The Who, What and Where of the Global Chocolate Industry

Cocaine and American Culture Essay - 1851 Words

Cocaine: The Molding of American Culture, 1860- 1914 Cocaine had slowly risen into American Popular Culture, starting with an appeal to the elite class and ending with the Harrison Act of 1914. Employers encouraged the use of the coca leaf among their workers to increase productivity and decrease fatigue. Early physicians would prescribe cocaine to treat everything from morphine addiction to the common cold. Cocaine became a common ingredient in consumer goods. Marketers raved about the amazing effects of cocaine in their advertisements. Early historical figures, including Thomas Edison and Pope Leo XIII, endorsed French coca wine. It was difficult to escape the grasp of cocaine’s spreading popularity. The plant from which cocaine is†¦show more content†¦Given the relevant context, it is assumed that coca was of great importance and ranked high among value to these cultures. The coca leaf does not yield the potency to deliver any type of overwhelming effect. The coca leaf in natural form gives the similar effect that a well caffeinated cup of coffee would (Arts and Entertainment Network). It wasn’t until Albert Niemann, a German scientist, extracted and processed the coca leaf ingredients, would it become a potent drug. In 1860, Niemann would rename the results of his extraction, cocaine (Arts and Entertainment Network). In 1863, coca arrives on United States’ shores as an ingredient in a French wine, Vin Mariani. The wine was very successful with consumers. Popular figures, Thomas Edison, and Pope Leo XIII, endorsed Vin Mariani (Spillane 2). President Ulysses Grant would habitually drink the coca wine, to ease the pain of throat cancer, while writing his memoirs (Arts and Entertainment Network). Mark Twain often delivered the cocaine wine to President Grant and indulged alongside him (Arts and Entertainment Network). American physicians begin to use cocaine in medical practices. Cocaine was identified as a drug that depresses the central nervous system; however it had the exact op posite affect. The only general anesthetics available to physicians were chloroform and ether. These anesthetics would induce retching or vomit and did little for pain. Operations that required precision and detailShow MoreRelatedCrack : American Pop Culture1036 Words   |  5 PagesCrack Crack: American pop culture has lots of references to this drug in its music (crack rap), its movies (Jungle Fever), and its books (Diary of a Crack Addict’s Wife): It is a drug that has twisted its way into the fabric of our culture, and about 6 million of us have smoked it, at a significant risk to our health. Indeed, the National Vital Statistics System estimates that over 6,000 Americans die every year as a result of using cocaine, including crack cocaine, and 167, 914 Americans entered cocaineRead MoreHip Hop and the Crack Epidemic1701 Words   |  7 Pagessmokable form of cocaine, called crack, had been introduced to the United States. Crack, was highly-addictive and swept through impoverished areas of cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Oakland, and Miami. In the end it caused devastating effects for black and Latino Americans. As crack cocaine was becoming a grim and rising epidemic, hip hop was evolving alongside it. It was in the 1980s that crack cocaine and hip hop became the two leading fundamentals of urban street culture. It is not suggestedRead MoreThe Impact Of Latin American Culture On Latin America1656 Words   |  7 Pagesnegative thing, this one is not. In this war there are negatives, but the positives far outweigh them. Latin American countries have witnessed t he very noticeable benefits of the drug trade in many aspects of everyday life. The use and production of drugs is important to Latin American culture, brings communities together, and creates large amounts of revenue for the economy. Latin American countries have been using drugs for religious and cultural activities, and for hunger and discomfort reliefRead MoreHistory, Social Factors and Economic Impac of the Prohibition of Alcohol in the United States1490 Words   |  6 Pagesto the current drug policies of cocaine in the United States. Alcohol and cocaine were both prohibited in the United States in the early 1900’s. Cocaine was used as an anesthesia and medication in the early days of America until the drug was abused, and the legislature of the day deemed cocaine a dangerous drug. Americans would lose interest in cocaine until the 1960’s and then the drug would become even more popular in the 1980’s (Spillane, 1998). Today cocaine is one of the most prominent substancesRead MoreEssay On Crack Cocaine1178 Words   |  5 PagesCrack Cocaine the drug that has impacted so many lives; especially the life of rappers. Crack Cocaine is the refined result of cocoa leaves. However, crack c ocaine was not developed until the cocaine boom of 1970. Large shipments of this drug was now making its way into the inner cities of the United States, and the majority of residents living in those inner cities were African American. Black on black crime was now more common than ever, incarceration within the black community was skyrocketingRead MoreDrugs and Alcohol in the Criminal Justice System1396 Words   |  6 Pagesalways had the desire to use substances to make them feel relaxed or stimulated. So because drugs and alcohol have always been existent, they have always been a part of our American culture through politics, media and advertising, and other American concepts. The time period of 1950-2000 was exceptionally active for American culture, and there were many turning points in research and knowledge, legislature, media, and how the general public viewed drug and alcohol use. From approximately 1950-1980Read MoreThe War On Drugs : American Foreign And Domestic Policy1676 Words   |  7 Pagesmandatory sentencing and no-knock warrants. . The War on Drugs has been a centerpiece of American foreign and domestic policy. The rhetoric of war shaped the impact of methods. Not only does war require military strategies, but an enemy as well. In this case it was easy to construct African Americans and people of color as the enemy in the War on Drugs. These are the groups that the majority of white Americans have always viewed as the source of crime. President Reagan’s anti drug rhetoric was skillfullyRead MoreThe American War On Drugs1598 Words   |  7 Pages The American â€Å"War on Drugs† war created to keep an exorbitant amount of people behind bars, and in a subservient status. First, America has a storied history when it comes to marijuana use. However, within the last 50 years legislation pertaining to drug use and punishment has incr eased significantly. In the modern era, especially hard times have hit minority communities thanks to these drug laws. While being unfairly targeted by drug laws and law enforcement, minorities in America are havingRead MoreEssay about The Crack Cocaine Epidemic of the Mid 1980s1382 Words   |  6 Pagesstatement is fueled by the growing abuse of cocaine in the mid 1980s. I shall discuss the effects of the crack cocaine epidemic of the mid 1980s from a cultural and social stand point because on that decade this country moved to the rhythms and the pace of this uncanny drug. Cocaine took its told on American society by in the 1980s; it ravaged with every social group, race, class, etc. It reigned over the United States without any prejudices. Crack cocaine was the way into urban society, because ofRead MoreOpen Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano1585 Words   |  7 PagesLatin Americans in his 1973 book Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Contin ent. Galeano takes a historical approach and examines colonial and post-colonial interactions between Europeans and Latin Americans. He asserts that the native Latin Americans were essentially powerless to fight this exploitation because of the dominance of the European powers. In his 2008 book Andean Cocaine: The Making of a Global Drug, Paul Gootenberg writes about the discovery of cocaine and

Solar Panels A list of Items Related to Solar Energy

Solar Panel Solar panel is the interconnection of number of solar module to get efficient power. Solar panel is made up of solar cells. Earlier solar cells are of low efficiency and large in size but now a day very high efficient solar cells are available. Solar cell prize much higher, it is difficult to afford solar energy. Solar Cell: Solar cell is a structure that directly converts solar energy into DC electrical energy. Solar cell acts as battery because it supplies DC energy. History: First time solar cell was developed by French Scientist Antoine-Becquerel in 1839. Becquerel obseved photovoltaic while experementing with electrolyte solution. In 1941 first silicon cell was demonstrated, but research on modren solar cell was started in 1954. Solar Cell Output: Solar cell produces .7 volts, size of solar cell do not effect on the efficiency of solar cell. No matter how much large and small in size. More current will produce when surface area is large and less current will produce when surface area is small. If we need more battery charging power, we need high output cells. Solar cells directly produces dc current. Function Of Series And Parallel Cells: Series Solar Cells: Series wiring is when you connect positive terminal of one end to negative terminal of another end . After connecting terminals we will obtain higher voltage (the sum of voltage from the panels) while the amps stay the same. Parallel Solar Cells: Parallel wiring is when youShow MoreRelatedPerceptions Of Solar Energy6946 Words   |  28 Pagesunderstanding of the overall opinions and perceptions of rural South Carolinians regarding solar energy. Survey respondents were drawn from a database of the twenty rural electric cooperatives that operate throughout the state and in each of the state’s 46 counties. Of specific interest was the preference for solar power installations on the property of the member-consumer versus interest in a community solar program that would be located within the community but not on an individual’s property.Read MoreLab Report : Manufacturing Of Solar Cells3824 Words   |  16 Pagesâ€Å"MANUFACTURING OF SOLAR CELLS† Summer Intern Project-2014, BHEL ASSCP, Gurgaon. Submitted to:- Dr. Abhishek Verma Amity Institute of Renewable and Alternative Energy Amity University Uttar Pradesh (Noida Campus) Submitted By:- Nitin Pal A6429711009 Amity Institute of Renewable and Alternative Energy Amity University Uttar Pradesh (Noida Campus) Preface This report documents the work done during Summer internship at BHEL ASSCP(Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell Plant). TheRead MoreSustainable Living3906 Words   |  16 Pageslifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual s or society s use of the earth s natural resources and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their â€Å"carbon footprint† by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet. Proponents of sustainable living aim to conduct their lives in ways that are consistent with sustainability, in natural balance and respectful of humanity s symbiotic relationship with the earth s natural ecology and cyclesRead MoreCase Study: Managing for Organizational Integrity5900 Words   |  24 Pagespeople in working and enjoying freely. 6. Safeguarding the people needs and necessities and maintain secure place to live in. The project is on the Blacktown City council, Department of planning Engineering Team’s proposal of the ‘promotion of solar city products’ initiatives. 2. Effective use of the information system is the key for the success of the company so that it is extremely necessary to ensure the effective use of organisational information systems. In case if the information is notRead MoreSustainable Building Material...24522 Words   |  99 PagesGrading Paving Resource Efficient Landscapes 8 9 Structural Elements Earthen Building Materials Straw Bale Construction Concrete Concrete Formwork Pervious Concrete Insulated Structural Systems Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) Advanced Framing Techniques Lumber Engineered Wood FSC Certified Wood 10 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 17 Exterior Elements Decks Fencing Recycled Plastic Lumber Roofing Metal Roofing Recycled-Content Roofing Green (â€Å"Living†) Roofs SidingRead MoreSustainability in Mauritius7180 Words   |  29 Pagesamp; egg issue * Working on an internet portal aimed to bring together students from all colleges which would help creating a new generation of young people who would care more about civic topics, like environment protection and other issues related to a better society. * The boys from Sir Leckraz Teelock SSS built a wind turbine capable of producing 1 kWh of electricity – enough to switch on 100 electric bulbs * The school authorities launch several projects – green school project – theRead MoreUS Intelligence Sees Cyber Threats Eclipsing Terrorism: An Analysis6653 Words   |  27 Pagessystem. Today, and especially after the 2001 terrorist attacks over the United States, the issue of terrorism has become rather debated and is seen as the main threat to security. Even so, recent events have placed yet another major threat on top of the list of menaces to national and international security. Cyber threats are nowadays one of the most important aspects to be taken into account when drafting security policies and dealing with risks at the level of the state or the international securityRead MoreCost Of Renewables In Russia Case Study6040 Words   |  25 PagesCosts of renewables in Russia The cost of all types of renewable energy has been steadily decreasing during over the last decade. Technological advancements and economy of scale are the major drivers of the decreasing costs. The evolution of electricity generation cost from onshore wind turbines is presented in Fig. 20.[footnoteRef:1] For instance, the cost of wind turbines (6 meters per second) reduced by 39% in 10 years. Today in Russia, the average capital cost of photovoltaic is estimated atRead MoreWoolworths Supply Chain5368 Words   |  22 Pagesfocused on employee retention, Woolworths has been unable to focus on other key areas in its operations namely not being able to meet their energy reduction targets (Woolworths Holdings Limited, 2012). This could directly lead to increased costs in electricity usage, as well as hurt corporate image as Woolworths has been dubbed the â€Å"green grocer† for their energy reduction and sustainability program contributions to society (Woolworths Holdings Limited , 2012). Another weakness Woolworths faces is theirRead MoreReporting And Disclosure : Measurement And Control3717 Words   |  15 PagesGlobal Reporting Initiative is one of numerous samples of very much perceived reporting models; Life cycle investigation: Those associations needing to take a substantial jump forward ought to methodically examine the natural and social effect of the items they utilize and create through life cycle examination, which measure all the more precisely effects. Firms that are practical have been shown to draw in and hold delegates more smoothly and experience less budgetary and reputation danger. These associations

Standardized Tests Should Not Be The Standard - 1321 Words

I’ve always done exceptionally well on standardized tests. Whether it was the WKCE, the PSAT, or the SAT, I excelled at multiple choice, fill-in-the-bubble tests. When it came time for me to take the ACT, I knew going into it that I had that test in the bag. I came out with much better than average scores, scoring a 28 on the overall test, much better than most of my peers. Though math was never my strongest subject in high school, I had still managed to pull a score of 25 on the math section of the test. When I got to college, I was put in the normal, freshman level math class. My roommate, who had scored only a 20 on the math section of her ACT, was in Statistics, which is a slightly harder class. I thought I had my class in the bag.†¦show more content†¦This focus on only a few subjects will have detrimental effects on the well roundedness of the education students receive. Teaching to the test also causes teachers to spend less time on more creative parts of the c lassroom. If there is something that the teacher thinks is important and will help the students grow as people, but it won’t be on the test, the teacher has no incentive to talk about it. Because of the high stakes of and pressure to succeed on Standardized tests, many students, teachers, and even school administrations have resulted to cheating to improve their score. In the movie The Perfect Score, a group of students steal the answers to the SAT because they are all so desperate to get good scores on it and get into the schools they want to go to. In it, one of the characters says (in reference to stealing the answers) â€Å"It’s a victimless crime† (). This shows how students are willing to do whatever it takes to score well on these tests, since the stakes are so high. They also don’t think that cheating on these tests has a negative effect on anybody else, causing them to cheat more often. In Atlanta during the 2012-2013 school year, a cheating scandal was uncovered that turned out to be one of the biggest cheating scandals in recent history. In the past 10 years, Atlanta had shown some of the biggest improvements in any district in test sco res. After the scandal was discovered, there was no way of measuring how much the schools hadShow MoreRelatedStandardized Tests Are Not A Fair1709 Words   |  7 PagesEssay One Standardized tests have been around for a very long time, and they are probably going to be around for a long time to come. Testing students does provide information about a school district, student, and teacher, but it is definitely not the entire picture. Everyone would probably agree that the results of one test would not be a fair evaluation of the student. In order to fairly evaluate a student, grades, tests scores, and progress should all be considered. Teachers should be evaluatedRead More The Controversy of Standardized Testing Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesControversy of Standardized Testing â€Å"No issue in the U.S. Education is more controversial than (standardized) testing. Some people view it as the linchpin of serious reform and improvement, others as a menace to quality teaching and learning† (Phelps). A tool that educators use to learn about students and their learning capabilities is the standardized test. Standardized tests are designed to give a common measure of a student’s performance. Popular tests include the SAT, IQ tests, Regents ExamsRead MoreStandardized Testing Essay examples1573 Words   |  7 PagesStandardized Testing Every year thousands upon thousands of children, ages seven and upwards sit down to take their scheduled standardized tests. This generation has been classified as the most tested in history. Its progress through childhood and adolescence has been punctuated by targets, key stages, attainment levels, and qualifications (Stalin in School 8). Each year the government devises a new standard and then finds a way to test how each student measures up to this standard. TheyRead MoreStandard Based Learning And Its Impact On Education1371 Words   |  6 PagesStandard based learning has led to the demise of public education for years. Standard based learning is an educational system that measures students’ achievement and mastery of skills by their performance on assessments. Institutions that implement standard based learning use learning standards that explicitly describe what students should theoretically know and what lessons that educators should teach. The learning standards were created to define the adeptness of the students, ensure the retentionRead MorePublic Education and Standard Testing882 Words   |  4 Pages For students to be able to do well on standardized test they rely on their teachers. Several teachers interviewed said they spent hours of extra planning time and hundreds of dollars to create more interesting lessons. They said they must be supremely organized and strict enforcers of classroom rules. (Watanabe). Some teachers are pressured to the point that they make education all about the test and up to the test. The pressure to improve students test performance in California and across the countryRead MoreEssay on Standardized Testing a Failure in Education1335 Words   |  6 PagesStandardized testing scores proficiencies in most generally accepted curricular areas. The margin of error is too great to call this method effective. â€Å"High test scores are generally related to things other than the actual quality of education students are receiving† (Kohn 7). â€Å"Only recently have test scores been published in the news-paper and used as the primary criteria for judgin g children, teachers, and schools.†(2) Standardized testing is a great travesty imposed upon the American Public SchoolRead More An Examination of Standardized Testing Essay1592 Words   |  7 PagesDo standardized tests really improve the quality of public education? For years they have been used to judge schools academic performance and assess the needs of students. No longer can illiterates be graduated from high school. No longer can teachers pass a student from one grade to another without having taught that student anything (Spellings). While these advances are beneficial, standardized exams often hurt already disadvantaged schools, promote states to lower their standards of educationRead More Standardized Testing Essay example1558 Words   |  7 PagesStandardized Testing Every year thousands upon thousands of children, ages seven and upwards sit down to take their scheduled standardized tests. This generation has been classified as the most tested in history. Its progress through childhood and adolescence has been punctuated by targets, key stages, attainment levels, and qualifications (Stalin in School 8). Each year the government devises a new standard and then finds a way to test how each student measures up to this standard. TheyRead MoreIt’s Time to Abolish the ACT and SAT Essay1054 Words   |  5 Pagesgirl represents many students who are not successful at taking standardized tests because they have not developed the advanced skills required to take a test like the ACT or SAT. An academically motivated and responsible student should not be prevented from attending college because a standard test is not his or her standard. The current methods of testing for the ACT or SAT should be abolished and replaced with modified and less standard questions to better measure a students learning potentialRead MoreStandardized Testing and Curriculum Standards Essay1188 Words   |  5 PagesStandardized Testing and Curriculum Standards It cannot be said that all assessments are unnecessary and academically limiting for students. If teachers are to know their students’ strengths and weaknesses, they must formulate a way in which to assess their knowledge. In order to create a curriculum adherent to the most specific needs of a teacher’s class, assessment must play a role when devising the course of action for the academics taught. This does not mean that all standardized testing is

Understanding Of The Growth Of The Tourismâ€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Understanding Of The Growth Of The Tourism? Answer: Introducation This research report has helped me to gain understanding of the growth of the tourism industry of Australia. For the purpose of taking business decision related to opening of a travel agency in Australia, I got the knowledge regarding different aspects that need to be considering for making decisions related to opening of a new venture. I got the understanding that there is a need to analyze the number of businesses existed in the industry along with the revenue generated by the industry. Besides this analyze the marketing condition of different cities in which the business has a growth potential in order to make decision related to opening up of a new business (Thomas, 2013). Along with this, it has also improved my analytical and statistical analysis which is being used to analyze the collected data to make informed decision. In addition to this, I also gained experience related to different conflicts that can be arise in the team and the strategies that can be adopted top effectively deal with such problems or conflicts. This has also helped me to develop the skills required to perform different functions in MS Excel. I have also improved my presentation and communication skills which are used in accelerating my professional growth. I have also learnt that there is a need to coordinate with other team members in an effective manner in order to accomplish the given task in a successful manner. In addition to this, I have also gained information related to the licensing and legal requirements to be complied with in order to open a tourism business in Australia. Second Reflection This report has contributed significantly in developing my knowledge about developing and establishing the tourism industry in Australia. Developing a tourism industry in Australia requires compliance with several types of requirements. In order to develop a tourism industry, a lot of research has been conducted. Various forms of data for the past ten years have been collected from the various sources like journals, articles, magazines. On the basis of data collected in the report, it can be said that tourism sector has been comprised the most important sector of the Australian economy (Forsyth, et al., 2014). Tourism industry provides facilities to both domestic and international tourists. It also contributes a major portion in GDP. In this report, information related to different segments of visitors has been gathered. The data relating to revenues of the tourism sector for the past ten years and growth rate has been analysed. Various types of statistical tools have also been used in order to represent the data. Various types of statistical calculations have also been done in order to find out various measures in order to reach to a conclusion (Tribe, 2015). According to the statistical tools applied in the calculations, a positive outcome has been found in every aspect. There are so many services that are provided by tour operators using the online and offline mode. The company is required to provide all the services at the competitive prices (prices lower than the competitors price). Third Reflection While doing this report, I have gained knowledge regarding the tour and travel industry in terms of growth potential, investment done, government regulations and so on. Besides this, there is an improvement in my researching skills as there is a need to research relevant information related to the tourism industry. I have also learnt that the use of Tuckman model of team development to form an effective team. This project also helped in improving my presentation and communication skills as there is a need to take full participation in different activities by sharing of the views and opinions in order to make effective decisions (Wagen, 2015). I have also learnt that there is a need to allocate different roles and responsibilities to the members of the team as per their abilities, skills and interests which helps in increasing their productivity. It has also helped in improving my analytical skills as I have learnt the use of different statistical tools and its interpretation such as regression analysis which is used to make effective decisions. This also helped in enhancing the time management skills as there is a need to complete the task in a given time frame in order to attain the objectives of the team effectively. Besides this, I have also developed problem solving skills as there is a occurrence of conflicts among the team members due to the existence of difference in their opinions due to which there is a requirement to solve the problems in an effective manner. References Forsyth, P., Dwyer, L., Spurr, R. Pham, T. (2014). The impacts of Australia's departure tax: Tourism versus the economy. Tourism Management, 40, 126-136. Thomas, R. (2013). Small Firms in Tourism. UK: Routledge. Tribe, J. (2015). The economics of recreation, leisure and tourism. UK: Routledge. Wagen, L.V.D. (2015). Events Tourism Essentials. Australia: Pearson Higher Education AU.

Information system (IS) can be... free essay sample

Information system (IS) can be defined as an organized combination of people, hardware, software, communications networks, data resources, and policies and procedures that stores, retrieves, transforms, and disseminates information in an organization. Today, we mainly depend on IS to communicate worldwide in a more effective and efficient way using a variety of physical devices (hardware) , information processing instructions and procedures (software) , communications channels (networks) , and stored data (data resources) according to OBrien, ;Marakas, 2007.Hasan ;Shamsuddin;Aziati (2013), are category that there is more stress on most organizations to make their operational, tactical, and strategic processes to become more efficient and effective with the growth of a competitive global environment. Therefore, an information system (IS) is also a group of components which can increase competitiveness and gain better information for decision making. In addition to supporting decision making, coordination, and control, information systems may also help managers and workers to analyze problems, visualize complex subjects, and create new products. Information system has been of immense help to the organisation during the year 1960s with the transformation of office automation to replace manual task. The backbone of office automation is a LAN, which allows users to transmit data, mail and even voice across the network. All office functions, including dictation, typing, filing, copying, fax, Telex, microfilm and records management, telephone and telephone switchboard operations, fall into this category. However the use of IS was mostly to perform activities like transaction processing, recordkeeping, and produce meaningful reports and it was mainly used for electronic data processing (EDP).EDP is described as the use of computers in recording, classifying, manipulating, and summarizing data. It is also called information processing or automatic data processing. Record-KeepingTo take corrective action, all company need records of its activities for financial and regulatory purposes as well as for finding the causes of problems. Information system uses a data warehouse which is a single, complete and consistent manner, where data are obtained from a variety of different sources made available to end users in what they can understand and use in a business context. Microsoft office software (word and excel) is an example of such tool that can read, amend, search or add any data by using the system to process and present it as useful, present or historical information. Today the need of such information is utmost important to prepare cost estimates and forecasts and to analyze how our actions affected the company key indicators. In the account department, for example, it helps manage invoices, paying, collecting and reporting with consistency and performing to the highest standards. Data which are stored in the information system, allow user to later search, use, update or delete. Even in the administrative area information system were integrated with the accounting and financial system to increase efficiency. It reduces the number of tasks that would otherwise need to do manually. IS helps to gain more time to work on more value added project to the business, allowing organization to become innovator and giving more incentive. Some examples and advantages of record keeping are:†¢ It helps you record business transactions, including income and expenses, payments to workers, and stock and asset details.†¢ Less storage space are required therefore it is Efficient way to keep financial records. †¢ It helps by providing the recording a sale when you raise an invoice, not when you receive a cash payment from a client.†¢ Easy to generate orders, invoices, debtor reports, financial statements, employee pay records, inventory reports.†¢ It provides quick reporting functions.†¢ Back up records and keep them in a safe place in case of fire or theft is one of its powerful toolsDecision-MakingIn most organization, information system can help to make better decisions by delivering all the required information and by modeling the results of their decisions. This includes choosing a path of action from a number of options and carrying out the equivalent tasks. Accurate and up-to-date information gives more confidence for decision making. One can use the information system to run different scenarios if more than one choice looks appealing. To determine key indicators such as sales, costs and profits, the system can help you determine which alternative gives the most advantageous result for each possibility. Time-keeping Normally workers who work per hour are paid in accordance to their working hours during the pay period. A time-keeping system is used by the employer to calculate hours and pay hourly employees accordingly. However, it is critical to input each employees time as accurate as possible. An employer uses a time clock to track work hours of his employee. Therefore, we require a manual payroll system for computing the time clock data by hand; this result to likelihood of mistakes. On the other hand an automated time-keeping system allows the employer to import time clock data into payroll software. Nowadays, to clock in and out, the employee uses a swipe card or badge, or the hand print or fingerprint method. It is an online processing method, once there is an input, the entries go immediately into the payroll software, and the software calculates the time worked. In the payroll department the operating staff member should ensure the time is transported appropriately and gives the go ahead to the software to do the operation.Some examples of Payroll software are QuickBooks, PenSoft, Z-Pay, Ultipro and Sage Peachtree which calculates gross-to-net earnings based data received. It is therefore utmost important that input are accurate so as to have good result. Davoren,( 2018)Implementation of MRP/ERPAnother evolution of IS, is in the field of manufacturing through the introduction of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) in the year 70s-80s. The MRP is a computerized inventory management system that helps production managers plan and schedule the purchase of raw materials and com ponent parts for manufacturing facilities. The (MRP) combined data from both production schedules and inventory system and the bill of materials (BOM) to calculate purchasing and shipping schedules for good, services and works. Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) and Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP II), later evolved into ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)The ERP are applied in the areas such as:? The Accounting department (account payable/receivable etc)? The Human resources department (payroll, time sheets, training etc)? The Manufacturing process (bill of materials, QC, managing the manufacturing process etc)? The Supply chain management (stock control, purchasing, scheduling)? Customer relationship management (sales and marketing, support and customer service)? Project management (managing costs, forecasting, time and activities)? The quality assurance management (verification of product specification before giving release)? Data warehousing (document management: Track both short-term and long-term data in the wo rld of financial plans, workforce allocation plans, marketing, inventory, and other aspects of business)Benefit of ERP system in an organization: Source: www.workwisellc.comOperations ManagementTo manage your companys operations depends largely on the information you have. Todays Information systems can offer full and up to date information, so that you can operate your company more efficiently. Information systems can be used to gain more cost advantage and differentiate yourself to your competitors by offering better customer service. For example sales data give you indication about what customers are procuring and let you replenish items that are selling well. With information system, you can streamline your operations (organization or system) more efficient and effective by promoting faster or simpler working methods. However to achieve the maximum benefits from your companys information system, you have to exploit all its capacities. Greater advantage is achieved with Information systems by processing the data from company inputs to generate data that is useful for managing and controlling your operations. The following steps can be taken to increase the information systems effectiveness; more data can be added to make the information more precise or use the information in a new way.? Production efficiency –investing on a fully automated machine that will render production more efficient since no thinking is needed by the machine, therefore less human error and no losses. ? Accuracy and reliability – once an automated machine is programmed to perform a task over and over again, the accuracy and reliability compared to an i ndividual is far greater.? Reducing human error – since no one is perfect, and we are all prone to making mistakes. This is the reason why a machine that performs repeated tasks is less likely to make mistakes than an individual.? Reduce costs – introducing automated machines to an operation, means less employees are needed to get the job done. It also indicates less safety issues, which leads to financial savings. With less people are employed, there are numerous costs that are diminished or reduced such as payroll, benefits, sick days.? Increased safety – with automated machines means having less employees who perform tasks that can be dangerous and prone to injury, which can make the work environment safer.? Increase in production volume – investing in automated equipment creates a valuable resource for large production volumes, which in turn, will increase profitability.Communication SystemsThe routine task of management is gathering and sharing of information, and information systems can make this process more efficient by allowing managers to communicate rapidly. Todays managers can use information systems even more efficiently by storing documents in folders on a shared files using network, that they share with the employees who need information The use of email, video conferencing, video call are quick and effective. Each employee can communicate additional information by making changes that the system tracks. The manager collects the inputs and sends the newly revised document to his target audience. This type of communication lets employees, customers and suppliers collaborate in a systematic and efficient way. Markgraf, (Updated 2018)To ConcludeImplementing information systems within an organization can prove to be costly. Implementation costs include not only installation of the systems but also employee training sessions. Most of the time, employees may see the innovation of an existing systems as an unwarranted change and, thus, may resist this change. Very often resistance to such changes can led business operations inactive and thus harming the business. Therefore the organization should have strong leadership in place to assess the adequacy of the decision to have an information system. As well as to guide the company through such transition phase and weigh information systems cost against the potential benefits.

Timelessness free essay sample

In first grade, I decided exactly what I was destined to be: the President of the United States. Being the list-maker that I am, I had all of the major steps planned by fourth grade. #1. Attend a prestigious college. #2. Become diplomat. #3. Become Secretary of State. #4. Run for President. #5 Win. My childhood idol was Condoleeza Rice. Rice speaks Russian; I decided to learn Mandarin Chinese. Rice is a concert pianist; I decided to sing. I realized through voice lessons how intensely I relish in music, how incredible I feel when contributing to a song through my voice. I felt such honor when allowing my voice to duet with a piano, or with an acoustic guitar. Singing proved simply infatuating, it set every fragment of me free†¦my voice, my brain, my body. Nothing could replace the planting of my feet to the ground, standing tall, and releasing music to the sky, a sound uniquely mine. We will write a custom essay sample on Timelessness or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I discovered the gift a true passion can give: timelessness. I auditioned for a show, and received the honor of singing the classic, â€Å"Somewhere Over the Rainbow.† The director proved tough, and I occasionally got yelled at†¦but strangely, I liked it. I studied my character, and began to understand how she needed and deserved to be played. I was not going to let her down. Again, the timelessness occurred: rehearsal would fly by, and performances were over before I felt they had even begun. Regardless, my dreams of becoming the President did not waver. I had an agenda. Singing was to be my hobby, not my career. It’s odd how three short hours changed the path of my life. I saw Wicked. Wicked is the Harry Potter of musicals, a piece almost everybody loves, even if not an avid reader or musical enthusiast. Wicked of course, became quite popular, with 90% of my pre-teen friends knowing every lyric to the famous â€Å"Defying Gravity† and â€Å"Popular†. I loved the music, the lines, the characters, but it was one element that essentially changed my life. Stephanie J. Block. Suspended grandly in the air, I did not see Elphaba. I saw a stunning woman painted green, engrossed in her passion†¦experiencing absolute timelessness. This actress was free, she was lost, she was feeling what I found myself feeling when I sing. I couldn’t peel my eyes away. I saw her and knew that is what I wanted. More importantly, I knew that is what I needed. I couldn’t be fulfilled without it. I needed to sing with every fiber of my being. I longed to have Stephanie’s skill, with Kristin Chenoweth’s proud soprano ring. I yearned for technique, for perfection. That night, I had an epiphany. Theatre is marketing, allowing people to believe what you want them to, communication, and acting. Exactly the principles that embody politics! But with theatre I could sing every day. I revised my list a little bit. Perhaps I could fo llow in Ronald Reagan’s footsteps, instead? Theatre first, then politics.

Diversity Management in Multinational Organizations

Question: Discuss about the Diversity Management in Multinational Organizations. Answer: Introduction: Simply defined, Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. This definition appears so simple; however, there are vats implications of diversity management at workplace. The concept of diversity management may sound simple, but diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background and more. Workplace diversity and diversity management is a vast field and this paper would focus on diversity management in multicultural environment (Lauring, 2013). The use of diversity management is pretty much more important for multinational organizations as they would have the people from different cultures and backgrounds. Cultural diversity requires that people understand and respect the cultures and values of other cultures. Changing societal trends require that organizations respond responsibly, respectfully, and ethically to accommodate the new trends. According to research completed by (Resick, Hanges, Dickson, Mitchelson, 2006) there are some universal understandings of diversity management that makes it a little easier to implement in the global context. The universal concepts that they listed are freedom to employees, increase adaptability, effective communication and change management encouragement (Resick et al., 2006). The research concluded that these four concepts are global, but are valued at varying degrees across cultures so leaders need to ensure that they are aware of the cultural expectations throughout the decision-making process (Resick et al., 2006). There was a time when people used to believe that diversity management can be ignored as it is not linked with organizational performance and employee productivity. However, this view has changed and today organizations have realized that by allowing employees to be creative and include ideas and creations that they would be willing to pay for affords companies the ability to stay ahead (Alcazar Romero, 2013). Employees are more plugged in to the social network and have a better idea of what consumers want. The diversity management approach can be helpful in many ways. With this approach in place, Daft, (2015) explains that it combines both the organic and mechanic organizational structures together for multinational organizations. This is done by allowing freedom of information to flow in the organization as seen in organic organizations, but still implement an order of hierarchy as seen in mechanic organizational structure. Groschl, (2011) shares the example of Toyota that has mastered the art of diversity management. They allowed young staff members the freedom to review old technology and discover how new technology could advance the organization but they still reported up to a senior member in the organization. The diversity management approach worked being that it allowed the change to not hold back but to conduct work in manner that was once not used in the organization and at one time could have been seen to break the rules. By allowing this, Toyota could remain competitive in t he market and adapt to change by presenting better technology in vehicles. The focus on diversity management enabled Toyota to get the best talent from the market. With this approach, Toyota use the geocentric approach of recruitment and recruited the people across the globe irrespective of their cultural backgrounds (Benschop Holgersson, 2015). Sarkees, et al. (2010) shares that the diversity management approach is most helpful when needing change. This is so because when organization find themselves struggling in the market, the diversity management approach aids in avoiding pitfalls and reaching more functional levels. The diversity management approach is most helpful because it allows organizations to explore new opportunities and methods they can implement in the organization while maintaining in the current market (Sarkees, et al. 2010). Sarkees, et al. (2010) states that the diversity management approach has been successful in organizations implementing change by forming new and more effective marketing strategies and increasing the level of performance in the organization. According to Daft, Murphy, and Willmott (2010), organizations using a diversity management approach strive to create systems and management structures that support both the development and the implementation of innovative ideas. According to Karrer and Fleck (2015), a diversity management approach is necessary to balance the inherent conflict between an organizations creative arm and organizational divisions responsible for maintaining current organizational processes. It would be correct to say that leaders also have an important role to play to establish and to create a culture of diversity management. Tarody, (2016) suggest the concern of making a definite choice is a challenge between the exploration of trade off and exploring another create dependencies where leadership is distracted in the decision-making and leads to inappropriate adaptations when explicit choices have to be made. Moreover, Tarody, (2016) suggest contradictions in the subfields of diversity management; structu ral and contextual ambidexterity is not a simple case of exportation-exploitation due to the difference in leadership competencies systems, processes, cultures, incentives need to be created, maintained, held together and internally aligned with the strategic intent articulated at the structural level. From my experiences, when all of those are not in place, it can create the misalignment of the strategy intent even though each is acting independently to create the coordination requisite mechanism of leadership. Research by OReilly and Tushman (2013) suggests that use of organizational ambidexterity places organizations in a position to explore and exploit (p.324) the elements of both mature and new technologies in the marketplace. A diversity management approach can be beneficial in a situation such as Dell, Inc. and their attempt to revitalize their company (Daft, 2015). With the recurring reference that the type of organizational structure used is dependent on the life cycle stage the organization is operating in (Quinn Cameron, 1983), the use of ambidextrous approach is beneficial at some points and not feasible at others. In the transformation Dell is taking with their new areas of development, using a diversity management approach enables the company to seize the new opportunities as they reorganize, and exploit the resources the company has developed over the term of its growth (OReilly Tushman, 2013). The challenge is discovering the proper way to leverage the resources without inf ringing on the autonomy of the new departments. In this scenario, another approach would probably not be beneficial. Dell has found that bureaucracy lends to mechanistic operations, which leads to declines in market share and innovation (Kersten, 2000). If an organization were in the early stages of its life cycle, the ambidextrous approach would not be one that fits. The organization would not have the resources available to exploit within their own group. It would be correct to say that diversity management should be used wisely within the organizations. The management should be careful while developing and implementing the diversity management policies. It is important that the people from any cultural background should not get offended with any of the policies (Janssens Zanoni, 2014). It is suggested that the management should take a step-wise or a gradual approach to implement the diversity management strategies. This approach is definitely one that fits in organizations who have longevity and the experience from which new departments can glean information. The previous review of Dell, Inc. is another example of an organization that would benefit from a diversity management approach. In fact, it would be correct to say that any organizations that has a global presence and that has the employees from various cultural and diverse backgrounds would be benefited with the approach of diversity management. Making a diversity management approach can be helpful when changing organizational structure because this approach provides a different perspective to how an organization grows. There are a series of events which follow when making a structural change. For starters, is it important that they follow a series of events that are specific to the desired change. (Jones, 2013) these changes can be difficult because they challenge existing power and authority relationships (Jones, 2013) this approach is most needed when an organization is stagnant in the growth when the COE or leader of the organization decides to stop leading or should people say thinking from the days of old then they will soon begin to think out of the box regarding the organizational structure and change. According to OReilly and Tushman (2004) for organizations to have effective diverse culture the organizations leadership and managers must operate with a diverse methodology even if team members do not contribute much to diversity. A diversity man agement approach creates a competitive advantage through revolutionary change and evolutionary change (Bleijenbergh Peters, 2010). Conversely, organizations which create a competitive advantage through adaptability and alignment are deemed highly diverse organizations. References Benschop, Y., Holgersson, C., Van den Brink, M., Wahl, A. (2015). Future challenges for practices of diversity management in organizations. Handbook for Diversity in Organizations, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 553-574. Bleijenbergh, I., Peters, P., Poutsma, E. (2010). Diversity management beyond the business case. Equality, diversity and inclusion: an international journal, 29(5), 413-421. Daft, R. L. (2015).Organization theory and design(12th ed.) Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Groschl, S. (2011). Diversity management strategies of global hotel groups: a corporate web site based exploration. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 23(2), 224-240. Janssens, M., Zanoni, P. (2014). Alternative diversity management: Organizational practices fostering ethnic equality at work. Scandinavian Journal of Management, 30(3), 317-331. Jones, G. R. (2013).Organizational Theory, Design and Change(7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Kersten, A. (2000). Diversity management: Dialogue, dialectics and diversion.Journal of Organizational Change Management,13(3), 235-248. Lauring, J. (2013). International diversity management: Global ideals and local responses.British Journal of Management,24(2), 211-224. Martn Alcazar, F., Miguel Romero Fernndez, P., Snchez Gardey, G. (2013). Workforce diversity in strategic human resource management models: A critical review of the literature and implications for future research. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 20(1), 39-49. O'Reilly, C. I., Tushman, M. L. (2013). Organizational ambidexterity: Past, present, and future.The Academy Of Management Perspectives, 27(4), 324-338. Resick, C. J., Hanges, P. J., Dickson, M. W., Mitchelson, J. K. (2006). A cross-cultural examination of the endorsement of ethical leadership. Journal of Business Ethics, 63(4), 345. Sarkees, M., Hulland, J., Prescott, J. (2010). Ambidextrous organizations and firm performance: the role of marketing function implementation.Journal Of Strategic Marketing,18(2), 165-184. Tarody, D. (2016). Organizational ambidexterity as a new research paradigm in strategic management.Vezetstudomny / Budapest Management Review, 47(5) 39-52. Quinn, R. E., Cameron, K. (1983). Organizational life cycles and shifting criteria of effectiveness: Some preliminary evidence. Management Science 29(1), 33-52.

Battle of Okinawa in World War II

Battle of Okinawa in World War II The Battle of Okinawa was one of the largest and costliest military actions during World War II (1939–1945) and lasted between April 1 and June 22, 1945. Forces Commanders Allies Fleet Admiral Chester NimitzAdmiral Raymond SpruanceAdmiral Sir Bruce FraserLieutenant General Simon B. Buckner, Jr.Lieutenant General Roy GeigerGeneral Joseph Stilwell183,000 men Japanese General Mitsuru UshijimaLieutenant General Isamu ChoVice Admiral Minoru Ota100,000 men Background Having island-hopped across the Pacific, Allied forces sought to capture an island near Japan to serve as a base for air operations in support of the proposed invasion of the Japanese home islands. Assessing their options, the Allies decided to land on Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Dubbed Operation Iceberg, planning began with Lieutenant General Simon B. Buckners 10th Army tasked with taking the island. The operation was scheduled to move forward following the conclusion of fighting on Iwo Jima which had been invaded in February 1945. To support the invasion at sea, Admiral Chester Nimitz assigned Admiral Raymond Spruances U.S. 5th Fleet (Map). This included the carriers Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitschers Fast Carrier Task Force (Task Force 58). Allied Forces For the coming campaign, Buckner possessed nearly 200,000 men. These were contained in Major General Roy Geigers III Amphibious Corps (1st and 6th Marine Divisions) and Major General John Hodges XXIV Corps (7th and 96th Infantry Divisions). In addition, Buckner controlled the 27th and 77th Infantry Divisions, as well as the 2nd Marine Division. Having effectively eliminated the bulk of the Japanese surface fleet at engagements such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Spruances 5th Fleet was largely unopposed at sea. As part of his command, he possessed Admiral Sir Bruce Frasers British Pacific Fleet (BPF/Task Force 57). Featuring armored flight decks, the BPFs carriers proved more resistant to damage from Japanese kamikazes and were tasked with providing cover for the invasion force as well as striking enemy airfields in the  Sakishima Islands. Japanese Forces The defense of Okinawa was initially entrusted to General Mitsuru Ushijimas 32nd Army which consisted of the 9th, 24th, and 62nd Divisions and the 44th Independent Mixed Brigade. In the weeks before the American invasion, the 9th Division was ordered to Formosa forcing Ushijima to alter his defensive plans. Numbering between 67,000 and 77,000 men, his command was further supported by Rear Admiral Minoru Otas 9,000 Imperial Japanese Navy troops at Oroku. To augment his forces further, Ushijima drafted nearly 40,000 civilians to serve as reserve militia and rear-echelon laborers. In planning his strategy, Ushijima intended to mount his primary defense in the southern part of the island and entrusted fighting at the northern end to Colonel Takehido Udo. Additionally, plans were made to employ large-scale kamikaze tactics against the Allied invasion fleet. Campaign at Sea The naval campaign against Okinawa began in late March 1945, as the carriers of the BPF began striking Japanese airfields in the Sakishima Islands. To the east of Okinawa, Mitschers carrier provided cover from kamikazes approaching from Kyushu. Japanese air attacks proved light the first several days of the campaign but increased on April 6 when a force of 400 aircraft attempted to attack the fleet. The high point of the naval campaign came on April 7 when the Japanese launched Operation Ten-Go. This saw them attempt to run the battleship Yamato through the Allied fleet with the goal of beaching it on Okinawa for use a shore battery. Intercepted by Allied aircraft, Yamato and its escorts were immediately attacked. Struck by multiple waves of torpedo bombers and dive bombers from Mitschers carriers, the battleship was sunk that afternoon. As the land battle progressed, Allied naval vessels remained in the area and were subjected to a relentless succession of kamikaze attacks. Flying around 1,900 kamikaze missions, the Japanese sunk 36 Allied ships, mostly amphibious vessels and destroyers. An additional 368 were damaged. As a result of these attacks, 4,907 sailors were killed and 4,874 were wounded. Due to the protracted and exhausting nature of the campaign, Nimitz took the drastic step of relieving his principal commanders at Okinawa to allow them to rest and recuperate. As result, Spruance was relieved by Admiral William Halsey in late May and Allied naval forces were re-designated the 3rd Fleet. Going Ashore Initial U.S. landings began on March 26 when elements of the 77th Infantry Division captured the Kerama Islands to the west of Okinawa. On March 31, Marines occupied Keise Shima. Only eight miles from Okinawa, the Marines quickly emplaced artillery on these islets to support future operations. The main assault moved forward against the Hagushi beaches on the west coast of Okinawa on April 1. This was supported by a feint against the Minatoga beaches on the southeast coast by the 2nd Marine Division. Coming ashore, Geiger and Hodges men quickly swept across the south-central part of the island capturing the Kadena and Yomitan airfields (Map). Having encountered light resistance, Buckner ordered the 6th Marine Division to begin clearing the northern part of the island. Proceeding up the Ishikawa Isthmus, they battled through rough terrain before encountering the main Japanese defenses on the Motobu Peninsula. Centered on the ridges of Yae-Take, the Japanese mounted a tenacious defense before being overcome on April 18. Two days earlier, the 77th Infantry Division landed on the island of Ie Shima offshore. In five days of fighting, they secured the island and its airfield. During this brief campaign, famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed by Japanese machine gun fire. Grinding South Though fighting in the northern part of the island was concluded in fairly rapid fashion, the southern part proved a different story. Though he did not expect to defeat the Allies, Ushijima sought to make their victory as costly as possible. To this end, he had constructed elaborate systems of fortifications in the rugged terrain of southern Okinawa. Pushing south, Allied troops fought a bitter battle to capture Cactus Ridge on April 8, before moving against Kakazu Ridge. Forming part of Ushijimas Machinato Line, the ridge was a formidable obstacle and an initial American assault was repulsed (Map). Counterattacking, Ushijima sent his men forward on the nights of April 12 and 14, but was turned back both times. Reinforced by the 27th Infantry Division, Hodge launched a massive offensive on April 19 backed by the largest artillery bombardment (324 guns) employed during the island-hopping campaign. In five days of brutal fighting, U.S. troops forced the Japanese to abandon the Machinato Line and fall back to a new line in front of Shuri. As much of the fighting in the south had been conducted by Hodges men, Geigers divisions entered the fray in early May. On May 4, Ushijima again counterattacked, but heavy losses caused him to halt his efforts the next day. Achieving Victory Making skillful use of caves, fortifications, and the terrain, the Japanese clung to the Shuri Line limiting Allied gains and inflicting high losses. Much of the fighting centered on heights known as Sugar Loaf and Conical Hill. In heavy fighting between May 11 and 21, the 96th Infantry Division succeeded in taking the latter and flanking the Japanese position. Taking Shuri, Buckner pursued the retreating Japanese but was hampered by heavy monsoon rains. Assuming a new position on the Kiyan Peninsula, Ushijima prepared to make his last stand. While troops eliminated the IJN forces at Oroku, Buckner pushed south against the new Japanese lines. By June 14, his men had begun to breach Ushijimas final line along the Yaeju Dake Escarpment. Compressing the enemy into three pockets, Buckner sought to eliminate enemy resistance. On June 18, he was killed by enemy artillery while at the front. Command on the island passed to Geiger who became the only Marine to oversee large formations of the U.S. Army during the conflict. Five days later, he turned command over to General Joseph Stilwell.   A veteran of the fighting in China, Stilwell saw the campaign through until its finish. On June 21, the island was declared secure, though fighting lasted another week as the last Japanese forces were mopped up. Defeated, Ushijima committed hara-kiri on June 22. Aftermath One of the longest and costliest battles of the Pacific Theater, Okinawa saw American forces sustain 49,151 casualties (12,520 killed), while the Japanese incurred 117,472 (110,071 killed). In addition, 142,058 civilians became casualties. Though effectively reduced to a wasteland, Okinawa quickly became a key military asset for the Allies as it provided a key fleet anchorage and troop staging areas. In addition, it gave the Allies airfields that were only 350 miles from Japan. Selected Sources U.S. Army: Okinawa - The Last BattleHistoryNet: Battle of OkinawaGlobal Security: Battle of OkinawaU.S. Army: Okinawa - The Last Battle

What Are the Advantages Or Disadvantages of Being Born First free essay sample

The first-born is an only child until the second child comes along -transforming them from being the centre of attention, to then sharing the care of parents. Parents will also expect them to be responsible and set an example. The change from being the focus of a family may be quite a shock and so shape the first-borns subsequent outlook on life. Therefore first-borns may try to get back their parents attention and approval, by achieving success and recognition in their careers. It has been noted that first-borns are significantly more often found as world political leaders than any other birth order position. Being the youngest in the family can sometimes be a stifling and frustrating experience, especially if theyre looking to be taken seriously and treated like an adult. The last-born is more likely than the other birth order positions to take up dangerous sports. This may be a sign of the last-borns rebellious streak a result of being fed up with always being bossed about by everyone in the family. We will write a custom essay sample on What Are the Advantages Or Disadvantages of Being Born First? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Middle children, however, have different issues. Middle c syndrome can mean fee sandwiched between two other more important people – an older sibling who gets all the rights and is treated like an adult and a younger sibling who gets all the privileges and is treated like a spoilt children. Middle-borns have to learn to on with older and younger children and this may contribute to them becoming good negotiators – of all the birth order positions they most skilful at dealing with authority figures and those holding inferior positions. What about only children they are more likely to show interest in academic pursuits rather than physical or outdoor activities. Only children will tend to get more time and attention from their parents than children with /siblings, this will often make them feel special but the downside is that they may suffer occasional pangs^ jealousy and loneliness when friends discuss their brothers and sisters and family life. I think to be a only child is not rather good, because these people are always selfish persons. 3. Mobile madness, do you think mobile phones are generally a good or a bad thing? How important do you think mobile phones are for young people in your country? How do you think mobile phones will change over the next 5 years? Mobile madness is an illness of our century, I think. In my opinion mobile phones as a mean of connection is a very good thing. But this medal has another side†¦ Many children feel themselves really isolated from their friends without mobile phone. They constantly connecting and chatting with each other by internet on the phone with help of such programs as ICQ. In our country mobile phone occupy the important place at the lives of modern people, and at the life of modern children too. Many sociologists say that if this trend continues two things are likely to happen. One is mobile phone addiction, where a person is incapable of forming and maintaining relationships without the help of mobiles. The second: Genuine conversation will be driven out by superficial communication, in which the act of contacting one another is all that matters, leading to a deterioration in the quality of relationships, indeed, the very fabric of society may be threatened. And of course mobile phones w ill change over the next five years, I can suppose that it will be something unusual, and may be something that absolutely won’t be look like our modern mobile phones.

Biology Yeast Experiment Essay Example

Biology Yeast Experiment Essay Example Biology Yeast Experiment Essay Biology Yeast Experiment Essay Design Experiment to investigate the effect of the concentration of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate on the rate of photosynthesis using Cobomba plant. Aim: The aim of the experiment is to investigate the effect of the concentration of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate (NaHC03) on the rate of photosynthesis using a Cobomba plant. Hypothesis: As the concentration of NaHC03 increases the rate of photosynthesis of the Cobomba plant should increase, as there is a greater presence of a carbon dioxide, obtained from the carbonate, which is a key reactant in photosynthesis. However it is also expected that the rate of photosynthesis should plateau with reater amounts of NaHC03, because the Cobomba plant will not be able to use all the extra, available C02 as its enzymes physically do not have the ability to do so. Background Information: When dissolved in water, NaHC03 produces carbon dioxide gas: . As can be seen in the equation for photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is a reactant in photosynthesis: 6 C02 + 12 H20 + photons -+ C6H1206 + 6 02 + 6 H20. The presence of NaHC03 means that C02 is more readily available in larger quantities, to speed up the process of respiration. However if a large amount of C02 is present in the water the Cobomba plant will not be able to use it all, as the nzymes cannot function quick enough. Other limiting factors may also cause the rate to slow, such as light intensity. As can be seen in the equation for photosynthesis, 02 is a product of photosynthesis and thus the rate of photosynthesis can be calculated by the amount of 02 released when photosynthesis occurs. Variables: Independent Dependent Controlled How to measure/control Amount of NaHC03 added to water Using the same weighing scale and weighing boat each time to measure the amount of NaHC03. Also using fresh tap water each time, so that the concentration of NaHC03 would be exact Amount of oxygen released Measured using the water bath and 100cm3 measuring cylinder Temperature of water Stayed in the same room, and used a heat barrier to prevent any heat from the lamp from affecting the rate of photosynthesis. Light intensity Used a lamp, kept in the same position each time to keep the light intensity equal for each repeat. pH of water Used tap water each time, and used fresh tap water for every measurement to ensure no NaHC03 was left in the water. Apparatus Application/Justification 1 x 500cm3 beaker To contain water to allow the NaHC03 to dissolve in 1 x glass funnel To put Cobomba plant under so that oxygen released goes into the easuring cylinder 1 x 10cm3 measuring cylinder To collect oxygen that is released Cobomba plant The plant which will respire and provide the results 5gof NaHC03 It will dissolve in water to release C02 which will affect the rate of respiration 100cm3 measuring cylinder To act as a heat shield from the light Lamp To ensure that the Cobomba plant has a constant light source to enable photosynthesis. Weighing scale and boat To measure the amount of NaHC03 Glass stirring rod To stir the NaHC03 when it is put in water to evenly distribute the concentration Stopwatch To ensure that time lengths are accurate for each time the xperiment is carried out Scissors To cut the Cobomba stem Ruler To measure length of Cobomba plant Method: 1. Measure a length of IOcm of Cobomba plant using the ruler 2. Fill the 500cm3 beaker, up to 500cm3, with tap water and place the Cobomba in the water underneath the glass funnel 3. Place the 10cm3 measuring cylinder upside down on top of the funnel, and ensure that it fills up with water 4. Set up a heat barrier using the 100cm3 measuring cylinder and fill it with water. Place it in between a lamp and the 500cm3 beaker 5. Switch on the lamp and start the timer 6. Once four minutes has passed stop the timer, and note down what the volume of 02 is in the measuring cylinder 7. Start the timer again, and after six minutes stop it. Note down the volume of 02 in the measuring cylinder 8. From this it can be deduced how much 02 has been collected 9. Repeat steps 1-4, but next measure 0. g of NaHC03 using the weighing boat and the weighing scales 10. Add the NaHC03 to the beaker and stir it with the glass rod 11. Start the timer and stop it after four minutes to allow the Cobomba to adjust to the water with added NaHC03, and make sure to note down the volume of 02 after four minutes 12. Then start the timer again for a further so minutes. When this time is up write dow n the volume, and from that it can be deduced how much 02 has been released 13. Repeat steps 10-12, making sure to replace the water in the beaker each time with new water, but adding another 0. gof NaHC03 each time 14. Repeat steps 1-13 a minimum of four more times to allow an average to be obtained Risk Assessment: Risk Precaution Being burnt by the lamp Take care and move slowly Swallowing a large quantity of NaHC03 or getting it in your eyes Do not put NaHC03 near to face 02 Amount of NaHC03 (g) +1- 0. 001 g Volume of 02 collected (cm3) +1- 0. 1 cm3 2 3 4 5 Average (2 s. f) Standard Deviation (2 s. f) 0 0. 2 0. 1 0. 2 0. 1 0. 2 0. 16 0. 05 0. 5 1. 0 1. 5 2. 0 2. 5 0. 2 0. 3 0. 4 0. 6 0. 7 0. 1 0. 8 0. 28 0. 44 0. 72 0. 06 0. 07 0. 05 0. 4 Graph to show the amount of 02 released with different amounts of NaHC03 from photosynthesis attached Discussion: The results show a positive correlation that evidences that as the amount of NaHC03 increases, so does the volume of 02 collected. This shows that NaHC03 speeds up the rate of photosynthesis, as all each amount time the experiment was done the time limits were kept the same but with more NaHC03 the olume of 02 increased. Therefore this partly proves the hypothesis, because it is shown that the addition of more C02, provided by the NaHC03, increases the rate of photosynthesis. However the rate of photosynthesis did not begin to plateau, as the hypothesis had stated. This may have been because there was not a great enough range of measurements of NaHC03 used to allow this pattern to be shown. Evaluation: The time restraints were quite limiting, and had there been more time a greater amount of repeats could have been done which would have allowed a more accurate average to be calculated. A systematic human error was not being able to add the NaHC03 to the water at the same time as starting the stop clock, which means there may have been a difference of a few seconds between each time the experiment was done. The act of measuring was not as precise as it could have been, and to resolve this equipment with a greater degree of accuracy could have been used. Another error was the decision to use small amounts of NaHC03. The consequence of this was that the digits of the results obtained were very small. Not only did this make them hard to measure, but also it meant that there was not a hugely significant ifference with the amounts of NaHC03 added to the water. Furthermore the ratio of for a comparatively large volume of water. Therefore a greater amount of NaHC03 should be used if this experiment were to be repeated again. Another human error was the repeated use of the same Cobomba plant. This may have affected the results, because the plant will have been respiring for a long time and also may still have remains of NaHC03 on it that would not make the next measurement of NaHC03 precise. To solve this the same mass of Cobomba plant, but from a different stem, could have been used each time. However this also poses problems as different stems may respire at different rates in the first place. If time had allowed then the time that the plant was given to respire could have been extended. This would have given a greater volume of 02, and the results may be clearer. An increased range of NaHC03 masses could be used, and this would hopefully show the results as expected in the hypothesis. The light intensity in the room may have changed during the time the experiment was done in, as it was turning into evening, and this may have had an affect on the results. To improve this, the experiment ould have been carried out in a dark room, but with several lamps shining on the beaker with heat barriers in front of them. This would have allowed the light intensity to remain constant. Conclusion: To conclude, it can be seen from the results obtained in the experiment that the rate of photosynthesis of the Cobomba plant increases with an increased amount of NaHC03 in its surrounding water. Therefore this suggests that C02 has an affect on photosynthesis, and that with greater amounts of it available there is a greater rate of photosynthesis. Bibliography: 1B Study Guides, Biology, Oxford, Andrew Allott Appendix: Attached

C. A. Tripps Book Asserts Abraham Lincoln was Gay

C. A. Tripp's Book Asserts Abraham Lincoln was Gay Was Abraham Lincoln gay?  In his  book The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln, historian C.A. Tripps  makes the case that Abraham Lincoln  was indeed gay and had several homosexual relationships throughout his life. However, the controversy surrounding the book overshadowed an important fact that Tripp revealed a fact even his harshest critics accept as true Ann Rutledge was not the love of Lincolns life. Tripps extensive new research proves it simply could not have been the case. And many experts, including Pulitzer Prize-winning Lincoln historian David Herbert Donald now concede it is so. A Firestorm of Debate As you might expect, Tripps book created a firestorm of debate most of it predictable along political lines. The left proclaimed a curious victory saying incorrectly that the book shows beyond all doubt that Lincoln was gay. The right responded angrily that Lincoln could not have been gay since he fathered four sons and they dismissed his so-called encounters as false and malicious. Tripp could not respond. He died two weeks after completing his book and one of the key elements of his work, proving that Lincoln and Rutledge were not star-crossed lovers, is in serious danger of being  ignored. Tripp told a friend shortly before he died that he knew the work would be controversial and that, while he believed he had made his case, he wanted each reader to draw his or her own conclusion. As the books editor, Lewis Gannett puts it: You get to a point where you just shake your head and say, How the hell did [Lincoln] do it? How did he save the union, survive the challenges of his troubled wife Mary, endure the deaths of two sons, preside over the bloodiest era of American history, all the while fending off widespread contempt, and in the end emerge a hero? A secretive, enigmatic, genius hero? With a manic and dirty sense of humor? Who had close and controversial relationships with other men his entire life? Lincoln is far from solved and probably never will be satisfactorily explained but Tripp has made the picture less murky. His accomplishment is stunning. Lincoln Loved Only One Woman And She Was Not Mary Todd For years, historians have assumed that Lincoln loved only one woman, Anne Rutledge and courted Mary Owens before marrying Mary Todd, whom he avoided whenever possible. Tripp, however asserts that Lincoln actually loved none of these women and has sex – though reluctantly only with his wife and mother of his children, Mary Todd. While it has never been proven, several historians contend that Mary Todd suffered from mental illness. â€Å"And it is true that Mary Lincolns actions, as reported by newspapers, often invited criticism from the public,† writes About 18th Century History Expert Robert McNamara. â€Å"She was known to spend money extravagantly, and she was often ridiculed for perceived haughtiness.† Intimate Relationships With Men Tripp contends his research into Lincoln’s private life suggests that his relationships with several men were more intimate  and possibly more sexual than those he had with any of the women he supposedly â€Å"loved.† For example, Tripp asserts that Lincoln shared a narrow  bed with Joshua Speed for at least four years  and that as president, he often shared the presidential bedroom with another man during the many times Mary Todd was â€Å"away.† Early Lincoln biographers, John G. Nicolay and John Hay, called Speed â€Å"The only as he was certainly the last intimate friend that Lincoln ever had.  In their analysis letters from Lincoln to Speed before and after Speed’s eventual marriage in 1842, Nicolay and Hay described Lincoln’s tone as â€Å"fretful,† like that of a military commander before a risky battle. Several of Lincoln’s letters were signed â€Å"Yours forever.†Ã‚   Through a plethora of letters and other personal data, Tripp’s book at least leaves the interpretation that Lincoln might have been gay. The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln by C.A. Tripp was published by the Free Press, a division of Simon Schuster.

Strategic Marketing Promotion Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Marketing Promotion Strategies - Essay Example The product Life Cycle asserts that a product growth has a lifecycle roughly similar to a human's life and eventually it stagnates and dies out. It is due to this that marketers in all companies aim their marketing strategies to keep their products in the growth stage. Impact of Internet on promotional Mix: Over the years the use of Internet marketing has increased and has been successful in its various forms i.e. email marketing and sales through website and links. The impact of Internet activities on promotional mix is that it adds another tool to use along with the promotional mix. Internet marketing is a support function and supports the marketing program. Was Estee Lauder's promotional mix for advanced night repair concentrate appropriate given its stage in product life cycle and the characteristics of the product In what Product life Cycle stage would you classify Estee Lauders Night Repair Concentrate It can be seen from the case study, that Estee Lauders product Night Repair Concentrate has crossed maturity stage and is now in decline stage. This is because they will name the new website www.thelittlebrownbottle.com with the objective of reminding their customers of their history. It can be seen that the company is re-launching the product. I believe that the pro... The impact of Internet activities on promotional mix is that it adds another tool to use along with the promotional mix. Internet marketing is a support function and supports the marketing program. Was Estee Lauder's promotional mix for advanced night repair concentrate appropriate given its stage in product life cycle and the characteristics of the product In what Product life Cycle stage would you classify Estee Lauders Night Repair Concentrate It can be seen from the case study, that Estee Lauders product Night Repair Concentrate has crossed maturity stage and is now in decline stage. This is because they will name the new website www.thelittlebrownbottle.com with the objective of reminding their customers of their history. It can be seen that the company is re-launching the product. I believe that the promotional mix of Estee Lauder is highly appropriate because it keeps in mind the different brand qualities including age, gender and benefits. The use of the website is re-enforcing the same message. They have adequately realized that the Internet savvy young woman, which is their target market, are eventually entering early thirties and require the product. The one disadvantage Internet as a marketing medium has is that it has the lowest level of interaction with the customer. However, using an interactive website with a blogging facility will eventually give the customer a sense of closeness of the product. The promotional tools that Estee Lauder are: Ads on Fashion and beauty websites Beauty and lifestyle blogs Advertising on News sites Sponsor a site on MSN "Night SPA" A TV campaign and a national mall tour Product sampling and demonstrations Generating word of mouth by posting testimonials BTL -mobile night

The Fight Against the Use of Animals for Laboratory Experiments Research Paper

The Fight Against the Use of Animals for Laboratory Experiments - Research Paper Example As of today, it is estimated that over 100 million animals are used every year worldwide for laboratory experiments. Several animal species are used such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, fish, birds, dogs, and primates (Animal Aid Youth Group 1), where 75% of these animals accounts for rodents and cold-blooded animals. Animal protection societies have two different views and approaches to vivisection. One is the abolitionist view which believes that animal experiments are ethically wrong. They are the people concerned of the welfare who try to improve the conditions and treatments of animals used in experiments. The two views may be deemed as different but looking closely to the ideals and visions of both will show that they are closely aligned with each other. Both groups support the three R's approach - Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. â€Å"Abolitionists would favor complete replacement, whereas welfarist would view reduction and refinement as steps along the way to co mplete replacement† (Yarri 194). ... This includes testing of animals on how memory works in the brain or on how to toxic substances affect the liver. Though some scientists believe that the fundamental research contributes indirectly to the advancement and development of active ingredients and therapies, anti-vivisectionist says that these finding are all overestimated (Animal Welfare Online). Next to fundamental research, the biomedical research accounts for the second largest area for animal research. The study specifically aims to study the prevention and treatment of diseases as well as the genetic and environmental factors related to disease and health. It is believed that human and veterinary medicine had relied on animal experimentation for its advancement at some degree. However, as the technology improved over the past decades an alternative in-vitro methods have been utilized such as using cell, tissues and organs culture have greatly reduced the need of biomedical research (ANZCCART Australia 11). Anti-vivis ectionists also believe that instead of focusing on the diagnosis and control of disease through biomedical research, scientists and researchers should focus more on preventative medicines and the promotion of healthier lifestyles – especially epidemiology, human clinical trials, and other alternatives (Animal Welfare Online). In addition, advancements in science had stimulated the increased growth in genetic engineering. This involves the modification of genes to produce transgenetic animals. The requirement for this research is highly extensive since one transgenetic individual would need around 150 to 200 animals of the same species in order to have a successful research. This method usually results to adverse effects in animals â€Å"such as development of

Scaling Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Scaling Study - Essay Example Likewise, personal space is apparent in a broad range of situations – even in crowded conditions where in the physical space is very limited. An example of such situation happens in trains which are always packed with passengers. In this case, people engage in certain behaviors in order to maintain their personal space given the lack of physical space. Moreover, though it is not a physical concept, it is possible to quantitatively measure personal space through the use of a dimensional scale. In an attempt to do so, a questionnaire, in the form of a verbal frequency scale, was developed that contain ten items, describing different spacing behaviors that people engage in. In order to be more specific, these behaviors were limited to those commonly exhibited in the train – being a common setting for personal space studies. For each item, five response options were provided which are coded from 1 to 5 – the highest score corresponding to â€Å"Always† and the lowest to â€Å"Never†. However, there are two different types of items made – negatively and positively stated statements, respectively – such that coding of responses was reversed for those items which are negatively stated. The total scores for all the items would be added and the average would be computed. Given this scoring, the variable, personal space, can be operationally defined as the degree to which individuals engage in different behaviors in order to prevent interpersonal relations. The assumption is that individuals who keep a large personal space are likely to engage to different spacing behaviors; hence, a high score in the test entails a large personal space. Validity Measures In order to guarantee that that the questionnaire would measure what it is supposed to measure, two types of validity were established prior to the administration of the questionnaires. First, the content validity of the questionnaire was established by creating items tha t were all based on observations made by previous researchers in their studies of personal spacing behaviors in the train. As such, previous observations found in published journals were translated into personal statements that constitute the items covered. Second, while it is not a good indication of usefulness, the face validity of the questionnaire was maintained in order to appear acceptable and relevant to the respondents. The questions were worded in a simple manner to facilitate better understanding. Also, the questionnaire was formatted to the convenience of the respondents such that they would only have to encircle their response for each item. After establishing content and face validities, the questionnaires were then administered to ten respondents who can easily be contacted by the researcher any time. In order to ensure that the respondents can relate to the questions covered, only regular train passengers were chosen to participate in the study. Consequently, the same questionnaires were again administered to the same respondents after a period of one week in order to confirm the stability of results. All responses were coded and inputted in statistical software for analysis. Based on the results, the respondents scored high in the variable that was measured. This means that people do engage in certain activities and behaviors that would protect their personal space. These findings confirm the established theories and expectations on the said topic. As such, it can be deduced that the question

Law of International Dispute Resolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Law of International Dispute Resolution - Essay Example The Treaty of Rome, in establishing the EEC in 1958, conceptualized a dynamic Europe to be an integrated regional economic and political union, "providing governance for a common market and organizing the steady growth of economic interdependence between the Member States". This new European environment which sharply defied the prevailing Westphalian state model - based on territoriality and autonomy - sought to engage states in an "international contractual arrangement that establishes authority structures superseding territorial boundaries and transgressing autonomy". Such a task was achieved by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) through the constitutionalisation of the Treaty of Rome, consequently cementing the "legal foundation for an integrated European economy and polity" and by the subsequent Treaties that followed. The most significant feature of the European Court of Justice is undoubtedly the doctrine of supremacy of Community law, which has continued to be the cause of much confusion and controversy regarding its actual Treaty position and entailment. The EC Treaty does not expressly provide for supremacy - there is no Article which clearly states that Community law is supreme over the national laws of the Member States - however, certain Articles of the EC Treaty impliedly require supremacy to be in effect. I will argue that in order to fulfil the main objectives of fostering integration stipulated by the Treaty of Rome, Community law requires supremacy of the ECJ which is provided through the interpretation of the European Community Treaties and case laws - whether categorically imposed or not. The need for an effective and uniform EC law applying within national legal orders in compliance to a voluntary limitation of sovereignty by Member States is critical to the concept of integration. By considering the fact that supremacy is ultimately perceived throughout national courts to be a monolithic holy concept which bears tremendous implications if removed or limited, the question is then raised as to how Member States receive the 'supreme nature' of Community Law. In attempting to clarify the need for a supreme legal authority for integration, I will examine the supremacy of EC law and state its Treaty position with particular emphasis on significant case-laws that have shaped the supremacy debate. Furthermore, I will observe the Constitutionalisation of the Treaty system, looking at the interplay of the doctrine of direct effect and doctrine of supremacy; under what conditions Member States might be provoked to challenge the authority of the ECJ; the expanding competence of the ECJ which now includes a political and judicial interplay of decision-making; and conclude with a look at what the Constitutional Treaty would have signified in terms of legalizing the doctrine of supremacy and how the rejection has started questioning whether the Community law should be considered above and beyond national laws and if it has gone too far already. The role of the European Court of Justice in developing the legal means for the integration process and constructing a constitution from the Treaty of Rome

Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Education - Research Paper Example The younger population enrolled in academic institutions is just as important to a country as the workforce is to the organization. This is due to the reason that this youth or the children will be the workforce of the country in coming years. They will take up important positions in the society as doctors, engineers, artists, soldiers, politicians and many of them will run the primary institutions of the country. Therefore, it becomes crucial to ensure that the students are placed in the right set of subjects. It means that the student gets the support to study those courses that relates to their natural talents and they get to choose the careers of interest consequently. It is more proficient and less tedious to polish the naturals than to expect good output from them and ambition to grow in fields which oppose their in-born talents. Moreover, the need of students to get to learn in a creative environment which brings out the best in them also becomes important. However, bringing o ut the best from a student doesn’t solely rely on the curriculum design, teacher’s behavior or the environment. Everyone is aware with the power of individual’s passion and interest in subjects to excel in different fields of education. It is evident in various studies that an individual is more creative and focused to the subjects of their interest. They tend to be more willing and enthusiastic about taking challenging tasks in fields that are of interest to them and are relevant to their skills and passion. A forced attempt to study courses that the student dislikes, create negative impacts on a student’s behavior. The effects are far reaching on student’s academic performance and later on their job performance too. A student who has a clear aim in mind and tends to follow a career in a field where they are naturally talented is more competitive, views the challenges as stages of a tournament, and measures the success in terms of better grades an d self satisfaction (O’Leary, 1985). Psychologically speaking, an individual who is forced to study or persuaded a career which is not of their choice forms feeling of rebellion in them. Students who are naturally talented with numbers will take up on challenging problems with great enthusiasm. However, a student who has little aptitude with numbers will find themselves shirking away from the unpleasant task. Many times the resulting loss of grade and performance doesn’t matter to the student as long as they can avoid a subject which they don’t like. Student behavior is a vastly studied phenomenon; the studies tend to uncover the underlying reasons for student’s boisterous behavior in the learning environment. The students are known to divert their feelings of unrest and lack of confidence by adopting a rowdy behavior, by disturbing others and also by refusing to take part in the classroom activity. Learning skills and knowledge in fields which resonate w ith student’s natural talents create a feeling of confidence and self satisfaction which can’t be instilled more efficiently in the student’s behavior in any other way. Education systems are typically based on the belief that through a continual teaching students can be made to learn skills and practices related to multiple fields even if they aren’t in frequency with the natural gifts in students. We can observe from our schooling experiences that there are more

Financial Instruments Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Financial Instruments - Case Study Example For instance, debt financing bears high financial risk due to high leveraging of the company and this may lead to legal action and bankruptcy proceedings in case of default on interest payment (Henderson, Peirson & Harris, 2003). The company should consider the risk of losing control since convertible notes providers may request for directorship position in order to protect their interests in the firm. The best source is cumulative preference shares since dividends will be paid when the company finally makes profits (Henderson, Peirson & Harris, 2003). The company should also consider the flexibility and availability of the source of finance. For example, it is easy to issue redeemable preference shares since it is readily available and can be redeemed in the future. The company should also consider the tax implications of the source of finance. For instance, debt payments are tax deductable and thus it should use debt financing when the tax rate is high in order to protect the company income from the high taxes (Henderson, Peirson & Harris, 2003). The company should also consider the growth rate of the firm. For instance, the company should use debt financing during high growth cycles since the high revenues will offset the interest payments (Henderson, Peirson & Harris,

The Business process of the Ferrero organization

The Business process of the Ferrero organization Introduction For my Business Process module of the BA Business Enterprise course I looked into several companies, some small and some large. However, still undecided on which company to pursue, I took a walk to my local shop to buy my two sons a special treat. The shop has a vast array of goodies for children including both chocolate and toys. My two boys both wanted a Kinder Surprise egg as they get both chocolate and a toy. This made me think, I remember Kinder Surprise eggs when I was a small boy and how excited I use to get when I went to the shop to buy one. This made me think, how a product can maintain the reputation, sales and recognition from generation to generation without fading away or being challenged by competitors? With all this in mind I decided to base my project on the Ferrero Company. During the research gathering process I have compiled the following reasons why Ferrero will be an ideal company for my project:- Massive company growth and Globalisation Multi Generational Marketing (Kinder Surprise Egg) Devotion and relationship with all their employees Outstanding contribution to the community Problems the company has faced in the past Strategic advantage over competitors Dedication to their Corporate and Social Responsibility Utilising IT development to enhance distribution Relationship with competitors One of the top ten confectioners in the world This project (Course work 1) will introduce you to the Ferrero Company itself, its fantastic history and I will also talk about its massive global success. I will explain the Organisational structure of the company, the five levels of resources (Strategic, Tangible, Intangible, Unique and Core Competences) and compile a PESTEL report. Ferrero The Beginning Born in 1898, Pietro Ferrero began his career as a pastry maker in Dogliani, Italy. He opened his first pastry shop in Turin but was forced to move to Alba during World War II. Ferrero sought to develop new products in order to overcome the short supply of traditional pastry ingredients. By the end of the war, Ferrero had developed a new spread which combined hazelnuts, cocoa butter and vegetable oil. Ferrero called the paste pasta gianduja which he began selling in 1946. In that year his brother, Giovanni and son, Michele joined the company which had now been incorporated as Ferrero SpA. By the end of 1946 the company had employed more than 50 workers and had approx 200 delivery vans distributing their product around Italy. In their first year sales had topped  £660, Ferrero began contracting farmers to ensure the supply of hazelnuts continued and at the same time improving their quality. 1948 On 4th September 1948 a huge flood had isolated the factory and put its existence in great danger. However, due to the fantastic relationship the family had with all their workers, they all; including Pietro and Giovanni worked solidly for 4 days and 4 nights in order to save the factory. On 2nd March 1949, Pietro Ferrero died aged 51, his brother Giovanni took the Helm. The 50s By the 1950s Ferrero had developed its own efficient distribution network around Italy and opened several depots. By 1954 Ferrero was a household name in Italy. 1956 In 1956 Ferrero opened its first factory abroad in Stadallendorf, Germany. They produced just two products for the German market and both had an extraordinary success. 1957 Giovanni Ferrero died in 1957 and Michele Ferrero took the helm. Michele renewed the production plants in order to boost production through increased technology and sophisticated machinery The 60s Ferrero moved into France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, UK, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland. In 1964 Michele Ferrero created Nutella In 1968 he launched the Kinder Chocolate, especially made for children. The 70s 80s Ferrero USA opened in 1969 followed by Canada, Latin America, South East Asia and Australia. By the 1980s Ferrero was strategically placed in all five continents. In 1985 two new production plants were opened in Southern Italy to help the people devastated by the Irpinia earthquake. The 90s Ferrero developed into Eastern Europe including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic along with a new plant in Poland. Again in November a terrible flood hit Italy killing many people and damaging the Alba plant. Production was interrupted but just like back in 1948, the employees worked alongside the Ferrero to rebuild the plant and get back on its feet. Some of the employees helping to rebuild the plant had just lost their homes to the flood. In 1997, Michele Ferreros sons Pietro and Giovanni became Chief Executive Officers of Ferrero International. The 2000s In 2006 a new production plant in Canada was opened and by 2009 there was more than 20,000 employees worldwide, over 20 different products and a turnover of more than 6 billion Euros. Business Units Years Production Plants Years Germany 1956 Italy Alba 1946 Belgium 1958 Germany 1956 France 1960 France 1960 Italy 1964 Italy Pozzuolo 1965 United Kingdom 1966 Australia 1974 Switzerland 1966 Ireland 1975 Sweden 1968 Ecuador 1975 Austria 1971 Italy Balvano 1985 Ireland 1975 Italy SantAngelo 1985 Netherlands 1980 Belgium 1989 Spain 1988 Poland 1992 Poland 1992 Argentina 1992 Luxembourg 1993 Brazil 1994 Hungary 1994 Canada 2006 Czech Republic 1994 Cameroon 2006 Russia 1997 India 2007 Ukraine 2003 South Africa 2007 Croatia 2003 Russia 2009 Greece 2005 Repackaging Centre Years Romania 2006 United States 1969 USA 1969 Social Enterprises Years Canada 1974 Cameroon 2004 Australia 1974 South Africa 2005 Puerto Rico 1975 India 2007 Hong Kong 1976 Japan 1978 Argentina 1992 Mexico 1992 Brazil 1994 Sri Lanka 2004 India 2004 South Africa 2004 Turkey 2005 China 2006 Ferreros main competitors are Kraft Foods, Mars and Nestle, however you will see in Course work 2 how integrating with the competitors can be of a huge benefit to all parties and the environment. Success I believe Ferrero is one of the world leaders when it comes to business growth and success, this I have measured by the following means Phenominal amount of Global business units and Production plants Amount of Employees The annual turnover Their ability to develop their own production machinery in order to gain a strategic advantage over competitors Their use of Multi Generational marketing (Kinder Surprise) Their contribution to society and charitable work Annual profit of  £6 billion More than 20 different products From the small pastry shop in 1946, Ferrero has become according to Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/2009/05/06/world-reputable-companies-leadership-reputation-table.html) the worlds most reputable company as of May 2009. As shown by the history of Ferrero, the growth of the company has been outstanding; this is mainly due to the passion and commitment of its owners and employees as well as the development of its unique brands and its commitment to develop its own production machinery to maintain its strategic edge. Ferrero group dedicate a lot of their time and money into other schemes such as Opera Sociale set up as a group to help and welcome retired employees and give them a sense of belonging. Social Enterprises, Ferreros commitment to enhancing the living conditions and develop the populations in some of the poorest areas in the world. United Kinder of the World, is set up to enhance the health and development of children and young people. Kinder + Sport, developed to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage sports. Since 2007, Kinder + Sport has involved more than 6 million children worldwide in activities in 17 countries. Has you can see Ferreros success isnt just measured by the amount of awards it has won or the amount of profit it has made. I believe the level of success that Ferrero has achieved can be seen on the faces of the people and children that the company aid as well as the commitment by all employees. The company Moto of Work, Create, Donate is a clear target of what the company aims to achieve and clearly they have achieved this, thus successful. Organisational Structure The table below displays the number of employees and how it is subdivided; these figures are taken from the CSR Report 2009, Number of Employees As of 31/08/2009 Workers 12,993 (60%) Employees 6,067 (28%) Executives and Officers 1,724 (8%) Managers 771 (4%) Total 21,555 Type of Contract As of 31/08/2009 Indefinite Contracts 17,460 (81%) Fixed Term Contracts 4,095 (Including seasonal workers 11%, interns 1% and fixed term contracts 7%) Total 21,555 44% of employees are women and 56% are men. 83% of staff are based in Europe The Ferrero Company is based around a Functional Structure with their main Headquarters being in Italy. The Ferrero board will meet and discuss initiatives and business and then forward on their decisions to each Director of each separate sub company i.e. Ferrero Belgium Ferrero Germany. The companies are run in a mirror image scenario, each sub company will have its own HR team, Production team, marketing and purchasing team. However each sub company will run exactly like each other in respect of what product they are producing, how the HR Function is run and where they get their produce. The only difference will come from the marketing team because each country has a different social network and need. The Ferrero Company also works on Standardising inputs and outputs model. Each sub company are standardised to what they produce, how they produce it, how the HR Function is run, where they get their produce and how their staff are trained. Ferrero have endorsed a huge training package for all employees run by the Ferrero Learning Lab which encompasses several training packages to cover all aspects i.e. Managerial, Nutritional and technical. With this standardisation approach, Ferrero have been able to offer exactly what they do national but globally, without any major issues and disparity. PESTEL Analysis FERRERO Pestel Analysis Political Negative Positive With any company dealing globally, the risk of countries becoming unstable and possible war is always going to be a risk to production and distribution worldwide. Ferrero has grown considerably since 1946; this has been possible due to the rapid increase in the European Union, from starting out with 6 members it has now grown to having 27 member states. This growth has allowed for the harmonisation between several countries and its overseas distributions and has allowed for easier expansion through standardised strategies. Ferreros continued support to its Social Responsibilities, mainly that of its support to third world countries has allowed for an excellent relationship and reputation world wide, this has assisted Ferrero with its continued growth throughout these countries. Economic Negative Positive Increase in VAT rate and import costs may have an affect on consumer purchasing and may increase the price on products due to both these increases. Price increase on products may not affect sales due to extremely strong brand reputation with the consumers. Ferrero and Mars have teamed up on a joint distribution initiative, both products will be distributed to the same warehouse and then both distributed out together. This will decrease the distribution costs. Social Negative Positive Sales of confectionary products as a whole decrease during summer months. (see graphs below) Kinder Surprise egg utilises Multi Generational Marketing and has become a collectible item worldwide. Each country produces its own toys in respect to its countries niche at the time. E.g. Super mini Smurf parade issued in Germany. It is a well known fact that more chocolate is sold at Christmas and Easter than any other times and will continue to do so. The reputation institute in New York awarded Ferrero 1st Place as the company with the best overall reputation with the consumer public. Excellent long term relationships with suppliers. Technological Negative Positive Ferrero implemented the SAP Extended warehouse development application which will increase distribution, decrease wastage, increase production, increase distribution timeliness and maximise storage capacities. Ferrero have developed at least 50% of their own production machinery and technology in order to hold a strategic advantage over their competitors. Environmental Negative Positive The prospects of global warming will always be an issue with regards to growing and producing its raw materials i.e. Cocoa, palm oil and sugar cane. Ferrero prides itself on its contribution to protecting the environment and is actively contributing to saving energy and increasing raw material production. The Corporate Social Responsibility report 2009 details all contributions and future projects Ferrero have implemented and are implementing. The 5R recycling project by Ferrero on all packaging it produces helps the environment and the companys reputation. Legal Negative Positive The Kinder Surprise Egg was banned in the USA since 1997 due to the Consumer Product Safety Commission deeming it being a hazard to small children because it may contain a choking hazard. The Egg also falls foul to the US 1938 Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic act which prohibit embedding non-nutritive items in confections. Ferrero counter acted the US Laws by producing and selling the Kinder chocolate without the surprise, this was again a huge success. The Kinder Surprise egg however, is still sold illegally around the US by shops importing them in from other countries. The law as made the Kinder Egg some what a highly sort collectible in the US and as indirectly assisted in the marketing of the egg. This graph below shows the average sales of the Sugar and Chocolate sales throughout the year (calculated in weeks). As mentioned in the PESTEL Report the summer moves takes a clear dip in sales. The graph below shows Ferreros annual turnover in 2006 driven by season. The red line represents the average sale during the year. As you can see 80% of sales were achieved out of the summer months and only 20% during the summer months. Resources Strategic Capabilities Tangible Resources Intangible Resources Unique Resources Core Competencies Produce 50% of its own production machinery and technology Ferrero have production plants and offices worldwide Excellent worldwide reputation Powerful brand name with the Kinder Surprise and TIC TAC mints Kinder surprise has become a collectors item worldwide and will continue to do so The new implementation of the new distribution and warehousing IT software All employees are motivated and made to feel like part of the Ferrero family High level of training provided Developed their own unique product the chocolate and hazelnut paste Cremino Teamed up with Mars to increase distribution speed and cut cost and help cut down CO2 emissions Excellent Training and Human resource management Unique ties with raw material sources worldwide Multi generational marketing Coursework 2 CW2 will be focussing on Ferreros Value chain, Supply chain management, SWOT Analysis and I will be make my own conclusions and recommendations on Ferrero