22 Apr 2009

Silence

Today, We are silent
We are not talking about the past
Not even the future
Just let it flow in the hands of time
Because, we cant do anything for today

Today, we are silent
about the melancholy grief and hardship
we cannot do anyhting about it
let the tsunami occurs
Lapindo sludge dins
the large flood floods
landslides happens
disasters and catastrophies
just pretend its not set eyes
think it never happens

today, we’re silent
about democracy
about politics
the legislative parliament
about the general election
coz, they tend to disclaim their words
just think that we never even elected them

today we are silent
about the laws and criminalism
corruption cases everywhere
illegal loggings
bribeable prosecuters
lets just say, we never heard about it

Today we are silent
About the economic conditions
Global turnovers and inflations
Export and imports
People queued for petroliums
Let the police deal with the prostitute
Just seems to not understand them all

Today, we are silent
About the religion and beliefs
Because we’ve broke Gods commands
And because
silence is for the better

19 Apr 2009

7th ILF English Fiesta

ILF ( International Language Forum) of Muhammadiyah University Malang, is a student activity unit that specifies on foreign language, especially in English. In the history, this organization had a metamorphosis on its name from SEF (Student English Forum) to ILF. Lots of activities and achievements won by this organization have made UMM even more famous.

There are more prestigious achievements that awarded to ILF-UMM, which proves ILF as the one of the Student Activity Unit (SAU) in UMM with exceed quantity and in quality. Thought the past years ILF has developed tremendously in outraging many new potentials with great knowledge and skills on presentations, public speaking, debating and rhetoric.

As a member of the social organization communities both in debating and student empowerment, as well as celebrating ILF establishment (birthday) in showing our existence in the community, ILF is proudly to hold an annual event named "English Fiesta".

This year's, 7th English Fiesta will be held from May 1st - 4th 2009 in our prestigious campus Muhammadiyah University Malang (UMM). The event will include an English Debate Competition followed by university students from all over Java Island of Indonesia. A very wonderful event to extend our debating skills and not to forget get along and meet hundreds of university students in Java.

Located in the cold city of Malang and Batu, East Java. This years English Fiesta is going to be a great event for you all to participate. With lots of friends, fun and prizes, We welcome you to the 7th ILF English Fiesta, " Empathy of Humanity".

For informations on the event, please visit : www.englishfiesta.weebly.com

1 Apr 2009

Whats a PEST Analysis?

A PEST analysis is used to identify the external forces affecting an organization. This is a simple analysis of an organization’s Political, Economical, Social and Technological environment. A PEST analysis incorporating legal and environmental factors is called a PESTLE analysis.

Political
The first element of a PEST analysis is a study of political factors. Political factors influence organizations in many ways. Political factors can create advantages and opportunities for organizations. Conversely they can place obligations and duties on organizations. Political factors include the following types of instrument:
- Legislation such as the minimum wage or anti discrimination laws.
- Voluntary codes and practices
- Market regulations
- Trade agreements, tariffs or restrictions
- Tax levies and tax breaks
- Type of government regime eg communist, democratic, dictatorship

Non conformance with legislative obligations can lead to sanctions such as fines, adverse publicity and imprisonment. Ineffective voluntary codes and practices will often lead to governments introducing legislation to regulate the activities covered by the codes and practices.

Economical
The second element of a PEST analysis involves a study of economic factors.
All businesses are affected by national and global economic factors. National and global interest rate and fiscal policy will be set around economic conditions. The climate of the economy dictates how consumers, suppliers and other organizational stakeholders such as suppliers and creditors behave within society.

An economy undergoing recession will have high unemployment, low spending power and low stakeholder confidence. Conversely a “booming” or growing economy will have low unemployment, high spending power and high stakeholder confidence.

A successful organization will respond to economic conditions and stakeholder behavior. Furthermore organizations will need to review the impact economic conditions are having on their competitors and respond accordingly.
In this global business world organizations are affected by economies throughout the world and not just the countries in which they are based or operate from. For example: a global credit crunch originating in the USA contributed towards the credit crunch in the UK in 2007/08.
Cheaper labor in developing countries affects the competitiveness of products from developed countries. An increase in interest rates in the USA will affect the share price of UK stocks or adverse weather conditions in India may affect the price of tea bought in an English cafe.

A truly global player has to be aware of economic conditions across all borders and needs to ensure that it employs strategies that protect and promote its business through economic conditions throughout the world.
Social

The third aspect of PEST focuses its attention on forces within society such as family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and the media. Social forces affect our attitudes, interest s and opinions. These forces shape who we are as people, the way we behave and ultimately what we purchase. For example within the UK peoples attitudes are changing towards their diet and health.

As a result the UK is seeing an increase in the number of people joining fitness clubs and a massive growth for the demand of organic food. Products such as Wii Fit attempt to deal with society’s concern, about children’s lack of exercise.

Population changes also have a direct impact on organizations. Changes in the structure of a population will affect the supply and demand of goods and services within an economy. Falling birth rates will result in decreased demand and greater competition as the number of consumers fall.

Conversely an increase in the global population and world food shortage predictions are currently leading to calls for greater investment in food production. Due to food shortages African countries such as Uganda are now reconsidering their rejection of genetically modified foods.

In summary organizations must be able to offer products and services that aim to complement and benefit people’s lifestyle and behavior. If organizations do not respond to changes in society they will lose market share and demand for their product or service.
Technological

Unsurprisingly the fourth element of PEST is technology, as you are probably aware technological advances have greatly changed the manner in which businesses operate.
Organizations use technology in many ways, they have;

1. Technology infrastructure such as the internet and other information exchange systems including telephone
2. Technology systems incorporating a multitude of software which help them manage their business.
3. Technology hardware such as mobile phones, Blackberrys, laptops, desktops, Bluetooth devices, photocopiers and fax machines which transmit and record information.

Technology has created a society which expects instant results. This technological revolution has increased the rate at which information is exchanged between stakeholders. A faster exchange of information can benefit businesses as they are able to react quickly to changes within their operating environment.

However an ability to react quickly also creates extra pressure as businesses are expected to deliver on their promises within ever decreasing timescales..
For example the Internet is having a profound impact on the marketing mix strategy of organizations.

Consumers can now shop 24 hours a day from their homes, work, Internet cafe and via 3G phones and 3G cards. Some employees have instant access to e-mails through Blackberry but this can be a double edged sword, as studies have shown that this access can cause work to encroach on their personal time outside work.
The pace of technological change is so fast that the average life of a computer chip is approximately 6 months. Technology is utilized by all age groups, children are exposed to technology from birth and a new generation of technology savvy pensioners known as “silver surfers” have emerged. Technology will continue to evolve and impact on consumer habits and expectations, organizations that ignore this fact face extinction.