Trade-centred Approaches to Poverty Reduction

Trade-centred Approaches to Poverty Reduction Question: In the context of the current race to meet the MDG goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2015, what advantages and disadvantages does the global community face in advancing trade-centred approaches to poverty reduction, as opposed to an agenda focused on aid. In the 2009 Millennium Development Goals Report released earlier this year, the Secretary-General noted that important progress has been made in the attempt to eradicate poverty, but yet there are still many successes on which to build. Furthermore, movement toward that goal was too slowly. (website address) `The worlds least developed countries hold 12 percent of the worlds population but account for less than one percent of global trade so expanding trade with and among developing countries is a critical driver of economic growth and poverty reduction because it encourages entrepreneurship, human resource development, technology transfer (including access to the internet) makes global partnerships easier, technological innovation and good governance all these which are necessary. A new global and regional trade environment presents the Caribbean countries with critical challenges, but also many opportunities to reposition itself as a growing and competitive region, translating into significant economic and social gains, Trade must always be reciprocal However, global integration is being conducted in a context of macroeconomic and financial imbalances. The region experienced large current account and fiscal deficits, as well as high levels of indebtedness, which in the past, slowed trade reforms and are currently a major concern in the evolving trade environment. These macroeconomic and financial imbalances are exacerbated by the current economic crisis. A trade-centred approach to eradicating poverty thus takes into consideration using import and export strategies that include making sure those goods and services are in alignment with worldwide. Trade-centred takes into consideration the skills and the services of the entrepreneur, wholesaler, distributor and manufacturer. The Websters dictionary defines as entrepreneur as : One who undertakes to start and run an enterprise or business, usually assuming full control and risk So that one has to recognize that there is an opportunity to find solutions for needs, wants, problems and challenges). Entrepreneurs must be empowered to believe that they can make the difference in advancement of their economy and that they are a part of the development process to form sustainable partnerships for the future. If trade links cannot be developed internationally then certainly attempts have to be made intra-regionally. It is hoped that the greatest resource, the people, would become more independent in owning a business would make the individual more independent and the profits would not have to go back towards paying back not the loams but the exorbitant interest on the loans. Individuals feel empowered when they have sustainable employment. But this employment should not be done in a haphazard manner but should be done with such amenities as a business plan. Financial Management, Human Resource Management and Risk Management would have a lot to play even as market research is done. Regional Institutions can be strengthened as a mechanism of trade by the coordination of regional objectives and activities with national bodies. National institutions are often those who are in charge of the trade we must try to reduce the trade costs. The Business and regulatory environment, the national Insurance and the Business levy situation must be willing to look at the changes in customer needs so that the reevaluation of the product life cycle must be regarded. The environment must continuously be one that there is going to be some investment. While many Caribbean countries (most notably Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica) have undertaken policy measures to improve their trade policy, important weaknesses remain in five major areas is the proper establishment of customs procedures and administration. Additionally, the legal framework for businesses including taxation and monitoring must be properly in place because there is going to be active competition with other members of the society. Groups must be authorized by the government and regular training and workshops must be done to be able to reach to government standard (The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards) that again must be regulated so that there would not be any shady or illegal activity going on. The training of youth is a factor which is critical if Micro Enterprise development is to be an issue. Micro Enterprises include very small businesses that employ about 1 to five persons. The establishment of Micro Enterprises is one strategy that is use by the MDGs in the eradication of poverty. The sizes of micro enterprise businesses may be small but altogether they make up the fastest growing of the private sector that should be a vital contributor of the social and economic creating new jobs every day climate thus creating a large part of the GDP. They are engines of the creative capacity of our economy by creating internal trade which would ultimately lead to regional and global trade. A person becomes more creative in order to be a step ahead of the competition and this uniqueness sets the entrepreneur apart while he seeks to align his products to quality standards. Competition, though, must be comprehensive and everyone must be willing to participate in competition policy. We would seek to capitalize on each individuals strength and not their weakness although we know that the business environment is very competitive The government takes the opportunity, as the strength of the economy increases, to want to encourage investments from international bodies so that technology from other countries could be included and that persons may even want to get in. A country must decide which are there niche markets and using money management strategies could apply them to certain goods. Focus must be done on niche markets and knowing what other countries may have to offer when we do an analysis and know the competition. Create a workforce that is able to sustain that type of environment after thorough research has been done but we must be willing to work hard and not look for handouts. However, failures that may be as a result of overinvestment, poor credit arrangements and poor inventory management must be avoided at all costs. A vision and a mission must be established. The disadvantage of going into business would include taking along of risks, meaning that it is sometimes a lonely scene where invariably one has to work long hours. However, a company has to be careful as global competition that could be dangerous for the company. Next, one has to be wary of barriers to trade that could influence the profitability of entering a trade relationship with partners in a particular area. There are lots of risks that are involved in engaging in such an act that includes the loss of initial start-up capital. Funding Options: The whole idea of an aid focused agenda according to the Aid Guide comes with the idea of richer countries trying to do their moral duties)but instead they are really seeking their own strategic interest which can include the desire to have some say in a countrys political affairs. Thus in order for the Millenium Development Goals to be accomplished, they must be accompanied by the monitoring of donors intentions. A lot of people clamour for aid for aid for impoverished nations but it only seems that aid has allowed the poor to get poorer where there is a situation of corruption and theft of government funds that creates a spiraling effect of inflation and a lack of investment into the country and thus a slower growth of the economy. Moyos idea of aid could entrap a country as the famous Bob Marley song quoted that we need to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery Aid may come in many different forms inclusive of money that is usually a loan, or receiving country must spend the gift on buying the donor countys products. Loans, though, come with many restrictions that are attached to getting the loan though you can raise capital even within a particular country without having to seek additional funding from outside sources. Next, more than half of foreign aid is usually military, is often utilized to fight the donors enemies and terrorists or is given because there is that desire to buy that countrys vote in UN, likewise other future actions. Still, countries tend rather to go this way for many different reasons including the reason that it is an easy source of financing that is readily available to the public. Additionally, though most African nations claim that aid is needed for countries to get a head start in achieving so many other factors inclusive of the development of aid, there must be proper allocation of resources and monitoring should also occurs to make sure that funds are used the way that they have been designated to be used. Then we could use what is known as the traditional method of the Sou Sou. This started as a part of the African tradition could even continue in our traditional society today as this starts with persons. Aid should not only come in the form of money but it should also be in the form of making technology available and transferring technology to various groups so that the eventually the knowledge and the skills and the training could be transferred Aid, whether or not it is given for any developmental purpose costs the taxpayer and raises national debt. Furthermore, it reduces the receiving countrys ability to produce the items they get from us (that means if we send them food, then their farmers wont be able to sell their crops for higher prices) Financing for debt and equity capital is that which is seen as an investment that does not incur any interest and this could be money. Contributors must be able to get something out of the financing that they are putting out according to Management Consultant Sajjad Hamid Even using the Micro Enterprise Development Model, aid for individual business can take the form of venture capital may be another option that is available where management could have a say in how the company is run but this idea may not have a measure of enthusiasm for most who may be the recipient of such offerings. Microfinance Institutions that are not usually regulated by the government and that are viable options for businesses for small loans, savings, insurance and other financial products for low-income families. This is where credit unions come into play. The evidence linking public investment to private capital formation and growth have grown significantly in the past few years Young people, have to be motivated to engage in agricultural production in every country. There are approximately 6.1 billion people worldwide. The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) covers the agriculture sector with low interest loans and financing for farm projects with little or no initial positive cash flow. Why dont we encourage our populations to start planting rice and wheat since for our populations as required in the daily diet so that the global community could be fed and that each country would not have imbalances in trade? Products however do not need to be a product that is manufactured itself although once this is done there could be more profits but this could also be a product that needs to be distributed. Each country must be clear on what the funds are to be used for if they are to assess aid and there must be a personal evaluation of ones financial position. There must be that ability to negotiate the terms of a contract instead of just accepting that contract. If the whole idea and the entire concept of finding what must be traded needs to be discovered then the whole environment must be scanned for the product to that is to be sold to be discovered. Small changes could make big differences. Some disadvantages of using foreign aid are that it forces an individual to remain in a dependent state meaning that instead of an individual seeking creating alternative they search out excuses to obtain more money. The acceptance of foreign aid can have the effect of opening a can of worms as it allows the international lending agency such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to interfere in the political matters of a country. Furthermore, if for some strange reason, the loan cannot be repaid that the country may have to give up some of its resources as collateral for the loan. Many persons think that it is the humanitarian thing to do to offer aid but can this be more of a hindrance than anything else. Thus in evaluating whether or not a trade-centred approach is better it can be said that a country will always be better off if this is if they can develop their trading capabilities instead of using more developed countries as their lifeboat. I am not saying that they should not advocate for help if this is going to happen then the legal framework must be strengthened ultimately for sustainable trade to continuebut at the same time this should not be a situation that lasts for an extended period of time.if aid for trade was urgent in 2007 but it is essential today. It is the investment that will allow many developing countries to prepare to exit the crisis by enhancing their trade capacity. He spoke on Jul 6 at the opening of the second Aid for Trade Review under the heading of Maintaining Momentum. REFERENCES Dambisa Moyo. DEAD AID: WHY AID IS NOT WORKING AND HOW THERE IS ANOTHER WAY FOR AFRICA. London: Allen Lane, 2009. 188 pp.  £14.99 WORLD: TRADE ALONE NOT A CURE FOR POVERTY, CLAIMS REPORT Isolda Agazzi. Global Information Network. New York: Jul 9, 2009. TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING- EXPANDING TRADE WITH, AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IS CRITICAL DRIVER OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Washington, D.C.: Jul 8, 2009 CARIBBEAN/NEW WORLD BANK STUDY: TRADE INTEGRATION, KEY FOR GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION US Fed News Service, Including US State News. Washington, D.C.: Apr 6, 2009. Financing SMEs: Look Ye Shall Find Business Day Newsday Thursday September 24, 2009 Pg 16, Sajjad Hamid Roads out of Poverty? Assessing the Links between Aid, Public Investment, Growth, and Poverty Reduction Pierre-Richard Agà ©nor,* Nihal Bayraktar,** and Karim El AynaouiThis version: December 23, 2004 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123758895999200083.html By: Moyo, Dambira. Wall Street Journal Eastern Edition, 3/21/2009, Vol. 253 Issue 66, pW1-W2, 2p, 2 color, 3 bw; (AN 37020959) Database: Academic Search Complete OneWorld.net Aid Guide http://uk.oneworld.net/guides/aid?gclid=CO2B8aSkmp0CFRpdswodORx12A

Joyce Campbell :: Short Stories Papers

Joyce Campbell Melissa Everett was sitting comfortably in her swivel chair staring down on the busy city of New York. She dreamily began talking to herself: â€Å"How lucky I am,† she thought. â€Å"My life is so perfect right now, my family supports me and I have great friends.† She calmly looks around her large office and thinks to herself, â€Å"And look how far I have come!† She thinks back to her struggles and to her climb up the companies latter. â€Å"Without the help of Joyce, I and several of the other female executives of Tie Technologies would not be here. How did she do it? I wonder how it was back then†¦.† Melissa eyes grew slightly heavy, her head filled with thoughts and she quickly slipped into a light sleep†¦. June 27th, 1957. The sun was out; the sky was blue, dusted with only a few white clouds. This morning was like any other morning: Typical. The sun was shining warmly onto the houses, cars and people of Apple Lane. Number 203, residence to Gregory and Judy Stephenson was a bustle. This newly built large brick home is surrounded with others identical to itself. In this suburban neighborhood, the streets are cluttered with children and mother’s offering goodbyes to their loved ones as the men commute to their work. Judy stands waving softly to the old Cadillac pulling out of the driveway. Her skirt blows into the air, and her wispy blonde bangs sweep to the side of her face. She holds her baby girl in her arms and touches the shoulder of the young boy below her. It’s very early, she dresses her children for school and shovels them out of the door an hour or so later. She crochets, bakes a few batches of cookies for her returning children, walks to the market to purchase the necessary items for dinner - baked potatoes, carrots and flank steaks - and decides to walk over to her friend Joyce's house. She arrives; unfortunately the bottom inch of her skirt has been caked with wet dust, and approaches a young woman with a big straw hat on reading quietly on her porch. It is routine. Judy sits down next to her takes out her new romantic novel and decides to go make herself cold lemonade.

Importance of Dignity in a Lesson Before Dying

Grant and Jefferson are on a journey. Though they have vastly different educational backgrounds, their commonality of being black men who have lost hope brings them together in the search for the meaning of their lives. In the 1940†³s small Cajun town of Bayonne, Louisiana, blacks may have legally been emancipated, but they were still enslaved by the antebellum myth of the place of black people in society. Customs established during the years of slavery negated the laws meant to give black people equal rights and the chains of tradition prevailed leaving both Grant and Jefferson trapped in mental slavery in their communities. The struggles of Grant and Jefferson share a common theme, man†s search for meaning. Grant has the advantage of a college education, and while that may have provided some enlightenment, he remains in the same crossroads as Jefferson. Grant sees that regardless of what he does, the black students he teaches continue in the same jobs, the same poverty and same slave-like positions as their ancestors. Grant has no hope of making a difference and sees his life as meaningless. Though Jefferson†s conflict is more primal, it is the same as Grant†s struggle. Jefferson is searching for the most basic identity, whether he is man or animal. It is this conflict of meaning and identity that bring Grant and Jefferson together. In this book, Ernest J. Gaines presents three views to determine manhood: law, education and religion. Jefferson has been convicted of a crime, and though he did not commit it, he is sentenced to death as a â€Å"hog† a word that denies any sense of worth or fragment of dignity he may have possessed in a world ruled by oppressive white bigots. Jefferson is at an even greater loss as he has no education and after the conviction he doubts that God can even exist in a world that would send an innocent man to his death. It is clear that Jefferson does not believe he has any value. † ‘I†m an old hog. Just an old hog they fattening up to kill for Christmas† † (83). Though Grant may have had some advantages compared with Jefferson, his position in life was not significantly better than Jefferson†s. Grant knows that if he had been the black man sitting in the courtroom, he too would have been convicted. In his powerful opening to the novel, Grant says, â€Å"I was not there yet I was there. No, I did not go to the trial, I did not hear the verdict, because I knew all the time what it would be† (1). Even his college education has not elevated his position in the eyes of the white society. When he was talking with white people, he was expected to act stupid and hide his education and assume the subservient role of a black. As in Grant†s visit to Mr. Guidry the first time. † ‘She doesn†t, huh?† Sam Guidry asked me. He emphasized doesn†t. I was supposed to have said don†t. I was being too smart† (48). Of law, education and religion, one had to empower Jefferson and Grant. The law was clearly outside their realm of influence. However, education opened the door for Jefferson and Grant to share dialogue and to explore who they were and how they could be empowered. It was religion, their search for a greater meaning and a higher power, which allowed them to begin to think not of what white men thought of them, but rather what God and what they thought of themselves. With this new way of thinking, they forged a bond and both began to understand the simple heroic act of resistance in defying the expectation of white society that they were members of a lesser race † ‘Do you know what a myth is, Jefferson?† I asked him. ‘A myth is an old lie that people believe in. White people believe that they are better than anyone else on earth-and that†s a myth. The last thing they ever want is to see a black man stand, and think and show that common humanity that is in us all. It would destroy their myth† † (192). Grant encouraged Jefferson to live beyond the stereotype white society had imposed on him. In doing that Grant began to see himself differently. He began to believe if this uneducated black man could become a hero to the black community then certainly he could return to Bayonne and help children believe in themselves. He gradually began to think that he also could escape the myth and help his students escape it with him. He could use Jefferson as a hero to encourage them. † I need you, I told him. I need you much more than you could ever need me. I need to know what to do with my life. I want to run away, but go where and do what? I†m no hero: I can just give something small, that†s all I have to offer. It is the only way we can chip away at the myth. You-you can be bigger than anyone you have ever met † (193). This new way of thinking which discounted the centuries old myth enabled Jefferson to believe that he was not a hog, that he indeed was a man, a man who would walk with dignity to his execution. Though this may seem as a minor triumph to many, to Jefferson it meant that the angry and demeaning words of the judge had no meaning. His ability to die with dignity not only gave him peace, but it made white men pause and show respect for the man labeled the hog. At the end the white, deputy, Paul says, † â€Å"I don†t know what you†re going to say when you go back in there. But tell them he was the bravest man in that room today. I†m a witness, Grant Wiggins. Tell them so.† ‘Maybe one day you will come back and tell them so.† ‘It would be an honor† † (256). This white man wanted to make the statement so it would be powerful and would be believed by the black children sitting inside the small schoolhouse. That a white man would say it would make it true in the eyes of the children. However difficult facing death may have been, it was also empowering to Jefferson. Jefferson believed that if he could walk with dignity to his death, he would not only make his grandmother proud, but that he would also be as a strong man by the black members of his community. His last quote before dying was † ‘ â€Å"Tell Nannan I walked.† ‘And straight he walked† † (254). The last words in Jefferson†s diary share his message of courage and dignity. â€Å"good by mr wigin tell them im strong tell them im a man† (234). Jefferson died with dignity and Grant returned to Bayonne believing he could make a difference. It is not clear that religion, a belief in God, made the difference for either of them. It is clear that as they struggled with the issue of a higher power, they did discover that the meaning of their lives was not attached to the white man†s beliefs and myths, but rather came from inside themselves. To the end, they both struggled with whether or not there was a God. As they end their journey together, Jefferson is at peace and becomes a hero in his community. Though Grant cannot be a hero, he does find his place and returns to the schoolhouse with new hope and a vision for making a difference, if not for himself, for his students. He doubts himself at times, but he gains determination for his students. â€Å"Yet they must believe. They must believe, if only to free the mind, if not the body. Only when the mind is free has the body a chance to be free. Yes, they must believe. They must believe. Because I know what it means to be a slave. I am a slave† (Gaines 251)

Inside Secrets to Greeting Card Writing Revision

Inside Secrets to Greeting Card Writing Revision The legendary Emily Dickinson once stated, â€Å"A wounded deer leaps the highest.†Ã‚   The same holds true for successful greeting card writers. We constantly pour out creative ideas into verses in hopes of landing a sale, and when some of our creations receive rejection, taking a leap to revision is our wisest recourse. Greeting Card Publisher Oatmeal Studios (www.oatmealstudios.com), accepts short humorous verses that possess a punch line sure to bring a smile to the toughest consumer. Sun Day Greetings (www.sundaygreetings.com), however, is more subtle regarding humor and sentimental verse. In lieu of this, is it possible to revise a rejected verse like this: (Picture of a pretty woman sitting on a bus bench) O:   Dear friend, getting older I:   is such a bummer! Let’s try lightening this statement up to the one hundredth power! (Picture of a beautiful older woman dressed impeccably.   Her husband escorts her to the table at a restaurant.   Her husband speaks.) O:   Getting older I:   sure looks amazing on you!   Happy Birthday! Understanding what is not working and opening up your mind to telling a more interesting story are the keys to revision. Whenever a publisher requests to see samples of my work, I like to have sample verses handy that I can just cut and paste in an email like the one below: (Picture of a cat standing on two paws/the other two paws rest in a chair. A birthday cake and a bottle of champagne sit on a table near O:   Break open the bubbly! I:   And don’t forget to pour a little bit in my bowl! Happy Birthday. Try a few of your own Wordy Verses    Most people tend to wait until the last minute to shop for a birthday party or any other special occasion. Imagine a consumer in a store with only a few minutes to choose the perfect card. Consumers prefer words that have a smooth flow- a perfect rhythm. Wordy verses like â€Å"your caring loving beautiful character† and â€Å"you’re the super kindest most thoughtful angelic person I know† are simply too much to chew on, especially when you are in a rush. Publishers avoid buying wordy verses because consumers avoid them as well! Instead, aim for clarity. The Sentimental Publisher There are publishers that prefer emotional-type verses like Blue Mountain Arts (www.sps.com). I love writing these type of verses because I have so many family members and friends who invoke loving emotions within me.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Revise rejected sentimental verses List what makes the recipient unique. State feelings the recipient invokes. Explain the hopes you have for the recipient on the occasion   Ã‚   you’re celebrating. What to Do When Revisions Do Not Work If you have revised your piece with no success, keep hope alive!   Send your work to another publisher. Another pair of eyes may be just what you need to make a sale. Reach For Success According to the Greeting Card Association, the greeting card industry raked in over seven billion dollars in annual retail sales last year. That is more than enough incentive to aim high

Free Essays on A Love That Could Never Be

A Love That Could Never Be Have you ever loved someone so much, but you couldn’t be with them? In â€Å"The Scarlet Letter,† Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstrates a love that could never be with Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Since Hester was shone from a normal life in society after her acts of adultery, she could not be with the man she loved. Since Mr. Dimmesdale was the â€Å"saint on earth† (Hawthorne 251) he was also not able to show his affection towards Prynne in public or even in private. In the opening chapters we first begin to learn about Hester, but never about the man she committed adultery with. While on the scaffold the townspeople gather around her and watch as the magistrates try to convince her to tell who the man was. â€Å"Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman’s heart!†(Hawthorne 70) Hester loved this man so much she felt that it was no need for her to bring him down with her. So she stood up on the scaffold with the baby in her arms â€Å" And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!† (Hawthorne 71) Hester realizes that if she confesses the name of the man that it would not help them to be together but instead making it completely impossible. As the story progresses we learn more about the child that was born through this unholy union. â€Å"Thy heavenly Father sent thee!† (Hawthorne 102) Hester wouldn’t even reveal the name of her daughter’s father. Pearl would repeatedly ask who her father was but Hester would simply say the heavenly Father or ignore the question. She did this out of fear of the name of the man she loved getting out. If anyone in the town found out who this man was he would be ruined and so Hester would be just as miserable as she was. Pearl became the â€Å"mother’s only treasure† (Hawthorne 92) Pearl kept Hester alive and yet in some strange way punished her by reminding her of the dreaded sin that she committed. When we start to learn about Arthur Dimmesdale,... Free Essays on A Love That Could Never Be Free Essays on A Love That Could Never Be A Love That Could Never Be Have you ever loved someone so much, but you couldn’t be with them? In â€Å"The Scarlet Letter,† Nathaniel Hawthorne demonstrates a love that could never be with Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale. Since Hester was shone from a normal life in society after her acts of adultery, she could not be with the man she loved. Since Mr. Dimmesdale was the â€Å"saint on earth† (Hawthorne 251) he was also not able to show his affection towards Prynne in public or even in private. In the opening chapters we first begin to learn about Hester, but never about the man she committed adultery with. While on the scaffold the townspeople gather around her and watch as the magistrates try to convince her to tell who the man was. â€Å"Wondrous strength and generosity of a woman’s heart!†(Hawthorne 70) Hester loved this man so much she felt that it was no need for her to bring him down with her. So she stood up on the scaffold with the baby in her arms â€Å" And would that I might endure his agony, as well as mine!† (Hawthorne 71) Hester realizes that if she confesses the name of the man that it would not help them to be together but instead making it completely impossible. As the story progresses we learn more about the child that was born through this unholy union. â€Å"Thy heavenly Father sent thee!† (Hawthorne 102) Hester wouldn’t even reveal the name of her daughter’s father. Pearl would repeatedly ask who her father was but Hester would simply say the heavenly Father or ignore the question. She did this out of fear of the name of the man she loved getting out. If anyone in the town found out who this man was he would be ruined and so Hester would be just as miserable as she was. Pearl became the â€Å"mother’s only treasure† (Hawthorne 92) Pearl kept Hester alive and yet in some strange way punished her by reminding her of the dreaded sin that she committed. When we start to learn about Arthur Dimmesdale,...

BNSF Railway Transportation Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

BNSF Railway Transportation - Article Example The services offered by the industry are bulk freight, intermodal services, passenger services and switching and terminal railroad services (IBISWorld, 2011). According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation, freight shipments have increased from 27% of the ton-miles of U.S. freight in 1980 to 38% in 2005 (Laurits R. Christensen Associates, Inc., 2009). This increase shows the growing significance of the role of railways in the U.S. economy. Among the cargo being shipped through the railroads, coal represents the largest proportion in terms of tons (Laurits R. Christensen Associates, Inc., 2009). Other commodities transported by railroads include chemicals, farm products, non-metallic minerals and miscellaneous mixed shipments. Over the years, the railway industry has experienced consolidations that have reduced the number of Class I from about 40 railways to the current seven. The seven major players in the railway industry are Union Pacific Corporation (UP), Burli ngton Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNSF), CSX Corporation, Kansas City Southern (KCS), Canadian National Railway (CN), Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS). In terms of operating revenues of the major North American railroad, the Union Pacific posted the highest revenue with $15.5 million. It is followed by BNSF with operating revenue of $14.8 million, NS with $9.4 million, CSX with $8.6 million, CN with $6.8 million, CP with $4.1 million and KCS with $0.87 million (Association of American Railroads, 2008) . Porter’s Five Forces Like any other industry, the railway industry is influenced by Porter’s five forces model which shape the strategies of companies, as shown in Figure 1 (Porter, 2008). The first force identified by Porter is the threat of new entrants. This force is the possibility of new companies entering the industry. This force is not very influential in the strategy of a company in the railway industry because of several ba rriers to entry. The barriers to entry in the railroad industry are (1) huge capital requirement needed; (2) restrictive government policy which is being regulated by the Surface Transportation Board; and (3) the availability of the infrastructure needed to compete with existing ones. In the future, it is expected that mergers will continue in the future and may even reduce the present seven companies to two transcontinental railroads because of the uncertainty of the structure of the railroad industry (IRS, 2007). Fig. 1 Porter’s Five Forces Model The second force identified by Porter is the bargaining power of suppliers. Suppliers of the railway industry include the manufacturers of tracks, railway equipment, structural metal products, freight cars, locomotives and construction companies who build the tunnels and bridges. Investors in railway companies can be considered as suppliers of the much needed financing to improve the industry. Recently, billionaire Warren Buffet in vested in BNSF by buying it for $26 billion while Microsoft’s Bill Gates now owns 10% of CN railway. Investment of these two prominent personalities says much of the future of the railway industry (North America's Corridor Coalition, Inc., 2010). To illustrate clearly, the supplier power according to Porter includes (1) charging of high prices; (2) limiting the quality of the

The importance of the perception communication at work depending on Dissertation

The importance of the perception communication at work depending on the Generation X and Generation Y - Dissertation Example These diverse attitudes and principles translate differently in a workplace context, with both generations having unique values associated with what constitutes an effective and motivational business model. There are significant gaps in research literature describing what specific characteristics of a business model will motivate and inspire workers to achieve top quality performance in the job roles of Generation X and Generation Y. In most respects, knowledge on both generations tends to illustrate Generation X as an independent and headstrong generation with pre-established principles and values. In opposite accord, Generation Y is presented as more liberal, flexible, and success-minded in the organisational context. This sizeable gap in knowledge specifically includes knowledge of the importance of communications for both generations. ... 1.1 Research aims and objectives The aim of this research project is to determine the level of importance of communications in the workplace as it pertains to both generations. This is to determine if communications strategies can be an effective motivational model for both Generation X and Generation Y. This study maintains three specific objectives: Determine what actually motivates both Gen X and Gen Y in a workplace context Determine how both generations perceive communications as a motivational tool Identify proven models of motivation that have been effective in boosting performance for both Generation X and Generation Y. The study will consult with various secondary literature sources to paint a portrait of both generations, with special focus on attitudes, principles, experiences, and expectations for an organisational job role. Results of findings will be compared to a primary research project (which is described in this proposal’s methodology section) to determine wh ether communications can be considered a viable motivational model for both generations or for a single generation. The results of this study should assist in closing some of the gaps in literature that currently exists regarding motivational strategies for both generations and recommend a new model of motivation that could potentially improve business culture and strategic performance when applied to Gen X and Gen Y. The goal of the project is to create an innovation in knowledge about both generations that can provide new direction for managers in organisations that struggle with Gen X and Gen Y employees to gain top quality performance and dedication to meet strategic goals both short- and