Critical Analysis of a short story Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critical Analysis of a short story - Essay Example According to MacLean, like the spaceship, â€Å"Explorer†, patriarchy appears to be a psychological intrusion in postmodern society (Davin 23-7). Obviously at the heart of this desire lies the prerequisite of being beautiful in body according to some stereotypes predetermined by the male dominated society. McLean asserts that women themselves are psychologically encoded to think of themselves i.e. their self-esteem, identity, body, existence in the society, in a male way. In essence, McLean’s portrayal of gender echoes Judith Butler’s concept of â€Å"Gender Performativity†. For her, gender identity is not something biological or natural. Rather it involves the development of a woman’s identity through the society-defined codes of sex-oriented performance. Again she acknowledges that human â€Å"body† or â€Å"sex† is not a â€Å"mute facticity† that exclusively depends on the organic features of a man. Rather Butler assumes that the gender identity and the differentiation between sexes are made through repeated socio-cultural discourses and actions. According to her, these discourses and actions persistently stylize the body in a certain gender cast, as in the first chapter of â€Å"Gender Trouble† Butler says, â€Å"Gender is the repeated stylization of the body, a set of repeated acts within a highly rigid regulatory frame that congeal over time to produce the appearance of substance, of a n atural sort of being† (43). In the fantasy world of science fiction, MacLean masterfully manipulates an unusual phenomenon of contagion to delve deep into human psychology. Yet her story reveals much of the heart of patriarchy. Though MacLean does not hold patriarchy responsible directly, the female characters of her story are nourished psychologically by patriarchy. Most of the female characters are accustomed to think in a male way (Davin 19-20). While patriarchy considers female body as an object of male desire, the women in the

Transfer From Hofstra Essay Example for Free

Transfer From Hofstra Essay I have come to a point in life that many people have not.   I have made a firm decision to recommit myself to pursuing my dreams.   While there are those who believe that with an ounce of luck and a ton of persistence anything can be accomplished, I believe that there is no reason to expend so much energy and rely on luck.   Life is simply too short and too precious to be left to luck alone.   After serious investigation and reflection I am convinced my educational goals will be far better achieved at this prestigious University. It is not an easy decision for me, as I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Hofstra University a   and made the most of it.   One of the many wonderful concepts I have learned from my parents is to strive for academic excellence while balancing life with other activities and contributions.   I am proud of my academic record at Hofstra University, where I maintained a 3.35 GPA, as well as my extracurricular involvement in campus activities, part-time employment and community service.   Yet I feel that in order to reach my full potential I need to be in an environment that best caters to my interests and goals. The world is fast becoming a borderless place.   Cultures, races, beliefs and ideologies are blend together and interact because of the growing advances in communications.   In order to succeed in this world, one needs to be able to adapt to the various cultural differences as well as be able to maintain a certain sense of individual identity.   My former school, Hofstra University, did not have the same diversity that I see environment where cultural diversity is promoted.     This is why I believe that this educational environment is the perfect place for me.   Not only does this University exceed my expectations but it is also enjoys a global reputation. I have learned from my parents two â€Å"laws†: the law of learning and the law of giving. I believe the more you learn the more open you become for learning. I am convinced this University is a great fit for â€Å"the law of learning.†Ã‚   That is why I believe that this move is a crucial step for me.   My success and my accomplishments here will herald the beginning of the fulfillment of my personal and professional goals. It is said that the one thing that nobody can ever take away from you is your education and that is the one thing that I plan to not only gain for myself but for others as well.   I have learned from my parents the critical importance of the law of giving, and I am both attracted and committed to this model of community service, particularly that â€Å"students apply business skills to effect social change.† I bring to this campus a variety of assets and commitments. I have benefited from a multi-cultural mentoring program in high school.   As an open-minded student, I believe I am able to contribute to not only the cultural diversity, but also the global views of the learning community.   My experience and perspective will greatly benefit those that I will be able to interact with on campus.   I look forward to the rich academic and cultural experience that this fine University has to offer. I have also always been committed to community service and campus government, and plan on continuing these important activities.   I will bring to the campus what others have considered in me an infectious â€Å"joy of learning, excitement for the future, and need for world contribution.† That is in essence my philosophy and I believe it will be able to contribute to the campus community if given the opportunity to do so. While I personally believe that â€Å"there is no such thing as a free lunch† and that everything a person has in life must come from hard work and perseverance.   There are those, however, who are unfortunate in life and therefore I also believe in helping others who do not have much in life.   I believe in helping people regardless of their nation, race or creed.   I believe in being a better person so I can best help myself and others around me.   I believe that this academic environment is the best place for me to turn these beliefs into realities.   I am fully aware of the significance of being considered for acceptance, and I am sincerely grateful for your time and consideration of my application.

Social Penetration Essay -- Psychology Essays

Social Penetration "Decisions about self-disclosure - whether to reveal one's thoughts, feelings, or past experiences to another person, or the level of intimacy of such disclosure - are part of the everyday life of most persons" (Derlega and Berg, 1987, p. ix). The decisions one makes on the issue of whether or not to self-disclose with others affects not only the types of relationships one will have with others and how they are perceived, but also how well they know themselves. Clearly, self-disclosure plays a major role in the development of close relationships. Irwin Altman and Dalmas Taylor, the theorists behind Social Penetration theory, recognized this fact and designed their theory to illustrate and explain this process of self-disclosure through social penetration. In this paper, I will explain Altman and Taylor's Social Penetration theory and the framework behind it, offer come critiques that have been made about the theory by other communication scholars, and present examples of studies conducted using the ideas of social penetration. To understand the idea of Social Penetration theory, one must first understand the ideas behind it, and more specifically, its framework. The theory focuses around the idea that within every relationship social penetration processes exist. Altman and Taylor (1973) explain that these processes include "verbal exchange, nonverbal use of the body, use of the physical environment, and interpersonal perceptions - all of which are exhibited at different levels of intimacy of encounter" (p. 3). The goal of Social Penetration theory is to describe the "formation, maintenance, and dissolution of close relationships" (Derlega & Berg, 1987, p. 5). According to the theory, the form... ...ocial penetration theory. I used Griffin's text mainly as a source for my critiques of the theory. Jourard, S. M. (1971). Self-disclosure: an experimental analysis of the transparent self. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. This publication is another psychology oriented edition about self-disclosure. I didn't use any information from this book because it was all repetition from the other sources I gathered. I used the other source information because I found it more reputable. Tannen, D. (1986). That's not what I mean! How conversational style makes or breaks relationships. New York, NY: Ballantine. Deborah Tannen, the author, is the theorist behind genderlects. The only information I used from this book was the quote about the differences between how men and women are seasoned to communicate. Nothing else was relevant to my topic.

Polar Bears :: essays research papers

Habitat Polar bears prefer to live in extremely cold artic climates. They live only in the Northern Hemisphere, on the arctic ice cap, and they spend most of their time on coastal areas. Polar bears are widely spread in Canada, extending from the northern arctic islands south to the Hudson Bay area. They are also found in Greenland, on islands off the shore of Norway, on the northern coast of the former Soviet Union, and on the northern and northwestern coasts of Alaska in the United States. Physical Features The polar bear is one the largest members of the bear family. Males Polar Bears stand from eight to 11 feet tall and generally weigh from 500 to 1,000 pounds, but can weigh as much as 1,400 pounds. Female bears generally stand eight feet tall and weigh 400 to 600 pounds, except some, which can reach 700 pounds. The reason the polar bear weighs so much is that is stores about a four-inch layer of fat to keep it warm. The polar bear has a long, narrower head and nose, and small ears. The polar bear has coat that appears white but, each individual hair is actually a clear and hollow. This helps the polar bear keep warm. The polar bear's coat helps it blend in with its snowy surroundings, this adaptation helps the Polar Bear hide while hunting. The polar bear's front legs are slightly pigeon-toed, and fur covers the bottoms of its paws. These adaptations help the polar bear keep them from slipping on ice. Diet The polar bear rarely eats plants. That is why it is considered a carnivore, or meat-eater. The ringed seal is the polar bear's primary prey. A polar bear hunts a seal by waiting quietly for it to emerge from an opening a seal makes in the ice allowing them to breathe or climb out of the water to rest. Polar bears eat only the seal's skin and blubber of the seal. The remaining meat provides a food source for other animals in the Arctic. Polar bears also prey on young walrus’s. The remains of whale, seal, and walrus are also important sources of food for polar bears. In fact, because of their acute sense of smell, polar bears can sense animal remains from far away. Breeding Breeding usually takes place in April to June. Polar bears reach breeding maturity at three to five years of age.

Culture-Bound Syndromes

Mental health functioning is important regarding a person’s well-being, being able to interact with others in a healthy manner, and contributes many things to individual’s through communities and society. Culture-bound syndromes are conditions that are specific to particular cultures. The cultures that experience, express, and deal with culture-bound syndromes in different ways is extremely common. LaVeist and Thomas (2005) state that â€Å"culture-bound syndromes are clusters of symptoms more common in some cultures than others† (p. 01). There are symptoms that are found in all nations, cultures, and similarly recognizable worldwide but yet are different at the same time. Culture-Bound Syndromes Culture-bound syndromes, also known as culture-specific syndromes, have been defined as â€Å"clusters of symptoms more common in some cultures than in other cultural groups† (LaVeist & Thomas, 2005, p. 101). Although many mental disorders are well known in sp ecific cultures, these disorders are at least somewhat conditioned by the culture in which they are found.More importantly, the topic of culture-bound syndromes has â€Å"been a controversial topic since they have reflected the different opinions of anthropologists and psychiatrists† (WHO, 1992). Consequently, researchers have had some difficulty emphasizing culture specific dimensions of certain syndromes. Some studies have suggested that the most beneficial aspect of defining culture-bound syndromes is that they represent an acceptable way to define specific cultural responses to certain situations.According to Guarnaccia and Rogler (1999), â€Å"researchers have referred to culture bound research on culture-bound syndromes serves strategically to tighten the integration between cultural and clinical knowledge, while providing insights into issues of diagnostic universality and culturally specificity† (p. 1326). The role of biology in the development of culture-bound syndromes, therefore, has proved to be of debate. Interest in culture-bound syndromes has increased over the last few decades.Similarly the treatment in a diagnostic classification treatment of these disorders has over the last several years gained attention (Guarnaccia & Rogler, 1999). Clinicians are presented with plenty of challenges when dealing with culture-bound syndromes such as how to diagnose them. Several questions clinicians present include the stability of culture-bound syndromes, the common nature of these disorders across cultures, and the similarity of symptoms between syndromes (APA, 1994).Similarly, the question of whether culture-bound syndromes should be included in the diagnostic criteria of current psychological illnesses or as individual entities themselves is also debatable (APA, 1994). Another issue concerns the relationship between culture bound syndromes and standard diagnostic systems such as the DSM. Of specific concern is that they do not easily con form to the categories within the DSM due to significant differences across cultures.These differences are due to differing views of self and reality as well as the different ways cultures express certain disorders (APA, 1994). Guarnaccia and Rogler (1999) referring to the DSM classification system in that it addresses certain concerns about differing cultural boundaries, and in dealing with the classification methods certainly deal with the reliability and validity of the non-universality of cultural experiences in relation to mental illnesses.The fact that each culture-bound syndrome is individually associated with particular sets of illness responses, it is difficult to define precisely the definition of the culture-bound syndromes as a unit. Culture-bound syndromes as therefore comprised as several different illnesses and afflictions. LaVeist and Thomas (2005) thoroughly expresses the dynamic nature of culture-bound syndromes when they state: The symptoms of mental disorders are found in all nations and in all cultures; there are recognizable symptoms that are common worldwide.Mental health researchers have not yet been able to determine whether culture bound syndromes are indicative of one or more possibilities that include distinct disorders that exist only in specific cultures, and reflect different ways in which individuals from different cultures express mental illness, as well as reflecting different ways in which the social and cultural environment interact with genes to produce disorders, or any combination of these. (pp. 01) With the following information in mind, it should be noted that not all disorders are considered pathological; some behaviors are seen as ways of expressing and communicating distress to members of a certain culture and are seen as culturally accepted responses (APA, 1994). In fact, cultures experience, express, and cope with feelings of distress in various ways that may counter what Western societies see as common. Furthermor e, at times these cultural differences are referred to as idioms of distress.Understanding the expression of these idioms (for example somatization, which is a physical representation of distress that is typically accompanied by symptoms such as abdominal or chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness or vertigo, and blurred vision) allows clinicians to be more aware of the diagnoses they give (LaVeist & Thomas, 2005). Culture-bound syndromes can also appear to be similar within several cultures. Furthermore, a culture specific syndrome can be categorized by various things.The APA (1994) characterizes culture specific syndromes as the following: categorization as a disease in the culture, familiarity within a widespread culture, people with lack of familiarity of specific conditions from other cultures, and the use of folk medicines that particular cultures use as a conditioned sense of usage within a specific culture. More specifically, culture-bound syndromes are not the same as geographically localized diseases with specific biological causes, such as kuru or sleeping sickness, or genetic conditions limited to certain populations, like sickle cell anemia (APA, 1994).Discussions of culture-bound syndromes have often concerned the amount of different categories of syndromes present in the world today. Many culture-bound syndromes are actually specific cultural representations of illnesses found elsewhere in the world. Some of these responses are not necessarily psychological illnesses but rather are explanatory mechanisms like witchcraft (Simons & Hughes, 1985). Beliefs in witchcraft could seem to be a little farfetched as a type of culture-bound illness; however, it is supposed that witchcraft can lead to behaviors that can be seen as disordered.This concept is of particular concern to medical and psychiatric anthropologists because culture-bound syndromes provide examples of how cultural specific symptoms can evolve into psychological illnesses. Just because these responses may not begin as disorders, however, does not devalue the fact that they are illnesses and should be taken seriously (Simons & Hughes, 1985). The American Psychiatric Association (1994), states that the Western scientific perspective characterizes culture specific syndromes as imaginary and has no way of clearly being able to show why someone cannot understand that perspective.According to the APA (1994), physicians will share many things about a disorder with the patients and help them try to understand how they see their particular disorder; they also use folk medicine treatment if the patient asks for that if it is a culture-bound syndrome. Another thing is that a physician may falsify a patients perspective to offer folk medicine treatments that are available or maybe for a new and improved treatment strategy. Lastly, the clinician should educate the patient on being able to recognize their condition as a culture-bound syndrome so that the clinician m ay treat them as they see fit.Guarnaccia and Rogler (1994) said that specific conditions are very challenging within medical care and illustrate rarely discussed aspects of fundamental aspects of physician to patient relationships, a diagnosis that is the best fit for the way of looking at the body and its diseases are easily negotiated if both parties can be found. Restrictions of the diagnostic classification systems of culture-bound syndromes have complications with certain additions within the iagnostic classification systems and have raised many questions. It is not quite clear on whether culture-bound syndromes are actually different from conventional syndromes or if they are just categorically different. Some people like to argue that some culture-bound syndromes are not just limited to specific cultures but are widely experienced throughout the world. Many of the syndromes that have been labeled as culture- bound are compromised by many mixtures of indicators that have been witnessed collectively.Culture-bound syndromes are lacking in diagnostic regularity and legitimacy making it extremely difficult to reach widespread straightforward criteria to describe these illnesses because of problems in language. â€Å"In the development of the DSM, its designers tried to create a diagnostic system that was well-suited with a broader and more worldwide medical organization system that is, the International Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death (ICD) developed by the World Health Organization† (WHO, 1992).Therefore, the DSM implements a medical model of diagnosis for which many mental disorders, regardless of whether their background is biological or psychological, is viewed as mental illnesses and requires treatment. Furthermore, this model is implicit and assuming that mental disorders are under the compromise of behavioral or psychological symptoms that can form definable patterns or distinct forms of a particular syndrome (Guarnacc ia & Rogler, 1994).The authors of the DSM definitely made a careful choice to accept a clear-cut categorization of mental illnesses. It is important to notice, however, that the DSM does not make the assumption that all mental disorders are discreet entities with absolutely no boundaries. Finally, before methodology is discussed, examples of what culture-bound syndromes actually are is important to include. The case of Koro â€Å"provides an example of shifting diagnostic classifications because of changing decisions about which symptoms are predominant.For example, Koro was first categorized as a somatoform disorder on the basis of the perception of the afflicted person’s intense preoccupation with a somatic concern, the retraction of the penis† (Bernstein & Gaw, 1990). â€Å"More recently, Koro was categorized as an anxiety disorder and noted that others have associated Koro with panic disorders† (Levine & Gaw, 1995, p. 1323). Second, the debate of the relationship between culture-bound syndromes and psychiatric disorders according to symptoms is evident in the case of Latah Levine & Gaw, 1995). More specifically, â€Å"a debate about Latah focuses on which theoretical perspective should prevail; Simons and Hughes argued that the predominant feature of Latah is the neurophysiological startle reflex, culturally elaborated into Latah in Malaysia† (Simons & Hughes, 1985, p. 1323). Therefore, each disorder represents responses specific to certain cultures while also explaining the different ways cultures respond to events. MethodUnderstanding culture-bound syndromes requires looking at multiple sources that give a broad range of information regarding the topic. For this paper I felt that it was necessary to use the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders because it gives plenty of information regarding culture-bound syndromes. The Diagnostic and Statistical Ma nual of Mental Disorders is extremely useful in the fact that it allows a health educator to become more acquainted with culture-bound syndromes that are unique and unusual to our specific field of study.Guarnaccia and Rogler and their research on culture-bound syndromes is informational in that they give a comprehensive look at culture-bound syndromes through the classification system and allow one to focus more on specific syndromes, such as Koro and Latah. LaVeist and Thomas from Chapter 5 in Minority Populations and Health are really informational along the lines of mental health, mental illness, and mental health problems.They give a more thorough explanation of basic background information on the previously stated information and topics and yet still remain in-depth when looking at specific aspects of mental health. They describe mental health, mental health problems, and mental illness in more detail and allow for the interpretation of others reading their work to help fuel o ne’s own judgments on those topics. I also used various sources to address other topics relevant to culture-bound syndromes. For example, Bernstein and Gaw specifically addressed Koro, which I used as an example of a culture-bound syndrome.Another example, Simon and Hughes addressed Latah, I felt it was necessary to use examples of both Koro and Latah to help show what culture-bound syndromes were exactly and what they meant to cultures that were not American and how the cultures that were affected by these syndromes. The method I used for identifying and locating sources mainly dealt with trying to find a broad aspect of culture-bound syndromes and basic information on this particular subject. The rationale for choosing the specific sources was along the lines of being able to find enough useable information that could allow me to get my points across.When searching the electronic databases and the library at Central Arkansas University I was mainly looking for a broad range of topics that could fulfill the various information needs I had for this paper. I wanted to look at the topic on multiple levels, including cross-cultural, the way culture-bound syndromes affect others, and the ways in which these disorders are specifically associated with mental illness. Analysis & Discussion The grouping of culture-bound syndromes into qualified diagnostic categories usually is based on a perception of their principal indicators.But the bigger issue itself of classifying a majority of symptoms is definitely challenging, as exemplified in the cases of Koro and Latah. Problems most definitely arose when conclusions were built on general, typical descriptions of the syndrome that are then linked with the textbook criteria of psychiatric diagnoses. The present method of studying the same set of readings and engaging in the classification process with them does not, from my viewpoint, promote the consideration of culture-bound syndromes.The approach of trying to find the right classificatory organization by basing it on the similarity between certain symptoms that include maybe one or two of the same grouping within the syndrome as well as the DSM groupings as the main organizing arrangement of significance to the culture-bound syndromes is not expected to produce new answers to the questions about the classification system. There are many syndromes that have different names that are seen from a variety of cultures that are basically the same set of behaviors, but culturally are explained in slightly different ways.Occasionally, on certain remote instances the arrangement of the behavior that is recognized as a culture-bound syndrome occurs in an area that is far from individuals where the termed and elaborated syndrome is an endemic. Conclusion & Recommendations Some major challenges that can help the classification system out is that the same distress responses may be stated differently as a result of cultural cues, language variances , and changes in experience.In addition, the American Psychiatric Association (1994) notes that some examples of cultural structuring and or human behavior knowledge regarding illnesses are stated in Western classification systems more commonly known as the DSM. Thus, the challenge to categorize culture bound syndromes, whether as diverse syndromes or as part of an already categorized illness, is an activity that is inseparably tied to a certain culture. Also it has been suggested the ways that cultures and their social methods can limit the expansion of an internationally valid system of identification.Guarnaccia and Rogler (1999) suggests that classification of culture-bound syndromes are better than recording symptoms due to the fact that examining the context and symbolic structure of cultural reactions yield a better turnout. The main themes of most discussions over culture-bound syndromes is that such illnesses personalize symptom patterns that are somewhat linked in some sign ificant way to the specific cultural setting in which they have occurred within.Because most of the syndromes are separate from the theoretical outlook of the Western medicine systems, they are quite often disregarded in serious analyses and therefore are carelessly overlooked for helpful mediations. These disorders appear to reside in a figurative twilight zone of psychiatric diagnosis and are viewed as highly mysterious. To nearly everyone, the behavior and outlooks common to one’s own culture seem natural and/or rational in most parts, while those derived from other cultures appear abnormal, culture-specific, or arising from irregular conditions.Most clinicians are more than likely to think through the justification of culture when presenting a patient’s problem, especially when he or she is from a cultural setting other than the clinician’s own. However, cultural factors are a considerable part of every disorder and expressive in the outlook of specific comp onents. Nonetheless, all psychiatric illnesses are culture bound to a certain degree. The divisions of psychiatric illnesses of culture-bound syndromes are those found only in inadequate cultural areas.Though culture does shape all illness behavior, it is always hypothetically informative to ask why any given syndrome appears to be present or not in a given culture. In recent years, the mindfulness of cultural diversity and of the role of culture in all illnesses has greatly been improved. Because of the interpretations into the relationships between individual psychopathology and culturally firm practices and beliefs that the study of culture-bound syndromes offers, an interest in these syndromes has grown greatly over the past several years.Health educators in dealing with culture-bound syndromes would be able to help Center for Disease Control officials in many aspects. Since culture-bound syndromes are very common among many cultures around the world, health educators who deal w ith particular syndromes could help assess and implement many programs that can help with assessing many syndromes that afflict many cultures throughout the world. In a classroom setting, health educators can teach students how to spot syndromes and treat them to an extent in which helps their particular culture, community or society.Health education programs that are implemented within colleges and universities can stress that culture-bound syndromes are very serious and need to be treated like any other mental health disease that we as educators deal with and try to diagnose every day. I believe that policies and procedures that are already implemented within our culture are doing a good job in trying to handle culture-bound syndromes. Educationally, I believe that there are definitely some great programs that try to help with identifying and dealing with culture-bound syndromes.References American Psychiatric Association (APA). 1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental D isorders, Fourth Edition: DSM-IV. Washington, DC. Bernstein, R. L. , & Gaw, A. C. (1990). Koro: proposed classification for DSM-IV. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 1670-1674. Guarnaccia, P. J. , & Rogler, L. H. (1999). Research on culture-bound syndromes: New directions. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(9), 1322-1327. Hall, T. M. (2008). Culture-bound syndromes in China. Retrieved from http://homepage. mac. com/mccajor/cbs. html LaVeist, T. A. , & Thomas, D. (2005). Mental health. In T. A. LaVeist (Ed. Minority populations and health: An introduction to health disparities in the United States (pp. 83-107). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Levine, R. E. , & Gaw, A. C. (1995). Culture-bound syndromes. Psychiatry Clinic North America, 18, 523-536. World Health Organization (WHO). (1992). International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10): Classification of mental and behavioral disorders. Geneva, Switzerland. Simons, R. C. , & Hughes, C. C. (1985 ). The culture-bound syndromes: Folk illnesses of psychiatric and anthropological interest. Dordrecht, Netherlands.

Multimedia1 essays

Multimedia1 essays 1.1 ALGUNAS CONCEPCIONES DE MULTIMEDIA Es una nueva plataforma donde se integran componentes para hacer ciertas tareas que proporcionan a los usuarios nuevas oportunidades de trabajo y acceso a nuevas tecnologà ­as. Es un nuevo medio, donde la computadora junto con los medios tradicionales dan una nueva forma de expresin. Es una nueva experiencia, donde la interaccin con los medios es radicalmente diferente y donde tenemos que aprender a cmo usarlos. Es una nueva industria en donde con una nueva plataforma, un nuevo medio y una nueva experiencia nos llevan a tener nuevas oportunidades de negocios. Cualquiera que sea la concepcin que tengamos sobre los multimedios, es indudable que ni las computadoras ni nuestras expectativas son las mismas. En 1945 Vannevar Bush en As we may think propuso que las computadoras deberà ­an usuarse como soporte del trabajo intelectual de los humanos; esta idea era bastante innovadora en aquellos dà ­as donde la computadora se consideraba como una mquina que hacà ­a clculos "devorando nà ºmeros". Bush dise una mquina llamada MEMEX (MEMory EXtension) que permitirà ­a el registro, la consulta y la manipulacin asociativa de las ideas y eventos acumulados en nuestra cultura; l describi a su sistema de la siguiente manera: "Considere un dispositivo para el uso individual, parecido a una biblioteca y un archivo mecanizado... donde el individuo pueda almacenar sus libros, registros y comunicaciones y que por ser mecanizado, puede ser consultado con rapidez y flexibilidad". Esta concepcin, que semeja la descripcin de una computadora personal actual, en el momento en que fue planteada no era factible construirse por cuestiones tecnolgicas y eventualmente fue olvidada. El sistema Memex, aunque nunca fue construà ­d...

buy custom Review of the Literature essay

buy custom Review of the Literature essay Every manager requires clean, reliable and accurate results and solutions for any kind of complex problem. Manager prefers scheduling and they predict that the scheduling will better the operational performance and give accurate on time performance. Researchers should not look forward to practitioners to implement models that dont take account of suitable protection cushions . In scheduling, when managers feel that if protection was not according to planning with careful consideration, managers assigned an additional time to each and separate task. In other words a manager gives concealed time to each task. In this regards, the managers have to bear the cost and they do not get much outcome from protection for which they are investing. Initializing was lost and slowness accumulates, which is a distinctive Parkinson outcome. Managers needs to consider the desires of the customers, Most of cases the customers desires for quick and earliest delivery of certain products then managers requires to make the efficient planning and re-scheduling to review the customers orders and try to complete on due date as much as possible. It may be helpful to plan dummy jobs as order holders for imperative developing work such as obliging significant customers, to keep away from the need to violate due dates of genuine customers. The optimal service level creates a great impact in the range of stochastic model. It is likely to become accustomed the notion of optimal service level (ability of service) to due date location, and to employ the similar model . Stochastic programming was appropriate for interpreting and carefully analyzes the acquisition plan from every perspective. Stochastic programming model was a combine mathematical model which actually reviews the strategies in order to make the environment certain and clear. It helps managers to allocate the resources with optimal decision and find out the great strategies which makes and environment clear. The managers of the company should categorize and make a effective decision to create a potential strategies in the business and wipe out the uncertainties which are creating troubles in the environment. The manager should rectify the uncertainties regarding Product demand, prices and technology and Walkup and Wets. Bloom elaborates this model and aimed for minimizing the overall cost which incurred at various steps of production and maintenance of any thing, by minimizing the cost the demand of each and every period should me met and it should not create a problem and removes all the constraints and the effectiveness and reliability of production and operations system should be enough high to maintain the company standards and industry capacity. Borisone described a stochastic programming model and gives the idea about the technology optimization in order to avoid the unnecessary cost which was incurring during the process and gives a betteramount of saving output within which a company can purchase more technologies in order to generate the effective production and avoid the uncertainties. The overall objective behind the process was to minimize the total cost which was incurring during the process and managers should enable the process which makes the system effective and ensuring that its will reduce the total cost and uncertainties in the environment. In past researches the researchers were only using the method of how to evaluate a optimization criteria to reduce the overall total cost, their focus was only on particularly reducing the cost and simultaneously they were not focus on the issue of reliability performance, in short they were ignoring that idea. Then they came to know that the best solutions and optimal scheduling policies require both the minimization of the cost as well as the reliability in the process. There were different factors and characteristics for both the cost and reliability and both characteristics were equally valuable for minimizing the cost function and optimizing the stochastic schedule. Sometimes when managers were trying for minimizing the cost they were also facing the problems of optimizing the stochastic scheduling and as well the reliability was also low. Then they analyzed that each process and components have their own different characteristics for cost functioning and optimizing the scheduling reliability. So in this regard for minimizing the cost function and increasing the operation performance requires equal efforts and both should be measured simultaneously. Dekker has reviewed the many articles on the concept of optimization models. The author has described the role of stochastic optimizing model and the reduction of overall discounted cost and also figures out those points which are actually creating hindrances in the optimizing schedule and cost reduction. The author has analyzed the broader scenario of optimization with the presentation of 54 articles and clearly focuses on the optimization and cost cutting process. Aven and Dekker described the conceptual notion behind the idea of optimization and applied a different analysis for the measurement of optimization frame work and cost minimization function and give a rational decision in order to overcome all the problems and presented a way to improve the reliability in the overall process. Goel represented a model and described the important ideas regarding the optimization model, the author also commented on the framework and design the way to identify the best optimal schedule and cost reduction function and applied this function to each and every step in order to increase the reliability on process. Raouf and Ben-Daya (1995) elaborated the strategic approach to define the optimization procedure and drives the idea that actually can remove the uncertainty from the environment and improves the performance of the overall proceess as well as the reliability and efficiency of the overall management process and designed approach which measure the whole effectiveness of the system and provide a methodology and areas of management that needs to be improved. An optimizing strategy describes different tasks and it emphasis that these tasks should be complete within given time frame at a minimum cost and review the current situations which specify some action to be followed by managers. Optimization strategy elaborates the tasks that should be assigned to staff and that should be completed at a gives time period and shows the effectiveness and reliability in the process. Lets suppose the strategy should properly implemented to a staff and remind them to be completed as soon as possible with the spending of less time and get a longest return in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. The optimal scheduling strategy should be well defined and minimize the cost duration of the work as much as possible and reflect a positive work while scheduling and reducing the overall discounted cost Neumann. The stochastic model describing more and more clarity about the task and utilization of the capacity and it helps to achieve the outcomes within due date and time. In stochastic scheduling the main interest was to create the efforts to utilize the maximum capacity and fulfill the requirements of the data. In order to meet the requirements of the data the variability in the process should be removed. The objective is optimal scheduling and cost reduction in process. Further, stochastic scheduling needs much more information to clarify more factors of the process and these factors leads to a maximum utilization of sources with less input of cost. The authentic way of optimizing the schedule will produce power full information about the system. To make this clear more, there should review the deterministic model and by reviewing this model the researcher can identify the variation in the process and by eliminating these variations the researcher can implement the model correctly and we can identify the uncertainty in the work and activities. In order to setting due dates and arranging and booking the requirements of the customer the time is necessary to be reviewed otherwise we can lose the reliability in the overall process Cheng T.C.E. Stochastic Scheduling related to main function of the expected reliability and cost calculation, the calculation of overall cost total cost which is incurred when tasks were assigned to team at specified due dates. The Stochastic programming and Robust Optimizing are main important factors of any process. The dissimilarity between both is very necessary each one is playing its own important role in activities and making the system better. Thus optimal scheduling is great tool and by using this researcher can achieve their goals and we can make the reliability in the system by completing the entire task on due time and date Buy custom Review of the Literature essay

Laws That Protect Your Right to Vote

Laws That Protect Your Right to Vote No American who is qualified to vote should ever be denied the right and opportunity to do so. That seems so simple. So basic. How can government by the people work if certain groups of the people are not allowed to vote? Unfortunately, in our nations history, some people have been, either intentionally or unintentionally, denied their right to vote. Today, four federal laws, all enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice, work in concert to ensure that all Americans are allowed to register to vote and enjoy an equal opportunity to cast a ballot on election day. Preventing Racial Discrimination in Voting For many years some states enforced laws clearly intended to prevent minority citizens from voting. Laws requiring voters to pass reading or intelligence tests, or pay a poll-tax denied the right to vote the most basic right in our form of democracy to untold thousands of citizens until the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Also See: How to Report Voter Rights Violations The Voting Rights Act protects every American against racial discrimination in voting. It also ensures the right to vote to people for whom English is a second language. The Voting Rights Act applies to elections for any political office or ballot issue held anywhere in the nation. Most recently, the federal courts have used the Voting Rights Act to end practices amounting to racial discrimination in the way some states elected their legislative bodies, and chose their election judges and other polling place officials. Voter Photo ID Laws Twelve states now have laws requiring voters to show some form of photo identification in order to vote, with about 13 more considering similar laws. The federal courts are currently struggling to decide whether some or all of these laws violate the Voting Rights Act. More states moved to adopt photo ID voting laws in 2013, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Voting Rights Act did not allow the U.S. Department of Justice to automatically apply federal oversight of new election laws in states with histories of racial discrimination. While supporters of photo voter ID laws argue that they help prevent voter fraud, critics like the American Civil Liberties Union, cite studies showing that up to 11% of Americans lack an acceptable form of photo ID. Persons most likely to not have acceptable photo ID include minorities, elderly and disabled persons, and financially disadvantaged persons. State photo voter ID laws come in two forms: strict and non-strict. In strict photo ID law states, voters without an accepted form photo ID – driver’s license, state ID, passport, etc. are not allowed to cast a valid ballot. Instead, they are allowed to fill out â€Å"provisional† ballots, which remain uncounted until they are able to produce an accepted ID. If the voter does not produce a an accepted ID within a short period of time after the election, their ballot is never counted. In non-strict photo ID law states, voters without an accepted form photo ID are allowed to use alternative types of validation, such as signing an affidavit swearing to their identification or having a poll worker or election official vouch for them. In August 2015, a federal appeals court ruled that a Texas strict voter ID law discriminated against black and Hispanic voters and thus violated the Voting Rights Act. One of the strictest in the nation, the law required voters to produce a Texas driver’s license; U.S. passport; a concealed-handgun permit; or an election identification certificate issued by the State Department of Public Safety. While the Voting Rights Act still prohibits states from enacting laws intended to disenfranchise minority voters, whether photo ID laws do so or not, remains to be determined by the courts. Gerrymandering Gerrymandering is the process of employing the process of â€Å"apportionment† to improperly redraw the boundaries of state and local election districts in a way that tends to predetermine the results of elections by diluting the voting power of certain groups of people. For example, gerrymandering has been used in the past to â€Å"break up† election districts populated by mainly black voters, thus lessening the chances of black candidates being elected to local and state offices. Unlike photo ID laws, gerrymandering almost always violates the Voting Rights Act, because it typically targets minority voters. Equal Access to the Polls for Disabled Voters Approximately 1 in five eligible American voters has a disability. Failing to provide disabled persons easy and equal access to polling places is against the law. The  Help America Vote Act of 2002  requires the states to ensure that voting systems, including voting machines and ballots, and polling places are accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, the law require that assistance at the polling place is available to people with limited English skills. As of Jan. 1, 2006, every voting precinct in the nation is required to have at least one voting machine available and accessible to persons with disabilities. Equal access is defined as providing persons with disabilities the same opportunity for participation in voting, including privacy, independence and assistance, afforded other voters. To help in evaluating a precincts compliance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the Justice Department provides this handy  checklist for polling places. Voter Registration Made Easy The National Voter Registration Act of 1993, also called the Motor Voter law, requires all states to offer voter registration and assistance at all offices where people apply for drivers licenses, public benefits or other government services. The law also prohibits the states from removing voters from the registration rolls simply because they have not voted. The states are also required to ensure the timeliness of their voter registration rolls by regularly removing voters who have died or moved. Our Soldiers Right to Vote The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act of 1986 requires the states to ensure that all members of the U.S. armed forces who are stationed away from home, and citizens who are living overseas, can register and vote absentee in federal elections.

TESTING A TOOL(FORM) FOR HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS TO PREVENT DVT Essay

TESTING A TOOL(FORM) FOR HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS TO PREVENT DVT - Essay Example Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are the main components of VTE. According to Kahn, et al, 2007, such symptomatic events are seen in medical patients that make up sixty percent of all hospital admissions. These thromboembolic events are preventable and the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) constantly provides guidelines on the basis of updated evidence on the prevention of VTE (Kahn, et al, 2007). The latest guidelines from ACCP recommend the use of thromboprophylaxis options in the prevention of VTE among patients with moderate to high risk for VTE. There is strong scientific evidence supported by solid principles in the use of thromboprohylaxis as recommended by ACCP. Many of the hospitalized patients have one or more risk factors for VTE, which are usually cumulative. In the absence of any prophylaxis, objective evidence suggests that between ten to forty percent of patients admitted for medical illnesses or general surgery and forty to sixty percen t of those patients admitted for orthopedic surgery develop VTE. This gives strength to the relevance of thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients (Geerts, et al, 2004). However, Arnold, Kahn, and Shrier, 2001, claim that in spite of ACCP guidelines encouraging the use of thromboprophylaxis in the prevention of VTE, these guidelines are not always followed leading to the occurrence of VTE. Furthermore the inadequacy seen in the use of prophylaxis stems quite often from omission of prophylaxis (Arnold, Kahn & Shrier, 2001). The ACCP guidelines recommend the use of prophylaxis in the prevention of VTE, to reduce the mortality and morbidity of patients hospitalized for surgical procedures and medical illness. Yet, there is inadequacy in the use of prophylaxis in the prevention of VTE, which frequently is due to omission on the part of the physicians. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an

Carter's Way of Knowing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Carter's Way of Knowing - Research Paper Example Ways of knowing are most apparent in situations where western notions regarding the attainment of information and knowledge comes into close contact and interaction with indigenous ways of knowing. Differences in the approaches that these two apply makes it possible to discern the significance of ways of knowing and its impacts on what is believed to be true in various societies around the world. This paper seeks to identify and discuss the theoretical basis of the conceptual theoretical framework of Carter’s Way of Knowing. Each discipline has a recognized body of knowledge that is specific to that particular subject and its content with regard to its domain or area of study. In each discipline, there is the aspect of knowing or being informed about the subject matter of interest, and this is what is referred to as conceptual knowledge or having the know-how about a particular discipline. According to Carter (2007), this is what is referred to as active ways of knowing or pro cedural knowledge that is related to the discipline of interest. Carter (2007) postulates that the notion of disciplinary ways of doing things is linked to the discipline-specific ways of knowing and the concomitant skills of writing within and across disciplines. Carter calls this bridging the outside/in gap and this can be contextualized by analysing relationships in ways of knowing. The relationship among knowing, writing and doing that is veiled by the disciplinary focus on conceptual knowledge (Munhall, 2011). The middle term that links writing and knowing is doing in the disciplines, which makes it challenging to reframe these disciplines as ways of knowing, writing and doing (Bonis, 2009). To achieve this entails finding a means of describing these aspects in convincing terms with regard to the ways of doing that characterize these disciplines. Research studies have indicated that to know and be able to do through the use of outcome based statements, there emerges certain way s of doing that are repeated in general terms across a variety of disciplines. Examples of these outcome-based statements are illustrated in response to academic learning situations that call for problem solving, performance, research, and for empirical inquiry (Munhall, 2011). Evidence from research has also established that despite similarities in ways of knowing across disciplines, there exist significant differences that enable the identification of discipline-specific ways of knowing. This revelation was achieved by analysing the different types of written activities that test participants’ produced as a requirement for the study. Ways of knowing in nursing offers a guidance and direction to holistic ad well rounded research, education and practice for health care givers (Bonis, 2009). According to Munhall (2011), Carter’s ways of knowing can be applied in nursing research from diverse epistemological perspectives that enhance the appropriateness and effectiveness of evidence based practice. Carter’s ways of knowing get their significance when they are applied to hope research with regard to grieved palliative health care givers with the ultimate objective of promoting positive outcomes and health (Meleis, 2011). Bereaved health care givers involved with palliative patients are characterized by having unmet necessities that

The Most Effective Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Most Effective Government - Essay Example The most effective government fulfills its purpose. As it has been stated, â€Å"government exists to control: to govern means ‘to control’† (Janda et al, n.d; p.9). At first glance all governments seem to fit this definition. However, additional considerations must be given to determine if a government is truly effective. If the government only exists to enforce control over society, then people have little reason to submit themselves to being ruled. Government must offer benefits to society in order for it to truly fulfill its purpose. It has been reported that, â€Å"throughout history, government has served two major purposes: maintaining order (preserving life and protecting property) and providing public goods. More recently, some governments have pursued a third purpose, promoting equality, which is more controversial† (Janda et al. n.d; p.9). The purpose of government as so described can be used to determine if a government is effective. Therefore, effective government will be successful in fulfilling all of its purpose as has been described. Democracy can be considered the most effective government because it is most successful in maintaining order, providing public goods, and promoting equality. The Ability to Maintaining Order Communism is marked by a â€Å"disappearance of civil, political, and economic rights† (Sanchez 2010:p.1). People that live in such countries are not free. Having no rights, they become ordinary gears in the clockwork of society. By this it would seem that communism is a form of government that is the most effective in maintaining order. Yet, where there is order there should also be peace. Where people are oppressed, there are limits to their peace. Due to the oppression that is characteristic of communist governments a government which offers more liberty better fulfils this requirement. As it has been stated, â€Å"A free society requires a citizenry that is capable of taking personal responsibility for bettering their lot, and voluntarily promoting and protecting public goods such as education, health, public order, peace, and justice† (Thunder, 2009). According to this statement democracy, with its promotion of free society is better equipped to fulfill the require ment of maintaining order by design. The maintenance of this government requires the existence of public order and peace. Such is not the case with communism. Providing Public Goods Communist countries demand work from their citizens. Many have laws that call for the imprisonment of any citizen who fails to maintain a job. The people’s work may aid in the continuation of existence and maintenance of their countries, but there is much lacking in the governmental provision of public goods. It has been reported of communist North Korea that â€Å"due to the nature of it being a tightly controlled police State, very little information leaves the country about the daily life of those who live there† (International Christian Concern 2010). Communist governments maintain a tight grip on the lives of their people. To the communist government, whatever provisions they allot the people are sufficient. However, it is clear that this government fails to supply adequate public good s to its people. In fact, communist governments have been identified as purposefully oppressing their people in order to further their own interests. It has been told that, â€Å"†¦North Korea seems confident its long-suffering people –battered by famine, floods, and economic mismanagement – will continue to suffer in silence† (Magnier 2006). Having failed to provide for the people adequately, democracy has won over communism in fulfilling the purpose of government. While poverty may be found in democratic countries such as America,

Undertake a suitable critical environmental audit for a well known Essay - 2

Undertake a suitable critical environmental audit for a well known Western brand considering entering Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The macro environment refers to the factors in the nation within which the business seeks to operate. Henry (2008) states that macro environmental audit is mainly about the factors that affect entire population of the whole country within which the organisation operates. The main tool for this is PESTEL. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by a king. The current king, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was enthroned in August 2005. Ever since he came into power, he has sought to make reforms to a nation that was mainly ran by the Royal family and the religious elite who ruled according to strict Islamic codes and systems (Ramady, 2010). There are reforms that are being made to enable people to take part in governance. Also, the reforms aim to cut down on government interference in the economy. However, due to the central and exemplary role that Saudi Arabia plays in the Arab and Muslim world, the reforms are being practiced at a very slow pace. Governance at all levels are controlled and affected by members of the Royal family (The House of Sauds) and their agents and representatives. Also, the religious elites are very powerful and they have a lot of say in the policies of the nation, which remains for strategic and international purposes, influenced mainly by Sharia. The Saudi economy is based on the export of crude oil. Saudi Arabia’s GDP stood at US$622.5 billion in 2010 (CIA World Factbook). The main authority in charge of the regulation of the financial sector is the Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency, which is the Central Bank. Taxes are collected by the Department of Zakat and Income Tax. Income tax is levied on non-Saudi individuals and entities. Saudi Arabian citizens and entities are normally exempt from taxation. Also, most non-Saudi individual salaries and employment benefits are tax-free (SaudiNet). It is only professional foreigners and foreign investment income that

Multiculturalism in Democratic European Countries Essay

Multiculturalism in Democratic European Countries - Essay Example Managing diversity in democratic European countries has several issues to address. Similar to Africa, Europe is not a monumental space. It is a rich and abundant continent occasionally divided by history into several fragments, languages, and cultures. Furthermore, similar to African societies, European democratic societies, in their distant past or recent history, have been faced by the same concern: discovering the most suitable form of government to guarantee respect for minority rights, at the same time as supporting the determination to live together. The implementation of democracy and legitimacy as ideals rising above multiculturalism, the execution of protection systems for minorities and regionalization and decentralization strategies have aided in addressing the concern, mitigate conflicts and build an established and secure Europe. However, there is still some form of tension that persists in Europe and there is still development to be initiated in particular democratic so cieties where groups continue to experience discrimination in education, employment, and housing (Kymlicka 2001). The concern of diversity management emerges increasingly in terms of the assimilation of migrants. Democratic European countries have had various experiences in the issue, frequently affected by the manner in which these societies themselves were established as nations. It can be noted that the boundary between these various models is not, though, watertight. Beyond the various frameworks, the same problems continue everywhere in terms of the assimilation of migrants into public economic life. The outcome is that numerous of the youth descending from immigrants have more and more problematic in acknowledging a life of social, educational and professional failure. There is hence an urgent necessity to form the appropriate conditions for migrants to break out from a social life constricted to the boundaries of ethnic communities and have access to an opportunity of genuine participation in the life of democratic European societies (Lisbon Forum 2005).  Ã‚  

Undertake a suitable critical environmental audit for a well known Essay - 2

Undertake a suitable critical environmental audit for a well known Western brand considering entering Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The macro environment refers to the factors in the nation within which the business seeks to operate. Henry (2008) states that macro environmental audit is mainly about the factors that affect entire population of the whole country within which the organisation operates. The main tool for this is PESTEL. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy ruled by a king. The current king, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was enthroned in August 2005. Ever since he came into power, he has sought to make reforms to a nation that was mainly ran by the Royal family and the religious elite who ruled according to strict Islamic codes and systems (Ramady, 2010). There are reforms that are being made to enable people to take part in governance. Also, the reforms aim to cut down on government interference in the economy. However, due to the central and exemplary role that Saudi Arabia plays in the Arab and Muslim world, the reforms are being practiced at a very slow pace. Governance at all levels are controlled and affected by members of the Royal family (The House of Sauds) and their agents and representatives. Also, the religious elites are very powerful and they have a lot of say in the policies of the nation, which remains for strategic and international purposes, influenced mainly by Sharia. The Saudi economy is based on the export of crude oil. Saudi Arabia’s GDP stood at US$622.5 billion in 2010 (CIA World Factbook). The main authority in charge of the regulation of the financial sector is the Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency, which is the Central Bank. Taxes are collected by the Department of Zakat and Income Tax. Income tax is levied on non-Saudi individuals and entities. Saudi Arabian citizens and entities are normally exempt from taxation. Also, most non-Saudi individual salaries and employment benefits are tax-free (SaudiNet). It is only professional foreigners and foreign investment income that

Corporate Social Responsibility Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Corporate Social Responsibility - Research Paper Example Increased attention to CSR has been enhanced by the need for environmental protection, need for better corporate governance, globalization and intergovernmental bodies such as the United Nations which have made various declarations on human rights and environmental protection. Factors of corporate social responsibility can be categorized in to both environmental and social factors. Environmental stewardship includes the need of efficient utilization of natural resources like water, reduction in energy consumption and recycling of waste materials. This will also include the need to avoid environmental pollution like carbon emissions and toxic waste in the environment (Jamali, Safieddine & Rabbath 850). Social factors include the respect and promotion of human rights, labor rights and ensuring diversity in employment. Other factors include community involvement in development projects like building schools and health care facilities. Anti-bribery practices and supplier relations are also cornerstones of corporate social responsibility (Sabir, Ahmed, Zaidi & Kalyar 14). The company is committed to efficient utilization of all natural resources in all locations of operations. The company will be able to conserve limited natural resources which are also shared with the community. The company is committed to using clean manufacturing technologies that save natural resources and reduce carbon emissions and toxic waste in the environment. This will ensure clean environments and reduction of emission-related diseases. The company is committed to respecting all employees’ rights and offering equal employment opportunities. This will promote diversity, equal employment opportunities and fair dismissals in the workplace. Corporate sustainability is concerned with the long term social and economic expectations of the stakeholders. The basics of sustainability in CSR include continual improvement, compliance with regulatory

Classification and Format in the Income Statement Essay Example for Free

Classification and Format in the Income Statement Essay Investors commonly assess a firm’s value based on the firm’s expected future sustainable earnings stream. To inform analysts and other financial statement users about sustainable earnings, firms often report income from recurring business activities separately from income effects from unusual or nonrecurring activities (such as asset impairments, restructuring, discontinued business segments, and extraordinary events). To provide more useful information for prediction, U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) requires that the income statement include some or all of the following sections or categories depending on the nature of the firm’s income for a period: †¢Income from Continuing Operations. Reports the revenues and expenses of activities in which a firm anticipates an ongoing involvement. When a firm does not have items in the second and third categories of income in a particular year, all of its income items are related to continuing operations; so it does not need to use the continuing operations label. Firms report their expenses in various ways. Most firms in the United States report expenses by their function: cost of goods sold for manufacturing, selling expenses for marketing, administrative expenses for administrative management, and interest expense for financing. Other firms, particularly those in the European Community, tend to report expenses by their nature: raw materials, compensation, advertising, and research and development. †¢Income from Discontinued Operations. A firm that intends to remain in a line of business but decides to sell or close down some portion of that line (such as closing a single plant or dropping a line of products) generally will report any income, gain, or loss from such an action under continuing operations. On the other hand, if a firm decides to terminate its involvement in a line of business (such as selling or shuttering an entire division or subsidiary), it will report the income, gain, or loss in the second section of the income statement, labeled â€Å"Income, Gains, and Losses from Discontinued Operations.† †¢Extraordinary Gains and Losses. Extraordinary gains and losses arise from events that are (1) unusual given the nature of a firm’s activities, (2) nonrecurring, and (3) material in amount. Corporate annual reports rarely disclose such items. Many firms have reported restructuring charges and impairment losses in their income statements in recent years. Such items often reflect the write-down of assets or the recognition of liabilities arising from changes in economic conditions and corporate strategies. Because restructuring charges and impairment losses do not usually satisfy the criteria for discontinued operations or extraordinary items, firms report them in the continuing operations section of the income statement. If the amounts are material, they appear on a separate line to distinguish them from recurring income items. Income, gains, and losses from discontinued operations and extraordinary gains and losses appear in the income statement net of any income tax effects. The majority of published income statements include only the first section because discontinued operations and extraordinary gains and losses occur infrequently.

Production And Operations Management Information Technology Essay

Production And Operations Management Information Technology Essay As Purchasing Manager for Grandiose Motors, I have endeavored towards continuous critical evaluation of the existing processes and policies that has impact on the daily operations, with the purpose of promoting efficiency, reducing costs and further improving the performance of Grandiose Motors. This report aims to give solutions to the challenges faced by Grandiose due to its growth, of purchasing and availability of service parts and materials which play a significant role in its operation and sustainability of the business. This report attempts to critically evaluate the process and submit recommendations for approval of the management. It will also highlight the significance of purchasing and inventory management policies and procedures and introduce the concept of supply chain management as solution to operation challenges and strategies as well as performance management in terms of deliverables and service levels of Grandiose Motors to its stakeholders most especially to its cu stomers. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 1.1 Aims 2.0 Background: Grandiose Motors 3.0 Critical Evaluation of the current Purchasing and Inventory Function for Grandiose Motors Dealership network 3.1 Restructure Processing and Inventory Function 4.0 Recommendations TASK 1: Recommendations with respect to structuring the purchasing and inventory functions: SCM Implementation at Grandiose Motors Business Operation Supply Chain Management Purchasing and Inventory Management Policies and Procedures TASK 2: Recommendations for different purchasing and inventory management policies for purchase of different types of service parts and materials TASK 3: Supply Chain and Inventory management concepts designed to reduce Investment and space requirements and maintaining adequate service levels of Grandiose Motors Solution to reduce Investment and Space requirements Performance Management and Service Levels Grandiose Motors: Operational Strategies and its Implication SCM professionals or SCM consultant or practitioner Using SCM ERP Packages 5.0 Conclusion 6.0 List of References Introduction Grandiose Motors is foreseeing that the sustainability of its successful performance and efficient service is to manage its current challenges -ensuring availability of service parts and materials and finding a solution to facilities and warehouse space requirements to accommodate the growth of Grandiose Motorss business. To sustain the companys growth, impending challenges for the company have been identified and the need to address them has been raised. 1.1 Aim This report is made to critically evaluate current processes involved in the operation and suggest some recommendations to address the forthcoming challenges. An idea and the perception from industry practices that Supply Chain Management solves inventory and warehousing concern for business operations, is an option that Grandiose Motors desire to explore. This paper will provide an overview of how Supply chain can help business operations as well as solving the current challenges of the company. 2.0 Background: Grandiose Motors Grandiose Motors was established 15 years ago, starting from one office it has grown to its fourth automotive dealership. Grandiose Motors is involved in automobile sales and after sales servicing. Managing four automotive dealerships and catering to over a million consumers requires hard work, consistency in customer service and continuous improvement to ensure sustainability of the business. The automotive dealership of Grandiose Motors operated autonomously wherein only one car make is being sold and serviced. The business was started with the acquisition of the Mitsubishi dealership; after over a decade it had already acquired two more and now it is on its fourth dealership, the company is now going beyond being synomomous with one car make. The new dealership is his first auto supermarket where they sell multiple car makes. This includes Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. The success of Grandiose Motors is attributed to three interdependent key factors. First is volume, second is its marketing methodology hassle-free buying experience and lastly, its solid reputation for after sales service. These three factors are cyclic by nature, the high volume of sales pertains to availability of choices of cars and car makes, then the buying experience entices customers to make their purchases at Grandiose Motors and of course, all cars purchases are maintained to ensure its usability and this is done through after sales service- like diagnosing repairs, timely and efficient service and outstanding customer experience. Grandiose Motors is banking on these performance indicators as their solid foundation for their customers. They have gained the confidence of their buyers, thus, they are known as a reliable car sales dealer and have outstanding after sales support and servicing. 3.0 Critical Evaluation of the current Purchasing and Inventory Function for Grandiose Motors Dealership network Currently, the purchasing and inventory function of the four dealership network of Grandiose Motors follows that they purchase their own service parts and materials. Grandiose is following decentralized purchasing policy where each dealership is buying their inventory independently. It leads to higher costs and more time for managing inventory at each dealership. Centralized purchasing policy helps in better control over inventory investment, space, quantity and cash discounts and assures uniformity in quality and reduces overlap and duplication of purchasing effort. Grandiose is not profiting from these advantages of centralized purchase policy, (Ng Lam 1991). Supplies forecasts are based on historical demand data since service and material requirements are based on seasonality factors. These seasonality factors are based on weather during the winter there are high requirement for batteries while during summer there are high demands for air-conditioner parts. On the other hand, during autumn there are high requirements for antifreeze. In addition, Grandiose Motors may have seasonal promotion for vehicle sales and its services; therefore there will be demands for service parts and materials. Grandiose is not managing inventory risk associated with seasonal products effectively. By using a pull contract it can get discount on the prices as well as the inventory risk will be upon the supplier rather than the retailer during the season, whereas the risk will be with the retailer before the season (Cachon 2004). Due to different car models and car make sold by Grandiose Motors, there is a demand for service parts and materials for each kind and model. On the other hand, there are various types that should be maintained and kept available. The supplies are used to service vehicles and some are sold to consumers over the counter. Parts suppliers are the car manufacturers and certified wholesale to maintain authenticity. There are various suppliers for oils, lubricants and fan belts. The treatment of these two types of purchasing should be different as the demand, procurement, type of suppliers and inventory and storage is totally different. For example high inventory has to be maintained for rapidly moving parts, where as small inventory for slow moving parts (Duft 2010). And also the purchasing should be centralized for products like oils, lubricants and fan belts where as for genuine spare parts it can be centralized (Bossart et al. 2007). Grandiose is able to maintain hassle free buying experience as well as outstanding customer servicing, by ensuring lowered cost concept, service and repair using the right parts and repairs at the right time as well as reliable after-sales servicing. This key performance policy might not be sustainable in the future as the company is handling various spare parts of different automobiles and if the current policy is not changed about how it handles the procurement, inventory and storage of the different parts, cost will definitely increase because they are not using effective ways like placing the rapid moving parts in such a way that they are easily available to the employees for restocking, using mechanical means to handle and movie stock. This will decrease the labor cost and time (Duft 2010). 3.1 Restructure Processing and Inventory Function From the above critical evaluation of the current inventory process it is apparent that Grandiose needs restructuring of its inventory processing function. Grandiose Motors is growing, the company wants to make sure that the business operation will continue through enhanced customer experience and sustainability of the companys after-sales service and support. The proper use of storage space for inventory is also crucial because space is costly and with the new dealership acquisition investment finances, space and facility support are over stretched. In addition to this, financial resources on hand is depleted in every business investments. It can be said that restructuring and purchasing and inventory supply chain management will address these operation at constraints. Recommendations Based on the above critical evaluation the following recommendations are being suggested for Grandiose Inventory management with relations to the different tasks or forthcoming challenges. TASK 1: Recommendation with respect to structuring the purchasing and inventory functions: SCM Implementation at Grandiose Motors Business Operation Supply Chain Management. Supply Chain Management (SCM) can solve its current challenges in space, supplies and finances. As supply chain pertains to strategic and systemic coordination of all business factions for an organization with the purpose of efficiency and long-term performance improvement, SCM is the best option for Grandiose Motors. This includes products, services, finances and information from one source to the other within the chain of operation and down to the consumer or end user. The entire purpose of SCM is to create value for the company and the consumer (Jespersen Skjott-Larsen 2005). SCM can be used as a competitive strategy which integrates suppliers and customers; also it reduces response time and creates flexibility (Irfan, Xiaofei Chun 2008). Figure 1. Source: Jespersen Skjott-Larsen ( 2005), p. ) The above model illustrates the Supply Chain Management cycle in terms of planning specific to the requirement of the organization (Jespersen Skjott-Larsen 2005). Following this model, the initial step is to identify the operation strategic requirements efficiency in investment, supplies procurement and space requirements. 1. Supply Chain and Process Mapping This is the planning part where the CEO and Grandiose Motors management team will brainstorm and define the strategies and directions. The purpose is to identify the required supply chain capabilities and gaps appropriate to solve the operation challenges. As of this time, it has been earlier identified that the challenges involve investment, supplies procurement and space requirements. 2. Data Gathering and categorization Though meetings, discussion and interviews, data are gathered and documents are checked for the data sources; like reports, suppliers lists, demand reports, product inventory, infrastructure, warehouse distribution and expenses and others. 3. Analysis and Validation Data gathered will be analyzed and the SCM model will be recommended. This model will include cost, warehouse, distribution and inventory for supplies and materials. Validation will be done by finance and management. Findings and results and possible issues will be identified from sample data and the model. Recommendations will be presented to get the approval of CEO and the management in order to design the solution model. 4. Solution Design and Recommendation The Supply Chain simulation model will be presented. This is the model designed specifically to address challenges and operation of Grandiose Motors. In addition to this, an optimal chain model will present the financial impact. 5. Implementation Plan Based on the recommendation the solution that will be implemented for Grandiose motors will be presented. Details of the task, the resources, suppliers, accountability, structure and timeline will be included. Implementation or Output will carry out a Solution Implementation Plan. This will detail out the task, the resource, the involved party or partners and the time frame. The simulation plan will present opportunities and gaps in order to come up with a specific solution. See illustrations below. Sample Supply Chain Simulation Figure 2. Saurce: Jespersen and Skjott-Larsen (2005, p. ) Purchasing and Inventory Management Policies and Procedures Purchasing and inventory management policies and procedures will differ depending on the processes and policies of the respective supplier in the Supply Chain. With the SCM, these differences can be minimized since industries and suppliers are now familiar with efficiency and systematic process. Purchasing and inventory management ensures physical control and layout of key areas of operation. This manages the different procedures with third parties and other partners essential to availability and procurement of supplies and parts. This would cover forecasting and replenishment strategies, quantity calculation and inventory systems (Muller 2003). TASK 2: Recommendations for different purchasing and inventory management policies for purchase of different types of service parts and materials In the case of Grandiose Motors, the four dealership networks are managing various car make and models and this would entail different suppliers for materials and parts. This would have various differences in policies and procedures like purchasing policy, delivery time, demand, schedule and methods, forecasting, order placement, payment settlement and return policies and others. With regard to servicing, Grandiose Motors is supporting genuine parts for different car makes and models are which are being supplied by authorized dealers and wholesalers. And it is also selling over the counter products like oil, lubricants and fans. Also it has certain spare parts whose demand is only seasonal. For Grandiose Motors, the company and its Purchasing department has already established a system to manage this inventory and purchasing system. However, due to the business growth, changes in operation as well ensuring continuity of supplies and parts procurement in the future, it has to reduce p rocuring and inventory costs by having a different policy for different products. Following are the recommendations. 1. Using a pull contract and an advance-purchase discount system for procuring seasonal parts. A pull contract has a single wholesale price, and the supplier bears the supply chains inventory risk because only the supplier holds inventory while the retailer replenishes as needed during the season (Cachon 2004). Advance -purchase system will give a discounted price for inventory purchased before the season, and a regular price for replenishments during the selling season thus it has two wholesale prices. Also the risk allocation will be with the retailer for parts ordered before the season and for the parts replenished during the season risk will be with the supplier (Cachon 2004). 2. Maintaining high level of inventories for rapid moving parts like oil, lubricants and fans and low inventories for slow moving parts or genuine parts which are required only at the time of servicing (Duft 2010). 3. Decentralizing purchasing policy for servicing parts and centralizing for over the counter sales spare parts (Bossart et al. 2007). 4. Rearranging the sales area and storage area in such a way that rapidly moving parts are easily picked and restocked by the employees using mechanical means for storing and moving parts. Using storage space interchangeably, with seasonal parts (Duft 2010). 5. Using JIT -Just in time inventory for rapid moving and over the counter sales for parts like oil, lubricants and fans which are easily available and have a large number of suppliers. JIT reduces inventory cost as firms have to incur costs and interest for holding inventories (Morgan 1991) TASK 3: Supply Chain and Inventory management concepts designed to reduce Investment and space requirements and maintaining adequate service levels of Grandiose Motors. A. Solution to reduce Investment and Space requirements INVESTMENT Efficiency in savings The solution for investment is settled through review of all processes and ensuring efficiency and eliminating redundant process. This ensures cost minimization and ensures savings for the company. Minimize paper transactions and the use of recycled papers for receiving papers and documents is recommended. This will ensure savings on office supplies costs. SPACE REQUIREMENT Central Warehouse The locations of the four dealership network may have significant differences, however the company has to strategically situate a central warehouse for the four dealerships as it is more cost efficient. The 45 minute to an hour drive is better than renting expensive warehouse spaces. In addition, proper scheduling of supplies and parts replenishing will ensure that a proper inventory system is in place. The following will be involved transportation of company moving trucks, warehouse people and warehouse department, database in place for inventory and order system, central warehouse. B. Performance Management and Service Levels The above recommendations automation, paper-less transactions, process efficiency and other cost reduction measures for Grandiose Motors will ensure savings on investment. Since there is no need to avail on expensive warehouse spaces, the company will save more to use the investment in purchasing supplies and supporting system automation and database software. The Central Warehouse may be located in one of the network dealerships or in the main office of Grandiose Motors; this will just be an additional facility and will not require additional start up investment. Service levels and performance management are measured through the companys key performance indicators. These are measurable objectives to ensure that the performance of the company is able to attain its target and measure the savings and cost of the organization (Muller 2003). The service level for Grandiose Motors is determined by various factors such as servicing turn around time, timely availability of supplies and par ts for different dealership network, sales and volume, distribution and inventory. Below is the sample transport and packaging process model followed by Toyota Motors which illustrates the model to follow and ensures that each process is documented and all are aware of the system (Iyer, Seshadri , Vasher 2009). Toyota Figure 3. C. Grandiose Motors: Operational Strategies and its Implication By Following SCM concepts, best sources and sustainability of the business is ensured through proper sourcing of suppliers, planning of warehouse and savings efficiency in processes to manage investment finances. The forecasted implication would be a change in operation. For effective management of inventory and to meet the changing demand and supply trends of the market, it is essential to develop a SCM which is responsive to the dynamic business environment so as to profit from the new opportunities in the market (Leà ³n Peà ±a 2008). D. SCM professionals or SCM consultant or practitioner Grandiose Motors should employ the services of consultants or third party professionals expert with Supply Chain management and familiar in the Automobile dealership, servicing and supply procurement. SCM can be outsourced at Grandiose Motors. E. Using SCM ERP Packages ERP packages are used to substitute traditional separate SCM into an integrated suite for a new business model resulting in a compact flow of information through the enterprise. It helps in automation of SCM updation, inventory control, reporting, ordering, and scheduling, (Wu Kao ,2006). 5.0 Conclusion Supply chain management is a system that is implemented to an organization to ensure improved performance. For organizations that are new to this model and application, this may be change that has to be managed. Management has a significant role in ensuring that the plan and implementation of the SCM model has been carried out. With the growth of a business, the entire organization should understand the direction of the company and that the quality measures through SCM and efficiency in processes should be encouraged. This paper proposed recommendations for the improvement in terms of resolving the current challenges in investment, space and supplies procurement. In addition to this the benefits and implication to business of SCM concept has been discussed.

Electronics :: essays research papers

Electronics The invention of the microprocessor in 1971 was a huge milestone that eventually changed everyone's everyday lives. This invention enabled the world to own a personal computer in their home as well as their office. People were able to work more efficiently and progressively with these new electronic devices.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Electronics today provides the world with an infinite amount of information at a much faster speed than that information would ever have been available before. The American public is dependent on the usage of many electronics in their lives such as the television, audio receivers, and amplifiers to stay updated on world-wide issues. Electronics also provide a superior tool for progression in the business world today. Business people rely on electronics to communicate with each other faster and to store and quickly organize vast amounts of essential data.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Electronics are improving at a blindingly fast rate. The newest technology from five years ago is literally obsolete today. Electronics are also being used for new purposes continuously. The Internet, or World Wide Web, is a relatively new concept of being â€Å"on-line†. This new project has opened a limitless number of doors for our society. Now anyone can use the Internet to communicate with anybody else in the world a lot faster and cheaper. Cellular phones have also appeared recently in the electronic world. These devices allow a person to be reached from practically anywhere. With cellular phones a person can, from then on, be in communication with the world no matter where they go.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the next generation, electronics will certainly offer new yet simpler technology available to the general public. Home addresses and phone numbers will be replaced with Internet addresses. Business people will be able to have access to tools such as video conferencing and such in their homes. The workplace will ultimately become obsolete. Transportation vehicles will be dominated by electric cars as natural gas supplies decline around the globe. New procedures for creating power will be found and utilized. The current and upcoming advances in technology will create a steady rise of the progression of the everyday living experience.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I plan to enroll in a very prestigious university after high school and major in electrical engineering. I plan to contribute my time during my studies toward new possible designs of electronics and technology. I realize that innovative minds are the backbone of the direction technology will take and,

Porter’s five forces Essay

Michael E Porter developed the Porter’s five forces analysis in 1979 which serves as a framework for industry analysis and business strategy development. Its five forces determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of a market. Attractiveness in this context refers to the overall industry profitability. Three of Porter’s five forces refer to competition from external sources. The remainder are internal threats. It is useful to use Porter’s five forces in conjunction with SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). Porter referred to these forces as the micro environment. They consist of those forces close to a company that affect its ability to serve its customers and make a profit. The stronger the forces, the less profit they will make and vice-versa. A change in any of the forces normally, requires a business unit to re-assess the marketplace given the overall change in industry information. The overall industry attractiveness does not imply that every firm in the industry will return the same profitability. Porter’s five forces include – three forces from ‘horizontal’ competition: threat of substitute products, the threat of established rivals, and the threat of new entrants; and two forces from ‘vertical’ competition: the bargaining power of suppliers and the bargaining power of customers. The threat of the entry of new competitors The treat of new entrants depend on the ease with which they can enter the market. Markets with high profits will attracts new firms. The major barriers are: * Need for economies of scale * High entry costs * Lack of distribution channels * Government policies such as selective subsidies * Cost advantages of existing firms such as access to raw materials, know how * Strong product- loyal customers The intensity of competitive rivalry Strong rivalry will reduce profits. This occurs when: * Many firms, none dominant * Slow market growth * Fixed costs are high * High exit costs * Similar products In high competitive markets, threat of new entrants is high.

Tradition Hinders Our Progress

Tradition is the enemy of progress Weather it's religious traditions preventing the study of the dead for better understanding of the living to the churches traditions stopping the progress into the realization that the Earth is not the center of the universe or to take something recent Umbilical cord debates over weather to use them for life saving stem cell research. Tradition is the common enemy among Progress into the future people want the results of science we live our lives due to science but often many of our general populous does not agree with the means we use to get the radical discoveries of science. I can see how traditions can hinder progress:if you subscribe to past ideals it can deter from advancement. If we are going to look back at what Mary and John did in the past to solve a problem every time, then how are we going to move forward? What am saying is that look back once or twice get the formula then learn and apply that knowledge, improve on it then build but we keep going back and back and back and back!! It is in fact the enemy for progress. I think that traditions do prevent progess. The best example of this can be seen rulal areas where knowledge is just passed over from one generation to another and children are not allowed to study more they are just used as a labour. Another example is of early marriage of girls who are married at an age of 10 or 11 which ruin their lives. in the end i would like to conclude that these tradions r blocking our way to new things.

Innovation in Agriculture

Indian organizations have acquired a reputation for organizational and social innovation and strategies centered round new concepts of frugal innovation. It has been suggested that some of these developments reflect specific socio-economic and framework conditions peculiar to the Indian context. At the same time many Indian firms have yet to institute systems and procedures required for supporting technological, product and service innovations. The existence of formal R&D departments/divisions, offers a ritualistic fig leaf for innovation practice. The absence of organizational support and a holistic innovation strategy coupled with an integrative perspective obscures or limits the development of a proactive innovation strategy. The paradox of Indian innovation suggests that the necessity of developing and managing the abundant supply of human resources in the country is central to its conceptualization and realization. These innovations get manifested mainly in two different patterns, one of which relates to the management of human resources within organizations, and the other to the creation of social enterprises for the development of human resources outside; the latter may also take the form of CSR initiatives by corporate organizations. One of the implications of the ‘abundant supply of human resources in the country’ is that Indian organizations have to adopt people-focused business strategies rather than the command structures cantered round the use, performance and incentivisation of human resources. This issue probably makes India different from Western countries and there is a big opportunity both for comparative research and best practice exchange. A second interesting implication of the above is that over the years there has been a phenomenal growth in the number of social enterprises in India, which are different from commercial enterprises in having ‘social development’ (rather than ‘profit-making’) as their main objective. For this reason they are likely to be perennially operating under resource constraints, which make it difficult for them to survive without innovations. The aim is to investigate innovative HR and other related strategies adopted by Indian commercial as well as social enterprises. Innovation is rarely a product of the internal resources of the firm alone. Relations with other organizations are likely to be crucial to the success f innovations. We also wish to explore how innovations in Indian firms are influenced by their relations with other organizations. Topics to be covered in the presentation will include (but are not restricted to) the following: * Principal types and characteristics of innovations in Indian firms * HR innovations in Indian firms * Innovations in Indian social enterprises Role of public bodies in supporting firms’ innovation * Organizational constraints and facilitators of innovation * Innovation in different types of industries (manufacturing/service, h i-tech/low-tech, small/medium/large, etc) * Innovative relationships with other organizations * Support for innovations from inter-organizational relationships * Sources, means and types of information and knowledge important for firms’ innovation * National and regional innovation systems * Costs, benefits and impacts of Innovations Please note that the deadline for paper submission is  2nd January 2012.