Operations and strategies of Bell Canada Enterprises

Operations and strategies of Bell Canada Enterprises BCE Inc. is Canadas largest telecommunications company for almost 25 years. It is established by Charles Fleefore Sise in 1880. This company provides wireline voice, wireless communications services, Internet access, data services and video services to residential and business customers. It headquartered in Quebec, Canada and employed 50,102 people. The subsidiaries included Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Telebec, and Northern Tel. (Company Profile, 2009) BCE Inc. operates in three segments: Bell Wireline, Bell Wireless and Bell Aliant. Bell Wireline provides telephone services mainly in Ontario and Quebec. They are included local telephone, long distance, internet access and information and communications technology (ICT) solutions and other communications services. Bell Wireless provides wireless voice and data communications products and services across Canada. Bell Aliant provides local telephone, long distance, Internet, data, video, wireless and other ICT services for customers in Canadas Atlantic Provinces, and in rural areas of Ontario and Quebec. BCE also provide telephone service to the customers in Alberta and British Columbia throung its Bell West unit and northern territories through Northwestel (Company, 2009). BCE provides high-speed Internet services to more than two million customers in Canada under the Bell Internet brand through digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. The company set a clear goal for themselves- for Bell to be recognized by customers as Canadas leading communications company and instituted a strategy to deliver a dramatically better customer experience, while attaining a competitive and cost -efficient operation structure. (Annual Report, 2009) Current Business Current Products, Services and Operations Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE, Bell) is the largest communications company in Canada providing a number of different services to people all across the country. BCE has three main segments in operation Bell Wireline, Bell Wireless, and Bell Aliant providing different services to people to make their life easier and more efficient. Bell provides wireline voice and wireless communications services, internet access, data services and video services to residential, business and wholesale customers (Reuters, n.d). The company has a number of other interests which include CTVglobalmedia incorporated, Skyterra Communications inc. and entities that operate the Montreal Canadians and the Bell Centre in Montreal. The company recently acquired The Source Electronics and the remaining part of Virgin Mobile Canada (Reuters, n.d). Bell continues to be an ever growing company that continues to lead the way in the field of communications in Canada by continuing to expand its products and services. Bell Wireline provides telephone, data and other communication services to residential and business customers in Ontario and Quebec but also offers services to businesses in Alberta and British Columbia. With the sale of local telephone, and long distance services under the Bell Home phone brand with internet service under the Ball Internet brand. The company also provides home television service to its customers under the Bell TV brand. Bell provides all necessary wireline services for any business or resident that decides to go with the company (Reuters, n.d). Bell Wireless provides wireless voice and mobile communication products to residents and businesses across Canada. With the sales of cell phone services being the biggest part of this segment of the company through the operations of Bell Mobility and Virgin Mobile Canada, along with wireless product sales from The Source (Reuters, n.d). BCE currently owns approximately 44.1% of Bell Aliant a segment of the company that provides local telephone, long distance, Internet, data, video, wireless, information technology (IT) services and products and other ICT services to residential and business customers in Canadas Atlantic provinces (Reuters, n.d). The company competes with a number of other providers to deliver services to Eastern Canada as it continues to grow the brand throughout Canada. Current Sales and Marketing Strategies Marketing, is a branch of the business where the company generates interest within the general public of their product. This area of business hooks, and latches on to the customers with the purpose of making the consumer a customer for life. Marketing is a vital component of the company and it is one of the main reasons companies can grow and expand. Bell Canada Enterprises owning one of Canadas largest telecommunications provider; competing with Rogers needs to have great marketing ploys to attract and keep customers. With the introduction of the internet companies are able to target a broad number of people with cost effective methods. A few examples of ways consumers are targeted over the internet are E-mail marketing, search engine marketing, online campaigns, online media planning placement and social media optimization. To keep customers another cost effective technique is mobile marketing. Everyone uses e-mail communication which is slowly edging out the pre-historic snail-mail (reference of using postal service). The e-mail is a great tool because it requires no cost to send; the message is sent instantaneously; and users can always keep their sent mail to refer back to. This provides company with a great way of communicating with current and potential customers. Bell Canada uses this to sell its product by e-mailing current customers on new products being offered, and emailing consumers on new products and promotions. It allows Bell to reach a mass amount of people without exercising major costs. Search engine marketing is another way a lot of companies advertise. Everyone who owns or has access to a computer uses a search engine at least once a day. This makes placing ads on these search engines a great opportunity to generate public interest and attract consumers. Placing ads on search engines can be expensive but the exposure the ads gain provides a good cost to benefit ratio. Bell also contacts consumers via telephone (home-phone). They use call-centers to call house-holds and market their products. Telemarketing however annoying it may seem when getting a call during dinner time is proven effective. With the recent boost in cellular usage a less annoying but as effective way to reach customers is via SMS messaging. SMS messaging is cheaper, because it cuts the costs of employing call centers . However the SMS can only be delivered to already existing customers. Which does not get the company new customers but it does help them promote packages and products. Social media presents a huge marketing opportunity for firms. Bell Canada uses this as aan opportunity to garner public attention of their products by having their own Facebook page. Also they run ads on facebook to broadcast themselves to the young and old who use facebook. Social media is not just limited to Faceook and MySpace it also includes Youtube. Youtube allows Bell to run ads for free; it is the single most cost effective way for Bell to gain consumer exposure of its products. It is limited to whoever searches for Bell on Youtube but the fact that its free to upload videos makes the cost to benefit ratio very appealing. Bell just doesnt post commercials on Youtube it also advertises on Youtube as-well. Marketing has evolved over the years. In the past it was just running ads on t.v, telemarketing, banners and flyers that got the job done. Today the internet has put those archaic methods to a limited use. Bell has changed its marketing techniques with the time and uses the internet to its full marketing potential. Current Finance and Accounting Strategies The management of BCE Inc. established a system of internal controls to assure the accuracy and completion in all material respects of the financial statements and the assets are properly accounted for and safeguarded. This is supported by an internal audit group that reports to the Audit Committee, and includes communication with employees about policies for ethical business conduct (Annual Report, 2009). The process of reporting financial statements is under the supervision of the President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of BCE to provide assurance regarding the reliability and the accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for internal and external purposes. External auditing companies such as Deloitte Touche LLP, Independent Registered Chartered Accountants, have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, deficit and cash flows. They also conducted their audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The audits include examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation (Annual Report, 2009). Overall, BCE has effective internal control over financial reporting. Current Technological Strategy BCE is the largest communications entity in Canada, providing nationwide, reliable networking services to businesses and residents. To achieve this status, BCE has continued to push forward with leading edge technological advancements and strategies, covering a whole spectrum of services available, such as high speed and wireless internet communication, satellite television and local and long distance calling. A fundamental business step in attaining a successful company is first having a solid information and communications technology (ICT) strategy (BCE, 2010). Bell Canada Enterprise base their ICT strategies on being able to support government and enterprise establishments. They develop their products on connecting businesses to other businesses as well as customers. BCE also continues to upgrade internally, by investing 10% of their revenue into resources and development, to further their own effectiveness as well as recruit top talent to the company. They invest another roughly 3 billion dollars annually into their network, operating and business support systems. Another area incorporated in the technological strategy is Bell Canada Enterprise regularly works together with other leading technological companies to co-construct more innovative technologies which strengthen services the company provides, as well as increase productivity within. All enterprises today must be environmentally aware and continue to implement green issues in their technological strategy. Bell Canada Enterprise now bill customers through the internet, and by doing so they have eliminated 16.6 million pieces of paper and 468 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, values that continue to grow. BCE also donates one dollar to the Nature Conservancy of Canada for every new client registration (BCE, 2006). Bell Canada Enterprise continues to grow, helping businesses nation wide, and by upgrading their own resources, they are further capable of providing the services they offer. The next direction the company is beginning to take is investing and developing VoIP (voice over internet protocol), which is far from the final frontier of communication that BCE will develop and provide to the ever-growing business world. Bell Canada Enterprises Five Year Projections Heading into the future Bell Canada Enterprises wants to continue to be the largest communications provider in Canada. In order to accomplish this, a five part imperative strategy has been put into place that will help maximize subscribers and revenue while improving on the reliable, consistent services that are already being offered to its customers. The five parts of this strategy include: Improving customer service, Accelerate wireless, leverage wireline momentum, invest in broadband networks and services, and achieve a competitive cost structure. Improving customer service is BCEs top priority as in order for the company to remain competitive, delivering excellent reliable customer service is must. That is why the company is executing programs such as Same Day Next Day service which enables the company to try and fix any problems with its wireless or wired service from its office first. If that fails they will send someone to the location within 24 hours to solve the problem. The better training of call centre, field service and channel teams enables them to be more efficient when dealing with customers and help provide the customer with the answer they are looking for. Accelerating wireless is another top priority as there is expected to be a continued grow in data usage. That is why the company is investing heavily into state-of-the-art broadband networks, devices and services that can provide the fastest service offered on the market. This provides the leverage the company needs to attract businesses and residents to its services allowing the company to expand. However, speed and reliability dont provide all the necessary leverage as to achieve maximize subscribers and revenue the company must offer competitive prices. This is done by building the most cost-effective company possible and maximizing efficiency and productivity of everything that is done within the company. Corporate Strategies Globalization and Adaptation In todays business market, globalization is essential for an enterprise. For a company to turn maximum profit, it must be able to reach and appeal to a number of different clientele, as well as exchange resources and technology. As the top communications provider across Canada, there are few areas nationally that are not covered by BCE thus, BCE has currently begun to touch other areas of the world. Bell Canada Enterprise has grown to become the monopolistic communications provider throughout Canada by continuing to buy resource technology from smaller companies such as Northern Telecom, and joint-fund more research together (Canadian Journal of Communication, 1993). Through this purchasing of technology from other companies, or of the companies themselves as a whole (the purchasing of Virgin Mobile), then applying these resources and ideas within their own networks, BCE has been able to adapt to changes in technologies as they are discovered. As smart technology has been released by companies such as Apple and R.I.M, Bell has been able to make these phones compatible on their wireless and mobile networks. They have also continued to keep up with the television business, making their Bell Direct TV satellite frequency serviceable to advancements in high definition televisions. Building off the their ability to reach most of the nation through television, Bell Canada turned their eyes off of Canada, and to the entire world during the recent 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. Bell retained the exclusive rights to be the partner of the Vancouver Olympics, built the network which broadcast every telecast of the games, making Bell the sole providers of every Olympic image seen on televisions throughout the world (Bell Canada Enterprise, 2010). Having completed projects and adapting to these changes, Bell can only continue to prepare to make new technologies compatible on their networks, and build off their success in delivering television signals to the entire world. With the demand for entertainment and convenience constantly growing in the economy, Bell will continue to globalize, in order to stay ahead of the game. Corporate Responsibility Adaptation and Projection Corporate responsibility have been a central element of Bells operation since the companys founding 130 years ago, and it remains a primary commitment of every member of the Bell Canada Enterprise team today (Corporate, 2009). Bell uses a diversity strategy to maintain a high standard of corporate responsibility. They comply with the employment equity requirements to aim for the four federally designated groups in recruiting, retaining and promoting (See Fig 1- Senior Management Positions BCE). The four federally designed group included women, visible minorities, aboriginals and people with disabilities. For the seventh consecutive year, BCE received a perfect 10/10 rating from Governance Metrics International in its 2009 global corporate governance study (Corporate, 2009) All employees must review the BCE Code of Business Conduct regularly and complete an online training course to ensure that they understand the contents. Moreover, BCE require all directors, officers and vice-presidents to declare annually that they obey principle and rules of the conduct code and support the standards (Corporate, 2009). Their objective for 2010 is to remain a leader in corporate governance and ethical business conduct by maintain best practices, transparency and accountability to their stake holders (Corporate, 2009) BCE is a very responsible and active company by making a significant investment in the local communities. Through the annual program of Walk for Kids Help Phone, they have raised more than $18 million in eight years. This funding are used for providing service, information and counseling to young people. In addition, employees and retirees collect school supplies for kids in need through the program of Backpacks for Kids. Since 2004, this program has contributed more than 17,000 backpacks to schools and community. In 2009, Bell Canada and Bell Aliant together contributed more $13 million in charitable donations. Employees and pensioners committed more than $2.1 million in charitable gifts and logged nearly 43,000 hours of volunteer time (Corporate, 2009). Their 2010 objective is to contribute to the well-being of society through their community investment programs. Business Strategies Technological Projection and Adaptation As technology continues to advance, BCE must continue to keep up with these developments to entice customers to their market. With demand for specific products changing day to day, Bell strives to stay the principal communications enterprise in Canada. Bell has recently released that they will be changing their internet service to the new Fiber to the Node-based (FTTN) broadband internet service, to provide a next generation internet experience. The fiber is driven to a node roughly 3,000 feet near the location, then a copper-based VDSL2 connection is used to connect the internet service to a customer. This idea will differ from the current fiber broadband service, in which the fiber is carried to the side of the customers home (Bell Sympatico, 2010). Bell currently runs on a 3G wireless network, but with the growing technology, BCE is upgrading to a HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network, which will set the foundation for their eventual upgrade to the faster 4G LTE wireless network. The 4G network is the future of broadband mobile data speeds and multimedia for personal devices (BCE, 2010). Human Resources Projections and Adaptations Bell Canada Enterprise governs its business by putting into place strong policies and systems to guide the activities of the company in the right direction. This has been done by making sure that everyone within the company from the lowest level to the highest one maintains their ethical standards and practices while continuing to exceed the requirements and expectations of the public and the shareholders. This high standard is not limited to the employees of the company, but is also upheld for the people that do business with the company. The company seeks quality products and services from its suppliers while expecting them to act responsibly within the marketplace while also respecting the environment. The demand for high standards and the implementing of strong policies and practices has allowed the company to continue to grow through the years and will help lead the company into the future. Even with this high standard the company has maintained that a successful company is one when the employees are happy with where they work. Believing that work shouldnt just be a place to go every day but be more of a place you want to go and be actively involved in. This is done by creating a dynamic working environment by encouraging its employees to never stop learning and engaging in the decision making of the company. This creates a sense of company pride that is expected to show through in all work that is produced by the company whether it is with helping a customer to the improvement of broadband service. In doing this the company has scored a perfect 10/10 from rating agency GovernanceMetrics International in the global corporate governance study. Bell has also been a leading company in diversifying the work place with Bell Aliant leading the way in this department. With the hiring of a diverse workforce Bell Canada Enterprises has been able to connect to Canadas multi- cultural society. This has lead to Bell Aliant being recognized as one of Canadas Best Diversity Employers in 2009, as part of the Canadas Top 100 Employers project. Marketing and Advertising Projections and Adaptations As we have discussed earlier marketing is a key component of a companies growth. Bell Canada Enterprises which faces fierce competition from the likes of Rogers Communications, so it needs to keep energizing old and potential customers. In Chapter ____ we talked about current and sales marketing strategies. These strategies were mainly related to the internet and social media advertising. This trend will definitely continue in the future. The advertisement of future products and plans will greatly be induced in social media outlets. Companies are quickly realising the amount of useful information sites such as Facebook have. Facebook and Myspace as well as other social media sites contain a host of information on the users likes and dislikes; tastes in fashion, technology, and food. People on these sites often posts problems they are having with current corporations dealings. If one reads BCEs Facebook page it is full of complaints that current customers have with the companys telecommunications branch. Now this may seem like terrible a terrible publicity but one must consider that the only people who go on Bell Mobilitys Facebook page are current users. So this helps Bell realize what its doing wrong and fix it. BCE and other companies use crawlers to gather information from peoples profiles. They then use this information to send personalized ad campaigns to the consumer. SWOT Analysis Strengths One of BCEs biggest strength is the fact that it is already established itself as a major name in the telecommunications market. It is no up-start company vying for notoriety. Just about every Canadian citizen knows that Bell Canada is a telecommunications company. It is second largest in terms of subscribers for wireless operations and owns a majority of the network access lines in major residential areas. It is one of the nations leading digital television providers with 1.8 million subscribers. The number of internet subscribers are 2.1 million which is the most of any company. Bell holds a chokehold in telecommunications coverage in Toronto and Montreal which are major populous areas. BCE also owns a 44.2% stake in Bell Aliant which is the major telecommunications provider in Atlantic Canada. According to industry analysts, total wireless subscribers in Canada are supposed to increase to by 6million users by 2013. Overall the branding of BCE and its longevity thus far will keep B CE in a prominent position in the telecommunications market. Weaknesses We discussed how Bell is a major force in the Canadian telecommunications market which is also its biggest weakness. The figure of a growth of 6 million represents a total 29.5million people on cell phones by 2013. Canada only has a population of 33.3 million; this is not enough for major growth to occur within the company. Also the companys wireline segment has decreased. This accounts for about 55.8% of the companys revenue. If this segment decreases then profits will conversely decrease in the future. Opportunities BCE has invested its money in promising areas in order to capitalize on future opportunities. These future opportunities include in the broadband high-speed internet market which is rampantly growing. It is increasing rollout of its FTTN and pans to add a HPSA network alongside EVDO. The DTV market is also growing and Bell is already a strong player in this market. BCE owns a 100% stake in Virgin mobile expanding its coverage beyond Canada. It has also bought out the retailer The Source which sells electronic goods with over 750 high traffic locations across Canada. Threats BCE faces threats from all aspects of its business environment. Notable threats are from Rogers wireless and TELUS for wireless services and internet. Industry Analysis The wireless telecommunication industry is defined as an industry is including cellular (mobile) phones, pagers and any other wireless or cellular telecommunication service. Revenues are based on payments to operators of all of these services for subscriptions and usage (Industry, 2009). The Canadian telecommunication is an increasing industry with total revenue of $14.8 billion and a compound annual growth rate of 11.3% during 2005 to 2009 (See Fig 2). In addition, it generated a total economic value the total value of direct GDP contribution, output multiplier and consumer surplus of $39 billion for the Canadian economy (Industry, 2009). This is a very intensely competing industry due to the low level of service differentiation. Companies are competing each other through brand awareness, functionality and value pricing to attract more customers. Competition will increase as a result of new technologies and services in the future. Competition will also increase to the extent that n ew firms enter the market if additional radio spectrum is made available for commercial wireless services (Industry, 2009). The market will become more intense as it approaches higher saturation. Three leading companies in this industry are Rogers Communication, BCE Inc., and TELUS Corporation. Rogers accounts 37.2% and BCE Inc accounts 30.6% share of the market (Industry, 2009). Based on the financial ratios in 2009, BCE Inc. did not have great financial situation when compared to Rogers and TELUS. From the Fig 5 on Appendix A, Bell had pretty low profitability ratios, which means investors did not earn as much money in comparison with Rogers and TELUS. In addition, Bell had the lowest return of assets ratio among the two top competitors means that it earned less money per dollar of assets. Consequently, Bell did not utilize its assets to net income as effectively as its competitors. However, Bell had well control on its costs in the industry. It was able to convert its sales into actual profit effectively. Based on current ratio, Bell was unable to pay off its obligation on time. A current ratio with 0.69 means that for every dollar of current liability, Bell only had $0.69 of current assets (FP Infomart, 2009). In another word, Bell did not have the ability to turn its product into cash more easily. When compared with the industry, Bell had weak and unstable financial situation. The Price/Earnings ratio indicates that Bells shares were selling at a price that was 12.25 times its earnings per share. The P/E ratio is lower than the industry ratio, means that the investors are paying less for each unit of net income. However, Bell had a higher dividend yield than its competitors and the industry. Generally, big figures of dividend yield will attract more investors to invest in a company. Therefore, Bell has more investors than Rogers and TELUS, which means more capital, will be brought into the company and result higher revenue.

Unions in Canada

Abstract Unions have been struggling in Canada’s current economy. The rate of workers joining unions is on a downward slide, noticeably so in the public sector, despite the fact the unions helped to stabilize and grow the economy in the past. Due to the current economic turmoil, unions have had to resort to strategies that will allow them to lower operating costs and compete with global competitors. Although unions are facing difficulties, they are still of benefit to workers.History of Unions in Canada and their Effects on the Economy Unions have been apart of Canadian history since the early 1800’s. Records show tradesmen in the Maritimes having unions during the war of 1812 despite such organizations not being legalized in Canada until 1872 (Maple Leaf Web). Approximately 31% of all workers in Canada belong to unions (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada)(Canadian Labour Congress).The public sector – including schools, hospitals, and crown corporations â €“ have a unionization rate of 71%, while in the private sector the rate is 16% and falling (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2012). Historians have credited the growth in Canada’s middle-class to unions because they offered higher wages and job security, which allowed for members to have extra income to spend on commodities such houses, clothing, cars, etcetera. This increased the demand for those items, and helped grow and stabilize the economy (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada).Although unions were of benefit in the past, membership has been on a 30-year decline (Figure 1) and the usefulness of such organizations has come into question due to unionized workers pay and benefits lagging behind workers who are non-unionized (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2012). This report will cover the history of unions in Canada, and their impact on the Canadian economy. The factors covered suggest that unions are still of benefit at the present. History of Unions in Ca nada The Canadian union movement was influenced by Britain and the United States (Class Net)(Maple Leaf Web).British tradesmen brought over the tradition of the organizations and caused several British unions to open branches in Canada. However, unions weren’t legalized in Canada until 1872 after the Toronto Printers’ Strike (workers were protesting for nine-hour work days), and the first national labour organization was the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada (TLC), which was formed in 1873 (Maple Leaf Web). Early legislation of unions was derived from the British structure, while the current legislation has been developed from post-World War 2 United States unions (Class Net).Members have historically been those in the trades – electricians, miners, construction workers, etc -, nursing, teaching, journalism, artistic fields, and athletics (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada). Unions and the Economy In the past unions helped stabilize and grow the econo my by decreasing the divide between rich and poor. In current economic times, unionization rates have fallen (Figure 1) causing the pay difference between unionized and non-unionized workers to grow (Figure 2) (Mine Mill 598).This has resulted in workers not having the excess income to spend to help the economy recover, or the money to pay extra taxes to support public services such as schools, roads, and health care. Despite this difference, United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW) has stated that even workers who have never belonged to a union have benefited by their existence, and that Canada is one of the top five most prosperous countries in the world because of them (United Food and Commercial Workers Canada).The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) states that union members earn almost $7 per hour more then non-unionized workers, and that number increases to $7. 95 per hour for many women. They also state that 88. 5% of members receive benefits not related to wage, such as prescription drugs and dental plans, and that 92. 3% of large workplaces have pension plans, where as only 68. 4% of non-unionized workplaces have them. For small, non-unionized workplaces, 31. 1% offered health-related benefits, and only 12. 5% had pension plans. In small workplaces that were unionized, those numbers climb to 47. 6% and 34. % respectively (Canadian Labour Congress). However, due to global rivals in various fields of work operating at lower costs, Canadian unions have begun to implement two-tier wages; a technique that was used in the 1980s and 1990s. It involves workers under new contracts to start a lower wages then previously contracted members. New workers will be on par with existing workers after 10 years, though some industries – the auto manufacturing industry, for example – have fought to ensure new workers never converge with current employees wages. It is believed such strategies will be common in the future (Globe and Mail, 2012).Conclusion Unions were extremely beneficial for workers when they were first introduced due to the bonuses they offered, increased wages, job security, and the effects such extras would have on the over all economy. In the current economy unions are viewed as unneeded, which has stemmed the decline in unionization rates and prevented the organizations from being as useful as they could be. Unions are facing struggles in the current economy, but despite such troubles they are still of use in the present because their impact reaches further then just their members, and helps to stabilize the economy.References Maple Leaf Web. History of Unions in Canada. Retrieved From: http://www. mapleleafweb. com/old/education/spotlight/issue_51/history. html United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW). Facts About Unions. Retrieved from: http://www. ufcw. ca/index. php? option=com_content&view=article&id=29&Itemid=49&lang=en#link3 Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). Union Advantage. Retrieved from: http:// www. canadianlabour. ca/about-clc/union-advantage Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC). (2012). Unions on Decline in Private Sector.Retrieved from: http://www. cbc. ca/news/canada/story/2012/09/02/unions-labour-canada-decline. html Class Net. History and Development of Unions in Canada. Retrieved from: https://classnet. wcdsb. ca/sec/StB/Gr12/History/law/Shared%20Documents/Labour%20Law/(A)HistoryandDevelopmentofUNIONSinCanada. pdf Mine Mill 598. (2009). Unionization Fact Sheet. Retrieved from: http://www. minemill598. com/PDF/editorials/UNIONIZATION_FactSheets_Sept2009. pdf Globe and Mail. (2012). Two-Tier Wage Scales on the Increase in Canada.

Canada Ancestry

50 Writing Topics on Classification

Classification allows writers to assemble thoughts in an organized manner, especially when writers block may strike. It is particularly useful in identifying and illustrating different types, varieties, and methods. Classification pieces  can become essays or articles in themselves, or they can also be useful as prewriting exercises for something longer, such as exploring a character being developed for a fiction piece. While classification has been used...as a method for organizing essays and paragraphs, classification and other  traditional  methods of organization [also]  have come to be used as tools of invention, of systematically exploring subjects in order to develop ideas for an essay. — David Sabrio Prewriting: Brainstorming Making stream-of-consciousness lists can be a useful way to explore a topic. Dont let yourself pause for a few minutes, just write  down whatever comes into your head about the topic. Dont censor  yourself, either, as tangents may come in handy as  surprising details to include or lead you down a path to a discovery that you may not have found otherwise.   If you prefer visuals, use the mind map method where you write the topic in the middle of the page and connect concepts to it and whatever else you write down, radiating outward. These types of prewriting exercises get your brain working on the topic so you have less to fear from that empty white  page, and  the prewriting can be a resource to mine at times when you might feel stuck for a direction. Having a scraps document  can also help you store paragraphs or turns of phrase  that you like but dont really fit—it feels better to relocate them rather than just delete them—when  you realize that  getting them out of your draft file helps you move forward with the piece overall.   Classification Paragraph Start your classification paragraph with a topic sentence to let the reader know what the paragraph will be about. This will likely include a list of the items you are classifying. Follow up with sentences that show how the items in the group are similar, how they differ or give some kind of exposition about how they are used or are observed. Finish with a concluding sentence. If the paragraph is intended to be the introduction to an essay, make sure there is a smooth transition into the main body of the essay. Classification Essay When broadening a piece into a classification essay use the classification paragraph mentioned above as an introductory paragraph. Add three or more body paragraphs. Each of these will take a different category and explore its strengths and weaknesses. Finally, a conclusion paragraph will summarize the body paragraphs, and perhaps make a judgment over which is the better option. Classification Speech A classification speech is different than a paragraph or essay. In such a talk, the speaker is likely looking for ways to tell an audience something in an organized manner. Rotary advises its members to give such speeches as ways to introduce themselves to fellow members. Some of its advice for organizing thoughts: Why you chose your business or professionParts of your job you find most rewarding and most difficultAdvice you would give those entering your career 50 Topic Suggestions These 50  topic  suggestions should help you discover a subject that particularly interests  you. If 50 isnt enough, try 400 Writing Topics. Students in a library  RoommatesHobbiesMusic on your phone or MP3 playerStudy habitsStand-up comediansSelf-centered peopleOnline educational resourcesGardenersDrivers in a traffic jamReality shows on televisionSales clerksFictional detectivesRoad tripsDancing stylesVideo gamesCustomers at your workplaceWays of boring peopleCheatersShoppersRides at an amusement parkFirst datesVideos on YouTubeStores in the mallPeople waiting in lineChurchgoersAttitudes toward exercisingReasons for attending (or not attending) collegeBaseball pitchers, football quarterbacks, or soccer goaliesStyles of eating in the cafeteriaWays of saving moneyTalk-show hostsVacationsMethods of studying for a final examinationFriendsComediansWays of quitting smokingAttitudes toward moneyTelevision comediesDietsSports fansOn-campus jobs for studentsWays of coping with a coldNote-taking strategiesAttitudes toward tipping in restaurantsPolitical activistsPortable music playersDifferent uses of social networking sites (s uch as Facebook and Twitter)High school teachers or college professorsWays of protecting the environment Model Paragraphs and Essays Some examples to get some inspiration on the form: Draft Classification Essay: Types of ShoppersE.B. Whites New YorkOf Studies by Francis BaconConversation by Samuel Johnson Sources Sabrio, David. The Encyclopedia of Rhetoric and Composition. Collins, Christopher, executive editor, Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, 1996.How to Prepare a Rotary Classification Talk https://www.rotaryroom711.org/portfolio/how-to-prepare-a-rotary-classification-talk-presentation/

Media Collapse And The War On Iraq - 1626 Words

Media Collapse and the War on Iraq During Bush’s War on Terror, the US media unquestionably fell short of its normative function, a point argued by Gary Kamiya in his article for Salon, by failing to provide factual, unbiased and relevant information on the war in Iraq. This essay will use Herman and Chomsky’s propaganda model to explain how flak and sourcing forced the majority of journalists to report only news that backed the government’s arguments for war, thus skewing the public’s perception of events in the aftermath of 9/11. It will then explain, with reference to John Reith’s Public Service Principles and Johan Galtung’s public sphere model, what the normative function of media in a Libertarian society should be, and how this could be better met by the media during wartime by a better balance of published opinions for and against the war, and better fact checking by journalists. In order to assess how the media â€Å"collapsed† we must first know its normative function. The Public Service Principles, an idea commonly associated with the BBC’s first Director General John Reith, tells us that the media must provide a â€Å"diversity of content reflecting the social and cultural diversity of the public and reflecting a full range of public opinion† (Thompson, â€Å"Media, Society and Politics†). During Bush’s War on Terror, the media failed to present a balance of views both for and against the war. When Charles Kennedy, the â€Å"most famous democrat in the country, raised questionsShow MoreRelatedEssay about U.S.-Middle East Relations724 Words   |  3 Pagescountries in the past. It goes without saying; the most recent is the current gulf war led by George W. Bush and of course the previous gulf war led by his father George H.W. Bush. With neighboring Iran, there have been quarrels such as the Iran-Contra affair. This involved a political scandal in which Ronald Reagans administration sold military arms to Iran. At this time they were in the midst of the Iran-Iraq War, while the United States had hostages held in Lebanon by Hezbollah. The United StatesRead MoreHow The Autonomy Of Journalists Are Affected During War Times1675 Words   |  7 PagesTitle-How the autonomy of journalists are affected during war times and the power struggle related to media coverage. New technology During the 1990s, the creation of advanced news-gathering equipment, the apparent growth of the 24-hour news channel, the increase of transnational media organizations and the spread of the internet platforms suggests the arrival of a more pluralized public sphere. The overall effect of these technological developments, according to many analysts, was a reduction inRead MoreThe Bombing Of The Islamic Government Of Iran889 Words   |  4 PagesFrom the recent massacres happening in Iraq and Syria, we can gather that Washington has trampled on a path which has been seen as a way to redefine the war in Iraq, an effective scheme to bring the command of Assad to its crumbling demises and to recalibrate an inclusive plan to collapse the Islamic Government of Iran. Immediately coinciding with the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, an organized string of deadly explosions gripped Iraq, leading to the massacre of dozens of civilians. MultipleRead MoreIraq and Democracy Essay71 1 Words   |  3 PagesIraq and Democracy Systems based on guaranteed freedoms, the rule of law, and peaceful electoral transitions are obviously desirable for all. 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Though World War I and World War II are arguably the most important wars of the 20th centuryRead MoreIs The Cold War Really Over?1430 Words   |  6 PagesDanny Le Mr. Frey AP US Govt. 15 Nov. 2014 Is the Cold War Really Over? Many Americans have controversies whether the Cold War is over or not. The Cold War era began with ideological battles in the West and East. Political tensions and events are growing in the current conflicts in the Middle East and varied countries. The term â€Å"cold war† has rose again as new conflicts emerged from the Cold War era. After the prolong conflict between the West and East, the two sides continued their movement toRead MoreComparing Orwells 1984 to Todays Government Essay1599 Words   |  7 Pages 1984 has come and gone. The cold war is over. The collapse of oppressive totalitarian regimes leads to the conclusion that these governments by their nature generate resistance and are doomed to failure. The fictional world of George Orwells novel, 1984, is best described as hopeless; a nightmarish dystopia where the omnipresent State enforces perfect conformity among members of a totalitarian Party through indoctrination, propaganda, fear, and ruthless punishment. In the aftermath of the fallRead MoreThe Cold War Was Not A Normal Conflict1494 Words   |  6 PagesThe Cold War was not a normal conflict. The US and the USSR never fought. However, they often supported different warring sides. Nevertheless, we can say that the Cold War is a political, military and media conflict, which has a large effect over the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. The Cold War is a battle between totalitarianism and democracy, battle for a new world turn between two opposing systems. This essay will look at three different theories that explain why the Cold War came toRead MoreTerrorist Attacks on 9/11 Part 21107 Words   |  5 PagesWorld Trade Center Building 7 Building 7 of the World Trade Center was not one of the initial targets for al Qaeda but suffered significant damage leading to the collapse of the building. The building had been completely evacuated at the time the building collapsed at 5:21 p.m. the same day the World Trade Centers were attacked. The buildings structure was altered due to fires that were ignited from impact of debris when the North Tower collapsed. The water in the fire system was shut-off dueRead MoreAfter The Attacks Of September The Eleventh On The United1402 Words   |  6 Pagesmajor threat to our planet. With the help of the media in dramatizing these attacks, fear of terror has become a major concern to people around the world. Terrorism has somehow played a major role in shaping our world in the twenty first century and the past decade. Some of the unimportant but time consuming effects of terrorism on the average person are the long security queues at airport that god only knows their economical toll (Forbes.com) . Wars have been waged to fight terrorism that has put

The Vital Event and Its Part on the Life of Greeks Free Essays

Community service projects, local charity fundraising and leadership, these are just a few of the positive ways sororities and fraternities (greeks) contribute to local society. How is it that only the negative stereotypes are more widely known throughout most college campuses? Although the preconceived notions about greeks are that hey all lie, cheat, drink, party all night, get into trouble, don†t offer anything positive to society and most of all pay money to buy their friends. Yes, some greeks may fit some of these descriptions, but not all. We will write a custom essay sample on The Vital Event and Its Part on the Life of Greeks or any similar topic only for you Order Now In a questionnaire given to Ho Le of the Central Florida Chapter of the Delta Upsilon International Fraternity explains how organizations can portray themselves positively to local society. Our Community service must be presented better to the public, so that everyone is aware of our projects, and that we do help the community in our own ways. Greek organizations must also stop completely the actions that the public associates with us, and sometimes holds true, including (and not limited to) hazing, binge drinking and the use of drugs at parties. A philanthropic event also known as community service is a vital part of greek life. For example Alpha Xi Delta Sorority†s national philanthropy is â€Å"Choose Children,† which is a way for various chapters to raise money for local children organizations in their community. They also hold an annual Xi-Man competition for the fraternities on campus in order to raise money for local children†s charities. As well as being involved with one†s fraternity or sorority, greek life helps one become involved on their campus. Leadership opportunities are made more available to the greek system. Through social interaction with your greek organization you are educated with vast opportunities of leadership on campus and even within your local chapter. Running for office within student government is not your only option for leadership. Within each greek organization there are many positions that offer great leadership advancements. Not just in college life, but with experience in greek life it can help you progress in the â€Å"real world.† For example, when one goes to an interview, it is much like going through the rush and pledging periods. When one is rushed and pledged it can be evenly compared with the interview and hiring stages of getting a job. Therefore, experiencing it earlier in life will better prepare you for future occupations. While alcohol abuse, other drug use, and underage drinking among college students are by no means limited to greek organizations, it is important to target fraternity and sorority members with prevention efforts. A 1993 survey of over 17,000 students at 140 four-year colleges in 40 states found that 86 percent of students who lived in fraternities were binge drinkers-that is, had consumed at lest five drinks at one sitting during the previous two weeks-compared with 50 percent of male students overall. Although greeks may represent a small percentage of the total student population at most schools, fraternity and sorority members generally have considerable influence on the social scene and the social norms on campus. Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol, or GAMMA, the greek arm of this network, was started in 1987 as a way to involve fraternity and sorority members in alcohol education on campus. This organization (GAMMA) works in conjunction with the greek organizations to help control alcohol consumption at socials and registered parties. Being in a greek organization does not go without dues. Yes, most people may think that being in a sorority or fraternity means that you have bought your friendships. Everything that one can gain by experiencing greek life is much more valuable than the amount of money spent for dues. Almost every club on campus requires some type of dues to be paid, so greeks are not the only ones paying. The life experience one gains through the sorority or fraternity can greatly help one become an active citizen in society. Trying to search for a job that suits the needs of one†s life and to provide what the employer wants, is much like going through the rush process. Rush is a way for the current fraternity or sorority members to meet and interview potential new members (pledges). The male or female going through rush is trying to show what they can offer the greek organization and the organization is trying to find out who can contribute to them. The main problem is that greeks are perceived of being an elite, selective group of people. How can an organization that has been branded with stereotypes turn that away from society. Informing those that are willing to listen is a very effective way greeks can come out from the stereotypes. How to cite The Vital Event and Its Part on the Life of Greeks, Essay examples

Operation Research free essay sample

The basic dominant characteristic feature of operations research is that it employs mathematical representations or models to analyse problems. This distinct approach represents an adaptation of the scientific methodology used by the physical sciences. OR methodology consists of five steps. They are defining the problem, constructing the model, solving the model, validating the model, and implementing the result. Definition: The first and the most important step in the OR approach of problem solving is to define the problem. Construction: based on the problem definition, you need to identify and select the most appropriate model to represent the system. Solution: After deciding on an appropriate model, you need to develop a solution for the model and interpret the solution in the context of the given problem. Validation: A model is a representation of a system, however, the optimal solution must work towards improving the system’s performance. Implementation: You need to apply the optimal solution obtained from the model to the system and note the improvement in the performance of the system. Techniques and tools of operation research: Linear programming: You can use linear programming to find a solution for optimising a given objective. The objective may be to maximize profit or to minimize cost. Inventory control methods: The production, purchasing, and material managers are always confronted with questions, such as when To buy, and how much to keep in stock. Goal programming: In linear programming , you take a single objective function and consider all other factors as constraints. Queuing model: The queuing theory is based on the concept of probability. There is no maximization or minimization of an objective function. Transportation model: The transportation model is an important class of linear programs. The supply at each source and the demand at each destination are known. In additional to the above, there are tools such as the sequence model, the assignment model, and network analysis, which you will learn in detail in the later units. Q. 2: a. Explain the steps involved in linear programming problem formulation. Discuss in brief the advantages of linear programming. Alpha Limited produces sells two different products under the brand names black white. The profit per unit on these products in Rs. 50 Rs. 40 respectively. Both the products employ the same manufacturing process which has a fixed total capacity of 50,000 man-hours. As per the estimates of the marketing research department of Alpha Limited, there is a market demand for maximum 8,000 units of Black 10,000 units of white. Subject to the overall demand, the products can be sold in any possible combination. If it takes 3 hours to produce one unit of black 2 hours to produce one unit of white, formulate the model of linear. Ans: (A)The steps involved in the formation of linear programming problem are as follows: Step 1 Identify the Decision Variables of interest to the decision maker and express them as x1, x2, x3†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Step 2 Ascertain the Objective of the decision maker whether he wants to minimize or to maximize. Step 3 Ascertain the cost (in case of minimization problem) or the profit (in case of maximization problem) per unit of each of the decision variables. Discuss in brief the advantages of linear programming: Linear programming technique helps in making the optimum utilization of productive resources. The quality of decisions may also be improved by linear programming techniques. Linear programming technique provides practically applicable solutions because there might be other constraints operating outside the problem. In production processes, high lighting of bottlenecks is the most significant advantage of this technique. (B) Q. 3: A. What is degeneracy in transportation problem? How it can be resolved? B. Solve the following transportation problem using Vogel’s approximation metodh. Factories Distribution Centres Supply C1 C2 C3 C4 F1 3 2 7 6 50 F2 7 5 2 3 60 F3 2 5 4 5 25 Requirements 60 40 20 15 Ans:(A) If the basic feasible solution of a transportation problem with m origins and n destinations has fewer than m + n – 1 positive xij (occupied cells), the problem is said to be a degenerate transportation problem. This also means that a feasible solution to a transportation problem can have only m+ n-1 positive component, otherwise, the solution will degenerate. The basic solution to an m-origin, n destination transportation problem can have at most m+n-1 positive basic variables (non-zero), otherwise the basic solution degenerates, it follows that whenever the number of basic cells is less than m+n-1, the transportation problem is a degenerate one. This value may be thought of as an infinitely small amount, having no direct bearing on the cost of the solution. Degeneracy can occur at two stages: 1. At the initial solution 2. During the testing of the optimal solution To resolve degeneracy, we make use of an artificial quantity (d). The quantity d is assigned to that unoccupied cell, which has the minimum transportation cost. This can be achieved either y inspection or by following some simple rules. We can begin by imagining that the transportation table is blank that is intial Xij = 0. (B) First find the penalty cost, naively the difference between the smallest and next smallest costs in each row and column. The VAM assigns penalties to bad choices by assigning to each row (respectively, column) the penalty equal to the difference of the two smallest cost coefficients in that row (respectively, column). Row Penalty Prepare row ruled matrix by selecting the minimum values for each row and subtract it from the other element of the row. Step 2:Prepare column reduced matrix by subtracting minimum value of the column from the other values of that column. Step 3:Assign zero row wise if there is only one zero in the row and cross(X) or cancel other zeros in that column. Step 4:Assign column wise if there is only one zero in the column and cross other zeros in that row. Step 5:Repeat steps 3 4 till all zeros are either assigned or crossed. If the number of assignments is equal to number of rows present, if not, proceed to step6. Step 6:Mark the unassigned rows. Look for crossed zero in that row. Mark the column containing the crossed zero. Mark the row containing assigned zero. Repeat this process till all the makings are done. Step 7:Draw a straight line through unmarked rows and marked column. The number of straight line drawn will be equal to the number of assignments made. Step 8:Select the minimum. Subtract it from the uncovered elements. Add it at the point of intersection of lines. Leave the rest as is. Prepare a new table. Step 9:Repeat steps 3 to 7 till optimum assignment is obtained. Step 10:Repeat steps 5 to 7 till number if allocation = number of rows. Transportation Assignment This problem contains specific demand and requirement in columns and rows. The demand and availability in each column or row is one. Total demand must be equal to the total Availability. It is a square matrix. The no of rows must be equal to the no of columns. The optimal solution involves the following conditions M+N-1 M rows N columns The optimal solutions involves one assignment in each row and each column. There is no restriction in the number of allotments in any row or column. There should be only one allotment in each row and each column. It is a problem of allocating multiple resources to multiple markets. It is a problem of allocation resources to job. (B) Applying Hungarian method Explain the Simulation procedure. Discuss the use of Simulation with an example. Ans: Simulation: Simulation is the process of defining a model of a real system and conducting experiments with this model for the purpose of understanding the behavior for the operation of a system. Using simulation, an analyst can introduce the constants and variables releted to the problem, set up the possible courses of action and establish criteria which act as measures of effectiveness. Simulation procedure: In the previous section, you learnt why simulation technique is applied. You will now learn the methodology of simulation. The methodology developed for simulation process by follow as: Step-1 Identify and clearly define the problem. Step-2 List the statement of objective of the problem. Step-3 Formulate the variables that influence the situation and an exact or probabilistic description of their possible values or states. Step-4 Obtain a consistent set of values for the variables, for example: a sample of probabilistic variable, random sampling technique may be used. Step-5 Use the sample obtained in step 4 to calculate the value of the decision criterion, by actually following the relationships among the variables for each of the alternative decisions. Step-6 Repeat steps 4 and 5 until a sufficient number of samples are available. Step-7 the bulate the various values of the decision criterion and choose the best policy. Discuss the use of Simulation with an example: Discuss below, Economics A mathematical model of the economy, having been fitted to historical economic data, is used as a proxy for the actual economy; proposed values of government spending, taxation, open market operations, etc. are used as inputs to the simulation of the model. Engineering, technology, and processes Simulation is an important feature in engineering systems or any system that involves many processes. Finance In finance, computer simulations are often used for scenario planning. Q. 6: Explain the following: a. Integer programming model b. PERT and CPM c. Operating Characteristics of a Queuing System Ans: A. Integer programming model: These methods may be used when one or more of the variables can take only integral values. Examples are the number of trucks in a fleet, the number of generators in a power house, etc. This problem can be classified into three categories: Pure Integer programming problem: all decision variables are restricted to integer values. Mixed integer programming problem: Here some, but not all, of the decision variables are restricted to integer values. Zero-one integer programming problem: all decision variables are restricted to integer values of 0 and 1. Airline decides on the number of flights to operate in a given sector must be an integer or whole number amount. Other examples: The number of aircraft purchased this year, The number of machines needed for production, The number of trips made by a sales person, The number of police officers assigned to the night shift. Some Facts: Integer variables may be required when the model represents a one time decision (not an ongoing operation). Integer Linear Programming (ILP) models are much more difficult to solve than Linear Programming (LP) models. Algorithms that solve integer linear models do not provide valuable sensitivity analysis results. B. PERT and CPM: Network scheduling is a technique used for planning, scheduling and monitoring large projects. Such large projects are very common in the field of construction, maintenance, computer system installation, research and development design, etc. Projects under network analysis are broken down into individual tasks, which are arranged in a logical sequence by deciding as to which activities should be performed simultaneously and which others sequentially. In this Project scheduling and PERT-CPM in operation management, we will study about the basic different between PERT and CPM. We will study about PERT and CPM network components, determination of floats and project management. Project management has evolved as a new field and project management. PERT and CPM are basically time-oriented methods in the sense that they both lead to the determination of a time schedule. C. Operating Characteristics of a Queuing System: a queuing model has the following operation characteristics which enables us to understand and efficiently manage a queue: Queue length: The number of customers in the waiting line reflects one of the two conditions. Number of customers in system: The number of customers in queue and also those being served in the queue relates to the service efficiency and capacity. Waiting time in queue: Long Waiting times may indicate a need to adjust the services rate of the system or change the arrival rate of customers. Waiting time in system: The total elapsed time form entry into the system until exit from the system may indicate problems with customers, sever efficiency or capacity. Service facility utilization: The collective utilization of the service facilities reflects the percentage of time the facilities are busy. A queuing system is said to be in transient state when its operating characteristics are dependent upon time.