Is Faster Economic Growth a Good Thing?

Is faster economic growth always a good thing? Argue the case for and against faster growth and then come to your conclusion. Economics growth has been studied in differences camps. economics, environmentalist and sociologist have been debating years about the causes and effects of this one, it is a fact that economic growth is link with life quality and the first one can affect the second one in positive and negative ways, this essay will expose a number of advantages and disadvantages of a rapid economic growth. The concept of â€Å"economic growth† 50 years ago was quite different from the concept nowadays, before, the concept focus on the industrialization and the economy of the country, until the seventies decade when the professor Dudley Seers introduces the concept with strong consequences in equality, unemployment rate, etc. Economic growth, it is describe in different economic dictionaries as â€Å"an increase in the  capacity of an economy to produce goods and services,  compared  from one  period of time to another†. And it is an important part in the development of the economy to permit the right utilization of the goods and the improvement of living standards; however, there are some cases that â€Å"economic growth† it is not a steeply process making a rapid economic growth which brought some positives and negatives consequences for the society. One advantage of the â€Å"growth†, it is definitely the fact that governments can reduce or eliminate the money borrowing, due to the tax revenue is higher and also there is less money spend on benefits for unemployed people, then there is an greater inversion in public services and education, which are important aspects in the measure of the development of a country. An increasing of outputs because of the growth, will generate that companies start to employ more and more workers to supply the necessities of the costumer, reducing the level of unemployment and at the same time making higher incomes, giving the opportunity to get more and better quality goods for consumers It is part of this phenomenon that consumer demand is going to increase leading to an increase as well in the investment this one can be implanted in different ways, one important is â€Å"technology† and innovations making easier and cheaper the production. conomic growth it is working as well improving the business confident making this one more interesting for international investment, this one has also a strong relationship with the unemployment mention before due to the investment will rise the level of employment and incomes. These group of advantages are a clearly prove of how important it is a rapid economic growth for the society, improving the life quality and making business profitable which increase the employment rate and income levels, we can find an example of this if we study the economy of some Asian country where a rapid economic growth produce that the percentage of people living with $1 a day decrease 12% from 1990 to 2004, however, there are some risks that we have to consider when the economy growth too quickly. When the process of economic growth is too quickly or â€Å"unsustainable† the results are not always good, one disadvantage of this kind of growth is the inflation that is the situation when the average of demand is higher than the average of supply leading an increase in the price of services and goods which is dangerous for the economy because it can be a reduccion in the real value of the money then an inflationary growth could stimulate a recession in the economy. Also if the economic growth is caused by an increase in the customer spending, causing a rise in the level of imports this one can be higher than the level of exports producing a deficit follow by balance of payments problems. Another problem of economic growth is that this one can increase inequality income and wealth, because sometimes all the benefit of the growth does not have a right distribution, economics measure that by the â€Å"Gini co-efficient† ant this have a big impact in the society such as corruption and regional, also the gap between rich and poor people can become bigger. A different negative factor of economic growth is the big impact of this one on the environment, According to Booth (1991, p. 552), the† long-run economic growth relies on the creation of new industries and new forms of economic activity, these new forms of economic activity create new kinds of environmental problems† and this problems are becoming worse every day, this is because the level of production and consumption of non renewable recourses has increases the same than the level of air pollution, waste, etc. Basically these are in general some of the advantages and disadvantages of a repid economic growth and we can see that this one play and important role in the increase of the life quality however is not coming risk free, the inequalitie of income a wheat can make an effect in the society the same that the enviroment effects, the important point is that we have to take actions of this a possible way to do it is the sustainable development that is defined In 1987 by the Bruntland Commission n Environment and Development as:†development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs†.

Being a Gentleman – Great Expectations

Great Education Many describe Charles Dickens' Great Expectations as a Bildungsroman † a novel tracing the education and spiritual growth of a young hero, in this case Philip Pirrip, better known as Pip. Pip's thoughts on education change throughout the course of the story, beginning with idealistic views of becoming a gentleman and ending with a deeper, more intellectual perspective of being a gentleman. After meeting the wealthy and once elegant Miss Havisham, Pip becomes ashamed of his life as a lowly peasant and son ofa blacksmith. He believes MissHavisham and Estella are better than he is, and he yearns to be a member of the elite. This commences his longing for an education. At first, he attempts to learn on his own, but realizes It Is a useless effort. Then, on the day young PIP Is told he will be moving to London so that he may become a gentleman, he dreams start to become reality. During PIP's childhood and adolescence, he believes that the sole purpose of his educatio n Is to become an intelligent social elite. According to Pip, the distinguished members of society with education are perhaps better than the less fortunate.Sadly, that belief becomes a part of his personality. On his Journey toward nobility, he disregards his immediate family and closest friends. He ignores his beloved Joe and Is even embarrassed to be in his presence. Every time Joes Insists on vlsltlng his old pal, Pip attempts either to sabotage the trip completely, or to shorten Joe's stay with him as much as possible. In the midst of it all, he becomes more and more obsessed with the beautiful, coldhearted Estella. As PIP matures, he slowly loses his boastful attitude. He helps his best friend,Herbert Pocket, start a business, even obtalnlng money from Miss Havisham to Invest in Herbert's business, without Herbert's knowledge. In addition, he gradually loses interest in Estella, realizing Biddy is the right woman for him. He goes home only to discover that Joe and Biddy marrie d. However, the evolved PIP feels happiness for them, while he silently suffers for himself. By the end of the novel Pip learns that there is much more to life than social rank. He is aware that family and friends are more significant than money and power.In he closing chapters as Pip is planning Magwitch's escape, he knows the Inheritance from his benefactor will cease to exist If Magwitch's Identity Is exposed. Yet, he still fights to help the old convict who insured his quest to become a gentleman. After the plan fails, Pip becomes overwhelmed with sickness, and it is Joe who arrives to nurse the disease-stricken Pip back to health. It is at this moment where Pip realizes what constitutes being a gentleman, and what does not. Joe, the person who cares for PIP the most, hsd the least amount of education roves to be the true gentleman all along.

Management Accounting and Organizational Control Essay

Management Accounting and Organizational Control - Essay Example A production can act as a department, manufacturing plant or a transportation firm. It depends on the work allotted to it. The activities of multiple productions units also will come under operational planning and control. The entity at higher level in the organisation will own all the production units involved. Supply chain system is used to coordinate the activities of all the production of all the production units that belong to higher entity. Now supply chain also comes under operational planning and control.1 Strategic planning and control is a policy that top executives of the company periodically review and plan the processes and in turn pass on down the organisation for the sake of implementation. This implementation involves operational planning and control. This means the OPC is a consequence of strategic planning and control. The OPC is dependent on strategic planning and control. The operations to be conducted depend on the strategies of the management. It includes mission, analysis, , situational analysis, strategic formulation, implementation and control. For the corporate organisation like AG Barr Plc strategy at corporate level with managing a portfolio of businesses is required. 2 A.G. Barr plc is the Britain's leading manufacturer of branded carbonated soft drinks. The products of the company include IRN-BRU, Tizer, D'N'B, and orangina. They have four production sites at Cumbernauld, Mansfield, Atherton and Pitcox. These manufacturing centres are supported by distribution centres that have their presence all over United Kingdom. The company produces variety of flavours in 330 mal cans and Orangina in famous bulby bottle in Atherton production site. Several sizes of PET bottles and containing soft drinks are produced in Cumbernauld and Mansfield production sites. In Cumbernauld site the company is producing 750 ml returnable glass bottle, which was first of its kind in UK. The Mansfield site produces 1 litre, 1.5 litre and 3 litre being exclusive for it. Barr is famous for producing environment friendly packs. Barr acquired Findlays Spring natural mineral water and it was now wholly owned subsidiary of the company. The production unit is at the foot of Lammermuir Hills. The sales centres deliver to small shop counters and distribution centres deliver to super markets, cash and carry and whole sale trade. 3. Evaluation of OPC Process in AG Barr Plc AG Barr is having four production centres and each centre is having its own specific bottle to manufacture. It will be difficult to manufacture all the types of bottles in

Oil Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Oil Market - Essay Example Deflation pressure, not inflation, is currently one of the greatest concern for the global economy. During the previous year, producer prices have reduced all over the developed world; consumer prices have been decreasing for the last 6 months in Germany and France; in Japan wages have actually dropped 4% for the past year. Up until the latest crisis prices were decreasing in Brazil; they continue to fall in China and Hong Kong; most probably they will soon be declining in various other developing countries (Case & Fair, 2005). Currently, none of these price reduction of oil seems anything like the great deflation that followed the Great Depression. But the presence of deflation as a common problem is worrying, not just because of its direct economic effects, but because until lately most economists considered sustained deflation as a profoundly incredible prospect, something that must not be a worry (IMF, 2011). Although changes in prices have been controversial, they are the unavoidable outcomes of shifts in demand and supply. The demand and supply of oil are comparatively inelastic in the short run: price changes have a small effect on either the quantity supplied or the quantity demanded. When there is an increase in oil prices, we spend some energy and time complaining but, in the short run, spend nearly no effort in adjusting our habits to consume less. Likewise in the short run, price changes do less to spur new supplies. As the quantities demanded and supplied change slightly as prices increase and decrease, both curves are comparatively vertical as shown in the figure below: Â  Since quantities are comparatively fixed in the short run, any shifts in demand or supply affect prices. For instance, supposing that supply decreases. The reduced supply makes a temporary shortage that will increase the price. If demand is elastic, only a slight increase in price will be required to

Supramolecular Polymers based on Hydrogen Bonding Essay

Supramolecular Polymers based on Hydrogen Bonding - Essay Example The paper tells that a supramolecular polymer refers to any kind of self-assembly that results in the creation of polymer-like aggregates occurring through reversible interactions between one or more kinds of components. Because of the reversible interactions, these polymers can thermally equilibrate with their monomers, unlike conventional polymers. These polymers are responsive to external stimuli. The mechanical properties of these polymers respond strongly to changes in solvent or temperature because of their reversible interactions, and so, they are in continuous equilibrium with their environment. Therefore, the functional properties of these polymers are highly useful. Supramolecular polymers show polymer like rheological properties because of their macromolecular structure and can also form gels if the self-assembled chains are long enough. Supramolecular polymers comprise of non-covalently bonded monomers and are of various types that include crystals, colloids, gels, liquid crystals, and hydrogen bonded polymers. Hydrogen bonded supramolecular polymers are those polymers in which the monomers are held together only by hydrogen bonds. The utility of hydrogen bonds in bringing polymers together was first shown by Stadler and coworkers. Supramolecular polymers can generally be classified into main-chain and side-chain polymers. The main-chain polymers are further divided into linear main-chain polymers, networks and linear polymers based on their bidirectional units. Side-chain polymers are further divided into two classes. The first one includes polymers with binding motifs in the side-chain, and the second one includes polymers with binding motifs in the main chain (Ligthart 2006). Supramolecular polymers of the linear main-chain type can be formed via the assembly of bifunctional or multifunctional monomers or planar structures that can assemble on both sides of a plane (Ligthart 2006). Figure 1 — Two classes of supramolecular polymers (a) Main -chain polymers, (b) Side-chain polymers (Source: Ligthart 2006, p. 3) According to Greef et al. (2009), supramolecular polymers can be classified based on the type of interactions that lead to their formation. Accordingly, the different types of supramolecular polymers that can be classified based on the interactions include those that are formed by hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, ?-? interactions, and metal-ligand binding. However, Greef et al argue that this scheme of classification, although useful, ignores mechanistic details that have been revealed as research in the field progresses. They thus propose another system of classification, which includes two groups. The first group of polymers are those that have monomers of single type, which undergo complementary end-group or self-complementary interactions. With the help of complementary couples that are directional (A-B), and self-complementary binding motifs (A-A), all kinds of polymeric structures such as cross-lin ked networks, linear homo-polymers and copolymers, and branched structures can be synthesized (Ligthart 2006). For instance, polymerization of an A2 monomer which results from the reversible A: A self-complementary interaction, comes under the first group. The polymerization of A-B monomer through a reversible A: B complementary end-group interaction is another example of the first group of supramolecular

People and Organizations Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

People and Organizations - Assignment Example With the policy working, the team was able to meet its deadlines as well as present high quality job. The level of effectiveness has been favored by the continued attendance of meetings by the team members. Every member has been assigned duties that make him or her available for every meeting. This creates a sense of belonging, which creates a strong bond between members of a group (McMillan & Chavis 1989). The result has been we have become friends to each other hence creating a friendly and conducive environment for us to work in. In our group, we worked to enhance motivation that made the team members place group interest ahead of personal interest. So far, we have been able to have four meetings and the attendance and level of participation have been consistent from the team members. Every member’s participation has been recognized by the continued support from the team members on given group work assignments. The previous assignment had six questions. We divided the quest ions amongst ourselves in the sub groups where we worked in pairs on every part of the question. Each meeting had a specified task were everybody turned up prepared and ready to work on the day’s part. John and I were working on a set of three questions. To enhance effectiveness and timely delivery of the assignment, exchanging of ideas, and evaluating responses against questions is very essential (Bloom & Loftin 1998). Upon confirming that we had answered all the three questions as per the instructions, we went ahead and asked for suggestions from the other group members while we also helped them evaluate their answers. The results were a well-done assignment where all aspect of the questions had been addresses effectively. Team support to specific individuals is a key success indicator of every team (Brounstein 2011). At the time of presentation, we worked as teams in supporting each other do a thorough presentation. I remember I was very tense when doing my PowerPoint pres entation that I needed some back up. Grace came in to provide the needed support when laying up the stage for presentation as well as doing a conclusion for the presentation. The same happened when Bill was doing his presentation. John assisted him in doing the introduction and the first part of the questions presentation. This happened until all the questions had been presented and all upcoming questions had been answered effectively to the satisfaction of the audience. Low opportunity, low morale and high team turnover and wasted time are key ingredients to ineffectiveness (Parker 2011). To avoid such problems, our team applied some important factors for team effectiveness that contributed to our team working successfully. Just to mention a few are cohesiveness and coordination, team training and team building activities. Cohesiveness and coordination defines the level of interaction of the team members to each other (Salas 1992). Our team had the greatest level of interaction, wh ich was highly favored by the friendship that existed between us. Working with each other was much fun that one could not miss a meeting to engage in personal issues. For example, I had to fore go a family shopping day to attend a group discussion meeting. This was possible because the team’s interest came first and I felt it was more important, due to its urgency

Reward schemes tend to be the most effective way of promoting and Essay

Reward schemes tend to be the most effective way of promoting and achieving the aims of Ecotourism, Discuss - Essay Example Consequently, it is fundamental to agree on the most suitable ecotourism strategies and approaches. Ecotourism Ecotourism involves visiting pristine, fragile and natural areas that are not distorted by humans. Ecotourism is small scale and has low environmental impacts compared to mainstream commercial tourism. It also involves responsible travelling to natural sites with an aim of preserving the surroundings and improving the welfare of the local people residing in such areas. The main purposes of ecotourism in to volunteer, learn and personal growth of the participants (United Nations Environmental Program 2011, p. 1). Additionally, it minimises the negative environmental impacts that mainstream tourism causes. It also promotes the cultural integrity of the local people. The participants in the ecotourism industry participate in recycling, conserving water, saving energy besides creating economic opportunities for the local people (Kotas 2009, p. 53). Ecotourism existed because of the prevailing problems in the tourism industry. The interest in ecotourism is the need to conserve wildlife facing extinction. There have been increased cases of invasion of natural habitats for agricultural purposes, fishing, logging and hunting. Although many countries have officially reserved areas for conservation, they lack enough funds for protecting and managing them. Consequently, several destructive activities are happening in these areas. Consequently, ecotourism is interested in restoring the values and the genetic reservoirs of vital biological resources (Buhalis 2002, p. 1). Reward scheme A reward scheme is an arrangement that an organisation provides to clients and other stakeholders in its industry aimed at encouraging them to appreciate and take part in activities that improves their welfare and community members. The focus of any reward scheme is to prioritise initiatives for customer care, initiate corporate social responsibility and strengthen communication strat egies. Principles of reward schemes A reward scheme is hard to design and run because of the many challenges that characterise its execution. The challenges include the difficulty in getting tourists to sign up and join the scheme. It is also not easy to change the behavior of tourists towards this scheme because they focus on pleasure. However, it is necessary that an organisation follow several principles to ensure the creation of a comprehensive reward scheme. Organisations reward their clients differently based on the nature of clients and the organisation (Barbera & Dutta, 2008, p. 59). The initial standard is to ensure that the rewards currency is relevant to the organisation. An organisation must ensure that the rewards are directly linked to products and services. The perspective of the tourists must be the key driving force in such a situation. The second principle is to communicate the burn instead of the earned. One of the objectives of a reward scheme is to ensure that t ourists acquire points as they purchase the products and enjoy the services of their host organisation. These points are exchanged with rewards. Most tourists are not always aware of the exact worthiness the points earned. They are only concerned with the benefits from the points. This means that communication plays a fundamental role when distinguishing and empowering the tourists (Fennel2007, p. 93). An organisation can achieve

750 words essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

750 words - Essay Example Buddhism summarizes a spiritual life in four tenets. This entails the truth of suffering, the truth of the reason for suffering, the truth of suffering’s end, the truth of the path that leads towards enlightenment. The first tenet means that life must always possess suffering. In turn, suffering is an inalienable part of life that individuals should not hold as strange. Acceptance of suffering does not connote nihilism, but acceptance of the world as it occurs. In such a pragmatic frame, the individual learns how one can rectify the problem of suffering. The religion does not deny the concept of pleasure, but classifies the same as a fleeting value (Ganeri 67). This also applies to happiness, which is a monetary feeling. In the end, sickness, aging, and death are the only inevitable elements. The second truth deals with the cause of suffering. The Buddha states that desire and ignorance are the two main causes of suffering. Desire relates to pursuit for pleasure, material thin gs, and immortality. Since these wants are insatiable, desiring them fuels suffering in people. Ignorance, on the other hand, refers to not perceiving the world as it occurs. When an individual lacks insight and foresight, the mind remains static since it is unable to perceive the true nature of life. Buddhism emphasizes on the mind as the principal precept for attaining Nirvana. This is because the mind is essential in controlling desires and emotions. The texts liken this principle to the act of herding an ox such that it does not stray into other people’s farms. Buddhism recognizes that the senses may become uncontrollable if the individual does not chain them with one’s mind. In this view, indulgence in desires and limited application of the mind in life suffocates the spirituality of a person. Buddhism emphasizes on the need for learning in order to achieve enlightenment. When a person is born,

Tuskegee Airmen History Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tuskegee Airmen History - Research Paper Example From the days approaching he first world war onwards, African American men had tried to become involved in the emerging discipline of air training, but the path was initially blocked by the planning bureaucrats when they tried to apply. The reason given in 1917 was that â€Å"No colored aero squadrons were being formed at the present time,... but, if later on, it was decided to form colored squadrons, recruiting officers would be notified to that effect.† Francis and Caso, 1997, p. 37) The uncomfortable truth of that era was that the War Department simply did not believe that African American men had the talent and ability to benefit from training as pilots. Besides this wholly unjustified prejudice concerning the qualities of African Americans, there was also a deep-seated commitment to segregation of white and African American people in all walks of life. The military could not conceive of an inter-racial force combining these different groups, as we have today in the modern navy, airforce and army, and so the only possible idea in their minds was a segregated unit for non-white groups. From the beginning of its existence, the U.S. Air Force was considered a profession only for the brightest and best students. It combined a highly technical training in all the skills needed for flight, with a demand for courage and exceptionally good judgement in difficult circumstances. Most airmen were graduates of respected colleges, and of course the general exclusion of African American students from most white colleges and universities made it difficult for this group to obtain even the basic prerequisites for entry. The Tuskegee Institute filled this gap by designing the first advanced courses specially tailored to prepare African American students for a career in flying. Civilian pilots and other trainees were recruited, and the types of training provided covered quite a range, including preparation for roles as airplane mechanic, aircraft armorer, aircraft sup ply and technical clerk, instrument and weather forecasting. (Francis and Caso, 1997, p. 55) One of the reasons for this expansion into African American training institues was the increasing need for qualified staff, but another was the efforts of teaching staff and potential trainees, especially in the Southern States to be allowed to take up an equal position along with other groups in defending their country in the case of war. The Second World War made it abundantly clear that the country needed to be equipped for defence and action in Europe and elsewhere, and this is perhaps what encouraged the planners to provide the resources for training. Despite the logical reasons for the Tuskegee programs, many people in government and in society at large remained to be convinced that African Americans could take up such vitally complex and difficult roles as flying in combat. A significant factor in overcoming these reservations was a visit by the President’s wife, Mrs Eleanor Ro osevelt, to fly with Charles Alfred Anderson. â€Å"Thanks to his skill and obvious abilities, the First Lady returned to the White House convinced about the Blacks’ capabilities not only to fight in the Air Corps, but to fight as well in the Army and in the Navy.† (Francis and Caso, 1997, p. 31) While permission to train for the Air Corps was pushing ahead, things were not quite so positive in

Christianity and the Secular Point of View of Gun Violence Essay

Christianity and the Secular Point of View of Gun Violence - Essay Example A political debate has also been sparked by these mass shootings over gun violence and gun control. In this perspective, the church has adopted a secular view with regard to these shootings. Drawing on the variety of literature, the paper will discuss Christianity and the secular point of view of gun violence/school shootings. Discussion The American Secret Service defines school shootings as the deliberate selection of a school as the location of the attack. The number of mass shootings and gun violence in the U.S is as rampant as the number of people living in America. According to figures from the US Department of Justice and Council on Foreign Affairs, there have been 60,000 people affected by gun violence and mass shootings in 2015 alone. As a result of the magnitude and effects of gun violence and mass shootings, the Church has adopted a secular view to the issue. Conversations about mass shootings often devolve around emotions. In the recent times, the Christians are agitating for their right to bear and own firearms. There is still debate on the effectiveness of guns used in personal defense. A survey carried out by the U.S Department of Justice placed the rate of using guns for personal defense at 1.6 million. However, this is twice the crime rates. The Christians share the view that the Bible was authored long before the gun was invented. It, however, mentions the use weapons in battles and wars. War is portrayed as something that is part of a fallen world (Mark 13:7; James 4:1).

The Radio Free

The Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty (RFERL) in Central Asia Essay News-provider websites are considered to be of great significance in the modern age. Socio-cultural news provider websites, specifically, are deemed to be more adeptly serving the news searchers as it is more accessible in the modern age. Also, due to a more globalized world, news is now regionalized and integrated covers are available in these internet sites. However, there are underlying considerations as to how effective a socio-cultural website given its content, timeliness, design and format. This review is an evaluation of the Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty (RFERL) in Central Asia website; an internet news provider which tackles socio-cultural issues from different parts of Central Asia. The website Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty is a form of free media which covers up-to-date news in several regions of the world. It contains news feeds from different countries. Although common news-providers such as those in broadcast television or print includes a variety of sections such as the top news, weather, science, technology, entertainment, lifestyle, etc, this website focus solely on the top socio-cultural stories. These Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty stories are a variety of news and features in social/cultural issues, and international/domestic politics. In the Central Asia section of the website, being the section evaluated in this review, the countries covered are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. All of which contribute to this integrated news website with a variety and up-to-date content. The website’s content can be viewed as somehow very elaborate as different links and sections are made available within the webpage. The most important website links in the page is the navigation bars (subdivided into the standard navigation and the countries navigation bars) which contains an easy-access to all the other parts of the website aside from the Central Asia Region news feed alone. Also, the ten most recent news and features are presented within the webpage in a very neat layout, containing the title of the article, a brief summary, and an image related to the news. This is helpful as it becomes easier for the reader to scan and assess which articles he/she is interested in reading. Also another feature which is quite functional and helpful is the variety of available languages the articles can be read in. These are available at one section of the page which provides website links to pages which are written in the languages of English, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Uzbek. Furthermore, the website’s design conforms to news-provider pages standards. By and large, news feed website backgrounds are divided into sections and has a white background. The section divisions help the visitors to locate and identify what they are in search of. The white background, on the other hand, makes it easier for the readers to identify it as news articles as news is always associated in black text with a clean-colored background. This is true even in print such as magazines and newspapers. However, the articles posted in the webpage lack information needed to establish authorship’s credibility and timeliness. The news articles, although posted in summarized versions for viewers convenience, still needs to make the posting time available to make the summarized version more concrete. The readers need to know which time these summarized articles are posted so as not to misconceive it as outdated news or insignificant as of the current time. Also, authorship is very important as it raises the credibility of the article. As a socio-cultural website, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty in Central Asia conforms to news feeding website standards in the quality of the content and design of the website. Also, features made available such as language translation and RSS Feed (a feature which makes it possible for readers to get news in a manner most convenient to them) are highly useful and functional. Succinctly, even if there are insufficiency in providing some information, such as time and author, required in news-providing mediums, the website, still, is successful in providing up-to-date socio-cultural news in Central Asia. Reference News and Features from Central Asia. Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty (2009) February 10, 2009 from http://www. rferl. org/section/Central+Asia/172. html.

Theories of Food Choice Influences

Theories of Food Choice Influences Food is essential for growth and bodily functions (Wahlqvist and Briggs, 2010). Therefore, in this paper, theories that influences food choices will be discussed and applied to my food choices. Lastly, this paper will conclude on my understanding on others food practices and what changes can improve their food choices. Based on the food choice model, the first medium that influences ones food choice is developmental. Food choices are often developed and influenced through exposure over the individuals developmental lifespan. From the child is born, his family would be the primary medium for his exposure and socialization to the food that he consumes. Usually, the food consumed would belong to the culture which the child family stemmed from. Rarely would the child be allowed autonomy over the choice of food. (Fieldhouse, 1998). Applying this to an Asian context which I was born in; since young, I was exposed to Chinese cultural foods where lard, soy sauce, sugar and salt was often used to enhance the flavour and fragrance of meals. I was used to eating these daily and never would have thought I would be exposed to other food choices. This exposure came when I progressed into adolescence where a secondary type of socialisation took place school, media, friends or an older sibling. When a child enters school, and gets exposed to friends and the media, they will observe what their peers consume and get exposed to food advertisements on the media, all which grabs their attention and leads them to change in their food habits (Fieldhouse, 1998; Ogden, 2010). Remembering vividly back to high school, if my peers or elder sister ordered a meal, I would order the same meal as them due to my perception that they know what food tasted better. In addition, when shown food advertisements, it often makes me crave a bite. The second medium is our cognition. Based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (Ogden, 2010, p44), it posits that an individuals attitude and his subjective norms drives his intention to perform the behaviour which then leads to the individual performing the behaviour. Again, applying it to Chinese cuisine, it is the subjective norm that one should use all parts of the animal (e.g. chicken)-including the organs- during cooking as they have nutritional values. Therefore, I feel it is normal to cook every part of the chicken (attitude towards behaviour). Given that a whole chicken can be conveniently bought at any supermarket, I would turn the various parts into different dishes for my family (performing of specific behaviour). Despite, knowing that animal organs for example are high in saturated fat and can cause heart diseases (Jesus, 2015). The third medium is psychophysiological. Food choices can be based on the 5 senses: sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. (Ogden, 2010) Hearing food sizzling, coupled with the smell and sight increases our likelihood of consuming the food. When food touches the tongue, pleasure is obtained from the texture, perceived sweetness or saltiness of food. Food choices can also be influenced by ones mood and stress. (Ogden, 2010) Personally, intense stressors from school would cause me to engage in mindless eating as a mood booster. Convenience is defined as the accessibility to food products. After living in different countries, it got me appreciating how different countries have different accesses to food products. For countries with supermarkets conveniently located near train stations, it is easy for the residents to get a wide array of food choices. This is unlike countries where supermarkets are scarce with limited food choices. Cost can also influence food choices. It is of relevance to the individual socio-economic status; with more access to money, one can made more food choices. But, being a student with no source of income, I must be thrifty and limit my choices. Food choices can also affect how one manages their relationship with others. Given that most of my peers and family love fried food, I would cook them frequently to satisfy their taste buds. By doing so, I am bonding with them even though I know that it is unhealthy. After understanding the influences in my food choices, the basics of the theory of planned behaviour (Ogden, 2010, p45) could be used to explain how my choices changed. During a lecture, I learnt that consuming healthy food would improve ones health (i.e. healthier weight, positive mind set, decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol level) and reduces the likelihood of developing chronic diseases. With so many health benefits, this has motivated and drive me to make the change. Based on the theory, I am showing a change in my attitude towards the behaviour (i.e. a healthy lifestyle). This change towards a healthier food choice was further made easy through the context that I am in. Having peers that were studying the same course who hold similar goals to have a healthy diet -, it thus seems like a subjective norm to have healthier food choices. I am also blessed to have housemates that are supportive to my changes. Making the move here to Adelaide alone had also given me full control over food choices. To start the change of food choices, one needs to have adequate knowledge. Through my research on the healthy eating guidelines, I have learned to consume a wide range of reduced fat dairy products, vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, lean meats, have ample of plain water and reduce consumption of foods high in saturated fat, salt and sugar. (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015) A second change that I made was through how I did my grocery shopping. Prior to purchasing any food, I would read the ratings and food labels. As healthier products are costlier, I would purchase fresh vegetables and healthy products that are on offer to reduce my expenditure whilst eating healthier. A third change that I made was in modifying my food practices arising from the Chinese culture. It dawned on me that Chinese cuisines are usually high in salt due to the salt and soya sauce combination added into the dish. To ensure that I eat healthier while still satisfying my sensory needs, I created variations like omitting salt if soya sauce is used, using olive oil and different spices. I have also substituted white rice for brown rice for its health benefits and replaced junk food (e.g. chips) with baked nuts (e.g. walnuts). By making such changes in my food choices decisions, it has changed how I view food. I have learnt to appreciate food for their natural taste, am more conscious on what I eat. It has also made it harder for my peers or the media to influence my current palate. Having been to the outskirts in Thailand; Chiang Rai, I will be analysing their food practices. In Chiang Rai, there are limited food options for the locals. As supermarkets are usually located in town and there are no public transports available; one would have to drive about an hour to get fresh groceries. Due to these inconveniences, the food options for locals are preserved foods as it is affordable and can be stored longer. In addition to limited food options, the locals are also presented with a reduction in their food choices. As most locals hold manual labour jobs, their food choices were mainly limited to an increased consumption of carbohydrates (e.g. white rice); as it is presumed that higher consumption of carbohydrates will keep one full for prolong hours. It was also hard to incorporate fresh food into their diet as they do not have the appropriate storage place (e.g. fridge) to prevent the food from turning bad. Lastly, the locals at Chiang Rai differs in their cooking practices. The meals prepared are often seasoned either with sugar or salt as they believe that this is the only way to ensure that the meal tasted delicious. After analysing their food practices, it can be deduced that their diet resulted from poor accessibility to food choices, awareness on healthy diet, money and the proper amenities to store their products. The individuals accessibility to the supermarket is of first importance. The government should target such population and make public transport available. This will allow greater accessibility to other food choices. If creating a public transport route is not feasible, another alternative would be for the supermarkets to offer free delivery services. Not only would this be beneficial to busy working adults, but this will also be of great help to elderlies who has decreased strength and mobility and are unable to lug heavy groceries home. Of second importance is educating them. When I started making the change, I enriched myself with healthy eating guidelines. Therefore, I believe that with adequate education on how to prepare healthy meals with affordable ingredients and introducing them other natural alternatives that enhances their meals (e.g. herbs and spices); making healthy food choices (e.g. reading food labels) and changing their perceptions (e.g. educate them to choosing high fibre food which can help them to be full easily too) towards food. Making groceries more affordable would be of third importance, supermarkets can consider selling seasonal vegetables and products that are expiring within two months at a cheaper price. Lastly, there could be community funding projects conducted to raise funds for such population to afford a fridge to keep their fresh groceries.

Tobacco addiction case study

Tobacco addiction case study Nick is a thirty-year-old Caucasian male who recently enrolled in your patient panel. He comes in today because he desires to â€Å"kick the habit† of tobacco use. He had tried to quit before and succeeded twice, only to start up again. He denies any health problems but has a strong family history of COPD and lung cancer. His father died of lung cancer three months ago, and he has been dreaming of him since then. He does not want to end up the same way. Past medical history The patient denies medical problems. He had a vasectomy four years age at his ex-wife’s request, no other surgeries. He has noticed a recurrent morning cough and increased production of mucus over the past two months or so. Medications – none Allergies – none Stage of change – contemplation Diagnosis – tobacco abuse and addiction Patient education Through the use of tobacco, nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive substances and the leading preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking accounts for around one of every five deaths in the United States (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). When a person is addicted to a substance, they have a compulsive urge to seek out and use the substance, even when they understand the harmful effects it can have (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Tobacco products are addictive. With each inhalation of a cigarette the smoker pulls nicotine and other harmful substances into the lungs, where it is absorbed into the blood stream (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Nicotine is shaped like the natural brain chemical acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a chemical called a neurotransmitter; this carries messages between the brain cells or neurons (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Theses brain cells or neurons have specialized proteins called receptors, into which specific neurotransmitters fit. Nicotine locks into acetylcholine receptors. Nicotine attaches to acetylcholine receptors that release a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is released normally when a person experiences something pleasurable. Smoking causes neurons (brain cells) to release excess dopamine, which is the cause of feelings of pleasure when smoking (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). This effect wears off quickly, causing the smoker to get the urge to light up another cigarette for another dose of the drug (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Nicotine is the primary addictive component in tobacco, but it is not the only important ingredient (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). People who smoke have a reduction in the level of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the brain and body. Lower levels of MAO in the brain may lead to higher dopamine levels and this leads to the reason people continue to smoke and continue to get the pleasurable effects from smoking (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Long-term use of nicotine products leads to addiction. The way nicotine is absorbed and metabolized by the body enhances its addictive potential (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Each inhalation brings rapid distribution of nicotine to the brain, but it quickly disappears along with the pleasurable feelings. This triggers the smoker to seek that same pleasurable sensation throughout the day (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Over the course of the day tolerance develops, requiring more frequent doses or higher doses to get the same effect. Nicotine, heroin, and cocaine have similar effects on the brain (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Many people who have a nicotine addiction are in denial. They may be social smokers, meaning they only smoke when out with friends, or they believe they can stop when they are ready (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Recognizing the signs of addiction is important for the getting over the addiction. Common signs of addiction include requiring increased use of tobacco to get the same satisfaction, experiencing withdrawal when nicotine levels are low, having the desire to quit but not being able to, experiencing cravings and urges to smoke, and continuing to smoke despite being aware of the health risks (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The physical symptoms of nicotine addiction are caused by withdrawal. Withdrawal occurs because the brain can no longer naturally produce adequate levels of dopamine. Nicotine withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, frustration, irritability, depression, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, and weight gain (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Some of the health risks associated with nicotine use include chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), lung cancer, asthma, gum disease, mouth and esophageal cancer, heart disease, and stroke. The carcinogens in tobacco products cause abnormal cell growth that can develop into cancer (Brunton, Chabner, Knollman, 2011). Deciding to quit smoking is the first step toward becoming a non-smoker and better health (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). After quitting, the risk of stroke can be reduced to that of a non-smoker in as little as two years after quitting (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Heart rate and blood pressure return to the non-smoker levels after only two hours of not smoking. The rate of heart disease related to smoking is decreased to fifty percent and the rate of lung cancer is substantially reduced (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Steps to nicotine abuse and addiction recovery that may help are to set a date to quit; this allows the person to get in the mindset to stop (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Knowing the triggers that make the person want to smoke is another important factor. Some triggers commonly observed that increase the desire to smoke are after a meal, while driving, drinking alcohol, boredom, stress, coffee, and being around other people that smoke (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Having a strong support system is another important factor in quitting. Informing the people around the smoker of the decision to quit may help to support the decision as well as holding the smoker accountable for the goal of quitting. It is easier to stop smoking if the people around support the effort to stop smoking (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). If the smoker is thinking about quitting, or has made the decision to quit, there are several products to help in the process of quitting and prevent many of the withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine replacement is an alternative to stopping cold. Many people find it easier to use a replacement therapy such as the nicotine patch, inhaler, or nicotine gum. This may make the transition easier and more comfortable for the person trying to quit (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Tobacco dependence is a chronic disease that often requires repeated interventions and multiple attempts to quit. Effective treatments exist; however, that can significantly increase the rate of long-term abstinence. Counseling and medications are effective when used by themselves. The combination of counseling and medications, however, is more effective than either alone (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Products designed to help quit tobacco abuse and addiction Bupropion SR treatment should begin one to two weeks before the quit date. The starting dose for tobacco cessation is 150mg orally every morning for three days, then 150mg orally twice daily. This dosage should be continued for seven to twelve weeks. For long-term dosage, use of bupropion SR 150 mg for up to six months post-quit may be used (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Common side effects include insomnia and dry mouth. Insomnia may be addressed by taking the evening pill at least eight hours before bedtime, with at least eight hours between doses (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Nicotine gum is available in both regular and flavored forms. The gum dosage is available in two milligrams and four milligram doses. Smokers should use at least one piece every one to two hours for the first six weeks (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The gum should be used for up to twelve weeks with no more than twenty-four pieces to be used per day. Common side effects of the gum include mouth soreness, hiccups, dyspepsia, and jaw ache. These effects are generally mild and transient, often caused by the patient’s chewing technique (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). This can be alleviated by correct chewing techniques. The gum should be chewed slowly until taste emerges, then parked between the cheek and gum line to facilitate absorption. The gum should be slowly and intermittently chewed and parked for around thirty minutes or until taste dissipates from the gum (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Nicotine Inhalers- A dose from the nicotine inhaler consists of a puff or inhalation. Each cartridge delivers a total of one milligram of nicotine over eighty inhalations (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Recommended dosage is six to sixteen cartridges per day. Duration of the therapy is up to six months. Side effects include local irritation in the mouth and throat, coughing, and rhinitis. The severity of the irritation is mild and the frequency of symptoms decline with continuous use (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Nicotine lozenges are available in two milligrams and four milligram doses (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Generally, smokers should use at least nine per day in the first six months of therapy, and should be used for up to twelve weeks, with no more than twenty lozenges used per day (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The two milligram is recommended for smokers that have the first cigarette more than thirty minutes after waking. The four milligram is used for patients that have the first cigarette within thirty minutes of waking (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The most common side effects include nausea, dry mouth, hiccups, and heart burn. Use of the four milligram lozenges may also cause increased rates of headaches and coughing. The lozenge should be allowed to dissolve in the mouth rather than chewing or swallowing it (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Nasal spray- The nicotine nasal spray produces higher peak nicotine levels than other nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) and has the highest dependency potential (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). A dose of the nasal spray consists of one 0.5 mg dose delivered to each nostril (1mg total). Initial dosing should be one spray per hour, increasing as needed for symptom relief (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Minimum dosage is eight doses daily with a maximum of forty doses per day. Each bottle contains around one hundred doses. Recommended duration of therapy is three to six months (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Patients should not sniff, swallow or inhale through the nose while administering doses, as this increases irritation. The spray is best delivered with the head slightly tilted back. Users report moderate to severe nasal irritation in the first two days of use. Nasal congestion and transient changes to taste and smell are al so reported (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Nicotine patches treatment of eight weeks or less have been shown to be as effective as longer treatment periods (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Patches of different doses are available. Dosing regimens should be based on patient characteristics such as amount smoked and degree of dependence (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The step down dosage includes four weeks of twenty-one milligram per day patches, then two weeks of the fourteen milligram per day patches, then two weeks of the seven milligram per day patches (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). There is a single dose regimen available in twenty-two and eleven milligram per day patches for other step down regimens. Up to fifty percent of patients using the patch will experience a local skin reaction. These skin reactions are usually mild and self-limiting, but may be worsened during the course of therapy (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Local treatment with a o ne percent hydrocortisone cream or a five percent triamcinolone cream, and rotation of patch sites may ease the skin irritation. Other side effects of the patches include insomnia and vivid or strange dreams. At the start of each day the patient should place a patch in a relatively hairless area, typically between the neck and waist, rotating the site daily to reduce irritation (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The patch should be applied as soon as the patient wakes on the quit day. If insomnia is a problem, the patient should remove the patch prior to going to bed (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Varenicline is an approved non-nicotine agent for smoking cessation (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The FDA added a warning regarding the use of this agent. Depressed mood, agitation, changes in behavior, suicidal ideation, and suicide have been reported in patients attempting to quit smoking when using Varenicline (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Any history of psychiatric illness should be discussed before using this medication. Side effects of the medication include nausea, trouble sleeping, and abnormal or vivid dreams (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The patient should start Varenicline one week before the quit date, with a dose of 0.5 milligram daily for three days followed by 0.5 milligram twice daily for four days, followed by one milligram twice daily for three months. Varenicline is approved for maintenance therapy for up to six months (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). The patient should quit smoking on day eight, when the dosage is increased to one milligram twice daily. To reduce the insomnia problem, the second dose should be taken at dinner time rather than bedtime. To reduce the nausea, the medication should be taken on a full stomach (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Varenicline is a non-nicotine medication. The mechanism of action is due to its partial nicotine receptor agonist and antagonistic effects (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Because Varenicline is eliminated almost entirely unchanged in the urine it should be used with caution in patients with severe renal dysfunction. It is not recommended to be used with other nicotine replacement therapies because of its nicotine antagonistic properties (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Plan of treatment Patient will be advised that the increased cough and mucus production is related to the use of tobacco products and that once he no longer smokes the frequency of cough and mucus production will decrease as this is related to irritation in the lungs caused by tobacco use. A smoker’s cough is a persistent cough that develops in long-term smokers. At first it may be dry, but over time it usually produces phlegm. The cough is usually worst upon awakening and improves throughout the day. The airways are lined with tiny hair like cells called cilia, which catch toxins in inhaled air and move them upward toward the mouth to be expelled. Smoking paralyzes these cells. Instead of toxins being caught in transit, toxins enter the lungs and create inflammation. This leads to coughing as the lungs attempt to clear these toxins. As the Celia begins to repair themselves during the night and attempt to remove the accumulated substances from the lungs, the result is coughing upon arising. Thi s cough will usually fade as the Celia is allowed to repair themselves from the abstinence of cigarette smoking. Treatment will consist of smoking cessation counseling and support, Varenicline 0.5 mg daily, starting immediately, orally once daily for three days, then 0.5 mg orally twice daily for four days, followed by one mg orally twice daily for three months. Follow up should be in three days to evaluate side effects and patient response. The next follow-up will be dependent on patient progress and response to medication. The patient will be instructed on the community resources for smoking cessation support groups and how to cope with the stress of not smoking and how to manage daily frustrations related to smoking cessation. Dietary counsel will be offered for possible nutrition advice and weight management. The patient will be encouraged to enroll in an exercise program or to increase physical activities during the initial phase of smoking cessation. A chest x-ray will be ordered, at the patient’s convenience, to rule out COPD or other lung issues. References Brunton, L., Chabner, B., Knollman, B. (2011). Goodman Gilmans: The pharmacological basis of therapeutics (12 ed.). McGraw-Hill. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Clinical practice guidelines: Treating tobacco use and dependency. Retrieved from CDC.gov: http://www.bphc.hrsa.gov/buckets/treatingtobacco.pdf Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Smoking and tobacco use. Retrieved from Center for disease control and prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/how_to_quit/you_can_quit/nicotine

The Character Vasia in Boris Pasternacks Doctor Zhivago :: Doctor Zhivago Essays

The Character Vasia in Boris Pasternack's Doctor Zhivago The character Vasia Brykin, in the novel Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternack, is created and developed as a symbol of the rampant and chaotic times during the turbulent Russian Revolution. His significance in relation to the overall plot is minor because of his only two sub-chapter appearances, but thematically he works to show the breakdown of the Russian economic and social infrastructure in the country, and the lasting effects it has on the generation of lives that were swept up in its political turmoil. Vasia is introduced in chapter seven, on the train to the Urals, where Yurii Andreievich Zhivago learns of his depressing story. Vasia Brykin's father was killed in the war, and his mother had sent him to be apprenticed to his uncle at age sixteen. One day his uncle was called in by the local soviet authorities to answer some questions, and accidentally walked into the Bolshevik's labor recruitment office, where he was conscripted into forced labor and herded off to a train. Vasia and his aunt went to say farewell the next day, and his uncle pleaded with the guard, Voroniuk, to let him out of the car to see his wife for one last minute. Voroniuk, fearing for his own position, allowed him to leave only if Vasia stayed in his place for insurance. Vasia's uncle never returned, and he cried and pleaded with Voroniuk, but it was to no avail. Physically, Vasia appeared "an attractive boy with regular features who looked like a royal page or an angel of God in a picture" (223). He has red hair, and an unspoiled innocent look to him. On the external, he is a very enthusiastic person, full of compassion and emotion, especially when he speaks of his family and life back in his home village of Veretenniki: That's what I say-Buisky-Buisky village. Of course I know it, that's where you get off the main road, you turn right and right again. That's to get to us, to Veretenniki. And your way must be left, away from the river, isn't it? You know the river Pelga? Well, of course! That's our river. You keep following the river, on and on, and away up on the cliff...(224-225)

Revenge in Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights :: Wuthering Heights Essays

Wuthering Heights - Revenge Emily Bronte, who never had the benefit of former schooling, wrote Wuthering Heights.   Bronte has been declared as a â€Å"romantic rebel† because she ignored the repressive conventions of her day and made passion part of the novelistic tradition. Unlike stereotypical novels, Wuthering Heights has no true heroes or villains.   The narration of the story is very unique and divergent because there are multiple narrators.   Bronte’s character Lockwood is used to narrate the introductory and concluding sections of the novel whereas Nelly Dean narrates most of the storyline.   It’s interesting that Nelly Dean is used because of her biased opinions.   There are many major themes of the book, but revenge is the most imminent theme, the factor that leads the protagonists to their dismal fate.   Bronte proves there is no peace in eternal vengeance, and in the end self-injury involved in serving revenge’s purposes will be more damaging than the original wrong.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Heathcliff never finds peace through his revenge.   In fact, the only time he truly finds happiness is when he gives up his plan for retaliation.  Ã‚   Austin O’Malley states   â€Å"Revenge is like biting a dog that bit you†Ã‚   (O’malley 1).   O’Malley’s quote reflects Heathcliff’s immature need to propagate agony in those who have offended him.   Heathcliff’s plan for revenge on Edgar and Catherine is to marry Isabella, who is ignorant of love and of men because she has never experienced either.   He wants to hurt Edgar because of his marriage to Catherine, and he wants to get revenge on Catherine by making her jealous. Catherine’s death proves that this flawed plan of repayment helps nothing.   Heathcliff, haunted by the ghost of Catherine because he is her â€Å"murderer,† still is motivated by the need for revenge and tries to get young Cathy away from Edgar by having her marry his son, Linton.   Heathcliff never finds peace until he gives up his plan for revenge just before he dies.   When Heathcliff gives up his plan for revenge, he meets Catherine in death and truly becomes happy once more.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Catherine’s revenge does not make things better for her.   Her   revenge on Heathcliff by blaming him for her upcoming death does not meliorate her mind.   Just before she dies, she ascribes Heathcliff for her â€Å"murder.†Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"You have killed me, and thriven on it, I think† (Bronte 158).   Catherine resembles what Oliver Goldsmith said,   â€Å"When lovely woman stoops to folly, and finds too late that men betray, what charm can soothe her melancholy?

A Computerized World :: science

A Computerized World Since the first computer was made in the late fifties, the technology has developed extremely. Computers which took the place of a living-room then, are now being made in creditcard-formats. More and more areas are being taken over by the computer. As computers are capable of handling large amounts of data in a very short time, they are well suited for wordprocessing. I guess that it won't be long till all the paper-archives are replaced by magnetic tapes and diskettes. A diskette can contain much more data than a written page, and it takes less place! It is possible to get the Norwegian telephone book on just one diskette. In near future, a new area will be taken over by computers, namely maps. Different routes are stored on one single compact-disk. Imagine, simply insert the CD into the CD-driver in your car, and tell the computer where to go. The rest will be done automatically. This will be a safer, faster, and more comfortable way to travel. Another new area, called "virtual reality" is currently being tested. This is a way to simulate reality on a monitor. In order to feel this so-called reality you have to wear special electronic glasses and an electronic suit. Fastened to the suit are sensors, which send information to the main computer. This computer works with the data and displays them on the electronic spectacles. This is a technique which use three-dimentional views, therefore the scenery seems incredibly realistic. If you want to be a boxer, simply change the scenery on the main computer, and you are in the ring. Today, many kids have got video games. You could say these games are the present's answer to ludo and monopoly. In a way, it is a great advantage that the kids are being presented to computors at an early age, because they will definitely have to use them later, when they start to work. In the future there will be few occupations which won't use computors, one way or another. But the videogames are often being presented as something negative, which hinder the kids from doing homework and other more useful activities. This partially true, if they do much of it. But generally, I think the young people's contact with computers is positive. In Norway today, it is getting more common to have a computer at home. You can use a personal computer to keep household-budgets or other economics.

Lego in China

3. ECONOMIC China has several factors that contribute in strengthening their economic position. One of the contributors is their government policy. ‘Chinese government has stressed the importance of develop IT sector to the whole economic development of the country, with considerable commitments to massive investments in infrastructure positive effects of IT on its economic development’ stated by (Li, n. d. ). With more advanced IT departments, China is able to attract more investments from foreigners.Not only that, China also created flexible investors policies. With developed IT structure and a supporting policy, Lego will have no trouble penetrating China’s market. China was known as the most populated place on Earth, hence creating a high demand for products available in market. This will keep the market activity going, given that there is enough supply for everyone. Hoshiko (2011) demonstrated that ‘Cheap labor rates are the keystone to the Chinese econ omic boom’. With a population above 1. 2 billion, labor isn’t one of their main concerns.With low cost of labor, production cost will also drop, this enable them to produce inexpensive goods. If Lego decided to enter China’s market, they will also gain this advantage; they’ll be able to produce their products at a lower cost. Bradsher (2012) has written that ‘China’s exports to all countries rose 9. 9 percent in September from a year earlier, led by especially strong exports to Southeast Asia’. All of these factors in the end helps China’s economic activity, and making it more appealing for investors to come in and plant their money inside of China. The government said Tuesday that it planned to nurture as many as 50 state-owned enterprises to become globally competitive companies while maintaining control of companies engaged in key industries’ (Anon. , 2006). We can see what the government is doing here, they are trying to nurture their companies to complete globally, and giving less concern in internal competition. But global companies have started coming in and practiced the same thing too. Lego may do the same as well; it will give them a new experience curve to see how they should run their business in China.Even though the specific strategy might not be the same in any other country, but Lego will be able to realize what are the steps and actions needed to succeed in foreign areas. Knudstorp (2012) as cited in Hansegard (2012) ‘We're seeing growth in most Asian markets ‘. Recent findings have found that Lego’s sales have been increasing in Asian countries, why? ‘Disposable incomes in China have been growing faster than GDP growth, making toys more affordable for parents and children. ’ (Anon. , 2012). Take as an example China; the people have more disposable income to be spent on their children.Moreover due to the baby-boomer the generation of China, there are a lot of parents now, and now with China’s one child Policy parents are more willing to spend for their loved ones. 4. CULTURE Chinese culture is not as interchangeable, the people held on to it and still respects it as we speaking, and they respect relationship, ranking and protocols. Saying ‘no’ isn’t as easy as it looks like in the Chinese culture, because they believe to deny someone would cause both parties to be embarrassed causing a loss of face. Kjerulf (2010) ‘The Culture in Denmark tends towards the individualistic rather than collective and is very feminine’.We can see there is a difference between Lego and the Chinese culture. We can directly tell, Chinese people are higher in power distance; they call others by their title and last name. Also the Chinese are very more likely to be collectivist, actions that they decided are for the greater good of their people. Lego is very flexible in case of their products itself by having a lot of product lines. With a lot of movie based product lines, such as Indiana Jones, Lego is able to market and alternate their products according to other cultural preference.We found a difference in between China’s Lego official website with the other such as US, Lego in China had excluded the Monster Fighters edition. This can be understood, judging that Chinese people are not that keen on all these western monster theme and Halloween. So Lego figured they would rather not produce this product line, and focus on the others. If Lego had made an investment in Xiamen China, there should not be any problem. To begin with the Chinese people are more uptight towards ranking, and collectivist. While the employer has more of a flexible style, which gives the employees a new working experience and probably a better one.Reference: Home Www1. american. edu (2002) Home. [online] Available at: http://www1. american. edu/initeb/fl9577a/IT%20S;W. htm [Accessed: 5 Nov 2012]. China’s Strengths and Weaknesses 101 | Center for American Progress Americanprogress. org (2011) China’s Strengths and Weaknesses 101 | Center for American Progress. [online] Available at: http://www. americanprogress. org/issues/china/report/2011/02/08/9074/chinas-strengths-and-weaknesses-101/ [Accessed: 5 Nov 2012]. China Exports Rise, Hinting at a Glimmer of a Revival – NYTimes. com BRADSHER, K. 2012) China Exports Rise, Hinting at a Glimmer of a Revival – NYTimes. com. [online] Available at: http://www. nytimes. com/2012/10/14/business/global/china-exports-rise-hinting-at-a-glimmer-of-revival. html? _r=0 [Accessed: 7 Nov 2012]. China to nurture companies for global competition – Business – International Herald Tribune – The New York Times Nytimes. com (2006) China to nurture companies for global competition – Business – International Herald Tribune – The New York Times. [online] Available at: http://www. nytimes. com/2006/12 /19/business/worldbusiness/19iht-nurture. 3951635. tml [Accessed: 7 Nov 2012]. Lego Chief Sees Weak – WSJ. com Online. wsj. com (2012) Lego Chief Sees Weak – WSJ. com. [online] Available at: http://online. wsj. com/article/SB10000872396390444914904577622962273573438. html [Accessed: 7 Nov 2012]. Toys and Games Market Research, Analysis, and Commentary Blog. euromonitor. com (2012) Toys and Games Market Research, Analysis, and Commentary. [online] Available at: http://blog. euromonitor. com/toys-and-games/ [Accessed: 7 Nov 2012]. Business Communication Styles in China and Successful Communication with Chinese Businesses and Colleagues :: World Business Culture

Mobile Commerce in Developing Countries Essay

Mobile Commerce or M-commerce as it is more commonly referred to is simply the ability to do business electronically without any physical limitations or barriers. This is more popular with the use of smartphones today and other mobile devices. After researching several journals and articles, it is obvious at this point that there is no standard definition of the term â€Å"Mobile Commerce. † Many authors and writers have coined phrases and come up with definitions that are similar to each other; the general idea is similar but the words in the different definitions vary somewhat. However, one acceptable definition is used and this comes from Liang and Wei (2004), â€Å"M-Commerce generally refers to the use of wireless devices (particularly mobile phones) to conduct electronic business transactions, such as product ordering, fund transfers, and stock trading† (p. 7). M-Commerce was formed as a result of the Internet and mobile computing coming together to create a new business area. The benefits of Mobile Commerce are almost endless and a few will be discussed later in the analysis. However, the focus of this paper is the emergence of this trend in developing countries with emphasis on Africa- Nigeria to be precise. The population of Nigeria is over 150 million boasting one of the largest markets in Africa. Akpan-Obong (2009) states that â€Å"Nigeria is a major actor in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector in Africa, Nigeria has so far recorded significant achievements in ICT utilization, and has recorded higher growth rates in the penetration and diffusion levels of ICT† (p. 208). With Mobile Commerce rapidly taking over the business world, it is important to gain an understanding of how the so called major actors are fairing on the playing field hence the emphasis on Nigeria in the topic of Mobile Commerce. Article Summaries Liang (2004) and Akpan-Obong (2009) in their separate articles introduce the concept of Mobile Commerce and present generally accepted definitions of the term. While Liang focuses on the likely successes and failures of M-Commerce applications, Akpan-Obong specifically suggests electricity and infrastructural inadequacies as the reasons for the underutilization of M-Commerce in Nigeria. Greengard (2008) goes on to discuss the general impact of mobile phones on the world as a whole. He talks about the development opportunities that the presence of mobile phone technologies has created with the transformation of commerce, banking and healthcare. In his article, he states that the most profound changes and biggest dividends are being realized in developing countries. Formulation of a series of hypotheses from a research model developed by Peter, Philip and Victor (2005) identifies some of the factors affecting the use of mobile ICT in the least developed countries. Ayo and Agboola (2006) delve into the uses of M-commerce in Nigeria and how this technology is becoming widespread in the country. Solutions are also offered to deal with the issues of underutilization of the technology. Generally, these articles discuss the current practices and also anticipated future implementations of M-Commerce. The Internet, which is a form of electronic commerce has been in existence for years but it has been difficult to cover as much of the market as it could especially in some parts of the world where amenities like a computer are not only unaffordable but considered a luxury. With the emergence of mobile phones, â€Å"an important fact to consider is that M-Commerce is gaining relevance because the penetration of mobile phones is much larger than the penetration of Internet access (Duffey, 1998) in most countries. Greengard (2008), highlights a few of the relevant uses of this technology: â€Å"Although mobile phones have already transformed the more affluent nations, they are ringing up some of the most profound changes- and biggest dividends- in developing countries. Today, people are using mobile phones to track crop prices in Kenya and manage micropayments in the Philippines. They are tapping into these devices to handle healthcare information in Nicaragua and oversee bakery orders in Nigeria† (p. 17). Gone are the days when Africa as a whole was considered backward and inconsequential when it came to matters of technological advancements, infrastructure and amenities. Like most developing countries, Nigeria in particular has not yet implemented M-Commerce on a full scale. However, the trend is beginning to emerge with the appearance of mobile phones in every nook and cranny of the country. Now, unlike before, devices like mobile phones are no longer seen as sacred or only for the rich and famous in society. Rotberg was spot on when he stated, â€Å"it is the first time in the history of technology that social class and geography are largely irrelevant† (as cited in Greengard, 2008, p. 18). Almost anyone who is of talking age owns a cell phone in Nigeria. From the executives at the renowned industrious firms, the students attending public schools who cant even afford to buy textbooks and even the farmers in the villages and rural areas; the fishermen selling fish at the local market and even the housewives who grow vegetables and cultivate livestock in their backyards. Owning a mobile phone is no longer considered a luxury and does not cost an arm and a leg like it used to only a few years ago. This singular reason that the phones are now easily affordable and available for purchase by every Tom, Dick and Harry is what has fostered the emergence of Mobile Commerce in Africa, Nigeria to be precise. With the mobile phones gaining more popularity with the people in Nigeria, so also has the technological benefits been exploited. The wireless handheld devices have orchestrated the use of e-banking services in Nigeria. According to Ayo et al. (2007), â€Å"virtually all the 25 banks that survived the recent capitalization exercise engage the use of ICT as a platform for effective and efficient delivery of banking services. Consequently, electronic cards, Internet banking and mobile banking services are gradually being introduced. However, M-Banking activities are limited to mobile finance information, download or ringing tones and music as well as telematic services, particularly, vehicle tracking, theft protection and emergency services† (p. 13). As more and more advancements are pursued, banking will become not only flexible but also more convenient. Customers now have the luxury of checking their bank accounts on their mobile device without having to take a trip to the local branch of their banks nearest to them. They also enjoy the comfort of immediacy, information at their fingertips. The banking sector is one of the first and more important aspects of Mobile Commerce that has emerged in Nigeria. However, there is also much hype about the little things that are being derived from this technological advancement. Ayo et al. (2007) states emphatically â€Å"the success of M-Commerce has partly been due to developments in mobile communication techniques. Cellular networks were originally designed for voice-only communication. To support M-Commerce transactions, which are data based, there has been an evolution of these networks from analogue to digital and from circuit switched to packet switched networks. Today a number of these mobile communication technologies are available† (p. 11). Some of the strengths of Mobile Commerce in Nigeria are attributed to the GSM operators and the services that they render to their customers. The three major operators are MTN, Celtel and Globacom. Their services include: Voicemail, WAP services, SMS, customer services, call forwarding, international dialing, Celtel mobile office, faxmail, roaming, customer care and Broadband Internet Access that offers Broadband Internet to residential users just to name a few. These services allow customers to derive utmost satisfaction from the emerging trends in the advancement of Mobile Commerce. In his article, Greengard (2008) talked about one incidence in particular. â€Å"A Nigerian baker started taking orders for cakes via SMS and quickly expanded his presence beyond his immediate neighborhood. He experienced a 30% increase in sales† (p. 17). Many small-scale businesses are now enjoying the benefits of this technological advancement and they are using its features to broaden the scope of their businesses and gain competitive advantage over their competitors in the industry. If not for anything else, the customer relationship that exists between the business owners and their customers has been strengthened by the ability of the owners in providing their services directly to the consumers via these mobile handheld devices. The emergence of Mobile Commerce in Nigeria has brought with it both advantages and disadvantages. As with the mobile banking, of course it is fast, convenient and nowadays very affordable, there is also the threat of security and the complex systems and expertise needed to run some of the programs. There is a gap between those who are more technologically savvy and the layman who grows crops on his farm. This gap in knowledge does not allow the features on some of these hand held devices to be fully utilized. The phones being so affordable that even the most basic of the devices could probably browse the Internet assuming all the features are purchased, makes it likely that the phones are being underutilized to the most of its capabilities. Most senior management and more well to do individuals are more concerned about the security of their transactions over this mobile devices. Research by Agboola (2006), revealed â€Å"38. 2% of the respondents considered security as a major threat, while 4. 3% and 5. 4% considered complication of services and cost respectively as other factors† (p. 3). Apparently, the cost of mobile telephone service is higher in Nigeria than other African countries so it only reasonable that the cost of this service would be a major threat to Mobile banking as a whole. Another threat is the unavailability of basic infrastructure to support this system such as electricity, among others. The lack of electricity as a basic infrastructure in Nigeria has a ripple effect because it affects every device that makes up the system. Without electricity, individuals cannot charge their mobile phones when the battery is depleted. This in itself, defeats the purpose of Mobile Commerce, as there is no fulfillment in owning a phone when you cannot use it when you want to. The systems in the banks that perform the updates to customer accounts and provide information to the customers would also shut down as a result of lack of electricity. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), which are one of the first occurrences of Mobile Banking in Nigeria, would have to be shut down as well. With all the features of the mobile phones these days, it is only a matter of time before the developing countries of Africa begin to enjoy all of the benefits that countries like America are enjoying now. Although, seeing as how the advancement in America has not come to a halt, it is more than likely that developing countries would always play catch up. However, countries grow at different paces so it is only wise to perform according to the capabilities of the systems set up in the country until it can withstand the test of time. Synthesis Mobile Commerce as a concept has a lot of prospect for patronage dependent on the available services. First of all, there were no mobile phones at all in a country like Nigeria and then mobile phones were introduced and the craze cannot be contained. Now, the monumental growth of mobile devices all over the world, with over one-third of the world population having access to it has given prominence to M-Commerce. With technological advancements emerging everyday in different areas and industries, Mobile Commerce can only get better as more provisions are made to handle the loop holes and reduce the threat that are presently facing the market. There would most likely come a time when Mobile Commerce is not only the fastest way of doing business but the most common, the most trusted and also the safest. It would soon become a way of life. According to Peter et al (2005), â€Å"the country had experienced a phenomenal growth from a teledensity of 0. 49 in 2000 to 25. 22 in 2007. This trend has brought about a monumental development in the major sectors of the economy such as banking, telecoms and commerce in general† (p. 140). Nigeria, being the fastest growing telecoms nation in Africa and the third in the world, it is almost inconceivable to imagine how much is yet to come by way of technology and other infrastructure. Today, African countries may be struggling to hold their weight in the area of technological advancement in comparison with more advanced countries like the United States. Tomorrow, the tables might just be turned. One can only wait and see, behold the future!

Business Case Study – Cctv

Case Study – Extreme CCTV (all details discussed in this case study have been taken from the Extreme CCTV case study as presented in Cases of entrepreneurship: the venture creation process (Morse & Mitchell, 2005)) Student Name: Katrina BinottoStudent Number: S3172726 Course: BUSM 2367 – Business Enterprise One 1. If you were Jack Gin, what would you do: acquire Derwent Systems, based in Newcastle, UK, to extend its reach into Europe, or focus on the IPO? When assessing if Jack Gin should acquire Derwent Systems or focus on IPO it is would be best suggested to undertake a review of the attractiveness and competitive position of the proposed acquisition. One method of doing this is through the use of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix. This matrix assesses the competitive position of the business in its current form, and the aspects of the proposed businesses, against their respective market attractiveness. (Robbins, et al. 2009) The BCG considered businesses in terms of a Cash Cow, Star, Problem Child or Dog. The case study tells us that Extreme CCTV is a growing company with specialized products that produce positive cash flow for the business, which makes it a Cash Cow. Derwent, although they had difficulties with cash flow at the current time, have a specific product base and have a recognized brand name, which sits this business in the Problem Child area of the Matrix. In order to develop a business which could become a star, Derwent would be able to provide the brand and provide recognition, and Extreme is able to provide the business the necessary cash flow to achieve a possible Star business. Therefore I believe that Jack Gin should invest into Derwent Systems as it will allow the acquisition of a recognized product with the ability to sustain positive cash flows assisting in long term sustainability of the business. 2. Briefly outline the risks associated with your recommendation and how the company could manage these risks. There are risks associated both with acquisition and passing the opportunity; Not Acquiring Derwent †¢Will lose access to a high quality high performing product †¢May risk market saturation Ability to provide competitive pricing structure for current product range should competitors produce the same products Acquisition Risks †¢Cash flow – does Extreme have enough cash flow to support Derwent requirements in the short term †¢Change management issues in merging businesses and associated staff cultural issues †¢If competitors are already engaging in the market Extreme is trying to break into – do they have a marke t dominance †¢Geographical issues – managing businesses on two sides of the globe †¢Globalisation and workforce diversity issues 3. List the benefits, and why you believe they outweigh the risks Increased market share †¢Ability to offer the market more products †¢Acquiring the good will of Derwent customers †¢The additional Intellectual property from Derwent research and development †¢Additional staff and their knowledge and experiences †¢Ability to proposed more competitive pricing structures as inputs may be cheaper as business will have greater turn over and thus may be able to purchase components in bulk †¢Economies of scale – not only for tangible inputs but labour inputs †¢Increased borrowing power with the merger of two businesses – increased assets. 4. Analyse Extreme CCTV’s competitive landscape using Porter’s Five Forces Porter’s Five Forces consist of the following; †¢Supplier Power oThis component could be considered as high as with a larger volume of component turnover Derwent could access better trading terms and stronger relationships with suppliers. This would result in more reliable and competitive supply of components and with good relationship management, such as ensuring on time invoice payment, Derwent may be able to become a ‘preferred’ creditor. †¢Consumer Power oQuality would be at the forefront of the consumer’s requirements and thus this component would be considered very high. Without reliable quality products Derwent would allow competitors access to their market, reducing their cash flows and product sales. †¢Substitutes oThere are very few substitutes to CCTV. Any alternative products do not provide the same level of quality or access to the same features provided by Extreme (and Derwent) products, thus this factor is considered low. †¢New Entrants oThe possibility of new entrants into the market is low due to the fact that a number of businesses are already participating in the market, and any new entrants would need a large capital, for research and development and product development. Rivalry oIt is possible that Pelco may merge with other competitors, such as Silent Witness, and their new competitive power would be unknown at this time. Therefore this would be considered a medium risk as neither the new market nor the strategic direction of any competitors is known. 5. Analyse the opportunity using the First Screening Guide INDUSTRY ANALYS IS †¢What is the industry that addresses this market? oCCTV equipment †¢Number of competitors ?Pelco ?Silent Witness †¢Relative size of competitors oNo one competitors having a majority share in the market, which was highly fragmented. Pelco – in Extreme CCTV’s market space, from Southern California oSilent Witness – Canadian public company, worldwide networks with good growths since 1995. MARKET ANALYSIS †¢Is there a need? oIndustry had decided that CCTV use is a vital part of their overall security strategy and have experienced significant benefits oThese benefits in specialized markets, such as government agencies and correctional facilities are not being taken up by the more generalized business and consumer market. †¢Customers? oThere is clear demand for this product in government agencies, correctional facilities, and casinos proven by sales to date. More generalized usage of CCTV over time due to perceived and perhaps real reducti on of crime that has been experienced where CCTV is in use. †¢What value do you add? oThe value added service be provided would be; ?Integrated Day Night Cameras – superb performance ?Product Differentiation – a perceived distinct edge by major distributors †¢Product Life oThe product life expected from this service would be durable, as once the set up was established and trust built with customer they would be very unlikely to ‘try’ a competitor’s product. The security provided and reputation created by Extreme would see more at stake for the consumer and unless motivated by other means, such as additional services or major discounting, they would be reluctant to try another service. †¢What is the current market structure? oThe major competitors in this industry are: ?Pelco, and ?Silent Witness. oFollowing are features of services already provided; ?Pelco – provides similar products to Extreme, but at this time does not have the market reputation nor or they able provide a holistic product range as they are not able to provide an integrated camera. Silent Witness – have a product range that is able to operation in varied operating conditions, but also do not currently provide a product that allows the quality of night vision recording. †¢What is the proposed market size? oThe industry currently serves the following markets: ?Families, ?Singles, and ?Couples of any age group. †¢What is the market’s gr owth potential? oThe potential market available for this service is substantial, although it may be difficult to accurately predict. ?Gin feels that although the market is expanding he is unsure how far it will grow and what may drive this growth. Key drivers for the growth would be the increasing acceptance of CCTV usage and the merge of technologies to strengthen the security features of the products. †¢What would be the proposed cost structure? oExtreme’s proposed product offering would be to provide Derwent products under the Derwent branding, but integrate the results of their research and development which had lead to the development of the even illuminator (UF500) with Extreme’s day/night camera. This would provide a unique product to the market. Pricing for this unique product could be set above the ‘standard’ products and the pricing structure may allow scope to support ongoing research and development investments with a set portion of the pr ofit against these products dedicated to this purpose. Advertising this to the customer may encourage their increased investment in the products Extreme would provide in general. THE NUMBERS †¢Profits after tax? oCurrently Derwent profits after tax have been reducing, from $292,570 in 1998 to $159,111 in 2000. oExtreme has been experiencing good financial growth since its first year of trading in 1997. It could be considered that after Derwent acquisition that profits after tax would still be positive and in fact do have a chance of growth if the market response to the integrated product is strong. †¢Time to break even? oIt Gin purchased Derwent for $2. 6 million is would take approximately 4 years for Extreme to break even against this purchase. This is assuming that their annual profits are approximately $692,000 remains constant and that all other factors such as pay scale and in direct costs remain constant. †¢Time to positive cash? Positive cash flow would take s ome time longer than the estimated 4 years for break even. oWith the development of the desired product and ensuring its marketing and strategic placement would manage it would be possible to achieve positive cash flow very soon after breaking even. †¢ROI Potential? oThe return on investment potential is able to be seen in this business idea, but the level of ROI achievable is not able to be determined at this time as market demand is unreliable at this time. †¢Capital Requirements? oExtreme would require capital investment, through financing, to acquire Derwent. The asset base of Derwent, quoted in 2000 as being $2,353,113 in their financial statements, would provide a significant base for sourcing this finance. When considered as a whole business, i. e. Derwent and Extreme, there would be adequate assets to secure finance to complete the acquisition. The consideration needed by Gin would be the businesses ability to service this size of loan as part of normal operations. †¢Exit Mechanism? oPossible exist strategy would be to sell off the Derwent part of the company should Gin be unable to operate this part of the business. oShould t require a more significant exit from the market then Extreme could sell components and intellectual property to competitors. †¢Value? oStrategic value of the business would be high when established. It would have a solid loyal client base, established branding and market reputation. It would be able to achieve market differentiation needed to provide some assurance of long term sustainability in the market. CAN YOU AFFORD TO PLAY? †¢Production Costs? oProduction costs would differ between operating locations, i. e. Derwent and Extreme factories, as input costs may differ due to the differing localities, i. . Northern America and UK. oEconomies of scale could be achieved in bulk purchase of inputs; however the logistical issues associated with movement of stock between geographic locations may actually inc rease costs should this strategy be employed. This would have to be carefully considered. †¢Marketing Costs? oAs the market in North America currently does not appreciate the Derwent product it would be critical to demonstrate through marketing the benefits that there products, and Extreme’s on trying to enter the market, would have for them. Encouraging distributors and consumers to try the product would be critical in being able to ‘break’ into the market. †¢Distribution Costs? oDistribution costs needed to be considered would be movement of input components, where are the distributors and their clients, and would there be a ‘head office’ hierarchy set up or would the two arms of the Extreme business, i. e. Derwent and Extreme, be seen as equals in the company structure and thus have equal responsibilities and distribution strategies would be determined by each location instead of a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Prices? †¢Pricing structure would need to be competitive with other competitors where product services and capacity is similar, where there are distinct difference between what the competitor can offer and what the new Extreme business could provide the market then the ability to charge inflated prices, limited to the value perceived by the consumer, would be would become available. These potential increase profit margins on specific products could be used either as investment into research and development or to minimise the cost of borrowing. It would be dependent on any marketing strategy that would be linked with the pricing structure. †¢Costs? oBulk buying where possible would represent the best way to minimize costs for this business and achieve any economies of scale. †¢Distribution Channels? oIt would be seen that existing distribution channels to be used to promote and sell the products. As the attractiveness of the product became greater then new distribution channels would open. oAn alternative distribution would be to use the companies own resources. The staff would have the background knowledge on the development of the products and the strategic missions and values of the business and would be able to communicate these as part of their marketing strategy. †¢Barriers to Entry? oEntry into this market at this time is favorable as there are not many competitors and Extreme already holds product differentiation with its current product range. oThe ability to merge research and development from the two businesses would provide a great opportunity to emerging markets globally. †¢Legal/Contractual/Intellectual Property. There are definite intellectual property issues with this merger and then management of research and development results through this business and the proposed merger. oLegal contracts and possible supply and logistic contracts would need to be facilitated to provide opportunity for efficiencies. †¢Contacts and Networks? oContracts and networks already in place for both businesses would be used in the fi rst instance, and then with increase attractiveness of produce new networks and contacts would be developed. It is also evident within the case study that participation at trade shows would provide key opportunities to expand current networks. THE MANAGEMENT TEAM †¢The Extreme structure would remain in its current form. With the proposed retirement of Duffy, Gin would need to find an appropriate management team to continue operations of the Derwent arm of the business. FATAL FLAW/RISK †¢Existence of a Fatal Flaw oThere are possible fatal flaws in this proposal; ?Cost of borrowing required capital to acquire Derwent. ?Ability to establish a suitable management team to continue Derwent operations. ?The need to establish two geographical locations for operations the logistical issues that this may create. Staff culture issues and how Derwent staff would be received and integrate with Extreme employees. †¢Risk? oThere is a risk in this proposal in that the cost of capital required to start up the business may be prohibitive to entering the market, although the use of a merger with a business that has established distribution channels and market would reduce this risk overall. BIBLIOGRAPHY †¢Morse, Eric A, a nd Ronald K Mitchell. Cases in entrepreneurship: the venture creation process. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 2005. †¢Robbins, S, R Bergman, I Stagg, and M Coulter. Management. 5th . Pearson Australia, 2009.