Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Essays - DraftHolzner, Anton

In our daily life we pass by many things, sometimes we give them attention by observing then in a way that our minds are set to and sometimes we don?t even bother to look. We might see and find the beauty in these things using the ways of knowledge such as reason, emotion and languages. When I think of these things I come to conclusion that they must belong to a certain area of knowledge such as science, religion, arts and mathematics. However in order to examine these things we need the ways of knowledge, so after all the areas of knowledge depends on the ways of knowledge. Most of the times it turns out that not every person on earth looks at the things as others do. As it is said in the claim ?we see and understand things not as they are but as we are?. I believe there is more than one vision for each thing. As it is said ?Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?. On the other side when it comes to maths there is always an answer that we are certain off which we can?t disregard and we can?t argue about such as 5+5=10, it is well known that the result is 10 to everyone and no one can come up with a different answer, which means that we see things as they are. But when it is about the methods we used to reach the theories which might differ from one person to another, allowing the person to think of theories as what he is not as others. When I want to do bunji jumping I Choose to experience it because to me I think that it is not a risky thing to do, while to many other people it might look to them as the most dangerous experience of life. So in that case I would be following my emotions about this certain things and destroy the doubts of others. A way of knowledge is the reason by which we observe and look at all things. For example in the area of the knowledge , we sometimes look at the art work and try to understand it the way the artist expl ained it but deep inside what really matters is the first impression about it weather it?s good or not and we try to think of it as it appears in front of our eyes. In addition to that we can use our emotions to look at the painting and understand it, what does it mean to us? What do you feel about the colours? For example when I look at a painting where it is full of blue colors I would feel extremely lonely and as a result I will feel the anger in the painting. On the other side the artist might have used the color blue to portray the feel of peacefulness. So it is our emotions that help us to understand the world in a different way than others. My mood can play a major role in understanding the painting because when I am in a good mood I would see the colors in a cheerful way while I am in a bad mood I would see them as outrageous thing which will somehow effect my opinion in the paining .In conclusion my feelings and my mood can greatly effect my opinion about the painting.Our culture can play a great role in our understanding of the painting and in the way we see this painting, for example I am a girl who lives in a preservative family where my parents have taught me not to look at nude painting. So when I look at a nude painting I would find it very interesting no matter how bad the artist was because I have never seen a naked body before, so for me the idea of such a painting draws my attention to the max, so my judgment on the painting would differ from the judgment of others. The language can also affect my opinion a painting be cause the way that I communicate with others in order to understand their ideas can be effective, for example I can never understand what

Apple Inc Case Study Essays

Apple Inc Case Study Essays Apple Inc Case Study Paper Apple Inc Case Study Paper Operational Balanced Scorecard: Apple, Inc. Increasing customer expectations and a rapidly changing market are continually putting pressure on Apple to maintain a balanced scorecard. From the information reviewed, it is evident both financial and non-financial measures of Apple operations constitute the management of their strategic decisions and evaluations of the cost of quality measures. Using the balanced scorecard approach to define the financial positioning of Apple creates a clear picture as to what they can and should measure to balance the financials accordingly. It is a management system that enables them to illuminate their corporate strategy, mission, and vision- and put them into action, while providing current feedback for improving performance and results. The Learning and Growth Perspective In today’s fast-paced world of swift technological change, the level of knowledge and training held by Apple’s employees is imperative to their ability to remain a key competitor in a highly competitive market. Yahoo! Finance Investor Relations illustrates some qualities of the non-financial measures of Apple’s balanced scorecard in respect to the Learning and Growth perspective. It is necessary for employees to be in a continuous learning mode, and it is evident through Apple’s recent investments in training their rapidly growing number of employees. As of 2010, Apple Inc. employed 49,400 employees on a full time basis. That number has risen 34. 2% from 2009, a clear reflection of company efforts to foster formidable growth through innovations, development, and market ability. Employee satisfaction is also relatively high at Apple. Their â€Å"Think Different† philosophy is evident through all levels of operations, from product development and marketing, to the corporate culture amongst employees. According to PC Mag, â€Å"Steve Jobs has passed away, but Apple employees will remember him fondly. When Jobs left Apple in August, he had one of the highest approval ratings for a chief executive by his employees, as documented by Glassdoor. com. Employee empowerment at Apple creates an opportunity for Apple employees to express their creativity through innovative design and foster continual improvements on a business process, customer, and financial measures perspective. Apple’s success is heavily reliant on the intelligence and abilities of their employees. It is imperative Apple continue to promote employee empowerment, boast low employee turnover, and generate high employee satisfaction, as the Learning and Growth perspective establishes the foundation of a balanced scorecard. Continually improving performance in the Learning and Growth perspective will enable Apple to improve its Internal Processes, and therefore increase customer satisfaction, and generate better financial performance. The Business Process Perspective Internal business processes are imperious in Apple’s ability to evaluate their business and understand whether they are meeting and exceeding their customer expectations. In July, 2011 Steve Jobs said â€Å"We’re thrilled to deliver our best quarter ever, with revenue up 82 percent and profits up 125 percent†. Considerable growth and record profits are a clear indication that internal processes at Apple are working effectively. Apple’s ability to conform to customer requirements at an internal level are illustrated through their success and double-digit revenue growth. The Customer Perspective Apple operates in different market segments with their multiple personal computing products, mobile communication and media devices, and portable digital music players. The customers are at the heart of Microsoft’s operations. From reviewing Apple’s 2011 third quarter results, it is clear from increased revenues in three out of four of their market segments are reporting growth in revenues. Although revenue growth is not the sole indicator of customer satisfaction, it is clear their good financial performance is directly related to their decision to target specific customer segments, while distinguishing their customer needs and wants throughout each segment, thus creating future value. According to NY Times, â€Å"In the last decade, Apple has redefined the music business through the iPod, the cellphone business through the iPhone and the entertainment and media world through the iPad. Again and again, Mr. Jobs gambled that he knew what the customer would want, and again and again he was right. † Exponential growth in each of these market segments illustrates a high level of customer satisfaction. Consistent improvement of design qualities have led to increased revenue growth. To Steve Jobs, â€Å"Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works. † Financial Perspective The financial perspective demonstrates the customary need for financial data to be manipulated through metrics in a way that illustrates the fitness of Apple’s core businesses. This information is imperative for Apple to publish to their shareholders and potential investors. As Apple Inc. is a publically traded company, their financial data is available online. Investors can look for potential risks facing the company, which may or may not deter potential investors. The following is an excerpt from Investor Relations, Earnings and Financials; Third quarter results for 2011 illustrate Apple’s ability to create increasing shareholder value. We’re thrilled to deliver our best quarter ever, with revenue up 82 percent and profits up 125 percent†¦We are extremely pleased with our performance which drove quarterly cash flow from operations of $11. 1 billion, an increase of 131 percent year-over-year,† said Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s CFO. Looking ahead to the fourth fiscal quarter of 2011, we expect revenue of about $25 billion and we expect diluted earnings per share of about $5. 50. † Increases in operating income from productivity gain, operating income from growth and revenue growth allow Apple Inc. o manage their costs and unused capacity and build strong customer relationships, resulting in increased shareholder value. Costs of Controlling Quality vs. Costs of not Controlling Quality According to the text from class, â€Å"The American Society for Quality defines quality as the total features and characteristics of a product or service made or performed according to specifications to satisfy customers at the time of purchase and during use. † There is no doubt that Apple is a successful company. From reviewing the Apples’ financial statements, it is clear Apple has cornered the market on â€Å"cool†. Apple has bravely marketed themselves as a company that makes products that â€Å"just work. † However, this success does come at a cost. Costs of Controlling Quality Prevention Cost: Apple, Inc. According to AppleMatters. com, â€Å"In terms of hardware, Apples success is overloading its own Quality Control. With manufacturers that need to produce a record number of Macs, iPods, iPhones, and accessories, it is without a doubt that some testers overlook several tests in order to ship out as many Apple products as possible to the world. By appealing to business, education and the general consumer, Apples products reach a larger target audience than other computer manufacturers, requiring more units to be produced and shipped as soon as possible. † Maintaining consistency in quality in regards to Apple suppliers, design engineering, and testing of new materials is imperative to the future success of Apple. Investments in research and development and quality control are an example of one of Apple Inc. prevention Costs. From the material reviewed, it is evident that Apple has invested considerable amounts of their time and money into RD. The calculated estimate is that these investment costs will create future revenue growth through the reduction of internal and external failure costs incurred by re-work and spoilage, and customer support, while increasing value in their value chain. Appraisal Cost Apple Inc. is well known for their high quality products, and quality control is imperative to their success. The costs of quality (COQ) Apple incurs to prevent the production of low quality products is high, as they differentiate themselves from their competitors. Jobs  obsesses about competitors and forces his employees to do the same, to make sure Apple doesn’t grow complacent  he pushes all products to have leading edge components. Mr. Jobs  embraces Disruption, doesn’t fear seeing it in his company, doesn’t mind it amongst his people, and works to create it in his markets. And he makes sure Apple constantly keeps White Space projects open and working to see what works with customers – testing and trying new things all the time  in the marketplace. Just as investments in testing and RD are an example of controlling the cost of quality (COQ), Apple’s process of inspecting the goods before sale is an example of a COQ and can be referenced as an appraisal cost. The continual process of managing Apple’s COQ, such as the inspection of finished goods will ensure decreases in the costs of not conforming to quality standards, in respect to external failure costs, including warranty repair and customer support, maintaining their high levels of current customer satisfaction and fostering further growth opportunities. With the amazing success of Apple Inc. ver the last decade and rumors of new products on the way, Apples Quality Control will need to grow and continue to expand to maintain Apples standards of products that just work. Apple Inc. in the Context of the Theory of Constraints In context to the Theory of Constraints, and according to material reviewed regarding Apple Inc. , it is clear the company strives to maximize their â€Å"throughput† while minimizing their operating expenses for labor, sales, and administration, while simultaneously decreasing investment costs incurred from inventories, plant and equipment. In the market for technology, Apple faces the biggest bottleneck, created by the increasingly demanding market for new technology and innovations. Early adopters of technology want the products Apple Inc. produces yesterday, respectfully. There is tremendous pressure for Apple to continue to produce the most innovative products in a time-sensitive matter in order to meet the needs and wants of their customers, foster future growth and capitalize over competitors. When there is a delay, such as in the production level incurred by a potential supplier shortage for a component part, or lack of quality from a particular supplier, Apple’s system performs at a lower rate than the rest of the production system, and the system fails to operate at maximum capacity. Internal inspection of supplier products must be inspected prior to being used by Apple to produce their products, and because the delay would translate into a low production level, and increase costs everywhere else, the point of limited production becomes the source of the bottleneck. The bottleneck in this example for Apple could be solved by ensuring there is more than one supplier, or increasing the level of quality control for internal inspection, as to reduce the risks of experiencing a bottleneck in production because of the supplier shortages or lack of quality control from the component parts, while being able to react swiftly to potential risk factors and maintaining their production system efficiently and effectively. Critical Success Factors: Apple, Inc. Cost and efficiency, quality, time, and innovation are the critical success factors that can make or break a company. Customers expect companies to exploit the benefits of maximizing their critical success factors through the value chain. The competition in the software market and in the rapidly changing technological market is fierce, and it is clear Apple Inc. stands strong throughout their decision making process concerning their cost and efficiency, quality, time, and innovation. Cost and Efficiency From analyzing Apple Inc. SEC findings, it is evident they intend on creating value in the value chain to customers through ability to produce highly differentiated products at a low cost in regards to RD, while simultaneously producing products at a relatively low cost to consumers. The figure below illustrates Apple’s level of RD investment in respect to other key competitors. RD expenditures at Apple are merely 2% of overall Revenue. This is five times lower than Google and six times lower than Microsoft. Figure 1. It is clear Apple has made considerable investments towards the level of their cost and efficiency, a low cost in respect to performing the activity in the value chain function. It is clear the benefits in sales revenues and customer relationship acquisition and management at Apple Inc. are complimented through their low levels of investment in their RD, separating them from their key competitors, and thus giving them a competitive advantage in the market. Quality â€Å"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected. † Steve Jobs. Quality is what has separated Apple from the competition year after year. Record breaking revenues are an indication that Apple’s customers keep coming back for more. Apple’s success can be seen through their unprecedented levels of quality at a cost affordable to the mass consumer market. According to the text used in class, Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis, quality as a key success factor is defined as the philosophy behind total quality management (TQM), in which â€Å"†¦management improves operations throughout the value chain to deliver products and services that exceed expectations. TQM encompasses designing the product or service to meet the needs and wants of customers, as well as making products with zero (or minimal) defects and waste and with low inventories. † Time The time it takes to develop user friendly hi-tech products is imperative to Apple’s success in the fast paced market of hi-tech products and software development. The speed in which Apple produces products is what has defined and created their image thus far. Short product life cycles are communal throughout the market, and Apple Inc. is constantly being pressured to be first in industry in the market year over year. Innovation Steve Jobs on Apple, Inc. â€Å"A lot of companies have chosen to downsize, and maybe that was the right thing for them. We chose a different path. Our belief was that if we kept putting great products in front of customers, they would continue to open their wallets. † Innovation is the final key success factor. Without innovation, Apple would be worthless. â€Å"A constant flow of innovative products or services is the basis for ongoing company success. The management accountant helps managers evaluate alternative investment decisions and RD decisions. As cited above from the text used in class, innovation breeds success. Apple’s success is largely due to their ability to be very calculated in decision making pertaining to investments of time and money in their RD. In the many examples of innovation Apple has demonstrated through their products, it is evident Apple Inc. is aware of the market needs and wants and is consistently capable on capitalizing on the opportunities that come from being a market leader with the newest and â€Å"coolest† products. To Steve Jobs, â€Å"Design is not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works. Over the past decade, Apple has launched five legitimately groundbreaking innovations: The iPod. The elegant MP3 player that started Apples decade of disruption. iTunes. Beautiful software with a powerful business model that showed that people would, in fact, pay for music if the price was right and the interface was simple enough. The iPhone. Dubbed the Jesus Phone by supporters, a smartphone that three years later still hasnt been matched by rivals. The AppExchange. Sure, no one needs 98 percent of the apps that Apple offers, but wow, what a selection. The Apple Store. The quietest part of Apples revolution, today close to $2 billion worth of goods move through Apple revolutionary stores. It is very evident through the success over the last decade that Apple consistently exceeds the mark on innovation again and again, even in a market that is highly competitive and dominated by other very strong competitors. References: http://biz. yahoo. com/ic/12/12644. html pcmag. com/article2/0,2817,2391785,00. asp#fbid=-03YEURba_U apple. com/pr/library/2011/07/19Apple-Reports-Third-Quarter-Results. html http://files. shareholder. com/downloads/AAPL/1432412872x0xS1193125-10-238044/320193/filing. pdf apple. com/pr/library/2011/07/19Apple-Reports-Third-Quarter-Results. html http://topics. nytimes. com/top/news/business/companies/apple_computer_inc/index. html hobo-web. co. uk/the-best-steve-jobs-quotes-putting-a-ding-in-the-universe/ apple. com/pr/library/2011/07/19Apple-Reports-Third-Quarter-Results. html Horngren, C. T. , Datar, S. M. , and Rajan, M. (2012). Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Fourteenth Edition. applematters. com/article/apples-quality-control-is-overloaded/ applematters. com/article/apples-quality-control-is-overloaded/ quora. com/Apple-Inc-2/Why-is-Apples-R-D-budget-so-low-relative-to-competitors quora. com/Apple-Inc-2/Why-is-Apples-R-D-budget-so-low-relative-to-competitors Horngren, C. T. , Datar, S. M. , and Rajan, M. (2012). Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Fourteenth Edition. ISBN: 978-0-13-210917 Horngren, C. T. , Datar, S. M. , and

Case Study 2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Case Study 2 - Research Paper Example This part of the strategy is in keeping with low cost merchandise. Costco also only purchases certain sizes, colors, and fast moving inventory. This part of the design is to avoid keeping inventory that customers will not be interested in buying. In doing this inventory will always be moving out of the door and thus the company will always have a high inventory turnover. Not only is Costco specific in terms of choosing the characteristics of the products but Costco actually keeps a small amount of products on hand in order to avoid an inefficient number of products that are slow-moving or become unable to move. One part of the model that is concerning is that there is a lack of serious competitors in the membership warehouse business. I would be concerned with the possible effect of new competition and the growth of current firms like Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale. Another concern I would have with Costco is the large holding of the land and warehouses. Certainly this could be though t of as a benefit for the company but with the recent drop in real estate prices the value of the property could fall and thus be less able to sell in the future with 150,000 sq. ft. warehouses on the land. On the other hand the land is purchased on low priced land, not necessarily in high traffic areas which would be a positive if the real estate price dropped, since it would be less likely to drop significantly. This is a a great business model because not only is the company able to sell a high amount of inventory in a short amount of time, but Costco is also able to finance inventory purchases through their vendors, thus avoiding long term debt. This allows them to pass on the discounts to the customer which in turn causes the volume and higher revenue. 2. What are the chief elements of Costco’s strategy? How good is the strategy? Volume Purchasing is one of the main elements of Costco's strategy. By purchasing in large amounts Costco is able to realize discounted prices from vendors. Not only that, due to discount pricing Costco is able to sell all of the merchandise before payment is due. By doing this Costco can realize their profit before paying for merchandise while avoiding the need for financing. The Costco vendors are actually financing the sale of the merchandise which is the advantage of this strategy. Treasure-hunt merchandising which is a Costco phenomenon where Costco purchasing agents search for deals that the Costco members would find desirable and stock the shelves with this product that will sell out quickly. The merchandise is purchased from wholesalers and retailers who are struggling and need to move old inventory. The inventory comes in deeply discounted even though the products are brand name products. By selling this deeply discounted merchandise Costco is able to lure in customers who love brand name products. Not only will customers purchase this merchandise but members will most likely be on the look out for such deals thus increasing the likelihood of a quick sale of the merchandise. Costco's business strategy also calls for less marketing through expensive channels such as television and radio. Instead Costco utilizes direct marketing which is not only less expensive but also very personal. The company opens up a store and directly calls companies, individuals and employee's in big

Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gastrointestinal Diseases - Research Paper Example Further, the paper will explain the different ways of treating the gastrointestinal diseases, and end with a summative conclusion. The gastrointestinal diseases to be discussed include Constipation, Inflammatory Bowel disease, and Colon Cancer. Constipation. Contraction Constipation is an ailment of the digestive tract where the patient excretes hard feces. Constipation is a common disease that affects almost everyone in at least one time of their life. Several factors contribute to the problem including lack of fibers in an individual diet. The other factors are severe dehydration, excessive stress and sickness (www.wisegeek.com). It is imperative to note that other grave gastrointestinal diseases can cause constipation; thus, constipation can be a symptom to a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases. Effects to the body Constipation causes the movement of large intestines to stop or slow down. The movement of the large intestines is beneficial because it pushes food down the digest ive tract into the rectum. This results to retention of feces in the body because the hardened fecal matter becomes extremely painful to remove from the digestive tract (www.prokerala.com). This condition makes an individual spend long minutes in the rest room trying to get rid of fecal matter. Constipation can cause bruises to the colon and damage to the anal sphincter because the indigested matter comes out as hard as a stone. A painful aftermath may follow defecation because of bruising in the colon lining (Johnston 121). Treatment Treatment of constipation is less involving and less expensive. A patient should take some measures that reduce susceptibility to constipation (McMillan 12). Individuals can relieve constipation by taking plenty of water and other helpful fluids like soup. Secondly, the individual should consume food with plenty of fibers to ease the problem. Patients should exercise regularly to strengthen the stomach muscles and the general welfare of the body (McMil lan 13). If the condition does not ease within a few days, a patient can visit a doctor who will prescribe the most appropriate treatment. A doctor can recommend a laxative to a patient who is suffering from constipation for more than four days. However, laxatives have negative effects to the patient, and they may end up doing more harm than good. Inflammatory Bowel Disease Contraction There are various, dissimilar inflammatory bowel diseases that cause considerable inflammation of the digestive truck, tummy lining and colon (Johnston 123). However, the most widespread kinds of inflammatory bowel disease are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative Colitis. Patients contract these diseases after experiencing a considerable corrosion of the stomach lining and the lining of the digestive tract (Johnston 123). These corrosions result from excessive excretion of gastric juice that cleans up the protective mucus, and thus, exposing the delicate tissue of the stomach to the digestive juices. Research shows that, the problem can also result from bacterial infection of the digestive tract lining. Effects to the body Ulcerative Colitis patients develop inflammations and ulcers in their stomach, which leads to rectal bleeding, sore bowel movements, fatigue, dehydration and diarrhea (Podollsky 7). Severe pain may result after eating acidic foods or food items that are difficult to digest like kales.

Case study World Bank Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case study World Bank - Essay Example The Forbes Capital Hospitality Index (FCHI) measures macroeconomic indicators like GDP growth and international trade, along with societal factors affecting investment, including poverty, bureaucracy, technological advancement, and corruption." (Ravindran) World Bank has been actively involved in setting the right scene for economic development within countries on an international platform. There is a general agreement that corruption within the country can be controlled by taking active measures to involve civil societies, but the degree of involvement is still a matter of consideration. "Social marketing can make an important contribution to the creation of atmosphere in the public life that discourages fraud and corruption" (Kindra & Stapenburs, 1998) Social marketing can be used in public health campaigns (e.g., to reduce smoking and alcoholism, safe sex, and increasing physical fitness), environmental campaigns (e.g., fighting pollution, promoting recycling, saving water and power), education campaigns (to encourage literacy), and the protection of individual/group rights (e.g., racial and gender equality, gay and lesbian rights). Societal marketing based on ethical and philanthropic principle can achieve this dynamic change within a society, community and a country by raising the awareness of the citizens about the costs of the corruption to the country, addressing the concern about institutions within a country, increasing understanding regarding the factors of corruption within public behavior. World bank has taken a morally good stand to change the international scene for more humane endeavors, its contribution id noteworthy and has been a source of admiration and inspiration for many other world forums in guiding their decisions related to international trend in growth and expansion. The premier business publication said: "As access to capital markets around the world becomes commonplace for individual investors and multinational institutions alike, the race is on for countries to attract the foreign investment capital needed to fuel the engines of growth at home. Addressing this need for a "one-stop reference", Forbes began with a list of principles employed by the US Chamber of Commerce when considering international investments. FORBES has listed Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the US, the UK, Singapore, Australia, Estonia, Ireland, and New Zealand as the top 10 countries in the world in terms of capital hospitality. (Ravindran) ACT-UTILITARIANISM: Mill is an advocate of Utilitarian principle, Mill was especially impressed by the work of Jeremy Bentham. He agreed with Bentham when he argued in Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation (1789), that the proper objective of all conduct and legislation is "the greatest happiness of the greatest number". Mill became a Utilitarian and at the age of seventeen formed a discussion group called the utilitarian Society. Mill argues that the moral worth of actions is to be judged in terms of the consequences of those actions and our moral feelings often conflict with our inclinations of self-interest. He aimed to show humans the way the world is and how they could accommodate themselves to it and to one another. His aim was the improvement of humankind. His guide was the

Business Continuity Planning Pros and Cons

Business Continuity Planning Pros and Cons Advantages and Disadvantages of Business Continuity Planning In a Financial Organization under the Incident Command System Abstract This research paper is primarily focused on highlighting the specific pros and cons of a business continuity plan that is used in a financial organization under the incident management system. The advantages associated with the use of incident command systems in a BCP in any financial organization are paramount including being able to install preventive and corrective measures that can either reduce partial or complete impact in cases of disruptions. However still there exist some cons associated with its usage i.e. fast amounts of time required for its implementation, asset acquisition and in most cases the size of the organization might hinder the implementation of an incident command system. Introduction A business continuity plan is very critical in the facilitation of the smooth running of the organization or guidelines that can help recover from disruptions hence ensuring the provision of services even in cases of disturbances. The process focuses on assessment and identification of all the potential threats that might disrupt service delivery and their potential impacts with the aim of creating measures to ensure the resilience of the system. Technology should enable recovery of applications from disruptions and other critical data through the disaster recovery plan. An incident command system is the technical developments for a given company that entails its main functionality being to mitigate the impacts of the unforeseen incidents that can result in loss of critical data. Business continuity planning are corrective measures established in an organization or an institution to govern the daily and future activities within it (Ramakrishnan et al., 2015). These measures are for ensuring that there is smooth running of the necessary activities. Failure to establish the plan could lead to the company collapsing, low profit in the day to day sales or even shut down of the business which is a big loss to the business. Business continuity planning should be done to any organization that takes its customers or clients seriously. Continuous planning takes the owner of the business miles ahead of the other competitors within the same field (Heng, 2015). Advantages I. During planning the potential of the business booming up is established plus the possible weaknesses and challenges the company might face are outlined and effective solution are established in advance. II. The main advantage that any financial institution stands to gain from the use of an incident command system is the ability to identify potential threats and plan in advance hence avoiding suspension of critical financial operations. The threats might range from natural epidemics, cyber-attacks or just computer failures as a result of hardware or software issues. III. The financial organization has increased abilities to maintain effective coordination and to maintain the response directions. Besides, the organization can gain insights on the importance of coordination of resources and the ability to identify the incident priorities. IV. The financial institution has a good platform for testing and reviewing the most likely threat hence allowing for coordination of BCP with external stakeholders. V. The long-term use of incident command systems is an advantage in itself as it leads to gaining of experience hence I the long run will lead to higher efficiency in restoration and fast recoveries. However, the full implementation becomes a disadvantage as it is time-consuming. VI. The financial section of the organization if it implements the recovery systems well can work as a competitive advantage as it safeguards against financial losses of the organization VII. Although this is later on stipulated as a disadvantage, it can still be an advantage. Incident command system can be used to accomplish tasks that people couldnt do in disaster prone areas hence preventing payment disorder whereas reducing the risks associated with miscommunication between the responder. VIII. Embracing the current evolution computing technology brings efficient fast and timely delivery of the service given by the organization. This can help in record keeping and monitor the business activities. IX. Business continuity planning helps one in marking the best insurance cover that matches the criteria of business. The cover is of great help in case of disasters like fire or thefts or any other disaster that could strike the organization. X. Business continuity planning helps one building best platforms for marketing and branding of the business and products.one is in a position to establish the effective and most suitable mode of reaching out that is fault tolerant and can assure customers of uninterrupted service delivery. XI. The target audience is created. He/she is in a position to outline the reach people or group one is aiming at. This helps one avoid going out of the set individuals. Disadvantages Failure to do business continuity planning one is at a significant risk of either: I. The implementation process is often considered as tedious hence requiring professionals to handle it. Besides the organization has to employ qualified personnel to handle that. No business intends to invest heavily in preparing for unknown threats as they rather wait for it to happen then defend (Systems, 2012). II. The process of using incident command systems as a business continuity planning tool is both costly and time-consuming. This may lead to over investment of funds that could have otherwise been dedicated to other business operations. III. Business collapsing or failure that is as a result of poor management skills, techniques, and evaluation techniques. Hence, one is not in a position to establish the coming danger and ends up regretting the already outcome. IV. The death of individuals could occur after the fire, building collapsing where the insurance covers have been ignored, have not been implemented by professionals or due to lack of adequate testing of the possible scenarios. Conclusions The implementation of a business continuity plan through incident command systems has been faced with numerous advantages and disadvantages. Some of the benefits include; response, recognition of threats, competitive benefits, coordination mechanisms, experience and an excellent testing platform with the option testing and reviewing. The main disadvantages include the need for specialized skills in handling the recovery systems. In addition to this, small businesses cannot implement the system as this may result in losses through maintenance cost. However, analysis of the pros and cons suggests that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. All this indicates the importance for all financial institutions to implement the incident command system as part of the business continuity plan (Drennan, 2014). References Drennan, L., McConnell, A., Stark, A. (2014). Risk and crisis management in the public sector. 2nd ed. Routledge Taylor Francis Group London and New York. Heng, Goh Moh. (2015) Business Continuity Management Planning Methodology. International Journal Of Disaster Recovery And Business Continuity, vol 6, 2015, pp. 9-16. Science And Engineering Research Support Society, doi:10.14257/ijdrbc.2015.6.02. Ramakrishnan, R. K., Viswanathan, S. (2015). The Importance of Business Strategy in Business Continuity Planning. The Definitive Handbook of Business Continuity Management, 31-35. doi:10.1002/9781119205883.ch3 Systems, S. (2012) The CEOs Guide to Succession Planning: Managing Risk Ensuring Business Continuity. SSRN Electronic Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1633523

The Temporal Lobe and its Effects on Language Essay -- Neurology Neuro

The Temporal Lobe and its Effects on Language My paper has to due with the duties of a Neuropsychologists when examining damage or abnomalities to the Temporal lobe of the human brain and the various impairments that can happen to language. The temporal lobe is a vital area of the brain for many of the humans abilities such as memory and auditory processing, an also language. The neuropsychologist responsibility is for evaluating problems in this area when dealing with a client and implementing therapy solutions. Also the duties of a neuropsychologist are in the aspects of research and developing tools to assist people with temporal lobe malfunctions and other areas of the body too. This paper will delve into these functions of a neuropsychologist and how the practitioner uses these tools to assist people with the various afflictions that arise from problems in the human temporal lobe. A pivotal area of the temporal lobe and language comprehension is the Wernike’s area. When theirs damage to this section of the brain a condition related to language problems is known as Wernike’s Aphasia. Aphasia is known as a severe language impairment but with this version the person is still able to speak fluently but are unable to comprehend written and spoken language. (Kalat, 2005) The principal signs of aphasia are impairments in the ability to express oneself when speaking, trouble understanding speech, and difficulty with reading and writing. Aphasia is most often the result of stroke or head injury, but can also occur in other neurological disorders, such as brain tumor or Alzheimer's disease. The effects of aphasia differ from person to person, and can sometimes b... ...areas of the brain. Unfortunately my client’s condition has not improved from the help of these professionals, and treatments for him are almost to a stand still or non-existent. Works Cited Aphasia.org (2005). Introduction to Aphasia. Retrieved May 2,2005. From Aphasia.org. Appel, A. (1997) What is a Neuropsychologist. Retrieved April 23, 2005. From tbidoc.com. British Medical Association. (2003). Mesial temporal sclerosis lobe epilepsy. Retrieved April 24, 2005. From WWW.info-trac.com. Kalat, J. (2004). Biological Psychology. 8Th edition, Chapter 15.3. Martin, R.C. (2003). Language processing: functional organization and neuroanatomical. Annual Review of Psychology. Annual 2003 p55(35). NewsRX. (2001). Area of Language Recovery in Brain Imaged. Pain & Central Nervous System Week. Jan 13, 2001 p14.

Adolescent Sexual Behavior Essay

Introduction Adolescent sexual behavior refers to sexual feelings, behavior, and development in adolescents. It is a stage of human sexuality. The sexual behavior of adolescents is influenced by their culture’s norms and mores, their sexual orientation and the issues of social control. Sexuality is a cultural issue. For humans, sex is a matter of cultural meaning and personal choice than biological programming. Costs and Benefits of Sexual Behavior According to a 2004 study, the rates of adolescent sexual intercourse and birth rates to teenagers in the United States have declined, but a majority of adolescents have been engaging in sexual intercourse before completing high school. 42% of high school students did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter and 14% engaged in sexual activity with approximately four partners. Reducing adolescent sexual activity and the risk for sexually transmitted diseases is a priority under Healthy People 2010, a set of health objectives for the nation to achieve over the first decade of the new century. (Deptula, Shoeny, Slavick, 35) Studies show that there is a link between sexual attitudes and sexual behavior. Attitudes are related to condom use and sexual activity is for both younger and older adolescents. Not surprisingly, high school students reported that positive attitudes toward sex were related to engagement in sexual activity. It was particularly concerning sexual pleasure. Worries about pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections were related to condom use. Theories suggest that attitudes are a key part in the process of making behavioral decisions. The Health Belief Model, a psychological model that attempts to explain and predict health behaviors, is determined by focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of individual. The Decisional Balance model postulates that behavioral decisions are made by assessing and comparing relative gains or losses associated with behavioral engagement. The factors include: costs for the individual and  significant others as well as approval from oneself and significant others. In a study that examined the Costs and Benefits of condom use it was found that the ratings for perceived behavioral costs of protection remained constant over time while perceived benefits of birth control and condom use were associated with behavior change. (Deptula, Shoeny, Slavick, 35) The relation between attitudes and sexual decision-making may also be influenced by the impact of demographic factors such as age, gender, and religion, on attitudes. Boys had more positive attitudes towards sex than girls and girls had more positive views of abstinence. Males also had more liberal attitudes towards premarital casual sex and anxiety, fear and guilt concerning sexuality. They were also more likely to report greater benefits associated with sexual activities than females. Despite the gender differences in attitudes, the beliefs that each held are important predictors for both males and females. Attitudes towards sex become more positive with age and the gender differences in attitudes decreased with age. When an analyses conducted to determine is attitudes words sexual activity were majorly associated with engaging in sexual behavior, it was revealed that adolescents who had never engaged in sexual activity reported more cost associated with intercourse and fewer benefits compared to those who were sexually active. Engagement in sexual activity was linked to a perception of lower costs and greater benefits for intercourse. The primary purpose of the study was to determine which two aspects of attitudes, cost and benefits, predicted parallel and future sexual activity. The effects of costs were equivalent, if not stronger than benefits. The study also suggested that the perception of costs and benefits were both influential in adolescents’ decisions to engage in sexual activity. Based on the theory of Decisional Balance, it is expected that adolescents who decided to engage in sexual activity would report fewer costs and greater benefits associated with having sex, which is somewhat supported by the study. When the likelihood of intercourse was 50%, the awareness of costs was greater than the awareness of benefits. It appears that although  costs still outweigh benefits, adolescents still engage in sexual activity, suggesting that there are other factors that play a role in the decision to have sex. (Deptula, Shoeny, Slavick, 41) The results of the studies have important suggestions for prevention. The start of sexual activity was predicted by both costs and benefits attitudes. Perception of costs was slightly more influential than benefits in prediction later sexual initiation. It is suggested that both of those dimensions be targeted in order to successfully delay adolescent engagement in sexual activity. In studying the costs, it was revealed that its main focus was on teenage pregnancy. The benefits included social status, personal pleasure and interpersonal connection. The study also revealed that females with high cognitive abilities reports more benefits associated with sex while males with lower cognitive abilities reported fewer costs. The Way Teens Define Sex There is certainly a divide between the teenagers of today and generations before them. The divide has to do with what each generation considers to be sex. According to research done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of 15- to 19-year olds are engaging in oral sex. Adults say that is a form of sex, but teenagers do not see it that way. A 19-year old sophomore in college stated, â€Å"For most teens, the only form of sex is penetration, and anything else doesn’t count. You can have oral sex and be a virgin,† while most adults consider oral sex as something that is extremely intimate. Sarah Brown, director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy said, â€Å"What we’re learning here is that adolescents are redefining what is intimate.† Teenagers view oral sex as something that is quite casual so it doesn’t need to be done while in a relationship. (Jayson, 1) Psychologist David Walsh stated that the brain is wired to develop intense physical and emotional attraction during the teenage years as a part of the maturing process and he is disturbed by the way that the media portrays casual sex because it gives teenagers a false image on true intimacy. (Jayson, 2) When a parent discovers that their child in engaging in oral sex, they aren’t sure what to think because of the way that teens are so nonchalant about it and parents weren’t usually doing that as teenagers. This could also be due to the fact that many parents do not believe that their child is the one who engages in such things. The definition of abstinence is changing as well. Everyone has a different definition of sexual abstinence. The most common meaning of sexual abstinence is not having any type of sexual intercourse. Abstinence is often linked with how recently a sexual behavior has occurred. If a certain sexual activity did not occur recently, many teens would describe themselves as abstinent, regardless of their sexual history, while others still define it as not doing anything sexual. It just depends on who you are. The Media’s Influence on Sexual Behavior The mass media is becoming the easiest way for young people to learn about sexual behavior and see it as well. Perhaps it is so influential because the teenage years are when we develop our own sexual beliefs and behaviors and parents are very reluctant to talk about sexual issues. The average adolescent spends six to seven hours using media ranging from television to books. That number could be higher by now because most adolescents now have televisions, computers, DVD players and some sort of audio system in their rooms and other parts of their homes besides their living rooms. Much of the media that adolescents are exposed to include sexual imagery but rarely portray consequences of risky sexual encounters or healthy sexual messages. Many health professionals believe that mass media content showing casual sex with no consequences has resulted in a host of negative behaviors among teens who may be persuaded that teen sexual activity is something â€Å"everyone† does.(Hart, 4) Although data shows that adolescents use media very frequently, mass media influences are rarely included as important contexts for adolescents’ sexual socialization. Researchers suggest that media influences showed consistent and significant  association with early adolescent sexual intentions and behaviors. Being male was associated with greater sexual intentions and activity. No religious variable in the study was associated with sexual intentions of behaviors. Perceived sexual permission from the media was also associated with sexual intentions, light sexual activity, and heavy sexual activity. (L’Engle, Brown, Kenneavy, 191) The findings of the study also showed that adolescents who are exposed to more sexual content in their media diets are more likely to engage in sexual intercourse in the near future. The media serves as a â€Å"super peer† for adolescents who wish to seek information about sexuality because it is easily accessible. It has also been said that the information that they receive from the media is different from what they learn from other sexual socialization agents such as parents, school and religion. Media programming rarely shows negative consequences from sexual behavior and depictions of condom and contraception use are very rare, making media users more likely to act the way that they see characters acting because they are seen as realistic and they are not punished for their behavior, making these behaviors convincing to adolescents. (L’Engle, Brown, Kenneavy, 191) Trends and Estimates of Sexual Activity Before getting into the details we must distinguish between sexually experienced and sexually active. Sexually experienced is a teenager who has had sexual intercourse at least once in his/her lifetime. A sexually active teenager is one who has had sexual intercourse in the past three months. The earlier an adolescent has sex, the longer he or she is at risk of pregnancy and contracting an STI. In 2002, approximately one-quarter of never married teenagers has had sexual intercourse before the age of 16. The number increased as age did. Some adolescents who have not engaged in sexual intercourse have engaged in oral sex.(Terry-Humen, Manlove, Cottingham, 3) Since many teenagers do not consider oral sex to be sexual activity, they probably do not concern themselves with the risks of this behavior. Due to  the fact that not many teenage relationships are long term, not all sexually experienced teenagers remain sexually active or are consistently sexually active. Those who are consistently sexually active put themselves at risk for pregnancy and contracting an STI each time they have sex or have sex with a new partner. (Terry-Humen, Manlove, Cottingham, 3) Being in a relationship that teenagers view as romantic is associated with a greater likelihood of having sex. Teenagers with older sexual partners are more likely to engage in sexual intercourse than those with similar age partners. Females are more likely to be in a steady relationship when they have sex for the first time. (Terry-Humen, Manlove, Cottingham, 4) In order to continue with having declines in teen pregnancy and lower the rising rates of STIs, it is suggested that messages of abstinence be reinforced, encourage teenagers to reduce the frequency of sexual activity and partners, educate them about the risks of oral sex, and expand interventions to high-risk populations, such as minority groups. (Terry-Humen, Manlove, Cottingham, 7) Conclusion When it comes to predicting later sexual activity, both Costs and Benefits are important, although attitudes concerning the costs were a bit more influential in predicting sexual activity. It is suggested that both Costs and Benefits be included to hinder sexual activity. Due to the way that every different generation was raised, the way in which we define sex is different to everyone. Baby-boomers see oral sex as something that is very intimate while teenagers see oral sex as something that is casual. The way in which some teenagers behave can end up hurting them in the future because they will not know how to have a long-lasting, healthy relationship. Adolescents who are exposed to sexual content in the media and obtain greater support from the media that is related to sexual behavior have greater intentions to engage in sexual intercourse and other sexual activities. The most obvious ways for teenagers to avoid STIs and unintended teenage pregnancy and childbearing is by delaying sexual initiation or reducing the sexual activity and number of sexual partners as well as improving contraceptive use of those who are sexually active. My Take In my opinion, I think that it’s great that people are trying to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and STIs in teenagers. I don’t believe that a person should have to be abstinent until marriage or anything like that and I believe that contraception should be used at all times. It is very alarming that kids are having sex at younger ages. I’m with a lot of teens that say that oral sex is not really sex and I think it is due to the time period I’m growing up in. We’re desensitized to these things. I think that it’s important for parents to talk to their kids about sex, even though we probably know more than they think. Many kids I know, as well as myself, surprise our parents with how much we know about sex already because things were different when they were younger. Everything was more hush, hush then. The media is definitely a huge influence on the way that we live our lives today because sex is everywhere and it’s what sells.

Greenpeace The Environments Lobbyists essays

Greenpeace The Environments Lobbyists essays The greenhouse effect, nuclear contamination, toxic chemicals, oil spills, air pollution, water pollution: these are all issues that affect every single living being on this planet we call home. The environment and issues pertaining to the environment apply directly to the entire world. Greenpeace, an international environmental organization that is dedicated to preserving the earths natural resources, addresses these numerous environmental issues through peaceful campaigning and demonstrations. Members of the Dont Make a Wave Committee founded Greenpeace in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 1971. The Dont Make a Wave Committee was a small group opposed to nuclear weapons testing by the United States military in Alaska. Later, the committee changed its name to Greenpeace to echo its greater goal of creating a green and peaceful world. Greenpeace has more than forty offices in 30 countries with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is a growing organization that has dedicated a lot of time and manpower to making this world a better and safer place for its inhabitants. Through peacefully lobbying and demonstration, Greenpeace has affected change for the better and, hopefully, will continue to do so in the future. The main issues that Greenpeace concerns itself with include climate changes, toxic chemicals, and nuclear disarmament and contamination. Greenpeace has acknowledged that one of the greatest threats to the planet is global climate change. Scientists and governments alike have all established that the problem is serious and real. In 1997, industrialized countries agreed at the climate summit in Kyoto to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases they pump into the atmosphere. However, little real action is being taken to address the problem. The efforts of Greenpeace on this issue include campaigning for governments to face up to thei...

Two Lives Reflected essays

Two Lives Reflected essays Gluckel von Hameln or Glikl and Marie de LIncarnation lived mirror like lives in Women on the Margins: Three Seventeenth Century Lives by Natalie Zemon Davis. The two women were very devout in their religion. They were both well-educated women. They were both motivated women. They both broke the boundaries that women faced in the 17th Century. Glikl was a devout Jew. She married at the age of twelve as most of the Jews did unlike Christian women of the times that wed at 18. The two lived with each of their parents for a year after marriage. This was a typical custom of Jewish marriages in the 17th Century. They then moved out into a rented house and two servants. This was all that they were allowed to have. She married off her children in several different cities. This was a Jewish strategy of marrying children in cities that were far off and some that were close to home. The reasoning behind this was that there were insufficient Ashkenazim of the proper status to go around. They also took advantage of the Jewish law permitting first cousins to marry with one of their daughters. Marie de L'Incarnation was an Ursuline sister in Quebec. She was of the two women who founded the first Ursuline convent and school for girls in North America. Marie spent years insisting on Christian truth to people that her countrymen intruded upon. She would take on a pastoral role to the Buisson wagoners and stablemen. She would get them to admit their faults and failings while she presided over the dinner table, lecturing them on God and his commandments, rousing them if they had gone to bed without saying their prayers. Marie went to Canada to spread the word. She taught at a school in both Algonquian and Iroquoian languages. She would also go on flying missions to spread the word farther from the Quebec center of Catholicism. She wrote catechisms, prayers, dictionaries, and a big book of sacred h ...

Accounting coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Accounting - Coursework Example Mr. Joseph, store sales personnel, generated  £ 10,000 revenue for February, 2015. On the other hand, Ms. Gina, another sales personnel assigned to another city branch of the same company, generate  £ 50,000 revenue during the same time period. If the company’s sales benchmark for each store sales employee is  £ 40,000 per month, Mr. Joseph’s sales strategies did not effectively meet the required monthly revenue benchmark. On the other hand, Ms. Gina’s sales strategies effectively met the monthly required revenue benchmark (Chapman, 2011). 1. Business entities strive to generate higher efficiency and effectiveness levels to increase revenues (Chapman, 2011). By performing the same task within lesser time period, the company can sell more products. Taking lesser time to serve each customer’s store needs allows the same sales personnel to serve more customers. Serving more customers will normally lead to more revenues. By reducing work time to the least possible length, the store’s overall revenues will surely increase. 2. Business entities strive to generate higher efficiency and effectiveness levels to maximize expenses (Chapman, 2011). By using lesser salary expense, electricity expense, water, expense, repair expense, marketing expense, and other related business expenses, the company is able to save money. The saved money reduces the loan amount needed by the company for business expansions to other cities or nations. 3. Business entities strive to generate higher efficiency and effectiveness levels to increase net income figures (Chapman, 2011). With lesser time used and with lesser expense amounts, the financial statements of the companies will show that the company’s net income is favouraby higher than when money is unnecessarily wasted on unnecessary electricity, wage, and other production and possibly marketing expenses. The above table 1 evidently indicates United

Solar Powered Fridge Technical Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Solar Powered Fridge Technical Report - Essay Example However majority of the mankind which lives in the developing or third world countries has just recently woken up to the benefits of refrigeration. As these countries continue to grow rapidly, their people will require refrigeration in some form or other. Refrigeration is required not only for keeping food fresh but is also needed for transportation of perishable products like meat, milk etc (score.uk, 2013). Although the need for refrigeration is huge, third world countries are suffering from immense energy crisis. Most of these countries do not have the resources to provide electricity to the entire population. Where electricity is available, there are problem of irregular supply and voltage problems. A huge amount of capital is also required to set up power plants in order to provide electricity to all. Such huge amounts of capital are rarely available in third world countries. After the Kyoto protocol, there is also a raised concern of environmental sustainability of economic gro wth. The model of growth being followed by developed nation is simply not sustainable. Solar power addresses both these concerns – neither does it require immense investment to ensure electricity supply nor does it harm the environment. Solar powered refrigerators thus provide an ideal solution to the refrigeration needs of the third world countries. This paper discusses the functioning of a solar powered refrigerator. It discusses the 2 prototypes - Evaporative Cooler fridge and absorption based heat driven coolers. Evaporative Cooler Fridge The most amazing thing about an Evaporative cooler fridge is its simplicity. It is very simple to make and can be made with the use of minimal resources in third world countries. The diagram of an evaporative cooler fridge is shown below – Source: (score.uk, 2013) Construction The fridge consists of 2 cylinders. The outer cylinder can be made up of cardboard, plastic or any other material. It should have a lot of holes in it to al low the maximum access to solar energy .The inner cylinder should be made up of a good conductor of heat. Iron or steel are the best possible materials which are easily available and also good conductors of heat. The inner cylinder should not have any holes. The space between the two cylinders needs to be filled up with a material which is a good absorber of water. Sand and wool works best here. Food or any other material which needs to be kept cool should be kept in the inner cylinder. The next section explains the working of this refrigerator. Working This fridge works on the simple principle of evaporation of water and conduction of heat. In order to â€Å"start the fridge†; pour water in the space between the two cylinders. This water will be soaked by the sand. It is important to fill the space with sand in order to allow slow evaporation of water and ensure that minimum refills are required for the successful working of the refrigerator. As solar energy falls on the san d evaporation of water from the sand takes place. As water evaporates, the process of conduction of heat will ensure that heat is extracted from the inner chamber in order to help the water evaporate. This conduction of heat will keep the chamber cold and the products inside fresh. The chamber can attain temperature of up to 6 degrees. In order to ensure that the fridge keeps working, the