Efficient Market Hypothesis Essay

These will be presented by practitioners Media Conference This will be populated by journalists Board Meeting Presentation will be to Board members Module Outline The module aims to enable students to develop business and management skills and to capture an integrated view of their learning across their MBA programme. It also builds specifically on Media Training and three Preparatory Sessions. It combines substantive lectures; ‘Business Briefings’ in the form of practitioner presentations pertinent to the Case; and experiential learning through a ‘live’ Case involving group work. Justification of the strategy (10%); Integration of business relevant functions and underpinning disciplines (10%); and Coherence & Focus of the document (10%) To be submitted by 13. 00 hours Thursday 18th April 2013. The Strategy Document should consist of four separate documents: †¢ Title page including Group name and team members †¢ 1 page Executive Summary †¢ Strategy Document (1,500 words) †¢ Appendices (make sure that these clearly reinforce points made in the Strategy Document). The Strategy Document should be in a format suitable for presentation to the company board. It should not be in the form of an essay. It should not simply be the sum of different departmental strategies. Rather, it should present an overall integrated strategy reflecting a long-run scenario plan. It should be supported by the different departmental components of that strategy. The full details of the departmental strategies can be included in Appendices. There are plenty of on-line examples of how to write a strategy document. You will still need to decide which format suits your strategy. Further advice will be given in the module. 2. Media Statement in Response to Intervention (500 words 10%) We will be looking for a justification, integration and coherence & focus of action in the statement. To be submitted by 17. 00 Thursday 18th April 2013. 3. Media Conference and Board Presentation (10% or 5% per event) This includes the Management, Presentation and Coherence of the Media Conference and Board Presentation. Individual Assignment 4. Individual Reflection (50%) Critically reflect on selected strategy (10%), group processes (10%); response to the intervention (10%); and your individual role (10%). Identify what you take from these experiences; what you would have done differently? (10%) This report should be in an essay format and can include supporting documents. The purpose of the individual coursework is to enable you to reflect on your learning from the coursework and the Company Case experience. This can include reference to: The challenges of integrating multi-disciplinary approaches to business and integrating business strategy; †¢ Group dynamics and management, your role within the group and interactions with others, decision-making processes under pressure; and group development and coherence; †¢ Real busin ess experiences of public exposure through the media and defence of strategies from senior managers. You might want to structure it by time or key stages (i. e. Strategy formulation and process; responses to interventions and the Media statement; Group formation and dynamics; Media and Board Events and event management). Please do not use this essay to criticise others but to reflect on your experiences and how you might approach this differently in the future. The essay is due at 16. 00 on 24th May 2013. Session 1 Monday 15th April 09. 30 – 11. 00 Module Introduction Introduction to the Case; Allocation of Groups What is Sustainability? In this session we will introduce the Module, its aims, activities and structure and we will clarify the assignments and assessment. We will introduce the Company Case, Wearing Well or Wearing Out? and allocate the groups. We will address the question, what is sustainability? The Company Case The Company Case ‘Wearing Well or Wearing Out? ’ will be introduced; the full case will be circulated separately. In essence Wearing Well is a long-standing UK retail chain which has recently been taken over by a private equity consortium. It has principally sold women’s clothing but also men’s clothing, men’s and ladies shoes and accessories, furnishing, appliances, and home accessories. The company is not considered to be performing well by the owners and they have commissioned a new management team (i. e. YOU in the different groups) to turn the company around. You are asked to prepare an initial five year plan in the form of a Strategy Document and to consider how integrating sustainability into the strategy can add value to the company. You will also be asked to respond to an ‘intervention’ in the form of a Media Statement. You will be required to explain and justify your initial strategy and the subsequent response in two ‘live events’ both on Friday 20th April:1. A Media Conference (supported by a Media statement that you will need to prepare) 2. A Board Meeting (supported by a Strategy Document that you will also need to prepare) Groups The class members will be organised into groups with whom they will address the Group Assignments (Strategy Document, Media Statement in Response to Intervention, Media Conference and Board Meeting). Break out rooms will be allocated. When class members are allocated to their groups, the groups will then need to decide and agree job roles / descriptions / responsibilities and assign these to group members. Each member will then be required to sign a ‘contract’. What is Sustainability? A general introduction to the theme of sustainability will be provided. The key pillars of sustainability will be introduced: 1. Balance of social, environmental and economic criteria 2. Intra-generational justice 3. Inter-generational justice. A systems approach is used to highlight the importance of sustainability and to understand the importance of sustainability to business. Preliminary Reading Senge, P (2009) ‘Sustainability: Not What You Think It Is’ MIT Sloan Management Review June Michael Porter and Mark R Kramer (2011) ‘Creating Shared Value’ Harvard Business Review Jan – Feb 2011 See http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Sustainability. Core Reading Stead and Stead (2009) Chapters 1-4 OR Stead and Stead (2004) Chapters 1-3 (Chapter 2 provided) Dunphy Dexter, Andrew Griffiths and Suzanne Benn (2007) Organisational Change for Corporate Sustainability, New York: Routledge. Chapters 1 and 2 (Part 1), Background reading on Sustainability (All provided in the Module Booklet) Assadourian Erik (2007) ’Acknowledgements,’ Vital Signs 2007-2008, 104-105, New York: WW Norton and Company. Brown, Lester R. (2008) Plan B 3. 0: Mobilising to Save Civilisation. New York: WW Norton and Company. Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jorgen Randers, and William W. Behrens III. (1972) The Limits to Growth. New York: Universe Books Ehrlich Paul R. and Ann H. Ehrlich (1990) The Population Explosion. New York: Simon and Schuster. Elkington John. (1997) Cannibals with Forks. Oxford UK: Capstone Publishing Limited. Hart, S and Milstein, M (2003) ‘Creating Sustainable Value’ Academy of Management Executive 17 (2) 56 – 69 Laszlo, C (2003) The Sustainable Company Island Press Chapter 1 Munasinghe, M (2009) Sustainable Development in Practice: Sustainomics Methodology and Applications Cambridge Chapter 2 Senge, Peter M (1990) The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organisation. New York: Doubleday/Currency. Wearing Well CEO Agreement Group Role Description Manage allocation of group roles and submit Manager Agreements Manage decision processes for Group Strategy and Media Statement in Response to Interventions Manage preparation for Media conference and Board presentation Submit Group Strategy and Media Statement (according to deadlines and word lengths) CEO Name Signature Module Lecturer (Simon Wright) Signature Date Wearing Well Manager Agreement Group Role Title Role Description Name Signature CEO Name Signature Date Session 2 Monday 15th April 11. 30 – 13. 00 Shared Value and Stakeholder Value This session will provide the opportunity to revise the concept of stakeholders and to apply it specifically to the question of strategies for sustainability. Different frameworks for understanding stakeholders will be discussed and contrasted, highlighting the importance of understanding and managing stakeholder expectations in strategy formation for sustainability. We will have virtual appearances by the Stakeholder guru, RE ‘Ed’ Freeman and by Harvard Professor Michael. E. Porter discussing the concept of ‘shared value’. Core Reading Michael Porter and Mark R Kramer (2011) ‘Creating Shared Value’ Harvard Business Review Jan – Feb 2011 Freeman, R. Edward, Harrison, Jeffrey S. and Wicks, Andrew C. (2007) Managing for Stakeholders: Survival, Reputation and Success Yale University Press. See provided a short paper R. E. Freeman (2008) ‘Managing for Stakeholders: Survival, Reputation and Success’ Darden Business Publishing, University of Virginia (note permission has been obtained for the use of this paper in this module). Stead, W. Edward and Jean Garner Stead (2009) Management for a Small Planet Greenleaf 3rd Edition Chapter 7 provided Session 3 Monday 15th April 14. 00 – 15. 30 Business Briefing: Sustainability in the Retail Sector Stuart Wright, Head of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability J Sainsbury PLC http://www. j-sainsbury. co. uk/responsibility This presentation will highlight the current sustainability policies, practices and issues for J Sainsbury PLC, one of the UK’s largest supermarkets. The session will provide an opportunity to consider trends, opportunities and challenges from the perspective of one of the UK’s most innovative and successful retailers. Stuart is responsible for the delivery of Sainsbury’s 20 by 20 Sustainability Plan, a ? 1 billion initiative to drive corporate responsibility across a variety of stretching targets encompassing environmental, sourcing, communities, food ; health. Session 4 Monday 15th April 16. 00 – 17. 30 Business Briefing and Group work: First Steps Here you will begin your assessment of the Company Case and your preparation of your Strategy. This will involve agreement about individual roles within the Group, integration and time lines, and about decision-making and strategy-making processes. You should start your stakeholder scanning for WW. Sessions 5 ; 6 Tuesday 16th April 09. 30 – 12. 30 Business Briefing and Group work: First Steps Here you will begin your assessment of the Company Case and your preparation of your Strategy. This will involve agreement about individual roles within the Group, integration and time lines, and about decision-making and strategy-making processes. You should start your stakeholder scanning for WW. Sessions 7 ; 8 Tuesday 16th April 13. 30 – 17. 30 Group Work: Scenario Planning for WW This will enable you to apply the processes of scenario planning for sustainability (Sessions 5 and 6). What sort of environment (supply, employees, market) and company do we plan for? What overall strategy should we follow? You may find that this overview gets reviewed as you explore operational realities and develop operational strategies. Session 9 Wednesday 17th April 09. 30 – 11. 00 Business Briefing and Group Work: Operational Scanning for WW Each operational manager should be scanning their area of responsibility: what is working? Why? How do the operations support / undermine the overall performance of WW? This will enable you to apply the thinking about developing operational strategies for WW. Session 10 Wednesday 17th April 11. 30 – 13. 00 Group work: Operational Strategies for WW The process started in Session 8 should feed into the preliminary thinking about operational strategies. You will need to think about the relationships between the results of the different operational scanning exercises and the fit – or otherwise – of preliminary operational strategies. These will ultimately need to be informed by the overall strategy that you select. However, also the overall strategy needs to take account of operational realities and to integrate operational strategies. What do you remember from your Strategy modules? Session 11 Wednesday 17th April 14. 00 – 15. 30 Group Work: Preliminary Integration of Strategies for WW Here you will begin to integrate your operational Strategies; identify and address inconsistencies. Do the operational strategies reinforce one another? Does the overall strategy run through all the operations? Is there a clear vision for WW?

Class Divided Essay

When I first read the title a Class Divided; the first thought that came to my mind was another story about Blacks and Whites being separated. I really had no idea that what I was about to see and read would be a learning lesson like one I had never had before. But to my surprise once I started reading the article One Friday in April 1968 I knew that this was going to be different then any thing I had read. So I allowed myself to fill what the writer was writing to try and fill what Jane Elliott had felt that day in April in 1968. As she prepared to face a group of 3rd grade students who happened, to be white and teach them about racism and discrimination something she hoped they would understand the rest of their lives. Jane Elliott had taught her class about what the two things had mint before but not on the level she had planed to go to today; she hoped that with what she was planning to do would not mean she had crossed the line to far, but if not her then who and if not then when. It was not something that Jane Elliott could put off any longer. With the assassination of Rev Martin Luther King the night before this assignment was sure not to be an easy task. Jane Elliott knew things would be different in class this morning! But she was a women who knew in her heart what task laid before her and not quite sure how the outcome would be, or how or what response the children or their parents may have it was to late too turn around now. This was a situation that was going on all over the world not just in her town or in America. And it was time that someone brought right to the face of Americans children I mean who is the leaders of tomorrow but the children of today. And they might as well get a taste of the real world now; really what could the worst that could happen? You might find out that even at that young age, some of them might even understand that racism and discrimination is something they never want to be a part of or on the flip side you would have a bunch of racists’ running around; it was best to know now what kind of people were being raised instead of finding out later when they get to old to even change. The technique that Jane Elliott used was very different then any I had heard about and since by the video I knew there where no blacks in her class to see how she would divide the class I was very interested. And here white women a teacher from a rule town was willing to put and idea a solution of an age old question of how to stop discrimination. Something the nation had no solution to and countries and people were battling over everyday. How was this demonstration with kids going to change anything? Jane Elliott took a chance not just for wanting to teach students about racism and discrimination but teach it in a manner in which you as a person could actually feel acknowledge and understand the experience that they just went through to know how it feels to walk in another man shoes. Jane wanted her students to understand that at the end of the day no one is superior or inferior to anyone else no matter what your status is in life. Now I admit I had no idea how she was going to approach this difficult task and get the point across but as I continued to watch on, it was becoming clearer. When Jane Elliott started her class the following morning it started off I guess you could say any normal class day would start the students seem to be as happy as the average 3rd grader would be. The normal inquisitive minds of most kids; as the kids hung up there coast and put away their coat and lunches away she started getting the kids in order and as class started she asked them a question like did they know what were some of the things that made other people different from themselves and other whites. Some said size one said clothes but color was the one they all could agree on and so she asked them what where some of the skin colors that where different then their own? Blacks and sometimes they were called Negros and Indians. So she asked the kids and how did they think that people of other colors felt by feeling different about being different they said they felt that blacks did not feel as smart by not being white, and they felt stupid because they were black. And so with that she asked them how they would fill if they were treated different because of their color! Now keep in mind this is the week of national Brotherhood and you are suppose to treat your fellow mates with respect and love show them you care because they are your brother. And Jane Elliott was about to do just the opposite. She asked them how would they fill if they where treated different because of the color they where now at first I’m thinking how is this going too work they are all white. But she told them that she was going to divide them up by the color of their eyes. Now for that day all people with blue eyes were going to be better then the brown eyes and it was like immediately you seen a whole different reaction from the class, it was if these weren’t even the same kids the brown eyed kids started to withdraw almost immediately and the blue eyes were in full bloom. Some of the blue eyed kids even gave a solution on how Ms Jane should handle the brown eyed kids with a yard stick incase they got out of hand. Now by lunch time the blue eyes felt on top of the world they told not to play with brown eyed kids and that they could have seconds on food the brown kids could not. Now for the brown eyes you could see the confusion on their faces the hurt they actually tried to rationalize how the same kids they had been friends with and played with change so much. And I remembered thinking how could in such a short period of time could these sweet kids turn into the ill monsters they has become. For me it was like if it took them such little time to embrace such a cruel sprite then I knew how it must be for grown people who exercise this kind of behavior for a long period of time how bitter and angry they must be not at the world but themselves. Now one of the scenes on the playground when the blue eyed boy taunts the brown eyed boys and they get into the brawl it hurt because before this experiment they were friends. And just in a couple of hours all there upbringing and brotherly love had went out the window. Now when Jane asked the boys what happen the blue eyed boy said it made him fill powerful and in charge? He said it made him fill like a king. The brown eyed boy to me on the hand seemed to be more affected by what had happen at lunch he said he was hurt and they use to be friends that the eyes had nothing to do with it they had been friends and even though he hit the blue eyed boy it did not make him fill better. This made me see that even though this was the first time they had put a division among the students the lust for power emerged quickly in some with out hesitation and others went along with it because that’s what they were told to do while again the brown eyed boy stood up for himself regardless of what the teacher said even though he admitted that he did not like being treated different and fighting did not make it better he just knew it was not fair. On returning back to class Ms Jane also noticed how the blue eyed kids were getting there work done faster and even being more helpful she noticed how the brown eyed kids looked like they where helpless and not really participating in class time you tell they felt rejected. It was as if had caught the essence of creating a bad situation but had the answer for straitening it out all was not lost. Jane announced to the that the roles had changed the following morning in class and believe me the blue eyes where not to happy with the change this mint they would be on the bottom and the brown eyes were on top. Some kids did not want to do it anymore while others could not wait to be on top. What this showed me with kids is that they do as they see being done just as well as what they hear. When it was time to go back to being normal no more blue eyes no more brown eyes over all the kids seemed to be happy to return to the normal class setting; she allowed the kids to tell what they like and disliked better about it and in the end the all promised not to ever dislike somebody because of there skin color. When Jane Elliott did this same experiment in the jail there was a whole different reaction here the video was showed to the inmates not as a test but more as a teaching tool which I kind of understood discrimination is something that most of the prisoners had encountered some where along the way either in there or one of the reasons they where in jail in the first place. But she did use the correctional officers and parole agents and I could not believe what was going on one man early on caught on that it must have been some kind of test because he notice the obvious brown eyes only signs blue eyes only signs seating situation while others tried very heard but it was this one lady she was a blue eye and a correctional officer she questioned and taunted everything that Jane wanted them to do prior to the blue eyes meeting in the room with the brown eyed people she sort told them that the group of people entering were going to be rude loud dominant and disruptive once the seminar bega n. No one knew what was going on but she was setting the blue eye people to fail. She made them annoyed in every way possible so about time the group was together it would seem that the blue eyed people were just as she described. Now the Lady with the blue eyes seemed to be the type of person that was easily irritated to start with her whole persona was if she was in charge and not Jane she answered questions with questions kept getting smart like she was going to be in charge no matter what it was her life and job were one in one and nobody was going to make her fill less she controlled the inmates at work and that was how her personality came off as if she did not come second to anyone things went her way or no way and that there is only one right answer hers; she became very annoying too me and she made me fill like some people In authority position now like its only their way that works does on like individuality love making people fill less in order for them to feel good about the mselves. It seems if the other blue eyed people were willing to try and work out was being taught she kept a defensive block up all the time. Her behavior had begun to annoyed a lot of the people in the room including some blue eyes This also made me see how much easier it was for the children to grasp what was being taught; more then the adults the kids were willing to say that how they were able to treat people even when they were told to do so if it mint treating them bad they did not like it. Of course for the one kid who felt like it gave him power. The correctional officer Acted, as if to admit that you are not better then the person next to you then there better then you. I think she had control issues; me, personally fill that you can learn something new ever day if you are willing to learn you have good and bad I every race good and bad comes in many shapes and sizes. But if you be the best you can be treat people with kindness and respect you will get treated the same. As long as you know there are exceptions to all rules and some people are just not nice no matter what. But don’t let that change who you are. Smile and somebody bound to smile back.

Basic Senior Year Financial Questions Assignment - 1

Basic Senior Year Financial Questions - Assignment Example Net present value recognizes time value of money and such appreciates that a shilling now is more valuable than a shilling tomorrow and the two can only be compared if they are at their present value. This is another modern method of discounting cash flow because the technique uses the principle of NPV. It is defined as the rate which the present value of cash outflows of an investment equates the initial capital invested. IRR will accept a venture if its IRR is higher than or equal to the minimum required rate of return which is usually the cost of finance also known as the cut off rate or hurdle rate, and in this case IRR will be the highest rate of interest a firm would be ready to pay to finance a project using borrowed funds and without being financially worse off by paying back the loan (the principal and accrued interest) out of the cash flows generated by that project. Thus, IRR is the break-even rate of borrowing from commercial banks. This method gauges the viability of a venture by taking the inflows and outflows over time to ascertain how soon a venture can payback and for this reason PBP (or payout period or payoff) is that period of time or duration it will take an investment venture to generate sufficient cash inflows to payback the cost of such investment. This is a popular approach among the traditional financial managers because it helps them ascertain the time it will take to recoup in form of cash from operations the original cost of the venture. This method is usually an important preliminary screening stage of the viability of the venture and it may yield clues to profitability although in principle it will measure how fast a venture may payback rather than how much a venture will generate in profits and yet the main objectives of an investment is not to recoup the original cost but also to earn a profit for the owners or

Conceptual Framework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Conceptual Framework - Essay Example The disruptive innovation theory describes the process by which a product or service takes root initially in the market, in the form of uncomplicated applications, and then moves up the market in a relentless manner. The new product disrupts the entire market and existing value network and as well displaces the earlier technology and competitors. A disruptive innovation allows the whole population access to a whole new product that was initially historically accessible to a specific set of consumer with a lot of money. Business or companies can also be disruptive, and when in this nature the expected characteristics would be that, at least in the initial stages, of smaller target markets, lower gross margin, and products or services that may appear simple and unattractive solutions when compared to the traditional performance metrics (Fannin, 2012). Usually companies tend to innovate faster even than the rate at which their customers’ lives change. In such instances, an organization would end up eventually producing the products and services that are too expensive, good, and inconvenient for most of the customers. Pursuit of sustainable innovation has perpetuated what has helped companies historically to be established in new market such as India and succeed in their production endeavors. Ideally, companies have unwittingly, in most occasions, opened their doors to disruptive innovations and not sustaining innovation which in itself does not lead to the creation of new markets or value networks but, evolve the existing ones with better value. Generally, according to this theory, companies that are well managed and quick to respond to their clientele and have exceptional research and improvement can be impaired by disruptive innovation (Evans, 2002). The relation of this theory to my study is based on the apprehension of the actuality that, in India, new companies have sprang up in the recent past that have introduced new products in

How the media affects perception Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How the media affects perception - Essay Example Television is one of the strongest media that has impacted our lives and the way we think. We cannot get away from the fact that most of our tastes, dressing and most importantly our lifestyle have been deeply influenced by the television through their commercials, soaps, dramas, music, dance and cultural programs. On the flip side, television helps to educate and keep us informed and abreast with all that is taking place in the world through its news channels and its many other educative channels. But yet, besides all its good facets, it has been able to influence our lives in such a way that is difficult to even fathom. One ironic notion is how T.V commercials portray the majority of women as housewives when actually more that 35 to 55 percent of women make up the regular workforce. (Journal of the University Film Association, 1981, pg. 6) Violence portrayed on T.V has had an exceptionally great influence especially on the youth of today who consider it to be the most natural thing. Good examples of this are the Hungerford massacre and the Columbine Killings. Another major factor that has taken its toll on the women of today is dieting. Through their flashy commercials depicting pencil thin figures of women has had a bad influence over the normal woman who thinks she has to become like the models in the commercial and hence goes through a lot of stress and trauma in doing so. As a result she becomes anorexic or bulimic and undergoes a lot of psychological problems. The radio may be a much cheaper way of advertising or getting various ideas or information across but it is rather an effective way to reach a target audience. The radio influences us in many different ways, in that it helps to change our opinion or tastes on things such as music, the buying and using of different products, gauging or forming opinions of different politicians, celebrities etc. This change is brought

Is it possible to ensure scientific rigour when conducting Essay

Is it possible to ensure scientific rigour when conducting quantitative and qualitative research - Essay Example It is worth noting that the concepts of validity and reliability of qualitative research have in the past not been well codified as in the case of quantitative research. This paper therefore, looks at the possibility of having a scientific rigour when conducting qualitative and quantitative research (Gery & Ryan 2013). The quality and reliability of any research finding depend on the techniques used in collecting data, sample choices, techniques used in the analysis and the illustration of the chosen techniques. Equally, the researcher needs to develop systematic coding patterns to assist detect deviant cases that would otherwise affect reliability. The Techniques for Collecting Qualitative Data In order to have correct inference, the analysed data must be quality data. This means that techniques of collecting data must be well chosen based on the type of research and the judgements made about the contents. Poor selection of techniques is likely to result into wrong deduction (Meyric k 2006). There are approaches and techniques that can assist to improve the validity and reliability of qualitative data and the research reports. To ensure scientific rigour, four data collection techniques can be used. ... Elicitation techniques can also be categorized into types of interviews; structured, semi-structured, unstructured, and mixed elicitation that combines the three. The use of unstructured interviews may be informal or ethnographic. To have control of the results scientific research need to avoid informal interviews but choose the structured and ethnographic techniques, which allows longer questionings and deeper probing (Seale & Silverman 1997). This leads into credibility of the data with ability for proper analysis. This is because the structured and semi-structured interviews are often designed to allow all informants to be examined on a set of similar questions, in order to provide an opportunity of making comparisons of the data across respondents or groups of respondents to improve reliability. In this method, the researcher initiates the interview, asks the specific questions, and determines whether the conversation on a particular topic has meets the research objectives. In th is case, the respondent is guided and restricted to the research questions. Data collected is likely to be reliable if there is a level of correlation across the respondents. Structured interviews are majorly employed when the research intends to measure the magnitude of an occurrence and to assist make more accurate comparisons within and across groups (Seale & Silverman 1997).The validity of such structured interviews is founded on the hypothesis that if a systematic and a set of standardized instrument is administered to a group of individuals, the variances in their responses is majorly as a result of their individual differences, but not the difference in the instrument used. Examples of structured

Bad impacts of computers on people and society Research Paper

Bad impacts of computers on people and society - Research Paper Example For example, chatting on the internet sometimes connects lovers despite the distance. However, it also reduces the amount of time they spend together and therefore weaken their bonds. In addition, excessive usage of computers results in development of health problems among the computer users. For example, eyesight problems due to staring on the screen and complications resulting from maintaining rigid postures for prolonged periods are examples. The role of computers in reducing outdoor activities also implicates usage of computers in the increasing rates of lifestyle diseases (Winston, 2010). Other problems include the development of social misfits due to the role of computers in learning, especially in children (Zhang, 2011). However, the majority of these problems are a reflection of the changing social structures that are accelerated by usage of computers. Therefore, though computers have negative effects on the users, the negativity is a function of the changing social structure s. Computers merely accelerate the changes. Over the last few decades, the volume of computer usage has been increasing due to innovations and advancements in technology. Innovations increase the convenience of computer usage and advancements in technology facilitate the innovations. For example, the rise of the social media platforms over the last decade has increased the amount of time spent on the internet, especially by the youth. Though the increasing usage of computers are a function of advancement and reflect positive changes, it results in health problems, social problems and behavioral problems in the society. According to Winston, 2009. Lifestyle related diseases are the leading cause of death in the US today. These diseases are a function of poor lifestyle activities that limit physical exercises and therefore result in the buildup of fats in the body. For example, due to social media, people can now

Assignment question Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assignment question - Research Paper Example A hungry man can tell which one of the two is important: ecosystem or food. To meet this hunger, forest conversion becomes more important than forest conservation. Poor do not have the resources and materials to make the preservation possible. They have to cut down forests to make the land grow something that should be beneficial for them and their nation. For countries where hunger is prevailing, forests have no market value or economic function. Thus, to richer developed countries, it may be important to preserve ecosystems for carbon sinks and biodiversity because they can afford it; but, poorer countries have to do something to feed the nation first. United States went through deforestation many years back due to which it is a developed country now. It would not be fair to deny the poorer countries this opportunity. Agriculture development is the basic requirement of a country if it has to come at par with the modern world. However, to balance out the agricultural security ecosys tem preservation, there is need to devise strategic policies at national level.

US-Australia Flights and Their Economic Implications Essay Example for Free

US-Australia Flights and Their Economic Implications Essay Airlines and flights availability have very strong implications upon tourism. And tourism, on the other hand affects the economy. Simply stated, it is not very convenient to reach a certain destination without a speedy transportation medium. Imagine how can you reach Washington from Melbourne if there is no flight connecting these two countries? However, connecting two destinations is not an easy task to do. There are a lot of considerations to be done to make the route successful and advantageous to both the air line company and the passengers. In the case of Australia, which has â€Å"eleven per cent (11%) air space of the earth’s surface† (Efficient Planning 2006, 41) flight region, it is quite easy to setup flights. Taking the flight to Washington from Melbourne, or Australia to the United States of America (USA) nowadays are more convenient. In fact recent talks between the officials of these two countries is to have â€Å"open skies† (â€Å"US-Australia†Ã‚   2008) to promote competition and thereby encouraging tourism. Currently, it is the Australian Qantas that takes the lead when flights between the two mentioned countries are concerned. â€Å"At the moment Australian airline Qantas has by far the most non-stop services to the US, and reportedly generates up to 20% of its profits from the route†, according to the BBC report. The weekly non-stop flights between these two countries carried out by Qantas consist of forty-eight (48) trips in all. Can you imagine the exchange of tourism earnings between the US a and Australia only be these flights by a single airline company? Aside from Qantas, other airlines planning to compete in bringing in passengers to Australia from the USA and vice versa are Virgin Blues V Australia and Singapore Airlines. Currently however, there are fourteen (14) weekly flights aside from that of Qantas which is offered by the United Airlines. These flights, totaling to sixty-two are only for the non-stop classification. How about if those with connecting flights are added here? More exchange of tourists can be done if more flights would be counted. Recently, the flights departing the USA going Australia has given   49,000 visitors from the  United States of America only for the 28-day month of February 2008 bringing the total for the two months of 2008, January and   February, to 86,100, â€Å"an  increase of 7 per cent  relative to the same period of the previous year.† (â€Å"February 2008 Highlights†) In fact there is a steady increase of arrivals from the USA to Australia as the year moves away from 2001, the time when security issues on air travels were so critical. The concerns on airline and airport security according to Beirman (2003, 53) became one of the most important challenges facing the world of tourism industry. Airlines and airport authorities worldwide had actively addressed this issue since air piracy first emerged as a terrorist tactic as far back as 1960s.   Beirman (54) further noted that   â€Å"the drop in both domestic and international airline patronage coupled with the reduction of scheduled air services was expected to flow through to patronage of hotels, resort and attractions. Indeed, as stated, the number of passengers is also reflective of the tourism industry because without a means of transportation, tourists cannot just reach where they want to go! And reciprocally, without passengers, flights/airline routes cannot simply survive. On the other hand, things causing people to travel include publicities such as in 1999 when   Qantas airline gained so much profit despite the economic challenges. It was attributed to exposure and publicity related to games would also result in a longer-term growth period  (Qantas Flies High as, 3). Furthermore, there were 44,900 visitors from the  United States of America  during December 2007 bringing the total for 2007 to 459,700, (â€Å"December 2007 Highlights† 2008) an  increase of one (1%) per cent  relative to 2006 while there were a total of 456,000 (â€Å"December 2006 Highlights† 2008) US American arrivals in 2006, a two (2%) per cent rise relative  to 2005, while in 2005, 446,200 (â€Å"December 2005†, 2008)   American visitors arrived,   making an increase of three (3%) per cent  relative to 2004 records. Table 1 American Flyers to Australia (2004-2007) Year Head Count Yearly Increase in % 2007 459.700 0,81 2006   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   456.000 2,20 2005 446.200 3,00 2004 433.200 Base   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What are the economic implications of the above result? Pairing with recent data above, the period covering 2006 and 2007, the tourism industry in Australia contributes 3.7% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 3.4% to the country’s Gross value added amount. Moreover the industry employed 482, 800 individuals comprising 4.7% of the total Australian employment (â€Å"Market Insights† 2008). It surely is a very positive output caused by tourism and one of the contributing factors are the flights and inflows of tourists and visitors mentioned in the preceding discussions. On the other hand, Australian visitor arrivals to the U.S.in 2003 summed up to approximately 582,000 giving a 12% rise from the previous year (â€Å"International Arrivals†, 2005). The following year, a 4% increase followed to 603,000 arrivals (â€Å"International Arrivals†, 2006). In fact the two countries exhibit similar trends, increasing flights as the years move away from 2001 and the number of arrivals are almost reciprocally comparable. In the US, more flights mean more commissions to or incentives to the travel and tourism industry and economy. According to Ioannides and Debbage (1998, 120), through travel agencies commissions, the airline industry can manipulate the type of advice given by the agents. This means more monetary circulation in the market and naturally, as previously mentioned, the ensuing effects to the hotel and accommodation industry, beaches and attractions business, museums, and any other tourist spots in the U.S. And not to be missed, the corresponding taxation paid by those earning entities. In fact, as Hall, and Page (2002, 2) stated, tourism, as with other forms of economic activity, therefore reflects the increasing interconnectedness of the international economy. Indeed, by its very nature in terms of connections between generating areas, destinations and travel routes or paths, tourism is perhaps a phenomenon which depends more than most not only on transport, service and trading networks but also on social, political and environmental relationships between the consumers and producers of the tourist experience. Furthermore tourism can be viewed as a primary industry which, through visitor spending, increases job opportunities and tax revenues, and enhances the communitys overall economic base  (Hall, and Page 2002, 5) Thus, these are what those flights and arrivals are all about: profits and taxes, money circulation and improved economy. Works Cited Beirman, David. 2003.  Restoring Tourism Destinations in Crisis : A Strategic Marketing Approach /. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen Unwin. http December 2004 Highlights://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=102031251. December 2005 Highlights, Latest Visitors Arrival data. Tourism Australia.http://www.tourism.australia.com/Research.asp?sub=0318al=1173. December 2006 Highlights, Latest Visitors Arrival data. Tourism Australia. http://www.tourism.australia.com/Research.asp?sub=0318al=2100. December 2007 Highlights, Latest Visitors Arrival data. Tourism Australia. http://www.tourism.australia.com/Research.asp?sub=0318al=2808. Efficient Planning of Long Distance Flights Path. 2006. Airline Fleet and Network Management, January.   http://www.aviationindustrygroup.com/index.cfm?format=1184 . February 2008 Highlights, Latest Visitors Arrival Data. 2008. Tourism Australia. ttp://www.tourism.australia.com/Research.asp?sub=0318al=2878. International Arrivals to the United States for December, Fourth Quarter, and Annual 2005. ITA, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/pdf/2005ArrivalsAnalysis_DecFourthQtr.pdf. International Arrivals to the United States for Fourth Quarter and Annual 2006. ITA, Office of Travel and Tourism Industries. http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/view/a-2006-400/index.html. Ioannides, Dimitri and Keith G. Debbage, eds. 1998.  The Economic Geography of the Tourist Industry: A Supply-Side Analysis. London: Routledge. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=108239141. Hall, C. Michael, and Stephen J. Page. 2002.  The Geography of Tourism and Recreation: Environment, Place, and Space. London: Routledge. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=108405174. Market Insights, Tourism Facts. 2008. Torism Australia. http://www.tourism.australia.com/content/Research/Factsheets/Key_Tourism_Facts_07.pdf Qantas Flies High as Net Profits Rise. 1999.  Business Asia, August 30, 3. http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=od=5001296632. US-Australia flight talks begin could lead to cheaper flights across the Pacific.  2008. BBC News, February, 8. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7240588.stm.

St. Augustines Confessions Essay Example for Free

St. Augustines Confessions Essay There was nothing in Augustines Confessions that will help reveal his background especially concerning his socio-economic status. One has to consult other sources for that. But knowing fully well that education in ancient times is prized by the rich and the elite it is easy to deduce from the well written Latin masterpiece that indeed Augustine belong to the creme de la creme of society. This is a significant insight because not only is Augustine part of the highly educated and well-to-do crowd he also is a man who longs for God. A close study of the Confessions will lead one to understand how Augustine views Christianity. Based on the document, Augustine believed that Christianity is about striving to be intimate with God and at the same time a daily struggle to make the flesh obedient to the call of a godly life in Christ Jesus. Intimacy with God One of the most radical concepts about Christianity is the notion that mere mortals can be intimate with God. In order to appreciate this idea one has to first understand that Christianity like Judaism believes in one Almighty God who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. They are not simply worshipping someone that is ruler of a particular locale, like a god that is in-charge of a really old Oak tree or some ancient hill. This God is the one and only. Aside from that the God of St. Augustine is a great Deity whose power is evident in the Old Testament portion of the Bible. The God of Augustine is the Creator of Heaven and Earth. And yet Augustine wanted to be close to Him. This is evident in Book I: The Early Years. In the first few paragraphs Augustines deep longings was evident by expressing near panic not knowing what to do first. Is it to call Him or to praise Him? Having the ultimate goal in mind Augustine said that, â€Å"You stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you† (Book I: Early Years). This desire for intimacy is actually radical. One only has to take a casual review of ancient religions, Greek and Roman mythology to realize that for thousands of years before Augustines Confessions God or the gods were considered to be mean and cruel. The ultimate goal of the worshiper is not to be intimate with the gods but to appease them. God according to other religion is indeed mighty but He is unapproachable. As one continues to read, one will find that Augustine was simply warming up. He is not merely content with the getting to know you stage and his desire to know God goes deeper not willing to accept a superficial relationship. Augustine did not write the Confessions because he simply wanted to earn the favor of God. He went one step further and in the first few sentence of Book II, Augustine declared that he desires to love God (see Book II: Adolescence). The Flesh The words coming from his pen were profound and those who may mistake Augustine’s longing for intimacy with the Almighty as wishful thinking. Augustine as agreed in beginning of this study was a man born to privilege and highly educated. If what he is saying is truth then it will be either as a mockery to God or as an honest desire to really know and be known by Him. One has to continue digging deeper into the Confessions in order to understand that Augustine was not deluded into thinking that this quest will be an easy one. It is at the point of realization that knowing God will not be an easy task Augustine begins to pour out his frustration that he is a sinner and has no illusion that he will be able to walk like the great and godly men of old like Moses and Elijah. In Book VIII: The Birthpangs of Conversion, Augustine mentioned his past, the desire for women and being enamored with the world and its intoxicating temptations. In Book VIII Augustine began to provide the resolution to a very complicated proposition that was made in the beginning of this study. It is possible to be intimate with God but its not going to be easy. The first step in order for a man to know God and be known by him, before a loving relationship between child and God can commence there is a need to first forsake worldly desires. In short a conversation from darkness to light must first occur and Augustine promises that there is nothing like it and that every sacrifice is worth every good thing that one can receive from Christ Jesus. Conclusion Aside from the fact that Augustine a highly educated, intelligent and very talented man to give up all the pleasures of this world to embrace the cross of Christ, there are other facets to the Confessions that are very radical. As mentioned earlier the concept that God is approachable and that one can build a relationship with him is an idea that is so advanced it is impossible to find any precedent other than the New Testament of the Christian Bible. But Augustine emphasized that he is not merely content to know God he is in the quest to learn how to love God. This is raising the bar so high it is almost impossible to reach it. It is a good thing to know that Augustine took time to explain that his goal of being intimate with God will not be a walk in the park. In fact, according to his own â€Å"confessions† there are many obstacles that must be overcome in order to achieve that goal. And it begins with conversion from darkness to light. At the end St. Augustine set an example and encourages many to strive for the impossible because it is only through God that one can find meaning, satisfaction and rest in this life. References Saint Augustine. (1998). Confessions. H. Chadwick (Trans. ). New York: Oxford University Press.