300 - Rationalism vs Empiricism - Summary and History Essay Example for Free

300 Rationalism vs Empiricism Summary and History Essay What is reality really like? A current running through much of the philosophical thinking around the time of Socrates and Plato was that there is a difference between how the world appears and how it is. Our senses reveal one layer of reality but it is our minds that penetrate deeper. The world of appearances is a world in flux but underneath there must be a stable reality. For there is much that is unchanging. We recognise kinds of things – badgers, daffodils, mountains – and whilst members of these kinds are born, change and die, and differ from one another in ever so many ways, the kind-defining essence doesnt change. We see here the key rationalist idea that knowledge is a priori knowledge of necessary truths Plato said that kinds were defined by the transcendental forms. He presented a number of arguments for the existence of these things. Prior to our incarnation, our souls existed in the realm of forms where we learned about these essences. In our terrestrial state, we cannot recall what we know. Socrates considered himself a midwife to knowledge instead of a teacher, helping his interlocutors to draw out what they dont know that they know. The example of Meno and the slave-boy shows this idea clearly. Like many philosophers, Plato was also fascinated by mathematics. We are able to tap into a universe of truths that are non-sensible: we do not see numbers and we do not see the perfect geometric forms. Once again, we see the difference between the powers of the mind and the powers of the senses. It was in the 17th century that the debate between the rationalists and the empiricists came to a head. Philosophers such as Descartes and Leibniz emphasised the power of reason over the senses. Descartes argued that our senses were fallible and that we could not rule out the possibility of the demon deception hypothesis on the basis of sensory evidence alone. Descartes argued that he knew he existed, as a mind, on the basis of reflection alone: when I think, I cannot fail to be aware of myself as existing as that thinker (cogito, ergo sum). Having proved that he exists, Descartes argued that God exists. Since God is no deceiver, he would not have given us senses that systematically mislead. But let us not overemphasise the powers of the senses. Descartes argued that even with material things, it is reason that exposes their essences. In his piece of wax reasoning, he argued that the senses merely reveal a succession of impressions: it is reason that grasps the underlying and enduring substance as extended (and filled space). Plato and Descartes believed that we are born with concepts and knowledge. In Descartes case, there was a religious motive: we are all born in the image of God. We discover more about the world primarily through metaphysical reflection. The philosopher Francis Bacon, an early empiricist, famously dismissed this rationalist approach to knowledge. He compared rationalists to spiders who spin complex metaphysical systems out of their entrails. Empiricists get their hands dirty: like bees gathering pollen, they gather knowledge about the world and only then reflect on it. Around the same time as Bacon, many new discoveries were being made that shook the prevailing views of reality. The Earth was dethroned from its position at the centre of the universe by Copernicus. A new star (a supernova) was observed by Tycho Brahe in 1572 – yet the heavens were supposed to be timeless and unchanging. Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter – again, everything clearly didnt revolve around the Earth. Later in the 17th century, scientist-philosophers such as Newton, Boyle, Gassendi and Huygens would revolutionise our understanding of reality. The original empiricist manifesto was written by John Locke. In his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, he sought to show how a mind that was blank at birth – a tabula rasa or blank slate – could come to be filled. His first targets were the innate concepts and knowledge (ideas) of the rationalists. There are no such things. There are no truths everyone agrees on. Many people fail to grasp the supposed metaphysical truths. Instead, our senses deliver ideas to us. We store them, abstract from them to form general ideas, and compound and mix them to generate new ideas. Like Lego bricks, we build the meagre sensory data into ever more complex structures. Even Leibniz thought Locke was onto something here. He claimed that our minds were like blocks of marble that had to be carefully chiselled at to reveal the hidden structure (the innate truths). It is hard work and not everyone will end up well-chiselled. Hume took empiricism to its limit. Where Locke talked indifferently of ideas, Hume distinguished impressions and ideas. Impressions are the direct deliverances of the senses and are forceful and vivid in comparison to ideas, which are the copies our minds makes. (He also agreed with the Empiricist Berkeley that Lockes theory of general ideas was wrong. We do not abstract from particular ideas to a general idea but use a particular idea in a general way via a general name. ) What about the precious necessary truths philosophy is supposed to study? Locke argued that once we have ideas in our mind, our mind will perceive the necessary connections between them – e. g. that a triangle has internal angles that add to 180o? But where does the idea of necessity come from? Hume provided an answer. He distinguished statements into two categories: those expressing relations of ideas (analytic) and those expressing matters of fact (synthetic). The analytic truths express mere definitions: we simply are aware of an association between terms. The synthetic truths are the contingent truths. So what happens to interesting necessary truths, such as God exists or nothing exists without being caused to exist? Hume argued that if these werent analytic – and they arent – they arent necessary. We feel that they are necessary and this is all necessity is: a psychological property. When we say that X caused Y, we think we have said something about the universe. We think we have seen an example of a law of nature (e. g. the water in the bucket froze because it was cold exemplifies the law water freezes at 0oC). Science investigates these laws. Hume said that causation was all in the mind. We see one thing after another and when weve seen instances of a regularity enough, we develop the feeling that one thing must be followed by the other. Hume, like Locke, emphasised how all we can be certain of are our impressions – how the world seems. Scientists are really investigating how the world appears: they can never be certain that the world really is the way it appears. So, empiricism seems to lead straight to scepticism about the external world. Kant objected strongly to this. Science really is studying the external world and there really is an external world for it to investigate. Kant brought about a revolution in philosophy (he called it a Copernican revolution). He argued that the empiricists and rationalists were both right and wrong. The Empiricists were right: science requires the study of the world and the world is brought to us via the senses. The Rationalists were right: our mind is not blank but contains structures that enable us to interpret the stream of data from the senses. We may liken the mind to a mould and the data to jelly: one only has something structured by combining both. Or: the mind is a computer with an operating system and the data is the input from the user. A computer with just an operating system is inert. A computer into which data is inputted but which has no operating system is just data: it cannot be interpreted. Only when you combine both do you get something useful. Our minds contain the structures for space, time, objects and causation, for example. (In Kants terminology, space and time are the pure forms of intuition whereas the structures for objects and causation are pure concepts of the understanding. ) This means that we experience a world of spatio-temporally located objects in which causation happens because this is how our minds make it appear. Does this mean that the world as such is all in the mind? Or is the mind somehow tuned to the structure of reality, so that our pre-programmed minds mirror the structures of reality? This is a very difficult question over which there is no agreement amongst experts. The Empiricist movement came back with a vengeance in the 20th century. Philosophers such as Bertrand Russell agreed with Hume that our knowledge begins with our knowledge of sense-data (classical empirical foundationalism). Armed with new discoveries in mathematics and logic, and backed by the successes of science, the logical positivists argued that the only proper way to investigate the world was the scientific way. If I say p and p is synthetic and there is no objective, scientific way to verify my claim that p, then my claim is meaningless. (This is the celebrated verification principle). So, if it is true that there atoms, we should be able to find empirical – sensory – evidence of them. If it is true that nothing happens without being caused to happen, then we likewise need scientific evidence for this. We cannot discover whether it is true by pure reason. The Logical Positivist movement failed. There is much that seems meaningful that is not objectively verifiable by the senses, such as the occurrence of private sensations. The principle makes it impossible for general claims such as all mammals are warm-blooded to be true, as we cannot verify all of them. The very verification principle itself fails its own test! The Logical Positivists responded by watering down their principle: a meaningful claim is one we could gather some evidence for in principle and the principle itself is special – exempt from this rule. But it was not enough. (* Then Quine argued that the fundamental division between analytic and synthetic sentences was incorrect. Analytic sentences cannot be false. But no sentence enjoys this privilege. As we learn more and more, truths we thought were beyond doubt are rejected. Once upon a time, we would have thought it analytic that no object can be in two places at once or that there is no fastest velocity. Quantum physics and general relativity theory show that they are not true. Instead, we should have a web of belief. At the centre are those sentences least likely to be revised – our core beliefs. As we move out, we find those sentences that would be easier and easier to accept as false – that would cause less and less disruption to the rest of what we believe. ) In the 1950s, Chomsky became famous for suggesting that we are not born as blank slates when it comes to language. We are born knowing the fundamental structures of human language. When we are young, we hear our mother tongue and use our knowledge of language to pick up our language very quickly. (At 24 months, the average child understands 500-700 words; at 36 months, 1000; at 48 around 2500-3000; at 60 around 5000 words: thats around 7 words a day between 3 and 6). More recently, studies have shown that children are born with brains structured to expect the world to behave in certain way. Very young children expect objects to persist over time: not to disappear and reappear at two different places, for example. Is this a revival of rationalism? Not according to many people. Rationalists argued that we had innate concepts and knowledge. By reflection, we can discover them and manipulate them to gain new knowledge. But our knowledge of language is altogether different. None of us can easily articulate the rules we follow in generating syntactically-correct English. (And certainly none of us at all can articulate the common structure rules to all human languages. ) Our brains are certainly pre-programmed, but only perhaps in the same way that a computer is pre-wired: clearly something has to be there but nothing as advanced as software. So where are we today? No side is victorious: this would be to grossly over-simplify the debate between the empiricists and the rationalists. We definitely have minds in some way ready to receive the world – hardly surprising, perhaps, given the time it has taken for us to evolve. But when it comes to working out what is true? Few philosophers are rationalists in the old-fashioned way. There is no sharp division between metaphysics and science: our study of reality cannot be done from the armchair alone. But our capacity to grasp abstract mathematical truths has always been difficult to explain from an empiricist perspective. We seem to have an access to a mathematical realm and a cognitive or intuitive access instead of a sensory one. You cant see numbers, after all, and it is not easy to say what we could see that would lead us to generate the ideas of numbers.

MOS Burger Franchise Expansion Strategy

MOS Burger Franchise Expansion Strategy 1.0 INTRODUCTION MOS Burger is a famous fast-food service in Japan that founded in 1971 by Mr. Satoshi Sakurada. The name of MOS comes from the words Mountain, Ocean, and Sun and each of this word have its own meaning. Mountain stands for dignified and noble, Ocean stands for wide and vast while Sun represents vibrant and life-giving (MOS Food Singapore, 2012). It is now the second largest fast-food service in Japan after McDonald and MOS outlets had successfully expanded into overseas markets such as Taiwan, Singapore, China, and so on. The company differentiate itself from competitors by apply cook to order concept (MOS Burger Website, 2012). The foods will be cooked only after the customers order to ensure the freshness of the foods. MOSs burgers used rice bun and many other Japanese sauces like teriyaki sauce that cover up on the burgers to shows its uniqueness which emphasized on providing a healthy, delicious and clean food. Moreover, the company also served variety of unique and original MOS Burger as well as using transnational strategies when going global because they keep standardized the recipe and the business system while localized some of the product to fit with local taste and preference. The corporate motto To make people happy through food was an important driver for the company to produce fresh, delicious, and quality burgers to their customers (MOS Burger Website, 2012). The passionate commitment of the company make it successful possible and to ensure a continuous survival in this competitive market. MOS Burger has successfully expanded its business globally and currently there are 28 outlets in Singapore, 223outlets in Taiwan, 16 in Hong Kong, 7 in Thailand, 2 in Indonesia, 18 in China, 2 in Korea and 5 in Australia (MOS Burger Website, 2012). The 1412 outlets in Japan have almost reached the limit for the company to expand, therefore the company hope to accelerate its expansion with a vision from MOS of Japan to MOS of Asia and finally MOS of the World. The company planned to expand their business and choose to enter those markets that they have not enter yet such as Malaysia, Canada, Western countries and so on in the future (MOS Food Singapore, 2012). The entry mode used by MOS Burger to enter the oversea market normally lies on joint venture and franchise system. The company form joint venture with the local company as expansion strategy into overseas market (MOS Burger Website, 2012). MOS Burger headquarter will assigned a personnel to discuss about the development and joint effort with the local company to ensure that they can enter into the new market successfully which is totally differences in terms of the ways of doing business, culture issues and other issues. MOS Burger also use franchise as one of the entry mode strategies but it is not easy to obtain a franchise license from MOS Burger because it needs to fulfill the requirements set by the company. The potential franchisee need to know well about the companys philosophy that created by Mr. Sakurada because he wish to partner with those who cares on nature; and also a group of people who can contribute to the creation of happiness both for people and society (MOS Burger Website, 2012). However, the company will only seek for the countries or regional franchisees. As conclusion, the company is preferred to use a master franchise system to enter the new markets instead of a normal franchise system. 2.0 CURRENT EXPANSION STRATEGY MOS Burger starts to expand their business since year 2001 and the first overseas outlet is established at Taiwan. MOS burger has work attentively to expand their business and successfully opened 265 stores across seven regions in year 2011. (MOS report, 2011). 2.1 Joint Venture Joint venture is an entry mode by establishing a firm that is jointly owned by two or more otherwise independent firms (Charles and William, 2011). MOS Burger decided to use joint venture as one of the entry modes to enter other regions because it able to control over the business and at the same time it also can deeply understand that particular regions culture and lifestyle. In expansion into each region, MOS Burger only will establish a joint venture agreement with those companies that stressing on good human relationship even it is able to pursue profit (MOS Burger Website, 2012). MOS Burger will carefully in evaluate and select their joint venture companies in order to ensure their business performance to achieve satisfaction result. Those companies that qualified to pursue a joint venture agreement with MOS Burger must going through few processes start from submission of proposal, presentation, interview and they must able to cooperate in the development of MOS Burger in that particular region (MOS Burger Website, 2012). This strategy have been used very successfully in Taiwan by established a joint venture with TECO Group in year 1990. After 22 years, there are 223 stores was opened in Taiwan (MOS Burger Website, 2012). The successful expansion of MOS burger in Taiwan is because they expert in training their employees who able to understand the basic philosophy of MOS burger which is safe and secure. (Kouhei, Hideaki, Tsukasa, Shigeharu, 2010) In Indonesia, MOS Burger established a joint venture, Pt Mog Indonesia in year 2008 and they start the first outlet in Plaza Sendayan located at South Jakarta (Plaza Indonesia Shopping Centre, 2009). Moreover, MOS FOOD SERVICES Inc. has joint venture with Media Will Holding Co. Ltd, a Korean company that involved in broad spectrum of activities including printing, distribution and restaurant management to open a new South-Korea outlet in March 2012 (MOS Report, 2011). Joint venture is important for MOS Burger and successfully using by MOS to expand their business to overseas regions including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and others. MOS burger decided using joint venture because they found that the natural barrier in developing the business opportunities overseas. Those natural barriers mainly refer to each regions language and culture differs from each other (MOS report, 2011). The successful of this strategy can be seen in Taiwan which consist the highest number of outlets among the foreign markets. It was so success because the joint venture company TECO group fully understand their own region and succeed in training the employees who can speak Chinese well and at the same time they able to understand the basic philosophy that developed by MOS burger. (Kouhei, Hideaki, Tsukasa, Shigeharu, 2010) However, joint venture still has its own limitations which are MOS burger unable fully control over their own business and conflict may arise when there is different point of views. (Charles and William, 2011) 2.2 Franchising Other than joint venture, franchising is another entry strategy that used by MOS Burger as it falls under fast food industry. According to Charles and William (2011), franchising considered as a specialized form of licensing in which franchiser sell the intangible property to the franchisee and insists on rules to do the business. MOS burger expands their business and increase the number of outlet out of their home country by seeking large franchisees instead of seeking the small scale or individual capacity (MOS Burger Website, 2012). Within every single region, those individual franchisees will be managed by the joint venture company together with MOS Burger to make sure all franchisees perform according to the established business practice and ensure the quality control in term of food as well as their customer service. Similar to joint venture, the franchise agreement will be signed after gone through several processes which are propose, present, interview, environment analysis and then only come with the agreement. MOS burger will only engage in partnership with those franchisees that sympathy to their idea included do work that will be appreciated by customers, getting personal satisfaction when customer satisfy with them and must have the full heart motivation to operate the franchise business. (MOS Burger Website, 2012) Today, MOS burger has become the second largest franchise in Japan after McDonald. (Phillip, 2012). This franchise system has been applied in different Asia region including Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and others. MOS Burger use franchise system able to generate fixed income by collecting royal fees from the franchisees. However, increasing number of franchise granted by MOS Burger will result in a stronger competition among all the MOS Burgers franchise business within a particular region. In Taiwan, MOS Burger consist of 223 outlets and each outlet is compete together in order to achieve the highest profit for each other. Strong competition between the franchisees will decrease the overall profit that can generate by MOS Burger and this becomes the limitation of this strategy. There are many success franchises from MOS Burger in different regions; however there is a failure case that found in Hawaii, United State. In the late of 1980s, MOS Burger was enter to Hawaii but the business is fail due to the high rents, inventory problem and inconsistent food quality (Andrew and Kulwant, 2005). 2.3 Wholly Owned Outlet In planning to expand their business out from then Asia, there is a wholly owned outlet which opens in Australia in April 2011. Michelle (2012) reported that Shinji Yamaguchi who is the head of international operation of MOS burger said they enter Australia because it closes to Asia and there are a lot of Asian people which have similar culture (Michelle, 2012). Besides, Australia outlet also is a test run of their business practice for MOS burger before their plan of entering Western countries. Yamaguchi said MOS burger now is still unclear to use franchising strategy or wholly own business by them in the following year to expand the business. 3.0 FUTURE EXPANSION STRATEGY Success only belongs to those who are well in prepared. An organization or company want to achieve a continuous successful, a well planning future strategies is a crucial. In order to achieve the goal from MOS of Japan to MOS of the World, MOS Burger has been involved in expansion of the business in Asia and even plan to enter Europe market in the future. Once the MOS Burger decides to enter a foreign market, it must implement some of the entry mode strategies which are suitable for future expansion. As a fast food company, it is popular for using franchising or joint venture as a strategy for international expansion. However, increases in competition during international expansion, MOS Burger also need to consider some other strategies for future expansion and stand out from competitors. 3.1 Export Canada MOS Burger is recommended invest into new product line besides from joint venture and franchising. MOS Burger should use this well established brand name to come out some snack food and using exporting strategies in future as well. This practice found in success case of Old Town White Coffee which expand their business by come out own brand of package instant coffee besides from set up the food stores. MOS Food services, Inc has experience in collaboration with other companies and come out product such as MOS Baked Choco Caramel Corn and flight meals such as Air MOS Burger (MOS report, 2011). Moreover, it also collaborates with Kit Kat in Japan and come out rich white chocolate within limited time period. These indicate there is a possibility of MOS Burger to implement this strategy. MOS Burger is suggested export snack food such as Japanese Dorayaki, dessert like Hokkaido milk ice, pudding and sells their uncooked Hokkaido Croquette at the hypermarket in foreign countries. As mention above, MOS Burger is planning expand to Canada, so exporting strategy may adopted to expand their business as it is a low risk strategy. Besides, exporting strategies provide opportunities for MOS Burger to learn and understand more about the overseas markets in term of culture, politic, economic, preference before invest in bricks and mortar store (FAO Corporate Document Repository, 1997). Canada will be the first Europe country suggested for MOS Burger to adopt export strategy for snack foods because according to National Eating Trends (NET), snacking is the fastest growing circumstance in Canada and snacking consists of more than 24% of all meal eaten in 2009 compared to 2000 with 22 % (Demontis, 2010). Using export strategy can be a stage to adopt franchise in Canada for MOS Burger. Export snack foods able to create Canadas consumers awareness, interest and familiarity toward this brand. Moreover, MOS Burger also can increase their understanding toward Canadian consumer behavior and preference. When MOS Burger achieve favorable result in Canada by using export, they can be easier to planning the adoption of master franchise system in Canada in the following year (MOS Food Singapore, 2012). Canada is a viable market due to growing in Canadian prefers Asian fast food with a growth rate of 9% (Ryomoto, 2009).Moreover, Ryomoto (2009) said that, changing in the consumer trend toward convenient, safety and quality foods also increase the feasibility for MOS Burger fast food franchise in Canada. Canada also can become platform for MOS Burger to expand into other western countries. 3.2 Partnership Malaysia Simultaneously, another entry strategy that recommended for MOS Burger is partnership. Partnership is one of the entry modes which two or more parties contribute their resources such as money, property, talent, knowledge and etc to share in the profit and losses of the business (Gerald Kathleen, 2005). Partnership can bring several benefits. First and foremost is capital acquisition. The fund is rising easily if there have several partners because they can easily contribute more funds rather than a single entity. Second is share responsibility. Different partners will have different abilities and skills. Rather than assign the task equally, partnership allow all the parties responsible the task they are excel in. Malaysia is the suggested country that to adopt this entry strategy. In order to avoid the fierce competition in fast food industry throughout Malaysia, MOS Burger will be suggested to start and growth-up their business at the location along with the South-North Expressway, Malaysia. These locations suggested as it can mainly target the travelers who use the expressway and lack of fast food outlets along the highway. MOS Burger can partner with the petrol station such as Petronas, Shell or etc. This proposed entry mode is derived from other fast food firm such as Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. The Pizza Hut and Taco Bell have created a strong partnership and this is a successful cooperation (Co-branding examples, 2012). According to Onakayo (2003) the managing director of Mobil Oil, Mobil petrol station has a fast food court called On The Run and it provide family or friends to enjoy in a comfort and quality place. Besides, Dr. Paa (2003) said that partnership of fast food with petrol station provide benefits to customers, share holders as well as the overall economy of a cities or places. Besides, the practice of this strategy can benefits those long journey travelers who use the South-North Expressway especially those from Singapore to North areas need to pump in the petrol and take a rest during their journey or half way. Dr Paa (2003) also said that this practice can commend as a tourism attraction because it able to serve the travelers need who moving around and between cities. Once this partnership has been implementing, after the traveler pump in the petrol they can take a rest while will enjoy their meal just beside the petrol station only. This will open-up a new opportunity for the MOS Burger while also will attract the traveler for particular petrol station to fill up fuel and rest. This will create a win-win situation. 3.3 Backward Integration New Zealand Last but not least, MOS Burger can adopt backward integration which is taking the role of their suppliers. Backward integration allow MOS Burger to gain some benefits such as to ensure the source of quality of the raw material at a competitive prices, have full control to the cost and able to supply the expanding market either locally and abroad (Poultry Integration, 2012). This practice has been used by KFC Holding (KFCH) as they have invested into different activities that assist their core business (Poultry Integration, 2012). To implement backward integration, MOS Burgers is recommended to to own a breeder farm and hatchery, feed mills, animal farm, broiler farming or further processing plants through acquisition. Acquisition refers to acquiring others businesses through occupying certain amount of share or assets (Tan, 2009). Acquisition strategy able to provide the benefits of speed, decrease in risks, avoids strong competition, overcome entry barrier and others (Business manag ement strategy, 2010). Acquisition is worth to be practice as it allows the company to access a wider customer base and increase their market share. The most appropriate country for MOS Burger to adopt backward integration. Dairy Group (2012) said that New Zealand is the country which holds 35% of dairy products in the world market. The dairy industry in New Zealand is famous and distinctive in term of its high quality and flavorful products. Besides, according to the statistic New Zealand (2011), milk powder, butter and cheese are the top one as well as meat and edible offal as the top two commodities that exported by New Zealand. In order to hold the strong position in the world market, New Zealand is very straight in protecting their grass-fed heard through bio-security policies and using bio-nutrients to feed the cow (Investment now, 2012). As conclusion, the high effort of New Zealand to ensure the quality of their dairy products provide a great opportunity to MOS Burger to implement the backward integration as they can fully control the quality of the dairy products that may used as one or more raw materials for MOS Burger in the fast food industry. Conclusion In conclusion, the study has identified the entry modes and also the expansion strategies that adopted by MOS Burger to enter foreign markets. There are also some future expansion strategies proposed for the company which are applicable and implementable as some of the real cases discussed have shown a good example. The entry modes that currently used by the company for expansions are mainly fall on franchise and joint venture. The company will choose a suitable franchisees or partners that know well and align to the MOS Burgers philosophy to cooperate. This is to make sureÂÂ  that the risks of enter into a different market for doing business can be reduce and to maintain a substantial control over the quality of the food. Moreover, choosing the right partners is to ensure that the commitment of the company can be transmit to those who like to eat MOSs burger. Besides that, MOS Burger can expand their business using other entry modes as well in the future to compete with their rivals in foreign markets. Exporting is another alternative for MOS as it is the easiest way for the company to enter the new markets and reach the customers easily. The company is suggest to export their product in term of snack form by using the well established brand name MOS Burger to enter the Canadian market which has a high consumption of snack food. Meanwhile, the partnership entry mode can be adopted as well in Malaysia by cooperating with local well known company for example Petronas. MOS can partner with the petrol station distributor to build their outlets beside or near the petrol station along the South- North Highway in Malaysia to gain benefit while the travelers take their rest or refill petrol at the petrol station on the highway. Next, the company can also use the backward integration strategy to gain some advantages on the cost of material and als o to strengthen the supply chain system of the company which need not depends much on the main suppliers anymore. This can be done probably in New Zealand by acquiring a piece of land and breed their own poultry that needed for making the burgers. Finally, MOS Burger is a company that has a potential to expand and grow globally. Thus, it need to be managed by a talented and committed management team and also maintain a good cooperation with his partners and franchisees.

Destructive Stem Cell Research Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Topic

Destructive Stem Cell Research       Nine states now ban all destructive embryo research, whether publicly or privately funded. The state of Virginia itself has banned the use of cloning to make human embryos for research, and is considering a response to the Jones Institute's project for making research embryos by in vitro fertilization.(36) And the Food and Drug Administration, without funding any part of in vitro fertilization, recently wrote to in vitro fertilization clinics engaged in new reproductive techniques to remind them that such technologies, albeit privately funded, are subject to federal regulation.    Like the argument that human embryos are not members of the human race, arguments that destroying them is necessary for medical progress or that funding such destruction is needed to prevent broader abuse cannot be sustained. With these arguments out of the way we can return to the real issue at stake: Should the federal government subsidize - and force millions of morally opposed taxpayers to subsidize - research that requires the destruction of innocent human life? We hope that Congress will answer that question in the negative, and will unite instead to support promising medical research that everybody can live with.    Most Christians have grave concerns on this critically important issue of embryonic stem cell research. In our view, conducting research that relies on deliberate destruction of human embryos for their stem cells is illegal, immoral and unnecessary.    It is illegal because it violates an appropriations rider (the Dickey amendment) passed every year since 1995 by Congress. That provision forbids funding "research in which" human embryos (whether initially created for resear... ...eficiency (SCID)-X1 Disease," 288 Science 669-72 (28 April 2000).    16. K. Foss, "Paraplegic regains movement after cell procedure," The Globe and Mail (Toronto), June 15, 2001 at A1.    17. E. Ryan et al., "Glycemic Outcome Post Islet Transplantation," Abstract #33-LB, Annual Meeting of the American Diabetes Association, June 24, 2001. See: http://38.204.37.95/am01/AnnualMeeting/Abstracts/NumberResults.asp?idAbs=33-LB.    18. M. McCullough, "Islet transplants offer hope that diabetes can be cured," Philadelphia Inquirer, June 22, 2001 at A1.    19. D. Woodbury et al., "Adult Rat and Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Differentiate Into Neurons," 61 J. of Neuroscience Research 364-70 (2000) at 364 (emphasis added).    20. D. Prockop, "Stem Cell Research Has Only Just Begun" (Letter), 293 Science 211-2 (13 July 2001)(citations omitted).

America Needs More Immigrants Essays -- Immigrants Immigration Persua

America Needs More Immigrants America is sometimes referred to as a "nation of immigrants" because of our largely open-door policy toward accepting foreigners pursuing their vision of the American Dream. Recently, there has been a clamor by some politicians and citizens toward creating a predominantly closed-door policy on immigration, arguing that immigrants "threaten" American life by creating unemployment by taking jobs from American workers, using much-needed social services, and encroaching on the "American way of life." While these arguments may seem valid to many, they are almost overwhelmingly false, and more than likely confused with the subject of illegal immigration. In fact, immigrants actually enhance American life by creating, not taking jobs, bolster social service funds through tax payments, and bring valuable technical knowledge and skills to our country. If we are to continue to excel as a nation, the traditionalists who fear an encroachment of foreign-born Americans must learn to ac cept that we achieved our greatness as a result of being "a nation of immigrants." Â  A common argument among those opposing further immigration is that foreigners take U.S. jobs and cause unemployment among the displaced American workers. In the July 13, 1992 edition of Business Week , a poll states that sixty-two percent of non-blacks and sixty-three percent of blacks agree that "new immigrants take jobs away from American workers." This is a widely held, if erroneous belief, among Americans. However, Julian L. Simon, author of The Economic Consequences of Immigration , states: immigration does not exacerbate unemployment...Immigrants not only take jobs, but also create them. Their purchases increas... ...cent more likely...to have post-graduate educations" than Americans, according to Simon. The traditionalists opposing immigration must recognize our lives are enhanced by their knowledge and education, and that in order to "preserve our nation", they must realize we are a "nation of immigrants" and let others prove their worth. Â  The issue of immigration must be dealt with rationally, not emotionally. Facts, figures, and statistics must be studied by both sides in order to reach a decision most beneficial to our nation. Our lives are enhanced by the new jobs created by immigrants, the social service funds bolstered by their tax payments, and the valuable technical skills and knowledge brought with them. These benefits far outweigh any negative effects and prove the value of immigrants as they pursue the American Dream in our "nation of immigrants." Â  

Octopus :: essays research papers

Recently, researchers have discovered the existence of an extremely unique type of octopus. The species, known as the Indo-Malayan octopus, has the ability to alter its shape, form, and color pattern to mimic or imitate other sea creatures in order to avoid predation (2). The discovery of the mimic octopus is noteworthy because no other type of cephalopod is known to have impersonation abilities. The octopus is also not limited to one imitation. Researchers have observed up to eight different formations. The alternations occur depending upon the appetite, surrounding environment, and proximity of predators the octopus encounters (1). In analyzing the formations, behaviors, and predators of the mimic octopus, it is important to isolate the origins of this exclusive, and highly intelligent defense mechanism. Is this means of protection or evolutionary development, one that allows the cephalopod a better means of survival? Or is this the result of observed behaviors where the mimic oct opus becomes aware of the relations occurring in the environment, and successfully imitates a species based upon their ability to subsist when dealing with dangerous predators? The existence of mimic octopi is restricted to the islands of Indonesia, specifically off the coasts off Solawesi, and Bali (3). Surprisingly, the octopi have been viewed during the daylight hours, generally residing near sand tunnels, and holes (1). The octopi enjoy these mounds because they provide a significant source of food, including small worms, fish, and crustaceans. The octopus utilizes its arms to feel for prey, and then captures the food through the use of expanded webs. However, when the animal is attempting to hide itself from possible enemies, the Indo-Malayan octopus can transform itself into a variety of organisms, including fish, sea snakes, and anemones. If the octopus observes a cluster of damselfishes, it will change into a lionfish by swimming above the ocean floor, with arms extended beyond the body (2). The lionfish is known to possess poisonous spikes, which successfully deter the damselfish from preying upon the mimic octopus. Another possible transformation includes the sole fish. The octopus is able to propel itself in a similar manner by forming a leaf-shaped arm that moves it across the ocean floor effortlessly. The octopus's arms are also useful in impersonating the sea snake. Two arms are waved around to appear like a pair of snakes, while the other six are hidden from view. The octopus also changes its color and creates yellow and dark bands across the exposed arms.

How Are Vision & Mission Statements Used to Set the Strategic Direction?

Best Examples of a Vision Statement A vision statement for a company or organization focuses on the potential inherent in the company's future, or what they intend to be. While a vision statement might contain references to how the company intends to make that future into a reality, the â€Å"how† is really part of a â€Å"mission† statement, while the vision statement is simply a description of the â€Å"what,† meaning, what the company intends to become. Ads by Google Trading Stocks Online ? Find why many prefer to Trade Forex High Leverage,1/1Training & support www. iforex. h Vision Statements: Reviews and Ideas To find the best examples of vision statements, consider these statements made by some of the world's most innovative and successful companies: Online Retailer â€Å"We intend to provide our customers with the best online shopping experience from beginning to end, with a smart, searchable website, easy-to-follow instructions, clear and secure payment methods, and fast, quality delivery. † From this statement example, you can clearly tell that this company is an online retailer. You can also tell they have put thought into the statement by making a list of goals.They don't simply say that they want to be â€Å"the best† online shopping site – they give a list of ways in which they intend to do that. This is a quality vision statement because it outlines the specific future they intend to create for themselves, but it doesn't give specific steps on how they will do it (better saved for a mission statement). Hair Salon â€Å"Our salon will change the way you think about a haircut. Full service comfort, friendly staff, a relaxing atmosphere, and the best prices in town give you an experience that will leave you glowing both inside and out. Once again, it's clear from this vision statement what type of business is behind it. It's also a good, clear list of goals, without being too specific. It paints an overall p icture of a pleasant, successful business that the company hopes to become, and since the vision statement isn't just a vision of your future – it's also a vision you're presenting to your customers about who you are – it's important that it do just that. Apple Computer â€Å"We believe that we are on the face of the earth to make great products and that's not changing. We are constantly focusing on innovating. We believe in the simple not the complex.We believe that we need to own and control the primary technologies behind the products that we make, and participate only in markets where we can make a significant contribution. We believe in saying no to thousands of projects, so that we can really focus on the few that are truly important and meaningful to us. We believe in deep collaboration and cross-pollination of our groups, which allow us to innovate in a way that others cannot. And frankly, we don't settle for anything less than excellence in every group in the company, and we have the self-honesty to admit when we're wrong and the courage to change.And I think regardless of who is in what job those values are so embedded in this company that Apple will do extremely well. â€Å"- Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Computer (Quoted on CNN Money. com). PepsiCo â€Å"PepsiCo's responsibility is to continually improve all aspects of the world in which we operate – environment, social, economic – creating a better tomorrow than today. Our vision is put into action through programs and a focus on environmental stewardship, activities to benefit society, and a commitment to build shareholder value by making PepsiCo a truly sustainable company. (Quoted from Pepsi Co. com. ) Amazon â€Å"Our [Amazon's] vision is to be earth's most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online. † (Quoted from Amazon. com) Short Vision Statements Sometimes a vision statement ca n be summarized in one sentence. Examples include: †¢To help people be healthy, †¢To have our product in every home in the United States, †¢To help people enjoy life, or offer an affordable solution to health care. Local companies might aspire to be the best company in the town or to offer ocally grown produce. A restaurant may have this vision statement: To offer fresh and delicious food to our customers along with a fun-filled dining experience. Long Vision Statements Vision statements may also be longer as well. Some examples include: †¢As we move towards our goal of being a world-class university, we will support research on a global scale. Locally, our campus will service the research needs of the learning community, granting access to many informational resources. †¢The XYZ Company will inspire its employees to be the best they can be.We will engage in sustainable practices and anticipate the needs of our customers. We will maximize return to the stock holders while still maintaining quality in our products. †¢Our vision is to bring our students into the 21st century through innovation and modern technology. Learning will be enhanced with computer software and educational games that will allow students to proceed at their own rate according to their ability. In each of these examples, the vision statement helps to define goals, creating something to work towards in the future.Ads by Google Best Vision Correction LASIK, LASEK, Laser eye surgery. Find best deal in Korea through KMH kmhglobal. com Cars For Sale Philippines Brand New & Used Cars For Sale At Sulit Cars Buy And Sell Philippines Cars. Sulit. com. ph Writing a Good Vision Statement Looking at these vision statement examples should give you a good jumping off point for knowing what a vision statement is and how to write one. Vision statements are a challenge for many people because they aren't sure what form the statement is supposed to take. A typical corporate or co mpany vision statement will be brief and succinct; it will say a lot in just a few words, so those words must be very carefully chosen. †¢The key to a good vision statement is to think of things in a long-term, broad sense, without sounding generic. †¢If you're too specific, you will limit your vision and it won't be applicable ten years down the road: for example, if your current goal for your business is to move into a larger building, that's a vision for the future but it's not the vision for the future of your entire business. It's too narrow in focus. On the other hand, if you say that you want to achieve success – well, any business in the world could say that. It's too generic. The best statement will be clear about who you are as a company as well as who you wish to become. Writing a good vision statement isn't difficult. Think about what your business does and what, in an ideal world, you would like it to do and how you would like to appear to the outside w orld. Consider the services and attributes that your company provides, then imagine how it would be if you provided the very best version of them possible.List those visions, and incorporate them into a brief statement that gives a good overview of the kind of image you want to represent. Understanding your goals and being able to state them clearly is the first step toward making them happen. =————– †¢PRESENTATION By Mirabel †¢2. DEVELOPMENT OF MISSION & VISION STATEMENT . FOR THE TRAMPORL GROUP. [Sandwich Makers] TASK 2 †¢3. MISSION STATEMENT. To be recognised as a leading distinctive brand of fresh, homemade, quality sandwich makers; Offered to customers at the most reasonable, affordable price; For a healthier, refreshing, filling and totally satisfying meal .MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢4. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE MISSION STATEMENT. 1. Identified the company’s winning idea: – Providing FRESH & HEALTHY pro ducts. 2. Identified the key measures of success:- Affordable & reasonable price, best quality, for a good quantity, delivered to the customer. 3. Combined the winning idea and success measures into a measurable goal:- Total satisfaction derived by the customer. MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 A mission statement describes the basic overall purpose and function of the organisation. †¢5. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE MISSION STATEMENT. (contd†¦.. ) 4.Finally, I refined the words until I came up with a concise and precise statement of Tramporl’s mission which expresses our ideas, measures and desired result. Hence, our MISSION STATEMENT : MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢6. MISSION STATEMENT. â€Å" To be recognised as a leading distinctive brand of fresh, homemade, quality sandwich makers; Offered to customers at the most reasonable, affordable price; For a healthier, refreshing, filling and totally satisfying meal . † MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢7. VISION S TATEMENT. We at Tramporl take cautious steps to ensure that all our sandwiches reach our customers in the utmost best and fresh condition.Delivered straight to you to foster a healthy, wholesome, nourishing and flourishing lifestyle. Absolutely affordable to all to generate the optimum value. MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢8. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE VISION STATEMENT. MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 After identifying the company’s mission, uncover the real human value in that mission. Nutritional value for the health conscious consumer. Homemade, prepared under the right food & health policies to ensure freshness. (right temperatures, proper hand washing and glove-use procedures etc. ). 2.Identified what the company, it’s customers and A vision statement is a vivid idealised description of a desired outcome that inspires, energizes and helps you create a mental picture of your target. †¢9. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE VISION STATEMENT . (contd)†¦ other st akeholder will value most about how the company will achieve this mission. Customer : Healthy, nourishing & wholesome lifestyle. Filling meal. Commitment to improving health Employees : Teamwork, Diversity, commitment to employee happiness and well-being, Trust and respect. Shareholders : optimising profits & minimising our cost. (optimum value for all).MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢10. TECHNIQUE USED TO DEVELOP THE VISION STATEMENT . (contd)†¦ Government : adhering to the policy and legislative processes in the food industry in operation in the UK, EU and internationally. Community/Society : Tackling the social issue of obesity by helping to bring about lasting improvements to the nation’s nutrition and health. Hence a call for a change towards healthier habits in the food service companies. 3. Combining the mission and values I polished the words until I came up with a vision statement inspiring enough to energise and motivate people inside and outside the company. Hence, our VISION STATEMENT; MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 †¢11. VISION STATEMENT. â€Å" We at Tramporl take cautious steps to ensure that all our sandwiches reach our customers in the utmost best and fresh condition. Delivered straight to you to foster a healthy, wholesome, nourishing and flourishing lifestyle. Absolutely affordable to all to generate the optimum value. † MIRABEL TETTEH 3230 UNIT 4 Our vision Our vision is what we want to be and how we want to be perceived. It is what we aspire to. It inspires and motivates us. We make sustainable food production possible.Our mission Our mission is our reason for being, what we do on a daily basis to fulfil our vision. †¢We team up with customers. †¢From our leading position in dairy farming we innovate and expand in new segments and new geographies. †¢We provide integrated solutions and ensure that everywhere we do business, we lead. †¢We exist for the customer around the clock. Our core values Our co re values help us make the right decisions and guide our daily working behaviour. Passion †¢We share a passion for delivering customer value. †¢We are proud of our heritage and our success. From our leading position in dairy farming, we expand our business with passion. †¢This passion distinguishes us from other companies People †¢We have the ability and are trusted to make decisions within our area of responsibility. †¢We build our success on competence and constantly invest in personal development. †¢We share our knowledge, support each other and enjoy being part of a team. †¢We encourage diversity and appreciate the creativity that comes from a mix of cultures, gender, sexual orientation, religions, experiences and personalities. †¢We are part of a global network.Professionals †¢We deliver quality in everything we do. †¢We have clear responsibilities and fulfil our commitments. †¢We listen, learn, innovate and constantly impr ove. †¢We are proud of who we are and humbly reflect this through our attitude and behaviour. †¢We stay true to our values. Partnerships †¢Our customers, their needs and expectations, are the starting point for everything we do. †¢Our dealers are business partners with whom we jointly deliver customer values. †¢DeLaval employees, our dealers and customers partner for long-term business results.Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Mission Statement – 12 Values & Principles for Success Mission Statement, Headquarters and History of Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Brands The Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream mission statement is comprised of 12 Values and Principles for Success fashioned by its parent company, Dunkin’ Brands. (See the Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Brands Values & Principles below. ) 6 of 138 PreviousNext Ad Manila | Virtual OfficesRegus. com. ph/Manila_Virtual_OfficesPrime Address & Mail Forwarding. Cost Effective to Start up. 50% OFF Getty Imag e Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Stores Founders Facts and Trivia:Baskin-Robbins was founded by brothers-in-law Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins, who each started their own ice cream shops, and then merged them together to create the Baskin-Robbins concept. Irv’s ice cream store was Snowbird Ice Cream, which he opened in Glendale, California in 1945, featuring 21 different ice cream flavors. Burt’s ice cream shop was called Burton’s Ice Cream Shop, and the first one opened in Pasadena, California in 1946. In 1953 more than 40 Burton’s and Snowbird Ice Cream shops were rebranded as Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream, with â€Å"31† representing a different flavor for every day of the month.Baskin-Robbins was acquired by London-based J. Lyons & Col, and is now part of the Dunkin’ Brands group along with the Dunkin’ Donuts chain. Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Chain Headquarters: The corporate headquarters of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream are located with the headqu arters of the Dunkin’ Brands group in Canton, Massachusetts. The Mission Statement of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream and Dunkin’ Brands: Since 100% of the more than 6,000 Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream stores in 50 countries are franchise-owned, each Baskin-Robbins franchise owner could have their own mission statement.But as the parent company of Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’ Brands has 12 Values and Principles that the company believes should guide the decisions of everyone associated with Baskin-Robbins retail outlets, leading Baskin-Robbins franchisees toward success. The Dunkin’ Brands Values and Guiding Principles are: †Our Values †¢Honesty – Embrace the truth about oneself and the world. †¢Transparency – Demonstrate openness and vulnerability. †¢Humility – Acknowledge own mistakes and commit to learning. †¢Integrity – Say what you think and do what you say. †¢Respectfulness – Honor the dignity, inclus ion, and diversity of others. Fairness – Do what is right based on common principles. †¢Responsibility – Make yourself accountable to the community. Our Guiding Principles †¢Leadership – Responsibility with passion at every level. †¢Innovation – Excellence in everything we do. †¢Execution – Ownership and accountability for results, success and failure. †¢Social Stewardship – Demonstration of good corporate citizenship and responsibility to all constituencies. †¢Fun – Approach every challenge with enthusiasm, energy and excitement†¦ celebrate every step of the way! † More About U. S.Company Mission Statements, History, and Headquarters: Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Founders Facts and Trivia: The first Ben and Jerry's ice cream store was opened on May 5, 1978 in Burlington, Vermont after Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield completed a correspondence course on ice cream making from the Pennsylvania State University Creamery. Ben and Jerry were born four days apart, and met in junior high school. The first Benn and Jerry's ice cream flavors included Dastardly Mash, Heath Bar Crunch, Chunky Monkey, Tuskegee Chunk, and Cherry Garcia. Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Headquarters:The headquarters of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream is located where the company first began in Burlington, Vermont. The Mission Statement of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream: The mission of Ben and Jerry's is really about contributing to making a positive change in the world. To do that, Ben and Jerry's has three missions that the company strives to integrate into its daily business operations†¦ â€Å"Ben and Jerry's Social Mission To operate the Company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally, and internationally.Ben and Jerry's Product Mission To make, distribute and sell the finest quality all natura l ice cream and euphoric concoctions with a continued commitment to incorporating wholesome, natural ingredients and promoting business practices that respect the Earth and the Environment. Ben and Jerry's Economic Mission To operate the Company on a sustainable financial basis of profitable growth, increasing value for our stakeholders and expanding opportunities for development and career growth for our employees. â€Å"

Reading response on education and communication Essay

                 In education settings, communication is an important role in affecting the fates of students, especially in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural setting. Analyzing and improving these communications in schools that comprise of an ethnically diverse student body as well as improving the communications is in the best interest of shaping the academic future and sealing the academic fate for these students. This is because these communications, as in negative perceptions and stereotypes, may negatively affect the performance. Therefore, designing a communication system that supports equity as well as enhancing the full human talent development of all students and all groups of students, is important. Discussion                     In matters of diversity and equity, communication is face real-time dilemmas. These issues are such as direct quotes made by people, which in essence are mere stereotypes. In most cases, people make direct assumptions and claims about a certain culture and its orientation on education (Pollock, 37). Some people will claim that Asian parents take education seriously, and cheer on their children, and that is the reason Asian students are likely to perform excellently. In the same cultural stereotype, it is argued that black and Latino parents are not so concerned with matters of education, hence their children do not do well in school.                  Getting to analyze these claims is an important factor to changing communications into positive communication that supports equity. The key strategy is analyzing the nouns, which are the subjects of the stereotypes and overstatements. An understanding of the groups under criticism is important (Darder, 250). This is through asking the critics to analyze the subjects. This encourages attacking the script and not the speakers. Since these claims often misstate average patterns, it is important, to for example look at the struggling lives of Asian in America as a factor before judging their perception on education. Conclusion                        Most importantly, a critical analysis on the cultures is key to understanding their behaviors, and this will assist even teachers and student equally in adopting communications modes that promote unity, as well as enhance an equal opportunity for the nurturing and development of human talent. References Darder, Antonia. Culture and Difference: Critical Perspectives on the Bicultural Experience in the United States. Westport, Conn: Bergin & Garvey, 1995. Print. Pollock, Mica. Everyday Antiracism: Getting Real About Race in School. New York: New Press, 2008. Internet resource. Source document