A Day in the Life of Alex Sander

I had to plunge in and make a lot of snap decisions in these areas. Looking back, I can see one poor strategy decision, but on the whole my judgment has been right on target. And if being pushy and commanding is the only way to get the job done—to get two new products out in one year—then it’s worth it to me. Even if I have to steamroll over someone’s feelings, or ignore the way a colleague would like to handle a project. Sander: Well, I get ticked off pretty easily. For example, I can’t stand explaining something more than a couple of times. But what really bothers me is lack of commitment—for example, if a long-time employee isn’t willing to put in extra hours to meet an important deadline. But you know what? After I really become angry, there are people at Landon whose output will jump for at least a couple of weeks afterwards. My temper is actually an effective management tool. 9:00 A. M. Leong nodded apologetically to Garrison as she left and said, â€Å"The interviewer from your alumni magazine is here. † The magazine was interviewing Sander for an article on â€Å"high-potential† product managers as part of a career development issue. He did not want to further embarrass Garrison, a 20-year veteran of the company, by interrupting; still, he needed to talk to Sander. op yo Neighbor: I remember you mentioning some sparks with your assistant when you first started at Landon. rP os t A Day in the Life of Alex Sander: Driving in the Fast Lane at Landon Care Products | 2177 and so on. But you’re never in charge of your own creation. That’s the main reason I accepted a job at Landon. Landon is a pretty small shop, and I’ve been involved in every detail of my product launches. I’ve really enjoyed the strategy piece—gathering data about market share, figuring out the most profitable positioning for my brands. As a product manager, you have to talk to RD, then work with market research to see whether you have a feasible idea that will attract consumers. Then you work with advertising. You partner with all the departments to synchronize the program’s details. A product manager must ensure a targeted, quality product, whose distinctive features will be clear to the target consumer. Then you have to make the product right and get it to market. At that moment, Sander’s BlackBerry buzzed and, with a quick apology, Alex picked up the call. â€Å"I need to get a piece of data from this market researcher before my team meeting this afternoon,† Sander explained. While waiting for Sander to finish, the interviewer glanced around Alex’s office. It was large for so new a product manager, and the interviewer noted the award plaques on the credenza behind Sander’s desk. Sander finished the brief phone call, and the two continued talking. For the last question, the interviewer asked, â€Å"Alex, in your opinion, which type of person is best suited to being a product manager?

Financial Analysis of Kellogg's Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Financial Analysis of Kellogg's - Essay Example It adds to the impression of the customers as to how well they're doing and at the same time gives challenge to its competitors. This section roughly discusses the financial performance in a six-year time (2000-2005). At a particular year, 2001, Kellogg Company released its own financial analysis of that year giving explanations and answers to the growth in the proceeding years. An apparent growth has been observed right from 2000 to 2005 in Kellogg's financial performance. Comparisons are often useful within a company to become aware of changes in financial relationships and significant trends. In the Intracompany Basis, a comparison of current year's cash amount with the prior year's cash amount shows either an increase or decrease. And within the span of 6 years (2000-2005), it is very useful to compare such cash amount from the first year (i.e. 2000) compared to the last year of comparison (i.e. 2005). Cash amount gained or lost may vary from 2000-2005. The proportion of total assets in the form of cash can be shown through a comparison of Kellogg's year-end cash amount with the amount total assets at year-end. Furthermore, in order to provide insight into Kellogg's competitive position, it is also practical to compare it with other companies. Correspondingly, Kellogg's total sales for the year can be compared with the total sales of its competitors such as Quaker Oats and General Mills which both obviously competes in the market. Taken as a whole, comparisons with industry averages will provide information about Kellogg's relative position within the industry. Then, Kellogg's financial data can be compared with the averages for its industry compiled by financial ratings organizations such as Dun & Bradstreet, Moody's, and Standard & Poor's. Kellogg's 2000 Financial Analysis In 2000, Kellogg Company achieved growth in net earnings and earnings per share, excluding charges, despite softness in the Company's U.S. convenience foods business, higher energy prices and interest rates, weak foreign currencies, and inventory write-offs in Southeast Asia. Through manufacturing efficiencies, reduced advertising and overhead expenses, and recognition of benefits related to U.S. tax credits, the Company was able to withstand despite such factors. 2000 1999 1998 Net earnings $597.7 $339.3 $502.6 Net earnings per share $1.45 $0.83 $1.23 Due to the previously stated factors or charges, there are exclusions from the results of operations in the following sections for purposes of comparison between years. The year 2000 and 1999 have been compared excluding charges, net earnings and earnings per share in the below table: 2000 1999 Charge Net earnings $651.9 $606.2 +7.5% Net earnings per share $1.61 $1.50 +7.3% The full-year increase in earnings per share of $0.11 consisted of $0.02 from business growth and $0.11 from favorable tax-rate movements, partially offset by $0.02 from unfavorable foreign currency movements. Kellogg's Company then continued to lead the global ready-to-eat cereal category in 2000 with an estimated 38% annualized share of worldwide dollar sales. Category share for the Company's operating segments was approximately 31% in the United States, 43% in Europe, 60% in Latin America, 45% in Canada, 57% in Australia, and 50% in Asia. The growth achieved by Kellogg's Company by the end of 2000

Obey at Any Cost Milgram,S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience Essay

Obey at Any Cost Milgram,S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 67,371-378 - Essay Example This idea sprung from his curiosity of how soldiers committed vicious atrocities during World War II, and in general, the inhumanity displayed by people as a result of obeying orders from ruthless leaders in the course of history. Milgram wanted to test out his theory that humans tend to obey those in a position or power or authority over them even if obeying will mean going against their principles, codes of moral and ethical behavior. The experiment focused on subjects who were put in the role of a â€Å"teacher† who would inflict the punishment of electric shock to another â€Å"subject† (an acting accomplice of the experimenter) given the role of a student whenever he gave a wrong answer to a memory drill. The voltage of the shock increases the more errors are committed by the â€Å"student†. An â€Å"experimenter† conducting the study was actually a confederate of Milgram, egged on the subject to continue with the task at hand no matter how the â€Å"student/ learner† subject reacted. The whole scenario that was played was just simulated without the knowledge of the actual subject. Unaware that everything and everyone around him is not real, he and his emotions and behavior are the only ones that are. Surprisingly, out of the 40 subjects, 65% followed the experimenter’s orders all the way to the top of the shock scale. Most of them exhibited manifestations of extreme stress in doing so, sincerely uncomfortable doing the task while witnessing the suffering of the student subject. To ease them of their anxiety, the subjects were â€Å"debriefed† after the experiment. The purpose of the experiment was revealed to them along with unmasking the accomplices and confederates to introduce themselves. The subjects were interviewed regarding the feelings they went through. Milgram explains why the subjects continued to obey the experimenter even if they knew that they were responsible for hurting a fellow human being.

Was the War of 1812 Pointless? :: American America History

Was the War of 1812 Pointless? The War of 1812 proved to be the most serious challenge to face the United States since the country's birth. This 'Second war of Independence' perhaps changed American history as we know it though. This essay will discuss the causes for this war assessing whether there actually were valid reasons for the United States and Britain going to war or whether the whole 1812 war was just born out of "pointless aggression" The war of 1812 was a very unnecessary war. It broke out just as one of its chief causes (The Orders in Council) was removed and its greatest battle (New Orleans) was fought just after peace was signed. The war was unnecessary from a British point of view but for the Americans it was inescapable. The Royal Navy had kidnapped 3,800 American sailors and pressed them into service. The Orders In Council had deprived the United States of a profitable trade with France and can be seen as having ruthlessly subordinated American economic interests to the political interests of the British Empire. American farmers also blamed the orders, perhaps unfairly, for a fall in agricultural prices that produced a depression in the West in the years immediately before the war. On the frontier it was universally believed that Indian restlessness war stirred up by British agents although really American oppression has to be seen as a big cause of this too. America's war with Britain seemed inevitable although the Americans did everything they decently could to avoid it, although there seemed to be endless provocation by Britain, for example in 1807 when a British frigate, the leopard opened fire on an American frigate the Chesapeake. The choice before America, Jefferson the former president and his successor Madison agreed was war or submission - to fight or to undo one of the main achievements of the revolution and accept total defeat in international affairs to England. As John Quincy Adams put it "It was not a matter of dollars and cents, no alternative was left but war or the abandonment of our right as an independent nation" The offences committed against the United States were the major provocation's for the war, reasons other then vindication can be regarded as rationalisation. There was an obvious anger for what British had done to America and many Americans merely wanted revenge but the war was fought for much more then that.

Guidance Notes for Unit Essay

Guidance for developing unit assessment arrangements – provided with the QCF unit Current and relevant legislation and policies as appropriate to UK Home Nation. Impact of professional relationships e.g.: †¢ power relationships †¢ dealing with an employed professional †¢ feelings of powerlessness †¢ uncertainties about how to behave and relate. Equalities legislation as appropriate to UK Home Nation. Additional unit assessment requirements provided with the QCF unit Learning outcomes 3 and 4 must be assessed in a realwork environment. Unit needs to be assessed in line with the Skills for Care and Development QCF Assessment Principles. Unit assessment guidance – provided by CACHE Learning outcomes 3 and 4 must be assessed in real work environments by a qualified vocationally competent assessor. SCMP3 Professional practice in children and young peoples social care SCMP3-1.1 Explain how current and relevant legislation and policy affects work with children and young people. Current and relevant legislation and policies include: EYFS 2014 – supports settings to deliver high quality integrated early educaitonOFSTED Welfare standards of care in EY framework National guidance developemtal matters Nutritional guidance Eat Better start better SEN code of practice Children’s Act 1986,2004, 2006 Safeguarding: set out principles to guard and promote welfare of children and young people Key functions that they set out is to achieve daily activities with the child to maximise their opportunities whilst minimising the risk In settings – management liaise with other professionals. All staff are trained and monitoring takes place to ensure procedures are in place and followed SCMP3-1.2 Describe the impact of social care standards and codes of practice on work with children and young people. SCMP3-1.3 Explain the importance  of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). SCMP3- 2.1 Explain the responsibilities of a: corporate parent  professional carer. SCMP3-2.2 Explain what is meant by a ∆duty of care’. SCMP3-2.3 Analyse the impact of professional relationships on children and young people. SCMP3-2.4 Give examples of poor practice and unprofessional conduct that may impact on outcomes for children and young people. SCMP3-2.5 Explain the actions to take where poor practice and unprofessional conduct are having a negative impact on outcomes for children and young people. SCMP3-3.1 Explain the professional responsibility to maintain current and competent practice. SCMP3-3.2 Engage with professional supervision in order to improve practice. SCMP3-3.3 Seek, and learn from, feedback on own practice from colleagues and children and young people. SCMP3-3.4 Explain the importance of understanding the limits of personal competence and when to seek advice. SCMP3-4.1 Demonstrate how to respect and value the professional competence and contribution of colleagues. SCMP3-4.2 Explain own rights and expectations as a professional and how to assert them. SCMP3-5.1 Explain how current equalities legislation affects work with children, young people and families. SCMP3-5.2 Identify examples of good practice in promoting equality and explain how and why they are effective. SCMP3-6.1 Explain what is meant by diversity. SCMP3-6.2 Explain what is meant by anti-discriminatory practice giving examples of how it is applied in practice with children, young people and families. SCMP3-6.3 Describe the effects of discrimination and explain the potential results for children and young people.

Swiss Army Man And The Myth Of Cain And Abel - 1437 Words

Swiss Army Man the Myth of Cain and Abel In the first book of the bible, the Book of Genesis, readers are introduced to the characters of Cain and Abel. The myth of Cain and Abel relates to jealousy and rage, and how there are always consequences for our actions. The morals that can be learned from Cain an Abel are still relevant today, but in another format, such as in the poster for the 2016 film Swiss Army Man. The Swiss Army Man poster and the myth of Cain and Abel have overlapping themes, such as death and isolation. These themes are still prominent today, and the poster can serve as a modern day take on the centuries old myth. The myth of Cain and Abel originates from the bible, and is best known for being a story of firsts. Cain†¦show more content†¦God favored Abel s sacrifice of milk and meat over Cain s offering of fruits. This angered Cain, and presumably out of jealously, he murdered his brother, Abel. Just as Cain was the first physical birth in the bible, Abel is the first recorded death (and murder) of the bible. God questions Cain on the death of Abel, and Cain lies and tells God that he did not murder his brother. Although is has been interrupted in multiple ways, it is ultimately believed that Cain s jealously of God favoring his brother s sacrifice in relation to his own is what lead to his rage and commitment of murder. A main moral in the myth of the story of Cain and Abel is that jealously can lead to sin. Cain s jealously of Abel is what causes him to lash out, and later lie to God about his actions to cover up his original sins. Roland Barthes analysis of the Pazini ad in Rhetoric of the Image explains that the by putting aside the linguistic message, we are left with the pure image (Barthes, 34). By ignoring the words written on the image, the poster for the film Swiss Army Man (2016) depicts two characters on an isolated green area, with water in the foreground and a faded skyline in the background. Although they equally share the green area, one character is straight up, while the other is hunched over. The one with straight body language is wearing brighterShow MoreRelatedStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesEthical Behavior 22 Coming Attractions: Developing an OB Model 23 An Overview 23 †¢ Inputs 24 †¢ Processes 25 †¢ Outcomes 25 Summary and Implications for Managers 30 S A L Self-Assessment Library How Much Do I Know About Organizational Behavior? 4 Myth or Science? â€Å"Most Acts of Workplace Bullying Are Men Attacking Women† 12 An Ethical Choice Can You Learn from Failure? 24 glOBalization! Does National Culture Affect Organizational Practices? 30 Point/Counterpoint Lost in Translation? 31 Questions

Comin Thro the Rye by Robert Burns

The poem Comin Thro the Rye by  Scottish writer  Robert Burns  (1759–1796),  is probably best known because of Holden Caulfields misinterpretation of it in J.D. Salingers novel  The Catcher in the Rye. Instead of meeting a body in the rye, he remembers it as catching a body. Discussing the poem with his sister, Phoebe, Holden tells her a fantasy that he is  a rescuer of children playing in a field of rye, and he is catching them before they fall off a cliff. The reference to the poem in The Catcher in the Rye has prompted writers and scholars to take a look at the source when discussing the novel. The poem was written with a  Scottish dialect;  draiglt  translates to  drags;  weet  to  wet;  gin  to  when or if,  depending on the interpretation;  ilka to  every; loe to love;  waur to  worse off;  and  ken  to  know. Depending on the source, the last line of the second verse has a period or a question mark, and the third verse has a question mark or an exclamation point. Note: The second setting wasnt signed by Burns but is widely accepted as being by him. Poem Text Comin Thro' the Rye by Robert Burns [First Setting] Comin thro the rye, poor body,Comin thro the rye,She draiglt aher petticoatie,Comin thro the rye. Chorus:O, Jennys a weet, poor body,Jennys seldom dry;She draiglt a her petticoattieComin thro the rye.Gin a body meet a bodyComin thro the rye,Gin a body kiss a body—Need a body cry. [To chorus] Gin a body meet a bodyComin thro the glen,Gin a body kiss a body,Need the warld ken! [To chorus] [Second Setting]   Gin a body meet a body, comin thro the rye,   Gin a body kiss a body, need a body cry;   Ilka body has a body, neer a ane hae I;   But a the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.   Gin a body meet a body, comin frae the well,   Gin a body kiss a body, need a body tell;   Ilka body has a body, neer a ane hae I,   But a the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.   Gin a body meet a body, comin frae the town,   Gin a body kiss a body, need a body gloom;   Ilka Jenny has her Jockey, neer a ane hae I,   But a the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.   How the Poem Relates to Catcher in the Rye The poems theme is the question of whether casual sex is OK. Meeting a body in a field isnt just running across someone and saying hello. The poem asks Need a body cry? as in—Is it worth getting upset over? This relates to Salingers novel because the  sex question is a source of moral conflict inside the 16-year-old Holden. Saving children from falling off a cliff, then, in his fantasy, can be equated to helping children keep their innocence as long as possible.