Saturday, August 31, 2019

Benifits of Foreign Travel Essay

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience of the benefits of traveling to other cultures. Title:Another Life Thesis/Central Idea Sentence: It’s very important and beneficial to take care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually, but few ever think to use traveling as a tool to assist in the restoration of all three. Introduction: [Attention Getter] Taking a vacation is on everybody’s to do list but according to a study conducted by the Families and Work Institute only about half of Americans use their full 2 weeks of vacation each year. Motivate audience to listen] I found this odd, but when I examined my own life I found I haven’t taken an actual vacation in over 10 years. [Credibility]It just something I’ve always seemed to brush off by saying â€Å"Oh well, I’ll just take a nice vacation next year, but the following year the same thing happens and before you realize it you haven’t had a vacation in over a decade. Europeans embrace this idea of vacation almost religiously. In Europe vacations are guaranteed by law. In countries like Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, employers are required to provide up to 20 days of paid leave. Americans, on the other hand, get an average of 12 days every year and on average use about half. [Central Idea] It’s important to remember that we are not machines and that we can and do become burnt out. When this happens it can affect everything from our productivity in the work place to our personal relationships with our spouse, children, friends, and family. Depression can become a real side effect and take control of a life we once loved. So it is important to catch a break from our everyday life and take time to â€Å"Stop and smell the roses† (Unknown). Travelling to foreign cultures is just one way to experience different thoughts and ideals for dealing with day to day life. [Preview of points]While many Americans realize the importance of staying fit by exercising it is way more important and beneficial for healthier, happier living to understand that staying fit means more than lifting weights or going for a run, but working out our bodies, our minds, and our spirit in order to live a true healthier life style. Transition Sentence: So let’s begin by discussing the physical benefits of foreign travel. Body: I. First and most obvious there will be a few physical benefits from foreign travel that will be very noticeable from the very first day. A. Walking 1. Whether you vacation in Europe or Asia it really doesn’t matter so long as you get away from America or Canada. Everyone else in the entire worlds seems to walk everywhere. This may sound scary for those who haven’t seen the inside of a gym in a while or in some cases ever, but after awhile you won’t even notice how much you’ve walked. You’ll become so immersed in all that you’re seeing and experiencing that it’s not until you return to your room at night or until you sit for a while that you begin to notice that both you’re feet now have a pulse. 2. The second sounds a bit unbelievable, but after a few days of walking around and once I begin to recognize the landscape. I usually have made a few friends with some of the locals even if I don’t speak the language. There is a lot than can be said with hands, faces and a smile, but once this happens I can’t help but to begin to feel like this could be my second home. B. Food 1. While Europe and Asia do have fast food franchises most will opt out in order to experience more of the culture being visited. This is very true especially if you’re a fan of the food back home. In my case nothing beats authentic Spanish Paella or Italian anything. But in most cases you’ll be eating a bit healthier while visiting and may not even notice. Most food around the world is not processed like it is here in the states. Don’t get me wrong Wendy’s and McDonalds can be pretty delicious, but I’d rather eat real food everyday; I just can’t cook as well as those guys in Italy or even the guys Olive Garden for that matter. . Throughout the day you may dabble in a few different wines, but for the most part you’ll find water to be the beverage of choice. Unless, you’re a beer or soda connoisseur wishing to try some of the local but undiscovered to â€Å"you† refreshments. Towards the end of the day you may finish a bottle or two of wine, but in your defense†¦ One, you’re in a new country representing America and you wouldn’t want to be rude. Two, wine itself in reasonable quantities is actually good for the blood stream therefore good for your heart so â€Å"BAME, Double Whammy†! Three, what better way to socialize with locals or other fellow tourist than over a couple glasses of wine or beer under a star lit canopy dinning â€Å"Alfresco†? II. Next we will discuss a couple of the mental benefits that you will become aware of throughout the trip. A. So, First in order to begin this awesome adventure it is absolutely crucial to learn this one lesson about vacation otherwise you should’ve stayed home and burnt every dollar you spent for this trip. So here is the first mental benefit of going on vacation. It’s learning how to actually take a vacation! The very first thing we must learn is actually the most difficult we must be honest and true to ourselves that we are on vacation for the sake of nothing more than our own well being and revitalization. With that being said we must let go of our old lives if only for the week or two we are on vacation. 1. So first, it’s absolutely important not to work, discuss work or think about work even as a second thought. Your life back home is on pause until you return. 2. Second sever any and all easily available ties to your life back home. Of course if you have children and have to check on them that is an exception, but leave your cell phone, laptop and tablet, PDA, pager in your room. Give the number to the front desk to anyone back home in case of emergency. There is always someone at the front desk and you never have to worry about reception. 3. The first two steps is to ensure that your mind receives the break it deserves from normal life. B. So now that you have accepted the fact that you’re on vacation and are enjoying or not enjoying all this walking. You will definitely notice things that are different; compared to home. 1. Your mind will definitely become broadened by every one of your senses. As every sense becomes titillated each sensation will become forever locked in your memory and you may notice to compare a lot what you experience to something similar back home. 2. As each day passes you may begin to see how differently other cultures deal with life problems. I mean everyone around the world has to deal with work problems, relationships, and out of control children, but its how we deal with them that tends to get the better of us. You may take a few notes just by watching how people just seem to not sweat the small things in Europe and Asia. It seems to me they as we as Americans live to work, the rest of the planet works just enough to live. Perhaps that’s why they get more vacation and work less hours. When was the last time an American labor force took a siesta? III. Finally we will discuss the spiritual benefits that come from foreign travel. A. First off, I must make myself clear that when I use the word spiritual I do so in a general sense of the word. I do not mean to use it in direct connection towards any God or religion. While most people do believe in a supreme being of some kind some believe in science or no God at all, but regardless of what we believe we all have a sense of self therefore we all have a sort of spirit. 1. A very possible but unlikely event of spiritual revitalization is the adaptation of religion. 2. A more likely form of spiritual revitalization may perhaps come from the peace and tranquility that one may find while visiting a spa or in a quiet location away from everything. 3. Once a peace has been given to the spirit, you will become refreshed and ready to continue with life annoying little problems but after a while you will become more aware of when you need a break. Transition Sentence: So let takes one last quick look at all we have covered today. Conclusion: We now know that a vacation is a lot more than time away from work. We have discussed the three parts of us that benefit from vacation the physical, mental and spiritual and the importance of keeping all three areas in shape in order to obtain a more happy existence.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Standards of Mgss

STANDARDS FOR THE MDGs I TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover PageI Table of ContentsII BodyIII ReferencesIV II THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS What are MDGs? Following the adoption of the United Nations Millenium Declaration, the Millenium Development Goals was established in 2000. Because of its extensive goals, the MDGs are being assisted by government organizations in trying to achieve those goals, among them are the following: the United Nations Millenium Campaign, the Millenium Promise Alliance Inc. the Global Poverty Project, the Micah Challenge, the Youth in Action EU Programme, â€Å"Cartoons in Action† video project, and the 8 Visions of Hope global art project. The main goal of the MDGs is to effect development by improving social and economic conditions in the world’s poorest countries. These are derived from earlier international development targets, which were officially established after the Millenium Summit in 2000, where the United Nations Millenium Declaration was adopted.These MDGs were developed from the eight chapters of Millennium Declaration, which was signed in September, 2000. The effect was that developing nations were not seen as left to achieve the MDG goals by themselves, but rather as a partner in the developing-developed compact to reduce world poverty. There are eight goals with 21 targets, and a series of measurable health indicators and economic indicators for each target. However, there are still drawbacks in the MDGs which includes shortsightedness where analytical power is concerned and the justification behind the chosen objectives.Because of the joint responsibility of developing and developed countries for achieving the MDGs, the possibility of it becoming a success continuously increases and is still reinforced by their 189-country support. At present, there is no uniformity as far as progress towards reaching the goals is concerned. The goal of empowering women has progressed towards the MDGs, and there is a strong enc ouragement to increase emphasis on gended mainstreaming debelopment policies and collecting data based on gender.As a result, a major conference was held at the UN headquarters in New York on 20-22 September 2010 to review progress, with five years left to the 2015 deadline. There were new commitments on women’s and children’s health, and major new initiatives in the worldwide battle against poverty, hunger and disease. It is obvious that developed countries continuously provide aid for the achievement of the MDGs which have been rising over the recent years, and has shown that more than half is towards debt relief owed by poor countries.The Australian government itself committed to providing 0. 5% of GNI in International Development Assistance by 2015-2016. One of the improvements provided by the MDGs is the provision of more health services to the developing countries. Researchers suggest that developed countries should treat global health inequalities and humanitari an issue being a part of national strategy. During the 2010 Summit, member states initiated steps towards advancing the Post-2015 Development Agenda and are now developing a process of open, inclusive consultations on the post-2015 agenda.Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon appointed 26 civil society, private sector, and government leaders from all regions to a high-level panel to advise on the global development agenda beyond 2015. An organization which aims to increase support to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and seek coalition for partners of action is the role of the United Nations Millennium Campaign. UN Goals is dedicated to spreading knowledge of the millennium goals through many different means by means of various internet and offline awareness campaigns. Ethical Bases for the Establishment of MDGsThe Following are the eight goals of the MDGs: * Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; * Achieve universal primary education; * Promote gender equality and empower women; * Re duce child mortality; * Improve maternal health; * Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; * Ensure environmental sustainability; and * Develop a global partnership for development UNDP assists people at all levels of society in helping to build nations that can withstand crisis, and work for, and sustain the kind of growth for the improvement of the quality of life for everyone.The focus is to help countries to build and share solutions to achieve Poverty Reduction and the Millenium Development Goals, Democratic governance, Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Environment and Energy for Sustainable Development. In Uruguay for example, an extensive children’s health program has reduced rates of malnutrition, prematurity, low birth weight and other markers in the department of Canelones. In Darfur, Sudan, a rule-of-law programme is helping promote and improve equal access to justice. In China, farmers are being trained to adapt farming techniques to international trading stand ard, providing them with greater profits.In Brazil, eco-stoves that retain heat longer and are easier to oversee, provide indigenous people to lead healthier lives. According to the 2013 Human Development Report, there is a profound shift in global dynamics driven by the fast-rising new powers of the developing world and its long-term implications for human development. UNDP can be felt in more than 170 countries and territories and decades of concrete development experience in countries ranging from fragile States to middle-income countries like Brazil and Indonesia.These and other developments qualify the MDGs to answer the call for a better and more sustainable future. * Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger There is always the realization that in the midst of our comfort zones, the stark reality exists where in some parts of the world, people are living in extreme poverty. Much to the desire of those who have more, like the developed countries, still, it lowers the morale to see this extreme poverty manifested in different forms, like the number of displaced refugees that remain high, despite the repatriation in 2011. Achieve Universal Primary Education We cannot do away with the reality that young adolescents from poor and rural households are more likely to be out of school. Everyone has that moral obligation to solve the problem of others, even if we think they can also be capable of helping themselves. * Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women We know that there are already women representations in the governments of nations but it is a fact that the pace is slow. This MDG effort aims to answer the ethical question of gender equality. Reduce child Mortality Every child has a right to be born, nurtured and nourished until maturity. However, the fact remains that in some parts of the world, the rate of child mortality is alarmingly high. We are compelled to do our best to address this problem through the ethical basis of concern. We do exist not only fo r ourselves but for the less fortunate others as well. * Improve Maternal Health Women are the strength of society. Their health are most important so much so that they are the determinants of the rise and fall of any society.Their roles as mothers entail that they should be in their best of health. Thus, an ethical calling for maternal concern is likewise being answere by the MDGs. * Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Other Diseases Universal concern suggests that humans should continue to sustain on earth. Thus, there is a need to improve advancements in medicine, health and technology. This is not a matter of ordinary necessity, but one of humanitarian consideration that should be inherent in each one of us. * Ensure Environmental SustainabilityThis is likewise another moral obligation that needs regular attention. * Develop a Global Partnership for Development Efforts to sustain development is not the job of a single organization. People of all ages from all walks of life must unders tand they should treat themselves as stewards of wealth and nature and thus, it is pertinent that each person must regard mimself or herself as a contributing partner to the goals of the MDG. REFERENCES * http://www. undp. org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg3/ * http://www. undp. rg/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg2/ * http://www. undp. org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg1/ * http://www. undp. org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview. html * Halve by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water United Nations Millennium Development Goals website, retrieved 16 June 2009. * http://www. oecd. org/dac/theoecdandthemillenniumdevelopmentgoals. htm * MDGs†. YouTube. Retrieved 2012-10-14. â€Å"Welcome to the Development Education online Depository! â€Å". Developmenteducation. nfo. * Subramanian, Savitha; Joseph Naimoli, Toru Matsubayashi, David Peters (2011). â€Å"Do We Have the Right Models for Scalingà ‚   Up Health Services to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals? â€Å". BMC Health Services Research  11  (336). *   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Goal  :: Improve Maternal Health†. Mdg Monitor. 2012-10-18. * â€Å"United Nations Millennium Development Goals†. Un. org. 2008-05-20. 2012-10-18 * â€Å"Goal  :: Develop a Global Partnership for Development†. Mdg Monitor. 2012-10-18 * â€Å"Goal: Tracking the Millennium Development Goals†. MDG Monitor. 1 November 2007. 2012-10-14. IV

Pablo Neruda’s Use of Nature Essay

The natural world is one that exists outside of all human constructs and limitations, and illuminates a valuable reality in the world. When considering Pablo Neruda’s body of work, a clear thematic focus on nature is visible. Many of his poems reference the natural, untouched world. This is a thematic juxtaposition to the over-structured, artificial nature of human culture. Using nature symbolically within these poems allows for a clear distinction to be drawn between the real and the artificial, and speaks to the flaws that Neruda sees within society. He brings to the reader’s attention the value of instinctual behavior and emotion, as well as the natural qualities of humans, women in particular, and the social constraints by which all people are bound. His disapproval and call for change is apparent. Neruda’s use of natural symbolism within Walking Around and I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair illustrates several separate issues of superficiality versus reality, The poem I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair serves as an excellent demonstration of this divide of the real versus the superficial. Natural imagery is used within this poem to illustrate that the woman in question supersedes the artificial constructs of society. â€Å"Your hands the color of a savage harvest,/ hunger for the pale stones of your fingernails† is an evident example of this natural symbolism. Within this poem the female is portrayed as raw and real, an element of nature, as opposed to a part of the society that humans have created. Neruda uses similes and metaphors to draw this comparison, illustrating her value and power within the world and upon him. Through his stylistic choices, he demonstrates how his attraction, his need for this woman, is not merely superficial and lustful, as she herself is something greater than what society allows. Although throughout the poem the woman’s physical features are illustrated as the attractive elements of her, it is clear that it is not in fact the body to which he is speaking, but to the qualities that supersede shallow lust. Furthermore, Neruda addresses the most complex and visceral elements within the woman, which he finds the most attractive. â€Å"I want to eat the sunbeam flaring in your lovely body† may at first seem as a line speaking to lust for her body, when this is not the case. Neruda’s utilization of the sunbeam to describe her body makes this evident. He is not addressing her body, or any material aspects,  but in fact addressing the elements of true humanity, that so many people lack, within her. It is clear that he values this true sense of life more than her outward appearance, and it is this yearning for the natural and real that stands as true for all of Neruda’s works. He makes it evident that it is the elements beyond superficial beauty, those that are more than the wants or needs of society, which he truly values and adores. This natural imagery, often used in the context of woman, speaks to Neruda’s overall belief that true emotions are fundamentally more valuable than what society has to offer. He clearly illustrates that although the artificially constructed may be more comfortable, whilst the natural may be more vulgar and unpleasant, the latter is more valuable nevertheless. It is evident throughout his works that he yearns for real emotion and true feeling, as can be seen through several lines in I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair, where he describes himself as â€Å"Silent and starving,/ I prowl through the streets.† The visceral qualities here, as well as the direct comparison of himself to a predatory animal, allow the reader to understand what he perceives as important: the return to natural ways and instincts. Accompanying this is natural emotion, without the veil of social or political acceptance present. His metaphoric hunt for this woman can be paralleled to his search for true emotion and rawness thought within the world. The woman can then be seen as a metaphor for the society that Neruda lived in, within which the natural and instinctual was hidden behind an outward appearance. This importance cast upon true emotion is also emphasized in Walking Around: â€Å"The only thing I want is to lie still like stones or wool.† Neruda speaks to the condition of being a man in society, with many expectations placed upon him, and his discontentment with it. Instead he would prefer to simply exist, in his purest form, like stones, or wool, preferring to be nothing as opposed to living and feeling falsely as society demands. Through this poem Neruda’s frustration with his inability to do this, due to the social constraints that bind, him is apparent. The use of natural comparison allows for a portrayal of the pure and natural things he wants to feel, and that he believes others ought to feel as well. Neruda acknowledges that society is the barrier to these true emotions, and  within the poem Walking Around he discusses the constraints that the human, artificial world imposes upon people by juxtaposing elements of society against the natural world, saying â€Å"And it so happens that I walk into tailor shops and movie houses/ dried up, waterproof, like a swan made of felt†. Neruda draws a stark contrast between the situations within his life that should be moments of comfort, possibly even luxury, and how he feels, dried up, internally dead. He delivers his message through this imagery, illustrating how society has bound him, and how it binds all people living within it. He goes on to say â€Å"I don’t want to go on as a root and a tomb,/alone under the ground, a warehouse with corpses,/ half frozen, dying of grief.† This very powerful image of decay and entrapment within the earth continues to assert his message. Through this stanza Neruda speaks to the internal death and suffocation he experiences being forced to conform, having to act and feel as is expected, while basking in false comforts and enjoying false commodities. His use of natural symbolism illustrated his wish to break free, and feel true freedom. However, he is also willing to acknowledge the firm grasp society has on all existing as a part of it. â€Å"I don’t want to go on being a root in the dark† is a clear acknowledgment of Neruda’s understanding of the system. Although in this case, the natural imagery used does not bear a positive connotation as it does in other places within his work, it is used to demonstrate power and intensity, and a stronghold upon people greater than anything else in their lives. He understands that he is a root, holding up this tree that inevitably traps him and everyone else, although he does continue to hope for an emotional and spiritual freedom, and indicates the small vict ories that he finds within his life. His desire for a real experience â€Å"†¦pushes me into certain corners, into some moist houses, into hospitals where the bones fly out the window,/ into shoe shops that smell like vinegar† These are the places in which Neruda describes freedom, where the grip of society is not as firm and he can truly feel the ugliness and raw nature of the world can be felt. This entire stanza stands to discuss the places in society that are generally deemed as negative, and although he uses words with commonly negative connotation to describe them, the message he is putting across is a positive one. Through the graphic imagery portrayed and the disgust it evokes, Neruda calls out to the reader, to feel more often, and illustrates how these  negative feelings serve as a great positive. He uses this to juxtapose the feelings of contentment so often evoked in society, and the lack of emotion that exists within this. It is within these ugly places that Neruda feels the reality of life comes through and it is these places he deems most valuable. Through his thematic use of nature this is vividly illustrated for the reader and the importance of this freedom and its extreme power is really emphasized throughout his works. Within I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair as well as Walking Around Pablo Neruda uses natural symbolism to illustrate three separate issues of superficiality versus reality, and to discuss what he views as the problem with this superficiality. He brings to light the value of the natural within people, in particular in women; the importance of natural behavior and emotion; as well as the social constraints under which all people exist and should attempt to break away from. The use of nature symbolically does this particularly well due to the drastic juxtaposition that can then be drawn between the constructed, artificial human world and the completely untouched natural, true world. This theme is present not only within these two poems but within Neruda’s entire body of work. It serves as a unifying element for his poetry and as a message of great value for his readers. Works Cited Neruda, Pablo â€Å"I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair† trans. Stephen Tapscott. 27 December 2012. Neruda, Pablo â€Å"Walking Around† trans. Robert Bly. 27 December 2012

Thursday, August 29, 2019

My 3 Pd Skill Areas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

My 3 Pd Skill Areas - Essay Example In order to improve my skills in giving and receiving feedback, I intend to employ a number of tactics. First, I will ensure that I am always clear about what I say, as Banhegyi (2007) posts. I will also strive to always emphasize on the positive whenever I am communicating. Moreover, I will always strive to be specific in my communication to avoid any ambiguities. Additionally, I will try my level best to focus on the person's behavior and not the person himself. I will also strive not to keep referring to behavior that cannot be changed. In my communication, I will try to be descriptive as opposed to being evaluative. When giving feedback, I will always ensure that I own this feedback through the use of "I" statements. I will also avoid generalizations and instead ask for specifics. Finally, I will be very careful with any advice I receive to avoid making wrong decisions about issues. To improve my networking skills, I will first find out more about myself and my personality as sug gested by Catt and Scudamore (2000). I must make sure that the networking group I join matches my attitude and style. I will also strive to have an agenda and well-set objectives whenever I attend networking events.I must also endeavor to know my audience well so as to establish who needs to know about me to enable an easier achievement of my goals. I also realize that in improving my networking skills, I must always keep the welfare of others in my mind as opposed to always thinking about myself.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Cause and effect of media on children and youth Annotated Bibliography

Cause and effect of media on children and youth - Annotated Bibliography Example The short-term exposure to such media increases the likelihood of aggressive thoughts and behaviors. It has been found that the characteristics of viewers, media content, and social environment influence the level to which violent media causes aggression in youth. in the end, it has been suggested that public policy makers, parents, and entertainment communities should play an active role in decreasing the level of media-violence exposure to youth and children. The researchers of this study focused on the impact of media on sexual behaviors and perceptions of children and youth. Using systematic review of the social science and biomedical literature and consulting sexual content of mass media, the effects of exposure on the sexual behaviors and attitudes of adolescents were studied. The results of the study reveal that television is one of the main sources of sexual content for adolescents. Media-literacy programs and parental influence can be used as effective measures to control the exposure of sexual content to adolescents. In this study, the researcher has explored the effects of television violence on children and youth. The researcher has used one hundred and forty-six articles related to behavioral science journals to identify the effects of television violence. Four major issues covered by the research in this study include the question of catharsis, emotional effects, effects on learning, and effects on aggressive behavior. A considerable increase in the aggressive behaviors of children has been found to be the most significant and alarming effect of violent television on children. Media has both positive and negative health effects on children and youth. In this study, the researchers have explored the ways media can have positively and negatively influence the health of adolescents. Excessive use of cell

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

European Business Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

European Business Practice - Essay Example These include free movement of goods, free movement of people, free movement of services and free movement/transfer of capita (McCormick, 2011). Some of the benefits are as discussed below. Businesses have greatly benefited from the single market. The EU being a free trade area, single market allows the businesses to operate and conduct their business activities in an unhindered manner. Companies have the freedom to invest in any of the member countries as international trade has been fostered. Goods can be accessed at cheaper prices, and the transportation has become easier due to improved infrastructure (Euromove, 2011). The policies for conducting business between the EU member countries have been made more favourable and hence, companies have increased the rate at which they carry out activities and operations. Countries have also benefited greatly from the European Union. This union has boosted and promoted the development of infrastructure, telecommunications and development of trade centers (Weresa, 2010). One example of a country that has benefited from such is Scotland, which is a member country. In the country, roads have been developed, security has been boosted due to the combined armed forces and the level of living standards has been raised as the EU, through structural funds, has given and funded a big percentage of people who are below the poverty line (McCormick, 2011). Another benefit can be seen in terms of economic growth and creation of employment opportunities. Research conducted shows that between 1992 and 2006, the Single market program fostered development as the European Union GDP rose by 2.2 % to 233 billion euros. This, in return, led to the creation of 2.75 million jobs spread across the member countries (Daneshku, 2014; European Union, 2013). Personal benefits can also be realised from being EU members. One has the unlimited

Monday, August 26, 2019

Priori Theory Criminal Justice Research Design Coursework

Priori Theory Criminal Justice Research Design - Coursework Example The most used method of data collection is the research interview, but can also include observation or group discussions, as well as use of pictures and texts (Cresswell, 2009).. This type of research categorizes various data into different patterns for reporting results. The researcher typically relies on various information gathering methods such as: Participant and non-participant observations, field notes, unstructured interview, documents analysis as well as structured and semi-structured interview. The data obtained is then streamlined to definite patterns or themes. Thereafter what follows is the formulation of the alternative hypothesis which forms the research statement basis (Cresswell, 2009).. In data analysis, observer impression is commonly used. In observer impression, an expert examines and interprets the data by forming an impression then reports it in a quantitative and structured form. Coding organizes data and introduces some interpretations into quantitative methods. Some data that are highly structured like close-end response and interview questions that are tightly defined are coded without any additional segments of contents. In this case, the codes are applied on top of these data as layers (Cresswell, 2009).. Recursive abstraction is often employed whenever analysis is done without coding. Here, summary after summary of the datasets is done, producing a summary that is more compact which can not be easily arrived at without the previous steps. The weakness of recursive abstraction is that; should the initial summaries be poor or inadequate, then the final report yielded may be inaccurate (Cresswell, 2009). In summary, qualitative method of research investigates why and how a decision is made. In conventional view, a qualitative method produces information on the particular cases that are studied only, and any additional conclusion is only an informed assertion. Quantitative methods are then used to seek support for these research

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Pathophysiology exams questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pathophysiology exams questions - Assignment Example 2. Stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the blood vessels. Stenosis is accompanied by unusual blood sounds resulting from the narrow blood vessels. Regurgitation or incompetence is a condition where the left atrium during systole becomes incompetent in functioning. Prolapsed is a condition where the valves of the heart fall out of place. This is caused by the displacement of the left valve during the systole because of the thickening of the mitral valve prolapsed. 3. Asbestosis is a general term given to heart disease resulting from a person inhaling too much dust. It is a chronic pneumoconiosis disease, which affects the parenchymal tissues of the lungs making the lungs to undergo slow and repetitive fibrosis. Straight, thin amphiboles asbestos fibers penetrate deeply into the lungs alveoli thereby interacting with blood, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The interaction of the amphiboles leads to the provocation of body’s immune system leading to rejection of defensive cells known as macrophages, which are responsible for destroying the fibers. Amphiboles also stimulate fibroblast cells of the lungs to lay continuously on the alveoli walls leading to thickening of the walls thus preventing or reducing the process of breathing which can lead to heart failure. 4. Clubbing results from people experiencing chronic low blood oxygen levels. The fingertips enlarge and nails appear extremely curved from front to back. The bulbous swelling gives the fingers a club shape. The normal angle of the finger changes from 160Â º to 180Â º due to this disease mostly associated with people with heart disease. Adults experience this disease because of liver disorders, gastrointestinal disorders pulmonary disorders and heart diseases. 5. Sleep apnea is a condition in which one pauses in breathing while asleep. Narcolepsy is a condition, which usually attacks people of ages 15-30 years, and it encompasses excessive sleepiness and regular daytime sleep attacks. Cataplexy

Saturday, August 24, 2019

China Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

China - Essay Example The stock markets were encouraged to grow and develop, and China embarked on a sustained effort to boost trade and investment activities with the outside world. Moreover, the private economic sector was given a boost and given substantial incentives and freedoms. This has come about gradually, with some hiccups and changes in direction, all aimed at bolstering Chinas global stature as an economic powerhouse and making sure that domestic industries are allowed to flourish. Moving forward from this state of affairs there are several challenges to the economy and to the social cohesiveness and stability of the country that the Chinese government needs to address. Those relate to the reduction of the high rate of savings or the deployment of those large savings, even as domestic consumption on the other end remains lackluster; the provision of jobs to a large section of the Chinese population; the reduction in the rate of crime and the rate of corruption inherent in the system; concerns relating to the environmental sustainability of its economic activities, in light of global warming, its increased fuel needs, and the need to source energy from cleaner alternative energy sources moving forward. This has implications for the overall sustainability of its economic drive, given the widespread damage to the environment at present, which cannot be totally abated because of the lack of cleaner, safer alternative energy supplies to coal and oil. Moreover, the demographic shift towards a greater number of older Chinese has tremendous repercussions for the future of the Chinese society and economy. Clearly the challenges include diversifying away from fossil fuel sources of energy, and sourcing more power from solar and other viable alternatives, including nuclear, though that presents its own problems too. Recent turmoils in the global economy likewise have rocked the Chinese economy to the extent that growth had stalled

Friday, August 23, 2019

The 21st Century Management Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The 21st Century Management Practice - Essay Example It includes holistic thinking as borrowed from disciplines such as sociology, biology, natural sciences, and control engineering. Therefore, this was an important course in providing critical systems thinking that brings coherence to varied system approaches, advising managers on their use in an organizational setting. One of the most crucial aspects of management I have learned from this course is that management is political and organizations are political fields. As indicated by Bolman and Deal (2013), managers do not have all the powers they would wish to and as such would have to deal with organizations’ political issues. Successful leaders would use politics for the benefit of the organization. They set the agenda that would address concerns of all stakeholders, map the political terrain to identify power resources, interests and major players and network and build coalitions to influence and facilitate negotiations. Additionally, the political aspects of managers would enable them to make ethical and effective choices and bargain and negotiate to ensure win-win situations (Ferris & Treadway, 2012). I now appreciate political skills as critical skills for successful managers. This is what gets them the desired performance. This acknowledgment of managers as being political further made me understand the perception of organizations as political fields. This is because of the contest among various agendas and interests, with each aimed at a given purpose. Managers have their own agendas which could be to lead the employees successfully and impress the shareholders with better returns on their investments. Shareholders look at an opportunity to make wealth from the organization while employees look at earning a living. Other stakeholders, including debtors, creditors, and advertisers among others, also have their interests in their organizations. With these interests interacting, there tend to be contested, thus the political nature of organizations. Thus, Bolman and Deal (2013) encourage managers to appreciate their role in shaping this political field, the contestants and the way the game would be played. To do so, managers need to be firm and accept conflicts, while attending to ethics and values. Furthermore, I learned that management requires creativity in viewing problems in management and finding ways to resolve them. Through creativity, problems in management would be perceived as being interdependent hence a more wholesome approach to the problem. This allows for a combination of various approaches to solving management problems. It provides a divergent approach to thinking of an organization from that of the hierarchical structure to the adoption of various images representing the organization. These metaphors include organizations as psychic prisons, machines and flux and transformation (Jackson, 2003). Other metaphors include organism, culture, carnivals, instruments of domination and brains. This course provided an insightful understanding of the importance of human resource in an organization. It provided the knowledge of investing in people in an organization through empowering and constantly developing employees. This course also made me appreciate the importance of participation and autonomy of employees in their roles and responsibilities (Bolman & Deal, 2013).

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing and Economic Perspectives Research Paper

The Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing and Economic Perspectives - Research Paper Example The article presented measurements of methane gas emissions reportedly from the production of natural gas in 190 locations within the United States. As disclosed, the information collected and revealed could be used by policymakers regarding natural gas production and use. The authors, therefore, expounded on topics which included well completion flowback; unloadings; well sites in routine production; as well as implications for national emission estimates. The article is therefore replete with technicalities pertinent to emission measurements. The current discourse requiring updates for Gasland could use the information regarding the number of locations where natural gas production was reported. The list of credible and authoritative sources used as support could also be a source for further studies and evaluation on the subject. The authors explored and presented the effects, specifically health impacts, of gas drilling on animals and their owners, through the results on an intervi ew method with their owners within areas where gas drilling have been identified. Specific cases were explicitly presented to illustrate the scope of the impact on human and animal health. Likewise, it was revealed that factors including non-disclosure agreements signed between the drilling corporations and injured individuals have apparently precluded appropriate documentation of the alleged contamination. The article would, therefore, be beneficial in the current research to provide support to updates regarding the Gasland incident. Likewise, viable recommendations could also be used to augment current proposals to address the dilemma.

How to Use 2g and 3g Gprs Mobile Internet on Your Computer Essay Example for Free

How to Use 2g and 3g Gprs Mobile Internet on Your Computer Essay Imagine a situation where you have to send an important email to your friend or boss and your internet doesn’t work. Imagine the helplessness, the frustration, the anger. I am pretty sure you didn’t imagine it but recalled a moment when something of the sort actually happened to you. Internet connectivity, although becoming better with each passing day is still a luxury in many parts of the world, especially in rural areas. But the advent of smartphones is changing that. Nowadays, you can connect to the internet very easily using your mobile phone. I hope I am not the only one to feel this but using the internet on the mobile is just not as fun or convenient as using it on a computer. So today, I will teach you how to connect to the internet on your computer using the GPRS internet pack you have on your mobile phone. The recipe is simple. Here’s the ingredients: 1. A datacable OR a bluetooth enabled mobile phone(your computer should be bluetooth enabled too in this case). 2. The necessary drivers to use your mobile as a modem. Make sure the internet on your mobile phone is working before actually going through the next steps. Installing the drivers First lets install the drivers necessary to use your phone as a modem. To check if they are already installed, go to Control Panel-Phone and Modem-Modems If you can see the modem for your mobile phone, then you can skip the next few paragraphs. If not, then install the PC suite for your mobile phone on your computer and connect your phone to it and the drivers will be installed automatically. If you don’t have the PC suite, either download it from another PC with an internet connection or if you are a geek, you can download the specific drivers for only the modem from the internet. Go back to Control Panel-Phone and Modem-Modems to double check if the modem is installed. CONFIGURING YOUR PHONE’S MODEM I will first explain the connection procedure using a data cable. * Go to Control Panel-Phone and Modem-Dialing Rules. Click on New and select â€Å"India† as the country and write the ZIP code of the place where you are going to use the internet. Leave the other fields as they are and press OK. Now click on the Modems tab again. Select the modem you are going to use and click properties. Choose the â€Å"Advanced† tab in the dialog box that follows in the space for â€Å"Extra Initialization Commands† type the following codes depending on your cable operator: AIRTEL AT+CGDCONT=1,†IP†,†airtelgprs.com† AIRCEL AT+CGDCONT=1,†IP†,†aircelgprs.com† IDEA AT+CGDCONT=1,†IP†,†ideagprs.com† TATA DOCOMO AT+CGDCONT=1,†IP†,†TATA.DOCOMO.INTERNET† VODAFONE AT+CGDCONT=1,â€Å"IP†, â€Å"www† Don’t get freaked out if the only two options in the drop down list below are Japan and Afghanistan(I did), you can leave it as it is and press OK. Please doublecheck the part after â€Å"IP† from your mobile internet’s settings before you continue. It is called APN(Access Point Name) and it allows you to access the internet from your mobile phone e.g. The APN for Airtel is â€Å"airtelgprs.com†. They may differ in your state from the ones I have shown here. CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET Now go to Control Panel-Network and Sharing Center and click â€Å"Set up a new connection or network†. In the menu that follows, choose Set-up a dial-up connection. Enter the phone number as â€Å"*99#† without the quotes. Leave everything else empty. You can change the name of the connection to whatever you want. You’re done! Now go to the network icon and double click on the connection you just created. Enjoy the internet. If an error #734 occurs, it means that either the internet on your mobile is not working right now or that you have entered the wrong APN. Check your APN and reconfigure the settings. Your internet should work fine. Also, don’t forget to mark â€Å"No Proxy† in your browser’s connection settings. Now lets move on to connection using bluetooth. Activate bluetooth on both your mobile phone and your computer. Pairing your mobile phone with your computer If your mobile is already paired, move on to the next section. If not, Go to Control Panel-Devices and Printers-Bluetooth Devices and click on â€Å"Add a device†. Let the setup find your bluetooth device and click on it to pair with it. Check your mobile phone and match the passkeys. Now, all the processes are the same as the data cable with a few differences. To set up the modem you can right click on the icon for your phone in the Bluetooth Devices folder and click on â€Å"modem† or you can go to â€Å"Phone and Modem† as before and select â€Å"Standard Modem Over Bluetooth Link† and do everything exactly the same way as I explained before. Now, we need to set up a dial-up connection. Go back to â€Å"Bluetooth Devices† and double-click on the icon for your phone. Click the â€Å"Connect† button which is next to â€Å"Use your phone to connect to the internet†. If it doesn’t work the first time, select the option to enter the details manually. Now enter the phone number as *99# and enjoy. The version of windows while writing this tutorial is Windows 7 Premium. The process is similar for other versions. I’ll be write another one for connecting your mobile internet to a computer with a linux-based operating system later. If you had any problems, please comment below and I will reply with a solution.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

One True Thing Film Analysis

One True Thing Film Analysis The film that I chose to watch for this writing assignment was One True Thing. The story began with introducing a young woman with a busy life in New York. Ellen had a writing career that was beginning to look up that was, in a sense, stripped from her when she finds out from her father at his birthday party that her mother, Kate, is ill with cancer. Ellen finds this out from her father when he comes home from a routine appointment with his mother and sees that she is not with him when he walks in the door. Kate is about to have cancer surgery and her father expects her to drop her normal life and move back home to care for her mother. Her father feels as though she should be back in the home after the surgery has been complete and chemotherapy has been started. Ellen is at a loss for words when her father asks her this. At one point she asks why her brother could not stay home and tend to their mother. The father was not at all concerned with how Ellen felt and the fact that this co uld ruin her chances at moving up in her writing career. Ellen was immediately thrown into the housewife role with having to do her fathers laundry, having to cook for the family and guests, and also by having to figure out how to make the household run smoothly. As her mother begins to grow weaker and weaker, Ellen gets a glimpse into the life her mother has been living for so long. She finds that her mother is involved with the community on special occasions, cooks such wonderful meals, decorates and refinishes furniture, makes time to comfort friends that are facing challenges, and most important of all, she ensures that her husbands life runs seamlessly. In the start of the film, we can see that Ellen is struggling to keep everything together. She is in no way used to this and has never seen herself as this kind of a woman that would run a household like this one. She had always grown up admiring her father and just wanted to grow up and be the incredible writer that he had always been. By this point, Ellen feels for her mother and rea lizes that she had so much that was always expected of her, but this also helps Ellen realize how much her mother needs her. With all of this going on, she soon also realizes how little her father does around the house. The viewers can see, as the movie progresses, that her father is not as self-centered as he comes off as and that he is just distraught about the idea of losing his wife; someone that does so much for him and who makes his life run the way that it does. He cant imagine this life without her and does not want to sit around and watch his wife slowly slip away. This whole idea that the father actually cared about the fact that his wife was slowly dying was not evident at the beginning of the film, it was actually seen as the complete opposite. Ellen watches as her father continues to have affairs late at night while he is supposed to be working. This enrages Ellen because how in the world could he do this to his wife and the mother of his children. Was the fact that she was doing everything for him not enough to satisfy him? Another event was when the family was supposed to have a Thanksgiving dinner with just the five of them. Her father thinks that it would be a wonderful idea to forget about the plan that the family had agreed on and invite two writers, which he admires, to the family dinner. He then has the balls to ask his wife to get off of the bed whip up some appetizers for his guests. Oblivious to the fact that she is in bed because she does not feel well. This is the time when Ellen finally found her voice and became confrontation al with her father. Tensions flared in the household between the two and more things start to set Ellen off. Each night that her father calls, she cant help but think that he is having an affair with the other woman he seems to care so much about. One night when her father had still not come home, Ellens mother asked her to go and fetch her father. She finds her father, at a diner, slumped over the table. She urges him that he needs to come home but I feel as though he is more ashamed by his appearance to his daughter and tells her to leave. This caused Ellen to become confrontational because at this point she is so frustrated with her fathers lack of compassion for his own wife and that fact that her condition is declining. He tells Ellen that she has done enough at this point and that she is more than welcome to return to her life back in the big city. Following this, the mothers condition declines greatly. The Chemotherapy is no longer benefiting her and her cancer has spread. Ellen fights with the doctor and believes that they should continue treatment because she is not ready yet. The only real option at this point is to make her comfortable while she lives out the rest of her days. Before she gets to the point of being bedridden, Kate makes sure that she has a discussion with both Ellen and her father. She wants to let Ellen know that she is well aware of what her husband has been doing over the years and that she still loves him. They have come to an understanding and she loves what she does have with him. Kate wanted, more than anything, to just be able to talk to someone about how she really felt. Maybe she had a fake smile on over the years and now she was able to express her concerns. With Kate now being on morphine pills multiple times a day and her condition declining with each day, Ellen has a lot more responsibility. A nurse would come to help on some days during the week to make things go a little more smoothly, but one day Ellen had to help her mother out of the tub. This is when she finally saw the severity of her mothers condition. Her head was slowly balding, and her body was turning into merely a skeleton. After settling her mother into a wheelchair, she is faced with a disheartening situation when her mother expresses that the way she was living was no way to live. In a sense she is asking for Ellen to end the pain. The end of the film is when the mother overdoses on morphine pills and passes away on her hospital bed in the living room. An investigation followed the death of Ellens mother and both Ellen and her father were suspects. Both were under the impression that the other had done it. They later happen to cross paths at Kates gravesite and they fi nd out that neither of them was responsible for overdosing Kate. She had somehow managed to get out of bed and overdose herself because she knew that neither of them would be able to be strong enough to do it themselves. In the recent years, death has started to become more mainstream. I am saying this because pro-suicide, pro-euthanasia attitudes are being more openly expressed. This could also just be that people are finally allowing themselves to talk about the topic and that it actually has been around for a good amount of time. When it comes to the films that use this as a topic in their films, it is usually not the primary issue that is broadcasted throughout the film. In One True Thing does not focus primarily on this issue, but at the end of the film, there is a sense of pro-death attitude slipped into the background. The main part of this film is devoted to the relationship shared between a mother and daughter. The mother is deathly ill and the father has enlisted the help of the daughter to drop everything in her life to come home and tend to any of her mothers needs. The movie played out more like a flashback from the viewpoint of the daughter Ellen and I think that was a big part that I left out of the summary. She was speaking with an attorney regarding the morphine overdose of her mother and how the events led up to it. In a sense, the audience is left guessing about how the mother will die throughout the film; will it be natural causes, the cancer taking her life, but we as the audience would never be able to guess that she died of an overdose. At some point we are left questioning whether it was a mercy killing executed by either her husband or daughter. This move implies that all of these means of dying are morally accepted, but none of the relevant issues are explored in any depth. Instead, the situation is used as a whodunit device to spin up an otherwise straightforward issue. With Ellen having such a strong belief about how her life should run and her attitudes regarding her career and family were formed primarily by contemporary feminism. She was a Harvard graduate in her late 20s and scored a job with a high-profile New York magazine, so she could be seen as not being the typical woman one would think of in 1988. Ellen defines her life and herself according to her professional success and her personal relationships, whether family or intimate, are taking a spot on the sidelines. She is a strong and successful woman that is believes that woman are just as qualified to compete at the same level as men. Her mother, on the other hand, is what one would call a pre-feminist housewife. Her life revolves around the wellbeing of her husband and children, while her own needs stand off to the side. This is why, I believe, the cancer was allowed to progress to the point that it did because she would just shrug off the symptoms. Kate was also a great help in the loc al charities and was, at that time, the perfect housewife. The difference between Ellen and Kate becomes an issue when Ellens father tells her that she needs to drop everything and come back home to live in the family home and take care of her mother. He assumes that every woman should be capable and happy to complete the same housewife tasks that most women take on. Ellen made it a point in the film to say that she never wanted this life for herself. She never wanted to become the housewife and she looked up to her fathers lifestyle and believed that that was what she wanted to strive for. In the beginning of the film, when George and Ellen are sitting on the porch, Ellen asks her father how he feels about her recent piece that she wrote for the magazine. At first, he just gave a basic answer and said that it was good but that was not good enough of an answer for Ellen. When she asked a second time, she finally received the criticism she had been asking for. George said that her paper too emotional and that she needed to add a more masculine hint to her work. This sounds to me as though he wants her to hide who she really is and act as though a man is writing the article. He makes the comment that Less is more, a comment that was heard a little too often in the film. George seems to want to hold his daughter back in a way. Maybe he wanted to see his son reach her level and become a great writer like him, because back in that time, I would feel as though recognition for a son would be more beneficial than recognition for a daughter. Kate was a woman that only saw the positives during her battle with cancer. She strived to complete all of the daily tasks that she was used to doing until she no longer could manage. She can be seen as a very powerful woman, but I think she was struggling most with the idea of being sick and not being able to tend to her family. When she was told about how George told Ellen that less is more she counteracted and told Ellen that more is more. She is someone that wanted Ellen to hold onto all of her strong traits and stay the woman that she had become. In the film, the viewer can see that most of the men are portrayed to be weak and terrible people. This is more of the feminism coming into play. George is depicted as being self-centered, out of touch with his feelings, and a philanderer. Ellens brother flunked out of Harvard, while she excelled in the program, and he was then too afraid to tell his parents because of the idea of being a failure and the criticism that he would face fro m mainly his father. This is one of those examples of when men were thought to have been treated as better and more powerful people than women. Ending the movie, we are faced again with the morphine overdose that took the life of Kate. It wasnt until the last scene that we find out that she managed to do it herself and commit suicide and escape the pain she was in. This can easily be seen as the most harmful message in the film because its suggestion that the willingness to commit suicide, or to assist a loved one in the act is somehow proof of psychological strength and maturity when it is indeed the complete opposite. This twist at the end leaves the view in a kind of awe. We were initially left to think that the father crushed the pills and put them into Kates food, because Ellen had backed out. At the gravesite is when the truth was finally figured out because both Ellen and George thought that the other was guilty for assisted in Kates death. One True Thing. Dir. Carl Franklin. By Karen Croner. Perf. Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger, and  William Hurt. Universal Pictures, 1998. HBO GO.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Zara Company Analysis

Zara Company Analysis I selected Zara to be the topic of my strategic management individual assignment. Ive chosen this topic because Zara is one of the leading companies in the fashion industry and they follow strategies that give them competitive advantage over other competitors like: MANGO, NEXT, GAP, HM. In this paper Im going to discuss the companys background and history, the SWOT analysis, the strategies that adopted in the company, challenges, opportunities, and the mission vision and objective. Background of the company Zara is a clothing retailer who has taken a new approach in the industry. It was founded by Amancio Ortega in 1963 in Spain. Its parent company is owned 60% INDITEX by the Ortega family and Inditex has carried out in 2005 to 6.741 billion turnovers. Zara has about 2000 thousands branches around the world. Zara is a distributor of apparels. It offers a wide range of choices: the collections for women, men and children. However, the brand launched a line of cosmetics, perfumes and household products. Since the beginning of its establishment, the main idea of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬ ¹Zara is to make luxury products accessible to everyone. Thus, they managed somehow to democratize luxury manufacturer of products inspired by the evolution of fashion. With this policy, Zara is now an industry capable of offering trendy products at affordable prices. On the other hand, it is a company that wants to be close to young people. Also, this desire is felt in its recruitment policy. Zara young employees with styles very marked fashion. However, Zara understands what exactly the customers need and respond to their needs very quickly. Thats the main secret of Zara, which gives them a competitive advantage. Vision, mission, and objectives VISION To be number one fashion retailer. MISSION The world is getting smaller; we want the whole world to dress in style, class, and experience unique designs weekly. Objectives The main objective is to increase the customers demand and satisfaction, by giving them the chance to experience new unique designs weekly. Spread widely and open more branches in the main cities around the world and cover 80% of them by the end of 2011. SWOT Analysis Zaras strategy has both opportunities and strengths of threats and weaknesses. The following section will describe the four dimensions of Zaras agile approach. (S)trengths: Zaras value chain is vertically integrated, which offers many advantages. It can react quickly and it may have high control over the entire process from design to final product. Supply chain is efficient when they have a smooth use of distributions centers and warehouses. Its strategy also allows distributing the products within a wide geographic range within a very short time. The other thing also is that the products are close to market demand. Their products are made only in limited editions; consequently, they must sale their products in short period of time so they can be sold at full price without having them to be returned. This responsive approach involves both lower marketing costs, and higher profit margins for the company. IT integration is also an important aspect of Zaras strategy which is significant as it enables information sharing between different joints within the company. (W)eaknesses: Zaras business model is certainly well adapted to todays needs. But it has a significant weakness, which is that it is difficult to exploit the scalability of a continued expansion. Zara accounts for 80% of consolidated sales Inditexs, which means that the entire group is very dependent on Zaras sales figures. The vertical integration of supply chain has its limitations in scalability. Zara cannot produce clothing in larger quantities for a lower cost, and then the whole concept is based on insignificant quantities as quickly distribute to the stores. The rapid processes can thus compromising the quality in some cases. To always be close to market and capture the latest trends and translate them into clothes that are ready for sale within a short time requires outstanding effort from the employees and the management. Zara fails to implement online shopping which leads to lose orders to their competitors. (O)pportunities: Online shopping became huge and significant market; customers can go online and order what they need. If Zara allows customers to purchase online, that would increase their sales. Pablo Isla is the first Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive says: we view our entry into the Indian market to be of significant strategic importance. (T)hreats: The first threat is that the rent is continuously increasing in malls, Zara need to afford the high cost of rent, which means that they have to increase prices or cut other costs. The main competitors of Zara are HM, GAP, NeXT, and Uniqlo. These companies compete with Zara in several categories like: valuation. , sales, financial ratios, and profitability. Moreover, there is competition with the Asian clothing industry, which starts brands can earn price premium over the competitors in this industry. Challenges facing the company The Textile The textile industry is undergoing dramatic changes. This is an area that requires unskilled labor, which many relocation of production abroad (mostly in Asia) in order to lower costs. In addition, there is a certain paradox. Lower costs can certainly develop a competitive advantage, but if all companies do so, they may not have a competitive advantage. Thus, innovation plays a key role in building the advantage against competitors. The question now is how to gain time in order to be more responsive to customer requests. Zara has understood this need and its strategy, is essentially based on the time savings. The two risks in the textile: Demand Three adjectives can describe the demand part. First, it is unpredictable, which means studying the market may give an indication of demand characteristics. Second, it is a variable; it follows the fashion trends. Demand is also volatile, remain loyal to a brand is not the objective of the consumer. The two important things to the customer are the aesthetics and the price: no matter who proposes, as long as it pleases the customers and the prices are reasonable, then they will buy. Competition The textile sector is hyper competitive. The competition is twofold: that of basic products from countries with low production costs, and global companies that offer products high-end. Moreover, competition depends on costs but also on quality, image, responsiveness and, logistics company. Today, off shoring does not only to create a competitive advantage. Other factors should be taken into account. New markets The sales area is centered in Europe. The desire to penetrate a new market is ready for any enterprise. However, in the case of Zara, this conquest is hampered by the centralization of management and production. It appears as the first drawback of the strategy of the company. Therefore, they should revise the strategy to integrate the North American market, one of the largest markets in the world. Thus, they planned to open a distribution center in Mexico to serve the U.S. market. Competition with China This country is the largest producer and exporter of textiles. The lifting of EU quotas (in place since 1974 with the Multi-Fiber Agreement) the 1janvier 2005 has completely destabilized the textile sector (liberalization of world trade). The entry of China into the WTO in 2002 had already had a dramatic impact on the textile sector. According to the European Apparel and Textile Organization (EURATEX) in 2004, 165,000 jobs have been lost and it is anticipated the loss of a million jobs. A major advantage of China is its low production costs (for the violation of workers rights). More generally, Asia alone accounts for 75% of global textile production. China produced in 2003 17% of global textile and with the abolition of quotas, its share reached 50% within three years. Strategy of Zara All functions are centralized at Zara in La Coruà ±a (design, marketing, and communication), enabling cost control and responsiveness. The competitive advantage of the company based on three factors: quality items, reasonable prices and very short response time. Creating and marketing The degree of development of Zara is quite low, they copy the haute couture models: 40 researchers to attend fashion shows around the world and retain the ideas of top designers to fit the model Zara. About 11000 models are available per year, while other competitors have around 3,000 models. The Spanish firm has 12 collections a year, which is huge in this sector. Communication is minimal because Zara is about 0.35% of its turnover, in contrast to other textile companies who spend 3-4% on average. This reflects the lack of advertising campaigns and the consolidation of the communications department at Corunna. The groups websites are in English or Spanish, you cannot buy over the internet which reduces the cost of site management. Their philosophy is: No Marketing, no communication. Time Time is more important than costs. It is a primary fact in the world of fashion. Design, manufacture and delivery can be done within fortnight, while the market average is about two months. It is interesting to quote the remark of one analyst: Manufacturing activity is Inditex a cost center that has for vocation to better serve the sales activities. The cost is certainly higher than 20% of outsourcing but it is more than offset by increased reaction rate and a lower risk. The time strategy is the dominant strategy, because as I mentioned above, time is a cost itself for the company, so when Zara manufacture and deliver the products in two weeks while the others take months to finish this process, this means that Zara will have the chance to reduce costs and increase revenues, also increase the intangible and tangible assets of the company. Competition Zara cannot afford to operate in an extremely competitive market. So it must offer products of superior range by responding quickly to customer requirements and desires. Therefore, the distribution is important because it represents up to half the cost of the product, which means that the competitive advantage is created by low distribution costs. Marketing and sales Signs are open in the inner cities in order to compete with more expensive brands, being present in the very neighborhoods merchants in large cities. Stores are proper name, there are no deductibles Zara. The level of inventory turnover is very high; the shops are stocked twice a week, which creates a certain image of scarcity that can attract customers who do not hesitate to come to Zara quite frequently in order to discover the new collections of articles. Conclusion After we saw this issue appears, the disadvantages and advantages of Zaras strategy. First, it is important to note the unusual degree of it, since it is totally different from that established by the other competitors. The strategy worked to some extent but in the long run, it seems impossible to continue because as we saw in Part III, it is a barrier to entering new markets. In a context of globalization, it seems completely incongruous. If Zara wants a foothold in the U.S., it must decentralize its production, or need to relocate its production factors. The time factor can nevertheless still be the key to the European market but to enter the U.S. market, another strategy is to be considered. But, will they be sufficient to counter the Chinese giant?

Monday, August 19, 2019

knowledge and information :: essays research papers

I would now like to make reference to legislation that highlights the importance of how Council protects and processes it. The Data Protection Act of 1984 has been revised and the new 1998 Act was brought into force on 1 March 2000. The new act changes original definitions and meanings and it broadens the scope of the original act. There are eight principles within the act and it differentiates between personal data and sensitive personal data. Sensitive personal data covers:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Racial or ethnic origin of the data subject.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Political opinion.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Religious or spiritual belief.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Whether or not a member of a trade union.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Physical or mental health or condition.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sexual life.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The record of any alleged or actual criminal activity or sentencing.  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (HMSO, 1998, PartI). The act comprises the following eight principles: First Principle . As indicated previously personal data must be processed fairly and lawfully and at least one of the processing conditions is met. In relating this to Council in the case of processing sensitive personal data, the data must be processed fairly and lawfully and at least one of the conditions for processing sensitive personal data is met. Second Principle. Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes, and shall not be further processed in any manner incompatible with that purpose or those purposes. Third Principle. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose or purposes for which they are processed. Fourth Principle. Personal data shall be accurate and where necessary kept up to date. Fifth Principle. Personal data processed for any purpose or purposes shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose or those purposes. Sixth Principle. Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the rights of data subjects under this act. Seventh Principle. Appropriate technical and organisational measures shall be taken against unauthorised or unlawful processing of personal data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data. Eighth Principle. Personal data shall not be transferred to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area, unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects in relation to the processing of personal data. (HMSO 1998, cited by DOH, 2000, pp.1-8). Clearly, the above legislation reinforces the importance of managing information and knowledge within a contemporary organisation such as Council. Such legislation not only seeks to safeguard the rights of service-users who access my organisation but also to offer rules to Council in terms of appropriateness of processing information and knowledge.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

History and Politics :: Essays on Politics

History and Politics Dominica’s History and Politics are two subjects that become intertwined with each other as the politics have controlled the history of the island since before Columbus discovered it in 1493. From the indigenous tribes fighting each other for control to the Europeans racing to colonize Dominica the island has changed hands many times, which can be seen through the unique culture that exists there today. During these changes the politics of Dominica were altered as different tribes had different ways of ruling just like Spain, France, and Britain did too. Millions of years ago fierce volcanic activity began deep below the sea, in the region known now as the Caribbean. Some of these volcanoes managed to push their way up from the ocean floor to become islands; the tallest of these islands is Dominica. Since then Dominica has seen many different inhabitants, some stayed for thousands of years while others abandoned the island as soon as they arrived. From the ancient Ortoroid, Igneri (Arawak), and Kalinago (Carib), to the Spanish, French and English, every group left their mark and thus Dominica has a very rich and diverse history. The first inhabitants of Dominica were the Ortoroid who left the South American mainland around 3100 BC. They traveled in canoe type boats and used sails and paddles to navigate from island to island. One of the islands they settled on was Dominica, where they lived for over 2500 years. Evidence suggests that the Ortoroid where extinct by 400 BC. (www.Skyviews.com) The Igneri or â€Å"Arawak speakers,† were the next group to live on Dominica arrived around 400 AD. They were a peaceful tribe that had also traveled by boat from South America, and dispersing to settle on a number of different neighboring islands. During the 1,000 years that the Igneri occupied the island, a well – defined culture was developed that thrived as a result of the plentiful supply of fish and warm climate that is found on Dominica. (www.Skyviews.com) Sometime around the end of the 12th century AD, things took a bad turn for the Igneri. At this time the violent warlike people known as Kalinago, began to make their way up the Caribbean chain of islands, invading and conquering the islands they stopped at. By the early 1400’s they had reached Dominica, they named the island, ‘Wai’tukubuli’, which translates to, ‘Tall is Her Body’.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Living Together Before Marriage

Living together before making our vows would have reassured us about a lifelong commitment. From my own experience, I believe that couples should live together before getting married, so they can start to know each other on a closer, more personal level; moreover, they can start thinking about the compatibility of their future spouse. Couples start knowing each other on a closer, more personal level when they live together, which prepares them for a married lifestyle. For starters, you learn what your partner likes and dislikes, although this isn't always easy.There is a lot to discover about your partner and from your partner; the only way to do this successfully is to move in together. For example, does he like broccoli, female mud wrestling, sleeping with the windows open? Maybe he likes to spend the whole weekend on the couch watching basketball! Believe it or not, it's little details like these that can often make or break a relationship. Second, you learn what kind of bad habit s you and your partner have and whether or not you can get rid of them.I really don't like it when my husband forgets to fill the ice trays, forgets to replace the empty toilet paper holder, or leaves the toilet seat up; I, on the other hand, tend to forget to put perishables in the refrigerator after I take them out for cooking, and I leave the clothes in a pile, all wrinkled, when they come out of the dryer. Moreover, you can see how much fun you have with each other and realize how much you would miss by not getting married.Try to plan a vacation in advance, have a dinner date in town after work, or go to the movies on a Wednesday night when you know you have to get up for work the next morning. In other words, find out how romantic and imaginative your partner can be. Life can be tough and boring; it takes two creative and motivated people to keep a relationship alive. I think that couples can make a wiser decision about the lifelong compatibility of their future spouse if they live together. To begin, you can learn if you or your partner is ready for marriage by seeing his or her reaction to the â€Å"m† word-marriage.You need to ask yourself if you are ready to have children with your partner, and if you are ready to stay with this person for the rest of your life through thick and thin. It is also beneficial to learn if you and your partner are both suited for monogamy; some people find it hard to be sexually faithful to one person. In addition, you can see how your partner reacts to real-life situations. If something dramatic happens to one of you, like a car accident or a major illness, what is his reaction going to be and how will he behave differently in private or in public?Perhaps he is the type of guy who talks big, but can't handle life's difficult moments or be a good caretaker. Finally, living together you won't have the pressure of a marriage certificate hanging over your head, especially when some people have a real phobia about that little piece of paper. Living together means that the taxes are easier, you do not have expenses in case of a messy divorce, and you can make a lot of decisions before you enter into a relationship that is bad for your health, physically and emotionally.Being free of the pressures of marriage, you stand a better chance of knowing your partner as a real person. By living together before marriage, each partner has the opportunity to practice being married. A marriage has the best chance for surviving if each partner is absolutely sure they have chosen the right mate. This act of being â€Å"extra nice†? cannot go on forever. During this â€Å"practice†? period, let†tms say one partner discovers some trait or characteristic that is extremely bothersome.Marriage is a serious endeavor, and the more knowledge one has regarding his/her partner is an important aspect. Living together will naturally increase the time together, which leads to the knowledge needed to know i f you have chosen the correct mate. Living together in my opinion will expose the true person. I respect their opinions, but on the other hand I don†tmt preach to others how to live their lives and expect the same in return. Living together before marriage has financial benefits to the couple. Myself, and most guys I know are (were) â€Å"extra nice†? in the beginning of the relationship.Although it may be the lesser of two evils, I feel it is far better to call off a marriage opposed to a divorce that could have potentially been avoided if the marriage never took place. Regardless of what some â€Å"experts†? or religions may preach, sex is an important part of the bond between couples. Having knowledge about any endeavor is the key to it being successful. Again, I state it is better to know as much as possible about your partner before actually going through with a marriage. It is a serious commitment and should not be entered into with the thought that â€Å" if things don†tmt work out I can always divorce and get out of it†?

Friday, August 16, 2019

Disciplinarily Process Essay

Introduction: The purpose of this report is to provide the background and reasons why the decisions by Fair Work Australia were made in Sam’s favour. It identifies areas the company needs to address and implement in order to prevent this type of situation from occurring again. Work History as Sam’s Team Manager As Sam’s Team Manager I was aware that my predecessors response when dealing with her lacked in encouragement and was poorly handled. Sam is a diligent worker however, due to the company changing programming language to one Sam was unfamiliar with she has been unable to meet specific deadlines. Time was spent with Sam trying to understand her issues and Resources relocated in order to allow Sam extra time until she was confident and competent using the new programming language. The offer of additional training was made , but no specific timelines for a performance review to discuss progress on meeting the required standard of performance were given. During the final meeting with Sam about her inability to meet her latest deadline, Sam physically struck myself and left the office. A Medical certificate was sent to the office the following day, advising Sam was unfit for work due to stress. The receipt of this medical certificate was confirmed over the phone by Sam, to the HR department and conformation made that it had been documented and filed accordingly. It was then the next day that the incident was reported by myself to my supervisor. A meeting was held with myself, my supervisor and the HR Department, the result was that Sam would be terminated on the basis of serious misconduct.. A letter was sent by registered mail to Sam’s personal address. It was two days later that the unfair dismissal claim was filed by Sam with Fair work Australia. Fair Work Australia Hearing: The outcome of the Fair Work Australia hearing between the company and Sam went in Sam’s favor, this was due to insufficient evidence and documentation provided by the company regarding Sam’s dismissal, on the basis of serious misconduct. See attached Risk Analysis (Appendix 1) for Mitigation/Contingencies on Area’s of risk for this case. The hearing was awarded in Sam’s favour because of the following grounds: * There was no formal disciplinary process. * There was no impartial investigation carried out on the act of misconduct. * There was insufficient documentation of claims of employee meetings and reviews. * The medical certificate given to the company by Sam in its original form was not produced by the company for the hearing. * Sam was able to produce a certified copy of the medical certificate as well as email correspondence between herself and the Human Resources department confirming the companies receipt of the medical certificate. * No records or documents of any meetings or coaching sessions were kept by our company. * No evidence of signed, agreed upon and documented performance management reviews or plans were presented by the company * No formal disciplinary process followed, allowing for an investigation in the lead up to Sam’s dismissal. * There was no evidence proving the misconduct claim had taken place or witnesses to call upon to verify the incident. * During meetings where Sam was warned of poor performance, there were no members of senior management present or human resource department specialists. * There were no documented written warnings in Sam’s file, any agreements made between myself and Sam were verbal. Thus no evidence to support the claim of misconduct by Sam. Proposed Company Strategy for defense against unfair dismissal claims: For the company in future to successfully defend itself against unfair dismissal claims should there be a case of serious misconduct of an employee it needs to ensure it brings its performance management procedure and staff professional development in line with Australian legislation, Fair Work Australia Act 2009 – Small business fair dismissal (See appendix 2 for website links) By ensuring the company has a clear concise format for performance management and professional development that is documented and filed and reviewed accordingly should employee misconduct occur there is clear evidence of the employees history with the company, management and Human Resources department and the events leading up to the case of misconduct. The company needs to conduct Monthly performance reviews on all staff ensuring that agenda’s are used and meetings following the reviews are documented and filed according and if poor performance is a topic on the agenda senior management and a human resources specialist is attendance. Decisions made in performance management reviews are to be documented and conducted using the recommended template (see appendix 3) Should the employee still not meet expectations as agreed upon in Performance reviews the following steps need to be followed and all actions taken need to comply with legislation (Fair work Australia Act 2009 – Small business fair dismissal) as set by Fair Work Australia. Proposed Company Strategy for Employee misconduct: The company needs to review its policy on what is deemed as employee misconduct and the consequences of employee misconduct, the review of this policy needs to be done by senior management and the Human Resources Department making sure the policy and consequences are clear, concise and in line with legislation as set by Fair Work Australia. The below procedure should be followed: Conclusion: By completing a review of company policies and procedures regarding Performance Reviews and Employee misconduct (and the consequences), implementing correct documentation (templates) and storage the company and staff will have a clear understanding of individual staff performance, and legal documentation. Recommendation: By implementing a structured Review process for all staff, and reviewing the companies policy on misconduct. Staff performance is recorded, plans/goals set and agreed upon by staff and management and reviewed by the Human Resources Department. In the case of Sam’s dismissal the recommendation would have been to follow the following steps: At the time of the assault it should have been reported to senior management straight away and Human Resources Department notified immediately. An incident/accident report made and an investigation initiated. The authorities should have been notified and a disciplinary hearing conducted with the conclusion/decision of Sam’s termination being verbally notified with a formal letter of termination given to Sam. This should have been done the same day and a soon as possible following the incident.

Federated Science Fund Negotiation Essay

Summary: This was a multiparty negotiation, which involved 6 players all with very different negotiation styles. It was an exercise in which teams easily form a coalition. There were concessions about the value added each team would bring to the â€Å"table†, and my team in a situation of power saw how negatively the other teams reacted in name of fairness and how important was to share the pie. During this exercise there was a 3-stage process: individual assessment, team’s assessment and negotiation. 1) During my individual assessment: I did a thorough analysis of what I believed it was Stockman’s fair value. My reservation price was $215,000 as I did a mean value between 230,000 and 197,000. However I was prepared to accept 197,000 in case my counterparties had convincing arguments or/and have used the Sharpley’s method for distributing the pie. 2) During Stockman’s assessment, my team: My partner was comfortable with my analysis and we rapidly agreed on the strategy. He was very favorable of having a cooperative attitude. As a team, we decided to start negotiating as a group of 3 in order to expand the pie to everyone. 3) During the teams’ assessment when we reassembled: There was a consensus that we were better off together than separately, and we decided to do a simultaneous negotiation in order to guarantee that no one was left out of the deal. Everyone wanted to have an even participation. There were two main breakpoints that change the course of the negotiation: the anchoring and a vertiginous switching of power positions. What did I do right? – I did the anchoring of the thought process; I presented the scenario that was more favorable to Stockman, my team. As below:   Ã¢â‚¬â€œ I Assumed that 480 total was the fair value and started backwards by subtracting the added-value from the person that left the deal. Based on this analysis Stockman was the biggest contribution to the pie, it represented 56.25% of the conjunct agreement. – United was not receptive to this deal, and they were not impressed that at my eyes they were worth only 12.5%. United instantly turn to Turbo for a deal. That attitude was surprising to me as I was expecting a more aggressive tactic of United to do a collision with Stockman. – My initial splitting did not convince United and Turbo as in total they had less than partnering together. I knew and acknowledged that, so I offer Turbo and United some of my 270 share. That was the right thing to do, however I should have reclaimed something in exchange. One should only give up a share of the pie if it has something in return. â€Å"Free lunches turn out to be expensive lunches† in the means that people will always ask for more if they don’t feel they need to compromise. – I was not favorable at all to divide equally the pie. I knew my value and was determined to not let go what I considered my fair bit. What did I do wrong? – I started to get nervous and eventually I panic when I realized that Turbo was starting to be more interested to negotiate with United. United in the midst of an angry Turbo, took advantage and ask for a bigger pie to continue with Stockman. This was a crucial moment, which I internally panic. I should have asked for a break and set again my direction with my partner. Internally I needed â€Å"some minutes in the balcony†, to decompressed. – When I saw that Turbo and United were building up forces, I put in a table a completely new negotiation, which was very disruptive, compared to the previous one: – In this negotiation scenario, United saw their share increasing from 60 to 90 and Turbo would remain more or less the same. Turbo felt berated and betrayed, based on the equity theory they did not accepted and demanded for more. – I learn a big lesson, never radically change negotiation positions. Doing such a radical change underestimates the seriousness of your previous arguments and injures radically your position. One should take the time to negotiate and not feel compelled to do quick decisions. In this particular exercise I should have listened more. I got exposed for trying to control and leverage my position of power. Nevertheless, I managed to do a deal still within my initial reservation price. What would I like to do different? – My Stockman partner was sitting on the bench next to United I guess that made me feel in a certain point of the negotiation isolated. Adding to that, I was the only one in the negotiation with calculations and without my phone to add up and do the recalculation of the values on the spot. – I would mirror the behavior of my colleagues next time, if no one shares calculation sheets I will not show any that I have made. Next time, I will push myself more to be more spontaneous and try to use more persuasive arguments than analytical calculations during the negotiation. – Next time I will listen more and try to understand what is considered as â€Å"fairness†, for instance United just being part of the deal might have been fair per se. I lost a good opportunity to stay only with my first analysis and just duel on a psychological construct that United was a small company that developed research in an area that was not Stockman’s main interest, so being part of the deal for United was already a bonus. (I had a better relationship with Turbo). – At the end of the negotiation I just wanted to protect my reservation price at all cost, I lost control and got in the frame of the yes bias. Maybe I am not as much of a risk taker as I thought I was. – Next time, I will get in line with the intentions of my counterparty and announce my intentions and which are the concessions that I think are reasonable. It is always good to start conceding little and slowly progressively do some concessions. People love to feel they are doing progress in their negotiation and it should be gradual – higher satisfaction for the people involved. – It was good to have done an analytical analysis, however next time I will not share entirely my thought process. I should have used my good planning for my advantage during the negotiation.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

About KFC Essay

Colonel Harland Sanders, born September 9, 1890, actively began franchising his chicken business at the age of 65. Now, the KFC ® business he started has grown to be one of the largest quick service food service systems in the world. And Colonel Sanders, a quick service restaurant pioneer, has become a symbol of entrepreneurial spirit. More than a billion of the Colonel’s â€Å"finger lickin’ good† chicken dinners are served annually. And not just in North America. The Colonel’s cooking is available in more than 80 countries and territories around the world. When the Colonel was six, his father died. His mother was forced to go to work, and young Harland had to take care of his three-year-old brother and baby sister. This meant doing much of the family cooking. By the age of seven, he was a master of several regional dishes. At age 10, he got his first job working on a nearby farm for $2 a month. When he was 12, his mother remarried and he left his home near Henryville, Ind., for a job on a farm in Greenwood, Ind. He held a series of jobs over the next few years, first as a 15-year-old streetcar conductor in New Albany, Ind., and then as a 16-year-old private, soldiering for six months in Cuba. After that he was a railroad fireman, studied law by correspondence, practiced in justice of the peace courts, sold insurance, operated an Ohio River steamboat ferry, sold tires, and operated service stations. When he was 40, the Colonel began cooking for hungry travelers who stopped at his service station in Corbin, Ky. He didn’t have a restaurant then, but served folks on his own dining table in the living quarters of his service station. As more people started coming just for food, he moved across the street to a motel and restaurant that seated 142 people. Over the next nine years, he perfected his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices and the basic cooking technique that is still used today. Sander’s fame grew. Governor Ruby Laffoon made him a Kentucky Colonel in 1935 in recognition of his contributions to the state’s cuisine. And in 1939, his establishment was first listed in Duncan Hines’ â€Å"Adventures in Good Eating.† In the early 1950s a new interstate highway was planned to bypass the town of Corbin. Seeing an end to his business, the Colonel auctioned off his operations. After paying his bills, he was reduced to living on his $105 Social Security checks. Confident of the quality of his fried chicken, the Colonel devoted himself to the chicken franchising business that he started in 1952. He traveled across the country by car from restaurant to restaurant, cooking batches of chicken for restaurant owners and their employees. If the reaction was favorable, he entered into a handshake agreement on a deal that stipulated a payment to him of a nickel for each chicken the restaurant sold. By 1964, Colonel Sanders had more than 600 franchised outlets for his chicken in the United States and Canada. That year, he sold his interest in the U.S. company for $2 million to a group of investors including John Y. Brown Jr., who later was governor of Kentucky from 1980 to 1984. The Colonel remained a public spokesman for the company. In 1976, an independent survey ranked the Colonel as the world’s second most recognizable celebrity. Under the new owners, Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation grew rapidly. It went public on March 17, 1966, and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange on January 16, 1969. More than 3,500 franchised and company-owned restaurants were in worldwide operation when Heublein Inc. acquired KFC Corporation on July 8, 1971, for $285 million. Kentucky Fried Chicken became a subsidiary of R.J. Reynolds Industries, Inc. (now RJR Nabisco, Inc.), when Heublein Inc. was acquired by Reynolds in 1982. KFC was acquired in October 1986 from RJR Nabisco, Inc. by PepsiCo, Inc., for approximately $840 million. In January 1997, PepsiCo, Inc. announced the spin-off of its quick service restaurants — KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut — into an independent  restaurant company, Tricon Global Restaurants, Inc. In May 2002, the company announced it received shareholders’ approval to change it’s corporation name to Yum! Brands, Inc. The company, which owns A&W All-American Food Restaurants, KFC, Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants, is the world’s largest restaurant company in terms of system units with nearly 32,500 in more than 100 countries and territories. Until he was fatally stricken with leukemia in 1980 at the age of 90, the Colonel traveled 250,000 miles a year visiting the KFC restaurants around the world. And it all began with a 65-year-old gentleman who used his $105 Social Security check to start a business. KFC KFC operates in 74 countries and territories throughout the world under the name â€Å"Kentucky Fried Chicken† and/or â€Å"KFC.† It was founded in Corbin, Kentucky by Colonel Harland D. Sanders, an early developer of the quick service food business and a pioneer of the restaurant franchise concept. The Colonel perfected his secret blend of 11 herbs and spices for Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1939 and signed up his first franchisee in 1952. By the time KFC was acquired by PepsiCo in 1986, it had grown to approximately 6,600 units in 55 countries and territories. KFC restaurants offer fried chicken products and some also offer non-fried chicken-on-the-bone products, with the principal entree items sold in pieces under the names Original Recipe, Extra Tasty Crispy and Tender Roast. Other principal entree items include Chunky Chicken Pot Pies, Colonel’s Crispy Strips, and various chicken sandwiches. KFC restaurants also offer a variety of side items, such as biscuits, mashed potatoes and gravy, cole slaw and corn, as well as desserts and non-alcoholic beverages. Their decor is characterized by the image of the Colonel and distinctive packaging includes the â€Å"Bucket† of chicken. In 1996, KFC’s worldwide system sales of over $8 billion grew faster than the industry average even though the number of restaurants in its global system did not materially increase. This growth was largely due to the impact of new products as shown by the fact that same store sales in Company-operated stores in the U.S. increased 6%. In 1995, same store sales for Company-operated stores in the U.S. were also strong, increasing 7%. For the first half of 1997, KFC same store sales growth for Company-operated units in the U.S. was consistently positive resulting in a 4% growth rate for the 24 week period. Average U.S. system-wide sales per traditional unit in 1996 were $775,000. YUM BRANDS The Yum! Brands, Inc. organization is currently made up of six subsidiaries organized around its five core concepts, KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, A&W All-American Food Restaurants and Long John Silvers. Yum! Brands and KFC is based in Louisville, Kentucky; Pizza Hut and Yum! Restaurants International are headquartered in Dallas, Texas; Taco Bell is based in Irvine, California; and A & W All-American Food Restaurants and Long John Silvers are based in Lexington, Kentucky. Each of Yum! Brands’ concepts are engaged in the operation, development, franchising and licensing of a system of both traditional and non-traditional QSR units. Non-traditional units include express units and kiosks which have a more limited menu and operate in non-traditional locations like airports, gas and convenience stores, stadiums, amusement parks and colleges, where a full-scale traditional outlet would not be practical or efficient. In addition, there are approximately 367 units housing more than one concept (â€Å"2n1s†). Of these, approximately 354 units offer both the full KFC menu and a limited menu of Taco Bell products, and approximately 13 units offer both the full KFC menu and a limited menu of Pizza Hut products. In each concept, consumers can either dine in or carry out food. In addition, Taco Bell and KFC offer a drive-through option in many stores. Pizza Hut and, on a much more limited basis, KFC offer delivery service. Each concept has proprietary menu items and emphasizes the preparation of food with high quality ingredients as well as unique recipes and special seasonings to provide appealing, tasty and attractive food at competitive prices. VISION Our passion, as a restaurant company, is to put a YUM on people’s faces around the world, satisfying customers every time they eat our food and doing it better than any other restaurant company. A&W, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell offer customers food they crave, comeback value, and customer-focused teams. The unique eating experience at each of our restaurants make our customers smile and inspire their loyalty for life. Toward that end, our 750,000 associates around the world are trained to be customer maniacs. With sales now in excess of $1 billion in Australia, we have proof positive of the power of Customer Mania. But what’s at its core? Three things, really:  · Operational excellence  · Great marketing and advertising  · Real â€Å"sit up and take notice† customer service When we took the concept of Mania to our Restaurant Team Members – the talented people who deal with our customers day in, day out, every day – they embraced it with passion. They took the program and ran with it, becoming powerful catalysts for change throughout our entire organization! Why? Simple – Customer Mania unlocked their enthusiasm and creativity, empowering them to do whatever it takes to satisfy guests. Listening to the Voice of the Customer Customer Mania is a great concept, but how would we give it meat? By listening to the Voice of the Customer! One initiative we undertook in Australia was to invite RGMs to customer research sessions, where they could closely observe customers talking about their experiences in our restaurants. Their stories – good and bad – were telling. Customers complained about speed and communication in the KFC drive-thrus, and the lack of ready access to a manager in the restaurant. As a direct result of these focus groups, our Customer Mania team developed two important initiatives: Improving our drive-thru facilities and service to make them more customer-friendly, and revamping our problem resolution process.  · Drive-thru: We embarked on building large glass boxes at the entry to drive-thrus, with menus and an attendant replacing the speaker. These changes will make the drive-thru experience much more personal and more responsive.  · Problem resolution process: We took our best frontline workers, put them through additional LAST training, and empowered them to resolve customer complaints on the spot. As a result, customer complaints made to the home office have been reduced dramatically – down over 50%! It’s all about Leadership No doubt we’ve got a long way to go. But it’s clear to me that the five leadership principles we’ve established for Customer Mania are working, and are worth sharing:  · Lead from the top  · Stay the course, create a â€Å"five-year journey† mindset  · Be consistent  · Recognize, recognize, recognize  · Define what success looks like  · Good luck, and Yum to you!