Social computing in global businesses

Introduction Human beings have always lived in groups and societies from the beginning of their existence on the planet. Being in groups and congregations fulfilled many basic human needs, such as, safety, cooperation in getting food, water or shelter. The presence of societies and groups also helped in getting approval from others. Humans like to interact with one another and be heard, accepted and followed.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Social computing in global businesses specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This human tendency and need for belonging to groups is what ignited the spark of social computing; the phenomenon will be the focus of this white paper. The establishment of societies, groups and interactions that connect many people online is just an imitation of human behaviour in the real world. The difference is that social computing uses IT and the internet as the main medium of communication rather t han face-to-face communication used in real life. During the course of this paper we will try to cover some information about social computing. We will discuss its meaning and definition; then we will briefly talk about its history and how it came to existence in its modern form. The different types of social computing applications and mediums will be mentioned and how they are used to create and promote interactions between people. The use of social computing for businesses takes a different path than the one used for personal interactions. For organisations to utilise social computing, they have to know the benefits they can gain from using such a powerful tool. The different benefits companies can get from using social computing will also be discussed. This will illustrate to the reader that it is not just individuals who can benefit from social computing, but businesses can also gain enormously from such tools. In order to show how some global businesses have used social computi ng, we will also include some examples of companies that are actively using social computing to improve their business practices. Focus will also be given to their communication strategies with all members of their value chain. Additionally, since we know that our audience is in the U.A.E., we will discuss how organisations and businesses in the United Arab Emirates can use the power of social computing to improve their profitability and their relationships with customers, suppliers, staff and all the other entities that they deal with. Definition of social computing Social computing started during the 1960’s with the recognition of the idea that computers are used for communication and not just for computation (McDonald 12). Social computing can be defined as â€Å"the shared and interactive aspect of online behaviour† (Rouse 30). Some of the major elements of social computing include blogs, wikis, instant messaging, Twitter, social networking, RSS, and social bookmar king sites (Rouse 9).Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Social computing is the practice of expanding the contacts of our business and/or social relations through creating connections with individuals. The supreme potential of the Internet promotes social computing through web-based groups created for that purpose. Social computing creates interconnected Internet communities that help persons to make contacts. Web sites dedicated to social computing are many, such as, Friendster, Linkedin, Spoke, and Tribe Networks, IBM and Microsoft. Social computing is a collection of technologies driving a remarkable evolution of the Web in growth and investment. Social computing is based on digital systems that support online social interaction. Social interactions can occur through email, sharing photos, and instant messaging. Such interactions are typically social for the reason that t hey are mainly about communicating with people. Also, there are other kinds of online social activities such as creating a web page, offering something on eBayâ„ ¢, following others on Twitterâ„ ¢, and editing in Wikipedia. These activities involve people that one may not know. Social computing is about how digital systems support social interactions. It engages people by providing communication mechanisms for interactions, chatting, sharing information, processing and displaying traces of online interfaces (McDonald 15). History of Social Computing Social computing has been around for quite some time. Some people may say that it dates back to the 1960’s. At that time, scientists and experts in IT started to realise that computers can be used for communication as well as computation. In 1961 Simon Ramo discussed the possibility of many people being connected together through the use of computers. He said â€Å"it is a degree of citizen participation unthinkable today.à ¢â‚¬  (Ramo 1) In 1968 a book written by Licklider and Taylor called â€Å"The Computer as a Communication Device† was published. The book spoke about the emergence of interactive communities that joined people from different geographical areas together. They had common interests and were using IT systems as their main method of communicating. Even though the discussion about using computer systems to connect people started in the early 1960’s, it wasn’t until the 1970’s that computer-based communication had started. The earliest systems that utilized computers in communication between people included Emissary and Eis systems. They were used for what experts called computer conferencing. Furthermore, in the 1970’s the University of Illinois introduced PLATO Notes. Mailing lists were introduced for the first time ever on ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network). (Licklider and Taylor 2).Advertising We will write a custom essay sampl e on Social computing in global businesses specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After these programs opened the door, the 1980’s saw an increase of IT systems that used computers to connect people. Social interactions through online text conversations increased, and bulletin boards emerged. Also the 80’s saw the introduction of Internet Relay Chat and USENET. USENET was started as an online community that users could utilise to communicate with each other. They could discuss different issues of mutual concern through posts and threads on topics. Another way of using computers for communication in the 1980’s was bulletin boards. They mimicked traditional bulletin boards used by people to post topics or issues of interest to different members of society. In the 1990’s advances continued in IT infrastructure, and so did developments in communication technology. The introduction of the web in the 90’s helped to advance social computing greatly. It caused a revolution by increasing connection speeds and bandwidths. Nonetheless, when the web first started, social interactions and communication between people were limited to content that people used to upload on webpages. Most of them shared links with other users; this is quite different from the social computing that exists today. Webpage uploads were the beginning of dramatic changes in the way people interacted with each other over extended geographical areas. Little regard would be given to distance or natural barriers in this platform. The internet actually made the idea of social computing in its current sense a reality. People didn’t have to be on the same local network or in the same area in order to interact and communicate with each other. In the late 1990’s and the beginning of the 21st century, IT systems became more capable of facilitating communication between people and entities in a way that used computation al power. Not only did this allow people to interact directly with each other, but it also fed results back into the system in a way that enriched social interactions. The systems became more tailor-made for individual users. An example of this application is feedback or suggestions that one gets when using search engines like Google, YouTube, Amazon or EBay. Nowadays social computing applications and functions are an essential part of almost any website. Businesses have recognized the importance of such applications and are using them very heavily to increase interactions with customers, suppliers and other members of the value chain. This increased dependency on social computing is causing these websites and applications to become an integral part of people’s daily lives.Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Types of social computing applications One of the types of social computing applications that create the above-mentioned benefits are web blogs. These are online journals in which an author or a series of authors publish material on particular topics. Content may be anything from cooking recipes, sports, business, politics, scientific work or entertainment. Blogs allow users to engage in discussions by either linking a particular blog in another forum or by making commentaries about a blogging topic. Businesses can utilise this application in order to capture knowledge about their industries. They may also have internal blogs that provide employees with a platform to make personal contributions (Fun Wagner 248). Wikis are applications that allow users to make contributions about particular topics from scratch through hypertext. It is a collaborative authoring tool which aggregates into an open source of information, such as Wikipedia. Users and administrators can provide quality co ntrol in order to increase reliability of this form of social computing. The mode of application is highly useful to enterprises because it allows them to share knowledge. Companies can discover new trends about their products or services. A business can also learn about stakeholder concerns, and thus improve its business operations. Peer to peer networks are applications that allow users to share multimedia content as well as storage and bandwidth. People often use them to share music and videos. This feature explains why many internet stakeholders have a bias against P2P networks since they facilitate copyright infringement. Nonetheless, a number of companies in the business industry have embraced these technologies as methods of distribution. P2P networks may also increase marketability of content when only short versions of a file are available for sharing. Customers may be prompted to purchase the original version of a file. Social networking websites are sites that join users to their contacts and acquaintances in an online community. Common sites include Facebook and twitter. Facebook allows one to invite others (who may or may not be strangers) to become friends with him in his online community. Businesses may use Facebook as an internal emailing system or as a promotional avenue for products and series. It can also strengthen business associations by building networks. Twitter is another social networking website that allows individuals to read short messages (tweets) and respond to them by following the user. Businesses can use this platform to stay in tune with industry trends, boost their networks, expose their brands, monitor their image, engage with facts and expand their consumer base (Rasmus Salkowitz 8). Video sharing websites such as YouTube are revolutionary social computing platforms as well. They allow entities to share clips about any matter they regard as important. This may range from sports, politics, music and many other issues. Busi nesses may make advertisements, explain product use or announce new corporate strategies through YouTube. The video element in this type of application makes it quite cutting edge and transforming. Photo sharing websites like Flicker allow members to upload, tag and view photos. In these websites, it is possible to get feedback from concerned members. Companies can harness these websites in order to promote some of their new offerings. They can increase their popularity through this avenue. Businesses may think of Flicker as an internet-based location for photographic posters. Social bookmarking services are similar to photo sharing applications because they also allow users to tag items. Here, social bookmarking services are only allowed for books, not photos. One well-known example is Delicious. In this application, users share links and give feedback about the most relevant one. Only communities with similar interests can belong to one social site. Peer to peer video and communic ation services may also be regarded as aspects of social computing. Skype is an example of such an application. It allows users to communicate in real time through video and audio. Businesses may utilise this mode of social computing in order to facilitate that personal touch with clients. Customers can also give reviews about products through Skype, and this may enhance business outcomes. Benefits of social computing Communication Enterprise social computing facilitates communication in companies. Knowledge can flow across boundaries, hierarchies and information silos in social media. Members of an organisation can access a place where they can engage in informal conversations. Improvements made from fast communication often translate into higher production. For instance firms can launch products at very fast rates if operational teams are always in constant communication with marketing and procurement teams. In the past, many companies used knowledge management solutions to improv e communication. Social computing provides an edge over older communication solutions because it deals with new knowledge. Knowledge management was confined to the conveyance of existing knowledge. Many of these platforms stored old and outdated material that lacked relevance to workers’ daily activities. Social computing sustains the ever-changing stream of enterprise knowledge. Not only does social computing increase communication rates, it also enhances the quality of communication. Social media tools allow companies to preserve memory within their structures. Since business environments are changing rapidly, then companies need to capture knowledge as soon as it develops. To increase usefulness of information, people need to know the context and content of the material. Social tools make this quality a reality by preserving knowledge at a rate that equals its dissemination. Finance or business outcomes Financial benefits of enterprise social computing come from improved r eturns. Social tools allow companies to discover emerging opportunities in their business processes and practices. Organisations can discern opportunities for innovation when they use social software appropriately. Such opportunities lead them to develop innovations frequently. Social media tools help firms to manage, analyse, track and find gaps that can then be leveraged (Bughin et al. 5). Many companies may fail to achieve financial results from social software because their primary focus is adoption rather than operational efficiency. Firms that demonstrate success in social computing tend to dwell on tangible aspects of operation. They identify challenges in operations and then use social media to tackle those problems. In fact, this focus on outcomes is what helps many organisations to overcome scepticism against the technologies. Employees who witness increases in performance metrics will see the use of social software and will continue to use it. Consequently, companies will continue to generate more financial revenue. Staff improvement Employees that embrace social media can identify experts easily, and thus solve problems easily. They can use online community networks such as Socialcast to meet with their peers. The latter is a micro blog that assists sales persons to correspond with members of the sales industry. Users of enterprise social computing can thus consult other people about problems that may be new to them (Miller et al. 15). Enterprise social media differs from other traditional methods of information seeking because it is transparent and saves time. One may look for answers by searching for previous discussions on the same. However, if no one has ever posted such information, then the concerned person can be the first one to do so. This ability to identify experts easily makes social computing quite advantageous to organisations. Marketing Most people often think of social computing in this sense. Companies use social networking website s in order to market themselves either directly or indirectly. Some of them may inform customers about product or service updates. Others may educate customers about various ways of using their products. They can build relationships with clients by conversing with them. Alternatively, organisations can use social media to build brands. Businesses also get to familiarise themselves with particular trends, which gives them a competitive edge. Twitter is especially useful in this area because firms can monitor the pulse of their visibility (Dachis Group 11). Examples of successful use of social computing As discussed earlier, social computing leads to staff improvement. A company that demonstrated these abilities was IPC Inc. It is a healthcare institution that used social software to harness distributed knowledge. Physicians in this company faced daily challenges that were new to them. Many of these professionals used social software to contact other physicians. Through this avenue, t hey could converse about clinical matters or patient challenges. Their version of social software provided them with access to about 1000 doctors in real time. If a physician had to make a critical decision about a certain patient, and was uncertain about it, all he had to do was communicate with the other physicians. The hospital improved its response times as well as its quality of care. Besides, it led to greater physician satisfaction because doctors were not working alone (Miller et al. 19). Some companies embrace social software in order to increase business performance or boost financial revenue. One organisation that enjoyed this reward was OSIsoft. The company identified a challenge that social networking could solve; poor problem resolution. Prior to implementation of enterprise social computing, the customer support department was unable to respond quickly and accurately to customer inquiries. This minimised customer satisfaction and hence business outcomes. After the ado ption of social software, OSIsoft easily accessed experts based on relevant topics. Customer support staff could also engage in ongoing discussions with engineers about technical issues that customers needed to know. All learning was documented through wiki articles. Some of the information came from call logs while others stemmed from experts. Employees took on the responsibility of creating knowledge as it was not just a duty assigned to a small team. In the end, problem resolution improved dramatically. Customers were satisfied and this increased the amount of business they brought to the company. OSIsoft reaped tangible financial results because of social media use (Miller et al. 27). Most firms utilise social computing in order to boost their marketing strategies. In fact, when one talks about social technology, most people will automatically think about Twitter and Facebook. While consumer driven applications are vital in organisations, deeper analyses of collaborative tools n eed to be done (O’Driscoll 29). However, it is still necessary to look at case studies of companies that harnessed these consumer-driven technologies. One company that demonstrated the power of social networking in marketing was Toyota. In 2010, the company had quality control issues with their automobiles. They needed to recall a vast number of units, and this took a toll on their brand image. The company decided to target social networking website users in order to minimise this damage. At any one time, there were almost a dozen Toyota employees monitoring Facebook and other social networking websites for commentaries about the company. The workers would respond to complaints and comments as soon as they arose thus ensuring that Toyota would not fall prey to negative publicity. After about 6 months, not only had the firm managed to salvage its reputation, but it expanded its Facebook fan base by about ten percent (Messinger et al. 190). Therefore, social computing allows co mpanies to target consumers directly concerning various aspects of marketing, such as, branding. Educational institutions have also used social computing to improve marketing performance. One such entity was Phoenix University. It has several online programs that it offers students all around the world. In order to enhance their experience, the institution created documentaries that talk about the institutional rules and regulations. Furthermore, the firm needed to reach a vast pool of potential clients. It did this by publishing reviews and video testimonials on YouTube. These allowed interested individuals to access information at their fingertips. Furthermore, it placed the firm at the top of search results about online tertiary institutions (Messinger et al. 220). Retail organisations can also use social computing in order to learn about and meet client needs. Best Buy is an example of a company that successfully did this. It asked Facebook members about their best vampire movie s. The company acted on those responses by placing all the popular ones on sale. As such, Best Buy demonstrated that social computing can be a low-cost strategy of getting feedback from customers. This enables firms to meet their needs directly and more effectively. Aside from the marketing function, some firms have used social computing in order to facilitate communication. As Peter Kim explains in a YouTube video on the power of people, a certain restaurant in Texas utilised its Facebook page as a platform for strengthening its ties with staff members. The area in which the restaurant was located was burnt by a huge fire. Many of the company’s employees lost their belongings and homes as a result. Employees used the restaurant’s Facebook page to air out their grievances. It was a place where they could get solace from colleagues. The organisation leveraged on social computing to enhance its business-to-employee relationship (Kim). How to use social computing to impro ve business practices in UAE Social computing can revolutionise the way companies carry out businesses in the UAE. It is not enough for companies to use social media in order to market new products or reach new clientele; firms need to create sustained value through this phenomenon. UAE companies need to use social computing to develop their business in all realms; that is, in supplies, human resources, operations, marketing and public relations (Dachis Group 5). Firms in this country need to apply the concept when dealing with collaboration between two or more employees. They should also embrace it when optimising their supply chains. Social computing can also lead to better business to customer engagement. The phenomenon can contribute to organisational strategy in the area of connections, analytics, culture and even content exchanges. Companies in the UAE need to realise that social computing will cause them to harness market trends that can drive their business models into the f uture (Parameswaran Whinston 765). Employees and consumers have altered their power over brands as well as IT processes. Workers are using social computing to get past the chain of command inherent in previous technological tools or processes. Customers are taking control of how their brands are perceived, so organisations in the UAE need to embrace this business-transforming idea (IBM 8). In order to understand how social computing will gain relevance in the UAE business climate, firms need to demonstrate certain features after its adoption. Social business can assist firms in becoming engaged. They will become deeply connected to employees, partners, and most importantly, customers. As a result, most of these organisations will become more efficient and productive. Social computing will also increase transparency in an organisation by elimination of boundaries that may exist in a company. Sometimes these boundaries can prevent a business from sharing information or utilising cert ain assets. Lack of transparency may also minimise access to experts, social computing would eradicate that problem. Social business would also improve business practices in the UAE by eliminating boundaries in the above mentioned areas. Companies will also increase their rates of doing business if they take on social computing. They can anticipate problems and address them early on. Firms can also harness new opportunities that will give them an edge over their competitors (Schwartz 1). Social computing enables businesses to capture knowledge, and hence boost their financial outcomes. For UAE organisations to compete favourably, they need to harness as much information as possible. However, the business climate in the country has changed; a lot of companies exist and transactions take place virtually. This calls for a different approach to harnessing knowledge from stakeholders in order to boost a company’s competiveness (Schwartz 1). Social computing can improve communicati on within UAE organisations and outside. Companies can reach their customers, suppliers and partners in real time in order to have conversations with them. Workers can share ideas and insights about certain challenges and thus boost organisational outcomes. Furthermore, the phenomenon will also assist UAE firms in improving staff performance. First organisations can attract appropriate talent through collaborative media. They can also retain talent by allowing their staff to mix work priorities with social needs. This creates a community that has high levels of organisational loyalty. Perhaps one of the most direct and obvious benefits of social computing is strengthening marketing efforts in the UAE. These applications will allow companies to reach customers in new and exciting ways. They will facilitate relationship marketing and also expand consumer pools (Parameswaran Whinston 765). Conclusion Social computing empowers businesses to increase creativity, organise business strate gies and strengthen social interactions. This means that they can reach new clients, facilitate better internal communication, keep up with industry trends, increase business outcomes (financial returns), strengthen employee commitment and communicate with partners more easily. Social computing leads to better financial, human resource, marketing and communication outcomes. Works Cited Bughin, Jacques, Angela Byers Michael Chui. How social technologies are extending the organisation. Nov. 2011. Web.. †¹http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/High_Tech/Strategy_Analysis/How_social_technologies_are_extending_the_organization_2888†º Dachis Group. The definition of social business. June 2012. Web. †¹http://www.dachisgroup.com/2012/06/the-definition-of-social-business/†º Fun, Rachael Christian Wagner. â€Å"Weblogging: A study of social computing and its impact on organisations†. IT and value creation 45.2(2008): 242-250. Print. IBM. IBM social business. 2012. Web.. †¹http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/socialbusiness/overview/index.html†º Kim, Peter. The power of people. 2012. Web.. †¹https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIMR3uHMWz4†º Licklider, Jack Taylor Robert. The computer as a communication device 1968. Web.. †¹http://www.comunicazione.uniroma1.it/materiali/20.20.03_licklider-taylor.pdf. †º McDonald, David. Social Computing, 2011. Web. †¹http://www.interaction-design.org/encyclopedia/social_computing.html†º Messinger, Paul, Eleni Stroulia, Kelly Lyons, Michael Bone, Run Niu, Kristen Smirnov, Stephen Perelgut. â€Å"Virtual worlds – past, present and future: new directions in social computing.† Online communities and social network 47.3(2009): 204-228. Print. Miller. Megan, Aliza Marks Marcelus DeCoulode. Social software for business performance.2011. PDF file. Web.. †¹http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-UnitedStates/Local%20Assets/Documents/TMT_us_tmt/us_tmt_%20Social%20Softwar e%20for%20Business_031011.pdf†º O’Driscoll, Tony. â€Å"Transforming collaboration with social tools.† Technology Forecast 3: 1-68. 2011. Web. Parameswaran, Manoj Andrew Whinston. â€Å"Social computing: an overview.† Communications of the Association for Information Systems 19(2007): 762-780. Print. Ramo, Simon. Teaching machines and programmed learning: a source book. Washington, DC: NEA, 1961. Print. Rasmus, Daniel Rob Salkowitz. Social computing in the enterprise 2009. PDF file. 22 Jun. 2012 †¹http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/3/A/83A83256-4BC7-4512-9C73-2B6AB50F144E/Social_Computing_in_the_Enterprise.pdf†º Rouse, M. Social computing. 2010. Web.. †¹http://searchwinit.techtarget.com/definition/social-computing-SoC†º Schwartz, Jonathan. â€Å"If you want to lead, Blog.† Harvard Business Review Nov. 2005: 1. Print. This essay on Social computing in global businesses was written and submitted by user Malice to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge Plans for a crossing between the city of Brooklyn and lower Manhattan dated back to the early 1800's. When the East River crossing was planned, Brooklyn was still more rural than urban. The city of New York, which at the time consisted only of Manhattan, had twice as many residents (400,000), and the bridge was seen as a solution to overcrowding in Manhattan while spurring development in Brooklyn. The bridge would enable people and goods to cross the East River quickly, regardless of weather conditions. In 1855, John Roebling, a famous bridge designer, proposed a suspension bridge over the East River after becoming impatient with the Atlantic Avenue-Fulton Street Ferry. Roebling worked out every detail of the bridge, from its granite towers to its four steel cables. He thought his design entitled the bridge to be ranked as a national monument and a great work of art. Roebling had experience with suspension spans, with bridges along the Delaware, Niagara and Ohio Rivers. The first of these was in 1848. The Delaware Aqueduct between Lackawwaxen, Pennsylvania and Minisink Ford, New York, is the oldest surviving suspension bridge in America. The second, the Niagara Suspension Bridge, served rail and carriage traffic until it was replaced with a stronger steel-arch bridge in 1891. The third in 1867 was the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge, which had been significantly strengthened in the 1890's with the addition of a steel deck truss, and remains in service today. Roebling approached William C. Kingsley, a Brooklyn businessman with political connections and who was also a publisher for the influential Brooklyn Eagle. Kingsley was very enthusiastic about the idea of the bridge. In turn, he added the support of Henry Murphy, a state senator and former mayor of Brooklyn. Murphy then drafted a bill to the New York State Legislature that would enable a private company to build a bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. In... Free Essays on The Brooklyn Bridge Free Essays on The Brooklyn Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge Plans for a crossing between the city of Brooklyn and lower Manhattan dated back to the early 1800's. When the East River crossing was planned, Brooklyn was still more rural than urban. The city of New York, which at the time consisted only of Manhattan, had twice as many residents (400,000), and the bridge was seen as a solution to overcrowding in Manhattan while spurring development in Brooklyn. The bridge would enable people and goods to cross the East River quickly, regardless of weather conditions. In 1855, John Roebling, a famous bridge designer, proposed a suspension bridge over the East River after becoming impatient with the Atlantic Avenue-Fulton Street Ferry. Roebling worked out every detail of the bridge, from its granite towers to its four steel cables. He thought his design entitled the bridge to be ranked as a national monument and a great work of art. Roebling had experience with suspension spans, with bridges along the Delaware, Niagara and Ohio Rivers. The first of these was in 1848. The Delaware Aqueduct between Lackawwaxen, Pennsylvania and Minisink Ford, New York, is the oldest surviving suspension bridge in America. The second, the Niagara Suspension Bridge, served rail and carriage traffic until it was replaced with a stronger steel-arch bridge in 1891. The third in 1867 was the Cincinnati-Covington Bridge, which had been significantly strengthened in the 1890's with the addition of a steel deck truss, and remains in service today. Roebling approached William C. Kingsley, a Brooklyn businessman with political connections and who was also a publisher for the influential Brooklyn Eagle. Kingsley was very enthusiastic about the idea of the bridge. In turn, he added the support of Henry Murphy, a state senator and former mayor of Brooklyn. Murphy then drafted a bill to the New York State Legislature that would enable a private company to build a bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. In...

Second Language Learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Second Language Learning - Essay Example Thus, recasting is perfect for classroom use and is often applied by teachers to see the degree of production reached by their student (Loewn & Philp). However, there is an alternative view to this mode of teaching. Critic Lyster feels recasts to be an ineffective form of teaching (2001). This claim lays on the idea that the other forms of feedback make a more impressive difference. This is because recasts are unable to prove the difference they make. Recasts in their own form are indefinite in showing he progress that is obtained from being used. The advantage of recasts is their similarity to different types of corrective methods used to L2 learning. This makes 50% of the results used by this form prove to be of great benefit to any learner. Recasts take up different forms. Each form has different characteristics which help determine the effectiveness of its model. The success of this form is evident in the help it provides to the learner and the use of this form. Thus, despite the overriding criticism, this essay will move to prove the different types of recasts and the methods that can be employed to make it a very effective form of learning. Research: including theoretical articles and reviews on this form of study have found support that a linguistic form of teaching adds to the communication that focuses solely on creating meaning and is thus of great help in the classroom (Doughty & Williams). Greater emphasis is laid for focus on form because it allows the student to learn from mistakes that arise in linguistics instead of paying too much attention to meaning and communication (Long 2002). This allows a natural flow in the class as it allows the student to learn from their mistakes instead of focusing on a specific and particular way of teaching. This is known as response moves and allows the student to decipher their own error in the words they make. van Lier considers this form of recast to be present in the interaction that exists in a classroom (2007). The different types of forms vary in their context. For instance, incidental feedback is provided to students during a routine use of the language (Ellis 2001). This mode is useful in classroom because it allows the instructor to improvise and assist in teaching without any form of pressure on a student. It also helps because it allows the student to learn through their mistakes. The other type of feedback is known as corrective feedback. This is when the student uses the language verbally allowing any error to be easily identified by fixing the correctness and exactness that will be evident in communication (Seedhouse 2006). The form is effectiveness in its use because it allows the teacher to know the exact mistakes made by the student and correct them during the communication process. These forms of feedback are seen as immensely useful because of their ability to shift the focus from the content to form. Thus, instead of focusing on the idea that a mistake has been made, form ins tead implies the presence of an error (Ellis, Loewen & Erlam). By using this method of feedback, the student is encouraged to realize their own mistake. The teacher

Real estate law- principles of tort Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Real estate law- principles of tort - Coursework Example 2011). The most controversial and contentious area of tort is on the obligation of landowners towards persons who make a trip to their land. In common law, land was divided into the areas below: invitees, licensees and trespassers (Claeys, et al 2013). The invitee owes the uppermost duty of care while the lowermost duty is owed by the trespassers (Fordham, 2014). In the UK, the laws of Torts have greatly assisted to solve conundrums ascribed to to land. Prior to delving into the principles of torts, it is essential to first understand the concept of an occupier’s liability and how it is relevant in the UK. The legislative arm of the UK has passed two laws to determine the responsibility of the occupier (Gathii, James. 2015). The first law tackles concerns or matters regarding a visitor. The second law is ascribed to another person who is not a visitor. Mutually, the Occupiers Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984Â  inflict responsibility on occupiers rather than what it places on landowners (Williams, 2010). Only facts can determine whether a person is an occupier or not. However, it greatly depends on the extent of power exercised. The yardstick that is used is that of occupational control. That is because more than one employee may be occupying the premises. According to Kenny (2015), the Occupiers Liability Act of 1957 enforces responsibility on occupiers with regard to lawful visitors. The Occupiers Liability of 1984 enforces a responsibility on occupiers in view of persons other than a visitor (Oliphant, 2013). This statute highlights that there is no duty to trespassers, except inflicting malicious injury upon them (lawgazette.com.sg). This statute gives the landowner reassurance that he/she owns the land but tries to refrain him from injuring any trespassers that he may encounter. The occupier also has a duty to the invitee; this means that any person who he has given legal access to his land

The First Opium War 1 question Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The First Opium War 1 question - Coursework Example This paper explores the first opium war and the role of the Western powers in spreading and controlling the use of opium in China and other regions in the period. â€Å"During the nineteenth century Great Britain led the Western powers in ‘opening’ China to trade and Christian proselytizing† (Tyner, 2006, p. 25). The trade inequity between the two nations favored China. Britain bought enormous quantities of tea from China, but offered less woolens to the Chinese. This led the Chinese to require transactions to be settled in silver bullion. In a bid to overturn the trade imbalance, Britain started importing opium into China. By 1817, Britain was trading opium for tea in order to offset their trade deficit with China. The Qing government initially permitted the importation of opium by Britain because it encouraged more export of tea from China to England, while creating an indirect tax for the Chinese citizens. Opium was grown in Indian cotton growing regions under the control of British East India Company (Bengal), which traded opium for tea, in China (Ramirez-Faria, 2007). Britain began trading in opium in 1781 with their opium trade growing immensely between 1821 and 1837. The British facilitated the influx of opium in China and other regions by importing large quantities of the commodity to China. In 1834, Free Trade revolutionists ended the monopoly of the British East India Company, which shifted trade into the hands of private merchants and entrepreneurs (Perdue, 2010). Americans brought in Turkish opium, which was of poor quality but cheaper. As such, there was price war leading to low price, but higher sales of opium. Consequently, the Chinese officials stepped in to intercept the transportation of the commodity into China (Tyner, 2006). In order to stop opium from flooding China, a Chinese officer, Lin Zexu, appointed in

The Measures Of Performance For The Beer Industry

The Measures Of Performance For The Beer Industry Beer is at present worlds most consumed and oldest alcoholic beverage in the world (Max N, (2005). According to Heineken International (2011), it is expected that worldwide beer consumption will grow by 2% to 3 % annually, but growth forecasts different vary substantially in regions. Heineken is one of the worlds great brewers and is committed to growth and remaining independent. The Heineken brand is available in almost every country around the globe and it is the worlds most valuable international premium beer brand. The companys aim is to be a leading brewer in each of the markets in which it operates and to have the worlds most valuable brand portfolio. According to Heineken International (2011), The Company operates 140 breweries in more than 70 countries and Heineken is Europes largest brewer and the worlds third largest by volume and the average number of people employed is more than 75,000. According to Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009), Revenue is EUR 14,701 million gains from the sale of products. Consolidated beer volume is 125.2 million hectolitres and Heineken volume in premium segment is 25.1 million hectolitres, Other revenues are gains from rental income and pub management services also technical services that are giving to third parties. When the services have been delivered Rental income and technical services are state in the income statement. Also, some incomes are gains from the property sale, equipment and plant, intangible assets and (interests in) subsidiaries which are accounted for EUR 41 million, (Heineken International, 2011, Annual Report,  2009). This includes the cost of the Raw materials EUR 1,140 million, non-refundable packaging cost EUR 1,739 million, Goods for resale cost EUR 2,253 million, Inventory movements, marketing and selling expenses EUR 1,664 million, Transport expenses EUR 934 million, Energy and water cost EUR 319 million, Repair and Maintenance cost EUR 299 million. Other expenses include rentals of EUR 184 million, consultant expenses of EUR 158 million, telecom and office automation cost of EUR 145 million and other fixed expenses of EUR 820 million, Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009) ,[Online]. Research,  Development , Software and other intangible assets costs. According to Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009), [Online], Research, Development, Software and other intangible assets costs is EUR 1,083 million these includes purchase of softwares and expenditure on internally development and maintain of software. Also Expenditure on research activities such as design and improve product brand image (Heineken DraughtKeg, improved design of the new iconic Bottle) . Government Grants According to Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009) ,[Online],cost is EUR 70 million Government grants has been surety to the authorities in a number of countries as security for the payment of taxation where Heineken operates, especially excise tax paid for beers and non-alcoholic beverages , spirits and import duties. Other net finance expenses including income Tax According to Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009), [Online], Other net finance expenses including income Tax , impairment losses recognised on investments, and gains or losses on hedging instruments that are recognised in the income statement cost is EUR 214 million. Personnel expenses This includes Wages and salaries EUR 1,554 million, compulsory social security contributions EUR 287 million, contributions to defined benefit plans EUR 17 million, increase in other long term employee benefits EUR 7 million, Expenses related to define benefit plans EUR 107 million, Equity-settled share-based payment plan EUR 10 million, Other personnel expenses EUR 397 million, Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009),[Online]. The measures of performance for the Beer Industry According to Plato Logic Limited (2011),Global beer consumption grew by 1.8% in 2008, but a sharp slowdown to less than 1% growth forecasted for 2009, also China market is strengthened its position further as the worlds biggest beer market in 2008 by achieving record sale of 407mhl. Anheuser-Busch InBev, SABMiller, Heineken and Carlsberg beer brands accounting for 50% of beer sales volumes and up to 75% of the global profit, Plato Logic Limited (2011). Over the past 5 years the beer category average growth rate was 3.5% globally. However according to SABMiller (2011), this reflects different pictures in growing and developed markets with growing at an average rate of 6.8% .while developed markets gradually become less by 3.4%.The largest contributor to this growth rate is China, which is now the worlds largest beer market, Africa and Eastern Europe. China recorded a rise of over 7%, despite being hindered by heavy weather conditions that affected consumer demand, SABMiller (2011). The measures of performance of the Heineken Company and beer Industry Financial performance Source: Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009) via http://www.annualreport.heineken.com/report_of_the_executive_board/financial_review/index.html Revenue and expenses According to Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009), [Online], Heineken revenue increased by 2.7 % from EUR 14.3 billion in 2008 to EUR 14.7 billion in 2009 and decreased organic growth by 0.2 %. However Heineken Annual Report noted that other income is increased from EUR 32 million in 2008 to EUR 41 million in 2009.Main reason is of increased cost of sale of property, plant and equipment. Furthermore Total cost management (TCM), Heinekens wide cost reduction programme for the period 2009 to 2011 which is delivered mainly savings in fixed cost spending. Therefore other expenses were decreased by EUR 36 million. In 2009, exceptional restructuring charges as part of personnel expenses related to Total cost management amounted to EUR 63 million before the tax, Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009). Heineken International (2011), Annual Report (2009) further noted that Costs of raw materials and packaging decreased by 4.4 %, of which 3.2 % which was due to low volumes and low purchasing prices for barley the end of 2009.Furtthermore Marketing and selling expenses reduce organically by 3.7% to11.3 % of revenue in 2009 from 11.7 % in 2008, Heineken Signs Sponsorship Deal With ESPNSoccernet According to adoimagazine.com, Interactive Hub has secured a sponsorship deal with Heineken on ESPNSoccernet for three seasons of the UEFA Champions League (UCL). The three-season agreement will run until the 2012/2013 season. Heineken supply lager for London Olympics 2012 According to Ruddick G., (04 Feb 2011), London Olympics Business, Heineken UK will be the official lager supplier in a tier three deal, typically worth around  £10m, that pushes London 2012 closer to its target of raising  £2bn from sponsorship. Heineken profits up According to BBC News (25 August 2010), Business, Heineken Net profits for the first half of the year hit 621m Euros ( £510m; $788m), up 17% on the same period last year. Heinekens acquisition of FEMSA increases its exposure to key Latin American markets According to Curran P., (01-12-2010),The Heinekens acquisition of FEMSA strengthen Heinekens position in the Americas and substantially increase its share in Mexico and Brazil as well as securing its joint venture with FEMSA in the US premium beer import market. Mexico and Brazil are other two leading markets in Latin America and those countries accounted of 63% beer volume of those regions in 2009. Heineken NV sees profits grow According to Canadeans,( 17/02/11), latest beer news Heinekens Non-organic net profit rose by 41 per cent to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.4 billion ( £1.2 billion), while its premium volumes climbed by 3.4 per cent. Nearly 1 million jobs rely on sector According to Canadeans news ,(17/02/11), A new report, conducted by Oxford Economics and commissioned by the British Beer Pub Association (BBPA), showed that 980,000 people are reliant on the licensing sector for employment, with the beer and pub trade bringing  £21 billion into the economy annually. Value Chain for the Heineken International Firm infrastructure According to Heineken International (2011), Heineken structured like Holding Company. The role of the Heineken Holding N.V. has performed for the Heineken group since 1952.It has been set to safeguard Heineken continuity with independence, stability and steady growth of the Heineken groups activities. Management Heineken International (2011) noted that Heineken Holding N.V. is head of the Heineken Group with a Board of Directors. The management of Heineken N.V. is run by the Executive Board, which has two members and is chaired by Jean-Franà §ois van Boxmeer. Heineken currently operate in 5 regions, which are The Americas, Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East as well as Asia-Pacific. Each operating region is headed by a Regional President. The five Regional Presidents, two members of the Executive Board and five Group Directors are included in the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee ensures the alignment and implementation of key priorities, strategies across the organisation and supports the development of organisation policy. Heineken International (2011). Primary Activities Inbound logistics Heineken operates in many different countries, therefore Heineken purchase raw materials (malt, hops and adjuncts), equipment and other goods and services within in order to meet the needs of customers and consumers and distributed beer worldwide, stored in warehouses strategically placed throughout to minimize shipping costs to stores. Supplier Code is designed to ensure both ethical and effective sourcing processes that reduce the risk of reputational and financial damage through the supply chain, Heineken International (2011). Operations Heineken main operation is Brew beer and it operates in more than 170 countries. With total consolidated beer volume of 125.2 million hectoliters in 2009, producing beer in more than 70 countries through its 140 breweries and also through other brewers under license, Heineken International (2011), AMCO Heineken Prospectus [Online]. Outbound logistics Heineken is the largest beer and beverage distributor in Western Europe. In every market where Heineken active, Heineken strive for comprehensive coverage through alliances with independent distributors or via Heineken own beverage wholesalers. Often, Heineken wholesalers also distribute wine, spirits and soft drinks to the on-trade. Heineken also has brewers throughout the world so that it can ship its finished products to local areas to minimize shipping costs, Heineken International (2011). Marketing and sales Heineken has worlds leading portfolios of premiere beer brands and is the 3rd most recognized brand of beer in the world. By acquiring smaller brewers in the world Heineken spread brand name even more also in achieving sustainable growth. National advertising play a prominent role in promoting Heineken strengthened brand equity through associations with high-impact, high-profile sports and music events (Heineken cup and OPENER music festival), Social networking sites and video blogs, films. Heineken remain fully committed to the responsible brewing, Respect for the consumer and an acknowledgement of the dangers associated with the misuse of alcohol drives to market Heineken products in a responsible way, Heineken International (2011). Service In the brewing industry there is little to no after sales service. The company encourage consumers to visit the internet site and register to become part of the Heineken. As part of this, the company could send out periodical surveys to gain input from consumers on product related issues. Heineken International (2011). Support Activities Human Resource Management According to Heineken International (2011), Heineken has the ability to develop leaders by exposing employees to a wide variety of businesses, with responsibility. Heineken allows them to take prudent risks as they improve their own leadership and business skills. Heineken focused on leadership development that ensures smooth succession through Heinekens most senior management levels. Heineken average number of people employed is more than 75, 000, Heineken International (2011). Technology Development Heinekens worldwide operations are relying on information systems. Information Technology processes, infrastructures and IT Risk monitoring processes are centralised and outsourced to professional outsourcing partners. Which are includes agreements on assurance from IT outsourcing partners, Heineken International (2011). Procurement Thermal energy Heineken use heat for brewing and 41% of heat generated by natural gas in their own sites and from diesel or gas oil, light fuel oil, heavy fuel oil or coal at the remainder 7% of Heineken sites utilise waste heat supplied by neighbouring industrial plants. Heineken gets biogas from the anaerobic treatment of wastewater and Heineken control nineteen anaerobic treatment plants and its the 7th largest company that uses the biogas as an energy source, Heineken International (2011). Electricity Heineken buy most of the electricity and remaining 45% of electricity generate in the site by combining heat and power systems as well as diesel generators. Around 6% of Heineken sites are not connected to urban electricity systems and all the electricity use on those generated on-site, Heineken International (2011). Water water is the main raw material used in brewing. Water is also used to cleaning tanks, packaging, production equipment and pipe work, Heineken International (2011). Raw materials (grains and hops) Heineken get most of raw materials by participating in joint development projects with malting companies in countries where Heineken operates. In 2009, Heineken UK launched a new supply chain code of conduct and focused on improving its responsible supply chain performance. Heineken operates some of own local Agriculture projects to get raw materials such as Sierra Leone Sorghum Project which is local sourcing project in Sierra Leone is part of the companys Africa-wide strategy to procure at least 60% of its raw materials locally, Heineken International (2011). Furthermore Heineken has developed subsidiaries and partnerships for many of the inputs required to produce beer including screw cap manufacturers, freight companies, and can manufacturers, glass bottlers, cardboard manufacturers, and machinery manufacturers, (Heineken International, 2011). Goals of Heineken International Green Commerce According to Heineken Sustainability Report (2009), by 2012 Heineken aims to reduce carbon footprint of their brands and business. This also includes transparently report against clear benchmarks and carbon reduction throughout the value chain support of the new supplier code. Also significantly reduce the total carbon per hectolitre by 2020.Also by 2012 design carbon reduction new package policy, Energy reduction of 15% in cooling, introduce new product evaluation criteria in all regions where Heineken operate. Green brewer Heineken Sustainability Report (2009) noted that Use energy in an efficient way and reduce the associated fossil CO2 emissions and develop this concept of the CO2 natural brewery and implement it in at least three breweries. By 2012 Heineken aim to keep specific water consumption to 4.3 hl/hl also designed energy efficient breweries and keep fossil CO2 emission to average 8.5 kg/hl. Engaging Employees The secure and safe working environment develops for all employees by achieve zero fatalities across Heineken business. By 2012 implement and audit employee rights and policy by developing training modules for employees in high and medium safety risk functions, also set safety targets for other activities that are not relevant for production, Heineken Sustainability Report (2009). Heineken cares According to Heineken Sustainability Report (2009), Heineken aims to increase the level of corporate social investment in developing markets, by In 2010 increase funds for the Heineken Africa Foundation to EUR 20 million enabling EUR 1 million investment per year thereafter and develop standards for sustainable agriculture and verified by stakeholders. Responsible beer consumption programme The combine actions of Heineken and all stakeholders promote and develop Enjoy Heineken Responsibility(provide consumers with information about alcohol consumption and health issues) by 2012 and develop and deliver 100% of commerce or marketing employees a specific workshop for support rules on responsible commercial communication, Heineken Sustainability Report (2009). Partnership for future progress According to Heineken Sustainability Report (2009), by 2012 increase the Heineken partnership with markets to at least 50 with third party to address alcohol abuse and implement and evaluate UK and Ireland Government or industry partnership projects.

The True Value of Street Art Essay -- When Does Graffiti Become Art?

Mention the word graffiti and what typically comes to mind is something unpleasant and distasteful like indecent language scribbled on a wall of a store or crude pictures. Most graffiti is characterized as vandalism on property that does not belong to the culprit. Graffiti also displays negative graphics that promote some type of vulgar message such as violence, sex, drugs, gangs, and racism. On the other hand, when the terms â€Å"street† and â€Å"art† come together, a blast of colorful creations upon blank slates on the street comes to mind. Although street art is technically considered graffiti, it is a type of graffiti with positive qualities, but certain figures in society find street art to be, in some way, disruptive. If used properly, street art can be appreciated artistically and socially. Despite the negative stigma attached to graffiti, street art has emerged as a progressive valuable art form whose vast history, surge in popularity, and urge for social chan ge warrant its classification as a fine art. Those who argue that street art is nothing more than graffiti that violates personal property do not characterize it as a valuable art form. These critics argue that some places cannot afford to keep the property clean; if it gets really bad, the whole building will have to be painted, and that is expensive (O’Lear). Unwanted artwork will cause economic problems with removing the art from illegally used canvases such as building, billboards, and sidewalks. Critics also uphold that there are numerous outlets that people could use that are more tasteful and less destructive. (O’Lear). Turkey Stremmel, the co-owner of Stremmel Gallery, suggests that there are other ways to create the murals artists plaster on street surfaces. Artis... ...sh." The Nevada Sagebrush [Reno, Nevada] 4 Apr. 2011. The Nevada Sagebrush - The Student Newspaper of the University of Nevada, Reno. University of Nevada, 4 Apr. 2011. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. . "Tracing the Roots of Modern Street-Art and Graffiti." Tracing the Roots of Modern Street-Art and Graffiti | WebUrbanist. WebUrbanist | From Urban Art & 3D Graffiti to Abandoned Cities. Webist Media Publishing, 22 Apr. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. . Wildman, Luke. "Why Banksy Canvas Art Is So Popular." Entertainment Articles - EzineMark - Free Content Article Directory. EzineMark, 28 Mar. 2010. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. .