Teaching Case
J-TRADING: full circle outsourcing
Valerie Jaiswal1, Natalia Levina2
1Regeneron Pharmaceutical, Tarrytown, NY, USA;
2Stern School of Business, New York University, New York, USA
Correspondence:
N Levina, Stern School of Business, IOMS Department, New York University, 44 West 4th Street, KMEC 8-78, NY 10012,
New York, USA.
Tel: þ 1-212-998-0850 ;
Fax: þ 1-212-995-4228
Abstract
J-TRADING is a US-based arm of a Japanese keiretsu that is focused on commodity
trading between the East and North America counting about 350 employees in the US. It
has experienced problems with its information technology (IT) infrastructure and help-desk
functions. IT employees were not motivated to work on these rather mundane tasks
leading to quality and cost issues. J-TRADING CIO decided to solve the problem by
outsourcing both functions. The case relays J-TRADING’s outsourcing journey through its
ups and downs discussing the process of vendor evaluation and selection, task transition,
relationship management, and business outcomes. The case provides full financial details
necessary for financial analysis and asks students to evaluate the sourcing decision itself
as well as vendor selection and governance processes. It also asks students to elaborate
on alternative sourcing approaches such as offshoring and cloud-based solutions.
Journal of Information Technology Teaching Cases (2012) 2, 61–70. doi:10.1057/jittc.2012.11;
published online 13 November 2012
Keywords: cost benefit analysis; Data center; Help desk; outsourcing; vendor selection
Part A
J
ohn Smith, Director of Information Technology (IT),
looked out of the window of his corner office on the 43rd
floor of the New York City high rise. It was 8:30 PM and
most people on Madison Avenue were just tourists strolling
and gazing at the store window displays. He had to have his
presentation for the Japanese Management ready by 9:00 AM
tomorrow and he was still struggling with answers to the
numerous questions that were running through his mind.
A year ago he had presented to the same management
group the benefits of outsourcing. He had been very excited
about his new strategic direction for the IT department. There
had been unanimous approval for his proposed plan. After
that it had been a tumultuous year of highs and lows. Now he
had to justify his new proposal, especially those parts that
were the complete opposite from his prior proposed plan.
JICO – a keiretsu
Zaibatsus were large capitalist enterprises of Japan devel-
oped between Meiji Restoration (1868) and World War II,
similar to cartels or trusts but usually organized around a
single family. They operated companies in all-important
areas of economic and industrial activity and owned banks
for mobilizing capital. The war in the Pacific ended on
2nd September 1945, with the signing of the peace treaty
on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The American
occupation of Japan lasted until 1952. During this occupa-
tion, the Anti-monopol.
INT 220 Business Brief Template Course Project.docxpauline234567
INT 220 Business Brief Template
Course Project
Section One: Drivers for Global Entry
Going global would afford the company many benefits including increased sales and revenues. Japan is a developed market and thus the purchasing power of the consumers is high, which implies that many consumers will be able to purchase our products. Expanding to Japan will enable increased profits that can be reinvested in research and development of new technology and innovation that will create a competitive advantage for both domestic and international market. In addition, entering the foreign market will help the business to tap into new market segment. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple was the largest smartphone brand in 2020 in Japan with a 47.3 percent market share (Sudarshan, 2021). The data shows that Japan would be an ideal market for quality phone cell cases due to high purchase of smartphones. Therefore, the company will benefit from increased sales and profits.
Section Two: Market Profile
Cultural Profile
CategoryUnited StatesJapan
Commonly Spoken Languages
English
Japanese
Commonly Practiced Religions
Christianity
Shinto
Power Distance Index (PDI)
40
54
Individualism Versus Collectivism (IDV)
91
46
Masculinity Versus Femininity (MAS)
95
62
Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)
92
46
Long-Term Orientation Versus Short-Term Normative Orientation (LTO)
88
26
Indulgence Versus Restraint (IVR)
42
68
Political and Economic Profile
CategoryUnited StatesJapan
Political System
Representative democracy
Constitutional monarchy
Current Leaders
Joseph Biden president
Fumio Kishida prime minister
Economic Classification
Developed
Developed
Economic Blocs Impacting Trade
World trade organization
World trade organization
Gross Domestic Product
23 trillion USD
4.9 trillion USD
Purchasing Power Parity
22,996.08
100.412
Gross Domestic Product Per Capita
69,287.54 USD
39,285.16 USD
Human Development Index
Very high 0.921
0.919
Human Poverty Index
$26,246 for a family of four
Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day
In terms of economic development, both countries have developed economy, thus making them ideal for business. Consumers have high purchasing power which means that they are able to purchase new products. US has a higher GPD compared to Japan, however, this can be attributed to the size and population of U.S. compared to that of Japan. Furthermore, both countries are members of World Trade Organization, which means that their trade operations with other nations are regulated and subject to WTO regulations. The culture in Japan is hugely different then the culture in America. Americans are self-motivated while the Japanese culture embraces more of a group mentality and looks for approval from their superiors before making big decision. Both cultures work long hours and take very little breaks. For the most part Japanese culture is more formal in the work place then in the U.S.
Section Three: Market Consideratio.
1 P a g e Channel Stuffing Reinvented The inside st.docxhoney725342
1) Toshiba was accused of overstating operating profits by 151.8 billion yen between 2008-2014, with 39% of the overstatement coming from its personal computers division.
2) Toshiba is a large Japanese conglomerate that was struggling with declining PC sales and profits between 2008-2013 due to falling prices and increased competition from tablets and smartphones.
3) An internal investigation uncovered widespread accounting improprieties, including overstating profits, in Toshiba's PC business during this period to meet internal targets and conceal the unit's poor financial performance.
The document is a 2012 white paper from the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications that discusses information and communications trends in Japan. It finds that:
1) While ICT has contributed significantly to economic growth globally and in Japan, Japan's ICT industries and user adoption is lagging compared to other developed countries.
2) The proliferation of smartphones and ubiquitous networks is driving a "Smart Revolution" that is transforming ICT industries and society. However, Japan has been slow to capitalize on these trends globally.
3) Lessons from the 2011 earthquake showed the important role ICT can play in disaster response, but more remains to be done to promote ICT adoption in Japan, especially in the public sector
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1) According to a study, German companies find it easier to be profitable in Japan than generally expected, with good growth opportunities in traditional engineering industries like machinery where "Made in Germany" has an extraordinary good image in Japan.
2) Imports of machinery and equipment to Japan have been increasing in recent years, with imports from Germany rising 16% in 2004.
3) The document provides an overview of the Japanese machinery and tools market, including market size, standards, categories of machine tools, historical trade data, and an outlook for future growth opportunities.
Learn the tools and methodologies Fidelity uses in assessing a company's quality. Using a number of stock story examples, you will learn how to identify whether a company’s management is unique and whether it is well positioned to benefit from future trends.
This document provides an overview of doing business in Japan. It discusses Japan's country profile, political and legal system, economic environment, and key factors for success. The document is a lecture presentation on international business in Japan, containing an introduction, 10 sections on various topics, and references. It aims to educate students on business challenges and strategies for the Japanese market.
INT 220 Business Brief Template Course Project.docxpauline234567
INT 220 Business Brief Template
Course Project
Section One: Drivers for Global Entry
Going global would afford the company many benefits including increased sales and revenues. Japan is a developed market and thus the purchasing power of the consumers is high, which implies that many consumers will be able to purchase our products. Expanding to Japan will enable increased profits that can be reinvested in research and development of new technology and innovation that will create a competitive advantage for both domestic and international market. In addition, entering the foreign market will help the business to tap into new market segment. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple was the largest smartphone brand in 2020 in Japan with a 47.3 percent market share (Sudarshan, 2021). The data shows that Japan would be an ideal market for quality phone cell cases due to high purchase of smartphones. Therefore, the company will benefit from increased sales and profits.
Section Two: Market Profile
Cultural Profile
CategoryUnited StatesJapan
Commonly Spoken Languages
English
Japanese
Commonly Practiced Religions
Christianity
Shinto
Power Distance Index (PDI)
40
54
Individualism Versus Collectivism (IDV)
91
46
Masculinity Versus Femininity (MAS)
95
62
Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)
92
46
Long-Term Orientation Versus Short-Term Normative Orientation (LTO)
88
26
Indulgence Versus Restraint (IVR)
42
68
Political and Economic Profile
CategoryUnited StatesJapan
Political System
Representative democracy
Constitutional monarchy
Current Leaders
Joseph Biden president
Fumio Kishida prime minister
Economic Classification
Developed
Developed
Economic Blocs Impacting Trade
World trade organization
World trade organization
Gross Domestic Product
23 trillion USD
4.9 trillion USD
Purchasing Power Parity
22,996.08
100.412
Gross Domestic Product Per Capita
69,287.54 USD
39,285.16 USD
Human Development Index
Very high 0.921
0.919
Human Poverty Index
$26,246 for a family of four
Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day
In terms of economic development, both countries have developed economy, thus making them ideal for business. Consumers have high purchasing power which means that they are able to purchase new products. US has a higher GPD compared to Japan, however, this can be attributed to the size and population of U.S. compared to that of Japan. Furthermore, both countries are members of World Trade Organization, which means that their trade operations with other nations are regulated and subject to WTO regulations. The culture in Japan is hugely different then the culture in America. Americans are self-motivated while the Japanese culture embraces more of a group mentality and looks for approval from their superiors before making big decision. Both cultures work long hours and take very little breaks. For the most part Japanese culture is more formal in the work place then in the U.S.
Section Three: Market Consideratio.
1 P a g e Channel Stuffing Reinvented The inside st.docxhoney725342
1) Toshiba was accused of overstating operating profits by 151.8 billion yen between 2008-2014, with 39% of the overstatement coming from its personal computers division.
2) Toshiba is a large Japanese conglomerate that was struggling with declining PC sales and profits between 2008-2013 due to falling prices and increased competition from tablets and smartphones.
3) An internal investigation uncovered widespread accounting improprieties, including overstating profits, in Toshiba's PC business during this period to meet internal targets and conceal the unit's poor financial performance.
The document is a 2012 white paper from the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications that discusses information and communications trends in Japan. It finds that:
1) While ICT has contributed significantly to economic growth globally and in Japan, Japan's ICT industries and user adoption is lagging compared to other developed countries.
2) The proliferation of smartphones and ubiquitous networks is driving a "Smart Revolution" that is transforming ICT industries and society. However, Japan has been slow to capitalize on these trends globally.
3) Lessons from the 2011 earthquake showed the important role ICT can play in disaster response, but more remains to be done to promote ICT adoption in Japan, especially in the public sector
Dr Dev Kambhampati | Doing Business in Indonesia- 2013 Country Commercial Gui...Dr Dev Kambhampati
This document provides an overview of doing business in Indonesia, including key market challenges and opportunities. It describes Indonesia's large and growing economy and consumer market, but also identifies infrastructure, regulatory, and corruption challenges. The document outlines several promising sectors for American exports and investment, such as aviation, banking, defense, energy, and telecommunications. It recommends visiting Indonesia in person and partnering with local agents to navigate the market successfully.
1) According to a study, German companies find it easier to be profitable in Japan than generally expected, with good growth opportunities in traditional engineering industries like machinery where "Made in Germany" has an extraordinary good image in Japan.
2) Imports of machinery and equipment to Japan have been increasing in recent years, with imports from Germany rising 16% in 2004.
3) The document provides an overview of the Japanese machinery and tools market, including market size, standards, categories of machine tools, historical trade data, and an outlook for future growth opportunities.
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This document provides an overview of doing business in Japan. It discusses Japan's country profile, political and legal system, economic environment, and key factors for success. The document is a lecture presentation on international business in Japan, containing an introduction, 10 sections on various topics, and references. It aims to educate students on business challenges and strategies for the Japanese market.
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Toyota Motor Company is a Japanese multinational automaker and the world's second largest automaker. The student's project analyzed Toyota, focusing on its financials, comparison of political/legal systems between Japan and US, and how culture influences Toyota's operations in different countries. Key lessons learned included expanding knowledge of global business and witnessing how globalization has increased international connectedness.
Japanese investment in the United States is on the rise again, with Japan becoming the largest source of foreign direct investment in 2013 since 1992. Japanese firms contribute significantly to the US economy through high value added, sales, wages and benefits, and research and development spending. While automotive firms are prominent, Japanese firms invest across various industries and regions and have strong supply chain linkages in the US, paying US workers higher wages than domestic or other foreign firms. Their increasing R&D intensity also benefits innovation in the US.
The document discusses the final expenditure approach used to measure gross national product (GNP). It outlines the main components of final expenditure: 1) government expenditure, 2) personal expenditure, 3) business expenditure, 4) net exports, 5) net factor income from abroad, and 6) statistical discrepancy. For each component, it provides a brief definition and examples of what is included in the expenditure calculations. The document concludes that adding up all expenditures provides the total GNP value.
This document contains an exam paper on international business management. It has 3 sections - Section A contains objective type questions, Section B contains case studies, and Section C contains applied theory questions. Section A has 2 parts - multiple choice questions and short answer questions. Section B contains 2 case studies on the EU's competitiveness and the country of Peru. Section C asks students to imagine they are the director of an international lending institution and analyze different export financing instruments. The exam tests students' knowledge of key concepts in international business and their ability to apply theories to real world case studies and scenarios.
The document provides an overview of international business, including:
1. It defines international business as commercial transactions between two countries and explains why companies engage in international business, such as expanding sales, acquiring resources, diversifying sources of sales and supplies, and minimizing competitive risk.
2. Recent growth in international business is due to expansion of technology, liberalization of cross-border movements, development of supporting services, and increased global competition.
3. The main modes of international business are merchandise exports and imports, service exports and imports, and foreign direct investment, which occurs when an investor gains a controlling interest in a foreign company.
The document summarizes MDT's expansion into the Japanese market over a 3 month period. It begins by providing background on MDT and describing key details about Japan's economy. It then outlines MDT's strategy in the 3 months before market entry, including understanding Japanese industries and culture. In the 3 months after entry, MDT established partnerships with Japanese technology and manufacturing companies. It introduced several RFID and wireless products into the Japanese market and held collaboration events. MDT now has offices and production facilities in key Japanese cities to better serve the market.
The document discusses political, economic, social, and technological factors (PEST analysis) that influence the laptop and PC industry globally and in countries like India. Politically, changes in government policies in developing countries can impact market growth rates. Economically, the global economy and currency exchange rates affect manufacturers. Socially, education, income levels, and culture influence demand patterns. Technologically, advances like increased processing power and reduced costs have driven market changes.
The dot-com bubble occurred from 1999 to 2000 as stock prices for many new internet companies rose dramatically before collapsing in 2001. Venture capital flooded into internet startups during this period, fueling abnormal stock price increases. When the bubble burst in 2001, many internet companies went bankrupt and unemployment in the IT sector rose sharply. The collapse exacerbated an economic recession in both the US and Japan. While some internet companies like Amazon and eBay survived, the bubble and its bursting had widespread negative economic impacts.
Doing business in Japan requires understanding their unique culture, which emphasizes group harmony and developing trust through relationships. Their economy is strong with high spending. Technology and infrastructure are advanced. Successful business practices include building references and contacts, flexible contracts, high quality commitments, rigorous testing and reviews, and eliminating communication gaps. Nucleus Software is an Indian technology company providing banking software since 1986 with over 1600 employees and $50 million in revenue.
This document is an examination paper for a course in International Business Management. It consists of 3 sections - Section A has objective type multiple choice and short answer questions worth 30 marks. Section B contains 2 case studies worth 40 marks total. Section C has long answer questions worth 30 marks. The paper tests students' understanding of concepts related to international business, economics, trade, and finance.
E:\Notes Of M Com 2\Converted Pdf Notes\International Businessguesta42743
This document provides an overview of international business. It defines international business as commercial transactions between two countries. It discusses why companies engage in international business, including expanding sales, acquiring resources, diversifying sources of sales/supplies, and minimizing competitive risk. Recent growth in international business is due to expansion of technology, liberalization of trade barriers, development of supporting services, and increased global competition. There are various modes of international business, including merchandise exports/imports, service exports/imports, foreign direct investment, and portfolio investment.
Japan's startup ecosystem has grown remarkably over the past decade, characterized by increased funding and exits. Total funds raised by VCs in Japan have increased 10-fold since 2013 to a record high of over 600 billion yen in 2022. The number of unicorns has grown to 78 and startup funding has increased 10-fold to over 877 billion yen in 2022. Corporations are increasingly collaborating with startups through CVCs and business partnerships. The government aims to further accelerate growth through its new 5-year startup plan, with goals of increasing total startup funding to over 10 trillion yen and producing 100 unicorns.
Japan's startup ecosystem has grown remarkably over the past decade, characterized by increased funding and exits. Total funds raised by VCs in Japan have increased 10-fold since 2013 to over 600 billion yen in 2022. Japanese VCs have also outperformed their counterparts in North America and Europe in returns. The number of startups and funding have also increased substantially. Additionally, corporations are increasingly collaborating with startups through CVCs and partnerships, while government policies like the TSE Growth Market and new startup development plan aim to further accelerate the ecosystem. This growth has been supported by rising entrepreneurial talent and Japan's world-leading scientific capabilities.
Discourse on the development, management and coordination of a combination of complex global and local factors work together to ensure a fast growing yet sustainable high technology sector, while moving the Malaysian industry up the outsourcing value chain.
Market makers, industry players and outsourcing professionals will obtain useful insights into long-term strategic technology and economic planning as well as tactical measures used for growth, competitiveness and innovation.
Key stakeholders can take advantage of this knowledge and create a win-win situation
The document summarizes the priorities that guide the strategic focus of ITAC (Information Technology Association of Canada). The six priorities are:
1. Competitiveness - Improving the global competitiveness of Canada's ICT industry and economy.
2. ICT Adoption - Accelerating adoption of ICT tools across all economic sectors.
3. Public Sector Procurement - Ensuring a fair public sector procurement process.
4. eHealth - Improving Canada's healthcare system through increased use of eHealth solutions.
5. Smart Regulation - Ensuring a sound regulatory environment for growth of knowledge-based businesses.
6. Talent - Improving the supply of highly
The document discusses the impact of the global economic slowdown on the Indian IT industry. It notes that the economic slowdown originated in the US but has spread to major economies worldwide. As the Indian IT sector derives much of its revenue from clients in the US and Europe, it is being negatively impacted by declining demand in those markets. However, the impact has varied between indigenous Indian IT companies and foreign companies' captive units in India. Overall, the outlook is uncertain but growth in the Indian IT sector is expected to slow substantially.
- Equifax reported revenue of $452.9 million for Q1 2009, a 10% decrease from Q1 2008. Net income was $54.4 million, down from $65.7 million in the prior year.
- Revenue grew 1% compared to Q4 2008, led by strong growth at TALX. Equifax also took steps to reduce operating expenses and recorded an $8.4 million restructuring charge.
- For Q2 2009, Equifax expects consolidated revenue to be comparable to up slightly from Q1 2009. Adjusted EPS is expected to be between $0.55 and $0.60.
Hitachi conducted market research on itself to understand its strengths, weaknesses, and market opportunities. It analyzed its business segments, strategic goals, SWOT profile, market share, and stock performance. Hitachi has a diversified portfolio across industries like IT, power systems, construction machinery. The research found Hitachi's long-standing brand name and focus on R&D as strengths, while opportunities exist in expanding its product range and global markets.
Assignment 1 Dealing with Diversity in America from Reconstructi.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1: Dealing with Diversity in America from Reconstruction through the 1920s
For History 105: Dr. Stansbury’s classes (6 pages here)
Due Week 3 and worth 120 points. The formal deadline is Monday at 9am Eastern time, Jan. 21. But, due to the King holiday, no late penalty will be imposed if submitted by the end of Jan. 22.
[NOTE ON ECREE: The university is adopting a tool, called ecree for doing writing assignments in many classes. We will be using the ecree program for doing our papers in this class. More instructions on this tool will be posted. You are welcome to type your paper in MS-Word as traditionally done—and then to upload that file to ecree to revise and finish it up. Or, as we suggest, you may type your paper directly into ecree. When using ecree, you should use CHROME as your browser. As posted: “Please note that ecree works best in Firefox and Chrome. Please do not use Internet Explorer or mobile devices when using ecree.”]
BACKGROUND FOR THE PAPER: After the Civil War, the United States had to recover from war, handle western expansion, and grapple with very new economic forms. However, its greatest issues would revolve around the legacies of slavery and increasing diversity in the decades after the Civil War. In the South, former slaves now had freedom and new opportunities but, despite the Reconstruction period, faced old prejudices and rapidly forming new barriers. Immigrants from Europe and Asia came in large numbers but then faced political and social restrictions. Women continued to seek rights. Yet, on the whole, America became increasingly diverse by the 1920s. Consider developments, policies, and laws in that period from 1865 to the 1920s. Examine the statement below and drawing from provided sources, present a paper with specific examples and arguments to demonstrate the validity of your position.
Topic and Thesis Statement—in which you can take a pro or con position:
· Political policies and movements in the period from 1865 to the 1920s generally promoted diversity and “the melting pot” despite the strong prejudices of a few. (or you can take the position that they did not). Use specific examples of policies or movements from different decades to support your position.
After giving general consideration to your readings so far and any general research, select one of the positions above as your position—your thesis. (Sometimes after doing more thorough research, you might choose the reverse position. This happens with critical thinking and inquiry. Your final paper might end up taking a different position than you originally envisioned.) Organize your paper as follows with the four parts below (see TIPS sheet and TEMPLATE also), handling these issues:
1. The position you choose —or something close to it—will be the thesis statement in your opening paragraph. [usually this is one paragraph with thesis statement being the last sentence of the paragraph.]
2. To support your position, use thre.
Assignment 1 Why are the originalraw data not readily us.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
:
Why are the original/raw data not readily usable by analytics tasks? What are the main data preprocessing steps? List and explain their importance in analytics.
Refer to Chapter 3 in the attached textbook:
Sharda, R., Delen, D., Turban, E. (2020). Analytics, Data Science, & Artificial Intelligence: Systems for Decision Support 11E.
ISBN: 978-0-13-519201-6.
Discuss the process that generates the power of AI and discuss the differences between machine learning and deep learning.
Requirement:
****Separate document for each assignment.****
Minimum 300-350 words. Cover sheet, abstract, graphs, and references does not count.
Add references separately for each assignment question.
Double Spaced and APA 7th Edition Format
No plagiarized content please! Attach a plagiarized report.
Check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
$5 max. Please bid if you agree.
Assignment 2
:
What are the privacy issues with data mining? Do you think they are substantiated?
Refer to Chapter 4
in the attached textbook:
Sharda, R., Delen, D., Turban, E. (2020). Analytics, Data Science, & Artificial Intelligence: Systems for Decision Support 11E.
ISBN: 978-0-13-519201-6.
Requirement:
****Separate document for each assignment.****
Minimum 300-350 words. Cover sheet, abstract, graphs, and references does not count.
Add references separately for each assignment question.
Double Spaced and APA 7th Edition Format
No plagiarized content please! Attach a plagiarized report.
Check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
$5 max. Please bid if you agree.
.
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Market makers, industry players and outsourcing professionals will obtain useful insights into long-term strategic technology and economic planning as well as tactical measures used for growth, competitiveness and innovation.
Key stakeholders can take advantage of this knowledge and create a win-win situation
The document summarizes the priorities that guide the strategic focus of ITAC (Information Technology Association of Canada). The six priorities are:
1. Competitiveness - Improving the global competitiveness of Canada's ICT industry and economy.
2. ICT Adoption - Accelerating adoption of ICT tools across all economic sectors.
3. Public Sector Procurement - Ensuring a fair public sector procurement process.
4. eHealth - Improving Canada's healthcare system through increased use of eHealth solutions.
5. Smart Regulation - Ensuring a sound regulatory environment for growth of knowledge-based businesses.
6. Talent - Improving the supply of highly
The document discusses the impact of the global economic slowdown on the Indian IT industry. It notes that the economic slowdown originated in the US but has spread to major economies worldwide. As the Indian IT sector derives much of its revenue from clients in the US and Europe, it is being negatively impacted by declining demand in those markets. However, the impact has varied between indigenous Indian IT companies and foreign companies' captive units in India. Overall, the outlook is uncertain but growth in the Indian IT sector is expected to slow substantially.
- Equifax reported revenue of $452.9 million for Q1 2009, a 10% decrease from Q1 2008. Net income was $54.4 million, down from $65.7 million in the prior year.
- Revenue grew 1% compared to Q4 2008, led by strong growth at TALX. Equifax also took steps to reduce operating expenses and recorded an $8.4 million restructuring charge.
- For Q2 2009, Equifax expects consolidated revenue to be comparable to up slightly from Q1 2009. Adjusted EPS is expected to be between $0.55 and $0.60.
Hitachi conducted market research on itself to understand its strengths, weaknesses, and market opportunities. It analyzed its business segments, strategic goals, SWOT profile, market share, and stock performance. Hitachi has a diversified portfolio across industries like IT, power systems, construction machinery. The research found Hitachi's long-standing brand name and focus on R&D as strengths, while opportunities exist in expanding its product range and global markets.
Assignment 1 Dealing with Diversity in America from Reconstructi.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1: Dealing with Diversity in America from Reconstruction through the 1920s
For History 105: Dr. Stansbury’s classes (6 pages here)
Due Week 3 and worth 120 points. The formal deadline is Monday at 9am Eastern time, Jan. 21. But, due to the King holiday, no late penalty will be imposed if submitted by the end of Jan. 22.
[NOTE ON ECREE: The university is adopting a tool, called ecree for doing writing assignments in many classes. We will be using the ecree program for doing our papers in this class. More instructions on this tool will be posted. You are welcome to type your paper in MS-Word as traditionally done—and then to upload that file to ecree to revise and finish it up. Or, as we suggest, you may type your paper directly into ecree. When using ecree, you should use CHROME as your browser. As posted: “Please note that ecree works best in Firefox and Chrome. Please do not use Internet Explorer or mobile devices when using ecree.”]
BACKGROUND FOR THE PAPER: After the Civil War, the United States had to recover from war, handle western expansion, and grapple with very new economic forms. However, its greatest issues would revolve around the legacies of slavery and increasing diversity in the decades after the Civil War. In the South, former slaves now had freedom and new opportunities but, despite the Reconstruction period, faced old prejudices and rapidly forming new barriers. Immigrants from Europe and Asia came in large numbers but then faced political and social restrictions. Women continued to seek rights. Yet, on the whole, America became increasingly diverse by the 1920s. Consider developments, policies, and laws in that period from 1865 to the 1920s. Examine the statement below and drawing from provided sources, present a paper with specific examples and arguments to demonstrate the validity of your position.
Topic and Thesis Statement—in which you can take a pro or con position:
· Political policies and movements in the period from 1865 to the 1920s generally promoted diversity and “the melting pot” despite the strong prejudices of a few. (or you can take the position that they did not). Use specific examples of policies or movements from different decades to support your position.
After giving general consideration to your readings so far and any general research, select one of the positions above as your position—your thesis. (Sometimes after doing more thorough research, you might choose the reverse position. This happens with critical thinking and inquiry. Your final paper might end up taking a different position than you originally envisioned.) Organize your paper as follows with the four parts below (see TIPS sheet and TEMPLATE also), handling these issues:
1. The position you choose —or something close to it—will be the thesis statement in your opening paragraph. [usually this is one paragraph with thesis statement being the last sentence of the paragraph.]
2. To support your position, use thre.
Assignment 1 Why are the originalraw data not readily us.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
:
Why are the original/raw data not readily usable by analytics tasks? What are the main data preprocessing steps? List and explain their importance in analytics.
Refer to Chapter 3 in the attached textbook:
Sharda, R., Delen, D., Turban, E. (2020). Analytics, Data Science, & Artificial Intelligence: Systems for Decision Support 11E.
ISBN: 978-0-13-519201-6.
Discuss the process that generates the power of AI and discuss the differences between machine learning and deep learning.
Requirement:
****Separate document for each assignment.****
Minimum 300-350 words. Cover sheet, abstract, graphs, and references does not count.
Add references separately for each assignment question.
Double Spaced and APA 7th Edition Format
No plagiarized content please! Attach a plagiarized report.
Check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
$5 max. Please bid if you agree.
Assignment 2
:
What are the privacy issues with data mining? Do you think they are substantiated?
Refer to Chapter 4
in the attached textbook:
Sharda, R., Delen, D., Turban, E. (2020). Analytics, Data Science, & Artificial Intelligence: Systems for Decision Support 11E.
ISBN: 978-0-13-519201-6.
Requirement:
****Separate document for each assignment.****
Minimum 300-350 words. Cover sheet, abstract, graphs, and references does not count.
Add references separately for each assignment question.
Double Spaced and APA 7th Edition Format
No plagiarized content please! Attach a plagiarized report.
Check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
$5 max. Please bid if you agree.
.
Assignment 1 Refer to the attached document and complete the .docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
:
Refer to the attached document and complete the following sections from the document (highlighted in yellow):
Policy 1.1
Policy Statement Section Overview
Policy 1.2
Policy Statements Contents
Requirement:
·
****Separate word document for each assignment****
· Minimum 300-350 words. Cover sheets, abstracts, graphs, and references do not count.
·
Add references separately for each assignment question.
·
Strictly follow APA style. Length – 2 to 3 paragraphs.
·
Sources: 2 References to Support your answer
· No plagiarized content please! Attach a plagiarized report.
· Check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
· $5 max. Please bid if you agree.
.
Assignment 1
:
Remote Access Method Evaluation
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Ø
Explore and assess different remote access solutions.
Assignment Requirements
Discuss which of the two remote access solutions
, virtual private networks (VPNs) or hypertext transport protocol secure (HTTPS),
you will rate as the best.
You need to make a choice between the two remote access solutions based on the following features:
Ø Identification, authentication, and authorization
Ø Cost, scalability, reliability, and interoperability
Requirement:
·
****Separate word document for each assignment****
· Minimum 300-350 words. Cover sheet, abstract, graphs, and references do not count.
·
Add reference separately for each assignment question.
·
Strictly follow APA style. Length – 2 to 3 paragraphs.
·
Sources: 2 References to Support your answer
· No plagiarized content please! Attach a plagiarized report.
· Check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
· $5 max. Please bid if you agree.
Assignment 2
:
Discuss techniques for combining multiple anomaly detection techniques to improve the identification of anomalous objects. Consider both supervised and unsupervised cases.
Requirement:
·
****Separate word document for each assignment****
· Minimum 300-350 words. Cover sheet, abstract, graphs, and references do not count.
·
Add reference separately for each assignment question.
·
Strictly follow APA style. Length – 2 to 3 paragraphs.
·
Sources: 2 References to Support your answer
· No plagiarized content please! Attach a plagiarized report.
· Check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
· $5 max. Please bid if you agree.
Assignment 3
:
Refer to the attached “Term Paper for ITS632(1)” for assignment.
Requirements
:
·
****Separate word document for each assignment****
· Minimum 6 pages. Cover sheet, abstract, graphs, and references do not count.
·
Add reference separately for each assignment question.
·
Strictly follow APA style.
·
Sources: 3-5 References
· No plagiarized content please! Attach a plagiarized report.
· Check for spelling and grammar mistakes!
· $30 max. Please bid if you agree.
.
Assignment 1 Inmates Rights and Special CircumstancesCriteria.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1: Inmates Rights and Special Circumstances
Criteria
Unacceptable
Below 60% F
Meets Minimum Expectations
60-69% D
Fair
70-79% C
Proficient
80-89% B
Exemplary
90-100% A
1. Analyze the legal mechanisms in which an inmate can challenge his or her confinement. Support or refute the cost of such challenges to the state and / or federal government. Provide a rationale for your response.
Weight: 30%
Did not submit or incompletely analyzed the legal mechanisms in which an inmate can challenge his or her confinement. Did not submit or incompletely supported or refuted the cost of such challenges to the state and / or federal government. Did not submit or incompletely provided a rationale for your response.
Insufficiently analyzed the legal mechanisms in which an inmate can challenge his or her confinement. Insufficiently supported or refuted the cost of such challenges to the state and / or federal government. Insufficiently provided a rationale for your response.
Partially analyzed the legal mechanisms in which an inmate can challenge his or her confinement. Partially supported or refuted the cost of such challenges to the state and / or federal government. Partially provided a rationale for your response.
Satisfactorily analyzed the legal mechanisms in which an inmate can challenge his or her confinement. Satisfactorily supported or refuted the cost of such challenges to the state and / or federal government. Satisfactorily provided a rationale for your response.
Thoroughly analyzed the legal mechanisms in which an inmate can challenge his or her confinement. Thoroughly supported or refuted the cost of such challenges to the state and / or federal government. Thoroughly provided a rationale for your response.
2. Examine the four (4) management issues that arise as a result of inmates with special needs. Prepare one (1) recommendation for each management issue that effectively neutralizes each concern. Provide a rationale for your response.
Weight: 30%
Did not submit or incompletely examined the four (4) management issues that arise as a result of inmates with special needs. Did not submit or incompletely prepared one (1) recommendation for each management issue that effectively neutralizes each concern. Did not submit or incompletely provided a rationale for your response.
Insufficiently examined the four (4) management issues that arise as a result of inmates with special needs. Insufficiently prepared one (1) recommendation for each management issue that effectively neutralizes each concern. Â Insufficiently provided a rationale for your response.
Partially examined the four (4) management issues that arise as a result of inmates with special needs. Partially prepared one (1) recommendation for each management issue that effectively neutralizes each concern. Partially provided a rationale for your response.
Satisfactorily examined the four (4) management issues that arise as a result of inmates with special needs. Satisfactorily prepare.
Assignment 1 Go back through the business press (Fortune, The Ec.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
Go back through the business press (Fortune, The Economist, BusinessWeek, and so forth and any other LIRN- based articles) and find at least three articles related to either downsizing, implementation of a new technology, or a merger or acquisition. In a minimum of four (4) pages in 7th edition APA formatted paper:
What were the key frontline experiences listed in relation to your chosen change?
How do they relate to those listed in Chapter 4?
Did you identify new ones confronting change managers?
How would you prioritize these experiences?
Do any stand out as “deal breakers”? Why?
What new insights into implementing this type of change emerge from this?
Assignment 2
PA2 requires you to identify a current change in an organization with which you are familiar and evaluate a current public issue about which “something must be done.” In relation to the change issue, think about what sense-making changes might need to be enacted and how you would go about doing this. Assess this in terms of the eight (8) elements of the sense-making framework suggested by Helms Mills and as set out in Table 9.7:
Identity construction
Social sense-making
Extracted cues
Ongoing sense-making
Retrospection
Plausibility
Enactment
Projection
Which ones did you believe you might have the most/least control over and why?
What implications does this have for adopting a sense-making approach to organizational change?
minimum of
four (4) pages document for each assignment
.
Assignment 1 Discussion—Environmental FactorsIn this assignment, .docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1: Discussion—Environmental Factors
In this assignment, you will have a chance to discuss a topic that brings personality theory together with social psychology. Dealing with unhealthy groups like gangs or cults is an important issue in social psychology. However, you cannot fully address this issue if you do not first understand personality development and how one’s personality affects the choices that are made. Specifically, you will look at Skinner’s behavioral perspective on personality development and discuss how that theory can play a role in this issue of unhealthy groups.
Bob is an adolescent who grew up in a gang-infested part of a large city. His parents provided little supervision while he was growing up and left Bob mostly on his own. He developed friendships with several kids in his neighborhood who were involved in gangs, and eventually joined a gang himself. Now crime and gang activities are a way of life for Bob. These have become his way to identify with his peer group and to support himself.
It is relatively easy to see that Bob’s environment has played a large role in his current lifestyle. This coincides with Skinner’s concept of environment being the sole determinant of how personality develops. Skinner believed that if you change someone’s environment and the reinforcements in that environment, you can change their behavior.
Use the Internet, Argosy University library resources, and your textbook to research Skinner’s concept of the environment and answer the following questions:
If you were to create an environment for Bob to change his behavior from that of a gang member to a respectable and law-abiding citizen, what types of environmental changes and positive reinforcements would you suggest and why?
What are some interventions that are used in the field currently? Are there any evidence-based programs that use these environmental and reinforcement interventions?
Write your initial response in 2–3 paragraphs. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.
By
Saturday, March 1, 2014
, post your response to the appropriate
Discussion Area
. Through
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses.
.
Assignment 1 1. Using a Microsoft Word document, please post one.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
1. Using a Microsoft Word document, please post one federal and one state statute utilizing standard legal notation and a hyperlink to each statute.
2. In the same document, please post one federal and one state case using standard legal notation and a hyperlink to each case.
Assignment 2
A. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and even Tiktok have become very powerful and influential. Please give your thoughts on whether governments should regulate the content of content on these media. Minimum 250 words.
B. Respond to two classmates' postings. Minimum 100 words per posting.
.
Assignment 1 Dealing with Diversity in America from Reconstructi.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1:
Dealing with Diversity in America from Reconstruction through the 1920s
Due Week 3 and worth 120 points
After the Civil War, the United States had to recover from war, handle western expansion, and grapple with very new economic forms. However, its greatest issues would revolve around the legacies of slavery and increasing diversity in the decades after the Civil War. In the South, former slaves now had freedom and new opportunities but, despite the Reconstruction period, faced old prejudices and rapidly forming new barriers. Immigrants from Europe and Asia came in large numbers but then faced political and social restrictions. Women continued to seek rights. Yet, on the whole, America became increasingly diverse by the 1920s. Consider developments, policies, and laws in that period from 1865 to the 1920s. Examine the statement below and drawing from provided sources, present a paper with specific examples and arguments to demonstrate the validity of your position.
Statement—in which you can take a pro or con position:
Political policies and movements in the period from 1865 to the 1920s generally promoted diversity and “the melting pot” despite the strong prejudices of a few. (or you can take the position that they did not). Use specific examples of policies or movements from different decades to support your position.
After giving general consideration to your readings so far and any general research, select one of the positions above as your position—your thesis. (Sometimes after doing more thorough research, you might choose the reverse position. This happens with critical thinking and inquiry. Your final paper might end up taking a different position than you originally envisioned.) Organize your paper as follows, handling these issues:
The position you choose —or something close to it—will be the thesis statement in your opening paragraph.
To support your position, use three (3) specific examples from different decades between 1865 and 1930. You may narrowly focus on race or gender or immigrant status, or you may use examples relevant to all categories.
Explain why the opposing view is weak in comparison to yours.
Consider your life today: In what way does the history you have shown shape or impact issues in your workplace or desired profession?
Length: The paper should be 500-to-750 words in length.
Research and References: You must use a
MINIMUM of three sources
; the Schultz textbook must be one of them. Your other two sources should be drawn from the list provided below. This is guided research, not open-ended Googling.
Source list for Assignment 1:
Some sources are “primary” sources from the time period being studied. Some sources below can be accessed via direct link or through the primary sources links on Blackboard. Each week has a different list of primary sources. For others, they are accessible through the permalink to the source in our online library: Sources below having
libdatab.
Assignment 1 Due Monday 92319 By using linear and nonlinear .docxdeanmtaylor1545
This document provides guidance for counselors on an upcoming assignment due September 23rd. It instructs counselors to listen both linearly and nonlinearly during client assessments to build a strong therapeutic alliance and identify client needs, resources, strengths and gaps in their stories. Counselors are advised to consider both the conscious and unconscious parts of client stories, including recognizing potential adverse childhood experiences and how that might inform the assessment, guide goal development, and affect client readiness to change.
Assignment 1This assignment is due in Module 8. There are many v.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
This assignment is due in Module 8. There are many variations on WebQuests. Please make sure you follow these instructions and not those listed in the textbook. Although, reading the texts and learning another variation will only benefit you in the future. This assignment is worth 100 points.
1. Find a good website in which you can use for the exercise. If you want your students to learn more about zoo animals, then maybe you should locate your local zoo website and use it as a source. Make sure you choose a site that is age appropriate for your students. And please identify which grade and subject level you have chosen in the title.
2. After deciding on a website, create the student instructions for this exercise. Make sure to incorporate aesthetic value (picture). The instructions are very important because you do want your students to be excited about the activity.
3. You will ask the students 10 questions about the site and its information. Be sure the website is clear in its direction and easily navigated so the students can find the information. Create the questions and type them into a Word document with lines for students to use to fill in their answers.
4. After you finish your WebQuest, make sure you include a sheet with the answers to the questions.
5. Save the document as a .doc, .docx, or pdf and submit it via the assignment drop box by clicking on the title of the assignment.
Submission: To submit, choose the Assignment 4: WebQuest link above and use the file attachment feature to browse for and upload your completed document. Remember to choose Submit to complete the submission.
Grading: This assignment is worth 100 points toward your final grade and will be graded using the Webquest Rubric. Please use it as a guide toward successful completion of this assignment.
Assignment 2
This assignment is due in Module 9. The objective of this lesson is to utilize the Internet to help clarify/expand upon your teaching, while creating a field trip environment for your students.
There are times when you will not have the funding to take your class on an actual field trip. With the help of technology, you can now visit various sites without leaving the room. For assignment 4, you are going to plan a virtual field trip for your classroom. Think about the grade level, subject area, possible topics for the curriculum that you teach, and appropriate online communication. You must create an original, virtual field trip. You cannot use someone else's field trip. Remember, you can utilize various software (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.) to create this field trip, but be careful, it is not a lesson with technology assisted software. The students have to feel like they are truly at the location of the field trip looking at the exhibit, animal, statue, and so forth. There should be no words on the slides because it is not a classroom lesson, it is a field trip.
You will be the tour guide, and everything you plan to say as the guide shoul.
Assignment 1TextbookInformation Systems for Business and Beyond.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
Textbook:Information Systems for Business and Beyond
Please answer the following
From Chapter 1 – Answer Study questions 1-5 and Exercise 3
From Chapter 2 – Answer Study questions 1-10 and Exercise 2 (should be a Power point presentation)
All the above questions should be submitted in one Word document, except for the PowerPoint presentation (Chapter 2 - Exercise 2).
Please understand that Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will result in a zero grade.
Submission Requirements
Font: Times New Roman, size 12, double-space
Citation Style: APA
References: Please use citations and references where appropriate
No Plagiarism
Chapter 1: What Is an
Information System?
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this chapter, you will be
able to:
• define what an information system is by identifying
its major components;
• describe the basic history of information systems;
and
• describe the basic argument behind the article
“Does IT Matter?” by Nicholas Carr.
Introduction
Welcome to the world of information systems, a world that seems to
change almost daily. Over the past few decades information systems
have progressed to being virtually everywhere, even to the point
where you may not realize its existence in many of your daily
activities. Stop and consider how you interface with various
components in information systems every day through different
Chapter 1: What Is an Information
System? | 9
electronic devices. Smartphones, laptop, and personal computers
connect us constantly to a variety of systems including messaging,
banking, online retailing, and academic resources, just to name a
few examples. Information systems are at the center of virtually
every organization, providing users with almost unlimited
resources.
Have you ever considered why businesses invest in technology?
Some purchase computer hardware and software because everyone
else has computers. Some even invest in the same hardware and
software as their business friends even though different technology
might be more appropriate for them. Finally, some businesses do
sufficient research before deciding what best fits their needs. As
you read through this book be sure to evaluate the contents of each
chapter based on how you might someday apply what you have
learned to strengthen the position of the business you work for, or
maybe even your own business. Wise decisions can result in stability
and growth for your future enterprise.
Information systems surround you almost every day. Wi-fi
networks on your university campus, database search services in
the learning resource center, and printers in computer labs are
good examples. Every time you go shopping you are interacting
with an information system that manages inventory and sales. Even
driving to school or work results in an interaction with the
transportation information system, impacting traffic lights,
cameras, etc. V.
ASSIGNMENT 1TASK FORCE COMMITTEE REPORTISSUE AND SOLUTI.docxdeanmtaylor1545
The document provides instructions for an assignment to analyze an organizational issue and propose solutions as the leader of a task force committee. Students are asked to: 1) Describe the selected organization and issue affecting productivity; 2) Analyze how the current corporate culture contributed to the issue; 3) Identify areas of weakness in the organization; 4) Propose modifications to practices and solutions to resolve the issue; and 5) Prepare a one-page executive summary of recommendations. The assignment aims to expose students to modern organizational challenges and develop solutions reflecting their learning.
Assignment 1Select one of these three philosophers (Rousseau, Lo.docxdeanmtaylor1545
This document contains instructions for 5 separate assignments related to ethics, diversity, and organizational culture. Assignment 1 asks students to analyze differences between ideas of philosophers like Rousseau, Locke and Hobbes and modern democracies. Assignment 2 involves responding to inappropriate workplace comments and discussing ethical and legal implications. Assignment 3 has students analyze alternatives and implications related to a case study on discrimination. Assignment 4 examines organizational culture and inclusion at Sherwood Manufacturing. Assignment 5 is researching diversity at different organizations and comparing their cultures.
Assignment 1Scenario 1You are developing a Windows auditing pl.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
Scenario 1
You are developing a Windows auditing plan and need to determine which log files to capture and review. You are considering log files that record access to sensitive resources. You know that auditing too many events for too many objects can cause computers to run more slowly and consume more disk space to store the audit log file entries.
Answer the following question(s): (2 References)
If computer performance and disk space were not a concern, what is another reason for not tracking audit information for all events?
Scenario 2
Assume you are a security professional. You are determining which of the following backup strategies will provide the best protection against data loss, whether from disk failure or natural disaster:
· Daily full server backups with hourly incremental backups
· Redundant array of independent disks (RAID) with periodic full backups
· Replicated databases and folders on high-availability alternate servers
Answer the following question(s): (2 References)
Which backup strategy would you adopt? Why?
Assignment 1 Submission Requirements
Format: Microsoft Word (or compatible)
Font: Arial, size 12, double-space
Citation Style: APA
Length: At least 350 words for each question
References: At least 2 credible scholarly references for each question
No plagiarism
Assignment 2: Security Audit Procedure Guide
Scenario
Always Fresh wants to ensure its computers comply with a standard security baseline and are regularly scanned for vulnerabilities. You choose to use the Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit to assess the basic security for all of your Windows computers and use OpenVAS to perform vulnerability scans.
Tasks
Develop a procedure guide to ensure that a computer adheres to a standard security baseline and has no known vulnerabilities.
For each application, fill in details for the following general steps:
1. Acquire and install the application.
2. Scan computers.
3. Review scan results.
4. Identify issues you need to address.
5. Document the steps to address each issue.
Assignment 2 Submission Requirements
Format: Microsoft Word (or compatible)
Font: Arial, size 12, double-space
Citation Style: APA
Length: At least 3 pages
References: At least 4 credible scholarly references
No plagiarism
Assignment 3: System Restoration Procedure Guide
Scenario
One of the security improvements at Always Fresh is setting up a system recovery procedure for each type of computer. These procedures will guide administrators in recovering a failed computer to a condition as near to the point of failure as possible. The goal is to minimize both downtime and data loss.
You have already implemented the following backup strategies for workstation computers:
· All desktop workstations were originally installed from a single image for Always Fresh standard workstations. The base image is updated with all patches and new software installed on live workstations.
· Desktop workstation computers execute a cloud backup eve.
Assignment 1Research by finding an article or case study discus.docxdeanmtaylor1545
A
ssignment 1:
Research by finding an article or case study discussing ONE of the following laws or legal issues as it relates to computer forensics:
1) Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)
2) Cable Communications Privacy Act (CCOA)
3) Privacy Protection Act (PPA)
4) USA Patriot Act of 2001
5) Search and seizure requirements of the Fourth Amendment
6) Legal right to search the computer media
7) Legal right to remove the computer media from the scene
8) Availability of privileged material on the computer media for examination
Using at least 500 words - summarize the the article you have chosen. You will be graded on Content/Subject Knowledge, Critical Thinking Skills, Organization of Ideas, and Writing Conventions.
.
Assignment 1Positioning Statement and MottoUse the pro.docxdeanmtaylor1545
Assignment 1
Positioning Statement and Motto
Use the provided information, as well as your own research, to assess one (1) of the stated brands (Alfa Romeo Hewlett Packard, Subway, or Sony) by completing the questions below. At the end of the worksheet, be sure to develop a new positioning statement and motto for the brand you selected. Submit the completed template in the Week 4 assignment submission link.
Name:
Professor’s Name:
Course Title:
Date:
Company/Brand Selected (Alfa Romeo Hewlett Packard, Subway, or Sony):
1. Target Customers/Users
Who are the target customers for the company/brand? Make sure you tell why you selected each item that you did. (NOTE: DO NOT say “ANY, ALL, EVERYONE” you cannot target everyone, you must be specific)
Age Bracket: [Insert response]
Gender: [Insert response]
Income Bracket: [Insert response]
Education Level: [Insert response]
Lifestyle: [Insert response]
Psychographics (Interest, Hobbies, Past-times): [Insert response]
Values (What the customer values overall in life): [Insert response]
Other items you would segment up on: [Insert response]
How does the company currently reach its customers/users? What methods and media does the company use to currently reach the customers/users? What methods and media should the company use to currently reach the customers/users?
[Insert response]
What would grab the customers/users’ attention? Why do you think this will capture their attention?
[Insert response]
What do these target customers’ value from the business and its products? Why do you think they value these items?
[Insert response]
2. Competitors
Who are the brand’s competitors? Provide at least 3 competitors and tell why you selected each competitor.
Competitor 1: [Insert response]
Competitor 2: [Insert response]
Competitor 3: [Insert response]
What product category does the brand fit into? Why have you placed this brand into the product category that you did?
[Insert response]
What frame of reference (frame of mind) will customers use in making a choice to use/purchase this brand/service? What other brands/companies might customers compare this brand to (other than the top three identified above)?
[Insert response]
3. USP (Unique Selling Proposition) Creation
What is the brand’s uniqueness? Why do you think this is a key uniqueness for this business?
[Insert response]
What is the competitive advantage of the brand? How is it different from other competing brands? Why do you consider this a competitive advantage?
[Insert response]
What attributes or benefits does the brand have that dominate competitors? Why do you think they dominate?
[Insert response]
How is this brand/company better than its competitors? What is the brand’s USP (Unique Selling Proposition? Why have you decided upon this USP?
Unique Selling Proposition: [Insert response]
Defense of USP: [Insert response]
4. Positioning Statement & Motto
Develop a new positioning statement and motto for the brand you selected. Below is an.
ASSIGNMENT 1Hearing Versus ListeningDescribe how you le.docxdeanmtaylor1545
ASSIGNMENT 1:
Hearing Versus Listening
Describe how you learned how to listen! Please use between 300-500 words to make a complete description of this learned behavior. Did you learn to listen properly? Do you still listen the same way that you were taught as a child? Why or why not?
“Doctor Aunt”
by Eden, Janine and Jim.
CC-BY
.
A mother takes her four-year-old to the pediatrician reporting she’s worried about the girl’s hearing. The doctor runs through a battery of tests, checks in the girl’s ears to be sure everything looks good, and makes notes in the child’s folder. Then, she takes the mother by the arm. They move together to the far end of the room, behind the girl. The doctor whispers in a low voice to the concerned parent: “Everything looks fine. But, she’s been through a lot of tests today. You might want to take her for ice cream after this as a reward.” The daughter jerks her head around, a huge grin on her face, “Oh, please, Mommy! I love ice cream!” The doctor, speaking now at a regular volume, reports, “As I said, I don’t think there’s any problem with her hearing, but she may not always be choosing to listen.”
Hearing
is something most everyone does without even trying. It is a physiological response to sound waves moving through the air at up to 760 miles per hour. First, we receive the sound in our ears. The wave of sound causes our eardrums to vibrate, which engages our brain to begin processing. The sound is then transformed into nerve impulses so that we can perceive the sound in our brains. Our auditory cortex recognizes a sound has been heard and begins to process the sound by matching it to previously encountered sounds in a process known as
auditory association
.
[1]
Hearing has kept our species alive for centuries. When you are asleep but wake in a panic having heard a noise downstairs, an age-old self-preservation response is kicking in. You were asleep. You weren’t listening for the noise—unless perhaps you are a parent of a teenager out past curfew—but you hear it. Hearing is unintentional, whereas
listening
(by contrast) requires you to pay conscious attention. Our bodies hear, but we need to employ intentional effort to actually listen.
“Hearing Mechanics”
by Zina Deretsky. Public domain.
We regularly engage in several different types of listening. When we are tuning our attention to a song we like, or a poetry reading, or actors in a play, or sitcom antics on television, we are listening for pleasure, also known as
appreciative listening
. When we are listening to a friend or family member, building our relationship with another through offering support and showing empathy for her feelings in the situation she is discussing, we are engaged in
relational listening
. Therapists, counselors, and conflict mediators are trained in another level known as
empathetic or therapeutic listening
. When we are at a political event, attending a debate, or enduring a salesperson touting the benefits of vario.
assignment 1
Essay: Nuclear Proliferation
The proliferation of nuclear weapons is closely monitored by the international community. While the international community formally recognizes only five nuclear powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom - it is widely acknowledged that at least four others (India, Israel, North Korea, and Pakistan) currently possess nuclear weapons and one other (Iran) is attempting to develop nuclear weapons capabilities.
Describe the current international regime governing the development of nuclear weapons, including the major agreements and treaties controlling nuclear technology. Explain why the international community generally seeks to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. (500-750 words)
assignment 2
World military spending is nearly $2 trillion every year. If you could redirect these funds, how would you use them? Would such uses be better or worse for the states involved? Do you think there is a realistic chance of redirecting military spending in the way you suggest? (150 words minimum)
assignment 3
Human Rights: A Hollow Promise to the World?
( one paragraph )
.
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Teaching CaseJ-TRADING full circle outsourcingValerie J.docx
1. Teaching Case
J-TRADING: full circle outsourcing
Valerie Jaiswal1, Natalia Levina2
1Regeneron Pharmaceutical, Tarrytown, NY, USA;
2Stern School of Business, New York University, New York,
USA
Correspondence:
N Levina, Stern School of Business, IOMS Department, New
York University, 44 West 4th Street, KMEC 8-78, NY 10012,
New York, USA.
Tel: þ 1-212-998-0850 ;
Fax: þ 1-212-995-4228
Abstract
J-TRADING is a US-based arm of a Japanese keiretsu that is
focused on commodity
trading between the East and North America counting about 350
employees in the US. It
has experienced problems with its information technology (IT)
infrastructure and help-desk
functions. IT employees were not motivated to work on these
rather mundane tasks
leading to quality and cost issues. J-TRADING CIO decided to
solve the problem by
outsourcing both functions. The case relays J-TRADING’s
outsourcing journey through its
ups and downs discussing the process of vendor evaluation and
selection, task transition,
relationship management, and business outcomes. The case
2. provides full financial details
necessary for financial analysis and asks students to evaluate
the sourcing decision itself
as well as vendor selection and governance processes. It also
asks students to elaborate
on alternative sourcing approaches such as offshoring and
cloud-based solutions.
Journal of Information Technology Teaching Cases (2012) 2,
61–70. doi:10.1057/jittc.2012.11;
published online 13 November 2012
Keywords: cost benefit analysis; Data center; Help desk;
outsourcing; vendor selection
Part A
J
ohn Smith, Director of Information Technology (IT),
looked out of the window of his corner office on the 43rd
floor of the New York City high rise. It was 8:30 PM and
most people on Madison Avenue were just tourists strolling
and gazing at the store window displays. He had to have his
presentation for the Japanese Management ready by 9:00 AM
tomorrow and he was still struggling with answers to the
numerous questions that were running through his mind.
A year ago he had presented to the same management
group the benefits of outsourcing. He had been very excited
about his new strategic direction for the IT department. There
had been unanimous approval for his proposed plan. After
that it had been a tumultuous year of highs and lows. Now he
had to justify his new proposal, especially those parts that
were the complete opposite from his prior proposed plan.
JICO – a keiretsu
Zaibatsus were large capitalist enterprises of Japan devel-
3. oped between Meiji Restoration (1868) and World War II,
similar to cartels or trusts but usually organized around a
single family. They operated companies in all-important
areas of economic and industrial activity and owned banks
for mobilizing capital. The war in the Pacific ended on
2nd September 1945, with the signing of the peace treaty
on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The American
occupation of Japan lasted until 1952. During this occupa-
tion, the Anti-monopoly Law was passed whereby the
zaibatsu’s were to be divided into new smaller companies.
By the mid-1950s, the zaibatsu’s had reconstituted them-
selves into ‘groups’ with many of the characteristics of their
pre-war predecessors. These semiformal groupings are
today called keiretsus.
JICO is one such keiretsu. It has an extensive business
background, experience in acquiring foreign raw materials
and in importing technology, association with foreign
banks and investors, and comprehensive manufacturing
skills. During the post-war period, JICO grew 15–17%
annually with its price/earnings ratio reaching 14.1.
During the latter part of 1989 inflation in Japan began to
rise. The consumer price index was increasing at more than
3% per annum.1 This was the first sign of an economic
slowdown. The next couple of years saw a 76% plunge in the
Japanese stock market, real estate crashes, soaring bank-
ruptcies, acute recession, and a growing unemployed popula-
tion. JICO suffered huge losses in Japan and began focusing
attention on its wholly owned subsidiary in the United States,
J-TRADING. J-TRADING became JICO’s flagship company. It
tried to fuel growth by encouraging J-TRADING to expand
and invest more in US markets. In 2000 J-TRADING reported
a record $40 million profit after tax.
4. The dot com crash, followed by 9/11/2001, severely
affected J-TRADING’s revenues. In 2002, J-TRADING
Journal of Information Technology Teaching Cases (2012) 2,
61–70
& 2012 JITTC Palgrave Macmillan All rights reserved 2043-
8869/12
palgrave-journals.com/jittc/
JIT040
For the exclusive use of F. Brown, 2019.
This document is authorized for use only by Fresa Brown in
SCM 824-Strategic Procurement - Fall 2019 taught by EVELYN
THOMCHICK, The Pennsylvania State University from Aug
2019 to
Feb 2020.
began trimming down its work force and cutting down
expenses. New capital investments greater than $350,000
required approval from JICO. The business and adminis-
trative divisions were forced to cut their annual budgets by
at least 10%. J-TRADING’s IT department was greatly
affected by this. Being a cost center left it with few options.
Personnel expense was the only way to reduce expenses
by 10%. Table 1 shows J-TRADING’s IT budget in 2001.
J-TRADING
The company
J-TRADING had five trading divisions each involved in
trading commodities between the East and North America.
In addition it had a portfolio of 50 subsidiaries and affiliates
5. spread out all over North America. These subsidiaries and
affiliates operated independently and were only responsible
for rolling up their financial numbers to J-TRADING at the
end of each quarter.
J-TRADING had 350 employees. Fifty percent of the
employees were Japanese, who were originally employees of
JICO, but now on a 2–5-year international assignment in
the United States. At the end of their assignment they would
either be rotated back to JICO or to another of its
subsidiaries anywhere in the world. This helped them
develop a broad range of experience and skills. The
rotational staff primarily mingled with their counterparts
at J-TRADING or with other rotational employees at other
keiretsus in the United States. The common keiretsu culture
tended to be bonding a force not only in their private and
personal lives but also in their business dealings and
relationships. They were two very distinct cultures at
J-TRADING – the Japanese culture and the local culture.
The IT department
Sharad Patel and Amy White were the managers of the
Infrastructure Section and the Application Section, respec-
tively. Each section consisted of five team members.
Figure 1 shows the organizational structure of IT and each
member’s job responsibilities. The Application Section
maintained and configured the various business applica-
tions. In addition they also worked closely with the business
divisions gathering requirements for existing application
enhancements and new application development. The
Infrastructure Section was responsible for maintaining
J-TRADING’s LAN/WAN infrastructure and supporting
the PC Helpdesk. In order to support the rotational staff,
at any point in time at least one person manning the PC
Helpdesk had to be bilingual, speaking Japanese and
English. The LAN consisted of 40 servers comprising the
6. email server, file servers, print servers and the servers
running the various business applications. All the servers
were housed in the Datacenter located in J-TRADING’s
corporate headquarters.
All the members of the IT department were well
qualified: They were degree holders with an average of
5–7 years of industry experience. They were passionate
about IT and were always looking to learn new technology.
Members of the Infrastructure Section often disliked
working on the PC Helpdesk. They considered it a
mundane and thankless job. Most people called the PC
Helpdesk only when they had a problem and almost
always needed immediate assistance. John Smith con-
stantly received complaints from dissatisfied customers
about the performance of the PC Helpdesk. Sometimes
people came up to him at the water fountain or coffee
machine and complained about their bad experience with
the PC Helpdesk. A recent survey conducted by the
Corporate Communications Department (Table 2) re-
vealed that the average experience of J-TRADING’s
employees with the PC Helpdesk was unsatisfactory. This
was a big problem for John Smith. He had been thinking
of ways to improve the quality of the PC Helpdesk. The IT
department charged each user $180/PC/month (through
the company’s internal allocation system) to support and
maintain a PC. Since users were charged for services it was
John Smith’s responsibility to provide quality services. At
the same time Sharad was struggling with employee
retention in his section. The Infrastructure Section often
got so tied up with day-to-day maintenance and operation
Table 1 J-TRADING’s IT Budget in 2001 (in thousands)
2001
7. Administrative expenses
Salaries $1452
Benefits $160
Travel $40
Employee relocation $5
Office maintenance $17
Insurance $32
Book/Subscription $3
Stationery/Supply $26
Postage $4
Business entertainment $9
Training and education $73
Total administrative expenses $1821
Operational expenses
Datacenter and IT infrastructure
Office rent $287
Telephone $163
Computer maintenance $438
Computer Parts $28
Total Datacenter and IT infrastructure $916
Consultants $100
Depreciation $867
Total operational expenses $1883
Total expenses $3704
Income
Charge per PC (400 PCs)
pre-outsourcing @ $180/PC
post-outsourcing @ $200/PC
8. Total income ($864)
Total JIT operating result $2840
J-TRADING V Jaiswal and N Levina
62
For the exclusive use of F. Brown, 2019.
This document is authorized for use only by Fresa Brown in
SCM 824-Strategic Procurement - Fall 2019 taught by EVELYN
THOMCHICK, The Pennsylvania State University from Aug
2019 to
Feb 2020.
that they almost never had the time to spend on
infrastructure upgrade/enhancement projects. This de-
motivated them and resulted in a high turnover. This
also affected J-TRADING’s infrastructure causing it to be
several versions behind the latest releases and in dire need
of upgrades. The recent expense reduction mandate made
things worse for the Infrastructure Section and the IT
department as a whole.
(Part B follows)
Table 2 Summary of the Results of the PC Helpdesk Survey –
2001
Please rate the following Unsatisfactory Satisfactory Excellent
Our response time 10 100 15
9. Time to fix problem 100 20 5
Knowledge of technician 10 90 25
Overall experience 10 85 30
Please lets us know Yes No
Did your problem get resolved? 100 25
Did your problem get resolved in a timely manner? 10 115
Was the technician respectful of your time constraints/ 100 25
Did your problem need a follow-up call after being fixed? 50 75
Director
John Smith
Web Applications Specialist
Applications Engineer
Accounting Application
Specialist
Production Engineer
IT Services Administrator
APPLICATION SECTION
Amy White
Applications Manager
Infrastructure
Specialist/PC Helpdesk
Network Specialist/PC
Helpdesk
IT Operations
10. Administrator/PC Helpdesk
Network Administrator/PC
Helpdesk
LAN/WAN
Coordinator/PC Helpdesk
INFRASTRUCTURE SECTION
Sharad Patel
Infrastructure Manager
Figure 1 Organizational structure of IT and each members’ job
responsibilities.
J-TRADING V Jaiswal and N Levina
63
For the exclusive use of F. Brown, 2019.
This document is authorized for use only by Fresa Brown in
SCM 824-Strategic Procurement - Fall 2019 taught by EVELYN
THOMCHICK, The Pennsylvania State University from Aug
2019 to
Feb 2020.
Part B
IT outsourcing
J-TRADING’s first experience with IT outsourcing
J-TRADING had only one outsourced application, the
Corporate Intranet. In 2000 hoping to foster a cohesive
11. culture, senior management at J-TRADING decided to
introduce a Corporate Intranet. This was highly essential
because of the 50% spilt between rotational and national
staff. Management made the decision that all news articles
and items on the Intranet would be in English. This would
force the rotational staff to communicate in English. As
opposed to building the Intranet from scratch, a package
called Quik Intra was purchased from a company called
Web Communicator. This package provided core function-
ality like news and announcements, job boards, employee
directory, bulletin boards, forms bin etc. Its design and
layout could be customized and configured. The Applica-
tion Section worked closely with the Intranet task force
team (consisting of a member from each business and
administrative division in J-TRADING) to come up with a
suitable and appealing design. The Quik Intra package was
then configured to incorporate the design. The Human
Resources department was responsible for content creation
and upload. For a monthly fee of $3150, Web Commu-
nicator hosted the Intranet providing maintenance and
data backups. They could also be contracted for system
enhancements or functional upgrades that were based on
requirements from the business divisions. The contract was
structured on a retainer basis where J-TRADING purchased
a block of hours upfront for $10,000 and could use the
hours during the course of a year. Table 3 shows the initial
and recurring costs for the Intranet. The outsourced
Corporate Intranet was a success. All parties were pleased
and satisfied; management, business and administrative
divisional employees, and IT employees.
Future outsourcing strategy
John Smith felt that IT outsourcing might be the key
solution to his dilemma. While he decided not to involve
consultants specifically in his decision, he did ask Michael
Cunningham (of Ask IT professional IT Advisory Services
12. Company) for his insight on IT outsourcing. John Smith
received an email from Michael Cunningham saying:
The term outsourcing refers to letting a third-party run
the IT operation. Selective outsourcing has become a
dominant model. Many IT organizations will outsource
the entire infrastructure or send applications offshore but
others outsource specific functions such as storage,
helpdesk or security. IT outsourcing is significantly less
mature than other outsourcing sectors, (e.g. manufactur-
ing), lacking well-defined products, consistent market
definitions, and standard pricing. Effective outsourcing
depends on the current capabilities of the IT organization
(e.g. an effective IT shop might save nothing by outsourc-
ing). IT outsourcing decisions must consider internal
skills and competencies and target a specific objective
(e.g. save money, overcome obstacles, improve quality,
increase time to market). Attempts to simultaneously
achieve these objectives will result in severe disappointment.
Given the success of the Corporate Intranet, John Smith
began to design his outsourcing strategy with the aim to
steer the IT department towards lower costs, improved
quality, and a challenging professional life. Working
together with Amy White and Sharad Patel, John decided
that the IT department would:
1. move the Datacenter to a third-party location. The third
party would maintain the servers and be responsible for
day-to-day backup;
2. outsource the PC Helpdesk to a third party, thereby
improving quality and increasing the internal allocation
charge to $200/PC/month.
In doing so the Infrastructure Section could be down-
13. sized from five members to two members who would be
responsible for maintaining the infrastructure (upgrading
to the latest service pack releases, virus control programs,
etc.) as well as for special projects like software upgrades,
new technology research etc. Table 4 shows the positions
that would be eliminated with the downsizing. Dedicated
PC Helpdesk people could possibly improve the quality of
service. The IT department now had to find appropriate
outsourcing vendors and select based on cost, quality of
service, and experience.
Move the Datacenter
The scope of the move involved relocating 40 servers to a
hardened, disaster proof Datacenter. The outsourced
vendor would be responsible for doing nightly tape backups
on each server and performing basic ping services on the
servers (checking to see if the servers were alive). If any
of the servers were found to be inoperative, a predefined
list of J-TRADING Infrastructure Section employees would
be paged. Application maintenance would continue to
be under the responsibility of Amy’s team. From five
Table 3 Initial and Recurring Costs for the Intranet
Capital costs
Hardware
Linux Servers (Located at host-$5000� 2+tax) $10,862.50
Software
Quik Intra Basic Modules $123,012.50
Quik Intra Customized Modules
(Workflow; File Room)
$20,000.00
14. Staff Activity Report Application $5000.00
Annual maintenance expense
SSL Certificate (https) $1500.00
Quik Intra License maintenance $10,000.00
Quik Intra Software maintenance (retainer) $10,000.00
Annual hosting costs
Fully redundant hosting ($3150/mo) $37,989.00
CD backup ($216.67/mo) $2600.00
J-TRADING V Jaiswal and N Levina
64
For the exclusive use of F. Brown, 2019.
This document is authorized for use only by Fresa Brown in
SCM 824-Strategic Procurement - Fall 2019 taught by EVELYN
THOMCHICK, The Pennsylvania State University from Aug
2019 to
Feb 2020.
prospective vendors, the search was narrowed down to two,
DR
Solution
s and Yoshiko Hosting. Table 5 shows the cost-
benefit analysis between the two vendors and compares
them to current costs. Table 6 shows details on the pro-
15. posed service levels.
DR solutions
They were leaders in the IT Datacenter hosting industry
with revenue of $2.7 billion. They provided a wide range
of hosting services. The minimum service would involve
just renting a ‘live’ cage with redundant power supply and
network connectivity. The services could get as sophisti-
cated as application maintenance. A number of the Fortune
500 companies had their Datacenters at DR