Illegal Software Use Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Illegal Software Use - Essay Example The 2011  BSA Global Software Piracy Study reveals that the â€Å"Business decision-makers who admit they frequently pirate software are more than twice as likely as other computer users to say they buy software for one computer but then install it on additional machines in their offices,†. The latest study reveals that a number of security breaches come by known hackers. On this numerous reports including patches and software updates are presented. Moreover, a questioned is asked for the presence of relationship between unlicensed software and the perseverance of software is maintained or not? In this regard the CEO Robert Holleyman, president BSA says, â€Å"It can be a security issue.† Furthermore, he states that there is a major cultural problem that leads towards using pirated software and other security breaches. However, in any organization the security lapse can also happen due to mismanagement of its software and licensing. The unlicensed and not properly doc umented software are more prone to provided insufficient support to the organization. According to the Holleyman, the BSA report is founded over the IDC market data. The term â€Å"gold standard† is stated by the Hollyman that supports the sales of PC and software in worldwide markets (GNC Articles. 2012). This information is collected and published by Ipsos Public Affairs. The survey is held between 14,700 individuals that belong to 33 countries therefore representing around 80 percent of the worldwide software market (GNC Articles. 2012). The survey results came up with some astonishing facts. Around forty two percent of individuals had installed he pirated version of software that cost around $63.4 billion (GNC Articles. 2012). However, this cost cannot be claimed as the net loss due to the unknown budget of legal or illegal installed software as mentioned by BSA in the software industry. In the United States, the rate of pirated software is about nineteen percentages beca use it is considered as the most law-abiding country percentage-wise. In fact, for the big illegal software shares in the U.S. market the estimated net worth is approximately around $9.8 billion value. In the second place is China (GNC Articles. 2012). It is said that the country pirates an approximated 77 percent of its software. In addition, this software is of worth about $8.9 billion that stands China in the second place of illegal software after United States. The computer users in China pay out on typical just $8.89 for the legal software and in the United States this figure is around $127 for every computer. According to the BSA these cost figures for the software organizations are representing risk to U.S. economic well-being. This is due to the unwarranted aggressive advantage that is given to the industries thus encouraging them to use the pirated software. Likewise, even at the rate of 19 percent software piracy in the United States poses a major threat to the Information and Communication Technology in the United States (GNC Articles. 2012). Firstly, applications or software coming from a non-genuine source can be infected with viruses, malicious codes, Trojan horse, root kits etc. this imposes a direct threat or risks. For instance, if an operation system has been acquired from a non-genuine source, viruses can be installed with the operating system. Likewise, one cannot trust software provided by the vendor and it should be tested before implementing in a live or operational environment of a bank or financial institution. These fixes can be later on patched by security updates. In case of pirated software, update options are turned off due to the fear of Operating system validation tools from the manufacturers. Once

Earth and Planet Essay Example for Free

Earth and Planet Essay God create our planet earth for us to have a home so we have to take care of our planet because God gave it to us and if we don’t take care of our planet someday our planet earth will be destroy or it will be gone. We have to protect our nature specially the trees because if we don’t protect our nature and if we cut down all the trees we will experience stronger floods and typhoon that will destroy our planet. We can save our planet earth by simply throwing your garbage in the right place not in the river or in the streets. If we throw our garbage in the river it will be stock and if there is a typhoon the flood will go higher than we expected because of the garbage that is stock in the river so we have to practice our selves not throwing garbage anywhere but in the right place only. For me it’s very important to protect our planet because God entrusted the planet earth to us so we have to protect it and love it. We can save our planet by stopping the mining company’s because if the mining in the earth continues someday the mountains in the earth will destroy and will cause a flashflood that people will be getting hurt or die. So if we want to live longer in this earth we have to protect our planet and save it before it’s too late.

Review of The Republic of Tea Website Essay example -- Business Analys

When I am looking for a new flavor of tea, I often visit the Republic of Tea's website to browse all the unique varieties of tea that they carry. The Republic of Tea offers many different varieties of tea from around the world that you cannot buy in a local grocery store. Anyone, from tea connoisseurs to average students, can use this website to find great tasting tea. The Republic of Tea's website is well organized, with categories for each type of tea and all the different flavors. The homepage shows pictures of tea and accessories used to brew the perfect cup of tea. The main points of interest for the website is the text that describes the tea and the layout of the products being sold. These aspects along with the pictures that accurately depict the tea's color and shape, and the easy to use design of the website, makes The Republic of Tea a great way to introduce anyone to the world of tea. The homepage of The Republic of Tea has a simple, yet elegant design. The background color used is black, with text and photos appearing in a centered beige colored box, with a navigation bar on top that is colored light red. The colors work together to focus your attention on the centered box, which usually displays a themed tea depending on the upcoming holiday, and some of the drinkware being sold on the website. In the upper right hand corner of the navigation bar is the company's logo along with a black tea pot; this can be used to return to the homepage. The navigation bar contains contact information, such as a telephone number, and an option to display the website in different languages. A search bar is also provided so that you can find a particular type of tea by name or variety. The navigation bar also uses a drop... ... and tea accessories, and it is the best tea I have ever tasted. When I used the website for the first time, I found learning about the tea to be enjoyable and very interesting. My order was shipped quickly and very professionally, with everything arriving in perfect condition. The tea I ordered was a sample of different loose leaf tea, that is tea that is not put into tea bags, but instead is placed inside of a tea diffuser and then brewed in hot water. The tea was delicious and the experience has led me to continue to order exclusively from their website ever since. I love the way that the tea is displayed on the website, and how the categories separate the tea into similar groups for easy navigating. The design of the website is what initially drew my attention, but the quality of the product and the service provided is what will make me come back for more.

We Must Educate the Children of Illegal Immigrants Essay example -- Cr

Immigration laws have been a subject of debate throughout American history, especially in states such as California and Texas, where immigrant populations are high. Recently, some citizens have been questioning whether we should continue to educate the children of illegal immigrants. While this issue is steeped in emotional controversy, we must not allow divisive "us against them" rhetoric to cloud our thinking. Yes, educating undocumented immigrants costs us, but not educating them would cost us much more. Those who propose barring the children of illegal immigrants from our schools have understandable worries. They worry that their state taxes will rise as undocumented children crowd their school systems. They worry about the crowding itself, given the loss of quality education that comes with large class sizes. They worry that school resources will be deflected from their children because of the linguistic and social problems that many of the newcomers face. And finally, they worry that even more illegal immigrants will cross our borders because of the lure of free education. This last worry is probably unfounded. It is unlikely that many parents are crossing the borders solely to educate their children. More likely, they are in desperate need of work, economic opportunity, and possibly political asylum. As Charles Wheeler of the National Immigration Law Center asserts, "There is no evidence that access to federal programs acts as a magnet to foreigners or that further restrictions would discourage illegal immigrants" (qtd. in "Exploiting"). The other concerns are more legitimate, but they can be addressed by less drastic measures than barring children from schools. Currently the responsibility o... ...re in school, we can make sure they are inoculated properly, and we can teach them the facts about health and disease. Do we really want thousands of uneducated children growing up on the streets, where we have little control over them? Surely not. The lure of the streets is powerful enough already. Only by inviting all children into safe and nurturing and intellectually engaging schools can we combat that power. Our efforts will be well worth the cost. Works Cited Edmondson, Brad. "Life without Illegal Immigrants." American Demographics May 1996: 1. "Exploiting Fears." Admissions Decisions: Should Immigration Be Restricted? 7 Oct. 1996. Public Agenda. 10 Feb. 1999. http://www.vote-smart.org/issues/Immigration/chap2/imm2itx.html. McCarthy, Martha M. "Immigrants in Public Schools: Legal Issues." Educational Horizons 71 (1993): 128-30.

A Study on Customer Satisfaction in Banking Industry in Sri Lanka

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION World class companies have taken more market share by providing notably better customer service. Executives know that to stand out in a crowded field of competitors, customer service is a very critical component in achieving and maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. When pressures move the organization to meet only performance goals and measurements such as overhead absorption, shipping dollar targets, labour efficiency, purchase price variance and the like, however, customer service often takes a back seat to these other concerns. The result can be a plunge in customer satisfaction and ultimately, if allowed to continue, erosion in market shares. Because of globalization, internationalization, technical innovations, law deregulations, and market saturation, the current situation of the banking industry is changing. The intensity of competition increases due to new products and services as well as the entrance of competitors from other industries, such as the so-called non- and near-banks. Even more, the continuously growing educational standard as well as better opportunities to gather information induce enormous changes in customer behavior. Thus, competition for customers becomes more difficult and, considering the growing intensity of competition, the major banks’ need for sustained competitive advantage increases Organisations often think the way to measure customer satisfaction is to examine the number of customer complaints. The problems with this method is that it is reactive, it only responds (if at all) after the event and it does not really measure satisfaction only dissatisfaction. Monitoring complaint levels does not really tell if the customers are any more or less satisfied with the product or service. For example, consider how many times you have been dissatisfied with a product or service – say once a month. Now how many times have you written to complain – possibly once or twice or maybe never. Managers and Directors often say â€Å"if our customers are unhappy, they soon tell us†. Well do they? If on a personal level you rarely write to complain, what happens as a company level – is it different? Here is an example of an organisations basing its customer satisfaction strategy on levels of customer complaints and getting badly misled. In a Warehousing organisation, customers were unable to obtain product (spares, consumables, etc. from the newly relocated, reorganised and centralised warehouse. Deliveries were often late or wrong if they arrived at all. The customer complained verbally but being unable to obtain their spare or consumable, spent their time looking for an alternate supplier rather than wasting their time complaining. The customer could not afford the time to complain, they were too busy avoiding their processes from stopping by sourcing the required items from another supplier. The Warehouse turnover plummeted. â€Å"If our customers are unhappy we'll soon know about it† said management. Well, they didn’t at least not until it was too late and they had lost 90% of their customers. Yes 90%. There is obviously a strong link between customer satisfaction and customer retention. Customer's perception of Service and Quality of product will determine the success of the product or service in the market. With better understanding of customers' perceptions, companies can determine the actions required to meet the customers' needs. They can identify their own strengths and weaknesses, where they stand in comparison to their competitors, chart out path future progress and improvement. Customer satisfaction measurement helps to promote an increased focus on customer outcomes and stimulate improvements in the work practices and processes used within the company. In any type of business, whether companies are selling toy airplanes or offering massages, customer satisfaction plays a key role in the success of the business. Much like employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction is important to consider when running a business Companies that care about their success always care about customer satisfaction. The customer is the end user and if they aren't happy with the product or service then they might not return to purchase the product or service again. This usually results in the business losing money, due to poor customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction emerged from consumer studies that sought to quantify the basic assumption implicate in the marketing concept that satisfied customers are more likely to have a positive attitude towards the product and re buy it. The value of satisfaction is often underestimated. Loyal customers and employees affect an organization’s success, which can be difficult to quantify. Loyal customers grow business by increasing market share. Over a lifetime, a loyal customer purchases more, purchases at a premium (they are less sensitive to price), costs less to sell to, and refers the company business to others. Employees, especially those on the front line, directly impact customer satisfaction. An essential part of assessing satisfaction includes identifying dissatisfaction. Dissatisfied customers and employees often hold the information what the company need to succeed. Understanding when and why dissatisfaction occurs helps the organization to implement changes to gain and retain future customers and employees. Measuring customer satisfaction is an important element of providing better, more effective and efficient services. When clients are not satisfied with a service as provided, the service is neither effective nor efficient. This is especially important in relation to the provision of public services. Under conditions of perfect competition, where clients are able to choose between alternative service providers and have adequate information, client satisfaction is a key determinant of the level of demand and therefore, the operation and functioning of suppliers. However when a single agency, either government or private sector, is the sole provider of services, the level of client satisfaction is often overlooked when assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of services. Customer satisfaction is the extent to which the desires and the requirements of the clients are met. A service is considered satisfactory if it fulfils the needs and expectations of the customers. There are many factors taken into consideration by the customers in appraising the services provided, including: promptness, reliability, technical expertise, expectations, quality and price. . 1 RESEARCH PROBLEM ANALYSIS The staffs in the front office fail to deliver goods in the proper way to the customers due their inefficiencies where by the customer gets frustrated by the service rendered of the front office staffs and goes to the extent of closing their accounts and look for another bank who could better service for the customers. Due to this problem customers maintain sev eral bank accounts in many banks to consume better services. This problem was faced by the researcher and some informal discussions were done by the researcher with some other banking customers. They also experienced some similar problems with their banks’ services. This gave an idea to researcher to do a research in customer satisfaction level in the banking industry in Srilanka. 1. 2 IMPORTANCE OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ENSURING FUTURE REVENUES A renewed focus on customer service and satisfaction leads to improved customer loyalty and increased revenue. For example, reducing customer churn by 1 percent can translate into the same percentage increase in revenue. Particularly in industries characterized by low switching costs and products that are dif? ult to differentiate, customer service offers a way of providing distinct value to the customer. The company gives excellent services customer satisfaction other brands become less important and switching costs decline, the importance of customer service has increased and, in some industries, become the major differentiator. Companies that align themselves to better serve their customers enjoy lower customer churn, lowe r costs, and higher pro? ts, since satis? ed, loyal customers purchase additional products and services. At the same time, customers expect better service. They expect their requirements to be fulfilled promptly and their issues resolved quickly and to their satisfaction. Long periods spent on hold, multiple transfers, and interactions with inexperienced or poorly trained customer service representatives can damage the relationship. Accordingly, every customer interaction has the potential to either strengthen the relationship or drive the customer to a competitor. 1. 3 CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND LOYALTY: FOCUSING ON THE LONG TERM Achieving high customer satisfaction levels, low churn rates, and effective cross-selling requires a strategy that balances the seemingly con? cting factors that affect organisation performance. Such a strategy can increase overall business performance by balancing ef? ciency-based measures with effectiveness measures that emphasize customer service and cross-selling. Whether an organisation is focused primarily on servicing customers or generating additional sales revenue, maximizing the value of customer inte ractions depends on a company’s ability to clearly understand the factors impacting performance and make decisions that leverage or resolve hose factors. Through this level of insight, organisation can achieve and maintain high satisfaction levels and higher revenues while keeping their costs as low as possible. 1. 4 NEED OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RESEARCH Spending on customer satisfaction research by American industry has grown tremendously – in recent years, and a number of trends suggest that the need for this type of research will continue to rise in the years ahead, particularly among firms that sell to other organizations. The following reasons induce organizations to conduct research on customer satisfaction. Companies are buying more, but from fewer suppliers Business and government markets are growing, but getting tougher to sell to. Organizations bought more than $8. 3 trillion worth of goods and services in 1993, according to Penton Research Services' estimates. Spending has increased every year since 1982, even during the 1990-91 recessions. Companies forced to downsize in recent years are now buying many of the goods and services they used to produce internally. Goods-producing industries outsource the most, although government – which is privatizing a number of operations – and many service firms expect to do more outsourcing in the years ahead. Total business and government purchases are expected to double over the next decade, reaching $17. 5 trillion by the year 2005. However, it's also becoming more difficult for suppliers to get – and keep – customers. A Penton Research Services study found that 40 percent of large business and government units are buying from fewer suppliers than they were five years ago, even though the amount purchased is up. And nine out of ten purchasing executives at Fortune 1000 companies surveyed by the Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies (91 percent) expect to use fewer sources of supply in the year 2000. Business and government buyers want to establish partnerships with their suppliers. Properly-conducted customer satisfaction research can help a company build stronger relationships with both current clients and key prospects. Customer power is increasing The balance of power in business transactions is shifting to the customer. According to a study conducted by Arthur Andersen in conjunction with the Distribution Research and Education Foundation, the buyer's ability to dictate such terms and conditions as billing and pricing is expected to increase during the '90s, while the power of suppliers/ manufacturers and wholesaler-distributors decreases. As buyers gain power, they'll have increased leverage to set standards for product quality and specifications, delivery time, and service. More than half of the executives surveyed by the Gallup Organization (53 percent) report that demands from their company's customers are rising or changing a great deal. Research allows a supplier to truly hear the voice of the customer and tailor its product/service mix to changing buyer needs. Suppliers need to satisfy multiple buying influences Companies selling to industry, have to please a number of different individuals within customer organizations, each with their own needs and agendas. According to a Penton Research Services survey, the number of people involved in a buying decision ranges from about three, for services and items used in day-to- day operations, to almost five, for such high-ticket purchases as construction work and machinery. A Forsyth Group analysis of buying decisions at one large firm, Harnischfeger, showed that the number of individuals involved in the purchase of a single type of product could exceed 50. In addition, it's not going to get any easier for suppliers. A Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies survey found that 87 percent of the purchasing executives at Fortune 1000 companies expect teams of people from different departments and functions to be making buying decisions in the year 2000. A well-designed customer satisfaction measurement program that targets key buying influences can help keep current customers sold and identify ways to win over non-customers. Quality is still job one Customers want a good price, but refuse to sacrifice quality or service to get it. A Penton Research Services survey of business and government decision-makers found that quality is the single most important factor in choosing a supplier. Price received the second largest number of mentions, followed by reputation, delivery time, and technical assistance. In fact, nine out of 10 business buyers believe that paying a higher price for quality is more cost-effective in the long run, and according to a study conducted by Kane, Parsons & Associates, most executives (86 percent) prefer to do business with suppliers that have made a formal commitment to quality improvement and customer satisfaction. The buyer, not the seller, determines what attributes of a product or service constitute quality, and research can provide an objective measure of what customers think, correctly or incorrectly, about a company and its competition. The rate of change is fast and getting faster American industry is in a continual state of flux. There are more than 8,200 new business incorporations, failures, acquisitions, address changes, and name changes on the average business day. The buying influences that suppliers need to keep satisfied are also constantly changing. A Penton Research Services analysis of changes among managers, engineers, and purchasing agents found that more than 20 percent leave their company, change job titles, or transfer to another location over the course of a year. This means that more than half of the buying influences will probably change in some way within three years. Most of the executives surveyed by the Gallup Organization believe that the current rate of change at their company is rapid or extremely rapid, and 61 percent of them think that the pace of change will accelerate in the future. Companies selling to industry have to continually monitor the marketplace to be able to respond quickly to changes in buying procedures, factors influencing the purchase, and the people making the buying decision. Customer satisfaction research will be needed more than ever by firms that want to survive – and thrive – in the challenging years ahead. 1. 5 CORE BANKING FUNCTIONS Banking has always been a changing industry. Lord Denning, once observed; â€Å"Like many other beings, a banker is easier to recognise than to define†. (D G Hanson, Page 1). D G Hanson in his popular book on Service Banking writes, â€Å"We are tempted to say that banking is what one cares to make it†. Whatever way one defines a bank, a banker or the business of anking, it appears that, despite a large spectrum of financial services that banks have embarked on to offer, certain fundamental economic functions of Banking remain yet to be fully substituted. To understand this proposition it may be necessary to look at Banking from both a traditional functional view, i. e. a functional analysis and from a logical business and economic view, i. e. an economic analysis. A Functional Analysis A func tional analysis of banking business will look at the apparent activities that a bank performs. The activities are numerous and more keep adding to the list. The Banking Act No 30 of 1988 defines the business of banking as â€Å"â€Å"banking business† means the business of receiving funds from the public through the acceptance of money, deposits payable upon demand by cheque, draft, order or otherwise, and the use of such funds either in whole or in part for advances, investments or any other operation either authorized by law or by customary banking practices;† This definition mainly deals with the aspect of banking where the function invariably looks at the maintenance of demand deposits commonly known as current accounts. Current Accounts are maintained only by Licensed Commercial Banks. Does this mean that only Commercial Banks carry on the business of Banking? Probably not so. There are other institutions and instruments that perform most of the economic functions of Banking. It is important, therefore, for us to analyse the economic functions more than the activities of Banking. The concentration of this article will therefore be on Economic Functions. Nevertheless, it is useful to look at the activities that banks do carryout with a view to analysing the Economic Functions. The Banking Amendment Act No: 33 of 1995 by its section 31 that introduces section 76A to the Act, to provide for Specialised Banking, restricts the carrying on of the business of accepting deposits of money and investing and lending such money to be only by a company which has an equity capital in an amount not less than Rs 50 Million and under the authority of a licence issued by the Monetary Board.

The Different Types of Private Schools

The Different Types of Private Schools Did you know there are more than 30,000 private schools in the United States? It can be a bit overwhelming; the possibilities for finding a quality education are virtually endless. Add to this mix, that there are many different types of schools that exist for families to choose from. Lets take a look at some of the different types of private schools that exist and what the benefits of each option might be for you.   Private School or Independent School You may not know this, but all independent schools are considered private schools. But, not all private schools are independent. Whats the difference between the two? Funding. Thats truly the one thing that separates an independent school from the rest of the private schools. Boarding Schools Boarding Schools  can simply be defined as private schools where students also live. These residential schools bring together students from all different states and even countries to live and learn in one environment. The diversity at boarding schools is usually much greater than a private day school because of the residential aspect. Students live in dormitories, similar to the college experience, and have dorm parents who also reside on campus in the dorms, as well as in separate houses on campus. Often, because students live on campus, there are more opportunities for them to participate in after-school activities, as well as weekend and evening events. Boarding school opens up more opportunities for involvement at school than a day school and can give students more independence as they learn to live on their own without their parents in a nurturing and supportive environment, which can make the transition to college much easier. Single-Sex Schools As the name suggests, these are schools that are designed around educating only one gender. These schools can be boarding or day schools, but focus on the aspects of living and learning that best support one gender. Often, military schools may be all boys, and all girls schools are known for their traditions of sisterhood and empowerment. Read this article from Laurel, a graduate of an all-girls boarding school and her story of  how the experience changed her life.   Classical Christian Schools A Christian school is one which adheres to Christian teachings. A classical Christian school emphasizes biblical teachings and incorporates a teaching model consisting of three parts: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Country Day Schools The term country day school conjures up visions of a lovely school setting on the edge of a field or woods somewhere. Thats the idea, and typically this type of educational institution is truly a day school, meaning students dont reside on campus, like at a boarding school.   Special Needs Schools Special needs schools cover a wide range of learning disabilities including ADD/ADHD, dyslexia and other learning syndromes. They have the specially trained and certificated staff necessary to teach children with learning disabilities. These schools can also be therapeutic in nature and can benefit students who have behavioral and discipline issues. Military Schools There are over 35 private military schools in the United States. If your son or daughter dreams of a military career, then you ought to consider these fine schools seriously. Often, military schools carry a stereotype of being schools for students who need stronger discipline, but many of these schools are highly selective in nature, with rigorous academics, high expectations for student performance, and a focus on developing strong leaders. While many military schools are all boys by design, there are some that accept female students. Montessori Schools Montessori schools follow the teachings and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. They are schools that only serve elementary and middle school students, with the highest grade served being eighth. Some Montessori Schools work with children as young as infants, while the vast majority - 80% to be exact - start with students ages 3-6. The approach to Montessori learning is very student-centric, with students leading the way in learning, and teachers serving more as mentors and guides throughout the process. Its a highly progressive approach, with a lot of hands-on learning. Waldorf Schools Rudolf Steiner invented Waldorf schools. Their style of teaching and the curriculum are unique. Founded in Germany in 1919, the Waldorf schools were originally founded for workers at the Waldorf Astoria Cigarette Company, at the request of the director. Waldorf schools are considered highly teacher directed. A unique aspect of Waldorf Schools is that traditional academic subjects are introduced later in life than other schools, with a strong focus on imaginative activities in the early years.   Religious and Cultural Schools Many parents want their children to be educated in a school where their religious beliefs are a focal point rather than just an add-on. There are plenty of schools to accommodate every religious requirement. These schools may be of any faith, but have the values of the religion at the core of their educational philosophies. While students dont necessarily have to be of the same religion as the school (this may vary from institution to institution) many schools do require a specific course of study related to the faith and culture. Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

Sleep Deprivation General Purpose Essay Example

Sleep Deprivation General Purpose Essay Example Sleep Deprivation General Purpose Essay Sleep Deprivation General Purpose Essay Formal Informative Outline Sleeping Deprivation General Purpose: To inform. Specific purpose: Sleep is a precious gift that allows people to rest. Not getting enough rest on a constant basis can lead to greater problems, even death Organizational Pattern: Introduction I. Blame It On the Light Bulb. College students and individuals around the world are suffering from a health problem that can be more detrimental to their health than some forms of cancer. What is it? Sleep Deprivation II. People are losing sleep daily, in such a fashion that most have trouble staying awake during work, driving, or even in class. III. I have learned a lot about sleeping disorders during the past three years being in college, and I did additional research for this speech. IV. Sleep deprivation is a serious medical situation that can harm your everyday life. Sleep disorders are a highly common medical issue that affects millions of Americans each year. Without adequate rest, the brains ability to function quickly deteriorates. Today I’m going to explain what sleep deprivation is, causes for the problem, how to remedy the problem, and how to test yourself to see if you suffer from sleep deprivation. Transition: let’s start with the nature of sleeping disorders. I will start with the definition of what a sleeping deprivation is) Body I. What is Sleep Deprivation? A. Sleep Deprivation (CancerWEB’s  Online Medical Dictionary) – the condition of being deprived of sleep either under experiment or under real life conditions, as distinguished from being unable to sleep. Sleep Deprivation can even effect acne development, and cause bad hair days. B. The Cold was thought to be one of the greatest inflictions among Americans, when it is actually drowsiness. (Stedman, â€Å"Tired of being, Tired†) a. 0 percent of American adults admit that their work suffers when they are sleepy. b. Even more so, College students suffer more than anyone with odd hours and periodic naps during the day. (Transition) Summary (In essence, Sleep deprivation is the simple lack of the required amount of sleep in order to function fully the following day. )(This lack has to be caused by something, but what? ) II. What aids in the accumulation of Sleep debt (Sleep Deprivation). (Good Housekeeping) A. Sleep Life is a factor 1. Disrupting associations with the bed and bedroom, diet troubles, and mental state all effect the ability to sleep a. Regular activities in the same room as you sleep in can disrupt and disturb sleeping patters such as working in the room, watching television, even sex. b. Remedies:  Ã‚  Before bed take a hot bath (temperature change causes drowsiness), eat light dinners and have snacks at least every three hours for maximum energy and minimum fatigue, Drink plenty of H20. Mental state is another factor, extreme boredom, and extreme stress can both prevent sleep as well as promote it. B. Natural Remedies  (Starbuck) 1. Chamomile-Provides soothing comfort from the aromatic smell, allows peace before falling asleep. When ingested in a caplet form it is a type of painkiller as well as sleep-inducers. 2. Hops-Yes, what they use to make beer. A mild sedative is used to treat insomnia in its herbal form. Like beer, it can have slight depression inducing effects. (Transition) Summary: (Sleep deprivation is obviously a complicated thing, with an even more complicated solution. ) (Transition)(How can you tell if you have sleep deprivation or a sleep  debt. ) III. If you are not getting enough sleep, it can lead to health problems. A. A Simple test can evaluate sleep  deprivation  (Test passed out, evaluate yourself afterwards. B. Health Problems resulting from sleep deprivation include 1. Decreased Immune System activity 2. Development of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 3. May be the start or result of a sleep disorder: i. Sleep Apnea-(Snoring and stopping of breathing during sleep) ii. Insomnia 4. Could be a sign of depression. C. Sleep Deprivation is one of the main causes for deaths of those who fall asleep at the wheel of a moving vehicle as well as those who slowly drift to sleep during a lecture in class. (Transition) (Sleep Deprivation is a compound entity with ties to many other forms of problems with one’s health. Conclusion I. Sleep Deprivation is condition that effects how well someone functions during the day, and can be caused by numerous ways. A self-test was administered so that everyone can evaluate how well one is sleeping, if you are having difficulty sleeping, evaluate your patterns to find a solution. II. (Last thought)  if you find yourself falling asleep during class, at the wheel, or unable to concentrate during the day, try to get more sleep; it just might save your life. Bibliography Books (Find 2 Book References) Articles Fahey, Valerie. How Sleep Deprived Are You? †Ã‚  Ã‚  Health. September 93, Vol. 7. Newman, Judith. â€Å"Yes,  It’s  Sleep. †Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Health. March 2000. Vol  14 Issue 2. p 112. Starbuck, J. Jamison. â€Å"And, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. †Ã‚  Ã‚  Better Nutrition. Oct 98. Vol  60 Issue 10. p 52. Stedman, Nancy. â€Å"Tired of Being Tired? †Ã‚  Ã‚  Good Housekeeping. Aug 2000. Vol  231 Issue 2. p 74. Internet Sources (Find 1 more Internet Source) On-line Medical Dictionary. Academic Medical Publishing ; CancerWEB. â€Å"Sleep Deprevtation† 23 Sep. 2012. ;AHREF= graylab. ac. uk/omd/index. html;. 1997-98.

Free Essays on American Indian Sovereignty

came from the heart. One of his first points asked of the audience to rephrase a famous quote. â€Å"I think therefore I am† Wilkins stated should be changed to â€Å"I think therefore I compare.† Wilkins suggested that society should compare Indian people and their struggle to past and present applications and relationships with sovereignty. Through numerous examples it is clear that the treatment of Indian people in this country has never been consistent or just. Wilkins also titled the Native Americans as â€Å"Vulnerable People.† There are 2.5 million Native Americans in this country who struggle for representation and political sovereignty of which a 100,000 are denied their citizenship due to their Native Indian heritage. Wilkins also outlined the lack of representation that the Indian people battle for in a number of arenas. As a powerful example Wilkins stated that the State Government considered him a Lummie but that the federal Government did n ot, this lack of national identity is one of many obstacles placed in front of Indians in their continued struggle for sov... Free Essays on American Indian Sovereignty Free Essays on American Indian Sovereignty Sovereignty Symposium The American Indian Symposium on Indian Sovereignty and Self Determination was a powerful collection of keynote speakers who touched on a number of issues revolving around the current status of Indian Sovereignty and their struggle to receive recognition as a separate nation within the United States. Prior to the Symposium I had many questions about how Indian Sovereignty had been restricted and how the numerous nations of Indians had been affected by the political limitations they have encountered. My initial questions were answered, yet I was left with more questions directed at our national and state governments. Through an evaluation of the keynote speakers major points these question will present themselves. The first speaker was Dr. David Wilkins of the Lummie Nation in North Carolina. Dr. Wilkins was a genuine man whose words came from the heart. One of his first points asked of the audience to rephrase a famous quote. â€Å"I think therefore I am† Wilkins stated should be changed to â€Å"I think therefore I compare.† Wilkins suggested that society should compare Indian people and their struggle to past and present applications and relationships with sovereignty. Through numerous examples it is clear that the treatment of Indian people in this country has never been consistent or just. Wilkins also titled the Native Americans as â€Å"Vulnerable People.† There are 2.5 million Native Americans in this country who struggle for representation and political sovereignty of which a 100,000 are denied their citizenship due to their Native Indian heritage. Wilkins also outlined the lack of representation that the Indian people battle for in a number of arenas. A s a powerful example Wilkins stated that the State Government considered him a Lummie but that the federal Government did not, this lack of national identity is one of many obstacles placed in front of Indians in their continued struggle for sov...

A Knowledge Management Framework for call centre in a Telecom Company Literature review

A Knowledge Management Framework for call centre in a Telecom Company - Literature review Example It can aid the employees within an organisation, and that includes the top level managerial staffs to the ground-level employees, and even the employees working in the field outside. Thus, one of the key goals of knowledge management is to ensure that the employees have the information they need; at the times, whey they need it, to give effective performance. This is applicable to employees in organizations in various industry sectors, where knowledge or the collected data may play a key role. Call centres are becoming a key industry sector of their own, operating independently or in association with organizations from other major industry sectors like Telecom. With the development of advanced communication technologies, Telecom companies are proliferating and are impacting the people’s lives in various ‘spheres’. Organizations in the Telecom sector are optimally using call centres as an extension of their functioning, and importantly to manage the knowledge and p rovide customers apt services. Call centres, or their contemporary successors contact centres, are the preferred and prevalent way for many companies to communicate with their customers. However, perhaps the greatest challenge of running a call centre is to ensure that the customers are provided with the right information in a timely fashion. This is where the KM comes into the picture, and aids the companies to do that exactly. Although, KM has a number of practical tools and strategies to meet this challenge but to leverage the potential of these tools organisations must understand how to implement KM especially in their call centre department. In telecom companies, knowledge in any form is indeed valuable and so managing these ‘knowledge entities’ or information are important for the success and even the survival of the organizations. Call centres could do it aptly, if a framework of best practices is formulated. These best practices could aid in the management of kn owledge or information about the company’s products as well as the about the customers. So, the aim of this report to develop a KM system or framework of best practices to support the call centre in a Telecom Company in order to improve its customer service performance and the company’s competitiveness. In that direction, this report will do a literature review on the topic of KM in a general manner, and focusing on its applications in the Telecom sector as well as in call centres. Then the report will discuss the proposal for KM in call centre, by coming up with an optimal framework of best practices. Literature review KM- A background As Tiwana (2000, p.7) states â€Å"Knowledge management enables the creation, communication, and application of knowledge of all kinds to achieve business goals.† Seiner (2000) further expands on this aspect of KM by stating, â€Å"Knowledge Management envisions getting the Right Information within the Right Context to the Right Person at the Right Time for the Right Business Purpose†. Thus, when viewed from an overall perspective, KM is a discipline that aids in the process of knowledge creation or accumulation and thereby helps the employees to access that knowledge, when there is a need. This access of knowledge can positively impact on the employees’ performance, thereby improving the service provided to the customer,

Best practices in health and safety communication Essay

Best practices in health and safety communication - Essay Example This manual addresses the following topics which are outlined below. The information seen on the web page indicates that the best practices manual is â€Å"not a standard or regulation and it creates no legal obligation.† It is basically advisory in nature. The web page indicates that the Occupational Safety and Health act as enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) or an OSHA-approved State Plan requires that employers are in compliance with safety and health standards that are hazard specific. It also requires that the employer provides safe working environment that are free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical injury. Employers can be treated as violating or disregarding their general duties if any recognized hazards exist and the necessary steps are not taken to address them. Information on the web page further indicates that failure to implement any of the guidelines in the Act is not in itself a violation of the â€Å"General Duty Clause†. The web page indicates that there is a Metalworking Fluids Standard Advisory Committee (MWFSAC) which appears to be part of OSHA.

Congressional Representation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Congressional Representation - Research Paper Example Moreover, ideology, policy preferences and the nature of information received etc can also affect the Congressmen while they vote. In short, â€Å"congressional voting on specific bills is correlated with the economic self-interest of the representative's constituents and a measure of the representative's ideology† as indicated by his broader voting record†(Bender, 1991, p.1) This paper briefly analyses various reasons why congressmen vote the way they do, and how their constituencies at times play a large role in that. The role of Hannah Pitkin’s theory; substantive vs. descriptive representation in controlling the voting behaviour of the Congressmen is also analysed in this paper. Factors which influence Congressmen while they vote Fellow Congressmen can influence a Congressman very much while he takes decisions upon certain topic. Fellow congressmen can act as the source of lots of information which may influence the Congressman while he takes decision about a particular topic. In most of the cases, Congressmen may engage in mutual discussion both in and out of the office and that also formally and informally. All these discussions will bring lot of new information which may affect the decision making process of the Congressmen. ... Thus fellow congressmen have wider influence on the decision making abilities of a particular congressman. The influence of Constituent is another major factor which controls the voting of the Congressmen. â€Å"The constituency imposes some meaningful constraints on Congressmen’s voting behaviour†(Kingdon, 1989, p.68). Moreover, â€Å"a basic principle of representative democracy is that elected officials must pay homage to their districts if they wish to secure reelection† (Crespin, n. d. p.2).It is difficult for congressmen to sacrifice the interests of the people in their constituencies since they need the support of the people for their re-election. In other words, a congressman who has planned to seek re-election should vote in accordance with the interests of the people in their constituencies. Only on issues that the constituency doesn't feel strongly, the Congressman may think of taking an independent decision. Ultimately, the congressmen have the moral responsibility or liability to explain his stands to the people in his constituencies since the people are the ones who elected him. Party leadership and the committee members can also influence the decision making or the voting of the congressmen. â€Å"The degree of party cohesions affects the voting behaviour of the congressmen†(Froman, 1963, p.57). Each party may have a well defined stand on all policy matters. In most of the cases, the congressmen vote in favour of his party’s stands. However, in many cases, congressmen take stands which are different from that of his party. For example, many democrats opposed Obama’s healthcare reform bill along with the republicans. If the president is popular in the constituency, the congressman will extend greater support to the policies of the

NEGOTIATION SKILLS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

NEGOTIATION SKILLS - Essay Example This brief analysis will work to address three main questions with regards to negotiation. They are as follows: 1) Describing and offering advice regarding the three main points of the â€Å"Getting To Yes† model of negotiation 2) comparison and contrast of distributive/competitive vs integrative/interest based bargaining 3) Discussion of the win-lose/win-win nature of negotiations and the influence that perception and expectations have on both parties involved. As such, this brief analysis will attempt to lay out, as best as possible, a type of rubric that will help an individual to handle negotiations in an informed and thoughtful manner. With respect to the three points of advice that were gleaned from the book Getting to Yes Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, the authors note that the three most powerful tools towards achieving a successful negation hinge on the following: 1) separating the people from the problem 2) focusing on the interests not the position 3) inve nting options for mutual gain. Oftentimes in situations where disagreements/contentions/negotiations are taking place, it is extraordinarily easy to immediately denote a problem, an idea, or a given point of view to an individual or group of individuals. In this way, the actual problem comes no closer to resolution as groups involved have ascribed uniquely personal attributes to each of the perspectives. As such, the individual hang ups that a person or group of people may have with relation to another individual or group acts as the main impediment towards achieving an environment amenable to successful resolution2. In this way, the problem itself (or obstacles) is minimized as the personalities that espouse the given view are maximized. Such actions make it difficult if not impossible to work towards a resolution. In this way, it is the role of the negotiator to seek, at all costs and at all times, understanding of the issues rather than working to ascribe them to a given group or individual. The second point centers around the fact that the negotiator must place emphasis on seeking to define the interests of the respective group and not the problem. Although this can be understood a multitude of different ways, perhaps the best way to understand it is that the focus should be placed on the positive and not the negative. In such a way, rather than immediately coming to agreement that a central negative exists, the group can focus positive and constructive energies on defining and further developing the respective interests that guide the positions that are at hand. Lastly, how it is framed is oftentimes half the battle. In a situation where a difficult issue seeks resolution, a redistribution of focus in a way that works to maximize mutual gain is oftentimes one of the most efficient ways towards bringing parties together on points of agreement. Although this is a very basic concept, it is one that is lost on many negotiations as individuals involved develop a type of tunnel vision on their desired results with little thought as to small tokens of peace offerings that could coax the other side to relinquish some ground on a given item or set of points. With respect to comparing and contrasting distributive/competitive versus integrative/interest based bargaining, these primarily differ with respect to the item that is being discussed. For instance, as the name implies, distributive bargaining is often

Life in Prison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Life in Prison - Essay Example This is coupled with the political system, economic background and culture followed inside prisons. The writer also discusses a number of philosophies which play a vital part in this book. Carceral talks of the importance of understanding why criminals choose the path they are convicted for (Pollock 2005). The book is not the work and opinion of Caceral alone; it is coupled with the perspective of the four editors of the book. This adds a unbiased touch to the book as it is not limited to the ideas of a convict alone but also of individuals who are living in the outside world. Little is said about the crime committed that forces the writer into prison but the novel is interesting in its concept and theory for a number of reasons. The first striking thing about this novel is the politics that run inside a prison. Despite every individual being behind protective custody, the life shown by Carceral makes it seem like life in the jungle: a quest for survival. The weaker inmates are threatened by stronger ones who use and abuse the weak individuals. Like life in the wild, the weak learn to adjust to life in these tough prisons through different means. They either join prison gangs which afford them the security they lack or they pay for their protection. It is not the weakest convicts who adjust to the system. According to the book, each individual learns to manipulate their way to the system. This is used to gain advantage and survive within the prison cells. This is evident in the way the prisoners exploit the clinical tests and physicians to gain medication that will assist them in fitting and adjusting to their environment. Thus, by using these wrongfully obtained drugs, the inmates get high or sell the drugs off to other inmates to make money. Economics plays a vital role in the prison cell. This economy decides the life the inmate will lead inside the prison cell. Not only is this money important for their survival but it also helps in the conditions provided to every inmate. The text speaks of $130 being given to each inmate every month. While this seems like a phenomenally small amount to the ordinary individual, it is actually a great amount for the inmates who need not pay for housing or any other bills. This lack of expenses makes the amount given to the inmates enough to buy the basic resources they need. The inmates can choose to spend this on food, water, cigarettes or the protection they need to survive. Thus, each inmate is given the money to decide on the resources they wish to buy with their money. Apart from this economy, the convict can seek other ways to achieve to obtain their goods. Bartering is a perfect tool for gaining items that the inmates need. An instance of the goods that were traded included lea ther belts and laundry services, showing that the most basic of necessities are of such importance that inmates will exchange their very belongings to get them. Thus, the prison cell is also an economic world where barter and money are of as much importance for survival as they would be in the real world. An individual named Anonymous is introduced. This character is important in the non-fiction book because it allows the reader to divulge into the details of a specific person, thus allowing them to better relate to them. The first of these is the way of "minding your own business." This technique allows

NEGOTIATION SKILLS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

NEGOTIATION SKILLS - Essay Example This brief analysis will work to address three main questions with regards to negotiation. They are as follows: 1) Describing and offering advice regarding the three main points of the â€Å"Getting To Yes† model of negotiation 2) comparison and contrast of distributive/competitive vs integrative/interest based bargaining 3) Discussion of the win-lose/win-win nature of negotiations and the influence that perception and expectations have on both parties involved. As such, this brief analysis will attempt to lay out, as best as possible, a type of rubric that will help an individual to handle negotiations in an informed and thoughtful manner. With respect to the three points of advice that were gleaned from the book Getting to Yes Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, the authors note that the three most powerful tools towards achieving a successful negation hinge on the following: 1) separating the people from the problem 2) focusing on the interests not the position 3) inve nting options for mutual gain. Oftentimes in situations where disagreements/contentions/negotiations are taking place, it is extraordinarily easy to immediately denote a problem, an idea, or a given point of view to an individual or group of individuals. In this way, the actual problem comes no closer to resolution as groups involved have ascribed uniquely personal attributes to each of the perspectives. As such, the individual hang ups that a person or group of people may have with relation to another individual or group acts as the main impediment towards achieving an environment amenable to successful resolution2. In this way, the problem itself (or obstacles) is minimized as the personalities that espouse the given view are maximized. Such actions make it difficult if not impossible to work towards a resolution. In this way, it is the role of the negotiator to seek, at all costs and at all times, understanding of the issues rather than working to ascribe them to a given group or individual. The second point centers around the fact that the negotiator must place emphasis on seeking to define the interests of the respective group and not the problem. Although this can be understood a multitude of different ways, perhaps the best way to understand it is that the focus should be placed on the positive and not the negative. In such a way, rather than immediately coming to agreement that a central negative exists, the group can focus positive and constructive energies on defining and further developing the respective interests that guide the positions that are at hand. Lastly, how it is framed is oftentimes half the battle. In a situation where a difficult issue seeks resolution, a redistribution of focus in a way that works to maximize mutual gain is oftentimes one of the most efficient ways towards bringing parties together on points of agreement. Although this is a very basic concept, it is one that is lost on many negotiations as individuals involved develop a type of tunnel vision on their desired results with little thought as to small tokens of peace offerings that could coax the other side to relinquish some ground on a given item or set of points. With respect to comparing and contrasting distributive/competitive versus integrative/interest based bargaining, these primarily differ with respect to the item that is being discussed. For instance, as the name implies, distributive bargaining is often

VOLUME AND REVENUE PROJECT Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

VOLUME AND REVENUE PROJECT - Research Paper Example The costs are divided into fixed and variable costs. The marginal costs or the contribution is calculated by subtracting the variable costs from total revenues per unit. Medical spending with regards to private insurance spending is expected to grow in the year 2014 by an estimated 9.4% (National Health Expenditure Projections 2010-2020). Spending by the government is also expected to grow in Medicare and Medicaid by 6.2 and 300 percent respectively (National Health Expenditure Projections 2010-2020). Based on this estimated for the hospital to be profitable it either has to increase the volume of patients and or increase the revenue received per procedure. conservative figure for the projected revenue of $ 15,694,583, this is by using increments in number of procedures and cost per procedure to reflect the change estimates. The total expenses are estimated to be at $ 3,134,381 Looking at the expenses it could be noted that the physician contract services had a variance of -27.8% which affected the general result of the hospital. Other areas that should be focused on are the salaries and telephone costs. The hospital could consider employing more staff for its operations. National Health Expenditure Projections 2010-2020. 20 October 2013

The novel as a whole Essay Example for Free

The novel as a whole Essay This underlines where the stress in the sentence is and thus its emotions. This is used to great effect with a more dramatic description in It was wretched weather; stormy and wet, stormy and wet; mud, mud, mud deep in all the streets. It is hard not to associate this dramatic use of language with his consciousness and intensified state of emotion thus allowing us to see how Pip feels by using indirect methods. Plus we see that it is a way the older Pip can convey the forbidding nature of the event unfolding. The clichi of stormy weather is an obvious precursor of events to come, but it works well setting the reader for a theatrical recountment of events. Another typical feature of Dickens is to personify an object. For example the smoke came rolling down the chimney as though it could not bear to go out into such a night. Hence the gloomy use of the elemental weather is made even more imposing, and in this case makes the atmosphere seems primitive excellent weather for the return of the Magwitch who Pip first met on the untamed marshes. The use of weather with reference to the sea is made good use of in: gloomy accounts had come in from the coast, of shipwreck and death, and the wind being like the discharges of cannon, or breakings of the sea. With hindsight these are clear references to Magwitch his time on the sea in the hulks and the cannon remind us of that used in chapter two on the marshes to alert people to convicts. Also, the stormy rain is an omen of Magwitchs water-death struggle in the Thames. But as a first time reader these references only make subconscious links, so that their significance slowly dawns on the reader. The description of the weather is so terrifyingly dramatic that it is chilling and almost supernatural; one could say that when Pip first saw Magwitch it was so traumatic that he tried to bury the experience. The pressure of the hidden memories of Magwitch deep in his subconscious have built up so much that he has managed to bring about Magwitchs return. Of course the fact that Pips benefactor is revealed to be Magwitch is clear that Pips great expectations are at an end as he can not keep the money and he isnt intended to marry Estella. This emotional upheaval in Pips life is magnificently portrayed in the narrative description of the weather leading up to Magwitchs return. Dickens personal style is clearly evident in the passage describing the stranger on the stair: that he had long iron-grey hair. That his age was about sixty. That he was a muscular man, strong on his legs, and that he was browned and hardened Dickens has repeated that so as to create a list, that focuses more on the detail, yet at the same time creates purpose and a gradual realisation of who the man is. Even though this use of language is not correct grammatically it conveys the point that Pip knows who it is but only just below his level of consciousness. The first person narrative makes a competition between the reader and Young Pip to recognise who the stranger is first, from the subtle and elusive hints of the identity of the stranger scattered throughout the passage. The footstep on the stair reminds Pip of his dead sister who like Magwitch is a ghost from the past. Incidentally, this connection between his sister also reminds the reader and probably young Pip of the guilt he felt over his sisters beating, and hence the guilt over his stealing to help Magwitch. Pip heard the footstep stumble in coming on which one would have done if it was a criminal wearing leg irons, that which haunted Pip the chapter FIND OUT e. g. (QUOTE). Towards the point where we finally find out who the newcomer is, the hints become more obvious with his clothes resembling a voyager by sea and his hair being iron grey like this leg-irons. Only moments before it begins to sink in who the stranger we are told of Pips lamp: it was a shaded lamp, to shine upon a book, and its circle of light was very contracted; so that he was in it for a mere instant, and then out of it. The light is contracted like Pips view on life with his misconception of Miss Havisham as the source of his becoming a gentleman, yet he is slowly grasping the truth (brought by Magwitch) from subtle hints, in the same way the light only illuminates Magwitch for mere incidences. Various references to the absence of light are also made throughout the passage; staircase lamps were blown out, lamps in the court were blown out, heavy veil had been driving over London and a voice from the darkness. This is predominantly an effect to make the passage more typically mysterious and gloomy. Less obvious is the connection to Estella. Pip often associated her with fire and light (her name meaning star) and she was frequently responsible for lighting Pips way in Satis house (ANY EG), but she is now a lost cause to Pip as it is Magwitch who is responsible for his fortune. Dickens almost personifies the weather when he writes a vast heavy veil had been driving over London. This implies that the weather knows the outcome of the building anticipation and that it is mirroring the news to be revealed, which will cause Pip to feel as though a vast heavy veil has been drawn across his life. Again we are given a glimpse of something to come but only so much as to push our curiosity more. A further connection to Estella can be made -Magwitch is a dysfunctional father figure to Pip (he refers to Pip as my boy and himself as Pips second father). This creates an ironic parallel with Estella and Miss Havisham, as both children reject their parent at some point, and we learn later that that Estella is in fact the daughter of a criminal. Thus ironically Pip and Estellas status are almost inverted, and it is through this reversal that Pip realises the values of a true gentleman and in time learns to love Magwitch and place himself in hazardous situations for him. Near the end of the passage the first gesture that Magwitch makes is accounted by Pip as Magwitch holding out both his hands to me. This action seems obscure, even if we have realised who the stranger is. It also creates an air of mystery and suspicion even at this late stage. Also we read that Pip sees the stranger looking up with an incomprehensible air of being touched and pleased by the sight of me which contrasts dramatically with the earlier strained and violent nature of the elements. The fact that Magwitch is responsible for Pips rise in social status to a gentleman is terribly ironic. Pip is at the height of his immoral conduct due to his uninformed view of what makes a gentleman (appearance, money and mixing with like people i. e. shunning lower class people such as Joe). In comparison with Magwitchs humble Master references to him, Pip has inadvertently played up to the image of a gentleman that Magwitch has shunned and tried to get revenge at i. e. Compeyson. The passage is the beginning of Chapter 39 and it is only from this chapter onwards that Pip stops misreading events (for example he finds out who is his benefactor), therefore this chapter is primary in terms of plot development. Yet, Dickens pays close attention to detail with frequent hints to the theme throughout the passage in subtle references (looked at previously) that sustain the drama and dark, tense atmosphere, all of which contribute to the sense of expectation. By: Chee Date: April 2001 For: Mrs Hill Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Great Expectations section.

LEGO Company Analysis

LEGO Company Analysis This assignment study aims at providing a detailed and objective evaluation of LEGO Company in toys industry that generally target at children fewer than 14 not only in the Demark but also over the world. The research examines and analysis of the business environment and internal factors in which the company operates by PESTEL, SWOT, and 5 FORCES analysis. By these tools, we identify trends and future development of this industry combines with current strategic position and tactic of the firm to link to options. Then, it defines main problem, provide a summary of the key challenges facing the business bases on our analysis, which the company is coping with. They are both external and internal issues. And after that, we will put forward a great many ideas to improve the style of work in short term as well as long term plans. These strategies of reorganization are developed and evaluated, in which bring the company to be crowned with success in the future. This report is about identifying the issues facing the LEGO Company and suggesting some realistic strategic options for dealing with them. The report will help lecture and people know how we analyzing LEGO Company step by step thought both external and internal of the firm; and the solution that we deal with options of the firm. The report is our result of reading and researching in one month. We hope it gives you clearly view about our project. Method of our report: We used many methods in this research and all of them can be taken in the university and the lecturers lesson, which were quite popular. The most important thing that we used is analysis the market. It was very important to understand about business environment of the firm. Our tools include 5 FORCES, PESTEL, and SWOT. In addition, we used many books, journal articles and material from lectures Learning Resource of Bedfordshire University to gain more knowledge and theories of strategic management. Moreover, we also used some sources on the internet to find news about LEGO and information that relevant to case study. All of them will supply in reference part in this report. LEGO company: General information about LEGO group: The company LEGO is one of the most famous corporations in the world when it engages towards childrens toys and has developed since 1932. The LEGO Group is headquartered in Billund, Denmark and it was owned by Kirk Kristiansen family. And it focuses on a key element in growth, development of childrens creativity via playing and learning by assembling LEGO brick. Nowadays, the company provides their products in more than 130 countries with approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. In 1949, their brick has taken an adventure. Over the years, the LEGO brick became more perfect and then it was adjusted a little bit in shape, design and color. Todays brick has 2,400 different types and have multitude of ways to combine them together so it is not only attractive, creative and fun for children but also becoming a challenge for adults. Current trends: Over the last 70 years, LEGO have had an evolution process, keeping step with the markets demands and the consumers desires. The traditional toys are the constructions brick, creative building by unlocking LEGO brick which were developed in 1958. In 1977, gears, gearbox and many kinds of stuffs were added for children to develop vehicles or other complex machines. After this era, LEGO had a big jump on developing their toys by combining between classic toys with robot technology, so children can able make for themselves an intelligent LEGO model. And now, The LEGO groups core activities are innovation, development, and marketing and sell play materials. According to Annual report of LEGO group (2011), the sales of traditional toys in USA have a little bit decrease. In Southern Europe, market sales decrease sharply while Asia and the rest of Europe also have higher growth rates. Generally, many people prefer modern products to traditional products. So the sales of traditional toys decreased in 2011 in total. The latest product line of LEGO group is LEGO Ninjago. It is a combination of classic toys and so-called spinners were established at the beginning of 2011, beyond expectation s and become the biggest product in company history. Besides, other LEGO toys are also on the best-selling list such as: LEGO City, LEGO Star Wars and so son. In sum, It is a highly satisfactory result reflecting a solid growth in profit. Growth in the North American market continued undiminished, and also in most European and Asian markets we were able to report double digit increases in sales, (2011) says Jorgen Vig Knudstorp, LEGO Group CEO. External analysis: PEST analysis: (P)olitical: In order to enter the market easily and without any problems, Lego has to be awarded of the political situation and other issues related to the political sector. There will be many advantages if the political environment changes the rule that relate to the Lego Companys operations. (E)conomic: The Toy educational industry is developing and can be seen to be economically stable in the past few years. The economy is improving well so the LEGO also improve their products to gain the best for their customers. The business not only improves economic of the domestic market but also the external market in all over the world. For example, the US market has big opportunities to LEGO and other toy companies. (S)ocial: LEGO Company is trying to develop and launch the products to the market and make sure that the community and public will accept their products. The company also wants their services are in good relationship with many kind of customers in some factors of the society. (T)echnological: This is one important force in the Toy industry. In order to have new innovations and good product, LEGO Company also has and improving new technologies, also this is the way to compete with many other strong competitors in the market. LEGO Company makes sure they are updated to what happening in case to adjust the changes. (L)egal: In order not to lose the customers welfare and the company name, LEGO Company doesnt want to risk by breaking the laws in local or international markets. Then, all LEGO companies are making sure that they follow all the rules and laws of the market where their transactions are operating in. (E)nvironmental: Lego company is trying to make their products that they sell are proven to cause minimal problems to the environment. The company also introduced some strategies that aim to decline pollutants and create a good environment. The company also invested a huge amount of money in waste system to protect the environment near companys factories. SWOT analysis: ( Opportunity and Threat): (O)pportunities: Many new types of materials and factors such as: movies and films play an important role to improve Lego toys. For example: Toys can base on famous movies in the world such as Star War, the Avengers, Spiderman and so on. LEGO main markets are Europe and USA, however the company has chance to open in many new market all over the world, for example Asia, South America and also some countries in Africa. (T)hreats: Nowadays, modern technologies are improving and developing very fast, some children are likely prefer watching TVs or playing computer games with colorful and imaginative scene rather than play traditional toys like LEGO bricks. The substitutes of modern technologies in toy industries are very strong and will affect the company business. Some countries are very poor, and then almost people cannot handle and will not spend too much money to buy a toy. For example: some countries in Africa 5 FORCES analysis: Threat of new entrants: + Strong and large distribution network required. If the company does not have a strong distribution networks enough, they will have to pay a lot of money to transport and move their product around, and in some cases their product will not get to the end customers or the stores. + High Capital: In order to enter the market, there are the requirements for substantial high level of investment. LEGO The Company has to spend a lot of money in order to compete when they come to the market in the first time. + The Brand name of the LEGO Company is very important, this is one way to compete when the company is entering the market, then other competitors in the market will also have to improve the brand value in order to compete effectively. + Advanced technologies: This is one of the barriers that bring many difficulties to new entrants and competitors when they come into the market. All technologies have to be developed, and then the company will have opportunities to compete with others in the market. + Geographic factor: Existing competitors already have good place and location to allocate their factory and stores within the market. This is really a challenge for new comers and entrants, they will have a competitive disadvantage and they will have to compete with each other to have a really good place to have their store, department or factory in order to run the business and compete. Threat of substitutes: + The pressures will very high, Substitutes come from the entire toy industry. Substitutes are everything, such as computer games or traditional toys, even outdoors sports. Children will get bored very fast, so they switch to substitute. + A lower quality product will be the reason why customers dont like to switch from LEGO to another product. Level of rivalry: + LEGO Company occupies a strong position in the large Toy industries with a few rivals. The company has a strong brand loyalty and brand name among customers; the company also provides high quality of product and charges it in premium price. Lego also has advantages with parents because parents will allow their children play with traditional toy instead of spend their childrens playtime with video games or watching TVs. Power of buyers: + The pressure of the customers is very high, with switching cost between alternative traditional toys and other substitutes such as computer games or TVs. + The Toy products will be very important to customers, if it is in good quality and acceptable price such as LEGO toys, the customer will be loyal to the company and willing to spend money. Power of suppliers: + Most of the LEGO products are making from plastic, then there will be a diverse distribution, the company will not have to base on one supplier. http://www.oxbridgewriters.com/essays/estate-management/lego-strategic-analysis.php Internal analysis: Lego have a quite large in toy market share in this industry. For example, in UK, it made up 6.2 per cent (2001) and making its the third largest toy organization in Britain. The company has enough strength to continue increase sale revenue in next period. Organization of LEGO has a long history and many different kinds of toy. Moreover, LEGO toys are suitable with children and bring education meaning. In addition, the business have good website which are colorful, clearly, attractive, and helpful for customers when they have arrived. LEGO products are always new and popular material offers to improve their toys. Especially, the company is often focus on famous characters or superheroes in films and comic books such as Star War, Spider man, Pirate of the Caribbean, ninja, or Sorted activity programs by ages. This strategic becoming very successful to target children, it makes their products is more attractive with their customers. However, LEGO was focus on children, but they realized adults had created their big users who spent more money on their product than children. In fact, the price of LEGO is not cheap, therefore they need the satisfied of presents who pay money for their child toys. Then, they started connecting them; improve the relative with them and becoming successful by this plan. Following Jake McKee (formally  Legos Global Community Relations Specialist) said about strong social media strategy what made the high successful of LEGO Company nowadays. He suggests three incredibly simple points in this strategy: Look beyond your target customers Support existing fans Find what works and replicate LEGOs strategic is trying to open their market in all over the work. The company wants to more increase number of sale in the United States because they realize there are potential growth opportunities in this market. In addition, Eastern Europe and Asia are also two places where the market growing very rapidly; so LEGO want to make more revenue from here. Moreover, LEGO organization is want to open and expand more activities that direct to customer kids and their presents, to help more close and understand what their litter customers want. They realize the important of understanding customers because their target customers are children with variable ages, who easy to attractive and persuade; but also easy to change their mind when they see other toys that new, beautiful or maybe colorful than their own toys. On the other hand, LEGO are improving online strategy. They built new website with attractive design, colorful for children; developing online stores, and online activities, for example children online games. Company is  facing: LEGO Faces Increasing Competition Although of the LEGO Companys successes, analysts realized that the companys environment would change, and in the past 15 years it has some challenges due to: Increasing of the Digital World: growth in electronic games, digital toys and much software make competition harder Faster Child Development: Nowadays children grow up faster, it make the global market for construction toys is restricted because of their changing play patterns. Fashion Trends in the Toy Industry: fashions of toys go out and in more rapidly and sometime a few products can make or break annual turnover of the company. Dependence on Famous Global Mega-Brands: In response to fashion trends, toy manufacturers design offerings based on a concept or story (e.g., Star Wars) and several companies offer all toys related to the similar concept (Harry Potter, Spiderman). Downturns in countrys economies can lead to a reduction in sales of LEGO products. The reaction of Lego Company to these changes is combining innovation with market adaptation. They released new digital toys (e.g., LEGO MINDSTORMSà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢, LEGO SPYBOTICSà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢). It created virtual communities to support users and cross-sell to them. They divide their business into each unit, including LEGO Interactive (computer-based play materials) and LEGO Direct (catalogue sales). They concentrated expanded into life-style products, opened new theme parks (in the U.S., UK, and Germany), and cooperated with other famous global brands such as Lucas Films, Disney, Microsoft, and Warner Brothers to develop new product concepts. Compare and contrast with main competitor : Using Porters strategies framework, we can see that Mega Bloks is a cost leader because they have increased profits through reducing cost by using different quality of materials to make their products, while Lego uses a much higher quality resources to make toys, This act is a reason why Lego cost of products much higher than Mega Bloks, It lead to Mega Bloks gains more market share and take many profits. By researching, Mega Bloks had found new segmentation, which now is number one seller in the preschool market. In the past, products of Lego are focused on narrow scope because the target customer mainly from 7 to 12 years old. By changing, now Lego more focuses on differentiation on a broad scope by targeting more than one market. Lego needs to concentrate in long term innovative products, this way still take its competitive advantage in the market as being the creator of toys that help develop new skills and learning. Like the first edition, Lego bricks make children more creative thinking and imagination. It was critical for the management team to identify where to expand Legos product channels and business operations, in order to develop a competitive strategy to continue the organizations financial success and dominance in the building toy market in the future Solutions: After face with many problems in market, we think Lego should have clear strategy: Strategy with social communication online: Having a strong community is very important for Lego company so Lego company should research more initiatives, both offline and online, to increase react with children and their parent. Children like Lego toys however their parent are person who will pay for all of this. While children can pay $70 a years for Lego, adults may spend more than $900 per years. So how to persuade and make them reliable our product also a task for Lego. Use an online database for parents where they can react with other family and its make a community of parents who appreciate the value of creative, endless ideas, or how to learning fun and effective. In there (web, forum, site) Lego can provide information, knowledge how to develop childrens creative, imagine through their game by professors and analyst. Passionate parents may be provided much useful content or lesson from this and it make Lego become regular topic in family. Strategy with investment and capital: To make different with another competitors and reliable for customer also demonstrate Legos reputation, Lego can open restaurant with the main theme is Lego world. In some countries, there are few opportunities for kids and their parent approach Lego game, so restaurant can be the way to introduce products also make more profits from other services, not only from sale toys. Restaurant provides new trend, innovation point for customers. Brands value, creative are sent to potential customer by a chain of systems connect with restaurants unique such as new concept theme, dining area, kids play area , rooms with decoration are toys style, small museum à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦All of those are new experience for customers who are fans or not. To attractive more attention and reduce competitive, Lego can use cuckoo strategy. The strategy of the cuckoo allows developing its business by pressing it on that of an iconic leader. Many company used this strategy before. Lego should corporate with famous brands in game industry like Nintendo, EA to expand range of customer and market share and may be Lego can receive capital from this industry to also introduce their products in Legos markets. Invest more in line of products. Always change style, concept to suitable with customer in each country. Find cheaper material to produce and avoid bad effect to environment. Research how to combine new technology and toys. Conclusion: In conclusion, the purpose of this report is showing and identifying problems and issues that LEGO Company is facing and recommending some strategic options in order to solve the problems and issues. Throughout this report, lecturers will see how we analyzing LEGO company by using many methods to research both internal and external environment of the company. It is very important to understand deeply about the market and its environments that the company is operating in. Tools and methods we used to analyze are FIVE FORCES of Porter, PEST and SWOT. We also learnt more about how to research and find out problem or difficulties that company have to face. Then research more about strategic of this industry to help the solve the problems and improve the business. Besides, we also used many references from articles, journals and materials from Learning Resource of Bedfordshire University to achieve more knowledge of Strategic Management. In addition, we also took some resources and materi als on the Internet to have some more news around LEGO company and their operations all over the world, all of those information will be related and support our report. Executive Summary: Lego is one of the famous toys company with many years of history in the world. Over the last 70 years, LEGO have had an evolution process, keeping step with the markets demands and the consumers desires. The traditional toys are the constructions brick, creative building by unlocking LEGO brick which were developed in 1958. Based on research we can summary some analysis point below: Lego Company need strong and large distribution network required to reduce a lot of money need to pay, beside that high capital and brand name of Lego also important to competitive in the market, advanced technologies and geographic factor are 2 keys element to successful in global market The pressure will very high in threat of substitutes because of a lower quality product are increased very much. In addition development of many toys company, this act makes market more complex. However, Level of rivalry of Lego very high. Company occupies a strong position in the large Toy industries with strong brand loyalty and brand name among customers. Most of the LEGO products are making from plastic, then there will be a diverse distribution, the company will not have to base on one supplier. Beside that many new types of materials are produce; this make Lego has more choices to reduce cost of productivity. Nowadays, modern technologies are improving and developing very fast, some children are likely prefer watching TVs or playing computer games with colorful and imaginative scene rather than play traditional toys like LEGO bricks. Another threat is some countries are very poor, and then almost people cannot handle and will not spend too much money to buy a toy. We also have some challenges for Lego such as: Increasing of the Digital World Faster Child Development Fashion Trends in the Toy Industry Dependence on Famous Global Mega-Brands Downturns in countrys economies can lead to a reduction in sales of LEGO products. Strong competitor like Mega Bloks So how to deal with this problem, we have strategies for LEGO Company: Strategy with social communication online : Having a strong community is very important for Lego company so Lego company should research more initiatives, both offline and online, to increase react with children and their parent. Use an online database for parents where they can react with other family and its make a community of parents who appreciate the value of creative, endless ideas, or how to learning fun and effective. Strategy with investment and capital : To make different with another competitors and reliable for customer also demonstrate Legos reputation, Lego can open restaurant with the main theme is Lego world. Invest more in line of products. Always change style, concept to suitable with customer in each country. Find cheaper material to produce and avoid bad effect to environment. Research how to combine new technology and toys. To attractive more attention and reduce competitive, Lego can use cuckoo strategy. The strategy of the cuckoo allows developing its business by pressing it on that of an iconic leader

The Pursuit of Social & Religious Justice :: Essays Papers

The Pursuit of Social & Religious Justice The pursuit of social and religious justice has been part of our societal structure since the beginning of time. The most recent, large scale, attempt at the â€Å"purification† of the human race, in the ‘name’ of social/religious justice, was put into motion by Osama bin Laden, who caught the eyes of the world by having some of his followers kill thousands of American civilians. This event was a life changing experience for me. Watching an airplane crash into the second twin tower, before anyone had any idea what was happening on September 11, 2001 opened my eyes, and many others’ eyes, to the outside world; it made me wonder, â€Å"why?† It made me think about how the world sees America. This paper will not delineate why there are lunatics intent on the extermination of certain races, religious followers, or any other group of people; what it will do is explore the basic teachings of the most influential prophets of the three main mo notheistic religions, as well as discuss historical â€Å"Holy† wars, in an attempt to show that these proclaimed â€Å"Holy† wars are in fact political wars – and not within the practices of the basic religious beliefs. It will then offer some suggestions as to implementing positive future strategies for social/religious justice. In the very beginning, men did not worship any God, but merely envisioned some higher force, which influenced much of their life. As Karen Armstrong puts it,â€Å"...he is strangely absent from their daily lives: he has no special cult and is never depicted in effigy† [1]. As man evolved, so did his belief system. Before monotheism entered their lives, they worshipped idols, demi-gods and many gods who were believed to be a part of a unity shared among the gods, nature and mankind. The development of the three monotheist religions occurred in a sequential order. The first believed prophet was Moses, born around 800BC. Moses had lived a privileged life as the son of a royal Egyptian family. He was not originally accustomed to the worship of one God, known to some as Yahweh, but that changed one day as he herded his father-in-law’s sheep.

Anti-semitism Essay -- essays research papers fc

For more than two thousand years anti-Semitism has plagued the Jews, however, the term has only been around for about thirty years (Strack 594). Due to the hateful accusations and of those who did not understand their religion, Jews, as a scorned people, gradually became more exclusive and intolerant of other religions. Because of Judaism’s strict adherence to their own beliefs and unwillingness to consider any alternatives, Muslims and Christians have scorned and persecuted Jews.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, the Muslim’s basis for anti-Judaism rests primarily on religious beliefs. Islam teaches that Allah, the Muslim god, requires that a good Muslim pray a ritual prayer five times per day, give a token of their income to charity, and if possible a pilgrimage to Mecca, their Holy City (â€Å"The Rise and Spread of Islam†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). â€Å"Muhammad himself was hostile to the Jews† (Rivkin 25) because he believed Allah to be the one true God and saw the Jewish Doctrine of the Trinity to be polytheistic. The Jews, however, rejected all divine worship except their own. Also, Jews had certain laws and customs concerning food and circumcision which further segregated them from the Muslims. All these differences gave rise to mutual rejection between these two groups. As part of his rejection of the Jews, Muhammad abandoned certain Jewish customs, for example, Saturday as the Muslim holy day and Jerusalem as the Muslim holy city (Davies 329). The conve rsion of a Muslim to any other religion was strictly forbidden and punishable by death. The Jews were given the dhimmi status â€Å"meaning that they were not deserving of slaughter and could retain their religious practices in a limited form† (â€Å"The Spread of Islam to India†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). Just as slaves, the Jews did not possess full legal rights (â€Å"The Rise and Spread of Islam†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). These dhimmis were merely tolerated and forced to pay special taxes and wear yellow badges as a means of public identification (Davies 329). Evidence presented by a Jew in court against a Muslim would not be accepted. Dhimmis had to obtain permission before building new places of worship or repairing old ones, and they could never construct worship cites that overshadowed Muslim places of worship. Jews were also prohibited from carrying arms, riding horses or camels, or inheriting from a Muslim (â€Å"The Rise and Spread of Islam†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). In addition, Jews killed ani mals only a... ... labor by the Christians of the tenth century.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finally, Muslims and Christians detested the Jews for being different than them. Anti-Semitism still exists today in many countries. For example, in Syria the government denies Jews the right to vote and restricts their emigration (Levanon 559). As Christians, it is our duty to refrain from slander and false accusations of Jews. Should we only show love to those who share our religious beliefs? Even the pagans love those who love them. (Luke 6:32) Are we not called to be different than the world and show the love of God to all? Bibliography Davies, Alan. â€Å"Anti-Semitism.† The Encyclopedia of Religion. Vol. 1. New York: Macmillan, 1995. Levanon, Yosef. â€Å"Anti-Semitism.† The World Book Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. Chicago: World Book Inc., 1993. â€Å"The Rise and Spread of Islam, 570-1258.† http://galenet.gale.com Rivkin, Ellis. â€Å"Jews.† Encyclopedia International. Vol. 10. Philippines: Lexicon Publications, 1980. â€Å"The Spread of Islam to India and Southeast Asia, 711-1400.† http://galenet.gale.com Strack, Hermann L. â€Å"Anti-Semitism.† Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, [n.d.]