Family and Issue

The first Issue is all about the genealogy of Kamapua`a. He was the enemy of the Lava Goddess Pele who lived in Kilauea. -The second Issue is the story of how his mother was born and kapu’d for the king but she fell in love with the King’s brother and gave birth to 3 children and a pig child. The youngest child was taken to the sky and turned into a kind of rain while the others were adopted into grandmothers home. The grandmother says a chant and Kamapua`a gains powers to change body forms. The third Issue is about the Pig- Child using his powers to plant a whole taro patch with his youngest borhter in a single day, as to where the older brother trying to do it by himself would have taken several days. Kamapua`a finishes both gardens single-handedly.This issue also show the love between him and his family, they treat him very nicely and praise him for all that he does. This issue ends with Kamapua`a stealing chickens from nearly the whole island. He will be going for t he Kings chicken coop next. -The fourth issue is about how the pig continues to go out and steal chickens, continuously getting closer to the kings roost when he finds a mystical chicken that he leaves. He rested for 3 days because he was tired of chasing chickens. He the got up and raided Kailua. The people of Kailua came thinking that Kamapua`a did it but he changed into a sick looking pig. The pig then went and raided the kings chickens and got seen and chased by the guards -The fifth issue is about how the King sends armies to kill a little pig but cannot overcome the magic powers of Kamapua`a. Kamapua`a is constantly outsmarting his opponents.He is found sleeping under a rock and is taken prisoner, being stabbed with a stone dagger the whole time. That is where the fifth issue ends. -In the sixth issue Kamapua`a was dead and came back to life, killing everyone who was against him. He then sailed to Kauai and found one of the chiefs daughters who had fainted. He brought her back to consciousness and made her his woman. In this issue he meets his new father in law and learns of his brother in law who causes terror and havoc on the island. Kamapua`a tells his wife that he will go to challenge, she objects but it will not be enough to stop him.

Coupon Accounting Abuse Essay

The incentive, opportunity, and rationalization to commit fraud have plagued business organizations for many years. There are numerous ways that managers and employees can commit fraud. This makes it a necessity for businesses to have quality internal controls that help prevent fraudulent activity. However, even with the best set of controls businesses are still susceptible of fraud. This paper will concentrate on the case study concerning coupon accounting abuse and will answer questions pertaining to company controls, ways to prevent coupon abuse, parties who may be harmed, and the type of fraud presented in the case. Coupon Accounting Abuse Question 1: Discuss whether the situation described can happen to a company with a good control environment. It is imperative for a company to have good accounting internal controls. A company that has a good control environment will help deter fraud, but these controls can only provide a company with reasonable assurance. In this situation the brand manager is committing the fraud. This would make it very hard even for a company with good controls to detect fraud. In what is known as management override, managers can simply circumvent a company’s internal controls. Question 2: Describe any steps a company could take to prevent such abuse. There are many steps that a company can take to prevent fraud abuse. A company should implement a strong code of ethics policy. Every manager and employee should be trained and very aware of the policy. This will help in maintaining the integrity of the workforce. There should be a strong screening process that includes background checks to help ensure the company is hiring honest employees. There should also be a segregation of duties. In this case the brand manager has complete control over estimating the coupon liability. This estimate should be approved by another manager at the company. The company should inform independent and internal auditors of the significance that coupons can have on the company’s financial statements. A risk management group should be established whose task is to facilitate and co-ordinate the overall risk management process. Depending on the size and nature of the organization, the risk management group may be in the form of a committee who meet from time to time (CIMA, 2009). Question 3: List those parties who might be harmed by this situation. Fraud is often mistakenly considered a victimless crime. However, fraud can have considerable social and psychological effects on individuals, businesses and society (CIMA, 2009). In this situation the brand manager is harming multiple parties. When the manager replaces the 4% estimated redemption rate with 2% he is increasing revenue making the company look more profitable than it really was. This is misleading to managers and shareholders who are reading the financial statements. It could be detrimental to the business if managers think a brand is doing better than it really is. The shareholder will also be impacted in the coming year because of the added liability expenses. The brand manager is putting himself at risk to be harmed because if he is caught his job will be terminated and he will be prosecuted. Question 4: Do you consider this example to be management fraud or employee fraud? I consider this to be management fraud. Management fraud often involves senior or high level management’s intentional misrepresentation of financial statements, theft or improper use of accompany resources. Employee fraud involves a non-senior employee theft or improper use of company resources (Gottlieb, 2011). The fraud that was committed was by the brand manager who developed a myopic view and knew that he would be managing another brand in the next year. This situation is becoming increasingly common in the workplace. In order to combat fraud and white collar crime in businesses, a concerted effort must be exerted by the management of the business, the external auditors, and by all employees of the business. Everyone must realize that fraud is not a victimless crime. The cost of fraud and theft are shared by all through higher costs and lower corporate profits. Through adequate internal controls by management, better working environments for employees, more stringent requirements for external auditors, and codes of ethics for employees, everyone can start to combat frauds and defalcations within corporate America (Farrell, Franco, 1999).

Statehood Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Statehood - Essay Example According to the paper the criterion listed above that the states must have the capacity to enter into relations with other States, appears to imply that the State must be recognized by other States before it can exist as a political entity. But this is belied in Article 3 of the Montevideo Convention, which clearly states that â€Å"the political existence of the State is independent of recognition by the other States. According to Crawford, statehood and recognition must be separated as two distinct categories, for example, Israel was not recognized by many of its neighboring Arab States, but it has existed as a State nevertheless. According to Cassese, it is effectiveness that is at the core of all legal relations and the Community of States has not thus far defined binding legitimate criteria for new States; on this basis recognition is not the relevant criterion which will determine statehood. However, with the end of the Second World War and the development of the UN Charter,8 international law has been redefined. According to Article 4.1 of the UN Charter, membership in the United Nations is open to â€Å"all other peace loving states† thereby implying that only a State will be recognized by the collective world body, i.e, the United Nations. Moreover, this article specifies certain conditions for membership; they must be (a) peace loving (b) accept the obligations of the present Charter and (c) must be willing to carry out these obligations.

Why Do We Do School Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Why Do We Do School - Assignment Example Throughout the academic career, the children learn the lesson through proper curriculum and sophisticated educational planning. This paper will elaborate upon the reasons that children do school for. School Just like other educational institutions, the school is such an institution which is specifically intended for the provision of education to the students under proper instructions and directions by the teachers, the system of school is the source of formal education in most of the countries. In such systems, there is a series of schools through which the students progress and proceed in order to complete their formal education and learning process. There are varying names for these academic institutions but mostly they are known as the primary school system for those children who are young and secondary school systems for teenagers who have already passed out their primary school systems. In United States, these schools are known by various names: preschool systems for toddlers, k indergarten for the kids, and then elementary, middle, high school which upgrades to the higher levels of academic with college, university and graduate schools. Reasons for doing School The gaining of knowledge and going to school is the fundamental essential and a right for the children belonging to the modern society and nuclear families these days. Unlike the perspectives of few traditional families, doing school is the most important task in children’s life. Several reasons which define the schooling process as vital are given below: Fulfillment of the basic demands The schools of modern times are the fulfilling aspects and mirror image of the sentimental values, kinship demands, and perception of the modern day nuclear family. The postmodern era of the current world requires the children to be competent to deal with the upcoming burdens and demands of the revolutionary times. Thus, they need to be capable enough to tackle all the issues and challenges of the future (Dav id, 2005). Ethical and Moral learning At the foundation level, the schools are needed to develop children in ethical and moral aspects. This side of the children’s personality affects their image and reputation in the society and boosts their thinking capabilities. It enables them to become better citizens and good human beings in order to survive in the social structure. It teaches them to be considerate towards their peers, family and other members of the social groups. Not only this, but the moral and ethical teachings also makes one satisfied in their innate nature. Professional requirements As soon as the children proceed from the elementary and middle school to the higher levels such as college and university, they begin thinking about their professional growth and future standards. It is the time when they need to take big decision and great commitments in context of time, work, determination and money. Moreover, the professional standards require a professional degree as it fulfills the need of advanced learning which is important for entering into the practical field (Hawaii Community Foundation, 2011). Cultural Congruence The students require an education which is culturally congruent and relevant for them. For this purpose the schools are advised to design their curriculum according to the cultural relevance for the school and college goers. Here, the schools play a part to empower the students socially, intellectually, politically and emotionally by utilizing their cultural referents to impart skills, knowledge and attitudes (Tyrone, 2001). This would help the

Theories of the Disappearance of Quenn Hatshepsut Essay

Theories of the Disappearance of Quenn Hatshepsut - Essay Example They named him Tuthmosis II who was named heir. The reign of Queen Hatshepsut was one that was intriguing. There are many mysteries that surround her reign in power. It is suspected that her nephew, Thutmose the Third, overtook his inheritance when he was young to become a king. Further accomplishments of the queen were cut short by her disappearance under mysterious circumstances. This was after rising to power, and her nephew immediately took reign and control of the throne. It has been for long speculated that he assassinated her to take control of the throne. This paper is a brief summary of the theories that try to explain her mysterious disappearance. The Evil Stepmother Theory There are many speculations as to why her name was removed from all records. They range from a view that Thutmose III took her to be a wicked stepmother in the dynasty struggle between the two families. There is a tale of how the queen seized power; the resistance of Tuthmosis III to her reign is evident in the way he swiftly ordered the destruction of all of her monuments. The animosity between the two leaders was even present in some early papers that describe the excavations that were produced by the Exploration Society of Egypt in the 1890s. The theory of the wicked stepmother became more dominant in the writing of the queen’s history (Strouhal & Forman, 2006). ... This theory comes into play because of the fact that after Thutmose the Third came to power, he ordered any record of his aunt to be removed completely. He did not want anything to do with her, and this is despite the fact that during her reign, she had achieved many accomplishments that helped the Egyptian society to be successful and grow for many years (Egypt Exploration Society, 2001). The resentment that he had for her could have played a significant part in her disappearance. However, some people believe that he decided to silence everything about his aunt to protect the family’s name. Early scholars, however, believe that Thutmose III had her killed since she had refused to step down as pharaoh when he came of age (Egypt Exploration Society, 2001). Death by Natural Causes Many scholars have speculated that the queen aged and died of natural causes, and after her death, the natural selection of her successor took place, where Thutmose III took charge. The corpse of the q ueen was for many years hidden by Tuthmosis III and buried in secret. It was believed that there was nothing that was left of her body, apart from some fragments that were found in a canopic jar. Archeologists did, however, find a mummified body in the Valley of the Kings that was suspected to be the queen’s. This was later confirmed by a lot of evidence and DNA testing. Some scholars believe that she died of natural causes, and this explained why her liver and other internal body parts were found separate from the body and stored in a jar. Others believe that she died from an abscess after the removal of a tooth (Burgan, 2009). Protection of the Family Name Another accepted theory suggests that Tuthmosis III wanted to cover

Operational Analysis and Effectiveness Case Study

Operational Analysis and Effectiveness - Case Study Example Operations as defined by Heizer is the management of production of goods and services that add value to the firm. Thus, operations cannot be ignored any wherelets first analyze briefly what actually is the function of an airline industry. Airline industry provides services to its customers by transporting them from one destination to another be it international, national, regional or simply for cargo purposes. The operations issues that are important and critical include airport capacity, route structures, technology and costs to lease or buy the physical aircrafts1. Some of the larger issues that organizations face every time are the weather conditions, fuel costs and labor. Since weather effects flight schedules and is quite variable and naturally unpredictable; weather extremes such as snow, fog, and extreme temperatures can halt the operations of the air transport and hence add to costs both in terms of opportunity cost and the physical cost already incurred. Without fuel, no aero plane could fly, fuel costs comprise around 17-18% of the total cost of the airline company. For managing fuel efficiency the air transportation management should schedule flights properly as for example short haul flights are less fuel efficient as greater part is consumed in landing and take off. Labor is very important, which includes all sorts of labor and skills, flight attendants, pilots, baggage handl ers, dispatchers, customer services, air hosts and hostesses etc. The critical activities2 of an airline industry include demand forecasting, network design, revenue management, route planning, airline schedule planning, irregular operations aircraft routing, integrated scheduling, real time crew management, crew pairing optimization, air traffic flow management, crew rostering, air traffic simulation and control, and also coping with the concerned authorities' control program. Now the critical activities are discussed independently, and the relevant outcome and importance is also specified. Demand forecasting by airlines It is important for an air transportation industry to forecast demand levels correctly, as the management of demand can help in maximizing revenues as much as possible. And since demand for air travel seems to have been growing at the multiples of GDP therefore the need becomes more pronounced. And, there is a need to understand the demand for airlines industry is of two types, viz. underlying growth and the induced growth. The underlying growth in demand occurs as a reason of naturally occurring external factors in the environment;

Sex, Lies and Conversation Article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sex, Lies and Conversation Article - Essay Example Particularly, girls and women usually face each other in a direct manner, anchoring their eyes on the interlocutor’s face. Unlike women, man and boys, regardless of age, tend to sit at angles to each other. Moreover, they typically do not fix on each other’s eyes but rather look elsewhere around. Only periodically do they glance at their interlocutors. At the same time, as Tannen observes, males are evidently attuned to each other, which becomes clear as one sees their echoing movements. Misunderstandings arise because women often think that if men do not face them directly or face away, they do not listen or are unwilling to talk. For instance, one girl found herself really frustrated once she started talking to her boyfriend. Whenever she told him she would like to talk, he would just lie down on the room’s floor, put his hands over the face, close his eyes, and listen to her while staying in such position. For him, that obviously meant that he was super concen trated as normally he would rather look around his room and could be distracted easily. As he lied down on and closed his eyes, he was able to follow the conversation in a more effective manner (Tannen). Another example is a conversation observed by Tannen between two boys in the 10th grade. The boys were sharing their problems. Their position was as follows: sprawled across chairs, keeping their bodies parallel, looking straight ahead and rarely glancing at each other, the boys â€Å"looked as if they were riding in a car, staring out the windshield† (Tannen). Of course, it is hard to imagine two girls sharing about their problems and feelings in a similar physical position. Next, there is a difference in how men and women focus on topics while talking. While for men it is typical to change topics frequently, women like to talk a lot about one topic. Tannen observed that while the second grade girls were telling each other stories about people they were familiar with, boys o f this age jumped from one topic to another: teased each other, spotted things in the room, told jokes, and talked about finding a game to play. Similarly, the girls in the sixth grade would talk at length about some problem (a mutual friend, for example), whereas boys at this age talked about as many as 55 topics, different from each other and each lasting just for a few turns. As a result, for women it is unnatural to switch topics in a conversation and they think men do not listen if they tend to change topics. Moreover, there is a clear difference as to how men and women perceive the role of talk. For a male, a talk is a means of showing his independence and maintaining his status, since men’s perception of the world is hierarchical. Men feel as if they were on guard to protect their statuses and to prevent being pushed around or pushed down. Tannen writes that for a man a talk is a way to establish a position in a group so that the one who is talking is perceived as the one who has power. On the contrary, women perceive talk as a way to form and maintain intimate relationships and closeness. Specifically, a conversation is like a cornerstone of friendly relationship for women. It is an instrument to keep close and see that you are loved. Therefore, men feel challenged to talk at public more than women. At the same time, women prefer to talk more at home where they feel relaxed, free from fear of being misunderstood, pushed away, sounding offensive

BG Group plc Accounting Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

BG Group plc Accounting - Coursework Example Of the three business segments of the company, the E&P segment is the largest in terms of non-current assets subject to impairment issues. Oil and gas exploration is a capital intensive activity and all costs incurred are capitalized as intangible assets until oil or gas is discovered. Once the reserves are proven, these costs are transferred to property, plant and equipment in the company balance sheet. Costs incurred on unsuccessful oil and gas fields are written off in the in the income statement (BG Report 2011, pp 89). This method of accounting based on â€Å"successful efforts† is not a term defined in the IFRS 6 but used by the oil and gas industry as a carry over from previous GAAP practices (KPMG, 2008). BG plc does not differentiate between development fields and production fields. This too is inline with accepted industry practice (KPMG, 2008). Non current assets are reviewed at least once a year for impairment. As on 31 December 2011, BG Group held a balance of $ 4,383 million in expenditure related to unproved oil and gas reserves within the category of intangible assets. In the previous accounting year, this figure was higher at $5,342 million (BG Report 2011, pp 89). For assessment of impairment, BG plc combines oil and gas production fields into cash generating units based on geographical location, use of common facilities and marketing arrangements (BG Report 2011, pp90). This disclosure is not usually made in Oil company reports (KPMG, 2008) and is therefore an improvement on industry practice. BG plc uses the net present value of future cash flows for impairment assessment using certain short term and long term assumptions depending on the nature of the asset. The Exploration & Production business segment is particularly sensitive to commodity prices. Impairment testing of oil and gas properties is based on assessment of proven and probable reserve estimates using the SEC definition (BG

Project management yara2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project management yara2 - Essay Example From the fact that resources will always remain limited, managers are required to manage the limited resources using systematic ideas, effective methods and theories and good setting of standards to ensure the project succeeds without unnecessary expenditures. Most project managers whose projects have failed can be traced to the poor interpretation of resource availability. It is on this point that the project managers are required to involve all round resource management skills to avoid failing vital company products. An all-round resource management in this case includes both financial and human capital. The elements needed for effective project management under the limited resources include the ability of the managers to plan, organize, direct, coordinate, control and evaluation of the whole process. These elements are always expected to form a key part of any project at the starting point. Knowing or noting the importance of these elements during project is not enough to steer th e project towards success. Leadership traits and practical aspects of the project management must take center stage. A number of projects have failed despite the availability of resources due poor leadership. One of the elements of project management leadership is involvement of all and accurate communication. Good project management must involve a gradual process of introduction of any new items or changes. This study will focus on good project management from leadership to the practical point (Meredith and Mantel, 2012). Organizations and individual managers have experienced a series of project failures. These failures can be traced to poor management within the organization and the project team. The difference between successful and failed projects has been pointed out to be the management aspect. Successful project management as portrayed by this study requires effective management from the

Factors change Essay Example for Free

Factors change Essay After I have recorded all the results and written into tables, I used the data to make graphs, which are voltage against current. When I finished marking all the points on to the graphs, I put a line of best fit through. There are five graphs in total, each represents a thickness, on a graph there are five lines of best fits, and each represents a length of a thickness. Then I pick a point on the lines of best fits and calculate the gradient (resistance) by dividing the point on y-axis (voltage) by the point on the x-axis (current) as the ohms law states that V=IR. Finally, I have to draw five graphs to show the relations between length (on the x-axis) and resistance (on the y-axis). Also, I have to draw another graph to show the relations between thickness (on the x-axis) and resistance (on the y-axis). Evaluating Although the whole experiment has been going very well, but the results seems to show some bias or errors as in one or two of the graphs, the pattern is quite strange because some of the gradient (resistance) is not proportional to the lengths. Overall, the experiment can be said as a success. The aim of this experiment is to measure how the resistance change as the factors change. There are so many variables-temperature of surroundings, length, thickness, material, temperature of the wire, surface area, magnetic properties, coated or not and purity-that can be chosen to measure in this experiment. But in this experiment I am only going to measure two of them, which are length and thickness because these two are the easiest to measure and show the effects on the resistance. Prediction: The result should be showing that the resistance increase as the length or thickness increase. This happens because when length or thickness increases, the current will decrease. As the voltage wont change, if the current decreases, then the resistance will increase. Method: In the experiment I will need to use apparatus listed below.

Passport Program In The Success Of Hero Honda

Passport Program In The Success Of Hero Honda Hero Honda Motors Limited, based in Delhi, India is a joint venture between the Hero Group of India and Honda of Japan. Verification. It has been referred to as the worlds biggest manufacturer of 2-wheeled motorized vehicles since 2001, when it produced 1.3 million motorbikes in a single year. During the fiscal year 2008-09, the company has sold 3.28 million bikes and the net profit of the company stood at Rs. 1281.7 crore, up 32% from the previous fiscal year. The companys most popular model is the Hero Hondas Splendor, which is the worlds largest-selling motorcycle, selling more than one million units per year. The company introduced new generation motorcycles that set industry benchmarks for fuel thrift and low emission. A legendary Fill it Shut it Forget it campaign captured the imagination of commuters across India, and Hero Honda sold millions of bikes purely on the commitment of increased mileage. Over 20 million Hero Honda two wheelers tread Indian roads today. These are almost as many as the number of people in Finland, Ireland and Sweden put together! Hero Honda has consistently grown at double digits since inception; and today, every second motorcycle sold in the country is a Hero Honda. Every 30 seconds, someone in India buys Hero Hondas top -selling motorcycle Splendor. This festive season, the company sold half a million two wheelers in a single month-a feat unparalleled in global automotive history. Hero Honda bikes currently roll out from its three globally benchmarked manufacturing facilities. Two of these are based at Dharuhera and Gurgaon in Haryana and the third state o f the art manufacturing facility was inaugurated at Haridwar, Uttrakhand in April this year. These plants together are capable of producing out 4.4 million units per year. Hero Hondas extensive sales and service network now spans over 3000 customer touch points. These comprise a mix of dealerships, service and spare points, spare parts stockiest and authorized representatives of dealers located across different geographies. Hero Honda values its relationship with customers. Its unique CRM initiative Hero Honda Passport Program, one of the largest programs of this kind in the world, has over 3 million members on its roster. The program has not only helped Hero Honda understand its customers and deliver value at different price points, but has also created a loyal community of brand ambassadors. Having reached an unassailable pole position in the Indian two wheeler market, Hero Honda is constantly working towards consolidating its position in the market place. The company believes th at changing demographic profile of India, increasing urbanization and the empowerment of rural India will add millions of new families to the economic mainstream. This would provide the growth ballast that would sustain Hero Honda in the years to come. As Brijmohan Lall Munjal, the Chairman, Hero Honda Motors succinctly points out, We pioneered Indias motorcycle industry, and its our responsibility now to take the industry to the next level. Well do all it takes to reach there. Company profile Hero is the brand name used by the Munjal brothers for their flagship company Hero Cycles Ltd. A joint venture between the Hero Group and Honda Motor Company was established in 1984 as the Hero Honda company, India. During the 1980s, the company introduced motorcycles that were popular in India for their fuel economy and low cost. A popular advertising campaign based on the slogan Fill it Shut it Forget it that emphasized the motorcycles fuel efficiency helped the company grow at a double-digit pace since inception. Hero Honda has three manufacturing facilities based at Dharuhera and Gurgaon in Haryana and at Hardware in Uttarakhand. These plants together are capable of churning out 3.9 million bikes per year.[citation needed] Hero Hondas has a large sales and service network with over 3,000 dealerships and service points across India. Hero Hondas customer loyalty program,[clarification needed] the Hero Honda Passport Program, claims to be one of the largest programs of its kind in the world with over 3 million members. The 2006 Forbes 200 Most Respected companies list has Hero Honda Motors ranked at 108. History India became the second largest two wheeler manufacturer in the world and starting in the 1950s with the Automobile Products of India (API) that manufactured the Lambrettas and Bajaj Auto Ltd. with its association with Piaggio of Italy (manufacturer of Vespa scooters) as the largest manufacturers within the country citation needed. The license raj that existed between the 1940s to 1980s in India did not allow foreign companies to enter the market and imports were tightly controlled. This regulatory maze, before the economic liberalization, made business easier for local players to have a sellers market.[neutrality is disputed] Customers in India were forced to wait up to 12 years to buy a scooter from Bajaj. The CEO of Bajaj commented that he did not need a marketing department, only a dispatch department. By the year 1990, Bajaj had a waiting list that was twenty-six times its annual output for scooters. The motorcycle segment had the same long wait times with three manufacturers: Royal Enfield, Ideal Jawa, and Escorts. Royal Enfield made a 350cc Bullet with the only four-stroke engine at that time and took the higher end of the market but there was little competition for their customers. Ideal Jawa and Escorts took the middle and lower end of the market respectively. In the mid-1980s, the Indian government regulations changed and permitted foreign companies to enter the Indian market through minority joint ventures. The two-wheeler market changed with four Indo-Japanese joint ventures: Hero Honda, TVS SUZUKI , Bajaj Kawasaki and Kinetic Motor Company (Kinetic Honda). The entry of these foreign companies changed the Indian market dynamics from the supply side to the demand side. With a larger selection of two-wheelers on the Indian market, consumers started to gain influence over the products they bought and raised higher customer expectations. The industry produced more models, styling options, prices, and different fuel efficiencies. The foreign companies new technologies helped make the products more reliable and with better quality. Indian companies had to change to keep up with their global counterparts. List of models Achiever Ambition 133, Ambition 135 CBZ, CBZ Star, CBZ Xtreme CD 100, CD 100 SS, CD Dawn, CD Deluxe, CD Deluxe (Self Start) Hunk ,Joy ,Karizma, Karizma R, Karizma ZMR FI ,Passion, Passion+, Passion Pro Pleasure .Street ,Splendor, Splendor+, Splendor+ (Limited Edition), Super Splendor, Splendor NXG The joint venture between Indias Hero Group and Honda Motor Company, Japan has not only created the worlds single largest two wheeler company but also one of the most successful joint ventures worldwide. During the 80s, Hero Honda became the first company in India to prove that it was possible to drive a vehicle without polluting the roads. Hero Honda Passport programme. The passport provides you with yet another opportunity to experience the companys continued commitment to you, our valued customer. You will soon see that it opens the door to a host of special offerings that Hero Honda Motors Limited has in store for you. How to use your Hero Honda Passport? Each time we visit an authorised Hero Honda dealership or service center, make sure that we carry your Hero Honda passport with us. We can accumulate points against purchase of spares, accessories and service at Hero Honda authorised dealerships / service centers. The Hero Honda passport will serve as a record book for keeping an account of the points accumulate by you. Each rupee you spend, at the dealership / service center, entitles you to one point. We also earn bonus point when you come for a free service you visit the dealership ( at least thrice a year ), and make purchases worth Rs. 50 per visit. We refer your relatives and friends to purchase a hero Honda motorcycle. At the time of setting our bills, ensure that your Hero Honda passport is endorsed with the earned points. The more we earn your points, the more benefits you receive. What are the benefits of owning a hero Honda passport ? The accumulated points can be used to enjoy a host of special privileges and benefits from time to time. The moment we receive you hero Honda passport, you are automatically covered for one year Accident Insurance RS 1 lakh. We become entitled for special rewards and discounts, the moment you accumulate the specified points, at any of the authorised hero Honda dealerships / service centers. We also receive invitations to exclusive local events, such as movie shows, musical nights and carnivals. Periodic updates will be sent to you, from the hero Honda programmed center, with your point status. Special information and tips regarding your motorcycle, hero Honda Passport Program happenings and exclusive offers from other brands will also be sent to you along with the updates For how long is the Hero Honda Passport valid ? Your hero Honda passport is valid for a period of 3 years from the date of issue. In case of its loss or theft, please contact your dealership or the following address for a replacement. How to use passport Always remember to carry your Hero Honda Passport with you when you visit a Hero Honda authorized dealership/service centre. Every time you do a transaction at a Hero Honda showroom/workshop, the dealer would reward points into your Passport. You are eligible to accumulate points, against purchase of spares, accessories, service and by referring friends to purchase a Hero Honda motorcycle. Do not forget to get your points endorsed on the Programme Points Sheet given in the Passport. Also ensure that these points are entered in duplicate in the Programme Centre copy by the dealer. Every time a Programme Points Sheet gets completed, the dealer would remove the copy from your Passport and send it to Hero Honda. These would increase your chances for event invitation and special offers. Do collect your rewards as soon as you reach the specified milestones. (For more information see the Reward Chart on last page). Please note that points do not become zero after a gift collection in the Passport Programme and you can keep collecting gifts as you reach a particular milestone. Every time you get your bike serviced, get the Free/Regular Service Record Sheet (as given in Section 2 of the Passport) stamped by the dealer. The Service Record Sheet would help you get a Bike Service Certificate, which can be very useful at the time of your bike resale. The Hero Honda Passport Programme is open only to Hero Honda motorcycle owners/customers who are resident Indian nationals. It is not open to non-resident Indians, employees of Hero Honda Motors Limited, and its advertising agencies (Result: McCann and its respective subsidiary companies). The Hero Honda Passport will be issued in the name of an individual only, and not in the name of a company, corporate body or association of persons. The Hero Honda Passport will be issued only to individuals who are 18 years of age, or older. There is a non-refundable registration fee for the programme. two passport-sized photographs must be attached to the application form. the Hero Honda passport is non-transferable. in case, an applicant is the second or subsequent user of the Hero Honda motorcycle, he/ she is required to submit a copy of the registration booklet, duly transferred, along with the Hero Honda Passport Application form. If any Hero Honda Passport holder loses his/her Hero Honda Passport, a new copy of the same will be issued to the member, on payment of the requisite fee The Hero Honda Passport is valid only for three years from the date of issue. It will take minimum of 4 weeks, from the date of enrolling for the Hero Honda Passport Programme, to deliver the Hero Honda Passport. On becoming a Hero Honda Passport Programme member, the applicant authorises all the organisations, with which Hero Honda Motors Limited may finalise arrangements (including Hero Honda Motors Limited), to use data submitted by him/her for marketing and communication purposes, to enhance performance of the Hero Honda Passport Programme. n case of any disputes of differences in connection with the Hero Honda Passport Programme, the same shall be decided by arbitration. The arbitrator shall be the Managing Director, Hero Honda Motors Limited, or any person nominated by him. The arbitration shall be conducted as per the prevailing arbitration laws rules in New Delhi. Hero Honda Motors Limited shall not, in any way, be liable, or be under any obligation to the participant, if the Hero Honda Passport Programme is withdrawn or modified due to statutory enactments, and judicial/ quasi judicial orders. All these amazing rewards and benefits come to you as you earn points in the Hero Honda Passport Programme. Once you become a member, you will earn points for a host of regular transactions that you conduct even now at your local Hero Honda authorized Dealership or Service Center. These include: So all you have to do to earn points rewards is just keep maintaining your Hero Honda motorcycle, buy genuine Hero Honda Spare Parts and accessories and well give you one point for every rupee you spend! Star Club and Treasured Rewards This unique club has been introduced for those members who get their bikes serviced regularly from authorized Hero Honda Service Centers. The Star Club membership not only identifies the member as special for the HHPP family, but also brings in some added benefits like: 30% discount on labour 7.5% discount on spares, till the validity of the Passport Introducing Treasured RewardGood news for all Passport Programme members who have crossed the 1 lakh point mark in the Hero Honda Passport Programme. A new rewards structure has been introduced for all such members The HHPP Treasured Rewards. The HHPP Treasured Rewards will be available at 8 prescribed milestones beginning from 1.25 lakh points and ending at 3 lakh points, with each milestone at a gap of 25,000 points. In other words, the new milestones are placed at 1.25 lakhs, 1.5 lakhs and so on till 3 lakhs Each time a member reaches a milestone a Motorcycle Privilege Voucher of Rs. 1250/- will be given to him. This voucher may be used to avail a discount on the purchase of a new Hero Honda motorcycle. This voucher is transferable and can be given to friends or relatives who may be planning to buy a new Hero Honda motorcycle Under the new Rewards Programme, the mode of recording points will change. The points will now be recorded in 2 books one would be the old Passport with Additional Treasured Rewards sheets for entering points earned through service, spares and accessories and the other would be a Referral Book which will be used for entering referral points. The Referral Book will begin from 1 lakh points. On cro ssing 1 lakh points the members need to retain a photocopy of their old Passport with them and send the passport to the HHPP Programme Centre immediately. On receipt, the old Passport with Additional treasured rewards sheets and the new Referral Book will be sent across to the members enabling them to start redeeming rewards beyond 1 lakh points. conclusion Hero Honda, the World No. 1 two-wheeler company, today announced that it has recently achieved a landmark member base of more than 2 million customers for its Passport Programme. Extending across 1000 authorized Hero Honda dealerships and SSPs, the program has now become India s largest Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Program. The unprecedented success of the CRM program is a testimony of the faith that the customers repose in the company and its products. It was born out of a need to maximize commitment and strengthen the emotional value that binds our diverse set of customers to the Hero Honda brand. With its apt tagline Rishta Dil Ka, the Passport Programme is a strong platform for the company to build long-term relationships with its customers, beyond the point of sale, and communicate its brand image of trust and reliability. The Hero Honda Passport Programme membership is a unique initiative open to the owners of Hero Honda motorcycles. The program offers many tangible a nd intangible benefits to both the customers as well as to the dealers. Members earn points for incurring expenditure at the Hero Honda dealership/workshop, which can later be redeemed against benefits. On the occasion of the commemoration of the 2 million-passport program milestone, Mr. Pawan Munjal, Managing Director, Hero Honda Motors Ltd. said, At Hero Honda our endeavor is to offer the best in product quality to our customers resulting in highest levels of customer satisfaction. The Passport programme not only builds enduring relationships with our customers but also offer them some extra value, beyond just the tangible benefits of our products. This milestone only reaffirms our customers faith in us, which has been pivotal in the companys growth. The Hero Honda Passport programme was rolled out nationally in the year 2001, after a successful pilot in four states in the year 2000. A unique feature of the programme is its reward model, according to which every rupee spent by the member translates into a reward point. These reward points can then be redeemed for exciting gifts. One of the most significant benefits of this program is a free personal accident policy worth Rs. 1 lakh. Insurance claim of over Rs. 6 crore has already been disbursed to dependent families, exemplifying Hero Hondas concern not just for the safety of its customers, but also their family members. With the help of this program, the company has already received over 900,000 referrals thus also giving a fillip to sales through favourable word of mouth. Review of literature With a member base of more than 20 lakh customers extending across 1000 authorized dealers and SSPs, Hero Honda Passport Program is today the countrys largest Customer Retention Management (CRM) program. Under the apt tagline Rishta Dil Ka, the program has become a strong platform for us to build long-term relationship with our customers beyond the point of sale, and take forward our brand image of trust and reliability. It was born out of a need to maximize commitment and strengthen the emotional value that binds our diverse set of customers to the Hero Honda brand. The program represents a fundamental change in looking at the customer as a long-term asset rather than a mere target for sales transaction. Marketing program designed to enhance brand loyalty by cultivating an ongoing relationship between a marketer and his customer. Successful loyalty programs encourage the consumer to buy frequently, to increase the amount spent each time, and to concentrate all or most of their related purchases on that brand. Most loyalty programs offer perks for membership in a club or program and reward purchases. Rewards may be based on the dollar value of purchases made or on the frequency of purchases. The most well-known loyalty programs are airline frequent-flyer programs that offer discounts against future travel called award miles. Most large supermarket chains now have frequent-buyer clubs that offer no-coupon discounts as well as newsletters and affiliate discounts. Loyalty program tactics also include regular communication with customers such as reminder mailings, private credit cards, cross-sell and up-sell offers, satisfaction and opinion surveys, and collection of information for membe r databases. See also frequency discount.

Comparing A Painting By Fra Filippo Lippi And Dante Gabriel Essays

Comparing a painting by Fra Filippo Lippi and Dante Gabriel Rossetti The two pictures are Rosetti’s Ecce Ancilla Domini and Lippi’s Annunciation. Both of the artists were influenced by their age. Lippi lived in Italy between 1406 and 1469 and Rosetti from 1828 to 1882. Lippi’s background of Italian Renaissance determined his style to a large extent. In Florence where Lippi lived the economic changes of the time led to an emerging new class: that of the banker princes. They lent money to almost all the kings in western Europe and so they collected great fortunes. From their riches they could give patronage to all kinds of artists. This gave artists a stable living but did not give them the freedom that Rosetti enjoyed a few centuries later. Rosetti lived in England at a time when power came to the hands of a new industrial middle class who became the new patrons of the arts. They were rich but not as rich as the church or the patrons of Lippi’s time. Therefore, the artists could not enjoy the protection of this new class for years. Consequently, an artist had to sell pictures in open competition with his rivals on the walls of a salon or an Academy. This competition naturally led to a variety of styles. Some turned to history or exotic arts and others sought new ideas. One of such artists was Dante Gabriel Rosetti he turned against the neo-classical traditions of the Academy and looked for different inspiration. He wrote in 1901 that "an artist, whether painter or writer, ought to be bent upon defining and expressing his own personal thoughts, and that they ought to be based upon a direct study of Nature, and harmonised with her manifestations." In the same year he founded with some fellow artists the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood based on the same principles. These ideas were not welcome by the public and Ecce Ancilla Domini one of Rosetti’s first paintings was severely abused. Rosetti was so offended by the criticism that he swore never to exhibit in public again. Rosetti’s age did not appreciate his art because they thought that the style Raphael established was the crowning of all paintings. This style was based on dark colours, artificial settings and a triangle composition. Rosetti wanted to free ... ...we cannot see where the wall ends and the floor starts. With this we can draw a parallel with Lippi’s painting where architecture was also illogical. This brought us to the elements that connect Rosetti’s painting to a traditional one like Lippi’s. Although the colouring is mostly white the picture is patched with some gold, red and blue, the traditional colours of Mary’s virginity. Also, the lily is present in both paintings, again it is related to virginity and the dove too appears, which represents the Holy Spirit. All these differences and similarities could be related to the problems Rosetti had to face when painting a religious picture. Probably he wanted to be realistic as much as possible and at the same time following his ambition he wanted to express his thoughts as well. This could be achieved by mixing traditional elements with innovations. One such new element was covering the figures with simple white dresses. Probably Rosetti did not dress his figures in contemporary clothes because that would have been strange to the Victorian viewer. Painting the figures in white was a solution to this problem. This way managing to be realistic and contemporary at the same time.

Relationships :: essays research papers

QUALITY INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS A quality interpersonal relationship is a relationship which is built on understanding of self and others. A quality interpersonal relationship goes beyound just being casually aquainted with others to sharing with and gaining an understanding of one another. What I mean by sharing with is that you get a feeling for each other. I can empathize with you and see things through your eyes. When a quality interpersonal relationship is present there's certain amount of synergy that takes place between the persons involved in the relationship. A good example of a quality interpersonal relationship could be found within the strong family unit. If we were to study a family that is close knit what would we see. We would most likely see the following characteristics: individual respect, trust, open lines of communication, open mindedness, patience, empathy, love and many other attributes which add up to a strong interpersonal relationship. With in a strong family you find people that truely feel for each other. For example if Mom is sick the morale of the other family members goes down. If Dad gets a promotion the hold family shares the feelings of esteem with Dad. The point I'm trying to make is that in quality interpersonal relationship you will start to feel some of things that I feel which allows you to better understand me and communicate with me. Although a quality interpersonal relationship sounds like the best thing since Campbell soup and the Gerry-curl it's not a relationship that's easily achieved. To achieve a quality interpersonal relationship takes time, effort, desire, understanding, trust, disclosure, and feedback, effective communication, and etc. When we first meet a person we don't immediately establish an interpersonal relationship. As implied in the opening paragraphs, a quality interpersonal relationship goes for beyound conducting casual conversation. It takes time to build an interpersonal relationship. Why? People like to interact; however, they are protective of there feelings and don't immediately open up to let you inside to see who's live there. What I'm saying is to establish an interpersonal relationship with others you need to know things about them and get some perceptiion of how they interpret things. To get this type of understanding about another person takes time. A good example would be the development of a friendship. Think of your best friend. This is probably one of the most productive inpersonal relationships that exist for you.

Incivility in College Classrooms Essay

Incivility thrives through our modern society and into the classrooms and campuses of colleges. Incivility can automatically be thought of as the improper behavior or insulting other people based of race, looks, ect. However, incivility exists in classrooms where the professor experiences disrespect in multiple forms. Colleges obtain a policy towards incivility and proper conduct, however the importance of respect and civility in the actual classroom can be found to be left out. Civility should be a requirement for campuses to preserve courtesy and respect amongst both students and teachers. In particular, California State University San Marcos has a Standards of Student Contact that lists expectations to avoid situations such as cheating, being involved with drugs, lying to police authorities, ect. These policies revolve around acts that result in major punishment, and does not include civility issues of how students treat each other on campus, or more so the respect that should be maintained in a classroom. The importance of civility on campus and in classrooms should be magnified to create a comfortable, mature environment for students and faculty. Professors notice a trend in incivility among students including bullying, disrespect towards professors, and a lack of kindness. These factors are consistently ignored and are not given enough attention. Civility on campus is an unrecognized policy that needs to gain awareness. New college students enter their schools with an attitude of entering the real world of adulthood and independence. Unlike high school, college students go through the process of paying for tuition and other college fees to obtain their desired college degree. As a result of acknowledging their payments towards their classes, a loss of conduct can occur in classrooms. College has a reputation of more freedom when it comes to classrooms. College students know that the classes they go to are being paid for by themselves. Because of this students feel that their choices in college are their own responsibility. They are adults who need to tend for themselves. Although high schools and colleges share a commonality in terms of shaping one’s future, college is its own level of obtaining education. Once a student begins his or her college career, a new world is unraveled. Many of these newcomers in college are not fully aware of the challenges that they are about to face, thus resulting to misfortunate outcomes that would affect them later on in their lives. There are many responsibilities that need tending once you are a college student. For one, the parental supervision that once existed has disappeared, and many simple tasks and duties that seemed unimportant became major responsibilities that require attention. Paying for the necessities that come with the lifestyle of being self-dependent is basically a college student’s standard of living. Unlike high school, college students go through the process of paying for tuition and other college fees to obtain their desired college degree. With that said, they are often faced with the sacrifice of leaving class in order for them to go to work, which ultimately is their temporary solution of funding their tuition. Aside from the financial aspect of being a college student, it is also important to acknowledge the fact that they are fully fledged adults. Furthermore, they are under their own rule, thus whatever decision they decide upon affects their own lives, not the professor. Also, college has standards that are different to that of high schools. Students have the option of leaving whenever they please, because as mentioned earlier, they have many responsibilities that often force them to do so. Though many would concede of such reasons that explain the responsibilities that college students deal on a regular basis, it disregards the larger matter and that is the practice of becoming an adult and how to handle the life ahead of you. This, in fact, is the major weakness of this argument because it only focuses on the notion that is currently present. It neglects to mention that college is a template of adulthood, and that it is often hard to manage because its purpose is to shape you for the future challenges that you may face in life. It is basically set to difficult levels so that it would enable you to become accustomed of the adult lifestyle. Students can misinterpret the idea of â€Å"freedom† in college. Although college is a big step into the adult world versus high school, they may take advantage of that and bring disrespect to campus and the classroom. Maria Shine Stewart notes in her article â€Å"Cropping Out Incivility† how unkindness and hate on campus can escalate to violence. Going into college, some students may feel like they can reform themselves and misuse their high confidence. Immaturity from high school can drag into college and cause bigger problems and even bullying. In high school petty arguments come up, but in college where everyone is expected to act like mature adults words can be taken very offensively and the outcome can be more serious. College is a place for students who want to grow educationally, not a place to be disturbed by those few people who bring interruptions and unnecessary drama. Civility on campus should be an important subject advertised to ensure a pleasant environment for the students to grow successfully. Going from high school to college is a big deal for incoming students. College has grown a reputation of a place to get educated with more freedom. In high school students are used to following strict rules of no cell phones, attendance, and proper behavior. Although college is a place for adults and allows more freedom than high school, a code of conduct has been twisted. Because students pay for college, they feel they have permission to handle the way they learn on their own terms. Leaving class for example is an idea brought to students that is â€Å"o. k† since what they learn or do not learn is on their own shoulders. However, students fail to realize that professors work hard to ensure their lectures and notes push their students in the right direction to succeed in their class. The whole point of a professors job is to educate their students so they can pass their class and move forward. Leaving during class is an unprincipled disturbance to the other students and professor. The professor gives students their time to drive to the campus and try to help educate their students, and leaving in the middle is disrespecting their efforts. Some professors are lenient and allow students to get away with small misbehaviors such as eating in class, texting, talking, and more. Students take their quiet disregards as permission to continue, not realizing the disturbance and disrespect they are giving their professor. Most high schools have a strict no cell phone code, and students entering college believe that cell phones are okay to be freely handled even in class. Even though some professors write in their syllabus â€Å"no cell phones†, students still feel that texting under their desk will be okay with the teacher. Although some professors may look the other way, students fail to realize that professors know when students are occupied with something unrelated to the lecture. By being occupied by something separate from the actual class discourages the professor’s effort on trying to help their students succeed. Students do not recognize that the disrespect towards professors does effect them. Thomas Benton notes in his article â€Å"Remedial Civility Training† how he puts in effort to â€Å"make my classes interesting and relevant† only to have students disregard his class and only see it as an requirement. Civility should be enforced in the classroom to give that respect to professors and other students who are there to succeed in their education. Civility has become so flexible and twisted that the relationship between student and professor has transformed. Professors should be treated with respect, just as any educator feels they deserve to be treated as. However, some students find themselves able to mistreat their professors to an extent. In Marilyn Gilroy’s journal article â€Å"Colleges Grappling with Incivility† she maintains how â€Å"Faculty members have reported numerous confrontations with students over grades† and mistreatment towards professors over grades can become threatening. Although Gilroy writes how a majority of faculty members do not experience threats over grades or a students performance, the fact that even a small percentage receive violent threats is disturbing. A separation between professor and student should be established to prevent such incivility in that relationship. A professor should not receive such extreme blame for a students performance, even if the professor is rightful to be blamed. A discussion would be appropriate rather than a hasty act of threats and accusations. Professors should be allowed the right to preserve the respect in the student-educator relationship. The relationship between the professor and student should be used towards promoting civility in the classroom. To prevent students feeling less involved and under complete authority of the professor, discussion and communication through the class room would produce civility. Mary Deane Sorcinelli’s article â€Å"Dealing with Troublesome Behavior In The Classroom† suggests seeking feedback from students, or allowing classroom policies to be open for discussion amongst students. Sorcinelli claims that by giving the student a voice in the rules, appreciation will be given to the policies set by the professor. Compromise can create a more civil relationship for the students and professor. Incivility is amongst college campuses in multiple forms. Civility should be something strong and advertised on campus to ensure a comfortable learning environment is established. Students should not have to suffer through misdemeanor of other peers. Immaturity and bullying is something college students should not be dealing with when they put their time and money towards their education. Although incivility is for the most part under control on campuses, proper behavior in classrooms has been disregarded. Professors are expressing a concern over students actions during their class time. Students find that because they are paying for college, they have more freedom. Although freedom is given, a certain conduct should be kept within the classroom. Paying attention, being prepared, and attendance should be something students can handle on their own. However, professors notice a lack of civility within their own classroom. Civility should be a policy in colleges to ensure that professors and peers receive respectful treatment.

Learning Strategies Essay

In the poem â€Å"Students† by Tom Wayman, it reviews four theories with context on different learning methods. The first theory is the Vaccination Theory of Education†, detailing how once you have learned a subject, you never have to review or touch on the topic again for it is lodged in ones brain for all eternity. However, such a learning technique seems foolish because as time goes on, materials tend to fade in ones brain unless occasionally reviewed. With this in mind, material previously learned would venture from one’s memory and would leave them lacking of knowledge on the subject. For the best learning, many people including myself would prefer the knowledge once learned to be forever held by the beholder, to use in future situations. The next theory is â€Å"The Dipstick Theory of Education. † This theory relates learning to that of a car engine; only needing oil to a certain line, therefore only needing to learn to a certain degree. This again seems unrealistic to the many dreamers out there, who are constantly trying to extend the limits, the ones who do not want to be blocked by barricades. Countless material is available for the public’s access, which means the learning a person can achieve is limitless. This theory seems adequate for those individuals who only want to get by in life. However, the majority of the population who want to succeed and be proud of their success are going to want to stray away from this theory, for it will only prevent you from following the path you truly want to go down. The â€Å"Adopt the Kung Fu Theory of Education†, is the theory that follows next in the poem. It reviews the idea that one can use knowledge as a self defense mechanism. This theory makes complete sense to me. How else would a person be able to back up their statements, ideas and opinions better, than with knowledge? Not only does the knowledge help in that area, it can help a person grasp a better understanding of the world around them, as well as it can improve their common sense. Use knowledge as a supporter, to smooth the bumps in the road before you, so you can travel on a trouble free path. The last theory is â€Å"The Easy Listening Theory of Learning. † It proposes that if a person sits back and observes their environment, they can achieve optimal learning. This type of learning seems only achievable for those who learn best through visual or auditory aids; in settings where they learn most efficiently by viewing or hearing material. However, for those individuals who learn best through hands on tasks, â€Å"The Easy Listening Theory of Learning†, would not be in their favor. It would put them at a disadvantage, and make them fall behind the rest. This theory does not accommodate everyone with learning in the same fashion; therefore, it cannot be used as a universal learning technique for optimal learning in everyone. My own theory however, differs greatly from any of the learning theories displayed in the poem â€Å"Students. † My theory to insure my learning exceeds my own goals is I put in a maximum effort. The goals I set myself are extremely high and almost seem unrealistic. Nonetheless, this is what give me the motivation and strive I need to put in a great deal of effort. Postponing undesirable activities is what I seem to be a natural at, cramming to get them completed when time is limited. It is in that rushed state that I feel my mind works most efficiently. However, we all know this is a poor work method and that is why I set such high goals to make it seem unrealistic. By doing that, I insure I start the activity at a sooner time because it feels as if I have more to complete than actually necessary. That way, I can keep my eye on the target at all times because it makes me feel as if I have much work to do to achieve it still. In reference to this course, the date I began was much later than any applicants should have started. By doing that, it has given me very limited time to get this course completed. It is now that I can truly test out my theory for all that it is worth, because it is now that I feel the completed course expectations are very unrealistic based on the vast material I have to cover by a certain date. However, I plan to be vigilant to get through this course so I can walk the graduation stage at the end of the year. When that dream of mine comes true based on my goals of completing this course, it is then that my theory has once again proved me right in its successfulness.

Information Technology and the University of Phoenix Essay

It was only recently that computers began to contribute to an emerging revolution in technology-assisted education. These machines provide an optimal means for storing, searching, and retrieving educational materials. Besides, computers are great for composing and editing written work. These machines permit self-directed and individualized instruction plus feedback in almost all areas of interest. So, e-learning and cyberlearning opportunities had to become a fad among the curious young individuals who had to find them irresistible (MacCormack and Jones, 1997). Adopting emerging technologies in educational settings has made instruction more effective and engaging (Barak and Fisher, 2001). And, the University of Phoenix happens to be a pioneer at it. Using Information Technology, the university has decided that it would continue to evolve and adapt to new challenges in the IT world. In other words, students at the University of Phoenix can be certain that their university would always use the latest in Information Technology to make the education experience even more fantastic. As it is, the IT world has made the University of Phoenix a learning organization, i. e. one that continually adapts and learns so as to respond to changes in the environment, and to grow (Learning Organization, 2007). Who would have thought thirty years back that an excellent education experience catering to people from all locations would be set up without having to relocate the people? By using IT to benefit a huge number of students, the University of Phoenix has, indeed, proved that it is possible to provide quality education at the computer terminal, especially for those students who INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX are either too busy to attend a full-time educational institutions or just do not have the resources to attend one. The University of Phoenix is most certainly a high performance organization, and IT has contributed to its high performance growth thus. According to the theory of high performance organizations, the University of Phoenix is already a high performance organization, seeing that its focus is on people and their needs. A professional, for instance, who cannot attend a full-time educational institution would find that the University of Phoenix is a blessing. Moreover, a high performance organization must keep on concentrating on innovation (High Performance, 1997). Innovation is, in fact, a promise of the University of Phoenix, since the university will not settle for inferior quality Information Technology programs to conduct itself. Rather, as mentioned before, the university is expected to adopt any new technology that enhances the educational experience. Furthermore, the University of Phoenix accentuates its strengths through the use of Information Technology – another feature of a high performance organization. To put it another way, the university does not stress the need for the standard classroom experience when everything that is truly required for the educational experience is available at the computer terminal. Lastly, the use of IT at the University of Phoenix is based on leadership-trust, which is yet another characteristic of high performance organizations (High Performance). According to this concept, the university provides a virtual environment that the student can trust. The student knows, for instance, that his personal INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIXÂ   information with the University of Phoenix would remain personal, despite the openness of the virtual world. Hence, the University of Phoenix is a high performance organization through and through. What is more, this great university is expected to continue as a learning, high performance organization for a long time to come. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX References 1. Barak, Azy, and Fisher, William A. (2001). Toward an Internet-Driven, Theoretically-Based Innovative Approach to Sex Education. The Journal of Sex Research, Vol. 38, Issue 4, pp. 324+.

Tardiness: High School and Copyright

A. Background of the Study Tardiness has already become a habit of the high school students of Manresa school. Most of them come to school, attend their classes and scheduled appointments not on time. They all have their own reasons; traffic, working slow, waking up late, etc. Most of the students in Manresa School, are even residents of BF Homes. Some are even residing in the Manresa Village, and still, they are arriving late. They are residents who have been probably living in the village, or subdivision all their lives, who should have already put into consideration the usual problems they would encounter when they go to school.Many teachers get disappointed, but up to now, the students are still unaware of what they are doing. Tardiness is one of the most common causes that affect the lives of the high school students. But, how can tardiness really affect our lives as a student? Will it bring down our academic grades? This study will provide information about tardiness, what caus es it, the probable consequences of being tardy, and possible solutions to overcome, or at least help the High School students of Manresa School regarding their problem of being late. B.Statement of the Problem Prevention of tardiness among the high school students of Manresa School. C. Objectives of the Study At the end of the study, the group is expected to. . . 1. To find out why the high school students of Manresa school are tardy. 2. To prove that it is possible for the students to come to school and/or attend classes early. 3. To give solutions and prevent tardiness. D. Significance of the Study The study is very important because many people would be able to benefit from this study; namely, teachers and the tardy students themselves.During the course of this study, the group will be able to find out what the causes and effects this might have on not only the students, but also the teachers and staff. The study can also help those who are experiencing tardiness over and over a gain without being consciously aware of the reason, and may also help those who wish to conduct this kind of study in the future. The group can use this information to help anyone looking for psychological, physiological and social aspects of tardiness. Anyone who wants to know more about preventing someone from being late can make use of the information retrieved from this study.The professionals, not only the students can also experience being late. They will also be able to make use of the study, and this study can virtually benefit anyone who has to be somewhere at sometime. E. Scope and Limitation The study focuses on preventing tardiness among the high school students of Manresa school. It is a specific topic but still covers a lot of factors. The study covers ways and changes that Manresa School should follow in order to lessen the number of tardy students In order to prevent tardiness, the students must know its causes and effects in many ways.The study covers the tardiness in coming to school, attending classes and other important appointments, activities, etc. these factors are all important because the students of Manresa School should know what tardiness could do to them if it becomes a habit. F. Definition of Terms 1. Attendance (n) – the act of attending; number of persons present. 2. Authority (n) – to have the power and right to control, judge or prohibit the actions of others; to be in charge. 3. Awareness (n) – realization of something; consciousness. 4. Behavior (n) – manner of behaving or acting the aggregate of responses to nternal or external stimuli. 5. Consequence (n) – outcome; unpleasant result of an action. 6. Counsel (n) – a professional guidance service for individuals, applying the techniques of psychological testing. 7. Discipline (n) – the training of the mind and character; a branch of learning; a mode of life in accordance with rules, self-control; control, order, obedience to r ules. 8. Disturbance (n) – the act of disturbing, the state of being disturbed; commotion; something that disturbs. 9. Excessive (adj) – more than is acceptable : beyond what is considered acceptable, proper, usual or unnecessary 10.Excuse (v) – to pardon or overlook (a fault, offense, etc. ); to offer a reason or apology for (an error, fault, etc. ); to serve as a reason for; justify. 11. Habit (n) – a tendency to repeat an act again and again; a behavior pattern that has a degree of automatism. 12. Late (adj) – occurring after usual or expected time. 13. Manner (n) – a method of doing something; behavior; type or kind; habit; social behavior. 14. Misconduct (n) – formal word for improper behavior, especially by a professional person; dishonest management; improper behavior. 5. Offense (n) – the act of offending; a fault, sin or crime; the act of injuring another’s feelings; the state of being offended; assault or attac k in sports, the team members. 16. Policy (n) – any system of management based on self-interest as opposed to equity finesse in general; artifice. 17. Prevention (n) – act of intervening in order to prevent something; preventing or being prevented. 18. Procrastinate (v) – a formal word meaning to delay or put off to a later time. 19. Prolong (v) – to make longer in time; extend. 20.Responsibility (n) – the state if being responsible; ability to meet obligation, or to act without superior authority or guidance. 21. Sanction (n) – permission, approval; a penalty for breaking a law, deterrent. 22. Suspend (v) – to attach to some elevated point without support from below; to hold floating on or in a fluid, or as it on or in a fluid; to debar, usually for a time, from the exercise of an office or function or the enjoyment of a privilege. 23. Tardiness (n) – late, dilatory, overdue, delayed; slow, sluggish, leisurely, torpid. 24. Tar dy (adj. – not coming, happening etc. at the schedule or proper time; moving, acting at a slow pace. 25. Time management (n) – the concept of continuous existence; the past, present and the future ; a distinct moment or period. 26. Violation (n) – the act of violating or the state of being violated. Reference list – Anonymous. (2001). Absences, Tardiness, Excuses and Work Make-up. Retrieved August 8, 2009, from Madison city. Website: http://www. madisoncity. k12. al. us/Policies/Pages/J/JBD-Absences_Tardiness_Excuses_and_Work_Make-up. htm – Anonymous. (2009). Class tardiness.Retrieved August 8, 2009, from University Laboratory High school. Website: http://www. uni. uiuc. edu/policies/tardiness – Anonymous. (2009). Excessive tardiness in school. Retrieved August 8, 2009, from Lots of Essays. com. Website: http://www. lotsofessays. com/viewpaper/168107. html – Anonymous. (2009) School Tardiness and Absences can make A Child Fall Behind. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from New York Schools. Website: http://www. newyorkschools. com/articles/school-tardiness-and-absences-can-make-a-child-fall-behind. html – Anonymous. (2008). School Tardiness.Retrieved August 8, 2009, from Martinsville Bulletin. Website: http://www. martinsvillebulletin. com/article. cfm? ID=16932 – Anonymous. (2009). Student Tardiness and Absenteeism – A Cause for Concern. Retrieved August 9, 2009 from MTCutandPaste. com Website: http://www. mtcutandpaste. com/page. cfm? thispage=060810a2 – Anonymous. (2007) Tardiness hinders student and school success. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from Cowan Crier. Website: http://www. lausd. net/Cowan_EL/cowan%20crier/Nov%2007. pdf – Anonymous. (2002). Tardy Policy. Retrieved August 8, 2009, from the Paly Voice.Wesbite: http://voice. paly. net/view_story. php? id=2189 – Anonymous. (2003). Research on School Attendance and Tardiness. Retrieved August 12, 2009, from Google Answers . Website: http://answers. google. com/answers/threadview/id/214323. html – Anonymous. (2009). Tardiness. Retrieved August 8, 2009, from Agassi prep. Website: http://www. agassiprep. org/pdfs/tardy_policy. pdf – Anonymous. (1999). The New International Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus. Copyright: Trident Press International – Anonymous. (2007). Truancy and Tardiness. Retrieved August 8, 2009, from Fulton.Website: http://www. fulton. cnyric. org/policies/5000/5161. 0%20Truancy%20and%20Tardiness. pdf – Austin, M. (2003). Late For School. Copyright: Peachtree Pub Ltd – Bishop, A. (2008) Tardiness. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from a teacher grows in Chicago. Website: http://ashleyltt. blogspot. com/2008/03/tardiness. html – Burningham, J. (2008). John Patrick Norman McHennessy – The Boy Who Was Always Late. Copyright: Alfred a Knopf Inc – Cayne, B. (1989). The New Lexicon Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language. Copyright: Lexicon Publications, Inc.USA – Cosby, B. (1999). My Big Lie. Copyright: Scholastic – Friedrich, O. (2002). The Easter Bunny That Overslept. Copyright: Harpercollins Children’s Books – Geddes, Grosset. (2002). Universal Dictionary and Thesaurus. Copyright: Poland – Gray, P. (2006). Psychology. Copyright 41 Madison Ave. , New York: Worth Publishers – Gross, R. (2005). Psychology: The Science of Mind and Behavior. Copyright: Hachette Livre, UK: Hodder Arnold Publishers – Guthridge, B. Clark, M. (1999). Lucky Last Luke. Copyright: Sundance – Hargreaves, R. (2008). Little Miss Late.Copyright: Publisher: Price Stern Sloan – King, J. L. (2007). CP Time: Why Some People are Always Late. Copyright: Strebor Books Intl – Kirschner, R. Brinkman, R. (2001). Life by Design. Copyright: MC Grawltill Book Co. – Lachtman, O. (2008). Icy Watermelon / Sandia Fria. Copyright: Pinata Books – Landau, S. (2006) . Webster’s Dictionary Thesaurus and Atlas. Copyright: Typhoon International Corp. – Lindenfield, G. (2000). Self Motivation: Revised Edition. Copyright: Caledonian International Book Manufacturing ltd, Glasgow – Newman, L. Ferguson, P. (2007).The Boy Who Cried Fabulous. Copyright: Tricycle Pr – Nichols, W. Stebbens, S. Bunning, C. (2001). Random House Wesbter’s Unabridged Dictionary. Copyright: USA – Nissman, B. (2008). Teacher-Tested Classroom Management Strategies. Copyright: Merril – Mayer, J. (1999). Time Management for Dummies: 2nd Edition. Copyright: Hungry Minds, Inc. – McDonald, C. (2009). Getting Students â€Å"In School, ON TIME, everyday. † Retrieved August 8, 2009, from National Association of Elementary Principals. Website: http://www. naesp. org/resources/2/Leadership_Compass/2008/LC2009v6n3a3. pdf

Distribution Channel Management Essay

BMW Motorcycles is a division within the BMW Group. As such their mission is tied to that of the parent company. On the BMW Group website it is noted as follows:†Identifying potential and encouraging growth. Knowing what we represent. Recognizing where our strengths lie and making the best use of every opportunity. Following a clear strategy. Goals we have attained are in essence the point of departure for new challenges. This is the philosophy that inspires every individual at the BMW Group. It influences the company’s structure and it plays a vital role in the decision-making process. Our corporate ethos finds its expression in the uncompromising pursuit of the superlative. The result? Outstanding brands with an unmistakable profile. Automobiles and motorcycles which fascinate people all over the world and which win legions of new admirers every day. And a degree of success which sees the BMW Group go from strength to strength. With the three brands, BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the BMW Group has its sights set firmly on the premium sector of the international automobile market. To achieve its aims, the company knows how to deploy its strengths with an efficiency that is unmatched in the automotive industry. From research and development to sales and marketing, BMW Group is committed to the very highest in quality for all its products and services. The company’s phenomenal success is proof of this strategy’s correctness.†BMW Motorcycles provides a robust product line following three general categories: Touring, Sport, and Enduro. Touring bikes are built for the long haul, with rider comfort as the premium. These are the motorcycles you would take on a cross country trip. Sport bikes satisfy the â€Å"need for speed† and styling trends for the younger crowd. Enduro bikes are for the adventurer is us all; these bikes are built for on or off road travel. BMW Motorcycles’ main competition comes from Japanese motorcycle companies. Most American motorcycle companies produce cruiser style bikes; BMW offers little choice in this style of motorcycle. However, each of the main Japanese manufacturers (Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, and Kawasaki) offers motorcycles that are very similar in style and performance. Although BMW has  historically had its own niche in the market, that of the older male, it has recently branched off into more dedicated off-road and super-sport bikes. These are categories that have been historically dominated by the Japanese manufacturers. Throughout the years, BMW motorcycles have been renowned for their durability and engineering. BMW has always been on the forefront of motorcycle engineering. BMW was the first motorcycle manufacturer to offer ABS on a motorcycle. They have also revolutionized motorcycle suspensions with their Telelever anti-dive suspension and Paralever single-arm suspension. Although BMWs are more costly, that price is offset by the life cycle of the motorcycle. Until recent years there hasn’t been much of a rivalry between the Japanese manufacturers and BMW Motorcycles. BMW had its small place in the market and was not a threat to the Japanese firms. BMW Motorcycles were not known to be stylish or fast, the two categories that attract the majority of motorcycle buyers. BMW attracted more mature owners who were impressed by the machine’s reliability and durability, and who had more money to spend on a new bike. The lack of power was partly due to BMW self-imposed limitations on horsepower in motorcycles. However, these limitations were lifted in the late 1990s, and BMW began to produce super-sport bikes that rivaled the Japanese bikes, and even surpassed the Japanese competitor’s performance. Up to this point, young males were rarely interested in purchasing BMWs. They cost twice as much as the closet Japanese bikes, they were slower, and they were less attractive. In essence they were the Volvo of the motorcycle world. However, like Volvo, once BMW redesigned their product line into more powerful and stylish motorcycles, they began to quickly cut into the Japanese manufacturers’ market share. BMW motorcycles have consistently won â€Å"Best Bike† awards in various categories within the past few years. Several of these awards include â€Å"2005 & 2006 Best Touring Bike† for the R1200RT, and â€Å"2005 Best Adventure Bike† for the F650GS. BMW Motorcycles reported December 2006 sales up 36.8% over the same period in 2005. In 2005, annual sales worldwide for BMW topped  100,000 motorcycles. In 2004, approximately 5.7 million motorcycles were sold in the US, of which 12,825 were BMWs. Estimates of market share for 2005 show Honda in the lead with 24% of the market, followed by Harley-Davidson and Buell with 22.6%, Yamaha at 15.9%, Suzuki at 11.8%, Kawasaki at 9.1%, KTM at 1.7%, BMW with 1.2% and â€Å"Other† at 13.7%. Although BMW gains less than 2% of total US motorcycle sales market, they only reflect less than half of BMW’s worldwide sales. BMW sold more motorcycles in Italy (13,651 bikes), than in the US, and Spain was a close third wit h 10,002 bikes. The BMW R1200GS has been the top selling bike worldwide for the past several years. As a result, Japanese motorcycle manufacturers have recently introduced large engine dual sport bikes to their lineups to compete with the BMW. The BMW R1200RT has been increasingly sought after by police departments as their bike of choice, replacing the mainstay Kawasakis. With their ever increasing popularity and sales, BMW is becoming a threat to the Japanese manufacturers and the rivalry is growing. Two of the primary attributes for motorcycles are durability and performance. Durability is defined as the capability of withstanding wear and tear, it is measured by a products ability to perform or compete over a long period. For a motorcycle this can include engine life, the ability to conduct repairs, and retention of market value. Performance is defined as the way in which someone or something functions. For motorcycles it includes horsepower, acceleration, cornering ability, and maximum speed. Target MarketsTarget Market 1: Young Males 18-25- Generally college age males, style and performance are the biggest factors for this group. Cost could be an exclusionary criterion, as this group may not have a large cash base. Target Market 2: Adult Males (25-40)- Established professionals. Performance not as big a factor as durability or economy is. This group is willing to spend more for a higher quality product. They are style conscious, but style is not necessarily a prime factor. Target Market 3: Females (all ages)- Female motorcycle buyers are a growing market, but still small enough to treat all ages as a singular group. Female riders generally are looking for something economical and stylish. Performance is low on the list of criteria. Primary Product Categories. -Enduro . These are dual purpose motorcycles that are built for both on and off road. -High Performance. Specialized off road motorcycle. -Tour. These are bikes built for long distance rides. Comfort is number one on these bikes. -Sport. These are your speed bikes. They are built to go fast and look good. -Urban. These are the bikes built to cruise the road and get good gas mileage while they are at it. This is the commuter bike category, not flashy but dependable. EnduroHigh PerformanceTouringSportUrbanYoung Male21 / 3Adult Male11 / 3Female221Core products2Rarely sold to these individuals3Biggest purchaser of items in this categoryImportant Cells:Young Male /Sport. This is the primary product line for this target market. They are looking for style and speed. This is the category that provides those. This line is very important, as this is the largest share of the entire market. BMW has been behind in this line, and only recently become competitive within the past few years. Although they now have one of the highest performing motorcycles, it is difficult to overcome the brand recognition the Japanese motorcycles have built up in this line. The competitive advantage in this line is gained through a mix of performance and appeal, with cost also a major factor. Perceived performance and style may be more important than true performance and style. Young Male / Urban. This is a growing market the past few years. BMW is neck and neck with all its competitors to grab a share, due to the newness of this motorcycle category. This is important, because getting the recognition and sales in this product line can affect the sales of the other lines. No company currently has an advantage. The advantage can be achieved by offering a motorcycle with excellent handling, great gas mileage, at a low cost. One of BMW’s products, the F650, has been seeing robust sales due to the high MPG. BMW is poised to gain an advantage in this market, the key will be to ensure the BMW name recognition is realized within this target market. Adult Male Enduro. BMW has had the leading product in this market since the introduction of their R – GS line of bikes. This award winning product has been continually recognized and awarded for its attributes. It is the king of the hill of enduro bikes, with no true competition in sight. This bike has become on of the cornerstones of BMW motorcycles, and thus its continued success will be a direct reflection of the company. BMW has been able to sustain their advantage in this market / line by continually improving the product. Adult Male / Touring. This category has seen large growth in the past few years. BMW is poised to gain an advantage here, due in large part to the recognition they are gaining by the police forces. Police forces have been buying their R-RT models in increasing numbers for the past five years. This has had a direct impact on the sales volume of not only this product, but the touring line as a whole. The police usage has given BMW greater brand recognition. Keeping the bikes visible within police forces will be the key to maintaining their competitive advantage. There are only two real competitors in this category, the Kawasaki Concours and the Honda Goldwing. The Honda has been the leader in this line until several years ago when BMW sales began to overtake them. BMW provides better durability, performance and comfort than the competitors. These are all key attributes for this target market. BMW has been pursuing new markets and products; they also have opportunity to develop both, especially in the female rider market. In the past few years, BMW has introduced improved models of their existing motorcycles to increase their appeal to younger markets. They have greatly increased their performance and styling, both key attributes sought after by this largest target market. As a result of developing this market, profits in the young male market have soared. In addition, BMW has introduced all new models of motorcycles. Of these new models, the most notable are high performance sport bikes to appeal to the young males, and less powerful, smaller frame bikes to increase appeal to beginners and females. Since 1999 BMW has developed close to 15 new motorcycle products for introduction. Each of these bikes has seen brisk sales. BMW does not hold a competitive advantage in the motorcycle market; this is due to several factors. BMW motorcycles are expensive. In many cases they cost more than $10,000 more than their market competitor. Although BMWs are more durable than their less expensive competition, the prime market does not appear to be willing to spend the increased cost for a higher quality product. In motorcycle sales, no company holds a sustained competitive advantage. The Japanese motorcycle companies, with their powerful, inexpensive motorcycles share the competitive advantage over the American and European motorcycle companies. However, this advantage tends to shift to a different company each year as new bikes are introduced. The price points for Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki are all similar for each comparable product; with generally only several hundred dollars difference. Any competitive advantage among these companies will rarely last over a model year or two. Thus there is no sustained competitive advantage among these rivals. Due to the similarities in the product offerings between all these companies, unless some revolutionary technology is developed, it will be nearly impossible to sustain any competitive advantage. Customer satisfaction is a high priority with BMW; in 2001 BMW Motorcycles introduced the â€Å"Customer-Oriented Sales and Production Process†. This process is used from customer order to delivery. It begins with an online  ordering system which allows a BMW Motorcycle dealer to send a customer’s order directly to the manufacturing plant, eliminating wholesalers or resellers and providing instant delivery status. This system also allows the customer to change any detail of his order, up to the minute that production is begun. All BMW motorcycles and parts are built at the BMW plant in Berlin, Germany. BMW motorcycles were originally built in BMW’s historic Munich plant until the 1960s. BMW concentrates all motorcycle related production, to include many component parts in the Berlin plant. This plant can build up to 500 motorcycles a day. BMW motorcycles are built to general specification and also may be custom designed from anywhere in the world. The Berlin plant builds motorcycles to the specific requirements of the over 20 countries they deliver to. The BMW motorcycle plant in Berlin uses state-of-the-art technology. It has been recognized as the most modern motorcycle manufacturing plant in the world. Like their motorcycles, the production plant is focused on ergonomics and efficiency. In addition, the factory incorporates numerous environmental friendly processes. Many of these processes, including production water recycling, also help to cut production costs. The BMW logistics division is responsible for organizing the motorcycle production. Together with marketing, sales and production departments it plans the production schedule, generates the best production sequence and ensures timely delivery of the motorcycle to the customer. Logistic specialists plan and coordinate the delivery of material to assembly and make sure that quality parts are cost-efficiently delivered to the production line. BMW Motorcycles has more than 400 external suppliers provide some 9,000 different parts and components. These parts are delivered to BMW’s Berlin plant on time and in the correct quantities. Most of the suppliers specialize in motorcycle parts for BMW. 65 % of the suppliers are located in Germany, 34 % in Europe and 1% in USA and Japan. In 2001, BMW reengineered its distribution process to reduce costs and improve response time for dealers and parts vendors. Once the motorcycle is completely assembled, it is transported from the factory direct to the retailer who placed the customer’s order through a â€Å"Retailer Channel† method. BMW uses a variety of transportation methods including truck, rail, and sea lift ; depending on the destination of the product. In the USA, BMW motorcycles are received and distributed out of two warehouse locations in New Jersey and California. From there, they are delivered direct to the retailer. BMW Motorcycle dealers are authorized by BMW to sell the motorcycle product line, and to also provide an after sales service to BMW customers. To maintain brand image and ensure customer satisfaction is met, the dealers comply with corporate requirements and guidelines in the presentation of their facility. BMW considers corporate identity and brand image to be paramount to maximize awareness of the differences between it and its competitors. These guidelines establish standards for interior and exterior design, levels of customer service, signage, typefaces and advertising. The goal of these requirements is to maintain BMW’s prestigious reputation. In addition, BMW provides management support, training courses for all dealer staff, recruitment assistance, marketing support, and an internal comprehensive online reference system which gives immediate access to up-to-date product and corporate information. BMW’s dedication to customer service, both service visible to the consumer and services which are transparent, give it a decisive advantage within its distribution channels. By striving to provide the customer the exact product desired, in a timely manner, they have streamlined their distribution processes. In addition to providing satisfaction to the consumer, this retailer channel process has cut transportation and resale costs to the benefit of both BMW and the customer. The benefits of BMW’s â€Å"Customer-Oriented Sales and Production Process† are  that the consumer can get an individualized BMW motorcycle without having to purchase a cookie-cutter motorcycle and numerous after-market products. The customer gets his one of a kind motorcycle right off the production line. In addition, he can order his customized motorcycle and receive it in a comparatively short period of time, with instantaneous production progress status available upon request. These are benefits to the consumer that the competitors cannot provide. With Japanese manufacturers, they sell the base motorcycle with very limited options. It is a dice roll that the configuration you want is in stock locally. This level of customer service, along with the high quality of the motorcycles, creates a rabid dedication to the BMW brand. BMW motorcycle owner typically will purchase another BMW over any of the competitor’s brands. This is decidedly one of the factors giving to the steady increase in market share of BMWs, and thus proof of BMW’s competitive advantage. References1. BMW Group. http://www.bmwgroup.com2. BMW Group Mission. http://www.bmwgroup.com/bmwgroup_prod/e/nav/index.html?http://www.bmwgroup.com/bmwgroup_prod/e/0_0_www_bmwgroup_com/unternehmen/unternehmensprofil/strategie/strategie.html3. Web Bike World. http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-news/blog/4. Hoffman, Nicole P. An Examination of the † Sustainable Competitive Advantage† Concept: Past, Present, and FutureAcademy of Marketing Science Review [Online] 20005.BMW Berlin Manufacturing Planthttp://www.bmw-werk-berlin.de/berlin/htdocs/english/produktion/logistik/index_logistik.htmlThe Motorcycles:1.BMW Motorcycles. http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/index.jsp2.Suzuki Motorcycles. http://www.suzukicycles.com/3.Kawasaki Motorcycles. http://www.kawasaki.com4.Yamaha Motorcycles. http://www.yamaha-motor.com5.Honda Motorcycles. http://powersports.honda.com/motorcycles