Emerging Trends in E-Commerce Essay Example for Free

Emerging Trends in E-Commerce Essay 1. Micro-payments – Among the most revolutionary changes in the coming months—not years—is the use of micro-payment systems from a variety of financial firms, e.g., Paypal, Visa, WesternUnion, among others, including banks. This trend is facilitated by the W3C working group that approved these protocols and technical standards for the interworking. These systems will change not only how we carry money but how we value money and think about purchases. (Consider how a purchase of $4.99 feels in a mobile app store vs. at Dunkin Donuts.) Payment systems that make it easier to buy online, coupled with mobile technologies will accelerate the usage of global e-commerce applications. 2. Mobile technologies – More people access the Internet on their mobile devices than on any other device. We are rapidly approaching the time (if we are not already there) where designs must be created for the mobile Web first, and for the desktop second. Mobile technologies facilitate comparison shopping; with the advent of barcode reader apps and price-comparison databases, a consumer could snap a bar code in Walmart and quickly reference product reviews and prices on walmart.com (or compare prices with Walmart competitors). Mobile technologies also facilitate impulse buys – especially with the advent of micro-payments tied to the mobile device. Just recently, Starbucks customers can not only place an order with their Smartphone, but also make a purchase. 3. Social media – As Facebook has become the most visited site on the Web, the role of social media, including Facebook and its local clones such as Twitter, is increasingly important. Social media sites increasingly act as points of entry to e-commerce sites, and vice versa, as e-commerce sites build rating, loyalty and referral systems tied to social media. Group buying (e.g., Groupon) is also gaining mainstream ground, with many deal of the day sites competing for an increasingly savvy consumer base, but improvements lie ahead as the social aspects and user experience are refined. 4. Fulfillment options – I believe that users will want to have multiple fulfillments and return options when interacting with a vendor: ship to address, courier, pick-up in store, return to store, etc. Having many fulfillment options is how customers view their overall customer experience. Some companies have made a business proposition online by being exceptional in service to the online channel (e.g., Zappos). 5. Global availability –Â  Increasingly, consumers want the availability to buy products from foreign sites and have them delivered locally. Thus, currency and customs will be of growing concern to many online retailers. Along with this, there will be concerns with local privacy laws and restrictions on related data collection and storage. 6. Localization – While the trend is to globalize, what’s often more important is to localize. User Centric’s research clearly shows that sites that ‘feel’ local – with proper imagery, language, time/date, weights/measures, currency, etc. – resonate far more than sites that seem culturally distant or sterile. 7. Customizability – Consumers want control, and want to be able to design the details of the items they purchase. 8. Time-based availability – Some of the hottest and most successful sites are those that have a time-critical response component. Sites like Groupon, Gilt and others capitalize on the perception of limited-time availability. Creating a sense of urgency drives traffic and purchase behavior.

Listening To Troubled Families

Listening To Troubled Families The purpose of this essay is to critically analyse a report Listening to Troubled Families (Casey, 2012). To accomplish this it will be necessary to give a brief historical overview of social policy and legislative developments from 1979 to the present day. It will go on to debate the drivers for contemporary practice and strategies that promote children safeguarding and family support. The essay will apply legislation, guidance and policies that give social workers a legal mandate to work with families whose children are deemed to be at risk. The essay will also deliberate a selection of social work skills whilst employing theories and methods that are in accordance with social work values (Teater, 2010, p. 4). The report entitled Listening to Troubled Families is a snapshot of sixteen familys lives who have entrenched, long-term cycles of suffering problems and causing problems (Casey, 2012, p. 1). The phrase long-term cycles is very similar to an expression that the Prime Minister at the time Tony Blair (2006) used in a speech to describe families with problems [that] are multiple, entrenched and often passed down the generations (Blair, 2006 cited in Welshman, 2008, p. 77). Both statements can be compared to Josephs (1972) cycle of deprivation hypothesis (Joseph, 1972 cited in Welshman, 2008, p. 77). This is important because according to Welshman (2012) it is an enactment of the debate concerning the deserving and undeserving poor and popular beliefs aimed at scroungers in British society. This has led Featherstone et al. (2012, 630) to conclude that previous and successive governments since 1979 have demonstrated a cross-party consensus in regard to reduced political support for the we lfare state. The families in the report had been compelled to work with the Family Intervention Project or risk facing action on child care proceeding (Casey, 2012, p. 3). However, the report is actually based on 120,000 families that have been identified as troubled (Casey 2012, p. 5) and who have cost the Government some  £9 billion in the last year alone (HM Government, 2012, p. 1). This equates to †¦around  £75,000 per family (http://www.number10.gov). The figure of a 120,000 families is based on a report conducted by the Social Exclusion Task Force (SETF) (Levitas, 2012, p. 4). That carried out some secondary analysis (Levitas, 2012, p. 4) from the Family and Children longitude study (FACS) in 2004. Which highlighted that 2 per cent (p. 4) of households in Britain had numerous disadvantages. Levitas (2012) notes that the Coalition government have intentionally sought to mislead the electorate, into assuming that multiple disadvantage (Levitas, 2012, p.12) equates to families that ar e troubled, to families that are or cause trouble (Levitas, 2012, p. 5). In order to work effectively with families where neglect and abuse put children at risk it is essential that the subject knowledge, understanding and skills (QAA, 2008, p. 8). That the student has acquired in professional training underpin all interventions with individuals to allow an understanding of situations (Trevithick, 2012, p. 4). To understand a situation it is important that a social worker has excellent communication skills Koprowska, (2009, p. 1) considers that these are a fundamental requirement for social work assessment and intervention (Koprowska, 2009, p. 72). Research conducted by Levin (2004, p. 5) substantiates this as service users require social workers who are skilled in listening, counselling, assessing, case managing and finding practical ways to facilitate. Sedan (2005, p. 22) notes that communication comprises of an interactive process involving the giving, receiving and checking out of meaning. Having the skills to communicate would enable the practitioner to engage with caregivers and children to conduct an assessment ensuring an effective and fair process and outcome (Holland, 2010, p. 110). Laming (2009, p. 28) reiterates this claim by asserting that the Assessment processes should encourage an increasingly clear understanding of a childs situation (Laming, 2009, p. 29). To accomplish assessments social workers are required to use the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (DoH et al. 2000). This is a holistic (DoH et al. 2000, p. 26) and ecological tool that has been influenced by the work of Bronfenbrenner (1979) who proposed that individuals are shaped by their macro, exo, meso and microsystems (Bronfenbrenner, 1979 cited in Trevithick, 2012, p. 325). When an assessment is conducted with an ecological approach it gives a sociological context to the whole persons life and can gauge the impacts of government policies on individuals who are often in poverty (Trevithick, 2012). A practitioner who utilises an ecological perspective will understand how the structures of society (Jack, 2011) and the inequalities and adversities that some individuals face within it can impinge on their life chances (Trevithick, 2012). It avoids individualising (Trevithick, 2012, p. 326) problems. Using the assessment framework facilitates the practitioner in ascertaining if a child is in need and how best to react (Ward and Glaser, 2010) which the social worker will base on current research findings (DoH et al., 2000). Information is recorded about the childs developmental needs (Ward and Glaser, 2010, p. 160) and the caregivers capabilities to respond appropriately (DoH et al. 2000, p. 12). Whilst taking account of all other sources of family support and any environmental influences (DoH et al., 2000, p. 12). Another significant element in the assessment framework is information sharing between multi-agencies for best interest decisions for the child and family (Rose, 2010, p. 44). This is to avoid what has often been referred to as a silo style of working (Miers, 2010, p. 75). Brandon et al. (2009, p. 49) in their serious case reviews have highlighted the lack of information sharing within and between professional agencies (Brandon et al., (2009, p. 49) which has led to children dying or suffering unnecessarily. Moreov er, under Working Together to Safeguard Children (DCSF, 2010, p. 31) there is a legal requirement to implement effective (DCSF, 2010, p. 31) collaborative joint working (DCSF, 2010, p. 31) between agencies and multi-professionals who bring a range of knowledge and expertise into discussions. However, it is imperative that the social worker consults with the family and seeks appropriate consent (Rose, 2010, p. 44) except when or if a child is suffering, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm (HM Government, 2012, p. 22). This would be in concordance with government guidelines Information Sharing: Guidance for practitioners and managers (HM Government, 2012). This is to protect the family from any over-zealous (Brammer, 2010, p. 126) interference and a consideration of the Human Rights Act 1998 Article 8 should be applied to the families situation by any professionals involved in their lives. A practitioner should also consider the Rights of the Child under The United Nations Convention 1989 (Brammer, 2010, p. 178). Although these rights are not recognised under the United Kingdom domestic law and usually the Gillick competency applies (Brammer, 2010, 179). Angela and Carl (a case study within) the Troubled Families report had asked for help in relation to their son Sam, unfortunately this was not forthcoming. An appeal for support and Sams presenting behaviour should have been an opportunity for early identification of any additional need (DCSF, 2012, p.84). Professionals in health or education could have implemented the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) with informed consent (CWDC, 2012, p. 20). Performing a CAF would have identified Sams additional needs as above and beyond universal services (CWCD, 2012). The CAF is a combination of integrated frontline (CWCD, 2012, p. 8) service provision that is incorporated into statutory guidance (CWCD, 2012, p. 8) of the Children Act 2004 under section 10 (multi-agency collaboration) and section 11 (protection and promotion of children) (CWCD, 2012, p. 8). Significantly, the local authority, health and education ignored Angelas concerns and displayed an individualised approach (Davis and Smith, 2012, p. 14) to Sam and his family. This may have been because of the rationing (Davis and Smith, 2012, p. 14) of services in social care. As a result of numerous local authorities losing fifty per cent of their child in need budget (Community Care, 2011). Professionals involved should have endeavoured to understand the life issues (Davis and Smith, 2012: p. 14) for Sam and contacted health and education professionals that Working Together to S afeguard Children (DCSF, 2010) requires. As an alternative, to an individualised approach the social worker concerned could have employed a selection of politically nuanced holistic models (Davis and Smith, 2012, p. 18) to the intervention. These models according to Davis and Smith (2012) would allow the social worker to recognise that they are not the total expert in situations and accept that there are many forms of expertise (Davis and Smith, 2012, p. 18). The social worker should have identified Angela as the expert on her family and listened to her concerns. Dolan et al. (2006, 2008) have differentiated several processes to assist the practitioner in family support work (Dolan et al. 2006 cited in Davis and Smith, 2012, p. 19). They propose that by identifying a service users resilience and strength (Dolan et al. 2006, 2008 cited in Davis and Smith, 2012, p.19) a promotion of partnership working will be established for all individuals concerned including the child. (Dolan et al. 2006 cited in Davis and Smith, 2012 p 19 .). A social worker should be accessible and listen to a childs requests and views while considering their well-being and safety (Dolan et al. 2006, 2008 cited in Davis and Smith, 2012, p.19). This is a requirement under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 (CA 1989) as amended by section 53 of the Children Act 2004 (CA 2004) to determine the wishes and feelings of the child (http://www.legislation.gov.uk). Applying an ecological perspective to Sam would have facilitated the practitioner into recognising the impact of poor housing on his mind, body and emotions (Davis and Smith, 2012, p.16). An opportunity was missed by social services to engage the family with a minimum intervention service (Davis and Smith, 2012, p. 18) and connect Angela via a systems approach with some community resources and networks (Mantle and Backwith, 2010, p. 2381). The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families recognises the implications of poverty and is determined to tackle the root causes of poverty and social exclusion (DoH et al. 2000, p.1). However, Brewer et al. (2009) challenge this claim, and note that in 2007 08; poverty for individuals in the United Kingdom had increased to a total of 13.5 million. This has led to the highest levels of income inequality since 1961 (Brewer et al., 2009 cited in Mantle and Backwith, 201, p. 2380). It is vital therefore that whilst conducting an assessment that the social worker does not exhibit poverty blindness (Becker, 1997; Dowling, 1999 cited in Gupta and Blewett, 2008, p. 462) and has awareness of the effects poverty and how it can impact on parenting abilities. Service users in a collaborative research project were asked their views about what makes a good social worker. They wanted practitioners who were open and honest and could demonstrate an understanding that socie ty as well as individuals can create neglect (Gupta and Blewett, 2008, p. 465). The Listening to troubled families report was deficient in its lack of reference to poverty or social inequality (Palmer, 2010 cited in Trevithick, 2012, p.77). It did not discuss the multiple forms of oppression (Hick and Murray, 2009, p. 88) that dominant structures (Hick and Murray, 2009, p. 88) create. Hick and Murray, (2009, p. 88) suggest that the social worker who uses a structural perspective would seek to emphasise the class analysis of the oppressed individual by the forces of dominant economic power (Hick and Murray, 2009, p. 88). They posit that this perspective has been influenced by a feminist analyses and the patriarchal (Hick and Murray, 2009, p. 88) effects on family dynamics and work environments. As most social workers and the recipients of services are women (Balloch, 1997; Howe, 1986) a social worker could utilise a feminist perspective to inform their practice and advocate for fairer rights and opportunities (Orme, 2009, p. 67) with these particular families. Th e social worker should be politically enlightened to enable them to campaign for the collective interests of working-class (Orme, 2009, p. 67) groups. Leading to a recognition of full economic and social rights (Bryson, 1999 cited in Orme, 2009, p.67). Nicole who was a participants from the report had been raped at the age of four by her half-brother, started suffering depression, it all got too much (Casey, 2012, 34) and was subjected to domestic abuse and rape by an ex-partner. Nicole was consuming alcohol and a speed addict and was presenting with anti-social behaviour (Casey, 2012, p.34). Research from Widom Spatz and Sturmhofel (2001) note that the experience of being abused as a child can increase a persons likelihood for alcohol related problems as an adult. It could be hypothesised that Nicole was using alcohol and drugs as a form of self-medication and to gain control of an oppressive life situation. Research indicates, that Dylan Nicoles son or children of parents who abuse substances may be at risk of poor attachments to caregivers (Brooks and Rice 1997; Klee et al. 1998; Howe et al. 1999; Flores 2001), difficult interpersonal family relationships (Cleaver et al. 1999; Velleman and Orford 1999; Harbin and Murphy 2000) an d a substantially increased risk of violence (Brookoff et al. 1997). The chronicles of children whose parents have or are misusing substances have been procured by an evaluation of research studies by Kroll, (2004). Themes that emerged from the research studies were attachment, separation and loss (Kroll, 2004, 133) children spoke about being second best and keeping secrets. †¦When you see em do drugs long enough you know youre not number one; you know youre always put second and the drugs are put first†¦ (Jessica aged 15, in Howland Thompson 1998, cited in Kroll, 2004, 133). The research highlighted the childrens losses and lack of reliable, consistent and responsive (Kroll, 2004, 133) parenting, their lack of confidence and self-worth, (Kroll, 2004, 133) and the loss of an ordinary life in which they would be able to invite friends home or attend school consistently (Cork 1969; Howland Thompson 1998). In the childrens narratives they wanted professionals to appreciate th eir hurt on the inside (Kroll, 2004, 136) and not to be invisible (Kroll, 2004, 136). The local authority are compelled under the CA 1989 part III to support families who need help bringing up children and work in partnership with caregivers (DoH et al., 2000). However, after the implementation of the CA 1989 it was discovered through Messages from Research (DoH, 1995) that a concentration on child protection had created a dearth of services for the child in need (Morris, 2012, p. 14). This was supported by the Victoria Climbià © inquiry as Laming (2003, p. 6) asserted that usually the safest protection for the child was timely intervention of family support services†¦ In response to the inquiry, the Green Paper, Every Child Matters (2003) was introduced (Parton, 2006, p. 151). Its remit was to focus on universal (Parton, 2006, p. 152) services for all children and targeted (Parton, 2006, p. 152) services for children with any further supplementary needs. The Laming inquiry (2003) made recommendations that were instigated by New Labour who envisaged service provisions that were based around preventative services and early intervention (Driscoll, 2009, 335). These services took the form of Sure Start, the Childrens Fund and Connexions (Morris, 2012, 16). However, the provisions that New Labour implemented failed to engage the families with the most enduring and complex (Morris, 2012, p.16) requirements. Therefore, like the preceding CA 1989 which had ignored children in need (Morris, 2012, p. 17) and the subsequent Children Act (2004) which had failed to reach more complex families, policy drivers had become confusing and sometimes contradictory (Morris, 2012: 17). The debate around early intervention (DoH et al., 2000: xi) have evolved from New Labours modernisation agenda and their attempt to meet the demands of a globalised economy (Frost and Parton, 2009, 25). However, these concepts can be traced back, to when the Conservative government who had initially gained power in 1979 (http://news.bbc.co.uk) and introduced managerialism and a mixed economy of care into the organisation of social services departments (Frost and Parton, 2009). As well as promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness (Frost and Parton, 2009, p. 24) the Conservatives were concerned with encouraging services that were transparent and accountable (Frost and Parton, 2009, p. 25). When New Labour was elected in 1997 they adopted (Chard and Ayre, 2010: p. 96) many of the Conservative policies and implemented performance targets, inspection regimes and league tables (Frost and Parton, 2009, p. 25). However, Ferguson (2004, p. 4) posits that New Labour went further and has embraced the market with a passion and enthusiasm which often leaves the Conservatives standing Numerous commentators (Dixon et al., 1998, cited in Chard and Ayre, 2010, p. 95) assert that managerialism has been regarded as a market driven solution to a public service problem. Lonne et al. (2008) argue that a managerialist perspective does not appreciate the significance of forming trustful, professional, relationships with service users. Ferguson (2010) clarifies this as the absence of social work involvement with children and families as social workers have been increasingly drawn into an office based environment. Therefore, any direct contact with families is limited with the social worker orchestrating services and fulfilling administration duties. This leaves no time according to Peckover et al. (2008) for interpersonal communication between the practitioner and family. Broadhurst et al. (2010, p. 363) bemoans this outcome as the space between help-seeker and help-provider is s teadily widening. Munroe (2011) in her final report on child protection stressed that professionals have found it increasingly difficult to sustain any direct work with children and their families. This is because of the burden of statutory guidance, targets and local rules (Munroe, 2011, p. 6). Laming (2009: 10) reiterates these claims by asserting that †¦ultimately the safety of a child depends on staff having the time, knowledge and skill to understand the child or young person and their family circumstances. In conclusion this essay has explored the Listening to Troubled Families (Casey, 2012) report and as Levitas (2012, p. 4) notes The problem is not the research itself, but its misuse and the Coalitions attempt to mislead the public.

Style and its Relationship to Good Writing Essay -- Writing Education

Style and its Relationship to Good Writing Style. It’s a small word that packs a powerful punch, and most writers do not stop to think about what it truly means. Initially, I thought style was a personal element in writing specific to the writer and to change this personalized style of writing was absolutely forbidden. However, through our class exploration of the two style manuals, Style Toward Clarity and Grace and The Elements of Style, this original definition was challenged, and eventually changed based on the compelling evidence. Contrary to popular belief, style is not specific to one’s writing; it is much more involved than that. This notion of style takes into consideration the reader and the ease of the reading material. So, it is not selfish, it is actually focused on the reader and values the thoughts and considerations of the audience. With this in mind, it is important to apply it personally to one’s own writing by changing the perspective about what you, as the writer, are trying to say and take a step back, critically look at your writing and wonder about how it will affect your audience and what they will walk away with. Now that there is an understanding about what style actually means, a quick analysis of each text is in order. Both books are style manuals, each with the purpose of educating writers to be better writers. However, their approaches are vastly different, and it’s important to explore each manual to see how, in some cases, they compliment and contradict each other. To better appreciate different teaching techniques and explore which one should be used based on the goals of the writer a study of each of the writing stylebooks is in order. The first impor... ...adability of the text and a concern for the audience that is reading the writing piece. It is about well-written work that is not personalized with each writer, it’s more general. Manuals are written because there is a need for writers to write more clearly and with style. Each one has its elements of positive and negative and it is the ultimate responsibility of the writer to incorporate the information found within these manuals to assist with readability ease and style. Works Cited: Haas, Christine, http://people.emich.edu/chaas/, date accessed March 3, 2004 McGahey, Michelle, http://people.emich.edu/mmcgahey/eng328/, date accessed March 4, 2004 Strunk Jr., William and E.B. White The Elements of Style. 4th ed. New York: Longman, Inc., 2000. Williams, Joseph M. Style Toward Clarity and Grace. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990.

Educating a Patient to Fight Leukemia Essay -- Leukemia Patient Educat

Currently, in the Unites States there are more than 250,000 Americans living with leukemia. Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells, which help your body fight infection. Your blood cells form in your bone marrow. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells; these cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work ("Leukemia," 2013). Fifty four year old Regina was just diagnosed with leukemia. Upon assessment I gathered that she has never smoked in her life, she has the occasional glass of wine and loves to go for walk and hikes in the mountains. After interviewing her I learned she is ready to learn and battle this new cancer diagnosis, including her family in the teaching process is very important to Regina and she is a very visual learner. She has a very positive attitude and lots of support from her friends and family. Readiness to Learn From the beginning Regina has been ready to tackle this new diagnosis and is ready to get better. Being so young for this diagnosis, the patient understands the disease and it doesn’t affect her ability to learn. To provide a more comfortable learning environment for my patient I would not choose to do my teaching in the examination room. I feel that those rooms do not have a very warm comforting feeling and they can also be very loud and distracting. It would be better to provide a quiet, welcoming and comfortable environment. Interruptions could interfere with the patient teaching process so I would hang a â€Å"DO NOT DISTURB† sign on the door to eliminate distractions. It would also be very important to have her family there for the teaching process since they will be the ones that will provide some of her care. Th... ...ailable to them to reference if they were ever unsure. The second goal was also met. She stated two of the risk factors that she could face contracting a virus and that she will take the needed precautions to avoid death. Lastly the patient confided in me and discussed her feeling identifying three of her emotions and asked for more information on the support groups she could join. Regina also wrote down the websites I referred to her and I gave her a pamphlet on coping with leukemia. Even though she has already learned a lot about her diagnosis there is always more to be taught. Works Cited Leukemia. (2013, July 29). Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/leukemia.html Suszynski, M. (2011, January 04). Cooking and eating to fight leukemia. Retrieved from http://www.everydayhealth.com/leukemia/cooking-and-eating-to-fight-leukemia.aspx

Essay --

Isaac Setton Feb 17 2014 11HX Mr. Weisenberg Reconstruction Essay After the war there were many plans which were similar but different in a way. The plans were Lincolns plan, Wade Davis Bill, Andrew Johnson's Plan, and Radical Republicans Plan. Even before the war ended, President Lincoln started to think about reconstruction because he already thought about how the war would end. He wanted to build a strong Republic in the South. To end the war, he made a proclamation of amnesty and reconstruction for those areas of the Confederacy were ere was ran by Union armies. What Lincoln did was when ten percent of the population would sign a loyalty oath, he would reinstate that state into the union. In order to get this ten percent he wanted the knowledgeable blacks to vote. Voters the were able to elect delegates to give changed state constitutions and create new state governments. All southerners except for high line Confederate army officers and government officials were granted full amnesty. Lincoln guaranteed southerners that he would protect their private property which excl...

European History Essay

The way the eastern civilization would live is how people dream of living today. The eastern peoples put others above themselves. The way the western civilization used to live is how we live today: caring about ourselves for the most part. Even though the eastern side of living is how most people wanted to live, there are some positive characteristics of the western side that are worth incorporating. A common problem today is that we don’t think. A trait of eastern culture is the being contemplative. There are countless problems that could be avoided if thought would have gone into the situation. Life is a strategy that is filled with decisions. It is inevitable that mistakes will be made, but there will be less if you think before you act. In life there are always consequences for your actions. What most people don’t realize is that there can be positive consequences. This is something that the western civilization honored; the rewards or the positive consequences of the life they lived. Having the good things in your life isn’t as rewarding as working for the grand prize. Towards the end of your life, what will you have that reflects what you work for? In the eastern civilization, working with less is held high in standards. As the years go by, people always want more and more but is it really necessary? For example, heated seats and electronic windows are nice in our vehicles but we don’t actually need them. The eastern peoples learned to work with what they were given, even if it was less than what they wanted. Technology is taking over the world. With this new interference with human life, the beautiful art of work will soon be forgotten. There are amazing things that humans can do as long as they work for it. The western civilization figured this out and put activity high on the list of standards. Life is short and there may be things that we miss if we don’t work to see what it has in store for us. Both the eastern and western civilization contain characteristics that would benefit the human race. A mixture of the two would be a perfect way to live. Placing others higher in value than yourself is a trait that isn’t common in the world today. Even though, putting others first is something great, you need to think about yourself too. You only have one life and one chance to make it the best. Do what makes you happy and you will see that others will come with you.

Detroit Electric Essay

1. What organizational structure do you believe is being used to produce Detroit Electric vehicles? Detroit Electric concentrates theirs efforts on research and development of the motor, vehicle design, marketing and distribution. The company does not produce cars; the actual manufacturing of cars is outsourced. From the case I conclude that technology design is the core business of Detroit Electric. Technology changes rapidly and therefore Detroit Electric has to be flexible in conditions of change and uncertainty. Technical excellence and efficient use of resources is the key to compete and to avoid wastage as the cost of R&D is high. Based upon the above observation, I believe that the organizational structure used is the matrix model. 2. How has differing organizational structures influenced the pace of development between these two companies? Ford and Detroit Electric are both car companies. The major difference is that Ford manufactures cars whereas Detroit Electric does not. Ford’s organizational structure will most likely resemble other manufacturers’ structure, i. e. functional departmentalization. A major disadvantage of this structure is that because specialists are working with and encouraging each other in their areas of expertise and interest, organizational goals may be sacrificed in favor of departmental goals; hence, the inability to coordinate efforts amongst competing department to achieve the goal of producing electric vehicles. Detroit Electric’s matrix structure on the other hand gives the organization the flexibility to respond to challenges faster in conditions of change and uncertainty; hence their relative pace (fast)in developing electric cars. 3. What issues may arise from this cooperative arrangement of international companies? The first issue is control. How does Detroit Electric ensure that their exact specifications are followed by their licensees? Regular audits will have to be conducted and these audits are costly. Who will bear responsibility if problems arise (faulty products) due to failure of any of its licensees do not follow procedures? The second issue is differences in objectives. For example, Detroit Electric’s performance and quality standards objectives may differ from their licensees.