Business Functions and Process Essay Sample free essay sample

This study is aim to present how concern maps and procedure demand to be implemented across an administration. The study will come with both academic theories and existent illustrations. Some illustrations of Tesco PLC and other companies have been chosen here to supply some good illustration of a concern running of a big international group. The study will be separated into there parts and seeking to supply more item of concern maps and procedure through different facets. External Stakeholders and the AdministrationHarmonizing to Johnson. G. Whittington. R. and Scholes. K. ( 2011 ) . stakeholders play of import regulations in a administration. particularly a big administration because there are different outlooks. even confliction between those stakeholders in a administration. Stakeholders can be divided into four types sing to their relationships to the administration and how can they impact the whole administration. These four types of external stakeholders are: Economic stakeholders. Social/Political stakeholders. Technological stakeholders and Community stakeholders. We will write a custom essay sample on Business Functions and Process Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Figure 1 shows clearly what the relationship between them and an administration. ( Figure 1 ) To place these of import stakeholders. stakeholder function is one of the best attack for an administration to place their ain stakeholder. Figure 2 is an illustration of external stakeholders function of E. ON Energy. which identify the stakeholders of this administration. ( Figure 2 ) Stakeholders can play different functions in different countries within a administration. They can besides do influence on these countries. the undermentioned parts will specifically explicate the influence of stakeholders. SustainabilityExternal stakeholders can do influence on the sustainability of an administration. when a administration doing a concern determination. Nowadays sustainability is going more and more of import in our life. Not merely authoritiess sing sustainability. but besides big administrations and even local abode sing sustainability. Briedenhann. J. ( 2011 ) introduced that bequest and sustainability going more and more of import for big featuring events such as the FIFA World Cup. and these determinations are influence by external stakeholders such as the authorities and local abode. In the instance survey of Tesco PLC. the administration is executing good in the planetary market harmonizing to the sustainability. With the influence of different political groups ( external stakeholders ) . Tesco PLC make a zero-carbon preparation academy in South Korea. The administration is recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project as a top retail merchant in the universe. This is because the company has follow the influence of external stakegholders and made large parts to the sustainability. Furthermore. the administration besides decide to come on towards on this aims and traget themselves being a zero-carbon concern by 2050. ( Tesco PLC. 2011 ) GlobalizationEconomic stakeholders are the cardinal participants for a big retail company when the administration is covering globalization issues. Globalisation is a world-wide motion on economic. finance. trading and communications ( BusinessDictionary. 2013 ) . This means globalization is extremely related to the fiscal activities. so it is no uncertainty that economic stakeholders will do large impacts on globalization issues for a international trading company. As a retail company. Tesco PLC has their concern across the whole universe. During the concern procedure in different states. the company is really making different schemes to run into the demands of local economic stakeholders related to their civilization and devouring wonts. For illustration Tesco PLC opende a batch of 24 hours Tesco Express in the East China to run into the demands of consumers want to purchase things 24 hours while in America they provide supermarkets with organic. fresh and high quality nutrient. Th e scheme determination and concern advancement is extremely affected by the economic stakeholders in globalization is because the chief aim for most international concern companies is to general income. Corporate Social ResponsibilityHarmonizing to Johnson. G. Whittington. R. and Scholes. K. ( 2011 ) . â€Å"Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR ) is the committedness by administrations to ‘behave ethically and lend to economic development while bettering the quality of life of the work force and their households every bit good as the local community and society at large† . Although the chief aim of an international concern company should be general income and net income. but CSR is going a cardinal portion for a big administration. While covering with CSR issues. Social/Political stakeholders such as local communities. consumers can do large impacts on the determination devising. The of import thing for CSR is to fulfill the the clients particularly they are local communities. Tesco PLC made a good illustration in Asia on CSR. They company help the local community to cover with the inundation in Thailand. Staffs work hard to present the basic life demands to the local communities and the company had donated about ?500. 000 to the local community which won high assessment from the local community. To really see the external societal shareholders and do benefit for them is one of the most of import things is concern procedure now for a big administration. DiversenessDiverseness comes from different parts and different degrees in an administration. Diverseness on determination devising can go on rather frequently when the administration is large. When a administration has junior direction degrees and senior direction degrees. sometimes diverseness might go on ( Johnson. G. Whittington. R. and Scholes. K. . 2011 ) . The diverseness may do by different experience and the experience may come from external stakeholders. For illustration technological stakeholders may make new engineering or solution manner for a big company. but it is the right of the company to make up ones mind if they are using new engineering to their company. usually. diverseness come due to there ground when internal stakeholders doing determinations. For illustration. diverseness might go on when Tesco PLC was make up ones minding utilizing on-line shopping systems or smartphone application for the company to general more income or heighten client experience. It is apprehensible and true that external stakeholders will hold impact on determination devising when diverseness happened. but the best manner to decide this job is to heighten the communicating between internal stakeholders and seek to hold unite in the administration. Business InventionTechnology traveling fast in modern society. new concern theoretical account and engineering comes out every twelvemonth. External stakeholders are the best mention for a administration to reexamine on the company and to do determination on the concern inventions. To do concern inventions. selling probe must be done before lunching the service or new merchandises. In this phase. external stakeholders are the ideal mark to be investigated. For big bowls. societal stakeholders such as local abode can act upon on the events could be taken on in the bowl. For international retail companies. the consumer wonts can assist the company to make new concern tools and services. Internet plays indispensable portion in people’s life. on-line food market of Tesco PLC gives people more connivence and new types of shopping experience which now seems like a normal manner. Social media for big retail store helps the company to acquire feedback from their clients every bit shor tly as possible and to do reaction on it. External stakeholders help a company to garner information rapidly and make concern invention rapidly and besides acquire reactions rapidly by utilizing suited manner. CreativityCreativity involves in the production of anything utile Mumford. M. D. ( 2003 ) . and besides creativeness can besides be defined as original and worthwhile. For an administration. creativeness is non merely refers to the physique up on a new merchandise or new service. it can besides mention to a internal solution of a company. To hold creativeness. external stakeholders will do large part. As economic stakeholders. stockholders and capital providers will supply the indispensable capital or fund that are available for a creativeness. With the support of capital. the squad will hold more opportunity to do new merchandises or services. Political stakeholders such as the administration organic structures besides help on creativeness. A new policy can assist assortment companies to make a macro-environment on creativeness. With a macro-environment on creativeness. more opportunity of creativeness will go on sing to the challenging in the same industry. Consumers as external st akeholders besides stimulate creativeness because big corporate brand creativeness to run into the consumers’ demands and to acquire the mark of general income. Different external stakeholder dramas different regulations in creativeness for a concern procedure. but in all they all aid. Enterprise DevelopmentEnterprise Development is a big building for either a little company or a big international administration. An endeavor development is based on assortment facet within the administration such as merchandises and service. human resource direction. recruiting. public assistance and so on. These development are internal developments. but they are mentioning to external activities. With the aid of political stakeholders. new policy for endeavor which helps the running of the company can be made. This is a chances but is besides a menace because the rivals as external stakeholders can besides acquire benefits from the policy. The development on corporation civilization will gave consumers as external shareholders positive impact if the civilization is wellness and exciting. Recruiting and public assistance of the company is rely on the net income of the company. The net income is coming form consumers. so really the running of the company can impact the internal dete rmination devising. So to reason. endeavor development is an internal activity and processed within the company. but this activity and procedure on determination devising is really rely one the external shareholders. Knowledge of ManagementA wellness and sustainable running of a company can non populate with out the cognition of direction of senior direction degrees of a company. Because the external environment is altering all the clip. so the cognition of direction should be updated all the clip excessively. For illustration. the attending on wellness and safety for consumers is upgrading all the clip these old ages. These requires the direction degree to hold latest cognition on this to keep the repute of the company. To understand the market. can besides assist the direction degree to utilizing latest cognition to pull off the staff and to supply better merchandises or service to the populace. And moreover. the changing of policy will mostly impact the cognition of direction because some large alterations on policy particularly in different states will impact the cardinal construct of a company and the senior direction degree might utilize a wholly different pull offing accomplishments to pul l off the company. The cognition of direction demands to be up to day of the month all the clip and all the alterations must mention to the external environment. Hazard ManagementRisk direction is an indispensable portion for a company to avoid unneeded cost and to do unneeded dangers. A full hazard direction will hold different parts such as hazard appraisal. eventuality program and exigency action. These hazard directions tools some are internal related and some are external related. But most of them are mentioning to external stakeholders. For illustration hazard appraisal needs to see what action would go on for external stakeholders. Is the policy shapers will alter the policy? How the economic system will impact the running of the company. When puting eventuality program. what alterations will convey to the external shareholders and what contemplation will the company get from the external shareholders back must be considered to make up ones mind if the eventuality program is utile or non. For big retail groups. when insolvents happened. the exigency program must see the benefit or lost of the consumers. And besides a fast-reaction a ex igency state of affairs will impact on the consumers. to go forth positive feedback signifier these external shareholders will keep the consciousness of the company. Operation in Business ProcessHarmonizing to Russell. R. and Taylor. B ( 2006 ) . operation direction was defined should be systematic and do the procedure of the operation more efficient. fundamentally. operation direction is linked with all necessary activities during the design. develop and procedure of a merchandise or a service that could be consume by the consumers. Operation direction is everyplace in the concern. Several facets in the concern starry can be considered here in operation direction. Operation Management and AimsFirst. signifier concern nonsubjective points of position. operation direction is of import. Business aims should be SMART and besides can be separate to hard and soft aims. Hard aims are ever mensurable. quantitative and nonsubjective and soft aims are ever not mensurable. qualitative and subjective. Operation direction related aims can be found in serval sections of a big concern administration. In finance. operation direction should concentrate on the return on investing ( ROI ) because ROI should be one of the chief aims of a company on their future determination devising. In footings of selling. operation direction should concentrate on their clients. The clients demands decide the company’s aim. Operation direction of client will including day-to-day concern activities with clients besides including the client service. One of the indispensable portion of operation direction in selling clients is excessively enhance or keep the quality of the merchandises or service of the company. For illustration Tesco PLC provide good 24 hours services in China and supply high quality and organic nutrient in America. On the production of the merchandises or services. operation direction should concentrate on the efficiency and the effectivity of the work. As when the operation is efficient and effectual. the company can salvage adequate money on the bring forthing of the service and merchandises. Form internal stakeholders points of position such as staff and employees of the company. operation direction should concentrate on the use. preparation and development of the people in the administration. Human resource direction is portion of the operation direction in an administration. The use of the employees can make high production of the work while with proper preparation of the employee can besides heighten the efficiency of an administration. Development of human resource and convey new operation thoughts or solution to the administration which besides will do the work more productive. Tesco PLC create academy in Korea to heighten the operation direction is a good instance survey on how to educate the current staff and possible employees foe the company and to do them accommodate the administration more and make productiveness for t he employers. Environment is going more and more of import for a company on their nonsubjective devising particularly for those big international companies as they provide services and merchandises worldwide and making concern in there different states. Operation in environmental issues should concentrate on the local policy or ordinances to maximize the impact of the operation. Furthermore. the operation direction of environment should non merely concentrate on the external environmental issues such and sustainability of the society or the protection of the environment. The operation should besides pay more attending on those intangible environmental issues inside the administration. The internal environmental issues can be more complex. The internal operation on environment can be the on the job civilization of the administration such as developing employee the administration civilization. it can besides be the internal communicating between section. Operation Management and Strategy ProcessOperation direction besides involved in the scheme procedure of the administration. Administration has their ain scheme on concern determination. Scheme can be divided into short-run scheme. medium-term scheme and long-run scheme. The operation direction of scheme procedure needs to do certain the running of the administration is on the path. The usage of operation direction is to do right way for the company to accomplish those schemes. The operation should be up to day of the month because the external environment is altering harmonizing to the demands of external stakeholders. For illustration the policy changing may impact the long-run scheme of a company. One of the good apply of operation direction in scheme procedure is to do tactic to run into the demands of short-run scheme. Besides to make policy and follow policy and ordinances is besides of import. Strategy comes form day-to-day operational degree to the corporate degree. To use an d do right scheme determination is what the administration needs in operation direction. Operation Management and ImplementationOperation direction has assortment processing phases. These phases including planning. and commanding. and most significantly. it is about implementing the operation direction to the administration. There are few things should be considered when implementing the operation direction. First. the execution of the operation direction should be realistic. The aim and the running should non be excessively ambitious. It is easy to put up different aims and operation ways for an administration. but non all of them is easy to implement and suitable for a administration. So be realistic is one thing when making operation direction. When runing a company. the leader or the determination shaper should be hardheaded. Because operation is the bosom of an administration. the direction should be really consecutive on mark. To be hardheaded is to do certain the undertakings are completed on clip and will non impact the running of the administration. But it can b e argument that the human resource direction can besides be soft. Because a hardheaded type direction is non suited for all the employees in the administration. So to do certain all the undertakings are acquire done on clip and in a good quality. utilizing assortment ways or direction to different types of people is indispensable. Diversity in a administration in the thing should be considered in the operation particularly in big international companies. Peoples who work in a international company may coming from different counties and in different instruction background. To do certain to apportion suited undertakings for people who can manage them can give the operation more flexibleness and makes the operation more smooth and efficient. Harmonizing to Muhlemann et Al. ( 1994 ) there are 5 p’s should be focused in operational undertakings which are: Merchandise. Plant. Process. Programmes and People. And harmonizing to Brown et Al ( 2001 ) there are 4P’s of operational undertakings which are Policy. Practice. Performance and Process. They all mentioned the importance of procedure in operation direction. The undertakings of operation direction is related to both internal stakeholders and external stakeholder. For illustration. The merchandises needs to run into the demands of consumers. the works of the undertaking is depends on the internal stakeholder such as employees. The undertaking made upon policy is under the affect of authorities policy and ordinance or internal policy. The public presentation indicate the degree of the market which is besides a good index when the administration is making rival analysis. There are besides 5E’s in the operation direction which are: Economy. Efficiency. Effectiveness. Equity and Ethics. The equity of operation is more about the human resource direction in the administration while the the moralss are more about the end product of the the operation. The moralss of an administration can be a large opinion when external stakeholders measuring the administration. Consumers will act upon by the moralss of the administration when devouring the merchandises or service while the stockholders will make up ones mind if the investing is deserving or non justice by the moralss public presentation of the administration. For illustration presents more and more administration are willing to carry through the Corporate Social Responsibility. A big international retail merchant company such as Tesco shows that they are assisting the local community and protect the environment will hold high assessment on the CSR. When consumers devouring. they find out the company is really give back what they earn organize the consumers to them. they might willing to devour at Tesco more. When more consumers consume more. the investors will happen the company has more possible on growing so they are willing to put more. This refers that the one operation motion has butterfly consequence on the undermentioned motion and the result of the operation direction. To reason all . it shows that each nexus between the operation direction are all linked together and all the undertaking can hold impact to the external stakeholders and all of them a indispensable and of import. Operation Management as a Transformation ProcedureOperation as the most of import portion of the administration. the cardinal portion of the operation direction is to transform inputs into end products of greater value. In the transmutation procedure. several cardinal points should be considered: Adding Value in the Transformational Procedure The transformational procedure is more like a transition procedure. it is doing something into another signifier of type of things. For illustration. the input can bu stuffs. and the end product can be existent merchandises or the input can be human and the end product can be the service. The feature of this transition monetary values is to add value into the input and bring forth merchandises or services with more value on it. It can be besides described as to maximize the value of something. When making this transition procedure. Several points need to be considered. First is the efficiency of the procedure. When adding value into something. the occupation must be efficiency. The value of the end products should be equal or more than the the amount of the inputs. This means the procedure is really working and add more value into the input. Second. the value adding should be effectivity. The end product should be impressive to the populace and receive positive feedback from the populace. For illustration new engineering can change over simple stuffs into high engineering merchandises and lead high devouring on this merchandises. This transformational proces is successful because the effectivity. Third. the value adding should use the administration resources. To do the value adding. the procedure needs capacity such as machinery. money as capital. people who work on it and stuffs. When the administration has use of the resource. the opportunity to add value in the procedure is bigger because this is a cardinal portion of the procedure and there no 100 % opportunity to do certain that the procedure will add value. but these are indispensable. Finally. the transformational procedure should understate the cost. To supply more value of the end product. the procedure should salvage as much costs as possible. With possible salvaging in the procedure. the whole operation di rection cane be more sustainable. Different signifiers of Transformational Process As there are assortment types of concern. the transformational procedure can hold different signifiers. Physical transmutation are ever seen in the fabrication operations which is change overing stuffs into merchandises. Locational transmutation are ever seen in the transit or warehouse operations. This is an activity ever seen in logistic operation. Exchange transmutation are ever seen in retail operation. Furthermore. in wellness attention service. physiological transmutation are ever seen and psychological transmutation are ever seen in the amusement. Informational transmutation can be found in communicating. Both psychological transmutation and informational transmutation are intangible transmutation procedure. Operation Management and Operation ActivitiesThe operation direction including assortment activities. several activities can be listed here. Forming work. this needs the operation director to good organize the undertakings can do certain they are on the path. Choosing procedure needs the operation directors to understand the precedence of the undertaking and choosing suited things to make on the right clip. Arranging layouts ever seen in some event forming. the operation directors need to plan and set up the layout of the locale to maximize the end product. Locating installations can been seen in some logistic work. or a big administration with different installations. Planing occupations should allow the operation directors to utilizing their apprehension on the staff and attempt to apportion the best occupation for them. Measuring public presentation is a measuring activities on the end product. Controlling quality is a cardinal activity in all concern sectors. Scheduling work is e ver aboard with the occupation planing which besides need the apprehension or work for operation directors. There are a batch of more activities can be found in operation. to conclue. operation is about everything and making everything everyplace. Other Important Business FunctionsBusiness maps are non merely operation direction. there are other things can be considered in concern map which can add value to the external stakeholders. In these portion. few more concern maps will be discussed here to supply more accounts. Selling as Business FunctionTo run a concern. it is essencial to understand the current market of the administration and understand the external stakeholders demands. Selling as a cardinal concern map will assist the administration to understand the current state of affairs of the merchandises and service to heighten the quality of what they provide or provide new merchandises or values to the clients. To understand what sort of added value should be provide. foremost he organisation needs to understand what they needs. Harmonizing to the 5p’s theory of Marketing. Product. Price. Topographic point. Promotion and Peoples are the cardinal parts of the selling. A good merchandise launch should include a sensible monetary value for the mark market. presented and prompted in suited topographic points to suited people. When the aiming a selling. one thing can be missed. Harmonizing to Johnson. G. Whittington. R. and Scholes. K. ( 2011 ) . market sagement should be considered in a se lling run. Market sagement as external stakeholders. which is a group of consumers who have similar demands as other consumers but besides have different demands in other markets is besides need to be considered. As the selling should concentrate on all thing possible purchasers of the company’s merchandises or services. To cover with market. both general wants form the clients and specific wants from the clients should be considered. A selling program refers the external stakeholder analysis. The added value delivered organize the selling can be more intangible such the thought of the merchandises or a life manner that could be adopted by the consumers. For illustration Tesco provides and marketing recycle shopping bags for the consumers. This sort of actions are really supplying life manners for the people. Or the particular Red Edition of Apple iPod is seeking to convey the thought or people who have HIV. This is besides some intangible added value that the administration can supply t o the external stakeholders. HRM as Business FunctionHuman Resource Management ( HRM ) as a concern map is ever considered as a map or concern tool to cover with internal stakeholders within the company. It is non doubt that HRM is more about pull offing people in the administration. but when a company can pull off the employee good and can work out struggle inside the company. the company can be more productive and efficient. As it was discuss in the operation direction portion. the internal operation direction on people should be efficient and effectiveness. Different people in the administration should be treated otherwise to gauge their maximal power and made them to do more part to the administration. When the company salvage money on unneeded costs on other things. the company can pass more on supplying best merchandise with added value to the clients. A good pull offing manner of an administration can besides convey added value to other administration as external stakeholders. Other administrations in other concern or even same concern can follow a successful theoretical account of a company can use on their ain employees. Furthermore. a successful HRM can convey high efficiency on the internal communications. This will allow the employees more understand the construct and merchandises or service of the company. When employees particularly staff who working in retailing company covering with clients. they can supply more information about the merchandises or services to the clients which will heighten the opportunity of purchasing merchandises or utilizing services. Although HRM is more focal point on the internal direction. but it do conveying added values to the external stakeholders. Finance as Business FunctionFiance study is a cardinal index of an administration. There are several external stakeholders of an administration. each of them will hold added value brought by the administration. For illustration investors and their advisors can reexamine how much benefits they have gor organize the company by merely reexamine the one-year finance study of the company. The employees and their representation groups bring added value direct to their company which means indirectly they bring added values to the stockholders of the company. Lenders can acquire added values from the company if the company operate good and maintain healthy running every twelvemonth. Suppliers and other trade payables provide merchandises or service to the administration will acquire net income from an administration. with good nexus with a company. they might acquire added values such as committedness or long-run contracts from the administration which decidedly are added value to them. Customers are one of the bulk income of an administration. The administration relies on the client to convey income to the company. Customers can acquire added value through finance such as reappraisal the finance study for the administration. These added value can be intangible such as the the trust on the administration or trade name trueness to the administration as the company demoing healthy running on finance. A good finance study makes client experience the company is dependable and experience safe from them. Governments and their bureaus can reexamine the execution of their policy through reappraisal the finance study. The company make finance part to the local economic system and besides convey added values such as occupation chance and concern chance to other concern in the regional countries through fiscal activities. Decision Stakeholders and concern activities are ever linked together. Business map aid the administration in good operation and convey benefits to the administration. Different concern map and procedure demand to be integrated and implemented across the whole administration. To understand the running of concern maps. what added value can concern map and procedure bring to the administration and stakeholders is of import. Furthermore. to understand how administrations can act upon stakeholders and how external stakeholders can act upon the concern procedure of the administration is besides really of import. A good direction demands strategic determination doing on each subdivisions in the administration. besides the administration needs strategic monitoring and controlling of the administration. Troubles will go on in the operation direction of a administration. to undertand and use declaration and theory into the work will assist the administration to decide job and do the procedure of the c oncern on a healthy manner. Mention Briedenhann. J. ( 2011 ) . Economic and Tourism Expectations of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – A Resident Perspective. . Journal of Sport A ; Tourism Vol. 16. No. 1. February 2011. pp. 5–32 Brown. S. . Bessant. J. . Jones. P A ; Lamming. R. . ( 2005 ) Strategic Operations Management. Butterworth-Heinemann. BusinessDictionary ( 2013 ) . Globalisation. [ on-line ] . Availablefrom: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. businessdictionary. com/definition/globalization. hypertext markup language [ Access 24th Jan 2013 ] E. ON ( 2013 ) . Stakeholders. [ on-line ] . Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. eon-foldgaz-trade. com/en/engagement/stakeholders [ Access 24th Jan 2013 ] Johnson. G. Whittington. R. and Scholes. K. ( 2011 ) . Researching Strategy Ninth Edition. Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Mumford. M. D. ( 2003 ) . Where have we been. where are we traveling? Taking stock in creativeness research. Creativity Research Journal. 15. 107–120. Russell. R. and Taylor. B. ( 2006 ) . Operations Management: Quality and Competitiveness in a Global Environment. 5th Edition. John Wiley A ; Sons. Hoboken. Tesco PLC ( 2012 ) . â€Å"Our Strategy† [ online ] . Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. tescoplc. com/index. asp? pageid=97 [ Access 9th Devember 2012 ] Tesco PLC ( 2012 ) . â€Å"Financial Performance† [ online ] . Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. tescoplc. com/index. asp? pageid=29 [ Access 9th Devember 2012 ] Tesco PLC ( 2012 ) . â€Å"Annual Report† [ online ] . Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. tescoplc. com/files/pdf/reports/tesco_annual_report_2012. pdf [ Access 9th Devember 2012 ] Tesco PLC ( 2012 ) . â€Å"Annual Report Chinese† [ online ] . Available from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www. tescoplc. com/files/reports/ar2012/files/pdf/tesco_annual_report_2012_chi. pdf [ Access 9th Devember 2012 ]

Beef industry in Australia

Beef industry in Australia Introduction The beef industry is the biggest agricultural activity in Australia. Moreover, it is the second biggest beef exporter after Brazil internationally. Every state and territory of Australia sustains breeding of cattle in an extensive scope of climates.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Beef industry in Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Australian â€Å"small population means that consumption is low, which allows Australia to export a significant volume of beef each year mainly to Korea, the US, and Japan, while cattle production in the country covers a region of more than 200 million hectares† (Hammond 2006, p.190). The beef industry in Australia achieved an advantage following the detection of BSE (mad cow disease) in Japan, Canada, and the US, since Australia is without the disease. Contrary to breeding systems in different parts of the globe, cattle in Australia feed on pasture as the chief source of food (Bell et al. 2011). The aim of this analysis is to assess the beef industry in Australia, find opportunities, and threats, and recommend ways to better the industry. The beef industry in Australia encounters several challenges like increasing salinity, vegetation control, and degradation of soil among other internal and external factors. The execution of the recommendation practices could necessitate reaction to particular subjects. In degraded regions, re-vegetation could help, or a modification in farming method. This paper discusses the analysis of the industry and recommends ways to reduce emanating threats. Industry analysis At a domestic strategy stage, the macroeconomic as well as the regulatory environment might have a powerful impact on factors of competitiveness of the industry. Domestically, macroeconomic strategy could have an impact on input costs courtesy of its influence on several aspects, for instance, rate of interest and inflation. Worldwide, macroeconomic strategy could have an impact on real exchange rate. A broad range of other environmental factors may affect the effectiveness of the industry.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Environmental factors that are likely to result in failure or success of the beef industry in Australia are the ones that affect transport, processing, and communication systems as well as the ones that affect access to information and innovation. For the beef industry, the chief primary resource is land for grazing. In the entire land limitation, competition from other farm animals (Dairy industry), crops (cotton and horticulture industry), and non-agricultural activities is crucial (George et al. 2009). The beef industry in Australia encounters great competition from South America in markets like Canada and Korea. Brazil stands as the leading exporter of beef in the world and the second major beef producer following the US. The beef industry in Brazil has grown powerfully in the last decade, with production rising by 36 per cent to 9 million tonnes in year 2009. Over the same period, exports have rose at a much quicker rate, rising by 227 per cent to 1.6 million tonnes. The sturdy growth of the beef industry in Brazil has been the outcome of significant new venture in infrastructure and cattle breeds, which is anticipated to promote growth in the near future. The beef industry in Brazil has a powerful competitive level in international markets where it has access, mainly due to its cheaper cost arrangement. Distress concerning foot-and-mouth disease in several provinces in Brazil has affected the export capacity of Brazilian beef (Ferraz Felà ­cio 2010). Presently, Brazil does not compete with Australia for beef export to Korea, the US, and Japan owing to its foot-and-mouth disease risk. However, if the beef industry in Australia were to spread out it s presence to other markets, mainly in Russia, the Middle East, and Asia it could encounter considerable rivalry from Brazil.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Beef industry in Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More India ranks as the third major veal meat and beef exporter after Brazil and Australia. Supplies from the United States’ beef industry could augment with more animals being slaughtered after a drought. Exports from the beef industry in India might make Australia struggle to capture a decent allocation of mushrooming new markets. India, which is one of the most densely inhabited and vegetarian country, witnessed 21 per cent augment in beef production from 2000 and possesses a 63 million head cattle (judge against 26m of Australia). Beside additional beefed up export rivals like Brazil, New Zealand, and the US, India plans to aim rising close markets with mounting victory in a period of five years . As the number of inhabitants in South East Asia is probable to rise by over 32 million people in the next three years, it marks the escalating competition that the Australian beef industry will encounter in supplying these thriving markets. In accordance with Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), beef exports are already tilted to decrease due to intensifying export competition as well as more local cattle existing for slaughter. In accordance with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APFPEDA), buffalo meat symbolised 86 of the total exports from animal products in 2011. The major markets for buffalo meat from India are the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. In the aforementioned markets, Australia receives stiff competition owing to the demand of buffalo meat (Kandeepan et al. 2010).Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More PESTEL analysis Political and Legal The majority of Asian nations are open to trade but a number of these nations safeguard their farmers with none closed to Australian beef (save for Burma and Korea) and thus tariffs are normally enforced to Australia at rates similar to those of competitors like the US. Nation obligations are stern in various cases (for instance Japan and Indonesia) but Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) impose an authorisation structure for meat export, where the entire meat has to be certified by a supervisor to be allowed to leave the nation, thus guarding the industry (Nederveen Dasgupta 2009). Procedurally, every Asian nation (apart from the abovementioned), have related import systems, there exists traders in Australia operating in every Asian market. China necessitates traceability, initially a market locked to non-incorporated meat-works. Requirement ordered that they start their market, and as a result can export if the record of the bod y is traced to a China-endorsed abattoir. Economic In terms of economic aspects, Asia can be split into strata as shown below: Developed: Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan Newly developed: Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea High potential: Malaysia, India, China, Vietnam, and Indonesia Developing: North Korea, Burma, and Cambodia Resemblances in Asia comprise wet markets, rising hotel industry, restaurants, and recently started supermarket chains. Every major nation has a rising hotel sector, with numerous foreign dollars originating from tourism and business voyage. There is also a growing domestic dollar obtained from the beef industry also (McSweeney Rayner 2011). The hotel business marked the initial point through which Australian meat got into the majority of Asian markets, instigated by a few distributors, who bought from traders as well as directly. The stride that followed is through the restaurant industries. With respect to general economic climate, recent years have witne ssed noteworthy fluctuations in prices of products and more so beef, cereals, and dairy products. Even as the international economy is going through a phase of uproar owing to a mixture of unpleasant aspects, the prospects for agricultural products on international markets are however promising. Increasing population, better living standards and varying nutritional patterns, mainly in Asia, are all causal factors of higher food demand (Cullen Parboteeah 2009). With their scale of function and cheap production charges, the beef industry in South America carries an actual threat to Australian producers, if permitted free access to European Union markets. Current developments (such as production restrains and export limitations) in conjunction with future revenue growth, mostly in Brazil, are possible to reduce that threat to some extent. Social With regard to social aspects, Asians are famous for being social diners; therefore, the restaurant business in Asia is much more varied and significant as compared to the west. The cultural practices of the Asians in many nations dictate, to some extent, the significance of ‘face’ that is most simply achieved via the dinner habits. Australian red meat is indubitably prevalent in these social occasions and thus considerably contributing to the growth of the beef industry in Australia (Peters et al. 2010). Levels of education are still extensively diverse in Asia; however, food education as well as teaching of chefs is most appropriate to this study. Cooks and chefs in Asia are habitually trained in western ways of cooking, but still a lot of work requires to be done in teaching the food-service sectors the advantages of a wider-variety of products. Technological Asia still differs outrageously in technological developments. China forms an excellent instance of the whole region with cities at the coastal regions competing with the US and Australia with respect to telecommunications, accessibility and affordab ility of expertise, and the application of personal computers, while interior provinces worsen in the accessibility of technology in uneven relationship to economic affluence, which decreases as we shift far from the coasts. Likewise, as technology compares to economic prosperity, so too does the use of imported Australian meat, and its accessibility. Since the Asian ports in China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam are capable of handling refrigerated, containerised consignment, and present appropriate cold-chain support for delivery of the product, expertise makes it achievable and inexpensive for the supply of Australian beef product in coastal regions. The coastal areas are as well the regions of highest economic development and trade, and thus requirement for meat products, which in most instances are not available in high sufficient number or quality locally (Hammond 2006). The same case applies to the inland. Environmental With regard to Climate Change, Austra lia supports the objectives concurred in 2007 by the Heads of State and Government at Spring European Council and the European Union package on Climate Change and Energy Security (CCES) concurred in 2008. It has as well been consented that the European Union target will augment to a decrease of 30 per cent in the occasion of a global accord on CCES arrived at in Copenhagen in 2009. The projections in 2012 â€Å"estimate that emissions in Australia are probable to bear averaged 575 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent each year† (Keating et al. 2010, p. 108). In a bid to attain total emissions target in Australia of a 5 per cent decrease on 2000 levels by 2020, the country encounters an abatement hardship of 155 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2020. Due to the carbon pricing method at hand, the net emissions of Australia are planned to be restricted to 537 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2020 and 396 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2030 (derived from t otal 2020 and 2050 targets of Australia). The mechanism is the way through which Australia will achieve its greenhouse gas emissions decrease targets (Browne et al. 2011). While study in this area is in progress, it is obvious that the attainment of Australia’s target offers an alarming challenge. SWOT Analysis Strengths Australia has almost total sickness free status Australia boasts the world’s lowest standing for Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), normally called mad cow disease. Additionally, Australia is mainly free of foot and mouth disease and has no major sicknesses Availability of latest research, innovations, and technology Geographically Australia is gainful as is near Asia while all present competitors are on the opposite side of the world Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and AQIS imposed minimum values are quite thorough, as each piece of meat exported has to be allowed by AQIS (Pelle 2007). This aspect leads to high quality and reliable product that is essentially certified to be safe, indirectly, by the government of Australia Process and quarantine recognised internationally The Australian beef industry enjoys unrestricted access to all markets Proficient (mainly unguarded) production due to good surroundings, first rate capital and practices Weaknesses Costly land, labour costs, and production that bring about high pricing These elements make it difficult to compete with other countries exporting at lower costs (Keating et al. 2010) Depends on the environment as well as climate, which are both not constant in Australia Short of premium representation in some countries, thus in a number of markets Australian meat is a product, and pricing floats consequently The beef industry is itself is exposed to world pricing The industry is potentially affected by increasing oil prices Unguarded industry Susceptible to (particularly) the United States product when competing Opportunities Chefs from Australia have an opportunity to teach the Asians on making use of Australian product For Singapore, the sub-continent, and Malaysia certification is simply made, the majority of export plants are purely Muslim Kill. A niche requirement in Asia Geographic closeness leaves Australia beneficial against hardening import obligations For instance, three month requirement by Indonesia (Keating et al. 2010) Simple for trade contact, and for customers to draw closer and visit To more develop on the hygienic and green representation, Asians consideration for Australian meat and beef products, likely cultural resemblance for conducting business in Asia Effortlessness of production in Australia provides itself to Difficult nation and commercial obligation Supply for the Asian preferences like both grain as well as grass fed Free Trade Agreement with Singapore, dialogues for Malaysia, China, and Japan that will persuade importers to turn to Australia. International food chains like Mcdonalds tha t support source of their beef as a business point Opportunity as a supply of labour (guest employees) for the Australian beef industry Rising prosperity, boosted intra-continental tourism, and accessibility by visitors for hotel business, increased revenue for purchasing foreign products for local consumption (Keating et al. 2010) Threats Asians could sign Free Trade Agreements with the US and South America that eliminate Australia Likely threat from China, rising production of beef and sheep, and exporting Red meat is not in line with the Kyoto protocol The US competing harder to regain markets like Japan and Korea (Nelson 2009) When it gets over disease setbacks, South America might enter a lot of Asian nations A great workload goes to the beef industry in Australia to major on the external environmental opportunities and find ways of reducing and eliminating negative external and internal environmental threats for it to maintain a leading and thriving status. Failure to do so could cause the progressive decrease in effectiveness of the beef industry (Pethick et al. 2011). Currently, the beef industry has shown a readiness to react. The greatest challenge will be to deal with the effects of change. Strategy Recommendations The major environment associated recommendations of the strategic plan exclusively involve the requirement for better grazing methods and additional on-farm land administration policies (Verbeke et al. 2010). The aims of these strategies should focus at: Attaining noteworthy developments in efficiency and natural supply sustainability pointers through advanced grazing and other administrational strategies Decreasing and reversing the effect of land and water deprivation on the beef industry through proper cultivation and grazing techniques. These can be copied from other well performing nations like Brazil Satisfying the expectations of the society by adopting practices for the water as well as land management The beef industry in Au stralia is a rural industry encountering several developing and growing environmental hardships. The challenges are inevitable, as the industry uses land resources. The increasing salinity, vegetation control and soils matters should be taken through assessments of the impacts that the beef industry has on broader landscape practices. The implementation of recommended practices could necessitate development to react to regionally particular subjects and to emerging subjects. In a number of the more poorly degraded regions, re-vegetation could be needed, or at the extremely best, a modification in farming method (Verbeke et al. 2010). The modifications adopted should be established by the degradation happening. Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) should carry out a Producer Instigated Research and Development (PIRD) plan to satisfy the beef industrys demand for better producer participation in research and development. In line with this plan, MLA can source finances to fund producers sufficiently with a project aimed at bettering the effectiveness and productivity of their farm business through the necessary research and development (Keating et al. 2010). These researches could look at ways of reducing cost of production in a bid to lower cost of the product and satisfactorily compete with countries like the US who offer cheap beef products. Additionally, the research could seek to achieve Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions decrease targets and ensure unchanging climatic conditions. Conclusion The beef industry is the leading agricultural activity in Australia in addition to the country being the second biggest beef exporter after Brazil, globally. Cattle production in Australia makes use of an area of above 200 million hectares. The industry encounters a number of challenges like escalating salinity, vegetation control, and degradation of soil amid other internal and external factors. Besides the challenges, the industry is bestowed with opportunities such as being free of disease and geographic nearness to its markets in Asia. Among other recommendations, financing research and development, re-vegetation, and a modification in farming method could help eliminate threats and ensure that the beef industry in Australia maintains a leading status. Reference List Bell, A, Charmley, E, Hunter, R Archer, J 2011, ‘The Australasian beef industries- Challenges and opportunities in the 21st century’, Animal Frontiers, vol. 1 no. 2, pp. 10-19. Browne, N, Eckard, R, Behrendt, R Kingwell, R 2011, ‘A comparative analysis of on-farm greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural enterprises in south eastern Australia’, Animal Feed Science and Technology, vol. 166 no. 1, pp. 641-652. Cullen, J Parboteeah, P 2009, International Business: Strategy and the Multinational Company, Routledge, London. Ferraz, J Felà ­cio, P 2010, ‘Production systems–An example from Brazil’, Meat Science, vol. 84 no. 2, pp. 238-243. George, D, Clewett, J, Birch, C, Wright, A Allen, W 2009, ‘A professional development climate course for sustainable agriculture in Australia’, Environmental Education Research, vol. 15 no. 4, pp. 417-441. Hammond, K 2006, ‘Breeding strategies for the development of the Australian beef industry: An overview’, Animal Production Science, vol. 46 no. 2, pp. 183-198. Kandeepan, G, Anjaneyulu, A, Kondaiah, N Mendiratta, S 2010, ‘Quality of buffalo meat keema at different storage temperature’, Journal of Food Science, vol. 4 no. 6, pp. 410-417. Keating, B, Carberry, P, Bindraban, P, Asseng, S, Meinke, H Dixon 2010, ‘Eco-efficient agriculture: Concepts, challenges, and opportunities’, Crop Science, vol. 50 no.1, pp. 107-109. McSweeney, P Rayner, J 2011, ‘Developments in Australian agricultural and related education’, Journal of Higher Education Policy Management, vol. 33 no. 4, pp. 415-425. Nederveen, P Dasgup ta, S 2009, Politics of Globalisation, Sage, New York. Nelson, C 2009, Import/export: How to take your business across borders, McGraw Hill, New York. Pelle, S 2007, Understanding Emerging Markets: Building Business BRIC by Brick Response Books, India. Peters, G, Rowley, H, Wiedemann, S, Tucker, R, Short, M Schulz, M 2010, ‘Red meat production in Australia: Life cycle assessment and comparison with overseas studies’, Environmental science technology, vol. 44 no. 4, pp. 1327-1332. Pethick, D, Ball, A, Banks, R Hocquette, J 2011, ‘Current and future issues facing red meat quality in a competitive market and how to manage continuous improvement’, Animal Production Science, vol. 51 no. 1, pp. 13-18. Verbeke, W, Van Wezemael, L, De Barcellos, M, Kà ¼gler, J, Hocquette, J, Ueland, Ø Grunert, K 2010, ‘European beef consumers’ interest in a beef eating-quality guarantee: Insights from a qualitative study in four EU countries’, Appetite, vol. 54 no. 2, pp. 289-296.

Saudi EFL Learners Awareness of World Englishes-(Second Language Essay

Saudi EFL Learners Awareness of World Englishes-(Second Language Varieties) - Essay Example The primary means by which these flows and networks are established and maintained is through the use of a common contact language. English, the most widely diffused contact language, is the primary linguistic channel through which these flows take place†¦ English is thus a globalized phenomenon that is continuously being LOCALIZED during its countless interactions. The fact that globalization is a very fast process prescribes that children need to be proficient in the English language to be competent in their international dealings (Doman, 2005). Due to the wide proliferation of learning English language, various cultures have adopted the language and integrated their own cultural flavor in it. World Englishes are forms of the English language that non-native English speakers use with native English being American and /or British English. Members of a certain culture use English to suit their own communication styles. Considering the variety of cultures in the world, there are now more non-native English-speakers than native speakers (Jenkins, 2006; Canagarajah, 2007). This includes Saudi Arabian nationals. 1.2 Aims and Objectives 1.3 The Field of World Englishes 'New Englishes' or 'World Englishes' is usually used to refer to the new varieties of English. Mesthrie and Bhatt (2008) state that "it has become customary to use the plural form 'Englishes' to stress the diversity to be found in the language today, and to stress that English no longer has one single base of authority, prestige and normativity." The authors clarify that World Englishes "represents all varieties except the L1 varieties of places like the UK and USA" (Mesthrie and Bhatt, 2008). Accrdoging to Hoffmann and Siebers (2009), "what is often referred to as "the" English language is in fact a heterogeneous and linguistically fascinating group of first (L1), second (L2) and foreign language varieties. A more appropriate cover term is thus World Englishes, which highlights the diversity and world-wide distribution of these varieties" (Hoffmann and Siebers (2009). Salikoko S. Mufwene refers to the notion of ecology, which is the concept borrowed from biology to provide a clear insight into the formation of New Englishes. Focussing on the indigenization of English in North America, Mufwene claims that American English emerged as a variety distinct from British English dialects due to an interaction of several ecological factors (fauna, flora, and socio-economic structures as well as the speaking habits and communicative needs of some of its speakers). Hoffmann and Siebers (2009). Therefore; the specific vernacular of English that arose in Northern America is a result of the universal ecological mechanisms of language contact. Mesthrie and Bhatt emphasise that sociolinguists need to acknowledge that community attitudes and expectations are important. Kachru himself acknowledged that there are many ambiguities, where language attitudes are concerned: The non-native speake rs themselves have not been able to accept what may be termed the 'ecological validity' of their nativised or local Englishes. One would have expected such acceptance, given the acculturation and linguistic nativisation of the new varieties. On the other hand, the non-native models of English (such

Encourage Healthy Eating Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Encourage Healthy Eating Paper - Essay Example The need is to understand where the line needs to be drawn and how this shall come about in a normal manner. What is quintessential to note here is the fact that healthy eating can only happen when the individuals know what they are looking forward to having within their ranks, and how they shall enact pathways and means through which their health standards would be made better. The individuals who believe in eating well are usually the ones who are fitter than the rest, and hence the basis of success comes about within their folds. If there are taxes in place to make sure that the soft drinks and junk food are not consumed, this shall make the lives of the people better. They would abstain from consuming junk food because they will know it will cost them much at the end of the day. However, this can only come about when encouragement is there for the people who eat healthy and want to spend their lives in a positive and active way. Higher taxes could be contested by certain individu als but one should believe this is the only way out under such problems that come about within the lives of the people. After all, it is always a good omen for any business to understand how the positive change premise needs to be incorporated, especially when the talk goes out loud regarding the healthy eating habits. ... Heavy taxes on such soft drinks and junk food would ensure that the young ones and teenagers do away with such consumption levels, and eat fresh and healthy at all times. Then again, there are moments when they can consume junk food but it must not be made as a habit for them on a consistent basis. Higher taxes would not be appreciated by people of such age groups but this is the only manner under which they can cut down on purchases that they make of the soft drinks and junk food, which they eat time and again. Imposing heavy taxes on soft drinks and junk food purchase would mean that the kids would ask for lesser money from their parents and hence would know that they are saving on the hard-earned cash of their elders (Jones, 2011). Also they would realize that earning money is not an easy task, and saving it is always a good exercise to undertake. When the parents know that their young ones are saving money rather than spending the same on junk food, they are more open to understa nding that the children need to be given more money so that they can utilize it properly. Plus they are well-informed that their young ones know how to deal with money and what their understandings levels have been over a period of time. However, this is always easier said than done because the children find a way to waste money on junk food and soft drinks because when they are out enjoying with friends, colleagues and cousins, they care less about what they are eating and where they are spending their pocket money. Now the need is to have a pep talk session between the parents and their children so that the latter know where they are going wrong and

Media Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Media Review - Essay Example ocial policy begun in 2011 through the aid of the digital internet transition who’s aim was to come up with new opportunities that have continually led the innovative forms of investigative journalism. As a result, Ai Media for the past two years have continuously embarked on diligently using the social media (Face Book, Twitter and YouTube) to reach out and share information with regard to the deaf and hearing impaired in the US community. In essence, the company focus more on the disabled persons, and how they should also be given a chance in participating in this company and the products that the company provides. In response, the company continually welcomes feedbacks and suggestions regarding such reactions and comments that are given out by all participants (Flynn 4). Of importance to note is that, Ai-Media has certain principles and guidelines that the company uses in ensuring their media policy remain an efficient tool of communication. To begin with, this social policy ensures that the concept of the community is well understood in terms of giving support to either side (clientele and the company). Secondly, contents found on the social media are friendly to the clientele and further embrace the presence of opinion diversity. This must go in line with the materials that are posted on the social media, the audience involved and the judgement that the company gives. In addition, Ai-Media is conscious and transparent of their intention. Basically, the company is sensitive on placing posts on individual clientele or organisation regarding their nationality, gender, sexual preference, disability and any other related issues. According to Flynn (4), it is worth mentioning that, the social policy must be in a position to assist the concerned persons. In this case, the Ai-Media is mainly concerned with a particular group of people –the disabled (hearing impaired and deaf) thus bringing value as would be expected. In the

Coursebook And Materials Evaluation English Language Essay

Coursebook And Materials Evaluation English Language Essay Introduction English language holds a great significance in Pakistan. It is the second language of our country yet enjoys the status of first language. It is the medium of instruction in the institutions of higher education and is widely used on radio and television in the country. Several newspapers, periodicals and books on different subjects are published in English. It is the official language of all the government departments and private organizations in Pakistan. Most importantly, our body of law is codified in English and the knowledge of English is considered to be essential for getting good jobs as exams and interviews for civil services, armed forces and other attractive posts are conducted in this language. The inevitability of English, not only in Pakistan but in the whole world, lies in its dominance in the three major areas of development: science, humanities and trade. Keeping in view the importance and the need to learn this language, Cunningsworth (1984:5) highlights three main perspectives on English Language Teaching as follows: The students need to learn the language to use it for communicative purposes It needs to be taught as a system of grammar and vocabulary in structural perspective The learners need to develop their four basic skills-reading, writing, listening and speaking in this language ELT materials play a very important role in many language classrooms but in recent years there has been a lot of debate on the actual role of materials in teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language. A successful course book requires a working balance between the three perspectives mentioned above. Arguments about the textbooks include both the advantages and the limitations of materials for students as well as the needs and preferences of teachers who are using them. Other modern issues regarding material evaluation include textbook design and practicality, methodological validity, the role of textbooks in innovation, the authenticity and the appropriateness of subject matter, and cultural components. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that we establish and apply a wide variety of relevant and contextually appropriate criteria for the evaluation of the textbooks that we use in our language classrooms. This paper aims at an analytical study of a published ELT course book (Stepping Forward) with regards to its underpinning approach and methodological principles to be drawn through an external as well internal evaluation of the book. LITERATURE REVIEW 1- Importance of Textbooks in ELT context: English language instruction has many important components but the essential constituents of many ESL/EFL classrooms and programs are the textbooks and instructional materials that are often used by language instructors. As in their argument to prove textbooks affective agents of change, Hutchinson and Torres (1994) suggest: The textbook is an almost universal element of teachingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦No teaching-learning situation, it seems, is complete until it has its relevant textbook. (p. 315). Many other theorists agree with this observation as Sheldon (1988) states that textbooks not only represent the visible heart of any ELT program (p.237) but also offer considerable advantages for both the student and the teacher when they are being used in the ESL/EFL classroom. Moreover, he believes that published materials are more reliable for the students because they have more credibility than teacher-generated or in-house materials. Textbooks yield a respectable practicality as they are relatively inexpensive and involve low lesson preparation time, whereas teacher-generated materials can be ineffective in terms of time, cost and quality. In this way, textbooks can reduce professional workload and allow teachers the opportunity to spend more time in concentrating on the material available instead of arranging for a new one every time. As Hutchinson and Torres (1994) point out that textbooks play a pivotal role in innovation and support teachers in potentially disturbing and threatening change processes, for they demonstrate new methodologies, introduce change gradually, and create a framework upon which teachers can build a more creative methodology of their own. 2- Reasons for Textbook Evaluation: Since the 1970s there has been a movement to make learners the center of language instruction and it is probably best to view textbooks as resources in achieving aims and objectives that have already been set in terms of learner needs. Therefore, we must make every effort to establish and apply a wide variety of relevant and contextually appropriate criteria for the evaluation of the textbooks that we use in our language classrooms. We should also ensure that careful selection is made, and that the materials selected closely reflect the aims, methods, and values of the teaching program. (Cunningsworth, 1995:7). Another reason for textbook evaluation is the fact that it can be very useful in teacher development and professional growth. Cunningsworth (1995) states that textbook evaluation helps teachers to acquire useful, accurate, systematic, and contextual insights into the overall nature of textbook material. Sheldon (1988) offers justification through several other reasons for textbook evaluation. He suggests that the selection of an ELT textbook often signals an important administrative and educational decision with considerable financial investment. A thorough evaluation, therefore, would enable the management and teaching staff of a specific institution to choose amongst all of the available textbooks in the market. Moreover, it would provide a sense of familiarity with a books content assisting the educators to compare it with the strengths and weaknesses in textbooks already in use. Textbook evaluation, therefore, can potentially be a means of conducting research as well as a form of professional empowerment and improvement. 3- Methods of Evaluating Textbooks: On the subject of textbook evaluation various researchers have suggested ways of helping teachers to be more systematic in their evaluative approach, by presenting evaluation checklists based on general criteria that can be used by both teachers and students in many different situations. Although Sheldon (1988) suggests that no general list of criteria can ever really be applied to all teaching and learning contexts without considerable modification. Thats why, almost all the educational theorists agree that evaluation checklists should be having some criteria pertaining to the physical characteristics of textbooks such as layout, organizational, usable and logistical characteristics. Thus, in this regard, the evaluative criteria presented by McDonough and Shaw (1997), is most suitable and applicable in any ELT context. The model of evaluation offered by McDonough and Shaw (1997) consists of two stages: (A) External evaluation and (B) Internal evaluation. They believe that the teachers should perform an external evaluation first of all in order to gain an overview of the organizational principles involved. After this they should move onto a detailed internal evaluation of the materials to see how far the materials in question match up to what the author claims as well as to the aims and objectives of a given teaching program. Thus, the next section of this paper will present an external as well as internal analysis of an ELT course book (Stepping Forward) based on McDonough and Shaws (1997) model of evaluation. TEXTBOOK ANALYSIS: AN EVALUATIVE STUDY 1- Key Facts about the Book-Authors and Publishers: One of the most useful starting points in any textbook evaluation is an analysis of the authors and publishers details. The authors of Stepping Forward are Heather Jones and Robyn Mann and the publisher is a well-established company based in Singapore, EPB Pan Pacific publishers, a trademark of Times Publishing Limited. Ample information about the publishing company such as the contact address, telephone and fax numbers can be found on the inside front cover. Moreover, information about the authors formal education, amounts and types of teaching, administration, and curriculum/syllabus and materials development experience is also given which presents a clear picture of the authors having a recognized standing in the field of education and a strong reputation for producing innovative materials. 2- Target Audience and Proficiency Level: Stepping Forward by Heather Jones and Robyn Mann comprises a series of textbooks. The book under analysis has been designed for the students of grade six belonging to an age group of around eleven years. The book includes challenging topics, chosen especially for the interest level of the target students. The topics like My Family, Growing Up, Dinosaurs, Tourism, and Science Fiction etc are highly attractive and motivating for the learners. 3- Cost Effectiveness: Another important factor that relates to the choice of a textbook is cost. Some might feel that price is not necessarily an important factor in textbook evaluation, but the fact that most ESL/EFL textbooks are published and manufactured in wealthy English-speaking nations such as England and the United States but used in many less-developed nations like Pakistan suggests that price should play a pertinent role in textbook selection. This is particularly the case in countries in which the economic conditions are somewhat less than desirable and many students with limited incomes are required to purchase the books for language courses. In this case, Stepping Forward is also a little expensive as it costs Rs.365/-, however, the printing standard and paper quality worth the price. 4- Accessibility and Availability: Some additional concerns regarding external evaluation are accessibility and availability. In order to be purchasable for a textbook, it must be currently in print and readily available. Moreover, the publisher should be accessible for additional information, teaching demonstrations, and order requests. At first glance it would seem that Stepping Forward meets many of these requirements for it is a relatively new book that was most recently published in 1995 and then reprinted every year till 2007. Moreover, representatives from the publisher (EPB Pan Pacific) can be easily contacted for ordering information and assistance. 5- Audio-Visual Aids and Supplementary Materials: The book contains several charts, models, and photographs that help clarify and contextualize information. The presence of real life pictures portrays a friendly and motivating atmosphere. The pictures are not merely added for a cosmetic effect, they are rather of an integrative value that they help explaining the theme to the learners. In addition, Stepping Forward contains an excellent package of supplementary materials including items such as classroom tape cassettes or CDs, a student workbook, and a teachers guide. More specifically, the teachers guide includes useful page-by-page instructions, teaching suggestions and instructional input, lesson notes, optional tasks and alternatives, classroom management advice, language notes, general notes about the task and cultural data, expansion activities and game ideas, tests, answer keys, transcripts for listening activities, and opportunities for teacher reflection. The student workbook, on the other hand, provides review exercises an d a variety of practice exercises that help the development of students proficiency in grammar, reading, writing, spelling, vocabulary, and speaking and has enormous potential for classroom use or for home assignments. 6- Overall Organization of Textbook: The layout and design of a textbook refers to its organization and presentation of language items and activities. In Stepping Forward, for instance, the learning objectives are clear and concise and a detailed overview of the topics, functions, structures/grammar, and skills within each unit can be found in the introductory table of contents. The book follows a thematic/modular format as the course components are effectively and clearly organized in six thematic sections: Personal relations, Nature, Community and Nation, Imagination, Science and Technology and Other people. Four sections contain three units each and two include two units each, which makes it a sum total of sixteen units. 7- Authors Claims- the Methodological Principles underpinning the Book: One of the most important and essential criterion that pertains to the overall textbook evaluation is the authors approach to teaching methodology. Brown (1995) and Cunningsworth (1995) suggest that it is absolutely essential in evaluating any textbook to determine whether or not its inherent methodology matches the aims and objectives and conforms to the classroom context. The simplest and quickest way for initially discovering a textbooks theoretical premises and methodological underpinnings is to examine its back cover (the blurb). So, a closer examination of Stepping Forwards back cover reveals that the authors (Heather Jones and Robyn Mann) claim to adhere to the Communicative Approach and the textbook contains a multi-skills curriculum and follows a topical/functional format. The book also tends to focus on both accurate and fluent communication emphasizing linguistic as well as communicative value of the topics. The promotion of integrated language-skills practice and the incl usion of topical themes, grammatical structures and functions, as well as lexical development are focused. Particular emphasis is placed on meaningful and authentic communication with the goal of establishing communicative competence in production and comprehension as the authors state in the blurb, students as well as teachers will find Stepping Forward an exciting and stimulating language learning experience, one that will result in the learners being competent and confident users of the English language. Moreover, many of the pair and group activities such as role-playing and information-gap tasks are claimed to facilitate learning through genuine interaction and the language skills and sub-skills are presented and practiced through the use of both inductive and deductive approaches. 8- Cultural Biases: The book under analysis, Stepping Forward, can be termed as culturally biased or specific in some regards, for the names of people and places as well as pictures are mostly taken from the Singaporean culture. For example, the travel brochure given on page 131-133 in the textbook, particularly informs about places in Singapore and Malaysia. Similarly, on page 130 the listening activity talks about Hotel Mirimar in Singapore. Moreover, the writing task on page 135 requires drawing the map of Singapore and the pictures shown on page 129 and 149 have also been taken from real life situations in Singapore. 9- Universal Context: Nevertheless, in spite of certain cultural specific data, Stepping Forward, has a universal appeal and generates in a world-wide context. Because the activities and tasks designed around this culturally bound material are not confined to any geographical boundary. Thus, they can be carried out in any context throughout the world. (B) INTERNAL EVALUATION-Units 8 and 9: Since the external evaluation displays a positive image of the book, therefore, an internal evaluation needs to be executed further. The following discussion is going to evaluate the book internally with particular reference to the units 8 and 9. 1- Grading and Sequencing of Materials: The materials in Stepping Forward are organized in a linear sequence within the units of the book. Every unit begins with a Preview of the topic for eliciting the learners background knowledge and activating their schemata. Then, the four language skills are presented and practised in a systematic manner moving from listening to speaking and then reading to writing with grammar and vocabulary coming between the reading and writing activities. The authors truly claimed in the blurb that the book follows a communicative approach which is achieved through task-based learning (TBL). Such an approach creates a need for learners to acquire new language through the setting of tasks that require them to carry out and struggle through a communicative task, before going on to focus on specific language items that the students find difficult or problematic. The communicative tasks such as (in units 8 and 9) working on persuasive travel brochures, completing the crosswords, playing grammar-games, filling in the tables, making cards or using thesaurus and library tend to stimulate interaction as well as require the use of language items. These tasks not only intended to introduce language forms through authentic material but also engage the learners in truly meaningful and effective communication such as negotiation of meaning and ideas. 2- Presentation of the Language Skills: Stepping Forward is a multi-skills syllabus and therefore covers and integrates both productive (speaking and writing) and receptive skills (listening and reading). The authors advocate an integrated, multi-skills syllabus because it considers and incorporates several categories of both meaning and form. A more positive characteristic of the integrated syllabus within Stepping Forward is the fact that the linguistic elements of the textbook such as grammar and vocabulary items are closely connected to the skills-base. So, as the grammar element and the vocabulary base become more demanding, the skills work also gets more challenging. An internal evaluation of the book reveals that material used for each skill becomes more complex as the units progress. An in-depth analysis of the treatment of language skills in units 8 and 9 is presented below. (i) Listening: Listening activities are designed in Stepping Forward for practicing such sub-skills as making predictions, extracting specific items (scanning/listening for detail), acquiring general information (skimming/listening for gist), extracting detailed information, recognizing function and discourse patterns/markers, and for inferring meaning from context. Every unit in the book deals with a different sub-skill in listening. For instance, in unit 8 the learners are supposed to listen for making inferences about the speakers statements as being persuasive or not. However, in unit 9 the students are made to listen for specific information in order to clarify meaning and make corrections. (ii) Speaking: Speaking practice, in this book, is integrated with other language skills. Every time after presenting a Preview of the topic the learners are given discussion questions for the activation of schemata. Then they are required to talk about the information they gather while listening activities. For example, on page 130, the description of the listening task ends on the note: Be prepared to argue your opinion later!. Moreover, after or while doing most of the reading and writing tasks, the learners are required to discuss the information in pairs or groups. For instance, in unit 8 (page 140) after reading a poem the learners are moved on to a speaking task of verse speaking in groups. Similarly, in unit 9 (page 160), the students are required to perform a role-play after reading a dialogue and on page 166 questions for class discussion are given within a writing activity of creating cards. Such tasks match the authors claim in the blurb: Stepping Forward provides numerous activities to enable students to work individually, in pairs, groups as well as class discussion. This provides scope for creative thinking and critical discussion. Speaking tasks and discussions are intended to involve the students in active information sharing, freer cooperative group tasks, and other types of exercises designed to encourage communication skills as they allow the students to extend, refine, and personalize the material they have practised in each unit. (iii) Reading: Reading activities in Stepping Forward are designed to practise sub-skills such as reading for detail or for skimming, scanning, inferring etc. In every unit, reading tasks are divided into two sections: Fiction and Non-fiction. In unit 8, the section of non-fiction contains activities around a travel brochure and the fiction section deals with reading a poem. While in unit 9, non-fiction reading is designed around a feature article and fiction reading presents a dramatic play script. Moreover, in order to expose the learners to the reading material beyond the course book, they are also asked to use thesaurus and library (pg 143, 164, 165). These tasks provide a practice of reading for detail, for meaning and for ideas. Reading activities in every unit follow the practice on grammar and vocabulary further leading to the writing tasks. (iv) Writing: Writing activities in Stepping Forward typically ask students to perform tasks of various kinds such as descriptions, narratives, postcards, reviews, letters etc. It can be suggested, therefore, that the writing skills in Stepping Forward are based on both product and process approaches. Essentially, a product-oriented approach centers on the end-result of writing, whereas a process-oriented approach centers on the process of writing itself. In addition, product-oriented approaches typically engage learners in imitating, copying and transforming models of correct language texts while process-oriented approaches emphasize brainstorming, planning, drafting, revision, and editing. The writing task given in unit 8 (pg 145-146) is based on process approach in which the learners have to write a travel brochure by gathering and organizing information and then revising and editing the first draft. However, in unit 9, the writing activity is designed around the product approach in which the students will be working towards an end-product-the greeting card that they have to create. Despite their differences, both approaches to the teaching of writing skills have their advantages. Product writing, for example, emphasizes sentence structure and grammar and is often utilized as an excellent means of preparing students for written examinations. The process approach, on the other hand, prepares them for the complex procedure involved in writing compositions. For these reasons, the authors of Stepping Forward have included activities that incorporate both product and process approaches of writing in this particular textbook. 3- Different Learning Styles-Self-study: Another interesting feature of this book is the website (www.panpaceducation.com) that has been designed to accompany the textbook. The integration of the personal computer and information technology to language learning is becoming increasingly commonplace in many institutions and it seems as though the authors and publishers of Stepping Forward are well aware of this growing phenomenon. In this particular case the publishers have developed an accompanying web-site that teachers can use to find Internet links to professional articles and that students can use to gain additional practice with the material covered in the textbook. This web-site can be used as a useful teaching and learning tool as it provides teachers with assistance in professional development and also provides students with an opportunity to become increasingly self-reliant and less teacher-dependent. Moreover, the promotion of student self-directed study is integral in allowing students to become increasingly aware of their own abilities to remember, learn, and solve problems and more strategic and reflective in their learning, thinking, and problem solving. 4- Language Type and Content: Language type and content refers to whether the language included in the materials is realistic and authentic and what type of linguistic items are evident in the book. In terms of grammatical structures and functions, Stepping Forward places much emphasis on grammatical accuracy and repetition of structures and functions. Grammar and vocabulary are organized into separate sections in each unit. In unit 8, grammar section deals with pronouns and in unit 9 it provides a practice of simple present and present perfect tense. The section of vocabulary also includes thesaurus use in every unit, so that the students can build on new vocabulary on their own. A fair weightage given to grammar and vocabulary in the book justifies the authors claims as it is stated on the back cover of the book: a wide range of grammar and vocabulary exercises are especially designed to help students acquire the necessary language skills and vocabulary to discuss and write on the topic in each unit. The author s believe that correct knowledge of grammar and functions are an essential aspect of communicative competence and they have adopted the task-based learning technique as a means of accomplishing their objectives. Since the introduction of the Communicative Approach to language teaching in the 1970s and 80s, there has been a growing school of thought that says that authentic reading, speaking, listening, writing, and grammatical language models should be used to teach English language skills as long as the activities or tasks associated with them are also authentic and suitably graded to the level of the students with whom they are being used. Whereas, many researchers belonging to another school of thought believe that authentic content can often create a number of difficulties and problems for students who are lacking in the proper cultural background knowledge or schemata to properly comprehend a messages meaning and content. Moreover, the selection of authentic texts is frequently quite difficult and challenging and a students inability to understand a text can be extremely demoralizing and de-motivating in some instances. Thats why, Stepping Forward presents a combination of both authenti c and inauthentic/scripted materials to ensure the success of the book. CONCLUSION The preceding analysis shows that Stepping Forward is a relatively modern addition to ELT supermarket. The external and internal evaluation traces out a number of notable and worthwhile characteristics of the book. For example, the entire textbook package is well conceived and it contains a wide variety of useful supplementary materials. The book is also very attractive and organized in a clear, logical, and coherent manner. This organization reflects a topic-based (thematic) structural-functional syllabus that is designed with the goal of facilitating communicative competence which is the underpinning objective of the book. In addition, Stepping Forward reflects a multi-skills syllabus, and manages to integrate the four language skills without neglecting other important aspects of ELT such as grammar and vocabulary development which is aimed at integrating the communicative and structural approaches of language teaching. In addition, receptive and productive skills are covered throu gh a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies such as top-down and bottom-up listening and reading exercises and both product and process oriented approaches to writing skills. According to the evaluative model presented by McDonough and Shaw (1997), a successful external evaluation moves onto the internal study and satisfactory results of the internal evaluation further lead towards the adoption/selection of the book. Thus, the positive outcomes of both types of evaluation, validity of the authors claims and its suitability to the learners needs make Stepping Forward a fairly recommendable product for an effective instruction in the dynamic field of English Language Teaching. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦far from being a problem, the textbook is an important means of satisfying the range of needs that emerge from the classroom and its wider context. Education is a complex and messy matter, what a textbook does is to create a degree of order within potential chaosà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦around which many forces and demands of teaching-learning process can cohereà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦for purposeful action in the classroom.

Willy Russells Educating Rita Essay -- English Literature

From your study of Willy Russell's Educating Rita, describe which character in the play changes the most Explain:  · How the characters change  · The characters role in the play  · How the playwright uses dramatic devices  · How the use of language shows these changes  · How these changes reflect the social, historical and cultural background. The play 'Educating Rita' was written by Willy Russell in 1985, for all the 'Rita's' and all the 'Frank's' in the audience. The play is based on Willy Russell's life so it could be interpreted as an autobiographical play. Like Rita, Russell did not study at school so he did not have any O levels, so he wanted an education to get away from Hairdressing like Rita wanted an education to see what she could become. At this point in the play Frank can tell Rita anything and she will listen and believe all of it. As time goes on she looses this hunger for knowledge because of summer school and her flatmate Trish that dramatically changes Rita. At the end of the play the two characters seem to have changed roles, Rita comes back from summer school and knows more then she ever thought she could and discovers that the 'proper students' are not as good and intelligent as she thought. Franks relationship with Julia is breaking down and the banishment to Australia seems more and more imminent. The two seem to swap roles because Frank used to tell Rita things and she would try and understand it, but the return from summer school shows that she has memorised Blake poetry and has significantly changed. Rita is driven by the need for education, having realised that life has more to offer then her ordinary existence in the hairdressing salon. Rita says to Frank that b... ...that there is only one thing for her to do to thank him so he sits down and the audience gets the impression of something sexual about to happen but Rita gets a pair of scissors and begins to cut Franks hair. In this scene the dramatic device used is one for humour. Educating Rita is mainly about a character trying to find the right words to express herself, and as she becomes more educated Rita learns to adapt her language to different audiences. Rita's increasing mastery of the language helps her to grow more confident. In the character of Rita, Willy Russell was reaching out to an audience whose daily language was not of the theatre or the university but to all the Franks and Rita's in the audience. Rita attempts to change her language to the proper use of words, because of what Trish said: 'you can't discuss beautiful literature with an ugly voice.'