My Road to Success Essay

My Road to Success Many people believe that natural ability is of pivotal importance for success while others argue that hard work is the key factor. However, the person, who has a gift of ability but lack of experience gains from hard-working, may not succeed. In my opinion hard work is still more important as it helps us to attain the higher levels than what lazy individuals with special ability can have. Natural ability does benefit us a lot in order to achieve success in life.Individuals, whose special abilities, do not have to study much to have essential skills that are needed for their success. For example, math geniuses are able to do math problems easily at school without spending much time doing homework. People who have acute intelligence in the business field can drive their firms to gain more profits while others have to struggle to get out of debts. Obviously, natural ability facilitates our ways to success while we do not have to suffer much.However, in order to attain success, hard work is still much more important. As skills can be learned, through hard work, we are possibly able to gain new essential skills that we are not born with. For example, behind the success of famous reporters, they have to spend hours of practicing to communicate. The more they practice, the more influent they talk and as a result, they can convey their ideas at ease on television. Moreover, mere natural ability cannot guarantee us success.If a person has exceptional ability but is always lazy and reluctant to work, his ability is likely not to be discovered and remains meaningless. On the other hand, people who always strive for new things are able to be exposed to new opportunities, which can drive them to more success. In short, though natural ability can facilitate us a lot, hard work is always the most crucial part to success. If we work diligently, we not only have new skills but also have more opportunities to achieve success in life.

Business Law, the Laws Applied in This Case Study Essay

Introduction Funster had suffered three forms of losses in this factual matrix, namely the broken ribs, the damaged iPhone and the torn T-shirt. Prima facie, Magic Studios is liable for the negligent damage caused to Funster. Therefore, whether Magic Studios should bear liability for the damage hinges upon whether they can successfully rely upon the exclusion clause set out in the ticket. The approach taken by the courts on determining the applicability of the exclusion clause is neatly set out in Press Automation Technology v Trans-Link Exhibition Forwarding [2003] 1 SLR 712. A court will first determine whether the clause is successfully incorporated, before applying the common law principles of construction to determine if it can be enforced. Following that, it will then apply the Unfair Contract Terms Act [UCTA] to determine if the clause can indeed be struck out by statute. Each point of law will be discussed in turn. Incorporation Two issues regarding the incorporation of a term arise in this case. The first is whether the term has been incorporated before the formation of the contract, and the second is whether there has been reasonable notice on Monster Studio’s part. Both issues will be discussed consecutively. On the first issue of incorporation before formation of the contract, the law is clear that terms should be incorporated into the contract before formation (Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking, [1971] 2 QB 163) [Thornton]. The terms and conditions of a contract should be well known to both parties before they are made to bear legal responsibilities under the contract. Therefore, the notice of a ticket must come before its formation. Elsewise, it will not be enforceable. In this case, it is likely that a court will decide that the term has been incorporated before offer and acceptance. This is because Magic Studios has clearly placed a sign above the ticket booth that certain terms and conditions will apply. Funster thus entered into the contract knowing that certain terms will apply to the transaction. In conclusion, the term would thus be properly incorporated into the contract. On the second issue of reasonable notice, the applicable law is clearly set out in the landmark English case of Parker v South Eastern Railway Co (1877) 2 CPD 416 [Parker] that the recipient of a ticket is bound if â€Å"he had reasonable notice that the document contains terms†, even if he remains ignorant of the terms. This means that the term can be incorporated into the contract only if it is reasonable that an ordinary person would have noticed the existence of such a term. The law in Parker was further clarified in Thornton that where the court held that if the party seeks to enforce an onerous term, it must take additional steps to bring its presence to the other party’s notice. In this case, it is clear that Magic Studios should be deemed as having successfully incorporated the exclusion clause. By using an obvious red font, it had clearly brought to any customer’s attention that there are underlying terms and conditions on the ticket. In any case, Funster had consulted an attendant about the exclusion clause and cannot claim that he does not know of such an underlying term. In conclusion, by applying the clear rules set out in Parker and Thornton, the exclusion clause should be successfully incorporated. Common law principles of construction Following the successful incorporation of the exclusion clause, the next issue is whether the clause can be enforceable by applying the common law principles of construction. As held clearly in Emjay Enterprises Pte Ltd v Skylift Consolidator, [2006] 2 SLR(R) 268, the rule of construction approach will be taken in Singapore where exclusion clauses are concerned. Following the landmark decision in The Suisse Atlantique, [1967] 1 AC 361, the court will determine, through a fair construction of the contract, if the parties have intended for such an exclusion clause to be enforced. Courts have traditionally taken a strict approach towards enforcing exclusion clauses purporting to exempt total negligence (Canada Steamship Lines v The King, [1952] AC 192, but following the enactment of UCTA, such a requirement has been visibly relaxed or non-existent [Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG, [2011] SGHC 149) [Jiang Ou]. Applying the law to the relevant facts, it should be clear that the common law requirement of construction should be fulfilled. Both Funster and Monster Studios can be said to have reached an agreement as to the enforcement of this clause since Funster had only bought the ticket after seeing the large sign containing â€Å"terms and conditions apply† above the counter. Funster must thus have entered into the contract knowing that certain terms and conditions may apply. Moreever, as seen in Emjay, the court is reluctant to reject any claims at this stage of the inquiry, preferring to use UCTA to weed out unmeritorious exclusion clauses. In conclusion, the clause can thus be successfully enforced, pending passing the requirements in UCTA. Unfair Contract Terms Act As mentioned earlier, Funster had suffered three types of damages – personal injury, damage to iPhone and damage to T-shirt. Each of the damage will be discussed in turn using the appropriate provision in UCTA. Broken Ribs Section 2(1) of the UCTA clearly states that a person cannot â€Å"exclude or restrict his liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence†. This clearly shows that parties are not allowed, under the law, to exclude liability for personal injury or death. Such a provision was written into law in order to protect parties, especially vulnerable ones such as customers to theme parks who might not have equal bargaining power, in cases whereby one party’s negligence have caused serious injuries or even death. Applying the s.2(1) to the facts, it is clear that Funster can claim for negligence with regards to the broken ribs he has suffered. Broken ribs belong to the category of â€Å"personal injury† in s.2(1), and a party clearly cannot exclude liability for such personal injury. As Monster Studios is already prima facie negligent, whether Funster can claim damages for his broken ribs hinges solely upon the application of s.2(1) of the UCTA. Applying the strict requirement in s.2(1), it is clear that Monster Studio cannot exempt liability for the personal injury that Funster has suffered. In conclusion, Monster Studios cannot rely on the exemption clause to exempt liability for Funster’s broken ribs. Damaged iPhone and Torn T-shirt Both the damaged iPhone and torn T-shirts may be classified under other forms of damage, applicable under â€Å"other losses and damage† under s.2(2) of UCTA. It is thus important to look at the relevant provision, which states that Monster Studio’s liability cannot be excluded except where it is reasonable to do so. While s.2(2) does not state what the term â€Å"reasonable† means, this is clarified in s.11 that a reasonable term is one which is â€Å"known or in the contemplation of the parties when the contract was made†. Typically, courts will consider several factors in determining whether a particular exclusion clause is reasonable. They include whether the relative bargaining powers of respective parties (Jiang Ou), whether there are any protests by the claimant (Kenwell & Co Pte Ltd v Southern Ocean Shipbuilding, [1998] 2 SLR(R) 583) and if there are any reasonable alternatives (Tjoa Elis v United Overseas Bank Ltd, [2003] 1 SLR(R) 747). As mentioned in Jiang Ou, the ultimate consideration by the court is whether it is against public policy to allow the enforcement of the particular exclusion clause, and such an inquiry is based on the particular facts of the case. In this case, there are two claims which arise with regards to s.2(2) of UCTA, namely the damaged iPhone and torn T-shirt. For both items, Funster should be allowed to claim for the relevant damages. Applying the several factors set out above, it is clear that Funster had little bargaining power over the inclusion of the exclusion clause and cannot be said to have any other alternatives but to accept the clause if he wishes to take the roller coaster. As discussed in Jiang Ou, it is against public policy if amusement parks such as Monster Studios are allowed to escape with their own negligence by drafting an exclusion clause. The UCTA was specifically drafted to protect consumers such as Funster from being denied legal recourse when faced with a negligent organisation such as Monster Studios. In conclusion, a court is unlikely to deny Funster the claims for his iPhone and the T-shirt. Conclusion In conclusion, Funster should be allowed to claim for his personal injuries, the broken iPhone and the torn T-shirt. While the exclusion clause drafted by Magic Studios can pass the requirements of incorporation and common law construction, it is unlikely to pass the stringent standards set by UCTA. REFERENCES Cases 1.Canada Steamship Lines v The King, [1952] AC 192 2.Emjay Enterprises Pte Ltd v Skylift Consolidator, [2006] 2 SLR(R) 268 3.Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG, [2011] SGHC 149 4.Kenwell & Co Pte Ltd v Southern Ocean Shipbuilding, [1998] 2 SLR(R) 583 5.Parker v South Eastern Railway Co (1877) 2 CPD 416 6.Press Automation Technology v Trans-Link Exhibition Forwarding [2003] 1 SLR 712 7.The Suisse Atlantique, [1967] 1 AC 361 8.Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking, [1971] 2 QB 163 9.Tjoa Elis v United Overseas Bank Ltd, [2003] 1 SLR(R) 747 Books Ewan Mckendrick, Contract Law (8th Edition), Palgrave Macmillan Law Masters (2009) Websites Singapore Academy of Law. Singapore Contract Law (accessed on 3rd May 2012). URL: http://www.singaporelaw.sg/content/ContractLaw.html Stamford Law Legal Updates, Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG (accessed on 3rd May 2012) URL: http://www.stamfordlaw.com.sg/legal.php?id=241

Biology Essay Research Paper Term paperPrinciples of

Biology Essay, Research Paper Term paper: Principles of Ecology 310L New Ecological Penetrations: The Application of Fractal Geometry to Ecology Victoria Levin 7 December 1995 Abstraction New penetrations into the natural universe are merely a few of the consequences from the usage of fractal geometry. Examples from population and landscape ecology are used to exemplify the utility of fractal geometry to the field of ecology. The coming of the computing machine age played an of import function in the development and credence of fractal geometry as a valid new subject. New penetrations gained from the application of fractal geometry to ecology include: understanding the importance of spacial and temporal graduated tables ; the relationship between landscape construction and motion tracts ; an increased apprehension of landscape constructions ; and the ability to more accurately exemplary landscapes and ecosystems. Using fractal dimensions allows ecologists to map carnal tracts without making an unwieldy flood of information. Computer simulations of landscapes provide utile theoretical accounts for deriving new penetrations into the coexistence of species. Although many ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an highly utile tool, non all concur. With all the new penetrations gained through the appropriate application of fractal geometry to natural scientific disciplines, it is clear that fractal geometry a utile and valid tool. New penetration into the natural universe is merely one of the consequences of the increasing popularity and usage of fractal geometry in the last decennary. What are fractals and what are they good for? Scientists in a assortment of subjects have been seeking to reply this inquiry for the last two decennaries. Physicists, chemists, mathematicians, life scientists, computing machine scientists, and medical research workers are merely a few of the scientists that have found utilizations for fractals and fractal geometry. Ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an highly utile tool for depicting ecological systems. Many population, community, ecosystem, and landscape ecologists use fractal geometry as a tool to assist specify and explicate the systems in the universe around us. As with any scientific field, there has been some discord in ecology about the appropriate degree of survey. For illustration, some being ecologists think that anything larger than a individual being obscures the world with excessively much item. On the other manus, some ecosystem ecologists believe that looking at anything less than an full ecosystem will non give meaningful consequences. In world, both positions are right. Ecologists must take all degrees of organisation into history to acquire the most out of a survey. Fractal geometry is a tool that bridges the # 8220 ; spread # 8221 ; between different Fieldss of ecology and provides a common linguistic communication. Fractal geometry has provided new penetration into many Fieldss of ecology. Examples from population and landscape ecology will be used to exemplify the utility of fractal geometry to the field of ecology. Some population ecologists use fractal geometry to correlate the landscape construction with motion tracts of populations or beings, which greatly influences population and community ecology. Landscape ecologists tend to utilize fractal geometry to specify, depict, and theoretical account the scale-dependent heterogeneousness of the landscape construction. Before researching applications of fractal geometry in ecology, we must foremost specify fractal geometry. The exact definition of a fractal is hard to trap down. Even the adult male who conceived of and developed fractals had a difficult clip specifying them ( Voss 1988 ) . Mandelbrot # 8217 ; s foremost published definition of a fractal was in 1977, when he wrote, # 8220 ; A fractal is a set for which the Hausdorff-Besicovitch dimension purely exceeds the topographical dimension # 8221 ; ( Mandelbrot 1977 ) . He subsequently expressed sorrow for holding defined the word at all ( Mandelbrot 1982 ) . Other efforts to gaining control the kernel of a fractal include the undermentioned quotation marks:# 8220 ; Different people use the word fractal in different ways, but all agree that fractal objects contain constructions nested within one another like Chinese boxes or Russian dolls. # 8221 ; ( Kadanoff 1986 )# 8220 ; A fractal is a form made of parts similar to the whole in some way. # 8221 ; ( Mandelbrot 1982 ) Fractals are # 8230 ; # 8221 ; geometric signifiers whose irregular inside informations recur at different scales. # 8221 ; ( Horgan 1988 ) Fractals are # 8230 ; # 8221 ; curves and surfaces that live in an unusual kingdom between the first and 2nd, or between the 2nd and 3rd dimensions. # 8221 ; ( Thomsen 1982 ) One manner to specify the elusive fractal is to look at its features. A cardinal feature of fractals is that they are statistically self-similar ; it will look like itself at any graduated table. A statistically self-similar graduated table does non hold to look precisely like the original, but must look similar. An illustration of self-similarity is a caput of Brassica oleracea italica. Imagine keeping a caput of Brassica oleracea italica. Now break off a big floweret ; it looks similar to the whole caput. If you continue interrupting off smaller and smaller flowerets, you # 8217 ; ll see that each floweret is similar to the larger 1s and to the original. There is, nevertheless, a bound to how little you can travel before you lose the self- similarity. Another placing feature of fractals is they normally have a non- whole number dimension. The fractal dimension of an object is a step of space-filling ability and allows one to compare and categorise fractals ( Garcia 1991 ) . A consecutive line, for illustration, has the Euclidean dimension of 1 ; a plane has the dimension of 2. A really jaggy line, nevertheless, takes up more infinite than a consecutive line but less infinite so a solid plane, so it has a dimension between 1 and 2. For illustration, 1.56 is a fractal dimension. Most fractal dimensions in nature are about 0.2 to 0.3 greater than the Euclidian dimension ( Voss 1988 ) . Euclidian geometry and Newtonian natural philosophies have been profoundly frozen traditions in the scientific universe for 100s of old ages. Even though mathematicians every bit early as 1875 were puting the foundations that Mandelbrot used in his work, early mathematicians resisted the constructs of fractal geometry ( Garcia 1991 ) . If a construct did non suit within the boundaries of the recognized theories, it was dismissed as an exclusion. Much of the early work in fractal geometry by mathematicians met this destiny. Even though early scientists could see the abnormality of natural objects in the universe around them, they resisted the construct of fractals as a tool to depict the natural universe. They tried to coerce the natural universe to suit the theoretical account presented by Euclidean geometry and Newtonian natural philosophies. Yet we all know that # 8220 ; clouds are non domains, mountains are non cones, coastlines are non circles, and bark is non smooth, nor does lightning go in a consecutive line # 8221 ; ( Mandelbrot 1982 ) . The coming of the computing machine age, with its sophisticated artworks, played an of import function in the development and credence of fractal geometry as a valid new subject in the last two decennaries. Computer-generated images clearly show the relevancy of fractal geometry to nature ( Scheuring and Riedi 1994 ) . A computer- generated coastline or mountain scope demonstrates this relevancy. Once mathematicians and scientists were able to see graphical representations of fractal objects, they could see that the mathematical theory behind them was non capricious but really describes natural objects reasonably good. When explained and illustrated to most scientists and non-scientists likewise, fractal geometry and fractals make sense on an intuitive degree. Examples of fractal geometry in nature are coastlines, clouds, works roots, snowflakes, lightning, and mountain scopes. Fractal geometry has been used by many scientific disciplines in the last two decennaries ; natural philosophies, chemical science, weather forecasting, geology, mathematics, medical specialty, and biological science are merely a few. Understanding how landscape ecology influences population ecology has allowed population ecologists to derive new penetrations into their field. A dominant subject of landscape ecology is that the constellation of spacial mosaics influences a broad array of ecological phenomena ( Turner 1989 ) . Fractal geometry can be used to explicate connexions between populations and the landscape construction. Interpreting spacial and temporal graduated tables and motion tracts are two countries of population ecology that have benefited from the application of fractal geometry. Different tools are required in population ecology because the declaration or graduated table with which field informations should be gathered is attuned to the survey being ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Insect motions, like works root growing, follow a uninterrupted way that may be punctuated by Michigans but the tools required to mensurate this uninterrupted tract are really different. Plant motion is measured by detecting root growing through exposure, insect motion by tracking insects with flag arrangement, and carnal motion by utilizing tracking devices on larger animate beings ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993, Shibusawa 1994, Wiens et Al. 1993 ) . Spatial and temporal graduated table are of import when mensurating the place scope of a population and when tracking carnal motion ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993, Wiens et Al. 1993 ) . Animal waies have local, temporal, and scale-specific fluctuations in tortuousness ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) that are best described by fractal geometry. The function of insect motion besides required usage of the proper spacial or temporal graduated table. If excessively long of a clip interval is used to map the insect # 8217 ; s advancement, the sections will be excessively long and the elaboratenesss of the insect # 8217 ; s motions will be lost. The usage of really short intervals may make unreal interruptions in behavioural moves and might increase the sampling attempt required until it is unwieldy ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Movement tracts are one of the chief features influenced by the landscape. Motion tracts are influenced by the flora spots and spot boundaries ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Root warp in a growth works is similar to an carnal tract being changed by the landscape construction. Waies of carnal motion have fractal facets. In a continuously changing landscape, it is hard to specify the country of a coinage # 8217 ; s home ground ( Palmer 1992 ) . Application of fractal geometry has given new penetrations into carnal motion tracts. For illustration, carnal motion determines the place scope. Because carnal motion is greatly influenced by the fractal facet of the landscape, place scope is straight influenced by the landscape construction ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) . Animal motion is non random but greatly influenced by the landscape of the place scope of the animate being ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) . Structural complexness of the environment consequences in Byzantine animate being tracts ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) , which in bend lead to ragged place scope boundaries. Gautestad and Mysterud ( 1993 ) found that place scope can be more accurately described by its fractal belongingss than by the traditional area-related estimates. Since limit of place scope is a hard undertaking and place scope can # 8217 ; t be described in traditional units like square metres or square kilometres, they used fractal belongingss to better depict the place scope country as a composite country use form ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) . Fractals work good to depict place scope because as the sample of location observation additions, the overall form of Thursday e place secret plans takes the signifier of a statistical fractal ( Gautestad and Mysterud 1993 ) . Fractal dimensions are used to stand for the tracts of beetling motion because the fractal dimension of insect motion tracts may supply penetrations non available from absolute steps of pathway constellations ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Using fractal dimensions allowed ecologists to map the tract without making an unwieldy flood of information ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Insect behaviour such as forage, coupling, population distribution, predator- quarry interactions or community composing may be mechanisticly determined by the nature of the landscape. The spacial heterogeneousness in environmental characteristics or patchiness of a landscape will find how organisms can travel about ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . As a beetle or an other insect walks along the land, it does non travel in a consecutive line. The beetle might walk along in a peculiar way looking for something to eat. It might go on in one way until it comes across a shrub or bush. It might travel around the shrub, or it might turn around and head back the manner it came. Its way seems to be random but is truly dictated by the construction of the landscape ( Wiens et al. 1993 ) . Another betterment in population ecology through the usage of fractal geometry is the mold of works root growing. Roots, which besides may look random, do non turn indiscriminately. Reproducing the fractal forms of root systems has greatly improved root growing theoretical accounts ( Shibusawa 1994 ) . Landscape ecologists have used fractal geometry extensively to derive new penetrations into their field. Landscape ecology explores the effects of the constellation of different sorts of environments on the distribution and motion of beings ( Palmer 1992 ) . Emphasis is on the flow or motion of being, cistrons, energy, and resources within complex agreements of ecosystems ( Milne 1988 ) . Landscapes exhibit non-Euclidean denseness and perimeter-to-area relationships and are therefore suitably described by fractals ( Milne 1988 ) . New penetrations on graduated table, increased apprehension of landscape constructions, and better landscape construction patterning are merely some of the additions from using fractal geometry. Troubles in describing and patterning spatially distributed ecosystems and landscapes include the natural spacial variableness of ecologically of import parametric quantities such as biomass, productiveness, dirt and hydrological features. Natural variableness is non changeless and depends to a great extent on spacial graduated table. Spatial heterogeneousness of a system at any graduated table will forestall the usage of simple point theoretical accounts ( Vedyushkin 1993 ) . Most landscapes exhibit forms intermediate between complete spacial independency and complete spacial dependance. Until the reaching of fractal geometry it was hard to pattern this intermediate degree of spacial dependance ( Palmer 1992, Milne 1988 ) . Landscapes present beings with heterogeneousness happening at a myriad of length graduated tables. Understanding and foretelling the effects of heterogeneousness may be enhanced when scale-dependent heterogeneousness is quantified utilizing fractal geometry ( Milne 1988 ) . Landscape ecologists normally assume that environmental heterogeneousness can be described by the form, figure, and distribution on homogenous landscape elements or spots. Heterogeneity can change as a map of spacial graduated table in landscapes. An illustration of this is a checker board. At a really little graduated table, a checker board is homogenous because one would remain in one square. At a somewhat larger graduated table, the checker board would look to be heterogenous since one would traverse the boundaries of the ruddy and black squares. At an even larger graduated table, one would return to homogeneousness because of the form of ruddy and black squares ( Palmer 1992 ) . An increased apprehension of the landscape structures consequences from utilizing the fractal attack in the field of distant detection of forest flora. Specific advantages include the ability to pull out information about spacial construction from remotely sensed informations and to utilize it in favoritism of these informations ; the compaction of this information to few values ; the ability to construe fractal dimension values in footings of factors, which determine concrete spacial construction ; and sufficient hardiness of fractal features ( Vedyushkin 1993 ) . Computer simulations of landscapes provide utile theoretical accounts for deriving new penetrations into the coexistence of species. Fake landscapes allow ecologists to research some of the effects of the geometrical constellation of environmental variableness for species coexistence and profusion ( Palmer 1992 ) . A statistically self-similar landscape is an abstraction but it allows an ecologist to theoretical account fluctuation in spacial dependance ( Palmer 1992 ) . Spatial variableness in the environment is an of import determiner of coexistence of rivals ( Palmer 1992 ) . Spatial variableness can be modeled by changing the landscape # 8217 ; s fractal dimension. The consequences of this computing machine simulation of species in a landscape show that an addition in the fractal dimension increases the figure of species per microsite and increases species habitat comprehensiveness. Other consequences show that environmental variableness allows the coexistence of species, lessenings beta diverseness, and increases landscape undersaturation ( Palmer 1992 ) . Increasing the fractal dimension of the landscape allows more species to be in a peculiar country and in the landscape as a whole ; nevertheless, highly high fractal dimensions cause fewer species to coexist on the landscape graduated table ( Palmer 1992 ) . Although many ecologists have found fractal geometry to be an highly utile tool, non all concur. Even scientists who have used fractal geometry in their research point out some of its defects. For illustration, Scheuring and Riedi ( 1994 ) province that # 8220 ; the failing of fractal and multifractal methods in ecological surveies is the fact that existent objects or their abstract projections ( e.g. , flora maps ) contain many different sorts of points, while fractal theory assumes that the natural ( or abstract ) objects are represented by points of the same kind. # 8221 ; Many scientists agree with Mandelbrot when he said that fractal geometry is the geometry of nature ( Voss 1988 ) , while other scientists think fractal geometry has no topographic point outside a computing machine simulation ( Shenker 1994 ) . In 1987, Simberloff et Al. argued that fractal geometry is useless for ecology because ecological forms are non fractals. In a paper called # 8220 ; Fractal Geometry Is Not the Geometry of Nature, # 8221 ; Shenker says that Mandelbrot # 8217 ; s theory of fractal geometry is invalid in the spacial kingdom because natural objects are non self-similar ( 1994 ) . Further, Shenker states that Mandelbrot # 8217 ; s theory is based on want and has no scientific footing at all. He conceded nevertheless that fractal geometry may work in the temporal part ( Shenker 1994 ) . The unfavorable judgment that fractal geometry is merely applicable to precisely self-similar objects is addressed by Palmer ( 1982 ) . Palmer ( 1982 ) points out that Mandelbrot # 8217 ; s early definition ( Mandelbrot 1977 ) does non advert self-similarity and therefore allows objects that exhibit any kind of fluctuation or abnormality on all spacial graduated tables of involvement to be considered fractals. Harmonizing to Shenker, fractals are eternal geometric procedures, and non geometrical signifiers ( 1994 ) , and are hence useless in depicting natural objects. This position is kindred to stating that we can # 8217 ; T usage Newtonian natural philosophies to pattern the way of a missile because the missile # 8217 ; s exact mass and speed are impossible to cognize at the same clip. Mass and speed, like fractals, are abstractions that allow us to understand and pull strings the natural and physical universe. Even though they are # 8220 ; merely # 8221 ; abstractions, they work rather good. The value of critics such as Shenker and Simberloff is that they force scientists to clearly understand their thoughts and premises about fractal geometry, but the critics go excessively far in demanding preciseness in an imprecise universe. With all the new penetrations and new cognition that have been gained through the appropriate application of fractal geometry to natural scientific disciplines, it is clear that is a utile and valid tool. The new penetrations gained from the application of fractal geometry to ecology include: understanding the importance of spacial and temporal graduated tables ; the relationship between landscape construction and motion tracts ; an increased apprehension of landscape constructions ; and the ability to more accurately theoretical account landscapes and ecosystems. One of the most valuable facets of fractal geometry, nevertheless, is the manner that it bridges the spread between ecologists of differing Fieldss. By supplying a common linguistic communication, fractal geometry allows ecologists to pass on and portion thoughts and constructs. As the information and computing machine age advancement, with better and faster computing machines, fractal geometry will go an even more of import tool for ecologists and life scientists. Some future applications of fractal geometry to ecology include clime mold, conditions anticipation, land direction, and the creative activity of unreal home grounds. Literature Cited Garcia, L. 1991. The Fractal Explorer. Dynamic Press. Santa Cruz. Gautestad, A. O. , Mysterud, I. 1993. Physical and biological mechanisms in animate being motion processes. Journal of Applied Ecology. 30:523-535. Horgan, J. 1988. Fractal Shorthand. Scientific American. 258 ( 2 ) :28. Kadanoff, L. P. 1986. Fractals: Where # 8217 ; s the natural philosophies? Physicss Today. 39:6-7. Mandelbrot, B. B. 1982. The Fractal Geometry of Nature. W. H. Freeman and Company. San Francisco. Mandelbrot, B. B. 1977. Fractals: Form, Chance, and Dimension. W. H. Freeman. New York. Milne, B. 1988. Measuring the Fractal Geometry of Landscapes. Applied mathematics and Computation. 27: 67-79. Palmer, M.W. 1992. The coexistence of species in fractal landscapes. Am. Nat. 139:375-397. Scheuring, I. and Riedi, R.H. 1994. Application of multifractals to the analysis of flora form. Journal of Vegetation Science. 5: 489-496. Shenker, O.R. 1994. Fractal Geometry is non the geometry of nature. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. 25:6:967-981. Shibusawa, S. 1994. Modeling the ramification growing fractal form of the corn root system. Plant and Soil. 165: 339-347. Simberloff, D. , P. Betthet, V. Boy, S. H. Cousins, M.-J. Fortin, R. Goldburg, L. P. Lefkovitch, B. Ripley, B. Scherrer, and D. Tonkyn. 1987. Novel statistical analyses in tellurian carnal ecology: dirty informations and clean inquiries. pp. 559-572 in Developments in Numeric Ecology. P. Legendre and L. Legendre, eds. NATO ASI Series. Vol. G14. Springer, Berlin. Turner, M. G. 1989. Landscape ecology ; the consequence of form on procedure. Annual Rev. Ecological Syst. 20:171-197. Vedyushkin, M. A. 1993. Fractal belongingss of forest spacial construction. Vegetatio. 113: 65-70. Voss, R. F. 1988. Fractals in Nature: From Characterization to Simulation. pp. 21- 70. in The Science of Fractal Images. H.-O. Peitgen and D. Saupe, eds. Springer- Verlag, New York. Wiens, J. A. , Crist, T. O. , Milne, B. 1993. On quantifying insect motions. Environmental Entomology. 22 ( 4 ) : 709-715. Thomsen, D. E. 1980. Making music # 8211 ; Fractally. Science News. 117:187-190.

Psychology case study on the character Sybil from the novel Sybil Essay

Psychology case study on the character Sybil from the novel Sybil author Schreiber - Essay Example Another common group of disorder is usually termed anxiety disorders. Personality disorder is not really a mental illness that tends to develop quite suddenly and usually in response to particular stresses. In fact, it develops slowly, as the person grows up and is thought to be mainly due to environment and upbringing. For example, in Sybil's case, she grew up in a family with no love, constant beatings and a mother who suffers from schizophrenia, naturally she will develop anti-social behavior or a paranoid personality; but it seems it's more than that because she developed 16 different personalities, worst is she has a male counterpart of herself. A growing body of evidence also suggests that early sexual abuse also distorts the development of a healthy personality. Sybil's case is more of psychoanalytic in nature because she in conflict with herself wherein her mind is an expression of conflicting forces - some conscious, the majority unconscious. Her condition involves the unconscious where unpleasant experiences are repressed, the conflict arising from the unconscious mind when her set of beliefs impacts adversely on another area of beliefs, causing emotional suffering felt as disappointment, anger or frustration. It also involves her drives and instincts as well as her personality in the genetic viewpoint. Years before, this illness was simply called hysteria. Sybil's traumatic childhood and the abuses that she had experienced resulted to the development of sixteen (16) personalities. Symptoms of the illness include amnesia, depersonalization, derealization, depression and anxiety or mental illness. Amnesia in this type of disorder is the experience at certain periods of time when Sybil forgets both events and people. This type of memory loss is more extensive than the forgetfulness that we normally experience. Dissociative amenesia, as it is called is the trademark of this illness as it can't be explained by physical or neurological condition. Dissociative Identity Disorder is an illness which makes the affected person 'switch' to another personality whenever he or she is experiencing stress and or severe anxiety. Experiences may include several different people taking inside your head, having their own name, own story and characteristics. They also have their own qualities as manifes ted in the voice, manner, gender and even physical qualities. Sybil indeed have all of these present, as she has sixteen different personalities, having different physical characteristics, attitudes and even gender, as she also had two male personalities of herself. Sybil's 'alternate self' is a mirror of what she feels inside. Her desires of being confident, self-assured and all that is positive that she wanted to experience as all these were "robbed" from her in her childhood days. Due to her traumatic experience in her mother's hands and her father's indifference to her situation made her grow up having so much pain, hatred and confusion in herself that instead of molding her into a stronger person, she tended into the "unfortunate" side - DID. In her growing up years, Sybil in some way also showed Reaction-Formation, a process by which we can disguise our true motives or desires when such would cause us guilt or shame if we really face up to them. The defense consists in strongly expressing the very

The importance of politics in young generations Research Paper

The importance of politics in young generations - Research Paper Example On the other hand, the relationship between young people and politics cannot be ignored. This relationship is set under examination in this paper. Emphasis is given on the criteria used by young people when deciding to be involved in politics. The involvement of young people in politics is explained using relevant examples; in this way, the practical aspects of the relationship between politics and young people are made clear. Also, the importance of politics in young generations is explained analytically taking into consideration both the personal perceptions of young people – the most common ones – and their environment. In order to identify the aspects of the relationship between young generations and politics it would be important to understand the reasons for which young people are likely to be involved in political decisions and initiatives. ... iew is the following one: young people who participated in favour of the current security system decided on the basis of the interest of their parents – who are most favoured by this system – and not on their own interests (reference is made to the Social Security System of US); however, the above decision is explained as the result of the evaluation of interests involved: ‘the benefits for the parents were more compared to the loss for their children’ (Persson & Tabellini 17), a fact that used by young people as a criterion in order to act in this way. In accordance with the above view, politics can be important for young people at the level that the interests of the latter or their families can be promoted; in other words, the relationship between young people and politics is considered to have a compensative character. From a different approach, Rosenau (2006) notes that the relationship between politics and young people has been changed under the influe nce of the development of technology. More specifically, it is explained that through the media and, especially, the Internet young people can be informed on the political views of different social teams, including ‘elites, activists and thoughtful citizens worldwide’ (Rosenau 159). The level at which each young people will accept these views is depended on his/ her own perceptions and experiences but also on the relevant views of his/ her environment (family, friends, colleagues). The above view sets a series of crucial issues in regard to the relationship between politics and young generations: a) each young man is exposed to different political and social messages, b) the response of young people to the political messages received through the media and the Internet is not standardized – being

The case of Abercrombie and Fitch Co Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The of Abercrombie and Fitch Co - Case Study Example The only negative result being a minimal decrease in the profits per square foot at the end of that fiscal period (Berman & Evans, 2011). The company should increase its effort on increasing retail space. Though the number of Hollister stores is one-third more than A & F, it is believed that the larger profits realized by the latter is due to a greater average size. The uncontrollable factors within any business environment are known as external factors or macro environmental factors. Such factors are usually beyond the control of any company or organization but rather they have to adjust for them to cope. For A & F, the Economic turmoil of 2007-2009 affected their operations (Berman & Evans, 2011).The turmoil was caused by the significant decrease in demand for the company’s products as a result of the prevailing economic conditions. As a consequence, the company realized a dip in its revenue. The second factor has been the entry of new competitors in the apparel industry. A & F experienced a decline in sales in 2009, and this was brought about by increased competition from companies like American Eagle and Aeropostale (Berman & Evans, 2011). It therefore, has to develop mechanisms to cope with such competitors in order to maintain or improve its profit margins the market share. A retail strategy involved developing a plan that is to be followed by a retailer in relation to the actions. They usually span a period of one year and include the following; missions, goals, consumer market, overall and specific activities and control mechanisms (Berman & Evans, 2011).

Democratic Leadership in Education Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Democratic Leadership in Education - Assignment Example The finance department was considered by many as superfluous to the Agency, but the government was demanding more financial information, so the Agency was â€Å"forced to broaden their focus to make a bigger role for financial reporting.† Even without the Finance Branch, the Agency was able to function in a manner consistent with world-class standards both in its core business and in other areas of its business. In this case, the Agency felt that it would have done well without the finance department, but it is a subjective and therefore imbalance point of view. The imperative to form a new department enhances the function it discharges – in this case, financial reporting and management – according to the needs and strategies identified by the higher unit (i.e., the government). What the Agency considers its â€Å"world class† performance may only be in its view, which a balanced financial reporting system using accrual accounting should provide an imparti al view into. Issue Two: The existing system had to be upgraded, according to the senior financial officer, but it would result in a non-standard system. Furthermore, it was perceived as risky due to the fact that â€Å"so much money had already been spent on the existing system without providing a satisfactory system.† Establishing a new system would necessitate new substructures; for it to pertain only to the finance department would necessarily create a system not consistent with the rest of the Agency, but this should not deter the move where it is deemed necessary. As Alfred Chandler (1993) put it, a structure must support strategy, not impede or constrain it. Issue Three: The new Finance Director formed a small project team including Mark Black (MIS) and Henry Tell (senior financial officer) to determine requirements for the new financial management system. She also requested funding for the team. Consultants were not used for this assessment, but latitude and confidenc e were given to the existing staff and their technical background, with inputs drawn from key stakeholders through interviews. This appeared to be a wise move. In the development of new structures within an existing organization, it is important to build a sense of legitimacy and acceptance. Bringing in outside consultant who hardly knows the Agency would have been a mistake; although the resultant system might have been superior, if it were prejudged as unacceptable for being irrelevant, then the new unit may not get the chance to prove its system’s merits and the benefits it may provide the organization. The benefits of taking a structural perspective are that it focuses corporate activity to the specific goals it wishes to achieve, organizes and coordinates the efforts taken towards this effort, and therefore optimizes the firm’s resources. Resources should be organized to support vital functions, and organizational units seen as superfluous should be taken out (Lie vegoed, 1973). The usefulness of the structural frame, in this case, is to realign roles and responsibilities according to a new (accounting) environment, as well as to transmit facts and information.

Power integrations Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Power integrations - Research Paper Example Identify and discuss the marketing and distribution channels used to communicate and deliver value to their business customers 8 8.What is the industrial network developed by the company to support their business customers? 9 Part 4 9 9.Describe the marketing strategy used by the suppliers to reach the different segment of customers 9 10.How does the company segment their business customers and create value for each segment? 10 11.Describe each segment and the relevant relationship type and communication activities for each segment. 10 Part 5 11 12.Describe the types of relationships that can be developed with business customers and identify the key communication strategies that are relevant to each relationship approach 11 13.Describe the sales management approach used by the company to build relationship 12 14.Analyse the channel and sales management the company uses to deliver services and value 12 Part 6 13 15.How business customer does perceive cost, benefits and price in evalua ting a product/services offer from a supplier? 13 Part 7 14 17.Discuss how the company uses the business marketing mix to create a competitive advantage and deliver value 14 Reference 16 Part 1 1. Analyze the buying process used by different segments of business customers. ... mpanies accounted for more than 62% of the global power supply revenues, while the captive manufacturers accounted for the remaining 38% of the revenue of the company. While the total number of manufacturers of power supplies exceeded 1000, there were only 30 power supply companies whose yearly revenues exceeded $100 million, while another three quarters yielded less than $5 million of revenue every year. The manufacturer sales of the AC/DC converter power supplies accounted for a total of $11.2 billion in the year 2001. The yearly shipment of new internal and external AC/DC power supplies totalled around 1 billion units in the same year. The custom power supplies were designed for specific applications and the standard power supplies were designed for meeting multiple applications. 2. Discuss the key factors that will affect the buying process and decisions for a business customer One of the important characteristic of business customers is the buying process and the decision making process. The organisational buying decision or the behaviour is often termed as the â€Å"decision making process† through which formal organisation tends to establish the required needs for the required products as well as services and in addition identify and evaluate and finally choose from the desired brand and suppliers. Thus two key factors of buying behaviour include the actors of exchange and the nature of exchange. The actors are the formal organisations and as a result the buying process is very complex. The number of members in the buying decision centre often varies and the role of the manger shift which depends on the buying decision and various stages of the buying decisions. Secondly the exchange volume and power in the B2B exchange differs from the individual buying decision

Quality Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Quality Management - Essay Example (ISO, 2008) Total Quality Management is one approach which can be used to improve an enhance product quality. Dr. Edwards Demming came up with the idea of total quality management, and this idea was first adopted and implemented by the Japanese. Total Quality Management is continuously improving products and processes by focusing on quality at each stage of production. It tries to get it right the first time and not have any defects. There is an emphasis on ensuring that the customer is always satisfied as total quality management has a consumer comes first orientation and in this context the customer can be other people/departments in the same business that the task is being completed for, not just the final customer. (Stark, 1998) Enhancing efficiency eventually adds to quality products in terms of lower costs either in the form of less wastage or higher output per input. The business should keep a constant check of efficiency levels with the help of either factor productivity or labor productivity ratios.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Essay Example for Free

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Essay John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected the president of the United States of America in 1960 at a young age. At that time, the General Eisenhower was ageing. He was known for his frequent heart attacks and his love for golf than he was, for his opposition to the military industrial complex especially among the young people. At the same period, the young generation had a sense of optimism, that nothing was impossible and that no problem could go unresolved. The time had come for the older generation who had made mistakes to move over and let the new comers find solutions to the problems that faced Americans. They did not want to repeat the mistakes that the older generation had done, like the wars and the crusades against the ‘red menace’. These ideas motivated their white supporters and the black students from the South who were fed up with the policies that ruled them before. As a young catholic politician, JFK, together with a young black Baptist minister, Martin Luther King, expressed their high hopes and the dreams for the era of the young generation to rule. William Terence says that it was this young generation that had loyally pledged allegiance to the flag each morning in school, and it was in the schools across the nation that they were told of the unique promise of America. While the adults were concerned with leisure, the young generation, who had been constantly reminded in high school of their fortunate status as citizens of the wealthiest democratic society in the world, was determined to make the American dream become a reality. (William T. M. R. , 1997, pgs 57-58) President Kennedy’s cause on civil rights According Garth E. Pauley in the book, â€Å"The modern presidency and civil rights†, President Kennedy was known as the champion of civil rights and the leader of a ‘second reconstruction’. His attitude towards the civil rights has been considered irrational. It is said that he was not knowledgeable on the civil rights because they were alien to most of his experience. He was from a privileged lifestyle that did not provide him with a deep knowledge or feelings about the racial prejudices that his fellow citizens possessed. He also had little interaction with black people in Boston or in Hyanisport except as servants. However, meetings with the African Americans leaders seemed to advance the president a little in his own commitment to human rights. He was sympathetic of the many problems confronting the blacks, and therefore worked to ensure the passage of the housing, employment, tax and education measures to help improve the circumstances for the black people. (Pauley Garth E. , 2001, pgs 105-112) In 1963, Kennedy ultimately took strong action on civil rights and spoke about the moral imperative of racial inequality. In doing so, he needed to satisfy the score of Americans, who protested against prolonged federal inaction, reduction in the potential for racial violence and attempt to maintain the shred of confidence that the African Americans still had in the federal government. President Kennedy also wanted to aid the moderate civil rights leaders like Roy Wilkins, Martin Luther King, Jr. and James Farmer in securing their objectives lest the movement be taken over by radicals. He also led the fight for civil right in order to prevent the isolation of black leadership and the embitterment of the African American people. (Pauley Garth E. , 2001, pgs 105-112) JFK’s core beliefs President Kennedy was a man with core beliefs concerning certain issues surrounding humanity. An example of such beliefs is his stand on war and the Cuban missile crisis in 1943. His aversion to war was more pronounced during the first decades of the nuclear era. As early as 1947, the 29 year old freshman and congressman was gripped by the escalating suspicions of the cold war, which drove him to warn of the nuclear apocalypse publicly. In his own words, he said that, â€Å"The greatest danger is a war which would be waged by the conscious decision of the leaders of Russia some 25 or 35 years from now. She will have the atomic bomb, the planes, the ports, and the ships to wage aggressive war outside her boarders. Such conflict would truly mean the end of the world and all our diplomacy and prayers must be exerted to avoid it. † His words show his core belief on war, that it is immoral and inhuman. Stern Sheldon M. , 2003, pg 40) In the book Averting the ‘final failure’, Sheldon says that in all of president Kennedy’s life, he had a high regard for personal courage and toughness, but at the same time, he loathed the brutality and the carnage of war. He also had a profound historical paradox; that human beings had never been capable of building a peaceful and stable world, but at the same time, war, especially between nations possessing nuclear weapons, was no longer a rational option. The president was also an anti-communist just like his missile crisis advisers, but he understood that once military conflict was unleashed between the nuclear superpowers, all bets were off. (Stern Sheldon M. , 2003, pg 41) The Cuban missile crisis provided the supreme test of President Kennedy’s capacity to have an open mind and, at the same time, to hold fast his core beliefs about war in the face of unyielding pressure from the experts around him. (Stern Sheldon M. , 2003, pgs 41) The president also believed in liberty and in doing what one wanted to do. He was an athlete, a family man, and the Pulitzer Prize- winning author. He did anything he wanted to do, and hence his decision to engage himself in politics at such a young age. (Gramm Kent, 2001, pg 183) Effect of Catholic background to JFK’s rule Religion is one of the critical elements emphasized especially by the Democrats in presidency, who confess that they must retain the trust of God fearing Americans. In 1960, The Democratic Party appointed John. F. Kennedy as their presidential candidate, despite him being a catholic, but most of his supporters Protestants. He was the second catholic to receive the presidential nomination after Alfred E. Smith of New York, thirty two years earlier. Smith suffered a devastating defeat after a campaign that was marred by vicious religious bigotry. Given this history, JFK addressed a speech before hundreds of Southern Baptist religious leaders in Houston, Texas, on September 12, 1960. In his speech, he expressed his regrets in the necessity of religion to the American presidential candidates. He said that there were other more important issues that could be considered to help decide who the president should be, like hunger, disease and inequality. (North David, 2004, pgs 97-99) He added that issues like war, hunger, ignorance and despair knew no religious barriers. But since his catholic background had had made religion an issue in the campaign, Kennedy said that, â€Å"it is apparently necessary for me to state once again- not what kind of church I believe in for that should be important only to me, but what kind of America I believe in. † He also said, â€Å"I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be a catholic) how to act and no protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote†¦. † He further stated that his conception of America was one in which â€Å"no public official either requests or accepts instruction on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source† and â€Å"where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials. † President Kennedy believed that religion should be a president’s own affair and should not affect American policies or the way he rules. (North David, 2004, pgs 97-99) JFK’s death and its effect on the civil right movements On November 22nd, 1963, the civil right movement received a crushing blow of JFK’s death. The president was solidly behind the civil right efforts and was actively pushing Congress for the passage of a major rights bill. This bill would make possible full equality among the African Americans and the Whites. On a visit to Dallas, as President Kennedy rode with his wife Jackie in a convertible in a parade, three shots rang out, hitting Kennedy in the head and neck. The president died shortly after. The death of the president made the future of the civil rights legislation uncertain. It was however ironical that the death of the president strengthened the proposed civil right bill, an advantage to the civil rights movements. Prior to his death, any civil rights legislation would have required significant compromise to pass both houses of congress. After his death, President Johnson (his successor) refused to compromise. The civil right Acts were also boosted by the fact that the presidential election was upcoming, and Johnson strongly endorsed the Civil Rights Act. With key Republicans emerging as allies and other law makers less inclined to squabble over a bill an assassinated president supported, the bill passed both houses of Congress with no significant changes. Later on, President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act into law. Effect of John. F. Kennedy’s presidency in the 21st century Today, the values of John F. Kennedy are evident, an example being the election of President Barack Obama. President John, F. Kennedy fought for equality among the African Americans and the Whites. In the 1960, it was impossible for a black man to become the president. All this started to change when President Kennedy pushed for the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. His assassination was a boost to passing of the bill, signaling the beginning of equality among all. The election of president Obama was definitely a reaping of fruits from the seeds sown by President JFK. The policies of President John F. Kennedy are seen in effect today, where equality reigns among all Americans, regardless of their cultural background, race or color. The fact that President Obama became president at 47 years could also be an inspiration by President Kennedy. In 1960, when John Kennedy was elected president, he received a lot of support from the young people. The old leadership had failed; the policies used then were fair. John F. Kennedy’s era was the start of the young leadership’s rule. He gave hope to the young and to the black African Americans, and was determined to attain the American dream. This was the case with the recent election. Most people preferred a young president to being ruled by an elderly person. President Obama gave America a hope, and promised to push America to achieve the American dream. Just as the youths supporting President John F. Kennedy believed, that nothing was impossible, so did the election of president Obama prove. The election of Obama’s election was also boosted by the fact that the Americans were fed up with Bush’s policies, which were also similar to those of John McCain. (Curtis Mark, etal, 2009, pgs 107-108) References 1) Curtis Mark, Owens Ronn, Age of Obama: A Reporters Journey with Clinton, McCain and Obama in the Making of the President, 2008, Nimble Books LLC, 2009, pgs 107-108 2) Gramm Kent, November: Lincolns elegy at Gettysburg, Indiana University Press, 2001, pg 183 3) North David, The crisis of American democracy: the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, Mehring Books, 2004, pgs 97-99 4) Pauley Garth E. , The modern presidency civil rights: rhetoric on race from Roosevelt to Nixon, Texas A M University Press, 2001, pgs 105-112 5) Penrice Ronda Racha, African American History for Dummies, For Dummies, 2007, pg 169 6) Stern Sheldon M. , Averting ‘the final failure’: John F. Kennedy and the secret Cuban Missile Crisis meetings, Stanford University Press, 2003, pgs 40-41 7) William Terence Martin Riches, The civil rights movement: struggle and resistance, Palgrave Macmillan, 1997, pgs 57-58

McDonalds Future Policies and Strategies

McDonalds Future Policies and Strategies Introduction In this assignment we will discuss the business, its environment, factors affecting the environment, current market conditions and the affect of the current market on the the business. Identify the stakeholders of the company, strategy, policies used by the business that helps them to gain competitive edge over its customers. Strategic Review Strategic review helps to analyse and review the strategies used by the business for survival and sustainability. It helps us to understand the decisions taken by the management to increase the sales, market share and hence maximising profit. The Company I have chosen for this assignment is McDonalds which market leader in fast food industry is. In this assignment we will discuss McDonalds stakeholder and their current market position of McDonalds. We will also discuss the environment, strengths and the weaknesses along with the strategies used by McDonalds which affected the position of McDonalds either to increase market share or maximising profit. Task 1.1 Identify the importance of environmental factors affecting the organization or sector. We will discuss the factors affecting McDonalds. I have chosen Mcdonalds as a company having worked for McDonalds for about Four years make me understand the culture, structure and the environmental factors that affect the organisation directly and indirectly.Mcdonlads follow the plan to Win and being the Market Leader in the fast food industry with having restaurant in more than 119 countries with more than 31,000 restaurants in operation. The factors that affect the organisation are the political, social, economic, technological and legal .Apart from those Factors like Globalisation, Diversity and Ethics affect the organisation. Globalisation: Globalisation helps in developing a closer contact between different parts of the world, and have increased the possibility of personal exchange, mutual understanding and friendship among world citizens. Corporations are expanding their businesses to world market. Corporations go global for the Survival and sustainabilty.Mcdonalds are operating in more than 119 countries with over 31,000 restaurants in operation. Diversity : McDonalds s follow diversity by employing local people and having local suppliers for the restaurants. It also have the different menu for different countries and follow the culture of the countries. Like not serving beef products in India and having different Entries for ladies in Arab Countries respecting the cultural and religious beliefs of people. Global marketing decisions are no different than those made domestically but the decisions are unique to each country (Sister Sister, 2005). McDonalds realises diversity as an asset that enhances in the profitability of organisation. Diversity directly reflects the interpersonal relationships. Ethics: McDonalds Promote the RMHC(Ronald McDonald House Charity ) which provide room and board, food and sibling support at a cost of only $10 a day for families with children needing extensive hospital care. McDonalds sponsor Olympic athletes. Ronald McDonalds Houses are located in more than 259 communities worldwide and support Mobile care programs which offer cost effective medical,dental and educational services to children.In addition to their community involvement, McDonalds has a long-standing commitment to environmental protection. Restaurants around the world have innovative programs for recycling, resource conservation, and waste reduction. Mcdonalds also help the African farmers by buying fairtrade coffee beans and also the Rainforest Alliances. Task 1.2 Analyze the needs and expectations of all stakeholders involved. McDonalds is a people business-Ray Kroc Person, group, or organization that has direct or indirect stake in an organization because it can affect or be affected by the organizations actions, objectives, and policies. (Businessdictionary, 2010) Customers: McDonalds provide its customer with the nutritional value of the food and tend to innovate new food for its customers and have loyalty options of drink to retain its customers .It also provide healthy food options like salads, water,delli roll and fruits . Franchise holders (franchisees) Franchisees are crucial to McDonalds success; they deliver its brand promise straight to the customer. Nationwide, approximately 85percent of their restaurants are franchised. The sites for the restaurants and either own or leases the land and buildings. The franchisee then, in turn, leases the building from McDonalds by paying a percentage of sales. The franchisee also purchases the cooking equipment, furniture, play land and signage to complete the fit out of the restaurant. Shared investment and shared risk helps to achieve sustainable growth. Employees: Employees are the internal stakeholders and directly affect the working of organisation. McDonalds provide national qualification to its employees and helps to gain work experience. Mcdonalds follow equal opportunities for its employees. Suppliers: McDonalds supply chain benefits the countries economy. As Mcdonalds lay emphasize on the local suppliers. But the suppliers have to maintain the promise of quality for the customer, the ation, including rigorous quality control in all areas of operations-including animal welfare, health and safety, handling procedures and cleanliness. By providing local supplies Mcdonalds generate employment in the countries and supporting economies of thes to be company. This also enhances the growth perspectives of the countries as New Zealand exports beef to United States for beef patties. Community groups: RMHC(Ronald McDonald House Charity ) which provide room and board, food and sibling support at a cost of only $10 a day for families with children needing extensive hospital care. McDonalds sponsor Olympic athletes. Ronald McDonald Houses are located in more than 259 communities worldwide and support Mobile care programs which offer cost effective medical, dental and educational services to children. In addition to their community involvement, McDonalds has a long-standing commitment to environmental protection. Restaurants around the world have innovative programs for recycling, resource conservation, and waste reduction. Mcdonalds also help the African farmers by buying fair-trade coffee beans and also the rainforest alliances. It also is promoting the national Olympics in 2012 . Shareholders: According to the Annual report 2010 Mcdonalds have increased it growth 3.8% and the earning per share of the shareholders have increased by 9% and also the total dividend distributed to shareholders between 2007 -2009 amounted to 16.6 million dollars. Task 1.3 Conclude the major changes taking place in the environment that will affect the strategy. Economy is going through the downturn .It is very tough for companies to survive and sustain in the market. Every organisation follow the internal and external environment to plan any strategy .Profit Maximisation is the main aim of the organisation apart from organisations do plan for the environmental and the social factors that help in achieving the objectives and goals of the organisation. PESTLE Analysis: Political factors: Company is controlled by the policies and regulation of operations .Specific market focus on different areas of concern such as health, worker protection, and environment .McDonalds while operating in India will follow the rules and regulations of India relating to the tax, trade laws and the rights. For example selling of the meat is said to be offensive relating to Hindu community particularly that of beef. Economic factors:- Economic factors are those factors where in the economy of the business is affected it has a major impact on the business these factors such as interest rate , exchange rates could have a devastating effect on the business special when it a multinational business. McDonalds will have to charge customer in the local currency than the standard currency and the price should be within the purchasing power of individual. Social Factors: Social factors are factors originated generally due to the internal stakeholders in the organization, their health and safety. The culture in the organization can have varied effects on the output of the business and the cost of the company is lot more affected due social factors. Technological factors: McDonalds use television advert for the for the marketing purpose. Celebrities and animated depictions are used as an endorsement for I m loving it campaign. McDonalds use inventory system and the management of the value chain allow the easy payment foe their suppliers and other vendor which an individual stores in respective markets deal with. Legal Factors: McDonalds is proving nutritional information of the food on the packaging and the website of McDonalds. McDonalds is using fruits, oatmeal, salad, water and orange juice to promote healthy food habits and fight the obesity. In the Muslim countries McDonalds is using the concept of Halal Food for the target Customers. Other legal concepts like tax obligations, employment standards, and quality requirements are only a few of important elements on which the company has to take into consideration. Otherwise, smooth operations shall be hard to achieve. Environment: McDonalds is using the bin it logo to promote clean society so that the rubbish packaging should not be dumped by the roadside. It is also promoting going green to save energy and reducing wastage to save the environment and showing their responsibilities towards society. Through careful planning and working with The carbon rust we ensure that we use the most efficient equipment for our restaurants according to the technology available(Katie Saunders ,Environmental Manager, McDonalds UK) Mcdonalds is also using contributing in the environmental impact by reducing the energy consumption in restaurants, miniming the use of water in restaurants like using waterless urinals in the restaurants. Mcdonalds is trying to save the environment by reducing waste and reducing the size of the trayliners by 10cm which results in 84 tonnes of paper saving. It is also recycling the used cooking oil for the bio diesel. (McDonalds, 2010) Balance Scorecard Approach: The Balance Scorecard method was given by Kaplan and Norton .It is a strategic approach and the performance management system that enables organisations to translate companys vision and strategy into implementation and take into consideration four perspectives: Financial Perspectives: From the Financial Perspectives Mcdonalds like to focus on the Profitability and sales. For Increasing the sales employees are trained to sell large meals. For the Profitability emphases is laid on the waste reduction and drive thru which is having trained staff to do the job properly. Hand held are used to less the queues on the drive thru as it lessen customer order processing times. Customer Perspectives: Mcdonalds relate to Quality ,Service and value to customers. It target to serve front counter customer in 90 secs and the drive thru customers in 180 sec.Speed and quality is of utmost important to customers. Therefore, customers, like to friendly,fast and quality service every time.New Product like snack wrap, tasty and Great Taste of America is been brought to menu after sometime to retain the customers. Business Process Perspective: From the Business processes Mcdonalds is getting to expand its business by getting global. Also Mcdonalds is adding new product line to its business by opening McCaffes to expand its business. Learning and Growth Perspective: Employee Commitment is very important in the fast food industry. Employee turnover affect the business as retaining the employees is cost effective as recruiting and training is costly. McDonalds provide qualification to its managers from the hamburger university.(maxipedia,2010) Value chain Analysis: Firm Infrastructure: Brand Recognition: Mcdonalds is globally recognised brand. No.1 in Retail food industry. McDonalds is the market leader and exists at number no. 1 in fast food industry. Franchising: About 85% of the restaurants are franchised. Company Image: Company hold a strong image in the community because of the fresh and universal taste. Financial strength: Inspite of the economic downturn Mcdonalds annual sales increased by 3.8 % in 2009. Human Resources: Job Applications: Mcdonalds follow the online application system for recruitment. 2nd largest U.S employer Technology: Just in time order Delivery: Mcdonalds use the refrigerated trucks for delivery as the temperature of the frozen meat patties should not be less than -18 to -22 degrees to be served when cooking. Procurement: Sustainable packaging: Mcdonalds have reduced the size of tray liner and also use the packaging that can be recycled in their concern to protect environment. Renewable resources: 82% of the packing material is from renewable resources. Oil recycling for the bio diesel. Quality Control: For delivery freight truck inspections are inspected and random audits take place for quality control. Inbound Logistics: Operations: Corp. Guidelines for franchisees. Outbound Logistics: Distributor agreement Marketing and Sales: Product: Health and wellness campaign and product offering Price: Providing value to customer e.g. Pound menu, party pack for kids. Promotion: Coca cola endorsement Sponsor of Olympics and feeding the athletes .Mcdonalds is sponsoring Olympics 2012 along with coca cola and Cadbury. Service : Friendly customer service. Clean Environment for customers. Fast food service target to serve front counter customer in 90 sec and drive thru customer in 180 seconds. { Adopted from Harbott.com,2010} Task 2.2 Summarize the position of the organization in its current market. According to The Times In spite of the economy downturn McDonalds is still pushing ahead with the discounting menu. Figures shown by The Times state that McDonald position in the current market is unaffected by the economy downturn .It is following the strategy of the discounting  £or $ 1 menu making it to increase its profit. It has reported the increased sale as 4.2% of the global rise McDonalds share rose from.38 % in early trading of 1950 to  £70.61 in 2010.Mcdonalds is following a low prices strategies on fries,burgers.drinks and the sale of McCafe drinks.(Frean,2010) Mcdonalds is holding strong position in market as it holds more than 32,000 restaurant in operation in more than 117 countries and it has also added to the new product line McCaffes in 2008 providing cappuccinos and frappacinos. And other drinks. Working towards the environments and Children welfare and the organic food and also feeding the Olympics allows them to fulfil their responibilty towards society. Mcdonalds have planned to open around 1,000 more store in 2010 and invest in $2.4 billion to enhance the brand. Mcdonalds have planned to Reimage the exterior and interior of the existing stores to improve seating, lighting and dà ©cor and by doubling drive thru stations to improve speed and convenience.(Yousuf,2009) Task 2.3 Evaluate the competitive strengths and weaknesses of the organizations current strategies. Strengths Weaknesses Opportunity Threats 1) Glo Globalization: 32,000 restaurants serving in more than 117 countr117 countries. 1) Advertisement techniques that target children 1) Innovation: Continued adaptation such as adding on new menu such as snack wrap and great taste of Amaerica to retain the existing customers. 1) Current world economic standing: the companys revenue streams are diversified, but depending on the the length of this recession, they will inevitably be negatively impacted by the trickle down effect. 2) Active Childrens Charity: The Ronald McDonald House helping families with children in hospital. 2) Consumers use disposable income to purchase fast food meals so when the budget it treatened, consumers redirect these funds 2) Conservation: Researching green energies and green packaging solutions Recycling of the waste oil to form Biodiesel.. Using Water less urinals in store to save water consumption. 2) More Casual Dining Restaurants increasing their burger offering and decreasing the price. 3) Adjusted Ingredients and product offerings to comply with upgraded health standards deemed necessary by the USDA:Mcdonalds provide the universal taste in its menu. 3) Public perception: McDonalds has been impacted by negative press like the documentary Supersize Me by Morgan Spurlock in which he contributed our societies obesity to McDonalds and other fast food chains. 3) Exploration: Create new product offerings. Continue to use technology to influence revenue strategy: possibly use text messages to deliver specials offers to individuals who sign up for such services. 3) Public Health Crisis.: people are more foccussed on the dietry needs. 4) Earns revenue not merely by fast food sales, but also as a property investor, a franchiser of restaurants.: More than 85% of the restaurants are franchised throughout the world. Mcdonalds using low price strategy Or the  £1 menu which led t increase in sales by 4.2 % globally in 2010. Task 3.1 Use a range of tools and models to develop strategic options. Turnaround Strategy: Turn around Strategy is used by underperforming companies to normal in terms of acceptance levels of profitability, solvency, liquidity and cash flow. Therefore turnaround strategy is used to manage, stabilise, fund and fix the underperforming and distressed companies. The components of the Turnaround strategies are: Managing the turnaround: Managing in terms of leadership, stakeholder management. Stabilising by ensuring the short term future of the business through cash management. Funding and Recaptilising the company. Fixing the company in strategic, operational and organisational term. Mcdonalds adopted the turnaround strategy in 2003 when the sales declined, ,Measures for the service and quality of the chain continued to fall behind its rivals.To fight back the Company started to follow a turnaround from the corporate level by bringing back the James R Cantalupo former vice president under who the company bloomed from 1990 to 2000 and gained 32,000 franchisees. With the coming back of Cantalupo he started the redesigning by emphasizing more on the quality , friendliness and speedy service of staff and laid emphasis on the increased sales and expanding the more on business. The Mexican Grill and The Boston which was acquired by the Mcdonalds were let out .McDonalds set out new Product line to its Menu By opening McCaffes around the world as expansion in 2003. Breakfast new menu was added as pancakes with the combination of bacon, sausage and egg which was a great success along with the breakfast coffee drinks. It also added healthy food as salads, drinks. Company also added new logo I m loving it in the TV Adverts using Justin Timberlake to target teenagers instead of the kids to endorse Mcdonalds which turnaround a great success for the company and company started to increase its sales following the strategy.(scribd,2010) The changes in the external environment of the business can also be determined by the Porter five force model which exactly shows the real picture of the competition in the market. The model of the Five Competitive Forces was developed by Michael E. Porter in his book à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors in 1980. Since that time it has become an important tool for analyzing an organizations industry structure in strategic processes. Porters model is based on the insight that a corporate strategy should meet the opportunities and threats in the organizations external environment. Especially, competitive strategy should base on and understanding of industry structures and the way they change. Competition: Since the time Mcdonalds started in 1940 it is providing excellence service to its customer. Market is tough and tight for fast food industry. Opening up of cafe to the product line and serving breakfast has provided tight competition with Starbuck and other breakfast serving restaurant. Burger king and KFC are the two great competitors for Mcdonalds. Ease of entry: it is hard for new entrants to enter the market because of the high cost of entry and research and development cost. Established brand names like Mcdonalds make it even harder and new entrants have to face price competition. Substitutes: there are many products available in the market for substites.People can go to Burger King And KFC and Starbucks looking for substitutes. Power of suppliers: products are not readily available from suppliers so the power of suppliers is relatively low. Power of Buyers :Power of buyer is low. {Adopted from: marketing teacher,2010} Task 3.2 Develop a comparative understanding of activity from organizations in the market. Mcdonalds is the market leader in the fast food industry .Fast food business fluctuates with the economy rise and doom, customer taste, cultural differences, climatic conditions and the buying behaviour of customers. Mcdonalds is a customer oriented business focuses on the service, quality, processes and the accuracy of the service delivered to customer. McDonalds tends to provide universal taste of food to customers despite of their regional differences. It promotes diversity among its employees and believes in equal opportunities to its employees. Regular Training and development of the staff at the operational and management level gives it a stand out position in the market. Innovation and the TV Endorsement and its target market and motto I m Loving it makes it a standalone brand among the customers. To retain Customers Mcdonalds is regularly adding new menu its list and to adapt to cultural differences it follows the culture of the country Like having separate entrances for la dies in the Muslim Countries., to respect religious beliefs of the people it is adapting religious beliefs of the community as serving Halal food in the Arab Countries and Not serving Beef in India. To reduce Carbon Emission promoting Recycling, to save water use recycled water in toilets, to save trees reduce the packaging paper and tray liners and also recycle paper for packaging. For survival and sustainability it follows the local wage rate, local suppliers, local legal and taxation system, and local ethics. Task 3.3. Create a range of feasible options as the basis of future organizational strategy. Mcdonalds strategy is about the fresh and quality food to customer with friendly service. Mcdonalds plan to win and target customer with the universal taste respecting the religious and cultural beliefs. With the environmental issues Mcdonalds is helping to promote cleaner streets by sponsoring bins in conjunction with the council and also initiating people to get the Rubbish in Bin By Using Bin it motto. McDonalds is also getting in recycling revolution by using the waste oil to get bio diesel .In its motive to Save energy and water it is getting waterless urinals in the washrooms to save water and are trying to use the recycled water. For the packaging of the food it is using more than 82% of the recyclable material and trying to cut the 10 cm of the trayliners used to serve customer which eventually is saving about 84 tonnes of paper every year. McDonalds is also working for the animal welfare so that that animals are given the free field to roam around and is using free range eg g for its breakfast menu. ,it is also using the organic food to promote healthy food and also using fair trade coffee beans to help the farmers of Africa.Last but not the least Mcdonalds is sponsoring the london 2010 along with the coca cola and cadb ury. Mcdonalds will still follow the strategy of plan to win and keep on improving its quality, service , speed and accuracy .along with the training and development of employees . Conclusion :In the above assignment discussion has been made over Mcdonalds and its policies and strategies over the future which will them to sustain in the future. Though it is a market leader but by showing its concern over the carbon emissions and the work ethics it is showing the great deal of responsibility towards to society . The moral duty is fulfilled by employing diversity and proper training and development. It believes in the equal oppurtunities to everybody And require great commitment from its people to maintain the standards of service ,quality and friendliness so that people can say I m loving it!!!!!!!!!

Essays --

Oedipus the King Oedipus Rex is believed to be one of the best classical examples of the Greek classical order and what tragedy represents. Many Greek tragedies include a central character that is known to be the â€Å"tragic hero†. In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus the main character plays this role. This paper will give a brief summary of some of the characteristics of a tragic hero, while also analyzing all the major events that lead to Oedipus rise and downfall. Oedipus, the king of Thebe’s tragedy modelled Aristotle’s theorizing’s of what tragedy is in his book the Poetics. The play has a very well-constructed plot that follows Greek classical order. Aristotle and subsequent critics have labeled Oedipus the ideal tragic hero. A brief summary of the play: Oedipus is the son of the King and the Queen of Thebes. The king Laius learns from an oracle that his son will grow up to murder him and marry his wife. Horrified at the prophecy Laius sends his son to be killed to avoid the prophecy from becoming true. The servant pity’s the baby and gives the child to someone else who then gives it to their king and queen who were unable to have children. Oedipus grows up and goes to the oracle who then tells him about the prophecy. Afraid of what might happen he leaves the kingdom trying to avoid the prophecy as well. While on the road he crosses paths with a group of males and get into a confrontation, the fight escalates and Oedipus kills them not knowing that one of them is Laius his father. He continues and arrives at Thebes and sees that a sphinx has taken the city hostage. He resolved the riddle of the sphinx, which had been killing the young men of Thebes. By solving the riddle he became highly praised b y the city of Thebes. As... ... parents. His initial intention was to relieve Oedipus from his fears of the prophecy; instead the results prove to be contradictory to his initial intent. The messenger provides him with critical information that immediately reveals to Oedipus that he was not successful in preventing the prophecy his actions lead him right into it. As Aristotle recommends, this is directly connected to the anagnorisis, for the messenger and the herdsman are the missing link to Oedipus true story. The messenger enables him to â€Å"recognize† his true identity, he gains the initial knowledge he lacked. The peripeteia and anagnorisis changes Oedipus fortune. His good fortune turns out to be a catastrophe that leads to suffering. His actions will be considered a setback of his intentions, and each of them will give him more insight of the truth that will eventually lead to his downfall.

Police Discretion and the Use of Force Essay -- Socia Issues, Discrimi

Discretion is defined as the authority to make a decision between two or more choices (Pollock, 2010). More specifically, it is defined as â€Å"the capacity to identify and to document criminal and noncriminal events† (Boivin & Cordeau, 2011). Every police officer has a great deal of discretion concerning when to use their authority, power, persuasion, or force. Depending on how an officer sees their duty to society will determine an officer’s discretion. Discretion leads to selective enforcement practices and may result in discrimination against certain groups of people or select individuals (Young, 2011). Most police officer discretion is exercised in situations with individuals (Sherman, 1984). Discrimination can lead to legal problems for an officer of the law. If discrimination due to an officer’s use of discretion results in a violation of due process it is a violation of the law (Young, 2010). Due process is the constitutionally mandated procedural steps designed to eliminate error in any governmental deprivation of liberty, life, or property (Pollock, 2010). One of the main concerns with using discretion is the possibility of it leading to a violation of due process by racial profiling. Types of Negative Police Discretion Racial profiling occurs when a police officer uses a â€Å"profile† as reasonable suspicion to stop a person with the intent to obtain consent to search their belongings (Pollock, 2010). These stops are usually traffic stops and the officer is looking to obtain consent to search the individual’s automobile. The â€Å"profile† used is based on race. In these cases, an officer is using their discretion to target minority groups because they believe they are involved in criminal activities... ...rsation among researchers. The problem I see with the topic of conversation is there is not a lot of research done on the actual affects of the individual discretion of each officer compared to a department that has been educated in following policies more than personal discretion. In fact, from what I saw there is not much research on the effects of discretion at all. It seems like it is a topic that is overlooked when researching the effectiveness of a department. I feel like before more solutions are found on how to correct the problem of discretion, more research needs to be done on how discretion plays a role in every day policing. Until this research is conducted, all the articles published are on theories of discretion causing problems, and all of the solutions mentioned are methods to correct a problem that has not even been proven to be an issue yet.

Knowledge M Essay -- essays research papers

Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s economy, corporations are constantly seeking was to achieve faster decision making, higher levels of product, better service, and process innovation to gain competitive advantage over other corporations. Various information technologies have been adapted in to corporation’s business plans in order to optimize competitive advantage. However, with the increase in competition, information technology’s applications in business no longer serve as a great advantage. The need for new business strategies arises along with the emergence of the knowledge society (Styhre, 2003) having information is no longer a source of competitive advantage. In today’s business environment, organizational knowledge is recognized as a significant source of competitive advantage, how quickly organizations determines knowledge and creates value out of it determines its competitiveness. (Shukla) In an economy where the only certainty is uncertainty, the one sure source of competitive advantage is knowledge. When markets shift, technologies proliferate, competitors multiply, and products become obsolete almost overnight, successful companies are those that consistently create new knowledge, disseminate it widely throughout the organization, and quickly embody it in new technologies and products. -Harvard Business Review (1998) Knowledge management is a business strategy that identifies, organizes and shares information essential to the company so it can be applied to optimize business performance. The content of this paper provides the fundamental concepts to the practice of Knowledge Management and how it should be applied. Explanation of the technology, its application in business, benefits, and the essentials of designing a knowledge management program are introduced and explained in further details. Knowledge Management: Technology and Trends   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The practice of knowledge management is often confused with information management. So what is knowledge management? And exactly how should it work? B. Begeron (2003) defines knowledge management as â€Å"the ability to selectively capture, archive, and access the best practices of work-related knowledge and decision making from employees and managers for both individual and group behaviors.† Knowledge management is still a relatively new practice in business organi... ...pplications. (Santosus, 2002) Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Knowledge management, being a relevantly new practice in business organizations, requires a great deal of planning and setting systematic knowledge management program according to the organization’s business goals. Several factors must be applied to building a successful knowledge management program: 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Leadership is essential. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Training and reeducating of knowledge workers is the key to increasing the organization’s assets 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Business goal must be set and expectations must be managed. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Knowledge management depends on information technology. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Knowledge management is a constantly evolving process. If a knowledge management program is designed and applied accordingly, beneficial results would occur. We can conclude that knowledge management, instead of being applied as a technology based concept, it should be applied as a daily business practice of sharing information among employees and departments in order to properly import knowledge in to use when it is needed

Net Neutrality Research Essay

The Internet has historically been considered an â€Å"open and free† medium. Currently, Internet users get access to any Web site on an equal basis. Foreign and domestic sites, big corporate home pages and low-traffic blogs all show up on a user’s screen in the same way when their addresses are typed into a browser. (NY Times 2010) Having its beginnings in military and research facilities in the late 1960’s, ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) slowly evolved into what is now known as the Internet in the 1990’s. Since then is has become the backbone of American and world culture and economics. There is almost no limit to the content available today. Any person with an idea and access to the Internet can share that idea with the world more quickly than in any other time in human history. (Hunter, 2010) Today there are deep battle lines that have been drawn. The ones on the side of the broadband companies argue that they need financial incentives to lay the cables and build the networks that will be necessary to handle surging amounts of digital traffic. USA Today, 2011) They emphatically reject any government oversight or regulations stating that government interference will smother internet growth. This is despite that fact the original architecture of the Internet was created by government and universities. Its usefulness was greatly enhanced over the years by companies such as Intel, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Apple and Google, much more so than by service providers such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast. Yet it is the service providers that are demanding to become its gatekeepers. (USA Today, 2011) The division (with some exceptions) goes down the party lines. Democrats, who are in favor of net-neutrality rules, insist regulation is needed to prevent network operators discriminating in favor of their own services. A cable-TV firm that sells both broadband internet access and television services over its cables might, for example, try to block internet-based video that competes with its own television packages. Republicans worry, that net neutrality will be used to justify a takeover of the internet by government bureaucrats, stifling innovation (that the internet’s origins lie in a overnment-funded project is quietly passed over. ) (The Economist, 2010) To begin to grasp what has transpired since the advent on the Internet, one must know that the Internet will continue along its phenomenal growth path, despite the current global economic crisis. What’s different is that the Internet will become increasingly mobile and social. By 2012, more people will access the Internet via cell phones than PCs. Their favorite activities will be downloading music, videos and ringtones rather than searching the Web or sending e-mail. PC World, 2009). What is net neutrality? Net neutrality is the concept that states that every person should have the same open access to the internet. In other words, internet service providers should not discriminate against people based on the amount of internet bandwidth they use. Individuals who have paid for internet access should be able to visit all websites at competitive speeds. If the internet was to become non-neutral, then people would have to individually buy access to different websites. Currently, no restrictions are being imposed, save parental control, on the information we are able to gather, and there are no restrictions on communication via the internet nor uploading and downloading. (Boswell) All of this is to change if the ISP’s have it their way. One of the greatest aspects of net neutrality is the options you have to choose from when trying to obtain content via the internet. One of the biggest fears is if net neutrality is gone, certain websites may be exclusive to a certain ISP that other ISP’s will not be able to provide to you. Another vantage point of net neutrality is the options make the websites in question more competitive to bring you the best they can offer to get your count. If certain websites are limited to certain ISP’s, not only would you be restricted from the competitor’s websites, but the websites would have less power to sell their product to the people and there would be less incentive to bring their best. (Naik) In an era where technology is all about the progression every day, this would seem counterintuitive. It’s been said that if the ISP’s aren’t regulated by the FCC, customers who use more would pay more, thus decreasing in congestion. Bieberle, 2010) But the ISP’s already provide different packages that provide a maximum bandwidth. Regardless, it’s just more money for them, and it’s already being feared that this would slow economic growth. Most websites seem to be in favor of network neutrality as it is. (Naik, 2010) The principle states that if a given user pays for a certain level of Internet access, and another user pays for the same level of access, then the two users should be able to connect to each other at the subscribed level of access. The basic concept sounds simple enough: that the internet’s pipes should show no favors and blindly deliver packets of data from one place to another regardless of their origin, destination or contents. (The Economist, 2010) The growing problem with the Internet is that as broadband use expands; the amount of traffic dedicated to media use and downloading increases. This causes a disproportionate drag on the overall system. Imagine a scenario where 95 percent of the users on a particular network are simply browsing a variety of websites for information, and the remaining 5 percent are streaming videos. If those 5 percent are demanding equal prioritization of traffic, 95 percent of the users could experience a noticeable delay in their browsing for the duration of the streaming video. Conversely, if prioritization of traffic allows the low-bandwidth browsing through first, only 5 percent of users would experience a delay, and that delay will be negligible when compared with the experience of viewing the video, especially as most software-driven video players buffer many of the packets in the stream anyhow. (Hunter, 2010) Given the ambiguity about whether mandating network neutrality would promote or impede economic welfare, the more technologically humble course would be for policymakers to embrace a principle of network diversity, which would permit individual network owners to explore alternative business arrangements until concrete harm to competition can be demonstrated. (Yoo, 2006) According to the FCC, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can’t resist engaging in such bad behaviors as slowing a competitor’s sites to direct traffic to their own profit centers. Though they cannot cite a single case where federal intervention was needed to avert this behavior, the FCC proposes to take over the very Internet architecture that ISPs invest 60 billion job-creating dollars a year developing. It will insist that no information can be prioritized by the ISPs, transferring that power to federal authorities instead. ISPs are left asking obvious questions. Why invest in making a network more efficient, why collaborate to build new technologies, if ISPs will not be allowed to profit from them? In rushing to defend a consumer who has no need of its help, the FCC threatens to cripple the greatest platform for the expansion of freedom and prosperity since Jefferson put quill to parchment. (Blackburn, 2011) The net neutrality debate has brought attention to the larger concerns related to the boundaries between the FCC and antitrust authorities. The shaping of net neutrality regulatory policy’ â€Å"has operated under the assumption that the FCC has the authority, by virtue of its ancillary jurisdiction, to regulate Internet transmission providers. This confidence in the FCC’s scope of authority proved misplaced in Comcast Corp. vs. FCC, decided by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit in 2010. Finding no relation between the FCC’s net neutrality policies and the agency’s legislative mandate, the court clarified that the FCC may use its ancillary jurisdiction only when the proposed action is specifically related to the agency’s mandated responsibilities as Congress delineated in the Communications Act of 1934 (Communications Act). Boliek, 2010) The Obama administration says the â€Å"net neutrality† rules, which were scheduled to take effect in November, are necessary to prevent Internet Service Providers from prioritizing data, or blocking services offered by competitors. (Suderman, 2012) Some of the pros and cons of â€Å"Net Neutrality† The foremost advantage of net neutrality is that it is helpful in adding competitiveness to the market, as the users are given more option s to choose from. The competition between service providers will make each of them come up with their best, and this will directly benefit the end user as he won’t just get options to choose from but also get quality service. Those in support of net neutrality are of the opinion that government control of the Internet would eliminate monopoly, thus ensuring that the big websites do not dominate the market. It will also help in curbing the numerous illegal activities and frauds which can be attributed to the web. Interestingly, most of the websites out there are in support of the concept of net neutrality. Naik, 2010) Those who oppose net neutrality argue that it is an absolutely futile exercise as none of the service providers would go about sabotaging their rivals by blocking their content or degrading network performance. They also cite the example of other networks which are functioning properly even with the major contributors being in charge of them. As far as government control of the Internet is concerned, these people argue that it would result in increased Internet censorship and invasion of privacy, both of which wouldn’t go down well with the users. Naik, 2010) The Internet has evolved beautifully on its own up to this point. To interfere â€Å"proactively† could be a mistake. Despite acknowledging that there exists â€Å"data hogs†, I feel it would be a mistake to begin to tweak with an issue before it became. Granted it would seem prudent to lean to caution but the Internet is too critical a medium to tamper with. If any â€Å"interference is necessary, I would suggest a two prong attack. First would be a plan to foster more competition among ISP’s. Second would be is to offer a monthly data limit and charge by the megabyte beyond it. There’s no evidence of systemic problems in the broadband market, so new rules are unnecessary. (PC World, 2010) Conclusion Google’s original network neutrality defense can only be found today in the historical archives of the Internet. Network neutrality is there defined as â€Å"the principle that users should be in control of what content they view and what applications they use on the Internet. †Interestingly, though the eeming kindheartedness towards users, the only mentioned means to achieve the said effects is reflected in the following precept: â€Å"broadband carriers should not be permitted to ‘use their market power’ to discriminate against competing applications or content. †(Thompson, 2011) It was only in the FCC’s September 2010 call for additional comment in its Open Internet proceeding that the FCC finally recognized the reality that a carrier’s decisions on Internet services are only part of a broader decision on how to use its infrastructure more generally. That is, a carrier chooses how much bandwidth to devote to Internet service and how much to devote to video channels, and this choice can affect consumers’ ability to trade off between the two types of service. (Speta, 2011) Although the FCC has a broad scope of operation (â€Å"all interstate and foreign communication by wire or radio†), and is charged with making available â€Å"to all the people of the United States . . . a rapid, efficient, Nation-wide, and world-wide wire and radio communication service . . at reasonable charges,† as well as the duty to â€Å"encourage the deployment on a reasonable and timely basis of advanced telecommunications communications capability,† the Commission’s power to require cable operators to build out to hard-to-reach areas, open their expensive high up-front-cost facilities to competitors, and charge reasonable rates for high-speed Internet access is unclear. (Crawford, 2010) There is nothing wrong with charg ing for a service. The policy problem comes when there is one â€Å"delivery â€Å"actor (or one category of actors) in a position to work closely with a small stable of content/service providers. The problem is exacerbated when that same delivery actor is in a position to use its technical control over the delivery conduit to privilege its commercial relationships, and to have all of it appear to be â€Å"free† to consumers as long as they are paying a monthly subscription for content. Adding in the technical ability to charge for and deliver ads based on all of this activity, the single delivery actor becomes very powerful. From a policy perspective, is it appropriate to have a conduit able to exert leverage over and exact tribute from all possible high-speed interactive communications? Should everything we do online trigger a payment to the pipe? (Crawford, 2010) Therefore, my opinion is that the internet should remain neutral. All businesses are capitalist entities in the pursuit of a fat bottom line, and their main objective is to please their clients (with the most money). Besides we already pay for access to the internet through ISPs, how much more would we have to pay for data transmission rates and or bandwidth?