Saturday, August 31, 2019

Parenting Skills Essay

1. What role do you think discipline plays in developing a child’s self-esteem? What forms of discipline best serve the self-esteem of the child or adolescent? 2. List and discuss how activities, clubs, or sports, impact the self-esteem of children and parents. Provide at least two activities, clubs, or sports in your answer. Discussion Answers 1. I think that discipline done correctly could help in a child’s self-esteem. When you discipline a child make sure that they understand WHY and it makes them feel trustworthy, and included. If you treat discipline like a dictatorship the child feels like you’re abusive and they are stupid and untrustworthy. people with low self-esteem generally Fail to achieve their goals, Are not able to pursue accomplishments in a responsible and disciplined manner, Have poor communication skills, Have a pessimistic view on life, Are prone to anxiety, depression, hostility, loneliness, shame, and guilt, Form unhealthy, destructive relationships with others, and Make decisions in life more to please others than to adhere to their own interests and value systems. I think that discipline done correctly could help in a child’s self-esteem. When you discipline a child make sure that they need to understand what is happening and they need to feel included. If you treat discipline like a dictatorship the child feels like you’re abusive. people with low self-esteem generally fail to achieve their goals, have poor communication skills, have a negative view on life and are prone to anxiety, depression, loneliness, and guilt. Also, form unhealthy, destructive relationships with others, and make decisions in life more to please others. 2. Parents should encourage children to participate in sports and clubs that are productive and give a feeling of accomplishment. However, it is not always advantageous for a parent to push a child toward a particular sport or activity because sometimes the parents will push their children towards their dream sports or activities they wanted to do as a child. 3. parents should encourage children to participate in sports and clubs that are productive and give their children a feeling of accomplishment. However, it is not always advantageous for a parent to push a child toward a particular sport or activi ty.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Papa Johns Term Paper

Subject: Term Paper: Papa John’s Papa John’s International HISTORY OF COMPANY: Papa Johns was founded by John Schnatter. John worked at a local pizza pub in Jeffersonville, Indiana when he was in High School. While he was working there, he realized that there was something missing from the national pizza chains which was a superior-quality traditional pizza delivered right to the customer’s door. His dream was to one day open a pizza restaurant that would fill that void.In 1983, John Schnatter delivered his last campus pizza, picked up his business degree from Ball State University, and went back to Jeffersonville, Indiana. There, at age 22, he knocked down the broom closet in his father's tavern (Mick's Lounge); sold his prized 1971 Z28 Camaro, purchased $1,600 worth of used restaurant equipment, and began delivering pizzas out of the back of the bar. Papa John's opened its first pizza restaurant in 1984. (2) CORPORATE INFORMATION: Papa John’s Pizza Corpo rate Office is located at 2002 Papa John’s Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40299.Their phone number is (502)261-7272. The CEO is Nigel Travis, the COO is Jude Thompson, and the CFO is David Flanery. (1) STOCK MARKET INFORMATION: Papa John’s is under NASDAQ stock market and their symbol is PZZA. As of April 12, 2010, their Stock market price was $27. 88. Their stock prices are down -. 84. (6) COMPANY’S REPUTATION: Papa John's is the recognized quality leader of the pizza category and is the world's third largest pizza company. For nine of the last ten years, consumers have rated Papa John's No. in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Papa John's also was honored by Restaurants ; Institutions Magazine (R;I) with the 2009 Gold Award for Consumers' Choice in Chains in the pizza segment. In 2006, for the third consecutive year consumers have honored Papa John's (NASDAQ: PZZA) with the top rating among nat ional pizza delivery and take-out chains in the prestigious Restaurants ; Institutions' Consumers' Choice in Chains Survey.Papa John's, which earned its best overall score ever, outdistanced the next closest national take-out and delivery chain by a record margin of almost six points. Restaurants and Institutions' 2006 Consumers' Choice in Chains Survey National Pizza Delivery and Take-Out Chains ———————————————————————- Overall Score Atmosphere Cleanliness Convenience ——————— ————- ———- ———– ———– Papa John's 52. 31% 44% 52% ——————— ————- ———- ———– à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Pizza Hut 46. 8 34 40 49 ——————— ————- ———- ———– ———– Little Caesars 44. 9 24 34 53 ——————— ————- ———- ———– ———– Domino's Pizza 43. 3 24 36 51 ———————————————————————-Food Quality Good Reputation Menu Variety Service Value ————– ———— ————— ———— ——- —– Papa John's 66% 64% 48% 50% 49% ————– ——à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€ ————— ———— ——- —– Pizza Hut 58 58 46 43 40 ————– ———— ————— ———— ——- —– Little Caesars 44 42 30 37 69 ————– ———— ————— ———— ——- —– Domino's Pizza 47 50 37 43 46 ———————————————————————- †¢For nine consecutive years (1999 – 2008), Papa John's has been rated number one n customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) released by the National Quality R esearch Center at the University of Michigan Business School. †¢Top rated national pizza delivery and take-out chain in Restaurants & Institutions' Consumers Choice in Chains Survey seven out of the last nine years (1998 – 2000, 2002 and 2004 – 2006). †¢Pizzamarketplace. com 2006 Pizza Chain of the Year †¢Voted ‘Best Pizza' in more than 50 U. S. markets over the last several years, including in Los Angeles, Washington D. C. , Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis, Orlando, Knoxville and Phoenix. †¢Highest rated national pizza delivery and take-out chain in RealPeopleRatings. com, an online quarterly rating site. Tied for first as the highest rated national pizza chain in the 2007 Zagat/Today Show Fast Food Survey. †¢Silver winner of the 2006 Brandweek Customer Loyalty Award in the pizza category. †¢Named Delivery Operator of the Year among pizza chains in the United Kingdom by the Pizza and Pasta Association (2005 – 2006). CHIEF COMPE TITORS: Papa John’s top chief competitors are Domino’s, Little Caesar’s, and Pizza Hut. FINANCIAL POSITION OF COMPANY (PAST AND PRESENT): †¢Fourth quarter earnings per diluted share of $0. 49 in 2009 vs. $0. 46 in 2008 and full-year earnings per diluted share of $2. 06 in 2009 vs. $1. 30 in 2008 †¢Fourth quarter earnings per diluted share, excluding noted items, were $0. 41 in 2009 vs. $0. 8 in 2008 and full-year earnings per diluted share, excluding noted items, were $1. 50 in 2009 vs. $1. 68 in 2008 †¢Domestic system-wide comparable sales decreased 0. 5% for the quarter and were even for the year †¢International franchise system sales increased 18% for the quarter (13% excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates) and 14% for the year (24% excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates) †¢11 net Papa John's worldwide unit openings during the quarter and 89 net openings during the year †¢Earnings guidance for 20 10 reaffirmed at a range of $1. 70 to $1. 90 per diluted share, excluding the impact of consolidating BIBPPapa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced revenues of $280. 5 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to revenues of $279. 6 million in 2008. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $13. 7 million, or $0. 49 per diluted share (including after-tax income of $1. 3 million, or $0. 05 per diluted share, from the consolidation of the results of the franchisee-owned cheese purchasing company, BIBP Commodities, Inc. (â€Å"BIBP†), a variable interest entity, and a gain of $1. 0 million, or $0. 03 per diluted share, from the finalization of certain income tax issues), compared to 2008 fourth quarter net income of $12. 8 million, or $0. 6 per diluted share (including after-tax income of $600,000, or $0. 02 per diluted share, from the consolidation of BIBP, a gain of $1. 2 million, or $0. 04 per diluted share, from the finalization of certain inc ome tax issues and an after-tax charge of $2. 2 million, or $0. 08 per diluted share, related to restaurant impairment and disposition losses). Consolidated revenues for 2009 were $1. 11 billion, representing a decrease of 2. 3% from revenues of $1. 13 billion for 2008. Net income for 2009 was $57. 5 million, or $2. 06 per diluted share (including after-tax income of $14. 6 million, or $0. 52 per diluted share, from the consolidation of BIBP and a gain of $1. 0 million, or $0. 4 per diluted share, from the finalization of certain income tax issues), compared to net income of $36. 8 million, or $1. 30 per diluted share, for 2008 (including a net loss of $6. 9 million, or $0. 24 per diluted share, from the consolidation of BIBP, a gain of $1. 7 million or $0. 06 per diluted share from the finalization of certain income tax issues and an after-tax charge of $5. 5 million, or $0. 20 per diluted share, related to restaurant impairment and disposition losses). FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES: Cur rently Papa John’s has a 2010 U. S. Development Incentive Program for franchise opportunities. This program currently offers: †¢NO FRANCHISE FEE; A REDUCED ROYALTY RATE FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS FOR ON-TIME RESTAURANT OPENINGS, INCLUDING A 0% ROYALTY RATE FOR RESTAURANTS OPENED BY JUNE 2010; †¢A FREE â€Å"WOW OVEN† SET (UP TO $32,000 VALUE); AND †¢A CREDIT ON FOOD PURCHASES OF UP TO $3,000. If you do not qualify for the 2010 U. S. Development Incentive Program then these are the regular franchise requirements and fees: †¢Minimum of $50,000 in cash or liquid assets; †¢Minimum net worth of $150,000; and †¢Ability to obtain financing up to $200,000. Additional franchisee qualifications and requirements include: †¢The prospective franchisee should have at least one partner with a successful business management background and one partner who qualifies as the Principal Operator. For single-unit development, an individual can apply to be both owner and Principal Operator. The Principal Operator must have prior general management experience relative to the number of units to be developed and must own or have the right to acquire at least 5% equity in the business within 12 months of hire date. †¢A fully completed Request for Consideration Form and current resume must be submitted for each member of the proposed franchise group or the owner operator, including the proposed Principal Operator. Also, Papa John's will request supporting documentation from each proposed owner. Franchise Fees †¢The initial franchise fee is $25,000 per restaurant. ** Waived for 2010 †¢An ongoing royalty fee of 5% of net sales is due on a monthly basis. * Reduced for 2010 †¢Papa John's requires that a minimum of 7% of net monthly sales be spent by each franchisee for marketing purposes*, as follows: 2. 94% on national fund; and 4. 06% on co-op and/or local marketing initiatives. Also, $9,000 must be spent on grand opening adv ertising for each of the first two restaurants. Papa John's Franchise Offering Circular includes more detailed information regarding marketing and advertising fees. FUTURE PLANS: In an effort to further enhance its pan-India presence, the US-based delivery pizza restaurant chain, Papa John's is planning to open 10 more Papa John's outlets by the end of current quarter (April-June 2010). BIBLIOGRAPHY (1)Chris Sternberg: Papa John's International, Inc. (April 29, 2010).Papa John's Names Jude Thompson Co-CEO along with Founder and Chairman John Schnatter. http://ir. papajohns. com/releasedetail. cfm? ReleaseID=464972 (2)Papa John’s International. (2010). Retrieved April 18, 2010, from http://company. papajohns. com/about/pj_story. shtm (3)Franchise opportunities. (2010). Retrieved April 13, 2010, from, http://company. papajohns. com/franchise_opps/index. shtm (4)Financial overview. (2010). Retrieved on April 18, 2010, from, http://ir. papajohns. com/ (5)Financial information. (2 010). Retrieved on April 21, 2010, from, http://ir. papajohns. com/financials. cfm (6)Stock information. (2010). Retrieved on April 12, 2010, from, http://ir. papajohns. com/stockquote. cfm

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Occupational Health and Safety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Occupational Health and Safety - Essay Example There is no standard as to what elements or factors should be present for workplace or working conditions to be considered safe. The Contributory Negligence Doctrine puts the entire blame on the employee and frees the employer of any responsibility on the mishap that occurred. The relationship between the employers and the workers is one where their goals and the means of attaining them are segregated or are on totally opposite fields. There is no interdependence and cooperation in reaching a common goal. Employers are mainly concerned with production and are not involved in matters concerning the conditions and welfare of their workers or employees. This doctrine held on to the notion that employees are totally and solely responsible for their actions and management is a separate entity which is only accountable to itself and to the costs and profits of the business. Being a separate entity, employers are in no way part of the workers personal and individual concerns, even wile in the workplace or within the premises of the company structure, other than the giving of wage for service rendered. The basis of the relationship is only grounded on the exchange of services for wages. This doctrine's main assumption is that if employees, prior to their acceptance of the job or prior to the commencement of their duties, are aware of the hazards involved in the job or of the presence of hazards in the workplace then they have accepted these hazards as part of the employment conditions. They cannot therefore sue their employees in the event that an accident happens, because their acceptance of the job meant that they have accepted the hazards that go with it. The court based this doctrine on the theory that if an employee sees that there are hazards involved in the job before even accepting the work, he would demand for a higher wage because of the possibility of getting injured. The employer on the other hand, as a reaction to this demand, would either do something to remove the risk or would pay the additional salary. This doctrine reflects again a boxed relationship between the employee and employer where the concern lies in the exchange of service for money. The concern does not extend to the physical or emotional welfare of the employee while working for the company. There is no initiative on the part of the employer in providing safe conditions for the workers. The reaction of eliminating the risk factors is just a response to the issue of additional wage demanded by the worker. The basis of this reaction again is the financial standing of the company or the cost that they would have to incur. It is in no way to afford additional benefits to workers like safe working conditions. The burden of protecting oneself from work hazards is again on the shoulders of the workers. By demanding for additional compensation in exchange for a future possibility of an accident occurring while at work, the worker will free the employer of any liability. C. Fellow-Servant Doctrine The basic idea of this doctrine is that an employee cannot seek compensation from the employer for damages if the accident was caused, either entirely or in part, by a co-worker. This doctrine is regarded as an extension of the

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

THe importance and influence of Asia Pacific Business and their Essay

THe importance and influence of Asia Pacific Business and their implications for Australia - Essay Example Today, they are a force to be reckoned with: whether for their economical labor force or for the nuclear tests they are carrying out or the technological developments taking place in these countries. The western superpowers cannot afford to ignore these countries at any cost! A major factor that has influenced half the world's thinking, policies and decisions is the Sino-US bilateral relations. This area has been going through volatile changes as and when the political leaderships changed in both the countries. When George Bush came to power in 2001, there were rumors of a Cold War between the US and China. Serious tensions were sparked between the US and China on various issues. First, there was the issue of a collision of a Chinese fighter with an American spy plane and then it was the designation of Taiwan by the US and Japan as a "common strategic objective." China was certainly not happy with America's open opposition to lifting the EU's arms embargo on China. China was increasingly being viewed by the US as "a military competitor with a formidable resource base." The People's Republic of China (PRC) was perceived as "a military competitor with formidable resource base"5 by the US. Post the 9/11 attacks, however, there has been a subtle shift in the way the two countries view each other. China condemned the bombings in a mild tone but pledged its whole-hearted support to the US in fighting terrorism. China seemed to have taken a softer stand towards American policies and supported its war against terrorism. Beijing has supported counter- terrorism resolutions passed by the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly. China has been cooperating in the US's efforts in combating the evil of terrorism, both in its own country and at a global level. The past four years have seen sweeping changes in the bilateral relations between the US and China. By providing useful 'information' on radical Islamic groups, it has resumed intelligence- sharing activities that had remained dormant since the end of the Cold War6. While China had not been actively involved in any military action against Afghanistan, it endorsed American intervention there, thus, reflecting a softening of its attitude towards the US. China has pledged to contribute US$150 million towards the reconstruction of Afghanistan. It is also supposed to have played an important role in encouraging close ally Pakistan to support American efforts in Afghanistan. Just as significant is China's lack of resistance to Washington's forcible invasion of Iraq and removal of Saddam Hussein. The present period of improved relations between the two countries is being referred to as the 'honeymoon' period. Political analysts feel that the honeymoon period in the US-Sino relations is expected to last longer as there is a deeper combination of economic, political and strategic considerations underlying it. perceptions and motivations. With the hosting of the Olympics in 2008, it is assumed that Beijing will assume its rightful place in the world's powers. Thus, it would be eager to avoid any confrontation with America that could jeopardize its preparations for the event. China's refusal to adjust its undervalued currency, which has been pegged to the US$ since 1994 and America's ballooning trade deficit with China which

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Service Organisation Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Service Organisation - Case Study Example Accessibility is a key issue and an importance operations management issue for hotels and this essay will use Holiday Inn Nottingham as a case study to analyse the operational functions of a service organisation. The operational functions of an organisation are those that enable it to undertake its role (Flaherty 1996, Slack et al 1998). In the case of a service organisation, the operational functions would be those that implement the organisation's core service. In the case of Holiday Inn Nottingham, its operational functions will involve those functions that enable customers to book their services, and the people involved in making sure this is carried out appropriately. The operational functions of an organisation are also determined by the three roles as implementers of business strategy, supporters to the business strategy and as the drivers of business strategy (Flaherty 1996, Slack et al 1998). This has several meanings for Holiday Inn Nottingham, because as an implementer of business strategy it will have to ensure that it puts the general Holiday Inn strategy into place. This would include attracting customers to the hotel by managing and promoting the Holiday Inn brand in Nottingha m, through marketing and advertising the organisation. As a support of business strategy, Holiday Inn Nottingham has to develop resources to provide the capabilities which are needed to allow the hotel to achieve its strategic goals (Flaherty 1996, Slack et al 1998). Holiday Inn Nottingham has completed a major refurbishment of its hotel, and part of these refurbishments include modernising accommodation and business facilities, so that the hotel can fulfil its role in implementing the Holiday Inn business strategy. In terms of driving the business strategy, Holiday Inn Nottingham has to ensure that it retains its competitive edge (Flaherty 1996, Slack et al 1998) over other hotels in the city and the recent refurbishment demonstrates how Holiday Inn Nottingham is committed to driving business strategy. The modernisation of the rooms ensures that its customers and potential customers are accommodated in rooms that meet global standards in terms of quality and comfort. For its busine ss customers, Holiday Inn Nottingham also offers free on-site car parking, which immediately puts it at a competitive advantage as a business venue as it represents the best value for its cost. The operational functions of Holiday Inn are also better demonstrated by looking its performance objectives which include the quality advantage, the speed advantage, the dependability advantage, the flexibility advantage and the cost advantage (Harris 1989). In order to understand these advantages and the operational functions of Holiday Inn Nottingham better, a detailed examination will now follow of the organisation. Service Package The service package is the bundle of goods and services that is provided by Holiday Inn Nottingham (Lecture Notes). The most visible part of the service package is the hotel's supporting facility which consists of its guest rooms, facilities for guests and business facilities. The hotel offers three different types of guest rooms to cater for the different guest types; from single and double rooms to executive rooms and suites. Guests will also have access to a health fitness centre and internet connections in their rooms. Business customers also have a variety of room

Monday, August 26, 2019

BP Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

BP - Essay Example BP publishes a sustainability review report on a regular basis in which it focuses on building a safer as well as a stronger workplace. It does not have any designated Corporate Social Responsibility Officer (CSR) to oversee their CSR activities. The Chairman has the discretionary authority to look after their valuable social activities. In order to address ecological and social concerns, after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill case incident, BP has decided to pay around US$500 million within a period of 10 years towards supporting research activities for betterment of ecosystem in the Gulf region. In order to contribute to people, planet along with focusing on its long-term profitability, BP has decided to focus on ISO 14001:2004 standards for environmental management, which in turn can provide benefit to the people all over the world and can ensure its sustainability (BP plc, â€Å"Sustainability Review†). The company has recorded a huge number of environmental disasters wit h over 8,000 spills of oil, dangerous chemicals as well as gases. The states of Texas and Louisiana have been the worst hit with close to 3,000 cases being reported in those states. There occurred about 550 previous incidents in the Mississippi Canyon near the area where the current Deepwater Horizon disaster is unfolding. In the recent past, two major incidences have been reported in the city of Texas in which an explosion was registered in the major refinery of the company in the year 2005 and oil spill at the Prudhoe Bay. The Texas explosion led to the death of 15 people while at the same time 170 people were severely injured. The root cause of the explosion was found to have been caused by temporary trailers that had been placed close to the volatile units which the company’s top management admitted to have been a measure taken to cut costs. It was further established that poor maintenance of the

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Enviromental Factors Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enviromental Factors Paper - Essay Example For Mazda, the most important factor in the current environment is technology since it directly impacts all aspects of the automobile industry. Technology can help a car go faster, be more fuel efficient, reduce the cost of production and even help the company sell more cars (Baki et. al, 2004). Since fuel prices are on the rise and the limited nature of natural resources will continually push the prices higher, being more fuel efficient is a key selling point for Mazda if they are able to get their message across to the customers (RBSC, 2006). Similarly, political and legal factors can also influence the marketing strategy of Mazda in the future as more governments push for cleaner running cars and more curbs on how much pollution can be created by an automobile (Baki et. al, 2004). Mazda may have to push hybrid cars or cars powered by alternative fuels such as hydrogen to the public. This would certainly change the marketing strategy of the company since instead of focusing on styling, comfort, or even the performance of the car, the company would have to focus on the technical aspects of the new engine and convince buyers that it is as good as (if not better than) conventional engines in all respects (Harbour, 2001). Technology also impacts Mazda’s marketing decisions in terms of how the message is to be delivered to the customer. For instance, Mazda participated in web based stories for some of their cars and used the process of viral marketing for the launch of a new car model. In both cases, the internet was used as a means for marketing and the technology was cutting edge since the company needed to have a fresh approach to traditional marketing (Mazda, 2005). In terms of social responsibility, the principles which are applicable to Mazda can easily be applied to the rest of the automobile industry since many of the cars produced by them are objects of

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Compare and Contrast The Learning Process Research Paper

Compare and Contrast The Learning Process - Research Paper Example Learning has turned out to be a life-long process and the dividing line between youth learning and learning in adulthood is fast vanishing. Merriam quotes Geissler (1996,pp.35-36), â€Å"Youth in fact, who are sent out into life with a dwindling sackful of values,....face a situation in which they have to keep filling up their sack. This leads adult education to take lifelong learning as its motto. The duty to be free(with the pressure to realize oneself)is the duty to go on learning.....The hole in the ozone layer provides the stimulus for courses to which people turn for advice, mad cow disease pushes up the numbers attending vegetarian cooking courses, and backache creates a need for posture classes(p.6) By the time a student graduates from the traditional college education and enters the competitive job market, or if he is an entrepreneur thinks of establishing ones own production unit, technology has moved faster than what is taught in the syllabus and merits of ones degree certificate. The process of learning has become continuous from the point of launching ones career to eventual retirement. Merriam writes, â€Å"...technology has had an enormous impact on the economy. Robotics and automation displace production workers but create other jobs; technology has fostered whole new work structures such as telecommuting; and so on. The effect of the global economy and technological advances on the nature of adult learning is staggering. Adults find that they must continue their learning past formal schooling in order to function at work, at home, and in their communities. The need for new knowledge for updating old information, for retraining, has resulted in multi-billion dollar edu cational enterprise.†(p.2) Before comparing and and contrasting the learning processes through adult development and learning models, it needs to be clearly understood that most of the theories are inclusive and they have something to give and

BUY LOCAL FROM NB INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIRMS Research Paper

BUY LOCAL FROM NB INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FIRMS - Research Paper Example In this regard, there are certain potential problems that are likely to be faced by the New Brunswick (NB) firms in their internal and external business environment context. The internal risks that could be faced by the NB organizations are generally non-marketable attributes namely brand, visibility, credibility as well as cost related constraints (Kramer, Jenkins & Katz, 2007). Problems in Internal Environment The potential internal constraints for the NB firms can be identified to be ingrained within the facet of non-marketable variables which can considerable affect to efficiently derive the potential benefits of ICTs. Moreover, the risks associated with internal environment of the NB firms can also create significant challenges for them in terms of building their long-term sustainability in the fiercely growing global IT industry. In accordance with the non-marketable risks in the SCM processes, certain potential problems can raise due to the integration of ICTs within the diffe rent operational activities. ... The integration of ICTs within the supply chain process provides adequate support to an organization to efficiently perform its range of supply chain functions. However, the functions of ICTs within the supply chain often been observed to involve issues related with its visibility. The integration of ICTs within the supply chain process tends to provide adequate flexibility to the organization along with offering them enhanced visibility amid the large NB purchasing organizations. In addition, the local NB IT firms face a major challenge due to the lack of visibility. This is because they generally use quite a less amount of marketing and promotional activities. This factor reduces their chances to have a prominent place as a prospective Business-to-Business player in the minds of large local NB purchasing organizations (Booz Allen Hamilton Inc, 2012). 2. Brand: The brand value of the NB IT firms can also be regarded as one of the major constraints which can occur due to the extensiv e practice of ICTs within different supply chain activities by the firms. An effective and strong brand position can provide adequate support to the organizations to effectively obtain significant benefits of the ICTs especially in the supply chain operations. However, the notion of brand or brand valuation can also be a major concerning factor of an organization which can further lead to significant issues. Owing to the stated concern, the integration of ICTs in the supply chain ensures to reduce the usage of different organizational resources and it also provides benefits to minimize the potential costs in the SCM operations. In relation to local NB IT firms, they generally do not use branding or product positioning as a major marketing tool. Therefore, a lack of brand identity tends to