Human Resources Comparison: Dell and McDonalds

Human Resources Comparison: Dell and McDonalds Dell Inc. is a premier provider of products and services required, for the building of information-technology and Internet infrastructures of customers worldwide. Its operations strategy focuses on mass customization marketing strategy, build-to-order production system, as well as on its production and supply chain designed for its agile and fast turnarounds. OPERATIONS STRATEGY Operating a plant owned by the company itself is one of the global manufacturing strategies of the Dell Inc. This is to bring their online operation in time, in achieving its goal of meeting the ever-growing customer needs. It also provides good proximity to an available workforce and supports the objectives of its logistics. In locating its possible plants, it places preference over strategic locations suitable to advance manufacturing and distribution companies serving the East Coast markets. Like Dells Winston-Salem plant who will produce their PowerEdge servers, PowerVault and the Dell/EMC products, and OptiPlex and Dimension desktop computers primarily for the US market. The said distributions advantages made it to be the companys site choice. This is its easy access to almost all of the major East Coast markets, within a one-day truck haul. INNOVATION Dell Inc. also operates as one of the highest-volume internet commerce sites in the world. According to a study done by Mainstay Partners, the returns of the company will come through cost avoidance in four principal ways. They are by the breakage of the buying cycle and maintenance of expensive proprietary hardware systems; by substantial reduction on administrative and database management costs; by a boost on system capacity while scaling as the business requires; and by raising its availability, thus, the potential for revenue-draining downtime is greatly reduced. The company uses a sales strategy that was a model of the lean efficiency. It involves direct customer sales, without the use of retailers or intermediaries. Through this high-efficiency business model, the company is able to keep low costs in bringing new technology to its market, faster than any companies, using indirect distribution channels. Dells marketplace advantage is brought up by its innovation together with its one-to-one direct customer communication. Another innovation is their web presence through the Dell.com, a massive channel for sale. In addition, the new system of Dell running Oracle 10g grid on Linux is another success on the companys part, as it does more work, more quickly compared to their previous one. Among its gains includes doubled session capacity characterized by stronger, more sustainable system performance; higher daily order volume, due to its improved performance and availability for users through the elimination of constraints and slowness; automatic distribution and balancing of the increased workload in case of node/s failure; and the elimination of system outrages, that cause gaps in line manufacturing and raises the chances of staff sent home. The new system delivers seven times the performance for only one-tenth of the cost. Besides, due to its improved performance and reliability, the company will be able to save around $4.6 million for over five years time, as projected by a study. Other area of potential value brought by the grid system is the automated storage management in Dells back office operations. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Moreover, Dell has become a poster child for outsourcing, using its emerging trend of near shoring. Near shoring refers to the companies practice of going offshore (but in countries with closer proximity to its home bases) in outsourcing its operations. Its success lies on its developed innovative supply chain together with its just-in-time operation. The latter combined more responsibility pushed onto suppliers with the outsourcing of non-essential functions. INNOVATION Dell broke into the big time by developing a business strategy and supply chain strategy that worked together. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Dells business strategy was differentiation through low cost, speed of delivery, and customer service. The major channel for sales was from customers to call centers. However, the emergence of the internet called for more differentiation and fundamental change. With a well understood business strategy, Dell began to formally integrate operational components (e.g., logistics, manufacturing, distribution, inventory management) and develop a supply chain strategy. The supply chain strategy focused at driving costs out of the supply chain being the low cost provider while at the same time supporting a business strategy emphasizing customer service QUALITY STRATEGY Dell Perot Systems has established, documented, and implemented an ISO 90001:2000-certified quality management system (QMS) that focuses on meeting customer requirements and enabling employees to do their jobs right the first time. The Dell Perot Systems QMS Manual defines and documents how requirements for quality are met. The design of the QMS is influenced by varying customer needs, particular objectives, the products and services provided, the processes employed, and the size and structure of our organization. We recognize that success comes from focusing on doing things right the first time, on time, every time, meeting customer requirements and exceeding their expectations. DELL HR At Dell, HR is divided into operations and management, explains Price. HR operations coordinates transactional functions, such as benefits, compensation and employee relations, through a service center. Staff members report directly up the chain through HR, and rarely have contact with business units. HR management includes Dell University, the companys education and training function; staffing; and HR generalists who report to both the vice president of a business unit and the vice president of HR. Management deals with tactical, rather than transactional issues. These HR employees attend the business units staff meetings as consultants; develop the leadership team; produce metrics for such things as turnover, productivity and cycle times; and develop an HR strategy for that particular line of business. This division between operations and management allows HR to efficiently focus on two different types of customers. Operations supports Dell employees in general, while management supports Dells business. During the education segmentation, we segmented our sales organization first, says Price, then began to prepare marketing and get brand management teams for each segment. Thats why having HR people in those lines of business is so critical they drive that. Dells HR management team assists in the segmentation planning process by handling HR issues, such as identifying personnel needs, working out lines of reporting and organizational charts, and defining training needs. HR consults strategically with the business unit but also works out the nuts and bolts of putting people where they need to be, with the necessary skills and training. IKEA IKEAs mission is to offer a wide range of home furnishing items of good design and function, excellent quality and durability, at prices so low that the majority of people can afford to buy them (IKEA 1994). Founder Ingvar Kamprads innovative strategy was to design functional furniture that was easy and inexpensive to build, receive it disassembled at stores, and display it on the showroom floor with detailed explanation tickets, making sales person assistance unnecessary. OPAs IKEA is operating just like a warehouse, it produces a high volume of furniture and products that could be self-assembled. The fact that IKEA can also be found in other countries allow for economies of scale and hence, IKEA is able to bring costs down with its high-volume production. The downside of this would be, as one customer puts it: I have something which everyone else in the world has. This product is not unique. Despite having a high-volume business, IKEA has a lean buffering capacity, with only a limited amount of stock bought to ensure that the possibility of unwanted stock is reducedERATIONS STRATEGY INNOVATION IKEAs furniture is value for money with a wide range of choice. It is designed to be stored and sold as a flat pack but is capable of easy assembly by the customer. The Swedish design emphasizes bold colors, styles and functionality. The company promotes products to be modular, allowing different variations of the same basic product to be customised to produce greater variety. This allows IKEA to provide greater variety for its productswithoutholdinglargeamountsofstock. Instead of having to wait for a sales personnel to service them, customers have the flexibility to move around and pick up what they want. They are free to browse through the showrooms and even pick up small items directly off the display shelves if they like to purchase them. There is no need to waste any time waiting for someone else to get it for them. HR AT IKEA IKEAs vision was To create a better everyday life for the many people. People included employees, customers, as well as the community. The companys human resource philosophy subscribed to the belief that employees were more productive and committed when the company took care of the mand their needs. IKEA adopted a paternalistic stance toward employees and their needs (as did many other Swedish companies) and promoted employee empowerment. However, although the company had a positive HR philosophy and offered generous benefits, their application was more or less standardized and policies applied uniformly to all employees. IKEAs positive HR policies were supported by a strong and nurturing culture that promoted diversity and creativity. Spiers-Lopez said IKEAs culture was characterized by a family-like quality that made relationships between employees strong and open.

Self Discovery Essay -- Philosophy Philosophical Essays

Self Discovery â€Å"What are you going to do after you get your degree?†Whenever I announce my occupation, this trite, well-intentioned question never fails to follow. I am a student, a senior at Metro, studying Literature and History. Not only a student, I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and female. No, I don’t bring in a paycheck, but my life is fulfilling, gratifying, deserving and challenging. Will I teach, write, join the downtown business crew again, or become a clerk in the bookstore? Maybe I will. Whatever I do, I know I will strive to be a bit more patient, observing the tiniest of details, attempting to be more considerate and understanding of people, honoring their backgrounds and culture. While studying English and History, I have obtained a clearer sense of being. I have repeatedly professed that my family and faith prioritize my life, however, I often found that the chaos of establishing a career and pursuing the ‘American Dream’ clashed with those values. Caught in a whirlwind, life was centered around the present, focusing on the future, without the time or necessity to reflect on the past. The study of liberal arts has opened new windows to the past in my mind, allowing the wisdom and thoughts of many great people circulate and stimulate my efforts, giving credence to many of life’s blessings and insecurities. The struggles, discoveries, confessions, and pronouncements of those who are forged in history often apply to modern day life relationships. A fellow classmate, very intuitively, remarked that my writing always reflects back to my personal life. The impact of history and literature on my life, explains the gift I have found in my studies. Socrates (469-399 B.C.), a professional teach... ... and to idle, but I will try to keep an open mind! The study of literature requires critical reading, understanding the background of the author, being cognizant of the historical culture in which the author wrote to fully comprehend the statement being made. I believe when I finally nail the hole on the study wall when hanging my degree next to that of my husband and daughter, I will apply the skills learned in my Liberal Arts education to my every day life and acquaintances. WORKS CITED Hollister, C. Warren. Medieval Europe – A Short History. USA:The McGraw-Hill Co., 1998. Thoreau, Henry David. â€Å"Walden.† The Norton Anthology – American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. USA:W.W. Norton & Co. 1998. 1768-1820. Woolf, Virginia. â€Å"A Room of One’s Own.† The Longman Anthology – British Literature. Ed. David Damrosch. USA: Addison-Wesley Ed. Publ., 1999. 2465-2499.

Economic impact of Tourism: Pacific Rim Essay

Introduction The Pacific Rim is a grouping of countries in the Pacific Ocean1 that start from the Korean peninsula down through south East Asia. Some of the common countries in this region are; Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei. The current economic situation has been gleam with poor performance from the main economic activity agriculture. To alleviate the situation we must look at tourism as a way of sustaining recommended economic growth. The Pacific Rim has a rich relationship with the tourism industry, with people all over the world highlighting the regions population for good hospitality. Countries like Indonesia and Thailand have used tourism to assist build formidable economies. Tourism within this region is mainly based on leisure along its warm beaches and historical and cultural tours. The average number of tourist in this region per country is relatively high ranging from 5 million in larger destinations like Indonesia to 1 million in Vietnam. Seasonality in the region has its Peak seasons set from July to Oct and Dec 15th to Jan 15th and low season from October to April. Economic Impacts of tourism Foreign exchange earnings International tourist coming to the area will bring in much needed foreign exchange into the local economy. The small pacific island of Samoa gained S $148. 7 million in foreign exchange through tourism in 2001 up S$ 109. 9 million $ the previous year according to their central bank2. The local government and tourist bodies should enforce that international tourists pay in U. S dollars or other stable world leading currency that can be used in stabilising the countries balance of payment. To maximise foreign exchange earnings efficiency, countries where imports are attained from should be targeted for tourism promotion, so as to allow influx of there currency. E. g. if most of the mechanical imports come from Switzerland the government usually has to source Swiss Francs. This can be done by targeting Swiss tourists. Rise in Gross National Product Tourism is an economic activity that provides to the GNP and per capita income of a country. In countries with rich tourist history it could provide up to 25% of the local economy. In 1994 Korea3 for instance set up a successful 5 year plan that help them achieve a U. S $ 500 million income from tourism this target was shifted to US $ 10 Billion for the year 2000. (ref) Increased revenue for the government Government income rises in form of taxes; this could range from a multiple of options; Visa fees; this is fee issued to passport holders of all or select countries to gain entrance into the country. This can income can be sort after at the entry port i. e. airports, harbour docks or International rail stations or at the Countries embassy/Consulate/ High commission in the country of tourist origin. The visa fees are usually categorised by the duration of stay, the frequency of return trips and reason for entry. 4 Value added tax: This is tax on all good, commodities and services acquired. This does not differ from local citizen to international tourist. Training levy: This is a tax that is common in developing countries, that is attached to the direct development of tourism. It is usually enforced by all registered hospitality organisation, at a nominal rate of approximately 2% this money is used to support hospitality schools country wide which ensure to the sustainability of quality service in the destination. Eco-tax: a fairly new concept that put a surcharge on all tourists going to an area, this income is used by the central or local government to support environmental conservation efforts in the area. It is commonly referred to as Balearic tax5 in European countries. It is important that the tax rate or amount collected off set the actual cost incurred in hosting the tourists. A generator of employment Opening up an area to tourism brings in new employment opportunities directly in the tourism and hospitality sector as well as feeder and supply industries. If the area is prospering thanks to tourism then all other sectors are likely to also get into an economic up swing, thus also providing more employment. Improvement of social services The tourism industry is a sector that depends on good infrastructure. The local area will profit from improved services like; Transport: Rail, Air, Water Health services: Hospitals and clinics Water and power supply: Clean sanitary water to international tourists standards, Good steady power supply, with an expanded network Communication; Repair and introduction of new communication mediums. This are initially introduced to serve the tourism industry but eventually trickled down to the local community. Tourism development may lead to an introduction of a wider array of goods and services that may be of a higher quality. This new economic sector could see the introduction of imported goods that will both improve household and commercial goods and services. Encourage business atmosphere The local business community will gain by getting the opportunity to invest in the new opportunities in tourism. Feeder business opportunities created, alternative trade that can flourish A prosperous community with improved social services creates an air of good business environment that will help improve the creativity and diversity of ideas. Economy opportunities created due to awareness (of the rest of the world) contact (by locals with foreign visitors) that tourism brings about. Tourist can turn into investors. Investors can come looking for opportunities once the region is opened up Offer alternative or/and assist traditional industries Ease over reliance on a traditional economic activity e. g. Agriculture, plus may also promote it. The hospitality industry has a large emphasis on culinary experience, thus there it also creates a high demand for agricultural products. By encouraging tourism one would also be encouraging the agricultural sector. This is in the condition that the farm produce can be utilised in the hospitality and that the tourism industry promotes local produce as opposed to importing. Promote time after harvest season when agriculture is at low season. One easy way of promoting the agricultural industry without clashing with tourism is by establishing agro-tourism. Agro tourism is tourism in which tourist’s board at farms or in rural villages and experience farming at close hand. This is a good way of using the agricultural layout to make additional income. New group of economically stable professionals in that are to stimulate growth As the tourism industry grows there will be the generation of financially advantaged locals and expatriate6 community that will create a new market segment that are economically powerful. Political Stability[WKK1] World’s economies are closely tied to political situations. If the new tourism developments are well initiated and the majority of country cross-section are prospering from it in one way or the other then the political situation is bound to be more stable. Prosperous citizens are less revolutionary. Conclusion and recommendations Payments to local companies, foreign exchange control. Local ownership. Top jobs should be open to locals. Tourism should not become the single most important economic activity. 1 Find a map of the region in the appendix 2 Refer to the Samoa information Website link 3 Information derived from: Marketing Korea as tourist destination by Gordon Waitt. University of Wollongong Australia. Tourism management Articles Vol. 17 No. 2. Pg 113-121 1996. 4 Refer to appendix of illustration of the different visa application fees as per the Indonesian government. 5 Tourism and environmental taxes. With special reference to â€Å"Balearic ecotax† by Teresa Palmer and Antoni Reira. University of Majorca Spain. Tourism management journal 24, 2003 6 Refer to XXXX academic journal for a indication of expatriate influx in the Pacific region. [WKK1]Good economy leads to political stability which comes back to an even better economy.

The Discrimination Of People With Disabilities Essay

There are many different issues in society today. One big issue is the discrimination of people with disabilities. Abelism is an ongoing issue in the world today, which can happen in many places. Through the concepts of stereotypes, social environment, pain, minority groups, health beliefs, people with disabilities are constantly being discriminated in the world which is a big problem looking at it from a sociological view. One of the biggest issues we have in the world is the issue of abelism in the workplace. Discrimination is the â€Å"unequal treatment grounded prejudice† (Weitz, 2014:124). Discrimination can happen in so many places to so many different types of people. A main sociological concept and topic that can be deeply researched is abelism. â€Å"Abelism means discrimination action against people based on the physical ability of their body especially against people with disabilities in favor of people who are not disabled† (Langtree, 2015). There are so many different types of disabilities in this world, coming from mental disorders to physical disorders. Some disabilities can be extremely noticeable and others are never noticeable, but in the end it all concludes to the facts that abelism is still a huge issue in society, especially in the work place and employment. Disability can have a variety of definitions, but the most reliable definition is the definition by the World Health Organization. WHO defines disability as a â€Å"restriction or inability to performShow MoreRelatedDisability Discrimination : Disabled People With Disabilities1686 Words   |  7 PagesFaris English IV 16 May 2017 Disability Discrimination In 2010, 19% of the U.S. population had a disability (â€Å"Nearly 1 in 5 People Have a Disability in the U.S., Census Bureau Reports†) and there is no doubt that today, in 2017, that number has increased. 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