Teaching Lexically Reflection Paper Essay Example

Teaching Lexically Reflection Paper Essay Gary Yauri Mayorca November 2012 Lima-Centro ELT Course Reflection Paper: â€Å"Teaching Lexically† Having had the opportunity to take different ELT courses, I cannot stress how much methodological-insight I gained upon my successful completion of this course. â€Å"What should I emphasize during each lesson-objective? † and â€Å"How will this activity maximize the students learning-awareness? † This course made me see that these two questions are pivotal to the development of any lesson plan or didactic material to be used by students. A persons word bank, Lexis, or Lexicon if you will, is the ultimate means to successfully break a language barrier even if with a poor grammar usage (although the term â€Å"poor† could be argued since it can now be considered not as poor but rather as the â€Å"inter language† stage between L1 and L2). Why would I be so certain about such claim being based on a single course? I say this because I lived it myself during my experience in the U. S. s a second language learner, when I had to communicate with native speakers in order to get by, using â€Å"lexical chunks† that worked effectively time after time while most of the time I really didnt have a keen understanding of each grammatical structure that held together the â€Å"chunk† of Lexis that I used. â€Å"How much is this/are these _____? † â€Å"Id like to have a/an _____ for here / to go, please† How did I know that these expressions were the appropriate ones to use having not had a â€Å"formal† classroom explanation of â€Å"much vs many† or â€Å"Id like vs I like†? he answer, a â€Å"natural† intuitive awareness of high frequency Lexis being used in context right in front of me, most of the time, while waiting in line and listening to those ahead of me having successful exchanges, some other times while sitting on the bus and over hearing language-rich strangers conversations, and once again taking such and other opportunities to pick up repetitive random Lexis, thus becoming more aware of the different contexts of different collocations, sometimes used formally, sometimes used in a colloquial manner, sometimes even understanding â€Å"made-up† words such as â€Å"brunch† (a wholesome late breakfast hat more closely resembles lunch time) or â€Å"I need change to use the _____† vs â€Å"I need to change _____ (x) so I can _______(y)†. Nowadays, this approach to the natural discovery of language is supp orted by strong scientific research (e. g. The Corpora program) giving teachers new insight on the way students can better acquire, (therefore making a more solid attempt at communicating effectively with others), making lessons both, more meaningful and engaging to pupils. We will write a custom essay sample on Teaching Lexically Reflection Paper specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Teaching Lexically Reflection Paper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Teaching Lexically Reflection Paper specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Having worked with the Word link series for a year and half, it doesnt really take an up-close look to notice how much of the â€Å"Lexical Approach† is embedded course after course; take for example the â€Å"in-context vocabularyâ€Å" presented at the beginning of every lesson, the set of useful expressions that can be combined with the previous vocabulary begging for the build-up of lexical chunks which ultimately are to be used at their fullest during the communication activity. At this point, It is imperative to point out that although the book series present a natural inclination towards the lexical approach, the job is not done there but its rather to be taken up by the teacher in order to provide students with the maximum number of opportunities to notice and become aware of the strong link between Lexis and how people really communicate in real life outside the classroom; this way helping students develop a more â€Å"educated† language-understanding intuition that can be applied to all four skills, being speaking, listening, reading and writing. Finally, I would like to thank the institution for allowing me and my colleagues the opportunity to further expand our expertise by providing the chance to take these courses at no other cost but the clash of less effective and more effective teaching notions to be reflected on.

Economic Loses & Policy of Economic Boycott essays

Economic Loses & Policy of Economic Boycott essays The fragile and juvenile nation of the United states suffered economic losses duration of European warfare. The U.S. wanted and had to keep their commercial economic relations with Britain and France because they did not want to economically crumble and fail as a new nation. However, a U.S. ship trading either with Britain or France could be seized by the other. To destroy and corrupt Englands economy, Napoleon had begun a system, the Continental System where France set up blockheads and took over ships and vessels in European parts if they first stopped in Great Britain. Britain was very unpleased by this and retaliated by setting a series of blockheads on Napoleons ports and seize cargo intended on going to Europe. Unfortunately for France and Britain neither had enough power to actually to destroy or shut down every major port, so the blockheads were mainly used to capture U.S. ships. These two nations ended up capturing 1500 American ships between 1803 and 1812. Also, Britain started to seize more vessels than the French because they won the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. With all this going on President Thomas Jefferson initially attempted to win respect for American neutrality by an economy boycott, a policy that banned trade with Europe. This affected the newly established nation of America in the years 1807-1812. This policy was of course anti-federalist. Jefferson urged the U.S. Congress to pass an act called the Embargo Act of 1807. This act prohibited ultimately all U.S. commerce and trade within European borders. During 1808-1809 also prohibited overland trade with British and Spanish possessions in Canada and Florida. Fortunately this act did stop the seizer of U.S. ships, but it had drastic side effects on American economy in 1807-1812. With all this in mind the Non-Intercourse Act was passed in 1809. This act only restricted trade with France and Britain, but Macons Bill No.2 turned the tables arou...

Erosion, weathering, mass wasting. Earth's Interior Geologic Time Assignment

Erosion, weathering, mass wasting. Earth's Interior Geologic Time Scale - Assignment Example Soil erosion can be prevented by planting windbreaks. Windbreaks are lines of planted bushes and plants that hold soil firmly with their roots and prevent it from being washed away. Other methods include terracing, in which level plains are cut on hillsides and crops are grown on these plains. (wikipedia.org).Weathering is the process of decomposition or breakdown of soils and rocks when they come in direct contact with natural forces such as wind, rain and heat. Weathering is of two types, mechanical and chemical. Mechanical weathering involves the breakdown of rocks due to wind, heat, rain and ice. Sand that is carried by wind grinds down the surfaces of rocks, causing wind erosion/weathering. Higher temperatures cause cracks in rocks. This mostly occurs when sun rays heat up the surface of the rocks while the inside of the rock remains cool. When the surface of such rocks cools down at night, it contracts. Repeated contraction and expansion causes cracks in the rock, leading to it s breakdown and weathering. Raindrops too cause weathering, either by wearing down the rocks or by causing chemical changes by mixing with minerals in the rocks. Ice glaciers running over rocks also lead to their breakdown. Chemical weathering occurs when environmental agents, such as CO2, react with rock minerals. (wikipedia.org) Mass wasting is the process by which soil and rocks move down a slope due the action of gravity. This occurs when the gravitational forces acting on a soil layer on a slope exceeds the frictional force that is keeping the soil layer in place. The maximum angle of the slope at which the soil continues to stay in place without being pulled by gravity is called angle of repose. Mass wasting occurs when the slope’s angle exceeds the angle of repose. Landslides, mudflows and creeps are examples of mass wasting. It usually occurs due to change in slope angle, weathering of rocks, intensive increase or decrease in water content of the soil, and lack of veg etation to hold the soil together. (wikipedia.org) 2. Earth's lithosphere and plate tectonics The earth’s lithosphere is the solid outermost region of the earth, comprising of the crust and the upper mantle. Lithosphere is of two types, oceanic and continental. The oceanic lithosphere is the crust that exists beneath the oceans, and whose thickness is about 50-100 Km. Continental lithosphere is about 40-200 Km thick and is associated with the continental crust. The thickness of the oceanic lithosphere increases as it ages. Moreover, it always sinks beneath the continental lithosphere. The lithosphere is divided into plates called tectonic plates that are constantly in gradual motion. The theory of plate tectonics explains the large-scale motion of the earth’s tectonic plates. This theory builds up on other theories such as those of continental drift. The energy for motion of tectonic plates is derived from the dissipated heat from the earth’s mantle. While the m echanism underlying the motion of tectonic plate is still under debate, several reasonable explanations do exist. Apart from several minor plates, there are eight major tectonic plates – namely, Antarctic Plate, African Plate, Indian Plate, Australian Plate, Eurasian Plate, Pacific Plate, South American Plate, and the North American Plate. Below these plates, which comprise the lithosphere, the asthenosphere (hot, viscous fluid that is a part of the upper mantle) flows gradually. Convection currents generated in the asthenosphere transfer heat to the tectonic plates in the lithosphere, which are then separated by the action of magma. Movement of these tectonic plates gives rise to

Negotiation Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Negotiation Experience - Essay Example Negotiation skills are important in every stage of ones life. As children we may not have been very discreet to this whole give and take process but with age a refines comes in and one is a bit more diplomatic about how one handles this process. Negotiation is a skill, an art which can be refined as one advances in life. It is like a double faces sword and one has to be good in this field yet be cautious not to hurt others feels while trying to get ones work done to excel professionally. One could succeed to be a really good negotiator if one abided by the Franciscans values of generosity, respect, love, joy, reverence, service and humanity. A negotiation is generally successful only when we have a win- win situation for both the parties, when we are a bit generous and respect the needs of the other party too. Only when the opposite party is happy and satisfied would we truly be satisfied with the out come of our negotiation. Distributive negotiation : Here in one a person is generally in the superior position and the other in a junior one where one party gains and the other loses. This kind of negotiation could lead to an argument which may not be beneficial to either of them. The main goal of both the parties is to emerge as winner where in they are not looking at building a lasting business relationship. Integrative negotiation: This type, on the other hand is a kind of negotiation where in both the parties emerge as winners. The final out come is a win-win situation for both. In normal business scenario integrative negotiation is preferred over distributive as it eventually helps in building stronger business ties. One of the cases out of the numerable situations encountered by me in my professional life was while negotiation the cost of landscaping and repainting an owner’s house. This was a gentle man in his mid 50’s who despite

Examine the view that marketing theory and concepts portrayed in the Essay - 2

Examine the view that marketing theory and concepts portrayed in the traditional marketing literature have only limited application in guiding small business ma - Essay Example of the products that are sold through the help and facilitation of distribution channels, word of mouth approaches and formation of brand personalities and so on and so forth. When it comes to an understanding of the working methodologies of small and large businesses, there is a direct change which is manifested as per their working mechanisms and related undertakings. What we aim to study is to discern the fact that small and large businesses do it differently both from the short term as well as in the long run. Thus kicking off the debate in the line of the business size, the first and foremost understanding is of delving into what marketing concept actually is. The sales concept is basically making sure a product is produced and hence sold through proper distribution channels while on the other hand a marketing concept entails the pre-production activities related with a product, selling and marketing it extensively when its on the shelves of the retail outlet and looking after the post purchase dissonance, if any there is found. Similarly, customer satisfaction would mean their retention and eventual further selling of the product. Hard sell of the product can come under the marketing concept but then again soft sell is a strategy that tries to smoothly get into the purchase cycles of its intended customers and hence make a sale. The evaluation of the marketing concept is made possible due to the hard line policies drafted by the people who were in charge of carrying out the sales concep t which was simply to produce a product and thus sell it, without gaining proper insight as to whether or not this product met the intended requirements of the customer or it had some defect which needed to be repaired at the earliest. Now the aspect of hard sell and soft sell could be equally true for the small and the large business entities since the small business cannot just focus on the soft sell approach as it has to get its message through to the relevant target

Vision And Mission Of Pia Tourism Essay

Vision And Mission Of Pia Tourism Essay In this report after giving a brief historical background, vision and mission of PIA, we have discussed its hierarchical structure and the values and services provided to the customers. We also describe the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of PIA. Thirdly we have described the various corporate responsibilities of PIA along with the strategies followed for the selection of various the target segments. Our focus is to explore the reasons behind the downfall of national airline. As in few last years we have seen that the market share of PIA was continuously declining as compare to its domestic and international competitors. We find out that there are number of internal and external factor which causes the downfall of PIA. The lack of true leadership, government excessive interference, organizational internal conflicts and corruption and the new air aviation policies are the few major reasons behind the losing market share. In the end we sum up the whole findings of our report in terms of conclusion of the whole scenario and we also suggest some ways to the management of PIA that how they can overcome these crisis, how they can retain and motivate their employees, and what to do in order to gain their lost glory. PIA for short, can trace its beginnings to the days when Pakistan still was not an independent state. In 1946 Muhammad Ali Jinnah realized the need for an airline network for the forming country and called upon the help of an experienced industrialist Mirza Ahmad Ispahani to develop a flag carrier for the nation. Meanwhile, an airline called Orient Airways, registered in Kolkata, was formed on October 23 1946. Services were started in June from Kolkata to Sittwe and Yangon. This was the first post-war airline flight by a South Asian registered airline company. Two months after this service began, Pakistan was formed. Orient Airways began relief flights to the new nation and, soon after, it moved its operations to Karachi, where it began flights to Dhaka on June 7, 1954. In addition, the first two domestic routes in Pakistan were established, from Karachi to Lahore to Peshawar, and from Karachi to Quetta to Lahore. The Government of Pakistan, realizing the operation was failing economically, proposed that Orient Airways merge into a new national airline. On March 11 1955, Orient Airways merged with the governments proposed airline, becoming Pakistan International Airlines Corporation. During the same year the airline opened its first international service, from Karachi to London Heathrow Airport. In March 1960, PIA became the first Asian airline to enter the jet age when Boeing 707 services were introduced. The aircraft were wet leased from Pan American and in 1961 services were begun to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. VISION OF PIA: To be a world class airline exceeding customer expectations through Dedicated employees Committed to excellence. MISSION OF PIA: As a Symbol of National Pride, We Aspire to be a Choice Airline, Operating Profitably on Modern Commercial concepts and Capable of Competing with the Best in the International as well as Domestic Markets. HIRARCHY OF PIA: This organization is divided into following departments: Human Resource and Administration, Marketing, Corporate Planning, Information Services, Finance, Flight Services, Flight Operation, Engineering, Procurement and Logistics, Customer Services, Training and Development, Quality Assurance. The organogram of the organization follows, with the Chairman at the top and directors of departments reporting to him. The structure is centralized with the top-level management making the decisions. VALUES: 1. Customer Expectations PIA is the most trusted name in the industry. The reason of its goodwill is according the expectation of their customers that PIA has fulfilled always. By providing competitive tariff, extensive care, and convenience to their valued and potential customers. 2. Service PIA aims at providing valuable and unique services to its customers. They are more personalized and courteous to their customers. The services are valuable and rare; this is the reason why customers trust PIA. 3. Innovation PIA currently has a number of 43 fleets and aims at increasing this numbers to 53 by the next few years.PIA is adoptive to changes and believe in innovation thats create new ideas and translating these ideas into action. 4. Reliability PIA is the most experience airline with its service with more than 53 years. This has built in PIA has become the most reliable airline. PIA is known for its loyalty and consistency. 5. Safety The most challenging responsibility of any organization is to provide complete satisfaction to its employees and customers together. This satisfaction rewards favorable and easy working conditions. The in-flight services are customers friendly and the organizational the organizational environment is also employees oriented. 6. Cohesiveness PIA has 12 departments working in their own direction and also provides a number of services including speedex courier service, catering etc. The most impressive part is these all department and services are integrated in a cohesive way. SERVICES: PIA offers two types of services. Business Class Its the only Business Class service that feels like First Class. A comfortable seat makes all the difference on a long flight. PIAs Business Class Seats elevate the concept of luxury to a new level, fully endorsing your decision to choose PIA Business Class. Sit back and relax in our exclusive Business Class Lounges at the Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad airports. Our hospitable staff will ensure that youre well looked after during your stay with us at the airport. Business Class passengers arriving at Airport will receive a warm welcome from PIA. Our representatives will walk you right through all the arrival formalities so that you dont have to stand in line or worry about clearance. Economy Class PIAs economy class is also comfortable for passenger as Business class. Economy Class offer seats with a 32-inch pitch, adjustable footrests and winglet headrests for improved neck comfort. The personal TV provides on-going entertainment including audio and video on-demand choices. Passengers enjoy the same caring service from our flight attendants, along with skillfully prepared meals and a wide range of in-flight entertainment options to choose from. Free newspapers are also provided to all Economy class passengers. The PIA in-flight magazine, Hamsafar, is provided to all passengers on all international flights. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: During the first quarter of 2007, the airline achieved a 5% growth in overall revenue mainly due to increase in passenger traffic. The revenue growth was lowered by a 10% reduction in cargo revenue. The EU ban on PIA in March 2007 reduced the revenue growth because only the Boeing 777 was allowed to enter in Europe. Many of the European routes were put on hold until the airplanes were repaired and brought up to EU standards. The impact of the 2006 salary rise, increased cost of leased airplanes, and higher maintenance cost of the PIA fleet increased the overall operating expenses by 19%. Consequently, the airline suffered an operating loss of Rs 2.5 billion in the first quarter of 2008. MAJOR COMPETITORS: PIA is still holding the first position in market. It has 48% market share. Its major competitors are: Air blue and Shaheen International Airline. MARKET SHARE: Now PIA has the total market share of about 48% of total air transport in Pakistan. PRIVATISATION: PIA is owned by the government of Pakistan. In the late 1990s, the Government of Pakistan thought of giving the airline to the private sector due to the persistent losses suffered by the airline. The Government announced the privatization plans but was never implemented. The rising fuel prices are increasing the operating costs of the airline which consequently increase the losses. Another source of PIAs inefficiency has been the over-staffing of employees over the past 10-20 years that has crippled the organizations finances. Back door discussions with potential buyers continue without any positive results. Following the global trend, several steps towards outsourcing of non-core business have been initiated. Catering units (starting with Karachi Flight Kitchen), Ground Handling (starting with Ramp Services) and Engineering, are to be gradually carved out of the airline and operated as independent companies. PIAs Network Domestic Networks International Networks CHAPTER # 2: SWOT ANALYSIS SWOT ANALYSIS OF PIA: STRENGTHS 1. LEADING MARKET POSITION PIA is one of Pakistans leading air carriers, with more than 800 daily flights. Around 150,000 passengers a month fly on PIA, making it one of the major operators in the domestic market in terms of passenger kilometers. PIAs international market share was 43.5%, In the Domestic market, its market share was 69.4%. On a system-wide basis, PIAs market share was 51.2% at the end of year 2007. Its strong market position is driven by consistently low fares as well as reliable service, frequent and convenient flights, use of new technologies like e-ticketing and self check-in terminals, comfortable cabins and superior customer service. 2. BRAND RECOGNITION PIA has high brand recall. It is recognized by travelers all over the country. PIA is a national airline, operating passenger and cargo services covering eighty-two domestic and foreign. PIA has earned the number one ranking in customer satisfaction. This strong market position gives the company a scale advantage and helps it strengthen its brand image. 3. SUPERIOR OPERATING STRUCTURE PIA has maintained its position as the low cost carrier. It has been first class Pakistani airline to use the latest technology. Factors contributing consists of different series of Boeing and Airbus and an efficient, high-utilization and point- to-point route structure. Flying one type of aircraft significantly simplifies scheduling, maintenance, flight operations, and training activities. PIA has continually achieved high asset utilization and employee efficiency. Superior operating structure serves as the primary competitive advantage of PIA. 4. NETWORK PRESENCE PIA enjoys a strong network in key domestic and international destinations. The companys network includes three the major airports in Pakistan, as well as major international airport such as Dubai International Airport. Having a strong network means that PIA can generate traffic feed for both its domestic and international Flights. 5. HUB AIRPORT AT KARACHI PIA operates from its hub in Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. Jinnah International is one of the worlds busiest airports in terms of number of passengers carried. It is also one of the largest international gateways to Asia. It is also the leading international air passenger (and cargo) gateway to Pakistan. The companys strong presences in airports with heaviest traffic levels in Pakistan give it a competitive advantage. 6. EFFECTIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY PIA has successfully incorporated latest technology in all its systems, giving it an edge over competitors.PIA takes credit for introducing most new technologies to the Pakistani market. It was the second carrier in Pakistan to incorporate the c-ticketing system and the second in South Asia to introduce self check in systems at the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi. WEAKNESSES 1. FORMULATION OF GOVT. RULES The Basic flaw of this organization is its consolidation that is centralized system. The key policies, strategies and set of laws are designed by the upper management. The centralized system is one of the biggest obstacles of long term success of PIA. PIA centralizes structure lead to barrel between different level of management, decreased motivation, and hard access to information. 2. HIGH DEPENDENCE ON PASSENGER REVENUES Passenger revenues accounted for 87 percent of the PIAs total revenue in 2007. Cargo services allow airlines to generate additional revenues from existing passenger flights. In addition, cargo revenues are usually counter cyclical to passenger revenues and have lower demand elasticity than passenger business, which allows airlines to pass on fuel price hikes to customers. 3. DEBT PIA has a significant amount of 42 billion debts. Current and future debts could have important consequences for stakeholders of the company. For example, debt could impair PIA ability to make investments and obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or general corporate or other purposes. Debts could also put PIA at a competitive disadvantage to competitors that have lesser debt and could also increase the companys vulnerability to interest rate increases. 4. RELIANCE ON OIL PRICES PIAs sustainability, growth and revenues directly depend on oil prices. A steep rise in oil prices can seriously damage the long term viability of any airline. Recently many airlines around the world went bankrupt due to rising oil prices. Airlines need to hedge against this risk by taking proper measures. OPPORTUNITIES 1. HAVING THE MAXIMUM ROUTE AND FLEET PIA is having the maximum route and fleet domestic and international destinations network in Pakistan as compared to its Competitors. Route and fleet expansion will positively impact the companys operations by increasing revenues. 2. GROWING DEMAND FOR LOW COST AIRLINES The growing demand for air travel is driven by lower fares and consumer confidence. A survey by International Aviation Authority showed that ticket price is the number one criterion for passengers when selecting a flight, well ahead of the availability of a non-stop service. 3. CUSTOMER LOYALTY PIAs frequent flyer and loyalty programs can help it retain customers. PIAs Awards+plus (frequent flyer program) was established to develop passenger loyalty by offering awards and services to frequent travelers. Such schemes encourage repeat travel on PIA, as passengers seek to accrue the benefits given to regular travelers. This enables the airline to retain customers and reduce costs, as it does not have to spend money targeting new customers to replace those lost to other airlines. 4. SHIFTING CUSTOMER NEEDS The needs of air passengers are increasingly changing, as they are becoming more and more price sensitive. If PIA succeeds in making its prices more competitive, then the company will be able to gain significant market share. 5. INDUSTRY RECOVERY Market analysts believe that the global airline industry will experience an upturn in fortunes over the next few years. This represents an opportunity for PIA, as it could generate increased revenues and command market share if it capitalizes on increases in demand. THREATS 1. HIGH INTEREST RATES The past few years have seen State Bank of Pakistan impose high as well as low interest rates to check inflation and the overheating of Pakistani economy. Inflation in Pakistan may see another raise in the short-term. 2. ACCIDENTS There had been five accidents with PIA listed as below: Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK 705 was a Boeing 720 040 B that crashed while descending to land on Runway 34 at Cairo International Airport on May 20, 1965 resulting in 119 fatalities. Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK740 was a Boeing 707-340C that crashed after takeoff from Jeddah International Airport on November 26, 1979. All 156 aboard were killed. Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268 was an Airbus A300B4-203, registration AP-BCP, which crashed on approach to Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport on September 28, 1992. All 167 on board were killed. . PIA Flight 554 is the flight number of a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Fokker F27 that was hijacked on May 25, 1998. The flight started its journey at Gwadar in Balochistan after originating in Turbat, and was flying to Pakistans southern port city of Karachi. The aircraft was carrying 24 passengers and 5 crew members. Pakistan International Airlines Flight 688 (PK688, PIA688) was scheduled to operate from Multan to Lahore and Islamabad at 12:05 pm on July 10, 2006. It crashed into a field after bursting into flames a few minutes after takeoff from Multan International Airport. All 41 passengers and four crewmembers on board were killed. PIA has to continuously ensure utmost safety and security of its passengers. Accidents can adversely affect customer confidence in PIA and result in declined revenues intensifying competition. 3. STRONG COMPETITION BY AIRBLUE PIA is now competing against carriers such as Airblue and Shaheen Airline. PIA remains Airblues strongest competitor because of the huge market it has gained over time, strong brand image and customer loyalty.PIA has started new low-fares subsidiary PIA Express to stop the Airblue market share growing to fast. Moreover, major legacy airlines have been focusing on restructuring costs, which has improved their competitiveness. With costs restructured, the legacy airlines are becoming more formidable competitors in terms of increasing capacity, matching prices and leveraging their frequent flier programs. Increasing competition could adversely affect the companys margins. 4. INTEREST AND FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES Fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates can have a significant impact on PIAs earnings. For example, as PIA is providing its services to the UK. Negative or positive effects arise from exchange rate movements as change in expenses. Strengthening of foreign currencies against the British Pound will positively impact PIA and vice versa. 5. DECLINE IN AIRLINE INDUSTRY A number of factors have caused the current decline in the airline industry. For example, the threat of further terrorist attacks since September 11 and a fall in the number of business travelers have both caused passenger numbers to fall. These and other factors may continue to affect demand for air travel in the future, which will affect revenues of PIA. CHAPTER # 3 Corporat Social Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility of PIA: Committed to Creating a Better World PIA is driven by the highest standards of corporate governance and social responsibility. As a public sector organization and a business leader, PIA believes in building strong relationships with customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which it operates. The organizations values are exemplified in a range of corporate initiatives designed to impact positively on the lives of multiple stakeholders. PIA practices active corporate citizenship through social services, support for non-profit organizations, medical services for employees, the promotion of sports, and educational initiatives. PIA has institutionalized the practice of good governance by establishing a Corporate Social Responsibility Committee. The Committee provides a platform to evaluate, update, and recommend best practices as PIA continues on its mission to adhere to business ethics and stamp out corruption. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is woven into the fabric of daily operations at PIA. Our employees wholeheartedly contribute to our commitment to develop the organization, the communities in which we function, and the country. Social Services Boy Scouts Association The PIA Boy Scouts Association (PIA-BSA), a provincial segment of the Pakistan Boy Scouts Association, is based on the value system of the Scout Promise and Law. The PBSAs mission is to actively train and develop members through Youth Training Programs. Scouting contributes to the education of young people and helps build a better world where individuals can play constructive roles in society. The PIA-BSAs major contributions include providing Haj services at domestic and Saudi Arabian airports, engaging in activities with the Heritage Association of Pakistan, assisting special children at PIAs Al-Shifa Trust, and participating in a number of health, cleanliness, literacy, tree plantation, drug prevention, and blood donation drives. The PIA-BSA has also started a cricket academy where thousands of youth have received cricket coaching from PIAs renowned test and first-class cricketers. Following the earthquake tragedy of 8th October, 2005, the PIA-BSA immediately deployed contingents in Islamabad followed by scout deployments in Balakot, Garhi Habibullah, Muzaffarabad, and Bagh where relief goods were distributed and emergency services were rendered. PIA Planetariums Through a combination of projectors, optics, electronics, and precision engineering, PIA offers a range of cosmic experiences to the Pakistani people. The PIA Planetariums enable the viewing of virtual universes, replete with stars, planets, and nebulae and visitors throng the planetariums to look at astronomical phenomena such as eclipses, alien landscapes, planets, and the sun. PIA is the only airline in the world to have invested in an innovative and educational planetarium project that is open to the general public at affordable rates. PIA Horticulture Plants and trees provide habitat, shelter, food, materials and medicines to human beings and animals. Realizing the significance of a healthy and pollution-free environment, PIA set up a horticulture division in 1996. In addition to maintaining indoor and outdoor plants and trees, PIA Horticulture provides seasonal flowers for display in PIAs offices and for a range of events, winning several awards and accolades at flower exhibitions across the country. To reduce pollution and contribute towards a greener Pakistan, PIA Horticulture actively participates in tree plantation campaigns during each spring and monsoon season. Support for Non-Profit Organizations As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, PIA supports a number of charities and trusts: Al-Shifa Trust provides relief and rehabilitation services to special children suffering from cerebral palsy and other motor disorders. Zindagi Trust provides education to underprivileged and working children. The Citizens Foundation runs a professionally managed network of purpose-built schools in the poorest rural areas and most neglected urban slums of Pakistan CHAL is a network of non-profit organizations and individuals dedicated to providing rehabilitating services to disabled persons. SIUT (Sind Institute of Urology and Transplantation) provides medical services to the patients suffering from Urology, Nephrology, Transplantation and Liver Diseases. Training and Education PIA Training Center The PIA Training Center is a leading airline training institution that delivers the highest standards of aviation instruction. The Training Center is built around a highly advanced training infrastructure, approved by local and international regulatory authorities such as CAA, ICAO, and IATA. The PIA Training Centers courses are based on a unique, standards-based curriculum designed to impart knowledge and best practices in all the aspects of the airline industry. The PIA Training Center provides quality training to PIAs pilots, engineers, air hostesses, and to employees of other associated PIA divisions. PIA Model Secondary School The PIA Model Secondary School was set up in 1980 to provide high quality education to the children of PIAs employees at an affordable fee. Situated at a distance from the hubbub of the city, the school is housed in a modern building that spans over 10 acres of land and is staffed by teachers dedicated to empowering children with knowledge and skills for the future. Equal emphasis is placed on curricular and extracurricular activities in order to produce well-rounded, holistic, and responsible citizens. PIA Industrial Training Institute The PIA Industrial Training Institute was established in 1986 to provide technical, vocational, and industrial knowledge to the families of PIAs employees. With the sustained support of top-level management at PIA, the Institute has functioned smoothly for over two decades, and has emerged as a leading industrial training center in the region. The Institute imparts industry knowledge, and specialized training courses in arts and crafts to the families of employees for a very nominal fee, empowering them to earn livelihoods and gain respect in their communities. Medical Services PIA Employee Health and Medical Services The health and welfare of our employees has always been a matter of utmost importance and significance at PIA. All employees are provided with a comprehensive medical package, in collaboration with reputable hospitals, diagnostic labs, and medical institutions. In 1959, PIA established a Medical Division to supply wide-ranging medical coverage to active and retired employees. To ensure that the highest standards of aviation are maintained, a Crew Center periodically carries out air crew checks, in conformity with international and Civil Aviation Authority standards.PIAs medical facilities cover the parents and spouses of serving employees, children up to the age of 27, unmarried daughters, and disabled, mentally challenged children of any age. Retired employees and their spouses are also eligible for medical care at PIAs Medical Centers. In addition to coverage in Pakistans major cities, PIA has extended its medical network to 35 smaller stations, in collaboration with private and pu blic sector hospitals. PIA also looks after its overseas employees under the Local National Health Scheme and Insurance Schemes. PIA Sports Division In continuation of its unwavering commitment to Pakistans development, the PIA Sports Division was set up in 1958. PIAs contribution to the advancement of Pakistani sports remains unparalleled no other organization in the country has consistently invested in the promotion and development of sports. Visionary leadership at PIA provided the impetus for the airline to set up a unique career development plan for sportsmen. PIA provides attractive and stable jobs to outstanding sportsmen, empowering them to focus on what they do best. Sportsmen are provided gear, travel facilities, and benefits that have enabled them to excel and make Pakistan proud. PIAs sportsmen have been and continue to form Pakistans lineup for major sports including cricket, hockey, football, squash, polo, tennis, bridge, chess, table tennis, cycling, and body building. PIA has dramatized the world of Pakistani sports by transforming popular games into national sports, national sportsmen into international heroes, and national tournaments into international sports bonanzas. Safety a) Corporate Safety Quality Assurance The PIA Corporate Safety Quality Assurance Division ensures safe operations by adopting international standards and recommended industry practices. Strict adherence to Safety HSEQ policy and procedures during flight as well as on ground helps in maintaining a hazard free workplace environment. Corporate Safety QA Division is responsible for effective implementation of Safety Management System (SMS), Health Safety Environment (HSE) Program, Flight Ground Safety Management, Flight Data Monitoring Analysis Program, Emergency Response Planning (ERP) and Fire Protection Services as well as Quality Assurance Program encompassing overall operations of the airline. b) IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) Certification PIA is proudly maintaining its IOSA Certification and thus IATA Registration since 2005. The IATA Operational Safety Audit Programmed is an internationally recognized and accepted system for assessing the operational management and control systems of an airline. IOSA is based on industry proven quality audit principles and structured to ensure a standardized audit with consistent results. Airlines that meet all standards become registered with IATA as an IOSA Operator. IOSA Audit covers Organization and Management System, Flight Operations, Operational Control Flight Dispatch, Aircraft Engineering Maintenance, Cabin and Cargo Compartment Operations, Aircraft Ground Handling, Cargo Operations and Operational Security of the airline. By virtue of PIAs IOSA Certification, PIA is able to ensure safety of passengers as well as employees. c) Fire Safety-in the Workplace and at Home PIA has made a number of arrangements to handle incidental fires and allied hazards. First Aid Fire Stations have been set up in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, and Fixed Fire Protection Systems have been installed at sensitive premises. PIAs locations are equipped with portable fire extinguishers and a range of other fire safety devices. All the installed equipment is inspected regularly and maintained in accordance with international standards. Fire Safety Courses are conducted regularly to equip employees with fire fighting skills and to impart critical knowledge of preventive measures. Fire Prevention Courses are also conducted at the Staff Township and PIA Model Schools so that employees and their families can take appropriate fire prevention measures at home. PIAs Corporate Safety QA Division also actively engages in advocacy sessions to create awareness through print publications and sharing of experiences. Working in collaboration with the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan, PIA is committed to creating and promoting a culture of safety at a nation-wide level. The divisions future plans include running fortnightly fire and safety awareness sessions at government and private schools. Emergency Response Planning Passenger care is an airlines most crucial responsibility. Acknowledging the significance of Emergency Response Planning (ERP), PIA has set up a discrete section to handle emergencies. The Emergency Response Planning Section has developed an Emergency Response Manual and manages Emergency Response Center Teams, Field Teams, Family Assistance and Support Teams, and Volunteers. The ERP Section will also train volunteers in the areas of aircraft emergencies, rescue, basic first aid, and fire fighting to effectively respond to natural disasters. Emergency Response Facilities include the computerized data storage of teams and volunteers with an automated emergency call out system. The software application also provides a technology supported callback system for contacting families of the affected. PIAs Emergency Response Planning Section hopes to contribute meaningfully towards national capacity building in the area of emergency management, through financial and human resource investments. CHAPTER # 4 STRATEGIC FAILURES Market Segmentations and Targeting Strategies of PIA Demographic Segmentation: Income Segmentation audience who falls under the category of upper and upper middle class. Occupation Segmentation working class and business class. Behavioral Segmentation: Occas

Writing As A Technology Essay :: Handwriting Essays

Writing As A Technology Essay As I began contemplating what I would use as my writing technology I realized that this project was far more complex than I had anticipated. First the use of an object that was â€Å"natural† raised several issues. What is natural anymore? In our society things that may have been â€Å"natural† at one time are now mass-produced and full of technology. I finally came to the conclusion that I could probably not solve that issue or many others I had begun to worry about in the time I had to complete this assignment. Therefore I decided to choose something that was created by nature, at least initially, and that still could be created solely by natural methods if you chose to do so. I chose to form words using grapes. Although the grapes that I purchased at the grocery store involve a lot of technology, I still consider them to be â€Å"natural† because one could choose to grow the grapes him/herself and then use them as their method of writing. There are several reasons that I chose to use grapes. First of all they are small and lightweight which allows them to be extremely portable. Another advantage of the grapes size is that they are easy to manipulate into the shapes of the letters. Thus making it easy to spell out the words that you are trying to communicate. Another nice feature of the grapes is that they come in different colors, which allows for some creative expression when writing with them. I personally wrote with green grapes, because green is my favorite color. However, what I personally consider the best feature of the grapes is that once you are done using the grapes to communicate with your friend, they make a fantastic snack. Which also leads to some of the drawbacks of using grapes. There delicious nature seems to be a double-edged sword. On one hand the grapes make a wonderful snack after you are done using them, on the other hand they lack permanency if you chose to eat them.