Network Rail has a key objective to Earn and Retain a Mandate

Network Rail has a key objective to Earn and Retain a Mandate Using PESTLE/Porters 5 Forces / Scenario Modelling or any other relevant identify the key strategic Macro challenges the Company faces. Using Financial Analysis / Marketing Mix / Core Competencies / Balanced Scorecard or any other relevant tools, scan Network Rails Internal / Micro Environment to inentify the key Micro challenges the Company faces. Pull your conclusions regarding parts 1 and 2 together in the form of a SWOT analysis. You could also identify what options an ANSOFF matrix for Network Rail would suggest are the most viable. Given your analysis, what do you conclude about the relevance of the Key Objectives above (to earn and retain a mandate etc.) and What should be the strategy of Network Rail in the coming 2-5 years? And what would be the vital few measures which would help to track progress toward achieving your suggested strategy. Introduction I have been employed in the UK Rail industry for over 30 years, and am currently based at Saltley Delivery Unit in Central Birmingham. My role is Infrastructure Maintenance Engineer, which gives me overall responsibility for all of the maintenance carried out by Netwrok Rail on its main infrastructure, which is the tracks and Signalling system connected to them. My geographic area of responsibility runs from London Marylebone, through Banbury and Birmingham Snow Hill and onto Droitwich Spa. I have 300+ staff reporting to me through a team of Engineers (3) and Section Managers (9), working out of two main depots, Saltley And Banbury, with smaller depots at Stourbridge, Whitacre, Leamington, Aylesbury, High Wycombe and London Marylebone. Background Network rail has been in existence since October 2002 when they took over the running of Britains Rail infrastructure from Railtrack. They currently employ over 35,000 people in various aspects of this work, from day to day maintenance to major renewal projects. In Using PESTLE/Porters 5 Forces / Scenario Modelling or any other relevant identify the key strategic Macro challenges the Company faces When you analyse the macro-environment, identification of the factors that might affect a number of vital aspects that will influence the supply and demand and costs of the company is critically important. (Kotter and Schlesinger, 1991; Johnson and Scholes, 1993) Various checklists are in use as ways of cataloguing the vast number of possible issues that might affect different industries. A PESTLE analysis is one of that is merely a framework that categorises environmental influences as political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental. PESTLE examines the likely impact of each of these factors on the industry. The results are then used to take investigate and enable opportunities and to be aware of and to make contingency plans for threats when building business strategy (Byars, 1991; Cooper, 2000). In a recent study (1998), Kotler claims that PESTLE is a strategic tool that can be useful to help understand market growth and decline alongside business position, in order to decide on potential and future direction The use of PESTLE analysis reveals that the major external influences upon Network Rail are: POLITICAL : The recent change in Government could still have a far reaching effect upon Britains rail industry, the recent Comprehensive Spending Review has made sure that the industry must change and in a big way. ECONOMIC : The current economic climate of the United Kingdom is such that a lot of passengers will be thinking of alternative ways to travel, low cost coach and bus services will have their appeal increased, albeit the long term prospects for rail travel are good, given the current lobby against road transport by the green parties. In order to remain an attractive alternative, the rail industry must compete economically with road transport. SOCIAL : The major social concept in the UK Governments Sustainable Development Strategy (DEFRA, 2005) is noted as: ensuring a strong, healthy and just society, but this can be split into six main aspects: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Accommodating the diverse needs of the population both now and in the future; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ promoting personal well-being; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ encouraging social cohesion and inclusion; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ maintaining equal opportunities for everyone; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ promoting good governance; and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ engaging the creativity, energy and diversity of the people of Great Britain. The Rail industry has a major part to play in the satisfaction of these social goals. Increasingly the industry will be judged on delivering the services, and even more so on the way they are delivered. The UK Railways run alongside houses belonging to a vast array of the population, and it must be seen to engage correctly with all of its lineside neighbours. The industry must also be seen to be an employer that values its workforce and treats them correspondingly. Safety of the travelling public is a major social factor in the business, both those travelling by train and the road user that use any of the hundred of level crossings on the network each day. The key causes of accidents on the railway infrastructure are trespass and the misuse of level crossings. TECHNOLOGICAL : The incredible speed of technology advances has a big effect on any transport industry. The likes of faster and more reliable broadband connections will increase the amount of work done by teleconferences and reduce travel to meetings. Faster and more efficient trains will effect upon the nature of Network Rails infrastructure, and compel the company to look at new ways to maintain the infrastructure, and new forms of powering the trains. LEGAL : Legally Network Rail is governed by many bodies with an influence, including The Office Of Rail Regulators, The Health Safety Executive, UK Government, Environment Agency. ENVIRONMENTAL : Network Rail has a responsibility to maintain its infrastructure and the huge number of wildlife habitats alongside the railway. The company also has to become as green as possible, ensuring timber that they use is from sustainable sources, and that all depots and offices are committed to reduce their carbon footprint as much as is possible. Porters Five Forces The Porters Five Forces model is a simple tool that can be utilised to help strategic understanding where power lies in a business situation. The tool can also be used to understand both the strength of a companys current competitive position, alongside the strength of a position the company may be looking to move into. The Five forces framework focuses on business concerns rather than public policy but it can also emphasise extended competition for value rather than just competition among existing rivals. The ease of its use has inspired numerous companies as well as business schools to adopt it. (Wheelen and Hunger, 1998). If you have clear understanding of where your power currently lies, you are able to take advantage of a situation of strength or act to improve a situation of weakness. Porters 5 Forces for Network Rail: Supplier Power: For Network rail, it supplier power can be said to be relatively high, there is a very strict approvals process to go through before any item can be introduced into the infrastructure. This process can be time consuming and expensive for new suppliers and so those that already have this approval have a large amount of power to wield. There are also very few suppliers that provide the dedicated technology that is used to provide modern signalling systems which again will provide a great deal of supplier power. Buyer Power: Buyer power with regard to Network Rail would be classed as low. The company is operating in somewhat of a monopoly, giving buyers very little flexibility to shop elsewhere for similar services. Network rail is therefore in a very strong position when it comes to dictating terms. Competitive Rivalry: Other than companies providing engineering expertise with renewal of rail infrastructure, there are few firms who could provide the day to day expertise that Network Rail has in the safe running of the railway network in Great Britain. The number of staff employed by Network Rail (18,000+) would also be a barrier to the threat of substitution by smaller firms, not willing to take on the huge responsibility that employing this number of dedicated staff would present. Threat of Substitution: The threat of substitution may be classed as medium as there may be alternatives to a rail system within GB. Other than Road Transport, there is very little realistic direct competition for the services that Network Rail provide. Road transport does present a certain amount of competitive rivalry to Network Rail, but there would be few that would be able to compete direct with leading the GB Rail network. Obviously this puts Network Rail in a position of great strength. Threat of New Entry: The cost and time elements required for companies to be set up to provide effective competition to Network Rail would be barriers that would prevent this happening. For this reason the threat of New Entry is low. Using Financial Analysis / Marketing Mix / Core Competencies / Balanced Scorecard or any other relevant tools, scan Network Rails Internal / Micro Environment to inentify the key Micro challenges the Company faces. Using FiMO as discussed during the BES module of the Network Rail business leaders programme to scan the Internal or Macro Environment shows the following results: FINANCE : Network Rails strengths are based around its huge asset base and its growing asset value. Network Rail also owns a massive property portfolio that can be used for diversification. The major weaknesses of Network Rail are based around possible Governmet spending cuts, the Recent Comprehensive spending review and Lord McNultys value for money report. MARKET : Strengths Currently the business is well thought of by relevant bodies including the Office Of The Rail Regulator, OFT and HSE (BES 2010) Prime locations for retail developments, Achieving Control Period 4 (CP4) targets to date. Weaknesses Internal financial process that makes it almost impossible to trade with other parts of the same company. OPERATIONS Strengths include an enviable safety record, both for its own workforce and for the travelling public. Delivery of its own promise The Timetable is our Promise. When we Promise a train can run, it will run safely, punctually and reliably. And we Promise that more trains are able to run next year. Network Rail (2010) Weaknesses -. The industry is perceived as difficult to work with, by others within the industry. As part of the BES course a RECoiL exercise for Network Rail as a company was completed, the scores have been reproduced below. Network Rail Resources 8 Experiences 7 Controls and Systems 6 Ideas Innovation 7 Leadership 6 This would seem to highlight issues within two main sectors, those being Controls Systems and Leadership. Controls and Systems There is a school of thought that its processes are far too bureaucratic and that any change can only be effected over a long period of time. This may well have a bearing on the apparent issues with leadership Leadership There seems to be a large number of long serving railwaymen in supervisory and management positions. This has the effect of creating a resistance to change. There seems to be a feeling that the processes and procedures inflicted corporately are so rigid that they prevent innovation because of amount of bureaucracy in place. Pull your conclusions regarding parts 1 and 2 together in the form of a SWOT analysis. You could also identify what options an ANSOFF matrix for Network Rail would suggest are the most viable. According to Barney (1995), a SWOT analysis is a framework that points to the relevance of external and internal forces to give an understanding of the sources of competitive advantage. SWOT analysis will help decide if the main problems facing a company revolve around a need to change its strategy, a need to improve its current strategy and the implementation of it, or both of the above. The tool helps look at the companys current performance (Strengths and Weaknesses) and its future (Opportunities and Threats) by accounting for the factors that exist in the external environment. The framework is a powerful and at times highly successful technique that can be applied to individuals, groups, teams, or organisations (David, 1997).

Cruelty Involved in Animal Research, Testing, and Experimentation :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Cruelty Involved in Animal Testing Hobbes, the cat, has been under experimentation for most of his life. This is probably the last time that he will ever have to be experimented on again. Why? Because he is probably not going to make it through this time. The makers of Herbal Essences are about to force shampoo down his throat to see what happens to its organs. Even if the cat lives through the process, they are going to have to kill it to see which organs it could have damaged. If this was an actual human going through this deadly experiment, people would be in shock. Instead, scientists are testing whether or not swallowing shampoo would affect a cat. Testing on animals is a very disagreeable process that should not be allowed. Animal testing started a numerous years ago to help provide humans with information. The process of animal testing is one of the most disturbing experiments ever done. Many cosmetics and personal care products are made every year and are put into the market after being tested on animals. Almost every product has been animal tested at some stage in its development. The website titled "Animals in Product Testing" stated, "...these products have gone through a long and complex testing process that leaves millions of animals mutilated, burned, poisoned and gassed in outmoded and unnecessary tests." From these different experiments, animals are often left with different diseases like Syphilis, herpes, or AIDS ("Animal Rights: Animal Testing"). Manufacturers of these different products say that they are performing these tests to assure our safety for these products. They want to make sure that humans are not in any amount of danger ("Animals in Product Testing"). The first point why animal testing is a unethical process is because of some of the brutal things that happen in the process. There are certain types of animals they use for certain types of experimentation. Some well-known animals that they use for testing are: cats, dogs, mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, sheep, llamas, cattle, owls, deer, monkeys and other primates. These are not, by any means, all of the animals that they use. These are just the most common ("Animal Rights: Animal Testing"). For example, the Draize Test is used on white albino rabbits (S., Jeremy). They use white albino rabbits because of their sensitive eyes and also because the formation of their tear ducts stops tears from draining away all of the foreign substance ("Animal Rights: Test .

Another Day, Another Nickel

Angie Navarro Castillo Composition I Karla Whitehurst Another Day, Another Nickel As I’m driving on Interstate 30 going to work at the restaurant Country Fare, I stare at the beautiful mixture of colors displayed in the sky. Pink, orange, yellow and blue mixed all together in a breathtaking sunset in Arkansas. I get off exit 44. The time is getting closer and I pull over on the parking lot and I see the big sign that says TA. The time has arrived and now I have to work. It may not be the most exciting place for me to be, but if I want to be able to pay my bills, this is where I need to be.I go through the glass door and I say hi to the guys working at Subway right in front of the entrance, then I turn right and walk by the buffet and my shift 4pm to midnight is officially started. Soon after I clock in I must count my drawer, which today is full of different coins, therefore it takes me a while to count it this time. As I am finally ready I start helping customers and taking o rders. The place wasn’t quite busy when I first got there, but half an hour later the restaurant is packed. There are lots of truck drivers starving and anxious to eat and leave.There are no TVs or anything to entertain them, which makes them bored. The dining room is plain and white with few decorations of Saint Patrick’s Day hanging around. All the tables and chairs in the bar are full with customers. I try to help everyone as fast and efficient as possible, the cook in the line is working hard as well. He is yelling the waitresses’ names with every meal when it’s ready to deliver. Tonight there are only two waitresses on the floor; we are both walking back and forth trying to get this dinner rush over with.There are 2 cooks for the buffet and a dish washer guy was not scheduled, consequently the manager is helping with the dishes so we don’t run out of dishes and glasses. I am getting behind, many tables remain dirty and more customers walk in a s soon as some walk out. The atmosphere that once was the background music is now filled with conversations; it’s just blah, blah, and blah. Its only 8 o’clock, and I need to catch my breath for a second, I drink some Pepsi cola. While delivering the steak dinner and pasta to table 12, I just get very hungry.By this time I wish I could take a break, but since there are only 2 of us, I can’t, even though I snack on some crackers while cashing out some customers. I run out of one dollar bills, so I ask the manager on duty to get me the cash. When he comes to the dining room, he realizes how busy we are and finally he helps me bussing some tables. Once I got some help the dining room looks better and less busy. I feel better because I don’t have to run back and forth as much. When it gets as slow as this, it’s time for me to do my side work. I have to sweep, mop, and do fill-ups.Ketchup bottles are almost all empty. I have to fill them up and do so wi th the sweeteners and jellies. Barbara, the graveyard waitress, has arrived, which means it’s time for me to leave. All I have left to do is bring a bucket with ice and fill up the soda machine. I am now ready to count my register and leave. After the shift is over, the restaurant looks calmer and roach free. The only relief that makes my day is to look at my pocket in my apron and see it full of dollars, reward of my hard work. Therefore I say: Another Day, Another Nickel.

Financial Performance of Ramsay Health Care Essay Example

Financial Performance of Ramsay Health Care Essay Example Financial Performance of Ramsay Health Care Paper Financial Performance of Ramsay Health Care Paper The firm chosen, Ramsay Health Care, is a group of companies that primarily focus on providing medical attention in a large portfolio of hospitals.   Their main aim is offering a service of utmost quality to their targeted clients.   The hospitals of this corporation are located in Australia. Financial Performance of Ramsay Health Care The profitability ratios adopted indicate that the profitability of Ramsey Health Care Limited and its consolidated entities improved from 2005 to 2006. :    The efficiency in the utilization of the firm’s resources to generate profits increased by 13%.   A high percentage in the return on capital employed is always desirable because it provides a margin of safety to the organization from unforeseeable changes, like economic downturns, new competitive products and more. Presently the return on capital employed of 25.59% is high to acceptable standards to sustain the aforesaid margin of safety. References: Lewis R.; Pendrill D. (1996).   Advanced Financial Accounting.   Fifth Edition.   London: Pitman Publishing. Ramsey Health Care. Annual Report 2006 (on line). Available from: ramsayhealth.com.au/rhc/investors/docs/Market_Briefings_24102006104934.pdf (Accessed 3rd April 2007). Randall H. (1999).   A Level Accounting.   Third Edition.   Great Britain:   Ashford Colour Press Ltd.

Psychology observation essays

Psychology observation essays In observing a person you are studying there true aspects and personality. Trying to see what possibly makes the person who they are. Characterizing there body movements and behavior showing there true nature. In my naturalistic observation I will be studying two different people an hour each in the same context. I will examine there behavior, body language and social interaction. Then I will interpret what behavior and actions mean. My first hour of observation was on a young male around his early twenties. He is Caucasian with dark hair and eyes. The context for which Im studying him in is a cozy lounge area. He takes a seat in one of the chairs that looks the comfiest. He takes a CD player out of his bag and listens to music. His face becomes even more pleased when possibly one of his favorite songs has come on. His body language is calm and casual. His arms are unfolded and this shows he is comfortable and social. An assumed friend comes along. He hugs the other young person and his face swells up with glee. He is happy to see this person obviously. Instead of his casual body language it is now more at stand and his attention is pertaining to the other person. His friend pulls out some pictures. The mans facial expression represents that he connected to the pictures some how. They are compiling and interested in the pictures. He gets more intense and excited about certain pictures. This may mean he is in s ome of the photos or they bring back happy memories. Him and his friend continue talk for awhile. His friends cell phone rings and his friend answers. His friends face turns to dismay and he ends the phone conversation. His friend tells him he has to leave. My subjects face also then turns to dismay. They say there goodbyes and my subject returns to the seat. My subject picks up a magazine close to him and begins to read it. His eyebrows arch and his head bobs in contentment. He may have found ...

The valuation of the National Grid company Assignment

The valuation of the National Grid company - Assignment Example The reason behind the selection of the model can be explained with the help of the following advantages National Grid Company Plc is a multinational company headquartered in London. The primary business includes the supply of electricity and gas utility. The company is listed both in London Stock Exchange and FTSE 100 index. It is categorized under the diversified utilities industry. The company has 20th largest primary listing on London stock exchange. The company also has the secondary listing on NYSE (Hoover, 2011). The market price on October 1st 2012 was  £624.68(closing price of London stock exchange on Oct 1st 2012) (yahoofinance, 2015).Comparing the market price with the intrinsic value calculated using the residual income model above shows that the Stock of National Grid Plc is undervalued as compared to the intrinsic value. The rationale for the stable long term growth rate of 0.05% was that the National Grid is expected to reach the stable level of supply requirement of gas in UK because in the beginning of 2015, which shows minimum shortfall of 15mcm in London, which can be managed easily afterwards through the flows from Norway and Britain with the lingled pipeline. National Grid is in the process to further improve the supply side by the end of 2015, which may lead to the stabilized phase of National Grid Plc (Reuters, 2015). Therefore, after 2015 and onwards the growth in retained earnings are expected to be minimal i.e. around 0.05%. On May 1st 2015, National Grid Stock has reached at the level of 886.30 which is slightly overvalued from the intrinsic value calculated as on 1st October 2012. Therefore, it can be implied that the price of National Grid Stock is mean

Discuss the causes and solutions for climate change Essay

Discuss the causes and solutions for climate change - Essay Example Carbon is a vital element for both human beings and the natural environment (Archer & Rahmstorf, 2010). Climate changes occur when particular elements in the atmosphere permit sunlight to penetrate freely. The atmosphere then traps the reflected light. It can be associated with an increase in greenhouse gases. Four main greenhouse gases that are common in the current atmosphere are methane, fluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide. The greenhouse effects include rise in mean surface air temperature, rising sea level, rise in global mean speed in evaporation and precipitation, and alterations in the biosphere. Most of these forecasts are based broadly on computer models that encourage basic geographical processes. Predictions in climate change designate that a rise in atmospheric concentration in greenhouse gasses can result in the earth’s average atmospheric temperature (Henson, 2011). Geological documentation suggests that greenhouse gases both contribute and respond to climate change. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is perceived to be one of the central components of the climate system that interrelate in complex ways in a broad range of timescales. An alteration in these interactive structures is probable to affect other features of the global climate system. Such interactive relations between the climate and CO2 imply that the records in geology are not probable to disclose analogs of simple climate forces by anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. The extra atmospheric greenhouse gases and burned fossils fuels induced into the atmosphere increase the energy of IR absorbed into the atmosphere, thus exerting an influence in warming on the surface and the lower atmosphere causing a cooling effect on the stratosphere. Climate model estimations show that the greenhouse influence of the numerous greenhouse gases is equally forcing giving support to the convenience of the idea of