and to warrant that supply matches the demand. The key factor is flexibility and time to market in response to demand is crucial. Transforming the supply chain from make-to-sell to make-to-order is the desire of any organization that wants to gain competitive advantage via supply chain management. Nikes objective is centralization and it is achieved by information sharing through the effective implementation of IT. Nikes claims its lead time is 6 months due to technical complexity associated with producing fabrics and products. In this competitive world, 6 months is a wide gap for any rival to gain access competitive advantage. Nike should adopt following ways to reduce lead time gap. Postponement Strategy: Postponement or delayed configuration is a way of manufacturing products in common platforms, components or modules but the final assembly or customization does not happen until the final market destination and or customer requirement is known (Christopher 2000). Inventory levels can be maintained at a generic level which results in lower stock keeping variants and flexibility it offers in greater. Forecasting is easier at basic level than for a final product. Customizing a product locally means more variety at less cost which paves way for mass customization. Through Localization, postponement strategy is fully achieved which implies that the final product is finished in the local region. The hurdle for efficient SCM is to build lean strategies till the decoupling point and agile strategies further than that point (Christopher 2000). Decoupling point is the point at which demand diffuse through the supply chain. The flow of product upto the decoupling point should be forecast driven and the flow of product after the decoupling point should be demand driven (Christopher 2000). The two decoupling points are material decoupling point where inventory is stocked as its basic form and it should continue as far downstream as likely ; information decoupling point which should be available as far upstream as likely to which data about demand diffuses. Nike should seek ways to handle the two decoupling points thereby becoming more agile than competitors and reducing Bullwhip or Forrester effect. In most of the processes it is the lead time of the suppliers that restricts the firm to be more agile to customers demand. Order to Delivery Cycle: Order cycle time is defined as the time consumed from placement of order by customers to delivery of the product to them. The components of order to delvery cycle are order communication, order entry and processing, order picking or production, transportation, customer receiving. Each of these steps consumes time and any bottlenecks associated with any of the processes would result in increased cycle time. Optimum Production Technology categorizes any activity as bottleneck and non-bottleneck. Nike should focus on bottlenecks to which capacity can be reduced and set-up times can be reduced. The firm should also focus on non-bottlenecks in a similar fashion. SCOR and DCOR model: Supply Chain Operations Research Model is used to analyse the current position of the organizations business processes and functions. It possesses a set of metrics to be evaluated and can be compared with the benchmark data. Design channel Operations Research Model links business processes and functions, metrics, good practices and technology attributes into a single unified model to support communication within design chain partners and to improve the effectiveness of extended supply chain. Sustainability: Nike has taken steps towards sustainable business and the need of the hour is to take proactive steps by focusing on sustainable manufacturing, sustainable product development and developing a sustainable marketplace. Nike should take efforts to identify closed loop models and processes which would enhance sustainability across supply chain. Nike must follow an integrated approach in tackling supply chain by fusing lean, energy, water, waste and compliance teams into one model: sustainable manufacturing and sourcing. Sustainability is the path to forthcoming profitability. (Nike Corporate Responsibility Report 2009 ) Nike deals with many contractors and hence Nike should seek long term sourcing consolidation strategy and rationalize its supply chain functionalities. Nike has to take steps to build a sustainable base , align with strategic manufacturers who are able to deliver high end products and are highly innovative, building relationships with contractors willing to adhere to Nikes corporate responsibility. Fig 1.17: Nikes Supply Chain towards Sustainability Source: Nike Corporate Responsibility Report Environmental Impacts: Waste is produced at every step of supply chain. In FY2006, Nike conducted waste mapping study and discovered that 75% of waste is generated from supply chain activities outside factories and when measured by weight, about 40% of the purchased materials end up as waste. One-third of waste footprint is generated from retail packaging and from shipping packaging. Nike operates 5 waste management centres in 4 countries and about 50 products are transported to material vendors so as to recycle them to materials from which Nike repurchases. Nike should focus to utilize more waste effectively to sustainable uses. The firm should seek ways to reduce waste in design stage rather than seeking ways to reduce waste in downstream supply which would decrease costs and waste materials being generated. Fig 1.18: Percentage of Waste generated across Nikes supply Chain Process Source: Nike Corporate Responsibility Report Fig 1.19: Nikes Reuse-a-Shoe Program Source: Nike Corporate Responsibility Report Fig 1.20: Greenhouse gas emissions across various supply chain process of Nike Source: Nike Corporate Responsibility Report Supply Chain Mapping Tools: Various supply chain mapping functionalities are available which can be utilized by Nike to determine its current position and future growth prospects. Demand Density Mapping: Sales Territory Mapping: Gross Margin Map: Customer/DC Allocation Map: Isochrone Mapping: Centre of gravity mapping: Table 1.3: Supply Chain Mapping Tools Source: Types of Supply Chain Map, 2007. Nike should manage the business process links based on its objective such as product variety, improvising quality, lowering cost across supply chain. Number of links should be monitored and managed with great care any decision to change links should be well analysed before incorporating amendments. Owing to high variability in customers expectations, Nike should focus more on demand management to gain a sustainable competitive position in the volatile market. Nike can utilize Point-Of-Sale (POS) systems and key customer data to effectively manage demand and supply thereby lowering uncertainty and offering smooth flow across supply chain. Order fulfilment activities should be given high priority and customer needs should be satisfied greatly which requires proper integration with Nikes manufacturers, distributors and logistics providers. Nike should seek to partner with fourth party logistic providers depending on the marketplace and other benefits. Innovation is the lifeblood of Nike to stay competitive and hence new product development process needs high attention. Nikes should identify end users articulated and unarticulated needs; identify strategic suppliers and forms efficient links for a smooth supply chain. Nike should leap forward towards Joint planning and control approach so as to effectively operationalize its functions globally. Nike has failed to monitor its contractors factories who have employed underage kids and havent adhered to minimum wage rates. Owing to this, Nikes brand names have been associated with child labour and Nike has to face loads of labour rights issues which defamed its brand. Nike has been really doing well in managing its supply chain integration. However if it maps and analyzes every bit of linkages across the chain and takes corrective actions, it can gain a well established position in the market and thereby reducing the cost by a large amount. Conclusion: The mapping of SCM process results in understanding the existing issues and paves way for defining solutions. Identifying the critical members of the supply chain, kind of functionalities to be connected and what nature/degree of integration is necessary for each link are key factors that require deep insight. The goal of SCM is to create the highest possible value not only for the specific firm but across the supply chain including end-consumers. Aligning the product supply with their appropriate supply chain is also vital for increasing sales. Amplification caused by uncertainty can be reduced

Guillvers Travels :: essays papers

Guillvers Travels Literary Techniques Socrates stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living." From the beginning of a man's life, he looks for a purpose or a calling that he has been placed on the earth to fulfil or become. Authors throughout the ages, aware of this knowledge, write with the intent helping man search inside his self to examine the purpose of his existence. Swift uses many techniques to spark this analysis. One technique Swift uses in Guliver's Travels is juxtaposition. An example of juxtaposition comes when Swift lands Gulliver on an island of giants. The comparison of the giants to Gulliver causes the reader to realize what small importance a single man has in the world. "...showing how diminutive, contemptible, and helpless an animal was man in his own nature..." (141). As Gulliver explains what he reads in an giant book, he explains how man cannot effectively protect himself from his surroundings. "...unable to defend himself from the inclemencies of the air, or the fury of wild beasts..." (152). Gulliver then reads that the author believes that man should have originally been made larger and more robust. Swift explains this to show that one man is a very small fish in a very large pond. Another example of juxtaposition lies when Gulliver and the Houyhnhnms are compared. This comparison illustrates how inhumane and savage mankind can act. Gulliver tries to explain the conc ept of war to his master. "Millions of Yahoos might have been killed in the whole progress of it, and perhaps a hundred or more cities taken, and thrice as many ships burnt or sunk" (265). The master did not understand this concept and could not believe that man could kill his own kind such as they do. "He asked me what were the usual causes or motives that made one country go to war with another" (265). Swift attacks the ridiculousness of war here. "Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives..." (265). Examples of Gulliver as the ingenuous narrator are numerous. Acting as an ingenous narrator becomes natural for Gulliver, being a naive and innocent person by nature. An example of this lies when Gulliver dances around in front of many people. "I turned about several times to the company, paid my humble respects, said they were welcome, and used some other speeches I had been taught" (111). Guillvers Travels :: essays papers Guillvers Travels Literary Techniques Socrates stated, "The unexamined life is not worth living." From the beginning of a man's life, he looks for a purpose or a calling that he has been placed on the earth to fulfil or become. Authors throughout the ages, aware of this knowledge, write with the intent helping man search inside his self to examine the purpose of his existence. Swift uses many techniques to spark this analysis. One technique Swift uses in Guliver's Travels is juxtaposition. An example of juxtaposition comes when Swift lands Gulliver on an island of giants. The comparison of the giants to Gulliver causes the reader to realize what small importance a single man has in the world. "...showing how diminutive, contemptible, and helpless an animal was man in his own nature..." (141). As Gulliver explains what he reads in an giant book, he explains how man cannot effectively protect himself from his surroundings. "...unable to defend himself from the inclemencies of the air, or the fury of wild beasts..." (152). Gulliver then reads that the author believes that man should have originally been made larger and more robust. Swift explains this to show that one man is a very small fish in a very large pond. Another example of juxtaposition lies when Gulliver and the Houyhnhnms are compared. This comparison illustrates how inhumane and savage mankind can act. Gulliver tries to explain the conc ept of war to his master. "Millions of Yahoos might have been killed in the whole progress of it, and perhaps a hundred or more cities taken, and thrice as many ships burnt or sunk" (265). The master did not understand this concept and could not believe that man could kill his own kind such as they do. "He asked me what were the usual causes or motives that made one country go to war with another" (265). Swift attacks the ridiculousness of war here. "Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives..." (265). Examples of Gulliver as the ingenuous narrator are numerous. Acting as an ingenous narrator becomes natural for Gulliver, being a naive and innocent person by nature. An example of this lies when Gulliver dances around in front of many people. "I turned about several times to the company, paid my humble respects, said they were welcome, and used some other speeches I had been taught" (111).