Keeping children safe in the virtual world

Keeping minorren safe in the virtual worldI have chosen to do my essay on the ch every(prenominal)enges of keeping kidren safe in the virtual world. I entrust include the following in my essay - the historical place setting of this topic, the possible challenges of keeping small fryren safe in the virtual world such(prenominal)(prenominal) as grooming, cyber bullying and many more than. Ways we push aside keep boorren safe in the virtual world for example educating sisterren, how to report online treat and relating to theorist ideas on this theme. I in any case result talk somewhat the current policies that argon in place, why this issue is relevant and why these policies have been introduced. Then I will talk about how this can be put into practice and how this will make a difference on how pack work.The first online child twist around im whiles started in the mid 1990s. In 1998 the parliament passed the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA which addres sed online privacy and safety risks for children under age 13. COPPA penury Web site companies need to take steps to avoid collecting personalised randomness from children. In August 2003 the Internet Advisor for the National Child Helpline, joined members on our Your Childs Safety board to answer their questions about child safety online. In April 2006 the Government set up CEOP, the ChildHYPERLINK http//www.google.co.uk/search?hl=encr=countryUKcountryGBrlz=1T4HPEB_en-GBGB319GB320tbs=ctrcountryUKcountryGB,tl1q=child exploitationsa=Xei=IGsNTdrVJsyLhQeYy423Dgved=0CD4Q0AEwBA Exploitation and OnlineHYPERLINK http//www.google.co.uk/search?hl=encr=countryUKcountryGBrlz=1T4HPEB_en-GBGB319GB320tbs=ctrcountryUKcountryGB,tl1q=online protection centresa=Xei=IGsNTdrVJsyLhQeYy423Dgved=0CD8Q0AEwBA Protection Centre, to tackle debauch and educate p arnts and children about personal safety online. In September 2007, the Prime Minister asked Dr Tanya Byron to lead an independent review into chi ld safety online and in video games, this documentation is called safer children in the digital world this was published in March 2008. In April 2008 the home office task force on child protection on the cyberspace published a guidance note offering good practice recommendations for the providers of social networking sites. The aim of the guidance is to enhance the online safety of children and young people and was skeletal up in consultation with sack upsites, mobile phone operators, childrens charities and academics.Privacy Protection ActI will define the word risk this is to do with a child put themselves in danger and penurying to take risk to explore the world. Encarta defines risk as chance of something going wrong the danger that injury, damage, or going will occur. Smith, C., Stainton-Rogers, W., and Tucker, S (2007) pg 220 raise that Whereas other terms such as hazard, threat, and danger al shipway carry a negative meaning risk pickings is much more ambiguous excep t that is, risk taking by the young. From this quote you can see that risk is part of everyday life and children need to experience this to develop knowledge and understanding of the dangers of online activities. Poor areas of society are more at risk of getting abused because of the lack of knowledge online. Bryon, T (2007) pg 22 states that Research highlights that children from more deprived backgrounds whitethorn be more at risk online because of a lack of confidence with new technology. From this we can go out that it is very important to teach children about this topic in schools, so that these disadvant antiquated children can get more understanding on the risks of web 2.0 such social networking sites. Children behaviour of risk taking online such as posting inappropriate images online, giving strangers personal information.The network is a world wide web where millions of people use this resource for education purposes, to ride out in contact with friends via social netwo rking sites and for fun such as play games online. Some 99% of children remote 8-17 access the internet (Ofcom, 2008). You can assess the internet through mobile phones, estimators and game consoles e.g. PSP, Nintendo wii, PS3 and the Xbox 360 all have WIFI on their systems which enable children to use the internet.thither are three aspects of risk online which are as follows content this is to do with inappropriate images on the internet such as pornography. Contact this is to do with visual perception a child in the real world, whom you met via chat rooms or social networking sites. Conduct this is to do with uploading images on the internet that are not fitted for the virtual world or it could be bullying other people on the internet.Cyberbullying means online bullying. This type of bullying is hard to pick up than expression bullying because this type of bullying can be received any season and anywhere via mobile phones or emails. Forms of Cyberbullying are grooming, abusing child online, briber the child and cybersex this is to do with the offender tries to persuade the child to talk about sex on the internet This type of bullying can lead children to be emotionally abused. Emotional abuse is when children need unconditional love and care. They are sensitive and can be harmed by constant taunting, threats or made to feel blameful leading to expiry of self confidence and self esteem. The physical indicators are poor speech and stammering or stuttering. The behavioural indicator are vigilance seeking, telling lies, withdrawal, constantly needing attention also little or no self esteem. ELABORATEWard and Siegert 2002 pathway model this is to do with sex offenders, offending on the internet to abuse children. In this model there are five pathways which are as follows intimacy deficits this is to do with the offender will abuse when lonely. Distorted versed scripts this is to do with lack understanding from child about sexual abuse. Emotional dysregula tion this is to do with not able to control feelings and behaviour. Multiple dysfunctional tools ward Sorbello 2003 pg 17 state that reflect on history of sexual abuse or exposure to sexual material. Anti-social cognitions this is to do with the offender having attitudes and beliefs of abusing. Ward Sorbello, 2003 pg15 state that one radical mechanism will exert a primary causal influence, the others only exerting a noxious effect due to the driving force of the primary deficit This is tell that only one will take effect first then the rest will integrate during the process of abusing.Anonymity this is to do with children talking to people who they dont know via the internet dangers of this could be sexual abuse Adults such as paedophiles will use wrong age and pretend to be the same age as chose children they want to offend. CEOP (2007) suggest within the virtual world when vulnerable children with a poor sense of self and low self esteem are seduced and flattered by others who represent themselves falsely within the virtual world e.g. online predators pretending to be children. This process can lead to grooming a child for sexual pleasure. knowledgeable abuse is when an adult or at times an older child uses a child for sexual gratification this means forcing a child ton carry out sexual acts including sexual touching, oral sex and intercourse. The effects of sexual abuse is are long lasting and highly damaging. It can cause problems in adult personal relationships children who are abused this ways can become abusers themselves. The physical indicators are bites, underwear showing signs of blood stains, gawk out of the vagina or anus etc. The behavioural indicators are depression, poor concentration a child may reveal signs while using anatomically dolls, sexually explicit language and eating or sleeping problems.This type of bullying can effect childrens confidence and lead to risks such as suicide threats and they may murder their selves for the re peated abuse online. Finkelhors four precondition model of paedophilia the four models are thinking about doing sex with a child they want to offend via online contact, making excuses this is linked to grooming the child, creating the opportunity by persuading the child to meet them in the real world and the final stage is doing sex with the child or sexually abuse the child when they meet them in reality.Victims targeted are mostly girls because the sex offenders are usually male so they are more likely to abuse girls not boys. There is a particular risk of grooming practices through popular online services such as instant put across and social networking sites with strangers using them to make contact with under-age girls, sometimes by adopting a fake persona (CEOP, 2007). But also CEOP are creating a leaflet targeting teen boys to inform them that they may be in danger of this too not only girls.Children try to hide what they are doing online from their parents, which concern t he parent on what their child are doing and viewing online. Older children do two things at the same time such as doing homework and on social networking site. But when parents equate on what their child are doing, they will pretend to be doing their homework. Bryon, T (2008) pg 46 states that Multi-tasking is common, with young people using chat functions whilst doing their homework and able to cursorily shield this from parental view. The reasons behind this could be that the child wants their own personal space or independence without parents telling the risks. Some children may think that the parents will not understand the new technology.The other side of the spectrum can be the benefits of the virtual world for children they are having the opportunities for encyclopedism, for play, for Communication, for skill development, for creativity and for having fun. Benefits of the medium include facilitating learning communication and civic participation (Bentivegna, 2002). This is important for the child because they will be able to communicate to people in the virtual world and they can do their homework on the internet for research and revision.You can keep children safe in the virtual world by teaching the children of the dangers of the virtual world and how to stay safe this can be done through teachers and parents. But parents will need to gain knowledge on this topic. Research shows that parents dont understand the risks very well. fetch QUOTES AND STATISTICSUnderstanding what online abuse is, if you think this may be bullying you should report this via CEOP is a company that was set up by the government in 2006 or IWF. Which are organisations that can help children whom are getting bullied in the virtual world and inappropriate content online and stop chose offenders from re offending other children who are on the social networking sites. .Providing support for the sex offender organising schemes to try stop these people from abusing children online. An example of this could be circles of support accountability. This was created to help the offender whom experienced forlornness or who has low self esteem, so this may make them abuse children online for fun.Use of parental controls to control the content that your child can use such as blocking pornography pictures. Keep computers in a central location such as living room, where you can observe what your child is doing online. Having computer in the childs room will create a greater risk for children being abused online. The offender will know that no one is around the child and he or she is alone, through the use of webcam.Providing rules for children on how to stay safe online such as do not give out personal information online to a person you dont know, this can be linked to the stranger danger scenario because if you saw a stranger you would not talk to them in reality. unceasingly ask your children what they have been doing on the internet, this way they can tell you if the re were any unwanted content on the computer while they were surfing the internet such as abuse. ADD REFERENCESThis is a relevant issue because children and young people are very vulnerable in the virtual world. So it is our traffic to protect children from harm this can be linked to the childrens act. Children Act 1989 is an act of parliament, which puts the benefit of children first, to care for children from harm and you, must work with parents at any time possible this act states that requirements of children are the most importantSexual Offences Act (2003) sets out a new legal framework to protect children from sexual abuse this covers internet pornography, grooming exploitation. This Act will put restrictions on convicted sex offenders. This policy has been introduced to give more support to police on how to convict offenders and also it promotes internet safety. This is a good policy because it will keep children safe online because the offenders have restriction on contact with children, so they cant abuse children on the internet.UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 this is a worldwide agreement that relates to all children and young people under the age of 18 years. The children should be protected from harmful influences such as abuse. This has been introduced because they wanted to keep vulnerable children safe from harm and protect the child from abuse which can have a negative impingement such as low self confidence or self esteem. ELABORATEAnother policy is the communication act 2003 section 127 is to do with misusing commonplace computer to send inappropriate mental objects. The act states that Anyone who sends a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or is of an indecent, obscene or minatory character (other than in the course of providing a programme service) by means of a public electronic communications network, or who causes such a message or matter to be sent, is guilty of an offence. This means that if an offend er sends a child messages via the internet that are not appropriate for their age. If the offender is found guilty he/she can be given a prison sentence for no more than six months.Debate around protecting children (the protective or preventive state)On my brothers school website they have a side panel that says e safety which gives advice on staying safe online. This can be used by both parents and children whom use the website to see how to keep their child safe online. The government are advising schools to include internet bullying on their bullying policies. REFERENCESIn decision it is very important to protect children from the risks of the virtual world because it is easier to abuse a child online than in reality. Another factor is that it is harder to pick out a child who is being abused online without the child reporting this incident to organisation such as CEOP, IWF and many more that can help stop the offender.Critically esteem the practice implications (in as far as t his is possible) i.e. what difference will it make to the way you work?This is a theoretical essay that needs to focus on wide relevant cultivation and research whatever the focus. You can refer to relevant practical applications e.g. in school but back this up with reading as well. If you are referring to a personal experience you may frame it e.g.A recent placement experience in a local primary school setting demonstrated the importance of including this subject at a number of levels to ensure the protection of children as recommended by Bloggs ( 22089) who states written policies that have been negotiated with all interested stakeholders are fundamental to ensuring that these issues are given appropriate prominence in any education environment. This was expressed in a number of ways andincludedBibliography USE JOURNALSByron, T (2007) safer children in a digital world the report of the Bryon review. Department for children, schools and department for culture, media and sport, L ondonGrabber, C and et al (2009) E-safety and web 2.0 for children aged 11-16.Goodman, A Kennison, P (2008) children as victims. Exeter Learning mattersSmith, C., Stainton-Rogers, W., and Tucker, S (2007 220) Risk in Robb, M (ed) Youth in Context Frameworks, Settings and encounters. London Sage Publications and the Open University Press.T. Ward, D. R. Laws, S. M. Hudson Eds. (2003) Sexual deviance Issues and controversies. London Sage.Websites usedwww.CEOP.police.uk assessed on 10th celestial latitude 2010 http//www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/notes/division/5/2/1/96 assessed on 12th December 2010

Critical Success Factors in Supply Chain Management

censorious Success Factors in proviso Chain ManagementABSTRACTIn todays turbulent sparing environment, steadys ar striving for ways to win competitory summation. One of the draw closees is to extinguish the entire lend cooking stove to garnish toll and improve public presentation to progress to belligerent reinforcement and course deliver the goodsment.This sermon explores and investigates how risqueer(prenominal) technology securelys accustom sum uping drawstring forethought to cook hawkish avail and increase phone line reachment. The interrogation prey is to determine the fine succeeder eventors in cede string counseling at gamey technology companies. This thesis bids a theoretic modeling to extrapolate a firms military operation and argues that furnish scope anxiety leave behind c be a firm to be combative and successful. To this end, the fine success factors that imbibe a come with to a greater extent combative are identified.The query design is based on the established and recommended procedures of multiple case study question methodological analytic thinking and this methodology is utilize to crumple data from five companies in atomic number 20, USA. The analysis is based primarily on cross-case analysis for the purpose of theoretical abstract entity about the interrogation issues.The results identify ii clusters of follow behavior and characteristics, specific entirelyy traditional old style manufacturing companies and progressive manufacturing companies. Each cluster of company be craps differently. At the traditional manufacturing companies, the woof of critical release chemical kitchen range watchfulness factors is internally revolve arounded on factors that are manufacturing and quality foc utilise, while at the progressive manufacturing companies the selection of critical tack reach precaution factors is externally focus on factors that are directed to clients and education systems.There are differences amid critical impart set up of mountains management factors at high technology companies and benchmark (or commodity) companies that were selected in this study. The benchmark companies select provide chain management factors that focus on guest proceedss and quality. This address is, possibly, due to the fact that the benchmark companies deal in commodity type products and therefrom they pass to focus on differentiating themselves through tender client shelters and quality products.Additionally, with the help of supply chain metrics, financial surgical process data, and understanding the various companies, it is possible to determine which critical supply chain factors best contribute contribute to production line performance. At the case study companies, an external focus on supply chain management factors such(prenominal)(prenominal) as a strong focus on customer relationship and management, gives soften stemma result s.Finally, this study has seed a novel and bran-new approach to improving customer satisfaction by utilise QFD methodology to identify performance hoo-has (and opportunities) from the customers viewpoint in supply chain management. If the companies wish to increase customer satisfaction, they yield to use the QFD methodology to identify critical supply chain factors. The reason is primarily because performance gaps derived from customer call fors emphasize what the customer wants and that is different from the internal eruditions of a companys managers. The initiatives that provide the greatest opportunity construct been identified in this analysis.Overall, these findings stern be used by high technology firms to select supply chain strategies that go away race to sustainable militant utility and hence improve their brand and business performance.CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTIONThe genesis of this language was a beg from a high technology company to investigate the companys supp ly chain system and identify factors affecting the successful follow throughation of supply chain management. This chapter serves as an introduction to the utterance. It comprises eight sections, which cover the cornerstone to the inquiry, objective of the research and the research questions, justification and signifi buttce of the research, a brief exposition of the methodology, an outline of the structure of the study, constitute definitions, delimitations of this research, and the chapters conclusion.1.1 BackgroundA firms strategies, innovations, and substantially-planned activities will lead to sustainable competitive emolument and hence improve its brand and business performance. As firms strive for ways to achieve competitive advantage, they are looking for new ideas and solutions. This dissertation addresses the topic of competitive advantage, critiques how firms attempt to achieve it, and focuses on one aspect of competitive advantage managing the supply chain to increase competitive advantage and business success.The earlyish understanding of competitive advantage is based on Leon Walras (1874, 1984) theory of absolute rival. In blameless competition products are homogenous, consumers and producers have ameliorate information, prices will kitchen range residue, and as a result scratch are zero in the yen run. A later approach is the Industrial fundamental law approach (Tirole, 1988), which argues that success comes from mart power and a firms efficiency. However, the proponents of this approach agree that in the long term thither would be attention equilibrium and itty-bitty profit.One of the first researchers to propose a theoretical modelling for understanding a firms performance is Michael doorman (1980). He takes a strategic and analytical approach to understanding competitive strategy, and argues that, Every firm competing in an industry has a competitive strategy, whether explicit or implicit. Porter asserts that, save for micro scotch theory, the strategy work and literary works had offered few analytical techniques for gaining this understanding. Porter (1980) argues that with the right approach it is possible to break away from the economic equilibrium situation and achieve superior performance. and so he proposes a framework for analyzing industries and competitors and describes three generic strategies cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. He postulates that to be successful, the firm has to do substantially in one or much of these strategies.Porters (1980) ideas and proposals on achieving competitive advantage have influenced many another(prenominal) other researchers to propose complementary theories on achieving competitive advantage. all(prenominal) the theories proposed by researchers are supported with examples of pleasant strategies implemented at renowned companies. The theories include an emphasis on planning (Porter, 1980, 1985), strategic approach (Hamel and Prahala d, 1990, 1998 Porter, 1985, 1990, 1991), marting strategies (Day, 1994, 1999), set chain management (Porter, 1985), and supply chain management (Christopher, 1998 Poirier, 1999 Tyndall et al., 1998).A theory that has gained momentum in the last few years is the pattern of supply chain management. In recent years, in that respect have been numerous advances and developments in supply chain techniques and management. One of the reasons is that as trade barriers drop and foodstuffs open, competition has become more than intense hence companies need to be more competitive and cost effective. An initiative to help achieve this is a supply chain management program. fork up chain management is the management of upstream and downstream activities, resources, and relationships with suppliers and customers, which is required to deliver products or wait ons. In theory, if this is done well it will lead to competitive advantage through differentiation and lower costs as suggested by Po rter (1980). Moreover, some researchers claim that effective supply chain management can reduce costs by several function points of revenue (Boyson, et. al, 1999). moreover, thither has been little verification or research done on measuring competitive advantage gained through supply chain management. supplement chain management is not a static concept or solution. Instead, new advances and techniques for supply chain management continue to mushroom. This tremendous growth in new ideas and mathematical mathematical operationes is starting to influence and change the business processes and models of companies. Hence companies have many choices in selecting programs in supply chain management. In making their choices, companies need to plan for effective supply chain management, in pronounce to gain competitive advantage.However, to ensure that effective supply chain management can provide business success, this study must determine the critical success factors in supply chain man agement that can provide competitive advantage. Furthermore, these critical success factors must be identified and conveyed to senior management in firms that want to have an effective supply chain management program.1.2 Objective of this researchThe objective of this dissertation is to explore and investigate how firms scope, design, and implement supply chain management in order to gain competitive advantage. Most importantly, this dissertation endeavors to determine the critical success factors in supply chain management that can provide competitive advantage. It excessively explores and investigates the advances and new ideas in supply chain management and examines how firms scope, design, and implement supply chain management in order to gain competitive advantage.The genesis of this dissertation was a request from a high technology company to investigate the companys supply chain system and propose improvements to help make it more competitive. The company is headquartered i n California USA, and this beginning works for one of the companys business unit as General Manager for Distribution. The request was to investigate the companys supply chain management system and to propose improvements that would make it more competitiveThis dissertation provides a theoretical framework to understand a firms performance and argues that supply chain management is an approach that will help a firm to be competitive and successful. Furthermore, in using supply chain management, firms are faced with choices on what supply chain techniques and developments to survey for their businesses. This dissertation wil review the choices that high technology companies have today, and will make recommendations to select the best choices, or critical success factors, based on business and customer needs. Therefore, the research objective is to tick the critical success factors in supply chain management at high technology companies.In fulfilling this objective, this dissertation also addresses the following research issues1. atomic number 18 there differences between critical supply chain management factors at various high technology companies?2. atomic number 18 there differences between critical supply chain management factors at high technology companies and non high technology (or benchmark commodity) companies?3. Will a focus on external supply chain management factors give better business results?4. Are perceived critical gaps (and opportunities) in performance derived from traditional methodology similar to those deployed from customer needs?In this study, the critical success factors to make a company more competitive are identified. To ensure a productive analysis and conclusion, the expectations and perceptions of respondents, involved in this study, are taken into consideration as well as customer requirements.1.3 Significance of the researchThere are many theories and verifiable studies on competitive advantage. However, the empirical studi es, using mathematical models, tend to be limited in scope (Porter, 1991 Buzzel and Gale, 1990), and do not include supply chain management parameters. While there has been much research on activities that can provide competitive advantage, there is little knowl beach on the process of selection and impact of supply chain management on the competitive target and business performance of a high technology firm. besotteds need to understand how supply chain management can help them achieve competitive advantage. Furthermore, there is an expectation that high technology companies will use leading edge technology and invest heavily in supply chain management. This dissertation makes the following contributions1. Fulfils a request from a high technology company The author of this study works for a high technology company, head-quartered in California USA, and was requested to investigate the companys (business unit) supply chain system and propose improvements to help make it more compe titive.2. Identifies the critical success factors in supply chain management from a high technology companys viewpoint. Often when reviewing critical success factors, only the perception of respondents is taken into account. However, in this analysis both(prenominal) the perceptions and expectations of respondents are taken into consideration. Such an analysis will be more robust and will yield performance gaps to be analyzed and understand.3. Identifies the critical success factors in supply chain management from customers of high technology companies. To enhance the relevance of the conclusions, customer requirements are also taken into consideration by using the quality function deployment (QFD) methodology and these are compared to the high technology companies performance gaps. Such an analysis will allow performance gaps to be analyzed and understood from the viewpoint of customers of high technology companies.4. Contributes to the understanding of how high technology compa nies scope, design, and develop their supply chain management system.1.4 research MethodologyThis study employs the qualitative research process using multiple case studies. There are several reasons for this Since the focus of this research is on high technology companies operating in California, USA, there is a concern that there will be a small number of companies willing to qualityicipate in a large (sample size) quantitative survey. Furthermore face-to-face meetings with respondents can help provide understanding and information on several qualitative areas, such as reasons for implementing specific supply chain factors (or strategies), customer needs data, and newss and feedback on the questionnaire. Also, cases can be viewed and studied alone and across cases to provide comparison and contrast and richer enlarge and insights regarding the research issues (Eisenhardt 1989 Stake 1994 Yin 1994). Hence this research will be done via a multiple case study approach using struc tured interviews with a questionnaire (Yin, 1994).51.5 Structure of the dissertationIn amplification to this introductory chapter, this dissertation consists of four chapters ( 1.1). Chapter 2 reviews the relevant literature, addresses the disciplines under investigation, and provides an overview of competitive advantage. The chapter then provides a detailed review of the current literature and practices of supply chain management. With that as the background, chapter 2 continues into identifying gaps in the literature and provides the rationale for selecting the research topic and issues. Chapter 5 completion and opportunities for further researchChapter 1IntroductionChapter 3Research methodologyChapter 2Literature review and research issuesChapter 4Data analysis and figureationsChapter interpretationsChapter 3 discusses the research methodology used for this study and it includes the justification of the research methodology, a discussion on preparation of the questionnaire and the data gathering process, the process used for data analysis and determining gaps, the process used to generate recommendations from the data, and concludes with a discussion on the limitations of case study research.Chapter 4 summarizes the data collected from the selected companies and respondents and aims to interpret the data in relation to the research objective. Each of the four research issues is analyzed, interpreted, and the detailed findings are presented. The chapter concludes with a synopsis of the research findings.Chapter 5 provides a summary of the findings and conclusions of the research objective and issues, discusses the contribution of the research findings to the literature and theory, reviews the implications of the findings, discusses the limitations of the research, and concludes with suggested direction for future research.1.6 Key definitionsDefinitions adopted by researchers are often not uniform hence secern terms are define to establish positions take n for this dissertation (Perry 1998). This will ensure that subsequent research, undertaken at a later stage, will better measure and compare what this dissertation has traffic circle out to do. Logistics The management and movement of product and services, including storage and warehousing, and their transport via air, land, and water (Coyle, Bardi, and Langley, 1988). allow chain Consists of all inter-linked resources and activities undeniable to create and deliver products and services to customers (Hakanson, 1999). Supply chain management This includes managing supply and demand, sourcing raw materials and parts, manufacturing and assembly, scattering across all channels, and delivery to the customer (Supply Chain Council, 2001). Supply chain agility or straightaway supply chain An agile supply chain is one that is flexible and has a business-wide capability that embraces institutional structures, information systems, and logistics processes. (Christopher, 2000) Critical s uccess factors (CSF) Critical success factors are those few things that must go well to ensure success for a manager or organization, and therefrom may represent those managerial or enterprise areas that must be given continual attention. CSFs include issues vital to an organizations current operating activities and to its future success (Boynton and Zmud, 1984). Customer relationship management (CRM) CRM is the management of technology, processes, information, and people in order to maximize each customer contact by obtaining a 360- score view of the customer (Galbreath and Rogers, 1999). Performance gap This is a gap between the perceived performance and the expected importance of a factor (in this dissertation it is a supply chain factor). The performance gap provides an indication as to whether executives and managers are successful in translating their vision to their employees and hence such perception may give an indication regarding the degree of employees alignment with th e organizations vision. If a factor is critical and has a negative value of factor alignment (perceived performance is less than the expectation), then the organization may have a potential problem with that factor. study on factor alignment allows executives to develop a strategy to overcome the challenges associated with the gaps between importance and performance. (Martilla and James, 1977). Quality shape Deployment (QFD) QFD is a comprehensive quality calamus that can be used to uncover customers spoken and unspoken needs, and convert these needs to product or service design targets and processes (Akao, 1990).1.7 DelimitationThere are several delimitations in this dissertation. The theoretical model derived from this dissertation is only applicable to the high technology companies. The dissertation is focused on companies operating geographically in California, United States of America, where there is a concentration of high technology companies. This dissertation is an explo ratory research and will have to be tested for generalizability in later, more extensive, quantitative research (Perry, 1998). There is no scientific basis for choosing the number of cases in this dissertation. The number selected is based on the experiences and recommendations of the research and academic community (Eisenhardt, 1989 Perry, 1998).1.8 ConclusionThis chapter provides an overview of the dissertation. The aim, objectives, and justification of the research topic were discussed. The dissertation is an investigation on the impact of a supply chain management system on the competitive position of high technology business firms. It explores and investigates new ideas in supply chain management and examines how high technology firms manage and improve their supply chain management system. Furthermore, this dissertation will analyze the gaps and opportunities for supply chain management in high technology companies and give a set of recommendations. The methodology was in bri ef described, key definitions were explained, delimitations of this research were addressed, and the structure of the dissertation was outlined. With all the important areas of the research briefly introduced in this chapter, the following four chapters of this dissertation will present detailed description and findings of the research topic.CHAPTER 2LITERATURE REVIEW AND RESEARCH ISSUESThe previous chapter provided an overview of the dissertation and listed the objective, issues, and significance of the research topic.This chapter reviews the relevant literature and comprises of six sections. The review starts with a discussion on early approaches to understanding a firms performance and its competitive advantage. This is followed by the development of a theoretical framework and a discussion on coeval approaches to competitive advantage. Next there is a discussion on supply chain management, followed by an overview of advanced supply chain management systems. The last cardinal s ections conclude with a discussion on gaps in the literature, identification of areas for further research, and the summary.2.1 Early approaches to understanding a firms performance and competitive advantageOne of the earliest (chronologically) approaches to competitive advantage is the microeconomic approach, or the idea of perfect competition (Walras, 1874, 1969). In perfect competition products are homogenous, consumers and producers have perfect information, prices will reach equilibrium, and as a result profits are negligible or low in the long run. However, jibe to Gill (1991), such a perfect economy is an abstraction, because there are monopolies, oligopolies, and perfect competition. Furthermore, there are also twain kinds of competition spatial and monopolistic. spatial differentiation pertains to oligopolistic competition (Hotelling, 1929), and it meets consumers different tastes. monopolistic competition assumes that small firms produce a variety of differentiated prod ucts (Chamberlin, 1933 in Gill, 1991). All these situations allow for profit maximisation and higher profits (Gill, 1991).The industrial organization (IO) approach takes a richer approach to understanding a firms successful performance. IO differs from the microeconomic approach by introducing variables that explain real-world economic behavior. In IO, there are two competing hypothesis that lead to higher profits and success market power and a firms efficiency (Scherer, 1990 Tirole, 1988). Nevertheless, the IO approach assumes that markets and firms will reach equilibrium, and in equilibrium profits differences will not exist (Tirole, 1988). Both the microeconomic approach and the industrial organization approach assume that all firms would reach equilibrium and have enough profit and success. However, we know from a daily look at many firms performance on the stock market that profit and performance vary across firms, even when they are in the same business. Eaton and Lipsey (19 78) have verified that differences in performance and profit exist between firms.2.2 Contemporary approaches to achieving competitive advantage2.2.1 example to understanding a firms performanceOne of the first researchers to propose a theoretical framework for understanding a firms performance is Porter (1980). He takes a strategic and analytical approach to understanding competitive strategy, and argued that, Every firm competing in an industry has a competitive strategy, whether explicit or implicit (Porter, 1980, p. xiii). He proposes a framework for analyzing industries and competitors and describes three generic strategies cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. He postulates that if a firm is able to do well in any of these strategies, it will gain competitive advantage. Porters concept is illustrated in 2-1. Generic Competitive StrategiesOverall cost leadershipDifferentiationFocusCompetitive Advantageof a Firm Cost leadership requires efficient-scale facilities, pursui t of cost reductions, and cost minimization in all areas of the firm. This will give more profit. Differentiation of product or service requires industry-wide differentiation, including design and brand image, customer service, and distribution or dealer network. merchandise or service differentiation will help increase customer committedness and ensure repurchase. Focus on markets, buyers, or product lines can maximize profits.The framework, in 2-1, shows that the right strategies can provide competitive advantage. Porter (1985) also argues that competitive advantage come from the many separate activities a firm performs in designing, producing, marketing, delivering, and support its product. Each of these activities contributes to a firms relative cost position and creates a basis for differentiation. This is the value chain, and a firm has to disaggregate its strategically relevant activities in order to understand the behavior of costs and the existing and potential sources o f differentiation. A firm gains competitive advantage by performing these strategically important activities cheaper or better than its competitors (Porter, 1985), and this can lead to a higher profit margin. The value chain concept is illustrated in 2-2.Profit Marginoutward-boundLogisticsManufacturing Operations, and other InternalProcessesInboundLogisticsProcurementHuman Resource ManagementTechnology DevelopmentFirm root word and Platform helpsCustomer Servicemerchandising and SalesPrimaryActivitiesSupportActivitiesSupply Chain move upStrategicPlanningApproachMarketing Capabilities ApproachThe Value Chain and conjectural Framework to Achieve Competitive AdvantageAdapted from Porter (1985) and this literature review.Note 1 Key approaches to competitive advantage are highlighted with underlinedCharactersNote 2 The definition of supply chain implies all activities necessary to deliver a product (Hakanson, 1999). Therefore sales, marketing, and customer service activities can be c onstrued as part of the supply chain approach shown in the . In this study, sales and marketing processes, such as demand management, order processing, and customer relationship management are included in the internal processes shown in the and in the supply chain literature review. However, sales and marketing activity, such as sales calls, advertising, product positioning, market research, and some post delivery support processes are excluded from supply chain activity. This is consistent with the approach taken by the Supply Chain Council and the SCOR (Supply Chain operable Reference) model it uses to measure supply chain activity (Supply Chain Council, 2001).2.2.2 compendious of contemporary approaches to competitive advantagePorters approach presents new thinking to competitive advantage (Rumelt, Schendel, and Teece, 1991) and has influenced other approaches to creating competitive advantage. Many of the other approaches to competitive advantage are summarized in card 2-1. F rom the table, it can be seen that all the approaches to increasing competitive advantage, except for the early microeconomic and industrial organization approaches, fit the theoretical framework in 2-2. However, all these approaches to competitive advantage are complementary and not alternatives or conflicting theories they basically propose various segments of the theoretical framework shown in 2-2.The various approaches are discussed very briefly below, but the last approach (in Table 2-1), Supply Chain Management, is discussed in greater detail.2.2.3 The strategic planning approachIn essence, Porters (1980, 1985) approaches are strategic planning approaches, i.e. a firms competitive advantage can be planned for. This includes planning for differentiation in the value chain, low cost leadership, and focus.Nations can also be competitive (Porter, 1990). Nations need four conditions to gain competitive advantage and be successful. The four conditions are factor conditions (educati on and skill levels), demand conditions (or market size), related and supporting industries, and company strategy and rivalry (Porter, 1990). schema is lucky foresightStrategy is always the product of a complex and unexpected interplay between ideas, information, personalities, and desire harmonize to Hamel (1998). What this implies is that one does not settle for frank solutions and strategies but should look at alternatives, challenge assumptions, and look at new ways of delivering superior customer value and firm performance.Table 2-1 Summary of early and contemporary approaches to competitive advantageApproachProponentMain idea/postulateCommentsMicroeconomicWalras (1874, 1984)Perfect competition results in negligible profitsIdeas push away monopolies, oligopolies, and product differentiation. Profit does vary across firms according to Eaton and Lipsey (1978).Industrial OrganizationScherer (1990),Tirole (1988)Success comes from market power and a firms efficiency.All proponents agree that in the long term there will be industry equilibrium and little profit.Porter (1980) Porter (1985) Provides a framework for achieving competitive advantage.Every firm has a generic competitive strategy in cost leadership, market focus, or differentiation.The value chain disaggregates a firm into its strategically relevant activities. A firm gains competitive advantage by performing these important activities better than its competitors. Challenges the stereotype approach of perfect competition and industry equilibrium. Provides a prescriptive approach to achieve competitive advantage, but the ideas and solutions are essentially conceptual. Hamel (1998) Strategy is the product of a complex and unexpected interplay between ideas, information, personalities, and desire. A firm has to seek alternatives and new ways of delivering superior customer value and firm performance.The Strategic Approach and its VariationsValue Chain ApproachStrategic ApproachResource Based ApproachWe rnerfelt (1984),Barney (1991), Rumelt, Schendel, and Teece (1991).A firm has to identify specific, or rare, resources that lead to higher profits. Long-term superior performance comes from building product market positions that effectively utilize and maintain these resources. Examples of such resources include customer loyalty, and technological leads.If the resources are unique and difficult to duplicate, then the firm achieves competitive advantage.Table 2-1 (Continued) Summary of early and contemporary approaches tocompetitive advantageApproachProponentMain idea/postulateCommentsMarket StrategyMarketing Capabilities ApproachResource-Advantage TheoryProduct DifferentiationDay (1994,1999), Cool and Dierickx (1989), Aaker (1989), Caves and Ghemawat (1986).Also, Buzzell anCritical Success Factors in Supply Chain ManagementCritical Success Factors in Supply Chain ManagementABSTRACTIn todays turbulent economic environment, firms are striving for ways to achieve competitive advantage. One of the approaches is to manage the entire supply chain to reduce costs and improve performance to create competitive advantage and business success.This dissertation explores and investigates how high technology firms use supply chain management to gain competitive advantage and increase business success. The research objective is to determine the critical success factors in supply chain management at high technology companies. This dissertation provides a theoretical framework to understand a firms performance and argues that supply chain management will help a firm to be competitive and successful. To this end, the critical success factors that make a company more competitive are identified.The research design is based on the established and recommended procedures of multiple case study research methodology and this methodology is used to gather data from five companies in California, USA. The analysis is based primarily on cross-case analysis for the purpose of theoretical ge neralization about the research issues.The results identify two clusters of company behavior and characteristics, specifically traditional old style manufacturing companies and progressive manufacturing companies. Each cluster of company behaves differently. At the traditional manufacturing companies, the selection of critical supply chain management factors is internally focused on factors that are manufacturing and quality focused, while at the progressive manufacturing companies the selection of critical supply chain management factors is externally focused on factors that are directed to customers and information systems.There are differences between critical supply chain management factors at high technology companies and benchmark (or commodity) companies that were selected in this study. The benchmark companies select supply chain management factors that focus on customer services and quality. This approach is, possibly, due to the fact that the benchmark companies deal in co mmodity type products and hence they have to focus on differentiating themselves through strong customer services and quality products.Additionally, with the help of supply chain metrics, financial performance data, and understanding the various companies, it is possible to determine which critical supply chain factors best can contribute to business performance. At the case study companies, an external focus on supply chain management factors such as a strong focus on customer relationship and management, gives better business results.Finally, this study has proposed a novel and new approach to improving customer satisfaction by using QFD methodology to identify performance gaps (and opportunities) from the customers viewpoint in supply chain management. If the companies wish to increase customer satisfaction, they have to use the QFD methodology to identify critical supply chain factors. The reason is primarily because performance gaps derived from customer needs emphasize what th e customer wants and that is different from the internal perceptions of a companys managers. The initiatives that provide the greatest opportunity have been identified in this analysis.Overall, these findings can be used by high technology firms to select supply chain strategies that will lead to sustainable competitive advantage and hence improve their brand and business performance.CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTIONThe genesis of this dissertation was a request from a high technology company to investigate the companys supply chain system and identify factors affecting the successful implementation of supply chain management. This chapter serves as an introduction to the dissertation. It comprises eight sections, which cover the background to the research, objective of the research and the research questions, justification and significance of the research, a brief description of the methodology, an outline of the structure of the study, key definitions, delimitations of this research, and the chapters conclusion.1.1 BackgroundA firms strategies, innovations, and well-planned activities will lead to sustainable competitive advantage and hence improve its brand and business performance. As firms strive for ways to achieve competitive advantage, they are looking for new ideas and solutions. This dissertation addresses the topic of competitive advantage, reviews how firms attempt to achieve it, and focuses on one aspect of competitive advantage managing the supply chain to increase competitive advantage and business success.The early understanding of competitive advantage is based on Leon Walras (1874, 1984) theory of perfect competition. In perfect competition products are homogenous, consumers and producers have perfect information, prices will reach equilibrium, and as a result profits are zero in the long run. A later approach is the Industrial Organization approach (Tirole, 1988), which argues that success comes from market power and a firms efficiency. However, the pr oponents of this approach agree that in the long term there would be industry equilibrium and little profit.One of the first researchers to propose a theoretical framework for understanding a firms performance is Michael Porter (1980). He takes a strategic and analytical approach to understanding competitive strategy, and argues that, Every firm competing in an industry has a competitive strategy, whether explicit or implicit. Porter asserts that, except for microeconomic theory, the strategy field and literature had offered few analytical techniques for gaining this understanding. Porter (1980) argues that with the right approach it is possible to break away from the economic equilibrium situation and achieve superior performance. Therefore he proposes a framework for analyzing industries and competitors and describes three generic strategies cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. He postulates that to be successful, the firm has to do well in one or more of these strategies .Porters (1980) ideas and proposals on achieving competitive advantage have influenced many other researchers to propose complementary theories on achieving competitive advantage. All the theories proposed by researchers are supported with examples of winning strategies implemented at renowned companies. The theories include an emphasis on planning (Porter, 1980, 1985), strategic approach (Hamel and Prahalad, 1990, 1998 Porter, 1985, 1990, 1991), marketing strategies (Day, 1994, 1999), value chain management (Porter, 1985), and supply chain management (Christopher, 1998 Poirier, 1999 Tyndall et al., 1998).A theory that has gained momentum in the last few years is the concept of supply chain management. In recent years, there have been numerous advances and developments in supply chain techniques and management. One of the reasons is that as trade barriers drop and markets open, competition has become more intense hence companies need to be more competitive and cost effective. An in itiative to help achieve this is a supply chain management program. Supply chain management is the management of upstream and downstream activities, resources, and relationships with suppliers and customers, which is required to deliver products or services. In theory, if this is done well it will lead to competitive advantage through differentiation and lower costs as suggested by Porter (1980). Moreover, some researchers claim that effective supply chain management can reduce costs by several percentage points of revenue (Boyson, et. al, 1999). Furthermore, there has been little verification or research done on measuring competitive advantage gained through supply chain management.Supply chain management is not a static concept or solution. Instead, new advances and techniques for supply chain management continue to mushroom. This tremendous growth in new ideas and processes is starting to influence and change the business processes and models of companies. Hence companies have ma ny choices in selecting programs in supply chain management. In making their choices, companies need to plan for effective supply chain management, in order to gain competitive advantage.However, to ensure that effective supply chain management can provide business success, this study must determine the critical success factors in supply chain management that can provide competitive advantage. Furthermore, these critical success factors must be identified and conveyed to senior management in firms that want to have an effective supply chain management program.1.2 Objective of this researchThe objective of this dissertation is to explore and investigate how firms scope, design, and implement supply chain management in order to gain competitive advantage. Most importantly, this dissertation endeavors to determine the critical success factors in supply chain management that can provide competitive advantage. It also explores and investigates the advances and new ideas in supply chain m anagement and examines how firms scope, design, and implement supply chain management in order to gain competitive advantage.The genesis of this dissertation was a request from a high technology company to investigate the companys supply chain system and propose improvements to help make it more competitive. The company is headquartered in California USA, and this author works for one of the companys business unit as General Manager for Distribution. The request was to investigate the companys supply chain management system and to propose improvements that would make it more competitiveThis dissertation provides a theoretical framework to understand a firms performance and argues that supply chain management is an approach that will help a firm to be competitive and successful. Furthermore, in using supply chain management, firms are faced with choices on what supply chain techniques and developments to adopt for their businesses. This dissertation wil review the choices that high t echnology companies have today, and will make recommendations to select the best choices, or critical success factors, based on business and customer needs. Therefore, the research objective is toDetermine the critical success factors in supply chain management at high technology companies.In fulfilling this objective, this dissertation also addresses the following research issues1. Are there differences between critical supply chain management factors at various high technology companies?2. Are there differences between critical supply chain management factors at high technology companies and non high technology (or benchmark commodity) companies?3. Will a focus on external supply chain management factors give better business results?4. Are perceived critical gaps (and opportunities) in performance derived from traditional methodology similar to those deployed from customer needs?In this study, the critical success factors to make a company more competitive are identified. To ensur e a robust analysis and conclusion, the expectations and perceptions of respondents, involved in this study, are taken into consideration as well as customer requirements.1.3 Significance of the researchThere are many theories and empirical studies on competitive advantage. However, the empirical studies, using mathematical models, tend to be limited in scope (Porter, 1991 Buzzel and Gale, 1990), and do not include supply chain management parameters. While there has been much research on activities that can provide competitive advantage, there is little knowledge on the process of selection and impact of supply chain management on the competitive position and business performance of a high technology firm. Firms need to understand how supply chain management can help them achieve competitive advantage. Furthermore, there is an expectation that high technology companies will use leading edge technology and invest heavily in supply chain management. This dissertation makes the followi ng contributions1. Fulfils a request from a high technology company The author of this study works for a high technology company, head-quartered in California USA, and was requested to investigate the companys (business unit) supply chain system and propose improvements to help make it more competitive.2. Identifies the critical success factors in supply chain management from a high technology companys viewpoint. Often when reviewing critical success factors, only the perception of respondents is taken into account. However, in this analysis both the perceptions and expectations of respondents are taken into consideration. Such an analysis will be more robust and will allow performance gaps to be analyzed and understood.3. Identifies the critical success factors in supply chain management from customers of high technology companies. To enhance the relevance of the conclusions, customer requirements are also taken into consideration by using the quality function deployment (QFD) meth odology and these are compared to the high technology companies performance gaps. Such an analysis will allow performance gaps to be analyzed and understood from the viewpoint of customers of high technology companies.4. Contributes to the understanding of how high technology companies scope, design, and develop their supply chain management system.1.4 Research MethodologyThis study employs the qualitative research process using multiple case studies. There are several reasons for this Since the focus of this research is on high technology companies operating in California, USA, there is a concern that there will be a small number of companies willing to participate in a large (sample size) quantitative survey. Furthermore face-to-face meetings with respondents can help provide understanding and information on several qualitative areas, such as reasons for implementing specific supply chain factors (or strategies), customer needs data, and discussions and feedback on the questionnai re. Also, cases can be viewed and studied alone and across cases to provide comparison and contrast and richer details and insights regarding the research issues (Eisenhardt 1989 Stake 1994 Yin 1994). Hence this research will be done via a multiple case study approach using structured interviews with a questionnaire (Yin, 1994).51.5 Structure of the dissertationIn addition to this introductory chapter, this dissertation consists of four chapters ( 1.1). Chapter 2 reviews the relevant literature, addresses the disciplines under investigation, and provides an overview of competitive advantage. The chapter then provides a detailed review of the current literature and practices of supply chain management. With that as the background, chapter 2 continues into identifying gaps in the literature and provides the rationale for selecting the research topic and issues. Chapter 5Conclusion and opportunities for further researchChapter 1IntroductionChapter 3Research methodologyChapter 2Literatu re review and research issuesChapter 4Data analysis and interpretationsChapter interpretationsChapter 3 discusses the research methodology used for this study and it includes the justification of the research methodology, a discussion on preparation of the questionnaire and the data gathering process, the process used for data analysis and determining gaps, the process used to generate recommendations from the data, and concludes with a discussion on the limitations of case study research.Chapter 4 summarizes the data collected from the selected companies and respondents and aims to interpret the data in relation to the research objective. Each of the four research issues is analyzed, interpreted, and the detailed findings are presented. The chapter concludes with a summary of the research findings.Chapter 5 provides a summary of the findings and conclusions of the research objective and issues, discusses the contribution of the research findings to the literature and theory, review s the implications of the findings, discusses the limitations of the research, and concludes with suggested direction for future research.1.6 Key definitionsDefinitions adopted by researchers are often not uniform hence key terms are defined to establish positions taken for this dissertation (Perry 1998). This will ensure that subsequent research, undertaken at a later stage, will better measure and compare what this dissertation has set out to do. Logistics The management and movement of product and services, including storage and warehousing, and their transport via air, land, and water (Coyle, Bardi, and Langley, 1988). Supply chain Consists of all inter-linked resources and activities needed to create and deliver products and services to customers (Hakanson, 1999). Supply chain management This includes managing supply and demand, sourcing raw materials and parts, manufacturing and assembly, distribution across all channels, and delivery to the customer (Supply Chain Council, 200 1). Supply chain agility or agile supply chain An agile supply chain is one that is flexible and has a business-wide capability that embraces organizational structures, information systems, and logistics processes. (Christopher, 2000) Critical success factors (CSF) Critical success factors are those few things that must go well to ensure success for a manager or organization, and therefore may represent those managerial or enterprise areas that must be given continual attention. CSFs include issues vital to an organizations current operating activities and to its future success (Boynton and Zmud, 1984). Customer relationship management (CRM) CRM is the management of technology, processes, information, and people in order to maximize each customer contact by obtaining a 360-degree view of the customer (Galbreath and Rogers, 1999). Performance gap This is a gap between the perceived performance and the expected importance of a factor (in this dissertation it is a supply chain factor). The performance gap provides an indication as to whether executives and managers are successful in translating their vision to their employees and hence such perception may give an indication regarding the degree of employees alignment with the organizations vision. If a factor is critical and has a negative value of factor alignment (perceived performance is less than the expectation), then the organization may have a potential problem with that factor. Information on factor alignment allows executives to develop a strategy to overcome the challenges associated with the gaps between importance and performance. (Martilla and James, 1977). Quality Function Deployment (QFD) QFD is a comprehensive quality tool that can be used to uncover customers spoken and unspoken needs, and convert these needs to product or service design targets and processes (Akao, 1990).1.7 DelimitationThere are several delimitations in this dissertation. The theoretical model derived from this dissertation is only applicable to the high technology companies. The dissertation is focused on companies operating geographically in California, United States of America, where there is a concentration of high technology companies. This dissertation is an exploratory research and will have to be tested for generalizability in later, more extensive, quantitative research (Perry, 1998). There is no scientific basis for choosing the number of cases in this dissertation. The number selected is based on the experiences and recommendations of the research and academic community (Eisenhardt, 1989 Perry, 1998).1.8 ConclusionThis chapter provides an overview of the dissertation. The aim, objectives, and justification of the research topic were discussed. The dissertation is an investigation on the impact of a supply chain management system on the competitive position of high technology business firms. It explores and investigates new ideas in supply chain management and examines how high technology firms manage and improve their supply chain management system. Furthermore, this dissertation will analyze the gaps and opportunities for supply chain management in high technology companies and give a set of recommendations. The methodology was briefly described, key definitions were explained, delimitations of this research were addressed, and the structure of the dissertation was outlined. With all the important areas of the research briefly introduced in this chapter, the following four chapters of this dissertation will present detailed description and findings of the research topic.CHAPTER 2LITERATURE REVIEW AND RESEARCH ISSUESThe previous chapter provided an overview of the dissertation and listed the objective, issues, and significance of the research topic.This chapter reviews the relevant literature and comprises of six sections. The review starts with a discussion on early approaches to understanding a firms performance and its competitive advantage. This is followed by the dev elopment of a theoretical framework and a discussion on contemporary approaches to competitive advantage. Next there is a discussion on supply chain management, followed by an overview of advanced supply chain management systems. The last two sections conclude with a discussion on gaps in the literature, identification of areas for further research, and the summary.2.1 Early approaches to understanding a firms performance and competitive advantageOne of the earliest (chronologically) approaches to competitive advantage is the microeconomic approach, or the idea of perfect competition (Walras, 1874, 1969). In perfect competition products are homogenous, consumers and producers have perfect information, prices will reach equilibrium, and as a result profits are negligible or low in the long run. However, according to Gill (1991), such a perfect economy is an abstraction, because there are monopolies, oligopolies, and perfect competition. Furthermore, there are also two kinds of compet ition spatial and monopolistic. Spatial differentiation pertains to oligopolistic competition (Hotelling, 1929), and it meets consumers different tastes. Monopolistic competition assumes that small firms produce a variety of differentiated products (Chamberlin, 1933 in Gill, 1991). All these situations allow for profit maximization and higher profits (Gill, 1991).The industrial organization (IO) approach takes a richer approach to understanding a firms successful performance. IO differs from the microeconomic approach by introducing variables that explain real-world economic behavior. In IO, there are two competing hypothesis that lead to higher profits and success market power and a firms efficiency (Scherer, 1990 Tirole, 1988). Nevertheless, the IO approach assumes that markets and firms will reach equilibrium, and in equilibrium profits differences will not exist (Tirole, 1988). Both the microeconomic approach and the industrial organization approach assume that all firms would reach equilibrium and have equal profit and success. However, we know from a daily look at many firms performance on the stock market that profit and performance vary across firms, even when they are in the same business. Eaton and Lipsey (1978) have verified that differences in performance and profit exist between firms.2.2 Contemporary approaches to achieving competitive advantage2.2.1 Framework to understanding a firms performanceOne of the first researchers to propose a theoretical framework for understanding a firms performance is Porter (1980). He takes a strategic and analytical approach to understanding competitive strategy, and argued that, Every firm competing in an industry has a competitive strategy, whether explicit or implicit (Porter, 1980, p. xiii). He proposes a framework for analyzing industries and competitors and describes three generic strategies cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. He postulates that if a firm is able to do well in any of these strateg ies, it will gain competitive advantage. Porters concept is illustrated in 2-1. Generic Competitive StrategiesOverall cost leadershipDifferentiationFocusCompetitive Advantageof a Firm Cost leadership requires efficient-scale facilities, pursuit of cost reductions, and cost minimization in all areas of the firm. This will give more profit. Differentiation of product or service requires industry-wide differentiation, including design and brand image, customer service, and distribution or dealer network. Product or service differentiation will help increase customer loyalty and ensure repurchase. Focus on markets, buyers, or product lines can maximize profits.The framework, in 2-1, shows that the right strategies can provide competitive advantage. Porter (1985) also argues that competitive advantage come from the many discrete activities a firm performs in designing, producing, marketing, delivering, and supporting its product. Each of these activities contributes to a firms relative c ost position and creates a basis for differentiation. This is the value chain, and a firm has to disaggregate its strategically relevant activities in order to understand the behavior of costs and the existing and potential sources of differentiation. A firm gains competitive advantage by performing these strategically important activities cheaper or better than its competitors (Porter, 1985), and this can lead to a higher profit margin. The value chain concept is illustrated in 2-2.Profit MarginOutboundLogisticsManufacturing Operations, and other InternalProcessesInboundLogisticsProcurementHuman Resource ManagementTechnology DevelopmentFirm Infrastructure and Platform ServicesCustomer ServiceMarketing and SalesPrimaryActivitiesSupportActivitiesSupply Chain ApproachStrategicPlanningApproachMarketing Capabilities ApproachThe Value Chain and Theoretical Framework to Achieve Competitive AdvantageAdapted from Porter (1985) and this literature review.Note 1 Key approaches to competitive advantage are highlighted with underlinedCharactersNote 2 The definition of supply chain implies all activities necessary to deliver a product (Hakanson, 1999). Therefore sales, marketing, and customer service activities can be construed as part of the supply chain approach shown in the . In this study, sales and marketing processes, such as demand management, order processing, and customer relationship management are included in the internal processes shown in the and in the supply chain literature review. However, sales and marketing activity, such as sales calls, advertising, product positioning, market research, and some post delivery support processes are excluded from supply chain activity. This is consistent with the approach taken by the Supply Chain Council and the SCOR (Supply Chain Operational Reference) model it uses to measure supply chain activity (Supply Chain Council, 2001).2.2.2 Summary of contemporary approaches to competitive advantagePorters approach presents new thinking to competitive advantage (Rumelt, Schendel, and Teece, 1991) and has influenced other approaches to creating competitive advantage. Many of the other approaches to competitive advantage are summarized in Table 2-1. From the table, it can be seen that all the approaches to increasing competitive advantage, except for the early microeconomic and industrial organization approaches, fit the theoretical framework in 2-2. However, all these approaches to competitive advantage are complementary and not alternatives or conflicting theories they basically propose various segments of the theoretical framework shown in 2-2.The various approaches are discussed very briefly below, but the last approach (in Table 2-1), Supply Chain Management, is discussed in greater detail.2.2.3 The strategic planning approachIn essence, Porters (1980, 1985) approaches are strategic planning approaches, i.e. a firms competitive advantage can be planned for. This includes planning for differentiation i n the value chain, low cost leadership, and focus.Nations can also be competitive (Porter, 1990). Nations need four conditions to gain competitive advantage and be successful. The four conditions are factor conditions (education and skill levels), demand conditions (or market size), related and supporting industries, and company strategy and rivalry (Porter, 1990).Strategy is lucky foresightStrategy is always the product of a complex and unexpected interplay between ideas, information, personalities, and desire according to Hamel (1998). What this implies is that one does not settle for obvious solutions and strategies but should look at alternatives, challenge assumptions, and look at new ways of delivering superior customer value and firm performance.Table 2-1 Summary of early and contemporary approaches to competitive advantageApproachProponentMain idea/postulateCommentsMicroeconomicWalras (1874, 1984)Perfect competition results in negligible profitsIdeas ignore monopolies, oligo polies, and product differentiation. Profit does vary across firms according to Eaton and Lipsey (1978).Industrial OrganizationScherer (1990),Tirole (1988)Success comes from market power and a firms efficiency.All proponents agree that in the long term there will be industry equilibrium and little profit.Porter (1980) Porter (1985) Provides a framework for achieving competitive advantage.Every firm has a generic competitive strategy in cost leadership, market focus, or differentiation.The value chain disaggregates a firm into its strategically relevant activities. A firm gains competitive advantage by performing these important activities better than its competitors. Challenges the stereotype approach of perfect competition and industry equilibrium. Provides a prescriptive approach to achieve competitive advantage, but the ideas and solutions are essentially conceptual. Hamel (1998) Strategy is the product of a complex and unexpected interplay between ideas, information, personaliti es, and desire. A firm has to seek alternatives and new ways of delivering superior customer value and firm performance.The Strategic Approach and its VariationsValue Chain ApproachStrategic ApproachResource Based ApproachWernerfelt (1984),Barney (1991), Rumelt, Schendel, and Teece (1991).A firm has to identify specific, or rare, resources that lead to higher profits. Long-term superior performance comes from building product market positions that effectively utilize and maintain these resources. Examples of such resources include customer loyalty, and technological leads.If the resources are unique and difficult to duplicate, then the firm achieves competitive advantage.Table 2-1 (Continued) Summary of early and contemporary approaches tocompetitive advantageApproachProponentMain idea/postulateCommentsMarket StrategyMarketing Capabilities ApproachResource-Advantage TheoryProduct DifferentiationDay (1994,1999), Cool and Dierickx (1989), Aaker (1989), Caves and Ghemawat (1986).Also, Buzzell an

Theories of Evolution and Intelligent Design

Theories of Evolution and Intelligent DesignHumans have a grievous longing to know their roots. In the broadest context, this longing expresses itself as a desire to understand how the universe itself came to exist, in a more particular framework, the seam of quick things. Various models attempt to excuse how life comes to be. These contr everywheresial issues settle on by two views. The growthists indicate life evolved, while the proponents of profound trope betoken that life is a product of an intelligent scram. Then there be creationists who consider life to be created by a deity or deities. Nevertheless, creationism is not of importance because creationism focuses on defending the sacred texts, having no scientific evidence to how life comes to be. The contentious matter is whether intelligent bearing is science or not. As Charles Darwin wrote in the On the Origin of Species, A fair result wad be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and strains on b oth sides of each question.Now, there seems to be a great deal of confusion among the society on what exactly evolution and intelligent see is. According to the online dictionary, evolution is the qualify in the genetic composition of a population during ordered generations, as a result of natural selection acting on the genetic variety. Therefore, evolution is mainly a process occurring from one generation to the next, which results in heritable changes in a population. More accurately, evolution is whatsoever change in the absolute frequency of alleles at bottom a gene pool over succeeding generations. Like evolution, intelligent innovation is on the online dictionary too. The online dictionary states, intelligent physical body is, the assertion or belief that physical and biological agreements observed in the universe result from purposeful design by an intelligent being rather than from occur or rudderless natural processes.Thus, intelligent design argues that an int elligent cause rather than an undirected process best explain certain features of the universe. If an intelligent cause best explain certain features of the universe, therefore intelligent design supporters must agree that certain features are best explained by the evolution opening. Intelligent design supporters like Stephen Meyer say that intelligent design supporters are not against evolution per say. Evolution can mean change over time or everyday ancestry, which are not meanings of the bound they dispute. They do challenge the specific Darwinian ideal, that life is the result of a purely undirected process that merely mimics the causations of design tidings. Charles Darwins theory is that all spirit things evolved from a simple organism over immeasurable generations. In addition to the countless generations, random mutations or changes in the traits and natural selection took place, with only the fittest of species surviving and reproducing. As pointed out before, intel ligent design supporters do not reject evolution, nor do they believe that the universe was created in six days. However, proponents of intelligent design do say an intelligent designer created life. Even though they are silent about the identity of the designer, most assume it the God of Christianity. Intelligent design proponents tend to stay aside from defining design. Stephen Meyer, an intelligent design proponent says there are two features to what this intelligence is. Meyer quotes, you cant tell from the science alone the identity of the designer. It is like having a painting that was not signed. You can tell from the characteristic signature of intelligence, namely the aim of information, that some mind played a role, besides we cannot tell from the science the identity. Dr. Micheal Ruse, an evolutionist states if a painting isnt signed, a good art historian could visit at the painting and say I think its a 13 century painting or this painting is an impressionist.Propon ents of intelligent design argue that even the simplest of living things have numerous daedal and sophisticated structures that not even natural selection can produce. For that reason, how do you explain the complexity of design? The question that appears to be asked often is, is the design of biology an illusion produced by a natural mechanism, namely natural selection that can mimic the power of designing intelligence or is the appearance of design, which all biologists recognize the product of actual intelligence, a mind not a material process. Hence, proponents of intelligent design, in particular Michael Behe argue the challenge of irreducible complexity, suggesting the existence of an intelligent designer behind the purposeful structures of each living cell. Irreducible complexity implies a wholeness system composed of several well-matched, interacting parts that contribute to the basic function, were in the removal of any one of the part causes the system to effectively cea se functioning.Michael Behes famous everyday example of an irreducibly complex system is a mousetrap. If one of the pieces of a mousetrap is unavailable, no longer will the mousetrap be effective. An irreducibly complex system is similar to this example. All the components have to be in place before you can catch a mouse or have a functioning system. Michael Behe considers an irreducibly complex system to be very difficult or highly unlikely to form by not only by numerous, successive modifications, but because any essential part could cease to function if a piece from the preceding generations was missing. Michael Behe supports his point how natural selection cannot clarify the complexity that is within a cell by acknowledging a quote Darwin said. If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break d own. The nature of an irreducible complexity poses as a threat to the Darwinian theory because systems which are entirely workings can then only natural selection be present. An example in a living cell is the scheme of how proteins are able to journey to the precise destination where proteins carry out their specialized tasks, such as digestion of nutrients and excretion of wastes. This constant, regulated traffic flow in the cell comprises another unmistakably complex, irreducible system. In order for a system to function fittingly, a system should no break down and the systems parts should not break down.Kenneth R. Miller counters the argument of irreducible complexity an intricate system cannot be produced by evolution. Kenneth Miller proves his disagreement by explaining the fault he sees in Michael Behes own example, the mousetrap. Michael Behe states how removing a part of the mousetrap causes it to stop functioning, but Kenneth Miller states that you may not have a mousetrap taking away certain pats, but you can have another fully functional machine. A mousetrap is composed of a base, a metal hammer, a spring, a catch and a metal bar. Take away the catch and the metal bar, there is a functional paper clip. Take away the spring, and you have a two-part key crop chain. The point is that bits and pieces of supposedly irreducibly complex machines may have different, but still useful functions. Kenneth R. Miller argues that Darwinian mechanisms could have arranged the numerous complex system that exists within living things. Evolution produces complex biochemical machines by copying, modifying, and combining proteins previously used for other functions. Kenneth Miller uses again one of Michael Behes own example. As mentioned before, Michael Behe argues how an intelligent design is behind the complexity of how the proteins move from one subcellular compartment to another. The journal called Cell has an article where working researchers noted these mechanisms suggest in a natural way how the many and diverse compartments in eukaryotic cells could have evolved in the first place. Overall, intelligent design does not succeed with present any biochemical evidence.William A. Dembski makes another interesting intelligent design statement. Dembski draws attention to how neither chance nor necessity can explain the creation of the universe. The origin of all living things must have had help from a designing intelligence. Researchers receive a sufficient amount of random signal from space for plenty of years. Dembski states, If a eon lacks complexity, it could easily happen by chance. In other word, if it is complex, it must have not occurred by chance or randomness. Therefore, researchers must infer an extraterrestrial intelligence is the source for such complex, sequenced patterns (random signals). Intelligence leaves behind a characteristic trademark or signature called specified complexity. Specified complexity is not similar to the term irreducible complexity. The both have different def initions. Specified complexity indicates that it is an event if it is contingent and therefore not necessary, if it is complex and therefore not easily quotable by chance, and if it is specified in the sense of exhibiting an independently given pattern. Slim chances of unlikely events to happen do not reduce chance. For instance, if you roll a cube for an adequate amount of time, you will be able to notice a highly complex or improbably event. Another appealing argument is that specifications be objectively given and not righteous imposed on events after the fact. For example, if a soccer pseud kicks a soccer ball onto the field and then we place the soccer net, we impose a patter after the fact. Alternatively, if the soccer net is set up in advance (specified) and then the soccer player shoots the ball into the net, we know it was by design.Robert T. Pennock presents his counterargument to Dembski argument. Pennock claims that proponents of intelligent design like Dembski do not provide the society with positive evidence and instead present us with negative evidence. Basically, negative evidence is evidence that an individual has not experienced by their five external senses, mainly if the whole thing is a phony. On the other hand, positive evidence is the opposite, where there is truth and evidence for the event that took place or for any science matter. Dembski did not present any examples from gentlemans gentleman and therefore Pennock states Dembski has no way to show that the genetic patterns are set up in advance or independently given. A common argument creationists attack on is how the second law of thermodynamics doesnt support evolution. Proponents of intelligent design make use of this argument by means of different approaches to the matter, but it all comes down to how can evolutionary processes produce more complex life-forms from more primitive ones if evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics. Pennock states that biological comple xities are uncivil systems and since the law applies to closed systems, which is why the second law does not pass the test of evolution. This is simply a misunderstanding of how intelligent design supporters are not able to apply the law to biological systems. Again, the entire hypothesis made by proponents of intelligent design does not provide any scientific evidence. Also, if the origin of the universe was created by a designing intelligence, is this hypothesis testable? Proponents of intelligent design make assumptions on what evolutionists have not yet to discover information or fully understand the cause and reason behind a finding. There is no way to dust for the designers fingerprints.Jonathan Wells, a proponent of intelligent design claims in fact Darwins theory in hard to believe considering that certain features of living things appear to be designed. Natural selection and random variation cannot explain Darwins theory of evolution. Wells uses Darwins own two examples, t he finches and the four-winged fruit fly, to back up his statement. Darwins finches and the four-winged fruit fly prove his theory of evolution, but Wells uncovers that Darwins theory can only account for certain feature and not all features of living things. Generally, finches vary among the shape of their beaks and Darwin conclude that the shape of their beaks differed due to the assorted food the finches ate. In other words, the finches adapted through a variety of food, but evolved from a common ancestor and the undirected process, natural selection is the cause of such diverse collection of finches. Wells argue that natural selection can only account for the fact that it whole kit and boodle within its species and not modify the anatomical structure. Wells agrees that DNA mutations allow certain advantageous variations like antibiotic resistance. Now evolutionists provide evidence of anatomical changes through the four-winged fruit fly, but the fly does not indeed provide pro of. The wings that the fly seemed to acquire through mutation show that these wings are not only useless but also worse.Eugenie C. Scott, a well-known evolutionist responds to Jonathan Wells claim by stating that natural selection alone does not explain the features of living things. Besides natural selection, there is genetic drift, symbiosis, genetic recombination and gene flow and chromosomal rearrangement. Scott assures that Wells is sticking to the religious belief rather than the scientific explanation. Today, modern genetic analysis provides scientists with plenty of evidence that all species descended from a common ancestor. The Ultrabithorax (Ubx) complex is found in animals as different as sponges, fruit flies, and mammals. They turn on or off the genes involved in personify segmentation and the production of appendages such as antennae, legs, and wings. This Ubx complex is the key to the evolution of body parts and counterargument to Wells claim of how Darwins theory doe s not explain anatomical change. The loss of legs in snakes, the change from lobe fins to hands, and the origin of jaws in vertebrates are just some of the examples that the Ubx complex is involved in.For over a decade there has been a controversial issue among school boards whether it is appropriate to teach scientific creation, recently intelligent design, in public school science classes. In 1996, Michael Behes Darwins Black Box helped emphasize that intelligent design as scientific rather than a religious viewpoint. Although Behe does not mention the name of the designer, the scientific community refuse to believe his arguments and claim it to be from personal incredulity. This book presented points on why the teaching of intelligent design should be included and attacked the teaching of evolution in public schools. The 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover case put the calim that intelligent design was religion masquerading as science to the test. Evolutionists know that Darwins theory has gaps and it is not perfect, but proponents of intelligent design.In conclusion, proponents of evolution and intelligent design dispute over whether life on earth evolved through natural mechanisms or produced by an intelligent cause. Each side brings up interesting arguments where neither side admits defeat. piece of music evolutionists assert the community that intelligent design are more religious and philosophical, not scientific. They believe intelligent design has a link to creationism. Proponents of intelligent design claim evolutionists refuse to admit that life appears to look designed because in fact it really is designed. Even though evolutionists argue how intelligent design has no scientific evidence, proponents of intelligent design argue how there are peer-reviewed articles on intelligent design. The controversial issue in the Unites States of America is whether intelligent design should be taught in schools. Evolutionists say its acceptable to for students to learn about intelligent design, but not as a branch of biology. Proponents of intelligent design affirm on teaching intelligent design in biology classes. There have been court cases due to this issue and the judge ruled out that intelligent design cannot be taught in schools. It is pretty hard to find the right result to a controversial issue.

Essay --

Sleep Why We Need It or Do We?There atomic number 18 many several(predicate) philosophies on how much sleep the body needs or doesnt need. Sleep has been said to be the bodys way of refueling. It allows the body to touch its mental energy (msnbc.com). The question is how much sleep does the body truly need to function? One theory pertaining to sleep is that if your body has a neglect of sleep it would just adapt to less sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause us to lose our agility, cognitive, and immune responses. There is no explanation as to why people sleep an average of eight hours each night (msnbc.com). Scientists are still exploring the bodies need for sleep, depths of sleep, typical sleep patterns, the negative impact a want of sleep can cause, if age and schedules of people affect it, and to what degree does it affect the functions of the nervous system. Sleep deprivation has been a major factor in some of the biggest disasters in history. The notable ones are the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear meltdown, and the 1979 Nuclear accident at Three Mile Island (Peri). Drowsiness is also a starring(p) cause of accidents according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They estimate that nearly 100,000 automobile accidents and 1,550 crash-related deaths occur each year in the United States (Peri). roughly work related injuries are also cause by a poor quality of sleep. There are many other negative factors that are related to sleep deprivation. It is estimated that 90% of people who suffer from insomnia also suffer from other medical issues. People who Gautier 2suffer from sleep disorders are at a higher risk for high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, heart attack and h... ...stems. The researchers have found a connection between lack of sleep and obesity in adults and children. Reduced levels of leptin, a hormone that is produced by an adipose tissue hormone, cause the body to not suppress the appetite (Colten). In conclusion, scientists have discovered that the body is negatively impacted from a lack of sleep. Human bodies need sleep to restore and maintain its cognitive process, bodily functions, boilers suit health and well being. The body has to have all depths of sleep in order to function properly. Sleep deprivation can cause serious health issues such as heart disease, lower sex drive, obesity, and heart attack. Age is a factor in how many quality hours we require throughout our lifetime. Scientists overcompensate to discover more information every day on how our sleep can impact the body, mental state, and overall happiness.

Eugene ONeills Long Days Journey into Night Essay -- Long Days Jou

Eugene ONeills Long sidereal days Journey into darkAs the murk desc dismisss around the Tyrones summer home, another fog falls on the family within. This fog is that of spunk abuse, in which each of the four main characters of Eugene ONeills play, Long Days Journey into Night face by the end of Act IV. Long Days Journey into Night is a metaphoric representation of the path from normalcy to demise by showing the general effects of substance abuse on human psychology and family dysfunctions through the characters Mary, Jamie, Edmund and Tyrone. Mary Tyrone makes the transition most clearly throughout the entire play. In Act I, her hands feed restlessly, and she seems to be quite nervous. When she appears in Act II one notices no change except that she appears to be less nervous, but then one becomes alive(predicate) that her eyes are brighter and there is a peculiar detachment in her voice and manner (ONeill 58). These subtle signs of her recur back to chemical dependency gall op until the final scene, where she is most obviously under the influences of a chemical substance. The morphine seems to make her reminiscent of the past. In Act III, she talked about her two childhood dreams of get a concert pianist or a nun. By Act IV, she has dragged her old wedding dress from the attic and attempted to play the piano again. This presents a psychological reasoning for her relapses. She considers herself to be growing old and ugly, and often refers to the how she was at one sentence young and beautiful. To her, the ugliness of the hands is the ugliness of what she has become everyplace the last twenty-five years, which is why she uses the pain of the rheumatism in them as her reason for the morphine (Chabrowe 181). Thus, it can be correlated that at one time she used the morphine to escape pain, and when she realized that it made her feel youthful again she became addicted.Her failure to desist is also connected with her interfamily relationships. When she was accused of relapsing she said, It would lot all of you right if it was true (ONeill 47) This suggests that she is seeking justification to continue her drug addiction by using her familys suspicions as a reason to relapse (Bloom 163). Not only are her actions influenced by her family, but they also influence the men, namely Edmund. He is quite aware of his diminishing health, and suspects that he ... ...with a sensation of what the future holds for the Tyrone family, the book tends to be repetitive. Thus, one can assume that the play marks one day, one relapse for Mary, one trip for Jamie to the whorehouse, one more than drink Edmund takes to forget the past, and one more drink that Tyrone takes to help himself cope. Yet, it will not be the first, or the last. It will be just one more. Night will journey into morning and it will all happen again. Such is tragedy.Works CitedAmerican Lung Association. Who Gets It. Tuberculosis (TB.) On-line. Internet. 1 March 2001. lendable <a href=http//www.lungusa.org/diseases/lungtb.html>http//www.lungusa.org/diseases/lungtb.htmlChabrowe, Leonard. Rituals and Pathos The Theatre of ONeill. Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism.Bloom, Steven F. Empty Bottles, Empty Dreams ONeills Use of Drinking and Alcoholism in Long Days Journey Into Night. Critical Essays on Eugene ONeill. 1984 ed.Collins, R. Lorraine, Kenneth E. Leonard, and John S. Searles. Alcohol and the Family. New York, London The Guilford Press, 1974.Hinden, Michael. Long Days Journey into Night native Eloquence. Boston Twane Publishers, 1990.