Evolution of the Erp Systems Essay

American Production and Inventory Control Society (2001) defines ERP as an â€Å"accounting system† for â€Å"effective planning and controlling of all the resources needed to take, make, ship and account for customer orders in a manufacturing, distribution or service company†. ERP system creates values for the enterprises because successful implementation enhances the overall functions of the enterprise, reduces resource wastages, saves time and cuts down on total cost. By having a system which models after some of the best practices in the industry and adheres readily to the laws and regulations, these enterprises gain competitive advantages over their industry rivals. The purpose of this research paper provides discussion on how ERP systems evolve from the â€Å"ancient† Legacy systems, describes the features and structure of an ERP/ ERP II system and compares the top five ERP vendors’ most popular products. The last section concludes with the future outlook of ERP II systems. Legacy Systems Legacy systems are systems that â€Å"no longer support the current business objectives or are inhibiting future developments† (Kelly 2004). The â€Å"ancient† Legacy systems mentioned here refer to the obsolete I. T systems during or before the mid 20th Century. They functioned within a department (silos of information) to fulfill narrow and limited job processes. At that time, departmental heads and staff seldom communicated among themselves (stovepipes). This led to inefficient and inaccurate data duplications. (O’leary 2000). Evolution of the ERP Systems â€Å"Ancient† Legacy systems of the 1960s used the mainframe technology to automate their inventory control (IC) systems with IC software packages implemented and customized in-house to suit the functional business concepts of information silos and stovepipes. The programming languages were COBOL, FORTRAN and ALGOL (Rashid, Hossain & Patrick 2002; Pairat 2005; Monk and Wagner 2009). Back then, Bill of Material (BOM) calculated the inventory demands for all item parts required for product assemblies during manufacturing. By the 1970s, the manufacturing businesses were growing with more complexities. As BOM overlooked the planning process, Work Centre Routing existed as a production process planner. BOM, Routing, Inventory Management and the Master Production Schedule (MPS) combined to form an automated system called Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) for controlling and optimizing inventory level, production planning, sales forecasting and scheduling of the major items on the shop floor. Anderson 2001). MRP II evolved from MRP as a response to Total Quality Management (TQM) in the 1980s. By integrating MRP with the other management functions of the enterprise such as Engineering, Project Management, Logistics, Finance, Sales, Marketing and Human Resources, feedbacks for production decision making processes became more efficient and resource optimizations were realized (Anderson 2001). The advancements in Telecommunications devices, network architecture, Database Management System (DBMS), sophisticated software development and programming languages in UNIX and C paved the favourable way for an integrated information system (Monk and Wagner 2009). Economic recession in the late 1980s urged companies to shift their focus into cross functional business processes. In addition, Hammer and Champy (1993) envisioned an enterprise-wide integration system for a Business Process Reengineering (BPE). These factors prompted the I. T System Vendors to respond with a tightly knitted centralized ERP system (with a single database) which integrates all the functions of a world-wide organization to ensure operational excellence, automation of the internal system and the ability to handle multiple currencies and international languages (Subramoniam et al. 2009). Features and Structure of An ERP/ ERP II System Nowadays, the era for ERP II systems has â€Å"Extended ERP† by adding applications for external parties supplying the business transactions and market analysis to the core EPR modules. ERP system benefits medium enterprises in all industries instead of only the large organizations with applications such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Knowledge Management (KM), Inventory Optimization the rest (Mallick 2011; Nicolescu et al. 2009). ERP system and ERP II system use either Two-tier or Three-tier Architecture. Two-tier client–server Architecture simplifies the number of disparate systems in an organization. An ERP solution runs on a server while several concurrent users run the same standardized template (equal server-load) in other locations of the other layer. End users work on the Presentation layer and Business layer. Access to the Database layer is restricted from their PCs. (Anderson 2001; Gill 2011; Howitz 2010). Whereas Three-tier Architecture separates the Client-Tier (Presentation layer) from its Application Server (Business logic layer) to minimize interaction between them.

Military Issues Essay

My interpretation of † Military Leadership† before I was enrolled into SF0002 was to conveniently associate the word â€Å"Leadership† with â€Å"Leader† as it is how majority of us (superiors and peers) interpret it to be and I do not know the definition of â€Å"Military and Non-military Leadership†. After going through just lesson one of SF0002, to my astonishment, I realized that the wrong definition of â€Å"Military Leadership† have became a gospel truth to most of us. The first insight that I have gained from SF0002 is, that Leadership is not equivalent to a Leader. With the aid of the Leadership concept, I’ve identified that Leadership is not about me or my superiors; it is about a process involving my ability to influence my subordinates to accomplish missions and achieve outcome in various tasks/projects with a common purpose. In comparison, both Military and Non-military Leadership similarly defines leadership as a process to influence. However, to differentiate them, military leadership uniquely employs the use of doctrinal methods to explain leadership in a military context. In Singapore, it is identified as the â€Å"Leadership 24/7 framework†. To translate the framework into a personal context, I must influence my peers and commanders to understand the SAF’s Mission and Purpose, our operating environment (airspace constraints and concerns) and achieve Mission success, be it high level events (NDP, international conferences etc.) or daily operations (routine controlling). Having said that, I must first align my values to the RSAF core values, sharpen my leadership competencies. With knowledge, charisma and determination, I will be able to command respect and influence those around me to work towards a common objective. I am currently a Cardinal Officer in my unit. Two of my primary objectives are to organize cohesions and team building programmes. The Cardinal team’s interpretation of Cohesion is similar to Team Building. After going through SF0002, I realized that the Cardinal team is heading towards a wrong direction. When tasked to organize a team building programme, we will associate it with team bonding and unity. The second insight which I have gained from SF0002 is the differences between Cohesion and Team Building. Cohesion involves what the my team is working on, such as building bonds and uniting people. However, Cardinal is all about having fun and getting together to know each other better. Team Building differs greatly from Cohesion. There are altogether 2 dimensions and a team outcome in the military team building framework. The â€Å"task related dimension† develops the team’s ability, to understanding the individual roles and functionalities of the team as well as formulating plans and strategies to achieve common objectives. The â€Å"teamwork dimension† develops the team’s relationship and establishing rules to govern the team’s behavior and conduct. Team outcome defines the team’s vision and goals, which can be tangible or intangible. Viewing the context of the military team building framework, it makes understanding team building more comprehensive and I’m able to share with my superiors and peers on how to organize a team building programme more effectively. Judging from â€Å"The Five Factor Model of personality†, under â€Å"Correlation with Leadership criteria† Extraversion and Conscientiousness factors predicts leadership emergence well, Agreeableness and Emotional Stability however are leaning towards Leadership Effectiveness and neutral for Openness. In my case, I score an average for Extraversion and low for Conscientiousness. With regard to Extraversion, I am very sociable and assertive when it comes to peers whom I am close to and I tend to be more reserved and quiet during the initial â€Å"get to know† phrase. Likewise for Openness, I will only open up to close friends and never to strangers. Therefore, my score for Openness is slightly low. As for Conscientiousness, I do not agree with my score because my superiors and peers think of me as a hardworking and dependable person. However, I do agree that I am not a very organized person as I find it challenging to juggle my work. I believe that my score should be somewhere around average. My score for Emotional Stability is very low, I can agree with that as I tend to feel very nervous, lack of confidence and I get depressed very easily. I believe it’s because of my desire to be a perfectionist therefore I tend to put all the blame on myself when certain things does not go my way (attain only silver for IPPT etc.). As for Agreeableness, I scored an average. I am a caring and cooperative person in general. However, I tend to disagree a lot with my peers and superiors’ ideas and way of handling situations because I always feel that there has to be a better way out. This constant need for a â€Å"better way out† coincides with my desire to be a perfectionist under Emotional Stability. Leadership emergence defines that the emergence of a leader is being decided by others purely based on his performance; typically temporary and lack of concrete facts. Leadership Effectiveness defines the perfo rmance of a leader in influencing his peers and soldiers to work towards a common goal. I believe my Leadership potential is leaning more towards Leadership Effectiveness. It is hard for someone to determine my personal traits initially, but in a long run, my demonstration of concern and determination will inspire and motivate them to work towards a common goal of improving the organization. Leadership behavioral skills revolves around Task, Relation and Change (TRC) Behaviors. Task behavior is short term and focused; those who relies heavily on resources (people) and technologies to achieve high productivity. Relations behaviors rely on a person’s ability to establish strong bonds with their peers and inspire commitment to work towards a common goal. Change behaviors; those who aims to develop and improve the organization. TRC analysis provides a comprehensive guide to define a leader’s behavior. 14 behavioral skills organized into 5 main competencies in the â€Å"SAF Leadership Competencies Framework (LCM)† develops a leader’s ability to influence, think critically and creatively in a stressful environment, make decisions effectively and execute them efficiently, develop junior leaders, teams and improve organization. Most importantly, a leader must first master the â€Å"Self meta-competency† in order to develop the other 4 competencies because it develops one’s will and determination to learn. Task behavior can be related to Mission and Conceptual Thinking Competencies. A leader must possess the ability to plan and make critically decisions, and display ethical reasoning to convince people instantly in order to develop a high level of efficiency. Likewise, Relation behavior can be related to Social and Self (Meta) competencies. A Leader must first self-manage and have a high level of self-awareness in order to be able to sensitively communicate with their followers at their level, inspiring the followers’ commitment and cooperation to develop a common goal. Finally, Change behavior can be related to Developmental competency. A leader must encourage the people and team to develop innovative and creative thinking, with the common intent to aim to develop and improving the organization. After going through SF0002, it definitely enhanced my knowledge on Leadership. I now perceive Leadership in terms of doctrines and academics. Academically, Leadership is a process rather than solely about the leader or someone who holds a management or executive position. Leadership is a process whereby a leader is highly adaptable, in whatever context assigned to him, is able to influence his followers to achieve outcomes and purpose of the context. Doctrinally, Leadership is about understanding the context and development of oneself. To further elaborate on self-development, a SAF Leaders must align their personal values with the SAF core values, have a good understanding on individual competencies and style of leading, and must be self-aware and manage oneself accordingly. SAF leaders must also be able to influence his/her followers to understand the SAF’s Mission and Purpose, introduce the type of environment we are operating in and the desired outcomes or goal we must ach ieve. Thus far, majority of our tasks are peacetime operations. It’s easier to lead and influence in peacetime, where there is minimal stress and lives are not directly at risk. It gives a leader more time to make decisions and think. Leadership is important in the SAF because we are a military organization, and someday, we might be activated to go to war. All of us, Leaders, will be foreign as of how to lead our soldiers on the battle field. In a war, what seems to be the most important to most people out there is the equipment, power and size of combat force. However, many neglect the most â€Å"essential tool† which is Leadership! Leadership inspires a leader’s commitment to lead and influence the soldiers by providing them with a clear direction and purpose towards their goals or objectives through determination and perseverance which are the main sources of victory. Before attending SF0002, my purpose as a military leader in the SAF is about helping soldiers to understand why they ought to serve the Nation. In turn, helping them to fully utilize the duration of their liability as an National Service Freshmen (NSF). After attending SF0002, my purpose as a military leader in the SAF is to assume responsibility of my soldiers’ training, morale, discipline and fighting spirit. This involves maintaining/upgrading their skills and proficiency level therefore, developing a high state of operational readiness. My purpose is also to develop a good relationships with my soldiers and the team, so as to ensure that they are committed and determined to achieve a common goal; be it completing a task or securing mission objectives. 1. For me, a significant insight from SF0002 is, Military Leadership is not equivalent to a Leader. 2. For me, a significant insight from SF0002 is, the differences between Cohesion and Team Building. 1. Lesson 1 entitled: The Science and Practice of Military Leadership. 2. Lesson 7 entitled: Science and Practice of Leading Military Teams. Leadership means to lead, excel and overcome. Firstly, in order to lead effectively, I must gain the repect of my men. With that, can I exercise command and control, effectively and efficiently. Without leadership, a leader will lead with the power of the rank. Men under me will follow orders unwillingly and blindly, instead of understanding the rationale behind why orders are delivered so as to execute them more efficiently. My purpose as a military leader is to ensure the welfare and safety of my men during peacetime training and ensure that I lead them by example. Military leadership matters in the SAF because there will always be men enlisting and recruited into the force, these people need a leader to guide them through their career or 2 years of their National Service liability. Without a leader with leadership qualities, men will not realise the importance of serving the force, they do not have a goal or a clear vision. In general, as leaders, we should try our very best to al ign our men’s values with the SAF core values. It is also my duty to ensure they have a meaningful and purposeful time with the SAF.

Big Bad Caravans Involvement in Forged Advertisement Free Sample

You are Required to Identify Legal Issues, Relevant legal Authority and Describe how you Intend to use this Legal Authority in relation to the Research Hypothetical Questions. George and Mildred, a married retired couple, had been planning to travel in and around Australia in a huge caravan. They had saved a huge amount to do so as they wanted to travel after they retire from their respective jobs. They made their respective research on the internet regarding the caravan, in order to get the best possible result, as their own caravan. After conducting all their respective researches, the couple approached Frank Snood, who works for Big Bad Caravans, as the sales executive. After making all the research and other respective aspects, the couple decided that they need a 20feet long caravan, with all the modern day perks, such as TV, toilet, shower and a pop out BBQ.   After respecting all their requirements, Frank r mended them to buy "victory 2000" which met all their requirements and was within their respective Pallas weight. Frank had told them that the total payload was 300kg as stated by the manufacturer of the caravan. It was mentioned that the total extra weight, which they can carry is as per this weight scale. Other than this, there was an advertisement which stated that the caravan is available at a discount of $20,000. This tempted the couple and they bought the caravan as soon as they saw the advertisement. Not only this, they had even bought an extended warranty for an amount of $1,000, which stated that all the major repairs and other aspects of the caravan will be maintained by the pany for the next 5 years.   A contract was signed between both the parties and the couple did not read the contract as they thought all the information was provided by Frank.   But this was not the case. Later they get to know that the payload weight of the pany includes all the availabilities in the caravan already. And they were just left with 5kgs for their clothes. After about 11 months of the caravan, or precisely, after travelling for 11 months, the tires had blown and the vehicle was about to crash severely. The insurance pany had refused to pass the claim as it was significantly due to excess payload. And when the couple approached the pany to avail the feature of extended warranty, they were told that damage caused by mishandling or improper use is not covered. Not only this, they even realized that the pany had just forged the actual rate of $100,000, to show the discounted prices of $80,000, to attract the customers.  (Monash University, 2015) The Contract Act, 1984, section 23 states for a fact that any person or persons, who states an information to another person or persons, to ambiguously effect its own interest, or leads to situation of letting a person buy or do things after giving any misinformation is considered to be against the law and breach of contract.  (Government, 2015) Section 27A also states for a fact that, if most of the information as known by any of the party is not disclosed to the concerned parties or misrepresented in the form, where their own interest is being satisfied should be considered as an illegal aspect for the government to take strict action against the party. (ACU, 2012) Section 69 of the Contract Act, also states for a fact that the parties involved in these aspects should be notifying clearly about the life insured of the person or any modity. These are the three most important sections of the Contract Act, which are applied in this case of the couple, George and Mildred and the Frank and the Big Bad Caravan[1]. monwealth Consolidated Acts, 2016) In the current scenario, George and Mildred can file a suit against Frank and the Big Bad Caravans as they have misled him with the product big time. Not only this, they showed them a fake price of the product and a forged discounted rate. This is one of the major reasons for the pany to be in the court under the section 27A. As per the court of law , section 69 also states for a fact that any sort of misreprestantion will not be spared. For example, in the current scenario, the warranty for which the couple has paid $1,000 was not entertained effectively. Not only this were they not even informed regarding the fact that many of the claims regarding the tyre bursting aspect is not being acknowledged only. For this reason, the pany can then be taken to the court leading them to have a beneficial aspect as it will help the couple in attaining some amount of the claim.  (ACL, 2012) Other than this they can even take the whole scenario to the court under the above mentioned sections as it would ultimately lead them to make sure that they get the claim for the amount of money that they are suppose to get. And also for the forged advertisement and aspects which are being adopted by the pany to succumb the customers and the normal people.  (Miller, 2014) In order to conclude, it should be said that in the current case, Big Bad Caravans will be convicted by the court as they are being involved in forged advertisement, of their respective products. This will ultimately get the whole case in front of the court and Frank would be convicted then. It is, according to this scenario, George and Mildred will be able to have their claim from the pany and the insurance people too. Their total amount of insurance is being avoided as well, because of which, it is very much necessary for them to make sure that the whole scenario is exposed under the law . The advertisement, which showed the discounted price of the product, is one of the reasons for the pany to be under the radar, and George, being the plaintiff, should bring this under the court of law. According to the sections of the Contract Act, Frank and Big Bad pany would be convicted under the law and appropriate action would be conducted by the court. (J, 2012) (Australian Government, 201 6) ACL. (2012). Overview of Australian contract law. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from www.australiancontractlaw : https://www.australiancontractlaw /law.html ACU. (2012). Contract Law. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from libguides.acu.edu.au: https://libguides.acu.edu.au/c.php?g=234001&p=1553409 Australian Government. (2016). Insurance Contracts Act 1984. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from www.legislation.gov.au: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00820 Commonwealth Consolidated Acts. (2016). INSURANCE CONTRACTS ACT 1984. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from www.austlii.edu.au: https://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ica1984220/ Government. (2015). Australian Contract and Consumer Law. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from https://www.australiancontractlaw /: https://www.australiancontractlaw / J, C. (2012). Contract Law in Australia, 6th Edition (Paperback). Retrieved March 28, 2017, from store.lexisnexis .au: https://store.lexisnexis .au/product?product=contract-law-in-australia-6th-edition-paperback&meta_F_and=9780409330199 Miller, J. (2014). Doing Business in Australia: Contract law. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from www.claytonutz : https://www.claytonutz /knowledge/2014/june/doing-business-in-australia-contract-law Monash University. (2015). mercial law: Contract law. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from guides.lib.monash.edu: https://guides.lib.monash.edu mercial-law/contract-law Similar case has happened in the Masters Vs Cameron 91 CLR353 End your doubt 'should I pay someone to do my dissertation by availing dissertation writing services from

Read an article about how Hackers Broaden Their Attacks Against Essay

Read an article about how Hackers Broaden Their Attacks Against Business Organization and write a 2 page response - Essay Example Lockheed is a major information and defense technology supplier to the federal government. After a few days, the renowned broadcaster PBS also faced a serious cyber attack. In the words of Worthen et al (2011), â€Å"Over the weekend, the website for the PBS show "NewsHour" was altered by hackers to include a fake article claiming that rapper Tupac Shakur, who was murdered 15 years ago, was alive in New Zealand. The hackers also posted login information that stations and other entities use to access PBS sites.† In the article, the writers have further pointed out that the hackers generally used to target corporations, which stored and managed secret government information or critical financial data. Hyundai Card/ Hyundai Capital Co., Epsilon, EMC Corp., etc. had been victims of such attacks. But of late, the hackers are targeting corporate secrets, media operations, and other sorts of diverse information security implementations too. The situation is changing rapidly, and the CEOs, CIOs, and CTOs of different organizations are facing unexpected challenges in the sphere of IT security.

Service Marketing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Service Marketing - Research Paper Example Commonwealth Bank has become the leading mortgage lender in Australia. Positioning strategy is a part of service marketing1. The organization has effectively gain believes and trust of the customers through their effective positioning strategy of services. The strategy and effective service process will be discussed later in the study. The literature review will give a clear idea that what is the positioning strategy and how this strategy helps organizations2. The positioning strategy only relates to the level of a particular service or a product. Major of the theories, academic studies and concepts revealed that a product or service can be positioned on the basis of its needs to satisfy, quality, specific service features and benefits to be delivered. In terms of services, market performance is computable implementing the behavioural objectives and deemed to be implementable and appropriate for banking services. Loyalty is considered as the intended behaviour that involved the depositions of users or the customers of bank in terms of intention and preference that play a key role in order to determine the market performance. It is a type of attitude that reflected in the eagerness in order to recommend the service provider to people or an actual observed behaviour in terms of repurchase. Strong positive connections between loyalty and image have been reported broadly in the area of service marketing. Moreover, it is reported that customer objectives to implement service encouraged by the advantages and benefits that they expect through the service. It is being embedded in the thoughts and believes about the service performance. People are more likely to consume or purchase a service or a product if it is perceived to have key attributes that deliver advantages and benefits3. However, several academics have found a positive relationship between the market performance and the perceived

Assess The Value Of An Effective Human Resource Management Strategy To Essay

Assess The Value Of An Effective Human Resource Management Strategy To The Achievement Of Organisational Goals And Objectives - Essay Example Effective human resources strategies can make or break organisations. This essay shall assess the value of an effective human resource management strategy to the achievement of organisational goals and objectives. This essay is being carried out in order to help provide this student a better understanding of HR strategies in successful corporations and to provide possible cues for corporations in the improvement of their corporate performance using better HR strategies. Body Various companies and researchers believe that human resource management processes can help organisations secure and achieve various strategic options. However, only a few would agree on how the HR actually impacts on performance (HR Spectrum, 2005). HR’s impact includes basic aspects like identification or recruitment of top performers; training these top employees to work effectively; and monitoring employee progress and supporting employees in the accomplishment of company goals (HR Spectrum, 2005). Based on company’s economic processes and concepts, competitive goals and strategies, HR management usually controls various functions. To support the organisation’s competitive advantage, HR managers can support various tools and strategies in order to secure their goals. Some approaches often emphasize the importance of best practice. Another HR approach highlights best fit, and aligning such fit within the organisation and its general environment (HR Spectrum, 2 005). ... Until the employees understand how these HR strategies work and how they impact on their company’s success, these strategies would not likely have any impact or meaning. In order to understand the association between corporate strategy and employee output, it is important to establish and HR system which supports shared beliefs and attitudes among employees (HR Spectrum, 2005). HR practices can secure higher values for the organisation and for its human capital pool by focusing the employees’ actions towards the fulfilment of corporate goals. This can further be secured if employees are willing to stick with the organisation (Baird and Meshaulam, 1988). HR managers can secure flexibility and can align the corporate values by securing traditional functions and the application of HR strategies using cost-effective mechanisms. These managers can also consider beyond the traditions of their organisation and evaluate the current trends in contemporary business management, as well as the speed of change among organisations and the implications of these changes for employees and other stakeholders (Baird and Meshaulam, 1988). Managing companies strategically highlights the internal organisation and the management of issues. This would involve the acknowledgement of the corporate climate and culture as well as the alignment of employee values with corporate and social goals. For instance, in improving labour outputs and improving company flexibility, human resources can also provide a wide range of strategic choices, including higher shareholder return and competitive advantage (HR Spectrum, 2005). Due to the improved dynamics of the marketplace, HR goals must also be flexible. Flexibility includes processes which refer to improved accommodation for

LUXURY CAR BRANDS MARKETING HIGHLIGHT QUESTIONS Essay

LUXURY CAR BRANDS MARKETING HIGHLIGHT QUESTIONS - Essay Example To make the drive comfortable for the passengers, Kluger comes with Captain Seats and conversation mirror. Multi Zone Climate Control (which controls temperature in different parts of the cabin), Rear seat DVD player with headphones, Integrated Puddle Mirrors, add to the pleasure of travelling in Kluger. The driver of the luxury crossover enjoys the privileges of Multi Information Display while on move (with climate control settings), Steering Wheel Audio Controls, Cruise Control ( to keep within desired speed limits), satellite navigation and smart keyless entry system. Augmented product Ownership of Toyota Kluger comes with augmented features such as 3year/100,000km+ warranty, Personal Vehicle Loan, Novated Lease, Novated Lease Vehicle package, Business Loan (all through Toyota Finance) and Capped Price Service Advantage up to six services. Toyota uses a range strategy to promote Kluger. Toyota is known for its upmarket automobiles, quality and its premiumness. To promote Toyota as a brand, the company concentrate its efforts on creating a single united culture of safety and durability synonym with Toyota. Kluger is an extension of the Toyota culture for the comfort and enjoyment of entire family. Kluger, a crossover vehicle is launched to tap the demand of upper class families who may make occasional pleasure trips within or outside the city. Kluger aims to establish itself as a synonym for luxurious, enjoyable, family transport vehicle. It target Generation X who vote for ease of use of vehicle along with style. Toyota is using its online resources as the main way to market Kluger in Australia; rest of the marketing efforts support this focus. Main reason for promoting Kluger through website is because upmarket Gen X in Australia generally uses web as the primary mode of research while buying high involvement products such as car. Toyota’s website acts as a quasi sales representative of its models that not only imparts vehicle specifications but also helps the prospective buyer in understanding how he can make the best use of Kluger. The website hosts live footage of people who relate their experiences while using Kluger. The website aims at providing a virtual walk through to the prospective buyer of the interior, exterior and experience of travelling in a Kluger along with the assurance of Toyota so that the buyer may have enough confidence on the Kluger to book a test drive (Toyota charges with Cavalry, 2008). Ans. 2 Product mix or the assortment of cars offered by Toyota, Ford and Honda seem to differ based on the target group of each of the above mentioned companies. While Honda has the shortest product line, Ford has the longest with Toyota ranking in between both of them. Honda has divided its product line mainly on the basis of compact and large cars. Its major models marketed in Australia are: Jazz, City, Insight, Civic Si-Type R (in compact segment) and Accord, Euro, Odyssey, CR-V, Legend (in large car segment). It do es not have a subcompact car nor a mid size or full size SUV (CR-V being compact SUV). Honda does not have a sub-compact car or a top end car in Australia. A major reason could be that Honda does not yet have a manufacturing facility in Australia and it imports all its cars to the continent. Hence, it has maintained a short product line in Australia. Honda’

The Credit Crunch of 2007-2008 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Credit Crunch of 2007-2008 - Essay Example As shown in the diagram underneath, this led to rising housing prices since decades. In 2000, the rate of increase of house prices was rising at unsustainable levels, much faster than they had in the last decade. Sub-prime mortgages (mortgages to high risk customers) began to rise due to availability of cheap credit (Mizen). The low interest rate environment stimulated upsurges in mortgage backed financing and hence considerable increases in house prices. It encouraged investors (financial institutions, such as pension funds, hedge funds, investment banks) to design instruments that offer yield enhancement such as subprime mortgages. The bullish attitude of Wall Street led to creation of complex structured products such as collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and a lot of repackaging of high-risk mortgage backed securities. The credit and house price bubble led to a real-estate boom and eventually to a surplus of unsold homes, which triggered U.S. housing prices to peak and before declining and bursting in mid-2006. Subprime borrowers began to default on their loans as real estate prices decreased further. The default on a significant ratio of subprime toxic assets produced cascade effects in financial markets via the securitized mortgage derivatives into which these mortgages were bundled, to the balance sheets of investment banks and hedge funds. The vagueness about the value of the securities collateralized by these mortgages spread chaos and concern over the soundness of loans for leveraged buyouts. That led to the freezing of the interbank lending market in August 2007, collapse of key financial institutions such as Lehman Brothers and triggered the credit crunch crisis. 2. Economists classify macro-economic indicators as leading, lagging, or coincident. Define each classification and give two examples of each, relating them to the recession that began in 2007 and the recovery that is now under way. ? Economic indicators are periodical statements by the government and private institutions that describe the health of a country's economy. Economist classify these indicators into lea ding, lagging or coincident kind that are described below in detail: Leading Indicators: Leading indicators are economic indicators that predict future events. They are foreign exchange indicators that change beforehand the change in the market or economy has occurred. Examples of leading indicators may include bong yields, inventory variations, stock prices and insurance claims. Economic establishments and central banks study leading indicators in expectation to fluctuations in expected interest rates. A forex-leading indicator is a pointer that advises the trader to buy or sell before a new trend in the market commences. Leading indicators, however, are difficult to recognize and could lead to misleading results or interpretations if not analyzed by an experience trader. Two examples leading indicators for the financial crisis of 2007 are stock prices (500 common stocks) that reduced by 8% in 2007 (The Conference Board) and Building permits that reduced by 16% leading to a 40% dec line in US Home Construction Index. Lagging Indicators: Lagging indicators are indicators that follow an economic event. These indicators usually exist three to twelve months after the economy. Lagging economic indicators are the confirmation to outline the peaks and troughs that

The Big Lebowski Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Big Lebowski - Movie Review Example The Big Lebowksi is it is as it is meant to be told by its creators. It may be a mess to some but it’s a frank and honest yet entertaining movie that offers raw and awkward humor. Story. Mistaken to be the big Lebowski, Jeff Lebowski was assaulted by two men who were claiming that they were sent to collect money from Lebowski’s wife. They have beaten him and peed on his rug. Eventually they have learned that they picked the wrong Lebowski and left. Encouraged by his friend Walter to seek compensation with the peed rug, they pursue to find the big Lebowski. The Dude’s request was rejected and he was even insulted by the big Lebowski. Days later, the big Lebowski’s wife was kidnapped, and he made arrangement with the Dude to be the courier of the ransom money in exchange of his request. Series of misfortunate events upon their delivery of the ransom money to the kidnappers, the Dude learned many things about the truth behind the alleged kidnapping. There was no kidnapping happened, as Bunny just went to a vacation trip with a friend, and it was revealed that the big Lebowski had orchestrated the whole thing – this was his plan to get the supposed ransom money from his first wife’s account and used the Dude to be the fall guy to deliver the fake suitcase. Walter had physically assaulted the big Lebowski and near end they had a fight with a nihilist’s group. Donny died of heart attack in the process. After saying eulogy and scatter Donny’s ashes, the Dude and Walter headed back to their bowling routine session. Characters. The film has a perfect casting to portray the main idiosyncratic characters, perhaps because Cohen brothers had gathered fine actors such as Jeff Bridges and John Goodman. The actors had really synched in with the characters they were portraying. Perhaps the Cohen brothers had in mind the actors’ personalities while writing the film’s characters i.e. Tara Reid being the reckles s and mindless trophy wife and Julianne Moore as an intelligent yet pretentious feminist and an artist. The main protagonist of the film is Jeff Lebowski but preferred himself to be called The Dude. The Dude is portrayed by Jeff Bridges. The Dude is a type B personality who can be easily discern as perpetual bum, cares little about money and cares only for bowling with his equally type B friends. It was reported that the Cohen brothers had written The Dude slightly based on Bridges character for being laid-back and slacking perspective in life. However, it was also revealed that the main influence of the character of the Dude was based on the film distributor that Cohen brothers had met named Jeff Dowd. Much like the Dude in the movie, Dowd was also called â€Å"The Dude†, fond of drinking White Russians, and shares physical appearance of the Dude on-screen: shaggy long hair, way of dressing, etc. Another reference for the Dude’s character is the Cohen brothers’ friend, Peter Exline, a Vietnam War veteran who also has a thing for rugs. The Dude has a main best friend named Walter Sobchak and was played by John Goodman. Walter is also a Vietnam War veteran and is The Dude’s teammate. He values the rules of bowling second to the doctrines

In class Exam 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

In class Exam 2 - Essay Example The company set a number of financial goals in order to meet its goals and objectives. In fact, the financial policies created by the organization enable it to adhere to the firm’s strategic plans as well as control the growth of the company. This financial policy determines whether the earnings of the company increases or decreases within a given financial period or fiscal year. The financial policies also incorporate a global product strategy whereby it leaned out its manufacturing operations in order to create a flexible manufacturing operation that saved on the costs of operations as well as resulted in the faster development of its products. In addition, this global product strategy also led to development of efficiencies in the delivery of the company’s new technologies especially within its core markets. This is majorly due to the worldwide integration of the automotive industry, which greatly influenced a variety of policies, practices and strategies that the Fo rd automobile Corporation undertakes in order to succeed in its operations and business ventures. The company also shapes its functional strategies in consideration of the environmental policies adopted by the United States of America. The US has growing concern over the protection of the environment by instituting development of policies that are more inclined to the conservation of the environment. ... In fact, the company even stated on its website that it relies on a sustainable technology that advances to alternative fuel plans, as well as, lay out constructive plans in order to improve fuel efficiency in its products. In addition, the company also advances towards usage of bio fuels and electricity in designing their products. Strategy implementation at the company adopted incorporates the six sigma strategy whereby it follows a set of techniques, as well as, tools, which are handy in the improvement of processes of operations. Jack Welch became famous from his development of the six-sigma model, as it was his central strategy of implementing his business motives and processes. Jack Welch succeeded through the application of this model in his business strategies while at the controlling seat at the General Electric Company in 1995. The six-sigma model is a good way of creating synergies across the organization in order to increase the probability of the buy-in mission of the co mpany, as well as, create an effective alignment of resources that would lead to increased productivity in the company. The alignment of resources as well as development of other concerned factors will make the business improve its functions and performance. The six-sigma model enabled the former chairperson as well as the chief executive Officer of the General Electric Company (GE) to turn the productivity of the company from 1981 to 2001. This transformation was very magical as it dramatically changed the productivity of the company by increasing its market value from a market value of $ 14 billion to $ 410 billion during the tenure of Jack Welch, all thanks to the use and application of the

1848-9 Italian Revolutions Due to the Intervention of Foreign Powers Essay Example for Free

1848-9 Italian Revolutions Due to the Intervention of Foreign Powers Essay The revolutions of 1848-9 failed because the foreign powers were too powerful and were easily able to overpower them to stop the revolutions. In 1848, there was an uprising in Palermo, Sicily. This is because King Ferdinand refused to set up a provisional government. This spurred on uprisings in Naples by the secret societies, which forced King Ferdinand to make concessions. This lead to King Ferdinand introducing a parliament but its power was very limited. In Lombardy, Austrian rulers refused to give in to and grant a reform. The Milanese stopped smoking in protest, this affected Austria as they collected the revenue from the cigarettes that were sold. This lead to demonstrations taking place in Venice demanding the release of Manin. Once Manin was released he declared a Venetian republic in Venice. As a result, Grand Duke Leopald granted a conservative constitution in Tuscany. Metternich resigned over the demonstrations for reform in Vienna, and in the same month, King Ferdinand was announced to be no longer then king after the Sicilian elections. After the battle in Milan, where Radetzky withdrew his troops, there was a political vacuum. A provisional government was formed, and they asked for Charles Albert for protection. In the same month, Charles Albert introduced the Statuto in Piedmont, which lead to a constitutional monarchy. Charles Albert saw that Lombardy was available for annexation, so he declares war on Austria and invades Lombardy, where by troops from all over Italy join him. The Pope grants a limited constitution, which lets all Italian Catholics know that he is ok with them helping Charles Albert invade Lombardy. However in April the Pope issues an Allocution condemning the war, as he saw Charles Albert as an aggressor that did he did not support a united Italy. This lead too many soldiers turning back from the war as they did not want to go against the Pope, as it would be going against their religious beliefs. In May, Charles Albert took Peschiera, however a French army amassed on the border. Radetzky persuades Austria to fight for Lombardy. This lead to Charles Albert being dispelled from Lombardy. In November, a new PM, Rossi, was appointed in Austria, this puts a stop to any hopes of making any territorial claim to Piedmont. This lead to Austria taking back control of Lombardy. Also, November Rossi was murdered, which lead the Pope to flee the Papal States, which in turn leads to a revolutionary government, led by Galletti. So in 1848, all Italian states apart from Lombardy were under a new government. This would not have happened if it wasnt for Austrias power and control over the states. Similarly in 1849, Austria kept their power over the Italian states. In the Papal States, the parliament met for the first time. Mazzini was welcomed back to Rome, and told to choose 2 people to run Rome with him. Meanwhile Charles Albert was encouraged to try to overthrow Austrian power in Piedmont. However Radetzky crushed Piedmont at Novera. Charles Albert resigned and Emmanuel II was appointed king. The French sent an army to crush Roman Republic in the Papal States; though Garibaldi blocked the French troops for 2 months, at the same time Leopald returned to Tuscany after Charles Alberts defeat. By June 1849, the French had 20,000 troops in Rome. This lead to Garibaldi Fleeing to San Marino, and Mazzini to London. In August the Main and the Venice republic surrendered to Austrian control. A piece treaty was also signed by Piedmont, which left them embarrassed. This showed that Austria could not be defeated without foreign help. In conclusion the failure of the revolutions was due to the interventions of foreign powers, because without Austria none of the Italian states would have been able to regain control of their governments and take back the power. However it was not due to the intervention of foreign powers, as it would have needed the help of foreign help to overthrow Austria to gain absolute control over Italy.

How Knowledge Is Generated

How Knowledge Is Generated Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical and creative thinking. Obliquely, the statement defines knowledge as of an Idea which may be achieved from the mind, but something of pre-existing idea its not. Knowledge can be generated through the interaction of critical and creative thinking. would be a statement of which knowledge is defined as of something that may be discovered through the interaction of both creative and critical thinking. According to Khalil Gibran, No man can reveal to you nothing but that which already lies half-asleep in the dawning of your knowledge. May knowledge be defined as of something to be discovered but is else generated through the engagement of ones mind and a notion? Assume that one might discover an idea. Is it of being in conscious of specific pre-existing concept? Knowledge may be discovered by being aware of certain idea; this requires the application of both critical and creative thinking. Critical thinking may achieve certain level of understanding; creative thinking motivates an idea of an understanding of pre-existing concept. Both creative and critical thinking are necessary to generate a ripe understanding of knowledge. Knowledge requires the well understanding of its concept and basis. According to Plato, The learning and knowledge that we have, is, at the most, but little compared with that of which we are ignorant. Based on the statement specified above, knowledge is achieved by the engagement of all ways of knowing which include; language, emotions, perception, and reasoning. But as of something that exists before the finding; could the origin of knowledge be of nothing, but all the ways of knowing be defined as of the tools required for the discovery and exploration? But if knowledge itself is generated through the ways of knowing, it may as well be defined as its product; hence the ways of knowing may as well be its limit. This is influenced by the understanding of knowledge itself, as whether it is something that is produced or discovered. But may one that is discovered be produced or is it that one that is produced be discovered? The understanding of knowledge and its origin through, or by the ways of knowing requires a process of intricacy and qualms. By the ways of knowing we note that knowledge is to some extent, linked or explored in ones mind in a meticulously abstract way. The process of learning requires the ways of knowing as the tools which are obligatory to generate or discover knowledge, either way knowledge is involved and in function. The way in which knowledge is expressed or explored is in variety to the ways of knowing, these are explored in diverse subjects and ideas which are of the product of knowledge itself. This includes the contribution of the ways of knowing in the areas of knowledge. The areas of knowledge apply the understanding of assured knowledge and concept in both practical and theoretical studies and understanding. The general extent of knowledge is to which it may be classified. A way of knowing may be understood as a concept of dominance in specified areas of knowledge. As for instance; Science is the study of natural theoretical concept to which life and its function may be measured. The application of both creative and critical thinking is necessary as the presence of an idea or theory requires inventive aptitude which is generated generally through creative thinking. An Idea will be actualized or generally accepted only through the well thought of critical thinking, whilst in unison; doubts and uncertainties are argued. According to John F. Kennedy, The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds. The concept or theory is but only to be understood through the engagement of both creative and critical thinking. Further understanding of the implementation of knowledge may be discussed over subject such as art and music. Generally, these subjects require the well implication of creative thinking. According to William Pollard, Without chang e there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable. As imaginative matters are fashioned, the work of true artist requires creativity. As of critical thinking may define the term creative itself, it may as well be in function of analyzing the extent to which according to man is exquisite. Both creative and critical thinking are the quality to which the value of knowledge may be measured. This links the function of both creative and critical thinking to the areas of knowledge. The extent to which knowledge is said to be necessary in the areas of knowledge may be hesitated. But if knowledge is of pre existing concepts and ideas; may both creative and critical thinking be defined as the mutual connection between man and knowledge? As it may seemed if assumed, the ways of knowing be only the way in which we relate to knowledge. To that extent may knowledge be defined as an entity to which the ways knowing is redundant to its origin. This may explain the needles of both creative and critical thinking in the areas of knowledge. But if thoughts be defined as of the connection between man and concepts it may as well be assumed, that it is required in exploring the areas of knowledge, that to generate knowledge may be understood as to generate knowledge in ones mind or conscience. The implication in the statement above may be of an abstract idea of subjective interpretation or perception of the term itself. The understanding of the statement itself may define knowledge subjectively according to ones awareness. The elucidation of knowledge itself is vague and does not entirely utter a statement of absolute meaning. The statement itself spares subjectivity to be applied in communicating its gist. By stating that knowledge is generated from the engagement of critical and creative thinking, knowledge may be conveyed as something that is generated from the mind. As the statement remains unclear of the idea of knowledge itself, it may as well be supposed that the only known definition of knowledge in the statement is to that of the subjective understanding of ones. As it is read and possibly understood, the statement may denote an account to which one might find it different from anothers construal. May the statement define itself as of the subjectivity signification of many? For nothing must be signified identically to all but at the same time, one shares the common thoughts of many. According to Oscar Wilde, Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation. This may be both the limit and the addition to the understanding of the statement. The knowledge to what we understood may be the significant elucidation to one but many as well. Ultimately knowledge may be kept a secret to which we tolerate and seek without expecting any answer, for what we are seeking is ever perhaps be forever amid the thought of ours. It is only human to wish to validate our prior knowledge, to vindicate our prior decisions, or to sustain our earlier beliefs. In the process of satisfying our ego, however, we can often deny ourselves intellectual growth and opportunity.- Daniel J. Kurland. But subjectivity itself is that what parts us as diverse individuals. Bibliography and recourses: http://www.criticalreading.com/critical_thinking.htm http://thinkexist.com/.html http://xmltwo.ibo.org/dp2006-03/dp_x_tokxx_guu_0603_1_e/9

Combatting the Rise of Fake News

Combatting the Rise of Fake News Fake news in the recent decade has been propagated by traditional and, more so, social media, with the intention to deceive readers with false information to maximize traffic and profit. Although it is not a new phenomenon, the emergence of social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have eased the dispersion of disinformation, making it nearly impossible to distinguish real and fabricated information at first glance. Fake news has been a strong factor in major events in the world including the recent U.S. Presidential Elections, where it has been linked to influencing the results of the elections. It is also used as a political weapon, used to dismiss any news that goes against the views of the political party as false all without a need for explanation or proof. Canada is not unaffected by this. In January 2017, Nick Kouvalis, the campaign manager for Conservative leadership candidate Kellie Leitch has been fired for posting false information about the Trudeau office claiming on Twitter that the Trudeau office was using billions of taxpayers money to fund terrorist groups rather than to help the homeless and jobless. In the same month, reports began circulating that the shooter of the Quebec mosque was yelling Allahu Akbar though it has been taken down after the Trudeau office took on those false reports. This does not take away from the fact that millions have been exposed to these false news and form opinions based on artificially created information. In an effort to curb fake news and their effects, the federal heritage committee is currently compiling a report about the future of media and journalism in Canada, in which fake news is heavily brought up. The report is to be shown to the Parliament in spring this year. Canada is also in talks with Google and Facebook to identify fake news on their site. However, curbing fake news is hard as doing so would limit the freedom of the press, something which goes against Canadas policies and beliefs. Furthermore, drawing the line in identifying fake news, after outright falsehoods have been removed, is hard due to the multitude of sites with ideological bias and views. In the light of concern about the spread of fake news, Canada is proposing several solutions that should: establish an international cyber board for the intention to tackle fake news; utilization of international cyber board to monitor news and distinguish between fake and real news; collaborate with large multinational social corporations including Facebook and Twitter; increase research and development into tools that can be used by citizens to identify fake news and report it; create a registration system for news sites to register themselves and to be verified by the international cyber board. Canada believes that the fight against fake news will be hard and long but knows that it is necessary to ensure that citizens are able to form opinions from real facts rather than alternative truths. References: Public Policy Forum (2017, January). The Shattered Mirror: News, Democracy and Trust in the Digital Age. Retrieved Feb 25, 2017, from https://shatteredmirror.ca/wpcontent/uploads/theShatteredMirror.pdf. BBC (2016, December 26). Canada MP Probe Ways to Curtail Fake News. Retrieved Feb 25, 2017, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38399892. The Washington Post (2017, February 26). The White Houses Big Fake News Cop-out. Retrieved Feb 25, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/thefix/wp/2017/02/26/fake-news-is-a-potent-political-strategy-its-also-a-copout/?utm_term=.f509281f95d6. The Canadian Press (2017, Jan 24). Facebook, Google to Tackle Fake News In Canada With New Tools. Retrieved Feb 25, 2017, from https://www.thestar.com/business/2017/01/24/facebook-google-to-tackle-fake-news-incanada-with-new-tools.html. Wood, L.S, Hatch, C (2017, February 2). How Vulnerable is Canada to fake news?. Retrieved Feb 25, 2017, from http://www.nationalobserver.com/2017/02/02/analysis/howvulnerable-canada-fake-news-very.

Women and Technolgy - The Gender Gap in Computer Science Essay

Women and Technolgy - The Gender Gap in Computer Science Abstract: This paper reviews the gender gap that exists in computer science. By analyzing the probable causes of the divide, solutions may be developed and possibilities of minimizing the gap increase. Although the general public’s efforts toward shrinking the divide subsist, modern society must change its views of women before the technological world can fully appreciate women’s talents. A gender gap undeniably exists in the field of computer science. Hundreds of headlines in newspapers, journal articles, and magazines continually demonstrate the divide to society, and studies performed by well-respected universities like Harvard and MIT highlight its continuing effects. More recent studies provide evidence that the number of women in computer science is decreasing, despite the recruiting efforts of the technology field. The underrepresentation of women results from stereotypes of computer scientists, weaknesses within the computing community, and the social construction of women in computer science. In order to boost women's presence in technology, society must have a firm grasp on the problems themselves, and address them with fundamental changes in the way we perceive women in computer science on the cognitive level. The increasing gender divide in computer science is well documented. As an issue of Technical Training recorded, â€Å"intake of [women] computer science students in the UK has dropped from 37 percent a decade ago to 5 percent in 1998.†[5] Other nations, including the United States, have noticed a decline in the number of women in the field. New Scientist found, â€Å"[w]omen dominate in several subjects, namely degrees preparing students to be infant sch... ...un IT, Bill Goodwin. [9] Newsbytes, January 16, 2001, 337 words, Gender Salary Gap Smaller in Tech Industry – Study, Dick Kelsey [10] Information Week, August 9, 1999, Women Make Gains in Top Management, Jennifer Mateyaschuk. [11] http://www.mills.edu/ACAD_INFO/MCS/SPERTUS/Gender/pap/pap.html Why are There so Few Female Computer Scientists? Ellen Spertus - 1991 [12] The Times Union, February 7, 2001, 565 words, Albany, N.Y., Council Meeting Offers Women Advice on Using Technology, Danielle T. Furfaro. [13] Achieving Gender Equity in Science Classrooms, 1996, NECUSE Colleges and Brown University students and faculty [14] Encouraging Women in Computer Science, 1996, Eric S. Roberts (Stanford University) [15] Electronic Engineering Times, February 12, 2001, 1261 words, Engineers Week Aim: to Reach Schoolgirls, Terry Costlow

Essay --

Many of us may know about the tragedy that took place back in the 1900’s, the Holocaust. One important question that crosses many of our minds is, if the United States knew what was happening in Germany, why didn’t this great nation take action? Aldof Hitler finally succeeded to become leader of Germany from January 30, 1933-May 8, 1945. During those time periods Jews were being over powered in way of unnecessary persecution. This lead to nearly 6,000,000 murders of the Jews, keeping in mind that 1.5 million of those Jews were children. The Jews who died were not the ones who fought in Europe during World War II. After World War I, Germany was downgraded by the Versailles Treaty, which reduced its pre-war territory and completely reduced its armed force, that’s where it all began. The Holocaust was one of the twentieth century’s greatest tragedies that was made possible by isolationism politics, possible outright fear of the U.S., and possible denial. "During the 1930s, the mixture of the Great Depression and memory of devastating losses in World War, was what could have possibly le...

Jewish Art :: essays research papers

Jewish Art On many occasions art has the power to tell a story or even express how someone feels. The speaker on Jewish art was very interesting. She translates many Jewish stories and commandments while portraying it through art. Very few people can accomplish this but I thought she did a pretty good job of it. Her pieces once explained told great stories of Jewish history. One thing that I found very iteresting was her idea of adding new riuals to the jewish religion through her art. I'm glad that I have always liked art because it helped me to understand her feelings towards it. The speaker showed a lot of enthusiasm and love for her art. She seemed to be very care-free and almost worry free. I though she was very cool and really did a good job of expressing her feelings toward her art. One important aspect of her art was that for her seeing her pieces come out of a fire was a reward in itself. She was not in it for the mmoney or material rewards. I think a lot of times people are only in it for material reward and it gets in the way of great art. It seems to me that this helped her to become such a good artist   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Her focus was mainly on very well known Jewish objects. Some of these include Menorahs, Sadaka boxes, and Mezuzahs. These where very evident part of her slide show. All of them were very obscure and odd looking but each told a storyf which only she knew. At first glance they were not so great but after her explanation they became beautiful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Her idea of creating new rituals for our religion through art really striked me. I found her ideas to be very interesting because it was som   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I think that many times Judaism is expressed through art because there are so many beliefs on what it means to be a Jew. Many people cant explain how they fell in words so , in this case, a more fun and interesting way was used. Even though many religious people don't agree with this way of expression I feel that it is obviously better than nothing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was evident that the Holocaust Had a major influence on her works. She said that she liked the fact that even after her pieces were burned they

A character study of Nick Bottom Essay

The play † Midsummer night’s Dream† was written by William Shakespeare in 1595 and is set in Athens, Greece. The play features four main groups of people, the court, the lovers, the rude mechanicals and the fairies, all of which are linked by love, marriage, the night and the natural world. The title is paradoxical as, when the compound word â€Å"midsummer† is used it conjures a picture of the play taking place during a joyful and enjoyable time, whereas the word â€Å"night† implies that the play occurs during a dark and frightening time. The oxymoronic title gives the impression that the play is unreal and magical. Nick Bottom is a lower class weaver who considers himself to be a very important and professional person, as he dresses very smartly in the modern film version of the play. This gives us the impression that he is very conceited about himself as well as his appearance. In Act I Scene (ii) Bottom is introduced to the play as the mechanicals gather to determine the roles of each character. Immediately Bottom tries to take control of the situation, as he says † First, good Peter Quince, say what the play treats on; then read the name of the actors; and so grow to a point†. This shows that Bottom is very bossy, and that he thinks that he is the leader, as he gives Quince precise orders to follow. This also shows that he is a very committed actor as he is very eager to know his role in the play. Bottom becomes full of himself and very pompous as he begins to beseech for various parts of the play, as he says, † let me play Thisbe too. I’ll speak in a monstrous little voice†. In my opinion this shows how ardent and desperate he is for glory, as he searches for more parts to play. Bottom then asks to act the part of the lion, but is refused by Quince, as he feels that Nick’s acting is of such a high quality that he may frighten the ladies. Bottom says â€Å"I will roar that I will make the duke say let him roar again, let him roar again†, which shows how self-centred and ambitious he is. Quince then replies by saying â€Å"And you should do it too, terribly, you would frighten the duchess and the ladies that they would shriek; and that were enough to hang us all†. This shows that Quince looks up to Bottom as a great actor and a leader, as he is very go-getting and Quince believes that he is so good he will actually scare the ladies. In the modern film of â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream†, Bottom is also very dramatic and emotional, as he appears to be very prestigious and egotistical. He is very dramatic as he suddenly feels an urge to act, and becomes inspired by himself, as he shouts phrases such as â€Å"The raging rocks and shivering shocks shall break the locks of prison gates, and Phibbus’ car shall shine from far, and make and mar the foolish fates†, which are out of his own inspiration and imagination. Bottom is also very prestigious and egotistical in the sense that he only cares about himself, as he wants to act all of the parts in the play. Bottom also appears to be very emotional, as during one point in the play he is very excited and joyous, whereas he suddenly becomes sad and unhappy. This occurs when Bottom tries to act various parts of the play and someone throws a bucket of water on him. This not only shows what other people think of him, but how foolish he is to actually think that hi is a good actor. As the mechanicals go to the woods to rehearse, Bottom makes himself seem even more foolish as he says, â€Å"First, Pyramus must draw a sword and kill himself, whom the ladies cannot abide. How answer you that? â€Å". This implies that Bottom is so confident that their acting is good that they will scare the ladies. Shortly after Bottom suggests an idea of a prologue to inform the women that Pyramus is not really dead. He says â€Å"Not a whit; I have a device to make all well. Write me a prologue, and let the prologue seem to say we will do no harm with our swords, and that Pyramus is not killed indeed†. At this point Shakespeare is expressing how silly the mechanicals were becoming, as they were thinking that they were so good that they needed a prologue, so that they do not frighten the audience. Throughout the play Bottom really thinks he’s something really special for a number of the following reasons. Firstly, he comes up with ideas such as the prologue and thinks that he is such a good actor. Secondly, he actually deems that Titania is in love with him and that he is so handsome and good looking, but wakes up and wonders if it is all a dream. Thirdly, Bottom sees a statue that reminds him of his ‘dream’ and requests a ballad thinking that it was his destiny to perform his dream. He thinks that God has sent him a message to perform the dream and name it â€Å"Bottom’s Dream†. This tells us that Bottom is very imprudent, as he is silly enough to think that God has sent him a message just to perform his dream. Bottom seems more foolish and stupid, as the play continues as he makes continual malapropisms, by mistaking the words ‘devourer’ for ‘deflower’ and also ‘ninny’ instead of ‘ninus tonb’. Another way is when his head is turned into an ass’s head, which matches his behaviour and attitude and makes the play seem more and more surreal. Before the entrance to the wedding, the mechanicals were waiting for Bottom and when he arrived there was a big cheer, which shows that they really looked up to Bottom, as he was an inspiration to them. When the mechanicals are selected to perform, they are delighted, not knowing that they are only being chosen for the Duke’s and Duchess’s amusement. They begin to perform and are laughed at when the wall is seen, as there is a man standing with his arms spread out, covered with a sheet of paper with bricks painted on it but still continue to amuse the guests. Then poor vocabulary is used, which shows that they are uneducated when they say, â€Å"I see a voice† â€Å"hear his face†. At the end Bottom steps in and kills himself, which ends the play and pleases the crowd. Bottom thinks that he is the hero but does not know that everyone was clapping because they were amused. Overall I think that Bottom is a very self-absorbed and shameless person, as he only cares about himself and is very unabashed as seen when their play was acted. Nick Bottom is also a fool as he is always the last one to understand the joke, and he does not know when people are laughing at him. He is also very foolish and big-headed as he thinks that he is supposed to perform his dream, as a message from God. In synopsis I think that Shakespeare is trying to show how lower class people were treated, and how foolish, nai ve and over-ambitious people like Nick Bottom were. However, Shakespeare could have also meant that if you have a dream or an ambition that you should go for it and try to achieve something, like Bottom did.

The Historical Value of Speeches in Thucydides

The historical value of speeches in Thucydides In writing his history as a whole, it is fair to say that Thucydides has always been praised for his relative historical accuracy, be that due to his actual presence at events, his use of eyewitness testimony or his noted checking of facts. In style Thucydides kept his narrative sections rather impersonal thereby allowing the story to unfold itself. However, to then lay bare what stood behind the narrative, the moral possibilities, the mistakes, the fears and the motives, the device he used was the speech, a mechanism he employed with supreme mastery. Perhaps the best way to begin to answer the question in hand, we should examine the definition Thucydides himself gives us in his statement of methodology for his speeches that appears in 1. 22. 1. of his History of the Peloponnesian War. ‘In this history I have made use of set speeches some of which were delivered just before and others during the war. I have found it difficult to remember the precise words used in the speeches which I listened to myself and my various informants have experienced the same difficulty; so my method has been while keeping as closely as possible to the general sense of the words that were actually used, to make the speakers say what, in my opinion, was called for by each situation’’ It is not unreasonable to construe that at face value this statement is not at all a ringing endorsement for historical accuracy. This idea is taken up by Plant who correctly states that there is a lack of correlation between the first and second parts of the statement. He continues that it has long been debated whether the historian claimed and/or attempted to present verbatim accounts of the arguments put forward by the speakers on each occasion as best he could, or whether he felt free to modify or to invent particular arguments or even whole speeches. And the controversy has been fuelled by what has been widely regarded as the ambiguity of the second of the two parts of Thucydides' famous statement of aims and methods in 1. 2. 1. The accepted ambiguity of 1. 22. 1, moreover, has provided such scholars with what they consider to be primary evidence with which they might successfully call into question the â€Å"objectivity† of Thucydides as a â€Å"scientific historian,† and with which they might thereby persuasively promote the view of him as either an impassioned (outraged) moralist or a tend entious manipulator of his reader's sympathies. * It is clear therefore, that in the speeches what we encounter is in some sense Thucydides’ own voice. In terms of ultimate historical value, however, the thorny question has always been is it Thucydides’ view of what the speakers really meant, or his judgment of what they should have meant? To return to his initial statement for a moment, it is interesting to note that Thucydides seems to be making a virtue of the fact that he is not reporting verbatim. We must remember that in the times in which Thucydides was writing rhetoric was an everyday part of the society in which he lived and long speeches in literary works were commonplace. The contemporary readers of Thucydides were men habituated to a civic life in which public speech played an all important part. To a Greek of that age a written history of political events would have seemed strangely insipid if speech ‘in the first person’ had been absent from it especially if it did not offer some mirror of those debates which were inseparably associated with the central interests and the decisive moments of political life. On a further point of contemporary style and verbal accuracy, Cole argues that the complexity, compression, and frankness of the arguments in the speeches in Thucydides mean that they cannot have been made in the form he gives us on the occasions when he claims they were made. * Whether or not we accept Cole's thesis, or a modification thereof, we must still accept the strong influence of contemporary rhetoric on Thucydides. In any event, Thucydides’ Thomas F. Garrity’s article on ‘Thucydides 1. 22. 1: Content and Form in the Speeches, (autumn 1998), The American Journal of Philology *T. Cole, The Origins of Rhetoric in Ancient Greece (Baltimore, 1991) speeches are vital highpoints in his work and not only for the structure and form of the arguments they explore. They appear at great moments of decision and turning points and their dramatic impact is useful to Thucydides as an instrument of style. We therefore may have to accept that they are more great rhetorical set pieces rather than paragons of historical accuracy However, although the exact accuracy of the words spoken in the speeches produced by Thucydides in these works cannot be verified thereby inevitably devaluing their historical value, it can be said that the style and method of the speeches and debates that Thucydides includes in his work do provide us with an almost unwitting testimony of other facts which do have great significance and value for the historian. For example the Mytilenian debate between Cleon and Diodotus shows us how decisions were made, the grounds on which they were made, and the psychology used by the persuaders. In addition, it provides us with an insight into the considerations about the behavior of an imperial power at war, its relationship with the democrats among the allies and its attention to long-term finance. So by dramatizing a conflict between two orators, Thucydides records for us the interplay of various contemporary problems concerning the exercise of power and the conduct of war. The conclusion is that the speeches are not what we should call historical reporting in the same sense as the narrative. However there is no doubt that the impact of their presence in the work is very powerful. The reader is quite carried away in the midst of these marvelous orations to a point where, not only does he feel that he has seen the Peloponnesian War from the inside, but he is certain that he knows exactly what the issues were and why things happened as they did. The overall conclusion, therefore, must be that we cannot quantify the exact historical value of the speeches in Thucydides’ work as we can never be sure of their complete verbal accuracy. However, there is no denying that the speeches may be taken as a paradigm for a better understanding of his historiographical project in general and that there is a lasting satisfaction to be obtained from reading Thucydides’ speeches for their own sake as a direct and vivid aesthetic experience. Bibliography Connor W. Robert, Thucydides (1984) pages 146-158, http://www. umanitiesebook. org Garrity Thomas F. , Thucydides 1. 22. 1:Content and Form in the Speeches’ The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 119, No. 3 (Autumn 1998), pp. 361-384. JSTOR: http://www. jstor. org/stable/156676 Plant Ian M. ‘The Influence of Forensic Otatory on Thucydides’ Principles of Method’ Theh Classic Quarterly, New Series, Vol. 49, No. 1 (1999), pp. 62-73. JSTOR: http://jstor. o rg/stable/639489 Thucydides, History of The Peloponnesian War (1954), Trans. Rex Warner, Penguin Classics (London)

The Man Who Loved Flowers Essay

Why do people experience like killing another human being? And what are they stating themselves to do it okay? In our universe today there are a batch of slayings. Many of the slayers are convicted for their offenses so there are besides some of them who manage to steal off from the constabulary and the probe but so come the hardest sentence of them all. You will hold to populate whit the guilt of what you have done for the remainder of your life because you can non state anybody. The chief character in the narrative â€Å"The Man Who Loves Flowers† by Stephen King from 1977. Acts of the Apostless like it is no large trade possibly his greatest sorrow is that he will ne'er see his one true love. Norma. once more. The chief character is a immature adult male. who appears to be in love. He wears a Grey suit and a tie that is pulled down a small. His eyes are light blue and his hair is brown and cut short. He is apparent looking. but because he is in love. people on the street think he is beautiful. We are told he is on his manner to run into his miss Norma. and it all sounds really romantic. In the get downing the narrative is sweet. it is truly romantic. Particularly in the line â€Å"The air was soft and beautiful. the sky was darkening by slow grades from bluish to the composure and lovely violet of dusk† ( p. 175. ll. 2-4 ) In this sentence there is a complete love narrative. and you expect something lovely to go on subsequently in the narrative. There are told about all those small stores. and all those happy people. the ground there are giving. is that it is spring clip and everyone is in love. But the narrative does non go on that manner in the line â€Å"It was acquiring darker now †¦ could he hold been mistaken? † ( p. 179. ll. 41-42 ) the narrative is wholly barren of painting words. and beautiful scenes. He has gone into a narrow lane with refuse tins to run into whit his girlfriend whom he brings flowers. One starts to fell the creeps. and you know the narrative can non stop good. Possibly the chief character is schizophrenic in the line â€Å"His name was love. and he walked these dark streets because Norma was waiting for him. And he would happen him. Some twenty-four hours soon† ( p. 180. ll. 24-25 ) this line is from merely after he killed the immature miss that looked like Norma but he does non care that he had merely taken another life. He is merely looking frontward to when he is traveling to run into his dead girlfriend. whom he still thinks he loves. He knows it is incorrect because when he kills her he makes certain that she does non shout. and he does it in a dark back street so no 1 knows or sees it. It truly is like the chief character has to personalities. one that is bright and in love with his dream miss Norma. the miss he hopes to run into shortly. it is the 1 he shows to the remainder of the universe and it makes everybody believe he is beautiful. The other is dark. the personality of a liquidator who kills merely because the miss he frightens screams. like Norma did when she was killed. in the same back street. The rubric of the narrative is The Man Who Loved Flowers. which when you read it makes certain that one puts peculiar attending to the florist and you think about the flower bouquet the whole clip. and particularly in the line â€Å"†¦the spill of flowers fell out of his manus. the spill spilled and broke unfastened. sloping ruddy. white. and xanthous tea roses beside the bent rubbish cans†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( p. 180. ll. 8-10 ) . where you take notice to the tea roses that seems so out of topographic point. in the dark back street with a consecutive slayer. It is opposite to the beginning where the roses seem so absolutely in topographic point with a happy adult male there is on his manner to run into his girlfriend. The flowers in this narrative highlights the passage from beautiful spring eventide where you could believe a adult male in love would by his girlfriend flowers. to a dark back street with refuse tins where 1 could ne'er conceive of a pretty corsage. Possibly the chief character. who calls himself love. putting to deaths merely to experience some exhilaration in his life once more and he tells himself that it is O.K. because he is merely looking for Norma. whom he will happen someday. finally.

Do Males and females Have Different Abilities When Estimating Size? Essay

The hypothesis is male can estimating size more exactly than female when they see the things far away from them. The result of the test supports the hypothesis. The problems that I faced are: people cannot stand at their place all the time during the test, the height of each people is different, and people cannot stay with the object with the same line. These problems caused my data error in the beginning of the experiment. This experiment is going to talk about â€Å"Do the people estimating size of the things different caused by the gender? † And the background of this science report is in the ancient time the man and the woman divided their work. The man often do things like hunting, the women do the work like planting. And why there is such a phenomenon? So, hunting exercised the vision of the male so they can shoot or hit animal accurately but planting do not help of the women vision. (SteadyHealth. com Discussion boards licensed and powered by SteadyHealth. com v4. 8. 0 Development supported by Rights Reserved  © 2004 – 2012) the hypothesis is male can estimating size more exactly than female when they see the things far away from them. Remain the distances, and the size of the object, 20 adults in the same age and the same vision as invariant tests and half of the people we tested are females. The material is a 90 cm3 size of cube. We make 1 person see and describe the size of the cube they saw when the distance between man and cube is 15 meters one by one. Then, keep the subject at the same place, move the cube let the distance to 12 meters and 8 meters.

Psychiatric Nursing care analysis Research Paper

Psychiatric Nursing care analysis - Research Paper Example At the end, a discussion of nursing management techniques for patients experiencing symptoms of depression will be examined. Current Theories in the Etiology, Presentation, and Prognosis of Depression The causes of depression are complex, but are generally understood to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors, such as a traumatic life event combined with a genetic susceptibility to hormone disruption in seratonin levels, though such a connection has not been conclusively proven (Abela & Hankin, 2008; Risch et al., 2009). There is, however, a definitive correlation between â€Å"stressful† or otherwise disruptive events and the beginnings of depressive symptoms (Risch, et al., 2009). Depression is often co-morbid to an anxiety disorder or attention deficit disorder (Luby, Belden, Pautsch, Si, & Spitznagel, 2009;Goldberg, et al., 2010). When presenting independently, these disorders are also generally risk factors for depression. Depression is also often seen as a precursor to the development of senility or dementia in older adults (Brommelhoff et al., 2009). Additionally, as well as being a symptom, insomnia in older adults is considered a risk factor for depression, though this is still controversial (Fiske, et al., 2009). Depression has two core symptoms used in diagnosis which must be experienced for at least a two week period: feelings of sadness or misery without a specific reason for such feelings, and a loss of interest in previous-enjoyed activities (Goldberg, Kendler, & Sirovatka, 2010). In older adults such as the client in this report, insomnia is a widely noted symptom, which is a converse to the hypersomnia usually noted in younger adults with depression (Nutt, Wilson, & Paterson, 2008). Other symptoms include difficulty concentrating and impaired decision-making, change in appetite or eating habits, feelings of worthlessness, and thoughts of suicide (Keenan et al., 2008). Older adults, however, are less likely to display emotio nal symptoms, and instead present with cognitive decline, motor skills impairment, and a wider range of somatic symptoms (Fiske, Wetherell, & Gatz, 2009). The prognosis of major depressive disorder is highly variable against the length of time the initial depressive episode was present. More minor presentations of the disorder behave similarly to major depressive disorder, but the patients are likely to worsen before they improve. In one study, patients with a previous history of depressive episodes lasting longer than one year were more likely to suffer from a relapse episode that would last longer than six months. This was true even if the initial episode experienced was only minor or sub-threshold depression (Gilchrist & Gunn, 2007). Sub-threshold symptoms in older adults will generally persist for at least a year and makes the person seven times more likely to develop major depression in that time frame than those who do not exhibit such symptoms (Lyness, Chapman, McGriff, Draye r, & Duberstein, 2009). Relationship of Theories to Client Behavior Given that the client has recently undergone major surgery, she is at a higher risk for depression than most of the population. Any surgery could be considered a major life event, but an open colon resection especially would be a very stressful and possibly traumatic experience for the patient, resulting in major physical changes to

Desktop and Laptop Computers Marketing in Philippines Essay

Desktop and Laptop Computers Marketing in Philippines - Essay Example In the website of CIA-The world fact book (2007) it is stated that "The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence." In dealing with this statement alone, it would give us the idea of chances in penetrating the market, since our country has made significant change in this Arizona-sized country. Despite the fact that the country is the second poorest nation in Asia (Next to Bangladesh), the country showed significant demands on the acquisition and utilization of desktop and laptop computers since the country is gearing for the digitalization of all of the offices and industries and with this events, utilization of computers is one of the need of this country. Furthermore, the world fact book of CIA described the economic overview of the country as "The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by its high level of annual remittances from overseas workers, no sustained runup in asset prices, and more moderate debt, prior to the crisis. From a 0.6% decline in 1998, GDP expanded by 2.4% in 1999, and 4.4% in 2000, but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in the context of a global economic slowdown, an export slump, and political and security concerns. Average GDP growth accelerated to about 5% between 2002 and 2006 reflect ing the continued resilience of the service sector, and improved exports and agricultural output" This kind of situation gave us enough grounds to consider that this country has the money and resources to purchase such goods. In order to further determine that the market has enough resources to shell out and to be able to determine that the product would be a hit for this country, using Hofstede's Five Dimensions of Culture as a parameter is a good pendulum to analyze the capability of this country in a cultural perspective as well as comparing it to US are important factors to be analyzed. International Marketing 3 The first thing that we should consider is the Power distance index (PDI) of the Philippines. Based on the research conducted by several non government organization and voluntary group, there is a huge distance between the rich and the poor from this country. Unanimously, these organizations concluded that less than 10 percent of the families are included in the so-called upper class of the society (the rich and famous) and the remaining 90 belongs to the B,C and D classes of the society. Among these classes, the class C and D are the ones who are the majority. In this case, it is established that the rich and the famous does have distance with each other and such a scenario suggests imbalance since less than 10 percent of the population are wealthy and the poor ones does have grater

Quiz 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Quiz 3 - Essay Example ent: conduct and demeanor of the minor at the time of the incident involved: education and training for instance whether the minor is a high school graduate: life experiences such as whether the minor is emancipated, married, pregnant, a parent, or living apart from the parents (Donna, 2011). If health care professionals determine that a minor is mature, then the minor’s choices take precedence over the parent’s choice (Dickens & Cook, 2005). However the state laws can change that if the minor’s choices go against the state’s interest. States sometimes get involved in minors’ medical care to protect the states’ interest in preserving human life, preventing suicides, protecting third parties, and maintaining the ethical integrity of medical profession, the strongest of which is preservation of human life. Medical care providers should obtain and document informed consent from all appropriate, authorized legal representatives, including the parents and the mature minor, and any authorized person because of the legitimate public concerns that underlie the evolving controversy over the right to refuse medical care (Vukadinowich, 2004). To be valid, any consent must be given by a person with the requisite legal capacity. Thus, a physician who proceeds with a treatment in conformity with a mature minor’s request and a signed agreement still might be proceeding without legal consent because the minor might lack capacity due to age. On the other hand, if a physician proceeds at the parent’s request in conformity with the best interest of a mature minor, the physician might be proceeding without consent because the minor may have legal capacity due to maturity. Piaget greatly underestimated children’s capabilities; he ignored cultural influences; several individuals never develop the capability for formal reasoning, even as grown-ups; at times children concurrently develop abilities that are characteristic of more than one stage, and this makes the

INTERNATIONAL TRADE STRATEGY AND TECHNIQUES - FINAL CASE STUDY

INTERNATIONAL TRADE STRATEGY AND TECHNIQUES - FINAL - Case Study Example The new company concentrates on the manufacturing and marketing of polymers at 20,000 tons/year. The total investment for the ventures is 12 million Euros. The sections of financing are 4 million EUR by equity financing, Export credit obtained from COFACE up to 6 million EUR and other debt financing of about 2 million EUR. The favorable and the risk factors which would be faced by owing to its joint venture with Vietchem are elaborated in the report. Question 1 Vietnam Vietnam is a developing economy which is planned with a market well connected to the other parts of the world. The economy of Vietnam has shifted their concentration from centralized planned economy to socialist market economy that employs both indicative and directive planning. After the shift, the economy has rapidly grown. The Vietnamese population has been estimated to be 87 million. This estimation includes 3 million who lives in Hanoi and in Hochiminville; the estimated number has been 9 millions. About 11 millio n of the population are working in the industry or engaged in industry related works. The unemployment rate has been 2.3%. The GDP value amounts to $300 billion with a growth rate of 5.9%. The FDI inflows have amounted to $7.4 billion. The average tariff rate of trade has been 5.7% that includes some of the non-tariff barriers which had limited the gains of trade (The Heritage Foundation, â€Å"Vietnam†). Though there have been serious efforts from the FDI but it has been hindered by the government regulations by imposing various restrictions. With the evolving capital markets of Vietnam, the financial sector has also expanded (â€Å"China struggles with the way forward on reform†). Vietnamese Market Although the Vietnamese market has shown a rapid growth, it is still extremely price sensitive. Thus if the JV has to take place, Synthenia has to face this issue. Vietnamese market is a monopoly market with only a single producer of polymers i.e. Polyviet Company Limited. The company is based in Japan and sells 80% of its end products in the Vietnamese market. The company produces polymers and their main customers are the seekers of textile glues and formulators of buildings. Thus, the JV is looking for a reliable polymer supplier with a very good Research and Development department so that the products are adequately tested (â€Å"Investing in Vietnam – A risk worth taking?†). The favorable and unfavorable factors that Synthenia will probably run into while doing business in Vietnam are elaborated in the next section. Favorable factors for investment in Vietnam For establishing an investment plan in Vietnam the chemical giant group, Synthenia will have many advantages few of which are elaborated below. Synthenia has spread its existence in the Asian market. The Asian agents and the distributors have helped the company to develop their business in Asia. So with its expansion in Vietnam, it will provide a wider Asian market for the comp any. The country had a growth rate of 4.9% in 2009 which has increased to 5.9% in 2012 and has stabilized at that point. Thus

Is water a natural right or is it a commodity Essay

Is water a natural right or is it a commodity - Essay Example Different civilizations throughout history considered water as a mutual property resource and not an open access resource. Hence there were different priorities over water usage. Drinking water had the highest priority; nobody who wanted drinking water was turned away. The community well dug by the community in general was freely used by the community. In a civilization like Rome, shows a typical example of how water was allocated when there was an actual allocation and sanitation system. They had an unrestricted water source recognized as the lacus. Here the Romans rich or poor could collect water for free. The use of lacus required one to transport the water to their private homes using their own labour and money. Then there was another kind of executive supply of water whereby the water would be delivered to the homestead via pipe for a fee. It was an actual right recognized by the Roman and the Jewish law which was known as the â€Å"Right to thirst†. This shows that human beings since the early civilization have recognized water especially drinking water as a human right and not a commodity (Branco, 150). In today’s world, international human rights and law have been put in place which acknowledges water as a human right and not a commodity. This was agreed on after a lot of discussion and debate by 122 countries. This decision was arrived at formally in 28 July 2010. This was done in a General Assembly (GA) resolution (A/64/292 which was established on draft resolution A/64/L>63/Rev.1.) It led to the UN Human Rights Council espousing an obligatory resolution that acknowledged that the human right to water and sanitation is an element of the right to a sufficient standard of living. Although it is recognized in international law it cannot be imposed in the national echelon until it’s integrated into the national legislation (Gupta, 304). This resolution confirms that the human right to nontoxic drinking water and sanitation is originat ed from the right to adequate standard of living and is inextricably tied to the right of the highest possible standard of physical and mental health, also the right to life and human dignity. This right places several responsibilities on governments. They are meant to ensure that all their citizens can access sufficient, uncontaminated water and affordable in an equal manner. Some of the uses that water should be availed for include drinking, personal sanitation, washing clothes, food preparation and personal hygiene. The States should ensure that first priority should go to personal and domestic uses over other uses. This water should be sufficient, clean affordable and accessible. Governments should also take up secondary priorities of irrigation and availing water for manufacturing in an affordable manner (International water sanitation center, 204). The number of people unable to access clean and improved sources of domestic and drinking water is 780 million and at least 2.6 bi llion lacking access to sanitation services. This shows that still a lot has to be done to make sure water is accessible to all in the planet. Other problems that have afflicted secure and accessible sourcing of water is the cross-border conflicts in the Middle East, The Eastern Mediterranean and other parts of North America. Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and researchers have tried to establish the fact that the right to water is also