Conferences and conventions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Conferences and conventions - Essay Example Recently conferences and conventions have started extended facilities to delegate families and there is not a single economy which would say that it did not get benefited by conferences. "THE economic contribution of conferences to the Welsh economy is underscored in the financial results of the Cardiff Conference Bureau. This council initiative has won business for the city worth 1.7m during 2006" http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0300business/0100news/tm_headline=conference-business-boosts-cardiff-by--pound-1-7m&method=full&objectid=18363801&siteid=50082-name_page.html Another face of conferences is the advantage being gained by tourism industry. By placing conferences in far away venues of cultural, naturalistic and historical backdrops, many countries and business have given enormous facelift to the tourism industry. This has given way to business tourism, considered today as a major branch of tourism. Britain is an important country that has been benefited by business tourism, mainly because it is reachable from all directions and has well developed, affordable venues. are rumoured to be affordable. One of the UK advertisements says: "Vibrant, dynamic cities, elegant spa towns combining tradition with state-of-the-art facilities and cosmopolitan seaside resorts... Britain has it all" http://www.visitbritain.com/VB3-nb-NO/businesstourism/conferencesconventions/conferences_conventions.aspx Indian cities with luxurious five star hotels and much cheaper economy have provided some more major business tourism destinations, where many international conferences and conventions are held today. The wildlife sanctuaries, historical monuments, natural wonders, religious temples have all... Conferences and conventions have created a global industry of their own. The origins of the conference industry are quite recent and it has been connected with business tourism and leisure tourism throughout. New trend of winning through partnerships has started in the business world. Business touring workshops are setting the trend. There are many direct expenditure benefits of conferences to the local area. In United Kingdom, conferences, meetings, conventions have created tourism benefit. Many conference venues and their neighbouring towns and cities usually become tourist centres for the convention representatives. According to a study conducted by UK National Tourist Board, with detailed figures of conference spending in the year 2001, total cost direct expenditure of one conference was  £1,092,960/-. Conferences and conventions also bring benefits to human resources, and employees. â€Å"Conferences are about communication†¦.An industry has developed to facilitate the satisfaction of the objectives of face to face communication: the conference industry. Suppliers to the industry are as diverse as their clients: Conference centres, hotels, specialist intermediaries, convention bureaux, caterers, production companies, and many others – all cooperate to create the right atmosphere and infrastructure, conducive to communication†

Lord of the Flies Essay Example for Free

Lord of the Flies Essay A symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. In the book, â€Å" Lord of the Flies† by William Golding, there are many symbols such as the pig’s head, fire, painted faces, and Piggy’s glasses. However one symbol stands out more than the others, the conch. The conch symbolizes order, government, savagery, and even one of the characters called Piggy. Order was one of the main themes that the conch symbolized. When Ralph and Piggy first found the conch Piggy said, â€Å"We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us. † (16). Automatically they find the conch, blow on it, and everyone on the island comes to the platform. This shows that they are trying to have everything be put in order by calling a meeting and discussing everything that is going on, and to discuss how they are going to survive. Another example of order is, â€Å" I’ll give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when he’s speaking. We’ll have rules! Lots of rules! † (33). This shows that they want the order of England and of school. When in school, if the students have a question or an answer, they raise their hands and say what they are going to say. Another main theme in this book that the conch symbolizes is government. For example, when they called the meeting Ralph said, â€Å" Seems to me we ought to have a chief to decide things. † (22). This shows that they want for the island to be like England and have a ruler. The ruler would tell them what is right, what is wrong, and how they should be doing everything. Another example of government is, â€Å" Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing. † (22). The children on the island wanted Ralph to be the chief because he started to lead by just blowing the conch. To the children it showed that he knew what he was doing, and they thought he knew how to go home. The other theme that the conch symbolizes is the savagery. For example, Jack explained. â€Å" I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything. So we’ve got to do all the right things. † (42). This shows that in the beginning of the book, Jack thinks that they are not savages. The thing is that every human has savagery in them in some way or form. Toward the end of the book when Jack is in the separate tribe, it describes, â€Å" Before the party has started a great log had been dragged into the center of the lawn and Jack, painted and garlanded, sat there like an idol. There were piles of meat on green leaves near him, and fruit, and coconut shells full of drink. † (149). The conch forced Jack to make a separate tribe, because he was tired of taking orders from Ralph. He wanted to be chief so badly that he created a tribe and convinced almost all of the children to go to his side. He provided the children with meat and protection that Ralph didn’t. The conch also symbolized the book’s character of Piggy. An example would be when the plan first crashed and the meeting was not called, Piggy said, â€Å" S’right. It’s a shell! I seen one like that before. On someone’s back wall. A conch he called it. He used to blow it and then his mum would come. It’s ever so valuable. † (15). At the beginning he was the one who discovered the conch. Piggy was also the one to tell Ralph to blow on the conch so that all the children on the island would all meet at the platform. Another example would be one of the main turning points in the book, â€Å" The rock struck Piggy a glancing blow from the chin to knee; the conch exploded into a thousand white fragments and ceased to exist. Piggy, saying nothing, with no time for even a grunt, traveled through the air sideways from the rock, turning over as he went. (181). When Piggy first arrived on the island he found the conch, and when Piggy died the conch died along with him. Once Piggy and the conch were gone, the order of the island was gone as well. The conch was both the leader and the assaciane at the same time. At first the conch was the one who brought the tribe together. It provided order and a sense of government on the island. However, in the end in was the one to tear everyone apart. It created Jack to act as a savage and for him to create a whole new tribe to torture Ralph. Once the conch exploded all the order and the government went with it, and out came the savage in everyone. In the end they even get rescued because of the conch. When the conch exploded into pieces, Jack’s tribe went to go find Ralph to kill him. Jack set the whole island on fire to smoke Ralph out to kill him. By setting the island on fire the smoke could be seen from miles away. The navy was able to see the smoke and they came to rescued the children. Isn’t it ironic. The whole time Ralph talked about the fire being the main priority, and in the end Jack’s fire rescued them from the island.

Internet and Technology Hazards :: Essays Papers

Internet and Technology Hazards Computers and the Internet are great items for the household, but along with these advantages there are disadvantages. They are constantly changing the way that we live and do business. The Internet puts tons of information at a click of a button. This information is a great educational tool for children. The Internet can be very dangerous to young children, and there is also research being done now about possible problems that adults have with computers. It is the parents’ responsibility to make sure that the Internet is a safe place for their children. I read an article called Internet and Computer Technology Hazards: Perspectives For Family Counseling. The author of this article is Jo Ann Oravec. It appeared in the British Journal of Guidance & Counseling, in August of 2000. I agreed with almost everything that she wrote. It was an interesting and compelling article. The main reason that people watch the news, and look through various sources of information is to make sure that their homes are safe from possible nuisances in the neighborhood or from severe weather. When working with a network, a series of computers tied together, there are new and dangerous hazards that can go unnoticed. Viruses and security breaches by hackers are a few of the hazards that they may encounter. The Internet is being used more and more for daily life. For many families the meaning of â€Å"Neighbor† is quickly changing from the people that live close to on-line relationships that they have. Now many people are doing their shopping, banking and other everyday activities on-line. Some people are also using the Internet to stay in touch with family members that live elsewhere. As families perform important educational and community activities on-line the meaning of home is changing at a rapid pace. Some families are worried that the Internet could have an effect on their privacy. The privacy for a family is necessary to raising their children. Today it is possible to get information on nearly anyone via the Internet. Crimes such as hacking and identity theft are the main concerns of these families. Children may accidentally give out family information to marketers by filling out their on-line surveys. Many families believe that they could prevent these things from happening by shutting off contact with the Internet.

Performance Orientation

The degree to which a collective encourages and rewards (and should encourage and reward) group members for performance improvement and excellence. Assertiveness. The degree to which individuals are (and should be) assertive, confrontational, and aggressive in their relationships with others. Future Orientation. The extent to which individuals engage (and should engage) in future-oriented behaviors such as delaying gratification, planning, and investing in the future. Organizations in countries with high future oriented practices like Singapore and Switzerland tend to have longer term horizons and more systematic planning processes, but they tend to be averse to risk taking and opportunistic decision making. Humane Orientation. The degree to which a collective encourages and rewards ( and should encourage and reward) individuals for being fair, altruistic, generous, caring, and kind to others. Countries like Egypt and Malaysia rank very high on this cultural practice Institutional Collectivism. The degree to which organizational and societal institutional practices encourage and reward (and should encourage and reward) collective distribution of resources and collective action Organizations in collectivistic countries like Singapore and Sweden tend to emphasize group performance and rewards In-Group Collectivism. The degree to which individuals express (and should express) pride, loyalty, and cohesiveness in their organizations or families. Societies like Egypt and Russia take pride in their families and also take pride in the organizations that employ them. Gender Egalitarianism. The degree to which a collective minimizes (and should minimize) gender inequality. Egypt and South Korea were among the most male dominated societies in GLOBE. Organizations not operating in gender egalitarian societies tend to discourage tolerance for diversity of ideas and individual. Power Distance. The degree to which members of a collective expect (and should expect) power to be distributed equally. A high power distance score reflects unequal power distribution in a society. Countries that scored high on this cultural practice are more stratified economically, socially, and politically; those in positions of authority expect, and receive, obedience. Uncertainty Avoidance. The extent to which a society, organization, or group relies (and should rely) on social norms, rules, and procedures to alleviate unpredictability of future events. The greater the desire to avoid uncertainty, the more people seek orderliness, consistency, structure, formal procedures and laws to cover situations in their daily lives.

Personal Identity and Mind Essay

From the Latin word â€Å"duo†, or two, dualism seeks to explain the relationship between the mind and body. Put simply, it purports that mind and body are categorically distinct and separate from each other and, thus, can not be reduced to each other in any way. In order to understand this theory better, we take into account all the external stimuli received by our sensory organs that bring about changes in our mental state. As a result, our body starts to feel sensation/s. Note that whenever our bodies feel sensation, be it pleasant or unpleasant, it drives it to move or act in a certain way. For instance, we crave for fried chicken and suddenly smell the aroma of fried chicken wafting through the air, and hear the cracklings of chicken being fried. Suppose, this dish is served to you, your body then starts to move towards the dish and start eating. It appears therefore, that there is interaction between mind and body in such a way that physical events cause mental events and mental events cause physical events. In the case of Captain Picard, regardless of the fact that his body and brains were just â€Å"exact replicas† of his previous self, his mind and body are still considered as two distinct and separate entities. His body or physical state will function in a way that may interact with hid mind but will still remain its distinction as separate entities. This is the contention of property dualism, which claims that although there may not be a distinction in substance, mental and physical properties are still categorically distinct, and not reducible to each other. Captain Picard’s mind state will change upon receiving external stimuli and from there, his body will start to feel sensation that will goad it to act in a certain way. Yet, both are separate entities. According to mind-brain identity theory, Picard’s mental states are each identical to his brain states. What does this mean? How would the identity theorist respond to the argument you provided for dualism? In contrast to dualism, the mind-brain identity theory asserts that mental states are identical with brain states. The theory further asserts that for every mental state, there is a brain-state with which it is identical. For instance, â€Å"every pain event is identical with the C-fibers firing. † (â€Å"Mind-brain Identity Theory†) The same article attempts to explain this theory further by providing details about the physiological functions of the brain and relating it to the said theory, thus: The main support for mind-brain identity theory is the phenomenon of localization. Mental events appear to be associated with specific parts of the brain. Mental activity appears to be localized in identifiable areas of the brain. This is shown by the fact that inhibiting brain activity inhibits mental activity. Those who suffer localized brain damage also have such localized damage to the mind. The most natural explanation of this localization is that the mind is the brain. Captain Picard’s mind and brain, according to the mind-brain identity theorists, are one and the same thing. Any damage to his brain, therefore, produces damage to the mind also. Works Cited â€Å"Mind-brain Identity Theory†. Philosophy of Mind. Info. 2005. 22 June 2009 â€Å" Mind Body Dualism Theory†. Wikipedia. 2009. 20 June 2009

Whether vs. If

Whether vs. If Whether vs. If Whether vs. If By Maeve Maddox A reader writes: A colleague at work says the following sentence is incorrect: â€Å"Promotion depends on if the employee maintains a good attendance record.† I don’t see anything wrong with it. Is she just being disagreeable? I can’t say whether the colleague is being disagreeable or not, but I can say why she objects to the sentence. The conjunctions if and whether are often used interchangeably. Sometimes such usage can pass, but sometimes whether is the only choice. One rule often cited is that if does not follow a preposition. Corrected, the sentence is â€Å"Promotion depends on whether the employee maintains a good attendance record.† Seeking to avoid confusion, Sir Ernest Gowers added this entry to the 1963 edition of Fowler’s Modern English Usage: To avoid possible ambiguity it may be prudent to confine if to its proper duty of introducing the protasis of a conditional sentence, and not to use it as a substitute for though or whether or (with not) to introduce a possible alternative. Note: In the context of grammar, protasis is â€Å"the first or introductory clause in a sentence, especially the clause which expresses the condition in a conditional sentence.† The Chicago Manual of Style spells out two instances in which if should not be used in lieu of whether: 1. to introduce a noun clause in an indirect question the answer to which is either yes or no. INCORRECT: He asked if his tie was straight. CORRECT: He asked whether his tie was straight. The only possible answer is yes or no. 2. to avoid ambiguity. INCORRECT: Call me to let me know if you can come. CORRECT: Call me to let me know whether you can come. With if, two interpretations are possible: 1. Call regardless of your answer. 2. Call only if you will be coming. By using whether, the speaker makes it clear that a call is desired, regardless of whether the person is coming or not. Chicago includes three other notes on the if/whether dichotomy in the â€Å"Good usage versus common usage† section: determine whether; determine if. The first phrasing is irreproachable style; the second is acceptable as a colloquialism. The same is true of decide whether versus decide if. doubt that; doubt whether; doubt if. Doubt that conveys a negative sense of skepticism or questioning: â€Å"I doubt that you’ll ever get your money back.† Doubt whether also conveys a sense of skepticism â€Å"The official says that he doubts whether the company could survive.† Doubt if is a casual phrasing for doubt that. question whether; question of whether; question as to whether. The first phrasing is the best, the second is next best, and the third is to be avoided. Paul Brians (Common Errors in English Usage) acknowledges that if â€Å"can’t really be called an error,† but adds, â€Å"when you are discussing two alternative possibilities, whether sounds more polished.† A note by David Foster Wallace in the Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus offers â€Å"a simple test†: If you can coherently insert an â€Å"or not† after either the conjunction or the clause it introduces, you need whether. He gives these examples: He didn’t know whether [or not] it would rain. YES She asked me straight out whether I was a fetishist [or not]. YES We told him to call if [or not] he needed a ride. NO If is used to express a conditional. Whether is used to introduce alternative possibilities. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:30 Synonyms for â€Å"Meeting†Rules for Capitalization in Titles30 Words Invented by Shakespeare

Federal Regulations And Federal Agencies Example

Federal Regulations And Federal Agencies Example Federal Regulations And Federal Agencies – Coursework Example Federal regulations and federal agencies (Program) (Supervisor) November 4, Federal regulations and federal agencies Off-label drugs are drugs that are prescribed and are used for purposes that are different from labeled applications or for recommended groups of patients. Even though such applications are legal, the Food and Drug Administration as well as government care plans discourage them. This discussion argues that it should be illegal for a pharmaceutical company to promote off-labeled drugs because of government policies against it and because of its potential harm.Off labeled drugs may be helpful to patients if prescribed for the patients’ best interest and in a scientific based way that minimizes potential harm to the patients. Probability of harm is however, greater if such labels are not based on scientific evidence and such uninformed applications should be illegalized. Most of off-labeled drug usage is however not supported by scientific evidence (Dresser & Frade r, 2009) and the uninformed approach, especially when such usage exposes patients to adverse drug side effects, requires legal control. According to Ahuja, and with respect to children alone, off label drugs could lead to â€Å"jaundice,† â€Å"seizures and cardiac arrests,† â€Å"withdrawal symptoms,† and â€Å"staining teeth† (2005, p. 98). Such effects suggest that the government should be effective in its role of ensuring public health by illegalizing off-labeled drugs, especially prescriptions whose safety have not been proven by scientific evidence. The fact that the Food and Drug Administration and government’s Medicare and Medicaid plan discourage use of off label drugs is also an indicator of the applications threat to good health and warrants illegalization (Ausness, 2008). Off-label drugs should therefore be illegalized and pharmaceutical companies should not promote it because of their possible adverse effects, widespread uninformed pre scriptions, and existence of policies against prescription and usage of off labeled drugs. ReferencesAhuja, G. (2005). Drug injury: Liability, analysis, and prevention. Tucson, AZ: Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company. Ausness, R. (2008). â€Å"There’s danger here, Cherie!†: Liability for promoting and marketing of drugs and medical devices for off-label use. University of Kentucky College of Law. Retrieved from: http://uknowledge.uky.edu/law_facpub/46/. Dresser, R. & Frader, J. (2009). Off-labeled prescribing: A call for heightened professional and government oversight. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 37(3): 476-486.

The Meaning of Nani in Japanese

The Meaning of 'Nani' in Japanese The word nani  Ã¤ ½â€¢ (㠁 ªÃ£  «) in Japanese means what. And depending on the situation, you might, instead, use  nan (㠁 ªÃ£â€šâ€œ). Which term you use depends on the context, in particular, whether you are speaking or writing formally or informally. The sentences below are listed first in a transliteration of the Japanese phrase or sentence, followed by the spelling in Japanese characters- using  kanji,  hiragana, or  katakana  as appropriate- followed by the translation in English. Where indicated, click on the link to bring up a sound file and hear how to correctly pronounce the word or sentence in Japanese. Using Nani or Nan in a Sentence Nani is the more formal and polite term to use when asking a question, as in: Nani  wo  suru  tsumori  desu ka? (㠁 ªÃ£  « ã‚’ 㠁™ã‚‹ 㠁 ¤Ã£â€šâ€šÃ£â€šÅ  㠁 §Ã£ â„¢ 㠁‹)   What do you intend to do? or What are you planning to do? In more casual situations it would  be  fine to use nan. As a general rule,  if the word following what begins with a syllable from the t, n, and d groups, use nan, as in: Nandeshou? (㠁 ªÃ£â€šâ€œÃ£  §Ã£ â€"ょ㠁†) What do you want? More on Using Nan vs. Nani Nan is used before  particles.  A particle is a word that shows the relationship of a word, phrase, or clause  to the rest of the sentence.  Particles are added to the end of sentences to  express the speaker  or writers  emotions, such as doubt, emphasis, caution, hesitation, wonder, or admiration. You might use  nan   with a phrase such as /㠁 ®, /㠁 § (which means of the and is pronounced no de)  and verb da/desu (打㠁 §Ã£ â„¢ ), meaning it is hitting or it is striking. Nani is used before: /㠁‹ (meaning or and pronounced as ka)  and /㠁 « (meaning into a and pronounced as ni). Be careful when you use nan because, for example, if you use  nan  before ka  (/㠁‹), which means or, it would sound like the word nanka  (㠁 ªÃ£â€šâ€œÃ£ â€¹), which means things like. Another example would be if you were to use  nan with  ni (/㠁 «), it would be nanni  (㠁 ªÃ£â€šâ€œÃ£  «), meaning why, but this sounds very much like nannimo  (㠁 ªÃ£â€šâ€œÃ£  «Ã£â€šâ€š), which translates as nothing at all. Using Nani or Nan in Context You might use  nani  or  nan  in a restaurant. Depending on whether you are at a formal business luncheon or a casual eatery, you might use either of these terms. For example, at fast food eatery you might say: Osusume wa nan desu ka.  (㠁Šå‹ §Ã£â€š Ã£  ¯Ã¤ ½â€¢Ã£  §Ã£ â„¢Ã£ â€¹) What do you recommend?Are wa nan desu ka. (㠁‚ã‚Å'㠁 ¯Ã¤ ½â€¢Ã£  §Ã£ â„¢Ã£ â€¹Ã£â‚¬â€š) What is that?   If you are at a more formal eatery, but you dont know what to order, you might ask a fellow diner: Nani ga oishii desu ka. (ä ½â€¢Ã£ Å'㠁Šã â€žÃ£ â€"㠁„㠁 §Ã£ â„¢Ã£ â€¹Ã£â‚¬â€š) What is good? If you are traveling on a train and need to ask for help from a stranger or train conductor, that would be considered a more formal situation in Japan. Thus, you would use  nani  and might say: Tsugi  wa  nani  eki  desu ka.  (æ ¬ ¡Ã£  ¯Ã¤ ½â€¢Ã© §â€¦Ã£  §Ã£ â„¢Ã£ â€¹Ã£â‚¬â€š) What is the next station? However, if you are traveling with a friend, you might use   the informal  nan, as in: Nan-ji  ni  demasu  ka.  (ä ½â€¢Ã¦â„¢â€šÃ£  «Ã¥â€¡ ºÃ£  ¾Ã£ â„¢Ã£ â€¹Ã£â‚¬â€š)   What time does it leave?

Stratigic Financial Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Stratigic Financial Management - Essay Example The main trends of the industry are the explosion in electronic trading; the service providers have their own technologies and systems; and the coming of the age of media personalization. On the other hand, to analyze the company situation was considered the product and market strategy, its business unit situation and the financial performance. With respect to financial performance, Reuters had a gradual improvement in sales in 2005, but its profitability has been very volatile in the last few years, nevertheless in February 2006 experienced an amazing 25% increase in its 2005 profits. The question here is if the sale of INSTINET has benefited not only Reuters but also Nasdaq According to financial data presented, both companies are in a much stronger and healthy financial position than before the sale of Instinet. With nearly 200 news bureaus, Reuters ranks as the world's largest international news agency, publishing stories in almost 20 languages. Reuters has always been an innovative leader in delivering news. In 1850 Reuters founder, Paul Julius Reuter, "created a company devoted to delivering information using the best available technology" ("History of Reuters' Technical developments," p. 1). In 1850, the best available technology was a fleet of 45 pigeons that would deliver news and stock prices between Brussels and Germany within two hours. Through the use of these birds, the company was able to beat news delivery by the railroad by six hours. Reuter quickly exploited the technology of the telegraph as soon as it was introduced. Throughout the years Reuters has continued to lead in new uses of information technology. Reuters remains the leading global provider of news, financial information and technology solutions to the world's financial institutions, businesses and the media. According to its website: "Reuters strength lies in its unique ability to offer customers around the world a combination of content, technology and connectivity. Its offerings include: real-time financial data; transaction capabilities; analytical, risk and trade management tools; collective investment data from Lipper; historical databases; and text, graphics, video and pictures to media organisations woldwide." ("Aboutreuters.com," p. 1). Reuters Background Reuters is an information service, traditionally news. In recent years, it has become a financial organization as

Stratejik Financial Management, provide an evaluation of two projects, Essay

Stratejik Financial Management, provide an evaluation of two projects, both with five year expected lives and identical initial outlays of 110,000 - Essay Example A thorough analysis of what a business venture or investment will impart the company is one of the most important steps in sustaining profitability, maximizing company's resources, and accepting or rejecting prospective projects (Brealey et al, 2005). The payback period is regarded and widely used because of its relative simplicity. Managers prefer to use it because it is generally easy to memorize and to use (Peterson and Fabozzi, 2002). However, this technique disregards the additional cash flow which can be recouped from the project as it only focuses on the time when the whole investment will be recovered (Higgins 2005). Since the concern of the payback period is when, it does not really tell a business organization whether an investment is worth pursuing or not. Also, because of the relative view of managers on when the amount of investment should be recovered, there is no definite conclusion if project should be accepted or not. The following tables show the computation of the Net Present Value (NPVs) of the two projects under consideration. Using the expect annual cash flow, the computed NPV for project 1 is $31,740 while it is $34,200 for project 2. If NPV is only the man consideration of the business organization in capital budgeting decision, it is apparent that both of the projects should be accepted. It should be noted that using the NPV method, any project which does not yield zero NPV should be considered and pursued by the business organization. Thus, in the case of the evaluated projects above, both should be considered as they both yield positive values of NPV. 4. Explain the logic behind the NPV approach. Net Present Value (NPV) is the difference between the present value of cash inflows and the present value of cash outflows (Keown, et al, 2005). The Net Present Value (NPV) analysis is very much different from other capital budgeting techniques like payback period because it takes into account the time value of money. In the computation for total cash flow, it also takes into account the total cash flow from the investment including the depreciation and the tax shield resulting from it. Starting from the expected annual cash flows from the prospective project, managers should assign a specific required rate of return, that is, the rate of return that the companies want to generate from the investment. This is often indicated as an interest rate. For example, if the company's rate of return is 12%, the company will only accept investments which will yield 12% or higher. This method recognizes that the value of dollar today is greater than its expected value tomorrow. Thus, all the cas h flows are discounted according to the required rate of return. After generating the present value of all the expected future cash flows, it then takes the sum of these present values. Logically, if the sum is positive, it means that the project exceeds the required rate of return. In contrast, if the NPV is negative then the project fails to generate the set return. This technique is favored by more economists and managers because it is more realistic. 5. What would happen to NPV if the required rate

The Green Oxidation of Cyclohexanol to Cyclohexanone Lab Report

The Green Oxidation of Cyclohexanol to Cyclohexanone - Lab Report Example KMnO4 and Cr (VI) compounds such as H2CrO4 have been widely used as oxidizing agents in the oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds. However, each of these two reagents has its disadvantages, and chemists are increasingly using reagents containing chlorine in a positive oxidation state such as hypochlorite compounds. Sodium hypochlorite is the reagent chemists most commonly use for this purpose. Sodium hypochlorite has three crucial advantages over Cr (VI) compounds when used to oxidize cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone. Firstly, it has no hazardous waste products in contrast to Cr (VI) oxidations, which yield Cr (III) compounds, which are toxic to aquatic life. Secondly, sodium hypochlorite and its products have no skin or membrane irritation effects other than a negligible amount of chlorine gas, in contrast to Cr (VI) compounds, which are skin and membrane irritants. Thirdly, hypochlorite reagents are considerably cheaper than Cr (VI) compounds (Baird & Cann, 2008, p.67). 8 ml of cyclohexanol and 4 ml of glacial acetic acid were added to a 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask. A thermometer was placed into the flask and used to record the initial temperature. 115 ml of commercial bleach (NaOCl) was obtained in a beaker. The bleach was slowly added to the Erlenmeyer flask using a disposable pipette while slowly stirring the flask. The temperature was maintained between 40oC and 50o using an ice water bath large enough to hold the flask. After adding all the bleach, the mixture was allowed to sit for about 20 minutes. The mixture was continuously stirred during this period. The presence of the oxidizing agent was tested by adding a drop of the solution to a piece of starch-iodide paper. There was no color change indicating that hypochlorite was not present. 4 drops of thymol blue indicator were added to the reaction mixture. The solution turned yellow. 18.4 ml of 6 M sodium hydroxide was added to the reaction mixture until a neutral pH was obtained. This point was indicated by a color change to blue. A simple distillation apparatus was set up, with the receiving container being a 50 ml graduated cylinder. A 250 ml round-bottomed flask was used as the â€Å"still pot†. The mixture was distilled through steam distillation, and a mixture of cyclohexanone and water was obtained in a graduated cylinder. 40 ml of distillate was obtained. B. Isolation and Purification of Cyclohexanone The distillate mixture was placed in an Erlenmeyer flask. 6.8 g of NaCl was slowly added to the 34 ml aqueous layer with stirring in order to reduce the solubility of the cyclohexanone. This enabled it to be extracted completely using ether. The mixture was poured into a separatory funnel. Ether was added to the mixture until a 20 – 25 ml of organic layer was obtained. The separatory funnel was gently shaken with frequent venting. The aqueous and organic layers were left to separate. The aqueous layer was run off into a beaker labeled â€Å"aqueous waste†. The ether solution was poured from the separatory funnel into an Erlenmeyer flask. 3 M sodium hydroxide solution was added to the solution of ether, and the flask was gently shaken with frequent venting. The resulting aqueous layer was

Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Nursing - Assignment Example Emphasis is given on the need for the involvement of the government for the improvement of quality of healthcare services provided across Nigeria. The introduction of an effective healthcare system could help, according to Riman & Akpan (2012), to achieve the above target. The issue explored in the study of Riman & Akpan (2012) can be characterized as quite important. In fact, the lack of adequate funds has been, traditionally, a reason for failures in the delivery of healthcare services worldwide. The study of Riman & Akpan (2012) can be also used for identifying potential methods for keeping the quality of healthcare services in areas where the access to financing is problematic. The study of Riman & Akpan is well structured, at the level that subtitles have been used for making the content more coherent. At the same time, literature has been combined with empirical research in order to offer more accurate explanations in regard to its subject. It should be also noted that all aspects of the issue under examination are presented in detail helping the reader to understand the current status of healthcare financing in Nigeria and its effects on the quality of the country’s healthcare services. The resources used in the study have been carefully chosen, incorporating literature related to the study’s subject. As for the empirical research, this is based on a survey conducted among a particular category of the population, i.e. ‘women in child bearing age who already have a child’ (Riman & Akpan 2012, p.296). This means that the results of the survey can be used for understanding the performance of the country’s healthcare system in regard to a specific group of people. In the context of the research methods described above, the author’s conclusions can be characterized as legitimate, showing the relationship between healthcare financing and the quality of healthcare

Why Employees Resist Organizational Change Essay

Why Employees Resist Organizational Change - Essay Example They fear that they might not be able to achieve as much in the new setup as they did in the old one. 2. In order to accept the change and work according to it, people need to come out of their comfort zone that they have developed in the old setting. Most people would not do that happily, and would thus resist change. 3. The change may not always bring benefits to every individual that forms part of the organization. In such cases, people whose positions are being negatively affected by the implementation of the change tend to consider it disruptive and totally unnecessary. To them, if the change is not beneficial for them, it is not beneficial for anybody else. In fact, such employees do not see things in the bigger picture. 5. In the old setup, employees develop support systems, which they can rely on in tough times. If the work environment is changes, they may lose their support systems and be exposed to more challenges. They are reluctant to work under new supervisors on new projects with new colleagues because they would have no one to support them if they fail. 6. Many employees tend to have closed minds after they have made their mind. The facts and figures of the supporting documentation pertaining to the change confuse these employees. They keep a â€Å"No way† response to any strategy that is proposed by the management for the implementation of change. 7. Employees are tentative to give a try to the new work routines and are unwilling to learn new things. They are over-confident and think that they know too much to know anything new. Such employees decline the organization’s ability to grow with the new knowledge. Their personal growth is also restricted by their stubbornness. 9. Change is unfamiliar, so it is resisted. No more than 66.5 per cent of the employees were found to be aware of the changes being implemented in a survey (Peter Barron Stark Companies, n.d.). Their lack of sufficient

Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 8

Nursing - Assignment Example Emphasis is given on the need for the involvement of the government for the improvement of quality of healthcare services provided across Nigeria. The introduction of an effective healthcare system could help, according to Riman & Akpan (2012), to achieve the above target. The issue explored in the study of Riman & Akpan (2012) can be characterized as quite important. In fact, the lack of adequate funds has been, traditionally, a reason for failures in the delivery of healthcare services worldwide. The study of Riman & Akpan (2012) can be also used for identifying potential methods for keeping the quality of healthcare services in areas where the access to financing is problematic. The study of Riman & Akpan is well structured, at the level that subtitles have been used for making the content more coherent. At the same time, literature has been combined with empirical research in order to offer more accurate explanations in regard to its subject. It should be also noted that all aspects of the issue under examination are presented in detail helping the reader to understand the current status of healthcare financing in Nigeria and its effects on the quality of the country’s healthcare services. The resources used in the study have been carefully chosen, incorporating literature related to the study’s subject. As for the empirical research, this is based on a survey conducted among a particular category of the population, i.e. ‘women in child bearing age who already have a child’ (Riman & Akpan 2012, p.296). This means that the results of the survey can be used for understanding the performance of the country’s healthcare system in regard to a specific group of people. In the context of the research methods described above, the author’s conclusions can be characterized as legitimate, showing the relationship between healthcare financing and the quality of healthcare

Renaissance Europe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Renaissance Europe - Essay Example And can this hypothetical scenario ever be materialized. An etymology for this word say a lot about the possibility of such existence, it was originated by Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 - 6 July 1535), and used for the first time in his Latin book "Concerning the highest state of the republic and the new island Utopia" published in 1516. Interestingly his conviction in this state could be inferred from the fact that he conjoined two Greek words 'ou' for NOT and 'topos' for PLACE to form a word that literally means "nowhere." Sir Thomas More or Saint Thomas More as he is also refered to was an English lawyer, author, and statesman. He was highly regarded as a humanist scholar, he was bearer of many important public posts including that of Lord Chancellor from 1529 to 1532 in his illustrious career (Roper, 1626). Another cause clbre for which he is remembered is his refusal to accept King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church of England. It was his this bold stance that elevated him to the level of great people and his courage and conviction to remain steadfast at the face of adversity earned him the sainthood from the Catholic Church by Pope Pius XI in 1935 about four hundred years after his death. Apart from his principled defiance to the authority he is best known for his most famous and controversial book that was published in 1516 in which he for the first time used the word utopia. In this book he tells of a imaginary character Raphael Hythloday who is a traveler, extensive allegory is used to make the story more powerful and appealing; like the first name is ingeniously used to allude to the archangel Raphael, who is the messenger of truth. And surname in Greek means "dispenser of nonsense". The book is about political set up of fictitious place Utopia, it's a place where there is no concept of private ownership and different faiths are practiced freely and inter faith tolerance is firmly in placed. It is an embodiment of perfect destination where everything is desirable politically, culturally, socially, education wise and economically. With specific consideration to exceptional tolernce to varied forms of opinion and diversity. The purpose of presenting this unique and perfect state was to provide some form of imaginative yard stick at least to measure or correlate the certain dynamics of state affairs that eventually are pivotal for smooth functioning of a state. More very intelligently presented religio-political design of the imaginary state as an epitome of perfection and then compared and contrasted the real life affairs of European states with the ideal standards of utopian state. Thus he was able to devise a mechanism whereby the efficacy and inefficacy of a state could be measured on an arbitrary scale. One very interesting development that was observed from his argument in search of perfect state was that though he had maintained complete religious tolerence for every faith he was also adament in establishing the fact that there was no room for atheism in the utopian society. It was the marriage of convenience since he was catholic in faith and being minority in England needed tolerance of faith but his devout Catholicism did not allow h im have anything to do with godless society. The ostensible reason given by him for this eerie prejudism was because an atheist does not accept any superior power he is

Science Fiction Can Be an Influence to the Evolution of Technology Essay Example for Free

Science Fiction Can Be an Influence to the Evolution of Technology Essay Introduction Science fiction and technology have been working hand-in-hand for years. Authors like Gene Rodenberry have influenced many inventors to create technological devices such as touch screen computers, iPads and tablets. Even Star Trek’s transporter technology and transparent aluminum are becoming a reality. Scientists, physicists, and engineers are using science fiction to gain insight to new ideas. The science fiction entertainment genre has often influenced technological development through literature, radio, television, and film. Do Inventors create their products under the Influence of science fiction? Many people see technology pop into reality from the mind of the writers of science fiction, as did inventor Martin Cooper who created the mobile phone and gave credit to where he got his idea. People credit Gene Rodenberry for tablets and Transporter Technology, as well as transparent aluminum, and Apple QuickTime, while others have shown that learning computers came from the idea of Cylons from Battlestar Galactica and Terminator, even the world of Tron. Arthur C. Clarke’s science fiction foresaw the use of Geostationary Satellite (GPS), as well as the Internet, which the world uses today. Jules Verne’s science fiction stories brought people submarines and helicopters. H.G. Wells, who people call the father of science fiction, brought the world atomic energy and rockets through his stories. George Orwell’s book 1984, written in 1948, described a monitoring device, the government spying on the people, and coined the term â€Å"Big Brother.† The government is watching you. A former astronaut, Christopher J. Ferguson, gave credit to science fiction writers for the influence of the creation of the space station. According to How Does Science Fiction Influence Scientific Research? (2011), I look at the space station and vehicles docking in space. Who would have imagined 40 years ago, other than on the pages of Buck Rogers and in the mind of Wernher von Braun, that we would be doing these things? But here we are, doing them on a regular basis. (Christopher J. Ferguson Former United States Astronaut, NASA). These are just a few instances where science fiction technology has influenced the creation of the real thing. There has been a majority of technological advancements by Star Trek, as the tablets, communicators, Bluetooth devices, and even technology in the process of development such as the transporter technology created in the minds of the writers of science fiction. †Fiction† could change an individual’s comprehension with the â€Å"relationships within developments.† (Gordon, 2009). As science fiction authors have envisioned items, some never saw them fulfilled while others have. Strauss (2012), â€Å"Martin Cooper, the director of research and development at Motorola, credited the ‘Star Trek’ communicator as his inspiration for the design of the first mobile phone in the early 1970s.† (Cellphone). Cooper gave Gene Rodenberry the credit for the communicators from the original Star Trek. The writers of science fiction show an influence on people who later develop the work, in light of the fictional idea. Even I-Robot is now in the process of becoming a reality. Creators of the science fiction genre have ideas of what they want to see, although the technology is not available now. Geordi La Forge’s Visor in the Next Generation of Star Trek’s TV show is now becoming a reality. According to GeordiS Visor Becoming A Reality? (2012), Once again, a bit of Star Trek sci-fi is on the verge of becoming reality. This time it’s Geordi La Forge’s VISOR, which enabled the blind character to ‘see’ on Star Trek: The Next Generation, that’s close to becoming a practical device.† (para. 1). The author conceives the creative idea that he or she writes in science fiction genre, which then becomes the basis for scientific realities or possibilities. As the writer’s ideas enter the mind of the inventors, through the invention the ideas become a reality. Many inventors have given credit to Gene Rodenberry for his technological devices in Star Trek. Star Wars is even becoming a reality as well as the other science fiction movies. Many use science fiction genre in the classroom. Science fiction genre came into the classrooms from general science, physics, and even engineering to inspire students. (Segall, 2002) â€Å"Although scie nce fiction has appeared in science and physics education for many years, the genre has not been widely used to augment engineering education. Considering the potential for science fiction to help illustrate many common engineering concepts, while at the same time challenging the students to think about the many possibilities of design and technology, this exclusion represents a loss of a valuable resource.† (p. 419) Albert Segall’s paper showed that science fiction could advance technology and, by not using it, could hinder the inventor. Segall’s point was that science fiction is in the science and physics classroom. It is a needed resource for people in the engineering field. As this shows, science fiction is a big part in creating technology and its devices. A physicist, Dr. Michio Kaku, even gives science fiction credit for the influence of technology. According to Transparent Aluminium Is New State Of Matter' (2009), â€Å"(PhysOrg.com) Oxford scientists have created a transparent form of aluminium by bombarding the metal with the world’s most powerful soft X-ray laser. Transparent aluminium previously only existed in science fiction, featuring in the movie Star Trek IV, but the real material is an exotic new state of matter with implications for planetary science and nuclear fusion.† (para. 1). as well as the Associated Press’s article on the data scientists gave on the transporter technology, OCONNOR (2002), CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Australian scientists said Monday they had successfully teleported a laser beam encoded with data, breaking it up and reconstructing an exact replica a yard away.† (para. 1). As inventors continue to create new inventions, promising scientists, physicists and engineers can se e the importance of the use of science fiction in a classroom. As Segall showed that science fiction could inspire engineers and inventors of the past, he demonstrated how science fiction could be helpful to students in the future. Some devices which science fiction created are still not a reality Many could say that science fiction is fantasy because time travel, shrinking or enlarging devices, and computer digitalization, as from the movie Tron, are yet to appear. Some people do not look at science fiction as a resource because of its negative aspects. H.G. Wells, the author of the book, Time Machine which foreshadowed the movie called Back to the Future, The 50-Foot Woman, and Honey, I shrunk the Kids are but a few science fiction ideas that have not happened as far as we know. There are many examples that people use to say that science fiction does not influence technology, but there is more evidence to support that it does. Although Lightsabers of Star Wars are not in the same style as the movie, they have become reality in a similar prototype. What are the positive and negative sides of science fiction becoming a reality? As science fiction becomes reality, its use can be positive or negative: but does it help or hurt humankind? Many technological devices developed from science fiction were taken from the private sector, utilized by the Military, and were altered to be used in another manner than previously intended. For instance, George Orwell’s book, called 1984, was banned by many school administrators from being read in schools because of its political outlook of surveillance devices. Conclusion Through literature, radio, television, and film, the entertainment of science fiction has influenced technology and its devices. Arthur C. Clarke has seen the things he has written about come true. Science Fiction writers like Gene Rodenberry, H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, George Lucas, and other writers have given physicists, scientists, and engineers ideas of inspiration to create technological devices. Noticeably a few areas of science fiction have not become a reality yet, such as a human being digitized into an electronic form; a human being shrunk or enlarged in size; and time travel. Yet, many things in science fiction have come to reality: for example, mobile phones, tablets, and touch screen computers. Even the term â€Å"Big Brother is watching you,† given through the thoughts of George Orwell from his book 1984, written in 1948, has seen a counterpart in modern surveillance equipment. The relationship of science fiction and technology has been working hand-in-hand for generations. Reference Segall, A. E. (2002, October). Science fiction in the engineering classroom to help teach basic concepts and promote the profession. Journal of Engineering Education, 91(4), 419-423. How does science fiction influence scientific research?. (2011). Retrieved from http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/science-fiction-influence-scientific-research Gordon, R. (2009, December). Learning From Fiction: Applications in Emerging Technologies. Bulletin of Science, Technology Society, 29(6), 470 475. Retrieved from http://bst.sagepub.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/content/29/6/470 Strauss, M. (2012). Ten Inventions Inspired by Science Fiction. Retrieved from http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Ten-Inventions-Inspired-by-ScienceFiction.html?c=ypage=7navigation=next#IMAGES Putt, S. (2011). Using science fiction to teach science facts. Minnesota State University, Mankato). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 41. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/894263497?accountid=358 12. (894263497). Transparent aluminum is new state of matter. (2009). Retrieved from http://phys.org/news167925273.html OCONNOR, P. (2002). Scientists Report Teleported Data. Retrieved from http://www.timeenoughforlove.org/saved/YahooNewsScientistsReportTeleportedDat a.htm Geordis VISOR Becoming A Reality?. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.startrek.com/article/geordis-visor-becoming-a-reality

Agriculture In Deforestation And Desertification Environmental Sciences Essay

Agriculture In Deforestation And Desertification Environmental Sciences Essay The World Resources Institute estimates that more than 50 percent of the earths natural forests have already been destroyed (Hermosilla 2000). The United Nations Environment Programme (2009) states that forests cover 30 per cent of the planets total land area. The total forested area in 2005 was just under 4 billion hectares As a result a United Nations report has stated that deforestation and forest degradation are widely recognized as one of the most critical environmental problems facing human society, with serious long-term economic, social and ecological consequences (UN 1999). The causes of deforestation are widely debated and are attributed to many causes such as over population and urbanisation such as new settlements and transport extensions (Geist and Lambin, 2002). However one of the main causes of deforestation is attributed to agriculture. The arc of deforestation along the southern and eastern extent of the Brazilian Amazon is the most active land-use frontier in the world in terms of total forest loss (Morton et al, 2006) and Globally, the main forest conversion process in the humid tropics was the transformation of closed, open, or fragmented forests to agriculture (Achard et al 2002). Deforestation originally occurred on a small scale level due to subsistence farming or timber collection. However the Amazon rain forest has seen a recent increase in industrial agriculture intensive mechanized agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon grew by >3.6 million hectares during 2001-2004 (Morton et al, 2006) and this has been a significant source of deforestation in recent years. In 2010 cattle are projected to be grazing on some 24million hectares of Neotropical land that was once forest in 2000 (Wassenaar et al, 2006). Figure 1 shows the causes of Amazonian deforestation from 2000- 2005. The pie chart shows that cattle ranching, a part of agriculture is the main cause of deforestation. Cattle ranching accounts for 65-70% of deforestation; vast areas of land are cleared by commercial farmers to raise cattle (for meat and dairy) and to provide pasture land for the cattle to graze. Moreover another major cause of deforestation is small scale agriculture by subsistence farmers. Subsistence farmers are causing deforestation because of poor practices (Butler 2008). Farmers burn the trees to clear them, and then over-exploit the land causing the soil quality to decline which results in the farmers having to find new land (shifting cultivation) and thus destroy more trees. In addition government policies can lead to deforestation. In Brazil the government allows farmers to claim a piece of unclaimed public land which they must use for over a year; and after 5 years they become the official owners of the la nd and so can sell it and claim new land (Butler 2008). In addition population growth and subsequent food demand is also a cause for expanding agriculture. Figure 1. (Butler, 2008) However research has also shown that agriculture is not the main cause or contributor to deforestation. Instead the main cause of deforestation if attributed to population growth, and its subsequent need to find new land for settlements to be built on. Myers, 1984 says that the main reason for deforestation in the tropics is human population growth. In the African and Asian tropics, it is generally associated with high rates of natural increase (i.e., high net rates of population growth due to high fertility) and, in the Amazon, it is assumed to be the high rates of in-migrationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ followed by subsequent intergenerational high rates of natural increase. In addition another primary cause of deforestation, particularly Indonesia is the logging industry. The World Bank (2000) and WRI (2000) state that the leading cause of Indonesian deforestation in the 1990s has been large-scale commercial logging (Palmer 2001). Palmer (2001) continues to say that logging causes areas of forest to be cleared, allowing access to new areas of forest and as a result previously unexploited forest, thus allowing other economic activities such as agricultural conversion and shifting cultivation to take place. Consequently the logging industry can be seen as a major, if not the major contributor to deforestation and not agriculture. Agriculture has been linked to being a cause of desertification, however a variety of other factors are also causes of desertification and a combination or interaction of processes leads to desertification. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development defines desertification as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities (UNCCD, 1992) The UNCCD states that Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts. It occurs because dryland ecosystems, which cover over one third of the worlds land area, are extremely vulnerable to over-exploitation and inappropriate land use. Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity of the land (UNCCD 2005). Agriculture plays a large role in desertification, the over grazing of land by animals particularly damaging to the soil and is a major factor contributing to desertification; overgrazing is by all measures the principal cause of rangeland degradation (Dregne and Chou, 1992).   Over grazing can occur by having too many animals, or by not managing and controlling the animals grazing activities (Rayburn, 2000). Overgrazing reduces plant leaf areas, which reduces interception of sunlight and plant growth.   Plants become weakened and have reduced root length, and the pasture sod weakensà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Overgrazing can increase soil erosion.   Reduced soil depth, soil organic matter, and soil fertility hurt the lands future productivity (Rayburn 2000). Darkoh (2006) highlights that overgrazing in North Africa has led to the desertification of land led to moderate to severe desertification of rangelands in arid and semiarid zones of Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia Moreover it is not just overgrazing that can lead to soil degradation and desertification. Poor farming techniques such as over exploitation, and constant crop growing without a fallow field can lead to degradation. Arid and semi-arid regions may initially support agriculture, but repeated cultivation frequently leads to a loss of a soils nutrients and water-holding capacity. (Global environmental Governance Project, 2009). Over cultivation removes nutrients from the soil which can lead to the soil becoming derogated and infertile, therefore nothing can grow on it which can lead to soil erosion. In addition to this, poor irrigation systems can lead to salinzation of the soil due to groundwater dissolving salts in the soil. When evaporation takes place, this leaves concentrated amounts of salts in the soil which are toxic to plants and thus the land becomes barren. However agriculture may not be a direct cause of desertification, it can be caused due to knock on effects of population growth and the subsequent increased demand for food. In Africa, a leading cause of desertification is human population pressure which leads to overexploitation and intensified stresses on the natural environment. Africas population has doubled in the past three decades to about 708 million (1994) and continues to expand at a rate of some 3 per cent a year. This means that Africas farmers must feed an additional 21 million people every year (Darkoh, 1998). Moreover population increase can lead to urbanization and more resources being demanded, such as fuel wood which is a common fuel in third world countries; deforestation is also a primary cause of desertification as tree roots bind the soil together, preventing erosion. As a result population pressure has lead to the need for intensive agriculture which can lead to desertification Increased population pressure on the fragile and vulnerable soils of Africas dryland regions, leads to overexploitation of water, land, forest and pasture resources through over cultivation, overgrazing and deforestation. These practices therefore constitute the principal threats to the livelihood of millions of people. These are the foremost causes of soil erosion, the rates of which in Africa are among the highest in the world. (Darkoh,1998). Agriculture plays a large role in deforestation and desertification, but it may not be the main causes of both. Shifting cultivation leads to deforestation as farmers move to new areas of land, often forests which need to be cut down so that the land can be used for agriculture. In addition over grazing and cultivation as well as as poor farming techniques and can lead to desertification. However the real cause of deforestation and desertification can be attributed to government policies and government mismanagement. If governments encourage farmers to seek out new land in the Amazon rain forest, and also do not stop practices of illegal logging. In addition if governments act in their own economic interests and issue policies that lead to environmental harm such as deforestation and desertification then it is not the practices of its people and their techniques (farmers) that cause the damage to the planet, it is the consequence of poor, and often myopic, government policies seeking economic gain; instead of addressing the real causes of the problems of desertification and deforestation. In addition many LEDCs rely on agriculture for economic growth; therefore a balance needs to be met between economic development and sustainability.

Computers and the Internet :: Computers Technology Technological Essays

Computers and the Internet For most of my high school career, I have used the Internet for my research. My method relied on printing out the material, highlighting the important sections and trying to interpret these sections into my own words to incorporate this research into my papers. I feel that the Internet has made it harder for students to use research in their work. Copy and paste are two of the best tools in the computer. When you do take information, there is no typing at all. With two clicks of a mouse, you could have a complete term paper after only a few minutes of searching. The temptation is there and with the increased academic pressures at college, many students succumb. The web is always available. In the middle of January, you don’t have to bundle up to go to the library all you have to do is type in a few â€Å"search† words and instantly you have all the information at your fingertips. Resources, when readily available, often get abused. This is the case with the Internet. Most college students feel that they are invincible. Who would be able to catch them cheating? No one. They go ahead and do it. Any person who cheats and gets away with it may feel a â€Å"high† of some sort. This might tempt them to try it again. The student then does it and gets caught. The ramifications could throw their life into shambles. What about a job or getting into another college? If a stricter cheating, copying and plagiarizing policy were in effect from middle school on, I believe that the problem may be cut in half. College may be the first place where a student is under a lot of stress to produce for him/herself and their families. If that student were confident in the writing and researching abilities, then they would have less of a chance to â€Å"crack† and plagiarize. Tough and earlier enforcement of plagiarizing consequences would help to cut back on the student’s temptation to plagiarize. Many people don't know about copyright laws. Therefore no one understands the term â€Å"copyrighted† According to Open Spaces magazine, â€Å"the core purpose of copyright laws as expressly stated in the constitution is: to promote the process of knowledge and learning.

Caribbean Literature Essay

The evolution of Caribbean Literature started centuries before the Europeans graced these shores and continues to develop today. Quite noticeably, it developed in a manner which transcended all language barriers and cultures. Today the languages of the Caribbean are rooted in that of the colonial powers – France, Britain, Spain and Holland – whose historical encounters are quite evident throughout the region. The cosmopolitan nature of the region’s language and cultural diversity develop from the mixture of European languages with Native American languages (mainly the Caribs and Arawaks) in the formation of creoles and local patois (hybrid languages) and those of Africans brought to the Caribbean as slaves, not withstanding the contributions of Asians mainly from India and China, and Middle Easterners. The fabric of Caribbean Literature is woven with the historical issues of enslavement and forced migration, the related themes of home and exile, and colonialism and decolonization. The social and cultural themes of tradition, landscape, culture and community are also encompassed by Caribbean Literature. It also addresses such universal questions as identity, sexuality, family life, pain, joy, and the uses of the imagination. It is virtually impossible to keep Caribbean Literature only within the confines of writings produced within the Caribbean Islands. Caribbean Literature also transcends the borders of Central and South America extending to the shores of Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana; and coastal areas of Colombia, Nicaragua, Belize and Honduras. Evidence of aspects of Caribbean Literature can also be seen in literary works produced in various areas of the USA including Miami and New Orleans. Works of Caribbean Literature have also been produced by people of Caribbean ancestry who live primarily in Europe and major urban centers of the United States. ORAL LITERATURE Oral literature can be considered as the earliest form of Caribbean Literature consisting mainly of rich folk- tale traditions, legends and  myths, songs and poetry. Today this legacy is resplendent in popular music such as the CALYPSO, the Cuban SON, and the Puerto Rican BOMBA; in the traditions of storytelling originating out of West Africa and India; and in supernatural tales from African religions, including SANTERIA, LUCUMI,VODUN (vodoo), and SHANGO. Proverbs, riddles, and sayings that reinterpret African, European, and East Indian traditions are also most prominent in Caribbean literature. Among these are Anancy (a cunning spider) stories; animal dilema tales, which typically teach a moral lesson; stories of village life or evil women; tall tales; and rhetorical flourishes, such as boasting, toasts, and speeches. PRE AND POST INDEPENDENCE LITERARY WORKS Autobiography and poetry were the most prevalent literary works from the 16th century to the mid – 19th century. In these works were introduced themes that became common in Caribbean literature; exile, migration, displacement and questions of identity. The history of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave, (Related by Herself), is the most prominent of these writings in English. Early Caribbean writings in Spanish saw that of the autobiography of the slave Juan Francisco Manzano of Cuba in the 1820’s and 1830’s, Jose Maria Herida Placido ( a slave who was executed in1844 for his role in a slave uprising) and the Cuban anthropologist Miguel Barnet. Max Urena of the Dominican Republic produced nationalist works in the 19th century. The French speaking Caribbean saw works by Emeric Bergeaud and Desmevar Delorme. Distinct national literary traditions began in the 20thcentury because few Caribbean countries gained their independence before this period. Twentieth century Caribbean literature can be divided into three periods: the first thirty years during colonial rule; the years just prior to independence between the 1940’s and 1960’s or later, and the period after independence. During the fledgling years (1930’s) a movement celebrating African culture and values rose to prominence. The movement originated in France and was called NEGRITUDE. However, its founders include Leon Gontran Damas of French Guiana and Aime Cesaire of Martinique. Rene Maran of Martinique won the Prix Goncourt (a French literary prize) with the novel Batouala (1921) which called for identification with black culture. In the Spanish – speaking Caribbean African themes were presented in a most exotic manner, highlighting African and black identity for artistic inspiration. Prominent writers in this movement include Luis Pales Matos from Puerto Rico and Emillo Ballagas from Cuba. The works of Cuban poet Nicolas Guillen from the 1930’s share sentiments with the politics of NEGRITUDE and address issues surrounding the struggle against colonialism. Alejo Carpentier, also of Cuba, achieved recognition with his novels in which he explores the history and sources of Caribbean culture. The English – speaking Caribbean abounds with prominent writers including Jamaican novelist Tom Redcam (Thomas Macdermot), Claude Mckay, Jamaican born poet, and perhaps the best known writer of this generation internationally. Mckay later became one of the leading writers of Harlem Renaissance, a flowering black culture in New York in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Other writers who rose to prominence during this period are C. L. R. James of Trinidad, whose works protest against colonialism and help to define the anticolonial political and cultural struggles of his time. He was also instrumental in the formation of the literary magazines Trinidad (founded 1929) and the Beacon founded (1931); these publications were instrumental in the development of a Caribbean literary tradition. Alfred Mendes and Ralph de Boissiere (Trinidadians) both contributed articles and poetry to the magazines. PRE – INDEPENDENCE RENAISSANCE This period saw the emergence of a generation of writers whose works sought after liberation and presented a distinctive portrait of Caribbean culture. The Jamaican Vic Reid, looks forward to a â€Å"new day† of independence with his novel New Day (1949); the displaced, downtrodden, urban population of the Caribbean is portrayed by Roger Mais also of Jamaica. He also experiments with jazz rhythms in his language, while Una Mason, a Jamaican poet uses blues rhythm in her poetry collections. A vivid portrait of Guyana’s countryside and society is presented by Edgar Mittleholzer in his novel A Morning At The Office (1950). On the other hand, one of the first and most important Caribbean works dealing with childhood and coming of age in a colonial context was produced by George Lamming, from Barbados, in the novel â€Å"In The Castle Of My Skin† (1953). This novel focuses on the struggles of three young boys with poverty, a colonial education, social change and the forging of an identity; hovering in the background is the promise of migration to the metropolitan centers. The mythology of Native Americans and Africans is emphasized in Wilson Harris’s novel Palace of the Peacock (1960), while Martin Carter’s Poems of Resistance seek liberation from colonial rule. During this period a number of female writers were also very active. Beryl Gilroy of Guyana wrote novels, children’s stories, and an autobiography. Sylvia Wynter of Jamaica incorporates elements of folk culture into her work. From Dominica, Phyllis Shand Allfrey won recognition for her analysis of colonial power in her work, while Jean Rhys received critical acclaim for novels about women caught in situations they are unable to change. POST INDEPENDENCE This period saw the emergence of poets from the English – speaking Caribbean; Derek Walcott from Saint Lucia is perhaps the best-known Caribbean writer internationally. In 1992 he won the Nobel Prize for literature. In addition to poetry, Walcott is well known as a playwright. At the same time Eduard Kamau Brathwaite challenged the formal structures of European poetry by adopting the rhythms, references, and language of the African and Afro- Caribbean traditions. Brathwaite broadened the possible use of language in his works for a number of subsequent writers, including Jamaican oral poets Mutabaruka, Linton Quesi Johnson, and John Binta Breeze. Earl Lovelace and V. S. Naipaul count among other noted English – language writers born in Trinidad and Tobago. Naipaul received recognition for novels that focus on East Indians living in the Caribbean. Lovelace whose works won a Commonwealth prize wrote on issues of poverty, education, and village life. The French – speaking Caribbean saw prominent contemporary writers in Daniel Maxim of Guadeloupe and Edouard Glissant and Patrick Chamoiseau of Martinique. Chamoiseau explores issues of black identity, and creole cultural identity. The latter was produced along with Jean Bernabe and Rafael Confiant. Chamoiseau won the Pri Goncourt for his novel Texaco (1929). Noted female writers are Maryse Conde of Guadeloupe who is considered a significant voice among female writers, having won several French prizes for her literary work. Simone Schwarz -Bart, also of Guadeloupe, writes of the search for identity while Nancy Morejon of Cuba is recognized as a leading poetic voice. Her collection entitled Cuaderno de Granada 1984 (Grenada Notebook, 1984) honors those who participated in Grenada’s socialist revolution in 1983. Caribbean writers have impacted greatly on the international arena and have gained worldwide recognition for their numerous works. Literary critics are also recognizing the Caribbean roots of some African American writers who are explicit about their Caribbean parentage

Feminism in Pakistan

Out of the fifteen people asked, 53% of the survey population responded negatively to the question inquiring whether men were equal to women. Zahra Mania, a secretary for a business organization claimed that in our society, there is a substantial gap in the rights of men and women. The interviewee claimed that despite both sexes being intellectually equal, preference is given to men in acquiring important jobs such as being CEO, CFO, etc. Another respondent, who opted to remain anonymous backed this point by stating that women are far more likely to attain low-paying jobs such as being secretaries or receptionists.A journalist refuted these points by saying that in her profession, men were given equal rights to women and that in order to be promoted, a person’s work was taken into consideration, not his or her gender. Similarly, another journalist agreed with this point, adding further that equality between men and women is mostly dependant on the customs of a society, and the career one wishes to pursue. When asked about what would have to change before men and women achieved true equality, 18% responded negatively stating that in a patriarchal society, it would be nearly impossible for men and women to achieve equal rights.The rest 82% had optimistic views, claiming that while it would indeed be difficult to change the mindset of people who firmly believe in male dominance, a good start would be with the family. Many respondents believed that children need to be socialized in such a way where they believe that male and females are equal. If a boy is brought up to believe that he is no different from his sister, he will have a more positive outlook on life claimed Sana Memon. Another respondent stated that the oppression of women had to come to an end and in doing so, education would play a big part.According to her, education would eradicate ignorance within a persons character, and would lead to a deeper understanding of the other sex. When asked the question of what change does one wish to see regarding women’s rights, male respondents generally claimed that they did not want the workings of society changed. Ahmed Shehzab, an accountant, stated that women’s rightful place is at home, looking after the family whereas men have a duty to generate income and provide for their family.Similarly, another businessman claimed that women are inferior to men in both intelligence and physical exertion, and are therefore unable to handle the strain of leading a company. However, many respondents refuted these points by saying that women should be given more freedom. Nausheen Afzal claimed that in western countries, women are more liberated and are allowed to participate in almost anything. Being a pro-feminist, she believes that the same rights should be implemented in Pakistan. 72% of the survey population believe that the family plays an important part in gender role socialization.Fahaama Khalid, a housewife, believes that c hildren are heavily influenced by the perceptions and thoughts of their family, with whom they spend a lot of time. She believes that (specifically in Pakistan), girls are socialized in such a way that they are lead to believe that they are physically weaker than men and lack male dominant qualities. Girls are primarily raised to be mothers and care-takers of the household and are expected to obey their husbands rules. Similarly, Farhana Farooq who is a shopkeeper, believes that the family plays a crucial role in a child’s life.It is the family, she says, who influences the child using both direct and indirect methods. Direct methods, she explains, includes sending children to segregated schools and stopping girls from participating in athletic activities whereas indirect methods are when a child looks at his family, sees his father as the head and his mother as a nurturing woman, and automatically assumes that that is what is normal. Faareha Ansar, a waitress, refutes these points by saying that education is what has a more important role in a child’s life, for it is through knowledge and its application that children realize how society works. 1% of the survey population is of the belief that gender plays an important role in a person’s life chances. Anushe Zafar, a salesclerk says that in a patriarchal and close-minded society as the one in Pakistan, high-paying jobs are generally offered to men. She states that despite the fact that a female may have the same qualifications as a male, males are more likely to be favoured for jobs. Hassan Javed backs this point, saying that women are far more likely to attain positions such as receptionists or PA’s in lieu of occupations such as CEO’s or CFO’s. There are mixed views when considering feminism to be defensive or offensive. 3% of the survey population believes that feminism is offensive and ridiculous. Waleed Khan, a shopkeeper, says that feminism is a waste of time an d an excuse for women. However, many others refuted this point by claiming that women have a right to be heard, to have their sufferings acknowledged and appreciated and also to maintain equal status with men at all levels. The hypothesis of this report is that Pakistan has a patriarchal society and does not give much freedom to women. Many respondents have proved for this theory to be true, giving their honest opinions and using examples from their work life.

Obsession essay Essay

Some call it dedication, others call it psychotic. I prefer to think of obsession as a part of life. The definition of obsession which is found on The Free Dictionary is the domination of one’s thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc. Obsession can be determined by people around us. Passion is a positive obsession. Obsession is a negative passion. Obsession and addiction are so closely tied together. They both are almost exactly the same except for one factor; control. Being obsessed over something simply means that they are still in control of their habit; on the other hand, addiction is the state being enslaved to a habit or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. So it is seen that although they are very closely linked they are not the same. Obsession is the gate way to addiction. Personally, I have been accused of being obsessed over lacrosse. All I could think about of every day is something about lacrosse. My mind was wrapped around lacrosse like a candy wrapper on a piece of candy. Every time I had free time, I went outside and played lacrosse. At the time I did not believe I was obsessed over the issue, I simply thought of it as dedication. My parents confronted my issue to me, and right then and there is when I realized that I truly had an obsession. Obsession becomes a beast all in itself. Obsession can cloud someone’s judgment and can potentially lead a person off the track of their own goal. When someone is obsessed over something, then the only important thing in their life is the obsession. If one does not fulfill this need, then different effects may happen. Either one will perceive to their obsession, or they will realize that they have an obsession and stop in what they are doing. Power is something else we do not understand about obsession. Obsession takes root so easily and can quickly spread to become something more. Therefore it is not something to play around with because when it is excited, it will grow and grow until it has reached the top. At that point, obsession can only bring out the worst in a person. Obsession is a feeling and not an emotion. An emotion is a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. A feeling is just expressing an emotion. Obsession can be shown through jealousy, love etc. Emotions are on the inside, while feelings are shown to other people on the outside. Obsession is not born by itself; it is born from the person’s mind. Obsession is born from that person’s wants and needs. Anybody can have an obsession, and actually it is only a matter of time when someone will have an obsession. Humans are lustful creatures and we all have needs and wants and therefore we all have obsession. Obsession does not necessarily mean it is a bad thing. A person can be obsessed with something good like school. One could be obsessed over school and everyone else would classify that person as a nerd. Also, one could be obsessed over God, and others would classify that person as a Jesus freak. In the end, people do not classify nerds or Jesus freaks as having an obsession or addiction. They are viewed as having a passion for school or Jesus. A passion is a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion and obsession is pretty much the exact same thing. They both have the same context meaning. The only difference is that passion is a good obsession, and obsession is a bad passion. All in all, the term obsession is used as being negative. Obsession is the domination of thoughts by ideas or images. The state of being obsessed over something can fog up someone’s true thoughts of how they feel. When I was in love with lacrosse, my parents told me that I was obsessed with lacrosse and that I needed to realize what was happening. However, now that I look back on it, I believe that I had a passion for the sport. Passion is a positive obsession. Obsession is a negative passion.

Autobiography- personal narrative Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Autobiography- personal narrative - Essay Example Getting into ESL class in middle school was quite fruitful for me as I started speaking in English with the help of this class. I think it was during the high school years that I did get to have actual conversation with people with this new language. The high school I went to was Clark Magnet High School in La Crescenta. The school paid great emphasis on computer science and technology. The first turning point of my life I experienced was due to the Animation class offered in the school’s curriculum. I chose to go to CSUN as soon as I graduated high school since it was close by my house and also had Animation courses to offer which I was most interested in. For tuition, I decided to work on a part time job. My friend assisted me in finding a job at the same place where he was working. I was hired as replacement to my friend as my friend had to discontinue working there due to his class schedule. The job was to teach students in after school program. Spending time studying for animation and hanging around in Game Club and Animation Club at school with friends who shared mutual interests along with teaching students on the other hand as a part time job were the most precious experience I had in my life. It was my father who advised me to take double major in Art education while I was majoring in Arts. This was because he observed the enjoyment I experienced while working with children. I was of the idea that it would be better to concentrate on one subject rather than chasing two hares. The next turning point I experienced happened almost unexpectedly. During the internship at Universal Studio and Cartoon Network in my senior years I was offered a job opportunity as a production assistant. That was the most brilliant opportunity I could have ever had at that time. I declined the offer and I could not understand at that time why I declined the offer. I was still unsure regarding which majors I should pursue

US Monopoly Company and US Perfect Competition Company Essay

US Monopoly Company and US Perfect Competition Company - Essay Example The competitive market structure come into being where there are different firms competing in the market to offer the best product and services to the customers. These companies cannot make decisions without considering what other competitors are doing. When there are several companies offering similar product and services, competition will occur. In most cases, this competition is to the benefit of the customers (Mankiw 329). Market Analyses The two monopolistic companies are the National Basket Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). These two companies are in contract with the best players as well as the best stadiums. It is not easy for any other company to compete with NBA and NFL in this kind of business due to the monopolistic ownership of necessary resources for basketball and football. New companies in the market will have to look for other non standard stadiums as well as little known players, who may not be of use to them economically (Tucker 137). Anothe r way in which NBA and NFL enjoy monopoly in the market is through legal barriers. The government has given them licenses to operate the various leagues, on the contrary, telecommunications companies such as Skype and Cisco Call manager have got licenses to operate in the market. Potential competitors also have got equal opportunity in acquiring license necessary for competition. Other potential competitors to NBA may not be given licenses since there can only be one league in the US. The market in which national basketball association and national football league operates is characterized by the fact that they are he only companies in the market, they also offer unique services and products as well as the impossible entry of possible competitors due to ownership of vital resources by these companies (Tucker 211). Competing NBA and NFL will be unsustainable hence leading to monopoly. Monopoly has resulted due to the large scale of operation in which these two companies operate. They operate national leagues across the United States; competing them will depend on who is able to survive harsh economic times. Potential competitors cannot hope to provide the services provided by NBA and NFL In contrast, One perfect example of accompany in the competitive market structure is Cisco Call Manager (CCM). This company is a key member of the Cisco IP telephony network solution. CCM offers telephone services to its customers. Further, it provides all connection services to IP phones, smart phones and VoIP services. CCM faces competition from other companies such as Skype and Comcast that offer the same products and services (Sheppard 18). Cisco Call manager (CCM) experiences competition from new entrants in the market while NBA does not. New companies that offer similar services to those of Cisco Call Manager (CCM) have found their way to the market. This kind of market is where companies offer telecommunication services to customers does not pose any challenges to possib le entrants. To survive in such a competitive market, companies like CCM and Skype must offer their services at low costs and ensure that their products are unique from those offered by their competitors. CCM has also been challenged by the availability of their product substitute (Sheppard 18). NBA experiences no competition from other companies while CCM experiences stiff competition from other companies like Skype since no barriers to entry in the market exist. NBA has awarded contract to the best players as well as

Alternative Medicine Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alternative Medicine - Research Paper Example ity of ‘old wives tales’ or ‘ancient lore’, both of which are frequently credited with time-tested knowledge that has worked for generations but also viewed with some suspicion. In some cases, the information is quite valid and the necessary research to support it is becoming increasingly available. In other cases, though, the information has been proven wrong, ineffective and sometimes even counterintuitive. Because it is impossible to know, with just an initial look, whether the claims of the article or legend are true as stated, it’s a good idea to question the claims made by conducting a thorough analysis. One substance frequently being used as an alternative to drug therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and several other common ailments is the herb known commonly as yarrow. There are a number of different cultivars of yarrow which thrive in many parts of the world, many of which have long-standing traditions as a medicinal treatment. The scientific name for the plant is Achillea millefolium, but because of its widespread presence, it also has many common names. These include gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man’s pepper, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier’s woundwort, thousand-leaf and feather-leaf (Dodson & Dunmire, 2007). Some of these names provide a suggestion of how it is used. The plant is said to have been named because of its association with the Greek hero Achilles. â€Å"According to the legend, Achilles’ mother held him by the heels and dipped him in a bath of yarrow. Achilles was forever protected by the herb except for the heels† (Madocks, 2009). Stories of Achilles indicate he always carried yarrow with him into battle because it had the ability to staunch the flow of blood from battle-inflicted wounds. â€Å"In the a ncient world, yarrow was seen as a potent healing agent, whether applied to a wound or taken internally to prevent a cold setting in. Yarrow was the preferred domestic medicine of yesteryears’ mothers who

Networking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Networking - Assignment Example Describe three different associations that you could network with to learn about jobs in sales and marketing. Research these associations and indicate when/where they meet; the contact information; and how to network within these groups. One organization which could serve as a network to learn about jobs in sales and marketing is the Sales & Marketing & Executives International, Inc. located at PO Box 1390 Sumas, WA 98295 USA and could be contacted through their official website: http://www.smei.org/. Their contact information is through this number: 312-893-0751; and as disclosed, they could be contacted through social media sites such as: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedln, YouTube, through blog, radio (Sales & Marketing & Executives International, Inc., 2012). ... Its contact information include: TEL: (703) 234-4098, FAX: (703) 435-4390 and their site disclosed the information on conferences and upcoming events where members could appropriately meet, as required (Association of Investment Management Sales Executives, 2013). Finally, the SMPS is located at 123 North Pitt Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314 with the following contact information: 800.292.7677 (Society for Marketing Professional Services, 2013). It listed the upcoming events where members and interested parties could meet with them at the indicated schedule and venue. One could therefore network with these groups through contacting them in their respective official websites, or through their contact information and other social networking sites, as indicated. How are networking and building connections essential skills to sales and marketing? Networking and building connections are essential skills to sales and marketing through the provision of crucial and relevant informati on that promulgates and perpetuate sales and marketing endeavors. Like the associations above mentioned, through these skills, interested parties or stakeholders of different organizations could forge alliances with member associations and groups to promote their endeavors, as required (Strategic Business Network, 2011). Relationships building and listening were seen as crucial elements to succeed in sales; in conjunction with sincerity, ethics, and asking (Michaels, 2011). As emphasized, â€Å"as Internet communication technology developed and more applications could be added to a social networking site, the number of features available to users increased drastically, adding to the sites' success† (EBSCO Host, 2013). Thus, organizations rely on social media to

IT-6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

IT-6 - Essay Example Differences in culture and language barriers are significant issues requiring scrutiny, as virtually every foreign nation has a different value and belief system, while making the process of relating to these customers more difficult due to the use of a different language. IS systems must be built with these factors in mind, including the appropriate usage of the foreign language on the international auction website. Political barriers are the most complicated, as many foreign countries block the free access of information to its society, therefore these factors must be considered prior to building the appropriate international auction website. Will the people in this type of nation be able to help build profitability? These are questions that must be considered prior to going international. I have located three commercial sites in different markets which offer affiliate programs: PowerWebsites.com, Office Depot.com, and Barnes&Noble booksellers. Powerwebsites is a marketing entity which utilizes its technological expertise to help companies build higher customer volumes through affiliate marketing. The online version of Office Depot provides office-related products, including papers, printers, desks and more. Barnes & Noble is a leading bookstore with bricks and mortar locations across the country. Powerwebsites provides FREE sign-up for the affiliate program, with a 20% commission on all sales generated by the program. Payouts are promised at a minimum of $25 in return for placing a companys web link on their site. Powerwebsites pays their commission on a pay per sale basis, meaning that the customer must not only click on the link, but also must make a purchase at the partner website. OfficeDepot.com provides an affiliate program which is also a pay per sale, meaning that customers must actually click this link AND make a purchase at the site. Their affiliate program promises a 20% commission on these