5 Benefits of Homeschool Co-Ops

There are many reasons to consider joining a homeschool co-op. A co-op can be an invaluable source of support for homeschool parents who work outside the home. They can also provide enrichment opportunities or be used to supplement what parents are teaching their kids at home. What Is a Homeschool Co-Op? A homeschool co-op is not the same as a homeschool support group. A support group usually serves as a resource for parents and hosts monthly meetings and field trips like park days or dances. A homeschool co-op, short for cooperative, is a group of homeschool families that join to share in the education of their children. Homeschool co-ops offer classes for students and usually require parent participation. Dont expect to drop your kids off at classes or activities. In most cases, parents are actively involved in teaching classes, caring for younger children, or helping with cleaning and other tasks. In other cases, parents may pool their financial resources to hire instructors for the courses offered by the co-op. This  option can be more costly but can be an accessible way to get expert help. Homeschool co-ops can vary in size from a small co-op of only two or three families to a large, organized setting with paid instructors. What Are the Benefits? A homeschool co-op can help both parents and students alike. They can help expand ​the knowledge base of an individual homeschool parent, allow parents to share their expertise with others, and provide student opportunities that would be difficult to achieve outside a group setting. 1. Promote Group Learning A homeschool co-op provides an opportunity for homeschooled children to experience learning in a group atmosphere. Young students learn skills such as raising their hands to speak, taking turns, and waiting in lines. Older students learn more advanced group skills, such as collaborating with others on projects, class participation, and public speaking. Children of all ages learn to take instruction from someone other than a parent and to respect teachers and fellow students. A homeschool co-op can also make what might be a boring class at home alone a much more enjoyable endeavor. It’s a relief for students not to be the one expected to give all the answers. Its also a learning experience for them to get other students input and perspective. 2. Opportunities to Socialize Homeschool co-ops provide socialization opportunities for both the parent and the student. Meeting on a weekly basis provides students with the opportunity to forge friendships. Unfortunately, students may also discover that a co-op presents the opportunity to learn to deal with peer pressure, bullies, and uncooperative students. However, even this downside can lead to valuable lessons that will help kids develop the skills they need to deal with future school and workplace situations. A regular co-op schedule also allows moms and dads to meet other homeschooling parents. They can encourage one another, ask questions, or share ideas. 3. Shared Expenses and Equipment Some subjects require equipment or supplies that can be expensive for a single family to purchase, such as a microscope or quality lab equipment. A homeschool co-op allows for shared expenses and pooling of available resources. If it is necessary to hire an instructor for classes that parents feel unqualified to teach, such as a foreign language or a high school level science course, the expense can be shared among participating families. This makes it possible for many parents to provide top-quality classes. 4. Some Classes Are Difficult to Teach at Home For younger students, homeschool co-ops may offer enrichment classes or those that require more preparation and clean up than everyday studies. These courses may include science, cooking, music, art, or unit studies. Homeschool co-op classes for older students often include lab sciences, such as biology or chemistry, advanced math, writing, or foreign language. There are often opportunities for students to take classes that function better with a group, such as drama, physical education, or orchestra. 5. Accountability Because someone outside your immediate family is setting the schedule, a homeschool co-op can provide a level of accountability. This accountability makes co-op an excellent option for classes that may fall by the wayside at home. Students learn to take deadlines seriously and stay on schedule. Even students who don’t mind telling a parent that they â€Å"forgot† their homework are usually much more reluctant to make such an admission when called on in a classroom setting. While homeschool co-ops aren’t for everyone, many families find that sharing the load, even with only two or three other families, has benefits for everyone involved. Edited by Kris Bales

First Generation Immigrants and Education - 800 Words

First Generation Immigrants and Education Immigration has a great impact on first generation immigrants. Studies show that acculturation and assimilation have wide-ranging effects on the groups involved, but mostly on the immigrants lives. There are positive and negative attributes. Attributes that are due to the issues associated with integrating cultures, and broadly related to the greater issue of immigration. The issues and discrimination towards first generation immigrants cause them to have limitations throughout their lifetime, in the country that they have moved to. Furthermore, the Hispanic and Latino community have lived through this problem for so long. They are always the group to be affected by it because they lose a sense†¦show more content†¦Although the severeness of their problems depends on their level of education. When a first generation immigrant begins school at the elementary level, all the other kids and students are more accepting towards them. The r eason they are accepting is because they do not understand or are unaware of the social differences that exist between them. First generation immigrants entering into this situation have very little issues with their status, and they will have more time to adapt to their new environment. Although these issues could arise later on in their lives. The transition is different for a first generation immigrant at a high school level. There are many factors that come into play that make this transition difficult for the immigrants. In recent times, schools all over the country are very diverse, population wise. They have to deal with a new environment, unknown to them. They also have to learn to adapt, and learn a new language, which is a whole new challenge all on its own. Bullying followed by discrimination are some of the biggest issues first generation immigrants face during their high school education. First generation immigrants face many issues while they are in the public educatio n system, but their issues are greater when they decide to continue their schooling. The access to higher education for first generation immigrants is limited. The biggest concern for them is the affordability of post secondary education. ImmigrantsShow MoreRelatedAnissia Gonzalez . Written Communications. Immigration.1231 Words   |  5 Pagesopportunity to pay for a better education, while others have the option of obtaining a â€Å"public school† one. However their are those who receive less of an education due to the city they were born. Imagine not having the ability to receive the education you deserve for the simple fact of the border you were born within. Immigrants and their kids face different challenges everyday due to the simple fact they were not born in the united states. A big factor that influences an immigrant s life is not beingRead MoreHouston Area Survey Essay1174 Words   |  5 Pagesand Asians. In terms of Latinos in Houston, the study places emphas is on the differences between the first generation who are foreign-born, second generation who were born in the United States with immigrant parents, and third-generation Latinos who were born in America with American parents. The study explores the differences between the generations on their socioeconomic status including education levels and household income, and on their views on topics such as immigration and abortion in orderRead More From Myth to Multiculturalism1325 Words   |  6 Pagesmyth about first-generation European immigrants who came to the United States during the period of immigration between 1880 and 1915 is that they succeeded academically. The fact, however, is they did not do well (Rothstein, 2004 as cited in Nieto Bode, 2008) and most of the immigrants did not graduate from nor even attend high school (Education, n.d.). Even second-generation immigrants often did not fare well; for example, only 17% of male and nine percent of female second-generation Ita lianRead MoreThe Language Gap Between First And Second Generation Immigrants1589 Words   |  7 Pagesthose children are second generation (Zong). Second generation immigrants typically acquire the language spoken in the receiving country (their second language, the L2) when old enough to leave the household for schooling, while their parents—first generation immigrants—retain their native language (the L1). While childhood arrivals â€Å"effortlessly acquire† the L2, â€Å"higher wage returns and better job opportunities† are typically prerequisite incentives for older immigrants to invest in learning theRead MoreThe Undocumented Teenagers And Future Generation Of Children1003 Words   |  5 Pagesof the United States populations is made up by immigrants. About 11 million are undocumented out of the 40 million foreign-born in the United States. For years, the inherent dignity of undocumented immigrants has been under attack. These attacks are supporte d by incorrect, misleading statements aiming to dehumanize and belittle an entire group of people (JUST THE FACTS†). I tremendously believe many of the undocumented teenagers and future generation of children will have a positive impact on ourRead More Parenting Across Cultures Essay996 Words   |  4 PagesParents hope to share their practices from generation to generation, however when immigrants relocate other to countries they adapt to new ways of living (Two Parents, 2009). Immigrants relocate to provide their families with financial stability and better education. Some immigrants face obstacles when they relocate to North America, such as language barriers, discipline issues, and little involvement in their child’s education. Many of the immigrants first language is not English, their language barrierRead MoreComparing Waves of Immigrants in Joseph Healey’s â€Å"From Immigrants to White Ethnics827 Words   |  3 PagesHealey’s â€Å"From Immigra nts to White Ethnics† is a generalized comparison between the varying groups of individuals that accompanied the colossal waves of immigration to the United States from Europe in the nineteenth century. Immigration to this country resulted from a number of reason such as religious persecution, individuals seeking to find employment after industrialization in their home countries limited their livelihood, and political oppositions to name a few. On arrival the immigrants knew immediatelyRead MoreEarly Generation Vietnamese Americans : An Investigation On Attitudes1749 Words   |  7 PagesHeritage Language Maintenance in Second-Generation Vietnamese Americans: an Investigation on Attitudes Chi Phan ERE220 Spring 2017 California State University, Fresno Lit ¬erature review This study investigates the attitudes of second-generation Vietnamese Americans towards Vietnamese language maintenance. The purpose of this literature review is (1) to describe the theoretical framework of the study and (2) to analyze and summarize current research on the problem of practice. In terms of the theoreticalRead MoreChinese-American Culture in Understanding Bone Essay721 Words   |  3 Pagesby Nhi Le stated clearly how â€Å" †¦ the first generations’ struggle to survive and the second generations’ efforts to thrive †¦ † made the transition into American culture possible. Overcoming barriers such as language, education, work ethic, and sex roles was just a beginning to the problems that all Asian – Americans faced. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The most obvious and one of the most difficult walls to climb was the language. First generation immigrants rarely became fluent in English and moreRead MoreTransitioning From A Secondary Education Essay1075 Words   |  5 Pagesindividuals is that of transitioning from a secondary education and into a post-secondary education due to lack of awareness of what to expect plus having little or no knowledge about how to prepare for such drastic change. First-generation college students constitute those students that are first in their families to go to college, whose parents were unable to achieve any postsecondary education, bachelor s degree, and had more than a high school education (Garcia, V. 2015; Garriott, P. O., Hudyma, A

Protagonist in Trifles free essay sample

The controversial question that ambles, then gains every readers eye and eventually turns into a debate when reading Susan Glaspell’s one act play, Trifles, is who is the protagonist? There are seven characters in Trifles and only one of them is the protagonist. One might argue that Mrs. Peters or Mrs. Hale is the protagonist because of the disclosure of their feelings and their constant dialogue about Mr. Wright, who is dead, and Mrs. Wright, who is now in jail for murdering her husband. No, there is not enough profound and sound evidence to support that argument; however, the evidence that supports Mrs. Wright as the protagonist is overwhelming. Mrs. Wright is clearly the protagonist when identifying the antagonist(s), observing the transformation of Minnie Foster to Mrs. Wright, and by realizing what the sympathies from Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters for Mrs. Wright actually mean. When investigating the antagonist, or antagonists, it is clear that there are many possibilities. Susan Glaspell has strong feminist ideals; furthermore, the effects of these ideals are lucid in Trifles. Several times the men are outstandingly against the women. This conflict provides support for a conflict between a man and a woman and assists in narrowing the possibilities of who the protagonist actually is. Early on in the dialogue, the County Attorney starts by singling out Mrs. Wright by criticizing her housekeeping abilities by calling out, â€Å"Dirty towels! Not much of a house keeper would you say ladies? † (Glaspell 141). Mr. Henderson again criticizes Mrs. Wright’s abilities when he says she does not have homemaking instincts (Glaspell 141). Mrs. Hale provides the reader with more evidence of a male-antagonist versus female-protagonist conflict when she says, â€Å"You know, it seems kind of sneaking. Locking her up in town and then coming out here and trying to get her own house to turn against her† (Glaspell 142). In this quotation Mrs. Hale is not happy with the fact that the men have come in and criticized Mrs. Wright and then rummaged through her things. More evidence, perhaps the most significant, is that Mrs. Hale makes known that the death of Mrs. Wrights Canary is because of her husband. The support for a conflict between a man and women cannot go without notice because there are an ample number of quotes throughout the text that support this argument. The protagonist should undergo change as their character develops throughout the text. This change does not have to be beneficial for the character. In fact, the character that goes through the most change is Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Wright has been married to Mr. Wright for quite a long time. The community knows Mrs. Wright as Minnie Foster before her marriage and exposure to her husband. Before she was married, Mrs. Wright was a completely different person. She wore different clothing; she had different hobbies, and was able to be happy and cheerful. Some of the first words that come from Mrs. Hale about Mrs. Wright state that, â€Å"She used to wear pretty clothes and be lively, when she was Minnie foster†¦singing in the choir† (Glaspell 142). Mrs. Hale found out that Mrs. Wright had a bird later in the text. She compares Mrs. Wright to her bird by saying, â€Å"†¦like a bird –real sweet and pretty†¦How –she –did –change† (Glaspell 144). Mrs. Hale thought highly of Mrs. Wright before she made the decision to marry John. Everything about Winnie Foster did change when she made that decision. John description is that of a poor one. He is not cheerful, gone all day, and a hard man. Minnie experiencing the poor attributes of John, day after day, having to live with him and endure his gloominess, changed her dramatically. Minnie was cheerful; she used to sing in the choir, wear pretty clothes, and went outside. Now that she is married, Minnie is alone at home tending to dirty towels, a messy kitchen, no children, and worst of all the â€Å"†¦great deal of work to be done on a farm† (Glaspell 141). Noticing the changes in Mrs. Wright are crucial to determining the protagonist. The men, including her husband, are against her, which leaves Mrs. Wright to be the protagonist, as the men are her antagonists. The last piece of evidence proving that Mrs. Wright is the protagonist is the content of the dialogue between Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, which make up the majority of the text. Of their conversations, there are a countless number of sympathetic comments toward Mrs. Wright. The most significant support for this statement is how Mrs. Hale clings to the birdcage right after she says, â€Å"I wonder how it would seem never to have had any children around. No, Wright would not like the bird –a thing that sang. She used to sing. He killed that, too† (Glaspell 144). Mrs. Hale, in this quote, is beginning to understand what it was like for Mrs. Wright while she is with her husband. She is starting to understand that Minnie is caged up, stuck, and unhappy. The argument for sympathetic comments is that a static and flat character could not have near as much sympathy from other characters because a character that is not the least bit developing cannot be the protagonist. Therefore, because Minnie is developing she can be a central focus of the conversations and the many sympathies. Mrs. Wright does not make herself the protagonist; the other characters in the play make her the protagonist by creating and developing her character. In conclusion, Mrs. Wright is easily identifiable as the protagonist in this play. By identifying the antagonist, observing the transformation of Minnie Foster to Mrs. Wright, and by determining what the sympathies from Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters actually mean it is clear that Mrs. Wright is the protagonist. This is because she is the subject matter of the majority of the dialogue, she is the most developed character and undergoes the most change and because she has the most opposition or antagonists.

The Dead 2 Essay Research Paper Life free essay sample

The Dead 2 Essay, Research Paper Life After Death James Joyce states it best stating, Better base on balls boldly into that universe, in the full glorification of some passion, than slice and wither drearily with age ( p.143 ) . Not merely is he speaking chiefly about the decease of relationships, but besides that of actual decease and other mortalities and the manner they take form. Gretta and Micheal likely represent the passionate passing best. Micheal Furey s last visit with Gretta started with some window tape, and ended with decease and lost love. Micheal knew that alternatively of turning old with love, he should decease while his fire for Gretta still burned bright. Gretta, instead boldly, said to Gabriel, I think he died for me ( p.141 ) . However, Gretta did non do that premise until ulterior contemplation. Joyce besides does a good occupation of sketching the significance of life rhythms. It takes something to turn before it can decease, and something to decease before it can turn. We will write a custom essay sample on The Dead 2 Essay Research Paper Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For case Gabriel s love was hidden until the denudation of decease, for so it bloomed. Joyce so carefully picks the name Gabriel. Possibly this excessively supports the rhythms of life. Gabriel, the angel, indirectly brought Jesus into the universe, tungsten hich in bend brought the cardinal purpose of the Bible to life, decease. The decease of Jesus is merely of import for the forgiveness of wickednesss, or our lone opportunity of a worthy life after decease. Still it would non hold been possible without the birth. Now its Gretta s bend. Gretta, in her deep compunction for the long doomed friend, starts to live over some of her lost emotion. As Micheal did, she excessively wants to travel with passion, before age strikes her. Gabriel even says, # 8230 ; he knew that it was no longer the face for which Micheal Furey had braved decease ( p.142 ) . Similarly a tapping at the window and the falling of snow comes before she goes. Gabriel knows what has happened. Joyce tells us by stating, His psyche swooned easy as he heard the snow falling faintly through the existence and faintly falling, like the descent of their last terminal, upon all the life and the dead ( p.144 ) . Joyce likely had many purposes and readings for decease. However the decease represented in relationships and the connexion between life and decease seemed to greatly outweigh the other messages. Both positions of decease have their diverseness, yet maintain one large analogue. And that is, sometimes you don t know what you have until it s gone.

Strategic Management

Strategic Management Introduction The business environment has in the recent past been experiencing tremendous growth and development. The growth in technology and globalization has significantly impacted on the business environment through increased global activity. These developments have opened up new opportunities and means of production for the business society thus leading to success.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nevertheless, the increased global activity as well as the technological innovations have not come singly but have rather raised new challenges for business organizations. The issues of competition, environmental management, and sustainability have emerged thus putting unprecedented pressure on the business community. With this in mind, there has been every need for business organization to identify and develop strategies so as to ensure business success and sustaina bility. The automobile industry has not been exempted whereby the levels of competition have multiplied over the years. The issues of sustainability and efficiency in the use of petroleum oil as the sole source of power have also risen thus calling for adoption of new technologies. Other issues emerging in the automobile industry include the ever rising customer demands on innovative, luxuries and distinctive products. These issues have put undue pressure on the various business organizations operating in the industry thus calling for more efficient and sustainable strategies. BMW which is a key player in the automobile industry has been demonstrating success over the last century. In this essay, key strategic issues in BMW will be reviewed and appropriate recommendations made to enhance the success and sustainability of BMW. Background information of BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) is a German Automobile, engine and motorcycle manufacturing company which was founded back in 1917 . The company has its headquarters in Munich, Bavaria, Germany and also owns and produces the mini marquee. The massive production and success of the company has been acknowledged across the globe with a production record of 1,481,253 automobiles and 112,271 motorcycles in 2010. The strong brand name and capital potential of the company is the core elements of the company’s success and popularity across the globe. BMW primarily focuses on the premium segments of the global motorcycle and passage car market (Hill 2008; Martin 2010). The business operations of BMW are diverse with key concern on automobile and motorcycles as well as the provision of information technology services. A point worth of consideration is that BMW markets its products through various channels including company-owned showrooms, subsidiaries, independent dealers and importers. TAdvertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More he production activities of BMW are undertaken across 23 production and assembly plants in 13 countries, whereby it sells its products in over 140 countries worldwide. The massive research and development operations of the company have been of great concern whereby it has been able to adopt the recent technologies in automobile production thus leading to product and service differentiation (Hitt et al. 2009). SWOT Analysis BMW has reported commendable performance and success in the automobile industry for a couple of decades. Being the leading luxury car manufacturer across the globe, the company has been able to position itself among the consumers. The strong luxury car brands owned by BMW, Roll-Royce and Mini have enabled the company to attract and retain a wide population of customers. The competitiveness of the company has been felt across the automobile industry based on the strong brand names and market share commanded by the company. The company has also been under due pressure due to the ever increasing steel prices, competition and need for better technologies (Gerry et al. 2008). Table 1. SWOT Analysis. Strengths Weakness Strong brand image Diversified operations Strong financial performance Efficient and extensive production and distribution network Strong focus on R D Weak performance in Germany Weak turnover ratios Heavy Debt which limits growth prospectus Unfunded pension obligations Opportunities Threats Emerging markets Increasing demand for hybrid vehicles Increasing demand for dual fuel vehicles Growing motorcycles market Strategic alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroen Rising costs of raw materials ELV directive Stringent emission standards Global economic slowdown and particularly in Europe and US Foreign currency risk Increased competition in global automotive market Strengths Strong brand image The company is globally recognized due to its strong brand image. Being the leading luxury car manufacturer, BMW has been able to secure a suitable position among the 10 largest car manufacturers across the globe. The key brands of the company including BMW, Rolls-Royce and Mini have been able to adequately position the company above its competitors. These are among the three strongest premium brands in the car industry thus making the company one of the most recognized far above its competitors (Ranchhod and Gurau 2007). Diversified operations BMW is among the leading diversified companies in terms of geographical operations and market ends it serves. The operations of the company are currently in over 140 countries thus enhancing its global presence. The key geographic regions of the company including, America, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Europe have been able to facilitate the success of the company. The diversified business operations in the automobiles, financial services, motorcycles and information technology services have also yielded great success for the company (RanChhod et al 2004). Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Strong financial performance In the recent years, BMW has shown up its strong financial performance through its consistently increasing revenues. For instance, by December 2007, BMW was able to record revenues of $76,786.1 million which was an increase of 14.3% over the year 2006. The commendable financial performance of the company can be attributed to the consistence increase in all businesses of the company. Despite the impacts of the global financial down turn of 2007/2008, the company has been able to sail through the challenges thus reinforcing investors’ confidence (Martin 2010). Weaknesses Weak performance in Germany Despite that Germany is a huge market for BMW; the company has been reporting declining sales volumes since 2005 in Germany. There has been an alarming negative sales growth of motorcycles in Germany ov er the last couples of years. This phenomenon calls for alarm concerning the success and sustainability of the BMW’s Germany market (Martin 2010). Weak turnover ratios The turnover ratios of BMW are not appealing thus raising questions on its financial stability. In comparison with its competitors, BMW has weaker turnover ratios. For instance, the asset turnover ratio was at 0.7 in 2007. This is low in comparison with other companies like Honda with 1.0 and Volkswagen at 0.8. This weak turnover ratios demonstrates the inability of the company’s management to deploy assets profitability which can in this case affect the company’s top line growth (Martin 2010). Opportunities Emerging markets Emerging markets across the globe are great opportunities for the success and sustainability of BMW. The massive economic growth and development in China and India is a great avenue to steer the much needed growth in BMW. India and China are potential global markets which will definitely drive global demand. The cheap production costs and high technological know how in China and India will enhance fast growth of BMW through mass production of quality and cheap vehicles (RanChhod et al. 2004). Increasing demand for hybrid vehicles Over the recent past, the global population has demonstrated a sharp turn into the demand for hybrid electric vehicles. Influenced by the need for environmental sustainability as well as the rising petroleum fuel costs, the world population is seeking alternative vehicles. Global estimates show that over 4.5 million units of hybrid electric vehicles will be demanded by the year 2013. This can be attributed to the rising energy costs as well as increased emissions regulations. BMW is hereby keen to capitalize on the increased demand thus enhancing its success. The technological potential of the company as well as the active hybrid drive concept will enable the company to demonstrate leadership in the hybrid electric vehicle marke t (Hill 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Increasing demand for dual fuel vehicles Like the demand for hybrid electric vehicles, the demand for dual fuel vehicles is in a constant increase. BMW is well placed in capitalizing on this new market due to its technological capacity as well capital potential (Hill 2008). Threats Rising raw materials prices The success and sustainability of BMW is at jeopardy due to the numerous threats surrounding its operations. The rising prices of aluminum and steel which are the primary raw materials for vehicle production is threatening the success of the company. The ever increasing raw material prices is in turn raising the production costs which limits profit margins as well as limiting affordability of the vehicles since excessive burden is passed to the customers (Martin 2010). Economic slowdown in Europe and US The global economic slowdown in 2008 has adversely affected the US and European markets. The decline in the GDP of these two giants is posing a great threat not only for BMW but the entire business sector. It is worth noting that the unhealthy economic growth of Europe and US has great impacts on the performance of BMW since demand for vehicles is significantly declining (Copper 2008). Stringent emission standards The stringent emission standards established in the automobile industry has unprecedented repercussions on the automobile industry whereby BMW is not exempted. Based on the new directives on emission standard, BMW and other automobile manufacturers will be held responsible for emission performance of the vehicles. These restrictions will not only attract financial losses but also tarnish the reputations of the company’s thus leading to loss of business (Martin 2010). Strategic options for BMW In light with the discussion and analysis on the current situation of BMW, it has been evident that the company is leading success in the automobile industry. The company is well endowed with modern technology in hybrid electric vehicles and has also abundant financial resources as well as human capital. Nevertheless, the company is facing numerous weaknesses and threats which jeopardize its future prospects. In response to these weaknesses and threats, the following strategic options should be considered (Hejiden 2006). Diversification strategy The diversification strategy is one of the most appropriate move for BMW in attaining its growth and sustainability prospects. Market diversification is very appropriate for businesses in competitive industries in the sense that it helps in spreading risks as well as enhancing growth prospects (Kaynak 2003). In order to gain success and sustainability in the automobile industry, BMW should continue with its diversification operations in new markets. Due to the concentration of the European and US markets, BMW should seek new markets. China and India are in this case potential and unexploited markets which BMW should adopt. Since most markets of Europe and America are established and movi ng to age due to the strong brand loyalty, BMW should move to new markets. In order to ensure smooth change and transition to new markets, BMW should put the market diversification strategy into action (Paley 2006). By adopting this strategy, the company will be in a position to consolidate its customer base thus increasing sales and ultimately boosting its profitability. Cost leadership the pricing strategy Despite that BMW focuses on manufacture of luxurious cars, its prices are extremely high thus making them unaffordable to many people. In order to enhance its market performance, the company should resolve to adopt the cost leadership strategy (Steinmann Schreyogg 2005). This can be attained by streamlining all operational activities by cutting down costs. This can be attained through outsourcing of production activities, use of latest technologies in production as well as retrenchment of excess personnel. By doing this, the company will be able to minimize the operational cos ts thus widening the profit margins (Bradley 2005). This will also have significant effects on pricing whereby the company will be in a position to lower prices. As a result of this approach, more customers will find the products affordable thus enhancing sales and profits. Product differentiation In this era of global competition in the automobile industry, BMW can attain success by adopting product differentiation strategy. Consumers across the globe are looking forward to see high tech products to satisfy their needs (Porter 1985). This scenario can not be exempted from the automobile industry whereby manufacturers can differentiate their products by incorporating latest technologies and innovations in automotive production (Pettigrew, Thomas and Whittington 2002). Consumers each day are looking for new and more innovation and technological features to be built in their cars (Muller Lecher 2005). This scenario puts undue pressure for BMW to come up with innovative features. This will help in differentiating its products above those of competitors thus gaining brand loyalty. Research and development is the most appropriate strategy for BMW to attain product differentiation (Palmer and Hardy 2000). It is worth noting that by considering the product differentiation strategy, BMW will be able to establish superior and appealing products (Mintzberg et al. 2005). Technology leadership Being in a competitive industry, BMW has every obligation to demonstrate efficiency and sustainability in its operations. In regard to this perspective, the company can attain success by investing massively on technology and innovations. For instance, the increasing demand for hybrid electric cars puts the company pressure to embark on new technologies (Barney and Hesterly 2009). In this case, BMW should be vigorous in research and developing new technologies to facilitate smooth transition to the new vehicle models. BMW should consider various approaches for enhancing its products by adopting the concepts of active hybrid program, intelligent energy, and innovative technologies like iDrive. By adopting these strategies, BMW will be in a position to position itself above its competitors. On the other hand, the company should also focus on innovative features on its services (Besanko et al. 2004). For instance, driver-focus services and reinforce mobile service should be researched on and fitted in the vehicles. In regards to hybrid electric vehicles, BMW should be in the forefront in ensuring technology leadership. For instance, the company should put into practice the hybrid dive concept together with other innovative strategies (Clegg et al. 2005). By so doing, BMW will be able to position itself above competitors hence enhancing success. Customer relationship management Customer relationship is an aspect of key concern in the contemporary business platform. BMW should hereby be efficient establishing effective strategies and structures for customer relatio nship management (Thomas 2007). One of the main approaches in customer relationship management is establishment of a customer care department. This will facilitate communication and interaction between the company and the clients. Customer care services will help in collecting customer feedbacks which helps in ensuring customer satisfaction (Ferrell and Hartline 2010). Market research and analysis should also be considered which will in this case help in enhancing product design to match customer taste and preferences (Timmers 2008; Sadler Craig 2003). Conclusion and Recommendations Based on the above discussion and analysis of the current situation of BMW it is evident that the company is potential of sustaining its success. The SWOT analysis of the company has placed BMW far above its competitors due to its strong financial, technological and human resource potential. In order to attain continued success and sustainability in the automobile industry, BMW should adopt the above st ated strategic options. The key strategies including technological leadership, cost leadership, pricing strategy, market diversification, product differentiation, and customer relationship management should be put in pace. By considering the above discussed strategic options, BMW will be able to realize its growth and profit maximization objectives. References Barney, J. B., and Hesterly, W S 2009, Strategic Management and Competive Advantage:  Concepts and Cases, Prentice Hall, New York. Besanko, D. et al 2004, The Economics of Strategy, John Wiley Sons, New York. Bradley, F. 2005, International Marketing Strategy, Pearson Education Ltd, New York. Clegg, S. et al 2005, Managing and Organizations, Sage, London. Copper, I. 2008, â€Å"America in recession†, Wealthy daily. Web. Ferrell, O. and Hartline, M. 2010, Marketing Strategy, South-West College Publishers, New York. Gerry, J. et al 2008, Exploring Corporate Strategy, Pearson Education, New York. Hejiden, K. 2006, Scena rio: The art of Strategic conversation. International studies of  management and Organization, Wiley Sons Press, New York. Hill, T. 2008, â€Å"The new change in automobile industry,† The Washington, vol. 2 no. 3, pp. 30-35. Hitt, M. et al 2009, Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization: cases, Routledge, London. Kaynak, E. 2003, The Global Business: Four Key Marketing Strategies, Routledge, New York. Martin, T. 2010, Strategic Management, Prentice Hall, New York. Mintzberg, et al 2005, Strategic Safari-A Guided Tour through the Wilds of Strategic  Management, Free Press, New York. Muller, S Lecher, T 2005, Strategic Management, Routledge, London. Paley, N. 2006, The Manger’s Guide to Competitive Marketing Strategies, Thorogood, London. Palmer, I. and Hardy, C 2000, Thinking about Management, Sage, London. Pettigrew, T. and Whittington, T. 2002, Handbook of Strategy and Management, Sage, London. 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Argument essays

Argument essays As we all know the government has some sort of control over the people living in the United States and play a role in our every day lives. They give us rules to live by even though we are guaranteed our freedom in the Declaration of Independence. These rules we are expected to live by are said to be for our own good and supposedly keep the citizens in order. Ive come to see that some rules make no logical sense such as the prohibition of marijuana. Marijuana was outlawed in 1937 as a repressive measure against Mexican workers who crossed the border seeking jobs during the Depression. The specific reason given for the outlawing of the hemp plant was its supposed violent affection the degenerate races. Marijuana has well-organized supporters who campaign for its legalization and promote its use through books, magazines, and popular music. They regard marijuana as not only a recreational drug but also a form of herbal medicine and a product with industrial applications. Marijuanas opponents are equally passionate and far better organized. They consider marijuana a dangerous drug-one that harms the users mental, physical, and spiritual well being, promotes irresponsible sexual behavior, and encourages disrespect for traditional values. Many famous and credible people such as Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein have found the holes in prohibition laws and pointed out the disadvantages of this type of government. This issue has been long debated for reasons I dont understand and the government of the United States needs to see that prohibiting the drug contradicts and violates our rights, influences crime, and does more harm than good. As human beings I think we should all have the right to decide for ourselves what goes into our bodies. We have to realize that prohibiting any drug denies us of this basic human liberty. In fact, even the people who wrote the Harrison Act and the Marijuana T...

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Essay

MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT - Essay Example Vodafone Company is a British multinational company that deals with telecommunication services. It holds the second position mobile telecommunication company worldwide. The company owns and operates in more than 30 countries. Evolution of Vodafone brand started in 1982 after the establishment of Racal electronics plc when Jan Stenbeck spearheaded the joint venture between Millicom and Racal Vodafone. This evolved to the modern day Vodafone. Recent research indicated that Vodafone has introduced a tiered employee reward program that offers an incentive to over 79,000 employees worldwide. The Vodafone announced its intentions of creating the ‘Vodafone Heroes’ both internally and globally. This saw the company rewarding some of its stars. The Vodafone Heroes are entitled to quarterly incentives voted upon through the company’s SMS system. The company also recognizes its heroes on an annual basis where the management must select any gift and give to the people who per form exceptionally (Eaton & Duncan 2002, p. 284). While it is a great thing to recognize and reward employees, Vodafone is faced with challenges in establishing the reward and incentive systems for their employees. This paper identifies challenges experienced by Vodafone in its establishment of reward and incentive system and proposes a constructive executive compensation system. Effective incentive system must enhance motivation and employee skills by acknowledging their successes and aggressiveness. Reward and incentive systems depend on employee effort and their progress towards the established goals. This must be, therefore, tailored to the objective of the organization and must enhance increased profitability, reduced employer costs and enhance employee-driven changes within the organization. Effective rewards and incentives acknowledge what the organization aims at rewarding (Bean 2004, p. 11). Nevertheless, despite the great role played by rewards and incentives in the organi zation performance, the efficiency is faced by a number of challenges. The three main challenges facing effective establishment of rewards and incentives systems include the autonomy, finding the appropriate context and use of sponsored content (Westerman et al. 2008, p. 409). Sponsored content challenges The implementation of strong incentives and reward system triggers employees cross the ethical boundaries. Valuing a reward compels employees choose the easiest and the shortest way of attaining it. Such a tendency to rationalize justifies unethical acts and harmful decisions. In addition, the management must be very cautious since incentives and rewards carry with them some form of payment inequality. This may encourage jealousy, resentment and disappointment upon the people who fail to receive incentives or rewards. Studies indicate that people the judgment made by people regarding payments is never in absolute terms; rather, it compares the pay with that of their peers. Therefor e, establishment of rewards and incentives must be carefully considered ensuring that some staffs never feel overlooked. This is because benefits to high performers seems to be outweighed by costs to low performers who feel unfairly treated and may tend to reduce their efforts. Studies indicate that the pay inequality undermines performance and retention of employees. Therefore, the management m