Statistics Worksheet Calculating Z-Scores

A standard type of problem in basic statistics is to calculate the z-score of a value, given that the data is normally distributed and also given the mean and standard deviation. This z-score, or standard score, is the signed number of standard deviations by which the data points value is above the mean value of that which is being measured. Calculating z-scores for normal distribution in statistical analysis allows one to simplify observations of normal distributions, starting with an infinite number of distributions and working down to a standard normal deviation instead of working with each application that is encountered. All of the following problems use the z-score formula, and for all of them assume that we are dealing with a normal distribution. The Z-Score Formula The formula for calculating the z-score of any particular data set is z (x -  ÃŽ ¼) /  ÃÆ' where  ÃŽ ¼Ã‚  is the mean of a population and  ÃÆ'  is the standard deviation of a population. The absolute value of z represents the z-score of the population, the distance between the raw score and population mean in units of standard deviation. Its important to remember that this formula relies not on the sample mean or deviation but on the population mean and the population standard deviation, meaning that a statistical sampling of data cannot be drawn from the population parameters, rather it must be calculated based on the entire data set. However, it is rare that every individual in a population can be examined, so in cases where it is impossible to calculate this measurement of every population member, a statistical sampling may be used in order to help calculate the z-score. Sample Questions Practice using the z-score formula with these seven questions: Scores on a history test have an average of 80 with a standard deviation of 6. What is the z-score for a student who earned a 75 on the test?The weight of chocolate bars from a particular chocolate factory has a mean of 8 ounces with a standard deviation of .1 ounce. What is the z-score corresponding to a weight of 8.17 ounces?Books in the library are found to have an average length of 350 pages with a standard deviation of 100 pages. What is the z-score corresponding to a book of length 80 pages?The temperature is recorded at 60 airports in a region. The average temperature is 67 degrees Fahrenheit with a standard deviation of 5 degrees. What is the z-score for a temperature of 68 degrees?A group of friends compares what they received while trick or treating. They find that the average number of pieces of candy received is 43, with a standard deviation of 2. What is the z-score corresponding to 20 pieces of candy?The mean growth of the thickness of trees in a forest is found to be . 5 cm/year with a standard deviation of .1 cm/year. What is the z-score corresponding to 1 cm/year?A particular leg bone for dinosaur fossils has a mean length of 5 feet with a standard deviation of 3 inches. What is the z-score that corresponds to a length of 62 inches? Answers for Sample Questions Check your calculations with the following solutions. Remember that the process for all of these problems is similar in that you must subtract the mean from the given value then divide by the standard deviation: The  z-score of (75 - 80)/6 and is equal to -0.833.The  z-score for this problem is (8.17 - 8)/.1 and is equal to 1.7.The  z-score for this problem is (80 - 350)/100 and is equal to -2.7.Here the number of airports is information that is not necessary to solve the problem. The  z-score for this problem is (68-67)/5 and is equal to 0.2.The  z-score for this problem is (20 - 43)/2 and equal to -11.5.The  z-score for this problem is (1 - .5)/.1 and equal to 5.Here we need to be careful that all of the units we are using are the same. There will not be as many conversions if we do our calculations with inches. Since there are 12 inches in a foot, five feet corresponds to 60 inches. The  z-score for this problem is (62 - 60)/3 and is equal to .667. If you have answered all of these questions correctly, congratulations! Youve fully grasped the concept of calculating z-score to find the value of standard deviation in a given data set!

The E Commerce And Online Auctions Essay - 962 Words

Market Analysis The E-Commerce and Online Auctions industry has exploded over the past decade. Lured by the ease of ordering at home and ability to quickly compare prices and product reviews among retailers, many consumers are increasingly choosing to shop online over purchasing products at brick-and-mortar locations or via mail-order catalogs. RunWayMe will be part of the growing trend with a unique concept of selling the latest celebrities look-a-like outfits at affordable prices. Although this concept has being shown in magazines, such as Instyle and People Magazine, there are no store that exclusively sell an entire outfit. In addition, RunWayMe will offer single items such as: tops, bottoms, dresses, and blazer. Target Market The conventional wisdom is that women drive shopping trends, since they control up to 80% of household spending. Fifty-seven percent of women made a purchase online in 2013. To be more specific, RunWayMe’s target market is millennials women(clothing sizes 0-8, footwear sizes 5-10), those consumers aged 20 to 34, remain the key age demographic for online commerce, spending more money online in a given year than any other age group.They spend around $2,000 annually to purchase 64 garments. This, despite having lower incomes than older adults, they dominate 21% of online clothes shopping market. With 5% of 21% RunWayMe can be successful. Also it projected that, in any given six month period, more than half of shoppers who make an online purchase willShow MoreRelatedE Commerce And Online Auctions2159 Words   |  9 PagesThreat of New Entrants The e-commerce and online auctions industry is highly fragmented, with a large number of independent players occupying 78.2% of the market. With a low concentration, the two major players, Amazon and eBay, account for only 21.8% of the e-commerce and online auctions market. 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Foreign Studies free essay sample

The terms monitoring system, topics and indicators have more emphasis in the discussions, as these concepts form the core of the study. Monitoring system What is a monitoring system? What is the purpose Of a monitoring system? What are the different structures orientations and/or classifications of a monitoring system? What factors should be considered in designing in a monitoring system for trainings? The subsequent discussions will answer these questions leading to a thorough understanding on the subject. What is monitoring system?According to Letdown, Aitkin and Janis (2001), a monitoring system Is fined as a concise description of what should be (objectives) and a process to determine to what is (procedural and status report). It is further explained that it is a framework within which to select or define, interpret and use a wide array of indicators. On a similar ground, Fit Gibbon (1996) cites that monitoring is a way of examining quality of performance, largely by the use of p erformance indicators not only regularly collected but also being reported back to the units responsible. This definition often concepts such as performance, outcomes and feedback. Greasy and Callaghan (1996) also consider monitoring as systematic and regular procedures for the repeated collection and interpretation of assessment data of important aspects of the subject under study. It is not necessarily restricted to outcome variables, but can also involve contextual information and measures of inputs and processes (House and Tijuana, 1994; and screens et al. , 1988).After considering the abovementioned definitions, it can be summarized that the monitoring system may be referred to as a strategy used to periodically track quality by recording inputs, processes, outputs and outcomes for purposes and trainings programs. Results of the monitoring system must also be fed back to all concerned units within the organization. A monitoring system encompasses a number of relevant indicators and sub- indicators, the standards by which quality measurements are based from, and the data gathering instruments of the subject being monitored.Integrated in theses definitions are the purposes of monitoring to organizations. The use of indicators will be discussed in the later part of this chapter. What is the purpose of a monitoring system? When relating to trainings, a monitoring system serves as a mechanism that revises a user or number of users with several sources of information pertaining to the process being investigated, providing feedback and signaling and diagnosing problems (Jansen, 1996);.Identify problem areas in determining the best allocation of resources; and motivate and create awareness among administrators and trainers to improve quality and stimulate self-regulatory mechanisms (Willis,1 992). It is also used to diagnose deviations from policy, determine organizational strengths and weaknesses in accomplishing specific goals, and then launch remedial actions. What are the most- common classifications of monitoring systems? Basically, this study adopts at least two classifications of moon tutoring systems according to purpose and stages.Willis (1992) classified monitoring systems for t rainings according to purpose expressed in the forms of compliance, performance and diagnostic monitoring systems. First, compliance, compliances monitoring is that if Organizations meet their standards On various measures, adequate levels Of performance will follow. For instance, in order for a manufacturing company to be ISO certified, it needs to make sure that their employees are given the sight trainings to arrive at a target performance level in compliance with the standards.Also in most government institutions, there are provisions on the continuing education and skills enhancement of employees. Institutions are being monitored whether they have satisfied trainings requirements pending the release of their annual budgets. Second, performance monitoring measures the significant change in performance or outcomes of any given intervention. Sales In particular, performance monitoring is used to observe the increase in performance after sales personnel were subjected to a series Of trainings and workshops.On way of conducting performance monitoring system emphasizes the identification of the strengths and weak nesses of a training intervention. Importance of attendance Government officials, teachers groups, and individual parents all have voic ed their concerns over the need to develop policies and practices to counteract the problems facing our nations schools today such as the dropout rate, drug abuse, and declining education performance (Bernstein, 1990). Poor school attendance arouses strong feelings in teachers, parents, members of the educational support services, educational administrators, politicians, and pupils.These strong feelings are expressed in different and often contradictory ways, depending on the individuals own perspective (Galloway, 1985). The statistics related to school absenteeism are staggering. Each school day, 2,500,000 students are reported absent from school. The dropout rate is estimated at 27 percent nationally and over 45 percent in some cities. The 27 percent dropout rate equates to 65 busloads of students who leave United States schools each week and do not return. In a years time, 700,000 students will be lost. In two years, the number will exceed one lion (Person, 1990). The Virginia Department of Education has created a system for better and more accountable schools through what is now called the Outcome Accountability Project (POP). This program establishes the criteria for how schools and school divisions will be held accountable for meeting the commitment of improving learning for all. The data from the POP provides a framework for analyzing the school district by breaking the whole into some of its parts.The attendance data for secondary students provided by the POP for the State of Virginia indicates that 66 percent of students in readers 9-12 during the school year 95-96 were absent 10 days or less from school. The POP data further lists Newport News Public Schools as having 55 percent of its grades 9-12 students absent 10 days or less from school (POP Report, 1997). The school philosophy, in general, is one that stresses to teachers, pupils, and parents the importance of regular sc hool attendance. This is because it is the belief that only through regular school attendance can students progress academically at a successful rate (Jet Plat, 1979). Attendance is part of a pupils cumulative record. It is important that good school attendance habits be established for later years when pupils seek employment (Jet Plat, 1979). Jet and Plat conclude that attendance and its importance should be taught to students. Basic to that philosophy is the belief that poor student attendance and truancy are some of the first signs of decay of a school and school system.Therefore, it is incumbent upon educators to do all they can to promote good school attendance habits among their pupils. Anyone who has skipped or had to repeat a grade, has been placed in or excluded from a special program, or as been denied academic credit because of absences knows the importance of local school policies. While scholarly attention has tended to focus on federal and state education policy, those who attend and work in schools realize that their lives can be affected greatly by policy made at the school and district level (Duke and Canada, 1 991 Cuba (1984) identifies eight distinct conceptions of policy.They include the following: policy is an assertion of intents or goals. Policy is the accumulated standing decisions of a governing body, by which it regulates, controls, promotes, services, and otherwise influences matters within its peer Of authority. Policy is guide to discretionary action. Policy is a strategy undertaken to solve or ameliorate a problem. Policy is sanctioned behavior. Policy is a norm of conduct characterized by consistency and regularity in some substantive action area. Policy is the output of the policy-making system.Policy is the effect of the policy-making and policy-implementing system as it is explained by the client. The researcher believes that each of the above conceptions by Cud has some value for the study of school district and school policy. Duke and Canada (1991) refer to school policy as NY official action taken at the district or school level for the purpose of encouraging or requiring consistency and regularity. They further state that the definition implies intentionality on the part of those developing policy.Pizza (1983) refers to school policy as fitting into an ecology of public policies. In other words, where the operation of pubic schools is concerned, a range of policy sources can be identified. Pizza further states that policies are derived from Congress, the Department Of Education, the courts, State legislatures, intermediate agencies, school boards, and school-based personnel. To understand educational policy in the United States, it is necessary to understand each of these policymaking entities and the relationships among them. Duke and Canada (1991) identify three reasons to study policy.First, many of the education policies likely to have a direct effect on the lives of students, parents, and teachers are local school policies. A state legislature may pass legislation concerning the allocation of resources for education, but the legislation does not become meaningful for clients, patrons, and employees until local policy decisions determine how the available resources ill be utilized. Second, schools serving similar groups of students can differ greatly in areas such as student achievement, attendance, dropped rate, teacher morale, and school climate.The third reason to study school policies according to Duke and Canada (1991) is the fact that the number of locally developed policies is likely to increase in the future. Interest in shared decision making, teacher empowerment, school-site management, and the restructuring of schools suggests that the locus of educational policymaking may be shifting. Duke and Canada point out that ample justification exists for he systematic study of local school policy. Such study promises to shed light on school effectiveness, the process of school improvement, and local control of education.In addition, Duke and Canada state as interest in at-risk students grows, questions need to be raised regarding the extent to which local school policies enhance or impede these youngsters chances for success. So frequent and so complicated have problems related to student attendance become that many school systems consider them to be separate from other discipline problems. This fact may be explained, in part, by the relationship teen school attendance and state aid to education and the link between attendance and a students constitutional right to an education.Attendance rul es include those pertaining to unexcused absence from school and class, tardiness, and leaving school without permission. Since, by law, students must attend school up to the state-mandated school-leaving age, attendance- related issues for local policymakers do not concern rules so much as the consequences for absenteeism and attendance practices (Duke and Canada, 1991). In recent years, school policymakers concerned about the relationship teen the time spent in school and student learning have begun to condone denying course credit and awarding failing grades for chronic absenteeism.The number of absences resulting in denial of credit or a failing grade usually ranges from 10 to 24 in a semester (Seeded et al, 1986). According to Eastward (1989), the truant is likely to be a boy and to be in the eleventh or twelfth grade. The student is truant more often as the year progresses, and skip some classes more often than others. He says he skips because he dislikes the classes or considers them to be too boring to attend. However, he does not necessarily intend to drop out of school. This student may have a job, or may have been asked by parents to work at home or care for children.Rood (1989) views absenteeism as a constant interruption of the learning process. The more absences a student accumulates, the less he or she can be expected to adequately participate in and understand classroom activities. Rood continues by stating that it is no secret that the skill levels of many high school students have declined while absenteeism contain uses to increase. He writes that on an average Monday, many urban high schools have an absence rate of more than 30 percent. It is common for many secondary students to miss 20 to 90 days of school in an academic year.Rood (1989), Elevate (1975), and Higher (1987) have identified the following characteristics of non-attendees: Age absenteeism increases as a student progresses through high school. Gender in the first three years of high school, girls will have higher rates of absenteeism than boys will. Race minority students are more likely to be absent than whites. School success students with higher grades and/or IIS have better attendance. Program students in college preparatory programs are present ore often than those in vocational, general, or business programs.Family setting students from a one-parent family have poorer attendance rates than those from the more traditional family. School involvement participants in a variety of co-curricular activities will generally be in attendance more often than will non-participants. Eastward (1989) indicates that some researchers believe that truancy problems can be blamed on ineffective school attendance policies. In some cases the costs in time and energy to enforce compulsory education statutes seem to outweigh the benefits.As a result schools will develop policies that devote the most energy to those students expected to have the best chance of success. Eastward (1989) indicates that the burden of reducing truancy rates rests primarily with schools, and a message that can be drawn from the research is that schools can affect truancy rate whenever they give high priority to effective attendance policies. Eastward identified the most effective policies as those that have the following elements: and outcomes are clear and well publicized Policies are Expectations followed consistently by everyone Students are held responsible for their actions.

Margaret Mead Was A Great Scientist, Explorer, Writer, And Teacher, Wh

Margaret Mead was a great scientist, explorer, writer, and teacher, who educated the human race in many different ways. In the next few paragraphs I will discuss the different ways Margaret Mead, Anthropologist, effected our society. Margaret Mead was born in Philadelphia on December 16, 1901, and was educated at Barnard College and at Columbia University. In 1926 she became assistant curator of ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, and she served as associate curator and as curator. She was director of research in contemporary cultures at Columbia University from 1948 to 1950 and professor of anthropology there after 1954. Participating in several field expeditions, Mead conducted notable research in New Guinea, Samoa, and Bali. Much of her work was devoted to a study of patterns of child rearing in various cultures. She also analyzed many problems in contemporary American society, particularly those affecting young people. Her interests were varied, including childcare, adolescence, sexual behavior, and American character and culture. Margaret Mead taught generations of Americans about looking carefully and openly at other cultures to understand the complexities of being human. Margaret Mead brought the serious work of anthropology to public consciousness. Mead studied at Barnard College, where she met the great anthropologist Franz Boas. Franz Boas became her mentor and her advisor when she attended graduate school at Columbia University. Mead's work is largely responsible for the treasures on view in the Museum's Hall of Pacific Peoples. In addition to her work at the Museum, Margaret Mead taught, and wrote more best selling books. She contributed a regular column to Redbook magazine. She was also lectured, and was frequently interviewed on radio and television. A deeply committed activist, Mead often testified on social issues before the United States Congress and other Government agencies. Mead died in New York City on Nove mber 15, 1978. Mead Margaret was an American anthropologist, widely known for her studies of primitive societies and her contributions to social anthropology. She will be remembered everywhere by anthropologist all over the world.

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx Karl Marx (1818-1883) explained historical change by using and adapting a theory that was first developed by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770 - 1831). According to Hegel's theory, in any period of history there is a conflict between contrary and opposing forces. For Marx, although not for Hegel, these opposing forces were exclusively economic classes.For Marx, in any period of history up to and including the Industrial Revolution and modern capitalism, there has always been a dominant economic class, which has exploited a lower economic class, this situation is stressed in capitalism. Marx states that the economic classes need to be abolished.Each successive period of history is brought into being by the breakdown of the previous one. According to Marx, each period of history is unstable, being destined by the class conflict within it to break down into a new period of history, which will again be unstable because of opposing economic classes.Karl Marx (1818-1883)This period will then break down and the cycle will continue. This accounts for historical change, each period of history being rendered unstable by opposing economic class interests, therefore each period of history has within itself the means of its own destruction.Under capitalism the power of the exploiting class (the bourgeoisie) comes from its ownership of the means of production (factories, mines, farms, railways). The lowered exploited class (the proletariat) own nothing and only provide labor for the bourgeoisie. People's entire life and values in society will be shaped and determined by their class background. The government can not provide public interest or common good because under this system there is no common interest between classes. The government predictably promotes the interests of the ruling class, and the ruling class predictably controls the government.The time in history when capitalism is greatest will also...

Arctic Wolf or Canis lupus arctos

Arctic Wolf or Canis lupus arctos The Arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos) is a subspecies of the grey wolf that inhabits the Arctic regions of North America and Greenland. Arctic wolves are also known as polar wolves or white wolves. Appearance Arctic wolves are similar in build to other grey wolf subspecies. They are slightly smaller in size than other grey wolf subspecies and have smaller ears and a shorter nose. The most prominent difference between arctic wolves and other grey wolf subspecies is their all-white coat, which remains white throughout the year. Arctic wolves have a coat of fur that is specially adapted to the extreme cold climate in which they live. Their fur consists of an outer layer of fur that grows thick when the winter months arrive and an inner layer of fur that forms a waterproof barrier close to the skin. Adult Arctic wolves weigh between 75 and 125 pounds. They grow to lengths of between 3 and 6 feet. Arctic wolves have sharp teeth and powerful jaws, characteristics fitting for a carnivore. Arctic wolves can eat large quantities of meat which enables them to survive for the sometimes long periods between prey captures. Climate and Ecosystem Arctic wolves have not been subjected to the intense hunting and persecution that other grey wolf subspecies have. This is due to the fact that arctic wolves inhabit regions that are largely unpopulated by humans. The greatest threat to Arctic wolves is climate change. Climate change has caused a cascade of effects throughout Arctic ecosystems. Climate variations and extremes have altered the composition of Arctic vegetation which has, in turn, had a negative impact on populations of herbivores in the Arctic. This, in turn, has affected populations of Arctic wolf who rely on herbivores for prey. The diet of Arctic wolves consists primarily of muskox, Arctic hares, and caribou. Arctic wolves form packs that can consist of just a few individuals to as many as 20 wolves. The size of the pack varies based on the availability of food. Arctic wolves are territorial but their territories are often large and overlap with the territories of other individuals. They mark their territory with urine. Arctic wolf populations are present in Alaska, Greenland, and Canada. Their greatest population density is in Alaska, with smaller, sparser populations in Greenland and Canada. Arctic wolves are thought to have evolved from a lineage of other canids about 50 million years ago. Scientists believe that Arctic wolves were isolated in very cold habitats during the Ice Age. It was during this time that they developed the adaptations necessary to survive in the extreme cold of the Arctic. Classification Arctic wolves are classified within the following taxonomic hierarchy: Animals Chordates Vertebrates Tetrapods Amniotes Mammals Carnivores Canids Arctic wolf References Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. London: Dorling Kindersley. 624 p.

Chocolate Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Chocolate - Research Paper Example It played an essential role in the Aztec and Maya religious and royal events. Cocoa seeds in native America were used as an offering to deities, as well as serving chocolate drinks in sacred occasions. The American settlers from Europe fattened and sweetened it through the addition of milk and refined sugar, two ingredients that were not known to the Native Americans. In contrast, they did not infuse it into their diet, although, later, it was integrated into their desserts and sweets (Drowne & Patrick 27). It was in the 18th century that John Cadbury came up with the process of emulsification to create solid chocolate, which was the beginning of the modern chocolate bar. While cocoa was, originally from the Americas, West Africa, today, produces more than 65% of the cocoa in the world, half of which is planted in Cote divorce. The chocolate industry in the United States forms part of the largest food and beverage companies. They are in charge of the manufacture of cacao beans, the s ale of raw chocolate, and the manufacture of other chocolate related products (Allen 67). The chocolate industry has undergone numerous changes in both production and market trends over the years, which affect the industry in either a positive and negative manner. Production Based on the cocoa grinding reports released for cocoa traders, which was produced by the NCA in cooperation with the New York Board of trade, the grinding in the first quarter amounted to 119,022 metric tons - a decrease of 4.04 percent (5,006 mt) over 2011. The Unites States market on chocolate or candy stands in a shaky position. In North America, there has been a 2% decrease since quarter 3 in 2011 (124,621 metric tons) (Taylor & Akila 43). There is a rather decreased demand for chocolate in the market currently which means the producers need to correct where the problem lies. Cocoa, which originated in South America, was first planted in the US state of Hawaii by William Hillenbrand, a German physician, in 1850. While cocoa was long considered, as a crop to be grown in the plantations, the biggest challenge in the American market has been making money from it (Taylor & Akila 50). The plant is suited to the climate in Hawaii, although it is tricky to grow, requiring a lot of expertise in chocolate processing. Competition with low-cost producers in South America, Africa, and other countries is not easy because Hawaii has high costs of labor and land. However, Hawaii cocoa has been proven as a gourmet product for which a buyer can pay premium prices. Local cocoa farmers can also gain added value through the creation of farm tours around the popularly romanticized product (Taylor & Akila 50). Currently, dried cocoa seed sales, also referred to as cocoa beans, is estimated at a cost of $200,000 every year based on production per acre estimated for fifty acres, as well as a price of $2.47 dry bean price a pound (Taylor & Akila 52). Much higher sales can be derived by those planters who proc ess their product into chocolate at prices of approximately $40 a pound for retail. Industry growth, in the absence of expansion on a plantation scale, over the last few years, has been from small farms with a few of these farms having processing plants for their cocoa. Advances over the last ten years have increased the economic sense in the processing of chocolate from cocoa on a small scale sans specialized

Globalisation and Mass Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Globalisation and Mass Media - Essay Example Mass media has always acquired a prominent position in the first world countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. ‘Marketplace of Ideas’ is the term which is often applied to mass media. This media includes video, film, recorded materials, books, newspapers and magazines. The United Kingdom, like many of the other developed countries, is flooded with communities from almost all the continents. Therefore, much like the USA, a heterogeneous population has been formed automatically in this country. Mass media is a huge political and social motivator and history has proved its unparalleled power time and again. In today’s scenario, the actual influence of mass media in the era of globalisation is particularly noticeable on the field of marketing. Internationalization of marketplaces has considerably influenced the electronic mass media in the United States of America, so also in other first world countries. We can support this argument by keeping a track of revenues generated from film and television industries. In 1991, bulk of revenues came to the capital flow in the US marketplace through film and television industries. Crossing the national borders, it has been possible for the media corporate to reach out for markets in other countries. With the rapid advent of technology, mass media has captured the attention of international audience through services like cable television, multichannel radio and video outputs. Moreover, cultural industries in the US have crossed the linguistic and geographic barriers to reach out to an audience which is heterogeneous in characteristics. (Globalization of the Mass Media, p. 3) Global economic liberalization, deregulation and privatization in recent times have initiated changes in the context of communication. This liberalization is also involved with intellectual property laws. Trademarks, copyrights and legal privileges have been made flexible keeping the issue of international business as the

Different ethnic groups in Nigeria Essay Example for Free

Different ethnic groups in Nigeria Essay Nigeria is very rich in culture. Various ethnic groups in Nigeria have their own culture. The Durbar festival in the various emirates of the North of Nigeria symbolizes strength and dexterous skills in riding of horses. Durbars are called up during religious festivals like Id el Fitri and Id el Kabir. They are also called up during installation ceremonies of the Emirs. They are also called up during installation ceremonies of the Emirs. The Durbars serve as entertainment for very important visitors. Durbars are also called up during the anniversary of the birth of Prophet Mohammed (Id el Maulud). The horses are colorfully adorned and the horse riders are in procession. The riders are dressed in aristocratic regalia blowing bugles and trumpets accompanied by drumming and dancing. They make displays in riding the horses and come to abrupt halt to salute and pledge loyalty to Emirs. Also in Kano and Katsina, there is the Kalankwa Festival, which usually comes at the end of the harvest season. At the Kalankwa Festival, traditional boxing, wrestling, music and dances of different types are performed. In Benue State the Eje Alekwu Festival is an annual festival celebrated to relate with the ancestral gods of Idoma land. Before the Eje Alekwu masquerades appear, sacrifices are offered to the gods to appease them and appeal for protection for the future. The festival is celebrated by different masquerades to represent various ancestral characters and spirits of the ancestors. The Tiv Day is a national day for the Tiv all over the country. During the festival the people send delegates from ever town to converge at the Tor Tivs palace for deliberations on developments strategy among the Tiv local government areas. At the same time old and offensive laws are abrogated and new ones made for the people for peace and progress. New traditional titles are conferred on deserving sons and daughters of the land. It is held annually on the 19th of September to coincide with the day the first Tor Tiv was installed in 1946. In Nigeria, boat regattas are part of the socio-cultural life of the riverine people in the Niger Delta. The boats do not have engines but they are rowed manually with traditional paddles by over twenty to fifty people on board depending on the size of the boat. Boat regattas are special festival to celebrate attachment of the people to water, as fishing is their dominant occupation. When there is a bountiful catch and sea yields boat regattas are held that year. In Bonny, River State we have the masquerade group known as Owogbo. Each of the major houses in the Bonny Kingdom has their end of the fishing season locally known as Fungu. The masquerade is the traditional way of paying homage to the sea gods. They carry a carved shellfish. The masquerade is usually brightly colored with locally made fabrics. Both men and women take part in the dancing. Among the Efik and some Ibibio tribes of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria the Ekpe Secret Society occupies a significant position and functional as an instrument for law and order. Mention of Ekpe brings fear and terror to the uninitiated. The word Epke literally means leopard and its masquerade are so named for its multi-colored costume. Membership of Ekpe Society is seen as a status symbol. The Ekemini Theatre Troupe of Akwa Ibom State captivates local and international audiences through a galaxy of choreographed dance drama. Traditional instruments are used. The group has fused many of the folk tale and culture of Akwa Ibom and neighboring states with contemporary dance styles. The star performer of the group is Ofonine Felix Essien popularly known as Udo Maryam who at the age of four started playing many traditional instruments. Among the Ibos, festivals play an important role in the social cohesion. There are such festivals as the Ofala and the new yam festival. The spices of these festivals are cultural dances and drama while masquerades add mythical splendor. The Atilogu dances are a very popular form of cultural display in Igoland. It comprised of series of systematic acrobatic dance  actions like twisting, somersaulting and building of human pyramids. During joyful occasions the dancers dress in bright colors but on sorrowful occasion they dress in dark attires and their movements are slow and mournful. Because of the rich mix of ethnic groups in Ondo state. It presents a wide variety of culture and festivals. Prominent among them are the Bata Dance, the Ititum Maiden Dance, Ajabore, Igogo, Oluwa and Ogun festivals. Animals such as dogs are offered to the god of iron, Ogun during the celebration. The Akoo and Ekiti areas are well known for cloth weaving while Owo is popular for its special cloth or royalty. In Lagos State, the eyo masquerade is of traditional importance and it has a historical background. It is the pride of the Oba, Chiefs and people of Lagos. It was first performed in Ikoyi in the 18th century as a traditional play. It now features during special ceremonies. Eyo is hooded and robed in flowing white gowns. These cover his hands and feet. It carries a special staff known as the Opabata. The Eyo is barefooted and spectators who want to see the Eyo must be barefooted in order not t incur the anger of the masquerade. The offender is beaten with Opabata. The Benin Kingdom, the best-known center of civilization in the pre-colonial days, has the oba as the traditional head. The Igu festival is celebrated annually in December for the Oba and his subjects. It is a combination of nine principal ceremonies during which animals especially goats are sacrificed. The celebrants dress in their finest attires and join in songs and dances. I find Nigeria culture interesting in that it unites the people and also leads to progress.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The First Green Politician Essay

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt once stated, â€Å"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.† As the thirty-second President of the United States, during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war, Roosevelt recognized and addressed the need for conserving and protecting the nation’s natural resources. Roosevelt put forth the necessary effort to not only raise awareness, but also create a change in the literal ‘land’ of the free. When Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) became U.S. President in 1933, he sought out the advice of modern-thinking experts in many fields in an effort to improve the then current environmental state of his country. It was not only Roosevelt who greatly expected results from these efforts, but his fellow citizens as well. With his long-term passion for nature and interest in the science of forestry and resource management, Franklin D. Roosevelt was particularly shocked by the waste of American natural resources during a time in which his country had such great need. In his inaugural address, he stated his belief on this subject before his fellow citizens, "Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply." This man knew of the rich treasures that lie within the loams and rolling hills of our country. He understood the benefits of its wealth, if employed resourcefully. His initia tives sought to intelligently utilize these resources while creating jobs for out-of-work Americans. Roosevelt’s environmental policies incorporated the emerging field of ecology with federal policies to manage watersheds, maintain forests, teach agriculture, and hold fast the flying soils of the southern plains. The main force behind this federal action was derived from the national surge in unemployment. The economic collapse of 1929 left millions of American citizens incapable of making a living. These unfortunate financial setbacks were most evident in the American southern plains region. Terrible drought combined with economic difficulty made it practically impossible for many farms in the rural mid-western United States to produce. Residents of Oklahoma fled westward to California, creating resettlement problems on top of already ... ...ull of national and global changes in the 1930s, a man put forth the effort to preserve the ‘the fruited plains’ of his country. If not for the measures taken by him, the national and rural appreciation for our natural resources might have come much later. In the midst of World War II, an economic recession, and a paralytic illness of polio, this man noticed and fully understood the importance of a harmonious balance between the nation’s people and its soils. Works Cited Black, Brian. "Roosevelt, Franklin D.." The Encyclopedia of Earth. 22 Aug. 2008. Encyclopedia of Earth. 24 Nov. 2011 . CCC Legacy. 7 Apr. 2011.. Ermentrout, Robert A.. ""Forgotten Men: The Civilian Conservation Corps"." 1982: Miller, Perry H.. Roosevelt's Forest Army, A History of the Civilian Conservation Corps. 1981. Roosevelt, Franklin D.. "Roosevelt Quotes." Brainy Quote. 25 Nov. 2011. . Roosevelt, Franklin D.. "Roosevelt's Inaygural Address." PBS. 25 Nov. 2011. .

Lafarge-Agent

1. How can Lafarge-Aget differentiate its position in the eyes of customers? Aget is operating in a commodity market. Is only way to avoid price wars and to gain more market share is by differentiating themselfs from the other suppliers by providing there customers additional value. Aget should invest in establishing a customer – supplier relationship. This relationship should address the following issues: * More frequent written/electronic communication – lower acquisition costs for firms * More frequent face to face communication , written / electronic communication- lower operation costs. Being flexible towards the customer's needs – lower firms acquisition and operations costs. * Quality – lower firm's acquisition and operations costs. * Invest in closer facilities – lower firms acquisition costs 2. Although cement is a commodity at large, does pricing affect demand in the industry? The market demand for cement is elastic, so pricing plays an im portant role in the demand of cement. If suppliers higher their prices just a little bit, it will have a big effect on the demand, that will decline.But also the other way around, if suppliers lower their price, then demand will increase. But it is not the only factor that plays a role. Demand for cement also depends on macroeconomic factors such as: * Population growth * GDP growth * Interest rates * Economic policies * Etc. Also the government can play an important role in this. In 2003, the demand for cement kept rising in Syria. The state-owned company then limited supplies by restricting imports. In this way the prices were kept high. 3.Amidst a commodity product and a highly competitive market how can Aget escape the commodity trap? Price is not the only thing that is important in the cement industry. For starters, there are quite some different kinds of cement. So it’s important for a company to have a broad product range for cement. Second, the quality of the cement h as to be very good. The cement industry is a very local one, so it is important to be available and to deliver on time. Aget should also divide the market in different segments.Every segment probably wants a different kind of cement, but probably also a different kind of service. So Aget has to give the right service to the right segment of the market. So it’s important that they adjust their service for their different costumers. Aget should also look for new kind of cement. By investing in research and development in order to be one step ahead of the competition. This all will lead to a good customer relationship and customer loyalty. 5. How can Aget develop a profitable customer relationship, without cutting prices?The first step of developing a profitable customer relationship is to understand what factors may affect customers’ final decision making. As we known, the factors include previous experience, quality of objectives, the salesman, sale strategy, service, p rice etc. In terms of these factors, without cutting price, we can adopt following actions to attract customers, obtain customers satisfication, develop and maintain a profitable customer relationship. 1. Product offering must go beyond customers’ expectations, and better than their previous experience. * Increase the quality of offering Provide product augmentation (for exceeding customers’ expectations) * Develop a core product with prominent character to attract customers’ attention 2. Establish a superior customer service network. * Provide full transaction service * Establish multi-channel service (combine head office, distributors, retailers, online, telephone service together) * Develop customer-support teams (which will aid the customer starting with the project design and materials specification through to the maintenance phase) * Establish management information and advisory teams (at the disposal of customers) 3.Improve the impact of the whole sales t eam (which link is also important in establishing good customer relationship). * Train the sales to improve their sales and customer relationship management skills(for enhancing their customer service awareness and maintain their long-term relationship with the customers) * Adopt effective sales incentives

Plato, Descartes and The Matrix

Plato, Descartes and The Matrix; what a trio of reading that if not for my ability to read without believing everything that was before my eyes, I would not know what to believe. After reading the three synopses I had to regroup and think, did I read this or was this a dream? I will now try and compare and contrast the three and show if there were any similarities and differences. I will start with comparing Plato and the Matrix in that there are similarities between the two. The similarities are that in both synopses the players (Neo of the Matrix and the people in the cave) are being deceived by what is before them.The people in the cave are fooled by items carried on the head of people walking on a raised walkway behind them. These items cast a shadow on the wall in front of them; not knowing they are shadows the prisoners believe they are real. The noise that came off the wall made by sound from the walkway was thought to be real sounds made by the shadows on the wall. In reality they were chained feet and neck and could not see the fire behind them that caused the shadows on the wall as people would walk by.In the Matrix we have Neo who believed he was a computer programmer for a software corporation, at night he would work on his computer hacking into other computers. He was told that in reality his world was an illusion, which was designed to keep people under control. In the allegory of the cave Socrates stated that when one was freed and had to stand up and turn his head and look around seeing light for the first time he would be unable to discern the items whose shadows he once saw on the wall.When told that the items was made of stone and wood and other materials and not real, it would be hard for him to believe. In the Matrix; Morpheus tells Neo that the entire human race is unconscious with a giant machine keeping them alive. He then offer him a way out by taking the red pill, which he does and find out what is really going on. When we look at Desc artes meditation compared to the other two synopses, there are some differences. First the Matrix and Plato are both fooled by perceptions of what is real and what is not.In the Meditation Descartes is not really fooled, he want to reject all beliefs in things that are not completely certain, and create what can be known for sure. To do this he must first weaken his beliefs by bearing in mind the fact his senses had fooled him previously. He then proposes other reasons to doubt that his beliefs are true. Next he bring up his evil demon theory which could deceive him, he then consider if he is mad or dreaming. He want to suspend judgment on his beliefs even if there is any doubt what so ever.In conclusion we have two synopses that have some similarities and differences and one that is completely difference. The Matrix and the people in the cave have allusions that are not real. Where as in the Meditation we have one that want to forget everything that he ever believed to be true, and start over to form a new way of believing what is true and what is not true. All three synopses did however make you think what if? But believing in a God that created all things and everyone, I do not believe that I am dreaming.

All friends shall Taste the Wages of their Virtues, and all Foes the Cup of their Deserving Essay Example

All friends shall Taste the Wages of their Virtues, and all Foes the Cup of their Deserving Essay Example All friends shall Taste the Wages of their Virtues, and all Foes the Cup of their Deserving Essay All friends shall Taste the Wages of their Virtues, and all Foes the Cup of their Deserving Essay Essay Topic: Literature Throughout King Lear, characters judge and put each other on trial. Gloucester and Lear both misjudge their children, who seem to possess better judgement. Cordelia has the measure of her sisters and Goneril and Regans assessment of their father is acute and accurate. They see how full of changes his age is and Edmund knows exactly how to take in his gullible relatives, whom he despises for being overlooked, due to his being conceived in the lusty stealth of nature and his bastardy status. It seems that good judgement is not the preserve of those with good intentions. The working of human justice reflects Lear and Gloucesters faults. The trials that occur in the play are all flawed. Lears love-test is ill conceived and has disastrous consequences. Goneril may claim to love [Lear] more than word can wield the matter beyond what can be valued, rich or rare and Regan does proclaim to be of that self mettle as [her] sisterAndalone [she does] felicitate in [his] dear highness love. Yet it is Cordelia, Lears youngest, who says nothing, that does truly love her lord. In Act 2, the trial of Kent for plain speaking is an excuse for Cornwall and Reagan to exercise power in an arrogant way. Lears mock trial of Goneril and Regan is presided over by a lunatic and attended by a fake madman and a court jester, his all-licensed fool, his boy. The trial is a parody of the love-test in act one scene 1. It highlights the absurdity of Lears actions in the aforementioned scene, where Lear is mad. It also undermines all other trials carried out by authority figures in King Lear. Gloucesters blinding is an appalling example of human injustice, it is not he who deserves such a misfortune, he has sent the lunatic Kingto Dover, which in his mind is still serving his old King and is thus not treacherous. Cornwall and Regan pervert the law to satisfy their own craving for revenge. It is possible to see the battle between the French and the English forces as another trial, which has dire consequences. Cordelia is hanged in prison and Lear dies. Some see Cordelias death as the greatest injustice in the play. Human judgement and the justice system look extremely fallible when the curtain goes down on act 5. This point is reinforced by the examples of natural or poetic justice that we see in the play. In act 5 scene 3, Edgar takes the law into his own hands when he challenges Edmund. This is wild justice at work. However, as the reader, we accept the outcome of the duel as appropriate. Edmund deserves to die; Edgar states, if [his] speech offend a noble heart, thy arm may do thee justice. We see poetic justice at work elsewhere; Cornwall is turned on and killed by his own servant, Goneril and Regan are destroyed by their jealous lust, Regan has a full-flowing stomach, and Oswald meats a sticky end when Edgar hast slain him, yet once dead, the ever loyal servant of Goneril, Oswald, will not be missed by anyone, he is but an extension of his Mistress, who is herself is a hideous person. The thorniest question about justice concerns Gloucester and Lear. The necessity for their death, it can be said, is questionable. Some may say that a rather harsh kind of justice is at work here. Edgar suggests this when he says to Edmund the dark and vicious place where thee he got cost him his eyes. Gloucester pays very dearly for his sins (although some Elizabethans believed that blinding was the appropriate punishment for adultery). Lear also pays for his sins, Cordelia is taken from him immediately after he recognises her merits, this is too much for the already maddened King, his poor fool is hanged meaning his daughter, as it was a term of endearment. Yet this term indeed remembers Lears other favourite, his Fool. This double reference leads us to believe that Lear has lost his two dearest. We can now ask, is this not justice enough? Lear has now lost all that originally was dear to him, and all that he was taught was dear to him during his moments of madness. Although his judgement has been restores, it is too late for the monarch Lear. King Lear is also concerned with social justice. Lear and Gloucester both consider this topic carefully and seem to reach radical conclusions. Gloucester calls upon the heavens to distribute wealth more evenly; while Lear considers the lives of poor naked wretches he paid so little attention to. In Act 4, Lear rages against corrupt members of the judiciary and seems to sneer at himself when he says a dogs obeyed in office. At the end of the play we are presented with two new agents of justice, Albany, and Edgar. We accept the justice of their actions in Act 5 Scene 3. But human judgement still looks faulty. Albany has been overwhelmed by events and Edgars bitter words about Gloucesters death seem callous. Surely nobody in King Lear is morally impeccable? Perhaps Shakespeare wants us to remain uncomfortable about justice.

Free sample - The UK airport expansion vs. climate concerns.. translation missing

The UK airport expansion vs. climate concerns.. The UK airport expansion vs. climate concerns.It’s supposedly hard to argue, that development comprises movement, ahead in particular. Movement, in its turn, presupposes making some steps in order to reach the targeted place of destination. Thus, these are interrelated notions. The process of development includes a number of adjacent efforts to keep the necessary pace and not slow down. Obviously, to achieve success it’s essential one have the objective, endeavors, resources and competitive stance. The latter is especially important since to win out your place in the sun appears to be not that simple after all. One is supposed to be ready to meet challenges on the way and be able to overcome hindrances with the least losses. Only by means of persistent continuous attempts can one withstand hardships and become stronger and wiser. This is true in regard not only to individual human progress, but also everything undergoing the stages of growth. In this tight connection it is fair to speak about the development of UK air transport system which has gone through, and still continues to, lots of changes, reconstructions and re-establishments. Presumably, there is no need to get deep insight into the whole history of airports evolvement though to encompass a few the most significant and prominent of them would help clear up the motives and driving power of their growth. London Heathrow deservedly serves one of such examples. The airport comprises international busy hub with the capacity to carry more than 68 mln passengers who use both long haul and short distance flights. Moreover, the airport makes its airfreights of over 1.3 mln cargo per annum. Still, not always has it demonstrated such efficiency. Its inception started in 1940s. 1946 saw the emergence of grass air field that was initially used by the military. First it was in private hands and as the Great Western Aerodrome it fulfilled more supplementary function rather than a full-fledged racecourse. After the end of war the airport began to expand and the area of its application was far more than just army base.   The demand for such expansion was stipulated by the necessity of big airport in London for passenger haulages to take place. The Heathrow site perfectly suited the idea and thus, there were constructed three runways by 1947. The initial tented terminal gave way to a full-blown building at the beginning of 1950s. The incentive for further more large-scale development had its grounds being the increasing surge of traffic and therefore the passenger turnover enlargement. Naturally, there arose need in extra conveniences and utilities to satisfy the growing flow of passengers. The expansion was represented by the Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 in 1955 and later a few other terminals in 1960s. Because there was considerable repletion in the centre of the airport another Terminal 4 appeared in the southern part in 1980s (Heathrow airport guide). Nowadays modern Heathrow airport has comfortable passenger access assisted by a number of adjoining roads – rails and automobile, and play s indispensible and economically convincing role in the overall UK air transport revenue. The expansion process further proceeds, however, it faces much opposition as well. Evidently, Heathrow is not the only one on the airport list. The second largest UK airport is Gatwick which is estimated to take the tenth place among the busiest international airports in the world. Its passenger capacity is difficult to overestimate – over 35 mln annually. Originally the aerodrome belonged to private owner Home Counties Aviation Services and has tremendously grown to include the terminal in 1936. There were skillfully built the subways and tented access roads for passengers to have easy and comparatively unhampered passage (History of London Heathrow Airport).   Like Heathrow Gatwick also served as the Royal Air Force base at the war time but later in 1953 it acquired the status of London second airport. In a few years Gatwick was significantly enlarged with new necessary equipment and facilities added to become the terminal. It embraced not only a large runway (2000 feet), but also included a covered passage connecting the plane with terminal.   1980s were marked by a more passenger surplus to be a million people. Needless to say, how important such increase was in terms of the role of the airport on the international scale. It has undergone further extension and in 1978 was already carrying transatlantic flights with long-distance aircrafts and upgraded terminal. The years of 1990s and 2007 saw staggering enhancement in passenger turnover of 10 and 35 million respectively. To satisfy ever-increasing demand the aspiration of further airport expansion becomes apparent, though such objective encounters severe protest on behalf of Green politics supporters and local residents (Gatwick airport guide). The excurse into the history of UK airport development may be continued and be added by the examples of Luton, Bristol, Stansted, Carlishe and other airports which demonstrate the need to cope with capacity and satisfy the growing demand with adequate offer. Up to a point, it is relevant to focus on today’s topical issues concerned with UK airport development. As it was previously mentioned, the expansion was driven by economic factors namely being the passenger surplus and international business relations tacked with constant airline usage. So, it is quite evident that these factors would induce air companies to keep with the time and sustain competitiveness and importance in a globalized arena. In 2003 the government issued Air Transport White Paper which introduced plans of further airport expansion – building of new runways with the aim to handle the increasing demand for air transportation. The governmental decision presupposes three additional runways at Stansted, one more at Heathrow, some extra tracks in Edinburgh and Glasgow and also expansions of Bristol (Airport technology.com. Bristol International Airport Expansion) and Birmingham. According to Transport Secretary, A. Darling, the number of passengers would increase and comprise twice as many as 180m p.a. to achieve 400m by 2020. The paper foresees three more runways at Stansted which would transform it into another significant airport centre along with Heathrow or make it assisting Heathrow supplement. A probable expansion of Luton and Cardiff airports were also envisaged. Regarding Gatwick, the extension process is supposed to last till 2019 which is conditioned by the existing agreement that bans expans ion actions (BBC News, 2002, 23 July).   However, the government paper didn’t get a unanimous reaction. On the one hand, the expansion is necessary on the grounds of economic benefits since the UK has as Mr. Darling put it â€Å"the fourth largest economy in the world based largely on our ability to trade. Something like a third of exports go by air ...† (BBC News, 2002). What is more, a number of the UK use airline users is persuasively stunning – half the whole population annually and about quarter twice p.a. In addition, the governmental plans are to a large extent consistent with the predictions of considerable traffic surplus by 2030, particularly in south-eastern part of the country which is distinguished by population overflow. Facts are stubborn thing, actually. Out of 200m annual airline passengers in the UK 120m get advantage of South East airports. Think only, the role of Heathrow!   It has irrefutable and undeniable economic significance counting nearly 100,000 staff and the aviation industry stands for approximately 200,000 work places. Not the least of the influential factors in favor of expansion is that London is an attractive sightseeing place for visitors from the whole world with its prominent and famous sights. London airports serve an undeniable role in business flights both long- and short-distanced (BBC News, 2005, Feb 18). Collin Matthews, BAA's chief executive, emphasizes and explains the necessity of airport expansion giving convincing arguments: â€Å"It is because of the lack of runway capacity at Heathrow that airlines are forced to choose between old destinations and new – or to go elsewhere entirely. Last month alone Leeds/Bradford and Durham Tees Valley airports both lost their links to Heathrow as airlines shuffled their slots, while Air India decided to base its European hub at Frankfurt† (guardian.co.uk., 2009, May 13). He also pointed out on no additional tracking slot to enable take-offs and landing which gives reason for airlines to shift from Heathrow to other alternative European airports. His claims turn out to be quite fair, especially those revealing the urgent need to expand since the contemporary tendency shows ever-inclining global policy towards Asian economies. Therefore, as Mr. Matthew accentuates, three must significant extensions be made in order to not to conce de to Frankfurt airport, for instance, which â€Å"has direct links with six Chinese cities† compared to London’s only Heathrow possible to carry out such transfers. Thus, it becomes clear why the expansion is so necessary – enlarge capacity not to lag behind. Such a thorny issue can’t but get a dual response and the opposition is also pertinent. Still, weighing pros and cons one can not deny the evident fact that under the mentioned circumstances expansion plans are justified to â€Å"keep UK competitive.† What is the basis for opposition then? A fair question that needs to shed light on. There is a sound ground for the adversary force – the astonishing impact on climate (Sean O'Grady. 2007, Aug. 15). However prudent economic reasons may be the airport expansion implications are inevitably concerned with green policy (Juliette Jowit, Economics, pollution, jobs and noise ... 2009, January 16). The numerous activists object to the plans on expansion. The protests underline severe damage the aviation inflicts on nature (Alok Jha, green technology correspondent. 2008, Nov 18). Thus, air and noise pollution are first obvious aftereffects (BBC News, QA: Airport expansion. 2005) For instance, Heathrow expansion will enlarge flight numbers entailing traffic jams on the roads to the airport, namely the M25 and the M4 highways in London. That is why BAA (the Heathrow owner) is obliged to establish emission-reducing systems in the aircrafts to comply with climate protection regulations. Strong and determined is the Airportwatch opposition called for to organize non-expansion movement. The organization representatives are those who virtually comprise environmentalists, among which are Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Aviation Environment Federation, the Campaign for Better Transport, the Woodland Trust, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the World Development Movement, Environmental Protection UK etc (Airportwatch, 2004). The opposition showed indignation since the government gets full advantage of its plans – there are no taxes on aviation fuel and what is more, the air sector is not included into the Kyoto protocol and the EU's carbon trading scheme (The Independent. 2007, August 15). Consequently, the Government’s airport development and expansion plans must be put into force taking into account environmental concerns, i.e. realization of the climate implications, thus being consistent with the aims of reduction of carbon dioxide emissions (Colin Brown, Almost half of population want green tax on air travel. 2007, August 15). Such a ruling was stated by the High Court indicating inappropriateness and crude character of the governmentally proposed plans. Moreover, the verdict also ruled that the 2003 White Paper "The Future of Air Transport" by no means complies with the 2008 Climate Change Act (WWF-UK, Update on Heathrow Legal Challenge). So, the White Paper needs proper reconsideration to enable new runway plans to incorporate economic and environmental aspects.

International Human resources Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

International Human resources Management - Essay Example This shift is reflected in the differences in training and development (T&D) practices with respect to 1) the purpose of T&D, 2) the focus of T&D, 3) strategies and methods of training, and 4) training content. MULTINATIONAL STRATEGY. The main purpose of training and development is for managers to develop a cognitive understanding of many possible issues and problems that includes such as cost reduction, sources of relative production efficiency, interpretation of roles, policies and rules and also to maintain the normal situation such as to enhance the efficiency of existing operations (Tichy, 1993). Training is the same as the Human resource function where it serves as a backup support to the main controls such as financial controls and making budgets, organizational design and structure and making of a strategic plan that works. The training and development is concentrated on local and regional efforts (Briscoe, 1995; Dowling, Schuler & Welch, 1994). The scarceness of money is made available for more globally complete, and also very expensive, training costs. The more extensive global training opportunities will be focused on the financial control managers, those auditors and controllers in order to monitor costs and revenue flows in many subsidiaries in manycountries (Lessard, 1997). Strategies and Methods. The multinational firms will concentrate its trainings by providing relatively discrete training investments and actions for individuals or small groups over time periods that are short. The training includes applying low-risk simulation activities to enact behavior changes on such a superficial range, the strategic manager will seek to develop skills relevant to the main cultures of interest (Tichy, 1993).Therefore, multinational trainings and developments are shown with extensive use of case-studies or simulations in environments within the classroom, country handbooks, language training, the company internal counseling on legal and finance subjects. This includes meetings with many repatriated managers and others(Briscoe, 1995; Tichy, 1993). Content. Trainings and developments include marketing, distribution,budgeting, manufacturing, headcount, dominate multinational training curricula, finances, etc., (Tichy, 1993, p.210).Because of the cost containment and rationalization emphasis here, efficiency of operation is at a premium. TRANSNATIONAL STRATEGY. Purpose. The main objectives of the firm are very complex and also very challenging as compared to the multinational firm. The main benchmark is to identify and develop a select group of managers who can define and answer brilliantly major organizational problems and also they must transform significant organizational systems and processes(Tichy, 1993). The transnational mind makes it a requirement to be structural and planning forms of control under the multinational strategy. The managers must be collaborative, multi

Prediction paper number 2 Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Prediction number 2 - Research Paper Example 113). She believed that this hostility has an evolutionary basis, wherein women attack one another due to competition over males and their resources and the need to promote themselves to ensure their reproduction (Campbell, 1995, p. 115). It will be interesting to know if physical attractiveness that can be measured through facial symmetry is correlated with indirect aggression. It is possible that attractive women may practice more indirect aggression than less attractive ones because of the evolutionary need to promote their reputation to men and to deny competitors of access to men and other social resources. It is assumed that physically attractive women are more indirectly aggressive than less attractive ones because of their dominance over other women, since, evolutionary theory suggests that males choose their female partners through their sexual attractiveness, which makes attractive women as the dominant women in their gender group (Campbell, 1995, p. 115).McAndrew (2014) added that gossip may be a strategy for reputation management that suggests the evolutionary basis of intrasexual competition through excluding competitors and taking away potential sources of social support. Muà ±oz-Reyes et al. (2012) noted from their study that fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of physical traits is a measure of developmental instability and health and that FA is neg atively correlated to hostility for older adolescent women and to the physical attractiveness of women. It is hypothesized that attractive women with low FA practice indirect aggression more than less attractive women, and that those who are in a relationship and attractive are more aggressive than other attractive and less attractive women who are not in a relationship because of the need to protect their access to their male partners. The independent variables are FA and the relationship status of the participants, while the

Strategic Management at Mercedes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic Management at Mercedes - Assignment Example From this discussion it is clear that Mercedes has been a promising company, the occurrence of such an event was not a good thing to it. It was a very unfortunate event that if not properly handled, could become disastrous and dangerous for the success of the company. Rather than damaging the reputation of the flourishing company, it would bring financial losses that might be hard to bear. This is because a lot of resources will have to be used for compensation and reparations.   At the same time, the event would end up affecting the larger automobile industry which has been rocked with such recalls in the recent past. For this reason, it is incumbent upon the management to come up with practical and relevant strategies to deal with it.As the report highlights  Most importantly, the company, through its spokesman Donna Boland engaged in a serious strategic communication exercise. As a professional, Donna used his skills to appeal to the public to bear with the company because the problem was not intended, but had occurred as a result of unavoidable oversights in the technical department.  Just like Mercedes, all companies need to be cautious and be ready to know what happens to them failure to which, they might suffer a great deal.  Environmental analysis should always be considered as an important activity for all business organizations. These are important lessons that make these articles to be invaluable for anyone who wants to have an insight on strategic management.

A Very Filipino Way Of Doing Business Essay Example for Free

A Very Filipino Way Of Doing Business Essay Whenever I go to the local market with the Asawa, I love to wander around the meat and fish section. I love the squalor and the flies and the noise and total lack of any lip service being paid to basic hygiene regulations. It is so Filipino! I have my Suki for meat and another for chicken and one I go to for fish and seafoods. The Asawa has her own for vegetables, fruit and dry goods, spread around the market. A suki, for the uninitiated, is a regular provider of whatever it is you are buying. I think to be technically correct, you as the customer are actually the suki, but in typically Filipino fashion the word is used in either direction and you call the store you go to regularly your suki! We have a suki for bottled water. Our first suki would always deliver in the morning when we were out, despite having been told numerous times we wouldn’t be there to take the gallons (those large bottles of water usually seen in the office back home but commonplace in every home here) until after noon. Their insistence we change our routine to match theirs plus the fact it took six weeks to get them to sell us a table top stand for the bottles meant I spat the dummy one day and found a new suki! They realized the error of their ways and tried to regain the business but the damage had been done! Changing your suki is not something you undertake lightly. The very fabric of commercial society here is built upon the relationship between buyer and seller. When you look at any row of Filipino market stalls or shops, you may notice how everybody in a row is selling exactly the same thing. The plastic bucket shops are all over there. The hardware stalls are all over there, the next row is all cloth and old clothes. Not only are all the stalls for one line of merchandise in a row, they all look identical. Every stall has the same goods displayed exactly the same way. As if there is a pattern laid down by law as to how to display those goods! Woe betide you if you do it any other  way or s et up amongst the wrong stalls. The prevailing wisdom appears to be that you increase your chances of making some money if you are where people will go to look for the range of goods you offer. If the hardware stores were to spread themselves around the town then maybe one of them would wither on the vine as few people might find them. By having all of the hardware stores in the one spot, then it is guaranteed that anyone who needs hardware MUST gothere. Brilliant! So why would they shop at this store instead of that one if they all offer the same goods in the same location? The only answer I have ever received for that question has always been the same; because you know the store owner, or are a friend or, they are your SUKI! Personal relationships are very important to Filipinos and without them your business is pretty well doomed to fail. Once you start buying regularly from one store and they take on Suki status then the suki will lose face if you are seen purchasing elsewhere in the same market. Other store owners will know your suki is someone else and they will usually refrain from hassling you. Poaching customers has been known to lead to arguments, fights and even stabbings! You should be able to expect a discount (walay hang yoo) from your suki. Of course over time the actual discount might decrease as both parties become comfortable with the relationship and outright price is no longer as important as the trust displayed and enjoyed between parties. This is a factor of Filipino business that many foreigners never grasp. They expect a good deal right from the beginning, yet what have they done to deserve that favouritism? Anywhere in Asia there is a similar attitude to time. Time being invested to really get to know each other and develop trust and a rapport that will span generations. It is a long term view that we foreigners are coming up against way down the path the other parties involved have been traveling for perhaps centuries! The term interloper comes to mind and that is what we are in many ways. Break that down to the local food market level of commerce and the relationship may take less time to build but the concept remains the same. If you apply the same mindset to more expensive business ventures here then it is easy to develop guidelines. Firstly, don’t expect the best terms right off the bat, give the other guy time to get to know you and like you. Secondly, never show your anger or emotion, it shames you and the other party and achieves nothing worthwhile. Thirdly, if you are being  ripped off, don’t be in too much of a hurry to take your business elsewhere. This goes for the meat suki too. I had one who was putting the old thumb on the scales when weighing my beef tenderloin every Thursday. I knew I was being short changed somehow, yet the challenge was how to turn this around to my advantage as I loved my beef and there was only one other stall that sold it. My solution was to negotiate an extra piece thrown in after the kilo or two was weighed and agreed upon. This let the suki think they were doing me a favour and building rapport while I was actually getting what I was paying for. The end result was they finally caught on and stopped thumbing the scales and I eventually stopped insisting on my extra chunk. They got the message that I knew they were ripping me off, yet nobody lost face and business carried on as usual. In some ways, dealing with your suki is good training for dealing with so much that you will confront in this country. Going head to head will only have you losing time after time. You may think you won, you made your point, you showed them but the reality is Filipinos, like most Asians, take the long term view in many things. There is the short term immediate gratification often exploited by the lesser educated and those who figure they will never have to deal with you again but on the whole the opposite is more often the case. Choose your suki wisely, and then stick with them. Work out your differences in ways other than the typical western yelling and posturing and you are sure to come out a winner in the long term. In the commercial context, suki relationships (market- exchange partnerships) may develop between two people who agree to become regular customer and supplier. In the marketplace, Filipinos will regularly buy from certain specific suppliers who will give them, in return, reduced prices, good quality, and, often, credit. Suki relationships often apply in other contexts as well. For example, regular patrons of restaurants and small neighborhood retail shops and tailoring shops often receive special treatment in return for their patronage. Suki does more than help develop economic exchange relationships. Because trust is such a vital aspect, it creates a platform for personal relationships that can blossom into genuine friendship between individuals. Patron-client bonds also are very much a part of prescribed patterns of appropriate behavior. These may be formed  between tenant farmers and their landlords or between any patron who provides resources and influence in return for the clients personal services and general support. The reciprocal arrangement typically involves the patron giving a means of earning a living or of help, protection, and influence and the client giving labor and personal favors, ranging from household tasks to political support. These relationships often evolve into ritual kinship ties, as the tenant or worker may ask the landlord to be a childs godparent. Similarly, when favors are extended, they tend to bind patron and client together in a network of mutual obligation or a long-term interdependency. The word suki is a Filipino term which means loyal customer. This so-called market-exchange partnership can be developed into an agreement where one can be a regular customer and supplier. Contents [hide] * 1 Suki system * 2 Customer satisfaction * 3 Returning favors * 4 Reference * 5 Citation| - Suki system The suki system is a system of patronage in which a customer regularly buys their merchandise from a certain client. In the merchandising business, Filipinos often buy from specific suppliers who will provide their customers reduced prices, good quality and credit as well. These factors are the usual components of becoming a suki. The presence of trust and the development of friendship between the two parties is a vital aspect in the establishment of an economic exchange relationship. In some instances, regular patrons of restaurants, small neighborhood retail shops and tailoring shops receive special treatment in return for their patronage. Customer satisfaction Customer satisfaction is essential to the survival of any business, small-scale or large-scale; and retailers know that satisfied customers are loyal customers. Consequently, retailers develop strategies to build relationships that result in customers returning to make more purchases. By responding to customer needs, business owners endeavor to meet or exceed  customer expectations for their product or service. This increases the likelihood of gaining sukis. The quality of after-sales service can also be a crucial factor in influencing any purchasing decision. In the current economic environment, businesses continuously strive not only for customer satisfaction, but for customer delight that extra bit of added value that may lead to increased customer loyalty. Any extra added value, however, will need to be carefully costed. Returning favors Usually, favors are returned or extended to both patron and clients. For example, this reciprocal arrangement typically involves the patron providing a means of earning a living or help, protection, and influence. The client in turn provides labor and personal favors, ranging from household tasks to political support. These relationships often evolve into ritual kinship ties, as the tenant or worker may ask the landlord to be a childs godparent. Similarly, when favors are extended, they tend to bind patron and client together in a network of mutual obligation or a long-term interdependency.

Johnny got his gun Essay -- essays research papers

Johnny Got His Gun Johnny Got His Gun is a striking literary work about a young man, Joe Bonham, and his internal struggles following a devastating war injury. He lost his arms, legs, and face. Dalton Trumbo, the author Johnny Got His Gun, allows the reader to know Bonham's thoughts, but nothing more. The reader follows Joe's progression toward and away from insanity, and between hope and despair. Trumbo shows this progression through the use of a plethora of literary techniques. Characterization is one of the most extensively used techniques. A great deal can be understood about Joe's feelings and thoughts by seeing how he interprets characters. The reader ponders many ideas when thinking about characterization used in this book: reality of characters, stereotyping of characters, and motivation of characters. In order to make sense of this book, the reader needs to assume at least one character to be real. Joe is most easily assumed real. The crux of this book is criticism of war, and the criticism becomes most apparent if Joe is real. Reality of other characters is difficult to distinguish. The people Joe remembers are real, at least to him. He has memories of their personalities and what they looked like. He can recall specific memories of events with these people. There are also characters Joe encounters while he is lying in his bed after the accident. These characters are very flat. They do not develop, and we know little about their thoughts or emotions. Joe only kn...

Capsule 2 Revised Version Essay

Jose Antonio Vargas wrote â€Å"Outlaw: My Life In America As An Undocumented Immigrant†, for the New York Times (June 22, 2011), and in it, he claims that being an illegal immigrant is more complicated than it seems on the surface. Like Vargas, many illegal immigrants are often sent to America at young ages and have to hide their true identities to succeed. Vargas develops this fact when he begins to adapt to his new life and continues to fake documents and lie to those around him to maintain his place in America. Vargas’s purpose for writing is to prove to that immigrants come to America seeking endless opportunity to gain success but often have to do this through deceit. Vargas does this by telling his story in this narrative to grasp the interest of other immigrants. He acknowledges the fraudulent identity he has developed, that clashes with his morals and his character and creates major issues while growing up and trying to adapt to society. Vargas unfolds his story by first discussing how he is forced to migrate to America. This immediately resembles many of those who came to America at a very young age and also had to find their own way to success while maintaining confidentiality. Vargas originally doesn’t understand the struggles he will face in society. His family, the beginning of his support system, creates his fake identity without his knowledge while he was at a young age. He discovered the truth while attempting to get his driver’s permit (Vargas 326), and when he gets turned down he began his pursuit to prove to everyone around him that he is American. Vargas sharing his experience at the DMV and how it taught him how to adjust easier to society without others noticing his illegal status, makes the narrative more relatable and personalized. Once he realizes he is an immigrant and isn’t welcomed in society, he understands the hostility attached to the label he is given by his family and by Americans. Throughout Vargas’s writing, he continues to find ways to relate to other immigrants using his profession â€Å"that is all about truth-telling† (Vargas, 330). He discusses the issue of finding work in journalism which is his passion and finding jobs are often major issues for immigrants. He also talks about the constant sense of deficiency and dislocation he felt living in America and having to live a fabricated lifestyle. Vargas’s purpose was constantly encouraged throughout his story to pursue his dreams which gave him the incentive to keep pushing regardless of his unknown legal status. Vargas shows that if he increases the amount of work he achieves he can gain citizenship even if he lies about who he is to do so. Vargas and his family make multiple sacrifices, that could reveal their secrets, in order to grant him some kind of way into success. When he got the hang of living in America undocumented, it became the norm for him, and he had â€Å"no intention of acknowledging [his] ‘problem’† (Vargas 331). Vargas clings to the new version of himself and constantly overcomes his hardships to prove his citizenship. His determination consumed his morals and he forgot about his integrity to maintain success. On the surface, he seems like the perfect American citizen living â€Å"The American Dream† (Vargas, 326) but he knows deep down that his career validated his succes s and his presence. Vargas used the idea of using hard work to gain citizenship to encourage him to continue hiding his legal status especially since â€Å"claiming full citizenship was actually easier than declaring permanent resident† (Vargas, 328). His fabricated lifestyle allowed him to succeed professionally for the majority of his life, proving that his hard work does fill the displacement he felt as an immigrant. Vargas allows people to just see the surface qualities he displays to validate his presence here (Vargas, 327) and to keep his secret more concealed. The image he creates as an outlaw becomes the only life he knows and coming to terms with the truth was definitely liberating. Vargas attacks the ideas of what an illegal immigrant really is, a person searching for a dream that America displays but doesn’t fulfill. There is obvious tension in America when it comes to how society defines them. The article as a whole makes an attempt at reaching out to other immigrants who are experiencing the same struggles. Vargas does this by telling his story to be authentic. Understanding that the life of a successful immigrant is possible if your dreams for a better future are your constant motivation, is the purpose that Vargas had for writing this piece. Vargas constantly uses his narrative to show that even though many immigrants develop an identity established in deceit, their struggles emotionally, mentally, and socially, help shape them and in the end make them the American citizens they fight to be. Vargas proves that once you value hard work it makes it easier to earn status and build an identity for yourself.

Indians vs. Europeans

Shelby Bradley The idea of a brand new world across the ocean sparked interest in many Europeans. They saw it as an opportunity to get rich quick and benefit immensely. The issue they didn’t see was the presence of the Native Americans who were already on the land. The Europeans sailed into North America and immediately started excluding the Indians and taking their land. This caused many conflicts between the two groups, especially in the New England and Spanish Southwest region and during the 1600’s. In 1620, the first New England settlement was founded. It was at a site called Plymouth Rock and was the location of the Mayflower Compact. At first the colonists had lots of trouble figuring out how to grow crops and hunt and basically survive in this new world. The local Native Americans showed them how to farm and hunt and soon the colony prospered. It’s hard to understand why so many conflicts occurred when clearly the Native Americans weren’t fighting our arrival. The colony was doing so well that other people from Europe saw opportunity and starting moving to New England. Soon the colony was overcrowded and the colonists started taking the Indians’ land. They also hunted too much, spread their diseases to the Indians, and also tried to convert them to Christianity. The Indians did not take this lightly. They started to fight back. For example, they killed Anne Hutchinson and her family. The Europeans’ greed was the root of these conflicts and the Native American’s response didn’t help their relationship either. Meanwhile there were also problems in the Spanish Southwest. By the 1600’s most of South and Central America were occupied by Europeans, so the Spanish started heading north. The Spanish immediately killed and enslaved any Indians that they ran into. By the time they reached New Mexico, slavery was in full swing and they were trying to convert the Indians to Christianity as well.

Why Google is the Workplace Everyone Wants to Join (and you should too)

Why Google is the Workplace Everyone Wants to Join (and you should too) Google isn’t just a tech company anymore, it’s an aspirational lifestyle. Once employees secure a coveted spot, they’re almost cult-like in their reverence for their workplace. Not that getting hired is an easy feat- Google currently gets more than two million job applications each year. (Imagine the HR department!) If you still aren’t sure what all the hype is about, then read on. Here are 10 of the many reasons why so many people are trying to get their foot in the Google door.1. SalaryThere may still be a really terrible gender gap at Google, but overall the company pays its engineers better than anybody else. Base salaries start over $128k per year, and the highest earners make more than $600k, plus bonuses. The company can be very tight-lipped about specific numbers, but know that employees are very well compensated.2. Competitive  benefitsThe trick to quality employee retention these days is stellar benefits. Google knows that happy employees who f eel safe and looked-after work harder and stay longer. Some examples of their offerings include a long (for the United States) maternity leave of 18 weeks, several months of parental leave for other primary caregivers, and excellent health care, investment plans, and survivor benefits.3. Smart and motivated  coworkersGoogle makes a big song and dance about recruiting top talent. When you’re a huge fish in a massive pond of other big fish, it can really push you to be more inspired and do even better work. Google wants to change the world, and its employees are all grateful and jazzed up to be along for the ride. The company also encourages its employees to spend up to 20% of their time on their own personal passion projects. This kind of daily inspiration really makes for happy workers.4. Free grubThe food is plentiful and flowing, and we’re not talking cafeteria food here. We’re talking healthy, varied, gourmet breakfast, lunch, and snacks (even dinner for th e midnight oil-burners). Plus, during the day employees have access to coffee bars and juice bars galore. This saves employees time and money (and often makes them eat better), plus has the added benefit of increasing socialization among colleagues during breaks.5. Pets welcomeNo, seriously. At some campuses, you can bring your dog to work. You can even take your pup out for a walk during your breaks.6. Gadgets galoreGoogle workers get to live in the future. They used Chrome before it hit the market. They have all the latest tablets and phones. This little sneak peak at the trends of the future makes workers feel like they are in the know and shaping everybody else’s tomorrow.7. 24/7 tech supportNo matter how late you’re working, you’ve got the best IT peeps in the country to help you out when you need it- whether your issues are with hardware or software.8. Massage creditsIn some campuses, if you do good work you can earn credits (via recommendations from other employees- not just your boss) that can be redeemed for one-hour massages on the Google campus. Shoulders hurt from all that hunching to get the big project done? No problem.9. On-campus fitness optionsImagine a world of free fitness classes, a free gym, and organized inter-campus intramural sports. This is great for social interaction, as well as for keeping all those bodies as sharp as the minds they’re carrying around.10. Learning opportunitiesGoogle is notable for the amount of time and energy they put into developing their employee’s careers and seeing to it that their best and brightest continue to rise. This includes making sure everyone stays sharp and keeps learning, whether though regular tech talks or guest speakers from every industry imaginable.