Implementation stage of the project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Implementation stage of the project - Assignment Example Is the resolution feasible for execution How did the team arrive to this implementation feasibility conclusion What should be done to ensure successful execution of the project To answer these questions, Nik and Alex's team must first determine the factors that would affect the implementation of their proposed solution. That would mean they would have to consider both internal and external factors. Internal factors would be everything that relates to the organization during the process of transitioning the project from decision-making to implementation. Factors like organizational structure, roles and responsibilities, physical systems, decision authority, empowerment, compensation and incentives must be considered (Broadfuehrer, 2000). This is to ensure that there is a strong foundation in place within the organization that will enable the smooth transitioning of the project to the implementation phase. Having an organizational structure would help identify the key persons that would take on the implementer roles and responsibilities. Physical systems and decision authority ensure that there are standards in place and resources available (e.g. people and budget) for the decision implementation. At the same time, empowerment, compensation and incentives drive commitment and responsiveness to the execution of the project. External factors, on the other hand, would be things relating and affecting Kava as a whole. In Kava's case these factors need to be considered: legality of the implementation, political acceptance - the government and Kava citizens, the local standards, resource availability, environmental issues and constraints. These factors have an effect on how the whole project would be perceived and accepted by the Kava society. Knowing these factors and working around them during implementation would definitely affect the success of the project as a whole. This is where the proposed solution technique ties in with implementation process. Since the Stepladder approach was used in the decision-making process, it is most likely that the implementers were also part of the decision-making processes. This means that these factors for implementation, at least part of it, have already been considered. Ensuring that these implementation factors are tied in with the decision-making process, guarantees the smooth, effective and efficient execution of the proposed solution. Resources and Actions Required for Decision Implementation Establishing a greater presence in Kava is definitely a long-term goal. Immediate recognition from Kava citizens won't happen over night. After selecting the solution and most feasible implementation process, Nik and Alex's team must now look into the actual availability of the resources and the necessary actions required to acquiring them. During the decision-making process, a team was assigned to do the task. This is the same during the implementation process. It could be the same team that handled the decision-making. However, key people should be brought in that have more expertise in the matter. One example would be sourcing. The decision-making team would have probably

Abandonment Of The Jews Essay Example for Free

Abandonment Of The Jews Essay David S. Wyman, the author of Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust, seems to be a well-educated and interesting man. Wyman earned an A. B. in history from Boston University. He then went on and earned his Ph. D. in history from Harvard University. Wyman then began to teach history and was the chairman of the Judaic studies program at the University of Massachusetts. He has written other books such as Paper Walls: America and the Refugee Crisis; A Race Against Death: Peter Bergson, America, and the Holocaust; and was an editor of The World Reacts to the Holocaust. See more: Foot Binding In China essay David S. Wyman seems to be very educated on the topic of Judaic information, including the Holocaust. He now has his own institution to educate people on the Holocaust and America’s involvement; it is called the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies. Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust, was taken place during World War II in 1941-1945. The author, David S. Wyman, covers many topics and discussions to why Jews could have been saved by America and its, could have been, involvement. The author has many different reasons why he believes America could have helped save the Jews; all the way from the Roosevelt Administration to bombing the railway that led to the Auschwitz concentration camp. The author’s central argument: David S. Wyman’s argument included that if the United States had a serious commitment to help rescue and save the Jews of Europe that the United States could have aided in saving several hundred thousands of the Jews that fell under Nazi command. Wyman helped support his thesis by using several books, the one most common that he cited from was Bauer. This was a secondary source because it a book from another Historian. â€Å"Although Roosevelt did not agree to the call for retaliation against Germany, he again warned the Axis, on August 21, 1942, that perpetrators of war crimes would be tried after Germany’s defeat and face fearful retribution. † (pg 29) In the second chapter of the book Wyman focus’ on how America acknowledged the war but did little to step in and help prevent it or help the Jewish people find refuge. The chapter highlights the conversations and the thoughts of many of the world’s leaders and their thoughts on the upcoming war. Many countries wanted to wash their hands of the situation, or they wanted to help with the minimal amounts of troops and money invested, particularly the British. Another point that supports our author’s thesis is the outside countries also closed their door to all immigrants making it nearly impossible for the Jews to enter the country even if they managed to escape the Nazis. We had relief organizations overseas to help apply for visas and to provide food, water and clothing. Because we failed to open our doors to immigrants many died in the refugee camps. The ones that did make it through the unlivable conditions and diseases had other issues to worry about. Whatever stability and support the Jews found in France was quickly diminished as Germany came in and had â€Å"round-ups† collecting all the people in camps and sending them to their death. They were essentially sitting ducks in France wishing and hoping for freedom and fearful because they were still so close to death. This information came from the Overseas Files. â€Å"The deportations were devastating on a person level, even before people realized that evacuation meant murder by gas. † (pg 34) This was a primary source because it was a diary article of a woman working at the camp. A family that had done everything possible to escape from the Nazi grasp, ended up separated. At first the children lived but eventually it was all a massacre. The children that did escape tried to find their parents at a later time 2 and many just received return letters stamped, parti sans addresse, which means destination unknown. David S. Wyman used the New York Times often in the writing and research for this book. He found many articles that involved interviews with congressmen during the times of stress in and the lack of involvement from the United States. One of the articles helped the author show the lack of concern for the Jewish victims in Europe. As Roosevelt just talked about how the Nazis and others would be â€Å"tried after Germany’s defeat and face ‘fearful retribution’. † Not one time did Roosevelt mention the fate of the European Jews. The author also used the Am Jewish Congress; Am Jewish Congress Papers multiple times in this book. One showed the support and protests that came from the American Jewish Congress’s â€Å"Stop Hitler Now† campaign. It was a mass meeting that started off on March 1, 1943. It was support that combined efforts and was able to buy a full page advertisement in the New York Times that stated, â€Å"America Must Act Now! † I thought this book was very intriguing. Although sometimes my reading level was not up to par to fully understand what was going on or just that fact that maybe not all of my attention was devoted to reading at that time. I enjoyed the book, but I am also a person that enjoys learning about the Holocaust and would rather learn about that than do a lot of things. I feel like the book was written for the general public because I think the author’s purpose was to educate the United States people of how we may have â€Å"turned our backs. † I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to educate themselves on a difficult but intriguing topic. I would not say that it is a â€Å"must read,† but it is a book that can be read by many different individuals.

Bribery is a wide spread economic crime

Bribery is a wide spread economic crime Bribery, a form of influencing people by owing gifts or money in order to do a job which is beyond their job description can be also stated as extortion. Enormous growth in International Business has made many countries developed and excavated poverty, but has also seeded bribery in each and every sector (Sanyal and Guvenli 2009). Bribery or corruption starts because of poorly paid jobs, Workers or staffs of a firm have an illicit relation with the stake holders of the company in order to make money. In International trade bribery plays a major role, in taking up major contracts and in setting up off shore business. Bribery within its limits can be allowed to get hold of international market segments that in turn leads to a greater benefit for both the company and its stake holders. Bribery beyond its horizons has a greater inclination to the downfall of a countrys economic, political and employability stature. To fasten up the pace of development and growth of a country, in these da ys is easily possible through bribing (Blackburn and Sarmah 2006). But this necessary evil should always be kept in check. Many countries have failed to keep them in check. Today it is necessary for every growing nation to learn from these nations who have lost their track. Some of the countries have taken vigilant steps to put down this bribing activity within their boundaries. The Bribery is a wide spread economic crime in the developing world. Companies that are mainly concerned with the cost benefit analysis make more bribes. A research done by World Bank recognizes that bribery or corruption occurs because of weak accountability of the public institutions, poor civil society, lower educational qualifications, and worse economic policies (Ksenia 2008). Bureaucratic corruption comes with the corruption in international financial market. Companies that work overseas have to make tackling gifts and attractive price in order to keep up the peers in corporate world, by this they are lead into a goodwill wave in their business. In this bureaucratic corruption the bribes are given to the officials of any organization to do a job beyond their usual routine. A survey done in the year 2000 has proved that one out of ten senior managers is ready to break laws. And another survey in the year 1997 showed that 3600 firms in 69 countries are responsible for the corruption spread in that area and for its negative effects happened. (David Ng 2006) In bribery the report from Transparency International (TI) have shown that the bribery in Business segment is about 53 percent in the year 2009, and the major countries affected are Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Iceland, Luxembourg, Singapore etc. According to Bribe Payers Index the countries are shown in given table.(Riano and Hodess et. al 2009) Rank Country/ Territory BPI 2008 Score Respondents Standard Deviation Confidence Interval 95% Lower Bound Upper Bound 1 Belgium 8.8 252 2.00 8.5 9.0 1 Canada 8.8 264 1.80 8.5 9.0 3 Netherlands 8.7 255 1.98 8.4 8.9 3 Switzerland 8.7 256 1.98 8.4 8.9 5 Germany 8.6 513 2.14 8.4 8.8 5 United Kingdom 8.6 506 2.10 8.4 8.7 5 Japan 8.6 316 2.11 8.3 8.8 8 Australia 8.5 240 2.23 8.2 8.7 9 France 8.1 462 2.48 7.9 8.3 9 Singapore 8.1 243 2.60 7.8 8.4 9 United States 8.1 718 2.43 7.9 8.3 12 Spain 7.9 355 2.49 7.6 8.1 13 Hong Kong 7.6 288 2.67 7.3 7.9 14 South Africa 7.5 177 2.78 7.1 8.0 14 South Korea 7.5 231 2.79 7.1 7.8 14 Taiwan 7.5 287 2.76 7.1 7.8 17 Italy 7.4 421 2.89 7.1 7.7 17 Brazil 7.4 225 2.78 7.0 7.7 19 India 6.8 257 3.31 6.4 7.3 20 Mexico 6.6 123 2.97 6.1 7.2 21 China 6.5 634 3.35 6.2 6.8 22 Russia 5.9 114 3.66 5.2 6.6 Fig: 1 Bribe Payer Index 2008 Source: http://transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2008/bpi_2008_en The BPI of the year 2008 shows that Belgium and Canada takes up the top position in the list with BPI score of 8.8. World Bank states that corruption is the single greatest obstacle to economic and social development (Blackburn and Sarmah 2006). The International anti bribery conventions is not stopping the Multinational corporations in bribing the government officials in the developing countries. Especially the areas like defence and arms, hospital segments etc. It can also be said as the bureaucratic corruption may not be bad for the business people, this way of bribing helps the individuals having an incentive to compete with the privilege of becoming bureaucrats. Corruption or bribery will make corporate governance deploy, it is said that as corruption gets increased the regulatory oversight gets weak and there will be the worst corporate governance. Corruption in business deals enhances the development of free and fair trade and economic development. Now a days the Cross border transaction increases in number which connects societies with different customs and practices. The Multinational firms which launch in to a new market wins the contracts by bribing at high prices by this the business of the multinational firm get s heated up and moves in a profitable scale. Whereas the domestic market firms which were not able to afford to the high bribe ends in negative scale of business. The multinational firms are highly concerned about the public works construction and defence sectors. They also engage in business like oil, gas, real estate, power generations and telecommunication sectors. The subsidiary companies of the international firms are most likely to be involved in bribery. Government policies are also negatively affected like low quality of goods, slow work of environmental policies. Funds used for education and health are also bribed. There are two types of bribes whitemail bribes and lubrication, bribing an official of an organization to perform an illegal or uneconomic act is referred to whitemail bribery. Bribe which is given to a government official in order to expedite any government approval or legal transaction is called as lubrication. In international trade the level of bribery can taken in two different forms such as Demand side, Supply bribery. The demand side bribery is called as the recipient of bribe and the supply side refers to payer of the bribe. Liberalization also has a greater impact over the bureaucratic corruption, since the bureaucrats value vary this raises the demand of bribe, this situation is called as benefit effect and it is counteracted by an increase in cost effect. This two effects leads to a non-monotonic relation between liberalization and corruption (Bose and pandey 2009). Effects of bribery are widespread on business and economy, it is stated that companies pay bribes since it is cheaper than spending money in research works. Many bribes are done by many companies for taking over the market segments. The attempt to earn income through an illegal mean result in advantage of both parties, the giver gains a profit by getting the order and the bribe receiver earns money or gift, but this process is only for a short period. Inflation will be the result of bribery in the international trade, the Import goods of the country increases and results in trade deficit. This pressure makes the value of the currency to come down, which makes the country more in debt and higher in inflation. As a result of higher inflation the government officials asks for higher bribe and thus the inflation and bribery cycle continues. As a result of high debt the country borrows money from IMF and the World Bank. Even though the World Bank knows that the government has nothing to do with money for the internal economic conditions, if the money is lent for the development of internal economic condition its stolen or wasted for bribing for government officials. Bribery also hurts International trading countries; it also serves as a trade barrier and acts as an unofficial tariff on export. Bribery also prevents open market system and restricts the benefits of trade agreements, with this there will be a negotiation for liberalization among the public officials with the fear of losing the control. The Economic effect of bribery or corruption reduces the economic growth of the country and this leads in decrease of foreign direct investment. World Bank estimates that the widespread corruption can reduce the countrys economic growth as well as reduce the inward investment because the investors have the fear of losing the investment in the corrupt countries. A recent survey shows that there is 60 percent chance of losing investment in Egypt and Syria, and an 80 percent in Algeria, Jordan, Morocco and Turkey (Shahabuddin 2002). The United Nations World report states that about 15 percentages of all firms in the industrialized nations bribe in order to retain their contracts, 60 percent were found in Soviet Union countries and 40 percent in Asia (Shahabuddin 2002). Many countries have started enforcing a ban on this evil bribery, which has resulted in continuous progress in past six years. These countries now represent more than worlds export actions. Out of thirty six countries seven countries are active in evading bribery, and 9 countries partially active. The rest twenty countries are dominant or with little effect. The countries and level of activity can be given as Category Percentage of world trade Countries Active Enforcement ( 7 ) 30% Denmark, Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States Moderate Enforcement ( 9 ) 21% Argentina, Belgium, Finland, France, Japan, Korea (South), Netherlands, Spain, Sweden Little or No Enforcement ( 20) 15% Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Turkey Fig : 2 There are few societies which are strong in evading the bribery such as the transparency International organizations. It is highly distinctive that bribery takes the lead role in all business investments thats being carried on in todays business world. With the census it is clearly evident that 53 percent of the business investment involves bribery. Bribery as divided by itself is seen as whitemail and lubrication. Bribery as Lubrication is acceptable to a certain limit but whitemail is never bearable. As the former just increases the pace of a work being done which mostly in turn could have a positive effect on a countries growth but the latter has always a negative effect on the countries growth and in turn spoils the ethic in the business world. Bribery as a whole has a positive inclination for an organisation to enhance its market and trade profit. This in turn leads to greater profit for the organisation and in turn to its stake holders to easily get into the global market and attain maximum profit. Even if this activity is profitable, its quiet obvious for any spectating investor to get note o f the prevailing situation and recede from investing. When somewhere someone does something wrong somewhere someone is affected. This is the perfect effect of bribery at any level. An individuals bribery has a significant effect on the inflation of the nation. This force everyone within responsible positions to fall into the bribing pit which obliviously shows that bribery leads to a circle without ends

Skittles :: essays research papers

Skittles OVERVIEW Skittles is a variety entertainment and dining establishment located in Washington, D.C. . Our mission is to provide our patrons with a unique blend of live entertainment while delivering a top quality dining experience. We will do this by emphasizing service excellence and the highest level of performance in all aspects of our operations and services. Our prominent services include live entertainment, ranging in form from comedy to jazz performances to poetry recitals and others. We also offer lunch, dinner, drinks and dancing to our customers. The restaurant is operated by its several partners who have an equal share in ownership. The partners are Tracy Jackson, James Johnson, Sonja Dawkins, Kevin Brown and Steffi Carr. The restaurant is ideally located on the D.C. waterfront. There it will be easily accessible to a large cross section of consumers and make it possible to provide patrons with a safe and controlled environment. Our establishment brings a relatively new concept to the Districts restaurant industry. What we provide is an everchanging mix of live entertainment to customers while serving all of their drinking and dining needs as well. We are somewhat of a one stop, night on the town, in that we provide not only the drinking and dining needs of person going out but we also provide, in the same location and depending on the night, everything from dancing to live music performances to a night of comedy entertainment. Because of its uniqueness to the marketplace in D.C., Skittles has an excellent opportunity to establish itself and become a force in the restaurant/entertainment community in the District. This is partly because of the limited direct competition the company has to face. Although direct competition is limited, there are several establishments which we feel will pose competition to us in the market. They include Blues Alley, Hogates, H.I. Ribsters, Phillips, Gang Plank, The Wharf, and Club 721. Despite the threats which the competition poses to the restaurant, we are still very confident in the ability of this concept and restaurant to thrive and succeed in the District. SITUATION ANALYSIS We, the owners of Skittles, are very enthusiastic about our chances of success with this new and exciting restaurant concept. Our enthusiasm was bolstered even more by what was revealed to us after performing a situation analysis for the company. The analysis showed that as a company, our strengths and the opportunities that exist, far outweigh our weaknesses and the threats we perceive ourselves having to face. This indicates to us that with hard work and a total team commitment, Skittles will be a definite success. As for the

Challenges Faced by Companies While Entering a Foreign Business

10 Important Factors to Consider Before Starting Your Own Business Published on May 10, 2008 by Educate And Learn in Small Business Comments (46)|59 Liked It Certain key factors which need to be addressed before starting your own business. This article describes different factors which need to be kept in mind before starting your own business. It mainly talks about a business from a proprietorship point of view, rather than from a corporate point of view. Thus it is intended for small business. A number of factors are important in order to start a successful business. Here an effort is made to describe some of the key factors.Knowledge/Expertise Any business requires some amount of basic knowledge and experience. The owner needs to be aware about the business he intends to start. Knowledge and expertise about the product or service are keys to a successful business. In case of limited knowledge the owner may not be able to sustain the business and can be fooled by the vendors, suppli ers and competitors. When you ask yourself a question â€Å"What business shall I start? † you need to get a convincing reply about what you intend to do and how you are going to go about it. Read more in Small Business Small Business Survival in a Down Economy Four Easy Ways to Double Your Economic Stimulus Check  » Expert knowledge is especially required if the field of business is a niche field. For instance the construction or software industry would require more knowledge as against a retail business selling a particular brand of clothes or shoes. Market/Demand Once a decision is taken on the business you intend to start, the next step is to explore the demand / market for the product / service. Certain products will only have a domestic market for them whereas others can be successful on an international level.The key question is â€Å"Who are the customers? † A market survey can be conducted to identify the market for the business to be started. If the product / service is expected to be sold locally, the demand for it needs to be assessed. In case an international market is expected then rules and regulations for dealing internationally need to be found out. Total Project Costs It is important to correctly assess the total project cost required to set up and run the business successfully. In a capital intensive business such as starting a manufacturing plant, the start up costs can be very high.You need to identify the total amount which will be spent on the land & building, plant & machinery, furniture and office equipment, vehicles etc. If a business is in the nature of retail you will need to identify the cost of the store and furniture. Amount required for the decoration of the store needs to be assessed. Similarly in case of an office the major cost will be for the furniture and office equipment. An office or firm can be started at a relatively lower cost initially with only the basic requirements. One also needs to take care of th e working capital requirement.This will mainly consist of the inventory which needs to maintained and the credit which is extended to the customers. From this the supplier’s credit is deducted to arrive at the Working Capital Requirement. The Working Capital Requirement can be quite high for certain industries for example inventory will need to be maintained in a garment store. Similarly in case of a grocery shop there is need for huge inventory for which credit may not be given initially by the suppliers. Financing/Capital After identifying the initial costs required for starting the business, the financing pattern will need to be decided.The financing pattern will be mainly by way of capital introduction by the owner and borrowed funds. Depending on how much capital the owner can introduce the balance amount will need to be borrowed. Funds borrowed will be either short term loans or long term loans. The terms and conditions for borrowing funds will need to be studied such a s the cost of borrowing, security required, rate of interest and the repayment terms. The owner will need to approach a number of banks to get information about their terms of lending and draw a comparative analysis to identify which funding is the most beneficial for him.As a thumb rule short term funds should not be utilized for the purchase of fixed assets. Short term funds are mainly used to meet the working capital requirement. The logic is that if short term funds are used to purchase fixed assets how are you going to repay the short term loan if the business has not progressed. Once the financing pattern is identified the owner will need to decide how the money is going to be utilized. Competition Before entering new business, information about market competition needs to be found out.In case a product is a monopoly then the competition will not matter. Otherwise the success of the business will depend upon the demand and supply gap. Thus if there is a huge demand then you ca n enter the business inspite of the market competition. Otherwise you will need to be stronger than the competitors to gain an entry. Normally existing firms will always have an advantage due to the experience they have and because they may be well equipped. The question which needs to be answered is â€Å"What is unique about the product / service which will be offered to survive the market competition†?Information such as who are the competitors, what is their market strategy and what factors are required to compete with them are important. Location Deciding an optimum location for the business is a strategic and an important one. A good location goes a long way in making the business successful. The location needs to be carefully chosen. Some places have advantages over the others. You can save out on taxes, water and electricity costs if you are located in some areas. The raw materials can be easily sourced, the manpower would be easily available and you can save out on t ransportation costs in case of certain locations.Setting up a business in certain location could lead to subsidy and rebates from the Government. In the case of a retail business one needs to be located in a well populated area and one which is easily accessible. Certain niche products / services of different competitors are available at a single location. For example there are software belts having all software companies. Similarly there are gold marts which have different gold vendors and jewelers at a single location. Laws, Rules, & Regulation Setting up a new business would require compliance with various laws & regulations.Each country is governed by separate laws and regulations which require that any new business be registered with certain authorities and meets certain compliance. Thus registration of the name of the company may be required with Ministry of Commerce for instance. Further details need to be provided regarding the workforce and certain deductions may be require d from the staff (such as tax) which would need to be deposited with the respected Government bodies. Awareness is required of such rules and regulations. It is always better to consult a lawyer before setting up a new business in an unknown environment.There are certain accounting / consultancy firms which would have a division giving advise on legal and statutory compliance. In case of lack of expertise it is better to approach a lawyer / accounting / consultancy firms. Non compliance with the statute could lead to huge fines and penalty and hamper the success of a new business. Return on Investment Return on Investment (ROI) is calculated as Net Profit divided by the Investment made. The ROI is low in the initial years and is expected to grow on a year on year basis.The ROI needs to be compared with the return that would be earned from alternative business options available. For instance it could be compared with any other source of income such as money earned from investment in the stock market. Similarly the Return On Capital must be greater than the rate of interest earned from a fixed deposit kept with a bank. Staff/Manpower Any business requires efficient manpower to succeed. The staff needs to be carefully chosen since they are the ones who could make or break the business. The cost of manpower varies depending on the location of the business and thus this needs to be factored well.The business needs to be set up in a location where there is sufficient availability of manpower both skilled as well as unskilled. This remains one of the key criteria’s whether the business is going to be run with a staff of 2 or 2,000. Technology It is always better to invest in the best technology at the time of start up itself. Post investment, monitoring of the technology purchased is required. Technology would include plant & machinery as well as latest office equipment. One should not exclude the software required to monitor the business. Choosing optimum sof tware is a challenging task.A technologically advanced business is expected to perform much better in the longer run. All the above factors are important to start a successful business. Compromising any of these factors could hamper the growth. Starting a business these days is very challenging and an all round knowledge of various factors is required to run a successful one. It is important to make a Project Report on the basis of the above factors before starting a new business. Read more: http://bizcovering. com/small-business/10-important-factors-to-consider-before-starting-your-own-business/#ixzz2O2yGVG1w

What It Tkes to Be an Successful College Student

What Does It Take To Be A Successful College Student? By: Vera Ioveino-Swett Some might say good grades and attending class is what it takes; however success is roe than just good grades and attendance. Success within life, education, or within anything we do comes through hard work and dedication. In our lifetimes we all have learned from our experiences as well as our education; success is one’s desire to become a better them, in addition to committing themselves to the path/journey which take them to their success of dreams and goals, something I like to call our finish line.We hold the key to succeed in our hands, as well as whether we succeed or fail lies and depends on us. Becoming a successful college student can be challenging at times and very frustrating. Many students attend college not fully knowing what it takes to be successful within their education, as well as that journey. Students who might have been an ‘A’ student in high school come to then fin d themselves just sot stressed and struggling with the challenges academically in college. Here are some strategies that will help you to achieve becoming the most successful student you can be.These are tips in which I follow, as well as only work for you as long as you dedicate yourself to them, and achieve what it is out of your education and life journey you seek. (If you can see it, you can achieve it). Strategies for College Success Strategy #1 – never be afraid to seek out help if and when you really need it. Strategy #2 – Create/develop a strategy plan that works within your learning style and preferences; in addition that will keep you focused and motivated. What might work for one, might not for another. Everyone is different. Strategy #3 – Make and set S. M. A. R.T Goals for yourself to ensure you reach what you would like to gain and achieve out of your term, semester, calluses, etc. They can consist of long-term, short-term or both. However, donâ₠¬â„¢t make too many because it can become overwhelming, and distract you from achieving any or beginning them. You should also write your goals out on paper as well or on a sticky note so it is not just in your mind. This way seeing your goals in front of you on paper daily, will help you in becoming successful in accomplishing what it is you want to achieve. This can also help you not forget that you made a goal list.You can even reward yourself after each goal you accomplished/achieved to keep you motivated on knocking out the next one. It also helps develop goal-setting habits that will contribute to success within your life. Strategy #4 – Manage your time. Having good time- management, is key for success in college, but also adds a plus within your personal life as well as career. You can make a To Do List each day either for the week, month or both to help assist you remain, and stay on track. You also may want to after creating this list to find and delete/reduce your b iggest time-wasters.Example – Instead of having a quick study session: create a 1 hour bock time to study that gives you 5-10 min breaks. Another would be – examine how much time you need for each class. So for let’s say an 3 credit hour class, you would want to give yourself around 6 hours of outside time each week; instead of trying to do it all at the last minute You will also gain a plus in this as well by remembering material effectively and longer. Another thing is to make sure to say NO to those who keep you away from your studies as well as activities like Facebook, or X-box, etc.Strategy #5 – Make sure to attend class as scheduled. Attending Seminar’s/class as scheduled will ensure you succeed in your classes because your professor can go over questions you may have as well as will go over material that just learning from your textbook doesn’t cut it or ensure remembering material or clarifying it. Being a part of an active class ca n also have you gain access to classmate’s questions or concerns which may be on a homework assignment or quiz in which your professor will go over and even may provide the answer to, or steps to how the answer is reached which is always a plus.Strategy #6 – Take notes. One way you may want to take notes is within a way that is systematic and becomes beneficial for exams, projects quizzes, etc. make sure to always date, and place the name of the class, Unit, Chapter, as well as titles and subtitles in your notes that are being discussed, and shown. Write down terms, definition’s, key points, examples, graphs, and diagrams; this will come in handy for review on/for tests, quizzes, projects, and studying later on. Do not write word from word as I do.Summarize discussions your professor is explaining in your own words except for terms and items mentioned above. Strategy #7 – READ! READ! READ! Make sure to preview the chapter rubrics, projects, assignments, e tc. beforehand. It’s the same as when you preview a movie or a video game before purchasing it. This way you can get an idea of what the chapter, etc. will focus on. Then read the Introduction, and learning objectives in the chapter. This will give you a purpose to what you will achieve. One thing I found easier is to read a section first then go back to highlight the material.This will not just help with looing your spot, but also help to consume the material from your STM to your LTM since you will be reciting the material again as you highlight. You can then read out loud, important points, ideas, etc. , to ensure you understand the material and even have a family member or friend test you. Strategy #8 – Preparing for your Midterms/Finals. You are being prepared for your big tests from the very start of the first day of class. So everything from there on is to prepare you for what’s to come.First day I would open and copy the rubrics to Midterm, Final, exams then view each of them. One to two weeks before exams, consolidate all your notes (textbooks, seminar, discussions etc. ), review, and even place your rough draft threw the Writing Center for suggestions, and advice on grammar, formatting, citations, and sentence structure. The Writing Center pap0er review is a great way to ensure success for your finals, midterms, projects, as well as all written papers. When it comes to your tests/finals/midterms, make sure to always be prepared.Read all instructions and follow each one according to your professor’s rubrics. Don’t spend a lot of time on one question, you can always come back to it later on, and remember to always stay calm, though some anxiety is completely normal. Have Fun! Being organized, focused, and determined as you find your strategy plan, will bring you 100% success within and along your educational journey. Here’s a quote I live by and that helped me to get here today: In order to succeed you must fai l, so that you know what not to do next time. – Anthony J. D’Angelo-

Affluenza essays

Affluenza essays Affluenza is defined as the need to purchase more in order to gain status and happiness. America has five percent of the world's population and we consume thirty times as much as other countries. Our obsession with material goods has progressed to the point where advertisers will target children in order to make a sale. We are controlled by our obsessions with "stuff" so much that it has become a high priority in our society. Affluenza has been attributed to overwork, personal stress, the erosion of family and community, skyrocketing debt, and the growing gap between rich and poor. The never ending chase for the "American Dream" has cost our society more than just money. There has been a great decline in the value of family over the past century. Family has become more of who you live with and has decreased as the backbone of society. Now, more than ever, it seems as if money has become the backbone of society. The value of a person, or life, has been measured by money. The more one owns, the higher the status of that individual. Many believe that the bigger the house, the fancier the car, and the more extravagant their clothes are will affect their level of happiness. This is not the case, however. Many people who are extremely wealthy can never seem to find happiness. Americans as a whole were the happiest in 1957, and the number of people who claim to be happy has been declining ever since . Even though we consume more, we find it harder to reach the goal we are searching for. Americans consume three times as much as the rest of the world. Since 1950, we have used more resources than the total used before that date. We depend on other countries for natural resources because ours have begun to run low. Fifty percent of our oil is imported from other countries. The United States had ten percent of the world's supply of oil, now it has five percent. We are consuming more and recycling less. Common sense woul...

Christmas Trends, Demographics, Spending and Waste

Christmas Trends, Demographics, Spending and Waste Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays by people all over the world, but what are the particularities of it in the United States? Who is celebrating it? How are they doing it? How much are they spending? And how might social differences shape our experience of this holiday? Lets dive in. The Cross-Religion and Secular Popularity of Christmas According to Pew Research Centers December 2013 survey about Christmas, we know that the vast majority of people in the U.S. celebrate the holiday. The survey confirms what most of us know: Christmas is both a religious and a secular holiday. Unsurprisingly, about 96 percent of Christians celebrate  Christmas, as do a whopping 87 percent of people who are not religious. What may surprise you is that people of other faiths do too. According to Pew, 76 percent of Asian-American Buddhists, 73 percent of Hindus, and 32 percent of Jews celebrate Christmas. News reports indicate that some Muslims also celebrate the holiday. Interestingly, the Pew survey found that Christmas is more likely to be a religious holiday for older generations.  While just over a third  of people ages 18-29 celebrate Christmas religiously, 66 percent of those 65 and older do so. For many Millennials, Christmas is a cultural, rather than a religious, holiday. Popular Christmas Traditions and Trends According to the 2014 National Retail Federations (NRF) survey of planned activities for Christmas Day, the most common things we do are visit with family and friends, open gifts, cook a holiday meal, and sit on our bums and watch television. Pews 2013 survey shows that more than half of us will attend church on Christmas Eve or Day, and the organizations 2014 survey shows that eating holiday foods is the activity that we most look forward to, after visiting with family and friends. Leading up to the holiday, the Pew survey found that  the majority of American adults- 65 percent- will send holiday cards, though older adults are more likely than younger adults to do so, and 79 percent of us will put up a Christmas tree, which is slightly more common among higher income earners. Though hurtling through airports at top foot-speed is a popular trope of Christmas movies, in fact, just 5-6 percent of us travel long-distance by air for the holiday, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. While long-distance travel  increases by 23 percent at Christmas time, most of that travel is by car. Similarly, though images of carolers punctuate holiday films, just 16 percent of us join in the activity, according to Pews 2013 survey Studies also show that we are getting engaged, conceiving children, and deciding to get divorced more so on Christmas than during any other time of  the year. How Gender, Age, and Religion Shape Our Christmas Experiences Interestingly, a 2014 survey by Pew found that religious affiliation, gender,  marital status, and age have an impact on the extent to which people look forward to the  common ways of celebrating Christmas. Those who regularly attend religious services are more enthusiastic on average about Christmas activities than are those who attend less often, or not at all. The only activity that escapes this rule? Americans universally look forward to eating holiday foods. In terms of gender, the survey found that, with the exception of visiting with family and friends, women look forward to the holiday traditions and activities more than men. While the Pew survey did not establish a reason for why this is the case, existing social science suggests that it could be because women spend more time than men do shopping and visiting with or taking care of family members in the context of their everyday lives. Its possible that mundane and taxing chores are more appealing to women when they are surrounded by the Christmas glow. Men, however, find themselves in the position of having to do things that they are not normally expected to do, and so they dont look forward to these events as much as women do. Echoing the fact that Christmas is less of a religious holiday for Millennials than it is for older generations, the 2014 Pew survey results indicate an overall generational shift in how we celebrate the holiday. Americans over the age of 65 are more likely than others to look forward to hearing Christmas music and attending religious services, while those in the younger generations are more likely to look forward to eating holiday foods, exchanging gifts, and decorating their homes. And while the majority of all generations do these things, Millennials are the most likely to buy gifts for others, and the least likely to send Christmas cards (though still a majority do it). ChristmasSpending: Big Picture, Averages, and Trends More than  $665  billion is the amount the NRF forecasts  Americans will spend during November and December 2016- an increase of 3.6 percent over the previous year. So, where will all that money go? Most of it, on average $589, will go  to gifts, out of a total $796 that the average person will spend. The rest will be spent on  holiday items including candy and food (about $100), decorations (about $50), greeting cards and postage, and flowers and potted plants. As part of that decorative budget, we can expect Americans to collectively  spend more than $2.2 billion on about 40 million Christmas trees in 2016 (67 percent real, 33 percent fake), according to  data from the National Christmas Tree Association. In terms of gift-giving plans, the NRF survey shows American adults intend to buy and give the following: Clothing or accessories (61%)Gift cards or certificates (56%)Media items (books, music, videos, games, etc.) (44%)Toys (42%)Food or candy (31%)Consumer electronics (30%)Personal care or beauty items (25%)Jewelry (21%)Home decor or furnishings (20%)Cash (20%)Sporting goods or leisure items (17%) The plans adults have for gifts for children reveal the stronghold that gender stereotypes still have in American culture. The top five toys that people plan to buy for boys include Lego sets, cars and trucks, video games, Hot Wheels, and Star Wars items. For girls, they plan to buy Barbie items, dolls, Shopkins, Hatchimals, and Lego sets. Given that the average person intends to spend nearly $600 on gifts, its not surprising that nearly half of all American adults feel that exchanging gifts leaves them stretched thin financially (according to Pews 2014 survey). More than a third of us feel stressed out by our countrys gift-giving culture, and nearly a quarter of us believe that it is wasteful. The Environmental Impact Have you ever thought about the environmental impact of all this Christmas cheer? The Environmental Protection Agency reports that household waste increases by more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, which results in an additional 1 million tons per week going to landfills. Gift wrapping and shopping bags amount  to a whopping  4 million tons  of Christmas-related trash. Then theres all the cards, ribbons, product packaging, and trees too. Though we think of it as a time of togetherness, Christmas is also a time of massive waste. When one considers this and the financial and emotional stress of consumerist gift-giving, perhaps a change of tradition is in order?

Technologically Advanced Modern World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Technologically Advanced Modern World - Essay Example One such element is the image of women in the media. The image of women is distorted and misrepresented in visual media and hence, it has become a matter of concern for the society. This fact has been brought in open by feminists. In her UNESCO-funded study, Margaret Gallagher (1979) has raised her concern regarding the distorted image of women in media, as according to her, â€Å"media are potentially powerful agents of socialization and social change-presenting models, conferring status, suggesting appropriate behaviors, encouraging stereotypes† etc (Byerly & Ross 17). Hence, by repeatedly representing women as weak, irrational and ‘object’ for sexual pleasure, the media has damaged their image. Also, as far as the image of women in movies is concerned, the most disturbing image is the image of ‘monstrous-feminine’ in the horror movies. Feminists have observed that in horror movies, it is not the ‘females’ who are represented as a †˜monsters,’ but it is their femininity and the sexuality which is shown as horrifying and hence, monstrous (Byerly & Ross 21). This shows that it is the ‘male mind’ which tries to degrade the femininity through monstrous representation of females in horror movies. However, the theory that best helps people in understanding the representation of femininity and female sexuality as monstrous, is the theory of psychoanalysis, as it not only reveals the social structure that leads to it, but also the roots of misrepresentation of femininity as monstrous, that lies deep in the unconscious of male human beings. Image of Women In Movies Although there have been many changes in the technology and media, the image of women in the media has remained quite unchanged. Women have always been represented in cinema as weaker sex. The reason behind no change in the image of women in cinema is the unconscious aspects of the male mind, and the ideological concept of cinema, which are usually dominated by ‘males’ in the society (Mulvey 58). The unconscious aspect of the male dominated society, which considers women as nothing but an ‘object’ of desire or a weaker sex, is reflected in the female characters in the movies. Hence, cinema has become a mirror of the patriarchal system in the society. According to British film theorist and feminist Laura Mulvey, Hollywood has maintained its entertainment value by manipulating the mage of the women in cinema to please men’s visual desire of seeing women as sex object (Mulvey 59). Sadly, women are not only shown as an object of visual pleasure, but are also portrayed as human beings who are dependent on men for their social and personal status. The character and the role of woman is usually designed in such a way that she not only satisfies the unconscious sexual desire of men but at the same time, fits into the order of male dominated society. The dominant patriarchal order is woven i n the erotic representation of women in cinema (Mulvey 59). However, what is more disturbing than the image of women as weaker sex is the monstrous image of women shown in the movies. The reason behind this lies in the unconscious fears that are harboured by male human minds and hence, can be explained with the aid of psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis Explains Monstrous-Feminine Since ancient times, women have suffered secondary status and inferior treatment at the hands of men in the societies. Men treat women in ill

How Local Merchants Can Work Together to Slow the Money in Ashland Essay

How Local Merchants Can Work Together to Slow the Money in Ashland - Essay Example This will circulate the money within the boundaries of Ashland and the profits generated by the local businesses would benefit the economy as a whole in terms of business expansions and growth. The merchants have started their businesses in Ashland for the convenience of residency they have in Ashland. They had put in their finances in different businesses like food, clothing etc. to make all necessary products available in the market for the people. For a success in business, Ashland’s entrepreneurs need to invest wisely in the business that has more demand and less supply. The reputation of businesses and awareness about ‘slow money’ ideas to develop the economy of Ashland is necessary to attract more local consumers. The local economy, with the help of proper marketing of the products, services and awareness about local circularization of money to improve the economy, would grow. The local merchants support each other as they have maintained good relationships between them. They may work together to improve the social and economic conditions of Ashland and reduce the crime rates, disputes and poverty that prevail

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example Belluck article uses rational appeal to communicate to his audience. Through the use of ethos, he is ensured that his audience will value the information relayed. He talks of the issue of fat and how it affects people health. The article draws excerpt from academic journals and reports. Therefore, by referring to these sources, the article authenticates the information as a reliable and based on scientific studies. Belluck argues that the new report has shows that millions of people regarded as overweight by Body Mass Index (B.M.I) have no life threatening risk of dying compared to people with normal weight. Furthermore, the new report shows that obesity is not only a determinant of mortality risk, but also cholesterol level and blood pressure account to mortality risks. The article by Belluck is full of facts. By discrediting earlier reports and studies in the nineteenth century, he relies on facts. Miss Schell was presented as a perfect woman in 1912 for having a modest body mass. Doctors at the time regarded her as having a ‘Perfect health’ (Belluck). However, recent studies have refuted those claims and presented the facts of perfect health condition. Researcher has concluded that blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure are the most worrying conditions that threaten a person’s health and not weight. Belluck communicates using not only facts, but also with statistics. This way enables the writer to appeal to the audience and pass his message effectively. The body mass index uses statistical figure to communicate the weight of people regarded as overweight and normal people. Through the use of statistic, it is easier for the audience to understand and internalize the subject being communicated. Studies show that a B.M.I of above 35 is dangerous, and the affected individuals are at risk of ailments (Belluck). Campos Paul writes persuasive article regarding the issue of overweight among the American population.

The Impact of Leadership Styles on the Organisation Performance Abu Dissertation - 1

The Impact of Leadership Styles on the Organisation Performance Abu Dhabi Municipality - Dissertation Example The latter, in turn, also helps the organisation in attaining the desired level of success. Most of the studies conducted in relation to leadership and its effects on the success of the organisation have been conducted in the context of private organisations (Palestini 2009; Gardner, Avolio and Walumbwa 2005). Nevertheless, the importance of leadership is also evident as regards the members of the public sector. The importance of the concept of leadership in the public sector, however, has long been recognized. It has become one of the most important issues that must be addressed as various states have discovered a gap in relation to the manner by which their public sectors function vis-a-vis the needs of their constituents (Morse and Buss 2008; Christensen 2007) . Undoubtedly, different nations all over the world have discovered that there is something missing with the culture by which public sector is based upon and the fulfillment of public interest (Raffel, Leisink and Middlebroo ks 2009; Van Wart 2003). Usually, complaints as regards the lack of dedication to the values of the public service and the manner by which the interests of the people are taken into consideration are the most evident. In this sense, the common recommendation is to turn to a certain kind of leadership to cater to the said gaps as regards public service and the promotion of the citizens’ interest (Bass 2008; Koch and Dixon 2007). Leadership in the public sector is also affected by a number of factors that are not present in the experiences of private organisations (Koch and Dixon 2007; Gill 2006; Morse and Buss 2008). According to researches conducted in relation to the topic at hand, the following are the most common factors and issues that affect leadership in the public sector: (1) increased demands for the provision of solutions in relation to problems commonly experienced in the public sector; (2) the need for personalized services in a sense that it must cater to the need s of the citizens; (3) the importance of balancing the needs of the public, private and voluntary sectors; (4) the need to respond to pressures as regards continuous improvement, innovation and learning; and lastly, (5) coping with institutional architectures that are complicated (Christensen 2007; Koch and Dixon 2007). The concept of leadership is an essential part of the concept of good public governance. To understand the former, governance pertains to the manner by which the agency of the state (the government) institutionalizes the values of their nation as stipulated in the highest law of the land (in most cases, the Constitution) (Bason 2011; Wallis, Dollery and McLoughlin 2007). In view of this, governance then entails the adherence to the following principles: the separation of powers, system of checks and balances, the development of ways by which power is transferred, accountability and transparency. However, to ensure its proper incorporation, it is of paramount importan ce that these values must be embedded into the system and work of each and every public official. Succinctly, leadership is indeed at the core of the concept of good governance (Berman, Bowman and West 2009). The importance of leadership in the public sector has also been underscored in a sense that the leaders are important as the people look up to them for the solution of

Drug Development and Toxicology (High-performance liquid Essay - 1

Drug Development and Toxicology (High-performance liquid chromatography) - Essay Example n from the day of the accident to the 5th day sampling, it can be seen that the presence of 4,5-dihydrodiol is evident in all days in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 nmol/ml. the second metabolite 7,8-dihydrodiol has the most presence immediately after the accident but slowly diminish through the days. The metabolite 7,8-diol-9,10 epoxide on the other hand has the least presence on the samples. It is even undetected during the first two days of the accident. Epoxide Hyrdolase contribute to the biodegradation of many organic compounds such as benzo[a]pyrene.(Loo, et al. 2006). This enzyme has the ability to detoxify a wide range of organic potential genotoxic epoxides with diverse structures (ARand, et al. 2003). It can modulate the effects on the binding of benzo[a]pyrene to the DNA structures (Carcinogenesis, 1983). It plays important roles in the metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene to carcinogens and mutagens (Thakker, et al. 1977). Metabolism of Benzo [a) Pyrene leads to formation of various compounds such as benzo[a] pyrene 4,5-dihydrodiol, ortho quinone and benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (Wood, et al., 1976). The first product is less or considered as non-mutagenic as compared to the other product which are the epoxide diol metabolites. The role of epoxide hydrolase is important such that it makes the benzo [a] pyrene derivatives to result to the non-mutagenic products. With this, there is less threat to genetic mutation and other health risks (Wood, 1981). Mr X is may have the possibility to develop cancer. There are three products for the metabolic pathway for benzo[a]pyrene where the product 7,8-doil-9,10-epoxide provides the biggest threat to human health due to its carcinogenic and mutagenic effect (Ruan, 2006). However, with the sampling and retention times considered, there are more products for 4,5-dihydrodiol produced based on the UV absorbance wavelength in detecting their presence. Benzo-pyrene are polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons with

Taking a geographic perspective, critically discuss the representation Essay

Taking a geographic perspective, critically discuss the representation of gender OR race OR sexualities Or exclusion in education and training in one news article that you have found - Essay Example In this connection, it unravels some of the geography’s main concepts namely; place, space, landscape and environment. Some of the key areas of future debates are also explored. This article reveals the under-representation of the women in the social and the technical subjects through the higher education in Britain, possible impediments and discouragement in the face of the feminist geography. Some of the outstanding impediments laid out include the masculine occupational nature of the courses, the nature of the very scientific inquiry and the general lack of the women role models and the networks. In a study to explore the various experiences of the students in the gender minority causes and some of the mixed economy college institutions, there were parallels identified between the males and female minority students in their learning process2. In vehicle engineering programs for instance, the students showed a satisfactory participation and well performance during the normal classwork. However, there were reported difficulties in the workshops where practical learning was required. Further probing into the possible causes of these variations in which case the female learners did not quite fair well during the workshops, the gender issues did not explicitly feature2. However, there was a concern for the intimidatory behavior and some of the gender stereotypes was seen as the factors contributing to the compromised female participation. In fact, the same gender tutors were at some points not seen as really important, even by the learners themselves. This brings in the whole que stion of gendering the space and place, and the role of the very place and space in the making of gender. This case of the work place, featuring the women at work and how the perceptions of the gender play a role, which transcends down to the making of the female identity2. As indeed evident in the report, the female

The Impact of Leadership Styles on the Organisation Performance Abu Dissertation - 1

The Impact of Leadership Styles on the Organisation Performance Abu Dhabi Municipality - Dissertation Example The latter, in turn, also helps the organisation in attaining the desired level of success. Most of the studies conducted in relation to leadership and its effects on the success of the organisation have been conducted in the context of private organisations (Palestini 2009; Gardner, Avolio and Walumbwa 2005). Nevertheless, the importance of leadership is also evident as regards the members of the public sector. The importance of the concept of leadership in the public sector, however, has long been recognized. It has become one of the most important issues that must be addressed as various states have discovered a gap in relation to the manner by which their public sectors function vis-a-vis the needs of their constituents (Morse and Buss 2008; Christensen 2007) . Undoubtedly, different nations all over the world have discovered that there is something missing with the culture by which public sector is based upon and the fulfillment of public interest (Raffel, Leisink and Middlebroo ks 2009; Van Wart 2003). Usually, complaints as regards the lack of dedication to the values of the public service and the manner by which the interests of the people are taken into consideration are the most evident. In this sense, the common recommendation is to turn to a certain kind of leadership to cater to the said gaps as regards public service and the promotion of the citizens’ interest (Bass 2008; Koch and Dixon 2007). Leadership in the public sector is also affected by a number of factors that are not present in the experiences of private organisations (Koch and Dixon 2007; Gill 2006; Morse and Buss 2008). According to researches conducted in relation to the topic at hand, the following are the most common factors and issues that affect leadership in the public sector: (1) increased demands for the provision of solutions in relation to problems commonly experienced in the public sector; (2) the need for personalized services in a sense that it must cater to the need s of the citizens; (3) the importance of balancing the needs of the public, private and voluntary sectors; (4) the need to respond to pressures as regards continuous improvement, innovation and learning; and lastly, (5) coping with institutional architectures that are complicated (Christensen 2007; Koch and Dixon 2007). The concept of leadership is an essential part of the concept of good public governance. To understand the former, governance pertains to the manner by which the agency of the state (the government) institutionalizes the values of their nation as stipulated in the highest law of the land (in most cases, the Constitution) (Bason 2011; Wallis, Dollery and McLoughlin 2007). In view of this, governance then entails the adherence to the following principles: the separation of powers, system of checks and balances, the development of ways by which power is transferred, accountability and transparency. However, to ensure its proper incorporation, it is of paramount importan ce that these values must be embedded into the system and work of each and every public official. Succinctly, leadership is indeed at the core of the concept of good governance (Berman, Bowman and West 2009). The importance of leadership in the public sector has also been underscored in a sense that the leaders are important as the people look up to them for the solution of

Taking a geographic perspective, critically discuss the representation Essay

Taking a geographic perspective, critically discuss the representation of gender OR race OR sexualities Or exclusion in education and training in one news article that you have found - Essay Example In this connection, it unravels some of the geography’s main concepts namely; place, space, landscape and environment. Some of the key areas of future debates are also explored. This article reveals the under-representation of the women in the social and the technical subjects through the higher education in Britain, possible impediments and discouragement in the face of the feminist geography. Some of the outstanding impediments laid out include the masculine occupational nature of the courses, the nature of the very scientific inquiry and the general lack of the women role models and the networks. In a study to explore the various experiences of the students in the gender minority causes and some of the mixed economy college institutions, there were parallels identified between the males and female minority students in their learning process2. In vehicle engineering programs for instance, the students showed a satisfactory participation and well performance during the normal classwork. However, there were reported difficulties in the workshops where practical learning was required. Further probing into the possible causes of these variations in which case the female learners did not quite fair well during the workshops, the gender issues did not explicitly feature2. However, there was a concern for the intimidatory behavior and some of the gender stereotypes was seen as the factors contributing to the compromised female participation. In fact, the same gender tutors were at some points not seen as really important, even by the learners themselves. This brings in the whole que stion of gendering the space and place, and the role of the very place and space in the making of gender. This case of the work place, featuring the women at work and how the perceptions of the gender play a role, which transcends down to the making of the female identity2. As indeed evident in the report, the female

Common Inventory System Problems & Solution Essay Example for Free

Common Inventory System Problems Solution Essay Symptoms: Preoccupation with the forecast within the execution time frame. Typically, companies begin altering their forecast management processes when addressing supply chain performance. But this is unwise without understanding the nature of your demand and the root causes of forecast errors. When forecast accuracy is overemphasized, fill rates and inventory turns don’t improve, even when forecast accuracy does. No measure of customer service or inventory turns. Customers must be satisfied on an ongoing basis for a company to achieve long-term sustainability. Yet, inventory managers often have no idea how well customers’ needs are being met. Similarly, without knowing how quickly inventory moves through the value-creation-and-delivery system, a company won’t be able to manage inventory levels. Daily planning is based on a back order report. This is an entirely reactive model. Today’s fast-paced marketplace requires proactive inventory planning to meet current demand. Customers will switch to a competitor if their needs are consistently unmet in the time frame they dictate. Solutions: Mandatory tracking of fill rate and inventory turns for all product lines. Product managers should know these measures at all times. Fill rate should be measured daily, while inventory-turn measures will vary based on sales and production cycles. The important thing is that managers are both tracking and working to improve these rates. Develop realistic forecast-error measures. Developing realistic measures for how much forecast error you can tolerate without a SKU stock-out is essential. Typically, companies estimate plus or minus 10 for this measure, which equals about two days worth of inventory-a miniscule amount considering that companies often have weeks or months worth of inventory. Effective forecast management and inventory planning require accurate data, so accurate forecast error measures are a must. Mistake No. 2: Having unqualified employees manage inventory Symptoms: A sentiment that â€Å"our business is different because (fill in the blank).† Every company has inventory planning challenges, such as variable demand. No business is so different that it would not benefit from strategic  inventory management. Decentralized inventory management. If warehouse managers, office clerks, and other employees without specific inventory-management training are making inventory-management decisions, then it is certain that wasteful inventory is piling up throughout the system. Usually, this model reflects a company with no clear goals or strategy for inventory planning. Lack of formal training program or professional peer interaction. Inventory management is a professional skill that requires upfront and ongoing education. Emphasizing â€Å"buying† over planning. Buyers make purchases, but planners make strategic decisions to meet goals. Thinking of inventory planning from a purely â€Å"buying† point of view means opportunities for improvement and financial benefits will be overlooked—daily. Solutions: Recognize that inventory management requires professional job skills, and hire and train accordingly. Just as a company with hundreds of thousands of free dollars on its balance sheet would hire professional investment advisers, a company with hundreds of thousands of dollars in inventory should have professional inventory managers. Assign accountability for inventory management. Often, companies can’t answer the question, â€Å"Who is in charge of making sure inventory levels support strategic goals?† If no one is, then these inventory planning goals will never be met. TOP 5 SOLUTIONS: 1. Use reorder points on inventory items to keep purchasing streamlined and inventory manageable. Reorder points (otherwise known as min. and max. levels) are the best method for making sure you have the right amount of inventory in your warehouse at all times. If you have too little inventory you could lose out on sales, but if you have too much your cash is tied up in inventory that will not be sold. One of the biggest problems many companies have is managing their cash. A quick way to solve that from an inventory standpoint is by making sure you have set the appropriate reorder points for your business. 2. Spend money on specialized training for mission-critical software. Companies with a lot of inventory spend thousands of dollars on software they need in order to manage and track their items as  they move all over the world. This software manages millions of dollars’ worth of assets. After spending so much money on software, some companies don’t want to spend a f ew thousand dollars extra to buy the specialized training they need to implement the software. This is a big mistake because this software won’t do you any good if you don’t spend a little bit more to learn how to use it. If you try to learn your software on your own you may suffer for months before you learn the basics of how it works. 3. Rearrange the warehouse to set up for picking efficiencies. Sometimes trainers see mistakes that are so obvious you would think they’d be corrected immediately, but warehouse managers may be too distracted to notice them. We often see 100,000-square-foot warehouses that are organized inefficiently. These companies could save themselves large sums of money by making a few changes to where they place their inventory. The items that you sell the most or send out the most should be right next to the shipping dock. This keeps your employees from having to walk all the way across the warehouse to pick them up every time you are going to send them out. As companies grow, sometimes they just randomly put things where there is sp ace. This works for a little while, but as you grow you need to think about efficiency because the minutes that your employees spend driving around the forklift cost you money. 4. Take time to get to know your technology so that you can use all the functionality. Rarely will a company use all of the functionality their software provides. Most of the time there is more that the software can do for you that you haven’t explored. Software companies always hear from their customers about which features they want added to the software when a lot of the time the features are already there. The more features that you use in the software the more effective you can be in managing your inventory. You should either assign someone within the company to learn the software functionality or pay someone to come in and teach it to you. 5. Stop doing yearly physical inventories and move to a more regular, smaller cycle counting and reconciling routine. Businesses used to shut down for a day to a week each year to go into their warehouse and physically count everything to make sure that it matched the information in their software. This practice is mostly outdated because of the amount of time and money it takes. Doing these checks in smaller, more regular cycles keeps a company from having to shut down. We recommend picking one section each day to check  your product levels against the information from your inventory software.

Impact of Digital Technologies on Communication

Impact of Digital Technologies on Communication Abstract The present age in which we live has seen a massive proliferation of digital communication technologies and pervasive computing devices which have made an impact on all aspects of the way people live. Individual life styles have been changed and by extension, the society at large has evolved with changes being noticed in societal culture. Technology has brought about changes to the way people work, enjoy their leisure activities, get educated and interact with each other. Because the digital mediums for communications have become affordable and readily available to all, the manner in which individuals interact with others at the personal or business levels have also been transformed. Face –to- face meetings and interactions are becoming rather infrequent, with such meetings being reserved for special occasions and for special people. On the other hand, finding new people to interact with especially over the internet has never been easier. The neighbourhood has experienced chan ges with residents preferring to stay at home while keeping in touch with their community on the cyberspace. An individual can assume a different identity and experience a different reality in virtual space which can make it possible for them to take risks in relationships. The peripheral relationships of the virtual space can sometimes develop into friendships which can result in interactions in the physical space. Relationships which may have never developed or which may have disintegrated are made possible and kept alive through the use of digital technologies including the mobile phone, the internet and the fax. The community to which one belongs is not necessarily the physical neighbourhood but it may be a global virtual community. This paper attempts to take a look at the changing nature of interpersonal communications in the digital age which has transformed interpersonal relationships and the society at large. The electronic revolution and the digital age of communications started off at the end of the twentieth century with many advances taking place in the fields of telecommunications, computers, digital technology and information technology. The digital revolution resulted in the availability of devices such as the mobile phone, the personal digital assistant or the PDA, satellite communications and the digital television. Internet and the World Wide Web, with its email and conferencing capabilities, as well as the wireless local loop came to be widely used around the world. The availability and proliferation of these devices meant that individuals and the society at large were shaped by the possibilities for new forms of social interactions and social group formations through the medium of the available technologies. It was now possible to have a different sort of a community which could support rapid interactions using mobile and telephone conversation, email, SMS messages, teleconfer encing and videoconferencing, with participants either being on the move or living in geographically distant areas. Enhancements in technology meant that leisure activities were shifted to the home and it was not essential to go to the pub in order to fulfil a desire for social interaction (Wong, 2004). The availability of the handheld internet capable mobile phones has also brought further changes to society and the manner in which individuals interact because it is now possible to communicate through a number of mediums regardless of where an individual may be. Although the costs of having access to the digital communications and computing technologies had created a digital divide, the situation is getting better by the day with mass production resulting in reduced prices for hardware and a larger base of subscribers reducing charges for digital network connectivity. The availability of the digital devices of the pervasive computing age has meant that the manner in which individua ls interact has also changed because, although it is very easy to contact others, non-verbal signals are diminished as a result of the relatively higher costs associated with video communications. Also, the geographic distances between those involved in interactions may mean that there is a limited understanding of the overall picture associated with the locality or region and the communicators may not be in synchronism with each other. Usually physical proximity had been a requirement for individuals to initiate and maintain interactions and a stable dwelling place was required for the more intricate social interactions to be possible. However, the cyberspace has made it possible for an individual to have a permanent virtual address regardless of their physical whereabouts and this personal space is accessible as long as an individual has the capacity for accessing the internet (Geser, 2004, Pp 1-5). The added capabilities related to communications that have been made possible by d igital technology have meant that new commonalities can now be found relatively easily in order to drive interpersonal communications. This is, however, an evolving process and commonalities that have been developed as a result of personal interactions, culture, language, former association related to work or education as well as possibilities for mutual gain etc are still the drivers for the initiation of interpersonal communications. It is the length of interactions and the possibilities related to physical proximity as well as future interests that are the main drivers for more complex forms of interactions which can be aided by digital technology. Interpersonal bonds of solidarity and cooperation can be established with geographically distant groups and this process has been assisted by the availability of mobile devices which are an advanced evolution of the fixed line telephone as well as the internet. Whereas the fixed line telephone was more attuned to reinforcing the social integration of fixed and stable settings, the mobile phone provides greater freedom. The Theory of Communicative Action by Habermas states that society consists of participants who are attempting to reach a consensus. In the past, the participants in a society were restricted to those who lived within close geographic proximity because they were the only participants who could attempt to reach a consensus. However, the digital age has now made it possible for participants from anywhere to attempt a consensus if desired and the concept of society, friendship and acquaintances for an individual has been very much extended (Alexander, 2002, Chapter 4). Most of the communication that takes place using digital medium is not rich if the message is based on email, SMS or voice only communications. Media is ranked on its ability to carry information and hence the ability of a message to develop or change understanding within a period of time. Face-to-face communications are the richest form of communications while faxes, emails, written text and telephone conversations are considered to be less rich. Participants in interpersonal communications now have a choice related to the medium which they can utilise for their interactions and most initial or routine communications are usually conducted most effortlessly using the less rich digital mediums. With the continued evolution of digital technologies, the richer media will become more widely available and participants to interpersonal communications will be increasingly able to indulge in richer interactions effortlessly. Emotion is present in the less rich media which is prevalent today but it is embedded in text and symbols which need to be studied and deciphered. Individuals who have been used to the richer communications have to learn the intricacies of the new digital media in order to learn to express themselves better. The generation which was born in the digital age or the Cyber Kids seem to be more capable of interacting adequately on the new mediums as compared to the older generation. Richer experiences in communication are only undertaken if the participants have a desire to indulge in such interactions due to having a common past or the initial digital contacts seem to hold promise. Hence, on the surface there is an impression that the society has become more reserved with less socialising but there can be a lot of communication or activity that is not visible. Email communications encourages critical thinking on the basis of a greater level of equality because the social context cues are not present in the message. Social construction of reality and so cial structure is therefore moving towards a greater level of equality in being able to communicate and interact widely because of the availability of digital technologies at least at the initial levels of contact. There are no preferred hours for contact with the electronic text communications and it is considered to be acceptable to send in a message at any time which can be viewed and considered by the recipient. In the past, individuals thought it appropriate to meet in the most appropriate settings for an occasion that could enhance communications. Today they are likely to consider what medium they should select in order to communicate. The decision to select a medium for communication is likely to be based on how well the participants in the communication know each other and their experience with a medium. Social influence with participants in communications is likely to increase with the time that the participants have known each other. The use of email or electronic text can have subliminal messages attached to the text and may convey informality, urgency, authority as well as legitimacy, much like the body language in face-to-face communications. The ability to use web cams and add instant pictures to communications over the internet or when using a mobile phone can add to the level of richness and information that is being exchanged. Scanned documents containing handwriting or sketches attached to email text also add to the information content, but there can be doubts about their authenticity unless they can be verified. Because the existing knowledge base of an individual is employed in critically evaluating lean messages, therefore less rich messages can become meaningful if there have been previous inputs about the communicator. As a result of the massive proliferation of digital technologies, the society at large has started to use these technologies as a matter of habit, transforming the manner in which individuals interact (Alexander, 2002, Cha pter 5). Digital wireless communication technologies have been the greatest drivers for change and spatial mobility. The number of mobile phones has far exceeded the number of television sets and even the least developed African nations now have more mobile wireless phones then land lines. The capabilities associated with the modern mobile phones are being constantly enhanced and they are very likely to become mobile devices with multimedia capabilities that are able to replace mobile computers with a capability for exchanging voice, text, pictures and a lot of other content in the digital format. The feature rich prevalence of mobile phone technology is the highest in Japan which leads Europe and the United States. Those who are introduced to mobile phones gradually progress from emergency and routine use to the more expressive use for communications. Many â€Å"grooming calls† are made every day in order to maintain relationships which would have not been possible without the technol ogy. These calls are made to confirm that a relationship exists by expressing solidarity, sympathy, concern and affection. The cell phone is used along with a variety of other media including email, SMS, snail mail and face-to-face meetings. Social contacts for otherwise well adjusted individuals are possible even during absence due to work or other causes. Hence, established relationships can be continued and new ones formed quickly if there is a basis for their formation. Switching off a mobile phone may be an expression for indicating the importance that is attached to individuals who are in the current interaction. On the other hand, cell phones also enable the user to control relationships by being able to make choices related to friends. All digital technologies permit an ability to control communications along with making interpersonal communications more effortless. Unlike email communication, the mobile phone is less likely to assist in the creation of new relationships and mostly assists in the maintenance of the existing ones. Communalistic relationships that have existed are easily perpetuated over the mobile phones which can also be used for spontaneous gossip at all times. Women tend to use the phone much more often in order to spontaneously contact their friends then men. Mobile phones can act as an umbilical cord and present an alternative to the traditional ways of passing time. Older people usually prefer voice calls while younger people tend to use the text messaging feature of their mobile to keep up with their group using special symbolic and linguistic language. The mobile phone may be used for short business conversations and long personal intimate conversations with a higher level of certainty about the identity of the communication partner then can be possible with email. Role switching is possible with an office worker acting as a mother using the mobile from her office. The ability to selectively receive calls provides a high level o f control on who is admitted to the inner circle of friends. However, having a mobile means that there is a responsibility for being available and answering to those who attempt to initiate a contact, although the owner can switch off if they so desire, causing concern amongst those who may have tried to initiate a contact. Communication is, therefore, made possible when it may not have occurred due to the efforts that may have been involved in contacting an individual. In Japan, SMS messages are used to form complex and peripheral relationships in which individuals never meet and virtual girlfriends can be introduced through a phone, replacing friends in real life. However, such peripheral friendships mean that there is a tendency towards the development of a very formal society with individuals finding it difficult to form real relationships. Cell phones also make it possible to have fluid arrangements and have meetings at short notice. In South Korea, it is common for workers to have spontaneous parties after work that are arranged through the cell. Nomadic intimacy is made possible for individuals who are constantly on the move including sailors or international business people who can contact their friends at any port of call. In studies undertaken in Japan evidence has been recorded that the Cyber Kid generation which was born after 1985 with internet phones and modern digital communications may be loosing the traditional Japanese virtue of giving due regard to context and situation when communicating. Their preferred interpersonal communication technology is the internet capable mobile phone and this requires whatever is to be said to be communicated regardless of the situation. This is in stark contrast to the pre-war generation whose preferred method of communications is to have face-to-face meetings and written letters with all the regard for the person and the complexities of a situation. Hence, there is ample evidence that the evolving digital tech nologies have changed the manner in which individuals conduct interpersonal communications around the world (Geser, 2004, Pp14 -16) and (Wong, 2004, Pp 75-81). Because of the widespread use of the text-only digital communication technologies that are the most prevalent in the present age, the personality of the communicators changes when they enter the virtual space and send email or other text messages. Along with the personality of the parties to the interpersonal communications, the reality also changes from physical reality to virtual reality. Much more freedom is available on the internet when using email communications because it is possible to hide the physical identity of the communicators. Risks can be taken with what is being said and discussed. The virtual space provides an opportunity to interact with individuals of many different cultures and social backgrounds. The symbols and the text messages are easier to understand if the participants in the communications that are taking place in Cyberspace have a common understanding of the use of language and symbols as well as the expectations that are associated with the conduct of in teractions. The electronic medium which may have been selected imposes selectivity by amplifying or reducing various phenomenon of the world, but the choice of the medium says something about the kind of personality that the communicator wants to present. If sufficient effort is invested, casual encounters over the internet can develop into intimate relationships. This is, however, more likely in a situation where there is little of interest that is available in the immediate physical world. Because there is a growing trend for the modern digital communications technologies to be widely adopted by businesses and the society at large, the chances of physical interactions becomes diminished as compared to interactions on the virtual space. Hence, the manner in which interactions and communications used to take place in a society at large is changed by technology and so also is the manner in which relationships are formed and maintained (Leaning, 2004). Digital divides exist between us ers and non-users of a technology as well as the experienced users and those who are the relatively new users of a digital communication medium. Digital divides can also exist because of culture, limited earnings and levels of education. Women have a tendency of using the phone more frequently and a lower tendency to use the internet. New immigrants in countries with a well developed digital communications infrastructure, especially women have a tendency to shy away from using the communications technologies that are widely available and tend not to have access to computers, resulting in loneliness and a lowered capacity to integrate. Internet and mobile phone users and non-users are not the same set of people and tend to have infrequent communication between each other. The society, however, has a preference for a proliferation of the internet over the mobile phone with governments attempting to promote the proliferation of internet connections rather then subsidising mobile phone connectivity. Hence, interpersonal communication has indeed been transformed by digital technologies and those without access to these technologies have difficulties assimilating and interacting with others in a society (Rice, 2003). The neighbourhood today is no longer the place that it used to be. Studies have indicated that in North America, many neighbourhood communities do not interact across racial lines. As an example, African-Americans and White Americans who live in the Nashville area do not interact across racial lines, preferring instead to develop relations with friends outside the neighbourhood (Wellman, 2001, Pp 16). The community of workers that work for the same employer do not live in the same neighbourhood and car, plane, fax, mobile as well as the internet permit relationships to be maintained outside of a neighbourhood. Hence, a change has occurred in the society as a result of technology. Cheap transportation technologies and not just digital technologies have made interactions at the local level unnecessary and individuals are constantly on the move, changing their residence every so often. Neighbourhood ties are, therefore, weak ties and stronger ties are with family and old friends from th e younger years. These ties are maintained through digital technologies and not as a result of interactions arising out of living near by. The cities are very large settlements of people who are more interested in seeing to their economic success by working at well paid jobs and living in decent neighbourhoods. It is the communication technologies which make the modern lifestyle possible unlike the olden days when it was just not possibly have the freedoms that are available today. Community has, therefore, left the neighbourhood and may even exist globally. Community interactions do not take place in public places but have moved inside the home where emailing and phone calling as well as the use of web cams keeps the interpersonal relationships alive. The trend for neighbourhood socialising is on the decline not just in the Americas, but also in Japan and the Middle East. Although informal ties can exist with thousands of people, relatively few are close ties that are actively main tained. Technology provides an enhancement of choices related to the milieus in which individuals can participate. Most ties are now maintained with individuals who have shared interests and the personal support group could be widely dispersed. The choices related to the ability to select those in close relationships were simply not available in the past without the digital communication technologies. Parents and children often provide the strongest support in a family, although they rarely live close by when the siblings have grown. Communities are in constant flux and the migration from third world countries into the developed world has meant that there is a trend towards global interpersonal communications or contacts with friends or acquaintances of the same background. The internet has become an integral part of daily life and has broadened the community. Initial contacts by email can result in phone contacts or face-to-face meetings. Internet groups do provide support to membe rs, especially those who may be somewhat isolated in a new locality and this support has been known to reduce depression. Support is still provided to people who have weak ties with online communities and stronger ties are possible especially amongst those people who have previously met. Groups of people interacting over the internet can get more personal or intimate with the passage of time. High bandwidth wireless has made it possible to assume an internet identity which can be accessed from anywhere in the world, a new city, a hotel room or a new office and old relationships are maintained even with movements over vast distances. The power of the computer mediated person-to-person contact is set to increase with a tendency to invisibly maintain and strengthen community links of choice (Wellman, 2001, Pp 30-45), (Alexander, 2002, Chapter 6) and (Sessions, 2000). It can, therefore, be safely concluded that the evolving digital communications technologies have indeed transformed the way in which interpersonal communications are conducted and maintained, with even more surprises lying ahead. Because of changes that have taken place in personal communications, the society at large and its culture is also being transformed (Wellman, 2001), (Sessions, 2000) and (Wong, 2004). References / Bibliography Web Sources Alakeson, Vidhya et al. (2003). â€Å"Social Responsibility in the Information Society†. Digital Europe. April 10, 2005. http://www.digital-eu.org/uploadstore/theme_reports/social_report.pdf Alexander, Patricia Margaret. (2002). â€Å"Towards reconstructing meaning when text is communicated electronically†. University of Pretoria. April 9, 2005. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08192002-155431/ Anton, Annie I and Collin Potts. (2004). â€Å"Requirements Engineering in the Long-Term: Fifty Years of Telephony Feature Evolution†. 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