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Work Life Balance in Economic downturn

Question: Compose an exposition on work life balance in monetary downturn. Answer: Presentation The report targets examining one...

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

In response to Nietzsche Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

In response to Nietzsche - Essay Example Nietzsche further asserts that truth is a social construct that completely depends on human language for its existence. Since language comprises of the signifiers to objects and experiences in human beings’ life, truth cannot exist as a separate entity outside human experience. Necessarily a truth is colored by a man’s experiences and perceptions of the truth itself. When truth dwells in a metaphysical level, its perception is embodied trough human-induced language constructs like metaphors or metonymies, as Nietzsche says in this regard: â€Å"What is truth then? A mobile army of metaphors, metonymies, anthropomorphisms, in short a sum of human relations that are elevated, transmitted, beautified in a poetic or rhetoric manner, and that appear to the people after a long usage as fixed, canonical and binding† (Nietzsche 45) Indeed perspectivism is a crucial term in understanding the validity of Nietzsche’s concept of truth. Nietzsche claims that â€Å"tru ths are illusions of which one has forgotten they are illusions, metaphors that are worn out and literally became powerless† (Nietzsche 45). But the problem that arises here is whether Nietzsche is true. While â€Å"there is no truth† according to Nietzsche, the question is how the truthfulness of Nietzsche’s claim can be validated. Obviously Nietzsche himself is aware of the conundrum that his concept of truth may develop. In response to this question, Nietzsche assumes that truths are socially established collective perspectives about something which are collaborative with other human experiences. Subsequently there may be another truth claimed by a philosopher. But according to this different truth about something is the said philosopher’s own perspective which has been induced and modulated by different context and experience with which he or she happens to be familiar with. Therefore when a philosopher claims any idea or anything as true, he or she is prejudiced and ignorant of different contexts which might lead him to a different conclusion. In his book, â€Å"Beyond Good and Evil† Nietzsche discusses this very postulation of perspectivism and its relation with the philosophers’ prejudices about truth. In the beginning chapter called â€Å"On the Prejudices of Philosophers†, he comments that though a traditional philosopher may claim any of his idea as the product of pure reasons and, therefore, as something true, there can be a different truth, about the same thing, which is the product of different reasoning. Indeed reasons and reasoning can be different from individual to individual, since reasons themselves, in some ways or others, are the products of individual experiences and perspectives. Therefore, a cluster of experiences which is same for a group of people may give birth to a cluster of perspectives which itself may lead to a conclusion assumed as a truth. In the same manner, a different cluster of experiences about the same may lead to a different truth. The problem of traditional philosophers is that they attempt to prove their perspectives (according to Nietzsche, their prejudices) as the universal truth. Referring to this problem, Nietzsche comments: â€Å"They pose as having discovered and attained their real opinions through the self-evolution of a cold, pure, divinely unperturbed dialectic: while what happens at bottom is that a prejudice, a notion, an ‘inspiration,’ generally a desire of the heart sifted and made abstract, is defended by them with reasons sought after the event†

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Social Cognitive Perspective and Phenomenological Perspective

Social Cognitive Perspective and Phenomenological Perspective The quoted text is taken from Social Psychology (Hollway et al 2007, p.35). It challenges the accountability of certain methods in their ability to accurately reflect the reality of social phenomena. Implicitly understood in this statement is that qualitative methods are better suited than quantitative methods. Qualitative methods are better able to reflect richness and complexity of lived experience than quantitative methods which are capable of limiting, constraining and distorting it. This is a polemical stance that has accompanied the growth in qualitative methods since the 1980s. The Social Cognitive Perspective (SCP) and Phenomenological Perspective (PP) demonstrate how strikingly different methods can be. They have different epistemological stances and make different ontological claims. The nature of being (ontology) is understood differently in social psychology, such as the information-processing individual in a social context (SCP) or the experiencing, embodied individual in relation with  others (PP). Limitations and benefits of the SCP and the PP are illustrated by a critical review of Milgrams 1970s experiment on obedience to authority and the works of Eatough and Smith (2006) on feelings of anger in the context of the lives of individual women. Gregen, K.J. (1973) in his account of social psychology as History gave voice to a debate about the relative merits of social psychology methods. In particular whether social psychology as a discipline was scientific in nature or should be considered as contemporary history. Gregen argued that social psychology was a product of historical and cultural climates which constantly changed, producing theories and knowledge that did not prove to be consistent. In this light it was suggested that the prevailing quantitative scientific methods should give way to more descriptive accounts with appreciation for how knowledge is situated within a social-cultural-historic context. These themes of situated knowledge are highlighted by Milgrams findings on obedience to authority. Milgram demonstrated through his experimental conditions the potential for acts of cruelty to be committed by a stranger (research participant and executant) to another stranger (researcher assistant and victim) because they were following orders (researcher and authority figure). His findings have been widely cited and used in psychological text books as factual scientific accounts. They have however been criticised on a number of ethical and substantive terms (Holloway et al 2007, p.53). For example Milgram recorded that participants were observed to sweat, tremble, stutter, bite their lips, and groan as they found themselves implicated (Milgram, 1977, p. 112; in Holloway et al 2007, p.54). The use of deception and unnecessary stress to research participants is seen by many as being unjustifiable. Milgram himself was less concerned with the immediate distress caused and was satisfied that questionnaires sent after one year showed participants felt positively towards the experiment (Milgram, 1974, p.195 within Hollway et al 2007, p.52). In Milgrams time research ethics were not as developed as they are today. Arguably the overall benefit of the research was deemed more important than any minor stress caused. This insight is perhaps justifiable given Milgrams interest in trying to understand how hatred and persecution of Jews under Hitlers Nazi Germany could have happened. Milgrams experimental conditions in which one agent commands another to hurt a third reflected his underlying theory that elements of authority, executant and victim were central to obedience and hostility (Milligram, 1977, p.102; in Holloway et al 2007, p.53). Apart from ethics critics such as Harre 1979, p.105 argues that there are substantive problems with his study. Harre notes that the issue of trust was overlooked; trust as a possible response to power was likely key to participants behaviour as an executants. In fact 40% of participants did not follow the instruction to inflict pain on the victim, however these accounts are given little attention. Similarly the research setting was changed because of a perceived influence of Yale University on giving authority to the instruction to the executant. It was moved from the universitys laboratory to the basement and then to a nearby town called Bridgeport. But, Milgram, 1977, p. 116 believed that the level of obedience in Bridgeport, although somewhat reduced, was not significantly lower than that obtained at Yale with 48% vs. 65% opposed. 17% between sites can be interpreted as statistically significant (Holloway et al 2007, p.53). Ultimately the reliability and validity of Milgrams findings can be questioned on a number of points. Although Milgram sort scientific objectivity he failed to consider ethical questions fully, did not explore the relevance of the research settings or participants personal experiences. PP provides an interesting perspective to juxtapose with traditional scientific methods. It has in its own right a long established history dating back to the C18th from philosophical works by Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Jean-Paul Sartre, et al (Smith Woodruff 2009). As an approach to social psychology it became popular alongside a humanistic perspective in USA during the second half of the C20th. It seeks detailed descriptions instead of explanations for human behaviour, addressing all aspects of a topic, and suspending judgements and assumptions that may be held by the researcher (Hollway et al 2007, p131). Linda Finlay (2009) in Debating Phenomenological Research Methods acknowledges that variations in methodology have flourished within PP. The competing visions of how to practice phenomenology stem from different philosophical values, theoretical preferences, and methodological procedures. Smiths Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is however one that has become popular. Smith argues that his idiographic and inductive method, which seeks to explore participants personal lived experiences, is phenomenological in its concern for individuals perceptions. He also, however, identifies more strongly with hermeneutic traditions which recognize the central role played by the researcher, and does not advocate the use of bracketing (Smith, 2004). The competing visions of how to practice phenomenology stem from different philosophical values, theoretical preferences, and methodological procedures. Eatough and Smith (2006) used interpretative phenomenological analysis of feelings of anger in the context of the lives of individual women. Specifically they used descriptive tools to explore three analytic themes the subjective experience of anger, forms and contexts of aggression, and anger as moral judgment. They concluded that mean making is a fundamental process in how the participants formed emotions. The descriptive accounts from the interviews with Marilyn (one of the research participants) were given as a case in point. Eatough and Smith (2006) believed that Marilyns anger towards her mother was changed by her self-reflections and counselling. It can be argued that richness and complexity provided by PP in its account of womens anger by Eatough and Smith (2006) far outreaches that by its SCP counterparts. The SCP remains however the dominant perspective in social psychology and has been helped by innovations in research methods. For example, Fazio et al (1995) work that has built on the concepts of cognitive errors and biases implicated in prejudice thinking (Fiske and Taylor, 1991). Their research has suggested that subtle forms of prejudice are now more pervasive than blatant forms. Their experiment measured response times of white undergraduates when classifying stimulus words as either being positive or negative meaning; after viewing random photos of black and white faces. They found evidence of inhibition and facilitation effects which were largely automatic, unconscious associations, between the colour of faces and positive or negative evaluations. In conclusion, the quoted text implicitly suggests that methods such as those used by SCP can be limiting, constraining and distorting but perhaps this is only half the story. Although quantification can be accused of being myopic, failing to appreciate richness and complexity in the account of the social phenomena under question they often do so knowingly. The scientific tradition of looking for cause and effect relationships in social psychology continues to be dominant over other methodologies. This reflects the willingness of the discipline to continue to strive for objectivism, statistical reliability and validity, and ultimately for the advancement of practical application. Moreover, as Gregen, K.J. (1973) noted social psychology methods are constantly adapting and evolving the work of Fazio et al (1995) on subtle forms of prejudice being testament to this. In contrast richness and complexity of qualitative methods such as PP often comes at a cost as the research is time-consu ming may have limited practical application.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Native American Remedies Essay -- Medicine Culture Papers

Native American Remedies "Mike Spring, paralyzed from the waist... down and in constant pain, sailed to the Azores and back. On his return, he confounded his TV interviewer with the statement that the only way he was able to obtain relief from the pain that continually racked his body was to press his back to an oak tree. This simple and cost-free action would then afford him several hours of complete relief and helped him to carry on in life. When asked for a scientific explanation, Mr. Spring replied that he had none-- it simply worked! He had heard of the treatment from an American Indian source and had been using it successfully for years" (Psychology of Healing- Murry Hope 89). How can that possibly be? A tree curing backaches? He must have been taking some aspirin, too, many of us assume. It is not uncommon for a person in Western culture to be thinking this way. We were raised with the belief that our medical society largely based on chemical concoctions is powerful because it has cures for everything from various cancers all the way down the list to the common cold. Don't get me wrong, the medical profession is quite effective, but for several generations, Native Americans have been using herbs to cure aches and pains, and various other illnesses. Many of the herbs used by Native Americans are the ones you can actually find in aspirin and other medications today. In fact, many ingredients used in various modern medications are actually derived from Native American cultures. Herbal medicine is being reintroduced through various forms of alternative medicine. Out on the market we see aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbology, and many more forms of alternative medicine. Herbology is a practice which seeks to heal... ...out injecting chemicals such as morphine, demerol, oxycodone, and hydrocodone into your blood stream? How different is it really to seek cures from artificial hospital rooms than it is to look for cures from nature? Works Cited Allen, Paula Gunn. Grandmothers of the Light. Boston: Beacon Press, 1991. Croft, Prof. Candance, Personal Interview. 9 Feb. 1999. Hope, Murry. The Psychology of Healing. Great Britain: Element Books, 1989. Wolf, Melinda. "Alternative Medicine: A journey to proactive healthcare." CNI Newspapers (Wauwatosa) 25 Feb. 1999. Wolf, Melinda. " Alternative Medicine: Yoga, t'ai chi, aromatherapy keep body healthy." CNI Newspapers (Wauwatosa) 4 Mar. 1999. Workshop on Alternative Medicine. Alternative Medicine: Expanding Medical Horizons. Chantilly, VA: 1992. Zimmerman, Larry J. Native North America. London, England: 1996.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Leadership and Management in Nursing Essay

Nursing is a very demanding and dedicated profession and the current shortage is a serious problem at all levels of nursing and is the dearth of leaders among nurses. Leadership and management are essential skills for all qualified healthcare professionals and have a pivotal role in ensuring a delivery of high standards of care. Developing future nurse leaders is one of the greatest challenges faced by the nursing profession, (Mahoney, 2001). The author is currently working as a midwife in one of the big hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The average deliveries per month are 500-600. There are 22 midwives in this unit and there are eight vacant posts for midwives . Due to the shortage of midwives, these professional staffs are subjected to personal and work related stress. Preston et, al. (1981) defined stress as an adaptive response, mediated by individual characteristics or psychological processes. The negative effects of stress could be evident in staff absenteeism, hostility, and aggression. This will impair the provision of quality care and the effective functioning of the organization. (Healy & McKay, 1999). The adverse effect of workload and stress in the author’s placement has lead to an alarming high staff turnover. Apparently, the increased workload has affected the staff performances and the quality of nursing care. When the staff feel that they are not cared for, then they find it difficult to care for patients ( Atwater & Bass 1994, Lancaster 1999). In this assignment, the author will explore the various leadership styles and their theories and also distinguish the functions between leadership and management. The author will also critically explore the manager’s leadership practice in labor and delivery suite, thus creating a culture of reducing stress. The link of leadership style from the aspect of work, environment, communication, empowerment, delegation, implications, conclusion and recommendations will be discussed further. Leaders are not someone who holds top position but also able to give assistance to others, (Mahoney, 2001). Whereas in my placement, the head nurse, who is the leader, never gives a helping hand during the deliveries. She anticipates the midwives to conduct and manage the deliveries, even though there’s shortage of staff. The nurse manager has to prepare the correct number of staff on each shift with the credentials to do the job and must be aware of the policies regarding overtime, floating from one unit to another. She must form a competent team and manage them to carry out the plan for reaching the goal of excellent patient care. Effective leaders are not merely someone who is skillful but they must acquire good attitudes, (Cook, 2001). The nurse manager must understand the factors surrounding the current situation in the unit and have the knowledge of various approaches to leadership that will help to understand and determine the best leadership approach to create a positive work environment to reduce stress. Leadership is defined as the ability to influence, inspire and motivate a group of people towards the achievement of its goal, (Yuki, 2002). Management is a process of getting things done effectively through planning and organization of services which is one of the basic function of management whereas the leader is an intermediary between work group and the top management, (Marquis and Huston, 2006). The manager uses a formal and rational method whilst the leader uses passions and stirs emotions. Without enabling and empowering nursing leadership, efforts to improve the quality and safety of healthcare will be limited and short-lived, as said by Kelly (2008). For a leader to achieve the goal, she must have the three essential things which are power, authority and influence to act in a way that will stimulate a positive respond from the staff (Tomey, 2009). Leaders will emerge when nurses feel valued and inspired to strive for excellence. They aim to improve patient care via a cohesive work force by focusing on interpersonal relationships between leaders and subordinates, (Malby 1997). A nursing leader should have a distinctive set of personal qualities, integrity, courage, initiative, ability to handle stress, think critically, able to resolve problems without conflicts, skillful communication and must be empathetic. They are not those who control others but they act as visionaries who help staff to plan, lead, control and organize their activities, (Jooste,2004). There are many types of leadership. Autocratic type of leaders are those who make all decisions and expect others to follow without questioning and never seek advice from others, (Sullivan & Decker 2005). This situation had made some of the midwives to leave for greener pastures. The current health system has advanced in technology and improved in care giving services (Cook, 2001). The author feels that this leadership style is no longer tenable and fits into the contemporary nursing practice and a consumer responsive culture. Democratic leaders encourage the participant of staff and use a consensus for decision making, (Sullivan & Decker 2005) whereas bureaucratic leadership occurs when a leader rigidly adheres to rules, regulations and policies of the organization, (Jenkins and Henderson, 1984). Instead of providing sufficient support and consideration, my nurse manager demonstrates these leadership qualities because she uses rules and policies thus expecting strict compliance from the midwives. . By following the organizational hierarchy’s influence, she puts herself in a high position but never use her power constructively (Masquis & Huston, 2006). Due to top management instructions, she adheres to the current policies, making no changes in them but gives verbal instruction and changing policies to her likes and dislikes. This swifts away trust and open communications between the manager and the midwives. Due to unvented stress and high expectations from the nurse manager, the midwives burnout level have been exacerbated . Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and lack of personal accomplishment, as said by Maslach &Jackson (1981). Reports have proved that in this kind of environment, patient’s safety is at risk (Institute of Medicine, 2004). Participative leadership allows staff to participate in decision making and actively seek out the participation of those involved. This type of leadership allows staff to feel more committed to the goals they were involved (Faugier & Woolnough, 2002). The author feels that the head nurse should have these qualities so that the unit will run smoothly, and the staff will be appreciated and acknowledged so that good nursing care can be rendered. Transformational leadership is especially well suited for today’s fast changing healthcare environment where adaptation is extremely important (Welford,2002). It starts with the development of a vision that will excite and convert potential followers, (Outhwaite, 2003). To achieve organizational success, this style advocates for strong leadership qualities and these leaders use motivation in their approach than use rewards and punishment as said by Kouzes & Posner (2002). In the author’s point of view, this leadership is proposed as empowering leadership style which well suits in my unit and to be recognized by the nurse manager. According to Bowles & Bowels (2002), transformational leaders create a leadership culture for all team members nurturing empowerment, increase their autonomy and open communication for inclusive decision making. The nurse manager takes responsibilities for discussing care related matters with the midwives which makes them to be motivated and work more effectively to contribute to the development and provision of the unit, (Murphy. 2005). The ability of the leader to articulate a shared vision is an important aspect of transformational leadership (Faugier & Woolnough, 2002). Another leadership style is transactional leadership which focuses on providing day to day care between leaders and their employee. It aims to maintain equilibrium and harmony by using incentives to enhance staff loyalty and performance (Bass and Riggio, 2006). Laissez faire leadership is another style that leaves the staff alone to work with no directions or facilitations and is a highly risky form of leadership, (Sullivan & Decker 2005). Since the author’s placement is labor and delivery, it’s not advisable to have this kind of leader in this unit as it will increase the mortality rate. The high level of burnout and increased workload due to shortage of midwives and less rest days has resulted them to leave. This disequilibrium may trigger the risk of physical and mental health of these midwives. The manager has depleted the nurses basic psychological needs which are rest and sleep and at the same time reducing their self- esteem, as said in Maslow’s theory of human motivation. The leader should explore barriers and identify conflicts when they arise and collaborate with the team and be able to understand the employee’s perspective (Outhwaite,2003). A more effective form of leadership maybe situational leadership where the leader switches the style depending upon the situation at hand and upon the competence of the staff, (Faugier & Woolnough, 2002). The nurse manager must be good clinician and have judgment skills to handle any problem that cannot be handled by the staff. By doing so, the staff will listen to her as she guides them. Communication also plays a vital role as this can prevent conflict and smoothes the progress of team building in the unit Calpin-Davies, (2000). A good communicator gives the staff detailed instructions to perform tasks that are necessary to reach the goal. The nurse manager uses a communication book to provide important information to all the staff in the unit, as supported by Sullivan & Decker (2005). By reading and acknowledging with a signature, she assures the message has been reached effectively. As a leader, the nurse manager has to be a good listener. It provides the opportunity to receive valuable feedback that is used to avert some problems and resolve others and also giving greater understanding of the issues being discussed. When there are incidences in the unit, the nurse manager gives a listening ear to the staff and tries to solve the problems. She puts aside preconceived ideas or prejudices when listening to staff. Being a leader, the nurse manager delegates some of the tasks to the staff to focus on more complex aspects of running the unit. She delegates the right task to the right person, for example sending and collecting of narcotics by the midwife as these drugs used are cautioned in Saudi Arabia. A good leader fosters a congenial work environment by coaching, praising and training the staff to perform an excellent job and also by conducting continuous nursing education. Supervision goes in the observation of staff and to evaluate in the yearly performance appraisal. The author would recommend that the nurse manager in this unit has to change her leadership style to She should resources for proper quality care Conclusion Today, healthcare environment requires leaders to be skillful and knowledgeable and have strong inspirational leadership qualities across the health care organization. In this millennium, nursing must make a dedicated effort to nurture its young nurses to grow into effective and motivating leaders.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Readymade Garment Industry in India Essay

In depth market scenario includes; – Current market size estimates, including domestic market and exports – Market size by players – Top Companies – Market size by product categories (By Type) – Men’s wear, Women’s wear , Kid’s wear , Other (Uniforms) – Market size by regions – North, South, East, West Market structure details the value chain key players’ presence across products. Market practices include understanding the Opportunity in Readymade Garment sets business, market trends, Distribution structure and pricing in India. The report also provides a snapshot of key competition, past market trends with forecast over the next 5 years, anticipated growth rates and the principal factors driving and impacting growth Market data and analytics are derived from a combination of primary and secondary sources Table of Content Section 1: Background Scope of this research Research aim and objectives Research methodology Section 2: Executive Summary Market landscape Future opportunity Section 3: Market Overview Product classification Market structure Players presence Key market trends Distribution structure Typical price points Section 4: Estimate of Market Size in India All India market size – Domestic, Exports, Imports Past 3 years market growth Section 5: Market Share Estimates Market size by players Market size by product categories Market size by regions Section 6: Factors Impacting Market Growth Market drivers Market challenges Market restraints Section 7: Market Forecast Overall market forecast – FY 13 to FY 18 5 years market forecast by product categories For more information kindly visit: http://www.marketreportsonindia.com/consumer-goods-market-research-reports-11507/opportunity-in-readymade-garment-industry-in-india-2014.html About MarketReportsonIndia Market Report on India is a portal where you can access thousands of reports on India starting from Aeronautics to Zinc (A-Z). We provide you with reports which will help you gain a better understanding of the Sectors, Companies, New Products and Latest trends.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Roman Law Essays - Roman Law, Ius, Ancient Rome, Jus Gentium

Roman Law Essays - Roman Law, Ius, Ancient Rome, Jus Gentium Roman Law Introduction Roman Law was the law that was in effect throughout the age of antiquity in the City of Rome and later in the Roman Empire. When Roman rule over Europe came to an end, Roman law was largelythough not completelyforgotten. (Ancient Rome, Compton's 96) The earliest code of Roman Law was the Law of the Twelve Tables. It was formalized in 451-450BC from existing oral law by ten magistrates, called decemvirs, and inscribed on tablets of bronze, which were posted in the principal Roman Forum. According to tradition, the code was drawn up to appease the plebs, who maintained that their liberties were not adequately protected by the unwritten law as interpreted by patrician judges. (Ancient Rome, Compton's 96) Originally ten tablets of laws were inscribed; two more tablets were added the following year. The tablets were destroyed in the sack of Rome by the Gauls in 390BC, but a number of the laws are known through references in later Latin literature. The Twelve Tables covered all categories of the law and also included specific penalties for various infractions. The code underwent frequent changes but remained in effect for almost 1000 years. In the 6th century a commission appointed by the Roman emperor Justinian consolidated all the sources of law, resulting in the Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law). The Corpus Juris had no immediate effect in Western Europe, but in the second half of the 11th century it was rediscovered in Italy. The study of law based on the Corpus Juris was instituted at European universities, and the Corpus Juris became an important part of Continental law. (Ancient Rome, Compton's 96) Combined with canon law and the customs of merchants, they formed a body of law known throughout continental Europe. During the 17th and 18th centuries the authority of the Corpus Juris began to decline as it was reexamined. The stage was set for the codification of modern civil law. In the 19th century most civil-law countries codified the bulk of their legal statutes. The Early Law Prior to the Twelve Tables, the law of Rome was religious in character, and its interpretation rested with priests, who were members of the patrician class. Complaints and agitation by the plebs, the common people, led to the reduction to writing of the existing legal customs and the addition of new principles unknown in the customary law. The Law of the Twelve Tables thus drafted was submitted to and accepted by the popular assembly. This code set forth simple rules suitable for an agricultural community; it established equal law for patricians and plebs and was prized by the Romans as the source of all public and private law. The legal system established under this code, and the body of rules that developed around it, applied exclusively to Roman citizens and was known as the jus civile. (Ancient Rome, Compton's 96) The laws of the Twelve Tables are one of the earliest extant law codes. Covering both civil and criminal matters, it is commonly believed that these laws served to codify existing custom. They provide not only a valuable insight into Roman law, but into Roman culture as well. Here are some excerpts taken from the translated version. Quickly kill ... a dreadfully deformed child. If a father thrice surrender a son for sale, the son shall be free from the father. A child born ten months after the father's death will not be admitted into a legal inheritance. Females shall remain in guardianship even when they have attained their majority ... except Vestal Virgins. A spendthrift is forbidden to exercise administration over his own goods. Persons shall mend roadways. If they do not keep them laid with stone, a person shall drive his beasts where he wishes. It is permitted to gather fruit falling down on another man's farm. If any person has sung or composed against another person a song such as was causing slander or insult to another, he shall be clubbed to death. If a person has maimed another's limb, let there be retaliation in kind unless he makes agreement for settlement with him. Intermarriage shall not take place between plebeians and patricians. (Touregypt.net) Effects of Roman Rule Conquest over the Mediterranean basin compelled the Romans to work

Monday, October 21, 2019

10 Types of Energy and Examples

10 Types of Energy and Examples Energy is defined as the ability to do work. Energy comes in various forms. Here are 10 common types of energy and examples of them. Mechanical Energy Mechanical energy is energy that results from movement or the location of an object. Mechanical energy is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy. Examples: An object possessing mechanical energy has both kinetic and potential energy, although the energy of one of the forms may be equal to zero. A moving car has kinetic energy. If you move the car up a mountain, it has kinetic and potential energy. A book sitting on a table has potential energy. Thermal Energy Thermal energy or heat energy reflects the temperature difference between two systems. Example: A cup of hot coffee has thermal energy. You generate heat and have thermal energy with respect to your environment. Nuclear Energy Nuclear energy is energy resulting from changes in the atomic nuclei or from nuclear reactions. Example: Nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, and nuclear decay are examples of nuclear energy. An atomic detonation or power from a nuclear plant are specific examples of this type of energy. Chemical Energy Chemical energy results from chemical reactions between atoms or molecules. There are different types of chemical energy, such as electrochemical energy and chemiluminescence. Example: A good example of chemical energy is an electrochemical cell or battery. Electromagnetic Energy Electromagnetic energy (or radiant energy) is energy from light or electromagnetic waves. Example: Any form of light has electromagnetic energy, including parts of the spectrum we cant see. Radio, gamma rays, x-rays, microwaves, and ultraviolet light are some examples of electromagnetic energy. Sonic Energy Sonic energy is the energy of sound waves. Sound waves travel through the air or another medium. Example: A sonic boom, a song played on a stereo, your voice. Gravitational Energy Energy associated with gravity involves the attraction between two objects based on their mass. It can serve as a basis for mechanical energy, such as the potential energy of an object placed on a shelf or the kinetic energy of the Moon in orbit around the Earth. Example: Gravitational energy holds the atmosphere to the Earth. Kinetic Energy Kinetic energy is the energy of motion of a body. It ranges from 0 to a positive value. Example:Â  An example is a child swinging on a swing. No matter whether the swing is moving forward or backward, the value of the kinetic energy is never negative. Potential Energy Potential energy is the energy of an objects position. Example: When a child swinging on a swing reaches the top of the arc, she has maximum potential energy. When she is closest to the ground, her potential energy is at its minimum (0). Another example is throwing a ball into the air. At the highest point, the potential energy is greatest. As the ball rises or falls it has a combination of potential and kinetic energy. Ionization Energy Ionization energy is the form of energy that binds electrons to the nucleus of its atom, ion, or molecule. Example: The first ionization energy of an atom is the energy needed to remove one electron completely. The second ionization energy is energy to remove a second electron and is greater than that required to remove the first electron.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How Bat Echolocation Works

How Bat Echolocation Works Echolocation is the combined use of morphology (physical features) and sonar (SOund NAvigation and Ranging) that allows  bats  to see using sound. A bat uses its larynx to produce ultrasonic waves that are emitted through its mouth or nose. Some bats also produce clicks using their tongues. The bat hears the echoes that are returned and compares the time between when the signal was sent and returned and the shift in the frequency of the sound to form a map of its surroundings. While no bat is completely blind, the animal can use sound to see in absolute darkness. The sensitive nature of a bats ears enables it to find prey by passive listening, too. Bat ear ridges act as an acoustic Fresnel lens, allowing a bat to hear the movement of ground-dwelling insects and the flutter of insect wings. How Bat Morphology Aids Echolocation Some of a bats physical adaptations are visible. A wrinkled fleshy nose acts as a megaphone to project sound. The complex shape, folds, and wrinkles of a bats outer ear help it receive and funnel incoming sounds. Some key adaptations are internal. The ears contain numerous receptors that allow bats to detect tiny frequency changes. A bats brain maps the signals and even accounts for the Doppler effect flying has on echolocation. Just before a bat emits a sound, the tiny bones of the inner ear separate to reduce the animals hearing sensitivity, so it doesnt deafen itself. Once the larynx muscles contract, the middle ear relaxes and the ears can receive the echo. Types of Echolocation There are two main types of echolocation: Low-duty-cycle echolocation allows bats to estimate their distance from an object based on the difference between the time a sound is emitted and when the echo returns. The call a bat makes for this form of echolocation is among the loudest airborne sounds produced by any animal. The signal intensity ranges from 60 to 140 decibels, which the equivalent to the sound emitted by a smoke detector 10 centimeters away. These calls are ultrasonic and generally outside the range of human hearing. Humans hear within the frequency range of 20 to 20,000 Hz, while microbats emit calls from 14,000 to over 100,000 Hz.High-duty cycle echolocation gives bats information about the motion and three-dimensional location of prey. For this type of echolocation, a bat emits a continuous call while listening to the change in the frequency of the returned echo. Bats avoid deafening themselves by emitting a call outside their frequency range. The echo is lower in frequency, falling within the optimal range f or their ears. Tiny changes in frequency may be detected. For example, the horseshoe bat can detect frequency differences as small as 0.1 Hz. While most bat calls are ultrasonic, some species emit audible echolocation clicks. The spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) makes a sound that resembles two rocks striking each other. The bat listens for the delay of the echo. Bat calls are complicated, generally consisting of a mixture of constant frequency (CF) and frequency modulated (FM) calls. High-frequency calls are used more often because they offer detailed information about the speed, direction, size, and distance of prey. Low-frequency calls travel further and are mainly used to map immobile objects. How Moths Beat Bats Moths are popular prey for bats, so some species have developed methods to beat echolocation. The tiger moth  (Bertholdia trigona)  jams the ultrasonic sounds. Another species advertises its presence by generating its own ultrasonic signals. This allows bats to identify and avoid poisonous or distasteful prey. Other moth species have an organ called a tympanum that reacts to incoming ultrasound by causing the moths flight muscles to twitch. The moth flies erratically, so its harder for a bat to catch. Other Incredible Bat Senses In addition to echolocation, bats use other senses unavailable to humans. Microbats can see in low light levels. Unlike humans, some see ultraviolet light. The saying blind as a bat doesnt apply to megabats at all, as these species see as well as, or better than, humans. Like birds, bats can sense magnetic fields. While birds use this ability to sense their latitude, bats use it to tell north from south. References Corcoran, Aaron J.; Barber, J. R.; Conner, W. E. (2009). Tiger moth jams bat sonar. Science. 325 (5938): 325–327.Fullard, J. H. (1998). Moth Ears and Bat Calls: Coevolution or Coincidence?. In Hoy, R. R.; Fay, R. R.; Popper, A. N. Comparative Hearing: Insects. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research. Springer.Nowak, R. M., editor (1999).  Walkers Mammals of the World.  Vol. 1. 6th edition. Pp.  264–271.Surlykke, A.; Ghose, K.; Moss, C. F. (April 2009). Acoustic scanning of natural scenes by echolocation in the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus. Journal of Experimental Biology. 212 (Pt 7): 1011–20.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Digital Word-of-Mouth Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Digital Word-of-Mouth - Thesis Example The social ads could even appear with a friend's photo marked 'sponsored'. External sites such as eBay and Fandago use coding, called a Beacon, which detect a friend's activities. The biographical information of the user is used to channel the appropriate ads to the user's site. For instance, advertisers can limit their target customers to a certain age level, gender, or leisure/interest. Companies can create pages and add Beacons for free. But companies which advertise in Facebook do not have access to individuals' profiles the way their friends do. This is a big plus point of Facebook. So all in all Facebook's Beacon program appears to be a good step and is most likely going to benefit Facebook over the coming times because a large number of researches and studies indicate that because of the personal nature of the communications between individuals product information communicated in this way has an added layer of credibility and Facebook, considering its immense popularity which is ever increasing day by day; is definitely a best platform available to companies wishing to benefit from Digital Word of Mouth marketing strategies. Social media gives word-of-mouth nearly limitless reach. If Word of Mouth was limited to face-to-face communication, it would have limited reach. However, online communities and social media extend the reach of WOM. According to Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Facebook's advertising initiatives raise a crucial question that when users go on one website, do they reasonably expect their information to be transferred to another site This is no single answer to this. Effectiveness of Digital Word of Mouth as an advertising tool: Perhaps what is most important to be considered is the role of word of mouth advertising in persuading consumers. According to a post by Adrants regarding the validity of P&G's Vocalpoint which provides marketing services based on Digital Word of Mouth marketing: "While test market pilots proved Procter & Gamble's word of mouth arm, Vocalpoint, is a success and increases sales, the Word of Mouth Marketing Associatio

Friday, October 18, 2019

Pros and cons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pros and cons - Essay Example The pros of the chosen plan would be important: a) there are no competitors nearby; the specific coffee bar would be the only serving gourmet coffee in-house; b) since no competitor exists in the area, new customers would be easily attracted while existing customers would be interested in enjoying their coffee while tasting their favorite gourmet food, which would be also offered in the coffee bar along with baked goods and pastries. The cons of opening a coffee bar instead of carrying cookbooks and food magazines in the adjacent space would be the following: the costs for setting up a coffee shop can be high. The second plan could be realized with a quite low investment, just for adding 1-2 bookcases and shelves for putting the books/ magazines involved. The opening of a coffee bar would be the most appropriate use for the particular adjacent space. The average profit of such shop is at least $50,000 (SBDC 2012) which means that the startup costs could be easily covered approximately in 5 years since the business establishment, a fact that would eliminate the cons of the specific plan compared to the second plan

Steven Spielbergs Schindlers List A Legend Essay

Steven Spielbergs Schindlers List A Legend - Essay Example In the film of Steven Spielberg, the story of the Holocaust was made into action. It went further to include other real life testimonies from survivors and witnesses of the historical event. Spielberg went into deeper facts through interviews and actual visitation of the places where mass murder supposedly occurred. This three-hour movie is styled differently. Unlike any other hit movies in the Hollywood, Schindler’s List is being filmed in documentary form. The actual events were portrayed in patches of scenes that came from real life experiences of those who knew better- the survivors and witnesses. Series and factions of the whole genocide story were being reduced into scenes from various perspectives. This reduction or miniaturization of the specific events is as much as part of the cataclysm of the Jews extermination plan of the Nazis. Various scenes were made into action depicting the experiences of the Jews under the Nazi rule. There are scenes of Jews transported in trains and held in forced labor camps, and scenes of families broken as men, women, children and old people were separated from each other. There are also scenes of people going into gas chambers being killed at once as gas fumes are being released with Jews being imprisoned inside the chambers. This series of events add up to the horrific totality of the genocide plan of the Nazis. These murders and life-exterminating events to stamp out the Jews lineage in the face of humanity were being made into reality by the actors directed by Spielberg.teven Spielberg. It takes a lot of various perspective of the Holocau st event to totally capture what really happened in the history. Replicas and literal imitations of the events were acted by chosen actors quite effectively. Supporting props and scenic settings as backgrounds helped in the total output scene on cameras. As the film is being shown as a documentary, the events do not limit to the world of the life of the protagonist alone. Although most part of the movie progressively follow the events that happened with Oskar Schindler, but the events does not limit to his experiences alone. Stories of various Jews were portrayed one by one to provide different perspective. Black and White â€Å"Schindler’s List† is a uniquely fabricated film done by the hands of the expert. Unlike Spielberg’s usual movies that are full of stunning and spectacular effects, with

The History and Journey of the Navajo Indian Tribe Essay

The History and Journey of the Navajo Indian Tribe - Essay Example There is an overwhelming source of works written, researched, viewed by people from all walks of life on the Navajo Indian Tribe. The enormity of information and data would already reveal the abundance of valuable wealth this tribe have shared to the history and culture of the American people. Who exactly are the Navajos? How come so many historians, anthropologists and scholars have been interested to know them and to be part of their cultural heritage? Where have they originated? What were their challenges and successes as a people? How are they now? The objectives of this essay are briefly summarized as follows: 1.To gain knowledge on the Navajo Indian Tribe: their attributes and characteristics, way of life, culture, livelihood and religious practices. 2.To explore their history and journey with them through time. 3.To determine their contribution to the human race. It is the objective of this essay to present their historical path and determine their legacy to the future. II. THE NAVAJO INDIANS The Navajo Indians are the largest tribe of North America. According to articles on the Navajo People found in Wikipedia, â€Å"the name ‘NAVAJO’ comes from the late 18th century via the Spanish (Apaches de) Navajo, Apaches of Navajo, which was derived from the Tewa navahe, ‘fields adjoining a ravine’†. It is interesting to note that the Navajo call themselves DINE, which means, â€Å"the people†. They now occupy a large area of cultivated land, named NAVAJO, in what is now Arizona and New Mexico.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Extreme Importance of Alternative Energy Sources Research Paper

Extreme Importance of Alternative Energy Sources - Research Paper Example Forecasts show that coal, gas and oil supplies will last only for a few more centuries. Secondly, the use of fossil fuels poses a serious danger to the environment. The combustion of fossil fuels leads to the emission of chlorofluorocarbons, mainly carbon dioxide. This causes the ‘greenhouse effect’ which traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere, leading to global warming. The combustion of fossil fuels also causes atmospheric pollution and acidification of the environment. The environmental damage caused by oil spills in the wake of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is fresh in minds. Likewise, nuclear power is associated with the risk of nuclear accidents, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, and the problem of disposal of hazardous radioactive waste. As there is no sign of energy use declining in the conceivable future, the environmental impacts of energy consumption, and the depletion of energy sources, assumes grave implications. It is clear that the need for al ternative, renewable sources of energy is the need of the hour. Energy consumption shows tremendous global variation, and â€Å"about a quarter of the world's population consumes three-quarters of the world's primary energy† (UN Document). About 20% of global energy consumption is in the USA. Again, it is estimated that the U.S. is responsible for about one-fifth of all human-produced greenhouse-gas emissions. Renewable sources of energy account for only 9.3% of the total US energy consumption (EIA). In this scenario, it is evident that the need for alternative energy sources should be a high priority for the government of the United States. It is heartening to note that President Obama has declared that â€Å"I know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the global economy in the 21st century† (qtd. in Scientific American).

Practical Implication of Balance Scorecard on Essay

Practical Implication of Balance Scorecard on - Essay Example In their studies, they described the balanced scorecard as a management system for strategic planning that enables both profit and non-profit-organisations to state clearly their visions and underlying strategies and then transform them into actions. Smith (2005) in his studies described the balanced scorecard as a performance management tool that is used by organisations to align their activities along with their strategy and vision, secondly, to improve external and internal communication of the organisations and thirdly to monitor performance against the sets goals/ objectives. The report will use the Apple Inc as the case study and it is of essence to note that Apple Inc is largely an information and technology company that mainly specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling of computer hardware and software, and consumer electronics such as personal computers, phones and television pads, among others. The company presently, has its headquarters at the state of California in the United States of America but it has a wide branch network of over 300 stores located in 14 countries across the world. According to OGrady (2008), Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne originally formed the company in 1976 and by 1980; the company marked a major milestone by being listed at the stock exchange. Mr. Arthur Levinson as the chairperson currently heads Apple Inc while Mr. Tim Cook is the chief executive officer of the company. The critical analysis of the critical implications of the balanced scorecard in Apple Inc will help to explain how the management system contributed to the company’s current success and how it intendeds to further propel the company into greater success. The charts below demonstrate how each of these products and others performs or sells in the market in terms of the revenue they generate, and the revenue generated by the company from different regions or markets where it has

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Extreme Importance of Alternative Energy Sources Research Paper

Extreme Importance of Alternative Energy Sources - Research Paper Example Forecasts show that coal, gas and oil supplies will last only for a few more centuries. Secondly, the use of fossil fuels poses a serious danger to the environment. The combustion of fossil fuels leads to the emission of chlorofluorocarbons, mainly carbon dioxide. This causes the ‘greenhouse effect’ which traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere, leading to global warming. The combustion of fossil fuels also causes atmospheric pollution and acidification of the environment. The environmental damage caused by oil spills in the wake of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is fresh in minds. Likewise, nuclear power is associated with the risk of nuclear accidents, such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, and the problem of disposal of hazardous radioactive waste. As there is no sign of energy use declining in the conceivable future, the environmental impacts of energy consumption, and the depletion of energy sources, assumes grave implications. It is clear that the need for al ternative, renewable sources of energy is the need of the hour. Energy consumption shows tremendous global variation, and â€Å"about a quarter of the world's population consumes three-quarters of the world's primary energy† (UN Document). About 20% of global energy consumption is in the USA. Again, it is estimated that the U.S. is responsible for about one-fifth of all human-produced greenhouse-gas emissions. Renewable sources of energy account for only 9.3% of the total US energy consumption (EIA). In this scenario, it is evident that the need for alternative energy sources should be a high priority for the government of the United States. It is heartening to note that President Obama has declared that â€Å"I know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the global economy in the 21st century† (qtd. in Scientific American).

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Major American Political Ideology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Major American Political Ideology - Essay Example This paper would explore these two ideologies. Fundamentally, conservatism and liberalism differ in issues of freedom and responsibility. American conservatism is derived from the idea that all human beings share an equal nature, an ability to make decisions based upon a common-sense morality while liberalism, at its core, denies that such a common-sense morality exists and, even is such a morality were to exist, doubts the average person’s ability to understand it. (Janiskee and Masugi p. 30) This difference in ideology is demonstrated in the following analogy: Conservatives in America maintains the position that conserves the tradition of the American founding and the purposes and objectives of the Founding Fathers for the establishment of the country. American liberal takes the opposite direction by asserting that such traditions are restrictive and, therefore, the nation need to be liberated from them. Presently, the two parties that fight each other every four years in the American presidential elections are the Republicans and Democrats. The former is seen to be identified with conservatism while the form with liberalism. The two parties derive their ideologies to two fundamentally different views of human nature that is why each ideology calls for different kinds of government response to different issues. For instance, conservatives are more inclined to be against gun control but favor the death penalty while liberals want the reverse: gun control and no death penalty. An interesting aspect in the dynamics of American conservatism and liberalism is that they could assume an entirely different attitude towards certain issue compared to conservatives and liberals in Europe. A demonstration of this is how the conservatives and liberals in America want to address the question on how far should the free market be left alone: how far

Monday, October 14, 2019

Strategic Decision Making In A Textile Company Information Technology Essay

Strategic Decision Making In A Textile Company Information Technology Essay The textile and apparel industry stands out prominently as one of the most globalized industries in the world today. It is different from producer driven supply chains led by multinational companies. The apparel industry is a Buyer-driven commodity chain led by a coalition of retailers, contractors, subcontractors, merchandisers, buyers, and suppliers. Each participating entity plays a role in a network of supply chains which span from fibers, to yarn, to fabrics, to accessories, to garments, to trading and marketing. Geographically, they span multi-continents and crosses regional and national boundaries. With the reducing profit margin and impact of modern computing communication networks, it is essential that any textile and apparel industry seriously consider establishing a cost effective IT infrastructure to maintain their competitive edge. Research will be carried out in small and medium scale apparel industries. The study of the research will be to identify; What information they require when making decisions The use of IT and IS when making decisions Recommendation of suitable IT infrastructure 1.3 Project Aim As the manufacturing industry becomes more globalized, the multi-factory supply-chain model has emerged. When several production lines are producing different products on one supply chain, it could generate loads of information and data to be exchanged, supplied and received. The garment-manufacturing industry always aims for new product development and efficiency improvement in production. In past years, advanced computer technologies already facilitate new manufacturing operation and build up management tools. Todays manufacturers are looking towards more advances and benefits with their focuses shifted to many different types of networking tools. These tools do enable them to seek better opportunities on more complicated areas working with RFID like inventory control and supply-chain management, as well as the B2B e-commerce transactions. However, while employing this latest technology, manufacturers are facing a long-standing problem how the new technologies and systems can brin g better coverage and practicality to the running of the companies. 1.4 Project Objectives The objectives of this project are in two folds notably research and experimental objectives. The research objectives focus on the identification of relevant techniques and knowledge that could possibly emerge during the conduct of this project. On the other hand the experimental objectives deal with specific processes, software or other materials including simulation models and programming codes that may be constructed to facilitate the smooth conduct of this project. Research will be carried out study how IT and IS supports to all the levels of decision making and the tools which is used by the companies. By identify what type of decisions and what information they represent suggest the use of certain analytical tools to enhance support measures for decisions in apparel industry. Techniques from operations research are applied to develop profit optimization and cost minimization models. Statistics and accounting methods are used for comparing costs of sourcing collaborations, and b asic math is used in cost estimates. The overall main and core research questions of this study is to analyze how the IS and IT influences the apparel trade when making decisions. More specifically, what are the pros and cons in tools and how that influences the apparel decision making process? In order to carry out the research further the main research question will be : What is the impact of IS and IT on strategic decision in an organisation using a textile company as a case study? Below are the objectives of this work. What are the strategic decisions What are the strategic decisions in Textile Company What are the factors which impact strategic decision What are the features of information required in strategic decisions How has IS/IT influenced strategic decision in the organisation under study What are future recommendation to use IS/IT to benefit strategic decision in textile organisation 1.3 Rationale Of Study Rationale of the study will be carried out to offers combination of fast growing IT IS which provides higher level of visibility and control to make decisions. For fashion professionals with a more usage-oriented approach, attempt to demonstrate the usefulness of available analytical and mathematical tools, which could benefit profits and support sourcing decisions. Most of the apparel companies devoted a huge amount of effort on decision making process using IT to improve efficiency. Information System (IS) and Information technology (IT) can be eventually lead to the development and creation of any kind of decision making and enhances the decision effectiveness in industry, using the data to decision model as a basis. In many respects, economy of any country in the world has been coordinated by the visible hand of the government decisions. The world economy is becoming a borderless one, which directly affects the economy of any country driving it into an open economy. The rising c ost of production factors, wage rates, interest rates, GDP, inflation rate, etc stalls economic growth. Both public and private sectors are looking for ways to maintain their competitive edge by improving economic efficiency, and one of those efforts is the use of Information Technology and Information Systems. They are making an utmost effort to build the information-communication infrastructure, and promoting to explore new business opportunities using IS and IT. Identify threats and opportunities: Chapter 2 Literature Review Introduction to the CASE study: The textile /apparel pipeline is a series of interrelates activities which originates with the manufacture of fiber and culminates in the delivery of a product into the hands of the consumer. Information Technology (IT): In the 1960s and 1970s, the term  information  technology  (IT) was a little known phrase that was used by those who worked in places like banks and hospitals to describe the processes they used to store  information. With the paradigm shift to computing  technology  and paperless workplaces,  information  technology  has come to be a household phrase. It defines an industry that uses computers, networking, software programming, and other equipment and processes to store, process, retrieve, transmit, and protect  information. Information Systems (IS): The largest growth in most economies is coming from information industries. The success of such knowledge-based organizations lies in their information systems. Also, forced by technological change and globalization of markets, many manufacturing industries are also placing increasing emphasis upon information systems. Information systems are more than just computer programs. Though information and communications technologies are playing an increasing role in meeting organizations information needs, an information system is a much more general concept. It refers to the wider systems of people, data and activities, both computer-based and manual, that effectively gather, process, store and disseminates organizations information. Information systems, as a discipline, focus on exploring the interface between management, information science and computer science. Computer Science focuses on information technology: software. Information Systems mediates the two opposing worlds of human activity systems and information technology. Strategic Decisions : In most businesses, a few decisions make the difference between superior performance and ordinary results. But strategic decisions are seldom easy. They call for high quality analysis and strategic thinking, in order to select the right decision from amongst the many possible options. They also depend on skills in managing the decision process, including sequencing activities, defining roles, effective teamwork and handling the people side. This practical and highly interactive programme will help you improve the quality of your strategic decision making, providing practical tools for addressing both the analytic and process management challenges. Strategic decision address the business of today and the future, not only markets and decision making but also social developments, implications of strategy on the organizational structure and climate (Hussey,1990). Examples of strategic decision problems can be found in the areas of marketing, pricing, investment, financing, production changes, production technology, etc.. Information systems are tools to assist executives in strategic management (Liu and Savolainen, 1994a-c, Partanen and Savolainen,1995,Walden,1992). They offer analytical facilities to assist in clarifying complex problems in behavioral thinking, competitor and enviormental analysis , value chains and performance ,etc., Strategic decisions should be well planned and well controlled. Strategic planning is a complex decision making process for the corporation that includes planning and modifying of organizational objectives, resources for implementing them and utilization of the resources (Ansoff ad McDonnell, 1990) Strategic decisions can be classified as Structured decisions : Semi- structured decisions : Unstructured decisions : Impact of IS and IT in Strategic Decisions : From new business models to new types of business, information technology has become a key driver of business and an essential component of corporate strategy. But simply acquiring technology is not enough; organizations must manage IT effectively to gain the competitive advantage. Henry Lucass Information Technology: Strategic Decision Making for Managers focuses on the key knowledge and skills you need to take an active role in managing technology and obtain the maximum benefits from investing in IT. Offering streamlined, up-to-date coverage, the text is ideally suited for MBA students or anyone who wants to learn more about how to gain the competitive advantage by successfully managing IT. Focuses on managerial issues: This text explores the many real technology issues confronting todays managers, such as what to do with legacy systems, when to outsource, and how to choose a source of processing and services. Shows how to evaluate IT investments: Two full chapters cover the value of information technology and how to evaluate IT project proposals using both net present value and real options approaches. Balances technical and managerial coverage: This balance helps you understand how diverse companies have developed their IT architectures and environments. Explains the various applications of technology: Concrete examples illustrate major IT applications, such as ecommerce, ERP, CRM, decision and intelligent systems, and knowledge management. Problems in which the stakes are extremely high, in which human perceptions and judgments are involved, and whose solutions have long-term repercussions, call for a rational approach to their solution. Various techniques are in use for decision making at the strategic level. However, at this level the problems are ill defined are usually presents in terms that are uncertain, fuzzy and confusing, while problem-solving techniques based on sound mathematical principles can only be applied to systematic and well-formed problems. This mismatch between problems and their solution methods leads to the frustration of top decision makers and their loss of confidence inn mathematical techniques. In todays highly uncertain world making a decision which has long term implications requires a thorough understanding of likely or possible future situations and also the ability to balance a large number of controllable and uncontrollable parameters. However, the time now given to decision makers to reach high risk long term decision is decreasing. The economic structure of an industry is not an accident. Its complexities are the result of long-term social trends and economic forces. But its effects on you as a business manager are immediate because it determines the competitive rules and strategic decisions which make. Learning about that structure will provide essential insight for your business strategy and it will help to make decisions. Every aspect of management in the modern age relies heavily on information and technology to succeed. It is an important reserve needed to develop assets. Strategic Decision making and planning has been a topic of considerable importance and interest to Information System professionals in both the business and academic communities since the 1970s. Decision making and planning is recognized as a critical competitiveness issue. Today, because information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) serve as the driver of many organizational transformations, there is increased pressure on organizations to leverage their investments in technology and information systems. Success usually occurs when an organization is able to achieve congruence between IS and IT with organizational decision making and planning, and this is achieved when the technical and general managers of an organization work collaboratively. The strategic decision making and planning process is intended to ensure that technology activities are properly aligned with the evolving needs and strategies of the organization. This paper will examine the research on this ever-important topic and suggest a process that will assist in the achievement of decision making and planning success. Over the years, many organizations have made technology decisions and acquisitions that impact organizational information systems (IS) on the basis of what they believe or recommendations from vendors or colleagues from other organizations. The end result of this approach toward decision making and expenditure of funds has been quite unpredictable. The pervasive nature of IS IT in todays organizations coupled with increased pressure to leverage technology assets has dramatically increased the importance of strategic information systems planning (Bechor, Neuman, Zviran and Glezer, 2009). Today, most organizations insist that technology and IS related decisions be made with a clear understanding of business and organization strategy and direction. Hoque, Sambamurthy, Zmud, Trainer, and Wilson, (2005) in Winning the 3 Legged Race define alignment as the situation in which a companys current and emerging business strategy is enabled, supported and unconstrained by technology. Piccoli (2008, p. 155) states that organizations achieve a high degree of fit and consonance between priorities and activities of the IS function and the strategic direction of the firm when they are able to achieve this so called strategic alignment. Alignment has become one of the top issues and concerns of IS management executives (Gutierrez, Orozco, and Serrano, 2009). A framework that helps to clarify the importance of information systems in todays organizations is the Information Systems Strategy Triangle. The message conveyed by the triangle is that it is important for the three elements of the triangle, namely Business, Organizational and Information Systems strategies to align with and complement each other. It is important to note that Business Strategy resides at the top of the triangle. The triangle is depicted as follows (Pearlson and Saunders, 2010, p.23). There are no shortcuts to the strategic decision making process. Preparatory steps that ensure that business, organizational and information systems and technology used are aligned in a complementary fashion, are extremely important. Internal and external assessments need to be addressed, and the overall role of technology and information systems within the organization must be determined. A sense of how much should be spent on technology initiatives is also mandated. The most important point to remember is that the decision making process for technology must be part of the overall business plan. Practically speaking, strategy states the direction we want to go and how we intend to get there, and a plan depicts a view of the future that guides current day decision making (McNurlin, Sprague, and Bui, 2009). Organizations need to develop a strategic planning process in order to provide a context for decision making. Deciding on the type of tools to use in the decision making process is neither straightforward nor simple. The process is complex, there is not a single best approach, and arriving at a single best methodology for a specific organization is nearly impossible. As a result, many organizations utilize a combination of approaches. Decision making using information systems and technology was previously the work of technology and systems professionals. It has now changed to be a collaborative planning challenge of parties including top managers, business unit managers, technology and systems professionals, and sometimes external stakeholders such as customers and alliance partners (Ruohonen, 1996). Thus, planning and decision making becomes a partnership among those with technical skills, the information systems group, and the general and functional managers of the organization. This process requires discussion, clarification, negotiation and the achievement of a mutual understanding (Piccoli, 2008; McNurlin, et al., 2009). With todays rapidly evolving technology advances, along with the somewhat unpredictable emergence of new competitors brought about by the Internet, organizations do not have a year to develop a plan, several years to implement the plan, and a three to five year useful life for the decision making plan. Everything that is technology-related moves at a rapid pace and change is inherent in the adoption of new technology and ISs. Due to the rapidly changing technology environment, many feel that a sense and respond approach to planning is appropriate. When apparent opportunities appear, organizations need to respond quickly in order to take advantage (McNurlin, et al., 2009). Some rapid responses may be viewed later as failed experiments, but that may prove to be better than a lost opportunity. In the preliminary planning preparation, those responsible for the planning process must decide which combination, if any, of the above planning techniques to employ as the process is designed. Generally as methodologies are developed, four elements for consideration emerge. They include an opinion of what needs to be solved, defined techniques on what has to be doneand when to do it, advice on how to manage the quality of deliverables, and a tool kit to facilitate process (Ishak and Alias, 2005). Most processes also include a situation analysis in the form of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT). This analysis addresses the organizations internal and external influences, strategy formulation, and specific goals along with tactical and operational plans for achieving the goals (Semiawan and Middleton, 1999). Technology and information systems play an ever-increasing role in todays organizational environment. Because of the rapidly changing nature of technology developments, it is sometimes difficult to employ standard planning processes. The primary guideline for information systems planning is that the planning process must be designed and conducted in alignment with organizational and business plans. Most organizations now agree that IS is an important strategic organizational resource that can provide strategic advantage and boost business performance (Brown, 2004). As part of their plan, many organizations have adopted a sense and respond position with regard to opportunities that may present themselves. Often, a scenario development approach that looks to possible future developments is essential to help combat the rapid rate of technology change. There are multiple planning tools available for the strategic information systems planning process. Choosing the tools that meet the needs of the organization and lend focus to the desired areas of emphasis is critical. Finally, organizations should consider the introduction of technology-driven approaches to planning to help with speed, efficiency, flexibility and communications. 2.1 Preliminary Literature Review: For the past 15 years, many apparel companies have been actively monitoring their supply chains. Throughout, the majority has looked to factory owners and managers to wants to make decisions to changes in factory conditions and operations to comply with local laws and meet brand compliance requirements. To meet requirements, demands were placed on suppliers to increase wages, minimize excessive overtime hours, secure freedom of association, and improve health and safety systems for workers. Simultaneously, brands were dictating lower and lower prices for products. Increasing demand for products at lower prices frequently prevents suppliers from having the resources necessary to abide by the standards laid out in codes of conduct. Information Engineering is a technique for extracting the meaning contained in information that is needed by a user to make a right decision. Information is the raw material of human thinking, but it is the meaning and understanding that is the raw material of decision thinking, and the human decision maker acquires this meaning and understanding from the message content of the information. The process by which raw data is translated into decisions is depicted in the Data-to-Decision Cycle model . This low information utilization occurs because the user does not have enough diagnostic time to acquire the vital information buried in the report. Therefore, the goal should be to optimize the quality of the messages transmitted through the interface from the information system to the human user. Information Engineering assists in this process. Chapter 3 3.1 Methodology: For the purposes of conducting this project, the quantitative methodology was adopted as it had stronger ties with the aims and objectives of this work compared to the other types such as the qualitative and ethnographic methodologies. With the quantitative methodology several quantities may need to be measured, analyzed and results presented as evidence to justify any conclusions that may be drawn. This contrasts with qualitative methodology which focuses on subjective matters like behavior and perception. It is however acknowledged that minor elements involving qualitative analysis such as observations may also need to be made to be made occasionally to help advance an argument. Other, two research approaches notably, descriptive and analytical approaches would be used in conjunction with the quantitative methodology to execute this project. The descriptive approach would be employed to help describe the usage of IT IS and how it is important to the strategic decisions making whil es the analytical approach would be useful in analyzing all secondary data collected for the purposes of this work as well as help to assess experimental outcomes. 3.2 Primary Research: Primary research is used to collect data for the case study. Types of primary data collection methods include: Qualitative research : There are four major methods used by qualitative researches such as observation, analyzing text and documents, interview and focus groups Quantitative research : Major quantitative research methods are using literature, using technology and statistics 3.3 Secondary Research: Secondary research was carried out to gather information of existing data   as well as evaluate and integrate the information from the various sources in order to answer specific research questions. During the secondary research will be looking forward to gather information about advertising and brands in books and periodicals by using library resources. Case studies will be used for gather additional information such as pros cons about the research topic .Case studies included the aims and objectives of several advertisements and a general critic of their design. Since case studies demonstrate examples from the real world, it will help to improve the deep understanding and analysis on real situations. 3.4 Data Collection: DZ Group Ltd, is an independent medium scale apparel garment which is based in London South Gate which is established in 1980s. The case study has been conducted in aid of said company. Prior to the initiation of the project following methods has been used for data collection.. Interviews : an interview was carried out by the author with the contact person at the sponsor company. Interviews are highly formalized and structured using standard questioners. The interviews were carried out as Structured interviews: used standard specified questioners and refer to each individual participant. This interview was documented and provided pertinent information used in the development of the Terms of Reference for the project. Semi structures interview: used standard specified questioners and additional questions has been asked of individual participants. Questionnaires or Surveys : A questionnaire is an enquiry tool that consists of a series of standard questions used for the purpose of gathering useful information from individual participant.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Wal-MArt :: essays research papers

Background Information ØÂ  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wal-Mart Inc. Corporate Headquarters  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  702 Southwest 8th street Bentonville, Ar 72716-8001 Top Executives  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚    ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President and CEO: H. Lee Scott  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chairman of the Board: S. Robson Walton  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chairman, Executive Committee of the Board: David D. Glass  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Chief Financial officer & Executive Vice President: Thomas M. Schoewe Industry  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  General Merchandise, SIC code: 5399 Divisions  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Wal-mart stores  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sam’s Club  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  International Major Products  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hardware  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  House-wares  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Auto Supplies  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Small Appliances  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Domestics  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Grocery  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Candy  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tobacco  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pharmaceuticals  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Electronics  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Health & Beauty Aids  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sporting Goods  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Toys  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stationary  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jewelry  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shoes  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1-hour Photo Major Competitors  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Target  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sears Roebuck & Co.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kmart  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Costco Wholesale Most Successful Wal-mart Brands  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ol’ Roy  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Great ValueÃ’  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  EquateÃ’ Financial Analysis ØÂ  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Profitability Wal-mart experienced sales growth of 20% in the fiscal year of 2000. This impressive increase is a direct result of the companies expansion program. Wal-mart has also acquired a few international stores, which are doing very well and adding to the companies’ profit. As the table shows wal-mart is no stranger to climbing profits, in fact wal-mart has managed to increase sales by no less than 12% (typically more) each year for 11 consecutive years. Year  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Net Earnings   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Net Sales   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Profitability 2000  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $5,377   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $165,013   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.0326 1999  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $4,430   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $137,634   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.0322 1998  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $3,526   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $117,958   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.0299 1997  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $3,056   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $104,859   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.0291 1996  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $2,740   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $93,627   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.0293 ØÂ  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Analysis ØÂ  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liquidity Wal-marts’ liquidity has been decreasing since 1996, which is a good sign from a growing company. In 2000 wal-marts liquidity dropped off drastically, this is on account of their expansion projects. They are willing to take some short-term risks, because they are very confident it will pay off down the road. A lot of wal-marts’ money is being pumped into the super centers and also financing the over seas expansion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Year  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Current Assets  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Short-term Debt  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Liquidity 2000  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $24,356   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $25,803   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.9439 1999  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $21,132   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $16,762   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.2607 1998  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $19,352   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $14,460   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.3383 1997  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $17,331   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $11,454   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.5131 1996  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $15,338   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $9,973   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.5380 ØÂ  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Analysis ØÂ  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Capital Management To say wal-mart is healthy is an under statement, thriving is a bit more fitting. The company has plenty of assets to cover their overall debt. Wal-mart continues to widen the gap between total assets and overall debt, the companies leverage has been increasing for 5 years running. By keeping their assets high and debt low wal-mart is assuring increased profits and happy shareholders for years to come. Year  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Total Assets  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Overall Debt  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leverage 2000  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $70,349   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $25,803   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.7264 1999  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $49,996   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $16,762   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.9827 1998  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $45,384   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $14,460   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3.1386 1997  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $37,541   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $11,454   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3.2775 1996  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $32,819   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  $9,973   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3.2908 ØÂ  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Analysis ØÂ  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Asset Management Once again wal-mart demonstrates why it is looked at as the 5th most admired company in the United States. Wal-marts’ inventory ratio has been on the rise for at least five years. As wal-mart grows and gains experience it creates a very strong base for it self. It is one of the few companies today that actually learns from and builds on its mistakes.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Ancient Greece Essay -- Ancient Greece Essays

Ancient Greece GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION The Ancient Greek civilization was located on today’s Greek land, Ionian Islands, Asia Minor, South Italy, and Sicily. It is surrounded by mountains and in the north by water. The Ionian and the Aegean seas, together with natural islands and bays, gave the Greeks the opportunety to develop their maritime commerce and their rich culture. The mountains, which surrounded Greece, gave us the picture of its political character. From early times, the Greeks lived in independet settlements, and they were isolated from one another. Later, this settelments grew up into â€Å"poles† or city-states. The Mediteranien Sea moderates Greeks climate  ­ cooling air in summer and warmth in winter period. Summers are generaly hot and dry, and winters are mild and rainy in costal regions. In mountain region winters are stronger. GREEK’S HISTORY The Greek civilization has made great contributions in many areas to western society. Greeks scientists made revolutionary discoveries in medicine, mathematics, physics and astronomy. They also developed the expression of individuality. Those are only some reasons why the Greek civilization was and still is one of the most important civilizations in the world. TIME PERIODS 1. PROTOGEOMETRIC STYLE (1100-900 BC) The protogeometric period is time of economic and cultural depression. The depths of this depression occurred from circa 1100 to 1050 BC. This period is also known as the Sub  ­ Mycenean period on the Greek mainland, and Minoan period on the island of Crete. Contribution made by the Minoan and Mycenean Empire to the creation of the Greek civilization, helped them to develop their own Empire. The use of iron and the cremation of the dead became the greatest progress in Greek civilization. The urns for the ashes are among the most characteristic vessels of that period. 2. THE GEOMETRIC PERIOD (900-700 BC) This period, the Geometric period, is well known by many transformations and startling innovation in Greek architecture and sculpture. The population has increased, and people have moved from the isolated settlements to the city  ­ states. The Greeks also moved to the new teritories to the east, and to the west. In that, new-concured teritories, the Greeks founded commercial trading posts and colonies. Also in this period, new script was adopted  ­ the Semtic alpha... ... of workers, usually slaves or free people who were very poor. Those activities required a broad range of skills - the stone, clay and metal trades, sculptures, potters, painters; the clothing industry; the leather trade, tanners and cobblers; construction, stone cutters, carpenters; maritime transport, ship building, food production and many others. RELIGION The ancient Greeks were very religious people. They were poligamics, and they believed that a certain god shows up in a human form. In the Greek art, especially on the vases, many scenes with gods were illustrated. For people of the ancient Grrek, many gods usually had the affair with the usual man. This is even written in some myths, and the result of that event was that many demi-gods appeared. Sarcifices were the gifts for their gods. There were two types of sarcifices  ­ the bloodless (roots, cereal grains, fruits, cheese), and blood-offerings (animals, birds and fish). The Greeks housed their gods in temples, which were often enclosed by the walls. In the inside of the temples, big statues of their gods were exposed. When the ceremony took place, those statues were even bathed, clothed and symbolicayy fed. Ancient Greece Essay -- Ancient Greece Essays Ancient Greece GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION The Ancient Greek civilization was located on today’s Greek land, Ionian Islands, Asia Minor, South Italy, and Sicily. It is surrounded by mountains and in the north by water. The Ionian and the Aegean seas, together with natural islands and bays, gave the Greeks the opportunety to develop their maritime commerce and their rich culture. The mountains, which surrounded Greece, gave us the picture of its political character. From early times, the Greeks lived in independet settlements, and they were isolated from one another. Later, this settelments grew up into â€Å"poles† or city-states. The Mediteranien Sea moderates Greeks climate  ­ cooling air in summer and warmth in winter period. Summers are generaly hot and dry, and winters are mild and rainy in costal regions. In mountain region winters are stronger. GREEK’S HISTORY The Greek civilization has made great contributions in many areas to western society. Greeks scientists made revolutionary discoveries in medicine, mathematics, physics and astronomy. They also developed the expression of individuality. Those are only some reasons why the Greek civilization was and still is one of the most important civilizations in the world. TIME PERIODS 1. PROTOGEOMETRIC STYLE (1100-900 BC) The protogeometric period is time of economic and cultural depression. The depths of this depression occurred from circa 1100 to 1050 BC. This period is also known as the Sub  ­ Mycenean period on the Greek mainland, and Minoan period on the island of Crete. Contribution made by the Minoan and Mycenean Empire to the creation of the Greek civilization, helped them to develop their own Empire. The use of iron and the cremation of the dead became the greatest progress in Greek civilization. The urns for the ashes are among the most characteristic vessels of that period. 2. THE GEOMETRIC PERIOD (900-700 BC) This period, the Geometric period, is well known by many transformations and startling innovation in Greek architecture and sculpture. The population has increased, and people have moved from the isolated settlements to the city  ­ states. The Greeks also moved to the new teritories to the east, and to the west. In that, new-concured teritories, the Greeks founded commercial trading posts and colonies. Also in this period, new script was adopted  ­ the Semtic alpha... ... of workers, usually slaves or free people who were very poor. Those activities required a broad range of skills - the stone, clay and metal trades, sculptures, potters, painters; the clothing industry; the leather trade, tanners and cobblers; construction, stone cutters, carpenters; maritime transport, ship building, food production and many others. RELIGION The ancient Greeks were very religious people. They were poligamics, and they believed that a certain god shows up in a human form. In the Greek art, especially on the vases, many scenes with gods were illustrated. For people of the ancient Grrek, many gods usually had the affair with the usual man. This is even written in some myths, and the result of that event was that many demi-gods appeared. Sarcifices were the gifts for their gods. There were two types of sarcifices  ­ the bloodless (roots, cereal grains, fruits, cheese), and blood-offerings (animals, birds and fish). The Greeks housed their gods in temples, which were often enclosed by the walls. In the inside of the temples, big statues of their gods were exposed. When the ceremony took place, those statues were even bathed, clothed and symbolicayy fed.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Monopoly questions and answers Essay

In a monopoly, and at the expense of supply in the market one entity to control and demand, and the degree of the price offered and the control exercised by the institution or individual is greater. Predatory pricing. This feature of the advantages of a monopoly consumers. These are short term market gains when prices dropped to meet the demand of rare product. Suppliers and consumers directly benefit from an attempt to monopolize the company to increase the sale of business marketing. Price flexibility With regard to the demand for the product or service offered by the company monopoly or individual, and is dictated by the price elasticity of the ratio of the absolute value of the increase in prices and demand in the market. Lack of creativity At the expense of absolute control of the market, and monopolies display a tendency to lose efficiency over a period of time. With one product lifetime, and innovative design and marketing techniques rear seat. Lack of competition. When the market was designed to serve the monopoly and the lack of commercial competition or the lack of goods and viable products shrinking the scope of â€Å"perfect competition. † 2-How monopoly arises Monopoly arises in a variety of circumstances: there are types of goods and a service does not accept by its nature, or not in the public interest to multiple producers, it’s called natural monopolies, for example: to provide the city with water, electricity, or the trains running between two countries. Often assume the state or municipal authorities to manage these services, or to grant a concession to a private company, subject to strict control. Monopoly may arise in an industry, the growth of a project, and it seized on other projects. Or as a result of grab or merge of small projects in the large-scale project, Monopoly May arise due to agreement between the projects owners in a particular industry to determine the price, or divide markets among themselves, known as (cartel), and in this case there are a number of producers, such agreement among them makes them a monopoly power. Most of the countries have been working on the subject of monopolies control. 3-How we can regulate the monopoly Pricing at marginal cost Economists have for many decades argued the benefits of setting public utility tariffs on the basis of marginal cost. This view is expressed in many classic economic texts on regulation. Price discrimination One common objection to marginal-cost pricing is that, in the presence of economies of scale, a simple linear price equal to marginal cost would not allow the regulated firm to recover sufficient revenue to cover its total costs. Ramsey pricing In those cases where the regulator is unable to set the marginal price for each service equal to its marginal cost, economic theory still places central emphasis on reducing the deadweight loss. Incremental cost The deadweight-loss hypothesis has a hard time explaining why regulators fail to pursue policies which are efficient under the conventional economic theory, such as Ramsey pricing. Price / service stability. Another puzzle for the conventional economic approach to regulation is the heavy emphasis on price stability. There is a sizeable amount of evidence that price and service stability is one of the primary concerns of regulators. Alternative regulation †¢ To encourage the productive efficiency of the monopolist. †¢ To eliminate the incentive to waste resources seeking to obtain a position of monopoly. †¢ To protect the sunk investment of the monopolist 4-Give some examples of monopoly type of monopolyThe main characteristicexamples. NaturalAccess to rare and not easily reproducible elements of productionMonopolies operating in the sphere of production is mineral deposits of strategic importance for the national economy technologicalFeature production: in this technology is not enough consumer demand to support many competitive firmsEnterprise for the production of specific goods, such as infrastructure for the operation of natural monopolies. GeographicCompetition due to the non-rationality of the territorial limited due to the effect of geographic barriersPublic transport companies infrastructureInfrastructure network – a network that supply products between distant from each other (both in space and in time), economic agentsBackbone enterprises in energy, rail transport , heat, gas and water supply patentUsing a unique patented technologyNatural monopolies are producing high-tech products, such as medicine StateMarkets related to the exclusive jurisdiction of the stateDefense, aeronautics administrative commandOperating in a command systemNatural monopolies in the administrative-command system.