Disadvantages of Playing Video Games Essay

In the last several years the interactive games have had an amazing development in terms of image quality and variety of games. This has led to children and adults spend more time gaming and less time sharing with their families and friends. There are many significant disadvantages of playing video games. First, electronic games might have a negative impact over personal physical health. Gamers become lazy because they do not exercise every day. For example, they often eat only junk foods while playing, so they can become obese. Besides that, players have weak muscles because they do not exercise continuously, so their physical condition decreases. Moreover, their visibility is reduced by the time they are exposed in front of TV. When competitors spend a lot of time playing interactive games, their eyesight is damaged; as a result, they might need glasses. If gamers’ visibility decreases they have terrible headaches every day; consequently, they do not can sleep efficiently. The second disadvantage is that video games negatively affect the mental health of the people. Players can have a game addiction so they reduced contact with the environment. Playing electronic games loses the competitors interest in doing their daily activities such as hobbies or sports; thus, they do not perform outdoor activities. Furthermore, gamers’ attitude changes with the interactive games because they can be isolated, so they lack social interaction with their families and friends. Additionally, the children behavior can be affected by the excessive gaming because they do not difference between real life and in-game life. When a kid often plays video games, he wants to respond to any problem like his favorite character in the game, so this promotes his violence. Also, electronic games might produce mood swings in very young people; as a result, they have problems behavior in stress situation. Finally, players are irresponsible because do not mind their duties. The students fail in the exams so they repeat the grade. If learners do not do their homework, they do not practice enough their classes; thus, they have a low mark in their test. Besides that, the pupils do not review the lessons because they prefer on-line activities; consequently, they do not study adequately. Moreover, workers fail in their jobs. The gamers become disorganized with their jobs because they do not sleep sufficient by gaming; then, they lost their employment. Not only that, player is unable to concentrate on their work because he is thinking about interactive games all day, so he do not satisfy company expectations. In conclusion, playing video games has several important drawbacks. They are decreased physical condition, play compulsively, isolating, and feckless. Parents should be more careful with the time their children are exposed to electronic games, and adults should try to maintain an active social life.

Bartleby and Berino Corene. The Employer’s problem Essay

Bartleby and Berino Corene. The Employer’s problem Introduction Bartleby is about a lawyer who is overwhelmed by workload at his office to the extent that he needs an extra hand with writings thus calling for the need to post an advertisement for a scrivener. Lucky for him, he lands the resolute Bartleby who undertakes his duties at the office diligently to the admiration of the lawyer who lauds his good work unlike his two other scriveners: Turkey and Nippers. These two are the lawyers first headache at the workplace, Turkey for one, cannot work during the afternoons due to his old age but is strongly against his boss laying him off the job in the afternoons thus prompting the lawyer to delegate to him less serious documents for copying in the afternoon. Nippers on the other hand though of young age, has a temper and a stomach problem. Additional to that, he can only perform his duties in the afternoon when he is calmer and relaxed CITATION Mel90 p 7 l 1033 (Melville 7). Upon arrival at the office, Bartleby proves the opposite of the two as he w orks from morning to evening a thing that impresses the lawyer who sees for sure he had actually struck gold with this new scrivener but little does he know trouble is brewing for him in the future. Bartleby is a sheep ion a wolf’s skin; all his good work suddenly turns to total non-performance one single day when the lawyer is overwhelmed with duties at his office and calls upon him to assist with copying some of the documents causing a backlog at the office but he declines. Irrespective of the lawyer’s need for a helping hand, he feels obliged to Bartleby’s request of, â€Å"I would prefer not to† as being utterly genuine and being said in a polite and respectful manner that he lets it pass for the first time CITATION Mel90 p 14 l 1033 (Melville 14). Little does he know he was laying the bed for more trouble to come in future tasks that Bartleby is called upon to undertake. â€Å"I prefer not to,† becomes Bartleby’s infamous mantra at the workplace when he is called upon to undertake any take called upon him by his employer and surprisingly enough the lawyer finds it very hard to reprimand this new weird behavior. In real sense, under any working setting, it is not the duty of the employee to decide on what tasks he/she should do and what they should not do; it is their duty to undertake all duties delegated to them assiduously. How politely and calmly Bartleby delivers his request for not undertaking any new tasks lea ves the lawyer perplexed on whether he really should be asking Bartleby to undertake a specified task. However, this becomes overbearing when Bartleby reports to him that he would not be doing any more writings. Bartleby’s actions prompts the lawyer to clear his wage balances and ask him to leave. Nonetheless, after clearance with his employer, Bartleby sticks around the workplace and makes it his home. It is problem to the lawyer for despite having terminated Bartleby’s contract, he sticks around at the workplace and to make matters worse transforms the workplace to his sleeping quarters. This comes to the lawyer’s attention one Sunday morning when he cannot fit his key into the door only for the door to be opened by Bartleby who politely asks him to return after a few minutes and he surprisingly finds himself abiding to the request. The lawyer believes that he is undertaking a noble cause by allowing Bartleby to stick around the office doing nothing but soon this behavior turns out to be a nuisance to the business and an eye sore to the coming and going customers thus prompting him to move his business to a new location considering the fact that Bartleby would ever leave irrespective of what actions are taken against him or how much he is coerced to do so CITAT ION Mel90 p 42 l 1033 (Melville 42). Contrary to his expectation that by moving out he would have solved the Bartleby menace, he is accosted by a new tenant of the old building and by the police who leave Bartleby under his care. Bartleby continues his stubborn and withdrawal behavior to the extent that he refuses an offer of staying with the lawyer and later is taken to prison on vagrantly charges. Irrespective of the lawyers constant concern of trying to keep an eye on him while in prison, Bartleby refuses to take food offered to him while in prison resorts to sleeping under a tree at the prison yard where he meets hi final demise. In reality, the lawyer had tried all in his power to help a depressed Bartleby and he hand turned down the helping hand, it left the lawyer wondering if Bartleby’s previous employer’s: the Dead Letters had anything to do with his withdrawn lifestyle. He is transfixed to the disturbing connection in the conclusion of his narration describes it as, â€Å"Dead letters! Doe it no t sound like dead men†¦. Sometimes from out the folder paper the pale clerk takes a ring—the finger it was meant for, perhaps, molders in the grave; a bank- note sent in swiftest charity—he whom it would relieve, nor eats nor hungers any more†¦on errands of life, these letters speed to death. Ah, Bartleby! Ah, humanity†¦CITATION Mel90 p 55 l 1033 (Melville 55)† Different handling of Bartleby’s case In reality, there is no better way how the lawyer could have handled Bartleby’s case for he just instantly transformed from being a hardworking individual to a lousy self-reserved introvert. Perhaps, one precaution that the lawyer should have undertaken before hiring Bartleby, would have been to perform a background check on his previous employment history or enquired directly form Bartleby himself his lifestyle/family background. There is no single place in the narration where we are told that the lawyer assessed the above competences from a recruit once he placed an advertisement out, he seemed too eager to sort out his firm issues that were at hand risking oblivion to other factors that affect the normal functioning of the business. Similarly, the same can be said about his lenient stance towards accommodating Bartleby’s ill behaviors even when they directly affected his business. It shall be argued that his morals came first when it came to handling issues purportin g to Bartleby, nut what he should really done is instilled the real ideology of responsibility onto his employee as opposed to trying to find a solution to all his problems. There is this one specific stance in the narration that puts o question the lawyers helping hand, he himself noticed Bartleby’s miserable stat of life and withdrawal symptoms, why not sign him into a mental facility to get professional assistance as opposed to turning him into a mooch and accommodating his ill mannerisms. References Melville, Herman. Bartleby and Benito Corene . New York : Doven Publications , 1990. Source document

Nutrition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Nutrition - Essay Example For protein, the AMDR is 10 to 35% and the percent calories derived from my protein intake is found between the two limits. The AMDR for fat is 30 to 35% and the percent calories from my fat intake is again in between the two limits. Are there any nutrients from your diet that are above the recommended Tolerable Upper Limit (UL) – see front cover of the text for the table listing UL for various nutrients (please note that not all nutrients have an UL. Do you take a multivitamin? If so, after analyzing your diet, do you think you need to continue taking a multivitamin? If you do not take a multivitamin, do you think you need to take a multivitamin or do you think you can meet your needs by the foods you consume? According to the nutrition analysis that I have printed out, my intake of the following nutrients is 100% below the DRI: fiber (15.77%), calcium (41.76%), iron (81.3%), phosphorus (85.5%), ash (5.51%), vitamin A (74.87%), vitamin C (49.27%) and cholesterol (48.03%). Fiber is usually found in oats, seeds, beans, barley, peas, lentils, apples, citrus fruit, carrots, plums, and squash. Adding 3 apples, 2 potatoes with skin, 2 cups of lentil soup or 1 cup of bran in my diet would increase my intake of fiber. In order to address my calcium deficiency, I can add 2 cups of skim milk and 227 grams of yogurt in my daily diet. I should also add 10 cups of vegetables and two oranges a day in order to have more iron and vitamin C in my diet. With these additions to my diet, my lack of Vitamin A and cholesterol would also be addressed. The following nutrients, on the other hand, are above the 150% DRI: sodium (215.38%), thiamin (329.40%) and riboflavin (234.24%). Among these three, the quantity of sodium that I have consumed is the most alarming. For all three days, my consumption of sodium has gone over the tolerable upper limit of 2.3 grams per day. This excess can be a future cause of high blood pressure and kidney

Cause effect essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cause effect - Essay Example in Effects of Poverty 1). To join a school like fellow children may just remain as a dream for many children as their families do not have favorable financial positions. Struggling becomes common to those families in every corner of life. This can make their children grow up under continuous mental stress and inferiority complex as comparisons are inevitable while competing with others who are better privileged. Also, inability to afford nutritious food coupled with poor living standards creates a dampening effect on children’s physical well-being. They become prone to various infections and growth problems. Apart from these, poverty can make a person develop hatred towards society which may influence his/her attitudes towards others. Unfortunately, innocent people are often affected as a consequence of such attitudes. Various observations also suggest a strong correlation between increase in poverty and crime rates (Effects of Poverty 1). To conclude, poverty can severely impact the well-being of individuals. Lack of adequate financial resources make those people suffer from poor living standards, diseases, and distress which may collectively influence their behavior towards society in a dangerous

Imperialism and Western Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Imperialism and Western Culture - Essay Example Firstly, with regards to some of the main prejudices that are presented, the reader can aptly point to the fact that Kipling refers to these faceless masses of brown people as half man half animal, half baby has to double, uncivilized, dangerous, and inhabiting lands full of horrors and terrors. Within such a simplistic an overly horrific definition, it comes as no surprise that the majority of the poem points to the fact that these individuals to whom Rudyard Kipling is referring are subhuman and require immediate assistance from white Europeans as a means of civilizing themselves and achieving a degree of previously forgotten or corrupted humanity. Such an understanding necessarily reduces the overall level of appreciation that any of these European stakeholders, reading the poem, could understand with regards to the depth and complexity of culture and societal dynamics that were exhibited by the individuals to whom this wide and overarching definition applied. ... etation of the white man’s burden is warped and exhibits a number of fundamental flaws, it should also be understood and appreciated that Kipling places the work, time, energy, and money of the civilized/†white† world at the behest and service of those were less fortunate (Greenblatt & Abrams, 2006). Although the means by which Kipling differentiates these individuals is unfair and ultimately prejudiced, some degree of appreciation should be had for the fact that rather than forcing one’s will or societal norms upon the other, Kipling approaches this dynamic of â€Å"burden† from the perspective of one who seeks to perform an unpaid and otherwise unappreciated service. From such an understanding, it can be realized that Kipling is in fact placing white man on a lower societal pedestal than those to which he is attempting to integrate. Although this is obviously not the primary thrust nor intention that Kipling is seeking to bring about, the realities of this dynamic are presented throughout the poem as the invocation to â€Å"take up the white man’s burden† is likened to the necessity for each and every able-bodied Christian to take up the cross and suffer on Christ’s own behalf (Klima, 2010). Within such an understanding, the reader can come to a greater appreciation for the means by which servitude and a type of humility that one might not expect is exhibited throughout the poem in question. Essay 2: With regards to the link and relationship between civilization and the individual, these two concepts and definitions although inexorably interwoven are nonetheless quite distinct. With respect to the individual, the reader can and should realize that the individual is the only through and actionable definition that exists within these two terms which will be

People have become more overly dependent on technology Essay

People have become more overly dependent on technology - Essay Example According to Spira (2011) technology has been well embraced by so many people in the world. This to some extent has both negatively and positively contributed to the development in various countries. All people depend on technology for several things. Technology has become a back bone to so many things in the world. Technology has been majorly been embraced in the transport and communication sector. Countries that have low level technology are termed as under developed countries while those with high level of technology are the developed countries. Most of the African countries are under developed. This is because of the few industries found in these countries. Klososky (2011) states technology has improved the communication sector to a larger extent whereby people are able to convey their concern to one another despite the distance differences. Communication has become faster, efficient and cheaper. All people can afford mobile phones which are widely used. Most teenagers have embraced Facebook and twitter which are providing easier mode of social networking. Technology has helped in the improvement of transport sector since there are many faster modes of transport that have been invented. Transport means such as aircrafts help someone to reach their destination very fast and easier this has improved the market sectors since perishable goods such as horticultural products can reach the market on time.

Instruction of The Glass Menagerie(it depends on the wirtter) Essay

Instruction of The Glass Menagerie(it depends on the wirtter) - Essay Example The current discourse hereby aims to present a rhetorical analysis of the play, through expounding on the theme, the symbols, as well as the main characters. There could be more than one theme in the play, as evident from the topics of discussion by the characters. For one, there is a theme on deception and lies. Both Laura and Tom hid some inner secrets from their mother, Amanda, in terms of past, current, and future activities. For instance, it was only after six weeks after dropping from Laura’s typing class, that Amanda discovered the incident. As such, Laura painstakingly deceived her mother into apparently attending daily classes; when in fact, she disclosed that she went to the art museum, to the zoo, or walk around the park (Williams). In addition, Tom has always left after dinner, supposedly to attend movies every night. In truth, he had plans to travel as a seaman and used the money earmarked for payment of electric bills to pay for membership dues for joining The Union Merchant Seamen organization. In addition, another theme in the play was the feeling of incarceration and the apparent need to escape. This theme was exemplified in terms of the physical entrapment felt by Tom for being relied upon to support both Amanda and Laura. As such, through making an excuse every night as viewing the movies as a means of escape, Tom actually planned to eventually leave to pursue the same course that their father took. Concurrently, from the point of view of Laura, there is also a persistent feeling of incarceration due to her physical infirmity. As such, her outlet was expressed through the glass menagerie, the glass animals’ collection that seem to be the perfect epitome of her being: fragile, entrapped, isolated, delicate, and detached. The obvious symbol is the glass menagerie. It symbolized the traits that were above mentioned: fragile, entrapped, isolated, delicate, and detached. Traits that were

Early Childhood Studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Early Childhood Studies - Essay Example However, research has shown that this does not have immediate effect on speech development in children hence they are not necessary though they are helpful. From the above argument, it has been suggested that language acquisition by children is promoted through speaking to children in special way. Mothers often speak in a slow way such that they carefully articulate basic vocabulary which is easier to understand by the children. Grady (2005) calls this motherese where the mother speaks in a slow way so the child can grasp the meaning of speech or the words uttered. To a greater extent, it can be noted that this aspect of speech development is very important given that it is commonly believed that the child adopts a language from the mother. This is the reason why the child’s first language is called the mother tongue in different social dispositions. Though this aspect of motherese is not necessary in speech development, it has been observed that it significantly contributes t o the development of speech in young children. In some cultures, adults do not simplify their language when they are talking to the children but these children still learn their language perfectly. There is a misconception among people that children require special instructions for them to learn a language. According to the author of the given article, children can still learn a language without special help from the parent but there is one external condition that has to exist in as far as language acquisition is concerned. The author argues that children need to hear sentences they can actually understand before they know a lot about the language they are... This paper approves that it can be argued that language is acquired given that in some instances, it may not be possible to create a formal learning environment for infants whose minds are still very young to be reasonable enough to learn a language at a faster rate. It is pretty difficult for a child to be taught to create a meaningful sentence at a tender age as this can be confusing. Children often construct meaningful sentences without using the same words from their parents which brings us to the conclusion that language acquisition is not an art of imitation. This report makes a conclusion that it can be observed that there are different misconceptions with regards to language acquisition and learning in children. Some scholars believe that language is acquired naturally while others believe that it is learnt from the people around. However, a closer analysis of different concepts proposed by different scholars show that there is no agreed way about how children learn a language. It can also be said that the external environment has a bearing on the way children learn or acquire their first language. The culture of a particular group has a strong influence on the way at which a child acquires a language. Normally, the behaviour of people is shaped by their cultural values as well as their language. It is also easier for the children to learn to construct meaningful sentences through the guidance of someone but this does not necessarily mean to say that they have to undergo a formal learning programme as this can be done subconsciously. Yo ung children are capable of learning from the social environment around them.

Hamlet is very much a play about seeming and not doing. Discuss the Essay

Hamlet is very much a play about seeming and not doing. Discuss the difference between seeming and doing, and how those caught up in seeming are paralyzed and u - Essay Example Hamlet, even at the onset, is disappointed as much as mournful about the turn of events (Act I, scene ii (129-158). He is not there when his father dies and when he gets home his mother has married his uncle. He gets suspicious that the marriage is rather done in haste Instead of confronting his mother and demanding an explanation, he just keeps his miserable feelings and doubts to himself. He seeks for justification but does not let it out so he becomes all the more burdened with so many questions and no answers. It is in this scene that he shares his opinion that humankind is more impressive in "apprehension" or understanding than in "action;" he himself being an epitome of this idea for he is more prone to apprehension than to action too. He keeps delaying for so long before putting to action his revenge on Claudius. The most famous soliloquy of Hamlet in Act III, scene i (58-90) displays his hesitations that leads more to his delayed action. It is also in this passage that his reasons for delaying his actions are enumerated. The very familiar line, "To be, or not to be: that is the question," speaks of Hamlet's reflection on whether he would choose to live (to be) or to commit suicide (not to be). To die means to end one's sufferings and pains on earth: He does not know what lies ahead. ... Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. This is another form of seeming but not doing. He advises his son not to let others see his true feelings and to act with caution Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice: Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. His advice seems contradicting though because he tells his son to appear in certain manners and then he ends by saying This above all,-to thine own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. Back to Hamlet, when he comes face to face with his university friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Act II, scene ii (287-298), he expresses his melancholy I have of late,- but wherefore I know not,- lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory." It is in this scene that he shares his opinion that humankind is more impressive in "apprehension" or understanding than in "action;" he himself being an epitome of this idea for he is more prone to apprehension than to action too. He keeps delaying for so long before putting to action his revenge on Claudius. The most famous soliloquy of Hamlet in Act III, scene i (58-90) displays his hesitations that leads more to his delayed action. It is also in this passage that his reasons for delaying his actions are enumerated. The very familiar line, "To be, or not to be: that is the question," speaks of Hamlet's reflection on whether he would choose to live (to be) or to commit suicide (not to be). To die means to end one's sufferings and pains on earth: Whether 'tis nobler in

Patriotic reverence for the history Essay Example for Free

Patriotic reverence for the history Essay Patriotic reverence for the history of a nation often does more to impede than toencourage progress History always brings with itself lots of experience. People always learn from their past. Butis relying on the history nation the right path to progress? Does our past always teach us theright lessons? What we do today will be past someday. Does that mean we will always end updoing right if we follow our history. The answer is no. Showing high patriotic reverencecannot always be the right path for a nation’s progress. Relying on history for our current needs would be nothing more than intuition. The situationwe have at our hands can be very different from that experienced in the past. The demandthen becomes to handle it with new ways and techniques. For example maintaining peace inthe world today is the most important factor for any country’s progress. If we look at history,nations earlier had a tendency to acquire and conquer as much as they can. The Germans inthe World War II killed millions of people in their neighboring countries in thirst of more andmore power. The world has witnessed many wars that have hampered progress. Thus theneed of the hour for all nations is to sit down and talk. Nations now need to have a friendlyattitude towards each other for maintaining progress. Nations have signed peace treaties,which includes the nuclear proliferation treaties. The nations have now started thinking of progress on a global prospective. The economic progress of a nation particularly developing countries has also been verydifferent from the past. The trends and graphs are very different from that in the past. Thecorporate world has been developing and expanding exponentially. The economic market isnow governed by new rules with no excerpts from the past. So, the demand of the hour cannot be met by completely relying on the past. But just learningfrom our experiences. If we refer to our past, we need to draw proper analogies between thetwo time variant situations. But this can be a very difficult task as the scenario and theessence of things for todays world are completely different.

Theories of US Involvement in the Vietnam War

Theories of US Involvement in the Vietnam War Laina Galayde The Right Reasons Do you know how many U.S troops were killed in the Vietnam War? According to the DCAS in 2009, there were 58,220 recorded deaths. Did the United States really have the right reasons to expend that many citizens? There was not significant enough economic, social or political reason for the U.S. to involve itself in the Vietnam Civil War. For many who study foreign affairs, the Vietnam War was a tragic mistake brought about by the U.S. leaders who exaggerated the influence of communism and underestimated the power of nationalism (Lind). However, those who actively study foreign affairs are not the only ones who view this war as a mistake. It is also agreed that in the long run, the United States had nothing to gain economically from being involved in the Vietnam Civil War. When fighting finally broke out in Vietnam there were two sides, the communist North Vietnam and anti-communist South Vietnam. In reality, the two sides werent so clearly defined until 1945 when, Viet Minh forces seized the northern city of Hanoi and declared a democratic State of Vietnam (known commonly as North Vietnam) with Ho as president, (History.com staff). Ho as in Ho Chi Minh. Bao Dai, the French educated emperor of all Vietnam stepped down in favor of the revolution to free his country from the oppressive French. However, the French who had formed an alliance with the Chinese were not planning on letting Vietnam have their independence yet. While they got control of the South, the Chinese invaded the North. Despite Hos tries for peaceful negotiations with the French for independence for Vietnam, withdrawal of the Chinese and reunification of the North and the South were all for naught when, in October 1946, a French cruiser opened fire on the town of Haiphong after a clash between French and Vietnamese soldiers(History.com staff). and Ho Chi Minhs followers called for war. Now, onto the claims. In the long term, The United States had nothing to gain economically from the Vietnam War. When the United States first entered the war the main concern was the spread of communism; the economy was not fore-front. Though the war was instrumental in increasing wages, inflation was also rising at an astounding rate. However, this was not the true economy. It was all fabricated because of the war. The government was spending huge amounts of money on companies that were, in one way or another, feeding and fueling the Vietnam Conflict and people were making money hand over fist (Captain John Glowe, Vietnam veteran). It can be argued that the stimulating effect of wars can be beneficial to the economy. War leads to higher government spending, higher employment and can, therefore, provide a boost to domestic demand, economic growth and help reduce unemployment (Pettinger). Yet, when America pulled out of the conflict much of this work dried up and the American people w ere left with a huge recession that damaged the economy greatly. Socially, the Vietnam conflict was a Civil War that we should not have involved ourselves in.ÂÂ   The United States main justification of its involvement in the war was to help the people of Southern Vietnam be free and so stop the spread of communism; however, it was hard for the American people to understand the Vietnamese because they wanted to be independent more than they didnt want communism. Their freedom was not as important as their nationalism. The independence of the country of Vietnam was paramount. One of the things that made the Vietnam War so morally confusing for Americans was the fact that the Viet Minh were both nationalists and Communist (www.sparknotes.com). This confusion led to the American people not supporting their returning troops and to protests. Though it can be argued that this confusion also caused the innocent American people to wake up and question their leaders, ultimately, the costs of the war did not justify the means. During the Vietnam War, o ne of the biggest social impacts was the use of protesting. Protesters believed that mass gatherings and constant protesting would actually influence government decisions. Whether it did or not, is something to debate. But, from the outside looking in, the protests did nothing to stop the U.S, from getting involved, the war continuing, or ending (Biello). Finally, the negative global effect of a possible communist Vietnam was exaggerated. It wasÂÂ   feared that if one country fell to communism, its neighbor would, and so on and so on, much like dominoes falling. In Southeast Asia, the United States government used the domino theory to justify its support of a non-communist regime in South Vietnam against the communist government of North Vietnam, and ultimately its increasing involvement in the long-running Vietnam War (1954-75) (History.com Staff). This theory did not evolve as was feared. In fact, the American failure to prevent a communist victory in Vietnam had much less of a global impact than had been assumed by the domino theory. Though communist regimes did arise in Laos and Cambodia after 1975, communism failed to spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia (History.com Staff). In conclusion, although economic, social, and political justifications have been touted for the United States entanglement in the Vietnam War, with time, most of these have been proven invalid. It is impossible to know what our world might look like had America not chosen to participate in the Vietnam conflict. As in most instances, hindsight is 20/20. Work Cited Statistical Information About Casualties of The Vietnam War. www.archives.gov, 2013,ÂÂ   https://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics.html Lind, Michael. Why We Went to War in Vietnam. www.legion.org, The American Legion, December 20, 2012, https://www.legion.org/magazine/213233/why-we-went-war-vietnam. Hisory.com staff. Ho Chi Minh. www.history.com, A+E Networks, 2010, http://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/ho-chi-minh. Pettinger, Tejvan. Economic Impact of War. www.economicshelp.org, 2010, http://www.economicshelp.org/blog/2180/economics/economic-impact-of-war/ The Vietnam War (1945-1975). www.sparknotes.com, B+N, Works Cited http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/vietnamwar/section2/page/2/ Biello, Blase. Vietnam War Aftermath. www.blogspot.com, 2010, http://blaseanwar.blogspot.com/2011/01/vietnam-war-aftermath_13.html History.com staff. Domino Theory. www.history.com, A+E Networks, 2009,ÂÂ   http://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/domino-theory

The Role of Technology in Management Leadership Essay -- Business Mana

The Role of Technology in Management Leadership Over the last sixty years of business activity, there has been new ways and means of conducting business through something we call technology. Technology is the advancement and use of electronic devices and other high-tech equipment to produce and progress knowledge into the future. Advancements in technology have affected management leadership in many ways over the last sixty years. New technology has altered leaders’ consciousness, language, and the way they view their organization. Technological advancements have made things easier for those in management leadership roles. But as with anything, there are positive and negative aspects of technology on leadership. Some of the positive aspects of technology are: the availability and use of wireless networking, collaboration tools, digital video, handheld devices, and videoconferencing. On the other hand, the negative aspects of technology are: it offers less privacy, it allows for less interaction with others, and it runs a h igh risk of contact with viruses. On the more positive side, wireless networking allows leaders to share resources with their team operating by means of wireless media, such as microwaves, cellular technology, and radio frequencies. Wireless networking is paving the way for technology integration around the world. The use of collaboration tools allows ongoing conversations among leaders, their subordinates, board members, and community members. Professional development is one area where collaboration can have an enormous impact on management leadership. When leaders can casually share new approaches and practices with each other through a technology connection to their workplace, both leaders and their team will benefit. One way of doing this is to create an Internet mailing list where they can share questions, problems, solutions, successful techniques, and less successful techniques. The Internet is enabling digital video to achieve professional-quality and two-way interaction. This will be one of the rare cases wh ere management leadership will be leading a technological shift in society as a whole. Hand-held devices are high-tech gadgets, now more powerful than early Windows or Macintosh machines. Handheld devices offer more versatility than full-size computers and are much more portable than the alternative personal device, the ... ... to remember that the Internet is a public place, and you should never assume that something is secure. Leaders should be the moral compass for groups, but... Technology has blurred some distinctions between what's right and wrong. Many institutions have been caught in the discourse about websites such as Napster. Some people seem to want to have two sets of rules, one for the cold reality of the analog world and another for the magical digital world. It may take many years to establish equilibrium. In the meantime, be clear and consistent about expectations, after you've given full consideration to the implications. Choose your battles, but be prepared to say "let's wait and see". Leaders appreciate differences, but technology threatens to marginalize others. As for any program goal, a leader should always ask "who gets excluded by this approach?" There is a misperception among many leaders that technology is naturally bias-free: The research suggests otherwise. Furthermore, ind ividuals from some backgrounds do not "buy into" or choose to participate in the emerging technology culture, as should be their choice. Be careful when a technological solution becomes the only solution.

A Rhetorical Analysis of the Stem Cell Research Debate Essays -- Genet

Stem cell research has been a heated and highly controversial debate for over a decade, which explains why there have been so many articles on the issue. Like all debates, the issue is based on two different arguments: the scientific evolution and the political war against that evolution. The debate proves itself to be so controversial that is both supported and opposed by many different people, organizations, and religions. There are many â€Å"emotional images [that] have been wielded† in an attempt to persuade one side to convert to the other (Hirsen). The stem cell research debate, accompanied by different rhetoric used to argue dissimilar points, comes to life in two articles and a speech: â€Å"Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Yes, Don’t Impede Medical Progress† by Virginia Postrel; â€Å"Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? No, It’s a Moral Monstrosity† by Eric Cohen and William Kristol; and â€Å"Remarks by Ron Reagan, Jr., to the 2004 Demo cratic National Convention† by Ron Reagan, Jr. Ethos, pathos, and logos are the main categories differentiating the two arguments. The audience for whom those works were written for explains a great deal about the syntax and the diction, and as stated in Dynamic Argument, provides â€Å"different strokes for different folks† (Lamm and Everett 11). When Ron Reagan was delivering his remarks to the Democratic National Convention, he took into account that he needed to paint a picture for his audience â€Å"while still doing justice to the incredible science involve [involved]† (qtd in Lamm and Everett 428). The fact that he was trying to convince his audience to vote for embryonic stem-cell research showed that he needed to explain exactly how the procedure worked. His story about the thirteen-year-old young woma... ... a Moral Monstrosity.† In Dynamic Argument. Ed. Robert Lamm and Justin Everett. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 425-26. Hirsen, James L. â€Å"Who’s the Victor on the Stem Cell Debate?† 7 Aug. 2001. 24 Sept. 2007 . â€Å"How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis.† 5 Aug. 2005. 23 Sept. 2007 . Lamm, Robert, and Justin Everett. Dynamic Argument. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. Postrel, Virginia. â€Å"Should Human Cloning Be Allowed? Yes, Don’t Impede Medical Progress.† In Dynamic Argument. Ed. Robert Lamm and Justin Everett. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 420-23. Reagan, Ron Jr. â€Å"Remarks by Ron Reagan, Jr., to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.† In Dynamic Argument. Ed Robert Lamm and Justin Everett. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2007. 428-30.

Existentialism :: essays research papers

Existentialism has been defined as a philosophical movement or tendency, emphasizing individual existence, freedom and choice that influences many diverse writers in the 19th and 20th centuries. The philosophical term existentialism came from Jean Paul Sartre, a French philosopher. He combined the theories of a select few German philosophers, the phenomenology of Edmund Husserl, the metaphysics of G.W.F. Hegel and Martin Heidegger, and the social theory of Karl Marx. This philosophy became a worldwide movement. One phenomenon of this theory is its proliferation. Since its creation it has remained a part of contemporary thought. One explanation for this is its applicability to contemporary life and society. It focuses on the utter existence of man itself. According to Sartre, a true existentialist believes there is no God and thus man becomes alone with only ourselves as a guide to making the decisions that define our existence. Our existence not only defines, but also must be defined. Subjectivism provides this definition. Subjectivity refers to the radical freedom to choose with or without a God, but also that this radical freedom becomes a responsibility to use or not use. Another definition, provided by Webster’s dictionary defines existentialism as a philosophical movement especially of the 20th century that stresses the individual position as self determining agent responsible for his or her own choices. It becomes very clear through the definitions provided, that existentialism focuses on two things, the individual and choice. Breaking apart the word itself, you come up with another word, exist, to have actual being, and also existent, which is to have existence. The suffix –ism denotes and action or practice. A minimal definition of existentialism might be, an individual practicing his or her right to make choices for him/herself, not communally, during their existence. The acceptance of responsibility for the decisions made must also be a part of this practice since making choices comes with the implication of responsibility. This way of thinking is similar to the teachings of Socrates and his theory of objective reality.

To an Athlete Dying Young Poetry Analysis

Sydney Walcher Instructor, Lisa Ward English 1213 8 April 2013 To an Athlete Dying Young A. E. Housman was a poet born in 1859 who became very successful during his lifetime. â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† represents the theme of glory is fleeting by illustrating the point that if a successful athlete dies young, they will not have to worry about their glory of victory fading. They can rest in peace knowing they will be remembered at their athletic peak when they were successful and victorious.They will not have to go through the pain of watching their fame disappear or whither out with time. In this poetic masterpiece, Housman pulls together figurative language, sound devices, and structure to illustrate that glory is fleeting through a majestic poem that will be remembered for many years. Figurative language consists of many different devices including metaphors and similes which are often used in poetry like â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young. † Metaphors compare unli ke things but does not use like or as, the comparison is implied.Some metaphors that stick out in â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† are the phrase â€Å"stiller town† which is a metaphor for a cemetery and the line â€Å"Eyes the shady night has shut† which metaphorically states that someone has died. Another device often used in Housman’s poem is similes, which compare unlike things while using like or as to make a direct comparison. Some examples like â€Å"It withers quicker than the rose† use than instead of the like or as which is commonly used for similes. Most, if not all, similes in this poem use this method.When contradictory terms are used consecutively they are called an oxymoron. The only line in this poem sticks out as an oxymoron is â€Å"silence sounds. † Poems are usually known for rhyming, but not all do. Many poems use other sound devices such as alliteration and rhyme. â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† uses both of th ese devices throughout the poem. Alliteration is the similarity of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or consecutive words. One example of alliteration is â€Å"The fleet foot on the ill of shade† because of both fleet and foot and sill and shade. Another example is â€Å"Today, the road all runners come† because of road and runner. Rhyme is similarity of sound between words or the endings of words when used at the end of a line of poetry. The rhyme scheme of â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† is ABAB. This means that the last word of every two lines rhymes. For example, â€Å"So set, before its echoes fade,/The fleet foot on the sill of shade,/And hold to the lintel up/The still-defended challenge cup. This is an excellent demonstration of the ABAB rhyme scheme because â€Å"fade† and â€Å"shade† rhymes, as does â€Å"up† and â€Å"cup. † In â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young,† Housman uses iambic tetrameter, w hich refers to a line that is four iambic feet long, to create a lyric poem that can otherwise be known as an elegy since it praises an athlete that died young. Iambic tetrameter affects the beat of the words and how they flow together gracefully. Iambic tetrameter consists of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. Most lines in these poems tend to have eight syllables.However, lines thirteen and fourteen, â€Å"Eyes the shady night has shut/Cannot see the record cut,† stray from iambic tetrameter to trochaic tetrameter, one stressed syllable plus one unstressed syllable in four feet, with catalexis, which is an incomplete foot at the end of a line. The literary masterpiece, â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young,† uses figurative language, sound devices, and structure to illustrate a poem that demonstrates the fact that glory is fleeting. The figurative language is used to create imagery, or to provide visual descriptions to create images in one’s hea d.Figurative language paints a picture with words to help readers see the story. It also creates many different perspectives based on the readers and their perspectives. The sound devices help create lines and rhythms that gracefully flow off the reader’s tongue. Structure is what incorporates the rhythms and other devices into a pattern that binds the lines of a poem into a small story with a moral that can be told to many different generations. â€Å"To an Athlete Dying Young† is a magnificent example of a lyric or an elegy that will be told for years to come.

OCR Nationals double award promoting health and well being Essay

According to the above figures given in the above Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, each aspect has been given a position in order of their importance placing the most important one at the bottom. This makes it clear that everything, (regardless the level of their importance) is important to us. There are different ways to keep up the health status up to the standard such as using medication, being on healthy diet, getting enough rest and doing appropriate exercise. After having an observational research on health and its definitions, I would conclude that to keep up appropriate health we should have healthy lifestyle in terms of physical, intellectual, emotional and social aspects. Well-being As this unit is based on promoting health and well-being, it is highly important to have concerns on well-being as well. According to the World Health Organisation, well-being explains our happiness, confidence, physical condition and general outlook of our life. It is about caring ourselves and feeling good. Well-being and living healthily go hand-in-hand. It goes beyond eating a balanced diet and taking regular exercises. It is about being aware about our life and reducing the risks of diseases. Our daily routine could decide the state of our well-being. (Bib. 4)Great Britain is a multi cultural society. The culture is a way, which is followed by a group of people. They eat, dress, behave and believe in the same way. It may be unique to that particular group. It affects their way of life and therefore their health as well. It is very important that the health care sector and the organisations respect beliefs of each culture. For example, a Christian faith group, Jehovah’s Witness urge their follower’s to refuse blood transfusions. (Bib. 12) But according to medical science, blood transfusions can save a person’s life. In another instance, Muslims don’t take pork, although animal flesh is a good source of protein. Proteins are needed for the build up of our muscles. To work properly and to be physically fit, we need to have healthy muscles. Therefore this can affect their physical health. Sometimes, the people chose to be vegetarians or vegans either following their religion or for their personal beliefs. This can lead them to be lack of proteins, as meat, eggs and other animal products are good sources of proteins. As said before, protein is very important even for making hormones. This is vital for our growth. Therefore where the PIES are concerned, it is clear that not taking animal products could also affect a person’s development. Further, this can lead our intellectual development to grow less as well because a good physical health is important to have a good memory and thinking. Another example of how different cultures consider is the fasting practise of Muslims. However, it is not good for our health to get rid of meals because it has been found that this can lead to weight loss, stomach problems including ulceration, dehydration and also changes have been observed in daily lifestyle and mental-health status. (Bib. 5) Apparently, looking at our PIES it is clear from the above disorders that this can also affect both our physical and mental health. Nevertheless, as it is linked to their culture and tradition, they don’t bother much about their health. Further, covering their body by Muslim ladies could lead to vitamin D deficiency as they are not exposed enough to sunlight causing possible rickets. On the other hand, this could be positive to avoid unnecessary exposure to sunlight avoiding risks of skin cancers. So it is clear that the cultural belief and the person’s background can affect their health positively as well. Being a Buddhist, I believe it is not right taking alcohol and drugs for a healthy life. This is another example, which shows how the background of people affects their way of thinking. As different cultures and religions consider health in different ways, it is important that doctors should be aware of cultural beliefs when treating patients. According to the beliefs and places of living of a person may cause them to have less access to medical treatments. For example, a study carried out among the people living in Southern Virginia has found out that they were lacking of medical knowledge and that they distrusted the physicians. They have claimed that most of their people were obsessed and they liked to eat much but not doing exercise. Although it wasn’t said in the study report what foods they ate, I thought that they might be eating too fatty and sugary foods, as they are some causes of obesity. Further, I got to know by reading the study, that these Virginians didn’t discuss health problems with outsiders. It is also said that this may be due to the lack of medical knowledge. I thought this might prevent them from getting suitable care. As the people distrusted the specialist, they do not take medicines prescribed by them. They think that these drugs may cause addiction. In addition, according to the participants in the study, there is a lack of American-born physicians. At the same time, the people in the area were having some concerns in meeting foreign-born physicians. This cultural difference between the patient and the provider has been identified as a barrier, which prevents the patients getting medial care. (Bib. 6) I thought this to be a good example to show the effects of cultural beliefs on people and their health. In third world countries, the people might not be in good hygienic conditions such as less purified water systems, poor housing and air pollution. This could also lead to illnesses and diseases. Some other examples of how different cultures look at their health are the Chinese treatments and the way some cultures treat patients using plants and herbs found from the forests. Although people from different cultures look at health in different ways, each person’s health is alike and will be affected in the same way. Therefore, it is important that we look at it in a positive manner.

Reality TV Influence Youth Behavior

Reality Television and how it can influence the behavior of youth and teens There is no doubt that when it comes to American youth television is one of the biggest influences by far. Many parents would love to say that their child does not watch that much TV but in reality they are spending a lot of time watching television or using media in some way. â€Å"The study by the Kaiser Family foundation shows that children ages 2-8 spend an average of 5 ? hours a day â€Å"consuming media† kids 8 and older spend even more time in front of the tube nearly 6 ? hours a day† (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2005 ). Astonishingly, more time is being spent with media then doing homework, studying or even spending time with family. A child’s retention of what they watch depends on the child’s attention span, how they would process the information and of course their own e experience however limited this may be. Reality television can affect the attitudes and behaviors of children all over the U. S. through its stereotyping, violence and cultivating false perception of reality. This differs from family to family and depends on the values instilled in the child. While media manipulates the minds of youth and teens, the value portrayed on reality television by reinforcing negative stereotypes and idealizes body image to be accepted as the norm. Stereotypes are unavoidable in media especially in reality programming. In my opinion the stereotypes depicted in media can influence the way youth see people in real life. Basing their opinion on what they have viewed on television. Often time’s television tends to stereotype genders and racial groups in a negative way. For example by watching the shows â€Å"Jersey Shore† and â€Å"Jerseylicious† you would think that young Italian people are only interested in partying, excessive drinking, promiscuity, name brand fashions and working out. That’s not the best image to enact to young people. With all the media used by youth in America is there any wonder why children stereotype what they don’t know? Adolescent females are easily swayed when it comes to messages about body image. A show such as â€Å"America’s Next Top Model† demonstrates that in order to be a model a person must be slender. Recent research indicates that there is a marked link between TV and watching, and negative body and eating disorders† (British Journal of Psychiatry) Young people are always concerned with what their peers will say. I went around my neighborhood and asked a few teens some questions about body image and the media. I ran into a group of five girls and asked them do th ey feel that body image is important and if so how important is it. After a few moments one of the girls named Kayla who was 15years old said yes with a smirk. My follow up question was â€Å"Why is it so important? † she answered without a moment of pause â€Å"Because when you see someone who is overweight you automatically think they don’t care about themselves, they have bad BO and I don’t want people to think that about Me. † This conversation went on for almost an hour as she informed of her workout routine. Later, that day I saw some young males at the skate park and asked them the same questions as the girls the answers were the total opposite. A young man named Martin who was14 was the only one willing to answer my questions. He said he didn’t think it mattered about his body image or his friends. He later stated he thought it was dumb but when I asked him if he would ever date a girl that was overweight a little ashamed he replied that he wouldn’t. It is no secret that boys and girls are different but prior to this research I thought that all teenagers had basically the same outlook on how they view their bodies. Unfortunately the shows that children and young people are exposed to are not in a realistic light. Children see that the actors and actresses have perfect bodies, hair, and skin and clothing this is not realistic but the need to be perfect remains prominent in our society. With the desire to be perfect it often leads to eating disorders and death. â€Å"The mortality rate associated with Anorexia Nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate associated with all causes of death in females15-24 years old. †(American Journal of Psychiatry 1995) Instead of children being taught that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and colors children are being pumped with the stereotypes that they identify in themselves. This is prominent in the African American community; it is often taught at a young age that if you are of darker complexion or have a curlier hair texture you are not as pretty as the lighter complexioned girl that you might know. It is assumed that the media is to blame for this way of thinking. Youth and teens are self conscious enough without these negative â€Å"airbrushed† and unrealistic images put forth in the media. Media is also being tied to the increasing violence in US children. Children are increasing anti-social and aggressive behavior, become less sensitive to violence and those who suffer from violence, children may view the world as violent and mean fearful of being a victim of violence. Children may desire to see more violence in entertainment and real life, and children will view violence as an acceptable way to settle conflicts. †( Buchanan, A. M. , Gentile, D. A. , Nelson, D. A. ,Walsh, D. A. , Hensel, J. 2002) Astonishingly, more time is being spent on watching television then homework which differ from child to child. A child’s interpretation of what they watch depends on of their attention spans, the way in which they process the information, and their own limited life experiences. Entertainment media exposure can negatively affect attitudes and behaviors of the American child through violence, cultivating false perceptions of reality and stereotyping. Continued concerns researchers are finding exposure to the media violence causes increased levels of aggression and violence in children. Experts even suggest that the evidence linking media violence to aggressive behavior is as strong as the evidence linking smoking to lung cancer. â€Å"Among 10 to 24 year olds, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans; the second leading cause of death for Hispanic and third leading cause of death for Asian/ Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Alaska Natives. †(CDC2010a) While most adults realize that media violence is fabricated, children are more vulnerable. A Pre-K student will not know the difference between reality and fantasy. It is suggested that children who identify with an aggressive hero they see on TV are more likely to be aggressive. â€Å"They learn that violence is effective, courageous, and socially except able and rewarded, and they get caught in the aggressive cycle. † (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1995) In a book titled â€Å"Reality TV† in an article Teenagers Identify with the Issues Presented in Reality TV Shows by David Hiltbrand suggests there two reasons why teenagers are able to identify with reality shows are because the shows are â€Å"short† and â€Å"often deal with relationships and rejection. So, with this basic recipe of making reality programming teenagers are being drawn into this toxic TV. Youth can easily relate to the emotions and situations of the reality show stars, like trying to avoid rejection by making friends and/or alliances. Also in the article, David Hiltbrand states that the top shows watched by teens are reality programs. There is lots of evidence that shows the effect of reality television on teenagers and the fact that reality television is greatly consumed by teenagers today. So, there must be something about reality shows that make them able to pull in such a large group of teens, and that would be the fact that they are able to identify with reality show characters which makes the reality show more enjoyable. This goes hand and hand with the cultivation theory. This theory can have a negative effect on teens about the real world. The Cultivation theory put simply suggests that exposure to large amounts of television will over time cultivate viewers perception of reality. A large amount of television watching is seen as â€Å"cultivating† this theory suggests that you would become more engrossed in television programming than in everyday life. The idea is presented to a passive audience, such as children often accept the ideas and therefore influence large groups into conforming behind the ideas. This gives the media a significant influence over youth audiences. †(Cultivation Theory and Research) Children of a young age usually don’t get to experience the world and don’t have many life experiences to refer to, but by the time they do are using the ideas and thoughts that have been given to them through the media. Television can also fill with a wealth of good and educational programming. Having different news stations with different points of view, quality reality shows such as â€Å"Downsized† or a show like â€Å"Too fat for 15†. But are young people rushing home to watch these programs. The teens that I talked to admitted that they had not seen the shows. Although I know the opinion of a few really doesn’t make the majority. Many researchers are telling parents monitor their child’s television and media intake. By monitoring what they watch you can also monitor the amount. In my own experience this message rings true I often monitor the programming my children watch because I know they are young and impressionable. In conclusion watching TV or consuming other forms of media does seem to have replaced dressing up or reading books as the favorite pastime for our youth. Yes, media can alter the thoughts of young impressionable minds if consumed in large amounts but if monitored by parents and by parents steering their children in the right direction media can be a be a powerful tool to gain information about the world. People often refer to reality television as the armpit of entertainment. This may be so but it is just that entertainment and as far as the values portrayed in them I wouldn’t exactly call them that. Television stations have found a â€Å"formula† to make money; it’s not always a positive message behind it but there are a few with a positive message out there. Instilling the values in your children while they are young would be the best way to avoid them wanting to take the messages from TV and applying them to everyday life.

Net Present Value/Present Value Index

Net Present Value/Present Value Index The management team at Savage Corporation is evaluating two alternative capital investment opportunities. The first alternative, modernizing the company’s current machinery, costs $45,000. Management estimates the modernization project will reduce annual net cash outflows by $12,500 per year for the next five years. The second alternative, purchasing a new machine, costs $56,500. The new machine is expected to have a five-year useful life and a $4,000 salvage value. Management estimates the new machine will generate cash inflows of $15,000 per year.Savage’s cost of capital is 10%. Required a. Determine the present value of the cash flow savings expected from the modernization program. Using the data from Appendix on page 1169 of our text 15000*3. 790787 = 47,385, which should be the PV cash flow savings expected from the first option of modernization program. b. Determine the net present value of the modernization project. I believe the NPV of the 1st project is calculated by subtracting current machinery, costs $45,000 from the figure above which equals 2,385. 00 c. Determine the net present value of investing in the new machine.This is determined by valuing the future cash flows. Using the same appendix in table 2 data, annual cash flow of 15,000 * 3. 790787 =56862. 00 Salvage cost of 4,000 * . 620921 (table 3 on page 523) = 2484. 00 Total=59,346. 00 less the cost of machinery 56,500 = 2486. 00 as the NPV d. Use a present value index to determine which investment alternative will yield the higher rate of return. PI= $15,000*. 620921/56,500 = . 16 This investment is not acceptable because it has a PI of less than 1. 0 therefore the modernization project or the first alternative will have higher rate of return.Exercise 24-4A Determining the present value of an annuity The dean of the School of Social Science is trying to decide whether to purchase a copy machine to place in the lobby of the building. The machi ne would add to student convenience, but the dean feels compelled to earn an 8 percent return on the investment of funds. Estimates of cash inflows from copy machines that have been placed in other university buildings indicate that the copy machine would probably produce incremental cash inflows of approximately $8,000 per year.The machine is expected to have a three-year useful life with a zero salvage value. Required a. Use Present Value Table 1 in Appendix A to determine the maximum amount of cash the dean should be willing to pay for a copy machine. Years 1 – 3; where N = 1 r at 8%, N =2, [email  protected] 8%, N = 3 r @ 8% 8000*. 925926 = 7,407. 41 8000*. 857339 = 6,858. 71 8000*. 793832 = 6,350. 66 Present Value / Ordinary Annuity = ($) 20,617. 00 Present Value / Annuity-Due = ($) 22,266 b. Use Present Value Table 2 in Appendix A to determine the maximum amount of cash the dean should be willing to pay for a copy machine.Based on table 2 in appendix a, the maximum am ount of cash the Dean should be willing to pay for a copy machine is ($) 20,617. 00 c. Explain the consistency or lack of consistency in the answers to Requirements a & b. The consistency in the answers are so seeing that table 2 in appendix A appears to be the sum of the PV for each of the 3 years in table 1. Exercise 24-8A Determining the internal rate of return Medina Manufacturing Company has an opportunity to purchase some technologically advanced equipment that will reduce the company’s cash outflow for operating expenses by $1,280,000 per year.The cost of the equipment is $6,186,530. 56. Medina expects it to have a 10-year useful life and a zero salvage value. The company has established an investment opportunity hurdle rate of 15 percent and uses the straight-line method for depreciation. Required a. Calculate the internal rate of return of the investment opportunity. YearExplanationCash FlowDiscount Factor 1 (hurdle rate of 15)DiscountDiscount Factor 2Cash Flow @Disc ount 0Cost to purchase some technologically advanced equipment(6,186,530. 56)(6,186,530. 56) 1,280,0005. 01877$6,424,0264. 6565,959,680Net present value$$237,495($226,851) b. Indicate whether the investment opportunity should be accepted. The Internal Rate of Return appears to be higher than the established investment opportunity hurdle rate of 15 percent therefore it would be a good idea to accept this investment opportunity. Exercise 24-6A Determining net present value Travis Vintor is seeking part-time employment while he attends school. He is considering purchasing technical equipment that will enable him to start a small training services company that will offer tutorial services over the Internet.Travis expects demand for the service to grow rapidly in the first two years of operation as customers learn about the availability of the Internet assistance. Thereafter, he expects demand to stabilize. The following table presents the expected cash flows. Year of Operation Cash Infl ow Cash Outflow 2006 $5,400 $3,600 2007 7,800 4,800 2008 8,400 5,040 2009 8,400 5,040In addition to these cash flows, Mr. Vintor expects to pay $8,400 for the equipment. He also expects to pay $1,440 for a major overhaul and updating of the equipment at the end of the second year of operation. The equipment is expected to have a $600 salvage value and a four-year useful life. Mr. Vintor desires to earn a rate of return of 8 percent. Year ExplanationinflowsoutflowsNet Discount @8%Discounted 2006 beginningCost of equipment $ – $ 8,400 $ (8,400)1 $ (8,400) 2006Operational cash flows $ 5,400 $ 3,600 $ 1,800 0. 925926 $ 1,667 007Operational cash flows $ 7,800 $ 4,800 $ 3,000 0. 857339 $ 2,572 2007Major overhaul $ – $ 1,440 $ (1,440)0. 857339 $ (1,235) 2008Operational cash flows $ 8,400 $ 5,040 $ 3,360 0. 793832 $ 2,667 2009Operational cash flows $ 8,400 $ 5,040 $ 3,360 0. 73503 $ 2,470 2009Salvage value of equipment $ 600 $ – $ 600 0. 73503 $ 441 Net present value of Investment Opportunity $ 182 Required (Round computations to the nearest whole penny. ) a. Calculate the net present value of the investment opportunity. . Indicate whether the investment opportunity is expected to earn a return that is above or below the desired rate of return and whether it should be accepted. General rule with NPV is that if NPV of a prospective project is positive, it should be accepted. However, if NPV is negative it should not be accepted. The calculations, If correct present a positive NPV therefore the investment opportunity should be accepted. Problem 19-24A Assessing simultaneous changes in CVP relationships Green Shades Inc. (GSI) sells hammocks; variable costs are $75 each, and the hammocks are sold for $125 each.GSI incurs $250,000 of fixed operating expenses annually. Required a. Determine the sales volume in units and dollars required to attain a $50,000 profit. Sales = Contribution Margin per Unit = Revenues per Unit – Variable Expenses per U nit = 250,000 + 50,000/125 – 75= 6,000 in units Verify your answer by preparing an income statement using the contribution margin format. Break-even Sales Dollars = Sales Price per Unit ? Break-even Sales Units Break-even Point in Sales Dollars = 125 * 6000 = 750,000 Income Statement Green Shades Inc. As of October 17, 2012 Sales750,000 Variable Costs(450,000)Contribution Margin300, 000 Fixed Costs250,000 Net Income 50,000 b. GSI is considering implementing a quality improvement program. The program will require a $10 increase in the variable cost per unit. To inform its customers of the quality improvements, the company plans to spend an additional $20,000 for advertising. Assuming that the improvement program will increase sales to a level that is 3,000 units above the amount computed in Requirement a, should GSI proceed with plans to improve product quality? Support your answer by preparing a budgeted income statement. Income Statement Green Shades Inc. As of October 17, 2 012Sales1,125,000 Variable Costs(765,000) Contribution Margin360, 000 Fixed Costs(270,000) Net Income 90,000 The company might want to consider going forward seeing the likelihood of profitability. c. Determine the new break-even point in units and sales dollars as well as the margin of safety percentage, assuming that the quality improvement program is implemented. Fixed Costs/Contribution Margin per Unit = 270,000/ 125-85 = 6750 Break-even Sales Dollars = Sales Price per Unit ? Break-even Sales Units Break-even Point in Sales Dollars = 125 * 6750= 843,750 Margin of SafetyMeasured in UnitsMeasured in DollarsSales @ Budged 90001125000 Break Even6750843,750 Margin2250281,250 281250/1125000 =. 25 or 25% Problem 18-17B Process cost system cost of production report At the beginning of 2004, Dozier Company had 1,800 units of product in its work in process inventory, and it started 19,200 additional units of product during the year. At the end of the year, 6,000 units of product were in t he work in process inventory. The ending work in process inventory was estimated to be 50 percent complete. The cost of work in process inventory at the beginning of the period was $9,000, and $108,000 of product costs was added during the period.Required Prepare a cost of production report showing the following. a. The number of equivalent units of production. Equivalent units of production ACTUALEquivalent Beginning 1,800 Additional units of product19,200 Total21,000 Ending6,000 @50%3,000 To be transferred15,000 @100%15,000 Total21,00018,000 b. The product cost per equivalent unit. Beginning is 9,000 added to production of 108,000 to total 117,000 c. The total cost allocated between the ending Work in Process Inventory and Finished Goods Inventory accounts. 117,000/18,000 = 6. 50 cost per unit 15000*6. 50 = 97,500 finished goods 000 of equivalent units above*6. 50= 19,500 Total 117,000 Problem 15-17A Identifying cost behavior Required Identify the following costs as fixed or varia ble. Costs related to plane trips between San Diego, California, and Orlando, Florida, follow. Pilots are paid on a per trip basis. a. Pilots’ salaries relative to the number of trips flown. variable b. Depreciation relative to the number of planes in service. variable c. Cost of refreshments relative to the number of passengers. variable d. Pilots’ salaries relative to the number of passengers on a particular trip. ixed e. Cost of a maintenance check relative to the number of passengers on a particular trip. fixed f. Fuel costs relative to the number of trips. variable National Union Bank operates several branch offices in grocery stores. Each branch employs a supervisor and two tellers. g. Tellers’ salaries relative to the number of tellers in a particular district. variable h. Supplies cost relative to the number of transactions processed in a particular branch. variable i. Tellers’ salaries relative to the number of customers served at a particular br anch. Fixed j.Supervisors’ salaries relative to the number of branches operated. Fixed k. Supervisors’ salaries relative to the number of customers served in a particular branch. Fixed l. Facility rental costs relative to the size of customer deposits. Fixed Costs related to operating a fast-food restaurant follow. m. Depreciation of equipment relative to the number of restaurants. variable n. Building rental cost relative to the number of customers served in a particular restaurant. Fixed o. Manager’s salary of a particular restaurant relative to the number of employees.Fixed p. Food cost relative to the number of customers. variable q. Utility cost relative to the number of restaurants in operation. variable r. Company president’s salary relative to the number of restaurants in operation. Fixed s. Land costs relative to the number of hamburgers sold at a particular restaurant. Fixed t. Depreciation of equipment relative to the number of customers served at a particular restaurant. fixed Exercise 15-6B Fixed versus variable cost behavior Professional Chairs Corporation produces ergonomically designed chairs favored by architects.The company normally produces and sells from 5,000 to 8,000 chairs per year. The following cost data apply to various productions activity levels. Number of Chairs5,0006,0007,0008,000 Total costs incurred Fixed$ 84,000 Variable 60,000 Total costs$144,000 Per unit chair cost Fixed$16. 80 Variable12. 00 Total cost per chair$28. 80 Required a. Complete the preceding table by filling in the missing amounts for the levels of activity shown in the first row of the table. b. Explain why the total cost per chair decreases as the number of chairs increases.Exercise 15-12B Effect of cost structure on projected profits Logan and Martin compete in the same market. The following budgeted income statements illustrate their cost structures. Income Statements Company Logan Martin Number of Customers (a) 160 160 Sales Reven ue (n x $75) $12,000 $ 12,000 Variable Cost (n x $0) 12,800 Contribution Margin 12,000 (800) Fixed Cost (6,400) 0 Net Income (Loss) $ 5,600 $ (800) Required a. Assume that Logan can lure all 80 customers away from Martin by lowering its sales price to $75 per customer.Reconstruct Logan’s income statement based on 160 customers. b. Assume that Martin can lure all 80 customers away from Logan by lowering its sales price to $75 per customer. Reconstruct Martin’s income statement based on 160 customers. c. Why does the price-cutting strategy increase Logan’s profits but result in a net loss for Martin? This is so in that when sales to 160 clients at 75 (12,000), more revenue is produced as opposed to sales to a lesser amount (80 clients) at 125 (10,000). Fixed costs contributes to Logans increases in sales revenue. Exercise 16-9A Allocating overhead cost to accomplish smoothingMimosa Corporation expects to incur indirect overhead costs of $72,000 per month and direc t manufacturing costs of $11 per unit. The expected production activity for the first four months of 2007 is as follows. January February March April Estimated production in units 4,000 7,000 3,000 6,000 Required a. Calculate a predetermined overhead rate based on the number of units of product expected to be made during the first four months of the year. MonthJanuaryFebruaryMarchApriltotalEstimated production in units 400070003000600020000 72000*4/20,000=14. 40 per unit b. Allocate overhead costs to each month using the overhead rate computed in Requirement a. MonthJanFebMarchAprilTotal Rate14. 4014. 4014. 4014. 40 Base4,0007,0003,0006,000 Cost57,600100,80043,20086,400288,000 c. Calculate the total cost per unit for each month using the overhead allocated in Requirement b. MonthUnits (A)Overhead (B)Cost (A*11)TotalCost Per Unit (d/a) Jan4000576004400010160025. 40 Feb70001008007700017780025. 40 March300043200330007620025. 40 April6000864006600015240025. 40

Tracing the pathway of a cheeseburger through the entire digestive Essay

Tracing the pathway of a cheeseburger through the entire digestive system - Essay Example The term "animal testing" means the procedures done on the bodies of the animals. It is majorly for the purposes of research into pure biology and ailments, evaluating the efficiency of new medicinal yields. Moreover, it is also meant for testing the health of human beings besides assessing the safety of the environment of consumer and industry products. Animal testing began a long time ago. The time dates back to the fourth and third centuries. Early Greek writers documented some of these early animals testing. Aristotle and Erasistratus were probably the first few individuals in the history of animal testing. The first person who dissected mammals like goats and pigs are Galen. He was among the very few physicians who lived in the by the then times of history. However, later on animal testing was introduced in Spain as an experimental method of testing the surgical operations and steps before using them in the doing surgery to us human beings. A surgical doctor, Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar), introduced that notion. Later on in 1242, circulation of blood in mammals was provided by a scientist known as Ibn al-Nafis. The year 1996 also marked a very significant year in the history of animal testing. Successfully, the Dolly sheep was born. Dolly was cloned from an adult cell. It was the first in the history of animal testing. Ian Wilmut, Keith Campbell besides other individuals at Roslin Institute situated in Scotland, plus a biotechnology company that funded the whole process of cloning dolly. The main reason for cloning dolly was to confirm if the somatic cells would form a whole organism. Currently, animal testing is still in use in the in researchers that targets to get a solution to medical challenges from Alzheimer’s disease. Other challenges include spinal cord malfunctions, multiple sclerosis and many other states where there are no valuable in vitro model

Leonardo da Vincis Work Mona Lisa Personal Statement

Leonardo da Vincis Work Mona Lisa - Personal Statement Example To a large degree, the formal analysis revealed these characteristics of the work to me for the first time. Now upon examining reproductions, I recognize that in large part there is a distinction between the linearity in the woman’s hands, as well as in bodily elements. I also recognize the painterly elements in terms of the sfumato effect, specifically in an articulation of the woman’s mouth. One element I disagree with is the mystery surrounding the woman’s expression. While I recognize art critics popularly argued this feature of the painting, I believe that to a degree such perspectives are overblown and the work can be appreciated simply for its power and depth of creation.  Now upon examining reproductions, I recognize that in large part there is a distinction between the linearity in the woman’s hands, as well as in bodily elements. I also recognize the painterly elements in terms of the sfumato effect, specifically in the articulation of the woma n’s mouth. One element I disagree with is the mystery surrounding the woman’s expression. While I recognize art critics popularly argued this feature of the painting, I believe that to a degree such perspectives are overblown and the work can be appreciated simply for its power and depth of creation.              

African americans and the military during WW2 Essay

African americans and the military during WW2 - Essay Example They nurtured great expectations due to their excellent work and war records they possessed. This hope had been carried further as President Wilson declared that the war was being fought â€Å"to make the world safe for democracy†.(President Wilson, World War I) African American soldiers as well as the civilians always recollected or remembered their painful experiences of World War I. They had endured discrimination and segregation in almost all areas and they were not willing to accept these factors once again. So they started raising their voices in protest for which they had to undergo severe punishment in lieu of their attitude. Their hopes and aspirations were dashed to the ground when after the war; discriminatory feelings began to grow against them in leaps and bounds. The Ku Klux Klan was once again revived and gained the support of other anti- African American groups. The Blacks suffered horrendous discrimination and riots and attacks left thousands homeless. Many of the Black writers interviewed some of the black American slaves and received a first hand report of the atrocities meted out to them. Due to segregation of the Black Americans discontentment and the need to take revenge brewed among them. Many organizational groups such as the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the NAACP and the National Urban League tried very hard to put an end to segregation of the Black Americans and the discrimination shown to them, but all the efforts undertaken were slow and laborious. The NAACP also worked towards obtaining voting rights and tried hard to dismantle discrimination and segregation by moving the court. They also strived hard to gain laws that were beneficial to the suffering African Americans. The â€Å"Jim Crow† laws that were mandated discriminated Blacks to have separate facilities for worship, housing, travel, schooling, lodging, eating and drinking and all other aspects of

Now the Olympic flame has left the UK its remaining legacy is to Essay

Now the Olympic flame has left the UK its remaining legacy is to inspire a generation, promoting the benefits of physical fitness. What are the benefits to the cardiovascular system of regular exercise - Essay Example This paper is a discussion of the main physiological features of the cardiovascular system. The heart, one of the system’s major components, has two ventricles at the bottom chambers of the heart and two atria at the top chambers (Aaronson et al, 2004: p47). The ventricles force the blood into the blood vessels from the heart while the atria drains and forces blood into the ventricles. The heart is divided into two chambers in order to achieve a two-circuit system of circulation. The right side pumps to the lungs while, on the other hand, the left pumps to the other organs of the body. During the cycle of a heartbeat, the right and left atria contract, then the right and left ventricles follow suit, followed by relaxation of the ventricles and atria. During the resting phase for the ventricles and atria, blood flows from the relaxed atria to the relaxed ventricles, constituting the diastole. The atria then contract to force out any remaining blood almost followed immediately by the ventricle, constituting the systole. To ensure that blood flows in the right direction, the heart has valves that allow blood to move in only one direction. The heart valves open and close when the heart relaxes and then contracts, which is caused by the pressure difference in the heart, and these valves are; aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves (Aaronson et al, 2004: p50). The one way nature of the valves ensures that blood does not flow back, which avoids mixing of different blood. The heart is comprised of the cardiac muscle, which is a striated and involuntary muscle found on its walls and histological foundations (Aaronson et al, 2004: p52). While smooth muscle is also involuntary, cardiac muscle is more anatomically related to skeletal muscle since smooth muscle is not striated. The cardiovascular system is made of an amalgamation of smooth and cardiac cells, with the blood vessels lined by smooth muscle. The circulatory system is

Issues Related to Communication in Contemporary Society Essay

Issues Related to Communication in Contemporary Society - Essay Example Culture has a great impact on communication in society for a variety of reasons. Among these is that culture provides the information that will help in understanding each other hence the eventual successful communication (Giri, 1). Culture in brief can be defined as all the activities and events that make up the life of a people who stay at certain geographical area. Through culture people are able to socialise and in this it provides the information and tools that will be in communication. Culture normally gives the norms and habits that are acceptable. In order to fit into a society one has to be able to be as everyone else. By this they have to adopt all the beliefs and norms in the society. Failure to this will lead to one being treated as an outsider and in such instances the information availed becomes limited and reduces the chances of being able to communicate. In addition without socialization, the ability to communicate may be hampered due to being unable to understand the practices of a people hence limiting the level of communication that can take place (Hauben, 2). How Culture Impacts on Communication According to Giri (1), to every culture there a certain behaviour that the males and females depending on the age will be prescribed. Hence according to the culture there will be certain institutional cultures that will be allowed along with roles in gender. Failure to observe this can lead to alienation by the society. Hence in order for an individual to properly communicate in society there is the need to act and behave within these standards in order to be accepted. Among this include the communication aspect, in this there are topics and approaches that certain genders and ages have to adopt. This will clearly impact on the level of communication as they will consider the topics and people to talk to. In addition, depending on the culture one will develop views that may be associated to either the culture or political background and this will affe ct the approach to various issues. The conversational styles learned from the culture in the society are another factor to consider as it will impact on the way one talks and acts in various situations. The culture also shapes the kind of person will become. Through to the culture and values that are practiced the personality of a person becomes shaped. In this they end having low self-esteem or the level of disclosure will also be impacted. Through this the person will limit the amount of information that they give out and receive. In doing so, the ability to communicate is hampered as no free flow of information will be able to take place. Another issue about culture is that it provides the tool that is used commonly on the day-to-day communication. By this it implies the language that is used. Each society has a culture and in this culture will be the language that is used. If one does not belong to the society, they will definitely not know the language in use and in this will b ring out the biggest challenge to communication. Hence the need to know the language in use cannot be overemphasised (Jandt, 294). Novinger (1), states that in a culture there are a certain pattern of habits and bodily behaviours that help in the interpersonal behaviours. Besides, there also the various parameters that are used in the context of interpersonal interaction. Most of the parameters

Research Method Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Research Method - Dissertation Example How strong can this sense of community be? 4. What kinds of cultural identity have been formed in this virtual community? Research Method Ethnographic interview.Analysis of the interviews occurred in four stages. In the first stage, the transcripts are analyzed for concepts and themes. The comments and themes are in the transcript margins. This is the first stage. In the second stage, there was an analysis of expert files, which refers to pertinent experts which are from each interview related to each theme, and this refined the themes. These expert files, which are thematically related, were refined further. The theoretical framework of the study is linked to the thee in the fourth stage In the interviews, the interviewee explains his or her version of reality, while constructing this reality. In this way, the interviews are a kind of â€Å"interpersonal drama.† The researcher must stand back, and not direct the interview, because to insert oneself into the interview would in sert the researcher’s agenda into the issue, and the researcher might interpret the themes accordingly. There are alternate interpretations of the interview responses, and the interview should proceed in a manner which encourages this. Because respondents should answer in a way that develops his or her own perspective, the interviews should be unstructured. Nonetheless, the interviews are semi-structured, because this study has an exploratory nature. To develop the research interests of the study, open-ended questions were asked. These open-ended questions were not a strict questionnaire, however. Rather, they were simply used to tease out the key topics, and served as a reminder not to miss these topics. In the beginning of the interviews, the interviewees were given a general idea of what the focus would be. That said, the interviewees were encouraged to direct the conversation’s flow, and I would intervene only when I wanted to more about the issue. The only other t ime that I intervened was when the topic of conversation had gotten too far off of the focus of the interview. The questions were open-ended as much as possible. As the interview reached its’ close, I double-checked the question list to make sure that there was nothing important missing from the interview, and, if this was the case, I probed the interviewee further. Throughout my data collection period, I constantly added new questions to incorporate issues brought up in previous interviews. Recruitment of respondents.Ten people were recruited from the users of internet. I did not attempt to cover all ethnic groups, whichis beyond the scope of the project. Instead, I chose a particular group of people as the target of my study. To achieve the best results, they met the following two requirements: 1. They still maintain their distinctive cultural identities as ethnic people, surrounded in the sea of host countries’ mainstream culture. 2. They are not much affected by th e traditional community ethnic media, yet they are actively using the new media. That way, the influence of the computer media can be best measured. Specifically, Each participant recruited were an expert practitioner of his/her mass mediated world, knowledgeable in the most detailed and intimate ways of how it shapes their identities, which provides entry points to their complex culture condition of living on ‘borderlands’ and to their ongoing process of identity negotiation.

Impact of Gender on Academic Performance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Impact of Gender on Academic Performance - Essay Example Studies of gender differences in general academic performance are less conclusive. The results vary from no gender differences found. While conducting research there will be some ethical considerations. Before conducting the research the permission will be taken from the school management. Researcher’s personal biases and opinions should not get in the way of the research.Participants can be with draw any time if they want to quit. The results of the experiment will be kept confidential and researchers will use results with students’ permission for research purposes. Students should feel free to ask any question about the research and they will be provided with the outcome of the research. In this research the aim of the study is to analyse the difference in the academic performance of male and female students. Underlying the purpose and research question of the study conducted, the research design that was selected for the study is an exploratory correlational research design. The implementation of a correlational research design has permitted the researcher to explore and discover relationships amongst a large number of variables within a study. In correlational research, according Zechmeister et. al., the main purpose is to establish whether two variables are related, and if so, establish the direction of the observed relationship. In this research study we are going to analyse following research hypothesis: Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in the academic performance of girls and boys.

Rites of Passage Essay Essay Example for Free

Rites of Passage Essay Essay Jetty Rats is a novel written by Phillip Gwynne that all young boys should read. It deals with the rites of passage and issues that all boys are faced with at some point in their lives. It is presented in an entertaining book but realistic which makes it easy for readers to understand. The issues and rites of passage discussed in this essay include family, friends, experiencing a first kiss (with Jasmine) and obtaining a first ‘real’ job (funeral). The story is told from the prospective of Hunter, (main boy) a thirteen year old boy with a dream of catching a record breaking Mulloway and getting more famous and richer then Rex Hunt. The first problem is the family. When Hunter was eight years old his dad went missing while fishing on the rocks. He had broken the golden rule of rock fishing: â€Å"Thou Shalt Not Fish On Your Own†. Hunter was certain his father would return after the accident he would â€Å" wait for him. Sit underneath the ‘VACENCY’ sign until mum tells me to come inside†. He didn’t want accept the fact that his father was gone forever until the end of the story when he finally decided to throw out his dad’s rusty old razor, even though his mum had tried to throw it out before but he kept getting it back. The writer has included this problem in the story in a realistic way. He explained the pain Hunter and his mum went through during the tough years, which made the story easier to understand. The writer has also expressed the importance families have stick together through tough times where there is no hope.

Process and Outcome Evaluations Essay Example for Free

Process and Outcome Evaluations Essay A Process Evaluation is relatively used to monitor as well as document the planning, implementation, and interrelationship of the components of the proposed project are the focus of the process evaluation. The process evaluations main focus is to assist with the description of program interventions’ development, as well as its activities, also to provide quantitative and qualitative data on many services that are to be rendered and their effectiveness. A Process Evaluation is also responsible to document the acceptability of a specific program within the programs targeted community. An Outcome Evaluation is what is known to be based on the project’s ecological systems social constructionist theoretical orientations and its focus on the peer, family, individual, as well as school domains, the outcome evaluation will provide better understanding to some of the key evaluation questions and its effectiveness. Some examples of process evaluations are: 1. A program that provides addiction recovery services to the communities children ask the clients and their parents to fill out survey forms to specify if the program was helpful for their family to help them to meet specific goals. 2. The children participating in sports work with their coaches to fill out questionnaires about the program services they receive. Examples of an outcome evaluation are: 1. The number of high school students that are graduating goes up after the school implements an after school program to assist children struggling with grades 2. The city was able to increase its funding to the school from $3,000 to 15,000 after implementation of the after school program showed  improved graduation References Yuen, F., Terao, K. (2003). Practical grant writing and program evaluation. . Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning.

The GAP: PESTEL, SWOT and Porters Five Analysis

The GAP: PESTEL, SWOT and Porters Five Analysis Elements of Analysis: The GAP Case PESTEL Analysis Utilizing the PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental Legal factors) model, the key drivers and areas of significant impact for the competitive advantage in the GAP case are (Johnson, Scholes Whittington 2005, pp. 65, 68): Political – This seems only to be a factor with regards to operational differences between geographic/geopolitical regions, i.e., the US vs. the UK, and social welfare policies that affect actual garment construction. Social – This is a major driver of success as â€Å"fashion† and â€Å"style† would likely fall under this auspice. Specifically, the ability of the firm to generate the perception that its products reflect the fleeting sense of a trend is central to being a leader in retail fashion. Technological – This is a significant factor as the lack of a fully function European e-commerce platform was an opportunity cost that can be measured in lost market share valued in the multi-million pound range. SWOT Analysis Strengths The Gap has existed marketing power and presence and has prime, established retail locations throughout the US and UK. Weaknesses The inability to establish e-commerce on the UK side has lost not only sales opportunities but likely tarnished the image of a company that wants to be seen a ‘hip and trendy’ in a digital age in which competitive parity is ‘bricks and clicks’. Opportunities Through existing resources and brand equity, the Gap has the opportunity to regain one of the top spots in the mind of the consumer for fashionable clothing. One of the chief means of doing so is to quickly replicate the success of the online presence of the US business in the UK. Threats Perhaps the biggest threat is that one of the smaller boutique venues will achieve sufficient success to legitimately chip away at the mindshare of the consumer that Gap currently has on a scale that will be very difficult to reclaim. Porter’s 5 Forces As with the PESTEL framework above, only the most salient factors are indicated (Porter 1980, p. 4): Potential Entrants –The rise of small-scale boutique firms allow profit-taking from firms that do not have the ‘overhead’ of a corporation such as The Gap. This allows for greater flexibility and speed in the delivery of fashion to market. The Threat of Substitute Goods – Similar to â€Å"potential entrants†, there are not only other products that perform the same function but, in times in which economics dictate allocation of scarce consumer resources amongst items that, to some extent, fall under the category of highly discretionary spending. Contrary to this, one might argue that ‘fashion will always be in style’ and thus in-demand, the attractiveness of the industry will attract more entrants. Eventually, a form of homeostasis will be achieved but only at the expense of the exit of some less profitable firms. Industry Rivalry – The combination of the above two factors creates what is arguably a hypercompetitive environment characterized by larger firms seeking to sustain competitive advantage through enduring presence while small, flexible and fast firms seek to take perhaps a temporal portion by capitalizing on that which is most trendy. The Four P’s (Price, Promotion, Place Product) The concept of the marketing mix or â€Å"the 4 P’s† gives tremendous strategic insight into how the firm goes to market with its portfolio of goods and services. Price – Pricey but not so much that they cannot be seen as â€Å"luxurious necessities† for those for whom being ‘cool’ or ‘sexy’ is a real or aspirant lifestyle. Promotion – Consistent with other aspects of the marketing mix, television advertisements feature hip and trendy music, often done by somewhat older (yet still cool) musicians with engaging music. These featuring dancing or at least, rhythmic maneuvers, in which one must assume the clothes worn are as much a part of the causative agent for such behavior as the apparent youthful attraction and attitude of the performance crew. Place – Sold only through Gap stores in mainstream retail locations such as shopping malls and through, at least in the US, Gap-branded online channels. Product – Positioned as perhaps something that could be labeled as [young] ‘sexy casual’, such an offering virtually defines its market as those who are young and view (or want to view) themselves as fashionable and trendy. Products include shirts, jeans, sweaters, accessories and more and all geared at generating such a â€Å"feel† or experience for the wearer. Overall Business Strategy In general, a firm can have one of two broad strategies: cost-leadership or differentiation. With regards to differentiation, a firm may choose to segment based upon the customer by focusing on a niche or specialty market or they may choose product differentiation as by innovation or similar pursuit (Porter 1980, p. 35). Using this general approach, the Gap clearly pursues a strategy of seeking competitive advantage by differentiating product offerings (what it does) to those for whom a sense of ‘urban/sub-urban-esque’ fashionable â€Å"personal style† is very relevant to their lifestyle (the target market) through a combination of exclusive retail locations and a corollary online venue (the where of it’s strategy). Corporate Social Responsibility The idea of corporate social responsibility is best expressed by the notion of, â€Å"†¦ the extent to which an organization exceeds the minimum obligations to stakeholders as specified through regulation and corporate governance† (Johnson, Scholes Whittington 2005, p. 191). With regards to the GAP case, such a perspective is evident when they actively seek to position themselves not simply as seeking to establish sustained competitive advantage but the advantages conferred to everyone through sustainable business. Specifically, through their alliance to support AIDS awareness and suffering, they achieve profits and good works. Antithetically, one critique would likely be to question not the outcome but the motive for doing so. The Resource-Based View The essence of the resource-based view of the view establishes the lens of the â€Å"VRIO framework†. That is, for a firm to achieve sustained competitive advantage, its resources must be valuable, rare, inimitable and organizational in nature (Barney 2007, p. 138). With this in mind, it seems to follow that the best sources of such are resources which are intangible rather than tangible. From this perspective, the ability of GAP to attract and retain designers who can consistently replicate and market what is or is about to become â€Å"fashionable† at competitive costs would meet such criteria. Strategic Recommendations The essence of the Gap to maintain/re-establish sustainable competitive advantage is to be able to be both â€Å"big† and â€Å"small† simultaneously. The competition seemingly enjoys the element of first-mover advantage with regards to their ability to operate under the radar only to appear with trendy products in the market that less insightful firms can then attempt to copy. Correspondingly, the ability of the boutique firm to mass-produce and distribute a successful product is far less than that of the Gap with it established manufacturers and well-oiled distribution channels. Thus, the Gap needs to adopt fast, flexible methods of getting fresh and accurate insights into production and into stores. In the classic business decision, the Gap has but two options: make or buy. That is, they can either allocate resources in the form of time, talent or treasure (aka, money) to acquire these abilities or they may choose to outsource these functions to other firms. Perhaps a hybridized solution is to form strategic alliances with such smaller firms that have these resources in abundance but lack the marketing and manufacturing power of the Gap. Such a solution would achieve the goal of the acquisition, even if temporary, that the Gap seems to lack as it seeks to create lasting sources of competitive advantage in the face of the hyper-competitive, mature yet dynamically fickle industry of upscale casual fashion apparel. Mature vs. Dynamic Firm The Gap competes in a arguably mature but changing and constanting renewing industry. A â€Å"mature† industry can be characterized by the following (Barney 2007, p. 94): Slowing growth in total industry demand. The development of experienced repeat customers. A slowdown in the increases in production capacity. A decrease in new product introductions. An increase in the level of international competition. An overall reduction in industry profitability. With these criteria, the retail fashion clothing industry is perhaps somewhat unique in that each year brings something of a second-chance to capture the market. Though the degree of competitiveness and production capacity indicate a mature industry, the new arrivals to the target customer segment in regards to age, affluence and attitudes provide a potentially rich new customer base. These factors lead to the classification of the industry as being â€Å"mature† but yet quite â€Å"dynamic† in the sense that technology and the preferred tastes of an ever-changing consumer segment create a need for the Gap to acquire marketing insights and speed and flexibility in production to bring such high-margin, high-risk products as fashion clothing to market. Key References Barney, J. (2007). Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage, 3rd edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice-Hall. Johnson, G., K. Scholes, and R. Whittington. (2005). Exploring Corporate Strategy, 7th edition. Harlow, England: Prentice-Hall. Porter, M. (1980). Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries Competitors. Boston, Massachusetts: The Free Press.