Manufacturing Beauty

Manufacturing Beauty Manufacturing Beauty Cindy Jackson in my opinion has major issues. She thinks beauty is on the outside and does whatever she can to make herself look like an imaginary person. It seems to me that she is doing all this to try to make money. Her website is all about selling cosmetics. In which I am betting she doesn’t even use herself, because if there is a flaw in her mind she corrects it with surgery, so why does she need cosmetics? I think that her self-esteem is still extremely low even after all the surgeries and it has been from the start. The physical attractiveness of a person influences every individual throughout every community, across the United States and around the world. All people inherit and alter their physical attractiveness, which is determined by complex, interdependent, physical, and non-physical factors. Hidden and not-hidden values drive thoughts and actions with significant effects and realities whereby higher physical attractiveness is beneficial, lower physical attractiveness is detrimental and associated pursuits are relentless. Physical attractiveness may look skin-deep as a surface aspect of appearance, but looks can be deceiving. Researchers throughout the world collect empirical data complemented with anecdotal data to probe beyond the surfaces. Through investigations that meet meticulous scientific methodological procedures, acute observations reveal previously undetected dimensions that advance understanding about physical attractiveness (Patzer, 2006). I think the mass media has a huge influence on her. Even according her, she wants to look like Barbie â€Å"I looked at a Barbie doll when I was 6 and said, ‘This is what I want to look like. ’ She spent $100,000 on the operations because she ‘wanted to look better’, â€Å"Barbie was the blank canvas I filled in all those years ago. It was still my role model. † Cindy believed she was being ‘held back by her looks’ and that with surgery to make her more like her idol, she believes she is happier and has a better quality in life. Although this example is both rare and extreme, it is interesting to observe a woman's behavior later in life, which so blatantly and clearly links her desire of appearance to a prototype presented to her as a child. (2009) I my opinion the theme of â€Å"Manufacturing Beauty† can mean several things. I think that for one and the main theme is that a person is doing everything they can to try to make themselves beautiful in everybody else’s eyes. This is impossible, because everybody sees beauty a different why. For instance, I might be attracted to a woman at first sight but after I get to know, I may not find her beautiful; because I think, beauty is on the inside and not the physical appearance. In conclusion, I do not approve of what she is doing but then I do not have to. I think she is giving young women a very bad influence. I wish young women would see that being different is a great thing and that looking like everybody else is very boring. References (2009). Living Doll. Retrieved from http://blamingthemedia. blogspot. com/2009_09_01_archive. html Patzer, G. (2006). The Power and Paradox of Physical Attractiveness

Paths of Glory vs All Quiet on the Western Front Essay

â€Å"Paths of Glory† and â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front† are two different stories about the 1st world war. They are similar and different in their own ways. Many children born in North America usually grow up seeing war movies from the America’s point of view. This is different in Paths of Glory and All Quiet on the Western Front. These films/novels display how European countries fought this war, whether it was good or bad. They display both sides of WWI, and when compared can show differences AND similarities. Here are their differences. A thorough look at these two stories can uncover many differences, but the main ones would be the point of view being French and German; a soldiers perspective and an officers perspective; and the outcomes of each side. Paths of Glory(POG) displays France’s view of the war while All Quiet on the Western Front(AQWF) displays Germany’s view of the war. The story AQWF is about German soldiers’ take on the war. It relates more to young readers lives and the struggles of young soldiers in a war. POG on the other hand, targets the officers as the main point of view in the war. It displays the corruption and the loyalty of officers. In POG the French have the upper hand on the Germans in the war and don’t seem to ever be drastically losing, while in AQWF, there is death everywhere and it ends with all of the main characters dying and Germany losing the war. All these things display the differences between these two epic war stories, but there are some similarities. All Quiet on the Western Front and Paths of Glory have very similar main characters, in which the characters both make the same astonishing discoveries. The characters in both cases realize that the real enemy in the war is not the country they are fighting against, but the leaders of their own military. This is much more relevant in the movie, POG, when it shows General Mireau ordering fire on his own troops. However, the theme is still in AQWF. Evidence of this is how Corporal Himmelstoss makes the men’s lives miserable, making them do petty things such as saluting drills. Within the novel the protagonists discover that the men they are against are not much different than themselves. Moreover, this is extremely evident with Paul, the narrator of AQWF, who spends a night in a shell hole with a Frenchman who is dying right beside Paul. Both the novel and the film show the bad living conditions, although the novel is from the German viewpoint and the film, from the French viewpoint. There are many other differences in the plots of the two stories. Similarities and differences are evident throughout All Quiet on the Western Front and Paths of Glory. The differences being the outcomes of each side, the points of view between the two countries and the points of view between officers and soldiers. The similarities of course being the corruption, the living conditions and the shared setting/time period of WWI. When all is said and done, the differences and similarities of these Great War stories make the pair amazing themes to compare and contrast.

Ibm Risk Analysis

Relative Size in the Industry IBM is part of the technology sectors in the diversified computer systems industry (IBM: Summary for International Business Machines- Yahoo! Finance). The market cap is 254 billion with IBM making up 218. 6 billion. IBM is the largest company relative to the diversified computer systems industry. In a less specific industry of computers IBM only trails Microsoft Corporation by 12 billion dollars (â€Å"International Business Machines Corp. â€Å").Because of IBM’s large size relative to its industry the relative size does not pose a large business risk to IBM because they can leverage their large market share, capabilities, and achieve economies of scales. Acceptable audit risk is affected by the relative size of IBM in the industry it operates. IBM is a large global corporation and thus there are a very large number of financial statement users. The large number of financial statement users causes the auditors to set acceptable audit risk at a lower number and thus lowering planned detection risk and increasing the amount of evidence that must be accumulated.Major Competitors IBM’s major competitors in the diversified computer systems industry are Hewlett Packard Company Common, Teradata Corporation, Cray Inc. , and Silicon Graphics International (IBM: Summary for International Business Machines- Yahoo! Finance). These competitors do not pose a large risk to IBM because they have much smaller market-shares than IBM Hewlett Packard Company Common IBM’s closest competitor only has a market capitalization of 24. 4 billion and the next closes which is Teradata Corporation only has a market cap of 10. billion (IBM: Summary for International Business Machines- Yahoo! Finance). In the computer industry IBM’s major competitors are Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, Cisco Systems, and Intel Corporation (â€Å"International Business Machines Corp. â€Å") IBM due to operating in over 170 different countries in multipl e different industry segments and competitors vary by segment from large international enterprises to smaller narrowly focused entities and thus IBM recognizes 100s of competitors (International Business Machines Corporation 2011).Intense competition regardless of IBM being a leader in almost all segments however does increase risks for IBM such as price competition which lowers gross margin ratios, losing market share, and obsolescence of current products. IBM’s major competitors by business segment are discussed in the next section. Major Products & Competition by Product IBM’s major business segments are Global Technology Services, Global Business Services, Software, Systems and Technology, and Global Financing.Global Technology Services includes strategic Information Technology outsourcing services to transform clients existing infrastructures, global process services which includes process platforms and business process outsourcing, integrated technology services which are a project based portfolio of services to optimize IT which is built around key assets and patented software to drive efficiency, flexibility, productivity, and reduce costs, and the GTS services delivery which is responsibly or delivery of IBM technology worldwide. International Business Machines Corporation 2011) Global Business Services provides consulting and system integration which bring value to the customer by improving strategy and transformation, application innovation services, enterprise application, and business analytics and optimization. Global Business Services also includes application management services which provide assistance in application development, management, maintenance and support for software and custom and legacy applications. International Business Machines Corporation 2011) IBM faces major competition in the global services segments global technology services and global business services from the broad based competitors Accenture, Computer S ciences Corporation, Fujitsu and Hewlett-Packard Company. IBM also competes with India-based service providers, public accounting firms providing consulting services, and companies that focus on local market and niche service areas. International Business Machines Corporation 2011) IBMs software segment includes the sale of middleware software which enables clients to integrate systems, processes, and applications across a standard software platform. Operating systems are the software engines that run computers. Two thirds of the revenue from software is from annuity based recurring license charges and ongoing subscription and support.One third of the revenue comes from one time charge arrangements where customers pay up front for a license which is typically from one year of subscription and support but they can purchase subscriptions and support after the first year. Software offerings include information management software, trivoli software, lotus software, rational software, se curity systems software and operating systems. This segment is in a highly competitive market and the companies main competitors are CA. Inc. , Microsoft Corporation and Oracle Corporation. International Business Machines Corporation 2011) The IBM systems System Z, Power Systems, and System X range from general purpose and integrated systems designed and optimized for specific business, public, and scientific computing needs and form the foundation for IBM’s integrated offerings. Storage includes data storage products and solutions to help clients retain and manage complex volumes or rapidly growing digital information. They address vitally important issues such as security, compliance, storage optimization, and retention and archiving, availability, etc.Retail store solutions include Point-of Sales and self-service systems and include hardware, software and services. Lastly microelectronics include semiconductor design and manufacturing primarily for use in IBM systems. In s ystems and technology IBM’s major competitors are Cisco, Dell, HP, Oracle, and EMC Corporation. (International Business Machines Corporation 2011) Global Financing facilitates customers acquisition of IBM systems, software and services and includes client financing, commercial financing, and remanufacturing and remarketing.Client financing includes lease and loan financing to end users and internal clients with terms between 1 and 7 years. Internal financing supports long term client service contracts in the Global Services department and Global financing also factors a portion of the company’s accounts receivable. Commercial financing includes short term inventory and accounts receivable financing to dealers and remarketers of IT products. Remanufacturing and Remarketing includes equipment which is returned at the conclusion of a lease contract which is they sold or leased to another client internally or externally.The company competes with Cisco HP and non-captive fi nancing entities of companies like General Electric and banks and financial institutions and in remarketing the company competes with local and regional brokers and original manufacturers. (International Business Machines Corporation 2011) The nature of IBM’s products and the intense competition in all its business segments causes many risks on the audit as a whole and the audit of specific accounts.The overall audit risks because there are many inherent risks associated with intensely competitive environments which can cause products to become obsolete, loss in market share and lowering gross margin, and the inherent risks associated with financing. One particular account that is affected by this is inventory which should be checked for realizable value and possible obsolescence. The software and services that are provided to customers are highly complicated and are bundled together and thus sales and accounts receivable should be checked for proper classification and timing .Global financing poses many risks to IBM because of its exposure to the risk of economic downturns and the tightening of credit spreads and also there is a risk that the clients they provide financing for will not be able to meet contractual obligations and or default on payments. With global financing the auditors must make sure that leasing arrangements are properly accounted for and that the appropriate presentation and disclosures are included in the notes to the financial statements.For leases the audit objectives of classification, accuracy, and realizable value are of particular importance. Major Customers No clients represent more than 10% of the company’s revenue so lack of major customers reduces risk. (International Business Machines Corporation 2011). Having major customers could be risky because losing the major customer could have a large impact on sales; also having major customers could allow those customers to have bargaining power over IBM.IBM while it does not have any major customers it is overly dependent on the geographic region of the Americas for revenue. In 2011 the Americas were the source of 43. 1% of the total geographic revenue. (â€Å"International Business Machines Corporation- Financial and Strategic Analysis Review. â€Å") This over dependence on the Americas could cause substantial business risk due to the economic downturn in the Americas and if conditions were to become adverse and or demand were to decline this could hurt the business. â€Å"International Business Machines Corporation- Financial and Strategic Analysis Review. â€Å") Locations IBM operates in over 170 different countries and one of its major strategies is to expand into emerging markets. IBM’s major markets are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, the UK, the Bahamas, Belgium, the Caribbean, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzer land (International Business Machines Corporation 2011).The emerging markets that IBM is focusing on which have higher market growth rates than the global average are countries in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Latin America (International Business Machines Corporation 2011). This causes substantial risk for the company because each country is going to have different laws to which IBM must comply with or face possible law suits.The fluctuations in different currencies can cause a lot of risk to IBM because the value of revenue in certain countries could decrease substantially and they also must value the different currencies in US dollars for the financial statements. Other risks for companies that operate internationally include acquiring export licenses, laws and business practices that favor local businesses, trade restrictions, duties and tariffs, and the risk of not accounting for taxes correctly in the multiple jurisdictions that the company operates in.IB M operating in over 170 companies and is looking to expand into other emerging markets causes a substantial amount of risk for the company and should be considered when conducting the audit. First it affects the audit as a whole because the inherent risk and therefore risk of material misstatement is increased because of IBM’s international operations. Specific accounts and or assertions that are affected by this risk would be sales. Sales should be checked to make sure that the values are accurate and that the appropriate currency conversion rates were applied when changing foreign currency to US dollars.Another balance related audit objective would be accuracy and classification related to taxes payable and tax expense because tax laws are highly complex and the company would owe taxes to multiple local, state, and federal jurisdictions due to global operations. Another audit objective that should be checked would be that all necessary disclosures regarding law suits and ot her contingencies related to foreign operations are present in the notes to the financial statements and thus satisfy the completeness audit objective and the accuracy and valuation objectives in the presentation and disclosure-related udit objectives. Impact of Technology on Business Operations IBM is part of the technology sector and thus the impact of technology on the business operations of IBM is huge. In IBM’s business of being a computer and software manufacturer and service provider the pace of technological change is extremely rapid. IBM in order to be competitive with other major companies in the industry must be a leader in innovation and constantly be developing new products and capabilities to be competitive with other companies also trying to provide similar services in the same sector.Due to the rapid change in technology IBM must invest heavily in research and development which it does with annual expenses of approximately 6. 258 billion dollars, 5. 99 billion was for scientific research and application of scientific advances for new and improved products, their uses, and also services and their applications and the other 267 million was for product engineering (International Business Machines Corporation 2011).This investment in research and development is necessary but still has inherent risks because if competitors are able to come out with similar products to IBM’s products before IBM then they could lose a substantial amount of market share also the research and development process itself is a long and risky process because it may or may not result in a marketable product with sufficient consumer demand. Rapid technological change also has the inherent risks of causing IBM’s inventory to become out- dated and thus obsolete.Rapid technological change also affects the business operations of IBM because IBM will have a lot of intellectual property as a part of their assets on the balance sheet. In 2011 alone IBM was award ed 6,180 patents and in the last 19 years IBM has been awarded 47,000 patents and been the leader in receiving patents (â€Å"International Business Machines Corporation- Financial and Strategic Analysis Review. â€Å") There is a risk that IBM won’t value these intangible items properly and thus cause misstatements in the financial statements.Rapid technological change has the overall effect on the audit of increasing the amount of inherent risk in such accounts as intangible assets, and also research and development expenses. Specifically the audit of intangible assets will be affected because the auditor must pay specific attention to the valuation and allocation assertion and make sure that the intangible assets are valued at the correct amounts and that any necessary adjustments to the value of the intangible assets is made. Another balance related objective they should make sure the client satisfies is rights and obligations.The auditor should make sure that the clien t has the right to this intellectual property which can be satisfied by checking the related patents. The other account that must receive special attention is research and development. The auditor needs to make sure that all research and development is being expensed and is not capitalized and thus the classification of transactions related to research and development are properly classified as expenses and that related product expenses are only capitalized once the product has hit the market. Special Accounting PracticesIBM is affected by special accounting principles for revenue recognition. Revenue recognition for software vendors can be extremely complex and one of the complexities for software vendors is for multiple-deliverable revenue arrangements. Software vendors are able to account for individual products and services that are bundled together as a package separately if they can make a best estimate of each items fair value selling price. Companies must come up with vendor specific objective evidence (VSOE) of the fair value in order to account for them separately.If VSOE exists for undelivered items but not for delivered items the company uses the residual method but if VSOE of fair value doesn’t exist for the undelivered items then revenue cannot be recognized until VSOE of fair value does exist or all items have been delivered. Other issues that complicate revenue recognition for software companies such as IBM are whether or not new products are more than minimally different from existing products or whether it is just an upgrade.If an arrangement does include the right to an upgrade it must be determined whether the right is specified and whether VSOE of fair value can be determined or if it is unspecified and just included in PCS. Lastly if the company makes price concessions those must be analyzed to see whether they are stand-alone concessions or whether they expect to make similar price concessions to other customers because this could have a large effect on the realizable value of accounts receivable and the appropriate numbers to report in sales. (Triplett & Miller)The complexity of multiple deliverable revenue arrangements has a large impact on the audit. First and foremost the complexity of these accounting rules causes a large increase in the inherent risk. Specific audit objectives which are affected by these risks would be the realizable value of accounts receivable, the accuracy of sales, and the timing of revenue recognition in the sales cycle. If the company commonly makes price concessions then the realizable value of accounts receivable could be over-valued unless the company makes reasonable estimates of this and recognizes it with the original sales.Sales could be over or under valued if the VSOE of fair value is not accurate and the auditors must check that there is substantial evidence to support the prices the vendors come up with. Lastly the timing of sales could be greatly affected by these acc ounting principles because if VSOE of fair value cannot be established then revenue recognition must be delayed until all items in the arrangement are delivered. Works Cited â€Å"Diversified Computer Systems Overview: Industry Center – Yahoo!Finance. †Ã‚  Diversified Computer Systems Overview: Industry Center – Yahoo! Finance. Yahoo, 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. . â€Å"FASB Accounting Standards Update Number 2011-02. †Ã‚  FASB. org. Financial Accounting Standards Board of the Financial Accounting Foundation, Apr. 2011. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. . â€Å"IBM: Summary for International Business Machines- Yahoo! Finance. †Ã‚  Yahoo! Finance. Yahoo, 2012. Web. 0 Nov. 2012. http://finance. yahoo. com/q? s=IBM â€Å"International Business Machines Corp. †Ã‚  International Business Machines Corp. : NYSE:IBM Quotes & News – Google Finance. Google, 2012. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. . International Business Machines Corporation (2011). 10-K Annual Report 2011. Re trieved from SEC EDGAR website  http://www. sec. gov/edgar. shtml â€Å"International Business Machines Corporation- Financial and Strategic Analysis Review. † Global

The Cape Cod and a Continental Climate Research Paper - 45

The Cape Cod and a Continental Climate - Research Paper Example Cape Cod was amongst the initial places established by Europeans in North America. Its Native American inhabitants were devastated by diseases hold by Europeans, parting the survivors more or less dependent in the face of deficiency. Aside from Barnstable and Yarmouth (1639) Sandwich (1638) the Cape's fifteen towns urbanized gradually. The final township to be recognized on the Cape was Mashpee in 1880. Provincetown was an assembly of huts until the 18th century. A great deal of the East-facing Atlantic seacoast of Cape Cod comprises of wide, sandy beaches. In 1961, a considerable section of this coastline previously scheduled for accommodation division was prepared as a division of the Cape Cod National Seashore by President John F. Kennedy and was consequently protected from progress. Cape Cod has numerous stunning species of plants and animals. The normal quality of Cape Cod attracts loads of people which are an assorted range of terrestrial, wetland, aquatic, and marine plants th at are uniquely adapted to life in the coastal environment. Plants native to Cape Cod has moderate plants that are well adapted in the areas of famine along with plants for moist and wet areas, shades and the sun. Also, it includes salt-tolerant plants. A list of some native Cape Cod plant species is such as American white water lily, cardinal flower, coastal sweet pepper bush, common buttonbush, swamp milkweed and many more. Through Cape Cod field trip, there is beach grass named ammophila in the dunes, it helps in the construction of sand dunes. Animals in Cape Cod ordinarily comprise of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Critical appraisal of a research paper Assignment

Critical appraisal of a research paper - Assignment Example 1). The research paradigm: The introduction section of an article is aimed at identifying the research problem, to determine the magnitude of the problem in the society and to provide the rationale behind carrying out the study, as suggested by Parahoo (2006). In this paper, the background to the research objective is clearly and adequately explained in the introduction. The authors shed light on both the significance of narratives in an individual’s lives and the role of narratives in describing ones experience of a chronic illness in a precise manner. Moreover, they also describe the DIPEx database which was used to extract the information of the patient’s narratives utilized in this study (Cheshire & Ziebland, 2005, p. 1). The most important aspect of this study is narratives. The authors have used the classic definition of narrative as defined in previous literature and have discussed the different sections and forms of narratives, in order to provide the readers wi th a sufficient background to aid their understanding of the upcoming sections of the research paper. Thus, overall, the authors have provided sufficient background and have laid down the conceptual framework for this research, which is a requirement of any good research paper (Holliday, 2004, p. 68) Research questions /hypotheses/ issues: Although the authors provided a justifiable rationale for conducting this study (Treloar, Champness, Simpson, & Higginbotham, 2000, p. 347) in the introduction section of their paper, they have not provided any properly formulated research hypothesis. They do mention the issue that they want to address, i.e.: to examine how individuals express their experiences of illnesses using narratives, but the research question itself is not expressed in an explicit, unambiguous form for the readers. Methodology used: This study aimed to examine the various aspects of subjective experiences of patients. Thus, for such a study, where subjective experiences of study participants are being elucidated, the qualitative methodology is best suited and the authors’ use of this methodology is justified. Data collection methods:Â   The researchers used convenient, purposive sampling. The study sample was limited to just two participants. There was no clear sampling method or strategy defined, which is an important requirement for research papers (Greenhalgh, 2006, p. 172). No inclusion or exclusion criteria for selecting the study participants were mentioned. The authors used convenient sampling and arbitrarily chose two patients. They justify their selection by mentioning that these two patients were chosen because they had similar medical histories. However, this methodology is not explained clearly enough to be replicated by other researchers in future studies. In addition, although the subjects were similar in terms of their medical history, they might vary in other demographic aspects such as age, ethnicity, socioeconomic background , etc, about which no information has been provided (except for age). Since these factors also have a role in shaping peoples perspectives

LighterLife Workshop Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

LighterLife Workshop - Case Study Example Obese people do not just detract from the country's growth by being unfit to perform their duties, they pose a financial burden because of their associated medical problems. Healthy non obese people can fulfill their duties to their country and thus are a great asset. A LighterLife counselor is thus in a unique position to contribute to the society by helping clinically obese people as well as to take advantage of a growing business opportunity. LighterLife now has 250 accredited and fully trained counsellors. The brand is unique in that it offers a real, scientifically proven and permanent solution to client's obesity problem. It has helped treat more than 60,000 obese people but the market penetration is low as per the expected business demand. Collective efforts are required to address this problem. In view of this, it is important to position the brand effectively. As a counsellor, I must emphasize what the brand has to offer and the values that we incorporate. I must project our belief in health, integrity and efficacy in a confident and well-balanced way. The philosophy of sustained healthy attitude towards food for life must be reinforced through the management program. This will help me forge a life long relationship with the client. Thus, more clients will stay on the route to management and management long after they have lost weight. Marketing For marketing LighterLife weight loss and weight management products, it's necessary for both the Company and the independent self employed counsellors to work in tandem. The counsellors must share their successful/ unsuccessful marketing efforts for LighterLife products with the Company. The Company can either take solutions from the marketing experts or share the tips from the successful marketers. To improve their business, counsellors should organize and attend relevant exhibitions in their areas, distribute flyers and combine advertising with advertorial. At their end, LighterLife will review and improve the present marketing material and tools to make it more sales oriented. It will make a concerted effort to support Counsellor marketing through new schemes, products and incentives. LighterLife will analyze the present Central marketing done from its offices through channels like magazine, website, public relation and exhibitions to get more clients interested. Counsellors will also be

Main differences between perfect competition and monopoly market Essay - 2

Main differences between perfect competition and monopoly market structures - Essay Example Additionally, the firms already in perfect competition have no way of exploiting customers, because other firms can entre and compete with them. Furthermore, firms in this market structure have good price information because buyers or consumers have to know the prices so that they can compare with other firms before they buy a product. On the other hand, suppliers have to know the prices so that they can merge them with others (OConnor 2004). Based on the above analysis of firms in perfect competition, the following assumptions can be deduced from the firms. The firms offer homogenous products meaning that products are differentiated in terms of packaging or branding so as to beat competition and stay in business. Buyers and sellers in this market are many, and this means that exit of seller in the market has no effect on the prices. This further indicates that both buyers and sellers have no influence on price hence price is determined by market (Chakra arty 2009). Firms under perfect competition have no influence on the price therefore they are the price takers. Because of existence of many firms in the market each firm charges the price determined by the demand and market supply. In the short-run, firms under perfect competition make supernormal profits or loss. Because of no barriers to entry or exit from market structures under perfect competition, other firms join into the market and if they make losses, firms making losses exit the market. In the long run, due to the many firms that have joined the market influenced by super-normal profits made by other firms, the supply in the market will be more hence supply curve shifts to the right to the point where super-normal profits are no more (Khanna, 2008). Additionally, in the long run supply has more influence on the price than the demand. The first graph represents market of many suppliers and many

Answers of questions of cases Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Answers of questions of cases - Assignment Example The interpretation of this Article, therefore, includes both full and partial ratification and, therefore, the Pact is now in force. The effects of State K’s statement in the instrument of ratification imply that, although the State has ratified the Pact, it has reservations on the implementation of articles 2 and 3 of the Pact. In essence, State K is bound by all the other articles in the Pact save for article 2 and 3. It is, therefore, noteworthy that State K will not make racketeering a criminal offence for everyone in the state as stipulated by Article 2 of the Pact. Additionally, State K will not be under any obligation to either prosecute or extradite to a State which requests it, any person found within its territory whom there is reasonable cause to suspect of having committed acts of racketeering under Article 3 of the Pact. State L s letter may not have any significant effect on State Ks ratification of the Pact. This is because treaty ratification is a matter that i s solely decided by a State. Another state whether a party to or not to the Pact or treaty cannot compel another State on whether to ratify a Pact or the manner it should ratify such Pact. Consequently, L, s letter requiring withdrawal of the statement contained in State K’s instrument of ratification is only considered the opinion of State L and cannot affect State K, s ratification of the pact unless State L withdraws it ratification. 2) In this regard, two approaches to the recognition of a state oppose each other. There is a believe that the appropriate existence of a state in the international perspective will only become complete when the State is legally recognized by other States. There is also the contrary perspective that disagrees. As a result, there are two theories that focus on the recognition of the state, and they are the constitutive and declaratory theories. The constitutive theory provides that there is no automatic recognition of a body as a state. The the ory provides that a state is considered as a state when it is recognized as a state. Accordingly, other states have substantial discretion to recognize or not to recognize a state. Additionally, the new state only exists upon recognition by those other states. In this regard, a state is, and converts to an international being exclusively through recognition. The legal existence of new States gets its recognition from the will of other states already established. According to this theory, it is, therefore, noteworthy that a state cannot be considered as a proper subject in the international perspective unless it is recognized and approved by other states. On the other hand, the declaratory theory looks at the alleged state’s allegation of its sovereignty inside the territory it entirely controls to decide if it can access the international level. The declaratory theory is the opposite of the constitutive theory and holds that recognition is of little importance since states ha ve limited or no discretion in the determination of whether an entity is a state. The status of statehood according to this theory is based on facts and not state discretion. The foreign ministers statement can be interpreted as accurate according to the later theory that does not lay emphasis on recognition. There is the widespread argument that recognition is irrelevant for the existence of a state. In light of this, the attitude that is to be adopted by the British government is one that

Course Project Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Course Project - Case Study Example While trying to identify the reasons associated with the success of the strategies for Apple IPod, focus has to be given on a number of issues. The first reason that needs to be highlighted is that the company Apple provides a lot of focus on introducing innovation in its products (Travlos, 2013). Secondly, the company prefers to promote simplicity in its product offerings. By having a highly simplistic kind of a user interface for the IPod, the company was able to create a favourable point of difference for its music product (Bajarin, 2012). The third factor is that the IPod was launched in the market along with a bundled free service offering. The free service offering which is popularly known as iTunes, helped in a great way in enhancing the customer experience for the product (LePage, 2006). The fourth factor that administered success to the IPod is the unique way of product marketing and branding by Apple. Since marketing is all about generating interest in the minds of the cons umers, the marketing approach of Apple was more focused on generating the buzz for the new product offering of the company at the time of launch. Also, the company focused on positioning the product as a fashion accessory, thereby triggering a further demand for the product (Weisbein, 2008). Finally, the last reason for success of the Apple IPod is the ability of the company to create a captive audience. By designing the highly fashionable lifestyle natured music device in a way, that it will accept only inputs from the company’s music website, helped in a great way in creating a captive audience, which automatically generated a huge amount of revenue for the company (Schulhof, 2006, p. 2). Mini Case 2: Failure The second mini case focuses on discussing the reasons leading to failure for a strategy of a particular company. For the purpose of relevance, the company that has been selected is Nokia, which is a globally present mobile manufacturing and marketing company. Talking more about the company, it needs special highlighting that Nokia in the last couple of years, has lost its market dominance position to various other competitors like Apple, Samsung, etc. On conducting an in-depth analysis, various points of flaws have been revealed. The first factor that has to be considered is that the telecom company lost its product related edge in the market. While its competitors focused on strongly promoting products which are high on innovative features, the company took a laid back approach (ET Bureau, 2013). Secondly, the company failed in a great way to identify the changing and rapidly evolving global mobile market. While the market was to Smartphones with touch features developed by its competitors, Nokia stuck for a considerable amount of time to with promoting Smartphones that lacked uniqueness in its product offering (News, 2012). Thirdly, the factor of brand positioning has to be taken into consideration. The bulky phone presented by Nokia lost its edge in the market when competing with other popular brands which are high on style and product appeal. Over a period of time, due to loss of brand appeal, Nokia’s products looked very old fashioned as compared to the rival’s homogenous and alternative product offerings (Chang, 2012). Cross Case analysis For the purpose of conducting a cross case analysis, it needs to be mentioned that both Apple and Nokia fall in the industry category of electronics.

Legal Environment of Business3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Legal Environment of Business3 - Essay Example r is not liable to the student loan because it is still part of the debts he has and when he is declared bankrupt, it means that even the student loan he has cannot be paid, hence he cannot be held liable. The trustee cannot enforce the lease as written because the initial lease when it was being signed indicated that the lease cannot be assignable, so despite the present circumstance the company is in, the lease statement still holds (Morgan et al 832). The government can claim from the first filing before the bankruptcy court appointed a trustee. This will therefore entitle the government to acquire and get its due before everything is fully under the trustee to supervise liquidation. Below cost pricing is where the price for a product or service is below the initial amount paid by the seller to acquire it. It can be shown when the profitability of a company reduces but its market share is going up and it attracts more customers. Competition pricing laws apply in such a case and the company can even be closed (Morgan et al 880). Yes it is legal to merge the two companies as they will be merged under the combination merger and the shareholders of each company will be the ones to decide if they want to have their shares back or they can get new shares from the new merged company. Yes the laws would apply since they are meant to protect the citizens from fraud. Since the products will be sold even in the United States, the laws would be enforced under the private suits section of the anti-trust laws (Morgan et al

Fanatic perceptions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fanatic perceptions - Essay Example Fanatic perceptions Support is important in every area of life. The support is given to players from fans. The fans have different types of antics that are used to lift up the player’s spirits and encourage them to endure. It is true in the sense that this spirit lifting renders a subtle affect that helps the players get on with the game. Fans and spectators may differ on opinions of what they see and what they believe. It is this inner reaction that is produced by the fans that give off different emotions during the game. Some fans have so much energy built up for the game that they become fanatics. The fanatic can sometimes have violent outbursts while being so caught up in the game. These types of violent actions happens in more cases then are needed. Fans become so caught up in the game that excitement is quickly turned into anger and violence. This anger and violence can be dangerous to those nearby. A good example of how these fanatics lose their self control and cause violence is demonstra ted in an incident that recently happened. The incident happened at a game between the Boston Celtics and the Utah Jazz. Viewing this particular game can demonstrate how fans lose self control. The NBA game held between the two teams could have been prevented by self control. The game shows how spectators come from different walks of life. The spectators from the game have different opinions and feelings toward the game. Not everyone in the crowd will share the same beliefs. Some spectators are attending the game to experience a good time. This is proven by the many beer bottles and whistled that surround this type of spectators. Other spectator’s attend games because of the dedication they have to the home team. These spectators dress in colors of the team they adore. The spectators also may purchase season tickets so that no game is missed. Many bring cameras in hopes to catch that perfect shot which can be kept as a sacred memory. Whichever way the spectator has chosen to show his or her appreciation, it is easily shown. Regardless of the sport, each fan has their own motivation that persuades them to be a fan. These fans are what bring the spirit to the game. Alt hough each fan may have a different motive, the fan is there for one reason and that reason is to support the team. The way people of different walks of life are able to come together and cheer on a team shows dedication. Some fans are so caught up in the moment that they put all ethics aside and turn to violence. This is clearly reviled in an incident at an NBA game. A game between the Celtics and the Jazz left people injured and fans in an outrage. During the game, â€Å"the filmmaker was even struck blurring the camera from taking clear shots of the event†. (gazette.com) Incidents of violence happen quite often, and can often be prevented. The different ways that the fans link their personalities to support the same team are similar to the writings of Karl Marx. These incidents between the fans and the games follow them for the rest of their lives. This is also true with writing created by Karl Marx. KARL MARX People from all over the world have different perceptions on ev ents that happen around them. It is certain that each person in life will hold a different viewpoint then the person next to them. This is true for everything in life. The different perceptions that are shown from the players are similar to the

The meaning of life Essay Example for Free

The meaning of life Essay According to Saint Exupery in The Halo (2006), â€Å"Each man must look to himself to teach him the meaning of life. It is not something discovered: it is something moulded.† The meaning of life has a no specific definition; it depends on how each individual give meaning to their lives. It is a natural thing for an individual to curiously know about their life since their birth till death. Moreover, human beings are also curious to find out why they were put in this earth that is why babies keep touching everything in order to experience all their surroundings from the very beginning (Taylor, 2000). In this essay, the concept of meaning will be significantly analysed. Firstly, by defining the meaning which will secondly be followed by discussing the different types of needs an individual must meet to experience the meaning of life. Thirdly, the types of things that enhance and curb the experience of the meaning of life will be highlighted. Lastly, various practical steps will be described to enhance the experience of the meaning of life. This essay will be intertwined with personal reflections and aspirations that have enhanced the meaning of life for the writer. What is the meaning of ‘meaning’? Subjectivism: According to Eagleton (2007), everyone adds their own meaning to life. The meaning of life is never universal or complex. The meaning of life is very simple and people experience it when they understand the universe, themselves, their identity and their goal in life (Bennet, 2005). Subjectivists state that the meaning differs with individuals’ psychological and mental states and their desires and goals. For example one individual can find meaning of life in music or art while other may find it in attaining goals or in religion (REF). In addition to this, (REF) states that life only becomes meaningful when all the needs and wants are fulfilled and when the individual is content and satisfied with themselves. Super naturalistic views: On the other hand, spiritual beings consider their lives to be consequential and significant when they can reach the pious pathway God has set (REF). The God-centred view points out that the definitive meaning of life is holistically attained. Moreover, an individual will only figure out the meaning of life when they are not attached to the worldly desires (REF). Personal reflection: Personally, the meaning of life for me is constantly being in search for my identity and accomplishing the goals I have set in life. I explore my identity through my art work as it helps me express my feelings and emotions about everything. My art work makes me realize who I am as a person and what people interpret me as a person through my paintings. What types of needs must be met for a person to experience meaning in life? Searching the meaning of life is a motivational force in an individual however; the degree of motivation to which they search the meaning of life differs in all individuals (REF). Despite individuals having different degrees of motivation, there are some needs and conditions that must be met for the individuals to experience the meaning of life. Individuals do not necessarily have to meet the same needs and conditions to experience the meaning of life. Some individuals are inspired by other individuals like great artists, inventors and thinkers, some individuals need sense of belonging, some need to experience certain events to make sense of life while others need to attain autonomy and self efficacy to experience the meaning of life. In short, individuals can discover the meaning of life through social work, experiencing something or someone or reactions towards unavoidable circumstances (REF). For example, an individual who is very emotional needs to experience the need of belonging in order to experience the meaning of life. They need to have many friends and a good relationship with their family in order to satisfy their need of belonging; this helps the individual to live a happy and full life. However, if they do not feel the sense of belonging, they have no hope hence do not have anything to look forward to and see no point of living. Conversely, not all individuals need to meet the need of belonging to experience the meaning of life. Some may have to experience the need of autonomy and self efficacy. These types of individuals usually have certain goals and tasks in life which they believe  they can attain thus that would help them experience the meaning of life. For example, an individual whose goal is to become a doctor tries to attain that goal by being a hard worker and devoting all his time to attain their goal. They would experience the meaning of life when they achieve the title of the doctor as it would help them conquer a place in the community and gain some prestige. In addition to this, if an individual fails to attain this need might gain a very low self esteem which would then impact on the choices they makes in life. They would become very dependent on others and would not be able to cope with that leading them to suffer from various health issues. What types of things enhance the experience of meaning in life? The meaning of life can be enhanced by sustaining life, accepting a teaching, giving life or creating wisdom (REF). For example things that would enhance the meaning of life for mothers, doctors and nurses is when they deliver as links in a biological chain by giving life from one generation to the other. Young artists are inspired and enhance their meaning of life when they authorize and respect and accept their teacher’s work (REF). Personally, as an artist, the meaning of life for me is enhanced when I can appreciate the work of different artists and what they are trying to express in their paintings. Art work makes me understand the different feelings individuals go though and how they express it through drawings. It also makes me see different viewpoints of life and experiences people are going through. Despite all individuals having different needs to discover the meaning of life, there are certain things that all individuals require to enhance the meaning of life like: Hope Inspiration Goals High self esteem. What types of things curb the experience of meaning in life? Many individuals curb their experiences of the meaning in life due to: No inspiration or goals and failure: If an individual constantly fails and has  no potential and inspiration of achieving his goals may feel ineffective and hopeless. They may start feeling that they have no purpose in life and life is completely meaningless for them. Loss of loved ones: loss of a loved one through death or divorce may affect an individual mentally and emotionally. They may feel the are not loved and do not belong anywhere as their loved one does not exist anymore. The loss brings suffering and misery which makes an individual believe that like if meaningless. Lastly, experiences like these pushes an individual to have a low self esteem and become reserved (REF). Personal Reflection: If individuals are not open, emotionless or afraid to be seen as themselves due to low self esteem cannot enhance their meaning of life and hence would curb this experience. As an artist, my goal is to become an art teacher and help other children to express their feelings through painting if they cannot through words. However, I have a clear goal and always have been inspired by my father to attain this goal. If I had a low self esteem and did not believe in myself, I would have no hope hence that would curb the search of meaning of life as I would feel I am worthless Practical steps to enhance the experience of a meaningful life As mentioned above, many individuals curb their experiences of the meaning in life due to low self esteem, no inspiration, no goals and being reserved. However, they can enhance their experience firstly by accepting and believing in themselves. This would help them make a contribution to life and share their best. According to (REF) self-destructive behaviour can be conquered by increasing self-efficacy and self-esteem. This can be done through counselling so that they can start believing in themselves. Individuals who need the sense of belonging to experience the meaning of life should try and fit in and socialize with people they are close to and have good relationships with them all. Furthermore, individuals who are trying to attain a specific goal should always reward themselves every time they are a step closer towards the goal. This would keep them motivated and not lose hope. Personally, I enhance my experience by acknowledging the  great artists and how they are an inspiration to other young artists. Conclusion Finally as mentioned there is no specific meaning of life. All individuals need to meet different types of needs such as the need of belonging, experiencing life threatening incidents, need of autonomy and self efficacy to experience the meaning of life. An individual’s perception, values, needs and feelings centre him and help in organizing the world around him. Feelings help in expressing oneself. If an individual has a great skill in expressing himself, he can change the larger world. Great artists found expressions in their art work which helped them change the world that came after them. The creations around us are the different individuals trying to express themselves and their experiences of the meaning of life. All the inhibitors that we posses such as low self esteem and inner struggles should be resolved to make life more creative and enhance the meaning of life.

Discussing Total Quality Management standards

Discussing Total Quality Management standards Many authors have discussed TQM Standards. Samuel K. M. Ho in the article Is the ISO 9000 Series for Total Quality Management? wrote that the philosophy of Total Quality Management is that of promoting continuous improvement in an organization and focuses primarily on total satisfaction for both the internal and external customers, within a management environment that seeks continuous improvement of all systems and processes. He added that the philosophy is based on an intense desire to achieve victory. Achieving victory is a challenge for todays companies. Competition is intense and senior managers and CEOs thrive to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage over their competitors. Though some people see TQM as something necessary to reach competitiveness and emphasize the relation between TQM and success (eg U/s GAO, 1991; Becker, 1993; Ghobadian and Gallear, 1996), others claim TQM to be merely a management fad and point out that many companies have failed to implement TQM (eg B inney, 1992; Harari, 1993; Hachman and Wageman, 1995) (Ulrika Hellsten and Bengt Klefsjo) As Hellsten and Klefsjo mentioned in their article there are different opinions of TQM. The goal of this assignment is to analyze the different views of TQM and identify whether TQM standards do help companies promote quality. It also analyzes whether TQM standards vote for the satisfaction for both the internal and external customers as said by Samuel K. M. Ho, or else they are diminishing the real scope of quality by constraining innovation and creativity in todays businesses. Studies by different authors both for and against TQM will be analyzed to understand whether TQM standards improve or lessen quality of products and services. It is important to add that various authors discussing TQM mentioned that there exists different descriptions of TQM and also (Boon O K, Atumugam V, Hwa T S (2005) said that surprisingly, a limited amount of rigorous research has been done towards identifying the effects of soft TQM practices on employees work-related attitudes. To start with it is vital to understand what is meant by TQM and its purpose. Definition of Total Quality Management In order to define quality one has to first consider who the customer is, and subsequently consider what the requirements of each different customer group are at any one time. (Leicester 2007:1.3) The Total Quality Management book of Leicester says that it is important to remember that when the level of quality the customer expects is perceived by him as being exceeded by the level of quality he has received, then an opinion of good quality is formed. Vice versa the level of quality is said to be poor when the customers expectations of the level of quality he should receive exceed the level of quality the customer perceives he has actually received. Therefore for companies to succeed it is important to understand the level of quality that the customer is expecting. There are various definitions which have been identified by different authors such as; Fitness for purpose Conformance to requirements Zero Defects Though the above phrases of quality all have different meanings in general they all have common characteristics such as; aim of satisfying the customer, provide best quality at the lowest possible price and should be companywide strategy. A definition which gathers the meaning of TQM has been defined in a website of Lean Manufacturing Concepts. TQM is a process and philosophy of achieving best possible outcomes from the inputs, by using them effectively and efficiently in order to deliver best value for the customer, while achieving long term objectives of the organization Anon (2009). This sounds an appropriate definition of TQM since it emphasizes on the value received by the customer and in return the organization attains its objectives. TQM Standards and BS EN ISO 9000 TQM started in 1927 with Elton Mayos Hawthorne experiments through 1932. Later in the 1950s Edward Deming taught statistical methods and Dr Juran taught quality management techniques to the Japanese. Many of the Total Quality Management theories were originated by Armand Feigenbaun. TQM continued evolving. New methods were introduced to support TQM such as Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma. Broughton (2009) Also organizations can become certified to ISO 9000. Various ISOs have been developed for different sectors such as ISO ISO9001, ISO9002 and ISO9003. ISO standards have been set up to focus on business planning, quality management and continuous improvement. Broughton (2009) Broughton said that the key concepts of TQM are; Structured system for exceeding customer expectations System that empowers employees Drives higher profits Drives lower costs Continuous improvement Management centered approach on improving quality As mentioned above the concepts of TQM are all centered for the benefit of the company and to satisfy the needs of the customer and ensure customer satisfaction. However, what are the impacts of TQM standards on creativity and innovation? Do TQM standards really focus on processes rather than employees thus affecting business innovation? In the next section some arguments for and against TQM standards will be discussed. Literature Review Arguments For and Against TQM standards As Wood and Peccei (1995) stated, TQM is widely agreed as a way of managing organizations with the notion to enhance employees attitudes. Quality practitioners such as Deming (1986), Crosby (1979), Juran (1991) and Feigenbaum (1983) have written much on the idea of TQM philosophies and methods. Surprisingly, a limited amount of rigorous research has been done towards identifying the effects of soft TQM practices on employees work-related attitudes. (Boon O K, Atumugam V, Hwa T S (2005) In an article namely Does soft TQM predicts employees attitudes? it is mentioned that a survey of the literature reveals that several TQM proponents believe that the soft aspects of TQM are essential to the success of TQM (Juran, 1964; Ishikawa, 1985; Deming, 1986; Aubrey and Felkins, 1998; Dale et al., 1992; Cruickshank, 2000). Powell (1995, p. 15) concluded that organizations that acquire the soft elements of TQM can outperform competitors without the accompanying TQM ideology. Evidence from the grow ing literature on TQM failure emphasizes the neglect of the soft side of quality management wherein the HR and organizational behaviour aspects of quality management are not given their deserved emphasis (Lowery et al., 2000;Wilkinson et al., 1998; Cruickshank, 2000). TQM, which has been adopted by leading industrial companies, is a participative system empowering all employees to take responsibility for improving quality within the organization. Instead of using traditional bureaucratic rule enforcement, TQM calls for a change in the corporate culture, where the new work climate has the following characteristics: An open, problem-solving atmosphere; Participatory design making. Trust among all employees (staff, line, workers, managers). A sense of ownership and responsibility for goal achievement and problems solving. Self-motivation and self-control by all employees. TQM requires that management, and eventually every member of the organization, commit to the need for continual improvement in the way work is accomplished. Business plans, strategies, and management actions require continual rethinking in order to develop a culture that reinforces the TQM perspective. The challenge is to develop a robust culture where the idea of quality improvement is not only widely understood across departments, but becomes a fundamental, deep-seated value within each function area as well. Anon (2009) On the other hand Crawford (1998) argues that one of the main reasons for the present economic stalemate being experienced in Japan is the obstacle to innovation which is presented by the mindset of continuous improvement. He considers that this mentality reflects, in the main, a wish to avoid the embarrassment resulting from potential failures associated with radical change. The point is also made that a strategy of continuous improvement does not necessarily work in markets which constitute high risk investment, such as pharmaceuticals and microprocessors. These types of arguments tend to imply that TQM is not a valid paradigm in a world where changes are becoming increasingly frequent and need to be made at a faster pace. Martinez Lorent A.R, Dewhurst F, Dale B G (1999) It continues that though TQM is seen as business innovation it does not necessarily mean that it promotes business innovation. Martinez Laurent, Dewhurst and Dale said that TQM tends to lessen business innovation such as improving processes and improving the way in which people are managed with the aim of adapting to the changing environment. On the other hand Curry and Clayton (1992), Imai (1986) and Miller (1995) said that progressive business innovation can be achieved by TQM through continuous improvement. In the article TQM and business innovation it is also mentioned that Companies following TQM approach can more easily assimilate innovations imported from other situations due to the willingness of its employees to accept new ideas as a result of the continuous improvement ethos promoted by TQM Martinez Lorent A.R, Dewhurst F, Dale B G (1999) It is evident from the literature reviewed that TQM is becoming a major requirement for organisations to be successful and gain a competitive advantage. As time goes by customers are becoming more demanding and companies have to focus on identifying customer needs to achieve customer satisfaction. In an article of TQM on the web it says that the views of todays companies of TQM include characteristics such as an open problem solving atmosphere and participatory decision making. Anon (2009) This is an evidence that it is not true that TQM focuses on processes and neglects the people aspect. To adapt to the changing of customers needs and this changing environment TQM promotes employee involvement and as mentioned above participatory decision making. This would also lead to employee satisfaction and motivation. Though it is claimed that TQM has various benefits various companies have claimed that TQM implementation resulted in a failure. Thus it is necessary that companies manage TQM efficiently and effectively. The next chapter of this assignment will outline some of the aspects which need to be considered for the successful implementation of TQM. Successful implementation of TQM Before applying any TQM standards a company should have a well defined strategy and mission in place. Having a strategy in place means that the company has pre defined set of objectives to achieve. The operational and management structure should be adopted to achieve the set strategy. The mission statement should reflect the values and beliefs which underpin all corporate activities. (Leciester 2007:4.5) A mission statement has to be well communicated to the employees and has to inspire people with the aim of achieving the goals set by the company. Last but not least a company should set value statements. Value statements should guide the way people within the organization function and as such should be a substantial influence on the development of a total quality culture. (Leicester 2007:4.8) Helsten and Klefsjo believe that before applying any TQM standards a company has to start with core values and only then the techniques and tools are selected as shown in the diagram below. Increase external and internal customer satisfaction with a reduced amount of resources. Techniques Core Values Tools The techniques and tools selected will then have to be adopted. For instance an example mentioned by Hellsten and Klefsjo, the core value Let everybody be committed can be implemented by techniques such as improvement groups and quality circles. The tools might be Ishikawa diagram, Pareto diagram and histograms. Core values characterize the organization and as these change overtime the techniques and tools will have to fit these values. Robert Dunn says that most importantly before implementing BS EN 9000 one has to be thinking about quality in the company and in all its activities. It is useless implementing the standard just for the sake because purchasers want the certification. (Dunn R 1995:11) Today, developing quality across the entire firm can be an important function of the human resource management (HRM) department. A failure on HRMs part to recognize this opportunity and act on it may result in the loss of TQM implementation responsibilities to other departments with less expertise in training and development. The ultimate consequence of this loss is an ineffective implementation of the TQM strategy. Thus, HRM should act as the pivotal change agent necessary for the successful implementation of TQM. Based on this customer first orientation, organizational members are constantly seeking to improve products or services. Employees are encouraged to work together across organizational boundaries. Underlying these cooperative efforts are two crucial ideas. One is that the initial contact with the customer is critical and influences all future association with that customer. The other idea is that it is more costly to acquire new customers than to keep the customers you already have. Exemplifying TQM here would mean that the HR department would need to train itself, focusing on being customer-driven toward other departments.   Anon (2009) The effective use of quality improvement teams, and the TQM system as a whole, can be reinforced by applying basic principles of motivation. In particular, the recognition of team accomplishments as opposed to those of individuals, and the effective use of goal setting for group efforts, are important in driving the TQM system. The HR department is in a position to help institutionalize team approaches to TQM by designing appraisal and reward systems that focus on team performance.    For many companies, the philosophy of TQM represents a major culture shift away from a traditional production-driven atmosphere. In the face of such radical operational makeovers, a determined implementation effort is vital to prevent TQM from becoming simply just another management fad. Senior management must take the lead in overt support of TQM.  Anon (2009) Part of HRMs functional expertise is its ability to monitor and survey employee attitudes. This expertise can be particularly important for a TQM program, since getting off to a good start means having information about current performance. Thus, a preparatory step is to administer an employee survey targeting two primary concerns. One involves identifying troublesome areas in current operations, where improvements in quality can have the most impact on company performance. The other focuses on determining existing employee perceptions and attitudes toward quality as a necessary goal, so that the implementation program itself can be fine-tuned for effectiveness. Beyond communicating the TQM philosophy, the specific training and development needs for making TQM a practical reality must be assessed. Basically HR professionals must decide the following: What knowledge and skills must be taught? How? What performance (behaviours) will be recognized, and how will we reward them? HRM has faced these questions before and can best confront them in the TQM process. Training and development that does not fit within the realm of these questions will more than likely encounter heavy resistance. However, training and development does fall within the realm of these questions probably will be accepted more readily. Testimonies from Various Companies TQM standards help you clarify and identify customers requirements. Furthermore TQM help a company deliver what the customers order and on time, spot product deficiencies and improve processes and also improve competitiveness. Alan Davis from Ind Coope Burton Brewery highly believes that the company is committed to a total quality culture. He adds that with this approach all parts of the company are involved in continuous improvement in return this gives the assurance of quality to the customer. He also added that the company will soon be ready to seek registration of its quality system to BS 5750. (Moritiboys Oakland J 1994:35). Acorns Nurseries of Cardiff which is a child care centre claimed that by seeking registration under BS EN ISO 9002 they would be able to demonstrate the quality of their service thus would inspire confidence in their customers. Acorns said that the advantages of having a documented system are; Ensure standards are throughout amongst all their sites. Well kept records, stock control ensures consumables are available and parents concerns are replied quickly. Most importantly the efficient management system allows the nursery nurses to get on with what they are best at looking after children. (Dunn R 1995:7) Below are some of the benefits of TQM standards by Robert Dunn; Motivate staff to improve performance Define key roles in the company Consistent in orders and delivery Good management of customer complaints Continuous improvement Glossop Carton a company which achieved certification in 1992 says that since the certification gross profit has risen and when things go wrong, they can now pin point where they have gone wrong. Therefore then they can adjust accordingly and learn from mistakes thus promoting a better quality product for the customer. Conclusion In the book of Leicester in an article by Moritiboys Oakland it is mentioned that The International Standards Organisation (ISO) Standard 9000 Series sets out the methods by which management system, incorporating all the activities associated with quality, can be implemented in an organization to ensure that all the specified performance requirements and needs of the customer are fully met. In the article Implementing BS EN ISO 9000 it is said that the standard is flexible and companies big or small can adapt it to their needs and be compliant. A proof of this is the write up by Pat Martin founder of Stelmax a business employing 12 people. I used to think BS EN ISO 9000 was just for the big fish in the sea. She emphasizes that quality is important to all firms no matter the size. She says that the quality of the products improved which is highly required factor in this increasingly competitive market. (Dunn R 1995:6) It is evident from the literature reviewed that TQM standards are important for organizations and as time passes its popularity is increasing considerably. TQM standards are also required to outcompete competitors in this increasing market. However for a successful implementation and to promote innovation and creativity it is necessary that organizations primarily identify the core values and also do not neglect the human resources aspect. Training and development, setting up TQM focus teams, support from senior managers, involvement in decision making, communication and rewards are the essence of successful TQM implementation. These all lead to employee satisfaction and in return will ensure customer satisfaction which is the fad of TQM. Last, TQM is necessary because it works. The pioneering firms in TQM include American Express, IBM, Xerox, 3M, Toyota, Ricoh, Canon, Hewlett-Packard, Nissan and many others. Samuel K.M (1993)

Education Essays Distance Education Learning

Education Essays Distance Education Learning Distance Education Learning Information Technology and Distance Learning Introduction Distance education, or distance learning, is a field of education that depends on the Information technology, and instructional systems that plan to provide learning to students who are physically not present in a class room setting. In stead of attending courses personally, teachers and students communicate at times of their convenience and choosing and exchange printed or electronic material through any suitable technology. Online education can be as recognized as a tangible and interactive learning experience through which students can earn even a doctoral degree. Virtual classrooms use the internet to have a mutual multimedia experience where one can have video conferences, video lessons and other stimulating learning prospects. Concept f distant learning is not new as it was University of London that first offered distance learning degrees, establishing its External Program in 1858[ Key Facts]. Distance learning is the delivery of instruction and the fulfillment of course work from remote locations; allowing instructors and students to interact without being in the same place. New technologies have made distance learning an increasingly popular option for institutions and students alike. The Internet, e-mail, video conferencing, and other interactive systems allow schools to experiment with unique modes of teaching and learning, use resources that do not reside on their own campuses, and attract faculty and students who are far from campus or cannot travel to campus very often. The first Open University is United Kingdom Open University (UKOU) that was established in the late 1960s and initially utilized television and radio as its main methodologies. Now a days almost all open universities use distance education technologies as basic teaching approach [Moore, Michael G (33-36)]. Advantages of Distance learning Although there is no substitute for regular education system but distance learning is contributing considerably in the field of education. A distance learning program has a number of advantages. It provides opportunity to the learners to have little interference in the professional life. It is an excellent alternative for those who look for improving their careers or who require some special form of training. Online distance education is rapidly increasing among mainstream universities in the United States, where online doctoral programs have even developed at prestigious research institutions [Hebert, D. G.2007]. Some people who work cannot afford to spare time for regular classes and at the same time need to enhance their skills for further development in career. Some people who want to study in prestigious institutions and do not get opportunity to physically join such institute for want of finances or inter government permissions also make us e of this system to obtain the required education. Distance learning can offer them experience to learn through new technologies, methods and approaches and gain knowledge and practical experience. Distance learning programs are easier to be planned as it needs a smaller amount of time and commitment. Distance learning programs present more geographic flexibility. They also offer introduce the learners to students of various origins and afford them an opportunity to have interaction. Distance learning programs offer access to faculty in many different locations where as class work can be scheduled according to personal and professional availability. Distance learning does not involve travel and saves time that otherwise was to be spent on going and driving back. A learner can complete a large amount of the classes at convenience. Most of the classes under distance learning programs don’t require even to attend a session at a particular time and place. A learner can do and review the assignments and can do homework at its convenience. Distance learning programs make it extremely comfortable for ladies in particular and parents in general that have kids. This allows such parents not to look for care arrangements because they can take of both kids and classes from home at the same time. Information technology made the whole affairs very easy as online classes solved all possible convenience concerns. It is extremely useful for disabled persons and senior citizens who feel it hard to attend customary regular classes. They now are not much worried and concerned about having access to a classroom. Instead they can use comfortable settings in their home making the learning environments more convenient. As a result people with restricted mobility also have a chance to develop their education and shills. Virtual education is now an integral element of the planning by most institutions and training organizations. The worth of distance learning has greatly improved over a period of time in last many years, because both students and educators feel more relaxed with the technology. While quality of distance learning has improved at the same time distance learning programs also significantly increased. It is heartening to find out that distance learning organizations are now being fully recognized by the proper government agencies. The objective of official approval is to make sure that education provided by such virtual institutions meets satisfactory standard of excellence. Distance learning offers a number of advantages and opportunities for non resident students from other countries seeking an accredited degree of some high standard institutes. Possibly the most pertinent advantage involves easy approach of learning as a result keep away from the hassle of applying for a student visa to study in a specific country . Distance learning provides geographic flexibility to study in any convenient location with an internet connection and involves setting self tempo for learning [Distance Learning MBA]. Through use of technology it becomes easier to quickly look through study materials and can be well mastered. Distance learning is so designed that it allows a learner focus more strongly on curriculum, time and effort in fields that contain new information and proficiency. Distance learning also allows a learner to obtain study materials at convenience and amount at a faster speed against that of slow pace of the normal classroom settings. The learners join conversations in the communiquà © board discussion areas with flexibility and get instant feed back in form of reviews from online classmates’ comments. Distance learning is just in time learning method that offers prospect to study the up to date study material available. The most significant feature of distance learning is helping students to do well in Web base classes by creating ability to administer and manage time. A normal student can easily spend 2 to 3 hours each week for every one hour of credit for a class. Disadvantages of Distance Learning Where Distance learning has a large number of advantages it posses some inherent weaknesses as well. Basic aspect being that it is not for everyone, since it presents inadequate or rather no physical contact with associate classmates and staff. It also does not offer any social interaction and its all formal [Randall S. Hansen, Ph. D]. Distance learning at the same time does not offer the networking chance making distance learning a less vital option for career development. It is also not a good choice for someone who works in better interactive environment. The distance learning does not contain analysis of personality of a student as career placement. Distance learning programs do not offer all study disciplines making choices very limited since the technology and form of learning are comparatively new and does not go with all requirements of curriculums. Distance learning programs do not offer scholarship because learners are expected to work during the program over a long time with no much expense. Where as the distance learning is costly and involves intricate technology. Regardless of the lot of openings through distance education, there are foreseeable associated costs. Live video communication requires cautious setting up of the equipment and services. For online learning a computer with accessories and link to the internet and camera is essential. Both the instructors and students require much advance planning and while joining distance learning may require adjustments of normal activities. Distance learning does not offer realistic feedback. In a usual classroom situation, a students routine can be right away reviewed during questions and informal tests. But With distance learning, a student gets instructor’s feedback till the instructor has evaluated the work and sends a reply to. As distance learning does not always offer all the necessary courses online many students desirous to obtain specific certificate or degree program may not attain the required qualifications. No discipline requiring practical can be offered through online programs as one can study a biology lesson completely online, but cannot perform clinical practical online. Although the majority of employers do recognize distance learning but certain employers do not. Students who desire to work for an employer after graduation are required to be certain of such employers viewpoint about online distance education. Another weakness associated with distance learning is that it does not provide the learners any opportunity to work on spoken communication ability. Although it is some what possible with voice chat or conferencing but is still quite tough to understand in a voice conference settings. More over learners in distance learning courses do not get sufficient practice of verbal interaction with professors and other students though written ability improves. Challenges and Future of Distance Learning Distance learning is becoming increasingly a leading study approach particularly in office and workplace education settings in organization of different fields and dimension. Universities all over the world are improving their techniques of edification and considering enduring education and eventual learning as an essential element in teaching learning environment. Almost all education institutions of that level are using Information and Communication Technology as a means of knowledge delivery. Customary learning is also being restructured in the form of virtual learning or web-based knowledge. In countries where education is one of the neglected field distances and technology-based education is given least precedence. The large educational institutions and those who are involved in rule making do not think towards this end. Such countries face noteworthy challenges to make a way through new challenges in modern education with their ever growing populace, remoteness and vast scattered areas with non availability of modern information technology resources and limited funding as well. Despite the difficulties, where nations have a will to progress make their educational institutions expand sufficiently to accommodate the increasing number of on line students who will be looking for admission in such kind of education. Introducing web-based learning being one of the predictable solutions will continue to expand in future as well. Challenges to distance learning are normal components of any system, method, practice and without challenges there is little or no scope for perfection. Distance learning is widely used in developed countries to support education and eventual learning. This approach will continue and will be adopted by those countries as well which are not yet developed. Distance learning will remain distinctive in future as well as an innovative approach for electronically delivering, well-designed, learner oriented at anywhere, anytime through use of the internet. Distance learning will remain as part of E learning , web based learning through virtual classrooms and digital teamwork, where contents will continue to be delivered through internet, audio, video tape, and conferencing through video; satellite and etc(Hedge 2004:128-145). T he rapid and intense use of Information and communication Technology in education will continue to play a role in developed countries facilitating them to establish more and more information and communication technology based universities. Although the arrangement of information and communication technology in the developing or the least developed countries is very weak and thus, concentrated use of e-learning in Distance Education is still a dream for their high education universities (Toor 2005: 67-76). Conclusion Although distance education is not a new trend, but has got a huge increase due to developing technology. Distance education delivery will finally emerge as strong education approach with use of phone, desktop and TV at a same time in future. When distance learning commenced using information technology, it was not well accepted and the equipment needed to provide it was expensive. That has now radically changed. And technology is being well used in video, audio text, graphics, animation, and simulation. Distance education is undergoing huge transformation and has and will never reach to a stage of saturation as much is yet to be explored and presented in this field. New and well established institutions are coming up with latest equipment and large data base to provide distance learning to a growing population that wants higher education out of traditional classroom setting. Work cited Key Facts, University of London External Program Website http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/about_us/facts.shtml Moore, Michael G.; Greg Kearsley (2005) Distance Education: A Systems View, Second, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.  , (33-36) Hebert, D. G. (2007). â€Å"Five Challenges and Solutions in Online Music Teacher Education,† Research and Issues in Music Education, Vol.5 Web: http://www.stthomas.edu/rimeonline/ Distance Learning MBA http://www.mba.com/mba/FindYourProgram/ChooseAProgramType/DistanceLearning.htm Randall S. Hansen, Ph. D Distance Learning Pros and Cons http://www.quintcareers.com/distance_learning_pros-cons.html Hedge, N. and Hayward, L. 2004 â€Å"Redefining roles: University e-learning contributing to Life long learning in a networked world.† E-Leaning, 1: (128-145) Toor S K, 2005 â€Å"Hybrid Model for e-Learning at Virtual University of Pakistan† The Electronic Journal of e-Learning Volume 3 Issue 1, (67-76).

A Comparison of The Handmaids Tale and Anthem :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Comparison of The Handmaid's Tale and Anthem The two novels, The Handmaid's Tale and Anthem, are both haunting, first person tales of personal hardship in a closed and controlled society. In this essay I will point out similarities and differences between the two books. There are similarities in the setting of each work, and the between the two societies in which the stories take place, as well as more important differences between the main characters. To start I would like to compare the settings of the two books. In Anthem the story takes place sometime in the future after some catastrophic event. Apparently society as we know it was destroyed and the leaders that were left decided that the problem was the individual, that all men are equal in all things and that anything that is created by one person is evil. This train of thought is carried to such and extreme that the very word "I" is removed from their vocabulary. An example of this is found when the main character, Equality-1329, re-invents the electric light. He shows his invention to the scientist and although this invention could improve the quality of life of the people it is deemed "evil" because he worked on his project alone. The society in this book is also strict and authoritarian to the point of dictating what your job will be, to whom you will have children with. In The Handmaid's Tale the story takes place sometime in the near future after some kind environmental catastrophe that makes it impossible for most women to have children. To solve this problem some radicals set off a nuclear bomb in Washington during a full session of congress and then declare marshal law. They then systematically took all rights away from women and forced the ones that could have children into camps where they would be contracted out to powerful ranking officials to have their children. These women are referred too as "handmaids." Next, I would like to discuss the main characters, in The Handmaid's Tale and in Anthem. In both books the main characters are basically nameless people, in The Handmaid's Tale we never learn the name of the main character,

Genocide Essay -- History, Hitler, The Holocaust

Living through genocide is a horrific tragedy that no one should ever have to endure. While there have been numerous genocides within the last century, the holocaust was a genocide that killed over 12 million innocent people and segregated them by religion, sex and age. Since the end of the holocaust, many survivors wrote their stories accounting the horrific lives they led, while some eliminated parts of their story, others felt that it was necessary to show the entirety of what had occurred. With these first hand accounts, the reader is able to see the differences between how men and women lived their everyday lives as well as how they were treated by Hitler’s regime. In Elie Wiesel’s, Night, and Sara Nomberg-Przytyk’s, True Tales from a Grotesque Land, Auschwitz, men and women prisoners lived lives that the everyday reader would find impossible. By reading these accounts, the readers can question themselves as to why this occurred as well as to why it matter s. While people heard stories about the atrocities that were going on within the camps, many families did not want to believe them. Other families did not want to immigrate into other countries that were considered safe because they felt that they were too old to start a new life in a new country. Entering the holocaust at a young age, Elie Wiesel’s only reliance was his family. Separated from his mother and sister as soon as they arrived at the camp, the only person he had by his side was his father. Having to depend on his father, Elie made decisions that would benefit them as a pair such falsifying his age when he entered the camp. By making these decisions there would be a better chance that they would be able to stay together as a family. After entering the camp... ...and terrible sores all over their bodies† (Nomberg-Przytyk 95). With the author stating that she still had a heart makes the reader understand that people truly cared about others inside the camps, they did not want others to die. Throughout the holocaust, men and women prisoners lived lives that the everyday reader would find impossible. While men and women were treated differently during the holocaust, the overlying image of genocide is what is important for people to learn about. By reading Elie Wiesel’s, Night, and Sara Nomberg-Przytyk’s, True Tales from a Grotesque Land, Auschwitz, the reader is able to answer why reading the stories of the past still matter. By preserving the history of the men and women within the holocaust, the following generations will be able to remember the 12 million people killed during Hitler’s regime.

Apostrophe & Personification: Poetic Comparison Essay -- essays resea

Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem, "Ode to the West Wind" and Sylvia Plath's poem "Mirror" both employ the poetic tools of apostrophe, the address to something that is intangible, and personification, the application of human characteristics to something inanimate. However, they form a paradox in the usage of these tools through the imagery they create. Both poets have breathed life into inanimate objects, however death and aging are the prominent themes within both of these works. In "Ode to the West Wind", Shelley personifies many of nature's elements by attaching descriptions of remains of death that are typically human. He begins the poem with a simile by comparing the autumn leaves to ghosts. Though leaves are in fact, living things, the term "ghost" implies a spirit or presence from a living being who has passed on. To become a ghost, it is necessary to have a soul and this is specific to humans and other mammals. Shelley uses the idea of giving a soul to an inanimate object in the second stanza of his poem as well. In the fourth line, he uses angels as a metaphor for decaying leaves. Here, the reader is compelled to envision spirit beings falling from the sky with the rain and lightning. In another area of the poem where Shelley applies human death attributes, he states that each of the "winged seeds" is "like a corpse within its grave" (Charters, p. 871). Again, he gives us the image of a human who has died a nd is lying in he or she's burial place. In the third stanza of Shelley's poem, he uses personification by assigning emotion to some of nature's elements. In the eleventh line, Shelley declares that the "sea-blooms and the oozy woods" will "suddenly grow grey with fear". The emotions he assigns are relative to the idea of death. These are the feelings that humans develop when they feel that death is near. Shelley has again, managed to give the reader an intense image of foliage shaking in their roots at the thought of the west wind's approach. As the poem progresses, Shelley puts a new twist on the idea of personification. Or, more accurately, Shelley reverses the idea of personification by attaching inanimate qualities to the person speaking in apostrophe form to the west wind. In t... ... give the reader a picture of arms from the mirror extending outward toward the woman. In desperation of a different, younger image, the woman begins to cry. (Charters, p. 1105) The mirror acknowledges the process of age in the second to last line as well, by stating that "in me she has drowned a younger girl, and in me an old woman rises toward her day" (Charters, p. 1105). Though both poems utilize the same tools, they do so in very different styles. Sylvia Plath used personification to encompass the entire poem by allowing the inanimate object to be the speaker itself. She also gives the object various physical and emotional traits that are specific to humans. Shelley's poem, conversely, applies elements of personification to a few of the objects in his poem. Most of the human attributes Shelley gives to these objects are mainly metaphysical. The paradox of Sylvia Plath's "Mirror", is that the mirror is given life to reflect the image of aging, and the sadness of the inevitability of death. Ironically, Shelley has managed to employ the tool of personification, not by giving life to an inanimate object, but by giving it death.

Do not lose family in times of unemployment and finalcial loss

The financial crisis emotional support hotline set up by volunteer organizations with government funding received more than 1,000 calls for help in its first two weeks of service. Social problems caused by the global financial tsunami have continued to surface. Hong kong people have to understand that the adversity is a global phenomenon. Further, no matter how desperate the situation is today, there will be sunshine after rain. Other than money and wealth, there is much to admire and treasure around us. The brunt of the financial tsunami has been borne by investors who suffered great losses in the stock and financial derivative markets. Of them, Lehman mini-bond investors aroused most concern, although the losses suffered by people who brought stocks during the peak of the hang seng index last year have been no less than that suffered by the lehman mini-bond investors. On Monday, the HIS fell 1600 points, losing 15 trillion in market value over last year's high. It involved the capital of many small investors. Even citizens who have not directly traded in stocks but who hold mandatory provident funds and childern's educational funds will find that their wealth has diminished considerably. At the beginning of the financial storm, small investors suffered losses and they still had hopes of regaining their money. But the stock market continued to fall. Until the financial tsunami this month, the HIS had dropped more than 60 percent from its historical high. Many of the stocks fell drastically. Even the traditionally strong good quality stocks suffered the same fate. Some small investors began to call it a bottomless abyss. They no longer wanted to regain their money. And they also didn't want to continue to lose money, or lose a little more. Unfortunately, as they pull themselves out of the market, they are paying for their expensive lessons. In the 70s, the HSI dropped by more than 90 percent, from 1700 points to a little over 100 points, turning stocks into wall paper. The fall made some small investors commit suicide. Although the current financial tsunami is not as severe, it has been an in the number of people emotionally disturbed by their financial losses. Those who called the hotline for help include the middle class and owners of small-and medium-sized enterprises. Some have even lost the savings of their family members. These pesple are neither professional speculators nor gamblers, and yet the effects of the financial crisis have spread to them, causing family and social troubles. Sign of life after destruction Sign of life after destruction Compared to the SARS period five years ago, the current crisis has hit the middle class much harder than it has the grassroots. The spate of closures caused by the shrinking market and the credit crunch in banking under the financial tsunami has created unemployment, which will in future affect people. When credit freezes up at the year end, enterprises will find the rest of the year especially hard to pass. If the conditions worsened with rising unemployment and shrinking job opportunities, everything can go wrong for the poor couple. Family disputes and violence may rise.