Is Empowerment a Valuable Tool for Increasing Efficiency and Essay - 4

Is Empowerment a Valuable Tool for Increasing Efficiency and Effectiveness in Today's Organizations - Essay Example The paper tells that the reason for strengthening is to get representatives to assume liability for delivering results instead of just â€Å"following rules and guidelines without creating substantial results†. It incorporates different factors, for example, re-building and re-planning existing conveyance procedures to make them less blunder inclined, progressively productive, viable, and convenient. Re-association of the company’s tasks to dispose of wastage of assets and staff and substitution of prior strategies for working with data innovation are likewise changes that engage the workforce. Supplanting of old errands with high innovation hardware or new methodologies would require staff preparing for new duties. Any nervousness with respect to laborers ought to be tended to by HR staff to assist representatives with expanding their ranges of abilities, and when any occupations become out of date the workers ought to be assisted with securing practically identical po sitions inside the association. Worker strengthening has become an undeniably mainstream idea in associations on account of developing worldwide rivalry and fast innovative change. These require escalated authoritative changes in worker the executives, for expanding hierarchical upper hand in the growing business sector. Representative strengthening is a huge change activity since it is basic to authoritative development and viability. The key component in strengthening is that it builds the degree of inspiration of an individual representative at the least conceivable hierarchical level when he is appointed with power to decide. There are two particular meanings of strengthening. As a social develop, strengthening alludes to one’s force and command over different workers, and to the transference of such force from the board to a representative with less dynamic power.

Hawthornes Scarlet Letter - Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale and the Scaffold Scenes :: Scarlet Letter essays

The Scarlet Letterâ - Dimmesdale and the Scaffold Scenes In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, there are three significant scenes that all occur at the town framework, a position of extraordinary disgrace in their exacting Puritan culture. These scenes speak to the movement of Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale through the span of the story. Every scene includes him somehow or another and one can without much of a stretch see that he has changed significantly in each of the three. The primary platform scene happens in the absolute starting point of the story. Hester Prynne, a lady who has submitted infidelity and won't name the dad of her youngster, is compelled to remain upon the platform in disgrace for three hours before a horde of individuals. Dimmesdale, who is later uncovered as the dad, straightforwardly denies his transgression and even goes similarly as advising Hester to stand up the name of thy individual delinquent and individual victim, so as to ensure that no one speculates him. While the creator doesn't make his blame exceptionally self-evident, he gives a couple of insights that recommend Dimmesdale has a type of shrouded mystery. In this scene, the Reverend shows his unique quality of character, which he gradually loses through the span of the story. After seven years, in the night, Dimmesdale at last admits to his wrongdoing while at the same time remaining on the framework, similarly as Hester did so some time in the past. It has been destroying him this time and feels that he likewise should be rebuffed, however he can't force himself to admit openly. He even brands his chest with a similar letter A that Hester has been compelled to wear upon her apparel to show that she is a philanderer. In the third and last platform scene, Dimmesdale at last uncovers his mystery to people in general. What's more, as Pearl kissed his lips...a spell was broken, Dimmesdale vanquishes his blame and bites the dust in that spot on the platform with an open heart. He likewise escapes <a href=http://www.

Anthem A Novel by Ayn Rand Essay - 825 Words

Anthem: A Novel by Ayn Rand (Essay Sample) Content: Anthem: A Novel by Ayn RandName:Class:Date: Ayn Rand's philosophy expressed in the novella Anthem (1937) was a reaction against the Soviet system and world socialist movement, which she experienced personally and rejected critically for a more conservative return to natural law and Enlightenment values. Rands experience as a youth of witnessing directly the Russian Socialist Revolution led by Vladimir Lenin, the turmoil that she experienced in being accused as a bourgeoisie reactionary in her university days, and her exile or immigration to the West all undoubtedly left a defining mark upon the development of her personality. Rand embraced the values of the West and America in the days before World War II when the industrial era and modernism was rising in alignment with capitalist modes of progress, and her philosophy of objectivism distinctly elevates the individual to the highest position of esteem in her personal hierarchy or cosmology of being. Rand also exalts selfishness, egoism, and superiority as the highest expressions of individualism, and in Anthem she defines these views through irony, parody, and dystopian structures which exaggerate the effects of collectivism. When she was writing Anthem, the Communist Party was still a vital force in Western Europe and other places around the world, aligned broadly with the Soviet experiment. Leading intellectuals, dissidents, labor leaders, and other members of society organized at this time around the Marxist principles of communism and socialism, in hopes that the Soviet model might be established worldwide. Anthem is a broad parody and dismissal of the communist, socialist, and Marxist principles of this era which Rand had experienced in the turmoil of the Russian Revolution and rejected. While historically the Soviet experiment failed, in Rands era and when Anthem was written in 1937, many feared that the entire edifice of Western civilization could teeter and fall at any time according t o the will of the proletarian masses rising up and implementing a social movement in the Russian example. Thus, Anthem exaggerates these fears of a worldwide communist revolution, and Rands views were embraced especially in America by intellectuals of the capitalist establishment as her ideals of objectivism provided a romantic bulwark against Marxist theory and interpretation.1:33 - visiting Leaders mount the pulpit and they read to us the speeches which were made in the City Council that day, for the City Council represents all men and all men must know. Then we sing hymns, the Hymn of Brotherhood, and the Hymn of Equality, and the Hymn of the Collective Spirit. The sky is a soggy purple when we return to the Home. (Rand, 1937)This passage makes the allegory to the Soviet Union clear, but Rand also believed that all socialist, communist, or Marxist societies were bound to operate on similar principles of organization, dictated from the center by leaders like Lenin, Stalin, Mao, etc. hypocritically and deceitfully.The hymns Rand describes in this section is an allusion to the use of revolutionary songs praising the workers, proletariat, and Marxist ideals in the Soviet system.1.35 - Such would have been our life, had we not committed our crime which changed all things for us. And it was our curse which drove us to our crime. (Rand, 1937)Rand identifies clearly the way the Soviet leadership will develop the police state, gulag, and security apparatus (KGB) in order to monitor and control the population in Russia according to collectivist ideology. Under this system, the free thinking of individuals is the greatest threat to the State, and it is attacked and punished ruthlessly.Rand apparently underestimates the ability of the State in the West to develop the same authoritarian and police state values in 1937, as this was before the McCarthy era, the Cold War, Vietnam anti-war protests, and the later developments of American history. In 1937, Rands expe rience as an immigrant to America and her negative experience in Russia led her to over-identify and exaggerate the values of both systems in Anthem.2.49 We have heard the legends of the great fighting, in which many men fought on one side and only a few on the other. These few were the Evil Ones and they were conquered. Then great fires raged over the land. And in these fires the Evil Ones were burned. And the fire which is called the Dawn of the Great Rebirth, was the Script Fire where all the scripts of the Evil Ones were burned, and with them all the words of the Evil Ones. (Rand, 1937)Rand makes a clear allegory in Anthem to the archetypal revolution of the Marxists, communists, and socialists, which are all generalized under a collectivist label. Marx posited the revolution would be led by the masses of the proletariat against the minority interests of the bourgeoisie who were related to the rich ownership class of corrupt capitalists in the social hierarchy.In this paro dy of Marxist theory and practice, the Great Rebirth is a symbol of the Russian Revolution, but also any communist or socialist revolution which sought to seize control of power in a society. One of the most important acts of the ruling party or leadership after the revolution is that the books of the old regime, here symbolizing the natural law tradition and Enlightenment thought of Western Europe, must be burnt or destroyed to prevent the people from entertaining free judgment in ideas or political theory.6.7 Take our brother Equality 7-2521 to the Palace of Corrective Detention. Lash them until they tell. (Rand, 1937)This passage is an allusion to the way that the secret police operated in the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin. Political dissidents wo...

Analysis Of Hansberry s The Sun And Local...

From top singers, Super bowl MVP’s, or local business owners, African Americans today are among the most influential and successful people. Yet the terms poor, dependent of whites, unstable, and family struggles come to mind after reading the beginning of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. The way Hansberry’s portrayal changed throughout the play is very much similar to how the public view African Americans today. Hansberry’s beginning portrayal of African Americans is that they are poor, dependent of white people, and have poor home structure; as the story progresses, however, Hansberry’s portrayal changes to strong, independent, and courageous. When the play begins the Younger family seems to have many problems. The way the family is portrayed it leads people to believe that they, like all other African Americans, are poor, dependent of whites, and have many struggles within their family. It is obvious early on that that Walter and Ruth have the ir difficulties. Walter and Ruth’s arguments not only impact their relationship with each other, but it also impacts their relationship with the rest of their family living with them. Living in their small house is not only Walter and Ruth, but their son Travis, and Walter’s mother Lena and sister Beneatha. This also portrays that their entire family is poor and they are forced to live in a crammed home. Family struggles throughout the play impact the attitudes and emotions of everyone in the house. With so many people

Success Of A Diverse Workplace - 1051 Words

The people in today’s field of work has been greatly diversified since the early 1900’s. Diversity today means far more than just one’s race or skin color, it also includes gender, religious affiliations, immigrants and more. Coco Chanel, Steve Chen, and Liz Claiborne are examples of successful immigrant entrepreneurs in the workplace today. While it’s great to have a diversified workforce, and significant process has been made over the years, there are still struggles with this changing status. Two of the more common challenges are communication and a resistance to change. Each individual communicates and expresses opinions differently. Also, it’s hard to adapt to change when something has been done the same for several years, or someone has been brought up all their life believing in one thing. One of the most important challenges in a diverse workplace is management being able to attract and motivate employees and an innovative work environment. People also tend to work well and associate with people like themselves. And while it may not be intentional, individuals have stereotyped others because as we’ve grown older we learned to interpret the world in a way based on our experiences and backgrounds. For instance, the media portraying a killing on the news can be easily distorted by our beliefs and values. While managing diversity isn’t easy, managers must confront these issues to create a successful workplace. With today’s diverse workplace and the growing presence ofShow MoreRelatedWhy A Diverse Workplace Matters?1093 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Today’s an age of competition. Every organization finds ways to be successful. The success of an organization lies in making profits and building brand image. The search by various scholars has found that a diverse workplace, if managed properly, can do wonders for the success of an organization. Diversity means differences due to race, gender, ethnic groups, age, personality, tenure, organizational function, educational background, etc. Diversity involves how people perceive themselvesRead MoreDiversity Within A Diverse Workplace1320 Words   |  6 Pagescapabilities/disabilities. A Diverse workplace,in the last 30 years, become an important issue to emerge, and it’s effects this can have on a organisation. More and more research has gone into a diverse workplace and effects it can have on an organisation competitive advantage. Although having diverse workplace, brings about opportunities and threats, diversity is complex and careful planning needs to be taken for or ganisations to succeed. 3 factors which have lead to the diversity in workplace is 1) Australia’sRead MoreDiversity For Success Of The Company1036 Words   |  5 Pagesknowledgeable and experienced professor, with an experience in social work and business. The book provides information on how to ensure there is inclusiveness in the workplace. The author reveals that management has to ensure it successfully handles diversity in the workforce. The author argues that in the current workforce, which is diverse, the challenge is exclusion. The book has compiled extensive current information on social policy trends, legislative and demographic, as well as the analysis ofRead MoreThe Issues Of Diversity For Success Of The Company1037 Words   |  5 Pagesknowledgeable and experienced professor, with an experience in social work and business. The book provides information on how to ensure there is inclusiveness in the workplace. The author reveals that management has to ensure it s uccessfully handles diversity in the workforce. The author argues that in the current workforce, which is diverse, the challenge is exclusion. The book compiles extensive current information on social policy trends, legislative and demographic, as well as the analysis of causesRead MoreManaging A Diverse Workforce, Sexual Harassment, And Human Resource Management1502 Words   |  7 Pagestheir duties has direct impact on the organizations success. Three Concepts. Group 4 concluded the three concepts that are most important concepts from chapter 7 to an organization are the challenges of managing a diverse workforce, sexual harassment, and human resource training and development. Managing a Diverse Workforce. Managing workplace diversity is an important requirement for managers and the organization. Issues regarding workplace diversity should be addressed openly along with policiesRead MoreThe Value Of Diversity Within The Workplace1163 Words   |  5 PagesThe Value of Diversity in the Workplace Globalization sets the perfect environment to develop diversity in the workplace. This new society, in which we are currently living, has created a new workforce that is based on its diversity that can greatly help with any business development and growth. In business, diversity brings opportunities to grow, expand and reach out to other markets by utilizing the values, ideas and the diverse skills that people from many different backgrounds have to offer.Read MoreEssay on Managing Diversity in the Workplace1207 Words   |  5 PagesKennedy once said If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges, and the Required Managerial Tools1 Kelli A. Green, Mayra Là ³pez, Allen Wysocki, and Karl Kepner2 Introduction The worlds increasing globalization requires more interaction among people from diverse cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds than ever before. People no longer live and work in an insular marketplace; they are now part of aRead MoreThe Multicultural Workforce Essay1653 Words   |  7 Pagescapable of conducting an effective communication relationship among the company. These important elements are a multicultural workforce within a large company, diverse cultures and how they can work together, communication barriers among the employees, and financial benefits of having a diverse and multicultural workforce. For the success and growth of any company currently, these companies need to be familiar with the daily changes of modern technology and be able to adapt with these changes. Read MoreEssay about Managing Diversity in the Workplace1449 Words   |  6 Pagesinteraction among people from diverse cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds than ever before. People no longer live and work i n an insular marketplace; they are now part of a worldwide economy with competition coming from nearly every continent. For this reason, profit and non-profit organizations need diversity to become more creative and open to change. Maximizing and capitalizing on workplace diversity has become an important issue for management today (UCSF). Workplace diversity refers to havingRead MoreFunctions And Functions Of Management1113 Words   |  5 PagesThere are four primary functions involving management, which are considered the very life line and it’s existent. These four functions are instrumental and detrimental to the success and longevity of any company. Without these vital staples, a company is doomed before it is birth, and they are planning, organizing, leading and controlling. However, there is another essential component to the functions of management, and it is the important of diversity. In this paper I will identify the detailed

Health Care Complaint Commission

Question: Discuss about the Health Care Complaint Commission. Answer: Introduction: The main motive of this assessment is to facilitate the learning and critical reflection of the student by assisting the student in identifying the application of regulatory framework for nursing and midwifery in professional practices of the nurses (McLean et al.,2015). A complaint of unsatisfactory professional conduct has been chosen to make the nursing students understand the decisions of the professional standard committee. In response to the compliant received by the NSW Health Care Complaint Commission (HCCC) hearing were held (Dean et al., 2014). Discussion Professional conduct is the manner in which a person behaves while doing professional duties. If this behavior is any how not satisfactory to the receiving community then it is called unsatisfactory professional conduct. In general it is expected that when performing their duties and conducting their affairs the nursing professionals will try to uphold exemplary standard of conduct. In this case the unsatisfactory professional conduct is applicable because the patient was admitted on 6th January 2013 with a shortness of breath, diabetes, tachycardia and hypotension and the condition of the patient was deteriorating continuously and over the course of period on 11th January 2013 that is 1720 hours after the admission of the patient the blood pressure of the patient was 89/53, the respiratory rate of her was 40-44 breadths per minute, she also had abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Still the respondent nurse did not document these observation. Though the vital signs of the patient remained in the red zone and it is required to notify a doctor in this circumstances but the respondent did not notify a doctor of the patient about the condition until the locum doctor arrived after 2200 hours. The patient died in the morning of 12th January while she was assessed for transport to Armidale Hospital. Under the section of 139B of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law of New South Wales it was found that the respondent is guilty because the skills, knowledge and judgment performed by the respondent are significantly lower than the standard level. The activities that the nurse or midwife need to be complete in the immediate situation are the nurse or the midwife should immediately provide the patient with oxygen because the respiratory rate of the patient was very low. The patient should also give appropriate diet and medication to increase her blood pressure because her blood pressure was also very low. The patient should be administered with medication for her pain in abdomen and diarrhoea. Also the nurse should recognize the need of the patient and inform the doctor about the condition of the patient. If the condition of the patient is being in the red zone the nurse should immediately do the needful for the recovery of the patient and must try to find out the reason behind the patient being in the red zone. When the condition of the patient is being critically ill then it is better for the nurse not to administer any of the antibiotics or any other medication without getting ensured by the doctor. The NMBA codes and standards are the protocols that a nurse should normally follow while taking care of a patients. There are some NMBA codes and standards that are relevant for this particular situation. The first NMBA code and standard that have relation with this situation is Standard 1 that states a nurse should follow is to think critically and analyze the condition of the patient whether that it is deteriorating or not. The nurse should analyze that situation and use the best available evidence for the betterment of the care. Also the nurse should maintain a comprehensive, accurate and timely documentation of the assessment which the respondent in this case have not fulfilled. The second NMBA code and standard that is relevant for the case is Standard 5 which states a nurse must follow is to develop a plan for nursing practice. The nurse should use the assessment data and the best available evidence to develop and collaboratively construct a plan for the immediate care of the p atient. In this case when the respondent observed that the respiration rate of the patient is falling down then the patient must be administered with oxygen but the respondent did not done anything. Lastly the third NMBA code and standard that have to be followed in this case is Standard 6 which states what a nurse should follow while taking care of the patient is to provide a safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice. The nurse should always try to provide a comprehensive safe, quality practice of care for the patient so that they can achieve the goals and provide a responsive and careful nursing care to the people who need it. However in the above mentioned case the respondent was not at all careful regarding the care of the patient. When it was observed that the condition of the patient was deteriorating the respondent did not do anything even the respondent not notified the doctor about the condition of the patient. The changes in the professional behavior of the respondent that can make a difference in the situation are that the respondent may be more engaged in the duties, the respondent should immediately undertake respective measure when it was found that the condition of the patient was deteriorating, the respondent was very careless regarding the patient care. The patient was not provided with oxygen though her respiratory rate was very low, her blood pressure was also low still she was not administered with any medication, the respondent didnt judge the condition of the patient and the prompt reaction that was very necessary for the betterment of the patient care was not taken by the respondent. The doctor was also not notified by the respondent. The respondent knew that Dr. Haron was not available and the locum doctor will arrive at 2100hours, the only doctor present in the hospital was Dr. Correy but he is the doctor of emergency department. However the respondent does not know whether the doctor of emergency department will be able to examine a patient who is not from the emergency department. Whilst the respondent is given training in the respect of the policy Between the Flags and according to this policy a doctor must be immediately called when a patient is in the red zone. The respondent on justification said that she was not aware of the aspect of the policy. The preparedness for the professional practice that I learned from this case study is that being a nurse I should be very attentive on duty, I must possess some judgement skills so that I can critically analyze the condition of the patient and work according to that so that I can make it quite possible to provide the patient with a better care (Lung Liu, 2016). From the case study I also learned that every signs and symptom of the patient should be documented and notified to the doctors and when the respiratory rate is decreasing the patient should be administered oxygen and if the patient is in the red zone it recommended in the policy of Between the Flags to give a call to the doctor and notify him with the condition of the patient (Hughes et al., 2014). It can be concluded this case study is that the reason behind the death of the patient is the carelessness of the respondent. She doesnt perform her duties and responsibilities with proper attention and care and under the section of 139B of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law of New South Wales the respondent is found guilty for the patient death (Jeffery, 2015). The skills, knowledge and judgment performed by the respondent were significantly below than the standard level. The respondent also not followed the policy of Between the Flags which states that a doctor should be notified about the condition of the patient immediately if the condition of the patient is deteriorating continuously (Sano et al., 2013). Reference: Dean, J., Mahar, P., Loh, E., Ludlow, K. (2013). Duty of care or a matter of conduct: Can a doctor refuse a person in need of urgent medical attention?. Australian family physician, 42(10), 746. Hughes, C., Pain, C., Braithwaite, J., Hillman, K. (2014). Between the flags: implementing a rapid response system at scale. BMJ quality safety, 23(9), 714-717. Jeffery, R. H. (2015). Vaccination and the law. Australian family physician, 44(11), 849. Lung, C. C., Liu, J. Y. W. (2016). How the perspectives of nursing assistants and frail elderly residents on their daily interaction in nursing homes affect their interaction: a qualitative study. BMC geriatrics, 16(1), 1. McLean, A. K., Stewart, C., Kerridge, I. (2015). Untested, unproven, and unethical: the promotion and provision of autologous stem cell therapies in Australia. Stem cell research therapy, 6(1), 1. Sano, M., Richards, R., Sahin, O. (2013). Adapt between the flags: enhancing capacity to cope with climate change and to leverage adaptation.

Purchasing Management free essay sample

Purchasing management directs the flow of goods and services in a company and handles all data relating to contact with suppliers. Effective purchasing management requires knowledge of the supply chain, business and tax laws, invoice and inventory procedures, and transportation and logistics issues. Although a strong knowledge of the products and services to be purchased is essential, purchasing management professionals must also be able to plan, execute, and oversee purchasing strategies that are conducive to company profitability. Sourcing reliable suppliers is a crucial part of purchasing management. Purchasing managers, agents, and buyers usually learn about new products and services from Internet searches, trade shows, and conferences. They meet with potential suppliers in their plants whenever possible. Skills in foreign languages may be helpful for sourcing suppliers in other countries. Purchasing management professionals must always assess potential suppliers in terms of the suppliers ability to deliver quality merchandise at a suitable price on time. We will write a custom essay sample on Purchasing Management or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Purchasing management professionals must be good negotiators, understand technical product information, have good mathematical ability, understand spreadsheet software, understand marketing methodology, and be outstanding decision makers. Increased responsibilities in purchasing management require good leadership skills, and higher positions often require a masters degree in a business related subject. Entry level purchasing management positions such as junior buyers, assistant buyers, and purchasing clerks, often require a college degree and some product knowledge. Larger distributors may require a bachelors degree for entry level purchasing management positions. Training and learning typically start in sales, then supervision, and invoice and stock monitoring. Professional purchasing management designations include Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) in the United States, and Certified Professional Purchaser (CPP) in Canada. Purchasing managers, buyers, and materials managers control budgets, manage staff, and may analyze procurement methods as well as negotiate supplier contracts. Purchasing management professionals must understand tax laws, purchasing trends, ethics, and global outsourcing issues. Buyers and purchasing agents usually deal specifically with purchasing tasks, while purchasing managers usually supervise others, including purchasing agents. However, titles and duties vary greatly between industries and employers. Buyers often have assistants to place orders and keep track of delivery details. Buyers need the ability to select products that consumers will want to buy, so they need to understand trends as well as economic conditions that affect consumer buying decisions. Buyers employed in small stores may be responsible for purchasing the stores entire inventory, while buyers working for larger operations may focus on a few product lines. Merchandise managers may work with an advertising team to create a campaign for the goods they purchase. Follow up is an important part of purchasing management as responsibility does not end in purchasing goods. For example, merchandise managers need to check to be sure the products they buy are being displayed well to attract consumers. Buyers must keep track of customer demands for new products as well as determine how well goods are selling. Purchase Management is a function of materials management in a company. Their basic function is procuring the inputs for production function. This function encompasses suppliers in the market external to the organization and several internal to the organization. Till recently, the purchasing process simply involved placing an order with the supplier who offered the lowest price. Nowadays, increase in competition and market demand and scarcity of resources have forced organizations to reexamine their purchasing activities. The purchasing department functions have expanded considerably and include activities such as verifying the credentials of suppliers, inspecting the quality of the material to be purchased, ensuring the timely delivery of the material, etc. While the value of purchased items varies from industry to industry, it adds up to more than fifty percent of sales in all industries. Purchase management is regarded as a significant activity in many organizations because of the high cost involved in carrying out purchasing activities, increasing quality benchmarks, and increasing global competition. Purchase departments buy raw materials, parts, machinery, and services used by production systems. The objective of purchase management is to procure the right equipment, materials, supplies and services in the right quantity, of the right quality, from the right suppliers, at the right time, at the lowest price. Case 1 The Santek Images Business Unit Consolidated Products is a $21 billion company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company’s five business units, which offer a wide array of products and services, are the result of an aggressive strategy of mergers and acquisitions starting in the late 1980s. The corporate staff is surprisingly small, comprised of general management, legal staff, and human resources. Part of the reason for this small staff is due to the eclectic array of businesses housed within one corporate entity. A Business Week editor recently commented that â€Å"Consolidated Products could easily be broken up into five separate companies, since at one time it was five separate companies. † The editor also said that if the company â€Å"ever learned how to leverage its size in the marketplace, Consolidated Products could be a Wall Street powerhouse! † While Consolidated Products is a global corporation with facilities around the world, it operates each business unit as a highly independent and decentralized company. The corporate culture is best described as entrepreneurial, with each business unit being headed by an executive vice president who has complete profit and loss accountability. One of the business units, Santek Images, is the focus of this case. The purchasing and supply function is becoming increasingly important to CM Manufacturers, mainly because it has become one of the greatest spender of organizational funds and directly affects the organization’s profitability. The reasons for the increasing importance of the purchasing function include: Why purchasing is important in the new competitive environment: 1. Increase number of world-class competitors 2. Sophisticated customer base 3. Balance of power between buyers and sellers 4. Greater outsourcing 5. Allow company to participate in product development and design Purchasing objective: 1. Supply chain continuity 2. Manage the purchasing process efficiently and effectively * Determine staff level * Allocate budgets * Provide training and growth opportunity * Introduce procure to pay systemc 3. Develop supply base management Select competitive suppliers by identifying suppliers with potential and build close relationship with existing suppliers 4. Develop strong relationship with other functional stakeholders 5. Develop integrated purchasing strategies that support organization strategies 6. Support organization goals and objectives Supply chain management: a strategic approach to plan for acquiring the organization’s current and future needs through effective managi ng the supply chain in conjunction with cross-function team to achieve the organizational mission. More stringent quality standards- The higher the quality standards are, the fewer the number of suppliers able to meet the requirements. Also quality standards relate to cost, since the higher the quality is, the higher the purchase cost will be. †¢ Holding inventory- CM manufacturers has to buy as effectively as possible to keep inventory levels to a minimum and reduce the cost of holding inventory. †¢ Foreign suppliers- Using overseas suppliers may reduce purchasing costs by creating more competition in the market. Foreign suppliers can also ensure the supply of materials to the enterprise, regardless of the state of the local market. Shortages of materials- Carel has to prevent stoppages in the flow of materials by becoming aware of the risk in good time and by taking the necessary steps to counteract possible shortages in the market. †¢ Cost of developing new product s- Development costs relate directly to the buyer’s attempt to obtain the right material at minimum cost for the development of new products. †¢ Greater competition- The enterprise is forced to cut costs, in order to sell its product at a competitive price. †¢ Price control- Price control over the enterprises finished products forces it to cut costs in order to make a better profit. Inflation – Inflation causes the prices of purchased goods to rise. This puts pressure on the purchasing function to buy more effectively Key Concepts: Inventory are those stocks or items used to support production (raw materials and work-in-process items), supporting activities (maintenance, repair, and operating supplies), and customer service (finished goods and spare parts). Inventory functions are anticipation, hedge, cycle (lot size), functions (safety stock, buffer, or reserve), transportation (pipeline) and service parts. Why do you keep inventory? What is the true cost of inventory holding? How much money can you add to the bottom line with good inventory management? How do you reduce you exposure to obsolete and excess inventory? How much are back orders causing you in lost sales and customer perception? What are Service levels: A desired measure (usually expressed as a percentage) of satisfying demand through inventory or by the current production schedule in time to satisfy the customers requested delivery dates and quantities. What Types of Inventory are there? There are many was to look at inventories. Inventories include raw materials: purchased items or extracted materials that are converted via the manufacturing process into components and products. Purchasing management is very important to any business, if not handled properly it can be detrimental to its success. There are steps to the creation of a project supply, service and material budge from detailed requirements within purchasing and supply management. These details show how to choose the best qualified suppliers and strategies for negotiating for the best prices and if there are benefits and costs of outsourcing, which includes the growth of outsourcing. A varied of organizations should be evaluated regarding their purchasing and supply management; what are there policies and practices in this process. In the technology industry there are companies that show market leadership in purchasing and supply management such as Dell, Toshiba and Gateway. When the term â€Å"purchasing† is mentioned most think of just buying and refers to the location and choice of suppliers, knowing the need of what needs to be bought, negoation of price and terms of agreement and then payment and delivery. The purchasing and procurement of supplies is the function and responsibility of procuring materials, supplies and services used in the course of conducting business. There was a time that purchasing and supply were viewed as two different process, today’s businesses have a different view and have combined the two processes. In Purchasing and Supply Management the authors, Johnson, Leenders and Flynn, state that â€Å"Purchasing, supply management, and procurement are used interchangeably to refer to the integration of related functions to provide effective and efficient materials and services to the organization.