Communication Technologies - 809 Words

Kelly Allen Prof Binegar English 111-05 09/18/12 Communication Technologies Communication technologies are being used worldwide than ever before. It is a new and improved way of communicating with your friends. I use communication technologies in my everyday life as well. Examples that assist me on a daily basis are facebook, text, and e-mail. It is a lot quicker and more convenient to do these communication technologies than trying to communicate with my friends in person. People today live such busy lifestyles that they depend on this type of technology. There are four types of communication technology. First, the most common type of communication technology is face book. Just about everyone has a face book account.†¦show more content†¦Your message is delivered! It is so nice to be able to have text messaging on my cell phone as a communication technology because it is a new and improved way of communicating with a close friend. A third type of communication technology is through e-mail. E-mail is a communica tion networking site that you can use to send or receive messages. You can also send e-mails to more than one person from your contact list. For example, if I am having a special event at my house and I need to contact my friends ASAP, then I can type up an e-mail inviting my friends and send the message. Furthermore, my friends can e-mail me back stating if they can attend or not in a timely fashion without having to wait a week to see if they plan to attend or not. Therefore, having e-mail as a form of communication technology can save you money because it allows you to stay in contact with your friends as much as you like. A fourth type of communication technology is Skype. It is a service provider that has free calling between subscribers and low cost calling to people who do not use service. By using Skype you can speak with your friends through video chat and video conference on your computer or cell phone. It also has great sound quality, for it feels like your friend is really close to you but they are not present. People use Skype as a tool to stay in close contact with their friends whoShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Communication Technology955 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Thanks to the advancement in communication and computer science, nearly anything you can imagine is just a click away.† (Ertem, 2015) Technology has revolutionized the way we conduct business worldwide. You can now video chat with customers who are across the world, in just a few seconds. Communication technology is essential in growing your business and improving efficiency. Since the 1980’s technological advancements have certainly grown substantially, which help with productivity and efficiencyRead MoreTechnology and Communication1006 Words   |  5 PagesCommunication technology is a necessity for human interaction. It plays an important role in acquiring and disseminating information. Regardless of time and boundary, technology helps provide information for the decision making process. Communication technology is important in the human civilization process. At the end of this topic you should be able to explain the importance of communication technology, d efine communication technology, explain its impact and influence, explain its influence onRead MoreEssay on Technology And Communication1697 Words   |  7 PagesAs I write this Im sitting in the Vancouver airport in the departure lounge which I find offers one of the more interesting places to study electronic communication. Although this is a completely unscientific study from my current vantage point I can currently see 35 people. 14 of those are either talking on their cell phones or sending text/email messages. 6 people are using their laptop computers, 9 people are reading, 4 are listening to music and 2 people are idle. An interesting side note isRead MoreTechnology And Teen Communication : Teens1274 Words   |  6 Pages Writing Skills 8-06 April 16, 2016 Technology and Teen Communication When teens were introduced to technology every thing in social aspects was downsized dramatically. Teens unproductive and addictive technology use has, and will continue to impact their verbal, and other communication skills. Teenagers rely to much on technology for everything. The teenagers are overusing technology to an extreme. Technology use even a little usage affects communication skills. Their is very little positiveRead MoreThe Effects Of Technology On Communication1742 Words   |  7 PagesJenna Wortham believes that â€Å"we are now in constant and continuous communication with our friends, co-workers and family† and with the help of advancing technology keeping this type of communication going is not difficult (394). Although many believe that certain forms of technology can be detrimental to how we are able to communicate with others, it can be seen to have positive effects with most Americans. Technology has been seen to keep friends and family close, even if th ere is a physical distanceRead MoreTechnology And Methods Of Communication1783 Words   |  8 PagesHas technology and methods of communication made academic achievement easier for students and are they ready for the world of work? Discuss This essay will address technology and methods of communication and if they have helped students develop the necessary skills that are needed for the world of work. It will discuss the main skills and values that employers are looking for when recruiting and students are expected to have in order to be successful in the work place. Lastly it will touch uponRead MoreThe Language Of Technology Is Helpful For Communication933 Words   |  4 Pagesof Technology Language evolves along us as we grow up. I grew up talking Cantonese with my parents. At elementary school, I took ESL classes. With my brothers, I spoke Pidgin with them. As technology grew exponentially, language became a part of technology’s close companion. Social media has changed the way people have spoken in the past with new acronyms and new words, and connected people left behind in the social world. While people focus on the negative effects of social media, technology isRead MoreNew Technology And Advanced Communication Options Essay1193 Words   |  5 PagesThe advents of new technology and advanced communication options have changed the way in which meeting planners construct business meetings over the past several years. There are many positive impacts brought about by technology; however, we cannot ignore the adverse impact that accompanies the use of technology in meeting planning. The use of Internet and social media has helped meeting planners to shift some work to attendees, which can make attendees feel more engaged. For instance, registrantsRead MoreIct : Information And Communication Technologies1350 Words   |  6 PagesICT stands for Information and Communication technologies; it is a notation used to summaries technologies, which consist of devices to collect, store, edit and transfer information in various forms. I am writing this report to inform the importance of ICT in different sectors; such as education, health and banking. In addition to this, I would like to inform about the development of technology over the years. I am going to carry out this research through the use of online sources and textbooks.Read More Technology and Communication in Business Essay examples1776 Words   |  8 PagesTechnology and Communication in Business The technological advances achieved in the past few decades have brought about a revolution in the business world, affecting all aspects of a working life. People can reach each other throughout the world in a matter of seconds, without cost being increasingly negligible. Employees no longer need to be physically with their clients and co-workers; instead they can communicate effectively at home, at a distant office, across the world, and even in their

Introduction Of Psychology Parenting Styles Essay

Salem Achour 42150030 Introduction to Psychology Parenting Styles Outline I. Introduction Parenting styles are the strategies and the approaches that parents use when raising their offspring. II. Authoritarian a. The authoritarian parenting style is described as not being responsive yet having too many demands. b. children often develop low self-esteem, become shy, and are anxious when around others. III. Permissive (indulgent) a. Permissive parenting is the type of parenting where parents are nurturing but are too passive. b. they will lack self-control and can be spoiled and self-absorbed because they get used to having whatever they want and concerned only with their needs IV. Neglectful a. Neglectful parents, also known as uninvolved parents, are generally parents who are not aware of their child’s needs. b. Depression, anxiety, fear, and stress are usual for children because they haven’t been nurtured by their parents and are generally emotionally withdrawn which makes them not have connections with friends for example. V. Authoritative a. The authoritative parenting style, is demanding, but not as much as authoritarian parents, and are responsive, but not as much as permissive parents. b. Children raised by these parents usually are responsible and can make wise decisions on their own and also have respect for authority Parenting Styles Parenting styles are the strategies and the approaches that parents use when raising their offspring. When parentsShow MoreRelatedEssay about Parenting Styles: The Effect on Your Child588 Words   |  3 PagesIn my recent psychology class we studied parenting styles. They are grouped into three different categories; authoritarian, authoritative, and overly permissive. This gave me insight into a couple of different programs I’ve watched on television.Authoritarian parents are parents that set strict rules to keep order and they usually do this without much expression of warmth and affection. â€Å"They demand obedience to authority.† (Coon Mitterer, 2010, p. 91) When the child questions the parent, BecauseRead MoreParenting Styles And The Parenting Style Essay1594 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Parenting style used by caregivers plays an important role in the child’s development and learning, specifically social emotional learning. Parents play a big role in their child’s academic achievement, especially depending on the parenting style use. The parenting style where the parents are involved and monitor their children is related to academic achievement and educational accomplishment (Spera, 2005). Parenting styles comprise of two dimensions, demandingness and responsivenessRead MoreHumanistic Psychology Essay examples1165 Words   |  5 Pagesbeen increasingly popular from the mid-20th century. In the early 1960s, a movement named third-force psychology started as a reaction to the defect of behaviorism and psychoanalysis to deal fully with the human condition (Hergenhahn, 2008). This third-force movement is humanistic psychology, which refers to the combination of the philosophy of romanticism and existentialism. Humanistic psychology instead paid more attention to each individuals potentials and highlighted the importance of self-actualizationRead MorePersuasive Speech : Developing Your Parenting Style900 Words   |  4 PagesDeveloping Your Parenting Style General Purpose: Persuade Specific Purpose: To persuade people to use a certain kind of parenting style when they have children. Thesis: The authoritative parenting style is the most effective style for producing children that have desirable traits, such as good morals, obedience, compassion and responsibility. Introduction Attention Getter: My nine year old sister went out for volleyball this year. She learned very fast that she hated serving the ball across theRead MoreSocial Class and Occupations on Parenting Styles1529 Words   |  7 PagesDahir Nasser Soc 202 Topic # 7 Abstract In this paper I will discuss the affects of an individual’s social class, and occupations on their parenting styles. Most of the literature points to the upper classes careers providing them with opportunities for freedom and room to express themselves. The research also shows that the lower classes occupations require much more conformity and ability to simply follow directions. Many of the studies have also been correlated to the ways parents raise theirRead MoreAnalysis Of Helicopter Parenting By Cline And Fay1664 Words   |  7 PagesHelicopter parenting, first introduced by Cline and Fay in their 1990 parenting book series, refers to overly protective and involved parents, who overly involve themselves in their children’s lives with behaviours including constant communication, intervention into children’s affairs, taking control of decision making, personally investing themselves in their children’s goals and the removal of any obstacles that their c hildren may encounter. Studies have shown that this parenting style is most prevalentRead MoreParenting Vs Today s Parenting1334 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Over the years, everyone has discussed how schooling can be improved and what they can do to make that happen. They always discuss factors like teachers, curriculums, friends, and sports but when it comes down to it, a child is made into the person they will be in the future by their parents or guardians. Dr. Gail Gross, a nationally recognized family, child development, and human behavior expert, says, â€Å"At the end of the day, parents must parent- you must be what you want to see. FromRead MoreEssay on The Importance of Good Parenting1393 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Parenting style is one of the most attributed issues when dealing with care for children by their own parents. Parents should be always knowledgeable about the impact of proper parenting so that their child will grow productively. In this case, the level of parenting issues can help to improve the process of child’s learning development. This paper is going to discuss at least three parenting style for children in order to explore more about these proper parenting styles, which couldRead MoreHow Attachment Affects Your Adult Relationships898 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION We will be exploring the different styles of attachment, how parenting affects attachment style and in turn how it affects our love lives as adults. Built by close relationships, attachment can vary from one relationship to another, depending on how available that person is especially during infancy and childhood. As adults, we react to situations based on our attachment style, which is ingrained but not unchangeable. This not only affects our relationships with prospective partnersRead MoreThe Problem Of Juvenile Delinquency894 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTION In 2013, with seventy three point five million Americans, about one in four were under the age of eighteen. Forty nine percent were females while the other fifty one percent were male. Astounding thirty to forty percent of this population will commit their first crime between the ages of fourteen and fifteen. While most are just beginning puberty, these young boys and girls are becoming juvenile delinquents because they chose the wrong path or the wrong path was laid out for them. THEORIES

New Business Plan for a Gas Station Start Up Free Essays

The customer need that will be satisfied is that my gas station will have gasoline, diesel, and a service station to get the repairs or inspections they will need to have. There will be a free air pump, so they can have the option of filling up their tires. I will also have coffee, snacks and different beverages the customer can purchase as well, so they can also fuel up their bodies as well for the ride they are going to make. We will write a custom essay sample on New Business Plan for a Gas Station Start Up or any similar topic only for you Order Now The product will be unique by my station having a self service, but also a full service section for customers at no extra cost, but if the customer is getting 5 gallons or less than there will be a slight increase on the price per gallon. I will have two self service gasoline pumps; two full service gasoline pumps that are double sided so that’s make 8 pumps for gasoline. I will have one diesel pump, which the one side will be self service and the other side will be full service. The full service section will have a line on the ground that when they ride over it a bell will ring and the employee will know there is someone waiting to get full service. Along with the full service I will have the employee offer them if they would like their windows to be cleaned, their oil to be checked, and if they would like a beverage or a snack while they are waiting for their fuel. I will also make sure that the pavement is cleaned every day. There will be a canopy to cover the fuel pumps and will make sure there is proper lighting and have some calming music playing while the customer waits. I will have a great color scheme to my gas station to make it stand out. There will be neon lights that will trim the canopy and pumps, so at night it will make it more appealing to the customer and hopefully will draw them in. I will also offer a card that can be scanned at the pump when they pull up that will have a record of their purchases and for every $100. 00 they have spent, not including the service station, I will offer them $. 10 off a gallon. This offer can be accumulated over a month, so depending on how much they spend they can accumulate up to getting $. 0 off a gallon. Though, this offer is only valid for the month pertaining to the purchases they made, so if they do not use the discount then the next month it will be erased and will start over again. The customers that will be coming to my gas station are ones with gasoline, diesel, or even hybrid cars and motorcycles that need to be taken care of. There will even be landscaping and other similar customers coming to filling up their small engines. I will also have customers that will be coming for the service station to get repairs or inspections done to their cars. I will not be able to service 18-wheelers though, but they can still get their diesel. I will also not be able to have a mechanic for motorcycles unless he/she has the proper training along with their automotive training. Their profiles are people who range from the lower upper-class to the middle upper-class. There will be both male and female’s who are coming to the station with their ages being from 18 and up. They’ll be high school and college students along with people who are working and even people who aren’t working that just are getting gas for whatever they are putting the fuel in. In the town my gas station resides, the population is %54. 4 African Americans, %29. 6 Caucasian, %8. 7 Asian American, %4. 3 Hispanic, %2. 4 with two or more races, %0. 2 native Hawaiian and other Pacific islanders, %0. 2 other race, and %0. 1 American Indian, which is a total of 2668 thousand residents† (Advameg, Inc, 2011) These people will be living in the area of m y gas station or in the surrounding area of East Lansdowne, PA. They may work in the area at the local stores that surround my gas station. They may work in center city or in the west/south west Philadelphia region. The customer may also work out towards the Springfield mall up Baltimore avenue I may also get people who are going to the gym or going out for the day or night to have a day of fun on the weekend or a day off from their jobs. The customer wants a gas station that will allow them to be in and out as quick as possible so they can continue on with where they are going to go. The customers’ needs are that they feel that this is a place that will take care of them and will treat them with the most upstanding customer service so they will keep on coming back. With the amenities I will provide I will hopefully be going above and beyond their expectations of the service they would receive at another gas station. The customer may need to use the service station, and they’re vehicle will be treated with the proper care it deserves. The Exxon station, located at the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Church lane in East Lansdowne, PA. The Giant supermarket that has a gas station that’s located right by Baltimore avenue and Union avenue in east Lansdowne, PA. The Exxon station’s strengths are that they sell cigarettes and have the lottery. They also have a convenience store that you can go inside with an ATM machine in it. Their weaknesses are that there is only one employee that works there. They have an air pump and vacuum section that you have to pay for. They do not have a full service option, nor do they have a service station to work on vehicles or a diesel fuel pump. It also isn’t a very clean or well maintained place. The Giant supermarket’s strengths are that they have the same option of accumulating points from purchases made inside of their supermarket. They also have an entire supermarket that their customers can do their shopping and then head over to the gas pump after with a free air pump as well. Their weaknesses are that in order to get the discount on the gas you have to buy products from their supermarket, whereas at my station the gas is included in the point system. They also do not offer a full service option even though there is a gas attendant there to supervise the gas station section. Their other weakness is that the gas station is in the very back of the property so some customer’s may only think there is just the supermarket. They also do not have a service station for repairs, nor do they carry diesel fuel. They Exxon station might try to add a full service feature, but that would be hard with only one attendant there working inside the convenience store. They may to try and make their air pump free for customers. They may also try to add a diesel pump. The Giant supermarket has a little more trouble trying to do a lot of changes because it’s a big company so they’d have to get the OK from the higher ups, but they may also try to add a full service option along with adding the diesel option. I feel neither of them would be able to match the service station part because Exxon has limited room and the Giant probably doesn’t have any intentions of adding that because their main focus is the supermarket with the gas being a side thing. â€Å"Sunoco is committed to sustainable business practices. Sunoco adopts business strategies and activities that meet the needs of the business and its stakeholders today while protecting, sustaining and enhancing the human and natural resources that will be needed in the future. † (Sunoco, Inc. 2013) â€Å"A promoter of clean energy alternatives, BJ’s Wholesale Club strives to implement environmentally conscious business practices when possible. BJ’s Wholesale promotes energy efficient methods of harvesting electricity, and many BJ’s stores use solar panels to harvest energy. BJ’s stores also participate in local recycling and waste management programs†¦. Primarily operating from large warehou se-style retail locations, BJ’s Wholesale Club offers club members a wide range of products and services. BJ’s sells everything from food and clothing to gasoline and home office supplies. BJ’s also operates an online store. (BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc, 2013) I plan on being an independent gas station and plan on getting my gas and diesel from the Sunoco/Carlyle Group, which is located at 3144 W Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA. I plan on buying my coffee and snacks from BJ’s, which is located at 1260 E. Woodland Ave. Springfield, PA 19064. I do not want to have a franchise with Sunoco, so it will be considered an â€Å"unbranded fuel†. (Sunoco, Inc. , 2013) I expect the relationship with Sunoco/Carlyle Group to be one that I can have a regular set date or dates that they will come and top off what fuels I need. With BJ’s I just expect to pay their â€Å"BJ’s Business yearly payment of $50 to get the items I need, and with the business card I am able to have my items be tax-exempt and have them available for resale. † (BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. , 2013) The location cost for the property I plan to buy is $600,000 as is and it’s because it is a closed down gas station. (County of Delaware, 2013) The legalities to having a gas station is that there have to be yearly inspections done by the state to make sure everything is ok. They check the soil for contamination and check to make sure the underground tanks are at the right depth. The state inspectors make sure that each pump is properly working and up to date with the correct parts. â€Å"The ‘U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’ that the pumps are only pumping 10 gallons per minute. † (U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, 1997) They also make sure that all my licenses are up to date and make sure that we are operating under the proper protocols provided by the state. I would want to own and refurbish a facility. There is one at 401 East Baltimore Avenue that has exactly what I am looking for. It was recently a Sunoco station, but all the Sunoco signs and words have been taken down so it looks like a blank slate. It has a three car garage with the lifts still in it and an air pump already in place. The only thing I would have to add is the diesel pump to the facility and to have the underground tank for the diesel to be placed in. I would have to have someone come out and make sure that the pumps work and have someone come in and check out the lifts in the garage to make sure they are up to par as well. I will purchase any necessary parts that the maintenance guys found wrong with the pumps and the lifts in the service station. I will have to purchase the line that runs on the ground for the full service section of the gas station to let the employee know the customer is there. I will also have to invest in the tools required for the service station so that the employees have the proper equipment needed to work on the vehicle. I need to have the signs and all the proper naming of my gas station placed on the property along with the neon lighting. I will purchase the speakers that will be playing the calming music for the customers. I will have to get the proper licensing from the state to be able to give inspections to vehicles. I will be open 7 days a week from 5am until 11pm, but the service station will only be open from 8am until 8 pm. I will need to have an employee who is in charge of the cash register and assigning the gas to the right pump. I will need to have a mechanic that will take care of the service station. I will need to hire an employee that can take care of the full service part of the gas station. I will have at least 2 to 3 cashiers that will be able to work part-time shifts. I will need to have at least 2 to 3 mechanics that will be able to work part-time or full-time shifts, but only will need one mechanic available during each shift. If there are days that the service station is overloaded with cars I may need to call in one of the other mechanics to come in and help out. I will need at least 2 to 3 part-time employees that will need to be in charge of the full service section, but will only need one employee at a time during the shift. I will also be at the gas station from time to time to make sure things are the way they are supposed to be. The cashier person will need to be able to work the cashier and be able to set the right amount of gas to the right pump for the customer with the proper customer service skill to keep the customer happy. The cashier will also have to differentiate whether the person is at the self service or the full service station to make the right adjustments in prices and know about the 5 gallon or less rule. The mechanics will have to give me a proper resume or some sort of certification that they are real mechanics and are able to work on different brand vehicles. The mechanic should be responsible for removing, installing, diagnosing, repairing, disassembling and assembling parts, components and engines while performing all duties according to safety procedures. (Salary. com, 2013) The mechanics should know how to properly approach the customer and kindly ask them what it is they need. The employee in charge of the full service station is going to need to be properly dressed in a uniform; while wearing a new pair of gloves for every customer they service. The full service employee will also need to know how to clean the windows properly and be able to check to make sure the oil level is correct in the car if they are asked to check for that. The full service employee will also need to have the best customer service skills to keep the customer pleased and will need to be able to communicate with the cashier on what their total will be when they are asking if they can get the customer a beverage or a snack while the customer waits to be fueled up. The cost of the cashier position per hour will be $8. 00 an hour with the potential to gain a raise every 6 months. (Salary. om, 2013) The mechanics will be working for $18. 00 an hour and also have the potential to get a raise every 6 months and/or if they show they work at a fast rate with quality work being done. (Salary. com, 2013) The full service employee will receive $8. 00 an hour with the potential to gain a raise every 6 months and/or if they show fast, quality customer service. (Sal ary. com, 2013) At the end of the year, excluding leap years, I would potentially be paying my cashiers’ and full service employees’ $52,560 (gross pay). At the end of the year, excluding leap years, I would potentially be paying my mechanics’ $78,840 (gross pay). Works Cited Advameg, Inc. (2011). East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. Retrieved from city-data. com: http://www. city-data. com/city/East-Lansdowne-Pennsylvania. html BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (2013). About Us. Retrieved from bjs. com: http://www. bjs. com/about-us. content. about. A BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (2013). Membership Options/Join. Retrieved from bjs. com: http://www. bjs. com/info. aboutmembership. options County of Delaware. (2013). Delaware County Real Estate Parcels Tax Records System. Retrieved from w01. co. delaware. pa. us: http://w01. co. delaware. pa. us/publicaccess. asp? unicipality=00realdistaddress=SubmitHNumber=Street=aFolio=Map=UAYN=Y Salary. com. (2013). Automotive Mechanic. Retrieved from Salary. com: http://swz. salary. com/salarywizard/Automotive-Mechanic-II-Hourly-Salary-Details. aspx Salary. com. (2013). Cashier. Retrieved from Salary. com: http://swz. salary. com/SalaryWizard/Retail-Cashier-Full-Time-Hourly-Salary-Details. aspx Salary. com. (2 013). Job Details . Retrieved from Salary. com: http://swz. salary. com/salarywizard/Automotive-Mechanic-II-Job-Description. aspx Salary. com. (2013). Service Station Attendant. Retrieved from Salary. com: http://swz. salary. com/salarywizard/Service-Station-Attendant-Hourly-Salary-Details. aspx Sunoco, Inc. (2013). Corporate Responsibility. Retrieved from hesreport. sunocoinc. com: http://hesreport. sunocoinc. com/fw/main/Home-1192. html Sunoco, Inc. (2013). Wholesale Marketing. Retrieved from sunocoinc. com: https://www. sunocoinc. com/retail/wholesale-marketing/index U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. (1997, 09 24). the EPA 10 gallon per minuter fuel dispensing limit. Retrieved from epa. gov: http://www. epa. gov/oms/regs/ld-hwy/evap/spitback. txt How to cite New Business Plan for a Gas Station Start Up, Papers

International Business Management Economic Growth

Question: Discuss about the International Business Management for Economic Growth. Answer: Introduction The report is all about the closing Case of Putins Russia. This case is all about the Russian economy, Vladimir Putins political power in Russia, and how Western business started to invest in Russia. After the wreck of the Soviet Union and the ruble crash there was an economic growth of Russia which is considered to be the best till date. The era between 2001 2013 witnessed the progressive trend in oil and natural gas which benefitted Russias economy to boost up as this nation mostly depends on its oil natural gas resources (Durkalec Kroenig, 2016). In 2001 the nations President Aliyev authorized the privatization of nearly a hundred of state owned entities belonging to the fuel and energy sectors like the oil and natural gas sector along with machine building of the chemical sectors. The economy of Russia ran into trouble in 2014 due to Russias oil and natural gas prices fell out. The prices of the fuel got slacked as there was an increase in the supply of oil and natural gas globally by United States. The Russian ruble lost its value by half percent against USA, the countries of European Union and the weakening of the ruble (Dawisha, 2015). Starting his career as an officer in KGB Foreign intelligence, Putin dedicated 16 years of service before being the Lieutenant Colonel and joining the politics in 1991.After moving to Moscow he joined the administration of President Boris Yeltsin soon after he became the acting President in the year 1999. He won the presidential elections of 2000 by a major margin and again got reelected as the President in 2004 (Jonson, 2015). Russia witnessed a boom in the commodities and oil prices. Putin was unable to contest the election for the third consecutive time in accordance to the constitutional limits. Putin was then appointed as tandemocracy by then President Dmitry Medvedev in 2008 (The Economist, Februar, 2014). It was in 2012 March when the presidential tenure was extended to six years and Putin again contested in the elections and won with around 65% (Jonson, 2015). Putin became the leader who was internationally recognized as one of the most powerful leaders globally along with hi gh ratings of domestic approval (Sutela, 2013). Putin has been controlling Russia with extreme power. But with the recession that has hit Russia in 2015 has left Russia to stagnant and decline. Russia is the result of Putins leadership and had proved to grow under his leadership (Rutland, 2014). Along with certain poor decision made in military and economy such as invasion and annexation of Crimea and lower the fuel export price Putin seems to be strong but inefficient in controlling the fall of Russia into the abyss. Being mostly depended on its fuel resources Russia needs to find out ways to export its oil and natural gas and counteract the major share of exports globally by US to Iraq. The nation needs to alter the threat of natural gas reserves into the strongest opportunity. The manufacturing of more number of military and defense ships ,tanks, aircrafts and others transportation modes will boost Russias economy (Dawisha, 2015). The Shock Therapy by Yelstin in 1991 regarding privatization of the state owned enterprises gave encouragement and opportunities for the foreign countries to invest in Russia. This was an era in which the foreign investors looked for opportunities. However, the condition for foreign investments does not seem favorable. The companies which had been functioning in Russia for years find it difficult to withdraw and are forced to accept losses that are partial in nature or subsequently lowered their activity levels. The investors however, see a long term profit in the natural gas reserves and there is a decline in the natural oil and gas resource (Durkalec Kroenig, 2016). Thus, those investors are choosing not to withdraw from Russia. Moreover Russia has applied the lessons from the post communism disrupted structures of economy to get some relief. The education sector appears promising from investment point of view as the quality of education is very high and establishment of producti on facilities would be effectively implemented. In spite of the fall in the economy by 4% there is a considerable growth in the food and agricultural industry. The devaluation and restraint on the European food made way for the macroeconomic alterations in this sector. The Russian government continuously expresses enthusiasm in drawing foreign investments. Foreign investors need to look for opportunities and growth carefully (Dawisha, 2015). The foreign investors who are seeking to gain or increase ownership beyond a particular verge needs to get governmental approval from a commission headed by the Prime minister of Russia.129 among 137 foreign investments have already been approved which denotes scope for foreign investments in Russia even in present scenario. Conclusion This report finds out answer to some facts like how Russian economy underperformed in 2014, the political power of Vladimir Putins in Russia, and how Western business started to invest in Russia. References Durkalec, J., Kroenig, M. (2016). NATO's Nuclear Deterrence: Closing Credibility Gaps.The Polish Quarterly of International Affairs,25(1), 37. Dawisha, K. (2015).Putin's kleptocracy: who owns Russia?. Simon and Schuster. Jonson, L. (2015).Art and protest in Putin's Russia(Vol. 61). Routledge. Rutland, P. (2014). The Pussy Riot affair: gender and national identity in Putin's Russia.Nationalities Papers,42(4), 575-582. Sources: Putins Russia: Sochi or Bust, The Economist, February 1, 2014? Russia Economy: The S Word, The Economist, November 9, 2013? Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2014: Russia, www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedomworld/2014/? K. Hille, Putin Tightens Grip on Legal System, Financial Times, November 27, 2013. Sutela, P. (2013).The political economy of Putins Russia. Routledge.

Best Tax Preparation Office in Tampa, Florida

Executive Summary The study examined the problem of identifying critical success factors in the tax preparation industry. Most firms in the tax preparation industry have one major objective. The objective is to emerge the best in the industry. However, companies operating in this area differ significantly with regards to their level of success. It is important to determine what makes some tax preparation offices highly successful than others.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Best Tax Preparation Office in Tampa, Florida specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The differing level of success is in spite of the fact that the firms are operating within the same industry. The paper looked at the issue of whether or not becoming the best tax preparation office in Tampa can be explained by the various strategic alternatives adopted by the company. The question of the implementation of the correct strategy was also addr essed. A research on Tampa’s tax preparation industry was carried out with the aim of identifying and understanding the various success factors that are essential for the achievement of competitive advantage. The researcher predicts that there are significant differences between the various firms with regards to the perception of critical success factors in the industry. Introduction Explanation of the Project The United States of America’s income tax laws are some of the most complex in the world. Due to this complexity, more than 60% of American taxpayers prefer using a paid tax preparer. In other words, they prefer paying someone to file their income tax returns for them. Through the use of a tax preparation service provider, a consumer can reduce the amount of tax they pay to the government. At the same time, the individual can increase the amount of their tax refund from the government (Edwards, 2013). Tax evasion is a very serious offense in the United States of America. The offense attracts hefty fines from those found guilty, including both individuals and organizations operating in the country. Perhaps this legal strictness is another reason why people seek professional services in filing their tax returns. The increasing demand for professional tax preparation services in the country has a number of impacts on the economy. For example, the increasing demand has resulted to a subsequent increase in the number of professionals offering tax services in the market. A case in point is the number of such professionals in Tampa, Florida. For example, there are over 100 tax preparation firms in the region (Slemrod, 2006, p. 23).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The existence of such a large number of tax firms is an indication of the fact that tax services in this region are in high demand. Just like other firms in other sectors of the economy, all these tax firms aim to be successful. However, they differ significantly with regards to the level of their success. The observation raises a number of pertinent questions that any new entrant needs to address. For example, why does the success of firms operating in Tampa varies? Why are some of them successful, while others are not doing very well? Does the adoption of a given strategy determine the success of the company? Can the success be explained by the implementation of the correct strategies? A review of most tax preparation offices in Tampa reveals that they rely on quick turnaround work and high volume to increase their revenue. Due to this factor, there is increased fee-based competition within the industry. The reason for such an increase is because by lowering their prices, tax preparation firms can increase the number of clients that walk through their door (Long Caudill, 2008, p. 40). Furthermore, tax preparation firms in Tampa have been forced t o deal with competition from external players. For example, the companies are competing from operators in the software publishing industry that develop at-home tax filing programs. The development and supply of such programs has resulted in increased price competition in the industry. The new developments have decreased the profits in an industry that already has high internal competition (Caralli, Stevens, Willke Wilson, 2008, p. 300). Tax preparation offices primarily exist to provide services to a wide of clients. The clients in this case include, among others, customers, shareholders, employees, business partners, and the communities that benefit from the existence and growth of the firm (Maddala, 1988). The firms achieve this objective by formulating effective organizational values, purpose, and vision. Scope of the Project The management of the new firm has to take into account the dynamics of this industry when launching the operations. It also has to take into account the v arious limitations that firms operating in this firm have to contend with. The aim of the firm is achieve goals and objectives. To this end, a firm is required to develop a strategy to inform its operations. In this case, the firm outlines a set of goals and targets. It comes up with a strategy to attain them within a given time period. The functions of different departments in the firm are derived from these goals. The process of strategy development ensures that the entire organization is focused on the implementation of a defined purpose and vision (Caralli et al., 2008).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Best Tax Preparation Office in Tampa, Florida specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is important to note that developing a strategy and setting goals and objectives is not enough. It is just a single factor determining the success of a tax preparation firm. More is needed. For example, the firm must per form exemplary well in a number of critical areas. The areas in this case are those that are critical to the firm’s goals and objectives. In fact, performance in these key areas is critical to the firm’s success. Failure to perform well in the areas may be a major barrier to the success of the firm (Caralli et al., 2008). The critical areas can be identified as a set of critical success factors for the firm. Critical success factors include the specific areas in which the firm must excel. Positive results in these areas will guarantee a competitive performance for the tax preparation firm. It will help the firm to emerge the best in the area (Maddala, 1988). Significance of the Study According to Vasconcellos, Sousa and Hambrick (1989), the concept of strategic management depends on the ability to develop and sustain useful assets. It also depends on the nature of skills the firm has access to. Furthermore, strategic management requires the ability to select competitiv e strategies and areas that would support the developed assets and enable them to create meaningful competitive advantage for the firm. In turn, this should be developed in line with critical success factors. Most firms have identified a set of critical success factors that are developed according to the industry’s unique features and characteristics (Aaker, 2001). A tax preparation firm’s successful performance within the industry can be determined using a number of factors. One of them is how well the company aligns its success factors with those that give it an edge in the industry. There are a number of reasons why it is important to identify critical success factors in the tax preparation industry. First, it gives rise to a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s competitive environment. Such understanding is important in making decisions that determine the success of the firm. According to Aaker (2001), understanding and identifying critical success factors is important to a firm if its entrance into an industry is to succeed. It also helps the firm to find a different position in the industry and successfully develop strategies to achieve the perceived value and cost reduction (Rockart, 1979). In 1989, a research was carried out to test critical success factors in different fields. The researchers aimed to investigate two hypotheses. The first was that critical success factors varied from one industry to the other. The second was that firms with strengths similar to the industry’s critical success factors are more likely to be successful within the industry than other firms.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Research carried out in six industries supported the above hypotheses (Vasconcellos et al., 1989). Other researchers from the industry provided data that supported the arguments above. For example, the studies showed that the success of a given firm is determined by how well the management aligns the positive attributes of the firm to the factors significant in that industry. Problem Statement The current study was guided by a number of research questions. The following are the research questions: What makes some tax offices in Tampa more successful than others? How do strategic alternatives and implementation of the correct strategy inform the success of tax offices in Tampa? How can a tax office in Tampa succeed in the industry? Becoming the Best Tax Preparation Office in Tampa, FL Literature Review The tax preparation industry: background The primary services offered by firms in the tax preparation industry include the preparation of tax returns. Tax preparation experts offer t his service as a standalone endeavor. Other services, such as book keeping and billing, are not offered. Although CPA offices are not classified in the tax preparation industry, basic knowledge on filing requirements and tax law is critical for members of staff in this industry (Swingen, Green Long, 2009). Between 2008 and 2013, the revenue generated in the tax preparation industry contracted at an annual average of 0.2%. The revenues fell to about $9.4 billion. The industry recorded some growth in 2008 (Edwards, 2013). However, the growth declined between 2009 and 2010. The decline can be explained by the rise in unemployment levels and decreased disposable income leading. The factors forced many consumers to prepare their own tax returns (Edwards, 2013). The tax preparation industry is facing increased competition from external players. A case in point is competition from the software publishing industry. Software for the preparation of tax, such as Intuit’s TurboTax, are widely accepted because they make electronic tax filing more accessible (Swingen et al., 2009). Tax preparation offices have reacted to this threat. For example, they have stopped charging for some basic services. The offer attracts consumers who end up signing up for fee-based services. The services include state income-tax filing because most states have not adopted electronic tax filing (Dubin, Graetz, Udell Wilde, 2007). The tax preparation industry is highly seasonal. Demand for tax preparation peaks between January and April. While most small firms operate during this period only, large firms operate at a loss during the off-season (Slemrod, 2006). The seasonal nature of tax preparation services, together with low barriers to entry, makes the industry an ideal field for entrepreneurs working on a part-time basis. The seasonal nature of the industry also results in relative decreased average wages for operators. Because most firms in the industry only operate during the peak s eason, the average industry wage is set at about $12,660 as of 2013 (Edwards, 2013). Though the recent decline in demand for tax preparation services has resulted in pricing competition, tax preparation firms, historically, increase prices of tax preparation services each year (Swingen et al., 2009). However, due to the threats arising from increased use of computer software by individuals seeking to file their own taxes, basic tax preparation services are offered free of charge. The offers reduce profit margins. The tax preparation firms are forced to offer the services for free since numerous other free services exist. The firms, however, sell additional services for more complicated taxes to make money (Slemrod, 2006). Many large tax preparation firms offer tax related financial products. An example of such a product is Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs). The product is offered by a partner lender based on an anticipated income tax refund. From the fees paid by the borrower, the le nder and the tax preparation firm are able to generate revenue (Dubin et al., 2007). Another product is Refund Anticipation Change (RACs). The product works by simply placing a customer’s tax return in a bank account which is linked to a prepaid credit card. Tax preparation firms are expected to increase the number of personalized products that software companies cannot compete with. Additionally, the firms are expected to increase the number of services they provide for free (Edwards, 2013). IRS has formulated new regulations and changes to the tax regime. The tax preparation industry is most likely to benefit from at least one government regulatory framework. Such a regulation is the one requiring paid tax ‘preparers’ to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The regulation came into effect during the 2011 tax season. It reduces the number of players in the industry. The reduction reduces competition and increases revenue. In future, things will chan ge with regards to PTIN. For example, practitioners in this industry will have to meet a given threshold to be certified. The requirement will further limit the number of firms operating in the industry, leading to a growth in the industry (Edwards, 2013). Additional regulations need to be formulated by the federal government for firms that offer electronic filing services. One of the focus areas should be the advertising standards, which the tax electronic filing firms must adhere to. In addition, firms providing electronic filing services should be required to provide filing information to the taxpayer. The government has formulated additional rules regarding electronic filing. Recently, the IRS announced that tax preparers with 11 or more trust or individual tax returns will be required to file returns using IRS electronic filing system (Edwards, 2013). The cost structure of firms operating in the tax preparation industry varies based on a number of factors. Firms operating a fra nchise incur fees for royalties and marketing. Such fees are not incurred by small firms. Due to the seasonal nature of the tax preparation industry, large firms that continue operating during the off season incur additional costs not incurred by small firms that close down during this period. As a result, the cost structures of large firms differ significantly from those of small firms (Dubin et al., 2007). The concept of critical success factors The concept of critical success factors has a long history. The history is traced back to 1961. It was proposed by Ronald Daniels to address some issues in corporate management. Daniel used the concept of critical success factors to identify information that is critical to successfully perform managerial duties (Daniels, 1961). According to this scholar, the information systems of a given organization should have a specific goal. The goal is to achieve the success factors. Identifying the success factors should be carried out carefully to enhance the progress of the company (Daniels, 1961). Rockart (1979) further developed the concept by introducing four primary sources of critical success factors. The first is the structure of the specific industry. The second is environmental and temporal factors. The third is position and location in the industry. The last factor is competitive strategy. The concept helps the management to develop the appropriate strategies to run the firm. In addition, it helps in identifying problems that may hinder the success of the organization. According to Dickinson, Ferguson and Sircar (1984), critical success factors can be defined from a specific perspective. They are regarded as any circumstances, events, activities, or conditions that, because of their importance, require special attention from the firm. The factors may be internal or external. There are various advantages associated with critical success factors. They include comprehensiveness, operational value, and flexibility. In a nother study involving small businesses, Dickinson proposed that identification of critical success factors may be useful at various levels. The first level involves evaluation of the chances for success with regards to a new firm. The second is the planning process of a firm’s opportunities. The third is the effective implementation of a firm’s planned activities. In their case studies, Boynton, Shank, and Zmud (1985) attributed the success of the concept of critical success factors to two of its advantages. First, the concept is widely recognized and accepted among top level management. Secondly, it enhances the planning process. Boynton et al. (1985) conducted a study aimed at analyzing the dependence of critical success factors on a firm’s hierarchical nature. The study also looked at the level at which strategic management decisions are made. The study distinguished between individual, sub-organizational, corporate, and industry success factors. One can ass ume that business success is the achievement of the pre-set goals and mission. With such an assumption, it is clear that critical success factors are very important. They help the firm to achieve its goals and objectives. The achievement of the goals and objectives set by an organization is informed by a number of factors. On their part, the determining factors are influenced by others. The observation gives rise to a form of dependency arrangement unique to a given organization or industry. Dickinson et al. (1984) distinguish between internal and external critical success factors. For example, the scholars argue that the former are affected by the internal dynamics of the firm. They include structures, people, products, and processes. The factors are an indication of the competencies and capabilities of a given organization. They determine the firm’s competitive advantage. External critical success factors, on their part, are different from the first set of factors. They are informed by the firm’s external dynamics. According to Rockart (1979), it is more difficult to control external critical factors than internal ones. However, external success factors may be measured and controlled to some degree. Dickinson et al. (1984) classified critical success factors into two main categories. The first is perceived or actual (Dickinson et al., 1984) group of determinants. The second is ‘conjunctive or compensatory determinants (Dickinson et al., 1984). The critical success perspective helps in defining tasks. Such a definition can in turn help in task selection from the numerous duties that a manager is required to perform daily. The definition sets priorities to enable the manager to concentrate on the core activities. Consequently, a group of managers may identify their firm’s critical success factors. In addition, organizations operating within the same industry may define the sector’s critical success factors (Boynton et al., 198 5). Boynton et al. (1985) provides an analysis of the application of critical success factors in an American high-tech engineering company. The factors were raised and discussed in a meeting. Participants in the meeting were asked to list a number of factors that they thought were critical to the success of a firm. It emerged that most of the factors mentioned by the participants were similar. The managers expressed the desire to delegate some of their duties. Some of the delegated activities interfered with the performance of top management team if not clearly defined. The perspective clearly emphasizes on the significance of the perception of critical success factors. After some time, the management should come together to analyze and consolidate differences between individual perceptions of the significance of critical success factors (Caralli et al., 2008). According to Rockart and Bullen (1981), critical success factors of a particular industry provide a firm with the opportuni ty to achieve competitive advantage. A firm must establish the various critical success factors in the sector within which they are operating. Mapping out these dynamics helps the firm to attain and sustain a competitive edge. For any firm to survive and succeed in a particular market, it must meet two conditions. First, the company must offer a product or service that is in line with the market demand. Secondly, the company must be able to withstand competition in the market. The identification of critical success factors within a particular industry, therefore, begins with two critical questions. The first question addresses the issue of what the consumers want. The second question involves the issue of how the firm can survive competition. Research Questions and Hypothesis Overview The current study helps in identifying a number of critical success factors in the tax services industry. The dynamics identified help to establish and sustain a competitive edge in the tax preparation industry. The objectives of the study were achieved by reviewing how different firms review success dynamics differently. The study focused on highly successful and unsuccessful tax preparation firms in Tampa, Florida. Hypothesis statement Different firms in the tax preparation industry perceive success dynamics differently. The differences are significant between the successful and unsuccessful tax preparation firms in Tampa, Florida. Research questions The research questions are restated below: What makes some tax offices in Tampa more successful than others? How do strategic alternatives and implementation of the correct strategy inform the success of tax offices in Tampa? How can a tax office in Tampa succeed in the industry? Research Methodology The current research study analyzed information on the tax preparation industry and the fragmentation of the firms in this sector. The study focused on the firms operating in Tampa, Florida. The study focused on the correlation betwe en critical success factors and the success of tax preparation offices in Tampa. To identify critical success factors in the tax preparation industry, the researcher began with a definition of the scope of the industry. Individuals are required to file a tax return if their income is above a certain threshold. Income return depends on a number of factors. They include age of the individual, type of income, and the filing status of the person. Many taxpayers hire the services of experts to file their tax returns. Consumers seek assistance from the tax preparers because they make a necessary task simple (Long Caudill, 2008). The researcher made use of secondary data in conducting this study. To this end, a critical review of literature existing in this field was conducted. In addition, information on the firms already existing in the industry was analyzed. Information was accessed from the school’s library and other public resources, such as online databases. The researcher ma de use of secondary sources of information for a number of reasons. First, information about tax preparation firms was readily available from the libraries accessed. Secondly, the researcher was unable to collect primary data due to time constraints. As such, the researcher was unable to conduct interviews or administer questionnaires. According to the report by IBISWorld, there are over one hundred tax preparation offices in Tampa, Florida. There are over 100 tax preparation firms in Tampa. However, there is no specific data on the operations of tax preparation offices in Tampa. As a result, the research population was identified based on a number of characteristics. For an office to qualify as a tax preparation entity, it must primarily provide consumer tax services, including electronic filing and tax preparation. Secondly, the primary services of the office must be generating revenue. The selection criterion was very helpful in identifying the borders of the study. It helped in identifying offices that were directly related to the provision of consumer tax services. 110 companies were selected using the criteria above. Findings The recent economic meltdown led to, among others, a rise in levels of unemployment and reduced household income. As a result, demand for tax preparation services decreased significantly between 2009 and 2010. The reason for this is because fewer individuals attained the income threshold that requires tax filing. The reduced income, in turn, slowed the growth of the tax preparation industry over a period of five years ending in 2013. The industry’s growth has also been affected by the inability of some firms to offer refund anticipation loans. The tax preparation offices in Tampa are highly competitive in terms of price and quality of services rendered. This is due to the large number of tax preparation offices operating in the region (Edwards, 2013). Based on reports from IBISWorld (and cited in Edwards, 2013), it is reveale d that the tax preparation service offices in Tampa are highly fragmented. Majority of the operators in Tampa are small firms. According to IBISWorld, about 85.1% of offices operating in Tampa’s tax preparation industry are small firms. Furthermore, more than 80% of the offices have between one employee and ten employees. Most small scale offices offer their services on a part-time basis because of the seasonal nature of tax preparation services. The offices mainly rely on reputation to market themselves. In addition, they do not charge a lot for their services. As a result, the offices in Tampa account for only 20.0% of the total revenue generated in the industry (Edwards, 2013). Vasconcellos et al. (1989) helped the researcher identify a number of critical success factors in the tax preparation industry. Some of the factors identified by this researcher include experienced work force and a loyal customer base. Other factors included reputation and reliability of the firm as far as the clients are concerned. The introduction of new and innovative services, as well as aggressive sourcing for customers, is the other success factors. According to Edwards (2013), critical success factors in the tax preparation industry are identified with the help of a structured strategy. According to the scholar, the factors are identified as a result of generalization of answers from two questions. The questions touch on consumer preferences and strategies used by the firm to survive competition. Dickinson et al. (1984) conducted studies on the basis of the success factors identified above. The first part of the study aimed at investigating the significance of the listed critical success factors on a ten-point scale. A scale of one stood for ‘totally irrelevant’ while a scale of ten stood for ‘extremely significant’. The second part of the study was developed to evaluate the significance of critical success factors to the success of the busines s over its competitors. The last part of the study looked into the nature of the firm. It critically assessed the success of the entity. Analysis and Results Auruskeviciene, Salciuviene, Kazlauskaite, and Trifanovas (2006) developed a model to explain the perceived significance of the critical success factors and individual importance of each of them. The critical success factors are ranked according to their perceived significance. Reputation and reliability were regarded highly by a large percentage of the participants in the study. The factor was ranked 9.36. The perceived significance of the other factors was also recorded. According to the scholars, experienced work force and a loyal customer base followed at 9.16 and 9.04, respectively. The development of new products was fourth at 7.76. Aggressive sourcing for clients came last with a score of 7.52. The findings are indicated in the figure below: Figure 1.  Perceived significance of critical success factors Source: Auruske viciene et al. (2006) Auruskeviciene et al. (2006) carried out their research to identify how different firms regarded the issue of success. They compared the opinions of employees in successful and unsuccessful firms. The analysis conducted in their study is very important. It helps identify determinants of a firm’s competitive edge in the industry. The success of a firm is determined systemically using specified parameters. Such parameters include, among others, the organization’s profit margins. Auruskeviciene and colleagues conducted this analysis and made the findings in the table below: Table 1.  Criteria to determine the success of a firm critical success factor A S I reputation and reliability 9.36 9.29 9.14. experienced work force 9.16 9.29 8.00. having a loyal customer base 9.04 9.29 8.15. Introduction of new products 7.76 8.14 4.85. Aggressive sourcing for clients 7.52 6.86 6.57. NOTES; A – all firms, S – successful firms, I â €“ unsuccessful firms. Source: Auruskeviciene et al. (2006) There are differences between firms that succeed in a given industry and those that do not make it. First, the differences are seen in the launch of new products (+3.29). The second factor that varies involved experienced work force (+1.29). Compared to unsuccessful firms, successful firms attach more importance to new service and product development. Reputation and reliability pertains to credibility among consumers due to recognition. Firms operating franchises and a high number of branch offices can positively impact on the public’s perceptions of a service provider (Swingen et al., 2009). In addition, the firms spend a lot to advertise compared to small firms. Through rigorous advertisements, a firm can increase its exposure in the market, building a brand and a reputation easily. In turn, brand and reputation translates to success for the firm. Munro and Wheeler (1980) support this assertion. They argu e that it is the most significant critical success factor in the tax preparation industry. According to Auruskeviciene et al. (2006), experienced workforce is ranked the second most significant critical success factor in the industry. To be the best tax preparation firm in Tampa, a firm requires experienced tax preparers. The reason is that the preparation process involves completion of large volumes of work. The employees in the firm are generally required to have knowledge on accounting and tax law. Furthermore, the employees require specialized knowledge and skills. They should always keep track of legislative changes and decisions made by the IRS. They should pay attention to changes that impact on tax filing (Swingen et al., 2009). A loyal customer base was also identified as a significant critical success factor. Retaining customers in the tax preparation industry is negatively affected by increased rates of unemployment and unfriendly regulations in the tax preparation sector (Dubin et al., 2007). Changes in employment levels affect the customer base. A decrease in employment levels reduces the number of individuals required to file tax returns. The federal government is working towards the simplification of the tax filing system. The government will make it easier for individuals to file their own tax return. The development will reduce demand for tax preparers because most individuals will be able to file their own returns. As a strategy of retaining their customer base, most successful firms in Tampa have started to offer basic tax preparation services for free (Swingen et al., 2009). Caralli et al. (2008) identifies the development of new services and aggressive sourcing for new clients as other critical success factors in an industry. There are various services offered by the tax preparation firms. The services depend on how complicated an individual tax return is. Most firms offer basic services for free due to the fact that most taxpayers can acc ess electronic filing services for free. Although this has led to decreased revenues, it has also promoted the cross-selling of financial service products. The financial service products include refund anticipation loans and refund anticipation checks. Though these services are provided by a partner lender, the revenue generated through borrowers’ fees is split between the lender and the tax preparation firm (Swingen et al., 2009). Conclusion Evaluation of Analysis and Problem Solution The literature review in this study goes a long way in meeting the objectives of the study. It helps determine the critical success factors in the tax preparation industry. The review also helps understand competition and other dynamics in the industry. The study carried out demonstrates the correlation between a firm’s success and profitability and the fit between its strengths and the critical success factors in the tax preparation industry. Furthermore, the study shows that different firms tend to identify different critical success factors. In most cases, the firms combine factors that help them survive competition with those that guarantee the achievement of a unique competitive position. The information generated helps in making the deduction that critical success factors identified in the tax preparation industry are strategic necessities. Furthermore, the relative significance of critical success factors applies to all firms in the industry (Dubin et al., 2007). Becoming the best tax preparation firm in Tampa depends on strategic implementation of these critical success factors. The researcher compared the significance of critical success factors between firms classified as successful and firms classified as unsuccessful. The study indicated that the strength and importance of strategies adopted by organizations vary. One of the success factors that showed significant variations between the firms as far as ranking is concerned include strategic strengths (V asconcellos et al., 1989). The revealed differences tell a lot about players in this sector. For example, it appears that some firms in the tax preparation industry have failed to identify and take advantage of mechanisms relevant to their sector. What this means is that these firms do not attach significance to these critical success factors. Research Limitations There are several limitations associated with the current study. For example, there was lack of adequate data to conduct statistical analysis. It is recommended that future researchers in this field should collect more data (especially primary data) to calculate the statistical significance of the two ‘differences’ mentioned earlier. Recommendations for the Future Further conclusions can be made from the findings of this study. For example, there are various strategic necessities in this industry. They include having a loyal customer base, as well as reputation and reliability. Strategic strengths include deve lopment of new services and an experienced work force. Managerial Implications The current study has implications in the managerial field. Analysis of information in the tax preparation industry shows that firms in the sector vary. For example, they regard success factors variously. Firms may lack financial resources to carry out independent strategic analysis of the market. However, the firms are encouraged to use the critical success factor concept as a means of strategic analysis. The strategy allows for efficient use of resources and skills. The method can be used both at the industry level and at the firm’s level (Auruskeviciene et al., 2006). Critical success factors identify key areas of performance that are crucial to a tax preparation firm. The factors help the firm to accomplish its strategy, making it the best in the industry. Management in most tax preparation firms identify and highlight these critical factors. They take them into consideration when setting organ izational goals and objectives. To be the best tax preparation firm, the management must sustain positive performance in critical success areas. References Aaker, D. A. (2001). Strategic market management (6th ed). New York: Wiley. Auruskeviciene, V., Salciuviene, L., Kazlauskaite, R., Trifanovas A. (2006). A comparison between recent and prospective critical success factors in Lithuanian printing industry. Managing Global Transitions, 4(4), 327-346. Boynton, A., Shank, M., Zmud, R. (1985). Critical success factor analysis as a methodology form MIS planning. MIS Quarterly, 9(2), 121-30. Caralli, R., Stevens, J., Willke, B., Wilson, W. (2008). The critical success factor method: Establishing a foundation for enterprise security management. Technical report, 28(2), 234-354. Daniels, D. R. (1961). Management information crisis. Harvard Business Review, 39(5), 111-121. Dickinson, R., Ferguson, C., Sircar, S. (1984). Critical success factors and small business. American Journal of Sm all Business, 8(3), 49-58. Dubin, J., Graetz, M., Udell, M., Wilde, L. (2007). The demand for tax return preparation services. The review of economics and statistics, 75(5), 75-82. Edwards, J. (2013). IBISWorld industry report 54121d: Tax preparation services in the US. Retrieved from http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/4/prweb10627185.htm Long, J. E., Caudill, S. B. (2008). The usage and benefits of paid tax return preparation. National Tax Journal, 40(9), 35-46. Maddala, G. S. (1988). Introduction to econometrics. New York: McGraw-Hill. Munro, M., Wheeler, B. (1980). Planning, critical success factors and management information requirements. MIS Quarterly, 4(4), 27-39. Rockart, J. F. (1979). Chief executives define their own data needs. Harvard Business Review, 57(2), 81-94. Rockart, J., Bullen, C. (1981). A primer on critical success factors. Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Slemrod, J. (2006). The return to tax simplification: An econometric analysis. Public Finance Quarterly, 56(7), 23-47. Swingen, J., Green, P., Long, S. (2009). Tax payer compliance burdens: An examination of factors affecting tax returns preparation fees. National Tax Journal, 89(6), 629-698. Vasconcellos, E., Sousa, J., Hambrick, D. (1989). Key success factors: Test of a general theory in the mature industrial-product sector. Strategic Management Journal, 10(4), 367-83. This research paper on Best Tax Preparation Office in Tampa, Florida was written and submitted by user Leyla Ward to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Has Social Networking Affected Social Skill of Todays Generation

Has Social Networking Affected Social Skill of Todays Generation The Problem and its Background More than a decade ago, the world was a very different place. It is no question that it was fraught with its own obstacles and difficulties for children and families. During that time, it was hard for the young generation to imagine that 50 years later, their children will be able to communicate with all sorts of people from friends to strangers at all times of the day and night without them necessarily being aware.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Has Social Networking Affected Social Skill of Today’s Generation? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More While during this period, parents used to keep a check on the whereabouts of their kids, nowadays a teenager can travel through out the world even without leaving the bedroom. Currently, many experts are arguing that social networking sites are impacting negatively on the social skills of today’s generation with many concl uding that though technological advances have made many things possible (like most things available nowadays), if they go unchecked, these life tools are likely to turn out to be weapons of self destruction. While social networks main goals are to allow people interact socially, these sites have also caused members to become like zombies. Most of them spend time socializing and this in return dents their personal social skills. That is the reason why most of the people in the current generation prefer communicating through cyberspaces since it is easier to say everything than a one on one form of communication where some people cannot even express themselves (Thackeray Hunter, 2010). Experts goes further and argues that aside from developing strong interaction skills, today’s generation has developed weaker interpersonal relationships with those they relate to: from teachers, friends to their own parents, a character which has been attributed to too much dependency on the in ternet. Most of the times, today’s generation can only communicate with other people by chatting or placing comments on their friends wall. They have been doing this for a long time until it develops into a habit. This continues until a time comes when they can only use either the internet or computers to inform the other party what they want and through this, expression of emotions and feelings lost and this leads to loss of social skills on how people interact with others. However, contrary to the views of many, Affonso (1999) indicates that social skills and social mores are dynamic indicating that even though our teenagers are constantly in their phones surfing through social sites such as Facebook and Twitter that does not mean that their social skills are not developing but he argues that they are developing in a different dimension and in different social skills than those their parents placed high value on or developed in.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Affonso goes further and indicates that while there are some positive aspects about social sites, there have also been suggestions that increased use of internet and social networks have negative influence on their social skills. He supports this by quoting a study done by Carnegie Mellon University which concluded that â€Å"Internet use leads to small but statistically significant increases in misery and loneliness and a decline in overall psychological well-being†, (Affonso, 1999: Par 3). Other studies also show that most of today’s generation use internet more often and thus most of them tend to have fewer friends and spends very little time interacting with their family members and close friends thus most of the time they suffer from stress and feeling more lonely and depressed at times. A new twist in relationship studies has also revealed that most of the b reak-ups among young couples have been attributed to the fact that one partner uses more of their time in social networks leading to the other party feeling lonely and alienated and as a result this leads to irreconcilable differences leading to break ups. With most of the today’s generation using the internet more than their parents used to, especially through social sites, listening to music and meeting new people, there has been a concern among educators that most of the current generation will â€Å"lose the savvy and skills and patience to conduct social relations in the corporate real world and that the Internet will intensify the negative effect television has already had on our social skills†, (Affonso, 1999: Par 7). However, increased use of the internet has also been said to groom the social skills of the current generation. When the children and the youth who makes the current generation interact online in productive and positive ways especially through the interactive platforms such as virtual magazines, it gives them an opportunity for them to express themselves and thus they can share their views with people of their age those who are of the same views and the contrary thereby widening of their understanding scope. It is worth noting that increased use of the social environments helps in improving one’s social skills. The interactions young adults have in their facebook or twitter are more similar than they are different from the interactions which adults make on a one on one or face to face relationships. Conducted studies show that youth who usually lack social skills and positive interactions in real life are also likely to misuse social networking sites in inhuman way or example by making threats thus there is no point of connecting poor social skills to increased uses of social networks.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Has Social Networking Affected Social Skill of Today’s Genera tion? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Subjects for Study The study will be conducted in the University of California Los Angeles and it will consider all aspects of the students including the age, gender and the year level in terms of social networking sites and their social interactions at home, with classmates, teachers and friends. The study shall also entail investigating the interrelationship skills of the students towards their parents, teachers and also fellow friends as well as how social networking sites have influenced their social skills. The research will involve a sample of 300 students currently in the university and the study will also be purposive since only the everyday users of social networks will be considered. Ethical Considerations For any survey, there are ethical implications which come to play especially if it is a social factor survey. In our case, the ethical implications which the survey might pose are those rela ted to violation of the individual policy. If each of the youth in our sample consent to the survey, it will be very important to inform them about our study objectives and applications. Since our survey might reflect the pattern of relationships among people, the target sample will most likely be revealing what the large population is doing. The questions as to who the youth communicates or interacts with for example during periods of stress and depression might interfere with their privacy. Questions of how long and how frequent they confide with those they care about and which channel they use. Thus, even though the interviewee might not be aware, they can find themselves conveying some information about another party while the other party may not and this may cause violation of their rights to privacy (Carpenter, Bauer Erdogan, 2008). With the given technology advancements, while the interviewer might try to maintain the confidentiality of the information accessed with demograph ic issues it may be possible for one to guess the individuals depending on where they are located (Carpenter, Bauer Erdogan, 2008). Measurement Research Design The mixed method approach to research will be the most appropriate way to evaluate the situation. The qualitative research will be used to establish the interviewees’ perception on the changed social skills.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This will be done through a quantitative questionnaire. The questionnaire will be implemented to establish how Social Networking affects social skills of today’s generation. All the students and young lecturers in the sample will be given an equal opportunity to respond to the questionnaire. The questions will be divided into four sections. The quantitative research methods will shed light in the numerical aspects of the age at which the youth began accessing the internet and especially the social networks and the time they spends while in the social networks and in the absence of the same how much time they used to spend interacting with their peers before they got glued to the social networks. How they interrelate to family members, friends, teachers or fellow students in case of the young lecturers and total strangers will also be covered in the questionnaire. The other part of the interview will be audio taped where our research group will interact with the students and t he young lecturers while recording the conversations. The questions will relate to those in the questionnaire but the interviewee will be able to provide in-depth and detailed explanations or reasoning for the given answers. The purpose of all this will be to establish whether there is a link between increased social networking. Population and Sample Our sample will be selected from the University of California Los Angeles. We shall have informed them earlier of our intentions of conducting a survey where the willing daily users of social network both students and young lecturers are expected to register. From the list, we shall then conduct a purposive sampling where our target will have to fulfill certain qualities before issuing of the questionnaire and we shall interview only those who uses internet on daily basis. Research Instrument The researchers will use questionnaires and survey forms as research instruments. The survey form will enquire if the respondents use social netwo rking sites and their frequency of using the sites. After determining those who use social networking sites daily, questionnaires will be issued to them and the questionnaires will investigate from the respondents what social skills they have gained or lost from by using social network sites in terms of their relationships with teachers, family members, friends and strangers. The details of the questionnaire are as attached in Appendix 1. Data Collection Methods The researchers will distribute a survey form to each section in order to determine the users of social networking sites and we hope this will be achieved within one to two days. After the researchers collect the questionnaires, a list of the respondents which are social network site users will be organized then copies of the main questionnaire produced. The copies of the main questionnaire will depend on the number of the respondents. However, extra copies will be reproduced if some respondents lose their questionnaires. Th e respondents will be given one to two days allowance to answer the questionnaire. The questions will be as attached in Appendix 1. Research assistants will be used to distribute and collect the questionnaires. Once the deadline of the questionnaires is arrived at, the research assistants will coordinate with the students to retrieve all the questionnaires completely. The questionnaires gathered are supposed to contain all the needed data for the study and the data will then be organized, summarized, analyzed, and interpreted. Analysis The researchers will use the following formulas to analyze the results from the questionnaires. Frequency is the number of occurrences, proportion, or percentage of a specific response in a particular category in a set of data, while percentage is the proportion or share of the specific response in relation to the whole sample. This method of analysis will be used to determine the percentage of the respondents out of the total sample in terms of the p ercentage and the affected social skills due to the influence of social networking sites. Each of the interviewer tape will also be transcribed by a professional transcribe and random selection of the tapes will be done to check the accuracy of transcription by the research assistants. The transcribed interviews will then be entered into a qualitative software program for their correlation to the questionnaires to be analyzed. The assisting research assistants will then read the themes that will emerge. The coding of the themes will then be established and if disagreements about the coding arise, all parties shall agree through discussion, further sharpening of the codes if need arise and comparing the interviews. Finally, all interviews will be coded individually and the results from the questionnaires will be tallied and calculated into percentages. Responses will be displayed using various tables and graphs. Information will be both lexis and numerical for a more complete picture of the effects of social networks to social skills of the current generation. Reference List Affonso, B. (1999). Is the Internet Affecting the Social Skills of Our Children? Web. Carpenter, M; Bauer, T., Erdogan, B. (2008). Principles of Management. Retrieved from https://catalog.flatworldknowledge.com/ Thackeray, R., Hunter, M. (2010). Empowering Youth: Use of Technology in Advocacy to Affect Social Change. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication. Volume 15, pages 575–591.

Contemporary Leadership Issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Contemporary Leadership Issues - Research Paper Example Successful leaders therefore influence individual employee, teams and organizational performance as well as the over role companies performance compared to its competitors (Ellis 4). The personal characteristics of a leader affect the leadership style of the leader. As a result of globalization and international diversity, international organizations employ individuals from different regions with varying cultural practices. The company’s leadership is tasked with managing and supervising it employees so as to achieve the organizational goals and objectives (Tayeb 14). Business performance is also affected by both internal and external business environmental factors. The environmental factors vary from one region to another therefore they influence the management activities for multinational companies. Effective leader should therefore understand the environmental factors that affect his company and positively influence his people to achieve the collective goals in a dynamic bu siness environment. One such leader is the chief executive officer of the coca cola which is a carbonated soft drink market leader manufacturer. This paper will critically analyze the coca cola company’s strength, opportunities and its leadership. ... ilities and circulation outlets as well as privately owned bottlers, wholesalers, supply retail chains and distributors (United States Securities and exchange commission 1). The company has the largest soft drinks distribution structure and its success is associated the wide variety of products that meets wide range of customer needs as well as their efficient employees and distributers. The company produces and sells concentrates to selected bottling companies who may modify the products as well as finished products that include still beverages and sparkling soft drinks (United States Securities and Exchange Commission 3). Sparkling beverages include strong brands such as Fanta, sprite, coke, energy drinks among others. Still drinks include water, juices, tea, and coffee among others. Coca cola company aspire to energize and refresh it customers across the whole world and add value to its shareholders through use of its assets (United States Securities and Exchange Commission 1). It s strategic management involves customers and staff at all levels and all company segments depends on each other in the decision making. The company also has committed to produce quality products that contribute to environmental sustainability as well as participation in corporate social responsibility. CEO Bio Muhtar Kent is the chief executive officer of the coca cola company and he has no blood association with other senior manager He is a graduate of Hull University with BSc degree in economics and a master degree holder in administration from London City University (Leaders Magazine). He has been the chief executive officer is the company since July 2008, the company’s president from 2006 and the board of directors’ chairman from April 2009. He joined the coca cola company in 1978

Report profiling a service organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Report profiling a service organisation - Essay Example At the end of the paper, further recommendations have been provided, which may further contribute to the hotel chain’s success and growth. Hotels have been considered to be one of the main players in the tourism and hospitality industry. The hotel sector has also been considered to have been able to provide millions of jobs for people all over the world. However, what with the many hotel companies all over the world today, there is a need for the implementation of proper management strategies to make sure that hotels are able to continuously serve their guests, as well as keep their employees. The writer has decided to focus on the management strategies of the Hilton Hotels group, which originated in the United States and has remained to be one of the top hotel and resorts chain in the world. It was in the year 1919, when a certain Conrad Hilton bought his first hotel which was called The Mobley, located in Cisco, Texas. Fast forward to six years later, and Hilton managed to build his first hotel in Dallas which he named ‘The Hilton.’ This was the beginning of a long history of chain of hotels across the country and the company managed to build hotels overseas as well. The Hilton Group now comprises around 500 hotel chains all over the world, with 60,000 employees in around 50 countries. The entire group id divided into four global regions. These are namely, Europe, the UK and Ireland, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and South America. In the USA, it is the Hilton Hotel Corporation (or HCC) that is in charge of the country’s operations (Maxwell & Lyle, 2002). Guests pay the hotel to be pampered and the hotel must ensure that the guests get their money’s worth, and more. If the guest is able to have a good experience and is satisfied with the hotel’s service, then the hotel can be assured that the guest would return to stay again at their hotel (Stoller, 2006). Hilton’s service has been declining for the past couple of years, and

The Bribery Scandal at Siemens AG Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Bribery Scandal at Siemens AG - Case Study Example In relation to the issues, some people analyzed different things that they could use as ways of justification of the events of the scandals and assumed that it was not a serious issue. For instance, Siemens AG officials did not accept that they had involved themselves in a case of bribery by saying that the money went to the payment of an external consultant. Otherwise, the court determined the case that the money coincided with procurement of some equipment from various international markets during the period. One of the most notable cases in the contract scandals involved â‚ ¬6 million, which some Siemens AG management had paid to some foreign officials involved in a natural gas turbine contract, which Siemens AG wanted to win. Siemens AG had involved itself in several other scandals in Germany and in other countries between 2005 and 2006, and some other cases were under investigations and not yet clarified. In defense, the convicted employees argued that the action was not a vi olation of any law because it never was for a personal gain, and said that it was a plan to secure a productive deal the company needed, and the money was part of the bid. The defense the Siemens employees raised was a misinterpretation of the law because they based their arguments on the issue that, it is the custom of multinational companies, to establish their businesses on bribery and corruption, to win international contracts. This was a deviation from the ethical laws which requires companies to exercise what is right in coming up with business deals that are related to the work they are doing. According to business ethics for multinational companies, an action is moral if doing it does not contravene the culture or the wellbeing of the host country. Although there are differences in culture, in different places in the world, a wrong act remains so regardless of the place of origin of the doer and the people who do it and the perceived benefits to the trading company (Boatrigh t 335). In some cases, differences in culture have influenced the conduct of the people in the business relations because the individuals in the context depend on the perspective of the residents of country in which they trade. Many companies practice double standards which make them neglect some ethical standards they bear from their home countries and in conforming to the standards of the foreign countries, do illegal activities (Boatright 335). This could be the reason why Siemens AG involved itself in different scandals in various countries in order to secure some opportunities in the market, and ensure their competitiveness. Question 2 In failing to extend the term of service of Klaus Kleinfeld, who was the Chief Executive officer (CEO) of Siemens AG, the supervisory board did not do the right thing. The board generalized the issues of the scandals without a clear focus to the criminals in the management in an attempt to clean up the name of the company in the world market. Des pite the fact that the supervisory board of Siemens AG did not get anything to  implicate  directly on  Kleinfeld in any of the scandals; he was an active person in establishing the company as a profitable business (Krishna and Purkayastha 11). The way of thinking of the supervisory board members to clean up the top management without considering the personal contribution of those individuals was a bad generalization. This is because the integrity of the