A Business Proposal to Improve Production

A Business Proposal to Improve Productivity, Guest Experience, and Revenue Through Innovative Use of Technology Prepared for Freddie Johnson Vice President, Research and Marketing Boardman Management Group Prepared by Darren Jackson Manager of Marketing Baderman Island ResortMarch 7, 2012 Proposal Number: RM07-01 Baderman Island Resort: A Business Proposal Baderman Island Resort A Business Proposal to Improve Productivity, Guest Experience, and Revenue Executive Summary Background The Baderman Island Resort has 3 hotels, a convention center, 4 restaurants, 2 gift shops, a pro shop and a spa. While all of the business entities are owned by the Baderman Island Resort and executively managed by the Boardman Management Group, each business entity is operated independently.Each business entity was opened at different times and, while each entity started out with up-to-date computer hardware and software, upgrades of equipment and software have not been uniform. The word processing softw are in use at the Resort is a case in point. Currently, we have: * 26 computers running Windows XP and Word XP * 38 computers running Windows 2000 and Word 2000 * 6 computers running Windows 98 and Word 97 While there is backward compatibility between the various versions of the software, the older versions do not have all of the â€Å"bells and whistles† of the newer versions.We are wondering what would be entailed to upgrade to a standard version of Microsoft Word or, alternatively, to switch to a word processing software application from another vendor. Currently, Baderman Island Resort is in need of addressing business risk with effective technology. Old and out dated Systems have the tenices to go offline when aging components fail and key networking connection don’t work. Security issues can emerge and threaten the integrity of business data. All work or portions of the business could see systems go offline, while other systems continue to operate normally.The cu rrent IT or Windows system in place is not up to date or easy to manage, and this is a situation that could possible set the stage for potential problems down the road. Objective Maintain productive smooth running business operations that are mission critical. To maintain business momentum and employee productivity by being trained for challenges that are associated with acquiring and maintaining the most effective IT environments to support ongoing operations. The technology must be both affordable and easy to operate on a day-in, day-out basis to effectively support the business.Goals Baderman Island Resort: A Business Proposal To ensure the company has the capability of facing the growing demands of today’s market, supply data, and services to customers on a level that will exceed the expectation of the customers. Provide each employee with the knowledge training to successfully run and give value service information to the customer concerning the wireless service. For Win dows XP to provide huge amounts of useful software on their platform, provide more RAM to increase memory, and provide widespread availability of hardware driver support.Improved storage capacity will allow us to be better positioned to serve our customers and meet increasing demand for security and wireless connectivity. Improve corporate network security by not allowing personal information about customers or intellectual property on phones, be sure that access to the corporate network using a smartphone be based not only on the user’s role in the business, but also on his or her location and the connection used, such as inside or outside the corporate network, or through a VPN.For example, a connection via an unsecured Wi-Fi network that is not going through the corporate VPN should be blocked. And also wireless networking benefits that will provide reliability, security and robustness service for our customers. Cost The following table presents an initial estimate of cost s. Table of Estimated Cost Initial Monitoring and Units Rate Total Cost ($)Information Gathering 384 hrs. 50 hr. (avg. ) $19,200| Evaluation of up Grades Units Rate Total Cost ($)| and Instillation 288 hrs. $70 hr. (avg. ) $43,200 Implementation of Windows Units Rate Total Cost ($) | IT System 96 $50 hr. (avg. $4,800 Employee Training Units Rate Total Cost ($)| 48 $50 hr. (avg. ) $2,400 | Total Project Costs $52,320 | Note: This estimate is comprised of information based on the gathering by Boardman Management Group and the initial research by Baderman Island Resort. These calculations are expected to remain consistent throughout the process.Baderman Island Resort: A Business Proposal Administrative Information These are the desired qualifications for technicians, requirements for formatting and submitting feedback, confidentiality notice of proposal submissions, employer reference requirements, contact information for clarification, deadline for proposal submission, timeframe for v endor selection and selection criteria. Technicians need to have top-notch software and hardware skills including the ability to troubleshoot, resolve problems, diagnose hardware problems and replace malfunctioning components.The requirements for formatting and submitting proposals is letter of transmittal with proper identification, a brief description of your organization’s experience as it relates to the services specified in this RFP, include organizations points of contact, and attach the Signature Affidavit and Reference Form to the narrative portion. The cost proposal should be submitted in a separate sealed envelope with the written proposal that clearly identifies all fees to be charged for the requested services. Confidentiality notice that gives us the right to accept or reject any or all proposals submitted.Present a signed employee reference requirement. Employer reference requirement is needed to ensure contractual expectations and requirements. The deadline dat e for proposal submission is 30 days form the proposal date at 12 midnight. Selection criteria for vendors to adhere to are the ability to maintain confidentiality, to work as a team, to work independently, to work under pressure, attention to detail, flexible and adaptable approach to work, initiative, organizational/planning skills, problem-solving ability, verbal communication/interpersonal skills and written communication skills.Closing With this new technology onboard at Baderman Island Resort, it will enable the hotel to do more than provide guests with enhanced technology. Baderman Island Resort will have more ways than ever to interact with it guests in their rooms, to the mutual benefit of the hotel and the guests. Customer interaction will move to the next level with the new version of eRoomsuite is deployed. These new technology will allow Boardman Management Group enhancements that will take advantage of the new Microsoft technology, including Window Server 2010 Hyper-V virtualization technology.Server virtualization, which enables multiple virtual servers to run on a single physical machine, will enable Baderman Island Resort to install fewer servers at a hotel property, thereby saving space, utility costs, and maintenance overhead as well as help ensure business continuity and more effective disaster recovery. Sincerely, Lon Ratcliff Manager of Marketing Baderman Island Resort Baderman Island Resort: A Business Proposal Accepted for Baderman Island Resort By Name: | | | Signture: Date:

Diy Market in China

| Sector-Specific Considerations for EU Businesses considering entering the DIY Market in China. | | | | As Deng Xiaoping once said â€Å"Cross the river by feeling the stones†. This saying is very relevant for the DIY market in China because you are threading down a road into the very unknown.In 2004 the Chinese DIY and home improvement market reached an all-time high of RMB 195 Billion and has been depleting ever since. DIY stores are constantly losing popularity within the market . The market demand currently is for â€Å"soft decoration†, with the rural family’s moving to the fast growing cities to attain employment, there is a demand for moveable decoration in case they have to re-locate again.The younger generation are also leading the market for multifunctional, low cost furniture, such as DIY kitchens and bathrooms; this is due to the culture of the Chinese families with the kitchen and bathroom being the most personal area in their homes. (Allience, 2007 ) A major competitor and threat to the DIY businesses already established in China are the growing number of smaller contractors, as their knowledge of DIY is improving with the market trends.A high percentage of new homes being bought are being left unfinished and require a major investment in home improvement, this is where they just decide to hire a smaller contractor to do the time consuming work instead of doing it themselves thus the companies are losing out on the profit, but with China’s property prices rising it is entirely possible that the Chinese consumer will simply be pushed in the direction of DIY as a cheaper option. But what will happen when Chinas sees a fall in construction and property? Will the DIY companies suffer? This can be construed as a major economic threat to new European companies entering into China. Allience, 2007) Who are the major competitors? There is not one but many already established competitors within the Chinese DIY market. B&Q is the major contender with it being the largest Western DIY retailer in the country. B&Q opened its first store in China in 1999 and has continued to establish strong brand awareness. As The Guardian reported, the local culture did not fit with the DIY practices that B&Q already had and therefore B&Q had to adapt their once very successful European format to a Chinese one, hence making it a CIY (create it yourself) strategy. Tran, 2007) Another competitor for an EU DIY business to go up against is a well-established Chinese DIY company called Orient Homes. Orient Homes was founded in 1999 in Beijing. It receives its stock from local manufacturers consequently lowering the cost of the goods for consumer, thus making it a very large threat not just economically but because it is so well established within its home market.It has come to my attention in according to the China National Interior Decoration Association there is an estimate of more than 40,000 registered companies engaged in home improvement in China alone. (Unknown, 2009) The market is so densely populated that an EU company trying to enter the market is going to have some major struggle. Joint Venture or Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (WFOE)? Many companies entering china have to ask themselves this very difficult question, it’s a difficult decision to make as there are many advantages and disadvantages to both.Entering into a WFOE I believe is a lot harder than a Joint Venture, because with no Chinese partner they are left to approach their chosen market alone. It’s also difficult for the company to â€Å"create a market for their chosen products, especially when there’re already local competitors. Sometimes even with a local sales and marketing team it can take years to have a name on the Chinese Market† (Bergonovo, 2011) . The culture of the market can be very diverse and for a WFOE it can be difficult to understand alone.There are advantages as well as disadvantages, †Å"unlike in JVs where there're different views because the different partners and the negotiations and compromises are the only key to keep the business alive. Especially for small-medium business it is much better to have a WFOE, in order to avoid getting stuck in cultural differences with a local partner. So if you're a small business maybe with sole ownership in your mother company that has a clear strategy for the Chinese market and can afford long term investment WFOE is the right choice. † (Bergonovo, 2011) Joint Ventures an be very successful in some instances, because you will have the advantage of having a culturally and linguistically adapt partner, but â€Å"it’s crucial for foreign investors to understand the purposes of the joint venture and weather their Chinese Partner is capable of fulfilling them. The popular Chinese idiom â€Å"same bed, different dreams† has become the failed joint ventures mantra† (Ireland, 2012) Trust is the major issu e in this venture. My considerations for a DIY company would be a Joint Venture because the company will have a stronger understanding of the market and I believe this is crucial for a successful move to the Chinese market.Are there barriers for new entrants? â€Å"The key difference between domestic marketing and marketing on an international scale is the multi-dimensionality and complexity of the many foreign country markets a company may operate in. An international manager needs a knowledge and awareness of these complexities and their implications they have for† (Doole & Lowe, 2001, p. 9)the company and the market they are entering. I will use the SLEPT (Social, Legal, Economical, Political and Technological) method to determine the various trends and environment for a European DIY company attempting to enter the Chinese DIY market.Social, Cultural problems and differences can really take a toll on a new immature company entering a country where religion and material cul ture play a major role. The language would have the most significant role and impact to play on the way the products and services many be seen to the new consumers. Coca Cola had huge problems when they first entered the Chinese Market, their brand name translated to â€Å"kooke koula† which in turn translated to â€Å"A thirsty mouthful of candle wax†. Now with their new translation it means â€Å"joyful tastes and happiness†, mistakes must be made by one major company for another to learn from their mistakes. Over the next 20 years more people will migrate to China's cities for higher-paying jobs. These working consumers, once the country's poorest, will steadily climb the income ladder, creating a new and massive middle class. † (Farrell, Ulrich A. , & Stephenson, 2006) This society has struggled to come to terms with the phrase â€Å"do it yourself† because they are not educated in the home renovation area. It also seems to be giving off the per ception that you are peasant like if you do it yourself. It’s all about social status right now n China, if you are seen doing manual labour that you can subsequently hire someone to do then you are seen as a scrooge. â€Å"In recent years China has become the world’s number one country in terms of attracting foreign investments. As the second-fastest growing economy of the world it attracted USD 74. 6 billion of foreign direct investment in 2007. With a current position as the world’s fourth-largest economy (in nominal GDP), and an average annual growth of more than 8% for the last 30 years, only very few other countries in the world can match the business opportunities present in China today. (Unknown, General Considerations before Entering the Chinese Market) In order for an EU DIY company to succeed in the market they need to be aware of what direction the specific market they want to enter is developing economically in order to make a well-rounded assessme nt on whether it would be financially viable to enter and compete with firms already established in the market such as B&Q and Home Depot. (Doole & Lowe, 2001) The company may also face some long term challenges with the rapid development it could put a strain on resources such as the infrastructure and the migration rates within the country.There are also some very appealing political reforms that have taken place in China that any international company would be pleased about. The reform and opening up policy has been a major boost to the Chinese economy and political system. These reforms policies were put in place between 1979 and 1984 and it was aimed at improving Chinese relations with neighbouring countries. Despite the success of this open door policy many companies have been faced with difficult obstacles in relation to ownership rights and intellectual property.It was released this year that the CCP would decrease taxes for foreign companies entering China by 50% as they be lieved it would attracted more foreign investment in China. (Davies, 2012) â€Å"â€Å"The bigger picture is that because of the economic situation globally over the past couple of years, China sees the need to create a friendlier environment for foreign investors,† said Khoon Ming Ho of KPMG China. † (Davies, 2012) This is a major opportunity for EU based companies to enter the market at reduced tax rates. â€Å"Legal systems vary both in content and interpretation.A company is not just bound by the laws of its home country but also by those of its host country† (Doole & Lowe, 2001) In the west business is based on careful negotiation in contracts and agreements, they may be enforced by a court of law, however in China business is based on personal relationships, they call Guanxi in China. Two companies have to have guanxi before they can cooperate together, the specifics of a contract me be discussed after they have agreed in principle and this could cause has sle for a European DIY company who base their laws on the west.Technology is currently playing a major role in Chinese society and â€Å"is a major driving force both in international marketing and the move towards the global marketplace† (Doole & Lowe, 2001) China has the largest mobile phone and internet users with 420 million people using such services daily (Ireland, 2012), leaving the market place wide open for a new EU company to market their products via smartphones and internet. However there are some censorship issues in China at the moment, it is implemented by the Communist Party of China and goes for the whole mainland.Censorship is put into place to uphold and preserve the law of the Communist Party of China; it helps to stop unapproved  reformist,  separatist, â€Å"counter-revolutionary†, or religious ideas. It also stops the citizens of China educating themselves on the past, present and future let-downs of the Party. Marketing Mix Product With many new foreign products entering the Chinese market the consumers are becoming overwhelmed by the abundance and are relying on the image that the company has made in its producing country. â€Å"Each region in China has differences in economic growth, living standards and education.For foreign products, there are sharp differences between rural and urban attitudes. Typical Chinese consumers do not want to be amongst the first to try a new product. They are reluctant to be pioneers, especially for an expensive, unrecognised (in terms of brand), foreign product. † (Doole & Lowe, 2001) My considerations for an EU DIY company would be not to take your company’s products for granted, just because they have been very successful in the West does not mean they will be equally successful in the East.They must think of China as they would think of Europe, with its many different regions and its many different cultures it must adapt to what are culturally acceptable. They are entir ely interested in products that are going to suit their needs, as I spoke of before, when new apartments are bought they are just a shell and need a lot of investment and renovation, if a company could access the Chinese people’s needs in this regard they might have a large opportunity. Price â€Å"The  pricing  of  a  product  or  service  is  not  an  easy  decision  for  any  company.There  are  many issues  that  must  be  taken  into  consideration,  especially  when  a  multinational  company  is entering  a  new  international  market  such  as  China. † (Waller, 2012) The price must cover the manufacturing and distribution costs and in turn must not be too low as the company could sustain long term losses. There are many approaches that a company can take to decide on what marketing strategy to consider. For example; â€Å"Skimming: This is where the product is introduced in the market at a high price, and then lowered over time. (Waller, 2012) Apple Inc. is a company that is partial to this method as they believe that people are willing to pay extra to have the newest technology on the market. â€Å"Prestige: A company will use prestige, or premium pricing as a strategy where companies with luxury products or exclusive brand image/reputation will price the product at the high end of the price range. Customers knowing that they are buying high quality will expect to pay the higher price. † (Waller, 2012) Companies that use this such method are Louis Vuitton and Rolex.My sector specific considerations for an EU DIY company’s pricing strategy is to introduce new products at a lower price to suit the Chinese market, leaving them with a competitive advantage over the companies that are already established. Place â€Å"Rapidly improving infrastructure, high-tech facilities and an increasingly well trained workforce mean there is greater choice than ever befor e for investors seeking to expand, set up new regional headquarters or relocate key functions to new locations within China. (KPMG, 2012) The future of the company’s success can rely on the choice of location that you choose. â€Å"There is a growing number of young professionals with significant disposable income on the major coastal cities who aspire to higher standards of living and increased wages and thus are more likely to spend credit for mid to high range consumer products† (Ireland, 2012) With profit and manufacturing opportunities in major coastal cities this could lead to the start of a very successful DIY company.Promotion Marketing plays a significant part in any company’s success of their brands especially in the Chinese market. They must establish their target market for example what Tier/Class, Age, and Income the company will market to and then once they have found their target market they must evaluate their market potential. A successful marke ting campaign will recognise the various needs and wants of their target market; in China for example it varies from region to age to culture values.As I previously mentioned China's internet usage is the highest in the world, by advertising online you could reach and provide a huge segment of your target market with the brand information they need. Finally, based on my above predictions and opinions I have produced this SWOT analysis for a DIY company entering into the Chinese market. Strengths: * well established EU presence * Large Population and consumer base * wide variety of DIY products * High quality services * Cheaper than competitorsWeakness * Must incorporate Chinese culture * Less advertising and brand awareness than competitors * Little brand loyalty in China * Lack of innovation in product development for China * Lack of market information Opportunities * Property growth * Unfurnished houses * Income levels rapidly increasing * Wide internet usage * New middle class im pressionable/available * Cheaper manufacturing costs. Threats * Already some well established companies * Local cultures and values are unknown

1984 Essays (1037 words) - Nineteen Eighty-Four, Ingsoc, Newspeak

1984 1. Biography George Orwell is the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, a British writer with political conscience. He was born in India but educated in England at Eton College. He served the Indian Imperial Police in Burma from 1922 to 1927. In sick health, he returned to Europe to live in poverty as a struggling writer. Orwell joined the Republican forces in the Spanish civil war, and wrote a chilling account of this experience. He went on to write many books, mostly autobiographical, and achieved successes as a brilliant writer. 2. Synopsis The novel takes place in a theoretical and fictional dystopian totalitarian society. The story begins in London on April 4, 1984 after an atomic world war divides the world into three states. London is the capital of Oceania which is run by INGSOC(English Socialism). The controllers are called "The Party." The Party is divided into two sections, The Inner Party, and The Outer Party which are the "Rich" and the "middle-class." There is a third group of people called "The Proles," or "The Proletariat" which are the poor, and considered to be animals by the party. The main leader of this government is Big Brother. The novel is told in third person and partly first person, and is also divided into three parts. In the first part the main character and his conflicts with the world he lives in are revealed. Winston Smith is a bureaucrat who works for the government by altering history at the Ministry of Truth. He begins to ponder the reason things are so bad and commits a terrible crime. In the second part, he falls in love with Julia, and is taken in by a man named O'Brien, a member of the anti-party society called the Brotherhood. O'Brien turns out to be a true member of The Inner Party. Winston and Julia are captured and hauled off to the Ministry of Love (Minilove in Newspeak). Here, during the final part of the story, Winston is incarcerated and rehabilitated by The Party. O'Brien constantly tells Winston that Winston is crazy, and that he is trying to help him. During these sessions he reveals the true purposes of INGSOC. The party's goals can be summed up in their mottoes. "WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH(Orwell, 7)." 3. Theme Under the rule of INGSOC, members of The Party are engrossed in their work. It is essential that the government keeps its people happy in order to avoid rebellions and "thought crimes." Winston's greatest downfall springs from his only pleasure, his work. He found it easy to become lost in the intricacies of his duties guided only by the principles of INGSOC and his best estimate of what the Party wanted him to say. A typical task might include correcting an article in the Times, written entirely in Newspeak. In one instance he reviews an article which read: times 3.12.83 reporting bb dayorder doubleplusungood refs unpersons rewrite fullwise upsub antefiling(Dr. Tom Costa., 1). In Oldspeak (or standard English) this might be rendered: The reporting of Big Brother's Order for the Day in the Times of December 3rd 1983 is extremely unsatisfactory and makes references to nonexistent persons. Rewrite it in full and submit your draft to higher authority before filing(Dr. Tom Costa., 1). The ability of Winston to do this job can be accredited to the control of his government. Through the use of various techniques such as propaganda and the "Thought Police," Big Brother is able to not only brainwash his people, but also to reprogram them to love and serve him. 4. Structural Feature How does Orwell use distortion and irony to reveal the true motive of the IGNSOC government? By distorting the motive of a government into three elusively ironic statements, "WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH(Orwell, 7)." Orwell is able to convey the reality of IGNSOC's goals. "IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH" is the basic idea that ignorant people are content people. The Outer Party is kept ignorant because the truth is adjustable, and the Proles are kept content with ineffectual liberties such as love, sex, and families. "FREEDOM IS SLAVERY" breathes insecurity into the individualist. It implies that as an individual you will sink, as a

Evidence based approach on hand washing by nurses Essay

Evidence based approach on hand washing by nurses - Essay Example The product should contain at least 60% alcohol and user should follow the following steps in hand-washing: Routine hygienic hand washing for health care workers This routine was developed to ensure optimum cleaning of disease pathogens Use warm water to wet your hands Apply antiseptic soap containing chlorohexidine work up a good lather of the soap applying with vigorous contact on all surfaces of the hands especially nails and between fingers Washing should last for at least 15 seconds followed by thorough rinsing in clean water and avoid splashing Dry hands using a disposable blotting towel and discard it 1.1 Background This evidence based approach is based on studies published by centre for disease control and prevention (CDC) guideline (2002) for hand-washing and hospital environmental control that strongly recommend hand-washing using appropriate cleansing agent by care givers. The guidelines recommend alcohol-based gels as opposed to medicated soap and plain water for hygienic hand-washing by HCWs. Maintenance of a hygienic environment for the patient is recommended by WHO (2009) guidelines suggesting that clean care is safer care based on WHO patient protection policy. When microbial develop an antibiotic resistance is developed, they can be transferred and spread through bacteria strains very rapidly. Studies indicate that in England and Wales, less than 2% of Staphylococcus aureus strains were methicillin-resistant in 1990 butthis figures had changed by 2002 42% of Staphylococcus aureus strains were methicillin-resistant (Alexander 2010). An estimated 300,000 cases of hospital-acquired MRSA occur each year in England leading to 5,000 deaths. MRSA is a leading cause of death ahead of HIV, TB and viral hepatitis (Boucher 2008). MRSA infection could be reported within 48 hours of admission to a hospital (Jones 2007) resulting to 43% of all skin infections reported in U.S. In 2005 in the United States reported 368,600 hospital admissions for MRSA which in cluded 94,000 cases of invasive infections. MRSA complications resulted in 18,650 deaths. The number of MRSA fatalities in 2005 surpassed the number of fatalities from hurricane Katrina and AIDS combined and is substantially higher than fatalities at the peak of the U. S. polio epidemic (Evans 2008). 2. Formulation of the Question (step1) 2.1 Concept of evidence based practice Evidence based practice has been with the health service for a very long time. Craig (2012, p. 5) opines that evidence based practice has existed since the early 19th century. The only difference with what is currently practiced however has to do with the fact that in those days, there was not as much documentation of the system and research on the issue as there is today. Today, it is known that evidence based practice has become a paradigm shift in healthcare work whereby service providers make use of modern best evidence in their decision making process about patient care that involves the use of the profes sional’s acquired expertise, patient preferences and vaules, as well as the systematic appraisal of existing research to an assigned clinical question (Bernardo, 2007, p. 375). Sackett (1996) also

Marketing through Online Social Networking Communities Essay

Marketing through Online Social Networking Communities - Essay Example It is about reaching your customers, both existing and potential, at the right time, in the place with the right tactics. This essay will essentially deal with what social networking communities are, the ramifications that they have on their customers who are also users of these social networking communities and the marketing and brand related activities they employ to target this segment. Social Networking Communities-a phenomenon Very aptly put by Jeremiah Owyang (2007), Online communities group together people who share similar interests and are involved in the exchange of information and connected over the Web. Online social network sites are a broader category of the same nature that allow individuals to connect with people known or unknown to them by creating profiles through which they manage their contacts and interact with them. The differences between the different social media networks is blurring with time with the only differentiating factor the level of restriction enab led on the community or site that determines the kind of members who join it. Facebook, Friendster, MySpace, LinkdIn, Cyworld, Ning, Spruz, among many others, are examples of such communities and sites. Social Networking sites, over the past century, have evolved from being general social sites to more specific sites, such that one can now find an online social networking community for virtually anything including friendship sites, alumni networks, career related and hobby specific. The features these sites boast are becoming more and more sophisticated. As users become more savvy their needs and means to stay connected also become sophisticated which pushes for these sites to enable features such as photo-sharing, video-sharing and private messaging. Most social networking sites become a phenomenon due to their sheer nature, however, it is very common to find people segregated on the basis of nationality, gender, sexual orientation, age interests and so on (Boyd & Ellison, 2007). A nother important differentiating factor of online social networking communities is their being anchored around people or interests. The trend in today’s social networking landscape indicates that these sites and communities are evolving to form well integrated ‘egocentric’ networks that defy the concept of small closed groups (Boyd & Ellison, 2007 cited in Wellman, 1988, p. 37). Boyd (2006) purports that these sites behave as â€Å"networked public spaces† (Boyd & Ellison, 2007) in the virtual world that allow users to interact as they wish even when it is not possible to do so in the offline or real public spaces. Online social networking communities therefore, serve to bridge the gaps between the online and offline worlds of its users, making them a central part of their lives. Marketing in the Social Media Landscape The rising trend in social networking sites has important ramifications on businesses and marketers. Each day as users grow exponentially, more time and attention is dedicated to social networking sites subsequently increasing their monetary worth. Businesses have discovered that marketing through social networking communities contains a landmine of opportunities, not to make money per say, but to engaging customers. People on social

The Financial Performance of Seward Inc Assignment - 18

The Financial Performance of Seward Inc - Assignment Example The Liquidity ratio of the company is below the Industry ratio, which means that the company is less liquid i.e. the company must raise the liquidity in order to gain the trust of the creditors. The liquidity ratio shows the capability of a company to pay off its current liabilities. The company is lacking in the days in receivables and days in inventory compared to the Industry ratios. The company must be reduced in order to generate more efficiency in the processes. The Operating profit margin is less than the Industry margin this explains that the company is doing a good job. However, it is generating a low return on its assets as it could be due to the large value of assets employed as compared to the industry. The company is relying on debt financing and the ratio of debt is higher than that of the industry (36%). The company must introduce Equity Financing. The equity is well organized by the managers and the returns generated are higher than the Industry average.  Ã‚  

Study Framework Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Study Framework - Research Paper Example This essay stresses that  it is crystal clear that, other than the definition of pain, the theoretical framework fails to describe and define the concepts of interest. Concepts of interest are symbolic or image representation of abstract ideas. They are major components of theories thus conveys the abstract ideas within the theories.  The author just uses the several concepts such as touch and pain, stimuli, impulses, neurons, pathways, responsivity, synapse, innocuous, neurons, intensity, skin, noxious among others.From this paper it is clear that  the framework presents the relationships among the concepts and such relationships include: Firstly, specialized sense organs encode pain and touch stimuli. Secondly, impulses for every modality travel along distinct pathways. Impulses project to pain and touch centers in the brain. Intensity affects pathways for stimuli because the number of impulses that are present in neurons determines the intensity of a stimulus. Also, low leve ls of activity encode innocuous stimuli while high level of activity encodes noxious stimuli. Somatic sense organs are responsive to a wide range of stimulus intensities. Finally, different sense organs tend to have distinct levels of responsivity to stimuli. The patter of activity or a population code of neurons encodes the location and modality of the stimulus.  The map or model of the framework is provided for clarity. The review provides a diagram and a conceptual framework for each of the four most influential theories of pain perception.

Western civilization.The Atlantic slave trade,protestant revival and Essay

Western civilization.The Atlantic slave trade,protestant revival and the two revolutions - Essay Example Atlantic Slave Trade was a direct consequence of the practice of slavery that existed in Medieval Europe and the colonial world. With the discovery of the Americas, slavery and slave trade became more pervasive since the European colonists needed cheap labor. Atlantic Slave Trade was a trade phenomenon that started during the 16th century. The Portuguese were the pioneers of this trade system. Soon, several European powers followed the techniques and trade routes of the Portuguese. Slave trade began to flourish rapidly as the European powers were rivaling each other to establish vast overseas colonial empires. Discussion As Christopher Columbus had discovered the New World, Europeans began to migrate towards the West in the search of fortune. They gathered in the North and South Americas and rapidly annihilated the native peoples. In this way, communities like Sioux Indians, Incas, Aztecs, Red Indians, etc. were cornered. Now, the European settlers needed to clear the forests, create towns and cities, and exploit the natural resources of the new found continents. Hence they needed cheap labor. (McKay et al, 2011) Europeans were colonizing in Africa too and had defeated the Arabs on a number of occasions. Hence, they carried on their imperial expansion across Africa and conquered several countries. Here, they captured and/or kidnapped large numbers of Africans and enslaved them. These slaves were transported as merchandise units to the New World so that they could be used as cheap labor for plantations, agriculture, clearing the forests and several jobs like that. Hence, it can be deduced that the reasons for both the beginning and success of Atlantic Slave Trade were the same: The theory of demand and supply. The innocent Africans were carried away from the present day countries like Sierra Leon, Senegal, Nigeria, etc. and used as bonded labors throughout their lives. Along with this, they were subjected to horrible torture and life conditions by their masters, who mostly neglected even their minimum well being. Freed slaves like Olaudah Equiano later came out with the accounts of these atrocities. Direct and indirect experiences about the tortures meted out to the African slaves started to build opinion against slave trade among the Europeans and White Americans themselves. Ultimately, humanitarian people in Europe and America abolished slavery and slave trade in a step by step manner by the end of 19th century. (McKay et al, 2011) Conclusion Atlantic Slave Trade was one of the most heinous crimes of world history. According to McKay et al (2011), â€Å"The Atlantic slave trade grew enormously as colonial plantations used slaves to produce commodities for trade.† Yet, it should be kept in mind that the Europeans and colonists themselves came forward to abolish it. First, the British Empire declared slavery illegal and then the American Civil War delivered the death blow to this practice. Thus, â€Å"public outcry at slaveryâ€⠄¢s horrors† (McKay et al, 2011) was the main reason behind the decline of Atlantic Slave Trade. Question 2 Pick one group in the â€Å"Protestant Revival† and talk about the aims, ideas, goals, and people behind it in 300-500 words. Answer Introduction Protestantism had originated in Medieval Europe. Thinkers and reformers like Martin Luther began the Protestant Movement, which primarily aimed to establish the right of the common people to learn and understand religion with more openness, freedom, and humane values. The European immigrants to America brought these ideas from Europe and looked for religious emancipation in the New World too. During the middle of 18th century, the First Great Awakening of Protestant Revival took place that was going to change

Harley Davidsons International Business Strategy Essay

Harley Davidsons International Business Strategy - Essay Example I would consider my expansion in two major countries that are attracting many other international firms; India and China. The two countries hold a lot of potential due to their massive population factor that increases the number of people who would be interested in buying the Harley Davidson Bike. The decision of Harley Davidson of not producing overseas might have some through thinking behind it but I evaluate this as a step backward by not exploring international production facilities that would surely decrease the cost of production per unit for Harley Davidson bike due to cheap labor available internationally like in countries China; Taiwan, Korea etc With International manufacturing facilities; Harley Davidson can not only take advantage of the cheap labor cost but also other aspects that affect the cost of production e.g. energy cost; Capital cost and the region’s local laws and tariffs that might facilitate Harley Davidson. Through International Manufacturing bases; Harley Davidson can also make effective measures in maintaining their inventories for the nearby target Markets. The disadvantage of Harley Davidson opening an overseas manufacturing facility can be a possible slide down of high quality that Harley Davidson has maintained with its product line as Quality standards are much hard to manage from a distance far from the central control. The movement from product to services has affected positively for the company. The sense of adventure that a Harley customer gets from the bike is well tapped by the company. Product maintenance service; after sale customer service and creating accessories other than those related to the bike itself has created a feeling of belongingness to the â€Å"Harley Owner Group†. The major competitive advantage that UPS has is the constant introduction of modern technology.

Teaching Vocabulary Using Original Video and Sound Effects to Young Learner Essay Example for Free

Teaching Vocabulary Using Original Video and Sound Effects to Young Learner Essay Putu Darma Putra (2013) in his seminar says that â€Å"World is words, how nice and influence they are; appears in a dictionary. † Words are really powerful for good and evil. They can transform in the hands of someone who knows how to choose and combine them. As we know, English as an international language has an important role in dealing with the world. For dealing with the world we need to deliver our thought by using words or vocabularies. We can imagine how powerful vocabulary is. As well known, vocabulary is the knowledge of words and word meanings. It is very necessary to teach vocabulary during English lesson. The reason why vocabulary is taught at school is because students need to improve their vocabulary to use in the real life. Students speak English in their daily life; they are speaking with other person vocabularies. If students have a small stock of vocabularies, this would be obstacles when they are talking to someone else or reading English textbook. So, it is really important to teach vocabulary intensively. There are many ways of teaching and learning vocabulary. The rules and strategies of teaching vocabulary items in the classroom should be innovative and proficient. Research shows that the key strategy to teach vocabulary effectively is by using a media that can make students are interested in the lesson. Using teaching media in teaching and learning process can motivate and develop student’s vocabulary mastery. According to Shahla Yassael (2012), teaching language skills through mechanical exercises and traditional fill-in-the-blank, true/ false, and multiple-choice assessments does not interest students as much as we expect. Almost of students get bored when they just read text book and more of them just read the words without know what the meaning of it is. Poor readers usually read less, because reading is difficult and frustrating for them. It means that their vocabularies are limited. Teachers have to know how to help and facilitate students to learn about vocabulary knowledge using useful words or vocabulary that will help them achieve or figure out meaning of the words by them selves. This means that the words frequently appear in their daily life. Teacher also should find the best strategies that useful both in the classroom and out-side of the classroom. Teaching strategies can use a media as supporting items. Teaching vocabulary using media can create a meaningful context, which can be delivering and introduce any key vocabulary that may be unfamiliar. The media that can use to teach vocabulary is using poems and favorite song. It is supported by Caroline Linse (2006) that songs and poems are an excellent way to begin or end a lesson. Teachers usually use poems and songs in the beginning of lesson to warm up students. It is better to choose an appropriate poems or songs that related to the content of the lesson. At the end of lesson, the better way to cooling down the situation after giving lesson is singing song and repeat it in different verse. It can be doing while the students are waiting the bell to ring. Songs and poems are usually use for early children education, or we call it young learner. They are easily to imagine nouns, and don’t have literacy skills. So, they only can recognize nouns. Young learners also need concrete vocabulary. It means the vocabulary that they learn should be definite and specific. They also need to repeat the words again and again in new context. Young learners are easily to feel bored during lesson, because they love to move as they sing the song. By using poems and song, they can learn the lesson in a fun way. In this case, teacher can use props or action that can make them remember the words and meaning. The props and actions are also making them know and remember the context that shows in each verse. Teacher also can change some words in the poem and favorite song lyric into a picture, so young learner can understand the meaning of the vocabulary. Here, the writer offers poems and favorite songs as a great tool in the teaching vocabulary, especially when the teacher wants to introduce new vocabulary items to the students. Teachers can use this strategy to help learners acquire vocabulary items that they see and hear. This paper is focused on the effort to solve the problems about young learners’ vocabulary mastery. One of the way to improve their vocabulary mastery effectively, actively, and creatively is by using poems and favorite songs. By using poems and favorite songs, students are able to improve their vocabularies mastery while enjoy the lesson using a fun way of learning. Using poems and favorite songs, the teacher can deliver the vocabulary knowledge using an interesting media to the students. It is expected to improve their vocabulary more easily, so they can understand the meaning of a reading text easily.

Intercultural Views With Appiah And Kimmel Cultural Studies Essay

Intercultural Views With Appiah And Kimmel Cultural Studies Essay Have you ever agreed with two pieces that were the same but so different? These are the type of feelings one may have after reading the Piece Moral Disagreement by Kwame Anthony Appiah and the piece Gender Class, and Terrorism by Michael S Kimmel. Appiahs article is very open minded and grounded. Appiah (2006) focuses on moral theory within culture. Appiah argues that formative denotation of culture is ultimately preceded by the intellectual interchange. Kimmels piece focuses on gender and culture. He looks at the small details in gender and terrorism that are similar. I believe that Both Kimmel and Appiah give valid points on intercultural ethnic understanding, cultural diversity and historic taboos to back up arguments on culture; however Appiahs philosophy is more useful on the aspect of understanding culture than Kimmels. Both Kimmel and Appiah focus their piece on intercultural arguments. Kimmel talks about Timothy McVeigh, a racist white supremacist and the Taliban policy that he believes both have intercultural taboos. He said Their anger often fixes on others-women, members of minority groups, immigrants, gay men and lesbian (p. 451). Kimmel believes theses terrorist want to re-masculinize men and feminize women. Appiah focuses on the cosmopolitan view of different cultures and societies. He talks about taboos within our cultures and our gender. Appiah is very realistic on his philosophy that cultures may never agree but we need to understand them. Appiah expects disagreements within intercultural communication; for example, he says, and the most fundamental level of disagreement occurs when one party to a discussion invokes a concept that the other simply doesnt have (p.380). Kimmel is trying to pinpoint evidence, and he gives an example of intercultural tactics that could explain the motivation of terrorist acts. For example, Kimmel links Timothy Mcviegh and the terrorists of September 11 in the same class. He says, Virtually all were under twenty-five, educated, lower middle class or middle class, downwardly mobile (p. 451). Kimmel gives his reader intercultural resources and information to help pin point what to look for in a terrorist through culture. Appiah has a more open mind with culture. He uses the concepts thick and thin: thick means detailed and thin represents universal. Appiah would most likely recommend to Kimmel that we will never realize or understand all of the different taboos within culture. Kimmel and Appiah have a realistic understanding of cultural diversity. Appiah uses emphasis on cross-cultural conversation as a mean of promoting mutual understanding. Appiah uses a realistic example: to apply the concept of rudeness, for example, you have to think of the act youre criticizing as a breach of good manners or as lacking the appropriate degree of concern for the felling of others. I say, thank you ironically, when you accidentally step on my foot, implying that you did it deliberately. Thats rude. Thanking a person, without irony, for something that hes done for you isnt (p. 380). Kimmel argues that cultural diversity that opposes globalization and the spread of western values can lead to violence. He quotes, the resulting anger is naturally directed first against their rulers, and then against those whom they see as keeping those ruler in power for selfish reasons (p. 452). Both authors could agree that we have a lot of differences within our humanity. Appiah shows historic examples of taboos within his Ghanaian background, while Kimmel gives the reader valid sources of taboos within culture. For instance, Appiah shares the different family kinship in the Akan society in Ghana. He says, Consider the abusua, this is a group of people related by common ancestry (p.381). Appiah then explains that your membership in the abusua depends only on who your mother is, your father is irrelevant. This is a great example of the many cultural differences that would be weird or un-moral to western culture; however, I believe that Appiah would want his reader to try to understand there is no right or wrong way. Kimmel gives examples of the hate that is brought in by anti-globalization politics. He quotes Peter Mardsden, has observed that the Taliban is a desperate attempt to keep out that other world, and protect Afghan women from influences that could weaken the society from within (p.452). Both Appiah and Kimmel show great examples of cultural d ifferences. Overall both authors have strong arguments, however I believe that Appiah philosophy is more useful for one to understand culture. Kimmel and Appiah both point out a lot of differences within cultures, but Kimmel focuses on small details within cultures to pinpoint or understand terrorist acts with globalization. Appiah shows the reader examples of the differences between cosmopolitans and Universalist. He says cosmopolitans suppose that all cultures have enough overlap in their vocabulary of values to begin a conversation. But they dont suppose, like some Universalists, that we could all come to agreement if only we had the same vocabulary (p. 387). Appiah then backs up his argument by showing an example of a journalist interview. He says a journalist interviews a foreign dictator, someone who is known for his abuses of human rights. (Journalist) She speaks differentially, frequently calling him your Excellency (p. 387). He then sums his point up by saying is this politeness or is i t a craven abdication of the journalist obligation to press for the trust? Can it be both? If it is politeness, is it appropriate, in these circumstances, to be polite? Appiah successfully uses strong examples to back up his argument stating that politeness, morals and taboos differ for us all; while Kimmel uses a universal approach that Appiah would categorize as thin. Appiah has a stronger piece with stronger evidence that makes his piece more understandable for the reader, while Kimmel has some evidence that is weak. A Kimmel quote, (Mohammed Atta) was he gay? Was he a repressed homosexual, too ashamed of his sexuality to come out? Such innuendoes are based on no more than a few circumstantial tidbits about his life. He was slim, sweet-faced, neat, meticulous, a snazzy dresser (p.452). Such allegations are irrelevant because there is no strong evidence to prove any homosexuality. He also brings an example of Adolf Hitler he quotes He argues that any of Hitlers policies-such as the killing of longtime colleague and avowed homosexual Ernst Rohm, or even the systematic persecution and execution of gay men in concentration camps-were, in fact prompted by a desire to conceal his own homosexuality (p.453). Again there is no concrete evidence to prove any homosexuality with Hitler. Hitler was a sick disturbed terrorist whom kill thousands that were not gay so how could we know any difference of his killings. Overall both authors brought different arguments from a different prospective on culture. Being that Appiah is a philosopher, he brings knowledge, values, and wisdom, within fundamental problems in his argument. Kimmel, a sociologist, he argued with the study of human behavior. I would recommend both pieces to any reader who would like to look at different theories, but I would highly recommend Appiahs piece because it is reasonable and clear on human intercultural civilization.