Nissans external environment

Nissans external environment Natural Environment Nissans â€Å"ultimate goal† Nissans is one of the top producers of automobile company which they used up many environmental resources because cars basically run on fossil fuel and gasoline. As a global manufacturer of automobile, Nissan have set an ultimate goal which is to manage the environmental impact generated by (Nissan Global)Nissans corporate activities, customer use of Nissan vehicles, and the companys use of resources on a level that is within natures capacity to absorb. Nissans aim is also to minimize the impact of earth from (Nissan, 2009) Key Issues of Nissan Nissan now focuses on the 3 Key issues which are:- To reduce the Carbon Dioxide emission, To reduce other emission to preserve earth resources including the atmosphere, soil and water To promote the resources cycle through 3rs, Reduction, Reuse Recycle. Task 1. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions Nissan believe that reducing the CO2 emission requires not only by Nissan alone but also a cooperative efforts by all society. Nissan is also making aggressive efforts in reducing the Carbon Monoxide emission in their business activities and thus, their effort will lead to contribution of the society. Task 2. Reducing emissions*1 (protecting the air, water and soil) Nissans 2nd task is to reduce any emission that will have negative impact on earth resources including the atmosphere, air, water and soil. According to Nissan, it is a requirement for them to consider the life cycle of their vehicle from the vehicles development to production and finally to the vehicles disposal. Task 3. Resource recycling (promoting reducing, reusing, and recycling) Nissans aim is to achieve the mobile society through automobile recycling. According to Nissan basic approach, they are implementing the 3 Rs to use their resource effective and efficiently. The 3 Rs are:- Reduce Reuse Recycle They are planning to reduce the material to its minimal when producing their automobile, reuse the resources whenever possible and recycle their resources for the future use. Technology Environment Nissan has four areas of technological goals which include the environment, safety, dynamic performance and life on board. Nissan create these values in order to provide their customers with trusted driving pleasure. (Nissan Global) Environment Nissan has a long term goal to reducing CO2 help the environmental crisis such as global warming. With this goal, Nissan had set their target of reducing CO2 emission in their new car by 70% in the year 2050. (Nissan Environmental Technologies) Safety Nissan claims that their aim is to reduce the number of serious and fatal injuries from accidents involving Nissans vehicle by halve by the year 2015. Nissan has work hard to progressively design a safer vehicle to the customer based on real world accident analysis. Nissan carried out various crash test from normal driving accident to serious and fatal accidents to be analyzed and to provide continuous improvements onto Nissans vehicle. (Nissan Safety Technologies) Dynamic Performance Nissan focuses on qualities such as quietness of the vehicle and the power response. The vehicle handling however such as steering stability, steering responsiveness and vehicle behavior are very important to please the driver of Nissans vehicle according to Nissan. (Nissan Dynamic Performance) Life on Board Nissan vehicle provides an unprecedented value through their every stage from getting into vehicle, preparation to drive, actual driving experience and to getting out from the vehicle. Nissan is also delivering the three kinds of value on the driving experience on Nissan vehicle. (Nissan Life on Board) Cockpit which are design for easy driving Cabin comfort High quality of the interior Sociocultural Environment Nissan is building and manufacturing cars to meet all types of peoples demand. Different people would prefer different types of cars depending on the consumer itself. Assume that if a person prefer vehicle that can go off-road, he could have prefered Nissan Xterra or Nissan Frontier whereas people who are rich and like fast cars would go for cars like Nissan Silvia, Nissan Skyline or Nissan Fairlady 350z. Not all types of driver are suited for all types of cars. This is the reason why Nissan Build many different types of vehicle to suit different types of driver. Below are the some of the lists of different category of Nissan vehicle that are still on production today. Nissan for the adrenaline and want-to-go-fast guys: Nissan Skyline GT-R 35 Nissan 370z Nissan for the adventurous and explorer: Nissan X-trail Nissan Navara Nissan Frontier Nissan for the budget driver: Nissan Latio Nissan Sentra Nissan March International Environment Nissan Company succeeded in selling their automobiles internationally in every continent. This means that Nissan is an international company. Although its availability all around the world, Nissan has to compete on a global basis because there are many high-quality and low price automobiles from all around the world including Toyota, Ford, Mitsubishi and many other more. The international environment provides new competitors, customers and suppliers from everywhere. Although is a good thing Nissan expands their business internationally, this will make the company even harder to control as there are many branches everywhere in the world where Nissan has to retain the standards of every Nissan branches in terms of their services. Nissan would also have to make their automobile available to every place with Nissan branch where they either ship their automobile internationally or the automobile is manufactured locally. Economic Environment Nissan and Renault established as the Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organization (RNPO) in the year 2001. This was key ways to reduce cost by combining both their resources to be more efficient in the organization. Renault and Nissan currently hold 60% shares some part and raw materials suppliers. (Agrawal, 2007) Legal and Political Environment Nissan vehicle have to meet certain standards to be able to enter certain countries to be sold. This is due to the fact that certain states do not allow high performance vehicle such as Nissan Skyline models to enter the state because driver might misuse the vehicle for illegal street racing. Besides high performance automobile, Nissan also needs to meet the Emission Standards whereby it is a requirement that set a specific limit of the pollution produce by an automobile that are released to the environment. These standards are to protect the environment of any air pollution to the country as this may lead to global warming. Emissions that are being tested include carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, sulfur oxide and others. Aside from that also, there is also safety standards that should be tested before the vehicle is legally produce to the market. In other words, the vehicle should be safe enough for the driver in meeting the safety standards. The safety standards include: Crash Avoidance Control whereby in an event of emergencies, can the vehicle respond when the driver avoids a crash. Crashworthiness is when the vehicle crashes, the vehicle should be safe enough to protect the driver and its passengers. This test will determine the airbag responsiveness, impacts, safety belts and others. (TRANSPORTATION, 1999)

Interest Groups Essay

Introduction As we all know there are types of groups that are playing important role in the administration in the mechanism of government especially in terms of decision making or legislative body. These groups are known as Interest Groups and Pressure Groups. Basically interest group is defined as any collection of people organized to promote a goal they share or to resist some objective of the government of other groups. It is also defined as an organized group that tries to influence the government decisions without putting their members in governmental position. While pressure group is an interest group that exercises pressure on the government to obtain laws, policies & decisions compatible with their special interests. Basically pressure group is an interest group with higher degree of involvement in politics. In Malaysia, there are various types of interest groups in order to obtain the rights for what they represent. Interest groups in Malaysia such National Union for Teaching Profession (NUTP), The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS), Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) aggregates and articulate information regarding to their respective interest in order to influence the government decision based on their interests. However, there are disadvantages for the existence of interest groups. This will be the main idea of this assignment. Simplified Characteristics of Interest Groups Simplified Functions of Interests Groups 1. Mechanism for Political Representation- The interests of the people are represented in an organized way. It means that the people doesn’t have to directly go to the government but instead have interest groups to represent for them as the groups are established. It allows people to be involved in political process without being in a politica party for examples the NUTP, FOMCA and CUEPACS 2. Mediator between the Public and the Government- This is a linkage function between the people and the government. The interest groups provide necessary informations needed by both the people and the government 3. Interest Articulation (voice out the interests)- They voice out interests based on their interest groups and also voice out any interest of the public that is related to their interests 4. Influence the Government- This is the main function of the interest group. They influence the decisions but have no intention to take over the government and makes sure that the government focu ses on their interests. 5. Supplement Government Agencies(assist,enhance,help)- Conduct surveys and research to provide information to the government which the results will help government to adopt better public policies. Types of Interest Groups 1. Anomic Group- separates from social norms, spontaneous (informal), often involves violence 2. Associational Group- formal, distinct and established, effective procedures, active participants in political process. 3. Non- Associational Group- not formal, has similar characteristics & interests, reflect social/ethnic/cultural/religious interests 4. Institutional Group- exists within the government, highly involved in political & social activities, lobby from within the government. Simplified Methods of Gaining Influence The Demerits or The Disadvantages of Interest Groups * There are various demerits of interests group if it is not well managed and observed. 1. Some of the methods used to gain influence can lead to negative effects -Methods like Bargaining can lead to bad effects because it is similar to lobbying whereby the public policy is influenced directly. It also invloves secret negotiations which is usually related to the national budget. When this happens and if not observed carefully, the allocation of the money can be wrongfully distributed. If it happens, the interest groups may misuse the allocation given and the people they represented MAY NOT be included or the money won’t be used for the better of the people they represent. -Another risky method is the method Propaganda. In propaganda the usage of mass media and other methods to spread information to the public is on a massive scale. If the information or awareness spread by the interest group is false or with hidden agenda, it may cause the people to be wrongly influenced or mi ssunderstanding of the government policy. The people may retaliate for no legitimate reason which may cause damage to a peaceful nation. -Other than that, other methods like direct method like boycotts, demonstrations and strikes may cause commotion. This types of influencing methods are prone to be violent regardless of which party initiate violence first. -Indirect methods like being a member of parliament which is also a member of interest group may misuse his/her power in order to influence the governmernt decision. The member of interest group is a spouse to a bureaucrat may also lead to the misuse of power in order to influence the government decision. For example if a bureaucrat has a wife who is in an interest group, the potential of the husband to listen to every request to his wife relating to her interest group is very high. Not only that, it can be a bad thing too if a retired bureaucrats who join NGO or other groups that have connection with junior bureaucrats whereby t he juniors may listen to every request of their seniors. The juniors may provide confidential information of government policies to the retired bureaucrats. -Methods like illegalities may also be used especially in desperate times. Illegalities ranges from extortions, bribery, arson, blackmail and many more. 2. The existence of certain types of interest groups can produce adverse effects. -The existence of an interest groups like Anomic Groups which derived from the word Anomie meaning separation from social norms. This group is not a formal group. Usually it comes from dissatisfaction of the people. When this happens, it usually involves violence. This type of group may produce protests, racial riots and so on in order for their interest to be prioritized. 3. Biased -Interest groups can be considered biased because they are only prioritizing their interest or interests related to them. They do not really care about other interest of the people as a whole and care about better policy for the people genereally. They just prioritize their interests. Information provided is one-sided. 4. One Track-Mind (Runs Undemocratically) -The interests groups usually do not care about others interest and opininons. They also refuse to listen or to take care of other interest. They consider other interests or opinions are wrong. They do not let what others have to say or wants if it is contradict to their core interests. 5. Pluralism (as in United States) -Critics of pluralism contend that there is no such thing as the common good because there are so many conflicting interests in society: What is good for one person is often bad for others. They argue that the interest groups interfere with democracy because they seek benefits for a minority of people rather than the greater good of the majority. The National Rifle Association, for example, has repeatedly blocked new gun control legislation despite the fact that a majority of Americans actually want stricter gun laws. Other critics argue that the interest group system is really effective only to economic interest groups, which have greater financial resources at their disposal. Nearly two-thirds of lobbyists in Washington represent economic groups. Critics also argue that interest groups tend to ignore the interests of the poor in favor of middle- and upper-class Americans, who have more time and money to contribute 6. Corruption -Corruption takes place in the interest groups whereby the bribery is done between the interest groups and the interest provider (policy makers/government). In corruption, the bribery can be in many forms such as gifts and money. The bribery is performed in order for their interests being implemented. The irresponsible authority personnels will accept the bribery and in return the interest of the interests groups will be prioritized. 7. Influenced by wealth -This can be explained by the more money or fund the interest groups has, the more tendency of their interests being prioritized is higher. Conclusion Interest group is basically an organized group of people that tries to influence the government without being in the governmental positions. Various methods can be or are being used in order for their main objective which is to influence the government in order to get their interests priotized. But, there are negative side which is the demerits to the interests groups. Bottomline is, interest groups has it own merits and demerits in order for it to function as an interest group. The demerits can be abolished with proper procedures and proper preventive measures. If not the interest groups may be useless. Resources 1. 90% of this content is studied, aggregate and filtered from the notes made by Sir Fairuz Hidayat PAD170 Chapter 6 notes. 2. Another 10% is scouted, filtered, studied from the internet. 3. http://www.sparknotes.com/us-government-and-politics/american-government/interest-groups/section5.rhtml 4. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110412030051AAPzyYE 5. https://www.google.com/#q=disadvantages+of+interest+groups

Reading Response: Malcolm X Essay

1. Subject: This reading is about Malcolm X gaining inspiration to learn how to read and write during his time in prison and the many wonders of the world he learns of through reading. The topic is Malcolm X’s passion for learning and the main ideas are what he learns about which drives him to fight for the nonwhite man. The setting takes place in Charlestown Prison and Norfolk Prison Colony where Malcolm X was imprisoned in 1946-1953. Characters included in the reading are an inmate named Bimbi who inspired Malcolm X to learn, Elijah Muhammad, several authors, whites, and nonwhites. 2. Occasion: The author wrote this piece in 1965 to inform the readers of his imminent desire to learn how to read and write because he was embarrassed by his lack of knowledge and of the things he had learned about the white man’s actions to nonwhites. 3. Audience: The author is writing to the general audience. The audience might not know how Malcolm X became imprisoned or what he did immediately after his release but they do know that he would read all day, every day if he could. Malcolm X has a very appreciative tone when it comes to what he had learned and very curious. When he learns of certain history that applies to people just like him, however, he sounds very disappointed. 4. Purpose: The purpose of this piece was to inform readers of how Malcolm X learned to read and write and his strong passion for knowledge. There is some talk about how the white man has done evil deeds to nonwhites and Malcolm X does show his unfortunate dislike towards the white man because of history. Overall, Malcolm X focuses on how time has given him the opportunity to learn more than many people can ever hope to learn. 5. Speaker: The speaker is the author, Malcolm X. The whole reading is based off Malcolm X’s point of view since it is an autobiography. 6. Passage: On page 130, the 6th paragraph, â€Å"I copied into my tablet everything printed on that first page, down to the punctuation marks.† I especially like this line, because it shows Malcolm X’s determination and his true desire to learn. The reader can imagine him copying pages of a dictionary onto his tablet all day and it wouldn’t tire him out.

How Apportionment Determines State Representation

Apportionment is the process of fairly dividing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states based on population counts from the decennial U.S. census. Apportionment does not apply to the U.S. Senate, which under Article I, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, is comprised of two senators from each state.   Who Came Up With the Apportionment Process? America’s Founding Fathers wanted the House of Representatives to represent the people rather than the state legislatures, which are represented in the Senate. To that end, Article I, Section II of the Constitution provides each state shall have at least one U.S. Representative, with the total size of a state’s delegation to the House based on its total population. Based on the national population as estimated in 1787, each member of the House in the First Federal Congress (1789–1791) represented 30,000 citizens. As the nation grew in geographic size and population, the number of representatives and the number of people they represented in the House increased accordingly.. Conducted in 1790, the first U.S, Census counted 4 million Americans. Based on that count, the total number of members elected to the House of Representatives grew from the original 65 to 106. The current membership of the House of Representatives was set at 435 by the Reapportionment Act of 1929, which established a permanent method for apportioning a constant number of seats according to each decennial census. How is Appropriation Calculated? The exact formula used for apportionment was created by mathematicians and politicians and adopted by Congress in 1941 as the Equal Proportions formula (Title 2, Section 2a, U. S. Code). First, each state is assigned one seat. Then, the remaining 385 seats are distributed using a formula that computes priority values based on each states apportionment population. Who is Included in the Apportionment Population Count? The apportionment calculation is based on the total resident population (citizen and noncitizen) of the 50 states. The apportionment population also includes U.S. Armed Forces personnel and federal civilian employees stationed outside the United States (and their dependents living with them) who can be allocated, based on administrative records, back to a home state. Are Children Under 18 Included? Yes. Being registered to vote or voting is not a requirement to be included in the apportionment population counts. Who is NOT Included in the Apportionment Population Count? The populations of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Island Areas are excluded from the apportionment population because they do not have voting seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. What is the Legal Mandate for Apportionment? Article I, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution mandates that an apportionment of representatives among the states be carried out each 10-year period. Schedule for Reporting and Applying Apportionment Counts According federal law codified in Title 13 of the U.S. Code, the Census Bureau must deliver the apportionment counts—the census-counted resident population totals for each state—to the Office of the President of the United States within nine months of the official census date. Since the 1930 census, the census date has been April 1, meaning the Office of the President must receive the state population counts by December 31 of the census year.   To Congress According to  Title 2, U.S. Code, within one week of the opening of the next session of Congress in the new year, the president must report to the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives the apportionment population counts for each state and the number of representatives to which each state is entitled. To the States According to  Title 2, U.S. Code, within 15 days of receiving the apportionment population counts from the president, the Clerk of the House of Representatives must inform each state governor of the number of representatives to which that state is entitled. Using its population count and more detailed demographic results from the census, each state legislature then defines the geographic boundaries of its congressional and state election districts through a process known as redistricting.