Examining of SCM models and practices and implement on Iran Automotive Thesis

Examining of SCM models and practices and implement on Iran Automotive Industry - Thesis Example Types of mixed research There are two types of mixed research: the mixed model research and the mixed method research. The former is a mixed research in which quantitative and qualitative approaches are mixed within or across the stages of the research process (South Alabama University, 2011). In the within-stage mixed model research, the researcher mixed the quantitative and qualitative approaches within one or more of the stages of research. For example, the researcher both utilized the closed-ended and open-ended questionnaire in the collection of data. The close-ended is used to obtain quantitative data while the open-ended is used to obtain qualitative data. Likewise, in across-stage mixed model research, the researcher mixed the quantitative and qualitative across at least two of the stages of research. For example, the researcher utilized open-ended interviews in order to both obtain qualitative data and quantitative data. ... For example, the researcher could perform quantitative experiment and qualitative study through conducting interview study to the respondents in order to find out if the experiment agreed with the results. Mixed method research is also categorized into two major dimensions: time order (i.e., concurrent versus sequential) and paradigm emphasis (i.e., equal status versus dominant status) (Leech & Onwuegbuzie, 2007). Stages of Mixed Research Process The mixed research process has 8 stages, although they are numbered, the researcher/s could still use the stages in different orders or move in multiple directions especially steps 4 through 7. The purpose of this is to address the particular needs and concerns that arise during the research study (SAU, 2011). The first step is to determine whether a mixed design is appropriate to the research study. Therefore it is important to consider the following questions: Can it best answer your research question(s)? and Will if offer the best design for the amount and kind of data you hope to obtain? Mixed research was applicable in this study because it both required quantitative and qualitative analysis. The quantitative research provided the detailed description of the implication of SCM to reduce Forrester effect in the automotive industry. It basically gives the generalization of the gathered data with tentative synthesized interpretations (SAU, 2011 & Traynor, 2011). The second step is to determine the rationale for using mixed design. It is important to consider because it ensures the validity and reliability of the research study. There are 5 most important rationales for mixed design: the triangulation,

Comparing coverage in the independent Essay Example for Free

Comparing coverage in the independent Essay This analysis contrasts and compares a broadsheet and a tabloid newspaper. I chose to compare The Independent with The Mirror. The analysis involves a general comparison, and also a more detailed evaluation of one news item that appears in both papers. If we examine the front cover of each paper to begin with, we notice that there are differences. The title of The Mirror is around 1/10th of the page, whilst The Independent title is approximately 1/16th. The font used for The Mirror is relatively modern in appearance, using sentence case with black outline and white fill. In comparison, the font for The Independent is more traditional, using black bold capital letters. The title also contains the logo on the left hand side. The price for The Mirror is 32p and this is presented in bold text at the bottom right hand corner of the title. The price for The Independent is also found in this location, however the text used is extremely small and the cost for this paper is 50p. The difference in price could suggest that each paper is aimed at a specific audience. This suggests that a paper like The Independent maybe targeting a more professional consumer, in a higher pay band. Another difference is in the placement of the bar code, in The Mirror it is found on the back page, whereas in The Independent it can be found near the bottom right hand corner, of the front page. This shows that The Independent is a larger paper and has enough room to put the bar code on the front page, it does not add or subtract from the news articles. Layout is important in any newspaper, the front page is the first impression the audience gets. The majority of newspapers attract their audience through a lead story. The Mirror has only one main story on the front page. The headline is presented in large capital text, with a slightly more explanatory sentence underneath. This takes up just under one half of the page, and in terms of story detail, there is only a small area comprising five paragraphs. Readers are told to turn to page 4 to continue reading. The other half of the front page is made up of a photograph that reflects the main storyline. Exactly the same photograph is found on the front page of The Independent, however it takes up around one quarter of the cover page. The story is summarised in one sentence beneath the photograph, and the readers are referred to page 8 to continue reading. In addition to this main story, The Independent provides significant discussion relating to four further main stories. In fact, there is a great deal of text used for each of the stories; hence the reader is immediately faced with a lot of reading material. It is worth noting that The Independent also has several other features on the front cover, that are not found in The Mirror. These include, a coloured advert that is found at the bottom of the page, and takes up around 1/7th of the front cover. At the very top of the page, the paper advertises a specific article, and attracts the reader by presenting three questions and also shows a picture of the writer who is going to comment on the issues. The other feature is a small summary of Todays Weather that includes some text and a representative image. Faced with the two papers, The Independent appears to be aimed at a more intellectual audience, the sheer volume would put a less intellectual audience off reading. The Mirror appears to be more simplistic and the story is shorter in length and is also told through the images. Another reason for buying The Mirror could be that the audience wish to absorb the main news in brief whilst in transit. The number of pages in The Mirror totals 64, whereas The Independent has 30. However, The Independent provides two additional supplements, and is also twice the size of The Mirror. The Mirror basically aims to entertain the readers. In contrast, The Independent is essentially an educational paper. This key difference can be seen when looking at the overall content of the papers as follows. A whole range of entertainment features can be found in The Mirror. These include cartoons, quizzes and word search. Additionally, the paper has adverts on almost every page, and there are many photographs including glamorous and fun photographs. A whole page is dedicated to horoscopes and the paper offers 9 sports pages. The paper provides very few articles on serious current events, and concentrates more on gossip type news. The content of The Independent is very different. The paper comprises news and discussion of world events, along with a range of articles that focus on such things as education, the environment, politics and economics. There is a lot of business information such as stocks and shares, exchange rates and interest rates. In contrast to The Mirror, there are only 5 sports pages, and there is only one crossword, found in one of the supplements rather than the main paper. The target audience for The Mirror is working class, and people who are not interested in intellectual debate. This contrasts with The Independent as this broadsheet paper clearly aims to attract readers from a higher social class including people from the business and academic world. Apart from the content as previously discussed, there are several other points, which clearly show that the papers are aiming to attract different types of readers. The papers use a different style of language to attract their audience. The Mirror uses casual terms, colloquialisms and even slang UK reels as Yanks stay put. It uses word play stop this sick compensation agrichculture, and alliteration Rape Rampage and Dyer Disgrace Four sizzled soccer stars sent home. The storylines aim to shock the readers Saw suicide husband moves in with lover, and the language is often someones opinion unfair, Mr Blair. However, The Independent tends to use formal language and presents facts rather than opinions, for example Blair clocks up 40,000 miles on his travels. It gives figures and statistics to back up the stories visits to Britain slumped by 17% in the last month, almost 70,000 fewer tourists visited, according to the Office of National statistics. Much of the political debate provides ministerial quotes Duncan Smith: Health service is deteriorating. Looking specifically at the chosen article with the aim of exploring the differences between the two papers, the story relates to current world events associated with the terrorist situation and with problems that have occurred with Concorde in the past. As an outcome of the terrorist attacks, many people have been afraid to fly and the story focuss on the fact that the Concorde Alpha Echo, had its first commercial flight from Heathrow to New York since being grounded in August last year. The story features as the only main story on the front page of The Mirror, and is featured alongside four other main front page stories in The Independent. As mentioned previously the photograph on both front pages is exactly the same, and shows Concorde about to take off. The image compounds the story, and in some ways tells the tale without any words. The title for the story on the front page of The Mirror is COWARDS, and appears in large font. However, The Independent simply presents a sentence PUT IN SENTENCE FROM PAPER HERE! , which provides a brief factual summary about the flight, take off. This is found underneath the photograph. Immediately one can see that the title in The Mirror is judgemental and confrontational, whereas the term used in the The Independent is more objective. The Mirror introduced the story as an EXCLUSIVE and stated Hollywood stars too scared to fly were branded gutless cowards, by British Airways boss. This reinforces the negative and opinionated mood of the article as already established in the headline. In contrast the opening sentence in The Independent was much more positive, stating that Sting the pop star was amongst the 90 VIPs who joined the flight. This once more shows the upbeat approach used, which contrasts with the more antagonistic approach used by The Mirror. The description of the food and drink in The Mirror inferred that the stars were indulging in unnecessary expensive items Some more vintage Krug, Mr. Morgan? . Whereas The Independent played this down and introduced some humour into the article with the dignitaries toasted the rehabilitation of the Concorde with vintage Krug champagne and Maine Lobster albeit eaten with plastic cutlery. Another difference can be seen in the descriptive language used by the papers. The Mirror describes the take off using an analogy associated with thrill rides Take off is like something on an Alton Towers ride. The Independent uses much more creative style it is just so aesthetically pleasing, such direction and poise. The Mirror also describes New York in terms that aim to shock, and uses emotive language to do this anthrax-ravaged, terrorist torn New York, whereas The Independent focuss more on such emotions as patriotism. Another example of the more down to earth colloquial terms used by The Mirror is where the writer discusses safety, and this is presented as I was frisked more thoroughly than I have ever been frisked before, the message being driven home by using the word frisked twice. The Independent talks more in terms of safety checks and the grim reality of terrorism, rather than using the more tactile description used in The Mirror. In conclusion, the two papers contrast significantly. Whilst to some extent they cover the same main stories, the presentation, the language, the descriptions and the way in which the stories are told use totally contrasting techniques and styles. This aims to suit the audiences for which the papers are written.

Transplantation: Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Essay -- Health Medi

Transplantation: Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a slowly-progressive disease which ultimately robs its victims of voluntary motor control. The disease manifests itself as a series of symptoms which include "bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and impairment of postural reflexes (Fitzgerald, 1992:215)". It is a result of a loss of neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Chemotherapy, in the form of drugs such as levodopa and carbidopa, has been effective in alleviating many of the symptoms in the early stages of PD; however, with increasing losses in the number of cells in SNpc, such therapy becomes more and more ineffective. New therapies, using selegiline (deprenyl) and antioxidants (tocopherol or Vitamin E) focus on halting the progression of the disease by potentially salvaging surviving SNpc cells (Ahlskog, 1990). A more aggressive approach in the treatment of PD has surfaced in recent years. Researchers are experimenting with the prospects of transplanting tissue directly into the afflicted areas of the central nervous system (CNS) of PD patients. In both animal models of PD and humans, marginally successful transplants have been performed using adrenal chromaffin cells and fetal neurons. Genetically-altered, dopamine-producing tissues are currently being proposed as an alternative in transplant therapy of PD. As techniques become more refined, such "brain-grafting" may be the panacea for not only PD, but also for other debilitating diseases such as Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. According to Fitzgerald (1992:215), the "cardinal pathological feature [of PD] is loss of neurons from the substantia nigra". Most of this loss occurs in the SNpc, of which approxima... ...zgerald, M. J. T. Neuroanatomy: Basic and Clinical. London: Bailliere Tindall, 1992. Freed, C. R. et.al. 1992. Improved drug responsiveness following fetal tissue implant for Parkinson’s disease. Neurochemistry International, 20: 321S-327S. Freed, C. R. et.al. 1990. Transplantation of human fetal dopamine cells for Parkinson’s disease. Fetal Human Transplant, 47:505-12. Freed, W. J. et.al. 1991. Brain grafts and Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 45:261-7. Hurtig, H. et.al. 1989. Postmortem analysis of adrenal-medulla-to caudate autograft in a patient with Parkinson’s disease. Annals of Neurology, 25(6):607-13. Kordower, J. H. et.al. 1991. Putative chromaffin cell survival and enhanced host-derived TH-fiber innervation following a functional adrenal medulla autograft for Parkinson’s disease. Annals of Neurology, 29(4):405-12.

Energy Drinks Case Study Essay

Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages Case Study There are new coming items in beverage industry during the mid-2000s, which are energy drinks, sports drinks and Vitamin-Enhanced beverages. These items focus on different flavors, specified consumers, efficient distribution systems, and products innovation in the beverage market. They compete with water, soft drinks, juices, tea, and other common drinks, which are in low prices, good and long history of brand reputation, easy to accept the taste. From 2005 until now, alternative beverages grow fast and take more and more market share in the whole world beverage market. The main alternative beverages companies are Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Red Bull and Hansen Natural Corporation. Energy drinks, spots drinks, and vitamin-enhanced beverages use many strategies to find a good position in the beverage industry in the Global market, which also give us some ideas about how to operate beverage companies. Firstly, alternative beverages take the action via wider product selection, better product quality, good delivery system to gain sales and market share. For example, PepsiCo develops 12 flavors of Amp Energy drinks and 28 varieties of SoBe vitamin-enhanced drinks (Gamble, 2010, p. C-83). Again, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola through their own soft drinks distribution channels to deliver energy drinks at the same time, which reduce much time and cost. Secondly, energy drinks take big actions to enter emerging market opportunities, like most Asia countries and South America. For example, alternative beverages take 31. 5% market share in Asia-Pacific in 2009 (Gamble, 2010, p. C77). Thirdly, Energy drinks, spots drinks, and vitamin-enhanced beverages try to acquire or merge with other small companies to strengthen market standing and competitiveness. For instance, PepsiCo has a multiyear distribution agreement with Rockstar to distribute Rockstar energy drinks in the United States and Canada (Gamble, 2010, p. C-83). Coca-Cola also has a multiyear distribution agreement with Hansen Natural Corporation to distribute Hansen’s Monster energy drink in some areas of the United States, Canada, and six European countries (Gamble, 2010, p.C-84). SWOT Analysis Strengths| Weaknesses| * Healthier than traditional soda. * Global brands * New product development * Strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities * Strong support of parent company| * High price * Consumer limitation| Opportunities| Threats| * Growing demand for healthy drinks * High growth developing markets * Cost reduction measures| * Traditional drinks competition which includes price and taste * Regulations and law * Health risks * Environment problem * New entrents|. To solve weaknesses and threats, alternative beverages industry companies set up business models to match the customer value and gain profit. Firstly, Energy drinks, sports drinks, and vitamin-enhanced beverages companies develop many different flavors to match different customers’ taste. Second, these companies also focus on different customers’ demands. Third, they sell products in many different locations, not only supermarkets, but also convenience stores and vending machines around every corner, which give convenient service to customers. Fourth, alternative beverage companies always try to follow the state law and regulations. Try to avoid risk ingredients. Fifth, to pretend the health risk, some companies placed warnings on their products labels. Sixth, because many people and organizations are focus on environment issues, alternative beverages’ plastic bottles and cans are really concern by these people. To solve this problem, beverage companies recycle plastic bottles and cans to keep pollution away. I also have some recommendations to alternative beverage companies to grow bigger and faster in the global market. First, try to make innovation on the local taste in different countries. Do research on people’s taste in various countries. McDonald’s is a good example in promoting global market. McDonald’s knows Indian people don’t eat beef and pork and love spicy food, so McDonald’s over there never have any product with beef or pork but with more spicy taste. Again, don’t put sensitive ingredients in the drinks. People are more curious about health and drink ingredients. Many organizations are strict with it, too. Try to produce healthier and more nutritious drinks to the market. Moreover, drinks’ function attempts to everyone, but not only for a small group of people. Nowadays, teenage boys always buy energy drinks, people who do sports, fitness, or other strenuous activities bought sports drinks; adult consumers are interested in buying vitamin-enhanced beverages (Gamble, 2010, p. C-77). What I recommend is alternative beverage companies should develop beverages suitable for most people. White collar can drink energy drinks; sports people also suitable to buy some kinds of vitamin-enhanced beverages. Additionally, don’t publicize the function too powerful. Some alternative drinks have some special effects, but not like what the advertisement said. If the company wants to operate for a long time running, it should be honest and act in good faith. Last but not least, incumbents of alternative drinks use strong brand preferences, high degrees of customer loyalty, significant cost advantages to keep new entrants out of the market. References: Gamble, John E. (2010). Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages. Crafting & Executing Strategy. p. C-77. Gamble, John E. (2010). Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages. Crafting & Executing Strategy. p. C-79. Gamble, John E. (2010). Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages. Crafting & Executing Strategy. p. C-83. Gamble, John E. (2010). Competition in Energy Drinks, sports Drinks, and Vitamin-Enhanced Beverages. Crafting & Executing Strategy. p. C-84.

Potato Starch

n the past, fields of wheat and rows of potatoes were seldom destined for anything more than a rumbling tummy. But bio-products have come a long way since people first branched out into weaving hemp into clothes and pulping papyrus into scrolls. Today the line between Mother Nature and man made has never been more blurred. Animals are re-engineered into living drug factories, crops fuel our cars and now plants are increasingly being repackaged as the epitome of the synthetic world – plastic. Wheat, maize, vegetable oils, sugar beet and even the trusty spud are finding new life as water bottles, car fuel lines and laptops. Wheat, maize, vegetable oils, sugar beet and even the trusty spud are finding new life as water bottles, car fuel lines and laptops. | Bio-plastics harness the natural structures found in crops or trees, such as slightly modified forms of the chains of sugars in starch or cellulose, that share the ability to be easily reshaped that has made conventional oil b ased plastics so useful. Bio-materials scientists are also constantly tweaking these natural structures to try and better replicate the durability and flexibility of conventional plastics.Global business is now turning to bio-plastics for an increasing number of applications, as consumers and governments demand cleaner alternatives to petroleum based technologies and their reckless production of the greenhouse gas CO2. Worldwide players, such as DuPont and Toyota Motor Corp, are making vast investments in new technologies and processing plants with the hope of cornering a multi-billion pound industry. The â€Å"BC† at Bangor University in North Wales has 18-years experience of working with large companies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to find sustainable and viable bio-based alternatives to man-made materials.BC director Paul Fowler  points out that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"practically anything that you can find as polyethene you can find as a bio-plastic. You are talking abou t a whole range of everyday products – cups, combs and wrappers, everything you can think of is out there. There are inroads being made all the time   – on the one hand there is research into trying to get biological alternatives to replicate the properties of conventional plastics and on the other hand people are looking at the natural properties of these plants and trying to find an application for them. Most of the manufacture is happening in the US and continental Europe.The UK is a producer of wheat starch and biotimber but the only major bioplastic producer is Innovia Films in Cumbria, which produces cellulose films. † Innovia Films has an annual turnover of ? 400m, employing 1,200 people worldwide and producing more than 120,000 tonnes of film – used in packaging to protect food. Japan is also forging ahead, from the leading role in bioplastic production played by Toyota to its recent passing of a triumvirate of laws pushing forward environmental initiatives. In South Korea too there is a rapid drive to replace conventional plastic packaging with polylactic acid bio-plastics.Fowler says bio-plastics also offer an opportunity to get a double return for the energy used in their manufacture – first as a useful item and secondly as a fuel source. â€Å"My view is that we should burn them at the end of their life to recover energy, which could be then used to produce new materials,† he said. â€Å"In the first instance you have a valuable resource can use, be it as packaging or a shopping bag, and then you are also getting some energy back at the end of it. The biggest advantage of such bio-materials is the reduction of CO2 emissions in their production over petrochemical-based plastics. He also suggests  that burning bio-plastics would also avoid the problems caused by them breaking down and producing methane, which is 25-times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2. The BC is currently looking at developing n aturally-derived alternatives to phthalates, which are plasticisers added to PVCs to make them more flexible in products such as electrical cable flex. It follows concerns that phthalates are metabolised in the body into substances that can mimic the body's own  hormones, including those concerned with fertility.The centre is also developing bio-resins, natural alternatives to synthetic resins such as phenol and formaldehyde. What types of bioplastic are there? The common types of bio-plastics are based on cellulose, starch, polylactic acid (PLA), poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polyamide 11 (PA11). Cellulose-based plastics are usually produced from wood pulp and used to make film-based  products such as wrappers and to seal in freshness in ready-made meals. Thermoplastic starch is the most important and widely used bioplastic, accounting for about 50pc of the bio-plastics market.Pure starch’s ability to absorb humidity has led to it being widely used for the production of drug capsules in the pharmaceutical sector. Plasticisers, such as sorbitol and glycerine are added to make it more flexible and produce a range of different characteristics. It is commmonly derived from crops such as potatoes or maize. | FOMA(TM) N701iECO phone made of PLA bioplastics reinforced with kenaf fibres developed by NEC, UNITIKA and NTTDoCoMo  © Paul Fowler| PLA is a transparent plastic whose characteristics resemble common petrochemical-based plastics such as polyethylene and polpropylene.It   can be processed on equipment that already exists for the production of conventional plastics. PLA is produced from the fermentation of starch from crops, most commonly corn starch or sugarcane in the US, into lactic acid that is then polymerised. Its blends are used in a wide range of applications including computer and mobile phone casings, foil, biodegradable medical implants, moulds, tins, cups, bottles and other packaging. PHB is very similar to poylpropylene, which is used in a wide variety of fields including packaging, ropes, bank notes and car parts.It is a transparent film, which is also biodegradable. Interest in PHB is currently very high with companies worldwide aiming to expand their current production capacity. There are estimates that this could lead to a price reduction below five euros per kilogram but this would still be four times the market price of polyethylene in February 2007. The South American sugar industry has commited to producing PHB on an industrial scale. PA 11 is derived from vegetable oil and is known under the tradename  Rislan.It is prized for its thermal reistance that makes it valued for use in car fuel lines, pneumatic air brake tubing, electrical anti-termite cable sheathing and oil and gas flexible pipes and control fluid umbilicals. These are often reinforced with fibres from the kenaf plant, a member of the hibiscus family traditionally used to make paper, to increase heat resistance and durability. At the c utting edge of bioplastic technology lie polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) materials. These are derived from the conversion of natural sugars and oils using microbes.They can be processed into a number of materials including moulded goods, fibre and film and are biodegradable and have even been used as water resistant coatings. What are the benefits of bio-plastics? – Reduced CO2 emissions. One metric ton of bio-plastics generates between 0. 8 and 3. 2 fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide than one metric ton of petroleum-based plastics. Electronic giant Sony uses PLA in several of its smaller components, including one of its new walkmans, but in future hopes to use PLA-based polymers to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20pc and non-renewable resource input by 55pc compared to oil-based ABS. Rising oil prices Despite currently costing more to produce than conventional plastics bio-plastics are becoming more viable with increasing and instability in oil prices, which are in turn triggering spikes in conventional plastic costs, illustrated in a sharp upturn two years ago. Dwindling oil supplies means that man will eventually be forced to turn to a sustainable basis for plastics. – Waste Bio-plastics reduce the amount of toxic run-off generated by the oil-based alternatives but also are more commonly biodegradable.The US’s second largest biopolymer producer Metabolix, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, claims that its plastics are biodegradable in composting bins, wetlands and the oceans. On the flip side not all bio-plastics are biodegradable and there are a growing number of conventional plastics that can naturally break down. The downside of their biodegradability is the methane that can be released as the bio-plastics decompose is a powerful greenhouse gas. – Benefit to rural economyPrices of crops, such as maize, have risen sharply in the wake of global interest in the production of biofuels and bio-plastics, as countries across the world look for alternatives to oil to safeguard the environment and provide energy security. – Enhanced properties In some fields engineered bio-plastics are now beating oil-based alternatives at their own game. Multinational materials giant Arkema has produced a form of Rislan PA11 that is being used in Europe and Brazil in fuel lines to carry biofuels as it is better able to withstand the corrosive effects of biofuels than oil-based alternatives such as polyamide 12.Rislan is widely used in oilfield applications as well as automotive brake lines. Elsewhere innovations in PA11 production are helping increase car passenger safety and reduce the risk of accidents by inhibiting spark ignition in the fuel lines. US car giant General Motors has replaced its non-conductive fuel-pump modules for new North American car models as it felt it was the best material for the job.In the US chemical multinational DuPont says it has developed a bioplastic derived from corn sugar that has superior stiffness and strength to its naturally based competitors. Global electronics corporation NEC has produced a kenaf-reinforced laptop casing, made of 90pc PLA, which helps reduce overheating by conducting heat better than stainless steel coupled with high temperature resistance and increased strength. Who are the flagwavers? Bio-plastics are not being produced by a group of hippies brewing up in their garage.Some of the world’s largest companies including multi-billion dollar chemicals company DuPont, car manufacturer Toyota, UK-based Innovia, US food processing behemoth Cargill and electronics giants NEC and Fujitsu are pouring money into driving the technology and production forward. NEC and its partners Unitika and NTT DoCoMo produce mobile phone and laptop casings based on plant-derived bio-plastics, mostly PLA. NEC plans to expand its green credentials by substituting more than 10pc of the oil-based plastics in its electronic products with bio-plastics by 2010.Toyota Moto r Corp uses mainly PLA bio-plastics, derived from sweet potatoes corn and sugar beet, reinforced with kenaf to produce components for its cars such as the Prius and Lexus. It hopes to grow its bio-plastics division into a four billion yen business by 2020 and capture two thirds of the global market for petroleum free plastics. Fujitsu introduced its FMV BIBLO notebook PC series two years ago, which it has manufactured using a material called Ecodear, a combination of 50 pc PLA and an oil-based plastic.Fujitsu is now developing a castor oil derived PA 11 plastic with Arkema, which is more flexible and will help expand its use of bio-plastics in notebook computers. The material can withstand repeated bending thanks to scientists weakening the interaction of the chain molecule in PA 11 and relaxing the stereoregularity of their organisation. The improved durability means its prototypes of PC cover components consist of 60-80 percent of the new bioplastic, an unprecedented achievement t o date.Fujitsu is also using high density fillers to increase strength and extend its use into notebook covers and other applications requiring high impact resistance. The new material is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 42pc compared to oil-based nylon 6/6. DuPont in particular is continuing to expand the market for bio-plastics and plans to continue to offer hybrid bio/conventional plastic materials until the market matures, which could eventually cost less than the oil-based alternatives.DuPont has teamed up with sugar giant Tate ; Lyle to build the world’s largest aerobic fermentation plant in Loudon in Tennessee in the US for the production of bio-PDO, with a capacity of 45,000 metric tonnes a year. The largest commercial producer of bioplastic in the US is NatureWorks, owned by Cargill. The company’s plant in Blair, Nebraska uses corn sugar to produce PLA plastics packaging material and its own Ingeo-brand fibres. What lies ahead?With US President Geor ge Bush’s recent pledge to produce 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuel by 2017 – driving the price of maize up 60pc in the past two months – the farmer’s field is fast turning into a high tech bio-battleground. Mr. Fowler warns that the still fledgling industry will have to fight for space and commercial viability as millions of hectares are given over to corn, rapeseed and sugarbeet for bio-fuel production. â€Å"There is a real tension between the use of agriculture for fodd versus plastics and other non-food uses and this whole move to produce new fuels,† he said.Whereas only two years ago plant materials were at the cheap end of the market and bio-products such as straw had little value, now it is really much more costly. There would have to be a step change in the extent of the production to match oil-based plastics. The amount of bioplastics produced worldwide is less than 200,000 tonnes a year; contrast that with the more th an 30 million tonnes of oil-based plastics. You can see we have a long way to go before they replace conventional plastics†. – July 2007

Blacks and Women in the Revolutionary War essays

Blacks and Women in the Revolutionary War essays The American Revolution was a time when America would transform from an extension of Britain into a new and independent nation. Although the Revolution gave way to new freedom and government, the rights of many groups were ignored during this period of time. The Declaration of Independence claimed to give liberty and justice to all Americans, but not everyone received these freedoms. The Revolutionary War would create opportunities for many minorities whose liberties were often taken advantage, and also allow these groups to develop themselves socially as well as politically. Two groups who would undergo drastic change as a result of the war were women and African Americans. Through the course of the American revolution, people began to look at women and African Americans in a different way than they had before. The reforms that were a result of the Revolutionary War gave new freedoms to many living in America, however, women were not fully encompassed in these reforms. Life in revolutionary America, for most women, meant staying in the home and playing a supporting role to their husbands, brothers, and even sons. Colonial women were subject to long hours of ironing, cooking, cleaning, sewing, and knitting all for the benefit of their husband and families. Under American and English law, women were virtually always the property of another man. Until a women turned 21, they were under legal control of their father, and upon marriage, under control of her husband. This meant that women were not only ignored as individuals with opinions and beliefs, but they did not have the right to own property. In colonial times, women invariably had no say in any matter of politics, but when the Revolutionary War began women began to engage themselves in political debate. This was mostly upper-class, educated women, and their opinions were sometimes even featured in newspapers. The major difference from colonial times to life during ...

Nature Versus Nurture

Nature Versus Nurture You got your green eyes from your mother and your freckles from your father- but where did you get your thrill-seeking personality and talent for singing? Did you learn these things from your parents or was it predetermined by your genes? While its clear that physical characteristics are hereditary, the genetic waters get a bit murkier when it comes to an individuals behavior, intelligence, and personality. Ultimately, the old argument of nature versus nurture has never really had a clear winner. While we dont really know how much of our personality is determined by our DNA and how much by our life experience, we do know that both play a part. The Nature vs. Nurture Debate The use of the terms nature and nurture as convenient catch-phrases for the roles of heredity and environment in human development can be traced back to 13th-century France. In simplest terms, some scientists believe people behave as they do according to genetic predispositions or even animal instincts, which is known as the nature theory of human behavior, while others believe people think and behave in certain ways because they are taught to do so. This is known as the nurture theory of human behavior. Fast-growing understanding of the human genome has made it clear that both sides of the debate have merit. Nature endows us with inborn abilities and traits. Nurture takes these genetic tendencies and molds them as we learn and mature. End of story, right? Nope. The nature vs. nurture argument rages on as scientists debate how much of who we are is shaped by genetic factors and how much is a result of environmental factors. The Nature Theory: Heredity Scientists have known for years that traits such as eye color and hair color are determined by specific genes encoded in each human cell. The nature theory takes things a step further by suggesting that abstract traits such as intelligence, personality, aggression, and sexual orientation can also be encoded in an individuals DNA. The search for behavioral genes is the source of constant dispute as some fear that genetic arguments will be used to excuse criminal acts or justify antisocial behavior. Perhaps the most controversial topic up for debate is whether or not theres such a thing as a gay gene. Some argue that if such genetic coding does indeed exist, that would mean genes play at least some role in our sexual orientation. In an April 1998 LIFE magazine article titled, Were You Born That Way? author George Howe Colt claimed that new studies show its mostly in your genes. However, the issue was far from settled. Critics pointed out that the studies on which the author and like-minded theorists based their findings used insufficient data and too narrow a definition of same-sex orientation. Later research, based on a more conclusive study of a broader population sample reached different conclusions, including a 2018 groundbreaking study (the largest of its kind do date) co-conducted by the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Harvard Medical School in Boston that looked at the possible links of DNA and homosexual behavior. This study determined that there were four genetic variables located on chromosomes seven, 11, 12, and 15, that do seem to have some correlation in same-sex attraction (two of these factors are specific only to males). However, in an October 2018 interview with Science, the study’s chief author, Andrea Ganna, denied the existence of a â€Å"gay gene† per se, explaining: â€Å"Rather, ‘nonheterosexuality’ is in part influenced by many tiny genetic effects.† Ganna went to say that researchers had yet to establish the correlation between the variants they’d identified and actual genes. â€Å"It’s an intriguing signal. We know almost nothing about the genetics of sexual behavior, so anywhere is a good place to start,† he admitted, however, the final takeaway was that the four genetic variants could not be relied on as predictors of sexual orientation. The Nurture Theory: Environment While not totally discounting that genetic tendency may exist, supporters of the nurture theory conclude that, ultimately, they dont matter. They believe our behavioral traits are defined solely by the environmental factors that affect our upbringing. Studies on infant and child temperament have revealed the most compelling arguments for the nurture theory. American psychologist John Watson, a strong proponent of environmental learning, demonstrated that the acquisition of a phobia could be explained by classical conditioning. While at Johns Hopkins University, Watson conducted a series of experiments on a nine-month-old orphaned infant named Albert. Using methods similar to those employed by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov with dogs, Watson conditioned the baby to make certain associations based on paired stimuli. Every time the child was given a certain object, it was accompanied by a loud, frightening noise. Eventually, the child learned to associate the object with fear, whether the noise was present or not. The results of Watsons study were published in the February 1920 edition of the Journal of Experimental Psychology. Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and Ill guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select ... regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations and race of his ancestors. Harvard psychologist B. F. Skinners early experiments produced pigeons that could dance, do figure-eights, and play tennis. Today Skinner is known as the father of behavioral science. Skinner eventually went on to prove that human behavior could be conditioned in much the same way as animals. Nature vs. Nurture in Twins If genetics didnt play a part in the development of our personalities, then it follows that fraternal twins reared under the same conditions would be alike regardless of differences in their genes. Studies show, however, that while fraternal twins do more closely resemble one another than non-twin siblings, they also exhibit striking similarities when reared apart from the twin sibling, much in the same way that identical twins raised separately often grow up with many (but not all) similar personality traits. If the environment doesnt play a part in determining an individuals traits and behaviors, then identical twins should, theoretically, be the same in all respects, even if reared separately. However, while studies show that identical twins are never exactly alike, they are remarkably similar in most respects. That said, in Happy Families: A Twin Study of Humour, a 2000 study published by faculty at the Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit at St. Thomas Hospital in London, researchers concluded that a sense of humor is a learned trait influenced by family and cultural environment, rather than any genetic predetermination. Its Not Versus, Its And So, is the way we behave ingrained before were born, or does it develop over time in response to our experiences? Researchers on both sides of the nature versus nurture debate agree that the link between a gene and behavior is not the same as cause and effect. While a gene may increase the likelihood that youll behave in a particular way, it does not ultimately predetermine behavior. So, rather than being a case of either/or, its likely that whatever personality we develop is due to a combination of both nature and nurture. Sources Price, Michael. Giant Study Links DNA Variants to Same-Sex Behavior. Science. October 20, 2018

How to stay focused at work during the holidays

How to stay focused at work during the holidays Every year, as the weather gets colder and holiday shopping ads start appearing on TV (though admittedly those start showing up around Labor Day now), even the most diligent and focused employees find their attention wandering a bit. There’s a lot going on- travel plans, potluck food appearing like magic in the office, everyone feeling a little more festive and social- and the daily grind can get lost in all of that. So how do you keep on top of your actual job, despite holiday disruptions? Be prepared to shut out distractions.This doesn’t mean you have to hunch over your desk like Ebenezer Scrooge, frowning disapprovingly at your cheerful slacker colleagues. It just means finding ways to keep your own attention focused on the daily tasks you need to accomplish. For some, that means wearing noise-canceling headphones while working on a project or setting blocks of â€Å"head down† time where you don’t allow yourself to be distracted by things like online s hopping, social media, or extracurricular conversations with coworkers. It’s time to be honest with yourself and figure out what works best at keeping you on-task. If that means setting calendar reminders for everything, do it. If it involves using an app to keep you from wandering to particular distracting websites, go for it.Try to avoid multitasking, because that can lead to†¦flexible attention span. If you’re giving all of your effort to a particular task, you’re more likely to get it done. Even if you’re usually an A+ multitasker, try to limit the number of things you’re doing at once.Lean in to (some of) the distractions.This may seem counterintuitive to #1, but it’s also important to embrace the non-work stuff as part of your day. It’s far more realistic to plan for small bursts of non-work activity than to think you’ll be able to shut it out completely. Be sure to schedule some breaks when you can check those fligh t prices or stop and grab a cookie with a colleague. If you start making the down time part of your workday (in small chunks), it’ll be easier to move from â€Å"holiday mode† back to â€Å"work beast mode.† Moderation is key here- it’s not an â€Å"hour of work, hour of goofing off† proposition. Think of it as more like a standard coffee break, but instead you’re taking a few minutes to check out your Facebook friends’ pets in various holiday sweaters.Come up with a â€Å"rest of year† plan.Chances are, your workload has a combination of things that will need to be accomplished either now or in the near future, and things that can reasonably wait until January. It’s time to sit down and make a comprehensive list of must-dos, should-dos, and can-do-laters. Your to-do list should be realistic and have milestones/deadlines included wherever possible so that you can plan your time. If you need to, talk through your end of y ear priorities with your boss to make sure you’re hitting everything you need to do before everyone checks out. This has the added benefit of showing your boss how organized and driven you are, even as everyone else might already be starting to slip a little.While you’re making the list, also make note of what you’ll need from other people. This time of year people can be in and out of the office, so if there’s something important that you’ll need from Andy by mid-December, start thinking (and talking) about it now in case Andy’s planning on taking time off. If you’ve waited until the last minute and then you’re faced with Andy’s â€Å"Bye, see you next year!† Out of Office message, it’s too late.Reset your work-life boundaries.Setting a clear line between your work day and your personal time can help you stay focused at work if you know you can get all the fun stuff or personal logistics accomplished later . If you’re usually a â€Å"stay late† kind of person, start leaving at a set time every day. If you’re usually a â€Å"wander in a little late in the morning† kind of person, start putting in extra effort to get to work on time. And whenever possible, you should avoid taking work home- instead, set a realistic workload and to-do list for the official workday. That way, family/friend/personal time gets its own spotlight in your day, separate from work, and you’ll feel less inclined to â€Å"catch up† on the outside stuff while you’re at work.Don’t forget to take care of yourself.The time leading up to the holidays can often take a physical toll as well, if you’re indulging in special food, more drinks than usual, and/or later bedtimes to account for social activities. All of those can set you up for failure at work and make you feel lousy, so try to set up some extra healthy habits to compensate this time of year.Take sh ort walks and exercise breaks instead of coffee breaks.Stay hydrated (and not with egg nog).Practice some desk yoga.Aim for half an hour more sleep.Bring a healthy lunch so you can sneak in some extra calories later.These can all help you feel better during the workday and more ready to devote your time and mental sharpness to accomplishing what needs to be done.No matter what the distractions are between Thanksgiving and the New Year, staying organized is not a lost cause. It’s all about being realistic and developing some extra coping mechanisms to defeat those â€Å"it’s the holidays, woo!† impulses and stay productive. Fully embrace the good cheer of the season- just make sure it’s on your to-do list, next to all the other things you want to get done.

Submit a soft copy through the safeassign icon created in the Black Assignment

Submit a soft copy through the safeassign icon created in the Black Board - Assignment Example The quick ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of cash and receivables by current liabilities. Unlike the current ratio, the quick ratio ignores inventories and other current assets that may have doubtful liquidity. A satisfactory quick ratio, depending on the history of collecting debts is 1:1. The quick ratio of Ooredoo is (20,203,819/23,531,834) = 0.86 while that of Vodafone is (172,166/1,004,395) = 0.17. Creditors concentrate on the working capital as it deals more with cash flows. Working capital is the difference between current assets and current liabilities. Most banks tie loan approvals on a company’s minimum working capital requirement. The working for Ooredoo is (28,361,079-23,531,834) = 4,829,245 while that of Vodafone is (425,302-1,004,395) = -579,093. The leverage ratio shows the extent to which a company relies on debt to keep operating. Creditors such as banks and suppliers are more concerned by this ratio. Leverage ratio is calculated by dividing total liabilities by the net worth of the company. The higher the ratio the more risky it becomes to extend credit to the company. The leverage for Ooredoo Company is (23,531,834/97,415,655) = 0.24 while that of Vodafone is (1,795,200/7,753,696) = 0.23. The gross profit ratio is calculated by dividing gross profits by net sales. Different industries have a standard guideline of the gross profit ratio with which companies can compare their specific numbers. Companies need to keep track of the trend of the gross profit ratio and ensure it does not deviate away from the target. The gross profit ratio for Ooredoo Company is (3,895,146/33,851,340) = 0.12 while that of Vodafone is (343,586/1,431,670) = 0.24. The return on assets ratio indicates how a company efficiently utilizes its assets. This ratio is calculated by dividing net profits by total assets. Bankers and investors calculate this ratio by dividing net pre-tax profit by total assets.

Foreclosure and the Aspect of Morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Foreclosure and the Aspect of Morality - Essay Example This paper expounds on the morality aspect of foreclosure stating that that voluntary foreclosure is justified while involuntary foreclosure is unjustified. Reasons Both borrowers and lenders are trying to make money. The lender will seek to gain financially from selling the property and no one complains of its immorality. The morality of business allows the borrower to reasonably attain utmost advantage from their property as possible (Hagerty, 2009). What happens when the property loses its value? What moral incentive allows one to proceed chasing a valueless acquisition? There is none whatsoever. In a bid to make as much money, each seeks to take the alternative that suits them best. If the property loses value, the borrower may tend to voluntary foreclose the property and this is morally justified. Too many foreclosures in one area form a bad place to live, even for those who are paying their bills (house payments). The main reasons for foreclosure have mainly been related to dis placement, crime issues and shattered credit scores (Rhodes, 2008). Is it moral to advocate for an individual who has been displaced from a certain region to continue paying out for a property to which they have lost ownership? Absolutely not! The moral aspect is to let the family or individual to rebuild their lives while sympathizing with their predicament (Weitekamp, 2011). Crime is a social ill that few can tolerate. If a neighborhood becomes infested with criminal activities, is it moral to risk one’s life in such a neighborhood? The answer again is logical NO. In a severe recession some people might be trying to pay their bills but still can't because they lost their jobs. Thus, further economic hardships that have hit many people have made even renting a premise more costly than it was 3 years back. The whole recession situation has made it more difficult for people to get jobs, further straining their incomes and lifestyles (Lowenstein, 2010). Thus, as morally upright individual, the borrower forecloses the deal to avoid pressurizing them further. Explanation It is believed that voluntary defaults or strategic defaults have become an increasing affair in America nowadays. Long gone are the days when people would do all they could to pay their mortgage and satisfy their legal and financial obligations. The fact that many believe that business and the world in general is amoral does not justify the reason for people to abscond their duties and obligations (Walker, 2003). Despite the house prices falling and the owners left with houses that cost less than their true value, the lender left owing should fulfill their end of the bargain. However, some have resulted in a calculated decision where they choose to hang on to their money while letting their houses go. The reason this is not immoral is the fact that the voluntary bit comes after weighing one’s options and the benefits of the property to be acquired. It would be moral if empathy were a part of human reasoning. Situations that one may not be able to handle should not be taken as an immoral way of making another to lose their livelihood. If one is not able to pay their mortgage and voluntarily requests foreclosure to be pursued, it would be moral to let them take the credit

Corporate Finance High School Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Corporate Finance High School - Essay Example That is, organizations need to be structured in such a way so the agent will expect that diligently serving the interests of his or her principals will also be in his or her own long-run best interests. In order to accomplish this, the principals need to be reasonably clever in setting up the initial rules of the game that are set in the employment contract , sufficiently vigilant in keeping track of their agents' quality of performance over time, and willing to bear at least some minimum level of "agency costs" in order to provide the necessary incentives There are many definitions for the term ethical investment, and what this term entails. Ritsie Lowry, maintainer of the GoodMoney site1 suggests that "In one sense, ethical investment is just like traditional investment. Ethical investors pursue the same economic goals as all investors: capital gains, higher income and/or preservation of capital for future needs. However, ethical investors want one additional thing. They don't want their investments going for thing that cause harm to the social or physical environments, and they do want their investments to support needed and life-supportive goods and services". From this certain definition we are able to realize that ethical investment is similar to the conventional investment, but differs to the fact that it needs one more requirement. Ethical Investors are very strict as far as the kind of business their money is going to fund. Many researches have proved that the ethical investors prefer to invest their money ethically although they know beforehand that the investment will not be as lucrative as a traditional investment. Russell Sparkes 2 in his book mentions "Repeated surveys (the last by Minitel in 1991) have shown that around 40% of the public want their money invested ethically. Interestingly enough, most of those in favor said that they would make ethical investments even if they knew that the returns would be lower than on conventional investments". Nevertheless there exist some facts which prove that ethical investment is quiet lucrative and in some cases more lucrative than the traditional investment. Weidner Investments3, point out four reasons, why the ethical investment is more profitable: 1) Management of the ethical company can focus on genuine growth without worrying about public reactions 2) Legal and hassle related costs are minimal 3) Brand loyalty is less expensive to maintain 4) Active ethical investors and consumers will give the firm free advertising again and again All these points seem quiet rational and representative of reality. We can assume that ethical

Unforeseen Challenges Facing Entrepreneurs in the UAE Research Paper

Unforeseen Challenges Facing Entrepreneurs in the UAE - Research Paper Example Suggestively, this particular mechanism can be regarded as effective in dealing with this unforeseen challenge (Hoque, 2013). Additionally, taking examples of entrepreneurship strategies applied by successful entrepreneurs in UAE may also contribute to the forecasting ability of these professionals, which can only be possible through practical experiences in the field (Drucker, 2012). Raising capital for the setup When focusing on the Emirati entrepreneurship trends, it can be observed that in comparison to male entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs have to face significant challenges in terms of capital generation, where their association with smaller business ideas and limited demand for products, increases their obstacles considerably (Kargwell & Inguva, 2012). The only key to solve this problem, entrepreneurs must be adequately aware of the government funding sources made available in support for small entrepreneurs in the UAE. ... Cultural divergences and the currently observed alterations in the Emirati society can be signified as a major constituent in causing this particular challenge for the entrepreneurs (Malit Jr & Oliver, 2013). Contextually, understanding the cultural dimensions, various societal forces affecting the labor market and employees’ motivational needs must be considered as essential for skilled entrepreneurs in UAE to contribute to the efficiency of entrepreneurs in managing the team more efficiently (Drucker, 2012). Finding the right business location In UAE, national entrepreneurs are recently facing this challenge owing to a substantial rise in the competition level from the global plethora, as a consequence of the sudden increase in the penetration of international entrepreneurs (Malit Jr & Oliver, 2013). In this regard, the government should ensure that the skilled small Emirati entrepreneurs are able to obtain adequate support in developing their physical infrastructure and als o take due measures to imbibe technological advancements, which will offer them competitive advantages over the international players. In addition, entrepreneurs from the medium and large-sized business sectors in the UAE should also be encouraged to come forward and support small entrepreneurs so that the location barriers are mitigated substantially. Finding the right employees As employees are the key strengths and pillars of any business, it is very difficult and meticulous work to find right and trustworthy employees who can understand and deliver their committed services to establish a new set up (Cappelli, 2013).  Ã‚  

Project Plan Audit Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project Plan Audit - Coursework Example The hiring process will be based on merit with each category listing the minimum education attainment. Some of the personnel required will be engineers and human resource manager. A basic degree and ten years of experience is the same field will be a requisite in the top tasks. Besides the human capital, California Technical Corporation will require capital resources. The project manager and the team leader are tasked in identifying the resources that will be needed. A procurement process will be done to avail the resources. A request for information will be sent to the prospective suppliers to provide the information which the management will vet to award the tenders. Planning is a key issue in any project. The resources both capital and human are expected that will be available within the set time frame to avoid delays. In case of hitches in terms of personnel, there are alternatives that have been established so as to ensure the project goes as planned. Making a prototype of a Scale 7/8 rocket is a priority of CLC and this will provide a feasibly data of making an full

Unforeseen Challenges Facing Entrepreneurs in the UAE Research Paper

Unforeseen Challenges Facing Entrepreneurs in the UAE - Research Paper Example Suggestively, this particular mechanism can be regarded as effective in dealing with this unforeseen challenge (Hoque, 2013). Additionally, taking examples of entrepreneurship strategies applied by successful entrepreneurs in UAE may also contribute to the forecasting ability of these professionals, which can only be possible through practical experiences in the field (Drucker, 2012). Raising capital for the setup When focusing on the Emirati entrepreneurship trends, it can be observed that in comparison to male entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs have to face significant challenges in terms of capital generation, where their association with smaller business ideas and limited demand for products, increases their obstacles considerably (Kargwell & Inguva, 2012). The only key to solve this problem, entrepreneurs must be adequately aware of the government funding sources made available in support for small entrepreneurs in the UAE. ... Cultural divergences and the currently observed alterations in the Emirati society can be signified as a major constituent in causing this particular challenge for the entrepreneurs (Malit Jr & Oliver, 2013). Contextually, understanding the cultural dimensions, various societal forces affecting the labor market and employees’ motivational needs must be considered as essential for skilled entrepreneurs in UAE to contribute to the efficiency of entrepreneurs in managing the team more efficiently (Drucker, 2012). Finding the right business location In UAE, national entrepreneurs are recently facing this challenge owing to a substantial rise in the competition level from the global plethora, as a consequence of the sudden increase in the penetration of international entrepreneurs (Malit Jr & Oliver, 2013). In this regard, the government should ensure that the skilled small Emirati entrepreneurs are able to obtain adequate support in developing their physical infrastructure and als o take due measures to imbibe technological advancements, which will offer them competitive advantages over the international players. In addition, entrepreneurs from the medium and large-sized business sectors in the UAE should also be encouraged to come forward and support small entrepreneurs so that the location barriers are mitigated substantially. Finding the right employees As employees are the key strengths and pillars of any business, it is very difficult and meticulous work to find right and trustworthy employees who can understand and deliver their committed services to establish a new set up (Cappelli, 2013).  Ã‚  

Porters Diamond Theory Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Porters Diamond Theory Application - Essay Example The purpose of this report is to discuss the contribution of Porters diamond model to the success of Apple Incorporated. Various aspects of this model such as firm strategy, demand and factor conditions, as well as supporting and related industries will be considered in determining their contribution to Apple’s international success. However, this company has also ventured into other technology related businesses among them the production of personal computers and computer software. In addition to these investments, it is also involved in the business of providing online services; hence, it has a healthy range of products for its target market. However, Apple is not on itself in the production of computer electronics. It faces a lot of competition from other equally well-established international companies such as Samsung from South Korea and China’s Hawaii. Their main points of competition besides the usual superiority of their respective products also border around other aspects such as product pricing and market appeal. In coming up with the Diamond strategy, Michael Porter recognized the fact that the strategies invoked by a firm play a crucial role in determining its market performance (Reinhert 2013, p.15). Hence, for multinational companies such as Apple, strategy is of the essence as it helps direct their approach towards the market. A primary strategy that is the hallmark of this corporation is differentiation. In the world of technology whereby consumer tastes and preferences tend to revolve around similar product attributes, differentiation is of the essence. The unique designs of Apple products and their high quality have greatly served to set them apart from the products of other competitors such as Nokia. Another vital strategy is value creation. This company has outsourced manufacturing functions to third parties as a way of focusing on product design and creation of user interfaces.

Discovering Your Authentic Leadership Essay Example for Free

Discovering Your Authentic Leadership Essay The article discussed authentic, original, leadership. It explained the importance of discovering one’s own leadership. To do that, the article points that you should be yourself! Do not impersonate another leader. By doing so, people around you will know that you are trying to behave like someone else, which may lead to mistrust. Authentic leaders are usually passionate about their goals. They make sure to always practice their values, lead with both their emotions and their minds and they aim for long and meaningful relationships. Original leaders give meaning to their lives by overcoming difficult experiences. By giving meaning to their lives, leaders become more effective. Authentic leaders make it a point to develop themselves on their own. They dislike having a plan handed to them that limits them and forces them to follow a certain pattern or procedure set by someone else. They see that as a kind of copying someone else’s style. When making their own plan for development, they install their own values and morals into it. Thus making it easier for them to practice those values and developing them further. It is also essential for authentic leaders to balance their motivation sources. They should balance judgment, criticism and reprisal. Original leaders see their organization as a very important aspect of their lives. This enables them to clarify their beliefs, values and their understanding of important issues. They also give honest feedback to people around them when it is needed. The practical steps of being an authentic leader are to stay grounded , Empower people around to lead, learn from their life, knowing themselves, practicing their values, balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and finally build a support team.

Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood

Mental Health Begins in Early Childhood Children mental development alludes to the changes that happen as a youngster develops and creates in connection to being physically solid, rationally caution, sincerely sound, socially skilful and prepared to learn. The initial five years of a youngsters life are on a very basic level paramount. They are the establishment that shapes children future health, bliss, development and learning accomplishment at school, in the family and group, and in life all in all. The research affirms that the initial five years are especially essential for the development of the children’s mind, and the initial three years are the most discriminating in moulding the youngsters cerebrum structural engineering. Early encounters give the base to the minds hierarchical improvement and working all through life. They have an immediate effect on how youngsters create learning abilities and social and passionate capacities. The objective of this paper is to clarify why a lot of people immoderate issues for society, extending from the disappointment to finish secondary school to imprisonment to homelessness, could be drastically lessened if consideration were paid to enhancing children surroundings and experiences that encounters the problem and their solutions that rises ahead in life. Children take in more rapidly amid their initial years than at whatever other time in life. They need love and supporting to create a feeling of trust and security that transforms into certainty as they develop. Children develop, learn and create quickly when they get affection and love, consideration, support and mental incitement, and in addition nutritious and great human services (honkoff, 2014). Understanding the phases of child mental development and improvement helps folks comprehend whats in store and how to best backing the youngster as she or he develops and creates. In numerous settings, early adolescence projects help folks and their children from the earliest stages through age 8, which incorporates the paramount move from home to class. All youngsters have the right to be brought up in a family and to have entry to quality medical services, great sustenance, instruction, play and insurance from damage, misuse and segregation (honkoff, 2014). Children have the right to experience childhood in an environment in which they are empowered to achieve their maximum capacity in life. It is the obligation of folks, different parental figures and relatives, groups, common society and governments to guarantee that these rights are regarded, secured and satisfied. Sound mental health gives a key establishment of solidness that backings all different parts of human development from the framing of kinships and the capacity to adapt to misfortune to the accomplishment of achievement in school, work, and group life. Like the way an unstable table may not capacity well if the floor is uneven, the legs are not adjusted, or the tabletop is not level, the destabilizing outcomes of issues in mental health could be created by numerous associated components. Pretty much as little wobbles in a table can get to be greater and harder to alter about the weather, the viable administration of mental health concerns in childrens childhood requires early recognizable proof of the reasons and fitting regard for their source, whether they dwell in nature, the tyke, or (most every now and again) in both. This report from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child outlines in clear dialect why seeing how enthusiastic prosperity might be fortified or ups et in ahead of schedule childhood can help policymakers push the sorts of situations and encounters that forestall issues and immediate early troubles so they dont destabilize the formative methodology. This report reflects a development agreement that the conventional degree and grouping methodology for educational program with its stress on drill and practice of secluded, scholastic aptitudes does not reflect current information of human learning and neglects to deliver understudies who have the sort of higher-request intuition and critical thinking capacities that will be required in the 21st century. Past achievement in enhancing essential aptitudes in the 3 Rs has not been matched by accomplishment in enhancing perusing appreciation, composition familiarity, or math critical thinking capability. Furthermore, it is apparent that our schools are neglecting to deliver future eras with even a working information of the characteristic, physical, and social sciences, a great deal less the sorts of brains that will make new learning in these regions. Particularly, these national associations call for educating to place more prominent accentuation on: active learning conceptual discovering that prompts seeing alongside the procurement of fundamental abilities meaningful, important learning encounters interactive showing and helpful learning a wide scope of important substance, incorporated crosswise over customary topic divisions In the meantime, these national associations collectively scrutinize repetition retention, bore and practice on detached scholarly aptitudes, educator address, and dull seatwork. These national associations likewise have raised worries about the negative impacts of conventional routines for assessment, especially institutionalized paper-and-pencil, various decision accomplishment tests. There is expanding distinguishment that educational program change must be joined by testing change. National associations are currently calling for more execution based appraisals that adjust to current perspectives of educational module and all the more precisely reflect youngsters Early childhood mental health is the same as solid social and passionate development in childhood, including things like figuring out how to express and direct feelings, framing close and secure individual connections, and investigating and researching the earth. So why dont we call it early childhood social and passionate improvement? Other than that being very much a sizable chunk, the dialect of mental health is vital not just for its instructive esteem in fighting shame against mental health issues, additionally for its understood update that in the event that we dont do our occupation with counteractive action with childrens childhood, their issues may require more genuine intercessions sometime down the road. We really do need them to create great mental health in the good feeling of that term. References honkoff, J.P. (2014). A Healthy Start Before and After Birth: Applying the Biology of Adversity to Build the Capabilities of Caregivers. In K. McCartney, H. Yoshikawa, L.B. Forcier (Eds.), Improving the Odds for America’s Children (pp. 28-39).

Frederick Winslow Taylor: The Father of Scientific Management :: Frederick Taylor Management Labor Essays

Frederick Winslow Taylor: The â€Å"Father of Scientific Management† Introduction This paper is in response to the assignment for a paper and short speech concerning a person with relevant contributions to the world of management. Frederick Taylor is affectionately referred to as the â€Å"Father of Scientific Management.† The modern systems of manufacturing and management would not be the examples of efficiency that they are today, without the work of Taylor. Frederick Taylor was instrumental in bringing industry out of the dark ages by beginning to revolutionize the way work was approached. Taylor was able to increase wages, productivity and reduce per piece costs at the same time. Taylor's work was eventually adopted in a wide array of applications. Taylor's ideas had a significant influence on the industrial life of all modernized countries. Even Lenin went as far as to publish an article in Pravda , â€Å"Raising the Productivity of Labour,† based on the writings of Taylor. Thus Taylor changed the way the world conducted business. Taylor's work was an extension of technology. It was a marriage of human work and technology. His Priniciples of Scientifiic Management was conceived to be free of value judgement. The Younger Years   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Frederick W. Taylor was born into a well-to-do family in Philadelphia in 1856 . His family was not wealthy , but they were well exposed to the high culture of the local society. Growing up it was expected that Taylor would study to become an attorney. Taylor attended Phillips-Exeter Academy. He was a devout student, doing very well with his studies. To achieve good grades, Taylor studied many long hours. It was quite unfortunate that Taylor was to miss Harvard Law School due to bad eyes that doctors attrributed to studying in the poor light of a kerosene lamp. In later years it was realized that his eye problem was actually caused by stress, as it improved after he left Phillips. Taylor moved back home after graduating from Phillips. He realized that he should take up a trade and got a job as an apprentice machinist and pattern maker. Having spent four years learning his trade, Taylor got a job as a yard laborer at Midvale Steel Company.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Taylor realized that at this point he needed to continue his education. He convinced the people at Stevens Institute of Technology to allow him to attend classes long distance. He would study in his spare time in Philadelphia and go to the school in New Jersey to take his exams. In June of 1883, Taylor graduated with a Mechanical Engineering degree. He subsequently joined the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

White Light/Black Rain Opr

White Light/Black Rain OPR August 6-9, 1945: The first atomic bombs are dropped over the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, resulting in the greatest nuclear catastrophe ever in terms of human casualties. As time fades these horrific events into obscure moments in history, many people become ignorant of the damage caused by the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Steven Okazaki in White Light/Black Rain utilizes the rhetoric strategies ethos, pathos and logos to reveal the full destructive power of nuclear weapons and to convince future generations that nuclear weapons should never again be employed in war.By peppering quantitative data and statistics throughout the film, Okazaki effectively appeals to logos and displays the measurable damage caused from the atomic bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Okazaki states that 140,000 people were killed instantly from the explosions and 160,000 died later as a result of radiation poisoning or burns. Hundreds of thousands of innoce nt people were wiped off the face of the earth from the cataclysmic eruptions of heat and radiation from these man made weapons of mass destruction.Even more were forever cursed with the chronic complications from heat and radiation exposure such as third-degree burns, hair loss, and later cancer. Okazaki also declares that in the twenty-first century, there are enough nuclear weapons to cause as much damage as 40,000 Hiroshimas. This amount of nuclear firepower has the potential to kill millions of people and alter global climate. Nuclear warfare can only end in destruction.By providing the measurable damage of nuclear weapons used in in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Okazaki reveals their alarming destructive potential and reminds younger generations of its horrible consequences. Okazaki establishes ethos in his film by including interviews of many survivors from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and by rolling footage of the aftermath of the bombings. During the interviews, the bomb s urvivors recount their awful story and show the horrific injuries sustained from the atomic bombs.Their recount of the deaths, destruction, disease, and poverty suffered calls in to question the morality of killing and maiming so many innocent people. During the interviews, the bomb survivors recall having family member killed, homes destroyed, or body parts scorched beyond repair. Black and white footage of the cities after their bombings exposes their utter decimation. Although the Japanese could rebuild their cities, they were unaware of the radiation that would linger in the land for ages.The effects of chronic radiation exposure caused mutations and tumors in many who lived in Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the bombings. It is unjustifiable to intentionally cause mass destruction in any scenario, and Okazaki clearly questions the authority and ethic of the atomic bombs through the first-hand accounts of their repercussions. Dissonant background music and disturbing images of dead and severely burned and sick children establish the strong pathos against nuclear weapons in Okazaki’s film.During scenes of the tragic death and destruction brought by nuclear weapons, Okazaki plays quiet, echoing, and dissonant instrumental music. These audible elements combine to create a harsh and somber tone. The sorrowful, minor key music augments the woeful scenes of wreckage and induces pity and empathy. Scenes including mutilated and burned children appeal especially to emotions. The innocence of the children juxtaposed with their atrocious injuries induces a sense of anger against the atomic bombings.Viewing emotionally and physically scarred children strikes a discord in the hearts of the compassionate and emotional viewers. Okazaki successfully connects the emotions in the music and disturbing images to deter anyone from justifying the need for nuclear weapons. Clearly, by combining ethical, emotional, and logical consequences of the of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Steven Okazaki in White Light/Black Rain, educates future generations about the consequences of using nuclear weapons and persuades them away from the idea of nuclear warfare.

Heroic styles of Beowulf and Sir Gawain Essay

Throughout history, different cultures have held different virtues in the highest regard. The Anglo-Saxons, like the anonymous scop of the poem Beowulf, valued strength and courage over any other quality. On the other hand, the earliest English people, like the poet of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, respected honor and the basic codes of chivalry over all else. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain, therefore, display the most favored qualities of their people: Beowulf by defeating monsters, performing great feats of courage, and telling of his deeds; Gawain by being loyal, brave, and honest. Both sets of qualities are displayed throughout each tale. In Beowulf, written in about the fourth century AD, the hero’s first major test is to fight a huge monster. In doing so, he proves his physical abilities, and thus establishes his hero/ leader status. To be the best, you have to be the strongest, and he says â€Å"Fate saves/ the living when they drive away death by themselves!† (572-73), showing how much Beowulf relies on his physical strength. On the other hand, Gawain’s first test is not physical, but psychological. He is forced to prove his loyalty to Arthur, by offering his life to the Green Knight. He does not claim to be the best, or the strongest, and in fact claims: â€Å"I am the weakest, I am aware† (part 16). Gawain is displaying his modesty, and the medieval belief that a person should be humble about himself. This displays the immediate difference between the two cultures. For the Anglo-Saxons, if you wanted people to know you’re a hero, you tell them you’re a hero. For Gawain, and the Knights of the Round Table, they must act humbler, in order to appeal to their Christian beliefs. However, both societies do require their heroes to display some similar traits, the most common being courage. Gawain must show how brave he is by making a long and difficult journey to fulfill his oath, and die at the hands of the Green Knight. Beowulf must show his courage by fighting off large monsters, even to the last day of his life. â€Å"Why should I be dismayed? /Of doom the fair or drear/ by a man must be assayed† (24) shows how Gawain believes a hero should conduct himself, with dignity and honor. He does not believe that journeying to his death will be such a bad thing, since it will allow him to keep his honor intact. This sounds very similar to â€Å"Let me live  in greatness/ and courage, or here in this hall welcome my death,† Beowulf’s concept of bravery. Beowulf believes that either he is going to win, and kill Grendel, or Grendel will win and kill him. Either way, it is up to wyrd, his Fate. The resemblance continues with the theme of generos ity. Both try their very hardest to not simply keep all their earned wealth (or lack thereof) to themselves. Beowulf, upon receiving heaping treasures from Hrothgar, promptly dispenses it among his men. He even â€Å"rewarded the boat’s watchman/ who had stayed behind, with a sword that had hammered/ gold wound on its handle,† (1901-03) showing how he treats all his men as equals. The watchman’s job, to him, was just as important as all the other warriors that actually traveled with him. Similarly, Sir Gawain tells the lord of the house that he appreciated the hospitality of the host by remarking â€Å"I would give you some guerdon gladly, were I able† (82) immediately before departing. He says this to show the host his graciousness, but also displays his generosity, displaying the similarities between the two cultures. Finally, each has an opposite view of their importance in society. Beowulf believes that the best thing someone can do is become the most famous, and to have your name live on forever. â€Å"Fame after death/ is the noblest of goals† (lines 1388-89). For him to die in battle is the single most important thing he can do, to ensure he lives on in legend. On the other hand, Gawain thinks that he must do his part, and better the whole of Camelot. â€Å"Since this affair is so foolish that it nowise befits you,† (part 16) says that Gawain is willing to sacrifice his own life to save his king. He thinks he is the least of the Knights, and the most nonessential of them, and therefore the best candidate. Furthermore, â€Å"I would fainer fall dead than fail in my errand† (42) shows his dedication to the task he set out for. The two characters are in stark contrast between their concepts of self-worth. As you can see, the Anglo-Saxon and early English people held widely varying notions of what a hero/ leader figure should be. For the anonymous scop that wrote Beowulf, battle, glory, and fame were paramount; to the unknown singer of Sir Gawain, honor, honesty, and loyalty to one’s country had top priority.

Reflection on the book “Night” by Ellie Wiesel Essay

â€Å"I know it’s terrible, trying to have any faith†¦ when people are doing such horrible things. But you know what I sometimes think? I think the world may be going through a phase†¦ it’ll all pass, maybe not for hundreds of years but someday. I still believe in spite of everything that people are really good at heart.†(Diary of Anne Frank) While reading the book â€Å"night†, my view was that people had the right to lose faith after everything they had to go through. However, when I finished the book, I gave it a deep thought and realized that people are good at heart. Maybe it doesn’t take only one lifetime for them to realize what it means to be good and make good actions, but what is important is that maybe one day they will do realize it. It’s hard to accept that a person who was able to sleep after killing thousands of people, can change some day, but who knows? Life changes people and especially after such horrible scenes I think humans won’t let anything like this to happen again. In my opinion, the impact of the Holocaust is huge and people have learned their lesson. Killing and watching people of all ages suffer in such terrible ways didn’t do any good and it won’t do in the future. In times such as these, it’s hard to keep any faith. The only thing in your mind, other than how to survive, is to question life, or God, or even yourself â€Å"Why is this happening to me? What have I done wrong that I have to be punished for? Isn’t there a God?†. How can you explain to someone who has survived a concentration camp, that the one who had killed his/her family and friends, can change, can be good? Few are those who can understand the injustice of life, and moreover, can understand and believe that humans are not all that cruel. I truly believe that the phase when people were able to do anything without a blink of an eye has passed with the Holocaust. Also, I think that there are many people who pray for forgiveness for those who torture and murder, because â€Å"what goes around comes around†. Even if people don’t get killed themselves, life simply always gives it back to them, because the world has  to be in balance – one can’t kill, and have free soul at the same time.

CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS - Assignment Example It affects the smooth lining in the joints leading to pain and notable stiffness. The cartilage of the joints thins and tissues become less active, leading to swelling (Crisp, Taylor & Douglas, 2013). The case also results in body spurs due to eroding of the bones at the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is common in women and is thrice more likely to affect women than men. The condition develops when the immune system of the body targets affected joints leading to pain and swelling. It affects the outer covering of the joints first and the spreads across the joint hence pain. People with the rheumatoid can also develop problems with other tissues and other body organs (Crisp, Taylor & Douglas, 2013). The common clinical manifestations of the arthritis condition include long-term inflammation of the joint areas, affecting the bones and muscles in that joint. The patient also depicts aspects of stiffness in movement, swelling of the tendons and eyes. It can also reflect in swelling of the neck and in cases where it affects other tissues or organs, it can reflect as pain in those organs. Mr. Elliot is 70 years of age and suffers from chronic arthritis. In the interview, he says he began developing symptoms of pain and swelling of the ankle joints at the age of 52 years. However, at this time, he sought treatment for pains thinking it was a normal joint defect resulting from his past career. Mr. Elliot was a professional footballer and at his formative years, he spend alit of time exercising, and in the process suffered multiple joint injuries. Therefore, when the condition started developing, he thought it was from the injuries he suffered at his young age playing football. However, he condition worsened, persisting for over 8 years, before he sought professional care. He learnt it was osteoarthritis at age of 60 years. Currently, he understands the cause of the condition and its impact to his health and lives positively, while undertaking

Learning about Hinduism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Learning about Hinduism - Essay Example It aims to deliver the thought that every living being in itself is the manifestation of the Divine Unity and thus is God omnipresent. (What is Vedanta?). Being a part of both Islamic and Christian background I am more acquainted with monotheism and had little opportunity to understand the basis of a religion based on multiple Gods and Goddesses, such as Hinduism. To divulge more into this matter and to enhance the understanding of the religion in a better manner that the paper takes into accord an interview conducted upon a person who is a spiritual aspirant in this direction. The interview in this direction is taken online through chat with a person who is an engineer by profession and is aged around 47 years. He resides in Bangalore and is a staunch believer of Advaita Vedanta Philosophy. This person agreed to share his own personal views about the practices and rituals of Vedanta Religion on being contacted through the online sphere. Questions that were asked to him concerned mai nly on understanding the religious framework of Vedanta religion along with the doctrines and practices ingrained in such. The Religion of Vedanta The first question that was asked to the interviewee was concerned in understanding and identifying the philosophy of Vedanta as a religious philosophy practiced in India. Focus of the question was directly placed to know that whether Vedanta is truly a religion or just a set of dogmas and preset ideologies. To this end, the interviewee acclaimed that Vedanta is a scientific and intellectual religion. The interviewee stated that Vedanta as a religion renders focus on a universal God which the Vedantists or the followers of such religion regard as the Omnipresent Power of Supreme or Absolute Consciousness. He stated that the religion of Vedanta goes farther in understanding the realms of sublime consciousness ingrained in the physical system, which is regarded as the Universal Truth. The interviewee also stated that the religion of Vedanta is a more refined understanding of the Hindu philosophy or religion. He stated that Vedanta acts as a backbone to the Hindu religion. The Vedanta religion according to him stands on three main pillars viz. Existence, Knowledge and Supreme Bliss, which is also maintained in the Hindu religion as Sat, Chit and Ananda respectively. The interviewee also acclaimed that through Vedanta one can easily approach higher states of consciousness which transcends the body and mind to a Supreme and Unified state thus bringing peace and enlightenment. (Vedanta). Ritualistic Practices of Vedanta The second question that was asked to the interviewee mainly focused on understanding the ritualistic practices of the Vedanta religion. The question tried to divulge on understanding the ritualistic principles in use by the people following the Vedanta religion. The interviewee stated in regards to this question that the Vedanta philosophy being a refined state of the Hindu philosophy believes in the Unit y of the Divine Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva as the Supreme Self that resides within the body and is beyond mind and intellect. Vedanta Religion operates based on three religious doctrines or practices, which have been in use in Hindu religious systems from time immemorial. These three paths practiced by Vedanta religion are considered as highly sacred and are observed to grant liberation to the Self. The interviewee stated that the three paths viz. the road based on devotion, on knowledge and on performances and action all lead to the Supreme Being. The interviewee started that a Hindu person based on these Vedic principles can move forward to earn the salvation from all worldly misery and troubles concerning life and death.

Religion in culture and society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Religion in culture and society - Essay Example f religious and cultural diversity intolerance has been fading over time, with the increase in the prevalence of both cultural relativism and globalization. Globalization can be simply termed as the process by which people from different cultures are connected and made to interact with each other. On the other hand, cultural relativism is the thought that all cultures are acceptable, despite the differences in their basic principles. Thus, the fact that anthropological analysis has discovered a transformation in religious and cultural tolerance overtime may be attributed to different factors globally. For example there is tolerance of both the Christian and Islamic religions in the American society. Nevertheless, one of the major areas of anthropological interest would remain to unearth the factors that have contributed to human cultural and religious transformation, leading to the acceptance of religious and cultural diversity over time. Thus, the major question becomes; how have gl obalization and cultural relativism impacted on religion in the American society? According to Dr. Xia Guang (Guang, 2007), the world has become a global village. However, rather than being culturally homogeneous, it has remained a field of diverse cultures. Thus, how different cultures interact with one another determines their survival and reinvention. There are various factors accounting for survival and dominance of certain cultures and religions over others. The first and most important factor is civilization and the influence of the Western culture. Most of the cultures of the developing nations have been greatly influenced by the Western culture which is considered to be more superior to the other cultures. This has led to the erosion of most of the cultures of the developing nations. These nations have adopted the so-called superior cultures of the West. The coming of modernity and civilization has contributed negatively to the demise of the traditional cultural values and

Strategic Futures Insight and Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategic Futures Insight and Design - Essay Example th, and industry relying on its cash cow products for generation of core income rather than working on extracting income from new products (ESROCK, WALKER & HART, 2014). Moreover, to maintain the market share in the maturity phase, companies would need to focus on their marketing their product as competitors would come in the market in an effort to chip off market share, and they could only be driven away if the brand image of the current producers is strong enough in the mind of consumers (ESPEJO, 2014). Cigarette consumption is an addiction, and its users would continue its use despite the negative health patterns associated with it (HIRSCHFELDER, 2010). Having said that, the industry is likely to witness pressure going forward from alternate products which are relatively safe as compared to cigarettes, including electronic or e-cigarette, and hookah or shisha amongst others. Moreover, governments are working worldwide towards reducing the consumption of cigarettes via increase in box prices, which is likely to impact cigarette demand going forwards, though not by significant margin as those addicted to the product will consume it anyway (BRANDT,

Trade and environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Trade and environment - Essay Example Rules formed by one party can frustrate the other in fact there is an existing fear that trade rules may be frustrating the environmental ones. This essay focuses on the question whether trade rules override the environmental ones. The non-discrimination principle by WTO may not favorable to restrictions that may be imposed by environmental rules. The principle requires countries to offer equal treatment to products that are alike imported from any WTO member country. If in a certain region the trade of such a product poses a threat to the environment, then terms of trade are likely to change once such a region is faced with environmental rules. To some extent the WTO is considered superior based on its scope of coverage, this has left the negotiations on the trade and environmental rules to be narrowed down to only the WTO members that have signed the Multilateral Environmental Agreement under consideration. Further the majority MEA secretariats have been granted ‘observership’ in the trade and environment committee and some attend the committee’s negotiation sessions by invitation. (Frankel, Jeffrey 2008). This may be attributed to the fact that there is no such a thing as an empowered global environmental body spearheading their concerns to their trade partners on issues that affect them. The benefits of trade which majorly includes steering economic growth, together with technology transfer and promoting competition outweigh the danger of adverse effects to the environment. It is also notable that trade may lead to environmental improvements, but it may also make states or firms to seek gaining advantage over their competitors by observing lower environmental standards. To many environmentalists this poses a potential source of conflict between trade and environmental rules and presents a hindrance to the goals that they want to achieve noting the climatic changes we