Business and Society - Leadership and Motivation Coursework

Business and Society - Leadership and Motivation - Coursework Example The steps taken in managing failure include managing cash flow, avoiding debt and developing an effective business plan. Leadership and motivation are important determinants of success in a business entity. Effective leadership guides employees towards the achievement of the entity’s goals and objectives (Caroll and Buchholtz 35). Additionally, employee motivation helps improve employees’ productivity resulting in an overall improvement of the firm. Leaders are different from managers in various ways. Leaders focus on people while managers focus on structure. Leaders innovate while managers administer (Caroll and Buchholtz 42). Leaders inspire trust while managers control. Retired General Colin Powell defines leadership as followership. His definition of leadership is accurate since leaders act in a way that inspires those that follow them. I agree with his definition of leadership is all about inspiring one’s followers. There are various leadership styles including bureaucratic, charismatic, servant and transactional (Caroll and Buchholtz 45). The style I prefer most is servant leadership since the leader leads since it considers employees’ participation. The style I prefer least is bureaucratic leadership since it inhibits innovation, creativity and flexibility. Dr Phil’s and Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs can be used to motivate and manage employees. Employee motivation increases their productivity (Caroll and Buchholtz 47). It is clear that money is not the sole motivating factor, other aspects including the working conditions impact employee management and motivation. An organization is a social unit of individuals that is designed and managed to pursue collective objectives (Caroll and Buchholtz 7). The specific characteristics of an organization include an organizational culture and the ability to work towards collective goals and objectives. Corporate culture refers to behaviours, beliefs and values that establish how a company’s management interacts with its employees and how it handles any external transactions.  Ã‚  

Battle of the Bulge Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Battle of the Bulge - Research Paper Example However, the Germans were crushed by the joint armed forces of Bastogne and St. Vith that placed the Germans’ communication lines in danger. The St. Vith encounter chose time over space: the time required to set up a strong shoulder defense on the Bulge’s northern border.2 The triumphant defense of Bastogne’s transportation center pushed German forces into combat grounds and reset the German timeframe.3 Military Tactics of the Battle of the Bulge In the two encounters, a combination of intense and mild defenses was employed successfully. In the northern side, airborne and infantry forces reinforced the 7th Armored Division stronghold in St. Vith. The 7th Armored Division’s triumphant fighting withdrawal provided an opportunity to assemble a solid defense on the Bulge’s north border.4 This disrupted the timeframe for the German offensive and its troops were not able to recover their strength; hence, the German circumstances for victory were never att ained. In the southern side, the traces of the 9th and 10th Armored Divisions, as well as their crude weaponry and a number of VIII Corps Artillery forces, gave the armament support and mobile counter-offensive force for the overpowered units of the 101st Airborne Division enclosed in Bastogne.5 The Bastogne stronghold demonstrates how a light force, reinforced with armament support and well-equipped forces, was successful in holding out the assault of heavily armed German troops. This case was adopted as part of the basis for the creation of U.S. light divisions and to validate their importance in a NATO context.6 As a proof to the value of a combination of light and heavy forces in mid- to- high-level fighting, combinations of heavy and light forces have been required for the circumstances of the Army’s Battle Command Training Program’s automated, HQ practice combat games. They have been proven successful in Iraq as well.7 The capacity to envision the combat zone, as in the focused lens of Napoleon, that defines an exceptional war leader, was shown by General Anthony McAuliffe, Troy Middleton, and Bruce Clarke in making a decision where to battle and how to carry it out. Middleton understood that controlling the major road intersections of Bastogne and St. Vith for the longest possible time was needed to ward off the German forces.8 By choosing to defend these road intersections, Middleton identified the battle’s operational direction. McAuliffe and Clarke contributed to the cause by understanding the enormity of their task and by confronting excellent strategic battles to control those road intersections and hinder the opponent.9 Another official who was able envision the combat zone and who had an outstanding hold of his battleground was Lt. Col. Creighton W. Abrams, who led the ultimate attack that released Bastogne.10 According to a report: Abrams, when he got into combat, knew everything was going on. How he knew it, nobody knew, bu t he did. He knew where every tank was. He knew where every piece of equipment was, and he could command and move his outfit and always defeat the enemy in front of him. It was just that simple.11 Abrams undoubtedly had situational understanding and a general working image of what was taking place. Although Middleton and his commanding officers were able to envision the combat zone after the Germans revealed their plan, the German deception scheme was

Toyota Business Strategies Analysis

Toyota Business Strategies Analysis The following will focus on identifying and analyzing of Toyotas business strategies which lead them to success, as well as critical comparison and contrast will be provided Toyotas current strategies. Due to the global crisis which is the globalization, Toyota is facing with new opportunities and challenges; according to Porters five forces (2008), threats of rivalry among existing competitors, new entrants, substitutes, power of both consumer and suppliers are making them worried, Therefore, it is necessarily find out the ways to gearing themselves up to cope these crisis. In the end suggestive solution and recommendation will be laid out to improve the business strategies. THE HISTORY OF TOYOTA Toyota Motor is a multinational corporation headquartered in Japan and is the worlds biggest automaker. Toyota now owns and operates Lexus and Scion brands and has a majority shareholding stake in Daihatsu Motors, and minority shareholdings in Fuji Heavy Industries Isuzu Motors, and Yamaha Motors. The company includes 522 subsidiaries. Vehicles were originally sold under the name Toyoda from the family name of the companys founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. (online Accessed on 13-04-2010) TOYOTAS BUSINESS STRATEGY Toyota is the most leading Japanese automobile company. By creating more innovative car design and spending billions dollars in advertisement a year, Toyota has appeared in the eyes of many auto consumers worldwide. By producing high quality vehicles at affordable prices, Toyota has built its reputation globally. Toyota has reduced their prices as compared to other automobile makers. Toyota believes that the role of purchasing should be long term at the lowest price and no compromise on the production of quality products. Normally, companies do not want to cut their targeted return and they follow the strategy which is formulated in to the cost + profit = selling price. But Toyota takes a slightly different strategy which is formulated in to the price-cost=profit. Strategic management has a direct impact on its business in all organizations. Thats why Toyota has become leading company in auto industry because of the attractive strategic management policy. Now, Toyota plans to build t raining centers in different parts of the world, where they can easily train their new workers and managers how to design new cars and assemble them. Toyota is constructing more new factories. Although, it has already plants in 27 countries. When Toyota enters in US, everyone believes that this company will not be able to run a successful business. But, at present Toyota is leading in auto companies worldwide because of its strategic management planning. Solid Foundation As part of Toyota Customer First plan, Toyota is reinforcing our systems for building in excellence that reflects the customers point of view. Toyota is painstakingly getting better design quality by analyzing the causes of inconvenience from the design stage, which is the foundation of quality. Toyota is also honing their capability to analyze quality on manufacture lines by introducing in-line dimension. And, Toyota are reasserting basic assurance that assembly processes fabricate in excellence by introducing a team-leader structure for training production in human resources. Furthermore, in an effort to develop quality from side to side production and development, Toyota is collaborating intimately with suppliers. During this range of initiatives, Toyota is gradually producing results. It can say that, quality improvement never ends. Consequently, to avoid gratification, Toyota will use those initiatives as a starting point for more quality enhancement efforts. Growth Philosophy For the last decade, Toyota has focused on product and supply, sales and marketing and widespread advanced technology strategy, as well as the improvement of conventional hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FCHVs). Toyota believes that a transformation of people and technology lies at the heart of a companys competitiveness. As a result, Toyota is moving forward with personnel training based on the beliefs that developing human resources is a key part of manufacturing. These efforts expand ahead of simply having employees obtain knowledge and skills that development, production, or sales divisions need. Internationally, Toyota is implementing programs to facilitate all employees to embrace Toyotas culture and values and be aware of Toyota Way. (Online: accessed on 12/04/2010) Technology For development of an extensive range of technologies and products with focus on market formation, Toyota has determined on a wide-ranging advanced technology strategy, as well as the expansion of conservative hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and fuel cell hybrid vehicles (FCHVs). The strategy of sustainable mobility goes further than now the vehicles themselves. Instead it integrates: The vehicles and technologies, as well as their whole life cycle measurementà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.from improvement and production, to vehicle use, to how the vehicle is recycled at end of life. The partnerships that are essential to bring these advanced technologies to market The energy compulsory to power the technology, i.e.) how is the electricity generatedcoal, natural gas, solar? The urban atmosphere in which these products will function, as well as how the personal car fits into a mixed mobility transit strategy, re-charge/ re-fuel infrastructure, car sharing, etc. This wide-ranging strategy acknowledges the fact that there are many considerations when bringing a vehicle to market. By inspiring the discussion above individual technologies, Toyota is working to make parallel the technology and the market to make sure successful introduction and implementation of advanced technology vehicles. Training According to Porter (1980), in the planning stages, it is significant to note that new-product planning emphasizes a product that is as defect-free as achievable. Toyota designs excellence into the automobile. Technical advances, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), have helped designers generate and transform their specifications more rapidly than before, at the same time as getting better design quality. Quality is a necessary part of the pre-production process. Quality is the dynamic strength in establishing a system that meets the goals of design, cost and production quantity. The planning segment as well establishes a plan that outlines all particulars of the examination procedure. Quality manage involves close collaboration of numerous production departments. The competitive point of view for Toyota in the mini-car segment of Europe remains good. While competition is strong, Toyota has key competencies that allow the company to succeed in this environment. Recommendations Toyotas management performed well under the crisis they had to face, the problem was identified and think tanks gave the perfect solution of switching to central database and were supported by the decision makers. On the other hand, no praise shall taken away from Toyota by recommending that if the QMS department would have been a bit more affective, the wrongly dispatched tyres for the High Revenue Lexus Customers might had never been approved and customers not had to face the inconvenience or if Toyota would have forecasted the issue before they might have chosen the Central Database approach that would have added some more to the bunch of Toyotas satisfied customer. (Online, accessed on 13/04/10) Conclusion In conclusion, auto industries have to face the challenges of trade barriers nowadays and global competition amongst the auto manufacturers has become intensive. The vision for Toyota and is to become the worlds leading automotive company and achieve great success by adopting different marketing strategies. In addition, the Toyota values are expressed through anticipating consumer needs and delivering outstanding products and services that improve peoples lives, driven by a customer focus, creativity, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurial spirit. The marketing strategies were adopted by Toyota, affect the auto industrys potential for globalization. In order to be successful, major auto suppliers should pay particular attention to market needs and consumer expectations, costs issues within product design and development, and forces within global competition and political/legal environment. It is necessary to reduce costs by global configuration of value-adding as is the most important step towards the globalization of certain industries.

Swipping IDs can be dangerous :: essays research papers

ABOUT 10,000 people a week go to The Rack, a bar in Boston favored by sports stars, including members of the New England Patriots. One by one, they hand over their driver's licenses to a doorman, who swipes them through a sleek black machine. If a license is valid and its holder is over 21, a red light blinks and the patron is waved through. But most of the customers are not aware that it also pulls up the name, address, birth date and other personal details from a data strip on the back of the license. Even height, eye color and sometimes Social Security number are registered. "You swipe the license, and all of a sudden someone's whole life as we know it pops up in front of you," said Paul Barclay, the bar's owner. "It's almost voyeuristic." Mr. Barclay bought the machine to keep out underage drinkers who use fake ID's. But he soon found that he could build a database of personal information, providing an intimate perspective on his clientele that can be useful in marketing. "It's not just an ID check," he said. "It's a tool." Now, for any given night or hour, he can break down his clientele by sex, age, ZIP code or other characteristics. If he wanted to, he could find out how many blond women named Karen over 5 feet 2 inches came in over a weekend, or how many of his customers have the middle initial M. More practically, he can build mailing lists based on all that data — and keep track of who comes back. Bar codes and other tracking mechanisms have become one of the most powerful forces in automating and analyzing product inventory and sales over the last three decades. Now, in a trend that alarms privacy advocates, the approach is being applied to people through the simple driver's license, carried by more than 90 percent of American adults. Already, about 40 states issue driver's licenses with bar codes or magnetic stripes that carry standardized data, and most of the others plan to issue them within the next few years. Scanners that can read the licenses are slowly proliferating across the country. So far the machines have been most popular with bars and convenience stores, which use them to thwart underage purchasers of alcohol and cigarettes. In response to the terrorist attacks last year, scanners are now also being installed as security devices in airports, hospitals and government buildings.

Community Memorial Hospital

As the Chief Financial Officer of Community Memorial Hospital, I realize that it is important for all individuals to get the full benefits of their insurance and to be able to get their claims processed in a timely fashion. I also realize the importance of the community patients and our employees benefiting from their health plans. The recent signing of the contract with MegaPlan Health is of great concern and worry. The cut-throat tactics, negotiation tactics, and claims processing fights of MegaPlan Health are known throughout the hospital world.The signing of this contract will not be favorable with many of the employees. For the employees to continue to use the services provided by Community Memorial Hospital, it is imperative that we become a part of the Preferred Provider Network (PPN) or risk losing employees as patients as well as members of the community. I think the advice of CEO Katrina Eaton and CNO Nancy Strittmater are very influencing. They both seem to have the employ ees’ best interest at heart.Since the contract has already been signed, it would not of great benefit to try to pull back out of the plan. As suggested by the CEO, we will prepare our own reasonable contract proposal to present to MegaPlan Health and try to come to acceptable and agreeable terms that will be pleasing to our employees and community patients. We cannot afford the risk of losing patients. This would hurt the hospital tremendously. If the people have to travel long distances and change doctors, this will not be very pleasing to them.The terms that Community Memorial Hospital will present to MegaPlan Health must show the concern of its current patients and employees and must be suitable for the cut-throat tactics of MegaPlan Health. The suggestions of the CNO to just go ahead and sign the contract and to do it immediately are of great consideration as well. Community Memorial Hospital does not need bad rumors floating throughout its halls, and we certainly cannot risk losing some of our best nurses.We certainly don’t want our employees to panic and be of great distress. As the CFO, the interests of Community Memorial Hospital are first and foremost in my mind. I definitely want to provide my employees with the best health care plan, but I don’t want to put the hospital at risk for charges that exceed above 20%. The contract proposal that we will have to prepare will definitely stress that. Community Memorial Hospital still needs to operate and stay afloat.

Open Ended Questions in Research Essay

Questionnaires and surveys are useful for determining the attitudes, characteristics, profiles, beliefs from a sample of people. In designing a questionnaire that focuses on open ended questions the main concern should be on determining the way the responses will be quantified. Open ended questions are often used in research to clarify closed questions or as a means of generating ideas. In both cases it is generally assumed that the longer and more detailed the response to an open ended question the better (Graziano et al, 2000). However, relatively little is known about the effect of factors such as question wording or questionnaire design on the response to open ended questions. There is a need to ask open ended questions when the researcher desires to probe deeper into a subject area. The use of open ended questions is more common in subjects which are relatively unrehearsed. Open ended questions are also of value, where response cannot be predicted, or maybe to the reduce potential for researcher induced bias. This method makes it possible to explore a range of ideas about a certain issue or topic. Open ended questionnaire questions can be also be quantified but in more indirect way. â€Å"Converting raw, open ended data from large sample sizes into meaningful categories that the researcher can utilize to quantify the results presents a challenge† (Culp, 1998). Several strategies can be used to convert these responses into meaningful information. Using qualitative data analysis software is rapidly becoming feasible. Using software applications that support content analysis and data linking and those that offer advanced linguistic analysis. The content-analysis applications allow an analyst to assess the number of times a participant uses a particular word or phrase in written material or transcribed remarks. By counting the frequency of words and noting the association of certain words, one can categorize themes and concepts. By thus â€Å"quantifying† the qualitative communication, an analyst can associate the resulting information with other quantitative data. A more sophisticated analysis is possible with linguistic analysis, which examines the semantics, syntax, and context of participant’s verbal communications. Linguistic analysis applications help the analyst  identify the key ideas in a text, gain an indication of the relative importance of each idea, and then develop a prediction of a participants attitude and or behavior based on the context of the remarks† (Gale, 2005). The author would also consider scoring qualitative open ended question with coded values. For example expression strong emotional response against an idea could be valued as a 3, while a moderate response could be scored as 2, and a neutral or vague response a 1. Another idea that could be utilized is coding using a Likert type scale based on how overtly strong an idea or opinion is expressed. This method could induce bias if the person doing the interview or scoring the questionnaire has a personal preference in this idea. The research question should not be made known to the person doing the scoring in order to reduce the possibility of bias. The author believes that bias could also be minimized if several individuals do the scoring and the score then be averaged. Summary The topic chosen by this author lends itself well to open ended questions as it solicits responses in terms of attitudes, opinions, and beliefs about the economy. The following open ended questions are an example of questions that might be used in an interview about this topic. †¢How do you feel about the current state of the economy?†¢What do you think caused the recent economic downfall?†¢How has the economy affected your budget?The author would use scoring qualitative open ended question with coded values. For example, strong response could be valued as a 3, while a moderate response could be scored as 2 and a neutral or vague response a 1. The author would then do an analysis of the content based on the categorizations of opinions and attitudes. In a full scale research project, the author would use a mixture of quantitative and qualitative question in order to establish opinions, thoughts, or beliefs on the subject. This would aid in the analysis of attitudes on the topic. The validity of this type of research is only in the accurate analysis of the opinions and attitudes of the participants. References Culp, K. & Pilat, M. (1999). Converting feedback into quantifiable  categories [Electronicversion]. Journal of Extension 37(4). Dilts, R., Grinder, J., Bandler, R., Delozier, J. (1980). The Study of the Structure of SubjectiveExperience, Neuro-Linguistic Programming: Vol I. CA: Meta PublicationsGale, T (2005). Let me count the words: quantifying open ended interactions with customers,Cornell Hotel & Restaurant Administration Quarterly Pub 01-Aug-2005, RetrievedMay 3, 2009 fromwww://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0198-245360/Let-me-count-the-words.htmSmith, R. A. & Davis, S. F. (2007), The Psychologist as Detective. New Jersey: PearsonEducation, Inc. Graziano, Anthony M. & Raulin, Michael L. (2000) Research Methods: A Process ofInquiry. Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon.

The United States Involvement with the Kyoto Accord essays

The United States' Involvement with the Kyoto Accord essays President Bush states that "the (Kyoto accord) will harm the US economy." The entire European Union has chosen to continue to back to the accord. What is the reasoning for President Bush to withdraw? First, the United States is facing an economic decline and an energy shortage. Most of all, he doesn't want to make a "wrong" decision, that would tarnish his crystal-clear record, and make him look inferior. Our president seems to be looking out more for himself than the people that elected him to the office. The United States should not have withdrawn from the accord, especially since it has the most power on the issue. The Kyoto accord was "designed to limit the gas emissions blamed by some scientists for global warming...It commits 38 industrialized countries to emissions cut of 5.2% by 2010." It specifically targets carbon-rich gasses. The Kyoto accords "needs to be ratified by nations that together account for 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions to have legal status." If America produces roughly 25 percent of all the greenhouse gasses, that will make up a lot of the 55 percent needed to help save our earth and the people that live here. Even with all the European Union states plus Japan, Kyoto only has support from countries responsible for 36% of gases. When will it become obvious to the leaders of the free world that the environment is important? Put all of the political information aside; Bush is trying to save his reputation. He doesn't care about the lives of the people, he cares about the money they produce, and the labor they provide, that is the full extent of his attention. If he can't make money from Halliburton Oil, then any plan that opposes it is pure evil. With the Kyoto accord, it restricts greenhouse gas emissions which will cut profits from Halliburton. Why should he support something that he isn't partial to? He is the President of the United States, and many other countries look to the US for answers and...

Netaji Apparel Park

Netaji Apparel Park Free Online Research Papers Tourism industry basically depicts the services offered by companies to its customers who choose to spend a leisure time taking break from their work or travel at their work or travel on honey moon or pilgrimage or studies or as a hobby with their friends or family. In the recent years travel and tourism companies have come up with services meeting the needs of the tourists in a more proactive way. Online ticket booking and offering of tourism packages online, resorts and home stays, medical tourism, spa are some of the developments in the area of travel and tourism. India has huge potential for growth in the domestic as well as international tourism. Though the industry to some extent depends upon the performance of other industries like IT / Electronics / Manufacturing / Automobiles and so on; it is necessary in the current scenario for companies to offer services / tourism packages so that the travel is not localized to few segments / clusters of the market. This helps companies to experience a steady growth in their business. A tourist would basically look at spending good time with friends / family during their travel period. Hence a company would ideally be interested in offering solutions to the customer depending upon the needs of the tourist like domestic tourism package / international package, adventure sports or wild life, pilgrimage or nature tourism, honeymoon packages, picnics for school kids and so on in an integrated efficient way at an affordable cost. Some of the problems / limitations faced by tourists are travel sickness, language, difference in food habits, crowd at tourism spots, family commitments, pollution, tourism period being seasonal, tourists being new to the tourism spot and so on. It is necessary for companies to address these issues so that people enjoy and have a good time during the tour. Looking at the way ahead domestic and international tourism, sports events like Common wealth games 2010 ICC Cricket world Cup 2011, medical tourism, identifying of new markets, introduction of innovative tourism packages with integrated service would help companies ensure a sustainable growth in the industry. Research Papers on Netaji Apparel ParkMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export QuotasBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesTwilight of the UAWThe Project Managment Office SystemNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalOpen Architechture a white paperGenetic Engineering

Case #2 Technology in retail Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

#2 Technology in retail - Case Study Example When they are ready to pay, the tap the phone or by use of a reader which is usually attached to the register. The customers can also scan shelf edge by using their phone to get details of the products they want to purchase. This system enhances the ease in acquisition of information about products easily and therefore boosts Topshop’s sales. M&S Browse and order hubs. Allows customer to scan barcodes bar code to browse. The screens come along with the card payment machine. The customers can order the products by use of the hub, and have it delivered to them or pick it at a later date. This can be used to the advantage of the shop in competitions as it makes the process of selling quite efficient and accurate, above all

Fire Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Fire Behavior - Essay Example Importantly, these are for use against Class A (that is, combustible) fires, and inappropriate for other classes. Class B fires involve alcohol, gasoline, diesel oil and flammable gases. Carbon Dioxide and Dry-Chemical agents, Foam and Halons Extinguishers form suitable extinguishing agents, lowering the temperature below flash point, by removing the fire's oxygen supply. Two of these agents are suitable too, for use on Class C fires involving energized electrical equipment, with the important exception of foam and water as these methods conduct electricity. Class D fires involve combustible metals such as sodium, potassium and zirconium. Hazardous in powdered form, burning at high temperature, water is ill-advised, due to its possibly acting as an explosive rather than extinguishing agent. No single extinguishing agent exists for all metals, though dry-powder compounds are recommended, commonly, Lith-X and Meth-X. Class K fires involve vegetable and animal oils, and fats in appliances in kitchen restaurants and cafeterias. Extinguishers use saponification (soap converting agents), on hot grease and dry chemicals.

Controversy of Pre-natal Diagnosing Research Paper

Controversy of Pre-natal Diagnosing - Research Paper Example According to medical professionals, policymakers and other interest groups, prenatal testing provide parents the choice of therapeutic abortion freeing them from reproductive risk by preempting the birh of a child with a genetic disease thus liberating them from the financial and emotional burden and distress that the child and the family may experience from â€Å"interpersonal, intrafamilial and intergenerational relations† (Ekberg, 2007, 67). The idea was to detect fetal defect and to give expectant mothers â€Å"choices† if possible abnormality in the fetus is detected. While this may seem to be a medical breakthrough of giving expectant mothers advance information about the health and well being of their upcoming babies, this has however raised a number of disturbing issues. Rather than focusing more on the health and well being of both the babies and the mother, the issue redounded to a cold hearted cost benefit assessment that it will be more cost efficient to â⠂¬Å"terminate a birth† than to spend for the care of a disabled child. ... It also assumes that a fetus which has been diagnosed with abnormality through prenatal diagnosing will have no chance to live a productive, meaningful and rewarding life. It immediately passed a judgment that a child with disability will become an automatic liability to the family and society without a chance to recover nor to live a meaningful life. It is an assumption that is based on the impression on what is probable without inquiring on the state and well-being of the disabled child and his/her families. It also reinforces an intolerant society that discriminates against a trait and persons that does not fit to what the generally constructed concept of normalcy in society. Where before parents had control as to the quantity of childbirth, now it seeks control as to the quality of a child by terminating the birth of a fetus that may have potential defects. It is an impression that is misinformed because when studies were made â€Å"on children and families affected by disabilit ies indicated that disability does not preclude a satisfying life (Asch, 1999, 1649). Further, in a study conducted in 1995 revealed that a child’s disability did not affect the lives of their families and the needs and concerns of those family with disabled child were strikingly similar compared to a family with a normal child. What was distinguishable was only the complexity of the arrangement that is needed to balance the responsibilities at work and home (qtd. in Freedman et al, 1995) , Asch furtherly articulated that â€Å"these professions fail people with disabilities, by concluding that because there may never be full physical recovery, there is never a regrouping of physical, cognitive, and psychological resources with which to participate in a rewarding life (Asch, 1999, 1650).

Jaguar Land Rover Management Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Jaguar Land Rover Management Report - Essay Example The company is highly concerned in developing a business model that will contribute the overall nature and climate protection, by investing into green technology, implementing low-carbon solutions into the vehicle building technologies, and developing green materials for vehicle production. Therefore, product life cycle is considered as the key aspect of the proper strategy development, since it involves all the three components of the strategy. It is divided into 7 phases:1.  Design: This is the basic step of developing a â€Å"green† product, and reducing CO2 emissions for the future models. The stage involves developing safety, energy saving and durability technologies.2.  Raw material production: the company deals with the sustainable suppliers. This is also important for the final cost reduction, since â€Å"green† suppliers offer lower prices (Jaguar Land Rover Annual Report, 2014)3.  Transporting: the properly developed logistics strategy helps reducing the transportation costs, as well as CO2 emissions. 4.  Manufacturing: emissions to air, soil, and water are thoroughly controlled by implementing filters, and energy saving technologies. Additionally, the waste and emission control helps implementing the waste recycling technologies, which is also helpful for cost reduction. 5.  Delivery to customers: the shorter delivery ways help reducing emissions and costs, emissions to air. Similarly to material and components transportation, shorter ways are required for cost and emission reduction.

Effects of Economic crisis on Tokyo Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Effects of Economic crisis on Tokyo - Essay Example The world today is going through recession, and just as everything else is going global, so is the recession. A number of big-economies and states have readily declared recession officially, while an even bigger number is trying to fight it out, however, unofficially, they are under recession as well. The phenomenon is not just restricted to the west where UK has declared official recession but stands valid for other parts of the world as well, where economies as strong as Japan have declared official recession. Japan is rightly considered the second largest economy in the world, existing today, or just before the recessionary scenario. The major point is how the government plans to revive its economy. There are a number of plans being put forth as discussed in the later part of this report. The only determinant point is the fact that when these proposed plans would actually be put in to action. The urgency of this matter is a sure ground because the global financial crisis is on the rise and more and more economies are on the urge of declaring official recession. At this point in time, Tokyo needs to stand out and initiate its plan of action, because it is through this initiation only that all the suffering economies in Asia would benefit from, and ultimately lead the world out of this crisis. Following the 9/11 incident and the occurrence of ‘mad cow disease’, economists were forecasting the commencement of an intense recession in Japan. Another major reason underlying this strong forecast was the global economic downturn. Recently released surveys of future trends together with economic data recording economic performance over recent months point at least to the onset of Japan’s fourth official recession — defined as two consecutive quarters of negative growth— in the space of a decade.

Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Analysis - Assignment Example At one time, he addressed some of their concerns in terms of the remuneration that they got as a result of their works, while at another time; he compared them, especially the less intelligent ones with draft animals. Taylor argued that all tasks that an employee was assigned could be organised in such a way that the productivity of the worker would increase and that his scientific theory of management was more effective than the usual ‘initiative and incentive’ method, which was based on increasing productivity by placing responsibility on the worker to figure how to do it. In order to establish the best possible way to carry out a job, Taylor carried out some experiments, which he labelled time studies or as time and motion studies. In these studies, he used a stopwatch to time a worker’s motions in order to determine the most effective way to carry out a job based on the way that took the least time1. The chapter talks about the use of theory in public administration, all the past events have happened because of public administration; several theories regarding public administration have been brought forward, however, there are still others that have not been fully developed, these theories are classified as useful depending on their ability to describe, explain and predict matters regarding public administration. For a theory to be useful, it must have the ability to describe or to depict real life events with some level of thought, in these theories, there must be some explanations to some of the discrepancies in real life. In public administration, theory has been simply defined as a framework that, this definition of theory differs from other definition of theory in other sciences. In public administration, theories are classified depending on their degree, form the nature of its elaboration The author questions whether it is possible to have a useful and

Identifying Rhetorical Devices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Identifying Rhetorical Devices - Essay Example In another instance, cities are described as being ‘welcoming and humane’. Personification enables readers to understand the significance of introducing these identity cards, which is to make all city residents feel they belong. The article also uses allusion when it refers to immigrants who use their cards as ‘Scarlet letter’. This is in reference to the 1850 work of fiction where a woman was made to wear a scarlet with the letter ‘A’ to mean adultery. Allusion here elaborates the lack of status that immigrants suffer in foreign cities. Poetry Magazine Issue 14 has an article titled ‘Is that you, Walt Whitman?’ This article, written by Therese Stanton uses numerous rhetoric devices. It talks about a devastated Whitman who has tried every career but has not found a suitable one. It also describes a detailed series of events that lead Whitman to the identification of poetry as his passion (Stanton, 2011). Amplification is the repetitive use words or phrases to emphasize. This article applies amplification in the words ‘Tuesday’ and ‘mad’ to emphasize Walt’s frustrated state of mind. Stanton also uses alliteration in this article when she writes ‘fiddle footed, flighty, fluttery†¦hyperactive, hyperkinetic†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This device provides a rhythm in the article making it interesting to the readers. The Editorial Board (February 12, 2014) Mr. de Blasio’s Welcoming Gesture. The New York Times Retrieved February 15, 2014 from

Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Analysis - Assignment Example At one time, he addressed some of their concerns in terms of the remuneration that they got as a result of their works, while at another time; he compared them, especially the less intelligent ones with draft animals. Taylor argued that all tasks that an employee was assigned could be organised in such a way that the productivity of the worker would increase and that his scientific theory of management was more effective than the usual ‘initiative and incentive’ method, which was based on increasing productivity by placing responsibility on the worker to figure how to do it. In order to establish the best possible way to carry out a job, Taylor carried out some experiments, which he labelled time studies or as time and motion studies. In these studies, he used a stopwatch to time a worker’s motions in order to determine the most effective way to carry out a job based on the way that took the least time1. The chapter talks about the use of theory in public administration, all the past events have happened because of public administration; several theories regarding public administration have been brought forward, however, there are still others that have not been fully developed, these theories are classified as useful depending on their ability to describe, explain and predict matters regarding public administration. For a theory to be useful, it must have the ability to describe or to depict real life events with some level of thought, in these theories, there must be some explanations to some of the discrepancies in real life. In public administration, theory has been simply defined as a framework that, this definition of theory differs from other definition of theory in other sciences. In public administration, theories are classified depending on their degree, form the nature of its elaboration The author questions whether it is possible to have a useful and

Dream Vacation Essay Example for Free

Dream Vacation Essay Eighty-five degrees, suns out, sand in your toes, a couple of brews, and you family and friends. That sounds like everyone dream vacation, but who would complain that sounds like a great time. You see during the summer I would love to take a couple of my friends to go see Dave Matthews Band play somewhere in the southwest. Seeing a concert probably isn’t the most exciting thing to do in a dream vacation, but as a group of friends we could do something so simple and have the best time ever. If my friends couldn’t come with I honestly think I would not want to go. My friends and I have all grown up together and have become so close that doing anything without one of them is just weird. We would get to this concert by car or plane, but I think if we took a car we could technically call it a road trip so it would make much more memorable. I wouldn’t bring my family because they would set rules, and on this vacation I just want to let everything go and have the best time of my life.What would be even better than just going to see Dave once, would be if my friends and I followed him on tour all summer! Unfortunately I don’t have that kind of cash, but I will have enough for this dream vacation, road trip when I start working in the summer and I can’t wait.

Geography Essays Housing and Health

Geography Essays Housing and Health Explore the relationships between housingand health Introduction Historically, there has been recognised a directrelationship between substandard accommodation and poor health. The IndustrialRevolution in Britain resulted in low standard working-class housing beingbuilt quickly to meet this increase in demand for workers. Over-crowdeddwellings, inadequate sanitation and a proclivity to dispose of all forms ofwaste in cesspools, rivers and the street resulted in severe epidemics of manyillnesses, predominantly those which are waterborne. In the preface of OliverTwist (Dickens, 1839 [1994]), the author summarises the problem effectivelyby stating: I am convinced that nothing effectualcan be done for the elevation of the poor in England until their dwellingplaces are made decent and wholesome. This reform must proceed all other socialreforms, without it those classes of the people which increase the fastest,must become so desperate and be made so miserable, as to bear within themselvesthe certain seeds of ruin to the whole community (Dickens, 1839). Many of the most significant improvements in health haveresulted from progression in public health reform, most notably clean water,sanitation, and reduced exposure to extreme cold associated with improvedaccommodation. However, the second half of the twentieth century has seen adecline in political interest in the issue of poor housing, despite overwhelmingevidence of the health consequences of poor housing and increasing economicdisparity among different social groups (Potvin, et. al., 2002). Whilethere has been a dramatic improvement in general health in industrial countriesover the last century, some sections of society still live in poverty-strickenconditions, with indications that the divergence between rich and poor is increasing(Stanwell-Smith, 2003). Economically deprived communities frequently reside ininferior housing and unsanitary environments, and these conditions are directlyassociated with the common health problems reported in such populations.There currently exists a substantial body ofresearch into the many relationships between housing and health status (Dunn,2000). The majority of this research has focused on the connections betweensubstandard and crowded housing conditions and incidence of injury, disease,and myriad physical ailments. Health and Housing Epidemiological studies have determined that certaincontaminants in the residential environment, such as mould, dampness, and pestantigens, can cause or exacerbate a range of respiratory problems (Bornehag, et.al., 2005), particularly among children and the elderly. Structuraldeficiencies, overcrowding, poor ventilation, inappropriate ambienttemperatures and low-quality construction and maintenance have been directlylinked to excessive incidences of infectious diseases, asthma, respiratoryinfections, injuries and an overall shortening of lifespan. Exposure toenvironmental hazards, such as carbon monoxide, pesticides, inadequatelymaintained utilities, and tobacco smoke, tends to be greater within sociallyand economically deprived areas, and accounts for a number of serious healthissues (Klitzman, et. al., 2005). The UK and Ireland have both a high rate of povertyand the worst birth weight in deprived areas compared to any other WesternEuropean country (Sandwell-Smith, 2003). The English House Condition Survey showedthat 1,522,000 UK dwellings did not meet the required suitability standards(EHCS, 1996). For many already deprived communities, the only housing availableis substandard. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that, duringcold weather, ambient room temperature should remain constant at 18-20C (WHO,2005), however, it is estimated that 40% of the UK population resides intemperatures below these guidelines. Similarly, the UK has 19% of cold, damphousing compared to the 9% recorded in Germany (EHCS, 1996). Despite somemeasure adopted by local governments, housing policy remains insufficient inmany areas. For example, insulation of properties is recognised as a costeffective intervention that could increase ambient room temperatures while decreasingfuel costs for poverty-stricke n communities, however, the Warm Front scheme,which provides funding for insulation, is not available to pregnant women andyoung children. Despite repeated evidence of the effects of poor housing, and associatedlack of heating, on public health interventions remain insufficient. The population of Europe had expanded byapproximately 2.5% between 1990 and 1998 (WHO), with growth more prevalentwithin the south. Eastern Europe is considered poorer, with increasing rates ofunemployment (WHO, 2002). Comparatively, eastern Europe had proportionatelyhigher incidences of injuriea, nutritional deficiencies, and cardiovascular andinfectious diseases. Similarly, the EU nations have a lower proportion of largehouseholds and a high proportion of single person households; the resultinghousing densities within the eastern countries can account for the higher rateof substandard health levels (WHO, 2002). Affordable accommodation for poverty-strickenfamilies is generally restricted to housing with inferior physical properties(Dunn, 2000), often in surroundings with socio-environmental problemsdetrimental to physical and psychological well-being. This housing tends to beconcentrated in specific and discrete locations, resulting in a form ofsegregation for low-income communities, often with poor access to employment,leading to socially deprived neighbourhoods (Potvin, et. al., 2002). Neighbourhoodsthat are unsafe, with limited access to essential goods and services and fewopportunities for social integration, also pose health risks (Klitzman, et.al, 2005), particularly for the poor, the elderly, and other vulnerablegroups. Although technically affordable, accommodation for poorer families canbe disproportionately expensive, and the payment of large rental or mortgagecosts from already meagre finances can result in less disposable income forfuel, food and other basic necessities (EHCS, 1 996). Obesity is a familiarhealth issue associated with poverty; a consequence of low incomes andinexpensive inferior, high fat, high salt diets. Consequentially, it has beendetermined that people with serious health issues are far more likely to occupythe least health-promoting segments of the housing market, which may, in turn,exacerbate their health problems. A broad cross-section of the community is nolonger provided for with regards to the social housing sector, and has becomecharacterised by deprivation and social exclusion (Curtis, 2004). Theowner-occupier sector has expanded, and now includes more people on low incomesthan ever before (EHCS, 1996). The resulting increase in stress as a result ofmortgage debt, arrears and repossession is a major public health issue, and onewhich is rarely addressed. Low-income and poverty-stricken householdstend to move residences more frequently than middle and upper income families.Numerous studies show negative associations between residential mobility and behaviouraland cognitive problems, particularly in developing children (Dunn, 2000). Inturn, inadequate housing may influence individuals health and mentalwell-being by increasing their level of stress as they are affected by securityand long-term stability (Curtis, 2004). Children Low quality housing distinctly affectsthe most vulnerable sections of society: children, the elderly, and thementally and physically impaired. During physical and psychologicaldevelopment, children are more at risk; poor housing and living environmentscan lead to permanent health issues for the child. Crowded living conditions canresult in easier transmission of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis(Curtis, 2004), and higher incidences of respiratory illness, such asbronchitis and asthma, particularly when residence is shared with smokers. Excessivenoise can result in sleep deprivation, which in turn can affect growth andpsychological well-being of children, and similarly, can have various negativepsychological effects on adults and children alike, including irritability,aggression, depression and inability to concentrate, which is reported tocontribute to family tensions and potentially violence. The health and well-being of children areclosely related to housing quality, suitability and affordability. Housing is akey component of both the physical and social environments in which childrenlive, and it plays both a direct and indirect role in the achievement ofpositive development. Studies indicate that stable, safe and secure housing isvital to childrens healthy development (Board of Science and Education, 2003).Faulty structure and inadequate heating, for example, can cause accidentalinjuries (English House Condition Survey (EHCS), 1996); fire is one of theleading causes of accidental death among children in developed countries. Factorsaffecting the health of children include the cost, quality, tenure andstability of the housing, along with the neighbourhood environment in which thechild resides. The elderly Longevity of society in the developedworld has increased over the past century. However, studies have establishedthat lifespan is positively influenced by living in appropriate, affordable andsafe housing of good quality. Housing is linked to many of the twelvedeterminants of an elderly persons health as identified by internationalhealth committees, including physical environment, social environment, lifestyleand health care, income and social status. Poor housing contributes towards greater mortalityrates among the elderly  in winter, and greater incidences of avoidableaccidents within the home and the local neighbourhood. High susceptibility toillnesses, particularly respiratory problems, associated with old age may begreatly exacerbated by inferior housing, and can result in a much higherhospital admission rate and mortality rate than seen in the same age groupliving in better quality accommodation. Disabilities Difficulties in accessing and maintaininghousing can be acute for people with physical disabilities. Internationally,there are definite obstacles with regards to affordable housing deficiencies,and physically disabled individuals confront specific barriers in securing andretaining safe and suitable accommodation. By the 1970s, advances in medicineand technology began to prolong the lives of physically disabled adults, however,housing for these individuals was primarily limited to nursing homes; a problemwhich still exists. As a result of this shortage of appropriate housing, manyof these people remain in long-term care facilities rather than living independently,regardless of their specific disability. Homelessness The relationship between homelessness andmental and physical health are irrefutable. Regardless of geography, homelessnessis associated with higher incidences of accidental and non-accidental trauma,addictions, sexual assault, and a plethora of physical health conditions,including tuberculosis, skin infections and conditions, and poor bloodcirculation (Curtis, 2004). Rates of mental illness among the adult homelesspopulation within the developed world are estimated at between 10 and 50 percent. In a relatively recent study conducted among the homeless male populationof Toronto, Canada, mortality rates were significantly higher compared to otherToronto social groups. Mortality rates were established at eight times higheramong men aged 18 to 24 years, four times higher among men aged 25 to 44 years,and twice as high among men aged 45 to 64 years (Hwang, 1999). Countless studies have previously determined aspecific connection between homelessness and severely diminished health levelsamong any given population (Hwang, 1999). Access to appropriate, affordablehousing offers benefits beyond the basic necessity of shelter, includingimproved health and well-being, and reduced levels of mental health disorders. Conclusion Everyone has the right to a standard of livingadequate for the health and well being of himself and of his family, includingfood, clothing, housing and medical care. (General Assembly of the United Nations, 1948) In the European Region, addressing inequities inhealth has been fundamental to the work of WHO and features prominently in thetargets for health for all (WHO, 2002). Despite these efforts, however, thereis critical recognition that poverty itself is a distinct and serious problem.Poverty-stricken communities, regardless of geographic location, suffer frominadequate housing, a deficiency in remunerative employment and theinsufficient means to guarantee a nutritious diet. Consequentially, poor healthis predominant within low-income sections of society, and the location ofaffordable housing frequently results in marginalisation, social exclusion(Curtis, 2004) and the associative mental health issues. Central and eastern European populations with transitionaland often instable economies are particularly at risk as a result of socialpoverty and inferior public health, predominantly as a result of the inabilityto provide payment to new health care systems. Many subsections of society arehigh-risk with regards to poor housing and health, and numerous groups,including children, the elderly, people with mental illness, and displacedindigenous communities, such as Aboriginal peoples, rely on suitable housing toprovide access to other forms of support and interventions with broader,positive individual and social effects (Curtis, 2004). There is conclusive evidence that habitation in substandardhousing environments and experience of poor socio-economic circumstances duringchildhood negatively influences health status in adulthood. Vulnerable groups,including the elderly, the very young and those suffering from long-term illhealth, are at specific risk, particularly as they often have diminished immunesystems and the greatest exposure to many specific hazards due to the lengthyperiods that they spend indoors (Klitzman, et. al., 2005). Insufficientamenities, shared facilities and overcrowding are very much a concern withinfectious disease, while damp and mould can cause various debilitatingrespiratory problems (Bornehag, et. al., 2005). However, the debatearound housing and health tends to be concerned with discussion of the direct coursefrom poor housing to health (Dunn, 2000). There is much less consideration ofthe indirect effects of poor housing upon health, such as social exclusion(Curtis, 2004) and depression, a nd psycho-social aetiologies of disease arefrequently overlooked. However, in recent years socio-economic determinants ofhealth have returned to policy debates and housing circumstances are, onceagain, identified as a critical influence upon public health (Board of Scienceand Education, 2003). Epidemiological studies have recently shifted focusedtowards a broader-ranging perspective with regard to poverty, health andquality of life, which presents the potential of enhanced understanding of thedeterminants of health status. As with many health determinants, the quality ofaccommodation is directly related to income. Minimising the adverse effects ofpoor housing remains a major challenge. Health disparities are not reducing inthe UK, and the worst health is experienced by the most socially andeconomically deprived (Stanwell-Smith, 2003). As in the nineteenth century,there is a profound need for concerted public health reform. Central to thismust be improved living standards and prevention of ill health. Bibliography Board of Science and Education (2003) Housing health: building for the future.British Medical Association. Bornehag, C. G., Sundell, J., Hagerhed-Engman, L.,Sigsggard, T., Janson, S., and Aberg, N. (2005) Dampness at home and itsassociation with airway, nose, and skin symptoms among 10,851 preschoolchildren in Sweden: a cross-sectional study. Indoor Air. 10: 48-55. Curtis, S. (2004) Health andInequality: London, Sage. Dickens,C. (1839) [1994] Oliver Twist. London, Penguin. Dunn,J. R. (2000) Housing and health inequalities: review and prospects forresearch. Housing Studies 15: 341-66 EnglishHouse Condition Survey (1996). Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Availableathttp://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_603825.hcsp GeneralAssembly of the United Nations (1948) Universal Declaration of Human Rights.United Nations. Hwang, S. W. (1999) Mortality among homeless men inToronto. Journal of General Internal Medicine. 14(S2): 42. Klitzman, S., Caravanos, J., Deitcher, D., Rothenberg,L., Belanoff, C., Kramer, R., and Cohen, L. (2005) Prevalence and predictors ofresidential health hazards: a pilot study. Journal of Occupational andEnviron Hygiene. 2(6): 293-301 Potvin L, Lessard R, and Fournier P. (2002) Socialinequalities in health. A partnership of research and education. CanadianJournal of Public Health. 93(2): 134-7 Stanwell-Smith, R. (2003) Poverty and Health.   Healthand Hygiene. WorldHealth Organisation (2002) The European Health Report 2002. WHO. Available at: http://www.who.dk/eprise/main/who/progs/ehr/home/ WorldHealth Organisation (2005) Socioeconomic determinants of health. WHOEuropean Office for Investment for Health and Development.

To Reinvent Oneself :: College Admissions, Personal Narrative

Before I go about fixing the world, I must first try a little self-improvement. Many people walk through life without really considering who they are and fewer still ask themselves if that is who they want to be. In my experience this is because most folks can't see how to go about changing themselves and some even think that this is somehow a betrayal of their essence. To reinvent yourself you need three things. A vision of who you want to be. You need to know how to make a change in yourself and finally you need to have the courage to do it. Your vision can be reached through many paths. Look at those things that you take pride in about yourself and contrast them with those things that embarrass you. This should start to indicate where your soul is trying to head. Next flesh out the ultimate form that you would take if you followed this path. And now you have your vision. But don't think this will remain constant throughout your life. As you change, grow and learn you will want to alter your vision. This is a good and normal thing, so fear not. The method that I have found to change myself is simplicity itself. Become an actor. Take one part of yourself at a time and start acting as if you had already achieved that modification. It will feel awkward and false at first but the more you practice it, including the feelings behind the actions, the more it will become natural to you. Eventually you will be acting correctly without even thinking about it and your motivation will become a part of who you are. Then you are ready to tackle the next part of yourself that needs improvement. You will need courage to do this. Remember, all of your friends and family are expecting you to stay the same. Whether you know it or not you are partly who you are because of a desire to meet these expectations. It is therefore natural for you to fear the confusion and perhaps rejection of those nearest and dearest to you.

William Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew Essay -- William Shakesp

William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew "The Taming of the Shrew" could either be seen as offensive or acceptable to women dependant upon the era of which they lived (16th century-the period of Shakespeare, or the 21st century). Act 4 Scene 1 is a main focal point to debate whether the play is seen as offensive to women. In Shakespeare's time, women were not treated humanely but more like objects. Men were seen as the superior sex of which had complete control over women and could marry who ever they wanted. The women had no say in who they married. Basically the two sexes were not treated equally. Also women could not go to school, but had to stay at home to cook and clean. Men could also bet on the behaviour of their wives to see which is the 'tamest'. Obviously a lot has changed since Shakespearian times and men and women are now treated equally and have the same rights as each other. Women can go to school and also choose who they want to marry. In the Shakespearian time the male superiority etc would have been classed as acceptable and normal, but a modern audience would be flabbergasted if they saw a man bidding with the woman's dad to marry her. Throughout Act 4 Scene 1, there are examples of the bad treatment Petruchio forces against Katherina; "I tell thee, Kate, `twas burnt and dried away, And I expressly am forbid to touch it," Act 4 Scene 1, Line 152-3. This quote shows that Petruchio is denying Katherina food by saying it is burnt and later on in his speech that burnt meat produced an excess of the choleric humour, which caused anger. We know he is lying just to make Katherina starve in order to tame her. This could definately be seen as offensive or even a crime for denyin... ...lso the decisions were made not in the sisters interests. In Act 5 Scene 2 the men bet on whose wife is most obedient; "Let's each one send unto his wife and he whose wife is most obedient to come at first when he doth send for her shall win the wager which we will propose" Act 5 Scene 2, Line 66-9. This again shows the women as objects and links to wealth. The men are the superior sex, which have control over all including their wives. My conclusion is, that 'The Taming of the Shrew' could definately be seen as offensive to women, especially in Act 4 Scene 1. The women are shown as betting objects and opportunities to gain in wealth and respect. They were tamed to be the perfect wives through starvation and captivity. Everything that was forced upon the women, were not to their best interests, but to the interests of the person doing it to them.

Obesity Is a Disease

Obesity Is A Disease Obesity is a disease that affects one in three members of the American population. The trend of obese Americans has continually increased since 1960, and is not showing signs of slowing down. More than half of the adults in America are considered overweight or obese, and about thirty-four percent of the total population in the U. S is either overweight or obese. One is considered â€Å"overweight† if the body mass index, or BMI, is twenty-five to twenty-nine kilograms. â€Å"Obese† is any number thirty or greater (Hateweight. com). Obesity is the cause of at least 300,000 deaths in the U. S every year, second only to smoking (American Obesity Association). There are many causes of obesity, some of which are environmentally related and others are geneticly related. Genetics from an obese relative can be passed from generation to another; this form of obesity is hard to control without proper treatment (Hateweight. com). The American culture has been the biggest cause of obesity. All of our surroundings and social environments have greatly influenced obesity. Most social events revolve around food or drinks, which are usually unhealthy for the body. Food itself has become a reward; young children are often rewarded for good behavior with a â€Å"treat† (American Obesity Association). This treat is often a child’s favorite candy or sweet. Adults also use food as a reward. Successful business transactions between companies are often celebrated with food and drinks. Employees often stop after work to have drinks and possibly dinner to celebrate. Alcoholic drinks are very high in fat and have no nutritional value. Also, most restaurant food is high in fat and calories. Another factor which is the cause of this disease is lifestyle. People are no as physically active as they should be. They have become more dependent on someone else to do their work for them. An example if this would be fast food restaurants. Why make dinner when you can go up the street and have someone else cook it for you? Most meals from fast food restaurants have almost fifty percent, if not more calories than a person needs for one day. Another cause of obesity would be a person’s mental state. People cope with life changing experiences differently, such as a death of a family member or the loss of a job. These types of events cause some people to over-eat and, over time, become overweight. Obesity has many effects on a person both psychologically and physically. Psychologically, obesity may cause a person to become depressed and even become suicidal. Not only that, but it can also cause low self esteem (Hateweight. com). Physically, obesity has a greater effect, because it is known to cause many other health related issues. Arthritis may occur in the hands, hips, back, and knees from the extra weight a person would be carrying around. Seventy-five percent of people with hypertension are obese. The risk of developing hypertension is five times greater in an obese person than compared to a non-obese individual. Obesity is also the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic venous insufficiency, daytime fatigue, deep vein thrombosis, diabetes type 2, infections following wounds, infertility, liver disease, lower back pains, obstetric and gynecologic complications, sleep apnea, stroke, and surgical complications(American Obesity Association). Not only does obesity cause all of those diseases, but it also increases an individual’s chance of getting many different types of cancer. Breast cancer, esophagus and gastric cardial cancers, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, and renal cell cancer all have been linked to obesity in one way or another (American Obesity Association). Treatment for obesity comes in many forms. One form is called dietary therapy, were a doctor will devise, a diet which an individual should follow to lose weight. The diet usually consists of more healthy foods with low calories and smaller portions. Along with a diet plan the doctor recommends physical activity, which is another treatment. Physical activity could be anything from working out at a gym or playing sports to just moving around the house more. Behavior therapy is a combination of both dietary and physical therapy in which the doctor comes up with new diet and physical activity habits to promote weight loss (Hateweight. com). The treatment with the biggest risk is surgery. An individual may have their stomach stapled so they will eat smaller portions of food and, which causes the body to burn the fat cells faster because there are fewer calories coming in. Obesity is a serious matter because of all the risks that follow it. The only way to stop obesity is to become more informed and more knowledgeable of the foods we consume, and to become more physically active. Obesity is the second leading cause of unnecessary deaths in the U. S. Despite its death toll is has not received the attention it needs from the government. Bibliography www. hateweight. com www. obesity. org www. nlm. nih. gov/medlineplus/obesity. html http://www. obesity-online. com/ http://www. cdc. gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/

European Union and United Nations Essay

United Nations and European Union are two organizations which are very influential in the contemporary world. The two institutions play a very great role as far as implementation of rules and policy of different nature are concerned. Each body is charged with specific roles to play in the pursuit of various objectives for the member states. United Nation draws its membership from across the board,almost all countries in the world are members of this organization which was mainly created to promote peace among the nations. European Union on the other hand draws its membership from the heart of Europe,where most of the European nations are represented. The two organizations are charged with the role of implementing policies put forward or agreed upon by the member states. Each body has a mechanism which ensures that these policies and rules are followed by the members. They have powers to compel members to adhere to the laid down rules. United Nation relies on the powers granted by its guiding rules to implement the policies while European union largely depends on the constitution drawn by member states spelling out procedures to be followed by the members as far as implementation of policies is concerned. (Blacksell, M 1978) One of the main differences between the two bodies is the composition,European Union membership is drawn from nations which have a common interest and are pursuing the same goals mostly on economic intergration,whereas United Nation is a conglomeration of states brought together by the purpose of promoting peace in the world. United nation membership is far and wide due to the reason that a country is member of the larger world community. Members have serious conflicting interests making it hard at times to reach a compromise in certain occassions. On the other hand European Union is more of a voluntary organizations where members join as a result of the benefits they are going to derive from such a union (Emadi, B 2002). They are not propelled by other reason such as fear of being labelled uncoperative but rather for the benefit of creating a wider markets and opening up their economies. The European Union is a powerful entity which is rather an economic organization as opposed to United Nation which more of a political institution. The main objective of the European Union was to allow free movements of goods and capital across the borders where for the United Nation it was to prevent another major war in the world or mainly prevent conflict between nations among other things that go along with the maintenance of peace in the world. In such an arrangement members are not bound together by a common goal but rather as mere formality because they would like to be seen as countries which believe in a peaceful coexistence among nations. For those in the European Union it is more than maintenance of peace. They are bound together by the principles of creating a good enviroment for their economic advancement. (Bedjaou, M 1991) (Lister, F 1996) As an international organization,United nation has been facing problems as far as enforcement of the policies and rules is concerned. At times this has resulted to very serious consequences especially when members fail to abide by the rules set by the otganization. One of the main problem that has engulfed this institution is the feeling that some members are not well represented. The inequality as far as power is concerned has been a serious set back when it comes to the implementation of policies in the body. The issue of veto power means that some members are more powerful than others meaning that there exists a power imbalance in this organization. Though this may serve well for the group as the powerful nations will force the others to play by the rules there is a danger of this concept being misused by the powerful nations where they will be forcing others to play to their tune. On the other hand European Union presents a situation where member states operate on an equal ground (Lane, J 2006)As a supranantional government , European Union member countries have transferred some of their powers to this broader authority. This power is shared equally among the member states giving them eacha an opportunity to feel part and parcel of the organization. In such an arrangement it becomes easy to implement policies and rules set by the organization since members will wilingly be ready to comply as they are bound to benefit from such seetings. (Permott, A 2000) Though in both organizations it is possible for the member state to be forced by others to implement decisions made,in the Euopean Union it is rather not necessary to take such an action since most of the polies are reached through consensus building. Therefore most of the members will be in a position to impelement what the member country has passed. In the United Nations force can be used if a member state fails to go by the rules but this does not mean that such measures are always successful. (Joachim, J and Locher, B 2009) Members have at one time or another withdrawn their contribution or their membership from the organization as a registration of their discontement with some of the policies adopted by the organization. The fact that United Nation applies persuasive means to convince member states to comply with the rules and also take part in the implementation of policies place it in a weaker position as far as its operation are concerned. It is at a disadvantaged position since not all the members are willing to play by the rules. The mechanisms available to compel members to abide by the rules are also weak giving too much leeway to the rebel members. The issue of the power imbalance among member states also plays a great role in the impedement being experienced in the matters relating to the policy implementation. (Preston, L and Windsor, D 1997) The facts that European Union members are held together by many factors make it easy for the organization to manage its affairs. All members are bound to benefit in one way or another from the policies being adopted at any time. On the other hand United Nations experience difficulties implementing some of its policies due to the fact that the organization has a wider membership, and again the ideological differences play a major role as far as this is concerned. The feeling by some of the members that they are inadequately represented makes it hard for the organization to employ mechanism which auger well for all the members (Ionescu, G 1974) When it comes to the implementation of international rules and policies United Nation stands a better chance but it’s bogged down by various issues surrounding its composition. The fact that some nations yield more power in terms of veto creates an imbalance making other members feel that they are just used as mere pawns in rubber stamping decisions reached and brought down into their throats by the powerful nations. They feel that they are not part and parcel of some of the policies being adopted. On the other hand the issue of policy ownership in the European Union has played a great role as far as its successful implementation of policies and rules is concerned. Members participate fully in the deliberation and implementation of the policies. (Mckay, D (1996) Reference Permott, A (2000) The New Politics of Financing the UN, Palgrave Macmillan Bedjaou, M (1991) International Law and Prospects, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers Preston, L and Windsor, D (1997) The Rules of the Game in the Global Economy, Springer Publishers Ionescu, G (1974) Between Sovereignty and Intergration, Taylor and Francis Emadi, B (2002) Rethinking International Organization, Routledge Taylor and Francis Blacksell, M (1978) Postwar Europe: A political Geography, West view Press Joachim, J and Locher, B (2009) Transnational Activism in the UN and EU: A Comparative Study, Taylor and Francis Lane, J (2006) Globalization and the Politics, Ashgate Publishing Mckay, D (1996) Rush to Union, Oxford University Press Lister, F (1996) The European Union, The United Nations and the Revival of the Cofederal Governance, Greeenwood Publishing co.

Applebee’s International

Applebee’s International, Inc. is America’s largest casual dining restaurant chain in terms of size and sales, with positive net earnings for the past ten years. It is famed as â€Å"America’s Favorite Neighbor† by decorating its restaurants with local themes, such as local heroes, sports teams, and town history.It is based on a single-concept focus on the Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants and has built strength by setting up outlets where big names in the food service industry have not yet been established. It popularizes the Applebee’s brand name by opening small-sized restaurants not far from one another.Aside from its dine-in program, it now has Carside To Go which allows customers to take out their orders. It has also improved its menu by teaming with Weight Watchers International and offering Weight Watchers selections. Under the leadership of Lloyd L. Hill, who became chief executive officer in 1998, the company has posted positive net e arnings, despite a fluctuating growth trend in total operating revenues in the past ten years.In the past, the company has faced legal entanglements that it had always dealt with promptly. It maintains close relationship with its franchisees and instills in its employees, the company’s core values embodied in the acronym BIG Fun TRIP (balance between work and home life, innovation, a guest-driven attitude, the ability to have fun, teamwork, a results-driven business approach, integrity and a passion for service).With over 1,800 restaurants nationwide and consistently good revenues, Applebee’s is considered an industry leader and it seeks to increase its size to 3,000 restaurants in the future.

Insurance Industry and Global Climax Change Research Paper

Insurance Industry and Global Climax Change - Research Paper Example However, the level of human consumption and the consequential degradation of the natural environment have reached a level of mutual destruction and dire consequences for both human inhabitants and the nature. Thus, the greatest environmental concern facing the planet is excessive carbon footprints left by the people on the planet. Carbon is a vital element for both human beings and the natural environment (Mills et al, 2006). Climate Change A. Data about how frequency of disaster due to climate changes Climate change has negative impact in the sense that landslides and floods, tsunamis and hurricanes are common phenomenon. For instance, landslides and floods have claimed more than one thousands lives in Brazil. Further, climate change has seen the sea ice in countries such as Canada take long time to appear during the months of winter, which in turn negatively affects the polar bear this is because the polar bear are spending too much time on land decreasing the time they spend hunti ng in the sea ice. Polar bear can hunt effectively in sea ice not on land, and as a result, the population of this creature is rapidly decreasing. In addition, climate change has led to increase in extra tropical cyclones, hailstorms, bush fires, droughts and heat waves. More extensive destruction, social, environmental, and economical impacts from weather related tragedies. Transformations in atmospheric process will negative influence the health, property and lives of many people in the world (Mills, 2005). B. Data about damage climate change every year The increase in temperatures causes large boulders of ice to melt and form water, which flows to large water bodies. As a result, there is a rise in sea level all over the globe. This reduces the area of land under settlement and is posing a threat to human existence. The human being who had caused the warming, with or without their knowledge, is now being punished by nature. The Antarctic regions is a good example, as the melted i ce masses causes displacement of people and the consequence is causing a strain on land space (Jacobs, 2012). C. Direct Impact on human and properties a. Health Impacts a. Weather-related Mortality Climate change that took place since 1970s has claimed over 150,000 excess lives yearly by the year 2004. The number of weather related tragedies has increased since 1960s. Each year, these tragedies lead to more than 55,000 deaths particularly in developing nations. b. Infectious Diseases Global climate change influence the environmental and social determinants of health in the sense that human beings are exposed to unclean air, unsafe drinking water, lack of sufficient food and poor shelter. This in turn leads to many infectious diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, dengue and malnutrition which worsen as the climate transforms. c. Air Quality- Respiratory Illnesses Global increase in the respiratory diseases such as allergies and asthma results from global warming such as depletion of oz one layers, spread of communicable illnesses because of earth heats, and rising temperatures. 2. Agriculture Impacts a. Crop Yields i. Food shortage The increasing precipitation and rising temper

Word Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Word - Essay Example The first imperative ethical issue facing him is the fact that he has setup a system that allows him to trace information such as emails sent among his fellow employees. This is a violation of communication privacy that is usually avoided in majority of work places. Additionally, Mr. Child’s has setup the system through passwords that gives him the absolute access to all the information. These passwords do not allow other employees to access imperative work information. Moreover, Mr. Child’s has been working overtime without the instructions of his employers. This is another instance where he violated work ethics that guides the general time period, which employee should perform their duties. Consequently, he was found guilty of creating a vulnerable system through Digital Subscriber Line that allows unauthorized persons to access the Company’s information from online sources. This is a violation of the ethics that guide the privacy of a company’s information. The ethical issue in the case study provided, involves poor management of information among the employees specifically caused by Child’s actions. It affects the company’s efficacy of modus operandi in regard to their access to information. Indeed this scenario involves decision making in order to eliminate undesirable modes of information management within the company. Consequently, the case is more than legal as it entails making decisions ascribed to work ethics within a department. The case study presents a scenario where there is poor inter-personal relationship between Mr. Child and other employees. There is also poor information management majorly due to violation of communication ethics. Mr. Child and his employer seem to be the cause of the problem thus they are important in determination of the final outcome. Another crucial way, which can facilitate decision making in this case is facilitating dialogue between Mr. Child and his Employers outside the court. This can be done by a

BME0006 Emerging and Alternative Financial Markets Essay

BME0006 Emerging and Alternative Financial Markets - Essay Example Firstly, it should give a first priority to the needs of the consumer. It has to ensure that the consumers are provided with the best services in a given market as they necessarily dictate the success of every business organization (McVea, 2002, p.6). The mechanism should also ensure high degree of integrity and accountability. Some of the events that are witnessed in the economic study are those that follow certain cycles and need to be studied chronologically so that their adverse effects are not felt repeatedly. Others may not follow any definite patterns and corrective procedures need to be adopted whenever such events are recorded. The regulatory measures that are to be adopted in the financial services should be those that respond differently to each of the emerging situations as per the specific requirements of the situation (Consumer Focus, 2010, p.4). The regulatory approach that is to be adopted after a given financial crisis should be different from the previous approaches and it depends on the current situations that are experienced. A good regulatory procedure on financial services thus responds to the prevailing financial crisis and mitigates the occurrence of future crises (Consumer Focus, 2010, p.2).It should be aimed at developing a competitive market that attracts more investors and focuses solely on the needs of the customers. The anticipated market should be that which allows for the invention innovation by the investing organizations. There are various financial regulatory bodies in the United Kingdom. The main regulatory body is the Financial Services Authority and which provides various regulatory provisions (Great Britain, 2005, p.37; Jaffer, 2005, p.134). The problem that arises is then how to collect the divergent views of the regulatory agencies ad channel them towards the same statutory objective (Consumer Focus, 2010, p.5). The UK Financial Services has had various developments that are geared towards the regulating the provision of financial services in the region. The UK Financial Services Authority has put more emphasis on regulatory measures based on policies and principles. The authority issued a policy statement in July 2007 that was in line with the policy that it had developed the previous year in regard to the principles and rules that govern business conduct by various investment companies (London Update, 2007, p.1). The revised policy would ensure the implementation of the ‘the relevant provisions of the EU Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) as well as non MiFID Conduct of Business Rules’ (London Update, 2007, p.1). The issue of corporate governance is another approach towards the regulation of the provision of financial services that have been applied in the UK. The investment companies in the UK need to learn and adopt a code of corporate governance in an attempt to comply with the rules and provisions given. The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) gave out a gui de on Corporate Governance to its members in June 2007 that included both the AIC code and the UK combined code on Corporate Governance (London Update, 2007, p.1). Deceptive misstatements in the regular disclosure to the market have also been another issue in the UK financial sector. There have been various legal provisions that govern who are to be held responsible for such misstatement in the market. Section

Greeces Inadequate Response to the International Credit Crisis Term Paper

Greeces Inadequate Response to the International Credit Crisis - Term Paper Example In several areas housing markets suffered heavily, something that led to foreclosures, evictions and prolonged cases of unemployment among several industries. During that time, the crisis is said to have been responsible for the failure and closure of several key businesses (Laskos, & Tsakalotos, 2013), massive drops in consumer wealth, which had been estimated to range in trillions of American dollars. Similarly, the situation caused a huge downturn in economic activities, leading to the global recession of 2008-2012, thus resulting in another crisis, the European sovereign-debt (Shannon, 2014). It is believed that the most active part of the particular crisis that manifested itself in the form of liquidity crisis can actually be traced from 9th of August 2007 (Shannon, 2014). During this time, BNP Paribas is believed to have ended completely all withdrawals from the three main hedge funds because of a total evaporation of the much needed liquidity. This paper examines the concept of the international credit crisis as it happened, focusing on the strategies that Greece use in response towards the crisis including the United States and other European nations. The real cause of the crisis has been a subject of discussion, with different experts giving different opinions and perspectives as to the real causes. The Levin-Coburn’s report from the U.S senate explained that the crisis was brought about by those complex and high risk financial products, failure from the side of regulators, diverse conflicts of interest, agencies in charge of credit rating as well as the market itself, which wanted to rein beyond the Wall Street excesses (Laskos, & Tsakalotos, 2013). On the other hand, the conclusions by the commission of inquiry into the crisis argued that the crisis would have been avoided, had the financial regulators taken effective steps in good time. In this case, they explained that the crisis was to be blamed on financial supervision and regulation

Nike Fuel Band Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nike Fuel Band - Essay Example Nike Fuel Bands are easy to set up as well as use, and they come in three sizes (the small, the medium or large, and the extra-large). Another feature on the wristband is a size space, which enables it to fit best. This product is also resistant to water and enjoys a long battery life (could go even for seven days) (Bergh & Behrer, 2013). Nike Fuel Band has an added advantage in the sense that it comes with a free mobile application (Nike+ Fuel Band). With this application, a person is able to track progress made, turning the movement tracked into Nike Fuel points. This can be synchronized using Bluetooth wireless to view results, the high points during the day, the achievements or trophies gained, and general progress made. In summary, the Nike Fuel Band tells a person how active they are and motivates any person who desires to increase their level of activity (Bergh & Behrer, 2013). Company Description Nike Fuel Band is an exclusive product of Nike, Inc. This is a corporation that is multinational and of American origin. Nike, Inc. can be rightfully termed as the leading innovator in the world when it comes to athletic footwear, equipment, apparel, and accessories. The company designs, also develops, sells, and markets its products and services throughout the world. The Nike, Inc. company has its headquarters in the county of Washington, Oregon (close to Beaverton), in the United States of America. When it was founded, it went by the name Blue Ribbon Sports. This was on 25th of January, the year 1964 by two men who were visionary and dared to be pioneers of the athletic footwear revolution. The men who brought this redefinition to the industry were Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. The company became known as Nike, Inc. officially on 30 May 1971. The Nike acronym is taken from a Greek mythology and was ascribed to the goddess of victory (Bergh & Behrer, 2013). Nike, Inc. as a company has what it believes in and this is that any person, who has a body, can become an athlete. This underpins the company’s vision of promoting mobility, comfort, and style through its gear as a whole (footwear, accessories, equipment, and apparel). The mission statement of the company is encapsulated in bringing inspiration as well as innovation to each athlete all over the world. This commitment is evident in the new and extremely innovative methods that Nike, Inc. is using in development of athletic products that are superior (Moe & Grahn, 2012). The company also uses methods that are very creative when it comes to direct communication with consumers. Nike, Inc. has experienced dynamic expansion that includes growing strongly in China. Product Life Cycle The Product Life Cycle (PLC) is the life span of a certain product. Product Life Cycle is a theory, which has its basis on the way a product evolves. This movement takes place in four steps that are from start to the end. The first step in the process of Product Life Cycle is the introduction of a produ ct, and then moves to the stage of growth, maturity stage follows, and finally there is a decline in the sales of the product. This information is usually displayed in a Product Life Cycle Curve, which depicts the level of sales of a product against time (different phases). The Nike Fuel Band is in the growth stage of the Product Life Cycle. This is evidenced by its presence in the market and exponential growth of its sales since being introduced into the

Cash Cropping in Nepal Essay Example for Free

Cash Cropping in Nepal Essay On an individual crop basis, tomatoes and potatoes were the most increasing, sensitivity analysis and scenarios suggest high variability and limited short-term impact on poverty alleviation. Profitable. On a per farm basis, 50% of the households with positive farm gross margins grew at least one vegetable crop, while only 25% of households with negative farm gross margins included vegetable crops in their rotation. Farmers have been hesitant to produce primarily for the market given the rudimentary infrastructure and high variability in prices. Farmers reported selling more crops, but when corrected for inflation, gross revenues declined over time. The costs and benefits of developing markets have been unevenly distributed with small holders unable to capitalize on market opportunities and wealthier farmers engaging in input intensive cash cropping. Farms growing vegetables had an average gross margin of US$137 per year compared to US$12 per year for farms growing only staple crops. However, the area under production is small and, while vegetable production is likely to continue Key words: Agriculture, Cash crops, Gross margin, Household economics, Market inequity, Poverty Introduction Cash cropping has been promoted by development specialists as a mechanism to alleviate rural poverty in countries such as Nepal. Programs have capitalized on existing transportation networks, the proximity to urban centers or niche markets (Panday, 1992). But there are concerns that agricultural commercialization by-passes the poor. The cash and land quality requirements of capital intensive farming may limit the capacity of poorer farmers to invest, while the risks associated with yield and price variability may limit their willingness to participate in commercial production Both the Agricultural Perspective Plan (APROSC, 1995) and the ninth National Plan (GON, 1998) of Nepal promote the intensification of agriculture and increased cash crop production. In the Mid-hills of Nepal near Kathmandu, potato and tomato production have increased dramatically in the last 10 years (Brown and Shrestha, 2000). But, vegetable production is demanding of soil, water, and human resources. A systematic assessment of cash cropping is required to determine the impact on household well-being. The aims of this paper are five-fold: 1) to determine the relative profitability of vegetable production in the Mid- hills of Nepal; 2) to assess the economic impact of incorporating vegetables into the dominant cropping patterns; 3) to analyze the variability between households; 4) to assess the impact of fluctuations in price; and 5) to evaluate temporal changes in household well-being with the incorporation of vegetable production. Methods The relative profitability of agricultural production between farms provides a mechanism to compare the economic status of farming households with diversified cropping systems. An indication of the profitability of each farm can be obtained by computing gross margins, defined as total returns less total variable costs. Total returns are equal to the value of all crops produced (including crop residues), irrespective of whether the crop is sold. Total variable costs include: the purchase of seed, fertilizer, and pesticides; hiring oxen; and all labor involved in cultivation activities. Labor includes the time spent in planting, irrigation, fertilizing, spraying, weeding, harvesting and transportation and selling and includes the opportunity cost of family labor. The gross margin can thus be viewed as the return to fixed costs (land and livestock) and management. Gross margin analysis, in this context, focuses on production or income with respect to agriculture. As it does not take into account the time value of money, gross margins are not sensitive to interest rates, and are a good first approximation of financial feasibility.