Problem Definition Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Problem Definition - Research Paper Example The problem that the paper centers around is gender bias in corporations and the associated problems. (Jennings, 2008; Wines, 2006; Bowie, 2002) Earning profits without maintaining ethics might benefit the organization but the growth is short lived. Investors, employees, customers and interest groups judge whether an action is ethical or non-ethical. (Ferrell, Fraedrich, Ferrell, 2009;  Jones, Parker & Bos 2005) The aspect of gender bias has been taken up in this paper with some small case studies to bring out the exact work environment in the US. The company under study is an orchestra company, which was accused for gender discrimination in employee treatment and work culture in the US music industry.      Our study is based on the US music industry. The bias has been seen in the compositions of western music and in the very management itself. Women working here are hurt badly in the way they are treated or the acknowledgement of their works and achievements. There have been some cases when women have been denied membership or selection in an orchestra position based on their gender. (Takala, 2007) The work atmosphere is such that women are deprived of any equal treatment to that of  men in similar positions. This feeling of exclusion and deprivation affected their performance and their abilities misused. (Takala, 2007). United States in general has an impressive statistics with respect to workingwomen compared to Europe. While Europe has 41% of workingwomen with only 1% making it to the executive boards, US women make more than half of the working force with 10% in the executive boards. Women participation in orchestras has been compared for four countries according to gender. Allmendinger and Hackman report women participation of 36% for US against 30% for UK and 16% for East and West Germany. But the high rates in US did not give the real picture. The survey found that though the number of working women were high in US, most of

Hitler and Mussolini Essay Example for Free

Hitler and Mussolini Essay Benito Mussolini during his rule from 1922 to 1943 faced many domestic problems within Italy that he had to deal with. Mainly the internal problems had to do with economic policies and struggle, which Mussolini attempted to deal with through his autarky policy. He also had to deal with political problems, which were derived from the interference of the church. Finally Mussolini also had to contend with social problems such as unification, and increase of popularity. Through his rule Mussolini had to deal with economic, social and political problems, however he was to a great extent not successful in dealing with these problems. One of Mussolinis greatest internal problems was his economic problem. Mussolini wanted to make Italy a great economy, one that could compete with the great economies of World War I such as Britain and France. In order to this Mussolini wanted an autarky, which was economic self-sufficiency in food and raw materials. He wanted Italy through autarky to become a powerful and large empire. In order to achieve this Mussolini instigated what historians such as MacDonald refer to as a series of battles. These battles were a struggle for the economy that Mussolini envisioned. A series of four battles were fought however only one can be regarded as a partial success while the other three were seen by most historians as failed attempts. The first battle was known as the Battle for Grain, which was to a great extent a failure. This battle started in 1925 because there was a poor harvest that year, and the grain for the most part was being imported. In order to become a self-sufficient economy Mussolini wanted Italy to be able to produce the grain on its own. By the 1930s Italy was able to become a self-sufficient grain growing economy by controlling imports and increasing the production of cereal crops. However despite being able to achieve grain production, Italy as a whole suffered due to this battle. By encouraging the production of grain, farmers had to stop growing fruits and vegetables, which were cheaper to produce. Therefore exports of fruits and vegetables also decreased, which caused the economy to become weaker because revenue from exports decreased. Also due to an emphasis on making grain the use of sheeps and cattle decreased, causing the decline of these animals. It also caused the country to go into debt since the government had to give subsidies to farmers and there were huge tariffs associated with the production of grain. Also the price of grain in Italy rose causing the price of bread to increase. This affected the working class and poor since the core of their diet was made up of bread. The masses of Italy suffered especially the poor and the farmers, although the industrialists did not suffer as much. Since grain production increased the demand for fertilizers and tractors increased, which increased the business of the industrialists. However the industrialists are a smaller proportion of the population of Italy than the masses, therefore to the most part the Battle for Grain was a failure. The second battle was the Battle for Lira whose main aim was to reinstate the purchasing power of the currency. Sine Mussolini wanted a powerful Italy; he thought that the weak currency added to weakness of the economy. Therefore in 1926, Mussolini revalued the Lira so that one pound was 90 liras. This battle also proved to be a failure since the price of exports increased. Due to this unemployment increased and firms and industries were not able to sell their goods as efficiently. This also caused the aim to increase economic influence to decrease since it had a negative effect of exports and unemployment. The Battle for Land was the third battle fought in order to increase economic power. This battle had mixed responses and could be seen as a success and failure. The Battle for Land attempted to control the migration to cities from the countrysides, which helped control unemployment. The Battle for Land was a success because of the Pointe Marshe in 1935 which served as good propaganda, helped decrease unemployment and also allowed for the control of subsidies to farmers. Pointe Marshe provided small farms and also increased public work, which called for employment. However it was also known as a failure because small plots of land were inefficiently utilized for a lot of wheat production. Also it did not help decrease the poverty of poor people. The economic problems in Italy that Mussolini tried to deal with through autarky were mainly a failure due to the failures of the battles. Another internal problem that Mussolini had to deal with was political problems. Mussolini wanted to obtain totalitarianism, however in order to this Mussolini had to deal with the Roman Catholic Church. This to an extent was a success, however tension between the Church and the state was never completely eradicated. In order to make relations with the Church better Mussolini allowed religious studies in education and also allowed the crucifix to be displayed in courts and classrooms. Also in order to gain support from the Church Mussolini had his children baptized and also had a church wedding in 1925 in order too show that he believed in the Church. The Church also accepted Mussolinis policy on abortions and contraception, in order to increase population. Mussolini also officially ended the tension by forming the Latern Pacts, which made the Vatican state independent, made Catholism the official religion of the state and also made education of cat holism mandatory in schools. This pact decreased tension between the church and Mussolini and allowed Mussolini to gain more power of the state. However despite the pact and decreased tension, conflict always remained between the Church and Mussolinis state. Mussolinis continued interference in catholic education in schools continued to be a problem between the church and the state and the Pope threatened to censure fascism. Another conflict between the state and the Church was relations with Nazi Germany in 1938, having to do with the views on anti-Semitism. The continued tension with the Church never allowed Mussolini to have full control over Italy, which added to his internal problems. The last internal problem that Italy had to deal with was social problems. Mussolini attempted to unify Italy and increase his popularity through propaganda since he did not have full control and poulatiry over the Italian people. Mussolini was most successful in dealing with social problems through Linquadramento and the idea of a corporative state. Linqadramento was an illusion that Mussolini created in order to unify Italy. Through this movement Mussolini increased their popularity and membership by providing support and financial aid during after the Depression from 1931 to 1937. This recovery from the deep depression of the postwar was remarkable and greatly aided the Fascists in winning favor and in establishing power., was the view of historian Clough. They also increased employment by inflicting a forty-hour workweek and allowing family compensations. These helpful acts during the Depression helped Mussolini gain support from more people, and allowed him to control more of the state. Also schemes such as the Pointe Marshe helped increase employment, which also helped Mussolini, gain support. Mussolini used propaganda through a policy called Corporative state, which also helped him gain support. The Corporative state advertised a state where there was no class system and all labors worked together. It also strived to make working conditions better and sought to help all laborers when they were in trouble by allowing them to share their concerns with their employers representatives who then shared them with Mussolini.

The Process of Listening Essay -- Papers Communication

The Process of Listening â€Å"Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk.† (Deep and Sussman 76) Upon studying listening within another course, the vast and somewhat unclear subject began to become clearer. The act of listening entails in-depth processes that elude a majority of people’s knowledge. The act of listening involves four main parts: hearing, attention, understanding and remembering. Listening entails a vast amount of information that a majority of people does not know or understand. The common view on listening often does not even involve true listening. People often mistake hearing for listening. Just because you heard something does not necessarily mean that you were listening. While others do not even realize that listening is one step of a four-part process. While two people are involved in communication, the one receiving the message while â€Å"listening† formulates the next phase within their head. They miss a large percentage of what the person involved in speaking is saying (Tubbs and Moss 141). The reasons [for ineffective listening] are so obvious that they are sometimes overlooked. First, listening is mistakenly equated with hearing and since most of us can hear, no academic priority is given to this subject in college. Second, we perceive power in speech. We put a value on those who have the gift of gab. How often have you heard the compliment, â€Å"He/she can talk to anyone?† Additionally, we equate speaking with controlling both th e conversation and the situation. The third and last reason we don’t listen, is that we are in an ear of information overload. We are bombarded with the relevant and the irrelevant and it is easy to confuse them. Often it is all jus... ...er, Larry. Listening Behavior Englewood, Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1971, 61-63. Bostrom, Robert N., Enid S. Waldhart. â€Å"Memory Models and the Measurement of Listening.† Communication Education. 1998: 1-13. Brooks, William D. Speech Communication, 4th ed. Dubuque, IA: Brown, 1981: 82. Deep, Sam, and Lyle Sussman. Yes you Can! Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1998, 4-7. Goss, Blain. Processing Information. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1982, 91. Koehler, Carol. Mending the Body by Lending and Ear: The healing Power of Listening. New York: 1998, 534-544. Losoncy, Lewis. Today. Boca Raton, FL: St. Lucie Press, 1998, 27. Moray, Neville. Listening and Attention. Baltimore, MA: Penguin, 1969, 18. Rogers, Carl. On Becoming a Person. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1961, 330. Tubbs, Stewart L., Sylvia, Moss. Human Communication. Eastern Michigan University: McGraw Hill, 1994.

Telecommuting :: essays research papers

A typical day for most people in today's world starts out with an early commute to work. People working in the city know what a hassle it is to deal with the many thousands of other trying to make their way to work. Dealing with long commutes and traffic congestion is a commonplace in today's fast-paced society. What if you had a chance to do most of your work at home? Would it be beneficial to you and your company? That is a common question one, which more and more companies are finding out is the future of business. For most people, a chance to work at home would be ideal. Paper work and long term considerations for companies may actually be planned better at home as opposed to a busy work office or cubical. Professionals such as accountants, consultants, marketing professionals and other information-age workers can benefit from telecommuting (people who work at home). This is not to say that all work would be completed at home. There will be times when actual face to face meetings will be necessary for such problems as office disputes and responding to co-workers needs. Working at home will allow for any task in which being alone is not a hindrance. Throughout the United States there are over eleven million people working at home at least part-time. In cities such as New York, federal legislation put into effect required a decrease in the amount to commuters that drive the city's streets during rush hour. Forced to make changes, Merrill Lynch decided to give the telecommuting program a try. Merrill Lynch started a program where potential telecommuters working at the firm, go through an extensive training course by taking a two-week stint in a simulation lab where they are isolated from co-workers and managers just as they would at home. Some people find it more productive while others realize that telecommuting is not for them. Most telecommuters will find the job comfortable if they themselves are self-motivated and focused. According to Gil Gordon, a telecommuting consultant in New Jersey, if you would like your firm to offer telecommuting, 'Go in with a proposal, not a request.'; Show you boss why telecommuting will benefit the company. Explain that less office space will be needed and how employees of company's that offer telecommuting often have a better retention rate than company's that do not.

The American Indian Movement

The American Indian Movement existed more than 500 year ago without a name and was formalized as the American Indian Movement (AIM) on 1968, July 28th at Minnesota in Minneapolis. It grew from policy making movement to making programs and projects from its initial task as a movement that was meant to serve many Indian communities.Its success cannot be disputed and is attributed to the spiritual and elderly guidance in its operations. It was initially meant to renew the Indian religious practices and was further against the ruinous policies that existed in the America.It led protests that advocated for the indigenous American interests, implemented employment programs for the Native Americans in rural reserves and cities and advocated for cultural renewal in and outside America as well..Among those who co-founded it in 1968 included NeeGawNwayWeeDun, Herb Powless, Dennis Banks, Eddie Benton Banai, Leonard Peltier, Clyde Bellecourt, and Russell Means among others.The movement used tact ics that would publicize its needs; it further used the media and American press. It used forced seizure, peaceful sit- in and forceful takeovers. The AIM take-over and the occupations includes the:1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1973, the wounded knee incident ( Pine ridge reservation)2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1973, the Custer county   courthouse3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1972, the bureau of Indian affairs that was located in Washington DC.The Pine Ridge incident of Wounded Knee was a widely assimilated idea because it demanded the reinstatement of about 300 treaties between the federal government and the Native American that had been broken.  This led to trials of several IAM members who were eventually acquitted. The AIM had held 11 hostages that resulted to a 71 days stand off between the federal agents and the Aim. The Wounded Knee, a tiny village was the site of the 1890 last great massacre of the Native Americans.The taking over of Indian affairs headquarters bureau in 1972 was supported by many Americans because the government had created a tribal council in 1934 that was against the development of the Native Americans.A gun battle between the FBI and the IAM members in 1975, July26th, which resulted to the killing of two FBI agents and Joseph Stuntz, this eventually led to conviction of one of the leader of AIM, Leonard Peltier, for the murder of the FBI agent.This conviction has been opposed by many human right activists in the world, a court of appeal judge, Gerald Heaney in his ruling said that though the Natives were guilty of the murder government had overreacted resulting to fatal shooting. This showed that the movement was a widely assimilated idea.The mid 1980s conflict in Nicaragua between the Sandinista government and the Miskito Indian where by these Indian opposed their relocation upon being supported by the AIM leads, more specifically Russell Means. This movement at that time was seen as a minority movement since even the white who supporte d it was against their opposition of relocation.AIM has been advocating for the for improved living conditions for the of the native Americans while founding institutions meant to serve their specific needs, some of these institutions include   Heart of the Earth School and American Indian Opportunities and Organizations among others.REFERENCESA Brief History of AIM, retrieved on 17th, October, 2007, available at www.aimovement.org/ggc/history.htmlAIM Grand Governing Council, retrieved on 17th, October, 2007, available at www.aimovement.org/ggc/index.htmlAmerican Indian Movement – AIM, retrieved on 17th, October, 2007, available at www.aimovement.org/Kenneth S. Stern (1994) Loud Hawk: The United States Versus the American Indian Movement, Net Library publishers, US

Application of the Triaxial Test in Engineering Practice Essay Example

Application of the Triaxial Test in Engineering Practice Essay Example Application of the Triaxial Test in Engineering Practice Paper Application of the Triaxial Test in Engineering Practice Paper The information such as the shear strength parameters and the cohesion that obtained from triaxial test can be used to check the safety and predict the behaviors of long-term stability of slopes, earth fills and earth retaining structures. The analysis carried out in terms of total stress obtained from undrained test can be used to investigate the initial stability of the foundation of a structure or embankment on saturated clay. Alternatively, the analysis can also be used to determine the initial stability of open cut or sheet piled excavation made in clay and the stability against bottom heave of a deep excavation in clay. Moreover, stability of impervious rolled field can be investigated through the test. Besides, the analysis on the stability of the clay foundation of an embankment or dam where the rate of construction permits partial consolidation can also be determined in terms of effective stress by using the values of c and fi obtained from drained test or consolidated-undrained test. Advantages and disadvantages of the test Advantages: I.The control of drainage conditions to allow for different types of test: drained and undrained conditions. II.The possibility of the measurement of pore pressure III.The possibility to allow the soil to be sheared to failure in its natural weakest plane. IV.The shear strength parameters obtained is more accurate than those obtained from shear box test. Disadvantages: I.Influence of the value of intermediate principal stress. In many practical problems approximating to plane strain, the intermediate principal stress is greater then the minor principal test. II.Change in principal stress direction In problems where the direction of the major principal stress changes steadily under the applied stress, this restriction limits the accuracy with which pore pressure can be predicted. III.Influence of end restraint  Friction between the ends of the specimen and the rigid end caps necessary to transmit the axial load restrict lateral deformation adjacent to those surfaces. IV.Duration of test The duration of test commonly used in the triaxial apparatus and the parameters by which the results are expressed are open to criticism on the grounds that they take no account of the phenomena of creep in soil.

John Smith essays

John Smith essays We may know that Captain John Smith was one of the first American Heroes, but what parts of his life are we able to believe. John Smith was a proud and boastful man, and was often being saved by beautiful women. He set sail for America in December 20, 1606 and finally reached Virginia in April 1607. On May 13, 1607 the settlers landed in Jamestown and began the struggle to survive in their new environment. Life was difficult in Jamestown for the settlers, they dealt with the harsh winters, lack of fresh water and a spreading of diseases. Another thing that made life hard was attacks from the natives. The native hoped that the settlers would give up and leave, so they raided their camps, stole their pistols, gunpowder and other necessary supplies. John Smith became leader of the colonists and tried his best to fight off the natives. In December of 1607, ,John Smith and some other colonists were attacked with by Indian deer hunters. The Indians killed the other Englishmen that were with him and carried John back with them to their leader. Chief Wahunascawh was to decide his fate, however he was greatly impressed by Smiths self-confidence. As well as his tools he has with him, including an ivory and glass pocket compass he carried with him. Smith was questioned about his colony, and was a part of a ritual. Wahunascawhs daughter, Pocahontas was part of the ritual as well. Since Smith did not know what his fate was he was given the impression the Pocahontas saved him, which may not be the truth. Smith was released through friendship after four weeks of captivity. Disagreement between the colony grew, due to lack of supplies, laziness and periodic attempts at abandonment by many colonists. As well many disagreements over new policies being formulated in London. As a result, Smith left Jamestown to explore and map the Chesapeake Bay region and search for badly needed food supplies. He was elceted president of th...

Memorial Day Quotes by Ronald Reagan

Memorial Day Quotes by Ronald Reagan Fortieth President of the United States, Ronald Reagan was a man of many colors. Starting his career as a radio broadcaster and then as an actor, Reagan moved on to serve the nation as a soldier. He finally jumped into the political arena to become one of the stalwarts of American politics. Although he started his political career quite late in life, it took him no time to reach the Holy Grail of US politics. Ronald Reagan won the elections and was appointed as the President of United States of America in 1980. Reagan Was a Good Communicator It is a well-known fact that Ronald Reagan was a good communicator. His speeches inspired millions all over the world. He had the knack of reaching every American soul with his stirring words. His critics dismissed his achievements, claiming that he smooth-talked his way into the White House. But he silenced his critics by serving two full terms as President. Reagan proved that he was not full of hot air; he was a President who meant business. Military Climate During Reagans Tenure When Reagan became ​president, he had inherited a disheartened military, which had gone through the ravages of the Vietnam War. But Reagan saw this as an opportunity for America to brace herself through the Cold War. In fact, Reagan was instrumental in bringing the Cold War to an end because of his suave diplomacy and calculated military strategies. It was the dawn of a new era in American politics. Reagan, along with his Russian compatriot Mikhail Gorbachev had accelerated the peace movement by ending the Cold War. Soviet Unions Love-Hate Relationship With Reagan Ronald Reagan hugely appreciated American values of freedom, liberty, and unity. He espoused these principles in his speeches. Reagan spoke about his vision of a vibrant America, calling it a shining city on a hill. He later clarified his metaphor by saying, In my mind, it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace.Though Reagan was widely criticized for building up the arms race with the Soviet Union, many understood this as a necessary evil to mitigate the Cold War. Reagans gamble paid off when the Soviet Union, encouraged by Americas flexed muscles, chose to pull the nuclear arms race into reverse gear. Reagan expressed his revulsion for war by saying, It is not bombs and rockets but belief and resolve it is humility before God that is ultimately the source of Americas strength as a nation. Reagans Famous Words on Memorial Day On Memorial Day, Ronald Reagan addressed America with passionate words. His words touched a chord in every heart. Reagan spoke of patriotism, heroism, and freedom in moving words. His impassioned speeches reminded Americans that they had bought their freedom with the blood of the martyrs who died defending the nation. Reagan heaped praise on the families of martyrs and veterans. Read some Memorial Day quotes by Ronald Reagan below. If you share his enthusiasm and spirit, spread the message of peace on Memorial Day.   May 26, 1983:  I dont have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world.Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982:  The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we- in a less final, less heroic way be willing to give of ourselves.May 25, 1981:  Today, the United States stands as a beacon of liberty and democratic strength before the community of nations. We are resolved to stand firm against those who would destroy the freedoms we cherish. We are determined to achieve an enduring peace- a peace with liberty and with honor. This determination, this resolve, is the highest tribute we can pay to the many who have fallen in the s ervice of our Nation. Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982Our goal is peace. We can gain that peace by strengthening our alliances, by speaking candidly about the dangers before us, by assuring potential adversaries of our seriousness, by actively pursuing every chance of honest and fruitful negotiation.May 26, 1983:  We owe this freedom of choice and action to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation and its interests in time of need. In particular, we are forever indebted to those who have given their lives that we might be free.Arlington National Cemetery, May 31, 1982:  I cant claim to know the words of all the national anthems in the world, but I dont know of any other that ends with a question and a challenge as ours does: Does that flag still wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave? That is what we must all ask.October 27, 1964:  You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we wi ll sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our childrens children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done. Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, March 30, 1961:  Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our childrens children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING - Essay Example a better comprehension of the risks it is exposed to as a result of climate change and can potentially reduce its costs of energy and other resources as at will gain a positive reputation in the currently competitive corporate sector. The following report explains the UK legal requirements currently upheld and the main voluntary guidance on environmental reporting. The Companies act of 2006 requires all quoted UK companies to accurately and truthfully pinpoint and report on GHCs (greenhouse gases) that they produce. Quoted companies hereby refer to all UK incorporated companies as well as those whose shares are traded in the NASDAQ, New York Stock Exchange, European Economic Area, or the London Stock Exchange (Global Reporting Initiative, 2006). As a legal framework, the company’s annual report must include the information on emissions to the extent that individuals and government agencies will be able to comprehensively understand the company’s business. This includes the use of KPIs (key performance indicators) such as utility bills if and when applicable in the report. Failure to include the GHCs emissions can be considered to be a violation of the law unless the accountant clearly indicates in the omissions sections that the GHCs emission information was omitted (Pahuja, 2009). The Institute of Chartered Accountants in cooperation with the Environment Agency in Wales and England has published direction on environmental reporting that has been helpful in reporting on environmental impacts and social impacts. When collecting data for and reporting on environmental impacts, the law requires that the following principles are upheld. Data collected and reported must properly portray the impacts that the organization has had on the environment. Being relevant will make the information helpful to internal and external users who might need to make various decisions based ion the report. Similarly, accuracy should be attained by reducing uncertainties in the

Evaluation of a Procurement Plan for use in a project based Assignment

Evaluation of a Procurement Plan for use in a project based ORGANIZATION - Assignment Example The project manager is given the mandate to document the selection process. The committee selected should have three to five people. It should have adequate information about the qualification and willingness of the consultants in pursuing the project and their responses about the project also the evaluation criteria. These are the items which should be contained in the RFR. Planning purchases is the process of determining what to purchase, when and how to purchase or acquire it. Purchase Planning singles out the project whose needs can be met by buying or acquiring services, products and results outside the project organization. Planning purchases also can be used to establish which project needs can be met by the project team during project execution. Mainly, the Purchase Planning includes reviewing the risks found in each make-or-buy decision, and reviewing the kind of contract planned to be used.1 One of its major targets is to reduce risks and to transfer risks to the seller. Make-or-buy analysis is the collection and comparison of opportunities and threats evoked by the make and buys solutions. To the buyers, Purchase Planning assists in cutting down impulsive buying of products and reducing overexploitation of the consumers or the buyers’ decisions by attractive advertisements of the products. There are different tools and techniques, which are used in Purchase Planning , with each aiming at proper planning. Contract type is one of the tools used in Purchase Planning . Different types of contracts are deemed to be suitable for different kinds of purchases. In the identification of the correct type of documentation of a project before contracting, the planner should be aware of the different types of contracts in order to select the most appropriate type of contract for program procurement. Expert judgment plays a vital role in planning for purchases. It can be used as an input

Human Resource Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Human Resource Information Systems - Essay Example The HR departments came under pressure with routine work trying to cope with administration and providing more services online, that they could not provide value-added services such as knowledge management, culture management, and strategic direction and renewal. Gradually the focus shifted from playing a purely technical administrative role to being actively involved in the strategic planning and management of an organization. It became essential to add value to enhance competitive advantage. The second perceived need was to incorporate IT in HRM practices. HR functions were transferred to digital formats and even though technology is underutilized, it is increasingly being used in functions such as recruitment, selection, training, promoting, terminating and in complying with legal requirements. IT systems led to the introduction of e-HRM which saves time and costs particularly with online recruitment and training systems. While HRIS can bring substantial savings to an organization , it is necessary that the managers and employees understand the benefits of the new system and are actually ready to use it. Getting the system to adapt to a new system is the greatest difficulty according to Beulen (2009). E-HRM can increase the amount of information provided to people as they obtain online access to HRM policy and practice handbooks. Online notification of holidays and other events facilitate strategic processes while people can even register for training courses online (Paauwe & Farndale, 2004, p11). E-HRM enables help people be constantly ready for change while encouraging online training and learning activities. It also facilitates collaboration between individuals through discussion groups and video-conferencing. It is also known to enhance employee interaction, work-life balance as they can deal with certain personal tasks while at work. In addition to improved accuracy, timely and

NUTRITION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

NUTRITION - Essay Example During this time the lifespan of an individual could stretch to hundreds of years, according to science and history. The same fact conforms with the current reality, which shows a systematic reduction in the lifespan of individuals over the time. This reduction in lifespan has also corresponded on increasing shift from fresh vegetables to high-content proteins and junk food. The logical conclusion is that the increasing dependency of man on non-vegetarian foods is the one major cause of reduced span of living in the current civilizations. Fruits and vegetables fall under the food category of vitamins. The main purpose of vitamins is to protect the body. They build the body defenses by providing the immune system with the necessary nutritional support (Beezhold, Bonnie, Carol Johnston and Deanna 14). A consistent reliance by an individual on this kind of support will naturally produce positive results in terms of longevity and good health. In my opinion, the logic behind the long spans of life for the vegetarians revolves around the elimination of diseases from the body. Diseases have an attrition effect to the body. A person who does not consume fruits and vegetables regularly is more susceptible to diseases. On this account, it follows that the more a person, an individual, or a group relies on fruits and vegetables, the more they are likely to lead healthier lives. Vegetarians fall within this category. Fruits and vegetables are known to be oxidants. They eliminate poisonous substances from the body leaving it free from disease-causing pathogens. The natural defense bodies require consistent external support in order to provide the necessary support for the body. In this perspective, it becomes important to consider vitamins in terms of their capacity to shield the body from harmful substances that are resident in the various places, which meet the body. As such vegetarians have their body systems maintained at the highest levels in ways that protect them

Under what circumstances are protest movements against authoritarian Essay

Under what circumstances are protest movements against authoritarian rule most likely to succeed in changing the regime - Essay Example While a protest movement is a collective endeavour and is generally expressive of the political views of large numbers of people, the failed uprisings mentioned above indicate that they may not necessarily be successful in every case. This study examines why these movements were unsuccessful in achieving their objectives. According to Thompson, democratic revolutions can be understood as â€Å"spontaneous popular uprisings – peaceful, urban-based and cross class in composition – which topple unyielding dictators and begin a transition process that leads to the consolidation of democracy.†1 Including fraternity organizations, guerrilla organizations or other sects under the umbrella of social movements would possibly be stretching the definition of social movements too far2, but such organizations have also managed to attract a sizeable number of followers. According to Zirakzadeh, a social movement comprises a group of people who (a) consciously attempt to build a radically new social order (b) includes people from a broad range of social backgrounds and (c) makes use of socially disruptive, politically confrontational tactics.3 In general, where the question of overthrow of a regime is concerned, dictatorial, authoritarian regimes are vulnerable to violent, radical revolutions, including coups, that may successfully achieve this objective4. According to Tilly, earlier trends in the growth of social movements are linked to economic and political changes, such as the emergence of Parliaments, proletariats and market capitalization5. Tilly also points out that social movements can also be a prime factor functioning as a propellant towards democracy, such as the ones which occurred in the USSR in 1990-91, Serbia in 1996/7 and 2000 as well as Ukraine in 2004. But more often, social protest movements have flourished after the country in question has become a democracy, because political rights as well as individual rights such

NUTRITION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

NUTRITION - Essay Example During this time the lifespan of an individual could stretch to hundreds of years, according to science and history. The same fact conforms with the current reality, which shows a systematic reduction in the lifespan of individuals over the time. This reduction in lifespan has also corresponded on increasing shift from fresh vegetables to high-content proteins and junk food. The logical conclusion is that the increasing dependency of man on non-vegetarian foods is the one major cause of reduced span of living in the current civilizations. Fruits and vegetables fall under the food category of vitamins. The main purpose of vitamins is to protect the body. They build the body defenses by providing the immune system with the necessary nutritional support (Beezhold, Bonnie, Carol Johnston and Deanna 14). A consistent reliance by an individual on this kind of support will naturally produce positive results in terms of longevity and good health. In my opinion, the logic behind the long spans of life for the vegetarians revolves around the elimination of diseases from the body. Diseases have an attrition effect to the body. A person who does not consume fruits and vegetables regularly is more susceptible to diseases. On this account, it follows that the more a person, an individual, or a group relies on fruits and vegetables, the more they are likely to lead healthier lives. Vegetarians fall within this category. Fruits and vegetables are known to be oxidants. They eliminate poisonous substances from the body leaving it free from disease-causing pathogens. The natural defense bodies require consistent external support in order to provide the necessary support for the body. In this perspective, it becomes important to consider vitamins in terms of their capacity to shield the body from harmful substances that are resident in the various places, which meet the body. As such vegetarians have their body systems maintained at the highest levels in ways that protect them

Activist Technical Geek and Sensitive Nature-Lover Research Paper

Activist Technical Geek and Sensitive Nature-Lover - Research Paper Example Secondly, no one had described the design of a search engine, in an academic way before (Brin and Page), so, unlike other disciplines, the knowledge was not shared by a scholarly community. That makes it more difficult to advance knowledge because there is limited opportunity for dialogue. To address the second problem, he wrote and published a very careful academic description, in great detail (Brin and Page), so that the knowledge could be shared and later advanced. Third, he needed to decide how to handle the additional information in hypertext and how to prioritize it, since anyone can write anything and put it on the web (Brin and Page). There needed to be a way to sort out the opinions of the uninformed from the research of top scholars. Also, there should be a way to respond differently to people looking for articles and people looking for pictures. To address the third problem, Google contained priority and category levels. Google Scholar, for example, brings up academic articles and citations, while Google Images brings up pictures and cartoons, and Wikipedia falls under a general web search category. Therefore, I see that this man is not just a technical geek but is a sensitive, fully engaged person. I think this is the key to understanding him. Yes, his brilliance and vision resulted in Google, but he was more than that. He set an example of how Google can create community and connect people in their experience of each other.   He is a very committed person and this is reflected in his professional life and in his personal life.

Rate of cooling Essay Example for Free

Rate of cooling Essay The problem for this experiment is to investigate the rate of cooling in three different types of cups. They will be used as typical coffee cups for commercial purposes. The cups a polystyrene cup, a paper cup and a plastic cup. Water has a high specific heat capacity. This makes it a very useful material for storing and carrying heat energy. Its heat capacity is 4200 joules per kilogram per i C (4200J/kg i C). Heat tends to flow away from a hotter object to a cooler surroundings. Heat is mainly lost I conduction, convection, radiation and evaporation. For this experiment I will be only using convection, radiation, evaporation because conduction is mainly in solids. Convection Convection mainly occurs in gasses and liquids gases and liquids are very poor conductors so convection is usually dominant process. When convection cant occur, the heat transfer by conduction is very slow. Convection only occurs when the more energetic particles move from hotter region to a cooler region and take their heat energy with them. Convection doesnt happen in solids because there are no particles movement. Radiation Radiation travels through anything transparent. Heat radiation is given out by anything warm or hot. The amount of it that is absorbed or released depends on the colour and texture of the material. Heat radiation is also called infra-red radiation. It consists purely of electromagnetic waves of a certain frequency. All objects continually absorb and release heat radiation. The hotter the object the more heat radiation it release. Dark surfaces absorb more heat radiation than bright surfaces. Silver surfaces reflect nearly all heat radiation falling on them. Evaporation Evaporation is when water vanishes without boiling it to change into gas. This is because some liquid molecules move faster than others and the ones close to the surface may escape and form a gas. Variables These are things that may change during an experiment The independent variable: These are things that I will decide to change e. g. the material of the cup, replacing equipment. The dependent variable: This is the measurement that is effected by the independent variable e. g. the rate of cooling. The control variable: These are the things that I will try to keep the same so I can make sure that its a fair test e. g. volume of water, room temperature, size of the cups etc. Hypothesis I predict that the polystyrene cup would cool down the slowest because it has thick walls and when you go to restaurants and ask for a hot drink they give it in polystyrene cup. I think the paper cup will cool down the quickest because its made out of paper and paper has thin walls and it absorbs water.

Most Important Cybersecurity Vulnerability Facing It Managers Computer Science Essay

Most Important Cybersecurity Vulnerability Facing It Managers Computer Science Essay Vulnerabilities to exploitation in modern computers are varied. They range from web server vulnerabilities that allow attackers to take over the web server to very sophisticated side channel exploits that use things like packet timing or instantaneous power consumption to glean confidential information from computers. Vulnerabilities appear in the client software that members of an organization use to get their jobs done. The conclusion of this paper is that unpatched client side software is the most important cybersecurity vulnerability facing the IT community today. Since all modern organizations (companies, non-profits or government entities) use computers and networks as part of everyday operations, this vulnerability is applicable to all of them. For this reason, this paper does not focus on a particular organization or industry. Vulnerability vs. Threat Cybersecurity vulnerability is defined as weakness in a computer hardware or software system that can be exploited. This is different than a threat. A threat is the way in which vulnerability is exploited. An example of a cybersecurity threat is spyware or malware being introduced into a computer. Vulnerability is the weakness in the computers systems that allowed the threat to succeed. This paper focuses on the vulnerabilities, not the threats. Vulnerabilities can be very expensive. The 2009 Computer Security Institute / Federal Bureau of Investigations Computer Crime and Security Survey reports that average losses per respondent were $234,244, although that number was down from the previous year (Peters, 2009). Cybersecurity vulnerabilities can be present in any part of a computer systems software or hardware. According to the SANS institute, the number of vulnerabilities discovered in software applications far outnumber those found in operating systems. (Top security risks-vulnera bility exploitation trends). This is because operating systems tend to be more long lived and therefore more tested than applications. Vulnerabilities can also be more sophisticated than the normal vulnerabilities we read about often. For example, one can determine what operands are being processed by a computer by monitoring it instantaneous power consumption. This, along with a knowledge of what algorithms are being processed can lead to the guessing of an encryption key (Brooks, 2010). Once the encryption key is guessed, files and communications involving that host could be decrypted. Another unusual vulnerability is the fact that keystrokes are sent across communications networks one at a time, so that if one captures the communications of an ssh session, the keystrokes can be guessed based on the time between them and the layout of a QWERTY keyboard (Brooks, 2010). The Origin of Vulnerabilities Most vulnerabilities occur because of programmer error. One of the most common errors that cause cybersecurity vulnerability is called buffer overflow. In buffer overflow, more data is provided as input than the program is expecting. This causes a corrupted stack and can allow an attacker to inject rouge code. The use of modern programming languages and proper coding techniques can eliminate the possibility of buffer overflow, but there is vast amount of software out there that has this vulnerability, Much work has gone into mitigating and preventing this type of vulnerability to exist in software, or if it exists, to not be exploited. Vulnerabilities that appear in software may not be the result of programmer error. They may be inserted into software applications intentionally by dishonest employees of software vendors. The fact that there is not much reporting of the discovery of such vulnerabilities does not mean they dont exist. Consider the factors that might prevent a software vendor from publicizing the discovery of deliberate malicious code in one of their products. There are liability issues and the companys reputation would suffer if such a thing became known (Franz, 2008). Human Vulnerabilties Vulnerabilities that allow malicious actions to take place on an organizations computer systems sometimes have nothing to do with hardware or software. An organizations personnel can be a large cybersecurity vulnerability as well. Since it is the organizations personnel who implement any cybersecurity measures that are dictated from the CIO staff, it is they that are the key to the cybersecurity plans effectiveness. If people are practicing dangerous activities on the organizations computers, then all the planning in the world wont prevent bad things from happening. There are factors that contribute to the cybersecurity vulnerabilities that personnel contribute to. One study divided these factors into nine areas, external influences, human error, management, organization, performance and resource management, policy issues, technology, and training (Kreamer, Carayon, Clem, 2009). The authors make the point that not all vulnerabilities are caused by bad programming. Personnel issues a re a big factor, also. Take, for example, the Stuxnet worm that infected the Iranian nuclear facilities and has reportedly caused lots of damage and has delayed the Iranian nuclear development. The cyberdefenses that the Iranian IT security staff put in place were circumvented by the actions of at least one employee. The worm was introduced via an infected flash drive (Paulson, 2010). All the perimeter defense in the world wont work if an insider does something wrong either intentionally or unintentionally. Impacts of Vulnerabilities on Organizations Some of the cybersecurity vulnerabilities faced by an organization largely depend on what type of business that organization is engaged in. For example, if an organization has a large presence in online commerce (Amazon, New Egg) it has more vulnerability to web based attacks than an organization that doesnt use the internet for commerce. An organization that possesses unique hardware, for instance an electric utility or a hospital, has vulnerabilities that most organizations dont face. Regardless of the type of business an organization engages in and the associated vulnerabilities that are unique to that type of business, a modern organizations day-to-day operations are performed on computers. Computers and networks are at the core of every process that a company uses to do business. Most managerial and technical employees of any organization have access to and use a computer for performing his or her work. There are internal web sites and email systems that allow communications between employees. Employees use these computers to do research and purchase products from web sites. This requires that these computers be connected to the internet. The Most Important Cybersecurity Vulnerability: Unpatched Client Software Because internet connected computers are ubiquitous in an organizational setting, these computers must be kept up to date with relevant security patches to prevent attacks against known vulnerabilities. For a large organization, this can be a daunting task. The fact that a patch exists for a vulnerability means that the vulnerability has been found and probably publicized. This means that the entire hacker community has access to the exploit and there is a good chance more attacks exploiting this vulnerability will be launched. This makes it imperative that the patch be put in place quickly. Failure to do this leaves an organization open to This is why the SANS institute ranked as the number one vulnerability facing organizations today (as of 2009) unpatched client side software (Top security risks executive summary, 2009). The number two ranked vulnerability was internet facing web sites. SANS also stated that on average, major organizations are taking at least twice as long to pat ch client side vulnerabilities than they are to patch operating systems (Top security risks executive summary, 2009). Because the unpatched client software vulnerability is not industry or business class dependent it is applicable to any company, non-profit organization or government entity. For this reason, the discussion of unpatched client side software does not focus on a particular class of organizations. Unpatched client side software can be exploited in many different ways. One of the more popular methods is by use of directed email attacks called spear phishing. In a spear phishing attack, a computer user is sent an email intended to entice the user into opening an attachment or clicking on a link that results in malware being installed on the users computer. When the user opens the attachment or clicks on the link, vulnerabilities in the client software on his or her computer are exploited to gain access to the users machine or the entire corporate network. The exploited vulnerabilities may be in any client software such as browsers, document readers, or image viewers. These types of attacks are a common method of gaining footholds into corporate networks (ICS-CERT, 2011) and were the method used to launch some well publicized attacks, like the Aurora attack against Google, Adobe and other tech companies (Zetter 2010). While the Aurora attack was not enabled by unpatched client so ftware (it used previously unknown, or zero day vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer to enable the exploit), it is relevant to this discussion because the methods used in this attack have been published, making it easy for other attackers to replicate it. This makes it imperative that patches are applied in a timely manner to prevent it. There are two main problem areas that contribute to the large amount of unpatched client software that remains in use in an organization. The first is that the software vendors sometimes do not publish patches in a timely manner. The second is that once a patch is issued by a software vendor, the patch does not get deployed to the organizations computers for various reasons. As an example of software vendors not fixing vulnerabilities quickly enough, a company called TippingPoint (now a part of Hewlett Packard) recently released the details of 22 unpatched security vulnerabilities. Some of these vulnerabilities had been reported to their developers over two and half years ago (Keizer, 2011). TippingPoints Zero Day Initiative buys exploits from independent researchers. They also sponsor contests that reward the best exploits. They then provide their customers protection from these exploits and notify the developer of the targeted software of the existence of the vulnerability that all owed the exploit to work. When a patch is issued by a software vendor, it then has to be applied to an organizations infrastructure in order to be effective. The application of patches does not always happen quickly for several reasons. One reason is that the application of patches is disruptive to the organizations operation. The patches must be vetted by the security personnel and tested by the IT department. Testing patches prior to deployment is critical in avoiding incompatibility problems which would disrupt the organization even more. Another reason that patches dont get applied quickly is that they may not be compatible with in-house operating software. For instance, if Microsoft announces an upgraded browser that fixes many security holes, an organization may not be able to use it because internal software such as an accounting or HR system that they use is not compatible with it. How to Prevent Unpatched Client Software Vulnerabilities Organizations can deal with the problem of unpatched client software by being proactive in subscribing to a service that informs them of the existence of new vulnerabilities and in creating and implementing a patch management process. A patch management process is a multifaceted one. The following elements must be included in the patch management process (Gerace and Cavusoglu): Senior Executive Support. Without which this, no process can succeed. Dedicated Resources and Clearly Defined Responsibilities. If there is no staff assigned to the patch management process, it wont get done. Creating and Maintaining a Current Technology Inventory. This helps the patch management team determine which and how many systems need to be patched. Identification of Vulnerabilities and Patches. This allows the team to be aware of what patches are applicable to the organizations machines. Pre-deployment testing of patches. This should be done in a controlled environment to prevent adverse side effects. Post-deployment scanning and monitoring. This gives an indication of the effectiveness of the patch. As with any other business process, the patch management process must be audited by the use of measurements and metrics. Key metrics include severity/priority incidents associated with mission-critical application outages for inaccurate patching (Colville, 2010). Measuring the effectiveness of the patch management process then leads to modifications to it that improve the effectiveness. Conclusion Of the many different cybersecurity vulnerabilities that face organizations in todays world, unpatched client side software is the most dangerous. This is because this type of vulnerability threatens all organizations, regardless of the type activities they are engaged in. If they utilize computers, then this vulnerability must be addressed to prevent cybersecurity exploitation.

John Steinbecks Grapes of Wrath :: essays research papers

Grapes of Wrath Author: John Steinbeck, Robert Demott (Introduction). Penguin USA; New York. Reissued Edition (Oct. 1992). 619 Pages. Kearney 1 The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that exposes the desperate conditions under which the migratory farming families of America during the 1930's lived, through a personal approach and heavy symbolism. The novel tells of one family's migration west to California through the great economic depression of the 1930's. The bank took possession of their land because the owners could not pay off their loan. The novel shows how the Joad family deals with moving to California, and how they survive the cruelty of the landowners that took advantage of them, their poverty, and willingness to work. The Grapes of Wrath combines Steinbeck’s adoration of the land, his passionate hatred for corruption; resulting from materialism (money), and his abiding faith in the common people to overcome the hostile environment. As it opens with a retaining picture of nature on rampage, the novel shows the men and women that are unbroken by nature. The theme is that of a man verses a hostile environment. His body may be destroyed, but his spirit is not broken. The method used to develop the theme of the novel is through the use of symbolism. There are several uses of symbols in the novel from the turtle at the beginning to the rain at the end. As each symbol is presented, examples of the good and the bad things that exist within the novel are shown. The opening chapter paints a vivid picture of the situation facing the drought-stricken farmers of Oklahoma. Dust is described as covering everything, smothering the life out of anything that wants to grow. The dust is symbolic of the erosion of the lives of the people. The dust is synonymous with "deadness", as Steinbeck puts it.. The land is a ruined way of life (farming), people Kearney 2 uprooted and forced to leave. Secondly, the dust stands for profiteering banks in the background that squeeze the life out the land as the people are actually forced from their land. The soil, or the people (farmers), have been drained of life and are exploited: The last rain fell on the red and gray country of Oklahoma in early May. The weeds became dark green to protect themselves from the sun's unyielding rays. The wind grew stronger, uprooting the weakened corn, and the air became so filled with dust that the

Use of Symbols and Symbolism in John Steinbecks The Chrysanthemums Ess

Use of Symbols and Symbolism in John Steinbeck's The Chrysanthemums  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      John Steinbeck's short story "The Chrysanthemums" is about a proud, strong woman named Elisa Allen who feels frustrated with her present life. Her frustration stems from not having a child and from her husband's failure to admire her romantically as a woman. The only outlet for her frustration is her flower garden where she cultivates beautiful chrysanthemums. Steinbeck uses chrysanthemums as symbols of the inner-self of Elisa and of every woman. First, the chrysanthemums symbolize Elisa's children. She tends her garden and handles the chrysanthemums with love and care, just as she would handle her own children. Elisa is very protective of her flowers and places a wire fence around them; she makes sur... ...age, but her realization that her life is not going to change is crystallized when she sees the flowers thrown on the road. It devastates her completely to have to settle for such an unfulfilling life. Work Cited Steinbeck, John. "The Chrysanthemums." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 6th ed. New York: Harper Collins, 1995. 239-47.

A Mutable Self

Haley Wiedenman English 101 Brit Ashley 4/8/11 When reading â€Å"A Mutable Self†, by Mary Catherine Bateson, I am forced to analyze why I am myself. For several years I have stubbornly believed that I have become myself by myself alone and have not been influenced by the things and people around me. I didn’t want to admit that I am in fact tightly connected to people of my past and they have influenced who I am greatly. Bateson makes it clear in her writing that â€Å"no one –fetus, child, or adult- is independent of the actions and imaginations of others. Though we have the power to alter ourselves, the fact that we do so because the influence of others proves that we can never break the connection of the people who we have been subject to, making us somewhat dependent of those around us. Bateson brings this subject to our attention to spread an awareness of how we come to be under the influence of others. Not only does she inform us of the ways of ourselves b ut also she enlightens the reader of cultures around the globe.Taking in this information has the potential to change readers view and allow them to have a greater understanding of the world around them. In opening this door Bateson is creating a continual awareness that will aid the reader in their daily life though the understanding of themselves and others. On the contrary to popular belief, Bateson has faith that â€Å"the self is learned, yet ironically it often becomes a barrier to learning. The way that I perceive this is that we often are so stubborn with the views of ourselves that we deny any opposing views given by others, which in turn blocks our access to further knowledge. Once we have an idea in our head about a certain thing, it is often difficult to persuade us otherwise. In the works of Bateson she writes a personal story about her visit to an Iranian kindergarten. In her visit the teacher allowed a period for drawing time to the students. At the end of there time the teacher went to each student, collected the drawing pencils, and threw away each of there creations.I come from a home where my first piece of art I brought home remains framed in our living room. So, to me, it is extremely sad that these children are not rewarded for their creative efforts. Instead of a high five and gold star on our artwork, these small children just watch as their masterpieces fall into a trashcan. The difference between Iranian culture and my own is huge. Though I am sure they have there own motives for their ways, I personally am glad I grew up in a home where I was praised for my hard work.Even though I enjoyed reading this essay, I do believe there are a few things Bateson could have done my successfully. Her writing is a bit repetitive, which I suppose is an effective way to make your point clear, however it can also make the reading a bit dull from time to time. Another item she could have improved on is her connection to the reader. Many of her exampl es where of other cultures, and while this may be extremely interesting, it does not relate to the most the people who will be reading this essay.It could have been more triumphant if Bateson would have both related to the common reader and added other cultural insight. Connections between the Essays: 1- The self is ever changing – pg. 252 What is the Self? & pg. 272 A mutable Self 2- People and culture around you shape the self – pg. 261 What is the Self? & pg. 269-270 A Mutable Self Questions 1- Can we disconnect ourselves from our family/community to become independent and find our true selves? (w/ out outside influence) 2- What effect does our childhood have on our lives?

Walmart and Target a Closer Look at Strategic Interaction

Main Paper Walmart and Target: A closer look at strategic interaction Maastricht University School of Business and Economics Maastricht, 4th December 2011 Bastian Hauk, BH ID number: i6034999 Study: International Business Course Code: EBC1009 Economics & Business Group Number: 31 Economics Tutor: Khan Writing Tutor: Hetty Bennink Writing Assignment: Main Paper Table of Contents Page 1. Introduction 2. Economic Principle: Game Theory 3. Applied Economic Principles 3. 1. Theory of Game for simultaneously Decision Making 3. 2. The extended Version for consecutive Decision Making 4. Conclusion References 4 6 7 8 2 2 1 Introduction In the United States of America there are only two very well-known discount retailers: Target and Walmart. Both are currently operating all over the country which places each of them among the biggest corporations in the United States. Nearly every American has been to at least one of them because they sell almost everything and E. Basker described this service â€Å"one-stop shopping† (2007). In 2007, Walmart operated more than 3,400 stores across the USA and a survey showed that by the end of 2005 46 percent of Americans lived within 5 miles of the nearest store; within 15 miles even 88 percent (Basker, 2007).Target operated 1,750 stores in January 2011 (Target Corp. , 2011). Since their wide range of products is quite similar they are large competitors. Thus, they are constantly waging price war against each other. In addition, they make use of strategic interaction and especially of game theory which is a mathematical model describing a decisionmaking process and showing how the players make different decisions that potentially affect each other’s interests (von Stenge, & Turocy, 2001). This paper analyses strategic interaction between Walmart and Target with respect to the game theory and the extended version.In order to do so it introduces first the theoretic background of strategic interaction. Afterwards it applies g ame theory and the extended version to this case in order to show the impact of strategic interaction on both discount retailers. It concludes by stating the importance of strategic interaction to optimal decision making and its relevance for Walmart and Target. 2 Economic principles: game theory and extended version The theory of games describes certain concepts in which several players influence each other’s decisions in situations of conflict and competition (Moffatt, 2011).In order to apply game theory there must be at least two players. The three basic elements of a game are the player, the strategies he can choose from and the payoffs the players receive from each combination of strategy. The payoff matrix describes the outcomes in a certain game for each possible combination of strategies as shown in Figure 2. 1. 2 Player One Strategy 1 Strategy 1 Outcome Player 1 Strategy 2 Outcome Player 1 Outcome Player Two Strategy 2 Player 2 Outcome Player 1 Outcome Player 2 Outco me Player 1 Outcome Player 2 Figure 2. 1: Payoff matrix for a two player game Outcome Player 2If one player used a dominant strategy, his choice yields a higher payoff, regardless what the other player does and as a result he has no incentive to change his strategy. For this example, player one’s dominant strategy would be strategy one if he received a higher outcome no matter which strategy player two chooses, but only if he then receives the highest payout. There are also some particular outcomes; for example the Nash equilibrium which occurs when any combination of strategies is the best strategy with the best possible outcome for all players (McDowell, Thom, Frank, & Bernanke, 009). An outcome created by two dominant strategies which is worse than the outcome created by two dominated strategies is called prisoner’s dilemma. The prisoner’s dilemma only occurs when each player’s dominant strategy results in a smaller payoff than it would have if they ha d chosen the dominated strategy. Game theory also assumes that the decisions are made simultaneously. To illustrate a game in which the players decide interdependent, the economist uses the extended version of game theory which is displayed with a game tree (McDowell, Thom, Frank, & Bernanke, 2009). Company 1 Decision: Action A or Action B Action A Company 2 Decision: Action C or Action D Action C Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Action D Action B Company 2 Decision: Action C or Action D Action C Outcome 3 Outcome 4 Action D Figure 2. 2: Decision tree Figure 2. 2 is an example of a game tree. Company 1 first decides which action they will take, which can be either A or B. Company 2 then has the choice how they want to react and whether they take action C or D. The best outcome can only be achieved with a backward nduction as a result of evaluating the results first and afterwards predicting the other player’s strategy. For example, outcome 3 would be the best outcome for company 2 if comp any 1 chose action B and therefore company 2 chooses action C. Outcome 2 would gain the highest profit for company 2 if company 1 took action A. 3 Applied Economic Principles 3. 1 Theory of game for simultaneously decision making As stated in the introduction this two very large American retailers are competitors and have a very similar customer base.The income of Targets customer base is slightly higher but it is not relevant for strategic interaction (Neuman, 2011). Theory of game helps to understand the different prices and how the different price strategies affect consumer behavior. This example is not based on any specific data. However, it is logic for somebody willing to buy a certain good to substitute the same good with an identical one if the price is lower and there are not any additional efforts to make. By applying game theory, the three basic elements have to be clear. 4 Walmart and Target are the players.Different pricing of a certain product -a television- are the st rategies while the different profits are the results of each combination of the strategies. Both companies have two pricing strategies: either to charge a low price of â‚ ¬300 or a high price of â‚ ¬500. They have to make the decision simultaneously, for instance before they release the television to the market. It is important to know that the customers are also willing to purchase the television for the high price. Target High Price (â‚ ¬500) High Price (â‚ ¬500) Walmart Walmart earns â‚ ¬10,000 profit Low Price (â‚ ¬300) Walmart earns â‚ ¬15,000 profit Figure 3. : Payoff matrix for Walmart and Target Figure 3. 1 shows a potential payoff matrix for this strategic interaction. It shows all possible outcomes for the two pricing strategies. Walmart and Target would both make â‚ ¬10,000 profit if they charged the high price and â‚ ¬7,500 profit if they charged the low price. If Walmart chose the low pricing strategy and Target used the high pricing strategy Walmart would gain â‚ ¬15,000 compared to the â‚ ¬5,000 profit Target would make. Target also makes â‚ ¬15,000 profit using the low price if Walmart decides to charge the high price.What does that mean for both companies? Since both of them would earn a higher profit by setting the price low in this scenario, both companies would choose â€Å"Low Price† as a dominant strategy. On the contrary, â€Å"High Price† would be the dominated strategy. Nash equilibrium can be found when both companies pick the â€Å"low price† strategy because they don’t have an incentive to change their strategy. This payoff 5 Low (â‚ ¬300) Target earns â‚ ¬15,000 profit Walmart earns â‚ ¬5,000 profit Target earns â‚ ¬7,500 profit Walmart earns â‚ ¬7,500 profitTarget earns â‚ ¬10,000 profit Target earns â‚ ¬5,000 profit matrix also shows that the strategy combination of â€Å"high price† and â€Å"high price† would be the best possible outcome for both firms. But rather than applying the dominated strategy Walmart and Target use the dominant strategy. This dilemma is called prisoner’s dilemma. Those dilemmas exist quite often and there are many reasons why they exist, for instance, both companies do not want the other one to make a higher profit or even to have the chance to receive a higher profit. 3. 2.The extended version for consecutive decision making Therefore Target and Walmart react and might change the strategy they had choosen. Both competitors often change their strategies. Although Singh (2006) stated that prices at Walmart are about 15 percent lower than in traditional supermarkets, Neuman (2011) proved by comparing almost 60 items that Target’s prices were a bit lower than Walmart’s. It is hard to rely on data which are released with a 5 year time difference but it shows that both firms constantly adjust the prices to be competitive.High Price Target High Price Walmart Low Price â‚ ¬10,000 for Target â‚ ¬10,000 for Walmart â‚ ¬15,000 for Target â‚ ¬5,000 for Walmart â‚ ¬5,000 for Target â‚ ¬15,000 for Walmart â‚ ¬7,500 for Target â‚ ¬7,500 for Walmart High Price Low Price Target Low Price Figure 3. 2: Decision Tree for Walmart and Target 6 Since the decisions of both companies are not made simultaneously the reacting firm -in this case Target- has to find out what action to take in order to receive the highest profit for either move Walmart makes. Walmart moves first and selects either strategy.Target is in the position to decide and how it wants to react. Thus, Target uses backward induction. First it evaluates the best results for each action Walmart uses; â‚ ¬15,000 profit if Walmart sets a high price and â‚ ¬7,500 profit if Walmart sets a low price. Afterwards it chooses the strategy how to get to that profit. Finally Walmart moves and selects the low or the high price strategy and Target is able to react sufficiently. Assu me that Walmart chooses the high price strategy then Target sets low prices and due to that Target earns the highest possible profit. Conclusion Walmart and Target are large competitors on the American retailer market and therefore strategic interaction is very important for them. Both companies know the ways to decide how to act concerning different strategies. Both companies know that it is necessary for them to react and choose the best strategy. In the first example both companies simultaneously introduce a television to the market. Their dominant strategy is to set a low price because both of them hope that the other company chooses the high price strategy.This is one example of a free market wherein the customers always choose the low price if available. Walmart and Target would earn a larger profit if both set the high price. In the other case Walmart moves first and afterwards Target chooses the strategy which leads to the highest outcome. The reacting company’s best strategy in the extended version of game theory is always the low price strategy. On the contrary, when two companies have to decide simultaneously it is not always the best choice to choose the low price strategy although it is their dominant strategy. References Basker, E. (2007). The Causes and Consequences of Wal-Mart’s Growth. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21 (3), 177-198. McDowell, M. , Thom, R. , Frank, R. , & Bernanke, B. (2009). Principles of Economics, 2nd European Edition. Maidenhead, UK: McGraw-Hill Education. Moffatt, M. (2008). What are Game Theory and Bargaining Theory? Retrieved December 4, 2011, from http://economics. about. com/cs/studentresources/f/game_theory. htm Neuman, S. (2011). Target Takes Aim At Walmart, With Some Success, NPR. Retrieved December 4, 2011, from http://www. pr. org/2011/08/19/139793948/target-takes-aim-at-walmartwith-some-success Singh, V. , Hansen, K. , & Blattberg, R. (2006). A Market Entry and Consumer Behavior: An investig ation of a Wal-Mart Supercenter. Marketing Science, 25 (5), 457-476 Target Corp. (2011). Target Annual Report 2010. Minnesota, US: Target. Retrieved December 7, 2011 from http://www. sec. gov/Archives/edgar/data/27419/000104746911002032/a2201861z10k. htm#bg11101a_main_toc Turocy, T. L, von Stenge, B (2001). Game Theory. Academic Press Limited, 2 (2), 69-73. 10. 1080/07430170152379371 doi: 8

Public sector finance and cntrol Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Public sector finance and cntrol - Essay Example through provision of Discretionary Council Tax in a manner that: The payments are made in complex situations and incidences of anomalies thereby enabling different quarters of the society to handle issues ascribed to short term financial crises that would hinder them from paying their normal taxes. However, the essence of applying Discretionary Council of Tax should not focus on undermining the natures as well as the purpose of the Normal Council Tax Support Scheme. Moreover, it should not focus of supporting irresponsible behavior or common practices associated with not paying taxes among the quarters of the society. Consequently, the process should not focus on provision of funds in a manner that the expenditure the maximum permissible by the Local Council Tax. Another method that may be applied to achieve the desired tax charge by the council is provision of Awards. The Awards can be provided to meet current tax needs rather than compensate for past tax debts. In this regard, retrospective payments made be subjected to appreciation thereby reducing Council Tax arrears. The Process of Incremental Budgeting entails a scenario where new Budgets are formulated taking into consideration facets of the previous annual budget. In this regard, increments are usually made in order to fulfill projected needs for the current year using the pats budgets years for purposes of references. Incremental budgets are pertinent owing to the fact that it facilitates the aversion of risks, reinforces incidences of equilibrium created by political facets and provides an efficient and effective platform for stakeholder decision-making. In regard to tax setting, there are various factors that are usually taken into consideration; the fist factor is equality and uniformity. That is, all taxes should be levied in an equal and uniform manner. In addition, the process of levying tax entails a scenario whereby; certain time limits are stipulated for collection of taxes i.e. ends of every

Metropolis Police Department Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Metropolis Police Department - Term Paper Example According to the discussion, the city mayor and the elite council members plan to fire the chief. The person is thinking about the responsibilities aligned in the job that will be offered. The stakeholders are intensely affected of the malpractices of the current police department. People would not trust the cops because of the latter’s unethical conducts. The possibility of replacement for the current chief is truly tangible owing to his mismanagement, but the risk is on the interim or next chief who will be implementing more changes in force and sustain credence of the minority groups. The court should investigate the atrocity of the current administration, and once the court has proven the malpractices of the police department, the department needs to be renewed. The greatest challenge for the court is to order an extensive revision of the police force staffing. It has been said that discriminations arise from the chief that criticized African-Americans, women, and Hispanic s; therefore, it is best implicated to hire forty percent of blacks and Hispanic surnamed-Americans and ten percent women in order to desist the race, nationality, and sex discrimination happening in the state. The attitudes of key staffing in the police force are the optimum significant ingredients in identifying the level of entity compliance with public regulation, and the extent to this freedom is exercised in the staffing process. Environmental elements include demography, behavior of the domestic community, and the domestic government support for assertive action. The state should uphold the greater notion of the necessity for equal employment opportunity for both men and women.

Adaptation of the Color Purple from Alice Walker and Steven Research Paper

Adaptation of the Color Purple from Alice Walker and Steven Speilberg's movie - Research Paper Example Her best known and most critically acclaimed novel is The Colour Purple, written in 1982, which earned her a Pulitzer Prize and a National Literature Award. The novel was adapted for screen-play by Steven Spielberg in 1985, in what was a significant departure from his summer blockbusters. The film follows the life of Celie, a young girl of African American heritage, and via her life captures the problems faced by African American women, including racism, poverty and sexism. While the movie garnered mainly positive critical response with prominent critics besting it for its sentimental, emotional and absolute truths about American history, there was also some stinging criticism. This paper attempts to ascertain whether or not the adaptation was successful, when compared to the great novel. After viewing the movie at its premier, Alice Walker didn’t become its big fan. However, after being the recipient of many positive reactions and letters, she came to the realization that, wh ile the movie did not expressly show her vision, it did convey the correct message. She claimed that, while every fan might miss the best part, what was there would be its gift, and that she hoped they would accept the spirit with which it was given (LaGrone 50). She also quite often answers questions on whether she liked the film by saying that the book was not film and vice versa. She is right. This is the reason why Spielberg took the decision to differ slightly from this great novel. However, he stayed true to her message, especially on overcoming adversity. The screenplay creates a successful and faithful adaptation, via its capturing of the novel’s characters, plot, setting, themes and characters (LaGrone 51). Spielberg faithfully sticks to the central themes of the novel. In the novel, Celie is used by Walker as the protagonist, showing how asserting oneself aids an individual in resisting oppression. This comes out in her letters to Nettie, especially touching on Albe rt, her cruel husband (McBride 172). The movie also sheds light upon this theme. Spielberg, however, turns these letters into scenes full of power and vitality. In one standout scene during dinner, where Albert discovers that Celie is moving to Memphis with Shug and leaving him in the process, there is the use of direct quotes lifted from the book. Cellie shoots to her feet and calls him â€Å"lowdown dog†. In the novel, Celie writes that she is black, poor, ugly and could not cook, but at least she was there (McBride 172). However, during the film, Celie says this to Albert, straight to his face. Spielberg incorporates the same core characters into the movie, from the book. Whoopi Goldberg encapsulates what Walker intended, but breathes new life into Celie’s character, via her hidden smiles, sly winks and muffled laughter. While this is not evident in the novel, these differences aid the audience to see and hear Celie’s transformation from an invisible, passive woman into an independent and strong one (Lupack 101). The movie also closely portrays Shug’s character, just as in the book, where she changes Celie’s life via acting as a catalyst. The screen translation, however, has one flaw, as it contains scenes that show Shug as a vulnerable woman. The movie attempts to create conflict with her father who is a preacher and disapproves of her lifestyle. She is depicted trying to reconcile and impress her dad. In the book, however, she is a free from oppression rebel who is also quite unrepentant. The films characterization of Albert is also slightly off what can be gleaned from the book. At first, the movie portrays Albert accurately as a cold, domineering husband who wed Celie not for love but convenience. Later, it differs slightly from the book since Albert

The Victorians Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

The Victorians - Essay Example I not only communicated through symbols, but also expressed my emotions through playing piano. The division of responsibilities was very significant; men and women recognized the difference in their roles and accepted the fact that even within marriage they were supposed to lead separate lives until their death. Unmarried women who got pregnant were highly disregarded in the Victorian era; they were considered not only conspicuous, but also a danger to the society’s stability. However, pregnancy of a married woman was highly valued because of the high position of babies after marriage. I remember a big celebration that was held by my father when I experienced my first menstrual cycle. I think he held the celebration because he knew he was going to exchange me for a good amount of money. He was the one that had the authority of deciding which boyfriend was to marry me depending on the money on his saving account. In connection with this, only women who were virgins were considered potential wives during my era. Virginity was an indication of not only purity of the woman, but also a significant bride price. Marriage in my era was also between couples from the same social class; a wealthy man married a woman from a wealthy family as well as a poor man married a woman from a poor family. To avoid shame associated with uncalled matches, my parents controlled my company. It was a result of this that I married a wealthy man that I did not love. Double standard was also acknowledged in my era; men were allowed to have many lovers considering that women were barred from ha ving any lover apart from the husband because they were believed not to have sexual energy. The guilty of adultery, as well as well pregnancy of an unmarried woman, meant not only shame, but also humiliation. Thus, I avoided by all means having any relationship before marriage as well as outside my marriage after getting married to my husband. Divorce was also not very common during my era. It

Report 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Report 3 - Assignment Example We will make sure that all our ads will comply with the Chilean laws (Shaver and Soontae 67). The ads will be in English targeting the right group to use smoke detectors in their home; however, I would prefer using Spanish because most of Chilean speaks it. Most of our advertising budget will go the Television whereby we will want to increase the number of times a commercial will be aired per week. Therefore, allocating much of the budget to television is because it is the most effective medium for advertisement and will be $1,750,000 per year (Warc n. pag). The viewers cannot ignore an advert that comes as they watch a program they love, thus making it more effective (Shaver and Soontae 71). Our commercial will be aired in one major television station, which is Channel 4. The commercial will be aired in the evening hours, mostly when the news is ready in order to target the more mature customers twice a week. The television advert emotionally highlights the importance of having a smoke detector in the house, with fireman ready to come to the rescue. It will highlight the catastrophe fire can cause if a house does not have a smoke detector and the losses one can get. The commercial will finally show how a person with the burned house i s going to our store to buy a smoke detector and goes home happy. Our team also discussed using the most listened radio stations in Chile by the targeted consumers with a budget of $200,000 annually. After doing a statistical analysis on the most listened national radio stations, we decided that we would advertise with RCN La FM. It is the most listened radio stations by mature people who the major targets of our product. The advert will be aired on the morning hours while people are going to work in the La  ½ Maná ½ °ná ½ °. The advert will be aired three times a week. In Santiago alone, 97% of the population listens to a radio station. The radio commercial

Why America Bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki Essay Example for Free

Why America Bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki Essay It was during the Second World War that the USA dropped two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities of Japan. This caused a lot of destruction with its negative effects being felt up to date. Monuments have been erected on the places where the bombs hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hundreds of thousands of people died in these two cities following the dropping of weapons of mass destruction by the US following a directive from her president – Harry S. Truman. This was after Japan failed to agree to surrender during the war as was agreed in Potsdam where issuance of declaration was done to push Japan to give in to the war (Kennedy, Bailey, 99). Together with the then president of the China Republic and the United Kingdom Prime Minister, Truman came up with a document enumerating ‘terms of surrender’ to Japan upon which if it failed to adhere to would face the consequences. Japan on its part thought it was just a mere threat and therefore failed to surrender. This prompted the USA president to mobilize the bombing of the two cities. According to reports, the dropping of the first atomic bomb- ‘the little boy’ on Hiroshima was a ‘test’ of the capability of destruction. This though did not move Japan, a situation that led to the dropping of the second atomic bomb- ‘the fat man’ on Nagasaki killing and maiming an estimate of 35,000- 80,000 people, some instantly and others afterwards because of after- effects. War had been raging on across the pacific from 1939. Some Japanese cities had been bombed before the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U. S.  A, which were spared but for just a while. This is because there was a stalemate between the two countries- Japan and the U. S. A. The US government was also prompted by the acts of Japanese military of attacking the Pearl Harbor. U. S. A decided therefore to force Japan to admit defeat in the war, an event that did not go well with Japan, thus resisting it. Japan’s worry was the inclusion of the words â€Å"Unconditional Surrender† in the pact issued by the U. S. A regarding ceasefire (Walker, 28). Without warning so as not to be prevented on its mission, U. S.  A decided to drop the bombs on Japan. This was on anticipation that because they were fighting for disarmament and dropping of use of nuclear weapons the process of forcing Japan to surrender would not succeed because of interjections by other parties to the war. Japan had waged war against the U. S. A following the Pacific war, a situation that led to many U. S. A citizens to lose their lives and property destroyed. These bombings were not an easy task to accomplish. On humanitarian grounds, using atomic bombs would cause much unwanted suffering and aggression. On moral grounds, it would be really wrong to do it as taking away human life is wrong considering that life is sacred. Though Japan was determined to make peace with the U. S. A, the only thing that hindered this decision was the words â€Å"Unconditional Surrender†. With calls for demonstration of the operation of the bombs to the Japanese civilians unheeded, the bombings were inevitable. Petitions for the withdrawal of the use of atomic bombs by the U. S on Japan were uncalled for and already too late as tests of the effective destruction by the bombs had already been conducted. At this point, nothing seemed to stop the inevitable bombing as the then president of the US (Truman) issued an order to use atomic bombs (Newman, 21). Hiroshima was a communication hub as well as a military center. Nagasaki was an industrial town and a port with plants to make military weapons giving the more reason they should be attacked, the purpose being to derail the Japanese militants. The scientist behind the making of the atomic bombs used on Japan regretted the use of these bombs. Driven by personal conviction and conscience, this scientist never wanted the use of the bombs at all on Japan. This implies that he foresaw the destruction the bombs would cause with regard to human life and humanity. The explanation given by President Truman on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was that they were military bases and that he wished to avoid the bombing of women and children, reports indicate that over 95 % of those killed and maimed were civilians and not militants. US wanted to end and win the war, but Japan would not accept prompting dire measures to be taken upon it. Another reason given was to save Americans from the war and not only them but also Japanese as well. Resources also were being protected from further destruction. It is for certain that he USA took advantage of her technological advancement to attack Japan with the atomic bombs (Kennedy, Bailey, 101). This is because; it was the first time atomic bombs were being used, just shortly after their discovery. Following the demise of the American soldiers killed by Japanese military forces during the war, revenge seemed another driving factor to the bombing of the two cities. The decision by the USA militants to block entry of oil tankers and food entering the country of Japan could have propelled the Japanese to surrender. This is because it means that people could no live because of lack of food and no traveling as all running engines would be deprived of what is the most important-oil causing everything to go into disarray. More diplomatic tactics would be used as use of excessive force was unnecessary. Chances of arbitration or mediation were there, but US decided on the use of force. It might have been a revenge mission but which cost so many lives with claims of saving even more lives. It might be true the allegations, but where is the rationale behind the bombings considering that Japan had every indication of surrendering in the war? The US troops had largely won the war though a considerable number lost their lives, very little force therefore would be required to claim Japan’s adamancy to surrender. This would include just the normal warfare between militants. The fact that US was fighting back the attack of the pearl harbor did not give her reason to interfere with the internal organization of Japan as a country, it should have just left Japan to continue with its cultural practice of having an emperor and convincing the country’s citizens on the importance of having peace and maintaining it (Wainstock, 12). Forcing the country to abandon its practice which was known and practiced for many years meant resistance with an eminent danger of sparking unrelenting war. Instead of using force, it should have used reasoning and logic to convince the people of the country to refuse tyrannical kind of a rule. Therefore, even though the bombings act was widely acceptable by most of the Americans in solving the stalemate, it brought about gnawing memories to the people of Japan. The resultant situation can best be described as that of devastation and hopelessness to the victims.

Purchasing And Storage Department Commerce Essay

Purchasing And Storage Department Commerce Essay Purchasing  refers to a business or organization attempting to acquiring goods or services to accomplish the goals of its enterprise. Though there are several organizations that attempt to set standards in the purchasing process, processes can vary greatly  between  organizations. Typically the word purchasing is not used interchangeably with the word procurement, since procurement typically includes  Expediting, Supplier Quality, and Traffic and Logistics (TL) in addition to Purchasing. What is storing? Basically, storing is when staying in a hotel during vacation, its likely youll have some valuable items and documents on hand like jewelry or passports. Its important to have a safe place to store these items when staying overnight at a hotel, and understanding the different types of storage options different hotels are likely to offer will help you decide how to store your valuables. In Restaurant sector, storing refers to preserving and keeping stock of food and beverages in order to use them when needed. PURCHASING Simplifying purchase While technology is enabling all departments related to purchase to appear on a common platform, there are a few issues where technology fails to offer any solution, thereby calling the need for  human  intervention with sound judgment. While operating a hotel is supposed to be a difficult task, managing the entire procurement process (for such a unit) is even more so. The purchase department handles the task of procurement yet all departments  play  a crucial role in it. That said technology ensures that inter-departmental activities takes place flawlessly. Although purchase has now become dependent on technology for managing inventories and order status, it was originally a manual job. From selection of products to deciding on a vendor, this department rests on the human ability of judgment. However technology is now making the processes related to other departments easier by streamlining all activities. Bulk buying Purchase is about procuring products in large quantities for the stores catering to various department needs. In this, various operational tools bridge the relationship  between the purchase department and stores, fulfilling the requisites of all departments. If we trace back to earlier times, the process of procuring was done manually where storekeepers would spend time contacting suppliers and then placing the orders after checking and re-checking the inventories placed by various departments for duplication of orders and so on. There existed a Bin card system that took stock manually and preparing all the relevant reports through various stock registers, etc. Das adds, Today, technology is helping us to indent, maintain, analyze and control the total inventory with greater ease and accuracy. The systems are smart as well as user-friendly to provide you the alerts and prior intimation about the PAR stock and expiry date, etc. Simplifying purchase order Technology might be one crucial aspect that is vital for procurement today but the genesis of the software systems used for it have been a perfect replica of the tasks earlier done manually i.e. the purchase order. Das simplifies this and says, There are a lot of different aspects which are kept in mind while preparing a purchase order and its frequency. The preparation of the purchase order is proportionately related to the consumption pattern and its requirement. Technology still has some drawbacks in the decision making process. It helps in collating information but that doesnt help in making the final decision. Kailash Bahuguna, purchase manager at The Metropolitan Hotel New Delhi, is of the opinion that technology has not invaded this area of operation totally; a lot of tasks are human-driven and would remain so in future as well. The important job of this department would always remain the negotiation that we do with vendors, reviewing of content for purchasing, etc. Technology can only assist, he adds. While the preference for vendors could be gauged with data like withstanding capacity, rate comparison, stipulated delivery time and extended credit facility, the final decision is made after identifying the suppliers reputation and relationship the hotel shares with it, which are subjective issues and purchase committee makes a final decision. Das says, Frequent market surveys are conducted by the standing purchase committee to assess the current prevailing rate and subsequently used for fruitful negotiations. Technology runs parallel to all tasks to enable swift decisions thereby assisting the entire process. Vendor and inventory management play an important role in preparing the purchase order by various departments (in terms of substitute and new vendors depending on the product demand and urgency), which is notified to purchase for requisition. Das says, In hotels, the purchase officer is in close coordination with other department heads for timely procurement, maximum utilization of materials, seasonal variance in material procurement, and combating the non-availability of materials in unprecedented conditions. Challenges to overcome The challenges vary from hotel to hotel. The structure though remains the same; one needs to take various factors into consideration like geographic location, size of the hotel, operation period, etc. During the initial days of operations of a new property, the challenges are distinctively unique identifying the possible consumption and requirement needs meticulous calculation as there are no past records to look at. A property that is in operation for some years should try and bring all departments (with reference to purchase) on a single platform for smooth information flow. Bahuguna says it enables a sound way to justify codification and stacking methods helping in the inventory management. STORING Any type of foodservice facility begins its food preparation process at the  back  door, by receiving and storing the raw materials. Food, beverages, and supplies must all be accounted for and properly stored until theyre needed. There are two basic types of storage: dry and refrigerated.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dry storage is for canned goods, paper products, and anything else that doesnt need to be kept cold. Refrigerated storage is for items that must be kept chilled or frozen until used.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In this article, youll learn more about them both and about the types of equipment needed to outfit your receiving and storage areas for efficiency, safety, and conservation of space. The list includes: Scales Pallets Carts Shelves Well also explain how refrigeration systems work in refrigerators, coolers, freezers, ice makers, and specialty systems like beer kegs and soft-serve machines, and discuss how to select them for your operation.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   RECEIVING AND DRY STORAGE  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Youd be amazed at how many deliveries arrive at the back door or loading dock of the average restaurant in a week. And they all have one thing in common: They must all be checked for accuracy by someone on your staff. Many owners and chefs go a  step further, personally inspecting the quality of fresh items such as produce and seafood and rejecting on the spot those that do not meet their standards or expectations.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Having a well-organized receiving area, setting certain hours for deliveries, and designating employees who are responsible for accepting and storing incoming stock will save you time and money. Illustration 10-1 shows some of the smartest outdoor dock area features.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Merchandise goes from the dock area into the receiving area, shown in Illustration 10-2. The well-equipped receiving area will contain these basic items: Scales Pallets Carts and trucks Shelves MEASURES TO BE TAKEN CARE OF Storerooms should be well ventilated, free of dampness and free of pests and bugs. Bulk products such as sugar and flour, can be emptied into tightly covered, properly labeled approved containers to prevent outside contamination. Storage containers must have openings large enough to allow easy cleaning between uses. Food cannot be stored in locker rooms, rest rooms, dressing rooms, garbage rooms, mechanical rooms, under sewer lines that are not shielded to intercept potential drips, under leaking water lines (including leaking automatic fire sprinkler heads) under Lines on which water has condensed, or under open stairwells. Products must be stored on shelves or platforms 6 inches from the floor to ensure adequate cleaning of the storeroom floor. REFRIGERATION All food must be labeled and dated. Arrange containers apart from one another in a refrigerator to ensure proper cooling. This allows air to circulate around containers. Cover all food while in storage. Covering keeps food from drying out and minimizes the possibility of contamination. In walk-in coolers, store all food on shelves. The food should be kept at least 6 inches off of the floor. The floor needs to be swept and mopped. Store poultry and meats on the bottom shelves to prevent meat from leaking onto other foods. Use foods on a first in, first out basis (FIFO). Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food prepared and held for more than 24 hours in a facility must be marked with the date of preparation. It must be discarded if not sold or served within ten calendar days. RECEIVING PROCEDURES IN THE RESTAURANT Receiving food and supplies from your vendors requires more than simply taking boxes off a delivery truck. Restaurant owners and managers should have procedures in place for any employee who handles deliveries. Consider these suggestions for ways to manage deliveries and other receiving procedures in your restaurant. VERIFICATION Whenever a restaurant receives an order, the manager or responsible employee should check in the order, or verify that the correct amount of products were received as well as checking the quality of the incoming product. Follow these steps: Verify the quantity   Be sure that every product you ordered is accounted for in the delivery. An easy way to do this is to compare your order guide to your invoice and manually check off all items as you look through the delivery. Be sure that product weights and counts are correct. Ensure quality Be sure the items are of good quality. All refrigerated or frozen items should arrive at the proper temperature, and products should show no signs or damage. However, for one reason or another, food products may arrive unusable. When product is received in poor condition, such as moldy or rotten, the manager should refuse the order if possible, and contact the vendor immediately to schedule another delivery. Check the cost Make sure the total cost on the invoice is correct. The money you spend on food orders and other supplies usually makes up a large part of your restaurant expenses, and recording the appropriate amount in your financial records is very important to your overall profits and losses. KEEP TRACK OF ALL PURCHASES Keeping track of all purchase invoices will help you stay organized and aware of your spending. When you receive your order, record the total cost the order invoice on your restaurant profit and loss statement (PL). You can easily log this data in most accounting software, or in a PL spreadsheet on the back  office computer. This will also help you calculate your inventory and usage, since you add the newly purchased goods to those you have on hand to determine your total available inventory. Date and Store Supplies Once you have checked your food for quality and recorded the cost and inventory amount in your records, you are ready to put away your food and supplies. This should be done immediately to ensure that food remains at safe temperatures and to keep an organized kitchen. For perishable foods, this involves dating and appropriately storing the products on your  restaurant storage and shelving units. How to Keep Your Customers Healthy There are laws and systems that have been established to help ensure that the food served in restaurants is safe. Bacteria grow very easily if given the chance. The local Health Department will send out inspectors to make sure that the chefs and servers are following the proper guidelines. Inspectors will issue fines for minor violations and can shut you down for major violations. Working with Inspectors from The Local Health Department The Heath Department will work with you to establish the correct systems and practices. The inspectors are often feared and dreaded (as they usually show up unannounced at the worst possible time), but most of the regulations have important ramifications for keeping food clean and safe. A system called  HACCP Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point  consists of seven important steps to ensure food safety. This system was actually first designed to maintain food safety for NASA astronauts so you know this stuff works! The three main elements of the system are:  food microbiology,  quality control  and  risk assessment. The 7 steps of HACCP are as follows Assess hazards and potential risks. Identify critical control points including cross contamination, cooking, cooling, hygiene. Set up procedures to make sure safety is maintained at all critical control points. Monitor critical control points and use the correct signs, tools, and training materials to ensure this. Take corrective actions as soon as a critical control point is in jeopardy or when any violations are pointed out by the Health Department. Set up a record-keeping system to log all of your flowcharts and temperature checks Keep up with the system to make sure it is working. Each food item served in your restaurant will need its own flow chart, which looks at every step of the foods journey from being received into the restaurant from a purveyor to being served to a customer. The steps in between include storage, preparation, holding/display, service, cooling, storage of leftovers and reheating techniques. The  Executive Chef  will be responsible for these flow charts. Avoiding Food Contamination There are many safety procedures to follow when preparing food in your restaurant. One of the most important is to thaw frozen foods properly. You can cook food from its frozen state or by refrigerating it at under 38 degrees F. You may also thaw under running water at a temperature of 70 degrees F. or below for up to two hours. A microwave is another acceptable way to thaw foods, but only if the entire cooking period will be in the microwave or the food will be finished (immediately after microwaving) by another cooking method. Food items such as meats and poultry must be cooked to the correct internal temperatures. Thermometers are the best way to ensure accuracy of these temps. Avoid Cross Contamination Cross contamination is all too common in kitchens today. Be sure to clean and sanitize any equipment used to prepare food between uses and be particularly vigilant when handling a potentially harmful food such as raw poultry,beef or fish. There is a danger zone of temperature, 40 degrees F. 140 degrees F., within which food bacteria multiply rapidly and can thrive. The temperature of food should be kept out of this zone as much as possible. The limit for time spent in the danger zone including all aspects of storage, preparation and service is 4 hours. Food Storage Storage is another way to protect your food from becoming contaminated or spoiled. There are rules for this area as well. Use the first in, first out (FIFO in accounting) rule meaning that foods should be used in the order they are delivered. For instance, do not use the newest milk first if you still have two gallons that are good from your last delivery. Date goods and place the new behind the old on your storage shelves. Keep all foods wrapped and clean. Each item in your walk-in refrigerator, freezer and your dry storage should be in a sealed labeled container or package with the contents and date received. Do not take a chance on questionable foods: When in doubt, throw it out is a great rule to live when it comes to food safety. Go through your refrigerator unit regularly and get rid of spoiled foods. The refrigerator temperature must be below 38 degrees F. Items stored include meats, seafood, vegetables and dairy products. Keep a working thermometer in the unit at all times so you will know at a glance if there is a problem. You do not want to lose your entire inventory! Freezers should keep foods at below 0 degrees F. Most foods will not maintain their quality in a freezer so it should be used only as needed. Use fresh products whenever possible.Items in dry storage should be kept between 50 70 degrees F with a relative humidity of 50 60%.