The Competitive Advantages of Apple Inc Literature review

The Competitive Advantages of Apple Inc - Literature review Example John Wiley & Sons. 15 Bibliography 17 Literature Review Interrelationship between Leadership and Organizational Commitment In the year 1993, Drucker had mentioned that the performance and quality of the managers are significant influential factor to decide organizational success. A company without effective leadership would not be able to transform the internal resources to its competitive advantage. It would not be denied that there is a close relationship among the leadership style and organization development. In the year 1990, Bass made one study in which it was pretty observable that around 45 % to 65 % of the total factors which are responsible of causing either success or failure would be decided by the organizational leaders. Definition of Leadership Leadership is an ability to persuade any group towards the attainment of goals. In the year 1964, Tannenbaum and others have considered leadership as an influential factor in human relations. Leadership is an attribute guiding a group of people to achieve preset goals through communication. According to Fiedler, leadership can be assumed to be a type of relationship to make the group members work together and achieve common goal. Rauch and Behling in 1984 and Hsieh in the year 1993 considered leadership as a process to influence any group to approach the goals. Theories of Leadership Since twentieth century, a number of theories and literature had been introduced to prove different standpoints. Four major perspectives had been shown through these theories. Some of the theories are articulated in the later segment (Wu et. al., 2006, p.438- 440). Trait Theories According to Stogdill (1963) and Davis (1972), a successful leader must posses certain personality traits. Behavior Theories In 1957, Halpin and Winer had introduced two dimensions, initiating consideration and structure. Following the same, a number of studies conducted by Stogdill, Likert and Kotter also introduced certain behavioral attributes of le adership. Contingency Theories In the year 1967, Fiedler has introduced the contingency model of leadership. In the year 1971, House came up with a path-goal theory by extracting details from the research carried out by Ohio State University as well as the expectancy theory of motivation. In the year 1977, Blackchard and Hersey introduced situational leadership theory considering two leadership sides in terms of relationship behaviors and tasks and mix and matching the intensity of these two to come up with specific leadership types: selling, telling, delegating and participating. As per Contingency theory, the leaders of any group are required to opt for an appropriate leadership style considering the readiness of the following group. The selling style can be effective for willing but unable subordinates; while, the telling styles can reap good results for the unwilling and unable followers. Leaders usually use participating style when his or her followers are willing but unable. T he delegating style seems to be good for followers who are able but unwilling to do the tasks (Wu et. al., 2006, p.438- 440). Non Charismatic Theories: These theories include the theories on transformational and transactional leadership styles. These two are pretty well known in the arenas of leadership theories. According to the transactional leadership theory, both superior as well as the subordinate would influence each other to derive value of that exchange. Transactional leader

BUSINESS FUNCTIONS & PROCESSES Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

BUSINESS FUNCTIONS & PROCESSES - Assignment Example These functions within an automotive industry based organisation include automobile design development, formulation of effective marketing and advertisement strategies and implementing them accordingly (Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH, 2010). In the similar context, operations management within the automotive industry can be described as all the functions and activities associated with effective utilisation of raw materials for carrying out the manufacturing and the maintenance processes. This includes keeping record of all the fixed cost and variable costs associated with the daily production process. Operations management is also at times referred as the parent process of production management. Within this parent process, all other management processes such as inventory management, human resource management, and production management exist (Slideshare Inc., 2014). The concept has gained importance due to the increasing competitiveness in the current marketing scenario. Adding to this, this concept has proved its effectiveness and values provision to the automotive industry. The value part can be described in relation to that of quality, quantity, time factor and profitability. As already described above, production management within the automotive industry is all about manufacturing the demanded quantity of cars with set quality standards within specified period of time to make its availability in the market certain. It also ensures that the manufacturing process gets carried out in a timely fashion and effective selling strategies get formulated through which high profitability can be attained by the companies (Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH, 2010). In contrast to production management, which focuses on profitability earning, the operations management provides value to the manufacturing companies in terms of cost cutting. As

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - Essay Example According to Martires (2004), â€Å"an important function of HRM is to ensure that the organization has an adequate supply of the right quantity and quality of human resources at all levels and in all positions at the right time and in the right place to man the jobs that have been properly identified and described† (p. 125). Recruitment and selection is therefore regarded as a crucial HRM function in one of the leaders in the hotel industry, Hilton Hotels. The current discourse hereby aims to present how recruitment and selection is applied at Hilton Hotels. Hilton Hotels have been synonymous to excellence in the hospitality industry. Its rich historical background was traced to as early as 1925 â€Å"when Conrad N. Hilton opened the first hotel to bear the Hilton name† (Hilton Worldwide, 2012). Today, Hilton boasts of carrying ten (10) brands in the hotel and hospitality industry, to wit: Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Hilton Grand Vacations, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Double Tree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton, Homewood Suites, and Home 2 Suites (Hilton Worldwide, 2012). Interested job applicants who envision having careers at Hilton could expect professional development and growth which starts with experiencing the acquisition process. As emphasized, Hilton Hotels’ â€Å"goal is to hire people who share our passion for hospitality and want to further their careers while remaining committed to our Vision, Mission and Values† (Hilton Worldwide, 2013, par. 2). The organization’s mission is explicitly stated as follows: â€Å"To be the preeminent global hospitality company - the first choice of guests, team members, and owners alike† (Hilton Worldwide, 2012, p. 1). Concurrently, their vision is â€Å"To fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality† (Hilton Worldwide, 2012, p. 1). Thus, it is their commitment to find people who share these ideals of exuding warmth through serving in

Philosophy presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Philosophy presentation - Essay Example The principle of â€Å"initial† panopticon is as follows: there is a building which has a circular form (a ring), and in its centre there is a tower. The tower has big windows which face the interior side of the ring. The tower standing against the light, the prisoners’ figures can be seen clearly. Michel Foucault defines panoptism either as a concrete light organization which is characteristic for a prison, or as an abstract principle, a certain â€Å"mechanism† which is able to penetrate into all functions and structures, all sides of human life. An abstract formula of panoptism is, therefore, not â€Å"to see without being seen†, but to force a certain type of behaviour onto any number of people, any society. This social group should be reduced, placed into an enclosed space. A certain type of behaviour is enforced by means of relocation in space, classification in time, arrangement in space and time. Power is not necessarily a centralized power of a state. According to M. Foucault, the State itself emerges as a result of cooperation of numerous mechanisms and centres, which are situated at a different level and independently form the microphysics of power. How is the idea of Foucault reflected in our everyday life? In fact, all modern societies can be classified as â€Å"disciplinary† societies, â€Å"discipline† being a type of power, a technology penetrating all possible institutions, connecting them, prolonging their existence, stimulating their convergence and exposition in a brand-new regime. Army, schools, hospitals, and other institutions have more and more widely used such mechanisms of power illustrated by â€Å"Panopticon†. The spread of these mechanisms led to creation of the â€Å"disciplined society†, in which the â€Å"visibility† of the minority by the majority was gradually forced out by the â€Å"visibility† of the majority by the minority†, and the spectacular

FTIR Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

FTIR - Lab Report Example Different bonds in the molecule of these compounds give respective frequencies which are referred to as the wavenumber (Skoog 2007). As the technique developed, it is also now used for quantitative determinations. This experiment aims to provide knowledge in the use of FTIR in qualitative and quantitative applications. Quantitative determination of the xylene isomers is done through linear regression of the peak responses at the respective bands of the xylene isomers. In the experiment, a Perkin Elmer Spectrum One FT-IR Spectrometer was used. Qualitative analysis was done on the first part, and a quantitative test was conducted for the second part where the concentration of an unknown was determined using the known concentrations of m-xylene and p-xylene standards. Qualitative Determination. For the qualitative test, five different materials were scanned; namely polystyrene, polyethylene, polyacetate, cyclohexane and acetone. A background spectrum was first done on the FTIR spectrometer with range from 4000 – 500 cm-1, then the polystyrene was scanned once, then four scans, then sixteen scans. The effect of the number of scans was determined from this step. Five scans each of polyethylene and polyacetate films were done. The parameter was then changed to 4000 – 450 cm-1, then a NaCl liquid cell was placed in the steel frame. Background measurement was again conducted then the cell was filled with cyclohexane. The spectrum of cyclohexane was measured five times. The cell was then cleaned by pushing the liquid out using a syringe and collecting it on a paper towel. The cell was then rinsed with acetone and dried until there was no more detectable contaminant in the spectra. Acetone was then placed in the cell, and its spectra measured five times. Quantitative Determination. Solutions of m-xylene and p-xylene were prepared using cyclohexane as diluent at concentration levels ranging from 0 –

Philosophy presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Philosophy presentation - Essay Example The principle of â€Å"initial† panopticon is as follows: there is a building which has a circular form (a ring), and in its centre there is a tower. The tower has big windows which face the interior side of the ring. The tower standing against the light, the prisoners’ figures can be seen clearly. Michel Foucault defines panoptism either as a concrete light organization which is characteristic for a prison, or as an abstract principle, a certain â€Å"mechanism† which is able to penetrate into all functions and structures, all sides of human life. An abstract formula of panoptism is, therefore, not â€Å"to see without being seen†, but to force a certain type of behaviour onto any number of people, any society. This social group should be reduced, placed into an enclosed space. A certain type of behaviour is enforced by means of relocation in space, classification in time, arrangement in space and time. Power is not necessarily a centralized power of a state. According to M. Foucault, the State itself emerges as a result of cooperation of numerous mechanisms and centres, which are situated at a different level and independently form the microphysics of power. How is the idea of Foucault reflected in our everyday life? In fact, all modern societies can be classified as â€Å"disciplinary† societies, â€Å"discipline† being a type of power, a technology penetrating all possible institutions, connecting them, prolonging their existence, stimulating their convergence and exposition in a brand-new regime. Army, schools, hospitals, and other institutions have more and more widely used such mechanisms of power illustrated by â€Å"Panopticon†. The spread of these mechanisms led to creation of the â€Å"disciplined society†, in which the â€Å"visibility† of the minority by the majority was gradually forced out by the â€Å"visibility† of the majority by the minority†, and the spectacular

Common assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Common assessment - Assignment Example Thus, affirmative action legislation is an initiative to fulfill governmental regulations and effect career aspirations of stereotyped groups of people on grounds that are perceived to be fair by all (Kenneth, David & Allen, 2004: 51). Carol & Catherine (1996) establish that affirmative actions are policies developed by employing legislation, decisions and regulations which are made by tribunals and courts in an effort to fight against discriminations in organizations (30). The legislation prohibits inequalities regardless of whether they are positive or negative in view of societal facts which affect how affirmative action is morally evaluated. Moreover, affirmative actions are only effective under specific situations that are demanded by the law and hence affirmative action change the organization of societal practices which impact either negatively or positively (Timothy & James, 2000: 123). These impacts are listed to include different aspects of life in terms of education, politics, society and business which are considered in reference to the affirmative action (Rojas, 2002). Positive impacts of affirmative action include: (i) enabling the less represented groups of people to progress (ii) it has managed to rebuild what had been destroyed by discriminatory acts like slavery (iii) various facets of life have been diversely populated and (iv) eased societal integration in organizations through equality processes. Negative impacts of affirmative actions include: (a) realization of compromised standard practices to make room for minority groups. This is in situations where the minority group may have a negative performance and which is actually a big problem in organizations (b) peer relations in organizations may lead to stereotyping and which form extra burdens which are not necessary to the organization (c) also, recruitment is not done