Product attribute

In today’s security-conscious world, proper identification is of utmost importance. People from different sectors – from the federal and state employees, hospital workers, and the airline employees and even students, are required to wear their badges or identification cards. To keep up with the fast-paced era, BadgeWorks created badge holders, lanyards, ID chains and necklaces which are not only strong enough to withstand workday hazards but stylish and functional as well, to be used anytime of the day.The badge holders and lanyards are 30 inches long and assembled in multi-stranded wire for extra strength and durability. It comes with two plastic and metal snap clips to securely hold the badge in place. The functionality and fashionability of the badge holders is provided by the clips, which are available in oval or rectangular shapes; gold- or silver-plated. Just remove the badge and connect the clip to the plastic snaps to turn the badge holder into a double-stranded choker.The badge holders, lanyards and necklaces were manufactured using the finest products from China – the excellent quality pink and black freshwater pearls from the North; the excellent plating and casting workmanship from the South; and the specialization in beading and leather making from other regions in China all contributed to the excellent quality of this product.BadgeWorks offers a great deal for corporations who would like to avail the products in wholesale. Different styles can be made available to the client. BadgeWorks also offer customized design for a corporation, which may include corporate logos, crests, slogans, pictures or colors. At a very reasonable amount, BadgeWork could also design raised or stamped metal pieces, epoxy parts, leather in various sizes and colors, gems or jewels, and badge reels with custom logo or custom-printed lanyards.Products are packaged in lovely drawstring organza bags for added fashion sense.REFERENCESBadge-Works, LLC. Retri eved August 17, 2007. Website: http://www.badge-works.com.

Mission Statements

Strategic Management in a Global Context (SOP09101) MODULE LEADER Miss Grace Sharkey ASSESSMENT A Mission statements may play an important role in the strategic management process but the creation of a ‘sense of mission’ is even more beneficial to organisations Submitted by Lukas Radzevicius 20th October 2010 2201words This essay is to debate the question whether the role of a mission statement is as important and beneficial as sense of mission and if they can work as two separate functions in the strategic management process for organisations.Clear definition of mission statement and sense of mission must be understood to begin the research. Afterwards to analyse benefits and problems associated with mission statement is essential to implement this understanding into the strategic management model. So that we could finish with conclusion which will estimate importance of mission statement in organisation and its necessary connection with all levels of the company called â€Å"sense of mission†. Mission statement in some companies has a huge influence in all management levels of the firm, but in others it is still just addition on the wall and usually what’s forgotten.However the aim of this paper is to find out if sense of mission is more beneficial for organisations than mission statement, not to give a vivid view of all possible ways of mission statement realization. So when managers are asked what is the influence of mission statement in their company, can’t answer this simple question, what’s really clear, those mission statements are still relatively neglected and don’t find their way to every company’s management. Here the main problem emerges: is the mission statement needed at all, if the company can survive without it?Before answering this it is essential to clearly understand, what is meant by the mission statement. First of all it is worth saying that there are different schools of thought, one is described in term of business strategy and the other as philosophy and ethics, A. Campbell (1992). If you look closer they are deeply connected. The school of strategy presents mission as a strategic tool in its initial process of the strategy creation, it states what is the business they are in, and where is it going to be? For example well known company Google Inc. nswers this question: â€Å"to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful†. It is visible that their mission statement is their purpose connected with strategic objectives and well implemented as it is number one search tool in World Wide Web. Another school of thought which glues the company and creates a common â€Å"language† for a sense of collective unity is called philosophical school of thought. Shared values and standards of behavior are concerned to generate co-operation among employees (A.Campbell 1991). A good example for this is IBM as the foundatio n of its corporate philosophy is based on: quest for superiority in all things, dedication to service and respect for the individual. These three concepts are deeply transcendent in every employee in IBM which is global company and has different people connected for one common mission: â€Å"At IBM, we strive to lead in the invention, development and manufacture of the industry's most advanced information technologies. † Is it possible to connect these schools?Definitely yes, as the organization is a living and dynamic organism so every part of it is. The school of strategy is its head and leads toward the goals, the school of philosophy is its heart which connects all the body throughout bloodstream and actually makes it happen. To connect two schools of thought, analysis of four cores of mission statement is significantly important to see how this organism actually works. As A. Campbell and S. Yeung stated that a powerful mission statement exists only when four lements work in harmony reinforcing and supplementing each other. Purpose, Values, Strategy and Behavior Standards are those essential parts. To state a good mission statement it is a must to create a good purpose which aims at a higher ideal, Starbuck’s environmental mission statement determines their internal obligations, and their influence on the supply chain is so significant that it places emphasis on their role in influencing their partners. Purpose is the answer to the question, why this company exists?It is noticeable that in this example the purpose which doesn’t aim to stakeholder’s selfish interests tends to bind organization together and leads it to its higher aimed goal. To lead a good purpose it is necessary to provide commercial logic which will cover the competitive position and distinctive competences of the firm, A. Campbell (1992) such as Ryanair which does not announce their mission statement, but as Jack Welch's once said, â€Å"Strategy, then, is sim ply finding the big aha and setting a broad direction† for Ryanair, is simply to continue being the largest Cheap Flights leader in European market.Exercising this leadership is a sum of great individual tactics, including attitude to low cost priority in every part of process, standardization of services and products, including other tactics which creates Ryanair a high competitive rival. This strategy defines the segment of the sector in which company exists and states the way it is going to be superior. Both purpose and strategy are only thoughts and logical conclusions of some abstract idea of the company, to bind them together behavior standards which convert that thought into action and lets the employees to feel what they should do in day to day basis.As Hilton Hotels group states: â€Å"We will be the preeminent global hospitality company – the first choice of guests, team members and owners alike† it is clearly visible as it is world’s leading lux urious hotels taking in account quality, scope of services, care of their employees and worldwide spread. In book â€Å"Emotional Intelligence† By Daniel Goleman, it is clearly stated that humans are mostly driven by their emotional – right brain logic, than rational-left brain logic.This is important to understand as we all are living beings and to find the satisfaction in job we are doing we must feel it with our â€Å"emotional side of the brain† and connect it with rationality to find an ultimate goal we are looking for – same values of ours, synchronized with company’s. As A. Campbell (1991) once said that company’s culture is the moral principles and faith in values. Values are sense for behavior standards and norms for the firm, they connect company as â€Å"right brain† they create connection between purpose, strategy and behavior standards.A good mission statement will always have those connections strongly linked together. A s Virgin Atlantic mission statement: † To grow a profitable airline†¦ Where people love to fly†¦ And where people love to work. † Every part of four elements is clearly visible. Strategy- profitable airline, behaviour standards- people love to work and purpose- people love to fly. To sum up and state that a powerful mission applies only when four elements are linked together, how the body can’t survive without a heart or brains, so the mission must have a strong logical background and deep connection within its emotional base.Easiest way to see it is to look at the links of value system and strategy and if that link can be acted through behavior standards to aim the purpose, the strong mission statement is created and efficiently implemented. However mission can be discussed without emotions and that’s what is usually done when the creation of mission is held in top levels of company which are usually aimed to profit, expansion, coverage or other â€Å"selfish† aims.Strategy is the guideline for this commercial behavior, however strategy is narrower concept than mission which has values and purpose aimed towards good purpose. Strong mission statement is than its emotional base is supported with rationality, and then there are gaps, mission statement is inefficient. Now than we understand what is a mission statement and what are the core elements, it is worth considering what is a relation between practice and theory, strategy and philosophy, tool and a manager.Mission statement is still something to discover and to understand, but if you speak about â€Å"sense of mission† it’s something that everybody feels, but can hardly describe it in words. Campbell and Yeung (1991) discovered that people’s emotional devotion to their firm was strongest when employee’s values and the company’s values are moving the same way. To describe this in intellectual way is very difficult because sense of mission is not a technology or an asset it is just an idea, deep and emotional individual feeling.Person with a sense of a mission has commitment and emotional attachment, which we found makes a greater influence then rationality to the company’s performance if it stands for the same values and tries to do its best reaching the purpose. It is worth considering the role of sense of mission which can be described throughout benefits of mission statements. To reach organizational success mission statement connected with employees via sense of mission benefits the company in many ways.First of all, as a rational tool, starting point for many organizational strategies, mission statements were used for many companies. Bart (2001), Campbell (1997) had an idea that to bring a common view and discuss differences between senior managers’ mission statements were used as medium. As well as emotional connector, German and Cooper (1990) shared view and explained that it can synchro nize all management levels including employees, Klemm (1991) perceived mission as communication tool for a company, covering internal and external fields (employees and investors etc. . Bartkus (2000) came up with the finding that the mission statement which is worth consideration as a good one will definitely describe what is the business of the company and will show the direction of where it is heading. If we perceive mission statement as a tool it is always a chance that it can be used incorrectly or even foolish. But then the right people use the right tools to reach their objectives the tool benefits in its best form.It is worth considering if the tool is the really one that we need, if we need it all, Tahir Sufi and Howard Lyons questions this in their article â€Å"Mission Statements Exposed†. The main objective was to find if the mission statement has a connection with a firms financial performance and after researching 200 biggest brands in hospitality sector the res ults showed that: â€Å"significant correlation between the mission statements and the annual turnover, there was no significant correlation with the net profit margin or the return on equity† (T.Sufi and H. Lyons, 2003). Now it is clear that mission statement benefits organization in leading it towards main goals, but we can insight and some problems in this, there are no tangible ways to describe the effects of mission statement and mission statements can be used in many different ways so it doesn’t have the â€Å"right† way of doing it correctly, as the organisation is a dynamic so mission statement must adopt to every changing situation.To foresight how it works in a company it is best to look through strategic management model. In strategic management model mission statement is the tool which helps to create a concept of the company as a pen and a drawing paper for an architect. It influences all management levels, beginning with employees whereas positivel y affected employee behaviour influenced by commitment and established internal policies has an impact on financial account, Bart et al. (2001).And other functional areas which lead organization towards competitive success thought commitment. It is clear that mission statement which has a clear purpose and direction will positively influence firm performance. Rigby (1994) reported that in US, mission statements is considered as the tool used the most out of 25 available options, this research was done in 500 companies. So as mentioned before if this tool is used by someone who is a professional can make a significant impact for the performance of the company.To conclude and to answer the question whether the role of a mission statement is as important and beneficial as sense of mission and if they can work as two separate functions in the strategic management process for organisations it is worth saying that after research what is clearly visible that sense of mission can’t s urvive without strong mission statement and they can’t work towards organizational success as two separate functions. Basically, mission statement is created to capture and convey the main purpose of the firm to answer the question, why this organisation exists?In strategic management model it is pivotal point for a start and afterwards to effect connection of every management level and to influence commitment towards the main goal. This connection can be called â€Å"sense of mission† the level of commitment towards the main goal. Research shows that the main objective shouldn’t be selfish and created for the top level of the company as it is implemented through all stages of the firm. It is ironic than corporation focuses on its shareholders, it is those same stockholders who really lose in the end.

To what extent does the internet represent a more democratic medium of Assignment

To what extent does the internet represent a more democratic medium of information - Assignment Example that when the history of the 20th and 21st century will be written, internet would be labelled as the major stimulus that shaped this era and many of the developments that have been witnessed by these generations (Gaur, 2006, p. 57). Over the past few years, citizens from various developed countries in the world have become extremely cynical and sceptical of their government, traditional forms of media and governmental institutions for any information. Therefore, these people usually extend greater trust and credibility over the internet, which they are increasingly using to fulfil their information needs. Furthermore, many political parties and politicians, realising the power of internet are using the internet to their advantage (Bennett & Entman, 2000, p. 214). The rise of several populist parties in Europe, some of which now enjoy considerable representation within the parliaments of Denmark, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Netherlands, Spain, Latvia, Slovakia, Greece and others, have been able to transform their parities because of their extensive reliance over social media (Salter, 2003, p. 118). Since the internet has the ability to reach billions of people all over the world and absorb their opinions, viewpoints and ideas, the general opinion amongst the public is that internet is a populist and democratic tool. From the surface, it might appear that internet is a highly democratic medium, as it is so diverse, huge, far reaching and dynamics that nobody can control it (Gaur, 2006, p. 57). However, a closer examination makes it apparent that the internet has deeply embedded structural inequalities. For example, consider the fact that the most developed countries in the world, which account for only 16 percent of the world’s population, control 97 percent of all internet hosts (Bennett, 2007, p. 259). Interestingly enough, the 100 least developed countries in the world have only 5 percent of the internet hosts of Iceland. Nevertheless, proponents of

Working With a Family Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Working With a Family - Article Example This essay stresses that the migrants are given the opportunity of quality houses and also other social resources. More so, the migration network always paves way for the new migrants to gain information that is related to other economic opportunities and employment that is known to them. For the Political Reasons, these migrants tend to move from one country to another by force. This is due to the constellation of the various interrelated political events like violent persecution, war, oppression, tribal conflicts or unresolved religious and, life-threatening conditions. This paper makes a conclusion that there are three non-mutually principal motive that explain the differences of the migrants. More so, there are also theoretical explanations that can facilitate effective intervention and practice among the policy planners and social work practitioners. These are: Social Assistance, Legal Support and Social support. These are just ways in which these migrants can be supported in three deferent ways. For social support for example, there can be a widely establish social network that can help the migrants to secure jobs within their reach. For legal support, migrants; legal status are of great influence to their adaptation in the society. Economic Assistance involves the ability to improve the lives of the migrants. As a social worker, these are the things that should be given first priority when dealing with migration issues that affects the migrants.

The Importance of My Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Importance of My Values - Essay Example Moral values help maintain harmony and unity and are communally shared. These values are picked up in the course of growing up and personal perception is an important factor in their development. One of my moral values is courage and this helps me to do things even when the incumbent circumstances are unpleasant. Self-control is a moral value the helps me to take charge of my actions, emotions and thoughts. Integrity is another one of my moral values and this helps me to be convinced of the truth and to stand, courageously, by it without giving in to unnecessary pressure (Doty, 2006). Non-moral values are principles of behavior that do not apply morals. These values have to do with intentions and desires that are largely independent of moral obligation. However, these values are also moral and decisions that are made based on them can have moral consequences. One of my non-moral values is winning and I like it when I confront challenges and surmount them. Reputation is another non-moral value that I cherish and it pleases me when I meet renowned people and I aspire to be like them. Appreciation is an integral non-moral value in me and I take pleasure in acknowledging other people when they do something good and when other people compliment me. The non-moral value of money makes me endeavor to earn enough money to support others who may depend on me and me (Keech, 2000). Social values are beliefs and qualities that are shared within a group of people or a given culture. A society’s approval of a given quality or belief is what constitutes a social value even though other societies might disapprove that quality or belief. Social values shape the preferences and priorities of the members of a society and provide the criteria for determining the acceptability of a behavior in a group. The social value of moderation helps me to remain within acceptable limits of the things I do. Generosity is a social value that helps me to extend

LABOUR MARKET POLICY The essay should be a maximum of 1400 words in

LABOUR MARKET POLICY The should be a maximum of 1400 words in length - Essay Example Since the agent represents the persona of the company, principles should selectively hire agents that can best represent their agenda. This relationship can be ideal when the agent is an expert in the field and displays allegiance to the principle. However, if overall goals aren’t uniformed then problems can arise. In order to minimize misunderstandings, informal or formal contracts, that explain what is expected of the agent, should be given to the agent and firmly enforced. The principle should ensure that vital language is inserted in the agreement to protect and promote the principle’s agenda. For corporations, which are your larger principles, human resource managers should be hired to maximize employee output. Authors David E Dimick and Victor V. Murray (1978: 611) in their article â€Å"Correlates of Substantive Policy Decisions in Organizations: The Case of Human Resource Management† defines human resource managers as personnel management which facilitate various organizational objectives. One responsibility of the human resource manager is the implementation of personnel practices that fit the specific needs of the employer. The human resource managers are directly responsible for the hiring of most qualified employees that display the most appropriate levels of capabilities. Thus the human resource manager should act in the best interest of the principle and formulate agency policy that benefits the behalf of the principle. Since human resource managers act as intermediaries between the corporate principle and agent, they should have in-depth knowledge of specific task demands. Knowing what is needed to ensure flow of operations, human resource managers should modify agency policy to include clear language to the agent of the expectations to their duties and expectations of the principle. According to the authors Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal

Professional Portfolio and Self-Marketing Plan Term Paper

Professional Portfolio and Self-Marketing Plan - Term Paper Example Solid nursing experience that includes admissions, assessments, treatment, referral, and education for a broad range of patients. Widely recognized as an excellent care provider and patient advocate. Demonstrated ability to assist healthcare team members to provide quality patient care. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills. Extreme accuracy in patient history, charting, and other documentations. Proficiencies: Patient care advocate Intravenous therapy Care plan administration Patient/family education Ante partum, Mother/Baby, and Pediatrics Status post surgical care Lactation counseling Career Experience Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA (Contractor) December 2008 to December, 2010 Registered Nurse in the Mother/Baby unit of the facility delivering a complete range of RN services and expertise in assessments, admissions, referrals, extensive plans of care, administer medications, assist physicians, IVs, IV antibiotics, blood transfusions, wound care, lacta tion counseling, education of patients/family members, and accurate documentation of patient history, medication, and treatment. Carteret General Hospital, Morehead City, NC September 2006 to October, 2008 Staff Nurse in Ante partum, Mother/Baby, and Pediatrics. ... Have experience in fetal monitoring, doppler, and fetal tracking. Prepared equipment/supplies and assisted physicians during examinations and treatment. When designated, acted in Charge Nurse capacity. Raleigh Children & Adolescents Medicine, Raleigh, NC October, 2001to August 2006 Delivered a complete range of RN service and expertise in the clinic environment. Accurately obtained and documented patient history and medication, assisted physicians during examinations/treatment, handled referrals and admissions, and extensive interaction with patients and family members, staff, and physicians. Rex Wellness Center, Raleigh, NC September, 2000 to May, 2003 Part-time lifeguard and receptionist at the wellness center. Covered the front desk, greeted clients, and assisted with membership enrollment of the center. Triangle Pool Management Company, Raleigh, NC May, 1996 to September 1999 Pool manager and lifeguard (part-time). Wal-Mart Pharmacy, Raleigh, NC February 1996 to May 1998 Pharmacy tech (part-time). Educational Background Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN (2001) Barton College Wilson, North Carolina Currently Enrolled in Masters Program in Nursing Licensure Licensed Registered Nurse (RN), State of North Carolina (License Number 193770) Course/Certifications Nursing Tutorial and Consulting Nurses in the New Decade Legal Issues in Nursing Advance Charge Nurse Development Stress, Depression, and Pain Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) Pediatric Advance Life Support Certification (PALS) NRP Certification Certified Lactation Counselor Honors/Awards Member of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing Numerous Customer Service Awards (Portsmouth Naval Medical Center) Admiral Commendation Letter Courses Completed NUR 553: Issues in Healthcare Informatics

Cheap Escape v. Haddox and Tessman Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cheap Escape v. Haddox and Tessman - Case Study Example This case was brought before the Franklin County Municipal Court, State of Ohio. The municipal court awarded a default judgment, in favor of Cheap Escape. The municipal court denied Tessman’s motion to vacate. Tessman appealed. Judgment was reversed by the appeals court and remanded for dismissal (p. 1, 2). Issues Presented or Questions of Law Does the municipal court have jurisdiction over subject matter when relevant events occurred outside the county (Cheap Escape Co., Inc. v. Haddox, L.L.C., 2008)? Arguments or Objectives of the Parties Appellant argues that â€Å"the municipal court has subject-matter jurisdiction over any statutorily prescribed action, regardless of where underlying events occurred. Conversely, Appellee argues that the phrase (original jurisdiction within its territory), limits subject-matter jurisdiction to those actions which occurred within the territorial limits of the court† (p. 3). Holding/Rule of Law â€Å"R.C. 1901.18(A) limits municipal court subject-matter jurisdiction to actions or proceedings that have a territorial connection to the court† (p.6). â€Å"The parties admittedly did not have territorial connections to the Franklin County Municipal Court†, (so) the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction† (p. 6). Judgment of the municipal court is void for lack of jurisdiction and the holding of the court of appeals is affirmed (p. 6).

Associate Program Material Essay Example for Free

Associate Program Material Essay Hard Drive Hard drives are complex storage devices in a computer. When installing a hard drive, you must consider numerous interface standards. You also must think about specific factors, such as the computer’s application, the type of motherboard, speed and noise, gigabyte barriers, subsystems, future storage needs, and archival issues. Refer to Ch. 8 of A+ Guide To Managing Maintaining Your PC for a deeper understanding of these issues. You may measure hard drive performance by looking at three different sources of information. The first is the data rate, the number of bytes per second the driver can deliver to the processor. The second is the seek time, the amount of time it takes when the processor requests information from the driver and the first byte of information is delivered to the processor. The third is the memory capacity of the hard drive. For this assignment, you replace the internal hard drives from the computer featured in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS). The current internal hard drives are old and starting to fail. You need to replace the current hard drives with similar drives or drives with more storage capacity. Search the Internet for three types of hard drives compatible with the CHS computer, and enter your information for each drive into the New Hard Drive Chart below. After comparing the two drives, make a recommendation on which you would purchase and justify your decision. You only have a budget of $45 to work with, so choose carefully.

Gangsters in Malaysia Essay Example for Free

Gangsters in Malaysia Essay Longman dictionary 2005 defines gangsters as member of violent group of criminal. Gang Identifiers and Terminology, Cantrell, Mary Lynn, Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Problems (1992) defines gangsters as organized crime that Bootlegging activities such as importing or making illegal liquor and speakeasies where alcohol could be illegally purchased gave rise to rivalry that resulted in hired gangs of criminals and gun battles. Thompson, Tony. Gangs: A Journey into the heart of the British Underworld. (2005) London defines gangsters as a member of an organized group of criminals or racketeers. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gangsterism (2004) defines gangsterism as Subscribing to a course of action reminiscent of organized crime. Acting or conducting business in a way that is violent and totally without conscience. Acting like a gangster/thug/hoodlum. Running business or holding a high government position with the help of hired guns, intimidation and the occasional assassination. wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangsterism (2009) defines gangsterism as a gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. History of Criminal Gang in Malaysia Who Are the Triads Identified? article at mynewsfocus.com (2005) stated that it is believed that Sio Sam Ong which literally means Three Little Emperors is a leading Chinese triad in Malaysia was established during the 1940’s to 1950’s; being mainly active in northern Malaysia. According to Wikipedia, A wide variety of historic gangs, such as the The Order of Assassins, Adam the Lepers gang, Indian Thugs, Chinese Triads, Snakehead, Japanese Yakuza, Irish mafia, American Old West outlaw gangs, Russian mafia and Italian Mafia crime families have existed for centuries. One of notorious gangsters in Malaysia was [2]Mamak Gang which has been active since the early 1990s. Gangsters Behavior and Activities The Star wrote in its article about Gangsterism, Gangsters are a threat to society and you can be considered a gangster if you are involved in any of these activities: Extort money from shop owners, hawkers and the like. Receive payment for threatening others or to beat someone up. Protect/cover-up gambling, prostitution, and drug trafficking syndicates. Ransom people for money. Be a part of organized crime. Force anyone to join a gang and its illegal activities. Attend a gang’s swearing-in ceremony. Engage in â€Å"table talk† or a fight with other gang members. Beat people up or destroy property of those who refuse to follow the gang’s commands. Gangsterism Amongst Youth in Malaysia [3]Yayasan Da’wah Foundation Malaysia (2007) in its article about â€Å"gangsterism amongst youth†, it is indeed saddening to witness our children change from a loving person, obedient and loyal to a person that likes to hurt, bully, shout, ill mannered, aggressive, rude and could not care less about others. They are involved in gangsters since their early age. There is a case where a father from Seremban called in the police and accused them of holding on to his son. That is the only thing that he could do. Just imagine how painful it was. Each group of gangsters have a symbol and of their own. It does not matter whether they are new or whether it is relevant the world of gangsterism, they all have a logo, a signal or a sign of their own. If you child waves to his friend in an explicit manner, be warned. Other than that, absenteeism from school maybe one of the indications that they have joined a gangsters organization. Internal Security Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop in an article by Daily Express on Wednesday, July 28, (2004) said that the Emergency Ordinance (Public Order and Crime Prevention) 1969 can be enforced on students involved in extortion and gangsterism. [4]Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop also commented that there were 1,502 cases in 2000, 1,324 cases in 2001, 1,136 cases in 2002 and in 2003 1,429 cases were reported. Among crimes usually committed by students were murder, robbery, rape, housebreaking, theft, using force, molest and receiving stolen property. In 2000, there were 1,152 cases involving students aged between 13 and 15, and 1,398 cases involving student aged between 16 and 18. The police always made efforts to overcome the problem of crimes among students by giving lectures and holding exhibitions at schools to increase student awareness on crimes and drugs and encourage students to join [5]Police Cadets to enhance their discipline and launch special operations to check unhealthy activities at entertainment outlets. Ways to Prevent Gangsterism Yayasan Da’wah Foundation Malaysia (2007) in its article about â€Å"gangsterism† amongst youth stated that several ways to prevent gangsterism. Studies indicate that the prime cause for children joining gangsters today is due to being able to collect money easily; to acquire drugs and to see protection. Some youths are bullied into joining. If they are afraid, or feel shame and easily bullied, their friends may threaten them by saying, â€Å"If you do not join our group, watch out! However if you are together with us, we will protect you and we will make you rich and feared!† Love Your Children. Just because he has made a mistake, do not leave him to fend for himself or to allow him to go astray. He will become more involved in social crimes. Just reflect over having a child delivering drugs for a group in comparison to your friend’s child who ends up becoming a doctor. You will most certainly ask as to where did you go wrong? You are only wrong if you neglect the well being of your child. Self-Confidence. Instill within your child with something that can never be changed, notably, confidence in himself. It has been proven that children that possess a high degree confidence in themselves are not involved in gangsterism. Parental Love. Parental love from the very beginning is very important in the shaping of your child’s future. If there is little love at home, then it will be sought off elsewhere. The same is applicable to money. If they do not receive it, they will seek it elsewhere. Make sure that you always are concerned and observe who your child mixes with and know where he is every time. If he has a cell phone, check if he has switched it off so that you c annot call him.

Deontology And Consequentialism Case Analysis

Deontology And Consequentialism Case Analysis Why did they receive bonuses when their institutions had billions of euros in losses? Why did they get large pensions after they had to be fired? (International Bar Association, 2010, p108). A lot of questions arose when it became clear that Multi-National companies, especially in the financial sector, were giving out bonuses to employees while they received financial funds from the government or were in desperate need of financial aid. Many people were angry with the fact that employees and highly placed bankers collected bonuses despite the fact that many believed they did not do a good job at countering the financial crisis or financial uncertainty in their firm. Some even believe these people were the cause of the whole economic instability. Many different countries are looking for solutions to prevent companies of awarding their employees with bonuses while there is no genuine reasons for. (Watson, 2009). According to Haag and Muller (IBA, 2010), bonuses should not depend on solely the individual performance or contribution of a particular employee, but should be based on the performance of a department or even the whole institution. In this essay, I will address if an international business has the right to grant their employees bonuses, even whilst the corporation is monetarily healthy or is being supported by state funds. To address this dilemma and view it from an ethical perception, I will use two well known theories in the world of philosophy. These are deontology and consequentialism. Deontology is a theory that concentrates itself in making choices that are morally required, prohibited or just (Moore and Alexander, 2007). In this case, this theory questions if multinational companies are in fact morally righteous towards their employees or morally wrong towards the public, as in deceiving the population or hiding the truth of what really happened or what has not occurred yet. Deontologists believe in acting in the sense of the right thing to do, no so much in the judgment of the good thing to do. In other words, no matter how good an decision might be, if it would not be the right thing to do, that action should not be made. There are two main deontological theories; Agent-Centered theories and Patient-Centered teories. The Agent-Centered theory explains that the moral choices people make are decided by personal duty and acceptance (Alexander, Moore, 2007). For example, it is a parents duty to treat his or her child as more important than other people, but, other adults have no responsibility to treat that parents child more different than anyone else. To simplify it even more, it is alright for the parent to save his or her own child even if that could be the cause of harmful or disastrous consequences for other peoples children. In case of Patient-Centered deontology, this theory centers itself among the rights of individuals, instead of personal duty and obligation. Individuals have the right not to be used for moral good if that would be against their will (Alexander, Moore, 2007). In other words, causing harm to someone in order to do good, that would not be morally possible without permission from that person to harm him or her. Deontologists are fond of this way of thinking because it gives them permission to keep family and friends safe even when causing danger to others. This brings a pretty big disadvantage to this theory, people can become irrational in making decisions just for the sake of having a duty or permissions to do so. The exact opposite of deontology would be consequentialism. A consequentialist consider this theory to be applied to situations about moral rightness of acts that solely depends on the consequences of those acts for them to be morally right (Armstrong, 2006). In other words, it an act does or does not bring out the best consequences, this means an act is morally right or wrong. Everyone agrees that the consequences of our actions matter morally, but some people think that only the consequences matter (Mason, 2009). Consequentialism is one of many different diverse claims under the name of classic utilitarianism. Actually, classic utilitarianism is divided into eleven claims that creates this theory. This many claims makes this theory a difficult one to understand at first. There is one major difference between consequentialism and Deontology; according to consequentialists some we should never do whatever the consequences are. However, deontologists believe some things can be done because it is their duty to do so, even when the consequences are very negative. This because deontologists following Immanuel Kants moral philosophy state there are rules to be following no matter what the consequences are according to Johnson (2009). To determine what theory does or does not apply the most towards the dilemma of this essay, whether companies are to be restricted or not from them granting bonuses to their employees. In an ideal world, the perfect solution would be the satisfaction of each side, whether that side is in favor for bonuses or not. Not granting employees bonuses at all would definitely diminish their motivation and dedication for the company, thus resulting in a less stable company. However, giving the full hundred percent bonus to employees, while not deserving this, because they did a poor job, would negatively affect the public. As Haag (IBA, 2010) said, when the public became aware of the large amounts of bonuses paid, while they were supported by large capital injections by the government, this resulted in a logical reaction of anger. If we should believe a deontological explanation of this dilemma, a reasonable argument could be that employees that receive excessive bonuses should take responsibility for doing poor job, and eventually should decide not to accept the bonus from their employers. Why should these employees be rewarded with a sum of money they do not deserve? However, not all employees are the cause of a possible financial instability of a company. Bad leadership, bad decisions or just the lack of ability to communicate and/or delegate could have be the cause of this financial instability in a company. Not all employees ranging in the organizational structure are to blame as some might have done an excellent job, without knowing the company was in dire need of financial funds. These people should not be punished for their act of not knowing what was going on in the company. If we relate this dilemma to the actual theory of deontology, and especially the agent-centered theory behind this philosophy, it seems that the people responsible for causing financial instability in their company have no interest in their company whatsoever. It is supposed to be their duty to act in the best interest for their company. However, it seems they only seem to act selfishly for their own good; make the most money, related to the bonus system, in the smallest amount of time possible for their own gain. On the other hand, if we would look at consequential reasoning, arguments might be perceived totally different. For instance, employees that get bonuses are more satisfied and thus are more motivated and dedicated to the company they work for. This would result in a more stable, pleasant and reliable company to be working for. On the other hand, bad publicity for companies that grant unacceptable bonuses could result in even worse financial conditions they were originally in. There is a chance there is no longer faith in a company that has no purpose for society to exist. It only causes the society trouble as they probably have to pay taxes for the debt caused by the company, however, this would only be in extreme cases if the company would be on the verge of insolvency. To counter and regulate the excessive bonuses being awarded to employees, bonus taxes were introduced by governments. Many employees believe there was no regulation according to Mueller (IBA, 2010). It was an exceptional chance to exploit the financial markets, without knowing what kind of consequences could come from making such actions. Culture, miscommunication and manipulation within an organization or department are also aspects that are needed to be questioned in order to make a decisive statement. In the end, it is not the system which is good or bad, most likely it are people/employees that can or cannot, on whichever level within an organization, handle these very important responsibilities. I would recommend an consequentialist view on the decision of the introduction of the bonus system in (non-)commercial companies. Recommendation IBA: International Bar Association (2010). A survey of current regulatory trends. Johnson, Robert. (2008) Kants Moral Philisophy. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-moral/ Watson, J. (2009). Bonus Culture. http://www.ibanet.org/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleUid=0EACCDBE-287B-473C-BBE6-A550508F7804 [Accessed 25/10/2010] Armstrong, W, S. (2006) Consequentialism. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consequentialism/ [Accessed 26/10/2010] Alexander, L. Moore, M. (2007) Deontological Ethics. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-deontological/#AdvDeoThe [Accessed 26/10/2010] Mason, E. (2009). What is consequentialism? http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=1fid=3331492jid=THIvolumeId=8issueId=21aid=3331484 [Accessed 04/11/2010]

Love in twelfth night Essay -- essays research papers

Love in twelfth night In the play twelfth night, Shakespeare covered three types of love : Lust, true love and brotherly love. Love is one of the most confusing and most misunderstood emotions that we as humans posses. Love is an extremely diverse emotion which is why it was used as the main topic in twelfth night. Lust, which is probably one of the most confusing types of love was an apparent subject in twelfth night.There are many reasons why one would lust, one could be because you are attracted to a specific quality of a person or could maybe only like there looks or even just thing like there charisma. Shakespeare showed lust between Orsino and Olivia. Even though Orsino had not met or even seen Olivia, he was still madly in love with her. Lust is defined as an intense but temporary wanting of a persons attention or love. Orsino tried to capture the heart of Olivia through out the play, and lusted for her because he was attracted by her grieving for her family. It was thought by Orsino that She would have an intense love for him if she loved her family so much. As the play moves forward, Orsino actually meets Olivia but he loses his lust for her, and instead loves Viola ( formerly Cesario). Shakespeare also used lust between Malvolio and Olivia. Malvolio thought that Olivia had fallen in l ove with him (as the reader knows this was a joke being played on Malvolio). This grew a larger ego bubble on Malvolio. He thought that she truly wanted his love, and thusly his ego ...

Pro-wrestling In The Nineties :: essays research papers fc

Pro-Wrestling In the Nineties   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A worldwidae phenomenon has swept our worlds people. It has sold out huge stadiums every Monday, Tuesday, and once a month Sundays. This phenom is called Pro-Wrestling, and it seems to have a death grip on today’s youth. I for the most part am an avid fan of wrestling and consider myself very knowledgeable on this subject. That is why I feel that I am able to show an unbiased view of wrestling and what happens behind the scenes, and around children’s homes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The company called WWFE (World Wrestling Federation Enterprises) went from a small company into a huge corporation basically overnight, and then drifted into obscurity again. The WWF’s first popularity influx occurred in the mid 1980’s due to a man called Terry Boella, better known as Hulk Hogan. His charisma and basic likeability made people take a liking to his character right away. Hogan was quoted as saying, â€Å"I am happy that I can bring the business that I have put my blood, sweat, and tears into straight up to the top of the world† (Hogan) Unfortunately, Vince McMahon, the CEO of the WWF, was involved in a scandal that shocked the world. He was handing out steroids to his employees, in order to make them bigger and more intimidating. This was certainly a blow to the up and coming corporation, although Mr. McMahon was quoted as saying â€Å"any publicity is good publicity†, this was definitely the wrong type of publicity he nee ded. This scandal drove away many of the WWF’s fans, which were children whose parents didn’t want them to watch.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now, over 10 years after those initial scandals, the popularity of the corporation has risen to never before seen heights. Every day they earn millions of dollars on merchandising. Not to mention the amount they get for selling commercial time during their programs, which are the highest rated on cable television. All of this popularity is due to one man, Steve Austin. His hatred for authority and trust no-one attitude brought the federation into its new era. His character appealed to everyone from school children to regular businessmen. Unfortunately for the WWF this newfound popularity has also brought new problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These new problems are lawsuits, brought about by the parents of children who are injured while â€Å"wrestling†. While the shows are rated â€Å"PG14† on television parents still allow their young children to watch.

Basic Health Care Language Essay

In the space provided, write each term’s definition as used in health care. You must define the term in your own words; do not simply copy the definition from a textbook. In the space provided after each term’s definition, provide a sentence that illustrates the importance of the skill, concept, procedure, organization, or tool to which the term refers. In your explanation, you may wish to consider the following: How has it influenced health care? Why is it important to understand the appropriate application of the term or concept? Save the completed worksheet as a Microsoft ® Word document with your name in the file name. Submit the file to your facilitator. Note. You must define 10 basic health care terms in this worksheet. Therefore, in addition to the terms provided for you below, finish the additional spaces on the worksheet with terms from your reading or discussion you were not previously familiar with and had to research. Submitted by: [Type your name here.] Term Definition in your own words Use the term in a sentence as it applies to the health care industry. Treatment

Cory Ng Edsa Reaction

TITLE: Twilight Saga; Breaking Dawn AUTHOR: Stephenie Meyer DATE BOOK WAS PUBLISHED: August 2, 2008 GENRE: Fantasy, Action and Romance I. SUMMARY MAIN CHARACTERS (a few words about them) Isabella Swan – Isabella, who prefers to be called Bella, is a 17-year-old girl. She leaves Phoenix, Arizona to live with her father in Forks, Washington so her mother can travel with her new husband. She meets Edward Cullen in Forks High School and is immediately attracted to him. She later confesses to Edward what she has learned about him, which he admits to; they venture into their forbidden love, with Edward fighting against his thirst for Bella's blood.Bella has a kind and awkward personality that is more mature than most girls her age. She is highly intelligent and observant, noticing and then formulating theories about the Cullens' strange behaviors, physical features, and unusual abilities. At the novel's beginning, Bella finds, â€Å"the hardest part is making a decision, but once t he decision is made, she can easily follow. † As the novel progresses, Bella unconsciously learns how to make difficult choices and accept their consequences. Edward Cullen – Edward is a 104-year-old vampire who was transformed by Carlisle Cullen when he was near death with Spanish Influenza in 1918.He has a supernatural gift for reading people's minds. When he met Bella, he was immediately attracted to her because her thoughts are unreadable to him, and also to her strongly appealing blood scent. Edward tries to avoid Bella for own her safety, but fails. He notices Bella's attraction to him and warns her that he is dangerous. Eventually, he confesses the truth about himself to her. Since Edward's transformation into a vampire, he had never fallen in love nor believed that he needed to. He later realizes that his existence was completely pointless and without an aim.In Bella he finds compassion, love, acceptance and care. In Twilight, Edward has a pessimistic personalit y influenced by Meyer's naturally pessimistic character. His character was also influenced by Mr. Rochester of Jane Eyre who also sees himself as a monster. James – James is a vampire with an exceptional ability to track people, whether humans or vampires. His competitive character loves a challenge, and Bella's appealing scent incite him. When the Cullens react to defend her, James wants to take on biggest game of his life—hunting Bella, knowing the Cullens will oppose him.James tracks Bella to Phoenix, and phones her to say that he has taken her mother hostage in a nearby ballet studio. Bella goes there, unaware that her mother is actually safe in Florida. In the studio, James bites Bella, injecting his venom into her wrist. The Cullens arrive in time to save her and destroy James. PLOT The story begins when, The first chapter, entitled â€Å"Engaged†, starts off a few days before the wedding while Edward is off hunting leaving Bella home without him. Bella is driving a new expensive sports car, a Mercedes-Benz s600 Guardian.Edward gave it to her because her old '53 Chevy finally died. When she stops at a gas station, two men admire her car and tell her that the car hasn't been released in the United States or Europen yet. She then goes home. Bella stays in her car and uses the cell phone, that again Edward bought her, to call Seth Clearwater, a werewolf who Edward is now friends with after they fought Victoria. She asks how Jacob Black is doing. Seth tells her that Jacob, still is in his wolf form, is somewhere in Northern Canada and that he is not coming home.Bella is upset, because she just wants to see him again. She then has recollections of the night that she told Charlie about her engagement. When Bella had finally had the courage to tell her father, Charlie just assumed that Bella was pregnant. He also laughed hysterically when he realized how Bella's mother, Renee would react. But Bella's Mom took the news well, and even offer t o help with the wedding plans! Bella was shocked! When Bella goes inside the house Alice is fitting Charlie into his tuxedo for the wedding, and then says that it's Bella's turn.While she is being fitted by Alice, Bella thinks about Edward, and how nice it will be after the wedding, and the honeymoon. The wedding then comes and goes rather quickly, and the book speeds into the honeymoon. Edward takes her to Isle Esme, a present from Carlisle to Esme, off the coast of Brazil. Edward also grants Bella's wish and makes love to her. The next day they argue because Edward's passion leaves dark bruises all over Bella's body. Although Bella doesn't care about the injuries, he insists that they spend their days doing tiring activities to make her too tired for nything at night. Meanwhile, she has a dream about a small, green-eyed boy that she feels compelled to protect. Bella also finds herself constantly hungry and sick It is only until she sees a box of unused tampons that she packed that she realized that she is pregnant. She automatically becomes attached to the baby, even thought it will kill her, and Edward is worried. They rush home to the Cullen mansion, but Bella has called upon Rosalie to help protect her baby, so Edward is not allowed to go through with an abortion. Most of the story takes place (when and where)Most of the story of Breaking Dawn takes place in Forks, Washington at the Cullen house and in Bella and Edward's new cottage in the woods. There's also a short jump to Isle Esme, just off the coast of Brazil, where Edward and Bella spend their honeymoon. The main events and problems that happen are Bella and Edward get married and have a kid together. The volturi try to kill the kid but it ends up being okay. The problem in this story is when Bella becomes pregnant with Edward's child during honey moon and once Edward tells her they will get rid of it she calls Rosalie for help.She loves this baby even though it is just in her stomach at the moment and even though the baby is killing her she won't get rid of it and if anyone tries, Rosalie will take care of them. After Bella's baby is born the Volturi decide that they need to get rid of the Cullens as they are gaining too much power. They realise that saying Bella's baby is unsafe to the world of vampires and keeping it a secret would be a perfect oportunity to do this. So the Volturi come and instead of the usual fighting battle it is a battle of the minds. The story end whenWell, in the last part of Breaking Dawn†¦ Bella and Edward tuck their daughter, Renesmee, to bed. It was a happy ending The Volturi left the Cullen in peace thanks to Alice! Edward heard Bella's thought for the first time as she learnt how to push away her shield for a few seconds. And Renesmee will be with Edward and Bella FOREVER!! II. AUTHORS MAIN IDEA I think the author was trying to say that, that never lose hope just because things are really bad III. SPECIAL FEATURE One part of the book that m akes it special (or weakens it) is, When Bella and Edward get married. IV. YOUR OPINIONThis book made me feel that, Life can bring you surprises , but tou must nit give up 🙂 Wait until marriage before you have sex. No abortion, prasie your child, save and protect your child at all costs. Defend what is right, what you believe in. Help your friends defend what is right, what they believe in. and Good triumphs over evil. I would/would not recommend this book beacause, I would recommend this book because it is very interesting. We can learn many things about fantasy like vampires, how they live in their life everyday. So we should spend time reading books so we can develop our comprehensive skills.

Marijuana Impairments a Qualitative Study

Marijuana Impairments a Qualitative Study The term that knowledge is power only stands correct if your information is reliable and correct. Therefore, only some information is power, for not all information is reliable. The information we receive substantiates our belief system, and the decisions we make and how we understand the world around us. If that information is tainted by receiving misinformation/inaccuracies, such as information handed down through myths, folklore, and others’ misconceived ideals, then this information is dis-empowering to us and could be harmful to our creditability (Harris, 2010).This qualitative study is on the effects of Marijuana, and how it impairs function and inhibits motor skills. The purpose of a qualitative study is to gain knowledge from a particular social situation, event, role, group, or interaction (Creswell, 2009 p. 194). Therefore, it is an investigative process where the researcher gradually derives a conclusion from a social phenom enon by contrasting, comparing, recreating, cataloging and classifying the object of a study (Creswell, 2009, p. 194).According to Creswell (2009), in order to accomplish a qualitative study one must immerse themselves into the everyday activities of the topic/setting of the informants’ environment through continual interaction, and pursue the informants’ views and interpretations (p. 194). Qualitative research is the attempt to reconstruct the subjects’ real-world experiences. The study by Ramaekers, Kauert, Ruitenbeek, Theunssen, Schneider, and Moeller (2006) indicates that high-potency marijuana was shown to consistently impair executive function as assessed in the Tower of London (TOL) task (p. 298). In the original version of TOL, it consists of three colored balls, which must be arranged on three sticks to match the target configuration on a picture while only one ball can be moved at a time (p. 2298). The current version is computer generated images compr ised of the start and finish arrangements of balls. Every time a ball is moved counts as one step. The subject decides as quickly as possible, whether the end arrangement can be accomplished in 2, 3, 4, or 5 steps from the beginning arrangement by pushing the corresponding number coded button (Ramaekers, et al. 2006, p. 2298). The use of nine separate versions of this test were assessed and objectively reviewed. The TOL test found the executive function and planning abilities of the subjects under the influence of a high dosage of THC had their cognitive functions impaired and measured the degree of this impairment (Ramaekers, et al. , 2006). In conclusion, participants that smoked marijuana with a high THC content illustrated a consistent impairment of executive function when undergoing the TOL.The motor functions were also impaired through a decrease in the ability to track the objects when it came to â€Å"critical tracking task† (Ramaekers, et al. , 2006), along with a si gnificant decline in motor response, with impairments continuing for a period up to six hours after smoking a high level THC 500 mg/kg marijuana joint (Ramaekers, et al. , 2006, p. 2302). The study did not include subjects that were heavy daily users of marijuana in order to prevent tainting the results of this test through residual impairment by the THC already in the systems of those individuals (Ramaekers, et al. 2006). References Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Harris. R. (2010). Evaluating internet research sources. Virtual Salt. Retrieved January 1, 2012,  2011, from http://www. virtualsalt. com/evalu8it. htm. http://pewresearch. org. Ramaekers, J. G. , Kauert2, G. , van Ruitenbeek, P. , Theunissen, E. L. , Schneider, E. , & Moeller, M. R. (2006). High-potency Marijuana impairs executive function and inhibitory motor control. Neuropsychopharmacology, 31, 2296–2303

A. Racial Group Essay

1. The sociological concept of minority can be described as a a. group that experiences limitations and barriers to life’s opportunities. b. group that is numerically less than 50% of the population. c. condition defined exclusively in terms of physical traits. d. condition that does not have negative effects in a democracy. 2. Members of a minority or subordinate group a. share physical or cultural characteristics that distinguish them from the dominant group. b. have less power over their lives than do members of a majority. c. acquire membership by being born into that group. d. all of these apply 3. All of the following are processes that may create subordinate groups except: a. immigration. b colonialism. c. annexation. d. extermination. 4. Which term is used by sociologists to describe a group that is set apart from others because of obvious physical differences? a. racial group b formal group c. ethnic group d. social group 5. Which of the following is considered a racial group? a. Jews b. Puerto Ricans c. African Americans d. all of these 6. Which term is used to describe a group that is set apart from others primarily because of its national origin or distinctive cultural patterns? a. racial group b. ethnic group c. social group d. formal group 7. Ethnicity refers to a. differences in physical and mental characteristics b. racial differences. c. cultural differences. d. citizenship. 8.Which of the following is considered an ethnic group? a. Mexican Americans b. Puerto Ricans c. Irish Americans d. all of these 9. Which of the following is NOT considered an ethnic group? a. Puerto Ricans. b. Polish Americans. c. Italian Americans. d. Muslims. 10. Subordinate groups include a. Roman Catholics. b. deaf people. c. women. d. all of these 11. The concept of race is a. determined by blood type. b. biologically based on genetically isolated groups. c. predicated by skin shade increments. d. socially constructed. 12. When belief in the inheritance of behavior patterns is coupled with the feeling that certain groups are inherently superior to others it is called a. racism. b. ethnocentrism. c. prejudice. d. racial formation. 13. Racial formation refers to the a.biological merging of two races. b.creation of race-bias IQ tests. c.sociohistorical process by which racial categories are created and manipulated. d.defining of new race categories by the media. 14. Which of the following theoretical perspectives tends to emphasize how the multiple parts of society are structured to maintain its stability? a.functionalist theory b.labeling theory c.macrosociological theory d.conflict theory 15. Which of the following perspectives on race and ethnicity tends to emphasize group tensions between the privileged and the exploited? a.functionalist b.macrosociology c.microsociology d.conflict 16. The conflict perspective emphasizes a.social change. b.the exploitation of minorities by dominant groups. c. the redistribution of resources. d. all of these 17. Exaggerated generalizations about the characteristics of members of a group that do not recognize individual differences within the group are known as a.stereotypes. b.pluralities. c.self-fulfilling prophecies d.scapegoats. 18. In certain situations, we may respond to stereotypes and act on them, with the result that false definitions become accurate. This is known as the a. functionalist theory. b. exploitation theory. c. self-fulfilling prophecy. d. authoritarian personality. 19. Stereotypes are applied to a.lesbians. b.gamblers. c.people with disabilities. d.all of these 20. The formation of a subordinate-group-dominant-group relationship emerges through a.annexation. b.colonialism. c.migration. d.all of these 21. World systems theory addresses the conflict between a.nations who control wealth and nations who provide natural resources and labor. b.subordinate and dominant groups. c.religious groups around the globe. d.functionalist and conflict theory. 22. Which term refers to the physical separation of two groups of people in terms of residence, workplace, and social functions? a. pluralism b. amalgamation c. segregation d. assimilation. 23. The term melting pot refers to a.amalgamation. b.fusion. c.the formation of a new cultural entity. d.all of these 24. Pluralism refers to the existence of a.one homogeneous culture. b.social integration. c.diverse cultures co-existing in the same society. d. Black separatism 25. The development of solidarity among ethnic subgroups is called a.pluralism. b.panethnicity. c.fusion. d.marginality.

Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is a tough band of threadlike tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. The Achilles tendon is also called the calcaneal tendon. The calf muscles unite into one band of tissue, which becomes the Achilles tendon at the low end of the calf. The Achilles tendon then inserts into the heel bone. Small sacs of fluid called bursa cushion the Achilles tendon at the heel. The Achilles tendon is the largest and strongest tendon in the body. When the calf on our toes when walking, running, or jumping. Despite its strength, the Achilles tendon is also vulnerable to injury, due to its limited blood supply and the high tensions placed on it. Achilles tendon injuries are common in people who participate in these sports such as running, gymnastics, dance, football, baseball, softball, basketball, tennis, and volleyball. An Achilles tendon injury might be caused by overuse. Stepping up your level of physical activity too quickly. Not stretching enough before exercise. Wearing high heels, which increase the stress on the tendon. Problems with the feet. An Achilles tendon injury can result from flat feet, also known as fallen arches. In this condition, the impact of a step causes the arch of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons. Muscles or tendons in the leg that are too tight. Rest your Achilles tendon. Avoid all activities that strain the tendon, such as stair climbing or running. While allowing your tendon the days, weeks, or months it needs to heal, try other activities, such as  swimming. Reduce pain by icing your Achilles tendon and taking nonprescription pain relievers. Follow your physical therapy  program if one has been prescribed for you, and do gentle stretching and strengthening exercises, especially focusing on  calf stretches. Do not smoke or use other tobacco products. Smoking slows healing, because it decreases  blood supply. Wear footwear that protects the tendon while it is healing. Quality athletic shoes that support your arches and cushion your heels can make a big difference in your daily comfort and the healing process. If needed, talk to your physical therapist  about heel pads. A bandage that keeps your foot  flexed can restrict the motion of the Achilles tendon. A silicone sleeve or pad can distribute pressure on the Achilles tendon.

Art, Literature, and Music in 20th Century Essay

Art, Literature, and Music in 20th Century - Essay Example I feel that the best example of a poet’s response to the devastation of war comes from Owen (1921) who wrote a poem titled Dulce et Decorum Est. The poem shows the horror of war and how useless a death can be if it is based on a lie that death which comes by fighting for one’s homeland is sweet. The First World War was death caused by mechanised warfare where machines and the number of bullets fired became more important than anything else. Owen’s poem is written from the viewpoint of a man who was involved in real battle and saw his friends die around him from gas warfare.The poem begins with a group of soldiers walking away from the battlefield who are attacked with chlorine gas. As try to quickly put on their gas masks, one of them is not quick enough and the poet sees him die a very horrible death (Owen, 1921). Owen writes blank verse with loose iambic pentameter which gives his poem the feel of being disjointed. This is most evident in the ending of the poem where he describes the death of the soldier to the reader using imagery such as lungs filled with blood and lifeless bodies.

Discussion and Respond. 3 Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion and Respond. 3 - Dissertation Example Effective communication is required for interdependence in business. In order to understand a business or any of its operation, a manager needs to study a situation by talking to the insiders. This talking in actual means listening and extracting the domain information till complete comprehension is achieved. Only when the problem is understood can an effective and valuable solution be reached at. So the concept is basically to listen first before speaking. Managers can adopt the technique during the performance reviews of the workers. By listening to the workers problems, a better understanding of workers problems and goals can be achieved. This can be aligned with the goals of company, and practical strategies aiming at increased productivity can be reached at. 5. Give an example of how a Manager cans Model Behavior? A manager can perform a certain behavior in order to show the employees how they are expected to behave too which guides them through the imitation process of the mode led behavior. For instance, instead of telling the employees what to do, a manager can take out time to sit with them and show the proper way of doing things. By pairing them up with the experienced employees, manager motivates the inexperienced staff to ask questions and learn from the experienced resources. By communicating professionally and courteously, a manager motivates a culture where the subordinates behave in a similar manner with their lower staff.

Discuss the relevant advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and Essay

Discuss the relevant advantages and disadvantages of quantitative and qualitative methods in the context of real estate research - Essay Example Nowadays, independent research and innovative solutions are provided by a number of companies that have resulted in the noteworthy advancement of the real estate industry. Such companies provide independent fiduciary services, information related to investment opportunities, litigation, counseling, and research services that facilitate the real estate providers in various capacities. (Dalphin, pp. 16-19) In this sector of real estate research, it is very imperative that such companies may have access to detailed knowledge and data related to the trends of real estate industry, as it is very important that proper research should be carried out to provide investment opportunities to the clients. All these companies have to continue their research and keep it up to date, in order to survive in the real estate industry. In this regard, proper methodologies of research play an important and crucial role in acquiring proper information according to the requirements of the clients and customers. In this paper, some of the research methodologies will be described, discussed, and compared, in order to understand the effectiveness, strengths, and weaknesses of the techniques that will be helpful for the real estate industry in the future. In terms of definition, quantitative properties and their relationships are investigated scientifically in a systematic manner with the facilitation of quantitative methodology during a research project. In addition, mathematical models and hypotheses are developed and employed during the quantitative research. One of the concerns during the implementation of a quantitative methodology is that natural phenomena are considered during the employment of different hypotheses. Moreover, experiential and mathematical expressions are collected in a quantitative relationship through a fundamental connection of measurements. Both natural sciences and social

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17

Economics - Essay Example Thus, for each of the input employed in order to produce a good, the resource should be able to increase the volume of production at the lowest possible cost. Logically, the lower the cost of producing the product the higher the productivity of the resource. Cost and productivity thus have an inverse relationship—when cost of manufacturing a unit of output is high, the productivity is low and conversely, the lower the production cost per unit the higher the productivity. In order to illustrate this point, take two workers who both assemble stuff toys for eight hours. Each of them is paid $10 an hour and the eight hour period will be paid $80. For simplicity’s sake, let us assume that the first worker can produce 8 stuffed toys within the working hours while the second can only produce 4. The first worker’s labor cost of producing a stuffed toy is $10 while the second is $20. Being able to produce at a lower cost, the first worker is more productive. The law of diminishing marginal productivity states that the â€Å"when the technology of production and some of the inputs are held constant and the quantity of a variable input increases continually, the marginal productivity of the variable input will eventually decline.† It should be noted that the law of diminishing marginal productivity assumes that only on input is increased while all others are held constant. This economic law can be proven by real world examples in the workplace where employees are put to work on certain projects with a constant level of resource. In a factory where people are employed to manufacture candles. Suppose that each day, 100 kg of waxes should be melted and turned into aromatherapy candles. Assigning one worker will undoubtedly contribute the highest return considering the cost of labor which is needed to transform the input into output. Adding a second employee will add more output, yet will not be as productive as the first since the

Juvenille Diabetes Research foundation describe how it helps the Essay

Juvenille Diabetes Research foundation describe how it helps the community - Essay Example JDRF facilitates research to identify ways to gain maximum results with least inconvenience to the individuals suffering from diabetes. A lot of children as well as adults in our country are suffering from obesity. To make it worse, obesity comes with numerous side-effects including high blood pressure and diabetes. Research conducted by JDRF tends to find cure for such diseases as diabetes and high blood pressure. â€Å"JDRF is committed to improving the lives of the type 1 diabetes community by keeping you informed about the latest developments in type 1 diabetes research and by providing a range of support services to help you from initial diagnosis through to managing life with type 1 diabetes† (JDRF b). Thus, JDRF not only targets the direct effects of obesity like individual’s looks, consciousness and self-perceptions but also the symptoms and health conditions indirectly associated with obesity. I place so much confidence in JDRF because it has made a lot of diff erence in the life of my own younger sister, Maria. When Maria was 5 years old, she was diagnosed with obesity by JDRF. We thought she had just put on a few extra pounds that would be gone with a little bit of dieting. It was not until JDRF confirmed she was obese that we stopped thinking she was just overweight. To our surprise, JDRF took Maria’s tests and informed us that she was having type 1 diabetes. We could not imagine a girl as young as 5 years old would be having diabetes! Since I am emotionally too attached to Maria, this came to me as nothing less than a shock. Back then, I couldn’t imagine how awful life would be if I had to live without sugar. JDRF proposed that we took immediate measures to alter Maria’s eating habits and walkout patterns in order to do our bit to make her future secure. Mom, dad and I decided that if Maria was not going to consume sugar, so would be we! Now that about 8 years have passed since then, everything has changed for the better. What came as a shock to all of us 8 years back proved to be a forewarning with the passage of time! When JDRF diagnosed Maria with those diseases, they not only tested Dad, Mom and me for the same health hazards, but also took notes about what we ate, how often we ate, when we ate and why we ate whatever we did. They informed us that they would use that information for research purposes. We assisted them in all ways we could because it felt like a way to do our little bit in the well-being of the whole society through JDRF. At the time when Maria was diagnosed with obesity and type 1 diabetes, mama and I were also overweight. JDRF told us that we were quite likely to become obese within few years from then if we continued with the same dietary and exercise habits. For about 8 years since then, Maria, mom, dad and I have had no chocolates, no carbonated drinks, no deep fried foods, no Big Macs and no junk food. Since the time we consulted JDRF, we have placed full emphasis of living upon fresh foods and vegetables. We have been going for a walk every morning and it has become a very important part of out everyday life, and we did gain positive results! Maria has recently tested negative for type 1 diabetes. All of us are in perfect shape. Today, when I look myself into the mirror, I become overwhelmed to see how nice I look and much of this is due to my smartness. We are grateful to JDRF that they informed us about the potential risks just in time so that we were able to take

Strategic Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Financial Management - Essay Example Hence, finance can be interpreted as lifeblood of business (Emmanuel, 2010, p.32). Finance also helps the management in the process of controlling, planning, decision making, evaluation and performance appraisal etc. Therefore, management must control and plan its financial activities to develop a growth oriented organisational (Collier, 2003, p.42). In order to execute operational activities, companies needs to investment for various purposes like capital investments and operational investments, and in this process it is very necessary to evaluate performance of investments. There are some financial techniques which are very helpful in evaluating the performance of investments like capital budgeting and ratio analysis (Williamson, Cooke and Jenkins, 2003, p123). This paper will attempt to present various techniques of capital investments and project appraisal for a business organisation. At first, importance and understanding of capital appraisal techniques will be explained. The ne xt section will present brief descriptions of various project and capital investment techniques. Finally, the conclusion will sum up the entire discussion and analysis. Capital investment and Project Appraisal Since last two decades, there have been significant changes in the field of finance and its various techniques. The modern organisations are using multiple financial theories, models, and tools for enhancing the financial activities. The main reason behind this development is the increasing academic concern. Constant innovation in financial management techniques has facilitated the financial related activities. Besides, managers have to take decisions for allocation of resources in capital investments (Chadwick, 1993, p.143). Hence, the quantitative performance appraisal techniques have also been modified and these techniques have become more accurate and efficient to measure the effectiveness of capital investments. Management or the decision makers have to understand the imp ortant of decision theories to realize the necessity of decision making theories. According to Rapoport (1989), â€Å"decision theory deals with situations in which one or more actors must make choices among given alternatives† (Serfas, 2010, p.16). Before explaining various techniques for capital investment appraisal, it is very necessary to understand the importance of capital investment appraisal for a business organisation. The decision making process for investment is very necessary as it help management to determine the future profitability of any project or capital investments. Michael Pogue defined investment decision as â€Å"involving the company making cash outlay with the aim of receiving future cash inflows† (Pogue, 2010, p.10). Therefore, the process of investment decision making should go through a proper stages for enhancing its effectiveness. The Institute of Charted Accountants has defined four vital stages in this process. These are â€Å"originatio n of proposals†, â€Å"project screening†, â€Å"and analysis and acceptance† and â€Å"monitoring and review" (Institute of Charted Accountants, 2008, p.278). While making an investment decision of project appraisal, it is necessary to consider various aspects of finance to generate relevant and accurate decisions. There are certain macro and micro economic factors that must be considered in

Midazolam & Seizures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Midazolam & Seizures - Essay Example Midozolam increases the activity of GABA which gives a calming effect to the user. It also relaxes the skeletal muscles and result in sleep. The chemical in the medicine called benzodiazepines bind to the receptors of GABA which enhances the effect of GABA by increasing the frequency of chloride channel opening. According to (Silver,1994,pg 350-60) â€Å"Midazolam is a potent imidazobenzodiazepine used as a premedicant and as an anesthetic induction Agent†.Midazolam is likely an agonist at both BZ1 and BZ2 receptors. Its performance at PBRs is not certain. The quick encephalopathic effects ofmidazolam may be connected to the trizolam like potency and lipophilicity of midazolam. Which are greatest among thebenzodizepines. Midazolam may also exert some anticholinergic activity. Silver, T, 1994. SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE Evaluation of two dosages of oral midazolam as a conscious sedation for physically and neurologically compromised pediatric dental patients. Pediatric Dentistry, 16/5,

William Todhunter- Wartime letters Essay Example for Free

William Todhunter- Wartime letters Essay The whimpers of horses continued long after the firing had stopped. Those poor creatures- sent by fat old men to do their bidding. This great war. This perfect waste. Wipers November 8th Dearest Mamma, Your letter arrived on Thursday, but already that seems an age ago. Day and night seem to fall into one and at the moment we are under almost constant bombardment. The shells tend to fall behind us but you are never sure whether one might not have your number on it. It is difficult to get used to, but we are so tired that we fall into our dugouts as soon as we come off duty, snatch a mug of tea, and sleep in our damp clothes. I have been over the top several times now, but every time we have only got so far as the wire, and had to fall back under heavy German fire. It is simply ghastly out there in no-mans land, and the gung-ho patriotism we once felt has dissipated among the smoke and the stench of corpses. I feel particularly sorry for the poor horses, it is not their war. Still keeping hopeful for Tommys return. I am sure he will be back with us soon, as they have only been missing for a few days now, and scouting parties often go missing for several days. Still raining, and dark, heavy clouds are rolling in from the west. However we are bearing up and at least the falling rain and the heavy grey mud seems to constrain enemy activity, although we still have to watch out for sniper fire. It is terribly cold at the moment, in spite of our best efforts at putting small fires, even candles, in every nook and cranny to keep warm. And we have a hard time sleeping between the look out duties witch are two hours in every six. I am sorry this letter is a bit depressing, my mood matches the weather. Your Loving Son, William November 25th Gas. Cruel green hands of twisted nature. Grasping at the lives of innocent men. What can I do though? All I am able to do is stand. Wiped of emotion. Watching contorted faces of those whose masks had failed, I cannot even breathe on these occasions. Not out of being scared, but from utter helplessness. All is numb. How can I tell mother about this? How can I even write to her? Our letters are being censored anyway, so even if my hand could write, it would be snatched up, and I would be on duties. During the battle at Wipers we suffered many losses- far greater than those of the Germans. But more men are sent. Why do they come? Do they truly believe in the old lies? They remind me of how I was once- nai ve, patriotic and simply, blissfully ignorant. The mud is always up to our knees. Corpses often find their way into the dugout entrances. Supplies are shortening, and home is far away. Oh mamma, what if I am to die here? I cannot, could not, tell you of the possibility. God has left this place. Left it to rot in Hell on Earth. December 26th Dearest Mamma The strangest things have been happening over the past few days. I do not think there had been a single shot fired since the early hours of the morning of Christmas Eve, when the first carols were heard. After a while, the sound of German singing floated back over no-mans land and met our ears. In the afternoon, after we had had Holy Communion, a few foolhardy Germans appeared and exchanged some of their songs with us. It was the strangest thing. We had been blowing each other up for weeks, and then I suddenly found myself shaking hands with a sniper, who spoke a bit of English, and seemed nice enough. He must have been the same age as me, if not younger, but they may have different regulations for signing up there, and I forgot to ask him his real age. A few fellows followed them back, but returned safe and sound, missing only buttons and cigarettes, which they had traded for similar souvenirs. On Christmas Day, I had just finished morning service, and was heading down to our dugout, when I realised that a game of football was being played out in no-mans land against the Germans! I couldnt believe it, but climbed out and joined in. We lost, but it was good fun, and well played by the Huns! It was the queerest thing! Our dinner party was well enjoyed. It started with fried bacon and dip-bread; followed by Christmas pudding. But you can guess that we all were thinking of home. I think that it has been the most memorable Christmas I have ever spent, or likely to spend. I never expected to be shaking hands with Germans in enemy trenches on Christmas day, and I do not suppose you thought of us doing so either. So after a fashion I have enjoyed my Christmas. But who knows what the New Year will bring. Looking forward to hearing from you. Kind regards to all. Your loving son, William P. S. Dont forget to feed the rabbits! December 29th Dear Mrs. Todhunter, I regret to inform you of the death in action of your son, William. He was killed yesterday by sniper fire. The mood in the camp last night was solemn. I cannot stress how well the men regarded William. Always cheerful, always ready to lend a hand, always ready to share his rations. He will be much missed. His personal effects will be returned through the usual channels. Yours sincerely, Hugh Lonsdale (Lieut. ) Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Miscellaneous section.

Case Studies Of Companies Supply Chain Management

Case Studies Of Companies Supply Chain Management Dell was incorporated in 1994 by Michael Dell while he was a student at University of Texas, Austin. From its very first initiatives, direct selling model was adopted. In the beginning PCs were sold over the phone and they were customized according to customers specifications. Dell returned to its direct selling model after using the retail channel from 1990 to 1994. In mid 1990s, the company grew rapidly, thus becoming number one PC seller in the US and number two worldwide in 1999. Dells success continued over the following years, but it was not able to avoid the crisis in PC industry in the new millennium. Dells growth rate fell, resulting in the fall of its stock price. However, over the time, Dell managed to remain a highly successful company, and its growth rate continued to outperform the industry as a whole. Dells strategic choices and ways of realizing those choices have played an effective role in story Dells success. The supply chain management of the company is the key element in its successful business model. The core element of the companys business model is its direct sales model, referred as direct mode, with the build to order strategy. In this work we have a look at an organisation with its sheer strategy and competitive view of the future created a giant in the industry. It has developed a business model which has a very little requirement of controlling variables, but with few efficient and critical models it has created an industry leader. It shows how Dell Inc has changed the dynamics of the industry and how it has helped in evolved with the industry. It is an $80 billion company which is created in just in time frame of 23 years. The strategy was to bypass the dealers in the field of personal computers and sell directly to the consumers. What will urge customers to buy online? The answer to these is to make the product build to order and provide them customization. This business model gave Dell some great cost advantage over it peers. This strategy has given Dell- Information about the customer dell has leveraged that to create with its partner an infrastructure which is a global giant. The power of customer information has given Dell competitive advantage in the value chain as a result of which much of the competition is now turning to becoming partners across the value chain. Virtual integration has harnessed the needs of two very different models. The IBMs and Compaqs and HP of the world subscribed to the view that we have to develop everything. This was an engineering centric era, in this era dell was of the view why we should we make everything; we can just buy and collaborate as per our requirement. This view gave them flexibility and coupled with the excellent supply chain that they created- they became what they are. In this model there are fewer things which can go wrong because there are only fewer things which can go wrong. There is no drag effect of 50000 people working with you. The only critical problem with this business model is to establish partnership model with suppliers so that at customers end everything should seem completely integrated. The key challenge is to make money by reducing the inventory cost to the bare minimum and Dell has done that by using excellent partnership models and also building up an excellent supply chain. They have leveraged the knowledge of value chain in the process. 9.1.2 Partnership with Sony With Sony the partnership has created excellence for both of them. For Dell there is zero day inventories holding if we look at an excellent partnership model with Sony. Lets examine what Dell said to Sony- oh we are looking to buy two or three million of those monitors, why we dont just pick them up as per our need. If you cannot provide us this convenience we dont keep any of your products. They go to Sony and say-The distance between demand and supply has totally shrunk, hence we pick as per our need. The Evolution of a faster Business Model This differentiated model of dell help it creates a niche in the distribution channel and eliminates the entire mid channel members to arrive at cost leadership position in the industry. The basic principle of Resource based view is that the competitive advantage for any particular organization completely depends upon the resources which are available at any companys disposal. It is a management tool to determine the important resources available for any organization. It is very important for success of the organization that these resources are valuable and are not imitable. The two houses of strategy namely Resource based view competitive positioning had their fare share of critics. After studying them in detail it can be seen that there are certain inherent weakness in both of them and both of them are not sustainable in long run if isolated. In a long competitive environment a firm needs to invest in either product differentiation or cost leadership and then utilize the competitive positioning which will be sustainable because of our ability to defend it on the base of cost advantage. 9.1.3 Value Chain Analysis 9.1.4 Strategy for profit oriented industry in 21st century Both the views of strategy are equally strong and have their sets of critics. A competitive positioning in a competitive market is not sustainable if they dont have adequate resources available to them to maintain the cost advantage. For e.g.: Telecom industry in Singapore is an industry of price wars. Competitive positioning is effective but is only sustainable for bigger players like Bharti Telecom Vodafone International because they have valuable resources with them which allow them to sustain themselves in price wars. A profit oriented industry in 21st century should create adequate resources and develop capabilities to use them properly. On the marketing front if the environment is competitive than the firm should develop competitive positioning or till then it should enjoy healthy margins. Lets take an example of Apple Incorporation. It had the resource of great Inventions a great leader in there CEO-Steve Jobs. They utilised it with their capability to position themselves in the market. Its a highly profitable firm now. 9.1.5 Supply Chain Management The Supply Chain Market (SCM) in Asia is poised for a robust growth. (Balsmeier, 1996)The Supply Chain Management is the set of frameworks and processes helping organizations in development and delivery of products. The supply chain represents the complex relationships of an organization with its trading partners through whom it sources materials, manufactures products and delivers products or services to the customers. The supply chain links all the activities in the procurement, transformation and storage of raw materials and intermediate products, and sale of finished goods. Figure 1: Generic Configuration of Supply Chain in Manufacturing The entire Supply Chain (Figure 1) is looked across my Supply chain management, rather than a single entity or level. The SCM aims to increase alignment and transparency of supply chains configuration and coordination, regardless of corporate or functional boundaries. The growing competition among the manufacturers to retain and attract customers has compelled manufacturers to serve customers effectively by maintaining long-term relationships with the customers. In the late 1980s, organizations were looking for ways and means to improve their process efficiency, and for this purpose they revamped their internal processes. After they succeeded in making their internal processes efficient, businesses needed to make their external processes efficient so that they could reduce the time and money needed to market and distribute. For this, they had to redefine their relationship with their suppliers, retailers, distributers, and customers. An effective relationship with these entities increased the need for information sharing and made them mutually dependent. This caused a paradigm shift in competition from manufacturer VS manufacturer to supply chain VS supply chain. Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) systems, developed in early 1990s works on the principal of relating information to different entities in a supply chain- manufacturers, suppliers, business partners and retailers- and making it available to all entities. These applications are aimed to reduce the inventory levels of a company through accurate forecasting, reduced cycle times and near perfect scheduling. Customer levels are increased as the goods are delivered on time due to efficiency in the distribution process. 9.1.6 Direct Sales The direct sales model refers to the fact that the company does not use any retail channels for selling its products, but sells its products directly to its customers through its corporate website, Dell.com. The above figure shows hot the direct model of Dell was different from the indirect distribution channel of the rest of industry. In its direct sale model, the intermediary steps that add cost and time are eliminated, and the company is directly able to link with its customers. Dell directly sells to all its customers, regardless of a home-PC to worlds largest corporations. The direct relationship with individual customer creates a great source of competitive advantage for Dell. This creates a valuable information about the end customers, and thus Dell knows who are the end users of their product, what they have purchased from the company, what are their future preferences, a fact that allows the company to stay closer to their customers by offering add-on products and services. Company distinguishes three customer segments, namely large organizations, medium and small businesses and personal consumers; and the revenue of the company is not concentrated as no customer of Dell represents more than 2% of total revenues. This provides a wide mix of customers served. The focus of the company is majorly on large customers, accounting of 70% of the Dells revenues. Dell has been improving its segment from past years and with the combination of direct sales model, gives them the ability to better forecast demand. In the case of large customers the direct relationship by the company is upgraded to virtual integration. With the help of IT, customers work with Dell as partners. Dell employs two main facilities that bring them and their customers closer. Premier Councils and Premier Pages. Premier Councils are the regional meetings of the company largest customers, where salespersons, technicians and the executives discuss their experiences with Dell, and their future expectations from the company. Premier pages, now known by Premier.Dell.com, are customizes support and procurement sites for their big clients, which allows them to manage and decide their purchases from the company, thus making the role of a sales person a more consultative role. This represents Dells customized sales channel and the company has increased its premier pages manifold in these years. 9.1.7 Build in Order and Integration with Suppliers Build-to-order Supply Chain as a strategy is defines (Gunasekaran et al.)as a value chain that manufactures quality products or services based on requirements of an individual customer of a group of customers at competitive prices, within a short span of time, by leveraging the core competencies of partnering firms or suppliers and information technologies, such as the internet and WWW, to integrate such a value chain. Thus, a computer is build after the customer places and order, then just-in-time production and lean manufacturing takes place. This means when an order is placed, its configuration details reaches the manufacturing department and the assembly begins, and once the PC is configured it is shipped by a 3PL to the corresponding customer. The choice of JIT and build to order has several advantages for the company. Firstly, the level of inventories remains very low, leading to faster responses to demand changes and low inventory costs. For instance, if a new microprocessor comes into the market, the company can immediately place an order with its suppliers, as the company need not get rid of the excess inventory. Also, in case of Dell, customers pay in advance. That means the customer pay for the order prior to when the company pays its suppliers for the products, thus giving Dell the opportunity of operating on Negative cash flow cycle. The special thing about the company is its relationship with its suppliers, which is the major reason for facilitating build-to-order model. In Dell, Suppliers are viewed as the integral part of operating business and a key variable for success. This helps Dell to adopt an approach of the extended enterprise. According to Dell their supplier effectively becomes their partner. The company selects suppliers that show experience, expertise and ability to deliver value. The performance of suppliers is regularly evaluated against the pre-set parameters. A quarterly meeting is held between the company and its suppliers to discuss the quarterly performance and future expectations. The performance of each supplier is evaluated by comparing a scorecard consisting of quality, cost, and reliability with that of their competitor. The companys suppliers are also provided with the support and training to improve their processes. The company demands from its suppliers that it should provide them with inventory at a high speed. This helps Dells effort of minimizing its inventories. So instead of orders like deliver 4000 to warehouse every week, the form of orders is like tomorrow evening we need 7.25 to be delivered at door D3 of the warehouse by 6 pm. This notion of Dell, has introduces inventory velocity, and it focuses on maximizing the speed and minimizing the inventory. Dell holds an average inventory of less than 6 days, while the corresponding industry average is of 6 weeks. In dealing with these rhythms, main supplier does have to maintain inventory near or in the companys plants. All the practices above require close collaboration between the suppliers and the company; sophisticated data exchange and mutual trust are the key variables to achieve it. The information sharing facility of the company is the website ValueChain.Dell.com. Through this website, the companys suppliers get informed of the level of inventory in the companys supply chain, demand and supply data, new part transitions with customers and component quality metrics. This way the company share production, demand and supply forecasts with its suppliers. These help suppliers in deciding on production levels, avoiding bullwhip effect. 9.1.8 Use of E-Commerce Introduction to E-Commerce Though E-commerce was there since long, since 70s in the form of electronics transfers of documents and transactions between banks the boom of E-Commerce was evident in 90s after the introduction of WWW Platform and this was further fuelled by increasing Broadband connectivity along with increasing trust of consumers on this platform thanks to certifying agency like VeriSign ad Payment Gateways like PayPal. Amazon and EBay have been there since its inception and have survived all ups and down of industry and also have been pioneers of new concepts in industry. The technology that supporting this platform constitutes the backbone for industry. Trust of consumers of this platform is very important and it is estimated that around 40% of consumers still do not trust the platform despite using it for their purchases. In coming times this technology will be further dive deep and move from E-Com to M-Com i.e. more and more purchases will be made through mobile phones as connectivity issues become lesser and lesser and more trust gets build up among users. Since 2000s the new concept what we call as Web2.0 or Social Networking is in evolution and has completely changed dimensions of industry with more and more users demanding better and innovative technology and application to make them buy and more and more reviews and wisdom of crowd ruling the purchases made, all E-Commerce retailers have been paying much attention to leverage it and is becoming an hygiene factor for future profitability and growth. In this era of Web2.0 enabled E-Commerce application and more and more social content being the driving force behind it, its worthwhile to have a look at what products/services was being offered by the initial E driven commerce and the present E-commerce, better call it as E-commerce2.0. Let have few points comparing E-Com1.0 and E-Com2.0 and talking about what changes have taken place and why have they taken place and to what have these changes led to. Those making purchases online includes a set of users who are confident of the technology and trust the platform through which it is being offered. Such users are generally people using WWW Platform for more than two year and are generally educated at least or above college graduate. The important thing being that around 80% of E-commerce consumers trust the site through which they make their purchases. In the last decade, many start-up e-commerce companies have rapidly stolen market share from traditional retailers and service providers, pressuring these established traditional players to deploy their own commerce websites or to alter company strategy in retaliation. This effect is most pronounced in travel services and consumer electronics. According to comScore, online leisure travel bookings reached about $51B in 2005, or 44% of all online sales, which were around $122B in the same year. Either an organisation can score on cost leadership or differentiation. In this business cost leadership is not an option; hence only feasible option is to differentiate and survive. With ecommerce capabilities the organisation can differentiate. about two competitive positioning strategies -differentiation or cost leadership. A differentiator invests in creating high offering value while a cost leader has the lowest costs of the product in the market. If a firm can provide a differentiated product in the market it will create a niche for itself, while if it provides same product then it should do that at a lower cost. If the case is involving a niche then this strategy is termed as focus. Hence this strategy creates a trade off for the firm -either invest in offering higher value or invest in lower cost. The e-commerce business is characterized by large volumes of transactions, small value of individual orders, odd place of delivery, speed in internal movement, wider product portfolio, and a large number of customer spread over a wide geographical area. Manual operations have no scope in e-commerce logistics operations. The component of logistics, such as order processing, transportation, inventory management, packaging, and delivery require close coordination using IT solutions. Electronic commerce logistics solutions need to be based on the following design considerations: Online facility for organizing and tracking shipment Online order status and documentation Online dispatch documentation and invoice Auto reminder for payments Seamless interface with existing SCM or ERP systems Online alert for critical information through WAP/Mobile MIS reports on the past data analysis, delivery history etc. E-commerce logistics systems, based on the above considerations, ensure the following benefits to sellers, buyers, and 3PL service providers: Improved Communication Transparency in supply chain Improved customer satisfaction Cost reduction Improvement in efficiency On time delivery Dell computers represent one of the successful e-commerce, logistics and supply chain stories. To compete with the giants like IBM, Apple, and Compaq, Dell has adopted a different strategy to market their PCs. They chose the e-commerce route. For ordering a PC with desired configurations and specifications, the customer has to log on to the Dell website, place an order and complete the outline commercial formalities. Very often the customer gets his PC very next day, if he happens to be in USA. The electronic commerce system installed on the Dell website registers an order after online completion of commercial formalities. The system estimates the demand of the various components going into commercial formalities. The system estimates the demand of the various components going into the computer and place orders for parts with the various suppliers. The supplier delivers the parts to predetermined supply centres wherein the computer is assembled. The system, while registering the orde r, communicates to its logistics partner, the details of the customer and the delivery location as well as the assigned supply chain for picking up the consignment. The logistics partners office nearest to the Dell supply centre is activated for material pickup and delivery. The result of this efficient process is nearly zero inventory and total customer satisfaction. 9.1.9 Security Trusted Computing base or TCB is the sum total of the protection mechanisms within a network system which includes firmware, hardware and the software. It consists of one or more component which together enforces a unified security policy for the whole system. The company that I have chosen contains lot of sensitive data which is very important for national security. As expected the company will have a highly secured system for database management and security. A TCB system is expected to meet users requirements for security, reliability and effectiveness. Because no single user is responsible when it comes to data which is nationally important, operating system which manages this data uses a policy of mandatory access control. In MAC no individual takes a decision, the whole decision is based on the reference framework and the decisions are taken by the system itself. This is the case with XYZ limited which storehouse such sensitive data. 9.1.10 Other Interesting Approaches Apart from build order and direct model supply chain strategies, analysts believe that there are also some other issues that contribute to the companys success. Dells secret concerning its SCM is the appropriate matching of people and process elements. This was obvious from Michael Dells statement that our RD focuses on process and quality improvements in manufacturing and one of our biggest challenges in finding managers who can share and respond to rapid shifts. (Global retail Business) There are three central points in the companys value web model: Dells potent role in control and coordination of a value network, Its close integration with its business partners and suppliers and the importance of IT, internet and electronic communications. Analysts view the company as a zero-time organization identifying four key features apart from direct sales model and build in order, which are described in the following table: Competitive positioning is all about creating a brand for your product. Wal-Mart, the brand indicates adequate quality and low price, attracting price sensitive buyers. This is something which in long run help a firm leverages its brand equity. Firms with strong reputations are better positioned in markets involving inter firm cooperations than firms with history of failed partnership. If a firm can create a brand then it need not differentiate on any particular matter. It only needs to sustain the brand image and leverage the brand premia that it can enjoy. Let us have a look at how Nokia have created a competitive advantage. The above charts set the theme for both the views in motion. They are so well interrelated that there is a common goal that can create a competitive advantage. There are five critical blocks (Green cells are RBV while violet ones are for Competitive positioning) for RBV which when practiced can lead to two quality positions- Superior market position or Defendable market position, which in turn is key component to position a product or service competitively.. These two strategies work in junction and neither of them can be sustainable in isolation. The differentiation among these two perspectives lays in the fact that one talk about capabilities and the other does not. Competitive positioning talks how the capability of an organisation allows the firm to be competitive in the market, while RBV only stresses on the resource. Competitive positioning shows the angle of marketing deciding the strategy of the firm while RBV is more from the side of manufacturing. (Strategy Formulations) The two houses of strategy namely Resource based view competitive positioning had their fare share of critics. After studying them in detail it can be seen that there are certain inherent weakness in both of them and both of them are not sustainable in long run if isolated. In a long competitive environment a firm needs to invest in either product differentiation or cost leadership and then utilise the competitive positioning which will be sustainable because of our ability to defend it on the base of cost advantage. If a company develops a sustainable cost advantage in the industry it can kill its competitors and rules the market. Sustainable differentiation helps an organisation charge brand premia to the customer. Either of the strategy in modern days scenario will not work in isolation. A developing organisation needs to realise that in such a globalised scenario no differentiation or cost leadership can last for long. Baring an example of some technological innovation no strate gy in isolation has created a lasting organisation. Dells Supply Chain Management The company supply chain management system handles pieces and information and enormous transactions, and includes many core components necessary in keeping the operation run smoothly: Configuration management: This component of the company manages up to 1 million of Dells part numbers every year across 200 product families approximately. It also handles over 2 million BOM (Bills of materials) every year. BOMs part numbers are created for facilities manufacturing in building assemblies and its sub assemblies for the companys products. Procurement: The procurement component of Dell manages almost 1.8 million purchase orders line per year from more than 6000 suppliers worldwide. To further streamline the procurement process, the company uses an automated application including the workflow and vendors approvals and communications and enabled services like defective parts replacement. Cost: The batch mode is used to calculate the costs to the company for BOMs. All the cost components run mostly in the batch mode. The batch jobs runs daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly, and each job aggregating total material costs. Inventory: Inventory component of the company manages over 3 million movements daily from the factory floors in all Dell sites to the stock rooms, along with over 3 million messages transmitted to multiple systems for analyzing, reporting and factory scheduling. Accounts Payable: The accounts payable component of the company handles about 15,000 items per day, which includes payments to the companys invoices, receipts and all suppliers. Vendor information includes vendor id, contact info and negotiated terms. Along with these order related transactions of the company, the Supply Chain Management system also runs several other process jobs to aggregate data in intervals of week, month and quarters. (Cohen Shoanen, 2004) The SCM database consists of 3,000 database objects including packages, functions, procedures, triggers, views in the North American region. The SCM of Dell is supported by Power Edge 2650 server applications (6), internally developed web based applications (5), almost 20 system-to system integrations, and around 125 batch jobs with almost 500 user interfaces. Previous System: UNIX-based servers The earlier Dell system used Sun E6000-Class UNIX servers operating the Sun Solaris 8 OS with Sun Cluster 2.2. The Servers, within 16 processors at 336 MHZ with 11GB of memory, managed the production database on Oracle database 8.0.6. The companys disaster recovery server had 12 processors running at 336 MHz with 6 GB of memory. To make the systems readily available, the companys information technology used Sun Cluster to cluster primary and secondary servers with an active/passive configuration connecting to a shared disk storage, enabling its database to fall over to the passive node if in case the active one is failed. Conclusion Dell via its partnership model has completely changed the industry methods. It has integrated the value chain by its access to information. Industry is facing stiff competition and in such a competitive scenario Dell has differentiated at cost and also at offering. The inventory management policy and supply chain excellence has become a part of discussion for all the Ivy League Business Schools. The offering that Dell provided its suppliers has left less room with the suppliers to negotiate. This has led to excellent partnership model which has benefited everyone across the value chain. Dell has created excellence in personal computer industry and it is a pioneer in process management for this industry. The healthy competition and brilliant innovation in this industry has helped in its evolution. Customer is the ultimate one to benefit. The IBMs and Compaqs and HP of the world subscribed to the view that we have to develop everything. This was an engineering centric era, in this era dell was of the view why we should we make everything; we can just buy and collaborate as per our requirement. This view gave them flexibility and coupled with the excellent supply chain that they created- they became what they are. In this model there are fewer things which can go wrong because there are only fewer things which can go wrong. There is no drag effect of 50000 people working with you.