Final Portfolio Proposal

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Wal-Mart Stores

Size and Location

The first Wal-mart discount store was opened by Sam Walton in 1962.This has tremendously grown to total number of 803 vibrant stores in the united states of America offering a convenient and pleasant shopping experience to the citizens. Each store covers has an average of 107,000 square and employs a minimum of 225 persons. The total number of employees rounded up is close to 2.1 million people. Wal-mart serves over 200 million customers per week with an annual sale of over $400 billion.

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Purpose

The main purpose is to enable people to save money so that they can live a better live. This was the main aim of the founder Sam Walton.

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Market

The stores’ major impact targets the United States citizen. Wal-mart has gradually changed the business is conducted globally by increasing the consumer benefits despite the store the shop.

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Products

Wal-mart stores comprises of clean, wide, well arranged shelve with, value-priced, quality  products .these includes; hardware, home furnishings, Family apparel, electronics, toys, lawn and garden items, pet supplies, home furnishings, hardware, health and beauty aids, sporting goods ,house wares,  automotive products and jewelry.

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Data Gathering

The researcher wishes to incorporate the company personnel while carrying out the knowledge management activities as well as use of personal methods. The researcher will ask questionnaires and conduct interviews to selected employees. The use of observation method will also be used.

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Areas to redesign

The researcher will look at the knowledge management based on the company’s frameworks and strategies to earn more customers. Plus will look at how to increase the how to improve the intangible and the tangible business values.

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The model

The research will focus on the FGKM and the SGKM approaches. FGKM will deal on the supply-side and the SGKM will deal with the demand supply. This will also include the second generation of Knowledge Management

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    Reference

McElroy, W(2003),The  new knowledge management, Amsterdam: KMCI Press page 34

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A Research Paper On Global Transportation

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Brief History of Global Transport.

Transport is the process by which people or goods move from one place to another. There are different modes of transports which include air, rail, road, water, pipeline and space. In the early days the first means of transport was walking and swimming. Then as years moved on animal transport began to operate. This arose after domestication of animals began. This is because at that moment there was away of putting goods on bigger and powerful creatures. It also allowed human beings to ride on these animals at a higher speed. Transport was then made more efficient by the invention of the wheel. This was because more goods would be carried using the carts which were pulled by the animals. Rowed and sailed vessels were used to travel and carry heavy goods in the water. (Lay 1992).The first form of road transport was the horses and the oxen. There were paved roads which were built by the Roman Empire to so that the army would move quickly.

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The first water crafts were the canoes. These canoes were cut out from the tree trunks. Then there was the development of ships which were powered by the wing or were either rowered by human beings. There were some others that used both of the powering methods. Water transport was mostly developed where there were two trading towns that were separated by water. Before the industrial revolution transport remained costly and slow. It operated just in places that were near to each other. (Abdul 1977).The rise of the industrial revolution made there to be a number of inventions in global transport. There was the separation of transport and communication due to the invention of telegraphy. Land Transport became independent of animal and human energy after the invention of the steam engine. Global transport was also speeded up by the invention of steamship.

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Road transport became more viable at the start of the 20^th century due to the development of the combustion engine. This was because this invention led to the introduction of the private mechanical transport. The first highways were constructed by macadam in the 19^th century. Then tarmac and concrete became the more used material. (Abdul 1977).The first airplane was invented in 1903.After the First World War air transport became the fastest means of transport for people and goods over long distances. After the second word war air transport became the most dominant form of transport.

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Thre was the launching of space flights in the 1950s.This grew until the 1970s when containerization was launched .This allowed a massive transportation of goods and people leading to globalization. (Lay 1992).The first steam ships were developed in 1800s.They were developed using steam engine which was used to drive the paddle wheel so that to make the ship move. Coal or wood was used to produce this steam. The modern ships have engines which use petroleum called banker fuel. There are some ships which use nuclear power e.g. the submarines these inventions have come up as technology is developing.

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Modes of Transports

Globally there are different modes of transports that are used. The mode of transport is the reason which makes the use of a particular type of vehicles, infrastructure or operation. As the world has developed from the past. There are various modes of transport that people have used and continue to use until today. Each of these modes have their pros and cons. There are also factors that are considered before selecting the mode of transport to use. Some of these factors include cost, capability, route and the speed.Human transport as I had mentioned earlier was the first mode of transport. People would walk for long distances and also could carry their own goods.

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People would walk, run or swim. However due to the development of modern technology machines have come to enhance human power. But in many areas of the world this mode of transport continues to be used. Some of the reasons why this mode is still in use today is its cost as it is cheap as compared to other modes. This mode is also used in underdeveloped countries or in some places which cannot be accessed using other means. There has also been the invention of human powered vehicles which are used in difficult moments or in difficult environment. (Abdul 1977).

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Animal powered transport is whereby animals are used for movement of people and goods. This can take two forms. Either a person may ride on the animal or the animal can be used to carry goods either the goods on it or by pulling a cart. This mode of transport developed more after the invention of the wheel. As compared to human transport this mode of transport is more powerful. This mode was used before the industrial revolution in situations and places where human transport would not. This means is still used in many parts of the world today. Examples are in many semi arid parts of the world where camels are the dominant modes of transport.

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(Lay 1992).Rail transport is another mode of transport. In this mode trains are used to carry people and goods. The train usually has many connected vehicles which run on the rail. It is usually propelled by a locomotive which can be powered by diesel, steam or electricity. In the past most of the trains were powered by steam engine .Due to the development of technology there have been development of electric trains which can move with a speed of 320km per hour. Most of these trains are found in the developed countries e.g. in most countries in Europe, Japan and the USA.This has made it to be a very efficient means of transport due to its speed. Its also efficient in carrying heavy goods to long distances. Most countries use rail to transport heavy and bulky products.

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Road transport is the most dominant mode of transport in the world. The first methods of road transport were horses, oxen and humans. As commerce increased the tracks were usually expanded to make it possible to accommodate all these. Transport on roads can be grouped into two categories i.e. good transportation and people transportation. (Lay 1992). The nature of this means of transport depends with distance, weight and volume of goods transported, etc.For goods which are light most countries use vans or pick ups while for bulky goods trucks are used to ferry the goods either within a country or at regional level. In the less developed countries goods are usually ferried by use of donkey carts or other non motorized modes of transport.

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This is also an efficient mode of transport by people. Its usually a fast. Modern vehicles can move along the roads in a fast speed making it an efficient mode of transport.Curerently there has been the construction of highways that offers transport across many countries. For example in Africa there is a highway that runs as from Cape Town South Africa up to Cairo Egypt. There has been also development of road vehicles which are capable of moving long distances. This has made many regions to be connected as people are in a position to move to various countries through road transport system. This has also been enhanced by development of technology in road constructions. (Lay 1992).

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Water transport is another mode of transport that has been and is still used globally. It has been the biggest carrier of goods in history. The transport by water is usually cheaper than transport by air. In water transport there are various means of transport that are used. They include boats, ship, canoes etc.In the past canoes were the dominant mode of transportation in water but as technology has developed there has been innovation of other means of transportation in the water. Most of bulky and heavy goods are usually transported by sea. Many countries have developed ports where these goods are usually offloaded. Despite the fact that this means of transport is slow, the modern sea transport is the best method of transporting large quantities of non perishable goods. This mode is more economical compared to air transport in transporting goods between continents. For short distances ferries or the short sea shipping are more efficient. This mode of transport has become risky nowadays due to insecurity by the pirates who hijack ships and demand large sums of money to release the ships. (Asson 1984).

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Air is another mode of transport use globaly.This is the fastest mode of transport. Every country has airstrips or airports where these flights take place. This mode of transport is the most effective to transport perishable goods. It is also the best mode of transport one can take when moving long distances. This is because of its speed and also due smooth flow as there are no obstructions in the air. Air transport has made the world to be like a village. One can move all-around the world in few hours. However this mode of transport is very expensive as compared to other modes of transport. In the past there used to be no much restrictions in using this mode of transport.

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But due to security reasons some restrictions have been put in this mode of transport all over the world. This has been caused more because of terrorism.There are other modes of transport that are common allover the world. They include pipeline transport where goods are usually sent through pipes. This mode of transport is commonly used to transport goods in liquid and gas forms. This is a safe mode of transporting such goods due to their delicacy.Infact most of oil products allover the world are usually transported using pipelines. (Asson 1984).As technology has grown there has been invention of spacecrafts which are used in space flights. They are mostly used by scientists when conducting experiments.

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Positive Impacts of global Transport

Transport has a great impact to development in the whole world. Most of the developments that have occurred in the world could not have been possible were it not for the development of the transport system globally.One of major impact of transport is on the economic sector. Transport is one of the key factor in enhancing growth and globalization. One area that transport contributes to the growth of economy is the fact that transport is a key factor in specialization. Transport makes it possible in allowing the production and consumption of goods to take place in different locations. It has enhanced expansion. With better transport more trade tackles place and makes people to spread to different parts of the world. Transport has also made tourism to grow in many countries. This is because their movement has been enhanced by the development and expansion of the transport network allover the world.

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When people movement is enhanced there is exchange of global ideas which makes it brings more innovations and renovations. Fast transport also means hat a person is in a position to undertake major business transactions in different places within a short moment. (John 1998).Transport also enhances planning. There is a model of transport forecasting which help the planners to be in a position to predict future transport patterns. Transport economics is the backbone of policy creation by authorities in many different parts of the world. (Stopford 1997).

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Negative impacts of global transport

On the other hand transport has some negative effects in many countries. In the modern times there has been increase in the number of vehicles in many countries. This is because of improvement of infrastructure. This has made many cities to have so much congestion. This sometimes creates traffic jams which make people to be in a position to reach their destination in the right time. This congestion has in many situations lead to accidents. Most drivers are not unable to control their vehicles in those situations and they usually end up causing accidents. (Bardi 2006). There is also the aspect of the environmental polution.This arise because of the fact that the transport sector is the major consumer of energy. Most of this energy is the oil .When this is burnt it releases some poisonous gases which causes air pollution. There is also the release of nitrous oxides and some other particulates. There is also the emissions of carbon dioxide which contribute largely to global warming. Global warming is one of the major environmental problems that is affecting global climatic conditions.

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The growth of the transport system globally has also enhanced expansion of criminal activities. Criminals have been using the transport sector to undertake criminal acts. Drug trafficking has been done allover the world, gangs are able to commit crime in a country and then run out of that country immediately and also crimes such as terrorism and piracy have also been boosted by transport. With increased vehicles there has also been increase of car jacking by robbers. (Bardi 2006).There is another problem usually experienced in the ports. Most of the time there is congestion of ships which require to be offloaded. This makes the ports to be congested to the extent that some ships arriving in those ports have to be redirected to some other ports.

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Recommendations

There are many measures that governments of various countries can put in place to control this negative aspects coming about as a result of transport.One globally all the leaders should come together and find out a workable solution to the issue of piracy and terrorism. These are crimes that are affecting each and every country. Tight security measures should be put into place in different airports and airstrips allover the world so that criminals do not get a chance to board or alight fro any mode of transport. The pirates who have formed a habit of hijacking ships in the sea should also be dealt with accordingly from all parts of the world to make sea transport a safe made. The funders of these criminals should also be brought to books and punished so that they can stop this business. (Cleveland 1977).On pollution the governments globally should come up with policies that will control of poisonous emissions.

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These measures should be adhered to by all countries whether industrialized or not. Strict sanctions should be put to a country that would fail to adhere to this. (Chopra 2007).To reduce congestions in major cities the governments of the respective countries should come with measures that would regulate the flow of traffic in their towns. For example the governments may come with a way of making sure that only a few cars will have access to town centres.This can be done by developing car parks outside the affected towns or the government can regulate issuing of licenses to vehicles operating in those  cities. (Bardi 2006).The problem of congestion in most ports can be solved by governments of the affected countries employing more staffs at the ports and also employing new technologies in the process of loading and off loading at the ports. (Chopra 2007).

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Conclusion

Global transport has grown since time immemorial and it will continue to grow as people enhance their technological knowhow.With growth in transport it means globalization will also be enhanced. People will be able to move to different destination in short moments. This will enhance trade, tourism education etc.But still on the other hand caution should be taken to control the negative impacts that will be brought by this.

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References

Abdul, K. (1977). Roads and Communications in Mughal India, Delhi, Idarah Publishers.

Asson, S. (1984). Ancient Trade and Society, Detroit, Wayne State University Press.

Bardi, E. (2006). Management of Transportation, Thomson South-Western.

Chopra, S (2007). Supply Chain Management, Pearson Publication.

Cleveland, V. (1977). Supplying War: Logistics from Wallenstein to Patton, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

John, F. (1998). Tourism Principles and Practice (2nd Ed.), Harlow Publishers.

Lay, G. (1992). Ways of the World: A History of the World's Roads and of the Vehicles that Used Them, Rutgers University Press.

Stopford, M. (1997). Maritime Economics, London, Routledge publishers.

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Course Syllabus Description

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The syllabus is well organized. Just like any course work there are good guidelines which will be followed in the class. Am interested by the way the whole syllabus is simplified and planned in a way that the topics follow each other in a consecutive way. Its good to have such guidelines so that there is always a connectivity between the teacher and the students. This will also reduce any confusion that may appear during the course period.On the way the whole schedule is organized it will be of benefit to the students as they have the whole information of what is expected of them in the whole semester. For the good students this will be a good opportunity to be always in front of the teacher in the syllabus. This will enhance the understanding of the course.(David 2001).

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The course is also inclusive as it contains theory and practical work. This will assist the students to be in a position to be able to put into practice what they will have covered in the course even in future. There is also group work which will assist the students be gain skill of working as team work. I also like the issue of class presentation where discussions are allowed. This will help the students gain more knowledge from each other and also develop the character of accepting positive criticism which brings growth.All I don’t like about the syllabus is that it has a lot of leniency on the part of students I feel they are given so much allowance to be present or absent from the class. But in overall the course syllabus is well thought and documented. 

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References

David, N. (2001). Syllabus design, Oxford University Press.

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Team Papers

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 Addressing the Challenges of Groups and Teams

Our team comprises of three members working together to see that our team rises to greater heights. Personal responsibility and the ability to work with less or no supervision will be a key pint to look at while design in our work plans. This plan will show how our work plan will apply effective communication, collaboration and conflict management practices within our team could make us an organization to be looked upon.

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Communication

When members of the team practice effective communication essential productivity and success will recognized. If the chain of communication is broken, we realise that our performance rate will go down. Effective communication is the major contributing factor to leading, organizing, controlling and planning the resources of any organization. Our team will come up with a dominant communication strategy that will ensure all information passed on effectively. Challenges facing communication include loss of trust, reduced productivity, lack of cooperation lack of creativity, withholding of information, personal attacks, sabotage complains, and team break up, clique formation and eventually team break up. These challenges interestingly enough less to the North American Blackout of 2003.The business lost an estimated six billion dollars. We will avoid blame shifting as well as profess openness among ourselves. Our work plan will include appropriate communication values so as to generate a moral climate. Maintenance of enough communication channels in addressing organizational operations will be practised thus ensuring that we maintain openness to signs and problems that may be coming along.

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Collaboration

Collaboration can further be explained as the act of pooling together so as to work together with a common purpose of achieving one Goal. This is an effective and necessary issue that team members need to achieve so as to accomplish their goals. Defining goals is the first thing that a groups needs to put down in order to be successful. What need to be done and how fact to accomplish it is a major point to look at while stipulating goals. Members should avoid competing with each other but instead learn hoe to collaborate and work together. Team C’s plan will be to develop a strong corporate policy which will enable the three of us work together as an organization. we will put a lot of focus in intra and extra organizational collaborative efforts which including conversions and knowledge sharing. This will enable us achieve a transparent team full of cooperation. Collaboration enables any type of work effort and work group performance virtually.

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Our aim is to form a collaborative process that allows shared authority rather than the tradition way of dominion or control of power by selected individual(s).Greater achievements can be realised when team members work together rather than working as an individual. Regulations and guidelines towards collaboration process will be clearly defined and strictly adhere to since these factors will contribute towards making future decisions of the organizations. This process will put into consideration values and beliefs that act on problems and opportunities the team is facing. By doing this we believe our team will develop a corporate organization that will see us succeed in every activity that we will undertake.

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Conflict Management

Conflict management can be defined as the process planning how to avoid conflicts and formulating ways of resolving a conflict when it occurs as smoothly and rapidly as possible. In order for any organization to achieve its goal effectively and efficiently, its members need to have a common vision on which they are striving to achieve as well as lay at clear objectives on how to achieve the vision. This can only be realised if there is minimum conflict among the members because conflicts is a major stabling block in any work environment. The common cause of conflicts includes; lack of team work, poor communication channels, varying perceptions, attitudes or values, scarcity of resources, inadequate organizational structure, lack of clarity in responsibilities and roles and finally having disagreements about the priorities, interests, needs and goals of the organization.However these conflicts can be classified into two types that is the conflict of right where groups are entitled to law and the conflict of interest where members have different opinions about a certain idea. In case of a conflict occurrences our team plan to come up with a workable solution that will see the two antagonistic parties to come to an understanding the following points will give us a major guideline; (Training teams with collaborative agents, 2009)

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• Learn the ability to notice the different types of conflict and devise workable techniques to manage and avoid them.
• Fabricate credibility as the core conflict manager.
• Make use of appropriate techniques for managing and identifying negative emotion reactions that bring about conflicts

Having a workable Conflict management plan will make sure that each. Team member does the right thing at the right time.

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Conclusion

By addressing the challenges facing an organization, team or group there is a greater achievement that is realised. If a group has effective communication among its members there are greater chances that their work will run smoothly. This is because information is passed on to the right people at the right time. Our team will ensure that we collaborate in our work allocating duties that will pool us together to achieve a common goal of interest. With an effective conflict management plan, we will build a team that has mutual understanding and solve issues that arise in a sensible manner.

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Reference

 

Robbins, S, (2002), Organizational Behaviour, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, page 341

Training teams with collaborative agents, retrieved from http://ist.psu.edu/yen/publications/ITS00-057.pdf, on 6th January, 2009

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