The Religion of Christianity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Religion of Christianity - Essay Example Aeneas is the center character of Vigil’s Latin epic The Aeneid, a legendary story of a Trojan (Aeneas) who traveled to Italy and became the ancestor of Romans. Aeneas is depicted as an ideal and one of the great epic heroes. He was one of the few survivors of the Trojan War and an ancestor of the Roman emperor Augustus. He had guided the men through the perils of uncharted waters, and other adversities to their destined land that was supposed to become Rome someday. Aeneas has been endorsed with the characteristics, which were highly idealized during Vigil’s time in Rome. These virtues were piety or faith in the will of God, courage, determination, skilled warrior ship and inspiring leadership. Aeneas reflected the personification of the heroic origins of Rome and a flawless hero. Conventionally a young student should read Julius Caesar, Cicero, Ovid and Catullus before reading Aeneid. The character of Aeneas should be studied and understood by the young Roman students mainly to understand the virtuous Roman ancestory and the values of a great leader that one should find in Aeneas. Piety or reverence for Gods was one of the values highlighted in the epic through the character of Aeneas who sent prayers and sacrifices to the gods and asked for assistance. It also reflected the devotion and the power of the gods who helped in the creation of Rome. Through the role of Aeneas Vigil showed how prayers worked and disrespectful (towards the will and power of gods) people are punished. For an instance during the war between Aeneas and Mezentius, Aeneas’ prayers to Apollo gets answered by his victory while Mezentius who claimed not to care for or fear gods has to face death. Aeneas’ sacrifices of the cow and sucklings to Juno, prayers to Jupiter before killing Remulus, all reflect his utter dedication and faith. At times the reader may feel that he was too much into the sacrifices and prayers but the connection between profound faith and success is established – a faith that was embedded in the tradition of Rome and hence the young generation also needs to remember that.

Improving Patient Safety by Utilizing Information Technology Essay Example for Free

Improving Patient Safety by Utilizing Information Technology Essay As the push towards patient safety increases with regulatory agencies such as the Florida Agency for Healthcare administration (ACHA) and The Joint Commission (TJC), formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), highlighting the need for higher qualities of standard, hospitals such as Memorial Hospital Pembroke in Hollywood Florida are interested in finding ways of achieving optimal patient care standards and propel themselves up the list of top performers on key quality measures. Of equal importance is the need to optimize the cost effectiveness of this quality of care by reducing length of hospital stay and reducing instances of readmissions for the same or related complaints. Individual department such as pharmacy, radiology and laboratory each have computerized systems specifically aimed at task completion within the department taking no thought of the dissemination of that information across the spectrum of not only medical departments but also to administrative and clerical departments. With the advent of care possesses such as computer physician order entry(CPOE) and electronic medication administration record systems(EMARs) aimed at both quality and cost effectiveness the necessity exist to provide all needed information including medical records, radiological imagery such as CT scans, MRIs, and laboratory results at the immediate disposal of the practitioner. Administrative departments such as billing, medical records, medical supplies, and social services requiring real time updates on care administered, supplies expended in administering this care and follow up required in order to complete the continuum of care. There is therefore the need to integrate all these various clinical and administrative processes into a single efficient hospital based system of delivery of care. Electronic Health Record systems (EHRs) are not only designed to provide such services but also information to patients and stores and manages data collected on patients. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provided $34 billion via Medicare and Medicaid for the implementation and use of EHRs. Two such systems EpicCare and HCS eMR respectively define themselves as follows. â€Å"The EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System spans all hospital departments and specialties, giving providers the tools they need to deliver safe, high-quality care. EpicCares role-based navigators simplify relevant information access for physicians, nurses, therapists, dietitians and any other provider in the hospital setting† â€Å"HCS eMR meaningful use software is a Workflow Driven / Focused solution focused on high User Adoption. HCS eMR works for your hospital because it: Builds on existing processes such as Medication Reconciliation †¢ Integrates with existing technology to streamline processes †¢ Leverages sophisticated rules and timely alerts to drive success †¢ Can be implemented quickly and is fully adopted †¢ Is economical â€Å" Organizational and individual barriers to proposed change Several potential barriers exist to the implementation of an integrated electronic health records system (EHRs), these include structural, financial/business, technical/professional, and cultural. Structural Memorial Hospital Pembroke is not a standalone hospital rather it is one of five hospitals in the Memorial Hospital System (MHS) formerly known as the South Broward Hospital district of Florida, as such much consideration has to be given to the eventual implementation across the system not only to Pembroke itself. Diversity in buyers and payers of supplies and services across the system would impact heavily on integration. There are also different providers of information technology in various departments that would have to be modified to enable integration via a central system of informatics. Financial and business The infrastructural implementation of EHR systems requires initial high dollar investment which in the current economic environment may require budgetary restraints on other services and supplies. Although the intent is clear and the potential promising, there is limited evidence of the economic benefits of EHR systems in healthcare mainly because it is in its infancy, the hospital board of governors may require extensive due diligence studies prior agreeing to any such change. Cultural The cost-benefits across the continuum of providers e. g. octors, nurses and recipients e. g. patients of healthcare have yet to be realized and as such much caution and resistance is to be anticipated. Clinicians inclusive of nurses envision health informatics particularly EHRs as being time consuming and takes away from, autonomy, actual time spent with patients, also old habits are hard to break, and question what personal benefits are to be gain from this intrusive system. Not to be ignored is the additional scrutiny as all processes will be documented at time of process and provides a permanent record, errors cannot be deleted. Departments who previously had autonomy on how information is transferred and disseminated from the individual department to other practitioners may show reluctance to â€Å"opening up† to the scrutiny of others. Patients also will be required to accommodate intrusion, as with the availability of previously restricted information at the bedside from computers on wheels (COWs) more time may be spent at the bedside by practitioners instead of doing time consuming reviews and making notes prior to patients’ rounds. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) which provides federally regulated protection of patients health information held by healthcare professionals, is another possible barrier that impact the implementation of the proposed change, and care has to be taken to limit the unnecessary access of patient’s data. Factors influencing proposed change Important factors that may affect whether implementation of an EHR at Memorial Pembroke is employed include, how receptive management and staff are to the change, the existence of available EHR systems providers versus in-house creation of a system, Cost of purchasing, implementing and maintaining a system and if funding is available, real benefits to be attained, are they measurable, and structural, cultural and financial readiness of the organization for the change. Receptiveness of management and staff If the existing system works for staff or is perceived to work then many questions arise among the participants why does there need to be this intrusive change. Can the proposed benefits to be realized justify the overhaul and inconvenience to come and am I going to be remunerated for my efforts? Available EHR systems There are many systems already on the market including EPICare inpatient-core; HCS eMR and ChartAcess which are ready for implementation have a system of support and maintenance. Although these are expensive systems, to build an in-house system replicating these would be time consuming and require extensive developmental processes that would certainly result in delay in implementing such a system. Cost May be divided into acquisition and maintenance, acquisition cost include cost of software, training, installation, paper to electronic conversion and implementation productivity loss, which may not be measurable. Maintenance cost includes upgrades, replacement of hardware and internal and external support cost. Acquisition cost will be significant and may impact on the ability of the organization to meet other budgetary demands. Maintenance cost are spread out over time and may not be as impacting, also the possibility exist that cost savings from the use of the EHRs employed may offset maintenance cost. Factors influencing organizational readiness There are certain basic requirements of readiness which Memorial Pembroke must meet in order to be ready for health IT without which failure is almost assured. These are Organizational culture, Management and leadership, Operational and Technical readiness. Organizational culture defined as an assessment of how the organization perceives EHR, general staff and physicians’ perceptions and patient involvement. Does Memorial Pembroke view EHR as a liability or as an asset, is the staff open to what is better for the patient or are they more concerned about turf protection, are nurses prepared to record even the most minor detail if it means a better overall picture of the state of the patient. Management and leadership – does the organization have the management that appreciates the importance of the change to the overall goals of the organization and is there a readiness to apply necessary resources to include human resources, financial resources and information and to manage these resources not only for current but also future EHR needs. Is there an executive team, a strategic plan, quality improvement and care management, and sound financial management? Operational readiness – takes into consideration, protocols, operational procedures, staffing needs for the implementation, training plans and programs, preparedness of project managers and IT staff for the implementation. Technical readiness– considers the organizations technical environment and information technology capabilities to deal with and absorb the change. Is there adequate server capacity, a rational process of procurement also potential for growth and development of the department? In short can they handle it? Theoretical model related to proposed change The model best related to this organizational change which seeks to enhance the institution as a whole in the furtherance of improved quality of care for patients as also to optimize the organizations ability to be effective in the administrative process and other peripheral processes involved in this change is organizational development. Organizational change targets the entire organization and creates a climate of open discussion with valued feedback which helps to reinforce or modify to the change. It depends on the utilization of process consultants to facilitate interventions and to manage the change. Internal and external resources to support change Within the organization several resources may be found which may facilitate or enhance the change to be implemented, these include competent senior management who portray a sense of confidence and facilitate dialogue with staff thus enabling them to be active participants, a strong human resource department that arranges and implement training programs aimed at preparing staff for the change. A vibrant IT department with competent personnel knowledgeable in IT systems that can facilitate incorporation of new technology to its network. Staff that are trainable and who understand the dynamism of the organization and of change and are willing to adapt in order to meet organizational goals. Externally advantage has to be taken of a proven provider of EHRs that has the experience and support infrastructure that will facilitate attainment of the organizational goals. Independent consultants who are experienced in the change to be implemented, and who are able to monitor and manage the change at each stage of implementation. Research data that provide information aimed at making informed decisions, provided by research specialist and not ad hoc pieces of information.

Photochemical Smog :: essays research papers fc

Photochemical Smog Historically, the term smog referred to a mixture of smoke and fog, hence the name smog. The industrial revolution has been the central cause for the increase in pollutants in the atmosphere over the last three centuries. Before 1950, the majority of this pollution was created from the burning of coal for energy generation, space heating, cooking, and transportation. Under the right conditions, the smoke and sulfur dioxide produced from the burning of coal can combine with fog to create industrial smog. In high concentrations, industrial smog can be extremely toxic to humans and other living organisms. London is world famous for its episodes of industrial smog. The most famous London smog event occurred in December, 1952 when five days of calm foggy weather created a toxic atmosphere that claimed about 4000 human lives. Today, the use of other fossil fuels, nuclear power, and hydroelectricity instead of coal has greatly reduced the occurrence of industrial smog. However, the burning of fossil fuels like gasoline can create another atmospheric pollution problem known as photochemical smog. Photochemical smog is a condition that develops when primary pollutants (oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds created from fossil fuel combustion) interact under the influence of sunlight to produce a mixture of hundreds of different and hazardous chemicals known as secondary pollutants. Development of photochemical smog is typically associated with specific climatic conditions and centers of high population density. Cities like Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, and Vancouver frequently suffer episodes of photochemical smog. One way in which the production of photochemical smog is initiated is through the photochemical reaction of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to form ozone. There are many sources of photochemical smog, including vehicle engines (the number one cause of photochemical smog), industrial emissions, and area sources (the loss of vapors from small areas such as a local service station, surface coatings and thinners, and natural gas leakage). Vehicle engines, which are extremely numerous in all parts of the world, do not completely burn the petroleum they use as fuel. This produces nitrogen dioxide which is released through the vehicle exhaust along with a high concentration of hydrocarbons. The absorption of solar radiation by the nitrogen dioxide results in the formation of ozone (O3). Ozone reacts with many different hydrocarbons to produce a brownish-yellow gaseous cloud which may contain numerous chemical compounds, the combination of which, we call photochemical smog. Both types of smog can greatly reduce visibility. Even more importantly, they pose a serious threat to our health. They form as a result of extremely high concentrations of pollutants that are trapped near the surface by a temperature

Parenting Styles and Abilites Essay

Families come in many different forms. Back in the 1950’s/60’s most families compromised of a father, a mother and at least one child, this is known as a nuclear family structure. In the past few decades though divorce rates rose which has caused a rise in reconstituted families for example step families, parents now work longer hours which has seen more children being raised by extended family members eg: grandparents and new changes in law has seen same sex marriages become legal. Within my placements many of the young people using the service have ended up in their situation due to family breakdowns. Many of the families live off benefits or on the poverty line and are battling with addictions to alcohol or drugs or are suffering from depression. This has a knock on affect to the young people I feel as they are therefore expected to grow up quicker in order to look after themselves or any other children that may be in the house. Also from what I have seen most of the young people do not seem to have any ambition or hopes for a better life and many get involved in the same kind of lifestyle that they have been used to all of their lives. This would agree with Bandura’s Social Learning Theory where people copy behaviours from their peers. In regards to the above Labour and Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for same sex families to have the right to adopt. Years ago this would have been frowned upon, but because same sex couples are now more ‘accepted ‘ in society I believe if they have the best intentions for the child then why shouldn’t they be allowed to raise their own families. Functionalists would not agree with this the same as they do not agree with single parent families as they believe in the nuclear family for reproduction, primary socialisation and economic support. I feel the young people that I work with have come from uninvolved parenting backgrounds. Many of them have been in trouble with the law and have never really been told right from wrong. Another reason for some of the young peoples behaviour is survival methods as they have been brought up to fend for themselves. Other parenting styles are indulgent, authoritarian and authoritative. Indulgent also known as permissive parenting normally means the parent/s are very involved in the child’s life and interests but does not believe in discipline. This results in many of the kids growing up to believe that they can do as they please and know no boundaries. Communication style would be very passive. The parent can come across very apologetic, at a loss for words, weak, hurt and anxious. Authoritarian parenting is mainly ensuring the child has strict guidelines and rules to follow and very much believes in discipline. This way of parenting normally results in the child growing up to be unhappy and in some cases they rebel against the control that they have been brought by. The parents way of communicating with the child would be very aggressive and commanding, loaded words and questions, putting the blame on the child, sarcastic and loud with a cold front. Finally there is authoritative parenting which is probably made up by most of the population. This kind of parenting shows an interest in the child but also teaches the child right from wrong. Children brought up in this kind of environment grow up happy and enthusiastic to achieve. Communication methods for this kind of parenting would be assertive. Ensuring point gets across, statements of wants and needs, caring and confident. Within the care sector in the UK it is likely you will come across all of the family styles mentioned above. In many other countries parenting styles will not play such an important part in the childs life. Children from as young as five years of age are sent out to work by their families in order to make a living, and in some cases the children do not have a choice as they have lost their family members to different environmental disasters, diseases etc. These societal issues play more of a part in the way the children grow up as they know they have no choice but to go out to work in order to survive. Recent TV progammes have followed families that live in slums in India. The whole family goes out to work long hours everyday rummaging through rubbish to see what can be recycled, the children do not always get to attend school as it is too expensive. At the end of the day the whole family sit, make and eat dinner together. Family values play a huge part in their lives and the sense of community is great, I feel this is more important as the family all seem to appreciate each other more and don’t take things for granted. In the UK parents are now having to work longer and longer hours therefore spending more time away from home, but unfortunately as in India where this seems to bring the family and community loser together it seems to be having the reverse affect here causing families to seperate and communities to be divided. I personally come from a very big close family so family is very important to me. I believe that if the young people that I worked with had close relationships with their parents then their outlook on life could have been very different. I think within the social care sector I could find this very difficult to deal with seeing how some families treat their children and are very uninvolved in their upbringing. Obviously the most important thing is ensuring the safety of the family especially the children, this would mean having to learn to accept different families styles of parenting whether I agreed with them or not as long as there were no signs of danger and ensuring the children were not put at risk in anyway. I know this is something I could struggle with but that I could not let interfere with the way my work was carried out with the family and have to accept that all families are different and live by different values.

Links Between Ancient Empire (Songhai, Ming and Mughul) Essay

| Ming China| Songhai| Mughal India| Government and Society| * Absolute rulers * Government followed out all emperor’s orders * Emperor seen as god| * Peace patrolling by navy * Surrounding chiefs kept more of their power if they paid tributes * Based on Islamic Principals. * Performance based NOT birth * Based on military and religion * Slaves did all manual labour| * Based on Islamic principals * Local rulers kept power but had to pay tributes * Centralised administration * Efficient bureaucracy * Practiced religious tolerance | Role of Women| * Good education to teach their sons * Got married – family finance * Thrice following (followed whatever they were told by men) * Only influential if wealthy| * Men didn’t talk to women in public * Respected by men but had to act shy and timid * Separate housing between men and women. | * No education, liberty or rights * If they gave birth to a female they were shunned upon * Not allowed to go anywhere without permission * Women were seen as inferior| Travel and Trade| * Traded silk, porcelain and tea * Trade to show off China’s wealth and power * Traded with West Asia and Europe along the silk route * Brought goods back from exotic places visited | * Gold and salt trade * Huge caravans regularly crossed the Sahara desert. * Timbuktu and Goa became large commercial centres of these routes| * Export of agricultural products * Shipbuilding – key industry (Europeans bought from them) * Private trading – voyagers to East Africa, Europe etc†¦ * China was an important trading partner.| Links/Contacts with the rest of the world| * Zheng He voyagers – linked China to India, Ar abian Peninsula and East Africa. * Trade connected them to Asia and Europe – silk road along Med. Sea * Communication routes created via military courier system| * Trade in gold and salt along Sahara desert linked them to the Arabs and Europe through gold trade * Arab traders were the link from Africa to the rest of the world. * Commercial centres were a place for merchants from Med. And Europe to trade. * Exploration of Portuguese| * Contacts with China and South East Asia * Europeans ships visited India and they bought from the Indians * The British set up BEIC to trade| Learning and culture| * Education was wide spread. * Standardised education * Stand was high because they could print text books at the time * Different pantheons of Gods * Practised Buddhism and  Taoism | * Timbuktu and Goa – main centres of learning * Recruited teachers from over-seas * Islam – dominant culture * Recorded as one of the largest Islamic in history| * Established libraries in different languages * Welcomed scholars to his courts * Islamic * Practised religious cultures| Technology| * Inventors of gun powder * Compass * Paper * Printing| * Mosque Architecture – detailed and big * Took years to build| * Invented concept of zero * Modern math * Celestial globe * Advanced architecture | Decline of the Empires| * Invaded by the Moroccan army * This was possible because modern weaponry – Songhai didn’t stand a chance even though they had more men * Succession battles between Mohammed Askia I’s sons in 1593 led to civil war * Lost total control of trade and wealth due to Portuguese explorations around West Africa. | * Threats of invasion by Mongols and Machu * Weakened by power struggles * Became isolated because of the Great Wall of China * Sever famine * Economic problems – people stopped paying taxes | * Main threat – BEIC * Wars of succession weakened empire after Akbar’s death. * |

Free Essays on Linear Regression

Regression Analysis can be identified as providing a â€Å"best-fit† mathematical equation for the values of the two variables that you chose to analyze. From this we get two types of analysis, one being Simple Linear Regression Analysis, which we have been working with. This type of analysis can be defined as a regression model that uses one independent variable to explain the variation in the dependent variable. From the data given we have chosen to look at the affect experience (in years) has at this given company on annual salary. From gathering the data it is my hypothesis that there will be a positive linear relationship between experience and annual salary. Now lets see if the data supports or contests this. The first thing done when using the mini-tab program is to put all your data into the columns. Once you have done that you can start to look at your regression analysis. Because I inserted the data by hand, the columns are as follows: C1: Annual salary in dollars, C2: Experience in years, C3: Gender, C4: Age (years), C5: Training level (A=1, B=2, C=3). From the regression analysis the first thing we get is B1. The B1 value is located on the computer print out under the coefficient column and the horizontal column C2. The B1 value tells us that for every unit change in X, it will contribute to the Y by 1833.9 units. Since we have a positive slope, a one-unit increase in X will lead to an increase in Y by 1833.9 units. After we find out what B1 is we then can find out what B0 is which is also located under the coefficient column horizontally in the constant column. This value is 34,620 which to us means that when X is zero then Y(hat)=34620. The fundamental equation for our r egression analysis is Y(hat)= 34620+ 1833.9X. From this equation we can now predict what our annual salary will be using a value of X or the years of experience. There are three important terms the Sum of the Squared Error, the Sum of Sq... Free Essays on Linear Regression Free Essays on Linear Regression Regression Analysis can be identified as providing a â€Å"best-fit† mathematical equation for the values of the two variables that you chose to analyze. From this we get two types of analysis, one being Simple Linear Regression Analysis, which we have been working with. This type of analysis can be defined as a regression model that uses one independent variable to explain the variation in the dependent variable. From the data given we have chosen to look at the affect experience (in years) has at this given company on annual salary. From gathering the data it is my hypothesis that there will be a positive linear relationship between experience and annual salary. Now lets see if the data supports or contests this. The first thing done when using the mini-tab program is to put all your data into the columns. Once you have done that you can start to look at your regression analysis. Because I inserted the data by hand, the columns are as follows: C1: Annual salary in dollars, C2: Experience in years, C3: Gender, C4: Age (years), C5: Training level (A=1, B=2, C=3). From the regression analysis the first thing we get is B1. The B1 value is located on the computer print out under the coefficient column and the horizontal column C2. The B1 value tells us that for every unit change in X, it will contribute to the Y by 1833.9 units. Since we have a positive slope, a one-unit increase in X will lead to an increase in Y by 1833.9 units. After we find out what B1 is we then can find out what B0 is which is also located under the coefficient column horizontally in the constant column. This value is 34,620 which to us means that when X is zero then Y(hat)=34620. The fundamental equation for our r egression analysis is Y(hat)= 34620+ 1833.9X. From this equation we can now predict what our annual salary will be using a value of X or the years of experience. There are three important terms the Sum of the Squared Error, the Sum of Sq...

Dystopia and Lowry the Giver Essay

Dystopia and Lowry the Giver Essay Dystopia and Lowry the Giver Essay Jonathan Williams-Estevez Mrs. Kimball English 8-6 12-15-13 The Giver by Lois Lowry The Giver by Lois Lowry is a science fiction novel. (Sci-fi means it’s from the future or time travel or advanced technology.) The sci-fi novel is about Jonas and the Giver (the two main characters of the novel.), the story is about when Jonas was an eleven he had a normal life (in the community's way) but when he turned to a twelve he got his assignment as being the new Receiver of Memories, because he has the sense to see from beyond and the previous giver is getting old and weak. * My theme is about how rules make some places a utopia but too many can make the utopia the into a dystopisa because of how all the rules the committee have are controlling the lives of the people. The Giver becomes the teacher of Jonas when he gets assigned to being the Receiver of Memories because the Giver was the last Receiver of Memories. When the Giver starts to transmits the memories to Jonas, he is not just giving him memories from the community but from the whole world when there were floods, starvation, poverty, and even war. When the Giver is giving Jonas those memories he is also giving him awareness, feelings like loss, sadness, and love. The community citizens unquestioningly follow the rules, because over time killing has become a regular part of their lives, the horrible actions they do, it doesn't emotionally upset them. Just as the Giver says of Jonas's father killing the lighter twin newborn â€Å"It’s what he was told to do, and he knows nothing else.†(lowry ) As Jonas is getting those feelings he is also starting to realize the perfect **utopia he calls home, is actually a ***dystopia because of the rules. The rules that the committee made was to make everyone the same because the people didn't/couldn't see color, they have to do what they're told to do or you were released and they didn't have feelings like love or sadness. One of the rules is that they have to use precise language (accurate language.) and when Jon as was little he said he was starving and he got smacked because the workers that worked there said that â€Å"He isn’t starving he’s hungry.† (lowry ) They also have a rule about your spouse. If you want one you will have to apply for one

Primitive Data Types in Java Programming

Primitive Data Types in Java Programming In almost every Java program you will find primitive data types being used. They provide a way to store the simple values the program is dealing with. For example, consider a calculator program that allows the user to perform mathematical calculations. In order for the program to achieve its goal, it has to be capable of storing the values the user enters. This can be done using variables. A variable is a container for a specific kind of value that is known as a data type. Primitive Data Types Java comes with eight primitive data types to handle simple data values. They can be split into four categories by the kind of value they hold: Integers: these are positive and negative whole numbers.Floating Point Numbers: any number that has a fractional part.Characters: a single character.Truth Values: either true or false. Integers Integers hold number values that cannot have a fractional part. There are four different types: byte: uses one byte to store values from -128 to 127short: uses two bytes to store values from -32,768 to 32,767int: uses four bytes to store values from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647long: uses eight bytes to store values from -9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to 9,223,372,036,854,775,807 As you can see from above the only difference between the types are the range of values they can hold. Their ranges directly correlate to the amount of space the data type needs to store its values. In most cases when you want to represent a whole number use the int data type. Its ability to hold numbers from just under -2 billion to a little over 2 billion will be suitable for most integer values. However, if for some reason you need to write a program that uses as little memory as possible, consider the values you need to represent and see if the byte or short is a better choice. Likewise, if you know the numbers you need to store are higher than 2 billion then use the long data type. Floating Point Numbers Unlike integers, floating point numbers like fractional parts. There are two different types: float: uses four bytes to store values from -3.4028235E38 to 3.4028235E38double: uses eight bytes to store values from -1.7976931348623157E308 to 1.7976931348623157E308 The difference between the two is simply the range of fractional numbers they can hold. Like integers the range directly correlates to the amount of space they need to store the number. Unless you have memory concerns its best to use the double data type in your programs. It will handle fractional numbers to the precision needed in most applications. The main exception will be in financial software where rounding errors cannot be tolerated. Characters There is only one primitive data type that deals with individual characters – the char. The char can hold the value of one character and is based on 16-bit Unicode encoding. The character might be a letter, digit, punctuation, a symbol or a control character (e.g., a character value that represents a newline or a tab). Truth Values As Java programs deal in logic there needs to be a way to determine when a condition is true and when it is false. The boolean data type can hold those two values; it can only be true or false.

Essential vs Non- Essential Job Finctions Research Paper

Essential vs Non- Essential Job Finctions - Research Paper Example On the other hand, non-essential job functions are duties that could be reassigned to other employees and effectively execute them (Hammonds & Kapusta, 2003). Some of the non-essential job functions include directing and escorting clients to different offices within the organisation. Employers are required to have knowledge of the employment provisions including disability Act. Essentially, employees are required to comprehend on essential job functions and how they affect employees. Disability Act Stipulates on the basic civil rights for persons with disability, women and the minority groups (Hammonds & Kapusta, 2003). However, an employer is not obliged to modify or eliminate an essential job function in order to accommodate person with disability. This is arguably true because an employee who is not in a position to execute the essential job functions even when considered to have a reasonable accommodation does not qualify for the said job and is not protected by discrimination

Europe after the Cold War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Europe after the Cold War - Essay Example After the Soviet Union disintegrated, the post-Cold War world broadly seems as unipolar and the US remains the only remaining superpower. The Cold War was instrumental in defining the political rule of numerous states including the US after the WW2, and as of 1989, the US had military alliances with more than fifty states while having almost one and a half million troops deployed abroad in more than one hundred nations. The cold war was also integral in institutionalizing a worldwide commitment to large, lasting peacetime military and industrial complexes along with large-scale funding for science by militaries. Â  The occurrences of 1989 along with the fall of the Berlin wall demonstrated in the short term to be enormously undermining as they resulted in the disintegration of the Soviet Union, a United Germany as well as an expanded NATO while unleashing volatile forces, although the instability was not permanent (Engel, 2009). The European continent after the Cold War has demonstrated to be comparatively stable; nonetheless, judgments have to be reserved as the ramifications of these events continue to be felt. For instance, the current crisis in the Eurozone is directly connected to the greater integration of the EU, which can be attributed to the fall of the Berlin wall. The Cold War period provided a certain level of stability for governments in the European continent, as they were aware of their status quo and the sides they supported. Boundaries and conflicts had clear definitions with the key to making the system stable being a lack of interest in changing the status quo on both sid es. Â  It may also be contended that this status quo was not sustainable with the communist bloc directing huge amounts of money to the purchase of arms while daily lives behind the Iron Curtain were being marked by a high degree of hardship.

Quality in Business Terms Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Quality in Business Terms - Research Paper Example Quality can be conditional, perpetual or subjective with respect to different businesses and different people. The concept quality is seen differently by different people and different businesses. Quality is also judged differently by different departments within the businesses (Reeves & Bednar, 1994). Quality is judged differently by customers of the business so the business also has to look at the customer’s perspective of perceiving quality. Like we can say the quality for the producer of the products is differently perceived and is measured based on the conformance of quality or may also be judged based on the degree to which the service or product has been produced in a correct way (Lee, Strong, Kahn & Wang, 2002). The report further dwells on the analysis of the term quality within the context of five aspects and has a conclusion based on the overall analysis. Quality in Business Terms In this competitive business world the term quality in terms of business can be define d as meeting the expectations and needs of the customers and consumers of the service and products. Quality in business is the relation between the business, its product, and customer. Through continuous assessment, analysis and by meeting all needs of the customer, process, business and its employees, this relationship is maintained. Quality may include several aspects in business terms but there is no specific definition in which quality can be defined. The term business is dynamic and cannot be summarized in the single area of working (Huxtable, 1994). Quality in business can be defined in various ways. One way is to define quality in terms of the relationship which business shares with its product and customers. The other way of defining quality in terms of business can be through customer’s perception of how they value the product. The human factor and process cannot be separated, thus, when a quality is built and provided in a product it generates attachment, feelings, and emotions within creator of the product. When this product brings smiles to customer’s face, then here quality is probably achieved. The product is of low quality if the potential customer does not find it is worth buying. But this definition of quality in business is not applicable everywhere. When it comes to manufacturing or industry then the quality is perceived as the relation between a product and a customer (Gordon, 2002). The definition of quality in business terms depends on the purpose. But whatever purpose we take, the main factor would always be satisfying customers’ need and meeting their expectations. If it’s about the customer then quality is meeting their needs and exceeding their expectations. Expectations may include the performance of the product, its appearance, availability when required, delivery, reliability, price, and cost-effectiveness of the product, as well as its maintainability.

Young Generation Illegal Chinese immgrants in the US Essay

Young Generation Illegal Chinese immgrants in the US - Essay Example s much as the life in the United States of America may be comparatively easier and more appealing, the actual conditions of life may not be as rosy as one would expect it to be. For the purpose of this essay and exposition, this paper will focus on the hypothetical example and instance of a young illegal immigrants from China called Wei Yuocang who was a twenty two year old from Lian Jian in China. To begin with, the young generation of Chinese immigrants are attracted to the United States of America under the guise and promise of a better life and a way of escaping the harsh realities in their home country China. For his case, he moved to the United States of America when he was a young man in his teenage years. It was so because the chances and prospects of getting a proper livelihood in China were bleak. Being an orphan whose parents died when he was young faced the tremendous challenge and difficulty of having a proper life in China then he opted to seek the services of a snakehead or an agent to settle him in the United States of America. The snakehead or an agent is a person who specializes in sneaking the illegal immigrants from China to the United States of America through the South America route of countries such as Mexico and Ecuador. It is my reasoned opinion and respectful line of thought and reasoning that the agent does not follow the due process of ensuring the young Chinese immigrants find proper and valid documentation on the United States of America. This is the reason as to why the young immigrants are settled on menial jobs in restaurants with less prospects and chances of getting other better paying jobs with more benefits and working terms or conditions. The moment they arrive to their work stations they have difficulty in finding other social services such as credit cards, health insurance amongst other social benefits that a person would expect to get on a normal day and time. Taking the case and instance of the young man called Wei

Land Use in Pinchot Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Land Use in Pinchot - Lab Report Example resulted in a decrease in the population of the predator/prey ecosystem while the 50% and 75% fragmentation created a more distorted distribution of the species. This shows that the hypothesis should be accepted. It was observed that increasing fragmentation is directly proportional to the increase in abundance of the Spiny Firegrass (SFG) and Elk population. The wolf and bluebunch wheatflower (BBWF) population remained constant at 0% and 25% fragmentation and drastically dropped at 50% and 75% fragmentation. The addition of the BBWF, elk and wolf created a more balanced ecosystem in the 0%, 25% and 50% fragmentation as affected by the hierarchy of the species in the trophic level (Moorecroft, n.d.). The increasing fragmentation caused the increase in the abundance of the SFG because of the increased amount of direct sunlight brought about by deforestation. The habitat has become more favorable for the SFG, while unfavorable for the wolf and BBWF which take shelter and protection from the forest. Lindsey (2007) emphasized that deforestation directly makes the species depending on the forests vulnerable; and in this case, it will be the wolves and BBWF. The wolves can be considered the keystone species in the Pinchot ecosystem because the results obtained from the 75% fragmentation created a trophic cascade because there was a very small number of the higher level predator that will be able to control the number of the elks in the ecosystem (Moorecroft, n.d.). The observations gathered shows that the ecosystem is a top-down control of population dynamics. Deforestation and urban sprawl has a direct impact on the food web because these two activities endanger the higher level predator, causing a trophic cascade in the ecosystem (Moorecroft, n.d.). Deforestation provides a better habitat for the proliferation of SFG, and urban sprawl drives away the wolves that live in the woods, causing the increase in the elk population, and consequently depleting the

Hyper-personal model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hyper-personal model - Essay Example Receivers- CMC messages are likely to be exaggerated because of the lack of face-to-face indicators, giving receivers to fill in the missing blanks. Receivers in this case, will most likely idealize from the initial clues by the sender and if they are favorable, then the receiver dynamics will be tuned to favorably respond. The Hyper-personal model suggests that such initial impression are likely to be activated by pre-existing stereotypes inherent in the communicators like the partners’ resemblance, however vague, of someone previously encountered. Senders- In text based CMC selective representation of self is aided and one usually pass on indicators that they would want the receiver to have. So even in the absence of physical traits, individuals involved in CMC will construct messages that portray them in good light with emphasis on desirable traits and because of lack of physical interaction like eye contact, their conveyed traits will invite preferential reactions. The selective choice on what message to transmit coupled with the comfort create by the virtual world, makes it easy to develop intimacy by the disclosure of personal issues that fuels connection in CMC. The speed of explicit disclosure in CMC is much faster than that of face-to face interactions. Other than these disclosures, senders in CMC represent themselves in line with contents presented by their communication partners. This influences their choice of words and expression of likeness, in essence pre-determining their topical areas of concurrence and disagre ements. Channel - Under this dimension of hyper-personal model, the CMC medium shapes the deliberate construction of online messages by the mechanics of the CMC interface and the ability to edit these messages before they are sent. Users of CMC focus more on the construction aspect of their messages that they would on face-to-face conversations. Prior knowledge of the

Land Use in Pinchot Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Land Use in Pinchot - Lab Report Example resulted in a decrease in the population of the predator/prey ecosystem while the 50% and 75% fragmentation created a more distorted distribution of the species. This shows that the hypothesis should be accepted. It was observed that increasing fragmentation is directly proportional to the increase in abundance of the Spiny Firegrass (SFG) and Elk population. The wolf and bluebunch wheatflower (BBWF) population remained constant at 0% and 25% fragmentation and drastically dropped at 50% and 75% fragmentation. The addition of the BBWF, elk and wolf created a more balanced ecosystem in the 0%, 25% and 50% fragmentation as affected by the hierarchy of the species in the trophic level (Moorecroft, n.d.). The increasing fragmentation caused the increase in the abundance of the SFG because of the increased amount of direct sunlight brought about by deforestation. The habitat has become more favorable for the SFG, while unfavorable for the wolf and BBWF which take shelter and protection from the forest. Lindsey (2007) emphasized that deforestation directly makes the species depending on the forests vulnerable; and in this case, it will be the wolves and BBWF. The wolves can be considered the keystone species in the Pinchot ecosystem because the results obtained from the 75% fragmentation created a trophic cascade because there was a very small number of the higher level predator that will be able to control the number of the elks in the ecosystem (Moorecroft, n.d.). The observations gathered shows that the ecosystem is a top-down control of population dynamics. Deforestation and urban sprawl has a direct impact on the food web because these two activities endanger the higher level predator, causing a trophic cascade in the ecosystem (Moorecroft, n.d.). Deforestation provides a better habitat for the proliferation of SFG, and urban sprawl drives away the wolves that live in the woods, causing the increase in the elk population, and consequently depleting the

Put the best subject you fell its good Research Paper

Put the best subject you fell its good - Research Paper Example Timur claimed to descent from the family of Ghengis Khan towards the 14th century’s end. Benefiting from the chaos in Mongol Transoxania, he laid the foundations of a kingdom in Central Asia. Timur entered Iran in the year 1380 and after taking Baghdad, reduced the power and domination of the Jalayirids in 1393 (Ghasemi, 2015). He captured Bayezid, the Ottoman Sultan, at Ankara in 1402 and after conquering Syria, shifted his focus towards the capaigns to the east of the empire which was in its nascent stages. Timur passed away on an expedition to China in 1405 (Ghasemi, 2015). He had deep interested in the Islamic mysticism known as Sufism. Timur’s legacy destabilized Iran and his ill-assimilated conquests were divided between his sons in such a way that it was impossible to achieve an integrated and strong Timurid Empire. Timurid state evolved into an integrated Iranian Empire during the reign of Shahrokh Shah, Timur’s son. Shahrokh Shah made Herat the home of P ersian philosophy and poetry revival that was linked with an effort to claim the leadership in Sunni ideology’s propagation for an Iranian center. Western Iran was dominated by Turkman after they had replaced the Jalayirids in Azerbaijan. The Safavids were a militant Islamic Sufi order that came from among the Turkish speaking people at Ardabil. Table 1 shows the Safavid Kings from 1502-1736. In the late 13th century, the Safavids survived Timur’s invasion in the west of the Caspian Sea. The Safavids had adopted Shi’ism by 1500 and were all set to use military means to advance Shi’ism. In 1502, Esma’il, Sheikh Heydar’s son, defeated the ruler of Azerbaijan’s army and seized Tabriz and at 15 years old, Esma’il was declared the Shah (Ghasemi, 2015). His descendants were Shah Tahmasp I, Shah Esma’il II, and Shah Mohammad, each of whom expanded the Empire as far as Transoxiana. The control of Safavid Shahs over Iran

Baderman Island Family Vacations Essay Example for Free

Baderman Island Family Vacations Essay Baderman Island Family Vacations: Advertising, Creative, and Media Strategies Advertising not only works but is often unmatched in its capacity to reach major audiences, build brand awareness and personality, as well as stimulate curiosity and desire. But, more than ever, companies today [in this very competitive environment] need the right creative messages and media choices in an effort to break through the â€Å"noise† in order to get noticed, and therefore, remembered. This paper will outline Baderman Island’s Family Vacations advertising plan, further expanding on creative decisions and effective media strategies in an effort to increase market share. Baderman Island Family Vacations Analysis Family getaways are one of the top reasons that guests stay at Baderman Island, regardless of whether the stay is a seven day excursion or a weekend family reunion. With so many activities to choose from such as: boat rentals, water skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, tennis, golf, five secluded beaches, Oasis Spa, and gallery touring there is truly something for everyone in the family to enjoy, not to mention all the activities on the island are appropriate for visitors of all ages. The many unique selling points of Baderman Island Family Vacations consist of the island being self contained, all-inclusive, hosting an array of restaurants, three different hotels, and unlimited activities to entertain and relax all guests. Currently, the marketing situation consists of a website that is an excellent tool for attracting guests and showing them all the perks of the island through pictures and blogs. The blog is a new advancement to the website, but should prove to attract positively more guests through the testimonials of previous visitors. Target Audience The target audience for Baderman Island is the typical â€Å"family vacationers† who are looking for a resort that offers a variety of activities without having to leave the premises. These families will consist of parents with at least one child. The target family will be the family who consists of two adults within the household with at â€Å"least† 2-3 children to help maximize profits. All races, ethnicities and cultures are welcome. The target market will be an adult who enjoy warm weather vacations with family, spending quality time with each other enjoying activities and who have a love for the beach and fine art. The target audience will also consist of consumers who fall within the lower to middle class and above demographics searching for a family destination that does not require leaving the United States (U.  S. ). Not all families can afford the cost of securing passports and expensive air travel to the Caribbean. Creative Strategies A creative strategy is important to the overall execution of an advertising campaign. Team C will use a â€Å"positioning† approach as its creative strategy. In this approach Baderman Island will be clearly defined as the number one â€Å"all inclusive† destination for family travel. Brand image approach will also be incorporated into the strategy. This will help consumers correlate the Baderman Island brand as a top notch, high quality destination. This approach will be accomplish by using an easy to remember slogan, such as â€Å"Baderman Island Family Vacations, the Finest Place to Reconnect,† as well as further using the ever popular slogan, â€Å"Relax, Enjoy, Indulge. † Increased emphasis will be placed on marketing the concept that Baderman Island is a unique destination specializing in family activities. This will enable Baderman Island to distinguish themselves from other competitive resorts in the marketplace. All creative advertisement associated with the resort will be colorful and eye catching; it will feature pictures that depict happy families vacationing and spending time together, further providing a visual of what family vacationing could be for the potential customer. On radio spots sound bites will be used of customer testimonials of how happy they were when they vacationed on the island. TV ads will also depict families enjoying themselves on the beach, playing golf, in the spa, visiting the museums and art galleries, and participating in the many sports activities offered on the island. The television ads will also highlight the many pricing plans and payment options where applicable. Positioning Statement Baderman Island’s positioning concept will explain that Baderman Island Family Vacations is for vacationers with families who are seeking a luxury resort â€Å"experience† to reenergize from their busy lives and reconnect with family and friends, and that Baderman Island Family Resorts is one of the most luxurious destinations in the world. The island offers four star accommodations that highlight a world-class spa featuring a full range of treatments designed around the resort’s natural springs, sophisticated purpose-designed meeting facilities, and an assortment of other amenities all delivered with a high level of personalized service (University of Phoenix, 2008). All of this is made available on this self-contained, all-inclusive resort island that is surrounded by the beautiful Kelsey River. Golfing, fishing, spa facilities, museum excursions and a beautiful beach are all available to vacationers of this island. Message Platform Baderman’s message platform is to develop Baderman’s brand and when potential guest see the logo, they will envision the beautiful crystal clear waters, which symbolizes peacefulness as well as relaxation. Presently, Baderman Island is expanding the brand on the 1,600 acres of land they own. 750 acres are operational. See map below. (University of Phoenix, 2008). In an effort to increase brand recognition Baderman Island will rely heavily on word-of-mouth marketing. The expectation will be that satisfied guest will continuously sell the brand for the resort while Baderman Island continues to make capital improvements. Once the Baderman Island’s guest vacation experience is over and they leave, the hope is that they will tell their friends about the wonderful experience during their stay. Word-of-mouth advertising is one of the most effective advertising vehicles when feedback is 100% positive. Baderman Island will strive to be the number one vacationing spot. Baderman Island will be well known for the following attributes: Owning an island, which exclusively promotes their brand, and having facilities that offer excellent customer service. Baderman Island makes a point of listening to guests who have enjoyed previous stays and will continue to develop innovative ideas that include customer feedback on how to improve future stays. Media Strategies and Objectives Print media is one of the most efficient ways to reach potential customers. For example, magazines are a medium that has a number of special-interest publications segments that can reach Baderman target audience (Wisconsin Department of Tourism, 2009). As a result, print ads, billboards, and brochures will be Baderman Island’s priority media vehicles of choice. Baderman Island will also use a number of advertising campaigns which will run a variation of television commercials, all emphasizing family fun. An additional strategy that Baderman will use in order to develop a relationship with potential guests is through the use of [developing] creative brochures which will assist with enticing guest towards booking a vacation on Baderman’s Island property. After all, they are inquiring about Baderman’s vacationing experience, so brochures will bring Baderman’s Island Vacations upfront and personal to future guest. Guests will be able to look at full color ads while reading a wealth of information regarding services, pricing plans, recreation packages, spa schedules and a host of activities used to keep children occupied during the day. The objective is to have future guest pick-up and carry brochures with them so they can view the material at their leisure and share it with family and friends. Baderman will capitalize on the idea that the brochure is portable which gives the upper hand rather then relying on guest to remember a 60 second commercial. Lastly, radio air time will also be explored as a media option. There are seven times as many radio stations as television stations in the U. S. (Wisconsin Department of Tourism, 2009) therefore; this is a medium that Baderman will seek to explore with the assistance of a limited-service agency. Strategy RationaleThe rationale behind the creative strategies and campaign message is to ensure that Baderman Island Vacations stands out over the competition. Creating the easy to remember message of â€Å"Baderman Island Family Vacations, the Finest Place to Reconnect,† will capture the image of Balderman Island at its fullest. In addition, using vibrant colors within ads and â€Å"real† people will not only be an eye catcher, but also illustrates the fun side of Balderman Island. Using photos of smiling and happy families doing fun activities together as part of advertisement features will say it all. Baderman Island will use similar stock photos in all advertisements. By placing the emphasis on â€Å"family† the brand image that Baderman Island will be known for will be something that both existing and potential customers will relate too. The resort will also seek to create a feeling of nostalgia where people who see the billboards, magazines, website, or hear radio advertisements will wish and want to experience what Baderman Island offers. An addition strategy will be to choose air time during busy traffic hours to advertise services. What better time to dream being somewhere else than when a person is stuck in a traffic jam. As a family resort, Baderman Island believes in getting and giving the best. As customers, Baderman personnel staff expects the best on both products and services from providers, and it is only right that the resort gives the same respect, treatment and consideration to their customers. Baderman Island stands on the priority objective of treating customers â€Å"just like family. †Supportive ResourcesAlthough many companies have opted towards using outside advertising agencies exclusively for assistance with creative ideas, Balderman Island prefers to do it themselves. Baderman Island’s in-house creative teams provide a range of services depending on the resorts needs and are familiar with the resorts rich history and many products and services. The in-house team is also better equipped to handle adhoc problems regarding advertisements within a timely manner. Keeping creative development in-house will provide the resort more control with lower risks of having proprietary confidential information leaking into the wrong hands, also keeping in mind that external agencies have other clients to assist. In addition to risk management, in-house creative resources for creative support make it easier to coordinate and have a more â€Å"personal† touch with the service versus an outside agency. In addition to in-house support Baderman Island will seek advice from limited-services agencies which specializes in one aspect of creative process; usually providing creative production work or the purchase of media space (Wisconsin Department of Tourism, 2008). A limited-services agency will be used in order to coordinate radio air time and in some instances magazine space. ConclusionAs stated earlier, Baderman Island Family Vacations is striving to continue to compete in a very competitive environment. With the consistent advertising message, â€Å"Baderman Island Family Vacations, the Finest Place to Reconnect,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Baderman will further expand on that message by building upon a media strategy that emphasis family, fun, relationships, and value. Therefore, a media strategy that focuses on â€Å"awareness advertising,† where the attempts to build Baderman Island’s image and familiarity with the resort brand and excellent services will be their ticket towards marketing success. Baderman Island is confident that by using multi-media vehicles of print ads, billboards, brochures, television commercials, and radio spots their target audience will be effectively reached. Six months post campaign launch, Baderman will evaluate their advertising effectiveness through monitoring and post-evaluation tools and re-evaluate their marketing plan accordingly based on results.

The operations of the PepsiCo Company

The operations of the PepsiCo Company The report based on the operations of PepsiCo was done in the satisfaction of a Dynamics of Strategy Assignment. The company original location is in the United States of America but the company also operates in countries globally ranging from large emerging countries, the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India and China to the small Caribbean Islands. PepsiCo, initiated as Pepsi: a carbonated cola drink in the beverage industry initiated in 1968 and has continued to expand since. The company has expanded through diversification and acquisitions into both the food and beverage industry. The company has been analyzed in terms of its internal and external environment and strategic opportunities for improvement has been proposed. PepsiCos mission Our mission is to be the worlds premier consumer products company focused on convenient foods and beverages. We seek to produce financial rewards to investors as we provide opportunities for growth and enrichment to our employees, our business partners and the communities in which we operate. And in everything we do, we strive for honesty, fairness and integrity. PepsiCos vision, PepsiCos responsibility is to continually improve all aspects of the world in which we operate   environment, social, economic   creating a better tomorrow than today. Introduction PepsiCo, one of the most diverse and leading companies in the food and beverage industry initiated as Pepsi Cola in 1898 producing only cola beverages. In 1965, the company took the step to merge with another company, Frito Lay, in the food industry to form the company as the name is today, PepsiCo. PepsiCo controls 103 billion litres in market volume in the US beverage industry and concurrently a UDS $321billion in market value. PepsiCo with competitors in both the food and beverage industry, focused on international growth and further diversification. PepsiCo is the second largest beverage producer in the world and the worlds leader in its Frito Lay division in the food (salty snacks) industry. PepsiCo has numerous competitors in both the food and beverage industry: CoCa Cola, Kraft Foods, Unilever, and Nestle. PepsiCo expanded its production initially from Pepsi, a cola beverage to diversifying to water (Aquafina), Quaker Oats in the cereal and snack industry to juices and energy drinks such as Gatorade. The company further acquired and formed joint ventures increasing its product line to teas and root beers. The company acquired and formed joint ventures, along with the purchase of famous restaurant chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken. PepsiCo currently focuses on growth through Performance with a Purpose: to improve the performance of the company, human and talent sustainability as they move towards being more environment friendly. The assignment seeks to review and analyze the external and internal environment, evaluating whether the company is in strategic fit or drift. When this is determined, the researcher would assess the feasibility, acceptability and suitability of the proposed strategic option of growth in emerging markets. The researcher would then go on to recommend a detailed implementation plan of the chosen strategic option in terms of new product development. Task 1 Evaluation of the External Environment The evaluation of the external environment was undertaken through the use of various tools which analyses conditions, entities, events and factors of the environment in which PepsiCo operates. The tools used by the researcher were the PESTLE analysis, Porters Five Forces, the 3 Cs and the Industry Life Cycle. This analysis of each tool was embarked on to determine how the activities of PepsiCo are influenced by the macro environment and whether the company is in strategic fit. PESTLE Analysis is a tool that could aid organizations making strategies by helping them understand the external environment in which they operate now and how they will operate in the future. In all markets PepsiCo has entered, the government has intervened to some extent, where they were confronted with several political barriers to entry, adhering to laws and regulations. These issues increased, as the company expanded its operations and portfolio. PepsiCo was further affected when the economic downturn negatively impacted on their financial statement as costs fluctuated. Despite this, PepsiCo was granted approval for investment into the company. Cultural and demographic aspects, social factors also affected the operations of PepsiCo which include a shift towards healthier lifestyles. PepsiCo has kept up-to-date with technological advancements by introducing the most recent improvements to machinery in the industry. They have implemented modern media methods to increase brand awareness, allowing them to being innovative, reduce costs and improve quality. PepsiCo faces legal challenges where there were bans placed on advertising in some countries. In some countries the governments have reduced the awarded contract previously set at a term of five years to one year. PepsiCo has decided to go green and be environment friendly, focusing on water, climate changes, agricultural and packaging change. They have initiated to reduce their utility consumption. Michael Porter provided a framework that models an industry as being influenced by five forces. Porters five forces is a framework used by the researcher to determine the competitive intensity of the macro environment in which PepsiCo operate. Considering PepsiCo is one of the dominants in the food and beverage industry there is little room for new entrants to create competitive pressure. Due to capital, market knowledge and experience, PepsiCo has the absolute advantage in terms of cost which would deter new competitors. PepsiCo with the advantage of high bargaining power of suppliers are able to identify, differentiate and substitute inputs. If the suppliers have greater influence on the industry, then PepsiCo would have to pay high prices for the raw materials. PepsiCo allows the buyers a strong bargaining power so that they could maintain the number of buyers they have and attract new ones. Buyers may have greater influence on PepsiCo since there are numerous substitutes for its products. The threat of substitutes which exists within the beverage and food industry is a major issue for PepsiCo, where a price change can prove futile for the company. PepsiCo is fortunate since although there are substitutes for the products there are no close rival, with a diversified portfolio that links directly to PepsiCo at all product levels. This, a strength to the company gives them the competitive advantage of operating in the industry. The 3Cs Model is a business model which offers a strategic look at the factors needed for success The researcher would use the 3Cs model to measure the differences between the actual and the perceived quality of the companys product portfolio, helping to assess the importance of the brand name PepsiCo. Market dominance of certain products such as Frito Lay and Gatorade has been a success since PepsiCo would have increased market share. PepsiCo can maintain this dominance by obtaining control of their brand through patenting. The company can further seek other measures to maintain this success, through innovation by improving existing products. PepsiCo segments its market and goals are directed towards consumers since it is the consumers who the company depends on for revenues and profits. PepsiCo portrayed them as the New Generation or the Pepsi Generation. PepsiCo has even adjusted its portfolio by improving existing products and developing new ones to meet current trends in the market: a healthier lifestyle. Although PepsiCo is dominant in some products in the market they still need to focus on its competitors strategies and techniques. Coca Cola, leader in the beverage industry enjoys the largest market share for carbonated soft drinks. Smaller competitors use strategies to allow them to remain in the market and their size, although smaller than PepsiCo to gain competitive advantage. PepsiCo is in the mature stage of the Industry Life Cycle in the food and beverage industry. This tool with knowledge of past and current market trends are used to predict future trends and potential entrants or threats that may arise in the market. PepsiCo maintains its position by using techniques such as diversification strategies and developing products towards current trends and market development. Critical Assessment of Strategic Resource Capabilities The researcher undertook an analysis of PepsiCos internal environment, comprised of the organizations resources, capabilities and competencies. This assessment helped to determine whether the company is in a strategic fit or drift. Several tools such as the SWOT analysis, the VRIO framework and the Key Success Factors were used. PepsiCo has the second highest market share in the beverage industry but have always had and continues to maintain a strong brand image. The company had the advantage since with their diversified portfolio; they were able to create an image for not only for their cola beverage but for all their products. Due to this PepsiCo encountered additional revenue for growth and was able to invest in technology with helped them to benefit from economies of scale. Despite PepsiCos many strengths they had their fair share of weaknesses. The company has limited themselves with their diversified portfolio since they have concentrated mostly in North America. This could prove that they are not fully utilizing their resources available to them globally especially in emerging countries. This weakness can be converted to an opportunity where it can be used as a strategy towards growth. Further opportunities may emerge where PepsiCo can further diversify through new product development, improvements to old products and acquisitions, towards changing demand, a healthier lifestyle. PepsiCo faces challenges from competitors and the declining economy could also prove as a threat where there is sluggish growth of the economy. PepsiCo with a strong internal work culture, an intangible resource, is structured toward the companys Performance with a Purpose to encourage professionalism and personal development while subsequently having fun. Ideas and comments are most welcomed by the management team. Young employees are given the chance to embrace early responsibility, to accept risks and make some decisions allowing them to develop and become prospective leaders. PepsiCo also focuses external culture where they give back to communities. Geographic location has impacted on the internal culture of PepsiCo where culture is altered towards employees in different regions. The strategic location of the company also helps to improve the distribution of products. At some locations, PepsiCo use to their benefit government incentives to decentralize their operations. This helps to reduce operating costs. Brand imagery, reputation and high employee morale plays a huge role in increasing goodwill of PepsiCo. This intangible asset could lead to a positive impact on the financial statements. Despite the negative outlook from the financial statements due to the economic storm and currency fluctuations, the company was able to achieve growth in 2008. Although numerous government bodies planned to increase taxes for snacks and cola beverages and PepsiCo had a high short term debt, they continued to invest for long term prospects. VRIO framework is an internal tool of analysis in the context of businesses. VRIO is an acronym for the four question framework you ask about a resource or capability to determine its competitive potential: the question of Value, the question of Rarity, the question of Imitability (Ease/Difficulty to Imitate), and the question of Organization (ability to exploit the resource or capability). PepsiCo was able to add value to their manufacturing process through innovation and efficiency in all resources: Culture/HR, Location, Brand Image, Goodwill and Financially. All these resources are aligned, organized and exploited by PepsiCo. Culture/HR is the only resource of PepsiCo which can be identified as rare and not possessed by competitors. Although Goodwill is not rare, it is not easily duplicated by customers, hence is imitable and has a sustained competitive advantage. Despite this, if given sufficient time, money and resources all of PepsiCos other resources such as location, brand image and financial prosperity can be emulated, referred to as having a competitive parity. Key Success factors necessary for the success of PepsiCo in the market is that they should continue their use of celebrities in their advertising campaign. This would help to lure customers toward the product. The company can focus on widening their distribution channels as they expand their portfolio. This would help inject additional revenue into the company. Strategic Fit PepsiCo is in a strategic drift to the extent where there is minimal innovation to develop new products. The company prefers to obtain products through mergers and acquisitions, since these products would have been established already and it reduces PepsiCos risk of a failing product. The disadvantage of this is that the brand names of the acquired products are standardized. When PepsiCo acquire these products, they continue to trade under their original name and not the name of the company, such as Gatorade. Another drift of the company is where they fail to have optimal utilization of all their resources. Their advertising campaigns do not include a wide target market. Although the company serves approximately 86% of the worlds population, their advertising is mostly positioned towards the North American markets. Despite the strategic drift of PepsiCo, the company is in a strategic fit due to their strong Culture and Human Resources. This is clearly practiced within the goals of the company Performance with a Purpose. This is advantageous to them since the management team ensures they are practice of good work culture, factors that are rare and cannot be imitated easily. The culture of this organization contributes to standardized operations which lead to high quality of the products, giving them the competitive advantage. Another factor which contributes to PepsiCos being in a fit is that the company has a diversified portfolio with no other single company in the food and beverage industry directly competing with PepsiCos range of products allowing them to sustain their competitive advantage. PepsiCos most recent objectives in their sustainability report is being accomplished and puts the company in strategic fit where they are moving towards meeting the needs of the changing demand towards healthier products. This not only increase revenue but creates a strong brand image and gives the company the competitive advantage. Another object from PepsiCos sustainability report which puts them in a fit is their drive towards going green by reducing utility consumption, the labels in their packaging and usage of plastics. The company currently takes into consideration Green Initiatives, such as building codes when entering new markets. Despite of having few strategic drift issues which cannot be ignored, PepsiCo continues to maintain their competitive advantage in the changing markets and is in a strategic fit. Task 2 Discussion of Strategic Option PepsiCo, since established in 1898 has grown into a vast well established organization with a diversified portfolio. The company has achieved this through all factors in the Ansoff Matrix, allowing them to be the worlds largest food and beverage company. The company has achieved and continues to achieve growth through improvement, diversification of their product portfolio, entering new markets and through new product the development. Through extensive research into PepsiCo, the researcher found PepsiCo has experienced a drastic fall in sales in recent times as a result of the global economic recession and due to changing consumer demands. CEO of the company, together with management has proposed to introduce new products to combat this predicament so that the company can maintain their market status and continue to achieve growth. Through profound investment and innovation, PepsiCo is targeting emerging markets: BRIC countries. In keeping with PepsiCos mission grounded on Performance with a Purpose, their goals of Human Sustainability, and their current proposal, the researcher has chosen new product development as a growth strategy towards the improvement of the future strategic direction of the organization. By this route the company would Suitability Feasibility Acceptability Implementation Plan Conclusion Appendix 1 PESTLE Appendix 2 Porters Five Forces Model Appendix 3 3Cs Model Appendix 4 SWOT Analysis Appendix 5 VRIO Framework Resources Valuable Rare Imitable Organized Competitive Implication Hierarchy of Resources Culture/HR YES YES YES YES SCA Core Financial YES NO NO YES CP Base Location YES NO NO YES CP Base Brand Image YES NO NO YES CP Base Goodwill YES NO YES YES SCA Core Appendix 6 Ansoff Matrix SOURCE: http://tutor2u.net/business/strategy/ansoff_matrix.htm

Industrial revolution :: essays research papers

Industrial Revolution (Extra Credit) The era known as the Industrial Revolution was a period in which fundamental changes occurred in agriculture, textile, metal manufacture, transportation, economic policies and the social structure in England. This period is appropriately labeled â€Å"revolution,† for it thoroughly changed the old manner of doing things and bringing up new techniques. Constantly improving the ways in which things were made, which had effects of cutting costs and improving quality and efficiency was revolutionary about the era. The changes that occurred during this period occurred gradually. Industrial Revolution did not happen suddenly; it happened spread out the centuries. It wasn’t only inventions but mostly improvement and new techniques to present inventions. Advances in agricultural techniques and practices resulted in an increased supply of food and raw materials, changes in industrial organization and new technology resulted in increased production, efficiency and profits, and th e increase in commerce, foreign and domestic, were all conditions which promoted the advent of the Industrial Revolution. The improved yield of the agricultural sector can be attributed to the enclosure movement and to improved techniques and practices developed during this period. A common practice in early agriculture was to allow the land to lie fallow after it had been exhausted through cultivation. Later it was discovered that the cultivation of clover and other legumes would help to restore the fertility of the soil. Prior to 1760 the manufacture of textiles occurred in the homes, by people who gave part of their time to it. It was a tedious process from raw material to finished product. Many of the stages of production were performed by women and children. The supply of raw material for the woolen industry was obtained domestically. In the cases of silk and cotton, the raw materials were obtained from foreign sources, such as, China, the West Indies, North American and Africa . John Kay’s flying-shuttle, which enabled one weaver to do the work of two, and Richard Arkwright’s roller spinner, which was to make spinning more efficient and James Hargreaves’ jenny, a device which enabled the operator to simultaneously spin dozens of threads, was readily adopted. Arkwright and others developed the water frame. Coal was the one of the most important material during Industrial Revolution. It was the black gold of the eighteenth century. Underground mining was extremely dangerous and risky. Improvements in coal mining came in the form of improved tunnel ventilation, improved underground and surface transportation, and the use of gunpowder to blast away at the coal seams, and improved tunnel illumination through the use of lamps.

Lame Deers story “ Alone on the Hilltop” Essay

In Lame Deers story â€Å" Alone on the Hilltop† he recalls the moment in life when his first hanblechia occurred at the age of 16. The first scene begins on the hilltop where Lame Deer had been brought by Chest, the medicine man. Lame Deer has been left all alone on the hilltop for 4 days nights with no water or food. The only thing that he had with him where his star blanket which his grandmother had knitted for him, a pipe with kinnickinnick, and gourd which contained forty pieces of his grandmothers flesh and tiny stones picked up from an ant heap. Lame Deer knew though that after all of this was over he would no longer be a child, he would be a man and he would be given a man’s name. He started to smoke the pipe he began to feel comforted and his fear started to diminish. He describes that he felt like his forefathers, whom this pipe once belonged to, where with him on the hilltop and that he was no longer alone. The thought of not being able to have vision still worried Lame Deer though. He wanted to be able to become a yuwipi but he knew that he could only become that was what his vision was. If he dreamt of Thunder Beings then that would make him a heyoka , a clown. Night time had arrived and began to feel the overwhelming presence of a big bird. He became overwhelmed by the feeling of the bird touching him and grasped the rattle in order to calm his fears. Then he began to smoke from his pipe and began to sing and pray. He felt himself change, and began to hear human voices that were not ordinary. A voice began to speak to him and he felt comforted by them, he then saw his greatgrandfather Lame Deer and he understood that his grandfather wanted him to bear his name. After this Lame Deer described feeling his nagi inside of him and a power surging throughout his body. Lame deer knew his vision had been fulfilled and that he would become a wicasa wakan. Time was lost for Lame Deer and before he knew it Chest had come for him. His hanblechia was complete and it was time for them to interpret his visions. He had also been given his man’s name Lame Deer. Opinion This in my opinion was a very interesting account of American Indian rituals. Lame Deer did a great job on comparing and contrasting the â€Å"white folks† way of life with his own. He told us how Indian children are typically never left alone which gives us a better understanding on why he was so afraid of being alone on the hilltop. I feel like in this story I really got a better understanding of the Indian way of life. They seem to be very tight knit group who value tradition above everything. Family seems to be the most important theme as demonstrated by his grandmothers willingness to cut forty pieces of her own flesh in order to make the rattle. This whole aspect about them is admirable but at the same time I feel like they don’t really take any actual logic into account. The whole vision determines your life labor seem really fallible in my opinion. I can’t really relate to this story in the sense that I have never really experienced any of these things as im not a Sioux. I do think though that this story can be related into our modern world in the sense that many kids are pushed into choosing a life career at a relatively young age. Lame Deer was only 16 at the time but that is only a mere two years younger than kids today. To some extent I found admirable that he at such a young age had already known what his life’s calling was. Overall the story was very enjoyable to read and it gave me very good insight on the tribulations of being a Indian. Vocabulary gourd- the hard-shelled fruit of any of various plants,whose dried shell is used for bowls and other utensils

Discrimination Against Women Essay

The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period,to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful. In modern India, women have adorned high offices in India including that of the President, Prime minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Leader of the Opposition. As of 2011, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (Lower House of the parliament) both are women. However, women in India continue to face discrimination and other social challenges and are often victims of abuse and violent crimes and, according to a global poll conducted by Thomson Reuters, India is the â€Å"fourth most dangerous country† in the world for women, and the worst country for women among the G20 countries. History Ancient India Scholars believe that in ancient India, the women enjoyed equal status with men in all fields of life.[11] However, some others hold contrasting views.[12] Works by ancient Indian grammarians such as Patanjali and Katyayana suggest that women were educated in the early Vedic period[13][14] Rigvedic verses suggest that the women married at a mature age and were probably free to select their husband.[15] Scriptures such as Rig Veda and Upanishads mention several women sages and seers, notably Gargi and Maitreyi.[16] There are very few texts specifically dealing with the role of women;[17] an important exception is the Stri Dharma Paddhati of Tryambakayajvan, an official at Thanjavur around c.1730. The text compiles strictures on womenly behaviour dating back to the Apastamba sutra (c. 4th c. BCE).[18] The opening verse goes: mukhyo dharmaH smr^tiShu vihito bhartr^shushruShANam hi : women are enjoined to be of service to their husbands. Some kingdoms in the ancient India had traditions such as nagarvadhu (â€Å"bride of the city†). Women competed to win the coveted title of the nagarvadhu. Amrapali is the most famous example of a nagarvadhu. According to studies, women enjoyed equal status and rights during the early Vedic period.[19] However, later (approximately 500 B.C.), the status of women began to decline with the Smritis (esp. Manusmriti) and with the Islamic invasion of Babur and the Mughal empire and later Christianity curtailing women’s freedom and rights.[7] Although reformatory movements such as Jainism allowed women to be admitted to the religious order, by and large, the women in India faced confinement and restrictions.[19] The practice of child marriages is believed to have started from around sixth century.[20]

Christopher Columbus: Hero or Zero

Christopher Columbus: Hero or Zero? In October we celebrate the man who found America. People are taught at a young age that Christopher Columbus was a hero when in fact he was a murderer. Yes, he found a land that was unknown to his people, but in his findings, he murdered, raped and enslaved the true natives of this country. Columbus and his men destroyed the civilizations, cultures, and land of the Native Americans. These actions should not be portrayed as heroic. When you read about his thoughts and actions during his voyages, you can see that Columbus was not civil towards the natives he encountered.When he first sighted what he called â€Å"Indians† he saw a group of unclothed people, their nakedness, to him, represented lack of culture and religion. To Columbus, this was an opportunity to spread the word of God and exploit the Native Americans. He thought they would be easy to defeat because of their apparent defenseless and a source of profit because the Native America ns could easily be enslaved. It clearly did not occur to Columbus to consider these people anything but slaves. His thoughts were only a fraction as to what was to come.In Columbus’s letters you can sense his arrogant attitude in claiming the lands he found. He wrote a letter telling of his discovery to his friend Luis de Santangel, in this letter he wrote, â€Å"And there I found very many islands filled with people innumerable and of them all I have taken possession for their Highnesses†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Columbus never considered the fact that these islands, and their inhabitants, were not his to take and change as he pleased. Columbus informed Spain of his new discovery when returned.He brought with him many new things, as well as kidnapped Indians to pay tribute to Spain and lionize himself. Any Indians that were not taken to Spain were made slaves on the islands. The settlers that came to the islands with Columbus were allowed to select any Indian they wanted for a slave. E nslavement was inevitable and no one seemed bothered by the mistreatment of the Native Americans. Columbus and his people deemed themselves as superior to them. Enslavement was not the only thing the Native Americans had to endure; Columbus also threatened and intimidated them and even tortured and killed them.Columbus felt Christians did no wrong so they never got punished for their inhumane actions towards Indians and he was in charge so he felt he could do as he pleased without consequence. Many people terrorized the Indians and instead of Columbus punishing the culprit he punished the Indian victims. Instances like that led to a war between Columbus and the settlers, and the Indians. Indians did not have the weapons necessary to defeat the settlers and were wiped out; those that were not killed were captured. Accounts of rape that Columbus and his men committed were reported by people who he traveled with.Columbus would pass captured native women out to his men so therefore they believed they did not need the women’s consent and as horrible as this seems, those were the less violent acts towards the Indians. Columbus and the settlers were very cruel. They would make examples out of Indians by doing things like cutting their hands off and telling them to share the message and they would slaughter entire villages including children. These are the acts that Columbus and his men partook in. Christopher Columbus should never have been nor should be considered a hero.He destroyed what he discovered, wiped out an entire population and never finished his goal of finding a route to Asia. How is that heroic?Works Cited â€Å"Marvelous possessions: the wonder of the New World† By Stephen Greenblatt ^quote on page 2 found on page 52^ â€Å"A short account of the destruction of the Indies† By Bartolome de las Casas Columbus: Letter to Louis De Santangel, 1493 http://www. wwnorton. com/college/history/ralph/workbook/ralprs19. htm â€Å"The mysterio us history of Columbus: an exploration of the man, the myth, the legacy† By John Noble Wilford

Critical evaluate the Outokumpu's practices in supply chain management Assignment

Critical evaluate the Outokumpu's practices in supply chain management and provide the Outokumpu with your recommendation - Assignment Example 20% of it is used to manufacture internal components and industrial products. These features allow the company to develop sustainable competitive advantage and prospective growth in the near future (Outokumpu, 2011). This paper is focused on Outokumpu’s approach to global supply chain, the advantages and disadvantages faced by them, and the detailed study of their supply chain process. The supply chain management is one of the vital parts of the operations management of a company. The operations strategy of Outokumpu looks at a long term prospective of the company. It underpins the organizational vision regarding the operational activities.The operations management in the other hand encompasses the entire production process including procurement of raw materials, processing them into final goods, taking care of logistics, managing the supply chain and meeting the demands of the customers in minimum possible lead time.It is mostly short term in nature and deals with the daily activities that helps the organization to reach its goals. The supply chain management of Outokumpu is overseen by the group level. The company constantly monitors the market to make accurate demand forecasts and it modifies its operational activities based on the market scenario and current demand level in the industry. Every business unit is operated by its own supply chain management system , which is overseen by the group level (Outokumpu, 2011). The supply chain management of Outokumpu ensures that it follows the five business imperatives which are, cost, opportunity, flexibility, quality and speed. The company specializes in producing at lower cost, by resource optimization thereby increasing profitability and offering a lower price. The company also ensures that its supply chain process is efficient enough to be dependable and flexible enough to respond to the sudden changes in the market demand by

Operations Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 5

Operations Management - Essay Example In addition, it encompasses proper overseeing of all processes involved in the conversion of raw materials into finished goods. For smooth association among all the levels of management works and professional ethics should be recognized and practiced. Indeed, proper initializing and implementing of management operations from the primary motivating factor for the company in its bid to achieve desired goals. In most cases, there are two levels of management. They include higher-level officers and line officers. The higher-level official carry out the roles of shaping the company’s strategy whereas the line official make tactical decisions intended to support the initialization and implementation of the strategy. The company This paper intends to examine the Abu Dhabi national hotels company. It opened its doors 30 years ago and it has consistently sustained high level of operations management that has seen it grow to high levels (EDITORS OF TIME OUT, 2011). The superior and exem plary customer service offered together with the element of design and architecture has been the pillar factors for the unprecedented continuity characterized by rapid expansion across the globe. Operation management systems This paper intends to examine the operations management system appreciated in the company. ... he management operations systems of the Abu Dhabi Company involve the management department, tourism services division and the purchasing divisions (EDITORS OF TIME OUT, 2011). The management of the company endeavors in providing bespoke, understated luxury and circumspect, attentive service in a modish and elegant ambience. This statement forms the mission of the company, which has continually motivated both the employees in low levels and the managerial team to work towards achieving this noble objective. The weakness of the management system The internal control systems are weak in the sense that the audit trail is not subsequent in most cases and this result to relatively larger material omissions. The internal control systems on purchasing, and sales of raw materials and food products respectively, cannot facilitate proper trailing of transactions and this contributes to lack of transparency and accountability (CHEN, 2009). This situation does not exactly enable reporting of the rue and fair position of the company. In fact small, numerous immaterial omissions form material omissions, which are significant in determining the true position of the company. Mission and vision The mission, of the Abu Dhabi Company is â€Å"Experienced Management for the Abu Dhabi Tourism Industry†. The values believed by the Abu Dhabi hotel and resort include integrity, respect and service excellence. The vision of the company is â€Å"Discover the pinnacle of service and hospitality among Abu Dhabi Hotels. The mission mentions the company but does not touch on anything doing with the clientele and products. Similarly, the mission does not mention of the channels applied when transporting goods to clients (EDITORS OF TIME OUT, 2011). Priorities of the company The competition should be