Is the United States a melting pot or pluralist society? Essay

The melting pot is usually referred to homogenous groups living together in a way that their cultures and religions are mixed together as ingredients in a pot and lose their dinstict identities to a certain degree giving a final product that has a unique flavor and consistency completely different from its original ingredients. Pluralism does not create a different final product. It is more like a salad bowl where the different ingredients i. e. cultures and ethinicties retain their uniqueness and flavor. Pluralism accepts and affirm diversity of faiths, ideas, opinions of people. Factors such as Globalization, the internet, television, politics and schools have turned US into a melting pot with ethnicities and differences dying out and giving birth to a new breed of Americans. High levels of Immigration by Asians, Non-white Hispanics and Blacks have transformed United Stated from being a majority of European descendent English speaking Americans. California, Texas, Florida and New York have the most immigrants. The melting pot phenomenon also includes an intermarriage of ethnicities. The children of racial and ethnic intermarriages acquire different languages and attain different social, religious and economic backgrounds. These marriages are most common in European descendent groups. The most common are between Whites and Asians, Whites and Hispanics and Whites and African Americans. This is the important sign of assimilation. It is advantageous for the United States to maintain its â€Å"melting pot† status. There is nothing wrong with giving opportunities and a better way of life to life to people belonging to different countries, races and religions. This will lead to a more patriotic and nationalist society. References: Melting pot. (2007, May 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:31, May 4, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/w/index. php? title=Melting_pot&oldid=128132858.

Character Study Essay

Manus is the son of Hugh, brother of Owen and a teacher at the hedge school. * At first there is a great contrast between the brothers, however, as the play progresses it is apparent that they have adopted each others characteristics. Manus has strong views on the re naming of Irish towns but they are very different to those belonging to Owen. Manus is angry with the English belief that the Irish town names are â€Å"incorrect† whereas Owen considers it to be â€Å"only a name† Manus is described as having a â€Å"zeal† for teaching and this supported by his relationship with Sarah. It is clear that Sarah has deeper feelings for Manus than a regular teacher and student relationship. â€Å"She smiles in shy, embarrassed pleasure. † (P. 3). Manus also appears to truly care for Sarah and it is debatable whether one of Manus’ reasons for leaving the hedge school was because he did not want his feelings for Sarah to progress. At the beginning of the play a relationship between Manus and Maire is indicated. As the play progresses this relationship deteriorates as Maire and Yolland (an English man) fall in love. When Manus finds out about this relationship he is severely hurt and this leads to him leaving the town of Baile Beag and running away from his problems. * There are many examples throughout the play when Manus makes sacrifices for the people from the people within the hedge school. One such example is when his father Hugh applies for a new job at the national school. Manus feels he can not apply (even though he would probably be better suited for the job) as he will be going against his father’s wishes. This angers Maire as Manus promised her he would go for the job. This is one of the first apparent signs of a strain being put on their relationship, which would eventually lead to its downfall. Words that describe Manus: optimist, kind, considerate, encouraging.

Law in Higher Education (Affirmative Action in Higher Education) Research Paper

Law in Higher Education (Affirmative Action in Higher Education) - Research Paper Example A period of legal certainty is closely followed by a longer period of uncertainty. The objective of this paper is to critically analyze the place of affirmative action in higher education today. Key words: Affirmative action, compensation, discrimination, diversity, higher education. Affirmative Action in Higher Education Law Doverspike, Taylor and Arthur (2006) define affirmative action as â€Å"policies or procedures which attempt to increase the representation of an underrepresented, protected group (primarily minority or female but may include other groups such as aged) in education or employment through consideration in decision making of an applicant’s race, sex, or other protected group status† (p.5). Affirmative action has been employed as the primary tool for addressing gender, racial and ethnic inequalities. Education has been one of the key battlegrounds in the application of affirmative action evidenced by the popular cases such as Brown v The Board of Educa tion (1954). This is because education is highly valued in the American society due to its ability to impact on the life of an individual. Graduating from a selective institution enhances one’s life chances and increases the likelihood of entering a position of corporate or political leadership (Mullen, 2012). There exists a rich and complex legal framework that governs affirmative action in higher education. ... The debate Affirmative action is a focal point of public debate because of political and legal developments at the federal, state and local levels. Events that shaped the modern day affirmative action dates back to 1860s, especially following the promulgation of the 14th amendment. The amendment forbade states from enacting laws that denied American equal protection of the laws. It suffered setbacks for instance following the Supreme Court’s decision in Plessy v Fergusson where the court held that separate but equal accommodation did not violate the constitution giving rise to segregationist tendencies across United States. The modern day term ‘affirmative action’ traces its origin to President Kennedy, who in 1961 through Executive Order number 10925, introduced methods to address discrimination which had persisted regardless of constitutional guarantees and civil rights laws. It was developed and first enforced by President Johnson who put practical measures tha t transformed equality as a theory to equality in fact and result (Brunner and Rowen, 2007). Argument in Favor of Affirmative Action There are two core arguments that justify affirmative action. First, affirmative action ensures diversity in any democratic society. If left to chance, diversity can never be achieved. Part of the education process is to prepare students to interact with people from other nationalities. It prepares students to be better citizens in a democratic state. Americans come from diverse background, and America is set to become more diverse in the decades to come (Kowalski, 2006, p. 38). America prides itself on the diversity of its citizenry. Institutions and the whole academic field benefit holistically from diversity because

My reflection Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

My reflection - Assignment Example been considered the traditional family, the source brings into light changing family setups and the contentious issues that surround the definition of the traditional family. Handel et al. (2011) elaborate the extent to which different agencies of socialization impact child behavior. At home and in school for example, children’s behavior are molded to conform with certain rules. Parents and teachers play a significant role in correcting errant behavior and guiding children to adopt socially acceptable ones, as opposed to those that are considered negative. Like the other agencies of socialization, peer influence greatly shape the way children develop. As peers, for example, children engage in such activities as play and collaboration against parents and teachers to resist some of the directions given to them by the significant others. By engaging in different activities as peers, children get to learn interpersonal skills much as they learn emotional regulatory ability mostly from their parents. In general, Handel et al. Paint a broad, albeit vivid picture of how the school, family and peer group affect children’s

Was There a Place for Women in Russian Revolutionary Movements Essay

Was There a Place for Women in Russian Revolutionary Movements - Essay Example From 1905 to 1917, women played significant roles in the Russian revolution as they joined the Bolshevik party and became passionate about the cause being advanced by the party5. Their passion mostly stemmed from their desire to gain more rights beyond their traditional Russian female role, but they also showed that they had the ability to work as hard as their male counterparts in order to secure the rights and freedom of all Russians6. Women during the Bolshevik revolution applied the demeanour of the tverdia which translates to being hard and resolved7. These women also had to be rational, merciless, and unsentimental; their loyalty had to unquestionably be directed to the party and not even to themselves or their family (19). In order to comply with this demand, many of these women had to hold off on getting married or having children; others who were already mothers had to be ready to take the risk of bringing their children to the underground hideouts, sometimes even letting th eir children aid in the revolution8. Women became a major symbol of what the Bolshevik revolution was trying to achieve. They became a symbol of causes like equal rights and opportunity which the revolution was fighting for9. These causes were also hailed by the male Bolsheviks as they believed that these were courageous and decisive goals. Support from the men encouraged more women to join the revolution. However, this support was all for show because beyond the eyes and ears of the women, their efforts were mocked10. Moreover, negative rumours were spread about them, with many of them labelled as promiscuous, ignorant, and deviant. Despite the negative rumblings about these revolutionary women, the lower classes of women were still stirred to... Based on the above discussion, there was a place for women in Russian revolutionary movements. The revolutions which were launched at various points of Russia’s history clamoured for equal rights and better work conditions for all. Women initially had a less active role in these revolutions, however, during the 1905 Bolshevik Revolution, they started to take on a more active role. The Bolshevik Party, however, did not take the role of women seriously during the 1905 revolution. Although they supported it to some degree, they did not fully acknowledge the role of women in the revolution. The fact that the women’s movements were not organized at this point also played the role in the lack of widespread support for their cause. In the years leading up to the 1917 February Revolution however, the women were more organized and passionate in their goals. They were also more united and were able to gain the support of many men in launching the revolution against the government . This paper makes a conclusion that as the 1917 Revolution gained the necessary victory for the Bolshevik Party, the women’s place and role in the revolution garnered more support from the Party. Their impact on the government reforms proved to be valuable and these reforms were eventually implemented under the Party and the Soviet Union. They were able to protect their traditional roles, even as they shunned political seats and power. The reforms and rights they sought to secure are protected to date and have served as a momentous precedent for other women in the global setting.

Multimedia Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multimedia - Assignment Example The company will also be happy to avail additional services and reference upon the client’s request. The company has a precise understanding of software development needs, and the company also has the skills, experience and knowledge to complete the project in a successful manner. The company is also recognized by the association of software companies within the state and has been placed on the map to show its competency. The company shall be involved in developing the system from the start and customize it according to NPC needs that will make the system easy to use even minus technical support. Once agreed, the development phase takes off and a prototype is availed for demo is when NPC commits a down payment. After complete system development, the company shall offer training to the staff members and be available for any technical support that may be needed. NPC shall use the system for a period of three months for convenience purpose is when the final payment is made. IMS shall avail free consultancy service to the NPC for a period of six months from the time of system delivery. The system contains a home screen that can be viewed by both site visitors and staff members. The home screen has a login area that can be used by staff members while logging into the system. The clients can place orders and at the same time seek for vet services. A good system is supposed to be easily navigable by any type of user; hence the system should be simple to understand (Eurospi 2007, & Abrahamsson, 2007). This can be achieved by use of few pages to avoid mix up. The system uses a well-organized database that enables retrieval to be easy and secure. For security reasons, a back server is set on the cloud. Cloud computing is taking technology miles away and most tech companies prefer using cloud for the purpose of storing data and can be retrieved in case the primary storage fails at some pint. The main page is

ESI Active Directory Configuration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ESI Active Directory Configuration - Essay Example It is time to design its new Active Directory and to define the corresponding policies. Top View or Forest ESI will have a single domain AD forest with centralized authentication and authorization. Security boundaries and specifications will be defined starting with the urgent requirements that will prevent cybercrime from forcing the entire network to start from scratch. The strategy of developing with precaution will allow all the officers and employees to become familiar with the actual implementation, without experiencing too much security threats from external sources.. First of all, the AD DS will be installed in Microsoft Windows Server 2008. Due to the rapid expansion of business operations, the aim will be to have three (3) Domain Controllers. This is to take the least probability of having to recover from backup files in case of technical troubles somewhere in the system. All branches will be connected by a single DNS name. Thus, from the Central Office of ESI.com, each bra nch will have a subdomain that employees can access after passing security authentication. Illustrated with a diagram below are the Servers /.Controllers and that the branches will access daily to be connected to a Single Forest, Single Domain startup design. (Rommel, Florian 2009a). All branches will access the server via Internet, more specifically by logging into the domain ESI.com. However, these servers can only share software but not printers and other devices that are within the branch vicinity. These are the three (3) controllers or servers for the entire network. One will serve as automatic backup. The 3rd should backup only after internal audit has double checked the active or real time backup data. For security purposes, the three servers will be located in a well-guarded, fireproof, temperature-controlled offices near the top 10 most trustworthy Executives. and where calamity cannot destroy them. Furthermore, one of them will be under daily audit by the IT Security Depar tment. Servers will then link all the branches nationwide so that their computer work stations can share in the use of resources found in the centralized server. Note that only one server is mentioned because the other two are backup servers wherein one backup is most protected. It is foreseen that eventually, each branch will have to maintain a server of its own to handle activities that do not need to be strictly secured. â€Å"The AD DS role is what enables the server to act as Domain Controller.† says the System Administrator (2012). But the AD DS should first be installed. In Windows Server 2008, open Server Manager from the Quick Launch Toolbar icon, or by going to Administrative Tools.The next steps are as follows: Click â€Å"Roles† > â€Å"Add Roles† > Next > â€Å"Select Server Roles†> Click on Active Directory Domain Services.> Next> Confirm Selected Roles Installation> Wait for Installation Success> Doublecheck if AD DS got installed by going back to Server Manager. See Figure 2, 3 under Appendix. Once AD DS has been installed in Windows Server 2008, run DCPROMO as follows: Run> dcpromo > OK > Welcome to Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard > Next > Open system Compatibility > Next > Choose a Deployment Configuration > Select Create a New Domain > Be sure to type the exact Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)., e.g. ESI.com > Set the Forest Functional Level. > Select additional Domain Controller Options by placing a check mark on the DNS Server.> Select DHCP > Continue until AD DS Installation is complete. When asked for a Directory Service Restore Mode Administrator Password, be sure to â€Å"control† and keep the password in writing for the time when the system might

How and which beliefs can we justified in Descartes who argues for Essay

How and which beliefs can we justified in Descartes who argues for skepticism - Essay Example He believes that images from dreamland are drawn from real experiences. For instance, if an artist draws an imaginary picture of a mermaid, he thinks of images of women and fish. The philosopher thinks that it is very easy to doubt the simplest things in life such as the existence of God. However, he tries pushing these thoughts from his mind by arguing that if he believes that there is no God, then he will be deceived. From the clip in "The Matrix", Neyo is put in a computer program by a hacker who tries to convince him to change his mind about what he believes in. The hacker shows him of his dream world and the real world to manipulate his mind into making Neyo believe in his world of fantasy (Andy and Lana, 1999). In the same way, Descartes sought to overturn people beliefs thoughts into his imaginary world. From the philosopher story, it is crucial to note that no individual can live in skepticism as no one doubts if other people in the surrounding exist. It is believed that Descartes was motivated into doubtful behavior as he was trying to overcome a certain problem, but his believes were always accompanied by arguments to inspire his

Delchi Carrier, SpA v. Rotorex Corp Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Delchi Carrier, SpA v. Rotorex Corp - Case Study Example The lower court, through Judge Munson who replaced Judge Cholakis, granted Delchi's motion for partial summary judgment, holding Rotorex liable to Delchi for $1,248.331.81 as consequential damages mainly for the lost of profits. The lower court denied Delchi's claim for damages for incidental and inconsequential damages or out-of-pocket expenses. On appeal to the United States Court of Appeals (USCA), Rotorex argued that it did not breach the agreement, Delchi is not entitled to payment of lost profits, and the calculation of the number of lost sale is improper. Delchi, on the other hand, filed a cross-appeal to the USCA claiming that it is entitled to payment of the additional expenses it incurred because of the breach. Article 35 of the CISG, which is the applicable law in this case, provides that "the seller must deliver goods which are of quantity, quality and description required by the contract; the goods do not conform with the contract unless they possess the qualities of goods which the seller has held out to the buyer". The United States Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the lower court holding Rotorex liable for breach of contract.

International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

International Business - Essay Example 1. Introduction The French food retailer Groupe Auchan S.A. (Auchan) is one of the world’s top retail and distribution groups and the fourth largest food retailer in France with a market share of about 12 percent (Standard & Poor’s, 2011). It competes with European giants such as Carrefour and Casino. Auchan has a strong position in the hypermarket segment which contributes about 80% of the group’s revenues. In addition to intense competition, rising inflation has been holding back consumer spending in Western European markets. Auchan has expanded into several Asian countries and also in Central and Eastern Europe. India has a huge retail market but it has FDI restrictions and does not permit foreign companies into multi-brand retail. Auchan has been attempting to enter into India through a franchise agreement with Dubai-based Landmark Group. The Landmark Group, founded in Bahrain with a single shop, has grown into one of the largest retail organizations (Landmar k Group, 2012). Currently, the Landmark Group operates the SPAR hypermarkets and supermarkets in India but their agreement with SPAR is set to come to an end. Auchan Groupe intends to enter into a franchise agreement with the Landmark Group until India amends its FDI policy. As of now India does not permit FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in multi-brand retailing. 2. Rationale for choosing India India offers huge potential for the retail sector as the disposable income of the middle-class has been growing. FDI in different sectors has been increasing in India and the Indian currency (Rupee) has become strong in the international market. However, PEST analysis would help in evaluating if Auchan’s decision to enter India is a viable proposition. Political The political situation in India is unstable as it has a coalition government since no single party has clear majority. The industrial sector also faces opposition and the growth in agriculture has been slow. However, the role of the central government as the intermediary of the state governments is now ending (Mohan, 2006). This indicates that states now have autonomy while the growing middle-class favours liberalization. The business conglomerates in India have turned their attention to retailing (Deloitte, 2008). The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, is the nodal agency for monitoring and reviewing the FDI policy in India on continued basis (Tyagi, 2010). Economic The Indian economy has undergone tremendous change. The Indian economy has recorded high growth rates and is an attractive destination for investments (IBEF, 2011). The Indian economy is expected to grow at 7.5% and is expected to contribute to the recovery of the world economy. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 8.5% during 2010-11 against 8% in 2009-2010. Over the next two years India is expected to attract FDI worth USD 80 billion according to a research report by Morgan Stanley as cited by IBEF. India’s reta il sector is expected to grow to $635bn by 2015 (Sengupta, 2008). At the same time, food retail is expected to grow to $1.6bn over the next five-year period (Srivastava, 2008). Social The modern cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore show evidence of modernization and adaptation to western standards under the influence of globalization (Pick & Dayaram, 2006). Growth and development in communications technology, development of transport infrastructure, widespread availability of western

Chemical dependency Essay Example for Free

Chemical dependency Essay Group Structure: Type of group: This meeting was a â€Å"Narcotics Anonymous Open Sharing Meeting†. This component, where anyone attending had the opportunity to share. There was no direct feedback from the other participants during the â€Å"share†, thus only one person spoke at any given time during that portion of the meeting. Organizational affiliation: Narcotics Anonymous as a group has no affiliation outside of Narcotics Anonymous. As a group they have no opinion on outside issues,† including those of politics, science, or medicine, and do not endorse any outside organization or institution. The fellowship does not promote itself, but rather attracts new members through public information and outreach. Narcotics Anonymous groups and areas supply outside organizations with factual information regarding the Narcotics Anonymous program, and individual members may carry the Narcotics Anonymous message to hospitals and institutions, such as treatment centers and jails. Narcotics Anonymous as a group base their public relations policy on attraction rather than promotion. Physical environment: This meeting was held in the recreation room in the basement of a church. There was an oblong table at the head of the two rows of chairs placed in a 360 degree circle. Participants: There were roughly 40-50 participants ranging in age from mid teens to late 50’s. There were only 5 females in attendance. This group’s ethnicity was about 85% Caucasian, 10% African American and 5% Latino. Leadership structure: In different areas the work is divided differently, and the particular jobs are sometimes called different names. At this particular meeting the leadership structure was as follows, ranking from top to bottom in hierarchy. Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Group service representative (GSR). Process: What the group does for a person’s first visit? First time visitors and  newcomers to this meeting were asked to introduce themselves by first name only. These individuals were welcomed by all the participants at the meeting. These individuals were given a hand shake, a hug and a white key tag (by a presenter) that said welcome on one side and on the other side had the Narcotics Anonymous logo. How members’ contribute to the group’s leadership? Members who attend the same meeting on a regular basis to establish a recovery network and reliable routine understand this to be their â€Å"Home Group†. These group members are able to participate in the group’s business, and play an important role in deciding how the structure, leadership and the group’s meetings will be conducted. Each member has a vote in this process and the majority vote rules. Activities that occurred during the meeting. There were no physical activities during this meeting but certain individuals read inserts from the â€Å"Basic Text Book† of Narcotics Anonymous pertaining to that week’s format and agenda. Address the following questions: How did the group begin? The group began by the Chairperson knocking on the table to gain every ones attention, then announcing them self, followed by stating the name of this group (Dead Man Walking) then reciting the Serenity Prayer. How was the purpose of the meeting communicated? The purpose of the meeting was indicated by preamble which was read by the Chairperson also by the reading of the secretary’s report, which was read by the C-Chairperson, this stated the purpose of the meeting and the rules in which the participants were required to oblige by. How was the meeting’s agenda established? The agenda varies in whatever way seems to best suit the personality of the group and the needs of the addicts in the community. This meeting’s agenda and format was established by the governing members (from the Home Group) and varies from week to week but was mostly based on the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous. Techniques used to encourage people to participate. It was announced to all those attending the meeting that participation was optional. What extent were these techniques effective. There was no pressure on anyone which made the atmosphere very comfortable. What are participants’ responsibilities for the meeting process? Anonymity of the group’s participants and process were the main responsibilities from all those attending and keeping the sharing time  between 3-5 minutes and not interrupting the person who was talking. How were these responsibilities explained? These responsibilities were explained to the group in detail during the reading of the secretary’s report. How did the group demonstrate interest, acceptance, etc. in those attending? The participants showed interest by paying close attention to the individual who was sharing and when those who shared finished, everyone in the group (at one time) thanked that person for sharing their story. What emotions were observed? There were a couple of times when an individual who was telling their story began to cry. Other times there was some laughter from the group when certain individuals identified their own story with the one the person was sharing. How did the participants respond to expressions of these emotions? The participants expressions showed true concern and empathy for those who were sharing their experience, strength and hope. Were there any decisions made for future events or meetings? It was stated in the secretary’s report that all meeting events and decisions are discussed and made during the group’s monthly business meeting. The business meeting for this group is held on the second Saturday of the month. Describe any observation of any therapeutic factors. The therapeutic value of one addict helping another gave each participant the feeling of acceptance and familiarity. There were a lot of similarities between the structure of an Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meeting. A major difference I witness at the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting from the Narcotics Anonymous meeting was, at the Narcotics Anonymous Meeting it was suggested that those who was sharing not to acknowledge or mention there drug use. At the Narcotics Anonymous meeting it was clearly stated that â€Å"Narcotics Anonymous does not distinguish a difference between substances, they are all inclusive, â€Å"Alcohol is a drug†. It was also stated at the Narcotics Anonymous meeting that anyone from the other fellowship (Alcoholics Anonymous) was accepted at this and all Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

Environmental Degradation: Causes and Effects

Environmental Degradation: Causes and Effects Introduction Thesis statement and Purpose statement Nowadays, the development of urbanization, which causes concentrated human population and habitat in small areas, has occurred at a very quick pace. Urban standard of living has risen roughly on the basis of technical innovations and changes in social structure. However, at the same time, there is a widespread concern about unsustainable city development and infrastructure due to the inequality between the progress and the environmental threat (Boyce, 1994, 18). The economic development brings both prosperity for people and damage to the environment, which includes air, water and soil pollution. Lovejoy (1993, p.125) argued this common occurrence is rampantly increasing all over the world, particular in developing countries. With limited time and resources, this paper will explore some common features of urban environmental degradation based on the authors experiences and geographical perspectives of Vietnam. The aim of this paper is to identify what urban environmental degradation is, and then understand the reasons and effects of this issue. From this basis, the research will refer to some assumptions and implications of other authors work and examples before suggesting some possible solutions to ensure the sustainability for new urban developments as well as the environment. Definition of urban environmental degradation Recognition of an environmental degradation is essential for the management of urban environment. Hackett (1993, pg. 116) writes that urban degradation is a result of the rapid growth in urban population and industrialization which causes many negative impacts on the urban landscapes and living quality of cities, such as poor quality housing, inadequate infrastructure and industrial pollution. Simultaneously, some factors seriously affect the environment as well as the balance of nature. According to Bolay et al. (1997, p. 185), urban environmental problems such as air and water pollution and solid wastes are becoming more serious in developing countries, and Vietnam in particular. Most cities in Vietnam have a high level of population density compared to other countries in the world. There are, for example, more than 23,000 inhabitants per square kilometers in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). The shortage of infrastructure and urban services in those cities has become alarming, which has led to the city amenities not being able to meet the enormous population demand (Bolay et al. (1997, p. 189)). Therefore, pollution of surface and underground water, soil and air by households and production has increased roughly these days. It is expected that the Government would take immediate measures in this issue by identifying and suggesting possible solutions to reduce these effects in order to improve the quality of the urban environmental. As can be seen in the Figure 1, urbanized area in HCMC has been expanding rapidly in the past five years. The population has roughly increased in the fringe areas of HCMC, while decreased in the city center (particular in District 1, 3 the centre Business district (CBD)) from 1999. This partly reflects the changes in the land prices. Higher land prices in the city center are affecting population decrease in that area and population increase in suburban areas. Besides, we can predict that the housing development of HCMC would increase in the West and Northwest directions and start occurring in East and South directions in the next ten years. Problem analysis Urbanization causes an overload on infrastructure, particularly in road network, water supply systems and drainage. As Lovejoy (1993, p. 126) referred, the sudden increase in population puts the city under pressure of basic infrastructure demand. There are many requirements for the expanding urban areas, rising food, water and infrastructure quality as well as offering more jobs. To cater for these demands, industrial companies have to increase products and exploit resources as fully as possible. This creates many environmental problems because the natural resources and urban amenities are limited (Satterthwaite, 2009, p. 546). The major problem of urban degradation is air and water pollution. In urbanized cities, air and water pollution is mainly emitted through industrial activities, especially from the production of electricity generated by fossil fuels. Transportation, households, hospitals, laboratories and pesticide used for crops are also responsible for the release of these pollutants into the environment (Satterthwaite, 2009, p. 546-547). Consequently, this dumping of dangerous waste on open sites produces poisoned air and water probably makes people living around the site suffer from diseases simultaneously increasing the incidence of allergies and other symptoms. In HCMC, due to the progress of urbanization, the quality of air and water gradually decrease these years. It can be seen from Figure 2, since 2003, the index of air pollutions has dropped dramatically and the water quality has been below the standard of Vietnam (TCVN). Especially, because the city residents are accustomed to using motorbike, the emissions from motor vehicles contribute high concentrations of air pollutants and smoke. Therefore, pollutions from traffic congestion are becoming one of the most serious environmental issues in HCMC. In addition, urbanization causes population density and increases the demands on urban amenities. Lovejoy (1993, p. 124) states most new dwelling places have no civic facilities, such as water supply, drainage, roads People living in these places discharge rubbish and dirty water directly to channels and rivers as they used to in rural areas. This condition leads to establish the new slums with many environmental and social problems. There are two basic reasons for the disordered urbanization for the past few years which involve the roles of local Government and residents. The first reason is the lack of specific urban planning. The urban planning management is rather passive and mainly depends on experiences (Lovejoy, 1993, p. 124). In many countries, local governments do not know exactly what the function of a specific land will be and how to control this issue effectively. Investor demands hardly meet government approval, and even worse, several projects have not been able to persuade local residents to accept and be carried out (Satterthwaite, 2009, p. 559). The other factor is the awareness of community about environment problems. Majority of residents are just aware of the visual environmental problems in short-term such as noise pollutions and smoke while the solid wastes and underground water pollutions are actually the elements destroying the natural systems in long-term. As a result, it is necessary to establish more and more education programs for citizens in attempt to rise the understanding of community in the quality of urban environment (Bolay et al. (1997, p. 192). Solutions: In my point of view, to improve the living quality and solve the environmental degradation, the government should establish a comprehensive planning system which includes socio-economic development plan, urban construction plan and land use plan. Planning should regulate where it is appropriate to have certain functions located, where it is necessary to have waste disposal sites or green areas and where is suitable to build industrial zones Besides, urban planning should take into account many other factors such as infrastructure and relevant works, making it favorable for development of an area where urbanization is taking place. As an illustration, Figure 3 shows an example of land use plan which respects the natural principles and probably leads to a sustainable development area. An establishment of laws, regulations and guidelines is also necessary in implementation of the Urban Master plans in each level, such as General plans and Detailed plans. For example, policy makers should establish specific socio-economic characteristics in each local area in order to make new and specific policies for urbanizing areas, which should be different from policies for districts already urbanized. Besides, apply indirect tools such as economic measures, including penalties that a production or company have to pay whenever it causes pollution, is also useful in avoiding the increase of urban environmental degradation. Conclusions Urbanization has clearly caused impacts on the city economic structure, especially in urbanized areas. There are positive changes in many social aspects. There is also environmental deterioration and pollution. If people are not noticed and properly solved, this issue will result in extremely consequences and cause negative impacts on the citys urban sustainable development. References Bolay, J.C Cartoux, S Cunha, A Du, T.T.N Bassand, M 1997, Sustainable Development and Urban Growth: Precarious Habitat and Water Management in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, Habitat INTL., Vol. 21, No. 2, pp. 185-197, Elsevier Science, viewed 14 Dec 2009,. Boyce, J-K 1994, Inequality as a Cause of Environmental Degradation, Ecological Economics, vol. 11, pp. 1-20, Political Economy Research Institute, viewed 12 Dec 2009,. Chiapponi, M 1992, Environmental management and planning: The role of spatial and temporal scales, Ekistics 356-357, pp. 306-310. Hackett, B 1993, A landscape basis for planning, Ekistics 360 361, pp. 116-118. Lovejoy, D 1993, The vital role of the landscape architect in solving environmental problems, Ekistics 360 361, pp. 124 126. Satterthwaite, D 2009, The implications of population growth and urbanization for climate change, Environment and Urbanization 2009, vol. 21, pp. 545, Sage, viewed 17 Dec 2009,http://eau.sagepub.com >

Toyota And Lexus Pestel Analysis

Toyota And Lexus Pestel Analysis The purpose of this report is to conduct a strategic appraisal of Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo Group and assess the implications for the strategy of the company. To conduct these analysis two main stages will be taken into consideration. Firstly the external environment of the company that will focus on its wider environment by applying a PESTEL framework and Porters five forces that will lead on to identify key opportunities and threats facing the company. Secondly the internal resource capability analysis that will focus on the companies Recourse Audit and its value chain followed by a linkage of its Core Competency by applying the VRIN analysis, that will lead to an indication of the key strengths and weaknesses of E.K.Kanoo Group. For over a century, the Kanoo family has been one of Bahrains leading merchant dynasties. With business connections spanning the Arab world and South Asia from the days of antiquity even before the invention of the motor car the Kanoo name has for generations been a byword for trust, service, and dependability. In 1920, there were only two cars on the island of Bahrain, both owned by the Ruling family. Therefore in 1952 Ebrahim took the chance to established himself as a leading importer of automobiles and spare parts under the name Green Auto Stores, securing in 1966 the sole authorized distributorship in Bahrain of Toyota automobiles, industrial vehicles and related services. The Toyota Motor Corporation was founded in 1937 by Kiichiro Toyoda. The first vehicle, the Toyota AA, was produced in 1936 whilst the company was still associated with Toyoda. The brand as we know it became established as an independent company in 1937 and changed their name to Toyota. They opened their first factory in 1938 but it had to be cease production during World War II. In 1974, Ebrahims sons, Mohamed and Fuad, assumed responsibility for the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of the business, steering it into a new era. They formed the E.K. Kanoo Group of Companies. Focus was initially exclusively on the Toyota franchise, and this resulted in the establishment of one of the most sophisticated and successful automotive businesses in the region. In 1989 Toyota launched their new luxury product line Lexus and in 1990 the company was offered to become the sole distributorship of Lexus automobiles. Toyota is currently one of the largest corporations developing hybrid vehicles for the commercial market. Today, with more than 50 years of commitment to service excellence, E.K. Kanoo is universally acknowledged as one of the islands automotive pioneers of Toyota and lexus, developing and exceeding expectations in the automotive business. The next generation of the Kanoo family are now fully involved in the business and are building their careers, and expanding the business, in the founders footsteps. Further diversification expansion took the group into other business areas, building new companies with the same commitment to trust, commitment and dependability such as Kanoo IT, security 1, Kanoo Power solution. Kanoo IT in 1999 In 1999 Kanoo IT was launched as a division of Ebrahim K. Kanoo B.S.C.(c) which deals in A commitment to first-rate ICT product and service support that is reflected in its partnership with the leading hardware and software brands throughout the world. The changing face of the ICT industry drives Kanoo ITs strategy to provide industry leading products and services to its clientele in Bahrain. The company has geared itself to meet this challenge by offering an innovative range of products and allied services and being sensitive to the precise needs of todays customer Security 1 in 2006 In 2006 Security One was launched as a division of Ebrahim K. Kanoo B.S.C.(c). Which deals in a division of the Ebrahim K Kanoo Group of Companies that stands on developing and providing specialized solutions in the areas of Security, Fire, Safety and Automation requirements for all Governmental, Commercial, Residential and Industrial projects. In involvement with the foremost and established international product manufacturers in Security business, it has created a strong Competence Center in Bahrain with an professional experienced team of consultants and certified engineers, aimed at providing the most innovative and cost effective solutions, coupled with excellent customer support and after sales service. They develop, deliver and support the most mission-critical applications to meet the most stringent customer service requirements Kanoo Power solution in 2006 In 2006 the Kanoo Power Solutions was launched as a division of Ebrahim K. Kanoo B.S.C.(c) which deals in power products for industrial applications. It is the Authorised Distributor in the Kingdom of Bahrain for Exide Technologies and Chloride UPS Systems who are pioneers in their respective fields. Exide batteries have a design life ranging from 5 to 20 years and are available in both AGM and Gel technology. Exide Technologies is a Global leader in stored electrical energy solutions for all major critical reserve standby power applications and needs. Standby power applications include communication/data networks, UPS systems for computers and control systems, electrical power generation and distribution systems, as well as a wide range of other industrial standby power applications. Toyota Lexus PESTEL Analysis The first stage of the external environment analysis is through the PESTEL framework that helps E.K.Kanoo managers understand the big picture of the political, economical, social, technological, environmental and legal issues that they are operating within. (reference) Based on our research it has been recognised that they share the same analysis as the mother company in Japan but differ in some areas.(To be added) Political factors: impact on many vital areas such as the environment of the workforce, the humans health and the quality of technology such as hybrid system. Based on our research, Toyota have positive political impact. By producing the environmental friendly cars which use less gasoline and reduce dependency on petrol, Therefore, the country itself reduce the dependence of the petrol. On the other hand EKKanoo and its customers benefit from this issue as prices of full are much lower than Japan and the US. The dependence of the natural gas and oil from the foreign source will directly and indirectly affect one country economy growth and also the national security. Growth in the infrastructure development sector following the announcement of Qatar hosting the 2022 world cup and Qatar Bahrain causeway will revise the economy.(Economical factor) The social unrest continues to weigh heavily on the countrys political stability. People are not in a position to comfortably invest in expensive products. Economical factors: This includes interest rates, taxation charges such as the road tax, insurance tax, economic growth, inflation and tax incentive. In other words, the costs have to pay more for car users. Economy is also another impact to almost all countries around the world. The consumers start to choose the hybrid car based on the benefits of fuel savings over time which means the paid back. There had been a slight decline in sales of non-luxury automotive brands due to the political unrest and economic slowdown (2009-2011), but the figures this year reflect a positive outlook and the growing sales numbers will carry forward in 2013. Market share for Toyota has increased over 2011 which was lost due to shortage of stock and end of cycle models. High projected oil prices in 2013-17 will contribute to financial surpluses. Neighbouring GCC investments will increase due to huge petrodollar surpluses. Major projects have been declared to commence and be completed by 2013 2014. These projects are residential as well as industrial; with the potential of increased population and commercial activities that would generate higher sales of vehicles and equipment. Appreciation of Yen currency does not help in maintaining competitive pricing. Social factors: This factor takes into consideration all events that affect the market and community socially. Thus, the advantages and disadvantages to the people of the area in which the project is taking place also need to be considered. These events include cultural expectations, norms, population dynamics, healthy consciousness, career altitudes and global warming. Due to the climate change become a serious topic nowadays, Therefore EKK is importing vehicles from Toyota which adapt with GCC standards and environment also Toyota should produce a vehicle which it will not bring pollution to the environment. Very low dependence on public transportation system in Bahrain, therefore people prefer to own cars. Technology factors: New technologies create new products and new processes. Technology can reduce costs, improve quality and lead to innovation. These developments can benefit consumers as well as the organizations providing the products. Toyota plaza is one of the largest service centres mechanism in the world for Toyota and Lexus. Enterprise Recourses Planning (ERP) which have the latest version of oracle system. Legal factors: Organizations also have to adjust their products and ways of operating to the different regulatory and legislative framework that govern each of the products areas and countries in which they are active. Other than that, the programs also need to take into consideration. Organizations have to follow all the rules and regulations which are set by the governance even if there is new technology involvement, Electrical cars from Toyota which the company cannot import due to country economic growth issues. Changes of country importing rules and regulations can affect. Number of automobiles allowed into the country and yard parking cost. Environmental factors: include the weather and climate change. With major climate changes occurring due to global warming and with greater environmental awareness this external factor is becoming a significant issue for firms to consider. In Bahrain one of the GCC countries which have hot climate over the year.(to be changed). E.K.K have signed contracts with recycling companies to recycle all after service materials such as oil, tiers, spark plugs and packaging boxes. All imported cars are installed with an friendly environment exhaust system that reduces the amount of air pollution. Porters 5 forces As for considering the competitive issues the organisation faces Porters five forces helps identify the attractiveness of the industry it operates in and helps it understand the strength of the current competitive position.(reference) Power of suppliers The bargaining power of suppliers is low. There are various types of suppliers in the vehicles industry, including the cooling system, electrical system, braking system and fuel supply system distributed across the globe. EKKanoo became the sole distributor of parts and extended their car warranty to 4 years/150,000 KM with a 3 year free service package and built a good network of service and parts centres throughout the region. However, most vehicle manufactures own many interchangeable suppliers, and also have the ability to produce the components by their own in the short time. Thus, the suppliers do not own the power to change the price. Power of buyers The Bargaining power of buyers is high. Bahrain market continues to be price driven for most of the customers segments. Today, buyers have a lot of information channel, such as the internet, where can easily find the proper vehicle. And, the preferences of the private consumers are important to the vehicle corporations. If automobile Company increases one type, they can also choose other type or the cheaper one. Customers look for more discounts, free service packs and better financial schemes or they can easily find the substitutes. Such as used cars, trade in or exporting from other countries. Threat of new entrants The entrants cannot enter to the automotive industry easily, as automobiles are special products that require a large amount of money on the design, monopolize the market, electronic functions, and safety issues. And another important issue is the brand loyalty in the car market. Vehicle firms always benefit the brand value, and decrease the consumer sensitivity about the price. As EKKanoo has been the first automotive industry on the island and Toyota stands for Quality, Safety, Durability and Reliability; a benchmark in the automotive world customers have a strong belief in the brand and feel that Toyota is the most reliable brand in the automotive market and feel that it has become more advanced technologically with refined interior which reflect unrivalled elegance and exclusiveness. Therefore Toyota stands out as a high value brand and Low cost of ownership is associated with the brand. Rivalry among competitors The competition in the auto industry is strong. The top eight auto companies have occupy large part of global revenues, and these automobile manufacturers strengthened the globalization and consolidation across the worldwide range. Korean brands are proving to be a potential threat with the introduction of attractive design and features at competitive prices. This reflects their increase in market share over the years. Competition among the Japanese brands is intense, American brands will take advantage from the appreciated Japanese Yen and Chinese brands have started to show their presence in the market. With new models being launched in 2013 for the Toyota line up, Toyota would be able to dominate the market and emerge as the leading brand. Toyota will face intense competition from Nissan, Hyundai and Kia in the passenger segment, youthful and sporty brands will have more opportunity. Nissan poses to be the major threat for Toyota in Bahrain as they have an aggressive pricing strategy which is helping them to dominate the market. This is reflected in the increase of market share of Nissan over the years. Korean products have a more youthful and sporty design with added technological features at a competitive price. The main competitors of Luxes in Bahrain are BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Infinitià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. 5. Threat of substitutes The threat of the substitutes is high. There are a lot of substitutes in the automobile industry. When the price of the vehicles rises, the substitutes will emerge, there are many types of equipment that can take the place of vehicles, such bus, subway, bicycle and even walking. In Bahrain it is Low because of the hot clement it is hard for people to walk and ride bikes, low public transportation services as its a small island. Internal Environment Analysis Resource Audit: The next stage is to carry out an analysis of E.K.Kanoos internal resource capability by applying the Threshold and Distinction capability framework that will maintain a briefing of the resources available to the company and how they help them achieve competitive advantage and superior performance. Threshold Resources: Based on the analysis of E.K.Kanoo business field its Threshold Resources are the need of capital, showrooms, service garages, storage, logistics, land transportation, customers, suppliers, technical equipment, shop and garage equipment and staff personal to achieve its competitive advantage and superior performance within the market. Threshold competences: Marketing E.K.Kanoo has a high strategy of innovation therefore the need of marketing is highly recommended to launch its new automobiles, spare parts and accessories , for example handling the launch of 2013 models. IT systems Updated technologies and IT experts are crucial for the running of the business as without these, the organisation would not succeed as they have innovated the organisation with the Oracle system that will be explained farther along in the report . Distribution E.K.Kanoo has managed to lower the cost of distribution which is also a vital part of its business by having its storage spaces next to the automobile market and within its service centres. Competitor research Having an insight on what competitors are doing helps E.K.Kanoo achieve constant marketing innovation to continue making progress over its competitors.? Customer relations One of E.K.Kanoo distinct features is its Online and mobile Personalised Service that is arranged by the customer relations management department that is computerized System for Identifying, Targeting, Acquiring, and Retaining the Customers, helps in Profiling , Understanding Their Needs, and in Building Relationships With Them By Providing the Most Suitable Products and Enhanced Customer Service and also Integrates Back and Front Office Systems to Create a Database of Customer Contacts, Purchases, and Technical Support, Among Other Things. This Database Helps The Company in Presenting a Unified Face to Its Customers, and Improve The Quality of the Relationship. Recently they have introduced the customer online service appointment booking system that will ? Allowing customers to provide direct feedback and recommendations to them to increase company innovation and customer satisfaction? Distinctive resources: Location E.K.Kanoo has expanded from operating in the capital only to operating all around the Kingdom of Bahrain. Recruitment Staff are recruited based on the companys needs and is also task oriented, targeting experienced people with high talent and thus target staff working for well known companies such as ? Price -? Scale of business Moving from selling random automobiles only to covering all customer needs from all types of Toyota and Luxes automobiles, offering service packages, spare parts and accessories plus innovation by introducing .? Brand image -? Distinctive competence: Supplier advantage Amazons ability to source a different range of suppliers. Starting with Ingram books, the largest book distributor in the US, before going live online. After which Amazon built many different types of distributors, from the seller customers to book publishers. Building relationships with well known manufactures and brands along the way easing the launch of Kindle. Three pillar strategy Selection; by offering a wide selection of both luxury and passenger automobiles , Price; committing to price leadership with no sacrifice to quality by offering free shipping and on time delivery, Convenience; by dedicating many resources and building a customer relation management team to understand its customers needs and wants. Technology E.K.K enhanced its technology by launching the online service appointment and rent a car option on its website. Value Chain Analysis: Analysing the value chain will help describe the categories of activities within E.K.Kanoo which together creates its retail service. Support activates: Firm Infrastructure: E.K.Kanoo corporate headquarter is based in Manama the capital of the Kingdom and its showroom is placed in the middle of the automotive marked district, as E.K.Kanoo is a sales and after sales business they built a good network of service and parts centres throughout the region and expanded the service branches all over the main cities of Bahrain to reduce customer traffic and time consuming. Human Resource Management: Employees are an expensive and vital resource. EKKanoo manage recruitment and selection, training and development, rewards and remuneration. They consider their employees as HUMAN CAPITAL and this is mostly focused on the technical side as the select technicians based on specific sanders that enhance them to be sent for a two years secondment to the mother company in Japan to improve their talent management and implement it within the organisation. They also follow the team 21 technical training scheme the development of this new team curriculum was necessary to keep carnet with changes in the automotive industry and to take advantage of advanced training technology to better serve customers satisfaction, achieving high efficiency and quality work process in each service shop, is the main global of restructuring service training. The mission and objectives of the organisation is the driving force behind the HRM strategy. Technology Development: Technology is an important source of competitive advantage. Companies need to innovate to reduce costs and to protect and sustain competitive advantage. Therefore EKKanoo implemented its own Enterprise Resource Planning team that installed the Oracle system to the organization by liking it from its headquarters to all branches and department all threw the kingdom that could be modified based on the departments requirements as pear enhancement report that shows departments needs objectives of their requests besides to advantages and how it will impact the business, billet one of the largest and most advanced Toyota and Lexus service centers in the world called the Toyota plaza that is installed with the most advanced technology equipment that assures health and safety to both the environment and staff, increases service quality, equipped with the latest accidents repair and chassis alignment technologies, the most advanced painting systems and quality control t echniques are utilized in the Toyota Plaza. Kaizen continual development that calculates the utilization performance of all technical support that are engaged in the technical work field. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) ( ? ), and many other technological developments. Procurement: This function is responsible for all purchasing of goods, services and materials. The aims to secure the lowest possible price for purchases of the highest possible quality. Toyota motors will be responsible for outsourcing (components or operations that would normally be done in-house are done by other organizations), and e-Purchasing (using ITand web-based technologies to achieve procurement aims). Primary activates: Inbound Logistics: E.K.Kanoo invests in Research and Development to enable them to find new ways to improve their customer experiences and, taking into account customer feedback to understand their wants and needs before ordering any new vehicles. Operations: Operations include organizing and ordering the parts and accessories for new cars, and the final tune for a new cars engine. E.K.Kanoo are known for their reliability which comes from efficient operations. Therefore they always take into consideration the number of sales staff and technicians that are required to be trained to achieve organization and customer satisfaction during the sales and after sales process. Outbound Logistics: The goods are now finished, and they need to be sent along the supply chain to wholesalers, retailers or the final consumer. Toyota motors manage their own Showrooms in different countries. Toyota motors make their product easily assessable. Marketing sales: In true customer orientated fashion, at this stage E.K.Kanoo prepares the offering to meet the needs of targeted customers. Therefore they focus strongly upon receiving the ordered vehicles, coordinating the logistic yard, marketing communications, promotions mix and showroom display. Service: This includes all areas of service such as final checking, after-sales service, complaints handling, training and so on. E.K.Kanoo value their customers Support Activities.

Henry James The Europeans Essays -- Henry James Europeans Culture Ess

In his novel The Europeans, Henry James tells the story of an American family that is visited by their European cousins. James uses these circumstances to depict the differences between Europeans and Americans. The Americans tend to be frightened of the Europeans, since they seem quite foreign within the puritanical American community. On the other hand, the Europeans are surprised by the Americans' provincial ways. Reaction to the unfamiliar is a central element of the novel. Each character's reaction to the unfamiliar reveals his or her personality and also determines whom that character is capable of tolerating and of loving. Felix, one of the European cousins, and Gertrude, the younger daughter of the American family, both illustrate characters who welcome the unknown. Charlotte, the elder daughter of the American family, and Mr. Brand, the clergyman who lives with the family, both seek to avoid change. Eugenia, the other European cousin, enjoys stability whereas her suitor Mr. Acton is excited by new experiences. The latter pair can never live together, while the characters of similar dispositions tend to become romantically involved. Thus, reaction to the unfamiliar determines the course of each of these characters' lives. Characters like Gertrude and Felix are curious about things that they have not experienced. They search for new things, being unable to maintain one way of life for a long period of time. Gertrude displays this by her imaginative nature. She adores imagining, wishing to be somewhere else in the world. When she is left alone when everyone else goes to church Gertrude decides to transport herself to Arabia: "She possessed herself of a very obvious volume-one of the series of the Arabian Nights-and sh... ...g consistency, and thus they are conservative characters who can live together because they will be able to sustain order and routine. Eugenia and Acton can never agree on how to live, forcing them to end their relationship. In this novel, James takes a more humorous approach than in his other novels, and pokes fun at his own stiff American culture. He uses the European influence to show how narrow-minded New Englanders were at the time, and in fact James was part of this puritanical society. However, he presents a contrast with characters who believe that change is essential. Thus, through showing two juxtaposed opinions, James contrasts American conservatism with European worldliness, and how this reflects on the members of those different societies. However, as in the best Shakespearean comedy, the story ends with a marriage, and it is all much ado about nothing.

Effective Use of Irony and Satire in Unveiling :: Unveiling

Effective Use of Irony and Satire in Unveiling Unveiling, by Vclav Havel, is an almost satirical view of societal behavior in the modern day world. The unusual props located throughout the apartment as well as the characters involved in the play come together to form an ironic tale wrought with realistic themes and an extremist view of modern society. The main characters are Vera, Michael, and Ferdinand Vanek. The play begins with Ferdinand entering the party of Vera and Michael. As the story line progresses, Vera and Michael continue describing their many material possessions and showing off their supposed glamour. All throughout the commentary on their accolades, they also openly criticize Ferdinand in every aspect of his life. They claim to do so only because they like him and because he is their best friend. In the end, Ferdinand begins inching towards the door, and Vera and Michael start to go hysterical at the thought of Ferdinand leaving. Finally, when he sits back down, Vera and Michael resume their "normal" chatter. The characterization in Unveiling is consistent in that each character is generally stagnant. Vera is a flat character. She starts out as a needy woman who is almost grandiloquent when she speaks of her belongings. Her husband Michael is no different. His pretentious behavior is only heightened by the accessory of his wife. In the end, they are still the same albeit not as composed as in the beginning. Ferdinand is really just a minor, speaking character in the play. There is not much depth to his character. He is essentially flat because there is no change in his character or lack thereof. Though Unveiling does contain many themes, the principle one that is prevalent throughout is social pretensions. Vera and Michael pretend that everything is fine in their life though it clearly is not. They hold themselves to a materialistic standard that they feel they must uphold. The slick veneer that they like to hide behind is actually rather brittle and transparent. Their loneliness is apparent. For their "unveiling" party, there is only one guest, Ferdinand. That points to the fact that they do not have many friends, thus the reality which is that they are alone. Along these same lines, societal pressures and social conformity are also major themes. They feel they must uphold such pretenses because that is the social standard.

Cell Organelles :: essays research papers

The studies of Robert Hooke 1665 into a plant material would allow the determination of a pore like regular structure surrounded by a wall of which he called ‘cells’ this in itself unbeknownst to him, was the discovery of the fundamental unit of all living things. In 1838 a botanist called Schleiden derived the theory ‘The basic unit of structure and function of all living organisms is the cell.’ Over 150 years later this can be regarded as one of the most familiar and important facts within the biological fields. Drawing of cork cells published by Robert Hooke 1665 The Cell itself and use of Cytology: The cell can be thought of as a bag in which the chemistry of life is allowed to occur, partially separated from the environment outside the cell, it exists within all living organisms as its basic structure. The study of cells is made possible through the use of ‘cytology’ the preparation of materials for examination through microscopes as an average animal cell exists on a scale of 10 microns roughly one hundredths of a millimetres. Originally light microscopy was used in this field but with the advancement of knowledge scientists were restricted to 200nm magnification, or 2 tenths of a micron. Realising the existence of cell organelles within the cell structure, allowing the function of the cell itself to occur; It was necessary to increase magnification by utilising an alternate source radiation (alternate to light).The result was the electron microscope, whereby the short wavelength and negative charge of electrons when supplied with energy allowed for greater focusing with electromagnetism. This method bends the path of the beam in the manner of a lens to light. Cell Organelles and the variation between Plant and Animal Cells: We have already determined the cell to be the foundation to all organisms, however the term cell is associative and categorises a wide variation. Every animal cell has a specified function whether it be the production of hair, mucus, or the process of other chemicals ( multiple reactions occur within a cell for other purposes i.e. creation of ATP, protein manufacture etc.) So from this we must examine the cell in more detail and determine what it is within the cell that creates it specialised function and separates it as an individual type. Plant cells vary from animal through the existence of certain organelles. Organelles are the substances that provide a cell with the ability to produce (a production line) and exist within the cells boundaries.

Approaches to Decision Making Essay

There are two common ways to make decisions regarding changes in an organization, especially when others are involved in the end result. The two ways would be to make decisions individually, making the decision by yourself or by creating a committee, getting others involved in the process. Knowing that something needs to change, means that there has been a problem identified, evaluating alternatives and then selecting the solution. Depending on the problem and the criteria that will be evaluated in making the final decision, this will play an important factor on whether individually making the decision is better than a group decision. When making decisions and changes that are going to effect many, it typically is better to make group decisions. For larger companies, it is typical that a committee or a team would be created. Bringing together individuals of the organization that would be effected by these changes. Having a committee involved in the decision brings more views, thoughts, past experiences and suggestions to the table to be evaluated for optimal solutions. Advantages of a group decision is there are more options contributed, the better chances that decisions made would be accepted by those involved in the decision as well. â€Å"Quantities and diversity of information are greatest when group members represent different specialities†. (Robbins, DeCenzo, & Coulter, 2011, p. 71). Finding a suitable solution is half of the battle, the next half would be implementation. By having a group decision enforced, will increase the success of changes since they were a part of it and will encourage change. In the example provided about budgetary concerns, it would be suggested that a committee be created with upper management from finance, human resources, and department managers to discuss how overhead such as employees, supplies and other capital costs are effecting our business. Before having the initial meeting it would be suggested for each manager to evaluate their department and be ready to give suggestion of where they would be able to make individual changes without sacrificing the well being of the patients care. Once all contributions are made from each department, hearing the options of solutions would allow the committee members to discuss the  changes and place value on which options could be most beneficial. Options like reducing employee head count or hours, re-evaluating vendors where supplies are purchased from, eliminating overtime costs by having back up staff available or changing processes by reducing paper trails and going electronic. Each of these will need to be analyzed on immediate consequences or benefits and what the longer term effects will be. The disadvantage of working with a committee is that there will prolong the process of making a decision, more meetings, more time and there could be more resistant from individuals that will need to be â€Å"talked into† this decision. In the example about making budget cuts, one could make the decision alone and not consult with any other departments. The individual making decisions to cut staff, supplies or capital costs would need to have a comprehensive understanding of all costs associated with the organization and what implications could be by reducing budgets. Even though it is just one person making the decision, it is very important to still do a thorough evaluation of what the problems are, evaluate multiple solutions and weigh the benefits or consequences of these changes. It would be very important to obtaining financial monthly statements/costs that are associated with each department. The benefit of making decisions solely is that multiple meetings would be eliminated, do not need to â€Å"sell† your idea or solution to others, and a decision could be made quicker which will save time and money for the organization. The disadvantages of making a decision like this where it effects a group, out weigh the benefits. You do not have access to others input and past experiences who have dealt with similar situations or hearing what concerns your management will have. By not including others, you have a higher chance of the decision not being welcomed by all and having resistant to the change and implementation. References: Robbins, S., DeCenzo, D., & Coulter, M. (2011). Fundamentals of Management: Essential Concepts and Applications (7th ed.).

Importance of Break-even analysis Essay

It is an undisputable fact that every business’ objective is to survive and make profit as compensation of being in existence. Frankly, predicting a precise amount of sales or profits is nearly impossible. No business aims at making losses whatsoever. Given this, a person starting a new business often asks, ‘’ At what level of sales will my company make a profit? ’’ This question clearly predicts the uncertainty of businesses on the level of sales at which profits will be realized. Certainly, break-even analysis is the first resort. Therefore, it becomes absolutely necessary for a business to prioritize break-even analysis when making profit oriented decisions. This leads us to the reasons why businesses should pay attention to break-even analysis. Break-even point can be defined as a point where total costs (expenses) and total sales (revenue) are equal. Specifically, break-even analysis if the use of break-even point to make cost, volume, and profit analysis. Break-even analysis offers businesses lots of benefits that are worth considering. There are a number of benefits that hitherto a business would not enjoy. The break-even analysis gives an insight about the sales level a business needs in order to make profit. It gives the business a forecast on its cost, volume, and profit behavior. Managers can determine the effect of changes in cost and volume of sales on the profit. By so doing, it guides the decision making process of a business. The break-even analysis is also helpful to managers as the provided information such as margin of safety in units and sales (MOS), and degree of leverage (DOL) can be used in making important decisions in business, for example projecting the sales level needed to obtain certain targeted profit. With the help the break-even analysis, businesses can ascertain the number of units of a product to sell to generate a targeted profit. Similarly, break-even analysis is a tool used to determine the lowest quantity of sales at which neither profit nor loss will be obtained. In a situation where the demand of a company’s product begins to fall, it would be able to determine the number of employees to maintain so as reduce production cost as well as prevent surplus. Obviously, companies incur addition storage cost to store unsold goods; hence, the break-even analysis will help managers not incur such cost. Companies can use the break-even analysis to study the relationship between selling price, fixed costs, variable costs, and sales volume and its effect on the contribution margin. Therefore, business can tell which of the element to alter in order to make a certain profit. Moreover, such analysis facilitates the managers with a quantity which can be used to evaluate the future demand. If, in case, the break-even point lies above the estimated demand, reflecting a loss on the product, the manager can use this information for taking various decisions. He might choose to discontinue the product, or improve the advertising strategies, or even re-price the product to increase demand. Furthermore, managers can use break-even analysis to determine whether an investment will generate profit or not. As a result, managers will not venture into investments that will lead to losses. Another important usage of the break-even point is that it is helpful in recognizing the relevance of fixed and variable cost. The fixed cost is less with a more flexible personnel and equipment thereby resulting in a lower break-even point. The importance of break-even point, therefore, cannot be overstated for a sound business and decision making. Additionally, the break-even analysis gives managers the understanding of how profitable different product or services might be. Managers can determine how much each product contributes to the overall profit and how relevant the product is to the firm. The most important aspect of the break even-analysis gives managers the knowledge about how much product must be sold to cover costs. Therefore, it helps managers to work hard towards selling a level of product that will cover its costs so as to make profit. In conclusion, businesses that pay attention to break-even analysis tend to understand their costs, hence are very likely to take effective decisions regarding pricing, investment, and expenditure among other things.

Ab221 Customer Service

Running head: On-Time Technology Products Complaint On-Time Technology Products Complaint Kaplan University AB221 Customer Service Tina Engle March 30, 2011 On-Time Technology Products Complaint On-Time Technology Products (OTTP) sells products related to time, and Mark MacGibson is the new President of OTTP. OTTP has seldom had any customer complaints because the companies top priority is customer service. Mary Graff, the supervisor for the Customer Service Representatives plans was to take OTTP to an innovative level of excellent customer service. Unfortunately, one day the President received a complaint in written from a disabled person, that has prompt his immediate attention. The complaint was in reference to the treatment given by a sales representative (Joanne) during the persons visit to the store. The complaint read, â€Å"Today I was at your store and wanted to purchase a new laptop computer. I never write companies when small incidents occur (relative to my disability of being in a wheelchair), but I feel that today’s behavior by your sales staff was over the top and warrants this letter. I chose to inform you, the President, so that others in my circumstance at your place of business will not be so offended. I felt very patronized when, after asking a question of your service/sales representative Joanne, she responded in an almost childlike voice – not once, but three times! Then she proceeded to lean on my wheelchair as she was demonstrating the laptop to me. I felt it would have been more appropriate for here to use a chair, but when I suggested she do so, she said, â€Å"Oh this will only take a minute or so† and then continued to lean over me for another five minutes! I am incensed enough to write this letter! By the way, after leaving your store I will purchase my laptop from another store within the hour. † After reading this person written complaint I have come to the conclusion that this complaint is legitimate because Joanne did not serve the disabled customer properly. Joanne’s communication with the customer was inappropriate because she spoke in a child like voice, and leaned on the customers’ wheel chair. Where in actuality, Joanne should have spoke to the customer in a normal tone voice (instead of a childlike voice), sat in a chair at eye level to the customer in the wheel chair (instead of leaning on the persons wheel chair), and continuing to lean on the customers wheel chair after the customer told her what they would prefer for her to do. In my opinion, the President Mr. MacGibson should call (if their telephone number is available), or communicate with this customer personally, and offer his sincere apology as well as compensation for what took place in their store. What I think Mr. MacGibson responds should is; â€Å"Hello Sir. /Mama, I am Mr. MacGibson the President of On-Time Technology Products and I would like to give you my sincere apology for what took place at our store during you visit. I would like to inform you that the mannerism Joanne showed during your visit is unacceptable, and was not the protocol of OTTP. To assure that this does not happen again I will personally make sure that all of our employees are well trained, and aware of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In closing, I would also like to offer you compensation for what took place at our establishment although you stated â€Å"you have purchased a laptop from another business. I would recommend that Mr. MacGibson put into play extensive training at OTTP with understanding disabled customers, customer behavior, and exceptional service, and that should assure to keep up OTTP’s reputation of seldom complaints. I say this because as a customer coming into an establishment they need to be understood, welcome, important, and comfortable with the sales representative. References The World of Customer Service, 2nd edition Pattie Gibson-Odgers (2008).

Toolwire

The immune system factor in both Blake's and Kevin's issues this week helped them by not letting them get sick. Both Blake and Kevin were present around some individuals that where sick. If you have a healthy strong immune system it will fight off infectonist diseases. The most common disease that is transfered or caught from one another is a cold. To prevent yourself from catching this infection cover your nose and mouth with you sleeve or shirt. Make sure you have and sanatizer with you at all times.After you touch a surface of a busy place or like for an good example say your in a hospital and there is people all around you sneezing and coughing you could go get a face mask and put it on. There are many ways you can prevent getiing an infection by carry hand sanitizer, or wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose around other people who are sick, or just stay home. These are just some suggestions. The immune system plays a very big role in everyones life. Some people have a very weak immune system unlike Blake and Kevin they could get sick or catch the infection faster than Blake and Kevin.Q1: 5 From what i have learned i will strat eating more healthier foods. I will cut back in going to a fast food resturaunts. i will get out and exercise more. I will also start reading foos labels when i go in the store with my mom to get grocreies. I will also tell my mom to start reading food labels and start getting more healhier food such as broccoli, carrorts, and more organic type foods. I will also cut back on using salt while cooking. I will try to get outside and exercise more. I will walk for about 3 miles one day. On another day I will jog for about a mile.Then on another i could ride a bike till i get tired. But before i do all that I will stretch muscles and strat off at a slow pace. Then i will start walking my dogs one day at a time. Walking them all at the same time will not workout. instead of me walking them they will be walking me. But maintaining a he althy diet and excersie daily and stay away from junk food will make you feel better. It will boost up your engery leave and you will be able to do more. Q2: The main health issue in June's apartment was the ventalation system. She found out that her a apartment building was old and had mildew in the are.This was such an easy problem to fix. She could either move to a different apartment or get a air purfirer. She did not want to move because she did not want to leave her parents. So they brought her a air purfirer. This seems to help her out alot better. She seemed to like that better than having to move and leave her parents behind. The air purfirer works pretty good in June's condition. It kept her from having to move all belongs out of that apartment into a new one. And she would have to try and look for one about the same price or more than what she has to par for her apartment.It also saved her money from having the inspector people come and look at because the mold can real b ad and they tell her the can't come back in her apartment for a few days or a few weeks depending on how bad the infestation is. But i think she made a right choice by geting the air purfirer. Q3: This experience of being a health coach improved my understandin of health and wellness by showing me that i need to start eating healthy and making the right decison when it comes to eating. It will also help me stick to a regular diet.It helped me understand how i could start doing things to better my life. It will help prevent me form getting diabetes, cancer, or developing cardiovascular disease. Being fit and healthy will also change the mood your in. If i was to eat better foods than i do now i wouldn't be grouchy all the time. But it's going to be hard for me to change my eating life style because i'm use to eat non healthy foods. I know this is making my risk high for getting an disease such as diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular disease or make getting all three at the same time.W hich will be really bad. I'll try to start eating better and getting more help with maintaining a healthy diet. But if eat healthy will help me for getting one of those diseases even though it runs in my family i'm up for the challange. Being healthy is a big part of life. Being healthy will make your days more enjoyable, happier, and full of engery. This will also make you havean positive attitude towards that day and alos towards the people you work with. I think i need to start eating better and i would be less grumpy everyday.

Research proposal Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Research proposal - Annotated Bibliography Example Apple Inc has been able to capture this market through establishing a department whose role is to market the products through the social media. This source explains the benefits of social media marketing. According to this source, the customers are turning towards companies that are innovative and integrate their ideas in the production process. Besides marketing, social media provides a platform for the company to interact with the customers. According to this source, marketing of the high technological products has changed over times. Due to the dynamic nature of the devices, it has become important to identify a cheaper marketing strategy. This source is important in identifying the impact that social media has been having on the company sales. The tastes and preferences of the current market keep on changing. Different companies are setting up huge amounts of money to conduct research on different aspects that affect the consumption behavior of the market. This source will be significant in identifying other ways that social media can be used to enhance the performance of the company. Social media has improved the performance of the business by making it easy to contact the customers. This source will be significant in identifying how social social media has improved the communication process. Many of the people have focused on leadership of Apple Inc as being the key to success of the company. However, social media has been instrumental in boosting the performance of the business. In addition, it has enabled the company to reach customers who are located in different parts of the

Sun Shines Enterprise Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sun Shines Enterprise - Case Study Example Quality improvement can be achieved through several strategies. One of them is called Hoshin Kanri. This means translating the organizational objectives and goals into measurable actions and strategies. This involves focusing on the available resources too limited priority issues. For instance, Abby’s main concern is the maintenance of quality at the hotels. This can be achieved by using all the resources available including the employees to deliver high quality. This can be done by use of tools such as the Total Quality Management (TQM) tools (Collier & Evans 2009). Another way quality can be promoted is through â€Å"Kaizen† which is continuous improvement. The highest quality cannot be achieved in a single day. The organization should be ready to keep on improving the services and products in order to satisfy the customers’ needs. It could also be done through the use of Poka Yoke strategy (Collier & Evans 2009).

Statistics1 Statistics Project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Statistics1 - Statistics Project Example The calculated measure for sample is called as statistic whereas the same measure for the population is known as parameter. Sampling error is the error that occurs when the sample is not a representative of the population. This arises out of incorrect sampling method being used to describe the population. The error means that the statistic for the sample will be different from the parameter for the population An experiment is a scientific research method in which the researcher controls one or more variables and measures the changes in other variables. Experimental research is generally used when there is high degree of correlation between the variables. Dr. Jones has conducted an experimental study. Dr. Jones has controlled the variable quality of breakfast by dividing the sample into two groups and administering different quality of breakfast to each. Academic performance is the dependent variable which is studied for both the groups. Nominal v/s Ordinal: While nominal scale is the representation of a descriptive category of the variable, the ordinal scale is the representation of the also contains the magnitude of the order of the value on the scale. For example, while gender that can only have male or female as the value is a nominal scale, the position of a horse in a race is the example of the ordinal scale Ordinal v/s Interval: Apart from the ranking in an ordinal scale, the interval scale also the magnitude of the difference between two values in the series. For example temperature on days is an interval variable because we can also measure the magnitude of the difference between the temperatures on two days. Interval v/s ratio: Apart from the measurement of magnitude, the ratio scale also contains the absolute zero value for a variable below which no value can exist. Example of such a variable will be

Insurance Practices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Insurance Practices - Essay Example On one hand and often uppermost in the mind of the healthcare organizations, they may estimate the upper limit of the compensation they may need to claim and then compare the premium which they must pay. On the other hand, important factors also include the nature of the insurer, the way the insurer manages claims, the obligations and benefits specified in the policy and possibilities of additional insurance coverage (Thornton). Of interest to the healthcare organization is not only the capacity of the insurer to pay out claims finally awarded, but also to fund the costs of ongoing litigation in the meantime. Healthcare organizations must understand that ' Serious problems can arise in each of these areas that can make a health care liability claim even worse than imagined' (Thornton). Aggravating factors that work to increase claims are the cost of continued healthcare to treat or remedy the problem under discussion and the potential loss of earnings for the plaintiff. (Bell). In some cases the rocketing level of claims awarded have driven healthcare insurance companies out of certain states because they cannot afford to do business in those circumstances. Only revised state legislation capping the level of claims made has allowed them to return and resume business with the healthcare organizations in the area. (Thornton). The first category, workers' compens... The first category, workers' compensation insurance, protects the healthcare organization from legal action following accidents or illness suffered by its employees in the workplace and funds the medical attention and compensation for lost income for employees affected by such events; workers' compensation insurance applies no matter whose fault the accident or illness was, as long as it was workplace related (Insurance Information Institute). The second category, liability insurance, applies to a third party other than the insured and its employees, meaning a person or persons who have not contracted with the insurer (Farlex). Policies for liability insurance are defined in accordance with a maximum level of payment to be made by the insurer per stated period (typically 1 year). If the healthcare organization wishes to have insurance coverage above this level, this is typically available from the insurer. The insurer then often pays for legal costs associated with such claims in excess of the original amount, although this is by no means an absolute rule (Bell) Liability insurance can then be further sub-categorized into claims made and occurrence policies. Claims made policies taken out by a healthcare organization protect the organization against claims or events reported during the term of the policy (Tennant). At the discretion of the insurance company, such a policy will typically cover events prior to the claims made policy term, if a similar claims made policy was in operation immediately before the term of the current claims made policy. These claims are settled according the law as it was defined at the moment of the event triggering the claim, rather than at the moment when the claim itself is made. Occurrence

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Economics - Essay Example The political parties in most of the economies try to enhance the lifestyle of the individuals through economic growth and income redistribution in the market. Redistribution of income and raising the standard of living in society are mutually exclusive goals of the government. Figure 1: Economic Growth (Source: Scully, â€Å"Economic Freedom and the Trade-off between Inequality and Growth†) The economic freedom of a country is directly proportional to the level of economic growth in it. Figure 2: Income Inequality (Source: Scully, â€Å"Economic Freedom and the Trade-off between Inequality and Growth†) On the other hand, the level of income inequality is desired to fall with the rise in the level of economic freedom and hence, economic growth. However, there is a strong debate regarding the relationship between income inequality and income growth. Economic Inequality is the discrimination among individuals in terms of income or wealth. It basically elaborates the diffe rences among the individuals of a society in terms of their income, wealth and assets. Income Inequality can either be absolute or relative. Absolute income is the gross income received by the individuals. John Maynard Keynes states that the consumption expenditures of individuals are estimated on the basis of absolute income. Thus, absolute income inequality is the income inequality that denotes the differences in gross income thresholds of the individuals. James Duesenberry claimed that savings and consumption spending decisions of the individuals do not depend on the level of absolute income. Instead, it depends on the relative income level. The savings and consumption expenditures of the individuals are made by them after analyzing their position of income relative to others. Relative income inequality would occur when the absolute income levels would be unevenly distributed in an economy (NBER). Among all the methods, the most important method of measuring income inequality is Gini Coefficient measurement method. This measure estimates the statistical dispersion of income distribution of a nation. The value of income inequality on the basis of a frequency distribution is given by the Gini Coefficient. The value of this index lies from 0 to 1. Where, 0 indicates a situation of perfect income equality and 1 indicates a situation of perfect inequality of income. The diagrammatical representation of a Gini Coefficient is provided is a Lorenz Curve. Figure 3: Lorenze Curve Perfect Income Equality Line Income Inequality Cumulative % of Income Lorenze Curve Cumulative % of Population (Source: Authors Creation) The above graph is of a Lorenze curve (the convex curve). The distance between the perfect income equality line and the Lorenz curve measures the degree of income inequality. Therefore, greater the distance, greater is the level of inequality. The above coefficient is calculated by: It is believed that a greater extent of inequality in income in a nation i mplies the concentration of economic power in the hands of a small group of individuals. In such a situation, the producers in the market get tempted to allocate resources to luxuries and comfort products, instead of basic necessities. The lack of basic necessit