Homeless War Veterans Essay - 703 Words

July 13, 2010 Harley Spaulding Jr. Speech 301: Public Speaking Problem Solution Speech Homeless Veteran’s INTRODUCTION: How many people have a Veteran in their family or know one? If yes do you help them or is it someone else’s problem. Well many people think it’s someone else problem, but the truth is it’s our problem. They gave there all for each of us! PROBLEM: Veterans being let go from service without appropriate long tern help. Leaves unthinkable large numbers of Veterans helpless without knowledge on how to fit back in to the world they left behind, so they become homeless. This problem is out of control. -The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with†¦show more content†¦But they need a voice and eyes to see their way FACTS: The most effective programs for homeless and at-risk veterans are community-based, nonprofit, â€Å"veterans helping veterans† groups. Programs that work best feature transitional housing, with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves. FACTS: VA estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness. Only eight percent of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans. Fact: VA’s specialized homeless programs served more than 92,000 veterans in 2009, which is highly commendable. This still leaves well over 100,000 more veterans, Facts: Roughly 56 percent of all homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic, despite only accounting for 12.8 percent and 15.4 percent of the U.S. population respectively About 1.5 million other veterans, meanwhile, are considered at-risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing. Although flawless counts are impossible to come by – the transient nature of homeless populations presents a major difficulty – VA estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Over the course of a year, approximately twice that manyShow MoreRelatedHomeless People And War Veterans Essay887 Words   |  4 Pagesthink of when you see a homeless person on the street? You may not even notice them, or you might try not to even look at them. Then after you walk by, you probably feel a rush of guilt that just came over you. You might think â€Å"I’m never going to end up like that,† or â€Å"I am going to always have a good job.† People that are now homeless, most likely said the same things that you are thinking about now. The very true and sad story is that most homeless people are war veterans that can not find workRead MoreThe Causes Of Veteran Homelessness2513 Words   |  11 Pagesresponsibility of the people of this great nation to provide the support that these veterans need to survive in this world; they would help us survive in theirs. If goals are put in place and there is enough effort and power backing up the motor of these goals, then accomplishing an end to veteran homelessness will occur. This paper will examine the causes of veteran homelessness and how to cease and prevent veteran homelessness from happening and reoccurring. According to the National Student CampaignRead MoreVulnerable Population the homeless vetrans Essay1728 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ A Vulnerable Population the Homeless Veterans Patricia Dilbert NUR/440 April 7, 2014 Deanna Radford, MSN, RN, CNE A Vulnerable Population the homeless Veterans In this presentation, we will explore a vulnerable population with the focus on the homeless veterans. According to Mckinney Act†(1987) A homeless person is one who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. One who has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operatedRead MoreThe Social Welfare Issue Of The Vietnam War1481 Words   |  6 Pagespeople who are homeless; some have no friends or family support. Some believe that they may be a burden to others who may try to help them, and some may just choose to be homeless. Many reasons lead people to become homeless, people sometimes just hit the bottom and just don’t have a good support system causing their normal lifestyle to a crisis position. The social welfare issue homelessness and my population will be Veterans of the Vietnam War. The majority of homeless Veterans are mostly likelyRead MoreThe Epidemic Facing The Homeless And Mentally Ill1446 Words   |  6 PagesThe Epidemic Facing the Homeless and Mentally Ill Have you ever wondered what happens to war vets when they return home from the front lines? Some of the outcomes are not as happy as most people would like them to be. War veterans that survive come home with Mental Illnesses and other issues. Many war veterans end up homeless because of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and some are even living with the homeless men and women at shelters because they cannot receive the help they need from the government. InRead MoreHomeless Veterans Throughout The City Of Los Angeles1678 Words   |  7 PagesThe growing number of homeless veterans in the city of Los Angeles is growing out control, this issue is a social phenomenon that affects every city across the country; small or large. It is important to understand that consequently, one way or another, this issue affects not only the homeless veteran, the city, state and government, but every citizen within each city. Bring forth more attention to the fact that additional resources are required; resourc es such as prevention programs, services, educationRead MoreTheu.s. Housing And Urban Development Essay1461 Words   |  6 Pagesfor their men and women in the military can be seen in the number of homeless veterans. In fact, the U.S. Housing and Urban development (H.U.D.) reports there are over 39,000 members of the armed services living on the street (2016). The main causes of homelessness among veterans include lack of housing, jobs, and access to healthcare (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, n.d.). Veterans run a higher risk of becoming homeless if they are: suffering from a mental illness or substance abuse problem;Read MoreThe Disgrace of Veteran Homelessness Essay1400 Words   |  6 Pagesprotection and development of U.S interests around the world. From the Revolutionary War, which established the United States as a nation, through the World Wars, which set up the U.S as one of the world super powers, to its current war on terror, the military has helped and protec ted U.S. interests around the world. During all these wars American soldiers have proudly served their country. Because of these wars America is famous throughout the world for military power and its protection of freedomRead MoreHomelessness Is A Problem That Affects Many Americans973 Words   |  4 Pagesshelter all of its homeless, and this is one of the main reasons that we cannot help them like we want to. Often times there are not enough housing for homeless people. Sometimes homeless people are arrested, though, and there they have a warm place to sleep, with the food that they need. The case may be that they did this on purpose because they are usually only arrested for minor infractions. There are many reasons for a person to be homeless, including being a veteran. A veteran is a man or womanRead MoreHomelessness Is A Problem Of Homelessness1610 Words   |  7 Pagesmonstrous is chronic. The chronically homeless are left to endure the hardships of homelessness without hop e of an effective solution. Americans disregard all homeless populations, but the most heart wrenching group that is disregarded is the veterans. The veteran homelessness problem is the most ominous type of chronic homelessness, but a solution is possible. Veteran homelessness is a chronic problem in America today, and it is due to the mental state of veterans and government’s failed responses to

The Catcher in the Rye and 6 Degrees of Separation Essay

The human condition is as far from reason and judgement as anything can be, it is what we have tried to explain for centuries and it is still a confusing maze we attempt and pretend to understand. Holden from The Catcher in the Rye and Paul from Six degrees of Separations help to explore the workings of the human condition, both boys are conflicted with their lives and have difficulty fitting into their society. However these two texts do put the boys in different positions in life, Holden has what Paul desires but it does not give him the love and care he unknowingly needs. Paul takes on roles that disguise his own traits and turns him into what he believes to be a person nobody can say no to. When he takes on these roles, he†¦show more content†¦This is evident with his underlying yearning for JaneGallagher but is too afraid to make any connection with her. Holden revels his isolation calling anyone with self-worth a â€Å"phonie† but in the end he is the biggest phonie of them all. The book the Catcher in the Rye appealed to young people everywhere, who felt pressured about growing up and living by societys rules, and to disengage from meaningful human connection. The realease of this book created a wave of disagreement and contreversy but many saw this book as a symbol of cultural oppression. The movie six degrees of separation also explored the consequence of alienation as a form of self protection, Paul is a gay black man living on the streets of New York with very little money, it is implied that his life may not have been filled with wealth and opportunity. He yearns for a life that will provide him with comfort and stability, he enters peoples houses and surrounds himself with what they have and for a moment he is able to pretend that what they have belongs to him. Paul creates a new identity for himself as a â€Å"son of sydney Poitier† as that is the only way that the rich would open their doors to a stranger and allow him into their lavish apartments. However his deceptive personality cannot be sustained,

Competitive Market Scenario- Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Questions: 1.Explain why this scenario is considered bad for the economy and what are the possible explanations for the weakening of Competition? 2.Use simple demand and supply analysis to show how a monopolist can affect total welfare. 3.What does Schumpeter suggest as solutions to Improve Competition? Answers: 1.There is huge competition among the large number of sellers in the competitive market scenario (Baumol Blinder, 2015). Each firm tries to keep hold over the maximum share in the market. In doing so, the firms innovate and implement new technology and methods to reduce their cost and enjoy higher profits. Due to increase in the Competition, financially weaker firms exit the market or change their product line, reducing the competition (Varian, 2014). When this happens, the firms still existing in the market stop investing in newer technology and hoard the profits rather than investing it. Because of this, the workers or the laborers get reduced wages and consequently the demand is affected in the market. When this happens, some of the sellers exit the market which leads to a reduction in the competition and leads to a Monopolistic Situation which is not favorable for the consumers and the Society at large. The reduction in the competition can also be due to an increase in the inter vention of the Government for regulating the market. Government intervenes when it feels that its non-intervention would lead to a situation where the larger firms will start dominating the market. Due to the intervention of the Government, the firms start feeling that their growth is being restricted and their objective of attaining economies of scale is being hindered, this is the reason as to why some of the firms leave the market leading to weakened Competitive Environment. 2. Figure 1: Social cost in a Monopoly Market The above diagram represents the market scenario both under a competitive and monopoly market. The demand and the supply curve are DD and SS respectively. The marginal cost faced by the monopolist is the same as SS. Equilibrium in the competitive market is at point E where the market demand curve cuts the market supply curve. In other words, this is the point where price equals marginal cost. P* is the corresponding equilibrium price. At this price Q* quantity will be sold. However, the equilibrium condition in the monopoly market is different from that of a competitive market. The necessary condition of equilibrium is Marginal Revenue (MR) = Marginal Cost (MC) (McKenzie Lee, 2016). This can be shown in the above diagram. At the monopoly market equilibrium, the market price rises to P1 and the quantity supplied reduces to Q1. Thus, it can be derived that for a Monopolistic Market, reduced quantity of products are supplied at higher prices. It reduces the surplus received by the cons umers when there are intense competitions among firms. The monopolist (Friedman, 2017) enjoys part of the lost consumer surplus and rest is counted as a welfare loss to the society. Thus, the Aggregate Welfare is reduced. The shaded region represents the dead weight loss attributable to society. 3.Schumpeter, the economist, suggested opting for the 3 Stage Strategy for overcoming the situation. A highly motivated public campaign can force the politicians change the decisions they made. During the 1920s, the combined action from the Monopolist led to significant reforms. Significant amount of Power was provided to the Technocrats with the formation of the Anti-Trust Law. Only a brave move was required from them. The experiences gathered in Chicago School should be a lesson for the Scholars of the Society. Americans should give focus on the importance of Competition for the consumers as well as for the whole society. Following the strategies, it can be anticipated that the situation would be improved in the future. References Baumol, W. J., Blinder, A. S. (2015).Microeconomics: Principles and policy. Cengage Learning. Friedman, L. S. (2017).The microeconomics of public policy analysis. Princeton University Press. McKenzie, R. B., Lee, D. R. (2016).Microeconomics for MBAs: The economic way of thinking for managers. Cambridge University Press. Varian, H. R. (2014).Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach: Ninth International Student Edition. WW Norton Company.

Why Business Models Matter

Business models became popular as a result of the internet boom that made many companies to begin relying on web-based models. Companies shifted from the traditional methods that were based on strategy and competence in an attempt to embrace the new trend. The new models came with a promise of substantial profits and efficiency.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why Business Models Matter specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More All the entrepreneurs who bought into the new idea ended up suffering huge loses because they did not implement the models in the right way. The concept of business models therefore did not perform well in the initial stages because many people did not actually understand the concept. The failure of these business models came as a result of misuse and distortion. Many entrepreneurs wasted their capital by investing in flawed models without careful consideration. The new concept of doing business us ing models is still very applicable in different types of business ventures. A business model should be implemented in the right way for businesses to achieve the desired results. Business managers should come up with working definitions of a business model to introduce clarity and predictability in their models. The arcane mathematical models have an influence on the structure of business models. Business models explain how a particular enterprise works using elaborate stories. A quality business model should answer the fundamental business questions that guide the success of a business enterprise. To begin with, a good business model should identify who the customers are in relation to their needs and preferences. A business model should also reflect a clear plan on how the enterprise will make money. The main aim of doing business is to make profit and at the same time meet customer needs. Business models should also have a sound economic logic to prove their viability. The cost of a business enterprise should not in any way exceed he equivalent revenues. The main objective of a business model is to tell a good story about a particular business venture in order to attract customers and prospective investors. American Express is an example of companies that attracted a lot of customers by telling a convincing story to customers using a business model. The company’s business model motivated customers by giving them an insight on the value of its services. It is also important to note that the good narrative in a business model should be accompanied by numbers for it to be very convincing. Telling a story without credible numbers to substantiate the propositions in the model does not make any economic sense. The spreadsheet has played a significant role in improving business analysis. Each and every component of a business model can be tested and fully analyzed by using the spreadsheet.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Personal computers have played a vital role in improving the way business plans are designed.  Spreadsheets enable managers to have some foresight in the expected performance of a business venture because of their effectiveness in numerical analysis. It is therefore very necessary to be realistic in coming up with a business model without relying on assumptions. A quality business model should be designed using actual and relevant market insights. Business models should be flexible enough to accommodate changes incase things fail work out as planned. A business model should be practically tested and revised accordingly on a continuous basis. It is always a great challenge to get it right when it comes to revenue projections and this should always be expected by business managers. A complete business model should have both the narrative part and the numbers part. The two parts should be tested and if one or both fail, then the model can not work. The narrative and the numbers tests are very critical in determining how effective a business model is. The narrative part of a business model helps a great deal in promoting the brand of a particular business. The price of products or services falls under the numbers part.  The competitive advantage of a business largely depends on the ability of its model to change the industry dynamics. A business model that is unique makes it difficult for competitors to replicate. The marketing and pricing strategies of an adopted model can contribute immensely in expanding the customer base. The strategies adopted by a business enterprise can make the business stand out from its competitors. The competitive nature of modern business requires business managers to come up with competitive strategies. Michael Dell was able to maintain a competitive advantage in the computer business by adopting the strategy of selling computers to users directly as oppose d to using resellers. Dell was able to gain an inventory advantage over his competitors by using this strategy. The Dell example shows how businessmen can improve their businesses by coming up with innovative business strategies. It is important to note that a business strategy is very different from a business model. A business model that is implemented as a strategy tends to bring better results because it reflects clarity. It is also important to emphasize the fact that having a good business model does not guarantee success in business. A good business model should be accompanied by good implementation strategies for it to achieve the desired results.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Why Business Models Matter specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Why Business Models Matter was written and submitted by user Jaidyn Nolan to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Many Meanings of Quarter

The Many Meanings of Quarter The Many Meanings of Quarter The Many Meanings of Quarter By Mark Nichol The word quarter has numerous senses as a noun, verb, and adjective, is the basis of several words beginning with quarter, and shares an origin with quart. Quart and quarter come from Latin by way of French; in Latin, quartus means â€Å"the fourth†; it is cognate with four. Quart came to mean â€Å"one-fourth of a gallon,† while quarter refers to one of four (usually) equal parts of a whole. Quarter often pertains, with no further description, to one-fourth of a year, often in business and especially financial contexts but also in terms of one of four segments of a school year, or to one of four periods of equal length that together constitute the duration of an athletic competition or other game. The word also refers to a compass point or direction other than north, south, east, or west or to one-fourth of the horizon or the area beneath it. In addition, it may apply to a district within a municipality or to the people living there, though the term is not precise; such a quarter may be much larger or, more commonly, much smaller than one-fourth of the city or town’s area. Quarters, the plural form, pertains to one’s living accommodations, to an assigned post or station, or to assembly of a ship’s crew. Speaking of ships, either side of the stern, or rear, of a ship is called a quarter, and the deck at the stern of a ship is called the quarterdeck. Another term pertaining to maritime vocabulary is quartermaster. One or more quartermasters traditionally assisted the master, or captain, of a ship (later an officer subordinate to the captain called the sailing master) in navigation; it remains a rating, or a designation delineating job responsibilities, in modern navies. (Among pirates during the Age of Sail, however, quartermaster was the title of a crew member second only to the captain in authority; often, both positions were filled by election.) Although these low-ranking but key naval officers also helped the master stow supplies and cargo to optimize smooth sailing, the application of the word to refer to an army officer responsible for disbursing clothing and supplies to troops seems to have developed independently, stemming from the title of a court official responsible for a monarch’s sleeping chamber. Quarter also describes 25 cents in US currency, especially a coin bearing that value. Terms derived from quarter are defined below: In football, a quarterback is positioned midway between the front line and the halfback, who is halfway between the line and the fullback. (The halfback and fullback positions were derived from similar positions in rugby, from which football originated, while the quarterback position was invented for football.) The noun quarterly, which refers to a publication produced four times a year, is derived from the adjective quarterly, which describes any occurrence of that frequency. A quarterstaff is a long stick used as a weapon; both competing explanations for the origin of the word (either it refers to the placement of one’s hands when wielding it or to quarter used to refer to a cut of lumber) lack authority. A quartet is a group of any four people or things, though the term usually pertains to a four-piece music ensemble. A quarto is a format for printing books or pamphlets in which eight pages are printed on one sheet of paper to produce four leaves with print on both sides; the term may also refer to the size of a publication (about as large as a magazine). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of LanguageBody Parts as Tools of Measurement20 Criminal Terms You Should Know

The Value of the You Attitude in Professional Writing

The Value of the 'You Attitude' in Professional Writing The you attitude is more than a matter of playing with  pronouns or even of playing nice. Its good business. In professional writing, the you attitude means looking at a topic from the readers point of view (you) instead of our own (me): Me Attitude: I have requested that your order is sent out today.You Attitude: You will receive your order by Wednesday. In emails, letters, and reports, emphasizing what our readers want or need to know is likely to generate goodwill and lead to positive results. Why It's All About You, You, You Put yourself in the readers place and think about the kinds of emails and letters that you like to receive. Messages that are stuffy, pushy, and vague? Unlikely. Messages that elicit a positive response are generally positive themselves: courteous and considerate, with just enough information to anticipate the most common questions and concerns. In any case, dont make your message all about me or us. If youre trying to persuade your readers to buy a product, accept an offer, pay a bill, or perform a service for you, emphasize whats in it for them. You're in Good Hands or Maybe Not Heres an excerpt from a letter (addressed to Insured followed by a ten-digit number) that shows a marked insensitivity to the you attitude: As a participating company of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), policies written through Allstate Flood are subject to periodic reviews by the Risk Mitigation Unit of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This review process serves to ensure that policies have been properly rated based on the supporting documentation provided and according to the rules and regulations set forth by the NFIP... The above referenced policy was reviewed by the Flood Service Center and it has been determined that this policy has been rated incorrectly, or that additional information or clarification of submitted documentation is required to ensure that the policy has been properly rated. The following items are needed to complete the underwriting file and establish the proper rate for this account ... Clearly, its going to take more than a ​you to fix this letter. For one thing, theres not even a ​we here. The persistent use of the passive voice obscures any sense of a human subject a problem also demonstrated by the signature line, which reads (sincerely and monolithically), Allstate Flood Underwriting. One presumption of the you attitude is that both writer and reader are real people. But like the wrapper on a loaf of Wonder Bread, the Allstate letter might just as well say, Never touched by human hands. The multiple-choice format of the second paragraph only deepens the mystery. Just who reviewed, determined, and rated? Thats not for us to know. Has the policy been rated incorrectly for the past eight years, and if so, when and how did this blunder come to light? Has information been misplaced dropped behind a filing cabinet, say, or deleted by a clumsy intern? All things are possible in the stilted language of this form letter, and nothing is certain. Except for one thing, of course: it looks like our rates are going up again. Five Guidelines for Writing With the "You Attitude" Establish a good, respectful relationship with your readers by addressing them directly, writing in the active voice and using the second person (you, your, and yours), not just the first (I, me, mine, we, us, and ours).Try to empathize with your readers. Ask yourself: what do they want, what do they need to know, and whats in it for them? Rather than focus on your product, your service, or yourself, stress how your readers will benefit from complying with your message.Earn the respect of your readers by being courteous, tactful, and gracious.And finally, if youre ever tempted to write it should go without saying, stifle the impulse.

What Is Globalisation and How Does It Challenge World Politics Essay

What Is Globalisation and How Does It Challenge World Politics - Essay Example This essay stresses that as the world progresses, the growing unease fuelled by both political and economic disagreements have seen major countries across the world adopt measures that protect their interest. Held and Hirst state that China for example has introduced additional rules defined as serving ‘national security’ a situation that has increased economic uncertainty in China in terms of foreign investments. Countries like Russia on the other hand have developed what is referred to as sovereign wealth fund that is aimed at safeguarding the inward equity investments in Russia thereby encouraging internal economic activities. Australia introduced laws restricting takeover, a move that was seen as trying to block some nations from buying Australia’s natural resources. This paper makes a conclusion that it remains to be seen whether globalization will have an overall positive impact on the global setting. This is because, there is still a general feeling that globalization brings along selfish interest among those in control. This explains why international trade bodies such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), international justice institutions and arbitration courts such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the international community bodies such as the UN and EU have never been unilaterally embraced. The main idea behind the formation of these institutions may have been positive but, such institutions might be manipulated leading to further widening of the power gap that may eventually lead to a full blown confrontation between different nations across the world.

Collecting Data Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Collecting Data - Essay Example It is not unusual for ethnographers to live in the culture for months or even years. The middle stages of the ethnographic method involve gaining informants, using them to gain yet more informants in a chaining process, and gathering of data in the form of observational transcripts and interview recordings. Data analysis and theory development come at the end, though theories may emerge from cultural immersion and theory-articulation by members of the culture. However, the ethnographic researcher strives to avoid theoretical preconceptions and instead to induce theory from the perspectives of the members of the culture and from observation. The researcher may seek validation of induced theories by going back to members of the culture for their reaction Ethnography is a form of research focusing on the sociology of meaning through close field observation of sociocultural phenomena. Typically, the ethnographer focuses on a community (not necessarily geographic, considering also work, leisure, and other communities), selecting informants who are known to have an overview of the activities of the community. Such informants are asked to identify other informants representative of the community, using chain sampling to obtain a saturation of informants in all empirical areas of investigation. Informants are interviewed multiple times, using information from previous informants to elicit clarification and deeper responses upon re-interview. This process is intended to reveal common cultural understandings related to the phenomena under study. These subjective but collective understandings on a subject (ex., stratification) are often interpreted to be more significant than objective data (ex., income differentials). Ethnography is a qualitative research method that is used by anthropologists to describe a culture. Culture has many definitions but usually consists of origins, values, roles, and material items associated with a particular group of people. Ethnographic research, therefore, attempts to fully describe a variety of aspects and norms of a cultural group to enhance understanding of the people being studied. Historically, anthropologists who performed ethnographic research often would live in the community being investigated. Ethnographic research has focused on various foreign cultures to gain understanding about native people who are isolated from Western civilization. One famous anthropologist who performed this type of research was Margaret Mead. Her classic study of three New Guinea cultures explored those cultures' gender characteristics and roles. By studying a variety of cultural norms, gender characteristics, and roles, this type of research can help scientists categorize nature versus nurture gender characteristics. Many ethnographic studies have documented cultural roles that challenge Western perspectives of innate gender characteristics.(1) In ethnographic studies, the orientation of the researcher is termed etic or emic. An etic orientation is a view from an outsider's perspective. For example, if an ethnographer studied the culture of perioperative nurses and had no perioperative nursing experience, that researcher's interpretations would be from an etic perspective. If a perioperative nurse studied the culture of the OR or the organization of AORN, those interpretations would be from an insider's, or emic, perspective. Ethnographic resea

Experience The Arts Essay Example for Free

Experience The Arts Essay Art has a huge impact in making our lives endlessly rich. I cant imagine, only for a moment, a world without art in light of the fact that art have such an effect on design from our most loved features. Moreover, art invigorates distinctive parts of our brains to make us giggle or prompt us to uproar, with an entire range of feelings in the middle. Art also provides for us an approach to be inventive and convey what needs be. For some individuals, art is the whole reason they get up in the morning. You could say, art is something that makes us more mindful and balanced people. Then again, it is such an expansive piece of our regular lives that we might scarcely even stop to consider. Our shoes could be look as art, as well as our clothing. General all utilitarian configuration is art. Art normally includes correspondence. Ostensibly, specialists need individuals with whom they can impart their observations. At the point when Art and people associate, numerous conceivable outcomes emerge. As an admirer of the specialty of dance it has dependably been something I delighted in viewing or enjoyed as an adolescent. In spite of the fact that dance was a sublime past time I never feel in adoration with it until I encountered another manifestation of workmanship called praise dancing. Praise Dance is a type of formal or profound dance, it is a manifestation of move in which the attention is on love. Acclaim dance experts utilize their bodies to help express the expression and soul of God. Praise Dance is actually considered by numerous places of worship to be a satisfactory manifestation of Christian articulation, as well as being regularly utilized before  assemblies to make energizing and enthusiastic environments. In some cases praise dance can be a piece of a greater generation in which a whole story is told. Praise dance, rather than different manifestations of love move, is commonly performed to a much quicker and energetic music rhythm. The dancers express the music by waving their arms over their heads, applauding uncontrollably, influencing their bodies, and moving their heads to the mu sic. It can also be an interpretation of delight that uses the human body to extend, which are express with both their bodies and their confronts, illuminating their gathering of people with the delight they feel inside their souls. When praise dance is my presence my body would shivers; while tears role down my eyes, on the grounds that they were hitting the dance floor with such power, and the message they were yielding was compelling. Besides, the entertainers were serving and worshiping through move and welcoming the crowd to give love to the lord. Praise dance definitely have to be the most excellent critical experience of art I have ever felt on the grounds that it brought me into an alternate measurement, one where I had an otherworldly involvement with a higher force. Therefore, I will always cherish those moments, since it was truly the most true, genuine, and most alive experience I have had in my life. Praise dance is in fact extraordinary, enthusiasm and daring, for one self to express an unforgiving approach to acquire art it really bring out art in undiscovered spots. I am truly convinced and idealistic that praise dance will attract individuals in a great big form of art, which would inspires, encourages and uplifts humanity all around the world. Reference: Sporre, D. J. (2013). Reality Through the Arts (8th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database. www.thepraisedancelife.com

Lifes a Beach, and then... Essay -- Descriptive Essay, Narrative

I turned off the car and took a deep breath. Looking slowly up into the pink sky, I began to watch the golden sun go to sleep. The beach seemed deserted, quiet, but peaceful. I opened my door and put my feet out on the soft sand. I started taking my shoes off, then my socks. I threw them in the passenger seat, and then shut the door. I looked out over horizon of the lake and started walking towards the still water. With each step I took, I could feel the warm sand crunch between my toes. Then suddenly, a sharp rock, but not sharp enough to break the skin. Closer and closer to the calm water, I began sinking deeper in the sand. It was comforting, the silence, tranquility, and warmth of the faint sun. There is a slight breeze, warm, but cold and lonely. I could smell the scent of fish blowing through my hair and body. The sun was still fading, slowly but surely the day was almost over. About half of it is gone now. I could see shades of blue, red, purple, and pinkish-yellow. They were mixed with puffy clouds that lined the beginning of the sky and the end of the water. I noticed the darker shades on the bottom of the lower clouds. I stopped walking and looked up at the faint stars. The seagulls were flying overhead. They were screeching and swooping at the water. I started to wish I were one of them, flying free without any restrictions or limits. I listened to their voice, the screech. Deep down in I could understand what they were saying. I can't explain it, but I was so in love with the moment I thought I saw things as they did. I was in company of animals that had no concept of time, and no worries, and I was contempt with that. I closed my eyes and the faint sun warmed my face, as if shining only for me. The warmth made ... ...mb. I had no feeling because I was lost in a rare beauty that a lot of people take for granted. The millions of scattered stars that covered that silent night sky made a lonely beach seem a little more at home. I went to this beach in hope of finding someone, perhaps a soul mate. But instead, I found that everything comes and goes. The sun left me with a memory of its beauty with a sunset. The sunset left me with a reminder that the sun is not for ever. The lone bird that stayed with me and watched the sunset showed me that you don't have to know someone to share a beautiful moment with them. Beautiful moments are beautiful moments, but they have a little more definition behind them if you share them with someone or something. The night sky and stars, gave me a sense of peace, knowing that we are never alone. The stars are always there, even if we can't see them.

Explain for Which Reasons the Real Wage Is Expected

Explain for which reasons the real wage is expected to be acyclical in the classical model, countercyclical in The Keynesian Model and Procyclical in the New Keynesian model. Which model better fits the empirical evidence? Introduction The concept of real wages has increasing significance in the current world. Rising inflation and recession in almost all major economies have led to the importance of studying real wage with respect to prices and economies themselves. Such a study would require an in-depth understanding of the business cycle of real wages.From Classical theory to New Keynesian theory, Cyclicality of real wage has been defined in contrasting terms. Much of the conflicting evidence is simply characteristic of empirical research. Researchers use different model specifications and estimation techniques. Empirical results are often sensitive to the choice of cyclical indicators and time period chosen (Dimelis, 2007). This essay seeks to explain why real wage is expected to be acyclical in the classical model, counter-cyclical in the Keynesian model and procyclical in the New Keynesian model and shed light on which model best fits empirical evidence.Real Wage Real wage is defined as the â€Å"wage paid to the average worker divided by the price level. †(Delong and Olney,2006 p. 535) It therefore measures the cost of labour in real terms as it is the number of units of output that can be exchanged for one time-based unit of work. (Levacic and Rebmann, 1982) The Classical Model In the classical model, the basic assumption is that prices and wages are flexible. The basis of classical theory is that the markets work perfectly, that prices adjust rapidly to cover any gap that may arise due to a difference in the quantities demanded and supplied. Delong and Olney,2006) The classical model thus assumes full employment, i. e. the actual output matches the potential output of the economy. Since prices are flexible, an increase in the supply of labour wil l lead to a deficit in the demand, as a result some workers will become unemployed, and some of the unemployed will offer their labour at a lower wage in an attempt to secure employment. As a result, those employed will also lower their wages causing the wage to decline relative to price level P, and real wage to fall.Due to the law of diminishing returns of marginal product of labour, as real wage falls, firms wishing to maximize their profit will employ more workers leading to an automatic adjustment of the labour market which is once again at equilibrium. In the case of demand exceeding supply, firms will offer higher wages to attract workers which will cause the real wage to rise. As a result other firms will reduce their labour such that the demand equals the supply again, and the labour market is at equilibrium.Thus real wage, in the classical model ,its movement is independent of the direction of growth of economy and is thus said to be acyclical. (Delong and Olney,2006; Mank iw, 2003) Though few empirical studies support the theory that wages are acyclical, most critics pointed out that many wages and prices are not flexible and it is this inflexibility that explains both the existence of unemployment and the non-neutrality of money (Mankiw,2003) .Gamber and Joutz(2001) in their paper ‘Real wages over the business cycle’ studied the movement of real wage with respect to labour supply,demand ,aggregate demand and oil prices and concluded that increases in oil prices and reduced hours had little impact on the real wage thus making real wage acyclical. This could be true of the data studied, however many researchers including Solon et al (1994) have questioned evidence that claimed real wage to be acyclical, saying that a compositional bias tends to mask the true cyclical behaviour of a particular group’s real wage.The Keynesian Model While the classical model is only appropriate when wages and prices are flexible, it provides a simplif ied analysis of how the economy works. A more realistic model is however the Keynesian model which is very different from the classical model in many ways. To begin with, the model does not guarantee full employment and the actual output does not always equal potential output which is due to the basic assumption that prices and wages are â€Å"sticky†. That is, they will not move freely and rapidly in response to a change in demand or supply. (Delong and Olney, 2006)The reasons behind sticky prices have been identified by many economists; some explanations given include the impact of implicit contracts which involve non variable wages together with a probability of layoff, without appealing to risk averse behaviour (Levacic and Rebmann, 1982). Another simplified explanation is that managers and workers find re negotiating wages costly or they lack sufficient information. The problem of â€Å"money illusion† is also a possible explanation where workers and managers over look the effect of price level changes when assessing the impact of changes in wages or prices on their real income. Delong and Olney,2006) In the Keynesian model, if there is a decline in a consumer’s propensity to consume, there will be a fall in expenditure for goods. However, there is no change on the spending on investment goods, flow of exports or government expenditure. When firms see the spending on their products declining, they will reduce the production rather than prices since prices are sticky to avoid accumulating unsold inventory. When firms reduce their production, naturally they will fire some of the workers since workers will not reduce their wages (as they are sticky).This leads to an overall drop in the national income, which as a result of the multiplier effect is greater than the decline in consumer spending. (Delong and Olney, 2006) Keynes’ theory assumes that there is a negative correlation between real wage and output or employment, i. e. that real wage in the Keynesian model is counter-cyclical (Blanchard and Fisher, 1989). Some empirical data supports this behaviour, Swanson(2007, p. 33), in his paper says that â€Å"anecdotal evidence from the Great Depression and the 1920–21 contraction strongly suggests that real wages were countercyclical during these episodes: e. . , â€Å"[Benjamin] Strong wanted to wait until wage rates were lower. He noted that deposits had fallen off considerably, retail prices had fallen moderately, wholesale prices precipitously [56%], but wages had hardly been affected (Friedman and Schwartz (1963) as cited in Swanson (2007), p. 33). † Swanson (2007, p. 34)also notes that â€Å"workers’ wages have been counter cyclical over both the post-War and post-1967 period when those wages are deflated by the price index of the worker’s own 2-digit or 4-digit industry and compared to the state of economic activity in that same industry. And studies using data disaggregated by industry have shown a rather countercyclical behaviour for the US (Mehra, 1982; Burda, 1985 as cited in Dimelis, 1997 p. 312)) Although the Keynesian model was a more realistic model, it was criticised for its lack of clarity on how the labour market, and equilibrium is attained. This led to the development of New Keynesian Economics. (Mankiw, 2003) New Keynesian Model Partly due to criticism of Keynesian Economics, New Keynesian Economics was developed.The new Keynesian model tries to explain how wages and prices behave in the short run by identifying the market imperfections that make them sticky and cause the economy to shift from its natural state. (Mankiw, 2003) In other words, it uses micro foundations to explain macroeconomic effects. The model, like the Keynesian model builds on the assumptions of sticky wages and prices with the traditional model of aggregate demand and supply and tries to provide a better explanation of why wages and prices are sticky in the first plac e.It proposes that small costs of adjustment or rigidities can have large macroeconomic effects. (Mankiw, 2003). Blanchard and Gali (2005, p. 10)assume that â€Å"real wages respond sluggishly to labor market conditions, as a result of some (unmodelled) imperfection or friction in labor markets. † It also assumes that real wages of the current period to some extent depend on the real wage of the previous period. And that current inflation is the result of decisions based on news about future demand and cost conditions obtained in previous periods, in addition to current information.A consequence of that â€Å"distributed lag† property is the emergence of inertia in inflation. (Blanchard and Gali, 2005) Real wages are procyclical and are thus positively correlated with the output, they rise as output rises (above its natural level) and fall as output declines (relative to its natural level). This is because nominal wages are positively correlated with the business cycle , while prices in the New Keynesian model are sticky. (Mankiw, 2003) In the above explanation of the classical and Keynesian model, there is some empirical evidence that supports the behaviour real wage as acyclical and counter-cyclical.However, there are a larger number of studies that conclude that real wage generally exhibits procyclical behaviour ( Keane, et al. (1988);Kydland and Prescott (1989);Solon et al. (1994);Peng and Siebert(2008)). According to Blanchard and Fisher(1989, p. 19), real wage is weakly procyclical, showing a positive correlation between real wage and output but being â€Å"statistically insignificant†. However, Solon et al. (1994) found the aggregate real wage to be significantly procyclical and in a further investigation found that micro study of the same data revealed stronger procyclicality of real wage than that revealed by aggregate data. Kandil and Woods, 2002) Several empirical studies of real wage cyclicality of various countries such as Germ any(Dimelis, 1997), Italy(Peng and Siebert, 2008) and USA( Solon et al. , 1994; Kandil and Woods, 2002) conclude that real wage is more procyclical in nature. One can draw the conclusion that, real wage, as supported by empirical evidence, is procyclical, whether it is weakly procyclical or significantly so. Conclusion It can thus be concluded that, the three models explained differ in many aspects particularly their explanation of the behaviour of real wage.Studies have been undertaken to understand the cyclicality of real wage with respect to real market conditions, and although some studies support that real wage is acyclical and counter-cyclical, a larger number of studies show that real wage is procyclical on an average. On a micro level as well, real wage has shown strong procyclicality. As mentioned before, the great variance of results in the study of real wage could be a result of the different techniques employed for research, the sample of data studied or if the study was aggregate based or disaggregate based.Thus, while the Classical and Keynesian models are applicable in certain cases, the new Keynesian model is appropriate for many of the prevalent markets or economies. References Blanchard, O. J & Fisher, S, 1989, Lectures on Macroeconomics, MIT press Blanchard, O. J. and Gali, J. , Real Wage Rigidities and the New Keynesian Model (October 31, 2005). MIT Department of Economics Working Paper No. 05-28; FRB Boston Working Paper No. 05-14. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn. com/abstract=842285 Delong , J. B & Olney, M.L, 2006, Macroeconomics, Second Edition, New York: Mcgraw-Hill/Irwin Dimelis, S. P, 1997, ‘Cyclical and causal relations between real wages and employment in the EU', Applied Economics,Vol: 29: 3, p. 311-324 Gamber, E. N. ; Joutz, F. L. , Real Business over the Business Cycle, Eastern Economic Journal, Summer 1997, v. 23, iss. 3, pp. 277-91 Kandil, M & Woods, J. G, 2002, ‘Employment composition and the cyclical behaviour of the aggregate real wage', Applied Economics, Vol: 34: 6, p. 689-708 Keane, M. , Mofitt, R. nd Runkle, D. E. (1988) Real wages over the business cycle: estimating the impact of heterogeneity with micro data, Journal of Political Economy, Vol: 96, p. 1232- 66. Kydland, F. E. and Prescott, E. C. (1989) Cyclical movements of the labour input and its implicit real wage. Research Department Working Paper 413, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Levacic, R & Rebmann, A, 1982, Macroeconomics-An introduction to Keynesian-neoclassical controversies, Second Edition, Hampshire: Macmillan press Mankiw, N.G, 2003, Macroeconomics, Fifth Edition, New York: Worth Publishers Peng,F. & Siebert, S. W , 2008,Real wage Cyclicality in Italy, Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 2465. Solon, G. , Barsky, R. and Parker, J. A. (1994) Measuring the cyclicality of real wages: How important is composition bias? , The Quarterly Journal of Econo mics, Vol:CIX,p. 1- 25. Swanson, E, 2007,Real wage cyclicality in the PSID, working paper series, Federal bank of San Francisco

Great Gatsby Coming of Age Novel Essay

The novel the Great Gatsby isn’t your classical coming of age novel at least for the most part. This is because Nick Caraway is the only character who actually ends up changing by the end of the novel. Furthermore coming of age novels refer to a character(s) that pass the rite of passage in order to enter manhood or womanhood. Therefore this novel is about the growth of maturity. The story begins with Nick attending dinner at the Buchannan house. Nick was at first very impressed and fascinated with the beauty, glamour, and wealth of Daisy and Tom. This can be seen in the quote â€Å"Their house was even more elaborate than I expected† (Fitzgerald, pg.6). This point of view is oblivious and is unaware of the saying â€Å"it’s not what’s on the outside but what’s on the inside. However this point of view drastically changed by the end of the novel. By the end of the novel Nick can no longer even bare to stand the sight of Tom or Daisy, let alone shake their hands. This is best seen with the quote â€Å"What’s the matter, Nick? Do you object to shaking hands with me? Yes. You know what I think of you.† This is because Tom told Mr. Wilson to go and kill Gatsby because he had been the person driving the car. Furthermore he can’t stand Daisy because even though she loved Gatsby she retreated behind Tom and let Gatsby take the hit for her. This resulted in Gatsby’s death and later his funeral to which neither Daisy nor Tom attended. The strongest representation of Nick’s growing maturity is the fact that he realises that Tom and Daisy are both weak and gutless people. This understanding was only obtained when Nick looked for what was on the â€Å"inside†. The quote â€Å"They are careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made†¦Ã¢â‚¬  is really powerful and Fitzgerald is warning others about people who are like this. The novel The Great Gatsby may not be a coming of age novel but it is a  pretty darn good book about growing in maturity, following your dreams, and fighting for love. Unfortunately Nick is the only character who actually realised this and learned from it.

The 10 Trickiest Interview Questions and How To Field Them

The 10 Trickiest Interview Questions and How To Field Them Don’t get so stressed out about the interview that you forget to relax and show yourself in the best possible light. Look over this list of interview questions and be prepared for them. Then charge into your interview devoid of fear. Your biggest weaknessYou want to frame this one in a positive light, but you also want to make sure it doesn’t look like you’re too blasà © to admit your mistakes or failures. Find one weakness that isn’t too drastic, but isn’t a toss-off either, and then explain how you’re working constructively to make sure you’re a better employee because of recognizing it and moving past it.Former bad experiencesThey want to know how you dealt with a tough situation in the past. Don’t talk about getting yelled at by your boss, or suspended, or nearly fired. But do mention something that was a real stumbling block, and how you turned it into a positive by treating it as a valuable lesson, and learning from it.Em ployment gapsWhen the interviewer asks why you’ve been unemployed so long, the way you respond depends a little on the reason. If it’s personal and negative, be as vague as possible and focus on your bright future. If it’s for something professional, try emphasizing what you’ve accomplished in that time that makes you an infinitely more valuable employee.Corporate complaintsIf this is a corporate job and they want to know what you dislike most about that kind of environment, don’t sink to the occasion. Be sure to emphasize that you don’t find anything at all unsavory about the corporate world, but speak about one instance in which a particular corporation didn’t handle a matter the best way possible, and what you learned from it that you could apply to this new job, to make this corporation stronger.Your screw-upsYou’ll never be able to sell an interviewer on the idea that you never once screwed up on the job. So don’t e ven try. Instead, admit to a mistake you made and what it taught you. Emphasize, of course, how you will never make the same mistake again.How you break bad newsThey’re looking for leadership qualities, and how you handle stressful situations and emotions. Show off your conflict resolution skills and diplomatic finesse.The job you really wantIf they ask if you’d be after their job one day, don’t be honest. Explain that you’re more than content with the job that’s currently on offer, and try to laugh it off.Your record of changing jobsDo everything you can to convince them you’re here to stay. That’s all they want to hear with questions about shifting from position to position. Emphasize how settled you are on exactly this position being exactly where you need to be now. And then throw in some details about how your varied experience will only make you more valuable to the company.Your last jobWhatever you do, don’t bad mouth yo ur past job or your former boss. Explain that you’re looking for bigger challenges and more rewarding work, and assure them that you’ve left no burning bridges in your wake.Being firedIf you were fired from your last job, they’ll want to know why. Make it clear that you won’t be a liability, and never badmouth the company to make yourself look better.Do your best to showcase your professionalism and grace under fire- no matter what the question- and you’ll do just fine.

Bismuth Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements

Bismuth Facts - Periodic Table of the Elements Symbol Bi Atomic Number 83 Atomic Weight 208.98037 Electron Configuration [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2 6p3 Element Classification Metal Discovery Known to the ancients. Name Origin German: bisemutum, (white mass), presently spelled wismut. Density (g/cc) 9.747 Melting Point (K) 44.5 Boiling Point (K) 1883 Appearance hard, brittle, steel-gray metal with a pinkish tinge Atomic Radius (pm) 170 Atomic Volume (cc/mol) 21.3 Covalent Radius (pm) 146 Ionic Radius 74 (5e) 96 (3e) Specific Heat (@20C J/g mol) 0.124 Fusion Heat (kJ/mol) 11.00 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol) 172.0 Debye Temperature (K) 120.00 Pauling Negativity Number 2.02 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol) 702.9 Oxidation States 5, 3 Lattice Structure rhombohedral Lattice Constant () 4.750 References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.) Return to the Periodic Table

Survival of the Fittest Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Survival of the Fittest - Article Example This will help the employees in saving his/her jobs because health care administrators are already looking to retain only those employees who can work in more than one area. Secondly managers have to motivate employees by participating in two way communication with them. Thirdly employees can continuously get involved in the process of improving the quality of the service by providing clean and safe environment to patients and other officials of the health care system. Lastly, administrators of health care system should try to reduce their cost by negotiating with suppliers and it is the right time to do so as suppliers they are ready to negotiate due to bad economic conditions. Mark S. Learner states that an individual who is responsible for carrying out activities should try to take the credit for what he has done otherwise his activities and importance will be undermined. Lerner states that an individual has to show his technical abilities in order to save his/her job. In my opinion this is not completely true because an individual can not perform all kinds of jobs related to a field and if he/she will try to do so, he will feel over burdened and employees of health care settings are already over burdened because organizations are practicing

Week 7 dq Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 7 dq - Essay Example It would be wise to therefore disarm him as Attfield recommends that saving human life should not be bargained. 2. I should be tested before getting intimate in the new relationship. From previous relationships, I could have been infected with HIV/AIDS but have never known because I have never been tested. The results could determine the destiny of the relationship and I do not know whether I would continue if found to be HIV positive. My partner would also have to prove with rightful documentation that she has been tested and found to be free of HIV before we get intimate. 3. I would do as the instructor asks me to do and respond as being in New York and not Bridgeport, Connecticut. With every job comes regulations and rules and for one to be successful, these have to be followed to the latter even if they do not make sense or go against one’s moral ethics. After all, so much effort had been put to learn the job and the people calling would not know my location. In case of a situation getting beyond my capacity to handle, then the instructor would advice on the way forward. 4. I accept the arrangement because it gives solutions to the main problem, lack of finance in the family. In as much as the solution goes against moral standards, my family would be saved from financial stress and I would get to go to the school of my desire, Ivy League School. Whatever decisions are made, Attfield argues that there would be costs and

The ethics of selling guns Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The ethics of selling guns - Essay Example rt into a particular country Even though it is not constitutional, mostly assault weapons, are banned for manufacture and import into the country, and all guns are barred for convicted criminals. Nonetheless, it is lawful to sell the parts required to assemble these weapons. Besides, there is no system put in place to track or register gun parts (except the receiver), and so several gun parts can be sold to criminals who can then assemble the guns for their criminal use. The question then arises, is it the ethical responsibility of gun manufacturers, dealers, and companies to close up gaps and offer tight regulations who they sell gun parts to and what type of parts they sell without infringing constitutional right and a basic freedom given to all citizens? Though it may not be constitutional to bar the production and importation of assault weapons, it is not ethical for gun manufacturers and companies to evade the law and undermine the government by making assault weapons easily acc essible, and making any gun available to a convicted criminal. The common argument that â€Å"Guns don’t kill, people do† does not apply to the utilitarian test. The correct principle is how much (dis)utility arises from selling the guns, irrespective of who shoots them. A gun manufacturer has to consider the negative utility created by those who use its guns. Nonetheless, the equally general argument that â€Å"If I don’t do it, someone else will† applies for the utilitarian test. If other producers would pick up the limp as a result of one’s decision not to sell assault weapons, leading to the similar total sales, then there is no obvious utilitarian argument for selling or against selling the firearms. On the contrary, the positive utility can be created (recreation, hunting, and self-defense) by selling guns that are not dangerous has less negative expected utility. As far as â€Å"categorical imperative† is concerned, Freeman argues that any ethical decision must be assessed

Analysis Of The Porter Forces Theories Commerce Essay

Analysis Of The Porter Forces Theories Commerce Essay Porter 5 forces analysis is a business strategy development to determine competitive intensity and attractiveness of market. Porter 5 forces deals with external factors which influence the nature of competition. It is helpful to understand an organizations strength and weaknesses. Besides, it also assists to understand the current competitive position as well as to cope with competition. It consists of suppliers, customers, new entry, substitute and rivalry. Threat of substitute Analyzed that Porter theory was helping FedEx to take fair advantage of its strength as well as avoid wrong steps. Instance of case study, FedEx (1973) provided overnight products delivery and next-day delivery, it to avoid threat of substitute of post which take longer time between normal delivery. This service could satisfy customers who are time-sensitive. Besides, FedEx also used airborne delivery to replace the marine shipping in early years. Thus, FedEx updated their facilities to match todays environment. Bargaining power of suppliers In FedEx, packaging equipment suppliers and oil suppliers also have strong bargaining power because FedEx have to rely on them to package all the products for delivery services or in case of improvement of fuel prices. In case study, FedEx planned to reduce the bargaining power of suppliers, thus its invested heavily in IT development and in year 1984, PowerShip systems provided label printing, online package pick up requests, package tracking and others. It helped FedEx to save costs and to be independent on its operation. 1 Rivalry In the year 1979, FedEx used COSMOS system to manage vehicle, people, and others. This system helped FedEx to process the data on package movement to a central database. FedExs PowerShip programme also aimed to improve their operation efficiency and monitor the process. FedEx practice is to cope with rivals to decrease the high strategic stakes, high existing barriers, high fixed costs and others. FedEx is able to become the strongest in this logistic field and make more profits. *Kindly refer appendix 1 2 The Porters value chain is described as interrelationship of the value activities for the firm (Remenyi, D Remenyi, B, 2009). The value activities help to classify the operation into two categories which is technological and economical, thus the operation can be performed well. All the products and services have to pass through all the value chain activities and are evaluated by each activity. In addition, it could increase the organizations effectiveness and efficiency. Primary activities One of aspects of FedExs value chain activities is operation through 24 hours and is called Global Operations Command Centre. It was able to provide efficient gathering and spread of real-time data. According to case study, FedEx decided to restructure its internet IT infrastructure under Project GRID in year 1998. The network computers linked over a Global Internal Protocal network aimed to enhance the quality and quantity of FedExs services. This will bring FedExs operation into good control and ensure that a coherent set of actions are implemented which are consistent. Support activities FedExs value chain analysis also focused on technology development. Under Smiths leadership, the company had set a few records with breakthrough technology. Based to case study, FedEx invested heavily on IT development and promoted the globalization of commerce to generate operation efficiencies, reduce costs and improve the services. *Kindly refer appendix 2 (509 words) 3 Question 1.b FedExs success in logistic field is having strong core competencies and capabilities. The core competencies and capabilities include leadership, innovation and technologies, services, facilities and others. FedEx Corporation is having advanced technologies, which is COSMOS (Customer Oriented Services and Management Operating System). Its a global shipment tracking network based on a centralized computer system to manage vehicles, routes and weather scenarios on a real-time basis (Wit, BD Meyer, R, 2004,p.650). The advanced technology assists FedEx to improve their efficiency (speed, packaging, process, time). For example, FedEx used advanced technology system to help National Semiconductor Corp to have control over the goods sent out in shorter duration, save cost and achieve customers satisfaction. In FedEx, facilities are part of the tools to attract customers, and its aim to success. FedEx corporate served nearly 210 countries around the world; manage over 10 million square feet of warehouse space worldwide, 648 aircraft and more than 60,000 vehicles, with a staff of nearly 200,000 (Wit, BD Meyer, R, 2004, p.649). FedEx has good facilities in their operations and it is able to deliver the products to wherever the customers require and with the less time and cost. So, other competitors (GD express, Nationwide Express) didnt have ability to replace or influence FedEx market, because GD express has less facilities to compare with FedEx Corporation. *Kindly refer to appendix 3. 4 FedEx has strong leadership skills and provide proper guidance to lead the employees to be smart. Good leadership skills include good planning, good thinking and good management, good teaching and correct investment. Based on case study, Fred Smith is the chairman of FedEx Corporate. It comes out with a good plan to shorten the duration of order cycle and improve cash flow. According to Jones, PB, leadership development is helpful in an organization because it may assist the organization to limit employee turnover, increase productivity, and provide better vision to obtain great performance in the organization. FedEx Corporate focused in services area, and provides excellent quality of services to the customers. The excellent services are operating business 24 hours via internet, high speed and reliability of delivery system and responsibility. Besides, FedEx provides overnight delivery service and optional services of delivery through aircraft, ship, and truck; its quite flexible to the customers who make decision. According to case study, FedEx provide value added service which is pick up documents from customers homes and has document safety hand-held scanner. For example, the staff use hand-held scanner to make sure whether, the document is legal or illegal, and will pick it up as an order with the purpose to protect public safety. (394 words) 5 Question 1.C International trade is defined as trade between two or more countries with exchange of goods and services, that is, exports and imports. No matter which country is, the importance is to find something that can be produced cheaper than other countries (http://www.wordiq.com/definition/International_trade). One of the benefits of FedEx in international trade is enjoy economies of scale (http://www.myownbusiness.org/s13/#4). Exporting product is an excellent ways to enjoy pure economics of scale. It will increase the quantity of production and decrease the average cost of product. According to case study, FedEx operates other centers in Colorado Springs, Orlando, Singapore and Brussels to enjoy lower cost of employees and material. Next benefit for FedEx in international trade is reducing dependency on existing market, because existing market will be limited on sales and opportunity. So, FedEx going globalization might be getting more new markets and opportunity. Besides, it is less affected by fluctuations in the home countrys marketplace and economy, because their business which is spread out overseas does not fully rely on domestic market. For example, FedEx aimed to achieve business-to-consumer (B2C) electronic commerce market in the world, and reduce dependency of business-to-business (B2B) market. Another benefit is being able to be leader of logistic corporate and gain the global market share, able to control the entire market share, have power to give any suggestion and gain good reputation everywhere. FedEx in year 1998 was leader in global logistic field, and it offered the delivery services to 211 countries that comprised 90% of the worlds GDP (Wit, BD Meyer, R, 2004, p.649). 6 The disadvantage of international trade for FedEx is different culture and language, high risk, government barriers (tariffs, quotas, and embargos), it brings a lot of difficulty to FedEx to operate business. (http://www.rajputbrotherhood.com/knowledge-hub/business-studies/what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-foreign-trade.html ). One of the disadvantages of FedEx in international trade is high risk, because of large investment capital in system, services, transportations and marketplace. Besides, it will bring high risk to FedEx during operation; it may lose in the first few years. For example, FedEx investments at overnight delivery system with excellent packages, but because of high invest and make losses in the first three years of operation. Disadvantage of FedEx in international trade is hosts country government policy (tariffs, quotas, and embargos). Besides, FedEx will get less profit and cannot smoothly expand their business. For example, Malaysian government will impose high tax to foreign organization during the trading; government aim is to protect domestic organization. (http://www.mida.gov.my/en_v2/index.php?page=taxation-2) The disadvantage of FedEx in international trade is facing different culture and language during the transaction. Even though, FedEx website has provided many different languages for customers to choose. But, during verbal communication its no helpful, because employees disable communication with customer. So, it will affect the organization profit and sales. For example, Japan is used own language Japanese-language. (453 words) 7 Question 2 Question 2.a Strategy Development In FedEx Corporate, strategic development helps to establish the right structure to achieve their objectives. It assists FedEx to determine the condition and position as well and use the correct steps that decide with visionary and conceptual. Strategy development and planning is upgrading the organization with intention to increase the potential of organization. One of the strategy development used by FedEx is Whittingtons perspective. Classical perspective Classical perspective is one of the strategies that classified into Whittingtons perspective. It is used at the beginning of the operation and will more secure and helpful to stabilize the future operations. In the process strategy management for classical perspective is conceived as deliberate, predetermined, planned, programmed movement from now to the future. Assuming an organization without any deliberate plan for each operation, it will have huge amount of losses for the company. It had shown the importance why an organization have to use this strategy as due to the security to the company and is helpful to save cost and time. FedEx Corporate used deliberation as a strategy because it helps to save costs and time from any wrong steps. Deliberation all plans and go through all the relevant survey, it make the corporate confident and more secure to make any decision. Based on case study, Smith was acquired to improve their transportation fleet to avoid any control by third parties, while not like other competitors to sub-contracting to third parties. 8 Evolutionary Perspective In the evolutionary perspective, an organization might become victim or banned by the market when it is over dependent on its environment. Why is this strategy important to an organization? The reason is it includes emergent, flexible, adaptation and evolution. Commonly discussed, an organization surely has to be aware of any unexpected issue, and randomize to cope with the issue or adapt it and evolve for it. An emergent strategy is the process of becoming apparent. Simultaneously, it is a pattern of action that develops over time in an organization in the absence of a specific mission and goals. (http://planningskills.com/glossary/154.php) Where there are no plans, but their behavior is still strategy. In this strategy, it is to develop a manager with no prior intention and experiences, to expose him/her to learn and piece together a consistent set of behaviors over time (Wit, BD, Meyer, R, 2004, p.113). For example, FedEx could not predict the unexpected, but shall retain enough mental freedom to cope with this as they emerge. In the case study, FedEx invested heavily on technologies development and introduced electronic data interchange (EDI) and built relationship between one-to-one with their customers. Thus, it resulted in efficiency and it is a perfect circumstance to match supply to demand without wastage. (429 words) 9 2.2 Question 2.b FedEx used these perspectives to succeed in its operations in the international market and both are helpful in efficiency and controlling the operation. Classical perspective helps FedEx to plan on the operation and operate as well as save on costs and time. Without objectives and plans, an organization would be adrift. Plans are the programming all organizational activities in advance. Classical perspective was helpful in FedEx to operate the logistic services. Evolutionary perspective is an important strategy to FedEx too. With this strategy, FedEx has solved and coped with all unexpected issues. In emergent strategy, it consists of opportunism which copes with unpredictable issues, flexibility, learn by experimentation and others. It makes sense to FedEx to operate successfully in its logistic field. Evolutionary perspective is the best choice that is preferable for FedEx. It provided significant contribution in increasing efficiency during process and operation. Evolutionary perspective was selected as best performance for survival in other markets, especially managerial labor markets, markets for capital and corporate control (Whittington R, 2001, p.16). FedEx is able to maximize the operational areas in a short period with perfect performance against their environment. Besides, this perspective does not rely on managements ability, but expect markets to secure profit maximization for the organization. It does not necessarily utilize planning methods, it rather argues to do best perform for the organizations to survive. Managers need not be rational optimizers because evolution is natures cost-benefit analyses. For Business to Consumer (B2C) areas, FedEx should do survey on customers needs and come out with a plan of promotions to match their needs and satisfy them as well. For example, FedEx also needs to match with todays event such as FIFA World Cup event, therefore, FedEx may create an attraction for those consumers who purchase FedEx delivery services more than three times and above within a week, they are provided lucky draws of free flights to South Africa to enjoy the live FIFA World Cup final show. Thus, an organization survival in a competitive environment depends on strategies of differentiation. (335 words) 10 Question 3 Processual perspective is one of the strategic management which pays attentions to. It defined as characterized by pluralism with means concerning more than one, as well as it not unitary and viewpoint are disagreeing constantly. Processual perspective is a strategy as result of process in political activity for concerned between manager and stakeholder. In Ralph Staceys integrated model, seems the issues of the connection among change context and decision making modes. Besides, it is an implication for strategic management with four loops as following: Rational loop Overt politics loop Culture and cognition loop Covert policies loop * Kindly refer to appendix 4, 5, 6 7 The rational loop According to strategic management, UOS (2004, p.157) stated Ralph Staceys integrated model, the rational loop is a classical starting point of the strategy management. It has to be unitary and everything has to be supported by strong evidence and logical argument. So, every transaction and process is fixed by organization. The processes are strictly based on discover-choose-act, an organization has to discover its position with environment and make choice for necessity, thus, act with to the final requirements. Thus, processual perspective is a strategy that influences the decision making of rational loop but there is shown low. Because every transaction and process are fixed and its needs logical argument to support with strong evidence. So, everyone could not process any transaction without the rules and regulation which are set by the organization. Even top management would not get special offers to enter the transaction. 11 For example, in the Penang Swimming Clubs rules of 40 (c), a member has to settle his/her account within 14 days from the defaulter period. If the account still remains in the unpaid status, membership will be ceased. Even the President is bound by the rules. After cessation, he has to pay RM1000.00 as deposit to reinstate his account to active status. There are no any discounts for committee or even the President of the Club. All the procedures are set by clubs rules, and all members have to follow it strictly with no short-cut procedures. * Kindly refer to appendix 8 The overt politics loop Based on strategic management, UOS (2004, p.157) stated this loop shows reality and overt to the organization resources as well. Nevertheless, the resources in an organization might be limited and possibly inadequate. Therefore, the implementation option in stage of choice, which courses of action, possibly can threaten and subvert the organizations current environment. Besides, some will use their power to bargain with each other to get the resources in the organization to achieve their goals. Processual perspective is acceptable in overt politics loop because there is limit and scarcity of resources. It could give rise to conflicts and make environments challenging each other. So, each department will come to challenge the decision making of the organization with a purpose to obtain the resources prefer to. They could to use different methods to get the resources from the organization, however, use their power to obtain from the organization. For example, in Sime Darby Corporation, those facing financial instability and limitation of capital because of economic crisis in year 2008, each departments proposal to obtain the limited resources, could make the organization get into confusion of decision. Processual perspective is helpful in this situation and to assess every proposal with requirements in details. It makes a difference to an organization to decide where the resources are supposed to go and might make a loss if there are any wrong decisions, due to limited resources. 12 The culture and cognition loop In culture and cognition loop, its to sustain unitary organization in its shared mental of model. As long as everyone is having same organizations thinking and culture, it will bring the organization to be peace and stable. In culture and cognition loop, its depends on the organizations employee culture whether is unitary of non-unitary. Once the organizations employees thinking are not unitary, the processual perspective will shown high, with occur issues or conflict between each other during meeting or propose the ideas to the management. So, processual perspective is acceptable to reduce the conflicts and analyze the problems, thus management able to solve it with better ways. In this loop, the organization needs to provide relevant training and development courses to help the employees become more cooperation attitude and have similar thinking and knowledge as well. Because, when the employees are having equal knowledge for their performance tasks, it will be unitary in their ideas and conflicts will be reducing naturally. Covert Politics loop Based on strategic management, UOS (2004, p 160) stated this section is regarding the psychology of an individual who respond to contradiction and conflict. Obviously, majority of individuals are afraid to something new as they feel threatened to go out of their current environment and situations. Some people fear failure and challenges. Even refuse the new reality once they have lost their confidence for it. 13 Assume as an example in the tailoring industry, the manager planned to replace the entire old machines with new and high technology machines. Some new staff feels good to learn new things, but some old staff would disagree with this because they fear the challenge of new technology. Thus, management could apply processual perspective to estimate and evaluate the issues of the disputation. With processual perspective, it has shown there is high of processual perspective because it had influenced management to manage the old staff with these new machines. Finally, management made the final decision that they should have leader who is able to cope with challenges and is willing to learn. This leader has to guide all staff, especially old staff to train with new machines. Therefore, a leader is must be able to reduce their anxiety and lead to pluralism in an organization. (904 words) 14 LIST OF REFERENCING Electronic Publications Anon, 2007, Emergent Strategy, viewed 29 June 2010 Anon, 2008, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, viewed 29 June 2009 . Anon, 2009, Porters Five Forces Model, viewed 18 June 2010 Anon, no date, International Trade-Definition, viewed 20 June 2010 . Anon, no date, My Own Business: Advantage and Disadvantage of International Trade, viewed 21 June2010 . Anon, no date, Planning Skills, viewed 24 June 2010 . Anon, no date, GDEX, viewed 24 June 2010 Jones, PB 2008, Five Benefits of Leadership Development For Your Organization, viewed 27 June 2010, Morrison, D, no date, Product Management and Value Chain Analysis, viewed 19 June 2010 Palekar, A no date, Rajput Brotherhood, viewed 27 June 2010 . 15 Book Penang Swimming Club, 2007, Penang Swimming Club Rules, Georgetown Penang, Malaysia. Strategic Management (2004), 2nd version. The University of Sunderland Whittington, R, 2001, What is Strategy- and does it matter?, 2nd edition, Thomas Rennie, London. Wit, BD, Meyer, R. 2004. Strategy: Process, Content, Context. 3rd ed. West Publishing Company. E-book Remenyi, D Remenyi, B. (2009) How TO Prepare Business Cases. [e-book]. Elsevier Ltd, Burlington USA. Available from: http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falsepg=PT119HYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falsedq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelHYPERLIN K http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falsehl=enHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf= falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falsesa=XHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseoi=book_resultHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf =falsect=resultHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseresnum=8HYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ve d=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseqHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falseHYPERLINK http://books.google.com.my/books?id=9rH_SZ6NJsgCpg=PT119dq=michael+porter+5+forces+modelhl=enei=vPcrTKXDAY-TkAXC1eWYCwsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=8ved=0CEoQ6AEwBw#v=onepageqf=falsef=false [Accessed 14 June 2010]. 16 Appendix 1 Porter 5 Forces analysis Sources : http://notesdesk.com/notes/strategy/porters-five-forces-model-porters-model/ 17 Appendix 2 Porters Value Chain Sources : http://allaboutproductmanagement.blogspot.com/2007/04/michael-porters-value-chain-analysis-is.html 18 Appendix 3 Competitor of FedEx Corporation GD Express Sdn Bhd (GDex) was formed in 1997 to provide express delivery service for both the domestic and international markets. It operates a network of 96 stations, comprising 53 branches, 2 affiliate stations and 41 agents throughout East and West Malaysia. GDex has a fleet of more than 280 trucks and vans used primarily for hauling of documents and parcels between stations and the National Hub (termed line-haul fleet) for local pick-ups and deliveries. The companys express delivery service operations are structured along the principles of the Hub and Spoke concept whereby customers packages are collected by the branches, sent by trucks to a Central Clearing Hub for sorting and then redirected to their ultimate destinations. The group currently employs more than 1300 staff. GDex is the first local express delivery company to obtain ISO 9001: 2000 (Quality Management System) certification for all its entire 25 departments in 2003. In November 2009, GDex upgraded its (Quality Management System) to ISO 9001: 2008. In its quest to be a world class service provider, the company has embarked on a world class excellence training programme called the Prime Minister Quality Award programme (PMQA) to equip its employees for world class performance in express carrier service and operations. GDex is listed on the Mesdaq market of Bursa Malaysia through its holding company GD Express Carrier Bhd in May 2005. Sources: http://www.gdexpress.com/history.php 19 Appendix 4 Rational Loop Sources : Strategic Management (2004), 2nd version. The University of Sunderland 20 Appendix 5 Overt Politics Loop Sources : Strategic Management (2004), 2nd version. The University of Sunderland 21 Appendix 6 Culture Cognition Loop Sources : Strategic Management (2004), 2nd version. The University of Sunderland 22 Appendix 7 Cover Politics Loop Sources : Strategic Management (2004), 2nd version. The University of Sunderland 23

Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich :: Selling in Minnesota

The chapter, Selling in Minnesota, had some disturbing information about the low wage life. As I read, I learned that every place the author went to apply, such as a Wal-Mart and a Home Depot type place called Menards, required the applicant to pass a drug test. The author went out and had to buy detox for $30, but can be up to $60. Also, I learn that 81% of employers do drug test their future employees. I don’t like this statistic, in part because I tried getting a job at Marshall Field’s restaurant and they required me to pass a drug test. Luckily, another employer called me before my scheduled drug screening (which I had planned on passing by being really sneaky and using the urine of a friend of mine), so I took that job offer and everything worked out well. The reason I don’t agree with the drug testing required to access most entry-level jobs, is because the only drugs they actually test for is Marijuana. Cocaine and heroine leave the body within three days, and other drugs aren’t even tested for. So that leaves the most commonly used illicit drug, and one that has the least affect on the user, to be tested for.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When the author first moved to Minnesota, she lived in a friend of a friend’s apartment until she could find another apartment. The friend is out of town and required that the author takes care of her canary in order for her to stay there. The bird, which the author comes to call Budgie, is really annoying and has to be let out of its cage a few times or otherwise it will go crazy in the cage. The author looks extremely had to find an apartment to stay at. Apparently, there is only a less than 1% apartment vacancy in Minnesota. Also, the only apartments that are available are defiantly not accessible to entry-level employees, offering hot tubs and over $1000 a month payments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the places that the author tried to get a job at required that the employee had lived in Minnesota for at least one year.

Historically speaking Essay

Globalization is one of the most recent phenomenons ever to strike humanity upon its entrance to the 21st century. Historically speaking, globalization itself has been around for decades long before it was conceived as a field of study of international trade. Some economists and historians contend that the concepts of globalization have been prevalent even during time when the Silk Road started in China up to the Roman Empire. Some, however, argue that globalization began during the 19th century; when the prevalence of the Industrial Age was at its fastest and that trade between Europe, their colonies and the Americas were growing steadily. Major advances in technology, especially during the 20th century, eventually led countries to lower trading costs; hence, highlighting the inevitability of the expansion of trade within the International Community. Still, globalization, as a term, was never used by economists; at least not until the early 1980’s. Furthermore, all its concepts and ideas were never really fully understood by the academic community until the early 1990’s. Fortunately, after seven years into the 21st century, much of the world is already aware of its contexts and aspects – from outsourcing to currency trading via wireless applications. Still, despite our knowledge of globalization, we cannot deny the fact that we know less about its implications for the future. Globalization, as a field of study, is a volatile subject that, even with the assistance of factual data and information, is almost ultimately unpredictable. Despite the existence of a myriad of books, journals and articles pertaining to the topic of Globalization, we cannot deny that we have yet to fully understand its future trends. Indeed, a major advancement brought by sophisticated technology can ultimately change, once again, the face of the International Community; thus, affecting international trade and ultimately affecting the â€Å"globalization† of the world. On a further note, third world countries that would eventually become first world countries in the future may end up shifting the international balance of trade and commerce for first world countries. As such, it is very tempting to imagine what the International Community would be like if, for some infinitesimal chance, the African Continent booms like Asia. If such an event occurs, will globalization be the cause for it? Alternatively, will globalization even allow such an event to occur? People who are against the advancements of globalization argue that globalization only benefits the rich north and detriments the poor south. This is evident from the fact that countries in the northern hemisphere tend to play in a neo-imperialist fashion among the countries in the southern hemisphere. Anti-globalization movements insist that the prevalence of globalization only means the prevalence of multinational corporations (MNC’s). They contend that these corporations, while providing employment for the local population, only encourage more poverty in the country. Multinational corporations, upon entering a country, immediately eliminates local competitors; thus, destroying the balance of power between local and foreign. As such, the country becomes subject to the influence of foreign countries that originally holds these multinational corporations. This automatically becomes a sort of leverage for foreign countries (which are, most of the time, rich countries coming from the north) against the country holding their MNC’s. On the other hand, people that are for the advancements of globalization argues that free trade – the main tool of globalization – encourages more growth for developing economies compared to protectionism. Primarily, globalization allows several countries access to several goods and services that they could never produce or emulate from other countries. Furthermore, they contend that globalization encourages competition among local and foreign businesses. Though unfair at times, supporters of globalization claim that encouraging competition allows small businesses to grow, to become more efficient and to become more versatile. The arguments of both sides are truly credible. Indeed, globalization, as a concept, is considered by many as a double-edged sword – though benefiting the user, it can, if careless enough, harm him/her as well. Globalization has many facets. As such, it has many implications – some we are aware of and some aren’t. But according to one scholar, Thomas Friedman, globalization has one important implication that has been very prevalent over the past couple of years but has only recently gained attention. In 2005, Thomas Friedman – a columnist of Foreign Affairs and the New York Times – published a book entitled The World is Flat. According to Mr. Friedman, the world is becoming smaller and that the competition between countries in different parts of the world is becoming or â€Å"being leveled†. One example that he noted was that the economies of India and China, two emerging economic superpowers in the eastern hemisphere, are now becoming so becoming so advanced that they can now compete with the economic powerhouses of the west. He further claimed that, ironically, much of the west, most especially the Americans, weren’t ready for such events unfolding. Indeed, the unexpected booms of India and China have made the Asian continent an attractive place for foreign investment. Another important point is that both countries’ huge populations have played a vital role in the labor market – both in manual labor (i. e. manufacturing) and professional labor (i. e. information technology). Not only do these two countries outshine the United States in terms of cheap labor, but they also outdo the American population in terms of efficiency and productivity. Simply said, employers are getting the same level of productivity and efficiency from both Chinese and Indian workers, but at a lower cost. This, according to scholars, has proved very detrimental to Americans. Not only does this threaten the employment of future American workers, but it also threatens the economy of the United States on the long run. As such, how can one defend himself from such negative advancements to one’s own country? On a more general level, how can the populace protect itself from such a deadly competition? As an American Citizen and as a soon-to-be professional entering the world of competitive employment, I can indeed come up with several answers to that question. First, as a country, the United States must make huge investments on education. Improving the workforce of the country is imperative if we are to face foreign competition. One important thing that we can put into consideration is the introduction of language classes in our academic system. Learning the language of foreign countries can surely make our general workforce a seemingly good investment for foreign companies. Yet another note is the introduction of new laws which will, in some way, discourage young students from dropping out of school. An example of these laws is the prohibition of issuing driver’s licenses to adolescents who have dropped out of school for no particular reason. By doing so, the general workforce of the country will remain efficient and highly educated. Despite the rapid growths of China and India, it cannot be denied that much of their population remains below the poverty line. As such, this problem becomes a drain on their economy (for the simple reason that the government has to continuously spend huge sums of money on anti-poverty programs and such). Ironically, this could play both a huge disadvantage and an advantage at the same time for the United States. For one, since people live in very poor conditions, corporations can take advantage of them by paying them low salaries; which, for the population, could seem very high. On the other hand, the good living conditions of the American population can imply the demand for high-paying jobs; which, of course, corporations would not prefer. Alternatively, this could also serve as an advantage for the United States since the American workforce – compared to the cheap yet impoverished populace of India and China – are more efficient and educated; thus, implying more productivity and growth for the corporation. Education is one thing. But as a person who’s about to enter into the competitive world of employment, how can I prepare myself against the competitive nature of foreign workers that will most likely ensue?