Organic Farming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7500 words

Organic Farming - Essay Example The majority of the studies have concluded that organic farming and the food produced this way, providing it is properly monitored, is beneficial to the environment and to the consumer. However, the industry is not experiencing the growth that was forecast in the early days of development. If organic farming is so important, why is it still considered a fad and not become a way of life Is organic farming as important and efficient as its proponents suggest Little research has been directed at this dilemma. The scope of this report is to investigate the nature, structure, business, and legal aspect of Organic Farming, and to ascertain the validity of the claims made as to its importance as a preferable and sustainable source in the food and product chain. The objective is to ascertain why organic farming has not become an important issue to the consumer, and action can be taken to address this situation. To provide an answer to the hypothesis our research focuses on the following areas: - To give a balanced view to our study, we also look at the international aspect of the industry, in terms of its size and market share. Our intention is that this study will complement and add value to the existing research on the subject matter. In an effort to provide a logical ... To provide an answer to the hypothesis our research focuses on the following areas: - The ethics of Organic Farming, to ascertain whether the claims made are valid or not. The industry itself, in an effort to gauge the its marketing effectiveness, how it manages the risk element, and the domestic and international size of the industry. The applicable laws, standards, and labelling requirement imposed upon the industry. How the Organic industry can achieve a more effective program for educating the consumer in relation to the benefits and value of its products. To give a balanced view to our study, we also look at the international aspect of the industry, in terms of its size and market share. Our intention is that this study will complement and add value to the existing research on the subject matter. Overview In an effort to provide a logical progression for the paper, a brief history of the industry and its methods are outlined in chapter two. In the third chapter we concentrate upon the business aspect of the industry and its impact, both national and globally, before we move the to discuss the ethics of organic production in chapter four. The current laws, standards, and labelling upon the producers are reviewed in chapter five before we analyze the methods by which the industry currently educates the industry the consumer, and this leads us to the conclusion of our study in chapter, where appropriate recommendations will be outlined. Chapter 2 Background To provide for an better understanding of the substantial amount of research and debate that surrounds Organic Farming and the content of these papers, it is necessary to understand the origins of the industry, and the methods used and systems of

Example of a Reflective Writing Essay Example for Free

Example of a Reflective Writing Essay An example of good reflective writing – integration of theory with personal experience; justification and explanation of person experience using relevant theory as support; provides insight into the author’s observations of the theory; appropriate use of language; analysis of theory within the context of own experience. Organisational change and development theory suggests that models are a good way of providing change practitioners with strategies to plan, implement and move through various stages of change (Waddell, Cummings Worley, 2007). While it is arguable that models are useful in providing guidelines for change practitioners, I feel that they are not necessarily an accurate representation of how change is actually experienced in organisations. I have worked in an organisation that has been through repeated change throughout the duration of my employment. My experience of change has been somewhat different from how it is reflected in change models. For example, as an employee I have not been involved in the initial planning stages of change, nor have I been involved in diagnosis at an individual level, therefore I am unclear as to what happens during these stages. From an individual perspective, it feels as though change is planned and implemented in my organisation at the senior levels of management without adequate input or information to and from staff. Further, from my perspective, change is not experienced in a smooth manner as suggested by change models. I have experienced change that has not appeared to move beyond the unfreezing stages (Lewin, 1947), and I have also experienced change that has regressed at different stages rather than move forward. If I were to work with employees as a change practitioner, I would highlight the realities of change so that employees are aware that there are multiple experiences in addition to ‘the prominent way of viewing this process’ (McShane Travaglione, 2007, p.502) within academic references. An example of poor reflective writing – colloquial/non-academic writing style; opinion-based without justification or explanation; lack of engagement with theory; links to references not made; generalisation of opinion. In my job I have been though a lot of change and there is no way that what the change models say is right. My experiences of change have all been bad and there is no way that anybody could have had a good experience of change. I don’t think change models are useful as they pretend that change is an easy process which is different from my opinion that no change is easy. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that managers don’t manage change properly as I have never seen the stages of any models within my organisation. This might be because my manager is a poor communicator which is what all the staff think. In my opinion, change models shouldn’t be taught to students as they can only teach students to think about change in the wrong way which doesn’t help employees who have to go through it.

Tone Techniques: Dances With Wolves :: Dances With Wolves

Tone Techniques: Dances With Wolves      In his novel, †Dances With Wolves†,   Michael Blake uses several techniques throughout the story to enhance the tone displayed to the reader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Blake uses tones that vary from sad, (war times) to happy (victorious.)   Tone can be defined as the emotion or feeling set upon a reader during a novel/short story. Most times, the tone will change. It can change from sad to dramatic, happy to angry, angry to calm, or basically anything else. Tone is important because it sets the theme, or main feeling for the story.   In â€Å"Dances With Wolves†, the tone changes dramatically as the story progresses. In the beginning, Blake gives us a hostile environment. The setting is that Dunbar, a drunk army officer, is assigned to a remote trading post near a tribe of Sioux Indians, his sworn enemies. Communications between them are limited, and the Indian tribe describes white men as â€Å"dumb and useless.†Ã‚   The feeling is mutual, too. White men then considered Indians as barbaric, uncivilized, and also useless. These two groups of people acted extremely hostile towards each other.   But that is sure to change. Dunbar only goes out because he wants to see the frontier, or land that hasn’t been settled. This just so happens to be Indian land. As the story progresses,   Dunbar befriends the tribe, turns against his Northern army, and goes to live with the Sioux. The tone here is a more warm and friendly environment, because Dunbar realizes that his new friends are more civil than men of his own kind.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Things really start to turn around when Dunbar’s troops find out that he has joined the Sioux. They trap him and beat him, then make him serve as a slave. Dunbar never ends up going back to the white men’s army.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The way that Blake presents the overall use of tone in this story only makes it more intriguing and exciting. I think the mood that is most prevalent in this novel is a mood of courage, shown mostly by the Indians, but mainly through John Dunbar.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Towards the middle of the story, we find a tone of romance through John and â€Å"Stands With a Fist.

Supply Chain Process for Apple & Zara

Customers place orders and purchase phones through authorized dealers/ retailers. 2. Dealers/retailers such as Singlet, epicenter etc runs low in stock and require replenishment from distributors. 3. Various distribution centers runs low in inventories, this triggers manufacturer (Foxing) for more ‘phones to be manufactured and shipped. 4. Manufacturer Foxing starts production schedule planning, procurement of raw materials are done prior to manufacturing actively. Figure 1. 2 To competitive strategy consists of all functions that exist in Apple's phone value Hahn.Below shows an example of how an ‘phone's value chain will look like. Components Design Build SO / Lull APS Branding Marketing Sales Billing Network Figure 1. 3 Primarily Outsourced Primarily Apple Looking at the above figure 1. 3, strategy of apple is to outsource functions such as network, billing, components and build. In this case, contracting manufacturer that handles the build function will be Foxing in Ch ina. Apple by engaging contract manufacturers such as Foxing, utilizes their economies of scale with high volume and low manufacturing cost as a result of low labor cost in China.The supply chain strategy here involves long-term partnership with contract manufacturer Foxing, apple enjoys various advantages which includes cost savings, improving operations and gaining of outside technologies and expertise. All these advantages helps Apple to remain competitive in the mobile phone manufacturing market in providing consumers with a product of high level technology at an affordable price. Figure 1. 4 The above figure 1. 4 illustrates the component level outsourcing of Apple phone, the plan here is using the contract manufacturer to procure raw components that areApple specific suppliers. These components from different countries, however the supply chain strategy from apple is to purchase most or all of the components from Taiwan. This approach can help to cut short the logistics requir ed to deliver the components to Foxing in China, Taiwan also enjoys and relatively short distance from China which in terms helps in saving logistics transportation costs. However it has one serious disadvantage, if Taiwan were to get into an economical decline or become politically unstable then it could actually destroy Apple phone's industry.The supply chain network design often puts one firm in control of it's long term supply chain strategy. Apple utilizes technology, marketing and efficient distribution and distributes different weight age to each category to achieve strategic fit. The phone's vast distribution channels by various network providers as well as resellers such as Challenger and Catchy, also though official retail stores and online stores all around the world. In this case Apple is capable of meeting high demand and reaches out to as many customers as possible using that vast network of distribution.Apple phone's supply chain strategy involves making use of an eff ective network design: 1 . Competing in the global smart phone market by providing the latest technology, innovation and product design. 2. Meeting global demand by setting up various regional distribution channels such as retail storage with consumer pickup and manufacturer storage with direct shipping. 3. Tapping onto expertise of contract manufacturers (Foxing Sheen), taking advantage of lower labor cost. 4. Making use of efficient raw component sourcing from various regions, cutting short logistics cost by consolidating sourcing to one region (Taiwan).The strategic fit of Ezra is related to the consistent demand from consumers with how Ezra respond to the ever changing preferences and needs. The supply chain strategy of Ezra is to construct consistency across consumers and company supply chain, it starts with customer's priorities to getting onto the competitive edge. Ezra utilizes a vertically integrated supply chain that response efficiently to consumers, strategic fit is ther efore achieved by sustaining this form of high responsiveness to customer needs. Deposit Margin Distribution Purchase suppliesOperations competitive strategy of Ezra will consists of all functions in the below Sara's value chain (figure 1. 5). Figure 1. 5 As you notice, Ezra utilizes in-house production, which Ezra in this case is able to harness the flexibility in variety, quantity and frequency of new styles of products. Thus Ezra is able to constantly provide customers with the most updated products, this cuts short the response time on meeting various customer demands. By doing this, Ezra is able to achieve competitive strategy by offering cutting edge fashion with time during different seasons and trends of markets.

Bathroom Fittings and Fixtures Industry in India Essay

Bathroom Fittings and Fixtures Industry Industry overview: The bathroom fittings industry which was not given much importance till a few years back in India has suddenly picked up. This has mainly happened due to the rising income of the people, rapid urbanization, and growth in the class conscious middle class. The Bathroom fittings industry in India is among the most booming industries in the country. Every year companies are coming up with new products or refurbishing old products with new designs and features. Due to the rapid growth of the country’s population the need for houses is continuously increasing. Both the Government and private sector real estate companies are investing huge amounts of money in this sector. The rise in the demand for good housing facilities is giving rise to the demand of quality bathroom accessories market in India. Countries like India and China are ranked among the major bathroom fittings market currently mostly because of their sizable populations. Industry Structure: India is home to numerous top bathroom fittings brands. The Industry is both organized and unorganized. The Bathroom fitting industry in India consists of a number of small, medium and large manufacturers. The small companies are mostly the local players that cater to a small section of the society. Whereas the popular bathroom fitting companies are mostly the top foreign and domestic players that have managed to establish a reputation in the Bathroom accessories market. Key Drivers of the Industry Industry works on the principle of demand and supply. Every industry is drive by the market forces and the market forces are affected by various forces. Key driver’s infact generated demand for the industry. Bathroom fitting industry is no exception to this rule. This industry is too like other industries are driven by various market forces which are as follows: Rising Income of the people and hence their purchasing power parity (PPP) The rapid urbanization due to which the demand for bathroom fittings is growing More and more investment in the construction sector both by domestic players and the foreign MNCs. Growing awareness among the people regarding bathroom architecture and fittings. Advertisement especially in developing nations is key factor in creating product awareness and hence the demand. Market Overview: Indian Sanitary Ware Industry bullish India, today, is all set to become the biggest manufacturing hub for international sanitary wares brand. The bathroom fittings market in the country is growing at a rate of 13. 3% per annum; India’s current sanitary ware market size is almost 500 crores and is growing at an annual growth rate of 3-4 percent in the industry. Going forward, India will have a huge market for sanitary ware products and of course the export market will also grow simultaneously. Further, government’s support to improve sanitation and hygiene and increasing urbanization has given a big push to the Indian sanitary ware industry. The companies are applying accurate standards and using top machinery and stringent quality measures with latest designs to manufacture finest quality machines India, today, is all set to become the biggest manufacturing hub for international sanitary wares brand. For the starters, Indian sanitary wares are comparatively cheaper as opposed to our western counterparts, courtesy availability of ample raw materials and low cost labor in comparison to other countries. This in fact has given Indian sanitary ware products an edge over the competitors from the nearby countries and naturally the exports of sanitary wares from India is scaling up. Certainly, Industry’s growth is directly related to the development in real estate. Today, housing’s demands are on rise. And interestingly people have started taking interest in top sanitary wares. The increased demand for sanitary ware is not just emanating from the new projects but there is a huge market for replacement products also. The remarkable growth by the industry has inspired industry majors to enhance their manufacturing system and even apply latest technology to give customers value for their money. Moreover, Indian companies are taking a step further to enlighten people about the advantages of premium sanitary wares. With 15 to 17 percent growth per year, Indian manufacturers have strengthened their dealer network all across the country. Demand for Made-in-India Sanitary Wares in the International Markets Market Share: Key Players: 1. Hindware: In 1960 Mr. Rajendra K. Somany established Hindustan Twyfords, in collaboration with Twyfords Ltd. of UK. With a bent towards innovation coupled with the intention to introduce vitreous china ceramics in India, he identified the sanitaryware market as the segment of interest.

Grammar and Style Tips in Microsoft Word

Grammar and Style Tips in Microsoft Word Grammar and Style Tips in Microsoft Word As well as checking your spelling, Microsoft Word has a grammar and style tool. And while this is no replacement for proofreading, it can offer helpful advice while you’re writing. But to make proper use of the grammar and style tips in Word, you need to know how they work first. Grammar and Style Tips in Microsoft Word If you’ve used Microsoft Word before, you may have seen squiggly lines under words or phrases. This is how Word highlights errors. For example: Here, for instance, we have two â€Å"errors† highlighted. The red line indicates a spelling mistake. The blue line, however, indicates a stylistic issue. If we then right click and select Grammar from the menu, Word suggests using the active voice instead. This is helpful because, while the passive voice is not technically incorrect, the active voice would be more concise. But you should take care when following Microsoft Word’s stylistic advice, as it does get things wrong. And if you are going to use this feature, we therefore suggest customizing the advice it provides. Customizing Proofing Options To customize the grammar and style checker in Word for Windows: Go to File Options Proofing Scroll down to the When correcting grammar and spelling in Word section Click Settings to open the list of grammar and style options Accessing the proofing options. Here, you will find options related to the following: Grammar and punctuation (e.g., subject–verb agreement, comma splices) Clarity and concision (e.g., use of passive voice, wordiness) Formal language (e.g., use of slang or contractions) Other stylistic issues (e.g., gendered or clichà ©d language) Grammar and style settings. Once you have selected (or deselected) the options required, click OK to apply them. You can then click Recheck Document to look for grammar and style issues that may have been missed while you were writing. In Word for Mac, meanwhile, the proofing options are accessed via Preferences Spelling Grammar. Make sure to check these if you want more control over the grammar and style tips.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Timberland Essays

Corporate Social Responsibility and Timberland Essays Corporate Social Responsibility and Timberland Paper Corporate Social Responsibility and Timberland Paper In what ways does Timberland fulfill its responsibility to consumers, employees, investors and society as a whole? A : 1 : Timberland’s mission has been to equip people to make their difference in the world. Let them be consumers , employees , investors or society as a whole. Timberland ‘s business is a model for both commerce and justice having a long history in this regard. While continuing to build its reputation as a brand that stands for durability, ruggedness the American outdoor since 1950 , Timberland has been constructing a reputation of integrity and commitment to the community as well. Timberland is committed to ensuring that the workers who produce products are provided with fair, safe and non-discriminatory workplaces. Their products are produced in factories across the globe- in 38 countries by roughly 300 factories and approximately 247,000 workers. Timberland ‘s Code of Conduct is to officially formalize the pursuit of human dignity in the manufacturing process. Timberland has always pursued to serve their various stakeholders- from a demanding shareholder or discerning customer to an employee who wants to make a living with purpose. Timberland has maintained their contract very well with various vendors, suppliers, customers, and local communities to create products. Timeberland ‘s our Code of Conduct demands much more than the minimum industry-standard requirements of environmental and human rights laws. Child labor has been adhered at 16 (which is higher than the law in some countries where their products are manufactured today), and also overtime being paid at a premium despite local laws and have maintained zero tolerance for working hours over 60 hours per week. Timberland listens to stakeholder voices and constantly works to improve assessment and human rights programs. They have taken on the challenge of helping factories build new and different management systems and improves staff knowledge about corporate social responsibility issues. Timberland has also incorporated items that often fall â€Å"beyond factory walls† into the assessment program. Basic things like nutritious food, medical services, housing, child care, schooling, and transportation are all taken into account during the evaluation. It is ensured that that there are ways for workers to learn and grow, such as opportunities for recreation, skills development, and savings or credit- all essential for ensuring the dignity of workers in the global supply chain. As a publicly traded enterprise and a corporate citizen, Timberland is committed to engaging investors / stakeholders in dialogue and action to reduce our global footprint. Investor profiles is broad and diverse, and includes groups or individuals who can affect- or are affected by- the company. Timberland’s approach to stakeholder engagement focuses on two central tenets- transparency and accountability . Transparency enables to engage in candid dialogue with stakeholders, challenge assumptions and encourage innovation. It also helps build trust with these partners and critics to deepen understanding of impact on the world and advance approach to corporate social responsibility. Accountability similarly drives efforts to seek public and stakeholder input as to pursue commitment to commerce and justice. By communicating performance, stakeholders can measure progress and hold them accountable for planned improvements. At Timberland, social responsibility starts at the top. The Company has a strong set of values that form the resolve for all that is being done for he community – humanity, humility, integrity excellence. Timberland has pioneered several progressive environmental and social programs. All these programs together under one umbrella of Corporate Social Responsibility formalized Timberland’s Four CSR Pillars: Energy, Product, Workplace Service. Embedded in each pillar is a commitment or bold goal that drives Timberour strategy in that arena. Q : 2 : In addition to a climate o f social responsibility, do you think Timberland is likely to foster a climate of ethical awareness throughout its organization? Explain your answer. A:2 : Timerland’s Code of Conduct : To create measurable sustainable impact in the lives of workers , the communities where we live and work and the environment we cherish through strategic relationships and investments that unleash civic potential , build capabilities and convene stake holders in common purpose. Well, I feel, its indeed a great combination Timberland has to do business keeping in mind social welfare . Business and community being joined together to create more powerful enterprise and community fostering a climate of ethical awareness throughout its organization. The issues being embraced as an enterprise and as a community are complex and far reaching. And to extend influence as a responsible business, Timberland looks for opportunities to leverage their expertise by educating and empowering a wider society (that is, other brands, government organizations and private citizens). In this way, they promote and steward the environmental and social health of our planet and its people and share our passion for Earthkeeping activities. Approach to building strong communities and a healthy planet through civic action is grounded in three basic criteria: Timberland’s corporate culture is built around values of Humanity, Humility, Integrity and Excellence. In the CSR arena, as in every aspect of the company, all programs must reflect these values. Company rely on a collaborative process built on a common vision and aligned values- within our organization and with partners in the industry- to create enduring change. This includes working together to raise awareness, model innovation and compel action. The results of efforts across all four CSR pillars of Energy, Product, Workplace and Service must be measurable and transformative . Q : 3 : In what ways does Timberland’s path of service programs help develop the quality of its work force? A: 3 : Business community shall be joined together you have a more powerful enterprise community. said Ken Freitas – Timberland Vice President Social Enterprise. Timberland implements this commitment through a serious of programmes in which its employees including top managers corporate dollars participate. Thru its path of service program, employees receives up to 40 hours of paid time per year to participate in community service projects at local schools, day care centers, the society for prevention of cruelty to animals ( SPCA ), food banks, and the like they might clean up a nearby beach or help build a park. Years ago Timberland established its service sabbatical program, in which 3-6 months sabbaticals are awarded to as many as 4 employees who wish to use their professional skills to assist non profitable organizations full time, then there is a global serv–A–Palooza, the annual worldwide co-wide celebration during which 2000 employees, vendors and community partners in a day of service. Engaging as a company in community service over the years has produced a variety of benefits, including the following: Augmented employee development. Our service projects are employee organized and led. Employees who step up to lead service projects receive training in project management, team motivation, and presentation skills, which they can transfer from their service roles into a professional capacity . Increased employee attraction and retention. Responses to our global employee survey consistently indicate that the Path of Serviceâ„ ¢ program benefit is a factor in our employees’ decision to work for and stay at Timberland. Strengthened business partnerships. Timberland encourage employees to share the service ethos with business partners, vendors, and customers, to increase the impact which can be made in communities. Sharing in service experiences provides insight into the company culture and values- an asset in building ongoing business relationships. Reinforced commitment to community building and goodwill. Lasting impacts prevails in the communities in which contributions linger long after the specific service event.