Reform in education locally and globally

Emerging possibilities and ongoing reform in education locally and globally

Executive summary

Reform in education is a process that is usually political engineered toward the improvement of the education standards and contents especially in public schools. These improvements that are done on education ultimately have an impact on the health, wealth, social returns and the well being of a people. Reform in education has taken different forms in the history of educational reform. This is majorly because there have been various motivations that have driven the reformers of education. Some of the reasons cited for reform in education include the need of having an affordable education to the society and the students. For instance, there were reforms in the 1800s with a major aim of cutting on the cost of education. The classical education was quite expensive as it was undertaken with personal tutors who were expensive and did that full time. This form of education could then be accessed by the wealthy people only. In attempts to lower the cost of the classical education by then, there was emergence of grammar schools, public libraries and encyclopedias as innovative ways of lowering the cost of accessing education. (Horn, 2002)

There have been related reforms which have since sought to further examine the classical education by seeking to answer more questions as to what the content should be and the reason of having the system. There was then an introspective that is abstract that answers the questions by bringing out compressed facts that are few out of the abstract. Reform in education has also been incorporated with social and humanistic goals as in the case of Maria Montessori’s view. Reform in education has taken many dimensions from the history and current world. This is as a result of changes in the education methods and the meaning attributed to education. The debates have been varying in terms of the contents and modes of education. (Berry, 2011)

Introduction

Chapman (2009) sees ‘reform’ in itself as having its complexities. It refers to the policy changes, changes in organization or in practice. This is the noun perspective. To reform also means to attempt to enact or to correct certain problems. In education, reform basically aims at being an aspiration to the realization of a systematic, deep and achieving a reconstruction to the public schools and education. In the American history, reform in education has been aimed at enacting the conceived visions for the good of the education system. This was exhibited in the formation of the common schools as a result of Dewey’s advocacy for the achievement of social reform. Other remarkable instance of reforms in America was the enacting of the No Child Left Behind advocacy among others that have sought to bring equality and quality in the education system in America. (Earnest, 2006))

Education reform in America

The various American reform movements in the public education were majorly mooted by crisis declarations alongside rhetoric urgencies that are intolerable. This was further fuelled by the inspirations, hope and visions of the American educationalists and reformers. The reforms in the country have taken three major dimensions namely Holism, Progressivism and Essentialism. These reforms in the American education have been characterized by controversies over the practice, policies and the principles of education in the American public schools.

Holism approach on reform in education

The holism approach on reform in education is based on the indigenous ecological philosophies and beliefs specifically from Transcendentalism, Taoism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Education is seen as having its primary purpose as encouraging integration and development of the human spirit, heart and body vis-à-vis promoting environmental and social communion. Holists believe that it is essentially rational for one to have knowledge that is contextually enduring, compassionate and of mutual benefit. In this perspective, reform in schools is designed to encourage the relationships that support and promote learning that is interpersonal that developed a connection between individuals and the community at large. Further, the reform in education is designed to achieve transpersonal learning that aims at achieving a connection between the environmental and social forces, the values that are spiritual and the entities that are non human in the learners.

 This reform in education basically aims at transforming individuals to be connected to the non human nature and the humanity as a whole thereby developing in the social aspects of life. Education in this perspective is not only about academic content but about the sociality of the people. These reforms are further prompted by the need to have transformation at personal levels so as to be in harmony with the biophysical and social environments. Education is therefore made as an instrument of integrating and developing the dimensions of spirituality alongside the emotional moral and intellectual aspects of the learning process in schools and life. Holists view spirituality as the moments of inspirations that are always complex and elusive to understand but do become clear through education. This is only deemed possible through an integration of emotion, insight, mystery and sensation. The Holists view education as a more interdisciplinary and front for reform in education in that perspective. The view is that education should present a relationship of interdependence between the methods used in enquiry and the fields. This reform aimed at creating a situation of synthesized perceptions in education that include cognitive, kinesthetic and emotional aspects of learning. (Levin, 2011)

The reform also was in support of explanatory learning where the students are free to enquire and question the coverage of the content. Education was also to incorporate the sustainability in the environment through creation of an environmental understanding of the economic and social consequences brought about by consumption. Public education was also seen as an important aspect in education. This included the development of the spiritual aspects of humans incorporating non materialism, aesthetics and the intuition in learners.

Progressivism reform in education

This educational reform pursues the access to personal fulfillment that is universal without losing site of promoting social justice and civil rights. Education is crafted to be an agent of social change that is crucial in the promotion of economic, political and social equity in the society. This education reform perspective largely draws its philosophy from various perceptions including Pragmatism, Humanism, Social Reconstructionism and Romanticism. The reforms aims at presenting education as a journey through which an individual walks as an individual but its destination is a broad ended social responsibility and self identity. The knowledge acquired from the educational system is not only aimed at being intellectualized, but also includes the various dimensions of learning that are emotional based and education is seen as a political endeavor that is explicit. (St. John, 2006)

This reform perspective in education aims at shifting the public schooling from being a place of the preparation of the brightest and the best students to effectively compete economically and academically, to another higher level of being an empowering factor to the educationally and socially disadvantaged in order to improve their lives’ quality. Education should thereby be a source of knowledge which in turn is a form of power to the learners. In this aspect, reform in education majorly aims at elevating education as an academic gratification element to an element of strengthening the learners’ skills in social advocacy and self efficiency.

The progressive reform in education aims at offering a system that guides learners through experiences that are carefully designed so as to help in the ultimate build up of knowledge through a cooperative and pedagogy which is constructive in the learning process. This perception aims at reforming education to be relevant in the provision of knowledge that can be relevantly utilized in specific social contexts by specific persons. The ambiguity of knowledge in the assumption that all circumstances and people are the same is not encouraged in progressive reform in the education sector. Education is reformed to accommodate the community aspects and to extend to the community life other than just academic work. This system aims at creating awareness in the communities towards the achievement of equal access to social and economic privileges in the society. (Towers, 2007)

Currently, the progressive educational reform advocated for an equal distribution in school financing. This is based in increasing the funding that comes from the federal and state government and a decrease of tax dependence on property. The reform further aims at decentralization in education through power sharing of management in charter schools. Issues of gender fairness, bilingual, multicultural and anti bias curriculum are key on the reforms. There is a deliberate move to achieve a more compact and strengthened ties that exist between the communities and schools to enhance increased community and service learning partnerships. Social activism and teaching of deliberation skills are among the reforms that are aimed at creating curriculum that is based on discussion, contemporary issues, and engagement in civic issues and to achieve authentic democracies in the governance of the schools.

Essentialism reform in education

Essentialists’ view of reform in education is basically informed on providing equal access to common literacy to all the citizens. Education in this reform is comprised of a core of skills, values and knowledge whose applicability cuts across all cultures and time. These reform proponents borrow heavily from the philosophies of Realists and Idealists in which learning is supposed to be an agent of individual excellence. (Zadja, 2010)

Education is supposed to help the learners to accumulate knowledge that will eventually help them in developing cognitive skills that are necessary for moral, intellectual, social and economically empowered lives hence leading to productivity in life. The achievement of positions in the competitive hierarchies is maintained through a process of rewarding and acknowledging the learner’s progress. As Ladd (1996) observes, this reform aims at leading the learners to a path that is clearly defined through modeling, articulating and ensuring that the learners are held accountable to the various standards that are universally held. This is only achieved through the teachers and schools as the main agents of bringing this transformation. Teachers are further elevated to the stature of authoritative, skillful and respected agents of guiding the learners to understand the highest thoughts of humanity.

Current reforms in education

Currently, the objectives of reform in education in public schools are based on achieving high educational standards that are nationally accepted. This reform is aimed at improving the performance of the public school. The current reforms in education seek to prepare the teacher for the task and to propel student achievement in the education system. Most of the reforms are based on the national curriculum content which emphasized more on the advancement of placement, scientific research and reasoning and ultimately imparting cultural literacy among the learners. There is a deliberate attempt to strengthen the accountability of the schools, students and districts for the purpose of improving the academic performance in schools and learners in general. The reforms are further geared towards expanding the various choices of schools by the learners by tendering an open enrollment system, the increasing of charter schools and the exploration of home based schooling. This is to open up the accessibility of education and to make knowledge acquisition flexible. (Ball, 1994)

The ongoing reforms in education are driven by the need to have effective connections that exist between the national and international economic goals and the national education goals. This is in an attempt to align the education system with the current job specifications and requirements to enhance job readiness and to impart consumer education to the learners in schools. The achievement of character development is a key aspect in the reform in education as the reformists aim to emphasize the need and importance of patriotism, the significance of role modeling and ultimately developing social values in the society.

Teaching and learning in the 21st century

Education has really evolved and advanced over the years. The twenty first century is characterized by a change in the teaching and learning process. There has been incorporation of digitalism, collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking aspects in the education system. This is basically the situation as demanded for by the change in today’s world which unlike the past centuries, has advanced in all the sectors. Long (2010) states that the learning ways in the twenty first century have however been characterized by a lot of criticism and controversies. The teaching and learning process in the twenty first century is characterized by an inquiry and collaboration into the environment of learning. Teachers have to create personal learning networks with a number of other educators in the learning environment through the utilization of the vast amount of knowledge that is available. The teaching and learning process is basically based on skills acquisition with an aim of fitting into the competitive world.

References

Ball, S. J. (1994). Education reform: a critical and post-structural approach. UK: Open University Press.

Berry, R. (2011). Assessment Reform in Education. New York: Springer.

Chapman, C. (2009). Radical Reforms: Perspectives on an Era of Educational Change. New York: Taylor & Francis.

Earnest. J. (2006). Education Reform in Societies in Transition:  International Perspectives. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

Horn, R. A. (2002). Understanding Educational Reform: A Reference Handbook. California: ABC-CLIO.

Ladd, H. F. (1996). Holding Schools Accountable: Performance-Based Reform in Education. Washington D. C: Brookings Institution Press.

Levin, B. (2011). Reforming Education: From Origins to Outcomes. New York: Routledge

Long, W. R. (2010). It's All the Basics: Teaching and Learning for the 21st Century. London: CreateSpace.

St. John, E. P. (2006). Education and the Public Interest: School Reform, Public Finance, and Access to Higher Education. New York: Springer

Towers, J.  (2007). Twenty "No-Brainers" for Reforming Education in America. New York: Mill City Press, Incorporated.

Zajda, J. (2010). Globalization, Ideology and Education Policy Reforms. New York: Springer.

Read More

Research Proposal (Intro): Corporal Punishment in US Public Schools

Corporal Punishment in US Public Schools

Statement of the problem

                    Corporal punishment has been an issue of contention across most public schools in the United States of America. Corporal punishment refers to a form of punishment that is always admitted to students in schools as a way of dealing with misbehaviors and indiscipline. It involves the striking on the hands or the buttocks of students using items like yardsticks that are wooden, leather straps, slippers, paddles made of wood or rattan canes. To some level smacking or spanking on the students’ body parts is always involved in a deliberate way with open hands. This is always done in the level of elementary schools. Those advocating for corporal punishment in schools insist that it is effective as it provides an immediate response to indiscipline as opposed for suspensions which waste a lot of learning time. Those opposing corporal punishment observe that it is an inhumane method that is tantamount to abuse and violence. Corporal punishment continues to elicit controversies. (Farmer, 2009)

                         The research aims at establishing the views on corporal punishment and the various effects it has on the students with a reference to public schools in the United State of America. This article aims at providing a clear overview as pertains to corporal punishments in the United States of America’s public schools. Taking into account that the corporal punishment in schools is a contentious issue, the research included all the stake holders in the public education system in the United States of America. It will also explore the various religious and cultural attitudes that are tied to corporal punishment as a disciplining tool in public schools. The methodology applied in this research included interviewing the students why have undergone the corporal punishment and trying to gather their views as concerns the mode of punishment. Teachers were also interviewed in order to get their take on the mode of punishment. Questionnaires were used to collect information about the research.

Purpose of the study.

                   The purpose of this research is to establish the views, frequency of occurrence and the level of administration of corporal punishment in public schools in the United States of America. Further, the research seeks to establish the impact that corporal punishment has on the change and shape of behaviors of the students, and whether corporal punishment indeed addresses the issues of indiscipline and misbehavior among students in public schools in the United States of America. Heads of Public schools, education officers, counseling and guidance departments, parents, teachers and students will also have a range of considerations to make after reviewing the views and findings expressed in the research.

Research Methodology

                    The research was carried out in a study area of ten sampled public schools across the US. This was done in order to ensure that all the areas in the research were effectively and extensively covered. The research design combined the collection and analysis of data in relevance to the research purpose, making the end product comprehensively concrete and worth considerations. This research study was qualitative, and a cross-sectional study that used descriptive techniques of analysis. Sawilowsky(2007) defines target population as all members of or hypothetical set of subjects, people, events to which a researcher wishes to generalize their results of the study. The research’s target population was the entire group of people in the education category that are in one way or another affected by the administration of corporal punishment. The target population for the study included all students of the ten schools across the US.

Sample size

                         The determination of the Sample size and distribution among the selected schools was done in a manner in which the data collected was adequate and reflective of the subject matter. The research employs an all inclusive structure and is extensive in its data collection and analysis, thus it is a more comprehensive and in depth report. Different from other reports, the research is based on secondary data analysis and presentation thus the dissection of the research is justified. (Johnson& Christensen, 2010)

ReferencesTop of Form

Bottom of Form

Alice Farmer(2009). United States, Impairing Education: Corporal Punishment of Students with Disabilities in US Public Schools. NY: Human Rights Watch.

Burke Johnson, Larry Christensen (2010). Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches. Carlifonia. SAGE.

Shlomo S. Sawilowsky (2007). Real Data Analysis (Hc). UK: IAP.

Read More

Cliffhanger- Movie Review

A Brief Review of the Cliffhanger Movie

Introduction

‘Cliffhanger’ is a 1993 American adventure thriller movie that  runs for about one hour and forty-five minutes staring Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, Rex Linn, Caroline Goodall, León, Craig Fairbrass, Gregory Scott Cummins, Denis Forest, Michelle Joyner, and Max Perlich.

‘Cliffhanger’ was written by Alan Marshall and Renny Harlin and produced by Michael France and Sylvester Stallone based on story by Gene Patrick Hines and John Long. It was directed by Renny Harlin and it remains one of the best action thrillers of the 1990s.

The Synopsis Summary

The movie begins with a clever mid-air theft and crash-landing: sort of a cross between "The Pursuit of D. B. Cooper" and "Alive!" A gang of expert criminals, led by John Lithgow, hijacks a U.S. Treasury plane carrying millions of dollars in large bills. Their cockeyed plan is to transfer the money to another plane, and indeed one of the crooks transfers from one plane to another on a wire rope. This feat, which was actually performed by a stunt man, is one of the movie's most breathtaking moments.

Expert climber and Rocky Mountain rescue worker Sylvester Stallone drops a climber to her death during a rescue but he must face the mountain by himself to save his friends from criminals in the action-packed thriller. In the movie, a well-armed gang of international thieves lures a rescue party with a fake call for help after their getaway plane crash-lands in the Rockies, and their loot is lost in the snow-covered wilderness. They need the mountain experts to locate the cash and will stop at nothing in this suspenseful, danger-filled adventure.

Brute force is the deciding factor as Stallone attempts to beat the villain and save his friends on the mountain top. For Rocky Mountain Rescue, the mission is almost a routine: locate five climbers. With the woman he loves and his best friend, Gabe Walker braves the icy peaks only to discover that the distress call is really a trap set by merciless international terrorist Eric Qualen. Now millions of dollars and their own lives hang in the balance. Against explosive firepower, bitter cold and dizzying heights, Walker must outwit Qualen in a deadly game of hide-and-seek.

That sets up the main thread of the plot, as the crooks and the good guys chase each other over the mountainside and through a series of bluffs, showdowns and fights to the finish, all taking place on the edge of suitably vertiginous precipices.

Movie Review

 "Cliffhanger" has all those ingredients and remains one of the best action thrillers of the 90s. The opening 10 minutes contain more tension than most action blockbusters can muster in their total running time. Director Renny Harlin hits the viewer hard with a bravado scene that's tough to top. (Haflidason, 2001)

This movie shows action filmmaking at its best – a career high for director Harlin and arguably Stallone as well. The cinematography is stunning, with the aerial shots, the mountain vistas and the climbers hanging thousands of feet in the air, all combining to make this a visually amazing film. Stallone turns in his usual stoic performance, slim on dialogue but huge on action. Janine Turner's performance is a joke, but Michael Rooker helps out with a good effort as Stallone's partner. John Lithgow makes a great villain, and, along with his gang, is responsible for the brutally offensive content with the bad guys getting what they deserve.

Like a lot of recent movie villains (most of them played by Alan Rickman or Charles Dance), Lithgow seems subtly effete and dangerously intellectual, and speaks with a slight British accent. He also of course cares for nothing but the money and his own skin, and in the great tradition of all cliffhangers he eventually has to face Stallone. It is one of the achievements of the movie to convince us that Lithgow and Stallone are a good match.

"Cliffhanger", taken as an entertaining movie, is effective, especially during those moments when Stallone is hanging by his fingernails over a three-mile fall, and the bad guys are stomping on him (Ebert, 1993). However, extremely offensive dialogue and brutal violence destroy the entertainment value of the movie. This is attested by the existence of 62 obscenities an15 profanities; graphic violence in the form of multiple bloody, sadistic killings and brutal beatings; and, murder, theft & corruption of law enforcement.

Cliff Hanger is not a movie about climbing. It's a Stallone Hollywood action flick, pure fiction, with about 1 minute tops of actual climbing footage, most of it fake. It does have some nice mountain scenery, and is entertaining enough if you're into action movies, but as a climbing movie it plainly leaves a lot to be desired. Lots of people get shot, killed, beaten up, fall out of planes, helicopters and cliffs. There are also ample explosions to satisfy the masses. In it's day, Cliff Hanger was probably a highly popular movie, but it's got little or nothing to do with climbing.

References

Almar, H. (1993). BBC Moview. A Review of Cliffhanger. City, Publisher. e.g New York: Cengage)

Haflidason, R.  (1993). Moview Review. Cliffhanger (City, Publisher. e.g New York: Cengage)

Wolf. (2005). Stallone’s Best. City, Publisher. e.g New York: Cengage)

Read More

Strategic management- Toyota Company Case study

Strategic management

Introduction

                    For a company to succeed in its businesses, strategic management must be its main agenda. Managing multinational companies can be a hectic job and can end up in disarray if not well structured. Strategic management is based on a company’s top brass of management. The top management of the company is always at the center of decision making process on behalf the real owners of the company. This set up is in charge of mobilizing resources and structuring the company to match the external business environments. Formulating policies, planning and setting of objectives is the management’s concerns. Strategic management also deals with the achievement of the company’s vision through fast tracking the mission, programs and projects. In strategic management, there is a deliberate effort by the management to strike a scorecard that is balanced through evaluating the general performance of the business and the steps toward the achievement of the business’ set objective. Strategy in any business or company is in line with the expectations of all the stake holders of the business and must be based on the stakeholders’ objectives. Most multinational companies that have managed to be main players in the global business market have history of effective strategic management measures and settings. Such companies include the Coca-Cola Company, the Toyota Company, and the Hyundai Company among other multinational companies. Strategic management is the backbone of a successful multinational company or global business. Witcher & Chau (2010)

Background study

                    For any company or business to be competitive in the market, there must be a high level and a well coordinated strategy management which is the fundamental aspect of tactics and goal setting. Strategic management is always vital in offering the direction to the business and its ultimate success. In business administration, strategic management and strategic consistency between the business and its environment needs to be struck. In various companies, strategic management is always undertaken by a management team which is mostly comprised of a Board of Directors among other stakeholders. Amason (2010)

                   Different companies employ different strategic management approaches in trying to stay competitive in the business environment. The management boards in different companies apply different processes of evaluation and controlling the businesses and the various industries that are involved with the company. This is the case in two leading automobile companies, the Toyota and Hyundai companies. In assessing their competitors’ strategies, the two companies use various strategy management processes. Despite executing different strategic management forms, both companies consider basic factors in strategically managing their businesses. Such include the size of the organization and the need to adapt to the changes of the business environment. In order to achieve the objectives of any company, there are various aspects and concepts that need to be explored. A strategic management which is more structured may be employed in consideration to the size of the company, operations, requirements and the views of the stakeholders. Strategic management plays a very important role in shaping the way a business is run or the success and achievements of a company. Nevertheless, strategic management is always tied to the goals, vision, mission and the objectives of the company. In managing a company, the management board or team do work towards the views and expectations of the owners of the company or business. Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson (2009)

Toyota Motor Corporation

                    The Toyota Motor Corporation is based at Toyota at Aichi in Japan. The multinational company is an automaker with a large employee base of over 400000 employees with the largest manufacturing capacity of automobiles and specifically the famous vehicle brand ‘Toyota’. It terms of world revenue, the Toyota Company sits at the eleventh position and had manufactured an estimated 200 million vehicles in July 2012. Founded in 1937 as a family company by Kiichiro Toyoda, the company has been keen to strategically manage its businesses. The Toyota Company has had a choice of leadership that has embraced the benchmark of quality, perfect practices and corporate responsibility in the wake of stiff competition and technological advancement in the global market. Borowski (2010). The strategies of the company have been deeply rooted in principles that have continued to improve the respect for people, their strategy framework as been gearing towards waste cutting, positive attitude building and maximum utilization of the inherent talents of the workers. The Toyota Company has managed to create an impression of social responsibility in the global market. The company has exploited a number of strategies with a view of being the best company in terms of product quality and service provision vis-à-vis matching growing customers’ needs and technological advancement. The management board of the Toyota Company has been vigil to clinch any opportunity in developing and growing the company’s worth, a strategy that has gone a notch higher to see the company explore options of developing hybrid cars among other market strategies. The underlying strategy of the Toyota Company is rooted in rewarding merit and identifying faults in an attempt to perfect the product and service delivery. Through this basic strategy, the Toyota Company has managed to propel its influence and achieve an extensive customer base. Magee (2008).

Strategy and management

                    The success of the Toyota Company is attributed to its strategic management formula that has made them to remain competitive in the automobile market while maintaining the quality and efficiency of their products. The philosophy of management at Toyota Company has continued to evolve over a long period of time. This management philosophy has been built on the original value of the company which was centered on ‘Lean manufacturing and the concept of production in time. These two concepts have been vital in the development and growth of the company. The Toyota Company strives to produce designs of cars that are exclusively ideal and perfect. In its lean manufacturing policy, the company aims at achieving a customer ideal production which will eventually cumulate to customer satisfaction. In this quest, the Toyota Company has been producing different models of cars in order to meet the demands, taste and different preferences of its customers. Hino (2006). This has enabled the company to remain competitive and to have a wider market area. The business strategies and managerial values have been collectively convened into a single structure referred to as the ‘Toyota Way’.

a.      The ‘Toyota Way”

                    The ‘Toyota Way’ was one of the strategies that the Toyota Company adopted in order to help them stay ahead in the automobile industry. It is a set of values guidelines of conducts that all the employees at Toyota are expected to embrace. The strategy had two main pillars; Continuous improvement and Respect for People. Liker & Jeffrey(2011). All the conduct guidelines and values of the Toyota Company are summarized into major principles of embracing challenge, striving to improve their services and products, respect to customers, teamwork and a ‘go and see’ slogan. This is a strategy that the company has employed to ensure that the employees not deviate from the main objectives of the company thus enhancing success in business thus working as a driving force towards an achievement. Liker (2003). The strategy has also aided the formation of identity and has kept the spirit of quality and service which has helped the company to be outstanding among other automobile manufacturers. Alongside the Toyota Way are four other components that complement the strategy. These components include management decisions that are based on long term deliberations and a comprehensive problem solving process. Further, the aspect of focusing on the development of the people has added a lot of value to the organization. Consequently, the Toyota Company has embraced the art of organizational learning through solving the root problems continuously in the organization. Ōno (1988)

b.      Worldwide establishment

                    The Toyota Company has used a world presence strategy that has made them be a common household name in terms of automobile development. Through intensive marketing and strategic management, the company has expanded tremendously thus establishing factories in a majority areas in the world that deal with assembling and manufacturing of different types of vehicles. The Company has set branch factories in countries like South Africa, Turkey, Japan, India, The United States of America, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, and Columbia and has recently established factories in Thailand, Mexico, Malaysia, Argentina, Pakistan, Vietnam, Russia, Egypt and Mexico. In this manner, the company has been able to meet the rising demand for automobiles and have provides a large variety of automobiles thus giving the customers the large variety to choose from. This is a strategy that has ensured that the products of Toyota Company are accessed by most people around the globe. The strategy of worldwide establishment does make a company to be widely known and become easier to be identified with.

c.       Electric technology

                    Strategic management is all about exploring the possible options that can assist a company to be elevated above its competitors. This means that every implemented strategy needs to be suitable to effectively achieve the mission, feasible to ensure that it is applicable and that the strategy is accepted by the stakeholders. The management team at Toyota Company has explored the application of electric technology which is feasible, acceptable and suitable. In this respect, the Toyota Company has gone a long way in releasing hybrid electric vehicles into the automobile market. It has been the first company to introduce and sell hybrid electric vehicles, thus shaping the face of the automobile industry. In 1997, the company introduced the Toyota Prius and started producing vehicles that were smaller but maintaining the luxurious touch. Such cars like Lexus and Camry were received into the automobile industry with excitement, a sign of an effective strategic management implementation. Anderson & Judy Anderson (2010).

                    In 2012 October, the Toyota Prius became the hybrid car that was best sold in the whole world and this earned the Toyota Company about 2.8 million units. This high sale was replicated in most parts of the world. Later in 2012 October, the company was the first to manufacture a passenger car that was hybrid and a motor vehicle hybrid that was one plug in model. This model was availed to around 80 regions and countries worldwide. The company has an aim of achieving the launch of a 20 hybrid vehicles models at the end the year 2015.

Hyundai Motor Company

                    The Hyundai Motor Company has been a main player in the motor industry just like the Toyota Company. It is a multinational automotive company with it’s headquartering in South Korea in Seoul. Founded in 1967, Hyundai is ranked the forth in terms of automobile manufacturing having sold about 3.6 million vehicles in the year 2010. Hyundai is the largest automobile company that is integrated with an employee base of around 75000 people working in the factories worldwide. Hyundai Company has applied strategic management in its success story. The company has set up 6 development and research centers across the world. The company has also an established center in California for designing automobiles specifically for the markets in the United States of America. Hyundai Company has applied various forms of strategy to remain equally competitive. The Hyundai Company has been able to establish a system of quality management which has gone forth to help the company achieve the status of a major player in automobile industries and machineries globally. In this sense, the company has realized a top class service provider status. Lansbury, Chung , Sok Suh,  Kwŏn & Ho Kwon (2007)

a.      Product development

                    Hyundai has strived to improve the quality levels of their products through application of unique procedures. The company has applied pilot production vis-à-vis researching by center engineers in an aim to meet the desired levels of production. The pilot production is a strategy that Hyundai Company used to avoid problems during the production of automobiles in mass. Through the large pilot plants, Hyundai Company is able to ensure there is quality in the production of its models. The company is also striving towards achieving a perfect product quality in order to be at the helm of profit making. Henry (2008)

b.      Outsourcing

                    Outsourcing has been part of Hyundai’s strategy to maintain the quality of products they offer. This is a strategy that amalgamates various parts manufacturers who manufacture specific automobile parts before the parts are assembled by Hyundai to form complete automobiles. This strategy contravenes the Toyota policy whereby the manufacturing of the automobiles is done wholesomely by the company. The Hyundai Company outsources companies which make parts. The outsourced parts are sub-assembled into some modules which are further assembled into final automobiles. This strategic management aspect has made the Hyundai Motors Company to save a lot in terms of profits. Through outsourcing, the company has been able to shift its concentration more on marketing and product development and not to worry about the production of parts. This aspect of the Hyundai production model has been advantageous to the company as it accumulates more resources and channels them towards marketing and improving on its products.

c.       Advanced philosophy and Quality innovations strategies

                    The achievements made by the Hyundai Motors have been as a result of quality innovations. The company, through strategic management organs, has weathered the challenges of hostile and competitive business environment through application of innovation. There has been an increase in customer satisfaction which has proved that the Hyundai Company has the ability to marshal massive shares in the market. As a result of aggressive and intensive innovations, Hyundai has come up with vehicles which meet the customers’ demands, wishes and comfort. This has been in line with the achievement of the company’s objective of meeting customer satisfaction and bringing ultimate elegance, enjoyment and creating confidence in its customers. The style and luxury that is aimed at by the Hyundai Company is thereby achieved. This strategy has ensured that Hyundai Company stands out in terms of class and design, making its products popular among people worldwide.

                    Despite the growing fierce competition in the automobiles industry, Hyundai Company has managed to stay at the top in terms of quality and market base as a result of its management philosophy which is advanced. Its strategy has ensured that there is a clear cut for the future of the Company not leaving the customers behind. Hyundai’s philosophy has seen an increased favor among the customers due to its striving to make products of good quality and its main goal of laying emphasis on the satisfaction and efficiency of its products to the customers. Hyundai has continued to be a global brand name in automobiles. This has been boosted by the fact that the company has been creating an impression of fairness and transparency in terms of the acceptable and expected business ethics.

d.      Expansion of production

                    Hyundai Company has employed the strategy of market expansion as a way to ensure it achieves its main objectives. It has increased the shares of its export in the market internationally and domestically. During the economic recession in the year 2009, Hyundai still managed to export 1.3 million vehicles amidst a production capacity of 1.6 million units. This strategy ensured that the company stayed at the top of automobile manufacturing and assembly industries when other players were diversely affected by the recession. Its marketing strategy and management strategy strength is further exhibited in the company’s success in increasing its market shares in the United States of America. This has gone a long way in improving on the quality of the company’s products. Hyundai has also extended its competitiveness in engaging in overseas businesses since the late 1990s. It has established its products in Alabama, Montgomery among other areas. In North America, Hyundai’s plant was ranked second in the level of productivity.

e.       Electric vehicles

                    Just like the Toyota Company, the Hyundai Motor Company has embraced the use of electricity in the manufacture of vehicles. The company has introduced a hybrid electric automobile to match the increasing technological advancement. In 2008 November, the company introduced the first electric car which was facilitated by the technology of lithium polymer battery. In applying the electricity technology, Hyundai Company aimed at achieving sophistication, style and class in order to remain as competitive as possible. Chris, Masrur, &  Gao(2011). The strategy of applying electricity technology has ensured that the company has been at par with the other automobile producers to ensure that it does not lose its grip on the top spot in the global business. Society of Automotive Engineers (2000).

Conclusion

 Strategic management has been the center of interest for both the Toyota and Hyundai automobiles companies. Both have gone out of their way to establish global markets and have embraced the use of electricity in automobile development. Toyota Company manufactures its own vehicles from scratch while the Hyundai Company opts to outsource for parts manufacturers in order to reduce the costs incurred. The role of strategic management is evident in the two automobiles companies as both do have a team or a board of managers that is always tasked with the responsibility of formulating policies to help the company grow to transcendent heights. The board reviewing possible strategies in the companies does work towards actualizing the aims and objectives of the companies. The owners’ wishes can never be ignored in the strategic management process.

References

Allen C. Amason (2010). Strategic Management: From Theory to Practice. NY: Taylor & Francis.

Anthony Henry (2008). Understanding Strategic Management. NY. Oxford University Press.

Arkadi Borowski (2010). Report on the Toyota Company. UK: GRIN Verlag.

Barry J. Witcher, Vinh Sum Chau (2010). Strategic Management: Principles and Practice. UK: Cengage Learning EMEA.

Chris Mi, M. Abul Masrur, David Wenzhong Gao (2011). Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Principles and Applications with Practical Perspectives.UK: John Wiley and Sons.

Curtis Darrel Anderson, Judy Anderson (2010). Electric and Hybrid Cars: A History.UK: McFarland.

David Magee (2008). How Toyota Became #1: Leadership Lessons from the World's Greatest Car Company. UK: Penguin Group.

Jeffrey Liker (2003). The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World's Greatest Manufacturer. McGraw Hill Professional.

Liker, Jeffrey (2011). The Toyota Way: Management Principles and Field book (eBook). NY: McGraw-Hill Professional.

Michael A. Hitt, R. Duane Ireland, Robert E. Hoskisson (2009). Strategic Management: Competitiveness and Globalization: Cases. Canada: Cengage Learning.

Russell D. Lansbury, Chung-sŏk Sŏ, Chung-Sok Suh, Sŭng-ho Kwŏn, Seung-Ho Kwon (2007). The Global Korean Motor Industry: The Hyundai Motor Company's Global Strategy. Seoul. Taylor & Francis

Satoshi Hino. (2006). Inside the Mind of Toyota: Management Principles for Enduring Growth. Productivity Press.

Society of Automotive Engineers (2000). Hybrid electric vehicles. Society of Automotive Engineers.  Nov 1.

Taiichi Ōno (1988). Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production. Tokyo: Productivity Press.

Read More

Analyzing Memento movie

“We all need a mirror to show us who we are ''

In the movie, the back of the hands of Leonard are tattooed the words,” Remember Sammy Jakis.” Leonard says that he keeps telling the people about Sammy so that they can help him to understand the condition that he is in. He says that the story of Sammy greatly helps him to understand his own condition. Leonard further says in the last lines on the movie that, “We all need a mirror to remind ourselves who we are. '' in this aspect, I think that Memento turns out to be one of the mirrors that can really help us know who we are. This is because the film majorly explores the situation of personal identity problem which most of us suffer from.

The mirror of the society is evident in Leonard’s photographs that suggest that there is a desire for evidence that is objective. The problem of memory loss by Leonard can be interpreted as a sign of modernity and the loss or fading away of traditions in the society. The condition of Leonard is a clear show and warning to us that there is needed to be careful and never to trust what others write for us. In a larger perspective, there should be caution in following people’s advice blindly.

The truth in the film

This fact cannot be under looked as movies do have meanings and apply to the events in our normal lives. In struggling to know who he really is, and in getting various versions of memories, Leonard’s life depicts the situations that we face in our normal lives, situations of not being able to clearly identify our personality and forge a clear course for ourselves.

All through the movie, there is deception and lies from a lot of people. The movie therefore bears some truth of the matter as it presents to us what life is like and what kind of people surround us in normal life.

Analyzing Memento movie

The movie ‘Memento’ creates challenges and puzzles in every aspect. This challenge is exhibited from the movie’s characters, stories to the DVD box set of the movie itself. Watching the movie once only is not enough to unravel the puzzle as it requires revisits in order to understand. The film is not easy to understand and there have been varying conclusions that have been made by different viewers depending on how they have interpreted the movie and on what they have chosen to believe.

The quote “They’re just an interpretation [Memories], they’re not a record, and they’re irrelevant if you have the facts.” as uttered by Leonard in the movie creates a lot of doubts and possibilities. A question must be thrown to any flashback that is referred to in the movie. There is a wonder as to whether the events really happened in the manner in which Leonard is remembering them. One wonders whether it is a reality or Leonard’s own thoughts and perceptions. In many scenes, Leonard recollects various events, each with two different versions and is torn between believing either of them as the real memory. A contention is opened up on whether memories are just interpretation following Leonard’s quote. There is a fall out between the true events between the original and the altered one. This leads to difference in the conclusion that is made depending on the version that is believed.

 “You know, I’ve had more rewarding friendships than this one. Although I do get to keep telling the same jokes.” – Quote by Teddy.

In the movie, all the characters take advantage to lie to Leonard, except one character. The motives of these characters are therefore questioned. For instance, Teddy tricks Leonard constantly for the purposes of his own gains. He lies that he had never met Leonard and that he is a cop and worse still plans to rob Jimmy of the money gotten from drugs by setting up Leonard for the kill. Natalie also used Leonard. After her realization of what Leonard did, she take that advantage to make Leonard take care of the drug partner of Jimmy, Dodd. Jimmy turns out to be the only character in the movie that does not have any motive to lie and does not lie to Leonard. At his death point, Jimmy mumbles something concerning Sammy Jakis to Leonard who then believes that it was not Jimmy that killed his wife. Leonard further remembers his previous meeting with Jimmy and realizes that Teddy is the one who had set him up. At that point, Leonard tends to believe that his wife was killed by Teddy.

 “I was the only guy who disagreed with the cops – and I had brain damage.” – Leonard

Leonard appears to be telling the truth but he actually isn’t. This deception and confusion is further added by the narrator who is not reliable. One wonders why the audience should believe him yet the police never believed him. Further questions emerge at this stage with no answers being given. Many people throughout the movie are taking advantage of Leonard’s condition, including Leonard himself. This ultimately defines the interesting twist at the end of the film. The film eventually ends in surprise because the stories seem to be just beginning at this end. “She’s gone. And the present is trivia, which I scribble down as fucking notes.” – Leonard

The narrative in the movie Memento is a strong one. Despite the fact that there are some explained circumstances in the movie, there is maintenance of a balance that is perfect and enigmatic throughout the movie without contravention. From the analysis of the movie, there can be a lot of theories seeking to unveil the puzzle in the movie but certainly, none can succeed in solving the movies puzzle. The movie’s structure has an ending that is open and creates a platform for all the viewers to have their own interpretation and opinion concerning the movie. This has ensured that the movie is talked about and analyzed ever since it was released.

Read More

Steve Job’s contribution to Music Industry

Steve Job’s background

                    Steve Paul Jobs was born in February 24^th 1995 and was to become one of the entrepreneurs who were considered as achievers in the United States of America. Steve Jobs was the chairman and the co-founder of the Apple Corporation. Jobs came to be respect for his role in the revolution of personal computers. Jobs had a career that was very influential as pertaining to consumer electronics and computer fields. As a co founder, Jobs was instrumental in the advancement and development of Pixar Animation Studios where he later to also serve as the chief executive officer. He later joined the Walt Disney Company and was among the board of directors at the company. Jobs later departed from Apple and founded a company that was concerned with higher education development and the advancement of business markets. This was the NeXT and he formed it on the basis of his computer knowledge.

                     However, Jobs was later to return to the Apple Corporation as an advisor. Later, he was made to be the company’s Chief Executive Officer on an interim basis. In 1998, Jobs was instrumental in the rebirth and the redemption of the Apple from its bankruptcy state to achieving very high profits. Jobs’ leadership saw the development of the iTunes, iMac, iPhone, iPad and the iPod by the company. (Gillam, 2008)

The Apple Corporation and Steve Jobs

                    Steve Jobs was at the helm of management at the Apple Corporation when the corporation registered advancements in music devices technologies. The Apple Inc. is a company that majors on the development and designing of personal computers and computer software. Apple Inc. has a large consumer base due to the fact that it is a multinational company that is based in the United States of America and has its headquarters in California at Cupertino. Apple Corporation is famous for its products such as iPod, iPhone, Mac line computer products, iTune media browsers, and production suites, creativity involving the iLife and the iWork, the development of the iOSoperating system among other technological instruments of music and information technology. According to Gallo (2010), through Job’s leadership, the company has managed to supply its consumers worldwide with electronics and made a major stride when it introduced the iPhone. The company is known to be among the largest revenue generators among the technologically based companies and is ranked third as far as making of mobile phones is concerned. This follows the Samsung and Nokia companies.

Steve Job’s and the Apple’s contribution to Music Industry

                    Steve Jobs was very instrumental in Apple’s contribution to the music world. During Job’s tenure as the CEO of the Apple Corporation, there were a lot of innovations that were done to devices and a lot of inventions that improved the music industry. Apple has remained one of the companies to manage music through devices despite the fact that there are a lot of instability and uncertainties in the industry of music. The company has managed to conquer nearly all the endeavors in music. This has been through the reinventions and redefinitions various aspects of music by Steve Jobs and the Apple Corporation. Steve Jobs was specifically behind the creation of the music services and products. These products have impacts in various areas in the music industry. (Imbimbo, 2009)

Consumption patterns in music

                    The introduction of the iPhone was a great leap and value added to the music industry. This is basically because through the iPhone, there was an exceptional and well defined element for portable technology as far as music is concerned. This was the best out of the competitors’ MP3 players that had earlier been released to the market. The iPod came to change the experience of the listeners’ as far as music is concerned. This is because the listeners could now listen to their songs in their libraries any time they wished to. It also provided for options for personal soundtracks creation. The iPod further offered an option to the users of subsequently shuffling through thousands of songs in the library after the purchase of individual songs. At the click of a button, one can hear any song at the duration one wished and needed not to hear the song fully.

Recording and production tools

                    The Apple Corporation developed software like the Garage Band and the Logic. This software has been instrumental in the creation of a level field. There has been a clearance of the barriers that are experienced in song writing, production and recording. These inventions made music more of an art that interested people could gain experience and perfect in the art of singing and ultimately recording music. Apple changed the relationship between the world and music and the vice versa for a good or bad purpose.

Distribution and retails online

                     This was majorly a course that was achieved through the introduction of the iTunes by Steve Jobs and the Apple Company. The inception of iTunes in 2003 greatly changed music to a profitable venture. This is because single MP3s were sold at $0.99. Through this, Apple established a stable platform of being a music retailer in the United States of America. Through iTunes, online distribution of music has been easy and profitable and has been popular among all the earlier established online music distributors. iTunes has been used to be a model to the rest and has secured major distribution labels in the corporate world among them being Warner music, Sony, EMI and the Universal. iTunes have led to the advancement of music sales digitally.

Reliability in live electronic performance

                    Apple’s introduction of the Macbook and Powerbook computers has increased the reliability of processing live electronic performances. Before these inventions by Apple, there were challenges as far as the processing of live electronics was concerned. Through the introduction of the Macbook and the Powerbook has seen a possibility of processing sample instrumentals and processing of sound effect which has greatly helped the musicians and artists to perform their music in live settings. Musicians like Brooklyn do rely greatly on the Apple to help craft their music. Apple has offered a platform for the production of more refined sound for the musicians. This has greatly improved on the quality of music that is produces by various musicians thus impacting positively on the music industry. (Holmes, 2008)

Conclusion

                    At the Apple and further, Jobs was seen to be more of just being a CEO. He was perceived to be the leader and father of the business of digital music, from the introduction of iTunes, iPhone and the iPod, Jobs made a permanent mark in the music industry and specifically the digital music world that will live to be desired, debated and examined by many people in the ages to come. Jobs stood out to be an indomitable figure in as far as the development of devices and the designing of software was involved at the Apple Corporation. Apart from playing a role in technological based advancement in promoting music, Jobs was also undisputedly the number one fan in not just listening to music, but also in the manner in which that music is supposed to be enjoyed by the listeners and the producers. At 56 years old, Jobs died but left a mark in the Apple Corporation and music industry at large.

References

Anthony Imbimbo (2009). Steve Jobs: The Brilliant Mind Behind Apple. New York: Gareth Stevens.

Carmine Gallo (2010). The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs: Insanely Different Principles for Breakthrough Success. McGraw-Hill Professional.

Scott Gillam (2008). Steve Jobs: Apple & Ipod Wizard. West 78 Street. ABDO Publishing Company

Thom Holmes (2008). Electronic and Experimental Music: Technology, Music, and Culture. Taylor & Francis.

Read More