Helping Young People Learn

Taking part in youth club activities has provided me a rich experience, which includes finding a way to help and teach the young. Whenever we visit a community, we make it a point to dress up casually so we can relate easily with people, and give them the idea that we have a lot in common. This allows them to feel comfortable to share their ideas and feelings with us, making us understand their situation more vividly. Most of the communities we visit are composed of poor families, so they normally expect us to give them food, clothing, and toys for the kids.Aside from the material things, part of our program also provides tutorial sessions for children to help in their studies, and give them an idea of how they can contribute to the family's financial resources. Particularly, I was assigned to tutor a group of young people about the age of thirteen. The teenagers were not classmates in school, but they belonged to only one level, thus their lessons were the same. Our regular session consisted of discussing topics in Science and Social Studies, and answering Math problems. 1.As we progressed with our tutorial sessions, we became close, and eventually, they shared with me their experiences in school and at home. I learned that one of them was suffering in class because of the family’s financial constraints. There were times when her parents did not have enough money to finance her projects in school, or provide her everyday meal allowance. Given this situation, I helped the child find other ways to do her projects. For example, when they were asked to make a calendar in their Art subject, I taught her how to use recyclable materials such as colored paper cups, old magazines, and empty snack foils.In the next project that she did, I noted that she used this kind of materials and accomplished the project on her own using other recycled resources. Based on this, I felt that the girl learned something from me regarding cost cutting when accomplishing school pr ojects. Teaching someone to be resourceful is important to enhance creativity as well. According to Vaune Ainsworth-Land (1982), there are four categories of a process and its product. The first category operates out of necessity. In my experience, we see that we were able to come up with a good output out of the need to make a project at a low cost.In Maslow’s, this category is a primary one, as it centralizes on the idea of materialistic need. The second category involves the analytic process. Referring back to our experience, the child found out that she could do a lot of things even without spending, and she would receive a better grade by recycling materials. In behaviorist theories, this explains the operant response in which the individual is rewarded for a good behavior. The third category involves synthesizing and innovation.As mentioned above, the child learned to accomplish projects using the same kind of material, thus she was able to apply her knowledge in other things. This behavior represents Koestler's bisociation, because the child was able to apply the learned concept to different aspects. The fourth category is â€Å"the ultimate form of relatedness,† (Ainsworth-Land, 1982) in which the person is seen to attain a â€Å"transformed consciousness. † Applying this to the situation, the child that we referred to would later attain this, when she continues to apply her knowledge into practical terms.Another student that I tutored had difficulty in solving word problems in Math. Based on his behavior, I recognized that his problem aroused from not having enough patience to comprehend items in problem solving. Apparently, reading problems confused and bored him the moment they appeared. To address this problem, I challenged him to imagine what was being described in one of their math problems, and illustrate what he understood in it. It showed that the boy understood the problem completely after illustrating it, and he was able to solve the problem after that.The theory of Situated Learning (1988) by J. Lave explains that a child can learn easily when the context and activity are based on his own experience. To help the child in problem solving, what I did was to situate him in the activity, and made him a part of the situation by asking him to illustrate based on his background of the problem. Particularly, I let him draw the situation and did not dictate what was conveyed. The activity made the child express himself better, which also led to motivate him to come up with the correct answer.Other theorists such as Brown, Collins & Duguid (1989) emphasized active perception over concepts and representation. Thus, by illustrating, the child gained an active perception of what was presented in the problem. The other boy that I handled had problems with his classmates who bullied him. Due to what his classmates did to him, he felt reluctant to go to school, and pretended to be sick at times. During our sessio n, I asked him first what the other boys told him, and why they called him with nasty words. The boy said that the other boys called him names and wrote on his notebook.I felt the boy’s pain as he told me about the hostilities of his classmates, so right away, I informed his mother of the situation, and advised her to consult with the classroom adviser or the guidance counselor in the school. I believe that this should be handled by authorities in the school as other students were involved. Through reporting to the teacher and school counselor, the boys were reprimanded of their teasing, and my friend felt better. Later on, he felt more comfortable going to school because the other boys already stopped teasing him.A lot of teenagers undergo this stage when their peers bullied them for nothing. In these cases, the victim tries to keep the situation to himself because he is afraid to create a scenario in class, or is threatened by his peers. According to Maslow’s theory of Motivation and Personality (1954), a person is driven by both internal and external factors. In addition, one’s motivation is dominated by his specific needs. In the boy’s situation, we can identify his need for belongingness as the factor that made him dissatisfied with school.Because this need was not realized, the boy felt reluctant to go to school, thus the motivation to go to school was associated with his need for friends and companionship. When the need was addressed, the barrier to learning also collapsed. 2. Aside from tutoring students in their academic subjects, I also told them stories to teach values like friendship, honesty, and service to others. In one session, I told them a fable, in which a rabbit sacrificed for another animal. Having told the story, I challenged them to do something similar to what the main character did, and tell their stories next time.Amazingly, one of the children took my challenge seriously, and did what I told them. He narra ted to us how he helped a man he saw on the street by sharing him some food, and giving him medicine to heal the man’s wound. In telling this story, the boy expressed how it felt good to do such kindness, and how the man thanked him with a smile. He professed that he will do this again once he sees another person needing his help. Just like the character in the story, he said that the kindness he showed the man will go a long way because by helping, he brought hope to the man, and made him feel loved.The boy added that if other people would do the same, no man will by lying cold on the streets. The words the boy uttered reflected his own realization based on experience. Those words also reminded me of the Good Samaritan, who helped an ill man lying in the cold. The experience of the boy reminded all of us, especially me, of our responsibility to others, especially the needy. With such good Samaritans like the boy, we can see hope in the next generation. 3. The success of a te am depends on the performance of each member’s role.Applying Meredith Belbin’s (1981) Nine Roles in Team Management, I served as the â€Å"specialist† in the tutorial session for teenagers, teaching them how to use the Internet as a useful tool for research. Due to the limited number of computers, and my own hope of making them learn how to teach others, I initially taught only four students to access the Internet. In turn, these students taught their peers and served as the â€Å"company workers† who provided the work of teaching others in their community.In one week’s time, we were able to teach a total of forty-five children how to use the Internet in their assignment and advanced readings. As discussed by Tuckman (1965) in his Stages of Group Development, we exhausted the means to reach our common goal of attaining learning for the group. In addition, we also assessed individual performance by asking them to make a simple research on their topi c of interest. During the Performing stage, the â€Å"company workers† or those tasked to teach their peers experienced some problems in that their peers wanted to spend time visiting gaming sites.This somewhat forfeited the purpose of teaching them the use of the Internet for research purposes, but with close monitoring, the behavior was corrected right away. After the Performing stage, the core group was asked to evaluate what they accomplished in terms of their own roles during the training. Notably, the students felt very proud of being able to teach their peers, and looking at the outputs, they cherished memories of taking part in other’s learning. References Berguist, Carlisle. (n. d. ) A comparative view of creativity theories: Psychoanalytic, behavioristic, and humanistic.Retrieved January 2, 2008, from http://vantagequest. org/trees/comparative. htm Famous models: Stages of group development. (2001). Retrieved January 2, 2008, from http://www. chimaeraconsulti ng. com/tuckman. htm Gawel, Joseph E. (1997). Herzberg's theory of motivation and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Washington, DC: ERIC Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation, [ED421486]. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from http://chiron. valdosta. edu/whuitt/files/herzberg. html Manktelow, James. (2003). Belbin’s team roles. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from http://www. mindtools. com/pages/article/newLDR_83. htm

QSR Industry In India Essay

Executive Summary 4 ï‚ ¨ India is witnessing rapid urbanization of small towns and growth of mid-sized cities. This along with rising population in key metros and higher disposable incomes is fuelling growth in every industry. 35% of India‟s population will be in urban centres by 2020 totaling to 53 crores compared to the current urban population of 32 crores. ï‚ ¨ Consumer markets are being driven by the country‟s youth population. Be it college goers or the young working class, exposure to the international environment and culture, has created a demand for world-class products at affordable prices. ï‚ ¨ This has led to the rise of Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) in India, the fastest growing segment in the eating out market. By 2012, there will be at least 2000 more QSR outlets across India. ï‚ ¨ With QSR giants like Starbucks and Dunkin‟ Donuts yet to foray in the market, there is a lot to look forward to. 5 Industry Overview 7% of the total restaurant market comprises of QSRs 6 ï‚ ¨ The Indian fast food market is growing at an annual rate of 25-30 per cent, Foreign fast food chains are Estimated Size of the Indian Restaurant Industry Organized Eating Out Market, Rs. 8600 Cr. Growth : 20% (20%) aggressively increasing their presence in the country. ï‚ ¨ The market is dominated by global brands like McDonalds, KFC and Dominos specially in the organized fast food segment. Growing trend of Unorganized Market, Rs.3 4400 Cr. (80%) Growth : 5-6% consumption of new cuisines and increasing brand awareness has led to the increase of global players. The new age Indian consumers have also played a QSR Market Rs.3000 Crores 7% significant role. ï‚ ¨ Organized modern formats like malls, multiplexes and Organized Restaurant Market (Except QSRs) Rs.5600 Crores 13% food courts have also become a favoured destination. Larger companies are teaming up with small franchisors to set-up their brand. ï‚ ¨ QSRs started with big metros, but are now building their presence in Tier 2 cities like Unorganized Restaurant Market Rs.34400 Crores 80% Pune, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Bangalore. Sources: www.nrai.org,, www.rncos.com Total Restaurant Industry Rs. 43000 Crore Market Segmentation 7 Restaurant Industry †¢Road-side location †¢No technical standards †¢No accounting standardization Unorganized Full-Service Restaurants QSRs Fine Dining Take-away Casual Dining Organized Home Delivery Eat-in Bars and Lounges †¢Accounting Transparency †¢Organized Supply Chain †¢Quality Control †¢Sourcing Norms †¢Multiple Outlets †¢Dominated by Global Players Kiosks/Carts Highest growth segment. Maximum Footfall due to increasing traffic at airports, railway stations, malls, multiplexes and supermarkets Growth Drivers 8 25% of population eats out at least twice a month and spends Rs.150-Rs.500 / meal Urbanization Youth Spending Expanding Middle Class 2% 11% Better logistics A younger and richer India is fuelling rapid growth in the eating-out segment 29% Affuent Upper Middle Class 300 million 29.5 % or 88.5 million Key consumption areas 2% 5% Total population of Gen Next (13-24 Age Group) Total population of Gen Next living in urban areas Household Distribution By Annual Income 1% Nuclear families Mall and Multiplex boom Clothing & accessories, Food, Entertainment and durables Spending Power Rs.3000-40000 per month †¢ †¢ Lower Middle Class 86% 64% Bottom of the pyramid Urban youth behaviour †¢ †¢ 2010 2020 Sources: Marketing Whitebook 2011-12, Economic Times, MGI Socially active Hangs out at coffee shops and malls Prefers to be seen at the right places Expresses one‟s identity through choice of brands consumed Maintaining Consistency in product and quality of service are the biggest challenges faced by QSRs 9 Challenges Demand Side Supply Side Health and hygiene concerns among buyers Maintaining Quality of Service Acquiring Key Talent Building a costeffective supply chain QSR customers are very easy to sell to, but also very easy to lose Localization of Menu Managing high attrition rate amongst junior level employees Establishing a supply chain in a new region Beating local competition Standardization of product across outlets Low entry barriers Monitoring multiple outlets Reducing service time – efficient assembly line Talent Supply Chain Monitoring quality of products procured from third parties SWOT Analysis 10 STRENGTH OPPOTUNITIES †¢ Burgeoning middle class †¢ Risk-sharing in a franchise based model †¢ Abundance of cheap labour in India †¢ Increase in malls and Positive multiplexes †¢ Increasing youth spending †¢ Urbanization WEAKNESS THREATS †¢ Sourcing Talent †¢ Food Inflation †¢ Monitoring franchisees †¢ Product imitation †¢ Maintaining quality standards across outlets †¢ Understanding Indian tastes Internal Factors †¢ Price Competition †¢ Dependency on third parties †¢ Local Competition External Factors Negative Urban Youth Make Up The Prime Target Audience 11 Particulars Low Cost in terms of initial investment as well as operating cost Target Audience Profile Category Young Urban Professionals on the move Low Risk Key Features of a QSR Teenagers High Impulse products Students Best Retail Locations Multiplex audience Competitive Prices Shoppers Target Audience Behaviour Age group 16-35 Hygiene & Taste conscious Location Cities and towns Social Class Middle and Upper Middle Class Lifecycle Dependent and Pre-Family* Brand conscious Westernized culture Seeking international standards Value seekers Experimental *based on Sagacity Lifestyle Model 12 Working of a QSR Brand Image, Ambience and Overall Experience are important intangible factors for QSR customers 13 ï‚ ¨ A QSR is meant to create instant interest in the mind of the consumer. It has to have ï‚ ¤ Intangible parameters that make a QSR successful Mass appeal Brand ï‚ ¤ ï‚ ¤ A unique experience ï‚ ¤ ï‚ ¨ A characteristic ambience A strong brand identity One cannot find Ronald at any other burger joint except McDonalds. ï‚ ¨ The service, which is the only human touch, plays a big role in creating a unique experience. A lot of time and resources are spent on training the staff ,as they represent the brand. KFC employees are expected to live up to their 3 F‟s to create to perfect environment – Fun, Friendly and Familiar. ï‚ ¨ In an effort to maintain the same experience across outlets, the service, interiors and menu items are standardized . Experience Ambience QSR Formats and Locations 14 QSR FORMATS LOCATIONS Malls Restaurants Tourist hubs Food Court Counters Corporate hubs Kiosks/Food Carts Take-away/Delivery Drive-ins Shopping Centers Multiplexes Airports/ Railway Stations Setting up a Franchise Outlet 15 Initial Qualification †¢ Application Review †¢ Background and Credit Check †¢ Assess training needs †¢ Signing of Franchise Disclosure Document †¢ Verify Assets Site Registration †¢ Franchisor sends site registration to brand for approval †¢ Franchisee remits funds Operation Plan Site Exploration and Securing Control †¢ Prospective franchisee makes an operation plan which is reviewed thoroughly Franchise Onboarding †¢ Franchisee arranges for Financing †¢ Hires a Team †¢ Franchisor provides Support and Training †¢ Builds Restaurant †¢ Supports in Grand Opening †¢ Determine Site Selection Strategy †¢ Identify focus areas †¢ Franchisor completes Action Plan for Trade Area †¢ Franchisee negotiates for the site and sends letter of intent Franchisor’s Role after the launch †¢ On-site Training is provided for every procedure. †¢ The Franchisor has an approved vendor list from where the ingredients can be sourced. †¢ They have an annual promotional and advertising plan that they implement with the support of the franchisees. †¢ Quality checks are conducted via Consumer Feedback, Food SafetyAudits and Standard Audits Managing Human Resources 16 ï‚ ¨ Acquisition When QSRs come to India, they find it difficult to get experienced talent for Human Resource Tree at at a typical QSR outlet strategic positions. There are very few people with relevant experience, Restaurant Manager especially in a global firm. Poaching employees from competitors would mean huge incentives and salary raises. Thus a lot of companies hire people in the same function but from a different industry. ï‚ ¨ First Asst. Manager Support & training The franchisors offer support and training to the franchisees for effectively Trainee Manager running the small format franchise business. Training is conducted at 3 stages: ïÆ'Ëœ Induction ïÆ'Ëœ On-going ïÆ'Ëœ Refresher ï‚ ¨ Retention Trainee Floor Manager Out of 10000 emloyees, KFC has to replace 7000 employees each year. This means cost for fresh recruitments, training and relieving employees is very high. Dominos has increased salaries of store front employees by 20% and implemented an incentive plan in order to reduce attrition rate. Training Squad Crew Member Second Asst. Manager Marketing Strategies 17 ï  ± QSRs have to play on their strengths to create and communicate a brand promise. ï  ± The brand promise can be anything from fast service to low prices to healthy food. ï  ± Successful QSR chains have been able to take their brand promise very effectively to the masses. 1 †¢ A large burger chain targeted the value seeker community and created highest value for money as its brand promise. 2 †¢ India‟s largest Pizza chain targeted the customers who wanted fast service at their doorsteps. It created the brand promise of assured fast delivery and communicated it with its â€Å"30 mins or its free† campaigns 3 †¢ A large coffee shop chain wanted to position itself as not just a coffee shop but a place to hangout with friends and family. They marketed themselves with the tag line â€Å" A lot can happen over coffee† which clearly communicated that they wanted their customers to have a complete experience much beyond just coffee. Pricing Strategies 18 ï  ± Its important for QSRs to price their products carefully because of the stiff competition that they face. ï  ± The strategy is to price their products in such a way that the maximum number of customers can be retained and at the same time higher margins are abstracted from the customers who do not mind paying more for extra value. This is achieved by: DIFFERENTIAL PRICING Pricing the base product aggressively and keeping higher margins on the side orders This strategy is for the price conscious consumer who sees great value in the base product and can choose to not take the side orders At the same time it allows the QSR to charge the customer for whom price does not matter, much more through the high margin side orders Most QSRs keep fighter brands in their menu to remain competitive. VALUE PRICING Value combos allow the QSR to sell more no of high margin products with the low margin base products. Eg: QSRs try to sell more French fries and cold drinks through their value meals. Pizza chains sell more garlic bread and cold drinks through their value meals Growth Strategies of QSRs 19 A large burger chain in India has the highest foot fall amongst all countries, but the lowest average bill. Growth in India is achieved based on volumes, hence every QSR is looking to expand its presence . A coffee trading company who supplies coffee beans, started a retail business of coffee shops all over India. Forward Integration A casual restaurant chain diversified into food court stalls., thus entering the QSR market. Horizontal Diversification A coffee shop chain diversified its coffee shops business by establishing express outlets and coffee machines. Concentric Diversification A soft drink giant branched out to form a new company with Pizza and Fried Chicken chains in its umbrella. It sold off its stake, but is in a lifetime contract with the firm Lateral Diversification Menu Planning 20 Menu Selection is critical, especially when localizing in markets like India and China where traditions, religion and local taste are cannot be ignored. Enlisted below are some of the important factors: Size of outlets Target in terms of demographics Local taste preference †¢ QSRs do not keep the full menu at all outlets. †¢ Instead they include only a few high volume products at outlets with space limitations like food courts and express kiosks †¢ Depending upon the age group they are targeting, QSRs have to adjust their menus. †¢ QSRs targeting older age groups have to include healthier and more traditional food items in their menus where as QSRs targeting the youth can have more experimental and/or fast food items. †¢ Product adaptation according to customer preferences is really important for QSRs to succeed. †¢ International chains in India have to adjust their menus to include more vegetarian and spicy items. A Fried Chicken brand has the most extensive range of items in India amongst all its worldwide outlets †¢ Most QSR giants avoid using beef and pork due to cultural taboos. The 4 pronged approach to ensure standardization across all outlets 21 Standardized aspects of every outlet There are 4 important factors that enable standardization for a restaurant with multiple outlets: Training Equipment †¢Every new employee has to go through a specific pre-designed training program for that level of employment. Recipes Procurement of Products †¢The same machines are used by all outlets for making the  dishes. Standard recipes have to be followed by the chefs who receive thorough training for the same. †¢QSRs have centralized approved vendors from where they  procure and process raw materials. They also procure finished products like spices and condiments from the same vendor and distribute it. Case Study – Dominos India 22 60 9000+ 400 364 9000 Jubilant Foodworks Ltd. operates the 364 Dominos international markets outlets in India, pursuant to a Master Franchise Agreement International, which operate Domino’s pizza delivery stores and the associated trademarks in the operation of stores in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The pizza million pizzas sold each year employees in India Domino’s provides them with the exclusive right to develop and outlets worldwide outlets in India with stores in Sri Lanka are operated by their subfranchisee, DP Lanka. It is the largest Pizza chain in India, way ahead of its immediate competitor Pizza Hut with 50% of market share in the Indian Pizza market and 70% market share in the home delivery market. Source: dominos.com, dominos.co.in, reuters.com Case Study – Dominos India 23 Particulars Market share in the Indian Pizza market – 50% Market share in the home delivery segment –70% Sales Per Day Per Outlet Rs.56600 80% of their sales come from the Pizza segment, and EBIDTA margin (9M FY2011) 18% the remaining is attributed to beverages and side items. Same Store Sales Growth (9M 38.7% 80% of sales come from home delivery and 20% from 65% FY2011) Market Share OTC sales. Sales Break-up: Cuisine-wise 4% Sales Break-up: Segment-wise 20% 16% Pizzas Home Delivery Beverages Over-the-Counter Others 80% 80% Source: indiainfoline.com, dominos.co.in Critical Success Factors of Dominos India 24 Critical Success Factors 1. Delivery-oriented model reduces cost 2. Dominos has a vertically integrated supply chain. (as seen below) 3. Franchising model Supply Chain of Dominos Regional warehouse Raw Material Supplier (Approved vendor) Regional Centralized Facilities for processing raw material like dough – 4 centres across India Refrigerated trucks carry the finished items to retail outlets Retail Outlets Items are prepared based on orders and sent to end consumer 25 Key Players‟ Profiles Key Player Profiles 26 Name Cuisine Parent Company/ Master Franchisee Origin Location Formats Outlets Expansion Plans in India McDonalds Burgers Hard Castle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd USA PAN-India Dine-In, Food Courts, Drive-in 210 To add 20-25 outlets by 2013 KFC Fried Chicken Devyani International Ltd. USA PAN-India Dine-In, Food Courts 110 500 outlets by 2015 Chicking Fried Chicken Mirah Group UAE South Zone Dine-In 14 – Bangs Fried Chicken Fried Chicken Bangs India India South Zone Dine-In, Food Courts 7 100 outlets by FY2011 Pizza Hut Pizzas Devyani International Ltd. USA PAN-India Dine-In 171 300+ outlets by 2015 Dominos Pizzas Jubilant Foodworks USA PAN-India Dine-In, Delivery , Food Courts 364 To add 70 outlets in 2011 Papa Johns Pizzas Om Pizzas& Eats USA West Zone Dine-In 25 – Pizza Corner Pizzas Global Franchise Architects India South Zone Dine-In, Delivery 50 – US Pizza Pizzas United Restaurants Ltd. India PAN-India Dine-In, Delivery 77 – Smokin‟ Joes Pizzas Smokin‟ Joes Pizza Pvt. Ltd. India PAN-India Dine-In, Delivery 52 – Garcia‟s Pizzas Garcias Famous Pizza India West Zone Dine-in, Delivery 20 To add 20 outlets Slice of Italy Pizzas Green House & Hestoft Foods Pvt. Ltd. India North Zone Dine-In, Delivery 16 – Key Player Profiles 27 Name Cuisine Parent Company/ Master Franchisee Origin Location Formats Outlets in India Expansion Plans in India Barista Coffee Shop Barista Coffee Company Ltd. India PAN-India Espresso bars, High end cafes 230 – Costa Coffee Coffee Shop Devyani International Ltd. England PAN-India Cafes 75 300 outlets by 2014 CCD Coffee Shop Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Co. India PAN-India Cafes, Mall & Airport kiosks, Office outlets 1090 To add 200+_ outlets by 2014 Gloria Jean‟s Coffee Shop Citymax Hospitality Australia Metros Cafes 15 40 outlets by 2012 Kent‟s Fast Food Burgers Kents Fast Food India North Zone Dine-In 15 – Subway Submarine Sandwiches Subway Systems India Pvt. Ltd. USA PAN-India Dine-In, Food Courts 200 250 outlets by end of 2011 Tacobell Tex-Mex Yum Restaurants USA Bangalore Dine-In 3 100 outlets by 2015 Falafel Veg. Hummus House Lebanese Mirah Group India Mumbai Dine-In, Kiosks 8 100 outlets by 2011 Wimpy Burgers Famous Brands Ltd. UK Delhi Dine-In 3 – Yo! China Asian Moods Hospitality Pvt. Ltd Delhi, India PAN-India Dine-In, Kiosks 80+ – Key Player Profiles 28 Name Cuisine Parent Company/ Master Franchisee Origin Location Formats Outlets Expansion Plans in India Dosa Plaza South Indian Prem Sagar Dosa Plaza Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai, India PAN-India Dine-In, Food Court 35 – Jumboking Vadapav Jumboking Foods pvt.ltd. Mumbai, India West Zone Express, Restaurant & Takeaway 43 250 outlets by 2011-12 Kaati Zone Mughlai East West Ethnic Foods Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore , India South Zone Dine-In 15 – Mast Kalandar Indian Spring Leaf Retail Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore , India South Zone Dine-In 21 – Nirula‟s MultiCuisine Nirula‟s Corner House Pvt. Ltd. Delhi, India North Zone Dine-In, Kiosks 80+ To add 50 outlets by 2012 Kailash Parbat MultiCuisine Kailash Parbat Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai, India PAN-India Food Court Stalls 15+ – Comesum MultiCuisine RK Group Delhi, India PAN-India Dine-In, Delivery 11 – Haldiram‟s MultiCuisine Haldiram Snacks Pvt. Ltd. Delhi, India North Zone Dine-In 18 – Bikano Chat Cafe MultiCuisine Bikanervala Foods Pvt. Ltd. Delhi, India North Zone Restaurant, Institutional Tuck Shops, Food Cart 68 – Sagar Ratna MultiCuisine Sagar Ratna Hotels Pvt. Ltd. Delhi, India North Zone Dine-In, Food Court 53 – Tibbs Frankie Frankie J.Tibbs & Co. Mumbai, India West Zone Kiosks 20+ Key Players‟ Segmentation 29 Segmentation based on Size of the Chain Local Chain Jumboking National Chain International Chain Segmentation based on Cuisine Pizzas Burgers & Sandwiches Coffee Shops Indian Specialty Cuisine Dominos McDonalds CCD Comesum Jumboking Pizza Hut KFC Barista Sagar Ratna Yo!China Pizza Corner Wimpy Costa Coffee Kailash Parbat Tabobell Papa Johns Subway Gloria Jeans Mast Kalandar Falafel Pizza Hut Smokin Joes Kents Fast Food Kaati Zone Tibbs Frankie Barista Pizza Corner Garcia‟s Haldirams Haldiram‟s Cafà © Coffee Day Papa Johns Slice of Italy Nirulas Sagar Ratna Tibbs Frankie Tacobell US Pizza Bikano Chat Cafe Comesum McDonalds Nirulas Dosa Plaza KFC Mast Kalandar Kailash Parbat Subway Kaati Zone Yo! China Wimpy Garcia‟s Smokin‟ Joes Dominos Falafel‟s US Pizza Bang‟s Fried Chicken Bikano Chat Cafà © Costa Coffee Kents Fast Food Gloria Jeans Geographical Segmentation 30 PAN-India : International Cuisine McDonalds* NORTH ZONE Nirula‟s Haldiram‟s Bikano Chat Cafà © Slice of Italy Kent‟s Fast Food Sagar Ratna Wimpy PAN-India : Coffee Shops Gloria Jean* KFC* Costa Coffee* Subway* Barista Pizza Hut* Cafà © Coffee Day Dominos* US Pizza Smokin‟ Joes WEST ZONE Papa Johns* Garcia‟s Falafel Jumbo King PAN-India : Indian and Specialty Cuisine Dosa Plaza Comesum 65% of Dominos‟ revenues are contributed by the top 7 cities out of 70 cities it is present in. 50% of their outlets are in Maharashtra, New Delhi and Karnataka SOUTH ZONE Pizza Corner* Chicking* Tacobell* Kaati Zone Bangs Fried Chicken Mast Kalandar *International Brands Kailash Parbat Yo! China Tibbs Frankie Key Players‟ Positioning 31 PAN-India Ethnic Cuisine Ethnic Cuisine PAN-India Pizza Hut Dominos Comesum* Dosa Plaza* Kailash Parbat* Yo! China* Cafà © Coffee Day* Barista* Gloria Jeans Costa Coffee Sagar Ratna* Haldiram‟s* Mast Kalandar* Jumbo king* Kaati Zone* Bikano Chat Cafà ©* Nirula‟s* Zonal Tacobell Falafel Pizza Corner Papa Johns US Pizza* Smokin Joes* Slice of Italy* Garcias* McDonalds KFC Wimpy Subway International Cuisine Chicking Bang‟s Fried Chicken* Kent‟s Fast Food* Tibb‟s Frankie*International Cuisine Zonal *Indian originated chains Dominos and Cafà © Coffee Day are the largest QSRs in India in terms of reach and number of outlets 32 No. Of Outlets v/s Geographical Spread of Pizza Chains Pizza Chain Outlets Spread Origin Indian 52 PAN-India Indian 50 South Zone International 25 West Zone International 20 West Zone Indian Slice of Italy 16 North Zone Indian Chain Outlets Cities 1090 120 PAN-India Indian 364 87 PAN-India International McDonalds 210 45 PAN-India International Pizza Hut 171 34 PAN-India International Barista 230 30 PAN-India Indian Subway No. of Outlets PAN-India Dominos 115 77 Cafà © Coffee Day No. of Cities 65 International Garcias 15 PAN-India Papa Johns No. Of Outlets v/s No. of Cities of top brands in India 171 Pizza Corner 15 International Smokin Joes 5 10 Geographical Spread PAN-India US Pizza 0 364 Pizza Hut No. of Outlets Dominos 200 26 PAN-India International KFC 110 21 PAN-India International Spread Origin 33 Trends and Future Prospects Big brands – Small cities – Small formats 34 Locations Large chains expanding to smaller cities Domestic chains setting up in big cities Formats Cuisines Technology Express Outlets Basic street Foods entering organized market – Vadapav, Ice Gola Online ordering systems Smart Carts/Kiosks Regional cuisines– Kebab Lucknow Wale, Malwaneez IVR system for placing order and making payment via Credit Card Kiosks have managed to attract huge footfalls at sales points. Even big chains are now customizing their outlets to smaller models like „express‟ and „stand-ins‟ Integration of concepts – so Mcdonalds serves coffee and CCD serves sandwiches Menu diversification by introducing Indian flavours – Chicken TandooriSub at Subway Investors are queuing up to get a big slice of the pie 35 ï‚ ¨ With the number of QSRs growing at 30% per year, the industry is attracting investors‟ interest, especially after the IPO of Jubilant Foodworks, the master franchise of Dominos Pizza in India ï‚ ¨ ICICI Venture acquired 10% stake i.e. $55 Million in Devyani International who is the franchisee of KFC, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee in India ï‚ ¨ Also Mast Kalandar, a Bangalore-based QSR chain, secured a second round of investment from Helion Venture Partners, Footprint Ventures and Salarpuria Group. ï‚ ¨ Chinese cuisine QSR Yo! China received funding of $5.5 Million from Matrix partners ï‚ ¨ Accel Partners invested in Bangalore-based fast food chain Kaati Zone. Source: vccircle.com QSR giants Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks set to foray into the Indian market 36 ï‚ ¨ ï‚ ¨ ï‚ ¨ Dunkin’ Donuts- Jubilant FoodWorks is to develop, sub-franchise, and operate more than 500 Dunkin‟ Donuts restaurants throughout India over the next 15 years. The first Dunkin‟ Donuts locations are expected to open by early 2012. The Agreement marks the largest international store development commitment in Dunkin‟ Donuts‟ history. Starbucks – Tata Coffee is to bring Starbucks , the world‟s largest coffee chain to India through a Joint Venture Quiznos – The US-based subway restaurant chain has signed a master franchise agreement with Arjun Valluri for setting up outlets in Southern India. Source: www.dunkindonuts.com, www.trak.in, U.S. Franchise Trade Mission Participants Profile, April 10-15 2011 Sources 37 Research firms ï‚ ¨ Technopak ï‚ ¨ IBEF ï‚ ¨ Marketing Whitebook 2010-11, 2011-12 ï‚ ¨ Mckinsey Global Institute ï‚ ¨ www.rncos.com ï‚ ¨ www.nrai.org Company Websites ï‚ ¨ www.yum.com ï‚ ¨ www.mcdonaldsindia.com ï‚ ¨ www.dominos.co.in Other websites ï‚ ¨ Hospitalitybizindia.com ï‚ ¨ Indiaretailing.com ï‚ ¨ Franchiseindia.com Newspapers ï‚ ¨ Deccan Herald ï‚ ¨ Economic Times ï‚ ¨ Business Standard ï‚ ¨ DNA 38 About D‟Essence Our Services 39 D‟Essence Hospitality is Boutique Management Consulting firm based in Mumbai which provides specialty consulting services for the entire spectrum of the hospitality industry with a special focus on hotel operators, builders and investors ï  ± Feasibility Studies ï‚ ¤ Management Model Viability ï‚ ¤ Technical Viability Economic and Financial Model Viability ï‚ ¤ ï‚ ¨ Market Viability Business Model Viability Exit Strategy Viability Site Analysis – We have vast experience in project planning & site selection. In many cases it has been seen that planners & architects normally look into a project from design and land-use perspectives. But we do detailed site and market analysis to determine the viability of the project from financial and investment standpoint. ï‚ ¨ India Entry Strategy – We help our clients to develop suitable market entry strategies through analyzing entry barriers (ease), geographical factors, incumbents‟ resistance and routs to market. ï‚ ¨ Management Contracts – Branded operators have very stringent clauses in the contracts. To deal with them needs deep understanding of the domain and effects of each clause on the profit margins. D‟Essence Hospitality Services makes full use of its expertise in understanding the management contracts and negotiating it for best acceptable terms. Our Services 40 ï‚ ¨ Key Recruitments D‟Essence Hospitality is dedicated to becoming India‟s leading executive search firm exclusively serving the Hospitality Industry. Our search team enables you to recruit for executive level management, divisional managers, general managers, culinary, finance, sales and marketing, food and beverage, engineering professionals who will all, directly affect and drive the profitability of your organization ï‚ ¨ Acquisitions From our years of experience, we advise our clients on which assets to buy and when to buy and based on our recommendations they devise strategies for buying assets. We also provide assistance to our clients to develop assets disposal strategies in order to maximize project performance ï‚ ¨ Business Model and Business Plan We assist our clients in the business planning process and then prepare a plan based on the available resources and their business objectives. Our Business Planning services include feasibility studies, business formation plans, strategic plans, new product plans, marketing and promotional plans, etc. ï‚ ¨ Fund Raising ï‚ ¨ Mentoring ï‚ ¨ Growth Strategy THANKYOU D‟Essence Consulting 303, Aar Pee Center, 11th Road, Gufic Compound, MIDC, Andheri (E) Mumbai- 400093 Tel +91 22 28347425 www.dessencehospitality.com

Accounting Equation Paper Essay Example for Free

Accounting Equation Paper Essay ? The basic accounting equation is: Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders’ Equity. When looking at the balance sheet one can assume that assets must balance out each transaction and balance the claims to the assets (Kimmel, 2010). A balance sheet provides Assets of the company first and foremost, then Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity and last retained earnings. This shows the companies incoming money, outgoing payments, and the money left or retained at the end of each time period being documented on the balance sheet. The components of the accounting equation affect each other in many ways. For example, when cash assets are received the company is making profit only as long as it is making more revenue than the liabilities owed. So, when using the Sierra Corporation on pg. 14 from the text the company has to pay the Liabilities: Notes payable, Accounts payable, Salaries payable, Unearned Service revenue, and Interest prior to ever turning a profit above the black. When looking at a balance sheet one needs to know all incoming as well as outgoing money to determine profitability and sustainability of a corporation. Next, when looking at a balance sheet the liabilities + the stockholder’s Equity have to ALWAYS balance out to amount of assets to ensure all things are accounted for and there are no accounting errors. When done properly the balance sheet can be used to verify the company’s revenue and the financial stability of a company based upon debt to stockholders’ equity. References: Kimmel, P. D., Weygandt, J. J., & Kieso, D. E. ( 2010). Financial accounting: Tools for business decision making (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Accounting Equation Paper. (2016, Dec 10).

The closing of the Muslim mind Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The closing of the Muslim mind - Essay Example Basically, the Muslims closed the doors to explore the world a millennium ago hence lagged behind Christian based countries in terms of scientific inquiries, technology advancement and economic development. The closing of the mind began to occur between the 9th and 10th centuries. This was a crucial era in the Islam world because the West countries introduced their cultures. The Muslim did not embrace this cultures hence the closure. The closure of the Muslim mind occurred in two ways. The first was to deny the people the capability of knowing anything new while the second was dismissing reality and unrecognizing it. For example, in the Sunni Islam, both concepts were employed in one Ash’arite theological school. Consequently, the gap between men’s reasoning capacity and reality widened which was the source of Sunni Islam’s woes. Reilly states the history of Islam can be understood in four main phases: the Islamic (7th -13th centuries), the Ottoman (1453-1918), t he nationalist (1918-1991) and post-nationalist (1991- to date as it is the current Islam flourishing (Reilly, 2010). The Ottoman and nationalist saw great success in expanding the Muslim world while Islamic and post-nationalist eras saw great conflict and decline. However, the Islamic era did achieve narrow success through schools such as Mu’tazilite who encouraged free will in the Muslim world. Those responsible Earlier in the year 750, the Mu’tazilite school established by advocators of free will, established solid grounds to reason and philosophy. There were interactions between the Muslim who attended Mu’tazilite and Christian theologians showing interest to join the two faiths. The Mu’tazilite had established successfully the developed school of Islamic theology. They insisted that the human mind was free to interpret revelation and choose which relevant religion to follow. This entailed the views of God, the universe and humanity’s place wit hin the world. They hugely concentrated on the human mind to use the voice of reason in developing an understanding between the universe and God. Their concepts were based on eliminating the processes of dehellenisation and intellectual ossification. Dehellenisation process involved the refusal to reason and ignoring facts while intellectual ossification involved traditional beliefs and behavior as opposed to modernity and technology use. However, the success was short lived when Ash’arite challenged the Mu’tazilite doctrine in court which led to their expulsion from court. Those found to be holding the Mu’tazilite doctrine were found to have committed a crime punishable by death. Through this, the Ash’arites had achieved their revenge on the Mu’tazilites for their previous poor treatment. The Mu’tazilites were removed from all government positions. The Ash’arites opposed views of God, the universe and humanity. By the end of the 10th century, booksellers and copyrights were prohibited from trading in literally works of theology, disputation and philosophy which were associated with the Mu’tazilites. As such, the processes of dehellenisation and intellectual ossification were restarted once more. Reilly states that in the 12th century, the anti-rationalist and conservative institutions were close to destroying the Mu’tazilite influence thus ending the most serious attempts of combining reason with Islam as a religion. As a result, the works of Mu’tazilite were destroyed by Ash’arites eventually leading to the closure of the Muslim mind.

Managerial Decision Making Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Managerial Decision Making - Research Paper Example PART 1 Formal research and business proposal are terminologies that bear commonalities and differences. While formal research is defined as conducting an experiment under proscribed conditions so as to find out, reveal or assess a hypothesis, business proposal is defined as the methodical collection of information with the objective of arriving at the most appropriate solution for a given problem or situation. Each one possesses its relevance and significance in the business scenery, while still they have characteristics that are distinct to each other. This paper will, therefore, seek to establish these attributes by establishing the commonalities and differences between the two terminologies. It will also establish the capabilities of one in disparity with the capabilities of the other. Later, it will explore the effects of human resources subcontracted on leadership performance and employee commitment. Commonalities The two terminologies, ‘formal research’ and ‘ business proposal’ have both commonalities and differences. One aspect present in a formal research is that it does not necessarily need presentation with a heading or subheadings. This feature is also present in a business proposal. Further, the two have an introduction and a conclusion. Whenever a business proposal is being written it is usually vital to carry out a formal research on the souk as it helps in determining the feasibility of the business (Dess, 2007, pp. 32-47). The two possess basic structural apparatus that describe them as a proposal manuscript, whose introduction part provides background information on the problem, whilst the problem report part clarifies the need to tackle them. Both business and research proposals have to be composed after prompting. Accordingly, all proposals are official and written replies to a call for proposals. Differences Although the terminologies bear similarities, they also possess differences in their general rationale, object ives, sections and functions. While formal research constitutes an academic nature, business proposal is more of practical oriented. While formal research bears no financial implications, business proposal possess financial implications as one of its main features. A business proposal is usually aimed at spotting a need that has to be dealt with so as to generate either financial reserves or greater proceeds, whilst financial implications are irrelevant in formal research. Further, formal research does not concern itself with generating conclusions that are feasible. Business proposal is projected for a vendor and usually spots the objected market and shows how custom results can be distributed to purchasers in such market. The objectives of the two vary as formal research concentrates on discovering definite information that may assist the business formulate good decisions while business proposals regularly recommend new products or services, meaning the aims are mainly to generate money for the company. Whereas the formal research proposals frequently contain a theoretical tactic, the business proposals mainly bear a practical strategy on how to operate so as to generate money. The formal research is frequently completed to establish if the business should formulate alterations such as budget modifications. Whereas the research proposal establishes the general demand for

Wallmart (Global Economy, Global Competition) Research Paper

Wallmart (Global Economy, Global Competition) - Research Paper Example The size of an average store is 108,000 square feet. Each store employs about 225 associates. Wal-Mart Supercenters were developed in 1988 to meet the growing demand for convenient, one-stop family shopping. First opened in 1998, there are now 168 Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets. A typical store is about 42,000 square feet. Wal-Mart Express has been created to offer low prices every day in a smaller format store that provides convenient access for fill-in and stock-up shopping trips. Sam Walton, the mind behind Wal-Mart focused, on a single idea: selling merchandise at the lowest price possible. So he made sure everyone worked hard to keep costs as low as possible. Walton continued to drive an old pickup truck and share budget-hotel rooms with colleagues on business trips, even after Wal-Mart made him very rich. He demanded that his employees also keep expenses to a bare minimum, a mentality that is still at the heart of Wal-Mart culture more than a decade after Waltons death. The company has continued to grow rapidly after his death in 1992 and now operates four retail divisions; Wal-Mart Supercenters, Wal-Mart discount stores, Neighborhood Market stores and Sams Club warehouses (New York Times, 2012). Wal-Mart had its creation in the mind of Sam Walton who promoted a single idea: sell merchandise at the lowest price possible. It began with Wal-Mart working hard to keep the costs of their company as low as possible. This idea moved from their company to their suppliers as they asked them to be as frugal as possible. As the company grew in size, they began looking for every way to wring out the last penny of savings from materials, packaging, labor, transportation, and display. The result was "the Wal-Mart effect (Ghemawat & Mark, 2006). Because of its size Wal-Mart wields incredible power. This especially creates problems for local retailers forcing them out of business. Economist

Memo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 26

Memo - Essay Example She needs exhaustive information that will enable her influence formulation of an appropriate public relations campaign. The audience requires utmost formality in this context. The memo is an official document that will influence successive undertakings at the company. She will file the memo for future references a feature that requires formality. The audience values exhaustive and objective communication. She requires an extensive analysis of the effects that the detour will have on the local Indonesian communities. Key among the benefits of the audience is the fact that she is a professional in the sector. This implies that she will readily understand the concepts I will address. Furthermore, she understands the project and will easily transform the ideas I will present into appropriate public relations campaigns. While the planned detour is inevitable, it will present a number of adverse ramifications on the rural Indonesian community. The planned diversion traverses large plantations of chili, coffee and team among other crops. The terrain is rugged but has a clean and quiet atmosphere. As such, the diversion that seeks to make large trucks move through the rural villages will cause immense disruptions on the community’s way of life. Key among the social and cultural features of the community are: With such an overview and basic understanding of the community, the research team will investigate the effects that the diversion will have on each of the above features among many others thereby creating an appropriate campaign message. The team members will undertake their duties as follows: The team will carry out an extensive analysis of the nature of the detour on its effects on the local community thereby developing an effective public relations campaign that will inform the locals thereby safeguarding the reputation of the

Ethical problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical problem - Essay Example The action of the managers to hide some information to the shareholders is unethical. This is because, ethical behavior requires that any decision reached by the management should be a truthful one, and thus any action that is mean to hide the truth from the shareholders is unethical (Frederic, 17). This type of conflict falls under the category of conflict referred to as Normative ethics, in a subset referred to as professional ethics, which requires that the professional conduct of individuals within an certain professions should act in accordance with set standards of right and wrong, and the deviation from such conduct eventually creates an ethical conflict (Weiss, 41). The classification of this ethical conflict under the Normative ethics category is informed by the fact that Normative ethics apply a practical approach towards arriving at an ethical decision, which has to do with the duties that individuals should follow and the implication of behaviors of an individual on other s (Frederic, 31). Explaining the conflict can happen in the corporation Normative ethics conflict can happen in organizations due to conflicts of interests, where the interests of the professionals tend to compete with the obligations and responsibilities of the professional (Weiss, 72). The managers can hide information from the shareholders, so that they can favor their interests at the expense of the interests of the shareholders, considering that he interest of the shareholders and those of the management are always conflicting (Frederic, 22). Therefore, the managers can hide a potential investment venture to the stakeholders, which would have long-term benefits for the shareholders through enhancing organizational growth, and prefer to pursue short-term investments that will result to short term benefits for the shareholders, to avoid taking risks, while also trying to make a name amongst their peers and other corporate commentators, who evaluates organizations on the basis of their short term revenues and performances (Weiss, 49). Further, the managers might hide the long-term benefits of an investment from the shareholders, and instead pursue short-term investments, so that they can increase the revenues in the short-term and benefit from salary increments and promotions, at the expense of pursuing investments that may have no revenue benefits in the present, but will yield more benefits and revenues for the shareholders in the future, such as investment in Research & Development (Frederic, 44). The effect of this conflict on the stakeholders This conflict has an adverse effect on the shareholders, since it works towards making the shareholders lose their future value of investment, while the managers are the ones who benefit from the conflict, through financial gains and promotions. Another effect of the conflict on the stakeholders is that; it erodes the trust that the stakeholders had on the managers, since the existence of such a conflict shows that the managers are not favoring the

Managing financial resources and development editing Essay

Managing financial resources and development editing - Essay Example The company can also increase or improve on its sales so that however much the payments are, the receipts will still be more in order to for the company to meet its current liabilities Net Present Value is the difference between the present value of the cash inflows and the present value of the net outflows. Project cash flows are discounted using an appropriate rate, which is the minimum rate of return required by the investor. In the case of these two projects; Alpha and Beta projects, the discounting rate is 10% which is used to calculate the discounting factors with the formula 1/(1 + r)n where r is the discounting rate and n is the number of years. The appropriate cash flows are the after tax cash flows, therefore the net cash flows should be estimated on the after tax basis. However, in these projects, there was no tax involved and no project had a residual value after the completion period of 5 years. Computation of cash flows requires a special treatment of non-cash expenses such as depreciation though in these projects, there is no depreciation considered. However, in case of depreciation, it has an indirect effect on the cash flow since it is a tax deduc tion expense. The general criteria for Net Present Value is that the project with a negative net present value should be undertaken since it increases the wealth of the shareholders and a project with a negative net present value should not be undertaken since it reduces the wealth of the shareholders. In a case where the manager is faced with several projects and would like to choose one to implement, then the net present values of all the projects will be calculated and compared. The project with the highest net present value should be preferred to the others with low net present value. Considering these two projects: the project Alpha and project Beta, both the projects will last for 5 years and will have a discounting rate of

Effects of Federal Mandates on Intergovernmental Relations Essay Example for Free

Effects of Federal Mandates on Intergovernmental Relations Essay Public Policy making is a central task of the Government. There has been concerns regarding the influence federal mandate on intergovernmental relations. In order to understand and evaluate these influences we will discuss the influence of the intergovernmental lobby over the Medicaid program. We will also analyze the importance of interest alignment between the federal and states Governments and auditing transparency in order to ensure smooth working of these public programs. Medicaid is the health insurance program that is administered by the states and funded jointly by federal and state governments (Weissert 1992). The Medicaid has an important place in the history of medical treatment in the U. S. An organisation noble in conception has two dimensions to put up with. The dual dimension challenges are to cope up with the changing needs of patients with ever increasing costs due to advances in medical knowledge, medicines and technology. From the other side the pressure is to find solutions in the restricted budget and to handle the changing political pressures. From its beginning the Medicaid gone through many reforms. Researchers have identified few challenges facing Medicaid in order to cater the needs of the patients. They are keeping it clear to engage service users in decisions or engaging the wider public. Secondly to develop a link between the public and the health system. Third, Quick solutions through open discussions. The fourth is to take a long run at this. Finally, achieving above goals and much more from the Medicaid by engaging users and patients in the decision making process. The last few decades have seen a major change in the Primary care requirements, increase in the ageing population, widespread of chronic diseases, increase in the patient’s awareness, and greater accountability due to increased exposure (Coote, 2005). This has created a paradigm shift in the requirements of patients. The increasing trend of client centred services has made it important for the Medicaid to find ways to provide rapid and easy to access primary care to the patients. According to the Department of Health change plan the vision of change in Medicaid should be directed towards the needs of the patients rather than the service providers. In order to undertake the change process effectively the professional role of the NHS staff should also be transformed. These steps towards modernisation were indicated: ) Adoption of change by the Medicaid staff. 2) Government’s role in getting rid of barriers in the way to change. 3) The method for education and training should also be restructured. Since the Medicaid program is undertaken with the combine efforts of the federal and state governments it can clearly provide the picture of the influence of states in intergovernmental relations. The administration of the Medicaid program provides the state governments with experience, management abilities and the information of the important aspects of effectiveness of such programs for low-income group. Both the federal and state governments fund the Program. It is often the case that there is vast difference in the goals of both state and federal governments. In order to justify the expenses it is mandatory for the federal government to undertake audit programs (Anton 1997). The process of testifying Medicaid program has always remained controversial as it has been noticed many times that state agency faces lesser criticism while warranting on the Medicaid program. This has remained a moot issue between the state and federal governments as often conflict arises on the same issue between the two government levels. A lack of collective action has been felt between both the federal and state level governments. The situation seems to threaten the federalism. State governments have the expertise to undertake analysis and suggest improvement measures but these expertise are not used to promote intergovernmental relations hence adversely effecting the potential program improvements. Both the state and federal governments at a set rate fund the cost for the Medicaid program. It has been observed that the governments of different states keep on experimenting with different payments mechanisms mostly aimed at reducing their cost through transferring their the cost of the program to the federal treasury (Weissert and Weissert 2006). The states use different funding processes in order to draw down funds from the central government without spending their own funds. One such way is to increase the payment rate for the eligibility of public care providers. This higher payment rate in turn gives rise to the share of the federal government. The state governments get back the portion of the surplus through tax imposition or voluntary contributions. Although many states use this surplus amount in the provision of other public facilities to the people but still there has been doubts regarding the proper and transparent use of these funds. States use two such programs: Under disproportionate share hospital payments (DSH payments) program the state governments provides higher amounts of funds to public hospitals and community health centers which serve people from low income group. Through the Upper payment limits (UPL) states reimburse some of these providers up to the highest Medicaid reimbursement rate (Weissert and Weissert 2006: 267). These programs are implemented to cover the costs of care provision to low-income Medicaid and uninsured patients. The states use intergovernmental transfers (IGTs) to transfer back the funds at the different levels of government. The reliability of these (IGTs) as the evidence of payment recycling is suspicious. Although it is through the federalism the possibilities for acquiring information regarding the policies increases because of the improved chances of experimentation due to decentralization but on the other hand it is also federalism which acts as a constraint to undertake measures according to that information. The higher degree of discord between the federal and state level governments’ results in shape of the wastage of the state potential which can be used for the well being of the nation at federal level. This is what we call the â€Å"failure of federalism,† where the state level expertise are not acknowledge in national policymaking.

Learning organisation as a realistic model

Learning organisation as a realistic model The learning and functioning in workplace carries a foremost responsibility to establish a constant learning for the organization. Learning organisation is one of the most significant forms of organisation used in present to shape the future for the success (Belasen 2000). In this type of organisation, learning is a base which assists in the development of most effective career plans and individual skills towards the path selected. In present, most of the organisations are trying to convert themselves in a learning organisation so that it can attain significant benefits related to learning organisation (Coffield 1998). Here, in this report the concept of learning organisation is discussed so that it can be identified that is the learning organization a useful or realistic model at the workplace. It is done in reference to a learning organisation that is IBM. Learning Organisation Learning Organization refers to an organisation in which employees at all levels, separately and conjointly, are incessantly growing their capability to bring forth results they truly care about (Nagwekar n.d.). It is not just the most appealing or existing management trend but it can also furnish organisations with work environment that open and flexible to innovative ideas. It also involves the concepts that provide solutions to continuous work-related troubles that are available among all its employees (Svensson, Randle Bennich 2009). It assists individuals with an ability to strengthen their knowledge base, which gives them with an ability to think significantly and ingeniously. Additionally, it also facilitates workplace individuals with an ability to communicate thoughts and conceptions, and the talent to collaborate with other individuals throughout the procedure of interrogation and action (Belasen 2000). A learning organisation try to create its own future by assuming that learning is a continuous and inventive procedure for its people (Rainbird, Fuller Munro 2004). The learning workplace directs individuals towards a development, adaptation and transformation of themselves in reaction to needs of organisation and as well as customers. It allows employees to work freely so that they can learn and express their ideas and problems and in turn can contribute towards the development of an improved work place (Nagwekar n.d.). This environment also assists individuals in shifting from the conventional authoritarian workplace philosophy to one in which the organisational hierarchy is broken down, and human potency is acclaimed (Coffield 1998). This type of working environment foster a culture in which individuals believe in creating results that they actually want and where they can learn that how they all can learn together for the advancement of all inclusive organisation. This type of organisation furnishes people with reaction to the competencies that is essential for every individual to attain success in its own field (Gould Baldwin 2004). The learning can be increased with the help of different learning approaches like training, rotational experiences, coaching, work-related education, electronic-system learning, and with the help of several other learning-oriented interventions (Lassey 1998). Today most of the organisations are trying to attain benefits of learning organisation as they feel that it is a realistic model but it is not the situation as it is much useful rather realistic (Nagwekar n.d.). An organisation become learning organisation with its own efforts and practices that if not undertaken accurately will not direct towards the creation of a learning organisation. In this type of organisation it is essential to make use of appropriate training programs that may vary according to the needs of specific organisation and its individuals (Belasen 2000). All aspects related to becoming a learning organisation need to be undertaken carefully as otherwise it would not be possible for a firm to use it for its own benefit. If it used effectively can assist a firm with several advantages and abilities to deal with existing challenges related to business, management of internal environment, employees commitment towards learning and working in the direction of organisational goals (Pun Balkissoon 2011). Throughout studies and evaluations, it is identified that there are some disciplines which must be mastered by an organisation if it wants to introduce a useful learning organisation that are as follows: Systems Thinking For becoming a learning organisation, it is essential that the firm develops and ability to envision the big picture and to make out patterns rather than conceptualizing change as obscure events (Belasen 2000). Additionally, there is also a need to think by interconnecting to the whole so that it can become easy to identify that how it operates and what actions can create troubles. Personal Mastery It commences by becoming devoted to lifetime learning and it is the key element of a learning organization (Nagwekar n.d.). Building Shared Visions For creating a learning organisation organisations need to develop a genuine or shared vision that evokes commitment in good and as well as in bad situations and has the potential to unite an organization. Mental Models Managing mental models is also vital as they can obstruct new and prevailing penetrations and organizational practices from being carried out. Until or unless there is no realization and a concentration to openness it is not possible to implement real change. Team Learning It is also critical as almost all modern organisations in present are operating on the basis of team work. It means that if a firms team members do not come together and learn it cannot become a learning organisation (Nagwekar n.d.). The concept of learning organisation is quite useful as it does not only allow firms senior managers to do all thinking but it also appropriates all individuals at all levels to think in regard to the entire organisation. It facilitates all employees to make use of their inner potential with a hope that they can also build something distinctive or unique for their firm. Benefits of Learning Organisation How learning organisation is useful at the work place can be understood with the help of discussion of its benefits to a firm. The benefits of learning organisation started appearing with the realization of its importance. It is helpful for dealing with different types of challenges that are as follows: Rapid Change: In present competitive environment change is occurring rapidly in all workplaces that in turn forces agencies to quickly adapt work procedures. Development of a learning organisation furnishes organisations with an opportunity to learn through adapting change and other pertinent issues (Belasen 2000). Eroding Knowledge Bases: The current attrition of Federal employees, awaited retirements decreases-in-force are inducing on-going damage to the organizational knowledge bases. This can be resolved with the help of a learning organisation that assist in furthering information exchange and tap expertise from all level employees (Murphy Willmott 2010). As well, it also makes use of technology to support and strengthen information exchange that in turn assists in resolving employees queries and issues. Shifting Focus: Focus of federal agencies is altering from a duty of ensuring compliance to serving customers effectively that also creates different challenges. The creation of a learning organisation will ensure a strategic alignment between customers needs preferences, individual learning, organisational aims, and resource distributions (Coffield 1998). Attainment of strategic alliance is very important as without this it is not possible for a firm to attain its aims and it can be done effectively with the help of development of a learning organisation. Limited Training Resources: The companies overall training budgets are decreasing day-by-day whereas employees also have less time to attend formal training sessions. This affects their growth and as well as company growth. With the help of a learning organisation at workplace, a company can make use of different alternative strategies that may easily incorporate learning into the workplace (Gould Baldwin 2004). These alternative methods are low in cost and are much more effective to furnish a company with all essential training needs of its employees. Evolving Roles of Supervisors: With the increasing diversity in organisations supervisors roles are evolving with an increasing responsibility. Now, supervisors are not only accountable for playing traditional human resource functions as they are also responsible for managing each and every aspect of business and its employees (Belasen 2000). With the development of learning organisation supervisors roles has become much more easy as in this they work as teachers and each employees is empowered to be accountable for their own learning. Management of all the above discussed challenges can be done effectively with the help of a learning organisation. The benefits of learning organisation evidenced that how it is useful in a workplace in regard to management of different aspects and as well as employees continuous learning (Wang Ahmed 2003). Learning Organisation as a Useful Model at Workplace Learning organisation is quite useful model at workplace as it allows a firm with several advantages related to attaining superior performance, improvement in quality, concentrating on customers, for attaining competitive advantage, to manage change, develop committed workforce, and for recognizing assured success and growth (Serra 2009). How a learning organisation work as a useful model at workplace can be understood with the discussion of IBM that makes significant use of learning for attaining above discussed advantages. At IBM, learning is a strategic facilitator of change. It works as an essential tool that helps it in affirming its new go-aheads, re-skills its manpower and appropriates it to handle key market changes and organizational alterations. Its use of learning helps it in developing a learning organisation that in turn works as a useful model at its workplace. IBMs commitment towards learning can be evidenced by its US$750 million annual spending for different learning initiatives (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). This annual spending of IBM is done with a belief that learning organisation enhances its productivity, endows employees and teams to innovate, empowers development of employee potential, and expands organizational knowledge to providers, co-operators and customers. In addition to developing a learning organisation, IBM has also adopted a repetitive procedure of learning transformation that helped it in attaining a leadership in learning. The continuous learning and leadership in organisational learning has enabled IBM to win and continuously grow in present competitive environment. The company success as a learning organisation can also be understood with its efforts towards enhancing learning. IBM operates with a belief of learning anywhere, anytime and on demand. Employees of IBM spend an approximate 17 million hours each year (around 55 hours per employee) in different formal training programs that may be conducted online or in a traditional classroom (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). Previously learning was given through traditional classrooms but now it is mostly conducted online (Belasen 2000). Another substantial belief that helped IBM is its link up of learning with employee retention. Its appropriate learning to its employees assist it in retaining its employees that is most significant issue in present competitive era (Furnham 2005). The continuous learning also assist the company in saving significant costs related to new employees training costs. Being a learning organisation, IBM respects the role that learning plays in attaining organisational effectiveness (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All efforts of IBM towards becoming a learning organisation or using it as a useful model assist it with several advantages related to organisation, people, technology and knowledge that are as follows: Organization: By making use of leadership organisation as a useful model at its workplace, IBM has become able to attain organisational effectiveness. The company learning strategy facilitates it in attaining its vision. It has also helped the company in developing a leadership that is devoted to the significance of learning and believes in distinctly communicating learning that is essential for organisational success (Serra 2009). Development of appropriate leadership assists employees in identifying the needs, intends and chances for learning. Implying a learning organisation at workplace also helps IBM leaders in creating and maintaining a supportive learning culture for their team members that in turn motivates them towards working at their utmost potential. Continuous learning also helps IBM in making use of effective communication systems that alleviate the lateral information transfer and facts throughout all levels of organisation (Furnham 2005). The continuous learning arouses creativity and brings forth new penetrations and innovative practices at IBM. People: Being a learning organisation, IBM has become able to hire people who are significantly interested in their work and vigorously replicate on their experience. The intense learning had allowed its employees to make use of their understanding and take different initiatives to contribute towards knowledge management (Serra 2009). The different online and traditional learning programs have facilitated IBM with the development of employees as reflective practitioners. By working in a learning organisation all employees of IBM become able to grow their strengths and maximize their learning by getting involved into different learning programs. It also assists the company in creating an environment in which everyone work with cooperation and collaboration so that everyones learning towards working in a much more effective way can be enhanced (Chich-Jen 2011). Knowledge: Another substantial field in which it is beneficial to make use of learning is knowledge. For every learning organisation it is a critical asset as learning is the product of knowledge and its origin (Caldwell 2006). Development of a learning organisation enables an organisation to understand that how it can attain knowledge. Establishing learning organisation at workplace enables knowledge creation through individual to collective approach (Serra 2009). IBM being a learning organisation provides substantial opportunities for company knowledge to be developed and shared with others through social contact and approach to documentation. IBM employees are aware that how they can put specific knowledge in all essential systems for knowledge management (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All these information and knowledge is not possible if a firm is not a learning organisation. Technology: Another substantial field supported by learning is a firms technology. When a firm, become learning organisation it become able to harness the significance of advanced information and communication technologies. Without having knowledge and empowerment in these technologies it is not possible for a firm to attain its objectives related to knowledge management and learning (Serra 2009). IBM as a learning organisation makes an effective use of information and communication technologies that in turn assist in strengthening its organizational identity, establishing and maintaining learning communities, keep everyone informed and aware of all essential corporate evolutions (Chich-Jen 2011). Additionally, continuous learning at workplace also helps IBM in creating unbelievable and associative linkups between people that in turn furnish access to their creative knowledge and thoughts. It also encourages innovation and originality by sharing and developing a practice of learning from others effective practices (Serra 2009). IBM being a learning organisation provides different opportunities to its employees to learn that how they can make an effective use of advanced information and communication technologies to enhance their knowledge and leaning (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All the above discussed fields evidence that how IBM is able to use learning at its workplace by continuously investing in learning. The role of learning in IBM can be understood with its importance from last 90 years. From last 90 years, learning is playing a substantial role in driving IBM towards success (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). On the basis of its unified and lined up approach, IBM has furthered and are constantly maintaining effective learning programs for its employees, professional and administrator development. In the year 1915, after four years of IBM incorporation, it established a distinct IBM education department for training and developing all of its employees. Subsequently it was used formally on all its product lines so that employees can be instructed regularly and works effectively by increasing their learning towards their roles and company products and services (John 2002). Afterwards it offered a formal customer education following an IBM Management Development Program. For making employees more effective towards reacting customer requests and queries, the company started an IBM Customer Education Program that shows the company dedication to become a learning organisation (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All these company management initiatives towards increasing employees learning significantly assist it in developing employees that are highly dedicated towards organisational goals and making innovations with the help of their creative thoughts and maximized sharing (OKeeffe 2002). The learning commenced in its beginning has now enabled company and its employees to operate by considering its future. IBMs focus on learning organisation was significantly useful for it as it assisted it in transforming itself from a hardware company to a recognized service-driven company. This change at company necessitated reorganization and re-skilling of its employees that became easy with the help of continuous learning (Aktharsha Anisa 2011). With learning, it became easy for IBM to align its employees in accordance to its new business models as its employees were dedicated and was ready to change their approach so that business opportunities available to company can be optimized. Throughout their past efforts, IBM has become able to develop dedicated employees and now it has been concentrating on the development of core-competencies and job-related abilities and skills. For improving its employees job-related competencies, the company learning programs target five strategic aspects that are sales, employee development, leadership and management, IT training and training to support business partnerships (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). For developing effective learning programs, the company also employed a learning governance model that helped IBM in setting its learning priorities. The company learning governance model is structured in a way that assures maximum effectiveness of IBMs learning investment. IBMs learning governance model is structured to ensure maximum effectiveness for our learning investment. For developing a learning organisation at workplace IBM governance complies with different aspects like every learning intervention should be integrated and implemented in regard to IBM strategy (Dierkes, Antal, Child Nonaka 2003). Additionally, its focus was on implementing a disciplined approach to enterprise wide learning so that more and more benefits related to organisation, people, technology and knowledge can be attained (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). All these company initiatives towards becoming a learning organisation significantly helped it in attaining all business related objectives. The company success is due to its integrated learning approach. The company management operates with a belief that individual learn in different patterns and on this belief IBM tried to use different educational approaches for increasing its employees learning. The integrated learning approach includes interactive, web-based, collaborative and face-to-face learning (Aktharsha Anisa 2011). Among these the most appropriate method suited to a group can be selected according to their own skills and requirements. Another effort in this direction done by IBM is the development of the IBM Learning Investment Council. For increasing learning at IBM, first of all the employees performance reports and other available reference materials are used that are usually web-based. This appropriates online transfer of information and also provides an access to individual to the material that is pertinent to their job and needs (IBMs learning transformation story 2004). It allows employees to learn at their own pace that in turn create interest among them and motivates them to learn according to their own suitability and abilities (John 2002). In addition to this, learning is also created from interaction, simulation or games that motivated individuals to contribute on real-life situations and endows them with an ability to practice specific competencies at their own speed (OKeeffe 2002). Another significant approach used at IBM for increasing learning is collaborative learning and class-room learning. The approach of IBM towards learning from its initiatives has significantly assisted in it transforming its history that was not possible without its timely learning initiatives (Dierkes, Antal, Child Nonaka 2003). From beginning, the company management was aware with the usefulness of organisational learning at workplace and this is the reason they tried to implement it by undertaking different efforts. The company motivated all its employees to focus on continuous learning so that their skills and abilities can be strengthened (Curado 2006). It was done with a realisation of learnings importance and its usefulness for a firm in the direction of attaining all its pre-determined business goals. With the realization of learnings importance IBM tried to integrate it with its business strategies so that all its efforts can be directed with continuous learning that in turn can provide its employees with an advantage to increase their abilities and skills from time-to-time or according to changes in market and customer needs. Conclusion With the help of above discussion of learning organisation, its benefits and use of learning by IBM it can be said that learning is a useful model for an organisation. Without learning it is not possible for a firm to develop its employees with all essential job-related competencies. Organisation learning at workplace encourages employees to strengthen their skills that in turn direct them towards performing their duties in a much more effective manner (OKeeffe 2002). The success of IBM demonstrates how important and useful organisational learning is at workplace if implemented appropriately. IBM learning initiatives evidences its importance and how it assisted it in transforming its image (Rae 2008). In present competitive environment organisational learning is highly useful as it assist organisations with an ability to develop its employees competencies and skills in accordance to their own requirements related to attaining business aims and objectives.

Jules Vernes A Journey to the Center of the Earth :: essays research papers

In the novel, A Journey to the Center of the Earth, author Jules Verne tells the fictitious story of three men and their adventures as they descend into the depths of the earth. The leading character in this expedition is a fifty-year-old German professor named Hardwigg. He is an uncle to the narrator, Henry (Harry), a simple Englishman. The other man is Hans, a serene Icelandic guide. Professor Hardwigg finds a piece of parchment that written in Runic in a book. Harry finds out before his uncle that it says there is a way to get into the center of the earth through a mountain (Mt. Sneffels) in Iceland. Harry is reluctant to tell his uncle the message because he is afraid his uncle will actually want to visit the center of the earth. He was right because the professor wanted to explore as soon as possible. They head off to Iceland, and, along the way, receive Hans as their guide. The journey to the mountain itself takes a while. They reach the entrance to the center, and from there, they head inside. Once in the dark labyrinths, they descend (this goes on for days). The three men then face difficulties: thirst, light, getting lost, injuries, and fatigue, were among them. They make many discoveries. They find that there’s a sea, with fish and sea monsters. They find forests, giant mushrooms, animals that look like dinosaurs, and even what seems to be giant human beings. The idea of writing this story came from a scientist who explored the crater of a certain mountain. Verne got the idea that maybe it would be possible to descend even further into the earth. Many of Verne’s â€Å"fantasy† stories have come true in the years following his death in the year 1905. A Journey to the Center of the Earth is farthest from reality. Even with the technology we have today, it would be impossible for one to descend into the earth. For one thing, we know now that the earth can’t be hollow because of extreme pressures and temperatures. People became interested in Verne’s stories during his time because though they were unrealistic, they were too interesting and entertaining to pass up. Some people even believed he had traveled to the many places that he wrote of. While checking into a hotel once, the woman told him to rest well in the room because he must be tired from his many adventures.

Plato :: essays research papers

Plato was a philosopher who was born in Athens (470- 390 BCE), and was also a student of Socrates. He felt that intelligence and one’s perception belonged to completely independent realms or realties. He believed that general concepts of knowledge were predestined, or placed in the soul before birth even occurred in living things. Plato believed that the cosmos was intelligible, and that the universe was mathematically understandable. He believed that mathematical objects could be seen as perfect forms. Forms, a doctoral of Plato, can be understood as an everyday object or idea, which does not exist in the everyday realm, but merely are existent in the hypothetical realm or reality. Plato believed that truths existed outside the boundaries of our realm, interestingly enough. He was highly influenced by Socrates, and inherited the idea of absolute truths and standards of knowledge. Geometric shapes correspond to the mental world, a universe that exists co-temporarily with the material universe. Material objects are copies of mathematical knowledge and our mind gives us knowledge of ideas. In addition, our sensory gives us knowledge of the material world, what we can feel see or smell. Regarding the sensible world, one that is perceptible by the senses or by the mind, is in direct relation with his doctoral of dualism. Dualism can be seen as the view that the world consists of as two fundamental entities, such as mind and matter, physics and nature. In the intelligible world, things fundamentally consist of as being apprehended by the intellect alone. Regarding sensory objects, he believed that they were in constant change and furthermore were a phenomenon of the physical world; hence they cannot be identified with knowledge.

Elizabeth George :: essays research papers fc

A Brief Biography of Elizabeth George (with a smidgeon of literary criticism-- and a short bibliography) Susan Elizabeth George was born on February 26, 1949, in Warren, Ohio, to Robert Edwin and Anne (Rivelle) George. She married Ira Toibin, an education administrator, on May 28, 1971; they divorced in November, 1995. She received an A.A. from Foothill Community College (Los Altos, CA) in 1969, a B.A. in 1970 from the University of California at Riverside, and an M.S. from California State University in 1979. She lists her political affiliation as Democratic and her religion as "recovering from Catholicism." Marjorie Rosen writes of her: "Growing up the only daughter of Robert George, an estimator for a conveyor company, and his wife, Anne, a nurse, George was influenced early by her parents' enthusiasm for literature. 'When my older brother, Rob, was 6, he was struck in the eye by an arrow and had his eyes bandaged. My parents spent hours reading to him, and I listened,' she Ms. George and Titch--photo credit Patty Smiley says. 'We weren't a family that had a lot of money. We turned to the world of imagination.' At 7, George knew she wanted to write. She began turning out short stories in elementary school after her mother gave her an old '30s typewriter, and she wrote her first unpublished novel by the time she graduated from Holy Cross High School in Mountain View." She taught English at several California high schools and has conducted creative writing courses at Coastline College (Costa Mesa, CA), Irvine Valley College (Irvine, CA), and the University of California, Irvine. She was selected Teacher of the Year by the Orange County Department of Education in 1981. Contemporary Authors quotes Ms. George, "I'm often asked why I write about England. The answer lies in my philosophy: 'Write about what interests you; write about what you love; write about what gives you joy.' Writing is such a lovely torture, it seems silly to engage in it if it's not directed towards something you love." Ms. George states that her love of things British dates from a 1966 Shakespeare study trip to England when she was 16. However, she told Valerie Takahama, "There's a part of writing these novels that I really can't explain. ... When the plane comes down in England, I feel as if I'm coming home." (She recently purchased a flat near Hyde Park in South Kensington, London.

Relationship Conflict Resolution Model

About a month ago, my girlfriend (whom I will refer to as â€Å"Kelly†) and I were not getting along very well, and I attributed our difficulties to a mounting mess of unresolved disputes from our past. So I invited Kelly to sit down and talk about our problems. Kelly happily accepted. We agreed to take one resentment at a time, and talk each one through before moving the next. We ate dinner together, sat down on her couch and faced each other. I encouraged Kelly to have this talk between us, so I respectfully let her pick an issue hat is bothering her to talk about.It was difficult to hear about a problem that she has used against me many times already and I had hoped that she Just forgot about it†¦ But I sucked it up and listened anyway. The festering resentment that Kelly had been lugging around every day for over 3 years started when she had discovered explicit text messages on my phone between me and another woman. I tried to Justify my â€Å"dirty-talk† with this woman by blaming Kelly for rejecting me in the worst way imaginable. I had witnessed Kelly having sex tit another man Just after we had started dating.Kelly knew I was there, but she was so caught up in her own pleasure and enjoyment that my existence was no more significant than a fly on the wall. Kelly ignored everything I did and said as I attempted to get her stop what she was doing, and continued having sex with him until she became satisfied. I was completely devastated and overwhelmed with rejection. I could have left Kelly after what she had done. But I felt that if I can forgive her for this then I will hold all of controlling cards in our relationship.So I chose to stay with her, and see how things go†¦ I expected Kelly to suck up to me, kiss my ass, and make up for her actions in every way she possibly could†¦ But that never happened. Kelly ignored it and never even gave me the chance to express my feelings of betrayal and devastation to her about it. Conse quently, I let the resentment build up in me over time, mainly because I lacked assertiveness, so I buried my feelings to avoid conflict and reliving that dreadful event. So when Kelly initially confronted me about my text messages with this other woman,I responded to it by becoming defensive, trying to Justify my actions by blaming her for betraying me with another man. I tried to make her believe that my behavior was the result of her actions. I tried to make her believe that my interest in another woman was all her fault and that my dirty little secret was only talk and not sex, and against me. Ultimately, I felt entitled to do whatever I wanted because she had cheated with another man and she did it right in front of me. Since then, I have tried to figure out what it is that I had done prior to Kelly's actions hat may have influenced her choice to reject me that way.I started to realize allot of things about myself while progressing through psychological treatment, and through t his process I have practiced expressing empathy, sharpening my listening skills and I have been doing much better with each new skill that I have learned. But as I continued to use each new skill in my daily life, I could not avoid feeling somewhat coercive when I used empathy and assertiveness at times with Kelly. I had been purposely thinking out how to use the right tone if voice, overlapping ententes and using memorized feeling words Just to show empathy†¦ Inconsequently, my new communication style started to feel somewhat rehearsed, fake and coercive to me†¦ I knew I was saying the right things, but I started to feel that sometimes my words were liking real meaning and sincerity†¦ Speaking to people as if I were following directions from a book about how to communicate. But this particular sit-down talk with Kelly turned out to be more positively significant than any other talk that we have ever had. Everything that I have learned in therapy has been a benefit to my relationship with Kelly , and everyone else in my life for that matter..But reflecting back a few months, before having this conversation with her, I realized that I still hadn't been able to sort of tie it all together and use everything that I have learned so far without thinking too much about communication styles and details. I have been using listening skills, expressing empathy, taking accountability, and modifying my behavior more and more each week, and I have taken every opportunity to use each new skill as much as possible. But I have recently realized hat I was only getting better at using each skill independent from the others.Toward the end of our â€Å"conflict resolution talk†, I felt the greatest sense of relief in our relationship to see how happy Kelly was becoming as our conversation progressed. I had not realized how powerful of an impact that genuine empathy and listening to her every word would have on both of us. I believe that I actually felt the s ame pain that she had felt when she read those words on my phone. It was overwhelming!.. I felt a brick in my stomach made of betrayal and devastation s Kelly expressed the embarrassing details of my dirty text messages.She had said these same words to me before, describing her heartache over it, but I must have Just blocked her words out or I interrupted her in selfness and denial each time . The feelings inside of me made the event seem much more significant than I had realized. I could see it the way that she had experienced it but this time, the event upon me was very profound and I was taken over by guilt and shame. Truly understanding and experiencing Kelly's feelings caused emotions inside of me that kook control of my body language.I forgotten about my own resentments. I tried to hide my emotions, because I felt that have no right to cry over the pain that I had inflicted on her, but I couldn't stop the tears.. Kelly, moved to my side, laid her head on my shoulder and wrappe d her arms me. This was the first time that I had ever been successful in expressing pure empathy. This one particular dispute was resolved, but the scar will last forever. But Kelly and I now share this scar and we view our remaining unresolved disputes as teammates from the opposing dugout.