Reaction Outcome Evaluation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Reaction Outcome Evaluation - Assignment Example As per Kirkpatrick’s Reaction Outcome Evaluation, the first level of evaluation would be to identify how the participants responded to the training program. One can say that this is the most important part of the evaluation as to pin-point at which area the program is needed to be modified. This is despite the fact that a number of reviewers are not agreeing at this level and acknowledging individuality as the reason. As the latter statements being declared, the evaluation system by Kirkpatrick would need tedious observation and an equal amount of understanding before one could conclude if the training conducted was successful or not (Rae, 2002). In evaluating the training program conducted, there seems to be a lack of interest within the employees themselves. One reason for this could be the fact that there are fewer interactions between participants in the program as the training was computer-based. Another factor, which could have affected the attitude of the employees, would be the fact that the training was to be done during an available time for an employee. Instead of enjoying a well-deserve break, two hours of it would be spent doing the computer-based training program. Also, if a module is not that much understood by the employee, only a limited number of resource person can be approached with an immediate response. This fact does affect the comprehension of an employee as the concern was not answered in a timely manner. Another reason is that, a person can just scan through the module without fully understanding it just to say that the employee has finished the training. The reason for the failure of the program wa s it was not properly supervised (Toney, 2002). Though paper-less training could be more practical, it should be properly executed and supervised. As per the recently concluded training, the execution was not on the basis of training

The theme in The Lord Of The Flies by William Golding Essay Example for Free

The theme in The Lord Of The Flies by William Golding Essay The pristine stillness of the sandy knoll was set off by the crystal shine of the waves slowly rolling toward shore. The waves gently lapped at the pure white sands of an island in the Pacific Ocean. The only object that stood out of from the perfectly even surface that only an undisturbed course of nature could create, at first glance appeared to be only a rock. The rough spiky surface of the object made the glass-like smoothness seem like a mahogany table with a nail driven into it. If one were to pass by it on a lonely beach they would think it only to be an odd stone, but if the shell were to be flipped over, it would reveal an aurora of pinks and creams. The smoothness to the touch is unsurpassed in almost any element of creation. Many are fooled by the unsurprising outside but the few who take the time to examine it closely are treated a sight incredible beauty. None could guess that this shell would play a strategic role in the survival of a group of boys stranded on that very island peace and euphoria. The theme of this book is the inevitable decline of civilization without rules and order. In almost every thing we do there is an order and society and everyone has a place in that society. A huge example could be government where the head of government rests mainly with the president and he decides how the country should run. While on a Soccer team there is a captain who decides many things for the team and how the game should be played. Its not always a leader but it could be a symbol of leadership, a scepter is a symbol of the kings power and it granted the right to state the persons opinion. Just like the scepter was a leadership symbol, and played an essential role in the society of the kingdom. The conch plays a vital role in the order of the boys society. The sound of the conch reverberated throughout the island and soon children the thick jungle and beach became alive with running children. Ralph and Piggy are the first ones to find the conch. From the very start the conch is the thing that brings the boys together and gets organized. At the first meeting of the children who were stranded on the island, Ralph began by making rules and putting to the vote that should become leader. Another rule, which was clearly defined, was that whoever was holding the conch had the right to say anything that he wished. Throughout the rest of the story the conch is used mainly to call meetings. During these meetings whomever had the conch had the right to speak. The conch was like a scepter, which granted rights to the speaker. Ralph and Jack, the rival leaders, one represents order and civility under desperate situations, the type of society and logic that would have made the best British proud. The other leader led his group the inevitable social decline of a society with no regulations or boundaries. The wild savagery of this group was displayed in their brutal murder of both Simon and Piggy who posed no harm to any of them. Every modern civilization has a symbol of justice and supremacy. The conch is the symbol of Ralphs tribe which looked for ways to be rescued and survival instead of becoming uncontrollably wild. Jack, who was the chief of the other tribe, immortalized the pig and hunting, the killing and eating of it. When Jack formed his own band, it is a turning point in the story. Ralphs plan of survival and rescue becomes threatened and eventually destroyed by the escalating savagery and cruelty of the savage tribe. It started innocently, almost a game. Jack and the choirboys were going to be the hunters for the boys stranded on the island. Unfortunately the pig hunting became an obsession and when they finally did kill a pig with their primitive means they began to act primitively. This is illustrated by when the boys during their feast at the castle rock failed to recognize the conch as the supreme authority. Piggy said right before he died: Stop it you are acting like a bunch of kids. Piggy was referring to what we would call terrible two-year-olds. They thought that they knew better, and like most two year-olds led them only to trouble and they always think that they are the authority on every issue. That is exactly what the hunters were doing, not listening to authority. They refused to pay attention to the voice of wisdom (Piggy) and not only did not listen but destroyed Piggy and the conch. Throughout the book Ralph had blown the conch to assemble meetings. They had used it as a symbol of authority, something to give the boys a sense of order and dignity. When Jack didnt listen to the call of wisdom all order and society collapsed. The theme of this book is the inevitable decline of civilization without rules and order. In almost every thing we do there is an order and society and everyone has a place in that society. A huge example could be government where the head of government rests mainly with the president and he decides how the country should run. While on a Soccer team there is a captain who decides many things for the team and how the game should be played. Its not always a leader but it could be a symbol of leadership, a scepter is a symbol of the kings power and it granted the right to state the persons opinion. Just like the scepter was a leadership symbol, and played an essential role in the society of the kingdom. The conch plays a vital role in the order of the boys society. This story clearly illustrated the fragility of civilization. The conch represents the systematic order that hold it all together. As was exemplified in this story man can easily go back to their wild unruly state. Draft horses can illustrate this point, The only thing that holds them from doing their own way is the bit in the horses mouth. Even though this piece of metal is puny compared to the half-ton of meat and muscle, without this vital part of equipment the horse would have no idea what to do or where to go. And all order and discipline would go to the dogs.

Sampling Methods Essays -- Statistics

Sampling is the framework on which any form of research is carried out. A suitable sample that meets the inclusion and exclusion criteria of a research design must be chosen from a given population to carry out studies. In this essay comparison is made between stratified random sampling and convenience sampling. The population on which the researcher is interested in carrying out his or her research may be too large, therefore a suitable sample which can represent the population in correct proportion must be chosen. Restraints such as limitation of time, resources and many other factors necessitate the selection of a sample for research purpose so that better quality data is obtained from it and that the researcher can make statement about the population he or she is interested in (French,S et al.,2001,).The method of sampling should be cost effective, less time consuming and be simple in design to attract participants but care should be taken that accurate and valid data can be col lected. The sample on which the study is actually done is derived from the population which is accessible to the researcher; the study sample may include all of the accessible population or a fraction of it and this accessible population is a part of the target population. The target population is the collection of cases to which generalization can be made and on which the researcher is ultimately interested in (Sim,J and Wright,C. 2000). Hence the entire process of collection of samples for the indented study can be termed as sampling. Sampling is broadly divided into probability sampling; in which the selection of samples are done at random and non- probability sampling; where selection of samples is entirely dependent on the researcher’s choice and ... ...ana, M., (1997). Research for the health professional: A practical guide. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. Bowling, A., (2001). Research methods in health: Investigating health and health services. 2nd ed. Berkshire: Open University press. Buddhakulsomsiri, J. Parthanadee, P.,(2008).Stratified random sampling for estimating billing accuracy in health care system. Health care management science, vol.11 (1), pp.41-54. Available through:medline(accessed 25 0ct 2010). French, S. Reynolds, F. Swain, J., (2001). Practical research: A guide for therapist. 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann. Portney, L, G. Watkins, M, P.,( 2009). Foundation of clinical research: Application to practice. 3rd ed. Upper saddle River, N.J: Pearson prentice hall. Sim, j. Wright, C.,( 2000). Research in health care: Concepts, Design and Methods. Cheltenham: Stanley thrones (publisher) Ltd.

Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities Essay

Abstract Hospitals can be set up as nonprofit or for-profit facilities. The differences between the nonprofit and for profit hospitals will be discussed. Hospitals have experienced different trends in the last thirty years. This paper will identify at least three major trends that have occurred within the hospital sector. Three examples that describe and differentiate the roles of hospitals and nursing homes are providing long-term care. The conclusion of this paper will be a brief critiquing of the current state of long-term care policy in the United States. Hospitals and Long-Term Care Facilities The differences between nonprofit and for-profit hospitals: A characteristic as stated by Williams and Torrens (2008) of nonprofit hospitals is that these hospitals do not function under the realm of regular corporate law but under a special provision of the corporate law in each state. It is also noted that nonprofit hospitals also function under special federal and state tax provisions because of recognition of their community service function. Other characteristics of nonprofit hospitals are they do not have owners and their governing body is a community based board that has complete authority over operations. Nonprofit hospitals, in general, are not required to pay most of the taxes at federal, state and local levels. Under section 501C (3) of the federal tax code, the non-profits are exempt. Due to this exemption status donations made by individuals are tax deductible. Nonprofit entities are not only expected to care for the destitute and poor but they are also expected to provi de a variety of services to the community (Williams & Torrens, 2008). Now that the characteristics of the non-profit have been outlined the for-profit entities make-up will be discussed. For profit entities, unlike nonprofit ones, have owners. The owners are issued stocks and these stocks reflect the owner’s equity position. â€Å"For- profit  entities, including hospitals, may be publicly or privately held† (Williams & Torrens, 2008, p. 186). Stocks for entities for-profit that are publicly held are made available for anyone to purchase. Publicly held for-profit entities are plagued with various accountability and regulation rules that are supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission at both federal and state level. Williams and Torrens (2008) state that privately held for-profit entities issue stock but the difference in public versus private issuing of stock is that the private for-profit stock is not available for purchase by the general public. For-profit hospitals, in the past, have been owned by the physicians who work in them but due to the astronomical costs of such expenditures as: building, maintaining and operating a hospital in today’s market the trend of physician owned for-profit hospitals is almost extinct. The majority of for-profit hospitals in the United States are part of a large multihospital chain. The multi chains of hospitals as stated by Williams & Torrens (2008) are publicly traded. For-profit hospitals do not serve only the community but they are also expected to operate at a profit so that the equity investors receive a return on their capital (Williams & Torrens, 2008). Three major trends that have occurred within the hospital sector. One of three major trends that have occurred within the hospital sector is the increase in specialty hospitals. The specialty hospitals focus on such areas as cancer and heart disease as well as profitable fields like orthopedic surgery. The specialty hospitals as stated by Williams & Torrens (2008) show an increase of being owned partially by the physicians who practice in them. Some would make the argument that the specialty hospitals provide the best care while others see these hospitals as entities that â€Å"siphon off insured and relatively healthier patients leaving the less profitable and more complicated cases to community general hospitals† (Williams & Torrens, 2008, p. 194). Concerns raised by the physicians’ ownership of the specialty hospitals include but not limited to are that the financial incentives will affect the treatment decisions (i.e. diagnostic services) and also that the physicians will treat the less complicated but yet more profitable health care cases and leave the biggest burden of caring for the less fortunate, financially challenged and uninsured individuals to the community and public hospitals (Williams & Torrens, 2008) Another trend that has occurred within the hospital sector  is in the field of technology. â€Å"Technology has shaped the physical and operational structures of hospitals, has affected the lives of patients and families, and has provided a delivery vehicle for physicians in clinical practice† (Williams & Torrens, 2008, p. 195). It is technological research that allows for the services hospitals provide for example anesthesia and antisepsis laid the ground work for surgical care and imaging technology has impacted effective intervention for individuals seeking care in a hospital atmosphere. Technology has affected a vast array of individuals: obstetric patients, those in need of pediatric care and terminally ill patients just to name a few. Advanced technology has led to development â€Å"increased specialization, clinical practices, expansion of specialized services, new medical and surgical specialties, and treatments for many diseases for which little curative or other care could be provided† (Williams & Torrens, 2008, p. 195). While continued advance technology leads toward continuous improved health care it also brings along with it problems, especially for the hospitals. The hospitals are immensely gratified by the increased technology and its application to improve overall general health but along with the benefits comes complications. Hospitals are expected to provide the most up to date technology but at the most effective pricing to please their customers, patients and physicians. This presents a major challenge to hospitals (Williams & Torrens, 2008) Academic medical centers are another trend that has occurred within the hospital sector. Academic medical centers are composed of medical schools and thei r primary teaching hospitals. The â€Å"academic medical centers provide tertiary, secondary, and primary care but have a principal focus on biomedical research, teaching of medical residents and medical students, and often an array of other professional training, research, and services activities† (Williams & Torrens, 2008, p. 196). Unlike other hospitals, the academic medical center does not have top priorities of financial efficiency and customer satisfaction. Great demands are placed on these facilities by physicians and researchers to provide the latest technology and staffing for the assurance of teaching and clinical investigation. According to Williams and Torrens (2008) the long-term strengths and successes of our health care systems depends largely on the success of the academic medical centers to achieve their mission. Three examples that describe and differentiate the roles of hospitals and nursing  homes in providing long term care. The nursing home facility is for patients who need extended care because they are very sick or unable to function without continued nursing and supportive services in a formal health care facility. These patients are sick and/or are in need of assistance but they are not ill enough that they require the intense treatment and care offered at a hospital. According to Will iams and Torrens (2008) about forty-seven percent of all nursing home facility care is paid for by Medicaid and residents and their families pay approximately one-third of the cost for the facility services. In recent years the length of time one stays at a nursing home has greatly decreased. Even with the decrease in stay there is still a fifty percent chance of an individual in his/her lifetime having to spend some time in a nursing facility. Both of these previous mentioned trends is reflective of the nursing facilities moving toward becoming more technologically sophisticated as well as being able to function as more of a short term temporary residence for patients in between the hospital and going home (Williams & Torrens, 2008). Hospitals are designed to take care of the more acute problems and emergencies. Hospitals provide a wide array of outpatient services. The outpatient services range from â€Å"rehabilitation to mental health counseling to outpatient surgery† (Williams & Torrens, 2008, p. 205). Unlike the nursing home facility the primary source of payment for hospital stay and services is Medicare and private insurance and very little payment comes from individuals. The current state of long-term care policy in the United States. Medicare provides financing for medical care for nearly all elderly Americans and others with certain disabilities but this does not hold true for long-term care. The majority of individuals needing long term must depend on family and friends and sometimes the community they live in. There is a lot of work to be done in the United States as it relates to the financing of long term care for every needy individual (Williams & Torrens, 2008). There is no clear and precise policy in the United States for long-term care but there are different provisions within Medicare and Medicaid that provide for long-term services for some (not all) individuals in need of it. While the financing of long-term care has been and continues to be a challenge for the United States there have been strives in the care coordination of long-term patients. The care coordination that has emerged through the years for long  term care patients appears to be relatively effective. â€Å"Quality is enhanced when information is communicated among all the professionals caring for a person, and efficiencies are achieved when duplication of services is avoided† (Williams & Torrens, 2008, p. 211). Case management, which is a process that encompasses the following: case identification, assessment, care planning, service arrangement, monitoring and reassessment enables one professional individual to work with the family to coordinate and obtain all of the services that the long term care patient may need. Case management has proven to have one of the most positive effects of improving long-term care (Williams & Torrens, 2008). References Williams, S. J., & Torrens, P. R. (Eds.). (2008). Introduction to health services: 2010 custom edition (7th ed.). New York: Cengage Delmar Learning.

Virgin

289 CASE EXAMPLE The Virgin Group Aidan McQuade Introduction The Virgin Group is one of the UK’s largest private companies. The group included, in 2006, 63 businesses as diverse as airlines, health clubs, music stores and trains. The group included Virgin Galactic, which promised to take paying passengers into sub-orbital space. The personal image and personality of the founder, Richard Branson, were highly bound up with those of the company. Branson’s taste for publicity has led him to stunts as diverse as appearing as a cockney street trader in the US comedy Friends, to attempting a non-stop balloon flight around the world.This has certainly contributed to the definition and recognisability of the brand. Research has showed that the Virgin name was associated with words such as ‘fun’, ‘innovative’, ‘daring’ and ‘successful’. In 2006 Branson announced plans to invest $3bn (A2. 4bn; ? 1. 7bn) in renewable energy. Virgi n, through its partnership with a cable company NTL, also undertook an expansion into media challenging publicly the way NewsCorp operated in the UK and the effects on British democracy. The nature and scale of both these initiatives suggests that Branson’s taste for his brand of business remains undimmed. Origins and activitiesVirgin was founded in 1970 as a mail order record business and developed as a private company in music publishing and retailing. In 1986 the company was floated on the stock exchange with a turnover of ? 250m (A362. 5m). However, Branson became tired of the public listing obligations: he resented making presentations in the City to people whom, he believed, did not understand the business. The pressure to create short-term profit, especially as the share price began to fall, was the final straw: Branson decided to take the business back into private ownership and the shares were bought back at the original offer price.The name Virgin was chosen to repr esent the idea of the company being a virgin in every business it entered. Branson has said that: ‘The brand is the single most important asset that we have; our ultimate objective is to establish it as a major global name. ’ This does not mean that Virgin underestimates the importance of understanding the businesses that it is branding. Referring to his intent to set up a ‘green’ energy company producing ethanol and cellulosic ethanol fuels in competition with the oil industry, he said, ‘We’re a slightly unusual company in that we go into industries we know nothing about and immerse ourselves. Virgin’s expansion had often been through joint ventures whereby Virgin provided the brand and its partner provided the majority of capital. For example, the Virgin Group’s move into clothing and cosmetics required an initial outlay of only ? 1,000, whilst its partner, Victory Corporation, invested ? 20m. With Virgin Mobile, Virgin built a business by forming partnerships with existing wireless operators to sell services under the Virgin brand name. The carriers’ competences lay in network management. Virgin set out to differentiate itself by offering innovativeThis case was updated and revised by Aidan McQuade, University of Strathclyde Graduate School of Business, based upon work by Urmilla Lawson. Photo: Steve Bell/Rex Features 290 CHAPTER 7 STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS AND CORPORATE-LEVEL STRATEGY services. Although it did not operate its own network, Virgin won an award for the best wireless operator in the UK. Virgin Fuels appears to be somewhat different in that Virgin is putting up the capital and using the Virgin brand to attract attention to the issues and possibilities that the technology offers.In 2005 Virgin announced the establishment of a ‘quadruple play’ media company providing television, broadband, fixed-line and mobile communications through the merger of Branson’s UK mobile inter ests with the UK’s two cable companies. This Virgin company would have 9 million direct customers, 1. 5 million more than BSkyB, and so have the financial capacity to compete with BSkyB for premium content such as sports and movies. 1 Virgin tried to expand this business further by making an offer for ITV. This was rejected as undervaluing the company and then undermined further with the purchase of an 18 per cent share of ITV by BSkyB.This prompted Branson to call on regulators to force BSkyB to reduce or dispose of its stake citing concerns that BSkyB would have material influence over the free-to-air broadcaster. 2 Virgin has been described as a ‘keiretsu’ organisation – a structure of loosely linked, autonomous units run by self-managed teams that use a common brand name. Branson argued that, as he expanded, he would rather sacrifice short-term profits for long-term growth of the various businesses. Some commentators have argued that Virgin had become an endorsement brand that could not always offer real expertise to the businesses with which it was associated.However, Will Whitehorn, Director of Corporate Affairs for Virgin, stated, ‘At Virgin we know what the brand means and when we put our brand name on something we are making a promise. ’ Branson saw Virgin adding value in three main ways, aside from the brand. These were their public relations and marketing skills; its experience with greenfield start-ups; and Virgin’s understanding of the opportunities presented by ‘institutionalised’ markets. Virgin saw an ‘institutionalised’ market as one dominated by few competitors, not giving good value to customers because they had become either inefficient or preoccupied with each other.Virgin believed it did well when it identified such complacency and offered more for less. The entry into fuel and media industries certainly conforms to the model of trying to shake up ‘institutiona lised’ markets. Corporate rationale In 2006 Virgin still lacked the trappings of a typical multinational. Branson described the Virgin Group as ‘a branded venture capital house’. 3 There was no ‘group’ as such; financial results were not consolidated either for external examination or, so Virgin claimed, for internal use.Its website described Virgin as a family rather than a hierarchy. Its financial operations were managed from Geneva. In 2006 Branson explained the basis upon which he considered opportunities: they have to be global in scope, enhance the brand, be worth doing and have an expectation of a reasonable return on investment. 4 Each business was ‘ring-fenced’, so that lenders to one company had no rights over the assets of another. The ring-fencing seems also to relate not just to provision of financial protection, but also to a business ethics aspect.In an interview in 2006 Branson cricitised supermarkets for selling cheap CD s. His criticism centred on the supermarkets’ use of loss leading on CDs damaging music retailers rather than fundamentally challenging the way music retailers do business. Branson has made it a central feature of Virgin that it shakes up institutionalised markets by being innovative. Loss leading is not an innovative approach. Virgin has evolved from being almost wholly comprised of private companies to a group where some of the companies are publicly listed. Virgin and BransonHistorically, the Virgin Group had been controlled mainly by Branson and his trusted lieutenants, many of whom had stayed with him for more than 20 years. The increasing conformity between personal interest and business initiatives could be discerned in the establishment of Virgin Fuels. In discussing his efforts to establish a ‘green’ fuel company in competition with the oil industry Branson made the geopolitical observation that non-oil-based fuels could ‘avoid another Middle East war one day’; Branson’s opposition to the Second Gulf War is well publicised. In some instances the relationship between personal conviction and business interests is less clear cut. Branson’s comments on the threat to British democracy posed by NewsCorp’s ownership of such a large percentage of the British media could be depicted as either genuine concern from a public figure or sour grapes from a business rival just been beaten out of purchasing ITV. More recently Branson has been reported as talking about withdrawing from the business ‘which THE VIRGIN GROUP 291 more or less ran itself now’,6 and hoping that his son Sam might become more of a Virgin figurehead. However, while he was publicly contemplating this withdrawal from business, Branson was also launching his initiatives in media and fuel. Perhaps Branson’s idea of early retirement is somewhat more active than most. Corporate performance By 2006 Virgin had, with mixed results , taken on one established industry after another in an effort to shake up ‘fat and complacent business sectors’. It had further set its sights on the British media sector and the global oil industry. Airlines clearly were an enthusiasm of Branson’s.According to Branson, Virgin Atlantic, which was 49 per cent owned by Singapore Airways, was a company that he would not sell outright: ‘There are some businesses you preserve, which wouldn’t ever be sold, and that’s one. ’ Despite some analysts’ worries that airline success could not be sustained given the ‘cyclical’ nature of the business, Branson maintained a strong interest in the industry, and included airline businesses such as Virgin Express (European), Virgin Blue (Australia) and Virgin Nigeria in the group.Branson’s engagement with the search for ‘greener’ fuels and reducing global warming had not led him to ground his fleets. but rather to pr ompt a debate on measures to reduce carbon emissions from aeroplanes. At the beginning of the twenty-first century the most public problem faced by Branson was Virgin Trains, whose Cross Country and West Coast lines were ranked 23rd and 24th out of 25 train-operating franchises according to the Strategic Rail Authority’s Review in 2000. By 2002 Virgin Trains was reporting profits and paid its first premium to the British government. xperience with any one of the product lines may shun all the others’. However, Virgin argues that its brand research indicates that people who have had a bad experience will blame that particular Virgin company or product but will be willing to use other Virgin products or services, due to the very diversity of the brand. Such brand confidence helps explain why Virgin should even contemplate such risky and protracted turnaround challenges as its rail company. Sarah Sands recounts that Branson’s mother ‘once proudly boasted that her son would become Prime Minster’.Sands futher commented that she thought his mother underestimated his ambition. 10 With Virgin’s entry into fuel and media and Branson’s declarations that he is taking on the oil corporations and NewsCorp, Sands may ultimately prove to have been precient in her comment. Notes 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Sunday Telegraph, 4 December (2005). Independent, 22 November (2006). Hawkins (2001a, b). PR Newswire Europe, 16 October (2006). Fortune, 6 February (2006). Independent on Sunday, 26 November (2006). Ibid.The Times 1998, quoted in Vignali (2001). Wells (2000). Independent on Sunday, 26 November (2006). Sources: The Economist, ‘Cross his heart’, 5 October (2002); ‘Virgin on the ridiculous’, 29 May (2003); ‘Virgin Rail: tilting too far’, 12 July (2001). P. McCosker, ‘Stretching the brand: a review of the Virgin Group’, European Case Clearing House, 2000. The Times, ‘Vi rgin push to open up US aviation market’, 5 June (2002); ‘Branson plans $1bn US expansion’, 30 April (2002). Observer, ‘Branson eyes 31bn float for Virgin Mobile’, 18 January (2004).Strategic Direction, ‘Virgin Flies High with Brand Extensions’, vol. 18, no. 10, (October 2002). R. Hawkins, ‘Executive of Virgin Group outlines corporate strategy’ Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News, July 29 (2001a). R. Hawkins, ‘Branson in new dash for cash’, Sunday Business, 29 July (2001b); South China Morning Post, ‘Virgin shapes kangaroo strategy aid liberalisation talks between Hong Kong and Australia will determine carrier’s game-plan’, 28 June (2002). C. Vignali, ‘Virgin Cola’, British Food Journal, vol. 103, no. 2 (2001), pp. 31–139. M. Wells, ‘Red Baron’, Forbes Magazine, vol. 166, no. 1, 7 March (2000). The future The beginning of the twenty-first century also saw furt her expansion by Virgin, from airlines, spa finance and mobile telecoms in Africa, into telecoms in Europe, and into the USA. The public flotation of individual businesses rather than the group as a whole has become an intrinsic part of the ‘juggling’ of finances that underpins Virgin’s expansion. Some commentators have identified a risk with Virgin’s approach: ‘The greatest threat [is] that . . Virgin brand . . . may become associated with failure. ’8 This point was emphasised by a commentator9 who noted that ‘a customer who has a bad enough Questions 1 What is the corporate rationale of Virgin as a group of companies? 2 Are there any relationships of a strategic nature between businesses within the Virgin portfolio? 3 How does the Virgin Group, as a corporate parent, add value to its businesses? 4 What were the main issues facing the Virgin Group at the end of the case and how should they be tackled?

5 Peculiarities of the German Alphabet

5 Peculiarities of the German Alphabet The following are five peculiarities of the German alphabet and its pronunciation that every beginner German student should know about. Additional Letters in the German Alphabet There are more than twenty-six letters in the German alphabet. Technically speaking the German alphabet has only one additional letter that is different- the eszett. It looks like a capital letter B with a tail hanging from it: ß However, there is also something that Germans call â€Å"der Umlaut.† This is when two dots are placed above a letter. In German, this happens only above the vowels a, o and u. The umlaut placed upon these vowels makes the following sound shifts: similar to the short e in bed; à ¶, similar to the u sound in further, and à ¼. similar to the French u sound. Unfortunately,  there is no English equivalent for the sound à ¼. To pronounce the à ¼ sound, you need to say u while your lips are in a puckering position. The ß, on the other hand, is simply like an over-pronounced s. It is rightly called in German ein scharfes s (a sharp s). In fact, when people don’t have access to the German keyboard, they often will substitute a double s for the ß. However, in German, there are further rules about when it is correct to write either ss or ß. (See article German s, ss or ß) The only way to avoid the ß Â  is to move to Switzerland since Swiss Germans don’t use the ß at all. V Is W and Sounds Like F The standard name of the letter V, as it is in many languages, is actually the letter name of W in German. This means that if you were singing the alphabet in German, the section TUVW, would sound as follows (Tà ©/Fau/Và ©). Yes, this confuses a lot of beginners! But wait, there’s more: the letter V in German sounds like F! For instance, the word der Vogel you would pronounce as Fogel (with a hard g). As for the letter W in German? This peculiarity at least makes the most sense: the letter W in German, which is named like a V sounds like a V. The Spitting Combo Now for a little humor that actually helps you remember! The pronunciation spitting combo helps students remember the peculiarities of these three very common German sounds: ch – sch – sp. Say them quickly one after another and it sounds like, first - the preparation for the spit ch/ch, the start of the spit – sch (like sh in English), and finally the actual ejaculation of the spit – sp. Beginners tend at first to over vocalize the ch sound and forget the sh sound in sp. Better practice some pronunciation spitting then! The K Reigns Even though the letter C is in the German alphabet, by itself it plays only a minor role, since most German words that start with the letter C followed by a vowel, stem from foreign words. For example,  der Caddie, die Camouflage, das Cello. It is only in these types of words where you’ll find the soft c or hard c sound. Otherwise, the letter c is actually only popular in German consonant combinations, such as sch and ch, as stated in the preceding paragraph. You will find the German version of the hard â€Å"c† sound in the letter K. Consequently, you will often see words that start with a hard c sound in English spelled with a K in German: Kanada, der Kaffee, die Konstruktion, der Konjunktiv, die Kamera, das Kalzium. Position Is Everything At least when it comes to the letters B, D, and G. When you place these letters either at the end of a word or before a consonant, then the sound transformation is usually as follows: das Grab/ the grave (the b sounds like a soft p), die Hand/ hand (the d sounds like a soft t) beliebig/ any (the sounds like a soft k). Of course, this is expected in Hochdeutsch (standard German) only, it might be different when speaking German dialects or with accents of different German regions. Since these letter shifts sound very subtle when speaking, it is more important to pay attention to their correctness when writing them.

Southern Culture essays

Southern Culture essays Todays society is dominated by stereotypes and misconceptions; the way that we talk, walk or even look has a large impact on the way other human beings judge us. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that some people associate the Southern accent with a lack of education or laziness. Despite this fact, Southerners continue to maintain their unique dialect, and ignore stereotypes that they are often forced to undertake. In fact, to many southerners their dialect is more than a way of speaking, it is a long standing tradition that goes far beyond the language. The Southern dialect is the product of a wide array of cultural and ethnic influences. Both the French and African slaves had a large impact on the Southern way of speaking. Because the French dominated most of the Southern and Western American regions during the 18th century, their way of speaking was highly influential on the Southern culture. Just as the French significantly contributed to the Southern dialect so too did the African slaves. The large populace of African slaves played a large role in todays Southern accent. Furthermore, because the South is largely agricultural, the people tended stay in one location thereby allowing for the development of a deep rooted, distinct accent. Many historians believe that todays Southern dialect is largely attributed to cities such as Richmond, Charleston and Savannah due to their historical importance in the South. The Southern accent today is ever changing and even within the south there are a wide variation of accents. For ex ample, the Gullah way of speaking is predominantly spoken by Southern blacks living in Georgia and South Carolina; it is a combination of English and Western African dialects. The Coastal Southern dialect includes words such as dope (soda) and doughnuts (cookies) which are terms that are not used in other Southern regions. In addition, many people from ...

Print-On-Demand vs Offset Printing Which Is Better (with Examples)

Prints) Print-On-Demand vs Offset Printing: Which Wins? This is a guest post by Jessica Ruscello, a copywriter at Blurb, Inc. Jessica is also a writer, teacher, and photographer who makes her mark with empty coffee cups, ink spills, and red lipstick.The last ten years- even the last five- have seen game-changing developments in printing technology. Even if print-on-demand has been around longer than that, we’re now seeing these digital machines produce exquisite quality (depending on which service you use). Advanced inkjet technology now creates pages and covers that are nearly identical to those created with traditional offset printing, offering incredible advantages to self-publishers.How can you make sure you're getting the most return out of it? Let's find out.How print-on-demand works (in 6 steps)Choose your format. From coffee-table books to magazines to trade paperbacks, print-on-demand is compatible with any format you’d find in a bookstore. The more copies you order, the more cost-effective customization becomes (hi gher volume order makes it possible to try different endsheets, ribbon markers, or cover styles). That said, standard commercial sizes and papers are readily available across printers.Create a properly formatted book file. Your PDF (or another print-ready file) will stay with the printer and can be called up any time an order is placed for your book.List your book on major bookselling sites. You can do this using a â€Å"print-on-demand distributor† like KDP Print (for Amazon), IngramSpark, or Blurb.Every time someone orders your book, the order is sent to the printer. Digital printers print and assemble your book all in one place.The book is shipped to the retailer, who forwards it to your reader. In some cases, the customer will be able to get the print book in under one hour!Your reader pays the retailer. Your retailer will then send the net revenue to you (after deducting printing costs and retailer discounts- read more about these below). 100+ Client Services Pricing - $16.00/copy (Not including taxes or shipping) 1000 Copies Offset Printing - $7.50 /copy (Includes approximate shipping to US)Don’t overlook offset printing because of the large upfront costs, and don’t overlook print-on-demand, which offers greater speed, quality, and innovation than what has been available at any other time in print history. Whichever one's better for your project, there's no doubt that print-on-demand has done so many exciting things for book-makers, creating more options for beautiful end products.Have you tried offset printing on one of your books? What has been your experience with print-on-demand so far? Leave your thoughts (as well as any questions for Jessica) in the comments below.

The United Nations mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global Essay

The United Nations mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global community - Essay Example UNFICYP was initially developed by the Security Council in 1964 to avoid further hostility between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot population1. After the conflicts of 1974, the Council commanded the Force to execute certain supplementary functions. Without a political agreement to the Cyprus problem, UNFICYP has stayed on the island to supervise armistice lines, preserve a buffer zone, embark on humanitarian activities as well as sustain the proper offices mission of the Secretary-General. Subsequent to the 1974 Greek Cypriot overthrow and the Turkish offensive of Cyprus, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expanded and enlarged the mission to avert the dispute spinning into war, and UNFICYP was dispatched to patrol the United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus and support in the maintenance of the armed status quo. Since its founding, the force has further worked in conjunction with the special envoy of the Secretary-General and diplomats of the two communities to inquire about an amicable discreet solution to the Cyprus row. Primarily, UNFICYP consisted of armed and civilian groups drawn from Finland, Sweden, Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom and Canada, though over its long history the force has been the theme of various UNSC declarations and restructurings, and currently encompasses contingents from Hungary, Croatia, Argentina, Peru, Italy, Australia, Slovakia, Montenegro, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, El Salvador Netherlands, India, Canada, Ireland, United King dom, and Ukraine. This paper evaluates the Cyprus problem from the perspective of the UN mission and its mandate on the island. At the heart of the discussion is the argument that the UN mission in Cyprus was initiated by the global community as a way of resolving the problem. In essence, the increasing hostility between the two warring communities - Greek and Turkish Cypriots- after independence in the 1960 was escalating, and the

Helping teens grow emotionally Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Helping teens grow emotionally - Essay Example These two minds together shape our destiny. When we talk about the main theme of Emotional Intelligence in teens, as mentioned by Geoff Maslen in his article, we may see that several other writers also mentioned and explained the same concept. Daniel Goleman writes in his book â€Å"Emotional Intelligence† that the main idea or the concept of Emotional Intelligence, basically, argues the IQ. He further mentions that there are extensive areas of Emotional Intelligence that can further indicate that how successful a person is. Success desires something more than Intelligence Quotient. Intelligence Quotient is used to measure the intelligence only, and pays no heed to the essential behaviors and several other elements. There are many people who are rationally and academically brilliant and successful in their lives but they are socially inept. So it is not necessary fact having high IQ level directs to a totally successful and brilliant life. Teenagers mostly appear to be arousing, touching, unpredictable and sometimes violated as well. However, teenagers are always dependent on their teachers and parents. As far as teachers are concerned, they are responsible to supervise the students and to manage all the rising tensions and conflicts among them. So, teacher is always obliged to understand the emotional levels of the class. There is a need of proper consideration about emotional intelligence to manage the whole class. Robert Needlman, M.D, also mentioned in his article ‘Emotional Intelligence’ that the teachers should have the aptitude to forecast or predict and influence the student’s emotions. This is most significant and vital skill that a teacher can have. Actually teens always need inter personal intelligence to be established and accepted in the class, by their peers as well as teachers. Furthermore in this article, Karen Hansen says that it is a theory that teens with elevated levels of emotional intelligence can attain better than students

GRID (Clustered) SAN computing standards Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

GRID (Clustered) SAN computing standards - Essay Example 2. A storage system which consists of network elements such as storage devices, computer systems, servers, control software (such as server administration and site server) that will communicate over the network. Storage networks are distinguished from other forms of network storage devices simply by their low-level access method they use and is very similar to such network devices as ATA, disk drives and SCSI hardware. Inside a storage network, the server will issue a request for specific blocks of data and this device on the storage network will then send requests across the network. In the clustered GRID infrastructure would be a series of SAN devices that would then integrate as part of the larger network in order to share the storage capabilities inside the GRID. As such, each device would then be added to the larger network that can be used by other networked devices such as a computer workstation. An example of this computing infrastructure, courtesy of Force10, shows how this cluster/GRID computing network is positioned to utilized these storage devices GRID computing is the transformation of a computer infrastructure into an integrated Virtual Organisation that allows for dynamic collaboration and the ability to share resources from anywhere in the world. This sharing provides users with an unprecedented amount of computing power, especially for those in the field of scientific investigation and collaboration in which the needs of the computer power cannot necessarily be handled by one such computer. Through integration inside the GRID of such supercomputers will enable users to access power without the need to purchase larger systems. GRID computing is based on three concepts as outlined by Reddy (2004) "as: Virtualization: severing the hard-coded association of resources to systems Resource Allocation and Management: dynamically allocating resources on demand, and managing them and finally, Provisioning: configuring resources whenever and wherever needed." (Reddy, 2004) Kalzar Amin, Gregor von Laszewski and Armin R. Mikler Kalzar, et al describe the term Grid computing as commonly referred "to a distributed infrastructure that promotes large scale resource sharing in a dynamic institutional "virtual organisation" (VO). A computational Grid forms a closed network of a large number of pooled resources providing standardized, reliable, specialized and pervasive access to high-end computational resources." Typically, in order to establish a computational Grid, several institutions pool their resources such as computational cycles, specialized software, database servers, network bandwidth, and people. As a result of this "pooling" global policies will be set for the virtual organisation which will in an essence identify each of the participating entities' roles and responsibilities, much like in a LAN server networking scenario. Each of the site institution administrators, who are generally trained as network administrators will then enforce these policies at the domain level. The GRID administrators will then provide each of the GRID users their appropriate credentials and through these credentials will the users access

Product Reliability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Product Reliability - Essay Example 56)†. In today’s development of industrial products, reliability concerns are not addressed properly in the prior steps of the process (Prabhakar and Osteras 121). The reliability of the products also depends on two manufacturing items: the technical decisions made in the early stages and the consequence of commercial results in the final stages. An engineer can employ effective methodology for reliable performance and specification in order to make a better decision. Product reliability develops a structure that joins reliable specifications, both design and materials, and product performance in the manufacture of new product products (Prabhakar and Osteras 81). Product reliability depends on the design, material used for a product and the manufacturing process. Design refers to the  act  of creating a layout or convention for constructing an object or system as in architectural blueprints, engineering drawing, business process and circuit diagrams. It may also be d efined as a strategy employed to achieve a unique goal or expectation. Potential Stages for Design Reviews (â€Å"Blueprints for Product Reliability†) ... The term is sometimes used to refer to components with specific physical properties that are used as inputs in manufacturing of products. In this context, materials are the components used to make product – computers, cars, buildings etc. Some applications require a product to have specific types of material properties such as load resistant steels for bridges, cranes or buildings. Cars, for instance, use aluminum as it is light, so the car consumes less fuel, corrosion resistance and aluminum alloys are easier to manufacture and use. Polystyrene with the recycling code 6 or Styrofoam cups, plates, carryout containers is petroleum-based plastics. They can release potentially toxic breakdown products, particularly when heated. Ceramic, glass, paper or safer plastics like numbers 1, 2 or 5 are a better alternative. Using the wrong material can result in a catastrophic failure that can harm life or environment (Chitale 154). Product Life Cycle Cost Impact. (â€Å"Blueprints for Product Reliability†) Manufacturing is the process of producing goods for use sale using machinery, labor and tools. This term may refer to a series of human activity such as handicraft, or high tech, but is most used in reference to industrial production, where raw materials are turned into finished products on a large scale. The finished products can be used  to make  more complex products such as household appliances, aircraft or automobiles, or sold to wholesalers, who in turn sell them to retailers who then sell them to end users. Manufacturing has many categories such as casting for engine blocks, molding for beams, forming as in press for panels, machining for drilling and

Project Proposal for Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Project for Paper - Research Proposal Example 262). Cybercrime can take on many shapes and forms. It can begin as something seemingly harmless, and rise to one of the gravest threats to personal and national security that exists today. It is also a troubling trend that the majority of the perpetrators of such crimes appear be young people under the age of 26. They often justify their actions initially as harmless hacking just for fun, but they quickly realize that their actions could prove to be quite lucrative. The harm done to victims of cybercrime, however, are immense. It is important to note that cybercrime does not only involve a financial element. There are crimes being committed that involve spam, harassment, threats, child pornography, and child endangerment just to name a few (Lee, 2012, p. 14). This proposal will detail the reasons why cybercrime is a serious issue today and explore the basis for future research and study that will be conducted in this area. Problem Statement The problem is that cybercrime has become so pervasive in society today and many people are fearful of the damage, both psychological and and financial, that can be perpetrated on them via technology. In addition, the problem has persisted to the point that it is costing society hundreds of millions of dollars a year in damages and preventative measures. Network security has been compromised to the point that clients and IT professionals globally has lost trust in conducting many types of electronic commerce transactions. Tremendous and organized efforts are currently underway to tackle this problem, but it is requiring an inordinate amount of manpower and resources, further compounding the financial cost to society. In addition, resources are having to be reallocated to this area, limiting technological progress and business expansion that could be otherwise achieved, largely owed to the sophistication that the average cyber criminal is exhibiting today (Gray, 2004; Lin, Fofanah, & Liang, 2011). This is a problem and issue that is serious and requires immediate attention. The rapid globalization take place today requires technological innovation. Companies and countries around the world are in a constant struggle to maintain a competitive advantages over others in the same industry (Kolsaker & Lee-Kelley, 2008). Cybercrime has impacted companies by threatening their infrastructure and their financial well being. Furthermore, cybercrime has impacted the countries around the world by enhancing certain espionage activities that serve the threaten and raises issues of national security across the board. Finally, cybercrime impacts the individual citizen on multiple fronts. Identity theft, for example, has become a common method of cybercrime whereby an individual’s very identity is stolen for personal gain. Not only does this create a loss of trust in technology by the victim, but it can create immense financial and emotional trouble that can take years to unravel and correct. In addition, compute r crime has made it much easier for a certain criminal element to prey on innocent children around the world. These issues alone demonstrate the importance of examining this problem with a united and global front. Let us now examine the relevance and significance of this proposed study. Relevance and Significance The security

Project management Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Project management - Research Paper Example Other aspects of green computing include telecommuting – a flexible work arrangement which involves working from home and other locations away from a central or main office; thin client solutions; use of open source software; and the development of software to ensure sustainability in IT for use internally and for third parties. IBM is one of several companies engaged in the practice and promotion of green computing. The company is engaged in many areas of green computing as outlined below. Data center and overall energy efficiency – In this area IBM has received a number of awards. In fact, on June 2012 the company received the 2012 European Union Code of Conduct for Data Centers award (IBM 2012). This award was given for innovations in technology which seeks to facilitate improvements in data center energy efficiency (IBM 2012). IBM was the only company awarded in the corporate level category and this is significant. The company remains active in this area providing d ata to both the EC Directorate General Joint Research Centre-Institute for Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (IBM 2012). Disposal of electronic waste and recycling – This is a very important area at IBM. In a statement entitled ‘IBM Product Take Back for Recycling,’ IBM indicates that the company participates in recycling programs. However, it indicates that certain damaged items such as monitors that have cracks, leakages that are visible such as leaking batteries cannot be shipped. Guidelines are also provided for proper handing and disposal for items that are not allowed in the recycling program. Telecommuting - Nilles 1998 (Cited in Kossek et al (348) indicates that telecommuting is work done at hope with the support of telecommunications technology. People are able to work from anywhere and so the need for large office spaces requiring lighting and other forms of energy is not necessary. Telecommuting was adopted at IBM in Indiana as a way of re ducing real estate costs. Therefore, instead of further reducing the number of people employed as was earlier practiced the CEO at the time recommended a reduction in real estate. People were able to work from almost anywhere and so the need for large office spaces was not necessary. Virtualization of server resources – Virtualization facilitates improvements in the use of IT resources (IBM 2005; 1). IBM not only practices this as a way of reducing hardware costs but provide a means of doing so for customers. In addition to reducing hardware costs virtualization provides additional benefits including the and also facilitating flexibility and responsiveness in the use of IT resources (IBM 2005; 2). Examples of BM virtualization resources include Xen and VMware. This process facilitates greener computing by reducing the resources required for IT infrastructure as well as a reduction in energy use. Thin client solutions – Promises computing services that are easier to mai ntain and a reduction in the cost of IT infrastructure. It represents a return to a somewhat centralized and more manageable IT infrastructure which is embodied in the thin client model. IBM is just one of the companies providing this solution. In a news release entitled ‘IBM Announces Comprehensive New Thin Client Solutions’ IBM indicates that its new thin client solutions allow organizations to shift various tasks away form desktop to servers on the internet or internally and

Project Proposal for Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Project for Paper - Research Proposal Example 262). Cybercrime can take on many shapes and forms. It can begin as something seemingly harmless, and rise to one of the gravest threats to personal and national security that exists today. It is also a troubling trend that the majority of the perpetrators of such crimes appear be young people under the age of 26. They often justify their actions initially as harmless hacking just for fun, but they quickly realize that their actions could prove to be quite lucrative. The harm done to victims of cybercrime, however, are immense. It is important to note that cybercrime does not only involve a financial element. There are crimes being committed that involve spam, harassment, threats, child pornography, and child endangerment just to name a few (Lee, 2012, p. 14). This proposal will detail the reasons why cybercrime is a serious issue today and explore the basis for future research and study that will be conducted in this area. Problem Statement The problem is that cybercrime has become so pervasive in society today and many people are fearful of the damage, both psychological and and financial, that can be perpetrated on them via technology. In addition, the problem has persisted to the point that it is costing society hundreds of millions of dollars a year in damages and preventative measures. Network security has been compromised to the point that clients and IT professionals globally has lost trust in conducting many types of electronic commerce transactions. Tremendous and organized efforts are currently underway to tackle this problem, but it is requiring an inordinate amount of manpower and resources, further compounding the financial cost to society. In addition, resources are having to be reallocated to this area, limiting technological progress and business expansion that could be otherwise achieved, largely owed to the sophistication that the average cyber criminal is exhibiting today (Gray, 2004; Lin, Fofanah, & Liang, 2011). This is a problem and issue that is serious and requires immediate attention. The rapid globalization take place today requires technological innovation. Companies and countries around the world are in a constant struggle to maintain a competitive advantages over others in the same industry (Kolsaker & Lee-Kelley, 2008). Cybercrime has impacted companies by threatening their infrastructure and their financial well being. Furthermore, cybercrime has impacted the countries around the world by enhancing certain espionage activities that serve the threaten and raises issues of national security across the board. Finally, cybercrime impacts the individual citizen on multiple fronts. Identity theft, for example, has become a common method of cybercrime whereby an individual’s very identity is stolen for personal gain. Not only does this create a loss of trust in technology by the victim, but it can create immense financial and emotional trouble that can take years to unravel and correct. In addition, compute r crime has made it much easier for a certain criminal element to prey on innocent children around the world. These issues alone demonstrate the importance of examining this problem with a united and global front. Let us now examine the relevance and significance of this proposed study. Relevance and Significance The security

Entry barriers of Underground construction industry in Russia Essay

Entry barriers of Underground construction industry in Russia - Essay Example Market structures that are likely to be found within an industry include perfect competition, monopolistic competition, monopoly and oligopoly (Etro, 2009, p.273). While these are the most common, others like oligopsony, monopsony and price discrimination (Etro, 2009, p.275) also exist. The defining variables to each of the listed market structure acts as the source of barriers to entry in the markets. These barriers, however, vary across the markets, with some markets having substantial barriers than others. Barriers to entry are simply defined as hindrances or factors that prevent firms from entering specific markets (Edgerton, 2008, p.107). Barrier levels as already mentioned vary from one market to another, with some markets being characterized by easy access, while others remain hard to enter. For instance, pure competitive markets are characterized by free entry and exit, while monopoly markets are substantially hard to enter (Spulber, 2006, p.135-152). Sources of these barriers are diverse and dynamic over time. They are spread across cost of operation, brand loyalty by consumers, number of buyers and sellers, reaction of incumbent firms, government regulation and licencing (OECD, 2008, p.141-142). The Russian construction industry is one of the many industries in the economy that faces market entry barriers, prior to the different market structures evident in the industry. Amid the aforementioned sources of entry barriers, Porter’s five forces are critical to account for. They include rivalry, threat of substitutes, buyer power, supplier power and entry barriers (Etro, 2009, p.303). These forces account for the markets trends and business undertakings that make one market hard to enter compared to other markets. Markets that are hard to enter enjoy market powers that allow the firms operating in it set prices that are in most cases higher than competitive prices. The evaluation of entry barriers of Russian underground

Marijuana-A description of the drug and its aeffects Essay Example for Free

Marijuana-A description of the drug and its aeffects Essay Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. It is made from the dried leaves and flowering tops of the Indian hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. People smoke, chew, or eat marijuana for its hallucinogenic and intoxicating effects. The flowering tops of the Cannabis plant secrete a sticky resin that contains the active ingredient of marijuana, known as Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The plant has both male and female forms. The sticky flowers of the female plant are the most potent. Hashish is a similar drug prepared from the same plant. It differs from marijuana in that it is made of only the resin from the plant, but where marijuana is made up of flowering tops and leaves. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). The membranes of certain nerve cells in the brain contain protein receptors that bind to THC. Once securely in place, THC initiates a series of cellular reactions that lead to the high that users experience when they smoke marijuana. There are usually phases in marijuana use there are: intoxication, initial stimulation, which includes giddiness and euphoria, followed by sedation and pleasant tranquility. Mood changes are often accompanied by altered perceptions of time and space. Thinking processes become disrupted by fragmentary ideas and memories. Other feelings include increased appetite, heightened sensory awareness, and general feelings of pleasure. Negative effects of marijuana use can include confusion, acute panic reactions, anxiety attacks, fear, a sense of helplessness, and loss of self-control. Like alcohol intoxication, marijuana intoxication impairs judgment, comprehension, memory, speech, problem-solving ability, reaction time, and driving skills. Although marijuana is not physically addicting and no physical withdrawal symptoms occur when use is discontinued, psychological dependence develops in some 10 to 20 percent of long-term regular users. Smoking marijuana can damage the lungs, and long-term use may increase the risk of lung cancer . Even infrequent use of marijuana can cause burning and stinging of the mouth and throat, often accompanied by a heavy cough. Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers do, such as daily cough and frequent chest illness, a heightened risk of lung infections, and a greater tendency to obstructed airways. Cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs may also be promoted by marijuana smoke. Marijuana use has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because it contains irritants and carcinogens. Marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke. It also produces high levels of an enzyme that converts certain hydrocarbons into their carcinogenic form, levels that may accelerate the changes that produce malignant cells. Marijuana users usually inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers do, which increases the lungs exposure to carcinogenic smoke.Some other effects of marijuana may occur because THC impairs the immune systems ability to fight off infectious diseases and cancer. In laboratory experiments that exposed animal and human cells to THC or other marijuana ingredients, the normal disease-preventing reactions of many of the key types of immune cells were inhibited. In other studies, mice exposed to THC or related substances were more likely than unexp osed mice to develop bacterial infections and tumors Depression, anxiety, and personality disturbances are all associated with marijuana use. Because marijuana compromises the ability to learn and remember information, the more a person uses marijuana the more he or she is likely to fall behind in accumulating intellectual, job, or social skills. Students who smoke marijuana get lower grades and are less likely to graduate from high school, compared to their non-smoking peers. Workers who smoke marijuana are more likely than their coworkers to have problems on the job. Several studies associate workers marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers compensation claims, and job turnover. A study of municipal workers found that those who used marijuana on or off the job reported more withdrawal behaviors such as leaving work without permission, daydreaming, and spending work time on personal matters. Although no medications are currently available for treating marijuana abuse, recent discoveries about the workings of the THC receptors have raised the  possibility of eventually developing a medication that will block the intoxicating effects of THC. Such a medication might be used to prevent relapse to marijuana abuse by lessening or eliminating its appeal.

Material Selection For Drive Shaft Engineering Essay

Material Selection For Drive Shaft Engineering Essay The drive shaft is a rod or tube used to carry rotational force from the engine to the four bladed fans to provide sufficient airflow to reduce the temperature of the pump and the generator to a sufficient level when they both are working at maximum output and operating in an ambient temperature of up to 50 °C. In this selection of the three different materials, there are compared based on different properties to choose the suitable material to be used for the drive shaft. http://media.noria.com/sites/archive_images/articles_200711_Case_-Study-Figure5.gif Figure 1- Fan and motor assembly with belt drive 3.1 Aluminium Alloy 3.1.1 Introduction Aluminum Alloy is a medium to high strength heat treated alloy with higher strength than 6005A. It is commonly used for heavy-duty structure in the railway coach, truck frames, shipbuilding, and bridges the military, aerospace applications including helicopter rotor shell, tubes, pylons and towers, transportation, boiler making, motorboats and rivets [1]. 3.1.2 Grade 6061-T6 It has very good corrosion resistance and excellent weld ability although reduced strength in the weld zone. It has medium fatigue strength. It has good cold formability in temper T4, but limited in temper T6. Not suitable for very complex cross parts. T6- Solution heat treated and artificially aged Supplied forms- Extrusions Light weight very good corrosion resistance British/ ISO Standard AA 6061-T6 Tensile Yield Strength (MPa) 310 Shear Strength (MPa) 190 Proof Stress (MPa) 270 Elongation over 50mm (%) 12 Hardness Vickers (HV) 100 Density (kg/m ³) 2700 Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K) 166 Melting Point (  °C ) 650 Electrical Resistivity (à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦.m) 0.040 x 10à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ »Ãƒ ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ¶ Table 1- Property for Aluminium Alloy Grade 6061-T6 3.2 Stainless Steel 3.2.1 Introduction Stainless steel is also known as grades 304 and 304L respectively. Stainless steel 304 is the most versatile and widely used. Type 304 stainless steel are austenitic grades can be severely deep drawn. This property has led 304 became the dominant grade used in applications such as sink and cook. 3.2.2 Grade 304 Type 304 stainless steel is an austenitic grade that can be severely deep drawn. This property has resulted in 304 being the dominant grade used in applications like sinks and saucepans and has excellent corrosion resistance in many environments and when in contact with different corrosive media. Pitting and crevice corrosion can occur in environments containing chloride. Pressure corrosion cracking can occur above 60 °C. Good machinability Supplied forms- Strip bar Excellent corrosion resistance British/ ISO Standard BS 970 Grade 304 Tensile Yield Strength (MPa) 520 to 720 Compressive Strength (MPa) 210 Proof Stress (MPa) 210 Elongation over 50mm (%) 45 Modulus of elasticity (GPa) 193 Density (kg/m ³) 7780 Thermal Conductivity (W/m.K) 16.2 Melting Point (  °C ) 1450 Electrical Resistivity (à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦.m) 0.072 x 10à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ »Ãƒ ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ¶ Table 2- Property for Stainless steel Grade 304 3.3 Carbon steel 3.3.1 Introduction Steel is a metal alloy consisting mainly of iron and contains 0.2 to 2.1 percent carbon. All steel contains carbon, but the term carbon steel applies specifically to steel containing carbon as the main alloying constituents. Medium carbon steel is carbon steel that contains between 0.30 and 0.60 percent carbon. It also has a manganese content of between 0.6 and 1.65 percent. This type of steel provides a good balance between strength and ductility, and it is common in many kinds of steel parts [5]. 3.3.2 Grade 080M30 It can provide a better combination of toughness, strength and hardness. It also provides a counterbalance weight during for low-oscillation rotary process. Despite its relatively limited corrosion resistance, carbon steel is used in large tonnages in marine applications, fossil fuel power and nuclear power plants, transportation, chemical processing, petroleum production and refining, pipelines, mining, construction and metal-processing equipment[6]. Material cost economy Supplied forms- Strip bar Limited corrosion resistance British/ ISO Standard BS970 080M30 Tensile Yield Strength (Mpa) 550 Ultimate Tensile Strength (Mpa) 930 Elongation over 50mm (%) 16% Hardness (HB) 269 Density (kg/m3) 7820 Youngs Modulus (Gpa) 205 Thermal Conductivity (W/m-K) 46.6 Specific Heat Capacity (J/g- °C) 0.475 Electrical Resistivity (nà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦-m) 234 Table 3- Property for Medium Carbon Steel Grade 080M30 3.4 Final selection of material based on design and material specification British/ ISO Standard Aluminium Alloy AA 6061-T6 Stainless steel BS 970 Grade 304 Carbon steel BS970 080M30 Tensile Yield Strength (MPa) 310 520 to 720 550 Elongation over 50mm (%) 12 45 16 Density (kg/m3) 2700 7780 7820 Thermal Conductivity (W/m-K) 166 16.2 46.6 Electrical Resistivity (nà ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¦-m) 0.040 x 10à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ »Ãƒ ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ¶ 0.072 x 10à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ »Ãƒ ¢Ã‚ Ã‚ ¶ 234 Price per tonne (USD) 2220 4450 740 Table 5- Comparison between three selected materials For this drive shaft, Aluminium Alloy is chosen. The reason material Aluminium Alloy is production by extrusion, has good mechanical properties and exhibits good weldability. Aluminium alloys are widely used in engineering components where light weight and very good corrosion resistance. A low torsion was needed for the design of drive shaft, the tensile yield strength of the Aluminium Alloy 310 MPa was enough for the requirement. The Aluminium Alloy cost USD2220 per tonne which was lower than Stainless Steel which cost USD4450 per tonne. Aluminium alloy surfaces will keep their apparent shine in a dry environment due to the formation of a clear, protective layer of aluminium oxide. In a wet environment, galvanic corrosion can occur when an aliminium alloy is placed in electrical contact with other metals with more negative corrosion potentials than aluminium[7]. Element % Present Carbon (C) 0.0 0.07 Chromium (Cr) 17.50 19.50 Manganese (Mn) 0.0 2.00 Silicon (Si) 0.0 1.00 Phosphorous (P) 0.0 0.05 Sulphur (S) 0.0 0.02 Nickel (Ni) 8.00 10.50 Iron (Fe) Balance Table 6- Chemical composition for Aluminium alloy

Networking and Communication Essay -- Technology, iPod, iTouch

Introduction Through many generations, technology has innovated and advanced itself to meet the demands of the consumer market. Consumers desire products that will enhance their social networking and communication. One of the most powerful products to keep consumers socially connected was the iPod touch. The iPod touch is not only a portable media player; it has numerous applications from all forms of entertainment to social networking. Apple marketed the first iPod touch in September of 2007, and by present day; it is rare to find any individual without one. Background As the iTouch is able to download music, videos, and movies, there are all kinds of legal ethical issues that are involved such as copyright infringements. In addition, since they are mobile devices, users can connect to the Internet through any unsecured wireless network, even if it means they are stealing the service. Additionally, there are various social issues drawn in since the Touch acts as a form of communication. With users constantly updating their statuses and the convenience of the tracking tool, it creates severe problems for stalking and cyber security. Another thing that has come up recently is that Apple is now offering subscriptions to magazines, newspapers, and etc. that can be read on the Touch. The problem is that one has to pay for and download an application from the Apple store in order to read them, even though one has already paid for a subscription to the magazine. The iPod Touch has doubtlessly strengthened sociability between people, but it also shaped problems for cyber stalking and personal safety. Ethical legal issues Copyright infringement becomes a severe problem when consumers illegally download music, videos, and movi... ...out privacy. Conclusion The iPod touch has created copious benefits for consumers, and for that reason, it is uncommon to spot an individual without one. Ever since the iPod touch first appeared in the market, it has generated amazing sales for the Apple company. Since the Touch is indeed a mobile device, many ethical, legal, security, and social issues come into play. Legal issues such as copyright infringement, ethical issues such as cheating on exams, security issues like the tracking gadget, and problems with social networking are all issues involved with the new technology. The different issues are building and connecting upon each other. Despite the issues encountered, the iPod Touch is a powerful gadget with various applications and entertainment. It has enhanced and simplified communication and networking to meet the demands of its consumers’ generation.

Book One of John Milton’s Paradise Lost: Satan as Hero Essay

In literature and other forms of art, the character of Satan had always been depicted as nothing more than an evil entity. He was usually represented as the Devil, the creature capable of the ultimate form of wickedness. He was known to be against the Supreme Good, for he was the angel who initiated a rebellion against God. In various stories and movies, Satan had always been depicted as this static character. However, the depiction of Satan in Book One of John Milton’s â€Å"Paradise Lost† was truly an exception to the stereotype. In the first part of his epic, Milton showed the readers that Satan had positive traits, though he used it in a negative way. Contrary to the usual portrayal of the persona of Satan, John Milton depicted Satan as a heroic character in Book One of â€Å"Paradise Lost†. What makes a character heroic? One feature which makes a hero is a commanding presence. Heroes in literature, such as Achilles and Odysseus, are characterized with remarkable strength. These are individuals who possess imposing, if not dominant, personalities. It is their commanding presence which allows them to lead their men effectively, as it renders them as figures of authority. Combs wrote, â€Å"Heroic qualities reside in some larger-than-life figure who committed great deeds in a mythical past† (26). While Satan’s deeds can only be considered great in his own opinion, it cannot be denied that he was rendered by Milton as a larger-than-life creature in Book One. Milton presented Satan as a hero to the readers by showing how massive and mighty he is. To demonstrate the size and strength of Satan, the narrator of the poem used an analogy with reference to Greek mythology. Satan was depicted as similar to the titans who fought against Jove. Milton wrote, â€Å"Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge/ As whom the Fables name of monstrous size,/ Titanian, or Earth-Born, that warr’d on Jove† (I. 196-198). Milton also compared Satan to the Leviathan, which he described as â€Å"hugest that swim th’ Ocean stream† (I. 202). Indeed, the author had established Satan to be larger-than-life in the epic. Satan is considered as a heroic character in Book One because of his commanding presence. Another trait which a hero must possess is courage. Heroes are known to be courageous figures, those who remain unnerved during difficult struggles or when confronted with the inevitable. Satan is a heroic character in Book One of â€Å"Paradise Lost† because of the courage he displayed. He proved to be courageous because he displayed unshakeable resolve amidst trying times. It is known that Satan used to be an angel who sought to overpower God. He gathered his followers and rebelled against Him, only to fail in their selfish pursuit. As a result, Satan and the other angels were sent to Hell. Hell proved to be most unpleasant compared to Heaven. While there was a fiery lake in Hell, its flames gave off darkness instead of light. Milton wrote, â€Å"As one great Furnace flam’d, yet from those flames/ No light, but rather darkness visible† (I. 62-63). While a weaker personality may have given up on such dire situation, Satan was undaunted by his present dilemma. Instead of being dragged down by his fall from grace, he embraced his place in Hell. Satan remarked, â€Å"To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:/ Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav’n† (I. 262-263). In addition, Satan’s fall from grace did not diminish his determination in his pursuit of evil. God may have defeated Satan in the rebellion, but the Supreme Deity did not defeat his will to fight. Satan said, â€Å"All is not lost; the unconquerable Will,/ And study of revenge, immortal hate,/ And courage never to submit or yield:/ And what else not to be overcome? † (I. 106-109). Hence, Satan is a hero because of the courage he displayed. Also, Satan appeared to be a hero in the first part of Milton’s epic poem due to his bravery. How did Satan exhibit bravery in Book One? Satan proved himself to be a brave character because he did not reveal fear even though he was confronted with danger. After the angels failed in their revolt against God, some of Satan’s comrades have lost hope. For instance, Beelzebub was greatly disheartened by the defeat. Their failure convinced him of God’s power. Beelzebub told Satan: â€Å"Fearless, endanger’d Heav’ns perpetual King;/ And to put to proof his high Supremacy† (I. 131-132). Unlike his companion, Satan still wanted to challenge God’s power. He does not regret initiating the war, and still wanted to execute another battle. Satan wanted to wage a second war against God, hoping that the next attempt would be more successful. He uttered, â€Å"We may with more successful hope resolve/ To wage by force or guile eternal Warr/ Irreconcileable, to our grand Foe† (I. 120-123). Satan is a heroic character in Book One of Paradise Lost because he was unafraid to face an enemy stronger and more powerful than him. The three aforementioned traits truly render Satan as a heroic character. With those three traits, Satan would follow the tradition of other heroes in literature. Milton made Satan appear as a warrior hero with the other angels as his comrades. However, it cannot be denied that there would be instances wherein the other warriors are discouraged by the outcome of their battles. Therefore, it would be the responsibility of the leader to motivate the rest and make them continue on in the path they chose to travel. In this case, Satan again proved to be a heroic character in Book One. He was heroic because he asserted his leadership and convinced the other angels to do as he pleased. Satan had a plan against God and despite the defeat, he never strayed from it. In contrast, the other angels had become weary of their situation. It became Satan’s task to uplift his followers and make them believe in his plan. When Beelzebub was discouraged after hearing Satan’s suggestion of another attack, the latter gave a speech to convince the former. Satan said, â€Å"To do ought good never will be our task,/ But ever to do ill our sole delight† (I. 159-160). His optimism over his grand scheme against goodness was so persuasive that the other fallen angels had obeyed his orders. Because he was a leader who kept his followers on the path towards his desired end, Satan can be considered as a heroic character. In Book One of â€Å"Paradise Lost†, Milton truly painted a rare picture of Satan. He made one of the most despicable characters in history as an appealing character. Satan became appealing to the readers because Milton’s depiction paid more attention on his positive qualities. His larger-than-life persona, as well as his courage, bravery and leadership, made Satan an admirable individual. Moreover, not only did Milton make Satan appealing, he made him sympathetic as well. It is obvious that Satan had questionable logic; his arguments were flawed. Despite this, he was still able to persuade the other angels. He was also able to make the readers sympathize to his cause, no matter how wicked it was. When Satan first spoke in Book One, he described the fallen angels’ undesirable state in Hell. His words persuaded the readers of God’s wrath. Satan said, â€Å"He with his Thunder: and till then who knew/ The force of those dire Arms? † (I. 93-94). From his speech, Satan allowed the readers to think that God was at fault and his actions against Him were justified. Nevertheless, the text itself is proof of Satan’s free will. Satan was free to act as he pleased, and he chose to gather his followers and rebel against God. Satan was the one at fault because he was made free but he decided to use his freedom for evil. Therefore, while Satan may seem to be a heroic character, it does not mean that he was not flawed. Unlike most accounts of Satan, Book One of â€Å"Paradise Lost† proved to be different. John Milton deviated from the stereotype and presented Satan as a heroic figure. He made Satan as a commanding character who was courageous, brave and convincing to others. As a result, Milton depicted Satan as a character with redeeming qualities. However, these redeeming qualities are not enough to make him a perfect persona. Indeed, Satan is portrayed as a heroic character in Book One of â€Å"Paradise Lost† by John Milton. Works Cited Combs, James E. Polpop: Politics and Popular Culture in America. Wisconsin: Popular Press, 1984. Milton, John. â€Å"Paradise Lost. † University of Oregon Web Site. 1997. 17 July 2009 < http://darkwing. uoregon. edu/~rbear/lost/lost. html>.

CTC

To focus firmly on the â€Å"you† view, writers should scrub all uses of I and we from their writing. Do you agree or disagree? Why? I disagree with writers scrubbing out all uses of I and we from their writing, but they should try to use those words as little as possible. It is true as stated In the book the catchiest words you can use are you and your. When we as consumers, see an ad or talk to a representative, we want to know how or where we are being benefited ND not see or hear a bunch of Xi's or woe's.The flipped of removing those words are responses possibly becoming too wordy. There Is an example In the book on peg. 43 that I have put below where I believe the ‘You† view would have to be changed to; [Would you mind releasing your account number so your records can be located and this problem of yours can be solved? ] I changed It this way because If removing those two words you would also have to remove me as well.Now I believe It does not sound as polite as the original change. Some Xi's or woe's are necessary to sound polite and let consumers know that although this is about them, the business is not completely removed from interacting with them. â€Å"l/We† View â€Å"You† View I need your account number before I can do anything Would you mind giving me your account number so that I can locate your records and help you solve this problem?

Innovation at 3M Corporation Essay

3M was and still is a worldwide leader in innovation. After a rough start in 1902, over decades, 3M enjoyed national and global growth as well as a reputation for remaining a hothouse of innovation. In the 1990’s, 3M was trying to move away from the incrementalism and it sought to change the mix of new products to truly create something new to the world, instead of line extensions, which typically had provided two out of three new-product sales dollars. By 1996, the 3M Medical-Surgical Markets Division, a world leader in surgical drapes market, had gone almost a decade with only one successful product. At this point, Senior Product Specialist Rita Shor has been charged with the mandate of developing a breakthrough product within existing business strategy. She was selected not only because her seniority but also because she was thought of as being creative and consensus builder. Rita and the Medical-Surgical Market Division experiences with the traditional market research were disappointing. Traditional tools presented an abundance of data but contained little useful information for conceptualizing a breakthrough product as the current strategy of the company was desperate to find. In an in house lecture, Rita had heard about a new methodology for product development called â€Å"Lead User Research.† In an in house lecture, Rita had heard about a new methodology for product development called â€Å"Lead  User Research.† The premise of this novel methodology was that certain consumers experienced needs ahead of other consumers and some of the former would seek to innovate on their own. Shor decided to try since this might provide the key to the breakthrough product. The Medical-Surgical Division focused largely on reducing infections from skin through surgical drapes and surgical prepping. The team decided to  center their interest in a new product that should reduce infections, conform to the body, prove more effective than current products and be easy to apply and remove. Shor and her consultants follow the â€Å"Lead User Research† methodology stage by stage. The first two stages run as planned. However, the diversity in lead users and fields of expertise was adding complexity to the third and fourth phase. Along the way, after a change of the division manager, Shor experienced a big barrier of skepticism from her superiors. They had reduction on the team and clear opposition. The third stage took six months instead of six weeks. Shor and her team had to sell the program starting from scratch, reminding the new managers the expected benefits and the old problems. Finally, after one year and with the help of a dozen of lead users gather from backgrounds as diverse as cosmetics to surgery, the team ended up with three innovative product recommendations. Two of them represented a straightforward linear extension of 3M product lines. One more, the team though, might open the door to new business opportunities. However, the team had a fourth recommendation but it divided the team. The fourth idea would change the business unit strategy, in fact could mean to associate and combine technology from more than one core area of the company. Shor should decide if take the four recommendations to the senior management and revolutionize the company or just play safe and keep doing business as always. Case analysis There is no doubt of the excellence of 3M’s products. It is also known per decades that the company is a leader in innovation. However, this case represents the need for change in a moment where innovation was just predictable and the â€Å"new products† were the result of the same old ideas. It is understandable, up to a certain point, the level of comfort in employees and management had within the company. When the company has a steady income and year after year and the results show growth, small but growth, it is hard to sell a change in the organization. Rita Shor’s dilemma about presenting or not the fourth recommendation was not just about numbers. It was about business strategy, changes in the organization and cultural change management. After all, depending on how that kind of changes are implemented, the numbers could go either direction, faster and bigger by itself. Eventually, 3M should realize that the times where the innovation called for â€Å"it’s better to seek forgiveness than ask for permission† were behind. That there was no more â€Å"get-out-of-the-way† attitude. To put it in perspective, the employees’ comfort zone made the company transform itself in a short-term thinking, incapable of being radical anymore. In addition to the cultural aspect of the organization, another reason for the actual situation was the product developing process and the product teams that perform it. Those teams were composed primarily of technical individuals with zero room for an empirical behavior, making the company a secluded environment. The proportions of logic and predictability in contrast with creativity and â€Å"free† innovation were overwhelming. In summary, Rita Shor’s decision was not an easy one. She never imagined how far her assignment was going to go. The truth was that it went beyond the point of just finding a breakthrough product. The results of applying the â€Å"Lead User Research† methodolog y, opened bigger doors to radical change inside the company. That is what the case is all about. Alternatives Rita Shor had two clear alternatives. On the one hand, she could deliver to senior management only the three products they clearly defined. On the contrary, she could face the opposition of some of her own team members and introduce to 3M the â€Å"Lead User Research† methodology. Explaining the findings and telling the company that the legendary innovation process needed a refresh. The first option would help the team to present a safe and conservative idea, aligned with the 3M traditional methods. In fact, two of the three products were a linear progression of other products, which would please the â€Å"old† school of the management. Likewise, the third product accomplished the goal of the new company strategy. It was the  breakthrough product that the Senior Management charged Rita to find. This option was the best in terms of having everybody happy within the team and everybody in th e organization. The second option was a bigger risk. It was a personal risk for Rita and her results to the company. It was also a business risk for the Health Care Unit and the Medical -Surgical Division. The recommendation of evolution or revolution was a big challenge for all the levels of the organization. It would start with the Health Care Unit’s business strategy statement but it would not stop there. The new recommendation would imply to collaborate with other units. It would means probably to create and destroy business units along the company. Not to mention that the recommendation would touch the core of the innovation principles in 3M. However, all those risks could be the answer that 3M was eager to find. The 30% goal of sales from products that did not exist four years earlier was not an easy target. The answer could be the change in the innovation process as a whole and not just one product at a time. Recommendations Definitely, the recommendation is to deliver the fourth idea to the Senior Management team. However, in order to assure the success of the new â€Å"Lead Users Research† methodology, it must be clear that 3M needs to commit all levels of the organization to the changes that â€Å"reinventing† themselves will bring. Change Management is a painful process. Even though it could involve complex  activities, changes in organizational structure, downsizing and cultural mentality change, all will benefit the company, in the long run. The new initiative will bring back the bright ideas 3M was known for and it will restore the respect that other businesses in the industry always have had for them. It is important though, be aware of the long process, the challenges that implement new methodologies and new ways of thinking implies. In 1995, John Kotter published research that revealed only 30 percent of change programs are successful1. There are not too many changes since then. In fact, fig.1 shows how 9% completely failed, 49% failed and just 21% had a complete and successful implementation of changes in the organizations 2.

The Main Issues Involved in Iranians Annotated Bibliography

The Main Issues Involved in Iranians - Annotated Bibliography Example This research will begin with the review of â€Å"Irangeles: Iranians in Los Angeles† written by Ron Kelley, Jonathan Friedlander, and Anita Colby. The researcher states that in a novel format, this work is a combination of essays, interviews, and photographs of the Iranian immigrants in Southern California. According to the research findings, the work shows how Iranian women in the U.S try to adopt the Western culture and to deny their Iranian roots. This work  helps in explaining the general tendency among the Iranian women writers after the revolution to present themselves as liberal, freedom-loving, and democratic human beings who have nothing to do with terrorism and extremism. The present research has identified that Nesta Ramazani is another female contemporary of Satrapi. With an Iranian father and English mother, Nesta narrates her life in Iran before and after the revolution. This paper illustrates that the writer faces a lot of pressure in the fundamental Iranian society, and manages to struggle through with luck and hard work.   The work shows how Iranian, Islamic, and Western cultures collide, mingle, and influence the lives of people in Iran. The autobiography by Nesta is used in two ways. Firstly, it helps understand the influence of fundamentalism on Iranian people, and secondly, it helps explore the general tendency among Iranian women writers to show adherence to the West.