career development portfolio Essays

career development portfolio Essays career development portfolio Essay career development portfolio Essay Supply Chain Management (SG2038) Case study on DLH as a third-party logistics player Abstract This study or essay attempt to examine the role DHL plays as a third party logistics player and the advantages of the business role of DHL in todays supply chain management. Based on the rapid growth of other logistics companies, it will also analyse the challenges DHL is facing and also the challenges the company could face in future in relation to supply chain management. Furthermore, recommendations will be given that could maintain and promote the success of DHLs role in the third party logistics business. Introduction Company background DHL is a logistics service based industry founded in 1969 in San Francisco by three young shipping executives Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom and Robert Lynn. Since then, it continued to grow rapidly until today where it stands to be the market leader of the international express and logistics industry. In 1969, it took its primary step in planning for its future through personal shipping of documents by airplane from port to port so they can be, examined and see to, before the ships arrive. As the year goes by DHL network expanded largely, reaching out to every of its customers around the globe. Their market share increased and became more intricate therefore in order to meet the changing needs of its customers both globally and local level, it adapted to the new market changes. DHL international network now links more than 220 countries and territories in the world. It offers incomparable skill in express, overland transport, contract logistics solutions, air and ocean freight and international mail services. Behind its success are its employees whose main focuses is on customers needs and provision of individual modified solutions since its success has always been around delivering service of extreme excellence to its ustomers ( DHL 2013). Role of DHL as a third-party logistics (3PL) player As a third-party logistics player, DHL plays a significant role in providing services to its clients of outsourced logistics services for all or part of their function of supply chain management. DHL normally focus on integrated operations which can be customized to the needs of customers based on the condition of the market demand and delivery service supplies for their materials and products (Razzaque and Sheng, 2006). The role of DHL thus is to maintain balance in its customers supply chain anagement by rendering services such as; DHL freight transport: this is one of DHLs most common services it involves the movement of goods from one location to the other. This may be from a particular retail store to another or perhaps from a coastal port to a warehouse. They help their customers to constantly improve on their means of transportation by getting products to the market more efficiently and faster therefore making them gain competitive advantage (Bardi and Tracey, 2006). Warehousing and distribution: As a third-party logistics, DHL offer some form of warehousing and distribution. In this sense, the clients business hires the company to store their goods in an organized facility and later distribute the goods to different locations (Ahmed and Raflq, 2003), DHL fulfilment: this can be described as a version of warehousing where they store goods in a warehouse, and then different collections of the goods are assembled in other containers or box. DHL maintains employees, pickers and packers who are able to carry out orders with speed and high level of accuracy (Stefansson, 2006). Supply chain solution: DHL render a special service in helping their clients improve their operational performance and rofitability by making use of current lean and green supply chain management techniques (Lieb, 2005). Advantages of DHLs business role in supply chain management DHLs business role in supply chain management enables business to stay ahead of their rivals with greater flexibility, lower cost structure and strong customer satisfaction. Here are some of the advantages of DHLs business role in supply chain management; Better focus on core activities DHLs business role in supply chain management allows business or clients to focus on their activities that are of great importance to the company. In a period of rapid growth, operations in a company will expand and when this happens, it may consume both human and financial resources at the expense of the main activities that made the company successful but, when these additional operations are outsourced, the company focuses on the core activities (Nwokah, 2009). Reduced cost on operations and recruitment The role of DHL in supply chain management evades the needs for companies to hire workers in-house so that operational and recruitment cost are minimized to a great extent (Hertz and Monica, 2003). Risk management In any business or investment, there are, certain level of risk involve. DHL 3pl business in supply chain management is to assume and manage these risks and they can also decide a better way of avoiding these risks since it is one of their area of expertise (Kim, 2003). Increase efficiency In the supply chain, most business that does everything by themselves, often have higher research and development, marketing and distribution expenses and these expenses are passed on to customers. However, with the cost structure and economic of scale of a third party logistics like DHL, can give an important competitive dvantage to your firm (Langley and Capgemmini, 2012). Innovation This is one of the greatest advantages of DHLs business role in supply chain management in the sense that it applies its expertise in various ways that will improve, business operations by, introducing innovative business ideas and technology (Rahman, 2011). Challenges faced by DHL from the perspective of supply chain Third-party logistics like DHL experience constant challenge due to pressure from customers and new innovative ideas in supply chain. However, these challenges, brings about changes in their operations. Inventory policy changes: the consistent changes in the organizations inventory process has become a big challenge to the logistics outsourcing companies including DHL. In this way, the supply chain concepts such as just-in-time and Just-in-sequence approaches have put a challenging demand in the service of DHL Express. Hence, contemporary organizations, does not work in isolation due to interdependent on each other. DHL however is currently strategizing towards changing their original methods on service delivery to ensure efficiency as well as customer satisfaction (Gibson etal, 2006). Competitors: the entrant of various companies into logistics outsourcing industry has become a great challenge to DHLs services. Logistics report in I-JK 2009 revealed that smaller companies are using channel freight-forwarders which are positioned to enhance service delivery to the customers (Wright, Pickton, and Calliw, 2002). This association has made DHL to lose some of its customers, since the rivals, provides the same services. Also other big competitors like UPS and FEDEX are buying smaller logistics firm to expand their business and this situation may cost DHL its foremost position in the world Express Service. Transportation cost: increase in the cost of transportation (increase in the price of fuel, gas and diesel) creates a big challenge to third-party logistics providers like DHL. For instance, when there is an increase or scarcity in petroleum products, there will be a delay in delivering goods to their supposed destination. As a result of this delay, there will be a loss to the involved organization (Virum, 2003). Globalization: the new trend in globalization, have brought about a change in the concept of third-party logistics business. Users or customers of third party logistics re now demanding more from their service providers as a result of new innovative ideas in supply chain thereby, pushing third-party logistics like DHL to take a new turn (Langley, Newton and Tyndall, 1999). Recommendation For DHL to maintain its successful role as a third-party logistics player in various business industries, it needs to improve in its Just-in-time and Just-in sequence inventory strategy and acquire more channel fright-forwarders that will enhance quick delivery of goods in other to meet and satisfy the pressing needs of its customers and when this is done, they will be able to regain their lost customers hereby allowing them to compete and retain its place in the logistics business. However, to reduce the delay in the delivering of goods due to scarcity and increase in the price of petroleum products, DHL should have a store or a bank where petroleum products can be stored in case of such occurrence to facilitate the delivery of goods and avoiding loss in the side of customers. As the world continues to develop into a more globalized economy and organizations are coming up with new ideas and becoming more demanding, DHL should also create new innovative ideas o match with the present trend in the globalized economy. Conclusion As third-party logistics companies to grow, the role of DHL in the third-party logistics business will in no doubt continue to change and as the economy continues to move into a more globalized world, the challenges of DHL will increase thereby making its services stronger and giving them more competitive advantage in the long run of logistics business and supply chain management. Referencing Ahmed, P. and Rafiq, M. (2003) Internal market issues and challenges. European Journal of Marketing, 37 (9) pp. 1177-1186. Bard, E. nd Tracey, M. (2006) Transportation outsourcing: a survey of US practices. International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, 21 (3) pp. 15-21. DHL official website (2013) Available at: dhl. com/en. html, (Accessed Nov. 18, 2013). Hertz, S. and Monica, A. (2003) Strategic development of third party logistics providers. Industrial Marketing Management, 32 (2) pp. 139-149. Kim, J. (2006) Logistics in Korea: current state and future direc tions. International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, 26 (10) pp. 6-21. Lieb, R. C. (2005) The 3PL ndustry : where its been, where its going. Supply chain management review, 9 (6) pp. 20-27. Langley, J. , Newton, B. and Tyndall, G. (1999) Has the future of third-party logistics, Supply Chain Management Review, 56 (5) pp. 85-94. Langley, J. and Capgemmini (2012) 2012 16th Annual Third-Party Logistics Study. Nwokah, N. (2009) Customer-focus, competitor-focus and marketing performance. Measuring Business Excellence, 13 (3) pp. 20-28. Rahman, S. (201 1), An exploratory study of outsourcing 3PL services: an Australian perspective, An International Journal, 18 (3) pp. 342 358. Razzaque, M. and Sheng, C. 006) Outsourcing of logistics function: a literature survey. International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, 28 (2), pp. 89-107. Stefansson, G. (2006) Collaborative logistics management and the role of third-party service providers, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, 36 (19) pp. 76-92. Virum, H. (2003) Third party logistics development in Europe, Logistics and transportat ion review, 29 (4). Wright, S. , Pickton, D. and Calliw,J. (2002) Competitive intelligence in UK firms; a Typology. Marketing intelligence Planning, 20 (6) pp. 349-360.

Is Ham correct that connection between science and naturalism is Thesis - 1

Is Ham correct that connection between science and naturalism is arbitrary - Thesis Example These clearly distinguish it from the philosophy of super natural which is of course purely based on belief and theories that can not be tested, argued or experimented. In science, there is need for carrying out observations because it plays a very significant role in providing information that can be verified. Through observation, scientists can be able to gather information after personally making an attempt of seeing for themselves exactly what happens. In my opinion, may be it is for this reason that H’m it is for this reason that science does not encompass the elements of the supernatural because the criterion of observation does not apply in the super natural in which people do not need to make observations. The other important component of science is experimentation. In the process of acquisition of scientific knowledge, experimentation can be conducted. This is done by carrying out scientific studies in the laboratory based on the theories and hypotheses for that particular research. Whenever doing this, a scientist should be ready to be impartial and committed to the studies. If properly done, a more profound and verifiable results will be produced. These can be relied upon by the scientist as a source of information. However, as already highlighted, science still remain a subject that requires consent. This may be applicable in the natural law, but contradicts the law of super natural that dictates that everything is owed to a supernatural creature whose existence and performance can not be subjected to any form of experimentation since it is not necessarily needed. Nonetheless, scientific knowledge is defined by prediction. It is the act of prediction that compels scientists to carry out studies to ascertain exact values and figures so as to arrive at accurate and conclusive findings. So, because of this, there needs to be a formulation of hypotheses that are used to

The Customer Analysis and Market Segmentation Essay

The Customer Analysis and Market Segmentation - Essay Example The study shows that producers need to create commodities on high demand thus, the need to make potential estimates. While marketing industrial grinding machinery, a marketer will have to make four decisions, which include; the pricing decisions, the product decisions, the placing decisions and the promotion decisions. Under the product decisions, the marketer will first have to decide on the quality, brand name, and functionality of the machinery. Depending on the potential estimates made and the potential customers being targeted, the standards set can be high or low. Marketers need to consider this because for instance; some brand names will appeal to some customers while to others they may not make any sense at all. The pricing decisions are highly critical since they determine the profit-making of the organization. The marketer should ensure that the price set is in accordance with the potential estimates made. Prices should not be exceptionally high since this may cause custome rs to shift to the competitors. In making this decision, marketers should evaluate the prices of other grinders in the market. The marketer also has to decide whether discounts will be issued on the machinery or not (Pride & Ferrell, 2011). Under the placing decisions, the marketer has to decide on the distribution of the grinding machinery. Depending on the potential estimates made concerning the market available, the marketer has to decide which places to distribute the product and which to be left idle. Transportation decisions also have to be considered, and the number of distribution channels. However, most distribution centers should be placed where a wide potential market has been identified. Promotion decisions include the various ways in which the marketer can market the product. Different marketers will use different strategies of marketing a product depending on its type. For instance, marketing grinding machinery would need a method such as personal selling to ensure tha t the customer is totally made aware of the product and its functioning. However, other methods of marketing such as advertising might leave some information about the product. 2) What is the relationship among market segmentation, target marketing, and positioning? What will happen to a company’s target marketing and positioning efforts if markets are incorrectly or not effectively/insightfully segmented? Market segmentation refers to the division of the customers of a product in different groups. Customers will mainly be divided depending on their needs, their characteristics and their financial ability. While segmenting the market, the marketer also has to consider the organization’s ability to satisfy all the segments and the competitive advantage of each segment. Other factors that have to be considered in evaluating the segmentation includes; the costs of the product and the sales estimates (Pride & Ferrell, 2011). Once the business has divided its market into di fferent segments, it then evaluates the potential gains of each market and then chooses which to concentrate on. This process is referred to as target marketing. The market chosen is then referred to as the target market.

Bargaining power of supplier Essay Example for Free

Bargaining power of supplier Essay Bargaining power of supplier is also known as the amount of control your suppliers have over the price of goods you purchase dictates whether this area is an opportunity or threat. This is driven by the number of suppliers of each essential input; uniqueness of their product or service; relative size and strength of the supplier, and cost of switching from one supplier to another. In this case, Minbaochong Sdn Bhd is the supplier of Eight Eleven, the largest chain of twenty-four hour grocery stores in Malaysia. MinBao brand is one of the most popular brands of bread in Malaysia which supposed to give Minbaochong Sdn Bhd a strong bargaining power. However the tremendous mistake made by Kelvin Tan, the sales manager of Minbaochong Sdn Bhd, closed a deal with Eight Eleven by offering them a price concession and allowing them to offer a 400 gram loaf of MinBao bread for RM3.00 instead of its recommended retail price of RM3.20. This strategy causes sales of MinBao bread in supermarkets and other outlets declined significantly and resulted Eight Eleven is now accounted for one-third of Minbaochong’s sales. Further, the company already burdened by debt acquired in its recent spin off was on the edge of bankruptcy lower the bargaining power of Minbaochong Sdn Bhd. The bargaining power is now with Eight Eleven as Eight Eleven controlling one-third of Minbaochong’s sales and even Minbaochong Sdn Bhd terminate the contract and stop supplying bread to Eight Eleven, it does not affect muc h to Eight Eleven because they have its own house brand or there is greater presence of substitute inputs for Eight Eleven means the extent to which it is possible to switch to another supplier for an input or a close substitute, thus it results the bargaining power of suppliers, Minbaochong Sdn Bhd become lower. Competitive rivalry The intensity of rivalry among competitors in an industry refers to the extent to which firms within an industry put pressure on one another and limit each other’s profit potential. Competitive rivalry affects the competitive environment and influences the ability of existing firms to achieve profitability. High intensity of rivalry means competitors are aggressively targeting each other’s markets and aggressively pricing products. This represents potential costs to all competitors within the  industry. High intensity of competitive rivalry can make an industry more competitive and decrease profit potential for the existing firms. On the other hand, low intensity of competitive rivalry makes an industry less competitive and increases profit potential for the existing firms. In this case, the competitive rivalry is low because competitors have unequal size. Eight Eleven was the largest chain of twenty-four hour grocery stores scattered all over Malaysia. By having nume rous branches of grocery store leads to the great advantages against other competitors. Besides that, Eight eleven had a strong strategy that preventing them to receive any threats from rival. â€Å"Every Day Low Price† Although the product selling by Eight Eleven is lack of differentiation and Eight Eleven have high fixed cost due to numerous branches in Malaysia, but Eight Eleven is well known among the market and able to offer a lower price compare to other grocery stores due to large number of stocks held by Eight Eleven. This will eventually enhance the brand loyalty of Eight Eleven’s customer as customer switching costs are high. Hence the competitive rivalry is low due to Eight Eleven is the main driver of the grocery stores and had established a strong market base in Malaysia.

Pips Shadow Parents in Charles Dickens Great Expectations Essay

Pip's Shadow Parents in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations Both Miss Havisham and Magwitch are powerful influences on Pip's life, in a psychological, and to some extent physical, manner. In this essay, I hope to explore these influences, and investigate what affects they have on Pip's development. Naturally, the fact that Pip is an orphan, and never knew his parents, means there is space for characters to come in and exact a definite, parental control. The novel echoes many of Dickens's own life experiences- he had a strained relationship with his parents when they were condemned to imprisonment for debt difficulties. The sense of abandonment and sudden awareness of the fragility of class distinctions he experienced during this time was to haunt him for the rest of his life, and this is mirrored by the great contrast in, "shadow parents." On the one hand we have the wealthy Miss Havisham, inhabiting a decaying yet grand mansion, and on the other we have a hardened criminal emerging from the gloomy marshes. The opening chapter gives the reader a powerful idea of how Pip is suffering from having no identity, as Pip seeks to find his role in an inhospitable world. The windswept, barren place of mud, mist and water provides the perfect setting for a frantic convict to emerge. In his search for his origins, Pip seems to have created "a second father" in Magwitch, who turns him upside down metaphorically as well as literally, and places him on his parents' tombstone. In the short term, the introduction of Magwitch gives Pip a sudden responsibility, which makes him confront the violent methods of discipline employed by Mrs Joe as h... ... criminal, violent attributes, and return to menace Pip, and Miss Havisham to be his saviour and helper in his quest to become a gentleman. In a journal format, Dickens needed to employ many plot twists, as Magwitch turns out to be the mysterious benefactor, and Miss Havisham the manipulative monster who psychologically hurts and confuses Pip in so many ways. It is difficult to say who is the "best" shadow parent, because although Magwitch supplies the money which sees Pip through becoming a gentleman, in his own mind Pip is motivated by Miss Havisham and has visions of achieving great wealth and wedding Estella. If we look at the novel in hindsight, we can conclude that Magwitch is the superior "shadow parent" as he is clearly dedicated to helping Pip, where as Miss Havisham does nothing but psychologically twist him.

Result of Eva’s Story Essay

ohn Boynton Priestley was born in 1894 and died in 1984. He was famous for contemplating science and philosophy, and wrote many plays to put forward his socialist views. An Inspector Calls was one of these, and is about a wealthy upper-middle class family, the Birlings, and how their views on living change as a result of a visit from an inspector. The main characters are the Birlings, Inspector Goole and Eva Smith. Arthur Birling is a successful businessman; his wife, Sybil, is very pretentious; and their rather peculiar son, Eric, is an alcoholic. Eric’s sister, Sheila, has recently engaged to Gerald Croft, a gentleman of a slightly higher social class than the Birlings – Mr. Birling feels a little inferior because of this. We do not know a lot about the Inspector – he is given an air of mystery and importance – but it is possible that he could be an apparition of some kind or perhaps a figure to represent Priestley’s own views. Eva Smith is an absent character who nevertheless plays a huge part in the storyline. The play takes place solely in the dining room of the Birlings’ house, which is â€Å"heavily comfortable but not homelike†. This unified setting is beneficial in many ways. One thing is that it lowers the costs and requirements of the production of the play, meaning that it can be performed in a wider variety of settings and therefore be shown to more people. In addition, the audience will focus on the actors and the plot rather than the set so much if it does not keep changing, which helps retain attention to the play. The play begins as Gerald Croft and the Birlings are celebrating as a family Sheila Birling and Gerald’s engagement, when the evening is interrupted by the arrival of Inspector Goole. The Inspector tells them the story of the tragic suicide of a young girl, whose name is Eva Smith, but she calls herself Daisy Renton after Mr. Birling sacks her, as an attempt to make a fresh start. He forces them to see how each of the people present contributed to her taking her own life by swallowing disinfectant. Gradually, he picks away at the protective, self-satisfied shell that the Birlings have built up around themselves, and eventually manages to pull apart the whole sense of the family. He then exits, leaving them to blame each other and argue amongst themselves. The play was written in 1945 but is set in 1912. I think this is to emphasise the point that rich people are not always right, as Mr. Birling in particular makes several predictions that we, as the audience, know to be incorrect. For example, he says, â€Å"You’ll hear some people say that war’s inevitable. And to that I say – fiddlesticks!† and â€Å"There isn’t a chance of war.† However, we know that two years later, WWI began. He speculates about Sheila and Gerald’s future – â€Å"In twenty or thirty years’ time – let’s say, in 1940 – you may be giving a little party like this – your son or daughter might be getting engaged – and I tell you, by that time you’ll be living in a world that’ll have forgotten all these silly war scares.† This is ironic because in fact in 1940 WWII took place. He also makes predictions about labour struggles when he says, â€Å"†¦there’s a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future. Don’t worry. We’ve passed the worst of it,† and the Titanic, as he says, â€Å"Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable†, both of which we know are wrong. Mr. Birling is confident about all of these predictions, but we know how wrong he is. This is an example of dramatic irony, and I think J.B. Priestley used it to great effect in portraying Mr. Birling as someone who is entirely ignorant about what the future holds, though the other characters are unaware of this. In Act One, the family is celebrating the engagement of Sheila and Gerald. Sheila is presented as excitable and eager to please her family and Gerald: after she has received her ring she says, â€Å"(excited) Oh – it’s wonderful! Look – Mummy – isn’t it a beauty? Oh – darling – (She kisses Gerald hastily.)† She is also rather materialistic, as the stage directions, â€Å"(still admiring her ring)† imply, though she still shows empathy and compassion towards Eva – â€Å"SHEILA: (Rather distressed) Sorry! It’s just that I can’t help thinking about that girl – destroying herself so horribly†.  She plays up to Gerald, saying, â€Å"Oh – is it the one you wanted me to have?† and I think this suggests that she wants to keep on everyone’s good side, and avoid any conflict. She behaves in the same way to her parents, meekly saying, â€Å"I’m sorry, Daddy. Actually I was listening.†

Harmony and Howling †African and European Roots of...

Harmony and Howling — African and European Roots of Jamaican Music English colonial rule began in Jamaica in the year 1655. The growth of a plantation culture in the West Indies quickly changed the need for labor in the area. Between 1700 and 1786, more than 600,000 African slaves were brought to Jamaica. These slaves were required to work for their English colonial masters who would purchase them from slave traders at various ports around the island. Slaves were abducted from various regions of Africa, and brought over to the New World in large boats, packed to the teeth with the Africans. The slave trade over the Atlantic served as a connection between the West Indies- islands in the Caribbean, and what was to become the United†¦show more content†¦This association of slaves as animals was used more in the Caribbean than it was in America because Slaves and livestock were linked in the British West Indies. According to John Pinney, a planter slaves and livestock†¦.are the sinews of a plantation. On pens, or small animal ranches in Jamaica, slaves were treated on the same plain as a cow, or a chicken, or a pig. The whites did not even want to be with the slaves and animals at all, and were frequently absent from these situations until a law was passed in 1695 requiring at least one white to be in the presence of a pen. This shows how the slaves were looked at to be sub-human, and similar to an animal. A white would not want to hang around there because he considered it to be like hanging around with a bunch of cows, or pigs, or chickens. The average number of black slaves on these pens was forty three. Slaves on the island were seen as little more than moveable equipment with which to exploit in order to make money. Money, in both American and West Indian slavery is the heart of the matter. The entire slave trade over the Atlantic, and resulting degrading of the African dignity which still exists today was all in the name of making money. This is the climate that existed in colonial Jamaica (as well as throughout the New World) when African and European music first