How To Prepare A Good Resume And CV

How To Prepare A Good Resume And CV How To Prepare A Good Resume And CV â€Å"If you call failures experiments, you can put them in your resume and claim them as achievements,† said professor Mason Cooley. His witty observation highlights this basic truth: the effective resume and CV writing requires careful thought and attention. The following tips can help produce a quality resume or CV. Know The Difference It is important to know the difference between a resume and a CV (curriculum vitae). While resumes are commonly required by companies from job applicants, certain positions require a CV. Both documents are a written summary of a person’s background, but there are three main differences between the two: length, content, and purpose. First, a resume is a brief summary of a person’s background, education and work history. It usually is one page in length, and at most two pages. A CV is more detailed and therefore longer. For a younger professional a CV may only be 2-3 pages. As he/she gains more experience, the CV may increase to 10 pages or more. Second, a resume and CV will differ in contents. A resume will usually be limited to education, work experience, and credentials. A CV may include these as well, but will also have teaching experience, awards, publications, presentations, and any other career-related achievements. Finally, the two documents serve different purposes. A resume is a concise summary of education and experience focused on presenting a person’s qualifications for a specific job. Because of this, resume editing is often necessary to tailor it to the particular job sought. A CV is a detailed overview of life accomplishments often focusing on academic history, experience and research. As such, CV writing is often required if a person seeks a position in higher education, research, or medicine. Additionally, if a person applies for an international position, a CV is most often required and not a resume. Include Needed Information Since these documents will form a prospective employer’s first impression, a person needs to include the proper information for each type. For a resume, this includes the following: name and contact information, education, and work experience. Arrange the information in each section chronologically. An applicant should also prepare a cover letter to send with the resume. It serves as a written record of what is sent, to whom it is sent, and who sent it. A CV is much more detailed. It should include personal information such as marital status, age, date of birth, number of children, personal interests, and a professional photo. It should then detail the candidate’s academic background, beginning with high school. A person should also include research experience, teaching positions, grants, honors, awards, fellowships, publications, presentations, scholarly or professional memberships, licenses, certificates, and all other related information. The details in each of these sections should also be arranged in chronological order. Prepare and Polish Finally, prepare the written products with careful CV and resume editing. Maintain uniformity in style, font, and formatting throughout the documents for an appealing finished product. A person should proof-read the writing thoroughly to insure proper spelling and grammar. Free online grammar editing tools are a great help in this task. Considering a resume and CVs importance, a person may consider employing the services of a company like for assistance. Contact us today at toll free at 800-573-0840 to see how we can help.

How to Stay on the Job Hunt, Even When Youre Not Hunting

How to Stay on the Job Hunt, Even When Youre Not Hunting Looking for a new job while still employed in another makes you more employable; however, it can backfire if your current employer finds out. Workers have various reasons to continue the job search. Perhaps your current job is too far away from where you live and commuting costs are pecking away at your salary, perhaps your salary is on the low side for your job description or maybe you want to work your way up the ladder faster. Whatever the reason, job hunting while employed is common. A few tips on how to do it can help. 1. Keep Quiet About Your Job SearchIf you are looking at job ads for a new position, don’t tellyour co-workers. That’s the fastest way for word to get around and eventually your boss will hear about it. Although some employers don’t care if an employee is wanting to change jobs, the knowledge of it can keep you from getting pay raises or responsibilities that you want.2. Don’t Quit Your JobIt’s easier to get a new job if you are already working. In addition, don’t get lazy in your current job because you are hoping to get a new one. You still owe your current employer a good day’s work for your pay.3. Think Before You List Character ReferencesWhile your first inclination may be to include your current boss or co-workers as references on your job application, don’t do it. Obviously, if you get called for an interview and the hiring manager calls your references, everyone in the office will know you are job hunting. Surprisingly enough, many of those seeking a new job don’t think to leave these references out of their resumes.4. Don’t Bad Mouth Your BossYour current boss may not be all sweetness and light, but bad mouthing your employer is always a bad idea. It may give recruiters the impression that you are a complainer or difficult to get along with. Focus on your qualifications for the job application and the good opportunity it offers for your advancement.5. Scheduling J ob InterviewsHours when you are supposed to be at work are not the times to schedule job interviews. Missing work hours can make your boss suspicious and does not look good to other employees. In addition, it looks odd if your office dress is casual, and you show up for work dressed up for an interview. Instead, schedule interviews outside of office hours or on weekends when you aren’t at work.This is another no-no when searching for a job while still employed. People who have Facebook or other social media accounts often have friends in the same office. Those friends also have friends who may learn of your job search activities through social media. Job boards are the same problem. Since posting your resume or interest in other jobs on these sites could end up with you pounding the pavement looking for work, keep your job search private.6.  Don’t Use Office EquipmentDon’t use office equipment, such as phones, computers and fax machines, to conduct a job searc h or send in resumes. First of all, many companies monitor use of their machines to ensure that employees are not spending company time on personal affairs. Second, you are actually supposed to be working, so keep your mind on the business at hand.There are easier ways to find a new job, no matter what the field, whether healthcare jobs, computer jobs or other types. TheJobNetwork makes it easy and does the searching for you. All you have to do is list your qualifications and the type of job you are looking for, and we do the rest. When appropriate jobs pop up, you receive an email when you sign up for job match alert. This way, you will be among the first to apply for those jobs, and opportunities will no longer slip by.

Security Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Security Plan - Essay Example This plan was not meant for specifics but rather the whole fraternity (Maiwald & Sieglein, 2002). The plan outlined different elements that were important in ensuring its success and efficiency. Regulations on the usage of the computers were formulated. This plan was also geared towards promoting confidentiality in its operating systems. Different individuals were therefore given different responsibilities that would help in ensuring that security is promoted. Responsibility of users North Carolina agricultural and technical state university decided to share responsibilities of ensuring security. Privacy of one’s information or an organization can easily be intruded through hacking therefore, the technology department appealed to all users of computers to be vigilant and ensure that this vice is not promoted. One of the duties of account holders is to ensure that they maintain privacy by not letting others aware of their account detail. Some people do not think it is very impo rtant to keep account information secret; they therefore carelessly display information about their accounts (North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 2008 ) When accessing account users were advised not to go for those that anyone can access, different methods can be applied to ensure security of one’s account. A password is vital it does not mean having a password guarantees one security. They are those accounts with complicated password that cannot be easily accessed. Try to mix different characters in a password for instance use of letters and numbers. Through this method, it will be hard for anyone with ill motives to access your account. This method cannot only be applied in a school situation but also financial institutions. Institutions can take this method so that cases of fraud can be reduced. Banks for instance, use this method when providing ATM cards to their clients; this promotes security to a client’s bank account. Phone holders use t his strategy in protecting their information. When formulating this password, users were advised to use figures they can easily remember even after a long period. Remembering your password is important because, it will reduce issues like blocking of an account. Forgetting ones account can lead to great loses, for instance a student using an account for saving his documents will lose his information because he is not to access his account. In a bank situation, clients who forget their ATM pin numbers are force to apply for other cards. This leads to great delays and additional costs that would otherwise be avoided if the password were mastered. Computer users are to ensure that they do not access accounts that do not belong to them and logging off after every session is important. This will ensure that the next user will not be able to access your information. Working or accessing an account in a public place can sometimes is tricky but users are to be careful about those around them and ensure that they are not intruding their privacy. Some students can decide to access their account while in a public place like the field; they should ensure that, when doing this their privacy is guaranteed. Users were further advised to be vigilant and ensure that actions that lead to insecurity are reported to

Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Culture - Essay Example Observing the night skies could have also been used by the ancient Chinese as a guide like how travellers depend on the North Star. Earliest records of stars were found carved on bones and shells. One very significant record made by ancient Chinese astronomers was that of a solar eclipse in 2136 BC, the first human record of a solar eclipse in the world found encrypted on a bone. In 2006, a stone carving of what is believed to be the Big Dipper was found by Wu Jiaca in Inner Mongolia and is predicted to have been carved in 4000 BC. The position of the carving was on the north side of the stone, pointing to the direction of the said constellation. Carvings and maps of the stars by ancient Chinese astronomers were found by some European at Dunhuang, a major resting place before travelling into the western deserts. It was speculated that the maps were used by the travellers to guide them along the Silk Road. The maps dated to 700 AD and contain 1,350 stars arranged in the manner on how one sees the horizon. The oldest star map known in Chinese history dates back to the Warring States Period (403-211 BC). It was made by Shi Shen and was already been missing. Other maps were at the Ancient Beijing Observatory and the International Dunhuang Project of the British Library. The long years of watching the moon, stars and the sun by the ancient Chinese astronomers led to the birth of the Chinese calendar. Observation of the sun, the moon and the stars is very important in predicting the reoccurrence of an event. The first Chinese calendar was said to be lunisolar or based on both the lunar and the solar cycles. The Huangdi Li, Zhuanxu Li, Xia Li, Yin Li, Zhou Li, and Lu Li were some of the earliest formal calendars accepted. There was an estimated 102 Chinese calendars that have been developed and revised from the Xia dynasty (2070-1600 BC) to the Qing Dynasty (1645-1911) until finally the Chinese

Computerised Accounting System Essay Example for Free

Computerised Accounting System Essay At very outset I sincerely thankful to you for promoting me in the cadre of A. O. ( Mkt) would like to draw your kind attention to my various earlier requests for restoration of my three increments as per the order dated 25th January 2005, passed by then CMD (copy enclosed ) by modifying the earlier order the following. 1 Restoring the basic pay to the same level as the order was to be without cumulative effect; as has been very categorically specified in the order. However, notwithstanding the above, the first part of the enclosed order was implemented long back in the year 2005, but even after so many years the 2nd part of the order is not implemented by your office till today my basic salary has not so far been restored. It is respectfully submitted that non restoration of my basic pay as mandated by the order under reference would be in derogation of the order passed by the erstwhile CMD. my salary in the promoted cadre cannot be fixed unless my 3 increments are restored only after restoration of these 3 increments my salary can be fixed In promoted (A. O. ) cadre . I therefore request your kind self to immediate restore my three increments ( by which my basic pay has been already been reduced )w. e. f. year 2005. so that there is no delay in fixing my salary in promoted cadre. I shall be extremely grateful to you for the act of kindness.

Death and the Supernatural in Shakespeares Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Macbeth: Death and the Supernatural Throughout William Shakespeare's Macbeth, many characters evolve and many disappear into the background. The main character, Macbeth, travels through utter chaos when he proclaims himself monarch. When he first meets the witches of the supernatural, they tell him of the future. One of the themes amplified throughout the play is the circle of life, from the beginning to the end. The visions provided by the three witches begin Macbeth's quest for dominance. The three main effects of this theme are: the death of Macbeth's friends and family. Second, the deaths of his mortal enemies. The last point is the death of himself. The supernatural amplifies the theme of death. From the first brief encounter of the witches, to the last nightmarish visions that Macbeth has, many close friends and relatives have died because of his visions with the supernatural. The death of his wife in Act V, Scene IV is the death that sends him over the abyss and into mental instability. Lady Macbeth is like a joined appendage to Macbeth. They work as one, communicate as one, and when that appendage is lost, so is MACBETH's grip with reality. Lady Macbeth was the only person he could truly confide in. The supernatural also had another key factor to her death. In the first act of the play, she calls on the powers of the supernatural to make her strong. The following quote, "Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty! make thick my blood, stop up the access and passage to remorse†¦ Come to my woman's breasts, and take my milk for gall†¦", is possibly the most important passage that leads to Lady Macbeth's death. She calls on the evil spirits to "unsex" her, and to replace her "milk" with "gall". It seems that she wants to be the most cruelest being in the world. The theme of the life cycle is amplified in this situation because of her request to the spirits. This event is the beginning of the end for Lady Macbeth's life. She is the one who insists Macbeth should kill the king and reign as the king of Scotland. It is her ideas and plans that lead herself and Macbeth into the pits of hell. She is not solely to blame for this catastrophe though. Death and the Supernatural in Shakespeare's Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework Macbeth: Death and the Supernatural Throughout William Shakespeare's Macbeth, many characters evolve and many disappear into the background. The main character, Macbeth, travels through utter chaos when he proclaims himself monarch. When he first meets the witches of the supernatural, they tell him of the future. One of the themes amplified throughout the play is the circle of life, from the beginning to the end. The visions provided by the three witches begin Macbeth's quest for dominance. The three main effects of this theme are: the death of Macbeth's friends and family. Second, the deaths of his mortal enemies. The last point is the death of himself. The supernatural amplifies the theme of death. From the first brief encounter of the witches, to the last nightmarish visions that Macbeth has, many close friends and relatives have died because of his visions with the supernatural. The death of his wife in Act V, Scene IV is the death that sends him over the abyss and into mental instability. Lady Macbeth is like a joined appendage to Macbeth. They work as one, communicate as one, and when that appendage is lost, so is MACBETH's grip with reality. Lady Macbeth was the only person he could truly confide in. The supernatural also had another key factor to her death. In the first act of the play, she calls on the powers of the supernatural to make her strong. The following quote, "Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty! make thick my blood, stop up the access and passage to remorse†¦ Come to my woman's breasts, and take my milk for gall†¦", is possibly the most important passage that leads to Lady Macbeth's death. She calls on the evil spirits to "unsex" her, and to replace her "milk" with "gall". It seems that she wants to be the most cruelest being in the world. The theme of the life cycle is amplified in this situation because of her request to the spirits. This event is the beginning of the end for Lady Macbeth's life. She is the one who insists Macbeth should kill the king and reign as the king of Scotland. It is her ideas and plans that lead herself and Macbeth into the pits of hell. She is not solely to blame for this catastrophe though.

Foodborne Illness Short Answer Questions

Complete answers to questions below: What is the infectious agent (pathogen) that causes this infectious disease? For example, the name of the bacteria, virus, or parasite. The process of infection can be broken down into stages, each of which can be blocked by different defense mechanisms. In the first stage, a new host is exposed to infectious particles shed by an infected individual. The number, route, mode of transmission, and stability of an infectious agent outside the host determines its infectivity.Some pathogens, such as anthrax, are spread by spores that are highly resistant to heat and drying, while others, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are spread only by the exchange of bodily fluids or tissues because they are unable to survive as infectious agents outside the body. How is this infectious agent transmitted through food or water? Infectious pathogens include some viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites, and aberrant proteins known as prions.These pathogens are the cause of disease epidemics, in the sense that without the pathogen, no infectious epidemic occurs. The term infectivity describes the ability of an organism to enter, survive and multiply in the host, while the infectiousness of a disease indicates the comparative ease with which the disease is transmitted to other hosts. Transmission of pathogen can occur in various ways including physical contact, contaminated food, body fluids, objects, airborne inhalation, or through vector organisms What is an example of a real life outbreak of this foodborne illness in the United States?In early October 2012, the Clark County Public Health Department (â€Å"the health department†) received the first reports of a cluster of Salmonella Virchow infections occurring in the county. Additional reports came in rapidly, and by October 9, interviews of ill persons indicated that the source of the developing outbreak was the On the Border restaurant in Vancouver, Wa shington. On October 9, On the Border temporarily ceased operation. Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County Health Officer, stated that the closure was â€Å"a further precaution to reduce the risk of Salmonella spreading to others. Meanwhile, health department staff continued to interview employees and patrons of the restaurant to learn more about the precise cause of the outbreak. The health department also continued its work with On the Border employees to make sure that standard control measures—e. g. hand-washing and environmental sanitation—were in place and effective, so that when the restaurant resumed operation it would not pose a continuing threat to the health of its patrons.As of the date of the restaurant’s closure on October 9, there were 11 confirmed and five probable cases of Salmonella Virchow infection linked to the consumption of food at the restaurant.  · What are the clinical symptoms, duration of the disease, and treatment if any? Viral hepatitis ; Infectious hepatitis The hepatitis A virus is found mostly in the stools and blood of an infected person about 15 – 45 days before symptoms occur and during the first week of illness.You can catch hepatitis A if: You eat or drink food or water that has been contaminated by stools (feces) containing the hepatitis A virus (fruits, vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water are common sources of the hepatitis A virus You come in contact with the stool or blood of a person who currently has the disease, A person with hepatitis, A does not wash his or her hands properly after going to the bathroom and touches other objects or food, You participate in sexual practices that involve oral-anal contact, About 3,600 cases of hepatitis A are reported each year.Because not everyone has symptoms with hepatitis A infection, many more people are infected than are diagnosed or reported. Risk factors include: International travel, especially to Asia or South or Central America IV drug use, living in a nursing home or rehabilitation center, working in a health care, food, or sewage industry What steps can be taken to prevent further outbreaks? Include individual as well as environmental precautions and methods. Preventing hepatitis A: The virus causing hepatitis A is mostly contracted through food and water.Therefore, proper hygiene is very important in this case. Drink filtered water that is free from any kind of germs and viruses. Make sure that the water which you are getting in your house is filtered properly. If you are travelling, then use only commercially bottled water that is sealed properly. Boiling the water before drinking is also helpful in killing the viruses that cause hepatitis. Wash your hands properly before touching any food items and after using the toilet. Follow proper sanitation in and around your house. Eat food that is cooked well and is fresh.

The movie “Amistad”

The movie â€Å"Amistad† is based on a true story. This tells us the story about some African slaves who were sold by their own countrymen to acquire weapons and money. During the time of translation to Spain, the crews rebels and kill almost all their Spanish captors. African slaves took charge of the crew to return to their homes, but they were discovered by American troops, who taken them as prisoners leading them to United States to determine what they would do with them. Upon arrival the slaves to America, it was decided that these should go to court for murder and piracy and keep them in prison. In the first court appear different characters claiming the right to these slaves, treating them as property and not as human beings. But an opponent of slavery Mr. Joadson, a ex U. S. President named John Adams, an attorney at law Mr. Baldwin, and a wealthy man and owner of several businesses and banks named Mr. Tappan, joined forces to free these slaves. Although it was difficult to get evidence to free the African slaves because of the language difference, they gathered enough evidence to make clear that these slaves had been bought illegally and they were not Cubans but Africans. With this evidence they won the case. The current president of that time named Van Buren changed the judge to treat the United States v African Slaves case to recover it and see a different response, but the result was the same; freedom to the slaves. Once again the President of the United States took the case but to the superior court where the ex-President John Adams and Mr. Baldwin's attorney at law, had a resounding success with the decision that these Africans were not property, they were human beings that had certain rights and could decide where they wanted to go. Cinque, the leader of the African tribe, thanked strongly the support these characters give it to him and to his tribe. Finally, Cinque followed in crew to free other slaves who resided in Spain to then return to home. Within the history of the film â€Å"Amistad† we can see different attitudes because during the plot appears different groups with different ambitions. On the one hand we have the group of the oppressed, referring to African slaves. Their attitude was of sadness, anger, and courage. They were sad because they were discriminated, separated from their families, suffered humiliation, starvation, beatings, and abuse and all these because of their color. At the same time they felt anger and courage to those people who abused them without mercy. But the biggest attitude that oppressed had been the desire to fight for their freedom and not give up. African Slaves always believing in the powers of their ancestors. On the other hand, there are the oppressors. In this group we can put together the Spaniards along with the Queen Isabel II, President of the United States, and 2 Spanish characters who survived the slaughter on the Amistad board. All of them had a selfish attitude towards slaves. They believed they could do with these people what they want because for them the slaves were not human if not a good. They do not care what Africans suffered, because according to them, the dark color let them to be miserable. The Queen Isabel II at the age of 11 thought that slaves were an essential part for the economy of her country. President of the United States did not want to release African Slaves because he was afraid of provoking a civil war and end on bad terms with the free trade agreement with Spain. Finally, the 2 Spaniard characters simply believed that they had the right to slaves because they survived from them and helped United State troops by the discovery of these. In the movie â€Å"Amistad† there were several conflicts. The principal was the issue of slavery which led to another conflicts. During the early 18's, slavery was something illegal in many countries. For the U. S. , in the north was not approved while in the south could be legal. Because slaves were forced to work long hours without a salary, they were very important in elevating the economy of some countries like Spain. With the pass of the time the issue of slavery took more importance and strength in the decisions of government. Due to the unleashing of the slaves, there were other social and political conflict as the Civil War, and the release of Lombok Slave Fortress. In the history of the movie eventually the anti-slavery group gets the desired result which was to free African slaves and return them to their homes, thanks to the wisdom of the ex-President John Adams and the persistence of the attorney at law Baldwin. Today, slavery is a thing of the past. Thanks to these accrual events that occurred many years ago today we can enjoy complete freedom in the United States of America. Although Africans had to go through many hard times to regain his freedom, slavery ended in the year of 1865 with the addition of the thirteenth amendment in the constitution. According to Chapter 6 â€Å"Civil Rights† it tells us that since the foundation of America the primary value was equality. Discrimination is a concept that can be defined as a behavior or attitude with others according to their color, gender, clothing, age, or race. Chapter 6 teaches us that the most discriminated groups in human history are women and blacks. The film has a social, political, historical and moral meaning because it leaves a great teaching on the issue of discrimination. It is noteworthy that â€Å"Amistad† is based on real events that left a great benefit to the United States. It has social significance because it shows that society can be composed of different types of people and we are all a fundamental part of development. Second, it has political significance because we can see that the issue of slavery was always linked to politics, as the relationship of slavery and the free trade agreement between the United States and Spain. Furthermore, slavery has always been treated by the government, who always took the last decision thinking about the best for the people or for it convenience. â€Å"Amistad† is historic because, thanks to anti-slavery people like John Adams, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Tappan, Mr. Joadson and the great leader and hero of the African tribe called Cinque who had the courage to face great powers as the ninth U. S. President Van Buren and confront the vague, shallow, and undefined laws that existed in the system of legislation in that time, in our times slavery is condemn. In my opinion the greatest significance of the story of the movie to people of that time is the moral value. Mr. Joadson who was a black man, a slave at some time in his life, and a leading opponent of slavery, was a person who taught us a lot with her character because even though he did not born in Africa, and he was totally American, he venture to support the cause of African slaves and never turned his back on his race. Another example of morality could be the judge who replaced the elderly judge, who despite being young and very inexperienced, do not let the U. S. President told him what was he had to do. He always went hand in hand with their values and takes the right decision to release these people who had already suffered enough. This movie certainly left a great lesson in me. As stated in the cover of the movie â€Å"Absolutely Unforgettable† I will never forget â€Å"Amistad†. The film taught me that everyone has the right to fighting for freedom. Besides, no one can take your freedom and discriminate against you by your appearance, color, race, gender, age or anything else. In my case, although we are often called the minority as Hispanics in this country, we have rights like anyone lse and we deserve to be treated as humans and not as an object or property. I have felt discriminated against at some point in my life as many other people, but I know that people judge because we are full of prejudices. The true is that we are still slaves to our own prejudices. Although we are in the XXI century discrimination has not ended, and is the responsibility of each one of us stop judging people by their appearance and accept that if we are all equal in the eyes of God we should all be equal in the society.

SM REPORT Essay Example

SM REPORT Essay Example SM REPORT Essay SM REPORT Essay Furthermore, this permitted ISM to assess the types of opportunities and threats that might arise from the industry environment. This report will also examine both threats of new entries and substitutes, and both bargaining powers of buyers and suppliers that will affect the decision making process of ISM. With the addition of competitive rivalry, this report will demonstrate how ISM can use innovation and various business strategies to stay ahead in the industry. The findings of this report will highlight the financial profitability and stability of ISM. It will analyses how training and development will help improve the skills and motivation of Isms employees. It will also depict how research and development would allow ISM to innovate and improve on its manufacturing processes. This report will also indicate how the positive brand image, along with other business strategies influence the decision making recess of ISM, allowing it to remain competitive and achieve sustainability in its growth within the industry. 2. Background Information ISM International Limited is the global leader in branded healthy lifestyle products. Listed in the Singapore Stock Exchange, ISM has over 30 years of experience and uncompromising dedication in developing innovative and reliable healthy lifestyle products (ISM AAA). Established in 1 980, ISM is a niche marketing company with a focus on the consumer. The Group is innovation-driven and is an Intellectual Property (IP) developer. ISM uses innovative selling approaches and constantly enhances its innovation capabilities to produce successful products with superior designs, features and quality. As an IP developer, ISM controls its brands, designs, technologies and concepts. ISM operates a wide point-of-sales network of more than 1 1 93 outlets in more than 369 cities across 31 countries in Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and North America (ISM 2012). The ISM business consists of 4 focuses which together reflect the brands holistic approach to healthy lifestyle. 3. Macro-environment Analysis Macro-environmental analysis is the initial stage in comprehensive strategic planning. The purpose of the analysis involves the study of current and potential change and the assessment of the impact of changes on the organization (Ginger and Duncan 1990). . Optical Singapore government offers loans, grants, tax incentives and Nan-financial assistance to help organizations grow their business. SPRING Singapore provides funding such as the Customer-Centric Initiative to support projects undertaken by organizations in the healthcare sector to improve customer experience and benchmark themselves against industry standards. ISM has achieved significantly la rge amount of government development grant as shown in Figure 1 (refer to Appendix 9. 1). 3. Economics The global macroeconomic conditions have stabilized in recent months against the backdrop of improved financial market conditions, and the outlook for Singapore economy remains positive. According to Singapore Department of Statistics (2013), Singapore has grown by 1. 3 per cent in 201 2 and real GAP growth in 2013 is expected to be 1 to 3 per cent. With the global economy continuing to show affirmative signs of improvements, we hence see potential in the group to rake up more sales going forward, given its huge outwork of outlets. 3. Social As Singapore continues to grow and develop, maintaining the quality of life has become increasingly important. Healthcare products are no longer deemed as a luxury good but a necessity, as society trends towards a more sophisticated and healthy lifestyle. With higher population densities and rising expectations of individuals well-beings, the l ifestyle needs of a more diverse society will be a key challenge as well as an opportunity for ISM. With an increasing ageing population in many societies, ISM can consider how they can better cater to the lifestyle needs of this particular group. 3. Technological The new competitive landscape, driven by the technological revolution is moving towards an increasing focus on innovation, both in technology and new products or services. Being the global leader in healthy lifestyle products, ISM is in the forefront of innovation and the development of a wide range of products to bring the greatest health benefits to consumers. In order to stay competitive, companies are required to use the latest technology in product innovation, continue to develop new technology, actively participate in global markets, and structure themselves to gain advantage in these markets (Hit, Keats and Demark 1998). Furthermore, new technology is allowing firms to customize products to consumers more quickly and economically in terms of production output and cost reduction activities. 3. Relating Key drivers for change with Opportunities and Threats A PASTEL analysis of the macro-environment enables organizations to anticipate opportunities, reveal threats, and carefully develop responses to change (Johnson, Whetting and Schools 201 1). It is important to analyses how the factors in the framework are changing and how they are inter-connected. The technology developments in ISM may affect the social factor such as nonusers lifestyle by introducing more leisure. For a Health and Lifestyle industry, the two most important key drivers for change are social and technological changes. Societal change such as emphasis on overall well- being for longer life expectancy may drive the potential for producing a more comprehensive range of healthy lifestyle products. Similarly, major technological advancements may have a positive impact on Isms research and development (R) activities. An example is ISM massage chairs which are designed in combination with the convenience of the mobile app technology, the ISM divine app (ISM Bibb). On the contrary, a social change in consumers preference for more outdoor leisure activities may pose a threat to Isms future home healthy lifestyle products. Similarly, the global economic conditions may pose a threat to Isms business. The nature of ISM products make them more susceptible to reduced demand in times of economic downturn than other kinds of business as their products may not be considered as essential health products (ISM 2011). . Porters Five-Forces Porters five forces model helps managers recognize and analyses competitive forces within the industry, predict new prospects and challenges and prepare bible strategies against future challenges and threats (Hills and Jones 2008). 4. 1 Threat of new entry In the healthy lifestyle products industry, scale and experience, technology and high capital investment pose as high bar riers of entry. Established industry players enjoy optimal levels of economies of scale whereby there is large-scale production at a lowest cost. This deters new entrants as it would be expensive for them to compete due to higher unit costs. New entrants do not have the relevant experience and technology that existing competitors have that allows them to enjoy cost advantages through efficiency. In addition, regulations such as patent protection and trademarks safeguard the rights of established industry players and prevent new entrants from tapping on their knowledge and resources. The high barriers of entry lead to low threat of entry due to the high level of experience, cost savings and technology that existing large operators possess. Overall, the threat of entrants is relatively low. 4. Threat of Substitutes The presence of many key players in the international market evidently shows a relatively high substitution level in the healthy lifestyle products industry. Global consumer trends have observed that consumers have become more cautious about their spending habits; however, they are still willing to spend on items that are durable and value for money (Remuneration International 2012). This trend recognizes the threat of substitutes that results from the ratio of price to performance. Environmental-wise, there is an increasing demand for products that are more sustainable, environmentally friendly and ethically produced. Lastly, technological innovations have resulted in relatively low cost of transfer to another industry, such as the beauty industry, increasing the level of substitution. Overall level of substitutes to latherer lifestyle products is relatively high. 4. Bargaining power of buyers In this industry, quality, innovation, product diversity and the ratio of price to performance factors play vital roles. Economically, emphasis should be placed on understanding and considering the expectations and experiences of consumers before prices are adjusted, irrespective of the prevailing economic conditions (Analogy and Kari 2003). Technologically, the Internet age has resulted in a group of more informed consumers. Coupled with the wide variety of options in the market the power of buyers is enhanced as they are blew to switch to other brands easily. As buyers hold high bargaining power in the industry, differentiating ones brand through product innovation and development would prevent buyers from switching to other comparative substitutes easily. Overall, the bargaining power of buyers is high. 4. 4 Bargaining power of suppliers Economically, it is more cost effective to stay with the original supplier, especially during periods of high inflation rates. Due to goodwill, the original supplier would give companies longer credit terms, which would in turn increase the liquidity of companies in the business. Technology such as analytic, software tools and telecommunications are part of providing better information to existing industry players at a lower cost, and in product distribution. Besides, employees as suppliers for knowledge in the production process have placed operators in a vulnerable position. The high bargaining power of suppliers creates an unfavorable situation for industry players. ISM recognizes the importance of their employees and tries to reduce the bargaining power of suppliers by providing their employees with good welfare and benefits (ISM 2011 Overall, the power of suppliers in this industry is high. Competitive Rivalry This force identifies the level of competition posed by direct competitors whose target market is similar to the organization. Although political measures strive to reduce the presence of inferior quality and unsubstantiated products in the market, weaker economic conditions gave rise to more conservative spending, resulting in the growth of the bl ack market and stiffer competition within the industry. The extent of competitive rivalry has also increased due to current technological advancements that have quickened the growth rate of research and development in the industry. Even though the extent of competitive rivalry is high, existing operators should continue to innovate and build brand loyalty so as to compete and differentiate themselves in the industry. Otherwise, the extent of competitive rivalry in the healthcare lifestyle products industry is high. 4. Overall Five Forces Impact Using the five forces model to analyses the industry, it is increasingly favorable and attractive for potential and new industry players. 5. Resources and Competences Based on the resource-based view of strategy, the competitive advantage and superior performance of an organization is determined by its distinctive abilities (Heartfelt 1984). Strategic capabilities refer to the capabilities of an organization that contribute to its long-term survival which consists of its resources and competences (Mentors 2004), and when resources are deployed efficiently and effectively, it is said to be the firms core competences (Johnson, Whetting and Schools 2011 5. Financial Resource 2012 201 1 (AS million) Growth (%) Sales 602 554 Profit 87 69 +32 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 193,813 73,157 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 201 ,731 According to ISM (201 3), the Group has achieved its third consecutive year f record profit despite a tough economic environment. Isms ability to manage its cash flow has been reflected in the increased of cash and cash equivalents at end of both 2011 and 2012. For its balance sheet, it was evident that ISM has been improving its cash position and paring down its borrowings consistently, due to its strong positive operating cash flows over the years. They had done well in building a strong balance sheet with a net cash position of SASS million (ISM 2013), and showed superior management in its cash flows. 5. Inhuman Resource Johnson, Whetting and Schools (201 1) propose that the efficiency and effectiveness of the people in an organization depend not just on their existence, but on the relationship and cooperation between customers, partners or suppliers. In an attempt to build relationships across valuable networks, ISM signed a cooperation agreement with LEG Electronics Inc to enlarge its presence and market share in South Korea (ISM 2007). The Group has also gone into several partnerships (Figure 2; refer to Appendix 9. 2) whereby ISM can leverage on their nationwide specialty outlets across numerous states. Brand is always foremost in the company and consumers minds; hence, ISM ensures that everyone gets involved to ensure consistency In customers experience with the brand. It achieves this by implementing continuous improvement to keep the skills of its staff updated (Tem portal 2006). . Intangible Resource Hall (1992) argued that a companys reputation is perceived as one of the most significant resources which make the most important contribution to business success. ISM Asia No. 1 is an independent research conducted by Syncopate an international market research company, to determine Saiss most preferred brand of healthy lifes tyle products. The study found ISM to e a leading international brand with a strong presence in its key markets. The value reflected the brands ability to deliver a compelling and consistent experience that was relevant to its customers. Its superior brand image is clearly shown in Figure 3 (refer to Appendix 9. 3). 5. Vern Strategic Capabilities as a Basis of Competitive Advantage A firm achieves sustainable competitive advantage when the implemented value creating strategy is not similar to the strategies of current or potential competitors, and benefits of this strategy are not easily replicated by competitors (Barney 1991). In order to understand sources of sustainable nominative advantage, the value chain of ISM is considered in the diagnosis of its strategic capabilities. . 4. 1 V- value of Strategic Capabilities Considering the primary activity (marketing and sales), and support activities (technology development and human resource management) of ISM value chain in Figure 4 (refer to Appendix 9. 4), these capabilities provide the exploitation of opportunities and neutralist threats. Technology development, such as Isms in-house team enables the Group to enhance its R competencies to provide greater value-add t o its business and greater input to the design of its products. According to COBS (201 0), ISM has been actively adding its product range by renewing its product line by up to 25% every six month to cater to the changing needs of consumers. In addition, Isms message of We focus on attracting and grooming great talent committed to our companys goals (Temporal 2006) has proven that its human resource is seen as providing potential competitive advantage. It supports the notion of Happy staff, happy customers through providing training and development. In terms of marketing and sales, ISM has an extensive point-of-sales network and geographical coverage in their markets (refer to Appendix 9. Whereby consumers are made aware of their products and are able to purchase it. 5. 4. 2 R-rarity of Strategic Capabilities Rare capabilities are those possessed uniquely by one organization or by a few others. ISM has worldwide technology patents that give it advantage. For example, Isms patented Music-Synchronized Massage technology and patented ISM Human-AD mas sage programmer which are designed together with its massage chairs. Andrea and Cobra (1996) argued that rarity provides competitive advantage if it meets customer needs, and are of value to them. The convenience of the mobile app technology on its massage hairs has significantly eased the control and transformed into an intelligent, multi-sensory enjoyment for consumers. In summary, ISM has a number of strategic capabilities that are valuable and rare. However, it is not difficult for competitors to imitate the tangible resources of ISM as these can be acquired or imitated over time, and the risks of its product and service substitution are relatively high given the increasing demand for sophisticated and healthy lifestyle. ISM needs to develop products that are inimitable and non-substitutable to increase its bases of sustainable competitive advantage. 6. Business Strategy There are three generic types Of business strategies; cost-leadership, differentiation and focus strategies, with cost-focus and differentiation-focus strategies as subsets of focus strategy (Johnson, Whetting and Schools 201 1). The strategies that ISM is implementing are identified to be differentiation-focus strategies, which refer to the focus on the specialization of creating valuable good and services to answer specific needs of consumers in order to achieve price premium. MM, being the pioneer in the healthy lifestyle industry, focuses on bringing the lifestyle of well-being to their customers (MUM 2007). As a result, the numbers of ISM outlets have continuously grown in many shopping malls. ISM maintains strong relationships with shopping mall owners such as Capitalist and Nameplate in order to be invited as a tenant in their newly opened malls (COBS 2010). Their continuous expansion plans have evidently shown their focus on bringing the lifestyle of well-being to consumers through extensive presence in most shopping malls. In addition, in comparison to Isms competitors such as TOT Boatyard and Gawk, Isms focus on their customers well-being is their differentiating factor amongst other healthcare products providers. Isms continuous innovation and growth has exemplified their mission of delivering well-being to their customers. It couples innovation with passion to drive steady growths and continuous product launches in order to promote positivist to their customers and providing them with the ultimate product usage experience (ISM 2007). In contrast, TOT Boatyard (2011) focuses on using innovation to produce products at low cost to reach out to consumers with right pricing strategies and Gawk (2007) concentrates on producing quality products. Isms usage of innovation is more inclined to producing valuable products hat cater to the healthcare needs of consumers. Another source of focus differentiation originates from Isms commitment to RD to develop their products. Nations Matrix serves as a good strategic management approach for improving competitiveness (Taylor 2012). With reference to Figure 5 (refer to Appendix 9. 5), Isms incorporation of technology and product development has led to the creation of new products for existing markets. Continuous launches of new products via RD innovations to existing markets serve as a defensive strategy to retain customers (Koch 2008). 7. Suitability of Isms Business Strategy Strategy evaluation is an appraisal of how well a business performs. As the environment changes, companies need to alter their strategies to adapt to the environment in order to prosper (Miller 1988). An external environmental analysis and internal capability evaluation has been carried out to determine Isms strategic position, and the suitability of each strategic choice is evaluated in terms of the environment and its capabilities (Table 1 and 2; refer to Appendix 9. 6 and 9. 7). It is clear that Isms competitive strategy (differentiation focus), strategy direction (product development), and ethos of pursuing strategies (acquisitions and alliances shown in Figure 6; Appendix 9. 8) work together as a package. ISM is in a favorable position within its industry given its first-mover advantage, and its strategic option of product development has proved to provide a basis of competitive advantage by reducing competitive intensity and development of barriers to new entrants. It has leveraged on its in-house RD team which is considered as one Of its strategic capabilities to deliver differentiation benefits as valued by its consumers. In addition, ISM has adapted to its environment by exploiting n the opportunity that consumers are trending towards a healthy and positive lifestyle.

Style Helper APA Formatting Software

Style Helper APA Formatting Software Wouldnt it be lovely if you could have your own personal editor, to ensure that your style is correct? With the wonders of modern technology, you virtually can. With programs based on the APA Style Guide and Chicago Manual of Style, you can acquire the style helper that youve always needed. Click Here For Our Recommended Style Helper Site! What Is a Style Helper? A style helper is a program that helps you format your text according to standard specifications. Whether youre writing an academic paper or business report, you can be sure that your citations are complete and your format is correct. With templates to help get you started, writers block becomes a thing of the past. Features of a Style Helper One of the best attributes of a piece of style software is its menu. In the best APA formatting software, for instance, you should be able to insert citations and update your table of contents with a few clicks of your mouse. In the best programs, you can even automatically sort your bibliography, for ease of completion. Some style helpers even offer instant creation of a list of tables or illustrations. You can also ensure that your chapter and sections headings are correct and complete with easy tools for insertion and formatting. Once youve used these programs, you wont want to go back to referenceless guesswork.

Stress test Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Stress test - Essay Example The result of the test shows that my home distress is at 56 percent while my work is at 63 percent with social life coming least at 26 percent. Therefore, according to the results of this tress test, my social life is poor; hence, there are needs to change or improve on it. In other words, there are many activities that I often engage with that interferes with my social wellbeing. There are numerous signs of stress ranging from cognitive, emotional, physical, to behavioral. Physical stress usually leads me to aches and pains to different parts of the body including chest as well as dizziness and rapid heartbeats (Olpin and Hesson, 2013). The behavioral stress usually leads to me to behaviors changes including eating habits, duration of sleep and procrastination or and neglect of responsibilities. On the other hand, cognitive stress may lead me to memory problems, anxiety, poor judgment, and being negative while emotional stress usually leads me to change in mood, short or irritable t emper depressed, and feeling overwhelmed. My personal way of controlling or handing stress is to hang out with friends and stop thinking of scenarios that have led to such stress.   Nonetheless, I usually ensure that if they are generated by mistakes and problems; the same must be worked on to a solution to avoid repeat of the same (Olpin and Hesson, 2013). †¢Ã‚  This activity is good in determining the what areas in life that contribute much my stress; however, the validity and accuracy in its application remain a challenge.