Strategic Management Involvement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic Management Involvement - Essay Example This pattern in decisions as well as actions clearly defines what Mintzberg called "realized" strategy. The examples given below clearly describe the situations in which this realized strategy will completely fail: External analysis is clearly described by Fahey and Narayanan (1986), they imply that organizations always in order scan the environment to recognize the ever changing trends and new patterns, keep an eye on all the specific trends as well as patterns, estimate the future course of the monitored changes and patterns, and then in the analysis the organizational impact these changes and patterns will have on the organization (Dolence etal 1997). Merged long with internal analysis of the organization's, well defined vision , mission statement , strengths, and weaknesses, external analysis greatly helps decision makers in creating strategic directions as well as strategic plans. The first and foremost goal of environmental scanning is to make the decision makers aware of the potentially important external changes long before they take shape so that decision makers have enough lead time to act in response to predicted the change. Therefore, environmental scanning plays a very important role for the organizations to manage change (Capon 1987). Environment Domains is a very board area, External environment refers to those people, resources, leadership and communication structures existing outside the organizational structure which may involve the following sector Industry sector Raw material sector Financial sector Market sector Technology sector Government sector International sector Internal and External Analysis Internal analysis of the organization is a practice that to help us to identifying the Strengths and weakness of the company, which point out some key factors that able the organization to get a better advantage of the market. And the most common tools are Core

Ethnicity in Cameroon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethnicity in Cameroon - Essay Example Its relief ranges from desert in the north, Savannah grassland to tropical rain forest in the southern region. (World InfoZone, 2008). It is called ‘Africa in miniature’ as it harbors almost all the political, economic, religious, cultural and relief features of the entire continent. (World InfoZone, 2008). Ethnicity has been a topic of debate in the country for a long period now. With over 250 different ethnic groups having different cultures and local dialects, representative governance and integration becomes difficult and thus has recently become a national topic of debate. This has its roots dating back to 1964 when the late Dr. Bernard Fonlon questioned the former president Ahmadou Ahidjo on the Functioning of the then Federal Republic of Cameroon which was failing. This led to the change of the structure to ‘the United Republic of Cameroon’ in 1972 and later to the ‘Republic of Cameroon’ in 1984. (Culture of Cameroon, 1997). The national question in Cameroon is more an issue of being either being part of the ruling majority and in which case, being submissive, paying allegiance to the powers that be, or being part of the geographically privileged southerners who dominate and control power. (Mentah, 2008). The latest tendency is for the ruling establishment to meticulously fuel ethnic exclusion, articulating ethnic animosity getting isolated entities or ethnic groups for the-right-moment political manipulation. (Mentah, 2008). This means that the system of government is that of little or no patriotism but a struggle to share in the constantly diminishing ‘national cake.’ (Nyamjoh, 1999). Though the country is politically very stable, the question of National unity and integration due to the ongoing ‘politics of regional and ethnic balance, chronic lack of vision as a country, the lack of real commitment to democracy, the propensity to vacillate on most issues of collective

Function Of The Lymphatic System

Function Of The Lymphatic System The key function of the lymphatic system is to bring together and transport tissue fluids from the intercellular spaces that does gas exchange, water transport and also for ion movement into all the tissues of our body and then back to the veins into the blood system. It does an important role by returning plasma proteins to the bloodstream, and then digests the fats that are absorbed and then it transported from the villi into the small intestine then to the bloodstream thru the lacteals and lymph vessels. The new ones of lymphocytes are being factory-made in the lymph nodes antibodies and anti-assist that the body builds up an effective immunity to infectious diseases. The lymph node does an important role to protect mechanism of the body and it filters out micro-organisms such as, bacteria and foreign substances e.g. toxins. As it transports giant molecular compounds e.g. hormones and enzymes from their manufactured sites into to the bloodstream. The lymph nodes are small and they are bean-shaped like kidney It work as filter of the lymphatic fluid and as the lymph passes through the lymph nodes, pathogens present in the lymph activates lymphocytes and macrophages to destroy the microbes. Lymphatic vessels take place through the body beside arteries in the veins or viscera also in the subcutaneous tissue. They absent from the central nervous system to bone marrow, teeth, and avascular tissues. A lymph vessel transports the fluid it is called lymph, the lymph contains white blood cell that transports in and out of the bloodstream as its needed. If the body is attacked by a foreign substance, its often transported from the bloodstream into the lymphatic system for removal. The lymph vessels has not have central pump however, lymph needs to be transported by the peristaltic contractions of the vessels themselves. Lymphatic ducts are a main lymph vessel that gathers lymph draining from the right upper our body and head. The lymphatic duct is quarter-inch in diameter and about two inches long; it discharges into the right subclavian vein, delivering lymph into to the bloodstream. The thymus is an organ in the body controls the immune processes, the thymus procedure is a type of white blood cell that is known as a T-lymphocyte by this it means that they help our cells to recognise and destroy invading viruses, bacteria, abnormal cell growth e.g. cancer, and foreign tissues. Thymus gland helps to protect the heart along with the pericardium, as it produces hormones that stimulate the manufacture of certain infection fighting cells. In the children it helps immunity by producing white blood cell including T-cells. It atrophies as the child gets older therefore, person grows its roles becomes less so that the adults doesnt tend to have one as the bones and spleen take over those jobs. The spleens function is connected to the immune system or with the blood supply. The spleen get rid of the old red blood cells that is call erythrocytes from the blood supply and also removes stores and then produces white blood cell called lymphocytes. The lymphocyte produces antibodies and assists in removing microorganisms and bacteria from the blood supply. Task 2(M5) The lymphatic system maintenance the immune system in removing and destroying waste remains, toxins, dead blood cells, pathogens, and cancer cells. The lymphatic system absorbs fats and vitamins from the digestive system then delivers the nutrients to the cells where it uses it cells, also the lymphatic system get rid of excess fluid and also waste products from the interstitial spaces among the cells. The main maintain is the fluid and balance protein in the body, the lymphatic system performances as a minor circulatory system and plays a key role in continuing homeostasis good healthily. The Lymph is the fluid that is carried by the lymphatic system. It initiates as blood plasma the liquid component of the blood, after when it has been lost from the circulatory system due to hydrostatic pressure. Then the plasma leaks out of the blood vessel and into the surrounding tissues. Then it enters the lymphatic system once when its within the lymphatic system, the lymph has alike work to the original interstitial fluid, and the extracellular fluid that surrounds cells. The large gap between the cells is designed, which allows fluid, interstitial proteins and other e.g. bacteria to flow into the lymph capillary. The lymph has one way system that travels between the cells of the body, from the interstitial spaces to the subclavian veins just next of the neck. As the lymphatic system doesnt have no central pump like heart to pump it, its movement depends with the muscles and joint pumps. As it moves upper body towards the neck the lymph passes slowly through the lymph node that filters, it to remove debris and pathogens the neck lymph flows into the subclavian veins on whichever side of the neck. The fluid vertebral into the venous circulation of the circulatory system from the tissues in order to stop dehydration fights against the infections and recycle plasma protein. The blood carries nutrients, oxygen, and hormones for the cells. The 10% remaining of the fluid that stays in the tissues as its known as lymph. The 90% of this fluid then returns to the venous circulation through the venues and continues as venous blood. The (MALT) mucosa associated lymphoid tissue is immune responses to specific antigens come across alongside all mucosal surfaces, MALT inductive immune tissues where antigen sample occurs. The larger group function is like lymph nodes smaller, spreads MALT are mostly T lymphocytes also it has B cells and plasma cells. The IgA in the intestines and respiratory tract is to protect against pathogens that may access to underlay tissues. lymphatic-system Task 3 (D3) Infection of the Lymphatic System Lymphedema: One of the disorders which occurs due builds-up of lymphatic fluid in the interstitial tissue. The affects is swelling in the arm, legs and in other part of the body. The harshness of this disorder varies an abnormal virus which is painful, disfiguring and cellulite infections deep in skin. If this doesnt get treated, the skin eventually becomes fibrotic thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissues losing normal structure, functionality and movement. There are two types: Primary Lymphedema: Is genetic condition that occurs due to impaired or missing lymphatic vessels, which can affect from one to several as four limbs at other part of the body this may carry an internal organ which could be exhibited at birth, develops onset of puberty or happens in adulthood without any apparent causes. Secondary Lymphedema: is basically developed regional lymphatic insufficiency which occurs due to infection, any operation or suffocating that disrupts the lymphatic vessels or even loss lymph nodes. http://i3.squidoocdn.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/lens8897831_1262976791exercise_for_lymphedema.ghttps://www.vascularweb.org/vascularhealth/PublishingImages/NorthPoint%20Images/Lymphedema_01_Base_225.jpg There are a few abnormal count of the patients blood: His Red Blood (Platelet count) is in the normal range, but its very low His white blood cell count is higher than the normal average range, its 15.0 when its meant to be between 4.0 -6.0 His Basophilis and Eosinophils both are very low His Lymphocytes is too high, its over the normal range His Monocytes is in the average but its high The underlying mechanisms that could have produced this abnormal blood count in a patient with Lymphoma, is because Lymphoma is a cancer that attacks the white blood cell by that the patients blood count to have Lymphoma. Patients with lymphoma produce abnormal lymphocytes, which they are white blood cell. Lymphocytes are mostly found in the lymphoid tissues and lymph nodes, which that make the lymphatic system. this is where lymphoma occurs

Essay --

This article by Shakoor et. al, (2011) is a longitudinal study of children’s theory of mind and adolescent involvement in bullying. Theory of mind (ToM) is a prediction of everyday behaviors based on a person’s mental state. Understanding of false beliefs is a Core ToM, which has usually developed by age 4. By age 7 more advanced skills develop including embedded mental states (‘what he thinks what she thinks’) and understanding that emotions can influence other people’s beliefs. Developing these skills are important for shaping healthy social interactions and can be important with decoding social cues as well as being able to adjust behaviors. Therefore, those that are delayed in developing ToM could be exposed to social interactions that are negative; because of this they may find it difficult to establish good relationships during their life (Shakoor et al., 2011, p. 254). The major research of this study was whether or not children who were involved in bullying during adolescence had poor ToM in childhood. The theory being tested was that poor childhood ToM can cause bullying during early adolescence. Bullying effects on average 27% of adolescents and children every year. This is a negative social experience that happens worldwide. Children who do not have good ToM are at a greater risk to become involved in bullying situations. This is because ToM skills support social interactions. Children with poor ToM do not have a good understanding of the emotions and intentions of other people. This puts at risk the children’s ability to perceive social signals that reveal nonreciprocal interactions, which puts the child at risk of being subjugated or victimized. Poor ToM can also affect children’s ability to be able to stand up for th... ...ying, they just took the word of the teachers and the mother. Also if the children hang out with kids at school who are bullies that would influence them to be bullies as well regardless of ToM. I found that the conclusion of the article made sense based on the data of the study. The conclusion stated what should be done to help prevent bullying and listed some training strategies to help improve children’s ToM. The authors named all the limitations that I can think of. The main one being that the study does not generalize to all children because the data only came from twins. For future research studies they can compare the data collected from the twins with data collected from children who are not twins. Also they can collect data on what type of bullying was taking place with each child whether it was relational or physical (Shakoor et al., 2011, p. 259 & 260).

Pedestrian Counts

1. Pedestrian Counts My Isoline Map of Cambridge shows that, as I predicted, the overall trend of my data is that the further you move away from the city, the fewer the number of pedestrians. This theory is backed up by my scatter graph, which shows a negative correlation meaning that the pedestrian counts and the distance away from the city centre are inversely proportional, with lower counts the further you move away. The two innermost, red coloured zones of the map have pedestrian counts in the mid four hundreds. These counts are this high for a number of reasons. They are in the centre of Cambridge's CBD, and as a result are filled with high demand shops and services, and a large number of densely populated office blocks. For instance the reading recorded on Market road, showing 419 people passing that point in ten minutes was most probably due to the famous ‘Cambridge Market' which lies there. The highest reading of 465 on the corner of St Andrews street was again due to the presence of a great many shops and services. I also note that the time when these readings were taken is also important. The fact that they were taken at 11:30am on a Wednesday morning is crucial as this would be one of the times where the highest density of people would be shopping and working in offices. If these readings had been taken at 11:30am on a Sunday then I believe that the results would have been very different. At point number 27 I would say that there is an anomalous result. A pedestrian count of only 90 here does not keep in with the 400+ trend, and though there are a few similar results around it, such as the 107 at point 28, I feel that this result is an anomaly. A possible explanation for this is that there are very few shops in that area, but I think that a more likely one is that the boys took the reading at a point which was not actually on the main road, but down a tiny side street. Of course the boy may simply have got it wrong. The next zone on the Isoline map is coloured orange and deals with pedestrian counts from 300 down to 200. These points are situated mainly near the larger collages meaning I would estimate that the majority of the pedestrians would be tourists. This theory is corroborated by the fact that the highest reading of 270 was recorded at the corner of the St John's Collage, a place of great tourist interest. The final yellow zone is for counts of 200 to 100. They seem to be mainly clustered around the western side of the shopping district, with four out of the seven reading found here. The other three readings are on main roads, with the highest of 178 being found at a junction of two main roads. This Isoline map is similar to the Burgess Urban model, in the highest density of people are in the centre of the town. However, it also differs from it as the zones are clearly not circular, with no people being found on the river. 2. Tax Discs As you can see from my tax discs map, most (12 out of 20) of the cars I surveyed were registered in Cambridge. This fits my prediction, and the is obviously because the survey was carried out IN Cambridge, and therefore any residents surveyed were very likely to have their car registered at the placed they lived. In regard to the other 8 cars not registered in Cambridge, the ones registered in relatively far off places such as Kent and London and were most probably belonging to tourists who had come up to see Cambridge.

The Importance of Understanding Diversity in a Business Setting

The Importance of Understanding Diversity in a Business Setting â€Å"Diversity is defined as real or perceived differences among people in race, ethnicity, sex, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion, work and family status, weight and appearance, and other identity-based attributes that affect their interactions and relationships (Bell, 2012, p. 5)†. The work force of today is more diverse than ever, and the marketplace progressively more global.By 2010 the number of women in the U. S. labor force increased by almost 10 million, a growth rate almost one-third higher than that of men. The success of a workplace depends on a manger’s ability to promote a work environment that is inclusive to every person, and that allows every employee to reach his or her full potential (Gaines & Wilson, 2005). Benefits of a Diverse Workforce According to Bell (2012) there is a lot to be gained from a diverse workforce.Having employees’ who are from variou s backgrounds can improve the company’s marketing ability by being able to develop products that meet the needs and appeal to a more diverse population. By creating a reputation that values all types of employees can lead to better customer loyalty. Research has shown that groups of people with varying backgrounds bring differences that result in greater creativity and problem-solving abilities. These groups have also displayed more cooperative behaviors on group tasks.The benefits to having a diverse work force are many. Having a work environment centered on creating a comfortable and productive atmosphere requires management’s ability to understand that there are differences but that it is important to bridge these gaps and promote working together as a team. Managing a Diverse Workforce It is important as a manager to acknowledge differences, and promote diversity. Successful managers avoid using stereotypes, and generalities when communicating.Managers need to pay attention and respect people’s  values and beliefs. They should establish relationships with their employees’, and remember that each person has different talents and strengths. They can learn what works to motivate and reward each employee. Employees’ need continued support in working to their potential by having management provide ongoing opportunities for learning and development (Gaines & Wilson, 2005). Educating and offering classes on cultural diversity is a good way for employees to learn about how to interact and work productively with a diverse workforce.Left Handed in a Right Handed World Being left handed the ball sock experiment was interesting. I found that I have adapted in a lot of ways by becoming more ambidextrous. The most challenging part of the experiment was not having the use of both hands. I could not write legibly at all with my right hand, and I found when flipping through a magazine with my right hand I preferred to flip the â€Å"no rmal† way front to back. When I usually flip through a magazine using my left hand I prefer flipping from the back to front.It did give me an appreciation for the challenges faced by those who do not fit into what the society sees as normal. I felt I had a disability and it was challenging to do my normal everyday tasks, plus I got some strange looks from my family. I also learned that it is possible to adapt to new situations. Being a lefty my whole life I have been viewed as different from what is considered normal. Sure I can only use extremely sharp scissors to cut paper, and I can barely use a knife to cut my food but I have never looked at this as a negative thing, I have always felt it makes me special and unique.ConclusionIn closing a diverse workforce is quickly becoming what is normal for today. We must start becoming more aware and understanding of individuals who are not exactly like us. Management must adapt to these changes by realizing that there are many positi ve benefits to having a diverse work force and treat every employee as an individual with different strengths and talents. In order to successfully work in today’s business world we all must be open minded and willing to accept our differences and develop an appreciation for a more diverse population.

Beka Lamb Essays

Beka Lamb Essays Beka Lamb Essay Beka Lamb Essay Independent study Project| ENG 3UI| | Beka lamb by Zee Edgell and The hummingbird tree| | Taneese Jones| 6/12/2011| | Introduction Summary of the novel: In the novel Beka Lamb by Zee Edgell, Beka experiences various events that contribute to her sense of responsibility and maturity. Beka Lamb is the debut novel of Belizean author Zee Edgell. It is the story of both Beka and Belize, an adolescent girl and an adolescent country. Set in Belize in the 1950s, fourteen-year-old Beka struggles with growing pains complicated by the society in which she lives while her country struggles to move from colonialism to independence. Among these is her parents growing disappointment over her habit of lying as Beka has  a tendency to tell tales in order to get out of trouble. Beka lies about passing her final exams and after being found out and witnessing the sheer sorrow in her fathers face, she recognizes that this must be a turning point for her. She vows to turn over a new leaf and thereafter stop telling lies. In addition, Beka receives a valuable life lesson as her best friend Toycie finds herself intertwined in a tragic dilemma. Beka learns about the pitfalls of infatuation, the pangs of betrayal and the stigma of an unwanted pregnancy. Death also plays a significant role in the novel as Toycies  horrific end sends shock waves throughout the small community. While the death of Toycie causes great grief and sorrow, it also serves to remind the villagers of the fragility of life and the secrets that can torment and consume an individual. On the other hand, death serves as an escape from all the problems   of life and it appears that Toycies death in some respects appears more favourable than the option of being forfeited out of an education and having to live with the stigma of an unwanted child. The aspect of change will be focused on in this presentation. Thesis statement- change in society can influence an individual’s character * Change begins its development when the main character beka lamb recognizes that a change began politically and how women were viewed in society. * Change develops as Beka has matured an developed as an individual * Change is developed into the issue of success and failure Sub-topic one Change begins its development when the main character beka lamb recognizes that a â€Å"change† began politically and how women are viewed in that society. A) Change is also associated with politics as we see that there is a symbiotic transformation as Bekas change is compared to political change and reform. It was implied by the researcher that Bekas internal change occurred simultaneously with the political amendment. She developed an interest in the political situation in her country. Her interest in the politics of her country and her attempt to understand and prove to her father that he was contradicting what he said about the political situation showed that she was on the verge of maturity. Her influence to notice the political change is due to the constant discussion from her grandmother miss ivy and her friend miss Eila. † An long befo’ time , you wouldn’t be at convent school. †The politics affected the economy as there was a lot poverty due to devaluation. The description of the houses as weathered wooden houses and rusty zinc rooftops further develops this theme and gives the reader a clearer image of what the situation was like in Belize. Also, the flashback that Beka had about the walk she and her friend had in Fort George shows that the girls preferred the wealthier areas and that the walk was a sort of escape from the town which seemed staler, dirtier and altogether less pleasant that the lovely areas they had left. B) The social insecurity that Edgell dramatizes involves the ethnic threat that Creoles feel from the rising Hispanic population and the socioeconomic frustrations that Creoles undergo as they try to rise from lower to middle class statusall in the larger context of Belize moving from colony to independent state. Zee Edgell seems hopeful that, through proper discipline, Creoles can both regain their status in the Belizean ethnic hierarchy and also move from menial to more professional occupationsand without compromising too much their rich cultural heritage. In Beka Lamb women are the ones who are seen as the care givers and the ones to take care of the home. The majority of them do not work and even having an education for the lower class is untold or unheard of. The Belizean society sets trends that as she is black she is looked down upon her to be another statistic as many of the other women in society have become. Beka decides to be different and as society tries to shape her destiny she pushes herself to be an example for younger children after she had realised that the way society view women had great impact on her and that she settled for what society viewed her to be. The story illustrates the reality of the Belize culture. Male characters work or become educated while the women maintain the homes and earn what income they can. In the novel, the few male characters have at least one fault that turns the reader away. Emilio impregnates Toycie, but then will not marry her. Bill fails to show consistent affection to his family; he often seems uninterested or too busy. The women who surround Beka influence her thinking and judgments. Interestingly, the women are politically well-informed. One would not expect the simple women to have interest in politics. While Beka respects her father, she does so partially out of fear and partially because she is supposed to. Bekas respect for Granny is different. Granny knows more about life and about Belize than either Beka or her father. Bekas ability to recognize this demonstrates not only Bekas maturity, but also her curiosity about and reverence toward the Belize culture. Subtopic two Change developes an individual. A) As the novel begins, Beka has just won an essay-writing contest at her school. That night, as she sits in her grandmother’s chair, she begins to reminisce about the long, uphill battle she fought to reach this point in her life. Seven months earlier, Beka was having trouble with telling the truth. She lied about small things, such as saying she swept the attic when she really did not. Her most recent lie, however, is the worst of all. She told her father that she passed first form when she really failed. Not only does Beka lie, but she neglects her school work as well. Characterized by her Aunt as a Queen, Toycie is almost the complete opposite of Beka. She is beautiful and studious. The quality that links them together is their ability to find themselves in bad situations. Their friendship had developed at a young age and has grown into a sisterhood. As a job, Toycie took care of Beka and her brothers. From there, the two shared many secrets. Being each others confidant, they spent a lot of time together. They would go on walks and share their thoughts or ambitions with one another. They also had a system of checks and balances. When Beka was in trouble at school, Toycie offered to help her with her studies. She also urged Beka to be truthful with her parents. In return, Beka tried to persuade Toycie to find help when she became pregnant. Beka was also there for her when her boyfriend refused to accept the baby as his own. In Toycies hardest times, Beka was always around, trying to help. Because of their strong friendship, Beka wanted to be her shoulder to lean on. B) When Toycie asks Beka why she failed first form she replies, â€Å"I fooled around instead of doing my work† (Edgell 35). Beka realizes that she does not focus on her schoolwork the way she should. When Beka does her chores, she skips parts of the floor while sweeping, she pushes old newspapers and dirty clothes under the beds while cleaning, and on her way to the market she lingers at Toycie’s house. However, once Beka tells her father the truth about failing first form, she realizes that she will have to act more responsibly in order to return to school. She begins by cleaning the attic: â€Å"Beka cleaned the attic with feverish energy; here was a way to start, a way to show her family that she could be different† (Edgell 26). Beka does not skip over parts of the floor and hide the trash like usual. She cleans with all the energy she has. After Toycies accident, Beka realizes that she wants better for herself. She begins to concentrate more on her studies. Mr. Lamb compared Beka to a Bougainvillea plant with all flash and no substance as well as phoneyness and having airs. It started to get bushy and wild and out of control just like beka and her lies. When he cut down the plant, it served as a symbol that Beka was changing. Sub-topic three Change developes the issue of success and failure Success and Failure is also a major issue in the novel. Zee Edgell uses the dream, in chapter two, as a technique to symbolise Bekas transition from childhood to young adulthood. The dream shows what is going on in Bekas life. In the dream, Beka is crying out for help yet no one comes to her aid. In reality it shows that Beka is voiceless. In the dream, Beka is on a bridge and the bridge is moving. the bridge stands as a symbol of change and transformation. It shows that Beka is on a journey but she is still not quite there yet. However Beka is looking down at the filthy creek which represents failure. There are people urging her to jump but if she falls off, she will fail. Ultimately Beka is afraid of failure. Her fear is that when she makes this jump (transition), she will fail. The researcher sees that seven months before Beka won the competition she failed first form and she knew it would disappoint her parents so she resorted to lying. By contrast, when she won the competition her parents, even her grandmother was proud of her and had high expectations of her. The dream in chapter two was a symbol of change, success and maturity. It is a technique used by the author to show what was going on in Bekas life. In her dream Beka was crying out for help but no one heard her, she was voiceless. The bridge was a symbol of change and maturity. It reflects that she was going through a transformation. The people were telling her to jump which is risky. Perhaps this is to infer that there were factors trying to hinder her progress. Also as she was looking down at the creek, there was filth and excrement which infers that if she doesnt get the help, shell f Beka returns to school after Toycies expulsion and wins an essay contest. The self-doubts Beka faced her whole life start to recede. As a freshman, Beka wins an essay contest that she thought she had no chance of winning. By winning the contest, Beka realizes that change is possible. She will not be stuck in the same poverty stricken cycle that Toycie fell victim to, but she will never forget the culture that moulded her into the person she will become. Conclusion Beka Lamb is the debut novel of Belizean author Zee Edgell. Change in society can influence an individual’s character. It is the story of both Beka and Belize, an adolescent girl and an adolescent country. Set in Belize in the 1950s, fourteen-year-old Beka struggles with growing pains complicated by the society in which she lives while her country struggles to move from colonialism to independence. The basic theme is the struggle of the Creole population of Belize to hold on to their ethnic heritage and assert their civil rights while faced with opposition from the Hispanic community. Beka experiences various events that contribute to her sense of responsibility and maturity. Although Toycie is constantly on her mind, Beka takes a large step for herself when she enters the essay contest. Being a repeater, Beka doubts her ability to win the essay contest. To her surprise, Beka wins. This accomplishment brings her closer to her parents because they strive for her excellence in school . In today’s society they are people just like beka who dare to change and eventually does change. It proves that society can shape an individuals destiny but it’s up to that person to decide their own future. Now in society people still has the mentality that men are above women in status and power. For example a woman president has never been elected in the United States because people trust men to be leaders of their lives and country. It shows how societies view women.

“Anthem For A Doomed Youth” By Wilfred Owen Essay Essays

â€Å"Anthem For A Doomed Youth† By Wilfred Owen Essay Essays â€Å"Anthem For A Doomed Youth† By Wilfred Owen Essay Essay â€Å"Anthem For A Doomed Youth† By Wilfred Owen Essay Essay Essay Topic: Anthem â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth† is an lament in which Wilfred Owen conveys his bosom felt unhappiness and disgust for the loss of life in World War I. This verse form shatters the fantasized images of war by juxtaposing the opposite universes of world and the romanticized rhetoric that distorts it. He writes about the true experience of military decease. and efficaciously expresses these powerful sentiments in merely 14 lines by usage of a slightly violent imagination that is compounded by the changeless comparing of world to myth. The verse form is intriguingly entitled. â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth. † Get downing with the rubric. Owen places his words into a context that contrasts with his message. An anthem is normally a loyal vocal of a group of people. state. or state as a agency to honour it. such as in the National Anthem. An anthem is a vocal that is supposed to raise up feelings of jingoism. and love for one’s state or group. Here in America. our National Anthem particularly reminds us of the soldier. who is invariably juxtaposed with the image of the† Star Spangled Banner† . The National Anthem is thought to be something that is synonymous with congratulations for one’s state and support of its military personnels. For Owen to call his verse form â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth† implies that those Doomed Youth have no other anthem to honour them. Owen is stating that the experience of the deceasing young person is non the 1 that is conveyed in the National Anthem. His statement is that his verse form expresses the true sentiment of the deceasing young person of war. In the first sentence. Owen begins depicting what he views as the reliable image of war by usage of an attention-getting analogy. This analogy postulates that the young person who are being massacred are deceasing like cowss. This is such a dramatic phrase because cowss unrecorded and decease the worst of lives. Cattles are bred merely for mass slaughter. and decease is inevitable for them. They are kept in confined topographic points. frequently surrounded by fencings and barbed wire. Cattle are besides considered to hold no intent in life except to function and nourish others. It is clear that this comparing of deceasing soldiers to cattle is non a blandishing one. and it is a comparing that would non be given by an advocator of war. It is in direct resistance to the description of heroism and award that comes frontward from the romanticized description of soldiers. Owen places this dramatic analogy at the terminal of a rhetorical inquiry that he himself answers in the following fe w lines. The inquiry that Owen asks is. â€Å"What go throughing bells for these who die as cowss? † The passing bells refer to the bells that are tolled after someone’s decease to denote that decease to the universe. Owen says that unlike a funeral emanation the lone things that announce the decease of these soldiers are the sounds of the instruments that killed them. He answers his opening inquiry by stating that the lone bells that are tolled are the unerasable sounds of war and decease. When depicting those sounds of war. Owen undertakings upon the reader the evil interests of war through words like â€Å"monstrous. † â€Å"anger. † and â€Å"rattle. † These are words that give the reader a gustatory sensation of fright. and a sense of repeating solitariness. The 2nd stanza continues in its comparison of the sounds and images of a funeral emanation to the sounds and images of a battleground. He uses graphic words to demo the abrasiveness of war in this stanza merely as he did in the first stanza. However. in the 2nd stanza. Owen focuses on imagination of unhappiness and compunction instead than evil and horror. Owen seems to be consecutive depicting the jobs with the war in the first eight lines. First. he ingrains on the reader the sights and sounds of the battleground. Then. he expresses the after effects of sorrow and unhappiness. For illustration. the 2nd stanza contains the words â€Å"mourning. † â€Å"wailing. † â€Å"bugles. † â€Å"sad. † and â€Å"shires. † all marks and descriptions of compunction. The concluding six brakes off greatly from the remainder of the verse form. The first two stanzas usage heavy imagination to exemplify the horrors of war. and the solitariness that accompanies it. The stanzas plaint over the fact that the soldiers die a decease of amour propre. and are non remembered. The words that are used are really rough and acidic in that they leave the reader with a feeling of the bloodshed and loss. The last stanza is more melancholic and brooding in its words than the old two. And unlike the first two stanzas. the inquiry that introduces them is answered in a manner that leaves the reader with some type of consolation. This feeling of hope in the six is culminated in the last lines of the stanza. demoing that the male childs will be remembered by some. Owen’s sobering imagination is greatly empowered through his apposition of conflicting thoughts of war. Another illustration of this is his arranging the verse form into a sonnet. Sonnets are usually written about subjects of love and love affair. Owen wrote about decease and disenfranchisement. The usage of the word â€Å"anthem† in the rubric adds to this manner every bit good. An anthem is normally a superficial. wellbeing. cockamamie vocal. This anthem is sad. gloomy. and somber. This use of sarcasm gives the verse form a flooring consequence by boxing the text of the verse form in the signifier of a sonnet and anthem while the verse form has a message that is antithetical to those two genres. This apparently self-contradictory attack makes the reader experience the power of Owen’s constructs because those constructs are so strongly contrasted by conflicting images.

21st Century Trends in Human Health

21st Century Trends in Human Health Human Health in the 21st Century: Global Trends, Developments and Challenges Ntsebo Immaculate Molapo Introduction The twentieth century saw the introduction of many antimicrobials and antibiotics which have been efficient in reducing the mortality rate from 797 deaths per 100000 people in 1900 to 36 per 100000 in 1980 (Arsmtrong, et al., 1999). Although there is a decline in the twentieth century, there are some sharp spikes in mortality in 1918 which was due to the influenza epidemic. Industrial progress during the second half of twentieth century, with the inherent socio-economic changes, has possibly been the driver to improve hygiene and health in Western countries, notably decreasing poverty-related morbidity and mortality. The health population as a sustainable condition requires protection continuing to ensure (Lastovica & Skirrow, 2000): Environmental clean air, clean water, adequate food, tolerable temperatures, stable climate, and high levels of biodiversity. But econ omic development also presents excessive backfire secondary to massive industrialization that generates a global deterioration of environmental conditions, with negative impact on human health (Nachamkin, Szymanski & Blaser, 2008). The results numerous scientific studies suggest that human activities, mainly the massive use of fuels fossils, have modified the natural composition of air. Air pollution from greenhouse gases produces a surface heating land beyond the natural variability of the climate system, conditioning the so called climate change (Graham et al 1987). Food and Water borne Diseases The bacteria â€Å"Campylobacter† is the second cause of most frequently reported food borne illness. A comprehensive approach to food safety from farm to table is needed to reduce Campylobacteriosis (Graham et al 1987). Farmers, industry, and food inspectors, food vendors, workers in food service and consumers are each critical link in the chain of food safety. This document answer s common questions about Campylobacter, describes how the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is attending the problem of contamination of meat and poultry products with Campylobacter and offers guidelines for food handling to prevent bacteria like Campylobacter cause disease (Marshall et al 1985). Salmonella is also a bacterium which is widespread in the intestines of birds, reptiles and mammals (Marshall et al 1985). It can spread to humans through a variety of different foods of animal origin. The disease causing â€Å"Salmonellosis† include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. In people with impaired immune systems underlying health or weakened, it can invade the bloodstream and cause infections that endanger life (Friedman, 2000). E. coli O157: H7 is bacterial pathogen that has a reservoir in cattle and other similar animals. The human disease occurs after consumption of food or water that has been contaminate d with microscopic amounts of cow faeces, causing, often a severe and bloody diarrhoea and cramps painful abdominal, without much fever. In 3% to 5% of cases, you may receive a complication called haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) several weeks after the initial symptoms. This severe complication includes temporary anaemia, heavy bleeding and kidney failure (Friedman, 2000). Campylobacter: Sources of disease and risk factors Sources and incidence of disease differ, sometimes greatly, between developed and developing countries. Transmission from person to person is considered rare in developed countries. By contrast, in developing countries human carriers may have a greater role in the transmission of infection function. In general, it is thought that chickens, poultry and other foods are the most likely sources of infection in developed countries. Number of cases notified beings Human per 100 000 inhabitants caused by Campylobacter jejuni / coli. The data presented are the data avail able to the drafting group until June 2006 (Blaser et al 2008).

Life of Moses Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Life of Moses - Dissertation Example (Seters 34) Indeed these historians and archaeologists believe that Moses as well as the exodus story is essentially origin myths devised by later generation of the Israelites. In support of their position, they refer to the â€Å"logical inconsistencies, new archaeological evidence, historical evidence, and related origin myths in Canaanite culture† (Seters 45). Indeed Moses’ existence is greatly supported by most of the Abrahamic religions and their holy texts–the Quran, the Bible and the Torah. Though these holy texts provide some biographical details of Moses, they do not reveal much of the historical facts and figures of Moses’ age. Even these texts claim that Moses was assigned with the holy duty of setting the Israelites free from the communal slavery under an unnamed pharaoh King. By the time Moses was assigned with the duty of leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt from the slavery and bondage, modern Archaeologists believe that King Ramesses is supposed to rule Egypt during the late Moses period from 1391 to 1271 BCE. Though Rabbinical Judaism asserts Moses’ lifespan between 1391 to 1271 BCE, Christian Tradition refers Moses to an earlier date. Brief History of Moses and His Preaching Moses as a religious figure is supported only by some religious texts such as the Quran, the Bible, the Torah and few others. ... His parents, Amram and Jochebed, once immigrated to Egypt with their grandfather Kehath and other 70 Jacobean families (Genesis 46:11). Thus Moses belongs to the second generation of the Jacobean immigrants in Egypt. By the time Moses was born, the Israelites had lived about 450 years in Egypt and reached two millions in number. The particular number of the departing Israelites is often disputed. According to the BBC article, the Israelites were two millions. But Jacob Gebhart argues that the departing Israelites were about six million (6,000,000). In this regard he says, According to this passage 600,000 men descended from Yaacov left Egypt. If each man is married with the average of 5 children, this brings the entire population of Israel to 6,000,000. This is not including the mixed multitude that came out with them. (Gebhart pars.3) Being alarmed by the growth of these people, Pharaoh passed a decree that male babies of the Hebrew would be killed by drowning in the Nile. It is sai d in a BBC article â€Å"Moses†, â€Å"According to the Bible, the descendants of Jacob had lived in Egypt for more than 450 years, during which time they grew into a nation†¦The Egyptians began to see them as a threat†¦forcing them to work as slaves.† (Moses pars.3) According to the Book of Exodus, in his infancy he was fortunate enough to evade the Pharaoh-enforced infanticide. By luck, he was raised as Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah’s son in the royal palace. The Book of Exodus (2:1) describes how Jochebed saved Moses from the anger of Pharaoh’s wrath: Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son†¦.But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar

A Review of the Costs and Benefits of Globalisation Essay

A Review of the Costs and Benefits of Globalisation - Essay Example It will also include the continuing debate over globalisation as well as the possible compromises and solutions. Lastly, it will present a brief observation on the progresses and achievements of globalisation thus far. Analysis of the Economic and Political benefits of Globalisation   Globalisation increases the use and transfer of science management competencies and products of science and technology, generating advantageous situations for underdeveloped and developing nations to acquire and build sophisticated technology, advancing their own management and organisation proficiencies, and perform the processes of industrialisation and modernisation (Amoore 2005). Globalisation builds favourable conditions to accelerate the adjustment of occupational arrangement within a nation. Every nation can gain advantage from the alteration of economic system to capitalise on its vantage points in the market. Globalisation generates positive circumstances for underdeveloped nations to take ad vantage of foreign investment for the conduct of industrialisation and modernisation, by making use of foreign and local assets efficiently (Ritzer & Atalay 2010). Globalisation builds an excellent condition for the formation of the global economy. The inputs from global information system, infrastructure, and advanced technology have enhanced business success and production efficiency, improved productivity, surpass problems of oversupply, and reduced prices (Stonehouse et al. 2004). An enlarged market brings about advantageous conditions for economic competition and alliance, giving rise to mutual growth and development. Globalisation builds favourable situations for every nation to...This essay offers a fact-based analysis of the benefits and costs of globalisation to political economies all over the world. There is also the continuing debate over globalisation as well as the possible compromises and solutions in the paper. Globalisation increases the use and transfer of science management competencies and products of science and technology, generating advantageous situations for underdeveloped and developing nations to acquire and build sophisticated technology, advancing their own management and organisation proficiencies, and perform the processes of industrialisation and modernisation. Globalisation builds an excellent condition for the formation of the global economy. The inputs from global information system, infrastructure, and advanced technology have enhanced business success and production efficiency, improved productivity, surpass problems of oversupply. Support for globalisation remains pervasive, particularly when multilateralism is perceived an element for reinforcing social values and norms. Specifically, the compromise between global action and local independence remains authentic. Every nation has to adapt its political economies to global policies in order to incorporate into the global economy, take part in global markets, exploit capital, and enhance human resources and technology. The benefits of globalisation rely on global regulations and standards. It implies that every nation has to confront the demands of the local and global economy and negative aspects of the market economy.

Indicators of health paper Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Indicators of health paper - Coursework Example An analysis of certain indicators of health and evaluation of the determinants of health is done in this essay to ascertain the cause of poor health in the country. Indicators of health The indicators of health which can be compared and evaluated are death rate, infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate. According to statistics of Haiti, in the year 2009, the death rate is 8.65 per 1000, infant mortality rate is 59.69 per 1000 live births and maternal mortality ratio, as determined in the year 2005 is 670 per 100,000 deliveries (Global Health Facts, 2010). In the United States, according to the 2009 statistics, the death rate is 8.38, the infant mortality rate is 6.25 per 1000 live births and the maternal mortality rate according to 2005 statistics was 11, per 100,000 deliveries (Global Health Facts, 2010). On comparing all the 3 indicators, it is evident that despite similar death rates in both the countries, the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate are very hig h in Haiti when compared to the US. Determinants of health Key determinants of health in Haiti are poverty, illiteracy, environmental factors like calamities and political factors like violence. During its creation, the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 defined health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Critics argued the completeness of this definition and in 1986, in the Ottawa Charter for health Promotion, the WHO modified the definition of health and defined it as "a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities." Even this definition has not been accepted completely and thus several models of health have come up in an aim to provide complete definition of health. Health is determined by an interplay of several factors which are known as health determinants. The main determinants o f health are social factors, environmental factors, physical environment and; various behaviors and characteristics of the individual. While some of these determinants are in the control of the individual, many factors are beyond the scope of direct control of the individual. These factors contribute to health inequalities in a society. Some such factors include social status and income, education status, physical environment of the individual at home and work place, "social support networks", individual genetics, accessibility to various health services and gender (WHO, 2010). Higher the income, higher is the health status of an individual. Thus, poverty is a major contributor for health inequality. Individuals with lower education levels have poorer health status, lower levels of self esteem and decreased self confidence when compared to those with higher education status. Physical environment constitutes of clean and safe air, water, environment and food at home and workplace. Th ose who have better support form friends, family member and various community groups enjoy better health than those who do not have established social networks. Genetics often influences health -related behaviours like smoking, alcohol, coping skills and balanced intake of food and thus indirectly influences health of an individual (WHO, 2010). Public health researchers have identified social determinants as the main cause for health inequa

Critical thinking about what conservatives think Essay

Critical thinking about what conservatives think - Essay Example The unifying factor for these morals and politics lies in conservatives’ strong belief, in family values and moral philosophy of thinking. Lakoff argues that conservatives’ conceptualization of the family as the unit of the nation corresponds to the strict father model of parenting. While Romney believes that the government should establish just, and moral laws, he believes that adults should not be dependent on the government. For instance, in his speech on â€Å"A Campion of Free Enterprise†, Romney talks of â€Å"transforming America by restoring the values of economic freedom†. This typifies the essence of conservatives’ moral philosophy. Americans metaphorically link their country to the family unit linking the government to parents and Americans to children. Romney’s speeches exemplify this point as he speaks to issues that affect the family such as morality with regard to selflessness and social behavior; child development and justice. During his, â€Å"A Champion of Free Enterprise† speech of 7th June 2012, Romney criticizes the Obama administration citing, â€Å"I put my trust in the ingenuity and creativity and commitment to hard work of the American people.† This assertion shows Romney’s belief that the family (American people) is the embodiment of the nation. Lakoff’s book exemplifies conservatives’ political philosophy to the nurturant parent technique that requires the parents (government) to protect their children (citizens) to attain their full capacity through tough rules such as tough environmental laws. For instance, Romney is pro-life and a strong opponent of abortion. Lakoff argues that conservatives lay positive emphasis on government spending on military expenses and fixed income tax percentiles. Lakoff further argues that conservatives use peculiar linguistic patterns to refer to issues affecting America (Lakoff 309). For instance, during his â€Å"Freedom

Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Research Proposal - Essay Example In the event masculinity is threatened with the men’s conveyed feelings of shame, hostility and guilty: hence men tend to overcompensate to defend masculinity. This paper will talk about masculinity in men; what role masculinity plays in dealing with grief, violence and morality in the society. It is important to understand why men treasure masculinity so much. This paper will review four journals in a bid to understand masculinity in men and how the society takes it. Masculinity can be portrayed in a number of ways, the first dealing with grief, the second – with morality, the third - with violence and last but not least one - acting or role playing. Lee (2002) states that culture and its gadgets all work hand in hand to sustain and set out various rules that men are expected to perform. Ideas of masculinity are socially constructed set of rules that oversee male manners or behavior so that male emotions are not authorized to approve male sex roles. This masculinity that men apply has been sanctioned by the culture and males are required to perform them. Men have been accustomed to thinking that some activities are masculine or not thus objectionable. According to Lee (2002), â€Å"men could have emotions as long as they were they are socially useful.† (p.4) An example of masculinity in the nineteenth century is the public man – a money maker, who desired to or focused on achieving success and had to give his all even his sexuality. Lee (2002) suggested that â€Å"draining one’s bodily fluid via masturbation or self-abuse threatened masculinity.† (p.4) Manhood was understood from these beliefs and, th e author goes on to say that man was or is to direct his sexual passion to his marriage, art and work. 2. Alilunas, P. (2009). Male masculinity as the celebration of failure: The frat pack, women and the trauma of victimization in the â€Å"dude flick†.Retrieved: 3 Nov. 2012. From:

What Does it Mean to Be Well Educated Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

What Does it Mean to Be Well Educated - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that education happens to be the key of professionalism in the modern society. The modern society is very dependent on education because it depends on ideologies and well-organized strategies for its growth and development. This explains why people in the modern society do an effort to make sure they are well educated. To be well educated is a very critical topic, the fact is that individuals are only well educated in a certain field but not in all fields. This is where professionalism and division of labor come in; division of labor is a situation where individuals get involved in doing what they can do at their best. It is not funny to meet individuals who have specialized in medicine and cannot discuss a concept from the field of literature or individuals from the field of literature who cannot solve a simple mathematics problem. According to Alfie Kohn, people are only perfect with what they have specialized in, education is more of spe cialization. To be well educated can be defined as a situation where an individual can think deeply, function highly and be professionally successful in the field they have specialized in; this in short calls for competence. The problem about well-educated people arise when lacks some skills and facts they are expected to possess. The truth is that different education systems in the world have created monsters. This is a situation where individuals fail to perform in their field of specialization in education.... This is a situation where individuals fail to perform in their field of specialization in education. There are several myths which have been developed in the field of education and they have been destructive. One myth is where education is seen as the purpose of giving someone the means of upward mobility and success. This is very wrong because it makes people even to cheat in exams because promotion in job is based on class results ending up producing literally unfit individuals who are only interested in high pay and promotion in job. There is another myth which states that ignorance is a solvable problem. The truth is ignorance cannot be a solvable problem; this is because the advance of knowledge carries with it an element of ignorance (Orr, 1996). There are several attributes and notable traits which appear to be with most of the well educated people. These attributes are exceptional and makes educated people to be different from the uneducated or semi educated individuals. Most of well-educated people can listen and hear well, this means they know how to give attention and can fall an argument, track logical reasoning and detect illogic. They can also empathize with other people. They are accommodative; this means they can easily mingle with anyone freely due to exposure in different communication skills through education. They practice respect and humility, tolerance and self-criticism. This simply means that they can feel and understand the power of other individual’s dreams and nightmares as well as their own. They are good in nurturing and empowering people around them. This means they are willing to help other people to move up in the radar of both education and life success. Educated people through their education understands how to get

Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Research Proposal - Essay Example In the event masculinity is threatened with the men’s conveyed feelings of shame, hostility and guilty: hence men tend to overcompensate to defend masculinity. This paper will talk about masculinity in men; what role masculinity plays in dealing with grief, violence and morality in the society. It is important to understand why men treasure masculinity so much. This paper will review four journals in a bid to understand masculinity in men and how the society takes it. Masculinity can be portrayed in a number of ways, the first dealing with grief, the second – with morality, the third - with violence and last but not least one - acting or role playing. Lee (2002) states that culture and its gadgets all work hand in hand to sustain and set out various rules that men are expected to perform. Ideas of masculinity are socially constructed set of rules that oversee male manners or behavior so that male emotions are not authorized to approve male sex roles. This masculinity that men apply has been sanctioned by the culture and males are required to perform them. Men have been accustomed to thinking that some activities are masculine or not thus objectionable. According to Lee (2002), â€Å"men could have emotions as long as they were they are socially useful.† (p.4) An example of masculinity in the nineteenth century is the public man – a money maker, who desired to or focused on achieving success and had to give his all even his sexuality. Lee (2002) suggested that â€Å"draining one’s bodily fluid via masturbation or self-abuse threatened masculinity.† (p.4) Manhood was understood from these beliefs and, th e author goes on to say that man was or is to direct his sexual passion to his marriage, art and work. 2. Alilunas, P. (2009). Male masculinity as the celebration of failure: The frat pack, women and the trauma of victimization in the â€Å"dude flick†.Retrieved: 3 Nov. 2012. From:

Thermodynamics Laws and Life Essay Example for Free

Thermodynamics Laws and Life Essay Introduction The universe is governed by the laws of thermodynamics. In other words, it affects the everyday lives of human beings. Every moment   a man exists, performs his daily activities or interacts with objects around him like every time he walks or drives a car or turn on an air conditioner, or use an electrical appliance, he   reap the practical benefits of thermodynamics (Sonntag 223). According to Sonntag in his book Fundamentals of Physics, â€Å"one excellent definition of thermodynamics is that it is the science of energy and entropy†. Another good definition would be that thermodynamics is the science that deals with heat and work and the properties of substance that bear a relation to heat and work†. As I understand it, thermodynamics had something to with anything that involves the use and transfer heat or energy, and the resulting work it produces. This means that without heat or energy then there would be no work to be performed. And when work is absent then there would be no human existence for life is closely tied with activities. Like all sciences, thermodynamics was established based on experimental observation. Out of this experiments evolved the three laws of thermodynamics (Sonntag 16). The Laws of Thermodynamics First law of Thermodynamics The first law of thermodynamics is often called the Law of Conservation of Energy which states that â€Å"energy cannot be created nor destroyed†. Furthermore, this law suggests that since energy cannot be created or destroyed it is merely transferred from one system to another in many forms. In other words, there is an idea of energy conversion like from heat energy to mechanical energy.   Because energy is not created or destroyed, in the universe as a closed system the amount of energy available is constant (there is no addition or subtraction of energy) . Energy is usually introduced into a system and from thereon undergoes energy transformation to perform some functions(Young 534-536) . In relating to life, a good example would be when a man takes in food (introduction of energy to the body through calorie), heat energy in the form of calorie is transform into chemical energy by his cells which in turn is transform into a mechanical energy so that a man is able to perform physical activities like walking, dancing or talking.   Man by his own self cannot create his own energy (he needs to eat to get energy) and that this energy through bodily processes is transform within his body to enable him to perform some bodily functions. What the first law actually is trying to say is that man just cannot get something out of nothing like he just cannot survive without first eating some amount of food; otherwise he will just fell dead. If only man can create his own energy then he does not need to eat. In the same way, the survival of other living things depend on getting energy from outside sources, for example plants need the energy of the sun for photosynthesis. For objects, in order for it to function, like for a plane in order for it to fly it needs the heat of combustion of its fuel to do work in propelling the plane (Young 534). Second law of Thermodynamics While the first law deals with the conservation of energy, the second law tells of the direction of conservation. In other words, how or where energy transformation normally proceeds. The second law settles the question why when you put ice into a hot cup of tea, heat will flow from the hot tea to the cold ice and melt the ice in the beloved beverage illustrating the unalterable reality that heat cannot be transferred from a colder to a hotter body. It is because natural processes that involve energy transfer must have one direction, and all natural processes are irreversible. That is why, man as human being that makes use of many bodily energy conversions can never go back to being an infant but must proceed to old age.   Or that a machine will go from new to old, it depreciates and lowers in value.   In a sense, the second law puts limitations into how heat conversion is achieved in real life. The second law further states that the direction of thermodynamic processes is more towards from an order to a disorder state or entropy. Entropy is the measure of the disorder or randomness of energy and matter in a system, the higher is a disorder the greater is the entropy. That is why in hot and cold bodies the process proceeds from hot to cold because adding heat to a body increases its disorder because â€Å"it increases average molecular speeds and therefore the randomness of molecular motion†(Young 574).   In other aspects, it is clear now why it is easy to mess up than to clean, and that the greater are the things present the messier it is. According to Young in his book University Physics, in a natural   irreversible isolated system (one that does no work on its surroundings) entropy is always increasing, or the degree of disorder increases with time( Young 541 and579) . This can be illustrated by man getting old. Although some scientific researches had created formulas to make man look younger than his age, this only controls the pace of his getting old, but eventually man had to surrender to the irreversible natural process of body deterioration that will lead to old age and ultimately death. As man increased in age, his body weakens, his cells degenerate and eventually he dies. And when a body decays and die it cannot be renewed again and bring back to life but it will rot on the grave . What the second law of thermodynamics is saying is that there are some things that I cannot control from happening for it is a natural process that needs or must occur and when it did occur it is impossible to undo. This reminds me in some sense of where man is heading in life. He always go towards the future and leaves behind a past. What happened in the past he can never undo for he can never go back to the past. That direction will be forever close to him no matter how much energy he is willing to spend to retraced back to that road. Critics in the biological evolution however, claimed that the theory of evolution violates the second law of thermodynamics, since evolution involves simple life forms developing on their own into more complex, more highly ordered organisms. But living things are not closed systems because they can interact with outside sources of energy like the sun and it has been shown â€Å"that energy and/or mass flow through a system can constrain it far from equilibrium, resulting in an increase in order†.   The organizing ‘work† is then primarily carried on by metabolic motor of DNA, enzymes, etc(  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ). Third law of Thermodynamics The third law touches on reaching a state of absolute zero (oK) or to avoid entropy by making temperature equals to zero.   At absolute zero the system has a minimum total internal energy (kinetic plus potential). This can only happen if all energy and matter are randomly distributed in space eradicating all thermal motion( Young 574). This however will never occur unless perhaps in few extraordinary, carefully-engineered situations. The third law of thermodynamics reinforced the fact that in life there are things that are unattainable and accepting this reality is a much better idea than to fight the laws of life. Conclusion The laws of thermodynamics just clearly put into much clearer terms the laws of life. Since thermodynamics is a science that deals with energy and energy transformations as well as the resulting work it produces, it has practical applications in life for life is an active use of energy. First law is a conservation of energy which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed meaning that energy is already in existence and needs only to be applied to a system, example a human system, in various forms to benefit life. The second law states that in a natural process there is a direction from which the conservation follows and this is usually to a more disordered state (entropy). The third law just simply states that if absolute zero is reached then entropy will be zero, but such is an impossible occurrence.       References Isaak, Mark. Five Major Misconceptions about Evolution. The Talk Origins Archive.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   October 1, 2003. Retrieved December 3, 2007   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.talkorigins.org/faq/faq-misconceptions.html Sonntag, Richard E. and Claus Borgnakke. Fundamentals of Thermodynamics, 5th ed. New   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1998. Young, Hugh D. and Roger A. Freedman. University Physics, Vol. 1. 9th ed. New York:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., 1996.

How Could Demand Elasticity Lead To Pricing Decisions?

How Could Demand Elasticity Lead To Pricing Decisions? How Could the Knowledge of Demand Elasticity Lead to Make Pricing Decisions? Making pricing decisions Price sensitivity is not just about charging high prices to maximize revenue. It might also relate to cut prices sometimes dramatically to encourage people who may otherwise not be part of the market to use the services or goods being provided. In business, it is like business of education, learning of price elasticity of demand. This concept is a cornerstone in any discussion of microeconomic principles and pricing for marketing effectiveness. Practically, price elasticity of demand involves the idea that consumers are affected by manipulations of price. On the producer part of view, price represents a distinct reflection of the production and marketing costs incorporated in bringing the product to the marketplace as well as the beginning point in the calculation of revenue and profit. On the consumer part, price is a critical ingredient in the image and value-conceptualization of a product. Elasticity of demand is dependent on the knowledge of the determinants of demand and helps firms and policy makers plan of consumer behavior in the market place. Products that can be replaced are likely to have a positive cross price elasticity of demand because the change in price makes them relatively more or less expensive in relation to each other. Similarly co-relative goods will give rise to a cross price elasticity of demand value that is negative. Strategic pricing  clarifies the relationship between market segmentation and price, and delivers the tools your organization needs to stay focused on value as you determine break-even, define price elasticity, and analyze tradeoffs between features and price points. Using strategic pricing tools yields is a better positioning approach. What I want to bring out here is a company director isnt only concern about calculating numbers profits. The number is a meaning at the end; when taking about price elasticity of demand it is used to see how sensitive the demand for a product is to a price change. The higher the price elasticity, the more sensitive consumers are to price changes. The very high price elasticity suggests that when the price of a product goes up, consumers will buy a great deal less of it and when the price of that good goes down, consumers will buy a great deal more. The very low price elasticity infers the opposite, that changes in price have little influence on demand. When measuring elasticity, what is being measured is the responsiveness to demand to its determinants, such as income and other goods. This gives rise to income elasticity of demand and cross price elasticity of demand. Income elasticity measures the responsiveness of demand to a change in income. Cross price elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price of another good. Demand elasticity of make pricing decision will define how the market will react to changes in price. Understanding of this will allow companies to make informed decisions on how should approach the final sale of the good which is achieved through marketing. Background Historically elasticity of demand thinking has been primarily applied to the marketing mix variable of price. However, the concept can also lend meaningful insights into the administration of the other marketing mix and environmental variables in a context of causality. There exists a rich body of literature exploring the more extensive uses of elasticity of demand. However, basic marketing texts, and presumably introductory classes, typically do not feature the wider applications of the tool. At the beginning of 20 century, economist started to found out that demand consisted of more than simple purchasing power. It reverberate desire as well as ability to purchase, and new experiences with advertising and salesmanship were proving that desire could be increased and carved by factors other than the existence of supply. An extra idea of the market concerned its capacity to adjust itself automatically to an amicable balance. It had long been held that competitive forces would normally, in the long run, dissipate tendencies of unbalance, but as competition decreased in some industries and trades, the assumptions found in traditional economic theory became increasingly invalid. A third idea was that cost was the principal determinant of price, at least in the long run. Concepts of the elasticity of demand were still another influence upon the thinking of early marketing theory. Alfred Marshals concept of elasticity of demand has long been used by marketing writers as a theore tical basis for selling, advertising and the promotional work of marketing in general. (Fig 1. Price Elasticity of Demand (PED) It was devised by Alfred Marshall.) Content Price elasticity of demand is defined as the measure of responsiveness in the quantity demanded for products as a result of change in price of the same products. To say it in another way, its percentage change in quantity demanded as per the percentage change in price of the same products. In economics and in business, the price elasticity of demand is a measure of the sensitivity of quantity demanded to changes in price. It is measured as elasticity, which it is measures the relationship as the ratio of percentage changes between quantities demanded of a good and changes in its price. A price fall usually results in an increase in the quantity demanded by consumers. The demand for a good is relatively inelastic when the change in quantity demanded is less than change in price. Goods and services for which no substitutes exist are generally inelastic. Marketing strategy focus on the decisions marketers make to help the company satisfy its target market and achieve its objectives. Price, of course, is one of the key marketing mix decisions and due to all marketing decisions must work together; the final price will be impacted by how other marketing decisions are made. Every companies view price as a key selling feature, but some firms, for example those seeking to be viewed as market leaders in product quality, will de-emphasize price and concentrate on a strategy that highlights non-price benefits e.g. quality, durability, service, etc. Such non-price competition can help the company avoid potential price wars that often break out between competitive firms that follow a market share objective and use price as a key selling feature. Understanding how price changes impact the market requires the marketer have a firm understanding of the concept economists call elasticity of demand, which relates to how purchase quantity changes as prices change. Elasticity is evaluated under the assumption that no other changes are being made and only price is adjusted. The logic is to see how price by itself will affect overall demand. Obviously, the chance of nothing else changing in the market but the price of one product is often unrealistic. For example, competitors may react to the marketers price change by changing the price on their product. Despite this, elasticity analysis does serve as a useful tool for estimating market reaction therefore it leads to make pricing decisions. Price elasticity of demand elasticity plays an important part when it needs to make piecing decision Marketing Essentials: economics knowledge to pricing from a marketing perspective (supply, demand, price elasticity). And the knowledge of income elasticity of demand for different products helps firms predict the effect of a business cycle on sales as well. All countries experience a business cycle where actual GDP moves up and down in a regular pattern causing booms and slowdowns or even a recession. The business cycle means incomes rise and fall. Elasticity deals with three types of demand scenarios: (1) Elastic Demand, (2) Inelastic Demand and (3) Unitary Demand. For marketers the important issue with elasticity of demand is to understand how it impacts company revenue. Strategic Pricing  define the relationship between market segmentation and price, and delivers the tools to the organization needs to stay adjusted on value as determine break-even, define price elasticity, and analyze tradeoffs between features and price points. Using strategic pricing tools yields a better positioning approach. Opportunity cost is the cost expressed in terms of the next best alternative sacrificed. Opportunity cost is central to the whole study of both economics and business as it is at the heart of the decision making that characterizes the essence of both subject disciplines. Value helps to explain why the demand curve slopes downwards from left to right. At higher prices, consumers have to sacrifice more utility (the satisfaction gained) from consuming other products. For some in a market, the price they are being asked to pay does not represent value for money in other words they recognize that the sacrifice of other goods and services they have to make represents a negative impact on their utility. This is all very theoretical but it is what we do when we make decisions about spending every day. Elasticity varies among products because some products may be more essential to the consumer. Products that are necessities are more insensitive to price changes because consumers would continue buying these products despite price increases. Conversely, a price increase of a good or service that is considered less of a necessity will deter more consumers because the opportunity cost of buying the product will become too high. Price elasticity of demand is defined as the measure of responsiveness in the quantity demanded for a commodity as a result of change in price of the same commodity. In other words, it is percentage change in quantity demanded as per the percentage change in price of the same commodity. In economics and business studies, the price elasticity of demand (PED) is a measure of the sensitivity of quantity demanded to changes in price. It is measured as elasticity, which is it measures the relationship as the ratio of percentage changes between quantity demanded of a good and changes in its price. A price drop usually results in an increase in the quantity demanded by consumers. The demand for a good is relatively inelastic when the change in quantity demanded is less than change in price. Goods and services for which no substitutes exist are generally inelastic. Demand for an antibiotic, for example, becomes highly inelastic when it alone can kill an infection resistant to all other antibiotics. Rather than die of an infection, patients will generally be willing to pay whatever is necessary to acquire enough of the antibiotic to kill the infection. The primary objective of a business is to provide quality products and services to customers, and through this to make a profit as a strongly related objectives measure. Many organizations fail to make an appropriate profit because they do not know how to price their products or services. Pricing is the critical element in achieving a profit and is a factor that all firms should seek to control. In order to set prices appropriately, a firm must understand their products, the market for these, production and distribution costs, and the competition. Especially with the growth of the Internet and electronic commerce networks, the marketplace responds very rapidly to technological advances and international competition. Thus, the need to be continually sensitive to the many factors that affect pricing, and to be ready to adjust organizational behavior appropriately, is greater than ever. Here, we present a literature review and overview of this important subject and related pricing decis ion support issues. Conclusion In my opinion, the theory behind price sensitivity is based on an understanding of the aims of an organization and the concepts of price elasticity of demand and consumer surplus. Most private sector business organizations will need to make a profit to survive. This may not translate to a profit maximizing approach but nevertheless they will be looking to generate profits from activities. Part of this process will be looking at what happens to revenue. Revenue is the amount received from the sale of goods and services and is found by multiplying the price of a product by the quantity sold. Price has an important function in markets. It acts as a signal to both producers and consumers. For producers it gives them some indication about the returns they can expect from sales in relation to their costs in other words whether it is worth producing a good or not. For consumers it provides an indication about value. Value is a very important concept in economics and business. It is difficult to define because we all have a different interpretation of what value means. In essence, the value we place on a good or service is indicated by the price we are willing to pay to consume that good or service. Price sensitivity therefore is important to all businesses when considering their pricing strategies. They will need to have some understanding of how their market will react to changes in price and thus what the impact is on their revenue. Understanding of this will allow companies to make informed decisions on how should approach the final sale of the good which is achieved through marketing.

We All Must Take Responsibility :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

We All Must Take Responsibility "She is a really responsible person." "He doesn't take responsibility for his actions." "She was responsible for the accident." How many times have we heard statements similar to these? A definition of responsible might be accountable, reliable, dependable, or trustworthy. Based on my observations and experiences, I believe many people have a problem translating that into their everyday lives. If something bad happens, it must be someone else's fault, or someone should have to pay. A few months ago, I was involved in my first car accident. I think it's pretty remarkable that this was my first accident, considering that I've been driving for almost thirty years. The accident itself was pretty traumatic. I was at a complete stop behind two cars that were turning left, when a large van traveling at about thirty-five mph rear-ended my car. I was fortunate to escape with only some large bruises and a very sore knee; however, the car didn't fare quite as well. What was more amazing than the accident itself were the actions of the young man who ran into my car. Instead of taking responsibility for his actions, he lied to the police and to his insurance company about the events that took place. His version was that he was driving behind me when I ran into the car in front of me, then bounced back into his van. Perhaps if he'd had more time he might have been able to concoct a more credible story, one that actually made sense. In the end, the police and his insurance company saw through his lies and everything was taken care of. But in the meantime, my car was towed away and I was left with no car. What's amazing to me is that he never got out of his van to see if anyone was injured, and he never apologized for smashing two cars and causing me the inconvenience of being without a car for five weeks while the damage was repaired. Several months ago, there was a tragic fire near the Quad Cities. Unfortunately, two young children lost their lives when one of them started a fire in their apartment.

Crime on the Internet Essay -- Internet Crime Essays

Overview If cyberspace is a type of community, a giant neighborhood made up of networked computer users around the world, then it seems natural that many elements of a traditional society can be found taking shape as bits and bytes. With electronic commerce comes electronic merchants, plugged-in educators provide networked education, and doctors meet with patients in offices on-line. It should come as no surprise that there are also cybercriminals committing cybercrimes. As an unregulated hodgepodge of corporations, individuals, governments, educational institutions, and other organizations that have agreed in principle to use a standard set of communication protocols, the Internet is wide open to exploitation. There are no sheriffs on the Information Superhighway waiting to zap potential offenders with a radar gun or search for weapons if someone looks suspicious. By almost all accounts, this lack of "law enforcement" leaves net users to regulate each other according to the reigning norms of the moment. Community standards in cyberspace appear to be vastly different from the standards found at the corner of Main Street and Elm in Any City, USA. Unfortunately, cyberspace is also a virtual tourist trap where faceless, nameless con artists can work the crowds. Mimicking real life, crimes and criminals come in all varieties on the Internet. The FBI's National Computer Crime Squad is dedicated to detecting and preventing all types of computer-related crimes. Some issues being carefully studied by everyone from Net veterans and law enforcement agencies to radical pundits include: Computer network break-ins Industrial espionage Software piracy Child pornography E-mail bombings Password sniffers Spoofing Credit card fraud Computer network break-ins Using software tools installed on a computer in a remote location, hackers can break into computer systems to steal data, plant viruses or trojan horses, or work mischief of a less serious sort by changing user names or passwords. Network intrusions have been made illegal by the U.S. federal government, but detection and enforcement are difficult. Limitations with the law as it is currently written can be seen upon examining Kevin Mitnick's recent plea bargain, wherein there is little connection between his final plea and the crimes he allegedly committed. Industr... ...ancisco Examiner; July 2, 1995 Hacker Held Without Bail; Reuter; February 17, 1995 Hacker Reaches Plea Bargain (paraphrased: no title given); Reuter; July 1, 1995 Most Wanted Computer Hacker Gets Court Date; Reuter; February 16, 1995 Miscellaneous Documents Abelson, Hal & Mike Fischer; Listiing of Materials and Reading for Course 6.805/STS085 at MIT Greenspun, Philip; David LaMacchia Defense Fund Hacker Dictionary http://gnn.com/; Shimomura vs. Mitnick: The Computer Crime of the Year?; (possibly written by O'Reilly) Loundy, Dave; Encode, Delete, Download-You're Busted; Chicago Daily Law Bulletin; August 10, 1995 Miller, Adam S.; The Jake Baker Scandal; Trincoll Journal Perry, Kenneth M., Esq. and P-Law, Inc.; Current Regulatory Environment pjswan@engin.umich.edu; What's the Big Deal over Jake Baker Reid, Brian, PhD.; Pornography on the 'Net Siino, Rosanne M.; Official Netscape Response to French Hacker Sterling, Bruce; The Hacker Crackdown: Law and Disorder on the Electronic Frontier Wall Street Journal; AOL Plagued by Hackers; September 8, 1995 Wallich, Paul; Wire Pirates; Scientific American; March 1994

Case 1

Case Analysis 1: Hightone Electronics, Inc. Identification Information: This case analysis is from chapter 1 of our text book, Operations Management. It is found on page 25 and titled, â€Å"Hightone Electronics, Inc. † Summary of the Facts of the Case: Hightone Electronics, Inc. (HEI) is an electronic components supply company founded over 50 years ago. The company has a reputation for high quality and service. HEI's simple business of supplying radio repair shops with parts has grown to include home delivery, and larger customers such as technical schools, universities, and well-known corporations.The company stocks and sells over 22,000 different items and most customers receive their order within 48 hours. George Gonzales is the operations director for HEI. He has been tasked with making operations management decisions necessary to make HEI a successful Internet-based business. Mr. Gonzales agrees that this is an important step for the future success of the company but bel ieves there is more to solving the problems of the transition to web-based than the board thinks. Case Questions: 1.Explain why operations management is critical to the success of a business. Operations management (OM) is critical to the success of a business for several reasons. OM is responsible for the decision-making and leadership process that creates the product or service the business provides. The role of OM is to take inputs such as, labor, raw materials, and technology, and turn them into finished goods or services. Other functions of the business, such as marketing, are also important. But, without OM, there would not be a product/service to market to consumers. Reid, 2-23) Why would developing an Internet-based business require different operations consideration for HEI? A traditional catalog-order business and an Internet-based catalog-order business would be very similar in general appearance. A transition to web-based ordering though, would require changes. First, the company would need to upgrade its technology. Either through outsourcing or internal servers, the company would need to create a website. The website would need to be able to handle the customer traffic without crashing.Also, the website would need to be user-friendly so as not to frustrate and turn away potential customer. Customer support personnel would need to be trained to guide customers with questions about the website. Second, and more important than the actual website, is coordinating orders so that requested goods are shipped to the proper customer. Each order transaction will not be entered by a person. Therefore, all of the information gathered by the website will need to be converted to orders easily understood by warehouse personnel.Is George Gonzales correct in his assessment that this would not be â€Å"business as usual†? Yes. The core functions of the physical locations of the catalog-order business will remain mostly the same as before. They will receive o rders, and ship out goods. However, the methods of obtaining orders, customer feedback, return orders, special orders, and many other less notable but still necessary functions will change drastically. If done properly, it will most likely streamline the business, but the initial transition will be difficult. . Recall that HEI wishes to continue its reputation of high quality and service. Identify key operations management decisions that need to be considered. * Will we receive more/less orders? * If demand increases, can HEI supply the demand? * If demand decreases, can HEI â€Å"weather the storm† until demand rebounds? * What new personnel will be required? * Can current employees be trained? * Do new, more technically-advanced employees need to be hired? * Can stock be reduced and operations made more lean? * Should stock be increased?How different will these decisions be for the Internet business? The major difference will be that with a lot of the web-based area of the business, work will be handled electronically and not in a physical location. This will eliminate the need for large call centers and central records keeping locations. A few servers could hold all the information once held by an entire department such as sales, accounting, customer service, etc. This also changes the focus from managing many low-skilled employees to fewer moderate-to-high-skilled employees. Case 1 chapter 2 CHARTING A COMPANY’S DIRECTION: VISION AND MISSION, OBJECTIVES, AND STRATEGY McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright  © 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. LO1 Grasp why it is critical for company managers to have a clear strategic vision of where a company needs to head and why. LO2 Understand the importance of setting both strategic and financial objectives. LO3 Understand why the strategic initiatives taken at various organizational levels must be tightly coordinated to achieve companywide performance targets.LO4 Become aware of what a company must do to achieve operating excellence and to execute its strategy proficiently. LO5 Become aware of the role and responsibility of a company’s board of directors in overseeing the strategic management process. 2-2 What Does the Strategy-Making, Strategy-Executing Process Entail? 1. 2. 3. 4. Developing a strategic vision Setting objectives Crafting a strategy Implementing and executing the chosen strat egy 5. Monitoring developments, evaluating performance, and initiating corrective adjustments 2-3 FIGURE 2. 1 The Strategy-Making, Strategy-Executing Process 2-4 TABLE 2. Factors Shaping Decisions in the Strategy-Making, Strategy-Executing Process Internal Considerations Does the company have an appealing customer value proposition? What are the company’s competitively important resources and capabilities and are they potent enough to produce a sustainable competitive advantage? Does the company have sufficient business and competitive strength to seize market opportunities and nullify external threats? Are the company’s prices and costs competitive with those of key rivals? Is the company competitively stronger or weaker than key rivals? External ConsiderationsDoes sticking with the company’s present strategic course present attractive opportunities for growth and profitability? What kind of competitive forces are industry members facing and are they acting to enhance or weaken the company’s prospects for growth and profitability? What factors are driving industry change and what impact on the company’s prospects will they have? How are industry rivals positioned and what strategic moves are they likely to make next? What are the key factors of future competitive success and does the industry offer good prospects for attractive profits for companies possessing those capabilities? 2-5Factors Shaping Strategic Decisions External Considerations What are the industry’s economic characteristics? How strong are the competitive forces at play? What forces are driving change in the industry? What market positions do rivals occupy and what moves are they likely to make next? What are the key factors for future competitive success? What are the company’s external opportunities? 2-6 Factors Shaping Strategic Decisions Internal Considerations How well is the present strategy working? What are the company’s competiti vely valuable resources, capabilities, and internal weaknesses? Are the company’s prices and costs competitive?Is the company competitively stronger or weaker than key rivals? 2-7 Stage 1: Developing a Strategic Vision, a Mission, and Core Values Strategic Vision Is top management’s views about the firm’s direction and future product-market-customer-technology focus Provides a panoramic view of â€Å"where we are going† Is distinctive and specific to a particular organization Avoids use of innocuous uninspiring language that could apply to most any firm Definitively states how the company’s leaders intend to position the firm beyond where it is today 2-8 Characteristics of Effectively Worded Vision Statements GraphicPaints a picture of the kind of firm that management is trying to create Flexible Is not so focused that it makes it difficult to adjust Feasible Is within the realm of what is possible Directional Is forward looking to change Desirable Indicates why the directional path makes sense Focused Is specific enough to provide guidance in decision making Easy to Communicate Can be explained in simple terms 2-9 TABLE 2. 2 Characteristics of Effectively Worded Vision Statements Paints a picture of the kind of company that management is trying to create and the market position(s) the company is striving to stake out.Is forward looking; describes the strategic course that management has charted and the kinds of product-market-customer-technology changes that will help the company prepare for the future. Is specific enough to provide managers with guidance in making decisions and allocating resources. Is not so focused that it makes it difficult for management to adjust to changing circumstances in markets, customer preferences, or technology. Is within the realm of what the company can reasonably expect to achieve. Indicates why the directional path makes good business sense.Is explainable in 5 to 10 minutes and, ideally, ca n be reduced to a simple, memorable â€Å"slogan† Graphic Directional Focused Flexible Feasible Desirable Easy to communicate 2-10 TABLE 2. 3 Common Shortcomings in Company Vision Statements Short on specifics about where the company is headed or what the company is doing to prepare for the future. Doesn’t indicate whether or how management intends to alter the company’s current product-market-customer-technology focus. So all-inclusive that the company could head in most any direction, pursue most any opportunity, or enter most any business.Lacks the power to motivate company personnel or inspire shareholder confidence about the company’s direction. Provides no unique company identity; could apply to firms in any of several industries (including rivals operating in the same market arena). Doesn’t say anything specific about the company’s strategic course beyond the pursuit of such distinctions as being a recognized leader, a global or world wide leader, or the first choice of customers. Vague or incomplete Not forward looking Too broad Bland or uninspiring Not distinctive Too reliant on superlatives 2-11Concepts and Connections 2. 1 Examples of Strategic Visions—How Well Do They Measure Up? 2-12 Concepts and Connections 2. 1 Examples of Strategic Visions—How Well Do They Measure Up? 2-13 Examples of Vision Statements To be the global leader in customer value. Provide a global trading platform where practically anyone can trade practically anything. Red Hat To extend our position as the most trusted Linux and open source provider through a complete range of enterprise software, a powerful Internet platform, and associated support and services. 2-14 Core Concept Strategic Inflection PointsA change in vision is required when it becomes evident to management that the industry has changed in a significant way that renders the company’s current vision obsolete. 2-15 The Importance of Communicating the St rategic Vision An engaging, inspirational vision Challenges and motivates the workforce Articulates a compelling case for â€Å"where we are going and why† Evokes positive support and excitement Arouses a committed organizational effort to move in a common direction 2-16 Expressing the Essence of the Vision in a Slogan Nike To bring innovation and inspiration to every athlete in the world The Mayo ClinicThe best care to every patient every day Greenpeace To halt environmental abuse and promote environmental solutions. 2-17 Why a Sound, Well-Communicated Strategic Vision Matters 1. It crystallizes senior executives’ own views about the firm’s long-term direction. 2. It reduces the risk of rudderless decision making by management at all levels. 3. It is a tool for winning the support of employees to help make the vision a reality. 4. It provides a beacon for lower-level managers in forming departmental missions. 5. It helps an organization prepare for the future. 2-18 Strategic Vision versus Mission StatementA strategic vision concerns a firm’s future business path—â€Å"where we are going† Markets to be pursued Future product/ market/customer/ technology focus The mission statement of a firm focuses on its present business purpose—â€Å"who we are and what we do† Current product and service offerings Customer needs being served 2-19 Developing a Company Mission Statement Ideally, a company mission statement is sufficiently descriptive to: Identify the company’s products or services. Specify the buyer needs it seeks to satisfy. Specify the customer groups or markets it is endeavoring to serve.Specify its approach to pleasing customers. Give the company its own identity. 2-20 Example of a Mission Statement The mission of Trader Joe’s is to give our customers the best food and beverage values that they can find anywhere and to provide them with the information required for informed buying decisi ons. We provide these with a dedication to the highest quality of customer satisfaction delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, fun, individual pride, and company spirit. 2-21 Examples of Mission Statements To help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential.To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. 2-22 Strategic Mission, Vision, and Profit Firms sometimes state that their mission is to simply earn a profit. Profit is the obvious intent of every commercial enterprise. Profit is not â€Å"who we are and what we do. † Profit is more correctly an objective and a result of what a firm does. 2-23 Linking the Strategic Vision and Mission with Company Values CORE CONCEPT A firm’s values are the beliefs, traits, and behavioral norms that the firm’s personnel are expected to display in conducting the firm’s business and pursuing its strategic vision and mission. -24 CONCEPTS & CON NECTIONS 2. 2 ZAPPOS MISSION AND CORE VALUES Deliver Wow through Service Embrace and Drive Change Create Fun and a Little Weirdness Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open Minded Pursue Growth and Learning Build Open and Honest Relationships with Communication Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit Do More with Less Be Passionate and Determined Be Humble 2-25 Stage 2: Setting Objectives Why set objectives? To convert the strategic vision into specific performance targets To create yardsticks to track progress and measure performance Objectives should:Be well-stated (clearly worded) Be challenging, yet achievable in order to stretch the organization to perform at its full potential Be quantifiable (measurable) Contain a specific deadline for achievement 2-26 Core Concept Objectives are an organization’s performance targets—the results management wants to achieve. 2-27 Stage 2: Setting Objectives (cont’d) What Kinds of Objectives to Set Financial objectives Communicat e management’s targets for financial performance Are lagging indicators that reflect the results of past decisions and organizational activities Relate to revenue growth, profitability, and return on investment -28 Stage 2: Setting Objectives (cont’d) What Kinds of Objectives to Set Strategic objectives Are related to a firm’s marketing standing and competitive vitality Are leading indicators of a firm’s future financial performance and business prospects. If achieved, indicate that a firm’s future financial performance will be better than its current or past performance. 2-29 Core Concept The balanced scorecard is a widely used method for combining the use of both strategic and financial objectives, tracking their achievement, and giving management a more complete and balanced view of how well an organization is performing. -30 TABLE 2. 4 The Balanced Scorecard Approach to Performance Measurement Strategic Objectives †¢ Winning an x percent m arket share †¢ Achieving customer satisfaction rates of x percent †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Increase percentage of sales coming from new products to x percent Financial Objectives †¢ An x percent increase in annual revenues †¢ Annual increases in earnings per share of x percent †¢ An x percent return on capital employed (ROCE) or shareholder investment (ROE) †¢ Bond and credit ratings of x †¢ Internal cash flows of x to fund new capital investment †¢ Improve information systems capabilities to give frontline managers Achieving a customer defect information in retention rate of x percent x minutes Acquire x number of new †¢ Improve teamwork by customers increasing the number of Introduction of x number projects involving more of new products in the than one business unit next three years to x Reduce product development times to x months 2-31 Examples of Financial ObjectivesX% increase in annual revenues X% increase annually in after-tax p rofits Profit margins of X% X% return on capital employed (ROCE) Sufficient internal cash flows to fund 100% of new capital investment 2-32 Examples of Strategic Objectives Winning an X% market share Achieving a customer retention rate of X% Acquire X number of new customers Reduce product defects to X% Introduction of X number of new products in the next three years Increase employee training to X hours/year Reduce turnover to X% per year 2-33 Examples of Company ObjectivesGeneral Motors Reduce the percentage of automobiles using internal combustion engines through the development of hybrids, range-extended electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell electric engines. Reduce automotive structural costs to benchmark levels of 23% of revenue by 2012 from 34% in 2005. Reduce annual U. S. labor costs by an additional $5 billion by 2011. 2-34 Examples of Company Objectives The Home Depot Be the number one destination for professional contractors. Improve in-stock positions so customers ca n find and buy exactly what they need.Deliver differentiated customer service and the know-how that our customers have come to expect. Repurchase $22. 5 billion of outstanding shares during 2008. Open 55 new stores with 5 store relocations in 2008. 2-35 Short-Term and Long-Term Objectives Short-Term Objectives Targets to be achieved soon Milestones or stair steps for reaching long-range performance Long-Term Objectives Targets to be achieved within 3 to 5 years 2-36 The Need for Objectives at All Organizational Levels Objectives Are Needed at All Levels 1. Set business-level objectives 2.Establish functional-area objectives 3. Set operating-level objectives last Long-term objectives take precedence over short-term objectives 2-37 Stage 3: Crafting a Strategy Crafting a strategy means asking: How to attract and please customers How to compete against rivals How to position the firm in the marketplace and capitalize on attractive opportunities to grow the business How best to respond to changing economic and market conditions How to manage each functional piece of the business How to achieve the firm’s performance targets 2-38A Firm’s Strategy-Making Hierarchy A firm’s strategy is a collection of initiatives undertaken by managers at all levels in the organizational hierarchy Crafting strategy is a collaborative effort that: Involves managers from various levels of the organization Is rarely something only highlevel executives engage in Requires choosing among the various strategic alternatives 2-39 Concept to Action In most firms, crafting strategy is a collaborative team effort that includes managers in various positions and at various organizational levels.Crafting strategy is rarely something only highlevel executives do. 2-40 Concept to Action Corporate strategy establishes an overall game plan for managing a set of businesses in a diversified, multibusiness firm. Business strategy is primarily concerned with strengthening the firm†™s market position and building competitive advantage in a single business company or a single business unit of a diversified multibusiness corporation. 2-41 FIGURE 2. 2 A Company’s Strategy-Making Hierarchy 2-42 Corporate Strategy versus Business StrategyCorporate strategy is orchestrated by the CEO and other senior executives and establishes an overall game plan for managing a set of businesses in a diversified, multibusiness company. Business strategy is primarily concerned with building competitive advantage in a single business unit of a diversified company or strengthening the market position of a nondiversified single business company. 2-43 The Strategy-Making Hierarchy Corporate strategy †¢ Is orchestrated by the CEO and other senior executives and establishes an overall game plan for managing a set of businesses in a diversified, multibusiness company. Addresses the questions of how to capture cross-business synergies, what businesses to hold or divest, which new markets to enter, and how to best enter new markets—by acquisition, creation of a strategic alliance, or through internal development. Business strategy Functional-area strategies †¢ Is primarily concerned with building competitive advantage in a single business unit of a diversified company or strengthening the market position of a nondiversified single business company. Are concerned with the strategies specifically related to particular functions or processes within a business (marketing strategy, production strategy, finance strategy, customer service strategy, product development strategy, and human resources strategy). †¢ Are relatively narrow strategic initiatives and approaches of limited scope for managing key operating units (plants, distribution centers, geographic units) and specific operating activities such as materials purchasing or Internet sales. 2-44 Operating strategies Stage 4: Implementing and Executing the Chosen StrategyManaging the strate gy execution process involves: Staffing the organization to provide needed skills and expertise. Allocating ample resources to activities critical to good strategy execution. Ensuring that policies and procedures facilitate rather than impede effective execution. Installing information and operating systems that enable personnel to perform essential activities. 2-45 Stage 4: Implementing and Executing the Chosen Strategy (con’d) Managing the strategy execution process involves: Pushing for continuous improvement in how value chain activities are performed.Tying rewards and incentives directly to the achievement of performance objectives. Creating a company culture and work climate conducive to successful strategy execution. Exerting the internal leadership needed to propel implementation forward. 2-46 Stage 5: Evaluating Performance and Initiating Corrective Adjustments Triggering change as needed: Monitoring new external developments Evaluating the firm’s progress Mak ing corrective adjustments Managing strategy is an ongoing process, not an every-now-and-then task A firm’s vision, objectives, strategy, and approach to strategy execution are never final -47 Corporate Governance: The Role of the Board Of Directors The Role of the Board Of Directors in the StrategyMaking, Strategy-Executing Process: 1. Oversee the firm’s financial accounting and reporting practices. 2. Diligently critique and oversee the company’s direction, strategy, and business approaches. 3. Evaluate the caliber of senior executives’ strategy-making and strategy-executing skills. 4. Institute a compensation plan for top executives that rewards them for actions and results that serve shareholder interests. 2-48 Strong Boards Lead to Good Corporate GovernanceA Strong, Independent Board of Directors: Is well informed about the company’s performance Guides and judges the CEO and other top executives Has the courage to curb management actions it be lieves are inappropriate or unduly risky Certifies to shareholders that the CEO is doing what the board expects Provides insight and advice to management Is intensely involved in debating the pros and cons of key decisions and actions 2-49 Leading the Strategic Management Process The Strategic Management Process calls for six managerial actions: 1.Making sure the company has a good strategic plan 2. Stay on top of what is happening (MBWA) 3. Putting constructive pressure on organizational units to achieve good results 2-50 Leading the Strategic Management Process (cont’d) The Strategic Management Process calls for six managerial actions: 4. Pushing corrective actions to improve both the firm’s strategy and how well it is being executed 5. Leading the development of better competitive capabilities 6. Displaying ethical integrity and leading social responsibility initiatives 2-51 Making Sure a Firm Has a Good Strategic PlanResponsibility of CEO Effectively communicate th e vision, objectives, and major strategy components Exercise due diligence in reviewing lower-level strategies for consistency with higher-level strategies 2-52 Staying on Top of How Well Things Are Going Stay connected to the field by managing by walking around (MBWA) Insist that top managers spend time in the trenches to exchange information and ideas through face-to-face contact with employees Prevent overly abstract thinking and getting disconnected with reality of what’s happening 2-53Pushing for Good Results and Operating Excellence Fosters a results–oriented, high-performance culture Treat employees with dignity and respect Encourage employees to use initiative and creativity in performing their work Set stretch objectives and clearly communicate expectations Focus attention on continuous improvement Reward high performance Celebrate successes 2-54 Initiating Corrective Actions to Improve Strategy and Execution The leadership challenge of making corrective adjus tments is twofold: Deciding when adjustments are needed Deciding what adjustments to makeLeader’s responsibility is to step forward and push corrective actions 2-55 Leading Social Responsibility The strength of management commitment determines whether a company will implement and execute a full-fledged strategy of social responsibility that: That protects the environment Actively participates in community affairs Supports charitable causes Supports workforce diversity and the overall well-being of employees 2-56 Displaying Ethical Integrity The CEO and other senior executives must set an excellent example in their own ethical behavior.Top management must declare unequivocal support of the company’s ethical code. Top management must be prepared to act swiftly and decisively in punishing ethical misconduct. 2-57 Leading the Development of Better Competitive Capabilities Lead efforts to strengthen existing competitive capabilities Anticipate changes in customer-market req uirements Proactively build new competencies and capabilities that hold promise for building an enduring competitive edge 2-58