Balance of Power in the Current World Free Essay Example, 1750 words

Current mechanisms of the balance of power are similar to some of the ways ancient rulers used to balance power. For example, Otto van Bismarck registration was found to be an alliance that was quite fragile and contribute greatly to WWI. According to Gulick, the aim of the coalition was to abolish the balance of power act and engage the League of Nations but that did not work. In fact, the split of the alliance is what gave birth to the Soviet Union, Liberal Democratic in Britain and France, and Authoritarian Nationalists that was ruled by Germany and Italy. However, it is interesting to note that after WWII, there was a split between the Eastern bloc that included the Soviet Union and the Socialist nations that encompassed the central and Eastern Europe. On the other hand, the Western bloc comprised of France, US, and Britain. The balance of power system used here was an alliance that included collaboration among countries that led to the formation of NATO fighting against the Sov iet Union. In the end, NATO managed to bring down the Soviet Union and still exists to date. We will write a custom essay sample on Balance of Power in the Current World or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now From the above two examples, it is evident that alliances and coalitions are the major forms of power balancing but also face a great threat especially due to differences in interests and aims mainly localized by economic and military self-interest. From the comparison above it is evident that the future of the US as a country is on the verge of losing power if proper ways of power balancing are not engaged. That is because many of the European countries have increasingly engaged in a power struggle in the last 5 years. In conclusion, certain key policies and institutions are important for the future peace of the world and balance of power. One such institution is the UN. On the other hand, economies like the European Union can also tilt the equilibrium of the power balancing from the US to the European countries especially in Russia something that may attract war also. However, internal radicalization such as the Arab Springs has been pointed out a s some of the ways that may bring an end to international wars.

Texoil Negotiation Exercise Essay - 1681 Words

Reflection Paper - Texoil For the Texoil negotiation, I was in the role of the Service Station Owner. As such, my main objective was to sell the station and get the best possible agreement. My BATNA was $400,000, which represented an offer from British Petroleum and my resistance point was $413,000 after tax, which represented the cost of my trip. My target was $488,000, which included an additional $75,000 to help tie me over until I found a job upon my return. This resistance point represents a purely financial alternative. However, there were several other criteria or interests other than strictly financial which could have been satisfied through non-financial means. My underlying interest or reason for selling the station was†¦show more content†¦It meant I could quickly make counter offers and explore areas that I knew I was prepared to be flexible on. What surprised me the most about our behavior was how well we collaborated. At the beginning of the negotiation, I usually spend a bit of time trying to assess how the other party will negotiate (compete, collaborate, or subordinate). From the beginning of the negotiation, it was very clear that Texoil valued our relationship, was very interested in me coming back to work for them, was concerned about my wife, and was interested in my future plans. This created the right tone for collaborating. This created a basis of trust and openness, which led to creative options, which would not have been possible if one party decided to negotiate competitively. Both parties did a good job of asking questions to delve at the underlying interests, which allowed for give and take, and enabled each side to put forth proposals which could be openly considered. If the tone of the negotiation had been different, I think the Negotiator’s Dilemma might have prevented information from coming out and prevented interests to surface, and thus prevented creative solutions. What I learned about myself was that I was effective at using nibbling as a tactic. I would keep going back to how I was dissatisfied with the amount of the loan outstanding and then try to leverage my dissatisfaction to gain a concession from the other party. I would complain and then remain quiet and seeShow MoreRelatedTeaching Notes1135 Words   |  5 PagesTexoil Teaching Notes By Stephen B. Goldberg Texoil is a two-party, quantified transactional negotiation with integrative potential. The owners of a service station would like to sell their station, and a large oil and gas company would like to buy it. The stations owners are tired of the responsibilities of ownership and want to take a two year sailing trip around the world, while they are still young enough to enjoy such a trip. The oil and gas company is in the midst of a strategic expansionRead MorePost Negotiation Analyses : Case ( Luca Thun )938 Words   |  4 PagesPost Negotiation Analyses Texoil Case (Luca Thun) 1. With what aspects of your preparation were you particularly pleased? Why? How might you have been better prepared? In my opinion my preparation sheet had two aspects which were particularly well. On the one hand I anticipated the issues of the counterpart very accurate in my planning sheet and included the possibility of the owner continuing his job as an additional issue which can be further split in the sub issues salary, working hours and otherRead MoreSelf-Appraisal Paper2467 Words   |  10 PagesNegotiation is one important part of both the professional and personal life in our everyday situations. It is critical for people to resolve disputes, distribute limited resources, and/or create something new that neither party could achieve on his or her own. Negotiations can range from coordinating project timelines with clients to asking for a raise to discussing holiday plans with family members. I used to think that some people were born good negotiators and people like me were simply bad

World War I And The Great Depression - 1131 Words

American life was at an all time high during the Roaring Twenties, Americans were enjoying the prosperity of the United States so why would they want to get involved in European conflicts? The United States under the Hoover administration held a very isolated stance, the country’s economy was booming and the people were relishing in the modern society. When the Great Depression hit Americans continued to hold an isolationist stance as they focused on the deteriorating situation going on at home. Throughout this time period of 1920 to 1941, America dealt with major events, such as the end of World War I to the Roaring Twenties turning into the Great Depression in 1929, and then the beginning of World War II, along with the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. As these events took place Franklin Roosevelt had to make decisions as a way to try to maintain American democracy, one of his responses was the changes in the foreign policy of the United States. In the time period of 192 0 to 1941, the United States changed its foreign policy by becoming involved with global affairs instead of avoiding them. At the end of the World War II, president Woodrow Wilson came up with the League of Nations as a way to keep the world from going to war again. Many people opposed the League of Nations because it they did not want the United States to be involved in world affairs. Most Americans held an isolationist view, they wanted to return to â€Å"normalcy†. Warren G. Harding is an example ofShow MoreRelatedThe Great Depression Of The World War I1261 Words   |  6 PagesDear President Wilson, I am sorry to inform you, but the plan that you had come up with, is being seen as a failure. Although we saw the mass effect what happens; death, trench warfare, suffering of countries, of world war 1, the countries have began another war, WWII. I know this is a shock to you, but another war has begun. So let us sit down, I will let you take a breath, and when you are rea dy to begin, I will show you what the spark of WW11. There is a new leader instilled in Germany! WWII wasRead MoreWorld War I And The Great Depression1598 Words   |  7 PagesBefore World War I, the United States was in a period of isolationism, and a determination to stay out of European wars and affairs, while trying to maintain its status as one of the world’s biggest superpowers, militarily and economically (â€Å"United States Before†). America was just exiting the Gilded Age, which was an important time of growth and prosperity. Despite this, the American economy was in a small recession when entering the war, which was reversed by a 44 month period of growth causedRead MoreWorld War I And The Great Depression1094 Words   |  5 PagesModernism began around the late 1800s or early 1900s, with artists and writers in Europe producing many extraordinary and influential works. This period spans many events, including both World Wars and the Great Depression. Wor ld War I appeared to be a major event that helped to start Modernism; this was because of the destruction and ruin that came from it and events that followed. This poem is consistent with the values of Modernism because of alienation, time, and self- consciousness; howeverRead MoreWorld War I And The Great Depression3534 Words   |  15 Pages1876† (Vardy, J., 2005, p 3). World War I and the great depression triggered a need to create a central bank. â€Å"The 1914-18 war had great consequences of major significance for the banks, affecting in particular their relationship with the Government and the outbreak of war brought unprecedented financial problems to the government, and the Department of Finance, operating with small inexperienced in the large-scale financial activities connected with the war† (Watts, G., Rymes, T., 1993, pRead MoreWorld War I, The Great Depression And Its Aftermath1004 Words   |  5 Pages1945, United States history evolved and differed from period to period. It began with times of slavery and reconstruction, and proceeded with transformation in the Gilded Age. This then led to the Progressive Era, World War I, the Great Depression and its aftermath, as well as World War II. As one can see, history seems to fluctuate from times of peace and order to times of chaos and turmoil. A process of trial and error explains both how and why the U.S. changed the way it did. In other words, theseRead MoreThe Great Depression During World War I1943 Words   |  8 Pageswas the largest industrial in the world, thus it provided significant help to European nations that experienced debt after World War I. Throughout this prosperous era, many rich Americans made large profits from businesses that they owned. A majority of Americans started to spend more money than they earned which would inevitably lead to major problems in the future. On October 29, 1929, which is known as Black Tuesday, the stock market crashed. The Great Depression began and proved to be a worldwideRead MoreThe Great Depression During World War I Essay2238 Words   |  9 PagesAfter the Great War (1914-1919) came the â€Å"Roaring Twenties† followed by the Great Depression (1929-1939). After World War I America experienced the greatest economic growth in its history. Its economic expansion was due to how undamaged it was after t he war. It became the richest country in the world at that time. The people enjoyed life as it were back then until the US experienced the largest economic downturn in history when the Stock Market crashed on 29th October 1929. It began in the summerRead MoreThe Great Depression During World War I And Industry1354 Words   |  6 Pages The great depression was an economic recession in America that spanned between the years of 1929-1939. Although this was sparked by the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, there were several long term causes, most prominently, the decline of both the agricultural industry post World War I and industry. After the end of the first World War, food demand decreased 40% internationally, leading to a decrease in farmers’ profits. To compensate for this, farmers expanded and overplanted their farmsRead MoreThe Global Effects of Imperialism, World War I and the Great Depression1424 Words   |  6 PagesThe Global Effects of Imperialism, World War I and the Great Depression Bentley first talked about cross-cultural interactions as a way to categorize the World’s history. He in addition wrote aboutRead MoreThe Great Depression1148 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿The Great Depression The major causes of the Great Depression in the United States all began with the expansion of the US economy as a result of World War I during the 1920s. A bubble formed in the United States Stock Market as a result of speculative trading due to the ease of buying and selling stock with new ticker tape technology as well as telephone lines that allowed for market transactions from all over the country. The Stock Market crashed on what is known as Black Tuesday, October 29,

Examining The Literature On Offender Profiling - 1597 Words

Crime is an issue in every part of the globe and everyone is susceptible to becoming a victim of crime and being capable of crime. There is a strong interest from the Australian society in for criminal behaviour and investigation with television shows such as ‘Underbelly’ which were based on true Australian crime, attracting high ratings from the public. Forensic psychologists conduct Offender Profiling, a forensic procedure which examines the behavioural data provided by witnesses and the crime scene to assist the investigation by predicting the possible characteristics of criminals. This article will examine the literature on Offender profiling Offender profiling developed from both a practical, clinical approach and a statistical aspect in the 1980’s, which, in the beginning was poorly developed and based on weak evidence. However since then it has become the mainstream in Forensic Psychology because of its graduation towards methods that are scientifically justified and elimination of ineffective procedures. Offender profiling procedure involves ‘observation, reflection and construction using available data to predict the likely characteristics of an offender’(Crighton Towl, 2015). The two assumptions central to offender profiling is that the behaviour is consistent across crimes committed and that the crime scene behaviour is similar to the offender characteristics. ‘Jack the Ripper’, a serial killer of the 1880’s, is a classic, early example of Offender profiling,Show MoreRelatedHistorical Analysis : Geographic Crime2536 Words   |  11 PagesStudies were conducted on Communities and Crime, examining census and researcher defined communities and neighborhoods as well as exploration of crime in connection to street blocks and segments, buildings and even addresses (Weisburd et al., 2009). This research beside the notion of â€Å"Criminology of Place† helped spawn situational crime prevention and crime â€Å"hot spots† (Weisburd et al., 2009, p. 18). The evolution of Geographic Crime Analysis and Profiling highlights a few important ideals regardingRead MoreThe New Jim Crow, By Michelle Alexander929 Words   |  4 PagesThese are questions and situations that sociologist take time to research in society. This is mainly done because it affects society in some sort of way and it’s their job to find out wh y things happen and how can we help better the problems. Most offenders are from a lower income society or belong to an oppress group. The victims of coarse are the people who the harm is being done to, which by law there are consequences for their action. The problem, that leave one thinking is the kind of crimes peopleRead MoreThe Disproportionate Number of African-American Males Incarcerated Within the United States2992 Words   |  12 Pagesconducted by The Sentencing Project found that â€Å"African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six (5.6) times the rate of whites† (Mauer King, 2010). In November 2010 this lead to the United Nations Human Rights Council, which is responsible for examining the human rights records of all 192 UN member countries to condemn the United States on a wide assortment of civil right abuses. In particular, the human rights groups slammed the US prison systems. The United Nations Human Rights CouncilRead MoreCriticalreview Essay3793 Words   |  16 Pagesï » ¿Angry Voices from the Past and Present: Effects on Adults’ and Children’s Earwitness Memory Lisa Ãâ€"hman, Anders Eriksson and Pà ¤r Anders Granhag A critical review Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling 2013 Volume 10, Issue 1, Pages 57 – 70 Word count: 3347 As the old adage goes ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. Often for investigating officers, eye witness testimony and what is seen, is heavily reliedRead MoreAn Analysis of Serial Killing and Sexual Sadism Applying Robert Pickton as a Case Study2093 Words   |  9 Pagesphenomenon of serial murder and apply research literature to help explain his behaviour and examine issues such as psychopathy, mental disorder, and substance abuse relevant to the Pickton case. In addition, the paper will explore the sexually sadistic nature of Pickton’s murders. Finally, the paper will explore the reasoning behind Pickton’s selection of drug addicted prostitutes as victims that enabled him to conduct his murders in relative anonymity. By examining these issues, perhaps we can comprehendRead MoreA Study Of Terrorism And The Terrorist2000 Words   |  8 Pagessuch as psychosis or delusions, or antisocial personality disorder could not explain an individual’s inv olvement with terrorism. Sageman (2004) also found that there was very little evidence of emotional trauma in the childhoods of the terrorist offenders whom he investigated. This study demonstrated that neither psychopathology nor psychological trauma is a useful predictor of whether an individual will become a terrorist. These findings led Sageman (2004) to conclude that there is no psychologicalRead MoreWhy Black Men Turn To Crack Cocaine To Survive Essay2096 Words   |  9 PagesGenerally black adolescent men engage themselves in crack cocaine by way of dealing or trafficking. This study is important because it emphasizes the many underlying factors that can promote this type of lifestyle as a means of survival. When examining this particular field of study two main causes come to mind, the struggle and the trouble. The trouble is defined as the ending result from engaging in these activities, the effect in which is derived from the cause. The other aspect is the struggleRead MoreAdolescent Black Males and Their Entanglement With Crack Cocaine2215 Words   |  9 Pagesengage themselves in crack cocaine by way of dealing or trafficking. This study is important because there are many underlying factors that are not studied in regard to why this population turns to crack cocaine as a means of survival. When examining this particular field of study two main subjects come to mind, the struggle and the trouble. Most researchers in this field have focused their research on one of these two main proposals. The trouble is defined as the ending result from engagingRead MoreAttitudes Towards Police: What are Young Adults Perception of Police?3573 Words   |  15 Pagesadult’s views of police. Are their views positive or negative? I will examine multiple variables which shape young adults attitudes toward law enforcement officials and find how these interpretations developed and the sources from which they derived. Literature Review This report examines young adults’ views of law enforcement. It examines the impact of several variables such as race, gender, police contacts, and perceptions of neighborhood and police and media accounts which shape young adults’Read MoreResearch Report on Impact of Time Management11320 Words   |  46 Pagesworse there should be internal reshuffle of the police staffs. This can solve the problem of good record keeping, poor accountability, effective investigation and effective control of traffic as this can enable community policing. CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Introduction In this chapter we review research on outcome-oriented elements. â€Å"Outcome-oriented elements† refer to goals citizens expect the police to achieve. These elements include goals that have long been part of the police mission

Customer Service in the Transport Logistics Free Essays

string(117) " to address some of the issues within the transport industry, though there is still much that needs to be addressed\." The South African transport industry is one that is changing. In terms of Customer service there are certain companies that are excelling and are able to provide service that gains them a greater measure of customer satisfaction. Good customer service is an integral part of any business or organization. We will write a custom essay sample on Customer Service in the Transport Logistics or any similar topic only for you Order Now The process of managing stock, warehouse inventory, and freight transportation is at the heart of logistics. Logistics is the management and coordination of moving inventory from its origination to its ultimate destination. The goal of a logistics team is to find a way to do this process in the most streamlined, cost efficient method possible. The overall High costs in the logistics industry though are a cause for concern as they hinder the ability of organisations to provide maximum efficiency, to their customers thus not achieving maximum customer service. We will discuss what customer service is and its importance in the transport industry. We will look at the challenges facing the South African Transport industry as well as current developments going into the world cup and what these developments mean for the future of the South African transport industry. Customer Service is defined by Vogt and Pienaar as â€Å"the integrated series of activities between a supplier and a buyer, which enhance the sale and facilitate the effective use of the suppliers’ products. When rendered effectively, customer service is the overriding logistics supply chain function that can create demand and retain loyalty. In a broader sense customer service is the measure of how well the logistics system is performing in providing time and place utility for a product or service (Pienaar Vogt; 2009, 25). According to Christopher and Peck (2003) customer service includes points of contact between a supplier and buyer also including tangible and intangible elements. Logistics performance is extremely important in achieving customer satisfaction. Importance of Customer service The importance of customer service in any organisation and the transport industry as a whole cannot be over emphasized. Customer service is the most critical aspect of the whole supply and distribution chain (Ron). According to Karl it has been proven in surveys that most customers do not come back to certain business establishment because of the indifferences they might have had with the owner, manager and employees regardless if they like the product or service the business renders. Every business management must recognize the reality that customer service is imperative in the success of the business. This ensures customer loyalty and commitment to the business. The company’s ability to focus on customers needs rather than on their own will ensure that company is cost effective and efficient at all times. Characteristics of customer service in transportation There are a number of factors that make up customer service and specifically for the transport industry these include, dependability, time in transit, flexibility of mode chosen, loss and damage performance of the mode, and ability of the transport to adapt to the changing customer needs. (Craig, 2004) Most customers are more interested about receiving their delivered goods on time than whether the person delivering the goods has a cheerful face. Successful companies try to under-promise and over deliver in terms of delivery time. This allows the firms to capture their customers ensuring that the company’s reputation is not jeopardized so firms need to ensure that their lead times are accurate. Customer service excellence is about reliability and consistency. Reliability means that the suppliers commitment to maintain a promised delivery schedule and to advise customers if deliveries subsequently cannot be made on time. This shows that the suppliers are reliable and keep the customer at ease. It is better to switch to a more expensive but reliable supplier than to rely on a relatively inexpensive but erratic supplier. Customer satisfaction is highest when a customer knows they can rely on their goods to be delivered at the specified time and that the goods will be delivered. Companies such as Manline offer customers the service of being able to track their goods in transit through a customer call centre where they can monitor their cargo through real time satellite tracking of their vehicles. Such services allow customers to be more at ease. In South Africa overall this is a concern in the transport industry as the rate of hijacking is high and thus the risk of goods not arriving is high. This means that in South Africa it is imperative that an organisation gets the best security technology in order to meet customer needs. The amount of time in-transit is another important element in customer service within the transport industry. Goods need to be transported and delivered as quickly as possible as customers need their cargo on hand as soon as possible. The flexibility of any mode of transport is another important element in customer service. If an organisation is to provide the best service they need to react to a customer’s changing needs. In the South African transport industry it is sometimes difficult for there to be immediate changes in customer requirements as the most used mode of transportation is road transportation. This means that service delivery in any other form is sometimes difficult or unreliable. The idea is to move goods as quickly, efficiently and cost effectively as possible. JIT (Just-In-Time) deliveries are a powerful force in the modern epoch. Deliveries are getting smaller but more frequent. We are moving into a situation where there is a continuous flow of goods from source to final delivery. Those carriers who are able to adapt to the changes in the market and accommodate a wide set of logistical competencies will be the winners in the new age of transport. Traditional haulers must change their ideas of what industry they belong to and face the challenges of the new order. Fast-moving, 2005) Challenges affecting customer service in South Africa Within the last couple of years the country has been able to address some of the issues within the transport industry, though there is still much that needs to be addressed. You read "Customer Service in the Transport Logistics" in category "Papers" There have been various challenges that have and still face South Africa’s growing transportation and physical distribution industry. One of those challeng es is that with increased globalization the local industry has to compete with foreign industry. Customers want the most reliable yet inexpensive way of transporting their goods and foreign companies are doing this, making it difficult for local companies to stay relevant. Another major challenge which has been addressed to an extent by some companies and aspects of the transport industry is that of technology. Customers want to know the exact specifications of the transportation of their goods. They want to know time of departure, time of arrival, amount of time in transit, and even the route of transit. This then means that the best tracking technology is required. In South Africa this high technology has been slow in infiltrating the transport industry. Devices for tracking and monitoring load carriers using real time satellite tracking is not something that is widely used in the industry. A good example of a company that is doing this though is Manline . This Company has set up a 24-hour control centre operated by fleet trackers that constantly monitor all vehicles and also to apply effective route rationalizing techniques and maximize vehicle productivity and utilization. (Manline 2010). According to the findings of the ‘Research Report for the Infrastructure Inputs Sector Strategy’, commissioned by the Presidency, and compiled by Sudeo International Business consultants. One of the other major challenges facing the South African Transportation industry going into 2010 is that freight volumes travelling by all modes of transport will have to be suppressed for the duration of the world cup. This will have considerable impact on the logistics industry as a whole. Ways to improve and Developments in 2010 The challenges that face the South African industry are ones that can be remedied. The 2010 World cup in South Africa has become a catalyst event in developments in the country and the transportation industry as it is one of the most integral parts of achieving efficient customer delivery and thus achieving high customer satisfaction. An important component of ultimate improvement would be making on-time deliveries every time. When a product is ready for use, the clock starts to count down how long it will take to complete the cycle from completing the manufacturing of a product to the consumption of that product. The longer it takes to get the product into the hands of the consumer, the more money a company loses. It is important that the products are delivered quickly and on time to the customers in order to maintain the company’s customers and keep them loyal. So how does one streamline this process? By implementing a logistics plan of action, a company can do just that. Larger manufacturers will hire a logistics team that is responsible for the routing of goods from the company, to the freight transportation company, and finally to the end client. They will have a database system to track all inventory. They will monitor inventory levels to make sure that a backlog of supply occurs. An additional responsibility of transportation and logistics specialist is to account for accurate transportation times. It is vital for companies to be able to rely and trust that their shipments will arrive in a timely manner. Being well organized accounts for much of this success, but the ability to transport the shipments quickly is also important. Because the country’s infrastructure has improved with better maintained highways and interstates, transportation times have decreased. Freight transportation is more reliable now because companies can more accurately predict when a shipment will arrive. Some trucking companies will even guarantee the precise day and hour that a delivery will be made. This is very important because customer satisfaction is often based around on-time deliveries and accurate accounting of merchandise. This has also helped to reduce the cost of shipping freight, since trucking companies now have reliable, more direct routes to utilize. It indirectly affects cost because better roads create less wear and tear on shipping vehicles. It is important for the organization to answer all e-mail and phone calls from customers within an hour. If possible, the owner of the business, personally take care of the problem. This will show that the organization cares about customers and will improve the service quality of the organisation. This is an important area of improvement in South Africa as clients would be able to trust load carriers as they would be in constant contact. It will give customers peace of mind if they can continuously monitor their cargo themselves and also stay in contact with their company. The organisation should offer as many contact methods as possible. Allow customers to contact you by e-mail. Hyperlink the e-mail address so customers won’t have to type it. Offer toll free numbers for phone and fax contacts. Some trucking companies have contact numbers written on their trucks so that the customers can be able to contact that particular company when they need their service. The organisation should invite customers to company meetings, luncheons, workshops or seminars in the meeting the manager can inform the customers about when the products will be available in the market because it is important to give customers more than they expect. Create special events for the customers like parties, barbecue’s, dances etc. This will make them feel important when the company include them in regular business operations and special events (Larry Dotson, 2004) If a logistic team only concentrates on reducing freight cost, they could potentially lower customer service quality. Therefore, the goal of a logistics manager, or third party administrator, is to find a balance between cost and customer satisfaction. They must also be able to provide accurate tracking information, correctly estimate shipping cost, and be able to calculate delivery dates and times. By being organized, keeping cost low for the clients, and by making on time deliveries, freight management can help control the overall customer satisfaction of their clients. Reducing cost in freight transport is great, but if you can improve customer service at the same time, that’s even better. Logistics software can help reduce costs in freight transportation and logistics while improving customer service quality. (Barone, 2003) In the South African industry research shows that there should be plans to shift back to rail-freight and reduce that of road as the overall cost of damage to roads will eventually filter down in costs to the customer. Although currently there are greater cost savings and cost competition in using road freight. Measuring Customer Service. Measuring customer service in logistics for any organization is crucial to determine whether the organization is doing what the customers are expecting. The needs of the customers differ to a large extent and the reason being is not all customers are treated the same. Since the needs of the customers differ to a large extent, organizations end up knowing so little in general about the customers’ real requirements hence they end up setting the service levels that are too high and hence too costly (Ballou, 1978). The high service levels result also in higher distribution costs and therefore the overall price of a product. Even though the aim of any organization is to meet the needs of each and every customer, the organizations should however try to generalize about customer service as much as possible to drive down the costs. The problem that is encountered while trying to measure the customer service is what factors to measure exactly. There has always been a contradiction on whether the service levels should be determined by the customers or be set by the organizations. The firms normally select factors that are easier to measure such as order handling, order picking times whereas customers might be interested or concerned about the order transmittal and delivery which tend to be more difficult to measure. Therefore to determine those factors or aspects that the customers value the most, the organizations normally use the performance model (Murphy and Wood, 2004). The performance model is a questionnaire that the customers fill on receipt of their orders; its main objective is to determine the percentage of times the firm accomplishes specific goals and objectives. Managers normally set some visible goals against which performance can be measured. These come in two forms; standards and policy statements (Ballou, 1978). The managers might for example set a standard whereby the target is to ensure a 95% in-stock rate, filling customer orders within 24 hours of receipt or a one day order cycle time for all customers staying close to the organization. Against these standards managers can be able to tell if they are meeting and exceeding the customer service levels the organization had set. I should be further noted that it is inefficient and costly to provide more service than the customer expect or requires hence the firm should try to meet to break-even. Some companies take customer service seriously in a sense that they even have the written printed statements. The policy statements promise the customers that the company intends to act in a specified way with regard to service. There are five ways in which the organizations measure or test the customer service levels (Gwilliam M, 2008). Firstly, if the organization is able to fill the orders then it must be meeting the customers’ expectations. Normally the acceptable standard is the 95% fill rate whereby it is only 5% of the time when there is stock out. Secondly it is the delivery of the goods on time. It is vital to measure how fast the organization can deliver the products that have been ordered. If most of the time the goods are not delivered at the targeted date then major changes need to be done. Furthermore, it is important to measure how successfully the customers’ concerns can be resolved. Since the customers use the enquiries to express their concerns, the proportion of the number of customer enquiries that have been effectively resolved can be used as a means of measuring customer service given the number of enquiries that have been received. Another way to measure customer service can be how quick the organization responds to the customers’ mails, emails, and phone calls. If the organization is able to respond to the customers within 24 hrs than the level of customer service is up to standard. The last way of measuring the customer service in logistics is by letting the customer decide. The customers can let the organization know if it is fulfilling the needs of its customers. The customer surveys that focus on the customer service issues can be conducted and from the response of the customer surveys the organization can be able to improve on the areas that the customers are not happy with. Once the level of customer service is known it becomes easier to control it. When the level of customer service is below the standard the customers become dissatisfied, however if the level of customer service is above or exceed what the customers require it increases the costs of the organization. Control is therefore defined as a process of taking corrective action when measurement indicates that the goals or objectives of customer service are not being achieved. For example, if the delivery targeted dates are not met there might be a need of changing the mode of transport or simply the route being used. Firstly the service level standards are set, and then the actual is compared to the standard. If there is a variation then the corrective measures need to be done so that the standard is met. At times the reason why the standard is not met is because it was set too high that it cannot be matched, in this case the standard itself needs to be revised. Conclusion â€Å"The success of South Africa’s infrastructure growth challenges will be dependent on the ability of logistics infrastructure and, in particular, transportation, to cope with the demands placed on it. †(Engineering news, 2007). In the future the quality of customer service will be the main determining factor in the survival of a company as customers become more aware of product offerings that will suit them. The transportation industry in South Africa is changing, with greater emphasis being placed on the customer and their level of satisfaction. This will bring a greater move forward in the industry that will see South Africa competing on the world stage in terms of transportation. Customer service is vital to the survival of any company, organisation or industry and establishing and implementing customer service policies that work is what will lead organisations and industries to greater growth and success. How to cite Customer Service in the Transport Logistics, Papers

Pros and Cons of the Atomic Bomb in WWII Essay Example For Students

Pros and Cons of the Atomic Bomb in WWII Essay During wartime, horrible atrocities against all of humanity must be dealt with. Crimes against humanity, as never witnessed before, and hopefully to never be seen again, occurred during the course of World War II. America has always, and most likely will always place a high value on American lives. In order to protect these lives and to insure that the world is safe for democracy, American leaders had to make a very tough decision, whether or not to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. This act would essentially be trading Japanese lives for American lives. The Japanese were responsible for hundreds of thousands of American casualties in the Pacific, including the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor. With Japanese forces showing no signs of surrender, American leaders made a decision. A decision that changed the history of warfare forever. On the week of August 6, 1945, the first and the last atomic bombs ever used during war were unleashed against Japan, vaporizing two of it! s largest cities. The act of dropping these bombs can be considered a great act against humanity, and rightfully so. Any act of war that will slaughter hundreds of thousands of people should be considered a crime against humanity. However, if we had not dropped the bomb on Japan, how many Americans would have been killed attempting to invade the Japanese mainland? Some estimates are as high as half a million, some lower but almost all of the estimates are well over one hundred thousand American lives that would have been lost. This number did not include the number of Japanese that would have likewise been killed in the invasion. This combined number would greatly outweigh the 200,000 who died at Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Farris). As American forces got closer and closer to the Japanese homeland, resistance from the Japanese increased. The Japanese were a very proud people, and they were willing to fight until it was no longer possible. The Japanese soldiers armed women and children with grenades and bamboo spears and instructed them to kill as many Americans as possible (WW2). Even if the capital of Japan was taken and its leaders captured, Japanese forces in China would continue to fight in a war where they could not possible win. In order to prevent the countless number of American and Japanese lives from being lost in an invasion, America had to surprise and shock the Japanese into seeing how futile it was to persist in the war. The only practical way to do this was by using the atomic bomb. Not that American forces had not destroyed Japanese cities in the past. Firebombing had almost totally destroyed the Japanese capital of Tokyo. The difference in using an atomic bomb was that a! city could be destroyed in one swift blow, with no possible way to prevent the city from being destroyed. After the ultimate destructive power of this weapon had been demonstrated, Japan had no choice but to surrender (Szilard). Some may argue that by using the atomic bomb in the war, we started the nuclear arms race. This is completely untrue. Germany and Japan had begun research on the atomic bomb even before the United States had conceived the notion. Not soon after the United States had begun research, Russia also began research. From the beginning of time, man has sought power. It is in our nature. That is the reason that wars are started, to gain more power. Nuclear weapons are the ultimate power, the power to play God. With one push of a button, an entire city can be vaporized, killing hundreds of thousands of people. As man moved closer and closer to the dawn of a nuclear age, it became inevitable that these weapons of mass destruction would be created. Once created, there became no way to stop the spread of them, as more and more countries gained the ultimate power. .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f , .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .postImageUrl , .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f , .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f:hover , .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f:visited , .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f:active { border:0!important; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f:active , .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucc841fcc1d78fd23be20c947660b610f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Difference Between Distributive and Integrative Bargaining Sample Essay If the United States had decided not to perfect the atomic bomb, or even if they had decided not to use the b! omb against Japan, other countries may have developed it before us. Hostile nations such as Japan or Russia could have developed .

The Word Ghetto free essay sample

The word ghetto, which would come to be used throughout Europe to describe communities of isolated minority groups, originated in Venice in the 1500’s. According to the Oxford English Dictionary a ghetto was â€Å"The quarter in a city, chiefly in Italy, to which the Jews were restricted† (OED). In 16th century Italy, Pope Paul IV established ghettos in Venice as a place of confinement for Jews. His main goal was to gain maximum economic advantage from the Jews’ presence while ensuring minimal social contact with Jewish people. In 1516, seven hundred Jews were forced to move to one small part of Venice, then an abandoned site of a 14th-century foundry that produced cannons. This area known as the â€Å"Geto† was an old Venetian dialect for foundry from the Italian verb gettare which means to pour or to cast, while the island across from it on which waste products had been dumped became known as â€Å"Il terrneo del Ghetto. † The word ghetto in its new usage did not remain long confined to the city of Venice. Generalization of the term helped the word to include all enclosed quarters of Jews in Europe. By the Pope’s edict, Jews remained enclosed in ghettos for two centuries until 1797, when Napoleon and the French army invaded Italy. At that time the ghettos were disbanded and the Jewish people who lived in them were allowed to go wherever they pleased (holocaustresearchproject). Having immigrated to new countries, Jews tended to congregate in particular areas of a town or a city even when no longer forced to do so as did many minority groups living in a foreign country. This was a matter of choice. The Nazi’s eliminated the choice. â€Å"Ghettoisation† appeared in the countries occupied by Germany during World War II. After their 1939 invasion of Poland, Germans tried to control the sizable Jewish population by forcing Jews, and also Gypsies, to reside in marked-off sections of towns and cities the Nazis called â€Å"ghettos. † Altogether the Germans created at least 1000 ghettos. The largest was in Warsaw, Poland, which was the location from where the Nazis transported more than 300,000 prisoners to death camps. The Warsaw Ghetto was also the site of the largest and most significant Jewish uprising, and the first urban uprising in German occupied Europe (holocaustresearchproject). The Germans usually marked off the oldest and most run down areas of a city for a ghetto site. Thus the word â€Å"Ghetto† came to be associated with cramped dilapidated housing, appalling sanitary conditions, inadequate and poor food quality, absence of medical supplies and facilities that were all common aspects of ghetto living. Inhabitants often died of starvation, disease and exhaustion within the ghetto. These connotations remained attached to the word ghetto even up until modern times. In America, the word changed and evolved. Today, the term ghetto applies primarily to blacks in Northern U. S. cities. While all major immigrant groups coming into the U. S. establish their own residential areas, blacks ended up more segregated then most. Scholars have argued over whether or not poverty created ghettos in America or whether the ghettos created poverty. In any event, the connotation of the word ghetto in America became associated with large-scale housing projects and inner city neighborhoods inhabited by black people who suffer from harsh living conditions. Because of such harsh living conditions, these areas have become notorious for crime, drugs, and violence. Thus the connotation of the word ghetto in America has stayed true to its original usage. It is used to this day to describe places of racial segregation (bos. frb. org). While the word ghetto still is associated with impoverished living environments, perhaps because of gentrification the word ghetto has come to have positive slang connotations as well. For example, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines the expression â€Å"ghetto fabulous† or â€Å"ghetto fab† as â€Å"an ostentatious or flamboyant lifestyle or manner of dress, associated with the hip-hop subculture and characterized as a marker of status in economically disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. † This is a perfect example of how the way we use the word ghetto has changed dramatically over time. The word became part of hip-hop culture in the 1990’s. It was used in a good way for the first time. To describe someone who wanted to be part of that way of life as â€Å"ghetto† or â€Å"ghetto fab† was a complement. It was something that the world had never seen before. The creation of slang words and expressions is one of the ways that language changes over time. A group will use a certain word and after time, it may become widely used. Then it can become a part of most people’s vocabulary. Instead of being a noun with the most negative connotations of poverty disease and even death, the word ghetto is currently used as an adjective to label certain clothing, style, and even attitudes. There are certain brands of clothes that in many cases are described as ghetto. This could be because of the way they look (baggy, brightly colored) or because of the fact that the people who wear them frequently live in urban areas. The word ghetto is used for many reasons. Due to our culture and our society many times the word gains negative meaning. Generalizations may cause people to believe that people from the ghetto have less moral values than someone from out of the ghetto. However, the true definition of the word says nothing about morality. Although the word has a myriad of meanings, it is still understood in a variety of conversations (123helpme). Did the word ghetto really go from being such a negative term to such a positive one while somehow still maintaining part of its original meaning? That’s exactly what the word has done. The bridge between the two polar opposite meanings can probably be attributed to the fact that each has something to do with the city or urban areas. This is just about the most ameliorated a word could ever get. After a few centuries of word evolution, the word ghetto has become part of our culture in a positive way, rather than a negative one. The word has been through an incredible amount of semantic change. Through the process of broadening, the word has gained many new meanings. It no longer describes a quarter of an Italian city in which Jews were forced to stay in. It no longer has to describe a run down, over populated city such as Brooklyn, New York. The word ghetto can be used as an adjective now. It can be used to positively describe someone or something. Semantic changes such as broadening and generalization have brought about countless new usages and meanings to what was once a very specialized word (COHA) The word has been altered over time to become much more of a slang term. Many would argue that this term has become slang because of the way it is used by the younger generations. While it shouldn’t be considered a totally different word, the word ghetto represents entirely different meaning then it used to. The word has been used in and seen in such a wide variety of ways that it rarely gets used to describe what it was nitially meant to. The real meaning of the word ghetto does not mean much anymore because there is no longer a place where Jews are forced to live or for that matter a place where any group or minority is forced to live. The word now depicts a disadvantaged section of a city or town. The word ghetto was used in America most frequently in the 1970’s. Before that it was probably used a lot more interna tionally due to the fact that most ghettos in America did not exist until around the 1950’s. In the 1970’s the word is used with certain words very frequently. For example the words â€Å"black,† â€Å"boxed-in,† and â€Å"community. † However over time and into the 21st century the word is used less and less. While the usage decreases, the meaning changes. Today, we see the word ghetto used with words and phrases such as â€Å"fabulous,† â€Å"pimp,† â€Å"track-suit,† and â€Å"gangsta† (COHA). Its evident that as time goes on, the meaning of the word ghetto is being altered tremendously. The word ghetto is a word that has an important place in not only today’s world, but also in the past. The word contains tremendous meaning for certain groups of people throughout history. For most of these people the word isn’t something they consider a noble word or a cheerful word at all. The people who know best what this word means are the people who experienced the Ghetto, the people who were confined, and people who were restricted. These people couldn’t experience the outside world. They were stuck in what is now defined by the OED as â€Å"the part of the city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group or groups. † The term was originally used in Venice, Italy to describe the place where the Jews were meant to live. Eventually the term became widespread. Now used not just for areas where minorities live, but also for poorer areas in general. The word went through the semantic change of broadening. Ultimately, more than just Europeans in the old world used the word. In later years, the Venetian origin of the word â€Å"ghetto† came to be forgotten, as it was used exclusively in its secondary meaning as referring to compulsory, segregated and enclosed Jewish quarters, and then in a looser sense, to refer to any area densely populated by Jews. Eventually â€Å"ghetto became the general designation for areas densely inhabited by minority groups, almost always for socioeconomic reasons, rather than legal ones as had been the case with the initial Jewish ghetto. Interestingly enough, the word â€Å"ghetto† can be described as a colloquialism, but can just as easily be used as slang. The fact is no one changed the meaning of the word on purpose. This is what happens to words over time. They change meaning time and time again. The word ghetto is no different. The word is a perfect example of language and how it is ever changing.