Early Cognitive Abilities Of Infants - 1842 Words

Early cognitive abilities in infants are critical because they are building blocks of later cognition, and executive functioning (Rose, Feldman, Jankowski, 2016). To further development and have health mental health, caregivers and parents need to provide a secure environment where infants can engage in a number of activities. Research show that social interactions between infants and caregivers are critical for a wide range of human activities, including language learning Grossmann (2015). Additionally, socially integration with others is essential for healthy infant development and functioning throughout their lives Grossmann (2015). Numerous evidence shows that early experiences in language, reading, and emotional regulations in†¦show more content†¦Murray and Egan (2014) state that the average age for parents to begin reading to infants is between 7 months and 9 months. Reading to pre-school-age children can make starting school easier by providing a head start in liter acy and increased cognitive functioning (Murray Egan, 2014). A beneficial advantage of literacy is that it may be retained in later childhood and adulthood. Murray and Egan (2014) reference a study conducted by the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). The researchers in this study found that as part of a child’s early communication environment, the number of books infants at 6 months own, this is a predictor of their expressive language at 24 months (Murray Egan, 2014). In addition to expressive language, the child s school entry assessment is also a predictor (Murray Egan, 2014). In another study referenced by Murray and Egan (2014), a study by DeBaryshe (1995) concluded that early reading has a positive impact on children. Research has shown that when parents and caregivers read to younger children it has a greater effect than reading to older children in the promotion of literacy skills (Murray Egan, 2014. Reading to young children helps childre n develop social skills such as listening and interacting with an adult. Reading to children promotes joint attention, which isShow MoreRelatedHow Do Infants And Toddlers Develop Their Cognitive Abilities?1372 Words   |  6 PagesHow do infants and toddlers develop their cognitive abilities? Essentially, the formative years of research on the aspect of cognitive growth in infants made certain assumptions, for instance, an infant growth was significantly simplified. However, modern research indicates that there is a complex pattern of cognitive development in infants. To answer the question, it is imperative to start by understanding what the cognitive aspect of the development of infants is. Ideally, infants and toddlersRead MoreRelationship Between Security Of Attachment And Cognitive Development1513 Words   |  7 PagesThe relationship between security of attachment and cognitive development creates the underlying foundation from which individual’s operate throughout the lifespan (Carruth, 2006). The security of attachment between an infant and their primary caregiver can have profound consequences for the developing brain, impacting an infant’s future relationships, self-esteem, and ability to self-regulate emotions (Carruth, 2006). Attachment theory , first theorized by John Bowlby (1988), stresses the significanceRead MoreRelationship Between Security Of Attachment And Cognitive Development1513 Words   |  7 PagesThe relationship between security of attachment and cognitive development creates the underlying foundation from which individual’s operate throughout the lifespan (Carruth, 2006). The security of attachment between an infant and their primary caregiver can have profound consequences for the developing brain, impacting an infant’s future relationships, self-esteem, and ability to self-regulate emotions (Carruth, 2006). Attachment theory, first theorized by John Bowlby (1988), stresses the significanceRead MorePersonal Statement1651 Words   |  7 PagesBackground and Inspiration From an early age, I have a strong aspiration to understand how a human mind works. I was fascinated by how complicated the underlying theories and motivations are in human reasoning and decision-making. I first realized I wanted to study psychology after I took a social psychology course during the last year of my degree in economics. While economics gave me a strong mathematical and statistical foundation, I felt that this subject is insufficient to help me fullyRead MoreThe Effects Of Deferred Imitation During The Sensorimotor Period1037 Words   |  5 PagesImitation and observational learning are important in aiding the attainment and portrayal of new behaviours, beginning as early as infancy (Meltzoff, 1993, p. 467). Deferred imitation and mental representations were concepts by developmental psychologist Jean Piaget in his theory of infant cognitive development. Deferred imitation refers to a child’s ability to imitate the actions that they have seen others perform , following a delay, (Slater, Lewis, Anzures Lee, 2011). Piaget proposed that theRead MoreChild Development Is The Growth And Change Within A Child s Intellectual And Mental Abilities Essay959 Words   |  4 Pagesrecognition†, â€Å"affliction†, and â€Å"modulates mood† swings, â€Å"anxiety†, â€Å"and aggression† (Mate, 2013). Parents who are pregnant and use drugs, or use after birth can alter these chemicals by not â€Å"socially interacting† with their infant, â€Å"leading them to drug seeking behavior†, early in his or her â€Å"childhood†, which in turn will â€Å"lead to the death of good brain chemical†, and â€Å"lead to a dangerous overload of worse chemicals† (Mate, 2013). In order to back these findings, one must cross-reference researchRead MoreBenefits Of Breastfeeding On Infants And Children986 Words   |  4 Pagesbenefits breastfeeding has on infants and children. The hypothesis is that feed ing breast milk to infants significantly improves their health and cognitive functioning. Research which supports this hypothesis is discussed in this paper. The paper will discuss the methods and results of each study. Two studies are about the positive effects that breast milk has on the brain and cognitive development. Another study is about the positive effects that breast milk has on infants health. . Read MoreThe Importance Of Childhood Experiences Of Children And The Social And Economic Benefits Of Early Intervention1553 Words   |  7 Pageschildhood experience to later life emotional, social and cognitive development into adulthood in the Uk, using the attachment and behaviorism theory to examine childhood experiences, as it forms parts of child’s development. I will be looking into the factors affecting social, emotional and cognitive development of children, strategies to improving service delivery of early intervention in children and the Social and economic benefits of early intervention. Attachment theory is a concept in developmentalRead MoreInfancy and Early Childhood1106 Words   |  5 PagesInfancy and Early Childhood Stages University of Phoenix Queanna Booth, Marilyn Lee, Virginia Ortega, Shniqua Smith, Linda Van Scholars note the important role that attachment plays in the development of an infant. Mary Ainsworth, a pioneer in the study of attachment describes attachment as an emotional bond between persons who binds them through space and time. Attachment is the basis for social skills. (As stated by Vaughn) According to Vaughn, through loving interactions betweenRead MoreThe Amygdala And Social Cognition830 Words   |  4 Pages1. What does the amygdala contribute to social cognition? Choose two or three specific social cognitive processes and review the evidence in support of amygdala participation. (Please note that you DO NOT need to read outside of our articles. The importance of the amygdala in social cognitions has been examined in both primate and human studies. Use of primates to study the social brain suggests that the amygdala contributes to social cognition. Kluver and Bucy made large bilateral lesions in monkey

Culture And International Business Negotiations - 1188 Words

Culture and International Business Negotiations Global trades account for more than 60% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (The Economist, 2014, para. 2), therefore, the important role of International Business Negotiations (IBN) in the global economy. Manrai and Manrai article The Influence of Culture in International Business Negotiations (2010) discusses the art and sciences aspects of successful IBN from a cultural perspective. Culture has been classified in innumerable ways and the comprehension of its influence on a variety of human behaviors is almost impossible, since its nature is extremely complex. Some scholars conceptualized that the influences of culture â€Å"transcend in terms of the beliefs, norms, traditions, and values†. The article’s authors analyzed different theories and suggested that there are six distinct ways in which culture affect IBN, separating them in two blocks: Characteristics of the Negotiators and Behaviors of the Negotiators. Negotiator’s Characteristics 1. Negotiator’s Goals: the expectations and objectives vary, as well as â€Å"how† negotiators expect to achieve them. For instance, some cultures differ as: deal-focused versus relationship-focused, win-win versus win-lose, integrative versus distributive, and competitive versus cooperative. 2. Negotiator’s Inclinations: Indirectly, culture also influences human behavior through predispositions and attitudes. For example, negotiators can diverge in terms of willingness to take risks, orientationShow MoreRelatedThe International Business Negotiations Influenced By Chinese And American Cultures And Differences743 Words   |  3 Pages Discussion on the international business negotiations influenced by Chinese and American cultures and differences Jialin Zhao CMN6060 Professor Stephen Novick October 26, 2016 Abstract Cultural negotiations are business negotiations with different cultural conditions. Under the background of economic globalization and international economic integration, the business ties between countries are becoming more and more closely. In order to avoid cultural conflicts, it is important to understandRead MoreSucceed The Negotiation Process And How The Participants Can Curb The Challenges Leading For Successful Transactions1491 Words   |  6 PagesSucceeding in International Business Negotiations. Denise C Matowa Corpus Christi College BUSN 204 1.1 Introduction International business can be defined as the exchange of goods and services across borders through the use of negotiators. It can be thought of as the deliberate investment into another country with the gain of a commodity in the transaction. Through the fast paced train known as globalization, many companies have found international business transactions to be quite fruitfulRead MoreInfluence Of Cultural Differences On International Business Negotiations Essay1077 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferences on international business negotiations In the negotiation practice, many negotiators often do not understand or pay attention to the important influence of the cultural importance of the negotiations. During the international business negotiating the process, some negotiators may have been aware that the different or hard to understand the concrete manifestation. However, some foreign negotiators, in order to maintain a harmonious relationship between the negotiations, they will payRead MoreCulture Difference in Business Negotiation1456 Words   |  6 Pagesdifference on business negotiation 〠Abstract】International business negotiation is playing a more and more important role in modem society. We can see clearly that there are great differences in international business negotiation. Specially, culture can influence negotiating styles in different ways, because negotiators who may come from another nation is different from us in language, beliefs, behaviors manners, Privacy, Food custom, time, thinking, value and attitudes and so on. Different cultures expressRead MoreHow Does Culture Impact on the Planning and Carrying out of International Strategy and Negotiations1733 Words   |  7 PagesHow does culture impact on the planning and carrying out of international strategy and negotiations. The main motive of this essay is to see how culture impact on plan and implementation of international strategy and negotiations in business world. The essay consist of concept of culture in broad sense. Then the paper present a short overview of Hofstede’s culture framework. The type of culture is broadly classified and majorly distributed into two section namely corporate and national. InternationalRead MoreGlobal Business Cultural Analysis Of Japan Essay1627 Words   |  7 Pages Global Business Cultural Analysis: Japan James Hendricks Liberty University  Global Business Cultural Analysis: Japan Technological advancement has made globalization an inevitable factor that businesses of the future will need to consider in order to be successful. Increasingly, companies that have been solely domestic are branching out internationally for a wide variety of reasons, but in the end, it’s all about making profits from previously inaccessible market segments. Read MoreThailand is an Attractive Destination for Foreign Investors Essay611 Words   |  3 Pagesthe near future, as well as the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between ASEAN and many counterparts (Department of Trade Negotiations, 2014) also help strengthen partnership, cooperation and international relation between Thailand and its trading partners. These policies are set up to help boost Thai economy. Additionally, Thailand is one of potential countries for international investment which has many attracted foreign investors such as Asians, North Americans and Europeans. Among these countriesRead MoreCross Cultural Negotiations953 Words   |  4 PagesCross cultural negotiation is one of many specialized areas within the wider field of cross cultural communications. By taking cross cultural negotiation training, negotiators and sales personnel give themselves an advantage over competitors. There is an argument that proposes that culture is inconsequential to cross cultural negotiation. It maintains that as long as a proposal is financially attractive it will succeed. However, this is a naà ¯ve way of approaching international business. Let usRead MoreEthical Issues With International Business1518 Words   |  7 PagesThe world we live in today revolves around business. International business is sometimes called; â€Å"The Study of Multinational Companies.† Doing business internationally is an interesting task. There are many cultures, behaviors and traditions that different countries have and it is important to be aware of them. Cultures become crossed when different countries negotiate business. Culture influences how people act, think, and communicate. When dealing business internationally, diving in head first isnRead MorePolitical Factors That Affect International Business1020 Words   |  5 Pagesin overseas markets there is often a risk, the risk is referred to as political environment risk, and these factors can facilitate or hinder business operation. Some of the political factors that affect international business include† (Justin Ervin. Zachary Smith A.2008). One significant political environmental factor that influences international business operation is trade agreements. Countries frequently enter into trade treaties to further facilitate trade between themselves. Case in point

Alzheimer`s Disease (903 words) Essay Example For Students

Alzheimer`s Disease (903 words) Essay Alzheimer`s DiseaseAlzheimers Disease (AD) is one of the most common of the dementing illnesses. Aprogressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain, causing impairedmemory, thinking and behavior. A person with Alzhiemers Disease may experiencepersonality and behavior changes, impaired judgment, confusion and difficultyfinishing thoughts, following directions or even finding the right word to sayin a conversation. Once advanced the sufferer may require a caretaker as dailychores become very difficult to accomplish. Evidence points toward amyloid asone of the main causes for the occurring cytotoxic processes. Researchers havefound that degeneration appears to be caused by interference with intracellularcalcium homeostasis via activation of calcium channels, intracellular calciumstores, and further production of free radicals by calcium-sensitive enzymes. The glutamatergic system seems to be involved in mediating the toxic processes. In the brain, the nerve cells in the part that controls memory and thinking aredamaged, this interrupts the passage of messages between communicating cells. The cells undergo distinctive changes, these are called neuritic plaques (groupsof degenerating nerve cell ends) and neurofibrillary tangles (groups of twistedfilaments which accumulate in previously healthy nerve cells). The cortex (usedfor thinking) of the brain shrinks, the spaces in the center of the brain becomeenlarged causing reduction of the surface area in the brain. Symptoms of ADusually occur in older adults and are the ones most at risk, although people intheir 40s and 5Os may also be affected. The symptoms include a loss ofintellectual capacity, loss of language skills which may include having troublefinding words, poor or decreased judgment, problems with abstract thinking,disorientation in place and time, changes in mood or behavior and changes inpersonality. AD does not discriminate, it affects any race, socio background orsex equally. The classic symptom of forgetfulness is part of the normal agingprocess and usually begins in early middle age, however, normal forget fulnessdiffers from Alzheimers Disease in many important ways. The cause ofAlzheimers Disease is not exactly known. Suspected causes undergoing researchare neurological damage, chemical deficiencies, viruses, environmental toxinsand malfunctions in the bodys disease defense systems and genetics. There isalso evidence of a slightly increased risk of heridity of AD amongst children,brothers and sisters of patients with this disease. It is also important to notethat AD can only be diagnosed 100% after death through an autopsy of theaffected subjects brain tissue. About a third of autopsies turn up a differentdiagnosis and thus family members are encouraged to ask for an autopsy as acontribution to the study of the disease and about the genetics of AD. There isno single clinical test for AD. It is usually diagnosed by ruling out all othercurable or incurable causes of memory loss. A positive diagnosis of this diseasecan only be made by microscopically studying a small piece of brain tis sue afterdeath. The cerebral cortex of an Alzheimer sufferers brain will havecharacteristic abnormalities such as cells marred by plaques and tangles. Aworking diagnosis can be made though through various testing procedures thatinclude a complete physical as well as neurological and psychologicalexaminations. At this time there is no definite cure or treatment for AD,although there are many suppliers of products which claim to help sufferers, butthe products are more like over-priced placebos with no documented evidence ofalleviation of the illness amongst sufferers, but glutamate receptor-selectivedrugs, some antioxidants, nitric oxide synthase inhibitors, calcium channelantagonists, receptor or enzyme inhibitors, and growth factors promise futurehelp in curing this disease. Combinations of drugs that act at different levelsmay also prolong the sufferers life/health. People diagnosed with AlzheimersDisease can live anywhere from 2 to 20 years after memory loss symptoms start tosurf ace. It shortens the sufferers expected life span, but through appropriatecare and medical attention the patients oftenlive for many years. Death cantusually be predicted until the end stages where symptoms are nearing theirworse. Some patients in late or terminal-stage Alzheimers tend to lose weightand have difficulty swallowing, difficulties with bladder control, walking andtalking. They are also known to curl into a fetal position. Sufferers most oftendie through a series of repeated infections such as bladder infections orpneumonia. Although the following estimations are from American literature, asexplained earlier we know that AD has a more or less universal effect amongstthe populations, ratio wise. Alzheimers afflicts approximately 4,000,000Americans and its estimated that one in three of us may have a relative thatwill suffer from this degenerative disease. More than 100,000 die annually whichmakes AD the fourth largest cause of adult death in the US. It is also a verycostl y disease monatary wise in that about half of the patients in nursing homeshave this illness with an estimated $80 billion spent annually on the care of,diagnosis, treatment, etc. People who suffer from AD often require 24-hour careand supervision, this is mostly provided by family and friends in a home. .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 , .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .postImageUrl , .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 , .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63:hover , .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63:visited , .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63:active { border:0!important; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63:active , .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63 .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubf13ae39ed0bb3ac537063ae59ae4b63:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Lessons of Life EssayBibliographyBliss T. V. P Collingridge G. L (1993) A synaptic model of memory: Long-termpotentiation in the hippocampus, Nature 361 31-39 * Clarris H. J. et al (1994)Secretion of nerve growth factor from septum stimulates neurite outgrowth andrelease of the amyloid protein precursor of Alzheimers disease from hippocampalexplants J. Neurosci. Res. 38 248-258 * Disterhoft J. F et al (1994) The calciumrationale in aging and Alzheimers disease Calcium Hypothesis of Aging andDementia, Annual Academy of Science. N.Y. New York 382-405 * Holschier,C (1998)Neurobiology of disease, Academic Press 5 121-159 * http://www.ahaf.org/alzdis/about/adabout.htm* http://w ww.alzheimers.com/ * http://www.zarcrom.com/users/yeartorem/index4.html

Organisational Design and Performance Management

Introduction This paper is based on the topic of organisational design and performance management. It seeks to explore the topic by looking at two companies namely Tesco and Marks Spencer (MS).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Organisational Design and Performance Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The paper is divided into two parts. Part one looks at the two companies in terms of organisational design and how the various aspects of organisational design are integrated with the companies’ business strategies. It also evaluates the e-business models and approaches adopted by the two companies and how the models and approaches have enhanced innovation, growth, and service provision of the two companies. Part two looks at how Tesco can incorporate mobile phone technology in its business strategy to enhance its performance both internally and externally. It also looks at some Key Performance Indicat ors (KPIs) which can be used for assessing the improvement of Tesco’s business. The paper uses various reading materials from the internet and the companies’ websites. Other specific references include the Aberdeen’s group report and IBM’s guidlines on creating a compelling mobile user experience. Part I Overview of Organisational Design Organisational design is a synonym of organisational structure. However, in the literature of organisational behaviour, organisational structure is commonly used. According to Sims, organisational structure refers to how various units of an organisation relate to each other (Sims 2007). The purpose of organisational structure is to make sure that organisations get their work done, which is made possible by division of labour. All the jobs in an organisation taken together form the structure, where each job relates to others either in horizontal or vertical manner.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The structure of an organisation greatly influences its culture. The reason is that organisational structure is about how various jobs relate to each other. For instance, if employees of an organisation fear their managers, then the organisation is likely to have a rigid organisational culture. On the other hand, if employees and managers interact with each other without fear, then the organisation is likely to have a flexible organisational culture (Jeremy Steve 2012). Some organisational structures are horizontal and are associated with line management. In organisations with horizontal structures, there are several managers working under a senior manager. These managers are presumed to be at par in terms of power and as a result, none of them can give orders to the rest. Instead, they are in charge of specific departments but work in collaboration with each other. Under the line managers, there a re project or program officers who are charged with implementation of the core activities of the organisations (Schermerhorn 2010). One distinct form of organisational structure is the entrepreneurial structure. This structure encompasses a centre of power that is dominant in an organisation. In organisations with entrepreneurial structures, the behaviour of employees is a true reflection of the behaviour of the managers. In an entrepreneurial structure, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an organisation has good relationships with all departmental heads and team leaders of the organisation (Pearce Robinson 2011). Another common form of organisational structure is the bureaucratic structure. This structure is mostly associated with strict rules and regulations, which are commonly associated with red tape.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Organisational Design and Performance Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Lea rn More Some characteristics of the bureaucratic structure include hierarchical authority, written rules, and regulations which specify the exact nature of relationships among the employees and how tasks are carried out. The opposite of the bureaucratic structure is the independent structure, which is characterised by a centralised support system that enables various organisational departments to work independently without supervision and coordination (Fox 2009). In the literature of organisational design, the concept of specialisation refers to a situation where different employees are assigned different tasks which they are qualified for based on their training, education, and experience. Specialisation enables employees to work efficiently and effectively due to their ability to focus on specific areas which they are passionate about (Stanford 2007). Comparison of Tesco with MS Tesco is a multinational company dealing with grocery and general retail merchandise. Its headquarter s are at Cheshunt, United Kingdom (Tesco 2014). According to information posted on its website, it is the third largest retail merchandise in the world after Wal-Mart and Carrefour. Its main market is in the United Kingdom but it has grocery stores in more than 13 countries across the globe (Tesco 2014). Tesco’s mission is to be acknowledged by its customers as the premier drilling Services Company while the vision is to become a customers’ strategic partner in elimination of non-productive time. The core values of the company include compliance to work ethics and provision of a safe work environment.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Tesco’s expansion strategy is coined to respond to the needs of all its customers, both in the United Kingdom and in other countries where it has operations (Tesco 2014). The challenges associated with entering new markets abroad were the key determinants of Tesco’s expansion strategy, where it used mergers and acquisitions to penetrate those markets. Examples of mergers by Tesco include the partnership with Samsung in South Korea to form Samsung –Tesco home-plus merger and in Thailand where it went into partnership with Charoen Pokphad to form a merger called Tesco-Lotus. In 2005, the company acquired several companies in South Korea. With the advent of globalisation, Tesco managed to move to China where the culture and values are completely different from those of the United Kingdom. The company entered China in 2004 after acquiring about 50% of the Hymall. It also operates in various cities and towns in China such as Shanghai, Weifang, and Taizhou where it de als with imported wines, beers, and cheese products especially from Italy, Netherlands, and France (Tesco 2014). MS is a British multinational company which specialises in food products, clothing, home products, and other luxurious domestic products. Its headquarters are at Westminster in London. It was started way back in 1884 by Mark and Spencer. In the United Kingdom, MS has a total of 622 stores and 270 others in 34 countries. The company’s mission is â€Å"to make aspirational quality accessible to all† (MS: the official board 2010). As per the company’s mission statement, the company’s strategic direction is coined around meeting the needs of its customers by providing them with high quality products and services at affordable prices. In terms of organisational design, both Tesco and MS are structured in a bureaucratic manner, that is, they both have chains of command. It is through the chains of command that authority and power to make decisions ar e entrenched. The two companies are therefore layered, with the boards of directors being at the top. Since the two are multinational companies, the bureaucratic structure is the most appropriate because it enables them to be guided by formal rules and regulations which are communicated well through the chains of command. Both companies have rules of conduct at the workplace. Such rules govern things like working hours, holidays, and communication protocols within the companies. The bureaucratic approach views organisations as being guided by rationality. Employees are selected not on the basis of friendship but on merit and qualification. The approach does not encourage the mixing of friendship or family issues with organisational business. All employees are therefore selected through a transparent and competitive process. In terms of remuneration, employees are remunerated according to their positions and qualifications, meaning that those at the top of the hierarchy get higher re muneration than those at the bottom. However, in terms of responsibilities, those at the bottom are mostly involved with daily activities of organisations while those at the top are mostly involved with policy issues and public relations activities. The approach recognises positions in the hierarchy by their designations not by the individuals who hold them. It means that there is no personification of ranks within organisations and as a result, discipline and respect are able to prevail. The idea of addressing positions by their designations in the hierarchy also ensures that there are no unnecessary arguments between different officials in the chain of command. The bureaucratic structure is based on the bureaucratic theory, which is characterised by clearly defined rules and procedures at the workplace. These rules and procedures make things easy for employees because there is no ambiguity since the employees are able to focus on their duties and responsibilities. The clear chain of command also ensures that there is proper communication because all employees know where to receive instructions from and as a result, there is no conflict of interest between various levels in the organisational structure (Osterwalder Pigneur 2010). The recruitment of employees based on merit and professional qualification ensure that the right people are employed for the right jobs. It also ensures that there is efficiency and high quality production in organisations. The separation of employees’ personal issues and those of organisations enables employees to focus only on their duties and responsibilities at the workplace. However, the organisational designs for the two companies vary to some extent, with Tesco having a more rigid structure than MS. In the case of MS, the managing director is at the top followed by the executive directors, then the general staff (MS: the official board 2010). This structure means that MS is able to make decisions faster than Tesco beca use at Tesco, all decisions pass through a longer chain of command than at MS. As a result, MS has managed to move to more countries than Tesco. The reason is that managers at MS are given the leeway to make business decisions based on the situations on the ground (MS: student information 2010). It is important to mention that MS had a rigid structure just like Tesco. However, in 2009, MS was restructured after its top leadership experienced slow growth and stiff competition from its business rivals. The leadership attributed its slow growth to its rigid organisational structure, where the procurement of decisions took longer than necessary. After restructuring, MS has realised increased growth of business and improved customer satisfaction (MS: the official board 2010). E-Business Models and Approaches for Tesco and MS Organisational Strategy As shown in the diagram above, the success of any organisation is depended on three key pillars. The business strategy is equivalent to orga nisational mission. For organisations to achieve their mission, they must put in place proper organisational infrastructure in terms of organisational and information strategies. The organisational strategy comprises both short-term and long-term goals, while the information strategy comprises internal and external communication channels. The three pillars are interwoven; meaning any change in one of them affects the others. In other words, the success of each pillar is depended on the other pillars. However, business strategy is the key pillar which provides overall direction of the organisations (Pearson Saunders 2013). Since the start of the 1990 decade, Tesco emerged as a global leader in e-business. Through its Information and Technology (IT) department, the company developed a vibrant e-business model which has been described as very efficient and effective. According to its IT director Mr. Mike McNamara, Tesco’s e-business model focuses on various business aspects nam ely marketing, e-procurement, e-training, supply chain management, customer relationship management, and online selling. According to a survey done by an organisation known as Datamonitor, Tesco accounted for more than half of total sales done online in 2014 (Rogers 2015). On its part, MS has not been in the e-business for long like Tesco. However, it has incorporated technology in its business and as a result; it has been able to boost its revenues by 40% in the past decade. Just like Tesco, MS’s e-business model is focused on marketing and sales (Strinfellow 2010). The marketing strategies of the two companies involve advertisement on various platforms on the internet. Examples are explained below. Facebook The two companies have Facebook pages where they post information about what they do, the kind of services and products they deal with, their uniqueness, and how customers may get their products and services. Facebook has a function that allows people to ‘like†™ the companies’ pages by clicking on the ‘like’ button. When people ‘like’ the pages, they are able to access the companies’ business information such as services offered, physical addresses, companies’ mission and vision among other information. On the Facebook pages, the companies invite those who ‘like’ their pages to give their views regarding the companies’ operations. In other words, the companies operate an online suggestion box, which they use to improve their services. Facebook is therefore not only used as an advertisement and marketing tool but also as a platform to improve the quality of products and services offered by the two companies (Bodnar Cohen 2012). Twitter The two companies also have twitter handles where those who want to know more about them are requested to ‘follow’ the twitter handles. Once they ‘follow’, they are able to access the companies’ business in formation. The companies use their twitter accounts to advertise and market their businesses. They also use them to update customers on new products and services. In other words, the companies use twitter for acquiring and retaining customers (Jones Silverstein 2009). Google + It is a product of the giant search engine company called Google. Google + is among the latest forms of social media and has improved features compared to twitter and Facebook. The google+ application can be downloaded into mobile phones and computers. Many people who use it prefer it due to its many features such as live videos, music, data storage functions, You Tube, google maps, and google play among other features. Just like Facebook and twitter, for people to join google+, they are required to register by creating their profiles. Companies may as well create their google+ profiles and invite customers to be part of the events on their google+ profiles. Both Tesco and MS use the google+ feature to market their products and services. One of the interesting features of google+ is You Tube. This feature enables the companies to store videos and pictures of various products. Due to its ability to store huge files, google+ enables the companies to share as mush information as possible with their customers, a feature which is missing on Facebook and twitter. As a result, it becomes easy and convenient for the companies to reach many customers with comprehensive information about their products and services (Harman 2014). Google+ has a high value when it comes to advertisement and marketing. It also has the advantage of having a huge data storage capacity, which ensures that the companies do not lose their confidential information due to various reasons such as natural disasters, vandalism, or sabotage by business rivals. E-mail Lists The electronic mail, popularly known as the e-mail is one of the oldest methods of communication via the internet. It is mostly used for confidential commun ication between people, and especially for official purposes. However, the recent days have experienced an increased use of the e-mail, especially after companies started using it for marketing their products and services (Loomer 2013). Companies do so by creating a function in their websites, where those who visit the websites are able to subscribe using their e-mail addresses and start receiving messages about different products and promotions in their e-mail inbox (Pearson Saunders 2013). Both Tesco and MS use the e-mail for advertisement purposes. Through the e-mail, the companies have been able to increase their audience on the social media. The reason is that over 85% of people who have an e-mail account are also on social media. For instance, Facebook has a feature for customising audience using the e-mail. Once Facebook users ‘like’ the Facebook pages of the companies, the feature directly connects Facebook to the users’ e-mail accounts. Once that happen s, the users are able to receive updates on various products and services in their e-mail inbox (Pearson Saunders 2013).. Just like Facebook, majority of people who are on twitter also have e-mail addresses. The reason is that many people use their e-mail addresses to register with twitter and Facebook. In an effort to increase audience for various advertisements, twitter has a tailored audience feature which enables those with e-mail addresses to get updates from twitter via their e-mail addresses. Part II Advice to Tesco The mobile phone technology is one of the most recent milestones in the telecommunication sector. As the name implies, it is a technology which is based on the mobile phone. When the first mobile phone was invented about two decades ago, it was viewed as a major discovery that revolutionised how people communicated with each other. As opposed to earlier methods of communication, the mobile phone came with a unique feature of portability. The first mobile phone wa s used mainly for making calls and sending text messages. As a result, people were, and are still able to move with their mobile phones from one place to another and communicate with others using various mobile phone networks. Since then, the mobile phone technology has witnessed major improvements, which have been occasioned by continued innovation and creativity in the telecommunication sector. The first feature to be added to the mobile phone was the internet. The manufacturing of mobile phones which were internet enabled was a major step towards making the mobile phone part and parcel of human life. Currently, the mobile phone is equipped with a wide range of applications such as Facebook, twitter, WhatsApp, Bluetooth, wi-fi among other advanced applications. In a nutshell therefore, the mobile phone is slowly rendering the computer irrelevant. The reason is that despite its small screen, the mobile phone is capable of doing any task which the computer can do. In business circle s, the mobile phone has not been left behind. As explained earlier, companies of different sizes and complexities have incorporated technology in their business strategies. However, many of the technologies are based on the computer. Due to globalisation, the business environment has become more competitive than ever. The main driving forces of globalisation include the advancement in information and communication technology, improved transport systems, and liberalisation of trade and immigration policies. As a result, companies are always thinking of ways of increasing their competitiveness so as to increase their revenues and expand to new markets. Companies have therefore been investing immensely in innovation with the aim of coming up with unique products and services which can be appealing to their customers. As mentioned earlier in this report, Tesco’s expansion strategy is coined to respond to the needs of its customers irrespective of their locations and nationalities . Tesco has managed to incorporate technology in its business strategy to some extent. However, it has not effectively utilised the mobile phone technology and as many commentators have pointed out, the company has a great potential of increasing its revenues if it fully integrates its business strategy with the mobile phone technology. Tesco can borrow the example of IBM, which is one of the few organisations which have realised the potential of the mobile phone technology to grow businesses. According to IBM, the mobile phone technology is becoming the target of many companies which want to appeal to their customers as much as possible. The reasoning behind the application of mobile phone technology in business is that there are more people who are able to access and use the mobile phone than those who are able to access and use the computer. The reason is that the mobile phone is portable and easy to use. According to Facebook, which is one of the leading social media companies i n the globe, over 350 million people use Facebook on their mobile phones daily for various activities such as posting updates, communicating with friends, and sending photos. It therefore means that if properly used, the mobile phone technology has a great potential of growing businesses. According to IBM, the overall objective of companies which use the mobile phone technology in their businesses should be what the customers want. If the companies can be able to accurately know the needs of their customers, then they can be in a position to design applications which may meet those needs. As a result, such companies should follow IBM’s simple guidelines when using the mobile phone technology as a strategy for creating business advantage. These guidelines are the ones which I would advise Tesco to follow if it aspires to succeed in its strategic objectives both at home and abroad (IBM global business services: White paper: creating a compelling mobile user experience 2012). As per the IBM’s model, companies such as Tesco should focus on the mobile phone user’s experience with the aim of making it different from that of using the computer. Basically, a mobile phone application should not be a replica of a website because the mobile phone is remarkably different from the computer. Tesco should therefore aim at designing mobile phone applications which are easy to use, bearing in mind that mobile phone users are more prone to interruptions than computer users. As a result, there is no room for sophisticated applications on mobile phones because they only help in diverting the attention of the users elsewhere. The user interface for the mobile phone should therefore be user-friendly and equipped with clear guidelines and steps which make the user’s experience hustle free (IBM global business services: White paper: creating a compelling mobile user experience 2012). The other aspects which Tesco should focus on while integrating its busin ess strategy with the mobile phone technology include making applications which take into account simplicity, rich experiences, sociability, innovativeness, and smart evolution. All these aspects are focused on the customers; with the objective of making their mobile phone technology experiences enjoyable. If the applications are kept simple but of high quality, customers would be willing to use them for their shopping. Since the goal is to make the customers use their mobile phones to make their shopping experiences easier, Tesco should ensure that the details which are given in all applications are valid and not confusing. For example, if a customer wants to order a certain product using a mobile phone, then the application for performing that task should be equipped with adequate details about the product and its unique features. Something else for Tesco to put into consideration is that applications for online shopping should also be sensitive to customers’ feelings. In s ome cases, some applications may require customers to disclose their personal details such as age, name, location, and so forth. In such cases, the applications should clearly explain why such details are needed and have an option for accepting or declining to reveal such details. That makes it possible for customers to give their personal details without fear of victimisation. If adequate explanations are not provided, customers may become suspicious when asked to disclose their personal details and abandon the whole thing altogether. Mobile phone applications for business purposes should also focus on addressing customers’ key concerns. The reason is that all customers who use mobile phone applications have specific concerns which they expect to be addressed. It should not just be a matter of making applications for the sake of making them, but rather, Tesco should first understand which applications are available in the market and what customers think about them. Once that is done, the company should invest only in applications which are completely different from those in the market. The company may also make improvements on the existing applications and install them in mobile phones. The reason is that customers are always excited by the realisation that a mobile phone application has the ability of improving their mobile shopping experiences. Something else of crucial importance when designing a mobile phone application is speed. The reason is that customers do not have all the time to wait for low-speed applications to execute a command. Low-speed applications also consume a lot of battery power and data bundles, something which does not go down well with customers. The applications should therefore be of good speed and have the ability to open several windows at the same time. I would therefore advise Tesco to be proactive and empower its IT department with the necessary equipment and resources for it to fully incorporate the mobile phone technol ogy in the company’s business strategy. If Tesco is able to advance its mobile phone technology by following IBM’s guidelines, then the potential of outperforming its competitors such as Wal-Mart would be increased. Key Performance Indicators If Tesco embraces IMB’s guidelines by incorporating them in its business strategy, it would realise significant improvements. Such improvements would include customer satisfaction, better work environment, and improved quality of products and services. In order to asses the improvements, I have developed a group of KPIs which may be used to asses Tesco’s improvements. The KPIs are adopted from the Aberdeen’s group report and focus on three key areas namely internal business processes, customer satisfaction, and organisational learning. These are discussed and illustrated below. As indicated earlier, Tesco’s mission is to be acknowledged by its customers as the premier drilling Services Company while its vision is to become a customers’ strategic partner in elimination of non-productive time. The mobile phone technology relates to Tesco’s mission in that it would increase the customer base and lead to improved financial performance, which would in turn lead to reduction of prices. It relates to the vision of becoming a customers’ strategic partner in elimination of non-productive time in that through it, customers would not waste time using computers to do their online shopping but would do it using their mobile phones at their places of convenience (Aberdeen group report: Enterprise mobility management 2012). Through the mobile phone technology, Tesco would be able to initiate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs at the community level. These CSR programs would comprise things like setting up foundations for helping the less fortunate in the society to attain education, establishment of healthcare initiatives, and environmental conservation. These pr ograms would not only make people live good lives but would also enable them to benefit from the profits made by the company. The programs would also lead to increased customer satisfaction due to improved efficiency. Objective Indicator Target Initiative Increase the customer base The number of new customers per week and the rate at which they purchase goods and services using the mobile phone technology The rural communities, the affluent, the African Americans, the suburbanite, the Hispanic Americans, and the so called ‘empty-nesters’ Design mobile phone applications which are user-friendly Improve customer satisfaction Increased number of customers and improvement of sales All the categories of customers named above and any others Improve the quality of goods and services Initiate CSR programs Number of CSR programs established and the number of beneficiaries The less fortunate in the society Establish CSR initiatives and create awareness about their existe nce and benefits using the mobile phone technology The mobile phone technology would improve Tesco’s internal business processes through increased efficiency. The increased efficiency relates to the company’s vision in that through it, the company would be able to utilise its resources effectively. The effective utilisation of resources would enable the company to provide goods and services which are of high quality at affordable prices, thus enable the customers to live good lives because they would be able to save money through purchasing goods and services at low prices. The increased efficiency relates to the company’s mission in that it would increase the output of the company’s capital and lead to expansion to new markets. The other objective of improving the internal business processes is the improvement of the quality of goods and services produced and sold by the company. This objective relates to Tesco’s mission in that improved qualit y of goods and services would lead to increased sales. As a result, many people would save money and live good lives. The objective relates to Tesco’s vision in that the provision of quality goods and services would increase the competitive advantage of the company in the retail industry, and enable it to move closer towards being a world leader in the retail industry. The improvement of the quality of goods and services is related to the company’s overall strategy because the high quality goods and services would enable the company to increase its customer satisfaction. Consequently, the customers would increase the volume of their shopping and enable the company to improve its financial performance (Parmeter 2010). Objective Indicator Target Initiative To increase company’s efficiency Reduction of the time used for making one unit of production To reduce the time used for making one unit of production by half Develop mobile phone applications for various organisational processes such as supervision of staff Improve the quality of goods and services Production of goods and services which are of high quality Improve the quality of all goods and services Use mobile phone technology for constant communication between various departments of the company Conclusion The success or failure of any organisation is determined by its structure. Different organisations are designed differently to conform to their social, economic, and political environments. Even though Tesco and MS have bureaucratic structures, MS has a less bureaucratic structure than Tesco. MS’s structure enables it to make decisions easily. Both companies have embraced e-business and have applied the latest forms of technology in their business activities. The incorporation of technology in their businesses has enabled the companies to boost their revenues and increase their global recognition. For instance, Tesco has realised an exponential growth of customers wh o do their shopping online. However, there is need for the company to integrate its business strategy with the mobile phone technology. If Tesco effectively integrates its business strategy with the mobile phone technology, it would be in a good position to effectively compete with its business rivals. Through the mobile phone technology also, Tesco would be able to increase customer satisfaction because many customers would be doing their shopping using their mobile phones at their places of convenience. For the company to be able to fully benefit from the mobile phone technology however, it needs to apply the guidelines provided by IBM and develop mobile phone applications which are user-friendly, easy to use, and able to meet customers’ needs and expectations. Reference List Aberdeen group report: Enterprise mobility management 2012, viewed on http://content.maas360.com/www/content/ar/Aberdeen_SoMoClo_2012.pdf Bodnar, K Cohen, J.L 2012, The B2B social media book: become a marketing superstar by generating leads with blogging, linkedln, twitter, facebook, e-mail, and more, Wiley, Hoboken, N.J. Fox, W. M 2009,The management process : an integrated functional approach, Information Age Publishing, Charlotte, N.C. 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