Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Investigation of Stakeholder Analysis Theory †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Investigation of Stakeholder Analysis Theory. Answer: Introduction: This chapter provides a brief introduction and outline of the research study. The research background and the problem statement shall also be provided in this chapter along with the aims, objectives and research questions. The study shall emphasize upon the management of the project stakeholders in context of municipality environment in South Africa. The stakeholders involved herein include the rate payers, the Government of the country and the private sector. The construction and maintenance of the roads is looked after by the municipalities and the finance is obtained in the form of taxes paid by the countrymen and the funds raised from the private sector while the entire process is governed by the Government of South Africa. Proper road facilities are necessary for facilitating the interaction between the countrymen and the exchange of goods and services. Well- connected roads are necessary for the economic growth of a nation as it helps in the easy transportation of goods. The capital projects of road infrastructure in South Africa are managed by National and Provincial Government through Department of Transport and SANRAL (South African National Road Agency Limited) however; the municipality mainl y handles the maintenance and road expansion projects. The project stakeholders are affected by the success or failure of a project and also have the capability to drive a project towards success or failure. In case of construction projects, the stakeholders are those individuals or group of individuals who have their interest or some form of ownership in the projects and contribute either their skills and knowledge or monetary support in the project. Effective stakeholder management helps in the formation of cordial relations with the stakeholders by understanding and managing the expectations of the stakeholders (Maylor, Blackmon and Huemann 2016). Engaging stakeholders is often a challenging task to manage the stakeholders on a regular basis. It is necessary to know the expectations of the stakeholders and fulfill their expectations by involving them in the important processes. It is important to know the manner in which the different stakeholders shall be involved in the organizational processes or projects. It is necessary to establish proper communication with the stakeholders and keep them informed about the important facts and decisions in order to keep them satisfied. To know what is importance of management of project stakeholders in public projects To understand the role of municipality of South Africa in the construction and maintenance of roads To identify the different stakeholders involved in the project To identify the ways in which the stakeholders involved in the project can be managed in order to ensure success of the project What is importance of management of project stakeholders in public projects? What is the role of municipality of South Africa in the expansion and maintenance of roads? Who are the stakeholders involved in the project? How can the stakeholders involved in the project managed in order to ensure success of the project? Problem statement: The municipality in South Africa is facing several challenges in terms of rehabilitation of the road networks. The issues faced by the Government are in terms of lack of human capital, outdated equipments, high rate of employee turnover and lack of finance (Marks and Trapido 2014). The report addresses the issues related to the management of project stakeholders while addressing the issues of good practices. A proper well- connected road system is necessary for the growth and development of South Africa, which would involve proper stakeholder management. The research paper comprises of five chapters. The first chapter comprises ofvthe introductory part, which includes the background of the study, research aims, objectives, questions and the problem statement. The second chapter comprises of the literature review wherein the theories, models and concepts pertaining to the research topic are explained in detail. The third chapter consists of the research methodology that provides a systematic outline to the researcher according to which he or she conducts the research. This chapter contains the research philosophy, data collection methods, sampling methods, ethical issues and limitations of the research study. The fourth chapter comprises of the findings and analysis. The findings can be obtained either from primary sources or secondary sources or both. The last or fifth chapter comprises of the conclusion part wherein the summary of the entire research process is mentioned. This section comprises of the relevant theories, concepts and models related to the research topic. This section contains the academic evidences related to management of project stakeholders in context of Municipality environment. Socio- economic conditions of South Africa: According to Marais (2013), the socio- economic conditions of South Africa have not been in the favor of the nation over the past few years. The country has witnessed low growth rate over the past few years, which has affected the development of the country. The country has been facing several issues such as weak consumer demand, fall in the business investments and unfavorable climatic conditions like drought over the past few years. The production of power has improved in the country but the development of the country has been adversely affected due to lack of proper infrastructural facilities and excessive costs of raw materials. The slow or rather stagnant economy of the country has raised the number of unemployment in the country. This has resulted in the widening of income inequality gaps among the countrymen. However, the regional integration has provided ample opportunities to the country but the sub- regions in the country have not been much advanced (Baker, Newell and Phill ips 2014). The country has huge growth potential but still the economic integration remains below the mark. The entrepreneurial activities in the nation remain low and it is necessary to boost entrepreneurship in the country in order to improve the socio- economic conditions of the country. According to Marks and Trapido (2014), the slow growth rate of the economy has created difficulties for the establishment of new businesses. In addition, the issue of red tape has been a major difficulty in setting up a new business in the area (Walker 2015). The improper quality of education in the country has resulted in lack of knowledgeable and experienced entrepreneurs. In order to encourage entrepreneurship within the country, the government is required to offer financial and non- financial help to the entrepreneurs. The macroeconomic policies of the nation are usually constrained along with the limited fiscal space. The shortage of skills in the country has hampered the growth rate. The intra- regional trade has been low as compared to the other communities and the non- tariff barriers have been pervasive. Another major reason behind the slow growth rate of the country has been the weak trade and improper infrastructure. Red tape has been adding difficulties for the entreprene urs in South Africa since ages. According to Kerzner (2013), project refers to a set of activities or tasks that are to be carried out to meet some objective or set of objectives. A project usually have two parts namely technical and functional aspects. Projects can be undertaken by both private sector and public sector for obtaining benefits from the project. Project management refers to the application of appropriate skills and knowledge in the execution of the projects. Project management helps in driving a project towards the desired goals (Walker 2015). For this purpose, every project has one or more project managers who are responsible for planning, controlling, managing and directing the activities involved in a project. The project management involves sequence of activities such as initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling and closing. Project management enables the project managers and the members involved in the project to ensure that they share similar vision regarding the objectives and t he ultimate goals of the project (Golini, Kalchschmidt, and Landoni 2015). According to Kelly, Male and Graham (2014), the projects initiated and governed by the Government of a nation are known as municipality or public projects. These projects may comprise of launching of a new product or service by the Government of a nation such as construction of new roads or initiating a road safety campaigns. These projects usually involve infrastructure projects that are financed and built by the government. These may include construction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, parks, railroads, dams, and several others. The public projects are usually long- term projects that require huge finance and human resource. Similarly, there are several projects initiated by the Governments of the nations to improve the socio- economic conditions of their respective nations (Inam et al. 2015). The public projects are usually initiated with the objective of the welfare of the common masses. The Government does not derive any quick benefits of profits from such projects but re ceive long- term benefits from such projects (Mir and Pinnington 2014). Stakeholder management: According to Weiss (2016), stakeholder refers to the group of individuals without whose support, an organization would cease to exist. Stakeholders are mainly those individuals or group of individuals who have the capability of affecting the success or failure of an organization or project. Stakeholder management refers to the management of the stakeholders in such a manner that the organization derives the maximum benefits from them. Stakeholder management is an important part of any project or activity. However, project stakeholders are those individuals or group of individuals who are actively involved in a project and take active participation in the project activities (Mok, Shen and Yang 2015). According to Fassin et al. (2017), the project stakeholders are affected by the success or failure of a project and also have the capability to drive a project towards success or failure. In case of construction projects, the stakeholders are those individuals or group of individuals who have their interest or some form of ownership in the projects and contribute either their skills and knowledge or monetary support in the project. Effective stakeholder management helps in the formation of cordial relations with the stakeholders by understanding and managing the expectations of the stakeholders. Stakeholder management is a systematic procedure of managing the stakeholders that helps in achieving the objectives of the projects or activities in an efficient manner (De Brucker, Macharis and Verbeke 2013). According to Verbeke, and Tung (2013), stakeholders have a significant role in the success or failure of an organization or project. Stakeholders usually invest money or their skills and knowledge in an organization or project with the motive of obtaining benefits therein. The actions of the stakeholders help in determining the quality of decisions taken by the organizational managers or the project managers. Stakeholders may have the voting powers as well as certain decision- making powers. The stakeholders elect the management and the major business decisions are dependent upon the quality of decisions taken by the management. Therefore, the stakeholders indirectly influence the decision- making process within an organization or project (Fooks et al. 2013). Types of project stakeholders: According to Kazadi, Lievens and Mahr (2016), there are several stakeholders involved in a project. The top management includes the directors, president, division managers and the operating committees that are usually involved in the process of strategy formulation. The top management is usually responsible for developing in- depth plans and approving plan designs formulated by the other project members. The other team members are required to report the project status to the top management. It is necessary to keep the top management informed regarding the risks involved in the projects and their impacts on the project. Another major stakeholder in a project is the project team (Garca-Nieto et al. 2015). According to Abidin (2015), the project team comprises of the individuals who are involved in the activities of the project. They can be both full time and part time employees. The project team is usually headed by a project manager, who directs them towards the achievement of the objectives of the project. The project manager is responsible for guiding the project members and solving their issues. Other stakeholders are the peers, who work at the similar designations within an organization. Resource managers are the ones who borrow resources and manage them. These resources can be both in terms of financial resources and human resources. The internal customers are those people within an organization, who are the customers and their demands are met internally. External customers are those people who do not belong to the organization but derive benefits from using the products or services obtained from the projects. The government is also an important project stakeholder as the projec ts managers are required to deal with several government regulators and the government has the great powers to influence the projects. The contractors and suppliers provide raw materials and human resources to the project managers that help in improving the quality of work and reducing the wastages. The other stakeholders involve creditors, community and trade unions (Hammerschmid, Van de Walle and Stimac 2013). Stakeholder identification and analysis: According to Missonier and Loufrani-Fedida (2014), stakeholder identification and analysis involves identifying the stakeholders involved in a particular project and analyzing the data that indicates the level of involvement, influence and impact they might have on the success of a project. The results obtained from this process are documented in a Project Stakeholder register. This register is constantly updated throughout the life cycle of the project and contains complete information to identify and analyze the project stakeholders. It helps in formulating the stakeholder engagement strategies. The actions of the stakeholders help in determining the quality of decisions taken by the organizational managers or the project managers. Stakeholders may have the voting powers as well as certain decision- making powers. There are basically two types of stakeholders namely internal stakeholders and external stakeholders (Yang 2014). The internal stakeholders comprise of the project owners , management team, employees, creditors, suppliers and the client organizations. The external stakeholders comprises of the government, political organizations, social organizations, local communities, media, trade and industry, residents, interest groups and the general public. Both the internal and the external stakeholders have considerable impacts on the success or failure of an organization or project (Lawrence and Weber 2014). According to Ayuso et al. (2014), stakeholder engagement refers to the process wherein the organizations involve the individuals or group of individuals, who are influenced or can influence the decision- making process within an organization or project. Stakeholder engagement is related with the stakeholder identification and analysis process. Stakeholder engagement involves several approaches such as pull communication, push communication, partnership, participation and consultation. Engaging stakeholders is often a challenging task to manage the stakeholders on a regular basis. It is necessary to know the expectations of the stakeholders and fulfill their expectations by involving them in the important processes. It is important to know the manner in which the different stakeholders shall be involved in the organizational processes or projects. It is necessary to establish proper communication with the stakeholders and keep them informed about the important facts and decisions in o rder to keep them satisfied. Stakeholder engagement in South Africa: According to Kovacs et al. (2015), in South Africa there are two legislated systems namely IDP ((Integrated Developmental Plan) and SDBIP (Service Delivery Bid Implementation Plan). Stakeholder engagement is an important part of public projects in South Africa. The public projects usually involve construction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, parks, railroads, dams, and several others, which is not possible without engaging the stakeholders involved. These projects affect the common masses who are not even directly involved in the project. The support of the local communities and the other stakeholders are essential for the success of a public project. Therefore, the Government of South Africa ensures proper communication and involvement of the people who are directly or indirectly affected by the projects (Sierra?Garca, Zorio?Grima and Garca?Benau 2015). According to Mackey and Gass (2015), research methodology refers to the way of conducting the research study. This involves following a particular set of steps in order to obtain the desired results that satisfy the research aims and objectives. Research methodology provides a proper outline to the researcher that guides the researcher throughout the research process. Every step of the research methodology is important to follow in order to find correct answers of the research questions. The researcher shall choose an appropriate research philosophy in order to assess the issues related to the management of project stakeholders and the importance of stakeholder engagement in the success or failure of a project. There are basically three types of research philosophies namely positivism, interpretivism and pragmatism. Positivism refers to the philosophy that is dependent upon the quantifiable observations that helps in conducting appropriate statical analysis. Positivism restricts the researcher during the process of data collection and interpretation and focuses the researcher towards the research objectives. On the contrary, interpretivism enables the researchers to utilize the perspectives of others with respect to the research topic. Therefore, interpretivism helps the researcher in studying the human perspectives rather than mere scientific perspective. On the other hand pragmatism is a mixture of both positivism and interpretivism philosophies (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015). Research approach: According to Glesne (2015), the most widely used research approaches are inductive approach and deductive approach. Deductive approach is the one that enables a researcher to develop a hypothesis on the basis of past theories and concepts. Therefore, this approach focuses upon available literatures and theories. On the contrary, in case of inductive approach, emphasizes more upon developing new approaches and concepts, which are based upon the observations of the researcher. As a consequence, many a times the focus of the researcher moves from the research questions to the observations. Therefore, the researcher shall emphasize upon deductive approach in order to maintain the focus upon the research objectives and questions (Brinkmann 2014). There are mainly three types of research designs. The following are the three types of research designs: Exploratory Explanatory Descriptive According to Flick (2015), exploratory design refers to the research design wherein the researcher is able to examine the hypothesis and the research objectives and questions. It enables the researcher to relate the topics and theories with the research topic. On the other hand, exploratory design enables the the researchers to explain the causes behind a particular phenomenon. It helps the researchers to predict future happenings in relation with the research topic. Lastly, descriptive research study is a mixture of both exploratory and explanatory research designs. It emphasizes upon the description of the entire population by collecting the appropriate data. It is the most popularly utilized design due to its dual characteristics. Data collection process: There are basically two types of data collection methods. The following are the two types of data collection methods: Primary data collection process Secondary data collection process. According to Silverman (2016), primary data collection process refers to the technique wherein the researcher obtains data from primary sources of information such as interviews and surveys. Collection of primary data involves establishing direct contact with the respondents. On the contrary, secondary data collection process refers to the technique wherein the researcher obtains data from secondary sources such as books, journals, internets, magazines and newspapers. In this process, the researcher is required to emphasize upon the authenticity of the secondary sources used by him or her. This process does not require the researcher to establish direct contacts with the respondents. It is based upon the primary data collected by some other researchers previously, which are easily available and accessible. In this particular research study, the researcher shall be using both primary and secondary data as the data shall be easily available. Sampling method: Sampling method refers to the selection of appropriate respondents from among a large population. There are mainly two types of sampling methods. The following are the two types of sampling methods: Probability sampling method Non- probability sampling method According to Panneerselvam (2014), probability sampling refers to the sampling wherein every member of the population has equal chances of being selected as a sample population. On the contrary, non- probability sampling refers to the sampling wherein the researcher selects the sample population on the basis of some criterion. There are unequal chances of selection of the participants in this process. There are mainly two types of data analysis plan. They are as follows: Quantitative Data Analysis Qualitative Data Analysis Quantitative data analysis refers to the analysis wherein the research is conducted through questionnaire survey and involves a large number of respondents. It aids in improving the quality of products and services. On the contrary, qualitative data analysis refers to the analysis wherein a small number of respondents are involved. It usually involves interviews through which the researcher gains in depth knowledge about the views of the respondents (Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault 2015). Ethical consideration: A researcher is required to follow certain ethical considerations while conducting a research study. Ethical consideration are the consideration, which are compulsory to be followed by the researchers. The researchers are required to ensure that the data collected are safe and must also ensure that he or she shall not disclose any data obtained from any respondent without their consent. In addition, the researcher is also required to ensure that the identity of the respondents is kept confidential. The researcher is also prohibited to force any person to take part in the process of data collection. The respondents are required to participate in the survey willingly. Another major ethical consideration is that the researcher shall use the data obtained during the process only for academic purpose and not for any commercial purpose. Therefore, it is necessary for the researcher to follow the ethical considerations throughout the research study. There are several limitations, which a researcher comes across while conducting a research study. Usually the limitations faced by the researchers involve insufficiency of time and budget. The researcher might face limitations in terms of time and budget in this research process. Time scale or Gantt chart: Activity Months M Dec M Jan M Feb M Mar M Apr M May M June Finalizing the topic Collecting data from secondary sources Forming a layout of the research work Conducting Literature review Forming the research plan Selecting appropriate research methodologies Concluding the Study Designing a rough draft Submitting the Final Work Table 1: Time Line of Research (Source: Created by the author) References: Abidin, M., 2015. Higher Education Quality: Perception Differences among Internal and External Stakeholders.International Education Studies,8(12), pp.185-192. Ayuso, S., Rodrguez, M.A., Garca-Castro, R. and Ario, M.A., 2014. Maximizing stakeholders interests: An empirical analysis of the stakeholder approach to corporate governance.Business society,53(3), pp.414-439. Baker, L., Newell, P. and Phillips, J., 2014. The political economy of energy transitions: The case of South Africa.New Political Economy,19(6), pp.791-818. Brinkmann, S., 2014. Interview. InEncyclopedia of Critical Psychology(pp. 1008-1010). Springer New York. De Brucker, K., Macharis, C. and Verbeke, A., 2013. Multi-criteria analysis and the resolution of sustainable development dilemmas: A stakeholder management approach.European journal of operational research,224(1), pp.122-131. Fassin, Y., Deprez, J., Van den Abeele, A. and Heene, A., 2017. Complementarities Between Stakeholder Management and Participative Management: Evidence From the Youth Care Sector.Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly,46(3), pp.586-606. Flick, U., 2015.Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research project. Sage. Fooks, G., Gilmore, A., Collin, J., Holden, C. and Lee, K., 2013. The limits of corporate social responsibility: techniques of neutralization, stakeholder management and political CSR.Journal of Business Ethics,112(2), pp.283-299. Garca-Nieto, A.P., Quintas-Soriano, C., Garca-Llorente, M., Palomo, I., Montes, C. and Martn-Lpez, B., 2015. Collaborative mapping of ecosystem services: The role of stakeholders? profiles.Ecosystem Services,13, pp.141-152. Glesne, C., 2015.Becoming qualitative researchers: An introduction. Pearson. Golini, R., Kalchschmidt, M. and Landoni, P., 2015. Adoption of project management practices: the impact on international development projects of non-governmental organizations.International Journal of Project Management,33(3), pp.650-663. Hammerschmid, G., Van de Walle, S. and Stimac, V., 2013. Internal and external use of performance information in public organizations: results from an international survey.Public Money Management,33(4), pp.261-268. Inam, A., Adamowski, J., Halbe, J. and Prasher, S., 2015. Using causal loop diagrams for the initialization of stakeholder engagement in soil salinity management in agricultural watersheds in developing countries: A case study in the Rechna Doab watershed, Pakistan.Journal of environmental management,152, pp.251-267. Kazadi, K., Lievens, A. and Mahr, D., 2016. Stakeholder co-creation during the innovation process: Identifying capabilities for knowledge creation among multiple stakeholders.Journal of Business Research,69(2), pp.525-540. Kelly, J., Male, S. and Graham, D., 2014.Value management of construction projects. John Wiley Sons. Kerzner, H., 2013.Project management: a systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley Sons. Kovacs, M., Dragomir, M., Maslova, M., Petrasova, A. and Lekovic, D., 2015. Stakeholders engagement in developing and implementing effective local family literacy policies. Lawrence, A.T. and Weber, J., 2014.Business and society: Stakeholders, ethics, public policy. Tata McGraw-Hill Education. Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015.Second language research: Methodology and design. Routledge. Marais, H., 2013.South Africa pushed to the limit: The political economy of change. Zed Books Ltd.. Marks, S. and Trapido, S., 2014.The politics of race, class and nationalism in twentieth century South Africa. Routledge. Maylor, H., Blackmon, K. and Huemann, M., 2016.Researching business and management. Palgrave. Mir, F.A. and Pinnington, A.H., 2014. Exploring the value of project management: linking project management performance and project success.International journal of project management,32(2), pp.202-217. Missonier, S. and Loufrani-Fedida, S., 2014. Stakeholder analysis and engagement in projects: From stakeholder relational perspective to stakeholder relational ontology.International Journal of Project Management,32(7), pp.1108-1122. Mok, K.Y., Shen, G.Q. and Yang, J., 2015. Stakeholder management studies in mega construction projects: A review and future directions.International Journal of Project Management,33(2), pp.446-457. Panneerselvam, R., 2014.Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.. Sierra?Garca, L., Zorio?Grima, A. and Garca?Benau, M.A., 2015. Stakeholder engagement, corporate social responsibility and integrated reporting: an exploratory study.Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management,22(5), pp.286-304. Silverman, D. ed., 2016.Qualitative research. Sage. Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015.Introduction to qualitative research methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley Sons. Verbeke, A. and Tung, V., 2013. The future of stakeholder management theory: A temporal perspective.Journal of Business Ethics,112(3), pp.529-543. Walker, A., 2015.Project management in construction. John Wiley Sons. Weiss, J.W., 2016. Business Ethics: A Stakeholder Issues Management Approach, 2014.Cyrus Chronicle Journal,1(1), pp.66-69. Yang, R.J., 2014. An investigation of stakeholder analysis in urban development projects: Empirical or rationalistic perspectives.International Journal of Project Management,32(5), pp.838-849.

Saturday, April 4, 2020

5 Page Report On Buddhism Essays - Gautama Buddha, Buddhas, Ascetics

5 page report on buddhism To begin this report, I will relate the story of the Buddha. Once a king had a son, his wife dying during labor. The child's name was Siddartha (meaning all wishes fulfilled) Gautama. As the boy grew up, there was a hermit who lived near the castle who saw a shimmering about the castle grounds. Taking this as an omen, the hermit went to the castle. When he saw Siddartha, he foretold that if Siddartha stayed in the palace until he was an adult, he would be a great ruler. But if Siddartha were to leave the palace and go into the world before he was mature, he would become the Buddha and save us all. At first the king was delighted to hear this news. But gradually, he began to worry that his son might become a homeless recluse instead of a mighty ruler. When Siddartha was about twelve, he was let out of the castle, and saw a bird eat a worm. This image stayed with him when he went back to the castle, and he asked himself ?Is everything naturally this savage. The king saw his son sad and in deep contemplation, and the thought he needed a distraction. Siddartha was married. After the wedding, there were many parties and other such events to help to cheer him up. Throughout this, Siddartha contemplated his question, and eventually left the castle to pursue enlightenment. As soon as he had left the palace, he shaved his head and got a beggar's bowl, realizing that material goods would not help him on his quest for enlightenment. To help in his quest, for 15 years, Siddartha lived in a hut on only half a grain of rice a day. Afterwards, he realized that this didn't help his state of mind at all, because he was always hungry and in pain. He realized that suffering is necessary, but can be avoided in the long run. One common misconception of the Buddha is that he is a god according to the general belief that many of the Buddhist schools share. The Buddha is three things : First a teacher, second a great man, and third a universal ruler. There was a small Buddha cult right after Siddartha became Buddha, and that is where the last interpretation came from. In reality, there are three main things you must learn about and advance in these are: Buddha, his teachings called the Dharma, and the group of other people who study Buddhism with you. Buddha means ?Enlightened One? the first of the three gems, as they are called is act as the Buddha would, this includes following the eightfold path, with an emphasis on three virtues. The first virtue is wisdom this includes from the eightfold path right understanding and right thought . The second of these virtues is morality this includes right speech, right action, and right livelihood. The third of these virtues is concentration right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. The second of the three gems is the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha. This includes the majority of Buddhism, because this is where you find all the main ideas. I'll start with Siddartha's first discourse as the Buddha, the four truths. The first truth is that there is suffering in the world, and that suffering fits into three categories : the first type of suffering is the suffering that no one can avoid: birth, sickness, old age, and death. The second type is the suffering produced by change, an example is losing a job, and the insecurity that comes with it. This second type cannot be escaped from either, for nothing can last forever. The third is the only one you can prevent to some extent, it is attachments to material things or experiences, specifically these five aggregates: matter, sensations, perceptions mental formations, and consciousness. The second truth is that suffering has a cause, there are two causes of suffering: not having the realization that everything is temporal, and not knowing that there is no ego. Both of these seem absurd at first, but that is because, according to most eastern thought, the world is much less than we make

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Botanical Beverage from Ixora Coccinea Linn Petals Essay Essay Example

Botanical Beverage from Ixora Coccinea Linn Petals Essay Essay Example Botanical Beverage from Ixora Coccinea Linn Petals Essay Essay Botanical Beverage from Ixora Coccinea Linn Petals Essay Essay The construct of utilizing fresh comestible flowers in cookery is non new. Today. many eating houses use different flowers in their ingredients for an alien gustatory sensation and for a touch of elegance. Some flowers are used for comeuppances ; different flowers are assorted together in doing salads. But who could hold guessed that with the usage of creativeness. its sweet juice can be made into a delightful thirst quencher. Ixora Coccinea Linn. normally known as santan. is really popular during the early yearss. wherein the kids love sipping its nectar. The research workers were reminded of this activity when they saw a telecasting commercial screening that the nectar was being sipped by the grownup and the kid seeking the same. It gave the research workers an thought of utilizing santan flowers in doing a juice that would be healthy. alimentary and delightful that can be an alternate gustatory sensation quenchers for carbonated drinks or softdrinks found harmful to our organic structure. In surveies made. it was found out that excessively much consumption of soda drinks can do diabetes. fleshiness and bone loss. Statement of the Problem The research workers sought to reply the undermentioned inquiries: a. Can Santan flowers be used as an ingredient in doing a bracing drink while happening out if it is safe to imbibe? B. Make the extraction methods affect the colour. gustatory sensation and nutritionary composing of the Ixora Coccinea Linn drink? c. Are their gustatory sensations acceptable? d. Are their gustatory sensation comparable with that commercial drinks in the market today? Significance of the Study With this survey. the research workers can larn that Ixora Coccinea Linn ( Santan ) flowers are non merely used for ornament and shows. but are besides used to make a delicious nutrient and drink. Many thirst quenchers that are in the market today. like carbonated drinks. may harm our organic structure. So the research workers made it possible for you to seek something new that can slake your thirst. fulfill your gustatory sensation buds that is certain to be alone savoring and healthy. The community will hold a find of the beautiful gustatory sensation of santan flowers and derive more cognition and creativeness on its utilizations and what they can do out of it. Filipinos will hold a new and refreshfully healthy juice made of santan flowers which are certain to pull people. We will hold an original and delightful tasting drink which can be enjoyed by every member of the household. Scope and Limitation of the Study The group tried to come up with information that could assist them calculate more about the nature of the santan juice for about a month. Each member of the group got the information they needed from the Internet. The group used legion orange santan flowers. These flowers were boiled and used its juice as the merchandise. The group did non pass much since the stuffs they need are found in the surrounding and in their abodes. The santan juice as a merchandise would hold non been completed without the tools and techniques involved. The tools used in different techniques involved in doing the santan juice were saucepan. strainer. flavorers ( calamansi infusion and sugar ) and H2O. The techniques that were used were cleaning. warming. and pull outing activities. In carry oning this survey. the research workers had a hard clip in carry oning the experiments due to clip restraints. Besides. there was deficit of santan flowers. The flowers are excessively little. that is why the research workers need to hold every bit many flowers as they can. since they have to make several methods of pull outing the juice. Methodology Collection and Preparation of Materials Ixora Coccinea Linn flowers ( santan ) were collected from the adjacent abodes. The petals were washed exhaustively and dried. Three cups of distilled H2O was heated in a saucepan. Equally shortly as the H2O began to boil. the dried flowers of santan was added. and boiled for 10 proceedingss in low temperature. Afterwards. they allowed the petals to immerse for another 10 proceedingss. The mixture was poured from the pan to a hurler utilizing a strainer in order to divide the flower deposit from the infusion. Afterwards. the infusion was tasted and was compared to a commercial juice drink. Then. the research workers stirred in a teaspoonful of sugar and a teaspoon of calamansi juice in a glass of santan infusion. Finally. the research workers added ice and allow the mixture iciness wholly. They once more compared the gustatory sensation of the prepared santan drink from a commercially produced drink. The methods that the researches used are found at World Wide Web. congocookbook. com. and at World Wide Web. yummly. com/recipe/Hibiscus-Tea. The research workers repeated the process utilizing fresh santan petals. They compared the juices that were made and recorded their observations. They besides requested other people outside their group to state the difference between the two drinks and compare it to commercially produced juices.

Friday, February 21, 2020

Change Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Change Management - Assignment Example Make sure that there is active support for the change from the senior executive level within the business or organization, and engaging these sponsorships to the plans in order to achieve the desired results. Change in management comes with tension in the operation before the team adapts to the new system. The manager should gather information from both internal and external and analyze the weak points and make a quick solution to the problem. When a manager focuses on both internal and external initiatives, the company increases the chance of success. Ethics involves the individual’s moral judgment about the wrong and the right. Most of the decisions made in an organization are either made by individuals or groups who are guided or influenced by the culture of the company. The decision made by the manager to behave ethically is a moral one and therefore the employee or the managers should decide what they think is the right course of action. Ethical behavior is an integral part of everything that all the companies or organization should apply alongside good corporate governance. The manager should treat all the stakeholders in a fairly as this is an essential part of the company’s success. The manager can achieve this by creating a managed corporate and social responsibility program to the best interest of all the stakeholders. That is; the manager should focus on the employees, suppliers, customers and other partners who work together with the company. The manager can increase the ethical practices within the organization by ensuring that all  staff members  understand the company’s corporate values and principles of the business.

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

The Importance Of Genetically Modified Foods Research Paper

The Importance Of Genetically Modified Foods - Research Paper Example They have also been designed to resist other environmental factors such as drought and floods making them suitable in this era of global warming. Apart from this, GMOs have a faster growing rate making them preferable especially with the hunger menace in developing countries. With these many needed advantages, scientists argue that the GMOs will eventually eradicate food shortage and subsequent loss of lives due to hunger. (Henningfeld, 2009: 38)  GMO is relatively cheaper compared to natural foods while their production cost is lower. This makes them affordable to even those living below the poverty line. As a result, farmers are able to earn fast making more profit, which translates to economic growth of the country. It is a win-win situation for all.  However, critics have raised concerns about the health effects of GMOs on both animals and humans consuming them. (Henningfeld, 2009:100) Reports of health defects like reproductive abnormalities have been linked to GMOs, both on animals and humans. Concerns have also been raised on the relationship between GMOs and cancer cases. Allergic reactions and diseases like kidney and liver malfunctions have also been linked to these modified foods. Transferring genes from animals to plants has also pose ethical challenges. Incorporation of animal genes on plants, for instance, to improve their resistance level completely contradicts the creation theory. However, the cases are few and are being dealt with to make these foods safe for human consumption. (Henningfeld, 2009: 98)  From the above discussion, it is clear that GMOs have seen a significant development in the food industry and has a positive impact on many countries. If the negative effects of these foods are corrected appropriately.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

The goals of the marketing department

The goals of the marketing department THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT was the department where I did my internship. I spent six weeks in this department. In these six weeks I came to know that what are the practical consequences of marketing n how to make it more impressive. In Gondal Group of Industries the Marketing department was established in Nov 1999. I worked under Marketing and sales officer Mr. Khalid Rohail. There are mainly three departments in Gondal Group Industries Fiber Glass Steel Concrete These three departments are working at their best .I did my internship in fiber glass department n as far as I concerned to only this department so I got a little look of others.. In this department I worked with every designation member and analyzed, observed and learned about the responsibilities and activities associated with them. Lets talk about them one by one. 2.2- Hierarchy of Marketing Department Marketing Marketing  is the process by which companies create customer interest in goods or services. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business development.throug marketing the relationship between customer and company and it makes the customer satisfied by the products. Gondal industry offers that in order to satisfy its organizational objectives, Gondal industry should anticipate the needs and wants of consumers and satisfy these more efficiently than competitors. In the consumer-driven approach, consumer wants are the drivers of all strategic marketing decisions. No strategy is pursued until it passes the test of consumer Objectives of Marketing Department The objectives of marketing department in gondal group of industry are the identification, anticipation and satisfaction of customer or consumer. so marketing department is responsible for the analysis of needs and demands of the consumer and then fulfill their requirement process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying customer requirements by the products the company is offering and also take feedback of the product to ensure that the main objective is achieved or not. To understand and work in the marketing department, it is very important that one should know about the marketing research process. After learning all the steps of the Marketing Research Process, marketing can be possible. Marketing strategy It is a process by which a firm or an organization concentrates on its resources available and its limitations and the opportunities available for them so that the sale can be increased and the advantage of it can be taken according to needs and according to desire. A marketing strategy should be centered on the key concept that  customer satisfaction  is the main goal. Key part of the general corporate strategy Marketing strategy is a method of focusing an organizations energies and resources on a course of action which can lead to increased sales and dominance of a targeted market niche. A marketing strategy combines product development, promotion, distribution, pricing, relationship management and other elements; identifies the firms marketing goals, and explains how they will be achieved, ideally within a stated timeframe. Marketing strategy determines the choice of target market segments, positioning,  marketing mix, and allocation of resources. It is most effective when it is an integral component of overall firm strategy, defining how the organization will successfully engage customers, prospects, and competitors in the market arena, corporate strategies, corporate missions, and corporate goals. As the customer constitutes the source of a companys revenue, marketing strategy is closely linked with  sales. A key component of marketing strategy is often to keep marketing in line wit h a companys overarching  mission statement. Basic theory: Target Audience Proposition/Key Element Implementation Tactics and actions A marketing strategy can serve as the foundation of a  marketing plan. A marketing plan contains a set of specific actions required to successfully implement a marketing strategy. For example: Use a low cost product to attract consumers. Once our organization, via our low cost product, has established a relationship with consumers, our organization will sell additional, higher-margin products and services that enhance the consumers interaction with the low-cost product or service. A strategy consists of a well thought out series of tactics to make a marketing plan more effective. Marketing strategies serve as the fundamental underpinning of marketing plans designed to fill market needs and reach  marketing  objectives. Plans and objectives are generally tested for measurable results. A marketing strategy often integrates an organizations marketing goals, policies, and action sequences (tactics) into a cohesive whole. Similarly, the various strands of the strategy, which might include  advertising,  channel marketing,  promotion  and  public relations  can be orchestrated. Many companies cascade a strategy throughout an organization, by creating strategy tactics that then become strategy goals for the next level or group. Each one group is expected to take that strategy goal and develop a set of tactics to achieve that goal. This is why it is important to make each strategy goal measurable. Marketing strategies are dynamic and interactive. They are partially planned and partially unplanned. Types of strategies Marketing strategies may differ depending on the unique situation of the individual business. However there are a number of ways of categorizing some generic strategies. A brief description of the most common categorizing schemes is presented below: Strategies based on  market dominance   In this scheme, firms are classified based on their market share or dominance of an industry. Typically there are four types of market dominance strategies: Leader Challenger Follower Nicher Organizational Structure:   strategy on the dimensions of strategic scope and strategic strength. Strategic scope refers to the market penetration while strategic strength refers to the firms sustainable competitive advantage. The generic strategy framework (porter 1984) comprises two alternatives each with two alternative scopes. These are  Differentiation  and  low-cost leadership  each with a dimension of  Focus-broad or narrow. Product differentiation (broad) Cost leadership (broad) Market segmentation (narrow) Organizational Structure- This deals with the firms rate of the new product development and  business model innovation. It asks whether the company is on the cutting edge of technology and business innovation. There are three types: Pioneers Close followers Late followers Organizational Structure- In this scheme we ask the question, How should the firm grow? There are a number of different ways of answering that question, but the most common gives four answers: Horizontal integration Vertical integration Diversification Intensification A more detailed scheme uses the categories Prospector Analyzer Defender Reactor Marketing warfare strategies   This scheme draws parallels between marketing strategies and military strategies. Strategic models Marketing participants often employ strategic models and tools to analyze marketing decisions. When beginning a strategic analysis, the  3Cs  can be employed to get a broad understanding of the strategic environment. An  Ansoff Matrix  is also often used to convey an organizations strategic positioning of their  marketing mix. The  4Ps  can then be utilized to form a marketing plan to pursue a defined strategy. There are many companies especially those in the Consumer Package Goods (CPG) market that adopt the theory of running their business centred on Consumer, Shopper Retailer needs. Their Marketing departments spend quality time looking for Growth Opportunities in their categories by identifying relevant insights (both mindsets and behaviours) on their target Consumers, Shoppers and retail partners. These Growth Opportunities emerge from changes in market trends, segment dynamics changing and also internal brand or operational business challenges. The Marketing team can then prioritize these Growth Opportunities and begin to develop strategies to exploit the opportunities that could include new or adapted products, services as well as changes to the 7Ps. Real-life marketing Real-life marketing primarily revolves around the application of a great deal of common-sense; dealing with a limited number of factors, in an environment of imperfect information and limited resources complicated by uncertainty and tight timescales. Use of classical marketing techniques, in these circumstances, is inevitably partial and uneven. Thus, for example, many new products will emerge from irrational processes and the rational development process may be used (if at all) to screen out the worst non-runners. The design of the advertising, and the packaging, will be the output of the creative minds employed; which management will then screen, often by gut-reaction, to ensure that it is reasonable. For most of their time, marketing managers use intuition and experience to analyze and handle the complex, and unique, situations being faced; without easy reference to theory. This will often be flying by the seat of the pants, or gut-reaction; where the overall strategy, coupled with the knowledge of the customer which has been absorbed almost by a process of osmosis, will determine the quality of the marketing employed. This, almost instinctive management, is what is sometimes called coarse marketing; to distinguish it from the refined, aesthetically pleasing, form favoured by the theorists. SECTION # 3 3.0- SWOT Analysis of Marketing Department Strengths  in the SWOT Analysis are attributes or characteristics within the organization that are considered to be important to the execution and ultimate success of the project. Examples of strengths that are often cited are factors such as experienced management, state of the art manufacturing facilities, and a solid profit line already in place. Weaknesses  in the SWOT Analysis formula have to do with internal factors that could prevent the achievement of a successful result to the project. Factors such as a weak internal communication system, unhealthy levels of rivalry between departments, lack of raw materials, and inadequate funding for the project are often cited as weaknesses that can threaten to derail a project before it even begins. The third classification of factors in the SWOT analysis is  Opportunities. This classification has to do with external elements that will prove helpful in achieving the goals set for the project. Factors of this type could be the positive perception of the company by the general public, a network of vendors who are willing to work with the company to achieve success with the project, and market conditions that will help to make the project desirable to the market at large, or at least a significant segment. Last, the final essential component for the SWOT Analysis is  Threats. Here, external factors that could threaten the success of the  business venture  or project are listed and addressed. Among the possible threats that will be critical to any SWOT analysis is a negative public image, the lack of vendors who can supply raw materials for the project, and no readymade market for the final product of the project. Strengths The company has a very well balanced and realistic incentive program. It also focuses on giving additional benefits to its employees apart from the basic remuneration. This results in employees giving their Heart and Soul in working for their employer. The Marketing practices greatly enhance its image as a company that wants to contribute towards the society in every possible way. As the main focus is on developing better image not just to sale its products. Description of every product is written in its manual whereas the competitors dont do so this thing results in increase of customer loyalty and also profits. Weaknesses Marketing department lacks staff and it is very difficult for the Marketing Manager to do the right things for their organization and it takes much time for normal working of the organization. The Marketing Department is not up to the mark for the proper marketing system and implementation of that system. Gondal Group of Industries uses old methods of marketing practices. Gondal Group of Industries dont properly advertise their products on popular TV channels. Due to lack of advertisement activities most of the consumers dont know what to buy from Gondal and how to buy and also where to buy. These all things should be told in the advertisement and the advertisement should be played on popular TV channels and on radio F.M. the latest technology of media should be used to advertising the products of Gondal Group of Industries. Marketing Department has not functioning products packing program. All the products are delivered to the customers without proper packaging. There should be a proper packaging for all the products and that should be attractive so that it could increase attractiveness and also the customers. The employees are working along with their concise and conservative knowledge. There are no refresher courses for their training. Due to this employees feel difficult to set their working environment. Employees have developed a psychology that promotion criteria procedures of the Marketing Department of the company are not justified. Here is a lack of reward and proper incentives for the manual workers. The employees working more efficiently and effectively are receiving the same rewards as the others. These efficient employees are also not obliged with some appreciation. Employees are leaving the jobs, so that is why there is a lack of experienced employees in the organization, which leads to a shortfall in production. The working hours for the labor are not right and accurate. The working hours are so much awkward that the labor force feels so much exertion, after continuously working. There are frequent conflicts among the laborers which causes stoppage of work and which ultimately lead to shortfall in production. The authorities assigned to the workers are being misused by them. Perhaps the employees are using the companys resources for their own interest and misusing the authority assigned to them. There is a lack of co-ordination among employees. Employees are not in well exchanging their ideas, methods of production and their skill among each other so that their ideas are reserved to only a single person and the whole system is not enjoying it. There is an incorrect assignment of work in the organization. The jobs assigned to the workers do not match with their skills, mental as well as physical capabilities , which ultimately leads to short fall in production. The employees have adopted the satisfying behavior due to which they are not working as planning, and are just deceiving the management. Opportunities There are a number of opportunities that are available in areas of Marketing for Gondal Group of Industries during the course of their future activities. These are: The company can discover great potential through the future graduates as every generation is being taught in more effective manner that leads to better growth. Being a growing company in the employment rankings of Pakistan Gondal Group of Industries can recruit the cream of graduates every year and utilize their improved knowledge and abilities. There is an opportunity to create the best image of the company in the mind of customers by adding the value added services. The company should also use billboards for their advertising which is a very popular and common way of advertising now a days and the company should use it. With the expansion in the company business in Pakistan, the Marketing department can be expended in order to manage diversity of workforce. Threats There are also many threats that can b faces to Gondal Group of Industries Marketing department. Which are given below? Due to entering of new companies in industry the competition has been enhanced. Like other areas marketing departments is facing the threat of customers switching from Gondal Group of Industries to other companies. The big and regular customers are being attracted by the other companies multinational companies. This is all due to proper marketing, the company with proper marketing department practicing all the marketing rules and regulations not only attracts the customer but also creates loyal customers for itself which is a very good sign for that company. The company is currently acting upon the policy of downsizing which threaten the environment of the bank Employees feel insecurity in doing their jobs and work, hence affecting the overall performance of employees negatively. SECTION # 4 RECCOMENDATIONS Following are some recommendations for Gondal Group of Industries, which I personally feel can be useful for the organization, its employees and the customers. And which helps the organization to improve its effectiveness and efficiency in highly competitive world. The Marketing department should be vast. There should be training centers for employees and workers. In training refreshing courses should be adequate and more frequent. Advanced training should b given to employees which enhance their skills. Marketing Department may advice and train employees for one window operation in order to reduce the time and conserve the resources. Executives and employees should be trained on continuous basis to give them knowledge about the current market trends and new marketing concepts. The promotional criteria by the Marketing Department should be defined and be as per rules. The proper and competitive evaluation of the methods and procedures adopted by other competitors will enhance the performance of Marketing Department. Gondal Group of Industries should use all the techniques and methods that are required by a big firm like that to handle all its Marketing activities in an efficient manner. This is the era of Information Technology. The functions and procedures of the Company should be converted from manual to the automatic. It will enhance the performance of the Marketing Department and ultimately of the company Marketing Department should allocate resources for this purpose. Pay packages may be revised in the light of profit earned by the organization. Gondal Group of Industries has a formal environment which can be changed to more relax and friendly environment. To establish core competence and to bring competitiveness, Gondal Group of Industries should implement numerous effective marketing plans to improve the performance of its various departments. Supervisors must manage employee performance well in order for Gondal Group of Industries to accomplish its mission and achieve its goals. There should be effective communication system .Establishing and maintaining effective communications with each Employee not only requires good oral and written communications Skills, but it also includes the ability to establish good working Relationships. To communicate effectively with employees, Supervisors must establish an environment that promotes an open Door atmosphere, the sharing of ideas, and employee involvement in decision making processes. When the Marketing manager is going to prepare the Marketing Plan he must get information about work to employees that will it be easy for employees to do work effectively. Employees should be known that what is expected to them and how it will be measured. So KPAs and performance measures should be well communicated to employees. Credible measures of performance that employees understand and accept are critical for achieving high level performance. Measuring employee accomplishments, using both qualitative and quantitative measures, provides the information that supervisors and employees need in order to monitor performance. Feedback should inform, enlighten, and suggest improvements to employees regarding their performance. Supervisors should describe specific work related behavior or results they observe as close to the event as possible. Using their coaching skills, supervisors evaluate and address the developmental needs of their employees and help them select diverse experiences to gain necessary skills. Supervisors and employees create development plans that might include training, new assignment, job enrichment, self study or work details Competencies should be observable, measurable Patterns of skills, knowledge, abilities, behaviors and other Characteristics that an individual needs to perform work roles or Occupational functions successfully. Gondal Group of Industries must allocate high budget for marketing activities. For online Resume submission time to time to have excellent application pool not only at the time of Job position Give detail for every advertisement of job opportunities along with detail about job description and career path, status of advertised job opportunities along with compensation packages to manifest potential candidates because this all not possible through newspaper advertisement and we have competitive edge of offering excellent compensation package to Mgt. Trainees so we should get benefit of this strength. There should be complete pre-defined program along with orientations modules and contents supposed to be highlighted and discussed by every department. Marketing department require to develop Orientation program and specific course contents for every department along with department managers, discussed and highlighted during orientation training and upgraded with the passage of time as for as changes takes place. And should be handover to every department and its one copy will remain to Marketing department orientation program file CONCLUSIONS The six weeks spent in Gondal Group of Industries, (By-pass) Gujrat were, no doubt a source of great learning for me. Its my quite first experience to do work practically in some organization. This practical training program did not only help me to acquire loads of knowledge about the predominant functions performed by company, but also imparted a lot of training as regards the set of behavioral traits which distinguish a particular person from the rest of the lot in a professional environment. All from the above discussion I conclude that Gondal Group of Industries Company is facing direct competition with many brands assembled by different companies. No doubt Gondal Group of Industries is a hi tech company but the working substances are the human being .It goes without saying that Marketing are the most important in the organization and so does the Marketing Department .It integrate all the activities and functions of the company like product manufacturing, packaging, advertising, customer feedback, designing attractive packing of the product, continuous improvement in the product according to the needs and wants of customers. Marketing Department plays the key role in the product, place, innovation, price of the product and promotion of the employees actually it assign the specified duties to the specified persons in this age of specialization. Marketing manager should be well versed and confident in his field. He should be humanize, well natured and have go face reading capabilities .All this ensures his success .He should be of the notion victory is not everything but the way of fighting is. Another famous marketing quotation is Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read. All departments are working together and they want to create a work environment in which employees can improve their minds, continuously learn, gain professional growth and feel inspired by similarly motivated individuals. Gondal Group of Industries takes pride in providing the best possible working environment. Especially the marketing department is being improved at a very fast speed and soon it will be best in business. The company is hiring more professional and hardworking marketing experts to improve their marketing department and their marketing plan, so that the company could get some more fame and popularity among customers and become a solid treat for its competitors. They take a constant interest in ones progress by conducting evaluations and offering the support and resources one needs.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

conifers :: essays research papers

While I was in Woodland Cemetery, some organisms that I noticed there were conifer trees. Such as the White Pine (Strobus pinus), Junipers (Juniperus), Doughlasfir (Pseudotsuga taxifolia), Hemlocks (Tsuga), Norway Spruce (Picea), White Cedar (Thuja), and Birch trees (Betula) The white Pine tree can be detected by looking at its pine needles. Its needles only come in a bundle of five. Pine needles are consumed by some species of grouse and by several browsers. The white pine tree is also valuable as cover for wildlife. Young trees with foliage spreading near the ground make good all-year cover for game birds, squirrel, deer, and other ground animals. White pines are usually found around well-drained sandy soils, sometimes in pure sand. Juniper grows in pastures, fenced rows, and other open places. Hoofed browsers often eat their twigs and foliage, but the main attraction to wildlife is the bluish-black berry like fruit it produces. The cedar waxwing is one of the principal users of juniper berries, but other animals make these fruit apart of their diet. Junipers also provide important protective and nesting cover for birds and field mice. Doughlasfirs are commonly found on moist, well-drained mountain slopes and in valleys through out the Rockies and in the Pacific Northwest. The ones found here can often exceed 200 feet in height. Western squirrels and other rodents use the small, winged seeds of this conifer. The foliage and twigs are important to several kinds of browsers. Doughlasfir needles, which are tightly compressed with some of the staminate cones, constitute a top rank winter food for blue grouse. Hemlocks are tall straight-trunk conifers and are usually found around moist, cool slopes, mainly in the northern latitudes or on higher mountains. The dense, low foliage of young plants makes excellent winter coverage for ruffed grouse, wild turkey, deer, and other wildlife. The small, winged seeds are important food for the pine siskin, crossbills, chickadees, blue grouse and several other rodents including the red squirrel. Norway Spruce is v-shaped in size and grows on high mountains where the climate is cool and considerable rain falls. Rabbits and deer browse the foliage and twigs in the winter. The small, winged seeds of spruce are valuable food of the white winged crossbill and are eaten by several other kinds of birds, as well as by squirrels and chipmunks.