Defines Social Reporting As an Important †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: How To The Defines Social Reporting As An Important? Answer: Introduction Kaur (2016) defines social reporting as an important part on of a business enterprise activities that have a social influence. It involves reporting of internal and external information which elaborates the impact that a business organization has on the society. According to The Social Report (2010), the social report uses applies statistical indicators to assess the changes in major social aspects of the lives of the people to get a clear understanding of the progress towards attainment of improved social status. The aim of social reports is to measure the benefits of an organizations business activities to the business and on the society. Social reports are beneficial to the internal users of the organization that is, the management and the external user who comprises of the investors and the shareholders and also have an impact on the prices of the shares. Social reports included the net income and contributions of the organization, human resource contribution, the impact of the organization to the public, contribution towards environmental conservation and the product or service contribution of the company The company selected are PepsiCo Food and Beverage Company and Microsoft Inc. which are based in America. These companies are recognized for their social responsibilities. Companies identified and their countries of operation PepsiCo Inc. Background information PepsiCo is a food and beverage company based in America. The company has its headquarters in New York. The founder of the company was Caleb Bradham who was a pharmacist. Bradham came up with the recipes for soft drink Pepsi in 1880s. He named his drink Pepsi-cola in 1898, and it gained a lot of popularity, and in 1902 he established Pepsi Cola Company. The company was declared bankrupt in 1931, and Charles Guth purchased the company. Guth was also the president of Loft In. which was a leading candy manufacturer. Loft Inc. sued Guth for his 91% shares in Pepsi-Cola, Loft Inc. won the case, and absorbed Pepsi-Cola in 1941 and formed Pepsi-Cola Company. In 1965 the company merged with Frito-Lay Inc. and changed its name to PepsiCo Inc. According to PepsiCo (2014) since 1965 the company has expanded its range of its food and beverage production and has merged with several other companies which include Tropicana Products and the Quaker Oats Company which has increased the variety of products of the company. The company markets its products in more than 200 countries and has maintained a good reputation all over the world. The company has employed close to 300,000 employees. Microsoft Inc Background information Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. The company is based in the United States of America with its headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The company is known for products such as Microsoft Window operating system, Microsoft Office, Xbox, and Bing. The companys operations include developing, manufacturing, licensing and supporting a variety of software products for computing devices. Microsoft and IBM formed a partnership in which Microsoft would install its operating systems in all IBM computers, and they would pay loyalty to Microsoft on every sale they made. The two companies agreed that Microsoft would write a new operating system for all IBM computers which was called OS/2. However, Microsoft continued selling their operating system which competed with OS/2 and gained much popularity in the market and made more sales than OS/2. In 1990s Microsoft innovated several versions of Microsoft Windows, and they gained 90% of the market share of the worlds personal computers. Differences between the PepsiCo and Microsoft regarding the range of issues the dealt with in their social reports. The social reports of the two companies have put into consideration their stakeholders who include customers and consumers, community, employees, investors and the government. The two companies have tried to address the issues that have an impact on any of the listed stakeholders. Their social reports primary focus on governance, management, sustainability and environmental protection, quality of their products, workplace safety and practice, human rights, compliance and ethical issues and community practice. Sustainability and environmental protection The sustainability approaches of the two companies are quite different PespsiCo Company sustainability policy focus on supporting institutions with programmes that aim at conserving the environment and also the company has invested in recycling and waste management programmes. Microsoft, on the other hand, has adopted the use of renewable materials in the production of its products as well as using renewable energy sources in its production. PepsiCo Further helps in managing environmental disasters that affect the people through donations. Considering that Microsoft is a technological company its main aim is to advance technology to ensure that the environment is conserved while PepsiCo Inc. is a food and beverage company and its main aim is to ensure that it protects the consumers by making sure that its products are environmentally friendly (Werther Chandler,2010) Quality of products PepsiCo Inc. approach to ensure that its products are of high quality is different from that of Microsoft Inc. PepsiCo tests and consumes its products and then endorses their quality. Microsoft, on the other hand, manufactures computer hardware and software and sells them to the consumers. The make their improvements based on the reports that they acquire from the customers. The quality of the products that PepsiCo produces is aimed at ensuring that the consumers health is well protected while the quality of the Products that Microsoft produces is aimed at ensuring that the products that the consumer enjoys efficiency in the use of computers through effective software and hardware. Communities PepsiCo Corporate social responsibility approach towards the community. The company values the community as their second most important stakeholder since they believe that the community influences the perception of the employees and the customers and consumers of the company. According to PepsiCo Foundation, (2010) the company has established a foundation that deals with various problems affecting the community. The company supports institutions that focus on environmental conservation such as The Earth Institute's Columbia Water Centre. PepsiCo Foundation has also participated in disaster relief and humanitarian support programmes by donating their products to the families and the communities in need, supporting the NGOs and employee contributions. Since 2013, PepsiCo Foundation has been part of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program. According to PepsiCo Inc. (2015). PepsiCo also participated in helping the communities affected by the following disasters. Hurricane M atthew in the Caribbean and Southeast U.S., October 2016, Earthquake in Ecuador, April 2016 and Water Crisis in Flint, MI, 2016 among others. On the other hand Microsoft corporate responsibility on the community, they have given the community the lower priority compared to PepsiCo. Microsoft community programs include providing discounts to some customers while PepsiCo does not. Compliance and ethical issues PepsiCo Inc. and Microsoft Inc. operate in different industries, and therefore they have different compliance and ethical issues to comply with. Why the differences exists between the PepsiCo and Microsoft The issues discussed in the social reports of the two companies is largely due to the differences in their industry of operation. The two companies operate in the United States, but their focus is different. PepsiCo is a food and beverage company which markets its products in many countries in the world the countries have different regulations regarding the manufacture of food products and beverages, so the company has to adjust its production process to observe the regulations of different countries. Its approach corporate social responsibility aims at ensuring that the consumer and the community maintain a good perception of their products so that they can maintain their customers. The company also focuses on the better health of the consumers and therefore, its production is mainly aimed at ensuring that they produce healthy products for consumption. Food and beverages consumers have different tastes and preferences and therefore, thinned to have different products in the market. On the other hand, Microsoft is a technology based company, and the regulations that govern technology industry are different. Unlike the food industry technology industry is faced with stiff completion on the advancement of the products, to remain competitive in the market the company needs to keep on innovation better technologies. Thats why Microsoft prioritize their employees that the community. This is because their employee helps in innovation and thus help the company maintain a competitive edge over other companies. The main of Microsoft is to advance technology through continuous innovation of computer hardware and software. The use of software does not change anywhere in the world, and therefore, the Microsoft innovations are aimed at improving the existing software to improve its effectiveness and efficiency (Microsoft, 2017 c) Zadek approaches The social reports of both PepsiCo and Microsoft a common focus on stakeholders. The two reports address the needs the consumers, the community, employees, investors, and the government. The reports address the practices that the two companies that ensure that the needs of the listed stakeholders are met to ensure that remain satisfied. Both companies have used social reporting to transform the perception of the readers as well as the perception of all the stakeholders of the company. By changing the perceptions of the stakeholders, the company experiences a positive impact in its decisions, activities, and results. Transformational reporting has helped the two companies to drive changes in their organizations since every stakeholder takes the responsibility to commit to the report. The companies have engaged different stakeholders in their reports which is referred to as innovation in stakeholder engagement. The companies have used their social reports to communicate with different categories of stakeholders. The reports by the two companies are aimed at creating assurance to the public and to create trust in all stakeholders of the companies. Creating assurance helps in improving internal learning, skill development, and effective decision making. The extent to which the values of PepsiCo and Microsoft reflect in their reports According to PepsiCo Inc (2014), the company operated under the following principals Caring for their customers and the world- Besides being driven by a strong competition spirit the company looks forward to benefiting the both the company and its constituents. The company ensures that it has a better understanding of its customers needs as well as their communities in which they operate. PepsiCo is dedicated to selling products that they are proud of- the company tests and consumes its products to approve the credibility of the products they sell. By doing that the company has confidence in its products thus they ensure they maintain the quality of their products from the production to the consumption of their products. The company ensures that it speaks with truth and sincerity- the company communicates openly to be understood by people of all backgrounds. To ensure that it is well understood. This boosts innovation and also helps the company in identifying new markets. Considers both long term and short term benefits and risks this helps the company to embrace relevant ideas that will help the company sustain its growth both now and in the future. PepsiCo ensures that it respects others and they can share their success- the company does not only believe in individual excellence, but they value the contribution of teamwork in attaining its goals. In this report, the company stated that Human beings, the environment, and talents are the major pillars that facilitate its growth. The company aims at improving the nutritional value of its products to ensure that the consumers fully enjoy their products and they attain good health conditions. This meets the companys goal of ensuring Human sustainability. The company also makes sure that it applies production mechanisms that will minimize environmental impact and also take part in programs that aim at conserving the environment thus the company ensures environmental sustainability as one of their values. The company aims at empowering people and in this regard the company has developed a culture of engaging people from different regions and respects every stakeholder in the supply chain. PepsiCos report has reflected its values in its 2014 CSR sustainability report. According to Microsoft Inc (2016), the company reported that by 2016 the company had made the following progress. The company had established the energy goals which would include the use of renewable energy such as the wind, solar and hydroelectric power in its data centers. Accommodating ideas while designing their products and services thus building and inclusive culture. The company has enhanced the privacy of its customers by providing privacy statements that help protect the customers data thus ensuring that right to privacy is observed. The company also ensures that suppliers are held accountable for human rights, labour health, and safety, business ethics which are listed in the companys supplier code of conduct. The company has committed to donate to philanthropies for three years to expand economic opportunities in every part of the world. The report by Microsoft Inc. fully reflects if the value that aims at ensuring that the company meets its responsibility for addressing social, environmental and economic issues. The company also has shown proper coordination with all its stakeholders in their efforts to advance and develop communities through technological advancement. From the discussion by the group, we focused on the values, approaches to social responsibility and reporting using PepsiCo In and Microsoft Inc. From the discussion, it can be concluded that the values of a company fully guide its operations. Company values are important in ensuring that the company achieves its goals and objectives. When a company complies with its values, then it creates a good public image that ensures that maintains the loyalty of its customers. The company is also able to maintain the quality of its products and also and also improve where necessary because it gets positive responses from the consumers. It is evident that the core value of the company should be focusing on satisfying the needs of the consumers, community, employees, investors and the government. If the company can address all the needs of these stakeholders, then it has a high chance of succeeding. The two companies have observed their values, and they a have tremendous development and growth i n the market and their products have been recognized worldwide. Their operations are focused on ensuring that they not only benefit the organization but also benefits the consumers, employees, communities, investors and the government. This ensures that the companies enjoy sustained growth over the years. Application of GVV framework According to Zemanta (2009), values of a company refers to the philosophies or principles that the company follows in its internal and external activities. The values of a company guide its conduct and also its relation relationship with the society. According to Gentiles (2010) Giving Voice to Values (GVV) is an approach that aims at adapting a value driven leadership in business education in the workplace. GVV does not act on ethical analysis but focuses on what a person can say or do that would be effective while observing his or her values. GVV aims at ensuring that companies, employees, and their stakeholders would act on their values despite the pressure they may face from the external pressures. GVV equips students, business leaders, employees and other stakeholders with different ways which they can use to voice their values at the workplace. GVV trains people to act on their values in an effective and successful way. Unlike other ethical courses that focus on teaching studen ts on how to make decisions by considering what is right or wrong GVV focuses on teaching students on how to speak through their actions. According to Neureuther et al., (2013), studies have shown that traditional ethics course has failed to increase the ethical sensitivity of the students. Beggs (2011) notes that ethical education should focus on equipping students with the capacity to act effectively when faced with ethical dilemmas rather than sensitizing and making them aware of ethical issues. Companies are met with ethical dilemmas since they fail to address the issue their challenges in an effective manner. GVV is a tool that enables the involved parties to speak their minds. GVV is founded on the belief that each person has moral values and thus when faced with the morally challenging situation one can express his or her values. In the presence of challenging situation, many people tend to remain silent instead of acting and to make their concerns known. This has resulted in failure in many organizations. People remain silent because they lack confidence and a sense of personal responsibility. GVV approach aims at building confidence in individuals and so that they can raise their voices and express their ethical values (Heath, 2008). GVV provides students with an opportunity to practice their moral values by providing practical platforms which enable them to develop decision -making skills. Pillars of GVV According to Gentile (2010), GVV approach has seven principles which are action oriented practices and teaching methods. Values GVV approach utilizes language to involve peoples motivations and goals. For instance, shared values such as honesty, respect, responsibility, and fairness. These values are essential in having ethical conversations. Choice GVV focus on empowering people to make decisions on whether to act on their values or not. By identifying factors that call for action or inaction assists people to make appropriate choices. Normality GVV people perceive conflicting values and ethical conflicts as normal occurrences. Thus is enables them to make decisions on different issues and identify values as a normal aspect of their normal values. Therefore, people are prepared to face any challenge and make decision appropriately. Purpose GVV allows individual develop a deep sense of purpose and thus as a professional one is more aware of their responsibility and helps one to relate well with others in the workplace. Self-knowledge, self- image, and alignment Solving ethical issues require a sense of self-knowledge and also one needs be aware of his strengths and have effective communication and interaction skills. This enables one to develop an image based on good values is important for every person and organization that want to achieve long term goals. Voice In an organization, every person should have their ways of dealing with challenges that they face in their daily activities. Voice allows individuals to express their values through their actions. Rationalizations Always individuals will give reasons why they acted in a certain way. However, if the reasons and arguments fail to consider values, then they become rationalizations. Through arguments and reasoning, individuals gain confidence to act in an effective manner. GVV process The GVV process involves five phase with different interrelations and sequences. The first step is to admit that value conflict exists. Be aware of your purpose. Involve the stakeholders. Come up with an effective response. Script and practice enabling practices. The phases in GVV process aid in ensuring that individuals and organizations make effective decisions. GVV and sustainability According to Porter Kramer (2011), sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today. Unsustainable business activities have the negative impact on the environment. There is a need for companies to adopt approaches that will ensure both environmental and sustainability issues are considered. GVV approaches are effective in facilitating conversations at all levels ranging from personal to global levels. According to Edwards et al. (2012), GVV can be used at the multinational level in two ways that is by individuals expressing personal values by giving their opinions and by groups expressing their values to plan on what actions they want to take. PepsiCo Inc. Script on an ethical issue Robert is a Purchase manager at PepsiCo Inc. He was approached by the marketing manager of a company that manufactures packaging material for food and beverage products. The marketing manager of the company has approached Robert since the company is interested in getting a contract to supply PepsiCo with packaging materials for its foods and beverage products. The company has also been involved in several unethical issues related to environmental pollution. It had been reported earlier that the company had been disposing of its waste products without treatment. There were allegations against the company that it does not observe safety measures in the working place and this has made some of the employees develop health problems, and on top of that, the company has not been compensating its employees fairly. This could have a negative impact on the environment as well as the community. Also, the companys products are not recyclable though they are being sold at a lower price and if use d they would reduce PepsiCos cost production significantly. The company does not also use non-renewable energy in its manufacturing process. The marketing manager promises Robert that he will make sure that he also benefits personally if he awards the company the contract to supply PepsiCo with packaging materials. Robert understands very well that PepsiCo highly considers environmental sustainability in its production process and also values its employees as well as the community. PepsiCo also ensures that it complies with the rules and regulation of the government. Lastly, the company advocates for transparency in all its transaction so as to address the interests of the investors as well as interests of other stakeholders. Roberts feels that the decision that he will make will have a great impact to the company, consumer, Community, employees, and investors. His decision should, therefore, ensure the wellbeing of all the stakeholders. Robert declines the offer and uses PepsiCos values to make the decision. Robert openly tells the manager that the PepsiCo cannot get into a contract with the company because PepsiCo is considering environmental sustainability. PepsiCo is currently adapting the use of recyclable packaging materials for its products in its effort to ensure that its production processes conserve the environment. Therefore, PepsiCo, would not purchase the companys product despite having lower cost that would also reduce the production cost of its product as this would be in conflict with its values. PepsiCo also values the community and has given the community the second highest priority. PepsiCo has been involved in community welfare program. However, the company releases untreated waste products to the environment which can also have a negative impact on the community. Being an environmentally responsible organization PepsiCo engaging in a contract with the company would be against the community and en vironmental values of the organization. Robert further elaborates that PepsiCo also values its employees and thus ensures that its employees are fairly compensated, and also they provide safe and healthy working conditions for its employees. PepsiCo will, therefore, not get into business relations with a company that does not value its employees as this would ruin its reputation in public. Robert as an individual also understands the professional value that guides his actions and decisions. Despite the promised personal gain that he would get had he offered the company the contract chooses to observe personal values as well as PepsiCos values. PepsiCo values transparency and accountability in all its transactions. Robert decides to forego personal benefits for the benefit of the whole company and all it stakeholders. Robert explains that it would be unethical if he got involved in deals that would have a negative impact on the company. He also knows that getting involved in transactions that are not transparent would have negative repercussions on him. Robert demonstrates a strong will to ensure that he protects the companys values as well as his personal values. GVV gives a person the ability to make independent decisions despite the pressure from external forces. For instance in the case presented Robert makes an effective decision that will ensure that PepsiCo does not go against its values and also he does not agree to forego his personal values for financial gain promised by the marketing manager of the other market. If Robert had feared expressing his values as well as PepsiCo values to the marketing manager he would have made a decision that would have negative results the company and its stakeholders. From this script, the students can also observe that GVV gives an individual confidence to make decisions without fearing what the other party will think. GVV can help the learners understand the underlying values that helped Robert come up with a strong response while observing personal and professional purpose. In his decision making Robert could encounter the following arguments from the marketing manager: I think our companies conduct will not have a negative impact on PepsiCo reputation if we shall engage in a business contract. Dont you see how our products are cost-effective and would reduce PepsiCos production cost which would benefit your organization? Consider the personal gain that you will get once you agree to award us the contract. Am not losing even if agree to award the contract to the company. By engaging the company in business will not affect the initiative of PepsiCo Inc. to conserve the environment as well as ensuring that the welfare of the employees and the community is taken care of. With these arguments, it would be difficult for Robert to make a strong argument that will ensure sustainability. GVV equips the students with skills and abilities to come up with strong counter-arguments that will help them respond effectively ethical challenges that they are likely to encounter in the future. Conclusion GVV is helpful in teaching students to solve issues in a way that ensures sustainability and also face ethical challenges with their core values. GVV helps an organization to identify ethics as an essential factor to consider while making decisions. The ability of individuals, groups, and organizations is essential while developing sustainability policies and also helps them to gain confidence to act and express their core values. GVV is an approach that has changed the traditional ethical education approaches as it includes value- based conversations which improve reasoning and encourage arguments related to sustainability and ethical issues. This approach will contribute greatly to the improvement of ethical education since it does provide not only theoretical knowledge but also provide practical opportunities that help students develop a better understanding of ethical practices. Core values help leaders to develop skills that enable them to hold effective conversations and take t he appropriate actions which are essential in ethic education and programs that help business organization experience sustainable growth and sustainable communities. References Beggs, J., M., (2011). Seamless Integration of Ethics. Marketing Education Review, 21 Bellis, M., (2017). History of Microsoft. Available from: https://www.thoughtco.com/microsoft-history-of-a-computing-giant-1991140 Edwards, M., G., Kirkham (2013) Situating Giving Voice to Values: A Metatheoretical Evaluation of a New Approach to Business Ethics. Journal of Business Ethics. DOI: 10.1007/s0551-013-1738-7. Gentile, M., (2010). Giving Voice to Values: How to Speak Your Mind When You Know WhatsRight. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Greenspan, R., (2017). PepsiCos Stakeholders: A CSR Analysis. Panmore Institute. Available from: https://panmore.com/pepsico-stakeholders-csr-analysis Heath, J., (2008). Business Ethics and Moral Motivation: A Criminological Perspective. Journalof Business Ethics. 83 (4), pp. 595-614. Kaur, P., (2016). Social Reporting: Meaning, Uses, and Scope. Your Articles Library. Available from: https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/accounting/financial-reporting/social-reporting-meaning-uses-and-scope/57360/ Microsoft, (2017 a) Overview: our core values. Available from: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/compliance/buscond/overview.aspx Microsoft, (2017 b). What we value. Available from: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/values Microsoft, (2017 c). Corporate Social Responsibility. Available from: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/about/corporate-responsibility Neureuther, B. D., Swicegood, P., Williams, P. (2011). The Efficacy of Business Ethics CoursesWhen Coupled with a Personal Belief System.Journal of College Teaching Learning(TLC), 1 Peloza, J., Shang, J. (2011). How can corporate social responsibility activities create value for stakeholders? A systematic review.Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science,39(1), 117-135. PepsiCo Foundation. (2010). PepsiCo. Available from https://www.pepsico.com/Purpose/PepsiCo-Foundation.html PepsiCo. Inc. (2014). PepsiCo Releases 2013 Sustainability and GRI Reports. Available from: https://ethicalperformance.com/reports/view/983 PepsiCo Inc. (2015). Environmental Sustainability. Available from: https://www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Global-Citizenship/Disaster-Relief-and-Humanitarian-Support PepsiCo Inc. (2015). Global Citizenship. Available from: https://www.pepsico.com/purpose/global-citizenship PepsiCo Inc. (2015). Strategic Grants. Available from: https://www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Global-Citizenship/Strategic-Grants PepsiCo Inc, (2015). PepsiCo Launches 2025 Sustainability Agenda Designed to Meet Changing Consumer and Societal Needs. Available from: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7954151-pepsico-performance-with-purpose-sustainability-agenda/ PepsiCo Inc., (2015). Community service and volunteering. Available from: https://www.pepsico.com/Purpose/Global-Citizenship/Community-Service-and-Volunteering PepsCo School, (2015). PepsiCo Mission and Values. Available from: https://www.pepsicoschool.gr/eng/pepsico-spg6/pepsico-mission-and-values-spg21/ Smithson, N., (2017). Microsofts Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy Stakeholders (An Analysis). Panmore Institutes Articles. Available from: https://panmore.com/microsoft-stakeholders-corporate-social-responsibility-strategy-analysis The Social Report, (2016). Available from: https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/monitoring/social-report/ Wallace, M., (2013). How corporate reporting improved Microsoft's supply chain. GreenBiz.com. Available from: https://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2013/06/14/how-corporate-reporting-improved-microsofts-supply-chain Werther Jr., W. B., Chandler, D. (2010).Strategic corporate social Responsibility: Stakeholders in a Global Environment. Sage Publications. Zemanta, (2009). Core Values Corporate Values Definitions MicrosoftExample. Earls Business Articles. Available from: https://earlsbusiness.wordpress.com/2009/05/17/core-values-corporate-values-definitions-microsoft-example/

Strategies And Procedures For Restaurant Sector †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Strategies And Procedures For Restaurant Sector. Answer: Introduction: With increasing per capita income, majority of the Australian people are looking to spend their money in luxurious activities. It enhances the overall business opportunities for the restaurant sector in Australian market (Scholes, 2015). For that reason, the business plan is looking to utilize the provided opportunity by developing restaurant in Sydney area. The proposed restaurant will try to offer something new and unique for the customers so that the business venture can emerge as a successful investment. The Kitchen will be an upscale deli specialization in a combination of fast food and Chinese dishes. All the recipes provided by The Kitchen will focus on providing something unique for the people living in Sydney area. The essay will concentrate on evaluating different strategies and procedures that The Kitchen needs to use for accomplishing all the business goals and objectives. It will evaluate both internal and external environment for understanding the possible future challe nges in an appropriate manner. Discussion: The restaurant sector is extremely competitive in Australian market, as many small and large size restaurants have developed their presence in Australia. Moreover, Australia is among the most popular tourist destinations, where people from all across the globe visit on regular basis. As a result, the demand for quality restaurants is always high in Australian market. Therefore, The Kitchen is likely to have enough opportunity to establish their businesses in an appropriate manner. As per the article by Bharadwaj et al. (2013), opportunity is not the only thing that guarantees success in the market. In fact, The Kitchen needs to focus on several other factors for ensuring continues growth in the competitive market. The factors include proper evaluation of the internal and external environment related with the restaurant industry is essential for accomplishing all the business goals and objectives. Now, The Kitchen will concentrate on start up the business with the clear objective, as it will help the restaurant to move forward towards right direction (Kim et al., 2013). The Kitchen will aim to emerge as one of the most popular restaurants present in Sydney area with the delivery of quality foods and services. According to Verbeke (2013), proper utilization of internal structure is essential for performing all the requirements of the operational procedure. Therefore, The Kitchen will have to focus on developing appropriate structure where all the employees can able to understand their responsibilities in an appropriate way. The Kitchen needs to develop separate departments like cash, marketing, serving and cooking so that all the complex requirements of the operational procedure fulfils within the limited timeframe (Heung Gu, 2012). In addition, appropriate development of organizational structure allows businesses to formulate clear communicational procedure. As a result, it eliminates the possibility of any confusion within the workplace. Moreover, as The Kitchen is looking to provide both fast food as well as Chinese dishes, it will require people with specific knowledge and skills (Oestreicher-Singer Zalmanson, 2012). Now, as a start-up, it will be very difficult for The Kitchen to re cruit too many people at a time. Since, it will increase the overall cost of the operational process, which is obviously create challenges for the restaurant. Hence, the business plan of The Kitchen will focus on developing different teams with very few employees in order to keep the initial budget under check. As per the article by Blackburn, Hart and Wainwright (2013) internal and external environment evaluation is extremely important for developing effective strategies for the business expansion purpose. Now, The Kitchen have targeted Sydney area for developing its outlet, as it is one of the most crowded areas of Australian economy. Now, The Kitchen will also have to ensure that the required amount of raw materials is always present at the outlet so that they can able to fulfil all the needs and wants of the customers. Moreover, The Kitchen also needs to be careful at the time of selecting the location for retail outlets, as it will create major impact on the overall revenue level. The management of The Kitchen will have to ensure that the required level of transportation is available at the selected location so that maximum number of people can visit the outlet on regular basis (Schrader, Freimann Seuring, 2012). The Kitchen also has to evaluate the political and economical condition of the community before selecting the pricing strategy. Many communities or societies have different likings regarding the foods. Therefore, improper assessment of taste and preference will eventually come as a major drawback to the organization. It addition, The Kitchen will also have to focus on maintaining the legislative guidelines by registering the restaurant name along with completion of other necessary activities. As highlighted by Iacob, Quartel and Jonkers (2012) maintenance of strong customer relationship with the customers are essential for retaining them for longer period of time. For that reason, The Kitchen needs to focus on the quality of the provided services so that customers can feel connected with the restaurants. In the present competitive environment, providing something extra to the customers has become a norm. Almost all the businesses have tried to develop different unique strategies so that all the customers feel happy and satisfied with the provided facilities (Hwang Ok, 2013). Increasing competition in the restaurant sector is among the prime risk factors that The Kitchen has to counter in order to achieve sustainable growth in the market. As a start-up restaurant, The Kitchen not only has to compete with the other small restaurants but also with the popular ones as well (Higgins, Omer Phillips, 2015). For that reason, it will optimum for The Kitchen to utilize comparativ ely low pricing strategy for gaining pricing advantage in the market. However, increasing price of all the raw materials for the development of foods is another prime concern that will create challenges for The Kitchen to utilize low pricing strategy. Hence, The Kitchen needs to focus on developing strong long-term relationship with all the suppliers in order to ensure timely delivery of quality raw materials for long period of time. The development of strong relationship with the suppliers can actually reduce the cost related with the operational procedure in a major way (Likk-Roto Nevas, 2014). Therefore, it will eventually help The Kitchen to increase the overall profit level in an effective way. As stated by Spender (2014) appropriate utilization of marketing strategy is essential for providing required level of information to the targeted customers. Specifically, as the competition in Australian restaurant market is extremely high, The Kitchen will have to use different marketing strategies for accomplishing all the objectives of business plan. The Kitchen can use digital platforms like different trusted websites and social media for providing information regarding their offering and services. It will allow The Kitchen to reach maximum number of potential customers in very limited time span. Recent survey has highlighted the fact that around 70% of youth evaluate the review ratings of a particular restaurant before going physically (Chen Elston, 2013). Therefore, strong establishment of image has become essential for any restaurants to induce customers to visit outlets on regular basis (Bharadwaj et al., 2013). As mentioned earlier, The Kitchen will heavily depend on low p ricing along with quality food with service to gain major share of the target market. Now, the management of The Kitchen will have to ensure that the quality of service has remained intact at all the time. Otherwise, the overall image of the organization can get hampered in a major way. Apart from that, The Kitchen will also have to concentrate on different functionalities associated with the operational procedures for ensuring continues success in the market. For instance, The Kitchen will have to use different payment method so that customers can pay as per their convenience. In the current time, utilization of different payment method has become obvious, as people from different background like to use different way of payments. In addition, The Kitchen will have to ensure all the staffs and receptionists are well dressed, which will increase the overall ambience value (Kwok Yu 2013). All the staffs within the restaurant will be trained for dealing with people from different cultural background. In addition, The Kitchen can also focus on providing different offers like percentage off or combo offer so that it can attract more number of customers on regular basis. Conclusion: The above illustration has highlighted the fact that The Kitchen will have to be very careful at the time of initiating several strategies for establishing its presence in the market. It has mentioned that the restaurant industry is extremely competitive in Australian market, which is likely to create different types of challenges for The Kitchen. Therefore, the business plan of The Kitchen will focus on reducing the price of the product as much as possible for gaining price advantage. It will also try to maintain all the political and legislative guidelines for avoiding any type of unnecessary challenges at the workplace. Therefore, The Kitchen is likely to tackle all possible challenges for establishing its presence in Australian market successfully. References: Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O. A., Pavlou, P. A., Venkatraman, N. V. (2013). Digital business strategy: toward a next generation of insights. Bharadwaj, A., El Sawy, O. A., Pavlou, P. A., Venkatraman, N. V. (2013). Visions and voices on emerging challenges in digital business strategy. Blackburn, R. A., Hart, M., Wainwright, T. (2013). Small business performance: business, strategy and owner-manager characteristics.Journal of small business and enterprise development,20(1), 8-27. Chen, S. C., Elston, J. A. (2013). Entrepreneurial motives and characteristics: An analysis of small restaurant owners.International Journal of Hospitality Management,35, 294-305. Heung, V. C., Gu, T. (2012). Influence of restaurant atmospherics on patron satisfaction and behavioral intentions.International Journal of Hospitality Management,31(4), 1167-1177. Higgins, D., Omer, T. C., Phillips, J. D. (2015). The influence of a firm's business strategy on its tax aggressiveness.Contemporary Accounting Research,32(2), 674-702. Hwang, J., Ok, C. (2013). The antecedents and consequence of consumer attitudes toward restaurant brands: A comparative study between casual and fine dining restaurants.International Journal of Hospitality Management,32, 121-131. Iacob, M. E., Quartel, D., Jonkers, H. (2012, September). Capturing business strategy and value in enterprise architecture to support portfolio valuation. InEnterprise Distributed Object Computing Conference (EDOC), 2012 IEEE 16th International(pp. 11-20). IEEE. Kim, H. J., Park, J., Kim, M. J., Ryu, K. (2013). Does perceived restaurant food healthiness matter? Its influence on value, satisfaction and revisit intentions in restaurant operations in South Korea.International Journal of Hospitality Management,33, 397-405. Kwok, L., Yu, B. (2013). Spreading social media messages on Facebook: An analysis of restaurant business-to-consumer communications.Cornell Hospitality Quarterly,54(1), 84-94. Likk-Roto, T., Nevas, M. (2014). Restaurant business operators' knowledge of food hygiene and their attitudes toward official food control affect the hygiene in their restaurants.Food control,43, 65-73. Oestreicher-Singer, G., Zalmanson, L. (2012). Content or community? A digital business strategy for content providers in the social age. Scholes, M. S. (2015).Taxes and business strategy. Prentice Hall. Schrader, C., Freimann, J., Seuring, S. (2012). Business strategy at the base of the pyramid.Business Strategy and the environment,21(5), 281-298. Spender, J. C. (2014).Business strategy: Managing uncertainty, opportunity, and enterprise. OUP Oxford. Verbeke, A. (2013).International business strategy. Cambridge University Press.

Us Economy Essays (1668 words) - Taxation, , Term Papers

Us Economy Introduction How easy is it for smaller business men to achieve the Aamerican dream. How to stop corporate domination. The question I pose to you is Is the American Dream still achievable? The opportunity is there but for what select few is the opportunity available to. If the resources are out there but I can't tap into the resources they rae of no use to me. (Make note of the fact that we live in a market economy. Body Just about every definition of the market in the dictionary connotes an oppurtunity as a place where goods are bought and sold.(cite dict.) As an abstraction, a market is the possibility of sale. Goods find a market, and we say there is is a market for a service or commodity when there is a demand for it, which means it can and will be sold. Markets are opened to those who want to sell and a convenience for those looking to purchase.(cite 2) The market represents conditions as regards, opportunity for, buying and selling.(cite 2) The market implies offering and choice. The way a market economy works is that there are market pressures that develop for different commodities. The pressures work in one direction for a while, but at the same time pressures are budding that work in the opposite direction. As people look forward and see there's going to be some profit made from their production, they'll make decisions to increase volume, usually hiring more people, buying more materials, often bidding up their prices. When people are competing in the same market, that tends to generate more and more pressure in the direction of expansion. But at the same time, as costs and possibly interest rates rise, pressures begin to operate in the other direction, against profits.(cite 1) The public as a whole must get their fair share of the benefits. Macroeconomic reforms should translate into a more efficient delivery of public services, equity, social welfare and social security.(cite 3) The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) has released its findings on American living standards. The report, issued every other year on a decline that begsn in the late-1970's. The EPI's report also contends that the Americans are working more for less money because of slow growth in wages since 1989. According to the report, wages in the bottom 80% of men have declined since 1989. The report also contends that 20% of women have experienced a decline in trsl esgrd dincr the 1980's, a period in which wages fell but family income increased because of longer hours at work and increased participation of women in the workforce. Critics assert that the report wrongly focuses on declining wages as a gauge to the income of the American family. Such critics find spending a more appropriate means by which to measure income.(cite 4) One proposal would birng back the 10% income deduction for second earners that was eliminated in the Tax Reform Act of 1986.(cite 5) Under that rule, a couple with two earners can deduct from taxable income 10 percent of the earnings of the spouse with the lower earnings(generally, the wife) up to 30,000 of earnings.(cite 5) Since almost all married working women earn less than 30,000, this is equivalent to a 10 percent reduction in the wife's marginal tax rate.(cite 5) To get a sense of how substansial this offset would be, consider a typical middle-class two earner couple. The husband earns 45,000 per year, and the wife earns $15,000 per year by working 1,000 hours at $15 per hour. They pay tax at a marginal income tax rate of 28 percent plus a payroll tax of 7.65 percent.(cite 5) They also pay at a typical state income tax rate of 5 percent.(cite 5) As a result, the wife's $15 per hour wage produces only a net of $8.90 per hour.(cite 5) If she didn't change her work, the deduction would reduce her taxable earnings from $15,000 to $13,500.(cite 5) With a marginal income tac rate of 28 percent, that would cut her tax payments by 420 per year.(cite 5) That's how the current method of revenue estimation would evaluate the revenue effect of the deduction, a $420 revenue loss. But the 10 percent cut in her effective marginal income tax rate (which would result from deducting 10 percent of her earnings from taxable income) would raise her net hourly take-home by a little less than 5 percent, from $8.90 per hour to $9.32 per hour.(cite 5) Statistical studies of the labor supply of

Free Essays on Spy-glass

Thus far, as I have come to understand as a student of anthropology, being a successful ethnographer must involve providing an accurate and ethical representation of the culture on the other side of Hurston’s â€Å"spyglass† while at the same time taking into consideration one’s own biases and experiences that affect the situation at hand and the representation itself. With these things in mind, getting at the tacit culture can be very difficult, especially when we also have to consider how our own ethnic and racial backgrounds will affect our ability to obtain information from informants. This becomes clear when reading Carol Stack’s Call to Home, in which she, as a white women, attempts to capture the essence of the Diasporas of the Southern African-Americans who are once again returning home from the â€Å"white† city. While reading, I found myself pondering how clever her approach to connect with her informants is. Before the reader even looks at the table of contents they are confronted with a quote from Bernice Johnson Reagon that evokes images of soul searching and a spiritual journey of finding one’s self.. This theme carries over into the text with Stack’s question of whether or not the mass exodus from the city actually has to do with a desire for discovering a cultural heritage and a true home. Quoting Stack, â€Å"For some, home is the setting of dreams deferred: the safe haven from urban storms.† The town which Stack focuses on, Burdy’s Bend, seems to be wrought with country people who are becoming country again. The broader arena of social change is illustrated more specifically by the individual struggle to find a place where they themselves can change. Style influences what information is conveyed, how the message is perceived, and how the story, itself, takes shape. Call to Home certainly emphasizes the theme of how important the style in which the ethnographer writes. In addition, Stack’s work... Free Essays on Spy-glass Free Essays on Spy-glass Thus far, as I have come to understand as a student of anthropology, being a successful ethnographer must involve providing an accurate and ethical representation of the culture on the other side of Hurston’s â€Å"spyglass† while at the same time taking into consideration one’s own biases and experiences that affect the situation at hand and the representation itself. With these things in mind, getting at the tacit culture can be very difficult, especially when we also have to consider how our own ethnic and racial backgrounds will affect our ability to obtain information from informants. This becomes clear when reading Carol Stack’s Call to Home, in which she, as a white women, attempts to capture the essence of the Diasporas of the Southern African-Americans who are once again returning home from the â€Å"white† city. While reading, I found myself pondering how clever her approach to connect with her informants is. Before the reader even looks at the table of contents they are confronted with a quote from Bernice Johnson Reagon that evokes images of soul searching and a spiritual journey of finding one’s self.. This theme carries over into the text with Stack’s question of whether or not the mass exodus from the city actually has to do with a desire for discovering a cultural heritage and a true home. Quoting Stack, â€Å"For some, home is the setting of dreams deferred: the safe haven from urban storms.† The town which Stack focuses on, Burdy’s Bend, seems to be wrought with country people who are becoming country again. The broader arena of social change is illustrated more specifically by the individual struggle to find a place where they themselves can change. Style influences what information is conveyed, how the message is perceived, and how the story, itself, takes shape. Call to Home certainly emphasizes the theme of how important the style in which the ethnographer writes. In addition, Stack’s work...

CURRENTS EVENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

CURRENTS EVENT - Essay Example The market domains are largely run by supply and demand dynamics which have a long lasting role on the economic angles (Beattie, 2012). Similarly, costs and benefits need to be understood as well as these remain pivotal towards gaining an understanding of the economic studies. Also the incentives are spoken of once the costs and benefits are already discussed and when rational expectations are formulized. Their examination is much required from an economic viewpoint. Profit sharing remains the key as far as the modern day economic realms are concerned as these give a better idea of how things shall be sequenced alongside one another. Putting it together in such a fashion that there is harmony of sorts is the way to achieve success in the long run scheme of things as far as the economic concepts is related. This will essentially underline the need to remain head-on with the economic entities which have come about with the passage of time and which shall receive attention from all and sundry within the economic

Scenario Analysis Develop a training or college course Essay

Scenario Analysis Develop a training or college course - Essay Example In our discussion, we will critically analyze and present the efficient method that can be used to train a staff of a given business organization. Trainers should always work towards success and as argued by scholars, success of a teacher is attained through good performance and excellence of the students. Therefore, to achieve your goal, always ensure you reach the all class meeting the students’ expectations. Observation has been made that a good teacher is the one who understands their students hence coming up with conducive and convenient teaching program without ignoring any gender, age and class. The teacher should satisfy the whole class so as to ensure excellent results. Basing our argument on the case of the group of trainees given in this paper, it is right to understand the theories concerning with adult studies so as to make effective decision on how to tackle the varying group for good understanding. Age theory explains the fact that, individuals at different age are faced with different problems. They are exposed to various individual issues depending on the period of life at hand. People at the adult period of life are observed to be more concerned with their achievements in life and value of their culture. They appear to be more resistant to change and always fighting towards protection of their good values. Adult group according to age theory is observed to have great feeling of membership to their community (International Conference on Green Communications and Networks, Yang & Ma, 2013). This makes them more resistant to any idea that seems to violate and depleted their traditional practices. On the other hand, stage theory brings out the different stages that are undergone by an individual as they grow up. These theorists argued that, knowledge is never stagnant it is always in progress. They asserted that as individuals move from one level of life to another their knowledge becomes more and more. Therefore, adults will always want to

A Study Of The Ghaf Tree

A Study Of The Ghaf Tree The Ghaf tree also known as Prosopis cineraria has been an essential part of the UAEs distinctive desert environment and the civilization that have emerged here in the Emirates. Ghaf tree culturally and traditionally is as valuable and precious as it is ecologically. Groves of ghaf grow naturally in the desert sands and wide wadis in all emirates, but unfortunately they are becoming extinct. In this project we will discuss the causes of extinction of the Ghaf tree, why it is threatened and the impacts that could lead to the extinction of the Ghaf tree. Forests are fabulous places, were you can see different types of Insects, mammals and birds. They are also places that embrace various flowers, trees and grasses. Actually, this sight maybe a good explanation that illustrates the term Biodiversity. Biodiversity is a vague word that has many definitions among researchers and scientists. In fact, researchers have different definitions according to their different goals, perspectives and values. Takacs (1996) defined the biodiversity as a full variety of life on Earth, while Chadwick (1993) thinks that this word is simply defined as nature or wilderness. However, the general idea among all the researchers is that the biodiversity is the study of the process that makes and sustains the variation of the species on the earth (redpath-museum, 2010). It illustrates the idea of the relationship between the individual and the population, and the population with the community. Moreover, biodiversity is considered as a part of nature because it plays a big role in affecting animals and plants in both terrestrial and aquatic biomes (Ecosystem, 2008). Due to researches, there are three main types of biodiversity. The first type is the ecological or ecosystem diversity. An ecosystem is a structure which includes living organisms and non living organisms functioning together to maintain the life cycle (Ecosystem, 2008). The ecological diversity refers to the total of different types of ecosystems with the different species within them. The diversity of species within an ecosystem is affected by the ecosystem itself. That is because each species need a different habitat that it is suitable to live and reproduce within it. The second type is the species diversity. It means the number of plants and animals that exist in an area. Essentially, some regions are richer of species than other regions. For example, the tropical forests have much more species than other regions like the poles. The third type is the genetic diversity. This type explains that each member or individual within a species is different from the other members from the same species (BIODIVERSITY, 2010). The differences are in the genetic structure that gives each member his own characteristics. A clear example for the genetic biodiversity is the human beings. Each person has different characteristics than the others because of the genetic building in each one of them. In fact, the genetic diversity is crucial for the species health and diversity because it keeps the diversity among individuals and therefore protects the species from being extinct. In this project, we are concerning on one species from the allover species on the earth which is the the Ghaf tree. The Ghaf trees classification is as follows: kingdom: plantae, Phylum: Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Family: Fabaceae, Genus: Prosopis, Species: cineraria(ARkive, 2010). Thus, we can point that the scientific name of that tree is Prosopis cineraria. There are many local names for this tree. For example, it is known as Ghaf for Arabian, jandior khejri for Indian, and jand for Pakistani. (Agroforestry Database 4.0, 2009). Since the species is considered as a plant, it is a producer. That means that the species stands in the first trophic level (uaehoverfly, 2010). The Prosopis cineraria is a moderate sized evergreen thorny tree (experiencefestival, 2010) of 3-5 m high (Agroforestry Database 4.0, 2009). It is considered as a rapid growing tree that resists the dryness and the arid conditions because of the variability of the trees growth (Asian Agri-History, 2004). Moreover, it resists the hot weather and the dry and hot winds. Thus, it is considered as one of the most species that withstood the difficult conditions of environment. It has also a dense shade that kills the seedling (experiencefestival, 2010). Its roots are fast growing even more than the upper part of it. They are long enough that it can use the water in the deep soil layers. As reports say, the Ghaf tree roots may reach to a depth of 35 meters (experience festival, 2010). The leaves are glabrous which are mostly green but seems to be gray when it gets dry (Agroforestry Database 4.0, 2009). It produces a yellow flowers near the summer between March to May, in the time which most of the plants are leafless. Actually this occurs at an early age when the tree is five years old. The Ghaf tree is planted and grown in arid places were the climate is dry and the maximum temperatures varies from 48 deg C to 52 deg C while the annual rainfall is 120 mm to 250 mm(Agroforestry Database 4.0, 2009). It is mostly grown on sandy soils where the lower part is moisture to help its roots to get water. The relational position (sciencedaily, 2010) of the Ghaf tree among the ecosystem is high and strong. It has a historical story with the people who lived in rural places were this species actually grow. The reason is that this tree is a legume that helps to fertile the soil. Moreover, it has a big role in stabling the sand dunes and the agriculture harvests because of the deep roots it owns, the ability of fixing the nitrogen and the ability of providing the soil with important organic substances (Asian Agri-History, 2004). Also, this tree is a main source of getting fuel wood, fodder and medicines. In fact, this tree plays an important role in sustaining the delicate and the dry ecosystems. Researchers insure by the datas support that the Prosopis cineraria has the priority in the improvement that contains fragile areas (Asian Agri-History, 2004). Figure 1: The Species Distribution In The World. Figure (1) below shows the world map pointed with the countries in which the Ghaf tree is planted. According to the figure, the species is planted in such specific countries like Afghanistan, dry areas of Central and Southern India, West Iran and Pakistan, and Sri Lanka (Agroforestry Database 4.0, 2009). However, the species can be planted in other countries science the environmental and climatic conditions mentioned above are available in them. The evidence of that is it that the species is invasive to other countries like the United Arab Emirates. In other words, this species cannot be planted in anywhere except those which are pointed in the figure, but it can be invasive to some parts of the world where the conditions are suitable. Student 2: Status An endangered species is a group of living organisms which face a significant risk of being extinct in the near future or disappearance from earth if a solution is not discovered . Extinction happens for a number of different reasons such as change of climate , natural disasters, drop in the number of species ,oil spills by humans, acid rains, water pollution, and last but not least over-hunting by humans. Al Ghaf tree or Prosopis cineraria as a scientific name, is one of the most famous and spread trees in the UAE. It has a very important national status , it was composed for a long time apart from the desert nature of UAE, so it has a very historical status, Ghaf tree grows in UAE deserts and valleys as a natural tree, especially in the eastern part of UAE. It belongs to the dry region plants as a thorny tree. It is an evergreen tree with slender branches armed with conical thorns and with light bluish-green foliage; its height is more than 7 meters. This tree has been around for centuries , and it is considered to be one of the most important trees for the natural balance , it increases the vitality of the soil by fixing atmospheric nitrogen (Saving the Arabian ghaf tree, 2006). The ghaf tree is considered to be endangered for reasons such as ignorance of the importance of this tree as it doesnt get the support and care that it should get , Camels have increased lately and camels depends on ghaf tree as a source of food, Cutting its branches as fodder , Lack of groundwater, as experts are always looking for groundwater to use it for everyday life and agriculture needs. The Ghaf tree grows separately or in groups, and it can afford all desert difficulties because of its long and deep roots which extend to more than 30 meters underground (The Prosopis cineraria, 2010 ), It has a massive and nested branches, that is why it is called the umbrella tree or the dunes tree as it grows in deserts dunes. Al Ghaf is one of the most important trees for the natural balance, it increases the vitality of the soil by producing Neutrogen. Ghaf was used in the past in cooking; getting food, wood as a material for building roofs, and for garnishing and decorating (Al Ghaf tree report, 2009). Unfortunately, Ghaf tree is missing real care and support. Reasons for Extinction Ignorance of the importance of this tree as it doesnt get the support and care that it should get . Urban expansion which leads to getting rid of and cutting such trees. Camels have increased lately and they depends on ghaf tree as a source of food. Cutting its branches as fodder. Lack of groundwater, as experts are always looking for groundwater to use it for life and agriculture needs. Sadly , the ghaf tree has fallen a victim to human destruction of the environment all for the selfishness of us human beings and that is what lead to the ghaf tree being endangered. Human impact is one of the most affecting reasons in the ghaf trees disappearance because of urban booming and infrastructure, and whats most important is peoples ignorance as to the importance of this tree. Government and societies should spread knowledge about this tree by creating events held specifically in order to save the ghaf tree . Governments should also try to state laws and punishments in order to save this tree from over cutting and demolishing that could eventually lead to extinction. Many domestic societies are looking forward to adopting the ghaf tree as a symbol for the UAEs natural culture and in different fields as well for its important status (Saving the ghaf tree, 2007). Figure 2 shows the popularity of the ghaf tree over the years. This table shows us that the ghaf tree is not well-known and that explains the ignorance that is associated towards this tree. Figure 2: Popularity of Al-Ghaf Tree Over Time Source: (Popularity of Prosopis Cineraria over time, 2007) Student 3: Causes of Extinction The Ghaf tree is under threat of extinction. The plant has been realized by several environmentalists and social scientists in the United Arab Emirates as a symbol of the natural history of the country and a tree that carries several values. The tree has been under such threat due to several reasons some of which have occurred in past circumstances while others due to current circumstances. Past reasons of extinction include distortions in the ecosystem and lack of natural water resources while present reasons include urbanization and public ignorance. The Ghaf tree has been an essential food source, as well as a source of fuel, shelter and medicine. Its leaves were once used instead of rice, its elongated pods provide fodder for animals which in turn supply milk, butter, cheese and meat (WWF 2008). The tree is well known to provide food for the ecosystem members such as insects, small birds and reptiles and its presence is indeed a signal of underground water. Due to such facts, the rise in number of camels in the region brought by the economic boom of the region has resulted in a distortion of this ecosystem. There are over 250,000 camels in the UAE that graze and coppice over the Ghaf trees (FAOSTAT 2004). Also in the past, when agriculture was a larger sector of the UAE economy ground water was used for irrigation of such plantations this has possessed a greater risk of depriving hydration for the Ghaf trees and has resulted in the death of many of the trees. The current reasons of extinction threat towards the Ghaf tree include the urbanization and fast development of the region along with public ignorance. The UAEs economic boom has brought a large population growth followed by a demand for real estate. Such a demand created the need for urban development including infrastructural foundations such as highways, electric lines, underground water pipelines and more. This has resulted in the removal several fauna and flora from the region including the Ghaf tree. In accordance the ecosystem has also been further affected irreversibly where birds have migrated away that used the Ghaf tree leaves as a source of food. The reproduction rate of the Ghaf is incomparable to the rate of their decease in the region, whereas according to Razan Khalifa, managing director of the Emirates Wildlife Society: given that the ghaf is a slow grower, over-lopping is extremely harmful to its numbers. Land clearance for developmental projects [;] Many ghaf trees among others are ruthlessly chopped down to make way for modern projects in the desert (Al Majaida 2006). Measures Taken The first measures taken in the United Arab Emirates was taken by the former president of the UAE, H.H Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan that was very passionate about conservation and environmental issues. The former president used to keep Ghaf trees that were found in his palace areas encompassed within a circle of bricks in order to prevent its removal. The former UAE president also placed a law that banned the chopping of Ghaf trees in the areas of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. He also provided grants for environmentalists that intended to find solutions for elongating their survival and he provided subsidies to the municipalities of the region to spread the tree in the region. In 2006 the Emirates Wildlife Society along with the Al Fahim Group launched a campaign to save the Al Ghaf tree in which visitors of the web site campaign and vote to elect the tree as the national symbol of historical nature in the United Arab Emirates calling for government support to take actions to prevent the extinction of the tree (De Roy 2006). Furthermore, the web site is titled savetheghaftree.org aims to spread awareness about three by sending out public relation tools such as newsletters and posters in order to educate subscribers about the importance of preserving the heritage and natural culture of the United Arab Emirates. The strategic alliances of this campaign included AMEinfo.com, Al Fahim Group, Emirates Wildlife Society in association with World Wildlife Fund, UAE-based publishing houses such as Ahlan magazine by ITP, UAE nationals and desert lovers from all nationalities within the UAE. The campaign has been designed to target media through mall promotions for a two month period between the end of 2006 and the beginning of the following year. Moreover, the web site includes interactive media that allows subscribers to create their own Ghaf garden and compare their performances with one another. The concept follows on to translate virtual objectivity into reality in which the Emirates Wildlife Society with the sponsorship of the Al Fahim Group will plant an actual Ghaf tree in conserved groves for every ten virtual Ghaf trees grown online. Finally the online portal allows visitors to discuss stories about the Ghaf tree where pictures, designs, thoughts and suggestions can be shared among groups of people. The results of the campaign came as impressive in less than a year where more than a thousand trees have been planted within less than ten weeks online and a hundred trees were planted by Al Fahim Group and the EWS. Email blasts have resulted in the voting for the Ghaf tree as a national symbol to reach more than three thousand votes. The news spread to government entities such as the Abu Dhabi government that have placed efforts to spread such awareness among schools and their own department in terms of seeking the conservation and protection of the Ghaf tree. The media has also followed up on the campaign by adding television interviews. This was also followed by more environmentalists pursuing research on the Ghaf tree and finding appropriate soil conditions to elongate life spans. To further strengthen the campaign the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority provided voting ballot cards from the campaign in their advertisements, flyers and inv itations during the 4th Abu Dhabi Classical Music Festival (De Roy 2006). The Horticulture Department of the Dubai Municipality has also taken deep measures in 2008 to save the Ghaf tree by spreading it all around the parks in the city of Dubai. The Al Mushrif Forest Park in Deira, off Al Khawaneej area, is home to almost sixty thousand trees. Due to the requirement of water for the survival of the Ghaf tree the municipality has placed intensive efforts in planting new Ghaf trees and relocating more than seven thousand trees from areas all over Dubai such Al Barsha to the park in spots that contain more water and are more hydration accessible (Al Khan 2008). This can also be shown in figure 3 where according to environmental researches Ghaf trees in Dubai have lost average radiuses meaning that lack of water is signaling the relocation of the trees to water abundant areas: Figure 3: Size Distribution of Ghaf trees in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve It is important to note here that such an effort is significant due to the nature of the Ghaf tree that grows a long root tap in natural conditions, almost 30 meters, whereas its translocation can sever its roots and these trees may therefore be reliant on artificial irrigation for many years (Gardner Howarth 2009). Call to Action Source: Gallacher Hill (2005) The government of the UAE can spread the awareness of the Ghaf tree by starting such awareness within schools and placing the tree as a national symbol in the UAE society curriculums that students study in schools. The government can also provide incentives for environmental companies and research groups with the UAE and the GCC in order to spread the awareness and provide a long term growth strategy for the clusters of the Ghaf trees in the region. In addition, the government can also provide more campaigns in malls and population-intensive areas to spread the awareness. A great example would be placing a plastic model of the tree in the middle of mall or using the ghaf tree on the national day along with the UAE cultural identity to enhance its importance and vitality to ensuring the natural heritage of the nation. Finally the government can provide shuttle buses for the public in order to visit Ghaf tree areas and give them a tour of the place. Another suggestion starts from the individual point of view. The ghaf tree is being in threat of extinction due to other factors as well such as pollution and the over usage of water. In order to start that individual incentive it is important to fulfill self-conscience satisfaction when an individual saves a Ghaf tree. This can be done by saving water and looking at the difference consumption levels of water and hence using some of the saved water to visit ghaf trees and place water at these sites. The media is one of the strongest tools for changing opinions and driving trends in a society. It can play a strong role in saving the Ghaf tree and idolizing it as the UAE environmental symbol. The media is divided according to the mediums of channeling a communicatory message, that is, by radio, television or public relations. Television campaigns suggested can include environmental game shows that ask audience questions about the environment in which the ghaf tree can be used. As for radio campaigns, competitions in early morning shows during high peak times can be broadcasted in order to spread the message about the Ghaf tree. As for public relations, holding press conferences and events for environmentalists that show results of the previous campaign in the UAE can be very important to show how the tree has changed the environment and how opinions in the region have changed as a result of such campaigns. Public relations are a strong tool to alter readers opinion on the long run as compared to advertising. Finally, merchandising that are used in such media campaigns can be themed by designing them according to the Ghaf tree themes. Conclusion All in all it is quite significant to save the Ghaf tree from its extinction due to the importance of the tree from an environmental benefit point of view and from a preservation of culture and heritage point of view. From a global point of view several nations have used their own flora as a symbol of their geographical presence and as the UAE enters the international arena as a major economic and multicultural hub in the region it is vital to use one of the oldest and most appreciated plants as a representation of the nations vegetation. Furthermore, the culture of the UAE is based on Islamic values and learning which as mentioned in the holy Quran mention the need to respect all the living creatures that lurk on this planet. The fact that this foundation is the basis of many aspects in the UAE has made the idea of placing efforts and further education ethically and morally corrects to respect one of the most foregone trees that has always been present even before the economic uproa r makes the Ghaf tree a preservation of the culture of the UAE. In the future when new generations are to come, the Ghaf trees that have been standing tall during our times will maintain their sturdy places and remind the unborn that these trees are the symbol of UAE culture and what has made the UAE and its leaders thrive to make the country what it really is.