Learning Chapters on Project Procurement Management Essays

Learning Chapters on Project Procurement Management Essays Learning Chapters on Project Procurement Management Paper Learning Chapters on Project Procurement Management Paper After reading this chapter, you will b understand the Importance of prop Increasing use of outsourcing for info Describe the work involved in planning determining the proper type of contract t management plan, statement of work, so buy analysis Discuss what is involved in conducting obtaining seller responses, selects Understand the process of admit meet relationships and monitor Describe the process of closing Discuss types of software avail management Marie McBride could not believe how much money her company was paying for outside consultants to help the company finish an important operating system conversion project. The consulting companys proposal said it would provide experienced professionals who had completed similar conversions, and that the Job would be finished in six months or less with four consultants working full time. Nine months later her company was still paying high consulting fees, and half of the original consultants on the project had been replaced with new people. One new consultant had graduated from college only two months before and had extremely poor communications skills. Marries internal staff complained that they were wasting time training some of these experienced professionals. Marie talked to her companys purchasing manager about the contract, fees, and special clauses that might be relevant to the problems they were experiencing. Marie was dismayed at how difficult it was to interpret the contract. It was very long and obviously written by someone with a legal background. When she asked what her company could do since the consulting firm was not following Its proposal, the purchasing manager stated that the proposal was not part of the official contract. Marries company was paying for time and materials, not specific deliverables. There was no clause stating the minimum experience level required for the consultants, nor were there penalty clauses for not completing the work on time. There was a termination clause, however, meaning the company could terminate the contract. Marble wondered why her company had signed such a poor contract. Was there a better way to deal with procuring services from outside the company? Although global outsourcing displaces some IT workers, total employment In the united States increases, according to IOTA, as the benefits ripple through the economy. I en Incremental economic actual TTY Tanat Tools outscore II outsourcing creates over 257,000 net new Jobs in 2005 and is expected to create over 337,000 net new Jobs by 462 P oliticians debate on whether offshore outsourcing helps their own country or not. Andy Boor, chief operating officer of a computer network support service provider, describes outsourcing as an essential part of a healthy business diet. He describes good vs.. Bad outsourcing as something like good vs.. Bad cholesterol. He says that most people view offshore outsourcing as being bad because it takes Jobs away from domestic workers. However, many companies are realizing that they can use offshore outsourcing and create more Jobs at home. For example, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines created 1,000 call-center Jobs in India in 2003, saving $25 million, which enabled it to add 1,200 Job positions for reservations and sales agents in the United States. 2 Other companies, like Wall-Mart, successfully manage the majority of their information technology projects in-house with very little commercial software and no outsourcing at all. (See the Suggested Reading on the companion Web site on Wall- Marts Way. ) Deciding whether to outsource, what to outsource, and how to outsource are important topics for many organizations throughout the world. In a 2008 survey, 74 percent of 600 global procurement executives believed that procurement issues are a high priority for their companies. About half of respondents also said that their companies focus too much on cost reduction instead of value creation. They also believe they are missing opportunities by not focusing on using technology to improve procurement processes. For example, 72 percent of respondents have less than 10 percent of their spend channeled through procurement and sourcing applications. 3 Most organizations use some form of outsourcing to meet their information technology needs, spending most money within their own country. A 2008 report on IT outsourcing trends in the U. S. And Canada revealed the following: Application development is the most popular form of IT outsourcing and was used by 53 percent of organizations surveyed. Of the surveyed organizations, 44 percent outsourced application maintenance, 40 percent outsourced Web site or e-commerce systems, and 37 percent outsourced disaster recovery services. The IT function with the largest percentage of work outsourced is assister recovery services, accounting for 50 percent of total IT outsourcing. Mortifications see the benefit in having an outside party perform offset storage or maintenance of a recovery facility. Desktop support is the second most outsourced IT function (48 percent), followed closely by data center operations and help desk (47 percent each) and Web site or e-commerce systems (46 percent). IT security is at the bottom of the list, with only 29 percent of the work being outsourced. Even though application development and maintenance are frequently outsourced, they are a low percentage of the amount of total IT work outsourced. Application development and maintenance are often outsourced selectively since most organizations choose to do many projects in-house. 4 Procurement means acquiring goods and/or services from an outside source. The term procurement is Widely used in government; many private companies use the terms purchasing and outsourcing. Organizations or individuals who provide procurement services are referred to as suppliers, vendors, contractors, subcontractors, or sellers, with suppliers being the most widely used term. Many information technology projects involve the use of goods and services from outside he organization. As described in Chapter 2, outsourcing has become a hot topic for research and debate, especially the implication of outsourcing to other countries, referred to as offspring. The outsourcing statistics below are from an Information Technology Association of America (IOTA)-sponsored report: Spending for global sources of computer software and services is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of about 20 percent, increasing from about $1 5 billion in 2005 to $38 billion in 2010. Total savings from offshore resources diddling the same time period are estimated to grow from $8. Billion to $20. 4 billion. The cost savings and use of offshore resources lower inflation, increase productivity, and lower interest rates, which boosts business and consumer spending and increases economic activity. Chapter 12 Project Procurement Management Because outsourcing is a growing area, it is important for project managers to understand project procurement management. Many organizations are turning to outsourcing to: Reduce betrothed and recurrent costs. Outsourcing suppliers are often able to use economies of scale that may not be available to the client alone, especially for hardware and software. It can also be less expensive to outsource some labor costs to other organizations in the same country or offshore. Companies can also use outsourcing to reduce labor costs on projects by avoiding the costs of hiring, firing, and reassigning people to projects or paying their salaries when they are between projects. Allow the client organization to focus on its core business. Most organizations are not in business to provide information technology services, yet many have spent valuable time and resources on information technology functions when they should have focused on core competencies such as marketing, customer arrive, and new product design. By outsourcing many information technology functions, employees can focus on Jobs that are critical to the success of the organization. Access skills and technologies. Organizations can gain access to specific skills and technologies when they are required by using outside resources. For example, a project may require an expert in a particular field or require the use of expensive hardware or software for one particular month on a project. Planning for this procurement ensure that the needed skills or technology will be available for the project. Provide flexibility. Outsourcing to provide extra staff during periods of peak workloads can be much more economical than trying to staff entire projects with internal resources. Many companies cite quicker flexibility in staffing as a key reason for outsourcing. Increase accountability. A well-written contract-a mutually binding agreement that obligates the seller to provide the specified products or services and obligates the buyer to pay for them-can clarify responsibilities and sharpen focus on key deliverables of a project. Because contracts are legally binding, there is more accountability for delivering the work as stated in the contract. In December 2002, who organ Chase announced a sieving to MOM, both companies en- year, $5 billion deal too bragged that the contract w TTS med like a win-win situational would make money an gang Chase could push for innovation. The contract less than two years However, in September 200 egger fit with Comparing Chaises busting its existence because the pro news strategy. According to Austin rumination officer at Comparing Chi couture is best for the long-term gar We believe managing our own techno and success of our company as well a railroaders. However, IBM said he can contract was simply a result of Comparing Chaises merger earlier that year with Bank It tried to shrug off the loss of a large business deal. The combined firm found its an abundance of IT assets, IBM spokesperson James Icicles said. This decision w other business decisions related to the merger. 6 Outsourcing can also cause problems in other areas for companies and nations as a whole. For example, many people in Aus tralia are concerned about outsourcing software development. The Australian Computer Society says sending work offshore may lower ten under AT students entering II courses, deplete ten mummer AT Skilled IT professionals, and diminish the nations strategic technology capability. Another issue is security, which encompasses the protection of intellectual property, integrity of data, and the reliability of infrastructure in offshore locations. 7 The success of many information technology projects that use outside resources is often due to good project procurement management. Project procurement management includes the processes required to acquire goods and services for a project from outside the performing organization. Organizations can be either the buyer or the seller of products or services under a contract. There are four main processes in project procurement management: Organizations must also consider reasons they might not want to outsource. When an organization outsource work, it often does not have as much monitor over those aspects of projects that suppliers carry out. In addition, an organization could become too dependent on particular suppliers. If those suppliers went out of business or lost key personnel, it could cause great damage to a project. Organizations must also be careful to protect strategic information that could become vulnerable in the hands of suppliers. According to Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems, Inc. , What you want to handle in-house is the stuff that gives you an edge over your competition-your core competencies. I call it your secret sauce. If youre on Wall Street and you have your own program for tracking and analyzing the market, youll hang onto that. At Sun, we have a complex program for testing microprocessor designs, and well keep it. 5 Project teams must think carefully about procurement issues and make wise decisions based on the unique needs of their projects and organizations. They can also change their minds on outsourcing as business conditions change. . 3. Planning procurements involves determining what to procure, when, and how. In procurement planning, one must decide what to outsource, determine the type of contract, and describe the work for potential sellers. Sellers are contractors, suppliers, or providers who provide goods and services to other organizations. Outputs of this process include a procurement management plan, statements of work, make-or-buy decisions, procurement documents, source selection criteria, and change requests. Conducting procurements involves obtaining seller responses, selecting sellers, and awarding contracts. Outputs include selected sellers, procurement contract awards, resource calendars, change requests, and updates to the project management plan and other project documents. Administering procurements involves managing relationships with sellers, monitoring contract performance, and malting changes as needed. The main outputs of this process Include procurement documents talon, organizational 4. Process asset updates, change requests, and project management plan updates. Closing procurements involves completion and settlement of each contract, including resolution of any open items. Outputs include closed procurements and organizational process asset updates. Figure 12-1 summarizes these processes and outputs, showing when they occur in a typical project. Planning Process: Plan procurements Outputs: Procurement management plan, procurement statements of work, make-or-buy decisions, procurement documents, source selection criteria, and change requests 466 Executing Process: Conduct procurements Outputs: Selected sellers, procurement contract award, resource calendars, change requests, project management plan updates, project document updates Monitoring and Controlling Process: Administer procurements Outputs: Procurement communication, organizational process asset updates, change requests, project management plan updates Closing Process: Close procurements Outputs: Closed procurements, organizational process asset updates Project Start Project Finish FIGURE 121 Project procurement management summary The Boots Company PLY, a Nottingham, England, outsourced its information t Tiber 2002. The Boots Company signed a ten-year d expected to save $203. 9 million over that period com systems itself. IBM managed and developed The Boots Comma cou ture from the mainframes to the tills in our 1,400 stores, to the co , said spokesperson Francis Thomas. More than 400 Boots employees we Vims payroll but continued to work at Boots head office, with extra IBM s n as needed. Thomas added, The great thing about this is that if IBM has an expert in Singapore and [if} we need that expertise, we can tap Into It Tort tender months. It Keeps our costs on an even Keel. 8 is not uncommon moon for long contracts to be renegotiated, becoming either shorter or longer in length. May 2006, Boots and IBM began discussing amendments to their contract because m of Boots IT infrastructure renewal program (including a new pharmacy system and roll) was complete. A Boots spokesman said that the many achieved its goal much quicker than planned. In contrast, in 2005 Boots renegotiated its EYE million, seven-yea IT contract it initially signed in 2002 with Sans, extending it for another two years to 2011 in a EYE million deal. 9 It is also not uncommon to take advantage of competition the changing marketplace for major procurements. In 2008, Boots announced that I have up to six different suppliers competing to supply its IT products and services ova next year. The company is keeping its business system management team and service management in-house? including helpless and project management. 10 Properly planning purchases and acquisitions and writing good contracts can also save organizations millions of dollars. Many companies centralize purchasing for products, such as personal computers, software, and printers, to earn special pricing discounts. For example, in the mid-asses the U. S. Air Force awarded a five-year, multimillion-dollar contract to automate 15 Air Force Systems Command bases. The project manager and contracting officer decided to allow for a unit pricing strategy for some items required in the contract, such as the workstations and printers. By not requiring everything to be negotiated at a fixed cost, the winning supplier lowered its final bid y more than $40 million. II Planning procurements involves identifying which project needs can best be met by using products or services outside the organization. It involves deciding whether to procure, how to procure, what to procure, how much to procure, and when to procure. An important output of this process is the make-or-buy decision. A make-or- buy decision is one in which an organization decides if it is in its best interests to make certain products or perform certain services inside the organization, or if it is better to buy them from an outside organization. If there is no need to buy any reduces or services from outside the organization, then there is no need to perform any of the other procurement management processes. For many projects, properly outsourcing some information technology functions can be a great investment, as shown in the following examples of What Went Right. Inputs needed for planning procurements include the scope baseline, requirements documentation, teaming agreements, the risk register, risk-related contract decisions, activity resource requirements, the project schedule, activity cost estimates, the cost performance baseline, enterprise environmental factors, and organizational process assets. For example, a large clothing company might consider outsourcing the delivery of, maintenance of, and basic user training and support for laptops supplied to its international sales and marketing force. If there were suppliers who could provide this service well at a reasonable price, it would make sense to outsource, because this could reduce fixed and recurring costs for the clothing company and let them focus on their core business of selling clothes. It is important to understand why a company would want to procure goods or services Ana want Inputs are anemia to plan purchases and acquisitions. In the opening case, Marries company hired outside consultants to help complete an operating system conversion project because it needed people with specialized skills for a short period of time. This is a common occurrence in many information technology projects. It can be more effective to hire skilled consultants to perform specific tasks for a short period of time than to hire or keep employees on staff full time. However, it is also important to define clearly the scope of the project, the products, services, or results required, market conditions, and constraints and assumptions. In Marries case, the scope of the reject and services required were relatively clear, but her company may not have adequately discussed or documented the market conditions or constraints and assumptions involved in using the outside consultants. Were there many companies that provided consultants to do operating conversion projects similar to theirs? Did the project team investigate the background of the company that provided the consultants? Did they list important constraints and assumptions for using the consultants, such as limiting the time that the consultants had to complete the conversion project or the minimum years of experience for any consultant assigned o the project? It is very important to answer these types of questions before going into an outsourcing agreement. Dividing both sides by $400, you get: which means that the purchase cost equals the lease cost in 30 days. So, if you need the equipment for less than 30 days, it would be more economical to lease it. If you need the equipment for more than 30 days, you should purchase it. In general, leasing is often cheaper for meeting short-term needs, but more expensive for long- term needs. Expert Judgment Tools and Techniques for Planning Procurements There are several tools and techniques to help project managers and their teams in landing procurements, including make-or-buy analysis, expert Judgment, and contract types. Make-or-Buy Analysis Make-or-buy analysis is a general management technique used to determine whether an organization should make or perform a particular product or service inside the organization or buy from someone else. This form of analysis involves estimating the internal costs of providing a product or service and comparing that estimate to the cost of outsourcing. Consider a company that has 1,000 international salespeople with laptops. Using make-or-buy analysis, the company would compare en cost AT provoking tense services using Internal resources to ten cost AT Dulling those services from an outside source. If supplier quotes were less than its internal estimates, the company should definitely consider outsourcing the training and user support services. Another common make-or-buy decision, though more complex, is whether a company should develop an application itself or purchase software from an outside source and customize it to the companys needs. Many organizations also use make-or-buy analysis to decide if they should either purchase or lease items for a particular project. For example, suppose you need a piece of equipment for a project that has a purchase price of $12,000. Assume it also had a daily operational cost of $400. Suppose you could lease the same piece of equipment for $800 per day, including the operational costs. You can set up an equation in which the purchase cost equals the lease cost to determine when it makes sense financially to lease or buy the equipment. In this example, d = the number of days you need the piece of equipment. The equation would then be: Experts inside an organization and outside an organization could provide excellent advice in planning purchases and acquisitions. Project teams often need to consult experts within their organization as part of good business practice. Internal experts might suggest that the company in the above example could not provide quality training and user support for the 1,000 laptop users since the service involves so many people with different skill levels in so many different locations. Experts in the company might also know that most of their competitors outsource this type of work and know who the qualified outside suppliers are. It is also important to consult legal experts since contracts for outsourced work are legal agreements. Experts outside the company, including potential suppliers themselves, can also provide expert judgment. For example, suppliers might suggest an option for salespeople to purchase the laptops themselves at a reduced cost. This option would solve problems during employee turnover-exiting employees would own their laptops and new employees would purchase a laptop through the program. An internal expert might then suggest that employees receive a technology bonus to help offset what they might view as an added expense. Expert Judgment, both internal and external, is an asset in making many procurement decisions. Types of Contracts $80th = $12,000 + $40th Subtracting $40th from both sides, you get: $40th = $12,000 Contract type is an important consideration. Different types of contracts can be used in different situations. Three broad categories of contracts are fixed price or lump sum, cost reimbursable, and time and material. A single contract can actually include all three of these categories, if it makes sense for that particular procurement. For example, you could have a contract with a seller that includes purchasing specific hardware for a fixed price or lump sum, some services that are provided on a cost lampshades Dados, Ana-eaten services Tanat are approver on a tale Ana material basis. Project managers and their teams must understand and decide which approaches to use to meet their particular project needs. It is also important to understand when and how you can take advantage of unit pricing in contracts. Fixed- price or lump-sum contracts involve a fixed total price for a well-defined product or service. The buyer incurs little risk in this situation since the price is predetermined. The sellers often pad their estimate somewhat to reduce their risk, realizing their rice must still be competitive. For example, a company could award a fixed-price contract to purchase 100 laser printers with a certain print resolution and print speed to be delivered to one location within two months.

East asia and the socialist experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

East asia and the socialist experience - Essay Example The 1921 Korean Communist Manifesto thus stated in relevant part that: In the experience of Korean communism, the Japanese annexation of Korea and its imposition of colonial rule is just an example of capitalist exploitation and imperialism. Japan's claim of colonizing Korea under the pretext of helping Korea to modernize was thus not unnatural or unrealistic. This is because, Japan represents the capitalist bourgeoisie and Korea represents the proletariat who are being exploited. The natural tendency is the bourgeoisie to exploit and it is only when the proletariat fight for their emancipation that they can be free from the exploitative powers of the bourgeoisie. These Marxist notions of class struggle reverberate strongly in the Korean experience of communism. The fight against Japanese colonization was thus a fight of the proletariat against the capitalist bourgeoisie - the colonizing Japanese - and was seen in the Korean experience of communism as being in keeping with the teachings of Marxism. The struggle against the colonizing Japanese however reflected only one aspect of the struggle against the bourgeoisie. In a wider sense, the Korean Communist Party saw its fight against the capitalist bourgeoisie in a universal light. The 1921 manifesto for instance states that: "Our national emanc... ipation movement is merely a step to the ultimate purpose of social revolution, and we are striving for the complete elimination of all of the classes of our present society. This is our belief and, at the same time, the common objective of all the toiling masses of the world. Thus, our enemy is all the exploiting classes of the world, as well as the Japanese militarists and financiers, and all the masses who share the common fate under the oppressions of the ruling class must unite their efforts." (cited in Suh 1970, 27)2 The motif of the class struggle between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie is consequently not a localised struggle in Korea alone. It is part of a fraternity of international movements that aim to bring an end to all forms of bourgeoisie exploitation. Korean communism is thus seen as an essential microcosm playing its necessary part in the wider macrocosm of effecting social change through a communist revolution. Hence the enemy is not only the Japanese colonizers but "all the exploiting classes of the world". (cited in Suh 1970, 27)3 The 1921 Manifesto of the Korean Communist Party thus extended a hand of fraternity and goodwill to other communist parties and movements in Russia, China, and even in Japan (i.e. the Japanese Communist Party) It is note worthy that the fight against capitalism was not laid to rest even after the overthrow of Japanese rule in Korea after World War II. Sung (1955)4 saw American involvement in South Korea as a perpetuation of the capitalist agenda. Consequently, just as the communist movement in Korea fought against the Japanese, they were duty bound to fight against the American 'imperialists' as well. Also, the localised or domestic class struggle in the Korean experience of communism had totalitarian implications on

Business Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Project Management - Essay Example Project management process involves four major functions. These are planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Planning is the first stage of project management process and evaluation of a project is done in wide areas of the project i.e. cost required, future cash flow, possible risks etc. Project life cycle estimation is also important activity in this stage. Second stage of project management process is organizing. In this stage, the required resources are organized like capital, labour, material, equipment and facilities etc. Capital refers to both the initial investment and fund required for management working capital. Leading is the third stage project management process and it is very much crucial for completion of a project with quality work and ensuring deadline. The main objective of leading is to ensure right job to right people and motivating them to get best output. Controlling is the final stage of project management process where the project is continuously monitor ed. Progress of the project is evaluated and compared with the proposed project progress plan. Developing effective strategies and change of ineffective strategies of project development is main part of controlling a project (Smith, L. 2003, p.4). Therefore, overall objective of project management should be performing these four project management functions very efficiently and effectively in an organized framework. This is the job of a project manager. To complete or continue a successful project, the project manager needs to be planned and executed for each small stage of the overall project. This will help to develop and implement contingence in critical situation during project development process. Discussion Answer 1 Resources Resource is one of the most important primary objectives of a project. It includes mainly people, material and equipment i.e. the major non financial resources. Availability of skilled employees is one of the main focused areas of businesses because skill , knowledge and experience of employees have substantial impact on quality output and progress of a project. Again, sufficient supply of people leads to low wage rate and total wage of a project and vice-versa. Therefore, this important resource needs to evaluate at the planning stage of project management process so that project deadline, cost and quality work can be ensured. Next important resource is equipment which is very necessary to do the project task or activities. Technology plays a great role in this resource as use of hi-technology equipment reduces completion time or faster production and more output. Again, the employees also need to very much familiar with the advanced technology equipments as they need to operate the equipments efficiently to ensure better output. Material is another important resource of project as it is needed to produce the products. Therefore, sufficient and continuous supply of raw material is necessary for project. Material is necessary for bot h construction and production unit projects. Time Time is one important factor of project management. Project deadline and progress of a project can be ensured by efficient time management. It includes working hour of the employees and daily, weekly or monthly work progress. Again, time management can be aided by using tools, techniques and skills to accomplishing specific work activity or goal within due date. Therefore, to develop specific goal or work target, minimum time need to be considered to reduce total

Yahoo and Amazon Essay Example for Free

Yahoo and Amazon Essay 1. Describe, in brief, the histories of both of Amazon.com and Yahoo.com, and determine the core business of each. Yahoo and Amazon have been seeking to have a competitive advantage for years. Since they were incorporated, the companies have experienced a mix of challenges and success as they strive to gain market share. To start with, Yahoo was established in 1995. Yahoo is one of the global technology companies that compete for the growing number online users in the recent world. The company delivers digital content and experiences on various platforms including mobile devices. Furthermore, the company provides properties and online services. Marketing services is a major business for the company. Generally, the company earns revenues from text-based links to advertisers, search advertising, display advertising, and other essential sources. The company has five core segments that include Search and Market Places, Communications and Communities, Developers and Platform Offerings, Advertise and Publisher offerings and Services, and Media. Lastly, the company has operations in approximately 60 countries. Nonetheless, Amazon was incorporated in 1995. It offers online retailing services to customers across the world. Amazon focuses on convenience, selection, and price. In addition to the direct retailing services, the company allows other small and medium sized businesses to sell their products through the company’s websites. The customers and business are able to complete their orders and transactions in Amazon’s websites. Other individuals such as authors, musicians, and filmmakers are also able to sell their products using the same platform. Millions of products are offered through the website. The website may be accessed through PCs, and even mobile applications. The core segments of the company include the International segment, and the North American segment. Generally, the company has witnessed substantial growth since its inception. The success of the company may be attributed to the strategic actions  implemented by Jeffrey Bezos, the founder of the company (Amit, 2012). The next section will illustrate the strategic difference between the companies. 2. Determine the key strategic differences that have impacted the relative success of both Amazon.com and Yahoo.com. Provide two (2) specific examples of such strategic differences to support the response. The strategic actions undertaken by the company would determine the success of the company (Coulson-Thomas, 2013). Yahoo and Amazon have implemented different strategic actions since their establishment. On the fore, Yahoo core business does not involve direct retailing. Yahoo provides a platform for business people who engage in e-commerce. From the sales earned in the Yahoo stores, the company is able to earn commission. Particularly, the company’s core business involves advertising and marketing services. This contributes to a huge chunk of the company’s revenues. As far as human resources are concerned, Yahoo employees do not have a high level of autonomy as compared to the situation in Amazon. Yahoo coordinates with entertainment content providers and media in improving their website. They do not invest in the employees in enhancing creativity and innovation as compared to Amazon. On the other hand, Amazon has a different approach as far as online retailing is concerned. Initially, the company was involves in selling books in its websites. No other business used the website to sell or market its services. Amazon engaged directly with its customers. In the initial years of the company, this was an effective strategy. The company was a monopoly in the online book selling. This created a barrier for potential entrant. However, with the improvement in technology the company had to diversify its operations in order to sustain its position in the market. Other competitors were reaping big from diversified products; hence, the need for the company to similarly expand its operations. Therefore, the company had to modify its operations to fits to the growing market for online retailing. 3. Compare and contrast the approach to strategic planning that each company has pursued in order to achieve a competitive advantage. Focus specifically on both intended and emergent strategies. Strategic planning is an important step for any company that seeks to gain a competitive advantage in the market. There is need for the company’s management to set out plans and strategic actions in achieving the organization’s goals and objectives (Hill, 2013). An effective designed  strategic planning process would steer the company to success. Basically, there are intended and emergent strategies. The intended strategies are those that the companies hope to implement. The effective implementation of the intended strategies would lead to the realized strategies. On the other hand, emergent strategies are those that are not planned for by the management. They are unexpected and are always as a result of competitors actions. In the case of Amazon and Yahoo, both intended and emergent strategies were implemented in achieving competitive advantage. One of the emergent strategies that Amazon implemented is the diversification strategy. The Company allows other businesses to sell their products in the company’s website. This provides a variety of products and services for customers. The diversification strategy was in response to the increasing competition from businesses that equally have diversified portfolio. Nonetheless, the level of product diversification in Yahoo is not commensurate to that of Amazon. The company offers space for other businesses to sell their products through its website. However, the company itself does not engage in direct selling of the products. The company has various features in its website ranging from games, emailing, to financial news updates. The main aim of the company in providing a variety of features in its website is increasing traffic. More traffic in the company’s website implies that there will be more clients demanding the advertising services of the company. In increasing its popularity in the market, the company invested in aggressive advertising. Next, both companies have invested in expansion strategy. With increase in globalization, there is potential market for online retailing. Amazon has an international segment, which focuses on the global market. Lastly, Yahoo and Amazon have different approaches on employees’ motivation. Am azon employs a participative approach whereas Yahoo is mainly autocratic. Amazon employees are free to make decisions that concern new ideas and the success of the company. This has been critical for the success of the company. 4. Analyze the manner in which each company’s distinctive competencies help to shape the strategies that each company pursues. Provide a rationale to support the response. Distinctive and core competencies are essential in transforming the strategies of the companies (Mellat-Parast, 2013). Effective strategic  implementation depends on the distinctive competencies. On the fore, Amazon has various distinctive competencies that have assisted it in shaping its strategies. The technology experts of the company have been critical in its strategic implementation. Innovation being essential for the company, the technology experts has improving the service provision quality. The websites have been effectively designed to meet the customer’s needs and requirements. Another distinctive competency involves the association program. Allowing other enterprises to conduct business in its website has been significant for the company’s diversification strategy. Therefore, the association program has shaped the company’s diversification strategy. On the other hand, Yahoo has various distinctive competencies that have played a role in its strategic planning. As pointed out earlier, the company’s website host a range of service. This is essential in improving the number of visitors in its website. With respect to this, the companys marketing strategy has been shaped by the distinct website. Furthermore, the company’s expansion and diversification strategies are supported by the numerous services offered in its website. The company has also been effective in forming strategic partnerships, for instance, the collaboration with Microsoft. The partnerships have gone a long way in reducing the company’s operating expenses despite the numerous challenges and competition. 5. Recommend one (1) functional level strategy for each company which prescribes the essential ways in which each may achieve superior efficiency, quality, innovation, and customer responsiveness. Provide a rationale to support the response. The functional level strategies are effective in achieving the business and corporate level strategies. They are implemented at the operational level, and directly involve the employees. I would recommend an effective marketing strategy for Amazon. The company is in a competitive environment with eBay being its largest competitor. Amazon should ensure that its products are offered at a low price as part of its marketing strategy. For instance, the company should offer discounts or free shipping with an aim of attracting more customers. They should be speedy delivery of the products in order to earn superior efficiency. The response to customer complaints and inquiries should also be fast. This would improve the company’s competitiveness. Nonetheless, I would recommend both a human resource and marketing strategy  for Yahoo. The company’s competitiveness has been low in the recent years. The company should invest in recruitment of skilled personnel that would contribute in enhancing its research and development. Furthermore, the management should allow for independent decision making. This would reinforce the innovation strategy since independent decision making promotes creativity. Next, the company should modify its marketing strategy to meet the needs of the current dynamic environment. More emphasis should be on social media marketing. This approach is cheaper and has a wider coverage (Amit, 2012). The company may be close to prospective customers through Facebook, twitter, and YouTube. References Amit, R. . (2012). Creating value through business model innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 53(3), 41-49. Coulson-Thomas, C. (2013). Implementing strategies and policies. , . Strategic Direction, 29(3), 33-35. doi:doi:10.1108/02580541311304643 Hill, C. . (2013). Strategic management: An integrated approach (10th ed.). Independence, KY: Cengage. Mellat-Parast, M. (2013). Supply chain quality management. International Journal of Quality Reliability Management, 30(5), 511-529. doi:10.1108/02656711311315495

Prisoners of War Essay -- War Hostage Violence Government Essays

Prisoners of War The United States angers terrorists and other foreigners on a daily basis, but we find it hard to understand why. Examples abound and most often relate to ignorant decisions on behalf of the government concerning the welfare of these foreigners. The situation on the island of Cuba at the Naval Station of Guantà ¡namo Bay has grown out of hand. Here, the U.S. holds the prisoners that it has captured as part of its war on terrorism in a camp. They hold ver 600 men there without contact with their home countries or families and without the legal consultation of a lawyer. President Bush classifies these prisoners as â€Å"enemy combatants† and the U.S. says that for this reason they can withhold their rights unlike a normal prisoner in the case of wars (Jost). During an election year such as the current one, cases such as these must be taken into consideration before electing or maintaining a leader that might choose to find ways to bend the rules on human rights. The detainees of Guantà ¡namo Bay have their rights as prisoners of war denied and the U.S. does not define them as such. Much evidence to suggest otherwise includes the type of enemies included in the detainees and the international laws suggested in the Geneva Conventions. The U.S. has done nothing illegal based upon the international laws that it has adopted. However, one rends to question whether the laws adopted or not adopted by the U.S. rightfully define the prisoners based upon what has been laid out by the founding fathers of America. We can hardly assume that they do. Before anyone can make judgments upon the rights of the detainees, it must first be decided upon what these men can and cannot be considered. The men held at Guantà ¡namo... ... to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.† Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2002. On-line. Internet. 22 Feb. 2004. <http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/91.htm>. "Geneva Convention."Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. 22 Feb. 2004 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article?eu=37105>. "Guerrilla." Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. 22 Feb. 2004 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article?eu=39163>. Jost, Kenneth. "Civil Liberties Debates." The CQ Researcher Online 13.37 (2003). 22 February 2004 <http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher>. Martin, Peter W. â€Å"U.S. Constitution-Bill of Rights.† 14 March. 1993: On-line. Internet. 22 Feb. 2004. < http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html>. â€Å"Rumsfeld defends Guantanamo.† Tapei Times. 15 Feb. 2004, pg. 7.

Digital Crime and Terrorism Essay

Abstract The use of the Internet for criminal purpose is one of the most critical challenges facing the FBI and law enforcement in general. Understanding and using the Internet to combat Internet Fraud is essential for law enforcement. The fraud being committed over the Internet is the same Type of white collar fraud the FBI has traditionally investigated but poses additional concerns And Challenges, because of the new environment in which it is located. The Internet is a perfect vehicle to locate victims and provide the environment where the victims Don’t see or speak to the fraudulent. The Internet environment often creates a false sense of Security among users leading them to check out opportunities found on the Internet less Thoroughly than they might otherwise. Computer crime poses a daunting task for law Enforcement agencies because they are highly Technical crimes. Law enforcement agencies must Have individuals trained in computer science or computer forensics in order to properly to Properly investigate computer crimes. Computer crime is defined as any person that violates any Of the provisions of the following; unauthorized access to a computer system, Theft of computer Services, Interruption of computer Services, Misuses of computer system information, and Destruction of computer equipment. The general heading of computer crime can potentially Cover an array of offense by examining several existing definitions of computer crime, as well as Elements suggested as essential, some Have defined computer crime as any offense that uses or Somehow involves a computer. Role of Internet and crime The growth of the Internet has improved our economy, medicine and technology. Unfortunately, it has brought new opportunities for criminal activity, as well. Often, people Think cyber-crime simply refers to hacking, viruses and other intrusion tactics. Cyber- crime, However, threatens more than our businesses, economy or national infrastructure. Cyber- crime Affects us individuals, as well. Reprehensible crimes, such as child pornography and cyber Stalking, terrorize our children and our families. At the first hearing in this series, on May 24th, the Texas Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice testified that, quote, †One of the biggest problems is that computer criminals are targeting The most vulnerable of our society, children.† He pointed out that, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, child pornography was virtually extinct prior to the advent of the Internet. Now it is a serious plague on our society that must be stopped. Adults also experience the dark side of the Internet revolution. Using computer technology, Criminal types steal life savings and even identities of unsuspecting individuals. These pose Serious threats to the lives and the livelihoods of many individuals. But in addressing these areas Of crime, law-enforcement officers face several challenges. Identifying a sophisticated criminal Can be difficult. Once they are identified, bringing a criminal to justice may be problematic for Jurisdictional reasons. The criminal may be in a different State or even another country, and then law enforcement Officials must deal with extradition issues. Also, retrieving the information stored on a computer And using it for prosecution may be difficult if it requires highly technical skills not normally Taught to investigators or prosecutors. As long as there is technology, cybercrime will exist, yet Cybercrime must be curtailed as much as possible so that technology can legitimately continue To enrich our lives and strengthen our economy. Congress understands that law-enforcement officials must have the appropriate training and Equipment to fight fire with fire, or computer technology with computer technology; but Law-enforcement must remain cognizant of the need to protect the law-abiding publics Privacy while protecting the public. The public must understand that law-enforcement does need To use technology to deal with this new emerging threat to our children, our economy and our National security. Under current law, law-enforcement authorities must apply for the identical order in multiple Jurisdictions, causing burdens and delays that benefit no one but criminals. Congress should look At the possibility of a single order that would cover these kinds of requests comprehensively. Over the last decade, use of computers and the Internet has grown exponentially. Indeed, for Many individuals it is an integral part of their daily lives. With little more than a click of a Mouse, people can communicate, transfer information, engage in commerce, and expand their Educational opportunities. Unfortunately, criminals exploit these same technologies to commit Crimes and harm the safety, security, and privacy of us all. Indeed, as more people go online, More criminals are realizing that online crime can be lucrative, especially given the amount of Valuable commercial and personal information now being stored electronically. So-called †cybercrime† can be divided into two categories. On the one hand, we are seeing the Migration of †traditional† crimes from the physical to the online world. These crimes include Threats, child pornography, fraud, gambling, extortion, and theft of intellectual property. Simply Put, criminals are migrating online because they can reach more victims quickly, can collaborate With other criminals, can disguise their identities, and can use the global nature of the Internet to Remain anonymous. On the other hand, the Internet has spawned an entirely new set of criminal Activity that targets computer networks them. Included in this category are such crimes as Hacking, releasing viruses, and shutting down computers by flooding them with unwanted Information (so-called †denial of service† attacks). Our vulnerability to—and the damages caused By—this type of crime are astonishingly high. For example, in May of last year, the †I Love You† Virus began to infect computers on the Internet. Within a short period of time, it had disrupted the communications of hundreds of Thousands of computers, causing losses estimated in the billions of dollars. Virus demonstrated a new capability: when it infected a computer, it accessed the users Computer passwords and sent them electronically to a computer in a foreign country. The Implications of this virus—and the many viruses that have followed it—are staggering. In March of this year, the FBI’s National Infrastructure Protection Center issued a warning that An organized group of hackers from Russia and Eastern Europe had committed a series of Intrusions into more than forty banks and e-commerce companies in the United States. The Hackers stole over 1,000,000 credit card numbers from the companies’ data bases. They then Embarked on extortion of many of the companies, threatening to disclose confidential Information or damage the victims’ computer systems. Evidence suggests that the hackers then Sold many of the credit card numbers to organized crime groups. This crime—the investigation into which the Treasury Department participated and which has to Date resulted in two arrests—has grave implications. Not only did it cause financial losses for The Companies, but it harmed the privacy and security of the ordinary citizens whose credit Cards numbers and personal data were stolen. Individuals victimized by these sorts of Rightfully Fear the ramifications of criminals’ gaining access to their private financial and Personal data. This type of crime strikes at the confidence of consumers, threatening the vital Growth of e-commerce. Network crimes not only affect the security of individuals and businesses, they can also threaten Our nation’s critical infrastructures. Our power and water supply systems, telecommunications Networks, financial sector, and critical government services, such as emergency and national Defense services, all rely on computer networks. Cyber terrorist, the same devastating result could be achieved by hacking into the control Network and commanding the computer to open the floodgates. This is not a purely hypothetical Scenario. Several years ago, a juvenile hacker gained unauthorized access to the computers Controlling the operations of the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona. Although there are as yet no definitive statistics on the scope of the problem, there is no doubt That the number of crimes involving computers and the Internet is rising dramatically. For Example, the CERT Coordination Center, which was created to warn about computer attacks and Viruses, received over 21,000 network crime incident reports last year. This is more than double The number of reports it received the year before. Similarly, a survey conducted by the FBI and The Computer Security Institute recently revealed substantial increases in computer crime. Over 85 percent of the companies and government agencies surveyed reported computer security Breaches within the preceding twelve months, up from 70 percent last year. Moreover, Researchers at the University of California at San Diego recently reported a methodology that Enabled them to count the numbers of denial of service attacks. Their research revealed that 4,000 attacks occur every week. Responding to these threats is a daunting challenge. From my perspective, as I begin my assessment of our cybercrime efforts and the direction they Should take in the future, at least three themes or elements seem to emerge as particularly? Important to success in confronting cybercrime: developing specialized expertise, building Teamwork and partnerships, and assuring we have legal authorities which are both effective and Appropriate in the unique and ever-evolving setting of computers and the Internet. DEVELOPING SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE Combating computer crime requires a team of professionals, including investigators, forensic Experts, and prosecutors, all of whom have technical expertise. In addition to traditional Investigative skills, cybercrime investigators must be well versed in the intricacies of technology To insure that evidence is not lost or overlooked. Forensic experts must know how to handle Electronic evidence to protect its integrity for later use at trial, as well as how to recover and Analyze digital evidence from computers with hard drives that store gigabytes of data. And Prosecutors must understand the jargon and complexities of high-technology crimes and be able To translate technical evidence into a form understandable to a judge and jury. United States law enforcement agencies have devoted significant resources to developing cadres Of investigators and forensic experts who have the specialized skills needed for cybercrime Investigations. The FBI and Secret Service, which have particularly important investigative Responsibilities with respect to Internet and computer-related crimes, have certainly been in the A particularly important aspect of developing, and then sharing expertise in the field is the Nationwide network of federal prosecutors called Computer and Telecommunications Coordinators (or †CTCs†)—at least one from each district—who serve as the district’s Prosecutorial expert on computer crime cases. The CTC initiative was started by CCIPS in 1995, And has been strongly supported by our U.S. Attorneys. CCIPS trains and supports these Coordinators specially, so that they, in turn, can serve as a resource for their offices and the law Enforcement authorities and concerned industry in their regions of the country. In the Criminal Division, specialized expertise in combating cybercrime is not confined to CCIPS. Other sections have developed this expertise as traditional forms of criminality have Moved onto the Internet. For example, the Department has seen dramatic growth in various types of fraudulent online Schemes, and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section has played a critical role in the Justice Department’s response, including overseeing a Department-wide Internet Fraud Initiative begun In 1999. Its work to date has included (1) advising and supporting federal prosecutors throughout The country, including maintenance of an Internet fraud brief bank; (2) developing specialized Training on Internet fraud for courses at the Department’s National Advocacy Center; (3) Publishing extensive materials on the Department’s website, www.internetfraud.usdoj.gov, in Order to promote public understanding of Internet fraud schemes and how to deal with them; and (4) Supporting improvements in federal agencies’ investigative and analytical resources, Including the Internet Fraud Complaint Center, a joint project of the FBI and the National Collar Crime Center. The Department has also been involved in the related problem of identity Theft, in part by providing national coordination of governmental efforts through the Identity Theft Subcommittee of the Attorney General’s Council on White Collar Crime. Of course, one of the most disturbing facets of cybercrime is the exploitation and abuse of Children, whether through distribution of child pornography over the Internet or through the Horrific conduct of sexual predators that operate online. The FBI, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, And the Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section have developed special expertise In Investigating and prosecuting these crimes and currently devote significant resources to the Online aspects of child pornography and luring cases. Moreover, in this area and others, the Department’s Office of Legal Education, in conjunction with various components of the Criminal Division regularly sponsors classes regarding computer crime and electronic evidence. BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS As I noted at the beginning of my statement, the second element which seems particularly Important to our efforts against cybercrime is partnership building. Of course, from years as a Prosecutor, I know that teamwork is essential to any successful crime-fighting effort. But it Strikes me that in the area of cybercrime the need for effective partnerships, is not only Especially important but also requires partnerships well outside the traditional law enforcement Community. The complexity of cybercrime and the breadth, or potential breadth of its Impact, are part of the reason. However, another factor is the diversity of interests at play in the Cyber-world, and hence in our efforts to combat cybercrime. These include, among others, law Enforcement Interests, national security interests, privacy interests, and Commercial interests. Partnership, or at least dialogue, we will allow those interests to conflict and collide in ways Destructive of our efforts to combat cybercrime. VIRUSES AND MALICOUS CODE Viruses and malicious code are simply programs and like any other program, are designed for a Specific function. A virus or malicious code program is written for a variety of noncriminal Purposes including advertisements, jokes, and political messages, however, less humorous and More malicious intentions include destroying data, information, information acquisition, and Identity theft, surreptitious control of a remote machine, or the shutdown of a legitimate business Or website. The virus is executed by some type of payload trigger, which causes the virus or Malicious code to deliver its contents or execute its commands. The trigger can be something The user does, such as opening an email attachment or downloading a file, it can be triggered By some event such as date or condition on a computer, or it can self- execute based on code Written into the virus program. PHISHING The term phishing means the fraudulent attempt to get a person’s private information (i.e. Username, password, account number, etc.).   Phishers send an email pretending to be from a legitimate company and ‘bait’ you to provide your Private information. Typically the email will address you as a customer and will direct you to Click on a link to provide critical information to avoid a looming problem which they have Discovered. This link will be to a false website – not the website of the legitimate company. Basically, they are ‘fishing’ for people’s information to use illegally. Phishing is a very Sophisticated scam and many individuals and companies have been fooled, resulting in the theft ‘Of their sensitive information as well as millions of dollars every year. The email is usually designed to look like it is sent from a real company. The ‘bait’ for personal Information is often contained in the email’s subject line. The subject usually contains a sense of Urgency. For example, it will read in one’s inbox â€Å"Your account needs to be verified† or â€Å"Your Account is about to be suspended.† CONCLUSION It is important to note that computer security is always dependent on the weakest link in the Chain. Security on the Internet and exposure to a potential attack is contingent upon the security Or lack thereof, of other parts of the network. It is also important to note that there is an Increasing number of dedicated infrastructure attacks. The interdependency of systems connected To the Internet used to carry out day-to-day business is ever growing and increasingly being Relied upon by variety of businesses, governments, and a numerous of other operations. There are four categories DDoS, worms, attacks on the Internet Domain Name System (DNS) And attacks against or using routers. Any attacks describe from my research could lead to Denial Of Service, compromise of sensitive or personal information, misinformation, and an extreme Economic impact, largely from lost revenue and the time and resources necessary to recover. Reference Second Edition Digital Crime and Digital Terrorist (Robert W. Taylor, Eric J. Fritsch, John Liederbach, and Thomas J. Holt) www.pearsonhighered.com Grossman, M. (Feb. 1999) â€Å"Cyber terrorism† http://www.mgrossmanlaw.com/articles/1999.cyberterrorism.htm Computer Security Policy and Research Institute. http.//www.cpi.seas.gwu.edu/aboutus.html www.research.ibm.com/antivirus www.internetfraud.usdoj.gov

Sonnys Blues and the Weary Blues Free Essay Example, 1250 words

One can see that the problem of identity crisis faced by immigrant communities in a host nation is similar to this problem. For instance, the problem of identity crisis faced by the narrator, Sonny, and the musician are same. But they made use of different ways to cope up with the situation. B. The effect of music in human life Music deeply influences human life because the same is with entertainment value. In the first half of the Sonny’s Blues, the narrator does not consider that music is important in human life. Instead, he considers that social acceptability and personal relationship is important. But he tries his level best to make his brother acceptable within his private circle. Later, he came to realize that he cannot influence his brother. Suzy Bernstein Goldman stated that â€Å"Sonnys music stirs special memories in the brothers lives, but these blues belong to all of us, for they symbolize the darkness which surrounds all those who fail to listen to and remain unheard by their fellow men† (233). We will write a custom essay sample on Sonny's Blues and the Weary Blues or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Within this context, the narrator hates Sonny’s interest in music. He considers that music and drug addiction are interconnected. In the end, the narrator came to realize that music is the most effective factor behind the success in his brother’s life. On the other side, the musician in the poem Weary Blues is aware of the soothing effect of music in human life. In the Selected Poems of Langston Hughes by Langston Hughes, the narrator pointed out that â€Å"Droning a drowsy syncopated tune, rocking back and forth to a mellow croon, I heard a Negro play† (33). One can see that jazz (Sonny’s Blues) and blues music (Weary Blues) deeply influence the characters in these works. Both the characters (Sonny and the musician) are aware of the soothing effect of music in human life. On the other side, Sonny’s elder brother is not able to realize the importance of music in human life. Still, both the works unearth the effect of music in human life. C. The usage of Music as an innovative mode of communication When an individual considers music as an innovative mode of communication, the ultimate aim of music (say, unification of human minds) beyond its entertainment value is fulfilled. For instance, Sonny is aware of the fact that he can make use of music as an innovative mode of communication. He considers that, music is the core of his personal interest. Besides, his career interest is not limited to the context of his school education. The meeting point of his personal interest and career interest is same, the scenario of jazz music.