Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The American Revolution - 999 Words

The American Revolution was undeniably the most pivotal time period in respect to United States History, but who was really to blame for initiating the conflict? While both the British politicians and American colonists shared the blame for the kindling of the revolution, one party was certainly more at fault than the other: the British. Through short-term causes of taxation and incommodious trade acts, and long-term causes of salutary neglect and involvement in the burdensome French Indian War, the British politicians proved to ultimately be the most responsible for igniting the Revolutionary War. The long-term causes of the war, salutary neglect and involvement in the French Indian War, worked hand in hand and proved to be arguably the most influential of American independence. The term â€Å"salutary neglect† refers to the unofficial policy that Britain had with the colonists in the 17th 18th centuries: British laws were not enforced in the colonies, so Americans learned to care for and govern themselves. This was especially prevalent when governing bodies like the House of Burgesses in Virginia were created as a means of government. But as the colonists adapted to live on their own, certain ideas became widespread throughout the land; these ideas in turn led to The Great Awakening and The Enlightenment. In The Great Awakening, colonists began to split from the Church of England and form their own Christian denominations as a revival of religion swept the colonies.Show MoreRelatedThe American Revolution : The Revolution1367 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Revolution Revolutionizes the World It was the first revolution to majorly succeed and change how people saw their countries, it was the American Revolution. The American Revolution was the first successful revolution against a European empire that provided a model for many other colonial peoples who realized that they too could break away and become self-governing nations (New world Encyclopedia, 1).The American Revolution was vital to history because ideas seen by other countries startedRead MoreThe Revolution Of The American Revolution999 Words   |  4 PagesBetween 1770 and 1776, resistance to imperial change turned into a full-on revolution. The American Revolution, also known as the Revolutionary War, was a time of revolting and political uprising, in which the 13 colonies separated from the British Empire, forming the independent nation known as the United States of America. Though the American Revolution began because the colonies wanted independence from Britain, many important historical events and revolts also lead to the tensions and resistanceRead MoreThe Revolution Of The American Revolution1362 Words   |  6 PagesEvery 4th of July, Americans are told the story of the American Revolution. We remember the oppressed colonists fighting against the tyrannical King George III and the formidable red coats. Patriotic heroes are remembered, evil kings are cursed, and the liberties and freedoms won from the war are celebrated. Though America often likes to look back to the revolution, the question of just how much a revolution was the American Revolution is rarely asked. While the American revolution was not as radicalRead MoreThe Revolution Of The American Revolution863 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many different views on how the American Revolution came to be and how it actually was. One way is that the colonists that had money and were known as the elite were trying to preserve their power from the British and this is what caused the revolutionary war. Then on the other hand bef ore the revolutionary war occurred when the colonists were being over controlled by the British, then in result of the American Revolution the colonists were able to win against the British and become strongerRead MoreThe Revolution Of The American Revolution1582 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The revolution was effected before the war commenced. The revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people.† - John Adams, 1818 This quote means that the revolution actually took place metaphorically before the actually fighting began. It took place in the emotions and thoughts of the Americans. The Road to Revolution After the Seven Years’ War created a financial problem for Britain The British tried to shoulder some of the financial responsibilities onto the Americas in the form of variousRead MoreThe Revolution Of The American Revolution850 Words   |  4 PagesIn regards to the American Revolution, the point that armed rebellion became inevitable arrived when after nearly five constant years of American colonist protesting. American s had enough and needed to take a stand for the numerous inequalities they were forced to deal with. It was foreseeable that the American Revolution took place due to the unfair taxes that the British were giving Americans. Also, England was not allowing Americans their freedom, along with violence and the political dominanceRead MoreThe American Revolution. The American Revolution Started1581 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Revolution The American Revolution started when King George the 3rd decided to make the American Colonies pay a large amount of money for the debt of the French and Indian War by giving the colonist different types of taxes like the Sugar Act in 1764. The sugar Act of 1764 was a British Law that was passed on April 5, 1764, that collected incomes from the 13 colonies. The act put a huge tax on the sugar and molasses that were imported into the colonies which were a huge impact for theRead MoreThe American Revolution1337 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Revolution was much more than an insurrection against British tariffs and patronage decree. Rather, it was a bureaucratic catastrophe in which colonists from the thirteen American colonies denied the British sovereignty, eradicated the jurisdiction of Great Britain and established the United States of America. The upheaval was a primitive modern revolution in which generality traversed for liberty in the statute of law, constitutional privilege and supremacy. Ensuing years of contentionRead MoreThe American Revolution993 Words   |  4 PagesThe topic of the American Revolution is a topic that has been discussed on multiple levels and is extremely well-known, especially within the United States. The details are a little on the generic and basic side but it is at least understood on some level. Most people are aware of the American standpoint, the what, why, how, and when, but there is much more depth to what occurred. The war was obviously between the Americas and the Mother country of Britain, but there were more than just those twoRead MoreThe American Revolution889 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Revolution was one of the most vital events in American History lasting form 1775 to 1783, it effected the nation socially, economically and politically. The American Revolution brought upon many changes in America, and freedom of the nation. The Revolutionary War was a stepping stone to what we are as a nation today, it c reated both short and long-term effects on the world. When wanting to blame a certain side, the British politicians or the American agitators, several key points lead

Monday, December 16, 2019

Emerging Economies Free Essays

string(55) " the growth prospects of these economies are striking\." Business Development in Emerging Economies Business Development in Emerging Economies Coursework Coursework Contents A. In your opinion, what is the future of emerging economies? Support your answer with relevant evidence. (2000 words)3 Introduction4 What are emerging economies4 Future of emerging economies5 Microeconomic approach6 Long-term economic perspectives7 The â€Å"Euro† perspective8 Facts about the future9 Forecast11 Opinion12 Risks for emerging markets12 B. We will write a custom essay sample on Emerging Economies or any similar topic only for you Order Now Critically discuss the factors driving the growth of emerging MNEs. Use relevant company and country examples. 500 words)14 What are MNEs (Multinational Enterprises)15 Facts about MNEs15 C. How formidable is the competition posed by emerging markets MNE’s to the â€Å"Western† companies? Could it be country- or/and sector-specific? (500 words)18 References21 Business Development in Emerging Economies Coursework Submission A. In your opinion, what is the future of emerging economies? Support your answer with relevant evidence. (2000 words) B. Critically discuss the factors driving the growth of emerging MNEs. Use relevant company and country examples. (500 words) C. How formidable is the competition posed by emerging markets MNE’s to the â€Å"Western† companies? Could it be country- or/and sector-specific? (500 words) A. In your opinion, what is the future of emerging economies? Support your answer with relevant evidence. (2000 words) Introduction What are emerging economies The emerging markets story began almost thirty years ago. In the mid-1980s, developed economies started on a debt-fueled consumer spending binge that lasted more than two decades. This provided an incredible opportunity for developing economies. So, emerging markets or emerging economies are nations with social or business activity in the process of rapid growth and industrialization. The seven largest emerging and developing economies by either nominal Gross Domestic Product or GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) are China, Brazil, Russia, India, Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey. Some characteristics that define an economy as emerging are the following: * Intermediate income: its PPP per capital income is comprised between 10 % and 75 % of the average EU per capital income. Catching-up growth: during at least the last decade, it has experienced a brisk economic growth that has narrowed the income gap with advanced economies. * Institutional transformations and economic opening: during the same period, it has undertaken profound institutional transformations which contributed to integrate it more deeply into the world economy. Hence, emerging economies appears to be a by-product of the current globalization. Emerging markets are soug ht by investors for the prospect of high returns, as they often experience faster economic growth as measured by GDP. Investments in emerging markets come with much greater risk due to political instability, domestic infrastructure problems, currency volatility and limited equity opportunities (many large companies may still be â€Å"state-run† or private). Also, local stock exchanges may not offer liquid markets for outside investors. These countries do not share any common agenda, so there are various lists of emerging markets, developed by various analysts such as The Economist, the International Monetary Fund, Dow Jones etc.. If we had to make a summary list it would be the following: Afghanistan|   Estonia|   Lithuania|   Qatar|   Sudan|   Argentina|   Hong Kong|   Malaysia|   Romania|   Taiwan|   Bahrain|   Hungary|   Mauritius|   Russia|   Thailand|   Bangladesh|   India|   Mexico|   Saudi Arabia|   Turkey|   Brazil|   Indonesia|   Morocco|   Singapore|   Tunisia|   Bulgaria|   Iran|   Nigeria|   Slovakia|   UAE| Chile|   Israel|   Oman|   Slovenia|   Ukraine| China|   Jordan|   Pakistan|   South Africa|   Venezuela|   Colombia|   Kuwait|   Peru|   Sri Lanka|   Vietnam| Czech Republic|   Latvia|   Philippines|   South Korea|   Sudan|   Egypt|   Estonia|   Poland|   Qatar|   Taiwan| Future of emerging economies In the past decade emerging markets have established themselves as the world’s best sprinters. As serial crises tripped up America and then Europe, China barely broke stride. Other big developing nations paused for breath only briefly. Investors bet that rapid growth in emerging markets was the new normal, while leaders from Beijing to Brazil lectured the world on the virtues of their state-centric economic models. More than 80% of the world’s population lives in countries with emerging economies. As we can see in Figure 1, the share of emerging markets in global output has increased from below 20% in the early 90’s, to more than 30% today. Considering the cost of living differences, the share of emerging economies in world GDP already exceeds 45%, which is 13 percentage points higher than in the early 90’s. According to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF), World Economic Outlook, this share will exceed 50% in 2013. Figure [ 1 ]: Share of emerging economies in world GDP in recent periods While these economies are already large, they keep growing strongly. Growth in emerging economies and increased resistance to economic and financial shocks mean good news for the global economy, which can definitely rely on the dynamism of emerging economies more than it did in the past. The residents of emerging economies’ countries benefited a lot from this rapid growth, as it led to rising living standards. During the period 2000-2009, the per capita GDP in these countries increased by more than 70%. The integration of emerging economies in world markets for goods and services happened smoothly. Regarding global exports of goods and services, the share of emerging economies almost doubled between the early 90’s and 2010, reaching 35%. Microeconomic approach The most important role of the emerging economies and reflected at the micro level. Specifically, six of the 25 largest companies in the world, for example, in terms of market value come from emerging markets. These companies are listed below, according to Global 2000 list for 2012, an annual ranking of the top 2000 public companies in the world by Forbes magazine. The ranking is based on a mix of four metrics: sales, profit, assets and market value. Rank| Company| Headquarters| Industry| Profits (billion $)| Assets (billion $)| Market Value (billion $)| 05| Industrial and Commercial Bank of China|   China| Banking| 25. 1| 2,039. 1| 237. 4| 07| PetroChina|   China| Oil and gas| 20. | 304. 7| 294. 7| 10| Petrobras|   Brazil| Oil and gas| 20. 1| 319. 4| 180| 13| China Construction Bank|   China| Banking| 20. 5| 1,637. 8| 201. 9| 15| Gazprom|   Russia| Oil and gas| 31. 7| 302. 6| 159. 8| 19| Agricultural Bank of China|   China| Banking| 14. 4| 1,563. 9| 154. 8| Long-term economic perspectives The present of emerging economies seems promising, but the future seems even better. According to forecasts for long-term growth based on demographic trends and models of capital accumulation and productivity, it seems that the role of emerging economies in the global economy will be even larger. More specifically, according to various surveys, the growth prospects of these economies are striking. You read "Emerging Economies" in category "Papers" The share of Brazil, Russia, India and China, if considered together, could by 2025 correspond to a rate of more than 50% share of the current six largest industrialized economies and to overcome it in less than 40 years. The â€Å"Euro† perspective From the perspective of the euro, the growing role of emerging economies provides various opportunities. More specifically, the dynamic growth of emerging economies is increasing demand for certain goods and tradable services where the euro zone has a comparative advantage. Also, competition from emerging markets increases motivation for further progress in structural reforms in the euro zone, which are either way necessary. In addition, the Eurozone is capable of seizing new opportunities created by emerging economies. Exports and imports of goods and services of the euro zone represent a significant share of the GDP. Considering this, it is remarkable that the share of the euro zone exports (excluding trade within the euro zone) to Asia increased from 19% in 2000 to 22% in 2009, while exports to the United States decreased from 17% to 12% over the same period. China’s share in total exports of the euro zone increased from 2% in 2000 to 5. 3% in 2009. Exports to Russia more than doubled over the same period from 1. 8% to 3. 9%, thus exceeding the exports to Japan, although the share of Russia was higher in 2008 (5. 0%), before the global trade collapsed. A similar trend was observed in India, though on a much smaller scale, as India’s share was 1. 7% of euro zone exports in 2009. The crisis When the global financial crisis struck, emerging economies responded energetically: China launched a huge stimulus, Brazil’s state-owned banks avished credit, interest rates were slashed. They succeeded so well that by 2010 they were forced to reverse course. To squash price pressures they raised interest rates, curbed speculation and allowed their currencies to appreciate. With a lag, that tightening has had the predicted result. Still, the slowdown has proved much sharper than expected. Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis is par tly to blame. It has sapped demand for the developing world’s manufactured exports and restrained prices of their commodities; South Africa is a notable casualty. European banks had been conduits for foreign money flowing into emerging markets. Now they are pulling back as they grapple with the problems at home. The issues of slowing growth, high government debts, rising unemployment, and aging populations within developed economies such as the United States presented headwinds for emerging market countries, which in the past had been much more reliant on the health of developed markets. However, because of earlier fiscal discipline, countries such as China, Brazil and Indonesia were able to stimulate economies on their own with low interest rates and massive stimulus packages. The central banks were recourse to those who needed to borrow money, in order to avoid a major crisis. In December 2011 and February 2012, the European Central Bank announced long-term refunding, while European banks borrowed about 1 trillion euros. The U. S. Federal Bank, along with many central banks from developed countries went on with liquidity injections. That move resulted to massive relief, as the markets stabilized and industrial production increased again. The question then was if this would last, allowing the global economy to keep on growing. This was more of concern for emerging economies, which were considered to be safer than economically advanced countries. Many of them faced difficulties when they actually started developing, as they had to deal with massive poverty. Facts about the future Sadly, many emerging-world governments have interpreted the crisis in rich-world finance as a reason to preserve a more muscular role for the state. China has reserved some sectors for state-owned enterprises. In Brazil the big state-controlled oil company, Petrobras, and the tate-controlled banks have become virtual appendages of government policy. Having so much leverage over the economy is indeed helpful during a crisis, but in the long run it will stifle competition, starve the private sector of capital, deter foreign investment and know-how, and breed corruption. When the dust settles, emerging markets will still be growing faster than they did before 2003. But getting back up to the speed of the past decade will mean maintain ing the macroeconomic discipline and returning to the microeconomic reforms that made it possible in the first place. A strong infrastructure has significant long-term benefits, such as a growing manufacturing base, an educated workforce and more mobile, and therefore more easily employable, societies. The build-out of fixed asset infrastructure in China, which has been strong over the past 15 years, continues today, particularly as the population becomes more urbanized. Brazil also continues to invest in infrastructure, with estimates in excess of $800 billion in infrastructure spending as the country prepares to host the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. For example, the case of India. Since 2009, India has deliberately inflated its deficit in order to offset the economic slowdown. Fiscal expansion was very efficient in promoting growth of demand and supply after several years’ restriction. However, now the expansion is limited. Unlike developed countries, most developing economies are under inflationary pressure, which can be worse than additional expensed. Thus, the short-term future seems to be reserving various dangers. Nevertheless, medium and long-term perspectives about emerging economies are positive. Countries that save money, invest in human capital and provide good governance can achieve rapid growth again. India, for example, saves and invests more than 30% of its GDP, devoting a significant percentage of these sources to infrastructure. Thus, the possibility of India expanding its business increases. Investors seem to take seriously into account this perspective. They seem to be very hesitant towards investments in private equity funds. Nonetheless, they provided India with 43,8 billion dollars in long-term direct investments during 2011-2012. Despite the current crisis, the outlook seems encouraging for other emerging economies too, such as Brazil, China and Indonesia. It’s obvious that during the second half of 2011, developing economies that have faced the economic crisis kind of well, started to feel pressure as the euro zone crisis was getting worse. Growth in Brazil, India, China and other countries noted a remarkable slow down. Global economy seems to be focusing on fast-growing markets that are outside BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) as there is the perception that they are capable of integrating faster than the BRIC countries into the global economy due to a number of trade, investment, technological and cultural criteria. These markets achieve constantly high rates of economic growth at the same level with the BRIC countries. Turkey, Indonesia and Mexico come just after China and India in terms of GDP growth between 2000 and 2015. Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Malaysia and Vietnam, along with some countries and regions of Africa are ready to be included in the list with the most dynamic countries in the world, regarding investments. It’s becoming more and more admissible that these countries are the most significant sources of income for the future years. Same prospects seem to appear for South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey, which are considered to be the most competitive ones. Executives from all around the economy world claim that they are planning to raise their investments in these markets. As goods’ and services’ trade goes back to the levels it was before the financial crisis and the flow of funds appears to steadily increase, technology and cross-border exchange of ideas will continue forcing growth and promoting globalization. Forecast Forecasts concerning the period of time from now and by 2015 don’t seem really encouraging for Europe and emerging economies. The last year’s liquidity injection was deemed to be an efficient policy, but it was certainly not a radical solution. No crisis looms, but serious concern is justified, for the emerging world faces two distinct risks: a cyclical slowdown and a longer-term erosion of potential growth. The first should be reasonably easy to deal with. The second will not. Fiscal discipline and investment has delivered for emerging economies up to this point. This can significantly contribute to future growth. If Europe can succeed in promoting large fiscal and banking reforms and put its economy in order, the crisis will probably subside. Otherwise it will remain until the end of 2014 and then Europe will be before high risk once again. Regarding the developing countries, they will definitely be influenced by the U. S. and Europe – the two largest economies in the world. Their slowdown will directly affect all developing countries. The analyst, Jean Louis Martin claims though, that emerging economies will account for 52% of the global economy. His forecast is based on current prices and exchange rates-compared with 38. 9% in 2011. Opinion Looking through the past as thoroughly as I can, and considering the risks, my opinion about a potential recovery tends to be negative. A slump in these countries thus looks unlikely; so, however, does a return to the past decade’s growth rates. China, for one, doesn’t want it. Its economy has become over-reliant on investment; its leaders want to usher in a phase of more sustainable but slower growth, led by consumers. Beyond China, it is increasingly clear that many emerging economies have been growing beyond their underlying potential. Optimists once thought India could sustain Chinese-style growth of over 9% a year; but that led to stubborn inflation and current-account deficits, suggesting that India’s potential growth may be more like 6-7%. There is no guarantee that emerging markets will experience stable, sustainable development, since numerous economic and political risks are lurking. Emerging countries are still vulnerable to economic changes that occur in developed countries. Risks for emerging markets There’s a number of potential sources of macroeconomic and political instability such as high fiscal deficits, over-dependence on oil revenues and gas, increasing disparities in income leading to social tensions and acroeconomic and financial instability. Many reports also highlight the pressures on natural resources from the rapid growth in emerging economies, including the increasing difficulty of keeping global warming within the maximum limit of two degrees Celsius. While new unconventional sources like shale gas have reduced fears of depletion of fossil fuels, the risks associated with the most unstable global climate patterns are expected, to follow a steady upward trend. Issues such as taxation of executive compensation, the proper scope of financial regulation, and international M;A have come to the foreground in the wake of the crisis, and stark international differences in opinions and policies on these matters are already evident. The differences will only become more pronounced as discussions about the appropriate near-term policy response to the crisis give way to debates about who should pay and how much. The multinational firms best able to anticipate and manage the related risks and opportunities will have the strongest competitive edge. B. Critically discuss the factors driving the growth of emerging MNEs. Use relevant company and country examples. (500 words) What are MNEs (Multinational Enterprises) As the name implies, a multinational corporation is a business concern with operations in more than one country. These operations outside the company’s home country may be linked to the parent by merger, operated as subsidiaries, or have considerable autonomy. Firms tend to locate where barriers are easier to overcome. For firms in emerging countries, this initially meant locating in nearby countries with regional, cultural or language ties (so-called South-South FDI). This trend seems to be changing, however, as firms from emerging economies gain prominence. Facts about MNEs There are over 40,000 multinational corporations currently operating in the global economy, in addition to approximately 250,000 overseas affiliates running cross-continental businesses. The top multinational corporations are headquartered in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan; they have the capacity to shape global trade, production, and financial transactions. Multinational corporations are viewed by many as favoring their home operations when making difficult economic decisions, but this tendency is declining as companies are forced to respond to increasing global competition. Multinational corporations follow three general procedures when seeking to access new markets: * merger with or direct acquisition of existing concerns * sequential market entry and joint ventures Here’s an example of sequential market entry, which often includes foreign direct investment, which involves the establishment or acquisition of concerns operating in niche markets related to the parent company’s product lines in the new country of operation. Japan’s Sony Corporation made use of sequential market entry in the United States, beginning with the establis hment of a small television assembly plant in San Diego, California, in 1972. For the next two years, Sony’s U. S. perations remained confined to the manufacture of televisions, the parent company’s leading product line. Sony branched out in 1974 with the creation of a magnetic tape plant in Dothan, Alabama, and expanded further by opening an audio equipment plant in Delano, Pennsylvania, in 1977. After a period of consolidation brought on by an unfavorable exchange rate between the yen and dollar, Sony continued to expand and diversify its U. S. operations, adding facilities for the production of computer displays and data storage systems during the 1980s. In the 1990s, Sony further diversified it U. S. facilities and now also produces semiconductors and personal telecommunications products in the United States. Sony’s example is a classic case of a multinational using its core product line to defeat indigenous competition and lay the foundation for the sequential expansion of corporate activities into related areas. Multinational corporations are thus able to penetrate new markets in a variety of ways, which allow existing concerns in the market to be accessed a varying degree of autonomy and control over operations. Multinationals today are viewed with increased suspicion given their perceived lack of concern for the economic well-being of particular geographic regions and the public impression that multinationals are gaining power in relation to national government agencies, international trade federations and organizations, and local, national, and international labor organizations. Despite such concerns, multinational corporations appear poised to expand their power and influence as barriers to international trade continue to be removed. They share many common traits, including the methods they use to penetrate new markets, the manner in which their overseas subsidiaries are tied to their headquarters operations, and their interaction with national governmental agencies and national and international labor organizations. In particular, factors that benefit MNEs growth are: * labor is relatively cheap * Ownership advantages encompass the development and ownership of proprietary technology or widely recognized brands that other competitors cannot use. Empirical analysis shows that multinationals are often technological leaders that invest heavily in developing new products, processes and brands, which are then kept confidential and are protected by intellectual property rights * technology being adopted is leapfrogging much of the legacy IT infrastructure that is still in use in developed countries * Localization advantages refer to the benefits that come from locating near the final buyers or closer to more abundant and cheaper production factors, such as expert engineering or raw materials multinationals internalize the benefits from owning a particular technology, brand, expertise or patent that they find too risky or unprofitable to rent or license to other firms due to the difficulties of enforcing international contracts * management and production expertise from the parent concern Other concerns raised by respondents included government regulation, established competition, and the availability of communications and digital infrastructure. C. How formidable is the competition posed by emerging markets MNE’s to the â€Å"Western† companies? Could it be country- or/and sector-specific? 500 words) Right now more than 20,000 multinationals are operating in emerging economies. According to the Economist, Western multinationals expect to find 70% of their future growth there—40% of it in China and India alone. But if the opportunity is huge, so are the obstacles to seizing it. On its 2010 Ease of Doing Business Index, the World Bank ranked China 89th, Brazil 129th, and India 133rd out of 183 countries. Summarizing the bank’s conclusions, the Economist wrote, â€Å"The only way that companies can prosper in these markets is to cut costs relentlessly and accept profit margins close to zero. Western companies have had many difficulties entering emerging markets to date, as they seemed to apply a wrong entering strategies, which were due to lack of knowledge and experience. Many comp anies have already been lured by the promise of profits from selling low-end products and services in high volume to the very poor in emerging markets. And high-end products and services are widely available in these markets for the very few who can afford them: You can buy a Mercedes or a washing machine, or stay at a nice hotel, almost anywhere in the world. Our experience suggests a far more promising place to begin: between these two extremes, in the vast middle market. Consumers there are defined not so much by any particular income band as by a common circumstance: Their needs are being met very poorly by existing low-end solutions, because they cannot afford even the cheapest of the high-end alternatives. Companies that devise new business models and offerings to better meet those consumers’ needs affordably will discover enormous opportunities for growth. Take, for example, the Indian consumer durables company Godrej Boyce. Founded in 1897 to sell locks, Godrej is today a diversified manufacturer of everything from safes to hair dye to refrigerators and washing machines. In workshops we conducted with key managers in the appliances division, refrigerators emerged as a high-potential area: Because of the cost both to buy and to operate them, traditional compressor-driven refrigerators had penetrated only 18% of the market. The markets and operating environments in India are radically different from MNCs’ home markets, making it possible a wide range of competitive encounters and outcomes. For example, there are several layers of product and customer segments that reward different approaches from competitors, making it possible for both local challengers and patient MNCs to find different starting places and, over time, compete more directly. Competition appears to be formidable for â€Å"Western† companies, since they are not really qualified to deal with MNEs of emerging markets, which keep on developing. Furthermore, it seems that the competition could definitely be both country and sector specific, as, regardless of the difference in trends perceived as important and the reported level of preparedness, companies, both Western and emerging multinationals, take a similar approach to the critical actions needed to address emerging countries’ consumer market trends. These include developing new products and services, adapting the brand strategy, conducting market research, and adapting the marketing communication strategy. References * Contessi S. , El-Ghazaly H.. (2010). Multinationals from Emerging Economies Growing but Little Understood. Available:http://research. stlouisfed. org/publications/regional/10/07/multinational. pdf. * Matthew J. Eyring, Mark W. Johnson, and Hari Nair. (2011). New Business Models in Emerging Markets. Available: http://hbr. org/2011/01/new-business-models-in-emerging-markets/ar/1 * Ernst Young. (2013). Focusing on emerging markets. Available: http://www. net. gr/? i=news. el. articleid=338400 * Jean Louis Martin. (2012). Emerging Economies in 2020. Available: http://www. capital. gr/news. asp? id=1497484 * Unknown author. (2013). Challenges in development of emerging economies. Available: http://www. stockwatch. com. cy/nqcontent. cfm? a_name=news_viewann_id=165565 * K. Ghosh and L. Yu. (2012). The future of emerging markets. Allianz Global Investors. 12 (1), 1-4 * AmCham and Booz Company. How to cite Emerging Economies, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Project Management Plan free essay sample

Project Management provides the project with a responsibility hierarchy used to esolve issues that will affect the timely completion of the project. The Project Manager is ultimately responsible for the timely completion of the project but can only do so with the support of Senior Management. All issues compromising the quality, budget or delivery of the project will be discussed at project meetings. The project team will be responsible for developing solutions to project challenges to ensure the project stays on track. The Project Manager will distribute a weekly Project Status Report that identifies any issues affecting the critical path of the project or cost adjustments. The Project Manager will look to Senior Management to assist in negotiating the resources or project completion date . The Project Status Repo be distributed to Sponsors identified above. Project Scope the Project The scope of this project includes implementing the EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) application for Physician Clinic A. The project implementation will include: workflow analysis, hardware analysis, end user training, onsite Go Live coverage, and system design and build for appointment scheduling, clinical documentation, and physician billing. The implementation project will also include the introduction f scanners to photograph insurance cards. A notable exception to the project is the PC needed to run the scanner. Also, this project will not use a phased or staggered implementation. Further exclusions include EHR documentation conversion, multiple locations, or multiple physicians. Any modifications to the WBS will need to submitted to the Project Manager for review within the change management process as noted later in this document. Change Management Plan This section should describe your change control process. Ideally, this process will be some type ot organizational standard which is repea table and done on most or all rojects when a change is necessary. Changes to any project must be carefully considered and the impact of the change must be clear in order to make any type of approval decisions. Many organizations have change control boards (CCBs) which review proposed changes and either approve or deny them. This is an effective way to provide oversight and ensure adequate feedback and review of the change is obtained. This section should also identify who has approval authority for changes to the project, who submits the changes, how they are tracked and monitored. For complex or large projects the Change Management Plan may be included as an ppendix to the Project Management Plan or as a separate, stand-alone document. We have a detailed Change Management Plan template available on our website. The following steps comprise TSIs organization change control process for all projects and will be utilized on the SmartVoice project: Step #1 : Identify the need for a change (Any Stakeholder) Requestor will submit a completed TSI change request form to the project manager Step #2: Log change in the change request register (Project Manager) The project manager will maintain a log of all change requests for the duration of he project Step #3: Conduct an evaluation of the change (Project Manager, Project Team, Requestor) The project manager will conduct an evaluation of the impact of the change to cost, risk, schedule, and scope Step #4: Submit change request to Change Control Board (CCB) (Project Manager) The project manager will submit the change request and analysis to the CCB for review Step #5: Change Control Board decision (CCB) The CCB will discuss the proposed change and decide whether or not it will be approved based on all submitted information Step #6: Implement change (Project Manager) If a change is approved by the CCB, the project manager will update and re- baseline project documentation as necessary as well as ensure any changes are communicated to the team and stakeholders Any team member or stakeholder may submit a change request for the SmartVoice Project. The SmartVoice Project Sponsor will chair the CCB and any changes to project scope, cost, or schedule must meet his approval. All change requests will be logged in the change control register by the Project Manager and tracked through to completion whether approved or not. Communications Management Plan The purpose of the Communications Management Plan is to define the communication requirements for the project and how information will be distributed to ensure project success. You should give considerable thought to how you want to manage communications on every project. By having a solid communications management approach youll find that many project management problems can be avoided. In this section you should provide an overview ot your communications management approach. Generally, the Communications Management Plan defines the following: Communication requirements based on roles What information will be communicated How the information will be communicated When will information be distributed Who does the communication Who receives the communication Communications conduct For larger and more complex projects, the Communications Management Plan may be included as an appendix or separate document apart from the Project Management Plan. We have a detailed Communications Management Plan template available on our website. This Communications Management Plan sets the communications framework for this project. It will serve as a guide for communications throughout the life of the project nd will be updated as communication requirements change. This plan identifies and defines the roles of SmartVoice project team members as they pertain to communications. It also includes a communications matrix which maps the communication requirements of this project, and communication conduct for meetings and other forms of communication. A project team directory is also included to provide contact information for all stakeholders directly involved in the project. The Project Manager will take the lead role in ensuring effective communications on this project. The communications requirements are documented in the Communications Matrix below. The Communications Matrix will be used as the guide for what information to communicate, who is to do the communicating, when to communicate it, and to whom to communicate. Communication Type Description Frequency Format Participants/ Distribution Deliverable Owner Weekly Status Report Email summary of project status Weekly Email Project Sponsor, Team and Stakeholders Status Report Project Manager Weekly Project Team Meeting Meeting to review action register and status In Person Project Team Updated Action Register Project Monthly Review (PMR) Present metrics and status to team and sponsor Monthly Project Sponsor, Team, and Stakeholders Status and Metric Presentation Project Gate Reviews Present closeout of project phases and kickoff next phase As Needed Phase completion report and phase kickoff Technical Design Review Review of any technical designs or work associated with the project As Needed Technical Design Package Project team directory for all communications is: Name Title E mail Office Phone Cell Phone John Davis Project Sponsor j. [emailprotected] com xxx-xxx-xxxx Joe Green j. [emailprotected] com Herb Walker Senior Programmer h. [emailprotecte d] om Jason Black Programmer j. [emailprotected] com Mary White Sr. Quality Specialist m. [emailprotected] com Ron Smith Quality Specialist r. [emailprotected] com Tom Sunday Technical Writer t. [emailprotected] com Karen Brown Testing Specialist k. [emailprotected] com Communications Conduct: Meetings: The Project Manager will distribute a meeting agenda at least 2 days prior to any scheduled meeting and all participants are expected to review the agenda prior to the meeting. During all project meetings the timekeeper will ensure that the group adheres to the times stated in the agenda and the recorder will take all notes for distribution to the team upon completion of the meeting. It is imperative that all articipants arrive to each meeting on time and all cell phones and blackberries should be turned off or set to vibrate mode to minimize distractions. Meeting minutes will be distributed no later than 24 hours after each meeting is completed. All email pertaining to the SmartVoice Project should be professional, free of errors, and provide brief communication. Email should be distributed to the correct project participants in accordance with the communication matrix above based on its content. All attachments should be in one of the organizations standard software suite programs and adhere to established company formats. If the email is to bring an issue forward then it should discuss what the issue is, provide a brief background on the issue, and provide a recommendation to correct the issue. The Project Manager should be included on any email pertaining to the SmartVoice Project. Informal Communications: While informal communication is a part of every project and is necessary for successful project completion, any issues, concerns, or updates that arise from informal discussion between team members must be communicated to the Project Manager so the appropriate action may be taken. Cost Management Plan The Cost Management Plan clearly defines how the costs on a project will be managed throughout the projects lifecycle. It sets the format and standards by which the project costs are measured, reported, and controlled. Working within the cost management guidelines is imperative for all project team members to ensure successful completion of the project. These guidelines may include which level of the WBS cost accounts will be created in and the establishment of acceptable variances. The Cost Management Plan: Identifies who is responsible for managing costs Identifies who has the authority to approve changes to the project or its budget How ost performance is quantitatively measured and reported upon Report formats, frequency and to whom they are presented For complex or large projects the Cost Management Plan may be included as an We have a detailed Cost Management Plan template available on our website. The Project Manager will be responsible for managing and reporting on the projects cost throughout the duration of the project. The Project Manager will present and review the projects cost performance during the monthly project status meeting. Using earned value calculations, the Project Manager is responsible for accounting or cost deviations and presenting the Project Sponsor with options for getting the project back on budget. All budget authority and decisions, to include budget changes, reside with the SmartVoice Project Sponsor. For the SmartVoice Project, control accounts will be created at the fourth level of the WBS which is where all costs and performance will be managed and tracked. Financial performance of the SmartVoice Project will be measured through earned value calculations pertaining to the projects cost accounts. Work started on work packages will grant that work package with 0% credit; whereas, the remaining s credited upon completion of all work defined in that work package. Costs may be rounded to the nearest dollar and work hours rounded to the nearest whole hour. Cost and Schedule Performance Index (CPI and SPI respectively) will be reported on a monthly basis by the Project Manager to the Project Sponsor. Variances of 10% or +1- 0. 1 in the cost and schedule performance indexes will change the status of the cost to yellow or cautionary. These will be reported and if its determined that there is no or minimal impact on the projects cost or schedule baseline then there may be no action required. Cost variances of 20%, or +1- 0. 2 in the cost and schedule performance indexes will change the status of the cost to red or critical. These will be reported and require corrective action from the Project Manager in order to bring the cost and/or schedule performance indexes back in line with the allowable variance. Any corrective actions will require a project change request and be must approved by the CCB before it can be implemented. Earned value calculations will be compiled by the Project Manager and reported at the monthly project status meeting. If there are indications that these values will pproach or reach the critical stage before a subsequent meeting, the Project Manager will communicate this to the Project Sponsor immediately. Project Scope Management Plan It is important that the approach to managing the projects scope be clearly defined and documented in detail. Failure to clearly establish and communicate project scope can result in delays, unnecessary work, failure to achieve deliverables, cost overruns, or other unintended consequences. This section provides a summary of the Scope Management Plan in which it addresses the following: Who has authority and responsibility for scope management How the scope is defined (i. e. Scope Statement, WBS, WBS Dictionary, Statement of Work, etc. ) How the scope is measured and verified (i. e. Quality Checklists, Scope Baseline, Work Performance Measurements, etc. ) The scope change process (who initiates, who authorizes, etc. ) Who is responsible for accepting the final project deliverable and approves acceptance of project scope We have a detailed Scope Management Plan available on our website which can be included as an appendix to the Project Management Plan for larger or more complex projects. Be sure to review it and determine if its necessary for managing your Scope management for the SmartVoice Project will be the sole responsibility of the Project Manager. The scope for this project is defined by the Scope Statement, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and WBS Dictionary. The Project Manager, Sponsor, and Stakeholders will establish and approve documentation for measuring project scope which includes deliverable quality checklists and work performance measurements. Proposed scope changes may be initiated by the Project Manager, Stakeholders or any member of the project team. All change requests will be submitted to the Project Manager who will then evaluate the requested scope change. Upon acceptance of the scope change request the Project Manager will submit the scope change request to the Change Control Board and Project Sponsor for acceptance. Upon approval of scope changes by the Change Control Board and Project Sponsor the Project Manager will update all project documents and communicate the scope change to all stakeholders. Based on feedback and input from the Project Manager and Stakeholders, the Project Sponsor is responsible for the acceptance of the final project deliverables and project scope. The Project Sponsor is responsible for formally accepting the projects final deliverable. This acceptance will be based on a review of all project documentation, testing results, beta trial results, and completion of all tasks/work packages and product functionality. Schedule Management Plan This section provides a general framework for the approach which will be taken to create the project schedule. Effective schedule management is necessary for ensuring tasks are completed on time, resources are allocated appropriately, and to help measure project performance. This section should include discussion of the scheduling tool/format, schedule milestones, and schedule development roles and responsibilities. Be sure to check out the detailed Schedule Management Plan available on our website. The separate Schedule Management Plan is suitable for larger projects or projects where the schedule management is more formalized. Project schedules for the SmartVoice Project will be created using MS Project 2007 starting with the deliverables identified in the projects Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Activity definition will identify the specific work packages which must be performed to complete each deliverable. Activity sequencing will be used to determine the order of work packages and assign relationships between project ctivities. Activity duration estimating will be used to calculate the number of work periods required to complete work packages. Resource estimating will be used to assign resources to work packages in order to complete schedule development. Once a preliminary schedule has been developed, it will be reviewed by the project team and any resources tentatively assigned to project tasks. The project team and resources must agree to the proposed work package assignments, durations, and schedule. Once this is achieved the project sponsor will review and approve the schedule and it will then be base lined. In accordance with TSIs organizational standard, the following will be designated as milestones for all project schedules: Completion of scope statement and WBSIWBS Dictionary Base lined project schedule Approval of final project budget Project kick-off Approval of roles and responsibilities Requirements definition approval Completion of data mapping/inventory Project implementation Acceptance of final deliverables Roles and responsibilities for schedule development are as follows: The project manager will be responsible for facilitating work package definition, equencing, and estimating duration and resources with the project team. The project manager will also create the project schedule using MS Project 2007 and validate the schedule with the project team, stakeholders, and the project sponsor. The project manager will obtain schedule approval from the project sponsor and baseline the schedule. The project team is responsible for participating in work package definition, sequencing, duration, and resource estimating. The project team will also review and validate the proposed schedule and perform assigned activities once the schedule is pproved. The project sponsor will participate in reviews of the proposed schedule and approve the final schedule before it is base lined. The project stakeholders will participate in reviews of the proposed schedule and assist in its validation. Quality Management Plan This section discusses how quality management will be used to ensure that the deliverables for the project meet a formally established standard of acceptance. All project deliverables should be defined in order to provide a foundation and understanding of the tasks at hand and what work must be planned. Quality anagement is the process by which the organization not only completes the work, but completes the work to an acceptable standard. Without a thorough Quality Management Plan, work may be completed in a substandard or unacceptable manner. This section should include quality roles and responsibilities, quality control, quality assurance, and quality monitoring. For larger or more complex projects, the Quality Management Plan may be included as an appendix or separate document. A detailed Quality Management Plan is available for use on our website. All members of the SmartVoice project team will play a role in quality management.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Tips for hiring freelance essay writers with Speedy essay

Time has changed a lot of things. It has made a number of things easier for us and that’s the reason why we are living an easy life now. Along with all this the human resource companies and people are facing difficulties and are bring given special training for hiring process. In this era where technology is at its peak there are lots of freelance workers, hiring the right person is very important in freelance work because you don’t know that person you don’t even get to meet that person in some cases. Here are some of the useful tips for hiring a freelance worker especially freelance essay writers as the hiring rate of freelance essay writers UK is high: Conduct a telephonic or video interview: interviews are an important part of any job may it be a freelance job or a full time office job. Nowadays many companies conduct a telephonic interview or a video interview through Skype or other software in order to know that person better. It gives you a clear picture of that person and his/her intentions towards a job. Meet and take interview in person: meeting a person and taking live interview in person is always a better experience but of course in some cases its not possible. Try if you can meet the candidates and take an interview as this will help you a lot in making your final decision. The candidate’s posture, gesture and attitude will give a pretty clear hint of his/her intentions towards the particular job. Look for an experienced writer in case of big tasks: if you are hiring essay writers UK for some big and really professional assignments and task then make sure you hire an experienced writer who is professional and have good enough experience to work on the project you are offering as you just cannot afford messing things up in a big project. For small projects hire the entry level writers: if you are hiring people for small projects then you can even hire people with little or no experience at all. These might be students who would want to work part time. They will not even charge much and will deliver good quality work to you and on time. Don’t just judge them by their previous work: many people hire writers based on their previous work record but people and their skills do change with time that’s why don’t judge and make a perception about any writer by looking at his/her previous work. It is always better to have a look at a recent writing content. Ask them to write a sample essay: along with asking for their work that they have done also ask them to write a sample essay for you. This will help you in making your right decision. You will get to know the writer’s skills and his/her writing ability. Also make sure you ask them to write the sample on a similar genre.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Define a Database and a Database Management System and Describe How It Solves the Problems of a Traditional File Environment. Essay Example

Define a Database and a Database Management System and Describe How It Solves the Problems of a Traditional File Environment. Essay Example Define a Database and a Database Management System and Describe How It Solves the Problems of a Traditional File Environment. Essay Define a Database and a Database Management System and Describe How It Solves the Problems of a Traditional File Environment. Essay 2. Why was the consolidated watch list created? What are the benefits of the list? ANSWER: In the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks, both critics and defenders of the information systems employed by the US intelligence community became concerned on how to prevent future terrorist incidents. Then a database of suspected terrorist known as the consolidated watch list was born. It is created in order to maintain separate list about terrorist and share relevant information concerning the individuals on each agency’s list. Benefits of consolidated terror watch list 1. Classifying and organizing information: classified information about the people in watch list is maintained and the entire databases are well organized according to their name and date of birth. 2. Provided record by two sources: the NCTC and the FBI both the agencies provide information to identify terrorist. These agencies collect and maintain terrorist information and nominate individuals for inclusion in the consolidated watch list. . Updating information with time: the watch list database is updated daily with new nominations, modifications, to existing records and deletions. 4. Distributing information properly: Information on the list is distributed to a wide range of government agency for use in efforts to deter or detect the movements of known or suspected terrorist. 5. In airport: Airlines use this data for prescreening passengers the selectee lists. The US customs and border protections system uses bit to help screen travelers entering in the US. Last but not the least in USA port, police station, VISA center these issues are very strict. They conduct a name based search of the individuals. When the computerized name-matching system generates a ‘hit’ against a watch list record, the airline or agency will review each potential match. All of these databases require certain minimum biographic or identifying data to accept records from the consolidated watch list.

Friday, November 22, 2019

6 remote entry level jobs that are hiring today

6 remote entry level jobs that are hiring today Getting to work from home used to be a luxury afforded to only certain workers in certain fields, but technology has made it possible for a wide variety of people to clock in from the comfort of the desks in their very own living rooms. In fact, according to a recent Gallup poll, 43% of employees work remotely sometimes. The ability to work remotely can be a huge perk- you save money on thing like commuting costs, a work wardrobe, and even coffee and lunch, which you can now make in the comfort of your own home. Hiring remote workers has become more popular in recent years, but there are certain fields that are particularly likely to be hiring workers for remote entry level jobs. Here are just a few. Associate account managerAssociate account managers take care of the basic operations of a company and often serve as liaisons between different departments- a job ideal for working from home if operations take place in different parts of the country. While experience in sales or marketi ng is sometimes required, associate account managing might also be an entry-level job.Copy editorWriting and editing jobs have long been popular among telecommuters, and with all the content that gets churned out all day, every day as news generates, editors are particularly in demand right now. They’re the folks who ensure that the words we read on business sites and blogs are strong, grammatically correct, and concise. There are many copy editing jobs at the entry level right now, and telecommuting is a very common perk.Operations coordinatorIf you’re more the management type than the wordsmith, consider finding a position as an operations coordinator. This job involves dealing with team members and handling billing, invoices, and payroll for all the teams in an organization. Like with an account manager gig, you don’t need to be in a physical office to do the job- especially if the company has many locations.TranslatorIf you’re fluent in more than one language, you can use your skills from the comfort of your own home across a wide variety of industries. If you have a stellar attention to detail and a great command of grammar, style, and slang in both of your spoken languages, translation is a great opportunity to use your skills and fit in work on your own schedule.Roadside assistance app representativeIf your car has ever broken down and you’ve used your phone to access a roadside assistance app to get moving again, you’ve relied on the kindness and skills of a person on the other end of the line to get you out of your bind. Roadside assistance app representatives are needed to handle the behind-the-scenes work that gets the job done- using people skills and computer skills to get people on the road again. Ironically, travel is often not a requirement for these jobs.Sales representativeSales representatives promote products to customers on the phone and on online, so not much more than a phone and a computer are n eeded to do this job. If you’re an ace with your computer and love talking to people all day, this may be the remote entry-level job for you. Sales reps who love what they sell are the best at their jobs, so if you have a passion for a product, this is also the gig for you.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Fast Retailing Group- Gaining an Edge through Continual Adaptation Essay

Fast Retailing Group- Gaining an Edge through Continual Adaptation - Essay Example According to the research findings, the progress of the Fast Retailing Group had been slow but consistent. This clothing concern grew from being a single store to being a regional chain and then to grow up to have an international presence. It would not be wrong to say that the Fast Retailing Group (FR) did face many setbacks and failures during this process. However, the amazing thing about this company is that its management learned and drew up lessons from these setbacks and failures and continually adapted the company to the ground level realities and challenges. The one big thing that differentiates Fast Retailing Group (FR) from other apparel chains is that it is a company that has a clear and precise vision and mission. The management and marketing practices of this company happen to be a direct outcome of this mission statement and vision. The ultimate goal of the fast retailing company since its current CEO Tadashi Yanai took over business had been to manufacture â€Å"grea t clothing† that satisfies the needs and preferences of a great variety of consumer segments. The move on the part of the Fast Retailing Group (FR) to diversify into a retail apparel chain was to a great extent motivated by the success achieved by many apparel retail chains in the West and the Asian markets. However, Tadashi Yanai was very practical in his vision in the sense that he made it a point to learn from the trends influencing the local markets. The company did make an effort to learn from the management and sales and marketing policies of the Western retail apparel chains. However, it does need to be mentioned that the Fast Retailing Group faced many setbacks during its expansion moves.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Maintenance Awareness in Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Maintenance Awareness in Design - Essay Example Findings: The findings of this paper indicates that systems always fail due to miss management and poor planning on the part of managers, companies and all individuals involved in any specific project. Moreover, it further indicates that designers can learn from various failures and they can minimize the risk factors by taking several measures. System failure, basically, stands for any situation when a system stops working and fails to achieve desired objectives. It further lacks in smooth functioning of an overall system which is very much required for any successful design and project. Nowadays, it is common trend that people prefer to use new systems and advanced technology rather than old ones. They feel themselves more compatible with latest technology just because of demand and trend. Projects are usually driven just to replace the old trends and architecture. Old systems are extensively replaced with new ones having new technology. However, it is very essential to understand that there are several important aspects and stages involved in any good design. All of these stages should be accessed if you want a successful design. It is not wise option to go just for modern and trendy designs. Essential stages should be kept in mind. These generally include, If we look at technical side of the modern projects, we will observe that nowadays projects are built with a goal of offering multiple functions that was not possible in recent past. Currently, systems become the integration of various sub systems. Some additional constraints are also getting involved day by day with changing needs and demands of various people. Now people are more concerned about reliability and security systems offer within a design. Nowadays, we can also observe that the success rate is continuously decreasing and most of the large projects of engineering are less satisfactory. Many of the projects are getting failed and end up in failures and great risks. However, it is also a

Saturday, November 16, 2019

A Scary Place in Louisiana Woods Essay Example for Free

A Scary Place in Louisiana Woods Essay More than five years ago, I went with a batch of friends to one of the villages in Louisiana.   Being born from the far-end south of the state of [your state], it was the first time I had a great view of the vast, green meadows of the plain.   It was springtime, and we were having fun going around the brooks and the woods that are really prevalent in those areas.   We were eight friends all in all, and we were to stay there for almost a week. It was fun and everyone just brought food and drinks and all that we can bring along to have a really wonderful time.   The place looked gorgeous†¦ except that we had no idea—or ‘I’ had no idea—that the woods would not really be that gorgeous at all.   I was somebody born to the city, and to go to places that are certainly silent did not bring anything to my mind but the thought that it would be the best spring I could have ever imagined!   I was wrong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first three days in the cottage were really pleasant.   Our group went to and fro the green oaks there, and I got tired counting all the oak trees that were positioned so neatly along the roadside.   The pines were more difficult to count, I thought.   It was one of the many times I walked to the winding path amid the grass and the trees.   I didn’t know why but I just loved the feeling nature has brought in to me; yet it was not so hot because trees usually blocked the sunlight, and there was a sway of some wind, as proven by the branches. To my left was a swooping valley of green grass, and to my right there was nothing I saw but three things: trees, trees, and trees!   I enjoyed the feeling of not being alone but then wondered, was I alone?   I felt that I was not.   I called out to my friends: no response.   God forbid but I left my cellphone on the chair just before I went out for a walk.   I thought Billy was with me but now I can’t see or hear anyone, and I guess I’ve been walking for more than an hour already.   I stopped walking.   If I’d been walking for, let’s say, two hours, then it could be nearly six o’clock, which is why the woods have, indeed, become dimmer and a bit misty. Well, where was I?   I can see the brook northward, the pine valley far eastward, big oak trees westward, and just piles of grass southward.   I heard something moving between the branches somewhere in the far-side end of the brook.   Looking at the big oak tree stapled like a tower behind the brook, what did not enter clearly to my head entered clearly to my eyes: the picture of a handful of fire glaring fiercely red and floating mysteriously in the air just in front of that oak!   And it was moving so slowly to my direction, making me step back relentlessly to thump with a sudden jump southward to where I just came from. A big black dog greeted me at my back, and what was really terrifying was that it had the eyes of man—the expression, the look†¦ was that of a man.   I whispered a silent prayer and ran as fast as I can.   Never would I roam around an unfamiliar site of woods with no one but me to rely on in facing my adversary and my fear.   I felt angry that my friends have left me alone when they knew I was new to this place.   Thank God that black dog did not run after me but just stared at me right at my face.   I could’ve fainted if it had run after me to my grave†¦ What the incident taught me about fear is that, at a time of fear, there really is no one to stand for me or with me but myself.   I perceived fear when I realized that I was alone in an unknown place, with no one to hear me even if I shouted for help.   I perceived fear when I saw things (i.e., floating fire) that are not the usual things I saw in my everyday life: things that are truly mysterious, strange, and unexplainable. I perceived fear when I imagined things that could have happened, such as what I imagined the black dog could have done.   Fear sprouts at times when we encounter strange things that stir strange sensation amid a strange environment.   I feared that the perceived fear would enkindle worse things and events that I remembered only seeing in the television.   I feared that what I perceived as fear would turn into something more than mere fear.   I perceived fear†¦ and it was right to my own eyes!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Religion In American Life :: essays research papers

Religion In American Life Religion used to be a very important component in an American's life. Protestantism was as American as Mom and apple pie. Families would don their "Sunday best" and go to church early on Sunday mornings. However, this situation has changed quite a bit. After reviewing the 1994 statistics I gathered from the Micase system and comparing them to the statistics received in class, I discovered a trend away from traditional religious beliefs and practices, and one toward atheism or alternative religious beliefs. After a resurgence in the 1970's and early 1980's, the Roman Catholic church began experiencing a slow, yet steady, decline in membership. As membership in the more orthodox Roman Catholic church decreased, membership in Protestant churches increased. In recent years, the Catholic Church has become politically active and more vociferous concerning its views on moral issues such as war, abortion, and euthanasia. It is my feeling that many Catholics are searching for sects that will allow them to retain their faith in Christ without a central body (i.e., the Vatican) speaking on behalf of them on issues that they are capable of rationalizing for themselves. Among Catholics and Protestants, there is a trend toward less rigid attendance of religious services. If we examine the figures from Stark and Glock's 1968 survey, 54% of Americans surveyed at the time attended church more often than once a month. This figure shrank to 40.7% in the 1994 survey. Though the Catholic church insists on weekly attendance of church, weekly attendance dropped from 52% in 1978 to 49% in 1986. Then, attendance plummeted, with only 28.3% of Catholics surveyed in 1994 claiming to have attended church in the last seven days. Even among those who remain with the traditional Christian sects, attendance is diminishing. Christianity used to be an integral part of most family and community customs and traditions in America. It seems that as Americans' lives become more complex, less time is available for formal religious commitments. Also, one may theorize that the exponential growth of technology and education has rendered traditional religious teachings, such as creationism, obsolete and people are leaving the Christian churches because their teachings do not agree with their personal beliefs. However, not everyone is leaving the Catholic church for Protestant denominations. In the last thirty years, the number of people claiming to have no religious affiliation have increased almost five-fold, with 2% of the people surveyed claiming no affiliation in 1967, and 9.2% claiming the same in 1994. Since the early 1980's, there has also been an increase in the number of people claiming "other" religious beliefs. Religion In American Life :: essays research papers Religion In American Life Religion used to be a very important component in an American's life. Protestantism was as American as Mom and apple pie. Families would don their "Sunday best" and go to church early on Sunday mornings. However, this situation has changed quite a bit. After reviewing the 1994 statistics I gathered from the Micase system and comparing them to the statistics received in class, I discovered a trend away from traditional religious beliefs and practices, and one toward atheism or alternative religious beliefs. After a resurgence in the 1970's and early 1980's, the Roman Catholic church began experiencing a slow, yet steady, decline in membership. As membership in the more orthodox Roman Catholic church decreased, membership in Protestant churches increased. In recent years, the Catholic Church has become politically active and more vociferous concerning its views on moral issues such as war, abortion, and euthanasia. It is my feeling that many Catholics are searching for sects that will allow them to retain their faith in Christ without a central body (i.e., the Vatican) speaking on behalf of them on issues that they are capable of rationalizing for themselves. Among Catholics and Protestants, there is a trend toward less rigid attendance of religious services. If we examine the figures from Stark and Glock's 1968 survey, 54% of Americans surveyed at the time attended church more often than once a month. This figure shrank to 40.7% in the 1994 survey. Though the Catholic church insists on weekly attendance of church, weekly attendance dropped from 52% in 1978 to 49% in 1986. Then, attendance plummeted, with only 28.3% of Catholics surveyed in 1994 claiming to have attended church in the last seven days. Even among those who remain with the traditional Christian sects, attendance is diminishing. Christianity used to be an integral part of most family and community customs and traditions in America. It seems that as Americans' lives become more complex, less time is available for formal religious commitments. Also, one may theorize that the exponential growth of technology and education has rendered traditional religious teachings, such as creationism, obsolete and people are leaving the Christian churches because their teachings do not agree with their personal beliefs. However, not everyone is leaving the Catholic church for Protestant denominations. In the last thirty years, the number of people claiming to have no religious affiliation have increased almost five-fold, with 2% of the people surveyed claiming no affiliation in 1967, and 9.2% claiming the same in 1994. Since the early 1980's, there has also been an increase in the number of people claiming "other" religious beliefs.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Annotated Bibliography: Arts Education

Arts Education in America: An Annotated Bibliography Statement of Scope: The purpose of this bibliography is to attain information from credible sources on arts programs in schools. The goal is to provide enough information so that the reader is then able to form their own opinions on the benefits, problems, and policies on arts programs at varying levels of education. Those looking to find detailed information will find this bibliography to be a good starting point. Parsad, B. , and Spiegelman, M. 2012.Arts Education in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools: 1999–2000 and 2009–10 (NCES 2012–014). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U. S. Department of Education. Washington, DC. Web. 24 Jan. 2013 This source is a presentation of unbiased information about both the overall arts education programs and specific sections including: visual arts, music, dance, and theater/drama. The report utilizes a plethora of charts, graphs, and other visual aids to help organize and present the information.Parsad and Spiegelman first present their findings on overall arts education programs including the percentages of schools offering visual arts, music, dance and theater classes. They then dedicate ten to fifteen pages discussing the particulars of each section of the arts listed above. There is so much information in this article that it would be great for someone looking for a broad spectrum understanding of arts education programs. The visual aids complement the information presented and would be easy to incorporate into a variety of works.For someone who is looking to get very specific information about a specific program then this would be a good source to start with, the way the report is divided makes it very easy to find information on a specific sections of an arts program, i. e. music or drama. It would provide the reader with enough information that they could ask their own questions and be able to look fu rther into a specific topic. Catterall, Dumais, and Hampden-Thompson. March 2012. The arts and achievement in at-risk youth : findings from four longitudinal studies. National Endowment for the Arts. Research Report #55). Web. 24 Jan. 2013. This research report is a presentation of years of studies conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts and similar organizations, most being government funded. The authors arrange the report in such a way that the bulk of the report is given through the use of visual graphs and charts, which are accompanied by conclusive statements like â€Å"Teenagers and young adults of low socioeconomic status (SES) who have a history of in-depth arts involvement show better academic outcomes than do low-SES youth who have less arts involvement.They earn better grades and demonstrate higher rates of college enrollment and attainment. † (12) Most of the graphs simply relate percentages of students with low and high levels of art engagement to achiev e certain things like high school graduation, entering a bachelors program, and attaining a steady professional level career. For every study and graph presented or reviewed there is clearly cited sources, if any confusion remains the appendix and cited pages are very clear about how to find more information. Being that this is a report of findings from a national organization it is not biased to or for support of arts programs.For anyone looking for specific statistics to use in a presentation or report of their own, this research report could be very helpful. As previously stated the bulk of the information is presented through graphs and charts that utilize percentages, and is therefore very easy to take and use in a presentation without having to do much work yourself. For someone looking for a more scholarly breakdown of the benefits of arts education on high-risk students this report will not be as helpful, as it would be time consuming to trace the information presented back to the original sources. Dwyer, M.Christine. 2011. Reinvesting in Arts Education: Winning America's Future through Creative Schools. President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. The reports emphasizes the essential role that arts education programs play in improving student engagement and building creativity. Dwyer discusses, in a lengthy and wordy overview, the current Arts Education programs and policies shortcomings. â€Å"It is widely agreed that the U. S. public education system is not adequately serving a significant portion of our nation’s children and that public K-12 schools must change dramatically o achieve the Administration’s goal that the United States become a global leader in postsecondary attainment by 2020†¦ School leaders and teachers will need to step up to the challenge of finding new ways to engage many more students in meaningful learning†¦ † (27) More importantly, this report discusses possible soluti ons such as reinvesting in arts education, and argues for creating arts-rich schools that can engage students in ways that complement the study of the arts and other traditional subjects such as literature, history, science, and mathematics.Another key takeaway from this report is it shows readers the link between arts education and achievement in other subjects. Being that this source is a report by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, it attempts to present evidence to support the positions of the president and his corresponding political party. As political and wordy as this report is it would most likely benefit someone looking into the politics side of arts education, it would not be as helpful for someone looking for developmental and long term benefits of art involvement in schools.Rabkin, Hedberg. 2011. Arts Education in America: What the Declines Mean for Arts Participation. Based on the 2008 Survey of Public Participation in the Arts. National E ndowment for the Arts. (Research Report #52). Web. 24 Jan. 2013. This report presents its findings after researching important question related to arts education in America. Questions like: Has participation in arts programs declined? What does it mean for teachers and students? How has this affected participation in other extracurricular activities?How does this affect support for programs? The article presents the questions to the reader and then follows up with information that supports both positive and negative claims about the answer. Charts are used when needed to simplify information into an easily digestible visual aid. There are numerous sources used as evidence for the information presented, as well as suggestions for further investigation into the questions presented. This report has a very neutral stance towards the information presented.There is good information presented for varying arguments and the ultimate decision is left to the reader. This source would be a fair report to use in a work, especially if in an argumentative essay you need information for the view that opposes yours. However for someone looking for highly specific information this report will only be useful for an introduction into the questions being asked about the national education programs. Oxtoby, David W. 2012. The Place of Arts in Liberal Education. Liberal Education, v98 n2 p36-41 Spr 2012.Oxtoby uses a great deal of logic to explain his opinion on the place of arts in liberal education and he uses statistics to support his views. In his article, he states that diversity in the curriculum is a keystone to success in any liberal education program. He also claims that part of that diversity needs to include a program where students can express their creativity. Being able to express their creativity and the stimulation provided by arts programs lead to more successful students, both in academics, community involvement, and professional work environments.This article is a good source of simple and sound logic in support of arts programs being included in all liberal education. Oxtoby’s statements and presentation of the information is biased towards supports arts programs, but he always includes evidence to support his ideas. Also, while he does not approve of excluding arts in liberal education there is never any negativity in his statements, only more supporting evidence for his ideas. Some readers will find this article to be dry and uninteresting unless they already have some knowledge and opinions on the place of arts in education programs.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Part Six Chapter II

II The policewoman had been gentle and kind, in the cluttered cottage by the river, where dank water now covered blankets, chintzy chairs and worn rugs. The old lady who owned the place had brought a hot-water bottle and a cup of boiling tea, which Sukhvinder could not lift because she was shaking like a drill. She had disgorged chunks of information: her own name, and Krystal's name, and the name of the dead little boy that they were loading onto an ambulance. The dog-walker who had pulled her from the river was rather deaf; he gave a statement to the police in the next room, and Sukhvinder hated the sound of his bellowed account. He had tethered his dog to a tree outside the window, and it whined persistently. Then the police had called her parents and they had come, Parminder knocking over a table and smashing one of the old lady's ornaments as she crossed the room with clean clothes in her arms. In the tiny bathroom, the deep dirty gash on Sukhvinder's leg was revealed, peppering the fluffy bath mat with black spots, and when Parminder saw the wound she shrieked at Vikram, who was thanking everyone loudly in the hall, that they must take Sukhvinder to the hospital. She had vomited again in the car, and her mother, who was beside her in the back seat, had mopped her up, and all the way there Parminder and Vikram had kept up a flow of loud talk; her father kept repeating himself, saying things like ‘she'll need a sedative' and ‘that cut will definitely need stitches'; and Parminder, who was in the back seat with the shaking and retching Sukhvinder, kept saying, ‘You might have died. You might have died.' It was as if she was still underwater. Sukhvinder was somewhere she could not breathe. She tried to cut through it all, to be heard. ‘Does Krystal know he's dead?' she asked through chattering teeth, and Parminder had to ask her to repeat the question several times. ‘I don't know,' she answered at last. ‘You might have died, Jolly.' At the hospital, they made her undress again, but this time her mother was with her in the curtained cubicle, and she realized her mistake too late when she saw the expression of horror on Parminder's face. ‘My God,' she said, grabbing Sukhvinder's forearm. ‘My God. What have you done to yourself?' Sukhvinder had no words, so she allowed herself to subside into tears and uncontrollable shaking, and Vikram shouted at everyone, including Parminder, to leave her alone, but also to damn well hurry up, and that her cut needed cleaning and she needed stitches and sedatives and X-rays †¦ Later, they put her in a bed with a parent on each side of her, and both of them stroked her hands. She was warm and numb, and there was no pain in her leg any more. The sky beyond the windows was dark. ‘Howard Mollison's had another heart attack,' she heard her mother tell her father. ‘Miles wanted me to go to him.' ‘Bloody nerve,' said Vikram. To Sukhvinder's drowsy surprise, they talked no more about Howard Mollison. They merely continued to stroke her hands until, shortly afterwards, she fell asleep. On the far side of the building, in a shabby blue room with plastic chairs and a fish tank in the corner, Miles and Samantha were sitting on either side of Shirley, waiting for news from theatre. Miles was still wearing his slippers. ‘I can't believe Parminder Jawanda wouldn't come,' he said for the umpteenth time, his voice cracking. Samantha got up, moved past Shirley, and put her arms around Miles, kissing his thick hair, speckled with grey, breathing in his familiar smell. Shirley said, in a high, strangled voice, ‘I'm not surprised she wouldn't come. I'm not surprised. Absolutely appalling.' All she had left of her old life and her old certainties was attacking familiar targets. Shock had taken almost everything from her: she no longer knew what to believe, or even what to hope. The man in theatre was not the man she had thought she had married. If she could have returned to that happy place of certainty, before she had read that awful post †¦ Perhaps she ought to shut down the whole website. Take away the message boards in their entirety. She was afraid that the Ghost might come back, that he might say the awful thing again †¦ She wanted to go home, right now and disable the website; and while there, she could destroy the EpiPen once and for all †¦ He saw it †¦ I know he saw it †¦ But I'd never have done it, really. I wouldn't have done it. I was upset. I'd never have done it †¦ What if Howard survived, and his first words were: ‘She ran out of the room when she saw me. She didn't call an ambulance straight away. She was holding a big needle †¦' Then I'll say his brain's been affected, Shirley thought defiantly. And if he died †¦ Beside her, Samantha was hugging Miles. Shirley did not like it; she ought to be the centre of attention; it was her husband who was lying upstairs, fighting for his life. She had wanted to be like Mary Fairbrother, cosseted and admired, a tragic heroine. This was not how she had imagined it – ‘Shirley?' Ruth Price, in her nurse's uniform, had come hurrying into the room, her thin face forlorn with sympathy. ‘I just heard – I had to come – Shirley, how awful, I'm so sorry.' ‘Ruth, dear,' said Shirley, getting up, and allowing herself to be embraced. ‘That's so kind. So kind.' Shirley liked introducing her medical friend to Miles and Samantha, and receiving her pity and her kindness in front of them. It was a tiny taste of how she had imagined widowhood †¦ But then Ruth had to go back to work, and Shirley returned to her plastic chair and her uncomfortable thoughts. ‘He'll be OK,' Samantha was murmuring to Miles, as he rested his head on her shoulder. ‘I know he'll pull through. He did last time.' Shirley watched little neon-bright fish darting hither and thither in their tank. It was the past that she wished she could change; the future was a blank. ‘Has anyone phoned Mo?' Miles asked after a while, wiping his eyes on the back of one hand, while the other gripped Samantha's leg. ‘Mum, d'you want me to – ?' ‘No,' said Shirley sharply. ‘We'll wait †¦ until we know.' In the theatre upstairs, Howard Mollison's body overflowed the edges of the operating table. His chest was wide open, revealing the ruins of Vikram Jawanda's handiwork. Nineteen people laboured to repair the damage, while the machines to which Howard was connected made soft implacable noises, confirming that he continued to live. And far below, in the bowels of the hospital, Robbie Weedon's body lay frozen and white in the morgue. Nobody had accompanied him to the hospital, and nobody had visited him in his metal drawer.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Frankenstein- contemporary issues relevant today essays

Frankenstein- contemporary issues relevant today essays Mary Shelleys Frankenstein deals with many contemporary issues relevant to or society today. The issue of the human ability to both create and destroy is one to be aware of due to our advancing technologies in both the areas of creation and destruction. This novel creates awareness of this particular issue through its intricate dealing with creation and through its dealings with destruction. Through creation destruction in turn can be created. Creation: Something that has been made or invented. Throughout the early stages of the novel Shelley prepares the reader for Victors inevitable creation, she presents him as hardworking, arrogant and an admirable student so that when the idea of creation comes to him, Victor cannot turn it down. Whence I often asked myself did the principal of life proceed? It was a bold question and one which has ever been considered a mystery; Yet with how many things are we upon the brink of becoming aquatinted, if Cowardice or carelessness did not restrain our enquiries. Upon setting out on his quest to create life Victor embraces his first success with happiness. I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation of life...the astonishment which I had first experienced on this first discovery soon gave place to delight When Victor sees his final result his attitude completely changes How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I endeavoured to form...and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! Victor does not even contemplate the idea of common sense in his workings instead he focuses on what he sees will make him the centre attention and a renowned professional in his field. Modern day inventors and public do not need to make the same mistakes that Victor made in Shelleys novel. The other side to creating something that lives or eve ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

The Development of Modern Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Development of Modern Art - Essay Example This paper will discuss five of the best artists in the Contemporary period. Each of these artists will be analyzed in terms of their inspirations, styles, and techniques that they have applied to their works; works of which have contributed to the development of Contemporary Art. The list of contemporary artists includes Jackson Pollock, Willem De Kooning, Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, and Kara Walker.Upon the onset of the Modern Period, Jackson Pollock is one of those who had staged a significant feat in art development. Pollock, considered as one of the greatest contemporary painters in American art history, was part of a period where the Modernist Movement of 1920 was slowly transformed into the Post-Modernist Movement of Contemporary art history. In the New World, Pollock was known as an important member of a group of artists called the New York School. The New York School, more of a unified and collective artistic idea rather than a concrete institution, was popularly known as the Abstract Expressionists (Getlein 497). It was in this influence that Pollock acquired his unique style unto his works. His art established a new kind of visual that many had not seen before. In line with the Abstract Expressionists, the artist derived a direct influence from Surrealism. His technique showcased automatism and focused on the aesthetic powers of the unconscious. Being a painter of the mentioned genre, Pollock always exhibited large scale works in the literal sense. He used huge canvass sizes – this was to take his audience into the very essence of his paintings. The emphasis on huge painting canvasses is an essential part of Abstract Expressionists in order to highlight the effect of the entire piece (Getlein 497). The bizarre characteristics of the artist’s works bring out the very sense of post-modernism in his style. The perfection of his â€Å"drip technique† (Getlein 497) brings out the chaos ever present in his works. Yet, amidst this chaos, order, and beauty emerges as the by-product of Pollock’s hard work. This trait of â€Å"order out of chaos† is the true and sole criterion of good post-modern artwork (Libby).

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Sustainability and built environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sustainability and built environment - Essay Example This human-caused earth warming is rising as one of the most important environmental, social, economic, and technological problem of the present century. (Todd, 1997, p. 99) The consequences of the problem are apparent in every part of the world (Johansen 2002, p. 01). The problem involves melting down of glaciers and ice caps at an accelerating rate higher than normal resulting in a dramatically increased rate of typhoons, tornados, and the hurricanes (Silverstein et al, 2003, p. 06). This has not only induced significant damage all around the world, moreover it has caused disturbance in the global ecosystem (Jabbra & Dwivedi, 1998, p. 26). Increase in earth climate, greater amount of acidity in oceans, accelerated rate of wildfires, heavy rain falls, are some other drastic results of the global warming (Oxlade 2006, p. 22). It is evident that global warming is not only an environmental threat, for instance, coastal areas are apt to remission, the rate of water consumption gets higher than the rate of water supply, and the land for agriculture turns into a waste by soil erosion (Houghton, 2004, p. 322) (Valsson, 2006, p. 116). Around the world, people are trying to find the solution to the problem of global warming and finding the techniques to mitigate its effect (Jones, 1997, p. 04). The best illustration of global collaboration against the disasters induced by global warming is that of the International Panel on Climatic Change. The organization consists of skilled and potent experts from the globe that keep an eye on climatic modeling and changes, and monitor every single alteration in the global ecosystem. IPCC is a perfect embodiment of global strives for a better and healthier mother earth (Williams, 2002, p. 15). The organization appreciates the part people around the world play in this regard, bring issues to the table, and attempt to solve the issues. Had there not be any IPCC we would not have any Kyoto Treaty or the Copenhagen Summits (Clarkson