Organizational Capabilities and Strategic Management of Google Essay

Organizational Capabilities and Strategic Management of Google - Essay Example In relation to the study the company which has been selected is Google as a multinational corporation that was founded in the year 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin who were Ph.D. Students at Stanford University. It is a search engine that provides various internet services such as advertising technologies; cloud computing, internet search, and software. It links various Web pages allowing sharing and accessibility of information. Brin and Larry note that its mission is organizing world information and making it accessible and useful to everyone. It offers tools that enable one to do a fast search such as Google Chrome and Android. It also focuses on the success of various businesses in the online world and offline too.  Ã‚   It does this by focusing on products such as media and sales ads. For the web, Google has built various products with the intention of making the web and the experiences of the users better. Google has proved to have a wide range of organizational capabilitie s that enable it to stay ahead of the market competition. Scott states that one of the capabilities that Google has is innovativeness in terms of its products and even how they offer the services. This can be clearly seen from its motto of continuous innovation. Google usually invests some of its money and time towards innovation growth by encouraging its employees to come up with new products and ideas. An example is where it recommends 20% of the technical employees’ time to be spent on their own activities while 80% of their time spent on advertising and core research. This investment has accounted for half of new features and products that have been created by Google. Every employee is given freedom of thought and ability to make changes to projects or even create their own projects. This in effect continuously encourages the employees to concentrate on coming up with new ideas that will add value to the company. The ideas are presented in an open environment which enhanc es its image. Dornefest and Calishain note that another capability that Google has is its strong organizational culture (133). It uses every opportunity in motivating employees by regular recognition of best performers. It has an open culture where every employee contributes to the running of the organization by accepting ideas from everyone. This in turn makes people to be comfortable in raising their ideas without intimidation which leads to its success. When hiring, goggle has a culture of hiring people based on the capabilities and not their experiences and it hires smart and determined workforce which contributes to higher capabilities. Another culture that the company has is that of holding weekly all- hands meeting where people raise ideas and issues directly to the management. This culture is effective because it leads to quality production and quick decision making as well as problem solving. Another capability is that Google provides the best working environment for its workers. This has been evident from the many awards that Google has received as ‘the best place to work’ which has in turn led to employee satisfaction. This capability is of great importance for it attracts a lot of professionals to the company. This in turn has seen the company to comprise of a lot of people who have great potential making the company to stand in a better chance of expanding and developing new ideas. Information technology is another capability that Google has which makes it to be more competitive. This is from the ability to link various pages and come up with other products and search tools (Brin 95).Having vast technology has enabled Google to connect various web pages, advertise and even sell. With enough resources that Google as i.e. a good capital base, it has been able to purchase tools that add to its efficiency. An example is where Google bought You Tube which has led to its efficiency in terms of its market share. This has been from the fact that a lot of people love watching live

International Hospitality Management Research Paper

International Hospitality Management - Research Paper Example One major challenge is the difficulty in choosing the right technology and adopting it to achieve better results. Players in the hospitality industry must therefore be able to understand their competitive edge and be able to adopt technology that suits their system and at the same time strengthening their level of competence. The business operators and work force must therefore strive to adopt strategies of utilizing appropriate technology correctly through sufficient knowledge and ways of operation of the tools or equipment employed. Information technology has affected the hospitality industry thus creating flexibility in practices, segmentation of the market and the diagonal integration within the tourism sector (Moutinho et al, 1996). Information technology is thus applied in areas that require management and distribution of information on travel and tourism. The customization of services to suit the needs of the person in need of the tourism service has been made possible through the production of tailor-made services that allows producers to provide services that are flexible in order to satisfy the wants of different consumers of the tourism service. This can be achieved through for example the provision of packaged holidays that are flexible and can be easily purchased through prices deemed as competitive as compared to holidays produced in mass and the production of travel and tourism related services are not dominated by the usual industry players. The holiday must also be flexible and be purchased at prices that are competitive as compared to holidays produced by mass-produced holiday players . The mass production is influenced by the urge to reap benefits that accrue... However, the hospitality industry sector especially tourism faces challenges in the uptake and expansion of technology. One major challenge is the difficulty in choosing the right technology and adapting it to achieve better results. Players in the hospitality industry must, therefore, be able to understand their competitive edge and be able to adopt technology that suits their system and at the same time strengthening their level of competence. The business operators and workforce must, therefore, strive to adopt strategies of utilizing appropriate technology correctly through sufficient knowledge and ways of operation of the tools or equipment employed.Information technology has affected the hospitality industry thus creating flexibility in practices, segmentation of the market and the diagonal integration within the tourism sector. Information technology is thus applied in areas that require management and distribution of information on travel and tourism. The customization of ser vices to suit the needs of the person in need of the tourism service has been made possible through the production of tailor-made services that allows producers to provide services that are flexible in order to satisfy the wants of different consumers of the tourism service. The holiday must also be flexible and be purchased at prices that are competitive as compared to holidays produced by mass-produced holiday players. The mass production is influenced by the urge to reap benefits that accrue due to economies of scale.

My first day of College Essay Example for Free

My first day of College Essay a) This course is a study of elementary algebra, which will include the set of real numbers, linear sentences, linear functions and their graphs, and operations and factoring with polynomials. b) MATH 0989 is a first semester developmental course which will prepare the student for MATH 1111 and its co-requisite course MATH 0999. c) To do well in the course, one must practice many problems outside of class, ask questions in class until there is a complete understanding of each concept, and prepare for tests by reviewing problems worked in class. d) A notebook needs to maintained and brought to class each day. All of the MyMathLab assignments need to labeled with the section and work placed in your notebook. 2. COURSE OBJECTIVES a) General education objective: Students will demonstrate a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of college level mathematics. b) Learning Support Math Program Goal: Mathematics students will be provided the knowledge and skills needed for successful college level work. c) Outcomes: Successful MATH0 099 students will demonstrate an understanding of solving linear equations and inequalities, operating and factoring with polynomials, and graphing linear equations. 3. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES a) Free tutoring available in the Student Success Center b) Study groups with fellow classmates c) Individual help during instructor’s office hours 4. OFFICE PROCEDURES FOR EXTRA HELP a) Bring lesson notes. b) Make sure the lesson has been read and the examples studied. c) Be prepared to show at least two problems that have been attempted. d) Bring incomplete or incorrect work for each problem. e) Ask for help as early as possible. Do not wait until the day of the test. 5. ATTENDANCE a) Attendance is very important. All students are expected and urged to attend all classes. Each absence makes it more difficult to acquire knowledge and increase learning. You will be contacted, if lack of attendance is becoming a problem. b) Students are responsible for every assignment and all material covered in class, whether present or absent. c) Obtain the name and phone number of a reliable classmate to contact, if there is an unavoidable absence. d) Tardiness to class is not allowed after the first week of classes. When the door is closed, no one is to enter. If you know you are going to be late due to a doctor’s appointment or such, please email me ahead of time. 6. CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE a) Treat the instructor and other students with respect. b) Talk to other students only during group activities. c) Leave the classroom during class time only after having spoken to the instructor. d) Cell phones must be silenced and out of sight during class time. 7. CALCULATOR a) Only scientific calculators may be used. b) Scientific calculators which will allow simplification of radical expressions may not be used. c) Phone calculators may not be used. d) Texas Instruments â€Å"TI-30XIIS† is recommended. 8. METHOD OF EVALUATION a) Unit Tests and Quizzes – 70%. There will be four unit tests. b) MyMathLab – 15%. c) Final Exam (Comprehensive) – 15%. 9. GRADES Average below 70, good attendance, effort, and some progress, and first semester in Learning Support Math F% Average below 70, poor attendance, lack of effort, or no progress WF% Withdrawn after midterm or stopped attending after midterm without officially withdrawing from the class W% Withdrawn before midterm 10. Learning Support Standards of Progress In addition to the Academic Standards of Progress (See the on-line Gordon State College Academic Catalog.) and in accordance with policies of the University System of Georgia, students enrolled in one or more Learning Support courses (See Learning Support Program in the on-line catalog for more information.) must comply with progression requirements of the Learning Support program.Learning Support students who need intensive remediation will begin with one of the 3- credit Foundations Learning Support courses (ENGL 0099, MATH 0097, or MATH 0099). Upon completion of Foundations courses(s) students will be required to register for the co-requisite academic support lab and gateway course to complete Learning Support requirements. A maximum of three attempts is allowed to complete both the Foundations course and the co-requisite pair. Students who fail two attempts at any of the 3-credit Foundations Learning Support courses will be placed on Learning Support Suspension. Students who only require support in their degree-credit gateway course will begin in one of the co-requisite pairs (ENGL 0098 / ENGL 1101, MATH 0097 / MATH 1001, or MATH 0099 / MATH  1111). Students who begin in a co-requisite pair are allowed a maximum of two attempts to complete the Learning Support Requirement. Failing to exit from Learning Support after a second attempt will result in Learning Support Suspension. The student may be considered for readmission before the end of one year of the suspension, if the student can provide evidence that he/she has taken measures to improve his or her skills. Time spent in Learning Support Course work in a disciplinary area shall be cumulative within the University System of Georgia. A transfer Learning Support student may be granted an additional semester if that student was making appropriate progress at the sending institution and is ready for the exit level course at the receiving institution and has not exceeded the allowed number of attempts. Students who have accumulated 30 semester hours or more of college level credit will be allowed to take only the required Learning Support classes. No other classes may be taken. 11 . ADDITIONAL INFORMATION a) Should students find it necessary at any time to see their instructor or the Coordinator of the Learning Support Program for clarification of any course related or departmental policy, to discuss their progress, or to request additional help, they should feel free to ask for an appointment. b) Any student who is certified as disabled or who qualifies for special accommodations must provide appropriate evidence of such certification immediately. Any student who intends to request special accommodations for this course because of a learning disability of any kind must immediately declare his or her intention to the college ADA officer Student Center Room 212 678-359-5585. Foundations for College Algebra – MATH 0989

Analysis of Economies of Scale

Analysis of Economies of Scale GONZALO PARENTE QUESTION 1: ECONOMIES OF SCALE: Shipping is an immense industry requiring huge financial investments and continuous development. Therefore, it has become an ideal game field to find and implement economies of scale. Any minor achievement on this will mean an impressive extra benefit in terms of cost reduction and efficiency gains. However, when economies of scale are managed under wrong market perspectives it can generate catastrophic results affecting for example ports flexibility and their commercial feasibility (e.g. congestion at terminal, hinterland) (P. Rodrigue, 2014). It is important to highlight that different shipping segments require different strategies due to variations on operations and infrastructure. Therefore, it can be found different shipping niches where economies of scale can be applied: Bigger capacity leads to lower costs per unit: Benefits, in terms of costs per unit, increase with ships capacity. If a comparison, in terms of operating costs, is made between a TTT class and a New Panamax vessel, it can be seen that megaships would be 30% cheaper than medium size vessels ($100/TEU) (P. Rodrigue, 2014). Bigger ships carry less fuel consumption: It is known that fuel consumption counts around 45%-50% of operating costs. Modern ships have led to a reduction on fuel consumption turning the shipping industry into a more profitable business. Under normal conditions, megaships consume 164 tons of fuel per day, being 35% lower than a medium size vessel (P. Rodrigue, 2015). Low speed (Slow steaming) also reduces fuel consumption: During the crisis of 2008-9 a new sailing approach came up, Slow steaming, reducing the speed to 18-20 Knots aiming to lower the fuel consumption. It enabled the market to absorb the over-fleet capacity during periods of slack demand, without impact in port congestion thanks to keep the fleet port call frequency. While a Post Panamax consumes 230 tons per day sailing at 24 Knots/hour, at 21 Knots/hour it would burn 150 tons per day (33% less) (P. Rodrigue, 2015). New shipbuilding techniques mean vessels being built rapidly: It has let ship-owners increase their fleets in a much reduced time at very low prices, taking advantage of the market conditions at all times. It is economy of scale applied to ship design. For example the new ships price fall between 2008 and 2009 was due to the appearance of revolutionary techniques offering new ships at very low prices (Stopford, 2009). Vessel ´s specialization leads to market flexibility: Not only economies of scale but also economies of scope are encompassed by ship specialization. Case: In order to fight against the inefficiency generated by bulk carriers sailing in ballast, a new specialized vessel came up called Multi-purpose. In terms of economies of scale, a multi-purposes vessel was an innovated idea due to the wide range of goods that it can accommodate at the same time, adapting it to the market conditions at all the moments without concerning about the port features, season, trends etc (Stopford, 2009). New technology and handling equipment speed up port operations: Operating mega vessels under high levels of productivity/efficiency requires sophisticated handling equipment. TTT vessels can be operated by 7 cranes at once (251 TEU/hour); while NewPanamax vessels need 6 cranes to handle 140 TEU/hour (Stopford, 2009). As a conclusion, the application of economies of scale to the shipping industry has led to a positive impact on the global economy. QUESTION 2: COST ELEMENTS OF SHIPPING: When talking about shipping costs, two main types of costs must be always taken into account: voyage related costs and no-voyage related costs. However, a better way to understand how different costs work in the shipping industry is by classifying them into capital, operating and voyage costs (ICS 2012, 2103; Plymouth university -Mr Adkins, 2014). The capital costs are fixed costs directly related to the vessel ´s purchase. These costs are part of the owner ´s responsibility. Some of these costs are Pre-delivery costs: the cost of transporting the vessel from the shipyard (e.g. japan) to the delivery point (e.g. Rotterdam). Loan repayment: it involves all the money that the shipowner must pay back to the bank. Leasing charges refer to the cost that shipowners must pay to the lessor e.g. TC for capesize, 5 years = $10500 per day. Depreciation: it refers to the decline in value of the vessel or any other infrastructure. Depreciation depends on the cost of the asset, the expected salvage value of the asset, the estimated life of the asset. Vessels life aprox. 25 years. Operating costs can be divided into four groups: crew costs, repair and maintainace, insurance and administration. Crew costs include the seafarer`s wages (Not the same for Philippines, American or Greeks), the travel costs (Not the same from UK to Rotterdam than UK to Italy), crew training (Depends on flag state/ship registries), medical inspections, recruitment process, insurances for crew accidents. Repair and maintenance costs include the maintenance of engines and other equipment, replacement of vessel ´s parts. For old vessels, it counts even 14% of operating costs. Insurance costs: The two compulsory insurances that every vessel must have are the 2/3 hull and machinery and the 1/3 third party liability. Administration costs consists of communication costs agents in port, or shore based administration and management charges. The voyage costs are one of the most important costs that shipowners must take into account when planning voyages. It is usually known as voyage estimation. Fuel charges: include the fuel price, the engine power and efficiency, the design and state of hull and the ship ´s speed. Port charges include the port dues which is the general use of port facilities (depends on volume of cargo, weight of cargo, gross tonnage and net tonnage). Service charges which include the pilotage, towage and cargo handling. Canal charges refer to the price vessels have to pay to ship across these short cuts. Please see below a good example of voyage estimation: (Private data from Shipbroking firm) Vessel: 8.000 TEU Route: Shanghai-Rotterdam (12.000 miles and 100% load factor). Bunker price = $650 Ship cost = $100m Containers = $20m Operating costs = $8.500 Value of cargo = $60.000 per TEU Annual interest rate = 3% Emission cost = $30 per tonne of fuel consumed Freight rate = $800 per TEU A ship is considered profitable when after taking into account capital, operating and voyage costs, still generate profits for the shipowner. This profit directly depends in the market level and freight rates. It is not the same to fix a vessel for WS50 than for WS80.Sometimes, it happens that freight rates vary for the same vessel size. One of the main factors is the geography. Depending on the demand for vessels in those specific markets, some shipowners will be willing to accept higher or lower freight rates. . For example: A vessel operating in Cross-MED for WS50 and a vessel operating UKC-ARA for WS80. In order to make your vessel more profitable, some strategies can be applied to seek economies of scale. Nowadays, one of the most popular seems to be slow steaming. QUESTION 3. WORLD MERCHANT FLEET, STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION: As seen, shipping is a global industry formed by a sum of different sub-markets. This question is focused on the bulk market and the main differences between three of the biggest segments: tanker, dry bulk and containers. When looking at different shipping segments, it is important to analyze not only the routes of each segment but also the type and vessel size used in each of the markets. For liquid bulk cargoes, the type of vessel used is known as tanker vessels. Tankers are divided in two main groups: crude oil tankers and product tankers (ICS, 2015). Crude oil tankers range from 80.000-120.000 dwt (Aframax), 120.000-200.000 (Suezmax), to 200.000-500.000 dwt (VLCCs-ULCCs). The main routes are AG-USG, AG-China, AG-Japan and AG-ARA-UKC (ICS, 2014). Product tankers range from 10.00-42.000 dwt (Handy), 42.000-60.000 dwt (MR), 60.000-120.000 dwt (LR1-LR2). The main routes are USA-UKC for Diesel, NE to USG-N. America for gasoline and AG-China/Japan/ARA for Naphtha. For the product industry it is important to take into account the refineries location (ICS, 2015). The main features of crude oil and chemical products are that must be stored into tanks, handled by pumping and in some cases can be corrosive and toxic. For dry bulk cargoes, the type of vessel used is known as dry bulk ships. Some of the main features of this cargoes are that are shipped in large quantities and handled with automated equipment like belts and conveyors. The size of the vessel usually varies with the commodity transported. These are the most important commodities in the dry bulk industry (ICS, 2013; E. Branch, 2012). Iron ore: Main routes: Brazil to China-W. Europe (Panamax)- Australia to Japan/China (Panamax). Raw material of steelmaking. Major importers, it changes with countries development. China, Japan and USA are considered the three bigger consumers. Major exporters, Australian, Brazil, India or South Africa. Key players: Vale, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, ArcelorMittal, Metalloinvest, Anglo American. Ports/Terminals: Itaqui, Tubarao, Sepetiba, Ponta do Uba, Dampier, Port Walcott. Coal: Main routes: Australia to Japan/W.EU S.Africa to EU (Handymax), Columbia to W.EU (Panamax). Raw material of steelmaking as well as fuel for generating power. There are two main types: Cocking coal and steam coal. Coking coal: Australia is the worlds largest exporter. Steam coal: Australia Indonesia larger exporters. Major coal importers are Europe and Japan (43% of the world ´s coal imports). Grain: Main routes: US to S.America/Japan/Asian countries (Panamax), Argentina to Brazil (Handysize). Wheat, maize, rice, barley, soya etc. They all seasonal and irregular in volume and route. Major importer: Japan, China, Russia, EU, N. Africa, Brazil, Middle East countries. Main exporters: Canada, N.S. America, Australia. The last group are the containerships. Containerships have been positively affected by technologic improvements such as containerization or automization. Vessels range from: -1000 TEU (Small feeder), 1.000-2.000 TEU (Feeder), 2.000-3.000 (Feedermax), 3.000-5.000 Panamax, 5.000-10.000 TEU (Post Panamax), 10.000-15.000 TEU (New Panamax), +14.000 (ULCV) (ICS, 2015). The main routes for containerships are from F.EAST to EU and US (Panamax, Post Panamax), USA to China (Panamax and Post Panamax) and from USA to EU (Post Panamax and smaller) (ICS, 2015). It is interesting to highlight that companies are struggling on the return voyage from West to East. It makes operators to find different ways to optimize the empty containers in order to avoid the loss of marginal profit. QUESTION 4. SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND ITS IMPACT ON FREIGHT RATES: (Based on my dissertation) The shipping industry is a global-scale industry ruled by a combination of factors in charge of determining market trends, market levels and cycles. The supply and demand for vessels will establish the shipping market balance. The mechanism used to link the supply and demand in this industry is known as freight rates. Freight rates reflects the balance of ships and cargoes available in the market at a certain time (Stopford, 2009). Too many ships usually mean low freight rates, and too few ships usually mean high freight rates. Once freight rates are established, charterers and shipowners adjust to them, bringing the supply and demand into balance (Stopford, 2009). The Baltic Exchange is the organization in charge of providing, in co-operation with top shipping companies, daily reports for different markets and vessels sizes (BDTI TD1, TD6à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). In terms of the shipping market model, 5 supply and 5 demand factors strongly influence the freight rates. On the demand side, one of the most important variables is the world economy and, especially, the global business cycles and local development trends (emerging economies-Nigeria). World economy plays an important role when determining the price of commodities and also when setting the freight rates that buyers and sellers are able to pay to transport them. Another two key factors to achieve economies of scale are the average haul distance and the amount of cargo shipped per voyage. Random economic shocks (2008 crisis) have also a great weight in shipping demand. As these shocks affect demand and people economic power, freight prices are reduced as the demand for these commodities is considerably reduced. And, last but not least, transport costs encompassing capital, voyage and operational costs (ICS, 2015; Stopford, 2009; Lectures given by Jonathan Challecombe: International Shipping and Maritime Management and Markets). On the supply side, the new buildings and scrapping activities are essential to adjust the market balance. New buildings increase the fleet supply, lowering freight rates. Scrapping reduces the fleet supply, increasing freight rates. Fleet productivity is another factor which is focused in vessel ´s efficiency. In a fast pace market, speed and waiting times are crucial for business profitability. The last variable is the freight revenue. For example in markets with strong trends, shipowners may extend their vessel ´s life or purchase second-hand vessels to take advantage of the market; while in markets ruled by weak trends, old ships are scrapped 10 or 15 years before their commercial life ends (ICS, 2015; Stopford, 2009; Lectures given by Jonathan Challecombe: International Shipping and Maritime Management and Markets). For example it is good to understand what is going with the current dry bulk and container markets. The very low freight rates experienced during the last few months are caused by the extreme difference in terms of fleet growth (+) and the fleet demand (-). This situation has led to overcapacity. As a conclusion and in order to become again a balanced industry, shipping companies should follow a new tool developed by BIMCO known as Zero supply growth. It mainly require shipowners to neutralize the delivery of new vessels every year by scrapping an equal amount of capacity from the existing fleet (BIMCO, 2016). Mergers and acquisitions are also great strategies although will lead to a more monopolized market. QUESTION 6. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLOBAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SEABORNE TRADE: As a derived demand, maritime shipping is shaped by worldwide macroeconomic conditions. Although shipping market is very complex we can say that there are five major factors which rule the demand for shipping: transport costs, seaborne commodity trades, average haul, random shocks and world economy, which is the most important one (Stopford, 2009). World economy impacts on the demand for shipping mainly through the business cycle and the trade development cycle. Business cycle lays the foundation for shipping cycle, so that fluctuations in the rate of world economic growth cause a cyclical pattern of demand for shipping. There is a close relationship between the growth rate of shipping and the world GDP, what becomes clear if you see how both parameters have closely changed over the recent history. It is not surprising given that world economy generates the most of demand for shipping by importing raw materials for manufacturing or exporting manufactured products. Another side of the relationship between macroeconomics and shipping is the seaborne commodity trades, which can be divided into short-term and long term. Seasonality of some trades is an important cause of short-term volatility. For instance, many agricultural commodities are linked to seasonal reasons, caused by harvest. But in the oil business there also is a cycle that reflects the seasonal fluctuation in energy consumption in western countries. Seasonality has a great impact on spot market (Dry and wet bulk) (ICS, 2015). The flows of raw materials (mainly ores and crude oil) follow a shipping pattern from developing countries towards developed countries. Transports terminals in developing countries are specialized in loading raw materials while developed countries unload are focused on unloading. On the other hand, the flows of manufactured goods mainly concerned developed countries, but it is changing due to the effects of globalized manufacturing processes. We have a new geography of global trade, which can be depicted quite accurately by maritime shipping routes. Developing countries are no longer just the suppliers of high volume-low value raw materials, but instead now also import large volumes of oil, iron ore, and participate in global value chains and the globalized production of manufactured goods (Stopford, 2009). As a result, developing countries are emerging as major world exporters and importers. They have also become main players in globalized manufacturing processes. As an instance we can mention that the growing energy needs of developing countries and the expansion of South-South trade are contributing to recharging tanker shipping and trade maps, supported by the US strategy to get its energy independence. QUESTION 7. ESTIMATING AND FORECASTING It is said that information is the most important variable that make shipping companies win or lose. Currently, technology has enhanced companies to get information from the market, global economy and many other factors in order to make an accurate market estimation and take advantage of it (Stopford, 2009). However, it is said that not all information is reliable, creating uncertainty among shipping players. It is why not only shipowners but also charterers, traders, operators and even brokers must have a clear network to get daily outlooks of what is going on in the market at every stage. Some of the most common information sources are: Shipping institutions: BIMCO, IMO, ICS, BALTIC EXCHANGEà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Broking companies: PLATEAU DAILY REPORTSà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Newspapers, magazinesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ QUESTION 9. RISK MANAGEMENT: A popular strategy used in the shipping industry to reduce the effects of volatile markets is known as bunker hedging. It consists in a fuel price analysis and it is used with the purpose of reducing the company ´s exposure to volatile bunker costs and eliminating the risk of companies ´ bunker budgets getting out of control (Mercatus, 2016). Swap is one of the most popular uses when bunker hedging (Mercatus, 2016). It allows the buyer to hedge his bunker exposure by fixing the price he pays for fuel at a predefined level, over a predefined period of time. Two different scenarios can be found: Scenario 1: It is when fuel prices move from below the swap execution price. As a financial compensation, the shipping company has to pay back the difference between the market price and the swap price to his trading counterparty in order to offset low prices in the market (C, Cheetham, 2013). Scenario 2: It is when fuel prices move above the swap execution price. As a financial compensation, the shipping line has to receive the difference between the market price and the swap price from his trading counterparty in order to offset high prices in the market (C, Cheetham, 2013). A great forecasting job must be done before entering into a bunker hedging agreement. Shipping companies need to be sure in terms of future bunker prices trends. Related factors such as new oil fields, global trade and international regulations must be always taken into account. When properly managed, bunker hedging can lead companies to generate bigger profits as the exposure to fuel prices fluctuations is removed. A freight derivate contract is defined as a financial contract between two different parties, where future prices for transporting goods by sea are agreed. Freight derivate contracts are usually divided into two main groups: Forward Freight Agreement (FFA) and Freight Swap Agreement (FSA) (Baltic Exchange, 2016). These derivate contracts are used by charterers and shipowners in order to hedge against fluctuations in freight rates. The main difference between the FFAs and FSAs is the assumption of risk. With FSA risk for both parties, with FFA risk assumed by the counterparty. FFAs cover the route, settlement date, contract size and contract rate. Lastly, the main difference between hedging and speculation is that speculation involves an activity to make profit and hedging only attempts to reduce economic business risk. QUESTION 10. OTHER SEGMENTS AND SPECIALIZED CARGOES: LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas and it is considered the third major energy source carried by sea, after oil and coal. It is one of the most environmentally friendly energy source which is mainly used for power generation and for the domestic use. LNG is considered a hazardous cargo which requires coated tanks and isolated facilities at port in order to safely handle its extremely low temperature (ICS, 2015; Stopford, 2009; Energy Annual Reports, 2016). LNG is usually transported by Very Large Gas Carriers for very long voyages. LNG can be also transported via pipelines, although for that liquefaction is needed. The transport of LNG includes four different activities: Transportation of LNG from gas fields to plants, via pipeline. Methane gas is separated from other substances and stored for sea transportation. LNG loaded into ships. Receive and store LNG at delivery terminals. The LNG costs are divided in the following proportions: 15% production, 40% liquefaction, 25% sea transport, 20% regasification. It is important to highlight that LNG trade is conducted with long-term contracts (Bareboat or Time Charters) with fixed prices. Main exporters: Iran, Qatar and Russia in less scale: Africa, Asia, North and South America and the EU. Main importers: USA, EU, Japan, S. Korea and China. QUESTION 11. PORT DEVELOPMENT: In order to better understand how ports and terminals develop, it is fundamental to focus in a specific port. In my case, the Port of Rotterdam has been chosen as it was one of my research topics at university. As shipowning companies, ports and terminals are in continuous development process where technology and efficiency improvement are always sought. Time reduction when loading and unloading, port accessibility, hinterland connections and the ability of create economies of scale in terms of cargo handling and cargo storage are some of the main reasons why ports have evolve from individual specialized terminals to huge multipurpose shipping hubs where not only shipping but also logistics activities are carried out(Notteboom and Rodrigue, 2004). It has led to improve the supply chain and the instalment of strategies such as JIT (Just in time). Spatial relationships between terminals are key points in port competition. In order to explore how terminals should interact with each other, two main concepts are highlighted: centrality intermediacy (Notteboom and Rodrigue, 2005). Centrality places terminals as a point of origin and destination traffic. It involves intermodal activities and gene rates economic activities in its vicinity. Intermediacy sees terminals as an intermediate point in the flow of freight. It could also be a good point to exploit transshipment (Notteboom and Rodrigue, 2005). The main reasons why some ports stop developing when they reach a certain stage are: lack of green fields to build new terminals (Eg, Southampton Port or the ICTT Terminal, Vallarpadam-India) and the strong competition from terminal global terminal operators such as Dubai Ports World and APM (Venugopal, 2014). For example, the Port of Rotterdam has been working for a long time in two main expansion projects. Firstly, Maasvlakte I which was completed few years ago, and Maasvlakte II which is still on-process. In terms of space, the Port of Rotterdam will gain a total of 20%-22% extra space to allocate the forecasted rising number of containers and enhance a more viable multimodal system. Economies of scale are achieved by the great number of containers that it is able to handle. Thanks to its dimensions, total costs are divided over more than 11.5 million TEU they handle every year. The provision of customer focused services as well as 24/7 cargo handling and storing activities enhance the port to provide a reduction on vessel ´s turnaround times what leads to better productivity. Last but not least, the proximity of the dry bulk and tanker terminals to key production and storing points give the port an important comparative advantage. It minimizes costs and increases safety and effi ciency in terms of time. The great connections with the hinterland and foreland makes this port a global shipping choke point (Notteboom and Rodrigue, 2004). In order to remain globally competitive, attract foreign trade and increase the total volume of exports and imports, countries have to encourage private operators to invest in national ports infrastructure including port configuration, handling equipment and port connectivity. QUESTION 12: THE CONTAINER SHIPPING MARKET: Over the years, container shipping lines have placed increasing amounts of hope in the notion that the trading growth being experienced in emerging markets would improve the demand of containerships. However, as a large number of Super-Post Panamax containerships (ULCV) of size between 13,000 19,000 TEUs being introduced to the market, increasing the current total capacity of world containership in service to 18.2 million TEUs; the overcapacity issue looks set to continue in 2015, although less severe than year 2009. Currently, the largest containership recorded in the industry are the sister vessel MSC Oscar and MSC Oliver with the size of 19,224 TEU (Lloyds List, 2016). The market is expecting to see more of such vessels magnitude being built and deliver in the near future. In terms of global trends ruling the container`s supply and demand, some facts can be highlighted: 1. Container ´s overcapacity: Timing is one of the main factors when referring to the shipping supply and demand. As great expectations were placed into the current market, many shipowners purchased bigger and more sophisticated vessels, which nowadays can ´t be employed. 2. Emerging economies power demand for shipments: Containerships owners can still find a glimpse of light for this market in emerging economies. For example, Nigeria will see its population grow by 275 million by 2050. It gives an idea of the shipping potential of this emerging economies/countries. 3.Cargo adaptation to the container shipping method: containerization. Cargo can be directly shipped from the mill to the consignee, or even to the customer, making the shipping industry more efficient and safer. 4.Sustainability and environmentally friend: New trends have come up concerning about environment issues. It has radically affected the cost for carriers and consequently the vessel ´s supply and demand (CSR). 5.Customer focus and new technology: Development in technology mainly seeks compliance with new regulations and cost-efficiencies. The current lack of transparency along the supply chain can affect either supply as demand due to wrong market forecast or unforeseen constraints. The East-West trade is mainly driven by the import demand of products from China and India to Europe. However, companies are struggling on the return voyage from West to East. It makes operators to find different ways to optimize the empty containers in order to avoid the loss of marginal profit. In order to remain competitive, operators will have to follow some tendencies which will shape the container industry (ICS, 2015) Cost reduction and vessel optimization can be achieved through forming shipping alliances between containership operators. The alliance agreements generally cover areas such as the type and size of vessel to be employed on each route; itineraries; port rotations, chartering of ships; feeder services and the coordination of inland services. 2M, O3, G6 alliance and the CKYHE. Slow steaming can be also applied (Lloyds List, 2016) Another way is the slot chartering: By leasing out part of the vessel ´s slot during the return voyage from Europe to Far-East, operators can obtain optimum efficiency of fleet operation and to maximize slot utilization (Lloyds List, 2016). And last but not least, cost-savings measure adopted by operators is through the use of longer routes in the East-West trade. For instance, instead of using the Suez Canal, ship operators may choose to travel by a longer sea route through the Cape of Good Hope enabling operators to accommodate additional ships with a similar frequency of port calls and reducing the overcapacity issue. Reference List: Alan Jugovic (2015 ) Scientific Journal of Maritime Research 29, 23-29 BIMCO (2016) BIMCO market analysis: 31 May 2016. Available: file:///C:/Users/gonzalo/Downloads/BIMCO_Road_to_Recovery_for_the_dry_bulk_market_FINAL%20(1).pdf Baltic Exchange (2016) FFAs. Available: https://www.balticexchange.com/ffa/ C. Cheetham (2013) Introduction to Bunker Hedging Tools: Swaps. Available: http://shipandbunker.com/news/features/risk-management/120043-introduction-to-bunker-hedging-tools-swaps E.Branch (2012) Elements of Shipping: Routledge: 7th edition ICS (2012) Dry Cargo Chartering. 2012 edn. Livingston : Witherby Shipping Business. ICS (2013) Shipping business. 2013 edn. London : Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. ICS (2015) Tanker chartering. 2015 edn London. Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers IMO (2016) International shipping: carrier of world trade. Available: http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/ShipsAndShippingFactsAndFigures/TheRoleandImportanceofInternationalShipping/IMO_Brochures/Documents/Internatioinal%20Shipping%20-%20Carrier%20of%20world%20trade.pdf Lectures given by Jonathan Challecombe, Philip Rogers: International Shipping and Maritime Management and Markets (2014,2015,2016). M. Stopford (2009). Maritime Economics. 3rd ed. New York: Routledge. Mercatus Energy Advisors (2016) Bunker Fuel Hedging Price Risk Management Swaps. Available: https://www.mercatusenergy.com/blog/bid/74900/an-introduction-to-bunker-fuel-hedging-updated Notteboom, T.E. and Rodrigue, J. (2005) Port Regionalization: towards a new phase of development. Maritime Policy and Management. Vol: 32(3) 297-313. Notteboom, T. (2004). Container Shipping and Ports: An Overview. In: Review of Network Economics. Vol: 3(2) 86-106. Paul Rodrigue. (2014). Economies and Diseconomies of Scale in Container Shipping. Available: https://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch3en/conc3en/contchipecoscale.html Paul Rodrigue. (2015). Transport Costs and Spatial Inequalities. Availab

Society’s Treatment of Women Revealed in The Yellow Wallpaper

Society’s Treatment of Women Revealed in The Yellow Wallpaper      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Charlotte Perkins Gilman had problems. Most of those problems resulted from her nervous condition that was previously termed â€Å"melancholia.† She did not give in – Gilman was a fighter. Instead of bowing to the disease, she wrote â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper,† a story intended to help other women suffering from a similar fate. Although this explanation reveals why Gilman wrote the book, it does not reveal the true intention of the story. This is not merely the tale of an insane woman. The narrator’s insanity is a symbol for Gilman’s commentary on the evils of social conformity with relevance to the role of women in society. The narrator comes to realize the inhumanity in society’s treatment of women, and, as a result of her awakening, she cannot help but visualize her own torment brought on by the old yellow wallpaper that hangs around her, a faded cage. The narrator’s name is left a mystery in order to give her u niversal appeal. The narrator could be and is every wife, every mother, every daughter, every woman. Gilman uses imagery and literary devices to convey her moral of the mistreatment of women in the 19th century.      The first striking image that readers of "The Yellow Wallpaper" are presented with is not that of a room, it is not of the house, but of the character of John, the husband. John is described as a man of a "practical and ext... ...21-530. King, Jeanette, and Pam Morris. "On Not Reading Between the Lines: Models of Reading in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Studies in Short Fiction 26.1 (Winter 1989): 23-32. Knight, Denise D. "The Reincarnation of Jane: 'Through This' - Gilman's Companion to 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Women's Studies 20 (1992): 287-302. Rigney, Barbara Hill. Madness and Sexual Politics in the Feminist Novel: Studies in Bronte, Woolf, Lessing, and Atwood. Madison, WI: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1978. Russell, Denise. Women, Madness and Medicine. Cambridge, MA: Polity Press, 1995. Showalter, Elaine. The Female Malady: Women, Madness, and English Culture, 1830-1980. New York: Pantheon Books, 1985.   

What Is Astrology :: essays research papers

What Is Astrology Astrology is the study of planetary influences and their affect on the world and everything in it. Astrology is usually limited to human beings--their nature, and their affairs, although a chart can be drawn up for just about any event. The horoscope is a blue print or pattern of the solar system cast for a particular moment of time. It is from this that the astrologer bases the interpretation or delineation as indicated by the nature of the sun, moon, and planets. The natal horoscope is a chart drawn at the moment of birth to see and understand the nature and makeup of the soul of the newborn as it takes residence in the physical vehicle or body. The human soul is a focal point of cosmic energy, and the pattern of the heavens, as charted in the horoscope, is the means the soul comes to know itself and its destiny. Astrology points the way to soul development and growth. The soul's strengths and weaknesses are noted in the horoscope. Life is an opportunity given to soul for further enhancement. Because the heavens are in constant motion, and because this motion is quite ordered and exact, it is possible to project the positions of the sun, moon, and planets for any given time. Astrologers use this information to draw-up a horoscope and forecast the "influences" that will affect the soul at that time. Astrologers usually do not predict actual events in the future. They can only say what might happen, or could happen, but not what will happen--much like a weather forecast; although many psychics do make predictions, and astrology is the tool they use to focus their abilities. Another common feature of astrology is the comparison of birth charts to ascertain the compatibility of two people. This is a straightforward method used by over-laying one chart upon the other. The aspects or angles formed by the planets are then analyzed to determine how the energy fields of each person blend together.

Jackie Robinsn: A man who Changed America Essay -- essays research pap

Jackie Robinson made one of the most daring moves by playing Major League baseball. The amount of pain and suffering this man went through was so harsh that I don't know how he was able to play. Carl Erskine said,"Maybe I see Jackie differently. You say he broke the color line. But I say he didn't break anything. Jackie was a healer. He came to rectify a wrong, to heal a sore in America"(Dorinson back cover). Jackie was born January thirty-first 1919. Shortly after he was born, his father deserted his family. Almost a year after that, Jackie's uncle came to visit and convinced his family to move to California with him. The whole family moved out there with his uncle. They moved to Pasadena,California. The neighborhood they moved into was mostly a white neighborhood. The white people did not want them in the neighborhood. They would criticize Jackie and his family. When he was about eight years old, he had learned to stand up for himself and answer back when the occasion demanded. Jackie went to Muir Tech. High School. At high school is where he began to get interested in sports. He competed in football, baseball, basketball, and track. He was a good player in every sport. During high school, college recruiters failed to pay attention to him. He didn't receive any scholorship, so he decided to go to Pasadena Junior College. Pasadena Junior College is where Jackie began to get noticed for his athletic abilities. He set many records in track, baseball, and football. Babe Horrel wanted to recruit Jackie from Pasadena Junior College. One of the best athletes on the West Coast(Tygiel 27) After two years at Pasadena Junior College, he transfered to UCLA. Jackie went here so his brother, Frank would be able to attend most of the games. His brother never did get to see a game because he died in a motocycle accident. At UCLA, Jackie lettered in four sports in one year. He was the first player to do that. He played track, baseball, basketball, and football. ... ...id become friends with him. It was his teammate Peewee Reese. Reese was a white man that played shortstop for the Dodgers. During one game, Jackie mad a diving catch to win the game for the Dodgers. Jackie got hurt on the play. Reese goes over to second base to make sure Jackie was alright. No one else came over to see if he was alright. It showed a lot of courage for Reese to do that. Reese took a lot of crap for doing it but he didn't care. Thus in eight years America's most prominent national sport moved from a tradition of seventy years discrimination to almost complere intergration(Tygiel 156). The big step of Jackie joining major league baseball changed everything in sports and life. He was a civil rights leader just like Martin Luther King Jr. He made the big step to show that it's not impossible to get things to be equal.We should all be very thankful for what Jackie Robinson has done. He didn't give into fear and run away from the challenge of breaking the color barrier. He took the challenge and conquered it. He changed the history of baseball and the rest of life. He helped the blacks become equal to the white race.

How are people presented in Vultures Essay

Both â€Å"Vultures† and â€Å"Two Scavengers in a truck, two beautiful people in a Mercedes† are presented using people. They both represent people in some way and both include the people in different forms. The poem â€Å"Vultures† presents the people using the vultures. These vultures represent people of a certain kind. In real life vultures are real birds of prey, but in the poem they are trying to represent the types of people. The poem, â€Å"Two Scavengers in a truck, two beautiful people in a Mercedes†, people are presented through the division in society. Vultures are shown that humans aren’t so different to animals; it is shown that both animals and humans are shown through their actions. It is shown that vultures are bad in real life because of what they do, but behind all the disgusting habits there is care shown. They appear to have care for each other and therefore this shows us that even though people do bad things, they still have some good factors about them. Both animals and humans are shown through their actions and imagery to show that they are caring even though they have evil within them. For example, it starts off with how the two vultures are picking the eyes of a swollen corpse and how they eat the contents of the bowel. This shows that they are grotesque and very evil. But straight after this, the vultures are shown to be nestling together affectionately and lovingly. In spite of the nasty diet, the vultures appear to care for each other. From this the author goes on to show that even the worst of human beings shoe some touches of humanity. Then he compares the vultures to a commander n Belson. He goes on to consider the ‘love’ a concentration camp commander shows to his family – having spent his day burning human corpses, he buys them sweets on the way home The poet remarks on the strangeness of love, existing in places people would not have thought possible. This is the same way that the vultures are presented which links it in comparison to people; the vultures are compared with the Nazi Commandant who preyed greedily and ruthlessly on people who were supposedly weaker than him, but could still show compassion towards people that he loved, such as his family. This is the same way that the vultures are presented which links it in comparison to people and the vultures are compared with the Nazi Commandant who preyed greedily on people who were supposed to be weaker than him, but could still show compassion towards people that he loved, such as his family. In â€Å"Two Scavengers in a truck, two beautiful people in a Mercedes†, people are presented from two different sides of the society. It shows two garbage men and contrasts them with an elegant, rich couple in a Mercedes. It’s about two pairs of people meeting for a moment in a busy city at nine o’clock in the morning. They are strangers and never speak to each other. They are only near each other because they are waiting for the traffic lights to change. The first pair of people are two dustmen. They are finishing their working day and going back to the depot. They are hanging off the back of the dustbin lorry and looking down at a couple in a Mercedes sports car. These people in the Mercedes seem the very opposite of the dustbin men. They are starting their day and seem rich, successful and fashionable. The poem makes lots of contrasts between the two pair and it seems to criticise the society which makes the differences between people so large. When the poet’s describing the dustbin men, it is often negative, dirty and cheap. For instance, their jackets are plastic, they are grungy, and he calls them ‘scavengers’. We usually think of scavengers as animals that live off whatever others leave behind, like vultures. And in a way that’s what they are – they are paid to take away what others don’t want, but they do an important job and we couldn’t live without them. The poet describes the couple in the Mercedes in a very positive way. He wears a suit and her hair is nicely done, and their car shows just how rich they must be, but at the same time the poet also seems to criticise this couple. He says it’s like watching an ‘odourless TV’ advert, so they don’t look like real people and they sound too good to be true. The poet then shows us how two of the men are similar. They are the same age, wear sunglasses and have long hair. And of course they live in the same city – they should be equal. This idea is made very clear at the end. The four people are next to each other, but there is a ‘gulf’ between them – they are living in different worlds. The language in ‘Vultures’ is very negative towards the people, and also has a strong influence on how the people are presented. There are a lot of pessimistic adjectives used to describe the opening lines of the poem, and also to present the vultures throughout the poem. For example in the first couple of lines in the poem ‘greyness’ is used, which create the idea that it is a dull scene, but the contrast with the words ‘sunbreak’ give a more positive effect. The poem uses a similar technique to present the vultures, for every positive point about them; there is a different negative point presented. The metaphor, ‘bashed in head, a pebble on a stem rooted in a dump of gross feathers’ creates a negative image of the vultures. Various words are use to create disgusting images of the birds. It says ‘they picked the eyes of a swollen corpse†. This is presented as an inhumane thing to do. The vultures are picking at the body of either a dead animal. After this the poet presents the juxtaposing idea of how the birds love each other. People are presented in comparison to the vultures using the example of the brutal Nazi Commandant at the Belsen concentration camp. The poem states how the commandant goes home ‘with the fumes of human roast clinging rebelliously to his hairy nostrils’. This emphasises the more negative side. The word ‘hairy’ compares the commandant to the vultures as it is a description which also applies to the vultures feathers. The poem also says how the commandant stops at the sweet shop to buy a chocolate for his child. The poet uses the phrase ‘tender offspring’ to refer to the child; the word tender suggests that there is a close, caring and loving relationship between the commandant and his child. Therefore this shows the more positive side to the poem. The use of the word offspring, which usually refers to the child of an animal, links people to the vultures in the poem. So the poem presents humans negatively, with an evil side, but also shows how these kinds of people also have a more tender side to them, just like the vultures. It compares people with animals such as vultures. Overall the words used are both negative and then follow a positive point. ‘Two Scavengers in a Truck, two Beautiful People in a Mercedes’ uses linguistic features to present people. In the first couple of lines, the colours yellow and red are used to describe the garbage men. These colours are bright and suggest brightness into their lives. The adjective used to describe the people in the Mercedes is elegant and this is repeated, which suggests the couple are boring as there are no other adjectives to describe them. This also emphasises on the word and shows that they are very posh and therefore quite snobby. This is ironic as you would expect the couple to have a better life whereas the garbage men are expected to have a boring and dull life. The way that the couple are dressed and appear is described using various phrase and adjective; ‘hip’, ‘three-piece linen suit’, ‘shoulder length blond hair & sunglasses’, ‘young blond woman’ and ‘casually coifed’. All of the previous sugge st that the couple are superior to the garbage men. This is because they are modern and are living what can be described as The ‘American Dream’. The garbage men are described more negatively, the first one id referred to as having ‘grey iron hair’, †hunched back’ and’ gargoyle Quasimodo’. The word ‘grey’ contrasts with the earlier colours but also suggests that he is quite dirty, the phrase ‘gargoyle Quasimodo’ implies that he is ugly and compares him to the Hunchback of Notre Dame, who was very caring and loving despite his appearance. The second of the garbage men is described the same as the Mercedes driver, however you know that they are nothing alike from other references and also because the two men are collectively described as ‘scavengers’ and ‘grungy’. The use of the word ‘scavengers’ suggest the two men are poor and the fact that they are garbage men emphasises this further. Overall it is shown that the garbage men are dirtier but have a more interesting life, whereas the elegant couple are shown to have the more boring life. One of the unusual things about the poem is that it doesn’t have clear sentences, full stops or commas. Even the lines don’t all start in the same place – some lines start on the left, some on the right and some in the middle. This is done on purpose. The four people are together for a few seconds and the poet quickly notes down some differences. It also means that when you read it, you stop at different places, and this might make you think about different ideas in the poem, and what you think of modern life. The two poems present people in different way using different adjectives and linguistic features. They also show that people are not in anyway perfect in their actions and appearances. Therefore by these two poems we are shown that people can be both evil and kind and also you cannot judge a book by its cover. The two garbage men are referred to as scavengers with a low status, whilst the young people are described as elegant. The poem is set in what can be described as a ‘snapshot’ in time, which is when they are waiting at the traffic lights. Although the two groups of people are presented completely differently in terms of status they sill exist in the same place at the same time which is what brings them together.

Earliest American Literature was English and Literary Essay

Earliest American writers were Englishmen who came to Jamestown, Virginia, the first of the permanent settlements of the English in America. These writers included John Smith, the author of A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Note as Hath Hapned in Virginia Since the First Planting of that Colony, which is now resident in the South part thereof, till the last returne from thence; William Stratchey, author of True repertory of the wreck and redemption of Sir Thomas Gates, July fifteenth, sixteen hundred and ten; and the famous English poet, George Sandys, who completed Ovid’s Metamorphosis on the American soil (â€Å"Early Colonial Literature†). Since none of these writers were acquainted with American culture as we know it, their works must be considered English literature composed on the American soil. Although Smith’s A True Relation was a letter written to his friend in England, it is literary in the modern sense of the word. Like other pieces of historical literature, A True Relation is educational for the modern reader. What is more, the writer’s arrangement of the narrative is rather vibrant, making it by no means appear as everyday writing (Smith). Like Smith, Stratchey also wrote for readers back in England but his writing style was more masterful. Describing a shipwreck on the way to America, he writes, â€Å"The clouds gathering thick upon us, and the winds singing and whistling most unusually†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Stratchey). In fact, Stratchey’s style is poetic throughout his work, rendering it not only literary but a work of art (Stratchey). Of course, Sandys’ translation of the Metamorphosis is incomparable. It continues to be a well-known piece of literature composed on the American soil by one of the first Englishmen to arrive in Jamestown bringing the spirit of the true English poet to the New World (Sandys). Because all three writers came from England carrying their own culture to the American soil, their works composed in America were entirely English. Moreover, all three writings mentioned were first published in England. Perusing these interesting, skillfully composed writings leaves no doubt in the modern reader’s mind that these works are literary indeed. Hence, earliest American literature must be described as English and literary. Works Cited â€Å"Early Colonial Literature. † Bibliomania: Free Online Literature and Study Guides. 11 Jan 2009. . Sandys, George. George Sandys, Ovid’s Metamorphosis (1632). 11 Jan 2009. . Smith, John. A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Note as Hath Hapned in Virginia Since the First Planting of that Colony, which is now resident in the South part thereof, till the last returne from thence. 11 Jan 2009. . Stratchey, William. True repertory of the wreck and redemption of Sir Thomas Gates, July fifteenth, sixteen hundred and ten. 11 Jan 2009. .

Case Study (Too Much of a Good Thing)

Benjamin Foster Physiology 10/23/2012 Case Study 1 (Too much of a good thing)) The definition of OSMOSIS is the movement of a solvent through a membrane separating two solutions of different concentrations. The solvent from the side of weaker concentration usually moves to the side of the stronger concentration, diluting it, until the concentrations of the solutions are equal on both sides of the membrane. Michael made numerous mistakes in this story that caused the corn fields to die. The first mistake Michael made was to add the additional fertilizer to the crops.The extra fertilizer around the roots of the corn produced a hypertonic environment. The cells lost water because of the excessive fertilizer. The extra fertilizer caused the cell to turn hypertonic to the plant cell. This made the water diffuse from the plant cells into the soil by the process of OSMOSIS and the cells began to get smaller. The water would have eventually left the cells completely, which would have caused the plant cell to eventually die. Michael’s second mistake is that he didn’t remove the extra fertilizer.In theory, if he would have removed the extra fertilizer and add extra water, he could have possibly saved the crops. People generally water their plants with only water which creates a isotonic environment around the roots of the plants and permits the plant roots to draw up minerals through the soil faster and easier for absorption without the intrusion of added solutes (extra fertilizer) which may slow the absorption process or even refrain the cells from absorbing the water and minerals through the roots.

resistance in the holocaust essays

resistance in the holocaust essays When we think of the quite courage of Miep and Henk Gies, and Oskar Schindler, and all others who refused to turn their backs on the Jews of the Holocaust, we ask ourselves how it happened that these few men, women, and children gathered the courage to face the risks they had to take. Who were these rescuers, and why did they do what they did? Nechama Tec, a well known, sociologist and herself a hidden child, suggests that the Holocaust rescuers were people who acted out of a deep moral conviction to respond to the suffering of another human being. Because of this conviction, the rescuers did what their consciences told them they had to do. And because of this singular act of goodness, more than 2,000,000 people were saved from the gas chambers. Resistance in the Holocaust helped to save many Jews. Three examples of this include Partisan Warfare, non-Jews risking their lives to hide/save Jews as well as people escaping from concentration camps. This helped the Jews by; Nazi Germans d ieing from the partisan warfare, Jews being hidden from Nazis Germans by other German citizens as well as giving Jews hope to keep on living. The first example I will talk about is a very famous story known all over the world. This story is an example of non-Jews risking their lives to save Jews. This is the story of Anne Frank and her family. Anne Frank was born on June 12, 1929. She was a German-Jewish teenager who was forced to go into hiding during the Holocaust. She and her family, along with four others, spent 25 months during World War II in an annex of rooms above her fathers office in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. During those 25 months two people Miep and Henk kept the Frank family as well as the Van Daans hidden away from the German Nazis. Then on a Friday morning in August of 1944 the Nazis came and captured the two families and arrested Miep and Henk. After being betrayed to the Nazis, Anne, her family, and the Van Daans were...

The Right to Freedom Of Religion essays

The Right to Freedom Of Religion essays "You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note" (Doug Floyd) Harmony is diversity. In music, people sing different notes combined creating a complete, layered sound. In life, its the same way. All different types of people, religions, views, and opinions are what make the world what it is today. The First Amendment guarantees us the freedom of speech, religion, press and free assembly. If it wasn't for this amendment we would not be able to have freedom of religion - meaning we would have to believe in a god or power that the government would tell us to believe in. This amendment allows us to worship freely and is one of the benefits of being an American. But what happens when someone steps in and says that someone praising their god is wrong? Should they be punished or is it their right to worship what or who they choose? What happens when one person praising their god is offensive to other people? "As long has they do not break my arm or pick my pocket, it is of little c onsequence what they believe and that was what freedom of religion is all about."(Thomas Jefferson) The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States give every american the same rights. One right is the constitutional protection for the free exercise of religion. The second right is prohibition of the establishment of religion by the state. The people who founded this Constitution recognized it as one of the most important factors in a democracy. The founders also found a space of freedom between the government and the people. Which means that the government is not allowed to tell a group of people what they can or cannot believe in or do. Sadly, The government is not honoring their side of the constitution. The government is stating that prayer being allowed in schools violates others beliefs and others right of their own religion. Prayer is in fact legal in public schools and other places such as church and prayer in stores, etc. What is no...

Free Essays on Sikhism

INTRODUCTION TO SIKHISM There are over 20 million followers of Sikhism. Born five centuries ago in the Punjab region of northern India. Between 1469 and 1708, ten Gurus preached a simple message of truth, devotion to God, and universal equality. Often mistaken as a combination of Hinduism and Islam, the Sikh religion can be characterized as a completely independent faith: Sikhism rejects the idea of worshiping idols, the caste system and ritualism. It recognizes the equality between both genders and all religions, prohibits the intake of any intoxicants, and encourages an honest, truthful living. Sikhs have their own holy scripture called the Guru Granth Sahib. Written, composed, and compiled by the Sikh Gurus themselves, the Guru Granth Sahib serves as the ultimate source of spiritual guidance for Sikhs. While the Sikhs hold their Gurus in high reverence, they are not to be worshipped; Sikhs may only worship God. BASICS OF SIKHISM Ø Sikhism is the youngest of the World religions. Its history dates back to 1469. Ø Its founder Guru Nanak Dev was born in a village called Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, in 1469. Ø The Sikhs have ten Gurus. It is believed that they all had the same soul though they had different bodies, and that it was Guru Nanak Dev's spirit which passed on into his nine successors. Ø The Sikhs call God as 'Waheguru', meaning that God is great. Their common salutation is "Sat Siri Akal" (God is supreme and is immortal). Ø Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of the Sikhs. It is believed that the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh bestowed upon the Granth the title of the Guru. Ø The Sikhs worship only one Almighty God in his abstract form. They are not allowed to worship any idols, images or photographs. Ø According to the Sikh belief, God is the eternal truth. He himself is the creator, preserver and destroyer. Ø The Sikhs believe that all existence is controlled by one Lord called by... Free Essays on Sikhism Free Essays on Sikhism Sikhism: The world's fifth largest religion. History, beliefs, and practices, etc. Sikh Origins: No consensus exists on the origins of this religion. Historians and specialists in Eastern religions generally believe that Sikhism is a syncretistic religion, related to the Bhakti movement within Hinduism and the Sufi branch of Islam, to which many independent beliefs and practices were added. Many Sikhs disagree; they believe that their religion is a direct revealed from God - a religion that was not derived from either Hinduism or Islam. Sikhism does contain many unique postulates and principles that are quite different from both Hinduism and Islam. Joseph D. Cunningham (1812-1851), the author of "A History of the Sikhs" (1848), observed: "It has been usual to regard the Sikhs as essentially Hindu... yet in religious faith and worldly aspiration, they are wholly different from other Indians, and they are bound together by an objective unknown elsewhere." Sikh History: The name of the religion means learner. It is often mispronounced 'seek' It should be pronounced 'se-ikh', with the final 'kh' sound like the 'kh' in Mikhail Gorbachev. Its founder was Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, (1469-1538) who was born in the Punjab area of what is now Pakistan. At Sultanpur, he received a vision to preach the way to enlightenment and God. He is responsible for the saying "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim" which has since become one of the pillars of Sikhism. Guru Nanak and Panth (his followers) later built the first Sikh temple at Katarpur. A succession of nine Gurus (regarded as reincarnations of Guru Nanak) led the movement during the period from Guru Nanak's death until 1708. At that time, the functions of the Guru passed to the Pa nth and to the holy text, considered the 11th Guru. Mogul emperors ruled a large area of South Asia from the 16th century until the end of the 18th century. They attempted to convert the Sikhs to Islam, but we... Free Essays on Sikhism The word 'Sikh' in the Punjabi language means 'disciple', Sikhs consider themselves the disciples of God. They follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus. The disciples believe that the wisdom of the teachings in Sri Guru Granth Sahib (book containing the words of the Gurus throughout the ages) are practical and universal in their appeal and application to all of mankind. I had never heard of this religion before, so that is the main reason why I chose to study this religion. I have found it very interesting and different than the religions I have come across in my lifetime (which has not been a lot). Sikhism was introduced near the closing of the 15th Century. Guru Nanak Dev originated it; he is also considered the first master. Sikism is kind of a mix of two religions with a bit of other beliefs sprinkled in. Its main beliefs come from both Hinduism and Islam. The Sikhs are found generally around northwest India, or Punjab, but can also be found anywhere in the world. Sikhism has a very rare formation. This religion is a mixture of two other religions, known as Hinduism and Islam. This joining together is known as syncretism. The Hindus and Islams began to mix and some thought of joining the two together. Not everyone agreed so they decided to make a new religion with practices from both religions while still keeping Hinduism and Islam separate religions. From the Hindus, the reincarnation of Jesus was put into practice for this newly accepted religion and also they kept â€Å"The True Name† sacred because He can do anything. One true God is used also as a practice, coming from the Islam beliefs. Its originality helps make this religion special in its own unique way. The Sikhs have many of their own beliefs but also the ones that came from Hinduism and Islam. The opening lines in their Holy Book, or Guru Granith Sahib, state â€Å" There is one supreme eternal reality; the truth; immanent in all things; creator of all thin... Free Essays on Sikhism INTRODUCTION TO SIKHISM There are over 20 million followers of Sikhism. Born five centuries ago in the Punjab region of northern India. Between 1469 and 1708, ten Gurus preached a simple message of truth, devotion to God, and universal equality. Often mistaken as a combination of Hinduism and Islam, the Sikh religion can be characterized as a completely independent faith: Sikhism rejects the idea of worshiping idols, the caste system and ritualism. It recognizes the equality between both genders and all religions, prohibits the intake of any intoxicants, and encourages an honest, truthful living. Sikhs have their own holy scripture called the Guru Granth Sahib. Written, composed, and compiled by the Sikh Gurus themselves, the Guru Granth Sahib serves as the ultimate source of spiritual guidance for Sikhs. While the Sikhs hold their Gurus in high reverence, they are not to be worshipped; Sikhs may only worship God. BASICS OF SIKHISM Ø Sikhism is the youngest of the World religions. Its history dates back to 1469. Ø Its founder Guru Nanak Dev was born in a village called Talwandi, now known as Nankana Sahib in Pakistan, in 1469. Ø The Sikhs have ten Gurus. It is believed that they all had the same soul though they had different bodies, and that it was Guru Nanak Dev's spirit which passed on into his nine successors. Ø The Sikhs call God as 'Waheguru', meaning that God is great. Their common salutation is "Sat Siri Akal" (God is supreme and is immortal). Ø Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of the Sikhs. It is believed that the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh bestowed upon the Granth the title of the Guru. Ø The Sikhs worship only one Almighty God in his abstract form. They are not allowed to worship any idols, images or photographs. Ø According to the Sikh belief, God is the eternal truth. He himself is the creator, preserver and destroyer. Ø The Sikhs believe that all existence is controlled by one Lord called by... Free Essays on Sikhism History Sikhs are followers of Sikhism, an Indian religion that originated in the Punjab in northwest India. In 1995, India had approximately 18.7 million Sikhs, 1.9% of the population. Small communities of Sikhs also exist in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Malaysia, and East Africa. The movement was founded in the Punjab by Guru Nanak (1469-1539), who sought to combine Hindu and Muslim elements in a single religious creed. He taught "the unity of God, brotherhood of man, rejection of caste and the futility of idol worship." He was followed by nine masters, the last of whom was Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708; guru 1675-1708), who involved his followers in an unsuccessful martial struggle against Mogul rule. After Guru Gobind's assassination, the Muslim Mogul rulers persecuted the Sikhs until 1799 when, under Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), they laid claim to a large part of northwest India. After Ranjit's death his Sikh kingdom disintegrated into anarchy. The British moved into the Punjab, and the Sikh Wars followed (1845-46, 1848-49). The Sikhs were defeated, and the British annexed the Punjab. Sikhism did not recover until the 20th century, when the Sikhs were given control of their holy places (gurdwaras). When the Indian subcontinent was partitioned in 1947, the western Punjab became Pakistani territory and the eastern Punjab part of India. The Sikhs were victimized by the ensuing communal rioting, especially in Pakistan's Punjab, and about 2,500,000 moved from Pakistan into India. The holiest place for Sikhs is the Golden Temple at Amritsar (now in the Indian state of Punjab) founded by the fourth guru, Ram Das (guru 1574-81). The fifth guru, Arjun (guru 1581-1606), gave Sikhism its holy book, the Granth Sahib, which contains hymns of Sikh gurus as well as those of Hindu and Muslim saints such as Kabir. Sikhs are readily identifiable by their turbans. They take a vow not to cut their hair as well as not to smoke or dr...

Guns essays

Guns essays To own a gun or, not to own a gun? That is the question. In America today, many people face the question of how to protect their families. Is owning a handgun, or any type of gun the answer? We face many gun control such as; accidental shootings, children playing around with an armed gun and shooting themselves, and all types of violent crimes. Whos to blame? The NRA (National Rifles Association), the people who purchase these deadly weapons or better yet, the distributors who sell these deadly weapons on the streets to gangs, anarchist militia and so forth. While guns proved handy in shooting games or defending the home against highwaymen, the Founding Fathers framed the Second Amendment in terms of the potential tyranny of government and the need for individuals to posses arms for a militia to use against an overbearing government.(Foster 4-5) But it has been taken one step over the line. Innocent people are dying each day as America arms itself instead of taking the precaut ions to make sure innocent people dont die for a stupid gang shooting, or a police chase. It is estimated that 44% of Americans own some sort of firearm -thats not including the army or the gangs. Some individuals have valid reasons for being armed, while others purchase weapons for criminal intent. None the less if all the guns presently owned in America were collectively gathered, it is likely that at least one weapon would be available for every adult and child in the United States-thats something to think about. (landau 17) The United States of America had to do something about this, and they did. The passed a bill, The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, more commonly known as the Brady Bill. The bill was named for James Brady, former White House press secretary, and his wife Sarah. James Brady alongside former President Reagan and two law enforcement officers, was shot by a man named John Hin...

John Mauchly, Creator of UNIVAC and ENIAC

John Mauchly, Creator of UNIVAC and ENIAC Electrical engineer John Mauchly is best known for co-inventing, alongside  John Presper Eckert, the first general-purpose electronic digital computer, known as  ENIAC. The team later co-invented the first commercial (for sale to consumers) digital electronic computer, called the UNIVAC. Early Life John Mauchly was born on August 30, 1907 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. In 1925 Mauchly attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, on a full scholarship and graduated with a degree in physics. John Mauchlys Introduction to Computers By 1932, John Mauchly had received his Ph.d. in physics. However, he had always maintained an interest in electrical engineering. In 1940, while Mauchly was teaching physics at Ursinus College in Philadelphia, he was introduced to the newly developing field of electronic computers. In 1941, John Mauchly attended a training course (taught by John Presper Eckert) in electronics at the Moore School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Immediately after completing the course, Mauchly also became an instructor at the Moore school. John Mauchly and John Presper Eckert It was at Moore that John Mauchly began his research on designing a better computer and began his long working relationship with John Presper Eckert. The team collaborated on the construction of the ENIAC, completed in 1946. They subsequently left the Moore school to start their own business, the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation. The National Bureau of Standards asked the new company to build the Universal Automatic Computer, or  UNIVAC- the first computer to be produced commercially in the United States. John Mauchlys Later Life and Death John Mauchly formed Mauchly Associates, of which he was president from 1959 to 1965. He later became chairman of the board. Mauchly was the president of Dynatrend Inc. from 1968 to his death in 1980 and also president of Marketrend Inc. from 1970 again until his death. John Mauchly died on January 8 1980, in Ambler, Pennsylvania.

Quotes From Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Quotes From 'Flowers for Algernon' by Daniel Keyes Flowers for Algernon is a famous novel by Daniel Keyes. Its a bittersweet novel of a mentally disabled man named Charlie, who undergoes an experimental procedure to gain higher intelligence. The book follows his evolution from his low level, through his experiences of coming to understand the world around him. The book raises ethical and moral questions about the treatment of the disabled and happiness. The story is told through Charlies diaries and other documents. One of the ways Keyes portrayed Charlies intelligence was through the evolution of his spelling and  grammar.   Quotes From Flowers for Algernon Any one who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eye are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light, which is true of the minds eye, quite as much as of the bodily eye; and he who remembers this when he sees any one whose vision is perplexed and weak, will not be too ready to laugh; he will first ask whether that soul of man has come out of the brighter life, and is unable to see because unaccustomed to the dark, or having turned from darkness to the day is dazzled by excess of light. And he will count the one happy in his condition and state of being, and he will pity the other.  -The Republic, Prefaceall my life I wantid to be smart and not dumb and my mom always tolld me to try and lern just like Miss Kinnian tells me but its very hard to be smart and even when I lern something in Miss Kinnians class at the school I ferget alot.  I dint know mice were so smart.  If your smart you can have lots of frends to talk to and you never get lonley by yourself all the time.   Some times somebody will say hey lookit Frank, or Joe or even Gimpy. He really pulled a Charlie Gordon that time. I dont know why they say it but they always laff and I laff too.I beet Algernon. I dint even know I beet him until Burt Selden told me. Then the second time I lost because I got so excited. But after that I beet him 8 more times. I must be getting smart to beat a smart mouse like Algernon. But I dont feel smarter.She says Im a fine person and Ill show them all. I asked her why. She said never mind but I shouldnt feel bad if I find out everybody isnt nice like I think.  One thing? I, like: about, Dear Miss Kinnian: (thats, the way? it goes; in a business, letter (if I ever go! into business?) is that, she: always gives me a reason when - I ask. Shes a genius! I coud be smart like-her, Punctuation , is? fun!  I never knew before that Joe and Frank and the others liked to have me around just to make fun of me. Now I know what they mean wen they say to pull a Charlie Gord on. Im ashamed. Now I want you to look at this card, Charlie. What might this be? What do you see on this card? People see all kinds of things in these inkblots. Tell me what it makes you think of.I was seeing them clearly for the first time - not gods or even heroes, but just two men worried about getting something out of their work.  It had been all right as long as they could laugh at me and appear clever at my expense, but now they were feeling inferior to the moron. I began to see that by my astonishing growth I had made them shrink and emphasized their inadequacies.  I had betrayed them, and they hated me for it.  Our relationship is becoming increasingly strained. I resent Nemurs constant references to me as a laboratory specimen. He makes me feel that before the experiment was not really a human being.  What did you expect? Did you think Id remain a docile pup, wagging my tail and licking the foot that kicks me? I no longer have to take the kind of crap that people have been handing me all my life.   Remembering how my mother looked before she gave birth to my sister is frightening. But even more frightening is the feeling that I wanted them to catch me and beat me. Why did I want to be punished? Shadows out of the past clutch at my legs and drag me down. I open my mouth to scream, but I am voiceless. My hands are trembling, I feel cold, and there is a distant humming in my ears.  It may sound like ingratitude, but that is one of the things I hate here - the attitude that I am a guinea pig. Nemurs constant references to having made me what I am, or that someday there will be others like me who will become real human beings. How can I make him understand that he did not create me?  They had pretended to be geniuses. But they were just ordinary men working blindly, pretending to be able to bring light into the darkness. Why is it that everyone lies? No one I know is what he appears to be.  Nothing in our minds is ever really gone. The operation had covered him over with a ven eer of education and culture, but emotionally he was therewatching and waiting.   Im not your friend. Im your enemy. Im not going to give up my intelligence without a struggle. I cant go back down into that cave. Theres no place for me to go now, Charlie. So youve got to stay away.  ARTIFICIALLY-INDUCED INTELLIGENCE DETERIORATES AT A RATE OF TIME DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE QUANTITY OF THE INCREASE.the men of the cave would say of him that up he went and down he came without his eyes.  I passed your floor on the way up, and now Im passing it on the way down, and I dont think Ill be taking this elevator again.  P.S. please if you get a chance put some flowers on Algernons grave in the back yard.

Critical Thinking and Decision Making Research Paper

Critical Thinking and Decision Making - Research Paper Example I am not the kind of person who just goes with a decision because it feels right; I have to be able to justify it through facts and evidence. The downside to this approach is that some times I can take too long to make decisions and by that time it is too late to change anything. Other people can become frustrated by my decision-making efforts because I don’t appear to know what I am doing, but actually I am sometimes guilty of over thinking things. If I am to speed up my thought processes, then I will need to set time boundaries that force me to make a decision by. I will also take to heart the words of Andrew Jackson: â€Å"†¦when the time for action has come, stop thinking and act† (Clark, 2012). If I can find a balance between strategizing and acting, then I should become a better decision maker. It is important to have a variety of approaches to management and decision making because there are some variables that can change at a moment’s notice. In order to be prepared for sudden changes, it is best to have a couple of backup plans that can be implemented if things don’t exactly turn out as planned. Part of being a successful manager is considering all the options on the table and then sticking with one but keeping some options in reserve. That way, the research and planning stages would have already been carried out and the new strategy can be integrated seamlessly. In Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools, the authors state, "Excellence in thought, however, must be systematically cultivated" (Elder & Paul, 2009, p. 2). What will you do to improve your level of critical thinking? How will this improve your abilities as a manager and as a graduate student? I will improve my level of critical thinking by sticking to the point. I have a bad habit of getting sidetracked from an issue, and this slows down my critical thinking. In order to change this, I will need to be â€Å"on the lookout for fragmented thinking,

International Business and Economics Assignment

International Business and Economics - Assignment Example Franchising is very similar to licensing except in the degree of control by the licensor in that a franchise has to adhere strictly to a set of standards such as in marketing strategy and in its sales promotions (Welch, Benito, and Petersen, 2007, p. 53). Example of licensing would be a Mickey Mouse logo licensed to a kids shoe manufacturer while franchising is a McDonald's. Turnkey operations are a type of business entry mode in which one company contracts with another company to build, construct and complete ready-to-use facilities (Paul, 1966, p. 162). Most turnkey projects are usually in the construction and industrial-equipment sectors which require big capital and specialized expertise (Daniels, Radebaugh and Sullivan, 2008, p. 45). Management contracts pertain to agreements between investor groups of a big project and the management company hired for their expertise to manage, coordinate and oversee the project. The company is hired provides its management, administrative and organizational talents in return for a management fee such as those quite common in global hotel chains like Hilton. A direct investment is an investment made with a view to acquiring a lasting or long-term part or interest in an existing operational business enterprise in order to have an effective voice in the management of the said enterprise. In practice, this translates to buying the equity of 10% or more in the foreign firm as a form of market entry when other modes are not very assured of success. In this regard, foreign direct investment (FDI) is a way for capital to move from the low-return environment to a higher-profit market (Moosa, 2002, p. 24). Portfolio investment is an investment in stocks and securities for profits only and is called â€Å"hot money.† Attitudes to Foreign Cultures – the managers and employees of multinational firms try to adapt to foreign cultures sometimes based on their home culture. In most instances, the managers who are very democ ratic in their attitudes at their home country also extend these same traits of democratic practices such as sharing of vital information with the employees in a foreign country where they operate in (Toyne, 1980, p. 135). In some situations, the contrast of country managers is very vast such as imposing their home country's practices, beliefs and values on the host country's employees (Hofstede, 2003, p. 440) as a frame of reference while others take a more tolerant attitude and try to learn more and understand the foreign culture in a much better and deeper way (Ajami et al., 2006, p. 215). The success of a manager in the foreign country depends to a big extent on his or her cultural intelligence quotient (CQ) level similar to intelligence quotient (IQ) or emotional quotient (EQ) by being able to sufficiently read and analyze individual behaviors, attitudes, group dynamics and the unique situations in the context of the foreign culture (Kreitner, 2006, p. 97) beyond just learning the language. Key Means of Economic Transition – a command economy is an economy that is being managed centrally by the government bureaucrats. In other words, the demand and also the supply of certain products, goods, and services are determined by government planners. It is these people who decide which goods and services are to be produced, how they are priced and how these are to be distributed instead of allowing free market forces to do so.

Marketing Services Versus Products Part II Assignment

Marketing Services Versus Products Part II - Assignment Example Other similarities and differences between products and services include the fact that products are tangible whereas services are intangible by nature and that both products and services can be promoted through advertising and public relations. The fact that products are tangible significantly affect the customization of products in the sense that customization of products allows the end-users to customize the product physically based on what they have specified. Customization of services is much more different in the sense that it focuses on the provision of easy ordering and faster delivery service to the customers. It is important to note that standardization and customization are two different things when it comes to developing the quality of service. For example, as compared to standardization, customized service allows the customers to enjoy more flexibility when it comes to service they receive from the provider (Lamb, Hair, & McDaniel, 2013). It means that standardized services are less flexible. In relation to the marketing mix, Reggie mentioned that both products and services should satisfy the need requirements of each customer. For instance, products which refer to both products (i.e. smart phone) and services (i.e. legal services) should create positive experience to each customer whereas promotion should advertise or create public awareness about the quality and uniqueness of the company’s products and services. Additional similarities between the marketing of products and services include the fact that both products and services can be differentiated through branding (Perreault, Cannon, & McCarthy, 2014). Differences between the marketing of products and services include the fact that products can be marketed through its packaging but not in the case of marketing services. Therefore, the marketing of tangible items like washing machine can be customized through its packaging but not

Study case (Information Resources Management) Essay - 3

Study case (Information Resources Management) - Essay Example It will improve investment in the information technology sector which leads to improved production (Schwalbe, K. 2013). Chief information officer also understands the business enterprises and the requirement by end users, with this it is his responsibility to ensure the information technology sector is able to meet this requirement. With this the Government of Alberta, through Government of Alberta Enterprise Architecture (GAEA) will be able to come up with a effective strategy, which is relevant and applicable in linking the information technology sector to enterprise initiatives. Information technology management and governance in enterprise architecture should be a collective role. It is to bring about professionals from related fields from Canada. They bring together their skills and knowledge to solve the challenges in enterprises. There should have been increased information technology to business interaction in planning and increased degree of formal process implementation. This would have made the plan more realistic thus easy to implement. There was to be equal representation of all stakeholders. In our case it is stand alone project us not having representation of the end users, the people of Alberta. There will be a gap of goods quality. The enterprise sector should be well represented to allow equality thus governance will be simple having no resistance from partners (Davenport, T. 2013). Well-developed information system will yield to proper usage of information system in the establishment of enterprises. This will lead to growth of the economy of Canada. Proper governance of enterprise architecture in the planning of the system is a key