Identifying Personal Development And Learning Styles Personal Development Essay

Identifying Personal Development And Learning Styles Personal Development Essay It is obvious that as a practicing first-line manager, your own success is more likely if you use your talents (strengths) to their full extent to exploit the opportunities that present themselves to you. Also, its important to understand your weaknesses so that you can manage them out of your daily work activities and thereby also eliminate any threats which may affect your potential to progress. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis (Stanford Research Institute 1960-1970) is a useful technique to identify and analyse, in a proactive manner, these four areas. Not only that, but it also provides a good framework for reviewing your own personal development needs and enables you to work on your personal strengths and abilities to distinguish yourself from your peers and hence forward your career My own personal SWOT analysis has been appended to this assignment (see Appendix A). Own Learning Style(s) Identified Honey and Mumford (HM) use the terms activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist to represent the four key learning styles (or preferences). These correspond to stages in the learning cycle and are based on earlier work by David Kolb (and indeed are used interchangeably by some authors with the terms in the Kolb model). Both models are particularly interesting from the perspective that they offer a way to understand peoples different learning styles but also explain a cycle of experimental learning which can be applied to everyone. The four HM key stages and styles are typically presented at north, east, south and west on a four-stage cyclical flow diagram. This actually expresses a four stage cycle of learning in which having an immediate or concrete experience provides a basis for reviewing/reflecting on the experience. These reflections are assimilated into conclusions from the experience producing implications for action which enables the planning for the next step, i.e. the creation of a new experience. In theory, the learner should visit all four points of the diagram i.e. a cycle of experiencing, reflecting, thinking and acting. They, and their relationship with Kolbs learning styles, are explained in the Table A below: Table A -Comparison of HM Learning stages/styles with Kolb learning style Kolbs Learning Style HM Learning Style/Stage Preferred learning opportunity Personality characteristics of learning style Accomodating Having an Experience/Activists Practical, hands on Here and now; seek challenge and immediate experience; Bored by implementation Diverging Reviewing the experience/ Reflectors Gather information, consider and analyse Stands back; Thoughtful; listens before speaking Assimilating Concluding from the Experience/ Theorists Logical approach, gathers facts to form theories Rational, objective, dismisses subjectivity Converging Planning the next steps /Pragmatists Seeks new concepts, problem solving Likes quick decisions, bored with long discussions Most people naturally prefer a certain single different learning style. Various factors can influence this and Kolb defined 3 stages of a persons development and suggests that the integration of the four different learning styles improves as a person progresses through the development stages. I have completed an HM Learning Style Questionnaire and my preferred learning styles are Theorist and Pragmatist. This means that I have a preference for a concise and logical approach to learning. For me, ideas and concepts are more interesting than people. I do require a good, clear explanation; however, one slight difference to this learning style is that I like to see that the theory can work in a practical situation as well. I enjoy technically related tasks such as gathering and understanding wide-ranging information and trying to organise it in a logical format. In a formal learning situation, my preferences are reading and lectures and having time to consider things. I like to solve problems and make decisions by finding answers to questions. This was not particularly surprising because my job role as an Assurance Specialist involved in auditing actually demands a logical style of approach to deliver work effectively. Furthermore, problem solving is also a key skill for me in advising teams on how to resolve issues with their management processes. Analyse Learning and Development Options and Identify Barriers and Support mechanisms Two learning/development options one for self, one for organisation My personal SWOT analysis identified two development options as follows: To improve my soft skills such as assertiveness, communication and the effectiveness of my decision making. This would help in meeting the needs of the organisation and of the needs of my immediate team. To gain a better understanding of how Environmental Management is applied by Network Rail at a Project level. This would help me to gain an insight as to how I could apply some of the information I learnt on my Institute of Environmental Management (IEMA) course in a practical scenario. I have added both of these onto a Personal Development Plan, which is attached as Appendix C to this assignment. In terms of development opportunity (1), I could make use of the many e-learning tools available via the Network Rail Intranet site as well as obtaining support from my line manager to check my progress as well as him giving me tasks which will help to develop my soft-skills. I could monitor the success of this personal development through regular (once a month) one-to-ones with my line-manager and via my 6-monthly performance reviews. Listening and learning from what has worked well for him in the past would align itself well with the pragmatic approach I prefer to learning. With respect to my own personal development opportunity (2), there is a course offered through Network Rail about Environmental Management within Projects. I have booked a place on this course and intend to follow it up by conducting audits on Environmental Management across Infrastructure Projects as part of the 2010-11 National Core Audit Programme. In this way, I shall be able to speak to Environmental Specialists who apply Environmental Management techniques as part of their daily activities an gain a deeper understanding of what is involved. Identify Barriers to learning and how to overcome them Some potential barriers which could prevent or slow down my progress are time-constraints, distractions and issues with the suitability of e-Learning to my own learning style. These barriers could be overcome by planning a time-out for learning within my weekly schedule and ensuring that I commit to not allowing any work activities to interfere with it. Im unsure as to whether e-learning will complement my learning style because the courses do not present practical situations to apply what has been learnt. However, perhaps regular feedback sessions and suitable tasks set by my line-manager may serve to complement the e-learning courses. Considering the Environmental Management training I have identified, after completing the course, I will need to liaise with the staff drawing up the National Core Audit Programme so that I can be included for the Environmental Section of at least 2 of the audits across the Investment Projects portfolio. The auditing aspect will require me to make careful preparation before visiting the Programme so that I have a full awareness of how they are managing the Environment. This could involve looking at their Environmental Management Plan in detail and compiling a series of relevant questions before I make the visit. Both the training and my IEMA qualification should enable me to do this and carry out the audit effectively. Support mechanisms for self-development I would look to support from my line-manager and team members through the use of formal (1-2-1s) and ad-hoc reviews of my progress. Regular teleconferences or face-to-face meetings with members of the cohort who attended the same Leading and Managing Teams course could also be set up, where we could discuss our own personal progress and problems. These may prove to be extremely beneficial from a learning perspective for all concerned. I would also like to involve the Investment Projects Environment Manager and Environmental Specialists from the Programmes from the perspective of them being there to provide expert advice on technical questions. Two other support mechanisms which suit my learning style are testing and feedback. I am most comfortable with regularly testing my new skill sets as demonstrated with the Environmental training taking what I have learnt and applying it to actual situations in the workplace and obtaining feedback on what I did well and what I should look to improve on next time. This would provide me with the assurance that, not only do the techniques work, but also that I am progressing in the right direction. It would be an invaluable confidence builder both in my abilities and that the learning plan is delivering the desired results. Monitor and Evaluate Self-development One method to monitor and evaluate self-development I would monitor and review my learning using a learning log. This could be used to plan learning activities as milestones on the way to achieving the completed development activity and as a reference to check that milestones are being completed on time (through one-to-ones with the line manager). The log allows the user to focus in on the particular learning areas which are important to him, and to visualise the progress being made. For me, this would apply to areas such as assertiveness, communication skills and Environmental knowledge, for example. The log will allow others, such as team members and the line manager to understand what it is that an individual is trying to achieve and provide assistance and feedback where it is required. In addition, the learning log is a good tool for recording feedback, enabling the noting down of what went well and what could be improved with each learning activity as well as how the approach can be changed next time. Eventually, it should indicate for me, whether soft skills are still a learning area of me or whether I have shown, through practical demonstration, that I have mastered them. An example of a real learning log (extract) is attached as Appendix B to this assignment. For feedback to be effective, the Action Impact Do/Develop/Different model should be applied That is, the person giving the feedback should provide examples of what was done, its impact on the situation, and what should be done differently next time. This would allow the recipient to consider a different approach and modify his behaviour accordingly This is particular relevant to the skills I am trying to develop. Appendix A Personal SWOT Analysis Weaknesses I have a strong compulsive need to do things quickly especially when my to do list is long. Sometimes this has compromised my decision making ability. My need to keep the customer happy can sometimes lead to me acquiescing to his needs rather than defending my own position. I have a tendency to over-analyse what has happened in certain situations (even after I have prepared really well for them) when events have moved on and I can no longer do anything about them. I get a little nervous about presenting to members of the team and to customers. This can mean that these types of Presentation do not engage the audience as much as Id like. Strengths I have good analytical skills. I enjoy looking through data to determine conclusions and action planning to improve the current situation. I am very conscientious and deliver all work to the very best of my ability. I pride myself in organising my work so that it is always delivered on time. I go out of my way to satisfy or delight the customer. I am completely committed to the success of the team that I work for and creating a good impression of what we do to our customers/stakeholders. I have worked in Assurance/Quality related roles for over 20 years and have experience in most aspects of these functions. My job means a lot to me, I take it very seriously. Threats Potential future reorganisations meaning redundancy. Assurance becomes no longer a priority for the company. Perceptions and criticisms by customers and own team. 2012 move to Milton Keynes and the feasibility of commuting there on a daily basis. My current need for a lot of support from my line manager could be perceived that I no longer feel comfortable in taking decisions without someones help. Opportunities We are currently developing a customer feedback questionnaire which we will get our main stakeholders to complete. The output from this should help us to determine the areas we need to improve on going forward We have a lessons-learnt process and are always looking to improve the auditing process. That I take the knowledge Ive accumulated from the Leading and Managing Teams course and consistently look back on it and apply it to my day job. That I continue to work with my main customers to build a reputation with them so we are clear about what we expect from each other and that this leads to a positive working relationship which delivers results. Appendix B Learning Log (extract only) Date From Date to Activity What went well? What didnt go well? What you will do differently next time Nov. 09 Dec. 09 E-Learning Course Assertiveness The course was completed and all of the intermediate assessments passed There was no interaction element to the course how do you know it works in practice? This needs to be incorporated into 1-2-1 meetings to get feedback from line-management on how I am progressing/if this is still a development area for me. 23/11/09 23/11/09 Opening Meeting CrossRail audit All of the points on the agenda were covered Organisation was poor jumped from one topic to the next and then back again in a haphazard fashion Improve preparation plan out exactly which points to cover and at which times 12/01/10 12/01/10 Closing Meeting CrossRail audit Far more relaxed, bought the correct key people to the meeting deflected difficult questions to them at the right time Nothing to report do it the same next time. Carry this lesson forward for the 2010-11 National Core Audit Plan (NCAP). 15/02/2010 15/02/2010 One-day training session Environmental Management on Projects A good internal training session about how to apply the requirements of the Network Rail Environmental Management Handbook (Guide to Railway Projects Delivery Manual 04) on Projects Additional time to built into the course to go through some of the worked-examples in further detail. This knowledge needs to be applied in future as part of the 2010-11 NCAP audit of Environmental Management. Opportunity to be sought to take part in this section of the audit. Appendix C PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Preferred Learning Style/s Pragmatist/Theorist What do I want or need to develop? What actions / development will I do to achieve this? How will success be determined? Target dates for review and completion 1.My soft skills; e.g. Assertiveness, Listening, Coaching abilities E-Learning. Mentoring from my Line Manager. Experiences in my role. 1-2-1s; performance review meetings; improved confidence April 2010 (end of year review) 2. Understand Environmental Management on Network Rail Projects Network Rail course Environmental Management within Network Rail assisting National Core Audit Programme with Environmental auditing aspects. I will be able to carry out effective Environmental Audits of Network Rail Programme/Projects as determined both by Environmental Specialists on the Programmes and by the Investment Project Environment Manager. October 2010 and April 2011

Feminism in Post-war United States

The construction of a just and humane society, just like other social and institutional facts is a long and tedious process, nevertheless, the task needs to be done. Within the United States, the construction of such a society stands as a result of the various historical changes within the country, an example of which can be seen in the changes within the country after its participation in the Second World War. The country’s participation in Second World War proved to be beneficial for its citizens on certain aspects as it enabled what Reinhold Niebuhr would state as the emergence of the ‘children of light’.In line with Niehbur’s argument in his book The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness, the ‘children of light’ emerged within the post-World War II United States as the conditions within the country enabled the development of a society which opted for unity within the conditions of freedom and order (20-21). An example of this is ev ident in the development of the feminist movement in post-World War II United States. The feminist movement in the United States stands as a result of the nationalist and cultural movements in post-World War II United States.Feminist movements within the United States during this period took the form of either socialist feminism, radical feminism, or liberal feminism. Each of these strands of feminism focuses on issues pertaining to women’s exclusion from the political sphere; they differ however in their view as to what enables such an exclusion. Socialist feminists argue that such an exclusion stands as a result of the moral order of social organizations.Radical feminists, on the other hand, argue that such an exclusion stands as a result of the prevalent sex or gender system in society. Finally, liberal feminists argue that such an exclusion stands as a result of the inequality amongst the sexes. Despite the differences of these three strands of feminism mentioned above, t he development of these three strands shows the manner in which post-World War II United States opted for the development of equality between the sexes through the ascription not only of rationality but also agency upon women.Amongst the strands of feminism mentioned above, it is the initial strand [radical feminism] which proved to be significant for the development of the feminist movement during the initial period of post-World War II America as it highlighted the development of the second wave of feminism in the United States. Betty Friedan (1968), in her book The Feminine Mystique, specifies the difference between the first and second wave of feminism.She argues that as opposed to the first wave of feminism which was characterized by the creation of the ‘feminine mystique’ which enabled the discovery of women’s selves within the context of their initial roles in their careers, families, and relationships; the second wave of feminism was characterized by the deconstruction of the ‘feminine mystique’ as a result of women’s recognition of the continuously oppressive character of their initial ‘freed’ position in society (33-34). Since the second wave was influenced by the civil-rights protests and peace protests, it became more activist in character.An example of this activist character of the second wave of feminism is apparent in Kate Millet’s radical strand of feminism in her book Sexual Politics. Kate Millet (2000), in her book Sexual Politics, discusses one of the main issues of the feminist movement in post-World War II United States. Within her book, Millet argues that inequality between the sexes stands as a result of the unequal distribution of power amongst the sexes in society. She argues that women’s subordination stands as a result of the ideological indoctrination of women by a patriarchal society.She states that the â€Å"essence of politics† as power involves seeking to prove that â€Å"however muted its present appearance may be, sexual dominion obtains nevertheless as perhaps the most pervasive ideology of our culture and provides its most fundamental concepts of power† (Millet 25). The title of her book Sexual Politics thereby aims to present her view of how women’s subordination stands as a result of the continuation of patriarchal politics within both the private and public spheres of life.Millet divides her book into three parts. The first part entitled â€Å"Sexual Politics† presents Millet’s thesis regarding the nature of power relations between the sexes. The second part entitled â€Å"Historical Background† presents a survey of the feminist struggle within the United States during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Finally, the third part entitled â€Å"The Literary Reflection† presents Millet’s views as to how the power relations between the sexes are visible in the literary works of D.H. Lawrence, Henry Miller, Norman Mailer, and Jean Genet. Millet’s argument that the content of literary works mirrors the power relations between the sexes is based on the assumption that literature has a mimetic character. In other words, for Millet the content of literary works mirror reality and hence the content of literary works may be used as a means of gauging how women have been continuously subordinated by men through their indoctrination of a patriarchal ideology.Within this context, the importance of Millet’s aforementioned book may thereby be ascribed to its existence as a socio-historical text which takes literature as a source material for a hypothesis about the relationships between men and women in the non-literary world from the late nineteenth century to the present time. In addition to this, Millet’s book stands as the first text which uses a feminist approach in reading or interpreting literary works.In line with Niehbur’s claim re garding the emergence of the ‘children of light’, one may note that the development of the feminist movement in post-World War II United States showed an example of the emergence of the ‘children of light’ since the movement enabled the development of a United States which opted for the equality between the sexes thereby creating a free and orderly society through the emergence of works that not only subverted the predominant ideology in society during that period but also created a new perspective in understanding reality.In the case of Kate Millet’s Sexual Politics, this is evident in her creation of a feminist standpoint for assessing literary works.

Communism in China Essays - 841 Words

Communism is a system of government, a political ideology that rejects private ownership and promotes a classless, stateless society based on common ownership of all property and the means of production, where by all work is shared and all proceeds are commonly owned. Communism is practised in China, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cuba. However most of the world’s communist governments have been disbanded since the end of World War II. Soon after the Japanese surrendered at the end of World War II, Communist forces began a war against the Kuomintang in China. The Communists gradually gained control of the country and on the 1st October, 1949, Mao Zedong announced the victory of the Communist party and the establishment of the Peoples†¦show more content†¦The arrival of Chiangs armies into many rural areas often indicated theft, rape, and murders to common villagers, while Maos armies were more educated and trained to protect the needs of the peasants in order to win their support. Where the landlords and peasants initially supported the Guomindang, and students and intellectuals looked to the Nationalists for salvation, both sections of the community began to embrace and support the communist ideals. As public services such as health and education suffered under the GMD and living conditions in rural areas worsened, civilians rapidly joined the Communist party. Many soldiers who fought for the Nationals changed sides and began fighting for communism. The essential focus of Mao’s revolution revolved solely around the peasants who made up 85% of the population. His new land reforms meant taking land from rich landlords and dividing it amongst poorer peasants. Mao also introduced national health care as 95% of individuals in China had never seen a doctor The PLA rapidly expanded with more peasants joining. In 1947 the Communists captured their new capital, Yan’an and in 1948 they attacked the GMD army capturing all the major cities- Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The Americans originally supported the GMD as they wanted China ( the GMD and Communists) to form a joint government in order to fight Japan- America’s enemy. They finally cut off all aid to the GMD troopsShow MoreRelatedCommunism in China1581 Words   |  7 PagesCommunism in China as we know has played a major role in the countries political system over the past century. Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao were the co-founders of the communist party in 1921. At the time China was in a world or turmoil ever since the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. For 10 years China was lost in a world with new ideas coming from all over the world. At the time, Duxiu and Dazhao saw an opportunity to bring change throughout a weakened China and they exploited it. The communist inf luenceRead MoreEssay on Communism In China1087 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Communism in China Chinese Revolution In 1949 the communist leader Mao Zedong decided upon the creation of the People’s Republic of China or PRC, which then resulted in the end of a full scale civil war between Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Nationalist Party. This war happened immediately after WWII. They stormed through China, over running cities and taking power from warlords. In the middle of the Chinese unrest the Japanese attacked Manchuria, the Government of the RepublicRead MoreRise of Communism in China3062 Words   |  13 PagesRise of Communism in China Introduction The main reason why the Communists came to power in China was because of the failing policies and actions used by Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalists) of which the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) took advantage. However in addition to that, there were also significant factors such as the poor conditions during the beginning of the twentieth century in the Republic of China and the Japanese War (1937 Ââ€" 1945), that led to the insufficiency and weakness of the GMDRead More China vs. North Korea: Communism Essay1234 Words   |  5 PagesThe United States and China. That statement could be said about certain aspects of the three countries when looking purely at what is written on paper. According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Fact Book all three countries have the essential three branches of government; executive, legislative, and judicial (2012). But it takes little effort to peel away the first layer and see the vast differences between The United States and the com munist countries of China and North Korea. ThisRead MoreCommunism And Communism Similarities804 Words   |  4 Pages China and Russia are seen as two of the most powerful nations in the world. Their strong military, economy, and large amount of land and population. These two nations have many similarities and differences that effect their relationship and how other nations see them across the globe. One major trait they have in common in their governments political view, communism. Communism was seen as one of the biggest threats to the world once it swallowed China and Russia. Communism is â€Å"a theory or systemRead MoreMarxism And Communism753 Words   |  4 PagesIn the western world, people view communism as a conquered historical ideology, but communism continues to influence the world today. China, the fourth largest country on the earth, displays the label of communism today. Communism is a ‘classless’ ideology in which all property is owned by a large community and each person receives according to their needs and abilities. Communism is a set of ideas including several different variations and schemes on the philosophy. However, the most accepted andRead MoreInfluences of China Essay698 Words   |  3 Pagesrhythms of nature and the way of all things (World Religions); which effects people’s personal beliefs and is one of China’s main religions. Confucianism helped pave the way for communism and still is a powerful philosophy today. The ideas of Legalism directly affect the Chinese government. Despite the fact that modern China is one of the largest countries in terms of geography and population, its communist government is able to maintain control over the country in part because of the influence ofRead MoreEssay on China and Taiwan809 Words   |  4 PagesChina and Taiwan Historically, the Taiwan problem originated after the Nationalist and Communist Chinese re-ignited the Civil War. They had previously settled their disputes temporarily, to defend the invasion of the Japanese in the 1930s. The Civil War started again in 1946, only a year after fighting ceased at the end of the Second World War. The Communists were commanded by Mao Tse Tung, and the Nationalists were being lead by Chiang Kia-Shek. However, the Nationalists had the advantage of USRead More2 Years After World War 2 A New Enemy Was Rising That Was1613 Words   |  7 Pages2 years after World War 2 a new enemy was rising that was not just a country or person but communism. Following the end of WW2, the Soviets were spreading their new ideology to several small countries from Poland to north Korea. As communism gained in popularity the US became increasingly concerned about a potential fall in capitalism and democracy. This fear resulted in the Cold War: a social, political, economic con flict between the US and the USSR. The Cold War lasted 44 years and 9 differentRead MoreThe Function of the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan in Preventing the Spread of Communism During the Cold War952 Words   |  4 PagesKorean War , although successful in preventing the spread of communism, was one of the first tests of communism in Asia. North Korea was strictly communist while South Korea was democratic. As usual, the United States supported democratic South Korea and the Truman Doctrine was applied to the Korean situation. The North Korean forces crossed the dividing line (38th parallel) and invaded South Korea. Thus, they provoked a war over communism. With the possibility of democratic South Korea falling to

Freedom and Reason In Kant Essay - 1560 Words

Freedom and Reason in Kant Morality, Kant says, cannot be regarded as a set of rules which prescribe the means necessary to the achievement of a given end; its rules must be obeyed without consideration of the consequences that will follow from doing so or not. A principle that presupposes a desired object as the determinant of the will cannot give rise to a moral law; that is, the morality of an act of will cannot be determined by the matter or content of the will for when the will is materially determined the question of its morality does not arise. This consideration leads Kant to one of his most important theses. If the moral character of willing is not determined by the content of what is willed, it must be determined†¦show more content†¦Is the problem to be understood as if the Categorical Imperative is possible, or how it is possible? In the Critics of Pure Reason, the problem regarding the synthetic a priori judgments concerns just the modality in which they can be applied. The fact that they are actually possible is proved by the synthetic a priori judgment contained in sciences as mathematics and physics which are trustworthy sciences. Metaphysics, however, is not a reliable science and, therefore, Kant suggests that we should look not only for the modality in which they can be applied, but also for their reliability. Similarly, the Metaphysics of Morals must prove the validity of the moral imperative. As Paton suggested, Kant tries to show not only how the Categorical Imperative is possible, but also that it is possible.[ Furthermore, we have not asserted the truth of this proposition, much less professed to have within our power a proof of it. We simply showed by developing the universally accepted concept of morality, that autonomy of the will is unavoidably bound up with it, or rather is its very foundation par. 445]. The condition for the possibility of the Categorical Imperative is Freedom. The third section contains a demonstration of Freedom which Kant tries to derive by means of excluding at least other two ways. A first would be to assert that Freedom is experienced by us, that it is sensed, but this is not theShow MoreRelatedWhat is Enlightenment? Emmanuel Kant1086 Words   |  5 PagesIn his essay writing â€Å"What is Enlightenment?† Immanuel Kant defines enlightenment as â€Å"man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity† (Kant, 1). In order for us to completely understand this definition, we must first understand what Kant meant by â€Å"Immaturity†. In the writing Kant defines immaturity as â€Å"the inability to use one’s understanding without the guidance from another†(Kant, 1). Furthermore, Kant believes that this immaturity is self-imposed, and that it is the individual’s fault for lackingRead MoreKant s Views On Freedom Essay1302 Words   |  6 Pageswill outline how my understanding of freedom has changed since reading Immanuel Kant’s An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment? Firstly, I will state the views that I held on freedom before I re ad the text, framing them within a political context by labelling myself as a civil libertarian and explaining what that means. Subsequently, I will provide my interpretation of Kant’s views on freedom through the â€Å"positive† and â€Å"negative† senses and how, for Kant, that there ought to be a distinctionRead MoreKant And Locke On Freedom1118 Words   |  5 PagesPROFESSOR NAME CLASS NAME 24 October 2015 Kant and Locke on Freedom The concept of freedom has long been a popular tenet for philosophers to explore. From ancient Greek origins to the present day, many individuals have discussed the importance of freedom and the role it plays within society in an effort to define its relationship to the human condition. Two philosophers that have studied freedom in depth are John Locke and Immanuel Kant. Both philosophers viewed freedom as playing a major role in society;Read MoreImmanuel Kant and The Enlightenment Era1077 Words   |  4 PagesIn his essay writing â€Å"What is Enlightenment?† Immanuel Kant defines enlightenment as â€Å"man’s emergence from his self-imposed immaturity† (Kant, 1). In order for us to completely understand this definition, we must first understand what Kant meant by â€Å"Immaturity†. In the writing Kant defines immaturity as â€Å"the inability to use one’s understanding without the guidance from another†(Kant, 1). Furthermore, Kant believes that this immaturity is self-imposed, and that it is the individual’s fault for lackingRead MoreKant’s Argugument for the Existance of Supreme Moral Law1639 Words   |  7 PagesMetaphysics of Morals, Kant has established that, if there were a supreme moral law, it would look like the categorical imperative. His task in the final section of the Groundwork is to show that there does in fact exist such a moral law by proving that we have free wills, and secondary to this, he wants to show why we actually take an interest in morality. This paper will provide an account and evaluate the success of Kant’s argument in this final section. By the start of section III, Kant has finished developingRead MoreKant s Theory On Personal Enlightenment1196 Words   |  5 PagesTariq Al-Bakri Dahlia Guzman PHI1103.006 12/04/2015 Kant’s theory on personal enlightenment Immanuel Kant is definitely one of the most pivotal thinkers in the history of philosophy. His enlightenment theory has become well-known throughout the world and at the same time it immortalized the name of this great German philosopher. Kant defined enlightenment as ability of man to use his own understanding without guidance from another and hence to escape from his self-imposed immaturity. According toRead MoreWhat Is Enlightenment1120 Words   |  5 PagesIn his essay titled What is Enlightenment? Immanuel Kant defines enlightenment as mans leaving his self-caused immaturity. (145) In order to fully comprehend his definition, one must first clearly understand Kants use of the term immaturity. He explains that immaturity is not thinking for oneself because of a lack of determination and courage to use ones intelligence without being guided by another. (145) To Kant, immaturity is the individuals fault. He explains that a pattern of immaturityRead MoreThe Future Of Enlightenment996 Words   |  4 Pages Enlightenment was a prevalent topic in the 18th century. In 1784 Kant, Immanuel wrote An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?. In which Kant sheds light on the distinction between public and private reason using many different instances. Kant proposes that public use of freedom is essential for enlightenment, but says the private reason is not as useful as public. Similarly, this paper will argue that public freedom can more effectively lead to enlightenment, but private reasoning canRead MoreKant s Views On The Enlightenment And Modernity923 Words   |  4 PagesThe thinkers I have chosen to answer this essay question are J.J. Rousseau and I. Kant. Both thinkers agreed that the Enlightenment would change society as they knew it, that it would allow the human being to develop, both individually and socially. I will consider both thinker’s attitudes as regards to the Enlightenment and Modernity, the individual, and finally to the individual’s responsibility i n helping humanity progress towards a peaceful international community. The Enlightenment is the socialRead MoreThe Ideal Ruler Of Kant s Ruler1070 Words   |  5 PagesEnlightenment writer, Immanuel Kant. Although Niccolà ² Machiavelli and Immanuel Kant lived 250 years apart, both views have advantages and disadvantages in leading a country, Kant s ruler is a early model of a democratic ruler while Machiavelli s ruler was an ideal model for a absolute monarch. Immanuel Kant s view of an ideal leader is more beneficial to the European society during the Enlightenment since it reflect the characteristics of a democratic ruler. The ideal ruler Kant describes is fair, protects

Cyberbullying An Act Of Aggressive Act - 1466 Words

Bullying can be define as an act of aggressive act that is intentional, Taking force upon someone who cannot defend themselves from an individual or group. Cyberbullying is nearly the same thing as bullying but is done online, using electronic devices such as phones, emails, and social networks. Cyberbullying can happen in many different ways , through phone calls, text messages, blogs, pictures and more. The availability of internet makes it easier for bullying to take place in the long run this can cause numerous problems. The effects of bullying can cause suicides, depression and isolation. Daily around the world kids are getting bullied . Frightened and unable to say what is going on to anyone. There has been novels , movies and†¦show more content†¦Cyberbullying happen 24/7 on phones , laptops , tablets and many other technology things that young people use today. Cyberbullying takes away your privacy, sharing it with others. Four in ten teens have experienced online bullying; girls are twice as likely to be victims and criminals of cyberbullying (Phillips). Girls are more likely to engage in social sabotage of other people (Phillips). Girls have the mindset of trying to be better than others and are willing to do anything to advance them. Boys are more likely to bully girls and other males who are not as confident (Phillips). Boys whether bullying these type of people so things would not happen to them. Cyberbullying is mostly done by 15 and 16 year olds (Phillips). This is age group when teens uses technology heavily. The more people post on social sites and the more they share their information the easier it may be to get attacked by a cyberbully. Cyberbullying is real and often more frightening than face to face bullying (Phillips). Similar to stalking victims can often feel helpless and isolate and ashamed, and not willing to share with friends or parents about what is going on (Shpantzer). The groups feared that they will be restricted from electronic devices if they told parents or that they might overreact (Phillips). This should not keep anybody from telling someone how someone is treating them. Studies have indicated that the number of youth

Religion-Effect of Dispossession on Aboriginals Free Essays

Religion Discuss the connection between the dreaming and the land rights movement. Aboriginal spirituality is determined by the dreaming. The dreaming is a complex concept of fundamental importance to Aboriginal culture, embracing the creative era long past of the ancestral beings as well as the present and the future. We will write a custom essay sample on Religion-Effect of Dispossession on Aboriginals or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Dreaming’s importance to the aboriginal people is emphasised through it providing for the obligations and responsibility of the aboriginal people, and furthermore accounting for their past, present, and future. The dispossession of land of the aboriginal people has led to various problems, including psychological and social issues experienced by communities and individuals, who in the past, have been forcibly removed from their land, their ‘home’. The Land Rights Movement is a movement targeted at recognising the issue of dispossession and progressing towards a. Thus Land Rights Movement, a movement based on the claims by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to repossession and compensation for white use of their lands and sacred sites, became the resolution. The motivation of this movement was ultimately base upon Aboriginal peoples reliance on a sense of spirituality connected to the land. As the movement strengthened, so too did the awareness of the effect of the dispossession, leading to an increase in the movement itself, and also enforcing the Aboriginal people’s sense of spirituality. Essentially, it becomes evident that the importance of the Dreaming was ultimately the reason for, and motivation behind the Land Rights movement. Thus it is needless to say that the Dreaming is fundamental to the Lands Rights Movement. Analyse the importance of the Dreaming for the land rights movement Land rights are of critical importance in relation to Aboriginal spirituality, because the Dreaming is inextricably connected with the land. Therefore the dispossession of Aboriginal native land is also the dispossession of Aboriginal spirituality. The link between the Dreaming, land and afterlife holds significance spiritual importance to the Aboriginal peoples as the land is the resting place for all aboriginal beings. Furthermore each Aboriginal community is connected with the land through their spiritual totems. Specific areas of Aboriginal communities’ have important spiritual meaning for those particular groups of aboriginal people-these are known as sacred sites. What’s caratagoried in ever aboriginal sacred site is the connection to the Dreaming and aboriginal mythology. There are special responsibilities attached to sacred sites such as important ceremonies like weddings and it could be a place of death for an aboriginal elder. The identity of an Aboriginal person is inextricably linked to the land and hence the land is like a mother for the people. How to cite Religion-Effect of Dispossession on Aboriginals, Essay examples

Business Analysis Project Operation

Question: Discuss about the Business Analysis Project Operation. Answer: Introduction In order to execute the business operation in a strategic way, a Business Analysis Plan (BAP) is highly required (Simon-Moya and Revuelto-Taboada, 2016). The prime benefits of the business analysis plan are to offer a clear business analysis approach and an opportunity to the project manager. According to the opinion of Venables (2007), a proper BAP helps to increase the business credibility, so that the business analyst could make more accurate estimates for the project. The current study attempts to evaluate the business analysis plan for the automobile company Volkswagen. While conducting the study financial analysis, strategic analysis of the firm has been analysed by the research associate. Furthermore, a strategic recommendation provided in the study indicates that Volkswagen needs some modification to rectify the strategic errors in the competitive market. Purpose The purpose of the study is to analyse the business plan of Volkswagen with the competitors like BMW and the Merchedez Benz. The analysis of the business plan is highly required to lead the success of the business operation for preserving a sustainable market position. Case context of analysis As per the report of the Automobile sector, the automobile industry is continuously developing in nowadays. The robust growth of the automobile technologies influences the companies to uphold the new technological advancement in the product and business plan. Thus, Venkatesh (2013) stated that the automakers are continuously trying to enable the potential ability as per the product trends. The idea of the autonomous vehicles is too futuristic to represent new developments and enormous opportunities to the global automotive market (Hilman and Mohamed, 2011). Thus, the present situation of the auto industry has inspired the scholars to select the automobile industry in the currents study context. Adding to this, the issues of Volkswagen and the deprived market condition of the firm has influenced the researcher to elect the specific firm. Besides that, it has been speculated that BMW and the Mercedes Benz have a competitive market position across the world. Hence, these two companies h ave chosen for conducting the comparative analysis. Moreover, the growing trend of the automobile industry is the prime reason to select the specific case context for the critical and comparative analysis. Key issues The strategic management issue is considered one of the key issues for the brand Volkswagen. The emission of the air pollutants was happening globally, which indicates a critical strategic issue occurring from the managements end. In the words of Mansouri (2016), the pollutants also involved smog-inducing Nitrogen Oxides, which contributes major respiratory problems and even premature deaths. The lack of strategic alignment has disrupted the innovation of Volkswagen, and the firm failed to manage the climate risk along with the social equity into the overall corporate strategy. Thus, the lack of proper regulation, financial controllability, adequate audit, a disintegration of balance score card and lack of reliance on good governance can be considered the major issues of the brand Volkswagen. Ration related to the chosen companies According to the given case study, it has been observed that Volkswagen has currently faced a crucial situation regarding earning revenue, due to the carbon emission issue with the models. This is one of the major points to select the company to understand the fundamental reason of key issues and the proper mitigation action. Considering the view of Eapen and Annamalai (2014), the leading companies BMW and Mercedez-Benz is creating more new models to attain the concentration of the middle-class customers. This factor has made the situation more exciting as BMW and Mercedes-Benz are luxury car makers for the upper level of customers. Thus, these two car companies have chosen for analysing the individual business plan in the current study context. Key issues: Financial analysis Revenue analysis and forecast Volkswagen Group Malaysia is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, established on 16th February 2006. The headquarters is situated at Wisma in Kuala Lumpur, supported by a 150 strong workforce. According to Millipore (2007), Volkswagen AG is one of the largest car manufacturers in the world, selling 9million (Approximate) vehicles worldwide. The brand includes passenger cars, like Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Bugatti and Ducati to name a few. Volkswagen also caters to the low-end customers with flexible price cars and offers other financial services. The revenue of Volkswagen has increased in the year 2015 by a margin of 5%. The increase in revenue is partly due to globalisation and catering to both high-end and low-end customers. The following table can further elaborate the increase in revenue: Volkswagen revenue table Particulars 2015 2014 Change Absolute Relative Sale of vehicle 139990 134627 5363 4% Sale of genuine parts 14625 13642 983 7% Used vehicles and third party product 11106 10090 1016 10% Engine, power trains and parts deliveries 8763 10021 -1258 -13% Power engineering 3769 3728 41 1% Sale of Motorcycles 564 458 106 23% Leasing business 20085 16384 3701 23% Interest and similar income 6755 6375 380 6% Other sales revenue 7635 7133 502 7% Total revenue 213292 202458 10834 5% Graphically the growth of revenue is shown in Table 1: Table 1: Volkswagen revenue table (Source: www.forbes.com, 2016) Revenue of BMW: BMW Malaysia is a joint venture between BMW AG and Sime Darby Berhad. BMW covers a significant portion of Malaysian automobile market. The dealership network comprises 31 outlets in various cities in Malaysia. The revenue of BMW has increased considerably in the year 2015 by a margin of 15% that is 10% more than Volkswagen (Volkswagen growth in revenue 5% in FY 2015). To put BMW in a better financial state and ensures a firm market share (Nepram et al. 2011). The revenue growth of BMW can be shown graphically in table 2: Figure 1: Revenue of BMW (Source: www.bmw.in, 2016) Revenue of Mercedes Benz: Mercedes-Benz is a global automobile manufacturer. Mercedes-Benz is a division of the German company Daimler AG. Benz is known for its luxury vehicles, buses and trucks. The revenue growth of Mercedes-Benz is vigorous and stable, matching that of BMWs. Edwards (2012). States that the growth of income of Benz exceeds Volkswagens revenue growth by 10%. The above statement can be explained further in Table 3: Figure 2: Revenue of Mercedes Benz (Source: www.mercedes-benz.co.in, 2016) Market share growth The Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) monitors the sales data and market share for all automobile company within its authorised range. Vehicles are ranked according to their sales in units, and the portion of the market it occupies. Volkswagen Volkswagen is currently ranked at 12th position with 6,405 unit's sales. The market share of Volkswagen is currently behind BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which are at 11th and 10th place respectively, according to the number of units sold by the companies. Volkswagen currently occupies 1% of the total market share in Malaysia. BMW BMW is ranked presently at 11th position with 7,515 unit's sales. The market share of BMW is low compared to Mercedes-Benz, which is at 10th position, with the highest number of units sold compared to Volkswagen and BMW. BMW currently occupies 1.1% of total market share in Malaysia. Mercedes Benz Mercedes-Benz is ranked at 10th place with 11,034 units sales. Benz occupies the highest percentage of market share in Malaysia, with 1.7% market share. The market share is due to high goodwill, aggressive marketing, and customer satisfaction. The market share of Volkswagen is in the lowest position compared to BMW and Mercedes-Benz, owing to increased competition, changing customer preferences, etc. Profit margins The main objective of an organisation is to earn a profit. The viability and sustainability of a company depend on its ability to earn a profit. To earn shareholders interest, the company's financial statement must show a promise of growth, profitability and stability. Kim et al. (2010) state that, according to the appendix given below, Volkswagen has suffered a major loss in the FY 2015 by a margin of 109%. The main reason for suffering such a loss can be attributed majorly to the increase of operating expense, which are, false interpretation of foreign currency hedging derivatives that has adversely impacted the profitability of Volkswagen. A loss arising from foreign exchange activities is another major cause that has impacted Volkswagen negatively. Termination of agreements has impacted the profitability table adversely, and earning loss on disposal of noncurrent assets is another major factor for suffering a loss in the FY 2015. The above explanation can be graphically represented below as: Figure 3: Profit Margin Volkswagen (Source: www.forbes.com, 2016) The loss from operating expenses can be explained in details in Table 2. Volkswagen Loss from operating expense Particulars 2015 2014 Change Absolute Relative Valuation allowances on receivables and other assets 1674 1150 524 46% Loss from foreign currency hedging activities 5083 1003 4080 407% Foreign exchange loss 3260 1972 1288 65% Expense from cost allocation 695 566 129 23% Expense from termination of agreement 502 193 309 160% Losses on disposal of noncurrent asset 106 105 1 1% Misc. and other expense 8853 2004 6849 342% Total Profit or Loss 20173 6993 13180 188% Table 2: Volkswagen Loss from operating expense Profit Margin of BMW: The profit margin of BMW has increased 6% in FY 2015, since last year, which is good, compared to Volkswagen, which suffered a loss, by a margin of 109% (FY 2015). This is a result of better administrative and operating activities. The profit margin can be graphically represented in the table below: Figure 4: Profit Margin of BMW (Source: www.bmw.in, 2016) Profit of Mercedes Benz: Mercedes-Benz is one of the leading automobile companies in the global market. Benz has a profit margin of 25% in the FY 2015. This is majorly due to low operating expenses (52%) and increased interest income (17%). Volkswagen is in a weak position compared to Mercedes-Benz, simply because in the FY 2015, Volkswagen earned a loss of 16095million, compared to Mercedes Benz that earned a profit of 2571million in the same year. The profit margin of Mercedes Benz can be graphically represented in table below: Figure 5: Profit of Mercedes Benz (Source: www.mercedes-benz.co.in, 2016) Price earnings ratios PE ratio of the firm in 2015 is negative. It shows pessimistic view about the firm. However, the PE remains positive in the previous years. The appendix below shows the PE ratio for last five years. Debt level (gearing ratio) Volkswagen is heavily dependent on loans. BMW and Mercedes-Benz also have debt burden in their overall capital structure. However, Volkswagen is not able to manage the finance cost burden as the firm suffers a loss in FY2015. Cash and any other ratio that are specific to industry ) Current Ratio for Volkswagen AG for 2014 and 2015 is computed to be 1.00 and 0.98 respectively. This shows that the firm's liquidity position is at par with standard industry margin. On the other hand, the same for BMW stands at an average of 0.95 in 2014 and 2015. However, Daimler group enjoys superiority in this segment as the same is approximately 1.17 in last two years. Key issue: Strategic analysis Market and competitor analysis (Porters five forces) Competitive Rivalry: In the Malaysian automotive market, the competitive rivalry is moderate for the brand Volkswagen (De Munck and Ferreras, 2013). In the words of Fitzpatrick et al. (2015), the automotive sector has a greater competitive rivalry in the affordable family car domain. It has been identified that affordable cars have the most significant potential to capture target customers in the Malaysian market. At the same time, for the brand BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the competitive rivalry is same as each other. The government intervention to launch proficient hybrid vehicle is also increasing competitive rivalry for all three brands Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Threat of New Entrant: The new entrant has a higher risk in the Malaysian premium automotive sector (Grundy, 2006). The current recession in the economy is creating troubles on firms like Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz to attain lesser sales volume as compared to the project sales value. On the other hand, the market condition of Volkswagen is crucial due to the ethical and operational issues met by the firm (Mansouri, 2016). At the same time, the threat of new entrant has been found lesser for both the competitors, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, due to the innovative product offerings at a competitive pricing strategy. Threat of Substitutes: The threat of the substitutes is high for Volkswagen in the Malaysian automotive market. The product innovativeness and additional features are getting improved by the competitors. The profit before tax of Volkswagen has been found negative due to the lack of synergy between the invested money and the overall revenue earned in the individual financial year. In this context, Kirstein (2010) stated that the threat of substitute is comparatively lesser for the brand Mercedes-Benz and BMW, due to the introduction of innovative car models in a cheap pricing strategy. Buyer Power: The buyer power is greater for the brand Volkswagen in the Malaysian market. The brand recognition has become weak in the name due to its sustainability issues. On the contrary, Mohan (2012) stated that due to the introduction of C-Class car along with other cheap model cars have enabled BMW reducing the power of the Malaysian buyers towards the brand. Also, Mansouri (2016) also stated that Mercedes-Benz has also increased the revenue up to 15% in the Malaysian luxury car market. Thus, it can be said that the buyer power in the luxury car segment is lesser for the Mercedes-Benz and BMW, as compared to the brand Volkswagen. Supplier Power: The supplier power is greater in the Malaysian luxury car market for the brand Volkswagen. As the current brand value of Volkswagen is comparatively lesser than other rivals, the supplier imposes greater power to the brand. On the contrary, Fitzpatrick et al. (2015) stated that since the name recognition of Mercedes Benz and BMW is higher in the Malaysian automotive market. Thus, the power of the suppliers of those brands will also be lesser. Therefore, the overall competitive analysis indicates that the market growth of Volkswagen could be at a crucial position in the Malaysian luxury automotive market. Operations and organisations (Balance-score card) Financial perspective: Parameters Current scenario Measures Initiatives Operating Expenses The operating expense of Volkwagen is (188%) (Mays, 2015). However, the expense margin of BMW is (6%) and Merchedez Benz is (52%). Volkswagen is targeting to make reduction the operating expenses ratio in the next financial quarter (Jullien and Pardi, 2013). The management of the firm has increased the selection criteria of the recruitment process to improve the employee efficacy. Revenue Growth In the FY 2014, the brand has experienced a market share of 22% (Parente and Geleilate, 2015). In 2015, the revenue margin has dropped up to 5%. However, the revenue margin of both BMW and Merchedez Benz are 15%. Volkswagen is trying to increase the revenue margin by 6% in 2017. The management of the brand has increased the product measures and the reduced the price margin to convince the major segments of the Malaysian market. Customer perspectives: Parameters Current scenario Measures Initiatives Product dimensions Volkswagen has introduced various product dimensions like The New Jetta, The Cross Touram, The Sharan, etc. According to Jullien and Pardi (2013), the Malaysian customers projected better response towards the car models of the competitors. More research and development actions are undertaken to understand the accurate customer criteria regarding the premium car segments. Customer relationship The enterprise has managed to maintain a significant relationship with the customers. The customer retention ratio of Volkswagen is 47% and 57% is for Mercedes-Benz (www.4wheelsnews.com, 2016). Improving the production process to limit the CO2 emission. BMW is improving its CRM (Customer Relationship Measures). Internal Business Process: Parameters Current scenario Measures Initiatives Productivity The Volkswagen has experienced a sudden drop in the profit margin by 1.8% of sales within the first three months of 2014 (www.forbes.com, 2015). The management wants the enterprise to have a 6% profit margin, which is almost double than its 2013 profit margin of 2.9%. The revenue of BMW and Mercedes-Benz is 15%. All the brands have introduced the lean operational process in the production process. Manufacturing Distinction The manufacturing process includes the steps like, body shop, paint shop and assembly room. Reducing the production based errors. Similarly, a control measure is places in each of the work stations to review the manufacturing process step by step. Employee learning and growth: Parameters Current scenario Measures Initiatives Training and development The management includes various vocational training sessions to its employees. BMW is presently training an approximate figure of twenty thousand young employees in all the vocational training. Volkswagen includes an advancement program for the women employees. Hiring professing trainer. Improving the innovativeness through RD The brand has managed to introduce a diversified range of new products within an affordable price margin. In 2016, Volkswagen has introduced two car models, Polo GTi and Volkswagen Tiguan, which has received a huge customer response (www.volkswagen-poznan.pl, 2016). The management has increased the investment on the RD team. The similar approach is taken by BMW and Mercedes-Benz Limitations of Financials models and conventional analysis Limitation of financial models The limitation in analysing financial performance is that the financial analysis is based on historical data. The data is not current; that is the future performance of an organisation cannot be stated for sure, it can only be assumed. One of the major limitations of financial statement is that it is based on assumptions. Limitation of conventional analysis The conventional models are highly controversial by nature (Avlonitis and Indounas, 2007). The attributes evaluated in the methods might not be applicable for all the brand types. Therefore, an exclusive belief on the model might result to an unauthentic conclusion. The industry scenario of each of the firms are different, therefore, the entrepreneurs require understanding the acute framework that mitigate with the brand criteria. Conclusion The firm suffers from loss. Its market capitalisation through huge, loan burden does not allow the firm to manage much of its current assets. The overall outlook in the long run through looks positive, initial and current outlook of the company in 2015 does not seem to be much more investor friendly. The overall market competitiveness analysis shows that the market reputation of Volkswagen is lesser compared to the rivals like Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The competitive rivalry, buyer power and the supplier power all three factors are higher for the brand Volkswagen. Thus, the strategic alignment needs to be revised to improve the current market potential of the brand Volkswagen. However, the sustainability issue of the Volkswagen might get resolved in the future in accordance with the improvement of itsstrategic management process. Recommendations Out of the calculation mentioned above and analysis, it is inferred that Volkswagen AG though suffers a loss in the current year, however, its viability in future in strong. Sustainability is not an issue for this automobile giant. Though, a few key performance indicators show a negative trend, however, the future outlook remains bright. However, investors are encouraged to buy the shares of the Volkswagen as the market price as comparatively low as of now. Since the price fluctuates heavily, investors who are interested in short-term prospect, should not go for the shares of the firm. Growth is not an issue in the long run and hence long-term outlook remain solid and strong enough for the firm. Training and Development Programme The goal of the Volkswagen group is to identify and elevate the performance measures in the globally competitive market. Thus, the firm needs to develop the leadership competence, personnel management and the international development programme. It has been speculated that the vocational and professional training programme provided by the management of the firm would help to boost up the employee performance (Hanifah and Mohamed, 2011). In this regards Venkatesh (2013) also added that advancement of women employee would help the firm to increase the revenue margin as the company has less focus in the segment women creativity. As per the report of the different scholars, the particular advancement of female talent is one of the integral elements for the personnel development programme. According to the opinion of Simon-Moya and Revuelto-Taboada (2016), the advancement women training and development programme would help the Volkswagen group to systemise the overall operation. The voice modulation factor of women, which is highly attractive rather than the men segment would also be helpful for the firm to convince the customers. Adding to this, it has been observed that the revenue of the competitors of Volkswagen such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz is 15% respectively in the current financial year. On the other hand, Volkswagen has earned only 5% profit margin, which is very low compared to the rival groups (www.volkswagen.co.in, 2016). Thus, the firm needs some potential strategic planning to increase the revenue margin. Hence, women advancement training programme would be a significant contribution to creating a dedicated team effort for the betterment of the company. Reference: 2015, B.A. (2015) Home. Available at: https://www.bmw.in/en/index.html?bmw=sea_in_BMWBrand_Google_sngclid=CjwKEAjw3Nq9BRCw8OD6s4eI5HASJABsfCIaSNKS1GAq1CDdQP_JiQH4UsXx2IopZmkuk3W0fMaxixoCun3w_wcB (Accessed: 19 August 2016). Avlonitis, G.J. and Indounas, K.A. (2007) An empirical examination of the pricing policies and their antecedents in the services sector,European Journal of Marketing, 41(7/8), pp. 740764. Car production(no date) Available at: https://www.volkswagen-poznan.pl/en/car-production (Accessed: 19 August 2016). Christian, A. (2016)VW brand plans $6.8 billion savings and productivity boost to improve margin. Available at: https://www.4wheelsnews.com/auto/vw-brand-plans-6-8-billion-savings-and-productivity-boost-to-improve-margin-32261.html (Accessed: 19 August 2016). De Munck, J. and Ferreras, I. (2013) Restructuring processes and capability for voice: Case study of Volkswagen, Brussels, International Journal of Manpower, 34(4), pp. 397412. Eapen, M. and Annamalai, S. (2014) A study on job satisfaction among employees in an automobile sales and service company, Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 7(1), p. 15. Edwards, S. (2012). Revenue management: Maximising revenue in hospitality operations. Journal of Revenue and Pricing Management, 12(1), 9495. Fitzpatrick, B.D., Nguyen, Q.Q.A. and Cayan, Z. (2015) An upgrade to competitive corporate analysis: Creation of A personal finance platform to strengthen porters Five competitive forces model in utilizing, Journal of Business Economics Research (JBER), 13(1), p. 54. Grundy, T. (2006) Rethinking and reinventing Michael Porters five forces model, Strategic Change, 15(5), pp. 213229. Hanifah, M.Z.M. and Mohamed, Z.A. (2011) Value configuration through value chain for competitive advantage, J. for Global Business Advancement, 4(4), p. 368. Hilman, H. and Mohamed, Z.A. (2011) Building new competitive advantage through match between specific types of strategic flexibility and sourcing strategy, J. for Global Business Advancement, 4(4), p. 356. Jullien, B. and Pardi, T. (2013) Structuring new automotive industries, restructuring old automotive industries and the new geopolitics of the global automotive sector,International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 13(2), p. 96. Jullien, B. and Pardi, T. (2013) Structuring new automotive industries, restructuring old automotive industries and the new geopolitics of the global automotive sector,International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management, 13(2), p. 96. Kim, H. S., Brorsen, B. W., Anderson, K. B. (2010). Profit margin hedging. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 92(3), 638653. Kirstein, R. (2010) Volkswagen vs. Porsche: A power-index analysis, International Journal of Corporate Governance, 2(1), p. 1. Mansouri, N. (2016) A case study of Volkswagen unethical practice in diesel emission test, International Journal of Science and Engineering Applications, 5(4), pp. 211216. Mays, K. (2015) New products [New Products],IEEE Microwave Magazine, 16(8), pp. 102108. Mercedes (no date) Welcome to the official website of Mercedes Benz India. Explore the information on the range of vehicles. Available at: https://www.mercedes-benz.co.in/content/india/mpc/mpc_india_website/enng/home_mpc/passengercars.html (Accessed: 19 August 2016). Mohan, A.V. (2012) Internal and external resources for enhancing innovation capabilities an exploratory study based on cases from the Malaysian automobile sector, Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, 20(sup1), pp. 2947. Nepram, D. (2011). State-level value added tax and its revenue implications in India: A panel data analysis. Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, 5(2), 245265. Parente, R.C. and Geleilate, J.M.G. (2015) Developing new products in the automotive industry: Exploring the interplay between process clockspeed and supply chain integration,Industrial and Corporate Change, 25(3), pp. 507521. Simon-Moya, V. and Revuelto-Taboada, L. (2016) Revising the predictive capability of business plan quality for new firm survival using qualitative comparative analysis, Journal of Business Research, 69(4), pp. 13511356. Speculations, G. (2015)Volkswagen earnings review: Revenues and profits are up, but core performance remains weak. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2015/08/03/volkswagen-earnings-review-revenues-and-profits-are-up-but-core-performance-remains-weak/#2617d55b7a4a (Accessed: 19 August 2016). Strong revenue growth for Millipore (2007). Membrane Technology, 2007(4), 2. Venables, M. (2007) On a roll [automobile industry], Manufacturing Engineer, 86(2), pp. 1819. Venkatesh, R. (2013) Contemporary marketing or temporary marketing? An analysis of present day relationship marketing of Indian organizations, Indian Journal of Marketing, 43(1), p. 31. Volkswagen Ameo - test drive | Volkswagen India (2016) Available at: https://www.volkswagen.co.in/en/models/ameo0/ameo-offer.html?tc=sem-ameo-july16-ameo-ind-google-search textadskw=paidutm_term=101_aamkwid=s|pcrid|98835854433|pkw|volkswagen|pmt|e|pdv|c| (Accessed: 19 August 2016).