Outline Of An Article And The Internet For Giving Me

Acknowledgments Although I have put full effort into this report, I still want to thank my family, friends and colleges for supporting me, guiding me and the constant supervision. I want to thank my professor Sana El-Azzeh for giving me the opportunity to do this amazing report. I also want to thank the authors that wrote the articles and the internet for providing me the accessibility to complete this report. Yassen Nateil Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 1 LISTS OF FIGURES AND TABLES 3 ABSTRACT 4 1.0 INTRODUCTION 5 2.0 BACKGROUND 6 3.0 MAIN CONTENT 7 3.1 Environmental Issues in North Carolina 7 3.2 Environmental Sensitivities 7 3.3 The Project Explanation and Characteristics 7 3.4 The Project Objectives 8 3.5 The†¦show more content†¦This data was gathered by research done on the internet. 1.0 Introduction The purpose of this report is to give a general background and information on Apple Corporation and their usage of renewable energy sources on and also will cover and talk about the solar design and biomass. This report was prepared by Yassen Nateil and was requested by Mrs. Sana Azzeh and has been requested on the 22nd of February and is due the 15th of March 2015. The information in this report has been gathered from internet sources. 2.0 Background Buildings are one of the world’s leading carbon dioxide emitters. Carbon dioxide is released into the earth everyday by modern technology and buildings caused by the using of fossil fuels to generate energy. Using renewable energy sources have a few several advantages, ranging from lower fuel bills, to cleaner air and less global warming are just some of the benefits. Some good design can actually reduce CO2 emissions and energy bills by almost two thirds. If there was a blackout in the city, you would still have electricity. Also you could sell electricity back to the grid at the premium if you have extra. The two types of renewable energy sources used are solar electricity and biomass fuel. The solar electricity is made when the rays of the sun shine directly onto the solar photo voltaic panels and convert that sunlight into electricity. Biomass generates energy by burning organic

Project Proposal Nike Inc. - 1354 Words

Project Deliverable 1: Project Plan Inception Nike, Inc. is a corporation that specializes in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales of footwear. Nike, Inc. was founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. The current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is Mark Parker. The company headquarters is in Beaverton, Oregon. The company headquarters will be expanding soon and will contain two additional floors. Currently, there are twenty employees and four out of the twenty employees handle the IT part of the corporation. Nike operates domestically and has connections overseas. Majority of the shoes are manufactured by an independent contractor that is located overseas. Nike is identified by its Swoosh logo. Consistent innovation†¦show more content†¦Using this approach allows Nike to benefit from the advantages of offshoring and outsourcing. Offshoring lowers costs and results in higher productivity. Outsourcing offers labor flexibility and increases competitive adva ntage (Kate, n.d.). China is a leader on the manufacturing side and India is a leader when it comes to information technology services (Kate, n.d.). â€Å"In the past decade and a half of increasing globalization, offshoring has been the fastest growing segment of the outsourcing market (Kate, n.d.)†. There are four skilled information systems personnel at Nike, Inc. including the Chief Information Officer (CIO), Director of Data and Analytics, Expert Database Architect, and Principal Security Reference Architect. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is Jathea Darden. The job of a CIO is to lead Nike, Inc.’s information technology plan to support the company’s growth. The CIO also oversees computer operations, manages the IT staff, establishes policies and procedures for the IT division, and proposes hardware or software solutions to accomplish the corporation s business objectives (â€Å"Chief Information†, n.d.). The Director of Data and Analytics is Lor i Alexander. The Director of Data and Analytics contributes to the future business solutions that will support Nike’s objectives. Lori has experience working with SaaS solutions, building workflow and productivityShow MoreRelatedNike Case1074 Words   |  5 PagesEstimating the cost of Capital 1. Capital Budgeting decisions It is important for a company to know whether a particular investment would be profitable in the long run. If the company knows the cost of capital it can accept or reject investment proposals by calculating the present values of the future cash flows. The company would most likely not invest if the cost of borrowing is greater then the returns generated from the investment. 2. Determining the ideal capital structure By calculating theRead MorePrep Question988 Words   |  4 Pagescredit. Decide if it is a good idea to repurchase stocks. Preparatory Questions for Southwest Airlines Winglet Project 1. 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“Time Is Equal to Money” of Supply Chain Management Free Essays

Discuss the statement â€Å"Time is equal to money† within the context of supply chain management for both manufacturing and retail organisations. There is no such thing as constant. Everything in this world evolves, even strategic performance measures. We will write a custom essay sample on â€Å"Time Is Equal to Money† of Supply Chain Management or any similar topic only for you Order Now An organisation must be open to the idea that some measures changes over time. Organisations must research on different approaches to be at par with the changes on the systems. Business organisations today particularly the manufacturing and retail organisations operate in a turbulent and dynamic business environment.The contemporary business environment is undergoing a metamorphosis as rapid technological innovations, competitive markets, diverse customer preferences, and extensive global operations prevail in it because of the value of time. For them time is equal to money. To ensure continuous operation and survival in today’s rigid business environment, a business firm has to be open to change and improvement. Business processes, services, products and operations should be consistently subject to evaluation and refinement. The norm is to deliver quality products and services while maintaining flexible and effective operations.One of the most vital aspects of a business operation is the management of the supply chain. The supply chain comprises of the coordinated arrangement of manpower, technology, and production processes that transforms raw materials into tangible products or services. The supply chain is the overall process that determines how business firms secure materials, exploit people, utilise machines, and follow business processes to develop specific products and services for the satisfaction of consumers. This business operation is crucial as any defect in one area can render adverse impacts to the others.Thus, management of the supply chain entails strategies and constant monitoring to ensure its consistency to deliver outputs to the customers at the most convenient time. Time is valuable to any business organisations since it corresponds to satisfaction of clients and business progress. Satisfaction and progress reflects to the money earned by the organisation. In manufacturing and retail organisations, time is very vital. In manufacturing business, let say in food industry, products should be delivered in appropriate time to avoid food expiration that may possibly results to failed transaction and loss of money.The needs of the supply chain demand the efficient and speedy movement of goods to the end user with enhanced levels of service. Increasingly, this entails the customisation of goods and services according to the requirements of individual clients. In order to maintain their competitiveness, all parties involved in the process, including manufacturers, vendors and logistics providers, must be able to offer and provide a swift and individually customised service to value time and money. In retail business, time is also important because of continues changes in the demand of the consumers. The retail businesses should learn how to cope up to the current trend and time in business to have more profit. Retail businesses should consider the changes in business arena. They should know the competition, position in the market value of money and time. A certain business has to improve the flexibility of its supply chain network and coordination among the various entities involved in the process. Coordination and flexibility go hand in hand because a company that has well-aligned supply chain operations is guaranteed total flexibility.A business has to plan its supply chain operation in advance to minimise wasted transactions. (2007) reports that the pursuit of supply chain flexibility is by designing a supply chain model. A supply chain model requires the company to determine the kinds of strategies and amount of time to suffice current customer needs. In this approach the business has to analyse and understand customer and stakeholder expectations in order to conceptualise the supply chain requirements and costs involved in each.Today, with these reasons, time management has increasing prominent to the success of any company. From the challenges in both manufacturing and retail industry, appropriate time management maybe used in order to maintain product traceable and avoidance of product expiration. Every business organisation is determined to know what kind of work they would and would not do for their customers and, in turn, they carefully learn how to fulfil the needs of each kind of customer in their target markets.Thus, they should emphasised the idea to take advantage of the competitive situation not just by being better in how that product gets sold, serviced, and marketed at the customer in terface. It requires that the business industry creates breakthroughs in how they interact with customers, and design a way of interacting that makes an indelible impression on customers, one that so utterly distinguishes them from others that it becomes a brand in itself. How to cite â€Å"Time Is Equal to Money† of Supply Chain Management, Essays

Hopewell Culture Essay Example For Students

Hopewell Culture Essay Studiedsince the discovery of the conspicuous mounds in Ross County Ohio, the Hopewellhave been an archaeological enigma to many. The tradition is so named for theowner of the farm, Captain Hopewell, where over thirty mounds were discovered. Earlier studies focused more on the exotic grave goods such as precious metals,freshwater pearls, many of these objects had come from all corners of thecontinent from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico, and north to themid-Atlantic coastline (some say Hopewellian influence reached Nova Scotia). Earlier scholars of the Hopewell (1950s through 1960s) were well aware ofthe influence of the Interaction Sphere, yet concluded that the Hopewell,in terms of lifestyle were a cult and had no influence on daily life. Laterstudies suggest otherwise, as more and more information surfaces along with newinsightful interpretations. It is widely accepted that the Hopewell are thenext generation of the Adena. That is to say that the Adena gave rise tothe Hopewell, who had, as speculated migrated into the Ohio River Valley fromIllinois. The Hopewell have been described as a more elaborate and flamboyantversion of the Adena. Whether the Hopewell overpowered the Adena or simplymingled with and mixed into the culture, is not certain, yet there has been noevidence of warfare to support the former. The result was a cultural explosionencompassing a vast majority of North America east of the Rocky Mountains to theAtlantic coast. The Hopewell flourished in the Middle Woodland from 200 B.C. toAD 500. The environment was nearly what it is today. Temperate with lakes,streams, wetlands and flood-plains, the people took advantage of the seasonalweather in the Ohio River Valley via foraging as well as hunting and gathering. The cultivation of domestic strains of beans and maize was well on its way as itwas implemented in small amounts, catching on later in the time period. Thevegetation was a prairie/forest mix of deciduous trees, walnut, oak, variousgrasses and shrub. The fauna of the region included many species of waterfowl,turkey and other species in great abundance that are found today (perhaps inmore abundance than found today). Larger fauna included buffalo, bison, deer,and elk and smaller animals such as rodents, raccoons, beaver and the like. Aquatic life included freshwater mussels and clams, many fishes (bass, catfish,etc.) and turtles. As we will see, the people made abundant use of these floraand fauna as food, clothing, container, ceremonial and ornamental objects. Asfor changes through time in the environment, it is theorized (by some) that itdid in fact shift to a wetter one, perhaps driving the people to higher groundor otherwise drier climates. Core settlement, as noted was along the Ohio Riverand its estuaries on flood-plains, as well as on or near wetlands. Major areasof population density include Newark and Chillicothe as well as Marietta. Theseareas provided a lush environment of flora and fauna species that were widelyexploited over the centuries by the inhabitants. Living quarters, althoughscarcely studied, consist of scatterings of small villages with largersettlements located near and around major mound complexes. Some of these smallervillages seem to have been occupied seasonally while settlement was mor e thanlikely permanent in the larger loci surrounding the mounds. Some dwellings havebeen found to consist of saplings stuck into the ground in a circle, broughttogether in the center and covered with elm bark or mats of woven grasses. Postmolds from various areas in Ohio and Illinois indicate oval patterns as well asrectangular long-houses with rounded corners. Larger houses ranged from 18 to 25feet long and one was as large as 4448 feet, suggesting a large gatheringplace, perhaps for trading, council meetings or ceremonial practices. The dressof the people reflected their beliefs, trading practices and even wealth. Ornaments were worn head to foot. Womens hair were pinned back with dowels ofwood or bone in a bun or knot and a long sort of ponytail. When nursing, womenwore their hair braided and tied up in a shorter ponytail that was held togetherby a mesh or net-like bag. Typical male hairstyle was a sort of mohawk on topwith their hair pulled back into a bun in the back. As for male dress, a warriorwore a loincloth of dyed material with patterns on it (resembling a diaper; forlack of better description). He carried a long spear, an atl-atl, wearingvarious necklaces of bone, shell and stone beads including bear claws, sharktooth and other exotic items. The closest that these ancient north Americanscame to an iron age is revealed in their use of copper as breast plates andhelmets in warfare. Members of both sexes wore earspools (yo-yo shaped earrings)of copper as well as bracelets and necklaces. Mica was cut and shaped intovarious ornaments for headdresses in the form of animals, birds of prey t alons,geometric figures, human hand, and bear claw. Mica would be integrated intoclothing and on garments that would sparkle and reflect light, somewhat likesequins. Not much more is known about dress, due to the fact that textilesdeteriorate rapidly in the archaeological record. Very little is known of socialand political customs; ideas being drawn from ethnographic analogy (of Iroquois,the possible descendants) as well as being pieced together from archaeologicalcontexts. More than likely the people operated under matrilineal kinship. Theylived in long-houses dominated by the oldest female member of the family andwhen a couple was married, the husband would move into the wives house andbecome a part of their social unit. These new husbands had very little if anysay in household matters. The children belonged to or were affiliated withtheir mothers family, the males owing allegiance to that unit. There were,however male chiefs who represented households and villages in tribal affai rs. Evidence for hereditary monarchy is briefly described from a report in the1950s. It documents that a number of skeletons found in some mound structureshad a rare physical trait. This trait was a bony growth in the ear that wasgenetically transmitted. Peoples found to harbor this growth were found inassociation with vast riches of pearls, beads, precious metals, large amounts ofmica and the like, quite possibly the inbred mark of royalty within atribe or tribes. The subsistence base of the Hopewell consisted of hunting,gathering and to a lesser extent cultivation of local plant species, dependingupon where they lived. Hunting was done primarily with spears and projectilepoints, with the Indians making use of an instrument called and atl-atl. Onewould attach a spear to the atl-atl and hurl it at the target, the implementproviding not only a more powerful throw, but giving the spear a more finelytuned trajectory. Also used at this time were the bow and arrow, a big step intechnological innovation at the time. This is evident in the archaeologicalrecord with the finding of smaller projectile points such as the SquibnocketTriangle. As for throwing spears, larger projectile points were used, resemblingthe Jacks Reef Corner Notched, broad knife blades and corner notchedprojectile points being preferred as well as being typical of the Hopewell. Role Of Airplanes In World War II EssayThe lend-ees would then be obligated to the Big Man, perhaps having towork harder to pay back the favor. This, along with burial customs is theoverall effect of the Hopewell interaction sphere facilitating the so-calledBig Idea. It was a philosophy, a way of life be it not all encompassing inthe lives of distant trade partners, yet affecting them through ritualceremonialism (in some areas as evidenced by presences of mounds) andtrade-good manufacture. This dispersal reached Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin,Iowa, Missouri, New York, the Northeast and eastern Rocky Mountain states andinto the deep south. The best-known aspects of the Hopewell are their ceremonialand burial practices centering on earthworks and burial mounds. Earthworksincluded animal effigy mounds (coinciding with animal platform pipes. Correlation?), geometric shapes, and a particular recent find, the GreatHopewell Road. Found in Ohio, it runs from Newark to Chillicothe, in a straightline through swamps and streams, thought to be a spiritual or pilgrimage route,rather than one of trading. Burial mounds were usually enclosed by a raisedembankment, symbolizing a sacred place. Earthworks were found in conjunctionwith burial mounds, near burial mounds or even distances away, some taking uphundreds of acres. The great Serpent Mound is a good example, yet isthought of as Adena. As for mortuary customs, three quarters of the bodies hadbeen cremated, full fleshed burial was probably a privilege of higher rankedindividuals, they were buried in full flexed position. Structures called CharnelHouses were erected where the dead were de-fleshed and then taken for cremation. First, brush was cleared from the burial area, including trees and topsoil. Claywas then lain down and then an inch of sand that was compacted. A large woodenstructure (some with no roofs, possibly to expose flesh to the elements forremoval) was built, sometimes with smaller rooms inside to accommodate others orextra grave goods and furniture. Cremations were done in clay lined pits duginto the floor after the bodies had been stripped of flesh and left there orplaced inside the log cabin structure. They were then surrounded by high-qualitygrave goods mentioned above, artisans or craftsmen being interred with largeamounts of their medium of specialty or trade including pearls, mica andobsidian. One mound was found with 12,000 pearls, 35,000 pearl beads, 20,000shell beads, nuggets of copper, meteoric iron, silver, sheets of hammered goldand copper, and iron beads. These houses were left standing or were burnt downand then covered with a mound taking up to and including one million bask et-fullsof earth. This was done periodically, layering burial on top of burial, perhapsindicating lineage, that it was that clans mound. Some of the skeletons hadcopper noses affixed to their skulls (nasal cavities). The mounds were probablyreserved for those in high status positions, sizes ranging from ten to fiftyfeet high and larger. The number of these earthworks in Ohio alone reaches10,000, however, many have been lost in this and other areas due to plowing anderosion. The Hopewell decline is as much a mystery as its origins and practices. The Hopewell exchange systems seem to have deteriorated around AD 500;Moundbuilding ceased, art forms were no longer produced. War and mass murder isunlikely, for there is no evidence for fighting (none even during the era). Perhaps it was the decimation of big-game herds of buffalo, deer and elk due tothe technology of the bow and arrow. Support for this theory lies in thedisappearance of atl-atl weights around the same time as the collapse. This, inconjunction with colder climatic conditions could have driven the animals northor west, as weather would have a detrimental effect on plant-life, drasticallycutting the subsistence base for these foods. Along with this, food productionof maize and other hardier plants would have been more important than tradingexotic goods. Another theory suggests that they eventually dispersed for unknownreasons, moving perhaps south, integrating with the Mississippian culture or tothe northeast, lending to the ancestral Iroquois theory. Whatever the case maybe, the Hopewell have left their indelible mark on Ancient Native North AmericanCulture in a way Archaeologists and Historians have never encountered. BibliographyFagan, Brian M. Ancient North America 1995 (revised) Thames and Hudson Ltd.,London. Jennings, Jesse D. Prehistory of North America 1968 McGraw-Hill Inc.,New York. Spencer, Robert F. / Jesse D. Jennings The Native Americans (secondedition) 1977 Harper and Row, Publishers, New York. Ceram, C.W. The FirstAmerican 1971 Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., New York Recent Fieldwork atHopewell Culture National Historic Park www.nps.gov/hocu/recent%20fieldwork.htmHome Page for Jackson, Jennifer M. www.ucsu.colorado.edu/~jacksoj/ Archaeology:Woodland 3: Hopewell www.uiowa.edu/~anthro/webcourse/naarch/hopewell.htmResearch finds Hopewell Indians were in park www.wcinet.com/th/News/010398/Front/90294.htmWoodland Period www.uiowa.edu/~osa/cultural/wood.htm

The Global Sports Retail Industry

Introduction The global sports retail industry has achieved a rapid growth over the last ten years. It is also expected to continue growing over the next five years, with an estimated growth rate of about 6% per annum to reach about $130 billion by 2020 (United Nations 2014). The rapid rate of growth in this industry is due to a number of factors.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Global Sports Retail Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the major factor contributing to the industrial growth and development at a faster rate is the dynamism in the demand for sports goods. For instance, studies have shown that there is an increase in the demand for sports goods or sport-style products in various parts of the world, especially Asia. The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive report based on the industrial analysis of the global sports retail business. It will examine the industry ba sed on the conventional techniques of industry analysis, including forced field analysis, porters 5 forces, PEST and SWOT analysis. This paper argues that the sports industry stands a better chance to develop rapidly over the next five years, giving corporate and other players a good chance to improve their economic development and financial health. Force field analysis Force field analysis is an important tool in the process and technique of decision-making (Lewin 2000). It aims at analyzing the forces for and against industrial or corporate change in order to provide corporate leaders with information needed to make effective decisions. In addition, the technique helps corporate leaders communicate the reasons behind their need for change in the corporate management area, which makes it easy to convince stakeholders that a change or project is needed. In particular, the force field analysis model yields information that has two effects (Cartwright 2009). It can provide information that supports the idea of change, thus calling the corporations involved to go ahead with a project, a change of a program.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The forces favoring the growth of the sports retail industry Population growth: The increased rate of world population is an important factor supporting the rate of growth for sport retail industry. In particular, the growing demand for sports and sport-style products is high in areas with a high rate of population growth, especially in a number of Asian countries (Cai Du 2013). Statistics indicate that out of the estimated 7.14 billion people in the world, about 4 billion live in Asia, accounting for more than 55% of the total world population (World Bank 2013). Together, the populations of India and China make about 2.6 billion people, providing evidence of the increased rate of demand for sports products in thes e areas (Randers 2012). For instance, the increase in the demand for sports-style products was more than 4% in China between 2005 and 2010 (Research markets 2012). Overall, the rate of demand for these products is more than 3% per annum (Mullin, Hardy Sutton 2013). The high population is the largest player in the increased rates of demand. Improved economies: Another major factor supporting the rate of growth in the sports retail industry is the trend of economies in various parts of the world. In North America, the economic situation has improved rapidly since the end of the global recession. Between 2010 and 2013, the economy of the US increased by 2.3% per annum (Coates Humphreys 2003). In addition, other regions have enjoyed improved economic growths since 2010. For instance, the economy of the south east Asian region has improved by more than 3%, while that of the near and middle east nations has achieved a growth rate of more than 4% per annum (World Bank 2013). In addition, despite few cases such as Greece, Italy and Spain, the European Union has achieved an improved growth rate in its economy, which is expected to reach 2.1% per annum (Smith Stewart 2012). South America has some of the most rapidly developing economies in the world. The number of people attaining the middle class level is increasing rapidly, while poverty rates are declining. In nations such as Brazil and Argentina, the economic growth has developed rapidly over the last five years. This explains the rising demand for sport-like goods in these areas. In addition, African nations have the world’s largest rates of economic growth.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Global Sports Retail Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the recent past, a number of African nations have achieved an economic growth rate of more than 5%, with some reaching a high of 8%, including Ghana, Angola and Senegal (Brei singer, Diao Thurlow 2011). In addition, most countries in the region have a growth rate of more than 4%, with the most significant including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia and Ivory Coast (World Bank 2013). The youth factor: In the modern world, the status of the young people has increased significantly. With an increase in the number of young people taking part in the economic building such as employment and business, most nations have experienced in increase in the demand for products and services that support youth affairs. Among the most important industry supported by this phenomenon is the sports retail industry. In North American, South America, Asia and Europe, growth of the sports retail industry is favored by an increased rate of youth participation in various aspects of the economy. According to studies, young people have a tendency of being active in sports or wearing sport-like clothing and shoes. In addition, the empowerment of the young people thro ugh financial support and improvement of employment opportunities in Asian nations, in particular, has supported the increase in the demand for sport goods and services, which supports the growth of the sports retail industry. Restraining forces Economic recession: Although the world economy has achieved a relatively good rate of recovery from the 2007-2010 economic recession, the effects of the phenomenon is still affecting most countries. For instance, the recession made the US economy lose by more than 4% per annum (Bjork 2012). In particular, the employment rate declined significantly, with the rate of unemployment reaching about 8% per annum (World Bank 2013). The number of people that lost jobs during the time is significant, with a good number being young people. This also took place in Europe and Asia, which affected the industrial growth rates. With a high number of people losing job opportunities due to the impact of the recession, the number of people purchasing luxury sp ort goods declined significantly in most nations in Europe, Asia and North America.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Porter’s Five Forces Analysis of the Global Sports Retail Industry A five force analysis of the global sports retail industry is important in determining the effectiveness and micro environment forces that affect the industry’s ability to meet the demands of its customers, achieve profitability and the overall growth. The buyer power, new entrants, competition rivalry, supplier power and threats of substitutes provide evidence of the industry’s state at a given time. Buyer Power in the Global sports retail industry In sports retail industry, consumers have the largest role in driving the business of the industry. The power of the consumers is evident in pricing, especially when competitors tend to outdo each other based on pricing strategies. In the recent past, most competitors in the industry have been trying to attract more consumers through discounts and services to increase their market share. Buyers reap the benefit of obtaining products at competitive pri ces. However, statistics have shown that the number of people aged 45 and above seeking to use sports product in managing their health has increased significantly, especially in the developed world (Quan 2010). This trend has allowed consumers to look for fashion that is mostly associated with sports. The high rate of competition between retailers in the industry based on production of goods meant to meet the specific demands for various social groups has enhanced the power of buyers in the industry. In addition, the amount of product differentiation in the market for sports goods has increased, with companies manufacturing products based on the specific needs such as jogging, cycling, skating for health purposes and those meant for real sporting activities (Andersen, Van Raalte Brewer 2001). This has given consumers a wide range of choice, enhancing their power in the control of the industry. However, there are only a small number of retailers in the oligopolistic sports retail ma rket, which has restrained the buyer power because forward integration is difficult as the buyers are mainly the consumers, making their chance of taking over less significant. Nevertheless, the overall power of buyers in the industry is rated â€Å"moderate†. The power of suppliers In the global sports retail industry, the suppliers are the corporations involved in manufacturing, including Nike, Reebok, Adidas and Puma. These organizations are multinational and large corporates that control the industry. They are globally branded with reputation and value due to high quality products they offer to the market. This makes the bargaining power of the industry to be significantly low. They have almost become the main decides of the prices for sports products. Forward integration seems to be relatively high because the retailers are threatened by the suppliers. For instance, a number of suppliers have been acquiring retailers, which makes the suppliers take over the control of th e retail industry. A good example is the acquisition of Hargreaves Sports, a retail business in the industry, by Nike. Nike used this opportunity to set up an exclusive fully branded outlet for sports good in Nike town, London, in 1999 (Deng 2009). On its part, Reebok opened a fitness center known as Reebok Sports Club in London, England, which provides consumers with a wide range of exclusively branded Reebok products for health fitness purposes (Yu 2011). Moreover, the suppliers use marketing strategies such as advertising, promotion, corporate social responsibility and sponsorship for sports clubs and fitness welfares, achieving the overall control of the industry. Overall, the power of suppliers in the retail industry for sports good in the world is high. Rivalry among competitors There is a considerably good level of competition between main players in the retail business in the global sports industry. The concentration ratio as well as HHI is important measures of rivalry in t he industry based on market share. These markets shares can be obtained in the Mintel’s report (2008) as shown in appendix 3. In this case, it has been shown that the concentration ratio is the market share that the four major competitors in the global retail industry are JJB Sports, Sports World, DJ Sports and Supermarkets/retail chains in various parts of the world. As shown in the appendix, the CR reveals that the four major competitors sell about 75% of the total output, which means that the degree of rivalry is high. In addition, the calculations in the appendix show that the HHI of the industry is about 1683, which lies between 1000 and 1800. This means that the market is moderately concentrated. Threat of new entrants As shown above, the CR and HHI degrees are relatively high, with the number of major players in the industry remaining relatively low. Each of the players has a large number of stores in various parts of the world. They compete among themselves to increas e their market shares. In addition, they have dominated the market for a long time, providing quality products. Therefore, for new entrants in the market to succeed, they must impress consumers that their products are quality. In addition, the entry of supplies in the market, especially through acquisitions and mergers or joint ventures with the existing retailers, has made it difficult for new entrants to tap market share in the industry (DePamphili 2013). Therefore, the overall threat of new entrants is low. Threats of substitutes In footwear, the price of sports shoes is likely to change when substitutes change in prices. In this case, substitutes include products from local companies, which is common in various parts of the world. PEST analysis Political The global sports retail industry seeks to increase the volume of sales of sports goods and services to the global clients. The key players involved in this industry include Foot Locker, JD Sports, Sports Direct, Sports World, J JB Sports and supermarket chains. These companies face political challenges in their business. For instance, the politics of control of the industry is evident. Suppliers seem to be fighting each other at the retail level. For example, Nike and Reebok have strategies to acquire or partner with selected retailers in order to lock out other suppliers (Slater Lloyd 2004). This brings a tense political environment between the suppliers and the retailers. In addition, retailers are flexing their muscles by moving beyond Europe and North American to venture new markets in Asia and South America, especially in China, India, Brazil and other nations in the Southeast Asian region. In all of these regions, the political environment is diverse. For example, there are laws to protect local companies in some nations like South Korea and China. Taxation and legal politics are evident. In addition, the companies are considered western products, which affect the perceptions of the people in foreig n nations. Economical Retailers of sports products seek to increase their market share and profitability. To do this, they tend to increase their outlets, which make it necessary to hire a large number of employees in Europe, North America as well as foreign markets. This contributes to the overall growth of the economies where the outlets are based. In addition, it is worth noting that labor affects these companies. In Europe, the cost of labor is higher in France and Germany than in Britain. Similarly, the cost of labor is high in North American and Europe than in China and South Korea. Thus, most factories are located in Asia. It means that the retailers have to open new locations in Asia and sometimes obtain supplies from these areas. Social Sports products are associated with sports cultures at a given time and location. In Europe, North America and other westernized nations, sports are a major social factor, with few social restrictions attached to it. Sportswear of different kinds and styles are allowed. However, in some nations such as those using strict Islamic laws, including Saudi Arabia, as well as those with strict cultural laws like North Korea, some sports and sportswear are not allowed, especially those though to expose certain parts of the bod. In addition, some cultural laws prohibit women from taking part in sports or wearing certain sports clothing. Technological analysis The internet technology has improved business processes. Sports retail business is one of the most affected industries. Currently, most consumers are increasingly moving to online shopping, where it is possible to select and order products. Thus, most retailers have implemented e-commerce as part of their business processes. SWOT Analysis Strengths The sports retail industry is one of the fastest growing industries, thanks to an increase in the number of middle and aged people using sporting activities to enhance the quality of their lives. According to statistics, the num ber of baby boomers population in North America and their similar population in Europe are concerned with their health. They have increasingly been using sporting activities as the most effective solution to improve their health and quality of life. Thus, the retail business is likely to remain strong over the next few decades. Weaknesses Sports products are mostly luxury goods and services. They do not have a high priority in most households. Therefore, frequent economic recessions and other financial problems are likely to affect the demand for these products (Mehta 2013). Thus, retailers face the risk of frequent decreases in demands. Opportunities As mentioned, the increase in global population, especially in Asia, South America and Africa, provides the sports retail business with chances for expansion and growth. In addition, the rising state of economics in various parts of the world means that the demands for these products are likely to rise. Moreover, the trend of using spo rting activities to meet health demands is increasing throughout the world. Threats Although the number of retailers is relatively low, the current players face a threat of new entrants in the market. For instance, the increased tendency of suppliers to enter the retail market is a major threat. In addition, emerging nations like China, India and others have a quest for entering the market. They are encouraging corporations to go global, which means that some of their retailers in this industry are likely to enter the market in the future (Development Research Center of the State Council 2009). References Andersen, MB, Van Raalte, JL Brewer, BW, 2001, â€Å"Sport psychology service delivery: Staying ethical while keeping loose†, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 12-17. Bjork, GJ, 2012, The Way It Worked and Why It Won’t: Structural Change and the Slowdown of U.S. Economic Growth, Praeger, Westport, CT. Breisinger, C, X. Diao, X Thurl ow, D, 2009, â€Å"Modeling growth options and structural change to reach middle income country status: The case of Ghana†, Economic Modeling vol. 26, pp. 514–525. Cai, F Du, Y, 2013, The China Population and Labor Yearbook: The Approaching Lewis Turning Point and Its Policy Implications, Brill, New York. Cartwright, D, 2009, Field Theory in Social Science and Selected Theoretical Papers, American Psychological Association, Washington, D. C. Coates, D Humphreys, BR, 2003, â€Å"The effect of professional sports on earnings and employment in the services and retail sectors in US cities†, Regional Science and Urban Economics, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 175-198. Deng, T, 2009, â€Å"Just Done It—Nike’s New Advertising Plan Facing Global Economic Crisis†, International Journal of Business and Management, vol. 4, no. 3, p. 102. DePamphili, D, 2013, Mergers and Acquisitions Basics: All You Need To Know, Academic Press, New York. Development Research Ce nter of the State Council, 2009, â€Å"China: Seeking for new breakthrough in coping with crisis†, Manage World vol. 6, pp4–18. Lewin, K, 2000, â€Å"Defining the Field at a Given Time†, Psychological Review vol. 50, pp. 292–310. Mehta, M, 2013, â€Å"How Does the Global Economic Crisis Affect Textile, Apparel Sourcing?† Apparel Technology. Web. Mullin, BJ, Hardy, S Sutton, WA, 2013, Sport Marketing, Human Kinetics, New York. Quan, K, 2010, â€Å"Use of global value chains by labor organizers†, Competition Change, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 89-104. Randers, J, 2012, 2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years, Green Publishing, Vermont: Chelsea. Research markets, 2012, â€Å"Global Retail Sports Apparel Market 2012-2017: Market Trends, Profit and Forecast Analysis†, Research and Markets. Web. Slater, J Lloyd, C, 2004, â€Å"It’s gotta be the shoes: exploring the effects of relationships of Nike and Reebok sponsorship on two college athletic programs†, Sports Marketing and the Psychology of Marketing Communication, vol. 191. Smith, A Stewart, B, 2012, Sports Management: A Guide to Professional Practice, Allien and Unwin, London. United Nations, 2014, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2013 Revision, UN Publications, New York. World Bank, 2013, Global Economic Growth Will Accelerate in 2014, WB publications, New York. Yu, X, 2011, â€Å"Impacts of corporate code of conduct on labor standards: A case study of Reebok’s athletic footwear supplier factory in China†, Journal of Business Ethics, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 513-529. Appendix Figure 1: Position of Asian population in the top 20 most populous nations in the world. Figure 2: World Population growth rates Figure 3: Supply and demand for sports goods follows this trend Figure 4: Force Field analysis for sports retail industry Calculations for rivalry in the sports retail market CR4 = Market Share (JJB Sports + JD sports + Sports Worl d + Supermarkets) CR4 = 33% + 16% + 13%+ 13% CR4 = 75% HHI = SQUARE [Market Share (JJB Sports + JD sports + Sports World + Supermarkets)] HHI= 1089+256+169+169 = 1683 This assessment on The Global Sports Retail Industry was written and submitted by user Adonis Barr to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

JavaScript Nesting IF Statements

JavaScript Nesting IF Statements Nesting if/else statements helps to organize and isolate conditions in order to avoid testing the same condition twice or to minimize the number of times various tests need to be performed.   By using if statements with both comparison and logical operators, we can set up code that will be run if a specific combination of conditions is met. We dont always want to test the entire condition in order to run one set of statements if the entire test is true, and another if it is false. We may want to choose between several different statements, depending on which particular combination of conditions is true. Suppose, for example, that we have three values to compare and wish to set different results depending on which of the values are equal. The following example shows how we can nest if statements to test for this (in bold below) var answer;if (a b) {  Ã‚  if (a c) {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer all are equal;  Ã‚  } else {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer a and b are equal;  Ã‚  }} else {  Ã‚  if (a c) {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer a and c are equal;  Ã‚  } else {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  if (b c) {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer b and c are equal;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  } else {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer all are different;  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  }  Ã‚  }} The way the logic works here is: If the first condition is true (if (a b)), then the program checks for the nested if condition (if (a c)). If the first condition is false, the program bumps to the else condition.If the nested if is true, the statement is executed, i.e. all are equal.If the nested if is false, then the else statement is executed, i.e. a and b are equal. Here are a few things to notice how this is coded: First, we created the variable answer to hold the result before we started the if statement, making the variable global. Without that, we would have needed to include the variable on the front of all of the assignment statements, since it would be a local variable.Secondly, we have indented each nested if statement. This allows us to track more easily how many nested levels of statements there are. It also makes it clearer that we have closed the right number of blocks of code to complete all of the if statements that we opened. You may find that it is easier to put the braces there first for each if statement before you start writing the code that belongs inside that block. We can simplify one section of this code slightly in order to avoid having to nest the if statements quite as much. Where an entire else block is made up of a single if statement, we can omit the braces around that block and move the if condition itself up onto the same line as the else, using the else if condition. For example: var answer;if (a b) {  Ã‚  if (a c) {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer all are equal;  Ã‚  } else {  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  answer a and b are equal;  Ã‚  }} else if (a c) {  Ã‚  answer a and c are equal;} else if (b c) {  Ã‚  answer b and c are equal;} else {  Ã‚  answer all are different;} Nested if/then statements are common in all programming languages, not just JavaScript. Novice programmers often use multiple if/then or if/else statements rather than nesting them. While this kind of code will work, it will quickly become verbose and will duplicate conditions. Nesting conditional statements creates more clarity around the programs logic and results in concise code that may run or compile faster.

Grow like Rice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Grow like Rice - Essay Example Rice thrives in strong monsoon and continental climate. In approximation, about 26.1% of China falls under the subtropical region where rice grows well. Given the strong Monsoon and continental climate China experiences, it provides the most favorable conditions for the growth of rice (Braddbrook 11). I still remember my earlier experiences with rice. One such was a freezing winter when our small town experienced a snowstorm. Luckily the snowstorm did not stay for long as it subsided after about a week. Everything was all white with the snow providing a thick white blanket. My grandparents decided to take me out to play with the snow and snowballs, and to make a snowman in the paddy field. The sight of the lovely rice plants covered in a coat of snow filled me with awe. The sight was so perplexing to me that I found myself unable to move. Seeing the expression of wonder on my face, my grandmother walked to me and said, â€Å"This is what you eat every day. It is growing rice.† I was surprised and could not imagine any relation between those plants and the rice that I so often enjoyed. My grandmother told me that during winter, the farmers always celebrated the snow. They believed that the white snow was like an angel to the rice. I tried to patting the snow away from the p lants, but she stopped me with a sweet smile and said, â€Å"Rice sleeps beneath the snow. Don’t disturb it.† Deep inside, I still wondered how such plants produced rice. Up to today, I have never understood the origin of all those beliefs. On our way home, my grandfather explained to me the whole process of how farmers harvest paddy and make rice. The whole process was quite complicated for me to understand at the time. However, I remember them saying how rice sleeps beneath snow in winter. I also have not forgotten the experiences I had and the great time I spent with my grandparents in the field. As for many local families, my family’s staple

Corporate Governance Approaches Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Corporate Governance Approaches - Essay Example The stakeholders within this form of corporate governance are basically the employees of a company and, thus, they are given prime priority in making corporate choices (Vaaler and Burkhard 621). State ownership as an approach of corporate governance refers to the state control of industries, assets and enterprises. The state control in the state ownership corporate governance transcends all levels of governance. This means that at national, municipal and community levels, the state takes full ownership of its corporations (Charreaux and Philippe 113). State ownership is normally achieved through nationalization, which is a process of transforming the ownership of assets by making them state owned. The major characteristic of shareholder capitalism form of corporate governance is the fact that the top management or executives of companies are monitored through rewards and penalties which are market-based (Vaaler and Burkhard 629). This is demonstrated by the fact that company executiv es are rewarded in accordance to the profitability and general performance of the company. This approach to corporate governance, therefore, leads to committed effort among company executives and making of decisions which are focused on profitability and high performance of the company. The motivation that top executives derive from performance based compensation is absent in the stakeholder approach to corporate governance. In countries such as China where the stakeholder approach of corporate governance is applied, company top executives are poorly paid which makes them less motivated to apply their leadership skills into the successful attainment of company goals, vision and mission (Charreaux and Philippe 108). In this sense, it is argued that the shareholder approach to corporate governance is a more appropriate method of management of companies. State ownership approach to corporate governance is characterized to corporations which are owned by the government in which the stak e of the shares is wholly owned by the government. The state owned corporations and enterprises may not be focused at generating profits. However, profit making ventures may be run within government entities (Vaaler and Burkhard 624). The state owned enterprises demonstrate a sharp contrast with both the shareholder and stakeholder approaches of corporate governance which are purely focused in the generation of profit. The state ownership approach, therefore, makes corporations to be less competitive in the market. On the other hand, shareholder and stakeholder corporate governance of companies makes them very competitive in their production and supply of various goods and services (Charreaux and Philippe 125). The similarity between the shareholders and stakeholder forms of corporate governance include their commercial manner of operation. This similarity is not shared with state ownership in which corporations may not be run for commercial gain but for the sake of providing essent ial services to the public. Government ownership of companies is also different from the stakeholders and shareholder capitalism because of its monopolistic nature within the market (Vaaler and Burkhard 637). The state ownership form of corporate governance is, therefore, the least effective form of governance of com

Surveillance Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Surveillance Technology - Essay Example ⠁  Before delving into the issue of surveillance technology, it is first necessary to properly define the term â€Å"surveillance.† My understanding of the word is the monitoring of an individual or group of people for the purpose of preventing or correcting a crime. It is an important element of law enforcement to be able to keep abreast of real-time developments and movements in the public sphere. Prior to the usage of cameras and video surveillance, manual observers would need to be placed in the relevant areas. While it is important to maintain a human presence to deter crime, it is also unfeasible to be able to see everything all the time in that area. Hence it is a complementary and necessary policy to use surveillance technology. It is also important to be able to monitor more discreet elements such as odors, trace explosive materials or radiation in public areas. Surveillance technology plays a major role in this regard. Perhaps the advancement of surveillance technology from the twentieth century onwards is best shown though the rapid development of video surveillance. Cameras are used to survey traffic and to prevent and detect crime. In Britain, over 4 million closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras are in use while the United States Border Patrol spent US$64 million on remote video systems (Aresty, 2006)⠁  . Wilkerson explains that true video surveillance began in the 1960s with the introduction and application of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras (Wilkerson, 2008)⠁   by law enforcement agencies. From there, analog technology continued to develop influence surveillance techniques. Video cassette recorders allowed preservation of evidence and from the 1970s onwards businesses prone to theft mounted CCTV cameras on their premises both as a deterrent and as a tool to apprehend thieves. In family court cases, video evidence of adultery and poor parenting decided the outcomes of cases. Analog technology reached its

A history of social policy changes

A history of social policy changes With reference to changes in government policy and ideologies of welfare, debate the significance of the shift from Victorian Pauper to 21st century service user and its impact on social work practice and values. This assignment has used a timeline of government changes and policies as a background to debate the shift from Victorian pauper to the 21st century service user. The divide between poor and rich has always been an issue that all governments have tried to diminish using different policies and laws. However there is still that divide that seems to be increasing. Has much changed since the Poor Law was implemented? Are individuals given more choice and rights now? Will there always be stigma attached and social exclusion that comes from using these words, do they still have the same meaning? This assignment will attempt to answer these questions using references to policy and ideologies of welfare. The definition of a Pauper according to the Collins dictionary is someone who is extremely poor or historically eligible for public charity. The definition of a service user is someone who uses or receives health or social care services. (General social care council) According to Sen, 1999 the term service user was introduced because of gained strength of powerless people during the 1980s. This term indicates an acknowledgement of the government and public, understanding that service users have a positive role. They still have capabilities and can realise their potential, they are not just individuals who are entitled to help via the services we offer. Although this term was produced by the individuals who use the services it still highlights that they work with professionals and that the power still resides with them. (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, 2009) The National network of service users: Shaping our lives believe that the term service user is positive, its an individual who uses the services, they confer power creating a stronger voice and having a greater ability to shape services. (Levin 2004) The changes in policy from Pauper to service user have been vast. British social policys foundation is from the Poor Laws, the first one passed in 1598 the last 1948. The Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 provided a compulsory poor rate and helped set the poor onto work. However as the Parish was the basic area of administration laws were enforced differently in that area, meaning the operation of the Poor Law was inconsistent between areas, the beginning of the postcode lottery. The Poor Law amendment act of 1834 modified the existing system that was in place, it was implemented at a higher stage not just at Parish level ,Poor Law unions were introduced the development of the workhouses was encouraged, one workhouse in each union to give poor relief. This act stated that no able bodied person was to receive any other help other than in the workhouse. This laws primary problem was to make life inside as bad as outside of the workhouse, this was difficult as some would have had to be starved to meet what they met outside. There was a stigma attached though and it was that reputation that stopped everyone from using a workhouse, they produced jail style segregation men and women and even families had to be separated. As the government thought this was the best way to help the neediest families they saw no problems with this Act. In fact the neediest families still werent using the help and going into a workhouse because they didnt want to be separated. Not unlike families today that still dont ask for help because of the stigma or because they dont know or understand the system implemented to help them as much as possible. It was in 1869 that The Charitable Organisation Society was formed to make charities more effective, they understood that charitable assistance was needed but believed that their aim was to reach all families, they were also unsure of how the money from charities had previously been spent. They set out financial help introducing local committees, these then raised funds and distributed to families in need. Also very similar to many charities today, there are still many families who dont ask for help because of religion, language, pride or just werent told. (Family action) COS found that it wasnt just financial help that people needed, so they started to offer emotional and practical help too. When they had many families needing help they knew there volunteers would need training, this became the pioneer in the profession of social work, something that our foundations are based on today. The main foundation of COS was to change policy to help the people suffering the effects of poverty, something that social workers do now, the general council of social workers are still working to help those suffering the most and work towards giving help to those who have unable to find help elsewhere and give social work support as well as signpost to other services that may help them further. From this time more acts were introduced including the Public health act of 1872. During this time poverty was never really defined they understood what brought it about like unemployment or illness, if they had defined poverty it may have helped introduced different acts to prevent it. In the 1900s poverty was ever increasing, the settlement movement started its idea was to establish settlement houses in poor areas with the idea that the middle class would volunteer to live with them, sharing their knowledge and help alleviate the poverty of their poor neighbours. From this movement many initiatives emerged and helped to improve conditions of all poor areas of society and help all individuals. This movement focused on the causes of poverty providing a number of services including education and health services. This settlement movement is another foundation of social work practice today, no we dont live with the individuals in need, but the whole reason of social work is to use our education and knowledge to alleviate the problems they have and help them emotionally, practically and financially, which is just what these volunteers did. Although some argued that this was normative because some wanted the divide between the poor and higher classes. (Laybourn, 1995) Al though this movement was important the more powerful COS submerged as the controversial nature of social work, there was individuals that were not eligible for help these were still at the workhouse, and most of these individuals were women who bore children out of wedlock. Although the settlement movement was also necessary in society in focusing on poverty, it focused on a more structured analyses of poverty and its impact on human behaviour by practising interventions at a community level, which is needed now to help small communities help each other as well as individually. The nature of social work practice then focused on individuals and a significant element of this time is the elimination of hearing clients voices and the incomparable knowledge of the professionals working with them. Only now is the service users voice being recognised again. (Adams et al, 2009) The Poor Law was the basis of the development of services for the 20th century, including the national insurance act, these new services were introduced to avoid having to rely on the Poor Laws. (Alcock, 2003) The government laid the basis of the future social services, the major concern was that all areas should be given the same services, these new services were provided away from The Poor Law to evade the association. Even though these new ideologies were introduced to provide services to all individuals there was still a stigma attached, even now there is still a stigma attached to the term service user, although governments have changed their policies to use different terms some still have the same meaning. A major report produced regarding the welfare of individuals was the Beveridge report. This report focused on how Britain could be rebuilt after the war. In 1945 labour was elected and promised to introduce a welfare state. The welfare state involved introducing new services these included family allowances, the national health services and housing acts to name a few. The welfare state was produced to encourage the provision of services for the public not as a response to poverty. (Laybourn, 1995) this is where a major criticism lies within debates regarding the welfare state within current governments. In the 1950s the provision of welfare state services became problematic, government interventions at the time didnt help and caused further problems so the Conservative government took over and cut the help given to the poor and sick. This then made the distribution of income more imbalanced and although attempted to make the poor more hardworking and self sufficient it didnt work. One report that impacted policy and practice during the 1960s was the Seabohm report 1968, this report re-introduced poverty. This paper was tasked to review the organisation and responsibilities of the local authority personal social services in England and to consider what changes are desirable to secure an effective family service. (Seebohm, 1968, pg11.) Prior to this report social work was spread across various local authorities and different government sections, because of this the report found that there was inadequacies in the quality of provision and access was very difficult. The report recommended a new local authority department providing a community based and family orientated service, which will be available for all When this recommendation was brought into action new social services department were formed. Seebohm did foresee problems which were highlighted in the report, it stated that having separate departments for children and adults would make it difficult to treat the familys needs as a whole. Another important Report was the Barclay Report, 1982 that looked into the role of a social worker, in its opening line it states that too much is expected of social workers. It found that it was a profession that was confused about its role and because of intense media scrutiny was struggling with its work load. It found that there was an ongoing need for social workers to fulfil many functions including promoting community networks, working with other services and acting on clients behalf and to act as resources for all individual who need help. The report did criticise social work departments for taking a reactive stance towards social problems, dealing with those needs which are forced upon their attention but failing to develop overall plans which link the voluntary, volunteer, statutory and private services in an area into a coherent plan (p.38) which is still a problem today. Although these reports have all highlighted how good social work is and how much its needed there are so many problems involved in the profession. Firstly because every government have changed the way the work as soon as they get used to it, it changes again, yes the changes could be for the better but are these just changes for changes sake? The labour government have imposed new policies and directives for social work but after 8 years there are still problems within social work some which could be easily acted upon. We will only know if these new policies and new social work task force works over time. As its been highlighted earlier in this assignment there is still an implication involved in being a service user just as there was being a pauper. Whilst researching the different acts and welfare ideologies that have been introduced throughout the timeline Ive used Ive realised that there are more similarities than comparisons between a services user and pauper. They still have problems accessing help and there are many families who still dont ask for help because of the stigma. However new approaches have introduced service user involvement by defining what help they want and defining the quality of help they receive. A recent report by Beresford, Shamash, Forrest and Turner, 2007 research service users vision for adult service they found that the process of accessing social care was frequently negative for service users, the assessments were very dependent on the quality of the staff carrying it out, which shouldnt be happening all social workers should work to one high standard it shouldnt be a lottery of if you get a good one or not. Access to communicating with the social worker was low and that many of the service users questioned had gaps in their services making them feel insecure. A major problem through history has been a struggle to get good support for these individuals. Whilst researching this topic I realised that service users know what they want and can easily highlight the problems at the minute one report found while welfare bureaucracy has been condemned by governments for a long while service users still identify problems. One individual said that we shouldnt have to fill out forms to be made to feel like beggars, not unlike The Poor Law and paupers opinions. There is still social exclusion, the poor will stay poor because they have just enough to get by so they wont stop, think and revolt. But do social workers maintain this, because they help them just enough, finding the quickest thing they can do to help them not necessarily the best way in the long run. New Labour has had so much time to make improvements and rectify social exclusion but child poverty is getting worst. How much have rights helped service users, many reports have found that they feel more responsible and confident about the help they are receiving when they have been more involved in the decision processes. Although some still feel like they are hidden away from society and when they have more experience of their disability they need to be acknowledged. The report by Beresford et al, 2007 also found that service users would like a watchdog with service users and professionals and they should be the judges of quality. One dilemma that social workers face is working towards anti discriminatory practice, equality should be the core of provisions of service, and it needs to take into account religion and backgrounds. Yes some progress has been made involving diversity for example the race equality act, still lots of progress needs to be made. There are many barriers when considering the major historical events that brought about social work and the values it has now. We see that welfare state is a necessary condition of social work flourishing and to defend it or is it temporary in which internationally social work will then erupt from something else. One barrier when understanding which major events affected what social work is today is our understanding of the history of social work, the history isnt concrete it changes daily. Most of the history of social work comes from COS as its origin and its methods are still used today. However Laybourn, 1997 has found other methods that were used that have yet to be examined this may have been because COS was used in London and this would have an effect on the history, power will always influence history. To conclude social work has changed significantly and is still very important and we will progress to help all individuals, we need a larger voice though to talk about the problems we face as a profession to ensure that service users and pauper have fewer similarities. I believe that service users have shifted from paupers as they have much more freedom and rights now, yes there are still similarities which need to be focused on to improve our system and we could probably be a better service if problems hadnt occurred along the way to affect how we work, we also need to refuse to let policies be imposed on us when they dont improve on what were already doing. Rights are now benefiting service users but we need to ensure it stays like this. Whilst working towards anti discriminatory practice and equality for all we need to ensure our values are the same that we contribute to a fairer society by reducing disadvantage and exclusion and promoting fair access to resources. Many policies a nd acts have been the bedrock of what social work is today and without them social work would be very different.

Entertainment: Fun or Influential Essay -- Media Women

The Greeks seemed to believe that entertainment was meant to provide a person with an outlet to relieve stress. Such an assumption would lead one to believe that the form and content of entertainment is a matter of personal choice. However, entertainment has the underlying current of influencing what is normal and acceptable in society. Furthermore, culture is affected to the point of unsavory entertainment permeating the lives of those who avoid such forms of entertainment. Entertainment is not merely a personal choice. Entertainment is an instrument of influence on society. Young girls experience stardom and are forever changed by the experience. Sometimes the change leads them in a positive direction and other times it leads them in an opposing negative direction. In Hit Her, Baby, One More Time, Traiste states â€Å"Britney Spears embodies the disdain in which the culture holds its young women: the desire to sexualize them while young, and to degrade and punish them as they get older† (Traiste 431). Spears embarked on her journey into entertainment as an innocent young girl. However, over time she evolved into a tainted, dim reflection of her former self. It would seem that even her parents played a role in her spiraling downfall as she struggled to remain in the limelight. Tabloids cherished the young star. However, they ripped her to pieces as her life began to plunge into an abyss. Certainly, there is a high price to be paid to when one compromises. Spears popularity influenced the actions of young girls who may have seen her as a role model. It most likely would not have been detrimental for young girls to follow in her footsteps in her early days of success. In contrast, continuing to mimic her ac... ...en they produce movies that depict Blacks and Asians in stereo typical roles that are demeaning. Furthermore, they affect how society views individuals and how those individuals are treated, because they shape culture with the movies they produce. People may embark into the world of media for fun and relaxation, but the reality remains that the media shapes their views and beliefs in the process. Entertainment is not just for fun. Furthermore, entertainment shapes the morals and values of people and the value placed on people. Works Cited: Jackson, Samuel L. "In Character." Latterell, Catherine G. Remix. Bedford/St. Martin, 2010. 455-457. Steritt, David. "Face of an Angel." Latterell, Catheine G. Remix. Bedford/St. Martin, 2010. 451-454. Traiste, Rebecca. "Hit Her, Baby, One More Time." Latterell, Catherine G. Remix. Bedford/St. Martin, 2010. 431-434.

Relationship Characteristics

1. According to p. 117 in Ch. 5 of the textbook, what are the four characteristics that define intimate relationships? Why does building relationships involve a degree of risk? The four characteristics that define intimate relationships are emotional availability, emotional attachment, and behavioral interdependence. When you meet someone new rather it is an intimate relationship or building a new friendship, it is always hard because you have to build trust and get to know that person. Then there is always the possibility of rejection, betrayal, or disappointment. People’s expectations sometimes set them up to be hurt and then sometimes their expectations are â€Å"reasonable† but the other person is just hurtful. Whenever 2 people are involved, you have but so much control over what will happen 2. Refer to Table 5. 2 on p. 132 in Ch. 5 of the textbook. What are three characteristics of a healthy relationship? Why is it important to be aware of the unhealthy characteristics of a relationship? Three characteristics of a healthy relationship are trusting and being honest with yourself and each other, resolving conflicts in a rational, peaceful way, and lastly practicing safer sex methods. It is important to beware of the signs of unhealthy characteristics for yourself and also for maybe a loved one or a friend. When someone is in a unhealthy relationship sometimes it can lead to more violent things such as suicide, death, or any act of violence. So knowing the signs in the long run can help saving a life. Also read  Driver’s Ed Module Reflection Journal 3. According to p. 119 in Ch. 5 of the textbook, there are bonds that are common to both friends and lovers. What are the five common bonds? The five common bonds that both friends and lovers have in common are nurturance, enhancement of personal well- being, mutual regard, mutual trust, and lastly security.

Comparison of Chinese and Isl essays

Comparison of Chinese and Isl essays During the first millennium CE, two great civilizations, China and Islam, arose. Both of these civilizations had cultural advantages over other peoples and had a great deal of influence on all who they came in contact with. These civilizations were similar in the way they interacted with other civilizations. This interaction took place through trade, religion, and war. China interacted through trade with Japan, India, Islam, Korea, and Rome. Through trade, not only were products exchanged, but culture and ideas as well. Chinese silk and pottery became popular all over the world. Buddhism spread from its native India to China and then from China to Japan, Korea, and many other nations in Southeast Asia. Korea became incorporated into China through war, but soon adopted much Chinese culture as its own. The Chinese and Japanese writing systems are exactly alike due to the Japanese modeling their civilization after the Chinese. Confucianist ideas originated in China, but spread to all parts of the globe because of cultural diffusion. Food from many civilizations became part of the Chinese diet because of their interaction with other peoples. The Islamic civilization also interacted with other cultures through trade. They traded with China, India, and Persia. They learned rug making from the Persians, gained knowledge of spices and numbers from the Indians, and felt the luxuriousness of silk because of the Chinese. They also gave to other cultures. Through war and conquest, they spread their religion from its birthplace in Saudi Arabia to Spain, Africa, and Malaysia. They gave the world their knowledge of medicine, algebra, and chemistry. Like China, their influence had a great impact on all who knew of their culture. The Chinese and Islamic civilizations were two of the greatest of their time. They interacted similarly with other cultures through trade, religion, and war. Both gave much to the world ...

In this assessment am going to be discussing theories of communication Essay Example

In this assessment am going to be discussing theories of communication Essay Example In this assessment am going to be discussing theories of communication Essay In this assessment am going to be discussing theories of communication Essay In this assessment am going to be discussing theories of communication and am going to be including Argyles stages of communication cycle and Tuckman stages of group interaction. They are many ways barriers can be affected and in this assignment I will be talking about the languages how it effect communication, culture, background and area you live in. I will also be covering the way it can be overcome. What is effective communication? Effective communication is when the person/people understood what your message is. For example if you are talking to youths in London than you could use slang but if you used slang to an adult than they wouldn’t understand what you are trying to say. And you also need the right tone of voice because you can’t talk to fast or too slow if do talk to fast than the person/people wouldn’t be able to keep up with you and the communication wouldn’t be effective. Its also good to look at people when you are talking to them but sometimes even this effect communication because in some African cultures (sierra Leone) its rude to look at someone in the eye especially if they older than you. Tuckman stages of groups interaction Communication in groups can also be influenced by the degree to which people feel they belong together. When people first meet in a group they often go through a process of group formation. Many groups may experience some sort of struggle before people unite and communicate effectively. One of the best known theorists to explain group formation stages is Tuckman (1965). Tuckman suggested that most groups go through a process involving four stages. Forming- people meeting for the first time and sharing formation. storming- involves tension, struggle and sometimes arguments about the way the group might function Norming- sees the group coming together and consciously or unconsciously agreeing on their group values. Performing- being an effectively performing group. The communication cycle Effective communication involves a two way process in which each person tries to understand the viewpoint of the other person. Communication is a cycle because when two people communicate they need to make sure the other person has understood the message. Good communication involves the process of checking understanding, using reflective or active listening. Michael Argyle stages of the commutation cycle. Michael Argyle (1972) argued that interpersonal communication was that could be learning and communication was a skill that could be learning to drive a car. Argyle emphasised the importance of feedback in skilled activities. When you drive a car you have to change your behaviour depending on what is happening on the road. Driving involves a constant cycle of watching what is happening, working out how to respond, making response and then repeating this cycle until you reach your destination. According to Argyle, skilled interpersonal interaction (social skills) involves a cycle in which you have to translate or ‘decode’ what other people are communicating and constantly effectively. Verbal and non-verbal communication is not always straightforward. The communication cycle involves a kind of code that has to be translated. You have to work kind of code that has to be translated. You have to work out what another person’s behaviour really means.

Website review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Website review - Essay Example Design of the website plays integral role in making it a success/ user friendly. Hence, if the design is simple to use, easy to engage in and effective to learn from then the website will be popular among the users. Thus, the design of Shmoop is explicitly clear and given in F-pattern. According to a recent survey, viewers mostly view websites in an F-pattern style, giving their whole attention towards top and left sides of the screen and ignoring anything on the right side. Thus, Shmoop’s main bar is on the top-middle section of the webpage and grid based layouts in the left corner. Every option on the main page is prominently visible; one does not have to search for desired section to research from, but can easily see it on the main-page. The main page is also not cluttered with pictures and designs. There are images like a backdrop on it, but they do not divert the attention from the content or purpose of the webpage. The main font style throughout the website is â€Å"Ariel† however, size is differed. In headings 18 size is used and for topic description 10.5 is used. Color behind the content is white, which is good because it makes it easier to read and at extreme right and left corner are some advertisements and informative clickable images on the website. Navigation is simple and does use a hierarchal pattern of browsing so one can also view from where he started his browsing from. Once, one chooses and clicks from the subjects on the main page, the second page shows all the sub-topics of it, from there one can chose desired subject matter, which shows all the information in a grid format. The language used to describe any matter under study is simple, engaging, and often humorous but efficient. Shmoop does not take any time to load and even the images on the web load in less than a minute. The best part is the web entails everything from teenagers’ study options to career advice and test

What is the role of mass media in liberal democracies Do you think the Essay

What is the role of mass media in liberal democracies Do you think the media fulfil these functions (Base your answer on liberal theory and the political econ - Essay Example But, evidence from electronic and print media today reveals that the media houses have largely failed to live up to their defined roles. This essay will expound on this thesis by way of citing relevant examples from scholarly sources. One of the talking points amongst the intelligentsia is the dangers posed by lack of diversity and representation in the mainstream media’s coverage. The phenomena of media concentration, which has seen greater consolidation in the last decade, gives rise to production of news content that serves the interests of select media elite. This concentration of power in the hands of large media conglomerates makes it easy for them to set the political agenda on the national scale as exemplified by Rupert Murdoch’s near monopoly ownership of media space in Britain. It is no surprise then that the issues that they cover are infested with their personal biases, prejudices and interests. The general public, made helpless by this system, are presented a narrow political agenda that holds no real significance for them (Eldridge, Kitzinger & Williams, 1997, p. 27). In other words, while the media has the power to elicit a policy response from the government, the outcomes tend to ben efit the media elite and ruling classes rather than people. Only a few news stories get picked for publication/broadcast among numerous other pieces competing for the same space/time. The journalists in charge of deciding the news content are subject to personal biases, external coercions (both implicit and explicit) and other constraints that influence their decision making. For these reasons, there are only a minority of journalists who adhere to standards of objectivity and professional integrity, while the rest succumb to various pressures consciously or otherwise. This decline in journalistic ethos is seen across geo-political entities and cultures,

Sex Education In Public Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sex Education In Public Schools - Essay Example As much as proponents argue for it stating some benefits, its drawbacks overshadow them in the long run. One of the reasons why sex education should not be taught in public schools lies in the fact that the topic is not taken seriously by both the students and teachers. The whole affair runs through like a leisure teaching and learning experience. One proof of this lies in the lack of exams after its classes (Dogra, 2010). Where the students are not to be awarded grades raises concerns as many will not work hard to understand. This then beats its purpose while related to other courses like mathematics or science. Just as any other recreational course, sex education intends to teach just a few who are willing to learn while others spend the time to do other things. Sex education leads to embarrassment of many students and teachers in the classroom. Considering the tender ages at which it is introduced teachers find it uncomfortable to teach the subject (Dogra, 2010). The same applies to students who become overly excited. At some point students mock others who depict signs of puberty e.g. developed breasts, height and so on. This leads to low self esteem to the ridiculed students which may in the long run affect their education and the whole learning experience. A sex education class in most cases fails to serve the purpose of informing. Sex education is rarely given the respect and time offered to other subjects. Most instances it is offered as an interlude while teaching physical education. This also shows that many schools still do not regard it as important and it is a burden to their curriculum. Teachers on the other hand are not adequately trained on how to teach it (Dogra, 2010). Due to its extraordinary scope, there is need for them to incorporate other methods other than normal ones. They end up teaching according to their

Personality Determinants Essay Example for Free

Personality Determinants Essay Heredity refers to those factors that were determined at conception. Physical structure, facial attractiveness, gender, temperament, muscle composition and reflexes, energy level, and biological rhythms are characteristics that are generally considered to be either completely or substantially influenced by who your parents were, that is by their biological, physiological and inherent psychological makeup. The environmental factors that exert pressures on our personality formation are the culture in which we are raised, our early conditioning, the norms among our family, friends and social groups, and other influences that we experience. The environment to which we are exposed plays a substantial role in shaping our personalities A third factor, the situation, influences the effects of heredity and environment on personality. An individual’s personality although generally stable and consistent, does change in different situations. The varying demand of different situation calls forth different aspects of one’s personality. We should not therefore look upon personality patterns in isolation. Subconscious Programming Most of us sometimes get programmed / conditioned by a wrong messages that â€Å" do not do that†, â€Å"don’t take the risk†, â€Å"you cannot do that† you are not good in †¦and so on†¦.. You can imagine the bad effect such message can have on any person. Our Conscious Mind is like a watch man. And the Subconscious Mind is a store of all the previously programmed or conditioned information / knowledge/ believes. Now programming personality means putting positive believes/ information into the store without the knowledge of the watchman (conscious mind). Suppose you tell yourself that â€Å"you are good at Public Speaking†. And the store has stored based on peoples comments and experience that â€Å"you are poor in communication† â€Å"you cannot speak well in public†, â€Å"you don’t have an impressive body language† †¦.. The watch man sees your sentence and compares it with the knowledge in its store and says â€Å"this information is wrong†. The watchman throws the new information away. He does not allow the new positive information into the store. This is the fundamental difficulty in changing personality behavior of a person. Now the question is how and when we could program our mind for positive personality trait without the obstruction of watchman†¦ The answer is we can program our mind for positive personality traits during the Twilight period just before sleeping and just before waking up. This is the time when the conscious mind is active enough to generate the positive traits for entering into store but inactive to judge/compare and will not obstruct to the positive traits to enter into the subconscious store house. Reinforced Programming / Conscious Programming Autosuggestion and Repetition of the positive traits despite negative response from comparison with the store house also gives success in programming for personality traits. Auto-suggestion is a statement made in the present tense, of the kind of person you want to be. Auto-suggestion are like a commercial about â€Å"Super You†, or â€Å"Future Super You† for yourself what you want to be or achieve. They influence both your conscious and subconscious mind in the long run shaping your personality and attitude. Auto-suggestions are the conscious way to programme the subconscious mind for positive traits. It is the effective method of voluntary development of positive traits and attitudes. Auto-suggestion should be mixed with emotions. All such reinforced / conscious programming which have been emotionalized (giving feeling) and mixed with applied faith, begin immediately to translate themselves into physical or real equivalent. Auto-suggestive thoughts which are mixed with any of the feeling of emotions constitute a â€Å"psycho-magnetic† force which attracts other similar or related thoughts. Our subconscious mind resembling a fertile garden spot, in which weeds will grow in abundance if you the seeds of more desirable crops are not sown therein. Auto-suggestion is the agency of control through which an individual can voluntarily feed his subconscious mind on thoughts of creative/ positive nature or by neglect permit thoughts of a destructive nature to find their way into the rich garden of mind. So Caution should be taken while programming your mind for positive traits only. Defensive Approach One of this type of approach is protest or deny the negative traits at it’s very beginning of the entering in the subconscious store. And the second is to consciously avoid this type of environment or situation. In real life situation it is very difficult because it may lead to confrontation and argument or Inaction. Another problem in this is that most of us have some negative traits previously in our store house due to our past experience and conditioning. Imaginary Anchoring or Invisible Counseling Committee While watching a picture we anchor the Hero, placing ourselves in place of hero. Similarly we can anchor Great men in imagination and let them shape our personality. Another is the Invisible Counseling Committee comprising of great personalities of your choice. We can counsel from these great minds at times or situation. What decision or action he would have been taken in my situation.. Winston Churchill the war time British Prime Minister was following this principle. He had his Imaginary Counseling Committee by the side of his Chamber. Many great decisions he used to take by following these principles. Physical Action / Body Language Approach In general it is the positive practice or experiencing desired traits whether the desired perfection achieved or not. It is generally said that our personality traits control our body language. But it is a fact that the reverse is also true. This meanswe can change our negative traits towards positive traits by consciously practicing the body language for positive traits. Domino-effect. Direct exposure to good personalities or environment Here the direct environment is the driving force in shaping the personalities. When one constantly remains in direct contact with great personalities will enriches his own to be the one. Similarly the organization culture and structure also many times influences ones personality. Sometimes it is the guiding principle for job satisfaction / recruitment.