IT and Organizational Structure Alignment

Information technology has become a vital aspect to any large corporation. Managing information to effectively balance control and coordination is a challenge to business leaders. Correctly aligning structure with information technology can save valuable time and resources. Understanding the relationships between the flow of information and how it relates the chain of command is important to utilize information. Businesses use a variety of structures to align information technology with the organizational structure. In order to effectively align information technology with an organization's structure, the goals of the company and the goals of the information system must be determined. The development of a new structure to accommodate technology is becoming commonplace in business. For example, USAA an insurance provider decided they needed to increase customer satisfaction by providing faster and more effective service. Prior to the change departments were independent from each other and control was highly centralized. The old organization was preventing quick responses in a company where response time is the single most important criteria for the customer. The company flattened its structure and coordinated departments with information systems. This gave employees decision-making power and allowed for quicker response times to the customer. (Garreth, 379) In a production-based company, the information requirements are different. Hewlett-Packard underwent serious change in organizational structure in 1989. The high-tech company was struggling to provide new products at the rate of its competitors. The CEO traced the problem to the product development process. The process was sequential and was wasting time in a highly competitive industry. He redesigned the hierarchical structure of the company and improved the process. He reduced the time-consuming committee based decision-making process and flattened the structure by eliminating two levels of management. The result was interdependent departments that communicated using information technology. This new structure has dramatically reduced the time it takes to introduce new products to the market (Garreth, 382). Business is constantly changing and an organization must be ready to adapt. In today's constantly changing business world, organizational structure and information systems must constantly be evaluated. An organization must be willing to redesign the structure and determine how IT can streamline the process. The coordination between IT and organizational structure can be directly traced to customer satisfaction and profit. Taking advantage of information technologies can greatly improve the performance of a business.

Smoking should be made illegal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Smoking should be made illegal - Essay Example This essay discusses the reasons why smoking should be made illegal. Smoking can cause serious health damage. "Smoking increases the risk of getting lung cancer, larynx cancer, COPD, oral cavity, throat cancer and oesophagus cancer." (Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid, RIVM, 25 September 2007) Smokers not only damage their own physical health, but they can also harm the same of the people who do not smoke. If a person breathes in cigarette smoke from the environment, it is called passive smoking. "Passive smoking is responsible for several thousands of deaths a year in The Netherlands." (Nationaal Kompas Volksgezondheid, RIVM, 25 September 2007) So the stressed out mother that desperately needs a smoke, while her kids are finally asleep on the couch, could indeed be damaging her children's health and of her own. In these times of financial crises we might want to cut back on our expenses a little bit. Since smoking is quite an expensive habit, this might be the time to save some money which otherwise would be spent on cigarettes. Most tobacco products are probably not that expensive on their own, but the taxes that are put on tobacco make cigarettes a lot more expensive. Also individual and national medical expenses could be reduced drastically. A counterargument could be that smoking is enjoyable and relaxing. ... 1998, Page 24) However, because of these stimulating effects, nicotine can be highly addictive. A person may grow dependent on nicotine to calm nerves, fight boredom, and keep focused as well as other reasons. As the body gets used to it, a person may experience detoxification symptoms as soon as he doesn't take his cigarette every two hours. Another counterargument may be that the tobacco industry highly contributes towards the Dutch economy. "The Netherlands is one of Europe's major suppliers of tobacco products. Several tens of thousands of Dutch citizens have tobacco to thank directly or indirectly for their welfare." (500 jaar tabakscultuur, Peter Bulthuis, Bzzth, 1992, Page 95). On the other hand stands the costs that smokers make for medical care, when they become ill from smoking, while the doctor already tells them to quit smoking time and time again. Also the discouraging campaigns against smoking by the government cost quite a lot. "A budget of about half a million Euros for the prevention of smoking among youth" (Genotmiddelen in Nederland, maatschappelijke en economische aspecten. A. Vreeken. Stichting Maatschappij en Onderneming. 1998, Page 48). In my opinion, there is nothing enjoyable about smoking, because it makes you physically ill, makes your breath smell bad, costs money and can cause damage to others whilst becoming an addiction. I believe that its dangers easily outweigh its pleasures. Of course, enjoyment is something that cannot be missed in a person's life, but there are also a lot of alternatives that are not as damaging to people's health. What if your daughter started smoking when she was 14, while you, as a parent, are in a hospital bed, terminally ill because of lung cancer, caused by smoking. Conclusion Smoking

Creating of a Legally Binding Contract Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Creating of a Legally Binding Contract - Essay Example The formation of a legally binding contract requires an offer to be made properly which should be accepted properly. An offer once accepted becomes a promise and when it forms a consideration for the parties, it becomes an agreement. When the parties to an agreement have an intention to create legal relations, the agreement becomes a contract. A legally binding contract gives legal rights to a party to a contract in case of breach of a contract by the other party. Let us take a deeper look at the formation of a contract. The most important thing is the competence of the parties to enter into a contract. Every person is competent to contract unless he is a minor or of an unsound mind. A contract with a minor is not a valid contract. Also, it cannot be validated by ratification by a minor when he reaches the age of majority. Simon and Davina can be easily assumed to be of the ages of majority. A contract with a person of unsound mind is also not a valid contract. There are some people who are occasionally of sound mind and occasionally of an unsound mind. The contracts made with them at the time of their sanity are valid contracts. However, the burden of proof falls on the party which contracted with such a person that he was of a sound mind when he entered into the contract. The first ingredient of a legally binding contract is an offer. When a person signifies to another person, his intention to do something or refrain from doing something in return of a promise that the other person would do or refrain from doing something, the first person is said to have made an offer to the second person. The first person would be called an offeror or proposer and the second person would be called an offeree. An offer should be made properly. It should be communicated to the offeree. There should not be any ambiguity in the terms of the offer i.e. the terms should be definite, clear and easy to understand. In Guthing v Lynn [1831] 2 B & Ad 232, 9 LJOSKB 181, the buyer of a horse promised to pay extra  £5 â€Å"if the horse is lucky for me†. It was held that this promise was not enforceable as the statement was too vague to explain that in what way the horse was required to be lucky. An offer may be made generally to a variety of people or it may be made spe cifically to a particular person. It may contain a condition for acceptance which must be fulfilled for a valid acceptance. In this case, Simon is in the process of negotiation with Davina. It can be said that Simon’s offer to Davina is wide and open. He has made the offer of hiring Davina as a mentor to support the finalists of his TV program â€Å"Your Hired†. It is assumed here that Simon has offered Davina a definite sum of money for her services.

I have assignment to paraphrase 4 pages of a debate that we had. I Essay

I have assignment to paraphrase 4 pages of a debate that we had. I have it but I need to paraphrase it with keeping the meaning and the main points - Essay Example There exists a debate between two opposing camps; Liberals and Conservatives. The Conservatives feel that the government is too big already and should therefore desist from engaging in the provision of social services to those in need. In other words, the provision is such a big problem that the government alone cannot handle. Their claim is based on the fact that the government’s services are bloated with bureaucratic procedures which means that time is severely wasted. In addition, the lack of competition also implies the lack of incentives to provide better services and more waste of limited resources. Yet again, Conservatives believe that government efforts could contribute to the establishment of a social welfare state which soon ushers socialism, and matures into communism. The other camp however believes that social services involve providing solutions to a monumental problem – a task that can only be accomplished by a â€Å"big† government. In other words, liberals believe that the problem of poverty can only be solved through government intervention. The following debate on Social services is based to a wide extent on the thirteenth chapter of Kindle, Midgley, Browns and Karger’s book, Controversial Issues in Social Policy. Based on a debate arises between people who believe social welfare is a government’s affair and the people who think that it is too big a problem for the government to handle alone 1. Since Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are not likely to change with changes in political activities for instance when there is an election and there is a change in political leadership, they are best suited to offer social services. The government will call for bids from private organizations to offer required services and with a well laid down criteria. The government may then chose the organization that best qualifies to provide social services with due regard to

Focus in literally devices analyze one of the poems and what the poet Essay

Focus in literally devices analyze one of the poems and what the poet is trying to say - Essay Example Despite the peaceful environment the persona and his love listens to the rasping sound of the pebbles that are being dragged by the waves in and out of the ocean. The poet in the second stanza mentions that Sophocles, an historical character associated with the incidences at the shore. This stanza carries us back to the time while helping us link the incident at the shore with what happened in the past. Sophocles might have heard a similar sound in the Aegean that reminded him of human suffering. Such a sound is heard from a distance in the north but all this occurs in the thoughts of the persona. He further talks about the ‘Sea of Faith’ (line 21) that existed at one time but it is only heard. Faith was beheld by a mighty sea that touched on every part of the earth. He asks his love that they ought to be true to one another despite the many issues that surrounds them. He seems to point out that the world that they are in is full of beautiful and good things but it lacks true joy, spiritual light, as well as true love. These are the ingredients of a well-lived life; it could be ironical to leave them out. He mentions that the wor ld is coupled with several uncertainties especially when help is required. The poem has been structured in a manner that it captures diverse aspects within its body. Firstly, the title of the poem closely relates with what is happening. The poets focus is in drawn to Dover beach that is on the French coast despite them occupying a position in England. Secondly, the poem is basically a monologue that consists of thirty seven lines and is divided into four sections, with each having some different view. The first section brings into view the location of the persona and the unfolding of events. The second section talks about Sophocles and what happened to him in relation to the incidence at the Dover beach. He is a person whose history has a basis of the same incidence. The third

Total Rewards System Proposal Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Total Rewards System Proposal - Research Paper Example Due to the fact that the workers are the core of the business, the industry aims to make its collective achievement around its requirements as well as that of its workers. â€Å"By presenting the total rewards picture, employers gain the flexibility to shape the work experience in different ways at different phases in the company’s life cycle, as well as for different segments of the employee population† (Total Rewards Strategies for the 21st Century, 2012, p.6). Several industries have now begun to understand that they get improved performance from connected and engaged employees. Thus, this new insight has helped them to focus on rethinking their strategies for workers. They are introducing new methods to recognize, connect and maintain the right labor force in order to deliver plans that would entail in the overall development of the business concern. By adopting total rewards strategies, the industries are considering to make amendments in the character of work as well as expectations of workers. Managers have recognized that employee commitment affects the base line. So where reward plans have to be changed, managers are taking benefit of new tools to access improved information in order to take the most apt decisions regarding the human resource of the company. Total rewards strategy is a preparation for assigning reward resources in a way would ensure that the business achieves the organizational goals and objectives. â€Å"The eleme nts of a Total Rewards Program – compensation, benefits, work life balance, performance & recognition and development opportunities – create an environment in the organization which is completely focused on employee engagement. Total Rewards program elements are not mutually exclusive and results in satisfied, engaged and productive employees, who create desired business performance and results† (Total

BRIEF CASE Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

BRIEF CASE - Coursework Example Teresa D. Oglesbee is the bereaved and Pfeil is a private funeral home. Oglesbee attended a private viewing at Pfeil in the evening of September 12, 2010. Oglesbee used the front door to exit the building after the viewing. Pfeil official escorted her carrying an umbrella since it was raining. Oglesbee moved ahead of the Pfeil official and fell in an eight-inch drop at the public sidewalk, causing her to suffer injury. The drop was not marked and the official did not warn her about the eight-inch drop. Oglesbee sued Pfeil in tort for negligence arguing that her fall resulted from Pfeil’s neglect and failure. Pfeil discovered this and moved for summary judgment. Pfeil argued that the company had no duty to warn Oglesbee because the drop consisted of an open and obvious danger, which she could have easily observed without necessarily being warned against it. Oglesbee filed a case against Pfeil upon suffering an injury caused by falling into an eight-inch drop at Pfeil’s premises. The offended party usually moves to court to sue the offender for remedies. In this case, Oglesbee is the offended party, and also the plaintiff. Her interest was to sue Pfeil for damages caused by negligence and failure of duty of care to its invitees. Pfeil sought summary judgment after discovering Oglesbee move to court. Pfeil won the case against Oglesbee based on the fact that the drop at Pfeil’s sidewalk was an open and obvious danger; therefore, the company was not responsible for Oglesbee’s injury. Oglesbee decided to appeal to the higher court. The case was forwarded to the court of appeal. The plaintiff/appellant feels that the agent of the defendant/appellee had a duty of care in tort to ensure safety of invitees through providing and keeping posted adequate warnings at the scene under the conditions that prevailed at the time of her injury. These conditions are hazardous and dangerous to people leaving the premises especially when there is no light, sign or