Whistleblowers Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Whistleblowers - Assignment Example The cap of $1.6 million in terms of compensation for whistle blowing is not sufficient enough to encourage individuals to come forward and give evidence for wrongdoing within organizations. By increasing the rewards for blowing to at least 30% of the recovered sums therefore, congress will make it more possible for the Department of Justice to collect quality evidence that will enable completion of cases involving complex financial crimes. This is because as a whistleblower, one job, life and family future is at stake hence with sufficient compensation, the benefits of reporting will exceed those of keeping quite. In the end more people witnessing corporate crimes in organizations will be able to come out and speak or provide the details of the crimes hence reduce misconduct in organizations. An environment of mistrust is inevitable with whistle blowing and this may affect the flow of work. This is because one has to really check whether to share information with other members of staff and due to the fear and immense suspicion brought about corporation may be affected. Generally whistle blowing requires a lot of courage and self confidence and as such many people coming from low income backgrounds are deterred from reporting for some reason. Sometimes also individuals who blow the whistle on significant unlawful activities are some extend subjected to some of harassment and mistreatment and this significantly affects the practice considering that the individuals’ is at stake. As such therefore encouraging whistle blowing may breed distrust among employees with significant impact on the flow of work. But this will be necessary for the overall benefits of the economy and therefore the practice must be encouraged. In fact increasing the incentives will make it possib le for more people to confidently report crime as their own and their families’ welfare will be guaranteed of protection. Furthermore, it will enable sharing

Essay on Project Governance Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

On Project Governance - Essay Example Uncoordinated project governance can result to financial loss, delayed completion and collapse of an entire project. Consequently, the project implementers uptake thorough planning and organization of customized ERP system (Abdallah & Albadri 2011). An ERP is a deliberate organizational tool that guides a firm’s vision. ERP systems combine internal information related to finance, management and production. At Microsoft ERP facilitates the exchange of information in business functions. Background Information ERP is an integrated system for small organizations designed to promote excellent practices in business. ERP software’s have varied applications based on the technical aptitude and the definite needs. Each section centers on a definite area such as distribution, marketing, inventory control or HR management. Additionally, ERP is fully integrated to supervise progress and inform business intelligence (Dinsmore & Rocha, 2012). The ERP guides in the decision making of a n organization by guiding project governance. Thus, a well-coordinated ERP system is vital to successful project governance. It provides the most efficient way to conduct business processes. For that reason, systems vary in utility and convenience. Literature Review ERP systems are central business transformers rather than mere IT systems. They align with organizational goals to better provision of services and promote efficiency (Remenyi, 2005). Hence, an ERP has the aptitude to transform project government and may shift the focus of core activities. According to Muller (2009), the need to achieve operational efficiency through consistent implementation emphasizes on the need to form mergers and networks to promote interdependence in the unpredictable market. This heightens the need to establish architectural project governance that promotes growth. Nikookar et al. (2010) asserts that ERP is of competitive advantage to firms globally. It is a dynamic force for inspiring the course of globalization. Resultantly, firms are adopting ERP to guide in better administration and production. Therefore, organizations aspiring to attain standard levels need to invest in efficient ERP systems. This generates a competitive growth oriented atmosphere because it is easier to monitor minor changes. Successful attainment of efficiency is a continuous process that has become the prime credibility measure to modern enterprises (Konsynski & Tiwana, 2004). Companies that successfully adapt with the ERP systems save on time previously spent on documentation, training, and accounting. Therefore, long-term feasibility benefits firm that adapt to the consumer’s preferences. Development stage Microsoft is an organization that develops fully customized ERP systems (Shankar & Bellefroid, 2011). The senior manager and the executive usually guide other stakeholders in coming up with the ERP software’s. Executives at Microsoft engage in the planning and implementation of the system. Primarily, before developing the systems, management conducts research to find the needs of the

Anti-tuberculosis Drug-induced Liver Injury (ATLI) Effects

Anti-tuberculosis Drug-induced Liver Injury (ATLI) Effects Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) is world’s deadliest communicable disease, with 9 million incident cases and 1.5 million deaths globally in 2013. Most of the cases of TB were reported from Asian (56%), and African (29%) continents. In Saudi Arabia the annual incidence rate of TB ranged between 14 and 17/100,000. Two provinces, Makkah and Jazan showed the highest incidence around 20/100,000 over the last one decade. Jazan region showed more than double the incidence rate of TB compared to rest of the Southern province. Jazan share border with Yemen, and receives many illegal immigrants. Studies showed that non-Saudi Arabians had 2-3 times higher incidence of TB than Saudi national. The large number of Non-Saudis came from countries with high incidence of TB such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, Chad, Nigeria and other African countries. The active TB patients can be treated safely and effectively through the directly-observed therapy strategy (DOTS). DOTS is a short course of standard anti-TB treatment which consist of taking drug combinations of Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol and Streptomycin for 6–9 months. The drug isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide have the potential to induce liver damage.This anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI) ranges from mild to severe forms, and can even be fatal. The incidence of ATLI during standard anti-TB treatment range from 2.0% to 28.0% according to different populations. Moreover, ATLI reduce the efficacy of anti-TB treatment, as they may cause treatment failure, relapse and drug-resistance which could significantly reduce the effects of TB control. To the best of our knowledge, there is no known published data on the incidence of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI) and risk factors from Saudi population. Identification of patients at increased risk for ATLI is important because hepatotoxicity causes significant morbidity and mort ality and may require modification of the therapeutic regimen. The aim of this study will to estimate the incidence of ATLI and the risk factors associated with anti-TB treatment. The findings of this study will allow us to enhance TB treatment, monitoring and control of the TB in KSA. Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) is world’s deadliest communicable disease, with 9 million incident cases and 1.5 million deaths globally in 2013 [1]. Most of the cases of TB were reported from Asian (56%), and African (29%) continents [1]. In Saudi Arabia the annual incidence rate of TB ranged between 14 and 17/100,000 [2]. Two provinces, Makkah and Jazan showed the highest incidence around 20/100,000 over the last one decade [2]. Jazan region showed more than double the incidence rate of TB compared to rest of the Southern province. Jazan share border with Yemen, and receives many illegal immigrants. Studies showed that non-Saudi Arabians had 2-3 times higher incidence of TB than Saudi national. [3]. The large number of Non-Saudis came from countries with high incidence of TB such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia, Chad, Nigeria and other African countries. Patients with active TB disease can be treated safely and effectively through the directly-observed therapy strategy (DOTS) which started in 2000. DOTS is a short course of standard anti-TB treatment which consist of taking drug combinations of Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol and Streptomycin for 6–9 months [4]. These drugs effectively kills the bacteria but it induced hepatotoxicity known as anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI) [5.tostmann 2008]. The ATLI ranges from mild to severe forms, and can even be fatal. The incidence of ATLI during standard anti-TB treatment range from 2.0% to 28.0% according to different populations. [5,6]. The incidence is higher in the developing countries (8% to 39%), compared to developed countries (3%–4%) (7-11). Moreover, ATLI reduce the efficacy of anti-TB treatment, as they may cause treatment failure, relapse and drug-resistance which could significantly reduce the effects of TB control. [5,6]. Many risk factors have been implicated for ATLI. These include older age, female gender, poor nutritional status, pre-existing liver disease, high alcohol intake, hepatitis B, malnutrition, hypoalbuminaemia and advanced TB (12-16). Inappropriate use of drugs, acetylator status, and recently, immunogenetic factor, have also been implicated (17,18). Infections with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have also been said to increase the risk (19). It is very important to understand the risk factors of ATLI, in order to detect the adverse events earlier and deliver timely intervention. The identification of high-risk patients would be useful to allow early detection of hepatotoxicity and reduce the morbidity and mortality of this condition. Hence we plan this study to identify the risk factors associated with anti-tuberculosis drug induced liver injury in patients who receive anti-TB treatment. To the best of our knowledge, there is no known published data on the incidence of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI) and risk factors from Saudi population. The aim of this study will to estimate the incidence of ATLI and the risk factors associated with anti-TB treatment. The findings of this study will allow us to enhance TB treatment, monitoring and control of the TB in KSA. 2. PROJECT OBJECTIVES This study aimed to estimate the incidence and risk factors of anti-tuberculosis Drug Induced Liver Injury (ATLI) in patient receiving anti-TB treatment in Jazan population. 1. To estimate the incidence of abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) in patient receiving anti-TB treatment. 2. To identify the risk factors associated with anti-tuberculosis Drug Induced Liver Injury (ATLI) in patient receiving anti-TB treatment. Review of Literature Incidence The first line drugs used to treat TB were isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), pyrazinamide (PZY) and ethambutol (EMB). Most of the TB patients tolerate the drugs but some develop hepatotoxicity known as anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATLI). [Forget 2006].The ATLI ranges from mild to severe forms, and can even be fatal. Data from the literature shows that the incidence of ATLI is 3.0% in Canada (Asia population accounted for 42%)[Yee 2003], China 2.5% [Shang 2011], 5.0% in Hong Kong[ Chang 2008], 5.3% in Singapore[teleman 2002], 16.1% in Taiwan [Huang 2003], 9.7% in Malaysia [Marzuki 2008],36% in Japan [Ellard 1978], 8-36 per cent in India [Parthasarthy 1986, Mehta 1990], 13% Iran [Baghaei]. The risk of developing ATLI was fivefold for hepatitis C patients, fourfold for HIV positive patients, and 14 fold for patients co-infected with hepatitis C and HIV [Ungo 1998]. The incidence is higher in the developing countries (8% to 39%), compared to developed countries (3%–4%) (7-11). Moreover, ATLI reduce the efficacy of anti-TB treatment, as they may cause treatment failure, relapse and drug-resistance which could significantly reduce the effects of TB control. [5,6]. Definition of ATLI The criteria for the diagnosis of ATLI in the absence of symptoms is elevation of transaminases up to 5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and in the presence of symptoms up to three times the ULN or twice the ULN of bilirubin in the blood [Saukkonen 2006]. Mechanism of toxicity Among Isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol, the first three drugs have the potential for hepatotoxicity with pyrazinamide (PZA) being the most hepatotoxic followed by isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin.[Yee]Rifampicin combined with PZA is more hepatotoxic than with INH.[ Jasmer 2002]Pyrazinamide contributes significantly to acute liver failure [ Durand 1995].The most important adverse effects of isoniazid are hepatic toxicity and potentially fatal drug-induced hepatitis[Nolan 1999], especially when associated with rifampicin. The frequency of occurrence of isoniazid-associated hepatitis depends on age. Other factors linked to a predisposition to isoniazid-associated hepatotoxicity include alcohol abuse, use of illegal drugs and a previous history of liver disease. Clinical features ATLI usually take place in the first 2 months of treatment but it may happen at any time during the treatment period. Clinical and biochemical features of ATLI are difficult to differentiate form viral hepatitis [Mitchell 1976]. The signs and symptoms of ATLI are jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and Weakness. Risk factors for ATLI Many risk factors have been implicated for ATLI. These include older age, female gender, poor nutritional status, pre-existing liver disease, high alcohol intake, hepatitis B, malnutrition, hypoalbuminaemia and advanced TB (12-16). Inappropriate use of drugs, acetylator status, and recently, immunogenetic factor, have also been implicated (17,18). Infections with hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have also been said to increase the risk (19).

The Prince Essay -- essays research papers

â€Å"All the states, all the dominions, under whose authority men have lived in the past and live now have been and are either republics or principalities.† In Machiavelli’s, The Prince, timeless keys to a successful principality are examined. The keys are understanding human nature, respecting that nature, and reaffirming that successful leadership can exist in the same fashion yesterday, today, and tomorrow.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Machiavelli’s perspective of human nature is founded on the principle that people in general don’t want their culture changed by an outside influence. Machiavelli demonstrates in the book that the nature of people is to defend who they are. When â€Å"the prince† attempts to change their culture in any way the subjects will do any number of things to crush this attempt or even change the leadership. If a prince uses force to try to change people this will lead to hostility, because as Machiavellis says, â€Å"they remain, defeated, in their own homes.† This underlying fact will lead to a rebellion of some sort. One way this rebellion can happen is when a powerful foreigner invades the principality. The now â€Å"defeated† people will join this powerful foreigner, in hopes that their culture will now be respected, to dethrone the prince. When the prince tries to use force to control the people it only creates enemies. Machiavelli explains this aspect of human nature when he writes, â€Å"he harms the whole state by billeting his army in different parts of the country, everyone suffers from this annoyance, and everybody is turned into an enemy.† On the contrast if a prince allows the people to keep their customs Machiavelli states that the people will remain content when he writes, â€Å"For the rest, so long as their old ways of life are undisturbed and there is no divergence in customs, men live quietly.† Another natural tendency of people comes with freedom. Once they have had a taste of freedom, they virtually cannot live without it. This feeling of control over one’s life is a quality that once molded is nearly impossible to reshape. Machiavelli asserts this idea when he writes, â€Å"a city used to freedom can be more easily ruled through its own citizens...than in any other way.† The same tendency lies in the control that the prince gains over the people in the principality. Once the prince has control he finds that gi... ...ook† Mao used positive reenforcement to oil the gears of one of the worlds strongest super powers. Mao didn’t try to use force and change the culture in China rather he persuaded the people into having great national pride. This pride enabled Mao to control the people also build a strong military and defend his land. In China Mao did and still today, decades after his death, have a hand in every aspect of Chinese life. Both of these leaders project how timeless Machiavelli’s ideas truly are.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first rung of the ladder to a successful principality is the understanding of human nature. A nature that values consistency over forced change and an atmosphere of control over one’s self instead of someone blatently controlling another. Through this understanding of human nature can a prince hold his power. Once he holds this power the best way to keep it is by providing defense for the people whom he has power over. These ideas were present in the infamous reigns of Hitler and Mao. Machiavelli is correct there are either principalities or republics, and I have come to the conclusion I prefer the latter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Prince Essay -- essays research papers â€Å"All the states, all the dominions, under whose authority men have lived in the past and live now have been and are either republics or principalities.† In Machiavelli’s, The Prince, timeless keys to a successful principality are examined. The keys are understanding human nature, respecting that nature, and reaffirming that successful leadership can exist in the same fashion yesterday, today, and tomorrow.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Machiavelli’s perspective of human nature is founded on the principle that people in general don’t want their culture changed by an outside influence. Machiavelli demonstrates in the book that the nature of people is to defend who they are. When â€Å"the prince† attempts to change their culture in any way the subjects will do any number of things to crush this attempt or even change the leadership. If a prince uses force to try to change people this will lead to hostility, because as Machiavellis says, â€Å"they remain, defeated, in their own homes.† This underlying fact will lead to a rebellion of some sort. One way this rebellion can happen is when a powerful foreigner invades the principality. The now â€Å"defeated† people will join this powerful foreigner, in hopes that their culture will now be respected, to dethrone the prince. When the prince tries to use force to control the people it only creates enemies. Machiavelli explains this aspect of human nature when he writes, â€Å"he harms the whole state by billeting his army in different parts of the country, everyone suffers from this annoyance, and everybody is turned into an enemy.† On the contrast if a prince allows the people to keep their customs Machiavelli states that the people will remain content when he writes, â€Å"For the rest, so long as their old ways of life are undisturbed and there is no divergence in customs, men live quietly.† Another natural tendency of people comes with freedom. Once they have had a taste of freedom, they virtually cannot live without it. This feeling of control over one’s life is a quality that once molded is nearly impossible to reshape. Machiavelli asserts this idea when he writes, â€Å"a city used to freedom can be more easily ruled through its own citizens...than in any other way.† The same tendency lies in the control that the prince gains over the people in the principality. Once the prince has control he finds that gi... ...ook† Mao used positive reenforcement to oil the gears of one of the worlds strongest super powers. Mao didn’t try to use force and change the culture in China rather he persuaded the people into having great national pride. This pride enabled Mao to control the people also build a strong military and defend his land. In China Mao did and still today, decades after his death, have a hand in every aspect of Chinese life. Both of these leaders project how timeless Machiavelli’s ideas truly are.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first rung of the ladder to a successful principality is the understanding of human nature. A nature that values consistency over forced change and an atmosphere of control over one’s self instead of someone blatently controlling another. Through this understanding of human nature can a prince hold his power. Once he holds this power the best way to keep it is by providing defense for the people whom he has power over. These ideas were present in the infamous reigns of Hitler and Mao. Machiavelli is correct there are either principalities or republics, and I have come to the conclusion I prefer the latter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Speech Fast Food

McDunn Persuasive speech outline Eating Fast Food Introduction Relevance: You all have probably experienced fast food sometime throughout your life. Credibility: The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning fast food is greasy, oily, unhealthy garb, yet most of us consume junk food on a daily basis anyway. There are over 300,000 different fast food restaurants in the US. People frequent them because of convenience (quick and usually cheap). In such a fast-paced society, people are eating more fast food than ever before (Stefanov, Sebastien).Purpose: To persuade people not to eat fast food. Preview: I am now going to inform you about what fast food is, what a typical meal contains, why fast food is unhealthy. Body I. A. What is fast food? 1. Fast food is any food that is quick, convenient, and usually inexpensive (Fast Food Facts). a. Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. The term â€Å"fast food† refers to precooked foods such as fries or pizza that typically must be used within a few hours, or they become dried out and unpalatable (Ali, Sam). b.Fast food places like McDonalds, Burger King, Jack-in-the-box, Wendy’s, Whataburger, etc. , are all considered fast food restaurants. II. A. A typical meal and some facts 1. According to the â€Å"Nutritional Facts† that are posted on McDonald's web site, one Big Mac contains 540 calories and 29 grams of fat, which is 45 percent of the national recommended daily value based on a 2,000-calorie diet, according to McDonald's. One large order of fries contains 500 calories and 25 grams of fat, which is 38 percent of the recommended daily value. The 32-ounce Coca-Cola Classic adds another 310 calories (Ali, Sam). . Harvested potatoes contain about 80 percent water. What makes them into fries is when most of this water is removed and replaced with fat. Americans, on average, eat 30 pounds of these fat-enriched potatoes per year (Ali, Sam). b. The new KFC D ouble Down sandwich, which debuted in April, features two fried chicken filets in place of bread, two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel's Sauce. The Double Down contains 540 calories and 32 grams of fat. It also has 1,380 milligrams of sodium (1,430 milligrams grilled).That's approaching the American Heart Association's recommended daily limit for adults of 1,500 milligrams of sodium (Ali, Sam). 2. Facts about fast food a. Did you know that most Americans eat three burgers a week and that 81% of Americans consume junk food while driving? It comes as no surprise, since people spend more time on the road nowadays (Stefanov, Sebastien). b. Each day, 1 in 4 Americans visits a fast food restaurant (Fast food facts). c. McDonald's feeds more than 46 million people a day – more than the entire population of Spain (Fast food facts).Transition Sentence: Fast food is very dangerous towards your health and can lead to many harmful eff ects. III. A. Why fast food is unhealthy 1. However, while these products might look appealing and tasty, they contain a wealth of hidden heath hazards which are not only dangerous if eaten in large quantities but are a major cause of obesity, especially in children (White, Janice). a. You are doing the following things to your body by consuming fast food (White, Janice): †¢ Raising your blood pressure Increasing the levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol †¢ Delaying your metabolic rate (the rate at which you digest, process and eliminate food) †¢ Weakening your immune system †¢ Destabilizing your blood sugar levels †¢ Reducing the ability of your colon to function properly b. The effects of fast food include nutritional deficiencies, obesity, increased cholesterol levels, cardiac problems and many other threatening heath hazards (Manohar, Uttara). c. Eating fast foods can also lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. d.Eating fast food and leading a sedentary lifestyle lea ds to obesity. Obesity leads to other complications like increase in the cholesterol level, blocking of the arteries, the increased risk of coronary diseases, in addition to the general physical discomfort posed by the extra weight. Fast food is also addictive and hence it is very difficult to give up on their greasy and fatty foods and carbonated drinks and switch to healthier options (Manohar, Uttara). Transition sentence: Fast food can cause many concerns to your body and lead to a unhealthy life.Summary: Overall, fast food can damage your health and shorten your life. Eating fast food can lead to clogged arteries, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and many other health concerns you could not even think of. Concluding Device: If you are on the road, and want to stop to get a bite to eat, try to protect your health and not eat fast food. Works Cited Sam Ali – Apr, and 2010. â€Å"What Is Fast Food? – DiversityInc. com. † DiversityInc – Cultural Dive rsity – Diversity Management – Workplace Diversity – Workforce Diversity. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. â€Å"Fast Food Facts. † Center for Young Women's Health. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. . â€Å"Fast food facts from the Super Size Me Web site . † The VivaVegie Society, Inc. . N. p. , n. d. Web. 24 Apr. 2011. Manohar, Uttara. â€Å"Fast Food Facts: Effects of Fast Food. † Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. . Stefanov, Sebastien. â€Å"fast food calories – AskMen. † AskMen – Men's Online Magazine. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. . White, Janice. â€Å"Why Fast Food is Bad for You. † HubPages. N. p. , n. d. Web. 23 Apr. 2011. .

Archimedes’ Autobiobraphy

our site – CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING – DISSRTATION EXAMPLES & FREE ESSAYS Abstract The invention of mathematical formulas used in physical and chemical sciences has played a crucial role in technological advancement exhibited in the contemporary society. Many of these inventions were made in the early and the late 1800’s, while some made as early as 200 BC’s. Many scholars in the contemporary generation have shown increased interest in studying the motivation of these ancient inventors and how they managed to develop their ideas (Netz & Noel, 2007). This paper will document the autobiography of Archimedes of Syracuse, who has been considered a pioneer through inventing mathematical formulas. â€Å"Archimedes of Syracuse† Archimedes was born to Phidias, a mathematician and an astronomer in 287 BC in Syracuse, a city in Sicily (Zannos, 2005). There is no clear information about his early life and his family, but some people claim that his nobility was of Syracuse and that he was related to the King of Syracuse, Hiero II. During this period, Syracuse was considered a centre of commercial activities and as a young person growing in this busy city Archimedes developed an interest in solving complex mathematical problems facing the people of Sicily (Anderson, 2009). After acquiring much information from the local schools he attended in Syracuse, he travelled to Egypt for further learning in Alexandria University. Upon completion of his education, Archimedes travelled back to Syracuse where he lived a life of innovative thinking and solving problems through critical thinking as well as application of mathematical formulas (Geymonat, 2010). King Hiero II was impressed by Archimedes’ inventions which o ffered solutions to various challenges (Neal, 2011). One of Archimedes’s inventions that impressed King Hiero II was Archimedes’ screw that enabled the King to empty water from a hull of his ship. Archimedes was also asked by the king to find out how he could determine the amount of gold on his crown without destroying it. Archimedes addressed this by immersing it in water and determining the volume of the water it displaced, then determining the weight of the crown, thus its density (Dijksterhuis, 2009). This information enabled him to determine the purity of the crown. Apart from his innovations, Archimedes participated in the defense of Sicily from the Romans. Sicily was considered a centre of political and geological activities, as an Island located between Carthage and Rome, Sicily was faced by the challenge of ally issues. That is, the King did not know whether to form an ally with either Rome or Carthage: This is because, forming an ally with i.e. Rome, could have led to enmity between Sicily and Carthage (Gow, 2005). Archimedes was given the responsibility of constructing walls to protect the city from Carthaginian or Roman attacks. He also developed war machines that could be used during attacks. In geometry, Archimedes contributed significantly towards the development of the basic principles of pivot as well as pulley system. He also contributed significantly towards the understanding of the principle of buoyancy, defined as the power of liquid to exert an upward force on an object placed in it (Paipetis, 2010). Archimedes died when Rome at tacked Syracuse, he was attacked by an enraged soldier, who had demanded that he accompany him to King Marcellus’ tent (Jaeger, 2008). In conclusion, Archimedes had a significant contribution to in mathematics and physics. His ideas regarding the calculation of density of objects immersed in water as well as the idea of buoyancy are currently used in various learning systems and in practical circumstances. Archimedes can also be considered a patriot owing to the fact that he defended his nation fearlessly from the cruel Roman Soldiers, an act that led to his death at 75 years (Archimedes, Netz &Eutocius, 2004). Bibliography Archimedes., Netz, R. and Eutocius, (2004). The works of Archimedes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Dijksterhuis, E. (2009). Archimedes. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Netz, R. and Noel, W. (2007). The Archimedes Codex. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. Zannos, S. (2005). The life and times of Archimedes. Hockessin, Del.: Mitchell Lane.Geymonat, M. (2010). The Great Archimedes. Waco, Tex.: Baylor University Press. Anderson, M. (2009). Archimedes of Syracuse: The chest of ideas : A historical novel. Faifield, Iowa: 1st World Publishing. Gow, M. (2005). Archimedes: Mathematical Genius of the Ancient World. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow. Paipetis, S. (2010). Archimedes’ Contribution in Physics and Mathematics. Dordrecht: Springer. Neal, C. (2011). Archimedes. New York: McGrawHill. Jaeger, M. (2008). Archimedes and the Roman imagination. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

Free Essays on Tears, Idyle Tears

"The days that are no more". This recurring sentence is the frame of each stanza and of the poem itself. Does it refer to death ? Or is it a mere yearning for the past ? Fisrt stanza : The first word of the poem being "tears" is significant because it highlights the subject matter of the poem. Throughout the poem Tennyson explores the reasons for his tears to find out why he is experiencing them. Tennyson uses an oxymoron (divine /despair) when he describes them as : "Tears from the depth of some divine despair" The word 'divine' has religious connotations as it means heavenly or sacred, but 'despair' seems opposite as it means to lose all hope ; the poet is describing very powerful emotions. I feel that the speaker is saying that one of the possible reasons for his tears is the loss of hope in God. The alliteration of the consonant 'd' creates a sense of rhythm. Tennyson uses nature imagery when he says : "In looking on the happy Autumn-fields," The image is made stronger by the use of personification, which makes it seem as if the fields themselves are happy, although it is just the feeling they evoke in the speaker. Tennyson uses a paradox because he is describing emotions that contradict each other, despair and happiness. The end of the last line of each stanza is : "the days that are no more" This creates a pattern in the poem and also acts as a summary to each stanza, and to the poem as a whole, because the speaker discovers that the reasons for his tears are his thoughts about "the days that are no more". This could mean death, or just simply moments in the past that you can't get back again. Second stanza : Tennyson says: "Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail," The freshness of memories is what is being desc... Free Essays on Tears, Idyle Tears Free Essays on Tears, Idyle Tears Introduction : "Tears, idle tears" is a poem written in blank verse – unrhymed iambic pentameter. It consists of four five-line stanzas, each of which closes with the words "The days that are no more". This recurring sentence is the frame of each stanza and of the poem itself. Does it refer to death ? Or is it a mere yearning for the past ? Fisrt stanza : The first word of the poem being "tears" is significant because it highlights the subject matter of the poem. Throughout the poem Tennyson explores the reasons for his tears to find out why he is experiencing them. Tennyson uses an oxymoron (divine /despair) when he describes them as : "Tears from the depth of some divine despair" The word 'divine' has religious connotations as it means heavenly or sacred, but 'despair' seems opposite as it means to lose all hope ; the poet is describing very powerful emotions. I feel that the speaker is saying that one of the possible reasons for his tears is the loss of hope in God. The alliteration of the consonant 'd' creates a sense of rhythm. Tennyson uses nature imagery when he says : "In looking on the happy Autumn-fields," The image is made stronger by the use of personification, which makes it seem as if the fields themselves are happy, although it is just the feeling they evoke in the speaker. Tennyson uses a paradox because he is describing emotions that contradict each other, despair and happiness. The end of the last line of each stanza is : "the days that are no more" This creates a pattern in the poem and also acts as a summary to each stanza, and to the poem as a whole, because the speaker discovers that the reasons for his tears are his thoughts about "the days that are no more". This could mean death, or just simply moments in the past that you can't get back again. Second stanza : Tennyson says: "Fresh as the first beam glittering on a sail," The freshness of memories is what is being desc...

A Room of Ones Own essays

A Room of One's Own essays Virginia Woolfs A Room of Ones Own broke new territory in suggesting that the reason there were very few acknowledged womens writers at this time was because women lead hard lives in comparison to men and that the conditions needed to produce women writers was not conducive for them at this time. Her response was that for women to write literature they must have a room of their own, both literaraly and symbolically. This entailed real space and privacy for women to write in, the financial freedom to write without enduring unwanted jobs, women role models and the freedom and power to choose their own career path. Throughout this course the majority of women we have studied have had the privilege of fulfilling these requirements and thus had a room of ones own. Therefore, to be a successful female writer it is essential to have a room of ones own, although I believe that the above requirements are not all necessary and that todays room has changed. Womens lives were made less accessible to writing because of the requirements on women. Women were the wives, cooks, cleaners and employees. Women were responsible for bearing and raising the children and because of this they were at a disadvantage to the opportunities afforded to men. Women simply did not have the time to sit down in a quite room and write and moreover, she argues that women were not allowed until very recently to gain an education parable to mens, and even this is debatable. Throughout time, Woolf argues, women have been slaves, often locked up, not free to choose their partner and frequently beaten by their husbands. Women were shut up in unwanted families that force them to become economically, psychologically and physically dependent on men. How can women write quality literature amid these conditions? Woolf writes, Making a fortune and bearing thirteen children- no human being...

Barriers to Effective Communication Essay Example for Free (#3)

Barriers to Effective Communication Essay Most important amongst the ever-recurring and constant troubles in the field of police administration is that concerned with creating and sustaining a successful method of communication. Communication is the most important medium for concerning agreement between all the personnel of a department as to the police goals. It is the foundation for a regular and ongoing understanding of problems and accomplishments practiced on a continuing basis to reach their final objectives. The process of successful communications in a department starts with the leadership establishing clear guidelines how its personnel should interact with each other, whether it is by memo, emails, forms, daily briefings or training. Leadership in any organization must identify and mandate the objectives of the organization. Pfiffner (1951) stated â€Å"In all management situations, communication consists of organizational relationships and mechanics on the one hand, and the human factor on the other, in actuality both existing together. † Communication is the method of transmitting cues, mostly written and oral, in order to adjust human behavior. The communication process works in three steps, initiate, transmit, and impact. In a police department, initiate and transmit could be where the desk sergeant, issues the daily tasking that he receives from his leadership to his patrol officers beginning a shift. Impact takes place when the officers going out on patrol implement the tasking given and could be discussing the tasking amongst each other as well to gain feedback. Hearing is a passive occurrence that requires no effort. Listening, on the other hand, is a conscious choice that demands your attention and concentration† (Livestrong, 2001). The differences between hearing and listening is that when someone is speaking and you are hearing when you just hear the words coming out, not really paying attention to all of what is said. When listening, you are collecting thought on what is being said, but if you think you already know what the person is talking about, a person could just disregard the words that were just passed. There are generally four basic levels of hearing and listening, according to Toast Masters. org. You can easily fall into one or these more categories in different conversations. A non-listener is totally preoccupied with his personal thoughts and though he hears words, he doesn’t listen to what is being said. Passive listeners hear the words but don’t fully absorb or understand them. Listeners pay attention to the speaker, but grasp only some of the intended message. Active listeners are completely focused on the speaker and understand the meaning of the words without distortion† (Livestrong, 2011). Communications are vital in law enforcement. Police personnel have to comprehend the importance of tone of voice, pitch, and variation, the variances of hearing and listening. Facial expressions, body movements and posture are also significant for effective communications. Cultural and ethnic dynamics are essential factors of a police officer’s communication skills. The formal and informal channels of communication in criminal justice organizations are two distinct processes. Formal relations, occupation explanations, duties and processes are found in formal communication channels. These channels match the formal chains of command, and accountability recognized in organizational charts, standard operating procedures, and policy manuals. For many police departments and organizations, formal communication channels are the primary standard and rarely differentiate. Informal channels are considered a â€Å"grapevine or rumor mill† type construct. Police officers discussing an incident in the locker room can be considered informal, and if the district attorney and a defense lawyer are chatting about a case at lunch or a washroom are prime examples for informal channels of communications. In an informal channel of communication, the original words that were spoken could be altered, invalid, and misconstrued so much in a department, that the information can provide inefficiency in any organization. â€Å"Barriers to communication often arise when one party is concerned about personal or professional status. The four basic categories, or types, of obstacles to effective communication are as follows: (1) emotional barriers, (2) physical barriers, (3) semantic barriers, and (4) ineffective listening. Each of these barriers can cause either the sender or the receiver to fail to communicate effectively† (Wallace and Roberson, 2009). Emotional barriers can exist in the receiver or the sender. Individuals base their translating of information on respective occurrences and beliefs. If a person believes they will be not taken seriously or made fun of when making a idea, then they will not participate in discussions or send their message. When a police officer has a case of low esteem, it could affect their duties on the street, believing that they might not be able to make a difference, stop certain criminals, and that barrier can cost the lives of innocent people or even peers. Physical barriers are the properties of an atmosphere that can cause communications to be challenging. Examples of physical barriers include equipment that does not work properly, having one officer on patrol instead of a team of two officers patrolling together in a bad neighborhood. Semantic barriers can cause differences between individuals, when one person might say one thing, and another forms an entirely different conclusion to that was said. This form of barrier can exist in a department where communication is very poor from the leadership down to the most junior personnel. Ineffective listening will occur if law enforcement personnel fail to pay attention to what others are communicating. The subject of discussion might bore or be irrelevant to certain persons, or just be to complicate to comprehend, and that transmission will be useless. Effective communication is fundamental in any chain of command. Leadership must be able to communicate its orders and direction to subordinates in a clear, concise manner, and with a positive message, so subordinate’s can perform to the best of their ability and listen to the message that is spoken, instead of just hearing what they want to hear. For an organization to communicate effectively, a person must be able to overcome the barriers that exist, and change one’s thoughts or feelings with another coworker. Taking personal responsibility ensures their workplace operates smoothly, and can rid the barriers that may plaque the organization. Barriers to Effective Communication. (2017, Feb 03).

Concepts and Processes of marketing segmentation, Targeting and Essay

Concepts and Processes of marketing segmentation, Targeting and Postitioning - Essay Example Pricing of a product depends on various variables before the product is taken to the market. In marketing people try to maximize profits which makes it very important for prices to be determined before the products are taken to various markets in the different geographical areas. The prices can also be different depending on the demand of the product being marketed and their utility. The place or the destination of the product is the third P of marketing. Marketers have to monitor and evaluate the places where the products will be more appropriate and which segmentation will ensure that their marketing strategies will be useful and worthwhile. The last P of marketing explains the promotion strategies of the product. Promotion depends on various products and the marketers expectations of the same. Some products maybe more promoted than others because human beings have a unique taste of products thus promoting a variety of products increases the chances of the products selling of faste r than those that are not promoted (Sengupta, 2005). The Marketing Process The marketing processes vary from one different nation around the world to the different types of products being marketed in the same. Marketing over the years has improved from being a door to door operation to something that has expanded to internet activities occurring on a 24 hour basis. Today Nokia mobile phones are being marketed in every corner making very easy for clients to learn about the product its services and other features that make it superior to other types of phones (McDonald, 2008). Various companies including Nokia mobile phone manufactures have decided to go digital with their marketing strategy with their main aim being to maximize their sells of the products as well as be able to maintain their customers loyalty. Marketing is about giving knowledge to the world about a company’s product, like why the Nokia products are better than other phone producers, why the clients should dec ided on settling on Nokia product and stick with it, the benefits of the Nokia products especially the phones on the short term basis as well as the long term and where the product best fits to be used. Marketing does not necessary reflect the product profit margin, but how well the product can be identified by various people around the world and the impacts it gives to various communities. Marketing is about selling the brand to as many people possible, giving details on any changes if about the product, updating customers on prices and the nearest stores they can access the products (McDonald, 2008). Marketing is about promoting a product to gain customers trust and liking to other manufacturer’s products that produce the same kind products. The more resources a company uses to market its product the better chances the company may be able to sell their product to a larger segmentation. Market Orientation and a Brief Description of Different Orientations That Could Be Adopte d Marketing orientation can be defined as companies, organizations or firms reacting to the customers’ demands and the next products they produce will be to fit majority of the customer’s specifications. The decision for market orientation is based on the customers feedback and the companies concentrates more on the customer’

Stephen Kings Novels Recreated into Films Movie Review

Stephen Kings Novels Recreated into Films - Movie Review Example The story of Dr Louis Creed (Midkiff) and his efforts to revive his three-year-old son (Hughes), killed by one of the giant trucks that thunder past their new Maine home, is more like a sketchy outline than a finished work. No film about a scalpel-wielding three-year-old psycho zombie could be entirely devoid of shocks. But reams of tedious exposition, about a children's pet 'sematary' and the magical resurrecting properties of an Indian burial ground, stretch patience and credulity to their limits, while Lambert fails to exploit the potential of the novel's best set pieces. The stories told in flashback by Creed's wife (Crosby) and their elderly neighbour (Gwynne) also seem hopelessly contrived, arresting the book's page-turning plot without adding emotional or psychological depth. If Pet Sematary was just a movie, then it might seem somehow acceptable: its plot, sort of a modern day zombie flick, is fairly creepy, and its premise is sufficiently horrific. Pet Sematary is not, however, a stand-alone film. It is, after all, a translation of a novel, and a great novel, at that. Though plotwise, the film stays fairly true to Stephen King's novel, it remains flat and unconvincing throughout. Unfortunately, this is a fate that has befallen most of King's work. Stephen King's novels don't, as a rule, translate well onto the silver screen. In much the same way that Church, having come back from the dead, seems to be missing something vital, so do King's books when they transition to movies. Perhaps this is because so much of the action in Stephen King's novels, so much of what is horrifying in them, happens to the characters internally. It is their thoughts, their fears, their histories and hopes, that make King's novels so successful. Films often have difficulty con veying this, and this is especially true of the horror genre. Pet Sematary is no exception to this rule. The novel that Pet Sematary is based on is probably one of the best, most terrifying horror novels ever written, and that only makes the movie even more disappointing. In his novel, Stephen King reveals the horror layer by layer, peeling away the sense of normality and safety little by little, until all that is left is sheer terror. Dreamcatcher Starring: Morgan Freeman, Thomas Jane, Director: Lawrence Kasdan, Release Date: March 2003, Genres: Horror, Suspense. The movie opens with four troubled guys in their late twenties, Dr. Henry Devlin (Thomas Jane), Joe 'Beaver' Clarendon (Jason Lee), Gary 'Jonesy' Jones (Damian Lewis) and Pete Moore (Timothy Olyphant), dealing with their gift. These lifelong buddies were given the ability to read minds and more by a mentally challenged guy named Douglas 'Duddits' Cavell (Donnie Wahlberg) when they were young. Now they use their magic to do such mundane things as finding the lost car keys of a real estate agent that one of them wants to date. But their talents will soon be put to the test. Meanwhile back in the snow-covered woods where the guys are going for their annual outing, trouble is brewing. The mad Colonel Abraham Kurtz (Morgan Freeman), ably assisted by

Organisations&Behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Organisations&Behaviour - Assignment Example In other words, it can be describes as the network of relationships and roles existing across the organization. Three different types of organizational structure include tall organizational structure, flat organizational structure and centralized organizational structure. Tall organizational structure is defined as the one which comprises of many levels of hierarchy with each manger responsible for controlling a small group of people. Flat organizational structure is defined as an organizational structure which is characterized by very little or no level of middle management between the executives and the staff members. Centralized organizational structure is defined as the structure in which all the decision-making process is controlled by an individual or a few top managers in which the decisions are communicated to the lower level of employees who are expected to accept the orders and act accordingly. Organizational cultures are defined as the deeply rooted values and beliefs that are shared by the employees within an organization. It is also defined as the shared values and beliefs that distinguish the employees of one organization from the other. It also refers to the basic pattern of beliefs developed by a group of employees while dealing with problems of external adaptation and internal integration in an organization. The different types of organizational culture comprises of the power, task and role organizational culture. Power culture is defined as the organizational culture which is based on the inequality of access to resources. This type of culture emphasises on the respect of the authority, rationality of the procedures and division of work. Role culture is mainly focused on job description and specialization in the field of work. Task culture is defined as the organizational culture which is based on the mutual trust between the employees and the organization. McDonald’s is recently trying to adopt a

Crisis Prevention & intervention in healthcare Essay

Crisis Prevention & intervention in healthcare - Essay Example The patterns in assaultive behavior are common in different groups, genders and persons. In every cycle different behaviors can be observed in particular phases. The five phases of the assault cycle include: trigger, escalation, crisis, recovery phase and post crisis. An individual begins to detect threats to their security or welfare. Feelings of being denied, being ignored or being refused something important to them step in. The aggressor then becomes frustrated as Linsley (2006, p. 48) highlights. A person in trigger phase perceives that they have lost control. They review the issues facing them and see the magnitude of the conflict as huge. Fear is real and the person in crisis endeavor is to compensate what they are denied. They may be in denial and reason with self to justify events. The trigger is as a result of other people actions, an argument with another person, upsetting information and in ability to do something they have been denied such as consuming alcohol. Crisis can be eliminated if the problems and conflicts are solved. Trigger phase is not associated with experiences of medication or hallucinations. Poor communication is experienced in the trigger phase. Interpersonal relations are poor and characterized by a lot of tension. The person in crisis may try to control self from causing outburst and motivating another person to have an outburst. The appropriate response towards the potentially aggressive person would be to divert their mind and destruct them. Exercising good communication skills where one remains neutral would be helpful. A healthcare professional can alert others and record observations. The healthcare professional should remain calm and avoid showing signs of fear. Keep distance, show the hands and stay close to exit. The person in crisis begins to prepare for aggression. Threats are presented verbally to the prospective victim if they are

Poison Politics Do Negative Campaign Ads Have an Affect on Voters Research Paper

Poison Politics Do Negative Campaign Ads Have an Affect on Voters - Research Paper Example It cast an influence on the voters which was sufficient to bring the intended result. Key words: Negative ad campaigns, Politics, election, affect on voters, beneficial, harmful. Introduction The minds always active in the towers of politics have gained the knowledge of the powers of the media and its overwhelming effects over the minds of the populace. They have realized that media can be utilized as the biggest medium of propagation. The exploitation of media in one’s purpose has become a norm of today’s political sociality. The rule is practiced in the political campaigns of the entire world but in the United States of America, the ratio is relatively the bigger. In fact media is one of the only tools the candidates for presidency in the United States of America use to attract the masses towards their will. In the course, no hesitation is felt to highlight the negative aspects of the opponent’s life. Such ads in which the opponent’s image is presented a s unfavorable are called negative ads and hence the negative ad campaigns (Kamber, 1997). Negative ads work to exploit the sentiments and emotions of the society. Negative ads work because humans are emotional and psychologically they are impressed by appeals. Though the overall turnout is not necessarily affected by the negative ad campaigns, it however helps in turning one’s already developed point of view. â€Å"Advertising matters at the margins. ... One unconsciously processes the ads though he claims to have his mind not affected by the ads. About the undecided voters, â€Å"Drew Western† found them completely overwhelmed by the negative political ads. The reason behind is just simple: humans are curious for harms. We always stop to the wreck of a car but never to the flowers all around the roads (Sohn, 2012). Statement of Problem 47% Video is an ad in which Romney spoke at a fundraiser in the words: â€Å"there are 47% who are with Obama, who are dependent on government, who believe they are victims, and who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them† (Newport, 2012). The video entangled Mitt Romney as he had talked abusingly of the American people. Obama and company exploited the video against Romney. They told the people that Romney did not deserve to be their President as he had talked about them scornfully. The ad affected the overall political scenario of the United States of America. The s trength of negativity lies in its pulling of the people to search for more information about the candidates. For instance, the 47% video of Romney leaked in the recent elections. He was talking to some confidante in a closed room and at a suitable time, the conversation recorded was made open to the whole nation. The video compelled a large number of people to rethink of their favor for Romney. Many were heard to say that after watching the said advertisement, they were of the view that Romney was narrow-minded and such a person could not lead the nation among huge crisis. This is now to evaluate the statement that negative ads definitely work. The results of the 2012 Presidential Elections reveal that both the candidates fought with each

Organisations&Behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Organisations&Behaviour - Assignment Example In other words, it can be describes as the network of relationships and roles existing across the organization. Three different types of organizational structure include tall organizational structure, flat organizational structure and centralized organizational structure. Tall organizational structure is defined as the one which comprises of many levels of hierarchy with each manger responsible for controlling a small group of people. Flat organizational structure is defined as an organizational structure which is characterized by very little or no level of middle management between the executives and the staff members. Centralized organizational structure is defined as the structure in which all the decision-making process is controlled by an individual or a few top managers in which the decisions are communicated to the lower level of employees who are expected to accept the orders and act accordingly. Organizational cultures are defined as the deeply rooted values and beliefs that are shared by the employees within an organization. It is also defined as the shared values and beliefs that distinguish the employees of one organization from the other. It also refers to the basic pattern of beliefs developed by a group of employees while dealing with problems of external adaptation and internal integration in an organization. The different types of organizational culture comprises of the power, task and role organizational culture. Power culture is defined as the organizational culture which is based on the inequality of access to resources. This type of culture emphasises on the respect of the authority, rationality of the procedures and division of work. Role culture is mainly focused on job description and specialization in the field of work. Task culture is defined as the organizational culture which is based on the mutual trust between the employees and the organization. McDonald’s is recently trying to adopt a

Poison Politics Do Negative Campaign Ads Have an Affect on Voters Research Paper

Poison Politics Do Negative Campaign Ads Have an Affect on Voters - Research Paper Example It cast an influence on the voters which was sufficient to bring the intended result. Key words: Negative ad campaigns, Politics, election, affect on voters, beneficial, harmful. Introduction The minds always active in the towers of politics have gained the knowledge of the powers of the media and its overwhelming effects over the minds of the populace. They have realized that media can be utilized as the biggest medium of propagation. The exploitation of media in one’s purpose has become a norm of today’s political sociality. The rule is practiced in the political campaigns of the entire world but in the United States of America, the ratio is relatively the bigger. In fact media is one of the only tools the candidates for presidency in the United States of America use to attract the masses towards their will. In the course, no hesitation is felt to highlight the negative aspects of the opponent’s life. Such ads in which the opponent’s image is presented a s unfavorable are called negative ads and hence the negative ad campaigns (Kamber, 1997). Negative ads work to exploit the sentiments and emotions of the society. Negative ads work because humans are emotional and psychologically they are impressed by appeals. Though the overall turnout is not necessarily affected by the negative ad campaigns, it however helps in turning one’s already developed point of view. â€Å"Advertising matters at the margins. ... One unconsciously processes the ads though he claims to have his mind not affected by the ads. About the undecided voters, â€Å"Drew Western† found them completely overwhelmed by the negative political ads. The reason behind is just simple: humans are curious for harms. We always stop to the wreck of a car but never to the flowers all around the roads (Sohn, 2012). Statement of Problem 47% Video is an ad in which Romney spoke at a fundraiser in the words: â€Å"there are 47% who are with Obama, who are dependent on government, who believe they are victims, and who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them† (Newport, 2012). The video entangled Mitt Romney as he had talked abusingly of the American people. Obama and company exploited the video against Romney. They told the people that Romney did not deserve to be their President as he had talked about them scornfully. The ad affected the overall political scenario of the United States of America. The s trength of negativity lies in its pulling of the people to search for more information about the candidates. For instance, the 47% video of Romney leaked in the recent elections. He was talking to some confidante in a closed room and at a suitable time, the conversation recorded was made open to the whole nation. The video compelled a large number of people to rethink of their favor for Romney. Many were heard to say that after watching the said advertisement, they were of the view that Romney was narrow-minded and such a person could not lead the nation among huge crisis. This is now to evaluate the statement that negative ads definitely work. The results of the 2012 Presidential Elections reveal that both the candidates fought with each

Presidential vs. Parliamentary Government Essay Example for Free

Presidential vs. Parliamentary Government Essay Every nation, ever since the dawn of civilization, has always had some form of government. It is of necessity rather than need, as a nation without one will always result to anarchy. Today, two of the most popular and well-known forms of government are the presidential form of government and the parliamentary form of government. Each form of government has its own pros and cons, and the debate of whether one is better than the other has long been a subject of discussion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The main difference between the two forms of government is how the extent governmental powers are distributed and/or separated between branches of the government, and whether one branch has or does not have power over another. In the presidential form of government, political and administrative powers are distinctly divided between the executive branch (the President), the legislative branch (i.e., the congress/senate), and the judiciary branch. The powers vested in the executive branch is usually balanced against those given to the legislature. Laws and bills are made by the legislature and it is the executive branch which enacts it. The President has the power to veto the bill, preventing its execution, but the legislature may override the Presidents veto, provided they can gather enough votes to do so (â€Å"Parliamentary versus Presidential governments†). This serves as a check and balance for both branches, ensuring that one does not overpower the other.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the parliamentary form of government, however, there is a fusion of power between the legislative and executive branch. This is mostly due to the fact that the head of government, the Prime Minister, is voted into position by the legislature, which is often mostly composed of the ruling party or coalition. Hence, almost always, the constituents of the executive and the legislature branches are the same (â€Å"Governing Systems and Executive-Legislative Relations†).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The terms of office for both heads of the government also varies. In the presidential system of government, the President serves a specific, defined term. In the parliamentary system, the Prime Minister stays in power for as long as he or she has the support of the majority of the legislation. Political parties also hold less of an impact on the presidential system than on then parliamentary system since the President can still be voted in office regardless of whether his or her political party is a minority or not. In parliamentary system, its almost always the ruling party which holds dominance over the outcome of the election of head of government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Given the choice, from the points stated, I would rather be a citizen of a country ruled by a parliamentary government, like the United Kingdom. There is more cohesion and unity given the fact that the legislative and the executive powers come from one ruling, common party. This would mean that bills are passed much quicker. Also, ethnicity, race, and ideology wont be much of a conflicting factor, especially for a very diverse country, since power is equally divided amongst the legislators, and not just focused on one (e.g. the President). Lastly, a study conducted by the World Bank has found out that a parliamentary system is associated with lower corruption (Lederman, Loayza, Soares, par. 1). Works Cited â€Å"Governing Systems and Executive-Legislative Relations.† UNDP: Governance: Political   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   systems and their impact on Governing Relations. 2006. 18 December 2007.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.undp.org/governance/docs/Parl-Pub-govern.htm Lederman, Daniel and Normal Loayza and Rodrigo R. Soares. â€Å"Accountability and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Corruption: Political Institutions Matter.† World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 2708. 2001. 18 December 2007. http://ssrn.com/abstract=632777 â€Å"Parliamentary Versus Presidential Governments.† eSSORTMENT. 2002. 18 December 2007.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://mi.essortment.com/presidentialpar_rket.htm

Healthcare Policy in the US

Healthcare Policy in the US A healthcare policy is a set of rules and regulations that are put into effect to assist in the operation and the shape of health delivery. A healthcare policy covers a range of issue including public health, chronic illness and disability, long-term care, the financing of health care, preventive health care and mental health. There are two models of a healthcare which consist of the single payer and the social insurance system. In the single payer model, taxes are paid to the government which then pays healthcare providers such as nurses, doctors, and dentists to provide health services to individuals. In a social insurance system, citizens must purchase health insurance from non-profit insurance companies who will then use this health insurance to pay for services provided by healthcare providers. Healthcare is financed through private insurance companies which individuals can access through their employers and for the many Americans that are uninsured, there are three programs in which they can go through called Medicare, Medicaid, and The State Childrens Health Insurance Program. Medicare mainly deals with Americans who are over the age of 65 or disabled. Medicaid deals with people who are of low income or maybe classified as being poor. The State Childrens Health Insurance Program deals with people who are uninsured or low income children. There are so many aspects that can make up healthcare policy and there will be many more that will have an impact on healthcare in the future. Principles of US Health Policy There are many principal features of the United States health policy, but to name a few critical ones are: government as subsidiary to the private sector; fragmented, incremental, and piecemeal reform; pluralistic politics; the decentralized role of the states; and the impact of presidential leadership. These key characteristics of health policy work together or separately to pressure the progress and growth of health policy to benefit the country. The United Sates is one of the few countries in the world that does have a national health care system where their government pays the majority and is the leader in the health care organization. That is not the case in the US. The private sector is the leader and the government takes a back seat in the majority of the development of health policies. It is funny that Americans prefer to have as less involvement from the government as possible in relation to health care financing, delivery, and policy. Being a capital nation we are under the notion that the private sector can best organize and operate the production and consumption of goods and services in our country rather than the government. The US health care system is fragmented so much that it is almost impossible to track. Employers provide a voluntary insurance program to their employees that are paid for through payments from employees and employers together. Then you have the elderly you are covered through Social Security tax, government subsidized voluntary insurance for physician, supplementary, and prescription drug coverage. The indigent obtain health care through Medicaid which is funded through federal, state, and local revenues. American Indians, Congress, members of the armed forces, Veterans, and the executive branch have health insurance that is financed through the federal government directly. Any type of reform in America is incremental and piecemeal especially health care. For example Medicaid has had many much needed changes since its beginning in 1965. First, Congress changed the policy to have more children become eligible and in 1984 pregnant women and children in two parent families were granted health care if income restrictions were met. Policy changes are met with an array of complex political roadblocks that make much needed reform difficult to accomplish. Often it takes a revolutionary presidential election to overcome such barriers. As in any other policy debates in the US politics interest groups pluralism have an effect on the health policy. Powerful interest groups involved in health care politics adamantly resist any major change (Alford 1975). Each group deeply believes that their interests are the best and will fight very hard to protect their interest. For instance, American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for American citizens over the age of 50. They are one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States with over 40 million members. Because they are such a well organized interest group they are very effective in influencing the decisions on policies that affect the seniors in this country. A decentralized role of the states has its pros and cons. The states provide financial support for the indigent and disabled through comprehensive health care programs. They also take on the additional responsibility of implementing the governments Medicaid and SCHIP programs for the elderly and children. On the flip side critics have suggested there is too much state control in regards to health policy changes. With each state having control over their own health policy decisions makes it extremely difficult to create a unified national health care policy. New presidents have always been the stepping stone for policy changes in America. Every president from Johnson to Bush has made an attempt to reform health care in some shape or form. The most recent major historical change has come with the election of President Obama. He has done what no other President has done, Health Care Reform. He is putting the control of peoples health care needs in their own hands. President Obamas presidential leadership impact will reform health care by making it more affordable, making insurance companies accountable for their actions, and provide coverage to all Americans. Development of legislative health policy Health policy is a set course of action undertaken by governments or health care organizations to obtain a desired health outcome (Cherry Trotter Betts, 2005). The health care system, including the public and private segment, with the political forces influence how systems are shaped by the health care policy-making processes. Public health policies start from local, state, or federal legislation, regulations which manage the terms of health care services. There are also institutional or business policies related to health care in addition to public policies. In the private sector the policies are developed by hospitals, accrediting organizations, or managed care organizations. Nurses, the largest number of health care providers are the most familiar with institutional policies including those developed and implemented by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The decision making in the public or the private sector, the scope of the issue, and the nature of the policy all have an impact on the characteristics of a policy (Thurber,1996). A basic understanding of the policy process is the first step in having a strategy on how to encourage potential power and control important changes in the health care system. It is a process that uses multiple points of access in order to provide a vision that influences the decision makers involved at each stage. There are three stages of policy making: the formulation stage, the implementation and the evaluation stage. In the formulation stage, input of information, ideas, organizations, research from key people and interest groups are put together. The implementation stage involves disseminating the collected information and starting to put the policy into action. During this stage, the proposed policy is transformed into a plan of action (International Council of Nurses, 2005). Public policy endorsed b y local, state, or federal governmental identities is usually put into practice through the normal process that interprets the policy into a written set of rules issued by the government agency that is responsible for overseeing the policy. All concerned groups contribute in the development of health care policy by providing necessary information needed to decide on the implementation. Nurses are a very important part in the preparation and implementation of the policy. As the largest one group of health care providers, nurses can successfully sponsor health care policy project; they also have a distinctive point of view on health care policies and expertise to share with the responsible agents. Nurses are a strong voice and active advocated group that leads to positive change and build consensus on important issues. The policy process also includes an evaluation and modification phase when existing policies are revisited and may be amended or rewritten to adjust to changing circumstances (Longest, 2006). Most major public policies are subject to modifications in this process. Smaller changes in already existing policies are usually easier to be implemented than major changes as less clarification and efforts are required to be implemented. A good example would be when the Medicare Program has undergone since its enactment in 1965. Another change is when the U.S. Congress in 1998 added nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists as providers that can bill for Part B services they provide to Medicare beneficiaries. Congress has changed Medicare program many times after that and put a number of preventive services to the Medicare program. The most recent change was done to Medicare Part D and added a prescription drug program available for Medicare beneficiaries. Health care issue moves through the phases of the policy process, from a proposal to an actual program that can be enacted, implemented, and evaluated, the policy process is impacted by the preferences and influences of elected officials, other individuals, organizations, and special interest groups (Longest, 2006). Political interactions take place when people get involved in the process of making decisions, making compromises, and taking actions that determine who gets what in the health care system. Special interest groups and individuals with a stake in the fate of a health care policy use all kinds of influencing, communication, negotiation, conflict management, critical thinking, and problem solving skills in the political arena to obtain their desired outcome (Cherry Trotter Betts, 2005; Kalisch Kalisch, 1982). Health care system is continuously changing, nurses in many institutions are taking the advocacy role, working together to reflect nursings perception in health care policies and to be implemented. However, the legislative process needs to be well understood and policy advocates should be aware that they may run the risk of working with the wrong people or at the wrong time and therefore the policy may not be established. Well prepared professionals can always find ways to promote for a better health care system. For the more experienced professional there are many resources available to nurse policy advocates who want to learn more about how to make a difference in key health care issues using legislative and policy processes and working within the political arena. The Future of Health Policy The future of health policy is unknown and difficult to predict. The US has struggled with conquering the health care system as one comprehensive unit. Instead, there have been individual attempts at specific problems, resulting in fragmented solutions. The anti-socialist views of the US citizens have thus far prevented a nationalized health care system, but this has not and will not stop many influential leaders from trying. Regardless of health care being a universal or disjointed system, the future of health policy aims at containing costs, increasing access, and improving quality. On March 2010, President Obama signed a health care reform bill. A preliminary estimate claims that the bill will reduce the deficit by $130 billion in the first ten years and by $1.2 trillion in the next ten years (Jackson Nolen, 2010). State-based insurance exchanges will be implemented as a way to purchase insurance for those who do not have access through their employer. The Medicare prescription coverage donut hole will be closed by 2020 and seniors will receive a 50% discount on brand name medications. Medicaid will be expanded, will include childless adults, and illegal immigrants will not be eligible. Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions and children will be able to stay on their parents insurance plans until age 26. Beginning in 2014, there will be an individual mandate that everyone must have health insurance or have to pay a fine, with exceptions for low-income people. Employers with greater than 50 employees will be required to offer health insurance. There is no telling what the ultimate success will be of this bill, as it is a continued hot debate between political parties, but it puts some definition on the future of health policy. The role of state governments in health care has become more substantial. They hold the majority of the responsibility for regulating all aspects of the health care system. In addition, states contribute to financing Medicaid services, finance health coverage for state/public employees and retirees, and subsidize the costs of health care services for the uninsured. States also have the role of protecting the publics health through controlling the spread of communicable diseases, protecting the environment, preventing injuries, promoting healthy behaviors, responding to disasters, providing health services to those without access, monitoring the populations health status, and developing health care policies to benefit the community. The future of health policy shows that states will continue to perform these roles. Conclusion In closing, we feel that an issue such as healthcare must be thought through and have a decision made based on the need of the American peoples as well as the needs of the American economy. By this we mean that a decision should be developed based on a way to keep this great country from going bankrupt or prevent the American people from going broke when a plan goes into effect. In todays world, the U.S health Care System of today is turning into a disaster because many people are getting to the point to where they are not able to afford healthcare services due to the fact that they are not able to afford it or have lost their jobs are may have partial health care benefits. We feel that all Americans must try to stand up for what they believe and fight for a healthcare policy that will enable everyone to be able to have healthcare coverage so that our government will see that there is a need for a change in the future. Resources 1. Shi, L. Singh, D.A. (2008.) Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers 2. Jackson, J. Nolen, J. (March 23, 2010). Health Care Reform Bill Summary: A Look At Whats in the Bill. cbsnews.com. Retrieved, April 20, 2010, from: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20000846-503544.html. 3. Alford, R. R. 1975. Health Care Politics: Ideology and interest group barriers to reform. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 4. S M Williams-Crowe and T V Aultman, State health agencies and the legislative policy process. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1403499/?page=1 5. Pamela White, Tobie H. Olsan, Carolanne Bianchi, Theresa Glessner, Pamela Mapstone, Legislative: Searching for Health Policy Information on the Internet: An Essential Advocacy Skill. Retrieved from: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN

Religion in Europe During the Life of Karl Marx :: Essays Papers

Religion in Europe During the Life of Karl Marx Religion as an institution has evolved throughout human history. When it began during the primitive stages of human existence, religion was concerned with society rather than the individual. Its role was to better society as a whole. At a later time religion began to take a greater interest in the individual, changing its role as a social institution.[1] This change in the role of religion led to the institution as a whole supporting personal growth and success, including wealth. In the Manifesto of the Communist Party, the authors denounce the separation of classes and the upper class in general, saying, â€Å"Society can no longer live under this bourgeoisie†.[2] As a result, the authors also denounced religion because by supporting wealth and encouraging capitalism it served to promote the upper class. Marx and other Communists felt that the evolution of religion throughout history was spurred on by changing economic and social conditions.[3] These two factors are very similar, and a change in one usually leads to a change in the other. At the time that Marx and Engels were formulating their ideas concerning Communism, radical changes were sweeping across the better part of Europe. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing with new inventions and industries growing rapidly. The demand for products increased dramatically and the entire lifestyle of many Europeans, especially the English, changed. The Revolution led people away from the rural farm life to the mass production of the urban scene. Workers were needed in booming industries such as cotton, iron production, and coal mining. As a result, people flocked to the cities to meet the need. These industries were controlled by the bourgeoisie, the wealthy upper class. They wanted to take advantage of the new technology and the intense demand for new products, which translated into money. These owners sent the poor farmers straight to work, and exploited them from the start. The workers received low pay and worked long hours in extremely unfavorable, and even dangerous, conditions.[4] This continued and the bourgeoisie prospered at the expense of the oppressed proletariat. Once the Industrial Revolution started it became rather efficient.

Business Plan for New Airline Essay examples -- Essays Papers

Business Plan for New Airline HausAir Mission Statement HausAir fixed base operation will provide the highest quality of flight instruction and comfortable charter services to the public; without compromising an ounce of safety, at a price lower than the competition. Human Resources/ Management Functions Breakdown of initial staff to begin at HausAir. (1) Manager/Owner Jason Bushouse (1) Assistant Manager Jeff Doyle (5) Receptionist/Clerical Jason Henderson (Full Time) Julie Vanek (Full Time) Roseanne Francis (Full Time) Pamela Laurie (Full Time) Art Wegner (Part Time) (6) Flight Instructors (Chief) Adam MacDonald (Full Time) Brent Ivey (Full Time) Janessa Luncford (Full Time) James Bushouse (Full Time) Ron Hallaux (Full Time) Randy Renolds (Full Time) (4) Pilot (Chief) Jason Bushouse Tim Dolenz Trevor Blackmer Dwayne Clemmens (4) Mechanics (Chief) Greg Radd (IA; Full Time) Lee Coss (A&P; Full Time) Joan Laukner (A&P; Full Time) Miguel Sanchez (A&P; Full Time) (4) Line Attendents Josh Hodny (Full Time) Mara Kennelly (Full Time) Brett Carlson (Part Time) Tommy Snellings (Part Time) (1) Sales Personnel Mike Campea FBO Organizational Chart Flight Office Service Finance Sales Job Description: Flight Instructor The HausAir flight instructors will follow some basic guidelines. They will be responsible for: - Student training for appropriate licenses - Maintaining proficiency in maneuvers - Proficiency required flight knowledge - Proficiency instructional techniques - Promoting a positive image of general aviation - Perform duties assigned by chief pilot - Maintaining safe and professional habits The position requires a minimum commercial multi-engine land instrument airplane and CFI certificate and those without a CFII will be expected to obtain the certificate within 6 months of start date. Instructors must be able to train a student from wherever their current ability level is to proficiency to the practical test standards for the certificate desired. Instructors will be required to follow HausAir flight training syllabus unless there is prior approval from the chief flight instructor. Instructors will be expected to give biannual flight reviews, checkouts to customers planning to rent aircraft an... ...n income of $5480 with a profit of 2200 a month. Fuel will be stored and fueled by the fuel truck. Line service will fuel all incoming aircraft, regardless of size. Supplies HausAir will carry a wide selection of supplies and keep current with charts, approach plates, books and other aviation publications. We can make between 40-60% profit but will charge what competitors like sportys pilot shop charge. We will match their price and work prices around that range. Insurance Insurance is an important protection for this FBO. Due to the high amount of risk involved in aviation it will be important to hold monthly safety meetings, and have rotating safety officer schedule that will change every day. There are many different kinds of insurance that we must purchase. Some of the insurance coverage that is required: Aircraft hull Aircraft liability Passenger liability Hangar liability Product liability Fire and Natural disaster coverage Auto full coverage Comprehensive public liability Bibliography http://www.airplane.com/be58.htm Richardson, Rodwell, & Baty (1995) Essentials of Aviation Management. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.

Internet mini case Essay

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) was a specialty retailer of products for the home. The company’s products were sold through two channels: the retail channel and the direct-to-customer channel. The retail segment comprised four retail concepts: Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and Hold Everything. The direct-to-customer segment sold though eight retail catalogs: Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Bed + Bath, PB Teen, Hold Everything, West Elm, and Williams-Sonoma Home (which incorporated elements from the previously separate Chambers) as well as through four e-commerce sites. The catalogs reached customers throughout the United States, and the four retail businesses operated 522 stores in 42 states and Washington, DC. The retail segment accounted for 58.9% of total sales; the direct-to-customer segment accounted for 41.1% in fiscal 2003. Charles E. Williams, Director Emeritus of the company in 2003, founded Williams-Sonoma in 1956 to offer high-end culinary and serving equipment in an upscale retail environment. The company entered the direct-to-customer channel in 1972, with the introduction of its flagship catalog, â€Å"A Catalog for Cooks,† which marketed the Williams-Sonoma brand. In 1983, the company internally developed the Hold Everything catalog to offer innovative and stylish storage solutions for home and home office. The success of the catalog led to the opening of the first Hold Everything retail store in 1985. In 1986, the company acquired Pottery Barn, at that time a marginally successful retailer and direct-to-customer merchant featuring a large assortment of casual home furnishings and accessories including furniture, lamps and lighting fixtures, rugs, window treatments, linens, dinnerware, and glassware. In 1989, Williams-Sonoma created Chambers, a direct-to-customer merchandiser of high-quality, premium-priced linens, towels, robes, soaps, and accessories for bed and bath. This case was prepared by Professor Maryanne M. Rouse, MBA, CPA, University of South Florida. Copyright  © 2005 by Professor Maryanne M. Rouse. This case cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright holder, Maryanne M. Rouse. Reprint permission is solely granted to the publisher, Prentice Hall, for the books, Strategic Management and Business Policy – 10th and 11th Editions (and the International version of this book) and Cases in Strategic Management and Business Policy – 10th Edition by the copyright holder, Maryanne M. Rouse. This case was edited for SMBP and Cases in SMBP – 10th Edition. The copyright holder is solely responsible for case content. Any other publication of the case (translation, any form of electronics or other media) or sold (any form of partnership) to another publisher will be in violation of copyright law, unless Maryanne M. Rouse has granted an additional written reprint permission. In early 1999, the company launched both its Williams-Sonoma Internet wedding and gift registry web site and its Williams-Sonoma e-commerce site. Later that year, the company launched a separate Pottery Barn Kids catalog to offer well-made, stylish children’s furniture and decorative accessories. (Pottery Barn Kids was one of the first concepts to market in what is expected to be a major growth segment during the next decade, as birthrates in the United States. are expected to surpass rates achieved at any time in the past 30 years. Birthrates among older women are soaring, and older moms tend to be wealthier and more willing to splurge on their children.) Pottery Barn Kids stores were opened adjacent to Pottery Barn stores across the United States, and by September 2004, there were 78 stores. Edward Mueller, Williams-Sonoma CEO, expected Pottery Barn Kids to be the primary growth vehicle for the company over the next several years. Williams-Sonoma launched its Pottery Barn web site and created a separate Pottery Barn Bed + Bath catalog in 2000. In 2001, the company added a Pottery Barn Kids web site, and a Pottery Barn online gift and bridal registry, and it opened five new retail stores in Toronto, Ontario. In line with its related diversification growth strategy, Williams-Sonoma tested a new catalog in summer 2002, under the West Elm brand. This new brand targeted young, design-conscious customers seeking to furnish first homes/apartments/lofts with quality furniture and accessories at affordable price points. West Elm product categories included furniture, decorative accessories, and an extensive textiles collection. In 2003, Williams-Sonoma expanded its catalog mailings for West Elm, added a web site, and opened its first retail store. Williams-Sonoma launched PB Teen with a catalog and web site in late April 2003. PB Teen was intended to fill the market space between Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids with hip, exclusively designed furniture, rugs, lighting, bedding, and accessories promoted with its catalog, interactive web site, special sales campaigns, and contests. The company’s newest concept, Williams-Sonoma Home, was introduced in third quarter 2004 to tap into what company Chairman William H. Lester noted had been an empty space between the Pottery Barn demographic and designer home furnishings. Lester hoped to position this brand extension as an upscale furniture concept that would be more classic and less fashion-forward than Pottery Barn. Dave DeMattei, Williams-Sonoma’s President of Emerging Brands, noted that the look of casual elegance was â€Å"aspirational,† using an industry term for a product that helps a consumer trade up without necessarily spending top dollar. This new home collection, put together by Steven Brady, former President for Home Design at Ralph Lauren Home, featured down-plumped sofas ranging from $2,200 to $5,800 and $3,000 leather headboards as well as crystal lamps, cashmere throws, and the upscale linens formerly featured in the company’s Chambers catalog. (The company planned to fold the Chambers catalog into the Williams-Sonoma Home catalog.) Although some industry watchers questioned whether consumers would be willing to buy somewhat pricey furnishing sight-unseen, the company’s alliances with decorators, who would get trade discounts, were expected to help overcome initial resistance. The first Williams-Sonoma Home retail stores were expected to open early in 2 005. Retail Stores As of September 2004, Williams-Sonoma operated a total of 522 retail stores located in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and Toronto, Ontario: 242 Williams-Sonoma, 176 Pottery Barn, 82 Pottery Barn Kids, 7 Hold Everything, 1 West Elm, and 14 outlet stores. The company leased rather than owned its retail space. As of September 2004, the company’s gross leased square feet totaled 4,292,000, with 2,705,000 â€Å"selling† square feet. Lease terms ranged from 3 to 23 years. The average square feet per retail location increased from 7,660 in 2002 to 8,200 by August 2004, as the company replaced older, smaller Pottery Barn stores with larger stores carrying a wider variety of merchandise, including furniture. Direct-to-Customer Operations The direct-to-customer segment sold a variety of products through eight catalogs and e-commerce web sites. The company sent its catalogs to addresses from its proprietary customer lists as well as to names it received in exchange (or purchases) from other mail-order merchandisers, magazines, and other companies. The direct-to-customer business complemented the retail business by building customer awareness of the brand and acting as an effective promotional vehicle. Williams-Sonoma also used its catalogs and e-commerce sites as a cost-efficient means of testing market acceptance of new products. As of 2004, of the eight merchandising concepts, the Pottery Barn brand and its extensions had been the major source of sales growth in this segment for the previous several years. A good deal of Pottery Barn’s success was attributed to its ability to create a â€Å"lifestyle brand.† A brand gained â€Å"lifestyle† status via style, innovation, and appeal to customers who wanted to lead a particular style of life; in short, it allowed the company to reach a higher level in terms of the connection it made with the customer. Facilities/Locations Williams-Sonoma leased centralized distribution facilities in Olive Branch, Mississippi (2,152,000 square feet), and Memphis, Tennessee (1,515,000 square feet), and call centers in Las Vegas, Oklahoma City, and Camp Hill, Pennsylvania (approximately 36,000 square feet in each location). Distribution centers served both the company’s retail locations and fulfillment operations. The company also leased office, warehouse, design/photo studio, and data center space in California, New York, and Florida. In February, Williams-Sonoma purchased headquarters offices in San Francisco. Suppliers The company’s sourcing strategy included relationships with manufacturers in over 40 countries. Approximately 58% of merchandise purchases were from non-U.S. vendors, most of which were located in Europe and Asia. Substantially all of the company’s foreign purchases of merchandise were negotiated and paid for in U.S. dollars. Any event causing a sudden disruption or delay of imports from foreign vendors, including the imposition of additional import restrictions, restrictions on the transfer of funds and/or increased tariffs or quotas, or both, against home-centered items could increase the cost or reduce merchandise availability. No supplier accounted for more than 4% of Williams-Sonoma’s total purchases. Finance In fiscal 2003 (fiscal year ended February 1, 2004), Williams-Sonoma reported a 16.7% increase in net revenues over the prior year, the highest pretax operating margin and earnings per share in the company’s history and an increasing return on assets. Williams-Sonoma’s profit for the quarter ended August 1, 2004, jumped 55% as sales surged at the company’s Pottery Barn and outlet stores. Revenue for second quarter 2004 increased 19%, to $689.6 million, with direct-to-customer sales up an impressive 27%. Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids drove second quarter retail growth with same-store sales increases of 10.2%; however, same-store sales at the company’s Williams-Sonoma stores slid 1.6%. The closing price for Williams-Sonoma stock on October 14, 2004, was $36.33. (Note: Williams-Sonoma’s annual and quarterly reports and SEC filings are available via the company’s web site, www.williams-sonomainc.com, and www.wsj.com ) The Industry The specialty retail business was highly competitive and characterized by a number of challenges, including: Anticipating and quickly responding to changing consumer demands Maintaining favorable brand recognition and effectively marketing products to consumers in diverse market segments Developing innovative, high-quality products in colors and styles that appealed to consumers of varying age groups and tastes Competitively pricing products and achieving customer perception of value Providing strong and effective marketing support Specialty retail exhibited the low entry barriers characteristic of fragmented industries, barriers that may be all but eliminated with the increased popularity of the Internet. Favored products for online shopping included computers, books, CDs, electronics, toys, and housewares. Over time, industry analysts expected catalog retailing to merge with e-tailing as web sites become electronic catalogs. For successful companies with strong brand names, the combination of stores and web sites would be a powerful one; however, expenditures for e-commerce sites would hurt profitability in the short run. Competitors Williams-Sonoma’s specialty retail stores, mail-order catalogs, and Internet web sites competed with other retail stores, other mail-order catalogs, and other e-commerce web sites that marketed similar lines of merchandise. The company competed with national, regional, and local businesses as well as traditional furniture stores, department stores and specialty stores. The substantial sales growth in the direct-to-customer industry within the past decade had encouraged both the entry of new competitors and an increase in competition from established companies. Direct competitors included such national companies as Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Pier 1 Imports, and Bombay Company, as well as regional companies such as the Door Store, Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, Home Elements, and Expressions. Crate & Barrel A counterculture story of the 1960s, Crate & Barrel opened its first store in Chicago’s Old Town in 1962 and mailed its first catalog in 1967. Privately held Crate & Barrel prided itself on designing beautiful store displays that were difficult to copy and worked diligently to find products from smaller, out-of-the way factories that made beautiful products that consumers could afford. Although the company had significantly fewer brick-and-mortar locations (84 retail and outlet stores) than the Williams-Sonoma retail concepts with which it competed, Crate & Barrel marketed nationwide via its catalogs and web site. Restoration Hardware Restoration Hardware grew from just 20 stores in 1997 to 104 at the end of 2001, barely 37 behind Pottery Barn in brick-and-mortar locations; however, the company had had a difficult time managing growth. Its aggressive expansion between 1998 and 2000 cost it two years of profits and sank the value of its stock to as low as $.50 a share in December 2000, from $37 a share in 1998, the year it went public. The closing price for its stock on May 19, 2002, was $10.19. Both Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn sold high-dollar, vintage-style furniture and home furnishings and had many other characteristics in common, including significant growth in direct-to-customer sales. Industry observers estimated that while Pottery Barn targeted the wealthiest 20% of Americans, Restoration Hardware targeted the wealthiest 10%. Whimsical nostalgia had been a big seller for Restoration Hardware for several years, with such items as retro tools, steamer chairs that could have come straight from the set of Titanic, shot glasses decorated with optometrists’ eye charts, and down-filled â€Å"foot duvets† proving hugely popular with shoppers. Restoration Hardware’s not-so-secret weapon in the battle for upscale customers could well have been Gary Friedman. In spring 2001, Friedman, who managed Pottery Barn’s explosive growth in the 1990s, was named CEO of Restoration Hardware after having been passed over for the top job at Williams-Sonoma. Pier 1 Imports Pier 1 Imports comprised three chains of retail stores operating under the names Pier 1 Imports, The Pier, and Cargo. Products offered included a wide variety of furniture, decorative home furnishings, dining and kitchen goods, bath and bedding, and other specialty items for the home. During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2004 (fiscal 2003), it operated 1,015 Pier 1 stores in the United States and 68 Pier 1 stores in Canada, and it also supported 8 franchised stores in the United States. In addition, it operated 29 stores located in the United Kingdom under the name The Pier and 40 Cargokids stores located in the United States. Pier 1 also supplied merchandise, and it licensed the Pier 1 Imports name to Sears Mexico and Sears Puerto Rico, which sold Pier 1 merchandise in a store-within-a-store format in 20 Sears Mexico stores and in 7 Sears Puerto Rico stores. The Bombay Company The Bombay Company’s retail stores and catalog emphasized classic traditional furniture, wall decor, and accessories. Furniture included both wood and metal ready-to-assemble furniture designed for the bedroom, living room, dining room, and home office. Functional and decorative accessories included lamps, jewelry, baskets, candles, scents, ceramics, frames, and desktop items. Wall decor included prints and mirrors. On January 31, 2004, the company operated 415 stores in 42 states and 56 stores in 9 Canadian provinces, as well as 46 outlet stores. The company viewed the outlets as an opportunity to increase sales to a different customer base, to assist in the orderly clearance of merchandise, and to further capitalize on its strength in designing and sourcing proprietary products. Accessories, the broadest category offered by the company, accounted for 43% of sales in 2003, while large furniture accounted for 31%, and ready-to-assemble products 14%, with wall decor accounting for the remaining 12%. Door Store The privately held Door Store operated nine retail locations in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Its products included contemporary and traditional case goods and upholstered furniture; it competed with both Pottery Barn and Hold Everything. The company’s product strategy was to anticipate trends in furniture and to make quality furniture available to style-conscious customers at â€Å"prices almost too good to be true.† The Door Store also marketed via its web site and shipped nationwide. Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium This privately held franchise kitchen and housewares concept, with headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, had store locations in regional and upscale malls in Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. In addition to retail sales, the company marketed nationwide via catalogs and its web site. The Rolling Pin competed with Williams-Sonoma. Other Competitors Other competitors across retail concepts included local and regional furniture and specialty stores, department stores, and direct-ship manufacturers. Williams-Sonoma’s expansion from the kitchen into the rest of the home with its flagship brand via the new Williams-Sonoma Home concept was expected to reorder a landscape dominated by traditional retailers such as Ethan Allen and Room & Board and by â€Å"tastemakers† such as Martha Stewart for Bernhardt and Ralph Lauren Home.